Consider God’s Witness
The Worldwide Church of God Archives
This website exists to preserve and present the doctrines and teachings taught by Herbert W. Armstrong, whom God used as His apostle to restore foundational truths to the Church in the modern era, as taught by the Worldwide Church of God prior to 1986.
Although this site contains an archive of Mr. Armstrong’s teachings—particularly regarding the Government of God and divine authority—its purpose is not to promote a man. Rather, it is to provoke thoughtful, scriptural examination of what God established, what He restored, and where His Government is today.
Scripture instructs God’s people to consider.
“And let us consider one another in love” (Hebrews 10:24).
“Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things” (2 Timothy 2:7).
The apostle Paul did not ask the Church to vote, debate, or reorganize authority, but to consider what God had established, trusting that understanding comes from the Lord—not from human process.
In the same manner, this site applies that instruction to God’s modern apostle, Herbert W. Armstrong—to consider what he taught, to prove it by Scripture, and to examine whether God’s Government has continued exactly as it was revealed.
The Bible shows that God governs His Church through one man at a time, by direct delegation of authority from above. Leadership is not established through voting, corporate boards, democratic systems, or authority delegated by men. Any authority derived from such systems is of man, not of God.
Scriptural examples—including Acts 15—demonstrate that God’s servants sought to recognize God’s decision, not to elect leadership through human will. Vacancies were filled by divine appointment, not organizational restructuring.
This site documents:
- The biblical foundation of the Government of God
- Herbert W. Armstrong’s teachings on Church authority
- The difference between divine delegation and human governance
- The continuity of God’s Government into the present day
All material is presented so the reader may consider, prove, and hold fast—allowing Scripture and historical record to bear witness to what God has done.
What Does the Bible Mean by “Consider”?
The word consider, as used in Scripture, does not mean to casually observe, to debate opinions, or to submit truth to popular approval. To consider is to carefully examine, to think through with purpose, and to weigh evidence in the light of God’s instruction.
The apostle Paul wrote:
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works”
—Hebrews 10:24
Here, considering is an act of responsibility. It requires thoughtful attention, not indifference, and leads to action consistent with God’s will—not human preference.
Paul further instructed:
“Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things”
—2 Timothy 2:7
Understanding was not promised through discussion, voting, or collective reasoning, but through submission to what God had already revealed, with the expectation that the Lord Himself would grant understanding.
To consider, therefore, is not to judge God’s truth by modern standards, but to examine it honestly—allowing Scripture to confirm Scripture, doctrine to confirm doctrine, and God to confirm His own Work.
This website exists to provide the record necessary for such consideration:
- What was taught
- How it was taught
- What the Bible says
- Whether God’s Government has changed—or remained exactly the same
The responsibility placed upon the reader is not to accept blindly, nor to dismiss reflexively, but to consider carefully, as Scripture commands.
How God Reveals Authority
Throughout the Bible, authority does not originate with the people, nor is it established by collective decision. Authority originates with God, and is revealed by Him according to His purpose.
“There is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God”
—Romans 13:1
God does not ask men to create authority. He reveals whom He has chosen, and His servants are expected to recognize that choice—not to redefine it.
In both the Old and New Testaments, God governed His people through one man at a time:
- Noah in his generation
- Moses over Israel
- Joshua following Moses
- The judges, one at a time
- The kings God appointed
- The prophets He sent
- The apostles He chose
At no point did God establish His Work through committees, boards, councils, or voting bodies. When counsel occurred, it was to support and implement God’s decision, not to originate authority.
Even Christ Himself stated:
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you”
—John 15:16
God reveals authority by appointment, not by election. Men may acknowledge that authority, but they cannot manufacture it.
This principle is essential to understanding the Government of God. Without it, God’s Church becomes indistinguishable from human institutions, governed by preference rather than divine will.
The question, therefore, is not whether authority exists—but where God has placed it.
One Man at a Time
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible reveals a consistent and unbroken pattern: God works through one man at a time to lead His Work on Earth.
This pattern is not incidental—it is deliberate.
God did not work through many Noahs, many Moseses, or many Elijahs at the same time. While others served under them, only one man bore the responsibility of leadership.
Moses was not chosen by Israel. He was appointed by God. When Moses died, God did not ask the people to decide who should lead. He said:
“Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him”
—Numbers 27:18
The authority Joshua received did not originate with the congregation. It was transferred by God, through His established servant, to fill a vacancy.
The same pattern continued:
- Elijah to Elisha
- David to Solomon
- Christ to the apostles
- Peter as the leading apostle
- Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles
Succession was never determined by popularity, seniority, or vote. God revealed His choice, and His servants acknowledged it.
This principle protects God’s Work from confusion, division, and human ambition. Where leadership is multiplied, authority is diluted. Where authority is diluted, God’s Government is replaced by human rule.
Understanding this pattern is essential to discerning where God’s Government exists today.
Delegation From Above vs. Authority From Below
God’s Government functions by delegation from above, not by authority rising from the people.
In Scripture, authority always originates with God and flows downward through the office He establishes. Men do not grant authority to leaders; leaders are recognized because God has already granted it.
“No man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God”
—Hebrews 5:4
When authority is established through voting, corporate structures, boards, councils, or constitutions, it originates from below—from men. Such systems may produce order, but they do not produce God’s Government.
Christ made this distinction clear:
“My kingdom is not of this world”
—John 18:36
Worldly systems rely on representation, consensus, and institutional control. God’s system relies on calling, appointment, and obedience.
Delegation from above occurs when:
- God calls a man
- God places him in office
- God reveals that placement through His Work and fruits
Authority from below occurs when:
- Men select leaders
- Offices are defined by bylaws
- Power is sustained by consent rather than calling
These two systems are not compatible. One must eventually replace the other.
This distinction explains why the Government of God cannot be preserved through corporate reorganization or democratic reform. Once authority is derived from men, God’s Government has already been surrendered.
The issue, therefore, is not sincerity—but source.
Why Corporate Church Government Fails
Human-devised church structures—boards, councils, committees, and elections—may appear orderly, but they cannot reproduce God’s authority.
Authority in man-made systems is:
- Derived from majority decision
- Subject to opinion, popularity, or compromise
- Limited by legal or corporate constraints
None of these qualities exist in God’s delegation of authority. God’s Government is absolute, singular, and divinely appointed.
The apostle Paul explained the danger:
“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall”
—1 Corinthians 10:12
When men take authority into their own hands, even with good intentions, they risk replacing God’s judgment with their own. Church decisions then reflect human will, not God’s will.
Acts 15 demonstrates the contrast:
- God’s choice was recognized, not elected
- Decisions were guided by the Holy Spirit, not human majority
- Leadership flowed from God, not from men
Corporate systems may achieve efficiency, popularity, or stability—but they cannot carry the mantle of God’s Government. They can administer rules, but they cannot exercise divine authority.
Understanding this distinction is essential to identifying where God’s Government truly exists today.
God’s Government Today
God’s Government has not ceased. It continues today exactly as it has always functioned: through one man at a time, called and placed by God.
Scripture assures us:
“I am the Lord, I change not”
—Malachi 3:6
The principle is timeless. Human methods—corporate boards, elections, or committees—cannot alter God’s system. Authority is not granted by man, but recognized where God has placed it.
Herbert W. Armstrong, as God’s modern apostle, faithfully taught this truth. His ministry demonstrated that:
- God calls and equips a servant
- God delegates authority to that servant
- The servant acts under God’s direction, not human permission
The continuity of God’s Government is maintained when:
- God’s choice is acknowledged
- Decisions are submitted to God, not to men
- The Church follows the path He establishes
This site provides records, teachings, and documentation to allow careful consideration of where God’s Government exists today. The purpose is understanding, verification, and obedience, not personal promotion.
By examining Scripture and historical record, every reader is invited to consider God’s witness, as instructed in His Word.
The Role of the Modern Apostle
God’s Government on Earth is administered through a single man at a time, called and empowered by God. That man is the apostle, whom Scripture defines as one sent directly by God to lead, teach, and oversee His Work.
The apostle’s responsibilities include:
- Proclaiming God’s Word with authority
- Teaching doctrine accurately, as God commands
- Maintaining the Government of God, ensuring that leadership is recognized according to divine appointment
- Filling vacancies under God’s direction, not by human vote
- Guiding God’s people according to Scripture and the revealed will of God
Christ established this principle when He said to His apostles:
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you”
—John 15:16
The modern apostle carries the same authority as the original apostles, with responsibility to guard, preserve, and continue God’s Government. Leadership does not originate from man, office, or popularity—it flows from God through His chosen servant.
Herbert W. Armstrong exemplified this role in the modern era, demonstrating what Scripture teaches: God’s Work cannot be sustained through committees or corporate control. Authority comes from above, through God’s appointed servant.
How to Consider God’s Witness
Scripture repeatedly instructs God’s people to consider what is taught. This website provides the records, teachings, and historical documentation necessary for careful examination.
“Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things”
—2 Timothy 2:7
To properly consider God’s witness, the reader should:
- Read attentively – Focus on what is written, not on opinions about the messenger.
- Compare with Scripture – Verify every teaching against God’s Word.
- Reflect thoughtfully – Examine the principles and patterns God has established.
- Recognize divine authority – Understand that God delegates leadership through His chosen servant, not human institutions.
- Apply discernment in love – Consider one another to provoke good works, understanding that the truth is meant to guide, not divide.
This is not a site of debate or opinion. It is a resource to prove, understand, and follow God’s Government, as demonstrated through Scripture and through the record of His modern apostle, Herbert W. Armstrong.
Those who approach with humility and diligence will find the evidence of God’s ongoing Government clearly presented.
Archives and Resources
This website preserves the teachings, writings, and historical records of Herbert W. Armstrong and the Worldwide Church of God prior to 1986. These materials provide evidence of God’s Government and demonstrate how authority is exercised through His chosen servant.
Included resources:
- Sermons – Audio and transcript excerpts demonstrating doctrinal teaching.
- Booklets and Articles – Written materials outlining the Government of God, authority, and biblical principles.
- Letters and Historical Records – Documentation showing the practical application of God’s delegation of authority.
- Scripture References – Key passages supporting the principles taught, fully cited for verification.
The archives are organized to allow careful consideration, study, and verification. Each resource is presented for understanding, not promotion, allowing visitors to prove the teachings for themselves against Scripture.
This collection is the foundation for recognizing where God’s Government exists today. It is a tool to help all who seek to consider God’s witness with clarity, diligence, and humility.
Conclusion: Proof, Consideration, and Obedience
God’s Government has always operated according to His design: one man at a time, called and placed by God, with authority flowing from Him—not from men.
This website exists to document, preserve, and present the evidence so that each reader may:
- Prove the principles through Scripture and historical record
- Consider carefully what God has established, following the instruction of the apostles
- Obey God’s authority as it is revealed through His chosen servant
“Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things”
—2 Timothy 2:7
The purpose is not personal admiration, human debate, or organizational comparison. It is to demonstrate where God’s Government exists today, to understand His delegation of authority, and to follow His revealed will.
Let every visitor approach this record with humility, diligence, and love, so that God’s witness may guide thought, teaching, and action.
Consider God’s witness. Study it. Prove it. Follow it.