America's Second Wake-up Call! by Raymond F. McNair

The death, misery, shock and utter devastation in the wake of HURRICANE

KATRINA is appalling! Her trail of suffering and human misery is mind-

boggling! Are even worse catastrophes prophesied in the Bible?

America has suffered its greatest, most cataclysmic national tragedy ever meted out by what some call “Mother Nature”—while others see it as an “Act of God!” Hurricane Katrina’s furious hammer-blows left in its wake more widespread damage, suffering and grief that any other natural calamity ever to strike our nation!

In fact, the human suffering caused by Katrina far exceeds that of any previous hurricanes, and is far more horrible in its after-effects than America’s first “Wake-up Call”—the destruction of New York City’s Twin Towers in 2001. Many Americans have used such words as “biblical proportions,” “apocalyptic” and “Armageddon” in describing the devastation left by Katrina! It is estimated that to repair the damage of this monster could cost the nation hundreds of billions of dollars! Yet, the human trauma and suffering—which will continue to be felt for decades—is mind-boggling!

Many Americans see hurricane Katrina as America’s second “Wake-up Call!” What are some of the terrible results left in the wake of Katrina? The area struck the hardest by this hurricane was one of America’s most vulnerable—the Gulf States of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Katrina left a devastated and dead city: eighty percent of New Orleans was left under flood waters. Virtually all channels of communication and transportation (roads, railways and airports) were out of commission.

In the stricken area of New Orleans and other Gulf cities, vital service facilities such as electric power, gas, sewage, fresh water, phone services, hospitals, schools, businesses, and nearly every segment of the area’s vital infrastructure was either totally destroyed or rendered inoperable. Virtually all of those facilities (especially in New Orleans, Biloxi, Gulf Port, and other big cities) were virtually paralyzed. All businesses, restaurants, hotels/motels were either destroyed or severely battered by Katrina.

Although many officials tried to put a brave front on this destruction by mentioning future plans to restore the region, all who knew the facts realized that the recovery of these devastated Gulf States will take many months, and in many cases even years. This is particularly true of the city of New Orleans.

A Disaster of “Biblical Proportions”!

Gruesome Comparisons: The U.S. has experienced many horrible disasters in its 230-year history, including numerous destructive hurricanes and earthquakes. In the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, much of San Francisco was destroyed by an earthquake and subsequent widespread fire. In that tragedy, 700 people died, and 497 blocks of buildings (covering 4 ½ square miles) were destroyed. The 2002 Twin Towers tragedy only involved 8 blocks of destruction, but took some 3,000 lives! In 1992, hurricane Andrew a "cat5" storm claimed many lives, and destroyed much property in South Florida. My wife and I viewed the awful devastation immediately afterward. It was truly heart-wrenching!

But the overall human suffering, death and devastation which HURRICANE KATRINA a "cat5" spread across the Gulf States in the fall of 2005 was far worse! Katrina’s devastating power affected 9,000 square miles, stretching 150 miles along Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, not to mention severe damage in other states. The utter devastation along the Gulf Coast extended inward from the shoreline for about one mile. Some of Katrina’s terrifyingly destructive surge waves were 30 feet high! In many places the devastation was total!

What did hurricane Katrina bequeath to New Orleans as an eternal reminder of the fury and destruction which horrific hurricanes can inflict on a defenseless people? Eighty percent of New Orleans was left under water, which soon became a deadly “toxic soup” of just about everything imaginable: human cadavers, animal bodies, sewage, toxic chemicals, human feces, gas, oil, and a mixture of deadly E.coli and various germ-laden pathogens, ready to spread hepatitis, cholera, diphtheria, tetanus, etc. Government officials fear the spread of deadly diseases in the stricken Gulf States. A week after hurricane Katrina had passed, some of the desperate citizens had still not been rescued from their terrible plight! This was especially true of the more remote regions of the devastated Gulf States. Katrina’s death toll is still unknown, but many believe it will be in the “thousands”! The human misery left by Katrina is the worst ever in U.S. history!

Human Short-sightedness!

Although plans are going full-speed ahead to “heal” the stricken city of New Orleans, some sober-minded persons seriously question the wisdom of spending billions to rebuild a below-sea-level city which is innately vulnerable to “Nature”—sometimes called “Acts of God”—such as gigantic hurricanes. Much of the city of New Orleans is eight to ten feet below sea level, so the city’s inadequate levees, which were supposed to protect this vulnerable city, were easily breached by flood waters. Is it wise to build, or rebuild, a city which is situated several feet below sea level? Also, recent reports reveal that several previous studies of New Orleans vulnerabilities predicted that the city would be flooded if a cataclysmic natural disaster—such as a category four or five hurricane—ever hit that highly vulnerable city! During the recent disaster’s hurricane warnings, early weather reports warned that Katrina was headed straight toward New Orleans.

Later reports said that the eye of this frightening monster was veering off to the east of that city. After the hurricane had passed, many residents were greatly relieved by reports that New Orleans had dodged the “silver bullet,” and were even more relieved to be told that there had not been excessive wind damage or flooding to their historic city.

Many did not then realize the destructive power of the heavy rains, coupled with the gigantic 20 to 30 foot waves that surged inland. Between the rain water and the ocean water which swept ashore, it was only a matter of hours before one or more of the levees protecting this city would be breached, and water would come pouring in, bringing in its wake such horror, destruction and death as virtually no one had expected. The doomed city was totally cut off from virtually everything: phone service, highways and railways, air traffic, even boats found it difficult to deliver badly needed water, food, medical supplies, etc. The people were left stranded, having virtually no way to communicate with the outside world—and little access to the outside by road, rail or plane.

It was encouraging to hear numerous residents of New Orleans and Mississippi comment that hurricane Katrina had awakened them; some freely confessing that they intended to change their lives, and become “more religious,” to use one lady’s words. The Mayor of New Orleans also confessed that he had done a lot of praying during the traumatic devastation, suffering, and ensuing deaths caused by the floodwaters of that terrible hurricane’s rampage across Louisiana and other coastal states. Gusts of wind reached 165 mph in some places along the Gulf Coast. It is a well-known fact that people often become more religious, when they are confronted by what insurance people call “Acts of God,” which are totally beyond human control.

Are hurricanes mindless rampages of a capricious “Mother Nature,” or are they “Acts of God”? Is there an Almighty who can control the forces of “Nature” if He so chooses? Many are reluctant to acknowledge God as the Creator-Ruler of the earth and the entire universe. They prefer to speak of Mother Nature, because this frees their consciences from restraint by any “moral laws” of a Supreme Being!

Important Warnings Went Unheeded!

To the sorrow of countless thousands in New Orleans and other areas of the Gulf States, many of the people were either unable or unwilling to heed the repeated warnings of high government officials—telling all residents to leave their threatened city. A mandatory evacuation order was urgently conveyed to those within the city: the Mayor of New Orleans, the Governor of Louisiana, and President George Bush, were among those who strongly urged the residents of New Orleans to flee before Katrina’s full wrath bore down upon their historic city, bringing destruction and death to hundreds, and unimaginable misery to untold tens of thousands who failed to heed the multiple warnings to “get out of the way” of the path of this deadly hurricane!

It needs to be clearly stated that many who did not evacuate New Orleans were simply unable to do so. Those unfortunate persons included: many of the poor, those who were seriously ill or who had serious handicaps, and about one hundred and twenty thousand without transportation. Those hapless citizens cannot be blamed for having suffered injuries, illnesses, mental trauma, or even death. Rather, they are to be pitied.

Nonetheless, it is an indisputable fact that a sizeable number out of the tens of thousands of hapless victims—who suffered the horrors of mental trauma, and physical injuries, or even death—could have avoided the consequence of such nightmarish events had they heeded the warnings of New Orleans Mayor, Louisiana’s Governor, and President George Bush! Others foolishly refused to heed the many warnings to flee for their lives in the face of Katrina’s fury! Many later expressed regret for failing to heed those warnings. One clergyman in a very large U.S. church said he did not leave the city as mandated by the Governor and the Mayor, because he had lost one of his pet snakes! Many others stayed in the doomed city without having good reasons for so doing!

Furthermore, many could not understand why over 500 of New Orleans’ school buses remained parked in neat rows (as shown on the nation-wide TV news) long after a mandatory evacuation of the city had been ordered. Why didn’t city officials order those buses to be used in the evacuation? Reportedly, between 10,000 and 15,000 residents of New Orleans—who were without transportation—could have been bused out of the city before the levees broke—thereby making evacuation virtually possible—if the order had been given to utilize those buses!

Unfortunately, in this world, politicians often play the “blame game,” refusing to take responsibility for any mistakes, while pointing fingers at others. In this case, New Orleans officials blamed F.E.M.A. (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and other Federal agencies, while those officials blamed the city’s own leaders, wondering why the mayor and other officials of New Orleans had not acted much more quickly and decisively! Why did they call for the Federal and State officials to provide the means to evacuate the city, when they didn’t even use their own school buses to help in the urgently needed evacuation of the city? It is now admitted that there were tragic “systemic failures” at all levels of government: FEDERAL, STATE, and LOCAL!

Surely one of the most important lessons we Americans, and the world, can learn from these cataclysmic events which recently befell Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, is that when we see a big hurricane heading toward our area, we had better get out of its path, if at all possible, before it is too late! Otherwise, we may not only lose our homes, families, and our jobs, but we may also have to suffer great mental and physical trauma by having to go through such an apocalyptic tragedy, when we could have gotten out before it was too late. Sadly, in this situation, many who chose not to heed the evacuation order to leave the city had to pay the ultimate price—by forfeiting their very lives!

The Bible gives many warnings of yet future catastrophic events to happen to the peoples of this whole earth—including the English-speaking peoples, as well as our fellow modern-day “Israelite brethren” dwelling in Northwest Europe! But God also gives many general warnings which will apply to all peoples and all nations of this troubled world before the close of this age. Will the peoples of the world heed the warnings of God’s true servants? Or will they close their eyes, stop their ears and refuse to heed the warnings of God’s faithful ministers who warn the earth’s peoples of the terrifying events yet to happen? Prophecy reveals that many will simply “turn a blind eye” to future disasters which are about to happen. Yet, Bible prophecy also explains that a few will really listen, heed those warnings, thereby avoiding certain dire calamities which otherwise they would suffer. Will God’s people learn this lesson and heed the warnings in the future to flee before the Great Tribulation takes place on this earth?

God’s Modern-day Watchmen!

Who, today, are God’s modern-day Watchmen? Can we look to FEDERAL, STATE, or LOCAL government officials to warn us in advance of great disasters that will take place on this earth so that we can be much better prepared for such catastrophes? If not, can people look to the modern psychics, mediums, fortune tellers, astrologers, or others who claim to have “special powers” to know the future (Isa. 47:1-15)? Our Creator-Ruler expressly forbids us to involve ourselves in any form of witchcraft, spiritism, or any other form of demonism (Lev. 19:31; 20:6, 27; Acts 8:9-23; 19:19). God sternly warns His people to shun all sorcery, and commands us to “come out of” such Babylonish sorcery (Rev. 18:4, 23, 22:15; Isa. 47:1-15)!

If we can’t look to governmental officials or modern psychics who dabble in demonism—then can we look to the world’s RELIGIOUS LEADERS (ministers, priests, rabbis, etc.) for answers concerning what is prophesied to happen according the Bible Sadly, the vast majority of the world’s “religious leaders” do not possess certain vital keys that would enable them to truly understand what the Bible predicts for the future.

Numerous Divine Warnings

Does God often, if now always, warn certain peoples or nations in advance of great disasters which will strike their city, state, or nation? He certainly does!

1) Did God send the Prophet Noah to warn the pre-Flood world that He would soon destroy that corrupt and violent society (Gen. 6-10)? He certainly did!

2) Did God use a just man called Lot to warn the utterly perverted cities of Sodom and Gomorrah of the impending doom of their cities (Gen. 18 & 19; 2 Pet. 2:7)? Yes!

3) Furthermore, did not God send many of His prophets to warn His people, Israel and Judah, of their coming national doom and captivities (Jer. 7:13-25; 11:7; 25:3-4)? The Prophet Jeremiah repeatedly mentions that God had warned His people before sending a calamity upon them.

4) God Almighty also sent the Prophet Jonah to proclaim repentance to the people of Assyria’s capital city, Nineveh, before He would destroy that wicked city. Because the people of Nineveh repented, God delayed that city’s destruction for many years before finally allowing Nineveh to be destroyed (Jonah, chapters 1-4).

5) The New Testament informs us that the Father sent His own dear Son to warn the rebellious inhabitants of Judea of their coming destruction by the Romans, before that awful calamity occurred in 70 AD (Luke19:41-48)! Did the Jews heed Christ’s warnings of national disasters—if they did not repent? The Bible and history says they did not reform their ways!

Again, let us ask: “Who, today, are God’s modern day watchmen?” There is not just one true “watchman” on earth today whom God is using to warn the corrupt, violent, and godless peoples of the world of what He is about to do in regard to correcting their excesses—lest all humanity be wiped out (Matt. 24:21-22). All true ministers of God are His WATCHMEN. And all watchmen are commanded to WATCH, and WARN ungodly peoples and nations of the consequences of their sins—if they don’t repent!

The truth just stated is explained in the book of Ezekiel. God gave one of His watchmen, Ezekiel, the following message: “...I have made you a WATCHMAN.... Therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand” (Ezek. 3:17-18). The Prophet Jonah found that he could not run away for God, Who had commanded him to warn the wicked people of Nineveh to turn from their wickedness (Jonah 1-4).

However, various top leaders of the “Churches of God” have claimed to be “the WATCHMAN,” or “that PROPHET,” or the “end-time Elijah,” etc., by telling their followers they were special persos whom God had chosen to warn the world of what is about to occur. Although, I have been one of God’s ministers and a watchman for over fifty years, I realize that there are other “watchmen” who are faithful to God’s calling. I am merely one of today’s “watchmen”! I do not believe God has singled me out, or any other man to be His sole “watchman.”

God’s Word reveals that every true minister of Jesus Christ is called to be a “watchman” to warn the world of coming calamities. Why have some professing ministers claimed to be the one true “minister,” to whom all others should look, and proclaimed that they were appointed by God to be His special end-time “watchmen”?

God Warns in Advance!

The Prophet Amos said, “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing [in regard to great catastrophes] unless He reveals His Secret to His servants, the prophets.... The Lord GOD has spoken [in His prophetic Word]! Who can but prophesy?” (Amos 3:7). Although many have claimed to be special “prophets of God” during this end-time, nevertheless, the Churches of God have generally believed and taught that God’s ministers know of no man who is a “prophet” in the true sense of the word.

Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong was given great prophetic insight into many Bible prophecies, which had been “sealed up” until the time of the end (see Dan. 12:1-4, 9-10). However, he repeatedly denied being a “prophet” in the classic sense of someone who was given a special revelation by dreams, visions, or by angelic messengers.

The Bible reveals that an end-time “Elijah” would appear before the end of this age. Many believe Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong fulfilled those prophecies found in Malachi 4:1-6 and Matthew 17:1-13. Jesus Christ said, “Elijah truly is coming first [before Christ’s Second Coming] and will restore all things” (v. 10)! John the Baptist was a “prophet,” but we know of no visions or dreams by which God revealed future events to him—even though he certainly understood many of the prophetic writings of the O. T. Likewise, it is likely that the end-time Elijah would understand many future prophecies of the Bible, yet it appears that God would not necessarily have given him any special dreams or revelations, as typically happens with God’s prophets.

The “Two Witnesses” We also know that “two prophets” are yet to appear on this earth, and prophesy various events before Christ’s Second Coming. God will call and equip His “Two Witnesses” to perform a special work not long before His Return to this earth (Rev. 11:1-13). Their ministry will end shortly before Christ’s Coming at the sounding of the “seventh Trumpet” (vv. 6-15).

Many of us ministers have met various self-deceived “prophets” who were deluded into believing they had been called to be “one” of God’s “Two Witnesses”! They were all seriously self-deceived. No man should take it upon himself to appoint himself to be one of the “Two Witnesses.” For God Almighty Himself will be the One to select those persons, since the Father chooses each person to fulfill an office or position in His Church (Matt. 20:20-23)! Even Jesus Christ did not presume to take that prerogative upon Himself, because he fully realized that is the sole prerogative of the Father. Those whom the Father will choose to be prophets will probably, like Jonah—not want the job!

Were Recent Warnings Heeded?

How many of you brethren, who read my “Dear Brethren letter” of August 8, 2005, noticed the warnings included in that letter—three weeks before Katrina devastated much of the Gulf States of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama?

In my letter I explained certain prophecies in Joel and in the N.T. clearly revealing that catastrophic weather conditions will prevail on this earth near the end of this age. In that letter I also explained that Jesus Christ Himself prophesied that great tidal waves would sweep across some of the oceans and coastal areas of this earth (Luke 21:25). I suggested that by understanding these prophecies God’s people would do well not to buy or build homes or businesses in low-lying coastal regions of the United States.

Here is a portion of that warning which I sent to you brethren three weeks before hurricane Katrina devastated portions of three Gulf States. In that letter I said, “Christ Himself revealed that ‘famines’ would be included among the end-time plagues which will greatly afflict the peoples of the earth (Matt. 24:7).

“Furthermore, Jesus clearly implied that upset weather conditions would afflict this earth during this terrible time of the end. He not only mentioned ‘famines, pestilences and earthquakes in various places’ (same verse), but also indicated that terrifying HURRICANES would wreak havoc on this earth’s coastal regions, bringing great ‘distress of nations, with perplexity, the SEA and the WAVES ROARING’ (Luke 21:25). Already, as of late August, the U.S. has experienced a greater number of HURRICANES than normal. Of course, Christ was not just referring to the usual strong winds that regularly blow across the oceans, but was clearly pointing out a far greater than usual roaring of gigantic waves, due to terrifying HURRICANES, earthquakes, volcanoes, etc.

“Christ’s words ought to serve as a sounding of the alarm to those who believe Jesus and heed His warnings. Those who believe His predictions ought to be very careful not to buy or build near low-lying coastlands, lest such gigantic upheavals on this earth bring devastation and death upon them and their families. God’s people surely ought to realize that no insurance policy can protect us from such great calamities when they do come suddenly, unexpectedly! Only God can protect us from such, which He will do, if we love, fear and serve Him (Psa. 91; Luke 21:36)!”

Our First Hurricane Experience

HURRICANE ANDREW was considered one of America’s worst ever hurricanes. In the fall of 1992, my wife and I were living in Coral Springs (not far from Miami) in South Florida when hurricane Andrew roared across southern Florida. As Hurricane Andrew approached Florida, we nailed protective coverings over our windows. We then waited, hoped and prayed that God would spare not just us, but also watch over all of His people. I still vividly recall looking out of my home in the early hours of the morning, during that terrifying storm, and seeing the Palm fronds being blown straight out, horizontal to the ground. There was much wind and flood damage from Andrew, with some estimates running as high as twenty-two to twenty-four billion dollars! [Note: Some government officials and other “experts” have estimated that HURRICANE KATRINA could cost our nation several hundred BILLION dollars!]

Fortunately, our home was about 50 miles from the eye of hurricane Andrew when it roared across South Florida, taking several lives, and bringing great devastation—especially in the area of Homestead in south Miami. We were thankful to God that only a very few of the homes in our area were slightly damaged—but we were saddened to witness the great destruction and suffering many thousands had to experience from hurricane Andrew!

Likewise, with hurricane Katrina, we were deeply saddened to see so many suffering the loss of their families, homes, their livelihood, and virtually all of their material possessions—except the clothes on their backs! Others lost members of their families. Many even lost their own lives!

Brethren, how do we respond when we see the suffering and heartache which others—who have experienced great loss—are going through? God’s Word says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15). When we see other people suffering, do we suffer with them? When we witnessed the death and destruction wrought by hurricane Katrina, did we also suffer with those who were suffering? Or, did we go to the kitchen for another piece of pie, a cup of tea or coffee, or a beer—or, did we just yawn and go on with our lives?

Some self-righteous people, who didn’t directly suffer from such a national tragedy, will often say: “Well, they must have been bad people, or else God would have spared them as He did me and my family!” Notice what Jesus Christ had to say to those who wrongly thought that when a disaster struck anyone, it was a sign that the person who suffered such hardships was a wicked person whom God was punishing (Luke 13:1-5). Jesus told those self-righteous individuals, “I tell you no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (vv. 3, 5). We can’t “play God” by being judgmental of others who have the misfortune to suffer great hardship in a terrible disaster such as a hurricane.

Far Worse Hurricanes Yet to Come!

Again, note that at the end of this age, Jesus Christ spoke of “the sea and the waves ROARING” (Luke 21:25). He was prophesying that there would be GREAT STORMS on the world’s oceans and seas. Today, we call such “storms” HURRICANES. As mentioned earlier, Jesus was not referring to the usual “storms at sea” that have occurred on this earth from time immemorial. When Christ prophesied that “the SEA and the WAVES would be ROARING,” He was predicting the coming of gigantic STORMS that would unleash unusually destructive power on the earth!

Furthermore, the Prophet Jeremiah repeatedly warns his readers of end-time HURRICANES in the following words: “Behold, a WHIRLWIND of the LORD has gone forth in fury—a violent whirlwind! It will fall violently on the head of the wicked. The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart. In the latter days you will understand it perfectly” (Jer. 23:19-20).

He then adds, “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Behold, disaster shall go forth from nation to nation, and a GREAT WHIRLWIND shall be raised up from the farthest parts of the earth. And in that day the slain of the LORD shall be from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth...’” (25:32-33). Far more destructive hurricanes are prophesied yet to occur. [Note: What is implied by this word “WHIRLWIND.” Both HURRICANES and TORNADOS are undoubtedly included in this category of storms. TORNADOS consist of comparatively small, yet powerful, spinning wind storms—which occur primarily over the earth’s land surfaces, whereas; HURRICANES are much larger and much more powerful, spiraling wind storms over the world’s oceans and seas.]

The United States has far more tornadoes than any other nation on earth, and statistics reveal that they have greatly increased in number during recent years. In some years North America is afflicted by literally hundreds of tornadoes; furthermore, big changes in the earth’s weather patterns are causing more hurricanes to be spawned year after year. It is interesting to note that, increasingly, these GREAT STORMS continue to afflict many parts of the coastal nations of the earth: Japan, Southern China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, India, the Philippines, the nations of the Caribbean and Central America, and the United States. God’s predicted that these disastrous storms would occur worldwide, going forth “from nation to nation.”]

Jeremiah also states, “Behold, the WHIRLWIND of the LORD goes forth with fury, a continuing WHIRLWIND; it will fall violently on the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of the LORD will not return until He has done it” (30:23-24). The foregoing scriptures clearly reveal that at the end of man’s 6,000 years of misrule on this earth, the whole world would be convulsed not only by wars and man-made destruction, but that Nature itself would be convulsed, with a greatly increasing number of HURRICANES, as well as an unusual increase in “EARTHQUAKES in various places” around this earth causing gigantic tsunamis (Matt. 24:7)!

Thank God for His Protection!

May Almighty God put it in the hearts and minds of His people to heed His end-time prophetic warnings, and do all they can to prepare themselves and their families spiritually, by making certain they are under God’s protection at all times. Only in God is there safety and protection, as described in the Psalm 91.

How wonderfully assuring are God’s promises! “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’ ...He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings shall you take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.... A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge...your habitation, no evil shall befall you.... For He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him...” (Psa. 91:1-15). How wonderful to know that “the ANGEL of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them” (34:7). God’s people have guardian angels protecting them (cf. Acts 12:11-15).

An outstanding example of God’s angels protecting His servants is found in 2 Kings 6. When Elisha’s servant became terrified of the Syrian army which had surrounded them, Elisha told him not to be afraid, because God’s angelic army was protecting them: “‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘LORD...open his eyes that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of HORSES and CHARIOTS OF FIRE all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:16-17; cf. Matt. 27:53; Rev. 19:11-21). Clearly, Elisha and the Apostle John were both given some kind of spiritual vision to see God’s heavenly army of mighty angels!

How thankful God’s people ought to be to know that God has promised angelic protection to those who truly “fear Him” (Psa. 34:7).

During the recent ordeal of hurricane Katrina, were you praying for the people in the Gulf States, asking God Almighty to send His mighty angels to protect and deliver those who sincerely prayed for His divine protection? There are many Old Testament examples of God protecting Israelites who were not converted, and were not filled and led by His Holy Spirit! However, we must realize that God doesn’t automatically deliver those who don’t look to Him and earnestly pray to Him for deliverance and protection. Remember, “time and chance happen to...all” (Eccl. 9:11). However, God does not leave His people unprotected—at the whim of powerful, destructive forces of Nature!

May each and every one of us encourage those in our families—as well as others we can reach—to draw close to God, by fearing, loving and serving Him. If we please Him in this way, we will receive other blessings—including God-sent ANGELIC PROTECTION when needed.

Brethren, never cease to thank God our Father and His Son Jesus Christ for the angelic protection which our Creator God grants to all who love, obey and serve Him! During these very “perilous end-times,” God’s people sorely need His protection!

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