Trouble is Coming

Dear Wake Up Family:

If you were driving your car and came to a railroad crossing, its lights flashing and gates lowered, would you rush around them to be on your way? No one in their right mind would do that. A flashing red light means, “Danger! There’s trouble ahead. Be Careful.”

Before the flood, God sent a warning. Noah was the flashing red light. I conclude, by putting pieces together, that Noah preached God’s warning for 120 years before the catastrophe. But the antediluvians refused to heed his warning, so everybody in the world perished except for eight members of Noah’s family.

Put into today’s context, Noah would have only eight subscribers to his YouTube channel—hardly an influencer. Yet God honored his faith and his faithfulness, and saved his family. The moral of the story is, it doesn’t matter what man thinks. Do as God instructs and He will honor you.

Around 400 years later, God sent another warning before Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for their corrupt and evil societies. The only people who escaped were those few who heeded the warning.

A more recent example of ignoring flashing warning lights, albeit 90 years ago, happened in Germany prior to WW2. Konrad Kwiet, professor of Jewish History and Holocaust Studies at the University of Sydney, explains:

“German Jews who faced Nazi persecution have often been accused of being unwilling to leave their beloved country of birth….These assumptions of German Jews, however, fall into the realm of historical legend. In fact, the opposite was true.

When in 1933 the National Socialists assumed power, 525,000 Jews–less than one percent of Germany’s population–experienced the termination of their German-Jewish Lebensgemeinschaft (co-existence). They found themselves at the mercy of a popular dictatorship which offered them a choice between social segregation within a new racial state or expulsion from Germany. They discussed at length…whether to stay or to leave. A minority left at once…38,000 Jews sought refuge in exile in 1933; 23,000 in 1934; 20,000 in 1935.

The majority decided to stay. They believed that the Nazi regime might not remain in power for very long; an illusion also shared by many non-Jews at the time. The belief that a rapid return to democracy would restore the German-Jewish co-existence deterred many from leaving Germany and rebuilding their lives in other countries.”

Trouble follows those who don’t observe warning signs. This was true in the past, is true in the present, and will be true in the future. Professor Kwiet continues:

“It ultimately took a direct threat to their lives to make most German Jews realise that their ties to Germany were no longer a safety blanket. This occurred in November 1938, with the pogrom of Kristallnacht–the Night of Broken Glass. After this event discussion over whether to leave or stay turned to the urgent, panicked cry: ‘Get out, at all costs!’

By the autumn of 1941 almost 300,000 German Jews had escaped Nazi terror; two-thirds of the Jewish population of 1933. There were still 164,000 Jews trapped in Germany; most of whom still intended to leave and were desperately waiting for the arrival of life-saving landing permits and visas. Thousands of applications lay unprocessed on desks in London, Washington and other cities of the ‘free world’ that had already closed their doors to Jewish immigrants.”

His last paragraph arouses a host of questions about the traditional narrative, but this article won’t examine them. You should. My only purpose is to establish that prior to tragic events, whether incited by God or governments, there are blatant danger signs. A more present-day warning is Paul Craig Roberts’ latest article in which he writes:

“Dear Americans, you desperately need to WAKE UP. You are losing your country and your liberty and your property by the minute…In Colorado heavily armed immigrant-invader gangs are taking over apartment buildings…the gangs have run off the management and now collect the rents. The local city council cannot get the governor to even acknowledge the fact. The moron tells them that ‘it is a figment of your imagination.’ This is the standard woke response to reality. It can’t be real, because it doesn’t fit our narrative…This is the future of the entire Western World. Now go laugh at my ‘conspiracy theory’ while your enemies prepare your dispossession.”

His conclusion is sobering. Particularly on the spiritual level. The wily Devil, right now, is influencing thugs, bureaucrats, and politicians to create an atmosphere of chaos and destruction. His effort is working. He, indirectly, is orchestrating each misstep. It’s his modus operandi. You may not see him, but his fingerprints are found wherever lies and corruption, sin and tragedy have been. Make no mistake, evil is precipitating the collapse of Western civilization.

Now before you read further, I want to ask your indulgence for the next few paragraphs while I gently rant under the guise of explicating. Please grant me the same courtesy you would extend to Paul if he had asked, “Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16)

As you read, ask yourself whether the father of all that’s evil is lurking in shadows nearby. Think about this for starters. The US is broke…it’s worse than broke. We’re $37 trillion in debt! That means we have to find 37 trillion dollars just to get back to being broke! And if this is how irresponsible and feckless our government is, how can it be trusted to make good or right decisions about anything—today or in the future? Who is influencing the decision-makers?

Even as I’m writing this article, our government’s response to the hurricane that just barreled through Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee is abysmal. FEMA, the department tasked with responding to emergencies on the national level, is broke and can’t perform its sole function. Mind you, its only reason for existing is to respond to emergencies! Instead, they’ve allegedly spent the money allocated for emergencies on swarms of illegals, providing them with free medical care, free housing, free food, free spending money, and free travel in and around the country. Is this intentional or accidental?

At the same time we’re being devastated by weather and invasion, rather than addressing problems at home, our government is careening wildly into conflicts around the world which have nothing to do with us. And instead of being transparent, they shroud themselves in a screen of humanitarian smoke to hide their duplicitous motives. It seems this country’s leaders only think in terms of squandering or punishing. It also seems the rest of the world has had enough of the West’s unrestrained bullying to the point that the situation could quickly go nuclear. Are there no adults in the room? America is in quicksand and needs to get out. But to do that, it has to stop threatening half the world and subsidizing the other half. How did we get here? Cui bono (who benefits)?

No, this is not prophetic in the sense that God planned it. This is a human disaster created by political malfeasance, perpetrated by evil. Unfortunately, the actions of man are becoming so despicable, so destructive, so evil, that God will, necessarily and with finality, put an end to it.

Do you see the pattern yet? Can you see that trouble is coming, that danger is near, that preparations need to be made before the storm arrives? Is there any country that upholds Christian values anymore? If so, are we to flee there before tyranny becomes the norm in the West? What happened in Germany, the Soviet Union, and elsewhere is beginning to materialize here.

As you should see by now, mankind, of necessity, has to live with today and tomorrow in mind. But this is nothing new. Noah did; Moses did; even Jesus did when He was on earth.

I’ve illustrated flashing red danger signs in the past and present. Now let’s look into the future. Through John in Revelation, God is warning us about what is just ahead on a global scale. The Bible portrays the seven trumpets as God’s wake-up call to a negligent and narcissistic world. Think of them as flashing red lights warning the present generation to get ready to meet God. Daniel speaks of this time period when he writes, “There will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence.” (Daniel 12:1) Revelation says of this great tribulation:

“I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.

The first angel blew his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were thrown down on the earth. One-third of the earth was set on fire, one-third of the trees were burned, and all the green grass was burned.

 Then the second angel blew his trumpet, and a great mountain of fire was thrown into the sea. One-third of the water in the sea became blood.

Then the third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch. It fell on one-third of the rivers and on the springs of water.

Then the fourth angel blew his trumpet, and one-third of the sun was struck, and one-third of the moon, and one-third of the stars, and they became dark. And one-third of the day was dark, and also one-third of the night.

Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen to earth from the sky, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. When he opened it, smoke poured out as though from a huge furnace, and the sunlight and air turned dark from the smoke.

Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice speaking from the four horns of the gold altar that stands in the presence of God.

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: ‘The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.’ ” (Revelation 8:2–13; 9:1–2; Rev 9:13; 11:15)

The devastation caused by the trumpets will be felt, not only in London, Beijing, Moscow, and Washington—every city worldwide will be devastated. Stop reading for a moment and envision the recent disasters caused by two hurricanes. Now imagine that on a global scale. Who’s coming to help? Some Christians believe they will be whisked away to miss this unfathomable destruction. Those who believe such things are relying on fairy tales.

From a chronological timing view, the fourth seal is the next to open, and it will bring global devastation via seven trumpets. As stated earlier, Jesus intends to arrest the attention of the world. When He does, 25 percent of the planet will perish. The death and destruction attending the fourth seal is fully described in Revelation 6. You should read it. The horror will far surpass that recorded of all world wars.

Between the fourth and fifth seal, the fifth trumpet will blow; and when it sounds, the Devil will appear. Mankind will actually see evil incarnate, masquerading as God. Because the world will be a heap of ruins as a result of the first four trumpets, Lucifer’s appearance is perfectly timed. Millions of desperate people will believe him to be God. But Lucifer’s lust for power in its most naked form, is not to improve the lives of others, it is to manipulate, dominate, and bend them to his will.

He will perform signs and miracles convincing world leaders he is who he claims to be. As political and religious leaders begin to endorse him, he will quickly merge politics and religion into a one-world body to take control of earth. The script he will follow is found in Revelation 13.

The ponderable point of the story is that religious and political leaders will abandon their sacred beliefs and willingly ally themselves with Lucifer for the sake of power, money, and survival. But…haven’t they done that already? Yes, sort of… but not on this level.

The opening of the fifth seal ushers in a period of martyrdom. Why would Jesus allow martyrdom upon His people? Because persecution separates pretense from principle. When the price for being a Christian is high, only the faith-full will pay it.

In America, the cost of being a Christian is zero—for now. We have religious liberty—for now. We can worship without fear—for now. We have freedom of speech—for now—as did Germany, until it didn’t. This country has truly been blessed. But this blessing has made Christianity lazy, weak, and corrupt. Christianity today exudes external piety but isn’t at all prepared for the ruinous trouble lurching toward us. When those killing the followers of Jesus actually believe they’re doing God a favor, how many will stand firm and fear not?

Now, the emotion of fear is useful. It can save your life. But fear is detrimental when it causes inaction. If I didn’t know God, I would be afraid of the Devil. He is a very powerful being. I acknowledge that. Fear of him in that narrow sense is justified. He hates us and would harm us if allowed.

Yet, I choose to face fear this way: We’re going home! What is there to be afraid of? Dying…so what? The Bible says, “And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear.” (1 John 4:17–18)

To close, I’ll share an especially personal story. Several months ago, on my deceased mother’s birthday, I was talking with a sister (I have six), and as we reminisced about mom and the memories we each made with her, I said in jest, “She’s been dead 26 years and I’m still scared of her…but I miss her so much.”

I think Mom’s Bible only had one verse; and she lived what it taught to the best of her ability. It read, “Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.” Let’s just say my mom LOVED me…a lot! (smile)

In all seriousness though, as I began to grow up, mature, and understand things in and about life, I fell in love with my mother. I’ve kept every card and letter she ever wrote to me. I can’t find the words to express how very dear and precious those memories are. And to this day, I can sit and read her letters and love the nurturing woman she was. I can see through her words how deeply she cared for me. Sadly though, I also remember how undeserving I was at times. Yet—and this is the impetus of love—although she knew me well, better than anyone else could, she loved me anyway.

I fell in love with Jesus for the very same reason. The model of my mother allowed me to understand how much He loved me; to realize all that He gave up just because He loves me so. In retrospect, I’m quite sure that’s why He creates moms the way He does.

Now don’t misunderstand. Jesus’ love for me is greater than my mother’s love. I can’t fully comprehend that, but I believe it nonetheless. Look at all He’s done and continues to do on our behalf. Even as you’re reading this, Jesus is providing atonement. Without it, we would all be dead. One day soon however, that mediation will end. And when Jesus steps out of the way, the world will know that something significant just happened. Trouble is coming. Warning lights are flashing. Get ready! Pray with me that each of us will be ready to meet Jesus on that fast-approaching, inevitable day.

Rex