Did Herbert W. Armstrong Teach Error?

There is the belief that Herbert W. Armstrong corrected all error in church teaching before he died. There is also the belief that Mr. Armstrong had all the truth, or the full truth. As if the cup of truth was completely filled, and no more could be added or revealed to another. Errors are systemic in all humans. Even the apostles and prophets were affected by it, Herbert W. Armstrong without exception.

Not all prophets are 100% accurate at the time of prophecy (1Cor. 13:8). Jonah preached to the city of Nineveh that it would be overthrown in 40 days (Jon 1:1,2, 3:4). Daniel wrote Jerusalem would be restored, and rebuilt in 70 weeks (Dan. 9:24,25). Isaiah told Hezekiah to get his affairs in order, he was going to die (2Kin 20:1). Peter and the apostles taught Jesus would return in their lifetime (1Cor 15:51-54, 1Jon 3:2, 1Thes2:19, 4:15, Jms 5:8). All these erred in their immediate prophecies. God not allowing them to see, or understand, until the right moment in time (1Cor 13:9). These prophecies were eventually fulfilled, not according to human understanding, but according to God's desires, and in God's time.

The difference between all the apostles, prophets, groups, and ministers in the world is the amount of error, verses the amount of real truth they teach. All churches teach some error. A lot of error alongside a small amount of truth becomes a glaring eye sore. A little error in a large volume of truth may never be noticed. Herbert W. Armstrong produced a large volume of truth with very little error. Therefore the error was not readily seen.

Did Mr. Armstrong receive every truth he taught directly from the scriptures himself? No, he read, sifted, and studied others material. He seperated out truth from error, and taught what he saw as truth.

Herbert W. Armstrong was an apostle, and did the work of Elijah, but he did not have all the truth, or the full truth. Only God and Christ have all the truth, they wrote the scriptures. Mr. Armstrong had only the truth God allowed him to have, and restore to the church during his lifetime. God revealed to Mr. Armstrong certain truths of scripture, some of which he never fully understood. As we draw closer to the return of Christ our understanding of these events taught by Mr. Armstrong ought to become more clear, accurate and alive. There is no sin in correcting church error, it can be deadly if we don't.

Click here for a list of errors taught by the Herbert W. Armstrong ministry.