A World With Many Dangers, Toils, And Snares

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

A World With Many Dangers, Toils, And Snares

"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame."

I Corinthians 15:33-34

"Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

Ephesians 5:14-16

"He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known."

Proverbs 10:9

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one."

Psalm 14:1-3

In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will assess the distressing conditions of this age, and recent events which continue to show that we live in a world with many dangers, toils, and snares. The troubles facing the people of earth are pervasive. In Europe many areas have become lands of anger and discontent spurred by the arrival of 1.5 million migrants from the Middle East and Africa since 2015. (1) Research from the Pew Research Center which was published in June 2017 shows that 90 percent of the Greeks who were surveyed disapprove of the European Union's handling of the migrant crisis. The disapproval percentages in other European nations were also high, including 80 percent of respondents in Italy, 78 percent in Sweden, and 67 percent in Spain. (2) Another indicator of discontent in Europe was the election of billionaire Andrej Babis as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic in October 2017. The new leader has said that the Czech Republic should not have to accept refugees, a policy which has apparently resonated with the nation's people. (3) Reports from the media have described the new Prime Minister as a "Czech Donald Trump." (4) Meanwhile, there is trouble in Catalonia as the people of this region have sought to declare independence from Spain in recent weeks. On October 1, 2017, the Catalan people held a referendum in which 90 percent of voters favored independence. The government of Spain declared the vote illegal even as Spanish police forces worked to disrupt the voting process, and in so doing, injured 844 people. (5) Even as Spanish officials have promised to discipline the disobedient citizens of Catalonia, secessionists in the region have urged Catalans to engage in "massive civil disobedience." (6)

There is also great turmoil in the South American country of Venezuela. Due to the socialist government policies of the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his successor President Nicolas Maduro, a full 82 percent of the people in Venezuela now live in poverty. (7) Even as food shortages and violence take their toll, thousands have fled to other countries in an effort to escape their dire circumstances. "Everything there has turned ugly. There's hunger and crime. You can't leave your house after 5 p.m. because you're going to be robbed or killed," said a woman who left Venezuela for the brighter prospects of Peru. (7)





While it is obvious how volatile the present circumstances are in places such as Catalonia or Venezuela, how do countries around the world view the United States? As it turns out, the United States of America, which is often said to be the greatest country in the world, is facing many troubles and conflicts, too. This is evident in advisories from other countries which warn their citizens regarding travel to the United States. In a warning issued by the United Kingdom on October 13, 2017, it was declared that "terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in the USA." (8) In similar fashion, Canada issued a new warning on October 16, 2017, stating, "The possession of firearms and the frequency of violent crime are generally more prevalent in the U.S. than in Canada." The alert also warned Canadians to stay away from wildfire stricken regions in the state of California. (9) Elsewhere, officials in New Zealand warned its people, "Active shooter incidents occur from time to time in the United States." Ireland issued a similar statement, and Germany warned its people regarding political protests and demonstrations, which have become so prevalent in the sharply divided America of today. (10)

There is no place on this earth where you will find a perfect life. As Christians, we understand that we have an adversary, the devil, who loves to stir up strife wherever he can. We can see clearly that there is trouble on every continent in this world, and while it is very distressing to learn of the things happening around us, it is important that we remain awake and aware. The Apostle Paul understood this when he wrote in Ephesians 5:14-16, "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

The Worst Mass Shooting In American History

On the fateful night of October 1, 2017, a great tragedy occurred in Las Vegas, Nevada. As a crowd of 22,000 people attended a live country music festival known as the Route 91 Harvest, (11) gunfire rang out and brought a sudden and violent end to the lives of 58 people and wounded 546 more. It has been called the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. (12) The shooter, we are told, was 64 year-old retiree Stephen Paddock, who carried out his slaughter from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. (13) According to a report from CBS News, Paddock was found dead in his hotel room along with 24 weapons, including at least 12 semi-automatic rifles. (14) This is the official story; however, many people, myself included, are finding this narrative difficult to believe.

How is it that a man can check into a hotel and transport 24 weapons to his room on the 32nd floor without anyone noticing? How did he hide these weapons from the housekeeping staff over the course of his three-night stay? Regarding these questions, former Las Vegas police officer Randy Sutton told CBS News, "He didn't bring all that up in one trip and he certainly didn't have bellmen bring it up. Having been there for three days, he had the time to bring that up probably in either luggage or a golf bag or something of that nature. It's a little surprising that he could've hidden it well enough that when the maid service came in that they didn't see anything but I think this is all part of the investigatory process that they're going to have to really delve into." (15)

Authorities have changed the timeline of this horrific shooting multiple times. In one of these timelines, we are told that Paddock's shooting spree began at 10:05 PM and lasted for about ten minutes. (16) Although Paddock appeared to be a gun enthusiast, the level of proficiency required to shoot more than 600 people in a ten minute time period certainly seems as though it would be beyond the capabilities of a retired accountant. I have seen videos posted online which were recorded by local news outlets in which eyewitnesses claim there were multiple shooters. However, I have been unable to find any reports in the national mainstream media regarding these eyewitness accounts.

A report did surface, however, indicating that security guard Jesus Campos, who was working at the Mandalay Bay Hotel at the time of the shooting and reportedly wounded by Paddock, was scheduled to give television interviews in mid-October 2017. The scheduled interviews never happened because Campos abruptly disappeared according to Fox News. (17) Campos did resurface eventually and appeared on the Ellen Degeneres Show, but the cancellation of the previously scheduled interviews remains a mystery. (18)

To further add mystery to the story, it was reported by ABC News on October 25, 2017, that the laptop of Stephen Paddock, which was found in his hotel room, was missing its hard drive. (19) The assumption is that Paddock disposed of the hard drive before fatally shooting himself, but there is really no adequate explanation as to why this was done. If Paddock knew he was going to die anyway, why would he care if the authorities accessed his computer files? No trace of the hard drive was ever found. Could it be that someone else removed it from Paddock's laptop computer?

In another bizarre twist, the terrorist organization known as the Islamic State, or ISIS, has made the claim that Stephen Paddock was acting on the behalf of their organization. (20) This could very well be a lie; however, it is strange that the authorities were so quick to determine that the shooting of October 1st was not a terrorist attack, seemingly doing so before they would have had adequate time to even investigate the possibility. Nevertheless, it seems likely that Paddock would have left a note or a video indicating that he was working for ISIS if that was indeed the case.

To date, no one has been able to offer an explanation as to why this horrific mass shooting happened. We have been told that Stephen Paddock acted alone and perpetrated the attack with no known motive. According to psychologists and psychiatrists, the unknown reason for this shooting has struck fear into the hearts of many Americans who are now struggling to cope. "The lack of explanation here is bothering us on an almost existential level," said psychologist Yuval Neria of Columbia University in New York. (21) Professor Jeff Victoroff, who specializes in psychiatry and neurology at the University of Southern California is also bothered by the mysterious nature of this attack. "It is an unconscious and profound human trait to seek a motive for catastrophic violence. It is a means of self-defense. People need to make contingency plans, to protect themselves, by assigning a motive, recognizing people with that motive and staying away from them," Victoroff opined. He later stated that not knowing why the shooting happened is "unbearable." (22) Perhaps what the perpetrator of this attack really wanted is for everyone to be afraid.

I cannot tell you what really happened in Las Vegas. The official story does certainly seem questionable, and whether it happened as we are told it did, or whether it did not, there is a God in heaven who knows all things and sees everything. If there are others who were involved or are responsible, they will be called to judgment to answer for their misdeeds, and it will not be a pretty sight when they stand before God.

Hollywood - A Cesspool Of Filth And Perversion

It is no secret that Americans love to be entertained. The consumption of movies and television in the United States has reached incredible levels with studies showing that the average American will watch 5,000 movies in his lifetime. (23) According to a June 2016 report from The New York Times, the average time per day that Americans spend watching television is 5 hours and 4 minutes. (24) Young people, however, are trending away from traditional live television, opting rather to watch their movies and television programs from online video companies such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon. Furthermore, because smartphones have become so ubiquitous and have the capability of playing videos from the Internet, people can now watch television wherever they are. In January 2016, Time Magazine reported that the average Netflix subscriber had watched 568 hours of movies and television programming on the Internet video service throughout the year of 2015. (25) As some time has passed since these figures were released, it is a safe guess that these numbers have climbed since then.

I can recall my father saying on numerous occasions that people "will become what they think about most of the time." It is true, and unfortunately, many movies and television shows today are filled with fornication, adultery, violence, perversion and blasphemy. Therefore, when we consider the types of movies and television shows being produced today, it should come as no surprise that some of the most influential figures in the entertainment industry are perverts.

One of the most prominent figures in Hollywood, up until recent days, had been producer Harvey Weinstein. Weinstein, along with his brother Bob, founded the movie distribution and production company known as Miramax. In 2005, the two brothers left Miramax and went on to establish The Weinstein Company. To date, movies distributed by The Weinstein Company have grossed more than 2.4 billion dollars. (26)

In October 2017 allegations surfaced from the New York Times and The New Yorker which indicate that Harvey Weinstein had assaulted, molested, harassed, and lewdly violated numerous women. Since the initial revelation, his list of accusers has climbed to an astounding 58 women. (27) In response to the scandal, Weinstein has been fired from his position at The Weinstein Company and has been swiftly rebuked by his peers. Speaking of his brother, Bob Weinstein was quoted as saying, "I'm mortified and disgusted by my brother's actions. And I am sick for the victims. And I feel for them. I feel for them." (28) Hillary Clinton, who is a personal friend of Harvey Weinstein, was forced to distance herself from the film producer after his misbehavior became known. "I was shocked and appalled by the revelations about Harvey Weinstein. The behavior described by women coming forward cannot be tolerated. Their courage and support of others is critical in helping to stop this kind of behavior," Clinton said. (29) One can only wonder how offended she truly is by Weinstein's actions, since her husband, former American President Bill Clinton, has his own sordid history with women.

Harvey Weinstein is not the only pervert to be found in Hollywood. According to the Los Angeles Times, filmmaker, writer, and director James Toback has been accused by more than 200 women of harassment, unwanted advances, and licentious behavior. (30) The former head of Amazon Studios, Roy Price, has also been accused of harassing women in a licentious way, (31) and famed comedian Bill Cosby, who at one time was known for his wholesome family entertainment, has been accused by 48 women of treacherous behavior and unspeakable acts. (32) The sad reality is that there are probably many more powerful figures in Hollywood engaging in similar behavior. We just have not heard about them yet. The truth does come out eventually, however. In Proverbs 10:9 we read, "He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known."

A Changing Religious Tide In America

In recent years, the general attitude of the American population toward religion has been changing. Although the United States once had many church-goers, a precipitous drop-off in attendance has forced many churches to cease operation or merge with other churches. This is especially true in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, a reality that prompted an Episcopal minister by the name of Daniel Webster to say, "When I was growing up in what I call the salad days of the 1950s and early 1960s, the question in the neighborhood was 'What church do you go to?' Now it's, 'Why do you go to church?' We no longer live in Christendom. We really have to accept that it's a thing of the past." (33) Of course, the closure of some churches is not necessarily a great loss. If a church is not teaching unadulterated Bible truth, people would be better off not attending it.
Nevertheless, mankind is instinctively inclined to seek out spiritual fulfillment. It is a desire put in our hearts by our Creator, and with so many churches today seemingly dead, young people are looking elsewhere for a real spiritual experience. It is for this reason that many men and women of the Millennial generation are now turning to witchcraft and the occult. "Whether it be spell-casting, tarot, astrology, meditation and trance, or herbalism, these traditions offer tangible ways for people to enact change in their lives. For a generation that grew up in a world of big industry, environmental destruction, large and oppressive governments, and toxic social structures, all of which seem too big to change, this can be incredibly attractive," said a witch from Brooklyn, New York. (34) Sometimes young people are led down the path of witchcraft by famous celebrities. This includes actress Gwyneth Paltrow who operates an online store featuring a variety of new age and occult wares, including a tarot card deck that sells for 59 dollars. (35)

It is a sad fact that so many people are settling for the devil's counterfeit spirituality instead of seeking to learn of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. My father, Pastor David J. Meyer, was once heavily involved in witchcraft and well-known as a palm reader and astrologer. But he forsook all aspects of the occult when he repented and gave his life to the Lord and therefore helped many people come out of witchcraft over the years. His teachings are still relevant today. Before his passing, we produced a DVD entitled "How Can I Tell If I'm a Witch?" If you are interested in receiving a copy of this DVD, please do not hesitate to contact us and request one. There is no price attached as we operate on donations from God's faithful people.

Meanwhile, famous author Dan Brown, who wrote the book "The Da Vinci Code" and its sequels, insists that the world today no longer needs God. Instead, he claims that the development of artificial intelligence will usher in a new era of "collective consciousness," which will fulfill the spiritual longings of humanity. "We will start to find our spiritual experiences through our interconnections with each other," Brown said. He further went on to say that there will be "some form of global consciousness that we perceive and that becomes our divine. Our need for that exterior god, that sits up there and judges us… will diminish and eventually disappear." (36) Fools such as Dan Brown will be in great dismay on Judgment Day, when they, as everyone else, will profess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Henry Kissinger Is Back Again

Within the realm of American politics, there are certain individuals, who for reasons defying all sound logic, always seem to be around. One such man is Henry Kissinger, who served as both Secretary of State and National Security Advisor for the United States under the corrupt presidency of Richard Nixon. Kissinger's guidance led to a needless prolonging of the Vietnam War in the 1970s. Throughout his tenure as an advisor, he has destabilized regions of the world such as Cambodia, East Timor, and Bangladesh, and Chile, with actions that have caused an estimated three to four million deaths. (37) He also opened trade relations with China, which resulted in a massive trade deficit for the United States persisting to this day. (38)

Despite the things he has done, Kissinger, who is now 94 years old, always seems to be consulted by American presidents. After serving under the Nixon Administration, he went on to act as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor for Nixon's successor, President Gerald Ford from 1974-1977. (39) In 1984, President Ronald Reagan appointed Kissinger to his Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. (40) In 2006, President George W. Bush consulted Kissinger regarding the war in Iraq, (41) and the Administration of Barack Obama gave Kissinger a Distinguished Public Service Award in 2016. (42) Hillary Clinton counts Kissinger as a personal friend. "Kissinger is a friend, and I relied on his counsel when I served as secretary of state," said Clinton in a review she wrote for Kissinger's book, World Order. (43)

It is peculiar that no matter who is President, whether it be a Republican or Democrat, they all seem to find it necessary to consult Henry Kissinger. This even includes our current President Donald Trump who met with Kissinger on October 10, 2017. Speaking at an event with the press, Donald Trump told his audience, "Henry Kissinger has been a friend of mine. I've liked him, I've respected him. But we've been friends for a long time, long before my emergence in the world of politics, which has not been very long. But we have been really in, I guess you'd say, the New York scene a little bit - but we got to know each other very well. He's a man I have great, great respect for." (44) Evidently, Kissinger was on hand to counsel Trump on foreign policy regarding Russia, North Korea, and China.

Like many people, I would like to see President Trump enact positive change in this country. However, seeing him consult with men such as Henry Kissinger is disheartening. Could the counsel of Kissinger soon lead the United States to a war with North Korea? In mid-October 2017, US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan told reporters that the United States is still seeking diplomatic ways to prevent a war with North Korea but warned that we must be prepared for the worst. "We must, however, with our allies in Japan and South Korea and elsewhere, be prepared for the worst should diplomacy fail," Sullivan stated. (45) Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo also offered a warning, indicating that North Korea is "on the cusp" to having nuclear weapons. "They are so far along in that, it's now a matter of thinking about how do you stop the final step," Pompeo said. (46)

In closing, we live in a world where sin abounds and trouble is on every side. Yet, we have a Saviour who bestows his wondrous grace upon us. In John Newton's famous hymn entitled "Amazing Grace," we find the words, "Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; 'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home." God will get us through it all if we put our trust in Him and endure unto the end. The Apostle Paul was a man well-acquainted with hardship. Yet, we know that God told the Apostle Paul in II Corinthians 12:9, "My grace is sufficient for thee." We are also told in James 4:6-8, "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." I urge every reader of this newsletter to draw nigh to God. If you have not repented of your sins and dedicated your life to God, I encourage you to do so now.

Thank you all for your generous support of this ministry. There is much that is happening in the world today, and we will do our best to keep you all apprised of important current events in the coming months and years. I also thank God for His guiding hand and his strength that He has given us. If you have any prayer requests, great or small, please let us know. We always give prayer requests individual attention, and we know that nothing is impossible with God. Grace and peace be unto you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.


Samuel David Meyer


This newsletter is made possible by the kind donations of our supporters. If you would like to help us, you may send your contribution to our postal address or donate online at http://lasttrumpetnewsletter.org/donate.

Acknowledgements
01. CNN, August 17, 2017, By Eliza Mackintosh, http://cnn.com.
02. Pew Research Center, June 15, 2017, By Bruce Stokes, http://pewglobal.org.
03. Politico, October 22, 2017, By Katy O'Donnell, http://politico.com.
04. USA Today, October 23, 2017, By Philip Heijmans, http://usatoday.com.
05. The Telegraph, October 2, 2017, By Hannah Strange and James Babcock, http://telegraph.co.uk.
06. CNBC, October 24, 2017, By Sam Meredith, http://cnbc.com.
07. Los Angeles Times, October 19, 2017, By Adriana Leon and Chris Kraul, http://latimes.com.
08. The New York Times, October 20, 2017, By Shivani Vora, http://nytimes.com.
09. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
11. CNN, October 4, 2017, By Euan McKirdy, http://cnn.com.
12. Fox 59 News, October 13, 2017, By Associated Press, http://fox59.com.
13. CNN, October 4, 2017, By Euan McKirdy, http://cnn.com.
14. CBS News, October 4, 2017, By Stefan Becket, http://cbsnews.com.
15. Metro News, October 3, 2017, By Oliver McAteer, http://metro.co.uk.
16. Associated Press, October 13, 2017, By Ken Ritter and Michael Balsamo, Las Vegas, Nevada.
17. Fox News, October 16, 2017, By Fox News and Greg Norman, http://foxnews.com.
18. The Washington Post, October 18, 2017, By Derek Hawkins and Mark Berman, http://washingtonpost.com.
19. ABC News, October 25, 2017, By Jack Date, Mike Levine, and Pierre Thomas, http://abcnews.go.com.
20. The Atlantic, October 2, 2017, By Graeme Wood, http://theatlantic.com.
21. Times Herald-Record, October 16, 2017, By Melissa Healy, http://recordonline.com.
22. Ibid.
23. USA Today & Buzz 60, December 8, 2016, By Buzz 60, http://usatoday.com.
24. The New York Times, June 30, 2016, By John Koblin, http://nytimes.com.
25. Time Magazine, January 19, 2016, By Victor Luckerson, http://time.com.
26. Box Office Mojo, http://boxofficemojo.com.
27. USA Today, October 27, 2017, By Sara Moniuszko, http://usatoday.com.
28. The Hollywood Reporter, October 14, 2017, By Matthew Belloni and Gregg Kilday, http://hollywoodreporter.com.
29. The Huffington Post, October 10, 2017, By Hayley Miller, http://huffingtonpost.com.
30. Los Angeles Times, October 23, 2017, By Glenn Whipp, http://latimes.com.
31. The New York Times, October 17, 2017, By John Koblin, http://nytimes.com.
32. The Wrap, June 5, 2017, By Wrap Staff, http://thewrap.com.
33. The Baltimore Sun, October 10, 2017, By Jonathan M. Pitts, http://baltimoresun.com.
34. Marketwatch, October 23, 2017, By Kari Paul, http://marketwatch.com.
35. Ibid.
36. Reuters News Service, October 12, 2017, By Douglas Busvine, http://reuters.com.
37. The Intercept, February 12, 2016, By Dan Froomkin, http://theintercept.com.
38. Ibid.
39. Gerald R. Ford Foundation, http://geraldrfordfoundation.org.
40. The American Presidency Project, http://presidency.ucsb.edu.
41. The Independent Institute, October 2, 2006, By Ivan Eland, http://independent.org.
42. The Nation, May 10, 2016, By Greg Grandin, http://thenation.com.
43. The New York Times, February 12, 2016, By Amy Chozick, http://nytimes.com.
44. The White House, Official Press Release, October 10, 2017, http://whitehouse.gov.
45. AOL News, October 17, 2017, By AOL News, http://aol.com.
46. BBC News, October 20, 2017, By BBC News, http://bbc.com.

To learn more about the history of our ministry and our founder, Pastor David J. Meyer, please visit 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.

Our new music CD entitled "Victory in Jesus" is now available. For more information, please visit http://ltmstudios.org/music.

Source