Astonishing Events In A Rapidly Changing World

Volume XXXVI Issue VIII August 2017
Last Trumpet Ministries, PO Box 806, Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Phone: 920-887-2626 Internet: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org

Astonishing Events In A Rapidly Changing World

"Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."

Mark 13:33-37

"Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober."

I Thessalonians 5:5-6

"Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee."

Revelation 3:3


In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will consider the amazing times in which we live. It is truly more needful than ever that we as God's children watch and pray in these perilous times. It is imperative that we pay attention to what is happening around us because our world is changing rapidly, and these changes will affect every man, woman, and child on this planet which we presently occupy.

Over the course of the last seven years that I have written this newsletter, I have noticed that the mainstream news cycle can be quite repetitive. Each year, news outlets, seemingly working in concert, unleash a flood of stories regarding the devastating consequences of climate change. This fear mongering serves its purpose by emotionally and mentally battering the people of the world into submission. We are told over and over again that we all must "go green," and if we refuse to do so, it will lead to the demise of our planet and life as we know it. However, I think it is important that we ask: what does going green really mean?

In the minds of environmental extremists, people should be required to do far more than recycle bottles and cans, putter around town in a Toyota Prius, and buy wind generated power from the electric company. In July 2017 Lund University in Sweden published a study which calls for drastic action. A portion of the paper declares, "From analyzing 148 scenarios of the climate impact of individual behaviors in ten individual countries (with some studies additionally considering the whole EU [European Union] region), drawn from 39 sources, we have identified a dozen actions, including four recommended actions that are of substantial magnitude throughout the developed world: having one fewer child, living car free, avoiding air travel, and eating a plant-based diet." (1) Liberal news sources immediately latched on to this study, even prompting The Guardian to publish a headline which admonishes, "Want to fight climate change? Have fewer children." (2) As such, we see yet another method in which the traditional family is being villainized. What this report is really telling us is that having a large family is the worst thing anyone could do. I cannot help but think of the words of Jesus that we find in Luke 23:29 which says, "For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck." Indeed, in this modern age, children are often regarded as a burden rather than a blessing.



I have no doubt in my mind that organizations such as the United Nations will use climate change as an excuse to establish a one world government. People will be told that the world must unite to avert devastation, and human activity will be greatly restricted and controlled. Consider the Paris Agreement, which was signed in December 2015. This agreement, which calls on the nations of the world to unite in an effort to prevent global surface temperatures from rising 1.5 degrees Celsius, from where they say it was before the Industrial Revolution, has been joined by nearly every country in the world, including North Korea. Only the countries of Nicaragua and Syria refused to sign on. (3) Remarkably, American President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement on June 1, 2017, which prompted outrage around the world. (4) "Generations from now, Americans will look back at Donald Trump's decision to leave the Paris Agreement as one of the most ignorant and dangerous actions ever taken by any President," said Michael Brune, who is the executive director at the Sierra Club. (5) The famed astrophysicist, Stephen Hawking, was also livid about Trump's decision. "Trump's action could push the Earth over the brink, to become like Venus, with a temperature of 250 degrees (Celsius) and raining sulfuric acid,"Hawking insisted. (6)

Meanwhile, former American Vice President Al Gore has made a sequel to his film known as An Inconvenient Truth. The original film, which was released in 2006, famously informed its audience that if drastic measures were not taken to stop climate change immediately,"The world would reach a point of no return within 10 years." Of course, more than 10 years have passed since this prediction and the world is still here. In an effort to legitimize his prognostication, Gore was quoted as saying,"Unfortunately, some levels of the Earth system have crossed a point of no return." The new film, which is titled "An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power," is scheduled for a nationwide release in the United States on August 4, 2017. (7) Based on the movie trailer, it seems that this film is intended to serve as a rebuke to Donald Trump.

It is certainly clear that environmentalists would like to foist severe restrictions on the people of the world. However, former American President Barack Obama must feel that these rules should not apply to him. In May 2017 Obama traveled to Milan, Italy, to speak at an event known as Seed & Chips: The Global Food Innovation Summit. Not only did Obama travel to this event in a private jet, but his entourage included a convoy of 14 automobiles and a helicopter overhead. This vast consumption of fossil fuel enabled the former President to lecture the world about the overconsumption of meat. (8) "I think people naturally understand that big smokestacks have pollution in them and they understand air pollution, so they can easily make the connection between energy production and the idea of greenhouse gases. People aren't as familiar with the impact of cows and methane, unless you're a farmer," Obama said. He then went on to say, "That doesn't mean that we can't teach you and me to have a smaller steak, for our own health. It doesn't mean we can't make progress in educating the advanced world about the need to reduce, just for dietary reasons, the amount of meat that we consume at any given meal." After hearing Obama's comments, former White House chef and food policy advisor Sam Kass indicated that he had probably prepared thousands of steaks for Obama over the years. To this assertion Obama replied, "I don't know about thousands. Maybe hundreds." (9) While this story may seem silly, it does demonstrate the rampant hypocrisy amongst elitists such as Barack Obama.

Climate change is a topic that instills a great deal of hostility today. This is evident in recent comments made by famous scientist Bill Nye. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Nye was quoted as saying, "Climate change deniers, by way of example, are older. It's generational. So we're just going to have to wait for those people to 'age out,' as they say. 'Age out' is a euphemism for 'die.' But it'll happen, I guarantee you - that'll happen." (10) It is truly a sad state of affairs when a world renowned scientist suggests that the death of an entire generation is a necessity that will help rectify climate change. Yet, this is likely the mentality of many liberal people today, even if they do not say so outright. Nye's remarks were reminiscent of comments made by television star Oprah Winfrey in 2013, who made the claim that too many older Americans are still racist and "they just have to die." (11)

My father used to say, "The problem isn't global warming, it's global sinning." It is undeniable that this planet we live on is in trouble. We often hear stories of drought, famine, flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, record breaking cold temperatures, record breaking hot temperatures, animal die-offs, and other calamitous disruptions. Yet, people become so fixated on climate change that they never cry out to God, seeking rather to solve these problems themselves. Declining to have children, ditching your car, and adopting a vegan diet will not save the world. Isaiah 55:6-7 tells us, "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."

A Card, A Microchip, Or A Smartphone?

In a forgone era, it was common for cashiers working at department stores and supermarkets to ask customers if they would be paying with cash, check, or a charge card. The world is changing, however, and cashiers may soon be asking customers if they are paying with a card, a microchip, or a smartphone.

Numerous countries around the world are growing extraordinarily close to becoming cashless societies. For example, India removed more than 80 percent of its currency from circulation last year in an effort to usher in a cashless revolution. (12) As it turns out, China is undergoing a rapid transition to a cashless society, too. This is an important development because China is the world's most populous country, while India is the world's second most populous country. The combined population of China and India accounts for about 36 percent of all people in the entire world.

To demonstrate the pervasiveness of cashless transactions in China, a reporter named Jeremy Koh was recently sent out to conduct his everyday business on the streets of Beijing, and he was instructed by his editor not to use any cash whatsoever. As it turns out, this was not a difficult task for Koh. Using his smartphone to process payments, Koh was able to rent a bicycle, pay a street vendor for breakfast, split the bill for lunch with a colleague, pay a taxicab fare, and purchase mineral water at a convenience store. (13) Not only did Koh not have to use cash for any of these transactions, he did not even have to use a card. The majority of mobile payments in China are made possible by two service providers known as WeChat and Alipay. WeChat reportedly has 890 million active users. (14) The value of smartphone transactions in China was the equivalent of an astonishing 5.5 trillion dollars in 2016. (15)

To further push the Chinese people into a cashless society, numerous Chinese cities will be taking part in an event known as "Cashless Week" from August 1 to August 8, 2017. The event is being promoted by Alipay as a springboard to transform China into a cashless society as much as possible within the next five years. Also on Alipay's to-do list is gaining a foothold into North America. (16)

Meanwhile, the American credit card company known as Visa announced an initiative in July 2017 to encourage American businesses to go completely cashless. The program is called "The Visa Cashless Challenge," which will dole out $10,000 prizes to 50 small business eateries who submit plans on how they intend to go cashless. "At Visa, we believe you can be everywhere you want to be, and that it should be easy to pay and be paid in more ways than ever - whether it's a phone, card, wearable, or other device. With 70 percent of the world, or more than 5 billion people, connected via mobile devices by 2020, we have an incredible opportunity to educate merchants and consumers alike on the effectiveness of going cashless," proclaimed Jack Forestall, who is the head of global merchant solutions at Visa. (17) Lest there be any ambiguity of Visa's intentions, a spokesman for the company by the name of Andy Gerlt plainly stated, "We're declaring a war on cash." (18) Gerlt was further quoted as saying, "We've had a tremendous response in the last 24 hours (including) from other countries and other kinds of businesses saying they would welcome this program." (19) Usage of cash in the United States has been steadily declining. In 2012, 40 percent of all transactions in this country utilized cash. By the year 2015, that percentage had fallen to 32 percent. (20)

In last month's issue of this newsletter, I reported that citizens in Sweden now have the capability to pay train fares with microchips implanted in their hands. This is distressing news, and as it turns out, people in the United States (aside from biohacking hobbyists) will soon be receiving implantable microchips, too. Nestled in the northwest region of my home state of Wisconsin, about 65 miles west of Eau Claire, sits the small city of River Falls. Despite being a community of only 15,000 people, River Falls is the home of a company known as Three Square Market. This company, which specializes in kiosks and self-checkout systems, is now offering employees an opportunity to receive an RFID microchip implant in their hands. According to an announcement on the company's website, this chip will enable employees to "make purchases in the company's break room market, open doors, login to computers, use copy machines,"and perform other unspecified functions. (21) Todd Westby, who is the chief executive officer at Three Square Market, is very enthusiastic about these microchip implants. "It's the next thing that's inevitably going to happen, and we want to be a part of it," Westby asserted. He then went on to explain how this new payment system will work. "We'll come up, scan the item. We'll hit pay with a credit card, and it's asking to swipe my proximity payment now. I'll hold my hand up, just like my cell phone, and it'll pay for my product." (22) Speaking of the implantable microchips on the NBC television show known as "Today," Westby insisted that"This is the future." (23) Westby, along with about 50 of the company's employees, will receive his microchip on August 1, 2017. (24)

While some folks may think the implantable microchip is a great idea, a professor of computer science at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, sees it as a dangerous development. "If most employees agree, it may become a workplace expectation. Then, the next iteration of the technology allows some additional tracking functionality. And so it goes until employees are expected to implant something that allows them to be constantly monitored, even outside of work,"Professor Vincent Conitzer said. (25) I agree with his assessment. While the microchip is voluntary now, it is not difficult to envision a world where many people receive the chip simply because it has become a societal norm and an expectation. It is also likely that more establishments will eventually stop accepting cash, so while cash may not be banned outright, it will be unusable. Furthermore, we know that veterinarians have been implanting animals and pets with microchips for years. It is likely that soon it will be suggested that parents have their children chipped for safety reasons, and elderly people, especially those suffering from Alzheimer's disease, could be targeted. It is a fact that there are already thousands of people around the world who have received a microchip in their hands, and there are many more who are receptive to the idea. According to a poll conducted in the United Kingdom and published in 2016, 34 percent of the British respondents said they would be willing to be microchipped at work. Oddly enough, about a quarter of the respondents in this same study also said they would be willing to date a robot. (26) The Scriptures warn us of a time when all of mankind will be unable to buy or sell unless they have received a mark in their right hand or forehead. Revelation 13:16-17 tells us, "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." We are very close to these verses becoming reality. If this is the future, then all I can say is, "Even so, come Lord Jesus!"

The Lasting Influence Of Harry Potter

It has been twenty years since author JK Rowling published her first Harry Potter book entitled "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone." (27) Since that time, Rowling's series of seven novels have enjoyed enormous popularity. When the final book in the series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," was released in 2007, it became the fastest selling book in history with 8.3 million copies sold in the first twenty-four hours of availability. (28) The Harry Potter books have been distributed to more than 200 territories, translated into 68 languages, and have sold in excess of 400 million copies. (29)

When the Harry Potter books were at the peak of their popularity, my father, Pastor David J. Meyer, would often use this newsletter as a platform to warn readers about the dangers of these books. He was often derided for his stance, despite the fact that the Harry Potter books clearly glorify witchcraft, and witchcraft is clearly condemned in the Bible. Galatians 5:19-21 warns us, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." I realize that many people insist that witchcraft is not a real thing; however, if that were true, why would God's Word warn us not to participate in it? Oddly enough, a report published in 2016 reveals that a study performed in the United Kingdom found that one third of British parents who participated in the research believe that the premises for the Harry Potter books were derived from the Bible. (30)

There is just something about these books. I personally know of numerous adults who are absolutely obsessed with them, despite the fact that they are supposed to be geared toward children and teenagers. It is almost as if a spell has been cast, and these people are so enchanted and captivated that they cannot break free. This devotion has resulted in a new trend in which the text of the Harry Potter books has been elevated to the status of a "sacred text." According to a report published by The Washington Post, two graduates of the Harvard Divinity School by the names of Casper ter Kuile and Vanessa Zoltan have been broadcasting an audio program on the Internet entitled "Harry Potter and the Sacred Text." These broadcasts have been likened to in-depth Bible studies, wherein the text of Rowling's books are meticulously studied. Listeners have praised the program. "I feel like I've been born again," one listener declared. Another devotee of the show was quoted as saying, "It always gives me guidance in a way I didn't know I needed." (31) The article quotes Zoltan who attempted to explain her peculiar beliefs. "To me, the goal of treating the text as sacred is that we can learn to treat each other as sacred. If you can learn to love these characters, to love Draco Malfoy, then you can learn to love the cousin you haven't spoken to for 30 years, then the refugee down the street."Zoltan later went on to say, "You have to believe a text can give you blessings. You have to read it with rigor, commitment and practice, and do it with others."

Over the course of this summer, Zoltan and ter Kuile have taken their show on the road and have filled churches and synagogues with Potter adoring followers. Their summer tour concluded in July 2017 at an event held in Washington, D.C. More than 500 people were reportedly in attendance, some of which even purchased t-shirts emblazoned with a message declaring, "Harry Potter is my sacred text." (32) Even after twenty years, Harry Potter is still bewitching the hearts and the minds of the people.

The Liberals Laugh At Abortion

In times past, liberals would present abortion as an unfortunate but necessary service to women. Even Hillary Clinton, who has championed the practice for many years, said during her run for President that abortion should be "safe, legal, and rare." (33) However, a recent trend has emerged in which leftists and liberals think it is okay to laugh at the heinous practice of abortion. In the May 2017 issue of the Last Trumpet, I reported that the so-called comedian, Louis CK, had featured the topic of abortion in his latest comedy special, even going as far as to say, "I think that women should be allowed to kill babies." (34) Amazingly enough, this disgusting production has been nominated for a 2017 Emmy Award. (35)

To make matters worse, a new play, which is described as a "musical comedy" entitled "Choice: The Musical," debuted at the MCL Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, on June 23, 2017. The official description of the play describes it as a "lighthearted take on a subject that many consider no laughing matter - abortion!" The description goes on to say, "Choice follows the adventures of Ellie, a young pro-life protestor, who confronts pro-choice advocates face to face for the first time. Instead of saving souls, Ellie is shocked to discover that she is in need of salvation from the wild ride of life. Along the way we meet a curious collection of characters including a trio of women's health clinic employees, the local church congregation, and a grizzled cowboy hat-wearing fetus who helps tell this tall tale through silly song and dance."(36) The producer of the play, Sheri Flanders, explained her reasoning for developing this repulsive production. "Abortion is an issue that has no shortage of serious discussion. We realized early on that we didn't want to simply rehash the debates or have the audience leave the theater feeling that they had been preached to. We want people to feel entertained and elevated. Honestly, comedy is the only avenue left for a fresh take on the issue," Flanders stated. (37) Additionally, a similar play is being developed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This play, which as of now is untitled, will reportedly feature a character that is described as an"irate gun-toting fetus running around and shouting about how it would kill anyone who tried to hurt it." (38) Apparently, in the warped minds of these murder-loving liberals, abortion is just a big joke. I am truly amazed by the long-suffering and patience of our God. Nevertheless, judgment will come.

In closing, I urge every reader of this newsletter to keep seeking God. It is of the utmost importance that we continue to watch and pray, even as amazing events happen all around us. In Mark 13:33-37 we are admonished by our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, "Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." We would also do well to heed the warning of God to the church at Sardis in Revelation, chapter 3. In Revelation 3:3 we read, "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." The signs of the times are all around us. If you have not repented of your sins and given your heart to God, I encourage you to do so now.

Thank you all for your support of this ministry. Although it is an enormous challenge to publish this newsletter, we at Last Trumpet Ministries know that it is a privilege to do so. If you appreciated this newsletter, you are welcome to share it with your friends, family, and acquaintances. If you would like to order extra copies in the mail, please write, call, or email us. If you have any prayer requests, we are here to pray for you and your needs whether they be great or small. Each prayer request is always given individual attention, and we know that God hears the prayers of His people. Grace and peace be unto you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.



Samuel David Meyer

Acknowledgements
01. IOP Science, July 12, 2017, By Seth Wynes and Kimberly A. Nicholas, http://iopscience.iop.org.
02. The Guardian, July 12, 2017, By Damian Carrington, http://theguardian.com.
03. Business Insider, June 1, 2017, By Rebecca Harrington and Skye Gould, http://businessinsider.com.
04. NBC News, June 1, 2017, By Ali Vitali, http://nbcnews.com. 05. Ibid.
06. National Review, July 14, 2017, By Jonah Goldberg, http://nationalreview.com.
07. PJ Media, July 20, 2017, By Nicholas Ballasy, http://pjmedia.com.
08. Townhall, May 10, 2017, By Justin Holcomb, http://townhall.com.
09. Quartz, May 10, 2017, By Chase Purdy, http://qz.com.
10. Los Angeles Times, July 19, 2017, By Patt Morrison, http://latimes.com.
11. MSNBC, November 15, 2013, By Morgan Whitaker, http://msnbc.com.
12. BBC News, November 14, 2016, By Justin Rowlatt, http://bbc.com.
13. Channel News Asia, July 24, 2017, By Jeremy Koh, http://channelnewsasia.com.
14. Ibid.
15. PYMNTS, July 24, 2017, By PYMNTS, http://pymnts.com.
16. Ibid.
17. Visa, Official Press Release, July 12, 2017, By Visa, http://visa.com.
18. CNBC, July 14, 2017, By Karen Gilchrist, http://cnbc.com.
19. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 24, 2017, By Patricia Sabatini, http://post-gazette.com.
20. Ibid.
21. Three Square Market, Official Website, July 25, 2017, By Three Square Market, http://32market.com.
22. KSTP News, July 22, 2017, By Josh Rosenthal, http://kstp.com.
23. NBC News, July 25, 2017, By Erik Ortiz, http://nbcnews.com.
24. Ibid.
25. Ibid.
26. Nesta, April 26, 2016, By Nesta, http://nesta.org.uk.
27. Bloomsbury, Harry Potter 20, http://harrypotter.bloomsbury.com/uk/harrypotter20/.
28. Scholastic, http://harrypotter.scholastic.com.
29. Ibid.
30. Fox News, February 10, 2016, By Jeremiah J. Johnston, http://foxnews.com.
31. The Washington Post, July 19, 2017, By Julie Zauzmer and Michelle Boorstein, http://washingtonpost.com.
32. Ibid.
33. Los Angeles Times, February 9, 2017, By Michael McGough, http://latimes.com.
34. Last Trumpet Newsletter, May 2017, By Samuel David Meyer, http://lasttrumpetnewsletter.org.
35. USA Today, July 13, 2017, By Jayme Deerwester, http://usatoday.com.
36. Chicago Land Musical Theatre, May 30, 2017, http://chicagolandmusicaltheatre.com.
37. Life News, June 29, 2017, By Micaiah Bilger, http://lifenews.com.
38. Philadelphia Magazine, July 6, 2017, By Victor Fiorillo, http://phillymag.com.


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