Dear Brethren and Co-Workers with Christ,
Greetings from Charlotte, NC! We appear to be entering the final phase of Christ’s Work preparing the way for His Second Coming! Disasters of unprecedented magnitude are occurring with increasing frequency around the world. We all need to have a sense of excitement and exhilaration and thankfulness that Christ is coming soon!
Now, we have just witnessed "the worst natural disaster in U.S. history." Hurricane Katrina has proved to be far more damaging than past storms and earthquakes. Yet it is only the beginning! Today in the Charlotte Observer (September 15, 2005), they report: "Hurricane Katrina damaged or demolished nearly half a million homes in three states, the American Red Cross said Wednesday—four times as many as Hurricane Andrew did when it hit Florida in 1992…. The hurricane’s death toll stood at 659 on Wednesday, but officials in New Orleans warned that more bodies might still be found."
People are truly shaken by this terrible storm. Yet God’s Word indicates that far more hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, floods and disease epidemics are in the offing! As Jesus Christ described the events before His Second Coming, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven…. And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken" (Luke 21:10-11, 25-26).
Now, over the next several years, everything will start changing more rapidly than ever before! Because of these hurricanes, floods and other disasters, our national debt will grow more rapidly than ever. The U.S. dollar will fall. Our national prestige will plummet. God will indeed "break the pride of [American and British] power" (Lev. 26:19).
Just yesterday, at least 160 people were killed in the worst series of attacks since the Iraq War supposedly ended. "Baghdad, Iraq—In a relentless series of attacks that struck nearly every corner of this city, suicide bombers killed at least 160 people in Baghdad on Wednesday—the deadliest day for the capital since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime. At least 560 people were injured, including two U.S. soldiers, Iraqi authorities said" (Charlotte Observer, September 15, 2005). As many of you will remember, I specifically predicted in the March-April 2005 Tomorrow’s World that democracy would not take hold in the Middle East. This entire area will prove to be a quagmire—sucking up increasing billions of American dollars and hundreds of American lives.
Meanwhile, with the Jewish nation of Israel—pressured by the Americans—trying to be the "good guys" and turning the Gaza Strip over to the Palestinians, U.S. officials are "hoping" that democracy will somehow take hold there also. But now the newspaper reports that a "Wave of weapons finds way into Gaza!" (Charlotte Observer, September 15, 2005). The article continues, "Palestinian gunrunners smuggled hundreds of assault rifles and pistols across the Egyptian frontier into Gaza, dealers and border officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The influx confirmed Israeli fears about giving up border control and could further destabilize Gaza…. Militant groups scoffed at a new Palestinian Authority demand that they disband after parliamentary elections in January, saying they would not surrender weapons."
So the chaos in Iraq, in Palestine and throughout the entire Middle East will continue. Democracy will not permanently "take hold" in these areas. Rather, Daniel 11 shows clearly that a coming "King of the South" will rise up—probably in Egypt or Saudi Arabia—and unite many of the Arab nations. He will provoke the coming Beast Power in Europe and thus bring about one of the final wars before Christ’s return (Dan. 11:40-45). America’s pitiful effort to promote an Anglo-Saxon type of democracy in these Muslim nations will fail miserably. And, again, American money and manpower will be sadly wasted in this vain effort.
The great God is now beginning to bring about the final events of human history leading up to His rule over this earth! "Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’" (Rev. 11:15). Preparatory to His return, Christ is now training a cadre of truly converted, dedicated, loyal men and women whom He will place in key positions in His coming Kingdom. These are men and women who have truly surrendered to His will and His government. He is trying and "testing" each of us to see if we truly have our hearts in His Work, His will and what He is now doing through His Church.
Remember what Jesus Christ tells those who have been faithful? "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord" (Matt. 25:21).
Whatever we do in this life is only preparation for a far bigger responsibility in Christ’s coming government. But if we today are Laodicean and "lukewarm," if we are slackers, or if we are disloyal and turn aside from following Christ’s government and wholeheartedly participating in preaching His Gospel all over this world (Matt. 24:14), then Christ will say to us, "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent" (Rev. 3:18-19).
Brethren, we are very grateful for your generous response to the Disaster Relief Fund which we established soon after Hurricane Katrina. Thank you, in Jesus’ name!
But now that scores of our own brethren and co-workers in that area have been temporarily disoriented or displaced by this awful storm, I pray that the rest of us will do all we can to "make up the difference" in tithes and offerings to God’s Work. We in this Work of Christ are moving ahead with all our hearts to get His message out with increasing power. I am just now completing the writing of a truly powerful and stirring booklet to be offered in the semi-annual letter coming out in November. This booklet, entitled Satan’s Counterfeit Christianity, will really shake tens of thousands of people as they read and understand the details of how the Devil has truly and cunningly misled this entire world in its approach to God, to salvation and to the entire purpose of human existence. This booklet will certainly add a sense of excitement and also persecution in our efforts to reach a very deceived world.
As this world and its society come to an end, as the direct intervention of God in the weather and in world events steadily increases, may God help all of us to "catch the vision." More than ever, we need to "go all out" in proclaiming Christ’s message to this confused world.
At this critical time, I am asking all of you to "dig down deep" and be truly generous in your support for God’s Work. We need to grow! We need to have a far greater impact on this society that is nearing its end. God is now "testing" each of us to see how much we will genuinely sacrifice in order to proclaim His message to all nations and to truly warn our Israelitish people of the soon-coming Great Tribulation. As most of you know, this Work is powerfully committed to these vital objectives!
Dear brethren, please pray fervently for God’s Work at this time! Let us all do "all we can" to prepare for the return of our Savior and King.
With Christian love,
—Roderick C. Meredith