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WorldWatch |
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Vol. 2, No. 1 Published by the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association |
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WILL THE DOLLAR BE REPLACED AS And now — THE EURO has taken center stage as the new currency for 11 nations in Europe. As of January 1st, the central banks of those nations had pegged the new European currency at $1.18 to the dollar. COMPETITION is ahead! by Garner Ted Armstrong Already, American travelers in Europe are using their credit cards for purchases in the "Euro," which came into being at midnight, December 31, 1998, when one minute later January 1, 1999 occurred. While there are a total of 15 nations involved in the European Union (EU), Britain, Denmark, Sweden and Greece have not joined in the common currency. As I reported several months ago, Greece was in turmoil with charges of corruption over "privatization," with scuffles breaking out, ministers in the government being replaced, and the inability of the country to meet the requirement of keeping its deficits to a 3% of GDP. So much graft and corruption was uncovered as those in positions of power cut deals with eager companies trying to buy formerly nationalized industries that Greece was unable to get its financial house in order in time. Britain opted out primarily over sharp disagreements with "Red Oscar" Lafontaine, Germany's finance minister, and value-added taxes extracted in Germany to pay for social programs. For decades, I have told millions of people, and predicted before tens of thousands of live audiences that I believed Britain (the United Kingdom) would NOT be a part of the final ten nations prophesied to form in central Europe, identified as the "Beast" power of Revelation 17. From now on, most equities and government borrowing among the eleven nations will be traded in Euros. The actual bills and coins will not be issued until 2002. Until that time, retailers will be posting prices in domestic currencies, as well as in Euros, so that those using cash will pay in their usual Francs, Marks, or Lira, while those using credit cards will pay in Euros. Experts predict the transition period will not be easy. For one thing, tax rates have differed significantly among European nations, and the UK has balked over the much higher European tax rates, such as VAT (value added tax) in Germany and elsewhere, because of their cherished "welfare state" institutions. Socialism is at a peak in such nations. Government tax schedules sometimes require employers to pay more to their workers via taxation for benefits than direct salary. This is cited as one of the main reasons for high unemployment in the former East Germany—above 20%—and the resultant unrest, and attacks on foreign workers who are regarded as taking up German jobs. Neo-Nazi incidents have been widespread. Foreigners have been beaten, and some have been killed. Once again, Jewish cemeteries have been defaced. Fascism is not dead in Germany. Another problem will be future mergers. Different countries with different cultures, languages, and business practices may find it difficult to merge, for example, if one of the eleven countries were facing a recession and high unemployment, but the central European bank wanted to pursue a tight monetary policy to control inflation. The newly-elected head of the European Central Bank will very quickly be more powerful on the global economic scene than Alan Greenspan of the Fed. For decades, I have warned that an economically powerful Europe will challenge the U.S. for global leadership. Now, with a combined population of nearly 300 million, and a Gross Domestic Product as large as that of the U.S., we shall soon see that there is, in fact, another super power in the world. Soon, regional conflicts such as those in the Gulf and Kosovo will receive the attention of this emerging giant. It is important to remember that one of the direct results of the imposition of the coming "Mark of the Beast" by force will be the inability to "buy or sell," and will therefore be economic in nature. John wrote, "And he [the "image of the Beast"; an ecclesiastical system patterned after the political system] causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand [signifying physical agreement; willingness to work], or in their foreheads [signifying mental and spiritual agreement]: "And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. "Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six" (Revelation 13:16-18). If you have not yet read my booklet about the Mark of the Beast, please write, or call for your free copy. In the months and years to come, look for massive dislocation in Europe, as companies which have hitherto taken advantage of different tax structures (or incentives put in place by governments and local communities to attract industry and business) or cheap labor costs will be moving elsewhere, where their production is based on direct costs. We may be seeing a shaking down process in Europe; some nations will not remain tied to the Euro, not necessarily because they do not wish to be, but because they cannot match the required criteria; cannot pay the heavy fines provided for if they do not adhere to their deficits remaining below the 3% of GDP. The eventual "United States of Europe" (if it is called by that name) will not emerge as a gradual, peaceful evolution among states, but will coalesce following a global financial collapse, and the emergence of dictatorships. As I have warned for decades, WATCH EUROPE! o ______________________________________________
"NEEDLES IN HAYSTACKS" by Garner Ted Armstrong With only one year to go on finding and fixing the "Year 2000 bug" (Y2K) in millions of computers, some experts are at total odds on whether the problem will be solved in time. Some are predicting a virtual "apocalypse," in which a global meltdown of hundreds of systems which depend upon computers would occur. Others are of the opinion the problem will merely be an annoyance for a time. Even the President got into the act, saying the Y2K bug "...involves not just Federal agencies, but anyone who depends upon a computer, which is everyone, directly or indirectly." Huge companies like Merrill Lynch, Barclays Global Investing, Amoco, Exxon, IBM and others, to name but a few, are spending hundreds of millions of dollars in attempting to ferret out and fix computers with chips which will not recognize any year after 1999, and which will read "00" as 1900, instead of 2000, thereby either shutting down entirely, or spewing out false data. Clinton's comments were intended to reassure millions of Americans on Social Security, as well as hundreds of thousands of government employees and veterans who depend upon the Federal Government for their checks. So far, U.S. banks have spent over $8 billion trying to fix the Y2K bug, and claim their accounts will be safe. However, the Federal Reserve Bank has printed up $50 billion in new currency, preparing for a likely run on banks. According to one report, if one used the grading system of schools on government agencies and private industry to indicate how successful they are in fixing the problem, the Department of Energy would receive an "F" for failure! There is serious doubt about what the department can do to insure electrical power is available on January 1, 2000. A spokesman for the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) said, "All the government agencies will not be done [sic] on time. There will be some failures. Right now as a country we do not know where we stand on water, power and telecommunications. If you don't have water, power or telecom, you can't get the job done." There is no telling what will happen on that date so far as the Internal Revenue Service is concerned. According to the GAO, many citizens could receive erroneous checks. No doubt, some gleeful ones will receive "refunds" they are not entitled to. Will you be able to make a telephone call on that morning? AT & T says they still have 3,000 software programs to inspect and fix in the coming year, while the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) is still three months behind on its Y2K preparedness. Tom Farrington, who leads Amoco Corporation's efforts in preparing for year 2000 says, "You just don't know if you've gotten everything." The company claims it is about 95% finished with fixing its thousands of desktop operating systems software, and about 90% of the way through with fixing its custom-built office applications. The trouble is, only one computer, linked to dozens of others, can cause big problems with all of them. The sheer size of the problem is mind-boggling. Practically everything we use on a daily basis; everything we depend upon for food, clothing and shelter; transportation, communication, electricity, gas; a host of energy slaves which give us the daily life we lead in a technologically advanced society, is run by computers. Computers generate your payroll checks, and keep track of your deposits and withdrawals at the bank. They keep track of inventory, and ring up the amount you are charged for canned soups and dry cereal. They monitor the number of gallons of gas you purchase, and print your receipt, after they have charged your credit or debit card electronically at the pump. Computers run the vast power grids which extend outward from huge hydroelectric dams, nuclear power plants or steam-driven power plants, providing millions of people; whole cities and states, with electrical power. Deep concern has been expressed over the computerized nuclear energy all over the world, from Brazil to Japan; from South Africa to the U.S. Some have darkly speculated that another "Chernoble" could occur. Recently, in Virginia, thousands were without electrical power for over eight days as the result of an ice storm which broke down power lines. All they could do was bundle up, use emergency heating and lighting (if they possessed any), and wait it out until hard-working crews could repair the lines. Finding a tree leaning over a telephone pole is one thing, but ferreting out a tiny defective computer chip in a maze of chips in a huge main frame computer is quite another. A few years ago, a falling tree in Idaho resulted in a vast loss of power in California! Each local power company runs on computers, as do the large, regional companies. All air travel is computerized, as is rail travel. The electronically-operated baggage systems and "people mover" trams in large airports are computerized. The problem is so huge, so incomprehensible, that it affects the entire world. In some ways, the old saw, "the bigger they are, the harder they fall," could be applied to the most advanced technologies in comparison with underdeveloped, poorer countries, many of them largely agrarian societies. Compare a modern home with a farm like those in the 1920's and 1930's, where I spent many summers as a boy. A modern home has electric lights, running water, perhaps a gas or electric water heater, air-conditioning, refrigerator, freezer, electric stove, and many electrical appliances such as blenders, electric can openers, ceiling fans, television, telephones, and home PCs. In the worst case scenario, all of these energy slaves could simply shut down. On my grandmother's farm we had no electric lights, no running water, and no energy slaves of any kind saving those provided by a gasoline or diesel-driven generator, and even this was a very late invention of my uncle. We had, however, several cows, and therefore fresh milk, cream, and butter (my brother and I used to make it by rolling a jar back and forth across the floor). We had horses which we could hitch to ploughs, rakes, harrows, wagons and buggies. We had an outdoor privy with two seats and a Sears-Roebuck or "Monkey Ward" (as my uncle called it) catalogue for both reading and other uses. We had, in season, plums, peaches, apples, English and black walnuts, grapes, pears, filberts and both blackberries and red caps. We had rhubarb, spinach, cabbage, potatoes, corn, wheat, and all the garden vegetables. We had two wells, and a nearby river ran alongside the property which had trout all year long and salmon in season. We were, in a word, self-sufficient. The house was heated by a wood-burning stove designed by my grandfather, with an outer shield to circulate the hot air into the room. Lighting was provided by coal-oil lanterns we lit at night. We had two kinds of chickens and plenty of eggs, and one of the young bulls could be butchered now and then to provide red meat. The power could have been out in Portland for a year, and we would never have known the difference. By analogy, the nations which are most technologically advanced are the most vulnerable to Y2K, while those which are the most backward (such as Albania) will be largely unaffected. There is a caution here, however. Many of the "third world" countries, such as those in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America, have purchased huge main frame computers built in the 1960's from American and European countries. Recently, and for the first time, the United Nations hosted a meeting of "national coordinators" from over one hundred and twenty countries to study the global effects of Y2K. The chairman of the conference, Ahmad Kamal, who is Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN, said, "It appears that electricity and power, whether nuclear or hydroelectric, is a critically important sector." The conference was studying banking and finance, since the global economy depends so much on interchange between the central banks of many nations, and the IMF. The U.S. representative at the conference, Joseph Connor, said the consequences of the Y2K bug were "unpredictable" and noted that not all Y2K problems will occur at midnight on December 31st, 1999, because many credit cards with expiration dates of 2000 and beyond are already being rejected by computers as expired, and "other problems will continue to appear well into the next century." The group estimated that the global cost for remedying Y2K could soar to over $600 billion, which is more than the GDP of many, many third world nations combined. Furthermore, it was noted that lawsuits stemming from Y2K breakdowns could eventually reach about $1.4 TRILLION (that's three thousand, four hundred million dollars!) worldwide. Noting this belated conference held at UN headquarters, with only one year to go before Y2K occurs, the U.S. Information Agency said, "The UN was forged to bring order to a world wracked by technological disaster [the explosion of the first atomic bombs used in war] —Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Now, it's trying to do it again." The other day, I received a letter from an elderly lady who is on fixed income, wondering if she should purchase an auxiliary gas-powered electric generator, stock up on food and heavy clothing and the like. I advised caution, especially since she lived in a southern state, and obviously could not afford to spend thousands of dollars on emergency equipment. Nevertheless, it pays to look at your home as if it were a tent, instead of a modern home with energy slaves. People in Virginia, without power for over eight days, may have inadvertently been thrust into dress rehearsal for Y2K. I will keep watching, as will all those in the Intercontinental Church of God, and those in affiliation with the Evangelistic Association, and bring you updates in each issue of this newsletter or in our newspaper, The Intercontinental News. As I have repeatedly stated, there is absolutely no prophetic or biblical significance to the wholly artificial date of January 1, 2000 on the Gregorian Calendar. Doomsdayers and suicide cults are preparing — one cult disappeared from Denver and showed up in Israel — and Israeli officials know many thousands have bought one-way tickets to Israel. All hotels in Jerusalem are reportedly solidly booked for New Year's day, 2000. All of this is nonsense, of course, but try telling that to a doomsday cult! Probably the most utterly ridiculous thing about 2000 hype is that it is NOT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT MILLENNIUM AT ALL! It is being called so because it is assumed the year 2000 begins the third millennium since the birth of Christ. It does no such thing, of course, since Christ was born in September of 4 BC as the pagan calendar marks time. In the first place "millennium" means "one thousand years," not one hundred! Centennium is the Latin word for a century, not millennium! The year 2000 is, instead of the beginning of a so-called "new millennium," the LAST YEAR OF THE 1900s! All you need do is count from 1901 to 2000 to prove it—you will end up with exactly 100 years! 2001 is the beginning of the next century, or Centennium, while 2000 is the last year of the 100. But stupid terms or not, miscounted dates or not, frenzied millions will "celebrate" next year. It makes one wonder if, during all the screaming, spouting champagne bottles, fireworks and the strains of Auld Ang Sine in New York's Times' Square next December 31st at midnight, all the lights will suddenly go out. If they do, some of the revelers may sober up very rapidly, indeed. o ______________________________________________ RIVAL FOR THE
FED At the heart of Europe's new economic system is the European Central Bank (ECB). Its president, on the last day of 1998, made a significant statement to the press just after the Governing Council of the ECB had met. You need to read that statement. by Garner Ted Armstrong And now—the ECB, one of the most powerful financial institutions in history, rivaling the power of the FED, and similar in structure! The ECB operates from a spectacular skyscraper in Frankfurt, Germany, and is responsible for the conduct of monetary policy for the eleven nations now changed over to the Euro, the new common European currency. The ECB, like our own FED, will set interest rates for the eleven, and will be the sole issuer of the new Euro. The ECB grew out of the "European Monetary Union," (EMU), which is already being called "Euroland." Will this be the name for the eventual powerful juggernaut of 10 nations in central Europe called the "Beast" in Bible prophecy, instead of "The United States of Europe"? Time will tell. Meanwhile, the bank is in business. Each day, the giant new institution is engaged in trying to ensure price stability in all the eleven countries who have signed on to the Euro; setting short-term interest rates for Euroland through meetings of its council; ensuring liquidity in financial markets, and regulating the money market. The ECB consists of a president, appointed for a nonrenewable term of 8 years; a Directorate, consisting of 6 members including the president, and a Board of Governors, which include the Directorate and the governors of the various national central banks in the eleven nations. The ECB is totally independent, however of all other European institutions AND national governments; a powerhouse of finance; a law unto itself; having the same power in Europe that the FED does in the United States. The famous Maastricht Treaty, which paved the way for the ECB, stipulates that members of the council must "be independent from political interference"! Now, here are the remarks of the president of the ECB, Dr. Willem F. Duisenberg: "A few minutes ago the Council adopted the irrevocable conversion rates for the Euro. It did so upon a proposal from the Commission of the European Communities and after consultation of the European Central Bank (ECB). Earlier today (December 31, 1998) the Governing Council of the ECB held a meeting by means of a teleconference to approve the ECB's legal Opinion. I have delivered that ECB Opinion personally to the Council. "Today's decision is a historic one. In the end it turned out to be almost a formality — different from what many of us might have expected barely a year ago. First, this can be attributed to the credibility of the convergence process. Second we also owe this to the pre-announcement early in May of this year that the ERM central rates would be used for today's process to fix the conversion rates. "Today's decision was the last of many decisions to make possible the introduction of the Euro, a new currency for almost 300 million people in eleven countries. This last decision was as simple as it is far-reaching. A currency is far more than just a medium of exchange, a unit of account and a store of value — important though these properties already are. A currency is also part of the identity of a people. It reflects what they have in common, now and in the future. May the Euro become a unifying symbol for the people of Europe. "I also feel quite touched — personally — by today's events. I have been involved in the process leading to the creation of the single currency for more than twenty years now, first as a Minister of Finance and later as a central banker. Now we have made it. From now on, monetary policy, usually an essential part of national sovereignty, will be decided by a truly European institution, the ECB. This will be a great challenge. I can assure you that we shall do our utmost to make the Euro a currency in which European citizens will be able to place their trust. The Euro has to become a currency which will keep its value over time and contribute to a stable, prosperous and peaceful Europe" (Emphasis mine). Dr. Duisenberg is not alone in being touched personally! I am deeply moved by the whirlwind pace at which events are now falling into place which I have been predicting since the middle 1950's! My father and I were far, far ahead of our time with our articles in the PLAIN TRUTH, and my thousands of radio and televison programs, predicting that a gigantic power bloc would arise in central Europe, which would become a SUPER POWER, able to arbitrate between the East and West during the Cold War. I knew, and said hundreds of times, that such nations as East Germany, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia and the Czech Republic), Bulgaria and Romania would eventually become a part of a united Europe! All during the time I was saying this, all those countries lay under Soviet domination! The moment a Polish pope was elected, I knew he would prove to be the crowbar which would prize loose the iron grip of the Russians from all these countries! Millions of Americans, Britons, Australians, South Africans, Canadians and peoples in many other English-speaking parts of the world, such as the Philippines, have been WARNED! Now, as thousands of those who KNEW what to expect on the world scene have turned back into the world of Babylonish confusion; have embraced the great false "MYSTERY" religion; as thousands of others have formed into disagreeing, bickering, squabbling groups, PROPHECY IS BURSTING UPON THE SCENE! Now, events will SPEED UP, as the United States finds itself challenged by a gigantic FRANKENSTEIN of its own creation, beginning just after World War II, with the outpouring of millions of "Marshal Plan" dollars into Germany. It makes one wonder whether these great and far-reaching events are even noticed by those who have decided to sink down into isolated little groups, and have NO PART in the dynamic WORK of God of shouting a witness and warning to all nations! As God told Ezekiel, "Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD. "And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. "And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. "And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them" (Ezekiel 33:30-33). Now, watch for the Euro to become the currency of choice for investors. Watch for the dollar to shrink in value. Watch for the appointment of a "strong man" in Europe; a man who will be the "voice of Europe" in the years ahead. Watch for the development of an ever larger European "Defense" force! Watch for increasing involvement by Europe in the Middle East. Watch for increasing statements by the pope concerning Jerusalem! Again I say, WATCH, and pray always (without ceasing), to make sure you are close to God, and fully qualified to escape the terrible things which will soon come to pass on the earth (Luke 21:36). o ______________________________________________
Personal; from As we discard our old calendars and begin using those for 1999, it is time for reflection on all that transpired in the year that was; in the world; in our community; in our family; in our lives—and, for many of us, in the work! The longest journey begins with but one step, just as the greatest classic book begins with just one word. Christ spoke of small beginnings; the grain of mustard seed which grows into a plant so large birds roost in it likened to faith; the promise to His church that, although they have "but a little strength," He has set before them an open door, which no man can shut! So it is with the work which God began on January 2, 1998— the date of the incorporation of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association. Looking back over this past year, I can scarcely believe all that has occurred. From a small handful of people huddled together in a rented room in Tyler has grown an ever more powerful, dynamic, fruitful pair of organizations, inextricably bonded together in a common cause. Both the GTAEA and the Intercontinental Church of God, while technically representing two legal corporations in the state of Texas, nevertheless form a significant part of the body of Christ; the true church of God! As I have said for many years, the true Church of God is a spiritual organism, not a legal, or political, or man-made organization of this world. While man's laws require us to be incorporated (which means "embodied") in order to engage in the business of preaching the gospel over television and radio; publishing the gospel via books, booklets, monthly publications, or over the Internet, it is not man's laws which bind us together or endow us with our sacred purpose. Instead, it is the Spirit of God. From very small beginnings, God has caused great growth! Our mailing list has grown more than one thousand per cent in only one year! There are now more than 47 hosted fellowship groups including 27 chartered churches in this country and more abroad. There have been many ordinations into the ministry of the church. Many new speaker's credentials have been issued. Dozens of new members have been baptized. A wonderful, inspiring Feast of Tabernacles at three splendid sites in the United States, and in Scotland, Australia, Canada, and other countries was attended by large crowds of enthusiastic, zealous members and visitors, who said over and over again it was the "BEST FEAST EVER!" As you will read elsewhere in this issue, our two web sites continue to set new records; those from over forty eight nations have visited the EA site, reading our materials; often downloading booklets and articles, and sharing them with others. With this publication, I have kept our readers informed of the truly significant events which have rocked the world and which threaten our peoples; El Nino, and the most disastrous weather ever; the sale of American technology to China, so that only southern Florida remains untargeted by Chinese nuclear missiles; "wars and rumors of wars," such as the strikes against Bin Laden's terrorist havens and against Saddam Hussein's Iraq; the ominous "Y2K" bug, and what you can do about it; the emergence of a United Europe, and the launching of the Euro, which will eventually replace the dollar as the major world currency; the pronouncements of the pope concerning Jerusalem; these, and many other vitally important issues have been covered, showing how the prophecies of Jesus Christ are being fulfilled! Thousands are beginning to respond! MILLIONS of Americans, Britons, Canadians, Australians, South Africans and people in the Philippines have heard me, for DECADES, tell them the truth about the identity of the United States and Europe in prophecy; about what to expect in the emergence of a United Europe; about what is ahead for Israel and the Mideast! Now, as events SPEED UP toward the dramatic first struggles in the GREAT TRIBULATION (Matthew 24:21, 22), many of those same people are once again finding my television program, or discovering our literature, or tapping into our web sites. Now, many who have been virtually asleep to major world events are beginning to WAKE UP once again. Now, they are beginning to realize it "is near—at the very doors!" Jesus Christ has entrusted us with a GREAT JOB to do! He commanded, "Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. "And ye are witnesses of these things" (Luke 24:46-48). One cannot repent unless God GRANTS it, and unless His servants have explained to them WHAT SIN IS; that the LAW of God is still in effect; that sin is the transgression of God's holy, righteous Ten Commandments (1 John 3:4). They must come to understand the deep significance of water baptism; that it pictures the death and burial of the "old man" and the resurrection from a symbolic watery grave of the "new creature in Christ," which is begotten at the moment of the laying on of hands to receive the life-giving Holy Spirit of God! Peter cried out during his day, "...save yourselves from this untoward generation!" Matthew reported Christ's commission to His disciples this way: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world [Greek: "age"]" (Matthew 28:18-20). This great commission of Christ to His church is our reason for being. We exist for no other purpose. As you know, we send out tens of thousands of books and booklets, this newsletter, our newspaper, and audio tapes ABSOLUTELY FREE of charge to anyone of any nation, color, language, or creed. Thousands have FREE access to our two web sites. The dynamic ANNOUNCEMENT of the soon-coming GOVERNMENT OF GOD is going out in increasing power every week! HOW can we do this? WHO is behind it? WHERE does the money come from? We are able to do this because members of the Intercontinental Church of God humbly believe in and practice the biblical doctrine of tithing and giving, and because many others, who, while not yet members of the church, become "Co-workers" in this growing effort, and, having never been asked, VOLUNTARILY contribute so we may DO THE WORK! We are not "sponsored" by any large organizations. We are not endowed. We are able to accomplish the commission of Christ because of many, many people, including the elderly, and those living on fixed incomes, BELIEVE Jesus Christ; BELIEVE in God's work! In this issue, you will read of how EUROPE is coalescing into closer and closer UNION! Events are occurring now which I believed would happen many years ago! Christ warned there would be many who would say, "My lord delayeth his coming" (Matthew 24:48), and who would be ASLEEP to the great events which are rushing toward the close of this age (Matthew 25:1-13). Continually, Christ said to WATCH! Notice, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. "For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, "And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. "Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. "But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. "Therefore be ye also ready [personally; spiritually]: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? "Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing!" (Matthew 24:36-46). Those of us who are part of the Evangelistic Association, and who are members of the Intercontinental Church of God, wish to be busily engaged in DOING THE WORK when the KING of all kings; the LORD of all lords; the PREMIER of all premiers; the PRESIDENT AND RULER OF THE WORLD arrives to set up His new government! o ______________________________________________ GTAEA Web Site
Receives Visitors by Garner Ted Armstrong How significant is it to the work of God that there has been an explosion in electronic information in the past few years; that millions upon millions are logging on to the "Internet" each year; that millions of people are buying home desktop computers; that Internet companies have shot up 300, 400, 500% in only a matter of months; that technology has now made it possible for people to see and hear the telecast on their home computer screens? Today, there are hundreds of millions of people who have access to the worldwide web. Virtually all governments, and most of their agencies, manage web sites. Several times a week, I access newspapers, magazines, books, journals, or web sites from all over the world; those in Arab countries, in Israel, in Germany, Italy, the UK, Canada—the list is almost endless. As a part of my research, if I am writing about Russia and the potential for a drift back into Communism, or totalitarianism, and wish to learn what I can about such potential successors to Boris Yeltzin as Alexander Lebed or Vladimir Zhirinovsky, I can type in their names, let the search engines interrogate the vast data banks, and within a few minutes be reading current, or the latest news articles about either one. I began on radio full time in 1958. My father, Herbert W. Armstrong, made no more than a small handful of radio programs for the next twenty years. He would do an "anniversary program" from our studios on the campus at Bricket Wood, in England, to mark a special year for broadcasting over Radio Luxembourg, but that was all. For over two decades, out of love and respect toward my father, and to keep his voice and name before our radio audiences, I would put repeats of a series of programs he did in the early 1950's on the book of Hebrews on the air on Sundays, only. The other six days of the week, year after year after year, I did the broadcasts. My father had done 26 programs for television in 1955, by filming them on 16 mm film. They were seen on much of the ABC network that year. Uncomfortable with TV, he abandoned the project following those filmings, and returned to radio until late in 1957. I began doing weekly, and then daily television in the 1960s, continuing until my separation from my father in 1978. Those thousands upon thousands of radio and television broadcasts were seen and heard by tens of millions of people all over the world. We were on 11 stations in the Philippines, 33 stations in Australia (where I did special programs directed toward the "Aussies"), and were reaching South Africa over Radio Laurenco Marques on Mozambique. We beamed the program into Europe over Radio Luxembourg, and Radio Europe Number 1; to Britain over Radio Caroline and Radio Manx. As a consequence, many millions, in many countries, learned my name, and heard the messages about what would eventually take place in Europe and the Mideast. That "latent awareness factor" is still "out there" in countries all over the world! Now, with the development and rapid growth of the "Internet," there are people all over the world who have been trying to find my programs. Many are doing just that—OVER THE INTERNET! Mr. Chris Cumming, newly-ordained minister in the Intercontinental Church of God, and director of both the web sites for the Evangelistic Association and the church, recently reported that the EA site had been visited by those from the following countries: USA, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, U.S. military, Malaysia, Switzerland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Germany, Japan, Sweden, Denmark, Singapore, Norway, Mexico, South Africa, Finland, Mauritius, Chile, Israel, France, Portugal, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Greece, Italy, United Arab Emirates, Trinidad and Tobago, Spain, Ireland, Lebanon, South Korea, India, Austria, Luxembourg, Taiwan, Belgium, Zambia, Yugoslavia, Estonia, Czech Republic, Bermuda, Kuwait, Bahrain, Pakistan, Costa Rica, and Poland. It seems we set new records almost weekly, as thousands upon thousands of people visit our two web sites! Our great commission is to preach the good news about the coming world-ruling government of God to all the world as a witness! Now, we are using not only personal evangelism, publications, audio and visual tapes, radio and television, but also the "Internet," to respond to Christ's commission, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:19-20). We appreciate the earnest, prevailing PRAYERS of those whose hearts are in this work that God will cause many more of those He is calling to become faithful Co-workers with us in this great effort; that He will inspire them to HELP us obtain time on more and more television stations, and that He will cause additional tens of thousands to search out our Web sites, and our literature! We pray our mailing list will soon soar into the hundreds of thousands, and then the millions! o ______________________________________________ by Garner Ted Armstrong When all the revelry was over; the millions of aspirins swallowed to combat the after effects of too much champagne and not enough sleep, it was time to wake up and face what the "new year" will really bring. For instance: Out there—in Russia, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and in Mexico, Central and South America —half of the world, is a vast and growing economic recession. While Americans may have celebrated "good times," a "strong economy" and looked on with combined disgust and apprehension over the impeachment process, the stark reality is that the world is a very dangerous place, and growing more so each week. Clinton will soon be a footnote of history, but the world will still be out there, and there are still tigers in the world. The United States will be facing threats from Europe, Korea, Japan, China, Russia; from the Mideast and increasing terrorists acts, and from a global economic collapse in the future Consider: Many analysts are predicting RECESSION for 1999 in the U.S. David A. Levy of the Levy Economics Institute said, "We continue to expect recession in 1999," and cited an "unprecedented consumer binge." Citing a decline in savings, and huge increases in investments, as well as the wild roller-coaster ride of the stock market in 1998, some economists are expecting millions of investors will be hurt when the market takes another severe drop, and then pulling back, and saving more of their money. This would contribute to a further market decline. Japan, once the largest creditor nation, has sunk into recession. So has Brazil, which received a $41.5 billion "rescue package" from the IMF. Even the most optomistic economists warn that a weak U.S. economy can bring large risks to the global economy and that "The U.S. cannot be permitted to stumble, because of the negative effects on an already fragile rest of the world." Meanwhile, consider: While many believe the U.S. is the "only remaining super power," Europe is emerging as a huge, 300-million-plus economic giant; its new currency soon to challenge the dollar. Russia, infuriated by what it called America's "unilateral" strikes against Iraq, is moving toward building its own new coalition of countries, and threatening to effect a "correction to our approaches to the problems of international security," in the words of Russian defense minister Igor Sergeyev. When the U.S. began bombing Iraq on December 16th, Russia quickly withdrew its ambassador to the U.S. from Washington. President Clinton tried to call Boris Yeltsin. Yeltsin refused to talk to him. Al Gore then managed to get a call through to Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Prmakov, who is known to be very sympathetic toward Iraq, as well as a virtual friend and mentor of the Serbs. It was reported the two men "discussed the crisis." For his part, Sergeyev angrily spat out, "What kind of cooperation and partnership is possible to talk about with the alliance [meaning NATO and Russia] now if Russia's opinion is openly ignored?" Then, General Leonid Ivashov, who is the top Russian military planner for cooperation with other countries indicated Russia would respond to what it calls continued U.S. "provocation" by organizing its own bloc of nations opposed to U.S. global domination. The Russians are already doing just that. Recently, Yeltsin and the Belarus head of state, Alexander Lukashenko signed a joint declaration calling for the creation of a "union state" between the two countries. Lukashenko is known to be an avid believer in restoring the old Soviet ties. Citing Europe, the Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Maslyukov said "The experience of European states, especially with the introduction of the Euro will be used to the maximum." While the Russians are citing Clinton's "aggression," could it be they are really more concerned about the Germans in an increasingly powerful and united Europe? Crowing about the signing, Yeltsin said, "Our countries are entering the 21st century in a new capacity, moving together toward a union state." India and Pakistan have the bomb. Many rogue nations are working hard on chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. The "peace process" in the Mideast is not a process at all, but a flimsy phrase punctuated by the sounds of exploding bombs and the screams of dying victims. From "Hamas" to Bin Laden, virulent threats of more terrorist attacks are made against the U.S. and U.S. installations abroad. The U.S. embassy in Jerusalem was recently closed because of "credible threats." "Happy New Year" may come wafting out of millions of bottles —but the hangover is the world. It is really "out there," after all, and not a very happy place. True happiness is found, not in the world, or in the machinations of man-made political organizations, but in the words spoken of by Jesus Christ when He instructed His disciples concerning how to celebrate His great sacrifice for the salvation of all mankind. He said, "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them" (John 13:17). He was speaking of the symbols of the Lord's Supper—that "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." Salvation is not found in the stock market, or in the hollow promises of greedy politicians who continually speak of "moving forward." It is found in Christ alone. "Happy New Year?" No, "happy new life!" o
______________________________________________ "Dear Mr. Armstrong: The tapes arrived Friday and I really enjoy listening to what you talk about. We need to watch. I wish I had found you earlier. After your father died W.C.G. was never the same and after Jr. took over there was nothing left...I never quite believed what they taught in the Lutheran church where I was baptized and quit the church at 12. I went to several other churches. I told my mother in 1959 that the weather was changing. She disputed me about (that and) another war...I told her that we would have another war much worse than World War II had been. At that time I didn't begin to realize what it is really going to be like. Neither could I put all the pieces together. Then I heard you on the radio! Your father was a great man but he didn't have the insight that you have. The churches keep splitting as I hear it. I see it as a power struggle. They can't seem to agree. I pray for you and God's work; that it keeps growing." Iowa. o
"Dear Mr. Armstrong Just a note to let you know how much I've enjoyed your Bible study. I listened to the elder Armstrong on the radio 35 or 40 years ago. Please use this money to help spread the word. PS. I'm glad you're on Springfield, Missouri again — I will be watching on the Chicago station too. God bless." Missouri
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