WorldWatch

Vol. 1, No. 7  Published by the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association

For decades, I have warned that a great global meltdown of national economies would send the whole world into another GREAT DEPRESSION. Millions remember well what happened in Europe when the Great Depression began. Are we poised on the brink of a bizarre repetition of history?

by Garner Ted Armstrong

Russia implodes! Now, as we go to press, the Russian Parliament is demanding Boris Yeltsin's resignation! World stock markets are reeling due to chaos in the Russian economy. Waiting in the wings are two very nationalistic, powerful men—Vladimir Zhirinovsky and Alexander Lebed. Zhirinov-sky is a rabid, dangerous right winger who has already threatened Russia's neighbors with nuclear annihilation. A former member of the KGB, he is viewed, even in Russia, as a dangerous radical.

Yeltsin returned to the Kremlin suddenly, denied rumors he had resigned. Here is a brief sketch of decisions he has made in recent years: He fired his Prime Minister in 1991, just five months after being elected, then became acting PM until June the following year. Then, seven months after naming Yegor Gaidar as the new PM, Yeltsin fired him, along with a number of his deputies. Viktor Chernomyrdin was appointed as the new PM.

Yeltsin reorganized the government in 1997, canceling several ministries, and firing more than a dozen ministers. He promoted two "reformers", Chubais and Nemtsov, to be Chernomyrdin's top deputies. By March of 1998, Yeltsin had fired five more people; two of them chiefs of the "privatization" ministry, (wherein the government was attempting to continue the process of dismantling the old Communist state-owned industries, and privatize them), and the ministers of nuclear energy, transportation, and education.

Following years of rancor and sparring, in March of this year Yeltsin fired Chernomyrdin, and the entire executive branch of government! Then, finally having to face economic chaos and defeat, Yeltsin fired acting PM Sergei Kiriyenko, and hired Chernomyrdin again as "Acting Prime Minister."

With such roller-coaster upheavals in government, and Yeltsin's own health always a potential problem, it is inevitable that a major change is coming in Russia. Many in the west are apprehensive that a new totalitarian government, either Fascist or Communist, could arise; that a new "cold war" could begin!

For years, I have said the GREAT TRIBULATION prophesied by Jesus Christ would begin following a great global ECONOMIC COLLAPSE, and the rise of military dictatorships!

The Russian medium of exchange, the ruble, is in free fall as I rush this issue to press. No one knows where it will bottom out. Millions of Russians are being reduced to a barter society. Crime is rampant. Alcoholism is endemic. A run on the banks was underway, with thousands lining up in the streets, trying to draw out their dwindling savings.

In such a situation, GOVERNMENTS TOPPLE! When the masses find their most basic needs, food, clothing and shelter, are being threatened, they take to the streets to demand action!

WATCH Russia! Anyone with investments in the U.S. stock market already knows how the Russian economic collapse has affected U.S. markets. What is ahead for the Russian people? Will either Zhirinovsky or Lebed come to power? We shall wait and see. p

TERRORISM in the name of "God"

"Bin Laden is safe!" So said the "Taliban" in Afghanistan, following U.S. cruise missile strikes on terrorist bases in Afghanistan, only one mile from the Pakistan border. Bin Laden, exiled Saudi Arabian multi-millionaire, has been linked to terrorist attacks in many, many places. What is ahead for the U.S. and Israel? Need you be concerned about Islamic terrorists where you live?

by Garner Ted Armstrong

When the huge bomb blasts in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, blew into bloody bits 263 people, among them 12 Americans, injuring over 5,000 more, it was all "for the love of Allah"! Perfectly justifiable—even "righteous"—in the minds of the fanatic Islamic fundamentalists who have formed themselves into various organizations for the purpose of the random murder of innocent men, women, and children.

But when retaliation for such massive bombings takes place by U.S. cruise missiles, tens of thousands of Islamic Arabs from Libya to Pakistan take to the streets in shrieking rage, shaking fists, burning American flags, and vowing "war" against the U.S. There were no public protests of outrage when the two U.S. embassies were bombed, of course. Only when the U.S. dares to retaliate.

Mass murder, in the minds of hate-filled fanatics, is "righteous." Any attempt at retaliation, or bringing to justice the murderers, is "Satanic."

In the May issue of WORLDWATCH, I wrote how Abdel Awadallah, a leading member of the infamous terrorist organization "Hamas," had vowed "revenge" because the Israelis had finally tracked down and killed Muhyideen al-Sharif, who had constructed many of the bombs used to blast men, women and children to bits in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Insanely furious that the Israelis had killed the murderous bomb-maker, Awadallah screamed out how he intended to bring "sadness and horror into the heart and home of every Zionist."

It is this mind set; this utterly Satanic, hate-filled, insane, illogical fanaticism, which is difficult for peace-loving, God-fearing people to understand. In their twisted minds, terrorists are perfectly within their "Allah-given rights" to murder innocent victims. But let the victim's country strike back, and they fly into demoniacal fury.

Who Is bin Ladin, And What Has He Done?

Osama bin Laden is an exiled Saudi Arabian multimillionaire, who agitated for the expulsion of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia. He maintained that U.S. forces, mostly engaged in enforcing the southern "no-fly zone" in Iraq, were an "occupying force"; that this was undermining Saudi prestige among the Islamic nations; that it was an insult to their religion. His activities included writing a letter to the King of Saudi Arabia, promoting himself as one who could train Saudi soldiers to fight against Iraq. He cited his experience in training Afghan guerillas in the fight against the Soviets. The Saudi government, weary of bin Laden's activities, expelled him. He went to the Sudan, where he used his construction company to build roads for the government.

He also operates many other businesses in Sudan, including an import-export company, ideal for concealing shipments of weapons or explosives, an agricultural cooperative, meaning access to the components used in bombs, such as that detonated in Oklahoma City, which consisted of fertilizer and fuel oil; he runs Islamic banking businesses in and around Khartoum, and the "National Islamic Front" in Sudan is a partner with bin Laden in his businesses.

The U.S. urged the Sudanese government to expel bin Laden because of the belief in the State Department that he had been linked to many attacks against U.S. forces and interests. The Sudan did so, and bin Laden went to Afghanistan, to work among his followers in bases which were originally built by the U.S. to support the guerillas against Soviet invaders.

Because of threats of terrorism in 1996, the U.S. evacuated the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, and relocated in Kenya.

The State Department believes bin Laden to be the "most significant financial sponsor of Islamic extremist activities in the world today." He is a suspect in the following terrorist activities: (1) Linked to mastermind of the World Trade Center bombing, Ramzi Ahmed Yousef; associated with Egyptian Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman, who plotted to blow up New York City landmarks. (2) Claimed to have carried out attacks against U.S. forces in Somalia in 1992. (3) Allegedly behind an attempt to murder Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in 1996 in Ethiopia. (4) Most importantly among all links was the confession of a suspect in the Kenya and Tanzania bombings of two U.S. Embassies, Ali Saleh, a member of the Egyptian "Islamic Jihad" ("holy war") group. Ali Saleh is a close associate of bin Laden. Days after the Nairobi bombing, authorities said three suspects had confessed that bin Laden was a sponsor. (5) Allegedly sponsored the bombing of the U.S. military complex in Saudi Arabia, the Khobar Towers bombing, in which many Americans were killed. (6) Has made public statements to U.S. news media that he considers innocent civilians; men, women, or children, "the enemy" which, he says, must be killed. (7) Formed "The World Islamic Front For Jihad Against Jews" in Pakistan (an Islamic country), which has threatened to carry out attacks against Americans, and "all enemies of Islam." (8) Allegedly supported plots in the Philippines to place bombs aboard U.S. aircraft over the Pacific, and to assassinate President Clinton and the Pope. Bin Laden has also been suspected of links to terrorist activities in the Kashmir region of India, Tajikistan, Chechnya, Egypt, Bosnia, and Algeria. (9) His cohorts tried to bomb a hotel in Yemen, where about 100 U.S. soldiers were temporarily billeted en route to Somalia. The bomb didn't go off, but two Australian tourists were killed by the would-be bombers.

He is the self-styled "President of the University of Holy War" in Afghanistan, a pretentious-sounding name for his guerilla camps, where terrorists are trained in the use of firearms and explosives — the same camps struck by U.S. cruise missiles recently.

Osama bin Laden, who inherited 250 million dollars from his father, who built public buildings and mosques for the royal family of Saudi Arabia, has a global infrastructure of Islamic fundamentalists whose aim is the destruction of Israel and the collapse of the United States. His organization includes militant groups and extremist political movements based in the Sudan, Yemen, Egypt, Algeria, the Phillippines, and Lebanon, and features fronts such as charities and Islamic banks. Bin Laden has been funneling tens of millions of dollars a year through such banks and charities to fund terrorist and political activities since 1993. No wonder he is viewed as the world's most wanted terrorist by the U.S. government.

Merely A Diversion?

Immediately upon learning of the guided missile attacks, millions at home and abroad leapt to the conclusion that President Clinton had ordered the attack to divert attention from his personal problems. Not so, said the Pentagon and National Security Advisor Sandy Berger. The intelligence reports concerning bin Laden's linkage to the embassy bombings and his suspected whereabouts had come in days prior to Clinton's testimony before the Starr grand jury.

Cooler heads opined what an unfortunate set of circumstances; that the embassies had been bombed, and information indicated a gathering of terrorist leaders, including bin Laden himself, would take place in one of the training camps in southern Afghanistan within days. Rational people said, "We had to strike back, and it would have been ridiculous to pass up such an opportunity."

Many years ago, in a spate of self-righteous hypocrisy fueled by America's plaintive cries for "human rights" all over the world, our government decided, in its infinite wisdom, that it would not be cricket to be found attempting to assassinate heads of state of enemy countries. Once it was learned that the Kennedy administration had been complicit with the Mafia to kill Castro, and other CIA skullduggery had been dredged up out of the files, the American government decided it would impress the world with its concept of fair play.

Of course, the attack on Libya, where the bombers of the Pan Am 747 that blew up over Locherby, Scotland were hiding, while clearly aimed at taking out Maomar Kadaffi, Libya's deranged dictator, unfortunately resulted in killing members of his family, including a daughter, further adding to U.S. embarrassment.

Nevertheless, it was obvious that the U.S. cruise missile attacks on the bases in southern Afghanistan were timed to occur when they believed bin Laden would be present. Some of the more conservative talk show hosts were exclaiming that the U.S. should reevaluate its policy of eschewing covert attempts at assassination.

Believe it or not, there are some paranoids whose fanciful musings stray so far afield as to suppose the U.S. government bombed its own embassies, just to manufacture a diversion, to take away attention from Clinton!

But such outlandish musings are equally as ridiculous as believers in the flat earth society, or those who believe America's landing on the moon was a vast conspiracy, staged in the Arizona desert.

It is indeed a new time, and a new set of circumstances, when the enemy is not a state, but an individual, or several individuals in a group of international terrorists with the means to produce and deploy chemical, biological, or even nuclear weapons.

As a result, security at U.S. airports has been tightened. Bomb-sniffing dogs are being employed. Passengers, especially any who appear Arabic, are being questioned more closely, and baggage is being inspected carefully. It makes sense to be careful, especially if you are contemplating a trip to any foreign country. It also makes sense to avoid large crowds in public places. If commuters who must daily walk through Grand Central Station in New York feel their scalps prickling, it is not without reason.

Virulent Hatred In
"God's Name"

God's Word says the last days would be characterized by the most horrible atrocities. Christ predicted we would be living in a time of "wars and rumours of wars" (Matthew 24:6), but told His disciples, "...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 [look at the HEADLINES section in this newsletter each month!]...

"All these are the beginning of sorrows.

"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake" (Matthew 24:6-10). That is religious hatred — hating because one is a Christian, and professes Christ's name! One may find no more vicious hatred than among "religious" groups who are in competition with one another. Often, the same men who "preach peace" from the pulpits are busily plotting how to wreak havoc and even murder on the weekdays.

The religion of Islam has an unwritten sixth duty. Essentially, the Koran views the nations and people of Islam (which means "submission") as a region of wondrous PEACE. But outside of Islam are only "infidels." Those who refuse to accept Mohammed as the prophet of Allah, and to submit to Islam are viewed as "of Satan"; as enemies; as "infidels" or unbelievers.

It is the duty of all those who believe in Islam to bring the "peace" of Islam to all infidels, and infidel states. Those who will not submit should be killed. The murderers, if they die in the act of bringing death to the "infidels" are promised immediate admission to heaven. The day before the bombings in Africa, the Egyptian "Jihad" ("holy war") group sent a warning to the U.S. They said they would soon deliver a message to Americans "...which we hope they read with care, because we will write it, with God's help, in a language they will understand." The "language" they used was that of mass murder by bomb.

Murder in the name of God is not new. It has been practiced by dozens of religions for many, many millennia. However, today's modern science has bequeathed to the military organizations of the nations, or to terrorists who have the funds, weapons of such mass destruction as to be incalculable. As we have reported in these pages, only one small drop of VX, the deadliest nerve gas known to man, on the back of your hand, and you are dead in minutes! U.S. intelligence agencies informed the Pentagon that the chemical plant in Khartoum which was destroyed was manufacturing a "precursor" to VX! Of course, the Sudanese government will vigorously deny it. As we have reported, any chemical plant, such as those engaged in the production of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or chemical fertilizers, or those manufacturing pharmaceuticals, makes a perfect front for the evil work of producing chemical weapons.

Paul told Timothy, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come" (2 Timothy 3:1). We are certainly living in PERILOUS times; DANGEROUS times! We have been told by the government that "this is only the beginning" of a long and protracted WAR against terrorists. We know of their mindless, satanic, evil hatred. We know of their irrationality; their brutish, calloused disregard for human suffering. Therefore, we know that our own lives, or the lives of our most precious loved ones; our children and grandchildren, are considered of less worth than an ant on the sidewalk to a terrorist, and terrorists would kill them without compunction.

It is difficult for Godfearing, Christian people, who are doing their best to LOVE even their enemies, to even imagine such Satanic hatred.

But, true to Christ's prophecies, this is the world in which we live.

Recognizing this, it is only sensible to take every precaution. But the most important precaution is to go to God on our knees every day—never going to bed before we pray to our Heavenly Father for His Divine protection! God tells us, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

"As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:35-39).

If we are saved; if we are merely the temporary tabernacle for a "new creature in Christ" within us, we need have no fear what man can do. Nevertheless, it is instinctive for all of us to want to protect and preserve life. Bin Laden apparently escaped alive when the missiles rained down on his "Holy War College" in Afghanistan. A senior intelligence official in the U.S. said, "The prospect of retaliation against Americans is very, very high." p

"Y-2-K": The Year 2000—What Should You Do
To Protect Yourself?

by Garner Ted Armstrong

In the last issue, you saw a picture of the huge dome being constructed astride the "Greenwich Meridian," where, as man-made clocks count time, the first second of the "new millennium" will begin.

Actually, the celebrations are one year premature, since the old millennium is only completing with the END of the year 2000, not beginning, but, nevertheless, because of the almost superstitious fascination with numbers, the world will "celebrate" the beginning of the "new millennium" precisely at Midnight, December 31, 1999, when, one second later, it will be, according to man's time-keeping methods (at least in the professing "Christian" world), January 1, 2000.

The date is entirely artificial. It has no theological or metaphysical significance. Since the man-made calendar in the "Christian" professing world is based upon the birth of Christ (and they even got that wrong by four years and four months!), it is stated that we are nearing the year 2,000 "AD." or Anno Domini, meaning "After our Lord." Not so. Christ was born, most likely, on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles in what men call "4 BC."

Of course, every seventh human being on earth, being Muslim, counts time from the "Hegira," or Muhammad's flight from Mecca to Medina in AD 622. On the other hand, the Jews count from 3,760 years Before Christ, which they say is the moment of creation. Based upon this reckoning, remembering there is no year "0," you must add 1998 years to 3760 years, then subtract one year, which equals 5,756 years. To those who believe the weekly cycle indicates that human civilization will last exactly 6,000 years before the Second Coming of Christ, this would be disappointing news, indeed, for it would mean that, if the Jewish chronology is correct, there are still two hundred and forty three years remaining to complete 6,000 years!

Of course, the Chinese, representing one quarter of the world's population, have a completely different calendar, as do the Hindus, some of whom reckon the beginning of the "Kali Yuga" time cycle, or creation, as 3102 BC.

Notwithstanding all this, with dogged determination, adherents to the flawed Gregorian calendar continue to become ever more apprehensive, excited, and perhaps even fearful, as we approach the year 2000. It was on April 6, 1997, when one thousand members of various marching bands formed together as the "Times Square All Star Marching Band" to celebrate the fact that exactly 1,000 days yet remained until the first day of the year 2000.

On the Internet when one interrogates "Y2K, Year 2000," one will discover a "countdown clock," ticking off the seconds, minutes, hours and days until the great event.

Why Y2K Is Significant

As reported in the last issue, and as is becoming more widely known, the reason many are apprehensive about the approach of year 2000 is because of the massive main frame computers used by hundreds of government agencies, by the financial industry, and by countless thousands of businesses, which feature computer chips programmed only to 1999.

Back in the 1960's, when those behemoth computers were built, it was assumed the technology would advance so rapidly none of them would remain in use for very long. Wrong. Not only are many of them still in use, but many have found their way into other countries, like Eastern Europe, Central and South America, and Russia. As U.S. companies upgraded, used computers became very cheap.

Here is the problem: Those computers were programmed with only two digits for the year, to save time and computer space. All computer transactions, from simple E-mail letters to a friend to financial data like accounts receivable and payroll information are date sensitive. In each computer is a clock, and whenever one writes a document, sends a letter, or generates a check or a bill, the computer dates the transaction.

Because the computers were not set to recognize 2000, when 1999, or "99" becomes "00," the computers will recognize the digits as 1900, and will wipe out immense amounts of data, or begin spewing forth erroneous information.

In the last issue, I suggested you begin calling your bank, your utilities companies, your local law enforcement agencies and the like, and ask about their progress and preparedness for "Y2K," or the year 2000.

Here is why: When I talked to the project manager at a major local bank, he told me the bank was "pretty far along" with their upgrading of both hardware and software. He said their day to day function of caring for customers; the computers used by tellers and bank officers to conduct daily business, were largely "compliant." He said the second major function of the bank; its own internal records and its required reporting to the bank examiners, its primary sources for loans, and the government, was also very far along. But, he said, it was in the third area he still had some concerns. By that, he meant the dozens of companies who borrow from the bank; who have lines of credit to run their businesses. Take for instance a man in the construction industry; a builder, who may be building a shopping center, some commercial buildings, or a dozen or so new homes for sale.

The builder has an office, in which all his records; his loans from the bank, accounts receivable, suppliers, employees—everything, are maintained by computer. Is HIS computer "Y2K" compliant? Will HIS records still be intact when 2000 dawns? Then, there are the many, many sub-contractors, such as framers, cement finishers, roofers, bricklayers, plumbers, electricians, tile and dry-wall men, and landscape architects and designers. Each of these have records on computers; probably a "PC" with plenty of capacity to handle their business.

How does the contractor know all his subcontractors' computers are "Y2K compliant"?

You begin to see the size and scale of the problem.

Of most critical concern are the global financial markets. To what extent are the stock markets in Frankfurt, Germany, Tokyo Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Paris and London completely protected, and "Y2K compliant"?

Will countless billions of dollars be lost in one split second because financial records will be lost, or hopelessly jumbled? Some doomsdayers say yes, while big business and the government say no.

What YOU should do, if you are an investor in stocks and/or bonds, or in mutual funds and money markets, is to carefully question your broker, remembering all the while that he may not be either willing or able to give you the whole picture. Obviously a stock broker, who earns his living on commissions, is not going to volunteer to frighten away customers.

Have you checked with your bank? Have you called your utilities companies? Have you taken steps to insure your investments, your savings and checking accounts are safe? If you have not done so as yet, NOW is a good time to start!

Hopefully, increasing "Y2K" publicity will not result in a self-fulfilling prophecy; a run on the banks. If every American withdrew $1,000 for emergency cash to ride out the possibility of a temporary breakdown in communication and the flow of goods and services, it would mean a drop of about $100 billion in the amount of currency in circulation.

In a sense, Y2K is already impacting the economy seriously, as major corporations spend billions of dollars to fix their computers—money which could be going into R&D, or bringing more commodities to market, thus hurting corporate earnings. As profits fall, so do stock prices.

Since January 1, 2000 is now only one year and four months away, you still have ample time to take some sensible precautions. Consider your home. Suppose all electricity is cut off. Do you have gas heating? Suppose your supply of natural gas is cut off. Do you have a back yard propane grill, or other means to boil water and cook food? Do you have an extra propane bottle, and will both of them be full at the time? What about your own PC, if you have one? Have you run its internal clock forward to 2000 or 2001 to check it out? Have you called the manufacturer, and given him the serial number and date of manufacture, so he can tell you if your computer was produced with "Y2K compliance?"

If you live in the northern tier of states, you know it will probably be very cold on January 1, 2000. It would be a good idea to have a sleeping bag, rated to below "0" degrees, for each member of your family, just as if you were going on an outdoors camping trip. Do you have heavy winter clothing, such as a down-lined parka, good warm footgear, and gloves? What if the temperature outside your home is 20 degrees below zero, as it can be in Canada, and many of the northern tier of states? You would be "camping out" in your own home if there were no gas or electric heat source. Think of such things as: (1) Lights. Do you have candles, or an old-fashioned coal-oil lantern? (2) Heat. Do you have camping equipment, like propane stove, or an outdoor propane barbeque? Small, portable gas-operated generators are available in hardware stores which can be hooked up to your electrical supply. (3) Food. Do you have enough for a two or three week supply? It would be a good idea, in case there is any panic and a run on the grocery stores to hoard foodstuffs in late 1999, to have the kind of long-lasting staples on hand such as hydrogen-packed grains, flour, and the like. Canned goods, whole-grain foods like wheat, corn and rice will keep for a very long time if kept dry and well-protected from insects and rodents. (4) Water. Suppose your water supply were cut off. Do you have stored water in sufficient quantity for drinking and cooking? It might make sense to fill your bathtub with water a day or so before January 1 2000, if you don't mind paying a bit more for the month's water bill. Water stored in this way should be boiled before you drink it, of course.

Very probably, even in the event of massive power outages, the inconvenience will only last for a short time. It is likely the vast majority of us will experience no difficulty at all when the year 2000 dawns, but IF our water, and electricity ceased, it makes sense to be prepared.

The long-term effects will be mostly ECONOMIC, and any disruptions in utilities and communications will very likely be quickly overcome. If Europe and especially Asia lag behind the U.S. in ferreting out old computer chips, the meltdown of foreign telephone exchanges and stock markets will mean they will be forced to spend their money to fix their own problems, thus cutting exports to the U.S., and very likely bankrupting any number of third world countries.

For many, many years, I have known that the collapse of democracies and moderate governments will give rise to dictatorships and military governments, just as in the 1930's, as the massive depression led to Hitler and Mussolini.

Will "Y2K" be a contributing factor? Very possibly.

BECOME INFORMED

There is a VAST amount of information available on the Internet concerning "Y2K." Here is but a small sample. "Year 2000 Crisis - Prentice Hall PTR" Check http://www.phptr.com/year2000/pr.html, for a renowned programmer and author who gives advice on "How You Can Prepare." Go to your local book store, and ask for books on the "Y2K Crisis." Some are highly technical, and very expensive (What The Year 2000 Computer Crisis Means To You by Prentiss-Hall sells for $39.95!), but there are a number available.

Articles such as "Fix on Failure is playing with Fire," "Contingency Planning," and "When Disaster Strikes" as well as a "USA Today Tech. Report" can be found at http://www.softproeast.com/softpro/year-2000.html."

For much, much, more, check out the following websites:

"http://www.yourdon.com/books/coolbooks/coolby2000.html," and especially check out "http://www. phptr.com/year2000/" which lists top-selling Y2K books, and latest-breaking Y2K news, including such things as press releases, interviews, news articles, and financial analysis.

As warranted, we will print updates on the "Y2K" syndrome in future issues. Finally, remember, the artificial year 2000 has NO PROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE whatsoever!

How silly and utterly ridiculous it is that Jerusalem is already being booked solid by those who are purchasing ONE-WAY TICKETS to Israel, claiming to believe Christ will return on that date! As I warned in the last issue, as ghastly as it may sound, you may rest assured some weird would-be prophets will very likely lead gullible followers to mass suicide when the fateful day arrives.

I am not "chicken little." There is no reason for people to panic about the approach of an artificial date on a flawed calendar. But the news sources above are very REAL, and there IS the possibility of trouble in the financial markets, and the possibility of power outages, and the interruption of the flow of goods and services. It pays to be prepared. p

Personal from
            Garner Ted Armstrong

It is difficult to realize that God's great FEAST OF TABERNACLES is just around the corner! In about a month, God's people will be joyously gathering together to observe God's holy festival, called "the Feast of Tabernacles" and "the Last Great Day." WHY do they do this?

Because God's word COMMANDS them to! Notice: "Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a Sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a Sabbath.

"And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.

"And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.

"Ye shall dwell in booths [temporary dwelling places] seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:

"That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God" (Leviticus 23:39-43).

But many argue, "But weren't all those old feast days `done away' at the cross?"

Absolutely not! God says, "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed" (Malachi 3:6). And WHO said this? The one who became Jesus Christ!

Read the 1^st chapter of the Gospel of John, where the one who said "Let there be light" is identified as the person of the divine Godhead, Elohim, Who became Christ in the flesh. Study also the 1^st chapter of Hebrews. God's Word says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" (Hebrews 13:8). The Creator revealed His annual holy days to Israel after it was formed into a nation; called, metaphorically, "the church in the wilderness" (Acts 7:38). He revealed the annual Sabbaths when the church was formed. He revealed the weekly Sabbath when MAN was formed.

Christ said, "The Sabbath was made for man [He did not say "for the Jews"], and not man for the Sabbath:

"Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27, 28). Which day, then, is "the Lord's Day" according to your Bible? Why, the SABBATH, of course!

The first great command the returning, conquering King of kings will issue upon the setting up of His kingdom on this earth is the order to all nations to KEEP THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES! Notice it, "And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles" (Zechariah 14:16).

There will be NO ARGUMENTS then! There will not be a single prideful, rebellious human being who will deceive his followers into believing the holy days of God are "done away." But there WILL BE THOSE WHO WILL REFUSE at first! Here is what will happen to them:

"And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

"And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

"This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles" (Zechariah 14:16-19).

If you have not yet heard it, please call or write immediately for a free copy of my sermon tape, "The First Great Edict." Call (903) 561-7070, or Fax (903) 561-4141, or write to me at Box 747, Flint, Texas 75762.

God willing, my wife and I will attend all three U.S. Feast sites this year. I hope to bring the opening sermon at the beautiful NEW convention center at the "Boardwalk," on the Gulf Coast at Panama City Beach, Florida. Services begin at 10:30 AM on Monday, October 5. I will be speaking the second time on Tuesday morning, same time. If you wish information about reservations at special rates, please call the numbers listed at the end of this "Personal." Then, we will be flying to Branson, Missouri, to a town only about five miles South of Branson, "Kimberling City," where God's people will be meeting in the "Kimberling Inn."

I plan to speak twice at the Kimberling Inn; on Wednesday, October 7, at 10:30 AM, and again on Thursday, October 8, at 10:30 AM. Then, we must fly to Lake Tahoe, to meet with the brethren on the West Coast and Canada, at the "North Lake Tahoe Conference Center" in King's Beach, California, right on the shores of spectacular Lake Tahoe. God willing, I will be speaking there on Friday morning, October 9, at 10:30, and again on Sabbath morning, October 10, at the same time.

My wife and I plan to return to Panama City Beach for the "Last Great Day," and I will be speaking there, at our largest Feast site, at 11:00 AM on the Last Great Day!

Our travel plans include at least EIGHTEEN takeoffs and landings in many different aircraft, so we will appreciate your prayers for our safety during these rigorous trips. Are you PLANNING NOW to COME TO THE FEAST? We certainly hope so!

As never before, this is a Feast when God's people need to be TOGETHER in love, enthusiastic zeal and dedication — a time to assess and appraise the WORK God is doing; to look to the future in optimism and hope! Each of the Feast sites is in a resort environment; each offers unique opportunities for rest and relaxation, exciting activities and events, with the natural beauty of the sugar-white sands of the Gulf in Florida, and the quiet charm of Lake Tanycomo in Missouri, or the breathtaking beauty and crisp mountain air of Tahoe.

Our family is looking very much forward to the Feast this year, and we hope you are as well!

As I was completing this issue of WORLDWATCH, I could not help but reflect that you and I are living in very DANGEROUS times! As you have been viewing your daily news either over television or in the newspapers, you have seen how this world is filled with every kind of evil; terrible bombings in Northern Ireland; in Kenya and Tanzania; the threats by Islamic militants to kill every American and Israeli they can!

Truly, the arch-demon of hatred, Satan the devil, is influencing the minds of many people, including some who pretend to be "Christian" while they resort to every artifice of the devil to hurt and destroy others. Satan HATES the human race, but he HATES the people of God with a white-hot hatred, and will do anything in his evil power to persecute them. Christ said a major feature of the impending GREAT TRIBULATION would be religious persecution; even murder! He prophesied, "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

"And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another." This passage is particularly poignant to me, for I know the pain of betrayal. Christ went on to say, "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

"And because iniquity [lawlessness!] shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

"But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matthew 24:9-13).

"The end" of which Christ spoke means either the end of this physical, temporary life, or the end of the age, at which time Christ will return to this earth to GOVERN all nations with a rod of iron! When you read articles like the lead article in this issue; when you read the incredibly insane headlines of perverted, twisted, hate-filled minds BLAMING AMERICA for the bombings in Africa, you realize how much Satan the devil is influencing the nations of this world, and their fanatic religions!

No wonder Christ instructed us to pray, right after acknowledging God's great name and His divine power, "...Thy kingdom come..." p

                The Boardwalk, 1-800-224-4853.

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. As a lesson, his father handed him a bag of nails and a hammer, and told him every time he lost his temper to go hammer a nail into the back fence.

Within only days, the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence!

But then came the day when he only drove two nails into the fence, and, finally, only one. He decided it was easier to hold his temper than go out there and drive nails into the fence. Besides, many of them bent, and one time he had to drive THREE nails into the fence within only minutes when he hit his thumb with the hammer!

He went to his dad and said, "Dad, I don't need to drive any more nails into the fence — I can control my temper now."

"Great!" said his father. "Now, for every day you hold your temper, I want you to pull a nail out of the fence." The boy did so, and within about two months all the nails were out. Then came the day when his father said, "OK son, let's take a look at the fence." There were all the nail holes and dents; all the marks made with the claw hammer. His father said, "You have done well, son, but look at all the marks and holes. The fence will never be the same. When you say or do things in anger, it leaves scars just like these. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out, and it doesn't matter how many times you say `I'm sorry,' the wound is still there. A verbal wound is just as bad as a physical one. When you lose your temper, you drive away friends; you hurt people. Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. Friends are there to encourage you when you're down; to lift you up with smiles and good wishes. They lend an ear when you need to tell someone your troubles. It's better to have friends than to drive them away with verbal scars.

"Abraham was called `God's Friend,' and Jesus called His disciples `My friends.'

"Now that you know you can control your temper, I want you to make a new friend each week." Before long, the boy was one of the most popular boys in school. p

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CROOKS, CRIMINALS AND THIEVES

—after our own hearts

Would that all crooks, criminals and thieves were as stupid as some of these — IT HAPPENED IN:

Location Unknown: A man walked into a convenience store, put a $20 bill on the counter, and asked for change. When the clerk opened the cash register, the man pulled a gun and demanded all the cash, which the clerk gave him. The man grabbed the cash and ran, leaving his $20 bill on the counter. The total amount of cash he stole came to $15.00. p