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An open letter from THE EDITOR
GREETINGS and WELCOME to our growing family of Ambassador College On-line Bible Correspondence Course students!
This is a totally NEW, DIFFERENT KIND of Bible study course, designed to LEAD you, by the STUDY of your own Bible, to UNDERSTANDING of the meaning of today's world-chaos, of the PURPOSE being worked out here below, of prophecy, of salvation, of this entire Treasure-House of knowledge, which is God's Word -- the TRUTH!
What do present terrifying world conditions MEAN? WHERE are we headed? HOW will mankind be SAVED from extinction by hydrogen and cobalt bombs and other frightful weapons? WHY did God put man here on earth? Were YOU, as an individual, put here for a PURPOSE -- and WHAT is that purpose? WHAT IS MAN -- WHY is man? What is the WAY to world peace the WAY to freedom from fear and worry, poverty, sickness, unhappiness? What is the REWARD -- the future of the saved? Does God actually EXIST -- can it be PROVED? What is God -- what is God like? Is God a person, what does He look like -- how big is He -- and HOW do we know? Can we PROVE whether the Bible really IS the INSPIRED WORD OF GOD?
What about such DOCTRINAL QUESTIONS as heaven, hell, salvation, law and grace, the great tribulation, the rapture the virgin birth, the resurrection, the second coming, the millennium? WHERE are the dead -- and are they now conscious? What about the IMMORTALITY of the soul -- what is MEANT by "body, soul, and spirit"?
All these, and MANY MORE questions -- the most vital, MOST IMPORTANT questions of your life -- are thoroughly gone into, and you are DIRECTED to the clear, plain, SIMPLE ANSWERS, IN YOUR BIBLE! You will learn HOW TO STUDY the Bible -- WHY so few understand it.
This Course is NOT DENOMINATIONAL! It is offered FREE, WITHOUT TUITION COST to those who earnestly desire to understand the Bible and will devote at least a HALF HOUR every day, to its STUDY. The only equipment you will need is your own Bible, a good dictionary, paper and pen -- although, if you are able and wish to provide one or more translations, a good concordance or other Bible "helps," you may -- but this is NOT NECESSARY.
No diploma or degree is offered -- the VALUE TO YOU is not a diploma, or a piece of paper, but the KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING you will receive in your mind and heart! The Course is not limited to any certain number of lessons. The Bible is a very big Book, when you undertake to really know it, and THOROUGHLY UNDERSTAND it, and if you pursue this study earnestly and thoroughly, you will not have completely mastered it all, and come to complete knowledge in any short period!
Many THOUSANDS are already enrolled -- ADDITIONAL THOUSANDS are starting the Course every month! The study of the Bible is, and ought to be, a LIFELONG STUDY -- not a six-months, one-year, or four-year limited course. If ENOUGH of our enrolled students show an interest and desire to continue, the Course probably will continue INDEFINITELY! As long as God's people continue to HUNGER for the spiritual food, we, God's servants, will CONTINUE TO FEED THEM!
This is a stirring, vitally interesting Course. It is NOT DRY OR DULL. It SPARKLES WITH INTEREST! But, to benefit by it, you will have to really PUT YOUR HEART INTO IT, and not less than THIRTY MINUTES A DAY of your time. It will have to become the principal and NUMBER ONE INTEREST in your mind, continuously, day by day! There has never been any course like this, and if you will SET YOURSELF to be really devoted to it, you will be richly REWARDED by constantly coming into surprising, thrilling, joyful NEW TRUTHS in each lesson.
As I mentioned before, there is NO TUITION COST, and you will not be asked for contributions, unless, of your own accord and WITHOUT any obligation or solicitation, you should desire to have a PART with our thousands of VOLUNTARY Co-Workers, whose tithes and freewill offerings make this entire work possible. We are not controlled or subsidized, sponsored or endowed or financed by any denomination or organization of any kind -- there are NO SELFISH ENDS TO GAIN -- only a desire to SERVE and SHARE God's precious truths, in a self-sacrificing MINISTRY OF LOVE.
Many of our Co-Workers belong to no denomination. Many, I suppose, belong to various denominations. But ALL, without having any voice to dictate what is preached or taught -- which is dictated by CHRIST ALONE -- do sacrifice to share in Christ's GREAT COMMISSION. This is merely a frank and straightforward explanation of HOW this work is FINANCED -- GOD'S WAY -- and is NOT a request or solicitation!
Sincerely, in Jesus' name,
HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG
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