by Herbert W. Armstrong

Let’s not take everyday routine of events for granted. Let’s awake to the REALITY of where we are in the panorama of world events. For we are in a very SERIOUS time!

As we approach perhaps the greatest Feast of Tabernacles in 1900 years, we need to be conscious that we are approaching CLOSER THAN WE THINK the very tremendous event this Festival pictures to us – the millennial world reign of the KINGDOM OF GOD!

At the Feast last year we had the new book ready on “THE INCREDIBLE HUMAN POTENTIAL.” This year we have another book ready to distribute at the Feast, one to each family, about the very event we are attending to celebrate – the wonderful world as will be for a thousand years, ruled by THE KINGDOM OF GOD!

I have just finished reading again this entire book – though it is not a thick book. I had not read it or seen it since writing it more than two years ago. I am my own worst critic, but for this book I will say I am not displeased because it does not seem as if I wrote it–but that Christ inspired and I merely typed it at His dictation.

I AM dissatisfied with the cover and the outer paper flap. That can be changed before the book is put on the market in bookstores. But the book itself, I feel, is inspired and inspiring – as well as TIMELY!

I have said before, it has seemed as if God had purposely held up and delayed the progression of prophesied world events. And undoubtedly to give us time to get ourselves – HIS CHURCH – ready for these final climactic events and Christ’s coming to RULE! But NOW there are significant signs that these events will be SPEEDED UP. The “resurrection” of the medieval “Holy Roman Empire,” the Great Tribulation, and the plagues of the first phase of the “Day of the Lord,” will in all probability come rather suddenly and unexpectedly on us.

Many of the present Pope John Paul II’s activities point to the fact that he can be the pope that will initiate this European reunion, in a “United States of Europe.” As a matter of fact, his having come from Poland, and the effect of his visit there indicate that instead of the coming “resurrected” Holy Roman Empire including such nations of Israelitish ancestry as Holland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, the ten nations to compose it may include such nations, now Russian satellites, as Poland, Czechoslovakia, Rumania and Yugoslavia. The latter two are long since, to a considerable degree, independent of the Kremlin. The Soviet Union may soon experience a breakaway of some of the Balkan satellite nations. It does seem that the nations of Israelitish ancestry, in western and north-western Europe, would likely be excluded from the coming ten-nation “Roman Empire.”

Once in a while I cannot avoid reflecting on the fact that I have lived a longer-than-average life. From the viewpoint that most lives have ended several years earlier than mine, I could certainly conclude – as I am aware many have concluded – that my lifetime is nearing its end – though I know God can keep me alive as long as He needs me in His Work and His Church. Abraham, Moses, and others lived to a much older life than I have so far.

Yet this very circumstance makes me realize that THIS WORLD is now very old, and nearing its END! We are in the LAST DAYS! I think it is important that you ministers and wives realize this fact – that the imminency of the END of this present evil world’s life is much more real than many of us have realized.

As we approach this year’s Feast of Tabernacles, it is important that we REALIZE that–that although Christ has moved swiftly this past year and more to set His Church back on God’s track, we as a Church are NOT yet ready for either the protection promised us from the imminent GREAT TRIBULATION, or the coming of Christ.

What we all need seriously now is real FASTING, and fervent PRAYER, before the upcoming Feast of Tabernacles!

We must be vigilant in this, and put it first in our lives to avoid neglect – for TIME IS NOW SHORTER THAN EVER!