Monday, March 23, 2009

Blow the Trumpet

From Blow the Trumpet website:

Who We Are

Beloved, now we are the sons of God,
and it does not yet appear what we shall be:
but we know that, when He shall appear,
we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.
1 John 3:2

P erhaps the best way to introduce ourselves is to explain who (and what) we are not. Blow the Trumpet is not a church. It does not have congregations or members per se. However, our work is very real and those who contribute to it are deeply committed to its mission and goals. This highly dedicated community of believers traces its roots to the church founded by Jesus Christ on the day of Pentecost 31 A.D. That church has endured for nearly two thousand years, just as Jesus said it would (Mt.16:18).

In recent history, Blow the Trumpet and its supporters trace their roots to the work Jesus Christ raised up through Herbert W. Armstrong. During the first half of the twentieth century, Mr. Armstrong began to preach a powerful Gospel message on radio. That message warned its audience that this world was in grave danger and that unless it repented it would find itself on the wrong end of God’s judgment. He would later produce The World Tomorrow television program, which grew to become the most watched religious broadcast in America.

In the middle of the twentieth century, Mr. Armstrong founded Ambassador College, a liberal arts institution with campuses in the United States and England. However, his work was not limited to media broadcasting and higher education. Mr. Armstrong was also a prolific author. He wrote numerous books and virtually scores of booklets. Furthermore, he was the architect and publisher of The Plain Truth, a magazine with international scope and a circulation of more than eight million readers. Through all of this, Mr. Armstrong continued to proclaim a stern warning to both the world and the church. His message was clear and direct: obey and live or rebel and perish. He saw God as a Magnificent Merciful Being with a marvelous plan that would culminate with His physical family becoming literal sons and daughters in an eternal Kingdom (1Jn.3:2). However, he also saw God as just, and that defiance to Him or His law was a mockery that would result in severe consequences (Gal.6:7).

Mr. Armstrong traveled the world as what he characterized an "ambassador without portfolio,” taking a unique message to kings, prime ministers, and numerous world leaders. As he proclaimed the Gospel, Mr. Armstrong continually admonished people to read the Bible and to “prove all things" (1Thes.5:21). He taught that while salvation is a gift from God (Eph.2:8), obedience is an essential part of the Christian walk (Rom.2:13). He also taught that the Ten Commandments represent the way of love toward God and neighbor, and that there are two paths in life – God’s way of “give” and man’s way of “get.”

After Mr. Armstrong's death in 1986, his successors repudiated everything he had taught, and began teaching doctrines that were never embraced by the Church Jesus founded. The apostle Paul warned that at the end of the age there would come “a falling away” (2Thes.2:3). We at Blow the Trumpet believe Mr. Armstrong's successors have fulfilled that prophecy.

Since the passing of Mr. Armstrong and the subsequent introduction of false teachings within the church, God's people have been scattered just as the prophets foretold (Ezk.34;Jer.23). As a result, numerous fellowships (splinter groups) have emerged. For the most part, these groups share a common core theology, but vary greatly in their approach to the work of proclaiming the Gospel as a witness. Some believe this aspect of the work is finished. Others who believe it must be carried on proclaim a softer message fearing public reaction to an Ezekiel warning. As a result, the work of God seems to be plodding along, as opposed to advancing forcefully. For this reason, members of numerous Church of God fellowships have come together to lift up their voice and cry aloud. Blow the Trumpet is such a voice.

Blow the Trumpet was founded in the early summer of 2004 by Dennis Fischer and Randy Vild. It is also supported by a team of men and women who see themselves as literal ambassadors of God’s Kingdom. Our unqualified loyalty is to that Kingdom and its King. We represent its laws and its ways. Furthermore, we see this world as totally hostile to everything our Kingdom represents. For this reason we are taking a powerful message to the leaders of this land as well as to the leaders of God’s church. Our commitment to this cause is steadfast and resolute. We will not waiver in this mission nor ever apologize for it. Throughout the scriptures, God has promised that a real warning will be proclaimed as a witness and then the end shall come (Mt.24:14). This is such a warning.

Home

No comments: