Volume XXXI Issue VI June 2012
Last Trumpet Ministries, PO Box 806, Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Fax: 920-887-2626 Internet: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org
Warning Signs Of Distress In The Last Days!
"But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 24:48-51
Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not."
Luke 12:37-40
In this issue of the Last Trumpet, we will once again focus on the current events of our day and the many dangers that the people of the earth are now facing in these times of turmoil. Although most people in this world are hopeful that things will get better and are content to ignore the many warning signs of distress in these last days, a sizeable minority of people are waking up to the possibility that we could soon be facing some very difficult challenges. In fact, a recent news article reported that there are up to three million Americans who are now preparing for "doomsday." These people are commonly referred to as "preppers" and many of them have gone to great lengths to ensure that they will be prepared for any disasters that they may face in the future. The article cites a poll by the National Geographic Channel in which 61 percent of respondents say they believe a catastrophic event will occur within the next twenty years. (1) Meanwhile, a housing developer in the state of Kansas is building luxury shelters within the shaft of an abandoned missile silo. As of April 2012, wealthy survivalists have spent 7 million dollars on the shelters, and there is a possibility that more may be built. Speaking of his clientele, developer Larry Hall stated, "They worry about events ranging from solar flares, to economic collapse, to pandemics, to terrorism, to food shortages." (2)
The possibility that a major catastrophic event could occur is not a far-fetched notion. For example, experts have been concerned for many years that an electromagnetic pulse could be set off in the United States and effectively disable the nation's power grid. Such an event could not only be caused by a terrorist attack, but also by massive solar storms. According to a 2010 article in USA Today, such a powerful solar storm is inevitable and will likely occur within the next ten to 100 years. (3) The article quotes physicist Yousaf Butt of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics as saying, "We are almost guaranteed a very large solar storm at some point, but we are talking about a risk over decades." (4) Former House speaker Newt Gingrich has also expressed concern over the threat of an electromagnetic pulse and has gone on record stating the possibility "is an enormous, catastrophic threat." (5)
As each day passes and we hear of more and more threats to civilization and our world, it is no wonder that so many people have begun to prepare for doomsday. I cannot fault anyone for making preparations to endure hard times, catastrophic events, and disasters. However, it is far more important to make sure that you are watching, praying, and prepared to meet our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ when He returns. For as Jesus warns us in Luke 12:40, "Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." No man woman or child knows when our Saviour will return, but we must always be ready to meet him. If you have not yet fully given your heart to God, I encourage you to do so now. It is only through the grace of God that we can endure the trouble and calamity this world now faces, and it is only through Him that we can experience true peace and joy.
You Are Being Watched!
We are living in a time when the United States government is becoming increasingly invasive regarding the personal privacy of American citizens. New technology is constantly being developed to spy on the people and watch every move that they make. Many of the details surrounding the government's surveillance and spy technology are closely guarded secrets; however, some astonishing details have recently been brought forth in news reports.
A report from March 2012 that was published in Wired Magazine tells of a secret new spy center being built in the state of Utah which will be used to catalog and store vast quantities of data and information that has been captured by the spying apparatus of the National Security Agency or NSA. The compound, which is to be known by the rather generic name, Utah Data Center, will be home to four "data halls" with each one measuring 25,000 square feet. The facilities will contain a vast array of servers insomuch that 60,000 tons of cooling equipment will be required to prevent them from overheating. The compound will also feature water storage and the capability to pump 1.7 million gallons of water per day. Additionally, a power substation is also being constructed to accommodate the compound's extraordinary 65-megawatt power demand. (6) According to the Wired article, the data center will store "all forms of communication, including the contents of private emails, cell phone calls, and Google searches." Various data, including details of parking receipts, travel itineraries, bookstore purchases, and other information will also be stored at the compound. When NSA deputy director Chris Inglis was asked by reporters what the purpose of the new data center would be, he stated, "It's a state-of-the-art facility designed to support the intelligence community in its mission to, in turn, enable and protect the nation's cybersecurity." (7) This ambitious project has a price tag of two billion dollars and is expected to become fully operational by September 2013. (8)
While technology continues to expand in these days of such a rapid increase in knowledge, it is only becoming easier for Big Brother to keep his watchful eye on the people. Many household devices now connect to the Internet, including televisions, video game systems, and household appliances. In fact, even lighting systems can be connected to the Internet, and homeowners can use their cell phone or other remote devices to turn their lights on and off while they are away from home. CIA director David Patraeus refers to this type of technology as "the Internet of things," and he is hoping that it will assist the CIA in their endeavors to spy. "Items of interest will be located, identified, monitored, and remotely controlled through technologies such as radio-frequency identification, sensor networks, tiny embedded servers, and energy harvesters - all connected to the next-generation Internet using abundant, low-cost, and high-power computing," Patraeus said. (9)
As if the above examples of privacy infringement were not serious enough, we may soon be seeing more unmanned drones in the sky all across the United States. The Federal Aviation Administration has now granted permission to police departments, fire departments, and other government agencies to fly unmanned drones weighing up to twenty-five pounds with no special approval required. These recent developments in drone deployment have raised the ire of news commentator Charles Krauthhammer who stated, "Yes, you can say we have satellites, we've got Google Street, and London has a camera on every street corner. But that is not an excuse to cave in on everything else and accept a society where you are always being watched by the government. This is not what we want. I would say ban it under all circumstances." Mr. Krauthhammer further went on to say, "I don't think we want a society where if there are these objects hovering over, streaming real-time information about you, your car, your location. We know it's going to be abused." (10)
As we get a glimpse of future technology and begin to see the devices of the wicked one come to fruition, it has become obvious that the groundwork and infrastructure for the antichrist is now being developed. They are very proud of their technology, and their advanced capabilities, however, God is neither intimidated nor impressed by anything they have done or will do. In Jeremiah 49:16 we read, "Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the Lord." Yes, they may be able to watch us from space using satellites, or hover over our homes with drones, but God is in control, and everything the forces of darkness endeavor to accomplish will come to naught.
The Danger Of "Green" Extremism!
In previous issues of the Last Trumpet, I have suggested that so-called "climate change" and other environmentalist causes might someday be the pretense used to enslave and control the world's population under a global governmental system. For many organizations and individuals, their devotion to their cause very much resembles religious fervor as they continue to suggest new and drastic measures that they believe must be implemented to "save the planet." To gain some insight into how the mind of an environmental extremist operates, we need look no further than Prince Philip of the United Kingdom who once made the statement, "In the event that I am reincarnated, I would like to return as a deadly virus, to contribute something to solving overpopulation." (11)
Some of the solutions that these extremists suggest being implemented as soon as possible are detailed in a rather onerous report published by the World Wilde Fund for Nature or WWF entitled "Living Planet Report 2012." The authors of the report make the claim that the earth's resources are being consumed far too quickly. "We are living as if we have an extra planet at our disposal. We are using 50 per cent more resources than the Earth can provide, and unless we change course that number will grow very fast - by 2030, even two planets will not be enough," bemoaned Jim Leape, the Director General of the organization. (12)
As a solution to the problem, the WWF proposes uniting the world into what they call a "one planet perspective." Page 106 of the report explains the initiative as follows, "WWF's One Planet perspective explicitly proposes to manage, govern and share natural capital within the Earth's ecological boundaries. In addition to safeguarding and restoring this natural capital, WWF seeks better choices along the entire system of production and consumption, supported by redirected financial flows and more equitable resource governance." (13) Needless to say, the proposed system described in the report sounds very much like a global one world government.
Incidentally, the report also suggests that the United States and other developed nations must drastically reduce consumption, particularly of food products such as red meat and dairy. Predictably, the report also advocates "universal access to gender-sensitive reproductive health services" or in other words, easier access to abortion for women seeking to end their pregnancies. (14)
Is the environmental agenda a scare tactic being used to coerce the masses into obedience? Here let it be noted that even United States Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has jumped on the climate change bandwagon and recently made the following declaration, "The area of climate change has a dramatic impact on national security." (15)
The Slaughter Of The Innocents Continues!
In April 2012 United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement to the world declaring that young girls need easier access to contraceptives and abortions. "Sixteen million adolescent girls become mothers every year, and every day, more than 2000 young people contract HIV. We have a collective responsibility to drive these numbers down," Ban stated. (16)
Unfortunately, those who support abortion and label themselves as pro-choice are only becoming more adamant and vocal regarding their cause. In fact, a group known as the National Network of Abortion Funds or NNAF, recently raised $400,000 for abortion by hosting a bowl-a-thon. The website for the group boasted of their accomplishments and featured the story of a fourteen year-old girl who was able to have her innocent baby murdered because of the financial assistance she received from the organization. Speaking of her experience, the young girl said, "Y'all were just so nice. I mean, you gave me like more than a thousand dollars. There's no way that me and my mom could have come up with that much." The girl also stated, "Getting my abortion means I'm going to get a second chance. And I want to make it count." (17)
Sadly, there are even some people who claim to be Christians and still strongly support abortion. In fact, the Six Rivers Planned Parenthood of Eureka, California, has been promoting a prayer campaign in support of abortion rights. The program, which is entitled "40 Days of Prayer: Supporting Women Everywhere" was devised by Rebecca Turner, the executive director of an organization known as Faith Aloud. Some examples of the prayers written by Ms. Black include the following, "Today we pray for our daughters and granddaughters that they will always know the power of making their own good decisions." "Today we give thanks for the doctors who provide quality abortion care, and pray that they may be kept safe." "Today we pray for medical students who want to include abortion care in their practice. May they receive good training and find good mentors." "Today we pray for an end to the stigma perpetrated against women who have abortions." (18)
These are truly strange days wherein strong delusion has set in, and people around the world are declaring the slaughter of innocent children to be a good and virtuous thing. We know that God has great contempt for child sacrifice and that Jesus expressed great love and affection for children. In Matthew 18:10, Jesus said, "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven." In Matthew 18:14, Jesus tells us, "Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish."
As horrific and wicked as abortion is, the depravity of man extends even beyond the murder of children. A shocking report recently came to light describing how Chinese doctors and medical staff members are taking the corpses of aborted babies and selling them on the black market. These tiny little bodies are then dried and ground into a powder. From that point, the powder is then dispensed into capsules which are distributed as "stamina boosters." Since August 2011, customs agents in South Korea have thwarted thirty-five attempts to smuggle the pills across their nation's border. In the process, 17,000 capsules were confiscated. (19) While I realize that this story sounds very much like an urban legend, it has been covered and verified by several mainstream news sources. There is truly great wickedness abounding all over the world in these last days. A time will come when mankind will have to answer to God for his evil deeds.
A Chinese Foothold In The United States!
For the last several decades, the communist nation of China has been siphoning off vast amounts of American wealth. Not only does China hold over one trillion dollars of American debt, (20) but the trade deficit continues to increase exponentially every month. In fact, the trade deficit with China has increased by over 67 billion dollars in just the first three months of 2012. (21) For the sake of comparison, the deficit with China was only six million dollars for the entire year of 1985. (22)
It has now come to light that Chinese investors are attempting to gain a foothold in the United States itself. In 2010, a story in the Idaho Statesman detailed the ambitious plans of the China National Machinery Industry Corporation to develop industry, retail centers, and homes in Boise, Idaho. The development would be built on an area of land measuring between 10,000 and 30,000 acres. (23)
Chinese investors are now hoping to build a large development in the state of Michigan which would essentially be a "China City" intended for use by Chinese business people looking to establish companies in the United States. The plan calls for an elaborate 415-unit housing complex which would feature 6,000 square-foot homes and a cultural center for its residents. (24)
In the city of Toledo, Ohio, 69 acres of the marina district have been sold to a Chinese investment firm known Dashing Pacific Group Ltd. (25) The deal was lauded by Mayor Mike Bell who had struggled to avoid laying off city workers in the wake of a multi-million dollar budget deficit. Regarding the deal, Mayor Bell declared, "My vision is to make Toledo a true international city." (26)
Chinese firms have also been buying into American companies. In 2010, the China National Offshore Oil Corporation bought a multibillion dollar stake in Chesapeake Energy, a company which owns 600,000 acres of oil and gas fields in South Texas. (27)
Chinese companies are even buying into the American entertainment industry. It was announced in May 2012 that Dalian Wanda Group has purchased American cinema operator AMC Entertainment Holdings for 2.6 billion dollars. The acquisition means that 346 movie theaters in the United States will now be owned by a Chinese company. (28)
It is worthwhile to note that many of the deals being made in the United States are by state-owned Chinese companies. In essence, this means that large portions of the United States itself are now owned by the communist regime of China. Chinese companies invested 34.8 billion dollars in the United States last year. (29) The rate at which Chinese interests are acquiring assets within the United States is a disturbing trend. Americans may soon discover that much of their country has been taken over, and the profits of such endeavors are lining the pockets of foreign corporations.
A Grim Outlook For California!
Although we are told that the economy in the United States is recovering and that happier days are ahead for Americans, the people of the state of California would likely disagree. In a recent news report, it was announced that California is facing a 16 billion dollar budget deficit this year. "We are still recovering from the worst recession since the 1930s. Tax receipts are coming lower than expected and the federal government and the courts have blocked us from making billions of necessary budget reductions. The result is that we are now facing a $16 billion deficit," announced California governor, Jerry Brown. (30) Sadly, one out of every five children in California now lives in poverty. (31) High unemployment in the state has also compounded the problem, and on May 12, 2012, over 90,000 Californians lost their federal unemployment benefits. (32) Facing tax increases, widespread poverty, and a general lack of opportunity to be gainfully employed, a mass exodus from the state is now underway, with four million people having left the state over the last two decades. (33)
There was a time when multitudes flocked to California to pursue their dreams of acquiring riches and fame. However, California is not the prosperous state it once was. In fact, an article in the Wall Street Journal likened the state of California to the troubled European nation of Greece. (34)
Europe On The Brink Of Disaster!
After leaders in the European nation of Greece failed to establish a new government upon holding their elections on May 6, 2012, many world leaders and economists are warning that Greece may have to abandon the euro and return to their former currency known as the drachma. (35) The effects of such a maneuver could be catastrophic not only for Greece, but for much of Europe as well. A Reuters article published on May 14, 2012, quoted several economists regarding what they think might happen if Greece leaves the euro. "Interest rates will have to double, and all mortgages, business loans and other borrowing will become much more expensive. There will be no credit for Greek banks or the Greek state. That could mean a shortage of basic commodities, like oil or medicine or even foodstuffs. The worst case scenario would be a social and economic breakdown, perhaps even leading to a totalitarian regime," stated Michael Arghyrou, the senior economics lecturer at Cardiff Business School. (36) Financial Journalist Julia Kollewe expressed concern that we could soon see a mass exodus of skilled workers from Greece. "The depreciation of the new currency will make imported goods more expensive and drive up inflation. Mass unemployment is likely, as is an exodus of young skilled workers. If tens of thousands of Greeks headed to the borders, they might even be closed. Greek soldiers patrolling the roads and ports to keep their fellow citizens in? It's not impossible," Ms. Kollewe stated. (37) Jan Randolph, an economist at IHS Global Insight presented an even more grim assessment. "If credit is withdrawn by the EU and IMF, then Greece becomes a cash economy. It means the government can only pay what it collects. The government starts shutting down, 10-15% of state employees don't get paid and unemployment surges from 20% to 30%. The Greek banking sector would collapse as well," Randolph hypothesized. (38) Greek President Karolos Papoulias also expressed his concern. "The extension of political instability will lead to fatal consequences. The absence of government is a serious risk to the financial security of the Greek people and our national existence," President Papoulias declared. (39)
Greek citizens are justifiably worried about the fate of their country, and in response have been withdrawing a large amount of money from the nation's banking system. According to a report by MSNBC, the citizens of Greece withdrew a mind-boggling equivalent of 894 million dollars throughout the course of the day on May 14, 2012. (40)
Unfortunately, it is not just the nation of Greece at risk but all of Europe. These recent developments prompted British Prime Minister David Cameron to issue the following warning, "Greece is on the brink, the survival of the euro is in question." (41)
In closing, I know there is so much more that could be said about the troubling times which we live in. With so much chaos and uncertainty in our world today, I cannot help but long for the return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If you ever find yourself worn down by the cares of this life, I urge you to draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you. We need His strength to get through the days ahead. Thank you to all who so generously support this ministry. As always, we at Last Trumpet Ministries will strive to serve you faithfully as we draw ever closer to that glorious day when our Saviour returns. If you have any prayer requests, please feel welcome to send them our way. We always give each request individual attention. Grace and peace be unto you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Samuel David Meyer
Acknowledgements
01. The Daily Mail, February 11, 2012, By Tara Brady, http://dailymail.co.uk.
02. AFP, April 8, 2012, By Joe Lambe, http://news.yahoo.com.
03. USA Today, October 27, 2010, By Dan Vergano, http://usatoday.com.
04. Ibid.
05. Ibid.
06. Wired Magazine, March 15, 2012, By James Bamford, http://wired.com.
07. Ibid.
08. Ibid.
09. Wired Magazine, March 15, 2012, By Spencer Ackerman, http://wired.com.
10. World Net Daily, May 16, 2012, By Bob Unruh, http://wnd.com.
11. The Guardian, June 20, 2009, By John Hind, http://guardian.co.uk.
12. Living Planet Report 2012, http://wwf.panda.org.
13. Ibid.
14. Ibid.
15. The Washington Examiner, May 3, 2012, By Joel Gehrke, http://washingtonexaminer.com.
16. CNS News, April 24, 2012, By Pete Winn, http://cnsnews.com.
17. CNS News, May 7, 2012, By Elizabeth Harrington, http://cnsnews.com.
18. The Blaze, April 11, 2012, By Billy Hallowell, http://theblaze.com.
19. The Nation, May 5, 2012, By Reporter, http://thenationonlineng.net.
20. Treasury.gov, May 15, 2012, By Department of the Treasury/Federal Reserve Board, http://treasury.gov.
21. The United States Census Department, http://census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5700.html.
22. Ibid.
23. The Idaho Statesman, December 31, 2010, By Rocky Barker, http://idahostatesman.com.
24. Dayton Daily News, May 5, 2012, By Steve Bennish, http://daytondailynews.com.
25. The Toledo Blade, February 19, 2012, By Ignazio Messina, http://toledoblade.com.
26. Ibid.
27. Forbes, September 15, 2011, By Angela Daidone, http://forbes.com.
28. The Associated Press, May 21, 2012, By The Associated Press, Beijing, China.
29. Ibid.
30. Bloomberg News, May 12, 2012, By Michael B. Marois, http://bloomberg.com.
31. NBC News, December 1, 2011, By Chris Roberts, http://nbcbayarea.com.
32. NBC News, May 12, 2012, By John Cadiz Klemack and Neil Costes, http://nbclosangeles.com.
33. The Wall Street Journal, April 20, 2012, By Allysia Finley, http://wsj.com.
34. Ibid.
35. MSNBC, May 16, 2012, By Alastair Jamieson, http://msnbc.com.
36. Reuters News Service, May 14, 2012, By John Hudson, http://reuters.com.
37. Ibid.
38. Ibid.
39. The Telegraph, May 15, 2012, By Bruno Waterfield, and James Kirkup, http://telegraph.co.uk.
40. MSNBC, May 16, 2012, By Alastair Jamieson, http://msnbc.com.
41. Reuters News Service, May 17, 2012, By Matt Falloon, Manchester, England.
Special Note: A new tribute website for Pastor David J. Meyer can now be accessed at http://pastormeyer.org.
Comments regarding this newsletter or topic suggestions may be submitted to editor@lasttrumpetnewsletter.org.
If you would like to submit a prayer request, you may send email to prayer@ltmmail.org or mail it to our postal address.
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