Larry Wilson Farewell Letter

Dear Wake Up Family,

Greetings and Happy New Year! This New Year begins with good news and bad. The good news is, our million dollar giveaway project continues to exceed my expectations and I anticipate it will do even better this coming year as it gathers momentum. For 2,000 years, Christians have been sharing Jesus’ gospel and today, around 2.5 billion people have still not heard of Him. Yet, the Lord is not discouraged. He will finish His work. This is the feature in Revelation’s story that is so exciting!

Today, world leaders are facing complex issues; and every solution, it seems, offends someone. One way to describe current world conditions is that it resembles a fire ant mound leveled by a lawnmower. The surviving ants are agitated and angry, scurrying around looking for something to attack. Likewise, the world is conflicted and angry, and a number of people are looking for someone or something to attack!

Thoughtful people are becoming unsettled and anxious about the future. This uncertainty is the perfect environment to encourage Bible study and share our booklets. Both are timely and helpful. Everyone needs a spiritual anchor, headwinds will get stronger. Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit is working overtime, finding and leading sincere people into all truth as Jesus promised! (John 16:13) We see the Spirit’s handiwork in changed lives, and our monthly statistics reflect His constant efforts.

The bad news is that declining health is forcing my retirement on December 31. I have an aggressive form of ALS and even though the disease is destroying my body, my faith, joy, and peace in the Lord has never been greater! I am dealing with an increasing number of physical issues. I can’t speak or swallow (I have a feeding tube), my neck muscles are paralyzed so my head now rests on my chest, and paralysis has overtaken my right arm/wrist/hand and fingers. I can’t hold a pen or control my right hand. Typing is a struggle. I’m typing this report mostly with two fingers on my left hand and a splint rigged index finger on my right hand, so that I can encourage you and let you all know how much I appreciate and love each one of you!

When I look back at Wake Up’s 33 years (1986-2019), I am humbled and awe-struck by the Lord’s goodness and blessings. We have safely traveled from coast-to-coast and met thousands of wonderful people. Wake Up has been incredibly blessed with talented and dedicated employees. Shelley Betts retired after 25 years; Marty Purvis has completed 25 years; Suzy Gray worked over 20 years; and Diana Johnson will soon reach the five year mark! Rex Johnson has worked on projects for over three years, too. Jesus sent these faithful and loyal helpers (and many dedicated volunteers) to help me broadcast “present truth” and they are deeply loved and appreciated.

I am deeply grateful and humbled that Wake Up has been the beneficiary of your many prayers, generosity, and faithfulness through a stream of unsolicited gifts for 30+ years. I can appreciate the old preacher who described his income as, “chicken one week and feathers the next.”

Be assured dear friends, we have used every nickel to the best of our ability to ensure the gospel of Jesus reaches as far as possible. Wake Up does not own a fancy building or a corporate jet.  We do not have large houses or new cars. We have something far more valuable and important: “Present Truth!”

To God be the glory! Wake Up has never missed paying a bill or meeting payroll expenses on time. When the Lord asked me to leave my job, church, and friends to share my discoveries in the Bible with the world, I wrestled with His calling for about a year. I finally agreed to go forward with one condition: Like George Müller (1805-1898), I would not ask for money. If the Lord was calling, I was willing, but He would have to provide. If there was no income, I knew the ministry would die quickly – as it should! Looking back, there is no other way to explain the phenomenon of unsolicited gifts for more than three decades than the faithfulness of the Lord and the work of the Holy Spirit!

There have been many events over the years where the Lord’s hand was revealed. For example, the booklet project in 2009 titled, The National Sunday Law Revisited. That project involved mailing brochures to 400,000+ homes, which Marty estimated would cost about $160,000. When I began writing the booklet, we did not have the money, but we went forward in faith depending on the Lord to make it happen. As I was nearing completion, a very dedicated and generous lady in New York (who knew nothing about the project) called to say that after several years of trying, she had just sold a piece of real estate and would be sending a gift to Wake Up for whatever our needs may be. A few days later a check for $100,000 arrived! I knew then the booklet project was not going to be shelved; but from where would the remaining $60,000 come?

A month later, while working on a monthly Wake Up Report, I received a phone call from an attorney in Minnesota. He explained he was probating a will and Wake Up was due to receive half of the proceeds from the sale of a house. He wanted to verify my name and address, etc. I had no prior knowledge of this, so I asked how much would be forthcoming and he said, “About $60,000.” I will never forget that moment. Tears flowed! I was overwhelmed once again by the Lord’s faithfulness, kindness, and generosity. Many, many times I have experienced this same scenario. With God, timing is everything! Seeing God pull unlikely things together at just the right moment is an awesome and unforgettable experience. Even with my illness, I continue to see God’s amazing faithfulness, timing, and interest in His children!

What are the odds of a ministry succeeding for 30+ years that does not ask for money? What are the odds of a ministry succeeding with a peculiar message no church body believes? What were the odds of the huge walls of Jericho falling down or Gideon winning the battle against the Midianites? What seems impossible to man is nothing for the Lord! “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.” (Zechariah 4:6) Surely, the Lord has blessed this ministry and, as long as He is pleased with it, He will continue to bless it so that it can continue broadcasting “present truth.”

Of course, I am disappointed that the loss of health forces my retirement. I thought “for sure” that I would live to see the censer cast down. (Revelation 8:5) I am still not ruling out its possibility because, I know, “With God, all things are possible!” Nevertheless, I am very happy that Wake Up has an exciting mission that will continue to grow and flourish with the Lord’s blessings. The Lord has given every indication over the past seven months that He wants “present truth” scattered around the world at the speed of a computer virus. Wake Up has published many booklets with more in the pipeline because different topics attract different people. The messages in the booklets are relevant, the price is right, and the timing couldn’t be better! (See www.wake-up.org/studies) We have come to a time when it has never been better to Share-Share-Share! Pray for opportunities to share and then, be-on-the-lookout.

I wrote The Untold Story of Jesus after being diagnosed with ALS because I was deeply impressed that I should explain what I have learned through the years about Jesus. I know that thousands of prayers have been offered for Shirley and me, and we are so grateful for each one. Please do not quit! I also asked the Lord to hold back the aggressive nature of my disease so I could write one more book for Him and He did! Sure, some thoughts expressed in this book will be controversial and difficult to process at first. Since beginning this ministry, controversy has never been a stranger, and I anticipate this book will keep that legacy alive! I sincerely hope you will give it a thoughtful read, and if you find any part of it helpful, please order the book and Share-Share-Share. The book is free during our million dollar give-away project; you only pay for shipping! Please take advantage of this offer while you can.

I am eager to see my Creator, Savior, and Friend, and fall at His feet. I am eager to worship in the Spirit, bowing in the Father’s brilliant presence. I am eager to see loved ones and friends who are now asleep, waiting for their resurrection at the Second Coming! I am eager to spend eternity with relatives, friends, and everyone in the Wake Up family. What a day of rejoicing that will be! Because the book of Daniel has been unsealed, I have no doubt that the appointed time of the end is here. As I explained in “No More Delay,” watch for World War III. This coming war will be a sign that time has run out. Jesus will step into this war with a display of authority and power that dwarfs anything on Earth. Corporate intercession for Earth is about to end. The final 1,335 days of life on this contaminated planet is just ahead. When Jesus releases the wrath of God (the first four trumpets in Revelation 8), the 144,000 will begin their ministry and a numberless multitude will be saved!

I would like to close this letter with an inspiring selection for Revelation 21. When things get difficult and I feel sad, I like to refresh my thoughts and emotions with John’s words. I always feel much better after pondering them: “Then I saw ‘a new Heaven and a new Earth,’ for the first Heaven and the first Earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea [lake of fire]. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then He said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ ” (Revelation 21:1-5, insertion mine)

By God’s grace, I will see each of you in New Jerusalem!

Your friend,

Larry Wilson