The late Paul Harvey Aurandt, a conservative American news commentator and talk-radio pioneer, was one of America’s most recognizable voices throughout his career.
Despite the accuracy of his news reporting, no one could have predicted that his famous words from decades ago would be prophetic, accurately describing the reality of today.
For many years now, people have been discussing the 1965 broadcast “If I Were The Devil” by Paul Harvey.
Paul Harvey had an unmistakable style that made him very popular on the radio.
He used dramatic pauses and intonations when speaking about stories as well as signature lead-ins and signoffs to make himself stand out from other broadcasters.
Since its original airing in 1965, “If I Were The Devil” has remained popular due to its relevance with current events and society as a whole.
It is often misattributed as being the same piece heard in 1964 however, there are key differences between the two versions that should be noted.
The 1996 version updated some of the content to reflect current events at that time – still over two decades old – but it remains extremely relevant today.
Not only does it provide an accurate snapshot of where our nation currently stands but also serves as a warning for us all moving forward.
It seems almost impossible for someone like Paul Harvey to predict future events in such detail however, he did offer insight into how it might have been possible with another quote: “In times like these, it’s helpful to remember that there have always been times like these.”
According to this statement, perhaps he wasn’t necessarily predicting specific events but rather offering insights into how history tends to repeat itself if we don’t take action against them soon enough or at all.
Regardless whether you believe his words are truly prophetic or not they remain powerful warnings for us all – especially considering recent circumstances in our country and around the world right now.
At a time when tensions are high across many topics such as politics, health care reform and social justice issues just to name a few – it is important now more than ever before that we heed warnings such as those given by Paul Harvey’s speech “If I Were The Devil”.
No matter your political affiliation or beliefs about prophecy – one thing is certain: listening carefully could help protect us from making mistakes we’ll regret down the road.
