Greetings from Charlotte,
It always takes time to catch up after a week away from our homes and normal routines. Such is the case here in Charlotte and no doubt in all our Regional Offices. Articles, a new booklet, and the Semi-Annual letter need to be edited. Telecast scripts need to be written, and Holy Day offerings need to be processed. Thank you, brethren, for your generous offerings. They are much appreciated, as we have an abundance of expenses.
As mentioned in this week’s video update, world news has not been nearly as uplifting as what the Feasts picture. Israel marked the third anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed more than 1,200 and saw 251 taken hostage for a nightmarish existence. Some hostages survived and others did not. Fear of a new worldwide plague has risen in response to a laboratory incident in Siberian Russia that has killed at least one worker. Meanwhile, hundreds of schools were shut down in France and more than 6,000 rioters arrested, mostly students. Frustration, anger, and division are building to a crescendo—eventually leading to the fulfillment of prophecies that we have taught from the Bible for decades. How thankful we should be for knowing the end from the beginning. —Gerald E. Weston
Church Administration
Tomorrow’s World Presentations
Tomorrow’s World Presentations are back in full swing after a short break to accommodate the fall Holy Days. This week, Mr. Peter Nathan will give an initial presentation in Cape Town, South Africa; Mr. Stuart Wachowicz will give an initial presentation in Calgary, Alberta, Canada; and there will be two online French TWPs. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support for the Tomorrow’s World Presentations.
Feast of Tabernacles
A Note to All Servers
We wish to take a moment to thank everyone who served at the Feast of Tabernacles, which wouldn’t be the same without everyone pitching in. So, to our ushers, greeters, parking attendants, stage crews, sound technicians, business office and information personnel, music performers, and all others who served—including those who served by being friendly and cheerfully interacting with other members—we give heartfelt thanks. We also thank our shut-ins who, despite not being able to attend the Feast, served by praying that God would bless His Church with a safe and meaningful Feast of Tabernacles. He certainly did!
Festival Survey
If you have not yet filled out the Festival Survey, please do so by Sunday, October 18. We are asking all Feastgoers ages 13 and up to fill out the survey. Your feedback is important and helps with planning future Festivals. You can access this survey at fotsurvey.lcg.org.
Comments
Stay Focused on Our Mission
The lessons of history show that both mankind in general and God’s chosen people have drifted off course again and again, due to Satan’s deceptive influence. Adam and Eve made wrong choices that sent human history in the wrong direction (Genesis 3). Ancient Israel turned away from God and suffered serious consequences—and modern Israelite nations are heading down the same path.
Jesus Christ established His Church to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14–15; 16:15), to warn the world of the consequences of sin, and to announce events that indicate His return is near (Matthew 24:3–33). The mission of God’s Church also involves preparing a people to rule with Jesus Christ as kings, priests, and teachers in His coming Kingdom (Luke 1:17; Revelation 5:10). To qualify for this exciting reward, we must avoid being distracted by the trials and temptations of this world (Matthew 13:18–23), remaining faithful and focused on our calling and God-given mission (Matthew 28:19–20). Let’s stay focused on that mission! —Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy
Could the UK Break Apart?
A few weeks ago, First Ministers from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland met in Cardiff, Wales, along with Sinn Féin’s representative (HeraldScotland.com, September 14, 2026). These four leaders signed a memorandum now called the “Cardiff Pact” (Europeans24.com, September 14, 2026), which reportedly “establishes a unified, cross-border strategic front explicitly designed to secure the democratic right to hold independence and reunification referendums, marking the most coordinated existential challenge to the United Kingdom since the formalization of devolution.” They are working toward dismantling what is known as the United Kingdom—the union of Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In remarks at a joint press conference after the meeting, Scottish First Minister John Swinney boldly claimed that the current Prime Minister of the UK could be the last (HeraldScotland.com).
Yet the “practical mechanics” facing each country illustrate the difficulties involved in bringing about the goals of this current group of leaders (Europeans24.com). While one leader is pushing for quick action, another is advocating “measured, pragmatic” steps. Yet, for the first time, there is a unified front in the UK against maintaining the union’s long-held structure.
Where will all this lead? God long ago predicted that the pride of the Israelite peoples would be broken due to their rejection of Him (Leviticus 26:19). One of the great advantages of the United Kingdom has been the combined strength of its individual countries, but today we are seeing the power and might of this once-great kingdom fracture. To learn the reasons why, be sure to read or listen to The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy.
Will AI Destroy the World?
Recent hacking incidents involving “autonomous agents from Meta, Anthropic and OpenAI” have added to the media frenzy around artificial intelligence (The Guardian, September 8, 2026). Additionally, employees from tech firms increasingly warn that AI could usher in a dire future if it is not constrained. One senior employee from Anthropic—the company behind AI models Claude and Mythos—recently “admitted he believed there was a greater than 10% chance the technology could ‘kill all humans’ in the next decade” (The Guardian, September 9, 2026).
Another researcher, who had previously worked at OpenAI—the company behind ChatGPT—recently resigned from Anthropic, warning that “neither company was acting responsibly” and that they were “gambling with our lives.” Former United Kingdom defense secretary Des Browne and Professor Stuart Russell of the University of California at Berkeley have warned that AI could create a catastrophe on the scale of Chernobyl. Still, some others view these warnings as examples of hype or overconcern (The Guardian, September 15, 2026).
Will AI destroy humanity and the world? It may pose real risks to society, and these are likely to increase as AI models advance and computing capacity expands. But end-time Bible prophecy makes clear that mankind, even with the help of advanced technology, will not be allowed to destroy itself (Matthew 24:22). That said, Bible prophecy reveals that humanity, backed by the Devil himself, certainly will push humanity to the brink (2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:4). While some technologies have the potential for devastating consequences, Christ will return before the ultimate devastation can occur. To learn more, be sure to read or listen to Armageddon and Beyond. —Scott Winnail, Francine Prater, and Dan Bennett