Mr. Armstrong's continuing work for the Church's completion is also shown by the previously cited New Testament prophecies regarding the end time Church.  As explained, the end time Church is warned prophetically—as the first century Church was warned contemporaneously by those apostolic letters—that their test will be to hold fast to the end the Truth “once for all delivered” to them by apostles of proven fruits.  Thus, all of us today vitally need Mr. Armstrong to review the Truth with us by his writings and other materials—to restore, increase and continuously reinforce that Truth in us so we can prove faithful to the end.

 

Due to apostate influence and the Laodicean condition Mr. Armstrong's writings and other materials have been neglected for years and partially forgotten by many of God's people.  We need to study his teaching anew to restore to ourselves aspects of the “Truth once delivered” we lost full understanding of over the years through such neglect.  Also the test has proven that our understanding and love of deeper aspects of the Truth was somewhat deficient in God's sight even before the apostasy; Mr. Armstrong often said he feared many mistook their extensive familiarity with his instruction for deep understanding of it.  As with the Bible, his writings can be read over and over with refreshed and new understanding/appreciation imparted each time.  We all must zealously seek Mr. Armstrong's teaching anew in conjunction with the Bible in order to grow in grace and knowledge until the end.  “He obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks [teaches]” (Heb. 11:4).

 

It should also be noted in this regard that the Hebrew words in Haggai 2:18 translated “from the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid,” can also be translated, “from the day that the LORD's temple was made ready by instruction to proceed.”  The operative word translated “foundation …was laid” is translated in II Chron. 3:3(KJV), “These are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God.” Thus, the work of completing the Temple cannot go forward again until God's people fully recognize God's instruction to them through Mr. Armstrong.

 

It is revealing that God refers only indirectly to the human leader who carries on in Zerubbabel's judgments/ordinances/instructions—God's government always requires a single ultimate leader—merely referencing him as Zerubbabel's representative/agent (“hands”).  God gives him in prophecy no name in his own right.  Contrast this with the self-appointed apostles, prophets, and various other titles who all center their message to God's people today primarily on who they are in their own right, and significantly on what they know that Mr. Armstrong did not. The message you read now is entirely about who Mr. Armstrong was and is in Christ.

 

God's Word reveals He will judge His people in great mercy and grace, to bring them back under His government and authentic edicts, as stamped by His signet ring.  In addition to the prophecy of Haggai and Zechariah to this effect, Isaiah 51 and 54 both prophesy of the great restoration of the Church in the end time (these prophecies are dual, first for the Church and later Israel in the Kingdom).