Dear Brethren and Friends,
Recently I received an email which enclosed an article, describing the horrid state of the city of Detroit, Michigan. While it was once a thriving metropolis with a population of 1.8 million, it now stands at just over 900,000. The city reminds one of a town in a third-world country. Here are some quotes from the article, which was authored by Frosty Wooldridge, a US journalist, writer, environmentalist and traveler:
“For 15 years, from the mid 1970’s to 1990, I worked in Detroit, Michigan. I watched it descend into the abyss of crime, debauchery, gun play, drugs, school truancy, car-jacking, gangs and human depravity. I watched entire city blocks burned out. I watched graffiti explode on buildings, cars, trucks, buses and school yards. Trash everywhere!
“Detroiters walked through it, tossed more into it, and ignored it. Tens of thousands, and then hundreds of thousands today exist on federal welfare, free housing, and food stamps!
“Unemployment hit 28.9 percent in 2009 as the auto industry vacated the city. In Time Magazine’s [article of] October 4, 2009, ‘The Tragedy of Detroit: How a great city fell, and how it can rise again,’ I choked on the writer’s description of what happened. ‘If Detroit had been ravaged by a hurricane, and submerged by a ravenous flood, we’d know a lot more about it,’ said Daniel O’Krent. ‘If drought and carelessness had spread brush fires across the city, we’d see it on the evening news every night.’ Earthquake, tornadoes, you name it, if natural disaster had devastated the city that was once the living proof of American prosperity, the rest of the country might take notice.
“‘By any quantifiable standard, the city is on life support. Detroit ‘s treasury is $300 million short of the funds needed to provide the barest municipal services,’ O’Krent said. ‘The school system, which six years ago was compelled by the teachers’ union to reject a philanthropist’s offer of $200 million to build 15 small, independent charter high schools, is in receivership. The murder rate is soaring, and 7 out of 10 remain unsolved. Three years after Katrina devastated New Orleans, unemployment in that city hit a peak of 11%. In Detroit today, the unemployment rate is 28.9%. That’s worth spelling out: twenty-eight point nine percent. If what was once the most prosperous manufacturing city in the nation has been brought to its knees, what does that say about our recent past? And if it can’t find a way to get up, what does that say about America’s future?’”
The above quotes are just a microcosm of the situation not only in America, but many of America’s problems can be found in Canada and the UK as well. Just what is the future of America and the English-speaking nations of the world?
America has a $16 trillion debt which is unsustainable. This means that the nation will have a financial meltdown in the near future. A twelve-year-old child could tell you that if your expenditures exceeded your income, you were accumulating your debt. The only way to balance a family budget or a national one is to reduce spending or increase income, or do both, until the income is equal to or less than the expenditures. You cannot economically live on your credit forever. One day the creditors will call in the debt. And so, the US is heading towards an inevitable, predictable financial crisis which will affect the world economy.
Let us also look at other insurmountable problems that the USA is plagued with:
Many in the US are more worried about how you treat your dog than killing millions of the unborn. America is the biggest consumer of legal and illegal drugs in the world. Crime is rampant in many major cities, with gangs creating havoc on its citizens. Same sex marriage (an abomination to God) is becoming more prevalent, and more and more TV programs portray sexual sins as normal or alternate life styles. Premarital sex seems to be the norm, and if a person is a virgin in their twenty’s, they are looked upon as being abnormal. Marriage—the very foundation of a society—is belittled; divorce is on the rise, and marriage breakdown and the suffering of many unhappy children are the tragic results.
Many Americans have a love for guns, and violent crimes and multiple killings are the inevitable consequence.
Since I am living in Canada, murder and marriage breakdown are no strangers here as well. Last October, one of the worst serial killers in Canada’s history died in prison. Canada also has problems with crime and drugs in which the “Hells Angels” motorcycle gangs play a big part. And here is a quote from a Canadian government report on divorce: “Although the number of divorces has shown recent declines, in 2008 it was estimated that 41 per cent of marriages will end in divorce before the 30th year of marriage, an increase from 36 per cent in 1998.”
Canadian ministers have to be extra careful what they say from the pulpit because of the laws protecting same sex marriage and homosexuality. These falsely labeled “discrimination” or “hate laws” are becoming more and more popular in the USA as well.
Being politically correct is destroying our nations. The truth is: The future looks rather bleak. The Bible says it will only get worse. Matthew 24:12 exclaims: “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”
This is not talking about man’s love of those in the world, but it refers to godly love of many in the church—and that all because of lawlessness or sin.
If that was not enough, there will also be martyrdom of the saints. We read in Matthew 24:9-10: “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.”
What is our personal response and responsibility to these prophesied events? Matthew 24:13 tells us: “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
Enduring to the end is more than just hanging on and passively waiting for Christ’s return. Rather, we must be engaged in finishing the Work that God has given His end-time Church. The true gospel of the Kingdom of God must be proclaimed—the good news of the establishment of a better future, coupled with a warning to our nations and the world of impending doom because of their sins and turning their backs on God.
Individually and collectively, we must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Saviour Jesus Christ. We must stay close to God, and those in the Church of God who are counted worthy will be protected and saved alive during the soon-coming Great Tribulation. Revelation 3:10 states: “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial [tribulation] which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”
But saving our physical lives in the times ahead should not be our main concern. Notice how Christ continues in verse 11: “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.”
The admonition is to not let anyone take your crown which is laid up for us in heaven. This crown will be given, when Christ returns to this earth to put an end to wars, crimes, violence, abortions and the other abominable and wrongly accepted practices of mankind. Our soon-to-be-published new booklet, “Biblical Prophecy—From Now Until Forever,” will describe these future events and the conditions during the Millennium in much more detail.
We have an exceedingly important job to do at this time and also as rulers under Christ in the future, so no matter what the trial and no matter what Satan throws at us to discourage us, let us look forward to our reward in the Kingdom and stay focused on the responsibilities we have been given. If we remain faithful and committed, we will win in the end.
In Christ’s service,
Rene Messier
