The Long Tradition of Prophetic Insight and Accuracy

This end-time Work of the Watchman has a well documented history and tradition. It began with my Grandfather, some 70 years ago. All involved or familiar with this Work know of his lifelong contribution; and of the long and productive Work of his son, my Dad; Garner Ted Armstrong.

Watching today’s current news, in the light of Bible Prophecy is very interesting indeed! Wars in the Middle East. Europe’s new currency, the Euro, gains steadily and dramatically against the dollar! Leading members of the European Union ally themselves with the Vatican to bolster their posture against the United States. Germany invokes patriotism as justification for leading the pack economically and in the creation of a European Military. A military power Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong warned would become stronger than that of the United States! During a long career of writing, speaking and broadcasting, Mr. Garner Ted Armstrong kept abreast of current events as they unfolded, pointed them out and always showed their relevance as they applied to events your Bible says will presage the end of the age, and the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong gained an understanding of Bible prophecy through reading, study and divine revelation back before many of those active in this phase of the Work were born. He had the understanding necessary to look into the Bible, and into the future, compare those prophecies with world events extant at the time and see the trends which would lead to an eventual culmination. Beginning in the early 1950s his son, my Dad, Garner Ted Armstrong began to take an active role in writing and broadcasting that message of witness and warning. Consider the strong message and accurate prophetic prediction written by Mr. Herbert W. in 1957. It was an article which recognized that Eastern European countries under the control of the USSR were already beginning to adopt policies which were outside the Communist dogma, policies which would pave the way for them to eventually leave the Soviet orbit and join in a coming United Europe. Early in the article, he quoted some rather humorous definitions of Communism, Fascism, Democracy, “New Dealism,” Capitalism and Theocracy.

“Communism: You have two cows. The government takes both and sells you the milk.

“Fascism: You have two cows. The government takes both, feeds the milk to the army, and shoots you.

“Democracy: You have two cows. The government buys one and sells it to an enemy on credit.

“New Dealism: You have two cows. The government buys both, shoots one, milks the other, and throws the milk away. “Capitalism: You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull.

“Theocracy: You have two cows. You milk them both, sell the milk, pay God His tithe, keep the other nine tenths and God gives you a bull.”

Nobody ever accused Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong of having no sense of humor! But his article went on to highlight serious issues of that era, and into the frightening scenario which the United States will ultimately face according to Bible prophecy. Mind you, the year was 1957! The following quote appears under the subhead, “Germany is Risen Again!”

“The factor is this: Germany is once again a major world power- and we don’t know it!

“While we innocently suppose the Russians are as mighty and dangerous as their words of bluff, we remain sound asleep to the FACT that Germany is fast emerging as a far GREATER power than Russia.

“Already Germany, in actual resources and sustained industrial power, has actually passed Great Britain, believe it or not! Twice in the past three years I have visited and toured over Germany. Never have I seen such dynamic energy for WORK- for the work of production- of restoring a whipped, beaten, depleted Germany to the pinnacle where the Germans can shout triumphantly, Deutschland UberAlles!

“Right at this time- just as this united dynamic energy has built up West Germany to the DOMINANT position in Europe once again, THESE SATELLITE NATIONS ARE TURNING FROM ACTUAL COMMUNISM To FASCISM, and they are now getting into position to break finally and CLEAN from Russia, and join in the coming …TEN-NATION COMBINE- the future United States of EUROPE!”

He went on to point to evidence that various of the Eastern European nations were already starting to drift from Russia! It will embody a population of some 250 millions of people! It will be MORE POWERFUL, even, than the United States…” Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong goes on to discuss the British (aided by the French) seizure of the Suez Canal, and how they immediately handed it over to the UN after being branded an aggressor, and losing face internationally. He wrote, “The BIG SIGNIFICANCE of all this, however, is that the British sun is fast setting. Britain is losing prestige, losing colonies and possessions and resources all over the world! Likewise, the United States is coming to be HATED by nearly all nations!” If only he could see how far we’ve come in the development of the scenario he so powerfully pointed out! Of course, he expected it would come about much more quickly. Nevertheless, he was on target. Now, we move forward in his article, and see the clarity with which he explained where the U.S. was headed, and why! Under the sub-head, “What It All Means” he wrote,

“Our people have forsaken GOD! And, for our own good, to bring us to our senses, GOD IS BEGINNING TO PUNISH! …While we PROFESS to be the leading `Christian’ countries, we (the U.S. and Britain) have actually turned God’s Holy Bible upside down-we have rejected the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, as Christ Himself delivered and proclaimed it-we have set up PAGAN sun worshiping practices and we call them `Christian’ festivals-we have adopted false and hellish doctrines that make God’s ways and His laws appear to be evil, and make evil appear to be righteousness!”

WHEW! Grandpa Armstrong sure knew how to make the words leap off the page!

Next is something I believe to be very special. I’ve often heard my Dad refer to the fact that he was writing and preaching calm assurance that there WOULD BE NO NUCLEAR WAR BETWEEN THE U.S. AND RUSSIA, even during the time of the Cuban missile crisis. But I don’t recall hearing him actually quote himself from that time. My research has yielded something I think you will find enlightening and enjoyable. Written by Garner Ted Armstrong in December of 1962, it is proof of the claim many of you have heard him make in his sermons. And it serves as additional conclusive evidence of The Long Tradition…

GTA, Dec. 1962, “From the time of the Bay of Pigs fiasco, it would have been assumed President Kennedy was looking for whatever opportunity could have been at least vaguely `justifiable’ in the eyes of the fabled `world public opinion’ to attack Cuba, removing the threat of Castro and his Communist puppets from the Western Hemisphere forever!

“This opportunity had certainly come! The time was ripe! Why did not President Kennedy order the all out attack of Cuba, and the immediate removal of Communism from this hemisphere?

“Because President Kennedy does not understand prophecy!

“I know, and anyone who understands Bible prophecy, really KNOWS that Premier Khrushchev would not have ordered an attack upon the United States, upon Berlin, upon Formosa, or all-out attack upon India or any other area of the world as a result of the United States attack against Cuba! I know this, simply because any such attack would have meant instant retaliation from the United States, and the plunging of the world into all-out nuclear bomb war!

“And prophecy says this will not happen!

“The prophecies of the Bible do describe a gigantic nuclear-bomb struggle involving the hordes of the Red Army-but that war is NOT between Russia and the United States. Rather, it will be a supreme contest with the then world-powerful modern ROMAN EMPIRE, perhaps called `The UNITED STATES OF EUROPE.’

“KNOWING that prophecy is TRUE, that prophecy is going to occur, just as it has been occurring, exactly as the Bible says-God’s people are able to have CONFIDENCE in the face of world conditions.

“Your Bible describes the gentile nations as being ruled over by men with the minds of WII.D ANIMAI.S. And how truea representation! But how would you handle a ravening beast? By careful coddling, soothing talk, and nice presents?Hardly! Ask any lion tamer, or anyone having worked with wild dogs or wolves! It takes forceful STRENGTH! It takes quick ACTION, it takes stinging REBUKES to handle them properly!

“HAD the United States leaders understood the prophecies of the Bible, and, just as in the days of old, been able to TRUST THEIR GOD, instead of their allies, they could have DEALT with the animal-like minds of gentile leaders in no uncertain terms! But President Kennedy had no way of really KNOWING that God says plainly RUSSIA WILL NOT EVER ATTACK THE UNITED STATES WITH AN ALL-OUT NUCLEAR BOMB WAR!”

As I remember so well, and maybe you do too, Dad told of how the citizenry of the United States was on pins and needles worrying about imminent nuclear attack from Cuba. Yet those reading and listening to my Dad and Grandfather in person and on radio in those days had the comfort of being told they could relax. A nuclear attack from Cuba using Russian missiles just wasn’t to be.

And now to some of the more recent written understanding and insight of Mr. Garner Ted Armstrong. Mr. GTA was a student of the many facets of World War II. From Pearl Harbor and the war in the Pacific, to Normandy, to Northern Africa to the air war over Europe and the ultimate success of allied ground forces, he was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge. He was on active duty on the aircraft carrier Antietam offshore Korea during that war. He was active in his writing and broadcasting career during the Vietnam War. He read extensively and he wrote extensively. He knew it backward and forward.

He traveled Europe extensively. He visited NATO headquarters in Brussels, the seats of government in England, France, Germany, and Rome, which is a city state with broad political as well as religious power. He interviewed and established a personal relationship with former West German Defense Minister, Franz Joseph Strauss in the 1970s. There are references to those contacts in the lengthy segment which follows, and even the contents of a letter from Strauss to GTA. Dad thought Herr Strauss to be an important player in the coming reunification of Germany, and he respected the inside knowledge of the politics Heir Strauss was able to impart. He planned to interview Strauss, and Strauss enthusiastically agreed, as the letter will show. The lengthy excerpt which follows was written and published in 1988, only a little more than a year before the Berlin Wall came down, and major pieces of the prophetic scenario began to rapidly fall into place.

And now, Garner Ted Armstrong, urgently predicted what was to transpire the very next year, in November of 1989.

“Little do President Reagan or Mikhail Gorbachev understand just now, how much their recently-concluded summit in Moscow will contribute toward a United States of Europe, the coming super-power that will tower over both the Soviet Union and the United States. Yet, that is precisely what the Reagan-Gorbachev summitry will produce.

“Today, Eastern Europe is in ferment. A flurry of articles in the major news magazines of the world have highlighted the terrible economic conditions, heightened expectations and restive frustrations of millions of people in East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Rumania, Yugoslavia; indeed, in many of the `republics’ in the Soviet Union itself. In this article, we shall see what some of those frustrations are; how Glasnost and Perestroika have struck a note in the hearts of millions, and what the future may hold. Most importantly, we will see what Bible prophecy foretells for central Europe – what it says about a coming SUPER GIANT in Europe!

“For decades, I have been proclaiming the eventual creation of a United States of Europe – specifically, that several Eastern European countries would eventually come out from behind the Iron Curtain, joining this new supranational power bloc.

“I was saying this over television and radio, and before large audiences numbering into the many thousands, back during the very depths of the Cold War; during the Kennedy era when Nikita Khruschev was pounding his shoe on the podium at the United Nations. I wrote, and preached for years, that Russia and the United States would NOT go to war; that a new and unexpected enemy would emerge from the ashes of defeat; that Germany would reunite and lead European unification! How could I have known that EasternEuropean nations would come out from behind the Iron Curtain; link themselves, first economically, and then politically and militarily, with Western Europe? I knew, because I knew not only the identity of Britain and America in prophecy, but Germany, as well!

“Back in the early, 1970s, when I first interviewed then Defense Minister Franz Josef Strauss, he emphasized that West Germany was an `economic giant, but a political dwarf,’ and warned , that this state of affairs could not long endure.

“U.S. News and World Report wrote, `The Bavarian arch-conservative Franz Josef Strauss recently returned from a trip to Moscow to proclaim that there no longer is a threat from the east. A quarter of the German public agrees.’

“When I learned of Strauss’ trip, I immediately wrote to him, congratulating him on his visit with Gorbachev, asking for a tentative agreement to an interview at some future time.

“His answer came on April 28th. He said, `Dear Mr. Armstrong: Thank you very much for your kind letter dated 25 January 1988, congratulating me on my trip to Moscow last December. I have read with great interest your considerations on the pressing problems of European defense and security policy and on further developments in the Eastern Bloc…1 would of course be happy to fulfill your request and grant you an interview for your magazine about those and other topics of mutual interest. 1 have made a note of your wish… With kind regards, yours Sincerely, (signed), Franz Josef Straus’

East Germany

“The so-called `German Democratic Republic’ was set up by the Soviet Union, the occupying power, following World War II. Nominally, it was proclaimed `fully sovereign’ by 1954. However, as a result of Russian fears of a reunited Germany; the fear of future German militarism, there is no Eastern European nation which has known greater Russian presence or controls. Nearly half a million Russian soldiers remain in East Germany.

“It is the infamous Berlin Wall, erected in 1961, dividing the spiritual, cultural, social and economic capital of Germany by a fortified barrier, that has symbolized the Cold War since the Kennedy years. Before the wall was built, more than three million disillusioned East Germans had fled to the West. As was caustically noted by Western leaders, the Berlin Wall represented the first time in known history that a government had erected a wall to keep its own citizens in, rather than its enemies out. It was during his visit to Berlin when President Reagan stood by the wall and said `Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!’ He repeated the theme during the recent summit meetings.

“German reunification will occur. We may be only a very few years away – if that long from that long-expected event!

“When Cardinal Karol Wojtila was elected pope in Rome, I said repeatedly, before many large audiences, that Polandwould figure prominently in the eventual emergence of Eastern Europe from behind the Iron Curtain; that Poland would most likely become a part of the coming `United States of Europe.’

“Mark this well! Poland is mostly Roman Catholic! The Catholic Church has been a focal point for dissidence in recent years, as people pour out their woes to the church leaders. The mass hysteria that occurred when the pope returned to his homeland on two separate occasions made it only too clear that the pope will yet play a significant role in the future of Poland, his native land.

“Truly, prophecy is marching on! Now, events seem ready to congeal into a neo-revolutionary period in Europe; the dismantlement of old security arrangements like NATO and the Warsaw Pact, and the emergence of a whole new order of things. Now, let’s see what prophecy says!

The Beast of Prophecy

“As many articles in these pages have repeatedly emphasized, the BEAST John saw in vision represents a coming union of TEN NATIONS in the same general region as the previous resurrections of the ROMAN EMPIRE down through history. God’s angelic messenger said to John, `And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings [symbols of nations; governments; dictators or absolute rulers over countries], which have received NO KINGDOM AS YET [the precise time in which WE LIVE, in Bible prophecy!]; but receive power as kings one hour [perhaps only a year, or a very few years] with the beast.

“`These have one mind [a united policy], and shall give their power and strength [the power of kings or dictators is absolute; this means their combined economic, industrial, military might] unto the beast [pooling the combined might of TEN great nations!].

“`THESE SHALL MAKE WAR WITH THE LAMB, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful’ (Revelation 17:12-14).

“The time element of this prophecy is impossible to misunderstand! Notice the ten nations come together to form a supranational conglomeration of nations – called, figuratively, `the beast,’ just before the second coming of Christ!

“It is the BEAST power that is used- to bring about the GREAT TRIBULATION on the western world – particularly the time of the NATIONAL PUNISHMENT to come against God’s people in the United States and Britain, together with northwestern Europe, and the Commonwealth countries!

“Jesus said, `For then shall be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

“`And except those days should be shortened [supernaturally cut short by God’s intervention!], there should no flesh be saved [all humanity would be annihilated!]: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened’ (Matthew 24:21, 22).

“The tribulation is described as a UNIQUE time; totally unprecedented: Now, notice `And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for thy people[Daniel’s people were the people of ISRAEL]: and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time…’ (Daniel 12:1).

“There cannot be TWO such times! This is describing the SAME ti2ne of GREAT TRIBULATION as that described by Christ! Now, notice that the tribulation is coming specifically on ISRAEL!

“`Alas!’ For that day is great, so that none is like it [the SAME TIME; THE TIME OF TRIBULATION]: it is even the time of JACOB’S TROUBLE; but he shall be saved out of it!’ (Jeremiah 30:7).

“Jacob is ISRAEL! `Dying Israel, however, crossed his hands, blessing his grandchildren Ephraim and Manasseh, the two children of Joseph, saying `…and let MY NAME BE NAMED ON THEM:..’ (Genesis, 48:16). Jacob is, primarily, EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH, Britain and the United States!

“Notice the prophecy says Ephraim and Manasseh will be under a YOKE, like a harnessed ox; a symbol of SLAVERY! `For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Eternal of hosts; that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him [Israel reduced to performing servant’s work for an occupying power!]’ (Jeremiah 30:8).

“Now; WH0 will lay this YOKE of slavery on our peoples? Listen! `Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, `the lady of kingdoms.’ I was wroth with my people (the coming tribulation], I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily LAID THY YOKE’ (Isaiah 47:1-10).

“This `daughter of Babylon’; the `lady of kingdoms,’ who claims, `I AM, and none else beside me’ [a blasphemous claim!] is described as a great MOTHER CHURCH!

“Notice! `…I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow [she is `married,’ politically and spiritually], `neither shall I know the loss of children’ [she has protesting daughters who come out from her] (Isaiah 47:8).

“Turn to and read the 17~ chapter of Revelation. Here, that same great `lady of kingdoms,’ or a `mother church’ which has political concourse with the governments of this world, is described! `And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore [God labels political intercourse between church and state WHOREDOM] that sitteth upon many waters {many peoples, nations] with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

“`…I saw a woman [symbol of a false church! ] SIT UPON A SCARLET COLORED BEAST [The woman controls the beast; rides upon it, steers it, directs it!], full of names of blasphemy [`holy,’ etc.] having seven heads [the Roman Empire had SEVEN distinct empirical eras] and ten horns(the final ten national dictators, or kings].

“`And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: .

“`And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH’ (Revelation 17:1-5).

“An ancient limerick is perhaps a convenient analogy. It goes:

`There once was a lady from Niger

Who smiled as she rode on a tiger.

They returned from the ride,

With the lady inside,

And the- smile on the face of the tiger.’

“Notice this `daughter of Babylon’ is the great false church, having concourse with many governments who RIDES, controls; the BEAST! It is a CHURCH-STATE marriage!

“Which great universal church is called the `MOTHER’ church? And which nation, unique among nations, is called, NOT the `motherland,’ but the FATHERLAND?

“Now read Revelation 17:15-18! God says the ten governments who do the whore’s bidding will `HATE the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked; and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

“`For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill His will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast [all ten nations, at the behest of the great false church, will AGREE to a multinational union!] until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

“`And the woman which thou sawest is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth!’ (Revelation 17:i8).

“What city has had the power to set up and depose kings? Which city is it that is a city having seven famous hills(Revelation 17:9) and which is the headquarters of an ancient MYSTERY religion; with the symbols of ancient BABYLON in her liturgy and her rituals?

“Now, notice! `O Assyrian [Germany!], the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him [Germany!] against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets…yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease [the great tribulation; time of Jacob’s trouble, will be over!], and mine anger in their destruction…And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed. because of the anointing [at the second coming of Christ]’ (Isaiah 10:5-27, excerpted). An unholy marriage is to occur between the great false church and the ten nations in Europe. The leading nation to be the instrument of God’s punishment against sinning Israel is ASSYRIA which is identified as modern Germany! Germany is the FATHERland; Rome represents the MOTHER church! The YOKE of slavery is laid upon God’s people by Two POWERS; both Assyria, and the `lady of kingdoms,’ of Isaiah 47!

“Notice the vision Daniel interpreted for Nebuchadnezzar! The final ten toes of the great image, which represented the successive world-ruling empires from Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon to this modern time; the ten toes being the final ten kings, are seen as `mixed with miry clay’ (Daniel 2:43). The prophecy says this is a `weak’ mixture; `…the kingdom shall be partly strong [the iron] and partly weak [the clay]. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay’ (Daniel 2:42, 43).

“And the time setting of this prophecy about a church/state mixture of TEN NATIONS who are allied together, forming the BEAST?

“Note it well! `And IN THE DAYS OF THESE KINGS [the TEN kings represented by the ten toes] SHALL THE GOD OF HEAVEN SET UP A KINGDOM WHICH SHALL NEVER BE DESTROYED: arid the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms [see° Revelation 2:26; 3:21; 20:4] and it shall stand FOR EVER’ (Daniel 2:44).

“The ten horns of the beast of Revelation 17 fight Christ at His coming; are broken, crushed – and Christ sets up His kingdom on earth. The ten toes of the image seen in Daniel 2 are identical!

“For decades, I have written how the coming United States of Europe would come about as a result of economicupheavals, followed by political unrest; the overthrow of existing governmental structures, new security arrangements.

“And now, we stand poised on the brink of a whole new erain U.S./Soviet relations; a WHOLE NEW AGE in geopolitical realities! What we are seeing is the steady, inexorable move toward a UNITED EUROPE!

A New Age

“As a result of Mikhail Gorbachev’s initiatives toward Perestroika, (restructuring) and as a direct result of the many summit conferences between President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev, the global community of nations has suddenly entered a new age!

“Millions feel it. The Eastern Europeans know it is true. Americans believe it. They now recognize that the cold war is OVER!

“The last thing most Americans expect is to be faced with a glittering new political entity: The United States of Europe, replete with a multinational nuclear and space capability superior to that of either the Soviet Union or the United States.

“It will shock millions of complacent; uninformed Britons and Americans when it happens! Few realize the depth of anti-American sentiments inside Europe. Few seem to understand that TEN nations, allied together, will pool between them enough economic, industrial and military strength to become the NEW SUPER-GIANT in the world, a MONSTER of great POWER! The `economic giant and political dwarf’ is about to begin a sudden growth spiral, emerging as BOTH economic and political GIANT!

“Whether we like to believe it or not, America is in decline! Just as the sun did finally set over the once proud British Empire in the decades following World War II, so the once mighty `arsenal of democracy’ has gradually become a service-oriented society, sick with crime, divorce, pollution, social decadence, and drugs. Meanwhile, in Europe, restive millions of people yearn for their day in the sun – their time of ascendancy!

“That time is just around the corner now. You will, live to see it happen! When it does, you will be better able to understand why God said, through John, `And they worshiped the BEAST, saying Who is like unto the Beast? And, WHO IS ABLE TO MAKE WAR WTTH HIM?’ (Revelation 13:4).

“Meanwhile, what about you? Are YOU concerned? Are YOU one who believes you should be involved in the last-minute work of witness and warning to a heedless, sin-sick world? Christ promised, `Because thou hast kept the word of my patience I will also keep thee from the hour of trial [the GREAT TRIBULATION] which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell on the earth’ (Revelation 3:10).

“Those who are deeply committed to GOD’S WORK – the work of the WATCHMAN (Ezekiel 33); the work of WARNING this world through the mass media; over television, radio, and the printed page; through evangelism and personal witness – those who recognize the CALLING OF GOD in their lives know .that the Great Tribulation holds no threats to them! They know they will be PRESERVED through the terrible times to come! Read Psalms 91, and God’s promise of protection!”

That was a witness and a warning that was dead on! What could possibly have been more timely in the summer of 1988? Notice that he not only pointed out specifically the situation which existed at the time he wrote, but what was about to happen in the immediate future! He also took it right through the prophetic events which will presage the return of Jesus Christ! He showed the examples in ancient Biblical times which point to the end time, and the repetitive series of prophetic fulfillments which God has allowed to play out through history. This is, I believe timeless. The burden now falls upon all of us, to recognize where we are in the scheme of history and prophecy, and to fulfill the admonition to WATCH, CRY ALOUD, and spare not! That’s obviously what my Dad was doing in 1988! The postscript to the segment above was that the Berlin Wall did fall, in November of 1989.

My Dad, my brother David and I rushed to Berlin with the bulky television equipment of the day, still cameras and microphones, recorded television segments and gathered footage of the enormous celebration which ensued surrounding this incredibly historic and prophetic event.

Now to the Middle East!

Garner Ted Armstrong understood and constantly demonstrated his complete grasp of all that makes the Middle East, and Jerusalem, the focal point of world history and Bible prophecy. He knew the region geographically, historically, and politically. From ancient Biblical times all the way up to recent history, current events, and events which yet lie in the future, Garner Ted Armstrong had a handle on 2he subject that has been of great value to all of us privileged to know him, work with him, and benefit from his insight and his personal experiences.

He spent time at the home of Moshe Dyan, legendary Israeli General and hero of the 1967 Six Day War. He interviewedAnwar Sadat in Cairo, Egypt, and established a rapport that remained special to him, particularly in the light of Sadat’sassassination. The irony was that the very qualities which made Anwar Sadat such a unique giant in the annals of Arab heads of state, turned out to be the very reason he was gunned down.

I shot television programs on location with my Dad from the Mount of Olives with the ancient city of Jerusalem in the background, from the entrance to the tomb at Golgotha, and interviews with Mayor Teddy Kollek: ‘ We interviewed Faisal Husseini, one of the leading intellectuals among the Palestinians in Jerusalem at his home, only three days after he had met with former Secretary of State James Baker. We interviewed Yitzhak Rabin who was the leader of an opposition party at the time, but who subsequently became Prime Minister of Israel and was assassinated by a radically conservative Israeli unhappy with Rabin’s posture of acquiescence to Palestinian demands. I personally interviewed military officers in the Israeli army, and many may remember, Gershon Salomon, head of the Temple Mount faithful, a group dedicated to the reconstruction of the Temple on the site where it originally stood, where the famous gold guilded Dome of the Rock and the (holy to Islam) A1 Aqsa Mosque currently stand!

Both my Dad and Grandfather personally knew and worked with the head of the Archaeological Department of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, through the 1960s and into the 1970s, Professor Mazzar. As some “old timers” may remember, Ambassador College sent students to participate in the effort to excavate the area known as the “City of David,” inside the old walls, and adjacent to the “Wailing Wall,” the last standing remnant of the Herodian Temple. It is considered a “holy place” by the Judaic religion.

I traveled with my Dad, in both Israeli and Arab capitals doing interviews and on-the-spot television programs, and gathering useful footage on my own. He (GTA) understood the history of the Middle East, ancient and recent, from both the Israeli and Arabic points of view. He’s done numerous articles and tapes on the subject. We received a letter soon after his death from a University Professor of History praising him for his obvious range of detailed knowledge and his “big picture” understanding. The professor said there was no doubt that Mr. GTA could have easily been an historian himself, and that many of his (GTA’s) insights found their way into his (the professor’s) history classes.

There’s probably at least a semester’s worth of Middle East history contained in the segment you’re about to read. References are made to some of the travels and the interviews I mentioned above. In fact, a sizable portion of the interview I conducted with the leader of the Temple Mount Faithful standing in the large expanse in front of the Wailing Wall, is also included. You may recognize that the photo of Mr. HWA and Loma D. Armstrong on the cover of this booklet was taken in that same location, decades earlier.

And now, Garner Ted Armstrong, writing about the Middle East cauldron, and the prospects of another Temple being built upon the original Temple Mount.

“Think of it, Israel, one of the smallest nations on earth, sandwiched between hostile Arab neighbors in the Middle East, wants only one thing: peace.

“When the true horrors of the Holocaust became known, a conscience-stricken United Nations finally passed a resolution allowing. the creation of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, on May 14, 1948. For years, frantic refugees from Europe; from ports in Southern France, tried to immigrate to Palestine. Many shiploads were turned back by the ~ritish. Wretched escapees from Hitler’s extermination camps were forced to remain aboard their overcrowded ships, to cry helplessly as they saw Haifa fading into the distance as their ship sailed for Cyprus, or back to Europe.

“Finally; in May of 1948, the British occupying forces withdrew from Palestine. The very next day came the unilateral declaration of independence of the state of Israel.

“Immediately, combined Arab armies from Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Iraq and Egypt attacked the fledgling little Jewish state. In a bloody war, Israel managed to hang on to a narrow strip of land between Haifa and Gaza which included the city of Tel Aviv, and which featured a huge double bulge of territory on the West Bank of the Jordan, extending up into the mountains and down across the maritime plain to within only ten kilometers of the Mediterranean, occupied by Jordan.

“The map of Israel from 1948 to 1967 shows clearly the terrible vulnerability of the little country to attack from the Golan, Gaza and Egypt, and from the West Bank.

“Yet, in those 19 years, Israel, though building a powerful citizen army, never attempted to dislodge the Jordanian Army from the West Bank Bulge, nor from the old city of Jerusalem.

“During those 19 years, bloody terrorist atrocities took place from one end of Israel to another; from the Golan, Southern Lebanon, Gaza, and the West Bank, guerrilla bands infiltrated Israeli farms and towns, killing men; women, and children.

“Israeli farmers had to weld sheets of metal on their tractors as they farmed fields along the narrow eastern shores of the Sea of Galilee.

“During this protracted 19-year period, there was never any suggestion on the part of Jordan that its prime tourism centers of Jerusalem and Bethlehem should become part of a `separate Palestinian state.’ There was no political move on the part of indigenous Palestinians to force the Jordanian government to set up a Palestinian state.

“Syria never mentioned any attempt to set up a Palestinian state in the Golan. Lebanon never mentioned any desire to see, a Palestinian state in southern Lebanon. Egypt did not mention, or attempt to set up, a Palestinian state in the Gaza Strip.

“But following the Six-Day War, a war Israel did not want and did not start, Israel emerged victorious and in possession of these territories. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs fled the West Bank and the Old City. Shortly after the war in 1967, the outcry began.

“The outcry was not for the return of the West Bank to Jordan the Gaza Strip to Egypt, but for the creation of a separate Palestinian state!

“Only in the case of the Golan was there an exception. To this day, Syria demands the return of the Golan Heights.

“During the 19 years that Jordan occupied the Old City of Jerusalem, earning tens of millions each year from the tourist trade, Jews were denied access to their holy places. Christians could only visit their holy places by going to Jordan, staying in Jordanian hotels. They could not go to Israel and cross into Jordan. Any American, or nationality of any other country whose passport bore a stamp from the state of Israel (which the Arabs refused to admit existed, or had the `right’ to exist) was denied entry to that Arab country.

“Immediately following the (first) war in the Gulf, a U.S. senator was initially denied entry to Saudi Arabia because his passport bore the stamp of Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport! No matter that Israel had absorbed vicious SCUD attacks and refrained from responding, Saudi Arabia and all other Arab states, with the exception of Egypt, are not yet prepared to admit Israel `has the right to exist’!

“Why should Jerusalem be the catalyst for continued strife?

“First and foremost, because it is the `holy city’ to the threegreat `monotheistic’ religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Each religion claims specific `holy places’ exist in Jerusalem-places where events of great spiritual and historical significance took place.

“Each religion reveres these `holy places,’ and believes any intrusion by members of other religions into them is a `desecration.’

“Christians know Christ taught in the temple, and that the temple that stood in Jerusalem during Christ’s time was the second temple a structure often called `the Herodian temple,’ which was built over the centuries after Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Solomon’s temple more than five hundred years before Christ.

“The second temple was destroyed by Titus and his Roman legions in 70-71 AD.

“Between 685 and 691 AD, the `Dome of the Rock’ was built by the caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan. Originally, it was not intended to be a mosque, but merely a pilgrims’ shrine. Muslims claim it sits over the rock from which Mohammed supposedly ascended to heaven, while Jews claim it sits exactly on the site of Solomon’s temple, which itself sat on the site where God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.

“Thus, Jews revere the site from an event which has everything to do with the very existence of the Jewish people; the saving of Isaac, who was the father of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, and who was the progenitor of the 12 tribes. (For a full understanding of the history of these peoples, write for our free booklet, Europe and America in Prophecy.)

“The Jews also recognize that both the temple of Solomon,and the later Herodian temple stood on this same rock. They know all Jewish spiritual life revolved around the daily sacrifices offered by the Levitical priesthood; that great annual Sabbaths, like Passover, the Feast of Weeks, Atonement (Yom Kippur), and the Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth) featured special offerings in the temple.

“Christians revere the site because of events in the life of Christ: His teaching of the doctors of the law inside the temple; His many parables and examples delivered there; His overthrowing of the moneychangers, and reference to the temple as `My Father’s house.’

Is Another Temple to be Built?

“If one takes literally what Jesus Christ said, and what Paul wrote, it appears a temple is yet to be built in Jerusalem! Jesus said, `See ye not all these things [indicating the Herodian Temple with all its associated columns and walls]? Verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down’ (Matthew 24:2).

“His startled disciples asked Him to tell them when this great calamity would occur, and what would be the sign of His coming to be crowned as King, and the sign of the `end of the age:’

“Among all His prophecies of disaster, calamity and war, Christ once again specified events to take place within the temple. He said, `When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand IN THE HOLY PLACE (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judaea flee into themountains…for then shall be GREAT TRIBULATION…’ (Matthew 24:15-22).

“When Christ delivered this warning, His disciples could look across from the top of the Mount of Olives and see the temple of which He spoke. There was no doubt in theirminds what Christ meant. He meant the temple, and the ‘holy of holies’  inside the temple, where the high priest entered only once each year on the Day of Atonement; the room which contained the Ark of the Covenant, the original Ten Commandments, written with the finger of God, the original Torah or `book of the law,’ contained in the side of the ark, and Aaron’s `rod that budded,’ together with the stone jar of manna.

“Christ specifically stated that when the world would see a despicable, detestable, hated IDOLATROUS thing, or person, set up inside this holy place-then GREAT DESTRUCTION-desolation would occur.

“The `abomination of desolation’ merely means a hated, idolatrous thing which is detestable to God which will causedestruction, or desolation.

“For a full understanding of this, read Paul’s prophecy in 2 Thessalonians the second chapter.

“The destruction of Jerusalem and the Herodian temple by Titus’ armies in 70-71 AD was but a forerunner of what is yet to occur.

“Many prophecies are dual in nature, having a former, or `typical’ fulfillment, and a later, or literal fulfillment. From reading Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke~ 21, the parallel accounts of the `Olivet Prophecy,’ it becomes clear that, even though there were horrifying calamities wrought upon the Jews in Jerusalem by Titus (Josephus the famous Jewish historian, writes graphically of the slaughter of thousands of Jews, including burning and impaling), the heavenly signs did not occur, Christ did not return, the Day of the Lord did not come.

“Yet, Christ specifically said all these signs were to lead toward His return to this earth, and the setting up of the Kingdom of God.

“Therefore; there is a yet future fulfillment of Matthew 24 which must occur.

“When Paul wrote of the ‘man of sin’ sitting ‘as God,’ sitting ‘in the temple of God,’ the temple yet stood! Some have begun to believe this scripture means the church. It is true the analogy of a temple, or a house, or a body, or a bride, is used to connote the church. But Paul was not using analogies when he wrote plainly of a building which yetstood in Jerusalem.

“Must a temple yet be built in Jerusalem to satisfy these prophecies? It certainly seems so. Would a temporarystructure, even a pavilion of some sort, over a symbolic cornerstone suffice? No one can say with any certainty. However, it appears there must be a `third temple’ completed, with a priesthood established, sacrifices begun, and the entire ritualistic pattern of Judaism restored beforethe `man of sin’ can claim to be God and move into this temple-thus fulfilling the prophecy of the abomination of desolation.

“Remember, Paul warned, `Whether there be prophecies, they shall fail’ (1 Corinthians 13:8). This is not to say prophecies generally fail; or that all prophecies shall fail. It reminds us of Christ’s warning that no man knows the day and hour of His return; that we are to watch so that we are not unaware; that we are to be alert, and not spiritually asleep.

“Also, God plainly says He will `cut short’ the time! Painstaking charts, graphs, cycles, and chronological and historical scenarios notwithstanding, Christ will return to this earth to RULE it with a rod of iron!

“Since Christ Himself laid special emphasis on the `abomination of desolation,’ it behooves us to watch for such a development!

“Now, think of the enormous geopolitical impact upon all the world, especially the Islamic nations, if a temple were to be built on the Temple Mount. Remember, before any such structure could be built, the famous Dome of the Rock, and the Al Aqsa mosque would either have to be moved or destroyed!

“For the Israelis to so much as touch those buildings is considered BLASPHEMOUS and a terrible desecration to the Arabs!

“Just the other day, I was reading the Jerusalem Post in my room in Jerusalem’s Hyatt Regency Hotel. A letter from an indignant citizen took issue with Arab charges that the `Jews had tried to burn down the A1 Aqsa mosque’ many years earlier when considerable damage was done by an arsonist.

“The writer pointed out that a `deranged Australian’ not a Jew and certainly not a citizen of Israel, had torched the mosque. The reason for the letter? Because Palestinian Arabs are still smarting over attempts by the `Faithful of the Temple Mount’ to build a temple in Jerusalem!

“Just prior to the outbreak of (the first) war in the Gulf, the rock-throwing shooting incident described above created an international incident; caused wailing, emotional demonstrations by thousands of Palestinians as they buried 21 youths, shot by Israeli security forces.

“The other day, I interviewed Faisal Husseini one of the leading intellectuals of the Palestinians in Jerusalem, only three days after he had met with Secretary of State, James Baker III. On Mr. Husseini’s wall was a bizarre painting. It appeared to be 21 individual spouts of blood over a black background, each spattering of blood oozing down toward the door of the al Aqsa Mosque. The title was `The Massacre,’ giving the date of the occurrence.

“This grotesque painting had been presented to Mr. Husseiniin the wake of the shootings of youthful stone-throwing Arabs in the Old City.

“My interview with him once more demonstrated how little real progress has been made between the state of Israel and its Arab neighbors in the search for peace. Mr. Husseinireiterated his firm loyalty to the PLO as the sole representative of the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza; rejected my suggestion that an `alternative leadership’ among Palestinians would be more acceptable to both the U.S. and Israel.

“For their part, the Israelis point out there was never any attempt on the part of the Palestinians to achieve a `separate Palestinian state’ until after the Six-Day War, when Israel ended up in possession of the West Bank (including the Old City of Jerusalem), Gaza and the Golan Heights.

“When I interviewed (former) Mayor Teddy Kolleck of Jerusalem the previous night, at his eleventh hosted convention of Mayors, and asked him if the Israeli government would ever consider allowing the Old City to become a national capital for a Palestinian state, he said, forcefully, `Absolutely not!’

“When I mentioned to him the U.S. media was hyping the suggestion that the Israeli government was ready, in the wake of the (first) war in the Gulf, to `swap territory for peace,’ he retorted, `As for Jerusalem, we shan’t give an inch.’

“Mayor Kolleck orchestrates the `unified, peaceful city of Jerusalem,’ which he says has been restored as the historical, religious, cultural and political capital of the Israeli nation. Continually, he cited the policy of the government, and his own policy as Mayor of the city, to permit free access to all religious faiths to their holy places.

“During the Jordanian occupation of the city, it was a different story. According to Mayor Kolleck, the Palestinian Arabs not only denied Jews access to the wailing wall (the west wall of the Herodian temple), but they demolished fifty-eight synagogues in the area. As illustrated by the Crusades, when zealous religionists capture a `holy place’ belonging to another religion, they consider it `pagan’!

“Invariably, Muslims have destroyed Christian and Jewish `holy places.’ Through the centuries, `Christians’ would destroy Islamic and Jewish `holy places,’ substituting for them structures of their own. It is no accident of history that Islamic holy places now occupy the `holiest’ of all places to the Jews. It was done deliberately, not only as an insult to the Jews but as a proud statement that the `one true religion’ of Islam had now removed the `false religious artifacts’ of the Jews.

“The day following my interview with Mr. Husseini, my son, Mark, interviewed Gershon Salomon, whose march to the Temple Mount precipitated the riot and killings. Here are major excerpts from that interview:

“Question: When was the Temple Mount Faithful movement started?

“Answer: The Temple Mount Faithful movement was founded immediately after the Six-Day War when the Israeli army-the heroes of the Israeli army liberated the Temple Mount in Jerusalem after two thousand years of the diaspora[the dispersion of the Jews] and the destruction of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, and the historical belief that the dreams of the Jewish and Israeli people were fulfilled.

“Unfortunately, the Defense Minister of Israel, Moshe Dyan, decided to give back the Temple Mount to the Arab occupiers this very, very holy place of the Jewish people.

“Question: When you say `give back,’ do you mean allow them access and control over the Dome of the Rock?

“Answer: Yes. Gave them back the Temple Mount…the heart of our history…a symbol, more than a symbol; a symbol of every feeling of our people – a religious symbol, a spiritual symbol, a morality symbol, a national symbol.

“And this place on the Temple Mount was [where] the prophets of Israel, [in] the Bible [taught].

“The Temple Mount [represents]:..all the history of the Israeli people, more than four thousand years; and now after the liberation of the Temple Mount in the Six-Day War, everyone, every Jew from every corner of the world and (here in] Israel feel that an historical dream – a dream of two thousand years of terrible diaspora…was fulfilled and Moshe Dyan broke this dream in one moment.

“He gave back the Temple Mount to the enemies of yesterday and the enemies of tomorrow:

“Question: But Israel still controls this section of the city, still occupies it militarily. So, in a sense, it has not really been completely returned; it’s just been allowed to be used for worship is that right?

“Answer: No. It is not exactly because the day after the Six-Day War the gates of the Temple Mount [were] closed to Jews who wanted to come to this very holy place and most holy place to the Jews. The gates were closed before the Jews. They were not allowed to pray. Jews can pray today in New York, London and Paris, Tokyo and every place, even in the Red Square in Moscow, but not in the most holy place – the only one most holy place of the Jewish people of the Temple Mount.

“Question: And that’s up on top of the wailing wall where the Dome of the Rock sits?

“Answer: Yes. The wailing wall, or the western wall, is not for us so holy. It [represents] a memory of the diaspora, the destruction; the land of Israel the Jews were thrown out from the Temple Mount and they prayed here because they had not another choice. [Meaning, `here,’ at the wailing wall]. But our hearts, our feelings, everything in our life is up on the Temple Mount. To us, the Arab occupation of 1,300 years which was made by an Arab Colonialism Coalition, when they…the Temple Mount in the second century. They built a mosque and the Dome of the Rock on the place of the temple, as you can see them just now. They did it in many other countries which they occupied in imperialistic occupation, like in Istanbul they changed their church which was the eastern center of eastern Christianity. They built, in [a] very holy place for Christians, a mosque. They did it in Spain; they did it in North Africa, the Balkans, every place.

“To give legitimization to the Arab imperialistic occupation of those countries, they did the same thing on the Temple Mount. You must know that Arab occupation of the Temple Mount was finished after the Six-Day War and the memories of this Arab imperialistic occupation of the Temple Mount must be finished.

“Question: So you feel that the opportunity to reclaim the Temple Mount for Jewish people, for the Jewish religious people, is past since Moshe Dyan gave it back?

“Answer: I can’t say past – temporarily.

“Question: Tell me, how many Temple Mount Faithful members are there?

“Answer: We have thousands of members. We have, let’s say we feel, and we know, that most of the Israeli people are with us.

 “Question: When you say `with us,’ what is the goal of the Temple Mount Faithful?

“Answer: The goal of the Temple Mount Faithful is first of all to liberate again the Temple Mount from Arab occupation. It means that Jews must come and can come again to the Temple Mount to pray and worship God.

“Question: Can the Dome of the Rock be there? Can it sit where it does under those circumstances?

“Answer: The Temple Mount must be again as it was – this is the will of God and the will of history. The Temple Mount must be again a religious, national and a spiritual and moral symbol of the Israeli people. And of the next…to be a place of strength for all the world, but first the Temple Mount must be again a place of worship. The temple must be built on this place.

“Question: Where the Dome of the Rock sits?

“Answer: Yes. The Dome of the Rock, as I told you is a result of Arab imperialistic occupation. The al Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock.

“Question: And the al Aqsa Mosque as well?

 “Answer: Yes.

“Question: The al Aqsa Mosque is also in the way? “Answer: Yes. They are here in this place as a result of the Arab imperialistic occupation. I want to ask you a question. What would be the Arab reaction if one day in Mecca Christians would build a church in the middle of Mecca in the most holy place for Muslims? Would they live with such a situation? Or if we were to build there a synagogue. I can understand, they will fight against it. In the same way, I ask the Muslims, I ask Christians, everyone in the world to understand, the Temple Mount is a symbol of one place, a symbol of the Jewish people, of the Israeli people. This is a place of the temple, of the third temple.

“This was the prophecy of the prophets which says that after the Israeli people will come back one day from the diaspora– to the. stolen country…the land of Israel, by the will of God, the third temple will be built. Those days came just now – we are living now in those days. The…foundation of the state of Israel [was] in 1948. From this day until now, God helped us to win all the wars that Arabs made against us with one goal, to destroy the land of Israel – to push us to the sea, and to continue Arab imperialistic occupation of…Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, by the will of God, as I told you, it was finished. We came back to our country forever. And I cannot imagine an Israeli state, this country, without the Temple Mount and the third temple in the middle of it; without Jerusalem as the capital of this Israeli country.

“I wish to tell you another thing. You know we live now in a world without peace. Not only in the Middle East. Peace will come to the world only in one condition. When the terrible suffering of the Israeli people will be finished. When the Israeli people will live in its original historical country – the land of Israel forever.

“We cannot give one piece of our country to our enemies. Not the Temple Mount, not Jerusalem, not Judea, not Samaria, not Gaza. Because this country, including all those places and even trans-Jordan, was given, was offered us by God, by Abraham, he told him this country I’m. going to give you and your people forever. No one can take the country, the land which God gave us forever. The Arabs are waging a war against us. It is a war against the will of God, against the will of us to win, the will of us to succeed. And I ask them to keep up…but to do it in a way of peace. Because this little country is a country of the Israeli people. They have 22 countries [the Arabs] and they have 14-million square kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean to the Persian Gulf. We live in this little, very little country including 25 thousand square kilometers only, including Judea, Samaria and Gaza.

“Question: So it is the wish of the Temple Mount Faithful that Jordan also be reclaimed as part of greater Israel?

“Answer: You must know the Arabs asked of us to give up this side of the Jordan. Anyone that will open the Bible and read it and know that even trans-Jordan was a part of the land of Israel…

“Question: Is it the goal of the majority of the Israeli people that Jordan and possibly Syria…be reclaimed as part of greater Israel?

“Answer: Not Syria but trans-Jordan is a part of the land of Israel. But at least we ask to leave us to live in this part of the Jordan which is the little part of the historical land of Israel which in the past was including the trans-Jordan, Sinai and other parts. No we Have in our hands only this little part of our historic country. I mean from Jordan to the sea. The Arabs have so many countries, so many territories. If you take the world map you almost cannot see the state of Israel, it is so little.

“Question: From a political standpoint, how far is your organization from achieving their desire to remove the Dome of the Rock and construct a third temple on the Temple Mount?

“Answer: We believe and we know it – that it must happen.

 “Question: When?

“Answer: Soon. It can happen today, it can happen tomorrow.

 “Question: By what means? By political means? By force?

“Answer: It will happen by the decision of our government…our government must decide and we believe that it must happen soon.

 “Question: What do you think the reaction of the Arab world would be?

“Answer: I think they will leave it – after all, they know better than everyone that their presence on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is a temporary presence. That they hold this very holy place to the Jewish people…

“Question: From a practical point of view you’ve seen in the Gulf War how Saudi Arabia and Syria, very unlikely partners in the coalition, came together for a common cause. What do you think would become of the relationships between those countries and the United States, between those countries and Israel, and between Israel and the United States, if Israel were to force the rebuilding of the third temple where the Dome of the Rock – and the al AqsaMosque, two of the holiest sites of Islam, sit on the Temple Mount?

“Answer: First of all about Syria; I must tell you. Saddam Hussein and Assad are the same figures. The difference between them is only the name. This Assad [is] the same dictator [as] Saddam Hussein. He is a dictator which rules by force against his people – on his people and he never gave up his very old dream to destroy Israel and make Israel the southern territories of Syria.

“Question: Do you believe he still holds the dream of conquering Israel?

“Answer: Sure. For him to be in the coalition against Saddam Hussein was opportunity to fight against his Arab enemy. You must know we live in the Middle East – we are surrounded by Arab countries which…is a culture of cruel violence. See what they are doing to each other…in the Persian Gulf, in Kuwait, in Iraq. See how Saddam Hussein is killing now his own people. See what Assad did in Hama (an entire Syrian city entirely destroyed by Assad’s army following a public outpouring of dissent). Arabs are killing each other in Lebanon. They are doing the same in Sudan – in other Arab countries. We must survive between those cruel peoples and continue our biblical culture which means peace, morality and a mission for all the world. A new order – not a new order which will destroy Israel – which will divide Israel – make Israel a little land which cannot continue and survive this terrible area. A new order means the fulfillment of the prophecy of the prophets. Which means morality – principles of the Bible which will be a part of all the world in the base of every line and every corner of the world. This means a new order.”

“Question: Do you think that the implementation of your goals would affect relations between the United States and Israel?

 “Answer: I believe and I know it, that America, the United States of America felt a special mission, a historic mission for this age and in the future. I believe that God founded the United States of America special for this mission. This mission means, first of all to help…the people of Israel and we believe that we and Americans are brothers. God gave the mission to help us to live again in our historical biblical country in our original land, the land of Israel. We have the same principles of morality and peace – the right peace – not the wrong peace – but the right peace. The spirit of the Bible.The same spiritual principles. Our religious principles are very close, very close. We and you together are taking our principles from the Holy Bible, and for our common mission for good. So America has a very important task to fulfill these principles. To help the people of Israel to live this life in this country.

“Question: From a practical point of view, though, what do you think the United States’ public reaction would be? Have you ever tested your plans or your goals on any leadership of the United States in order to get a reaction?

“Answer: In the last years I met many, many leaders, Christian leaders, political leaders from the United States of America. I had with them very long and deep conversations about those goals for our people. I believe that our goals are the goals of the Israelis. And they showed me very strong support. I know that many, many millions of American Christians support the goals of…coming of the Israeli people to his historical country. The big goal of rebuilding of the third temple from this holy place of the temple. They came here, they told me they are ready and they want it -they ask to help us in any way to fulfill this big goal of God and the history. They support our feelings toward Jerusalem. They support our very good feeling that Jerusalem must be again the capital of the people of the Bible. I was very excited to hear it. I felt that very strong connections – more than connections – I can say by the brotherhood of connections between us and America, will be the power , first of all a power of morality which will fulfill his historical presence which the prophets offer to the Israeli people for one thousand nine hundred and twenty-one years when this place, the second temple, was destroyed by the Romans. Our going through the diaspora was very temporary. We came back here by the will of God and thanks to God that we have a wonderful ally like America – which pushes America to…the principles, spiritual principles and the very deep belief which comes from the very Holy Bible which is common to us together.

“Question: The events of last August – could you tell me a little bit about that? What was it all about? What was the purpose of your coming here on that day?

“Answer: What happened last August was a result of Arab hostility. You must know the last 23 years…

“Question: I would like to know first…I’ m aware of their reaction, but I would like to know the purpose of your coming here and exactly what that mission was all about.

“Answer: It was the holy day of Succoth. We came here to celebrate this very holy day and very natural in our most holy place on the Temple Mount.

“Question: That’s not been accepted here before, has it?

“Answer: What do you mean?

“Question: For a religious Jewish ceremony to take place up on top of the Temple Mount.

“Answer: Yes, yes. We came here with the very deep support of every Israeli. We came here by a very act of peace to celebrate this very holy day…we did it together with the police, very carefully.

“Question: And were you planning to lay – was it a symbolic cornerstone?

“Answer: Yes. We planned to put a cornerstone for the third temple. We tried a year before – one year before in Succoth.

“Question: What were the means of transporting it up to the Temple Mount?

“Answer: If we had the permission, it would be very simple.

“Question: “Were you trying to transport it on that day last August?

“Answer: No, because we had not the permission of the police or the permission of the government. Not because they are against…

“Question: Do you believe this stone that you’ve chosen will be the eventual cornerstone of the third temple?

“Answer: Sure, sure: This corner is the first cornerstone which Israelis and Jews brought to this holy place to the Temple Mount after two thousand years and it will, very soon, be the first cornerstone for the third temple. We came here, you know, with a voice of peace and spiritual act. And the Arabs reacted with hostility and violence. We had not the permission as I told you to lay the cornerstone. Not because the government or the police are against it – the feelings, the principles. But because of only one reason. Not to bring the Arabs to an action of violence. Now, according to my feelings, it is an act of weakness for our government, I’m sorry to say. Because the Israeli government must be strong and continue to fulfill our historical principles, our Zionist historical principles.

“Question: But the practical outcome that day was a blood bath. Don’t you think that there will be future blood baths – that there will be one ongoing blood bath if in fact an attempt is made to destroy the Dome of the Rock or to dismantle or move it and the al Aqsa Mosque?

“Answer: No I don’t think the Arab reaction was because of us. When this violence happened on the Temple Mount it was because of us. When this violence happened on the Temple Mount we were far from here. The police informed the Arab leaders on the Temple Mount…that they would not allow us to go in there. Even without the cornerstone, they knew that this day we will not be on the Temple Mount. They attacked very silent Jewish prayers near the western wall.

“Question: So you weren’t here when that took place?

 “Answer: We were not here – we were far from here down in the Shiloah Pool River which is from here one kilometer and they attacked these people.

“Question: Because they heard you were coming?

“Answer: No, I don’t think so. Maybe we were the alibi for their activities. Their intention was to bring again the public international attention of the Persian Gul£.:back to here, back to Jerusalem. To bring the attention of America, of the U.N. Security Council and say the problem is not in the Gulf, but here. There is a…linkage between the Gulf and here. So no one made provocation – they made the provocation. They started to throw stones from the Temple Mount to the western wall.

“Question: And the stones came down over the western wall and fell on…?

“Answer: Thousands of stones – I was here when…I came back after it started…I saw what happened here. Thousands of stones, big stones, sharp stones, which could kill hundreds of Jews here near the western wall. It is a miracle that only 20 were wounded, but none were killed. No one started to throw stones from the western wall to the Temple Mount. They started it.

“Question: Are you well known among the local Palestinian population?”

“Answer: If I am very well known, I think that they know that I am a man of principles.

“Question: Do they recognize you here? (In the vicinity of Temple Mount.)

“Answer: I think that they honor my feelings even [though] they are against them…is a just way – they feel that it is the will of God, the will of history. Very deep in their hearts…real goals, real principles of the Bible and maybe of their own belief…

“Question: You don’t fear for your safety amongst the local Palestinian population?

“Answer: No. I’m afraid only from one big God, not from any special Arabs, you know – I feel that I have a very important special mission. God is with me. God helps me, God defends. So I’m not afraid of the Arabs. I think they are afraid of me…maybe not physically…but they feel that what I am doing is the right thing which God wants.

“Question: How can they believe that when they believe in a different god altogether?

“Answer: It was a few days before the Six-Day War. I was an officer of the Israeli army. And I defended the Israeli villages which were attacked again and. again by the Syrian army. They tried to kill me in those days and they did not succeed. They are trying today to do it again and they don’t succeed, I told you when we started to speak the Arabs are fighting today, not only against the Israeli people, first of all they are fighting against good, against the will of God and against the will of history. They have no chance to succeed in such a war. So you can see again and again they are failing in the wars against Israel. Not because by physical presence in this world. I feel very strong because what I am doing are principles of the prophets. It is a mission of God. The God of Israel. And as I told you, what I am doing is in the mission. They are rebuilding again for our historical biblical country, the land of Israel. They build it again the…temple. Finish the Arab occupation, imperialistic occupation from the Temple Mount. Finish the Arab imperialistic presence, violence by…as you can see…trying to kill Jews here in Jerusalem and every place of Israel – Judea and Samaria and Gaza. Every Christian here and Muslim knows – and if he don’t know, please, I ask him to open the Bible which is holy for them and see that it was the city of King David…our kings, it was the city of the prophets and will be again the future as in the past. We are living now in a special danger…but not less the history of all the world. I can see that every event in the world today is connected to this little, but big country, the land of Israel. The attention of all the world – is here, sometimes by supporting, sometimes against the people of Israel. Little people today in Israel four million. Against us we have enemies of 250 Arab millions which want to destroy us. No power can destroy us and stop the fulfilling of this historical mission of our people to fulfill their vision of the prophets rebuilding again this historical country for our people…to be again the country and the people which will bring to all the world the spirit of peace, belief, and biblical principles.

“Question: So you’re saying that in order to fulfill your movement’s goals, the Dome of the Rock and the al AqsaMosque would have to be destroyed to make room for the building of the third temple?

“Answer: Not destroyed. We are not barbarians. No, the Arabs, they occupied Jerusalem before the war…they destroyed all the synagogues…we are not barbarians. What we are saying; we shall, by the will of God, we shall dismantle very carefully, with a very big respect, those two buildings, the Dome of the Rock and the al Aqsa Mosque, and rebuild them again in the right place, Mecca.

“Gershon Salomon’s organization has not only gained international attention, it has directly contributed to a major international incident – the massacre mentioned earlier – and managed to inflame Arabs the world over.

“Like a boiling kettle, the Middle East continues to steep and seethe with age-old animosities. We need to watch the Middle East – watch Jerusalem! The Bible is written from the perspective of Palestine. It looks out at the world from the vantage point of this ancient land.

“Christ is to return to Zion, the city of Jerusalem! The `abomination of desolation’ that triggers the beginning of the Great Tribulation is to be set up in the holy place – in Jerusalem!

“It is because of the incredibly important place Jerusalem occupies in history, in geopolitics, in the major world religions, that I recently went there with our crew to conduct interviews with leaders on both sides of the volatile `Palestinian Question.’

“In the months and years ahead, we will begin to see who is the `king of the south’ of Daniel’s prophecy (Daniel 11:40-45); who is the `beast’; the super-dictator over a ten-nation combine in Europe; who is the `false prophet,’ the `man of sin,’ who will move into a temple which is yet to be built.

“We need to watch for these things, and be busy in God’s work, doing the work of the watchman (Ezekiel 33).

“Will a temple soon be built in Jerusalem? If the Temple Mount Faithful had their way, work would have begun yesterday! The present right-wing Israeli government seems determined to pursue continual building. of settlements; immigration of thousands of newly-arriving Soviet Jews and other Israelis into the West Bank, which is `defactoannexation,’ to continue to say they are `ready to talk,’ while agreeing to no concessions as prior conditions to talks.

“The Israelis reject the PL0 as the `legitimate’ representatives of the Palestinian people. They continually say the place to begin is for Syria, Jordan and other Arab states to admit Israel has a right to exist in the region, to `recognize’ that Israel exists.

“Then, they say, `Let’s talk.’

“Former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin indicated to me he would be flexible, if he were in a position to influence events, in discussing Palestinian autonomy. He envisions Palestinian self-rule without `statehood,’ or a national security force (read: Army).

“Time will tell. Meanwhile, since Jesus Christ of Nazareth tells us to watch and pray always so we might be accounted worthy to escape the terrible things that are to come to pass (Luke 21:36); since He specifically said we would know the Great Tribulation was to begin just as we saw an abomination of desolation set up; since we know the Temple Mount Faithful are determined to see a temple built – it is obvious much is in place for major prophetic events to occur in the months and years” ahead.

“The wars in the Gulf do not mean an end to hostilities in the Middle East. Unfortunately; Jerusalem, the `city of peace,’ continues to be a city of global contention; a city where religions, racial and poiitical emotions come into direct confrontation! Again I say, watch the Mideast! Watch Jerusalem!”

That concludes the segment on the temple, and the coming abomination of desolation: I’m almost hoping you didn’t try to read that entire interview in one sitting: The statements made by Mr. Salomon; were sometimes deep; and often very rich. Not the kind of thing you breeze through. Of course I was the one there asking the questions, and as I read the answers, I can still hear him clearly in my mind, in his accent, saying things which are undeniably true, but outrageous nevertheless. For instance, when he asked me what would happen if you went’ to Mecca and tried to build a Church or a Synagogue! It’s enough to make you laugh out loud.

We used some of the portions of this interview on the telecast some years back, and there were certain segments that never failed to put us into near hysterics. The interview was conducted in the expansive courtyard in front of the only remaining wall of the Herodian temple, known as the Wailing Wall: The Dome of the Rock was visible in the camera shot, rising up above and behind the Wailing Wall. In order to nail down the significance of what Mr. Salomon was saying I asked, “So, to build the temple on the mount, the Dome of the Rock would have to be destroyed?” And he’d answer, “Not Destroyed! REMOVED; piece by piece with a very great respect.”

Absolutely no disrespect to Mr. Salomon, but he indicates that he believes the Arab world would sit still while the Dome of the Rock is dismantled “with a very great respect”?! Dad and I shared some hard laughs over that one. Not that it’s funny or anything, but if Grandpa Armstrong had been around, I’m pretty sure he’d have gotten a kick out that one too. Actually, the first time I was privileged to be in Israel, I arrived just in time to spend the better part of a week with my Granddad in Tel Aviv. He held formal dinners with some of the Israeli dignitaries he had come to know over there, in addition to a few other invited guests, such as foreign ambassadors and their wives. Introductions were made, and acquaintances established, some of which maybe I can share another time, in another forum.

Back to the Present

Even though another Gulf War has been fought and won by the U.S. against Iraq, and Iraq is firmly under U.S. control while the country is rebuilt and reorganized so that it can hopefully exist under a benevolent Iraqi government, we know better than to think that Middle Eastern troubles are behind us. The religions still clash. The history still clashes.

It is interesting, however, that since the U.S. destroyed Saddam’s regime, we haven’t been seeing a lot of American flag burning over there. Hmmm. And what about Khaddaffi!? He’s like a new man! “Come on in, dismantle my weapons of mass destruction. I have many. and you may see them all, you may check out my harem, ride my camels…” Sorry.

Even though the display of American might in Iraq seems to have quieted the Middle East somewhat, don’t expect to see an end to the terrorist attacks in Iraq. Don’t expect the suicide bombings against civilians in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to abate. Those hatreds are so deeply seated, they’ 11 never abate short of divine intervention.

Where is the Beast Power?

How often did you hear him say it? “The Last Chapter of European History has not been written!” Garner Ted Armstrong wrote, and spoke those words before vast television audiences and in countless personal appearances. He foretold the re-uniting of Germany, and it’s future dominance over a UNITED EUROPE. He named the Eastern European countries which have since emerged from behind the Iron Curtain, away from the brutal influence of the former Soviet Union and joined with central Europe in creating what is fast becoming a great ECONOMIC and MILITARY SUPERPOWER. He predicted a political, economic, and military, alliance with a great universal church.

He lived to see the fall of the Soviet Union, the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the establishment of the European Union and its currency, the Euro. He wrote extensively about the awkward position of the British in their attempt to participate in the EU, while still maintaining their own economic and military sovereignty, and their strong alliance with the U.S.A.

The future of NATO hangs in the balance, but there is scant mainstream media attention. The last chapter is about to be written. It’s in the stage of an early draft, but the outline is in place. The mainstream media may not yet have tumbled to the fact that events transpiring NOW comprise the backdrop for what will soon be the BIG STORY.

One major unresolved issue for the European Union is the role of a combined European military, how it will operate, where it will be headquartered, and what will it mean for NATO, the alliance which has successfully provided defense for the continent since the close of World War II.

Germany has taken a bold and aggressive posture in asserting influence over every aspect of the creation of the EU constitution. While fringe countries worry that their heritage and culture may be lost, their opinions ignored, German leaders are publicly asserting their “patriotism” as justification for taking a leading role in Europe’s decision making. Statements to that effect are echoing through the Berlin Reichstag, and stated publicly by top German officials.

“Patriotism” is the justification for Germany to call the shots for the rest of Europe? A staple of debate since the fall of Hitler and his Nazi regime has been the concern that Germany never again rise to a position of military dominance in Europe. In large part, it was the reasoning which spawned the creation of NATO!

A German foreign policy think-tank (www.german-foreignpolicy.com) published the following, in this instance referring primarily to economic clout, “The German Chancellor (Gerhardt Schroeder), the Leader of the Opposition and several leaders of other parliamentary parties declared that the yardstick of successful German activities in Europe was patriotism…Several smaller EU states fear they are hostage to the monetary decisions of the German government…Instead of responding to European-wide criticism and seeking to allay fears of German dominance, Parliament and Government seem by their actions to be strengthening external suspicions of ruthless German nationalism.” Another quote regarding the brash and very public demands of German ofiicials for a dominating role in the EU reads as follows, “The open recognition of a national special role for Germany which rises above the interests of other EU members is the guiding light in Berlin’s European policy.”

After meeting with President George W. Bush, the German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, in what was called a “high profile policy speech,” offered “equal” partnership to the U.S. administration in creating “a new world order.” He also made reference to American participation in achieving “positive globalization.” He said “all methods must be employed and belligerent actions are not specifically ruled out. Rather it is meant to strengthen the military capabilities of Europe.”

It is clear that he is talking not only about the creation of a defense force for Europe, but a military which can go on the offensive, and appealing to the U.S. to back the plan! He goes on to call for the creation of a “European armaments agency.” It makes you wonder if he actually ran all this by President Bush before he took his “high profile policy speech” on the road. The United States and Britain are committed to NATO, and will no doubt have deep concerns about a European military power dominated by the Germans.

The French, of course are on board. When have they ever stood up to Germany? The British periodical The Economistcarried an article about the creation of an EU military under the sub head, “Wanted: One Swift Terrible Sword.” That article mentions that France, Germany, Luxumbourg and Belgium have floated a plan for setting up a military headquarters in Tervuren, outside Brussels, and mentions that, “This prospect was greeted with alarm in Washington…” The article later notes the concerns of other smaller EU members. “But poorer, pro-American countries, notably from central and eastern Europe sense a plot to keep them out of an inner defense group that would be DOMINATED by FRANCE and GERMANY” (emphasis mine). “Some NATO loyalists worry that, yet again, the EU may be challenging the primacy of the Atlantic alliance.”

Britain is still trying to straddle the fence, maintaining its membership in the European Union while trying to grapple with the impossible task of maintaining its own military and economic sovereignty. London’s stance is that it could only support actions by this new European military entity if NATO were unable or unwilling to undertake some action all the EU members agreed upon. That stance is obviously untenable, and Britain is on the rest of Europe’s blacklist because of their staunch loyalty to the U.S. in the war on terrorism. It appears all too obvious that Britain’s days as a member of the European Union are numbered.

And how brazen is it for the German Foreign Minister to be offering the United States of America an “equal partnership in a new world order”? How many new world orders can there be? Hitler called his plan to dominate the world the “New World Order.” It failed ultimately, but only after inflicting unbelievable carnage. Former President George Bush, Sr. called his coalition of nations in the last Gulf War a “New World Order.” But that one didn’t last long. What about this “New World Order” alluded to by the German diplomat?

Germany Pushes European Military Agenda

The formation of NATO was intended to provide for European security needs, so that Germany would have no excuse to build up an offensive military capability. It was considered one of the great and costly lessons learned in World War II.

If you believe German militarism is a matter of concern, what you will read next will stand your hair up. It represents an update from the German Foreign Policy Think Tank cited above, which documents Germany’s desire to have “access” to the nuclear arsenals of the British and the French! According to what has already been established about Bible prophecy and the roles various nations will play, it seems highly unlikely that Britain would ever allow the Germans “access” to their nuclear arsenal. But the French?

And now the quote from German Foreign Policy.com “The military arsenals of the member states are to be subject to the administration of a future EU-government and available for the utilization of Berlin’s ambitions as well. A part of the catalogue of demands is the access to French and British nuclear arms.”

Other quotes show that Germany clearly plans to develop anoffensive military capacity.

Also that they have aspirations involving the projection of power in the Middle East! Nothing would have alarmed Herbert W. Armstrong, knowing what he knew, or his son Garner Ted Armstrong, more than this alarming news! Clearly, most of the pieces have fallen together. The Germans are talking about controlling a European military superpower equal to that of the U.S., with contingency plans for the Middle East.

And now we see the emergence of another aspect, one which very few are aware of. That is the evidence presented in the following segment, of an emerging alliance between the German neo-Nazi movement, and radical Islam. It comes from Mr. Michael Burkett, a valued friend and frequent contributor to our publications, on location in Germany.

The Brown Army Faction

What did National Socialism do for the German nation? What is the legacy of National Socialism in Germany? How could any nation that suffered such a devastating defeat in a world war, ever again move toward embracing a similar system and political philosophy that has proven, historically, to be so catastrophic?

In 1945, the Allies actually debated the merits of destroying Germany as a national entity. The Soviet Union, under the leadership of Josef Stalin, was particularly interested in the dismantling of the German nation. Many thought that the world would be better off if the German states, or Landerwere once again separated as they had been prior to the formation of the German Empire in 1871. Others, such as the United States thought better and along with our British allies, the decision was to keep Germany together, but occupied by the four powers, France, Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union.

Although the German nation, and along with it, the National Socialist government was absolutely defeated, and a new Federal Republic emerged, the Nazis were never completely eliminated from Germany. Today, there’s an emerging National Socialist movement that concerns the current government as the threat level has increased dramatically since September 11, 2001.

Die Juden sind unser ungluck! The Jews are our misfortune! This was a slogan seen throughout the German Reich regularly in the days of Hitler and the Nazis. It’s being seen again, in the form of graffiti painted on walls of buildings and in public places. This slogan has been adopted by the militant ISLAMIC community extant in Germany, that has not only continued the anti-Semitism of the Nazis, but has been able to in many cases, openly and in defiance of German law, chant this slogan at anti-American and anti-Israel rallies.

Recently in Freiburg, a university city in southwest Germany, the nationaldemokratische partei-Deutschland, or the NPD held a rally in support of the Palestinian cause. The crowd was actually demonstrating for the benefit of U.S. and British television, as the majority of the placards and banners were written in English. The NPD, widely known as a neo-Nazi organization gathered about 1,500 followers for a rowdy demonstration of solidarity with the Palestinians.

It wasn’t only Germans who marched through the streets of Freiburg. Along with them was a conglomeration of Lebanese, Syrian, Libyan and Iraqi Arabs. It seems that the new Nazis in Germany have embraced the jihadists, the militant clerics and other Islamic factions in hopes of gaining funding and support for their political agenda. Nazis embracing Islamics is really nothing new. During the Second World War, the Nazis recruited Bosnian Serb MUSLIMS into a brigade of the Waffen-SS. Since the Muslims were enemies of Jews, and Hitler and his ilk knew this, they were only too happy to employ Muslims in their efforts to kill Jews.

The neo-Nazis hate the United States. They hate our way of life, our affluence and our superpower status. They also hate us for defeating their grandfathers in World War II. They will never forgive the United States for raining utter destruction upon their nation, defeating their Fuehrer and destroying their armed forces. The Nuremberg war trials still raise hackles in Germany, and not only among dedicated neo-Nazis.

Today, there’s a great deal of money to be had, if one is to ally with the Islamics. Billions of dollars in oil money has made Islam the best-funded religion in history. Accordingly, Islamic terrorists are well funded as well. This is not lost on the new Nazis who dream of one day ruling Germany again.

The Nazis know that Islam is ultimately a threat to Germany. In a recent interview on German television a young skinhead neo-Nazi spokesman stated that during the Hitler years there was never more than 500,000 Jews in Germany. He also acknowledged that for the most part, German Jews were Germans first and Jews second. He then said that there are now over seven million Muslims in Germany who will always be Muslims first, and will NEVER be German. However, since the Muslims and the neo-Nazis have a common enemy, the United States of America and the State of Israel, it is “convenient” to embrace the “Islamic brothers and sisters” into the neo-Nazi movement.

What he really meant was that in order to capitalize on some of that Islamic MONEY, the neo-Nazis have embraced the anti-Israel and anti-Jew program so that Islamic money might be accessed for a new wave of Nazi terror. Already, the German government is concerned with a rising tide of bombings, desecrations of Jewish memorials, cemeteries, community centers, etc., perpetrated by members of “the Brown Army Faction.” The name comes from memories of the old Bader-Meinhof gang of the 1970s, along with their “Red Army Faction.”

Hate terror is nothing new in Germany. The press has failed to inform the West of the increase in neo-Nazi activities primarily due to a bias against both the United States and Israel.

Continue to watch Europe, particularly Germany as the last chapter of European history begins to unfold. You won’t have long to wait. When the economic collapse foretold by Garner Ted Armstrong finally occurs, a vacuum will be created as the current German government also collapses. Don’t be surprised if a neo-Nazi political movement doesn’t move in rapidly to establish a “new order,” that will put Germany and much of Europe back on track, and in the process, establish hegemony over a new United States of Europe. The creation of a United States of Europe will be the ultimate legacy of National Socialism. No other totalitarian system can build a European superpower and challenge the U.S. and Great Britain. The people of Europe will be only too happy to embrace the superpower Europe, and glean the benefits of European citizenship.

Will the U.S. Retain its Sovereignty?

President George W. Bush seems to believe in the tenets upon which the USA was founded. He promotes American sovereignty and has shown a willingness to act in the face of hostility from the United Nations, the big European powers and most of the world, save Britain. It is worth recognizing, however, that there is a social and political movement afoot here in these United States that is committed to abolishing our sovereignty. Much of the mainstream media, and nearly all of the entertainment industry have embraced this ideology, and they have some very powerful political champions maneuvering feverishly to overthrow the current administration in Washington.

The stakes may be higher than anyone imagines. This is way beyond “Republicans and Democrats.” The purpose of this organization is in no way “political.” It is however to be aware, to WATCH, to understand, and to make known these geopolitical movements as they progress toward a scenario which will ultimately upend the balance of power we take for granted on a GLOBAL SCALE.

If you’ve been a reader or a listener of much that my Dad, Garner Ted Armstrong wrote and said, you’ve already got a very good idea how all of this will turn out. He predicted a coming “New World Order,” one in which, sadly, the United States of America will not fare well. Talk about patriotism! He loved this country deeply. Was proud to have served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, and he knew World War II inside out. Occasionally he’d run into somebody else well versed in the many facets of the second World War, and the conversation would be incredible.

He knew his history and his geography backward and forward. And he knew his Bible even better. He wrote and spoke volumes at every juncture of world events, every twist and turn since the early 1950s, describing what was transpiring and where it was leading. He was acutely aware of every aspect of this continuing evolution of the European Union. And he looked at history and at Bible prophecy as his guide to understanding it all. And he shared that with all of us.

We may be lulled into a sense of security for now. But moves are underway which will affect our role in the Middle East ultimately, our economy, and yes, our sovereignty. We will continue to draw attention toward these relatively unrecognized trends with the perspective Garner Ted Armstrong, and Herbert W. Armstrong before him, brought to so many. You may request publications and tapes (free of charge) by calling the offices of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The work of witness and warning will continue via radio, television, the Internet, and the printed page as long as God provides the strength and support. Thank you for the role you play in the fulfillment of the great commission!

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