Dear Brethren and Co-Workers with Christ,
Greetings from Charlotte, NC! The Eternal God is indeed beginning to intervene and “shake” the nations. Just in the last several weeks, we have had a virtual wave of magnitude 6.0-plus earthquakes. Have you noticed? These powerful quakes have struck in Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Chile, Turkey and—just this weekend—another strong earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter Scale struck Japan.
What is going on?
Most news commentators scoff at the idea that the Creator may be starting to intervene in a special way to “shake” people to their senses. But the inspired Word of God tells us that the Creator—whose voice and actions shook His people at Mount Sinai—has promised, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven” (Hebrews 12:26). And Jesus Christ Himself directly predicted that at this time of the end, “There will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven” (Luke 21:11).
So, along with many “fearful sights”—which may be translated “terrors,” or terrorism!—and with increasing “famine” leading to mass starvation, and with a huge upsurge of “pestilence” or disease epidemics—we in these prophesied last days will experience Almighty God intervening to shake, to humble and to chasten the rebellious peoples of this deceived world. He will begin to let them know by these actions that He is God!
Dear friends and brethren, after describing many of the coming events, Christ instructed His servants, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36). We, who truly wish to honor and obey our Creator, should not be upset or dismayed. For Jesus also told His disciples, “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (v. 28).
As many of you know, I have been directly involved in this Work of God for more than 60 years and I have never before seen “all the pieces of the prophetic puzzle” begin to come together in the way that is now occurring! It is truly exciting. And yet it is also sobering as we see our beloved nations going down and down and realize more than ever how real these things are!
As Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong would say from time to time: “This Work moves forward on its knees!” Our personal relationship with Jesus Christ is critical to the overall effectiveness of this Work! As all of us strive to grow closer to our Lord and Master, as we grow in grace and knowledge, God pours His blessings on all of us and His Work.
Just in the past two weeks, two of our TV programs generated more than 7,400 responses each from our TV coverage in countries around the world. These were the highest weekly responses we have seen since we launched the Tomorrow’s World television program 11 years ago. In just the past two months alone, more than 56,000 TV responses poured into our call centers and international offices. The TV response is presently up 16 percent over a year ago. And on top of this, 28,000 (49 percent) of the responses came from brand-new, first-time callers. Our brand-new-caller counts are up 27 percent over a year ago! For a telecast that has been airing for more than 11 years, this is amazing, and a great blessing. God has made it possible for us to spend less but accomplish so much more! We thank Him for these great blessings.
Christ’s Gospel is going out powerfully, by the Internet, television, radio, the Tomorrow’s World magazine, booklets, CDs, DVDs and Bible lessons. Already, just since the beginning of 2010, we have shipped nearly a half-million pieces of literature to people on our mailing list in countries around the world. As small as we are, a great Work is being done—greatly amplified by our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.
As thousands of you know, we are fast approaching the Passover season! This is the time which pictures the death of Jesus Christ for our sins, for He was the ultimate “Passover Lamb” of God (John 1:29). May God help all of us to draw truly close to Him and have a profound realization of our need for Christ’s death to pay for our sins, and for Him to live within us so that we may overcome and truly fulfill the purpose for which God created us, and for which He gives us life and breath. For only through Christ living in us can we overcome and bear spiritual “fruit” (John 15:5).
We in this Work are truly going “all out” to try to prepare for Christ’s Second Coming. We are preaching the “Gospel of the Kingdom” as a “witness” to all the world (Matthew 24:14). And we are also preaching and publishing—in every way we can—the true “name” of Jesus Christ—the very meaning of everything He lived for and died for (Acts 8:12). But, at this time, we really do need your help and prayers more than ever! So I ask all of you, in Jesus’ name, to dig down deep and be as generous as you possibly can in helping support this Work of the living Christ!
The inspired Word of God tells us of “God’s mind”—how He looks at things. He inspired the Apostle Paul to write, “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
Dear brethren and co-workers, God has promised to bless each of you as you respond generously to Him! He will always take care of you, watch over you and give you “all sufficiency in all things”—as the Apostle Paul was inspired to write. We deeply need your help right now! May God help you to understand and to respond as you know Christ would want you to do.
May God inspire and bless all of you as you walk with Him, and as you give your lives into the hands of the One who loved you and died for you.
With Christian love,
Roderick C. Meredith