WorldWatch

Vol. 1, No. 6  Published by the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association

Now, one of the biggest "blockbusters" of all time has hit the motion picture studios, entitled "Armageddon!" It is a high-tech, state of the art thriller, featuring the bombardment of earth by asteroids—very similar to an earlier film. But is "Armageddon" about comets or asteroids striking the earth—or something else, entirely? The word comes from the Bible, where it is only mentioned ONCE! What really IS "Armageddon?" Where is it? Is there really a prophesied "battle of Armageddon?" Here is what your Bible says about Armageddon.

        by Garner Ted Armstrong

Millions have gone to see a major motion picture, watching cataclysmic horror, destruction unimaginable; massive loss of life, as Hollywood's special effects technicians portrayed meteors smashing into huge skyscrapers in New York. Yet, those same millions are completely ignorant of the real meaning of "Armageddon." They have no idea where it is; what it is; what it portends!

In recent decades, no doubt due in part to the fact that the major powers have stockpiled enough nuclear weapons to obliterate all mankind twenty times over, motion-picture makers have resorted to Biblical terminology to attract moviegoers. Words like "Apocalypse" and "Armageddon" are now commonplace. Of course, "apocalypse," a Greek word, means nothing more sinister than "revealing." It is merely the Greek equivalent of the English "revelation," which is the name of the last book of the Bible.

But because the book of Revelation includes descriptions of some of the last great climactic battles to take place on earth, and the events of the Day of the Lord and Christ's return, ignorant men have decided the benign, unthreatening word "revelation" should become a word which means horror, violence, explosions, massive armies, blood, mayhem, chaos, cataclysm, and massive death! It means no such thing, of course, but such is the deception of Hollywood, and the ignorance of those who pander to the lusts of the public.

While they use Biblical terms to market their horrifying high-tech movies of mass death, they remain Biblical illiterates.

Their desire is to give the public what it wants, after all. Decades ago, I said, "The public wants an orgy—and God is going to give them one!"

The orgy God will give mankind is an orgy of death and blood, and not one of sensual abandon! And Armageddon is where this final orgy of death will take place!

The word "Armageddon" occurs in the Bible in the midst of a passage dealing with the "Day of the lord"; the intervention of God Almighty in human affairs.

Here is that passage: "And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

"And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

"For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

"Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

"And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon" (Revelation 16:12-16).

First, notice that the kings of the earth are to gather their armies to a PLACE which is called in Hebrew "Armageddon." For centuries, men have spoken and written about the "Battle of Armageddon." There is no such phrase in the Bible. There is indeed a BATTLE, but the battle is called "the battle of that great day of God Almighty," and NOT "the battle of Armageddon."

"Armageddon" means, Har-Megiddo. "Megiddo was famous in the sacred history as the place where the Canaanitish kings were overthrown by Israel, `and hence by the plain where the antichristian kings shall congregate against Christ and his church being thus named, it is intimated that it shall be with those kings as it was with the Canaanitish kings at Megiddo.'" (Dusterdieck in loc.) Comp. Zech xii II (A Cyclopaedia of Biblical Literature, Vol. 1, p. 219).

Megiddo is mentioned eleven times in the Bible. It is the place to which Ahaziah, king of Judah, fled after he was fatally wounded by Jehu, and the place where he died. Situated inland about 22 miles southeast from the modern city of Haifa, and about 65 miles northwest of Jerusalem, the mound offers a commanding view of the vast valley of Jesreel and Sharon, "Tel-Megiddo" is today a mound of ruins; a rather bleak and uninteresting tourist attraction. I have been there, and investigated the almost featureless rubble, noting a number of boar's teeth, testifying to the presence of Gentile inhabitants in ancient times who ate swine.

Megiddo was a principal city, mentioned as on the border of Manasseh's inheritance: "And by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Bethshean and her towns, Taanach and her towns, Megiddo and her towns, Dor and her towns. In these dwelt the children of Joseph the son of Israel" (1 Chronicles. 7:29).

It is to the vast plain reaching to the north and east of Megiddo that God's word says a massive horde will be drawn.

The "sixth angel" was seen by John in vision as pouring out a vial of some substance, generally understood to be God's wrath. The seven angels John saw represent seven phases of the "seven last plagues" (Rev. 15:6) which make up the "Day of the LORD," or the day of God's WRATH poured out upon the Gentile nations of the earth.

In order to view the prophecy about "Armageddon" in correct perspective, one must understand the chronological sequence of events portrayed by John in the book of Revelation. There are three divisions of seven, thus showing final completion, or the final perfection of God's plan on earth.

The Book of Revelation was pictured as being sealed with seven seals. Actually, John saw a scroll, like a long sheet of vellum wound around a metal rod, and not a "book" in the sense of our bound books of today. Therefore, as each of the seven seals opened yet another segment of the scroll, the segment previously opened remains open, and is not closed. This is further indication that the events described in Revelation do not "happen" and then cease, so that the next described event can "happen," but that they are cumulative in their effect, just as is destruction during war. As each disaster occurs, it remains in effect, as yet another plague is added to it.

The first six seals of the seven are: (1) The white horse of the "four horsemen of the apocalypse," signifying false Christs and false prophets, preaching false doctrines and deceptions. Christ interprets the meaning of the horsemen of the Apocalypse in His Olivet prophecy. He said, in response to His disciples' questions about the signs which would lead to the "time of the end" and His return, "...Take heed that no man deceive you, for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many" (Matthew 24:4, 5). Carefully compare the order of events Christ Himself gives in Matthew 24 with the seals of Revelation 6 and 7.

(2) The red horse, signifying "wars and rumors of wars." Christ said, "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..." (Matthew 24:6, 7).

The next WORLD WAR is implied here. We have been living in a time of global warfare since the advent of World War I, when men excitedly began to proclaim "This is the Armageddon war!" But the "war to end all wars" did not end war at all. In a short 20 years, Hitler plunged the world into World War II by attacking Poland. Since the cessation of World War II in 1945, this world has seen more than 65 wars, some of greater scope and duration than others, among them: The Communist invasion of Greece in 1946; the Jewish defense against six Arab nations in their war for independence in 1948; the Korean War; the war in the Mideast in 1956; the war in Vietnam; the 1967 six-day war in which five Arab armies attacked Israel; the "Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) War" in 1973; the eight-year war between Iran and Iraq; the U.S. invasions of Grenada and Panama; the war in the Gulf; the Serbo-Croatian war in Bosnia, plus protracted guerilla struggles and other wars by the dozen in all parts of the world.

(3) The black horse, signifying horrible famines and disease epidemics. Christ said, "...and there shall be famines..." following His prediction of wars. Of course, warfare dislocates massive populations, destroys crops and food stores, interrupts distribution and flow of food and water, and causes terrible pollution of food and water supplies. Famine usually afflicts the helpless populations who are driven from their farms and homes by warfare.

(4) The pale horse, signifying not only famine and disease, but death by attacks from rabid and wild animals. Tens of millions of people keep pets of various kinds, mostly dogs and cats. There are billions of rats and mice about, and it is known that many ground squirrels are infested with fleas that carry bubonic plague.

(5) The fifth seal depicts death by martyrdom and religious persecution. John saw a vision of the lives of those who had been slain because of their knowledge of God's truth and their lives of obedience to God. "And they cried with a loud voice, saying, `How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?'

"And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were [for the same reasons — religious martyrdom!], should be fulfilled."

Taken together, the first five seals of the book of Revelation depict the prophesied "GREAT TRIBULATION" of which Christ spoke. He said, following His description of false Christs, wars, famine, and disease, "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

"And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved [not a single human would remain alive on this earth]: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened" (Matthew 24:21,22). This is the same time spoken of by the archangel Gabriel to Daniel: "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book" (Daniel 12:1).

(6) The sixth seal is opened to reveal God's awesome heavenly signs, which halt all human activity, and which result in the conversion of 12,000 from each tribe of Israel save Dan, as well as a countless "innumerable multitude" from all nations, who fall to their knees in abject terror, crying out to God because of all that they see. Notice what Christ said, "Immediately AFTER the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken" (Matthew 24:29). Fix that in your mind, and never forget it! Remember, the heavenly signs come IMMEDIATELY AFTER the tribulation —not before!

Now, notice Joel 2:31: "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, BEFORE the great and the terrible Day of the LORD come.

"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call." The sequence of prophetic events predicted in Revelation are: (1) The Great Tribulation, consisting of the first five seals; (2) The "Heavenly Signs" which come AFTER the Tribulation, and, (3) The DAY OF THE LORD. The Heavenly Signs come BEFORE the Day of the Lord! Understanding these simple passages utterly destroys the false doctrine of the "secret rapture," for it shows clearly that SAINTS are on this earth all during the tribulation; that the 144,000 and a vast, countless multitude are not converted until during the heavenly signs; that all those who overcome Satan, and who resist the mark of the Beast, are not inducted into God's Kingdom until the second coming of Christ.

The Seventh Seal

After the inset chapter, depicting the conversion of the 144,000 and the countless multitude, the seventh seal is opened beginning in chapter 8. The seal is opened to reveal seven angels with trumpets in their hands. As each sounds his trumpet, a major PLAGUE falls upon the earth. These are the famous "seven trumpet plagues" of Revelation. Read all of chapters 8 and 9. Chapter 10 is an inset chapter about the mysterious "little book." Chapter 11 is about the two witnesses. Chapter 12 is about the church from its inception prior to creation until the time of the Tribulation. Chapter 13 introduces the BEAST, the "image of the Beast" and the "mark of the Beast" (write or call for my free booklet on the mark of the Beast if you have not yet read it).

Chapter 14 explains the two "harvests" of the earth; the first-fruits unto God, and the 144,000 are pictured as in the Kingdom of God. Then comes a description of the "third angel's message" of witness and warning, and the fall of Satan's Babylonish system of mystery religion, and the "harvest" of the wrath of God.

Chapter 15 shows a picture of those who have "gotten the victory over the Beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name," and introduces the SEVENTH of the seven trumpets, which consists of SEVEN LAST PLAGUES. The fifth, sixth and seventh trumpets are also called "three woes" following the description of the fourth trumpet (Revelation 8:13). The "third woe" is the same as the "seventh trumpet plague" or the seventh angel, who has the "seven Last Plagues."

Thus, there are three divisions of sevens in the Book of Revelation; 7 seals, the 7^th of which is divided into 7 trumpet plagues, the 7^th of which is divided into 7 last plagues.

Three is finality. Seven is perfection. Perfect finality, or final perfection—God's plan at last completed!

The Sixth Last Plague

Not all the "plagues" listed in Revelation are the result of direct divine fiat, such as those affecting the waters of the earth, or the green trees. A primary example is in the case of the scripture quoted at the beginning of this article. Read it again now. Notice that the angel pours out his vial on the "River Euphrates." This is symbolic, rather than literal, for rivers present almost no obstacle to attacking armies in this day of nuclear weapons, ICBM's and IRBM's, rockets, supersonic jet fighter bombers, helicopters and hovercraft, as well as tanks and huge amphibious vehicles which can easily cross rivers.

The "way of the kings of the east" is prepared because God allows Satan and his evil demons to influence the kings of the east "and of the whole world" to "gather them to the battle of the `GREAT DAY OF GOD ALMIGHTY!'" John saw, in vision, slimy amphibians; frogs, representing filthy communication and nefarious plans coming out of the mouth of Satan, and out of the mouths of the beast and false prophet, which he said "...are the spirits of [demons], working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle..." NOT "of Armageddon," but the battle of that great day of God Almighty, which takes place AT A PLACE called "Armageddon."

The dragon is Satan. The frogs are demons. The beast is the super-dictator, reigning over a coalition of 10 nations which will destroy the nations of modern-day Israel during the tribulation, and which will occupy Palestine (Daniel 11:40-45). The false prophet is the ecclesiastical leader of the great false church, which boasts that it is the "Lady of the kingdoms" (Isaiah 47:5-9).

The demons pictured in Revelation 16 cause lies and deception to come out of the mouths of the Beast and false prophet, who are possessed by them. Now, notice other references to this great battle: "The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

"That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness" (Zephaniah 1:14,15).

As impossible as it seems, TWO HUNDRED MILLION human beings; men comprising armies of many nations, will be gathered in the valleys around Megiddo at the time of the great battle! Notice Zechariah's description: "Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.

"For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

"Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle" (Zechariah 14:1, 2).

This prophecy goes on to describe the second coming of Christ, and the establishment of His Kingdom on earth. Now, notice just three verses, which reveal a great deal of information about these tumultuous events: "And the ten horns [on the hideous Beast John saw rising up out of the sea; see Revelation13] which thou sawest are ten kings [absolute rulers, like dictators], which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour [a very short time in prophecy—perhaps only a few months!] with the Beast.

"These have one mind [one purpose; one plan, or policy—they are in complete agreement] and shall give their power and strength unto the Beast.

"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).

If you had no other scriptures available to you in the entire Bible, but you KNEW these three short verses were the very Word of God, you would know the following:

At the time just before the return of Christ to this earth, a coalition of TEN NATIONS will rise which will be used as an instrument in God's hands to PUNISH the so-called "Lost Ten Tribes of Israel," meaning modern-day Britain and America, together with the democracies of northwestern Europe!

This "Beast" power will OCCUPY PALESTINE (Daniel 11:40-45). However, just as this Beast power is at its zenith; just as the great False Prophet is ensconced in Jerusalem, "...tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many" (Daniel 11:44).

Intelligence reports will inform the Beast power that a vast army of 200 MILLION is on its way! The most titanic battle in all history is shaping up!

But there is a THIRD army which is to arrive on the scene! "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and MAKE WAR.

"His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

"And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

"And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

"And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword [symbol for His Divine COMMANDS, which will cause sudden DEATH to those who oppose Him!], that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God..." (Revelation 19:11-20).

This IS the "Battle of the GREAT DAY OF GOD ALMIGHTY!" Notice, "And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth" (Zechariah 14:12).

Possible Scenarios

It is too bad that Hollywood cannot stick to the script! Instead of frightening people with monster movies, or movies about dinosaurs, or giant insects, or meteors smashing into New York skyscrapers, if they wanted to produce a movie about the REAL "Armageddon" it could be something which would EDUCATE people to the very REAL events which will ultimately take place on this earth —IN THE MIDDLE EAST! Any REAL depiction of Armageddon would more than satisfy the blood-lust of those who enjoy, vicariously, watching massive numbers of human beings die!

Here is what COULD happen!

If a group of fanatical Jews DESTROY the Al Aksa Mosque and the famed "Dome of the Rock" it would unite the Arab nations as never before. Many are moving toward the possession of nuclear weapons. Some already possess biological and chemical weapons. Many are purchasing, or developing, the missiles with which to deliver them.

If a major WAR broke out in the Middle East, it would very probably be EUROPE which would intervene! Which nation in Europe would gain the most in world public opinion if it sent its soldiers to SAVE JEWS FROM BEING GASSED INTO EXTINCTION?

Germany!

In the event of a major war in the Mideast, the whole world would be involved! CHINA is a major nuclear power, and possesses one fourth of the population of the world—more than ONE BILLION TWO HUNDRED MILLION! JAPAN gets about 75% of its energy supplies from the Gulf; Europe about 46%; the U.S. about 25%. Any major interruption of oil from the Gulf, and all the big powers are immediately involved.

We live in a time when major powers often intervene in regional wars, as they have in Bosnia, in order to come between bitter combatants, and impose some kind of peaceful settlement. In the event of a major war breaking out if Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Libya, and other Islamic nations such as Pakistan (which recently tested its own nuclear weapons) should ATTACK ISRAEL, then it is possible the newly-created "United States of Europe," which I believe will be the Biblically-prophesied BEAST, will descend upon Palestine, exactly as described in Daniel 11:40-45!

After occupying Jerusalem, which appears in the prophecy of Zechariah 14 to be once again a divided city, perhaps because of a war which will result in the declaration that old Jerusalem is the capital of a "Palestinian state," other nations may well be FURIOUS at the "Beast power" which now, as a result of occupying the entire Mideast (read Daniel 11:41, 42), controls the vast majority of the world's oil supplies!

The only place on earth where one could imagine armies numbering up to 200 MILLION could be raised would be in the nations of Russia, China, India, and Japan! Time will tell how all these many prophesied events will eventually occur. But in the MEANTIME, it makes no real difference to you and to me just how each event occurs—for when such events take place, we will have long since been called upon for our final testimony; our final decisions; our final actions. The tribulation will have been OVER by the time of the great battle at "Armageddon." The Day of the Lord will have begun, following the heavenly signs. Christ will be ON HIS WAY from heaven above, to fight the climactic battle of all time!

THIS is the truth from your Bible about the REAL "Armageddon."

Y2K Update

You may want to write a few letters, or make a few telephone calls within the next few weeks and months—especially if you are an investor in money market funds, mutual funds, or receiving a social security check.

by Garner Ted Armstrong

Have you received a call from your bank, or from your stock broker, or from you investment counselor lately, advising you to begin thinking about the "Y2K" problem? No? Not to worry—the chances are very good that, even if you are a fairly substantial investor, you will never receive any such call.

Not so long ago, Arthur Levitt, Chairman of the SEC (United States Securities and Exchange Commission), sent a rather urgent letter to professional investment advisors like your financial planner or stock broker. He told them they are "obligated" under U.S. securities laws to begin discussing year 2000 issues with all of their clients.

Why will you not receive such a call?

Think about it. The way stock brokers and financial planners make a living is on the commissions (or percentages) they receive in buying and selling stocks, or investing your money in an investment portfolio, for a fee. If they were to level with you about the real seriousness of the Y2K problem, you would probably start screaming to your broker to cash you in, send you all your money immediately, and figure what to do with it besides depend upon the electronic digits in a computer to safeguard it.

Stock brokers don't make phone calls to scare their clients.

But I read computer giant IBM's Internet publication "IBM —YEAR 2000" recently, and it was scary. The Y2K problem, in a nutshell, comes from the nearly universal practice for decades of all computer programmers using only two digits for date-sensitive (which means virtually all) computers. We're all accustomed to it — government forms, bank forms, loan applications, driver's license applications and the like — asking for our date of birth thusly: DD/MM/YY. We speak and write of the `80's and `90's, rather than the "nineteen eighties." The problem is that since so many of those monstrous mainframes were designed and built in the sixties, seventies and eighties, and since all of them used only two digits for the year, when "double zero" comes up, the computers will revert to 1900! They have not been programmed to recognize 2000, or any year thereafter!

In an attempt to soften the impact of their words, and avoid panic, IBM stated matter-of-factly who is affected by the year 2000 problem. They said, "It is a significant challenge across the I/T (information technology — meaning all computers and electronic information media) and for any business, agency, institution or person using computers" Translation: It affects everybody!

Here is HOW it affects YOU, whether you own and operate a PC or not:

(1) Financially: Everything we do in managing our money, from receiving a paycheck or social security check, to paying our bills, to purchasing gasoline or groceries, involves computers. Your local bank is run by computers; their tellers, their loan officers, their bookkeeping department, their reporting system by which they report to the government—everything—is run by computers. Unless your local bank is "Y2K compliant," their records of your checking, savings or other deposits (such as bank CD's) could disappear overnight when the year 2000 arrives, and the banks computers think it is 1900!

(2) Your utilities companies; electricity, water, and gas, are all computerized. Not only are the local companies run by computers, they are tied in to power grids, which supply electrical power from dams and steam-generated power plants. One horror story involves the time when a tree toppled over power lines in Utah, and caused a power outage in Los Angeles! Remember, January 1, 2000, comes in the middle of winter. This means possible severe cold in all the northern regions — right across Canada and most of the northern half of the U.S. If people's electricity and gas are cut off, they will need to find other means of keeping warm.

(3) Your telephone company is operated by computer.

(4) Your local grocery store depends on steady resupply from transportation. The nation's railways and trucking companies are run by computer. Mainframe computers perform switching functions to insure that trains carrying everything from coal for power plants to foodstuffs for grocery chains; from automobiles to passengers, are switched to the right track, and avoid meeting other trains head on. Further, grocery store inventories and check-stand functions are computerized.

(5) Your local retail stores, including such giants as Walmart, Penny's, Sears; all the office equipment stores like Best Buy and Office Depot, are run by computer.

(6) All the airlines are computerized, as is the nation's Air Traffic Control system, including enroute "centers," approach control, towers and ground control.

(7) If you are an investor, your brokerage firm is computerized.

(8) Your local hospital is computerized. All hospital equipment, from monitoring devices in the ICU (intensive care unit) to X-ray machines, scanners, blood bank dating systems and all patient records are on computers.

(9) Your local law enforcement agencies; from state troopers to local police departments, are operated by computer.

(10) The "911" system—the number we call in an emergency, may not work after January 1, 2000, unless the system in your community has identified and solved the "Y2K" problem.

Why Didn't They Fix It
Long Ago?

It was not until the early `90's that the "Y2K" problem began to be addressed. Insurance companies must compute trends out into the future, as do financial planners. When some programs ran up against the problem when they tried determining statistical trends on up into the 20 hundreds, they found the computers spit out false data. Little by little, the problem began to be recognized.

When asked this same question, giant computer manufacturer IBM said, "Until recently, computer memory and storage were costly and in short supply, and performance could be adversely affected by the manipulation of "unnecessary" data. It made sense to save several characters in every date entry in a database, especially those containing millions of records. And even programmers who considered the issue may reasonably have assumed that the applications they were writing would be replaced long before this calendar change could cause problems. Remarkably many of those old programs are still in use." (IBM - Year 2000 page on the Internet, emphasis mine).

Just how many? As economist (and Y2K expert) Dr. Gary North stated "...Even if some miracle happens and...80% of the mainframes this country runs on could be fixed in time—and believe me, it would take a miracle—the remaining 20% of noncompliant computers could still send corrupted data into the compliant mainframes and wreck all their data...if you can't fix ALL the computers, there's no use fixing any of them because of the data corruption problem."

What Should You Be Doing About It Personally?

There are several common-sense precautions every individual should take. Look at the numbered paragraphs above. Make a list of all the services you depend upon, such as your local bank, grocery store, electric, water, and gas companies. Decide to use a week or so as you can, and write or call each one, asking them if they have solved their "Y2K problem," or if they are "Y2K compliant."

Ask your local bank if they have (or will soon) back up all their records. There is no need for panic; for drawing all your money out of the banks, and creating a "self-fulfilling prophecy" by causing banks to collapse (which would surely happen if the big networks, like CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox and CNN began making the Y2K problem a part of their nightly news!). Very likely, if your banker is as far along toward solving the problem as our bank here in Tyler, you will have little to fear. But it does not hurt to find out; to check up for yourself, and be reassured.

Check with your financial counselor, or your broker, if you have one. Make sure any stocks, bonds, or mutual funds—especially 401K or IRA contracts — are safe.

Call your local utilities companies, and find out if they are up to speed; if your water, lights, and gas will still be available when January 1, 2000 dawns.

Call your local police or sheriff's department, and ask if they are geared up for the year 2000 syndrome. Find out about your hospital or paramedics, and call your local fire department.

Check with your grocery store, and ask to speak with one of the managers—satisfy yourself they have done all they can in preparing for the year 2000.

Next month, we will address some sensible precautions you might wish to take to make absolutely SURE you will be inconvenienced as little as possible when January 1, 2000 arrives!

IRAN TESTS
INTERMEDIATE-RANGE MISSILE

U.S. AND ISRAEL VOICE DEEP CONCERN

It has been known for a number of years that the North Koreans at Pyongyang have been selling missiles and missile technology to other countries in order to earn badly-needed cash for their desperately poor economy. The "Shihab-3," as the Iranian military has dubbed it, is the North Korean "No-dong" IRBM, also called the "Ro-dung." But it has been upgraded, allegedly with the help of the Russians, into an intermediate-range missile which could reach targets in Israel, or U.S. bases in Saudi Arabia, as well as portions of Russia and Turkey.

During the last week of July, the Iranians test-fired their Shihab-3. U.S. spy satellites detected and tracked the launch. Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai said, "...the testing of long-range missiles by Iran is a very grave thing. It is developing into a harsh threat in the Middle East."

Just how grave was indicated by the front-page headline article in the Jerusalem Post International Edition of August 1^st, which also included an editorial by Steve Rodan entitled, "A Deadly Weapon In Ruthless Hands." Rodan's article revealed that the Iranians may be as "little as one year away from deployment." The missile is capable of carrying chemical, biological or nuclear warheads, and has a range of 1,300 kilometers. Allegedly, Teheran is also working on the successor to the Shihab-3, the Shihab-4, modeled on the Russian SS-4, with a striking range between 2,000 and 2,500 kilometers, which would bring all of Southern and Central Europe within range of Iranian missiles.

Obviously, Mohammed Khatami, President of Iran, has given his full approval to the program, notwithstanding his efforts to forge closer ties with Washington. Even more obviously, Iran wishes to be viewed as a major power, not only in the Middle East, but in the world. With Pakistan and India having conducted recent nuclear tests, one must view Iran's missile testing as ominous saber-rattling of its own. Back in the early 1980's, when Israel learned that Iraq was nearing the capability of producing an atomic bomb at their reactor at Osirak, near Baghdad, the Israelis simply sent a flight of F-16's to Osirak, and, in a surprise attack, blasted the reactor out of existence before it could go nuclear.

What will Israel do if it finds itself surrounded by nation after nation with far more sophisticated missiles than the notoriously inaccurate SCUDS of Saddam Hussein; nations like Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, and Libya?

Meanwhile, as many of the HEADLINES in this issue prove, tensions are extremely high in Jerusalem, as Yassir Arafat and the PA, or Palestinian Authority, continue to make strident demands for withdrawal of Israeli troops from the West Bank, and continue to insist that Jerusalem must become the capital of a new Palestinian State. We may see the arbitrary announcement of a Palestinian State before the end of 1998—and that could forebode the gravest consequences in the region.

POPE URGES SUNDAY WORSHIP

The Pope in Rome has published a letter to all the faithful under his authority to "rediscover the meaning of Sunday." In his "angelus" (a traditional public prayer) on July 5, 1998, the pope said his letter, called, Dies Domini, or "Sunday," would be made public. The letter is said to urge Catholics to "be obedient to the third commandment"!

by Garner Ted Armstrong

Now, the pope in Rome has written a major letter to all his "esteemed brothers in the Episcopate and the priesthood," saying they should remember to keep the "Lord's Day holy."

In his opening paragraph, the pope said, "The Lord's day—as Sunday was called from apostolic times (1)—has always been accorded special attention in the history of the church because of its close connection with the very core of the Christian mystery."

But the first work day of the week was NEVER called "the Lord's day" by the apostles, and was not enjoined on apostate professing Christians until 325 AD, centuries after the ascension of Christ. Read Mark 2:26-27 to find which day it is of which Christ is Lord!

Did he say "mystery"? Yes, "mystery." The religion which is called by the name "mystery" is mentioned in Bible prophecy quite prominently. "...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 [calling themselves by titles which belong only to God], having seven heads and ten horns.

"And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup 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 [the whore has many protesting daughters]:

"And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration [astonishment; awe]" Revelation 17:1-6).

One would do well to ponder the meaning of the pope's cry to the faithful to quit treating Sunday like a part of the "weekend" and, instead, treat it as the "Easter which returns week by week, celebrating Christ's victory over sin and death".

The third commandment?

Actually, no. The commandment concerning—not Sunday—but the SABBATH day is the FOURTH commandment, not the third.

The pope said, "Sunday should be made holy, especially by attending Mass." He insisted that "Today, to be faithful to Sunday mass, it is often necessary to `go against the tide,' for this reason, `a renewed awareness of faith is required.'"

Could it be that, because of the spread of knowledge about God's Sabbath day, and because of the TRUTH about the fourth commandment, the Catholic Church has experienced some erosion in faith or membership?

Something is afoot here. For the most revered, most powerful pope in history to begin calling for more Sunday worship could easily send chills up and down the spines of those who observe God's Sabbath day. They are described as "...them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name" (Revelation 15:2). For desperate people who have found themselves persecuted, discriminated against, and treated as outcasts because of God's Sabbath day; for those who have been terribly hurt, financially, when trying to find work which does not require them to work on the Sabbath, it must seem ironic indeed for the pope to urge Catholics to "go against the tide" and keep Sunday!

Go AGAINST the tide? For pity's sake—doesn't he mean, "get in the swim"?

Since when do Catholics or Protestants have difficulty getting and holding a job because they "keep Sunday"?

Personal
from Garner Ted Armstrong

As we rush this issue to press, we learn of bloodied, torn bodies being pulled from the rubble of collapsed, shattered buildings in the capitals of Kenya and Tanzania; Nairobi, and Dar es Salaam. Early indications were that the massive car bombs were the work of fanatical Islamic cells, perhaps one operating either in Egypt or Libya. Obviously, the United States embassies were the target. One has only to remember past issues of WORLDWATCH, and ominous threats by Islamic terrorists; their cries of "Jihad" ("holy war") against Israel and "the great Satan"—the United States, to recall that fanatical Muslims have announced their intentions well in advance.

RELIGIOUS HATRED is behind all this. Never forget that the real underlying reason for the bitter hatred in the Middle East is RELIGIOUS! Today, God's church is bloodied, shattered, dismembered by the same virulent intolerance, disdain, contempt and bitter hatred which we see from Jerusalem to Belfast; from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam! The reason Pakistan exploded nuclear devices; the reason Iran is testing missiles; the reason Syria conducts war games is NOT because of political concerns. It is based entirely upon religious hatred!

Satan's favorite concoctions; his choice smorgasbord of tempting delicacies are a sip of suspicion, a dash of haughtiness, and a sprinkling of self-righteous contempt mixed with a puree of rage on a roasted breast of hatred, garnished with intolerance and violence. The only reason some "Christians" do not simply shoot each other is their fear of being caught. Instead, they deal in vicious words, hateful articles, and sermons filled with evil innuendo.

The reason Christ's doctrine was so "shocking" to the Pharisees was because he preached FORGIVENESS and tolerance! Their self-righteous contempt for others was like a seething cauldron filled with the noxious recipe of Satan's unpalatable dish. They tried and tried, and they finally succeeded! Can you imagine the REJOICING when they knew they had finally set in motion the events which would lead to the horrible murder of God's own son?

"We did it!" They must have exulted. Liars, cheats, thieves, hypocrites, murderers all, they rubbed their hands in glee. "We got him!" They loved their moment of glory.

If Christ's killers rejoiced at His crucifixion, what did they think when it got pitch black at midnight, and then an earthquake heaved ancient tombs to the surface, and good men and women were brought back to life? What did they think when they were in Peter's audience on that Pentecost?

Some of them were stricken through to the heart! Frantic, they said, "Men and brethren, what shall we DO?" God's merciful, wondrous, answer came from heaven: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!" (Acts 2:38).

Incredible! God Almighty in heaven above, had He acted as do most professing "Christians" would instead have been filled with HATRED!

Is not this the very spirit that grips the minds of "Christian" brethren and sisters when they pull themselves up to their full, towering height of moral outrage, and sit down to Satan's smorgasbord, sampling his dainties?

When, and where, will the next vicious act of hatred be perpetrated as an act of "holy war," or "in the name of Christ?"

Headlines Of Recent Date ......

KILLER HEAT WAVE HITS JAPAN

RECORDS TOPPLE IN TEXAS - MORE THAN 29 DAYS OVER 100

Crop Loss In Texas Severe: Cotton, Sorghum, Grain affected.

5.2 Earthquake Shakes Mexican Resort Town Acapulco

China Braces For Heavy Flooding—Almost One Million Evacuated

FIRES ON CYPRUS RAGE OUT OF CONTROL

4.2 Earthquake Shakes Central Athens, Greece

LARGEST GAY PARADE IN COLOGNE, GERMANY

Anglican Church Faces Row Over `Gay Rights.'

INDIA SAYS IT WILL TEST FIRE AGNI MISSILE IN AUGUST

UN Recommends Strengthening Its Force In Macedonia

GENERAL SHARON WARNS ISRAELI GOVERNMENT MAY COLLAPSE

EPIDEMIC OF DENGUE FEVER STRIKES COSTA RICA

Plague Of Locusts Ravage Chinese Grasslands

Texas, Oklahoma, Experience Massive Grasshopper Invasion

NETANYAHU ACCUSED OF "LEADING ISRAEL TO WAR:" BARAK

STARVING NORTH KOREANS EATING GRASS, BARK, ROOTS—STOMACH AILMENTS ON THE INCREASE

Indonesia Facing Famine: Citizens Urged To Fast

DEAD ANIMALS SPARK FEARS OF ECOLOGICAL DISASTER IN MIDEAST

BANGLADESH HIT BY MONSOON STORMS, LANDSLIDES.

Tornadoes And Sandstorms Lash China

AIDS EXPLODING IN `THIRD WORLD'

Mt. Etna Unexpectedly Erupts, Spews Gas, Ash, Molten Lava

Quake Registers 4.2, Hits Central Japan

Government Warns Half Of Indonesians Not Able To Buy Food By Year's End.

NEW ASTEROID ORBITING BETWEEN EARTH AND SUN — UNSEEN DANGERS

EARTHQUAKE BENEATH SEA RATTLES GREAT BARRIER REEF

ALASKAN VOLCANO ERUPTS

FLASH FLOODING STRIKES EASTERN U.S.

Black fly Plague Adds To Drought Woes In Florida And Georgia

POPE URGES CATHOLICS TO RECOGNIZE SUNDAY AS SABBATH

ISRAEL SAYS NUCLEAR ARMED RADICAL ISLAM GREATEST THREAT TO WORLD PEACE

JAPAN SEES RECORD UNEMPLOYMENT

Syria's New Army Chief Warns Israel: We Are Ready to Fight

SUMMER HEATWAVE, AIR POLLUTION, FIRES HIT GREECE

6.6 Earthquake Hits Indonesia's Irian Jaya

6.2 Quake Shakes Millions in Central Chile

MASSIVE BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION REPORTED FOUND IN SYDNEY WATER

AMERICANS FACE MISSILE ATTACK THREAT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER

Television Log of GTAEA

• Sacramento, CA_RCC-TV cable, ch. 20, 9:30 a.m., Sun., Pacific

• Inter-Mt.-Cable_WPRG TV-5, 10:30 a.m., Sun., Mountain

• Ft. Wayne, IN_Cable Access, ch. 10, 8:30 p.m., Tues., Eastern

• Indianapolis, IN_WNDY-UPN, 7:30 a.m., Sat., Eastern

• Harold, KY_WPRG, ch. 5, 10:30 a.m., Sun., Eastern

• London, KY_Frontier Cable, ch. 5, 7:30 p.m.,Thu. & 2:00 p.m., Sun., Eastern

• Louisville, KY_FOX, 7:30 a.m., Sun., Eastern

• New Orleans, LA_WGNO-ABC, 6:00 a.m., Sat., Central

• Muskegon, MI_WMKG ch. 40 air, cable 98, 11:00 a.m., Sun., Eastern

• Springfield, MO_KOLR-CBS, 6:30 a.m., Sun., Central

• Cape Girardeau/Jackson, MO_TCI cable, ch. 5, 8:00 p.m., Sun., Eastern

• Albuquerque, NM_CCC, ch. 27, 6:30 p.m., Mon., Mountain

• Syracuse, NY_WTVH-CBS, 5:30 a.m^., Sun., Eastern

• Greenville, TN_Frontier Vision, ch. 20, 2:00 p.m., Wed., Eastern

• Olympia, WA_TCTV Comm. TV, ch. 3, 10:00 a.m. & 4:30 p.m., Sun., Pacific

Radio:

• Fordyce, AR_KBJT AM 1570, 10:30 a.m., Sun., Central

• Daleville, AL_WTKN AM, 2:00 p.m., Sun., Eastern

• Chardon, OH_WATJ AM 1560, 5:00 p.m., Sun., Eastern

WHY your monthly newsletter has no subscription price:

Many write and ask, "How can you send out so many newsletters, booklets, articles and tapes, and not charge for them?" The answer is simple. The GOSPEL of Jesus Christ, and the WITNESS and WARNING contained in His prophecies about the impending Great Tribulation must not be "sold" like merchandise! Christ told His disciples, "FREELY ye have received — FREELY GIVE!" We believe God wants us to make His truth available to the masses absolutely FREE of charge! It is only because of the tithing and giving members of the Intercontinental Church of God, and Co-workers with the Evangelistic Association, who freely GIVE so that we may have to GIVE to the public that we are able to send out all our tapes and literature! We rely on our God IN FAITH to put it into the minds of those He is calling and using in His work! We know this is GOD'S WAY — the way of GIVING, and not the way of GET!