I have to insert one clarification, and I hope you’ll pardon its length and frankness. I don’t know where freeholder1 got the idea that (the late Herbert W.) Armstrong taught that humans become angels after death. On the contrary, since the 1950’s he and his heirs have taught that humans can become higher than angels - in fact, Sons of God in the future, just as Jesus Christ is the Son of God now.
Mr. Armstrong insisted that the real Christian God is not a Trinity, but a Family - a Family (presently the Father and the Son) into which human beings can be born spiritually (thanks to the multi-faceted and even personified, but not personal, Holy Spirit). These days I like to borrow the phrase from Romans 1 that’s applied to Jesus Christ now: “Sons of God in Power”.
Mr. Armstrong also insisted - as does the Bible - that no one has gone up to heaven (let alone down to an ever-burning hell) but He who came down from heaven. As far as the Bible goes, no former humans are running around with halos (of any size) or wings up there, Rather, the original biblical faith, and that of even Catholicism at least as late as Justin Martyr, was in a series of resurrections from the dead, beginning when Jesus Christ returns to earth.
All that said, as always I can laugh at Chief Thom Thom’s wry humor. Human myth, human foibles. Why not?
I have to insert one clarification, and I hope you’ll pardon its length and frankness. I don’t know where freeholder1 got the idea that (the late Herbert W.) Armstrong taught that humans become angels after death. On the contrary, since the 1950’s he and his heirs have taught that humans can become higher than angels - in fact, Sons of God in the future, just as Jesus Christ is the Son of God now.
Mr. Armstrong insisted that the real Christian God is not a Trinity, but a Family - a Family (presently the Father and the Son) into which human beings can be born spiritually (thanks to the multi-faceted and even personified, but not personal, Holy Spirit). These days I like to borrow the phrase from Romans 1 that’s applied to Jesus Christ now: “Sons of God in Power”.
Mr. Armstrong also insisted - as does the Bible - that no one has gone up to heaven (let alone down to an ever-burning hell) but He who came down from heaven. As far as the Bible goes, no former humans are running around with halos (of any size) or wings up there, Rather, the original biblical faith, and that of even Catholicism at least as late as Justin Martyr, was in a series of resurrections from the dead, beginning when Jesus Christ returns to earth.
All that said, as always I can laugh at Chief Thom Thom’s wry humor. Human myth, human foibles. Why not?