Births… deaths… migrants…
Demography Is Destiny
Why Do We Need Demographic Data?
“It is essential for governments and public services to know how many people currently live in a country and how many are expected to live there in the future. With this important information they can plan and make better decisions about the building of schools, hospitals or roads for example.
Governments also need to know other demographic data, for example, how old the population is now and how this will develop in the future to plan for pensions or health care.” (ec.europa.eu)
The Basics
“At its most fundamental level, population change comes down to three demographic processes: fertility, mortality, and migration.
More People Are Alive In This Exact Moment Than At Any Previous Time In History
In the next 60 seconds, 267 babies will be born, and 110 people will die. By the time you’ve finished reading this introduction, the world’s population will have increased by around 600 people. By 2050, our planet will be home to nearly 10 billion humans, compared with fewer than eight billion people in 2020. But population is about more than facts and figures.
The world’s population is composed of individuals of all ages whose actions and stories collectively shape our future.” (prb.org)
Demographic Doom
Family Sizes Are Shrinking
“Forget debt and deflation: the biggest threat to the global economy and the future of modern civilization as we know it, may be demographics, according to a recent Euromonitor study. Whereas over the past decade policymakers have been mostly focused on how to reverse the global infatuation with debt and how to reverse what appears to be a structural decline in inflation, an even more troubling trend has been observed in recent years.
Due to a culmination of factors including falling fertility rates, rising divorce rates and expensive real estate, family sizes across the world are shrinking. In fact, as the Canadian bank points out, it was as recently as 2012 when the number of couples without children globally surpassed the number of those with children.” (technocracy.news)
The British Migration Crisis
Demographics is, by its very nature, a long time study. When sudden change occurs, it can create huge problems, as the British National Health service is finding out! The system is overwhelmed, with patients having to wait over 3 years for basic surgical procedures.
“Last week it was the NHS figures which revealed that, in 2025 alone, 752,730 immigrants registered with a GP. Imagine the impact of three quarters of a million new people on a healthcare system where so many are already on a waiting list – some of them dying for treatment.” (telegraph.co.uk)
Demography Is Destiny
The real problem: A shortage of children!
March 9, 2006, George Weigel, a Roman Catholic theologian, author and political analyst, wrote:
“In Germany, neither last year’s election campaign nor the recently installed Christian Democratic government of Angela Merkel has addressed the impending distress of Germany’s state health-care and pension systems, in which a shrinking number of taxpaying workers will have to support an increasing number of retirees. Meanwhile, thanks to the same demographic trends, Germany will likely lose the equivalent of the entire population of the former East Germany by mid-century.
Although German president Horst Köhler has publicly campaigned for raising the country’s fertility rate, now standing at 1.39, a recent poll indicates that 25 percent of German men and 20 percent of German women in their twenties intend to have no children — and see no problem with that choice.
Then there is Italy, whose large extended families have long been a staple of the world’s imagination. The truth of the matter is far different: by 2050, on present trends, almost 60 percent of Italians will not know, from personal experience, what a brother, sister, aunt, uncle, or cousin is.
Over the next quarter-century, the number of workers in Europe will decline by 7 percent while the number of over-sixty-fives will increase by 50 percent, trends that will create intolerable fiscal difficulties for the welfare state across the continent. Demography is destiny, and Europe’s demographics of decline — which are unparalleled in human history absent wars, plagues, and natural catastrophes — are creating enormous and unavoidable problems.” (discovery.org)
Europe’s Demographic Suicide
In May, 2017, George Weigel commented:
“Ten years ago, after my meditation on Europe had appeared in several languages, I was invited to speak to members of the European Parliament in Brussels. There, I tried to make what seemed three rather obvious points.
- Europe is committing demographic suicide, systematically depopulating itself in what British historian Niall Ferguson has called ‘the greatest sustained reduction in European population since the Black Death in the 14th century.’
- This unwillingness to create the future in the most elemental sense, by creating new generations, is at the root of many of Europe’s problems, including its difficulties assimilating immigrants and its fiscal distress.
- When an entire continent — healthier, wealthier, and more secure than ever before — deliberately chooses sterility, the most basic cause for that must lie in the realm of the human spirit, in a certain souring about the very mystery of being.
The response to this analysis that has stuck in my mind ever since came from an Italian Euro-parliamentarian, who said, in so many words, ‘Look, we know we’re finished. We’re trying to arrange things so that we can die comfortably in our beds. Don’t you Yanks come over here and start stirring things up.’
It was brutal but it had the merit of being honest, and it came back to me the day after the recent French presidential election, when it was pointed out by several observers that the prime ministers or presidents of Europe’s largest economies — and of all the European members of that exclusive global club, the G7 — are without children.
German’s Angela Merkel, Great Britain’s Theresa May, Italy’s Paolo Gentiloni, and France’s Emmanuel Macron. Add to the mix the childless Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte and the childless prime minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, and something quite striking comes into focus: of the six founding members of what has evolved into the European Union, five are now led by childless prime ministers or presidents, a situation that would have been unimaginable to one of the founders of modern ‘Europe,’ Konrad Adenauer, who was the father of eight.
The childlessness in this elite cohort certainly has different causes, given the diverse personalities involved. Some of these leaders doubtless experience their childlessness as a sorrow — although none seems to have taken the option of adopting children. Nonetheless, the childlessness of so many western European leaders is, if nothing else, a stark illustration of the crisis I identified more than a decade ago — and which my Italian interlocutor in Brussels confirmed, if in a thoroughly depressing way.
Europe needs to reject demographic suicide and rediscover the joy of creating the future through having children.” (catholicherald.com)
The Black American Muslim Viewpoint
Who Is Luis Farrakhan?
“Imam of the Nation of Islam (NOI), Farrakhan is one of the most influential black religious leaders. For blacks to secure ‘freedom, justice and equality,’ he advocates Islam, black nationalism, and self-determination.” (cambridge.org)
Luis Farrakhan comments:
“[In a YouTube video, the americaworking.org/nation-of-islam states that:] ‘According to research, in order for a culture to maintain itself for more than 25 years there must be a fertility rate of 2.11 children per family. With anything less the culture will decline. Historically no culture has ever reversed a 1.9 fertility rate. A rate of 1.3 is impossible to reverse because it would take 80-100 years to correct itself.
As of 2010, the fertility rate in France is 1.8; in England 1.6; in Greece, 1.3; in Germany, 1.3; in Italy, 1.2; in Spain, 1.1. Across the entire European Union of 31 countries, the fertility rate is a mere 1.4. Historical research tells us these numbers are impossible to reverse. In a matter of years, Europe as we know it shall cease to exist. Yet the population of the Europe is not declining — why? They answer: “Islamic immigration.” ’…
Then the video shows an image of assassinated Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi, to whom the narrator attributes the following quote: ‘There are signs that Allah will grant victory to Islam in Europe without swords, without guns, without conquests. We don’t need terrorists, we don’t need suicide bombers. The 50-plus million Muslims in Europe will turn it into a Muslim continent within a few decades.’
This is like a warning to White people, to get ready for a change that they are not in control of. According to this video, ‘2-2.1 live births down to 1.8 live births’ means that in 25 years there will be a cultural change — but will you, as a White person, be able to survive? But once your birth rate goes to ‘1.6 and under,’ it is ‘impossible to reverse’…
What is expressed in this video bears witness to what the Bible says; that ‘their womb would be cursed,’ and ‘their land would be cursed,’ and so we see that the fruit of their womb is! And, if this is true, then within 100 years White people may be non-existent on our planet.” (finalcall.com)
Immigration A Key Component To Subvert The US
“Mass migration has now been weaponized through the exploitation of modern immigration systems, not as a humanitarian phenomenon but as a deliberate strategy of conquest meant to penetrate, subvert, and ultimately remake the United States and Britain from within.” (breitbart.com)
A Halal Falafel Burger?
“The North America halal food market, encompassing the United States and Canada, was valued at USD 100 billion in 2024. This expansion of halal food indicates a broader effort toward Islamic control, leveraging dietary laws to promote submission and societal restructuring. It creates parallel systems favoring religious requirements over secular standards, risking permanent cultural shifts.” (thegatewaypundit.com)
Muslim Candidates Have Seized Control Of US Elections
“In the span of one election, CAIR’s decades-long blueprint for political domination has come to life — forty-two Muslim candidates, backed by a Hamas-linked network, have seized key offices across America, proving that the Muslim Brotherhood’s plan to infiltrate from mosque to city hall is no longer a warning, but a reality. They told us the plan. Now we’re watching it unfold — in real time.
CAIR’s Founder Publicly Revealed the Plan. Just weeks ago, RAIR Foundation USA exposed CAIR founder Nihad Awad preaching from a California mosque, where he unveiled a decades-long blueprint to embed Islamic influence inside America’s core institutions.
‘We have 4,000 mosques in the country… If each mosque funds five students in journalism, filmmaking, political science, and law… by 2050, we will have 100,000 of each — and we will run for office at all levels of government.’ That was not a sermon. That was a mobilization order. Awad instructed American Muslims to stop donating to overseas relief and instead fund political power inside the United States.” (rairfoundation.com)
Hate Speech
“Door to door enforcement has increased as the public speaks out against multicultural policies. The excuse is always the same – Native Europeans are not allowed to criticize third world integration because it ‘might hurt people’s feelings’. Any opposition to mass immigration is labeled ‘hate speech’.
Armies of third world invaders, largely from Islamic nations, have flooded into the EU and UK and threaten to completely displace the native born population. Muslims view the west as a cultural and spiritual enemy that needs to be brought under their control. Fundamentalists believe that the entire world must one day submit to Islam and Sharia Law. They revel in the invasion and see Europeans as cattle ripe for subjugation.” (activistpost.com)
Did You Ever Notice The Asterisk On Your Social Security Statement?
“While engaging in the mundane task of gathering financial statements for a ‘secure retirement’ meeting with my husband’s and my adviser, this Baby Boomer stumbled upon documented proof that our nation does not have the guts to confront one of its most serious economic problems.
The realization came when I pulled from my files a document statement innocently titled, ‘Your Social Security Statement.’ At first glance, the statement did not appear menacing. I was told I could expect to receive a benefit of ‘about $2,136 a month’ upon reaching age 70 — which certainly seems like good news.
Then, as if on cue, I saw an asterisk with the following message:
‘The law governing benefit amounts may change because, by 2033, the payroll taxes collected will be enough to pay only about 77 percent of scheduled benefits.’” (retirementestateplan.com)
Demographics may show up potential problems…
But mankind does not have the answers!
This World Has No Understanding Of World Events!
“This may sound incredible, but it’s true. Editors, newscasters, foreign correspondents do not understand the real meaning of the world news they report, analyze and discuss. Heads of government are utterly unaware of the true significance of the very world-shaking events with which they deal. They have no conception of where these events are leading. Incredible? Perhaps – but true!” (The United States and Britain in Prophecy - Chapter 1)
The Basic Inadequacies Of Human Government
“Few today understand that God has allotted mankind six thousand years in which to rule himself. During this time, God has kept hands off the affairs of men. He has allowed man to pursue the course that seems right to him (Prov. 16:25). God has given man the opportunity to prove, by experience, the basic inadequacies of any form of human government.” (Correspondence Course - Lesson 4)
What Does All This Mean?
As Mr Armstrong explained:
“It all means that a purpose is being worked out here below! And the time has come for the Eternal - the Creator-RULER of the universe reveal to us HOW world events, from here, are going to work out the tremendous CLIMAX of that divine PURPOSE!
The whole earth is now shaking with convulsions, preparatory to the mightiest happenings of earth’s history!
We Are Now In The Very Crisis At The Close Of This Present Evil And Unhappy World!” (The Book of Revelation Unveiled at Last!)
Is Makeup Wrong?
"Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked through a window." (II Kings 9:30 NKJV)
In the late 1960's and early '70's several subversive elements had infiltrated the church, so in the decade prior to his death in 1986 Mr. Armstrong concentrated to a great degree on putting the church "back on track" and one of the contentious issues he covered was that of makeup, realising it had far-reaching consequences. And to this day, makeup is still a controversial subject among the various groups that have formed since his death. Some claim that Mr. Armstrong went "back and forth" on the subject, and that it is just a minor point. Did Mr. Armstrong vacillate on makeup? I at one time thought he had, but that was until we once again played his sermons, read his articles and rediscovered what Christ through His end-time apostle actually had to say on not just makeup, but on a number of issues that continue to divide the wider churches of God.
Back and Forth?
So is makeup just a minor issue or an outward manifestation of a much bigger problem? To find out, it is worth taking a little time to examine the recent history of the ruling on makeup in the church from the 1950's until his death, because what at first glance might appear to be "double minded", on closer inspection reveals a progressively deeper understanding of not only the makeup issue, but all doctrinal issues!
In the Worldwide News article of November 16, 1981, entitled "How Satan began injecting liberalism into God's Church" and subtitled "How Subtly Satan used Makeup to Start the Church Off the Track", Mr. Armstrong explains how the church in the 1950's came to the right ruling, but initially the "no makeup rule" was based primarily on specific points and specific scriptures, applying God's law as the world applies man's laws – trying to cover all possible infringements.
And then, in the late 1960's and early '70's Mr Armstrong became involved in meeting heads of state in nations all over the world. And during his many absences from HQ in Pasadena, rebellion set in and a number of ministers left the church. Also the ill-founded doctrinal committee was set up – an attempt as it later became clear, to DISPROVE church doctrines rather than verify them – and in 1974 Ted Armstrong brought to his father's attention that the church had misunderstood four specific scriptures that were being used to ban makeup. In the throes of leaving for a big campaign in Manilla, Mr. Armstrong typed and signed a brief statement to that effect, but in his absence, the head of Pastoral Administration added much more, liberalising and watering down what is God's mind on the subject.
And the liberalising of makeup was just the thin end of the wedge, because once Satan had his foot in the door, this permissive approach was used to help derail the church on a number of issues, and water down and liberalise other doctrines, such as healing. In fact the whole question of makeup became a catalyst for Christ guiding Mr. Armstrong into a far deeper understanding of His law and Way of life. Continuing in the 1981 WWN article:
But we need to learn that God’s law is a PRINCIPLE to be applied. It has to do first of all with an ATTITUDE OF MIND.
The Church RULED AGAINST THE USE OF MAKEUP based primarily on specific “do” and “don’t” scriptures, rather than of God’s Law. We did make the mistake of applying God’s spiritual Law as the world applies man’s laws. The average policeman today has to enforce six times as many specific laws as he is capable of remembering. I am reminded of a comic strip “There Ought to Be a Law.” Every day someone thought up a reason for making a new specific law to cover some new minor infraction. It depicted the ridiculous system of man’s laws.
Actually, God’s spiritual Law is expressed in just one simple four-letter word – LOVE. We apply that law to given circumstances. Jesus, for example, “magnified the Law and made it honourable.” At Mt. Sinai He, as YHWH, expanded it into 10 points – the first four defining the PRINCIPLE of love toward God, the last six love toward neighbor. From there it expands in principle to cover any and every question that may arise.
... Now JESUS CHRIST, through His chosen apostle, is going to RULE on this question once and for all!
THERE ARE TWO reasons, and variations of those two reasons, and God, who knows human hearts better than we know our own, KNOWS THIS. They are: VANITY, and desire to be like the world God calls us out of, or so to appear to the world ...
... Finally, I repeat, sin, spiritually, is self-centeredness, self-exaltation, desire to be beautiful, vanity, coveting, desire to GET and TAKE, to exalt the self, jealousy and envy, competition, oft-resulting violence and war, resentment and rebellion against authority. These are the PRINCIPLES of spiritual SIN. Christ is GETTING US BACK ON THE TRACK! ("How Satan began injecting liberalism into God's Church")
But WHY the Church?
Many years ago I heard a minister's wife dogmatically state ... "I will never be in a group that bans makeup". This lady clearly had no real idea WHY we have been called to be a church member in the first place and given the priceless privilege – and responsibility – of being part of the Firstfruits. Take a moment to think deeply on the following statements of Mr. Armstrong's from Mystery of the Ages, chapter 6, Mystery of the Church:
The Church, founded by Jesus Christ, has an all-important meaning to every human life that ever lived . Yet almost no one has ever known that meaning.
Even within the Christian world, [and the churches of God today!] apostasy, division and changing times have blotted out the true original meaning and purpose that now is indeed a mystery. (chapter 6, Mystery of the Church)
And regardless of whether we are a man or a woman who has no desire to wear makeup, our understanding regarding why the final ruling on this subject – and even more importantly, WHY Christ raised up His church – has a great deal to do with that "all important meaning to every human life". We are not involved in "religion" – our calling goes FAR beyond that, and it's vital we get to grips with why we have been called now. Continuing from Mystery of the Ages, chapter 6:
And just as God has not created all at once, but in successive stages, so he is bringing salvation to the world in successive stages. The Church is a necessary instrumentality preparatory to, and in order to, bring salvation to humanity. Therefore, once again, let it be emphasized that the purpose of the Church is not merely to give salvation to those called into the Church, but to teach and train those predestined and called into the Church as instruments God shall use in bringing the world to salvation.
Let us illustrate by an analogy. Many states in America have state teachers’ colleges. The states could not start or conduct schools until they had first trained teachers for those schools. The Church may be called God’s teachers’ college to prepare rulers and teachers for the kingdom of God when God does offer redemption and eternal life to the world as a whole.
The CHURCH was planned to be God’s instrumentality for calling predestinated human beings out of this world to be trained for positions of leadership in the world tomorrow, when they shall teach and train others. That is why in the New Testament, the Church is called the first fruits of God’s salvation.(chapter 6, Mystery of the Church)
But today are we ready to fulfil that role? To teach those future teachers how to accurately discern right and wrong, good and evil - the 2 trees?
- For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
- For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
- But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:12-14)
HOW we are being Taught
Just recently I heard of a family in an off-shoot of a worldly Christian denomination who have been rendered totally heartbroken because one of their children has decided to quit attending church with them. According to their beliefs, their son now has no future whatsoever! Yet this family believes in a Place of Safety, Christ's second coming and even the millennium – "as the kingdom of God on earth" but also believe that the millennium is only for the members of that particular group. They do believe in a resurrection, but again, that is only for church members. They have no concept whatsoever of why they are in their church now, (presumably for their salvation alone) or why God should allow millions to live and die before Christ came to earth 2,000 years ago, let alone before their movement developed in the 1800's.
And what should immediately spring to OUR minds? "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (I Corinthians 15:22) ... IT'S THE SAME ALL! ... and the vast majority will be made alive and given their first chance to understand the Truth – pictured by the Last Great Day. But HOW did we come to know that? From our own in-depth studies? I think not.
Several years ago when my wife and I started to visit potential church members in Nigeria, an elderly man, Mr. Lambert Azubuike, said to me of his conversion that ... "I could read the Bible and see what was written there, but apostle Armstrong showed me what it meant". EXACTLY! It has been through Mr. Armstrong's sermons and articles, books and booklets that we have learnt about the Plan of God – the meaning of life itself, and the incredible potential for every single human being, illustrated through the Holy Days. From the WWN February 19, 1979 "What is a Liberal?", Mr. Armstrong writes:
How does God’s Church receive its doctrines, beliefs and teachings? Direct from God, through the channels of Jesus Christ as HEAD of the Church, and from Him through the apostles! NEVER by any others! NEVER by a group of ministers appointing themselves as a Doctrinal Committee! So it was in the first century.
How did the Worldwide Church of God receive its doctrines, beliefs and teachings? EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH CHRIST’S APOSTLE! True, I have practiced the biblical principle that “in the multitude of counsel there is safety.” On many occasions some top-level ministers have contributed certain input that has helped me in setting doctrine. BUT EVERY DOCTRINE, BELIEF AND TEACHING IN THE WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD HAS COME FROM CHRIST THROUGH HIS CHOSEN APOSTLE! (WWN February 19, 1979 "What is a Liberal?")
No other "Christian" church on earth comes close to having the depth of understanding we have been given through Christ's end-time apostle. Men have spent their lifetime in putting together Bible concordances and commentaries, but still have no concept of why they were born. It's not their time, but it is ours, and once given God's spirit to open our minds to this "coded book" He has determined that we receive His precious understanding through the apostle He sent. Not something to be taken lightly, as according to Jesus Christ ...
- He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. (Matthew 10:40)
- He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. (Luke 10:16)
WHAT we are being Taught
Since Mr Armstrong's death – and the resulting apostasy and shattering – we are being forced to get to grips with a SPIRITUAL heritage that was left, rather than attempts to compile a "tick/check list" of every major or minor point brought to us during his ministry. Society has moved on ... it has sunk even lower than it was in his lifetime ... and sometimes the ministry is called upon to make judgements on situations that would not have even come to mind a few decades ago: transgender issues; a fractured church; Internet pornography; smartphones; social media; cyber bullying; GM foods; unclean gene splicing; etc. And not only the ministry, but church members also – especially those striving to bring up children in this cesspit of a society.
A key aspect of faithfully administrating this spiritual "Way" – including the makeup issue – involves the ability to correctly apply God-given spiritual principles to each and every circumstance. This is something critical to our training that God expects all of us to get to grips with. It is something we are going to have to do continually as born sons in the Kingdom of God out into eternity. (Isaiah 51:16) When Mr Armstrong was alive, we witnessed constantly the dynamic leadership of God's Living Word through Him. From the WWN February 19, 1979 "What is a Liberal?", Mr. Armstrong writes:
In the Bible God does not write down every specific detail of the PRINCIPLE or SPIRIT of His Law! He expects us, with His Holy Spirit, to apply the principle to every circumstance, act or question.The whole duty of man is keeping God’s law IN THE SPIRIT – far more than the specific detailed letter. It is the ATTITUDE or the principle of the law. The law does not list every detail included in the duty of man. Reduced to its simplest over all denominator, the whole law is the one word, LOVE. (WWN February 19, 1979 "What is a Liberal?")
In that particular article, Mr. Armstrong uses the word "principle" a dozen times! So it would seem that a solid comprehension of this vital subject is not only relevant to our future roles as king-priests in the Kingdom of God, but also now, at this time of qualifying and overcoming. Someone submissive to God's government does not need to be backed into a corner, with no "wriggle room", before placing themselves under The Way of God. But, as did King David, will seek to RUN that way with ALL their heart (Psalm 119:32).
It seems clear to most that the time we are in now is the measuring of the temple, as brought out in Revelation chapter 11: "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein." (Revelation 11:1) And for this temple to be "fitly framed together" (Ephesians 2:21) it's imperative we are all under the same government, led by the same Spirit – and not, as in the time of the judges, doing what we feel is right in OUR own sight ... or even as in Genesis 3, taking to ourselves the knowledge of what is good and evil, what is sin and what isn't!
The Two Trees – For Eternity
- The one who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and the one who is unrighteous in a very little thing is also unrighteous in much (Luke 16:10 NASV)
I hope by now you can clearly see we've been given the basis on which to correctly judge such "very little things" as makeup, birthdays, etc... Because if there is one segment of scripture that Mr. Armstrong would regularly turn to in order to lay the foundation for the rest of his sermon or article it would be the incident of the two trees of Genesis 2 and 3. Two ways of life ... Give and Get. So simple – yet so profound. Today, these two diametrically opposing approaches to life could bring peace between Russia and Ukraine, China and Taiwan, the USA and Europe, Iran, Israel, the Congo etc etc, as they can be extrapolated into any circumstance, situation, age, culture or race. Looking ahead to those individuals that will rise in the Great White Throne Judgement ... regardless whether you were an aborigine "down under", an Eskimo in the frozen north, one of the sons of Anak – the giants that terrifed the spies – or even Stalin, Hitler or Mussolini – these two opposing ways of life can be easily understood.
In the future we may well be asked to take God's way of life to other planets and even other life forms, and our little check list that worked fine in our home town, 2026, might not have the same relevance to angelic beings in a star system thousands of light years from Earth, for Paul tells us we are to indeed judge angels! (I Corinthians 6:3), and this could well be one of them ...
- As I looked, I saw a great storm coming from the north, driving before it a huge cloud that flashed with lightning and shone with brilliant light. There was fire inside the cloud, and in the middle of the fire glowed something like gleaming amber.
- From the center of the cloud came four living beings that looked human,
- except that each had four faces and four wings.
- Their legs were straight, and their feet had hooves like those of a calf and shone like burnished bronze.
- Under each of their four wings I could see human hands. So each of the four beings had four faces and four wings.
- The wings of each living being touched the wings of the beings beside it. Each one moved straight forward in any direction without turning around.
- Each had a human face in the front, the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and the face of an eagle at the back. (Ezekiel 1:4-10 NLT)
The use of makeup - if it is to conceal a blemish or unsightly birth mark has never been an issue, but we need to be honest with our motive. I think it best to let Mr. Armstrong sum up the matter, from his PGR of July 1, 1983, "Satan hasn't given up on makeup":
In II Corinthians 3:6, it is written that we must obey the law according to the SPIRIT – that is, the principle or intent of the law – not according to the specific letter.
Today, I’m afraid, some look at SIN through Old Testament eyes. Unless there is a literal, specific, “Thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt NOT,” then they say, “Isn’t it OK?” If you look at it that way, you really mean that you want to do Satan’s way, and follow the world – that you only want to follow God’s way so far as you are compelled ...
... The Church is not going to police you. But YOU ARE BEING JUDGED, N O W! The women of the world are not being judged as yet. Judgment has begun with the house of God, the Church. We in the Church are deciding OUR ETERNITY NOW. We are the FIRSTFRUITS. We are the embryo of the KINGDOM OF GOD! We are to be DIFFERENT from the world! It is GOD through Christ who is judging us right now, once for all eternity!
Before examining specific texts on the subject of make-up, let me summarize the PRINCIPLE involved – not only on make-up but on any or all subjects of what is right and what is wrong.
God’s law defines the WAY of human conduct – first of all, in relation to God, and secondly to human neighbor. LAW simply means the rules of conduct. The RULES of a basketball, baseball or football game might be called the LAWS of those games – the rules that regulate performance.
God’s LAW is stated in the one word, LOVE. The word LOVE is a PRINCIPLE, and in principle it is opposite to the word LUST. It is LOVE toward others. First of all, LOVE toward GOD, in love, worship, and obedience. Secondly it is love toward other humans. It cannot be vanity, because vanity is toward self and puts SELF before God. Love toward and worship of God in itself is the PRINCIPLE of humility, not self-glory or vanity or coveting. It is love toward neighbor in the spirit of outgoing CONCERN for neighbor’s welfare and good – of cooperation, serving, helping, sharing. It also may be love toward self in the sense or principle of concern for the physical and mental and spiritual welfare of the body and mind, which is the temple of God’s Holy Spirit.
YOU CAN APPLY THAT PRINCIPLE TO ANY QUESTION OF HUMAN CONDUCT. It is the real answer to the SIN question... (PGR July 1, 1983 Satan Hasn't Given up on Make up)
So the question isn't essentially about makeup – it's much broader than that. It's whether we correctly understand how to administer God's laws according to the spirit, the underlying principle. As Christ's apostle to the church in Corinth, Paul wrote: "Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." (II Corinthians 3:6) Mr. Armstrong, as our apostle grew to clearly understand the principle – hence his final ruling regarding makeup. The question is, DO WE? It's vital we do, because our calling is to be teachers – initially to mankind (Isaiah 30:18-21) – but then, as the Bride of Christ, to take God's way of life out into eternity ...
- And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
- And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
- And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
- And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
- And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
- And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
- He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (Revelation 21:1-7)
Further reading:
Satan hasn't given up on make-up, PGR July 1, 1983
Sermon – What God Expects of Us, 7 November 1981
Sermon – Getting Back on Track, December 1981
Sermon – What is Sin? 5 December 1981
Sermon – Hungering for God's Righteousness 11 June 1983
Latest Audio - 2026-02-21
“Just what is an APOSTLE?”
Today we find the Church of God in a “wilderness of religious confusion!”
The confusion is not merely around the Church – within the religions of the world outside – but WITHIN the very heart of The True Church itself!
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