At last I managed to get the message I once posted on the ABSA memo from someone at ABSA who still had the message saved on her computer's hard-drive. Here is the message which was posted on 04 August 1997 on the ABSA Bank Network. (By then, this bank had more than 30 000 employees)
End-of-World
The end of the world is near. IT SOUNDS LIKE A JOKE, YET IT IS SO
REAL. Moreover, the urgency of this warning or message proves a point
that the God of love wants everyone to know about this and be saved.
However, to those who do not want to follow this, this message
comes as a witness so that they may not say, 'We have not been told.'
As the Bible puts it: "THIS GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM SHALL BE PREACHED
IN ALL THE WORLD FOR A WITNESS UNTO ALL NATIONS; AND THEN SHALL THE
END COME." (Matthew 24:14)
God is about to bring this sinful world to an end and only those
who believe in Jesus and obey His commandments are going to be saved.
They are going to be taken to the new earth.
The Bible describes this new earth as follows:
"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men and He will dwell with
them, and they shall be His people and God Himself shall be with them
and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;
"and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are
passed away." (Revelation 21:3,4)
The prophet who wrote these words was told by God (as we read
further on in Revelation 21:5) to write these words, for these words
are true and faithful."
CONCLUSION
As you discuss this that you have read today with friends and
family members, bear in mind that - that as well is a step towards
bringing this world to an end. Remember: "The preaching of the
gospel to the world and then shall the end come." (Matthew 24:14)
What if this appears in some publication either through me or
through one or more of the people who are reading this memo like you
are doing now?
What about followers of the Bible who would want to support this by
making print outs and distributing this memo outside ABSA?
SAPPI, the paper company, will rejoice, but SAPPI will (through
this memo) be acting as some means to bring this world and itself to
an end.
If you were able to read this from the beginning up to this end,
you have heard the gospel. Think of others in the other parts of the
world who are getting this through other Bible followers.
What if this subject appears in the news headlines in the near
future....
Therefore, whether you are aware of it or not, the end of the world
is near.
If this be your first time to hear about the end of the world, See
yourself as among the last to receive this gospel because Jesus, who
said these words, said them more than 1900 years ago. Moreover, Bible
followers have been preaching this gospel for all these years because
their mission is: "The Spreading of the Gospel to the Whole World."
The reason for the delay is found in the Bible in 2 Peter 3:9,10 -
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance.
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in
which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements
shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are
therein shall be burned up."
IF YOU WANT TO HEAR MORE ON THIS SUBJECT: MEMO ME - ABPM053
OR PHONE ME AT (011)350-5296 AND ASK FOR PERCY
Well, that's the end of the message. I began getting responses from
different people of which I was the only one having the copies. Now
that I don't work at ABSA, I cannot access them anymore. However, I
will just relate a few of the responses I got.
I got responses like: "I am a Non-Christian and I am offended by
the message you posted on the network. Please remove your message
from the network immediately."
Some sent me rules on how to use the ABSA network which I was
violating.
Some Christians kept on encouraging me. I got invitations to come
and present this topic at evening meetings in Pretoria which I was
unable to attend because of transport problems. (It now dawns to my
mind that I still have God's errands which I need attend to.)
However, to simply point out to you how God works, few days later I
was called for an interview as an Information Technology journalist
(to write only on IT). I then sent this message to this company as a
sample of my writing. My current manager has a copy of this message.
I had to put a month's notice to leave ABSA the end of the very same
month of August 1997. I started here on 01 October 1997.
Last night, 24 May 1998, as the evangelist, Fitz Henry, was calling
sin by its right name, I wished I was a journalist for the Star so I
could write on the second coming of Christ, quote men such as Fitz
Henry and also preach the gospel through the newspaper. I believe God
can do miracles. This morning, 25 May 1998, I sent my CV to the Star.
The desire has been there before, however, last night, it became more
forceful.
We will make it if we pray.
Thanks
Yours in Christ
Mashudu Percy Madaba