WorldWatch

Vol. 1, No. 4  Published by the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association

AND NOW—THE WORLD'S
GREATEST TRADING POWER!

For many decades, I have proclaimed that a UNITED STATES OF EUROPE would eventually emerge; that GERMANY would reunite; that EASTERN EUROPE would come out from behind the "Iron Curtain"; that a huge TRADE WAR would begin, and that EUROPE, not Russia, would loom as the greatest threat to Britain and America! Dozens of significant events have occurred and are occurring almost daily which are fulfilling the PROPHESIES of your Bible!

by Garner Ted Armstrong

He is being called the "ECB Supremo," and his name is Wim Duisenberg, head of the European Monetary Institute, who has won acclaim from the central bankers all across Europe for his "Bundesbank" (the German National Bank) style monetary policies.

"ECB" stands for "European Central Bank," which is charged with overseeing monetary policy in the entire "euro-zone," presently consisting of 11 member nations. As we have reported in these pages, the 11 are expecting to put in place the "Euro," or the common currency of all European members of the European Community by January 1999. The ECB will function in Europe in much the same way as the "Fed," or Federal Reserve Bank, chaired by Alan Greenspan, functions in the United States.

As everyone knows, the slightest inflection of speech by Greenspan; the merest hint that the Fed intends hiking interest rates can send global markets spinning into huge declines, and cost investors, large and small, billions of dollars! The new "ECB Supremo" will have absolute authority over what Europeans are hailing as "The world's greatest trading power." A Geneva-based adviser to the European Socialist Group, boasted that the ECB would be "by far the most powerful European institution there has ever been."

The new ECB chief will have control over all the gold and foreign exchange reserves in European banks, meaning he will be able, if he chooses, to retain only minimal gold reserves against debt. Just such fears have caused gold prices to fall to nearly a 10-year low in the past few months.

The new European Central Bank will become operational on July 1, and will be based in Frankfurt, Germany, a major German financial center. It will oversee the issuance of the new European currency, the "Euro," in January of next year, and the introduction of new banknotes and coins in 2002.

Today, no modern nation exists without TRADE. It is the "balance of payments deficits," or the difference between the massive amounts the United States has imported (from many countries, chief of which are Canada, Europe, Britain, Korea, and Japan) and the smaller amounts it has exported which has contributed so heavily to the massive U.S. debt. Today, the U.S. is the biggest deadbeat in the world; the largest debtor nation. Government programs; increased socialism, trade policies, and massive government bureaucracies have sent the U.S. plummeting, in mere decades, from the world's wealthiest nation, and the world's leading creditor, to the world's leading debtor.

Just last year, the 11 European countries represented by the EU exported 25% more goods than did the U.S., and double the amount of the exports from Japan. This is a huge amount of goods. The prophecies of your Bible describe the coming BEAST power, presided over by a super dictator, and under the influence of a great religious leader, as a major merchandising mart! For decades, I have predicted the next great global war would begin to be waged on the economic front; that TRADE wars, embargoes, sanctions and the like would lead toward MILITARY action. Why? Because I knew the coming "marriage" between the "woman who rides the beast" and the Beast would be, first, a major ECONOMIC power in the world. Notice, "How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

"Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

"And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication [Biblical metaphor for political concourse] and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,

"Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come...The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

"And saying, Alas, alas, that great city [metaphorical BABYLON, standing for the entire political/religious system], that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

"For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

"And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! [Note: Ancient Babylon was far inland, near present day Baghdad, and, though a river flowed through the city, it was not a seaport].

"And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate" (Revelation 18:7-19).

The great whore described in Revelation 17:5 boasts she will not become a widow. Metaphorically, she is "married," in political union with many nations. She also boasts that she has CHILDREN from such a "marriage"—daughters which came out of her in protest! Notice, "Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am [utter blasphemy, appropriating the titles of God Himself!], and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:

"But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.

"For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me" (Isaiah 47:8-10).

This great "mother" of harlots (her daughters) will be utterly destroyed by the Beast, and the False Prophet who is the absolute ruler of this great Babylonish mystery religion will be thrown into a lake of fire at the coming of Christ (Revelation 19:19-21). These prophecies about "Babylon" are for OUR time, NOW! Remember, the ancient city of Babylon fell in about 538 BC! Yet, John was given these visions in about 92 AD, or 629 years after Babylon fell!

But these are the revelations of JESUS CHRIST, and not those of any man. Obviously, it is a MODERN "Babylon" which is meant! Read, slowly and carefully, the entire 17^th chapter of Revelation. Ponder each and every WORD of this vitally important prophecy! There is not space to reprint it all here, but notice a few key verses: "Come hither [John was told by the heavenly messenger]; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters [the "waters" are symbolic of many nations! See vs. 15]:

"With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication [political concourse with a great universal religion which is a STATE; a GOVERNMENT!] , and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication [Biblical metaphor for her false doctrines and "mystery" religion].

"So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy [taking divine titles; calling herself "holy"], having seven heads and ten horns" (Revelation 17:1-3).

The woman sits astride a great CITY which is renowned for its "seven hills" (vs. 9), also a symbol for the rise and fall of seven GOVERNMENTS, culminating in the final resurrection of the Beast power, called the EIGHTH system, but "of" or LIKE the preceding seven (vs. 11).

She is a great "mother" church, bragging that she "is no widow" (what great nation calls itself, unlike most other nations, a "father"?), and sits as a queen.

The angel described the woman, saying, "And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour [the colors of whoredom], and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup [like a religious chalice] in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

"And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" (Revelation 17:4, 5). The coalition of nations which will form the POLITICAL part of "Babylon the Great" number ten. The Bible says "ten kings" will form a great commercial, trading combine; a supra-national government which will pool its MILITARY power into one great force: "And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

"These have one mind [they are united in policy; in purpose], and shall give their power and strength unto the beast [the power and strength of a king is absolute: it is the power of the resources of the country; its economy, its technology, its labor force, and its military]:

"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful" (Revelation 17:12-14).

The woman who sits astride the beast is a great false church which wields political power over ten heads of state. An ancient limerick seems virtually prophetic:

"There was a young lady from Niger,

"And the smile on the face of the tiger."

Probably, the instigator of the invasion by the Beast power of Palestine is the great False Prophet himself (Daniel 11:40-45), who will set himself up in the temple, claiming to be God Himself (2 Thessalonians 2:4). But "tidings out of the east and out of the north" of Palestine, meaning intelligence of an impending attack upon the Beast's armies by the hordes of those many nations north and east of Palestine, including Russia, will enrage the Beast power, which will not only immediately launch an attack, but will "hate the whore, and make her desolate."

What is the time setting of this prophecy? At the last moments before the second-coming of Christ! These ten kings will FIGHT CHRIST at His return! Study all of Revelation 19 for the outcome. Remember, a king can be over more than one political entity. Many nations are made up of more than one ethnic group. Today, few nations are ruled by a king. Yet, many European nations have descendants of royalty; some are waiting in the wings if and when their countries return to a monarchy.

The "glue" which holds this shaky coalition together for a short time in the span of history is RELIGION! The ten toes of Nebuchad-nezzar's vision (Daniel 2:31-44) answer exactly to the ten horns of Revelation 17:12-14. The "miry clay" is a bad mixture with iron, so when the "stone that is cut out without hands," symbolizing the returning, conquering Christ, smashes the huge idol on its feet, the entire system, representing the great world-ruling empires of history, comes toppling down, to be utterly destroyed (Daniel 2:44).

Now, notice the description of how the beast TURNS AGAINST the whore (the great false church), and utterly destroys her! "And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

"For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

"And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth" (Revelation 17:16-18).

Here is what Halley's Bible Handbook says about Revelation 17: "This description of Babylon the Great Harlot, seated on the seven-headed, ten-horned Beast, while it may have ultimate reference to a situation yet to appear, exactly fits Papal Rome. Nothing else in world history does fit...the spirit of Imperial Rome passed into the Church. The Church gradually developed itself into the pattern of the Empire it had conquered" (Halley's: p. 731).

The great MERCHANDISING mart of the world is called "BABYLON THE GREAT"! The detailed prophecy about its eventual destruction begins thus: "And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

"And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

"For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies" (Revelation 18:1-3). Ancient Babylon fell. But this prophecy says "is fallen; IS FALLEN," clearly showing there is future "Babylon" which is the "great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth."

The forming of the "United States of Europe" had its formal beginning in the "Treaty of Rome." The treaties which led to the establishment of the present-day European Union include the "Treaty of Paris" (1951), which established the European Coal and Steel Community, and two treaties signed in ROME in 1957, establishing European cooperation in atomic research (Euratom), and the EEC, or the European Economic Community.

Now, major American automobile manufacturers which have had to beg the government for bailouts have finally awakened to the fact that growing European unity means more and more goods will be traded among the member nations, and that less U.S. goods will penetrate such a huge market. Scrambling to get inside that market is what the merger between Chrysler and Daimler-Benz is all about. Rumors of a potential Rolls-Royce/Volkswagen merger are flying. As Hosea said, "Ephraimalso is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.

"When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them: I will bring them down as the fowls of heaven: I will chastize them, as their congregation hath heard" (Hosea 7:8-12).

Recently, President Clinton visited Germany, praising "European Union." Decades ago, I likened American assistance in rebuilding Germany as that of the mad scientist who produced a "Frankenstein Monster," which then turned upon the doctor. Clinton, and millions of Americans are in for a shock. ---

THE NEW AGE OF

Incredibly, we are now entering the age when an enemy can disable and render incapable the military forces of the United States merely by sitting in front of a computer and hacking his way into secret, super-sensitive military command and control centers from thousands of miles away!

by Garner Ted Armstrong

Marconi, Thomas Edison and General Sarnoff would have been aghast. From that distant time when the telegraph and telephone were invented to the debut of television in the 1920's, instant, global communication has come a long way.

Today, hundreds of millions of people are linked together by telephone land lines, cable, television, radio, or satellite. Technology has now provided us with video telecommunication where someone in Japan may dial someone in Switzerland, then communicate over the telephone while actually seeing the face of the other person. The same capability is available through home computers, or PCs.

A new "computerspeak" term sends chills through high government officials and generals in the Pentagon. It is "hacker," a term for a highly-skilled computer expert who knows how to ferret out secret information from data banks practically anywhere in the world. Worse, one who knows how to introduce deadly "viruses" into computers which cause the machines to endlessly repeat themselves, and which can completely destroy millions of files in minutes. A common, and necessary piece of software for PC owners today is an "anti-virus" program. "Hackers" have caused massive collapses of computer systems, huge money loss in banks and financial markets; have invaded secret plans from military organizations. Now, it has been revealed that "cyber terrorism" is possible; that "on-line terror" can cause havoc in a targeted nation by remote control!

Previously, terrorists were engaged in hijacking aircraft and ships, kidnaping, hostage-taking, and bombing. Now, antiterrorist experts see terrorist organizations busily working on entering the field of high-tech terrorism by computer! Computerized "blackmail" would become possible, if such terrorists possessed the means to cripple the entire military command and control structure of the U.S. or Israel, let them know they had such potential, and then made their demands. Much more serious stuff than merely taking human hostages—things like blacking out the entire power grid of a nation! It has been demonstrated that computer hackers can do just that—bring a nation to a virtual standstill by interrupting electrical power!

Chillingly, it is known that many Arab nations have been deliberately sending bright young students to European and U.S. universities to learn computer science in order to wage "cyber terror" against Israel. When one realizes that only 5% of the gigantic American economy (about $7.5 trillion, or, put another way, about seven and a half thousand billion dollars) is in hard currency, and that 95% is ELECTRONIC, it can be sobering, indeed. Think about it. Today, we receive a computer-generated check, deposit it in a bank, which has its bookkeeping department enter the deposit electronically to our account, which then automatically withdraws the amount of the check (electronically) from the source. No actual cash has changed hands.

Not only are terrorists studying how to become "hackers," so as to cause mayhem in Israel (which is not so well protected as the U.S. from cyber terrorism at the moment), but there are plenty of "freelance" hackers who are more than willing to earn some of that oil money. Terrorism expert Yonah Alexander, of Israel, believes a "doomsday" scenario for Israel is "only a matter of time." Noting that "biological weapons" are the weapons of choice these days (for they kill humans but leave "holy places" intact), he also notes that the 1990's and the decade beyond the turn of the century will be "seen as the decade of super-terrorism." He said, "The doomsday scenario is not a question of if—it is a question of when."

At a recent conference in Israel organized by Alexander, it was emphasized that the "globalization of cultures, economies and security brings with it a globalization of crime and terrorism." The conference underscored how such terrorist organizations as "Hizbullah" and "Hamas" are using the internet for propaganda and psychological warfare. Instead of "training camps" for recruits, the new technology allows recruits in whatever country to learn how to make and deliver bombs—even atomic bombs! Now, a potential enemy doesn't necessarily need ships, tanks and planes to disrupt a country. Now, it can be done by someone sitting in front of a computer screen thousands of miles away!

In early April, the U.S. Defense Department admitted that the Pentagon has ultra-secret, covert-action teams assigned to combat cyber-terrorism. They proved to themselves, as covered elsewhere in these pages, that massive disruptions are possible. They are also designated to fight the proliferation of nuclear weapons. How effective are they in this task? Witness the recent nuclear explosions unleashed in India, which shocked American intelligence agencies, who knew nothing about it, and the avowed response by Pakistan, amid outcries by government leaders the world over. The recently concluded G-8 meetings in England included much talk about nuclear testing, and discussions among world leaders on whether U.S. imposed sanctions against India would make any difference whatsoever.

Cyber terrorism elicits terror just thinking about it. For example, a group of computer hackers, working for a country which intended attacking another country, could obtain a list of the employees of highly secret government agencies. They could single out those in the most sensitive positions, and, only days before they decided to wage complete cyber war, cause their personal credit ratings to be demolished, which would remove such a person from such a sensitive position. Experts point out it is impossible to know if you are under attack or not, and, even if you are, to find out who is attacking you; where the attack is coming from. ---

CHINA AIMS
NUCLEAR MISSILES AT U.S. CITIES!

Many Americans cry "Treason!" Now that it has been revealed that the Chinese government did indeed funnel large sums of money into President Clinton's campaign, and that Clinton approved the transfer of American missile guidance technology to China, there are those who believe the "quid pro quo" is obvious. Now, it has been revealed that China has a whole array of strategic missiles, and that those missiles are aimed at U.S. cities and U.S. military bases abroad.

by Garner Ted Armstrong

From 1996, the Clinton administration has been trying to get China to sign an agreement which would "detarget" Chinese missiles away from U.S. cities and bases. America signed a similar agreement with the Russians back in 1994. However, such agreements are not worth the paper they are written on for anyone familiar with the computerized guidance systems in missile warheads knows the targets can be changed in only a matter of minutes!

Clinton is fond of saying, repeatedly, that there are "no missiles pointed at Americans." Back in October, 1996, he said, as if he deserved credit for his assertions, "There is not a single, solitary nuclear missile pointed at an American child tonight. Not one. Not one. Not a single one!" But in May, 1998, a CIA report, which was compiled in advance of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's trip to China, said that thirteen big intercontinental ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads are aimed at U.S. cities! A Pennsylvania Republican, and member of the House National Security Committee, Rep. Curt Weldon, said "I guess this blows away Clinton's famous speech."

The truth is chilling. China is developing two new ICBMs; one of which has a range of 4,500 miles, and the other a 7,000 mile range. China already has some 25 "CSS-3" missiles capable of flying for 3,400 miles, and many smaller, tactical type nuclear missiles on mobile launchers with ranges on the order of 1,100 to 1,750 miles.

While the administration continually speaks of things like "dialogue" and "partnership" with China, and while many big American companies are scrambling to take advantage of the vast market presented by more than 1/4 of the world's population, the truth is that, even as China has nuclear missiles aimed at the U.S., the U.S. also has some of its nuclear missiles aimed at Chinese missile silos. Behind the scenes, there has been a "cold war" of nerves between China and the U.S., while the rhetoric coming from the White House has been about peace and friendship. Rep. Weldon said recently that Clinton had, "...used the bully pulpit to lull the American people into complacency about strategic threats in a way that has not been seen for decades."

Naturally, the government would not want to call attention to the fact that the Chinese are busily expanding their nuclear arsenal; busily building longer-range missiles, and that they had long ago targeted U.S. cities! Especially, since new information has come to light about campaign contributions to the DNC from Chinese nationals. "Partnership," indeed!

Recently, debate raged on the floor of the house, while many conservatives demanded that Janet Reno and the Justice Department appoint yet another special prosecutor to look into allegations that representatives of the Chinese government, and Chinese arms dealers had obtained free access to the White House, and that Clinton had promised them missile guidance technology. Over Memorial Day weekend, many of the major TV networks interviewed newsmen, senators and congressmen, and opened up lines to the public to discuss the latest allegations. Surely, no man could ever compromise the national security of the United States merely to propel himself into the White House for a mere four more years?

Isaiah cried out, "For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

"None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity...The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace" (Isaiah 59:3-8).

How wonderful for us to be reassured, according to our President, that there is "not a single, solitary nuclear missile pointed at an American child tonight. Not one. Not one. No, not a single one."  ---

EDITORIAL:

Why Kids Kill

Americans have been astonished and sickened by the wave of violence in its schools recently. In Arkansas, three boys deliberately triggered a false fire alarm, and then coolly shot down classmates as they fled the school building. In Springfield, Oregon, a 15-year old murdered his parents, then walked into his school cafeteria, climbed atop a table, and began shooting classmates with a .22 caliber rifle. He killed one, injured 23 others, several critically. At least two others have since died. In Missouri, police learned some boys were planning a "copycat" massacre like that in Arkansas. They intended setting off the fire alarm, then killing their classmates as they exited the school.

The 15-year old in Oregon had been voted "the kid most likely to start World War III," because of his constant talk of guns and violence. Only the day before the shootings, he had been expelled from school for bringing a gun inside. Incredibly, he was not charged with a crime; was released into the care of his parents, themselves teachers in the Oregon school system.

Later, police found bomb-making materials and a live bomb in the boy's home, and it was reported their search of the boy when he was arrested failed to discover that he had taped a knife to a leg, which he retrieved, and then lunged at a police officer. He had to be subdued with red pepper spray. Always, the media rushes to the friends and families of such murderous youths, wanting to know WHY? Usually, all express total shock. How could such a quiet, average boy do such a thing? How could he coldly and brutally shoot his own mother and father to death? How could he calmly shoot dozens of his own classmates? Shocked parents and students asked, "How could such a thing happen here, in our school?" Usually, we are told the murderers were well liked, or that they were quiet and studious, or that they had never been in trouble before. The media interviewed a neighbor of the murdered parents in Oregon who solemnly averred that the parents had never been "abusive," in his view.

Yet, beneath the seemingly unthreatening facade of the boy was seething rage. Clearly, there is a direct connection between his having brought a gun to school the day before! Before he decided the opportunity was ripe for using it, he was discovered with the gun, and expelled from school—released to his parents. Without a shadow of a doubt, his vicious, rage-filled act of returning to the school the next day after murdering his parents and then attempting to kill as many of his classmates as possible was linked directly to his expulsion. By the time he was five, the die had been cast. Big oaks from little acorns grow. The formative years mostly determine the kind of character and personality to develop later.

Of course, since this boy murdered his parents, we can not ask them if they disagreed on discipline. Did the mother shrilly berate the father when he sought to correct the child? Did the child see his parents arguing and fighting? When one parent scolded, or deprived the child as punishment, did the other show the child sympathy? Was the child allowed to watch whatever he wished on TV; read any kind of comic books; see any kind of video movies; associate with any kind of friends?

We don't know.

We can't ask.

In the instance of a recent suicide of a youth in New England, a note was left, telling his parents if they wanted to find out why he was killing himself, they should view a couple of different cartoons he had been watching on television. In one, the "hero" invariably destroys himself at the climax of every single show!

By the time the average American child begins attending the 1^st grade, he or she has spent more time sitting in front of a television set than will ever be spent sitting in a classroom in formal education! It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the clear cause and effect present in the incredible amount of violence shown on television; in video games, and in the movies, and increasing violence among the youth.

We are what we eat. Bad diet causes bad health. We are what we think. Information comes into the mind via the five senses. Primarily, we learn through the eye and the ear. By analogy, if you were to purchase a brand new computer, and begin to load it with various programs by purchasing software, and then begin to compile files, such as letters, articles, books, etc., you are storing all that information in a data base. Whatever you store you can retrieve. Garbage in, garbage out. Good ideas in, good ideas out. The human mind is infinitely more capable of storing information than a computer. Again, garbage in, garbage out. Any young, impressionable mind which has watched thousands (yes, thousands!) of explosions, violent auto collisions, fights, stabbings, garrotings, rapes, beatings, shootings and dismemberments is going to be deeply affected!

There are those who argue that millions of youngsters watch the same shows, but the vast majority do not go out and commit mass murder. True. However, any one of those who do not (or have not yet) done such things COULD commit horrible acts of violence if the "triggering event" were present. Recently, and commonly, the "triggering event" has proved to be rejection by a girlfriend or boyfriend; rejection by one or another parent; discipline administered by a school authority, or a run in with the law. The boy who forced his girl friend off a school bus and then shot himself in the head was acting out the ultimate drama. "I'll show her!" Trouble is, unlike the cartoons he had fed on as a child, (where the cat that was just squashed flat by a steam roller, or blown to bits in an explosion, or shot to ribbons, gets up and runs around in the next frames as if nothing had happened), the boy is lying there with a shattered brain—dead. He's not around to see the shock and grief on the face of his ex girl friend, or to enjoy the imagined aftermath of his decision to "show her!"

One of the greatest causes of death among youths in the land of the free and the home of the brave; the place where "never is heard a discouraging word," is suicide. Somehow, because of the utter failure of parents, schools and churches, millions of youths who should be looking forward to wonderful careers, homes and families, are instead so frustrated, so depressed, so discouraged, so hopeless, that they decide to kill themselves. Some of them decide to kill a lot of other people first, taking out their inner rage in a mindless, demonic fit of slaughter. Why?

There is blame enough to go around. Society itself. The disintegration of the family. Permissiveness in child rearing. Child abuse. Drugs. Violence in all forms of entertainment. Violence in real life, reported every day on hell-bent, sin-sick, God-defying, crime-ridden, drugged society, the real wonder is not that there are SOME kids who explode into mayhem and violence, but that there aren't more who do!

Millions of American children (and this is especially true among minorities) grow up in a matriarchy, where no father, who is a breadwinner, the head of the house, and a loving, kind disciplinarian is present. Millions will never know who their fathers were. As Isaiah prophesied of our society today, "As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths" (Isaiah 3:12,13).

No doubt, we will have been subjected, by the time you read this, to many, many debates about schools, parents, guns, drugs; so-called "experts" from sociologists to psychiatrists; from principals to parents will be asked over and over again, "Why?"  ---

Headlines from the World We Live In:

Here are but a few samples of the hundreds of frightening headlines from around the world in recent weeks! Many of them relate directly to Christ's prophecy: "And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

"All these are the beginning of sorrows..." (Matthew 24:6-8).

This world is not a happy place, as these headlines show:

Italy Mudslides Bury Many People Alive; Worst Flooding In Decades.

GROWING POVERTY COULD CAUSE WORLD HEALTH CRISIS

Indonesian Province Plans to kill 170,000 dogs to stop Rabies Outbreak

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES SPENDING 15 BILLION ON NEW ARMS

ROCKETS, SHELLS CRASH INTO ISRAEL FROM LEBANON

NORTH KOREA HINTS WILL CONTINUE NUCLEAR PROGRAM

ISRAEL BLASTS EUROPEAN UNION TRADE RESTRICTIONS

6.5 Earthquake Hits Papua New Guinea

ONCE-IN-A-MILLENNIUM SKY EVENT CAPTURED

INDONESIA ERUPTS IN RIOTING; HUNDREDS DEAD; SUHUARTO RESIGNS

PALESTINIANS SAY THEY ARE PROUD OF RIOTS

INDIA BOASTS IT HAS "BIG BOMB" AFTER TESTS

ARAFAT WANTS JEWISH SETTLEMENTS DECLARED "WAR CRIMES!"

LEBANON VOWS ATTACKS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL OCCUPATION ENDS

Floods In Northern Russia Trap Thousands

75,000 EVACUATED AS FLOODS SPREAD IN PARAGUAY

GERMANY SAYS FAR RIGHT CRIME SURGES IN 1997

5.5 Quake Rocks Northeast Columbia

DEATH TOLL RISES IN ITALY FROM FLOODING; MUDSLIDES

CANNIBALISM REPORTED IN FAMINE-STRICKEN NORTH KOREA

EGYPT, SYRIA, WARN ISRAEL TO QUIT LEBANON

RUSSIA TO SELL SYRIA NEW AIR- DEFENSE SYSTEM

Cyclone Hits Bangladesh Coast — Millions Evacuated

SMOKE FROM MORE THAN A THOUSAND FIRES IN MEXICO BLANKETS TEXAS, DRIFTS TO KANSAS, MISSOURI.

RUSSIAN COMMUNISTS DEMAND YELTSIN IMPEACHMENT

NUCLEAR ARMS RACE COULD RESURRECT COLD WAR CONFLICTS

"JERUSALEM WILL BE FOREVER ISRAEL'S CAPITAL" — PM.

Quake Hits Mexico's Pacific Coast

PAKISTAN TESTS NUCLEAR BOMBS

ARMS RACE UNDERWAY IN SUB-CONTINENT BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND INDIA

As Christ said, "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man" (Luke 21:36). ---

Prophecy Marches On...

CLINTON ORDERS MASSIVE STOCKPILING OF VACCINES AGAINST DOMESTIC BIOLOGICAL TERRORISM

Experts warned recently that the "U.S. is ripe for a terrorist attack using biological weapons and is nowhere near ready for it. Michael Osterholm, who is an epidemiologist (he studies the causes and cures of epidemics) for the state of Minnesota warned, "It [a biological attack] isn't a matter of if—it's a matter of when."

As a result of such warnings, President Clinton revealed recently that he had ordered health laboratories and drug manufacturers to begin producing massive amounts of vaccines against such horrifying diseases as anthrax and smallpox. Both diseases could be spread by releasing a small amount of biological culture, contained in a small vial about the size of a half-pint milk carton, into the air over a city, or introduced in other ways, such as attaching a vial of the deadly bacteria to one's automobile exhaust pipe so it would be spewed into the air as one drove along busy streets in heavy traffic, or by polluting a city's water supply.

The trouble is, the symptoms don't show up for a few days, and when they do, are so like the flu; coughing, sore throat, fever, that doctors are hard put to identify the disease until the victim is virtually beyond saving. Eventually, the lungs fill with fluid, and the victim dies by drowning.

Chillingly, there are a number of wierdos who have convinced themselves that the year 2,000 is the date for the end of the world. Notwithstanding the fact that the date is entirely artificial, and is pinned to at least a four year error in the Birth of Christ, or that it is a date inherited from the pagan Romans, and has no more validity than one inherited from Egypt or Babylon, the wierdos have decided that, not only is 2,000 the date for the "end of the world," but that it SHOULD be. Ergo, they will attempt to bring it about! These kooks aren't about to ingest poison, cover their faces with plastic, and attempt to join the "mother ship" trailing along behind the comet—oh, no—no, they want to take you and me with them. Wagner's "Gotterdammerung." Hitler's bunker. Jim Jones and the Cool Aid. Armageddon and Apocalypse now. Don't delude yourself. They are out there, and they are planning.

Because such attacks have already happened in Japan, when a "doomsday" cult released deadly serin gas in crowded subways, health officials and the government are worried that similar attacks could be carried out in the U.S. They could come from anywhere. Satanists; self-styled "militia" members; religious nuts, crackpots, wierdos and fanatics; Shiite Muslims; cadres of terrorists representing "Hamas," or "The Islamic Jihad," or "Hizbollah." It was learned, when the deadly Ibola virus was killing so many in Rwanda, that the Japanese cult leaders had sent some of their followers there to obtain cultures of the virus. They also wanted to obtain and grow cultures of bubonic plague.

Are we approaching the time when average Americans will be afraid to go out without their gas masks and protective clothing? No doubt, some enterprising entrepreneurs will quickly begin producing "designer" gas masks. "Pink, for m'lady?"

God's Word describes the effects of chemical and biological warfare in the Book of Revelation. "And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven [symbolizing an angel] unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.

"And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

"And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power [possibly metaphor for modern jet helicopters and other military machines].

"And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree [chemical and biological weapons kill humans and animals, but leave the environment largely intact]; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

"And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.

"And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them" (Revelation 9:1-6).

This world is poised on the brink of witnessing mass death through the most horrifying weapons ever known to man. It is not a matter of whether. Only WHERE? And WHEN? No wonder our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ commands us to PRAY ALWAYS, that we might be accounted worthy to escape all these horrible things (Luke 21:36). Zephaniah puts it this way, "Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger" (Zephaniah 2:3). ---

CONGRESSMEN DISAGREE WITH STATE DEPARTMENT AND PENTAGON: SAY IRAN POSSESSES NUCLEAR WEAPONS

A series of articles have been running recently in the Jerusalem Post, asserting that Iran has obtained nuclear weapons, and has been working on a "ballistic missile command and control system" so as to ready them for launching. As we have reported earlier, two congressmen, Jim Saxton and Bill McCollum, claimed the Soviets sold the Iranians two nuclear weapons for an undisclosed amount in January of 1992.

The Jerusalem Post articles claimed to be quoting from official Iranian government documents. Although the documents alleged the weapons were "inoperable" when obtained, over six years ago, it was obvious to Israeli intelligence that the establishment of a ballistic missile command system was ominous proof that the Iranians intended to make the nukes fully operational. Meanwhile, spokesmen for the State Department and the Pentagon denied that Iran had achieved any such capability. Depends on who you want to believe: the Jerusalem Post, and Israeli Intelligence, or the U.S. government. The congressmen believed the Post articles, and said as much. However, several other lawmakers in both houses of congress had no comment when newsmen asked their appraisal. ---

WILL WE GO TO THE BRINK OF WAR WITH IRAQ AGAIN SOON?

Saddam and his chemical, biological and nuclear programs have not been much on the front pages lately. However, all that may soon change. There were those in the Senate, such as Majority Leader Trent Lott, who opposed UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's emergency trip to Baghdad to defuse a looming American air attack. Lott and others believed Saddam would welsh on the deal; that he had already had many months during which all equipment and stores of weapons of mass destruction could have been moved from "presidential palaces" to other hiding places.

Lott and others, among them US Ambassador to the UN, Bill Richardson, believed the deal Annan made with Saddam was "finite;" that, after a time, Saddam would once again declare the "presidential palaces" off limits to UN weapons inspectors, thus triggering yet another confrontation.

Recently, Charles Duelfer, who is deputy head of the UN Special Commission on arms inspection, issued a report in which he warned that Iraqi officials intend once again banning access to the "presidential palaces." Let's face it. Saddam is determined to be another Cyrus the Great, or a Saladin. In his toadish, swelling ego, he imagines himself a great leader, who will restore Iraq to the greatness of the Medo-Persian empire of the past. By annihilating Israel, Saddam believes he would emerge as the clear leader of all Islam; of all the Arab nations. He is determined — absolutely determined, one way or another — to possess weapons of mass destruction. Why would anyone believe otherwise? Duelfer said in his report that General Amir Mohammed Rashid, head of the Iraqi arms negotiating team, had insisted that "palace" inspections were not an indefinite process, but that the time was approaching when they would once again be placed "off limits" to inspectors. The term "palace" is misleading. While there are, indeed, many, many "palaces" Saddam has built for himself, most are huge, sprawling compounds, including sometimes dozens of buildings; barracks for elite troops, warehouses for storage; all the infrastructure necessary for a small city. It is not a matter of inspecting a few rooms in a palatial estate, but inspecting a maze of structures, many of which feature deep underground bunkers.

How long, now, before Saddam once again decides to test Madeleine Albright and Bill Clinton's will? ---

Letters To The Editor:

"Dear Mr. Armstrong:

I am writing to find out about your work. I was receiving tapes from the CGI, and then all of a sudden no more tapes of Mr. Armstrong. I have heard their side of the story but not yours. I would like to support you. I have been listening to you since I was 13 years old, and now I am 45 years of age." Ohio