By Bob Barney | ThePlainTruth.com
“Jesus Christ was not just a prophet. He was the greatest newscaster who ever lived.”
What if the greatest news ever told isn’t about a new technology, a political revolution, or a global
summit — but about a kingdom that will soon reign on this earth? Not a theory. Not a dream. But a
reality, foretold and guaranteed, regardless of belief, denial, or disbelief.
This was the bold, unapologetic message of Garner Ted Armstrong, delivered in a sermon heard by
millions in the 1970s — and revisited today on The Plain Truth Podcast.
In a time where pessimism reigns and faith is filtered through centuries of tradition, Armstrong’s
message is a jarring yet refreshing call to return to the roots of what Christianity was meant to be —
and who Jesus Christ actually was.
A New World Order — Not of Politics, but of Purpose
“The best news you can hear is that humankind will survive,” Armstrong declared. Not only survive —
but thrive in a world without war, hunger, or division. A world where national sovereignty gives way to
global unity. Where agrarian reform replaces famine, education replaces ignorance, and a common
language unites rather than divides.
Utopian? Maybe. Impossible? Not according to Armstrong — or to the Bible.
But there’s a catch. Humanity isn’t the one building this future.
“Jesus Christ of Nazareth came as a newscaster,” Armstrong said. “He foretold global
world conditions… and the coming Kingdom of God.”
The message is as radical now as it was 2,000 years ago: Jesus did not come to save the world — at
least not yet.
❌ The Jesus We Don’t Want to Know
Modern Christianity has turned Jesus into a spiritual mascot — gentle, passive, even irrelevant to
modern life. But the Jesus of the Bible is neither vague nor malleable. He was a man of strength,
conviction, and yes, controversy. According to Armstrong, He was a successful businessman, a
property owner, a man whose very clothes were so valuable Roman soldiers gambled for them.
And He didn’t come to try to save the world. “Christ is no failure,” Armstrong preached. If He had
come to convert the masses, He would have done so. Instead, He deliberately hid His message in
parables, so the masses would not understand — yet.
“To them, it is not given,” Jesus said of the multitudes. “Lest they should understand… and
I should heal them.”
It’s a message many would call heresy. But it’s right there in the pages of your Bible — if you’re
willing to read it.
The Message the Church Doesn’t Teach
Armstrong was relentless in challenging what he called the “false Jesus” of mainstream religion. A
Christ who abolishes the law? Not in the Bible. A Jesus who was born on December 25? That’s
tradition, not scripture. A Trinity? Not mentioned once in the Bible.
And what about the “born again” experience?
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh… that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit,” Jesus
told Nicodemus. Real rebirth, Armstrong explained, is not emotional or symbolic — it’s
literal. It’s about becoming a new being, just as a baby is literally born.
This message cuts deep — because it calls on believers to not only believe in Jesus, but to obey Him.
⚔️ Not Peace, But a Sword
Jesus said He came not to bring peace, but division. A sword that would even divide families.
Armstrong points out that if that makes you uncomfortable — it should.
“People say they love Jesus,” he said. “But they don’t obey His commandments, which are not
grievous.”
His challenge remains: Are you following the Jesus of your tradition — or the Jesus of the Bible?
A Broadcast That Still Echoes
This message, first aired in the 1970s, still resonates because it confronts the core assumptions of
modern faith. Not with soft words or religious platitudes, but with conviction rooted in scripture.
As I, Bob Barney, shared at the end of the podcast: Jesus wasn’t just a prophet. He wasn’t merely a
Savior or a great teacher. He was a newscaster — reporting the future in advance. The coming of the
Kingdom of God isn’t a metaphor. It’s news. Real news.
And like all news, you can choose to believe it — or ignore it.
But that won’t stop it from happening.
You heard it here: The Kingdom of God is coming — and nothing can stop it.
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