Kindley Air Force Base once stood as a symbol of American power in the Atlantic underscoring the special bond between the eagle and lion of the British Commonwealth.

With Bermuda being a key sea gate securing the Florida Keys during World War ii and other ensuing threats—most notably 1985 Soviet submarine maneuvers in its sphere—the base repelled any incursion of U.S. border waterways by unfriendly powers. Today it’s known as Bermuda International Airport and processes nearly a million visitors each year.

On Oct. 31, 1982, Herbert Armstrong’s Gulfstream ii jet touched down there. Mr. Armstrong was met by Caribbean and Bermudan Church officials and driven to the South Hampton Princess Hotel.

This visit would include meetings with Ambassador International Cultural Foundation officials, the U.S. consul general, and Bermuda’s governor and premier, and a lecture to Plain Truth magazine subscribers.

On the morning of November 1, he met again with Church officials for a review of Caribbean growth and development delivered by its regional director and was presented a gift of flying fish constructed from bone china.

Early that afternoon, he met with Max Friedersdorf, U.S. consul general to Bermuda. In addition to having held an ambassadorial post in Switzerland, Mr. Friedersdorf served in the administrations of presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan.

The planned 15-minute meeting expanded to an hour-long discussion. They reviewed Caribbean and U.S. security issues along with issues related to Spain’s new government and a pending visit there by Pope John Paul ii.

“Mr. Armstrong explained that biblical prophecy gives no indication of a nuclear war between the Soviet Union and the United States, pointing instead to a future united Europe” (Worldwide News, Nov. 15, 1982).

Before departing, the consul general questioned Mr. Armstrong about his global travel, work and projects of the Ambassador International Cultural Foundation.

Next, Mr. Armstrong and his entourage traveled to Government House for a scheduled meeting with the British-appointed governor of Bermuda, Richard Posnett. They were greeted by Deputy Governor Brian Watkins, who informed them the governor had injured his back just before their arrival and had been hospitalized as a result.

The entourage then split into two groups with Church and foundation officials touring Government House with the governor’s aide-de-camp, Maj. Randal Butler, as their guide, and Mr. Armstrong and his news editor of the Plain Truth magazine meeting with the deputy governor.

Over the next half hour they discussed the Bermudan educational system, which is, as with most Commonwealth countries, similar to that of the UK.

In addition, when reference was made to the mass circulation Plain Truth publication which Mr. Armstrong founded in 1934, Mr. Watkins declared, “I know it. I’ve seen copies of it in connection with an article on the pope’s visit to England.”

After farewelling their hosts, the group traveled to their final afternoon meeting with the country’s premier, John Swan. Surprisingly, the premier had a fair understanding of the Bible and Christian living principles.

This enabled Mr. Armstrong to share his personal experience back in the 1920s when he was challenged by his wife Loma regarding the veracity of the Sabbath. Over the course of the following two hours, he outlined to Bermuda’s leader God’s plan for mankind and the ultimate goal of man becoming God.

In addition, while discussing Matthew 5:48 and Christ’s admonition to His followers to become perfect, “Premier Swan asked how humans could change, seeing the evident imperfections and fallibility of man” (ibid). He listened as Mr. Armstrong explained the message of man’s incredible human potential.

So impressed was the premier with this internationally recognized ambassador for peace that he presented him with a gift copy of a book, Images of Bermuda, depicting a photographic overview of that Caribbean outpost. After signing Mr. Swan’s guest book, the premier invited Mr. Armstrong to visit him again when time permitted.

This long day for the unofficial ambassador for world peace culminated with a special lecture in St. George to 300 Plain Truth subscribers at 7:30 p.m. that night gathered in the ballroom of Lowes Beach Hotel.

His reportedly “powerful message” detailed how mainstream Christianity fails to teach the plain truth from the Bible and how mankind cannot understand God’s Word without the indwelling of His divine Spirit.

As evidenced by the fruits of Mr. Armstrong’s visit, Bermuda certainly received from him the prophesied good news of the gospel of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 24:14).

In January this year, editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote a powerful cover story for the Trumpet magazine about the very subject that Bermuda’s premier had asked guidance on from Mr. Armstrong.

“The determination to reach perfection is a remarkable quality,” Mr. Flurry noted in that article. “In a very real sense, it points us to God!”

He centered upon Matthew 5:48, where Jesus Christ commands, “Be [or become] ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

Mr. Flurry continued, “This is a profound scripture. It really encapsulates the gospel of God! It is all about human beings actually becoming like God Himself! God is a perfectionist! Being a perfectionist is a godly quality—which is why it works.”

That is also the very message Mr. Armstrong delivered to Bermuda’s elite. It is the same message you read day in, day out, here at theTrumpet.com. The question for you is, will you act on it?