THE HOUR CONTAINS 60 MINUTES and the minute contains 60 seconds, so the hour here is referring to the time of the doom or destruction of a people, a nation and a world.

This people is referred to in the book of Revelation under the number 666. So, it is the time of the end of a world ruled by those whom the prophets referred to as "Beast". The Honorable Elijah Muhammad has taught us that when we use the word beast to describe a human being that has no respect for moral law or righteous principles. We are referring to a human being who functions according to his appetite and his power to satisfy his appetite.

The governments of the world are referred to as four great beasts. One of these beasts, according to the prophet Daniel, had three ribs of a man in his mouth. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad referred to this young lion or beast as a new government or people who had swallowed another people. This is referring to America who has held tightly in her grip the Black man and woman for three centuries as a servitude slave and now a little over 100 years as a free slave.

Again, the Bible teaches that the people of Allah (God) had the mark of the beast in their foreheads and in their hands. We, Black people of America, in the Western Hemisphere, have been taught and trained by the open enemies of our father. We are marked by their way of thinking and our hands are marked by the actions that flow from their way of thinking. We, therefore, have become beast-like in our actions within our own communities. We have turned on one another in a very savage and vicious way.

Murder, mayhem and riotous living are the order of the day in America, particularly in the Black community. We have become so evil in our thoughts and actions that even though we recognize the good contained in the word of Allah (God) when we hear it, we appear powerless or unwilling to act on the principles of truth that we know. We are not heeding any righteous teaching. Certainly, the government of America is not taking heed to the warning of Allah (God); therefore, it will take the shock of the hour to force all of us to our knees like the ox that is being placed under burden.

The Holy Qur�an teaches us that the very day that we see what Allah (God) would bring and is bringing upon America and the world, every woman who is pregnant will lay her burden down and every woman nursing her child will forget her baby and we will see men as though they are drunken, but yet they will not be drunken, but the chastisement of Allah (God) will be severe.

The Arabic word used to describe the "shock of the Hour" is "Zalzala," which means, originally, "he put him in a state of commotion or agitation," or he cast terror into his heart by means of war, trial, difficulty and affliction." The Shock of the Hour.

The Honorable Elijah Muhammad warned us that we would see great fighting in the streets of America. White against white. Black against Black. White against Black. Black against white.

As we look at what is happening in the new nations that have been formed since the break-up of the Soviet Union, we see signs of what will happen in the streets of America. As we see civil strife taking place in many of the Nations in Asia, Africa and Latin America we see signs of what will take place in the cities and streets of America. These events will terrorize the people, bringing about the shock of the hour. If we do not have light within ourselves, we will not be able to walk in this very dark hour that will get even darker.

The prophets have exclaimed that if it were not for the sake of Allah�s elect, that He shortened the days of affliction, no soul would be left alive. We are quickly approaching such time.

THE PLANS OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT against the Muslims in the United States is bringing on this grievous hour. The government of the United States of America is so anxious to see the destruction of the Muslims, particularly the Muslim followers of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, under my Leadership, that they have crafted mighty plans of destruction against us, and were it not for the fact that Allah (God) is present with us in the Person of Master Fard Muhammad, the Great Mahdi, their plans would be successful, but, as David the Psalmist prayed that the wicked would be caught in their own traps and snared in their own devices, our prayer today is the same.

I say to the Muslim community, do not allow this wicked enemy of Islam to put us against each other because of our theological differences, which Allah promises that He will settle Himself. The enemy wishes to strike a blow against Islam here in America and throughout the earth. We must not aid him in his evil plans against us.

In future articles I will give more details of their wicked planning against us.

To the Muslim followers of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, hold fast to Allah. He promised to defend us against the attacks of our enemies. He said that the battle is with Him. He delights in defending us against our well armed enemies. Let us put our trust completely in Him and fight with those who fight with us.

Surely the Shock of the Hour is a grievous thing. We will be tested by difficulties and perhaps even war, but we are already assured the victory.