Claudio Wye

Perhaps most of you still remember the biblical story of a man called Joseph. If so, I think it would not be an exaggeration to say that it is one of the most touching and meaningful episodes in the Bible. As you will recall, Joseph's brothers were initially not among the best and kindest individuals one would wish to have as relatives for they were the ones who sold him into slavery. Twenty long years had elapsed since then and Joseph's father, Jacob, as well as his own brothers thought they would never again see him alive. But God had orchestrated a wonderful series of events for Joseph that would eventually make him the ruler, under Pharaoh, over all the land of Egypt. Being a wise man and a good administrator, Joseph had set aside enough grain during seven years of plentiful harvests and when a terrible famine struck Egypt soon afterwards for a period of seven years, he went about feeding the starving multitudes. Palestine too suffered the consequences of that famine and Joseph's brothers were forced to come to Egypt for food.

Finally, Joseph revealed himself to them and the Bible reports that the reunion was sweet in spite of everything that had happened before. The brothers went back and told Jacob that his son was still alive and prospering in the land of the Pyramids. Jacob at first did not believe that his son could still be alive after all these years but finally resolved to go and see for himself, saying: "It's enough, Joseph my son is alive. I will go and see him before I die" (Gen. 45:28).

What follows next is now history! But if God allowed such a remarkable series of event to take place in such fortuitous circumstances, it was certainly not with the mere purpose of telling an interesting story with a happy ending. God hardly ever does anything without a profound spiritual meaning. What does the story of Joseph signify? And where is Joseph today, one might ask? While it is true that the Jewish people were given the promise of kingship and the lineage of the Messiah, the Bible makes it crystal clear that it was the tribe of Joseph that was to inherit the blessings of national greatness and power: "the BIRTHRIGHT was Joseph's" (1 Chron.). Where are these people who were to become a great "nation AND a great company of nations" (Gen. 35:11), who were to inherit the possessions of their enemies and who were to be physically blessed among all nations?

As we approach the end of the present millennium and set our eyes on a very turbulent and unstable world about to witness the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, it is of the utmost importance to find out more about what happened to Joseph for this would present to us the vital KEY that unlocks the real understanding of dozens of end-time biblical prophecies. Remember that one-third of the Bible deals with end-time prophecies and since we are fast entering the age of the New Millennium that will see the return of our Lord, it would be foolhardy to just brush aside any reference to the Bible as balderdash and run the risk of missing the last train Heaven when it pulls in before the Great Tribulation. Every self-respecting Christian worth his salt should do his or her utmost to understand end-time prophecies.

The reason why I put so much emphasis on end-time prophecies has nothing to do with fear-mongering or a need to convert anyone. I myself am not a very religious person nor am I a regular churchgoing person. In actual fact I only attend Mass on very special occasions and do not attribute too much importance to rituals and empty speeches. But having of late tuned in more closely to the Voice of God through Nature, and hearkened more intimately to the unusual stirrings of the Cosmos, I am not utterly convinced that the world is on the verge of experiencing catastrophic events of unimaginable proportion that will radically alter each and every one of us. We need to be prepared for the upcoming trials of life that will make everything else we have had to contend with so far pale in comparison. Those who are inclined to laugh and scoff at the warning of prophets and wise men are liable to feel as trapped as those in Noah's time who, when the righteous man built his ark and heeded God's warning about the impending flood, teased and taunted him for they thought he had lost his mind and was making a fool of himself. God never warns through his prophets without a valid reason and He is always dead earnest when He advises us to change our ways and repent!

Jesus Himself prophesied of the last days of this world's present civilization. Just recall what He said in Mark 13:19: "For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be." These are indeed powerful words that come directly from the Son of God. If you believe in the Bible and go to church every Sunday, you better read these words and take them seriously. After describing a number of specific events that are to take place at the end of the present age, Jesus uttered this same prophecy: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away" (v. 31). Why has God taken so long to bring this prophecy about? Man has waited two thousand years and nothing untoward has happend so far but what many do not realize is that to God one thousand years may represent a single day. He does not reckon time the way we humans do and He is ever so patient with our faults and shortcomings, giving us plenty of time to make amends and to atone for our sins. But God has about had it with man's rebellious spirit, and incorrigible sinfulness. No matter what He says we brush aside or ignore and at times even make fun of Him. Even God's patience has limits. Man has desecrated the very Earth that was given him by God for his well-being and happiness. He is about to destroy the very planet God created just for him.

We all need to wake up, look at what is happening all around us and realize that we are truly "living in the prophesied last days. Things are not going to continue as they have been. Many of the nations that we know and hear of so much will literally be obliterated from the surface of the earth within your own lifetime. Knowing this, and cognizant of the fact that God's prophets have always spoken out well ahead of time to warn Christians of major catastrophes, we should all refrain from our evil ways, stop hating each other, in actual fact, make a full three-hundred-and-sixty-degree turn, away from the fires of eternal damnation. The Bible says that the wages of sin are death. Recent events in the American capital are only another indication that God is very angry with the state of the world and particularly with the most prosperous and powerful nation of earth, the true descendants of Joseph, the Anglo-Saxon race, one of the ten Lost Tribes of Israel.

Long ago, the prophet Amos wrote: "If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy? (Amos: 3:6-8).

There have been times in the past when centuries went by with very little in the way of prohesied events taking place. But not now! For now it is all beginning to come together and we all need to hear and understand. God does warn us: "Scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, 'where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation" (2 Pet. 3:3-4).

Let us be sure that we are not found among those who scoff at or belittle biblical prophecy which is truly the Word of God Himself! Jesus warns us again: "WATCH therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36). And let us be sure we fully grasp the full significance of the end-time we are in. In a way, it is a privileged time for all Christians for Jesus is about to return to the Mount of Olives and usher in a new age. But before this momentous event can take place, He is going to rain down a few unpleasant things on our world which all sinful men truly deserve for if He did not intervene in human history, Man, once created in the image of Almighty god, would make Him cry tears of blood. So, having been warned that there is very little time left for repentance and atonement, will you finally make an effort to walk away from the sinful path and seek the narrow way that leads to Christ's kingdom? I for one am determined to shed the evil selfish mantle that blinds us all to the Truth and learn to look at life with new eyes and let the pure waters of the Divine cleanse away my awful sores! Will you join me in this holy quest for God's Paradise?

Christmas 1998 (Toronto)

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