The Winds of Change

A recent article in the Japan Times was boldly headlined: "Europe poised to bounce back and lead world economy." Ronald Berger, a policy adviser to German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, stated the following:

"Europe, and possibly Japan, will stage a comeback to dominate the world economy in the near future. The U.S. economy is actually in a very dangerous situation (and) international investors are shying away from the United States.... The U.S. economy appears to be very strong on the surface... in business, technology, sciences and education. But if you look at America now, it is facing problems and the problems are not easy ones to solve."

Berger referred to the continuing costly war on terrorism, the loss of the budget surplus and the mushrooming foreign trade imbalance. He went on to say that "the morale and credibility of the U.S. economy is fading, and this may have a negative impact, first, on foreign investors, and also on American consumers and their trust in their companies."

Berger is not alone in his assessment. Wolfram Gerdes, a chief investment officer for Dresdner Investment in Frankfurt, Germany, recently summarized his view of the U.S. business potential:

"After years of pumping billions of dollars into the United States because it seemed the land of opportunity, foreign investors are pulling back. And people around the world who for decades have looked to the United States as the model for openness and accountability in business, have been sorely disillusioned by the mounting waves of scandal. This is the most pessimistic sentiment against the United States that I have ever experienced in my career. There is unanimous agreement that the U.S. is not the best place to invest anymore."

It seems that the Enron scandal, the Andersen consulting blunder, and the bankruptcy of Worldcom have further lessened world confidence in the U.S. The stock market slide over 28 months had, by July of this year, wiped out half of the entire market gain that occurred in the 18-year bull market run from 1982 to 2000.

As normally follows a huge stock market loss, bargain hunters temporarily reversed this trend as millions "hoped upon hope" that the bottom was reached. The general trend, though, is still a weakening economic confidence due to large trade deficits, huge U.S. government budget deficits, loss of confidence in the U.S. business model of accountability, a general lack of profitability in the technology sector, and a costly ongoing war on terrorism.

Through the years, we in this Work of God have been foretelling (based on Bible prophecy) of the time when the United States would lose world dominance, and the stage would be set for a united Europe led by Germany that would become the next economic engine and world power.

America has forgotten its God and His laws. There has been continual pressure and agitation to remove all mention of God in every form of public life. The recent move to remove the words "one nation under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance, would be one glaring example. The attempt to remove the motto "In God We Trust" from our money, will likely be next. It is only a matter of time.

Notice God's warning to a rebellious nation: (Deuteronomy 8:19) "Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God.... I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish."

This applied to the nation of Israel, but it applies in principle to any nation that portends to follow the true God.

The winds of change are blowing across the world stage. God's Word has given us the broad outlines of events that will shortly come to pass before Jesus Christ intervenes and establishes His Kingdom on the earth. You do not have to be left wondering. Arm yourself with this knowledge so you can protect yourself and your family from the continuing upheavals and dangers in this society.

If you would like to know more about the future as foretold by the Supreme Creator, please request your free copy of What's Ahead for America and Britain and also the eye-opening booklet, The Beast of Revelation.

This is Jeffrey Fall, with commentary for the Living Church of God.