Volume XXXII Issue V May 2013
Last Trumpet Ministries, PO Box 806, Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Fax: 920-887-2626 Internet: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org
"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."Genesis 6:5
"The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth."
Genesis 6:11-12
"And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."
"And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."
Luke 17:26-30
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you."
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you."
II Corinthians 6:14-17
In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will thoughtfully consider recent current events which indicate that we are now seeing the stirrings of a rising one world government and the establishment of a new world order. For thousands of years, powerful and ambitious individuals have sought to implement a system of a single one world government, one world religion, and one world monetary system. Despite mankind's endeavors, we know that God stands in firm opposition to such a societal system. In fact, God is so opposed to a one world government that He divided the continents of this world in the days of Peleg, according to Genesis 10:25. This event, which would eventually be referred to as the continental drift by scientists, made it impossible for a true one world government to be established prior to this modern age. However, this did not dissuade powerful men throughout history from attempting to establish expansive empires, which they hoped would encompass every nation of the world. One such example is none other than Adolf Hitler, who declared in a speech on January 30, 1941, "The year 1941, will be, I am convinced, the historical year of a great European New Order." (1) Needless to say, Hitler's ambitions were not confined to Europe, and if he had been successful in conquering his continent of origin, he certainly would have continued his reign of terror against other regions of the world as well.
On September 11, 1990, American President George Bush would also speak of a new order; one he hoped would impact the entire world. In a speech addressing a joint session of Congress, President Bush declared, "We stand today at a unique and extraordinary moment. The crisis in the Persian Gulf, as grave as it is, also offers a rare opportunity to move toward a historic period of cooperation. Out of these troubled times, our fifth objective - a new world order - can emerge: freer from the threat of terror, stronger in the pursuit of justice, and more secure in the quest for peace. An era in which the nations of the world, East and West, North and South, can prosper and live in harmony. A hundred generations have searched for this elusive path to peace, while a thousand wars raged across the span of human endeavor. Today that new world is struggling to be born, a world quite different from the one we've known." (2)
To this day we continue to hear world leaders call for a new world order. In fact, American Vice-President Joe Biden recently gave a speech in which he stated, "The affirmative task we have now is to create a new world order." He further went on to say, "Because the global order is changing again, and the institutions of the world worked so well in the post-World War II era for decades, they need to be strengthened, and some need to be changed." (3) Changes in the global economy have already begun to occur. For example, the nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, which are commonly known by the acronym BRICS, are taking steps to establish a new monetary system within their group of nations. Recent developments within this pact of countries prompted India's trade minister to say that BRICS will "have a defining influence on the global order of this century." (4)
Sadly, one of the underlying principles of the globalist one world system is a belief that children are a resource which belongs not to their parents, but to society in general. This collectivist ideal was recently promulgated by Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry, who hosts a television program on MSNBC. In a promo for her show, Harris-Perry made the following statement: "We have never invested as much in public education as we should have because we've always had kind of a private notion of children: your kid is yours and totally your responsibility. We haven't had a very collective notion of these are our children. So part of it is we have to break through our kind of private idea that kids belong to their parents or kids belong to their families, and recognize that kids belong to whole communities." (5)
There have been warning signs in recent days indicating that children in the United States are being groomed to renounce their rights as American citizens and accept a globalist one world government. For example, a fourth grade school teacher at Cedar Hills Elementary School in Jacksonville, Florida, reportedly instructed her students to write the following words on a piece of paper during a class she taught in January 2013: "I am willing to give up some of my constitutional rights in order to be safer or more secure." (6) The methodical structure of the sentence which the children were instructed to compose bears all the traits of indoctrination and brainwashing. Needless to say, some of the children's parents were not pleased when they heard of this assignment. "I believe in our Constitution. I am a veteran; I served for six-and-a-half years proudly and I served to protect our rights. Now whenever I have someone coming in and trying to pollute my child's mind with biased opinions… there's no education in that," declared the father of one of the school's students. (7)
A New World Pope!
The present age in which we live is truly unlike any other point in human history. We are now seeing unprecedented changes within the structure of one of the world's most influential religions. In the aftermath of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in February 2013, it was announced that the outgoing Roman Catholic pope would be known as the "emeritus pope," and he would continue to wear white papal clothing in addition to retaining the title of "your holiness" by the religion's adherents. Thus, for the first time, there are two concurrently living popes, a situation which those involved with the Catholic system admit is quite unusual. "According to the evolution of the Catholic doctrine and mentality, there is only one pope. Clearly it's a new situation, but I don't think there will be problems," stated Giovanni Maria Vian, the editor of the Vatican newspaper known as L'Osservatore Romano. (8) Swiss theologian Hans Kueng was less optimistic about the arrangement. "With Benedict XVI, there is a risk of a shadow pope who has abdicated but can still indirectly exert influence," Kueng stated. (9)
On March 13, 2013, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina became the successor of Benedict XVI. The new pope, which has chosen to be known as Pope Francis, is the first ever Jesuit to be appointed to this position. (10) Bergoglio's rise to the papacy was a surprise and has left many people wondering what changes may be in store for the Roman Catholic Church. "On the one hand, Jesuits aren't supposed to be in positions of authority. On the other hand, they're supposed to be obedient to the church," stated the Jesuit Joseph Fessio, founder of Ignatius Press. (11) Thomas Reese, a journalist for the National Catholic Reporter, elaborated further. "This is all new ground. We never had a Jesuit pope, so I think we are all trying to figure out how this works, and it was a total surprise to everybody: surprise to the Jesuits, surprise to the media, probably a surprise to Pope Francis. This is something we'll just work out as time goes on," Reese said. (12)
Pope Francis has already exhibited a tendency to play by his own rules. For example, controversy arose in March 2013 when he publically washed the feet of women in a ceremony that is traditionally reserved for men only. (13) This has caused some conservative Catholics to voice their displeasure, while others, even non-Catholic people, have praised his actions. It has become apparent that the Catholic system will likely be undergoing many changes in the days to come.
The new Pope has also expressed a desire to unify the world's religions, including Christian denominations, Islam, and Judaism. In essence, Pope Francis seems hopeful to establish a one world religion. In a speech given in March 2013, Francis declared the following, "In this work (peace building), the role of religion is fundamental. It is not possible to build bridges between people while forgetting God. But the converse is also true: it is not possible to establish true links with God while ignoring other people. Hence it is important to intensify dialogue among the various religions, and I am thinking particularly of dialogue with Islam." (14) In another speech, Pope Francis declared that he and Islam worship the same God. "I then greet and cordially thank you all, dear friends belonging to other religious traditions; first of all the Muslims, who worship the one God, living and merciful, and call upon Him in prayer, and all of you. I really appreciate your presence: in it I see a tangible sign of the will to grow in mutual esteem and cooperation for the common good of humanity," the pope said. (15) Francis even reached out to those who are without religion, stating, "They are our precious allies in the commitment to defend human dignity, build a more peaceful coexistence among people and protect nature with care." (16)
Prominent figures amongst various religions have offered praise to Pope Francis for his all-inclusive approach. "I feel a great deal of excitement and optimism and hope. He is deeply committed to the Catholic-Jewish relationship," said Rabbi David Rosen, who is the International director of Inter-religious Affairs for the American Jewish Committee. (17) Sumer Noufouri, an official at the Islamic Center of the Republic of Argentina, also offered his praises, stating that Pope Francis is a "respectful, pro-dialogue person who knows Islam." Noufouri further went on to say that the cooperation between Islam and the Catholic Church in Argentina "is a model of dialogue and coexistence that, God-willing, could be exported to the world." (18)
The ambition of Pope Francis to unite the world's religions is incompatible with Biblical doctrine. In the Apostle Paul's second epistle to the Corinthians, chapter 6, verses 14-17, we are specifically told not to join together with unbelievers. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." If we want God to receive us, we cannot condone or accept false religion. It is interesting to note that a recent cover for Time Magazine featured a picture of Pope Francis with the caption "New World Pope." (19) While the magazine editors may have been attempting to denote that Francis is the first pope to originate from the Americas, which was once considered the new world, there could also be a double meaning, insinuating that this is a pope of the new world order.
As It Was In The Days Of Noah!
In Luke 17:26 we find the following warning from Jesus regarding the end times. "And as it was in the days of Noe (Noah), so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man." Genesis, chapter 6, describes the state of the world during the days of Noah, declaring in verse 5 that "the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." In verse 11 we read, "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence." We are now living in a time when the hearts of many men and women are full of wickedness, and just as it was in the days of Noah, the earth is again filled with violence.
A tragic example of the violence that is far too common in these distressing days occurred on April 15, 2013, in Boston, Massachusetts. As participants ran in a footrace known as the Boston Marathon, two bombs exploded near the finish line, which injured over 260 people and claimed the lives of three individuals. (20) This event was soon labeled a terrorist act by government officials. "Any event with multiple explosive devices - as this appears to be - is clearly an act of terror," stated a White House official. (21) Barack Obama was quick to condemn the attack. "We still do not know who did this, or why, and people shouldn't jump to conclusions before we have all the facts. But make no mistake: We will get to the bottom of this. And we will find out who did this, we'll find out why they did this," Obama said shortly after the bombings. (22) In the aftermath of the attack, fear gripped the city of Boston as the police and authorities hunted for the individuals responsible. It was later announced that the police were searching for two suspects known as Tamerlan Tsarnaev, age 26, and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, age 19, in connection with the bombings. (23) The two men, which were brothers, moved to the United States from Kyrgyzstan and were known to be practicing Muslims. (24) The older of the two brothers, Tamerlan, was shot and killed in a confrontation with the police on April 19, 2013. The younger brother, Dzhokhar, was later apprehended while hiding in a boat located on a residential property (25) and was taken to a hospital where he is in serious but stable condition as of this writing. (26)
According to reports, the boys' father, Anzor Tsarnaev, refuses to believe that his sons are guilty of the crimes of which they have been accused. "I will never believe my boys could have done such a terrible thing. I have no doubt they were set up," Mr. Tsarnaev declared. (27) Meanwhile, some Islamic factions were happy to hear of the bombings. "American blood isn't more precious than Muslim blood. Let the Americans feel the pain we endured by their armies occupying Iraq and Afghanistan and killing our people there," said Mohammad al-Chalabi, a Muslim extremist with ties to al-Qaida. (28)
It is worthwhile to note that the Boston Marathon bombings and the ensuing manhunt for the suspects brought the city of Boston to its knees. As thousands of heavily armed police marched through the streets with others riding in armored vehicles, the city was locked down and the citizens were told not to leave their homes. (29) Public transportation in the city also ceased to operate. One witness described the scene as follows: "Some of the people were commuting to Boston, and they found out on the bus that they couldn't take the train, or any traveling at all, and then when we got into Boston, South Station was completely closed. So we had to turn around, and it was just weird on the streets. It was eerie, guns everywhere, you know with the police officers. It was a little scary. I've never seen it like that." (30) Boston Mayor Tom Menino defended his decision to lock down the city in what was a de facto form of martial law. "It was for the benefit and public safety of the individuals," Mayor Menino said. (31) Could this be a preview of things to come in the United States of America?
Sadly, incidents of violence and brutality have been occurring in other areas of the United States as well. For example, twenty-eight teenagers were arrested on March 30, 2013, in the Magnificent Mile region of downtown Chicago, Illinois, after a large mob of young people began assaulting pedestrians on the street. "You have over three to four hundred teenagers with mob action, jumping on individuals that are downtown. Multiple people have been arrested and I caution those parents that get this call about your child being arrested - maybe you need to check your child," said community activist Andrew Holmes. (32) On that very same weekend, there were also twenty-five shootings throughout the city, two of which were fatal. (33) Mob violence has also become a problem in Jacksonville, Florida. It was reported on April 6, 2013, that a 56 year-old man was senselessly beaten by a gang of ten to fifteen teenagers as he attempted to carry his groceries home. The violence only stopped after witnesses called 911 and the perpetrators fled. (34) When I read of so much violence occurring on a day-to-day basis, I cannot help but feel that the words of Jesus have been fulfilled. The days in which we live are strikingly similar to the days of Noah.
As It Was In The Days Of Lot!
In recent years, the homosexual lifestyle, and same-sex marriage in particular, have come to the forefront of American culture. The movement seems to have gained unstoppable momentum as support for this way of life continues to grow. Although we understand as Christians that we cannot condone homosexuality, the recent impetus for those in favor of it is not surprising to those who have read the Bible. In fact, Jesus warned us that homosexuality would be common in the end times. In Luke 17:28:30 we read the following: "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." We know from Genesis, chapter 19, that homosexuality was one of the serious sins committed in Sodom and Gomorrah. Therefore, the fact that homosexuality has gained so much support in this modern era is actually a fulfillment of prophecy and an indicator that Jesus is coming soon.
Support for the homosexual lifestyle sometimes comes from people you would expect to oppose it. In fact, some members of the Republican Party, which is typically understood to be conservative, have publically proclaimed their approval for same-sex marriage. In March 2013, Rob Portman, a Republican from Ohio, became the first senator to publically support same-sex marriage. The change in his stance came after it was revealed to him that his son is a homosexual. "I have come to believe that if two people are prepared to make a lifetime commitment to love and care for each other in good times and in bad, the government shouldn't deny them the opportunity to get married. That isn't how I've always felt. As a congressman, and more recently as a senator, I opposed marriage for same-sex couples. Then something happened that led me to think through my position in a much deeper way," Senator Portman wrote in an editorial piece for the Columbus Dispatch. The senator further went on to write, "Knowing that my son is gay prompted me to consider the issue from another perspective: that of a dad who wants all three of his kids to lead happy, meaningful lives with the people they love." (35)
Strategists within the Republican Party predict that same-sex marriage will become a divisive issue within the party itself in the coming years. "I do think the party is moving in that direction, and at some point it's going to come to a head. My sense is that a platform fight within the party is still eight to ten years away, but that moment is coming," opined Republican strategist Matt Mackowiak. (36) Other Republican members of Congress who have expressed support for same-sex marriage include Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois, Representative Richard Hanna of New York, and Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida. (37)
Certain religious figures within mainstream Christianity have also embraced same-sex marriage. Amongst them is Rob Bell, the former pastor of a mega-church in Grandville, Michigan. Addressing an audience at Grace Cathedral Church in San Francisco, Bell reportedly said, "Yes, I am for marriage. I am for fidelity. I am for love, whether it's a man and a woman, a woman and a woman, a man and a man. I think the ship has sailed and I think that the church needs to just… this is the world that we are living in and we need to affirm people wherever they are." (38) On March 27, 2013, a minister from St. Paul, Minnesota, known as Oliver White, made an appearance on Sean Hannity's radio program to debate in favor of same-sex marriage. During the show, White declared that Jesus was wrong to define marriage as between a man and a woman. He then insisted that Jesus would take a different approach in these modern times. "If Jesus were alive today, he would be more inclined to say, 'you know, I didn't know it all…'" (39) Perhaps Oliver White has never read Revelation 1:18 in which Jesus declares, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." Jesus Christ is very much alive today and He has not changed His stance on same-sex marriage.
Earthquakes In Divers Places!
As usual, the earth has continued to rumble in recent days. In fact, numerous earthquakes, some of which were quite significant, were reported in the month of April 2013. On April 17 more than twelve earthquakes, including a quake with a magnitude of 6.2, struck a volcanic island south of Tokyo, Japan. (40) Another quake, measuring 5.8 in magnitude, struck the nation of Japan that very same day in the northeastern region of the country. (41) Also on April 17, an earthquake, measuring 5.0 in magnitude, occurred in the Yunnan Province of China (42), and a 6.8 magnitude quake was recorded in Papua New Guinea. (43) Just one day prior on April 16, a major earthquake, measuring 7.8 in magnitude, struck the border of Iran and Pakistan and claimed the lives of at least thirty-five people. (44) In the United States, five quakes, the most significant measuring 4.3 in magnitude, shook the state of Oklahoma. (45) However, the most deadly earthquake of recent days occurred on April 20, 2013, in the Sichuan province of China. Sadly, this devastating quake, which measured 6.6 in magnitude, claimed the lives of nearly 200 individuals, and injured over 12,000 more. (46)
It is not unusual for clusters of earthquakes to occur in localized areas. However, I could not help but notice that many of the significant quakes which occurred in April happened between the 16th and 20th day. Unlike typical earthquake clusters, these quakes occurred all over the world, or as Jesus said in Matthew 24:7: "in divers places." The fact that the earth is now shaking on an almost constant basis is another indicator of the perilous times in which we live.
In closing, I wholeheartedly encourage every reader of this newsletter to reach out to God. With so many distressing things happening in this world on a daily basis, we need our Saviour now more than ever. Thankfully, our Creator is never far away. As it says in James 4:8, "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." If you have not yet fully given your heart to God, I urge you to do so now.
Thank you to all who support this ministry. I cannot fully express with words how much I appreciate your kindness and generosity. Please remember that we are here if you need prayer. If you have any prayer requests, we will gladly carry your petitions before the thrown of the Almighty. Our teams of intercessors always give each request individual attention. Grace and peace be unto you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.Samuel David Meyer
Acknowledgements
01. Jewish Virtual Library, http://jewishvirtuallibrary.org, "Hitler's Speech at the Berlin Sports Palace, January 30, 1941"
02. Address Before a Joint Session of Congress, September 11, 1990, By George Bush.
03. World Net Daily, April 7, 2013, By Aaron Klein, http://wnd.com.
04. Ibid.
05. CNS News, April 8, 2013, By Michael James, http://cnsnews.com.
06. The Blaze, April 12, 2013, By Madeleine Morgenstern, http://theblaze.com.
07. Ibid.
08. Associated Press, February 26, 2013, By Nicole Winfield, http://bigstory.ap.org.
09. Ibid.
10. Christian Science Monitor, March 13, 2013, By Robert Marquand, http://csmonitor.com.
11. Religion News Service, March 15, 2013, By Alessandro Speciale, Vatican City.
12. Ibid.
13. Religion News Service, March 30, 2013, By Alessandro Speciale, Vatican City.
14. Reuters News Service, March 22, 2013, By Philip Pullella, Vatican City.
15. Zenit, March 20, 2013, By Pope Francis (Translated by Peter Waymel), Vatican City.
16. Reuters News Service, March 20, 2013, By Philip Pullella, Vatican City.
17. Ibid.
18. Pittsburg Post-Gazette, March 17, 2013, By Ann Rodgers, Vatican City.
19. Time Magazine, March 13, 2013, By How Chua-Eoan, http://world.time.com.
20. Reuters News Service, April 23, 2013, By Scott Malone, Boston, MA.
21. New York Post, April 15, 2013, By Josh Margolin, Kirstan Conley, and Andy Soltis, Boston, MA.
22. The Ticket, April 15, 2013, By Olivier Knox and Rachel Rose Hartman, http://news.yahoo.com.
23. The Atlantic Wire, April 19, 2013, By Alexander Abad-Santos, http://theatlanticwire.com.
24. Los Angeles Times, April 20, 2013, By Andrew Tangel and Ashley Powers, http://latimes.com.
25. Huffington Post, April 19, 2013, By Steven Hoffer, http://huffingtonpost.com.
26. Christian Science Monitor, April 21, 2013, By Brad Knickerbocker, http://csmonitor.com.
27. Los Angeles Times, April 19, 2013, By Sergei L. Loiko, http://latimes.com.
28. Associated Press, April 15, 2013, By Jamal Halaby, Amman, Jordan.
29. Los Angeles Times, April 19, 2013, By Joe Tanfani, Devin Kelly, and Michael Muskal, Boston, MA.
30. The Post and Courier, April 20, 2013, By Natalie Caula, http://postandcourier.com.
31. International Business Times, April 21, 2013, By Ryan Villarreal, http://ibtimes.com.
32. NBC News, April 1, 2013, By Alexandria Fisher, http://nbcchicago.com.
33. Huffington Post, April 1, 2013, By Joseph Erbentraut, http://huffingtonpost.com.
34. First Coast News, April 6, 2013, By First Coast News, Jacksonville, FL.
35. The Columbus Dispatch, March 15, 2013, By Rob Portman, http://dispatch.com.
36. Christian Science Monitor, March 16, 2013, By Mark Guarino, http://csmonitor.com.
37. The Washington Post, April 2, 2013, By Sean Sullivan, http://washingtonpost.com.
38. The Christian Post, March 18, 2013, By Nicola Menzie, http://christianpost.com.
39. Breitbart, March 27, 2013, By Larry O'Connor, http://breitbart.com.
40. AsiaOne, April 17, 2013, By AFP, http://asiaone.com.sg, Tokyo, Japan.
41. Reuters News Service, April 17, 2013, By Kaori Kaneko, Tokyo, Japan.
42. First Post, April 17, 2013, By First Post, http://firstpost.com, Beijing, China.
43. Reuters News Service, April 17, 2013, By Paul Tait, Sydney, Australia.
44. Reuters News Service, April 16, 2013, By Gul Yousafzai, Quetta, Pakistan.
45. The Christian Science Monitor, April 16, 2013, By Allison Terry, http://csmonitor.com.
46. Yahoo News, April 22, 2013, By Tammy Lee Morris, http://news.yahoo.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.
Source: http://lasttrumpetnewsletter.org/2013/05_13.html
In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will thoughtfully consider recent current events which indicate that we are now seeing the stirrings of a rising one world government and the establishment of a new world order. For thousands of years, powerful and ambitious individuals have sought to implement a system of a single one world government, one world religion, and one world monetary system. Despite mankind's endeavors, we know that God stands in firm opposition to such a societal system. In fact, God is so opposed to a one world government that He divided the continents of this world in the days of Peleg, according to Genesis 10:25. This event, which would eventually be referred to as the continental drift by scientists, made it impossible for a true one world government to be established prior to this modern age. However, this did not dissuade powerful men throughout history from attempting to establish expansive empires, which they hoped would encompass every nation of the world. One such example is none other than Adolf Hitler, who declared in a speech on January 30, 1941, "The year 1941, will be, I am convinced, the historical year of a great European New Order." (1) Needless to say, Hitler's ambitions were not confined to Europe, and if he had been successful in conquering his continent of origin, he certainly would have continued his reign of terror against other regions of the world as well.
On September 11, 1990, American President George Bush would also speak of a new order; one he hoped would impact the entire world. In a speech addressing a joint session of Congress, President Bush declared, "We stand today at a unique and extraordinary moment. The crisis in the Persian Gulf, as grave as it is, also offers a rare opportunity to move toward a historic period of cooperation. Out of these troubled times, our fifth objective - a new world order - can emerge: freer from the threat of terror, stronger in the pursuit of justice, and more secure in the quest for peace. An era in which the nations of the world, East and West, North and South, can prosper and live in harmony. A hundred generations have searched for this elusive path to peace, while a thousand wars raged across the span of human endeavor. Today that new world is struggling to be born, a world quite different from the one we've known." (2)
To this day we continue to hear world leaders call for a new world order. In fact, American Vice-President Joe Biden recently gave a speech in which he stated, "The affirmative task we have now is to create a new world order." He further went on to say, "Because the global order is changing again, and the institutions of the world worked so well in the post-World War II era for decades, they need to be strengthened, and some need to be changed." (3) Changes in the global economy have already begun to occur. For example, the nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, which are commonly known by the acronym BRICS, are taking steps to establish a new monetary system within their group of nations. Recent developments within this pact of countries prompted India's trade minister to say that BRICS will "have a defining influence on the global order of this century." (4)
Sadly, one of the underlying principles of the globalist one world system is a belief that children are a resource which belongs not to their parents, but to society in general. This collectivist ideal was recently promulgated by Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry, who hosts a television program on MSNBC. In a promo for her show, Harris-Perry made the following statement: "We have never invested as much in public education as we should have because we've always had kind of a private notion of children: your kid is yours and totally your responsibility. We haven't had a very collective notion of these are our children. So part of it is we have to break through our kind of private idea that kids belong to their parents or kids belong to their families, and recognize that kids belong to whole communities." (5)
There have been warning signs in recent days indicating that children in the United States are being groomed to renounce their rights as American citizens and accept a globalist one world government. For example, a fourth grade school teacher at Cedar Hills Elementary School in Jacksonville, Florida, reportedly instructed her students to write the following words on a piece of paper during a class she taught in January 2013: "I am willing to give up some of my constitutional rights in order to be safer or more secure." (6) The methodical structure of the sentence which the children were instructed to compose bears all the traits of indoctrination and brainwashing. Needless to say, some of the children's parents were not pleased when they heard of this assignment. "I believe in our Constitution. I am a veteran; I served for six-and-a-half years proudly and I served to protect our rights. Now whenever I have someone coming in and trying to pollute my child's mind with biased opinions… there's no education in that," declared the father of one of the school's students. (7)
A New World Pope!
The present age in which we live is truly unlike any other point in human history. We are now seeing unprecedented changes within the structure of one of the world's most influential religions. In the aftermath of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in February 2013, it was announced that the outgoing Roman Catholic pope would be known as the "emeritus pope," and he would continue to wear white papal clothing in addition to retaining the title of "your holiness" by the religion's adherents. Thus, for the first time, there are two concurrently living popes, a situation which those involved with the Catholic system admit is quite unusual. "According to the evolution of the Catholic doctrine and mentality, there is only one pope. Clearly it's a new situation, but I don't think there will be problems," stated Giovanni Maria Vian, the editor of the Vatican newspaper known as L'Osservatore Romano. (8) Swiss theologian Hans Kueng was less optimistic about the arrangement. "With Benedict XVI, there is a risk of a shadow pope who has abdicated but can still indirectly exert influence," Kueng stated. (9)
On March 13, 2013, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina became the successor of Benedict XVI. The new pope, which has chosen to be known as Pope Francis, is the first ever Jesuit to be appointed to this position. (10) Bergoglio's rise to the papacy was a surprise and has left many people wondering what changes may be in store for the Roman Catholic Church. "On the one hand, Jesuits aren't supposed to be in positions of authority. On the other hand, they're supposed to be obedient to the church," stated the Jesuit Joseph Fessio, founder of Ignatius Press. (11) Thomas Reese, a journalist for the National Catholic Reporter, elaborated further. "This is all new ground. We never had a Jesuit pope, so I think we are all trying to figure out how this works, and it was a total surprise to everybody: surprise to the Jesuits, surprise to the media, probably a surprise to Pope Francis. This is something we'll just work out as time goes on," Reese said. (12)
Pope Francis has already exhibited a tendency to play by his own rules. For example, controversy arose in March 2013 when he publically washed the feet of women in a ceremony that is traditionally reserved for men only. (13) This has caused some conservative Catholics to voice their displeasure, while others, even non-Catholic people, have praised his actions. It has become apparent that the Catholic system will likely be undergoing many changes in the days to come.
The new Pope has also expressed a desire to unify the world's religions, including Christian denominations, Islam, and Judaism. In essence, Pope Francis seems hopeful to establish a one world religion. In a speech given in March 2013, Francis declared the following, "In this work (peace building), the role of religion is fundamental. It is not possible to build bridges between people while forgetting God. But the converse is also true: it is not possible to establish true links with God while ignoring other people. Hence it is important to intensify dialogue among the various religions, and I am thinking particularly of dialogue with Islam." (14) In another speech, Pope Francis declared that he and Islam worship the same God. "I then greet and cordially thank you all, dear friends belonging to other religious traditions; first of all the Muslims, who worship the one God, living and merciful, and call upon Him in prayer, and all of you. I really appreciate your presence: in it I see a tangible sign of the will to grow in mutual esteem and cooperation for the common good of humanity," the pope said. (15) Francis even reached out to those who are without religion, stating, "They are our precious allies in the commitment to defend human dignity, build a more peaceful coexistence among people and protect nature with care." (16)
Prominent figures amongst various religions have offered praise to Pope Francis for his all-inclusive approach. "I feel a great deal of excitement and optimism and hope. He is deeply committed to the Catholic-Jewish relationship," said Rabbi David Rosen, who is the International director of Inter-religious Affairs for the American Jewish Committee. (17) Sumer Noufouri, an official at the Islamic Center of the Republic of Argentina, also offered his praises, stating that Pope Francis is a "respectful, pro-dialogue person who knows Islam." Noufouri further went on to say that the cooperation between Islam and the Catholic Church in Argentina "is a model of dialogue and coexistence that, God-willing, could be exported to the world." (18)
The ambition of Pope Francis to unite the world's religions is incompatible with Biblical doctrine. In the Apostle Paul's second epistle to the Corinthians, chapter 6, verses 14-17, we are specifically told not to join together with unbelievers. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." If we want God to receive us, we cannot condone or accept false religion. It is interesting to note that a recent cover for Time Magazine featured a picture of Pope Francis with the caption "New World Pope." (19) While the magazine editors may have been attempting to denote that Francis is the first pope to originate from the Americas, which was once considered the new world, there could also be a double meaning, insinuating that this is a pope of the new world order.
As It Was In The Days Of Noah!
In Luke 17:26 we find the following warning from Jesus regarding the end times. "And as it was in the days of Noe (Noah), so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man." Genesis, chapter 6, describes the state of the world during the days of Noah, declaring in verse 5 that "the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." In verse 11 we read, "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence." We are now living in a time when the hearts of many men and women are full of wickedness, and just as it was in the days of Noah, the earth is again filled with violence.
A tragic example of the violence that is far too common in these distressing days occurred on April 15, 2013, in Boston, Massachusetts. As participants ran in a footrace known as the Boston Marathon, two bombs exploded near the finish line, which injured over 260 people and claimed the lives of three individuals. (20) This event was soon labeled a terrorist act by government officials. "Any event with multiple explosive devices - as this appears to be - is clearly an act of terror," stated a White House official. (21) Barack Obama was quick to condemn the attack. "We still do not know who did this, or why, and people shouldn't jump to conclusions before we have all the facts. But make no mistake: We will get to the bottom of this. And we will find out who did this, we'll find out why they did this," Obama said shortly after the bombings. (22) In the aftermath of the attack, fear gripped the city of Boston as the police and authorities hunted for the individuals responsible. It was later announced that the police were searching for two suspects known as Tamerlan Tsarnaev, age 26, and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, age 19, in connection with the bombings. (23) The two men, which were brothers, moved to the United States from Kyrgyzstan and were known to be practicing Muslims. (24) The older of the two brothers, Tamerlan, was shot and killed in a confrontation with the police on April 19, 2013. The younger brother, Dzhokhar, was later apprehended while hiding in a boat located on a residential property (25) and was taken to a hospital where he is in serious but stable condition as of this writing. (26)
According to reports, the boys' father, Anzor Tsarnaev, refuses to believe that his sons are guilty of the crimes of which they have been accused. "I will never believe my boys could have done such a terrible thing. I have no doubt they were set up," Mr. Tsarnaev declared. (27) Meanwhile, some Islamic factions were happy to hear of the bombings. "American blood isn't more precious than Muslim blood. Let the Americans feel the pain we endured by their armies occupying Iraq and Afghanistan and killing our people there," said Mohammad al-Chalabi, a Muslim extremist with ties to al-Qaida. (28)
It is worthwhile to note that the Boston Marathon bombings and the ensuing manhunt for the suspects brought the city of Boston to its knees. As thousands of heavily armed police marched through the streets with others riding in armored vehicles, the city was locked down and the citizens were told not to leave their homes. (29) Public transportation in the city also ceased to operate. One witness described the scene as follows: "Some of the people were commuting to Boston, and they found out on the bus that they couldn't take the train, or any traveling at all, and then when we got into Boston, South Station was completely closed. So we had to turn around, and it was just weird on the streets. It was eerie, guns everywhere, you know with the police officers. It was a little scary. I've never seen it like that." (30) Boston Mayor Tom Menino defended his decision to lock down the city in what was a de facto form of martial law. "It was for the benefit and public safety of the individuals," Mayor Menino said. (31) Could this be a preview of things to come in the United States of America?
Sadly, incidents of violence and brutality have been occurring in other areas of the United States as well. For example, twenty-eight teenagers were arrested on March 30, 2013, in the Magnificent Mile region of downtown Chicago, Illinois, after a large mob of young people began assaulting pedestrians on the street. "You have over three to four hundred teenagers with mob action, jumping on individuals that are downtown. Multiple people have been arrested and I caution those parents that get this call about your child being arrested - maybe you need to check your child," said community activist Andrew Holmes. (32) On that very same weekend, there were also twenty-five shootings throughout the city, two of which were fatal. (33) Mob violence has also become a problem in Jacksonville, Florida. It was reported on April 6, 2013, that a 56 year-old man was senselessly beaten by a gang of ten to fifteen teenagers as he attempted to carry his groceries home. The violence only stopped after witnesses called 911 and the perpetrators fled. (34) When I read of so much violence occurring on a day-to-day basis, I cannot help but feel that the words of Jesus have been fulfilled. The days in which we live are strikingly similar to the days of Noah.
As It Was In The Days Of Lot!
In recent years, the homosexual lifestyle, and same-sex marriage in particular, have come to the forefront of American culture. The movement seems to have gained unstoppable momentum as support for this way of life continues to grow. Although we understand as Christians that we cannot condone homosexuality, the recent impetus for those in favor of it is not surprising to those who have read the Bible. In fact, Jesus warned us that homosexuality would be common in the end times. In Luke 17:28:30 we read the following: "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." We know from Genesis, chapter 19, that homosexuality was one of the serious sins committed in Sodom and Gomorrah. Therefore, the fact that homosexuality has gained so much support in this modern era is actually a fulfillment of prophecy and an indicator that Jesus is coming soon.
Support for the homosexual lifestyle sometimes comes from people you would expect to oppose it. In fact, some members of the Republican Party, which is typically understood to be conservative, have publically proclaimed their approval for same-sex marriage. In March 2013, Rob Portman, a Republican from Ohio, became the first senator to publically support same-sex marriage. The change in his stance came after it was revealed to him that his son is a homosexual. "I have come to believe that if two people are prepared to make a lifetime commitment to love and care for each other in good times and in bad, the government shouldn't deny them the opportunity to get married. That isn't how I've always felt. As a congressman, and more recently as a senator, I opposed marriage for same-sex couples. Then something happened that led me to think through my position in a much deeper way," Senator Portman wrote in an editorial piece for the Columbus Dispatch. The senator further went on to write, "Knowing that my son is gay prompted me to consider the issue from another perspective: that of a dad who wants all three of his kids to lead happy, meaningful lives with the people they love." (35)
Strategists within the Republican Party predict that same-sex marriage will become a divisive issue within the party itself in the coming years. "I do think the party is moving in that direction, and at some point it's going to come to a head. My sense is that a platform fight within the party is still eight to ten years away, but that moment is coming," opined Republican strategist Matt Mackowiak. (36) Other Republican members of Congress who have expressed support for same-sex marriage include Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois, Representative Richard Hanna of New York, and Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida. (37)
Certain religious figures within mainstream Christianity have also embraced same-sex marriage. Amongst them is Rob Bell, the former pastor of a mega-church in Grandville, Michigan. Addressing an audience at Grace Cathedral Church in San Francisco, Bell reportedly said, "Yes, I am for marriage. I am for fidelity. I am for love, whether it's a man and a woman, a woman and a woman, a man and a man. I think the ship has sailed and I think that the church needs to just… this is the world that we are living in and we need to affirm people wherever they are." (38) On March 27, 2013, a minister from St. Paul, Minnesota, known as Oliver White, made an appearance on Sean Hannity's radio program to debate in favor of same-sex marriage. During the show, White declared that Jesus was wrong to define marriage as between a man and a woman. He then insisted that Jesus would take a different approach in these modern times. "If Jesus were alive today, he would be more inclined to say, 'you know, I didn't know it all…'" (39) Perhaps Oliver White has never read Revelation 1:18 in which Jesus declares, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." Jesus Christ is very much alive today and He has not changed His stance on same-sex marriage.
Earthquakes In Divers Places!
As usual, the earth has continued to rumble in recent days. In fact, numerous earthquakes, some of which were quite significant, were reported in the month of April 2013. On April 17 more than twelve earthquakes, including a quake with a magnitude of 6.2, struck a volcanic island south of Tokyo, Japan. (40) Another quake, measuring 5.8 in magnitude, struck the nation of Japan that very same day in the northeastern region of the country. (41) Also on April 17, an earthquake, measuring 5.0 in magnitude, occurred in the Yunnan Province of China (42), and a 6.8 magnitude quake was recorded in Papua New Guinea. (43) Just one day prior on April 16, a major earthquake, measuring 7.8 in magnitude, struck the border of Iran and Pakistan and claimed the lives of at least thirty-five people. (44) In the United States, five quakes, the most significant measuring 4.3 in magnitude, shook the state of Oklahoma. (45) However, the most deadly earthquake of recent days occurred on April 20, 2013, in the Sichuan province of China. Sadly, this devastating quake, which measured 6.6 in magnitude, claimed the lives of nearly 200 individuals, and injured over 12,000 more. (46)
It is not unusual for clusters of earthquakes to occur in localized areas. However, I could not help but notice that many of the significant quakes which occurred in April happened between the 16th and 20th day. Unlike typical earthquake clusters, these quakes occurred all over the world, or as Jesus said in Matthew 24:7: "in divers places." The fact that the earth is now shaking on an almost constant basis is another indicator of the perilous times in which we live.
In closing, I wholeheartedly encourage every reader of this newsletter to reach out to God. With so many distressing things happening in this world on a daily basis, we need our Saviour now more than ever. Thankfully, our Creator is never far away. As it says in James 4:8, "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." If you have not yet fully given your heart to God, I urge you to do so now.
Thank you to all who support this ministry. I cannot fully express with words how much I appreciate your kindness and generosity. Please remember that we are here if you need prayer. If you have any prayer requests, we will gladly carry your petitions before the thrown of the Almighty. Our teams of intercessors always give each request individual attention. Grace and peace be unto you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.Samuel David Meyer
Acknowledgements
01. Jewish Virtual Library, http://jewishvirtuallibrary.org, "Hitler's Speech at the Berlin Sports Palace, January 30, 1941"
02. Address Before a Joint Session of Congress, September 11, 1990, By George Bush.
03. World Net Daily, April 7, 2013, By Aaron Klein, http://wnd.com.
04. Ibid.
05. CNS News, April 8, 2013, By Michael James, http://cnsnews.com.
06. The Blaze, April 12, 2013, By Madeleine Morgenstern, http://theblaze.com.
07. Ibid.
08. Associated Press, February 26, 2013, By Nicole Winfield, http://bigstory.ap.org.
09. Ibid.
10. Christian Science Monitor, March 13, 2013, By Robert Marquand, http://csmonitor.com.
11. Religion News Service, March 15, 2013, By Alessandro Speciale, Vatican City.
12. Ibid.
13. Religion News Service, March 30, 2013, By Alessandro Speciale, Vatican City.
14. Reuters News Service, March 22, 2013, By Philip Pullella, Vatican City.
15. Zenit, March 20, 2013, By Pope Francis (Translated by Peter Waymel), Vatican City.
16. Reuters News Service, March 20, 2013, By Philip Pullella, Vatican City.
17. Ibid.
18. Pittsburg Post-Gazette, March 17, 2013, By Ann Rodgers, Vatican City.
19. Time Magazine, March 13, 2013, By How Chua-Eoan, http://world.time.com.
20. Reuters News Service, April 23, 2013, By Scott Malone, Boston, MA.
21. New York Post, April 15, 2013, By Josh Margolin, Kirstan Conley, and Andy Soltis, Boston, MA.
22. The Ticket, April 15, 2013, By Olivier Knox and Rachel Rose Hartman, http://news.yahoo.com.
23. The Atlantic Wire, April 19, 2013, By Alexander Abad-Santos, http://theatlanticwire.com.
24. Los Angeles Times, April 20, 2013, By Andrew Tangel and Ashley Powers, http://latimes.com.
25. Huffington Post, April 19, 2013, By Steven Hoffer, http://huffingtonpost.com.
26. Christian Science Monitor, April 21, 2013, By Brad Knickerbocker, http://csmonitor.com.
27. Los Angeles Times, April 19, 2013, By Sergei L. Loiko, http://latimes.com.
28. Associated Press, April 15, 2013, By Jamal Halaby, Amman, Jordan.
29. Los Angeles Times, April 19, 2013, By Joe Tanfani, Devin Kelly, and Michael Muskal, Boston, MA.
30. The Post and Courier, April 20, 2013, By Natalie Caula, http://postandcourier.com.
31. International Business Times, April 21, 2013, By Ryan Villarreal, http://ibtimes.com.
32. NBC News, April 1, 2013, By Alexandria Fisher, http://nbcchicago.com.
33. Huffington Post, April 1, 2013, By Joseph Erbentraut, http://huffingtonpost.com.
34. First Coast News, April 6, 2013, By First Coast News, Jacksonville, FL.
35. The Columbus Dispatch, March 15, 2013, By Rob Portman, http://dispatch.com.
36. Christian Science Monitor, March 16, 2013, By Mark Guarino, http://csmonitor.com.
37. The Washington Post, April 2, 2013, By Sean Sullivan, http://washingtonpost.com.
38. The Christian Post, March 18, 2013, By Nicola Menzie, http://christianpost.com.
39. Breitbart, March 27, 2013, By Larry O'Connor, http://breitbart.com.
40. AsiaOne, April 17, 2013, By AFP, http://asiaone.com.sg, Tokyo, Japan.
41. Reuters News Service, April 17, 2013, By Kaori Kaneko, Tokyo, Japan.
42. First Post, April 17, 2013, By First Post, http://firstpost.com, Beijing, China.
43. Reuters News Service, April 17, 2013, By Paul Tait, Sydney, Australia.
44. Reuters News Service, April 16, 2013, By Gul Yousafzai, Quetta, Pakistan.
45. The Christian Science Monitor, April 16, 2013, By Allison Terry, http://csmonitor.com.
46. Yahoo News, April 22, 2013, By Tammy Lee Morris, http://news.yahoo.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.
Source: http://lasttrumpetnewsletter.org/2013/05_13.html
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