Latest Audio - 2025-08-23
Earthquakes… Volcanoes… Fires… Floods:
Is this…
The New “Normal”
What do the following places have in common?
Kamchatka, Chile, the United States, Russia, Seattle, Tacoma, Canary Islands, Antingham, Japan, Tokara Islands, Myanmar, southern California, Shropshire, New Madrid, Indonesia, Oregon, Italy, Naples, Spain, Greece, Dorset, Newfoundland, Edinburgh, Beijing, Yorkshire, Los Angeles, Canada, the Grand Canyon, France, Newport, China, San Antonio, Texas, Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Wisconsin, Manitoba, Milwaukee, West Allis, Wauwatosa, Drake Passage, Chicago, Yuzhong County, Enniskillen, Labrador, Northern Ireland, Norwich, England, Wymondham, Long Stratton, Aylsham, Alby, Saskatchewan, Erpingham, Killowen, Shropshire.
In just the past few weeks they have all been hit with one of the big four: Earthquakes, volcanoes, fire or flood!
The Bible warns of “…earthquakes in divers places” (Matthew 24:7).
The Greek word translated ‘earthquakes’ is seismos which means ‘commotions’. Earthquakes, volcanoes, fire and floods would all be covered. Also note the use of the word ‘divers’ which in a more modern translation is quoted as ‘in many parts of the world’. This is what we are witnessing right now!
Seeing daily reports of fires and floods, earthquakes and erupting volcanoes, happening all around the world, we ask, “Is this the new normal?”.
News Today - Forgotten Tomorrow!
“Historic volcanic eruptions and enormous earthquakes are happening on an almost daily basis now, but they have become so common that most of them barely even make a blip in the news cycle. The natural disasters that do tend to make a lot of headlines are the ones that cause a lot of deaths. But even those are quickly forgotten. For example, nobody really talks about the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that hit Myanmar on March 28th and killed thousands of people anymore. We literally have become numb to the death and destruction which is constantly going on all around us. But the truth is that what is happening to our planet right now is not normal.” (endoftheamericandream.com)
EARTHQUAKES
Kamchatka Is Moving AWAY From Russia
“Last week, Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula was hit by a magnitude 8.8 earthquake – the sixth largest ever recorded. The tremor released enormous amounts of destructive energy, triggering tsunami warnings as far away as Chile and the western United States. But when the activity had subsided, scientists from the Russian Academy of Sciences were baffled to find that the peninsula had actually moved away from the mainland. In some places towards the peninsula’s southern tip, the landmass had drifted as much as 6.5ft (two metres) to the southeast.” (dailymail.co.uk)
Magnitude 5.0 Earthquakes
“Nearly 500 earthquakes of at least magnitude 5.0 in a 30 day period is extremely unusual. Why have there been so many large earthquakes in recent weeks? This is something that people on social media are really buzzing about right now. And I am certainly glad that they are buzzing about it, because what we have been witnessing is not even close to normal. ‘Normal’ is approximately 110-125 earthquakes of that magnitude per month.
In 2025, we have been hit by one major disaster after another.
It is almost as if we are living in a disaster movie that never ends.” (theeconomiccollapseblog.com)
Mount Rainier Rocked By 800 Earthquakes In 30 Days
“Nearly 800 earthquakes have rattled Washington’s Mount Rainier in the last 30 days, sparking fears that one of America’s most dangerous volcanoes is coming to life. This towering stratovolcano looms over more than 3.3 million people across the Seattle-Tacoma metro area, threatening to cripple entire communities with ashfall, flooding, and catastrophic mudflows if it erupts.” (dailymail.co.uk)
Canary Islands Hit By ‘Seismic Swarm’
“Canary Islands hit by ‘seismic swarm’ as Tenerife records 11 earthquakes in one morning. Shallow tremors can indicate magma movement or changes in geothermal systems, sometimes serving as early warnings of eruptions. All of the tremors occurred at shallow depths, between zero and 13 kilometres below the surface. A shallow earthquake occurring at these depths is significant because it happens close to the Earth’s surface, where seismic waves have little distance to travel before reaching the ground. This means the energy does not dissipate much, so even moderate quakes can cause strong shaking and damage to buildings and infrastructure.” (express.co.uk)
Japan: Government Warns Of Imminent 9+ ‘Megaquake’
“Japan has been rocked by 900+ earthquakes in just 10 days across the Tokara Islands. Now the government says the risk of a magnitude 9+ MEGAQUAKE in the Nankai Trough is as high as 82% and could kill nearly 300,000 people. This isn’t fear porn. It’s math. The fault line snaps every 100–200 years. The last one? 1946. That’s not normal. Something’s coming. And Japan knows it.” (citizenwatchreport.com)
Earthquake of magnitude 7.5 hits Drake Passage off South America
“The earthquake struck more than 700 km (435 miles) southeast of Argentina's city of Ushuaia, with a population of about 57,000, the USGS said. There was no tsunami threat after Thursday's earthquake of magnitude 7.5 in the Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said, following its brief warning for Chilean coastal areas. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) revised down the quake magnitude, initially reported at 8, adding that it hit at a depth of 11 km (7 miles).” (jpost.com)
VOLCANOES
A ‘Parade Of Volcanic Eruptions’
“The massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula last week has triggered the activity of seven volcanoes in the area, according to the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS). The RAS said this is the first time in almost 300 years that seven volcanoes erupted at once in the region. The director of the institute, Alexey Ozerov, described the situation as an ‘extremely rare phenomenon that can be described as a parade of volcanic eruptions.’” (endtimeheadlines.org)
Seismic Instability In The Far East
“On Sunday, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake pummeled the Kamchatka Peninsula. On the other side of the globe, one of the most powerful volcanoes in Indonesia just shot hot ash 11 miles into the sky… For the second day in a row, one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, erupted. We have entered a time when we are being hit by major disasters on an almost constant basis.” (themostimportantnews.com)
Scientists Warn One Of World’s Supervolcanoes Is Awakening
“A powerful series of earthquakes at Campi Flegrei, a massive supervolcano in Italy has raised fresh concerns among scientists about the risk of a major eruption. In May, the Phlegraean Fields near Naples was shaken by a magnitude 4.4 earthquake, the strongest in 40 years. Over the past six months, scientists have recorded more than 3,000 smaller quakes, known as tremors, a figure far above normal seismic activity for the area. Experts say eruptions are usually preceded with the increase in earthquake activity, as underground pressure builds up. Campi Flegrei poses a serious threat to over four million people living in the metropolitan area of Naples.” (dailymail.co.uk)
FIRES
The Day The Sky Burned
“Firefighters in Spain and Greece continued to battle wildfires Friday on a public holiday in all three countries as persistent hot, dry conditions challenged efforts to contain the blazes. Spain was fighting 14 major fires. Temperatures were expected to climb over the weekend.
The national weather agency AEMET warned of extreme fire risk in most of the country, including where the largest blazes were burning in the north and west. A heatwave which brought temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) on several days this month was expected to last through Monday.” (dailymail.co.uk)
Spain’s Wildfires Draw Pedro Sánchez From Holiday As Firefighter Dies
“The Spanish PM had been criticised for failing to return home. There are 26 active blazes in the northwest region and four deaths so far. Wildfires continued to rage on Monday morning in northwest Spain, particularly affecting Castile and Leon. There were 26 active fires in the region, according to news service Europa Press, ten of which were at the highest level of severity. On both sides of the border between Spain and Portugal, angry and despairing residents of the worst affected areas — which are rural and facing steep declines in their population — have voiced their sense of abandonment by the authorities in the face of the fires.” (thetimes.com)
UK: Two Wildfire Incidents Within 24 Hours
“With two significant wildfire incidents breaking out within 24 hours this weekend, the Fire Brigades Union has issued a warning that UK fire services do not have the resources to keep the public safe.
In the last 24 hours, a major incident was declared at a wildfire in Holt Health, Dorset, while firefighters in Edinburgh also tackled a wildfire on Arthur’s Seat. Firefighters were drawn from five neighbouring services to assist Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service in fighting the Holt Heath blaze, leaving the region without adequate fire cover.” (fbu.org)
2025 On Track To Be Worst Year In The UK For Wildfires
“With nearly 800 wildfires by the end of July, the UK is on track for a record number of such incidents this year, firefighters warned. This year, so far, compared to last year’s first six months, wildfires have increased by 664 per cent to 793. In 2024, only 104 fires were reported. Compared to 2022, when 596 fires were reported, the increase is only 33 per cent, Sky News said. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has highlighted the figures as a major blaze burned across a moorland in North Yorkshire and authorities struggled to contain a fire in Dorset, the news outlet added.” (euroweeklynews.com)
Fire Prompts Thousands Of Evacuations In California
“A fierce wildfire north-west of Los Angeles prompted evacuation orders for thousands of residents on Friday, as extreme heat and dry conditions fuelled its rapid spread.
The blaze, named the Canyon Fire, ignited on Thursday afternoon along the border of Ventura and Los Angeles counties. By Friday evening, it had expanded from 30 acres to nearly 5,400.” (bbc.co.uk)
How The Dragon Bravo Fire Created Its Own Weather
“The massive wildfire burning near the Grand Canyon has been so intense at times that it created its own weather. The Dragon Bravo Fire - which has scorched more than 130,000 acres in Arizona north of the Grand Canyon - has become so hot that it spurred pyrocumulus clouds, or ‘fire clouds’ at points. The fire-driven clouds can form when the heat and smoke from a very large wildfire is released into the atmosphere, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
At times, these clouds can grow so large that they generate their own intense, erratic winds and even produce lightning. The most intense are called pyrocumulonimbus clouds, which are similar to a thunderstorm in structure and potential weather impacts.” (abcnews.go.com)
1 Dead, 11 Injured As 1,500 Firefighters Battle Raging Wildfires In France
“At least one person was killed and 11 others were injured by raging wildfires in France, where more than 1,500 firefighters are battling the flames, officials said. A French Minister has said the wildfire currently raging in southwestern France, north of Perpignan, has now burnt 13,000 hectares. In a post on X, Ecology Minister, Agnès Pannier-Runacher said that was equivalent to the total area burnt by multiple wildfires throughout the whole of 2024 and double the total area burnt by all wildfires in 2023.” (abcnews.go.com)
‘Pray For Rain’: Wildfires In Canada Are Now Burning Where They Never Used To
“Road closures, evacuations, travel chaos and stern warnings from officials have become fixtures of Canada’s wildfire season. But as the country goes through its second-worst burn on record, the blazes come with a twist: few are coming from the western provinces, the traditional centre of destruction. Instead, the worst of the fires have been concentrated in the prairie provinces and the Atlantic region, with bone-dry conditions upending how Canada responds to a threat that is only likely to grow as the climate warms. Experts say the shift serves as a stark reminder that the risk of disaster is present across the thickly forested nation. In recent weeks, tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes due to the wildfires. Saskatchewan and Manitoba have been the worst hit, covering more than 60% of the area burned in Canada. But the fires have also seized strained resources in Atlantic Canada, where officials in Newfoundland and Labrador are struggling to battle out-of-control blazes. The concerns in Canada echo those emerging across the Atlantic as southern Europe grapples with one of its worst wildfire seasons in two decades.” (theguardian.com)
FLOODS
China Floods: 80,000 Evacuated In Beijing As At Least 38 Killed
“Heavy rain caused flooding and landslides that washed away cars, forced evacuations and knocked out power in regions around Beijing, killing at least 38 people. Rescue and relief efforts were ongoing across the Chinese capital, home to 22 million people, as weather authorities issued their second-highest rainstorm warning for the city. The neighbouring Hebei and Tianjin provinces, as well as ten other provinces in northern, eastern and southern China, were also severely affected, the Xinhua news agency said.” (thetimes.com)
The San Antonio Tempest – June 12, 2025
“On June 12, an overnight thunderstorm dumped over 6 inches of rain across San Antonio in just a few hours, making it one of the ten rainiest single days in over a century. Residential streets, underpasses, and the major Loop 410 corridor, especially near Beitel Creek and Perrin Beitel Road, turned into dangerous waterways. Dozens of vehicles were swept away; first responders conducted high-water rescues around the clock. 13 fatalities have been confirmed, with several others injured or initially reported missing. The city experienced some of its deadliest flash flooding in recent memory.” (floodmart.com)
The Central Texas Catastrophe – July 4–7, 2025
“Remnants of Tropical Storm Barry stalled over Central Texas, triggering ‘training’ thunderstorms that dumped up to 20 inches of rain in parts of the Hill Country — especially across Kerr and surrounding counties. The Guadalupe River surged by 26–34 feet in under an hour, overwhelming riverbanks, homes, campgrounds, and bridges. At least 132 confirmed fatalities, including over 106 in Kerr County alone, with approximately 160 people still missing. Among the victims were 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic. This event now ranks as one of Texas’s deadliest natural disasters, surpassing several major hurricanes.” (floodmart.com)
Flash Flood In Indian Kashmir Leaves Dozens Dead And At Least 200 Missing
“At least 56 people have died and 80 are missing after a sudden rainstorm in Indian Kashmir, the second such disaster in the Himalayas in a little over a week. The incident in the town of Chashoti, Kishtwar district, occurred at a stopover point on a pilgrimage route. Days earlier, a flood and mudslide engulfed a village in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. ‘A large number of pilgrims had gathered for lunch and they were washed away,’ they said.” (theguardian.com)
Biblical Flooding In Midwest
“Flash flooding slammed parts of Wisconsin on Saturday evening, forcing revelers at the state fair to flee and left residents trapped inside their homes. Torrential rainfall battered the Badger State, with the National Weather Service (NWS) issuing a flash flooding warning for Milwaukee, West Allis and Wauwatosa. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the highest rain total was 10 inches in Butler. Rain monitors ran by Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District said that over 13 inches had fallen in the 8100 block of West Florist Avenue in Milwaukee.” (dailymail.co.uk)
Chicago Hit By 1,000-year And 500-year Rain Events Less Than Three Weeks Apart
“The torrential rainfall that pounded parts of Chicago on July 25 was so extreme, it typically occurs only once every 1,000 years, according to the National Weather Service. This extremely rare rain event comes on the heels of the July 8 storm that dumped 5 inches of rain in less than three hours on a different part of central Chicago - an event only expected once every 500 years, according to the NWS.” (cbsnews.com)
10 Dead, 33 Missing After Yuzhong County, China, Receives Half A Year’s Rainfall In 24 Hours
“Flash floods in Yuzhong County, Gansu Province, China, killed at least 10 people and left 33 missing after up to half of the county’s average annual rainfall fell between August 7 and 8, 2025. Chinese President Xi Jinping urged local authorities to carry out full-scale rescue operations. By the morning of August 8, 195 mm (7.68 inches) of rainfall was recorded in the mountainous parts of Yuzhong. This equaled roughly half of the county’s average annual rainfall of 300–400 mm (12–16 inches).” (watchers.news)
UK Floods
“On 17 July, trials in six courtrooms at the Old Bailey were forced to move after floodwater started to pour down the walls, with one witness describing it as ‘like the Titanic’ as water lapped in the corridors. On 20 July, some weather stations in Northern Ireland recorded their wettest July day on record amid an amber weather warning for rain. The M12 motorway was closed after it partially flooded and a number of roads in Enniskillen were impassable due to floodwater. A number of properties were flooded and a rock climbing centre estimated damage would cost over £20,000. In Killowen, 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain fell in 12 hours, close to its monthly average of 80.7 mm (3.18 in).
Rain in the East of England led to floods on 21 July following weeks of prolonged sunshine and high temperatures. A number of schools were closed due to flooding and rail services were disrupted between Norwich and Wymondham due to water on the tracks. Power outages were reported in Long Stratton and the area north of Aylsham, with villages including Alby, Antingham and Erpingham affected. Flash floods also took place in Newport, Shropshire, where a number of businesses and homes were flooded.” (wikipedia.org)
…Then There's Droughts
Severe Drought Is Affecting Much Of The Northern Hemisphere
“Europe is experiencing its worst drought in 500 years. That is the dire assessment of the Joint Research Centre, the European Commission’s scientific advisory body. According to its latest report, published on August 22nd, nearly half of Europe’s land mass is now in drought. That is because the continent received just 20% of its usual rainfall last winter and spring. The dry conditions have coupled with extreme heat this summer. Temperatures in July were 0.7°C above the 1991-2020 average, the sixth highest on record.” (economist.com)
The American West’s Drought Is Its Second-Worst For 12 Centuries
“The South-West of the United States, together with adjacent parts of Mexico across the Rio Grande, is one of the driest parts of the North American continent. But, over the past two decades, even that expected dryness has been taken to the limit. According to Park Williams, who works at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, the current lack of rainfall in the area constitutes a megadrought of a magnitude seen on only four other occasions in the past 1,200 years.” (economist.com)
What Mankind Forgets!
It is God who controls the weather. Note what He inspired the prophet Amos to warn:
“And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread [famine] …
And also I have withholden the rain from you [drought], …
I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: [as a result of hot weather and floods] yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.” (Amos 4:6-9)
God uses earthquakes to fulfil His plan:
“And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.” (Revelation 16:18)
There Is A Reason For All These Disasters!
It is not popular to talk about God these days. However, He has not gone away. His word is sure. He pronounces blessings on those who obey His Law – and curses on those who don’t! Our nations have disobeyed! As the articles above point out – the curses are upon us! Read Deuteronomy 28:15-68.
This Is The New ‘Normal’
“Our fields are cursed; cursed with upset weather, drought, flood, insect damage and disease – cursed with chemicals and man-made blight.
Our basket and our store is cursed – depleted national reserves – gone overseas to feed starving peoples (to nations which rarely, if ever, back US policies) in an admittedly temporary effort – only delaying the starvation facing millions.
Whether we like to admit it or not – our peoples are under a curse today.” (Tomorrow… What It Will Be Like - Chapter 6)
This Is What ‘Normal’ Will Look Like - Soon!
“If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;
Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.
And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.
And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.
And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.” (Leviticus 26:3-6, 11-12)
Surviving under Pressure
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation [Grk:pressure]: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
Titan Submersible Disaster
More than 100 years after sinking off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, the infamous ocean liner Titanic continues to capture the public's imagination and has inspired multiple books and films – and now enthusiasts can travel in submersible vehicles to the wreckage, which lies 12,500 feet below the surface of the ocean. A fascinating trip no doubt, but not without its dangers, as any submersible will have to contend with unpredictable currents, debris, and the intense pressure of extreme depths ... and it was the problem of extreme pressure that was the undoing of the Titan submersible in the summer of 2023. The Titan imploded ninety minutes into the dive after its carbon-fibre hull suffered a catastrophic loss of structural integrity, according to the investigation. The 5-man crew thankfully would have died instantly after being subjected to approximately 5,000 pounds per square inch of water pressure. That amounts to pressure of two and a half tons – per square inch! – compared to an atmospheric pressure of 14 and a half pounds per square inch at sea level.
Rob McCallum, a specialist in deep water operations, (who advised Oceangate between 2009 and 2016), told the BBC that carbon fibre is an unpredictable material: "When you listen to the sounds of that hull under stress, and the cracking and the popping, that's the sign of damage in the hull, that means the hull is getting weaker, so you can't expect to take a vehicle to the same depth every time knowing that it's weaker than the dive before, and expect it not to fail at some stage. It is a mathematical certainty that it will fail." He added: "The tragedy is, you don't know when it's going to fail."
Times of Pressure Ahead
- Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22)
It is interesting that in the Greek language, "tribulation" is literally PRESSURE (Strongs G2346/7) and I would think all of us have our days even now when we feel "troubled [Grk; compressed] on every side" (II Corinthians 4:8). As the apostle Paul warned Timothy; "Mark this, there are hard times coming in the last days ... (II Timothy 3:1 Moffatt), ... and there certainly are very hard times coming on this earth in the next few years, when Satan brings on to humanity the greatest time of trial the world has ever seen, or ever will see. As Mr. Armstrong mentions in a Co-Worker letter in 1981:
We are right now in the preliminary stages leading to “THE GREAT TRIBULATION” of Matthew 24:21-22. In that Tribulation a third of our people will be killed by World War III – an all-out nuclear war that would destroy all humanity from the earth except for the supernatural intervention of GOD! Another third will die of disease epidemics resulting from famine. A final third will be taken prisoners and made SLAVES. This coming world Tribulation will quickly proceed to the point where, if God delayed intervening another day, ALL HUMANITY WOULD BE ERASED FROM EARTH! (Co Worker letter December 27, 1981)
Although it is true that God's people – His elect – will be protected through its heat, it is exceedingly doubtful that the countdown to that time will be trouble-free, particularly when you consider that the first three plagues of ancient Egypt also had to be endured by Israel.
Wherever we may live in this world, during such a lead-up period our faith in God will need to be paramount. Even now, almost two years since Hamas attacked Israeli settlements, terrorism continues to achieve its aim of intimidating and alarming the general population in Gaza and elsewhere. Yet only the Eternal has the power required to give us a place of true protection – and the faith that we will need in that day of Jacob's trouble is something that we all need to develop by exercising it now. This close to our objective, we don't want our end to be like that of Titan – buckling under pressure (Matthew 13:20,21). As the prophet Jeremiah asks:
- If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace, how will you do in the thicket of the Jordan? (Jeremiah 12:5 NASB)
The book of Psalms is filled with encouragement in the direction of total trust in the Eternal. They are filled with words that build our faith, focusing our minds on the true God and His spirit, through which the fruit of rock-solid faith can grow. One such psalm is Psalm 91 and what I think would be beneficial for this pastor's report is to go through it, and show its amazing relevance to us today, as we go forward into the time of the greatest stress and pressure this world has ever experienced.
House and Home
- He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow [Heb: defence, shade] of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1)
We are all familiar with such phrases as "there's no place like home" and "home is where the heart is" and one of our biggest investments in life is normally the purchase of a house or apartment, as a form of security – a base to protect us and our loved ones from the storms of life. The need for such sanctuary is certainly recognised by God, when He promises mankind will live in peace under his own vine and fig tree in the Millennial rule of Jesus Christ. (Micah 4:4, Leviticus 25:13)
But such peaceful and stable times are something for the future promised by God – when Satan, and all his ideas and evil broadcast have been obliterated. In the period leading up to the Great Tribulation, that will most certainly not be the case, and it is more likely to get worse! As severe economic conditions hit the world as a whole, we might find ourselves, temporarily joining the ranks of those in Hebrews 11 who "wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth" (Hebrews 11:38). At the very best, we will one day close our front door for the last time – having to trust God thereafter for our very lives, let alone a place to lay our heads. But the true shelter is given by this verse, in that our minds must dwell on and in the secret place of the Most High and thereby in truth; "home is where the heart is", and we can have complete confidence that we abide under the protection of the Almighty, for an eternal purpose ... "And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens ... (Isaiah 51:16).
The Nation's Defences
- I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
- Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. (Psalm 91:2-3)
From the Daily Telegraph, 31 July 2025
The former president of Russia has threatened the US with nuclear weapons in an escalating war of words with Donald Trump. Dmitry Medvedev, now a key Putin ally on Russia’s security council, had criticised Mr Trump’s threat to impose sanctions on Moscow in less than two weeks if it did not agree to a ceasefire.
Mr Trump responded on Thursday by warning Medvedev, who he described as the “failed former President of Russia”, to “watch his words” in a post on Truth Social. Medvedev responded again on Thursday night by reminding Mr Trump that Moscow possessed Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities of last resort....
... Mr Trump should remember, Medvedev said, “how dangerous the fabled ‘Dead Hand’ can be”, a reference to a secretive semi-automated Russian command system designed to launch Moscow’s nuclear missiles if its leadership had been taken out in a decapitating strike. (telegraph.co.uk)
It is clear that both Messrs Trump and Medvedev are largely leaving God out of the picture as they make their respective plans for military supremacy. As is General Asim Munir of Pakistan, who has been quoted as saying "We are a nuclear power. If we go down, [in a war with India] we'll take half the world with us". Relying on weaponry for military superiority is nothing new. In a moment of weakness, King David himself did the same when he numbered Israel (II Samuel 24). If even David was tempted in this direction of looking to the physical for protection, how much more may we fall into the same trap?
Some within the wider church appear to glory in the military ethos, relishing what military experiences they formally had and still identify with the world's way of doing things in this area of national defence, and even have put a degree of confidence in the weaponry possessed by the US. And yet even now in the Middle East we see the position of a handful of terrorists being able to cause misery and mayhem to thousands – a situation which will spill over into modern day Israel, as prophesied within the curses of Deuteronomy 28, and also in the book of Isaiah:
- Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.
- And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.
- For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.
- But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.
- One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill. (Isaiah 30:13-17)
- Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me ; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
- That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
- Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion (Isaiah 30:1-3)
The alternative – of explicitly trusting in God – will be vital for us in the future, as we face not only indiscriminate terrorism but even biological warfare as well. And as prophesied in Revelation 12:6, that time is coming when we will need to rely on our God to open the earth to swallow the pursuing armies – an echo of Israel's miraculous deliverance via the Red Sea. Thus it is vital for us at this period of relative peace to be developing the same kind of faith, exhibited by David in Psalm 18: a refuge to which we consistently flee.
- There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
- An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
- Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
- To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. (Psalm 33:16-19)
Wall to Wall Protection
- He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
- Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; (Psalm 91:4-5)
Increasingly we find governments of western democracies attempting to win votes by offering total security from cradle to grave – Obamacare, National Health Service, the state pension, disability allowance, free school meals. The thinking is that this form of socialism develops a compliant population which will be reticent to jeopardise the handouts they are receiving. But the very fabric of our system – money itself – currently lies very uneasily in the balance. The current level of debt is unsustainable and the signs are all around us that the eventual day of reckoning is imminent. When that comes, not only will the government handouts undoubtedly cease, but even the security we thought we had via our savings in the bank will be jeopardised. A glance back at economies such as the Weimar Republic, Zimbabwe, Argentina and Venezuela should confirm the financial fragility in which we place so much trust.
- And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
- And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
- And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
- And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
- But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
- So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. (Luke 12:16-21)
Our life is but a vapour – and whether young or old, we have no idea how much longer we might live! Being rich towards God includes a deep respect for His Way, His word – the Truth – and that Word includes truly wonderful promises we can call on when in need:
- They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. (Psalm 37:19)
- I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. (Psalm 37:25)
- But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. (Proverbs 1:33)
- In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. (Proverbs 14:26)
- And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. (Isaiah 46:4)
- For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. (Isaiah 41:13)
Doctors and Medicine
- Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
- A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
- Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. (Psalm 91:6-8)
Mr. Armstrong did not mince his words when it came to a contrast between relying on God and relying on the medical profession:
"Is it because there is no God in the homes of our families, that we rely on “the god of Ekron”? "I am shocked – saddened – discouraged – hurt!
"I am writing this in flight. We just took off from Orr, Minn., flying back to Pasadena. At the SEP camp I spoke to 728, including 280 brethren from surrounding churches. I was informed that the youths in camp habitually demand a doctor for every little thing. It seems they have been taught at home to rely on doctors rather than God.
"When it is suggested that they may be anointed by a minister of God, in prayer for God to heal, as God PROMISES in James 5:14-15, they will consent, but seem to regard it as a perfunctory ritual of no effectuality, and still demand a doctor who can make them well. Their faith is wholly in the human doctor, not in God. Apparently their parents have no faith that God can keep His promises, and have not relied on God for healing their children.
"Brethren, I was shocked. It was like being stabbed in the heart. We are the generation looking for the coming of Christ and the Kingdom of God. We are the Bride of Christ. We have to be READY for His coming, or the door to eternal life and salvation will be SLAMMED IN OUR FACES (Matt. 25:10-12)! Jesus said, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches”! (GN Oct/Nov 1981 "Are We Back On The Track? – When We Lack Faith?")
According to Georgetown University's Health Policy analysis, three-quarters of those age 50 to 64 in the US use prescription drugs, as do 91 percent of those aged 80 and older. Yet the nation is anything but healthy. It is also well known that the western world has a major problem with addiction to tranquillisers and painkillers. What will people do when society starts to crumble around their ears and these drugs are no longer available? It might not take the Great Tribulation before they become scarce – it could very easily happen in the lead up, i.e the next few years. Mass vaccination programmes are not going to protect us or our loved ones from the destruction and pestilence prophesied to happen, and often makes things worse, as we witnessed in the Covid debacle. We will need miraculous protection – the kind given to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, when hurled into the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:27). It is highly unlikely that these three young men just happened to develop that kind of faith on the spur of the moment ... it had to be something which grew in their daily walk with their God. (see also Daniel 6 that recounts the incident of Daniel in the lion's den)
It is a matter of where and in whom do we put our trust when our health is threatened. If we put the following scriptures together, we can see Mr. Armstrong's assessment is very much the same as that of Almighty God Himself.
- And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. (Exodus 15:26)
- I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. (Isaiah 42:8)
- Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
- For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
- Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
- For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
- The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
- I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 17:5-10)
With this in mind, we need to make sure should we discuss the health problems we are facing, we do as admonished by James 5:16 – and share our 'faults' – or illnesses – with each other, requesting prayers, rather than discussing whatever treatments we are currently involved with – be that somewhat natural or more along the 'traditional' medical route. Now is a time in which we ALL need to be building the required faith in our God – and not in the medical profession that is ultimately destined to fail. The key remains, where are we putting our faith?
Our Only True Protection
- Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
- There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
- For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
- They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. (Psalm 91:9-12)
The fact is we are merely strangers and pilgrims, citizens of a totally different Kingdom – a different order of things – a different society. And as such we place our trust and faith in that Kingdom's future government, educational system, healing services, technology – all of which will have a spiritual basis. And while we wait for that new world order, God's holy righteous angels – the servants of that Kingdom – are currently given charge over us as Psalm 91 and other passages express:
- The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. (Psalm 34:7)
- Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (Hebrews 1:14)
- Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 18:10)
- Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?(Matthew 26:53)
- And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
- And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
- And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. (II Kings 5:15-17)
Not Fighting Flesh and Blood
- Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. (Psalm 91:13)
The reference to a dragon in Psalm 91 is easily understood from Revelation 12:9, but how many times have you seen anyone tread on a lion? So the inference must be that this passage is speaking metaphorically of the devil as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8). As we are forcefully reminded in Ephesians 6, we are not fighting flesh and blood!
The firstfruits' role is destined to replace the current lying, slandering rule of Satan – a being who from the very beginning did not trust God and encouraged Eve to do the same, sowing doubts in her mind as to God's dependability. This modern materialistic world has been specifically designed, constructed and manipulated by this being whose entire direction is contrary to God – as much as Get is to Give. Jesus Christ could see this direction towards materialism and asked the question; When He returns, will He find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8).
We're having to cope with and grow within a society that not only rejects the spiritual in so many cases, but is more and more self-absorbed. We can see this in so many worldly self-help concepts that focus on loving yourself and the inner power (self-confidence) that they claim can be tapped into. When in reality, without the help and power of God's spirit, we remain helpless against our enemy, and have nothing more than this physical, chemical existence that is day by day, running down towards our eventual death. Conversely, God does indeed give us that power to combat Satan – encouraging us to put on the whole armour of God, that we may be able to stand against his wiles. (Ephesians 6:11):
- And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
- Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
- Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
- In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. (Luke 10:18-21)
- And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. (Ezekiel 2:6)
Our Heavenly Father
- Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
- He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
- With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. (Psalm 91:14-16)
God has many names that express various facets of His character. Getting to intimately know this Being as our Father and the living Jesus Christ as our elder Brother is going to be vital in the days ahead. Only that regular personal contact with God will enable us to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand at the return of Christ. (Ephesians 6:13)
As revealed to Moses at the burning bush incident, His foundational name is YHWH, translated as LORD, literally meaning: "the I was, I am, I will be", the Eternal, the self-existent One. Which is why He described Himself to Moses as "I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." (Exodus 3:14)
- Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
- Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (Isaiah 46:9,10)
Onto that basis we find other various facets expressed. For example, in Exodus 15:26, we see that God takes to Himself the role of our healer, using the name YHWH Raphah, (Strongs 07495) – the eternal healer. And in I Samuel 17, David meets Goliath with the words: "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied." (I Samuel 17:45) ... i.e.YHWH Sabaoth – The Eternal of armies. (Strongs 06635).
Mankind, in this evil age and under Satan's sway, has taken these attributes to himself – and ever more so as his materialistic capabilities have grown. He is now even manipulating the very stuff of life – DNA – feeling he has no further need of a God and thereby pushing belief in the spiritual into the realm of fantasy. That alien mindset is just about ready to crash – big time – and be replaced by a true perspective of the situation in which we find ourself. This entire reality rests on the Word and Spirit of God, and that source must be where we place our trust. Yes, OT Israel did suffer a few of the plagues that Egypt did, BUT our minds should be focused on the fact that God supernaturally spared them from the worst! (Exodus 8:22, 9:26, 10:23, 11:7)
As we can see from Psalm 146 below, the God with whom we need that daily contact, will bring us through all and everything this world can throw at us, as we place our trust in Him, and also will grant us the ultimate salvation, or rescue – eternal life!
- Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
- While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
- Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
- His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
- Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
- Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
- Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:
- The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:
- The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
- The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD. (Psalm 146:1-10)
“Just what is an APOSTLE?”
Today we find the Church of God in a “wilderness of religious confusion!”
The confusion is not merely around the Church – within the religions of the world outside – but WITHIN the very heart of The True Church itself!
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