The History of the Church (Note: The following article is based on research from many sources, which had, for the most part, been compiled by the editors of the "Plain Truth Magazine" in the early 1980's for a series of 12 articles under the same title. Other source materials and personal research have also been included in this author's condensed compilation of the history of the Church of God. -- VAJ)
Christianity is, by far, the largest single religion. There are over 1.6 billion professing Christians, who are divided into hundreds of denominations; sects; splits; and schisms. Can we know which is the TRUE church?
Luke 12.32: "Do not be afraid LITTLE FLOCK, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the Kingdom."
Mt. 16:18: " ... upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades (the grave) shall not overpower it."
Before the Church began in 31 AD, almost the entire known world owed it's allegiance to Rome, the world's first "Superpower".
Gal. 4:4: "But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law." October 1, 7 BC (+/- 2weeks)
It was the perfect time indeed. Thanks to the earlier captivities and dispersions of Israelites and Jews, "The People of the Book" were already well established throughout the vast Roman empire.
Wed. Ap. 25, 31 AD. Yahshvah (sic: "Jesus"), the Lamb of God, was tried, crucified, and buried just before sundown on the Passover.
Sat. Ap.28, 31 AD - The Lord of the Sabbath rose exactly 72 hours after being buried, at the end of the weekly Sabbath!
For 40 days, He was seen alive by the Apostles and some 500 other witnesses.
Mt. 28: 17-20: "And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. And Yhshvh came up and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'" He departed into the clouds in the sight of a large crowd on June 7, 31 AD. Ten days later, on the day of Pentecost, Sunday, June 17th, 31 AD, the CHURCH OF GOD began.
The Roman superpower of the day didn't really take much notice the new "Jewish" sect for many years, as the Apostles went about fulfilling the "Great Commission". In fact, the growth of the early church was aided by Pax Romana's "Laissez Faire" attitude; Her roads; trade routes; shipping lanes; and an efficient mail system.
It would be in the synagogues that the early evangelists would first proclaim the message. Gradually, and then in increasing numbers, gentiles were convinced as well. Most of what we know of the early beginnings of the Church comes from Luke the physician, the early convert who wrote the Book of Acts. Luke's frequent evangelical travelling companion, another early convert, was the former Saul of Tarsus, - Paul, who was to have the most profound influence on the early church.
The Apostolic Church kept all the Sabbaths and Holy Days, and first met persecution from other pious Jews, including Saul of Tarsus himself, before his conversion.
In 54 AD, the teenaged Nero came to power when his mother contrived the death of Emperor Claudius.
By 60 AD, there were Christian congregations in most Roman cities, including Rome itself. In that same year, Paul first came to Rome for his legal appeal to Caesar as a Roman Citizen.
In 64 AD, Nero began his terrible persecutions of Christians; blaming them for starting the famous fire that ravaged the city.
In 66 AD, Judea rebelled against Rome.
In 68 AD, Paul was beheaded. Two days later, Nero commited suicide in the midst of a revolt of his military.
In 70 AD, The Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by General Flavius Silva, directly under the command of General Titus; later to become Emperor. The Temple treasures were later carried back to Rome by Titus, where they are rumoured to be kept in the Vatican to this day.
Thanks to a prophecy by Yahshvah, found in Luke 21:20-21, the "Nazarenes" already knew to "flee to the hills" when they saw Titus' legions approaching Jerusalem, and so they escaped the destruction. The forwarned Jerusalem Church fled across the Jordan to take refuge in Pella. Organized evangelism essentially stopped as the "little flock" hid in the wilderness.
By 70 AD, when Jerusalem fell, Peter had been crucified, James had been killed, Paul had been beheaded, and Christians had been driven away from both Jerusalem and Rome. For the next 100 years, historical evidence of the Church is scant. John the Beloved remained the only surviving Apostle, still combating early heresies such as gnosticism, and especially the false teachings of the heretic Cerinthus. The aged Apostle, exiled on the Island of Patmos, addressed Cerinthus' erroneous influence in all three of his epistles. The Bible record closed near the end of the 1st century with John's writing of the Book of Revelation.
From the earliest days of the "Way", heresies within the Church began to splinter the Body of Christ. Undoubtably the most destructive of many offshoots was the counterfeit "Christianity" of Simon Barjonah Magus, the same sorcerer who had tried to buy the Holy Spirit from the Apostles in 33 AD. (Acts 8:9-24). After his rebuff, Simon began his own "Christian" religion, mixing Jewish ceremony; Babylonian superstition; Greek mythology; and Persian Mysteries in a hodgepodge of "syncretism". He too evangelized, preaching his watered-down version of "Jesus" from city to city, and doing his "magic" to impress the crowds. He took for himself the title: "Pater" (father), and eventually (many years after his death), the false "Church" the magician had founded had gradually succeeded in usurping the power of the former Roman Church. Years after the actual events, the legends of "Pater" had become erroneously identified by the pagans with those of Peter. A deceived Church gradually came to believe that Simon Barjonah "Pater" Magus was Simon Barjonah, "Peter" the fisherman. Over several hundred years, his syncretic church had actually become the Universal (Catholic) Church at Rome.
Late in his life, John the Beloved was released from prison, and he continued his battles with heresies in the seven Churches of western Asia Minor (modern Turkey). As John prepared to pass on the torch, he made Smyrna his headquarters. Here, he discipled Polycarp, who eventually took up the work when John died, well past the age of 100, early in the second century. Polycarp directed the Church in Asia Minor for 50 years, all the while battling doctrinal schisms over such things as Passover vs. Easter; Sabbath vs. Sunday; Holy days or Holidays; and the nature of God and Yahshvah. Polycarp steadfastly defended the traditions of the Apostolic Church, including the Sabbath and Passover.
The seriously divided Church at that time consisted of the Roman Church, with it's pagan syncretism, and the Eastern Church, with the "Faith once delivered"; defended by Polycarp in Smyrna; and also by Ignatius, Peter's disciple in Antioch. Polycarp became a martyr in Smyrna at age 86, a few years after defending the 14 Nisan Passover at Rome, in the "Quartodeciman Controversy" with Anicetus, the bishop of the Roman Church (159 AD). Neither man could persuade the other, and the controversy remains to this day.
Leadership of the Eastern Church passed to Polycrates, who in his turn journeyed to Rome to debate the bishop Victor I (197 AD). The bishop of Rome's authority was such by this time that he could actually make demand that the East give up Passover and observe Easter under threat of excommunication. Polycrates refused to give in. He and a small group of the faithful held to their previous practice. Their numbers gradually declined over time as the Roman Church grew in power.
By the beginning of the 4th century, there had already been nine major persecutions of the true Church of God from the Jews and the Roman government, beginning with Nero. In 303 AD, Emperor Diocletian began a tenth persecution that lasted till 313 AD. During this time, The "little flock" was able to endure under cover in the East, while the Western Church was actually gaining ever-increasing influence in spite of persecution. Early in the 4th century, as the persecution raged, the Roman General Constantine, a sun worshipper, had a momentous ecstatic vision. Just before a military campaign, he saw the flaming first two letters of "Christ", and he heard a voice say, "By this sign you will conquer." Constantine ordered his armies to paint the letters: "Chi" and "Rho" on their shields. His armies did prevail, and Rome's relationship to the Christian Church was forever changed. Constantine was proclaimed Caesar by the Legions of Rome. In AD 313, Emperor Constantine proclaimed the "Edict of Toleration" at Milan. It accepted Christianity as an official religion of the Empire, with legal equality with other religions. As Emperor, Constantine regarded himself as "Pontifex Maximus". Constantine undertook to settle the political and religious controversies dividing the West and East. When the Synod of Antioch failed in 324, the Emperor stepped in to organize the Council of Nicea in 325 AD.
The Council of Nicea expelled the Quartodecimans from the ecclesiastical community. Constantine had earlier decreed that the "Day of the Sun" should be kept as a weekly day of rest. Now he issued the Nicean proclamation that all churches were to observe Easter Sunday. In Rev. 12:6 Christ prophesied: "Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there 1260 days." The woman of the prophecy is the true Church. Her flight began after the Nicean Council in 325 AD. The "Dark Ages" had begun. For the next 1260 years, the "little flock" was basically hidden away. Those faithful Christians at first fled to the mountains of Armenia, where they became known as "Paulicians". Little was known of their beliefs until an amazing discovery was made during the 19th century in an Armenian monastery. In a seventh-century manuscript called "the Key of Truth", it was found that the calumnized Paulicians had continued holding on to Bible Truth and practises, despite repeated attempts to put them down.
In the late 4th century, The North African son of a pagan father and Christian mother, Augustine, moved to Italy to study. He became a Christian, and later, the author of "The City of God". "Saint" Augustine was perhaps the greatest apologist for Roman Catholic theology. His philosophical teachings led to monasticism, and priestly celibacy being adopted by the universal church.
By the beginning of the 5th century AD, all was not well in the Roman Empire. Years of decline had led to the ultimate collapse of the world's first superpower. However, the power of the Church of Rome remained strong.
In the meantime, a Paulician also named Constantine - of Mananeli, had obtained a manuscript of the New Testament. He and a few others began to study it in the mountains of Armenia. Soon, their numbers began to grow rapidly, and they strove to live by the teachings of the New Testament as they understood them. In an effort to stamp out the movement, the Byzantine emperor sent a man named Simeon to harass the group. He gathered together some of the followers of Constantine of Mananeli, and, under penalty of death, ordered them to stone Constantine to death. At least one of the group weakened and obeyed, stoning the leader to death. But then, Simeon himself became convicted, and embraced the faith he had been sent to stamp out. He renounced his wealth and former station and became a leader among the persecuted Paulicians. Simeon himself became a martyr to Truth.
By the mid 9th century, Empress Theodora was severely persecuting the Paulician Christians. As many as 100,000 were martyred between 840 and 860 AD.
The "little flock" now found itself caught between the giant pincer of Islam and the Byzantine Church, and could no longer safely remain in Armenia. Now, the remnant of the true church fled in small groups to the Balkans in Bulgaria, where they later became known as the "Bogamils". Once again, their manner of living by the Word became a rebuke to their contemporaries. When the Bogamils arrived in various regions, they likely would have encountered later generations of peoples taught by the original Apostles who had been commissioned to "go into all the world." Taking the Gospel message to the "Lost sheep of the House of Israel", Most of the Apostles had indeed traveled into various areas of virtually all of the known world. According to secular Greek historians, Peter's extensive travels took him as far West as Great Britain. Andrew went as far Northeast as the Bosphorus. Simon Zealotes went into Africa, and also eventually, to the British Isles, where he is said to have been crucified and buried. James, son of Alphaeus, also went West, into Spain, Britain and Ireland. Thomas' travels took him East, bringing the Gospel through what we know today as Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Northern India. Bartholomew, Jude, and Philip all went North into Asia Minor and Scythia. Matthew went through Greece to Macedonia, then East to one of the "Lost Tribes" in "White India", the area now known as Hindu Kush in Northwest India. John the Beloved and Mother Mary travelled into Italy, France, and Spain. All these remote areas had hundreds of years earlier been populated by various of the "Lost Tribes", to which the Apostles had originally been sent. Now, the remnant of the Church of God began to move into those same areas that had originally been prosyletised by Peter, Andrew, Bartholomew, Jude, and Philip.
Although the Bogamils did not understand some points of Biblical Truth, they remained faithful to what light they had, including the observance of God's Commandments.
A Bogamil minister named Basil was so active and zealous, that he came to the attention of the Emperor Alexius Comnenus. Comnenus contrived to entrap Basil. He arrested another Bogamil leader, and pretended that he wanted to learn more of Basil's teachings before letting him go. By using flattery, Comnenus lured Basil to his palace for a fine meal and discussions of the teachings. At the end of the meal, Comnenus flung back a curtain to reveal a scribe who had transcribed every word. Basil was condemned of "heresy" by his own words. Comnenus then ordered all Bogamils who would not recant to be burned alive.
Persecution could not stamp out the true Church, any more than it had the Roman Church. The small Commandment-keeping groups, and Sabbatarians under many different names, such as the Albigenses; Cathars; Bulgarians; Paterenes; Passagi; Publicani; Manichaeans; Arians; Marcionites, and others, continued to grow and expand to the west. It would be wrong to claim that all these differing groups represented faithful descent from the original Church, but among these groups, true beliefs did survive. The Pasagini for example, were called a "remnant of the Nazarenes", because they held to the practises and doctrine of the early Church. Over the long centuries of medieval darkness and bloodshed, the Bogamils strove to preserve the Word of God as best they could, and to live by it's precepts to the best of their understanding. It is a mixed blessing that the history of the persecuted Church has actually been preserved through the Dark Ages more by its opponents than by the believers themselves.
By 1000 AD, The Albigenses had migrated to Albi in Southern France (whence the name), while the Paterenes went to Bosnia. These groups flourished until they once again became a threat to established religion, and they were gradually forced underground by persecutions led by Popes Innocent III, and later, Gregory IX, who founded the Inquisition in 1233. The power of the "Little Flock" was later all but broken by the Inquisition by the end of the 14th century. And yet, God chose to somehow preserve the remnant of these sectarian Churches through many years of persecutions, and the torture and Martyrdom of many of their leaders at the hands of the Roman Church, - such men as S. S. Arialdus, and Erimbaldus, and Peter de Brueys. These men and others formed a sort of anti-sacerdotal party in permanent opposition to the Church of Rome. A movement known as the Petrobrusians sprang up following the Martyrdom of de Brueys. Another who was eventually Martyred, Arnold of Brescia, had sought complete seperation of Church and State. He and his followers were the "Arnoldists", and they pioneered ideas of civil and religious liberties which we take for granted today. A former Benedictine monk, Henry of Lausanne found himself numbered among the "Heretics", for continually denouncing the Roman Church and it's vices. He was driven from Lausanne by the bishop, and was later arrested and died in prison as a result of his preaching against the excesses of Rome.
Near the end of the 12th century, a wealthy merchant of Lyons, Pierre Valdes, or as we know him: Peter Waldo, became a convert to true Christianity, and renounced the world. He made provision for his family, distributed most of his wealth to the poor, and then did something unprecedented: He commissioned parts of the Bible to be translated into the vernacular French of his day. At first, Waldo worked within the Western Church, but eventually, he and his followers, called "The Poor Men of Lyons", were expelled, and excommunicated. When their vernacular bibles began to be confiscated, they hand-printed more bibles, and also undertook to memorize long passages of scripture. The children were assigned different sections to memorize in their schooling. Eventually, the Waldenses had to move underground, living in remote and forested mountain valleys in the Alps. A modern Waldensian Church remains to this day, although it has been absorbed into mainstream protestantism during the reformations.
As the Crusades and the Inquisition drove the "heretics" deeper under cover, and further West, the winds of change began to blow from the 14th to the 16th centuries.
John Wycliff, an English scholar, was first to translate the Bible into the English language in 1380 AD. His followers later became known as the "Lollards", among whom were some of the remnants of the Waldenses who had escaped the Inquisition. Wycliff was devoted to the Commandments, but interpreted the Sabbath law as pertaining to Sunday.
John Huss, a student at the University of Prague, was inspired by the teachings of Wycliff. Huss, however, held to the true Sabbath. His work would be followed by an important group of Sabbatarians in Eastern Europe. Huss was excommunicated and burned at the stake as a "Heretic".
In the mid 15th century, the invention of movable type and Johannes Gutenburg's first practical printing press had what has to be considered one of the greatest effects on the history of the Church, and the world at large. The first printing presses were immediately put to use cranking out copies of the Bible for the masses, and in their own languages. With printed Bibles available, the knowlege of the scriptures would shortly become known to thousands, and then millions.
Any history of the Church must acknowledge the importance of the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation, or Revolution, not only to Sabbatarians, but to the entire world. The Translations of the Bible; the Printing Press; The religious wars; the discovery of the "New World"; and the rebirth of learning - all these amazing changes in the middle ages contributed to the modern world we live in today.
Walter Lollard had been a German preacher of reknown during the reign of Edward III, about 1315 AD. He came into England, and his eloquence and eminence followed him there. It is difficult to know whether Walter the Lollard gave his name to the movement that followed him, or the movement gave it's name to the man. At any rate, in the 14th century, the preaching of the true Gospel of the Kingdom of God came into England again, and the "Lollards" had a dramatic effect in their time.
On an October day in 1517, Martin Luther tacked his famous 95 theses to the door of the church in Wittenburg, Germany. In stating his objections to certain practises of the Church, Luther did not then realize what would result. He did not intend to start a new religious movement, but, in fact, he was firing the first shots in a revolution. Protestantism was born that day. The impact of what Luther did was carried further by Zwingli and Calvin in Switzerland, and by Knox in Scotland. Henry VIII established the Anglican Church under authority of the crown for "domestic" reasons. The Christian world would never be the same again.
On the Continent, a growing number of movements came to be categorized by a common name: "Anabaptists". This name came from their practice of rejecting infant baptism, baptising only adults. Mennonites, Hutterites, Brethren, some Sabbatarian sects, and even the large Baptist church organizations trace their roots to the Anabaptists, whose heritage was actually quite diverse. The Protestant reformation opened the door for many Eastern European Sabbatarians to "come out" of hiding. Prominent groups surfaced in Transylvania and Russia. In Russia, they were called Sobotniki or Subbotniki, a sect of the Molokani, or "Milk Drinkers", who were Christian "Judaizers" who kept the Sabbath, but also circumcised their sons. Andreas Eossi of Szent-Ersebet was a rich Szekely of noble birth. He owned three villages and many estates, but he was visited by severe trials. He lost his wife and three sons, and then became ill for many years. He sought consolation in religion. He read the Bible for so long that he finally became convinced of the Sabbatarian form of worship. Now he arose and endeavored to disseminate what he had learned through tracts and songs, prayers and hymns that he had written. He and his followers kept the Sabbath, fed the poor, lived moderately, kept the annual holy days, and sang with joy of the second coming and the millenial reign of Christ on earth.
We have seen that the "little flock", or the "woman in the wilderness", the true Church of God, had been forced to live in desert regions and remote mountain passes, from the Balkans to the alpine regions of southern France and northern Italy. Constantly sought out for persecution, they had to stay secluded just to survive. By the late 16th century, however, the prophesied period of 1260 years in the wilderness was coming to a close. The Church needed a new area where it could begin to proclaim the true gospel message openly. Now, the winds of freedom began to blow.
Winston Churchill summed up the brooding ferment of those times, as men reached for the freedom to worship according to the dictates of their own consciences: - "New ideas were in debate, not only on religious doctrine and Church government, but on the very nature and foundations of political power. ... But in the great turmoil of Europe, silence was impossible. Men talked; secretly to one another; openly in their writings, which were now printed in a thousand copies, kindling excitement and curiosity wherever they were carried. Even if it were granted that Affairs of State could only be lawfully debated by those called thereto, common men could still search the scriptures, and try the doctrines of the Church, its government, its rites and ceremonies, by the words of the Evangelist and Apostles."
Now, England became the place chosen by God to preserve His Church. Henry VIII had seized control of the Church of England over his right to divorce and remarry without papal permission. Later, his daughter, Queen Elizabeth I continued her father's policy of spiritual independence. The "Company of Nations" of Israel's prophecy was at last coming into its birthright promises. Queen Elizabeth said that she wished to "...make no windows into men's souls." Now a kind of religious freedom existed - so long as the Anglican Church itself was not thought to be threatened by dissent. As the 17th century dawned, the Sabbath controversy was beginning to be brought to the attention of the highest leaders of the land. The official position of the Church of England was the same as that of the Roman Church; that the day of the Sabbath had been changed to the "Lord's Day" by divine authority.
Now, the champions of the seventh-day Sabbath in England also began to suffer persecutions as they spoke out. John Traske was sentenced to the Pillory at Westminster, whipped and then imprisoned for three years for being a Sabbatarian. His wife spent 15 years in prison and died there for the same "crime". Theophilus Brabourne, a Church of England minister, was called to account before the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury for writing several books in defense of Sabbath worship. Others, such as Philip Tandy, James Ockford, and Francis Bampfield also took their stand for the same biblical truth. By the end of the century, there were 11 Sabbatarian congregations in different parts of England, and many scattered brethren. However, in the 1660's, a new wave of persecutions took place. After the interval of Cromwell's rule, the monarchy was restored, and with it a renewed desire to impose religious conformity. Parliament began to pass laws aimed at extirpating the protestant sects, or at least leave them outside under "grevious disabilities". October 19th, 1661, Mr. John James was preaching when an officer entered the sanctuary and pulled him from the pulpit. 30 of his congregation were also arrested, and those who did not swear allegiance to the established church were commited to Newgate Prison. James himself was tried and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered. After his death, his head was set upon a pole in the alley outside his meeting house. On the death of John James, it became apparent that the Church would need to find a safer haven for religious freedom.
Now, in 1631, Roger Williams came to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the New World, excited by the times in which he lived. He soon found himself in profound disagreement with the leaders of the Puritan colony. The Puritans held that the civil government had a divinely ordained prerogative to impose its religious views on its subjects. Roger Williams agreed that the state had the right to enforce public morality as expressed in the last six Commandments, but he maintained the right of absolute freedom of religious conscience, and also held that no group had a monopoly on all truth. He was banished by the Puritans for these ideas. Williams insisted in Massachusetts upon entire seperation of Church and state. He was obliged to flee, and in 1636, he formed in Rhode Island a small and new society, with perfect freedom in matters of faith, and majority rule in all civil affairs. The early example of this smallest of states eventually spread to the entire continent. The original charter for the little colony, reads in part: "No person shall hereafter be molested, punished, disquieted, or called in question, for any difference of opinion in matters of religion, who do not disturb the civil peace." These tenets soon attracted two of the most persecuted groups, the Quakers and the Baptists, who had been treated with intolerance in other colonies. Now, the stage was set for the arrival of the Sabbatarians in the New World.
In Tewkesbury, England, in 1660, Stephen and Ann Mumford, who were members of the local Baptist Church, became convinced of the Sabbath truth. They then became members of the Bell Lane Sabbatarian Church until they left for America in 1665. The Mumfords were the first Sabbatarians to arrive in America. They landed in Rhode Island. Newport was a bustling New England village when the Mumfords arrived with their young son Stephen, Jr. Stephen Mumford became a successful businessman in Newport. He and his family began to fellowship with the Baptists in Newport, while continuing to observe the seventh day Sabbath. Soon, other baptists began to observe the Sabbath with the Mumfords. Naturally this upset the Baptist ministers, who preached that the Sabbath-keepers had "gone back to Moses." Mumford and five former baptists were obliged to reluctantly sever their connection with the First Baptist Church, and, in 1671, to form a new Sabbatarian Church of their own, the first in America. William Hiscox became the first minister of the new church, which had no formal name or charter, other than the Bible itself. Their neighbors referred to them as: "The Church of Rhode Island and Westerly". They were also commonly referred to as "The Church of Jesus Christ Keeping the Commandments" or simply, "The Church of God". By 1692, there were 40 members. The Church grew, and other congregations were formed in western Rhode Island. Although Stephen Mumford was never an ordained minister, he exerted considerable influence over the fledgling congregation. In 1675, He and Ann traveled back to England to persuade others to come to America. He also secured the services of a Sabbatarian minister, William Gibson, to replace the aging William Hiscox upon his death in 1704. Mumford passed away in 1707, just as several new congregations were spinning off of the Sabbatarian church he had founded. These new churches were known as "The Churches of God keeping the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ". Later, other congregations were established throughout New Jersey; Connecticut and New York. By the end of the 18th century, there were more than 7000 people regularly attending Sabbath services in the Eastern United States.
Of course, The Revolutionary War had quite a negative impact on these congregations, as many were forced to move westward to be safe from the British; many others were conscripted to fight; or had to flee as conscienscious objectors.
Less than ten years after the close of the War, the Sabbatarians of Pennsylvania received another severe blow. The Blue Law of 1794 was enacted with the good intention of making an "effectual provision for orderly and religious observance of the 'Lord's Day'; for the prevention and punishment of the profanation of the Name of God; and every species of impious imprecation." Too late, the Sabbatarians, who had also supported the act at first, realized their mistake. Restrictive "Blue Laws" constantly harassed Sabbath keeping Churches as they spread from the east. The Sabbath keepers were obliged by their faith to abstain from business on Saturdays; and by law on Sundays. Now, a second generation of the "little flock" in America began to take part in the Westward Migration, seeking new land, and new freedoms in relief from oppressive laws.
Congregations of the Church of God were established in Ohio, Iowa, and Missouri. By 1800, Protestant doctrines were prevalent in Sabbatarian congregations. Many began to form new denominations, loosely allianced as the "Seventh Day Baptists". By 1838, leaders of 16 to 20 congregations of the 7th-Day Baptists spoke disparagingly at their conferences of those "... other fanatical and unworthy Sabbath-keepers" from which they had sprung. As always, the few, the remnant "little flock" alone, remained true to the name and doctrine of the Church of God.
In 1831, William Miller announced that Christ would return to earth to establish the Kingdom of God in 1844. By misunderstanding the prophecies of Daniel 8 and Mt. 24:22, he and his followers set themselves up for the "great disappointment" of 1844. Miller, and those who still listened to him learned the truth of the Sabbath in 1845, and began to keep it. They searched and discovered other bible truths about the New Testament Passover, tithing, and etc. But then, a short time after the "disappointment", many became enthralled by the teachings of young Ellen G. White about the "investigative judgement", and the "cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary", ... her explanations for why "Jesus" had not come as expected. Mrs. White soon asserted that the name: "Church of God" should no longer be used. When the Seventh Day Adventists organized themselves as a denomination in 1860, only a few congregations of the parent church, mostly in Ohio, Iowa and Missouri did not join with them. The 7th Day Adventists then took over the printing plant and magazine formerly published in the name of the Church of God, 7th Day. Other groups also grew out of William Miller's teachings, but these continued to hold that Sunday was the day of Worship.
A small group of the faithful began the publication of a new monthly paper called: "The Remnant of Israel", later called "The Sabbath Advocate", and finally, "The Bible Advocate". Certain very strong families provided the Church of God with a tenuous continuity, and congregations continued, mainly in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Oregon. Missions were undertaken in Mexico, Chile, Argentina, and the Philippines. A few thousand of their early converts' descendants remain throughout latin America to this day. But, for 70 years after the departure of the Adventists, The Church of God, 7th Day in the U.S. had little spiritual power.
In 1927, Herbert W. Armstrong came into fellowship with the Church of God, 7th Day in Salem, Oregon. He was ordained in June, 1931, and restored many truths to the Church under inspiration. Then, in 1934, not satisfied with the progress of the Church, which seemed to him to be stagnating, and also because of being considered an upstart "Johnny Come Lately" by some in Church leadership who felt threatened by him, Herbert W. Armstrong split off the "Radio Church of God" later to become the "Worldwide Church of God". He began publication of the "Plain Truth" magazine and the "World Tomorrow" Radio Church. Armstrong's powerful personality and teachings thrust the "Worldwide Church of God", into the age of television with phenomenal growth until his death in 1986. Today, there are several offshoots of the "Worldwide Church of God", still preserving and holding to the truths revealed by Herbert W. Armstrong. However, just a few years after his death, leaders of the "Worldwide Church of God", the church that Armstrong had started in 1934, proclaimed their founder to have been an "arrogant and erroneous cult figure", and tried to stifle publication of most of his major writings. Membership has declined considerably since, and the "Worldwide Church of God" has slipped back into mainstream Protestantism, subscribing once again to most of its erroneous doctrines.
In the meantime, The Church of God, 7th Day continues to this day.
From The COG 7th. Day website:
The Church of God, 7th Day grew from the efforts of dedicated advent believers living in Michigan and Iowa in the late 1850's. In 1863, the Michigan church began to extend its influence into the eastern and central U.S. through a publication called "The Hope of Israel". This magazine invited fellow Christians to assemble at conferences and campmeetings, and created interest in their distinctive doctrines: the second advent of Christ, and the seventh-day Sabbath.
Through these means, the General Conference of the Church of God (Seventh Day) was organized in 1884 and incorporated in Missouri in 1899. Its offices were located in Stanberry, Missouri, until 1950, when they were transferred to Denver, Colorado.
Over the years, "The Hope of Israel" also moved from Michigan to Iowa, then to Missouri. After several name changes, it is now known as the "Bible Advocate". More than 100 years later, this flagship publication of the Church continues to be published and mailed ten times a year from the Denver offices.
. . . and now
The Church of God (Seventh Day) recognizes more than 165 congregations in the United States and Canada. It also has affiliated ministries in more than twenty countries outside North America, with a worldwide fellowship of over 125,000 members.
Vance A. Johnson:
Although I am not now a member of any church except the Yahshvah's Soul Church, which I myself founded under inspiration in Bayou L'Ourse, La. in 1980, and of which I remain the Pastor General and first "high" priest to this day, - I have been a frequent and steady "visitor" to the "little flock" of the COG7th Day in Spokane, WA. since 1983, - where I believe I have been "fed" God's Truths indeed. Even pastors need pastors, you know, and I highly recommend all of the pastors of the COG7th Day, Godly men whom I believe to be the inheritors of an annointing that has come in an unbroken direct line from the Apostolic Church, and Yahshvah Himself, -throughout all of the history that I've outlined here. No other Church can truly make this claim, and indeed, even the COG7th Day itself does not. Nevertheless, I myself have become convinced from these studies that this is so. I would like to take this opportunity to invite any who would care to, to join me on any Sabbath as a "visitor" to the Church of God.
"Church of God" - Acts 20:28; 1Cor. 1:2; 10:32; 11:22; 2Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:13 -- "Churches of God" - 1 Cor. 11:16
(Note: There are now three "high" priests of the Yahshvah's Soul Church, but there is really only ONE High Priest in "heavenly places"; seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for you and I, - Yahshvah, Himself! - VAJ)