God's Hidden Message in
"Chariots Of Fire"

Does God still speak to man by means of visions and dreams? The Bible says God doesn't change and he is the same yesterday, today and forever. Therefore He must speak to us today by means of visions and dreams. But where are they? The movie "Chariots of Fire" is one such vision. How do we know? Because of the amazing similarities to reality contained within it's brief script to events that happened 60 years later. Too many parallels exist for mere haphazard chance.

There are at least four references to "chariots of fire" in the Bible. The first is 2 Kings 2:11 which mentions Elijah being taken away in a chariot of fire. The second is 2 Kings 6:17 which mentions Elisha being protected by many chariots of fire. The third is Isaiah 66:15 which says "the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire." Fourth, "The chariots of God are twenty thousand" (Ps. 68:17).

Many members of the Worldwide Church of God have been struck and fascinated by the close parallels to reality contained in this movie. What parallels?

Running represents the "ritual of human endeavor" (p.175). Priests wore short breeches (Ex. 28:42) made of linen (Ex. 39:28) and went barefoot into the Sanctuary (Ex. 3:5; Josh. 5:15). Their fine white linen is their righteousness (Rev. 19:8) Thirty runners (p.105) correspond to the thirty mighty men of David (2 Sam. 23:13,23). Of them three were most honorable (vv. 9,13,16-19, 22-23) -- Harold, Eric and Andrew. At the beginning of the movie they are all labeled as "Chariots of Fire" just as Elijah was called "the chariot of Israel" (2 Ki. 2:12). As the movie closes, Blake's Jerusalem labels Harold Abrahams as a singular "chariot of fire." Waters in the background are multitudes of people (Rev. 17:15).

Each European character and location also has its anti-type in North America. For instance, Cambridge and Caius (a Roman name) and the training "Camp" all refer to Ambassador College. The French are called "frogs" which is unclean spirits (Rev. 16:13). We wrestle against "wicked spirits in high places" (Eph. 6:12). France will become a "habitation of demons" (Rev. 9; 16:14). The symbol of the French is a rooster (coq in French). By a pun in Latin (Gallus = Galois, gailus = coq) it also means French. The United States with its Statue of Liberty is the anti-type of France with its Statue of Liberty. More specifically, Washington State is its anti-type because Washington has a "Normandy Park" and Olympia and a ferry to a Victoria station in British Columbia's Vancouver Island and an English Channel (Puget Sound). Just as the three main runners were "British," so also the three main heroes in anti-type were believers in "British-Israel" doctrine in Pasadena.

Who was Eric Liddell? He was Scotch and head of the Phi-LIDDELL-phia Church -- a "star (Christian) attraction" and "missionary" (apostle). H.W.A. was told that the name "Armstrong" is related to royalty. He visited the Loch Lomond S.E.P. (Summer Education Program) in 1983 and was the star attraction and of course also a missionary. Sandy McGrath was Raymond F. McNair who looked after Herbert Armstrong. H.W.A. "often said that giving beats receiving" (his "Give vs. Get" sermon) and regularly spent "a fortune in postage stamps" sending out the Worldwide News, Good News and Plain Truth. "Mrs. L" is his mother (Mrs. El -- the bride of El) and "Compromise is the language of the Devil." "The Flying Scot" is H.W.A. who flew around the world in his Grummand Gulfstream 2. H.W.A. was four times as old as the typical A.C. student (90 vs. 22), hence he ran the 440 yard race while Abrahams ran the 100 meters. Herbert Armstrong returned to Pasadena from Tucson permanently on April 30, 1981 and this is when H.M.A. "raced against him." He said "I'm Roman" because he persecuted H.M.A. who "lost, lost, lost" even though he "ran like a god." Eric Liddell ran in the "hills of the Scottish Highlands" and since "hills" are small nations, H.W.A. visited Thailand, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia according to the 1984 Worldwide News, as well as the Philippines and other nations."Eric Liddell was" "given a lesson in blind obedience, poor fellow." "There goes Daniel into the lion's den," Harold said. The British Olympic Association is B.O.A. and tried to cause Eric to "deny his beliefs." Both Eric Liddell and H.W.A. were strict with regard to the Sabbath. Eric was not "willing to compromise." "After 300 meters, rigor mortis sets in" which is muscular stiffness following death. Everyone kept saying H.W.A. would die, but he kept living into his 90s. The number 451 refers to 1 Kings 18:19 where the prophets of Baal numbered 450 to Elijah's one. H.W.A. has likened himself to Elijah and received "Elijah's Cup" from Golda Meir. In addition, there have been other fulfillments of Eric Liddel among the students at A.C. One student quoted 2 Kings 2:12 in an unrelated conversation trying to prove that although religious titles were incorrect (Matt. 23:8-10), it was okay to call a minister (HWA) your father in the faith if he begat (converted) you. Thereby that student unintentionally labeled himself "Elishah." He said, "He is my father with a small 'f.'" This also unintentionally reproved HWA for teaching "blind obedience" as if he were being graded with an "F" as a mark. HWA later responded that HMA is "My son with a small 's.'"

Who was Andrew Lindsay? Two A.C. students especially stand out as candidates for this role. One looked exactly like him and the other acted exactly like him. I'm not aware of any members of the faculty who fulfilled this script.

Who was Harold Martin Abrahams? Herman L. Hoeh was the "German Jew" who "had a touch of genius" and used "scientific thoroughness, carefully analyzing and correcting his errors." Herman L. Hoeh's tall, thin stature also portrayed the physique of H.M.A. and as one student pointed out, "He has the same jawbone as H.M.A." (Samson swung a jawbone of an ass back and forth to defeat the Philistines just as H.L.H. ("Samson") used his own jawbone to defeat errors in doctrine, swinging it up and down in sermons. Other students have also used H.L.H.s jawbone -- his sermons -- to defeat error.) H.M. Abrahams is Jewish so can't be in the Latin church choir which is unbiblical. He says, "I've never lost." H.M.A. raced against a faulty, slow Trinity clock of 24 chime strokes and won. He did it for Israel. The first man in seven centuries. The king's Commission is enlisting in the armed forces. "Perhaps they really are God's chosen people." "I doubt if there's a swifter man in the kingdom." Herman L. Hoeh was a very intelligent writer and speaker. H.M.A. had "a different God, a different mountain top" (a different form of government from the"blind obedience to a man" -- the church government taught by A.C.). We must obey God rather than ministers when the two disagree. The anti-Semitism at A.C. was a prejudice against Germans by Richard Paige, etcetera, and prejudice against those who obey the Bible when it doesn't agree with W.C.G. doctrine by many ministers. The Christian Anglo-Saxon corridors of power were guarded with "jealousy and venom" and condemned any change. H.M.A. was right to study Bible law. Barrack room law. He was "quite an advocate." But he was condemned for being "sad" because Aubrey says, "Grin and bear it." Students at A.C. were criticised for not smiling or looking glum, etc. "In spite of all temptations, to belong to other nations, He remains an English (Christian) man." But not an A.S.P. (Anglo-Saxon Protestant). The middle name of "Martin" sounds similar to "Martyr." Also, "Martus" in Greek means "witness."

God blended type with anti-type so that, in addition, there were fulfillments of H.M.A. among a number of the students at A.C. One student used an "Olympia" manual typewriter and another looked just like the actor -- Ben Cross. A third who was Texan distributed a term paper on "church government" to 30 ministers so that this doctrine would "not have a leg to stand on" and would thus collapse as the administrators all knelt in prayer after the Texan visit -- an appropriate work for "Samson." A fourth from Ulster was praised at a victory party which R.C.M. ("the prince") paid for. Just as he was arbitrarily yelled at, so now he received arbitrary praise (the "luck" of the Irish). A fifth from England taught the Books of Daniel and Revelation -- "the legend of Harold Abrahams" -- meaning the "symbols defined" which is what a "legend" does -- to a packed Auditorium and charged a small admission price. This was the first time many understood the historicist interpretation of these books from the British perspective. The Englishman also taught British-Israel doctrine more thoroughly than H.W.A.'s booklet. He explained star charts. The play H.M.S. Pinafore was performed in Ambassador Auditorium on May 5, 1982 by still more students -- one of whom, whose name was Sullivan, sang "He is an Englishman." Another student fasted or went without food twice a week for a whole year or more and therefore was "the fastest man ever before.... That's immortality." Herman Hoeh truly was the "Cream of Cambridge." H.M.A. was a type of Samson who also associated 30 Philistine garments with achievement and was blinded. Sam called him "My son" or Samson. Sam "whipped off his hat, and punched his fist right through the crown." In other words, God punched out a crown for Harold. Was the crown made out of straw? No. By winning the gold disk, the straw disk could be punched out and replaced. The "ten lonely seconds to justify... (his) whole existence" are when he rebuked and vindicated himself from students and ministers. Also punching out the "crown" has been interpreted as dentists drilling out cavities of the crowns of teeth and replacing them with gold fillings or optometrists using LASIK to flatten corneas ("crowns") replacing bad vision with good ("justified existence") vision. "Athlete wins blue riband at games" refers to the "ribband of blue" (Num. 15:38) that represents obedience to the commandments of God. "You care about things that really matter." Some students and teachers taught and wore these tefillin in spite of it not being official doctrine.

Sholtz, Watson, Abrahams, Murchison, Paddock and Bowman spell SWAMP -- an important theme in the Book of Revelation. By the time he died in 1978, he was a leading sports writer and broadcaster and the Elder Statesman of British athletics, more established in society than he had ever imagined he would be when he first started out at Cambridge. This describes Herman Hoeh, who has spoken about British-Israel doctrine and Bible doctrine repeatedly. "He ran them off their feet." If their feat was building A.C., they were run off the campus when Tkach took over and made it Protestant. Did Herman Hoeh have something to do with this? We can't prove it but we think it's very possible. A sign in the RR station read, "The toast of England -- Harold Abrahams." He was a type of Christ himself who said of the matzo ("toast"), "This is my body" and of the wine ("toast"), "This is my blood." Furthermore, the parallel with Jesus the Messiah continues: "And did those feet in ancient time, Walk upon England's mountains green? And was the holy Lamb of God On England's pleasant pastures seen? And did the Countenance Divine Shine forth upon our clouded hills? And Was Jerusalem builded here, Among these dark Satanic Mills? (Diploma Mills? Rumor Mills? Factory Mills?) Bring me my Bow of burning gold: Bring me my Arrows of desire: Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold! Bring me my Chariot of fire! I will not cease from Mental Fight, Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand, Till we have built Jerusalem In England's (and America's) green & pleasant Land."

Who was Sam Mussabini? Known as "the Wog," he was an Italian Arab professional coach -- the Worldwide God of the WCG. Also a minister whose last name was "White" resembled this man. Sam Mussabini said, "I can find you another two yards." Not Mussolini, not Sol or Sunday, but Sab or Sabbath. He is a coach who teaches on the Sabbath -- our God. Studying the Bible on your own constitutes a personal coach. H.M.A. was breaking the unwritten rules of the gentlemanly amateur. Ambassador College had the tradition of doing what the ministry says the Bible teaches rather than what you think the Bible teaches. "This University believes that the way of the amateur is the only one to provide satisfactory results. Ambassador College taught, "Don't talk about the Bible unless a minister is present because that is causing division." "Obey them which have the rule over you" rather than "We ought to obey God rather than men." H.M.A. rejected this "blind obedience" and obeyed the Bible instead. This is Sam who is "persona non grata" (not acceptable) to A.C. Harold said to the two dons, "You yearn for victory just as I do. But achieved with the apparent effortlessness of gods. Yours are the archaic values of the prep school playground. You deceive no one but yourselves. I believe in the pursuit of excellence -- and I'll carry the future with me." If a student were to wear blue tassels, build a hut out of branches on Sukkot, rebuke others in obedience to Matthew 16:18 and avoid the title "Mister" he would be persecuted. These are just four examples that were resisted at A.C. The Jewish Calendar used by the W.C.G. is also faulty, because it was not visual or observable. This is why Eric Liddell is portrayed as calling Sunday the Sabbath. Many students began to use a professional approach which helped cause A.C. to close. Herman L. Hoeh caused the Bible to come alive whenever he preached or wrote just as "Cap" caused Sam McGee to come back to life (see below). In fact Herman L. Hoeh "punched a hole" through McNair's "straw" thesis teaching salvation only for hereditary Israelites by using a student's argument that the Queen of Sheba stands in judgment, just as Sam pnched a hole through his straw hat. "I can give you another two yards" has been defined as a sub-divided property bringing double the price in dollars (gold).

A poem called "The Cremation of Sam McGee" unintentionally dove-tailed into this analogy when it was read in 1981 by a student, illustrating how God felt about a cold-hearted Ambassador College: "There are strange things done in the midnight sun By the men who moil for gold; The Arctic trails have their secret tales That would make your blood run cold; The Northern Lights have seen queer sights (Homosexuals in the ministry), But the queerest they ever did see Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge I cremated Sam McGee. ... Talk of your cold! through the parka's fold it stabbed like a driven nail (They crucify Christ afresh) ... And we started on at the streak of dawn; but God! he looked ghastly pale (Here Sam is called "God").... Now a promise made is a debt unpaid ... But the stars (Christians) came out and they danced about ... And there sat Sam, looking cool and calm, in the heart of the furnace roar; And he wore a smile you could see a mile, and he said: 'Please close that door. It's fine in here, but I greatly fear you'll let in the cold and storm -- Since I left Plumtree, down in Tennessee, it's the first time I've been warm.'" The fire that was lit was when A.C. students began to question and defend themselves from ministers' guilt trips is what made God warm up and thaw out and come alive at A.C. It was like a frontiersman surrounded by a pack of hungry wolves who decided that it is better to be burned alive than eaten alive, so he stood in the midst of his camp fire and heaped on fuel. The fuel was the constant accusations by ministers and Leviticus 19:17 as the solution. The wolf-like ministry began to get burnt and students learned to rebuke and defend themselves.

Who was Sybil Gordon? As a counterpart of "Mrs. L" and "Jennie," she represents the church -- perhaps Laodicea. Also a girl from Georgia, a "Georgia peach," who had two sisters. When Yum-Yum played an acting role in the Mikado (Jap. "exalted gate": "He who exalts his gate seeks destruction" -- Pr. 17:19), she portrayed an oriental tyranny ("kings of the east") ruling over the western world where one third of the church will marry Christ at his coming. "One little maid ("little flock") is a bride Yum-Yum. Two little maids in attendance come ("five ... wise and five foolish" virgins -- Matt. 25:1-3). Three little maids is the total sum.... From three little maids take one away (Pre-trib resurrection), Two little maids remain and they, Won't have to wait very long they say" because the second maid is the Post-trib Rachel saints and the difference is only seven years (Gen. 29:27; Judges 14:2-12; Lev. 23:34). In other words, H.M.A. falls in love with one third of the church -- an actress ("hypocrite") that wears make-up ("cosmetics" -- worldly) and eats her favorite meal -- "pig's guts" (non-kosher). She's not perfect, but Jesus the Messiah (the ultimate fulfillment of H.M.A.) loves her still. She sings the most beautiful song in the entire book: "The sun whose rays Are all ablaze With ever-living glory, Does not deny His majesty -- He scorns to tell a story! He don't exclaim, "I blush for shame, So kindly be indulgent." But, fierce and bold, In fiery gold, He glories all effulgent! I MEAN TO RULE THE EARTH, As he the sky -- We really know our worth, The sun and I! Observe his flame, That placid dame, The moon's Celestial Highness; There's not a trace Upon her face Of diffidence or shyness: She borrows light That, through the night, Mankind may all acclaim her! And, truth to tell, She lights up well, So I, for one, don't blame her! Ah, pray make no mistake, We are not shy; We're very wide awake, The moon and I!" Savoy Theater is Ambassador Auditorium. Savoy France also was home to a recent Winter Olympics -- and historically the home of Waldensians and Vaudois who were the true church. Sybil (Yum-Yum) lost him when he was kicked out of A.C. in 1982. He cleared his mind of the W.C.G. at that point. Here a "Cuckoo" sound indicates a sort of insanity. A disciplinary meeting occurred in the afternoon with Rod Meredith (Trinity) and Greg Albrecht (Caius) in 9-17-82. The "Master of Caius" (Greg R. Albrecht -- Dean of Students) and "Master of Trinity" (Raymond F. McNair -- Dean of Faculty) hadn't learned to be "servants" (Matt. 20:25-28) and so are called "Masters." Harold wasn't "willing to compromise." The meeting with G.R.A. occurred on 9-13-82 and 9-17-82. The three weeks became the Squaw Valley Feast of Tabernacles -- site of the 1924 Winter Olympics -- where one student spent three weeks 9-25-82 till 10-15-82 fulfilling this anti-type after being expelled.

What were the Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas? These are the Scriptures (Ez. 33:32) which H.M.A. loved. Gilbert (God the Father) writes the lyrics and Sullivan (Jesus the Messiah) composes the music. They mention familiar names at A.C. Many verses of these operettas are biblical in nature or prophetic or are used as if they were Scripture in the movie: Demons called toads (p.80). Grin and bear it (p.33). Ralph Rakestraw (p.103). Never say Damn (p.106). Skim milk masquerades as cream. All that glitters isn't gold. Spare the rod spoil the child (p.122-3). Strong his arm ... alone he is fit to fly (p.141). Always act in accordance with the dictates of your conscience and chance the consequences (p.143). Make hay while the sun shines. Where there's a will, there's a way (pp.153; 280-281). Apostle (p.200). Good as gold, did as she was told (p.216). Retribution, like a poised hawk, came swooping down upon the wrongdoer (p.216). Love renders good for ill, smiles at every frown (p.220). The law is the true embodiment of everything that's excellent (p.245). Nothing venture, nothing gain. Blood is thick, water thin. Hustle your horse and don't say die. Faint heart never won fair lady (p.280-281). Adderlike in his tongue (p.292). False and foolish prophets you (p.294). Sacred heralds (p.295). I can trace my ancestry back to a pre-Adamic protoplasmic primordial atomic globule (p.349). Marriage to last a week (p.354). To kiss in public is wrong (p.356). Youth must have its fling (p.359). Suicide is wrong (p.363). I mean to rule the earth (p.373). We'll call each second a minute -- each minute an hour -- each hour a day -- and each day a year (p.375). Make punishment fit crime (p.382). It wasn't written on his forehead (p.388). It's an unjust world (p.389). Sir Roderick Murgatroid (p.404). Don't speak until spoken to (p.408). Butchers, bakers, candlestick makers (p.447). Ours are not the hearts that quail, the hands that shrink, the cheeks that pale (p.468). String the lyre, fill the cup, Lest on sorrow we should sup (p.540). You will not glance By any chance on womankind ... you've married me (p.551). When everyone is sombody, then no one's anybody (p.565). Solve the complicated plot. Disentangle every knot (p.567). One tenth of takings (p.573). Love is blind (p.601). Trump of war (p.616). Strike while the iron's hot (p.635). Take this, take that, Tit for tat (p.680-681). Charioteers (p.698, 709). Etcetera.

Who was Charlie Paddock, the California Cannonball? This was is Roderick Meredith. "We'll all feel GAY when Johnny comes marching home" because R.C.M. would always preach against homosexuality and make everyone feel like a homosexual. A religious professor is also known as a "Canon" and so R.C.M. was appropriately labeled, having taught the Bible at Pasadena California for many years. He also had a student anti-type who arrived in 1982.

Who was Jackson Scholtz, the New York Thunderbolt? This was Greg Albrecht who often yelled and screamed at students. He also had a student anti-type whose initials were J.S. from New York who came to A.C. in 1982. These Americans were "professionals" not only because they received pay for teaching the Bible, but also because they were experts at blaming and intimidating students and laying "guilt trips" on students.

The Head Porter looked like Raymond F. McNair.

The Marseillaise Hymn is appropriate to condemn the attitude of the ministers at Pasadena who persecuted students. "Ye sons of Freedom wake to glory! Hark! Hark! what myriads bid you rise! Your children, wives and grandsires hoary, Behold their tears and hear their cries! Shall hateful tyrants mischief breeding With hireling hosts a ruffian band, Affright and desolate the land, When peace and liberty lie bleeding? With luxury and pride surrounded, The vile insatiate despots dare, Their thirst for gold and power unbounded, To mete and vend (measure out and sell) the light and air. Like beasts of burden would they load us (with guilt), Like gods would bid their slaves adore; But man is man and who is more? Then shall they longer lash and goad us? O Liberty! can man resign thee? Once having felt thy generous flame, Can dungeon bolts and bars confine thee, Or whips thy noble spirit tame? Too long the world has wept bewailing, The blood stained sword our conquors wield; But freedom is our sword and shield, And all their arts are unavailing! To arms, to arms, ye brave! The avenging sword unsheathe! March on, march on, all hearts resolved on liberty or death!

Pirates of Penzance, Pirate's chorus: "With cat-like tread, Upon our prey we steal, In silence dread, Our cautious way we feel. No sound at all, We never speak a word, A fly's foot fall Would be distinctly heard -- Come friends, who plough the sea, Truce to navigation, Take another station; Let's vary piracee With a little burglaree!"

A student at A.C. in 1981 read from Hamlet Act 1, Scene 111, vv. 56-85 which dove-tailed into this movie: Laertes was about to leave for France and says, "I stay too long. But here my father comes. A double blessing is a double grace; Occasion smiles upon a second leave." Polonius then says, "Yet here, Laertes? Aboard, aboard, for shame! The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail, And you are stayed for. There -- my blessing with thee! And these few precepts in thy memory Look thou (See that you inscribe) character. Give thy thoughts no tongue, Nor any unproportioned (undisciplined; unreasonable) thought his act. Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar (Too readiily accessible to any friendship): Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel; But do not dull thy palm with entertainment Of each new-hatched, unfledged comrade. Beware Of entrance to a quarrel; but being in, Bear't that the opposed may beware of thee. Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice; Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not expressed in fancy; rich, not gaudy; For the apparel oft proclaims the man, And they in France of the best rank and station Are most select and generous, chief in that. Neither a borrower nor a lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry (thrift). This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. Farewell. My blessing season this in thee!"

If true British Jewish-Christianity can be compared to Olympic champions in a foot race (1 Cor. 9:24; Gal. 2:2; 5:7; Philip 2:16; 3:14; Heb. 12:1), then they must print and broadcast the Moses-Elijah message of "Let my people go" (Ex. 5:1) and "How long will you straddle the fence between the Eternal and Baal?" (cp. 1 Ki. 18:21) to Roman Catholic Nazi-Fascist FROGS (Phrygians or Fraggoi of France) in the E.U. and U.S. to win the GOLD medal (1 Cor. 3:12) and the BLUE ribbon (Nu. 15:38). Sports stadiums and Colosseums in America, just as in ancient Rome, may become places of martyrdom for Christians in the near future. These "Elijahs" are likened to "CHARIOTS of fire" (2 Ki. 2:11-12). "For, behold, the Eternal will come with fire, and with his CHARIOTS like the whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire" (Isa. 66:15) -- Auriga with the star Capella -- the Charioteer with his CHARIOT superimposed. Anciently, Leo, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor were all given the CHARIOT symbol as well. Astronomically, Perseus has wings on his heels as he turns stoney hearts to flesh.
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