Did Herbert Armstrong foretell that Britain would pull out of the European Union? Some have been led to believe that he did.
Note: On June 23, 2016, Britain voted to depart from the European Union (Brexit).
Think Critically
1. Herbert Armstrong gave over 200 false prophecies.1 Even if we think there has been one correct fulfillment, it does not erase all of the wrong ones and suddenly make him a true prophet.
2. HWA was not the originator of British Israelism. He plagiarized it from other sources and said that God revealed it to him. Lying and deception are characteristics of a false prophet.
What HWA Did and Did Not Proclaim
HWA proclaimed that there would be a 10-nation resurrected Roman Empire arise in Europe, and which would not include Britain2. This European Union was to eventually become “The United States of Europe” with ten nations. Many who listened to HWA’s prophecies now believe he was right and that he foretold how Britain would pull out of the EU. The fact is, there is no mention anywhere by HWA about Britain entering or leaving the EEC or EU. It was the revived Roman Empire–“The United States of Europe”–that he said Britain would have no part in. To say otherwise is to take things out of context and twist it.
The following is ESN’s reply to the June 27, 2016 letter “The Philadelphia Trumpet is Boasting“:
HWA actually never predicted Britain would leave the EU. He said they would not be a part of what he called the United States of Europe.
As far as HWA predicting that East and West Germany would reunite, we found no record of it in any of his Co-Worker letters, booklets, or magazines. And when Germany did reunite in 1990 there was no big story in the Plain Truth saying he had foretold it.
From HWA’s April 22, 1976 Co-Worker letter:
“The cover story of this week’s Time shows many Eastern European nations within the ‘Iron Curtain’ of Communism, looking at Western prosperity, becoming more and more dissatisfied with Russian domination. This sets the stage for some of these Communist nations–possibly East Germany, Poland, Romania, etc. breaking with Moscow in the event of the resurrection of the ‘Holy Roman Empire’ and coming into the new United Europe.”
Nothing about East and West reuniting.
In the Sept 1964 PT, “The March for an Undivided Germany,” there’s a lot of insinuation about a reunited Germany, but it’s not said point blank that it will happen. The closest thing in that article is this quote:
“The Bible also reveals Germany is going to be the leading nation in that 10-nation combine of a united Europe. But the Bible has not specifically revealed whether all Germany will reunite. However, events are moving so that it looks strongly they will!” p. 22.
You’re right that others besides Armstrong discussed a United States of Europe. Winston Churchill was one. Even HWA talked about a few of these world leaders in some of his Co-Worker letters.
There’s no factual record of any prophecies of HWA that truly came to pass (only a record in his own words of over 200 failed ones; available on the Internet), as a result of “God revealed it to him” and, therefore, “he was right.” It’s only manipulation, twisting, and taking things out of context in order to make people think that he did. HWA himself was the master of confusion, backtracking and revision. It was all about money.
Should Not Live our Lives in Fear
Fear is a powerful motivator. Herbert Armstrong knew that and used it against others. When Bible prophecy begins to fulfill itself, we need to look directly to God, and not to those who want to take credit for God’s providence.
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).
By D. M. Williams
Exit & Support Network™
June 24, 2016
Updated November 18, 2020
Read These Letters:
The Philadelphia Trumpet is Boasting (June 27, 2016 letter to ESN. Be sure and read ESN’s reply, and letters following.)
Was Herbert Armstrong Right? (June 24, 2016 letter to ESN; talks about the 6-23-16 Trumpet article)
Related Material:
The “Key to Unlocking Prophecy” – Did Herbert Armstrong Say God Revealed it to Him Alone?
The United States and Britain in Prophecy (What Did Herbert Armstrong Teach About it?)
Did Herbert Armstrong Set Dates?
British Israelism–True or False? (Are Britain and the United States part of the lost ten tribes of Israel?)
Footnotes:
1
1 HWA made over 200 false prophecies and these can be found on the Internet.
2
2 See p. 4 and 5 of HWA’s 1956 booklet, 1975 in Prophecy! HWA says: “But Britain will be no part of it!”
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