"The voice of him that cryeth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places splain; and the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it" (Isaiah 40:3-5).

"A VOICE IN THE

WILDERNESS"

Why was I called? Why did God raise me up

to begin Triumph Prophetic Ministries? What is

the true story behind this end-time Work of God?

William F. Dankenbring

Often I have looked back over my life and reflected on God's dealings with me, and wondered in amazement to myself, "Why was I called?" "Why did God call me?" "For what special or specific purpose did He call me?"

Perhaps you have often wondered the same thing about yourself!

We know that Jesus Christ said, "No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father" (John 6:65). Jesus added, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:44).

Obviously, then, none of us called ourselves. It is God who calls us, and chooses us, for His purpose!

Our Calling

The apostle Paul had more to say about this question. he wrote to the Corinthians, "For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence" (I Cor. 1:28-29)

Humanly, we would all like to glory in the flesh, in our nobility, or mightiness, or wealth, or wisdom. But God shows here that we cannot do so. Rather, God has called us and chosen us precisely because we are weak, and despised, and base, and virtually non-existent -- the scum of the earth -- the dregs of the world -- the least among men!

Humanly we would like to glory in that which we are, or desire to achieve or accomplish of ourselves, but of ourselves we can do NOTHING spiritually (John 5:30)! Therefore, Paul tells us, "That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (I Cor. 1:31).

When we are called of God, we are nothing admired or looked up to in the world. We are less than nothing. Yet, as Paul wrote to the Romans, "For God's gifts and his call can never be withdrawn; he will never go back on his promises" (Rom. 11:29, The Living Bible).

Paul added, "And so God's blessings are not given just because someone decided to have them or works hard to get them. They are given because God takes pity on those he wants to" (Rom. 9:16).

Those of us in God's Church were specifically called! God took pity on us, and lifted us out of the muck and mire of the world!

Why were we called? Specifically, to inherit eternal life as one of the firstfruits -- and to reign as kings and priests and teachers during the Kingdom of God (Rev. 5:10). But we were also called to fulfill a role, and to help accomplish the Work of God during these last days -- to do our part in God's great purpose and plan in getting the gospel out to all the world as a witness before the end comes (Matthew 24:14)!

Paul wrote the Philippians, "For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants" (Phil. 2:13).

The "Cutting Edge" of Truth

My own calling of God, as I said, I have often reflected over. All the fruits and evidence seems to show clearly and conclusively that God has specifically called me to write and publish books that support His great Work, and provide a foundation of truth -- books containing the knowledge He has revealed to me, and to others, who are on the "front lines" of learning new truth, Biblical knowledge, and research, whether it be history, health science, archaeology, or prophecy! He has also called me to publish Prophecy Flash magazine, a unique magazine of understanding and in depth knowledge of the truths of God, as well as prophetic insight. And, He has called me to prepare Bible Studies on the "cutting edge," as it were, of new truth and deeper understanding of the truths of God.

I have been told by some in the past, that the books I publish are on the "cutting edge" of truth exploring the frontiers of new knowledge!

However, not everybody appreciates the wonderful books we publish. Nor does everybody appreciate the Prophecy Flash

magazine, or our Bible Study tapes. I have my "critics," and sometimes they can be very cutting, sarcastic, and bombastic. Sometimes I feel like a martyr, being vilified and slandered and smeared for the good work I am striving to do by the grace of God! Sometimes I feel very strongly and poignantly Jesus' words when He said, "And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me" (Matt. 10:38).

Because some of my writings, and Bible studies, contain NEW truth, and new revelation from God, some people are suspicious, distrustful, and doubtful of the contents or purpose of these writings and tapes. Some accuse me of being a "false prophet." Others worried about alleged "heresy," or "false doctrine." In such cases, what the people who are concerned ought to do is sit down and carefully read the material in question, and PROVE IT, one way or the other -- and not allow themselves to react superficially, with a purely emotional, glandular response!

Unfortunately, some look upon conformity as unity. They would like us all to speak the same things, on every thing, even if it is in error! But if we did this, and the end-time Churches refused to accept new truth or revelation, no matter what the source, then the Churches would cease to grow in truth and grace. They would begin to atrophy, and wither, like a dead fig tree, and would cease to produce good fruit!

As all living things, we must all either GROW, or die!

However, whenever anything NEW is presented to human beings, even in fields of historical science, it often meets with a great amount of initial resistance -- even if it is true! Robert Fulton's idea of a steamboat was initially hooted at with derision and laughter -- until he proved to the world that it would work!

Thomas Edison was laughed at and jeered for his attempt to invent an electric light bulb. And people laughed at the Wright Brothers, for thinking they could ever invent a machine heavier than air that would actually fly!

The Principle of Tolerance

Even so, human nature is slow to accept new truth. However, none of us is PERFECT in knowledge. Therefore we should learn to be tolerant of new ideas, new truths, new revelations which we may not have yet investigated or proved. The principle of tolerance is part of the paradox of learning and discovery. If we close our minds to new ideas, we become reactionary, recalcitrant, ossified. We cannot grow. We must strive to be open to new truth which God chooses to reveal to us, and not shut Him out because of preconceived opinions or ideas, prior prejudice, a spirit of intolerance, or an attitude of superiority, pride, or stubborn or even mulish obstinacy.

We should all humbly confess, as Sir Isaac Newton did, that we are all like a little boy standing before a huge seashore of knowledge, before the vast ocean of truth, remaining to be discovered.

Only despots profess to have absolute knowledge. Only tyrants claim to have complete certainty and truth. But the open-minded, humble person should always maintain capacity for re-evalutaion, re-analysis, and even rethinking old concepts, when new knowledge or data bring them into question. Dogmatism is a fool's game which only fools play. When any belief becomes encrusted as dogma, error becomes enshimed and worshiped, and truth lies fallen in the dust.

Oliver Cromwell once said to his compatriots in England during civil war that raged in the land, "I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken." His words seem to have fallen of many deaf ears, not interested in proving whether their opinions are right or wrong -- even many in the end-time church of God! Unfortunately, those guilty of dogmatism and ossified thinking seldom are willing to accept new facts and embrace new knowledge which would force them to divest themselves of old error and falacious beliefs which they have held for many years.

It is hard to change! As Herbert W. Armstrong has often said, "It is ten times harder to unleam old error than to accept new truth!" It requires a truly converted mind to be willing to always look at the facts, and REPENT, and CHANGE, when it is in error!

Because Triumph Publishing is on the salient edge of the discovery of new truth, there seems to be a lot of sparks flying, criticism, and reproach. Because of this fact, God has taught me that I must have the thick skin of a rhinoceros, and thick hide and immoveability of an elephant, and the boldness and courage of a lion!

Character, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong has said many times, is "to come to know what is right, to decide to do what is right, and to do it, regardless of the consequences."

Thus, for me to persist in the quest for truth, in the face of opposition and reproach, requires character of steel, and iron resolution -- an iron will determination, with the help of the Spirit of God!

Would it be all right if I were to "compromise" with any of the new knowledge or revelation God gives to me? If I believe others might not accept it, should I just store it somewhere, and wait for a more "propitious time" to reveal it or share it? Should I just bury it somewhere, out of fear that others might not think well of me? This very idea was suggested to me in years gone by,

by a very personal friend, whom I had considered a rather close friend, as we had worked for years together in the "Personal Correspondence Department" of the Worldwide Church of God, during the somnolent sixties and roaring seventies. However, I spurned such advice as being mischievous and false, coming from Satan the devil, the arch-adversary of truth and who will stoop to anything to squelch and stomp out "truth." He will even "compromise" with it, so long as it isn't being "proclaimed" and "preached"!

The Spirit of Compromise

Herbert Armstrong, in a "Personal" in the December 1976 Good News magazine asked a similar question. He queried: "Wouldn't it be all right to compromise, 'just a little,' on some 'unimportant minor point'?

He later answered the same question by saying, "Nevertheless, if we begin to compromise with God's TRUTH, even in smallest, slightest manner, we have allowed Satan to get a foot into the door of the Church, and soon he will push open the door (he is stronger than we) and take over the whole Church. A little leaven leavens the WHOLE LUMP!"

Mr. Armstrong continues, "I have been charged with the commission of KEEPING GOD'S WORD. Keeping it inviolate -- NO COMPROMISE! I have NEVER compromised with God's TRUTH -- regardless of the cost or the circumstances. I never shall!"

However, Mr. Armstrong went on, "I will CHANGE whenever proved wrong. I will accept NEW TRUTH as often as PROVED to be new truth to me or to the Church.

"But I will not compromise with the truth! I never have!" He sums up: "I won't compromise -- not even 'just a little."'

I feel exactly the same way, about any new knowledge or TRUTH which God in His divine mercy has revealed, or will reveal, to me!

I cannot compromise! I will not! I shall not! I dare not! To compromise is to slap Jesus Christ, the Revelator, right in the face-it is to shame and dishonor Him! To compromise with the TRUTH of God, as He reveals it, is to despise the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and to walk all over His bloodied body!

In an article in the December 1978 Plain Truth, Herbert Armstrong acknowledges, "Many NEW truths have come to light in the past thirty years. Some have been revealed through various of God's ministers. And also God has continued to reveal important and basic truths through me."

We Are All Human

Even so, we are all human, We all are capable of making mistakes. Mr. Herbert Amstrong wrote in the January 1985 Good News, "We are all human. We are all fallible. I have been wrong. I have made mistakes. The same is true of all those God is using in HIS WORK."

He goes on, "God says, 'PROVE all things.' That means you are fallible. That means all the 'great' men are falhble! ALL are human. ALL can be wrong-and nearly all are. The whole world is DECEIVED (Revelation 12:9). That means its religious leaders and churches are deceived!

"The very recognition of that fact is the beginning of right knowledge. We do recognize it -- and that we ourselves could be wrong That is the first step toward coming out of the fog of error and deception, starting toward truth."

Herbert Armstrong adds, with sharp insight, "It is not a matter of who has the greater intellect. A man may have the highest IQ in the world, and in his intellectual VANITY refuse to admit he could be wrong -- reject all correction -- and thus embrace error and deception."

Therefore, says Mr. Armstrong, "The second step, if you would know TRUTH, is to be willing to admit being deceived or in error, and to reject it and accept truth new to me -- when proved even though unpopular -- even though it cuts me off from my family, friends, associates or club members -- even though everything in my selfish and vain nature rebels against it? Am I willing to act on it -- OBEY the truth -- no matter what the cost?"

This modern day servant of God adds, "To find and live the TRUTH requires a HUMBLED mind." He asked incisively, "Did you ever know a person of great intellectual powers who did not have the kind of VANITY that shrinks from confessing he has been WRONG -- and has misled others?" I know of several such people -- ministers in the end-time churches of God -- who have acted in this manner! Such an attitude is a shame and a reproach to them!

Mr. Armstrong continued in this article, "But God had humbled me. He brought me to repentance and faith. And He opened my mind to HIS TRUTH by the gift of His Holy Spirit.

"But I had to be willing, continuously, to confess being wrong, and to embrace truths constantly NEW to me."

How many people do you know, who are willing to do that? How many are humble enough to publicly admit it and confess it when they are wrong?

Precious few, indeed!

We must all be willing to confess error, and to admit being wrong, and to CHANGE, and to embrace truths new to us, if we are to really GROW in "grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ," as Peter wrote 1900 years ago (II Pet.

3:18).

Even as Mr. Armstrong wrote, I, too, have found, that "As I studied a portion of the Bible, I could now understand it. But I had to walk in the 'light' as God opened my mind to see. Regardless of the cost in the esteem of men, or in countering opposition and persecution, I had constantly to BE WILLING to follow GOD and not man. . .

"It is a matter of WILLINGNESS-not of superior and lofty minds. It is a matter of being LED by GOD'S SPIRIT into His ways that are so CONTRARY t6 this world's established customs and beliefs, not of personal human powers."

Mr. Armstrong says he did not start the Work of God, in his day, of his own accord at all. He added, "IT IS GOD'S DOING!" Even so I say of this END-TIME WORK of God, called Triumph Prophetic Ministries (Church of God), even though it is very small, compared to various other end-time church groups, this is not a work of "mere men." I did not start it of my own accord at all. I did not want to do it. or desire to. IT IS GOD'S DOING! As Mr. Armstrong rote, "By circumstances, God forced me to submission. The living JESUS CHRIST so manipulated events and the force of circumstances that he literally PLUNGED me into His work. It is not my work -- it is THE VERY WORK OF GOD."

Mr. Armstrong stated, "And THIS can be easily proved, to those willing to know the TRUTH!"

How This Work of God Began

Even so, this present "Work" also was begun by Christ, through me, through the pressure and force of circumstances beyong my personal control. God led me throughout my life. He brought me to Ambassador College in Pasadena, California, at age 18, to attend as a full-time student. I entered the Freshman Class in the fall of 1959. I was still "wet behind the ears," and very naive and inexperienced. I quickly saw, however, that Ambassador College was not the "Kingdom of God." There was much wickedness and sin there, and division under the surface -- and politics and hypocrisy.

During this time, however, God trained and taught me, through His Word, and led me to serve full-time in 1963, upon graduation, in the Letter Answering Department ministry. For several years I worked there, and became the most prolific letter answerer they had. God then began using my talents as a writer for the Good News, Tomorrow's World, Plain Truth magazines, and the Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course. And then He arranged circumstances to have me begin work on a book on creation versus evolution, and a series of Bible courses on Health, and Proof of the Bible. But these projects were all stopped in mid-stream, and in summer of 1974 I found myself suddenly without a job,

terminated, in a political power-play of Machiavellian proportions, when Garner Ted Armstrong "fired" the entire Plain Truth staff and the chief editor, Dr. Herman Hoeh, in a sudden unexplained "blitzkrief" move.

Apparently Garner Ted Armstrong felt there was "disloyalty" to him personally among staff members. That may have been true, since he had been revealed to be a clandestine womanizing seducer of young college co-eds, and a whore-monger, and despite these revelations Herbert Armstrong believed he had sincerely repented and could be trusted, so he placed him in charge of all Church operations. This was in 1973-74. But whereas Dr. Hoeh was "relocated" to a "counselling" ministry at the time of the sudden staff dismissal and firings, I was "let go" and given my "walking papers," with nary so much as a sad apology or a fond "farewell."

It was at this time, with no more support than faith and a desire to continue serving God, directly and personally, that I embarked on a new career publishing BOOKS, and inaugurated my own publishing company, called "Triumph Publishing."

In the course of the next 12 and one half years, I published nineteen books, including books on Bible prophecy, Proof of God, basic books on Church Doctrine, and many others -- books read by thousands of people. God blessed the new infant publishing work, although we experienced many trials and tests along the way.

Finally, though, in 1987, one year to the very day of the death of Herbert Armstrong, I was "put out" of the Worldwide Church of God by its new administration -- at the personal decision of Joseph [Judas] Tkach, Sr. He wanted no interference from me, as it turned out, as he began to lead the church in a direction 180 degrees DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE to ALL the basic, underlying teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong, putting the "lie" to Mr. Armstrong's entire ministry an life's work!

Knowing this was going to happen, God raised up this present Work, which had been "co-existing" with the Worldwide Church of God during the life-time of Herbert Armstrong, and brought it into full independence in January, 1987. It was at this time that we were led by God's Spirit to begin publishing Prophecy Flash, then a 12 to 20 page newsletter, and Bible-based reprint articles. Today, Prophecy Flash is a full magazine of about 88 pages, published bi-monthly, with about 4,000 subscribers. In addition, God is using us to reach about 1,000 people regularly with our Bible Study cassette tape programs.

Although this may seem "small," in the eyes of many, it is a precious work. Jesus said, "Fear not, little flock" (Luke12:32). The word for "little" here means, literally, micro, as in microcosm and microscopic! In other words, God's TRUE Work is so small you can barely detect it!

Although we are very small, God Almighty and Jesus Christ at His right hand have blessed thisWork, and given us the opportunity to discover and learn many precious NEW TRUTHS -- truths which are easily proven, and yet viciously and vigorously DENIED by ALL of the other "off-shoot" branches of the former Worldwide Church of God, not to mention that church itself, which has plungled all the way back into mainstream Protestantism and Scriptural apostasy -- Babylon the Great!

How to Handle "'New Truth"

When Mr. Herbert Armstrong began learning God's truth, it was revealed to him "a truth, a subject, a teaching, or a doctrine at a time" (Feb. 1972 Tomorrow's World, "Personal"). He did not get it all at once.

He wrote, "There were instances where, having felt I had come to understand the true Biblical teaching on a certain subject, other Scriptures discovered later put a different light on it. I had, on occasion, to confess I had been in error, and to correct it."

He says, "I did not get it all perfectly at the beginning. No one could" he confessed, "And sometimes, in the light of other Scriptures, I had to confess error and correct it."

Mr. Armstrong writes, "There were at least two occasions when I was accused by hostile women, bent on discrediting me, of error. On more thorough research, in these two instances, I discovered I had unknowingly been in error -- and they were correct. Humiliating or not, I openly and publicly corrected these errors at once."

Some, unfortunately, are only willing to admit error, or to be corrected, when it comes from an authority above them! They would never admit error when corrected by some lowly no account, or some lay member. If two hostile women brought a new truth to such modern end-time "ministers" -- without a doubt, they would summarily cast the women out of the Church of God, and brand them as heretics, and forbid church members to have any connection or fellowship with them whatsoever!

Do you see the difference in attitude, between Herbert Armstrong, and the attitudes of these other "end-time ministers," who all claim to follow in his footsteps, and who profess to be wearing "his mantle"?

May God help you to understand, and to see through these modern imposters, and "show-boaters" and "pretenders"!

Mr. Armstrong wrote, "To confess and correct error is to be branded a false prophet!

"Yet they are all HUMAN. They are ALL subject to error, and so are YOU -- and so am I -- and so is this Work of God. Even though it is God's Work, directed, empowered and blessed by Him, He carries it on through frail, weak HUMANS, and we humans are ALL of us subject to mistakes!"

Mr. Armstrong continues, "If and when we find one [an error] in the future, we shall correct it! The one who follows that principle is the MOST FREE FROM ERROR!

"So, confessing such an error is one of the SUREST proofs to identify the people through whom the living Christ IS WORKING -- and whom HE is USING!" (italics in quotation mine).

Why This Ministry Is NEEDED

What a statement! Yet the "fruits" prove beyond any doubt that ALL of the end-time "churches" that came out of Worldwide have REFUSED TO ADMIT ERROR -- to confess that they have been WRONG on such major doctrinal points as the true date of observing Passover, and the true manner, and the correct date to observe Pentecost! On these two TEST COMMANDMENTS they have all FAILED miserably!

God raised up Triumph Prophetic Ministries, and He revealed to us the correct dates to observe Passover and Pentecost. It was nothing "spectacular," I suppose. I studied into these issues with an open mind, and came to see that the Jews have been observing the correct dates for thousands of years, and never lost this fundamental truth! Yet all the end-time branches of the churches of God, who observed the "annual holy days," all were in error on this major point of truth!

How can we explain this? Why are they so oblivious to the clear and precious truth? WHY are they so BLIND?

Is it because they are together fulfilling the role prophesied in the book of Revelation -- the role of the end-time LAODICEAN CHURCH? God says of that church, "So, then, because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and BLIND, and naked . . ." (Rev.3:16-17).

In the last ten years, I have written over ten articles proving from many points of view that Passover should be celebrated on Nisan 15, after the "preparation day" of Nisan 14, when the original Passover lambs were killed (Exo.12:6). I have also been led by God to write over ten articles proving the true date Pentecost should be observed -- fifty days after the Passover, which occurs on Sivan 6, each year. In other words, the concept of a "Sunday" Pentecost is not only unbiblical, it is WRONG! It is a sinister deception foisted off upon the unsuspecting church by a wily and cunning devil!

But have any of the off-shoot churches that came out of Worldwide, when it plunged into doctrinal apostasy, been willing to look at the evidence -- ascertain the facts -- and REPENT?

No! Not a single one!

Nevertheless, it is God's intent that there be an END-TIMD WITNESS -- a Work that will truly serve Him, and proclaim His true MESSAGE to a wicked and rebellious world, as well as to a rebellious end-time Church! For this reason, He raised up this Work of God.

Different Office and Duties

God has called each one of us to do a particular job. Whatever it is, it is important to God, and to His Work! How are we to best understand our calling?

The apostle Paul wrote: "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of Spirit is given to every man to profit withal [that is, to profit others and God's Work as a whole]. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of MIRACLES; to another prophecy [or inspired preaching]; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues [foreign languages]; to another the inerpretation of tongues [who can't speak them but can interpret them]; but ALL THESE worketh that one and the self same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will" (I Cor. 12:4-1 1).

This passage of Scripture means, GOD gives the different GIFTS of His Spirit to each man, according to God's will, for the benefit of the Church of God and the Work God is doing! This isn't a matter of OUR choice. It's a matter of God's doing! He is the One who decides WHERE to place His Spirit, and its gifts, and HOW they will be used in His Church. This is a matter of God's wil -l -not man's will.

We have no say-so of how God will use us in His Work. I am an instrument in His hands, to use where He chooses, for the benefit of the overall Work of God! -- and, at the same time, for my greatest benefit, although I may not necessarily see it at the time! It was "hard" being disfellowshipped "without due process" and "without cause" by the ministers of the Worldwide Church of God in January 1987. I didn't want to be ejected from the Church, the body of believers, and be cast out on my "own."

Nevertheless, I knew I could not compromise, or come "crawling back" to a church which had already begun to go astray, which was misusing and abusing "authority," and which was in "denial" of new truth which God had brought to them through me. In this case, the "new truth" was a new understanding of the amazing prophecies of Daniel 8 and the "2300 day prophecy." The new Tkach church government rejected it completely, without even looking into it. They decided to "disfellowship" me because of my independent publishing of religious books, and my intent on publishing a newsletter at the time. They viewed this as "competition," but Herbert Armstrong had allowed my book publishijng business to continue without opposition from its inception in 1974 until his death in 1986 -- almost 12 years.

As a recently disfellowshipped person, I had to pray and endure, and search the Scriptures for what God wanted me to do. He made it plain to me that I should continue preaching and teaching the truth of God, no matter what the consequences or circumstances. Some things may be hard to understand, at the time they happen -- such as being disfellowshipped -- but we must learn to accept them, in FAITH, and go on, doing our best to serve God in the job and position where He places us!

Notice what Paul says: "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body [in the Church, and in the Work of God, today], as it hath pleased HIM" (I Cor. 12:18).

This isn't man's decision, It's not, never has been, up to man. GOD IN HEAVEN determines these things!

OUR responsibility isn't WHERE we are used in God's Work, or even HOW we are used. OUR responsibility is HOW WE FUNCTION in the job God gives us. YOUR duty is to do your BEST in WHATEVER job God gives you! God Himself put me in the writing and ministerial work, through Ambassador College. And then He called and chose me to publish books, in order to keep the truth of God alive. And then He inspired me to begin Prophecy Flash magazine, as a final "witness" to this end-time wicked and rebellious world, and as a final "witness" against the works of the end-time churches that profess His name, but deny Him in their works and doctrines and false teachings!

Herbert Armstrong -- "NOT a Prophet!"

In the February 1972 Tomorrow's World magazine, Herbert W. Armstrong asserted emphatically, so that no one could miss the point: "Thousands know that I, personally, have been called and chosen for a very definite commisssion in God's service. But I have definitely NOT been called to be a PROPHET. . ."

He continues, "Emphatically I am NOT a prophet, in the sense of one to whom God speaks specially and directly, revealing personally a future event to happen or new truth, or new and special instruction direct from God -- separate from, and apart from what is contained in the Bible. And I never have claimed to be."

Mr. Armstrong continued, writing in 1972, "There is no such human prophet living today!" And, of course, he was absolutely right! If there were any, I surely don't know of them! The only ones I know would have to be called FALSE prophets!

But does this mean that God will not raise up men to the station of prophets during these last days, immediately prior to the second coming of Jesus Christ?

The Office of "PROPHET"

The answer must be an equally emphatic and resounding, NO!

The office of prophet is very clearly one of the offices which Jesus Christ ordained for His Church. He distributes gifts in the Church through the Holy Spirit. As the apostle Paul wrote, "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom . . . to another prophecy" (I Cor. 12:7-10).

Paul emphatically stated, "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily, PROPHETS. . ." (v.28). He goes on to ask, "Are all prophets?" (v. 29).

In the New Testament church there were "prophets." "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers . . ." (Acts 13:1). "And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them, named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great famine throughout all the world, which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar" (Acts 11:27-28).

In fact, Paul tells us, the Church of God is "built upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone" (Eph.2:20).

God Does the Calling

Did the original twelve disciples choose to become apostles of God, and then fit themselves for such a mission in life? No -- notice the words of Jesus Christ: "Ye have NOT chosen me. BUT I HAVE CHOSEN YOU, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain" (John 15:16).

This should be perfectly plain. They did not seek this office. Why, Peter and his brother and cousins were simple fishermen. When they began following Christ, they STILL had no idea of what really lay ahead of them. They thought Jesus would set up a physical kingdom on earth, right then and there. They had no idea He was training them and commissioning them to become APOSTLES of His Church! They though, at best, they would be His aides and governors and assistants in administrating a physical

kingdom which He would establish!

But they were wrong, weren't they?

Jesus called them for a PURPOSE -- to become "fishers of men." They were called and chosen, because of natural ability, strength and talents [along with their personal weaknesses] to become pillars in the Church -- the FOUNDATION of the Church of God (Eph. 2:20), along with the prophets!

The Prophets and Patriarchs

But what about the men of God of old? Did Abraham choose to become the "Father of the faithful"? No -- look at the record. "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country . . . and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing" (Gen. 121-2). Again, you see, GOD did the choosing. He APPOINTED Abraham to this high office (he was a prophet, but much more than a prophet -- the original promises were made to him!).

And, of course, what about Moses? Moses was one of the GREATEST MEN IN the Bible -- responsible for writing the LAW, the first five books of Scripture! Did he choose this awesome job? "And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush . . . And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not bumt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I" (Exo. 3:23).

Moses had a right attitude -- his heart was right. He wanted God to perform everything He said He would for Israel. But Moses, himelf, did not begin to feel worthy to be the chosen vessel of God to DO these things! Moses was well aware of his weaknesses. He objected. "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am low of speech, and of a slow tongue" (Exo. 4:10).

Do you see how Moses tried to get out of it? Vanity was not his problem. He was, perhaps, too negative, too self effacing, and didn't have enough confidence. God had to "jack him up" and encourage him, "Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing. or the blind? have not I the LORD? Now therefore Go, and I will be with thy mouth, and TEACH thee what thou shalt say" (vs. 11-12).

Still, Moses was reticent -- and God had to get strong with him -- and COMMAND him to go, telling him Aaron would help him where he was weak!

When God called David to be king over Israel, he was only a runt of a family -- the youngest of eight, the tail-ender of the brood -- a young shepherd boy. Samuel wanted to anoint one of David's

older, more powerful appearing brothers-but God said, "Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as a man seeth; for a man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart" (I Sam. 16:7).

When the older brothers were paraded before Samuel, he told Jesse, "The LORD hath not chosen these" (v.10). No one thought about bringing David before Samuel. "There remaineth yet the youngest," Jesse said, thinking, "Who would ever want to see David? He's just a youngster -- a boy!" And he added, "behold, he keepeth the sheep" (v.11). But when David came bounding in, God told Samuel, "ARISE, anoint him: for this is he" (v. 12).

David naturally, had NO IDEA of what they wanted with him! He did choose himself to become KING over Israel! He was merely a young lad, serving God as a shepherd -- and he was probably very content with being a shepherd out in the hills, where he could commune with God and talk with Him, while composing beautiful music under the stars, as he drew close to God!

Let's go a little further. What about Isaiah? When God called him to be a prophet, and showed him an awesome vision of His Throne, Isaiah cried out. "Woe is me! for I am undone [Heb., cut off; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts" (Isa. 6:5).

Isaiah did not feel worthy, either. Yet God cleansed him, and converted him, and inspired him to be a mighty prophet!

Jeremiah was another young lad, like David, whom nobody would have paid any attention to. Yet God said to him, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb, I sanctified thee, and I ORDAINED thee a prophet unto the nations" (Jer. 1: 5). What was Jeremiah's response on learning of this?

"Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak! for I am a child" (v. 6). God, however, did not listen to his excuses as to why he could not be a prophet. God had chosen him, and that was it! God answered Jeremiah, "Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD" (vs. 7-8).

Jeremiah had no choice about the matter. God didn't ask him, "Would you like to be a prophet?" God simply told him he was chosen to be a prophet -- and that was that!

Jonah was another chosen to be a prophet by God -- but he tried to run away. He finally came to see there was nowhere to run, no way out for him. Finally, Jonah repented of running away from his responsibility -- and God sent him to preach to the city of

Nineveh, prophesying its downfall.

Notice! All these great men of God were CALLED by God to do a job -- to perform a "work." They did not have high opinions of themselves. They were not inflated with ego. They were "small" people, as the world would look upon them -- and yet God called them, and prepared them, and then USED them to do His Work for that time and age! What about us, today?

God's Standard

Will God justify and honor one man more than another, merely because of his office? Does God have "respect of persons?" Of course not!

David wrote: "Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity" (Psa. 62:9).

Isaiah wrote: "Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing." And, "All nations before him are as NOTHING; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and VANITY" (Isa. 40:15,17).

God's true servants are well aware of this. They are not inflated with self-importance. They do not strut in pride and vanity, proud of their office, preening their feathers and glorifying themselves. They know -- they KNOW there is no unrighteousness with God, and that God will judge each man fairly, not according to his office b