1975 in Prophecy!
Encyclopedia
1975 in Prophecy! is a digest-sized booklet warning of an upcoming nuclear war and subsequent enslavement of mankind, leading to the return of Jesus Christ as a benign dictator. It was written by Herbert W. Armstrong
and illustrated by Basil Wolverton
of Mad magazine fame, published in 1956 by the Radio Church of God. No longer in print, it is now valued for its illustrations.
was first broadcast over Radio Luxembourg
, meaning that the second cycle would end around the beginning of February, 1972.
The booklet was written in 1956 during the Cold War
years. It stated that the United States of America
, the United Kingdom
, Australia
and other English speaking ("Israelite") nations, contrary to popular cultural belief, would neither be attacked nor destroyed by the Soviet Union
, but that a nuclear World War III would destroy these countries. The attack would come from a German dominated United States of Europe
led by a Nazi-style dictator (identified as The Beast), and dominated by a religious leader who would probably be a Roman Catholic Pope
identified as the Antichrist
.
In the aftermath of the nuclear attack one third of the populations would be dead. Another third would then die as a result of simultaneous attacks from abnormal weather patterns which would create drought, destruction and epidemic diseases. The remaining third would then be taken into slave labor camp captivity by the United States of Europe.
Armstrong was also certain that the USSR would not attack the USA or UK but disintegrate instead:
. Enhancing the text were graphic illustrations by Basil Wolverton.
Balancing scientific advances, wrote Herbert W. Armstrong, would be the disintegration of society due to increasing mental health problems; crime statistics and divorce. Then he announced that he would reveal the end of the story first.
What Armstrong promised was not a Christian
evangelical
rapture
of spirit beings, but a rescue of human beings living in a physical world into which Jesus
would return as world dictator, for the good of humanity.
Central to his discussion of prophecy was the emergence of the United States of Europe:
Armstrong stated that:
However, Armstrong was certain that if Britain joined the European Common Market then, either before or after it became the United States of Europe, Britain would withdraw and would eventually be attacked by ten nations in the ultimate federation of a:
magazine. It was offered in conjunction with another publication called The United States and the British Commonwealth in Prophecy which revealed that the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and certain sections of Western Europe, were all a part of the so-called Ten Lost Tribes
of Israel.
When this booklet first appeared it had the effect of both encouraging and/or frightening enough people to send money to the Radio Church of God that the church grew financially out of proportion to other churches with the same membership base. To see a video on this subject please click the link 1975 video resource.
in New York
. Religious music was removed from his program and replaced with a closing jingle made in Hollywood. His announcer was Art Gilmore
who became famous for voice-over introductions on the Highway Patrol
and other TV shows. Gilmore began Armstrong's announcement with variations of the words:
Bobby Fischer
began listening to The World Tomorrow broadcast in 1962 and by the time of the Match of the Century in late 1972, he was still not certain whether the timetable was still on track but a little off the mark. As a result he donated thousands of his winnings to Herbert W. Armstrong.
Herbert W. Armstrong
Herbert W. Armstrong founded the Worldwide Church of God in the late 1930s, as well as Ambassador College in 1946, and was an early pioneer of radio and tele-evangelism, originally taking to the airwaves in the 1930s from Eugene, Oregon...
and illustrated by Basil Wolverton
Basil Wolverton
Basil Wolverton was an American cartoonist, illustrator, comic book writer-artist and professed "Producer of Preposterous Pictures of Peculiar People who Prowl this Perplexing Planet", whose many publishers included Marvel Comics and Mad.His unique, humorously grotesque drawings have elicited a...
of Mad magazine fame, published in 1956 by the Radio Church of God. No longer in print, it is now valued for its illustrations.
Summary
The events described were to begin shortly after February 1972 and climax during 1975. Armstrong stated that his church was operating on two 19 year cycles. The second cycle began after January 7, 1953 when The World TomorrowThe World Tomorrow
The World Tomorrow is a now-defunct radio and television half-hour program which had been sponsored by the Radio Church of God which ran from 1934 to 1994...
was first broadcast over Radio Luxembourg
Radio Luxembourg (English)
Radio Luxembourg is a commercial broadcaster in many languages from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is nowadays known in most non-English languages as RTL ....
, meaning that the second cycle would end around the beginning of February, 1972.
Story outline
This was not intended as a work of fiction, but as a warning to the reader of what was scheduled to happen. The time-line was uncertain and, although the title of the booklet was specific, 1975 was not mentioned in the text in relation to Biblical prophecy. All specific dates within the booklet were in relation to events or outcomes not specified by the Bible. The biblical prophecies are ambiguous as to their timing....The prophecy does Not reveal exactly which ten nations will be included-but this resurrected Roman Empire will bind together some 250 to 300 millions of peoples! That is more manpower than Russia, or the United States has. The strong indication of these prophecies, then, is that some of the Balkan nations are going to tear away from behind the iron Curtain ...When this United States of Europe emerges...
The booklet was written in 1956 during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
years. It stated that the United States of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and other English speaking ("Israelite") nations, contrary to popular cultural belief, would neither be attacked nor destroyed by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, but that a nuclear World War III would destroy these countries. The attack would come from a German dominated United States of Europe
United States of Europe
Since the 1950s, European integration has seen the development of a supranational system of governance, as its institutions move further from the concept of simple intergovernmentalism. However, with the Maastricht Treaty of 1993, new intergovernmental elements have been introduced alongside the...
led by a Nazi-style dictator (identified as The Beast), and dominated by a religious leader who would probably be a Roman Catholic Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
identified as the Antichrist
Antichrist
The term or title antichrist, in Christian theology, refers to a leader who fulfills Biblical prophecies concerning an adversary of Christ, while resembling him in a deceptive manner...
.
In the aftermath of the nuclear attack one third of the populations would be dead. Another third would then die as a result of simultaneous attacks from abnormal weather patterns which would create drought, destruction and epidemic diseases. The remaining third would then be taken into slave labor camp captivity by the United States of Europe.
Armstrong was also certain that the USSR would not attack the USA or UK but disintegrate instead:
... some of the Balkan nations are going to tear away from behind the iron Curtain.
Literary style
The literary style of this publication is in a form of advertising script mixing capital and lower case words at whim. Herbert W. Armstrong had previously written in this style as an advertising copywriter in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Enhancing the text were graphic illustrations by Basil Wolverton.
Fact, fantasy and fear
The impact that 1975 in Prophecy! had on the reading public can only be understood in the context of the Cold War years when nuclear attack was anticipated and threatened. In 1956 this booklet was not attempting to predict the future, it was stating future events as fact.Balancing scientific advances, wrote Herbert W. Armstrong, would be the disintegration of society due to increasing mental health problems; crime statistics and divorce. Then he announced that he would reveal the end of the story first.
... we are really going to have world peace! We are going to have actual UTOPIA - far beyond the dreams of today's world-planners! It will not be a millennium of man's devising, however. It will not be a world of idleness and ease-but one of production, plenty, health and happiness.
What Armstrong promised was not a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
rapture
Rapture
The rapture is a reference to the "being caught up" referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, when the "dead in Christ" and "we who are alive and remain" will be caught up in the clouds to meet "the Lord"....
of spirit beings, but a rescue of human beings living in a physical world into which Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
would return as world dictator, for the good of humanity.
Central to his discussion of prophecy was the emergence of the United States of Europe:
While our prime objective seems to be idleness, ease and luxury, the German mind and heart and interest appears set on just one thing-hard, energetic WORK that will yet put "Deutschland Uber Alles!" - "Germany Over All!"
Armstrong stated that:
... even this coming military-political leader does not yet know how many, or precisely which European nations will join in this United Nazi Fascist Europe. ... The German - dominated European combine will blast our cities and industrial centers with hydrogen bombs. ... And that surviving third will be up-rooted from their homes-transported like cattle as slaves to Europe, and probably some to South America ...
However, Armstrong was certain that if Britain joined the European Common Market then, either before or after it became the United States of Europe, Britain would withdraw and would eventually be attacked by ten nations in the ultimate federation of a:
... resurrected Roman Empire ... bind(ing) together some 250 to 300 millions of peoples!.
Distributed worldwide
1975 in Prophecy! was advertised free of charge on The World Tomorrow radio network and in the pages of free subscription magazine called The Plain TruthThe Plain Truth
The Plain Truth is a U.S.-based magazine founded by Herbert W. Armstrong, who also founded the Radio Church of God , Ambassador College, and The World Tomorrow radio and television programs. Herbert W...
magazine. It was offered in conjunction with another publication called The United States and the British Commonwealth in Prophecy which revealed that the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and certain sections of Western Europe, were all a part of the so-called Ten Lost Tribes
Ten Lost Tribes
The Ten Lost Tribes of Israel refers to those tribes of ancient Israel that formed the Kingdom of Israel and which disappeared from Biblical and all other historical accounts after the kingdom was destroyed in about 720 BC by ancient Assyria...
of Israel.
When this booklet first appeared it had the effect of both encouraging and/or frightening enough people to send money to the Radio Church of God that the church grew financially out of proportion to other churches with the same membership base. To see a video on this subject please click the link 1975 video resource.
Footnotes
Because Herbert W. Armstrong had an advertising background he was conscious of themes and slogans. He changed the name of his religious radio program from Radio Church of God to The World Tomorrow after the theme "The World of Tomorrow" for the 1939 World's FairWorld's Fair
World's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Religious music was removed from his program and replaced with a closing jingle made in Hollywood. His announcer was Art Gilmore
Art Gilmore
Arthur Wells "Art" Gilmore was an American voice actor and announcer whose voice has been heard in radio and television programs, movies, trailers, advertising promotions and documentary films.-Biography:...
who became famous for voice-over introductions on the Highway Patrol
Highway patrol
A highway patrol is either a police unit created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways, or a detail within an existing local or regional police agency that is primarily concerned with such duties.Duties of highway patrols or traffic...
and other TV shows. Gilmore began Armstrong's announcement with variations of the words:
The World Tomorrow! Herbert W. Armstrong brings you the plain truth about today's world news with the prophecies of the world tomorrow.
Bobby Fischer
Bobby Fischer
Robert James "Bobby" Fischer was an American chess Grandmaster and the 11th World Chess Champion. He is widely considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. Fischer was also a best-selling chess author...
began listening to The World Tomorrow broadcast in 1962 and by the time of the Match of the Century in late 1972, he was still not certain whether the timetable was still on track but a little off the mark. As a result he donated thousands of his winnings to Herbert W. Armstrong.