Dear Brethren and Co-workers with Christ,
In a world gone mad, it is very encouraging to have the hope of a better future under the soon-coming rule of Jesus Christ! We all know that life in the flesh is temporary, but we have hope for eternal life in bodies that will never wear out or get sick. Most people in the world do not have this hope. For them, it is live for today. Their hopes and dreams are to cram as much enjoyment as possible into their short time on earth, hope that they will make it through difficult and trying times, and hope they don’t suffer too much before going to sleep forever. We have much to be thankful for because of God’s calling and opening our minds to the true hope set before us!
Last November I recorded the program “2022 in Bible Prophecy,” which was aired the first week in January. As I said on the program, I am not a prophet, but those of us here at Tomorrow’s World read what the prophets wrote and we can see the signs of the end of mankind’s misrule all around us. And we have a responsibility to share the hope that lies before us, as well as give a warning of what will happen if mankind does not turn around and go God’s way.
When the Pharisees demanded to see a sign from Jesus proving who He was, He responded with a sound rebuke. “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). Many of us recognize that we are living in the last days, but the last days have lasted for a number of decades—and there are still events that must take place.
Noah apparently had a century or more to prepare an ark to save himself and his family (Genesis 5:32; 7:11). Some believe the warning to the world lasted 120 years according to Genesis 6:3. It is evident that the people alive at the time received a lengthy and substantial warning before the flood suddenly descended upon them. That warning came from the physical evidence of the ark being built and from Noah’s words as a “preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5). God is patient! He gives us more than enough time to amend our ways!
There have always been natural disasters, wars, and pandemics, but there is something very different about what is happening today. We must not sleepwalk past the signs indicating we are now rapidly approaching the climax at the end. It appears that we have entered a new phase leading to Christ’s return. Some would say this new phase began with COVID-19. That certainly set off multiple crises—economic, supply-chain shortages, divisions within nations over masks and vaccines, etc.—but this is not the first pandemic in recorded history, nor the deadliest. Yet, there is something different about this time. This is the first pandemic in our modern era set against the backdrop of a knowledge explosion and a transportation revolution (Daniel 12:1-4). And it comes at a time of geopolitical realignments due to what many see as a weakened United States.
The Bible records many signs to watch for. Jesus listed some in the Olivet Prophecy (Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21). He also gave two very distinct signs relating to human behavior, saying it will be as it was immediately prior to the Noachian flood as well as in the time of Lot when Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed (Luke 17:26-30). Noah’s days were marked by wickedness of every sort. “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). Corruption and violence were also marks of that day (vv. 11-13).
Sodom and Gomorrah in the days of Lot were noted for their sexual free-for-all. This was likely part of the problem in Noah’s day, but Scripture highlights it in Lot’s day. You can read of it in Genesis 19. While this problem has always been around, it was kept “in the closet” in most of our modern world until about three decades ago, and as soon as same-sex “marriage” was accepted by governments and popular votes, the transgender movement began. Is it not interesting that this new morality, which is not new, is so often described by the one word, “Pride”? That is the word the Bible says marked the attitude of Sodom (Ezekiel 16:49, 56). Truly there is nothing new under the sun!
We need to connect the dots between mankind’s violent and immoral behaviors and the disasters we see all around us. None of us here at Tomorrow’s World consider ourselves prophets, but we can read the signs of the times and what the prophets of the Bible wrote. That is why we stick to the big picture and do not try to predict some of the specifics. Mr. Wallace Smith recorded “2020 in Bible Prophecy” and gave trends to watch for that year. The program was recorded in September 2019, some three months before the year began and prior to news out of China about COVID-19. Yet, in that program he gave six trends to watch going forward, and among them was “Diseases, natural disasters, and famines will get the better of us.” He did not find these in a crystal ball, but in the pages of the Bible. He also advised, “Keep an eye on Europe’s accelerating identity crisis.”
Similarly, I warned for 2021 to look for “disaster upon disaster,” based on Ezekiel 7:26. And for 2022, I warned that “when you think it can’t get any worse, it will.” Knowing the biblical identity of nations, the duality of prophecy, and the end-time setting for these prophecies is key. We do not know the exact day, month, or even year when most of these prophecies will take place, but the more immoral and violent behavior increase, the closer we are to the end.
We are only in the third month of 2022, and we have a brutal war raging in Ukraine that could spread to something even more dreadful. We have known for decades that Germany (ancient Assyria) will be a military power at the end of the age. We have said that for decades, but how it would happen we did not understand. U.S. presidents have urged Germany to “pay its fair share” when it comes to NATO, but to no avail. Suddenly, in a way not anticipated by any of us, German thinking about becoming a military power was transformed overnight. You do not rebuild an army overnight, so the end is not yet, but that is one piece of the puzzle bringing together the picture of end-time events. If you have not read the article “A Fourth Reich?” please request your free copy.
In our telecasts, Mr. Smith and I encouraged you to look for the continuing decline in America and Britain. We have been saying this in one way or another for decades. Are we seeing that happen? Consider America’s disastrous pullout from Afghanistan. Consider that Saudi Arabian leaders are so disgusted by that pullout and other factors that they refused a call from President Biden—and just this week expressed interest in accepting China’s yuan in place of some U.S. petro-dollars. That process may be gradual, not all happening at once, but nations are looking to replace the dollar as the world’s reserve currency. You may not understand all the reasons for this, but—if it happens—it will affect you.
Prophecy can appear exciting, until you see it coming to pass. As John found, it is sweet in the mouth, but bitter in the stomach (Revelation 10:8-11). Knowing in advance the direction and the outcome—the return of Jesus Christ who will save us from our insanity—is comforting. Putting our heads in the sand will not change reality, but knowing the eventual outcome gives hope for a better future. Luke tells us, “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28). And as Paul admonishes us, “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11).
We know that many of you are praying for us; please know that we are praying for you. And thank you for your financial support in this trying time. Many are on fixed incomes and are struggling just to buy gas, heat their homes, and put food on the table. We understand that, and we hope those of us who can step up to the plate will be willing to share more of the load for those who cannot at this time.
Sincerely, in Christ’s service,
Gerald E. Weston