The gold Babylonian, silver Median, bronze Persian, and iron Hellenistic kingdoms have crumbled (Dn 2:36ff). The great Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed with not one stone left on another (Lk 21:6). The U.S.A. is a young country which will probably not grow old. "The world as we know it is passing away" (1 Cor 7:31). "The heavens will vanish with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire" (2 Pt 3:10). "Shaken, created things will pass away, so that only what is unshaken may remain. Wherefore, we who are receiving the unshakable kingdom should hold fast to God's grace" (Heb 12:27- 28). "The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed or delivered up to another people; rather, it shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and put an end to them, and it shall stand forever" (Dn 2:44).

We are living in a doomed land. We are living on a bomb about to explode. We are fools if we think there is security in anything other than in Jesus. "Only in God be at rest, my soul, for from Him comes my hope. He only is my Rock and my Salvation, my Stronghold; I shall not be disturbed" (Ps 62:6-7). Praise Jesus forever!

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, March 22, 1997

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 26, 1997