Dear Brethren, Co-Workers and Friends:
When you receive this letter, the Fall Holy Day season will have almost arrived. On Tuesday, October 4, we will be keeping the Feast of Trumpets, followed by the Day of Atonement on Thursday, October 13. Beginning with the evening of Monday, October 17, we will be joyfully celebrating for eight days the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. We look forward to this unique opportunity to spend this time with brethren of like minds and goals, while taking a “leave of absence” from the hustle and bustle of this hectic and dangerous world. As we are mentally, spiritually and even physically preparing for the annual Fall Festival season, we cannot help but realize the striking difference between the not-too-distant future of this world, as pictured by God’s Holy Days, and what the world is like today.
This country is still attempting to come to grips with, and to recover from the terrible disaster, which Hurricane Katrina brought upon New Orleans, the rest of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The worldwide political and economic fall-out has been, at least, equally devastating. Commentators warn that the catastrophe might push America’s fragile economy into recession. The production of agricultural commodities, crude oil and gas supplies, has been seriously threatened. Hurricane Katrina has been classified as the most expensive hurricane to have ever hit the USA. Estimates prognosticate that the final accounting could approach more than the $300 billion spent in four years of fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. The initial fear that as many as ten thousand people might have died in the storm has, thankfully, not materialized, although the death toll is expected to reach at least one thousand people.
The world has watched with shock and incredulity the American efforts to deal with the crisis. Especially the European press have repeatedly spoken of ìThe United States of Shame,î stating that the humiliated super power was incapable and incompetent of handling such a national catastrophe. One Italian paper, La Repubblica, compared America with Pompeii, claiming that it was “slowly dying.” Many suggested that the failure of the US emergency services to handle the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina was due to resources being diverted to the war on terror, with 7,000 National Guard soldiers from Louisiana and Mississippi being deployed in Iraq.
The national press has been equally outspoken. The New York Times voiced its opinion that the Iraq war and the most recent handling of the crisis in New Orleans shook the faith of the world, and of all Americans, in the ideals of this nation. It was also revealed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had warned as early as August of 2001 of the three most likely catastrophes to strike the United States. First on the list was a terrorist attack in New York. Second was a super-strength hurricane hitting New Orleans. Third was a major earthquake on the San Andreas Fault, possibly devastating San Francisco or Los Angeles. Subsequent developments have manifested that the USA was not ready for the first two catastrophes, and according to the Los Angeles Times, it is presently not ready for the third catastrophe, either.
The Bible reveals that the United States of America, Great Britain and Canada, as well as the entire world, will soon be facing natural and man-made disasters of such a scope and scale, as were NEVER BEFORE observed by man. There are REASONS for these future terrible catastrophes. [As I write this letter, Hurricane Rita, presently a Category 4 hurricane, is expected to strike the Texas coast on Saturday, September 24.] Our new booklet, The Fall and Rise of Britain and America, describes those reasons. We plan to distribute a hard copy to the attendees at our Feast sites this year, and we will mail it to others after the Feast. When you receive your copy, please study it carefully, preferably in conjunction with our booklet, “Europe in Prophecy.”
The Church of God has been proclaiming for decades what is soon going to happen! Do we really grasp HOW serious it will be? God has forewarned us in His Word that there will be earthquakes of a higher magnitude than EVER experienced by man (compare Revelation 16:18). Can we even imagine the REALITY of what IS surely going to happen, as revealed in Isaiah 13:13: “the earth will move out of her place”? Isaiah 24:18-20 adds: “And the foundations of the earth are shaken. The earth is violently broken. The earth is split open, The earth is shaken exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, And shall totter like a hut.”
God warns us of ever-increasing hurricanes, tornadoes, tidal waves, volcanoes and wild fires (compare Luke 21:25; Isaiah 24:6; 28:17-18; 30:30). He warns us of terrorist attacks, national and international wars, hunger and disease epidemics (compare Matthew 24:6-8 and, especially, Isaiah 30:25). Do we really comprehend what God tells us in Isaiah 28:22: “For I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts, A destruction determined even upon the whole earth”? Do we really let sink in the unspeakable horror of Christ’s warning, that NO HUMAN BEING would SURVIVE these future cataclysmic catastrophes (compare Matthew 24:21-22)óIF IT WERE NOT for Christ’s return to end man’s incapable and incompetent attempts to rule this planet? But Christ WILL come back! He will take the reigns of government and banish Satan, the present god, prince and ruler of this world. He will share His righteous and merciful administration with His BORN AGAIN children of God, with you and me.
THAT is what God’s annual Fall Holy Days picture. THAT is the little-understood hope of Christ’s gospel. THAT is what God’s Church must proclaim today (compare 1 Peter 2:9; Ephesians 3:8-10; Mark 13:10). Yes, times will get MUCH WORSE, but in the end, the future will be so much brighter and glorious than man could ever imagine. UTOPIA IS COMING.
Heaven on earth will become REALITY. Let us all truly rejoice in God’s unspeakable wisdom and plan for you and for me, as well as for all of mankind. God’s purpose has been determined before the foundation of this world, before time began, but it is to be manifested and proclaimed in these last days BY HIS CHURCH. God’s Holy Days help us to be mindful of His plan and purpose. The time is far spent, and Christ’s return is at hand (compare Romans 13:12). His reward is with Him, to give everyone according to his works (compare Revelation 22:12).
We wish all of you a spiritually and physically rewarding Holy Day season.
With the love of our King and Savior, Jesus Christ,
Norbert Link Evangelist
