Watch and Pray

Brethren, we just came back from Dallas to see our lovely daughter and obviously the highest, but I'm sure why she will be, and our new grandson. And it's lovely to watch a new baby just born, and the joy of that new baby that brings the family, the parents, to everybody. But before the joy, there is the child birthing process. And even though you hear occasionally some ladies that say, I don't even know, I was expecting a pot and just popped out, which does happen, it does happen, but the majority of the cases are human, it's not that way. And I'm sure you all agree with me. There's a lot of time, a lot of difficulty through the child birthing process. Now, many parents, particularly for the first child, opt to go to some sort of childbirth classes, through whatever organization, so that they are aware of what's coming. And by being aware of what's coming, it helps them to manage through the pain. That's an important point. It helps them to manage through the pain, because they know what is coming. Now, brethren, knowing what is happening in the child birthing process, it helps you to endure the pain there. But you know what? That is a beautiful parallel to the soon coming of Christ, because when Jesus Christ is going to come, there will be joy and peace and happiness on earth, just like when that baby comes, it's such a joy to the family. But before Christ comes, just like in the birthing process, there's a lot of pain.

And so, we are approaching, and we are entering, unless you and I have the eyes closed, we're entering a time of great sorrow and pain. But, just like in the birthing process, it helps the first-time parents to go through child birthing classes to know some of the basic things of what is going to happen, so that they can manage through the pain. Obviously, they don't know everything that is going to happen, because when you are a mother and then it's happening, then you realize a lot of things you do not know, but you know some basic big things. And knowing some basic big things gives you strength to overcome till the end. And it's so true with the truth, and with Christ coming. God knows and knew that will help us to manage through the pain, if we know some of the basic things to happen. You know, brethren, just turn with me, please, to 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 3. 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 3. You see, you may think I've came up with that analogy myself. I didn't. I got it from the Bible. You see, I plagiarized the Bible. I admit it. But fortunately, it's not copyrighted. Imagine if it was copyrighted, we'd have to be paying somebody. God was so wise in making it available to us, because I'm sure somebody would have made a way to make it copyrighted to make money. But God has worked around it that we can go to it freely. All right. Now 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 3. And when they say peace and safety, now brethren, you and I can live in this country. And you know what? I hear people say, well, there's still a lot of time. Look, you know, things are good. Things are okay. You know, brethren, be careful. That is not peace and safety, because it's continually then, sudden, the structure comes upon them. In other words, those things will come suddenly. And now brethren, if you've been watching the news about two or three or four weeks ago or a month ago or two, whatever, time flies and looks sense of how long ago that was. And I'm sure you can understand that things are happening so quickly. But a few weeks back, suddenly on the news, you and I saw that town of the town was being taken over in Iraq by a group that you didn't even hear had heard of before. Just out of the room, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. And you said, where did this come from? Sudden destruction. That is a point to what is to happen in the bigger scale, to the world, and to our nation. Sudden destruction. But you know, those things that happened in Iraq, they were already kind of rumbling before. If you were looking at the right things, you would have noticed it. But because our media did not point to it, we didn't see it.

And then it gives the analogy, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. You see, suddenly you got contractions. Well, there it is! Is it now or not? Is it false? Is it false labor or not? And then suddenly it comes and wow! And some people say, well, we are rushed to the hospital. Suddenly. Now that's not destruction, but you know, the analogy, in an analogy, certain details are not always comparable. But the principle that is that that's what we're looking at, is that suddenly the labor pains came and things stopped developing very quickly. Likewise, at the time of the end, suddenly things will develop very quickly and then crash will come. And it says, and they shall not escape. They shall not escape. Think about that word escape. We're going to come back to it. It says, they shall not escape. Brethren, we do not know the hour. The Bible is very clear. We do not know the day or the hour. But we know, we send a very, very interesting song today entitled, You Are Worthy Of Worship. You remember that? You're worthy of worship. That was taken from this scripture that I want to turn to now, which Isaiah chapter 9, verse 6 and 7. Isaiah chapter 9, verse 6 and 7.

Isaiah chapter 9, verse 6 and 7.

For unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given. Brethren, that is Jesus Christ. And the government will be upon his shoulder. Jesus Christ will have the responsibility of having the walled governments to run this planet earth. You will have the responsibility of governing planet earth above America, England, Japan, Russia, whatever. It will be a walled, ruling government ruled by the King of Kings, Jesus Christ himself that is coming back to rule on earth. The government will be on his shoulders. And his name will be called. I remember in Hebrew there's no comments. So it should read, Wonderful Counselor. He will be a counselor that is a wonderful counselor. He will give good advice. You know, you think about you heard some of the comments recently on the news, not to mention names or who it is, but people say, oh well, we don't have a strategy. We're waiting for this. And then you've got to backtrack because you say you don't have a strategy. And you think Christ would be saying, I don't have a strategy. I wonder what I'm going to do. Wonderful Counselor is miles ahead of us, miles ahead. Might be God. Jesus Christ is mighty God.

Sure, he emptied himself of that. And he became a human being. And when he was a human being, he did not have the powers of mighty God because he emptied himself, as we read in Colossians chapter 2 verse 6 and 7.

But there is only one God. There's only one God family. That all one, like we today, all one. Or at least we should be one. Like there's some place in the Bible that says, and the people were together as one man. Like it says, a husband or wife should get together and become one. The two become one. So one is not a question of quantity of people. One is a question of the mind, of the spirit, of unity. So there's one God, one mind, one unity. But there's a father and the sons to the convenience. Sure, when Jesus Christ, as we heard on the sermonette, when he was a human being, he did not have those powers. And he said, people, you only pray not to saints, not to angels, not to anything, but he only prayed to God. But he himself, when people worship him, he never prohibited that. He never prohibited that, because he's the son of God. And once he was resurrected, he got back his powers that he had, the glory that he had, to be in that God family, and he was God. And that's why he says, mighty God! This is his ever-lasting father. Again, a bit of a bad translation, because in the Hymn, as you're saying today, says the father of eternity. A better translation should be, he's the father of eternity for us. You and I would not have eternity unless he had given his life for you and I. He's the father of eternity. Prince of peace. Yes, he's going to bring peace to earth. Of the increase of his government and peace, there'll be no end. When Jesus starts going to come to earth, there'll be peace and joy. Brethren, that's the hope you and I have of ever-lasting peace on earth, of joy. It's just like when that little baby's born. It's such a bundle of tiny little joy for those parents and for the grandparents, of course. So, Christ will bring joy to the world. Upon the throne of David and over his kingdom to order, established with judgment and justice, from that time forward, even forever, the seal of the Lord of hosts who performed the use of this. Just like we heard in Mr. Brahma in the song led with great seal. The seal of Christ will make it happen. He will not let it go. He will do it. No doubt. That's what he's saying. Don't ever doubt. He will do it. So, Jesus Christ is in a return. But when he returns, the world will be, as we say in South Africa, and as Mr. Brahma probably understands the word, the world will be, and you don't know this word, I'll translate it for you in a moment, but the world will be in a hamos. You know what that is. It's in a big mess. A hamos. It's an Afrikaans word. It's also a tat. It means the world will be in a real mess. It will be in a real mess. And mankind's gonna fight him. Because mankind's gonna think he is an alien invading planet Earth from outer space. And that's why folks today are kind of putting that into people's minds. And they're gonna fight him. Star Wars, you know, invasion of planet Earth. We're gonna fight him.

But you know, brethren, he's coming because if he would not come, we would blow ourselves out of this planet Earth. Because we would say the two big powers, and we'll see that in a moment, they will be existing. We'll say it's either you or me, and if it's not me, I'm gonna kill you, or we're gonna blow both each other up. And that will be this, and that's it. They'll blow each other up. And so, Christ has to come at that exact moment before they press the real big button. Will they blow everything up? Because if you would not come, no flesh would be saved alive. Turn with me, please, to Isaiah chapter 4 verse 6. Isaiah, that's just after Daniel, Isaiah chapter 4 verse 6.

Brethren, I gave you the analogy of the mother and the father going to child birthing classes to know certain things so that would help them manage through the pain. Now, when we know certain things, some knowledge can help us to manage pain. And look at Yah in Isaiah chapter 4 verse 6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. When people don't have the knowledge that God is giving us, that's going to give us some hope for the days ahead. People are going to give up, and they're going to go wrong.

And why? Why do people do not have knowledge? Because you have rejected knowledge. What do you mean you reject the knowledge? Or Adam and Eve said, no, I don't want to know that. I'll do what I want. I'll have the fruit that you told me not to eat. And so it's going on all through society. These are lights. When God called them, he says, no, we don't want to disobey. The Jews went and disobeyed. That's why they went to slavery. And mankind today does not want to obey. And that's why we have a thing called evolution. Why is that evolution? Why is evolution taught? Think about it. Because those people know better, so does Romans 1.6. Because that the things like DNA and those things are so clear, those people know better. So why do they teach evolution? Because they want to say there's no God. Why? So that they can do the selfish pleasures of the flesh. Because once there's no God, they can do whatever it pleases them because this is no God. And they burn their conscience.

But they will be at their judgment and they'll be judged. And then they will realize, wow, I made a big mistake.

So, and then go on. I also reject you from being priest for me because you have forgotten the law of your God. I also forget your children. People know better. God's commandments, God's 10 commandments. But they go on committing adultery. They can't get involved in pornography. Go on getting involved in killing and murdering and doing whatever it is. And lying and cheating. Green. So that we end up having food which is polluted because of greed. Then we have medications that maybe we shouldn't need because of greed and so on. Because you've forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. Wow! Now, you might say, these things are ahead. I'm concerned for my children. Not just for myself, but my children. I'm concerned for my children. Well, yeah, it's a very solution to protect your children. Don't forget the law of God.

So brethren, as I said, knowing something helps you prepare for the days ahead. And days ahead are going to get pretty tough. I mean, what you see, just like to open TV, and where you see these radicals, people, just beheading and killing with no compassion. And you see thousands if not millions of people, refugees in Syria, and towns and areas to stroke. It makes you sign, right? For the calamities, they are happening. But you know what? They're gonna happen, yeah, too.

They're gonna happen, yeah, too. If you have that frightful thing happening in this country, it's not gonna be easy time. It's not gonna be easy time. But that has to happen before the birth, quote-unquote, of that baby. You know what's before the coming of Christ? So we need that knowledge to help us to manage through the pain, just like parents need knowledge to manage through the pain. Now, there'll be a lot of opposition against Christ when he comes, basically from the beast and the false prophet. But the question is, how are we gonna get to that situation from now? What's gonna happen between there and the other? And brethren, that's what I want to talk to you about today. What is gonna happen, yeah, today? Some of the events before Christ returned. And I want to paint a picture of a possible scenario but understand as events unfold, details will become clearer. Just like when you go through the childbirth process, they tell you certain scenarios, but the details will not be exactly that way to you individually as a lady going through the birthing process. But you know the basic steps. And so I'll paint a scenario, but in the end, some of the details might not be exactly that way. But the big steps will be that way, because that's from the Bible.

But remember, things can blow up very quickly. It says, sudden destruction. These things can happen very quickly. Very quickly. On the other side, remember, there is hope that Christ will come back and will bring peace to earth. And the joy of that tiny little baby surpasses the pain that we have had through the birthing process. So much that you say, oh, what's that another one? Not that we're going to go through it again, but it just brings the example that the joy of the baby surpasses the pain. So we have to have the hope that Christ's coming will solve these problems and give us the strength to remain loyal through this. I usually refer to seven things to watch. In fact, it's not me. Mr. Herbert Dunlom was strong. He used to refer to those same seven things. The first is the United States and Britain, in other words, through Israel. And the loss of pride. We are witnessing that today. It was not so maybe 10 years ago, but it is today. I see what it means. It's a loss of being the influential power in the world. It's there.

You know, brethren, the Bible says a lot about the United States and Britain in prophecy. And we have a study guide that addresses that very point. You need to study the Bible and prove to yourself who is through Israel. Because the nation of Israel is only Judah. It's not Israel. And there's a lot of prophecies against Israel, which means us.

And you know what? As the United States loses the influence in the world, what do you find? You find nations now jogging for power. You know, it's like it's not you have a bully in the field. And when that bully is out, then all the other bullies are starting to kind of shove and pushing the elbows to see who's going to be the next people. And that's what's happening in the world today! That's basically going to be three big bullies. What the Bible calls the king of the north, what the Bible calls the king of the south, and what the Bible calls Gog and Magog. Those are the three quote-unquote new world orders that are going to happen. And they're going to jot for power. And you're going to see them crystallizing. They're still embryonic today, but you're going to see them crystallizing. What is going to cause that crystallization? The United States losing its the pride of its power and allowing the others to start, aha, we're going to start pushing. You see that? You see that with things like in the Middle East? What do you see in the Middle East today? A rise of powers pushing against Israel. And that's the second thing to watch. Israel in the Middle East. The Bible tells that there will be offerings that will be stopped in the Middle East. Offerings can suddenly start very quickly.

You know, they can start offerings very quickly. Probably quicker than you would think.

So, um... But then, something's got to happen to make the Jews realize they better start offering sacrifices. And they better do something about it. So we're going to see certain things happening in the Middle East very serious. The third one to watch is Europe, which is the Bible calls the King of the North. Or the Bible calls it the Beast's power. And I gave a sermon a few weeks back about the Beast's power, so I'm not going to go into that. But you see, for instance, the borders of Europe, with what will become Gog and Magog, which is Russia, possibly China, Japan, and even those Eastern countries, even Korea, may be allies together. And you already see today certain dangers between Russia and China. And you see China trying to impose its power in the South China Sea. And America losing its power, the other smaller ones, will be gobbled up by China. There's no question about it either time. But things are going to happen because these borders are getting into place and shoving the elbows to get into position to be the next world superpower. And that's what we see now between Europe and Gog and Magog, future Gog, and it was Russia, Russia in the Bible. And you see the problem is in Ukraine. That's right. The border, they became the two.

Now, we know that the Bible talks about ten nations in Europe, but now we have 28. We know the Bible talks that that will be a dictatorship. Today we have a democracy. Something serious is going to happen in Europe soon. Soon. Maybe there'll be a collapse of Europe as if we see it. There's some serious financial problems in Europe. They haven't recovered yet. And they seem to be going down again. And with sanctions of Russia, it's even hurting even more even Germany.

So maybe the European unity is only the embryonic form of the coming European superpower which the Bible calls it the beast or the king of the north. So those are three things to watch. The United States, Britain, Israel, the Middle East, and Europe. The fourth one is the king of the south. Brethren, if you can't see today the king of the south in its embryonic form, then you must be blind. Because the king of the south will be a confederacy of very probably Islamic and Islamic forces. Many groups forming in the Middle East and North Africa. In other words, in the south of Europe. Probably most of it is south of Jerusalem, but not necessarily all of it is south of Jerusalem. And most of, say, 85% of the Muslims are students. And Islamic state, which is just declared a caliphate, which is another way of saying it's a state, is Sunni. And the people in Egypt, the majority of them, and Saudi Arabia, etc., in the south of Jerusalem, all those North African areas, they're all students, of the majority of students. So, Al Qaeda and those groups are students. So we see problems there. And that will cause a religious crash, because that will be pushing Islam. That will be pushing a very radical, very radical form of religion. Now imagine that pushing into Europe. Now you think about England is particularly exposed, because people from a lot of those areas were part of British colonies, they got British passports, and they got straight into England. In fact, today they have 500 people from England fighting for this radical group. England has just declared one of the highest levels of emergency of anti-terrorism of awareness. But imagine that pressing onto Europe, which is what? The home of the Catholic Church. Now, do you think the Pope is going to accept to submit to Islam? I don't think so. History teaches us some lessons, because Islam went into Europe in the past. And what happened? What happened? The Pope, Pope Urban II in 1095, encouraged Christian armies from Western Europe to fight against Muslim forces, and that called the Crusades. So imagine, this pressure from the Kingdom of the South is going to trigger what makes a revival of power, of strength of the Catholic Church, which will lead to the revival of the Antichrist and of the False Prophet.

These are only five things to watch. I said seven.

The sixth one. See, the first one is religion, the Catholic Church. The sixth one, I want you to turn with me to Matthew 24, 14. Matthew 24, 14. Matthew 24, 14.

He says, In this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations. Brethren, since the days of Mr. Armstrong, this Gospel has been preached with greater or lesser strength, but has been preached. It's now been preached again, let's call it a second time, with more strength. In fact, somewhere in the scriptures, if you remember, it says, go out and do it a second time. And I believe that's going to go out and be done greater and greater strength. We've been, the United Church of God's now doing it in many languages. For instance, just yesterday we produced our 32nd booklet in Portuguese. The Church has now 35 booklets. So it's now going in different languages, to the whole world. And it's going to be more effective than the first time because of internet. We'll have a far greater outreach into John the Citizen all over the world. And he says, as a witness to all nations, not to convert the world, that's Christ's job when it comes to establish the world tomorrow. Our job is only to tell them this is coming as a witness. And yes, those that repent and charge will prepare a people. But those are a small flock, converting the world is Christ's job when it comes. But once we've done this enough to God's satisfaction, that he has said that is enough, says, and then the end will come. This is such an important scripture. That means the gospel will be preached. And when it's preached enough, and then it cannot be preached anymore, that's the end. We are still preaching the gospel, so it's not the end yet.

So the sixth icon to watch is God's church doing the work. But the point is, once the end comes, it's too late for you to do something about it, because it's the end. You've got to do it before, now! And the seventh item to watch, which is actually the one that's caused all the others, is a decline in morality. In other words, it's the sins of our nations. Israelites' nations and all nations around the world, because they all will be punished at the same time. Because when the time of the end comes, not just the punishment of Israel and Judah and those nations, the whole world will be punished. So imagine it will be a whole world punishment, not just Israel and Judah. There'll be no place to stay. The sins are the cause of the problems. Turn with me, please, to Jeremiah chapter 9. Jeremiah chapter 9.

We're going to read verse 12 through 16. Jeremiah 9, 12 through 16. Who is the wise who may understand this? Who is the wise person who's going to understand these things? And who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord has spoken, and he may declare it? Why does the land perish and burn like a wilderness so that no one can pass through? Why is the whole world going to be in such a chaos? Why is this going to happen? And then the Lord said, he has the reason. Because you have forsaken my law, which I've sent before you, before the people, and I've not obeyed my voice, nor woke according to it. But they woke according to the dictates of their own hearts, and after the false gods, which their parents told them to worship these false gods. That's exactly what's happening in the world today, right, man? People are disobeying God, and they follow false gods, false religions.

Therefore, verse 15 says the Lord, opposed the God of Israel, behold, I will feed them, this people, with one word, and give them water of gall to witness. Here it was, I'll give them poison to drink. I will scatter them also among the Gentiles, you know, the nations will be scattered all over, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, and I will send a sword after them, until I have consumed them. The cause of our problems is a decline in morality, that we've broken God's laws, we're accepting things like homosexuality, marriage between people of the same sex, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on. The list is as long as whatever. It's just all over. That's the cause of our problems. And you just turn a few pages away to Jeremiah 14. Jeremiah 14 verse 9 through 12.

He says, Why should you be like a man astonished? Like a mighty one who cannot save? It is not a lie. It is a lie. Like a mighty one who cannot save. In other words, why should you, God, be like a human being that can't save? Yet you, Lord, you are in our midst. God, you are among stars. Say the religions of this world. Say the people in this world. We've got Christ all over the place. We've got churches all over the place. Christian churches all over. Why, God, aren't you saving us? Why are you acting like, as if you're a man, and you can't do anything about it? And you are called, and we are called by your name. Yes, we are Christians! We are called by your name. We're all Christians. Why aren't you not saving us? Don't leave us. That says the Lord to His people. Just they have not to wonder. They have not restrained their feet. Therefore, the Lord does not accept them. God, Christ, is not going to accept people that commit iniquity. You know, they say, why did you call me Lord, Lord, when you don't do the things that I told you, depart from me who you practice iniquity? Therefore, the Lord does not accept them. You'll remember their iniquity now and punish their sins. And then the Lord said to me, to Jeremiah, to the prophet, says to us, Do not... What? Let's read this carefully. Do not pray for these people. Do not pray for their good. Wow! God is saying for us not to pray for these people. God is saying these Christians there have to obey me. They're not obeying God's laws. They say, why God? We called by your name. We are Christians. And then God is saying, do not pray for these people. Says, when they fast, God says, I'll not hear the cry. And when they offer burnt offerings, you know, whatever offerings and sacrifices and penance they do, whatever they're going to do, they're going to go penance and walk on their knees until their knees are believing or whatever they're going to do. Or they go around the rosary 20 times or many knees or whatever, you know, for whatever sacrifice they do, when they offer those, I'll not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword and by the famine and by the festivals.

These are dire warnings, for everything, of things that are going to happen. Look then at Ezekiel chapter 9. Ezekiel chapter 9.

Verse 4 through 6.

The Lord said to him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem. There was a midst of our city. Go through the midst of New York City. Go through the midst of Chicago. Go through the midst of Miami, Louisville, and put a mark on the forehead of the man who sighed and cried.

Over all the abominations that are done today, brethren, when we see these terrible things happening around us, we need to sigh and cry for the abominations that are being done.

And to the others, he said, in my ear, go after him through the city and kill. Do not let your eyes spare, nor have any pity. Why? Because these people are wicked! After they slay all the young maidens and little children and women, but do not come near anyone who has the mark. The mark because they sigh and cry for the abominations that are happening in our cities. And to begin that punishment in my church. Begin that punishment in the Church of God.

So if there are any of us in God's Church, which is God's sanctuary, that are not sighing and crying, we better be careful.

So that again with the elders who were before the temple, reckon as events unfold, some details will become clearer. We cannot set times, and we know only what's clearly stated in the Bible. We've got to preach the Word. And we have extensive material and Bible study guides on the Book of Revelation. And the Middle Eastern prophets see that go through some of these details that I'm not going to cover today because they're just such big topics.

But just let's remember that the Book of Revelation is God. Think of it like a book that's got seven seals. Four of them, the first four seals are four horsemen. And the third one is the Tribulation. It's easy to remember. Four horsemen and then the Tribulation. And then is the time of God's intervention, heavenly signs and trumpets. It's the seven seals. Four horsemen and the Revelation. Easy to remember. Easy to remember. Matthew 24. Christ gives us what they are. The first horseman, false religion. Islam and false Christianity, triggering wars amongst themselves. The white horse, false religion. The second horse, a war.

Red horse, a caliphate and crusades and whatever it is, religious wars. Reverend, the next good news that you should be receiving soon, which we have not received, is for a very interesting article. In the middle, Yahm 820, Islamic caliphate declared, what does it mean? Where does this current news? You need to read this. Unfortunately, many of us get the good news, get the material and they don't read it. Many of us don't even know what's in these study guides and what's in the Bible. It should not be so. We should know what we teach and we should know the doctrines of the Bible.

And our study guides are excellent material to help us understand the truth. Rather than spending the time searching through things that are through people that we don't know who they are and spending our time watching those things. We should be reading and understanding study guides that guide us through the truth in the Bible that have been inspired by God's ministers. Those are the four words. What is the cause of that sin? What comes next?

The great tribulation. Right? Four words, then the great tribulation. Okay. What sort of sequence? I'm not saying times, but the Bible gives us a sequence to these things before the great tribulation. Where? Leviticus 26. Turn with me to Leviticus 26 please. This story in verse 3, it says, if the biggest word in English, which has only got two letters, if, well not count, the biggest one is I. We should be the smallest ones, but we make it the most important. You know, how often we talk, I did this and I did this and I'm going to do this and I...

But anyway, one of the biggest words in English is if, if you walk in my statutes and keep my commandments and perform them, then you'll have rain in your season. Wherever you hear it, see your problems in California, out out west, big problems, drought, even in other countries too. It's not just in the States. I mean, we are hearing some howl or not of some howl, they don't have water.

They haven't had water there for such a long time. Their reservoirs are empty, just like in areas in California. Some reservoirs are completely empty. But it says, if you obey me, I'll give you rain in your season. We're not obeying it. But look at it a little later. In verse 14, in verse 14, it says, if you do not obey me, it will give you rain. And then gives you five sequential, let's call it wannies, or attacks.

Five. The first one is in verse 16. The first one says, I'll do this to you. I'll even appoint terrorism over you. Do we have terrorism today over us? And sicknesses and diseases that people have, like cancer and things like that, and we don't know what's going on. That is the first attack. Number two. Verse 18. After this, if you still do not obey me, I'll punish you seven times more for your sins, and I'll break the pride of your power. Is this happening today? Surely it is.

In 2008, we had a great crash. And since then, the pride of America's power is coming down. Two down, three to go. Number three. Verse 21. Then if you walk contrary to me, and I'm not willing to obey me, I'll bring on you seven times more plagues. That's disease epidemics. Could it be a Ebola virus? Could it be whatever? Could it be a bird flu? Could it be whatever other thing? But it will be enormous. And I'll send wild beasts among you. Those are viruses and bugs and things. They're not lions and tigers. They're not going to have lions and tigers walking around in Louisville and killing people. There's not enough of them to procreate in the next whatever. But it's viruses, bacteria. Maybe bacterial warfare. Somebody start breathing these things, and they bring it in a suitcase and put it in a water supply and goes all over. And it says, and shall wrong you of your children. Young people will die. Destroy cattle and make you few number. And your eye of ways will be desolate. Because there'll be quarantine. You'll quarantine people so the roads are stopped. What is our highways? Sure, it's I-64 and I-75 and 71. But you know what our highways are? They are a lot higher than that. They're called airlines. And, you know, a lot of airlines and ways of traveling to and fro will be stopped grounded. Because of quarantine. Because you know a lot of diseases are carried through planes and things like that. So that is the third. Not coming yet. But it's the next one to watch. I'm not setting dates, but it's the next one. And then it says, the fourth one, verse 23. And if by these things you still not reform to me, but walk contrary to me, then I'll also walk contrary to you. I'll punish you seven times more for your sins, and I'll bring a sword against you. That's war. It says, when you gather within your cities, I'll send pestilence. So war brings diseases and pests and things like that. What sort of war could it be? Well, for one, could be civil war. Aren't we building up to a civil war in this country? Maybe we are. Maybe we're not. But seems to me that the ones on one side are getting more and more on one side, and the ones on the other side are getting more and more on the other side. And we seem to be split smack bang in the middle. And who knows? And that's not anything nice.

And that's the fourth one. And the third one is verse 27. And if you do not obey, then I'll chastise you seven times more, and then it says destroy your high classes, verse 30, your cities, and verse 33, and I'll capture you. Do you know what this is? It's a great revelation. So we've got two down, two to go, and then the great revelation. Like the matter before childbirth, you know those stages of what's happening. It helps you to manage through the pain. So, brethren, I said there's seven things for us to watch. The United States and Britain, the Middle East, Europe, the King of the South, the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of God, and morality in society. We watch these things shaping towards the great revelation. We don't know how long it is, but in parallel, in parallel, all these things are being influenced by demonic powers. Don't say, oh well, it's so and so this person, and I don't like this person, or I don't like that person. Remember, there's demonic powers at war influencing people. So, let's be careful not to label this person and that person. We all easily do that. Let's be careful. You see, Revelation 12 talks about that. Revelation 12 verse 7 through 12. Revelation 12 verse 7 through 12.

And war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought. But they did not prevail, nor was a clash found for them in heavens any longer. You see, there's going to be a war in heaven. You see, Satan and his demons can still have access to heaven. But it's going to be a war. And verse 9, so the great dragon was cost out that serpent of old, called the devil and Satan, who deceives all old, and was cast onto the earth. And his angels, that means his demons, were cast out with him to the earth. When he gets cost out, he's going to blow, because he knows he's got a short time. That means it's beginning, pulling up to the great tribulation.

So he says, let's jump out into verse 12. At the end of verse 12, he says, For the devil has come down to you to the earth, having great wrath, because he knows he has a short time. He still is in heaven. But the moment he's kicked out, he knows his days are numbered. And so when he knows his days are numbered, what is he going to do? Look at verse 13. And when the dragon saw that it had been cost to the earth, it persecuted the church of God. So when he's thrown out of heaven, the first thing he's going to do, he knows his days are numbered, and he persecutes the church of God.

Now, we read a little early on about Matthew 24. He says, you'll be hated by nations, and then you'll preach the gospel, and then the end will come. When the end will come, he's going to say that he's thrown out. He knows his God is, that he's cut short, and he's going to attack the church, and we come to the work anymore, because he attacks the church. Why? Why will the work be stopped there? Because we'll be hated by all nations. Not just America, but all nations. When the work gets stopped, blessed are those that were doing the work.

Right? The ones that were not doing the work? Hmm, still right now.

Daniel 12, 12. Daniel 12, 12.

Blessed is he who waits and comes to the 1,335 diaries. You're blessed, you're whited, you did the work, you persevered till the end, because he says you'll preach the gospel, and then the end will come. When the gospel stops being preached, the end is come, second knows he has a short time, and the countdown begins. 1335. Today no man knows where the hour is, but it is possible that then you will know, because it says it's 1335 then. Look at Matthew 24. Matthew 24. Matthew 24.

Verse 36. Matthew 24. Verse 36. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but my father and only. But as the days of nowhere were, so also be the coming of the son of man. For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying him in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the flood, until the day that he was protected.

Until the day Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also be coming of the son of man. Then two men will be on the field, one will be taken the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mold, one will be taken in the other left. Watch therefore that you do not know the hour of your Lord is coming. So there's going to come to be a time when some people will be taken, and some will be left. Kind of implying they are working in the field, which is God's church. They're working, doing the work, the work is stopped, and maybe half of the church will be taken, half of the church will not. So just because you're in the church, and I'm in the church, does not mean or guarantee that we will not be taken. It does not mean that it will be a friendly act, because it says it will persecute the woman. Brethren, it's not a sick rapture to heaven either. Because you're taken does not mean you're taken to heaven. That is an assumption. It doesn't say taken to heaven. Look at others, look at Lot and Lot's family, they left Solomon, B'morrah, they were taken, but they were not taken to heaven, they were taken to another part of the planet of earth. Even Elijah, he was not taken to heaven. Our booklet and our study guide on heaven and hell explains that clearly. Because a few years later, Elijah wrote a letter to a king of the nation. But to point his brethren, we need to be aware that some will be taken and some will not. Turn with me to Luke chapter 21, verse 34 to 36. Luke 21, verse 34 to 36. Luke 21, verse 34 to 36.

Luke 21, verse 34 to 36. But take heed yourselves that your hearts be weighed down on corrosings and drunkenness, cares of those lives, and they come on you unexpectedly. You see, peace and safety. We are okay, we've got a lot of time. And even some people in the church could say, well, we're okay, we've got time. And they're not being ready inside. Not being close to God. Not doing the work. And one of the biggest words you and I have is changing ourselves through the power of the God's Holy Spirit, change ourselves from the old man to the new man. That's part of God's work in you and I.

For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. It will come suddenly, sudden destruction. Watch therefore. Yes, I told you a few things to watch around the world events. But I think the biggest thing to watch is our attitude and our conduct, whether we are being true Christians or not. And pray always that you may be accounted worthy to escape. Remember at the beginning of the sermon I mentioned the word escape? We'll come back to it. And that is the title of my sermon today, watching pray, that you may escape. It's not saying, oh well, I'll be in this group or in that group or in this organization or in that. And therefore, I will escape because I'm part of this group. No, it says, watch and pray that you may be accounted worthy to escape regardless of where you are, regardless of which country or which group or wherever you are. May be accounted worthy to escape all these things that you may count that will come to pass and to stand when Jesus Christ actually comes back. You see, brethren, some will be taken elsewhere. Where to? Where to? All nations will hate us. May be an angel will come and will take us. May not. I mean, it happened to Elijah. And it's happened to others. God's got enough angels to do it for people around the world. We don't have to save money to buy an etiquette. God will provide that. That's why you pray that you may be accounted worthy to escape, accounted worthy by whom? My God!

But there might be one country that will accept Sabbath-keeping persecuted Christians around the world, when every other nation hates them, and the woman and Satan persecutes the woman.

Look at Daniel 12 verse 11. Daniel 12 verse 11. Daniel 12 verse 11. Daniel 12 verse 11.

And from the time that the baby sacrifice is taken away, remember I've said sacrifices will still have to be done, but from the time they will be taken away, and the abomination of desolation set up, there will be 1,290 days. There's the countdown. 45 days have now passed, and there's now 3 1⁄2 years plus 1 month. Yeah, 12 and 90 is 3 1⁄2 years plus 1 month. Can the abomination of desolation set up? The countdown has started. Satan knows he has a short time. Didn't Christ prophesy something about that? Matthew 24. Matthew 24 verse 15. Matthew 24 verse 15. Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation spoken by Daniel the prophet, standing in holy place, whoever reads, let him understand, then let those who are in Judea...

We're not in Judea today. But if we've been persecuted and kicked out of different nations, and angels have protected some of us to a nation that might welcome us, I wonder where that will be.

He says, those that are in Judea flee to the mountains, whatever that is, let him who has stopped not go down and et cetera, et cetera. And then verse 21, for then there will be great tribulation. Then there's one month to go to the great tribulation.

Turn with me to Revelation 12. Revelation 12.

Verse 14.

See, in verse 13, you said, Satan persecutes the church. And in verse 14, and the church was given two eagles of a great eagle that she might fly into the wilderness, to a place which is nourished for three and a half years from the presence of Satan, which is protected by Satan. And the serpent, which Satan, verse 15, spewed out water out of his mouth like a flood, you know, was sent out the big army after the church, then he might cause her to be carried away by the army, by the flood. But the earth helped the church, the woman and the earth, opened its mouth and swallowed up that army that was chasing the woman. Which the dragon had screwed out of his mouth. And then the dragon, verse 17, was enraged with the woman, he was at the church, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus. Those others that stayed behind, remember, there were two in the field, one was taken, the other one was left. Pray that you may be counted worthy to escape. The one that was left, now sight will turn to go to them. But you see, they live in democratic countries where you've got a constitution.

Freedom of religion, you can't attack us with the mark of the beast, which is nothing else but suddenly observers. You can't attack us. You can't get fired before obeying the Sabbath in this country. So what it does? Destroy democracy. How does it destroy democracy? It's got one month. Isaiah 5, not going to turn there, but just make a note, verse 3 to 7, and Psalm 83, verse 4 to 8, shows that it is in one month, and it shows that a confederation of the king of the south with Germany will attack these nations and will destroy democracy within a month. And that is clearly explained in our booklet and giving spiritual references to it. You see, you would know this if you'd been studying the booklet and the Bible with them.

It's been there for a long time, not preaching anything new, and they'll last 30 months because it will happen during the period of the moon, the period of a month. And that means a month later, what do we have? We have 1260. And what happens at 1260? Revelation 12 verse, turn with me, 12 verse... No, Daniel 12. Take a part in it. Daniel 12. Daniel 12.

Daniel 12.

Daniel 12. Verse 4, many will run to and fro and knowledge will be increased, clearly talking about today's time. And then at the end of verse 6 says, how long will these things be? And then at the end of verse 7 says, and it shall be for a time, times, and half a time. And it was three and a half years. And when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, what do you mean the power of the holy people completely shattered? You can look at physical and spiritually. Number one, the church is no more doing the work. And number two, Israel, physical Israel, could be completely shattered because in one month they've been completely shattered. And that's what it says, is at time, times, and half a time. That's three and half years. Israel, Judah, and the church of God's power will be completely shattered, will not be able to do a work. Then the great revelation starts. And that goes on. But I wanted to give you a little bit of a sequence before the great revelation, a lot of what we've covered after the great tribulation, a lot of those things. Because we know that, you know, towards the end of the great tribulation of the heavenly signs, which says God will start intervening. And then it'll be the la-heil of the Lord and the fights between the different nations, between the king of the north and the king of the south, and between the north and the dog and may dog. And then we know that they'll be ready to blow up this world. And then Christ will come and will stand on Mount of Olives as we read in Zechariah 14. And then you'll bring peace, and then the nations will keep the peace of tabernacles in peace, symbolizing peace. Brethren, I tried to give you a little bit of an understanding of what is to come. The joy will surpass the planet. The joy will surpass the planet. But if you know some of the steps it gives you strength to find. It does say that some of us will be protected. That's why it says, watch and pray that you may be accounted worthy. Why? Because you and I can do something about, by praying, by coming in close to God, doing our part so that we may be accounted worthy by God to escape. That's why Christ said in Luke 12 verse 32. Luke 12 verse 32. Luke 12 verse 32. Do not fear little flock, for it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Brethren, you and I do not need to fear. God will intervene. And if you and I are close to God, God will protect us. How? We don't know. How long is it to go? We don't know. But we know that once the countdown starts, we pretty well know, there's enough years to go. I hope that you all look at it not from a negative point of view, but look at it from a positive. Because God has given you kindness and instruction. How you could, maybe, escape. We're not yet to escape. We have to serve God. But you know what? God wants people in the world tomorrow to be leaders in the world tomorrow. It's the father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. And like children, you don't want to smack and punish the ones that are obedient. You want to punish the disobedient ones. The obedient ones will protect. Even after the tribulation, it says you will seal even more people so they can be protected. But brethren, fear not, because it's the father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.