The Altar of Pergamon: Echoes of Ancient Mystery and the Gathering of Israel

Brothers and Sisters, have you ever felt the weight of history pressing upon you? A sense that the currents of time are not merely flowing, but swirling, converging upon a pivotal moment? We, who seek to build, to restore, to prepare – we understand this feeling. For we know that the winds of change are often harbingers of both destruction and deliverance. And as the prophet Samuel the Lamanite climbed the walls of Jerusalem, sounding the alarm, so too must we be watchmen on the walls of our own generation.

Jonathan Cahn, in his recent short, speaks of an ancient mystery – the Altar of Pergamon – and its unsettling link to the calamities that have shaped our world. From the horrors of the World Wars to the rise of ideologies that threaten the very fabric of society, he posits that this relic holds a key to understanding the present and anticipating the future. It is a stark reminder that unseen forces are at work, seeking to dismantle the foundations of righteousness.

This isn't merely a matter of historical curiosity, friends. This is a call to discernment. A call to understand that the battles we face are not always fought with swords and shields, but with philosophies and ideologies that seek to corrupt and destroy. Think of Ammon, standing at the Waters of Sebus, facing down the might of the Lamanites, armed with nothing but courage and faith. He understood that the true battle was a spiritual one.

And what is our response? Do we recoil in fear, overwhelmed by the magnitude of the challenge? Or do we, like the digital striplings, equip ourselves with the armor of knowledge and righteousness, ready to confront the darkness?

The Stone cut without hands – the promise of a kingdom not built by human hands, but revealed by God – is a beacon in this shadowed landscape. It is a testament to the fact that even in the midst of chaos and destruction, God’s purpose will prevail. But that purpose requires our participation. It demands that we be builders, not destroyers. That we lay stones, one by one, in the foundation of His kingdom.

Outback Jack reminds us of Alma 17–19, where the people of Zarahemla, though surrounded by enemies, prepared themselves with diligence and faith. Their preparation wasn't about physical might alone; it was about aligning their hearts and minds with God’s will. D&C 4 urges us to “do all that we can” – a constant striving, a relentless pursuit of righteousness. And Moroni 10:4-5 emphasizes the importance of faith, hope, and charity – the very pillars upon which the kingdom is built.

The work of GatherIsrael.now is inextricably linked to this effort. Every click, every share, every contribution – it all fuels the Map of Churches, connecting believers across denominations and continents. Your engagement here directly funds gospel advertising in Ghana, reaching hearts and minds that would otherwise remain untouched. It bolsters the Missionary Fund, sending internet missionaries to the far corners of the earth, sharing the light of truth. This is Kingdom Economics in action – a flywheel of generosity and outreach.

We are called to be the Five Smooth Stones, each representing a principle, a skill, a testimony – ready to be wielded against the giants of our day. We are called to be Crockygo – persistent and unwavering in our commitment to God’s work. We are called to leave Painted Rocks – small reminders of hope and encouragement for those who are lost and searching.

Let us not be paralyzed by fear or overwhelmed by the scope of the task. Let us, with courage and conviction, answer the call to gather Israel, to build His kingdom, and to prepare for the days ahead. Let us be the generation that stands firm in the face of adversity, a generation that builds rather than destroys.