America's Wake-Up Call by Rev. Tony Carson

"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep..." (Romans 13:11). The tragic events of September 11 should be a wake-up call to all Americans and to Christians everywhere. Those who have any knowledge of the end-time prophecies in God's word can't help but notice the direct correlation between those prophesies and the recent terrorists attacks.

Our nation has been lulled into a state of false security with most people never dreaming that something so horrible could take place within our borders. Many Americans, Christians and non-Christians alike, had placed God somewhere on the back burner. Our constitution, which has served us well for over 200 years, has in recent years been misinterpreted by many to declare prayer and any mention of God in our public schools as breaking the laws of the land. Who would have dreamed a few years ago that it would be considered unconstitutional to have the 10 Commandments on the wall of a courtroom or in the courtyard? Our founding fathers would be shocked to see how the wording of our constitution has been twisted to imply something totally different from what they intended.

However, Jesus prophesied this day would come. He said in Matthew 24, "And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." He also warns us that we would "...hear of wars and rumors of wars... for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences in various places. All these are the BEGINNING OF SORROWS."

What a shock it was to the whole world on that fateful morning of September 11, 2001 to see, by way of telecast, the total destruction of the World Trade Center towers! And yet if we read Revelation 18, we can see the startling similitude in the prophecy of the destruction of the city called Babylon. "...And the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously... for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire... And the kings of the earth... shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 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 judgment come. The merchants... which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 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! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought... and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! For in one hour is she made desolate."

What took place in New York City and in Washington, DC, as horrible as it was, is just a prelude to what is coming to this world in the near future. Do we know what time it is? It is the end-time. And it is time to wake up! Jesus is coming soon! He said "When you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors" (Matthew 24:33).

Are you ready for His coming? He is coming back for a people who have been born again of water and of the Spirit according to John 3:5. In Acts 2:38, Peter answers the age-old question, "What shall we do?" "Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Let's wake up and get on fire for God, "...for our redemption draweth nigh."