In the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, American armed forces and their allies stormed the beaches of Normandy on the west coast of France.

These sunny and beautiful beaches had become the western frontier of the Nazi army. Land which had been forcibly snatched from the hands of France by Germany in the early stages of World War Two.

Much like World War One before it, this second world war marked Germany’s second attempt in the 20^th Century to conquer and carve a vast German empire out of Europe and wherever else it could reach. The fanatic Fuhrer’s end game was no less than world dominance… that is, until he died at his own fanatic hand.

40 years later

In June of 1984 American President Ronald Reagan spoke to an august gathering of U.S. and other World War 2 veterans at Pointe du Hoc along the Normandy coast where the American Rangers established their first European continental foothold. It was 40 years from the day of that famous Allied landing—leading to the freeing of Europe. The battle is often simply called “D-Day.”

D-Day today, 80 years on…

America, England, France and Germany, the rest of Europe and all other nations on earth are facing a dramatic potential for far flung war once again… potentially world war… fought with widespread use of nuclear weapons—and whatever other high-tech armaments that yet another team of scientists here or there can “cook-up.” A time of great trouble is brewing.

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22).

The upheaval described by Jesus in this prophecy which He delivered to his disciples from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem is referred to as the “Olivet Prophecy.” But with its parallel accounts in Mark 13 and Luke 21 it is the premiere prophecy of Christ’s second coming. Further, the prophetic details describe the conditions of our world and time today!

When President Reagan spoke on D-Day’s 40^th anniversary he expressed the ideal of a lasting peace achieved by the sacrifice of WW2. However, those dynamics have changed. We are now forty years closer to the second coming – the frictions that portend world war have crystallized considerably. The immorality level of society approaches that of Sodom and Gomorrah of old.

The final war of all the nations is also forty years nearer. It brings the words of a great hymn into dramatic focus:

“How long Eternal hide Thou away? When will Thy wrath not burn like a fire? Wherefore hast Thou made all men in vain? Thou, God, remember, fleeting is life.”

Why Are You Here?

The world (that is, the Devil’s world) is sucking the power of God’s Holy Spirit out of the minds and hearts of the true brethren. It is destroying those who don’t resist. What can we do?

President Reagan asked the rhetorical question of the veterans on that D-Day anniversary in 1984: “Why? Why did you do it? What impelled you to put aside the instinct for self-preservation and risk your lives to take these cliffs?”

We, too, must ask ourselves, why am I here? To what have I committed my life?

You are here because you have been personally called by Jesus Christ to know and understand the plan that God is working out here below.

What next? Read the Bible!

Find those passages in Scripture that explain God’s process of calling and salvation for those He is calling now—which means you and me. Rediscover why you are here in the true Church of God now—today! Remember that “why”! Go back and do the first works!

The Kingdom of God is our goal forever and always!