But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts should be overcharged with debauchery, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare: for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth. But watch you at every season, making supplication, that you may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Luke 21:29–36).

"But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that anything be written to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of Yahweh so comes as a thief in the night. When they are saying, Peace and safety, then suddenly destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief: for you are all sons of light, and sons of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober." (1 Thessalonians 5:1–6).

Since September 11, 2001, drastic changes have occurred here in the United States and the world. One newsman wrote, "When the flying bombs hit the World Trade Center, things turned upside down in public life and in the news. This attack did more than shake the White House and the U.S. Congress. It shook America’s soul! We left an era peace and prosperity and considerable decadence. Now the nation faces war and economic trouble and serious issues that will force us to think on a much larger scale."

Indeed the world did change! We are living in a time of war wherein the President tells us to resume our normal lives (but with vigilance). Simultaneously, we are at war with a nebulous enemy in a hostile world. With just a few followers, an individual can create great havoc in the world.

In a war situation, human rights are usually suspended. There is continual urging that a national identity card be issued. Illegal immigrants in the United States are going to be either deported or severely limited. Military tribunals are being arranged to try any foreigner suspected of hostile acts against the United States.

Some of the hijackers on September 11 carried forged drivers’ licenses and other fake identification. Is it time to boost identification with technological advances? Fake identification can effectively allow someone to establish an identity, obtain banking privileges, rent vehicles, and obtain other items of identification that will allow them past security checkpoints.

Other suggestions that have been urged are that in order to pass a checkpoint, a person with a card will be asked to submit to multiple recognition schemes: iris (eye) scanners and computerized facial recognition programs, registration of fingerprints or thumbprints, and the adoption of laser cards that contain a strip of thin metallic material similar to what is used in audio-computer disks. A hologram version of the photo of the individual can be entered on the metallic strip.

Without a doubt, we cannot resume our normal lives! This is war—a war against a nebulous, fluid enemy. These people are scattered in many different countries. With the United States borders as porous as they have been in the past, it is difficult to establish complete protection.

When the war on terror began it seemed that some of the liberal news media began to demand that it should be a quick war. Perhaps they remembered the 1991 Gulf War, wherein after only a week, victory was won. The neglect of moving on toward Baghdad will never be forgotten and some day will cause deep regret on the part of the commander in chief, George H. W. Bush, who halted the war too soon.

When the United States military finally got situated on a war footing this time, it took several weeks. Then the airplanes on the carriers in the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf began to pound the Taliban front lines. Shortly, they were joined by B52 bombers. These U.S. bombers laid down what is known as "carpet bombing," a string of bombs that are aimed at frontline defenses. One commentator, watching from a distance of about five miles or so, said he was awed by the fire power these B52s unleashed. Then various hard-to-reach positions were bombed with a powerful bomb just short of nuclear power. Known as the "Daisy Cutter," it burns up everything in a radius of about half a mile. This means that for approximately a mile across everything is burned up and what might still be alive is deprived of oxygen and dies. A television reporter, saying he was about five to 10 miles away from where one was dropped, indicated that the ground under him shook. This is awesome fire power! These reporters say that it is absolutely terrifying to watch and must be extremely terrifying where these weapons fall.

We should be reminded that the Israelis have been battling terrorism for the past 50 years, and now they are being pressured by various worldly nations.

In the Zechariah 14:1–2a, we read, "Behold, a day of Yahweh comes, when your plunder shall be divided in the middle of you. For I will gather all nations unto Jerusalem to battle…" You will notice, "…I will gather all nations unto Jerusalem to battle…" (The Sacred Scriptures, Bethel Edition, rendering). In the Hebrew text the term "unto" is al, and has been translated in the King James Version as "against." That is actually what is happening at the present time. It seems that all the world is gathered against Jerusalem!

It seems that the entire world is against Israel at the present time, and blames Israel for the 9/11 terrorist attack against the Twin Towers and the Pentagon; nevertheless, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon continues to stand for what is right. When the Palestinians attack Israel, he responds, because Israel has a right to respond in an endeavor to keep his people safe from the terrorists. We encourage Prime Minister Sharon and tell him to maintain his position. He has been elected with a huge mandate because the Israelis desire safety and protection.

The leading theory as to why the World Trade Center buildings went down so quickly has led many engineers to believe that lightweight steel trusses holding up the reinforced concrete floors sagged in the heat from the fire. Failing, the floors then pancaked down toward the ground. Each failure of trusses led to a larger more serious one until the buildings plummeted down, the upper floors striking the ground at an estimated 120 miles per hour. As engineers seek to understand the reason for the sudden collapse, we must look deeper into the situation.

Some scientists believe that the jet planes were responsible for weakening the skeleton of the two major 110-story high buildings. The center was like a core, containing elevators, stairwells, and mechanical equipment, with 47 heavy steel columns. The core columns carried 60 percent and the exterior columns 40 percent of the towers’ weight, which totalled 276,000 tons (each). The stiffness of these towers kept the buildings from tipping over.

For some reason the stock market seems to be driven up again, whereas the labor and economic situation in the United States has declined considerably since September 11. At the present time, it appears as though the government is spending lots of money. They do not even know how much is hemorrhaging out of Washington.

Many things have occurred in the realm of Bible prophecy since September 11. Soon afterward, the average individual here in the United States was believed to be turning toward spiritual pursuits, now that seems to have abated or slowed. There are few people today who really understand what is going on in the world. Bible prophecy is moving into position for its final fulfillment. Whether that will happen or not is up to Almighty Yahweh. He alone knows the day and the hour when He will send Yahshua the Messiah back to this earth to rule in righteousness.

First the coming Kingdom must be proclaimed so that all the world will expect the coming of the Messiah. "And these good tidings of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations; and then shall the end come." (Matthew 24:14).

The Assemblies of Yahweh is seeking to fulfill the Great Commission. Are you helping—or hindering this effort? Are you living in expectation of the Second Coming of the Messiah? May we help you to gain eternal life?