ANGLO-ISRAELISM;
BRITISH ISRAELISM;
WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD

History

The principal belief of Anglo/British Israelism is that the British (and by extension Americans, Canadians, and others) are the spiritual and literal descendants of the ancient Israelites.

Anglo-Israelism has a long history. The Puritan colonists in America viewed themselves as spiritual descendants of the ancient Israelites. However, it was not until 1840 that John Wilson published "Lectures on our Israelitish Origin" which first proclaimed that the British people were the actual descendants of God's chosen people.

The Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) records how a schism occurred among the ancient Israelites, separating the land into the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. About 721 BCE, the former was captured by the Assyrians, and taken into captivity. British Israel writers developed the belief that these "10 tribes" became lost to history and wandered far from the Middle East. They stated that the stone used in the coronation of King David was transported to the British Isles where it exists today as the Stone of Scone. The latter stone is still used for the coronation of British queens and kings. The writers promoted the belief that divine authority was transferred from ancient Israel to England along with the stone. British Israelism was quite popular during the ascent of the British Empire, but quickly lost favor as the Empire was disbanded.

In reality, the lost tribes of Israel are believed to have been simply assimilated by local tribes. The origin of the Stone of Scone has been traced to rock outcroppings in Scotland.

In the early years of the 20th century, Charles Parham and John Allen were the main teachers of British-Israelism in the United States. Parham later went on to found the Pentecostal movement. Allen's book "Judah's Scepter and Joseph's Birthright" spread the concept through the Adventist and other churches.

The Worldwide Church of God (WCG)

Inspired by the teachings of the Church of God 7th day Herbert W. Armstrong (1896-1986) started the Worldwide Church of God in Eugene OR in 1933. He is widely believed to have been associated with the Seventh Day Adventist church, but this appears to be groundless. Armstrong became the most influential promoter of British-Israelism through

The founder's son, Garner Ted Armstrong (1930-) took over the TV programming in 1957, and the radio programs in the late 1960's. With the advent of the counter-cult movement in the early 1970's, the WCG came under attack as a "cult". Many books and booklets condemned the Church for its deviance from traditional Christian beliefs. In 1972, Garner was accused of sexual impropriety. He was disfellowshipped (excommunicated) for a brief interval, but subsequently resumed full duties. In 1977, Garner disfellowshipped by his father for the final time, because of his excessively liberal beliefs. He went on to form the Church of God International of Tyler TX.

During the last decade of Herbert Armstrong's life, there were a number of financial problems and theological changes. However, the sexual scandals were the most disruptive to the WCG. Herbert Armstrong died in 1986. He had selected Joseph W. Tkatch to succeed him as Pastor General. Tkatch made major changes to WCG teachings, to bring them into closer alignment with traditional Evangelical beliefs. After his death in 1995-SEP, his son Joseph W. Tkatch Jr. assumed control and completed the changes.

Their membership peaked in 1986 at the death of Herbert Armstrong with about 150,000 members worldwide. 1996 attendance is approximately half that. In the US, membership slid from 89,000 to 49,000. About 30,000 have left to join splinter groups: United Church of God, Global Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God and Church of God International.

Original WCG Beliefs:

Church beliefs during the period when Armstrong was in control include:

Original WCG Practices:

Revised WCG Beliefs and Practices:

Under the new Pastor General, Joseph W. Tkatch Jr., a major alteration was made to almost all beliefs and practices of the WCG. From their Statement of Beliefs (copyright 1995) they now accept: Over a period of less than a decade, the Church has eliminated its unorthodox beliefs and converted itself into a conventional Evangelical Church. Completion of this transition was recognized in a most unusual interview by Hank Hanegraaff of Joseph Tkach Jr and Greg Albrecht (editor-in-chief of the Plain Truth). The interview spanned three episodes of the radio program Bible Answer Man, on 1996-JAN-4, 5 and 12. This was particularly significant because that program is sponsored by the Christian Research Institute whose founder (Walter Martin) wrote a very popular book The Kingdom of the Cults in 1965 which branded the WCG as a cult. Mr. Hanegraaff quoted from an article by Mr. Tkach in the Christian Research Journal that the WCG has abandoned:

Mr. Hanegraaff said that there is no precedent within Christianity "of the magnitude of what is happening within the Worldwide Church of God". He defined the WCG had been a "major cult: which is now "embracing [the traditional Evangelical Christian interpretation of] Scripture.....submitting themselves completely to the Word of God." Mr. Tkach said "I have no reservations in saying that some of the things that Mr. Armstrong taught were in major error"

The WCG still recognizes the Old Testament seasonal days of celebration, and has its church services on Saturday. Christmas celebration was once an "absolute no-no...perhaps the worse thing anyone could do"; it is now considered optional.

Return to the OCRT home page, or return to the Descriptions of religions and ethical systems page.

References and Further Information

Return to the OCRT home page, or return to the Descriptions of religions and ethical systems page.