Greetings from Charlotte,

 

Events in Europe should prove interesting to watch in the weeks ahead as EU nations struggle to deal with a growing financial crisis that could destroy the common currency (the euro) or be used to promote a closer fiscal union and even some sort of a political union. In contrast to Europe’s attempts to form a workable trans-national government, last weekend’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in the UK marked Queen Elizabeth’s 60 years on a throne that has endured for centuries. Here in Charlotte, Mr. Meredith has been writing and holding meetings. On Wednesday, he spoke to the Headquarters staff about the importance of staying close to God and firmly focused on our mission of reaching the world with a message of warning and hope. We have also received some encouraging reports about our international media efforts (see below). Last weekend’s Tomorrow’s World television program by Mr. Rod King entitled “Jerusalem: City of Peace” is expected to draw more than 3,200 responses. This weekend, eight Tomorrow’s World Special Presentations will be conducted around the world: Mr. Ames in San Diego, Mr. King in the London area, Mr. Weston doing two in Alberta, Canada, Mr. Yvon Brochu doing two in Quebec, and Mr. Rod McNair in Thomasville, Georgia and Lake City, Florida. Pre-teen Camps will be held next week in Missouri and Texas. Your prayers for all these activities and for brethren who need God’s intervention in their lives will be deeply appreciated.—DSW

   

 

Clarksville, Tennessee:  A Tomorrow’s World Special Presentation in an “open Sabbath” format was held on June 2 in Clarksville, Tennessee.  Even a road construction delay did not discourage 73 determined TWSP attendees (26 members and 47 guests) who came to hear Mr. Bob League’s inspiring presentation on “Prophecy and the True Gospel.” Several commented how happy they were to have foundGod’s Church!  One person called after the presentation to thank the brethren for their loving hospitality and Christian fellowship!  The congregation in Clarksville was electrified and grateful to have part in proclaiming God’s Truth!  A number of guests expressed their intention to attend the follow-up presentation that will answer the question, “Where Is God’s Church Today?”—James Sweat

 

Ocala, Florida: The TWSP on June 2 in Ocala went very well. There were 11 new people with 11 who had attended the first lecture for a total of 22 guests and they showed an interest that was most encouraging. We stayed around after the lecture and answered questions for more than an hour. Two people who attended last week’s presentation attended Sabbath services this week then stayed for the TWSP. Overall, it was exciting to see potential brethren interested in the Truth.—Joe Brown

 

 

We are a small Work, but the God we work for is strength and power! When we issued the first edition of the French magazine in February 2012, we mailed it to 604 people in Canada. Last month, when we sent out the second edition, we had 704 people on the mailing list. Keep praying for God to continue this wonderful increase and let us move forward in this mission He gave us.—Marc Arseneault

 

 

Between June 4, 2011 and May 12, 2012 twenty-four Tomorrow’s World telecasts were broadcast in Hong Kong.  Each program was aired twice for a total of 48 airings.  These programs resulted in more than 3,500 unique responses.  In total, we have registered more than 10,000 visitors to the website in that time.  To date, 11 booklets and one reprint article (“Do You Really Want to Eat That?”) have been translated into both Traditional and Simplified Chinese.  These are all available on the Tomorrow’s World Hong Kong website.

 

The second season is off to a great start as the first program, “Stone of Destiny,” aired on May 26 and resulted in 147 responses, our second-highest response total to date.  All of the new season’s programs are being filmed at the new studio in the Canadian LCG Office, located in Mississauga, just outside of Toronto, Canada.  Members can visit www.lcgCanada.org/hk.php to watch the first season’s telecasts as well as the second season’s telecasts as they are added.

 

Please continue to pray that God will open doors in this part of the world and call capable labourers to aid in the harvest.—Michael Heykoop 

 

Spanish Update: New Radio Station in Chile

God has opened a new door for preaching the Gospel in Santiago, Chile in South America. The new AM station is called El Canelo de Nos. We appreciate your prayers that God may bless the Chilean brethren’s efforts to carry out with gladness and dedication the commission Christ gave us to preach the Gospel to all nations.—Armando Orrego 

 

 

Teen Bible Study—Sunday Evening 

This Sunday evening the topic is “Gideon,” presented by Mr. Marc Arseneault.  The chat room is open at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) and the Bible Study runs from 7:00–8:00 p.m.

 

 

Why a Tomorrow’s World mobile app?  Industry experts report that by the end of 2011 there were 1.2 billion active mobile-broadband subscriptions worldwide, with 5 billion mobile-broadband subscriptions predicted by 2017!  China and India are the top mobile phone subscriber markets, followed by the USA.  The Google Android platform accounts for nearly half of smartphones shipped, with the Apple iPhone also vying for top market-share.  The three types of smartphones responsible for most Internet traffic are iPhone, Android and Windows phones.  More than 300,000 mobile apps have been developed in the last three years, and mobile apps have been downloaded 10.9 billion times (stats from mobithinking.com and The Guardian).  We are very excited to announce now a limited release of our new Tomorrow’s World Mobile App for LCG membership, for the Android and Windows platforms!  iPhone and Blackberry are coming soon!  LCG membership should log in to MyLCG (go to www.cogl.org) for download instructions.  We know you will enjoy the apps, and we welcome your feedback during this beta test over the coming few weeks before we make these apps available from their respective marketplaces to potentially millions and millions of people around the world!  This is a truly revolutionary opportunity to make a huge impact and reach even more people with the true Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God.—Wyatt Ciesielka

 

Pay Attention to Prophecy! Today, we live in a world filled with distractions—television, computers, e-mails, iPods, iPhones, jangling music, job and family concerns constantly pull our minds in different directions. Yet, the Scriptures warn that Christians must be alert and watch for the convergence of specific events that will mark the end of this age and the imminent return of Jesus Christ. These admonitions appear more than a dozen times in the New Testament (Matthew 24:42-44; 25:13, Mark 13:33-37, Luke 21:34-35; Acts 20:31; 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 20). Prophesied events making news today—droughts, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, etc., along with moral decay, religious confusion and spreading violence and wars are dominating the news at the same time we see a growing political power in Europe and an ecumenical-minded Roman Catho lic Church—should be sobering to anyone with an understanding of Bible prophecy. The convergence of these long-prophesied events should motivate us all to grow spiritually and to prepare for the roles we have been called to play in the coming Kingdom of God—teaching God’s way to the world. We also need to remember Jesus’ warning that if we do not watch, we will not be ready for His return (Revelation 3:3). However, Jesus also promised, “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when He comes, will find watching… Therefore… be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Luke 12:37-40).

 

Have a profitable Sabbath,

Douglas S. Winnail

Japan and China Begin Direct Currency Exchange:  June 1 marked an historic event between close trade partners—Japan and China. The two began trading directly in their own currencies, instead of U.S. dollars. Japan is China’s largest trade partner and the two nations are growing closer together. This direct currency exchange will bolster their relationship and could be used by China as a tool to eventually replace the dollar with the yuan, as the world’s reserve currency (Agence France-Presse, May 29, 2012). How does this relate to Bible prophecy? The Bible indicates that at the time of the end, “kings of the east” will come from east of the Euphrates River and devastate a European Beast Power (Daniel 11:44-45; Revelation 16:12-16). This combined army “from the east” will apparently comprise more than 200 million (Revelation 9:13-19). China and Japan are not only eastern economic powerhouses, they also both have growing military capabilities and advanced technology. Whether both nations will be part of this “eastern” power that ultimately invades the Middle East to counter the Beast, remains to be seen. This increasing cooperation and the potential implications are worth watching!

German-Made Israeli Subs Carry Nuclear Missiles: Der Spiegel’s attention-getting cover article this week announced that Germany developed and built submarines for Israel, along with nuclear-capable cruise missiles (June 4, 2012). Germany has supplied Israel with three subs at a substantial discount—thus helping the Israelis pay for the subs. Three more are scheduled to be delivered to Israel in the next five years, and there are talks about ordering three more. The next generation craft, set to be delivered in early 2013, will have a new fuel cell that allows for nearly quiet submersion for up to 18 days (ibid.). Israel views these subs and their nuclear payload as “insurance” against attack from its Arab neighbors. German leaders have long supported the existence of the Israeli state. The Financial Times Deutschland recently wrote: “None of the major German political parties have fundamentally criticized supplying weapons to Israel… After all, no serious politician would claim that Israel’s security and existence is not in Germany’s interests… for historical reasons, naturally, but also for geopolitical ones… And if the state of Israel considers submarines to be necessary for its protection, then Berlin has little reason to contradict it” (quoted in Der Spiegel, June 5, 2012). Bible prophecy indicates that a German-led European Beast power will play a major role in end-time prophecy (Isaiah 10:5-11; Ezekiel 23:22-25; Revelation 17:11-13). This Beast power may initially protect Israel and Jerusalem, but will eventually control this pivotal city (Luke 21:21-24; Daniel 11:40-43). Germany appears to be moving into a position to fulfill these prophecies. For more information on this topic, review our booklet: The Middle East in Prophecy.

 

“Germany Has Three Months to Save the Euro,” says billionaire George Soros (Telegraph, June 3, 2012). Soros suggested the “summer window” could allow Germany and the Bundesbank to save the EU’s sinking ship because “in a crisis the creditors are in the driver’s seat and nothing can be done without German support” (ibid.). Meanwhile, European nations are preparing for potential economic collapse, and observers note the European Monetary Union is “in danger of disintegration” unless Germany agrees to a full fiscal union. Adding to the sense of urgency, “Joschka Fischer, Germany’s former vice-Chancellor, said EU leaders have two weeks left to save the [EU] project.” Several EU nations have also talked of exiting the euro and returning to national currencies. Italy’s ex-premier, Silvio Berlusconi, floated the idea of using a euro-minting facility in Italy to mint more euros, without EU approval (ibid.). Interestingly, EU leaders assured Russia this week that the euro is a “safe bet” (EU Observer, June 4, 2012). The EU financial situation is approaching a climax, and the European Union that we have known for the last 20 years is preparing for radical change, perhaps into its final prophesied form. Bible prophecy reveals that a European Beast power will emerge at the end of the age comprised of ten leaders or nations that “give their power” to it (Revelation 17:7-13). These leaders or nations will be of “one mind” and will “receive authority for one hour as kings with the Beast.” We appear to be watching this Beast taking shape today. For more information on this vital topic, see our booklet The Beast of Revelation.—Scott Winnail, Justin Ridgeway and Susan Bennett