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There isn't a lot in the news to cheer about. Especially the news of the past couple of years. The attacks of September 11 have changed, not just America, but the whole world.

The reason is because the change wrought in America by the attacks affects the whole world. America is at war with terror, and that war reaches into every corner of the globe.

The post-9/11 world brings a new awareness of the threats we face; what were merely dark rumblings in the 1990's are now daily news. New or thwarted threats against America and any nation conceived to be an ally of America take place almost every day. Potential threats are always on the horizon.

America is becoming isolated, a product of her own greatness, a nation so good at everything she sets her hand to that she has incurred the wrath and jealousy of all the rest.

America is not just a great nation, it is a blessed nation. Indeed, its greatness comes from the blessing of God upon it. The United States and Israel share a religious kinship. America was founded on the twin principles of Christianity and religious freedom.

The Pilgrims came to America in order to practice Christianity as they understood it, and not as it was dictated to them by the Church of England. It was that fear of an over-arching, all powerful church establishing a state religion that the Founding Fathers feared, not Christianity.

Our religious freedom was originally established to protect freedom of individual worship of the Savior, not to eliminate Christianity from public life. The new 'separation doctrine' is entirely a product of 20th century interpretation.

But America was founded as a nation subservient to the Creator, unlike any other nation on earth. With the exception of Israel.

Israel is also a giant among nations, despite her tiny size. Her military strength is legendary, her wealth enormous, when compared to other nations her size. Israel manages to remain an economic powerhouse despite the wars, boycotts and slanders of her neighbors.

Israel is also by and large, a 'good' nation, one whose freedoms and rights are also acknowledged as a gift of God not to be infringed upon by the state.

It is because of their acknowledgement of their dependence upon God for their blessings that they, like the US, are the object of the wrath and jealousy of the whole world.

In many ways, it reminds me of the story of Joseph and his brothers. Joseph was the favorite of his father. It was Joseph's unique status, and the potential for greatness among them that status suggested, that provoked his brothers to sell him into slavery to get rid of him.

Joseph went on to rule the known world.

One reason most people, including most Christians, choose to ignore or minimize the significance of Bible prophecy for the last days is because it is so depressing. I have gone to churches where end-time prophecy is relegated to the lunatic fringe, somewhere between exorcisism and faith healing.

Peter said that 'in the last days, there would come scoffers' but part of the reason they scoff is because they aren't ready, but the other part is because it scares them.

It scares me.

I've been asked a hundred times if spending my life examining trends that foretell future wars, catastrophes, genocide and judgment is depressing.

Well, yeah.

But not because of what it foretells. It is depressing just for what it IS. It is hard not to look deeply into the lies, deceptions, corruption and spiritual warfare of daily life without getting depressed. I wrote of "Heaven From the Cesspool" from that perspective.

But being depressed about how sin-sick our world is not the same as seeing unfolding Bible prophecy as a harbinger of 'gloom and doom'. What scares me isn't unfolding Bible prophecy, it is the fate of those who ignore it's message.

It is the FACT that it is unfolding Bible prophecy that keeps the depression and fear from overwhelming the excitement of knowing that the Lord will soon return and set things right.

Rationally speaking, I have no more to fear from the events yet to come upon the world than I do the events yet to come upon me. I have no control over either.

"the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways," springs out at me. (Daniel 5:23) If I trust Jesus with the simple things like protecting me from harm on the highway, or helping me with my ministry, or keeping my family safe, why should I worry that He will drop the ball now, just because it looks like the world is about to plunge into total catastrophe?

Instead, in the unfolding of Bible prophecy before my eyes, I see the evidence that was so perfectly captured in Paul's letter to Timothy;

"For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." (2 Timothy 2:1:12)

There is no genuine 'gloom and doom' factor to Bible prophecy. It is hard evidence that the One 'Whom I have believed' remains as firmly in control of world events as He has proved to be in my personal life, "which I have committed unto Him against that day" and that, in Paul's words, "He is able to keep it . . .against that day."

Understanding the Big Picture opens the door to an entirely new outlook on unfolding Bible prophecy. Scoffers fear it because they don't understand it. Put into proper perspective, Bible prophecy is proof positive that the Lord remains as firmly in control of current events as He is on whether or not you get a raise or a new job.

It is not gloom and doom, it is an affirmation of faith, a guarantee of peace, and an antidote to depression or fear.

In the last days, Jesus predicted, "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken." (Luke 21:26)

Of the Church, Paul writes, "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness." (1 Thessalonians 5:4,5)

Of his vision of the last days, Daniel wondered aloud, "And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are CLOSED UP AND SEALED TILL THE TIME OF THE END. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the WISE shall UNDERSTAND." (Daniel 12:8 10)

Not everyone can understand this, which is why there are scoffers. Our mission is to understand the Big Picture, so that we can share the Big Picture.

The mission of the Omega Letter, from its beginning, is to help to train up an army of one on one evangelists for the last days. An army who can see through the gloom and doom to the reassurance on the other side, and then communicate that reassurance with others.

The Omega Letter has an international reach, with soldiers on every continent. The one thing that can discourage an army more than anything is a loss of morale.

Our Commander is clearly in sight. His Hand is over all that is taking place all around us, exactly as He said it would in the outline of His battle plans for the last days as recorded in the pages of the Bible. As personal evangelists for Christ, we have something no generation has seen since the days of the Apostles.

Personal witness to fulfilled prophecy. And an understanding of the assurances it gives.

Which brings us full circle back to Joseph, who, when facing his guilty brothers from the right hand of the Pharoh reminded them, But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." (Genesis 50:20)

What depresses the world is what energizes us.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)

Excerpted from the Omega Letter Daily Intelligence Digest, Vol: 29 Issue: 16

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