AWAKE, O SLEEPER!

Romans 13:11-12
And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand.

I Thessalonians 5:3-6
While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

Please read and consider carefully the words written here. They are of the gravest importance. If you are not hearing what the Lord is speaking in this hour, the destruction which is coming swiftly will overtake you like a thief.

In this writing I will share with you some recent signs that have been given to warn God’s people of the things which are to come upon America. I will then share why these things are occurring, what you should do in response, and how to prepare for what is at hand.

For many years now God has been providing a multitude of witnesses of the coming destruction of America as a nation and of the chaos that will impact all the nations of the earth. The church has been sleeping. They have been focused upon a prosperity gospel, and have sought a life of ease, comfort and many pleasures and entertainments. Because their focus has been self-centered, they have not discerned the voice of the Father who has been proclaiming that the hour is very late.




















Miss USA 2007 and 2008

In 2007, during the evening gown portion of the Miss Universe pageant, Rachel Smith fell down while walking onto the stage. She was in front of an international audience and among dozens of women who each represented a different nation of the world. The next year, 2008, Crystle Stewart also walked out onto the stage during the evening gown portion of the competition, and she too fell to the ground.

Two years in a row Miss USA fell to the ground. Her fall serves as a parable from God of that which is coming swiftly to the nation. When God repeats a sign, He does so to indicate that His judgment in the matter is certain. He will not repent of His decision, and it will happen swiftly. In the Old Testament we read of God determining to bring a great famine upon Egypt and all the surrounding nations that would last for seven years. At that time also, God gave warnings of what would befall the people. Pharaoh dreamed two dreams in the same night, and Joseph, the son of Jacob, told Pharaoh the meaning of the repetition.

Genesis 41:32
Now as for the repeating of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that the matter is determined by God, and God will quickly bring it about.

God has been giving warnings for a long time. He has been calling His people to put aside their lust for the things of the world and to serve Him with an undivided heart. He has also been bringing many judgments upon the nation to warn her that the abominations practiced in the land cannot continue any longer. Yet neither the people of God, or the nation have wanted to repent. Therefore, judgment will now befall the nation. It will be complete, leaving America unrecognizable as the once proud land that has been her portion.

Revelation 2:21-22
“And I gave her time to repent; and she does not want to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will cast her upon a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation...”

As the hour for the final destruction of America has drawn closer, the testimonies of what God will do have increased. Last year (September 2008), a terrible train wreck occurred in California.
















Metrolink 111 Train Crash

A commuter train carrying many passengers ran at full speed into a UNION Pacific freight train that was on the same tracks. The train had departed from UNION station in Los Angeles. The passenger train’s engineer was distracted as he texted some young people when he should have been focused upon his job. He did not even apply the brakes, and as a result there was a devastating collision and many people died.

The Preamble to the Constitution begins with the following words:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The Union that the forefathers of America had envisioned, this great experiment of Thomas Jefferson and others, has ended in gross sin and widespread corruption, both in government and society. Those driving the train of this nation have ignored all the stop lights, all the signs of warning, and have continued on a course of destruction without even slowing their forward speed.

All the while, those aboard have gone on without suspecting that life is about to end as they have known it. Many will perish, their lives snuffed out suddenly in calamitous events. Many more will suffer great injury. It will be a mere remnant who walk away having suffered no harm.

People of God, the Spirit is testifying that great and terrible days are just ahead. It will be a difficult period for any person to experience. Tales of grief and sorrow will become the portion of those whose conversations had focused upon their next purchase, their next entertainment, their next meal. Very suddenly the lives of all those aboard Metrolink 111 changed, and so too will things change in the days ahead. The signs of collapse, or disintegration, are all around, yet most are unseeing, most are oblivious to the destruction just around the bend.


Just this month (February 2009), another witness has been given of that which is to come. A Continental Connections flight crashed as it approached Buffalo Niagara International Airport. The flight had originated out of Newark LIBERTY International Airport. The founding fathers of America wrote in the Preamble to the constitution that there purpose was to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.”

This liberty that America has known is to end very soon. A nation of free people will see all their constitutional protections removed. Martial law will be enacted as the land collapses into chaos due to the total collapse of her economy. At the same time there will be other calamities that strike the nation. The land will be divided, and it will never be the same again.

The plane that crashed in Buffalo, New York was a Continental Connections flight. The name of the airline is prophetic. That which connects the states of this nation is about to be severed. The continental connection is about to lie in flaming ruins.

America as a nation formed its first government in what is referred to as the Continental Congress. The word Congress is derived from the Latin congressus, from congredi, “to come together.” Therefore, Continental Congress and Continental Connection share the same meaning.

America will experience a constitutional crisis that is precipitated by the total collapse of the economy. The UNION will be destroyed. The Continental Connection will be destroyed. We are seeing the seeds of the coming destruction in the news every day. Millions of Americans are losing their jobs. Millions more have lost their homes. Trillions of dollars have been lost from the Stock Markets. Trillions of more losses have been incurred by the banking system.

There is a systemic collapse occurring as we speak. The media and politicians continue to suggest that the ship will be righted. The economy will rebound. A new time of prosperity is ahead. The judgment has been determined and it will not turn back. America as a nation will end soon. A nation that began in liberty, and promised the blessings of continued liberty to its posterity, will meet its end.

God has been signifying these things for many years. The whole world watched the events of 9-11-2001. This was one of the final warnings of God, seeking to get His people and the nation to repent of the evil course they were on. The World Trade Towers were located at the corner of Church Street and Liberty Street in New York City.



















Liberty Street on 9-11

On the date of 9-11 the two towers which stood as a symbol of America’s economic might were totally destroyed. They had stood strong and tall, rising 110 stories above the ground. Even so, America’s economy has been the envy of much of the world for many years. The people of this nation will stand with mouths agape, struck dumb with fear and agony as they observe what is coming.












What I am declaring is not sensationalism, or hyperbole. Few imagined the horror to strike New York City on that day. It was a beautiful September morning. Life was pleasant and an unsuspecting people went about their normal routines. Yet the lives of multitudes were to be changed in a moment. The two Miss USAs fell. The two towers fell. So too will America fall.

What will happen to the people of God in America as these cataclysmic events unfold? The righteous will be saved. God has also testified to this both by Scripture and by signs. Yet not all who name the name of Christ are considered righteous.

Malachi 3:16-18
Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name. "And they will be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, "on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him." So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.

Are you among those who FEAR God? Does your life reveal a reverential regard for God’s holiness? Have you separated yourself from the evil pursuits of a fallen and depraved world? Are you living for His pleasure and His purposes, or are you pursuing the same material possessions, and life of comfort as your lost neighbors? Do you sign and groan over all the abominations committed in the land, or are you indifferent to these things, or worse yet, a participant in them?

Ezekiel 9:4-6
And the LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst." But to the others He said in my hearing, "Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity, and do not spare. Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women, but do not touch any man on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary."

When God orders the slayer to begin at His sanctuary, He is testifying that judgment must begin with the house of God. What is indicated is that not all those in the house of God will be spared. Judgment will begin there, and many will perish who are among God’s own household. Do not be deceived! We will reap what we sow. It is the righteous who will be spared on that day.

The Continental Connections flight where fifty people perished stands as a parable of the disintegration of the United States. Many people will perish during the fall of the nation. Yet just a short time before this there was another plane crash where all aboard were saved as a US Airways flight crash landed in the Hudson River. This too was sent as a message from God. The nation will perish, but a people will be saved through days of great distress.



















US Airways Flight 3407 at Battery Park
The US Airways flight speaks of the impending collapse of the United States. Yet some will emerge alive from this time. Who will be the ones who survive? It will be the righteous. This was clearly signified in the events of that day.

The captain of the US Airways flight, Chesley Sullenberger, and his co-pilot, had 153 people to safeguard. This number included 150 passengers and 3 flight attendants. 153 is the number of the righteous.

The number 153 is mentioned in John’s gospel in an event that occurred after the resurrection of Christ. Jesus appeared on the shore after the disciples had been fishing all night having caught nothing. He instructed them to cast their net on the right side of the boat and, when they did, they encompassed a great number of fish.

John 21:11
Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.

The fish represent men who are pulled from the sea of humanity. Even so, in the airplane crash, the 153 people in the back of the plane were all brought safely to shore, pulled from the waters of the Hudson River. (The name Hudson means “soul,” and those pulled from the Hudson signify those souls who will be saved.)

There is much that is symbolized in the details of this event. The plane was a US Airways, and it represents the nation whose name it bears. The plane was headed to Charlotte, NC which is a large banking center and it had a number of employees of Bank of AMERICA and Wells Fargo among its passengers. What is symbolized here is the imminent crash of the American economy. The banking system will collapse, and many people will be cast into peril as a result.

The airplane was towed to Battery Park where it ended up resting on the shore. This is symbolic of the state of America in coming days. America will be battered. The battering will continue for some time, yet God will bring the righteous safely through what is to come.

The Lord instructed His disciples to cast their net on the RIGHT side of the boat. The right side represents the side of RIGHTeousness. In the passage of Scripture speaking of the judgment of mankind, the sheep are directed to the right, while the goats are directed to the left and judgment.

What is also signified in these two plane crashes is that judgment must begin with the household of God. The church has much guilt in this hour. The church has followed the world into every excess of pleasure and sin. God holds the church more responsible for her transgression than the world, for the church has received greater light. There will be much weeping and sorrow among the household of God, and a great many will perish.

I Peter 4:17-18
For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?

The first plane crash is a picture of the judgment which must begin with the household of God. It was with difficulty that they were saved, but God manifested great grace. Peter then continues with the thought, “What will be the outcome of those who do not obey the gospel of God? What will become of the godless man and the sinner?”

There are people IN the church as well as out of the church who do not obey the gospel. There are both righteous and wicked servants in the household of God. Do not be deceived! God will not be mocked. A mere confession of Christ with the mouth is not enough. If you are sowing to the flesh, living a life of carnal pleasure and sin, you must reap what you sow.

If you are pursuing a life of righteousness, then you can depend upon God to see you through the coming days. Consider the following words of Scripture and the image that follows.

Revelation 12:14
And the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, in order that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.

Satan will be the instrument God uses to judge America. Yet God will provide a place of safety for His people in that hour that they might flee from Satan who comes to kill, steal and destroy. This protection and provision of God is depicted as the two wings of a great eagle.

Consider now the following image from the plane crash on the Hudson River.
















Standing on the wings of US Airways Flight 3407

Those who escaped alive from the crash of the US Airways plane were held aloft on the two wings. America’s national symbol is the Eagle and as this was a US Airways plane, what is depicted is being carried on the two wings of a great eagle.

There have been a myriad of signs, prophecies and warnings given in recent days. Barack Obama took his inaugural oath with his hand upon the same Bible that Abraham Lincoln used.




















Barack Obama’s Oath w/Lincoln Bible
There are many parallels between Barack Obama and Abraham Lincoln.

Both men were legislators from the state of Illinois.

Both men were elected to the presidency the first time they ran for the highest office in the land.

Both men are closely related to civil rights issues as Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation and Obama is looked upon as the fulfillment of all that which began with this proclamation and was enunciated in the words of Martin Luther King.

Lincoln was the 16th President which is 4 times 4. Obama is the 44th President.

Lincoln took office in an hour when the nation was facing a great crisis, and so too has Barack Obama.

Yet the greatest parallels are yet to appear. Lincoln served as President during a time when the Continental Connection was severed. The Union experienced a great crisis, leading to the greatest loss of life of any period of American history. What will we observe during Obama’s presidency? Will we see the Union disintegrate? Will the Continental Connection be severed? Will martial law be declared? Will brother will be separated against brother, with a staggering loss of life and a disruption of all that has been known during years of prosperity and peace?

These are but a small portion of the signs God has been providing to give His people understanding of those things to come. It has ever been God’s practice to speak through means of parables. In this way only those who have been granted the ability to perceive spiritual truth will understand.

Mark 4:11-12
"To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God; but those who are outside get everything in parables, in order that while seeing, they may see and not perceive; and while hearing, they may hear and not understand lest they return and be forgiven."

Many in America and in the church are now past the point of repentance. Their hearts have been hardened, and they would surely scoff at those things being declared here, even as they have continually ignored the warnings of God. God has afflicted this nation with many stripes in recent years. There have been record numbers of hurricanes, and tremendous devastation wrought by storms of historic proportions. The wicked city of New Orleans was dealt with very severely, and yet she has refused to repent.

There have been record numbers of tornadoes, and floods and droughts all occurring together in separate areas of the country. California, which leads the nation in much evil has been consumed with fires.


















Los Angeles Fire - October 2008

What then should you do, seeing that great judgment is at hand? God tells us in His word.

Zephaniah 2:3
Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who have carried out His ordinances; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger.

Are you one who carries out God’s ordinances, seeking to obey Him in all things which He reveals to you to be His will? If this is not a description of your life, then repent quickly and put away all sin from your life.

Have you entered into debt to gain the material things your soul lusted after? Repent, and ask God what He would have you do to be delivered. Jesus said that no man can serve God and mammon, but the majority of Christians in America have sought to do so.

Is your life characterized by selfish pursuits, with little thought given to what God would have you do with your life? Repent, and take up your cross and follow Christ wherever He would lead you.

Have you cared for the poor, fed the hungry, and given lodging to the stranger and homeless? There is no better way to insure God’s provision for you and your family in a day of great need than to have given generously to others when you saw their distress.

Isaiah 58:6-9
Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry, and He will say, “Here I am.”

James 2:13
For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

Humble yourself before God and set your sight to pursue righteousness. Flee from all temptation. If this means casting out the television and disconnecting cable service, then do so quickly. Perhaps God will yet have mercy when He observes the fear you have of His righteous judgment.

If you are tempted through the Internet as many men and women are who struggle with lustful thoughts, then put it away from you. This is no time to play with sin. If you are listening to ungodly music, throw it away. Do not be found on the day of judgment with that which mocks the holiness of God in your possession. If you have been reading impure books and magazines, cast them out and do not return to them.

Perhaps you believe you have been living a moral life, but the things I am sharing with you in this writing concerning the judgment to befall the nation are new to you. You need to ask why. Why have you not been hearing the voice of God speaking words of warning concerning that which is coming?

Has your life been self-focused? Have you failed to daily enter into God’s presence and to seek to hear His voice? Those who come through the coming days victoriously will only do so as they are sensitive to hear the voice of God and are quick to obey all that He declares. Perhaps you have not been hearing Him because you have not been walking as close to Him as you ought.

The day of calamity will not be the optimum time to learn to walk by the Spirit. Now is the time to be practicing such a life.

Romans 8:14
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

John 10:27
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me...”

God has been giving abundant testimony of the things to come for all to see. If you have not been discerning these things then there is surely a reason for it. It is time to awake, o sleeper! Do not let the day of the Lord come upon you as a thief.

If you have discerned the voice of the Spirit of Christ speaking to you through these words, and you desire to read more pertaining to what God has been speaking of the days we are now entering, I would recommend to you the writing posted on the Internet titled A Chronology of Events. In it you will find a multitude of links to words, by this same author, declaring the things God has been showing forth by signs for the past ten years.

http://parablesblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/chronology-of-events.html

May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days,

Joseph Herrin

Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws
Parables Blog: http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063