Y2K (YEAR 2000)
READY OR NOT, HERE IT COMES!!
B
y the time this newsletter makes the printer's office, we will be in the year 1999. That means, in less than 365 days, the year 2000, like it or not, will be a reality.
Now, with this reality, comes something that we have never faced before, and that is, the possibility of a massive breakdown of things that we have come to accept as a central part of our lives, computers, and their related systems.
Computer technology, has become the one central thing, on which everything else we depend on, is based. All the way from the little watches we wear on our wrists, to the aerospace equipment that our shuttles and missile defense systems, all are dependent on computer technology.
Now while things like games, and watches and such, do not pose a problem to us, if they fail to function the way they should, other things like hospital equipment, bank record keeping equipment, airplane on board computers and radar equipment for air traffic control and our national defense systems, utility company controls and much more, face the possibility of breaking down, on January 1, 2000, that is, according to many experts, if you will, in the computer field. Since I am not an expert in these fields, I will have to take their word for it.
For those of you, that do not understand what the problem is, here is a short explanation.
All computers, and their related systems, are run by microprocessors, (a.k.a. CPU's). One of the main functions of the CPU, is to keep important information such as time and date. Now, while this seems trivial to you, let me say, without it, files could not be stored properly. Equipment, that functions according to time and date, would not operate properly, and therefore, would stop working. This equipment, could be life support systems, computer files in banks, and in government offices, and more.
These systems, are set up to read a date, with the format of mm/dd/yy. The 'yy' is for the last two digits of the year. Many have said, that when 2000 gets here, and the last two digits are '00', millions of systems, all over this nation, and the world, will shut down because the CPU, in them, can't read '00' as a valid number, and will therefore, cease to function, by locking up the entire system. This, is the equivalent of your heart ceasing to function, because your brain, quits sending messages to it, to pump. When that happens, you are dead.
Because of this possibly happening to things that control how we live, such as gas heating, electricity, gas for our automobiles, and other things, people are going in to a sort of 'getting prepared for the worst' mode.
And, let's look at it like this. If the gas pumps at gas stations, stop working, there will be no gas for us to drive around. But worse yet, there will be no gas for farmers equipment to plant or harvest their crops. And if they did manage to harvest them, they couldn't get trucks to transport them. Therefore, many people are starting to buy more food now, to store for 2000. And, with the demand for food, going up, so are the prices. Remember in our, or any other economy, the higher the demand, the higher the price.
The same thing goes for fuel for our vehicles. As people, fearing a fuel shortage, begin to buy and store more fuel, the same will happen to gasoline and oil prices.
Equipment that uses these and other sources of power, related to the need for oil or electricity, may go lacking, and will have to be shut down.
If you are like me, and work in a factory with all types of machines, and assembly lines that use electricity, they may have to lay you off, if they can't get them running.
This is just a small example of a much bigger problem, if what these experts say is true. It all seems like there will be one big mess, on Jan.1, 2000.
Now, in the midst of all of this, rather than worrying, and fretting, I am going around saying, Hallelujah!!!!! Glory to God!!!! Thank you Jesus!!! I can't wait!!! You think I have lost my mind, don't you??? You think I have lost touch with reality, don't you. Well, you are right on both positions, to a point.
First, I have lost my mind. I lost it, when I turned it over to Jesus Christ, and received a renewed mind, that sees things through the eyes of God. When you say I have lost touch with reality, I have lost touch with what the world calls reality. The world looks at reality, based on its own definition of it. However, everything in the world, is of a temporary state, and is subject to change, sooner or later. However, the reality that I see, is one that never changes, and that is the 'word of God.'
And, it is because of this 'word', that I am able to see what the world can't. What I see, is the soon coming of Jesus Christ, to take me, and others that are saved, out of this world.
The bible says, [2Ti 3:1-5] This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Perilous times are coming, and what we are seeing today, is nothing compared to then. The year 2000, could be the point that separates the church from the world. Those that profess Christ, should be able to stand in the midst of this coming catastrophe, and be a beacon of hope for those that will be in a panic.
As food supplies get scarce, and prices go sky high, and people lose their jobs, and government can't keep things together, mankind will begin to forget about being peaceful, and law abiding, and turn to his basic instinct, which is self preservation.
If you have ever experienced a riot, you have just a little taste of what is coming.
Robbing, looting, stealing, and even killing, will be the order of the day. Crime will increase. People, who otherwise, are peaceful law abiding citizens, will become paranoid, and begin to feel like they can't trust any one or any thing, and will 'go for
themselves.'
Now, you might be saying, with all of this misery and confusion happening, what is there for me to be shouting and praising God about???
It is really quite simple.
First, notice the term, 'the last days.' That means that something is winding down to a conclusion. In this case, it is referring to the end of something. That something, is the 'Church age.'
The church, as it is called today, is the body of believers in Jesus Christ. It began, on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit, came to empower man, to continue the ministry that Christ had started [ACTS 2]..
The church, is not meant to be here forever. Rather, it is to be about 'the Father's business' of getting people to turn back to God. The time limit that it has to accomplish this, is unknown, in exact dates and times. However, Jesus did tell us of things that would begin to happen, just before that time came. Look at some of these scriptures. [Jo 14:1-3] Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Matt 24, Mk. 13, Lk. 21, basically all say the same things, Mt 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Mt 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mt 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Mt 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mt 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mt 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mt 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
Mt 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mt 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mt 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mt 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Mt 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Mt 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Mt 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Mt 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
Mt 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Mt 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
Mt 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Mt 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Mt 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
Mt 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mt 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.
Mt 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
Mt 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
First we have a promise of Jesus coming back, to receive us unto Himself. Then we have some ideas of the conditions the world will be in, just before He comes again.
The problems that I listed, will not only affect this nation, but, the entire civilized world. It is quite possible, as other nations, look to the U.S., and we are unable to help them, they will possibly turn against us, and other nations, and an entire world, will be at war with itself. Nation against nation. Brother against brother. On and on it can go. Famines, world wide. Then you will have so-called saviors, coming out and saying they have heard from God, and if you want to survive, follow them, and some, will actually say they are Christ. And, many will do it, including some Christians. The earthquakes, Jesus was talking about, could be natural, or they could be the effect of bombs exploding, and shaking the earth.. That is just what Jesus said would happen.
But, notice what Jesus said. When He comes back, the whole world will see Him. But, I am getting a little ahead of myself.
The whole point is, that Jesus, said these things would be a sign of His coming, to take the Church out of the world. Just as God did with Lot, before He destroyed Sodom and Gamorrah, and Just as He did with Noah, before the earth was destroyed by flood, He will remove the Church before things really get bad.
It is the prospect of going away from here, that is the reason for my joy. Just like most of you that work on a hard job. When it gets close to quitting time, you all of a sudden get a whole new burst of energy. Well, it's the same with me.
Of course, until that time actually gets here, I will still be working to get people to realize that they need Christ in their lives, so they won't have to be left here when 'all hell breaks loose.'
Of course, what they say will happen on the first day of the year 2000, may not happen. The only one that knows for sure is God, and that is why we need to seek Him, so He can tell us what will happen, and how to deal with it. Operating in fear, and panic, is not a wise thing to do. In most instances, people wind up being sorry. And the ones that capitalized on that fear, end up richer.
So, 2000, is coming, with whatever. Are you ready for it??? The best thing you can do right now, is make sure you are right with Jesus Christ. Ask Him in to your heart today. A simple prayer, like this, will do. 'Jesus, I am a sinner. Come in to my heart, and forgive me of my sin. Be Lord of my life. I believe you are the Son of God, and I believe you died on the cross for my sin, and was raised from the dead. Save me Lord, I pray, In Jesus' name, Amen.' If you prayed that prayer from the heart, meaning every word, congratulations, you are now saved, and are ready for whatever 2000 brings.
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