Manhattan in ruins

Geroge W. Bush & Osama bin Laden

At 1.45 am on Wednesday 12 September, the telephone rang
frantically alongside my bed, waking me with a start. It was my friend James
Bigbee calling from the Gold Coast Australia, who told me to turn on CNN.

As a result of the terrorist attack, it was reported that the
Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in Lower Manhattan had been destroyed
along with another building in the area and that four American planes had been
hijacked by terrorists. More than 261 passengers on those four planes had
apparently died and many others, possibly over 100, were hurt and killed at the
Pentagon building. To make matters worse, it was reported that the World Trade
Organisation employed up to 50,000 people, but at this time of writing it is not
clear how many of those perished in the disaster.

Part way through the night, we were receiving calls from many
different countries around the world including one from the God Channel in Great
Britain, where I was interviewed by Rory and Wendy Alec on the Biblical
repercussions of this tragedy.

Firstly it should be noted that Dan Rather on the CBS News on
12 September made this statement: "The Lower Manhattan area, the financial
centre of the world, lies in ruins."

I immediately thought of David Wilkerson and his vision where
many years ago it was revealed to him and continues to be revealed to him, that
the great country of America in their departure from God, have invited His
divine judgement. He pointed out how that night after night, he has been
awakened by the Lord and it has been revealed to him that God's patience has
run out.

We quote herewith from his book, Set the Trumpet to thy
Mouth. On page 10 we quote in part:

"America's cup of iniquity is full. The bear has prepared
and is set to act -– it is now only a matter of time. From over the North Pole,
the deadly missiles will come. Fear and some kind of supernatural impulse will
cause the enemy to make the first strike. '...for the spoilers shall come unto
her from the north, saith the LORD.' (Jeremiah 51:48). They themselves will be
terrorised by the destruction and havoc they unleashed upon the earth."

There are many prophetic writers including this author who
believe that much of Revelation 18 applies to America and possibly to the city
of New York in particular. New York is the home of Wall Street and also the
United Nations.

In this writer's opinion, it is not an accident that the
World Trade Centre is situated right alongside Wall Street, which upon hearing
the news of the attack, closed down their stock exchange as the shock waves set
in among the investors.

A quote from Revelation 18:2-21 seems to be applicable
at this point:

"And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon
the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the
hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird."

Verse 8: "Therefore shall her plagues come in one day,
death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for
strong is the Lord God who judgeth her."

Verse 9: "And the kings of the earth, who have committed
fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for
her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,"

Verse 10: "Standing afar off for the fear of her torment,
saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour
is thy judgement come."

Verse 15: "The merchants of these things, which were made
rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and
wailing,"

Verse 16: "And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that
was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and
precious stones, and pearls!

Verse 17: "For in one hour so great riches is come to
nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as
many as trade by sea, stood afar off,"

Verse 18: "And cried when they saw the smoke of her
burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!"

Verse 21: "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great
millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall
that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all."

The chapter on religion and the destruction of the false
church, we agree, would be chapter 17 of Revelation, yet chapter 18 seems to
apply to another part of Mystery Babylon, i.e. the economic and trading power of
the world.

A recent news broadcast pointed out the World Trade Centre
was seven years in the building and it was the symbol of America's economic
power. Thus in approximately one hour, the whole thing was brought down. Exactly
as spoken of in the book of Revelation chapter 18.

All this is not the end however, for the terrorists have
other plans in mind to continue this rain of destruction and mayhem. The times
of the Gentiles spoken of in the Bible and symbolised by the mighty nation, the
United States of America, appears at this stage to be coming rapidly to an end.

The Word of God points out very clearly that once the times
of the Gentiles is completed, God will deal again with His ancient nation,
Israel, and prepare them for the coming of their Messiah, whom we know to be our
Lord Jesus Christ.

Through the destruction of the mighty cities of New York and
Washington DC, it is clear that their economy will be so weakened that America
will be in no state to further protect Israel against their Arab enemies.

The Scriptures found in Ezekiel 36 through to 39 make it
clear that Israel will be protected by God Himself as all the enemies surround
them and ultimately, all the people of the world will have to confess that God
is God indeed.

We quote from Ezekiel 39:7:

"So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my
people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and
the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel."

With all these things happening simultaneously it is clear
that we are living at the end of the times of the Gentiles, and the days leading
up to the rapture and the coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ. A verse of
comfort is found in Luke 21:28: "And when these things begin to come to pass,
then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

Not only that. We read in 2 Peter 3:11-12, a word of admonition:
"Seeing then that all these things shall be
dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy
conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto them coming of the day
of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements
shall melt with fervent heat?"

Christian believer, it's frightening, distressing and yet
challenging to all of us to get our lives in order.