The mystery of plain truth

Another issue 

“The Plain Truth” was the magazine of the Worldwide Church of God (WCOG), a peculiar Christian group founded by Herbert W Armstrong. WCOG have often been accused of being a sect or even a cult. The back issues of their magazine I skimmed last week looked surprisingly “main line”.

This issue, published after Armstrong's death in 1986, looks more overtly sectarian. It contains a lengthy excerpt on the Kingdom of God from Armstrong's book “The Mystery of the Ages” and an article attacking Spiritualism (the spirits of the deceased are really demons). There is also an article criticizing US protectionism towards Japan and Western Europe. The writer predicts that Western Europe will cut its ties to America in response. This sounds like political commentary, but apparently WCOG believed in an apocalyptic scenario pitting the Anglo-Saxon nations (Israel's descendants) against Germany (Assyria's descendants). Thus, the article is really warning discerning readers that the countdown to eternity has begun…

As usual, “The Plain Truth” contains a lengthy TV and Radio Log, with information on “The World Tomorrow”, the WCOG's TV and radio broadcast. Apart from a large number of North American networks and stations, WCOG's gospel could he seen or heard even in God-forsaken (?) places like Belize, Tonga, Monaco and Norway!

Not sure how to rate this obscure product, which reminds me of Watchtower and Awake, but in the end I give it three stars.