It is good, every now and then, to stop and recount our blessings. By the time you read the December 1998 Day Star, this year will be almost history. So, I would like to share the joy in my heart as I recall the blessings I have received this past year from Day Star readers.
I marvel at how God has sustained Wake Up America Seminars (WUAS) for more than ten years and this past year we have seen even more evidence of the Lord’s blessings! During 1998, WUAS sent out literally tens of thousands of brochures, books, audio and video tapes and copies of this monthly Bible study newsletter.
I want to publicly thank each of the many dedicated people who faithfully shared the burden of warning the world of Christ’s return. (It might sound strange at first, to use the word “warning” when speaking of Christ’s return. However, remember that when Christ returns, individuals are either caught up to meet the Lord in the air or destroyed. 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Revelation 19:11-21)
During 1998, Marty, Shelley, Suzy and Beverly answered thousands of phone calls, responded to tons of mail, made countless trips to the post office, duplicated thousands of audio and video tapes, ran errands beyond recall and proofed over 500 pages of my writing; and yet, they are still speaking to me!
I do not believe I have ever seen four people accomplish so much. I am also indebted to each volunteer who gave us a helping hand from time to time in the office. For all that has been accomplished, we praise God from Whom all blessings flow.
Durango
As I look back over 1998, the Durango camp meeting was for me, a “mountain top” experience. What a joy it was to see so many friends, many who I had not seen since the last camp meeting two years ago. It was also wonderful to meet and make many new friends, too. People from all over the United States attended the meeting, from north to south and east to west.
I met for the first time Christian and Dorcas Stein from Barrow, Alaska (farthest north) and enjoyed seeing Willie and Fita Montemayor again from Brownsville, Texas (farthest south)! There were a host of friends from California to Massachusetts and the Durango meetings served to bring us closer to God and each other.
The presentations given by Dave Bosworth, Shelley Betts, and Dr. Stan and Jann Abrams all continue to inspire those people who listen to them on tape. My heart is still moved with emotion as I recall the wonderful music shared throughout the week. I can still see Carson and Jane Cross leading out each evening with the group singing.
There were many wonderful musical presentations and I was especially moved by Bob Staeheli’s rendering of “Standing on Holy Ground.” And you can imagine my surprise to hear Shirley, my dear wife, sing on two different occasions — I had not heard her sing since her illness — more than two years! Durango 1998 will always remain a precious memory.
Bible Studies
It is my hope that the Bible Studies presented in the DayStar during 1998 served to inspire our readers regarding God’s character and His faithfulness. There is so much confusion and misunderstanding about God’s Word. One of my objectives for 1999 is to clarify some of these more difficult Bible topics, giving you additional information to help your personal Bible study.
I thought it might be helpful to give you a brief index of the topics presented during 1998:
- January – The first audio tape in the 7th Millennium (206) Series which explains a portion of the Roadmaps for the End-Time Chart.
- February – God Will Soon Speak Through the 144,000
- March – The Beasts of Revelation . . . Exposed!
- April – The “Gospel” During the Great Tribulation
- May – The Wrath of God in Seven Bowls
- June – The Seven Seals on the Book of Life
- July & August – The 2,300 Days (Double Issue)
- September – The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy
- October – What Changed at the Cross?
- November – Does Prayer Change the Outcome?
If there are topics you think need to be addressed in upcoming issues of Day Star, please write me at the WUAS Office and I will consider them for future issues.
Radio Program
Since March, it has been my privilege to be a guest each Thursday morning (9 am PST) on the Truth Radio Network. The name of the show is “Free Indeed,” and it is hosted by Nicklas Arthur. We have a wonderful time studying and discussing the Bible on the air.
Truth Radio is currently being broadcast on eleven stations throughout the United States, but the broadcast originates from Delano, California. I am not sure exactly where the signal is heard, but we have received more than 700 phone calls requesting a free Warning! book during the past few months.
Most stations that air the program are located in the western United States. If you are interested, call Truth Radio at 1-800-Truth-36 and ask if the broadcast is available in your area. For people living in the East, the network has a short-wave frequency as well.
Spanish Edition of Warning!
Another blessing I am thrilled to share with you is that the Spanish edition of the Warning! book is completed. Marvelously, the Lord provided translators for this project and this new edition is far superior to our previous edition. We anticipate that many people will distribute this book, not only in the USA, but in Central and South America, as well.
Special recognition is due to Dolores Gonzalez (translation), Patricia J. Kierein-Staerker and Carmen Santos Montgomery (editing) for their excellent work.
Tape of the Month
The Tape of the Month Club has been a tremendous success! We receive many positive comments from our viewers each month. Beginning January 1999, the format will change somewhat. The new format will consist of two-28 minute presentations on each tape.
This new format will not only be used as the Tape of the Month, but it will also facilitate the need to have a pre-recorded program ready for local cable access channels. In some parts of the country, local cable companies will air religious tapes for free or a nominal cost.
The only stipulation is that the program does not solicit funds. WUAS policy remains the same — we never appeal for money– therefore, we easily meet that standard. Hopefully, this new format will provide our subscribers with up-to-date religious developments throughout the world and also an interesting question and answer Bible study each month.
At the same time, the tapes will now be cable-ready and hopefully, reach a larger viewing audience.
The Future
We keep hearing a lot about the prophetic significance of the year 2000 and the “Y2K” computer problem. Since this is our final issue for 1998, I’d like to discuss these two issues as we rush headlong toward 1999.
Make no mistake about it, a serious man-made problem looms on the horizon – caused by malfunctioning computer hardware and software programs. At this time, no one can precisely predict what the actual impact will be, but there is the possibility that very serious problems could result, affecting life as we have come to know it.
Let me explain the computer problem as simply as I can. First, the internal clock in older computers will not correctly increment the century change. In other words, many computers will advance from year 1999 to year 1900, instead of to the year 2000. Even though this is a rather simple problem to fix, the second and more serious problem will cause the greatest dilemma.
Millions of complex computer programs have been written over the past 25 years, using two digits to represent the year. For example, dates are often represented in computer programs as 12/01/98. Unfortunately, when January 1, 2000 arrives, the date 01/01/00 will be interpreted as January 1, 1900 by those computer programs. The consequences of this error could be devastating.
The worst case scenario discussed is a global collapse of banking and stock market exchanges, manufacturing and shipping confusion, and yes, even income tax records affected. Naturally, if this happens, life as we now know it will become quite chaotic. On the other hand, the best case scenario I have heard discussed is six months of bedlam as companies rush to recover from serious, even sometimes fatal, overlooked “computer mistakes.”
Of course, if either scenario occurs, everyday things we take for granted could become affected. Think of it– everything from manufacturing to shipping, telecommunications to navigation, commerce to weather monitoring all involve computers! My conclusions regarding this matter: Be prepared for an emergency. Use common sense.
We have a few months of preparation time before computers could crash, so I encourage you to take care of your business matters before January 1, 2000 arrives. It also seems prudent to keep a 30 to 60 day food supply on hand.
This is not excessive nor is it a denial of faith in God. It is a tacit admission that the gigantic, man-made infrastructure we have come to depend on is subject to failure. Early Americans often stored six to 12 months of food supply and kept plenty of seed for the following year’s harvest. It appears that this present generation of world-citizens would do well to follow their example!
The New Millennium
There is also an increasing abundance of media-hype over the beginning of the third millennium (since the birth of Christ). Do not be fooled by all the “noise.” It is a well known fact that Jesus was born around 4 B.C.(Jesus was 30 years old in A.D. 27. See Luke 3.)
Consequently, the 2,000th year since Jesus’ birth happened in 1996 or 1997, depending on how you count. So, what do all these events suggest? To be sure, we live in an age of great technological advances. However, several questions could be asked: How have we accomplished so much, only to discover that we have planned for so little?
Could these simple problems highlight the foolishness of man’s wisdom? Yes, I think so.
About 3,000 years ago king Solomon wrote, “A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.” (Ecclesiastes 10:19) No doubt most people today would agree with his statement. However, if you read this verse in its context, you will realize that he is mocking the conventional wisdom of his day.
The Bible teaches that a day is coming when the present Heaven and Earth will pass away and Jesus will create a new Heaven and a new Earth.(Revelation 21:1) If upcoming computer problems and millennial madness teaches us anything, it might be this: “…the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” (1 Corinthians 1:25)
Summary
I am so excited about Jesus Christ’s imminent appearing. I am so happy to know that God has a place and a plan for every life in His coming kingdom. Although the Tribulation will be terrible, I am still excited about the commencement of the seven trumpets.
The accompanying signs and wonders will awaken the entire world to the authority and majesty of “the” coming King. When will the seven trumpets commence? Will it be in 1999? No one knows for sure, but the time seems “ripe.” So, I encourage you to be courageous! Join with me as we declare: “Even so, come Lord Jesus!” I want to go home, don’t you?
I want to see Jesus and hear His voice. Yes, this is my New Year’s wish!
