THERE CAME A FALLING AWAY by David C. Pack Herbert W. Armstrong led the Worldwide Church of God for 52 years, teaching hundreds Table of Contents of true doctrines. He proved them from the Bible and told us to do the same. His successors Prologue...............................................................................................................5 changed them all. Do you think some changes were right? Do you realize all were wrong? Author’s Statement.............................................................................................8 Have you recognized them? Here they are! Biographical Foreward.....................................................................................15 SECTION I: How the Seduction Succeeded.....................................................22 SECTION II: Why So Many Changes Are Included.......................................35 Summary List of Changes.........................................................37 Topical Index of Changes.........................................................44 SECTION III: Documentation of 280 Doctrinal Changes...............................55 SECTION IV: Available Literature.................................................................363 The New WCG View of Herbert W. Armstrong.....................367 Policy Change Overview........................................................369 This booklet is not to be sold. It has been produced as a free educational service in the public interest by The Restored Church of God. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2002 by David C. Pack All Rights Reserved Printed in the United States of America THERE CAME A FALLING AWAY 5 Prologue We are pleased to send you a copy of THERE CAME AFALLING AWAY. It took a staggering number of hours and the help of many people to make this book a reality. I am very grateful for their assistance. It would be hard to know where to start and stop in thanking these people. God knows who they are, and He will reward them. This effort began in the spring of 1993. The result was a book then called DEDICATION EXCEPT THERE COME AFALLING AWAY. This was really the first edition of this “new” book, THERE CAME AFALLING AWAY. Over the next year, six more editions were printed. In the spring of 1995, an extensive appendix was added to the The final edition of this book is dedicated to Mr. seventh edition. (This was about the same time that the first edition of EXCEPT Herbert Armstrong who would have wanted THE LORD BUILD THE HOUSE was produced.) During the next five years, there someone to preserve the truth that God restored were no additional changes, editions or appendixes. Different editions have cir- culated, with no one edition in the hands of everyone. through him—and to the sheep he so faithfully This is the final edition and also my final effort to tell the story and explain served that needed a shepherd’s help in retriev- the true meaning of the apostasy. I pray that it will help you see events with ing what had been stolen from them. proper clarity. Much has been added to this final edition. Clarifications, adjustments, additional Author’s Notes, etc.. It is still not perfect. No effort of this type could be. I hope you understand that a small staff of, basically, untrained (in publishing), but very dedicated people “pulled off” a project that would normally be tackled by a publishing house. The book starts with an Author’s Statement and a Biographical Foreword and is followed by several sections. A book of this type defies the normal tra- dition of writing in the form of a story flow. The apostasy must be viewed from different perspectives to see the entire picture. What were the changes? How did they come? Why was the apostates’ seduction so effective? What exactly did God prophesy would happen? Why was this great trial sent upon God’s people? Did Mr. Armstrong ever warn the Church that it was coming? How was the idea for this book formed? Why did I feel that I must undertake the project of compiling and writing it? What should a true Christian, who wants to fully hold fast, do about the material in this book? These are all aspects of why this book was written in the manner that it was. Carefully reading and studying the entire book is vital to seeing the whole picture. You will do yourself a great disservice if you do not read it all. I sug- gest the following approach to the book: Read the book straight through in the order in which it was written, without deviating, and then read our booklet Why So Many “SPLINTER” Groups? This booklet is an expanded version of what was once the Conclusion and Epilogue of this book. 6 THERE CAME A FALLING AWAY THERE CAME A FALLING AWAY 7 This book will step on many toes. While no author actually sets out to do of God or I am not committed to doing the Work of preaching the gospel to the this, in the case of THERE CAME AFALLING AWAY, it is not only unavoidable, but world. While we are also using other means, and I am personally rewriting all for some, it is necessary. If this book sobers you, then it will have served its of the truths contained in Mr. Armstrong’s booklets, a synopsis of most of purpose. Also, I know that some of those it offends will turn and attack its God’s doctrines can now be placed in the hands of new prospective members source. Since “men love darkness because their deeds are evil” (John 3:19-21), in just one book! there will be people who will get very angry about the light that this book sheds Millions once heard and read the words of Herbert W. Armstrong. I have on the darkness that they prefer. We are living in the darkest age in history. No found that many of these people are scattered around the world, still searching converted person doubts this. Since Christ and all His disciples “are the light and wondering what happened. Some have contacted us. As time passes, more of the world,” then this alone puts true Christians in harm’s way—just as much will. It is no accident that the very first doctrinal change documented in this as it did Christ Himself. After over 35 years in the truth, I am not naïve about book is the replacement of the true gospel with the Protestant counterfeit. This the level of persecution this much “bright light” may produce—and neither has always been the first change listed in the book. The replacement of the doc- should you be. trine of the soon-coming kingdom of God, with the false idea that the kingdom Some people wish to be a “secret admirer” of God’s truth. Others “love” is here now, is second. For all that have eyes to see, this is its own plain state- the truth as long as they can remain unseen “in a closet.” It takes “spiritual ment about our determination to do the Work! courage” to be a Christian, because we are “a city set on a hill that cannot be THERE CAME AFALLING AWAY will now always be among the first things that hid.” Christ said that true Philadelphians have “not denied My Name” (Rev. anyone with a Church of God background receives from The Restored Church 3:8). I have wondered if one of the ways that many will do this (those of the of God when they request our “Splinter Explanation Packet.” May God help seventh era) is that they will have been embarrassed by certain truths that left all that read this book to see what they have lost and to deeply desire to have them feeling “uncomfortable.” Perhaps many will have gone to certain groups it all back again! because they could be more comfortable there. They may have convinced themselves that they should shed some of God’s more embarrassing truths. These embarrassing truths vary from person to person. Many will not want to appear extreme by holding fast to all that we once treasured. Others will find a wonderful convenience in being able to say that they grew out of certain doctrines. Coincidentally, these will probably be the same doctrines they considered embarrassing. Of course, they will not see that they denied Christ’s authority (Name) by saying, in effect, that He was too weak to fully guide His apostle–thus leaving him (Mr. Armstrong) unable to restore ALL things. Some will have to conclude that all the times that Mr. Armstrong told us that “Christ puts truth into the church through apostles” were merely misguided statements of a sincere but sometimes doctrinally incorrect man. They may further conclude that he was an apostle—but that he was one who taught wrong doctrines and could not have been the final Elijah. (Carefully study I WILL SEND ELIJAH to restore all things, to understand why Mr. Armstrong’s fulfillment of this prophecy is so important.) Some demand written proof that The Restored Church of God is commit- ted to exact doctrinal integrity. This book publicly and permanently removes all doubt. No other organization is willing to go on record as clearly or thor- oughly as RCG. This way, other groups can remain “fluid” with certain doc- trines. I do not apologize for the strength of this statement! I have often said, “If I ever tried to depart from the full truth, I could never get away with it, because people could simply ‘hit me over the head’ with my own books—and if they didn’t, they probably should.” This book, along with EXCEPT THE LORD BUILD THE HOUSE, and Is the WORK FINISHED?, silences those who say that either The Restored Church 8 THERE CAME A FALLING AWAY THERE CAME A FALLING AWAY 9 trine was never seriously addressed (Mr. Armstrong did periodically refer to false leaders who brought the onset of the “lost century” in early Church history) because we did not understand that we needed to research and explain it.