May 29, 1973  
May 29, 1973 - Brethren & Co-Workers Letter
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Herbert W Armstrong 

AMBASSADOR COLLEGE
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA

HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG, Chairman
Publisher of The PLAIN TRUTH Magazine

EXTENSION DEPARTMENT
An educational service at all levels for all people worldwide

May 29, 1973

Dear Co-Workers in the Work of the Living GOD:

   Another college year is ENDING! I can hardly believe it! Time whips by, it seems, faster and faster. Graduation here at Pasadena and at Big Sandy is this Friday — and in England the following Friday.

   We need, URGENTLY, to realize THREE THINGS right now:

   1) To realize FULLY just WHAT IS our tremendous Commission — and the fact that for 18 1/2 centuries it was NOT proclaimed to the whole world — and that TODAY NO ONE ELSE is proclaiming the true Gospel of Jesus Christ IN POWER to the whole world! The true Church, small in number, DID continue to exist in every generation since the original Apostles. Christ's Gospel did get to the FEW — often by some private or even secret means, because the persecutors would have put people to death for proclaiming it during long periods of those generations.

   2) The extreme URGENCY of speeding up the proclaiming of it NOW — and precisely WHY, according to the prophecies, THE TIME LEFT US FOR GETTING IT TO ALL THE WORLD MAY BE MUCH SHORTER THAN WE SUPPOSE!

   3) How GREAT are the results of this great Work, NOW ACCELERATING. How ENCOURAGING is this progress, and indicated FUTURE for the remainder of this year — and next — in this Work.

   First, let me give you some personal news. A month ago, Emperor Hirohito, and the Japanese Government conferred on me the highest award and honor ever conferred on a non-official alien. It consists of a diploma with the Emperor's signature and Seal of the State, and the Prime Minister's signature; and the brilliant emblem or decoration to be worn.

   My next visit to Japan is now planned to be a BIBLE STUDY with the Emperor's brother, Prince Mikasa. With the Prince we are planning an Ambassador Institute of Biblical Research to be established in Tokyo — a joint project between him and Ambassador College. All this is laying the foundation to get the true Message of Christ to the people of Japan. The Bible study with the Prince will include the Old Testament PROPHECIES concerning Christ and the Kingdom of God, and in the New Testament the true Message of Christ's Gospel.

   On this last visit Prince Mikasa and I jointly hosted a dinner attended by high dignitaries and professors of universities whose area of interest and research is Middle East archaeology. The printed invitation sent out by the Prince said:

"The Prince Mikasa and Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong celebrating the resumption of the archaeological excavation at Tel Zeror (Israel) request the pleasure of the company of 
 

 



at a buffet dinner on Saturday the 28th of April, 1973 from 7 to 9 o'clock at, etc., etc., etc.,"

   Ambassador College is in joint participation in this archaeological project, as we are with the Hebrew University and Israel Archaeological Society in the other project at Jerusalem.

   At this dinner I sat next to the senior member of the Cabinet, Minister of Finance Aichi. Prince Mikasa was Master of Ceremonies. I made a short speech, expressing gratitude for the high honor from the Government. The main speech was by Dr. Ohata, leading archaeologist.

   Brethren and Co-Workers, world conditions indicate the time left for getting Christ's Gospel to the whole world in great POWER may be much shorter than we suppose. Jesus told us to WATCH! He meant WORLD EVENTS, compared to PROPHECY. Jesus said the END time, before His return as KING of kings would be like it was in the days of Noah. There was a population explosion (men began to MULTIPLY on the face of the earth), interracial marriage, violence, and CORRUPTION. Today we have all those things as never before in this age. WHEN the move is made to actually bring about POLITICAL union of ten nations in Europe, we will KNOW the Great Tribulation is virtually beginning — and our time for thundering the true Gospel to the world is virtually OVER! Events in Europe are moving RAPIDLY to that end.

   When Jesus' disciples asked Him what would be the SIGN of His imminent coming, the only sign He gave was "This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." IF THAT GOSPEL HAD BEEN PREACHED IN ALL THE WORLD DURING THAT 18 1/2 centuries, JESUS COULD NOT HAVE MADE IT THE SIGN of the end of this age and of His VERY soon coming! That very sign PROVES that this TRUE Gospel of the Kingdom of God WAS NOT PREACHED to all the world prior to OUR proclaiming it. And it is the sure SIGN there is not much more time!

   This is the greatest, most important Work on earth! WHAT A PRIVILEGE for you and me to have a part in it!

   THANK YOU, Brethren and Co-Workers, for helping us to avert the financial crisis that could have come this past spring. We just barely squeezed through, but you did see us through. It's going to be a TIGHT SQUEEZE for the rest of the year. We all need to PRAY as never before, not only for one another, but for the WORK, and be willing to SACRIFICE financially for it. The NEED is GREAT. But the SPIRITUAL HARVEST is the GREATEST it has ever been — and God is LAVISHING His blessings on His Work richly. THANK YOU for your generous part! I pray for YOU every day! And I need YOUR prayers!

With love, in Jesus' name,
Herbert W. Armstrong

Publication Date: May 29, 1973
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