SUDDEN DESTRUCTION!

                                                                            By Daniel E. Cohran

"But concerning the times and seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you brethren, are not in dakness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober." (I Thes. 5:1-5)

Do we truly understand what the above scripture is saying to us today? Prophecies that God gave thousands of years ago, which were clearly revealed to us in the end time, are NOW at our door!

But some will say, yes, yes, we have heard this all before, but things are STILL continuing on as they have for years, and these things haven’t happened yet and probably won’t happen.

Friends and brethren, I must tell you, that attitude and outlook is DANGEROUS! What does God Himself say in His Word about this attitude? Notice what God’s Word says about this in II Peter 3:3-5 which says:

"Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’"

Do we realize that this is also part of the Laodicean attitude or condition? God goes on to say through the apostle Peter in verse 5 that "they willfully forget". They forget the power of God and all His wonderous works as it goes on to say in the verses that follow.

So WHY has God allowed some "time" to elapse, that has caused some to give up hope and faith in God’s Word and his promises? Well, as Mr. Armstrong said before he died, we were entering a time of "final exams". A time period of TESTING in other words, so Christ would see who would hold fast to His Word, His Truth and Doctrine, and who would NOT.

Many, and indeed MOST of God’s own people have departed from "that WAY" of truth here in the end of the end time. But even in all of this, God is still merciful and patient, and will always give warning to His people before He performs His mighty acts.

Notice what it goes on to say here in verse 9 of the same chapter. It says:

"The Lord is not slack concernng His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

God is NOT SLACK! We MUST understand that! He WILL PERFORM His good work, and WILL bring His prophecies to pass! And He says that He does not want ANY of us to perish, but that we should ALL come to REPENTANCE! And THAT is what this website is all about.

God’s word is full of WARNING for His people, if we will only heed.

As is mentioned at the top of this page, the purpose here is to be REMINDED of some of those warnings that God gave us many years ago through His end time apostle. It would be good for all of us, as a reminder, to re-read "The United States And Britain In Prophecy" (US & BIP). The information contained therein is STILL up to date. It was based on and revealed through God’s Word which is ALWAYS up to date.

On page 169 of the 1980 edition of US & BIP, Mr. Armstrong writes under the subheading "Sudden Destruction" the following:

"Yet, in this detailed prophecy, God says: "And it shall come to pass IN THAT DAY, saith the Lord, that I will cut off thy horses" ["war-horses," Moffat translation] – tanks – ships – rockets –"out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots: and I will cut off the cities [by hydrogen bombs?] of thy land, and throw down all thy strongholds" (Micah 5:10-11). God says He will do this! God determines the outcome of wars (Ps. 33:10-19)."

Do we realise that this prophecy is ALREADY being fulfilled? Do you remember where, on page 10 of this same book (US & BIP) that Mr. Armstrong said that the United States had won her last war (meaning WW II) that even the little country of North Vietnam held her at bay?!

That statement is STILL true! Do you think we "won" a war when we entered the "Gulf War" against Iraq in 1991? No we did NOT, we never even finished that one! Do you think we have won or are winning the current war against Iraq and even in Afghanistan? NO WE ARE NOT! We are being bogged down again in another war we cannot win!

With all of our so-called military might, we cannot defeat a little country the size of ONE of our own states. WHY is that? Because, as Mr. Armstrong said and as God’s Word says: "We lack the political WILL, and God has BROKEN the pride of our power!" (Lev. 26:19)

We have NOT won ANYTHING in Afghanistan, and we have not won ANYTHING in Iraq. Our government has now declared a war that it cannot win – a war against terrorism! And as a result it is evolving into a war against Islam, a war of differing cultures and religions and ways of life. A war that will now include many countries throughout the world. Indeed, a world war! And prophecy shows that indeed this war will escalate and spin out of control, but we will NOT WIN!

What does God’s Word say about this? In the US & BIP, Mr. Armstrong throughout this book shows how the blessings and cursings of Leviticus chapter 26 have been and are being fulfilled within the United States and Great Britain today, and MORE of this fullfillment is coming quickly!

Remember, this chapter correlates to and culminates in the time of Jacob’s trouble, or the great tribulation. But the curses and the bringing down of this country (USA) and Britain happen just before as well as during that time.

Notice what it says on page 183 concerning this intense punishment mentioned in the book of Leviticus. Mr. Armstrong writes:

"The sevenfold INTENSITY of punishment now soon to come upon the American and British peoples is simply the prophesied GREAT TRIBULATION! It will be the most frightfully intense PUNISHMENT, and time of TROUBLE, ever suffered by any people!"

The scriptural reference for the above statement is in Lev. 26:18, 21 & 24.

Concerning this "war on terror" mentioned above, notice what God says in Lev. 26:16 which says:

"I also will do this to you: I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it."

This is ONLY the beginning! Notice what it goes on to say in verse 17:

"I will set my face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursues you."

Can we begin to see where this is already being fulfilled today? Do we see anyone HATING the U.S. or Britain today? It is EVERYWHERE in the news! Many countries have been envious of us for years, but NOW that envy has turned to HATE. And it is going to come against us SOON.

Let’s step back a moment though and think. The United States still has mighty "military power" correct? But yet we are unable to win what "appeared" to be a quick and simple war at first (meaning Iraq). But we see that is has deteriorated into almost a civil war in that area for many various reasons, such as extremists coming into Iraq from Syria and Iran and other countries, but also from various groups within Iraq.

Then we see the situation with Iran developing nuclear weapons, and they have said publicaly that one of their goals is to destroy the little country of Israel (Judah) and also the United States and Great Britain. Will they USE these nuclear weapons if they are allowed to be developed? Of course they will, unless someone STOPS them first, which in itself will escalate into another war, and a much BIGGER war than what we see in the little country of Iraq. Either way, it is a situation that will lead to war!

And this is not to mention, countries like North Korea who already have nuclear weapons. But then again so does China and Russia. And I must tell you that "communism" is NOT dead! Russia is still alive and well, and very active in countries like Iran, helping them to develop their nuclear program. In fact they are involved in literally every country that hates the United States, helping to develop their weapons and military capabilities.

But prophecy shows, and as we were taught by Mr. Armstrong, that we should keep our eyes on EUROPE and also GERMANY. Much has happened since Mr. Armstrong died, in the development of the European Union! And it’s happening just as he said it would! But Mr. Armstrong also warned us that much was happening "behind the scenes" or "underground" even since before the end of World War II.  Indeed much is STILL going on underground and behind the scenes.

So let’s ask ourselves this question: with all of our supposed "military might", HOW could ANYONE or ANY country, or even any GROUP of countries ever dare to even invade this country of the United States?! Wouldn’t we fight tooth and nail to prevent this - from our government leaders, and our military, down to the regular citizen or individual? You would think so!

HOWEVER, God’s Word says that this invasion WILL take place, and that we WILL be defeated, and that our people WILL be taken into CAPTIVITY!

So HOW could this possibly happen? If you have read the article on this website entitled: "God’s Work NOW!", and the link at the bottom of that article entitled: "THE ENEMY WITHIN", you should be able to see how and why this is being set up to happen right NOW within in our country!

As Mr. Armstrong clearly said, "we will be weakened FROM WITHIN"!

So when you combine the information from the two articles mentioned above, with what we are being reminded of here concerning what Mr. Armstrong wrote and what God’s Word says, a CLEAR PICTURE should develop. And it is clearly a WARNING!

There are great POWERS at work behind all the governments of this world, and yes even right here in the United States, and yes Great Britain as well. Remember this is still Satan’s world, and he is still in control of its leaders!

And he (Satan) has deceived the WHOLE world, as your Bible says. And that includes religous leaders but also national leaders! Do you believe for example, that Satan could cause a government to pass or enact laws that would enable that government to use its own military against its own citizens? Or does that sound too far-fetched to you? DON’T BE DECEIVED! Satan is the master deceiver! This is just one example, but there is actually this and much more happening!

For those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, as we are reminded of what God inspired to be written in the US & BIP and through His Word, and as we put that together with the "news" that is happening today, we should be able to begin to SEE now why God says that it will come as a SNARE upon all who dwell upon the earth (Luke 21:35).

What is a "SNARE"? A snare is a type of TRAP which springs SUDDENLY upon its unsuspecting prey! And God’s Word has much to say about this snare and the SUDDEN destruction and perplexity or trouble that will come upon the modern nations of Israel (The United States, The British and former commonwealth nations of Britain, and the little country of Israel which is modern day Judah).

As another reminder, notice what Mr. Armstrong writes in the US & BIP on page 170 under the subtitle: "Punishment on All Nations".  He writes:

"It will now be made plain – from God’s own warning prophecies – that this greatest multiplied intensity of corrective punishment will fall on Britain and America – including British peoples in Commonwealth countries. And it will strike them down first!"

Indeed the Bible does show this, and even indicates in Hosea chapter 5 that Britain, the United States, and Israel (Judah) will fall within a 30 day period! (Hosea 5: 5-7)

The only way this could happen is through a nuclear attack! And that could only happen if we were first weakened FROM WITHIN! There is much more in this chapter (Hos. 5) that is being fulfilled right now and will be covered soon in another article.

But God’s Word SAYS it will happen, so it WILL happen. And it will come as a SNARE and happen very SUDDENLY just like a trap that snaps shut on a rat! It will catch the WHOLE WORLD off guard and by surprise, and yes even God’s own people or Church! Why? Because as the scripture says: They are ASLEEP!

Let’s notice a few scriptures about this, in additon to the one above in I Thes. 5, that begins this article.

Notice what it says in Eccl. 9:12 concerning this time ahead. In the New Kings James Version it says:

"For man also does not know his time; Like fish taken in a cruel net, Like birds caught in a snare in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them."

Also notice what God says in Isaiah concerning this time just ahead, and concerning our national and individual sins or "iniquity".

Notice what it says in Isaiah 30: 12-13 in which God states:

"Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel: ‘Because you despise this word, and trust in oppression and perversity, and rely on them, Therefore this iniquity shall be to you Like a breach ready to fall, a bulge in a high wall, Whose breaking comes suddenly in an instant.’ "

This should begin to show us how SUDDENLY and how unbelievably QUICKLY things will happen WHEN they begin to happen. And it has ALREADY been in the process of being set up for many years. Mr. Armstrong saw this clearly and warned us of it. He warned us in the early to mid 1980’s that it would even take us (meaning the Church) by surprise and would literally take our "breath away"! How much MORE so will that apply today with the nations of Israel AND God’s spiritual Israel ASLEEP?!

Below are a couple of excerpts from one Co-Worker letter written by Mr. Armstrong, dated July 24, 1983. You can find the letter beginning on page 626 of the hardback edition of Volumne II of his autobiography. For sake of space I will only insert the excerpts below. But it would be good to go back and read the whole letter.

But please TAKE NOTICE of how many times he says the words "SUDDENLY" and "UNEXPECTEDLY" and "SNARE’ and ‘TRAP", and simular words, and see how MUCH URGENCY he put into this letter. We should be able to SEE now in the news that what he warned of is already fulfilled to a much greater degree than when he wrote this. And he began to write about this before ANYONE could see it or even imagine it, during the 1930’s!

In the first paragraph of this letter, Mr. Armstrong writes: (emphasis mine)

" A staggering turn in world events may occur suddenly at any day from now on. God has been holding back these world-shaking events. But now they may strike suddenly while the world least expects it."

For the sake of space, I am skipping over two pages in the book and further down in this letter on pages 628 & 629, Mr. Armstrong writes:

"In my private meeting with him, Dr. Habsburg expressed disappointment that progress on the European reunification had moved so slowly. I expressed the conviction that some totally unexpected world-shocking event could occur suddenly at any time that would high pressure European nations to go together overnight, adopting the constitution already prepared by the European Parliament. This Parliament, although without substantial power, is composed of leaders who are framing the constitution in advance. He mentioned that there are madmen such as Kadafi and Khomeini who could pull off some startlingly unexpected international act that would press the panic button in Europe.

Incidentally, Drs. Habsburg and Strauss are close friends, and for some reason I do not understand -- but may be of God's designing -- both are very friendly to me and to Ambassador College.

Now let me tell you WHY I know God has HELD BACK end-time world events -- and WHY he will cause things to snap together suddenly when least expected and bring this world suddenly to its END, and the coming of Christ in supreme power and glory to rule ALL NATIONS, ushering in the KINGDOM OF GOD and the WORLD TOMORROW!

In Revelation 7, God suddenly holds up the plagues of the Day of the Lord, UNTIL certain events happen -- the sealing of the 144,000 and the emergence of the Laodicean Church. He has held events back before. Yet he says that, when HIS time comes, he will make a speedy work in the end time and cut his work short.

In Matthew 24:32-35 Jesus said that when we see world events now occurring, we are to KNOW that this END is very near -- within this generation. Yet of the day and hour (verse 36) we cannot know. Yet when it strikes it will strike suddenly, unexpectedly, like a trap that springs shut on a hapless rat without warning. If one knew at what hour a thief would come in the night to burglarize his house, he would have watched and been ready to resist him.

We have been seeing these end-time world events coming for several years now. God has delayed -- held up world events. Yet he will SUDDENLY cut his work short, and END things, as unexpectedly and suddenly as when the trap springs on a rat before he can move." (end of excerpt)

So the question is, has ANYTHING changed in that warning? And the answer is, absolutely NOT! If anything, we should be able to SEE how much CLOSER we are to these things being fulfilled, and fulfilled SUDDENLY at ANY time!

So the message TODAY for God’s people and nations, is to WAKE UP! Be REMINDED and become AWARE of these things which will soon affect every single one of us! Time will NOT just "continue on" the way it has, so says your Bible.

Notice God’s Word through Jeremiah 4:19-22 which says:

"O my soul, my soul! I am pained in my very heart! My heart makes a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because you have heard O my soul, The sound of the trumpet, The alarm of war. Destruction upon destruction is cried, for the whole land is plundered. Suddenly my tents are plundered, and my curtains in a moment. How long will I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet? For My people are foolish, they have not known Me. They are silly children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, But to do good they have no knowledge."

Now notice Jeremiah 15:8 which says:

"Their widows will be increased to Me more that the sand of the seas; I will bring against them, Against the mother of the young men, a plunderer at noonday; I will cause anguish and terror to fall on them suddenly."

Just before this verse, in verse 7 it states:

"I will destroy My people, since they do not return from their ways."

Also notice Jeremiah 18:22 which says:

"Let a cry be heard from their houses. When You bring a troop suddenly upon them; For they have dug a pit to take me, and hidden snares for my feet."

Hopefully we can see that the SNARE or TRAP has already long ago been set, and that soon it will SNAP SHUT on an unsuspecting people, OUR people, and indeed the whole world!

But just as Mr. Armstrong taught, and God teaches through His Word, the Good News is that there IS A WAY OF ESCAPE!

Notice the contrast to the last verse mentioned above, in the following verse from Proverbs 3:25-26 which gives HOPE and should build FAITH for those who are AWAKE. It says:

"Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be our confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught."

We should know that there are many scriptures that show that God will protect his loyal and faithful people when this "time of trouble" comes. These scriptures give us hope and build faith, and as this time of trouble or great tribulation comes upon us, these scriptures will take on much MORE importance!

But before all this happens, and even AS it begins to happen, God is faithful, and His Word says that someone will SEE (Ezek. 33:3) the sword coming upon the land, and this someone is commanded to give WARNING or indeed lose his own life also!

It is time to WAKE UP America and Britain! It is time to WAKE UP all you people of God and you should KNOW who you are! You who were once members of the Worldwide Church of God. You who are now in any number of "groups" or DIVISIONS of what was once a blessed and flourishing and united Church.

WHY are you where you are today? Are you of the mentality that Mr. Armstrong mentioned and warned about in his last Pentecost sermon? He said he was afraid that many of us had become just like "dumb sheep"!

What is the difference between a "dumb sheep" and one whom Chirst calls HIS SHEEP? The dumb sheep will just follow the crowd because they don’t know what else to do or where else to go. I know that sounds like an insult, but I do NOT mean it that way! That warnng was from God’s Apostle, not me!

Notice what it says in Isaiah 53 about this group of sheep. In verse 6 it says:

"All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one to his own way…"

Does this sound like the Laodicean condition to you? Jeremiah 23:1 says that God’s ministers have scattered the sheep of His pasture! Ezekiel 34 also has much to say about the scattering and slaughtering (spiritually) of God’s sheep.

But notice what Christ says about HIS sheep who will LISTEN (and I might add – THINK for themselves) and RESPOND!  Notice John 10:27 which says:

And to those who don’t believe Christ’s teachings (truth and doctrine) notice what He says in verse 26:

"But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep…."

If you HAVE God’s Holy Spirit, and have been given His truth, then you should be able to THINK for yourself, and ACT for yourself! We should all be able to "discern" the times we’re in.

Remember, God’s people (Church) were called to be TEACHERS! We SHOULD be at the stage where we can TEACH basic truth and doctrine to others when The World Tomorrow comes, but as a whole, we are NOT. Many of God’s people today are not sure WHAT they believe or WHY!

Notice Hebrews chapter 5 and verse 12 which is a stern admonition for all of us!  It states:

"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food."

Yes this is talking about SPIRITUAL food! God’s ministers today are not providing that as they should. The Bible is clear on this, and it has been made plain and clear on this website.

But what about the "members" of God’s Church today, the scattered people of God? Again, to add to the verse above, and where we SHOULD be, notice what it says in I John 2:27 which says this:

"But the anointing (the Holy spirit) which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same annointing (Holy Spirit) teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him."

In the verse above, in the Old King James Version, it says that: "you do not need any man to teach you". But this verse above adds much insight to where God’s people SHOULD be today spiritually, rather than being in the division and slumbering spiritual state that we find today.

In John 14:26 Christ says concerning the Helper or Holy Spirit, that it would teach us ALL THINGS and bring into our REMEMBRANCE ALL THINGS which Christ taught to us.

Luke 12:12 also says that the Holy Spirit will also teach us what to SAY or SPEAK, if we will only yield ourselves to it.

So today God is stirring up His Spirit in a few who are AWAKE to the call to REPENT AND AWAKEN. They know that time is short, and they have REMEMBERED what Christ taught them through His Word and through all of His apostles, including His end time apostle.

These who are AWAKE know that time is URGENT. They see the sword coming upon their own brethren and their own countrymen, and they are heeding God’s instruction to WARN!

I will close this article with a couple of verses from Jeremiah chapter 6 which give meaning and adds to the verse that began this article.

Notice please Jeremiah 6, verse 10 and also verse 17 which say to us today:

"To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Indeed their ear is uncircumcised, And they cannot give heed. Behold, the word of the Lord is a reproach to them; They have no delight in it."

END