In Honor of the Faith of a Good Workman

This posting is in honor of my e-friend Richard Coombes. He is the author of the 1998 book America,  the Babylon and publisher of the Online Prophecy Magazine, The Alpha Omega Report found at http://aoreport.com/ao/.

Richard has been an encouragement to me over the years of my work studying and teaching the scriptures as they apply to the church and state in America, the Babylon. He always responded with thoroughness and humility to any questions I might have for him regarding his work. Thank you Richard for your exemplary faithfulness and hard work! On the subject of Babylon the Great, you are a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed because you have attempted with all your heart to rightly divide the word of truth regarding this controversial identity.  

This past July, Richard posted a letter at his site in which he shared his reaction to the shocking news that he has advanced cancer. I hadn’t noticed this note until the other day. I want to share it with you because it is a testimony to the reality of the Lord Jesus Christ in a human life and how a believer can be glorifying to God and edifying to others even as they are dying of cancer.

Stunning News

The Lord is Calling Me Home

 7-18-13

My Dear A-O Readers,

I have some stunning news to share.

I had not been feeling well of late, and had kinda of intimated that in some of my notes and writings. In the past 3 weeks, my skin had begun to turn a slightly yellowish cast, particularly last week. Local friends became alarmed and one friend in particular simply wouldn’t take no for an answer and took me to a local hospital emergency room on Friday, July 12. After extensive blood-testing, and a catscan, I was given a preliminary conclusion by the ER doctors that Cancer had been discovered. Specifically, “numerous tumors, one particularly large” was found on my liver. However, evidence indicated the cancer had started elsewhere. I was admitted to the hospital late that night and scheduled for reams of testing plus a sonogram on Saturday. More results showed cancer in the stomach, colon and intestines, with possible spreading to kidney and a couple of spots on a lung. This indicated that the cancer was very advanced and spreading rapidly.

The doctor’s prognosis: Terminal cancer, life expectancy of “less than 90 days, most likely.”

I remained in the hospital on Monday and Tuesday for more tests and a possible procedure that I later determined too risky for minimal rewards. I refused chemotherapy. It would do no good anyway. Instead I chose to sign up with a local hospice care for in-home assistance until such time as it becomes necessary to be moved to their hospice home, located at the same hospital I was diagnosed.

The hospital has social workers and financial aid representatives to assist those like myself who have no insurance to receive Medicare/Medicaid. They also have the ability to work with Social Security to dramatically expedite applications for disability and retirement benefits, since I am 61 and since I qualify for benefits from my late wife’s account after she went to be with the Lord in 2011.

So, bottom line: It appears all of my medical bills will be covered for me, one way or the other. This allows me to focus on making final arrangements for burial and to focus on keeping my work and research available to the public. One long time supporter has indicated an intention to form a memorial trust fund that will provide financial support to keep the website online and published.

In the meantime, I am searching for additional assistance to see if I can find someone to takeover as editor and provide news coverage and intelligence analysis. I will also assign the copyrights to “America, the Babylon” to a family member in hopes that perhaps a publishing house will offer to republish the books in softcover format as well as digitally. I doubt this will happen, as the subject is just too much of a “hot potato” for a publisher to handle.

 Needless to say, this news hit me like a ton of bricks. It comes after I posted what I believe to be my crowning article, describing how current events may unfold and develop into fulfilled prophecy – in very short order. There are still articles I want to publish yet this month. They are already drafted. I just have to digitize them here at the website. I will also continue to provide some level of commentary on late Mideast developments with intel reports as best I can as long as I am physically able to do so.

 My current situation now allows me to provide a shining example of how Christians should respond in such situations facing mortality. It is a wonderful opportunity to witness to unbelievers as to our faith and as an encouragement to fellow believers and family around us.

Already, while in the hospital, I have had numerous opportunities to share and many expressed that they felt blessed by my interaction with them. I had a field day with the nursing staff – joking around and passing out miniature Reese’s peanut butter cups as part of my evangelism.

The normal response to such news is to go into “denial” but this was not my case. My initial response was – “Wow” – I finally get to go Home.” My second response – to all others including the doctors was: To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. It doesn’t get any better than that. I feel sorry for you who are left behind.

Now you should have seen the double-take on one doctor’s face when he heard that. He didn’t understand. He was an admittedly unbeliever, agnostic/atheist and he did NOT want to hear the Gospel. Oh well, his loss, but maybe the Holy Spirit will use my remarks in the future to bring him around. It could happen, we just never know.

I wish you all could have been able to see or watch how I interacted with everyone I came in contact with. My intention was to act like the Apostle Paul would; cheerful, joyful and with subtle remarks intended to open up witnessing opportunities. There’s no better place than a hospital in which to do so.

So, there you  have it. Now you know why the recent delay.

Before I close, one final point.

 We are sooooooo close to the Rapture that – I may not die but instead, like you be transformed among the living instead of resurrected. It is a distinct possibility, given the current Mideast situation. Remember those folks who hypothesize that the Rapture will be on Rosh Hashanah? If they are right, then maybe this is the year and if so then September 4 is a date to watch for.

I would appreciate your continuing prayers of support and encouragement as I work to tie up loose ends here so that my work may remain available to all.

Sincerely in Christ,

Richard Coombes

Publisher, The Alpha-Omega Report

Richard and I don’t share the same view on the timing of the rapture, however, we share faith on the same Jesus Christ our Lord to forgive us of our sins and reserve a home on heaven with him upon our physical death on this earth. If I am ever in his shoes I hope to honor my God with like faith and testimony. 

Thank you once again for your fellowship in the gospel!