HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF GOD:

THE HISTORY OF SABBATARIANS IN NEW ENGLAND

Revelation 1:1-3, 17-20. The seven candle sticks are separate, denoting seven distinct Church Era's (verse 20). This is a prophecy of the Seven Era's of the Church of God.

There are two distinct signs of God's Church:

1) The name, "Church of God." "Church of God" [:Acts 20:28, I Cor.1:2, 10:31-32, 11:22, 15:9, II Cor. 1:1, Gal. 1:13, I Tim. 3:5. "Churches of God": I Cor. 11:15-16, I Thes. 2:14, II Thes. 1:4].
2) The observance of the 7th Day Sabbath. (Mark 2:27-28, Gen. 2:1-3, :7, Ex. 16:13-27, 20:8-11, Luke 4:14-16, :31-32, :44, Acts 13:13-16, :44, 16:13, 17:2, 18:4). [This is how we old covenant Christians looked at the Sabbath Command.]

Leading up to the Sardis Era of God's Church we have the Thyatira Era of God's Church. Revelation 2:18-24. The Thyatiran Era was an era with great works and extreme persecution. This persecution was part of an overall persecution corresponding to the "1260 days in the wilderness" of Revelation 12:6, which turned out to be 1260 years of persecution from 325 A.D., the edict of Constantine to 1585 A.D. (1585 being the year Mary, Queen of Scots was executed.) [She was the final Catholic threat to the British throne, although she never got a chance to rule on it.]

In a book by Tamar Davis, written in 1851, called "A History of Sabbatarians" a people who lived in the valleys of southern France around Lyons are described. Here is some of what was said about them. "From the earliest the inhabitants in the valleys about the Pyrranees did not profess the Catholic faith, neither was it embraced by the inhabitants of the Alps. It also occurred, one Valdo, in the 9th century, a friend and advisor of Barigarius, and a man of wealth, talent and piety, who had many followers, possessed himself of a Bible by which he was led to perceive the errors and corruptions of Rome, which he severely denounced. Moreover it came to pass that about 130 years after, a rich merchant of Lyone, whose name was Waldo (Peter de Waldo), openly withdrew from the communion of Rome and supported many to travel and teach the doctrines believed in the valleys." All these people, though different in their origin and different no doubt in some minor points of faith and practices of worship, are called Waldenses, as a general term. According to pope Gregory, "These people came from Rome and they were supposed to be Jews. And that they were supposed to be Jews who migrated from Rome in the days of the Apostles to the valleys of southern France."

A quote from a 'father' Gretchner, who was a Jesuit Priest back about 1250 A.D. states, "Moreover all these heretics despised the fasts and feasts of the Church, such as Christmas, Easter and Sunday. In short, all approved ecclesiastical customs for which they do not find a warrant in the scripture. They say also that God enjoined rest and Holy meditation upon the 7th day and that they can not feel justified in the observance of any other." So these people kept the Sabbath and they refused to keep any other 'holidays'. Also we find in the writings that they were severely persecuted. It says, "...Also driven from Dauphiny, Waldo sought refuge in Piccardy, where also his labours were abundantly blessed. Persecuted thence, he fled into Germany and carried with him the glad tidings of Salvation." It was also in Germany that Waldo died...

Some other of the beliefs of these people were: "They were against war, against capital punishment, against oaths of any kind. And they expressed their opposition to bearing arms, and to war in all its' operations..." They were called Jews and Semi-Judaizers. They were forced somewhat out of France, and they spread into Poland, into Lithuania and into Russia. They did not go directly to London. There is always one thread, [of the Church of God,] that God keeps active. But there are many threads, like the end of a rope that has unravelled, going in all directions. The real difficulty in tracing the history [of the Church of God] is that you've got to find the right thread. So the threads that went into Poland, Lithuania and Russia eventually died out [spiritually]. These Waldenses also rejected all politics, and were known to observe Passover on the 14th of Nisan, as the early Apostles did. They were virtually wiped out in France, with over 2 million Sabbath-keepers being killed by the order of the Catholic Church in France. So they did not go directly to England, but finally a small thread went to London England in 1585 A.D. By this time the Thyatiran Era was just barely alive. The 'Baton' was being passed to a new Era of God's Church, called in Revelation 3:1-6 the 'Sardis Era'. This Sardis Era was to be the Church of God in England and then America [during the 1st two-thirds of America's history.] Thus in 1585 England became free, once and for all, from the yoke of Catholicism, [with the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots.] Once the Sabbath-keeping Church is rooted in England, everything in Europe is destroyed and virtually wiped out. There were very few segments of Sabbath-keepers left in Europe once they were rooted in England. By the year 1600, there were 11 Sabbath-keeping Churches [or congregations] around London. Three of the main Churches of God, the 'Cripple Gate Church of God', and the 'Mill Yard Church of God', and the 'Bell Lane Church of God.'
The names of their ministers for this period of time were:

1. Theopolis Brayborn, who wrote a book about the Sabbath in 1597. We have a copy of this book!
2. Edward Stinnet
3. Samuel Stinnet, Edward's son.
4. John Trask
5. James Ockford
6. John James

The Church of England proved to be just as oppressive in persecutions of any religious dissenters. This included all the Sabbath-keeping Churches of God in England. Here is the reason why. Oliver Cromwell unseated Charles I of England. Cromwell eventually died, and 2 years later Charles II came to the throne in 1661 A.D. Charles II believed that there was a group of people out to take the throne from him. He called these people the Fifth Monarchy men. Fifth Monarchy men were a group of political agitators who believed and knew of the 4 prophesied world-ruling Empires or 'Monarchies' prophesied to occur in Daniel chapter 2 [i.e., the Babylonian Empire, the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great's Greek Empire and the Roman Empire], and the Fifth Monarchy, which was to be the Kingdom of God set up on earth by Christ, [at His 2nd coming.] These agitators wanted to start setting up this 'Fifth Monarchy' in their own time--the 1600's. [They failed to realize, as the Jews also failed to realize in 70 A.D., that the Roman Empire was prophesied to have seven resurrections before the Kingdom of God would be set up on the earth by Jesus Christ.] So, for obvious reasons, Charles II was very paranoid about Fifth Monarchists and brought about severe persecutions on anyone or group who professed a belief in a literal Kingdom of God being set up on earth. The Sabbath-keepers, members of the 'Churches of God' around London all held a firm belief in the literal 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ to set up a literal Kingdom of God on the earth. The Churches of God weren't political agitators for a Fifth Monarchy but they nonetheless fell under severe persecution from both the Church of England and Charles II. John James, the minister of the Cripple Gate Church of God was beheaded on November 26, 1661 to set an example to show what would happen to all who wanted to continue to believe in a Fifth Monarchy. John James' head was stuck on a stake just outside of the building used by his congregation, after his body had been drawn and quartered.

Along with this, in the 1660's the infamous Clarindon Acts were passed. The 1st one stated that everyone, in England, had to take an oath of supremacy and allegiance to the Church of England. Members of God's Church could not do this. The 2nd Act stated that no more than 6 people could assemble together for religious purposes except in the Church of England. In 1664, the 4th or last of the Clarindon Acts was passed which stated that no preacher or teacher that refused to take the oath of allegiance was to be allowed within 5 miles of any city or town. This included all the ministers of God in the area. So the Church was in trouble. Church services now had to be held in secret. This all but destroyed the Church of God in England. This is where the 'thread' is going to go to America. In looking up the history of the Church of God in New England it must be remembered that history books list all Sabbatarians prior to 1818 as '7th Day Baptists' even though that particular name was NOT adopted by the Sabbatarians in Rhode Island until 1818. Prior to 1818 they called themselves "Church of God, Keeping the Commandments of Christ."

Long in advance, in America, a haven was being prepared for the Sabbath-keepers. In February of 1630 a Roger Williams landed in Boston Harbor. He was, in his own words, a religious seeker. He also believed in baptism by immersion. Boston itself was founded in 1630 by the Puritans, ones who originally wanted to purify the Church of England. Roger Williams, a self-proclaimed minister first settled in Salem, Massachusetts, but in 3 years they kicked him out. He then went to Plymouth where they could only tolerate his beliefs for one year before they drove him out of Plymouth. The colonies of Massachusetts and Connecticut either drove out or killed all Baptists and Quakers from their respective colonies. Intolerance was almost as bad as in England. Williams then went to Seekonk and the river. He crossed over and went into what is now Rhode Island. He purchased what is now Rhode Island from the Indians and obtained a land grant from Charles II to found the Colony of Rhode Island. Thus was Rhode Island founded in 1638. Also in 1638 Roger Williams founded the first Baptist Church in America, being himself baptized by an Ezekiel Holliman. He then proceeded to baptize the 11 other founding members.

The following statement in the Charter of Rhode Island is as follows: "Now know you, that we being willing to encourage the hopeful undertakings, and to secure them in free exercise and enjoyment of all the civil and religious rights, appertaining to them. NO PERSON SHALL HEREAFTER BE MOLESTED, PUNISHED, DISQUIETED, OR CALLED INTO QUESTION FOR ANY DIFFERENCE IN OPINION IN MATTERS OF RELIGION WHO DO NOT DISTURB THE CIVIL PEACE." Rhode Island was the only colony where freedom of religion was truly practiced. Roger Williams left this church he helped found either 4 months or 4 years later, depending on which source you want to believe. He was no longer associated with the Baptists. He was by his own admission a religious seeker.

In 1664 Steven Mumford, a successful businessman, and his wife Ann, both members of the 'Bell Lane Church [of God'] and both in their early 20's came to Newport, Rhode Island. The Wanton Lyman-Hazard House probably was his house. The location of this house was mentioned in a will left by his son, also named Steven Mumford. Steven Mumford is buried at the Old Colonial Cemetery, down Fallwell Street. He died in 1707. His wife Ann died in 1697/8. He was 68 years old when he died. One year later, or in 1708, the Church, [in Rhode Island] gave up the yearly observance of Passover on the 14th of Nisan and switched to monthly and/or bimonthly 'breaking of bread'.

When Mumford landed with his wife in Newport there was no Church of God in America to attend so he and his wife observed the Sabbath alone in their home and fellowshipped on Sundays with the members of the local Baptist Church. This Baptist Church, was the second Baptist Church, founded in America. Soon, 9 others started to observe the Sabbath with Steven Mumford and his wife Ann, in their home. Their names were:
William Hystox
Roger Baster
Samuel Hubbard and his wife Tasey
Rachel Langeworthy (their daughter)
Nicolas Wild and his wife and
John Solmon and his wife.

Around 1669 Nicolas Wild and his wife and John Solmon and his wife rejected the Sabbath and went back to Sunday observance solely. [It is one of the Bible doctrines that if someone leaves or renounces the Church and its beliefs, once having become a baptized member, he or she is not to be fellowshipped with]. Mumford and the others fellowshipped with the Baptists on Sunday, and now these 4 were among the Baptists they were fellowshipping with. And now, according to the 'Bell Lane' Church [of God], they had a serious problem. it was one thing to meet and fellowship with people who never knew the Truth, but to meet with someone who knew the Truth and then rejected it was forbidden by the Church's teachings. So they wrote to the Bell Lane Church and Edward Stinnet. (We have a copy of this letter.) Edward Stinnet wrote back and said, "You are not to meet with these people, they have rejected God's Holy Sabbath Day." So now they were only attending with the Baptists sporadically. They never made an uproar in the Baptist Church, and never created confusion in the Baptist Church. But none-the-less, this avoiding of the other 4 must have created some friction with the Baptist Church they fellowshipped with, for on December 11, 1671 Obediah Holmes, assistant pastor of the Baptist Church, gave a sermon attacking the Sabbath. Ruth Burdick was the only Church member attending. [Ruth Burdick is the ancestor of a member in one of the congregations of the Worldwide Church of God.] She went directly to Steven Mumford's house and told the others.

So they met on December 16, 1671 to talk with John Clark the Baptist minister, and Obediah Holmes, and asked, "What should be done to rectify this problem?" They were told, "Reject the Sabbath or you can no longer commune with us." Finally Tasey Hubbard spoke up and said, "This is what I say, we must keep God's 7th Day Sabbath no matter what the consequences." Their fate was sealed. On December 23, 1671 these seven remaining members founded the 1st Church of Sabbath-keepers in America. They did not call themselves 7th Day Baptists. They adopted NO official name or doctrines, but simply agreed to follow everything in the Bible.
The Church records are to be found in 3 old books in the Newport Historical Society vaults:

1. The Church in Newport, 1692 (a copy of the oldest)
2. The Church, 1708 (original from 1708)
3. The Church in Westerly, 1708 (a copy).

After Steven Mumford's death in 1707 there were many waterings down and changes which started to take place. On March 2, 1708 they apparently changed their observance of Passover from the yearly Bible observance of it on the 14th of Nisan to a monthly or bimonthly event. Here is a quote from their Church minutes: "it is ordered and appointed that the last Sabbath in every month, the time of breaking of bread, it is also agreed that if by reason of the season, or otherwise the Church neglect the breaking of bread at any of the times appointed, then they shall break bread the next Sabbath after, except at the time of the yearly meeting." I.e., they appointed a time each month to observe 'The Lord's Supper', or Passover. This is the 1st appearance of this in any of their records, one year after Steven Mumford's death. As of 1708, Rachel Langeworthy was the only one of the original 7 still alive. They now had 40 members and Will Gibson was their minister.

1715/16: Joseph Crandle was ordained a minister. In the written record of the ordination ceremony it stated, "Being an example to the flock, and when the chosen Shepherd shall appear you shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away." They still believed in the resurrection to Immortality at Christ's 2nd Coming, and not the 'doctrine' of going to heaven when one died.

1729: In 1729 they built their first meeting-house. They called the buildings they met in 'meeting-houses' and called themselves 'the Church', 'Sabbath-keepers', or simply 'The Church of God'. All the Sabbath-keeping meeting-houses followed this style. Up until 1882, this building and all their buildings had no steeples or crosses. It had a pulpit and front door right next each other. If you were late everyone knew it. There was no way to sneak in. This building held 45 people, and the highest Newport attendance reached 75 people. It has really fine carvings and woodwork and is now a part of the back of the Newport Historical Society Building.

1740's: It was during the 1740's that both Richard and Samuel Ward were Governors of Rhode Island. The Church is quick to claim them as members as they started seeking credibility in the world's eyes, but Richard Ward didn't become a baptized member up until 9 years before he died, (1754), long after he was out of political office and politics, reflecting the Church's belief in that baptized members should have nothing to do with politics. Richard Ward died in 1754. Mary Ward, his wife was a baptized member for 55 years (1713-1768) and died October 19, 1768.

1769: In 1769, August 5th, Samuel Ward wrote a letter stating to the Westerly Church of God, "...believes in God the Father, and God the Son, and the power of God's Spirit (showing he doesn't believe in the Trinity Doctrine), all the Holy scriptures, which excepting the ceremonial law and some part of the judicial law peculiar to the Jews, it is the duty of all mankind to whom they are made known, sincerely to believe and obey. [I.e., both the Old Testament and New Testament]. My sins I have sincerely and heartily repented of, and firmly rely upon the unbounded goodness and mercy of God, and His only begotten Son, Christ for pardon and Eternal life. And I sincerely desire and resolve by His grace for the future to walk in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord. Signed, August 5, 1769, Sam Ward. Samuel Ward was a member of the Continental Congress. He died March 26, 1776. He died just days before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which he probably would have signed. There is no record of Samuel Ward ever being baptized. [Samuel Ward who wrote, "America the Beautiful."]

1765: A college was founded in 1765 called 'Rhode Island College', in Warren, Rhode Island. It was founded by 7 men, 4 of which were Sabbath-keepers. They were: Sam Ward, Joshua Babcock, Joshua Clark (the pastor in Westerly), and Job Bennet. The college was originally founded to preserve religious freedom. Today the college is Browne University located in Providence, Rhode Island. It has 2 fine libraries where some of our research was done. They are the Rockefeller Library and the John Haye Library. It was in 1770 that the college was moved to Providence and renamed Browne University.

1780's: The Church of God in Newport dies out.

THE CHURCH OF GOD IN WESTERLY, RHODE ISLAND

1672: In 1672 Ruth Burdick, Bathia and John Clark, were the 1st 3 Sabbath-keepers to start the Church in Westerly, Rhode Island.

1680: In 1680 a little north of Westerly, with 20 members, they built a building (meeting-house) that would hold 1,000 people. This Church preceded the building of the town of Hopkington, Rhode Island. They founded that town. They continued to call themselves 'The Church', or 'The Church of God', or the 'Sabbatarian Church,' but never registered their name. They refused to register their name (i.e., have an official name) because to have an official name, they felt, would mean that they would have to seek sanctions from the State, because they felt they had a higher sanction, and that was from God. That is why they never registered their name. They simply called themselves 'The Church', 'The Church of God', or 'The Sabbatarian Church'.

1757: In 1757 the town of Hopkington was founded. [The year Fort William Henry was burned to the ground by the French at Lake George. (See historical note, page 55.] 90% of its' inhabitants were Sabbath-keepers. These Sabbath-keepers founded that town. Sarah Mumford, granddaughter of Steven Mumford, is buried in the area.

1812: Dr. Joshua Babcock, member of the Church, and friend of Benjamin Franklin, died. His friendship with Franklin caused the rumor to take root that Franklin was a Sabbath-keeper. Ben Franklin was never a Sabbath-keeper.

1816: As of 1816 they still haven't adopted the official name 'Seventh Day Baptists'.

1818: In 1818 the name 'Seventh Day Baptist' was officially adopted as the name of the Church instead of the Bible name, 'Church of God.' It was also in 1818 that they reached their highest membership level with nearly 2,000 members in Hopkington, Rhode Island alone. Meeting-house Bridge, 2 miles from the cemetery (Hopkington Cemetery, original location of the meeting-house), is where they brought everyone to be baptized. This bridge was the only crossing of the Pawcatuck River from Connecticut into Rhode Island (at this point). People who lived in Connecticut had to walk up the Pawcatuck River 5 miles to cross this bridge to go to Church. Boom Bridge Road and Boom Bridge, 5 miles down the river, was a short-cut they used to get to services. Boom Bridge was originally a tree that had fallen across the river. Some would cross this tree and walk to services. People who fell in the water would show up wet. This is why, if you didn't show up at Sabbath Services 3 Sabbaths in a row, after the 3rd Sabbath all the ministers showed up at your house the very next day to ask 'why?'.

1835: This meeting-house they walked 5 miles to, the current meeting-house they meet in, was built in 1835 at the current location of the Hopkington Cemetery. It holds somewhat less than 1,000 people. They sold pews to finance the building, so the people ended up owning their own pews. This caused some heated encounters when the Church had to disfellowship some members from time to time. How could you tell a person not to attend when he owned his own pew? It was now his own personal property.

1840: At this date the Pawcatuck Church was built.

1852: In 1852 they moved their present building (built in 1835) by dragging it on oxcarts 5 miles, from the cemetery in Hopkington to its present location in Ashaway, Rhode Island.

THE ACTIVE THREAD

1705: In 1705, 2 years before the death of Steven Mumford (and probably while Passover was still observed on the 14th of Nisan), a few members went down to Piscataway, New Jersey, and founded a Church there. They called themselves 'The Church of God, Keeping the Commandments of God in Piscataway New Jersey.' They met in the house of one Benjamin Martin. Edward Dunham was sent back to Westerly, Rhode Island for his ordination with 'the laying on of hands' ceremony. The Piscataway Church of God's beliefs were as follows: 'We believe that unto us there is but one God the Father, and one Lord Jesus Christ who is the Mediator between God and mankind, and that the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of God.' (I.e., they rejected the 'Trinity' doctrine of Catholicism and mainstream Protestantism.) They believed in the Old Testament and New Testament. They believed in the Ten Commandments being written by God, they believed in the 6 principles of Hebrews 6 (i.e., the laying on of hands, healing, the resurrections, the ordinance of baptism, etc.) They believed in the keeping of the Lord's Supper (although it doesn't say how often. This is something we'd like to find out.) They believed in Church Government. And they believed that baptism should be by immersion. These are the basic beliefs of the Church as written down in 1705.

Their first record in their old book is as follows: "The Church of God, Keeping the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus Christ, Living in Piscataway and Hopewell, in the province of New Jersey, being assembled with one accord at the house of Benjamin Martin in Piscataway, the 19th day of August, 1705, we did then and with one mind chose our dearly beloved Edward Dunham, who is faithful in the Lord, to be our elder and assistant according to the will of God, whom we did send to New England to be ordained. Who was ordained at the Church meeting in Westerly, Rhode Island by prayer and laying on of hands by their elder William Gibson the 8th of September, 1705." [As it was stated earlier on page 45 of this Bible Study, "On March 2, 1708 they apparently changed their observance of Passover from the yearly Bible observance of it on the 14th Nisan to a monthly or bimonthly event." This ordination of Edward Dunham occurred 3 years earlier. Piscataway was far enough removed from Rhode Island that they just might have held onto the proper observance of Passover on the 14th of Nisan.]

So we follow the truth from France, to London, to Newport, Rhode Island, to Westerly, to Piscataway, New Jersey. From Piscataway, the active thread goes to Marion Iowa, and from there it goes to Stanbury, Missouri. From Stanbury, Missouri the thread goes to Oregon where Mrs. Herbert W. Armstrong was convinced by a Mrs. Runcorn, a Sabbath-keeper in Oregon, affiliated with the Stanbury Church of God, that the 7th Day Sabbath should be observed. [There was no "active thread that directly tied Mr. Armstrong to Piscataway New Jersey and Steven Mumford. The thread was ideological/spiritual, but not physical by any stretch of the imagination. This is well documented in Mr. Tkach's new book "Transformed by TRUTH." Apparently, God has allowed ideological/spiritual links between these revivals, but some of them have no historic physical link at all. Why? Ask Jesus when he returns. I have no idea.] After an intensive 6 months study of the Bible to try to prove his wife was wrong, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong proved the Sabbath was the proper day to worship God and started to observe it. [The Church Mrs. Runcorn may have been a member of was called the 'Scravel Hill Church of God', in the Willamette Valley, in Oregon.]

CONCLUSION: What happened to the Church of God in Rhode Island? What happened to the 'Seventh Day Baptists'?
Let's take a look at their current Church government organizational chart. The powerflow is from top to bottom, with the individual local member coupled with all the other local members holding the real power.

INDIVIDUAL 7th DAY BAPTIST CHRISTIANS
AUTONOMOUS LOCAL CONGREGATIONS
GENERAL CONFERENCE
GENERAL SECRETARY (PASTOR GENERAL)

Their Church government is exactly the opposite to what it was in the beginning of their history. It is now a perfect democracy. The Pastor General has only one vote just the same as any local member.

As they began to liberalize, with the individual member gaining more power in Church government, the appointed ordained head of the Church under Jesus Christ lost power to the local Churches and membership. The number of members in the Churches of God in Rhode Island began a steady decline. The Sabbath-keeping Churches of God that were in Rhode Island and that changed their name to 'Seventh Day Baptists' totally ceased to be the true Church of God, as you have seen, around 1882. As for the active thread, it went to Piscataway, New Jersey in 1705, and then onto Marion, Iowa, and then to Stanbury, Missouri. And from there to the Willamette Valley in Oregon.

You can see how they began to disintegrate, from 1816 being the largest church in North America to one of the smallest. At one point the members in Hopkington, Rhode Island [alone] numbered 2,000. [And that is a pretty nasty slam at the Seventh Day Baptists, calling them the "dead Church." Thank Jesus that he has helped us repent of that nasty behavior as a Church and hopefully individually as well.]

THE WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
(AT FIRST 'RADIO CHURCH OF GOD')

In 1927 Mr. and Mrs. Herbert W. Armstrong come into contact with the Church of God Seventh Day in the Willamette Valley in Oregon.


(Historical note to page 51, "1757:...": Few realize that Satan even tried to wipe out the Church of God in the United States through a bold invasion plan by French General Montcalm, which if successful would have made all of New England from New York City to the top of Maine part of the French Empire, a Catholic empire. Even New Jersey, where the active thread had taken root would not have been safe, being only a short distance from New York and the Hudson. The French, if they had gotten that far, would have intensified their efforts militarily. Fort William Henry is a colonial version of "The Alamo." It threw a vital six-day delay on Montcalm which caused him to cancel his invasion plans which would have taken him successfully to New York City. Read these quotes taken from a historical flyer printed by The Fort William Henry Historical Society. (Emphasis mine throughout this quote.)

"Fort William Henry was constructed at the southern end of Lake George in 1755 by Major-General William Johnson and a group of colonial volunteers. The British military strategies designed the fort as a key northern defense of the colony of New York. It would also serve as a launching point for future military operations against the threatening French empire to the north. Finally, the fort would guard the portage between the waters of Lake George and the Hudson River to prevent any large scale French invasion. This portage was a vital link in the water route from Montreal to New York City...In August of 1757, the most brilliant French General of the colonial period, the Marquis de Montcalm, sailed up Lake George with a force of 8,000 crack French regulars, a large party of Indian allies, and Canadian volunteers. With the capable assistance of the Chevalier de Levis, Montcalm masterfully deployed his troops and artillery train of 32 pieces. Once their cannons were in siege position, the French expected the fort to surrender rather then engage such an impressive army in battle. When an easy capitulation was not forthcoming, Montcalm initiated a brutal assault with great vigor and much skill. The defending garrison, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel George Munro, consisted of 2,000 men. In addition, there were numerous women and children from neighboring settlements who sought refuge within the safety of the fort's walls. After a siege of 6 days, Colonel Munro realized that the structure of the fort was near collapse and holding out any longer would be impossible. Yet by withstanding the French onslaught for such an extended period, the British had time to mass troops further south. After Colonel Munro surrendered, Montcalm recognized that any attempts to continue his expedition further south would be futile. The terms of capitulation included a promise of safe passage for the beleaguered English who were able to make the trip to Fort Edward. This greatly mystified and angered the Indians who had accompanied Montcalm from Canada for the sole purpose of securing English scalps. Montcalm, underestimating the ferocity of his Indian allies, had detailed but a small guard of French regulars to escort the garrison to Fort Edward. As the pitiful column of unarmed survivors marched down the military road, the Indians could be restrained no longer. Although the precise number of Englishmen killed during the massacre may never be ascertained, historians agree that it constituted one of the bloodiest pages of colonial American history. Following the massacre, Montcalm razed the fort and covered the charred remains with sand. The site remained untouched until the present project was begun in 1953."

So the next time you attend the Feast of Tabernacles at Saratoga Springs, New York, visit Fort William Henry and remember that the Church of God owes those buried there on the grounds a debt of gratitude for stopping Montcalm. Fort William Henry was our 'Alamo', defended for us by those who didn't even know the true reason why they were inspired to resist so tenaciously. It was God who inspired this tenaciousness and military foresight in Lieutenant-Colonel Munro, for reasons beyond what he could have realized.

END

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF GOD
BIBLE STUDY SERIES

So that is where I sincerely believe the Worldwide Church of God comes from. Currently the Worldwide Church of God now believes it has historic evidence linking it back to the English Separatists of the 1630's. They also found pretty conclusive evidence that there was no direct connection between Steven Mumford of the 1660's and Mr. Herbert Armstrong's revival of the Church of God. This evidence I don't disagree with, but I do disagree with the way it is being interpreted. God gave Christians a somewhat unusual way of tracing and interpreting Church history for the descendants of the old covenant practicing (Jewish) Apostalic Church of God as well as the new covenant revivals of God's Church, which I believe Revelation 2 and 3 apply to. Most Separatists, to the best of my knowledge, were not seventh day Sabbath-keepers. [The Worldwide Church of God has uncovered reliable evidence that some Separatists were indeed Sabbath-keepers. Write for a copy of Ralph Orr's "From Sunday to Sabbath", The Worldwide Church of God, 300 West Green Street Pasadena, California 91129.] They called the day they worshipped on "the Sabbath," but this was in reality Sunday, the 1st day of the week. The Sabbatarians were a totally different group of people with their ideological/spiritual origins apparently coming from Europe and the remnants of the Waldensians. I have historic proof that the Waldensians were a 7th day Sabbatarian/Holy Day observing Church--and if you have read this book-length paper you have read that proof. The major books about the Waldensians can be accessed by any minister of Jesus Christ from the Harvard Theological Library of Havard University and/or the Headquarters of the Seventh Day Baptists, who may also give permission for perusal of books quoted which they possess. Also Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph.D., Religion Department, Andrews University, says all the books listed at the end of the study on the Waldensians are in the Library of Andrews University. His email address is: samuele@andrews.edu

But the only real evidence that the London Sabbath keeping congregations (Bell Lane, Cripple Gate, and Mill Yard Churches of God) had their origins from the French Waldensians is circumstantial at best. (At this point in the Worldwide Church of God's life and walk with Christ, circumstantial evidence isn't quite good enough.) It is very strong circumstantial evidence though, i.e. the doctrinal beliefs of the Waldensians (as you have read) and the London Sabbath-keepers were almost identical.

To me, there is far too much evidence of shared doctrinal beliefs between the Sabbatarian Churches of God around London and the Waldensians of France to totally disregard.

Dr. Hoegh once taught that the 7 era's of God's Church of Revelation 2 and 3 were represented by seven separate candlesticks in Revelation 1, meaning that each era (of what I believe to be the direct descendants of the Jewish Apostalic Church of God) was not directly linked historically to the next--the records were not preserved even if there was a link, or they were destroyed (as we have evidence of). As such, the direct link between each era or revival may not be all that historically discernable. While there is no direct recorded link between Steven Mumford (of 1664 Rhode Island) and Mr. Herbert Armstrong (and we have proof there wasn't a direct historic link), a doctrinal and spiritual link appears to have existed. The same goes for the Churches of God around London of the 1600's and the remnants of the slaughtered Waldenses of France. This does not totally discount the specific historic evidence that the Worldwide Church of God has recently uncovered. My only real question lies in the area of the apparent historic link of the Bell Lane, Cripple Gate and Mill Yard Churches of God to the British Separatists of the 1630's. I personally find it hard to believe that one exists, due to the extreme differences of fundimental doctrinal beliefs between the two groups. It just doesn't square. Steven Mumford's doctrinal beliefs were quite similar to Mr. Armstrong's, particularly to Sabbath/Holy Day observance, with special emphasis on the New Testament Passover observance kept on the 14th Nisan (of the Jewish Calendar). The British Separatists of the 1630's shared none of these doctrinal beliefs.

The apparent Biblical model for tracing the Jewish Apostalic Church of God from Policrates through the seven prophecied revivals is found in Revelation 1 through 3, and would be to look for within each revival a common denominator with the previous one. A good one is to have shared doctrinal/spiritual beliefs. Historic links can be destroyed or tampered with by unscrupulous men. Don't forget, this is Satan's world. I John 5:19 states, "We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one." Revelation 12:9 states, "...Satan, who leads the whole world astray..." We cannot always trust secular histories, some of which are scooped up and quoted by sincere Bible scholars and commentary writers in effort to shed light on Church history. (Don't forget, the new covenant revivals of the Christian Church can be traced the using the same formula found in Revelation 1-3.)

Judging from the old covenant doctrinal interpretation each revival shared, which was not part of the new covenant doctrinal beliefs of the Apostalic Church of God from the 50's A.D. to the 90's A.D., these revivals appear to be revivals of Jewish Christians who didn't go along with the major doctrinal decisions made at the Jerusalem council of Acts 15. For some reason God preserved this often persecuted group of old covenant Christians as they were harrassed from Turkey into Europe, then England and into the United States. God doesn't always chose to leave the identity of his people, whether national or Apostolic Church of God, in the hands of secular and oftentimes hostile historians.

But the truth of the new covenant is not affected one bit by whether the Worldwide Church of God's roots go back Jerusalem of 31 A.D. via the prophecied revivals of Revelation 2 and 3 or whether they only go back to the 1630's. Some parts of the body of Christ, most of them, have had nothing to do with what I think is this ancient sect of Christians descended from the Jewish Christians of Jerusalem which migrated halfway around the world in a little over 1800 years. Does that mean they're less important? Not at all! Some parts of the body of Christ were born during the various reformations of the 1600's. Some were born during the 1800's. One of the newest and fastest growing parts of the body of Christ is the Calvary Chapel fellowship whose headquarters is in Costa, Mesa, California. [Read Chuck Smith's "Harvest" (published by: THE WORD FOR TODAY, P.O. Box 8000, Costa Mesa, CA 92704. ISBN # 0-936728-42-6. Or call: (800) 272-WORD).] The important point is that ANY group of sincere Christians who meet the requirements of being Christians, having faith and being baptized, and having the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, are part of the body of Christ--regardless of which Christian denomination or fellowship they belong to.

View and research the historic evidence by the Bible standard spelled out in Revelation 1 through 3 and come to your own conclusions as to the actual roots of the Worldwide Church of God. It's not a primary issue in Christianity at this point. When it becomes so, Jesus will make the truth plainer for us to discern, that much is for sure. This may not be until he returns, or it may be sooner, that's up to him.

So that is the apparent sketchy lineage of the Worldwide Church of God. Does that mean the Worldwide Church of God has something up on all the other Christian Churches around them if they really are the ideological descendants of the Jewish Christians from the Apostolic Church of God of Jerusalem in 31 A.D.? Are they spiritually superior in some special way? ABSOLUTELY NOT! In many ways they have been spiritually crippled by their historic blindness to the meaning of the new covenant, and this blindness kept them from having a healthy loving relationship in the Christian community composed of all their brothers and sisters in Christ from other fellowships. And their exclusivit attitude kept them from being able to effectively share the Biblical knowledge that they do accurately possess. But their exclusivist attitude was out of a longstanding doctrinal misunderstanding and not out of any malice.

Don't forget what I said in the beginning. These Sabbatarian revivals were not numerically large, but very small at best. There is evidence that the Waldensians as a whole were Sunday observers, with a small group of them being Sabbath-keepers. This is a footnote in Christian history. I believe it is our footnote, but it is merely a footnote at best. But the important thing it shows is that Jesus, for some reason beyond our wisdom, not only allowed but actually participated in the raising up of Sabbatarian revivals from the first Century all the way up and through Mr. Armstrong and the Worldwide Church of God. Why? Again, don't ask me, ask Jesus when he returns. But as you can see there are huge gaps between revivals of these old covenant Christians. The revivals of these old covenant Christians were also numerically small, i.e. each revival was not particularly large in number of members. They did all share a spiritual/doctrinal/ideological kinship, but many of these revivals reached this kinship via different roads. If there truly are seven era's of these old covenant Christians there are also seven major revivals of the new covenant Church—and these old covenant revivals are only a footnote tacked onto the new covenant Christian revivals which Revelation 2-3 really pointed to prophetically. It is kind of humbling to have to come to this knowledge after believing your fellowship was the one and only true Church and believing Revelation 2-3 applied to your own Christian fellowship. If Jesus has used Revelation 2-3 to plot both old covenant revivals and new covenant revivals, it is most interesting, because we believed we were the Philadelphian era. Calvary Chapel believes the spiritually active and alive new covenant Christians of today are the Philadelphian era. If Jesus is plotting both, the coming of the Worldwide Church of God from old covenant Christianity into the new covenant Christianity heals a massive rift Paul sought to heal back in Rome (Romans 14), between Jewish and Gentile Christians. This makes for very interesting speculation, but that is all it is. Jesus knows for sure and I'm sure he will tell us when we meet him. The book of Acts is an unfinished book. God is keeping it current for us, and it will probably provide years of interesting reading for us all in the kingdom age! We must stop finger pointing and name calling, and start understanding each other. Paul didn't call the Jewish Christians in Rome a "cult" for their particular beliefs, which he said the new covenant allowed for. Neither should we toward our old covenant brethren.

For a great expository study on cassette tape send for "Letters to Seven Churches" and listen to Chuck Missler's study of Revelation 2 and 3--seven letters dictated by Jesus Christ, which provide a prophetic view of all Church history in advance. This Bible study series covers the prophetic historic revivals of the new covenant Christian Church. Find out what these letters say to you and me today. To order this valuable Christian resource call 1-800-KHOUSE-1 or to order online http://www.khouse.org/

To quote a famous 1960’s tune, “The times, they are a changin”. After September 11, 2001 we have all become aware of the fact that the world has become a more dangerous place to live in, even within the borders of the United States. September 11th should be a wake-up call for all Christians and those who think they are Christians. If you were to die today-tonight-would you be assured of your place in God’s heavenly kingdom, a recipient of eternal life? The words of the apostle Paul ring out across the centuries asking this age-old question “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates.” Dr. Charles F. Stanley poses this same eternal question in his sermon “What Does It Mean To Believe In Jesus”. And he gives three essential criteria that will help you answer that question in your own personal life. The assurance of your eternity is worth confirming. CLICK HERE to find out if “Jesus Christ is in you.”

"The Worldwide Church of God under the late Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, and presently the splinter Churches of God that split off from the Worldwide Church of God after 1995, both held and hold basically a Classic Pre-Millennial view of prophecy which include some unique interpretations about the "unsaved dead" not embraced by most Christian denominations. These are the beliefs of three major splinter groups that broke away from the Worldwide Church of God, as well as the "old" Worldwide Church of God under Mr. Armstrong. These are totally secondary to the central gospel of salvation--i.e. one is totally free to believe or disbelieve what is presented, without it affecting one's salvation in the least. The study is merely being presented to show another view on the subject of heaven & hell and the Millennium. CLICK HERE to view the study. You will find it most interesting. You don't have to believe it."