Wake Up, America!

The demise of the United States as the world's premier nation is now underway. Forces now in motion will bring this about unless there is a genuine national repentance!

How close does a raging fire have to be to get your attention? Close enough that you can personally see it? Feel it? Smell it?

Yet, as we read almost daily in the newspapers, people are burned to death by a fire that started, often quietly, in another part of the house or building. But the people are dead just the same!

The Eternal God tells us in His Word: "If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it? Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?" (Amos 3:6–8). So the great God who determines the rise and fall of nations will warn us through His faithful servants of any major event due to bring national catastrophe. It is up to you, dear readers, to determine who God's truly faithful servants are!

As one who has served faithfully in Christ's ministry for over 49 years, I tell you in His name that—unless we repent—our beloved United States is in terminal trouble. We are near the very end of our ascendancy as the premier nation of this world. Along with our "sister" nations—including Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand—we are on the cusp of a national punishment such as the world has never seen! For our peoples have increasingly turned away from the God of creation and every vestige of true religion. Our peoples are now vigorously pursuing the "gods" of their own making—physical wealth, hedonism and the vain ideas of New Age philosophies and secular humanism.

Yet, as we in this Work of God have shown you for decades, we are the physical descendents of the "Lost Ten Tribes" of Israel. And God speaks repeatedly of our great nations—and our future—in His Word. If you have not already done so, please write or call for your free copy of our eye-opening booklet, What's Ahead for America and Britain? This truly powerful booklet will give you proof of our national origins—and of our place in Bible prophecy.

Much Has Already Happened

When I first came to Ambassador College in Pasadena, California, back in 1949, a man named Herbert W. Armstrong was already thundering to our peoples that—even though the German nation had been totally defeated and brought low—Germany would rise again and would be the dominant player in a coming United States of Europe, a "revival" of the Holy Roman Empire. He described specifically how this power would rise and become a great military and trading power. And he described how the United States, Canada and Britain would lose their national dominance if they did not turn to the true God.

In the late summer of 1954, I traveled with Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong and their elder son, Richard David, through much of Britain. Mr. Armstrong gave, in a series of meetings, a personal warning to the British people about what would happen if they did not repent. Many who heard those warnings are still alive.

Mr. Armstrong told the British people that although God had given them national greatness and control over the vital "sea gates" such as Suez, the routes around the tips of South Africa and South America, the vital Malacca Strait in Southeast Asia and other sea passages absolutely vital in controlling world trade and vital in time of war, God would begin to take these "gates" away—one by one—unless they repented. And the true God would humble the British-descended and American peoples and begin to break the "pride" of our power (Leviticus 26:19).

Only about 700 people turned out to hear Mr. Armstrong in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and even smaller crowds attended in Scotland and England. Enthusiasm was high because of Mr. Armstrong's dynamic style, but many doubted what he was saying: that these vital sea gates would in fact be taken away.

Yet only two years later, my wife and I were sent to Britain and visibly felt the impact of some of these prophetic statements that no one else understood at the time! For the winter of 1956–57 was the time of the "Suez Crisis" when Britain was forced to withdraw from the Suez Canal. Then there was a terrible fuel shortage. And in the intervening years, Britain was also pressured to give up control of the Malacca Strait, the great Simonstown Sea Base (the passage around the Cape of Good Hope). Since then, the U.S. has given up control over its only major sea gate—the Panama Canal.

Soon after its victory in World War II, Britain completely lost the British Empire and the power and respect (and wealth) that it used to enjoy as a major world power.

Still later, in the 1970s and 1980s, Mr. Armstrong began to proclaim publicly that although vast Soviet armies with awesome weaponry were apparently solidly in place in East Germany and in the nations of Eastern Europe, they would leave! Again, no one else was making these predictions—except those of us associated with Herbert W. Armstrong and helping him proclaim this message.

Did it happen?

As Paul Harvey would say: "Now you know the rest of the story!" In late 1989 and 1990, the nations of Eastern Europe began to break away from the Soviet bloc. Finally, the Berlin Wall came down and the "two Germanys" became one again! It all happened so quickly, it was like a line of dominoes falling over each other. Even hardened journalists and political analysts were astonished. They had not expected this to happen!

But the point is that a true minister of God, Herbert W. Armstrong, was guided by God to foresee these events and predict them to hundreds of thousands of people ahead of time.

God does have faithful ministers here on earth now, who can tell you what is going to happen and why.

The New Threat of TERRORISM

As we were shocked to see last September 11, a new wave of horrifying, dastardly terrorism is beginning to strike the United States. Thousands have already been killed in the murderous attacks on the Twin Towers of New York City's World Trade Center, and on the Pentagon in Washington, DC. Dozens have already been exposed—as I write—to anthrax poisoning in another wave of terror. And the threat of many other types of biochemical warfare seems imminent. By the time you read this, many more events will have occurred.

But the point of this magazine, Tomorrow's World, is not merely to report the news. We want you to understand the meaning behind the news.

If there is a real God—and there is—why has God allowed these unspeakable atrocities to occur? And why will many, many more such events unfold over the next several years affecting especially the American and British-descended peoples? If we are professing "Christian" nations, should we expect God's blessing?

Much of the answer lies in that word "professing." For though we talk about God and a good percentage of Americans go to some sort of church or worship service, their worship has not greatly affected their daily lives! We still have some of the highest rates of drunkenness and drug use, divorce, crime and violence of any nation on earth. Our moral toboggan slide continues to accelerate. As reported by the Washington Times: "One study found that on prime-time television, references to porn were 300 percent more common in 1999 than in 1989" ("Amoral Expectations," June 2, 2001). Notably, in the same year, for the first time in history, fully one-third of the babies born in the United States were born out of wedlock ("Unwed mothers set a record for births," Washington Times, April 18, 2001). Television and other mainstream media, and even government agencies, now openly promote homosexuality. And any who protest are vilified and ostracized.

Then there is the silent holocaust of abortion, claiming the lives of more than a million innocent victims each year in the United States alone. Where are the candlelight vigils, the outcries of sympathy and solidarity for those most helpless of people, whose lives are taken with the approval and active support of our legal system, many of our national institutions and even many churches?

Most people refuse to even entertain the notion that AIDS, terrorist attacks and other calamities may indicate that we need to change, we need to repent. Pundits, politicians, religious leaders and other opinion makers in our society protest that God is on our side. God has indeed been with us and blessed us mightily over the past two centuries, though often denied the credit rightfully His. Yet, as we have been warned (Leviticus 26:14–39), God is slowly but surely withdrawing His protection and blessings and, as Jesus admonished the people of his generation, this will continue if we do not repent.

"There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all [other] Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all [other] men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish'" (Luke 13:1–5).

Those who have died in terrorist attacks or other disasters were not better or worse than any other cross-section of our general population. Many of them were no doubt fine and decent people. Some were children. If our nations would only repent, God would spare us from such tragedies (Deuteronomy 28:1–14).

What Is Wrong?

Through the Apostle Paul, the Eternal God perfectly describes our time, the "Last Days." Notice this inspired description in 2 Timothy 3:1–5: "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!"

But most Americans, Britons and Canadians do not "turn away" from this type of watered-down Christianity and those who purvey it! Rather, they gladly embrace a professing "Christianity" that does not force them to change their hedonistic lifestyles. So, again, in the above passage written by the Apostle Paul, God describes what lies ahead: "But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived" (2 Timothy 3:13).

So God commands His true ministers: "Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet; tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins" (Isaiah 58:1). People do not "like" to be told that they are sinning. But unless and until our peoples repent of the vile, hedonistic lifestyle that has begun to characterize our society, we are going to be humbled and chastened by the Creator God in the greatest national tribulation in all human history! (Matthew 24:21–22).

Almighty God warns us: "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:1–2). Yet most professing Christians have no idea what sin is—because their own churches have not told them the truth on this matter!

Yet, over and over, God specifically tells us what "sin" actually is. Near the end of the Apostolic Age, God inspired John—Jesus' closest friend among the Apostles—to tell us that "sin is the transgression of the Law" (1 John 3:4, KJV). And John stated clearly that even our prayers are much more likely to be answered if we will obey God's commandments: "And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight" (1 John 3:22).

The basis of Christian character—the very love of God—John tells us, is expressed in obeying God's Commandments: "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3). For Jesus Christ—the Founder of Christianity—clearly taught that the way to eternal life directly involves obeying the Ten Commandments: "If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments" (Matthew 19:17). In spite of these very clear scriptures and dozens more, why have most professing Christian ministers joined in the chorus who say that the Ten Commandments are no longer binding—done away by the Apostle Paul—or that God's Law was "nailed to the cross"?

Why?

By promoting "cheap grace" —by using such expressions as "just believe on Jesus Christ"—these blinded ministers have willingly or unwillingly deceived the vast majority of professing Christians! Yes they have! For they teach a "watered-down" version of Christianity that has allowed millions to think they are "Christian"—yet have virtually no idea of the way of life taught and practiced by Jesus Christ and the early Apostles. If you want to understand all of this, then call us or write us at our regional office nearest you and ask for a free copy of our very enlightening booklet, Restoring Apostolic Christianity.

Please study this thoroughly documented booklet, and you will truly begin to understand why God is allowing terrorist acts to strike our nations and how an entire series of punishments will bring us low, unless we genuinely repent and begin to seek the true God and obey His commandments! Otherwise, in a powerful prophecy, God graphically describes how He is going to chasten our rebellious and sinful peoples at the time of the end: "Make a chain, for the land is filled with crimes of blood, and the city is full of violence. Therefore I will bring the worst of the Gentiles, and they will possess their houses; I will cause the pomp of the strong to cease, and their holy places shall be defiled. Destruction comes; they will seek peace, but there shall be none. Disaster will come upon disaster, and rumor will be upon rumor. Then they will seek a vision from a prophet; but the law will perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders" (Ezekiel 7:23–26).

The above verses are a part of a continuing prophecy God inspired Ezekiel to write more than 100 years after ancient Israel went into captivity. These verses were written to describe a future punishment and captivity for "all the House of Israel" (Ezekiel 5:4)—including the Jews and the so-called "Lost Ten Tribes" of the House of Israel. So this prophecy is yet to be fulfilled! And it leads right up to the "day of the wrath of the Lord" (Ezekiel 7:19), and God's pouring out the supernatural plagues described in Revelation 8 and 9.

What Should You DO?

Dear reader, it gives me no pleasure to have to tell you these things! For I dearly love our nations—the American and British-descended peoples—but God has put it powerfully upon my mind and heart to give you this "Ezekiel warning": "'But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.' So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me" (Ezekiel 33:6–7).

For the book of Ezekiel was inspired primarily for our time and our peoples. And, as we saw earlier in Ezekiel 7:26, God tells us: "Disaster will come upon disaster, rumor upon rumor." So I challenge you to open your mind! If these disasters continue to occur over the next five to 15 years, and in fact get much worse—if continuing wars, terrorism, drought, famine, disease epidemics and earthquakes strike especially the American and British-descended peoples of the world—then you had better listen! And you had better heed the teaching of this Work of God about His entire way of life based upon living faith and genuine obedience to all ten of the Ten Commandments through Christ living within us!

The inspired Apostle Paul told us: "Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters" (1 Corinthians 7:19). And then he also tells us how we may have the spiritual strength to obey God's Commandments: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20, KJV).

As this crisis at the close of this age begins, I urge all of you—in Jesus' name—to begin to seek God in a way you have probably never done before. Ask God to open your mind to His Truth. Again, be sure to request our very enlightening booklet, Restoring Apostolic Christianity. And request also our powerful booklet which gives you the vital "key" to fully understand our national identities and the end-time prophecies of the Bible. This powerful booklet is entitled, What's Ahead for America and Britain? It will be sent absolutely free, with no obligation, upon your request.

The Jewish nation's Babylonian captivity is a type of what is just ahead for our peoples. Through Jeremiah's prophecy, decades before the Jewish people returned from captivity, God showed them the attitude and approach they should have. This vital instruction certainly applies to all of us today, if we really want God's blessing, guidance and protection: "Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive" (Jeremiah 29:12–14).

May God grant that each of you reading this will begin to genuinely understand. For truly America—along with all nations—needs to wake up and to seek the true God and obey what He actually tells us in His inspired Word!