Greetings from Charlotte,
When Lord Cornwallis surrendered the fortress at Yorktown ending the American Revolutionary War, a British band played a song entitled "The World Turned Upside Down." Today the world is in turmoil and turning upside down again. This week a massive 7.5 earthquake shook portions of Afghanistan and northern Pakistan killing hundreds and injuring thousands. On opposite sides of the globe, a resurgent Russia and an increasingly belligerent China are openly challenging the United States, while militant Muslims are using social media to call for killing every Jew and the obliteration of the nation of Israel. End-time Bible prophecies are moving towards fulfillment. Here in Charlotte, Dr. Meredith has been busy in the office. Mr. Ames and Mr. Wallace Smith are working on new Tomorrow's World programs. Mr. Jim Meredith is checking on several new Feast sites for next year. Tomorrow's World presentations will be conducted this weekend in Joliet, Illinois by Mr. Rand Millich and Mr. Phil West, and in Columbus, Ohio by Mr. Rod McNair and Mr. Phil Sena. I will be making a church visit to Jacksonville, Florida.—DSW
Living Youth Program
International LY Camps in December!
Did you know that LYC is hosting three "international" camps this December? Check out the Living Youth Web site at LivingYouth.org and the Living Youth Facebook page at Facebook.com/Living.Youth.Programs for photos and information about Living Youth Camps in South Africa, Guatemala and New Zealand.
Online Teen Bible Study Friday Evening
The online Teen Bible Study on Friday evening, November 6, will be on "World Peace Coming in Our Time!," presented by Mr. Sheldon Monson. If you haven't had the opportunity to join us for one of the online Bible Studies yet, we encourage you to do so. It is a wonderful way to start the Sabbath day.
The Bible Study runs from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. (Eastern time) and the chat room will be open for a half hour before and after the study. You can access this Bible Study at livingyouth.org. We hope as many of our youth as possible will join us for this wonderful opportunity for godly fellowship and learning. For those of you who are unable to make it to the study, archives of previous Living Youth Bible Studies, including last evening's on, "Why Study the Bible in the Space Age? – Part Two," can also be found on the Living Youth Web site.
If you've had difficulties accessing the first two teen Bible studies in this series, we apologize. Going forward, we're returning to the LiveStream service that we've used successfully in the past, so any difficulties will, we hope, be resolved.
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A Matter of the Heart: The Bible reveals that God looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7) and that David was chosen to be king because God saw that David was "a man after My own heart" (Acts 13:22). But what exactly did God see in David's heart? God saw that David was a person "who will do all My will" (Acts 13:22). God saw that David was teachable and that he "loved" God's law and meditated on it daily so he could learn God's mind and gain God's perspective (Psalm 119:97, 105). David did not argue with the Scriptures and look for ways to get around God's clearly revealed instructions (Psalm 119:16, 18, 27). David also repented wholeheartedly when he realized that he was wrong (Psalm 51). This is why David will reign as king over the children of Israel in the Kingdom of God (Ezekiel 34:23). We need to remember that God is examining and testing our hearts (Psalm 7:9). If our thoughts, words and actions reflect what God is looking for, we will be given the opportunity to reign with Jesus Christ and with David in the coming Kingdom (Matthew 19:28-29; Revelation 5:10). The Bible reveals that our reward will be based on what is in our heart!
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—October 29, 2015
Arab Immigration Forcing Europe To Act: "9,000 people a day have been crossing into Greece. And on Sunday alone, the government of Slovenia—a country of two million—said 15,000 people arrived at their border. Without agreeing concrete steps soon... Prime Minister Miro Cerar [of Slovenia] said Europe 'will start to fall apart'. It's already splintering" (BBC, October 26, 2015). In the shadow of this crisis, right-wing groups are pushing against immigration. Last week 3,000 delegates of the center-right European People's Party held a congress in Madrid. This influential group was addressed by Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission (Irish Times, October 22, 2015). One agenda item was advancement of the European Defence Union. "'We are going to move towards an EU army much faster than people believe,' said EPP president Joseph Daul… In a strategic note unveiled in June, Michel Barnier, tasked by Juncker to draft a vision for a much more far-ranging Common Security and Defence Policy (CDSP), argued that the 'EU's soft power must be matched by collective hard power and a more efficient use of our €210 billion yearly defence spending.' The paper published in June was barely noticed in the midst of the Greek crisis. But now confronted by yet another emergency, the refugees and migration crisis, it has become a blueprint for the way forward" (Euractive.com, October 16, 2015). The Bible foretells that a strong and unified political, military and religious force will arise in Europe, ultimately impacting Arab nations and the Holy Land (see Daniel 11). The Arab immigration crisis may spur the formation of this European "beast." For more on this exciting topic, watch "The Superpower 'Beast' of Revelation."
ISIS Threatens Every Jew: "The brutal Islamic State (ISIS) terror group published a threatening video in Hebrew on Friday morning, intended for the Israeli public… the ISIS terrorist warns that 'the true war hasn't yet started, what you've experienced until now is a child's war compared to what will happen soon. We promise you that not a single Jew will be left in the entire country... we are getting closer to you from every place…" (Israel National News, October 23, 2015). At a recent Swedish rally, Palestinian protestors led a chant that began: "Slaughter the Jews" (Israel National News, October 21, 2015). However, German chancellor Merkel renewed her nation's pledge to protect Israel. "Israel's security was and is a very important matter for every German chancellor—and so it will be in the future, too" (ynetnews.com, October 3, 2015). The EU also desires to act "as an increasingly indispensable player in efforts to solve the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict" (EU Observer, October 26, 2015). As ISIS and other nations push against Israel, her pledged protectors, including Germany, will be forced to act. Bible prophecy indicates that at the end of the age, Arab or "southern" forces will push against Germany and Europe and "Beast" power armies from Europe will surround Jerusalem—initially to protect it, but eventually will trample upon it (see Daniel 11:40-43; Luke 21:20-24). It is just a matter of time until the "beast" arises and pushes back! For more insight into this ripening situation, read "Five Prophetic Signs for the Middle East."
Russia Strategically Challenges the United States: Russia is now extending its military far beyond its eastern borders—and it seeks to dictate the U.S.'s response. On September 30, a Russian general delivered a message to the U.S. Embassy in Bagdad: "The Russia military would begin air strikes in neighboring Syria within the hour—and the American military should clear the area immediately" (Military Times, October 5, 2015). "Nobody should wonder that America's pre-eminence is being contested. After the Soviet collapse the absolute global supremacy of the United States sometimes began to seem normal… There is nevertheless reason to worry. The reassertion of Russian power spells trouble" (The Economist, October 17, 2015). In Syria, "Moscow has not only claimed early successes, but demonstrated that efforts to modernize its military are yielding real benefits and restoring lost capabilities" (Defense News, October 18, 2015). God warns Israelite nations that He will break their power because of the moral corruption of their nations and leadership (Leviticus 26:19; Isaiah 1:4-6). A time of trouble will come on the Israelite nations when foreign nations will dominate world affairs (Jeremiah 30:7; Luke 21:24). Historically, whenever a king of Israel or Judah turned from God, God raised up adversaries to punish the king and his nation (1 Kings 11:14, 23). Today, U.S. leadership is arrogantly breaking God's laws—and other nations are rising to challenge America! For more information, read "The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy."—Scott Winnail, Francine Prater, Deborah Lincoln-Strange and Justin Ridgeway