A Real Scary Story

A True Scary Story

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

OPENNING: - We are in the Halloween season people are decorating their houses and yards with all kinds of Halloween décor from giant skeletons and inflatable witches, giant pumpkins and ghost. I am not going to in this message go down the road about how Halloween got its roots from the Celtic festival of Samhain and how it was celebrated to end summer and begin winter or how through the years it adopted different customs from different cultures and pagan religions and transformed into what is celebrated today. If you just happened to buy some candy for the little trick or treaters that may come to your door then you realize just how expensive the candy has gotten that is enough to scare you right there, because the prices are truly monstrous.

I remember a story my Aunt Tina would tell us as little kids trying to scare us about Johnny I want my liver back and she would tell the story and get to the part where she would say Johnny I’m on the first step and after so many steps she would jump toward one of us and say Johnny I got you and grab us and we would scream and then say tell it again. However, I want to warn you of something that is not just a Scary Story but a Real-Life Scary Event that has Eternal Consequences. Something that has happened earlier this week that I truly believe has set the blueprint for and the clock to actually moving and bring things to fruition and usher in literally the End-times.

A True Scary Story!

PRAYER

SCRIPTURES: - 2 Thessalonians 2:3 “Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come the falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition”.

Something happened this past week and depending on exactly where you may be theologically, politically, or if you just live day by day, it may have had different effects on you. I had several emotions when I first heard it and as I personally got deeper and deeper into studying this week and looking at what was actually said and done then I truly began to understand why I was feeling the way I was and understanding the sense of wonderment deep inside.

On Monday October 13, 2025, a fragile ceasefire was set in place between Israel and Hamas after a US-brokered agreement came into effect on October 10, 2025. Understand there is no mention of a ceasefire in the Bible leading to peace in the middle east and many prophecy prognosticators will try to always fit every little thing into some kind of Biblical prophecy about the End-Times and the 2nd Coming of Jesus. However, there was a difference about this one, there was a sense of urgency that hit deep inside and said pay close attention and listen to the words that are being said and watch the actions that are being put in place. So, I began to listen with great intensity to the words that were being spoken and looking at things that were being put in place and noticed this was at least a blueprint for what is to come if not the actual fulfillment of scripture. Yes, the hostages are being released, and the remains of the ones deceased are being returned to their families and that is awesome; however, we need to pay close attention to other things as well.

Understand that lasting peace requires for righteousness and justice for all people rather Israeli, and Palestinian or Ukrainian and Russian, Black and White, or whoever the conflict is between. Individual and collective dignity must be honored, mutual respect must be a foundational principle, and any systems that violate the natural human rights or perpetrate inequality must be dismantled. There must be true repentance and turn completely from the actions previously done and head in a new direction. True Repentance requires a complete change of mind, heart, and direction, it is more than just feeling sorry, but making and decisive decision of change and accepting responsibility for sin and wrong doings.

Understand there is no possible way political deals alone will ever be sufficient and able to offer lasting peace because True Peace is the result of righteousness and justice Psalm 85:10 “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other”. We can pray for peace and advocate for humanitarian aid but until repentance is truly done there will never be true and everlasting eternal peace.

Trump said, “we are on the verge of eternal peace in the middle east”. Although there has been attempts of making peace in the middle east for years and different presidents have had different agreements this one seemed different. This felt like more than just politics it had a sense of prophecy being played out right in front of us.