A Great Spiritual Strain In Our World

Volume XXXVII Issue II February 2018
Last Trumpet Ministries, PO Box 806, Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Phone: 920-887-2626 Internet: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org



"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 14:2-3

"And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."

Job 1:7

"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."

James 4:6-7

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

I Peter 5:8-11

In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will examine our troubled modern world wherein the depravity of mankind is presently on full display. As Christians, we know that we live in a wicked world. This was the case even thousands of years ago when King David, under the inspiration of God, wrote in Psalm 14:2-3, "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." To further emphasize the point, the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Thankfully, God has extended His mercy and His grace to us, and has implemented His perfect plan of salvation to set us free from the bondage of sin. Nevertheless, we see the footprints of Satan all over the world while he walks "to and fro in the earth." As our evil adversary goes forth, he inspires people to do his bidding. Thus, much of the pain and misery we see in this world is inflicted by people under demonic influence.

Although Satan has manifested himself in subtle and hidden ways throughout history, we live in a world today where his influence is clearly seen. In fact, there are a growing number of individuals in the United States who knowingly and unabashedly worship Satan. This is evident in a headline published by the Los Angeles Times on January 5, 2018, which declares, "A new generation of L.A. Satanists finds community in blasphemous times." (1) This article portrays Satanism as a cool and edgy religion, which is flourishing in Los Angeles, California. "In these times, a lot of people want to not feel helpless. And Lucifer was the original rebel angel," declared Satanist Zachary James. (2)

The mission statement of the Church of Satan, which was founded by Anton LaVey in the 1960s, states in their mission that they are"dedicated to the acceptance of man's true nature - that of a carnal beast, living in a cosmos that is indifferent to our existence." (3) According to Ruth Waytz, who is an official at the blasphemous religious organization, their group is well organized. "Our writers, directors, producers, and designers lead the charge on our real-world individualist approach - not some spooky, occultnik mumbo jumbo, which is often anti-satanic and mired in mysticism,"Waytz said. (4) Satanism and other forms of the occult, including Wiccan witchcraft, are strong proponents of feminism. "In terms of the aesthetics of the occult, it's everywhere you look. There are so many young women especially who use occult imagery to define their identity," said movie director Anna Biller. She then went on to say, "What I'm trying to do is to transform the witch from a figure of male fear and fantasy into a figure of female power and sexuality. For some women it represents healing, for others, raw power, for others, the freedom to be unorthodox or to find their own spirituality outside of the family system." (5)

Considering the fact that the state of California is the epicenter of Satanism in the United States, it is not surprising that numerous figures in the entertainment industry are or were Satanists. This was true even in the 1960s and 1970s when people such as the famous singer Sammy Davis Jr. and the actress Jayne Mansfield were members of the Church of Satan. There is likely a sizable contingent of Satanists who work in Hollywood behind the scenes. The Church of Satan even maintains a list of recommended movies on its official website. (6) Various entertainers over the years have professed to be Satanists, including pianist and singer Liberace, professional wrestler Jonathan Rechner, singer Marc Almond of the band Soft Cell, and guitarist Matt Skiba who has worked with the bands Alkaline Trio and Blink 182. (7) Exposure to Satanism only seems to be intensifying in this present time. In addition to the story in the Los Angeles Times, another article was published by The Guardian, which declares in the headline, "Hell freezes over: how the Church of Satan got cool." (8) The pro-Satanic slant of the article is evident from the very first paragraph."Disappointingly, Chelsea Clinton has denied she and her husband practice Satanism. Her tweet wishing the folks at the Church of Satan a happy new year should not be taken as endorsement of the dark lord's manifold heresies," the article states. (9) It is odd that Chelsea Clinton would do such a thing. Even if she is not a member, she must not find the devilish church to be terribly offensive.



Another disruptive group, known as the Satanic Temple, has been making headlines in recent years. Although members of this particular brand of Satanism claim that they are actually atheists, they do say their group is"a non-theistic religious organization dedicated to satanic practice and the promotion of satanic rights." They have set about to counteract Christian principles whenever and wherever they can. In January 2018 it was reported by CNBC that a member of this foul organization is suing the state of Missouri. The lawsuit came about after the complainant, who is known by the pseudonym Mary Doe, was required by Missouri law to undergo an ultrasound before receiving an abortion at Planned Parenthood. She was also forced to wait 72 hours before she could have her baby murdered and was given a booklet which states that human life begins at conception. Doe is suing the Missouri government on the grounds that they violated her satanic right to unrestricted abortion. (10) This story confirms what we already knew to be true: that abortion is a barbaric and satanic practice. In fact, it is a religious rite for the devil's followers.

The devil's people in this modern age are growing bolder. This increase in satanic activity causes a great spiritual strain in our world. Yet, we know that ultimately the devil is going to be destroyed. As Christians, we can have the victory over the devil, his cohorts, and his people. This victory is obtained by submission to our Almighty God. In James 4:6-7 we are told, "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." Notice these verses tell us that the devil will not slowly back away when we resist him, but that he will flee. I urge every reader of this newsletter to submit to God, repent of your sins if you have not done so, and dedicate your life to Him.

The Fight For Life

I have covered the topic of abortion many times in this newsletter, and it is still my belief that abortion is the gravest and worst sin routinely practiced in the United States of America. There have been some positive developments in the fight against this satanic practice. In the year 2017, forty-nine abortion clinics in the United States were shut down. Although some new clinics were opened, the number of abortion clinics now operating decreased by twenty-seven in comparison to the year of 2016. (11) In December 2017 there were 704 abortion clinics still in operation in the United States, which is 704 too many. (12)

On January 19, 2018, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Washington, D.C., for the 45th annual March for Life. President Donald Trump addressed the crowd and pledged his continued support to the pro-life movement. "Under my administration, we will always defend the very first right in the Declaration of Independence, and that is the right to life," the President said. (13) While his stance is admirable and certainly an improvement over his predecessor, there is still much that needs to change in this country. According to a report published byCNS News on January 2, 2018, Planned Parenthood, which is the largest provider of abortions in the United States, performed 321,384 abortions throughout the year of 2017. For its deadly services, the filthy organization was rewarded with payments from the American government totaling 543.7 million dollars. (14) If the American government with a Republican President and a Republican majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate cannot stop payments to Planned Parenthood now, when will they ever stop them? Remarkably, the amount of money given to Planned Parenthood in 2017 is a 61 percent increase over what they received ten years ago. (15) I realize that Planned Parenthood supporters often like to point out that the abortion provider is not legally permitted to use tax dollars to perform abortions. However, the funds they receive from the government allow them to shift money they would have to use for other expenses to instead cover abortions. If the government funding was cut off, it is likely that more Planned Parenthood clinics would close.

Interestingly enough, it was announced on January 26, 2018, that Cecile Richards is resigning from her post as president of Planned Parenthood. In a video posted to the video sharing website known as YouTube, Richards praised the organization she headed since 2006. "Planned Parenthood has helped tens of millions take control of their health and their futures by providing birth control, pap smears, breast exams, STI testing and treatment, and safe legal abortions," Richards said. Despite the fact that Planned Parenthood murdered an estimated 3.5 million babies while she served as president, Richards went on to claim that the work of her organization was "life-changing and life-saving." She also stated that working for Planned Parenthood "has been the greatest honor of my life." (16) Cecile Richards will have much to answer for on Judgment Day if she does not repent!

The Flu Epidemic Of 2018

It happens every year. As we enter the autumn and winter months, drugstores, pharmacies, and even mass merchandiser stores begin their campaigns to compel people to receive a flu shot. In many cases, it seems, that shortly after receiving the vaccine, the recipient becomes infected with a nasty influenza virus. Do these shots really protect people from the flu? According to a report published in December 2017, the vaccine being dispensed in the United States this year is only 10 percent effective against the most common strain of the influenza virus this season. (17) Considering the low efficacy of these vaccinations and the potential harm that introducing foreign substances of unknown origin can cause on the human body, it is not surprising that many people opt to forgo receiving a flu shot. Personally, I have never gotten one and I never would.

The current influenza season has been particularly severe, and the headlines published by various news outlets sound almost apocalyptic. A story from Bloomberg News calls it the "Flu Season From Hell" and predicts that more than 50,000 people will die because of this epidemic. (18) In another article, which was published on January 20, 2018, by The Independent, it was reported that one hundred people are dying each week from influenza virus infections. (19) This present epidemic is uniquely widespread and has affected every state in the continental United States. "We often see different parts of the country 'light up' at different times, but for the past three weeks, the entire country has been experiencing lots of flu, all at the same time,"said Dr. Dan Jernigan of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. He then went on to say, "In seasons where H3N2 is the main cause of influenza, we see more cases, more visits to the doctor, more hospitalizations, and more deaths, especially among older people." (20) Jernigan was also quoted by the Associated Press as saying, "This is a season that has a lot more steam than we thought." (21) The widespread nature of this epidemic has caused school closings in Texas, Illinois, Oklahoma, Idaho, North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, and Missouri. (22) Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times has reported that some hospitals in California have been forced to turn away ambulances, while others have run out of beds.

It is truly amazing that something as common as an influenza virus can cause so much pain and suffering. It is one of the many consequences of living in a fallen world where there are always dangers on every side. As bad as the current flu epidemic is, scientists are now warning that there could be viruses and diseases in the future that are far more dangerous. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Secretary-General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Elhadj As Sy was quoted as saying, "Pandemics are becoming a real threat to humanity." He later went on to say, "These past three years, there has been Ebola in West Africa, Zika in South America, and more recently a plague epidemic in Madagascar." Sylvie Briand, who is a specialist in infectious diseases at the World Health Organization, agreed that there is an imminent threat of deadly diseases. "We know that it is coming, but we have no way of stopping it," Briand declared. (23) Do these experts know something that we do not? Is it possible that new infectious diseases might be intentionally formulated and dispersed upon mankind in the future? I believe it is a possibility. There are people in this world who are far eviler than we can imagine, and there are some who are quite desirous to reduce the global population. In fact, Prince Phillip, who is the husband of the United Kingdom's Queen Elizabeth II, once said, "In the event that I am reincarnated, I would like to return as a deadly virus, to contribute something to solving overpopulation." (24)

False Alarms And Uncertainty In A Dangerous World

Throughout the year of 2017, we were told over and over again that North Korea was getting closer to perfecting its nuclear weapons capabilities. As such, the possibility of a nuclear war between North Korea and the United States is a topic that is firmly etched in the minds of the American people. Recent events have only worsened the growing fear that war could break out at any time.

On January 13, 2018, the people of Hawaii were terrified after receiving an urgent alert from the state government. "Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill," the alert frantically declared. (25) Although the message was indeed not a drill, it was a false alarm. The error purportedly came about when an employee of the Hawaiian government pushed the wrong button. According to reports, many people did not receive a correction alert until thirty-eight minutes had passed, which left the people of Hawaii in a panic and the world wondering how something like this could even happen."Clearly, government agencies are not prepared and lack the capacity to deal with emergency situations," declared Hawaii House speaker Scott Saiki. State Senator Mazie Hirono also voiced her displeasure. "At a time of heightened tensions, we need to make sure all information released to the community is accurate. We need to get to the bottom of what happened and make sure it never happens again," Hirono demanded. (26) "I can't believe if someone pushed the wrong button accidentally that it would take 38 minutes to correct it," said United States representative Colleen Hanabusa of Hawaii. She further stated, "If this was for real, what do we have to say for our whole defense system?" (27) Part of the delay in correcting the matter was caused by the fact that Hawaiian Governor David Ige could not remember his Twitter password. "I have to confess that I don't know my Twitter account log-ons and the passwords, so certainly that's one of the changes that I've made. I've been putting that on my phone so that we can access the social media directly," Governor Ige said. (28)

The blunder in Hawaii could have easily produced disastrous results. It is not difficult to imagine a scenario where the North Korean regime might have assumed this false alert was a tactic by the United States to justify an attack on North Korea. In such a case, North Korea might have launched missiles for real, possibly even nuclear weapons, assuming they have them. Thus, the simple act of pushing the wrong button could have potentially started World War III. Incredibly, just days after the mistake in Hawaii, a broadcaster in Japan, known as NHK, also issued a false alert stating that North Korea had launched a missile and urged the Japanese people to seek shelter. A spokesman for NHK apologized for the error and stated that "staff had mistakenly operated the equipment to deliver news alerts over the Internet." A correction was issued five minutes after the alert was first broadcasted. (29)

Remarkably, North Korea and South Korea have been on friendlier terms in recent weeks. In January 2018 it was announced that North Korea would send athletes to Seoul, South Korea, to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics. The plans call for athletes from the North and South to march together under one flag and for women from both countries to play on the same hockey team. (30) Could it be that there is a genuine interest in reconciliation between the two nations or is this perhaps a diversion?

As it stands, a war between the United States and North Korea remains a very real possibility. Consider the words of some prominent figures on the world stage. "We're actually closer in my view to a nuclear [war] with North Korea and in that region than we've ever been and I just don't see how, I don't see the opportunities to solve this diplomatically at this particular point," said retired United States Navy Admiral Mike Mullen. (31) Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe believes that the threat of war with North Korea poses the greatest danger to his country since World War II. "It is not an exaggeration to say that the security environment surrounding Japan is at its severest since World War II," the Prime Minister said. He further went on to say, "It is absolutely unacceptable that North Korea is trampling the strong desire of Japan and the rest of the international community for peaceful resolutions and continuing with its provocative behavior." (32) Meanwhile, 94-year-old Henry Kissinger, who served as Secretary of State for former American Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington, D.C., on January 18, 2018. Speaking at this gathering, Kissinger told his audience, "If North Korea still possesses a military nuclear capability in some finite time, the impact on the proliferation of nuclear weapons might be fundamental. Because if North Korea could keep its capability in the face of opposition by China and the United States, and the disapproval of the rest of the… world, other countries will also feel this is the way for achieving international prominence and the upper hand." Kissinger also stated that a preemptive strike on North Korea would be "rational" and he called on China to impose sanctions against North Korea. (33) The question is: was Kissinger merely offering his opinion on the matter or was he giving orders?

In a bizarre twist, American President Donald Trump offered praise to China for its help in reining in North Korea while simultaneously criticizing Russia. "What China is helping us with, Russia is denting. In other words, Russia is making up for some of what China is doing."(34) President Trump's conciliatory tone toward China is a startling change from his former criticisms of the communist regime in previous years. Nevertheless, Trump further stated that he is hoping that the conflict with North Korea will end in "a peaceful way, but it's very possible that it can't." (35) The days ahead are uncertain, but our God knows the end from the beginning.

Scientists Predict Increased Seismic Activity

The world we live in today is constantly shaking, and scientists have warned that it could get worse. The potential for greater seismic activity in 2018 is due to the fact that the rotation speed of planet earth is gradually slowing. "On five occasions in the past century, a 25-30 percent increase in annual numbers of [earthquakes of magnitude of 7.0 or higher] has coincided with a slowing in the mean rotation velocity of the Earth," said a study published by Roger Bilham of the University of Colorado and Rebecca Bendick of the University of Montana. According to Bilham, there could be as many as twenty powerful earthquakes this year. (36) If early seismic activity is an accurate indicator, the scientists' prediction could prove to be true. There have already been three earthquakes this month with a magnitude exceeding 7.0. This includes a temblor in Honduras on January 10, 2018, measuring 7.5 in magnitude; a quake in Peru on January 14, 2018, measuring 7.1 in magnitude, and a big one in Kodiak, Alaska, on January 23, 2018, with a magnitude of 7.9. (37)

The state of California, which has also had to contend with wildfires and mudslides in recent months, has been shaking, too. On January 25, 2018, it was reported by Newsweek Magazine that California had experienced three earthquakes in one day. (38) In another report we learn that the San Francisco Bay area suffered seven earthquakes in a one week period. (39) Meanwhile, eighty earthquakes shook Washington State near Mount St. Helens throughout the month of December 2017. Although the area is prone to frequent earthquakes, which sometimes come in swarms, this number was four times higher than normal. (40) Immediately following the shakings of December, seventeen earthquakes struck the area on January 3, 2018. (41) This year could be very shaky, to say the least.

In closing, the happenings of our day clearly indicate that the devil is angry and is manifesting in very ugly ways. Yet, his destruction is imminent, and we grow closer to the return of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, with each passing day. We draw our strength and endurance from our God. For as it tells us in I Peter 5:8-11, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

Thank you to our readers for your kind support. We at Last Trumpet Ministries hope that this newsletter and everything we offer will be a blessing to you. If you have any prayer requests, please do not hesitate to send them our way. Each week, your prayer requests are distributed to our team of intercessors, and each request is always given individual attention. We have seen many answers to prayers over the years. Grace and peace be unto you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.


Samuel David Meyer

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Acknowledgements

01. Los Angeles Times, January 5, 2018, By August Brown, http://latimes.com.
02. Ibid.
03. Ibid.
04. Ibid.
05. Ibid.
06. Gizmodo, November 7, 2014, By Cheryl Eddy, http://gizmodo.com.
07. Ranker, By Jessika Gilbert, http://ranker.com.
08. The Guardian, January 8, 2018, By Stuart Jeffries, http://theguardian.com.
09. Ibid.
10. CNBC, January 25, 2018, By Dan Mangan, http://cnbc.com.
11. Life News, December 19, 2018, By Cheryl Sullenger, http://lifenews.com.
12. Ibid.
13. The White House, January 19, 2018, By President Donald Trump, http://whitehouse.gov.
14. CNS News, January 2, 2018, By Terence P. Jeffrey, http://cnsnews.com.
15. Christian Post, January 4, 2018, By Brandon Showalter, http://christianpost.com.
16. Life Site News, January 26, 2018, By Doug Mainwaring, http://lifesitenews.com.
17. The Daily Mail, December 5, 2018, By Mia De Graaf, http://dailymail.co.uk.
18. Bloomberg News, January 26, 2018, By Michelle Cortez, http://bloomberg.com.
19. The Independent, January 20, 2018, By Caroline Mortimer, http://independent.co.uk.
20. The Hill, January 27, 2018, By Max Greenwood, http://thehill.com.
21. Associated Press, January 20, 2018, By Mike Stobbe, http://news.yahoo.com.
22. The Wall Street Journal, January 27, 2018, By Tawnell D. Hobbs, http://wsj.com.
23. AFP, January 26, 2018, By AFP, http://afp.com.
24. The Telegraph, May 4, 2017, By Olivia Goldhill, http://telegraph.co.uk.
25. NBC Bay Area News, January 13, 2018, By NBC Bay Area, http://nbcbayarea.com.
26. Ibid.
27. Hawaii News Now, January 13, 2018, By HNN Staff, http://hawaiinewsnow.com.
28. Honolulu Star Advertiser, January 22, 2018, By Kevin Dayton, http://staradvertiser.com.
29. The New York Times, January 16, 2018, By Kimiko de Freytas-Tamura, http://nytimes.com.
30. The New York Times, January 17, 2018, By Choe Sang-Hun, http://nytimes.com.
31. Newsweek, December 31, 2017, By Jessica Kwong, http://newsweek.com.
32. International Business Times, January 4, 2018, By Joe Difazio, http://ibtimes.com.
33. Fox News, January 25, 2018, By Benjamin Brown, http://foxnews.com.
34. Reuters News Service, January 17, 2018, By Steve Holland, Roberta Rampton, and Jeff Mason, http://reuters.com.
35. Ibid.
36. The Journal, January 1, 2018, By Daragh Brophy, http://thejournal.ie.
37. U.S. Geological Survey, January 29, 2018, http://earthquake.usgs.gov.
38. Newsweek, January 25, 2018, By Kristin Hugo, http://newsweek.com.
39. SF Gate, January 26, 2018, By Sophie Haigney, http://sfgate.com.
40. Quartz, January 3, 2018, By Karen Hao, http://qz.com.
41. Ibid.

To learn more about the history of our ministry and our founder, Pastor David J. Meyer, please visit http://pastormeyer.org.

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