Dear Brethren and Friends,
The Apostle Peter was inspired to warn us that "the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers" (1 Peter 4:7). He then continued: "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy" (vv. 12–13).
We would be remiss in our responsibility to you and to God if we did not specifically warn you brethren about the soon-coming "fiery trials"! Yes, in the end, we win! Yes, it is true that most of those who really are "Philadelphians" will be taken to the promised Place of Safety and will thus escape the full fury of the Great Tribulation (Revelation 3:10).
However, brethren, we have always recognized that some of us ministers— and many others—may be persecuted, imprisoned or die as martyrs before the Great Tribulation is fully underway. As you know, I have often stated this in sermons and Bible Studies over the years. Sadly, several of our brethren in Milwaukee, Wisconsin were murdered while attending Sabbath services in March 2005. Likewise, the early Church of God was shaken by the murders of Stephen (Acts 7:59) and the Apostle James (Acts 12:1–2). In addition, it is obvious from Scripture that God’s own people will suffer many discomforts and troubles, along with our worldly friends and neighbors, before the Great Tribulation begins. Remember, ancient Israel suffered the first three plagues right along with the Egyptians (Exodus 7:19; 8:6, 17). Then, before the fourth plague—the "swarm of flies"—God said that He would "set apart the land of Goshen" and the plagues would not come on His own people (Exodus 8:22–23).
Since Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8), the example of His dealings with ancient Israel gives us a clear insight into how He will guide events in our time. Jesus Himself warned us: "But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues" (Matthew 10:17). So do not assume, dear brethren, that we will not experience severe persecutions after this Work increases in size and power. For, as Jesus warned: "And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes" (vv. 22–23).
Armed with these specific warnings from Jesus Christ and His inspired apostles, what should we do? Most of us probably understand the basics—but are we truly going "all out" to put our entire lives fully in God’s hands? Many of our brethren pray fervently and study the Bible deeply—at least from time to time—and some are diligent in fasting occasionally. But—as a way of life—do you, personally, "seek God" with all your heart every day? Is God fully real to you personally? Or are you, like so many, so busy in your daily life that "seeking God" is just an occasional activity— merely on the "fringes" of your day-to-day activities? With constant duties in our jobs or professions, household responsibilities, taking care of children, and probably watching too much television, how profoundly do each of us daily "feed on Christ" (John 6:57) by deeply studying the Bible? How many of us regularly pray fervently, meditate on God’s word and set aside time regularly for fasting and profoundly seeking God?
How many of us strive to sincerely give ourselves to God in serving Him, seeking Him and in outflowing concern and service to our fellow human beings? How many of us go "above and beyond" in our prayers, in our tithes and offerings, and even in helping directly—when we can—in the very Work of the living Christ, preparing the way for His Kingdom? Jesus said that we must not be focused on making this present life "comfortable" for ourselves. For Jesus stated, "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 10:39).
Knowing, dear brethren, that we truly are near the end of this age, it is vital that each of us, more fervently than ever before, genuinely "seek God" with all of our hearts! That may sound trite or sentimental—but when things start crashing all around us, it will become an absolute necessity that we be close to God! After telling our forefathers that in the "latter days" they would be taken into slavery and serve "gods" in a far land, God states, "But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice" (Deuteronomy 4:29– 30).
Notice the Apostle Paul’s inspired instruction that we must "consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24– 25). As the Day of Pentecost approaches, this year, we have every reason to "cry out" to God for more of His Holy Spirit— for more love, more faith, more wisdom and more spiritual power. For we will urgently need the help of God’s Spirit in the years just ahead. And the season of Pentecost is a very special time to focus on that.
Brethren, many of you may have seen the recent predictions by Gerald Celente, Chief Executive Officer of the Trends Research Institute—a man renowned for his accuracy in predicting future world and economic events, including the 1987 stock market crash and the fall of the Soviet Union. Considering Celente’s past record of accuracy, his most recent forecasts may send a chill down your spine. Speaking to Fox News late last year, Celente warned that by 2012 America will become an undeveloped nation, that there will be a revolution marked by food riots, squatter rebellions, tax revolts and job marches, and that holidays will be more about obtaining food, not gifts. "We’re going to see the end of the retail Christmas.... we’re going to see a fundamental shift take place.... putting food on the table is going to be more important than putting gifts under the Christmas tree,’ said Celente, adding that the situation would be ’worse than the great depression’" ("Revolution, food riots in America by 2012," Commodity Online, December 1, 2008).
We are not setting dates, nor are we saying Celente’s forecasts are definitely correct. But this man’s predictions may well come to pass, in time! As Christians, we must examine our own hearts and be sure we are prepared to remain faithful even in a time of food riots, race riots, various rebellions and tax revolts and a period of unusual lawlessness which may come upon us before the final end of our nation. May God help each of us to love one another, forgive one another—and even forgive those who try to do us physical harm. We know all of the scriptures about this, but—during the next several years—we may have an opportunity to put these teachings into practice in a way we have never done before!
Each of us will need to genuinely walk with God, just as His servants of old did in times of stress, war and even persecution. We must always remember that the Apostle Paul spent about five years of his life in prison. Yet, even in prison, God used Paul to write some of his most inspired letters to the churches, to instruct many brethren in Rome and to accomplish many other things.
While in Rome—probably as a civil prisoner with an iron ball chained to his ankle—Paul wrote: "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:4–7).
If we truly "seek God" on a regular basis, and learn to profoundly walk with God, we will also be able to have "the peace of God which surpasses all understanding" even in times of trial and stress. May God grant that we each build this kind of relationship, so we may be able to follow the inspiring example of the Apostle Paul in such times as this. And always remember Jesus’ edifying and encouraging instruction: "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near" (Luke 21:28).
