Do You Really "Watch"?

Most readers of this magazine understand that biblically prophesied events seem to be "speeding" up as we approach the end of this age. But do you really realize why Christ commanded His true followers to "watch" these events?

As most of you know, the real Christ of the Bible did not establish His Church just to fill it with "sweet old ladies" thinking sweet thoughts about "going off to heaven someday." Rather, your own Bible speaks continually about dramatic events that are to take place in the prophesied "last days" of this human society—reaching their climax at Jesus Christ's return as "King of kings" (Revelation 19:11–16).

Then will come the establishment of the real "New World Order"—the Kingdom or Government of God, through Jesus Christ and His saints, who will finally bring genuine peace to this entire world for a thousand years! For Jesus said, "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years" (Revelation 20:6).

As most of you know, this Work of the living Christ has been warning our nations for many years about the specific biblical prophecies that describe in great detail what is soon ahead for the United States, and for the British-descended nations including Canada, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Many of those prophecies have already started to take place! Increasingly, the various "pieces" of the biblically prophesied scenario are coming into sharp focus. But the "mainstream" ministers of this world frankly "just don't get it." They do not recognize these nations' prophetic identity in end-time events. Today, even most Bible students almost totally neglect the crucial one-fourth of God's word that is prophetic.

But you need to know! You need to understand.

In His famous Olivet Prophecy, Jesus described an entire wave of many false preachers (Matthew 24:5). He described an end-time buildup of "wars and rumors of war"—an apt description of the wars and factional fighting now occurring in parts of Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere around the globe. Jesus predicted that "famines, pestilences and earthquakes in various places" would come (v. 7).

After describing these and other similar end-time events, Jesus then said: "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:34–36).

Indeed, if we allow ourselves to become so consumed by our "daily routine"—our work, our favorite television shows, the Internet and so many other distractions—we will fail utterly to be truly "alert" to these enormously important prophetic events swiftly occurring! We will be, as Jesus warned, weighed down by the "cares of this life." So Jesus commanded us to "watch" this unfolding prophetic scenario, so we can be sensitive to God's great purpose. For our Creator is guiding the rise and fall of nations, and is intervening in powerful weather-related events and the earthquakes and the disease epidemics that He specifically prophesied for our time. Our "watching" prophetic events—as we pray urgently that God will protect His people and guide these events for good—draws us closer to our Creator and makes us more fully aware of His power, His purpose and His wisdom.

Jesus Christ gave this strong rebuke to the religious leaders of His day, who were asking for some special "sign" of His Messiahship: "When it is evening you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red'; and in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times" (Matthew 16:2–3). So it is today. Most religious people—and their leaders—have virtually no idea of the on-rushing prophetic events now occurring, and that the great God (who guides the rise and fall of nations) is preparing to bring down the United States unless its people truly repent!

In one sense, the buildup to the final Great Tribulation is exciting to "watch." But, in another very personal way, it is terribly sad for Americans to watch their beloved United States of America being brought down, and its wonderful British and Commonwealth allies becoming increasingly weakened—even while China and India strengthen themselves, and the nations of continental Europe organize into the final superpower God describes in Revelation 17.

For our British friends and brothers, especially, I am sure it is poignant to realize that the once-powerful British Empire is no more, and that the vital "sea gates" once controlled by Britain and America are no longer theirs—except for Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands. And even these two will pass from British control before long. The once-powerful influence of the Anglo-Saxon peoples all over the world is slowly but surely vanishing!

God prophesied that this would happen! The great God who gives us life and breath told our forefathers: "But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, I also will do this to you: I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it…. And after all this, if you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. I will break the pride of your power" (Leviticus 26:14–16, 18–19).

Dear reader, please study this passage in Leviticus very carefully, and then "watch" to see it fulfilled over the next several years—unless the American and British-descended nations are brought to a type of national repentance they have never before experienced! As for you, God may be opening your mind and heart to personal repentance—to genuinely understand the awesome purpose the Eternal God is working out among men and nations. You have somehow been brought into direct contact with the vital Work that God has raised up to proclaim His warning message to the American and British-descended peoples and to proclaim—as a "witness" (Matthew 24:14)—the wonderful Good News of the soon-coming Government of God, which will rule over the entire world!

As these exciting yet traumatic prophesied events continue to increase over the next several years, I also urge all of you to increase the intensity of your Bible study, the fervency of your prayers and the depth of your relationship with the great God who gives us life and breath! For if you carefully read the prophetic articles in each issue of Tomorrow's World magazine—especially the "Prophecy Comes Alive" section (on page 14 of this issue)—and if you truly study and pray and "watch" as Jesus Christ tells us all to do, these coming events will not "sneak up" on you or catch you unaware! As the Apostle Paul wrote the Thessalonians: "But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thessalonians 5:1–6).

The rise of the prophesied European Empire (the "Beast" of Revelation 17) will bring temporary "peace" to millions of professing Christians, who will simply go along with the majority and join in with that Empire's powerful religio-political system. But when that Empire's leaders say "peace and safety" (1 Thessalonians 5:3), you—who have truly studied your own Bible and have learned to "watch"—will not be deceived! For you will have zealously obeyed Jesus' command to "watch" and to "pray." So, to those of you whom God may be calling, I remind you of Christ's words: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Luke 8:8).