Latest Audio - 2025-08-30
As Perfect... as GOD?
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)
God's Perfection
Many times the above scripture impacts us in a negative way – as we put the emphasis on the need to reach what we feel is an impossible goal. But turning it around for a moment ... let's think about what it means; that God is perfect. So how does this perfection impact His lifestyle, His approach to everything? What IS perfect righteousness? Mr Armstrong puts it this way in his sermon, Hungering For God's Righteousness – 11th of June 1983:
"I wonder if you've ever thought about this thing of hungering and thirsting FOR GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS. I remember just recently it hit me in a different way than I ever saw it before. I thought about God Himself. He has that righteousness, and He certainly doesn't have to have any hurt conscience. He doesn't have to have any fears or worries about having to reap what He sows. He has perfect faith ... If we just had God's righteousness, what a wonderful feeling it would be in our minds! Even then, harm might come to us – persecution, accidents in this life; but at least we wouldn't be bringing them on ourselves. We bring so many things on ourselves, and we don't realize it." (Hungering For God's Righteousness – 11th of June 1983)
Such perfection of character is clearly in harmony with His perfection in other areas of existence also:
- "Do you people think that I am some local deity and not the transcendent God?” the Lord asks.
- “Do you really think anyone can hide himself where I cannot see him?” the Lord asks. “Do you not know that I am everywhere?” the Lord asks. (Jeremiah 23:23-24 NET Bible)
Like our Father
Perfect: "Conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type: Excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement: Exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose: Entirely without any flaws, defects or shortcomings: pure or unmixed." (Dictionary.com)
A daunting definition and a challenge to say the least, and yet we are told, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48) – perfect as this Almighty, Everliving God Himself! Is it possible to be without any flaws, defects or shortcomings, let alone mirror a Being who has had no beginning? A Being who fills heaven and earth – the unfathomable expanses of the universe, (Psalm 147:4) but also knows us as individuals, down to the number of hairs on our head. (Luke 12:6,7) Thankfully we have been given a vivid example of how this can – and will be done!
No matter your calendar age at this moment – young or old – at one time every single one of us reading these words was no bigger than the period/full-stop at the end of this sentence. Barely visible to the naked eye. You and me. As it says so often in the Psalms ... Selah. Just think about that for a while.
An Awesome Miracle
Now, after being injected with life from its father, in 40 short weeks that bundle of 'jelly' developed according to a Plan. At the very outset it hardly looked human, but as time progressed, and under instructions compiled by the Creator God, that minute cell took on the attributes of its parents, and grew from a humble, insignificant beginning into a physical being the same as its father or mother – and at birth, moved from its restricted environment into one comparatively without limits. This commonplace, awesome miracle should prove to us that, with God, nothing is beyond His creative ability and – if we have the eyes to see – it mirrors our present physical existence before OUR birth into the God Family.
King David did indeed contemplate this miracle and stood in awe of the Master Potter behind it:
- You are the one who created my innermost parts; you knit me together while I was still in my mother's womb.
- I give thanks to you that I was marvelously set apart. Your works are wonderful—I know that very well.
- My bones weren't hidden from you when I was being put together in a secret place, when I was being woven together in the deep parts of the earth
- Your eyes saw my embryo, and on your scroll every day was written that was being formed for me, before any one of them had yet happened. (Psalm 139:13-16 Common English Bible)
As we approach the autumn Holy Days, and look back over a year that seems to have gone at a lightning pace – how much more have we learnt of God's way of life than we knew this time last year? Do we have a more godly perspective on the troubles in the world – and also on our own imperfections and shortcomings? Or are we becoming discouraged, having seen yet more areas to overcome – perhaps even struggling to cope with totally new and different trials that we haven't had to face before?
And the question then is: WHEN is our character expected to become perfected anyway? In this frail human life? Is true godly perfection even possible now – or only finally possible upon our resurrection to Spirit Life? And seen within Scripture the answer is very clear: both aspects are true, and both are utterly vital!
The Finishing Line
Hebrews chapter 11 – the faith chapter – ends with a statement which shows very clearly that the luminaries of faith mentioned in the preceding verses did not and will not obtain perfection before us, showing that a certain aspect of perfection is yet future:
- And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
- God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:39-40)
So the timing of that final perfection – our finish line – is clearly the first resurrection to Spirit Born Life, and the same finish line is indicated in the book of first Peter:
- Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
- As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
- But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of [conduct];
- Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (I Peter 1:13-16)
- As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. (Psalm 17:15)
But Also a Process Now
Although it is clear from scriptures such as those above that it's only at the point of the resurrection – and our spirit birth into the family of God – that true perfection will finally be achieved, it should be regarded much more as the culmination of a lifetime of growth rather than the sudden flicking of a switch. This Mr Armstrong brings out in his explanation of how our physical begettal, growth and birth is so precisely a mirror of the spiritual:
Are you really comprehending this? Are you? And mortal man, if he repents, surrenders unconditionally to God and God’s government, accepts in living FAITH Jesus Christ as personal Savior, can receive God’s gift of His HOLY SPIRIT – the very life, essence, nature, mind and power of God – BEGETTlNG him now as God’s own (yet unborn) Son! If he then GROWS spiritually (II Pet. 3:18), overcomes and endures, he shall – at Christ’s soon coming, be changed (or resurrected if he dies) from mortal to immortal (I Cor. 15:44-54).
And then – IF the very CHARACTER of God has been developed within him – his vile material body will be instantaneously changed (converted) into one “like unto his [Christ’s] GLORIOUS body”! (Phil. 3:21.) But your vile character will not then be instantaneously changed – THAT change must take place NOW in this life! So THAT is the supreme heritage of MAN – if he is willing! (Missing Dimension in Sex - chapter 5)
So, the perfection of spiritual character is an ongoing lifelong process, looking forward to the finishing line with patience. As James instructs us, we must "let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (James 1:4) – just as Paul himself also found:
- Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
- Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
- I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
- Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. (Philippians 3:12-15)
The Example of Abraham
Undoubtedly, part of the problem in this process of developing perfect righteous character is that we as human beings are not consistent. Some days we feel like we can take on the world – while other days we can't even take on ourselves. Such inconsistency was true even of Abraham, the "father of the faithful"! He believed God when he was instructed to leave Ur of the Chaldees – readily changing from being a city dweller to an essentially nomadic existence, journeying toward a land yet to be shown to him. Even after waiting until his father had died in Haran he once again resumed his journey leaving his brother Nahor behind – still implicitly trusting and believing God to guide his steps. Yet when in Egypt during a famine his faith wavered, and he allowed Sarah to be taken into Pharaoh's household/harem – "doctoring" the truth (she was his half-sister but also his wife!) and failing to trust God for protection.
- Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.
- Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee. (Genesis 12:12-13)
And later, a few chapters on, in a very similar incident with Abimelech he again fell short of "perfection" in the area of faith. (Genesis 20:1-14)
But as we read the account in Genesis of the life of Abraham, we can see God didn't give up on him. God's hand was continually guiding and working with Abraham – even as he was tested to trust the Eternal far beyond anything that was humanly viable – that he and Sarah would have a child, even though Sarah had been barren all her life and now they were aged 100 and 90 respectively. But that was not all. He then was severely tested by being told to sacrifice his son – a son through whom the Eternal had specifically promised His covenant would operate (Genesis 17:21). Only when he had passed that test did God then truly know Abraham's heart of hearts – through which his perfection will eventually be complete:
- By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
- Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
- Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. (Hebrews 11:17-19)
- And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. (Genesis 22:12)
The Example of Jacob
We can also see the same hand of God fashioning and moulding Jacob throughout his life in the various trials he went through. As a young man – partially under the direction of his mother Rebecca – he selfishly coerced both the birthright and the blessing away from his brother Esau; only to have his uncle Laban do something very similar to him in having him first marry Leah rather than Rachel as agreed. You can't help but wonder how he must have reflected on his own previous devious actions as he smarted from Laban's duplicity! (Genesis 25:29-34, 29:23-27)
Even after his name had been changed from Jacob (Supplanter) to Israel (a prince of God) – as he wrestled with the One who would become Jesus Christ (Genesis 32:28), – and very shortly after appearing to him in Bethel, where he was promised incredible national greatness (Genesis 35:11), the Eternal still allowed Rachel to die while giving birth to Benjamin (Genesis 35:18).
What we need to understand is that God could see the much bigger picture – Jacob's position and ultimate perfection within the very Kingdom of God – and so He even stayed silent and refrained from intervening as He witnessed his struggle and sorrow with the apparent death of his beloved son Joseph at age 17 – and allowed him to mourn for well over two decades thereafter:
- And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son’s coat or no.
- And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.
- And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.
- And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him. (Genesis 37:32-35)
Unbeknown to Jacob, God was working mightily in Joseph's life all that time – and for a truly momentous purpose! The trouble is, none of us as human beings can see the whole picture, just a few small pieces of the jigsaw, so to speak, but God knows how it will all fit together in His Plan, and be ultimately for our good, our perfection. (Romans 8:28)
Not Without Us
Abraham and Jacob are but two of the inspirational examples of faith, previously mentioned, "God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:40) They may not yet have been made fully perfect, as they are still waiting the resurrection. But we do clearly see them as having been fashioned and moulded – perfected – throughout their entire lifetime ... and fully ready to effectively serve in the Kingdom of God.
And is it any wonder that we too should find ourselves suffering trials and facing a deluge of problems – when we begin to grasp the TRUE purpose of this present physical, chemical existence? The development of perfect, holy, righteous Godly character is the very reason we find ourselves on this earth – and in training right now!
Indeed, the definition of the word used for "perfect" in the Greek (telios, Strongs 5056) throws more light on the subject: " brought to its end, finished: Wanting nothing necessary to completeness: Consummate human integrity and virtue: Full grown, adult, of full age, mature".
- Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
- And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him (Hebrews 5:8-9)
- The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. (Luke 6:40)
- I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:23)
- Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
- There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (I John 4:17-18)
- But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (I Peter 5:10-11)
The Perfect Partnership
And it is God, as the Master Potter, who does the finishing, the completing, the maturing ... the perfecting – with our tacit agreement and continual repentance when we see where we need to change. Yes, perfection IS possible, but it certainly is not solely by our own human efforts. As Mr. Armstrong encourages us, in his 1982 Good News article "How You Can Overcome": (Good News 1982)
I FEEL I must have a real heart-to-heart talk with my family of readers and co-workers, sharing with you thoughts that came to my mind.It concerns the most important thing in life and eternity for you.
But at the moment, I was thinking about myself.
Every person – yes, even you – is his own worst enemy. All my life I have been impelled to fight my worst enemy – that troublesome inner self, which by nature is desperately wicked.
I was not born with a mild, submissive, weak-willed inner self. Had I been, I probably never could have been used as God’s instrument in bearing His message to you. My mother, who lived well into her 90s, said I was a very strong-willed boy, and while I was still young enough to be under parental discipline, I caused her and my father no end of trouble.
Since growing into the age of self-discipline, this same evil, determined inner self has caused me no end of trouble. And I should add that since I gave that self over to God, it surely must have tried His patience!
That brings us to the point. The thought that came to my mind concerned this very troublesome inner self. HOW, came the question, can I myself ever become finally saved, and inherit eternal life in the Kingdom of God, with such a powerful, seemingly irresistible inner force of evil constantly pulling the other way?
When God says “there shall in no wise enter into it [the Kingdom of God] any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie” (Rev. 21:27), it surely seemed impossible that I should be able to “overcome” and “endure unto the end.”
But the same instant the answer flashed to mind – God will save me!
I can’t save myself. When I look at this troublesome, evil self, so human and full of faults and weaknesses, so beset by temptations of pride and the flesh, with all its limitations and shortcomings – knowing that to be finally saved I must GROW in grace and God’s knowledge, must develop in righteous holy character, must overcome this self and temptations and weaknesses and must endure through trial and test and opposition and discouragement unto the end – well, when I look at it that way, it seems utterly HOPELESS to expect ever to be saved ...
...Of course, of ourselves, it is impossible to be saved. But with God it is certain – if we yield to Him and TRUST Him. We shall be saved, not by our own power to overcome and develop perfect characters, but through FAITH IN GOD’S POWER! ...
...Jesus showed by His life that we can, if we rely upon God in faith for the power to do, live the way of God’s will as expressed in His spiritual law! Of Himself, even Jesus said He could not do it – “the Father that dwelleth in me,” He said, “HE doeth the works” (John 14:10). And again, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also” (verse 12).
And so it was that, almost the same instant the temptation to doubt the final result came to my mind, as I thought of my own weaknesses, faults and limitations, the answer flashed strong and firm:
“GOD WON’T LET ME FALL! He may punish me more yet to chasten and teach me and make me righteous, but He won’t let me fail – He will impute His very own righteousness by implanting it into my life until, through His power energizing me, I’m really living it – ETERNALLY!”
And that comforting and definite ASSURANCE of the final result, based on God’s own unbreakable PROMISES, just warmed my heart and made me feel good clear through – and so I had to share this glorious assurance with all of you! Read Jude 24 and II Peter 1:10. (Good News 1982)
- Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
- Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
- The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. (Psalm 138:6-8)
Earthquakes… Volcanoes… Fires… Floods:
Is this…
The New “Normal”
What do the following places have in common?
Kamchatka, Chile, the United States, Russia, Seattle, Tacoma, Canary Islands, Antingham, Japan, Tokara Islands, Myanmar, southern California, Shropshire, New Madrid, Indonesia, Oregon, Italy, Naples, Spain, Greece, Dorset, Newfoundland, Edinburgh, Beijing, Yorkshire, Los Angeles, Canada, the Grand Canyon, France, Newport, China, San Antonio, Texas, Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Wisconsin, Manitoba, Milwaukee, West Allis, Wauwatosa, Drake Passage, Chicago, Yuzhong County, Enniskillen, Labrador, Northern Ireland, Norwich, England, Wymondham, Long Stratton, Aylsham, Alby, Saskatchewan, Erpingham, Killowen, Shropshire.
In just the past few weeks they have all been hit with one of the big four: Earthquakes, volcanoes, fire or flood!
The Bible warns of “…earthquakes in divers places” (Matthew 24:7).
The Greek word translated ‘earthquakes’ is seismos which means ‘commotions’. Earthquakes, volcanoes, fire and floods would all be covered. Also note the use of the word ‘divers’ which in a more modern translation is quoted as ‘in many parts of the world’. This is what we are witnessing right now!
Seeing daily reports of fires and floods, earthquakes and erupting volcanoes, happening all around the world, we ask, “Is this the new normal?”.
News Today - Forgotten Tomorrow!
“Historic volcanic eruptions and enormous earthquakes are happening on an almost daily basis now, but they have become so common that most of them barely even make a blip in the news cycle. The natural disasters that do tend to make a lot of headlines are the ones that cause a lot of deaths. But even those are quickly forgotten. For example, nobody really talks about the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that hit Myanmar on March 28th and killed thousands of people anymore. We literally have become numb to the death and destruction which is constantly going on all around us. But the truth is that what is happening to our planet right now is not normal.” (endoftheamericandream.com)
EARTHQUAKES
Kamchatka Is Moving AWAY From Russia
“Last week, Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula was hit by a magnitude 8.8 earthquake – the sixth largest ever recorded. The tremor released enormous amounts of destructive energy, triggering tsunami warnings as far away as Chile and the western United States. But when the activity had subsided, scientists from the Russian Academy of Sciences were baffled to find that the peninsula had actually moved away from the mainland. In some places towards the peninsula’s southern tip, the landmass had drifted as much as 6.5ft (two metres) to the southeast.” (dailymail.co.uk)
Magnitude 5.0 Earthquakes
“Nearly 500 earthquakes of at least magnitude 5.0 in a 30 day period is extremely unusual. Why have there been so many large earthquakes in recent weeks? This is something that people on social media are really buzzing about right now. And I am certainly glad that they are buzzing about it, because what we have been witnessing is not even close to normal. ‘Normal’ is approximately 110-125 earthquakes of that magnitude per month.
In 2025, we have been hit by one major disaster after another.
It is almost as if we are living in a disaster movie that never ends.” (theeconomiccollapseblog.com)
Mount Rainier Rocked By 800 Earthquakes In 30 Days
“Nearly 800 earthquakes have rattled Washington’s Mount Rainier in the last 30 days, sparking fears that one of America’s most dangerous volcanoes is coming to life. This towering stratovolcano looms over more than 3.3 million people across the Seattle-Tacoma metro area, threatening to cripple entire communities with ashfall, flooding, and catastrophic mudflows if it erupts.” (dailymail.co.uk)
Canary Islands Hit By ‘Seismic Swarm’
“Canary Islands hit by ‘seismic swarm’ as Tenerife records 11 earthquakes in one morning. Shallow tremors can indicate magma movement or changes in geothermal systems, sometimes serving as early warnings of eruptions. All of the tremors occurred at shallow depths, between zero and 13 kilometres below the surface. A shallow earthquake occurring at these depths is significant because it happens close to the Earth’s surface, where seismic waves have little distance to travel before reaching the ground. This means the energy does not dissipate much, so even moderate quakes can cause strong shaking and damage to buildings and infrastructure.” (express.co.uk)
Japan: Government Warns Of Imminent 9+ ‘Megaquake’
“Japan has been rocked by 900+ earthquakes in just 10 days across the Tokara Islands. Now the government says the risk of a magnitude 9+ MEGAQUAKE in the Nankai Trough is as high as 82% and could kill nearly 300,000 people. This isn’t fear porn. It’s math. The fault line snaps every 100–200 years. The last one? 1946. That’s not normal. Something’s coming. And Japan knows it.” (citizenwatchreport.com)
Earthquake of magnitude 7.5 hits Drake Passage off South America
“The earthquake struck more than 700 km (435 miles) southeast of Argentina's city of Ushuaia, with a population of about 57,000, the USGS said. There was no tsunami threat after Thursday's earthquake of magnitude 7.5 in the Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said, following its brief warning for Chilean coastal areas. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) revised down the quake magnitude, initially reported at 8, adding that it hit at a depth of 11 km (7 miles).” (jpost.com)
VOLCANOES
A ‘Parade Of Volcanic Eruptions’
“The massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula last week has triggered the activity of seven volcanoes in the area, according to the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS). The RAS said this is the first time in almost 300 years that seven volcanoes erupted at once in the region. The director of the institute, Alexey Ozerov, described the situation as an ‘extremely rare phenomenon that can be described as a parade of volcanic eruptions.’” (endtimeheadlines.org)
Seismic Instability In The Far East
“On Sunday, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake pummeled the Kamchatka Peninsula. On the other side of the globe, one of the most powerful volcanoes in Indonesia just shot hot ash 11 miles into the sky… For the second day in a row, one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, erupted. We have entered a time when we are being hit by major disasters on an almost constant basis.” (themostimportantnews.com)
Scientists Warn One Of World’s Supervolcanoes Is Awakening
“A powerful series of earthquakes at Campi Flegrei, a massive supervolcano in Italy has raised fresh concerns among scientists about the risk of a major eruption. In May, the Phlegraean Fields near Naples was shaken by a magnitude 4.4 earthquake, the strongest in 40 years. Over the past six months, scientists have recorded more than 3,000 smaller quakes, known as tremors, a figure far above normal seismic activity for the area. Experts say eruptions are usually preceded with the increase in earthquake activity, as underground pressure builds up. Campi Flegrei poses a serious threat to over four million people living in the metropolitan area of Naples.” (dailymail.co.uk)
FIRES
The Day The Sky Burned
“Firefighters in Spain and Greece continued to battle wildfires Friday on a public holiday in all three countries as persistent hot, dry conditions challenged efforts to contain the blazes. Spain was fighting 14 major fires. Temperatures were expected to climb over the weekend.
The national weather agency AEMET warned of extreme fire risk in most of the country, including where the largest blazes were burning in the north and west. A heatwave which brought temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) on several days this month was expected to last through Monday.” (dailymail.co.uk)
Spain’s Wildfires Draw Pedro Sánchez From Holiday As Firefighter Dies
“The Spanish PM had been criticised for failing to return home. There are 26 active blazes in the northwest region and four deaths so far. Wildfires continued to rage on Monday morning in northwest Spain, particularly affecting Castile and Leon. There were 26 active fires in the region, according to news service Europa Press, ten of which were at the highest level of severity. On both sides of the border between Spain and Portugal, angry and despairing residents of the worst affected areas — which are rural and facing steep declines in their population — have voiced their sense of abandonment by the authorities in the face of the fires.” (thetimes.com)
UK: Two Wildfire Incidents Within 24 Hours
“With two significant wildfire incidents breaking out within 24 hours this weekend, the Fire Brigades Union has issued a warning that UK fire services do not have the resources to keep the public safe.
In the last 24 hours, a major incident was declared at a wildfire in Holt Health, Dorset, while firefighters in Edinburgh also tackled a wildfire on Arthur’s Seat. Firefighters were drawn from five neighbouring services to assist Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service in fighting the Holt Heath blaze, leaving the region without adequate fire cover.” (fbu.org)
2025 On Track To Be Worst Year In The UK For Wildfires
“With nearly 800 wildfires by the end of July, the UK is on track for a record number of such incidents this year, firefighters warned. This year, so far, compared to last year’s first six months, wildfires have increased by 664 per cent to 793. In 2024, only 104 fires were reported. Compared to 2022, when 596 fires were reported, the increase is only 33 per cent, Sky News said. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has highlighted the figures as a major blaze burned across a moorland in North Yorkshire and authorities struggled to contain a fire in Dorset, the news outlet added.” (euroweeklynews.com)
Fire Prompts Thousands Of Evacuations In California
“A fierce wildfire north-west of Los Angeles prompted evacuation orders for thousands of residents on Friday, as extreme heat and dry conditions fuelled its rapid spread.
The blaze, named the Canyon Fire, ignited on Thursday afternoon along the border of Ventura and Los Angeles counties. By Friday evening, it had expanded from 30 acres to nearly 5,400.” (bbc.co.uk)
How The Dragon Bravo Fire Created Its Own Weather
“The massive wildfire burning near the Grand Canyon has been so intense at times that it created its own weather. The Dragon Bravo Fire - which has scorched more than 130,000 acres in Arizona north of the Grand Canyon - has become so hot that it spurred pyrocumulus clouds, or ‘fire clouds’ at points. The fire-driven clouds can form when the heat and smoke from a very large wildfire is released into the atmosphere, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
At times, these clouds can grow so large that they generate their own intense, erratic winds and even produce lightning. The most intense are called pyrocumulonimbus clouds, which are similar to a thunderstorm in structure and potential weather impacts.” (abcnews.go.com)
1 Dead, 11 Injured As 1,500 Firefighters Battle Raging Wildfires In France
“At least one person was killed and 11 others were injured by raging wildfires in France, where more than 1,500 firefighters are battling the flames, officials said. A French Minister has said the wildfire currently raging in southwestern France, north of Perpignan, has now burnt 13,000 hectares. In a post on X, Ecology Minister, Agnès Pannier-Runacher said that was equivalent to the total area burnt by multiple wildfires throughout the whole of 2024 and double the total area burnt by all wildfires in 2023.” (abcnews.go.com)
‘Pray For Rain’: Wildfires In Canada Are Now Burning Where They Never Used To
“Road closures, evacuations, travel chaos and stern warnings from officials have become fixtures of Canada’s wildfire season. But as the country goes through its second-worst burn on record, the blazes come with a twist: few are coming from the western provinces, the traditional centre of destruction. Instead, the worst of the fires have been concentrated in the prairie provinces and the Atlantic region, with bone-dry conditions upending how Canada responds to a threat that is only likely to grow as the climate warms. Experts say the shift serves as a stark reminder that the risk of disaster is present across the thickly forested nation. In recent weeks, tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes due to the wildfires. Saskatchewan and Manitoba have been the worst hit, covering more than 60% of the area burned in Canada. But the fires have also seized strained resources in Atlantic Canada, where officials in Newfoundland and Labrador are struggling to battle out-of-control blazes. The concerns in Canada echo those emerging across the Atlantic as southern Europe grapples with one of its worst wildfire seasons in two decades.” (theguardian.com)
FLOODS
China Floods: 80,000 Evacuated In Beijing As At Least 38 Killed
“Heavy rain caused flooding and landslides that washed away cars, forced evacuations and knocked out power in regions around Beijing, killing at least 38 people. Rescue and relief efforts were ongoing across the Chinese capital, home to 22 million people, as weather authorities issued their second-highest rainstorm warning for the city. The neighbouring Hebei and Tianjin provinces, as well as ten other provinces in northern, eastern and southern China, were also severely affected, the Xinhua news agency said.” (thetimes.com)
The San Antonio Tempest – June 12, 2025
“On June 12, an overnight thunderstorm dumped over 6 inches of rain across San Antonio in just a few hours, making it one of the ten rainiest single days in over a century. Residential streets, underpasses, and the major Loop 410 corridor, especially near Beitel Creek and Perrin Beitel Road, turned into dangerous waterways. Dozens of vehicles were swept away; first responders conducted high-water rescues around the clock. 13 fatalities have been confirmed, with several others injured or initially reported missing. The city experienced some of its deadliest flash flooding in recent memory.” (floodmart.com)
The Central Texas Catastrophe – July 4–7, 2025
“Remnants of Tropical Storm Barry stalled over Central Texas, triggering ‘training’ thunderstorms that dumped up to 20 inches of rain in parts of the Hill Country — especially across Kerr and surrounding counties. The Guadalupe River surged by 26–34 feet in under an hour, overwhelming riverbanks, homes, campgrounds, and bridges. At least 132 confirmed fatalities, including over 106 in Kerr County alone, with approximately 160 people still missing. Among the victims were 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic. This event now ranks as one of Texas’s deadliest natural disasters, surpassing several major hurricanes.” (floodmart.com)
Flash Flood In Indian Kashmir Leaves Dozens Dead And At Least 200 Missing
“At least 56 people have died and 80 are missing after a sudden rainstorm in Indian Kashmir, the second such disaster in the Himalayas in a little over a week. The incident in the town of Chashoti, Kishtwar district, occurred at a stopover point on a pilgrimage route. Days earlier, a flood and mudslide engulfed a village in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. ‘A large number of pilgrims had gathered for lunch and they were washed away,’ they said.” (theguardian.com)
Biblical Flooding In Midwest
“Flash flooding slammed parts of Wisconsin on Saturday evening, forcing revelers at the state fair to flee and left residents trapped inside their homes. Torrential rainfall battered the Badger State, with the National Weather Service (NWS) issuing a flash flooding warning for Milwaukee, West Allis and Wauwatosa. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the highest rain total was 10 inches in Butler. Rain monitors ran by Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District said that over 13 inches had fallen in the 8100 block of West Florist Avenue in Milwaukee.” (dailymail.co.uk)
Chicago Hit By 1,000-year And 500-year Rain Events Less Than Three Weeks Apart
“The torrential rainfall that pounded parts of Chicago on July 25 was so extreme, it typically occurs only once every 1,000 years, according to the National Weather Service. This extremely rare rain event comes on the heels of the July 8 storm that dumped 5 inches of rain in less than three hours on a different part of central Chicago - an event only expected once every 500 years, according to the NWS.” (cbsnews.com)
10 Dead, 33 Missing After Yuzhong County, China, Receives Half A Year’s Rainfall In 24 Hours
“Flash floods in Yuzhong County, Gansu Province, China, killed at least 10 people and left 33 missing after up to half of the county’s average annual rainfall fell between August 7 and 8, 2025. Chinese President Xi Jinping urged local authorities to carry out full-scale rescue operations. By the morning of August 8, 195 mm (7.68 inches) of rainfall was recorded in the mountainous parts of Yuzhong. This equaled roughly half of the county’s average annual rainfall of 300–400 mm (12–16 inches).” (watchers.news)
UK Floods
“On 17 July, trials in six courtrooms at the Old Bailey were forced to move after floodwater started to pour down the walls, with one witness describing it as ‘like the Titanic’ as water lapped in the corridors. On 20 July, some weather stations in Northern Ireland recorded their wettest July day on record amid an amber weather warning for rain. The M12 motorway was closed after it partially flooded and a number of roads in Enniskillen were impassable due to floodwater. A number of properties were flooded and a rock climbing centre estimated damage would cost over £20,000. In Killowen, 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain fell in 12 hours, close to its monthly average of 80.7 mm (3.18 in).
Rain in the East of England led to floods on 21 July following weeks of prolonged sunshine and high temperatures. A number of schools were closed due to flooding and rail services were disrupted between Norwich and Wymondham due to water on the tracks. Power outages were reported in Long Stratton and the area north of Aylsham, with villages including Alby, Antingham and Erpingham affected. Flash floods also took place in Newport, Shropshire, where a number of businesses and homes were flooded.” (wikipedia.org)
…Then There's Droughts
Severe Drought Is Affecting Much Of The Northern Hemisphere
“Europe is experiencing its worst drought in 500 years. That is the dire assessment of the Joint Research Centre, the European Commission’s scientific advisory body. According to its latest report, published on August 22nd, nearly half of Europe’s land mass is now in drought. That is because the continent received just 20% of its usual rainfall last winter and spring. The dry conditions have coupled with extreme heat this summer. Temperatures in July were 0.7°C above the 1991-2020 average, the sixth highest on record.” (economist.com)
The American West’s Drought Is Its Second-Worst For 12 Centuries
“The South-West of the United States, together with adjacent parts of Mexico across the Rio Grande, is one of the driest parts of the North American continent. But, over the past two decades, even that expected dryness has been taken to the limit. According to Park Williams, who works at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, the current lack of rainfall in the area constitutes a megadrought of a magnitude seen on only four other occasions in the past 1,200 years.” (economist.com)
What Mankind Forgets!
It is God who controls the weather. Note what He inspired the prophet Amos to warn:
“And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread [famine] …
And also I have withholden the rain from you [drought], …
I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: [as a result of hot weather and floods] yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.” (Amos 4:6-9)
God uses earthquakes to fulfil His plan:
“And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.” (Revelation 16:18)
There Is A Reason For All These Disasters!
It is not popular to talk about God these days. However, He has not gone away. His word is sure. He pronounces blessings on those who obey His Law – and curses on those who don’t! Our nations have disobeyed! As the articles above point out – the curses are upon us! Read Deuteronomy 28:15-68.
This Is The New ‘Normal’
“Our fields are cursed; cursed with upset weather, drought, flood, insect damage and disease – cursed with chemicals and man-made blight.
Our basket and our store is cursed – depleted national reserves – gone overseas to feed starving peoples (to nations which rarely, if ever, back US policies) in an admittedly temporary effort – only delaying the starvation facing millions.
Whether we like to admit it or not – our peoples are under a curse today.” (Tomorrow… What It Will Be Like - Chapter 6)
This Is What ‘Normal’ Will Look Like - Soon!
“If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;
Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.
And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.
And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.
And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.” (Leviticus 26:3-6, 11-12)
“Just what is an APOSTLE?”
Today we find the Church of God in a “wilderness of religious confusion!”
The confusion is not merely around the Church – within the religions of the world outside – but WITHIN the very heart of The True Church itself!
Read online or contact email to request a copy
