Volume 43 Issue Nine September 2024
Last Trumpet Ministries · PO Box 806 · Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Phone: 920-887-2626 Internet: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org
“For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” I Cor. 14:8
An Era Of Shocking Events
“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 13:35-37
On August 19, 2024, the elitist World Economic Forum published an article on its website warning of the danger and volatility in our world today. The list of threats runs the gamut from the ongoing outbreak of mpox, global wars, climate change, and technological disruptions with the potential to upend our everyday lives. The article contends that we could soon see “an era of shock events.” (1) One could argue, however, that we have already seen our fair share of shocking events in recent years. The Covid-19 pandemic, lockdowns, and vaccine mandates were all shocking. The ensuing supply chain disruptions were shocking. The inflation crisis, which made groceries, automobiles, and housing unaffordable, was shocking. We’ve seen the shocking brutality of war on full display in Ukraine, Sudan, and the Middle East. We have just watched the Hollywood elite collude and conspire with the news media to steal a presidential nomination from Joe Biden and bestow it upon Kamala Harris. Someone tried to assassinate presidential candidate Donald Trump and nearly succeeded. Can we infer from the aforementioned article that what is coming will be worse than the shocks we’ve already seen? It’s hard to imagine.
The Apostle Paul warns in II Timothy 3:13, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ also warned that shocking events would come upon the earth. In Luke 21:25-26, we read, “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” This indeed sounds very much like an “era of shock events.” The most shocking event of all, however, is described in Luke 21:27, which declares, “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” No one knows the day or the hour of our Savior’s coming, but we should always be ready to meet Him. In Luke 12:40, Jesus admonishes, “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” He further instructs us to watch and pray as we await His return. Mark 13:35-37 tells us, “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.” If we follow His instructions, He will give us the strength to endure to the end, even as shocking events unfold all around us.
The Shocking Cost Of War
For those who are far removed from the horrors of war, the easiest way to cope with the problem is to not think about it very much. When Russia first invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the world was shocked. It was all over the American news, and many pledged their unwavering support for Ukraine. However, the population as a whole has since moved on. After all, it is not our problem, is it? Yet, the United States is very much involved in this war. Without intervention from the United States and the European members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, the war would have been over a long time ago.
According to a report from the United States Department of State published in August 2024, the United States has provided more than 55.5 billion dollars in military assistance to Ukraine since the war began. The report then proceeds to furnish a list of weapons and ammunition given to Ukraine that spans more than four pages. Highlights from the list include more than 2,000 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, more than 200 Howitzers with more than three million 155mm artillery rounds, more than four hundred thousand 152mm artillery rounds, more than 200 mortar systems with more than 600,000 mortar rounds, and 31 Abrams tanks. (2) Additionally, National Public Radio reported on August 1, 2024, that Ukraine just received its first batch of F-16 fighter jets. Although other countries in Europe provided these jets, they were made in the United States. (3)
It should be noted that the previously mentioned spending only covers military aid to Ukraine. When you factor in the total aid, the price tag is considerably higher. In May 2024, the United States Congress approved an aid package for Ukraine worth 61 billion dollars. The United States has committed at least 175 billion dollars to Ukraine since the Russian invasion. (4) Meanwhile, the European Union has made more than 121 billion dollars in aid available to Ukraine, including a commitment to provide up to 54 billion dollars to Ukraine through 2027. (5)
Despite the monumental support received from the West, Ukraine could still lose the war. In April 2024, BBC News published a headline declaring, “Ukraine could face defeat in 2024.” (6) In a similar fashion, the European branch of Politico also wrote in April that “Ukraine is heading for defeat.” (7) In a desperate attempt to turn the tide of the war, Ukraine launched a surprise invasion of Russia in August 2024. By all accounts, the Russian military was caught off guard. According to one Ukrainian soldier, some of the Russian soldiers they encountered near the Kursk region were “sitting in the forest and drinking coffee” when Ukrainian forces came upon them. (8) This risky gambit has met with some surprising success. Ukrainian forces control 500 square miles of Russian territory as of this writing and have captured 594 Russian soldiers. About 130,000 Russians have been forced to evacuate their homes, according to a report from Voice of America News. (9)
Now that Ukraine is attacking Russian territory with American weapons, this presents a dangerous new phase in the war. Earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the use of Western-made long-range weapons in Russian territory would be considered a significant escalation. “The constant escalation could lead to grave consequences. If those grave consequences come to Europe, how will the U.S. act in view of our parity in strategic weapons? Hard to say. Do they want a global conflict?” Putin asked. (10) The longer this war persists, the greater the odds that it will draw other countries into deeper involvement, including the United States and the European members of NATO. In May 2024, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski suggested in an interview that Poland might send troops to Ukraine. “We shouldn't rule it out. We should leave Putin guessing as to our intentions,” he said. (11)
As has been the case for so long, powerful world leaders are forcing their people to fight and die for their cause. The war in Ukraine has been especially brutal as Russia churns through hundreds of thousands of soldiers. According to estimates published by Newsweek in July 2024, Russian casualties in the war have surpassed 500,000. On the other side, the Ukrainian government estimated that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died in the war as of February 2024. However, the Russian government disputes this number, claiming that Ukraine lost 215,000 soldiers in 2023 alone. (12) Therein lies the most shocking fact of all: more than half a million soldiers have been killed, injured, or maimed in a war that I am certain many of them do not want to fight. A recent piece published by Asia Times sums up the entire war quite succinctly in one headline. The headline reads, “Ukraine war a lose-lose proposition for all concerned.” (13)
War And Famine In Sudan
In Matthew 24:7-8, Jesus gave us a glimpse of the future when he said, “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” There have been many famines throughout history. Yet, what is now unfolding in the African country of Sudan is shaping up to be the worst famine that the world has seen in decades. “This is possibly the crisis of a generation. I’ve never seen anything like it,” lamented Edouard Rodier, Europe director for the Norwegian Refugee Council. (14)
If you have not heard much about the crisis in Sudan, it is likely because the story is seldom covered in the media in any great depth. The news is far more interested in reporting on the war in Ukraine, the conflict between the State of Israel, Gaza, Hezbollah, and Iran, the political discord in the United States, or the latest antics of Taylor Swift. What, then, is happening in Sudan?
Since April 2023, the people of Sudan have endured a brutal civil war between Sudan’s national army and another group known as Rapid Support Forces. Since the war began, at least nine million Sudanese people have been displaced from their homes, and an estimated 150,000 have died. (15) The death toll is about to rise significantly, however, because more than half of Sudan’s 48 million people are facing hunger. Recent reports indicate that 25.6 million people are facing hunger, including 8.5 million who are malnourished, and 755,000 who are on the brink of starvation and, without intervention, death. Estimates suggest that 222,000 children in Sudan could die in the coming months. (16) “We may not see a famine declaration, but there’s no question that the starvation crisis is on a scale without parallel for 40 years or more, and is going to kill hundreds of thousands of Sudanese,” said Alex de Waal, a scholar at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. (17)
Those familiar with the situation have expressed frustration over the lack of attention regarding the shocking crisis unfolding in Sudan. “World leaders continue to go through the motions, expressing concern over Sudan’s crisis. Yet, they’ve failed to rise to the occasion,” said Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, the head of Mercy Corps. (18) According to the Associated Press, world leaders pledged more than 2.1 billion dollars in aid for Sudan last April, but only a fraction of the funds have been dispersed so far. More recently, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations said the U.S. would spend an additional 203 million dollars on aid for Sudan. (19) This, of course, is far less than the United States has spent on Ukraine and other countries. To be fair, however, all the money in the world will not help Sudan if trucks cannot enter the country. One of the reasons food is in such short supply is that the warring factions sometimes block the roads that lead in and out of Sudan. For example, a border crossing with neighboring Chad was blocked for six months. (20)
The famine unfolding in Sudan is yet another clear example of Christ’s words coming to pass before our very eyes. Indeed, the Scriptures are more accurate than tomorrow’s newspaper. Needless to say, the plight of the Sudanese people deserves both our attention and prayers. May God be merciful.
Dangerous Pestilence
It is fitting that Jesus Christ mentioned pestilence alongside war, famines, and earthquakes in Matthew 24. While people were relieved to see the Covid-19 pandemic officially end in 2023, other diseases continue to wreak havoc in our world. Two diseases that have been especially concerning in recent days are bird flu and mpox (formerly known as monkeypox.) On August 14, 2024, the World Health Organization declared that mpox is now a public health emergency. "Today, the Emergency Committee met and advised me that in its view, the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice," said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. (21) A report from ABC News indicates that there have been 1,634 reported cases of mpox in the United States this year, more than double the reported cases during the same time period in 2023. (22)
Mpox typically circulates in some regions of Africa. However, the disease is spreading far more rapidly than usual in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where more than 14,000 cases have been reported this year, resulting in at least 524 deaths. Presently, there are two forms of the virus circulating known as clade I and clade II. The outbreak in the DRC has been fueled by a new variant of clade I. “The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of mpox in eastern DRC, its detection in neighboring countries that had not previously reported mpox, and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying,” Tedros warned. (23)
Mpox, which causes painful rashes, sores, headaches, muscle aches, and fever, can be transmitted through close contact with infected individuals. It is especially common for it to spread through sexual activity. (24) As such, one can significantly lessen their chances of contracting mpox by following the Bible’s guidance and avoiding fornication and adultery. A report from the New York Times notes, “Because the virus spreads so efficiently through intimate contact, people with multiple sexual partners are at higher risk for contracting the virus.” (25) The new variant of mpox in the DRC, however, is behaving differently than previous iterations of the virus. Notably, when children are infected with mpox, the disease is more severe than in adults. Children under age fifteen account for the majority of the deaths reported so far in the Congo. (26)
Amid the growing concern over the outbreak, Danish vaccine maker Bavarian Nordic has seen its stock market value skyrocket in recent weeks. The biotech firm recently signed a contract to provide 440,000 doses of mpox vaccine to an unnamed European country. The company also announced that it can produce up to 10 million doses through 2025. (27)
Meanwhile, avian influenza, which is more commonly referred to as bird flu, continues to spread at a rapid pace. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bird flu has been detected in 9,773 wild birds since 2022. The disease has impacted over 100 million poultry, and outbreaks have been recorded in 48 states. (28) To make matters worse, bird flu has crossed species and is now afflicting cows. As of this writing, bird flu has impacted 191 dairy herds with outbreaks recorded in thirteen states. Additionally, fourteen people have been infected with bird flu since 2022. (29) While the risk to humans remains low at this time, the changing behavior of the virus is alarming experts, with some wondering if bird flu could spark the next pandemic. “I think the window is closing on our ability to contain the outbreak. We’re so quick to blame China for what happened with SARS-CoV-2, but we’re not doing any better right now. That’s how pandemics happen,” opined infectious disease doctor Krutika Kuppalli. (30) Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, who is the acting director of pandemic preparedness and prevention at the World Health Organization, suggested that the thought of another pandemic is too much for most people to handle right now. “The idea that we would have a flu pandemic anytime soon, I think the weight of that politically, economically, in terms of all of our mental health, is just too much to bear at the moment,” she said. She then went on to say, “Everyone’s tired from COVID, everyone’s tired from mpox, everyone’s tired from climate change and war and all that. But right now, we don’t get to be tired.” (31)
While bird flu has deeply impacted the poultry industry and is now afflicting dairy herds, that is not the end of the story. The current strain of avian flu H5N1 has spread to twenty-three mammal species, including red foxes, house mice, skunks, and domestic cats. The fatality rate among felines is 67 percent. (32) How far will it spread? Only God knows.
Dangerous Hacking
In today’s modern society, most of us rely heavily on technology to get through our daily lives. We use the Internet for communication, entertainment, education, and business transactions. While the Internet can be convenient, useful, and fun, it can also be incredibly dangerous. A vast amount of personal information is stored online, including financial information. Alarmingly, most of us are unaware of who has our private information and we don’t know what they are doing with it. Sadly, many companies have failed to keep our information safe in recent years, which has left us in a precarious and vulnerable situation.
Computer hackers have long wreaked havoc in cyberspace. Yet, in recent years, the problem has reached a crisis level as determined data thieves find new ways to break into company’s information systems. This past July, it came to light that hackers had stolen call and text records from AT&T. This massive data breach, which occurred between May 1, 2022 and October 31, 2022, resulted in the theft of “nearly all” records from that time period. AT&T had about 110 million subscribers at the time. To make matters worse, the breach was not disclosed to the public until July 2024. “This is very concerning. This information is very valuable to cyber criminals and to nation-states,” said Sanaz Yashar, the co-founder and CEO of cybersecurity firm Zafran. (33) This was far from the worst hack in recent days, however.
Recent reports reveal that a hacking group known as USDoD has stolen nearly three billion records from the data broker firm known as National Public Data. The stolen information includes full names, addresses, birthdays, phone numbers, and social security numbers. According to a piece by the Los Angeles Times, security experts examined some of the stolen records and determined that it appears to be real information. A member of the hacking group claims that nearly every social security number in the United States was compromised. “If this in fact is pretty much the whole dossier on all of us, it certainly is much more concerning,” said Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog director for U.S. Public Interest Research Group. “And if people weren’t taking precautions in the past, which they should have been doing, this should be a five-alarm wake-up call for them.” (34) If you are concerned that your social security number may have been compromised, security experts recommend contacting the three credit bureaus in the United States - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - and asking them to put a credit freeze on your credit reports. This will prevent identity thieves from applying for credit cards or bank loans with your information.
In closing, I urge every reader of this newsletter to get as close as you can to God in these perilous days. There are many shocking events and unwanted surprises, but thankfully, our God knows the end from the beginning and He knows how to carry us through. If you have not yet repented of your sins and dedicated your life to God, I urge you to do so now.
As always, we invite you to send us your prayer requests. Each request is given individual attention. Thank you all for your kind support of this ministry. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Samuel David Meyer
Acknowledgments
01. World Economic Forum, August 19, 2024, By Maha Hosain Aziz, weforum.org.
02. U.S. Department of State, August 23, 2024, state.gov.
03. National Public Radio, August 1, 2024, By Greg Myre, npr.org.
04. Center for Strategic and International Studies, May 1, 2024, By Mark F. Cancian and Chris H. Park, csis.org.
05. EEAS, July 16, 2024, By EEAS, eeas.europa.eu.
06. BBC News, April 12, 2024, By Frank Gardner, bbc.com.
07. Politico, April 17, 2024, By Jamie Dettmer, politico.eu.
08. New York Post, August 15, 2024, By Ronny Reyes, nypost.com.
09. VOA News, August 27, 2024, By VOA News, voanews.com.
10. PBS News, July 6, 2024, By PBS News, pbs.org.
11. Reuters, May 28, 2024, By By Alan Charlish and Alvise Armellini, reuters.com.
12. Newsweek, July 3, 2024, By Ellie Cook, newsweek.com.
13. Asia Times, August 26, 2024, By Alexander Casella, asiatimes.com.
14. The New York Times, June 27, 2024, By Declan Walsh, nytimes.
15. Ibid.
16. Ibid.
17. Ibid.
18. Ibid.
19. Associated Press, July 18, 2024, By Jade Lozada, apnews.com.
20. The New York Times, June 27, 2024, By Declan Walsh, nytimes.
21. ABC News, August 14, 2024, By Mary Kekatos, abcnews.go.com.
22. Ibid.
23. Ibid.
24. New York Times, August 29, 2024, By Dani Blum, nytimes.com.
25. Ibid.
26. Ibid.
27. Forbes, August 22, 2024, By Robert Hart, forbes.com.
28. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 22, 2024, cdc.gov.
29. Ibid.
30. The New York Times, August 21, 2024, By Apoorva Mandavilli, nytimes.com.
31. Ibid.
32. Down to Earth, August 14, 2024, By Himanshu Nitnaware, downtoearth.org.in.
33. CNN, July 12, 2024, By Matt Egan and Sean Lyngaas, cnn.com.
34. Los Angeles Times, August 13, 2024, By Jon Healy, latimes.com.
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.
For those who are far removed from the horrors of war, the easiest way to cope with the problem is to not think about it very much. When Russia first invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the world was shocked. It was all over the American news, and many pledged their unwavering support for Ukraine. However, the population as a whole has since moved on. After all, it is not our problem, is it? Yet, the United States is very much involved in this war. Without intervention from the United States and the European members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, the war would have been over a long time ago.
According to a report from the United States Department of State published in August 2024, the United States has provided more than 55.5 billion dollars in military assistance to Ukraine since the war began. The report then proceeds to furnish a list of weapons and ammunition given to Ukraine that spans more than four pages. Highlights from the list include more than 2,000 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, more than 200 Howitzers with more than three million 155mm artillery rounds, more than four hundred thousand 152mm artillery rounds, more than 200 mortar systems with more than 600,000 mortar rounds, and 31 Abrams tanks. (2) Additionally, National Public Radio reported on August 1, 2024, that Ukraine just received its first batch of F-16 fighter jets. Although other countries in Europe provided these jets, they were made in the United States. (3)
It should be noted that the previously mentioned spending only covers military aid to Ukraine. When you factor in the total aid, the price tag is considerably higher. In May 2024, the United States Congress approved an aid package for Ukraine worth 61 billion dollars. The United States has committed at least 175 billion dollars to Ukraine since the Russian invasion. (4) Meanwhile, the European Union has made more than 121 billion dollars in aid available to Ukraine, including a commitment to provide up to 54 billion dollars to Ukraine through 2027. (5)
Despite the monumental support received from the West, Ukraine could still lose the war. In April 2024, BBC News published a headline declaring, “Ukraine could face defeat in 2024.” (6) In a similar fashion, the European branch of Politico also wrote in April that “Ukraine is heading for defeat.” (7) In a desperate attempt to turn the tide of the war, Ukraine launched a surprise invasion of Russia in August 2024. By all accounts, the Russian military was caught off guard. According to one Ukrainian soldier, some of the Russian soldiers they encountered near the Kursk region were “sitting in the forest and drinking coffee” when Ukrainian forces came upon them. (8) This risky gambit has met with some surprising success. Ukrainian forces control 500 square miles of Russian territory as of this writing and have captured 594 Russian soldiers. About 130,000 Russians have been forced to evacuate their homes, according to a report from Voice of America News. (9)
Now that Ukraine is attacking Russian territory with American weapons, this presents a dangerous new phase in the war. Earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the use of Western-made long-range weapons in Russian territory would be considered a significant escalation. “The constant escalation could lead to grave consequences. If those grave consequences come to Europe, how will the U.S. act in view of our parity in strategic weapons? Hard to say. Do they want a global conflict?” Putin asked. (10) The longer this war persists, the greater the odds that it will draw other countries into deeper involvement, including the United States and the European members of NATO. In May 2024, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski suggested in an interview that Poland might send troops to Ukraine. “We shouldn't rule it out. We should leave Putin guessing as to our intentions,” he said. (11)
As has been the case for so long, powerful world leaders are forcing their people to fight and die for their cause. The war in Ukraine has been especially brutal as Russia churns through hundreds of thousands of soldiers. According to estimates published by Newsweek in July 2024, Russian casualties in the war have surpassed 500,000. On the other side, the Ukrainian government estimated that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died in the war as of February 2024. However, the Russian government disputes this number, claiming that Ukraine lost 215,000 soldiers in 2023 alone. (12) Therein lies the most shocking fact of all: more than half a million soldiers have been killed, injured, or maimed in a war that I am certain many of them do not want to fight. A recent piece published by Asia Times sums up the entire war quite succinctly in one headline. The headline reads, “Ukraine war a lose-lose proposition for all concerned.” (13)
War And Famine In Sudan
In Matthew 24:7-8, Jesus gave us a glimpse of the future when he said, “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” There have been many famines throughout history. Yet, what is now unfolding in the African country of Sudan is shaping up to be the worst famine that the world has seen in decades. “This is possibly the crisis of a generation. I’ve never seen anything like it,” lamented Edouard Rodier, Europe director for the Norwegian Refugee Council. (14)
If you have not heard much about the crisis in Sudan, it is likely because the story is seldom covered in the media in any great depth. The news is far more interested in reporting on the war in Ukraine, the conflict between the State of Israel, Gaza, Hezbollah, and Iran, the political discord in the United States, or the latest antics of Taylor Swift. What, then, is happening in Sudan?
Since April 2023, the people of Sudan have endured a brutal civil war between Sudan’s national army and another group known as Rapid Support Forces. Since the war began, at least nine million Sudanese people have been displaced from their homes, and an estimated 150,000 have died. (15) The death toll is about to rise significantly, however, because more than half of Sudan’s 48 million people are facing hunger. Recent reports indicate that 25.6 million people are facing hunger, including 8.5 million who are malnourished, and 755,000 who are on the brink of starvation and, without intervention, death. Estimates suggest that 222,000 children in Sudan could die in the coming months. (16) “We may not see a famine declaration, but there’s no question that the starvation crisis is on a scale without parallel for 40 years or more, and is going to kill hundreds of thousands of Sudanese,” said Alex de Waal, a scholar at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. (17)
Those familiar with the situation have expressed frustration over the lack of attention regarding the shocking crisis unfolding in Sudan. “World leaders continue to go through the motions, expressing concern over Sudan’s crisis. Yet, they’ve failed to rise to the occasion,” said Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, the head of Mercy Corps. (18) According to the Associated Press, world leaders pledged more than 2.1 billion dollars in aid for Sudan last April, but only a fraction of the funds have been dispersed so far. More recently, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations said the U.S. would spend an additional 203 million dollars on aid for Sudan. (19) This, of course, is far less than the United States has spent on Ukraine and other countries. To be fair, however, all the money in the world will not help Sudan if trucks cannot enter the country. One of the reasons food is in such short supply is that the warring factions sometimes block the roads that lead in and out of Sudan. For example, a border crossing with neighboring Chad was blocked for six months. (20)
The famine unfolding in Sudan is yet another clear example of Christ’s words coming to pass before our very eyes. Indeed, the Scriptures are more accurate than tomorrow’s newspaper. Needless to say, the plight of the Sudanese people deserves both our attention and prayers. May God be merciful.
Dangerous Pestilence
It is fitting that Jesus Christ mentioned pestilence alongside war, famines, and earthquakes in Matthew 24. While people were relieved to see the Covid-19 pandemic officially end in 2023, other diseases continue to wreak havoc in our world. Two diseases that have been especially concerning in recent days are bird flu and mpox (formerly known as monkeypox.) On August 14, 2024, the World Health Organization declared that mpox is now a public health emergency. "Today, the Emergency Committee met and advised me that in its view, the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice," said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. (21) A report from ABC News indicates that there have been 1,634 reported cases of mpox in the United States this year, more than double the reported cases during the same time period in 2023. (22)
Mpox typically circulates in some regions of Africa. However, the disease is spreading far more rapidly than usual in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where more than 14,000 cases have been reported this year, resulting in at least 524 deaths. Presently, there are two forms of the virus circulating known as clade I and clade II. The outbreak in the DRC has been fueled by a new variant of clade I. “The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of mpox in eastern DRC, its detection in neighboring countries that had not previously reported mpox, and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying,” Tedros warned. (23)
Mpox, which causes painful rashes, sores, headaches, muscle aches, and fever, can be transmitted through close contact with infected individuals. It is especially common for it to spread through sexual activity. (24) As such, one can significantly lessen their chances of contracting mpox by following the Bible’s guidance and avoiding fornication and adultery. A report from the New York Times notes, “Because the virus spreads so efficiently through intimate contact, people with multiple sexual partners are at higher risk for contracting the virus.” (25) The new variant of mpox in the DRC, however, is behaving differently than previous iterations of the virus. Notably, when children are infected with mpox, the disease is more severe than in adults. Children under age fifteen account for the majority of the deaths reported so far in the Congo. (26)
Amid the growing concern over the outbreak, Danish vaccine maker Bavarian Nordic has seen its stock market value skyrocket in recent weeks. The biotech firm recently signed a contract to provide 440,000 doses of mpox vaccine to an unnamed European country. The company also announced that it can produce up to 10 million doses through 2025. (27)
Meanwhile, avian influenza, which is more commonly referred to as bird flu, continues to spread at a rapid pace. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bird flu has been detected in 9,773 wild birds since 2022. The disease has impacted over 100 million poultry, and outbreaks have been recorded in 48 states. (28) To make matters worse, bird flu has crossed species and is now afflicting cows. As of this writing, bird flu has impacted 191 dairy herds with outbreaks recorded in thirteen states. Additionally, fourteen people have been infected with bird flu since 2022. (29) While the risk to humans remains low at this time, the changing behavior of the virus is alarming experts, with some wondering if bird flu could spark the next pandemic. “I think the window is closing on our ability to contain the outbreak. We’re so quick to blame China for what happened with SARS-CoV-2, but we’re not doing any better right now. That’s how pandemics happen,” opined infectious disease doctor Krutika Kuppalli. (30) Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, who is the acting director of pandemic preparedness and prevention at the World Health Organization, suggested that the thought of another pandemic is too much for most people to handle right now. “The idea that we would have a flu pandemic anytime soon, I think the weight of that politically, economically, in terms of all of our mental health, is just too much to bear at the moment,” she said. She then went on to say, “Everyone’s tired from COVID, everyone’s tired from mpox, everyone’s tired from climate change and war and all that. But right now, we don’t get to be tired.” (31)
While bird flu has deeply impacted the poultry industry and is now afflicting dairy herds, that is not the end of the story. The current strain of avian flu H5N1 has spread to twenty-three mammal species, including red foxes, house mice, skunks, and domestic cats. The fatality rate among felines is 67 percent. (32) How far will it spread? Only God knows.
Dangerous Hacking
In today’s modern society, most of us rely heavily on technology to get through our daily lives. We use the Internet for communication, entertainment, education, and business transactions. While the Internet can be convenient, useful, and fun, it can also be incredibly dangerous. A vast amount of personal information is stored online, including financial information. Alarmingly, most of us are unaware of who has our private information and we don’t know what they are doing with it. Sadly, many companies have failed to keep our information safe in recent years, which has left us in a precarious and vulnerable situation.
Computer hackers have long wreaked havoc in cyberspace. Yet, in recent years, the problem has reached a crisis level as determined data thieves find new ways to break into company’s information systems. This past July, it came to light that hackers had stolen call and text records from AT&T. This massive data breach, which occurred between May 1, 2022 and October 31, 2022, resulted in the theft of “nearly all” records from that time period. AT&T had about 110 million subscribers at the time. To make matters worse, the breach was not disclosed to the public until July 2024. “This is very concerning. This information is very valuable to cyber criminals and to nation-states,” said Sanaz Yashar, the co-founder and CEO of cybersecurity firm Zafran. (33) This was far from the worst hack in recent days, however.
Recent reports reveal that a hacking group known as USDoD has stolen nearly three billion records from the data broker firm known as National Public Data. The stolen information includes full names, addresses, birthdays, phone numbers, and social security numbers. According to a piece by the Los Angeles Times, security experts examined some of the stolen records and determined that it appears to be real information. A member of the hacking group claims that nearly every social security number in the United States was compromised. “If this in fact is pretty much the whole dossier on all of us, it certainly is much more concerning,” said Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog director for U.S. Public Interest Research Group. “And if people weren’t taking precautions in the past, which they should have been doing, this should be a five-alarm wake-up call for them.” (34) If you are concerned that your social security number may have been compromised, security experts recommend contacting the three credit bureaus in the United States - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - and asking them to put a credit freeze on your credit reports. This will prevent identity thieves from applying for credit cards or bank loans with your information.
In closing, I urge every reader of this newsletter to get as close as you can to God in these perilous days. There are many shocking events and unwanted surprises, but thankfully, our God knows the end from the beginning and He knows how to carry us through. If you have not yet repented of your sins and dedicated your life to God, I urge you to do so now.
As always, we invite you to send us your prayer requests. Each request is given individual attention. Thank you all for your kind support of this ministry. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Samuel David Meyer
Acknowledgments
01. World Economic Forum, August 19, 2024, By Maha Hosain Aziz, weforum.org.
02. U.S. Department of State, August 23, 2024, state.gov.
03. National Public Radio, August 1, 2024, By Greg Myre, npr.org.
04. Center for Strategic and International Studies, May 1, 2024, By Mark F. Cancian and Chris H. Park, csis.org.
05. EEAS, July 16, 2024, By EEAS, eeas.europa.eu.
06. BBC News, April 12, 2024, By Frank Gardner, bbc.com.
07. Politico, April 17, 2024, By Jamie Dettmer, politico.eu.
08. New York Post, August 15, 2024, By Ronny Reyes, nypost.com.
09. VOA News, August 27, 2024, By VOA News, voanews.com.
10. PBS News, July 6, 2024, By PBS News, pbs.org.
11. Reuters, May 28, 2024, By By Alan Charlish and Alvise Armellini, reuters.com.
12. Newsweek, July 3, 2024, By Ellie Cook, newsweek.com.
13. Asia Times, August 26, 2024, By Alexander Casella, asiatimes.com.
14. The New York Times, June 27, 2024, By Declan Walsh, nytimes.
15. Ibid.
16. Ibid.
17. Ibid.
18. Ibid.
19. Associated Press, July 18, 2024, By Jade Lozada, apnews.com.
20. The New York Times, June 27, 2024, By Declan Walsh, nytimes.
21. ABC News, August 14, 2024, By Mary Kekatos, abcnews.go.com.
22. Ibid.
23. Ibid.
24. New York Times, August 29, 2024, By Dani Blum, nytimes.com.
25. Ibid.
26. Ibid.
27. Forbes, August 22, 2024, By Robert Hart, forbes.com.
28. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 22, 2024, cdc.gov.
29. Ibid.
30. The New York Times, August 21, 2024, By Apoorva Mandavilli, nytimes.com.
31. Ibid.
32. Down to Earth, August 14, 2024, By Himanshu Nitnaware, downtoearth.org.in.
33. CNN, July 12, 2024, By Matt Egan and Sean Lyngaas, cnn.com.
34. Los Angeles Times, August 13, 2024, By Jon Healy, latimes.com.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment