Dear Friend,

Today, newspaper headlines and media reports regularly scream of the threat of worldwide terrorism. Thankfully many attempts are thwarted, but violent incidents still occur with terrifying frequency. In spite of great efforts and progress in the U.S.-led war on terrorism, Islamic terrorists seem to be methodically widening their "holy war" against the United States and its allies.

Meanwhile, in its effort to stabilize Iraq, the United States finds itself in a quandary: Should it commit more troops and resources or pull out and doom that country to bloody civil war with potentially dramatic consequences for the region and the world? The price of trying to broker Middle East peace and rebuild Iraq is also adding to the U.S. deficit. Daily reports of servicemen and women killed and wounded are cutting into the resolve of many citizens to support military involvement.

The United States faces a different kind of challenge from the growing power and influence of the European Union. This month the European Union has expanded from 15 nations to 25. The combined population and economic output of the European Union is greater than the United States. Charles Kupchan, a Georgetown University professor and former member of the U.S. National Security Council, shocked many people with his book The End of the American Era. Kupchan claims that the greatest threat to future U.S. global influence isn't from Islamic terrorists, but from a united and powerful Europe.

Why does the United States face so many challenges? Why is it meeting so much opposition throughout the world? Where are these dangerous and destabilizing trends leading, and what do they mean? Strange as it may seem, Jesus Christ foretold today's overall trends almost 2,000 years ago. Matthew 24 records Jesus' prophecy of global events leading to a time when humanity would teeter on the brink of self-annihilation. However, beyond this bad news there is good news. Jesus prophesied His return in power and glory to save humanity from destruction.

Christ's message of ultimate world peace and personal salvation is the very message of The Good News magazine. The United Church of God, publisher of The Good News, is committing considerable resources and manpower in an attempt to reach as many of the world's citizens with God's message of hope as we can.

We certainly thank you for your continuing interest in our efforts. To help you better understand the astounding prophetic trends in the world today, we want to offer you a free subscription to another of our publications, World News and Prophecy . Offering a biblical perspective on current events, this newsletter can help you stay informed on vital prophesied events. You are welcome to request your free subscription online at our Web site, www.ucg.org/wnp.

Sincerely,

Roy Holladay
President
United Church of God, an International Association