Thursday, June 30, 2011

A Sinful World Waxing Worse And Worse!



Volume XXX Issue VII July 2011
Last Trumpet Ministries, PO Box 806, Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Fax: 920-887-2626 Internet: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org/



A Sinful World Waxing Worse And Worse!


"Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."

Matthew 24:23-27

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."


Matthew 7:21-23

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

II Timothy 3:12-13


In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will once again examine the progression of events leading us ever closer to the end of this age that we now live in. As we the children of God obey the Biblical command to watch and pray, we need not look far to see the flood of evil that has engulfed the majority of this erstwhile beautiful planet. Satan's footprints are everywhere as they are manifested in the form of moral depravity, wars and uprisings, false religions, oppressive autocratic political regimes, and a glut of other problems too voluminous to list in this newsletter. As Christians, we understand that the situation in this world will continue to deteriorate until the return of our Saviour, for as Paul wrote in II Timothy 3:13, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." We now live in a time when Satan is working like mad in an attempt to overtake the entire world to set up his own devilish one world government. He is in panic mode and "raising hell," so to speak, because as a portion of Revelation 12:12 tells us, "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." Satan only has a short time left to work his plan, and we know that ultimately he will fail to accomplish what he has set out to do.

Unfortunately, the window of opportunity for sinners to repent is also closing and may soon be completely shut. If you have not yet repented of your sins and given your heart to God, I encourage you to do so now. As the prophet Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 55:6-7, "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

Strange Religion In The Last Days!

In Matthew 24 Jesus warned us regarding many of the conditions we would face in the last days. Our Saviour spoke of wars and rumours of wars, nations rising against nations and kingdoms against kingdoms, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. I have covered many of these topics in-depth in earlier issues of the Last Trumpet Newsletter. Additionally, Matthew 24 also warns us that many false prophets would rise up in the last days, and there would be some who would even claim to be Jesus Christ. We are truly living in the days in which many forms of strange religion are rising up.

For the last several months, one man who has received a lot of attention in the media and in the court of public opinion is 89 year-old radio personality Harold Camping. Mr. Camping predicted that the rapture would occur on May 21, 2011, and because of his teachings, many of his followers sold their possessions and spent all that they had in an effort to sound the alarm. May 21st has come and gone, and unfortunately, many of Mr. Camping's biggest supporters are now broke and penniless. One news article, published on May 7, 2011, cited a Camping follower as saying, "We budgeted everything so that, on May 21, we won't have anything left." (1) This is very sad and my heart goes out to those who were deceived by these false teachings. As for Mr. Camping, he remains unrepentant and now insists that the world will be completely destroyed on October 21, 2011. (2) Interestingly enough, Camping suffered a stroke on June 9, 2011. For the most part, he seems to be doing okay although his speech is slurred. (3) Perhaps this is God's way of warning the man to keep quiet.

Harold Camping was not the first man to predict a date for judgment day, and it is unlikely that he will be the last. Nevertheless, if Jesus had wanted us to know the date of His return, He would have told us. The Bible never gives us that information because it is not information we need to know, and it could be detrimental to our spiritual health if we did know. If given a date, many Christians would let their guard down, and possibly even fall into sin. Matthew 25:13 tells us, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." Rather than attempt to decipher secret codes in the Bible or use numerology to try and discern the day of our Saviour's return as Mr. Camping had done, we should be in a state of constant readiness to meet our God.

To yet indicate that we are living in the last days, there is now a man in Australia who is claiming to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. However, the man is actually Alan John Miller, and his wife, who claims to be the reincarnation of Mary Magdalene, is actually a woman named Mary Suzanne Lock. The couple have established their "church" near Kingaroy in Queensland, Australia. The surrounding property has been purchased by an estimated thirty to forty followers that Miller has drawn in over the years. (4) On his website, Mr. Miller states, "Just a little over 2000 years ago, we arrived on Earth for the first time. Because of my personal desire and passion for God, as I grew, I recognized not only that I was the Messiah that was foretold by ancient prophets, but also that I was in the process designed by God that all humans could follow if they so desired." (5) A report by the Daily Mail quotes Miller as saying, "There's probably a million people who say they're Jesus and most of them are in asylums. But one of us has to be. How do I know I am? Because I remember everything about my life." (6)

Jesus warned us that men such as Alan John Miller would arise. In Matthew 24:24-26 we read, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not." The existence of false christs is another fulfillment of prophecy and another sign of the time we live in.

Most of us have probably heard of the major religions in the world today. There is Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and many others. Yet, what may be the strangest religion in this modern era is what you might call the Cult of Apple. In a BBC documentary entitled "Secrets of the Superbrands," reporters had the editor of an Apple publication undergo an MRI. The reporters discovered that when the man was looking at Apple products the areas in his brain that became active were usually the same areas of the human brain which were active during religious devotion. The documentary also noted that the opening of an Apple store in London was "more like an evangelical prayer meeting than a chance to buy a phone or laptop" with Apple fanatics "jumping up and down, clapping and shouting." (7)

Although many people would find the notion that Apple is a religion to be a bit far-fetched, the devotion some give to Apple products is nothing short of shocking. A news story that began circulating in early June tells of how a 17 year-old boy in China was so desperate to obtain an iPad 2 (Apple's new tablet computer) that he sold one of his kidneys on the black market in order to acquire the funds to do so. "I wanted to buy an iPad 2, but I didn't have the money. When I surfed the Internet I found an advert posted online by an agent saying they were able to buy a kidney," the boy said. (8)

There is nothing wrong with using Apple products if it is done with the right mindset. I own a few of Apple's devices myself. However, it is important that we do not allow fanaticism to overtake our hearts, whether it be for electronics, movies, television, sports teams, or anything else. As Christians we need to be devoted to God, not to our iPads, iPods, or laptop computers.

Persecution Of Christians - Intensifying In The Last Days!

Another condition of the end times that our Saviour warned us of is prevalent persecution of the Christian people. In Matthew 24:9 we read, "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake." Although we still enjoy a fair amount of religious freedom in the United States today, Christians around the world are being persecuted every day. Many of the stories I have been finding through various news sources are utterly horrifying.

The recent revolution in Egypt, which resulted in the ouster of former president Hosni Mubarak, was hailed by many as a great victory for democracy. Unfortunately, the ensuing power vacuum has allowed a hard-line Islamic element to rise up and seize control. The oppressive new government, which is operated by the military of that country, has arrested an estimated 7000 people since it took power. (9) The Egyptian authorities are especially hostile to Christians, and they do very little, if anything, to protect them from harm's way. In fact, those in positions of authority often assist in persecuting those who follow Christ.

One such example of persecution occurred in January 2011 when an off-duty police officer became enraged at the presence of several Christians on a train bound for Cairo. The police officer shot and killed a 71 year-old Christian man while wounding the man's wife and four other people. (10) Barry Rubin, the director of Global Research in International Affairs, had this to say about the attack, "The critical factor is that [the shooter] was on his way to work, and so it wasn't a planned thing. If it was a planned thing he would have done it some evening or sometime. I think he was overcome with rage and hatred." (11) Daniel Pipes, the director of the Middle East Forum, said of the shooter: "He is a jihadist and one who doesn't want to have any Christian presence in Egypt. He believes that Egypt should be a completely Muslim country." (12)

Sadly, the hostility toward Christians extends far beyond the borders of Egypt. In May 2011, an attack on a Christian village in Nigeria left sixteen people dead. "There was an attack on Kurum village by unknown gunmen and from reports reaching me 16 people have been killed and 20 houses burned in the attack," stated Amama Abakasanga, commissioner of the Bauchi state police. (13)

Another attack occurred in April 2011 in the African country of Somalia when two Muslim extremists brutally murdered a 21 year-old man who had recently converted to Christianity. The young man was reportedly dragged from his house and then shot several times. After killing the Christian man, the Islamic militants shouted, "Allahu Akbar [God is greater]" and fled the scene. (14)

The Chinese government is also very hostile to Christianity, and in April 2011 they arrested and detained approximately fifty Christians for holding an unregistered church gathering. Although China claims to allow Christian worship in its country, adherents are only allowed to attend church services approved and controlled by the state. Remarkably, Christianity is flourishing in China despite persecution from the government. There are an estimated sixty million Chinese Christians who worship in unregistered "house" churches, which the oppressive communist regime deems to be illegal. (15)

In the United States we are blessed to have easy access to our Bibles and to be able to hold church services without the government breaking down the door. However, the Gospel is not allowed to flow quite as freely as it used to in America. It is not uncommon to hear of street preachers being arrested for "disturbing the peace" or Christians being arrested for "hate speech" if they try to witness to a homosexual. I thank God for the opportunities we do have to spread the Gospel, and yet I understand that we may not always be able to do so. We at Last Trumpet Ministries feel the urgency of the time in which we live, and it is for that reason we are more determined than ever to work as hard as we possibly can for the cause of God's Kingdom.

American Freedom Trampled Underfoot!

Each month there are several hundred news stories that come across my desk. Invariably, I find that many of these stories are appalling and indicate that the erosion of our privacy, freedom, and rights as American citizens is occurring at an ever-increasing and alarming pace.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI, is in the process of revising their manual known as the Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide in an effort to give their agents more leeway to conduct investigations. Under the new rules, the agents need no firm evidence, probable cause, or even a hint of suspicion to search database records, follow Americans with surveillance teams, or search through a person's trash. The new regulations also loosen the requirements necessary to administer lie detector tests. (16)

Just weeks before the FBI announced their new regulations, Barack Obama signed an extension for certain controversial portions of the Patriot Act which are considered so intrusive that they must be renewed every four years. (The majority of the Patriot Act is a permanent part of United States' law.) Regarding the Patriot Act, Obama stated, "It's an important tool for us to continue dealing with an ongoing terrorist threat." (17) Other figures in Washington, however, were far from delighted. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) lamented over his decision to vote in favor of the Patriot Act in 2001, saying, "I soon realized it gave too much power to the government without enough judicial and congressional oversight." (18)

It is no longer unusual to hear of law enforcement officers breaking down the doors of innocent Americans. In fact, a recent incident took place in Stockton California, wherein a team of agents, acting on the behalf of the Department of Education, broke down the door of a man's home, dragged him out of his house, and locked him in a hot patrol car for six hours after confronting him about his estranged wife's unpaid college loans. (19)

Another outrageous incident occurred in Vernal, Utah, on May 27, 2011 when a man was given a citation after attempting to pay a disputed $25 bill at a clinic with 2500 pennies. The police charged the man with "disorderly conduct." (20)

If you ever spend time in the city of Chicago, there is a good chance Big Brother will be watching you. The city has a network of over 10,000 surveillance cameras, and plans are underway to add more. Of the surveillance expansion plans, Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel stated, "Work's been done. We should complete it because it's identified as important in the Homeland Security reports. The camera network is part of security and safety for the city." (21)

Have The Scientists Gone Mad?

Throughout the course of history, there have always been scientists who were known to be a little eccentric. However, the projects that many scientists are now working on today go beyond minor eccentricities but rather redefine the realm of insanity. Have the scientists gone mad?

Scientists have taken light-emitting proteins from jellyfish and merged them with a single human cell to create what one news report called a "living, biological laser." "This is the first time that we have used biological materials to build a laser and generate light from something that is living," said Seok-Hyun Yun, an optical physicist at Harvard Medical School. (22)

A new system known as Nutrismart, which would allow edible RFID tags to be embedded in food, is being developed. The scientists claim the system would be useful for tracking nutrition and food allergies, thus making it easier for people to keep a record of what they eat. (23)

Scientists in China have produced a herd of genetically modified cows that produce milk with the same properties as human milk. Professor Li Ning, the project's director and lead researcher stated, "The genetically modified cow milk is 80 percent the same as human breast milk. Our modified cow milk contains several major properties of human milk, in particular proteins and antibodies which we believe are good for our health and able to improve our immune system." (24)

AgResearch in New Zealand has produced genetically engineered transgender goats, which they are calling goys. The goats, which are said to be females in sterile male bodies, will be induced into milking by the researchers in charge of the project. (25)

This next story is so disgusting that I am reluctant to even include it in this section. It is hard to read this without feeling a little nauseous, and for that I apologize in advance. A Japanese researcher by the name of Mitsuyuki Ikeda has developed a synthetic meat product made from the proteins found in "sewage mud," or in other words, human waste. "I admit that few people would be keen to eat it knowing it's made of human excrement. As far as the cost is concerned, because at the moment it includes the cost of research, our artificial meat is 10 or 20 times more expensive than normal meat. But once the research is complete and it's put on the market, we'll probably be able to price it at roughly the same level as normal meat," said Ikeda in an interview. (26)

A Worldwide Food Supply In Crisis!

One thing every man, woman, and child has in common in this world is that they all must eat. Yet, we find in this modern age when new technology is supposed to be making our food safer and more abundant that it is actually becoming more difficult to obtain wholesome, nutritious, and affordable food. In fact, a report published by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD, states that they expect the price of food to continue to rise over the next ten years. "People are going to be forced, either to literally eat less, or find other sources of income," said Angel Gurria, the head of OECD. (27) Jim Borel, the executive vice president at DuPont had this to say, "People are starting to recognize that food demand is outstripping supply. If the world doesn't figure out how to effectively deal with this challenge, then the results are ugly." (28)

Much of the food that is available to consumers is actually unsafe for consumption. It was recently discovered that a considerable amount of the food in China is tainted, including diseased pigs that were used to make bacon; noodles made from a mixture of corn, ink, and paraffin; rice contaminated with heavy metals; sausages made of rotten meat and fertilizer; and pork that is so full of bacteria that it glows a strange blue color in the dark. (29)

In Germany, a breakout of a new strain of E.coli bacteria has sickened 3408 people and killed 39 more as of June 18, 2011. (30) The origin of this tenacious new strain of E.coli is a mystery, which officials in Germany are having a difficult time solving. At first they thought tainted lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes were the culprits. After that they turned their suspicion to sprouts of mung beans, broccoli, peas, chickpeas, garlic, lentils, and radishes. Meanwhile the scare has left many Europeans afraid to consume vegetables, particularly if it happens to be organic. Upon learning that many of the suspected crops were grown on organic farms, a German man was quoted as saying, "It's a bit scary all of this, especially that it is coming from an organic place. No more organic food for me for now." (31)

Here let it be noted that a report by The Atlantic, claims the new strain of E.coli, which is known as O104:H4, contains genetic material from various strains of E.coli as well as DNA sequences from plague bacteria. (32) When we consider all of the facts we know regarding this deadly new strain, which some reports called the worst outbreak of E.coli ever, I cannot help but wonder if it was created in a lab somewhere.

Corn prices in the United States have continued to rise, and the cost of a bushel of corn is now more than double what it was just a year ago. Stockpiles are also at levels of about half of what officials would like them to be, which is partially due to the flooding which occurred earlier in the year and destroyed crops in many areas. (33) Meanwhile, other areas of the United States have been suffering from severe drought, and this has threatened our nation's supply of wheat. Inventories of wheat are expected to drop 8.8 percent with a price increase as high as 20 percent by the end of 2011. Other regions of the world, such as China, parts of Europe, the Ukraine, and Russia have also had recent difficulties growing wheat. Dan Basse, president of AgResource Co, was quoted as saying, "In 32 years, I've never seen so many problems in so many places. We're concerned about the world story now." (34)

The world's supply of wheat also faces another challenge from a strain of fungus called Ug99. The fungus is referred to as wheat rust, and once it is attached to a wheat crop, the plants become covered in reddish brown blisters, which renders them useless. Ug99 was first discovered in Uganda in 1999. Since that time it has spread to all of the southern and eastern regions of Africa, and scientists are growing more concerned that it may reach other areas of the world, such as Pakistan, India, Australia, or even the Americas. Because of the destructive potential of Ug99, researchers are frantically working to develop new varieties of wheat which are resistant to the fungus. (35)

Earth - Battered And Beaten By Natural Disasters!

According to a report by the International Displacement Monitoring Center, 2010 was the most devastating year ever recorded with 42 million people being forced to flee their homes because of natural disasters. (36) The trend has continued in 2011 with major earthquakes in various regions of the world, flooding in several countries, droughts, volcano eruptions in Chile and other places, and a shocking number of storms and tornadoes in the United States. In fact, experts are now claiming that April 2011 was unlike any month in the history of America. "While similar extremes have occurred throughout modern American history, never before have they occurred in a single month," says the report published by the National Climatic Data Center. (37)

The extreme weather was not limited to the month of April, however. On May 22, 2011, one of the deadliest tornadoes ever recorded occurred in Joplin, Missouri. This powerful storm cut a path of destruction nearly fourteen miles long, and tragically, at least 153 people lost their lives. (38) Other areas of the United States are still suffering the consequences of major flooding, and much of the southwestern United States is still enduring major drought. Unfortunately, the severe drought has presented ideal conditions for wildfires, and several such fires were started in June 2011. The Wallow fire in eastern Arizona is the largest the state has ever seen with 773 square miles, or 495,016 acres, now destroyed. As of this writing, there are more than 4,600 firefighters attempting to contain the blaze. (39)

There are many other examples of disasters around the world that could be discussed, such as the volcano in Chile, which has strewn ash all the way across the Pacific Ocean and grounded flights in Australia; (40) the earthquakes and aftershocks in Christchurch, New Zealand, which have frustrated city residents to the point that many wish to leave the area altogether; (41) and the flooding in China, which has forced over 555,000 people in seven provinces to evacuate their homes and killed over 100 more. (42) It certainly seems that natural disasters and extreme weather only are intensifying in these last days, and that trend will likely continue as we move through time and get closer to the coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

A Gloomy Outlook For The Economy!

Experts and the average American people have taken on a stark, gloomy tone regarding the economy in recent weeks. According to a new survey by a research company known as AlixPartners, 61 percent of respondents believe that they will not be able to return to their pre-recession lifestyles until 2014 or later, while 10 percent of respondents believe that they will never recover from the recession. (43) Meanwhile, the Misery Index, which combines unemployment and inflation data to measure the level of misery in the United States is now at a 28 year high. (44) On June 5, 2011, CBS News published a story claiming that chronic employment is now worse than it was during the Great Depression. The report says that 6.2 million Americans, which represents 45.1 percent of the unemployed in the United States, have now been unemployed for more than six months. (45)

The situation here in the United States could deteriorate quickly if the government begins defaulting on its debt. Many experts, such as Jim Rogers, chief executive at Rogers Holdings, believe the United States may soon be facing a crisis worse than the 2008 recession. (46) There is so much more that could be written about the economy, but unfortunately I am out of space in this issue. What I can tell you is that we need Jesus more than ever to protect us from the storms of this life. We know from our Bible that the situation here on earth will only grow progressively worse as we move closer to our Saviour's coming, but we also know that He will watch over us and protect us if we put our trust in Him.

In closing, I wish to thank all of you who support this ministry. We appreciate each and every one of our readers, and we will continue to publish this newsletter as long as the Lord allows us to do so. I know that much of the subject matter discussed is very heavy and sometimes hard to bear, but I firmly believe that we need to continue to keep ourselves and our fellow Christians apprised of the current events happening in these trying times as we watch and pray. If you have any prayer requests, small or great, please feel welcome to send them our way, either through postal mail or the email address listed below. Our team of intercessors will give each request individual attention. We know that our God answers prayer, and we have seen the results of prayer time and time again. Grace and peace be unto you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.


Samuel David Meyer

Acknowledgements

01. National Public Radio, May 7, 2011, By Barbara Hagerty, http://npr.org.
02. Christian Post, May 31, 2011, By Elena Garcia, http://christianpost.com.
03. CBS News, June 13, 2011, By David S. Morgan, http://cbsnews.com.
04. The Daily Mail, May 18, 2011, By Daily Mail Reporter, http://dailymail.co.uk.
05. AOL News, May 16, 2011, By AOL News, http://weirdnews.aol.com.
06. The Daily Mail, May 18, 2011, By Daily Mail Reporter, http://dailymail.co.uk.
07. South Florida Sun-Sentinel, May 23, 2011, By Sun Sentinel Staff, http://sun-sentinel.com.
08. The Daily Mail, June 2, 2011, By Daily Mail Reporter, http://dailymail.co.uk.
09. National Public Radio, June 14, 2011, By Eric Westervelt, http://npr.org.
10. Associated Press, January 11, 2011, By Hamza Hendawi, Cairo, Egypt.
11. WorldNetDaily, May 10, 2011, By WorldNetDaily, http://wnd.com.
12. Ibid.
13. AFP, May 6, 2011, By AFP, Kano, Nigeria.
14. Christian Post, April 21, 2011, By Compass Direct News, http://christianpost.com, Nairobi, Kenya.
15. The Telegraph, April 18, 2011, By The Telegraph, http://telegraph.co.uk.
16. The New York Times, June 12, 2011, By Charlie Savage, Washington, D.C.
17. Associated Press, May 27, 2011, By Jim Abrams, Washington, D.C.
18. Ibid.
19. NewsOne, June 10, 2011, By NewsOne Staff, http://newsone.com.
20. Associated Press, June 5, 2011, By Associated Press, Vernal, Utah.
21. Chicago Sun Times, June 15, 2011, By Fran Spielman, http://suntimes.com.
22. Fox News, June 13, 2011, By Fox News, http://foxnews.com.
23. Dvice, June 6, 2011, By Dvice, http://dvice.com.
24. Reuters News Service, June 16, 2011, By Haze Fan, Beijing, China.
25. Scoop Independent News, June 12, 2011, By Scoop Staff, http://scoop.co.nz.
26. Natural News, June 16, 2011, By Ethan A. Huff, http://naturalnews.com.
27. The Telegraph, June 18, 2011, By Emma Rowley, http://telegraph.co.uk.
28. Reuters News Service, June 7, 2011, By Carey Gillam, Kansas City, Missouri.
29. Los Angeles Times, April 29, 2011, By David Pierson, http://latimes.com.
30. Associated Press, June 17, 2011, By Kirsten Grieshaber, Berlin, Germany.
31. Associated Press, June 5, 2011, By Kirsten Grieshaber and Tomislav Skaro, Hamburg, Germany.
32. The Atlantic, May 31, 2011, By Adam Martin, http://theatlantic.com.
33. Associated Press, June 15, 2011, By Michael J. Crumb, Des Moines, Iowa.
34. The Wichita Eagle, June 6, 2011, By Beccy Tanner, http://kansas.com.
35. CBS News, June 10, 2011, By CBS News, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
36. The Japan Times, June 19, 2011, By The Japan Times, http://japantimes.co.jp.
37. MSNBC, June 15, 2011, By Dave Martin, Washinton, D.C.
38. CNN News Blog, June 13, 2011, By CNN, http://cnn.com.
39. The Washington Post, June 17, 2011, By Associated Press, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
40. Associated Press, June 14, 2011, By Sarah DiLorenzo, Sydney, Australia.
41. Stuff.co.nz, June 19, 2011, By Iain McGregor, http://stuff.co.nz.
42. Reuters News Service, June 17, 2011, By Royston Chan, Zhuji, China.
43. CNBC, June 3, 2011, By Christine Cheddar Berk, http://cnbc.com.
44. CNBC, June 17, 2011, By Jeff Cox, http://cnbc.com.
45. CBS News, June 5, 2011, By Ben Tracy, http://cbsnews.com.
46. CNBC, June 8, 2011, By Margo D. Beller, http://cnbc.com.

Special Note: A new tribute website for Pastor David J. Meyer can now be accessed at http://pastormeyer.org.

Comments regarding this newsletter or topic suggestions may be submitted to editor@lasttrumpetnewsletter.org.
If you would like to submit a prayer request, you may send email to prayer@ltmmail.org or mail it to our postal address.

Colbert gets conditional OK on campaign finance

FEC gives conditional OK to Stephen Colbert on using TV show for political fundraising



Comedian Stephen Colbert grabs cash money from a supporter as he climbs into a vehicle to depart the Federal Election Commission in Washington, Thursday, June 30, 2011, after the FEC granted his request to form a Political Action Committee. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)


Andrew Miga, Associated Press, On Thursday June 30, 2011, 4:18 pm EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Election Commission said Thursday that comedian Stephen Colbert can use his TV show's resources to boost his political action committee, but he must disclose some major expenses as in-kind contributions from the show's corporate owners.

Colbert played it straight during his appearance before the commission, letting his attorney do most of the talking while saving his trademark quips for a crowd that gathered outside the commission building after the meeting.

"I don't accept the status quo," he told the crowd, brandishing a portable credit card processing machine. "I do accept Visa, MasterCard or American Express."

Many in the crowd handed Colbert their credit cards or dollar bills as contributions.

Asked what point he was trying to make about corporate America, Colbert did not miss a beat.

"None," he quipped. "I want their money."

Colbert, who plays a conservative TV pundit on "The Colbert Report," is forming Colbert Super PAC, a type of political action committee that will allow him to raise unlimited amounts of money from corporations, unions and individuals. The money will be used to support or oppose candidates in the 2012 elections through independent expenditures such as TV ads.

Colbert has not indicated what kinds of candidates he might support.

The FEC decision comes amid a broader erosion of campaign finance regulations in the wake of recent court rulings and with Republicans on the Federal Election Commission and elsewhere pushing for a rollback to give corporations and other wealthy donors stronger sway in financing campaigns.

Colbert had asked the commission for a "media exemption" to allow him to use his show's airtime, staff and other resources for his political action committee without having to publicly disclose them as in-kind contributions from Comedy Central's parent company, Viacom Inc.

In-kind contributions are given as goods or services rather than money.

Colbert has said those undisclosed contributions could include the use of his show's staff to create TV advertisements about candidates that would air as paid commercials on other shows and networks.

The commission ruled 5-1 that he would have to publicly disclose as in-kind contributions from Viacom any ads produced by the show for Colbert Super PAC that air on other shows or networks. He also would have to disclose administrative costs that his show covers for Colbert Super PAC.

The Colbert ruling eclipsed a lesser-noticed decision by the Federal Election Commission Thursday that could also have a significant impact on the 2012 elections.

The commission said candidates and party officials may solicit contributions for super PACs, but those contributions could not exceed the $5,000 limit for donations that applies to traditional political action committees.

Some campaign watchdog groups had feared the commission might permit candidates and party officials to solicit unlimited contributions, opening yet another door to big-ticket donations.

While Colbert delights in lampooning politicians on his Comedy Central show, he raised some serious issues about public disclosure of corporate campaign contributions before the Federal Election Commission.

"Stephen Colbert is a funny man, but he asked a legitimate question and received a serious answer," FEC Chairwoman Cynthia Bauerly said. "The opinion adopted today does not give him everything he asked for, but it appropriately applies the press exemption consistent with past Commission and court precedent. "

Campaign finance watchdog groups also had warned that a favorable ruling for Colbert could spur many more undisclosed contributions to political figures who are TV hosts or commentators and who could opt to create their own super PACs to take advantage of any new loopholes.

The groups cited politicians such Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum who already have traditional political action committees and are either working now, or have worked, as TV hosts or commentators.

The Campaign Legal Center, one of the watchdog groups, called the commission's ruling on Colbert "a victory for disclosure" that prevents new loopholes.

"The FEC's advisory opinion will give Mr. Colbert the freedom to engage in legitimate political commentary and comedy with the support of Viacom, but will also ensure that the public is informed about the corporate money his PAC receives," said Tara Malloy of the Campaign Legal Center.

"The Colbert Report" has used satire to shine a light on campaign finance rules following the Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court that helped pave the way for super PACs. Campaign finance reform advocates complained the ruling gave wealthy donors, particularly companies and unions, considerably more sway in politics.

Super PACs can accept unlimited contributions from corporations, labor unions or individuals, unlike candidates or traditional political action committees. Super PACs cannot contribute directly to candidates, however.

Colbert has said any ads for Colbert Super PAC would not be coordinated with any candidate or party.

Source
.

..Glenn Beck signs off from Fox News: ‘This show has become a movement; it doesn’t belong on TV’

By Dylan Stableford The Cutline – 4 hrs ago
..


GBTV/Mercury Radio Arts

Glenn Beck began his final show on Fox News where he'll be for the foreseeable future: outside the building--and not on TV.

"We've done some amazing things together," Beck, flanked by at least one bodyguard, told viewers as he showed them the view of the set from the street, noting the bulletproof glass that was installed "for a myriad of reasons."

Beck then rolled a four-minute highlight reel of his greatest hits spanning his two-and-a-half years on the air: Acorn, the 9/12 Project, his Restoring Honor rally in Washington, D.C., last summer. (The montage also included testimonials from viewers found on the street.)

"It's been an amazing ride," he said backstage, surrounded by some of the show's familiar props, including chalk ("We buy by the case," he said). "I've made some amazing friends, namely, you."

Beck spent most of the hour looking back. "We made a lot of enemies on this program," he said, from "the president to the Republicans to George Soros."

"We have not only survived," he said. "We have thrived."

He dismissed his frequent critics, like Jon Stewart, who Beck mocked for having a team of writers to produce a six-minute monologue on "The Daily Show." Beck boasted his two-man writing team helps him craft his 42-minutes a night. "It's easy to speak from the heart," he said.

Beck also mocked the criticism itself. "I'm the first Anti-Semitic Jew lover," he said. "I don't know how that's even possible."

While his relationship with some in the News Corp. building has frayed, Beck took time out to thank Fox News chief Roger Ailes ("I won't work with a smarter person ever"), News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch and primetime star Bill O'Reilly "for their trust."

Beck didn't mention Fox News' plan--announced today--to replace him with a roundtable show, "The Five." But he frequently plugged his website, GlennBeck.com, directing viewers wanting to follow his post-Fox career there. (The site redirects to GBTV.com, where Beck was due to host a webcast a half hour after his Fox News show ended.)

Beck is leaving, he said, because his show has outgrown the medium.

"This show has become a movement," Beck said. "It doesn't belong on television. It belongs in your homes, in your neighborhoods--not on TV."

Beck has been known to cry on the air with John Boehner-like frequency. But tonight, there were no tears.

"From New York," he said signing off, "Goodnight America."

..

Source

Guess what lawmakers want counties to post!


The Ten Commandments once posted in County Circuit Judge Roy Moore's courtroom

By Drew Zahn
© 2011 WND

"Throughout America's rich history," asserts a Tennessee House Resolution that was passed 98-0 this week, "both the citizenry and their elected officials alike have deeply respected the Ten Commandments, its profound influence on the formation of American legal thought and its fundamental place in the history of law and government."

Therefore, H.R. 107 declares, "This body hereby urges all Tennessee counties to allow the Ten Commandments to be posted in their respective courthouses."

Rep. Todd Watson, author of the resolution, explains in its text, "It is imperative that these revered tablets continue to grace our public buildings, as reminders to this generation and the next of the vital role the Ten Commandments and its Author have played in shaping our great republic."

Coupled with the more than 90 percent of Tennessee counties that have already adopted similar resolutions acknowledging the historical significance of the Ten Commandments, H.R. 107 marks a bold fusillade in the ongoing battle over America's Christian heritage, particularly in the arena of constitutional law.

The battle became a national issue nearly a decade ago, when an Alabama judge, Roy Moore, faced pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups to remove a monument that Moore had constructed in the Alabama Supreme Court building because it featured the Ten Commandments.

Get Judge Roy Moore's classic book about his battle for liberty, "So Help Me God: The Ten Commandments, Judicial Tyranny, and the Battle for Religious Freedom."

Moore, who had previously beaten an ACLU lawsuit over posting the Commandments in his courthouse as a county circuit judge, nonetheless lost a second ACLU charge and was removed from his office as the state's chief justice over the ensuing monument controversy.

The Tennessee House's resolution urges its counties to likewise refuse to bow to similar pressure.

The full text of the resolution is as follows:

WHEREAS, in order to preserve domestic tranquility and protect the blessings of liberty, the foundation of any government must rest upon both law and morality; and

WHEREAS, the underpinnings of our system of government are rooted in a steadfast belief in Almighty God and the conviction that all morality, justice and unalienable rights derive from his gracious hand; and

WHEREAS, most of the political theorists embraced by our Founding Fathers, from Locke to Blackstone, espoused the Natural Law Theory, and as John Quincy Adams explained, "the laws of nature and of nature's God … of course presupposes the existence of a God, the moral ruler of the universe and a rule of right and wrong, or just and unjust, binding upon man, preceding all institutions of human society and of government"; and

WHEREAS, the Founders' desire to publicly acknowledge God as the source of America's strength and direction is reflected in many of our founding documents and practices, from the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence to the National Motto and Thanksgiving Day celebrations; and

WHEREAS, since our nation's birth, federal, state and local governing bodies have continued to invoke Divine guidance and celebrate the role religion has played in American life by issuing faith-based proclamations and opening each legislative session with prayer and supplication, a practice instituted by the First United States Congress and which has continued unbroken for more than two centuries; and

WHEREAS, throughout America's rich history, both the citizenry and their elected officials alike have deeply respected the Ten Commandments, its profound influence on the formation of American legal thought, and its fundamental place in the history of law and government as a whole; and

WHEREAS, the Supreme Court has repeatedly recognized the historical importance of these sacred texts and even upheld Sunday closing laws, which originated in the Fourth Commandment's exhortation to remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy; and

WHEREAS, countless depictions of Moses and the Ten Commandments can be found throughout our nation's capital as a testament to the Decalogue's undeniable role in our country's legal tradition, including the magnificent displays adorning the Supreme Court Building, the Library of Congress's Jefferson Building, the National Archives, the Department of Justice, the Ronald Reagan Building, the federal courthouse that is home to both the Court of Appeals and the District Court for the District of Columbia and the Chamber of the United States House of Representatives; and

WHEREAS, 88 Tennessee counties have already adopted resolutions acknowledging the historical significance of the Ten Commandments and pledging to defend their right to display them; and

WHEREAS, it is imperative that these revered tablets continue to grace our public buildings, as reminders to this generation and the next of the vital role the Ten Commandments and its Author have played in shaping our great republic; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 107th General Assembly of the state of Tennessee, that this body hereby urges all Tennessee counties to allow the Ten Commandments to be posted in their respective courthouses.

Mathew Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel and dean of Liberty University School of Law, is among those who celebrated the resolution's passage:

"The Ten Commandments are part of the fabric of our country and helped shape our laws," Staver said in a statement. "They are as much at home in a display about the foundations of law as stars and stripes are in the American flag. The Founding Fathers would be outraged that we are even debating the constitutionality of the Ten Commandments."


Source: http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=306925#ixzz1QnrQDTtv
.

A Prayer of Praise


Psalm 27

1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

3Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

4One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

5For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

6And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

7Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

8When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

9Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

10When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

11Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

12Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

13I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

14Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.


Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Billionaires and their Corporate Jets


Today, I listened momentarily to the President's question and answer session (he used a teleprompter); and what stood out the most for me was his repeated mention of Corporate Jets; Another concept that caught my attention of the President's statements was his use of a distinctive term: The Greater Good.

I wondered why all the hubbub over Jets and Billionaires?

Was he trying to justify raising taxes at such a time as this?

I searched on YouTube and found a stalwart liberal's report on the recent walk-out:


Apparently, the Prez wasn't going to let the issues die out anytime soon. Pay back, yeah, pay back you Billionaire Oil Tycoons and your Corporate Jets. No more breaks for the fat cats; that's only allowed in China, and India, and Brazil, etc. Taxes is what this country needs to get the economy growing and companies to start hiring the unemployed.

NO! I don't think so.

What's next incentives for riding rickshaws?

Is Air Force One considered a Corporate Jet?
Was taking a flight to Scandinavia to promote the Olympic Games for Chicago a National Priority?

Now back to the game, FORE!

Egyptians clash with police in Tahrir Square

By Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, CNN
June 29, 2011 7:20 a.m. EDT

Protesters throw stones at riot police during clashes in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, during the early hours of June 29.
Protesters throw stones at riot police during clashes in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, during the early hours of June 29.

Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- Police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and pellets early Wednesday to break up a demonstration by relatives of those killed in Egypt's revolution.
But despite the efforts of police, demonstrators maintained their positions in Cairo's Tahrir Square, growing their numbers to 2,000.

Clashes between protesters and authorities left at least 26 officers injured, according to Alla Mahmoud, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior.

"Thugs carrying swords and weapons infiltrated the protesters and attacked the Ministry of Interior with Molotov cocktails and rocks," Mahmoud said. "Nine people were arrested and we are dealing with the situation accordingly."

Dr. Mahmoud Sayeed, head of emergency affairs at al-Mouneera public hospital, told state-run Nile TV the number of the injured was at least 52. All were treated and released except for a man who was hit by a bullet and another who sustained serious head injury during the clashes, Sayeed said.

A makeshift clinic was established in a nearby mosque where dozens of people were treated for minor wounds and fatigue from inhaling tear gas. Many people were seen bleeding from their heads and had suffered bullet wounds to the chest and face.

Several thousand protesters chanted against Gen. Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, who heads the Supreme Council of the Egyptian Armed Forces. The council has been running the country since President Hosni Mubarak was forced to step down on February 11.
The council said the demonstrations "have no excuse but to destabilize the security and stability of Egypt."

The armed forces statement urged "the great Egyptian people... not to follow these calls... for the sake of the security and safety of Egypt in these difficult circumstances."
Ambulances streamed out of the square in the aftermath, transporting protesters to hospitals, while others were treated on the scene.

Noor Noor, the son of presidential candidate Ayman Noor, was seen bleeding with a serious injury on his eye and was later transferred to the hospital.

Police used tear gas on demonstrators well into Wednesday morning and fired on several men seen carrying swords and Molotov cocktails on side streets. A huge cloud of black smoke was seen smoldering close to the Ministry of Interior where protesters burned dozens of tires.

The protesters blocked the entrances to the square as calls were made on the Internet for more people to join the cause.

The imam of the nearby Omar Makram Mosque called via loud speaker for police to stop attacking the protesters, saying Tahrir Square belonged to "the revolutionaries." He also urged the demonstrators to go home.

The human rights group Amnesty International has estimated at least 840 people were killed and more than 6,000 wounded during the 18-day revolution that began in late January.

The military-led government that took over when Mubarak resigned has been prosecuting several former officials accused of ordering security forces to fire on protesters.

A police officer accused of killing 20 protesters during a January 28 demonstration has been sentenced to death. Former Interior Minister Habib El Adly has been sentenced to 12 years for corruption charges but still awaits the verdict for the charge of killing protesters.
Mubarak is scheduled to face the Cairo Criminal Court in August on charges of corruption and deaths of protesters.

Egypt's military rulers have set parliamentary elections for September. Protests have continued in the months since Mubarak's ouster as Egyptians have demanded speedier reforms and economic improvements.

CNN's Amir Ahmed and Journalist Hamdi Alkhshali contributed to this report.

.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

More Phishing Scams

Windows Live Hot mail Alert!!! June 28-2011

VERIFY YOUR HOT MAIL ACCOUNT NOW TO AVOID IT CLOSED !!!

Dear Account Owner

We encountered a problem with our database and a lot of records were lost, we are restoring our database to enable us serve you better. Your Windows Live! Account details are required so as to store in our database to keep your account active. Failure to do this will lose his or her account permanently.

To update and enable us restore your account details in our data base to keep your account active, you are required to provide us the details below urgently. Click the reply button to enter details below.

* Name: .......................
* User Name: .........................
* Password:.......................
* Date of Birth: ....................................
* Country Or Territory:..............................

Make sure the details above are correct to enable us restore your account details, this will help prevent your account from been suspended.

Note: YOUR DETAILS WILL NOT BE SHARED.
Users have often told us that the more they use Windows Live! Service, the more they discover its benefits. We'll keep working on making Windows Live! the best email service around, and we appreciate your joining us for the ride.

Sincerely,
The Windows Live Hot mail Team
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052

Faith Shared: Uniting in Prayer and Understanding



INTERFAITH SERVICE

Faith Shared: Uniting in Prayer and Understanding

SUNDAY, JUNE 26 11:15 AM


Live webcast. Christian, Muslim, and Jewish faith leaders read from their respective sacred texts in a special interfaith prayer service as part of Faith Shared: Uniting in Prayer and Understanding. Learn more »

.

Who's behind all the havoc, chaos, and turmoil in the World?

Chaos in Cairo
.

The Divided States of Europe


By Marko Papic | June 28, 2011

Europe continues to be engulfed by economic crisis. The global focus returns to Athens on June 28 as Greek parliamentarians debate austerity measures imposed on them by eurozone partners. If the Greeks vote down these measures, Athens will not receive its second bailout, which could create an even worse crisis in Europe and the world.

It is important to understand that the crisis is not fundamentally about Greece or even about the indebtedness of the entire currency bloc. After all, Greece represents only 2.5 percent of the eurozone’s gross domestic product (GDP), and the bloc’s fiscal numbers are not that bad when looked at in the aggregate. Its overall deficit and debt figures are in a better shape than those of the United States — the U.S. budget deficit stood at 10.6 percent of GDP in 2010, compared to 6.4 percent for the European Union — yet the focus continues to be on Europe. Read more »

.

Church Leaders Laud Frontline Religious Freedom Work

Church Leaders Laud Frontline Religious Freedom Work

"We need you!" church leader tells PARL directors

The Public Affairs and Religious Liberty ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is becoming “more and more important,” said world church president Pastor Ted N.C. Wilson during a historic gathering of some 4,000 pastors from across South America. In his address, Pastor Wilson called on pastors and administrators to support the efforts of PARL as it represents the church within many different public settings.

The meeting, held May 26 to 30 in Iguassu, Brazil, brought together pastors from the eight countries of the South American division—the first time a world church region has run a combined training event for all its pastors.

Dr. John Graz, PARL director for the Adventist Church worldwide, also addressed the ministers in a series of lectures. He said later that Pastor Wilson’s words represented “a strong message of encouragement” for the efforts of PARL around the world.

“The words of our president are a reminder that PARL is an essential frontline ministry of the Adventist Church,” said Graz. “His remarks are especially timely given our plans for next years’ 7th World Congress, which will highlight the vital work of PARL.”

The 7th International Religious Liberty World Congress will be held April 24 to 26 in the Dominican Republic’s famed Punta Cana beach resort area, and will bring together a diverse international group of PARL leaders, religious liberty scholars and practitioners, government officials, and non-governmental organizations.

Pastor Wilson’s comments come just a few days after Inter-American Division president, Pastor Israel Leito, told union PARL leaders, “We need you! You are the face of the church—the ‘storm-stoppers.’ We need you at every level of our church.”

“As we prepare for next year’s World Congress, we’re especially grateful for these strong statements of support from our world church leaders,” said Dr. Graz.

For more information about the 7th International Religious Liberty World Congress, please visit www.irla.org.



Source

Soros Says a Euro Exit Mechanism Is ‘Probably Inevitable’ Amid Debt Crisis


Billionaire investor George Soros. Photographer: Stephen Yang/Bloomberg



Billionaire investor George Soros said it’s “probably inevitable” that a mechanism will be put in place to allow weaker economies to exit the euro.

“There’s no arrangement for any countries leaving the euro, which in current circumstances is probably inevitable,” Soros, 80, said at a panel discussion in Vienna yesterday on whether liberal democracy is at risk in Europe. “We are on the verge of an economic collapse which starts, let’s say, in Greece, but it could easily spread. The financial system remains extremely vulnerable.”

Concern Greek lawmakers will fail to pass austerity measures to ensure the next installment of the nation’s bailout is roiling global markets and pushed the euro to a record-low against the Swiss franc last week. Greece is one of three euro- region members to have sought international bailouts amid the sovereign debt crisis.

“I think most of us actually agree that” Europe’s crisis “is actually centered around the euro,” said Soros. “It’s a kind of financial crisis that is really developing. It’s foreseen. Most people realize it. It’s still developing. The authorities are actually engaged in buying time. And yet time is working against them,” he said.

The euro was created in 1999, with 11 member states -- Germany,France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Finland, Austria,Portugal, Spain and Ireland. Greece was the 12th country to adopt the shared currency in 2001, while Estonia is the newest member of the euro region, joining this January.

Winning Bet

The euro erased its decline versus the dollar to trade little changed at $1.4191 as of 10:14 a.m. in London. The 17- member common currency earlier slid as much as 0.6 percent to $1.4103, the weakest since June 16.

Soros is chairman of Soros Fund Management LLC, which has about $28 billion in assets. He’s best known for reportedly making $1 billion in 1992 on a bet that the U.K. would fail to keep the pound in the European exchange-rate system that pre- dated the euro.

He also expressed concern the currency union would dissolve on Jan. 26 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He said then that European policy makers must address their two- speed economy or risk the euro collapsing, though he added this was unlikely to occur.

‘Plan B’

European Union leaders have vowed to stand behind Greece as long as Prime Minister George Papandreou, who won a confidence vote last week, pushes through his 78 billion-euro ($111 billion) package of budget cuts and asset sales. Investors are concerned a default would trigger contagion that would engulf other euro-region members including Ireland, Portugal and Spain.

Europe’s leaders should look for alternative strategies to solve the debt crisis, Soros told the Vienna panel, which also included Former Belgian Premier Guy Verhofstadt.

Because the “survival of the EU is of vital interest to us all,” there’s a need for a “Plan B,” he said, explaining that this could include EU-wide taxes, a “banking system guaranteed by European institutions, not a bunch of national banking systems,” or a financial transaction tax.

“You need a Plan B and there’s no Plan B at the moment,” Soros said. Instead, “authorities are sticking to the status quo” and not “recognizing that there are fundamental flaws that need to be corrected,” he said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Zoe Schneeweiss in Vienna atzschneeweiss@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Paul Armstrong atParmstrong10@bloomberg.net