Date: June 21st 2009

Hi friends,

    There have been several articles in the news recently that I believe are a precursor to very serious times coming in American and world history.  On every side I am seeing indicators that a storm of unrivalled magnitude is coming.  Rumors and conspiracies are circulating through our churches like never before.  In a recent newsletter we talked about "change" in America, and asked what kind of a "change" does it take to turn a lamb-like beast into a dragon?  In this newsletter we are going to look at this recipe for disaster, and what you can do about it.  Now I want to state here plainly that I am not going to be sharing the latest conspiracy or any other such non-sense.  Everything we will be looking at in this newsletter are real and verifiable facts.

    Revelation 13 warns us of a time when a "lamb-like" beast changes into a "dragon" and begins down a road to force worship upon every person both small and great around the whole world.  We have recently heard a lot of news about "change" coming to America, and our new president seems to be making good on some of his promises.  In fact many have openly stated that he is a savior or "messiah."  The "yes we can" slogan seems to be taking us from one extreme to the other, like a pendulum of an old clock that just can't stop at the center it swings out the other direction.

    Think about it, our country is experiencing political and economic turmoil, we have a new rather eccentric leader that has "promised'" to make things better, and has marked his entry into office by giving away billions of dollars to corrupt companies that would have gone out of business due to their business practices.  Not to mention the printing of billions of dollars to supposedly stabilize the economy.  This is obviously a short term fix to a long term problem.  The Romans devalued their currency and printed mass amounts of it just prior to their demise.  Might history repeat itself?

I believe our government knows trouble is coming.  I believe these reasons are obvious.

•     Political - war, failed policies, corrupt leaders

•     Economic - Record breaking National debt, recent financial collapse, printing of mass amounts of money

•     Unemployment - record job losses = more time on peoples hands makes them more likely to get into trouble

•     Natural disasters - Katrina, Rita, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc

•     Terrorism/Extremists - 9/11, Oklahoma City, Waco, Ruby Ridge, etc.

I believe our government is preparing for serious trouble.  (Every stated official link posted below is a real and credible source.)

• Deployment of 20,000 troops inside the United States

  • stated reasons - "civil unrest and crowd control" - http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/09/army_homeland_090708w/

• Government Purchasing and Specs of Riot Gear for above state purpose - https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=41c48b2062a9df4df4e303900bc5fdf0&tab=core&tabmode=list&cck=1&au=&ck=
• Deployment of inexpensive plastic coffins across the US by FEMA and the CDC
  • Polyguard Burial Vaults - (official company website) http://www.polyguardvaults.com/index.cfm?ID=9
  • Polyguard Hercules Burial Vault - (Official Brochure) http://www.polyguardvaults.com/PublicDocumentViewer.cfm?FileName=Hercules%20Burial%20Vault1.pdf
  • FEMA COFFINS INVESTIGATION - (youtube video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THLGrNObwUs
  • There are many more links and videos you can find on this subject all over the web.
• Deployment of portable & quick building jail cells across the US

  • Tindall Corrections Corporation - http://www.tindallcorrections.com (corp. home page)

  • (Official Videos) http://www.youtube.com/tindallcorrections

  • (Official Brochure) http://www.tindallcorrections.com/module_assets/Corrections_Brochure.pdf

  • (Official Assembly Video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQMcPCnIGcE

  • (Official Manufacturing Video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkTZ8gPeQks

  • Unofficial (but really good) photos from Provo, Utah - http://www.fourwinds10.com/siterun_data/government/new_world_order/news.php?q=1222050014

  • There are many more links and videos you can find on this subject all over the web.

• Rex 84 short for Readiness Exercise 1984, is a plan by the United States federal government to test their ability to detain large numbers of American citizens in case of civil unrest or national emergency.  (While this information is not in and of itself new, most people have no idea how this scenario has been practiced and planned for years.  It's also easy to notice how it plays into the aforementioned events.)

  • "The exercise anticipated civil disturbances, major demonstrations and strikes that would affect continuity of government and/or resource mobilization. To fight subversive activities, there was authorization for the military to implement government ordered movements of civilian populations at state and regional levels, the arrest of certain unidentified segments of the population, and the imposition of martial law. ^"

  • The basic facts about Rex 84 and other contingency planning readiness exercises—and the potential threat they pose to civil liberties if fully implemented in a real operation—are taken seriously by scholars and civil libertarians.
  • Exercises similar to Rex 84 happen regularly. Plans for roundups of large numbers of persons in the United States in times of crisis are constructed during periods of increased political repression such as the Palmer Raids and the McCarthy Era.
  • For example, from 1967 to 1971 the FBI kept a list of over 100,000 persons to be rounded up as subversive, dubbed the "ADEX" list. This list contained many labor leaders, scholars, and public figures of the time. (Just imagine who's on this list now!)
  • In 2008, for the first time an active military unit has been given a dedicated assignment stateside for civil unrest containment. It is assigned to Northcom, a joint command established in 2002 to provide command and control for federal homeland defense efforts and coordinate defense support of civil authorities. -Wikipedia

    Friends, it seems to many that the dragon it putting on it's scales.  The Bible warns us that before the dragon "causes" or begins to force worship, it will "speak."  When a nation speaks it does so through laws, legislation and constitutional changes.  Now, logic dictates that if the United States is going through and preparing for drastic change, then it's easy to understand that it's going to "speak" soon.  Right?

Still don't think this isn't a recipe for disaster? Read this excerpt from a recent CNN news article titled, "They killed their neighbors; Genocides foot soldiers"

    "Genocide is often the result of a "perfect storm." A country reeling from political and economic turmoil, a fanatical leader promising to make things better and a vulnerable population targeted for blame -- all combine in a blueprint for mass murder." -CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/11/25/sbm.perpetrators/index.html#cnnSTCText)

Here is one realization I wish every Christian understood.

    Enforcement of NATIONAL Sunday Laws will involve a NATIONAL FORCE.  Most likely a NATIONAL MILITARY FORCE.  Local law enforcement is not budgeted or equipped to deal with thousands of religious "dissenters" as most likely God's people will be called.  If you see the United States government preparing for serious times ahead and deploying NATIONAL troops for civil unrest, then don't you think that it's time for God's people to awake from our Laodicean state and get serious too?  Serious times are coming and they will call for a serious relationship with Jesus.  So what are some constructive ways that we can deal with all this news?

1. As we see these very real changes coming, Jesus is asking you to evaluate your relationship with Him and the decisions you are making in your life.  A relationship with Jesus is the ONLY thing that will carry us through the conflict.

    “The only way in which men will be able to stand firm in the conflict is to be rooted and grounded in Christ. They must receive the truth as it is in Jesus. And it is only as the truth is presented thus that it can meet the wants of the soul. The preaching of Christ crucified, Christ our righteousness, is what satisfies the soul's hunger. When we secure the interest of the people in this great central truth, faith and hope and courage come to the heart.” --GCDB Jan. 28, 1893.  {LDE 151.1}

2. Have you experienced Salvation?  Salvation gives you a hope, peace and assurance in the midst of troublesome times.  This is a peace that no ruler of this world can offer but God alone.  This is the kind of peace that will bring others to Jesus by simply sharing it.  Would you like to know what it is like to have rest in Jesus?  He's offering to take your worries, fears and doubts.

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."  -Matthew 11:28 NKJV
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." -2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

3. Are you striving with all the power God has given you to work on a life of sanctification?

       "Why do we not dwell more upon this? Why do we not strive to make it easily understood, when it means so much? Why do not Christians open their eyes to see the work God requires them to do? Sanctification is the progressive work of a lifetime. The Lord declares, "This is the will of God, even your sanctification" (1 Thess. 4:3). Is it your will that your desires and inclinations shall be brought into conformity to the divine will?" {3SM 202.3}
    

4. Out of the Cities - We have been warned for over 120 years to not make our homes in the cities.  (We understand that there are a few exceptions to this rule, but somehow everyone thinks THEY ARE the exception.)  In the book of Genesis, Lot made the same mistake and dearly paid for it.  Now is a good time to move, land & housing prices are relatively cheap right now.

• It is interesting to note that the world’s first city was founded by the first murderer, Cain. – See Genesis 4:17

• “Woe to those who join house to house; They add field to field, Till there is no place where they may dwell alone in the midst of the land!” -Isaiah 5:8

• "There are reasons why we should not build in the cities. On these cities, God's judgments are soon to fall."--Letter 158, 1902.  {CL 8.2}

• "The time is near when large cities will be swept away, and all should be warned of these coming judgments."--Evangelism, p. 29. (1910)  {CL 8.3}

• "O that God's people had a sense of the impending destruction of thousands of cities, now almost given to idolatry." --Review and Herald, Sept. 10, 1903.  {CL 8.4}

• "Before the overflowing scourge shall come upon the dwellers of the earth, the Lord calls upon all who are Israelites indeed to prepare for that event. To parents He sends the warning cry: Gather your children into your own houses; gather them away from those who are disregarding the commandments of God, who are teaching and practicing evil. Get out of the large cities as fast as possible." {AH 139.5}

• "We must make wise plans to warn the cities, and at the same time live where we can shield our children and ourselves from the contaminating and demoralizing influences so prevalent in these places." -{RH, July 5, 1906 par. 10}

5. Outreach - What are you doing to warn others?  In Matthew 24 Jesus said that the gospel would go to the whole world before the end.  Why is it that we are so content to continue sleeping on?  There are three aspects that we can improve on that I'd like to mention.

   1. Personal Responsibility - Have you shared what you know with your family, friends and neighbors? 

   2. Financial Responsibility - Do you have resources that could be used for the cause of God in reaching more people?

   3. Prayer - Have you prayed for those around you by name recently?

    As Seventh-day Adventists we have been warned that outbreaks of anarchy are warnings of what will come on the world during the final conflict.

Outbreaks of Anarchy are a Warning

    "The spirit of anarchy is permeating all nations, and the outbreaks that from time to time excite the horror of the world are but indications of the pent-up fires of passion and lawlessness that, having once escaped control, will fill the earth with woe and desolation. The picture which Inspiration has given of the antediluvian world represents too truly the condition to which modern society is fast hastening. Even now, in the present century, and in professedly Christian lands, there are crimes daily perpetrated as black and terrible as those for which the old-world sinners were destroyed." {PP 101.3}

    The book the Great Controversy mentions that many from all nations will be cast into prisons for the cause of Christ.  It appears that these prisons are being setup to be rapidly constructed and various preparations are being made for a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.  It's not all bad though.  The Great Controversy goes on to picture the second coming of Christ when all prisons are destroyed and God's people are set free.  Can you imagine how wonderful it would be to see a prison destroyed around you and then look up and see Jesus coming?  What a beautiful thought.

Thoughts About God's People and Prison

    "But many of all nations and of all classes, high and low, rich and poor, black and white, will be cast into the most unjust and cruel bondage. The beloved of God pass weary days, bound in chains, shut in by prison bars, sentenced to be slain, some apparently left to die of starvation in dark and loathsome dungeons. No human ear is open to hear their moans; no human hand is ready to lend them help." {GC 626.1} ... "Though enemies may thrust them into prison, yet dungeon walls cannot cut off the communication between their souls and Christ. One who sees their every weakness, who is acquainted with every trial, is above all earthly powers; and angels will come to them in lonely cells, bringing light and peace from heaven. The prison will be as a palace; for the rich in faith dwell there, and the gloomy walls will be lighted up with heavenly light as when Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises at midnight in the Philippian dungeon." {GC 627.1} ... "Great hailstones, every one "about the weight of a talent," are doing their work of destruction. Verses 19, 21. The proudest cities of the earth are laid low. The lordly palaces, upon which the world's great men have lavished their wealth in order to glorify themselves, are crumbling to ruin before their eyes. Prison walls are rent asunder, and God's people, who have been held in bondage for their faith, are set free." {GC 636.3}

    Even though we see all these things let's not be discouraged.  It all boils down to one exciting fact!  JESUS IS COMING SOON!

--     “Satan with all the hosts of evil cannot destroy the weakest of God's saints.” -Mar 270.5