In a Worldwide News dated August 25th, 1986 is a now famous article produced by the editorial services staff at the WCG
headquarters. This article listed 18 restored truths that God had resored into His Church through Mr. Armstrong.
But did you know that more than 3 years before this Mr. Armstrong listed 18 restored truths himself in a 1983 sermon
entitled: "Mission of the Philadelphia Era" ?
Below I have posted, side by side, BOTH lists. The one from the Worldwide news and the one that Mr. Armstrong gave in his
sermon. They are basically the same, EXCEPT for the LAST THREE.
Now this is not to discredit what was written in the Worldwide News, but rather to show the contrast of the two lists.
Indeed those "truths" listed in the Worldwide News are truths restored to the Church. Remember, in Mystery of the Ages (page
251) as well as the above mentioned sermon, Mr. Armstrong says that there were AT LEAST (meaning more) 18 basic and essential
truths that were restored into God's Church during the Philadelphia era.
So yes there are many more than the 18 truths, possibly 50 or a hundred or so. Remember also that when Mr. and
Mrs. Armstrong came upon the Oregon Conference (5th era) of the Church of God, the church had the right name, the law (including
the Sabbath), and understood the purpose of the first tithe.
But Mr. Armstrong in his sermon, focused on 18 fundamental or essential truths for a reason. All other truths dovetail
or tie into these basic truths. They are the "foundation" of the truths and doctrines of the true Church of God.
If we "ponder" and look at those last three truths that Mr. Armstrong listed in his sermon, we can glean a deeper insight
into what has happened to God's people here in the last era of His Church. Some might even wonder why those last three truths
were left off of the list in the Worlwide News version.
If you want to hear this sermon from Mr. Armstrong, go to the T.H.W.A.R.C. page on this website, scroll to the general
sermons from Mr. Armstrong, and click on the title: "Mission of the Philadelphia Era".
The last 30 minutes or so is where he begins to list these truths. And he begins it by saying that these are the "ALL
THINGS" (of Matt. 17:11). He had just been discussing that scripture and the Elijah to come in the end time that
Christ would use to restore "all things". He clearly understood that he had fulfilled that office.
