Obama’s Visit Reminded Me of This Scripture

I’m sure this incident has occurred many times with presidential visits, but for a disciple of Christ, when you see it, it might remind you of an upcoming event.

It was the end of January 2011 when word got out President Obama was coming to the Hyatt in Cambridge, Maryland, to speak at a Democratic retreat. Bush was in Cambridge at least twice when I was employed by local paper as a reporter. I got numerous pictures of security personnel and the motorcade. Since I am no longer employed with that paper, when I heard President Obama was coming to town I decided to try to get pictures I could call my very own and not be the property of a company.

However, his visit would be after sundown. The flash and power of my old digital camera leaves much to be desired, especially for night shots, but I figured I would give it a chance.

So I staked out my position at a former gas station across from the Hyatt. The station sits at the corner of MD 16 and U.S. 50. When I took Dorcas to work at the nearby shopping center, I noticed a police car at the bottom of the exit from the center to U.S. 50 and wondered why he was in that position. I was soon to find out.

There was another police car on MD 16 about 800 feet (about 244 meters) away from the intersection near my post. When I got to the gas station, there was another police car in front of me near U.S. 50. Another joined it after some time. Others showed up to await the President’s arrival.

Like Bush, he, and I guess his limo, would be flown in to the local airport on Bucktown Road. From there, he would be driven north to U.S. 50, then over to the Hyatt. Earlier I checked Bucktown Road and other locations and found numerous police city and state cars. There was a MD State Trooper situated on the north side of U.S. 50.

As we waited, not much happened. However, all of a sudden, upon radio alert the police cars situated on MD 16 and the one at the shopping exit pulled out onto the main roads with lights flashing to stop all traffic. At the same moment, the three officers at my location got out of their cars. One stood near westbound U.S. 50, the other near the eastbound lane and one in the median. After some straggling vehicles passed by, the highway fell dead.

After some time, security vehicles came westbound down both sides of U.S. 50, flood lighting various spots. After a few moments, the President’s motorcade came down the highway and entered Hyatt property. Traffic was then permitted to flow after additional security made it to our location.

Traffic was again stopped like clockwork and with all authority when the President left. Such precision and authority reminded me of this passage in Revelation 9:13-15,

 “And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, ‘Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.’ And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.”

That event shall surely happen. It does sound gruesome but we must remember that even in the book of The Revelation we see the vast love and mercy of God toward men, hoping that they will accept His offer.

All Biblical prophecy shall be fulfilled. I encourage you not to wait for the next time period, the Great Tribulation, but to surrender fully to Christ now, trusting Him for all that you need. For us that know Him, may we endeavor to do all we can to reach the lost for Him.