So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Romans 14:12

On the converse side, when something bad happens to us, we can't help but wonder "why?" Why did this happen to me? If the devastation is severe enough or the event really blindsided us, we will ask the question out loud. We hope that someone nearby will have the answer. It seems so unfair that bad things happen to good people and really good things happen to really bad people.

So where am I going with this? America is collapsing. As more and more people are impacted, more and more want to know "why?" Every day there is bad news about the economy, and not just the American economy but the world economy. Most of us want to go to work and earn a paycheck without worrying if our job is going to be there tomorrow. We want to come home and eat supper with our families without worrying if food is going to become unaffordable. Or worse, that the roof over our head is going to go into foreclosure. We want to buy presents for the holidays and live our lives day to day without so much bad news hanging over our heads.

Different people around me have different responses (of course!) Some are Pollyannas, believing this is a tough time like others in the past and we will get through it like always. Some are in flat denial, simply talking about something else when the subject is brought up. I suspect, though, most of us feel like the proverbial frog in the pot. We are becoming aware that things are getting really ugly and are not sure where all this trouble came from, and more importantly, how bad is everything really going to get.

Most Pentecostals agree that we are headed down the road to Rapture and then after we are all safely off the earth, the collapsing world economy will cause the charismatic Antichrist to step in, confirm a covenant with Israel that will trigger the Great Tribulation that will end with Armageddon, which will be the end of mankind. So, yeah, it is going to get pretty bad.

But how did we get here? Or the "why?" question. Why is American in this nasty financial mess? We have been seeing bad news stories since March. Is there a common denominator? Let's look at a few signs.

The first ominous sign was the fall of Bear Stearns in March of 2008. It was a huge news story with the average guy on the street not really sure how this event related to him.

Then the cost of oil began to surge exponentially in April. Most of us could understand this event as we felt robbed every time we tried to fill up our gas tanks. Talking heads on cable news shows proclaimed $200 a barrel oil and how our economy would crash in flames without cheap oil. People were choosing between groceries and gas, most choosing gas to get to work. It was frightening! And trying to lock in heating oil or propane costs for winter heating was astronomical.

But were these two events really the first signs? Maybe not. The first sign was so subtle that we probably didn't know it was a sign. In January 2008, President Bush introduced a stimulus package to help poor and middle class cope with the slumping economy. Many Americans were unaware of a slumping economy, at least one that was slumping enough to warrant presidential action. Looking at several economic indicators and taking into account an accelerating number of foreclosures on residential homes that had been occurring since late summer, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved on January 29, 2008, a $145 billion payout to American consumers. Their hope was that we would rush out and buy, buy, buy and shazam! the economy would be back on track. Looking back now, we wish $145 billion was all that was needed.

By late summer the trickle of news rushed into a torrent: news of massive home foreclosures merged with news of some big banking names and Wall Street bastions collapsing like a house of cards. The good times of nice, fat retirement portfolios have suddenly vanished, and many are looking around stunned, not sure who to blame. The president stepped in this time asking Congress for a staggering $700 billion. By the end of November, the Big 3 automakers arrived in Washington on private jets to ask for loans with dire threats of massive damage to the economy if taxpayers didn't fork over, well, our money. Turns out they were only the first in line. Outside Congressional doors, a number of states waited their turn to ask for a handout to prevent massive cuts in state services, and for California, worse -- bankruptcy.

Then December 1, 2008, CNBC had a report titled "Recession is Officially Here -- And May Last for Awhile." For the first time the government was acknowledging the "R" word, recession. And when did this recession begin? The article says the current recession began in December 2007.

Did anything unusual happen prior to December 2007? Actually, yes! A unique, one-time event did happen. And it was hailed as the best thing the United States had done in a long time to promote peace in the Middle East. November 25-27, 2007, the United States hosted over 20 heads of states in Annapolis, Maryland, to establish a covenant to formally announce that Israel would give up land as a conciliatory gesture to the enemy states that surround her.

It is my opinion, that this covenant will be the one the Antichrist will "confirm." At some point, he will insist that Israel honor the terms made "with many" in Annapolis. Anyone who knows anything about biblical prophecy knows that this covenant that the Antichrist confirms will be Israel's undoing because it will cause her destruction.

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. Daniel 9:27

It is also my opinion that the covenant that began in Annapolis will be the destruction of America. I wonder how many will see the connection between Annapolis and our current trouble? I wonder how many will believe that there is a connection? The Annapolis Conference was November 2007, and our recession, the worse since the Great Depression, began December 2007. Our fall began within days.

The financial collapse that is happening around us is more devastating than a dozen Hurricane Katrinas. Is it really that extreme to compare the two? Not really. The insured costs of Hurricane Katrina were about $40 billion. The stimulus package was $145b; the Wall Street bailout $700b; the Big 3 want $34b; Fortune magazine says that 31 states will need $176b in bailouts; and Mr. Obama has pledged $500b in economic relief once he is in office. Crunch those numbers.

Hurricane Katrina caused a loss of 200,000 homes in New Orleans and surrounding areas, and a loss of 214,000 jobs statewide in Louisiana. With no jobs and no homes, many stopped paying their mortgages, which contributed to the foreclosure slide in the U.S. Compared to the recent number of foreclosures (it is difficult to find solid numbers but apparently several million homes are in foreclosure or are behind on mortgage payments) and up to a million jobs a month could be lost in 2009. So, yeah, our current financial crisis is worse than a dozen Hurricane Katrinas.

So how did we get here? I think it is because we are messing with Israel. And America stuck her finger in God's eye big time in Annapolis.

For thus says the LORD of hosts, "After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye. Zechariah 2:8

Will the news get worse? Yes. How will you get through the days, weeks, and months ahead? I have no idea -- you will have to ask God. He has a plan for each one of us, and each one of us will have to get alone with Him and ask Him about that plan.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11

And if you don't want to do that you might find yourself doing some soul-searching and asking yourself that very uncomfortable question of "why not?"

God Bless, Charmaine Eggers (Garden Girl)