Richard Hollerman

Wherever we look in this world, there is much carnage and great evil. We are living in a world of nine billion people, but we find so much that is wicked and needs correcting. Would you agree?

Presently we are speaking of the evil in the Middle East which seems to go on and on. The Israelis, of whom we may find a few million adherents are against the Muslims, of which there may be nearly two billion, and thus the people from Irael seem to be outnumbered—but of America. It goes on and on.

And now we know that Israel, with several million, is being supported in their war by the United States. This would say that America is not merely fighting a war in the Ukraine and Russia (which we don’t understand since both countries are Orthodox in nature), but also in Israel and other countries (mostly Muslim) (with Israel against Gaza, and Lebanon, and the Houthis, and even Iran). We must not overlook Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other nations elsewhere. Do you see why we say that this is a “sad” state of affairs, with much sadness.

Years ago, my wife and I visited Israel and we had no idea that it was this extreme. Yes, it was less than ideal in circumstances and we were forbidden to go certain places. The country was partitioned between the Israelis and the Muslims, but this utter chaos was unknown at the time! Today, we find that the world is opposed to Israel and this goes on and on.

Thus, at this time, we find that the world (that is mostly evil, and against righteousness) is against the Muslims (a huge block of perhaps 2 billion people), and this would then be against Israel, with perhaps 3-6 million people). And they all are going to hell (even though they don’t know this). It is just totally impossible to reconcile Muslims, with Israelis, with worldly people. It can’t be done.

Thus, all two groups (the Muslims and Israel) are wrong and evil (from God’s standpoint). If we were to include the United States, we have another entity but most of the populations would likewise be wrong and anti-God). We find this so utterly sad—and wrong.

Let’s admit the truth in this. One part of the world is opposed to the truth and is going to hell. Another part of the earth is also opposed to the truth. They too are wrong and going to hell. And we also are anti-truth and going to hell too (for the most part) if we were to include the Muslims, Israel, and the United States.

And so we say that this is utterly sad and we can’t get around this. Surely we understand that there are “good” people out there (even those who are lost). But we must say that many or most of these dear people are lost. By this, we mean that “lostness” means that people are separated from God and will be so for all eternity. Yet we must say now and hope that there are some who will come to “the knowledge of the truth by coming to know Jesus as the “way, the truth, and the life” while there is yet time.