Volume XXXII      Issue XII      December 2013
Last Trumpet Ministries, PO Box 806, Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Fax: 920-887-2626 Internet: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org

An Onslaught Of Evil On The Minds Of The People!

“And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”

“Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

“Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!”

In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will consider the shocking facts which reveal that today’s young people are being systematically indoctrinated while their very minds are conditioned to receive a forthcoming globalist spirit of antichrist. We will also scrutinize mankind’s defiant nature, a heinous propensity towards violence, and the impact of the recently implemented Affordable Care Act in the United States. I realize that the subject matter of this newsletter is often not pleasant to read, but I firmly believe that we are far better off knowing the truth regarding the happenings of this present time. It is my hope and prayer that the contents of these pages will stir the souls of the readers, and cause all of us to realize that we need to rely on our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, to sustain us in the days ahead. Thankfully, we can have peace in our hearts and an assurance that God will keep our hearts and minds pure despite the turmoil that is so prevalent in this world, for as it says in Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Evidence Of Indoctrination In The Schools!

For many children in the United States, the most influential adults in their lives will not be their parents but rather public school teachers, those which have been entrusted with the task of educating the youth of the nation. It is in the classrooms of these schools that the minds of the children will be shaped, and the influence that is exerted in those crucial years of development will stay with these young people as they transition into adulthood and throughout their entire lives.

In an effort to ensure that today’s youth develop in a predictable and uniform fashion, the United States government is in the process of implementing new standards for public schools. These standards, which are known as the Common Core State Standards, have been adopted by 45 states, the District of Columbia, and four American territories. (1) In an effort to entice state governments to embrace these standards, the Obama Administration announced a grant program in 2009 which would allow states who have implemented Common Core standards to compete for government payouts. “The $4.35 billion Race to the Top program that we are unveiling today is a challenge to states and districts. We’re looking to drive reform, reward excellence, and dramatically improve our nation’s schools,” announced Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in 2009. (2)

As more schools continue to implement these new educational standards, numerous news reports have surfaced indicating that American children are now undergoing an onslaught of indoctrination in their classrooms. One such example is an assignment published by a company from New Jersey known as Pearson Education. In this so-called English assignment, students are instructed to make a series of sentences less wordy by replacing underlined words with a possessive noun phrase. The sentences which the students are instructed to restructure include the following: “The job of a president is not easy,” “He makes sure the laws of the country are fair,” “The commands of government officials must be obeyed by all,” and “The wants of an individual are less important than the well-being of the nation.” (3) This lesson sounds very much like a brainwashing session masquerading as an English assignment. It espouses absolute and unquestioning submission to the government and propagates the collectivist notion that our actions must be for the good of society even if it violates the rights of individual people.

In another assignment, students from the state of Arkansas who attend schools in the Bryant District were given a worksheet that presents a hypothetical situation in which the students have been called upon by the United States government to make modifications to the Bill of Rights. A portion of the assignment’s instructions reads as follows: “The government of the United States is currently revisiting the Bill of Rights. They have determined that it is outdated and may not remain in its current form any longer. Their aim is to ensure that our personal civil liberties and the pursuit of happiness remains guarded in the 21st century.” The assignment further instructs the student, “You have been charged with the task of revisiting and editing the Bill of Rights. More specifically you will need to prioritize, prune, and add amendments, and then turn your ideas into a revised Bill of Rights.” (4)

Meanwhile, a company known as Scholastic, which produces educational materials for public schools, has released a math worksheet intended for fifth grade students, which features a smiling young girl holding a handful of money and instructs the student to “distribute the wealth.” (5) This subtle lesson in socialist doctrine fits hand-in-hand with Barack Obama’s agenda to “redistribute the wealth.” His support for such a concept was expressed in a 2001 radio interview at which time he was still a senator for the state of Illinois. In this interview, Obama stated the following: “The Supreme Court never ventured into the issues of redistribution of wealth, and of more basic issues such as political and economic justice in society. To that extent, as radical as I think people try to characterize the Warren Court, it wasn’t that radical. It didn’t break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the founding fathers in the Constitution…” (6)

Additionally, a school assignment given to 14 and 15-year-olds in the state of Illinois presents students with a hypothetical situation wherein they are instructed to choose who will live and who will die in a random group of people at a hospital who are in need of kidney dialysis. Instructions for the assignment state, “Unless they receive this procedure, they will die. The local hospital has enough machines to support only six people. That means four people are not going to live. You must decide from the information below which six will survive.” (7)

Reports have also surfaced indicating that some public schools have introduced their students to the religion of Islam. Such was the case when a recent field trip for a group of students in the state of Tennessee involved visiting an Islamic mosque where the students were given punch, cookies, and copies of the so-called Islamic holy book known as the Koran. (8) Some parents expressed outrage over this development. “Our kids are being indoctrinated and this is being shoved in their face,” declared one of the student’s father. (9) Another incident, which occurred in the state of Texas early in 2013, also sparked outrage. According to a report released in February 2013, a geography teacher brought burqas, the traditional garb for Muslim women, to her classroom and invited her female students to wear the clothing. (10) This particular incident was especially odd since Islam is a religion, not a geographical location, and this was supposed to be a geography class. One of the female student’s father expressed his consternation over this exercise. “She went from learning about Mexico to learning about Russia to learning about Islam. Islam is not a country. Islam is not a continent,” the man said. (11)

Although some of these examples may not have been a direct result of the implementation of Common Core State Standards, one would reasonably surmise that many of them were, and that the lessons being taught in schools today have taken a drastic turn since 2009 when the standards were introduced. In fact, one of the stated goals of the curriculum’s developers is to prepare the youth of today to embrace globalist ideologies. A portion from the official website of the Common Core State Standards Initiative states the following: “The standards are designed to be robust and relevant in the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy.” (12)

It has become abundantly clear that public schools in this modern age have become halls of indoctrination. If you have children and they attend public schools, it would be advisable to take an active interest in their education and keep a close watch on what they are being taught. It is also worth noting that prayers can work wonders, and the spirit of God can fully and completely counteract any attempt to ensnare the impressionable minds of young people.

A Dangerous Game Of Knockout!

In previous issues of this newsletter, I have written about the prevalent spirit of violence which permeates the land here in the United States. Sadly, I cannot report that this trend has improved; in fact, it continues to grow increasingly worse. All across the nation, young people have developed a taste for violence and blood as they participate in a game that is commonly known as “Knockout.” In this so-called game, a young person, usually male, will scour the streets and nearby neighborhoods as he searches for a vulnerable victim. After choosing his target, he approaches his victim and attempts to render the target unconscious with a single punch. When teenagers were asked why they like to play this game, one teen reportedly answered, “For the fun of it.” (13) Another teen further explained, “They just want to see if you got enough strength to knock somebody out.” (14)

Although there are examples of such attacks dating back several years, the frequency of such misbehavior has increased in recent months. This includes such areas as Brooklyn, New York, which has seen a string of these brutal assaults. In one incident, a young teenage boy walking down the street clenched his fist and then punched a 78-year-old woman on her head as he passed her. Speaking of the attack, the victim’s daughter was quoted as saying, “She had her purse, she had bags from department stores. There was not even an attempt to take anything from her. It was just a wanton act to hurt another human being.” (15) Other victims in the Brooklyn area include a 50-year-old man, a 20-year-old man, and 12-year-old boy. (16)

Attacks involving three women were also reported in Washington, D.C., in the month of November 2013. One of the victims described her ordeal as follows: “My whole head went flying to the side… it was a hard punch. One kid came from the side and pretty much cut me off. He threw a hook with his left hand and got me right in the face and he said ‘Wapow!’” (17) Reports indicate that another victim was assaulted a few days prior in the Columbia Heights region. (18) Even United States lawmakers can become victims of this brutal game. Such was the case on November 19, 2013, when Representative Grace Meng, a Democrat from New York, was hit over the head and robbed. “While this was a frightening ordeal, I fortunately was not seriously injured. Obviously, things could have been much worse. I thank the U.S. Capital Police and the District of Columbia Police for responding quickly and professionally,” Meng stated. (19)

According to a report by CBS News, this violent game has also spread to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Victims, eyewitnesses, and police officials have expressed their dismay over this new trend in their city. “Someone asked me for a cigarette and by the time I got my hands out of my pocket I was getting hit by four kids. It was hard seeing and I’m still having trouble breathing and swallowing,” recounted one of the victims. (20) In another incident, two teenage boys were arrested after they assaulted a 63-year-old man while he was out walking his dog. (21) It was also reported that an elderly man was attacked as he was mowing the lawn outside of his home. “A kid came up to him and [was] just punching him in the mouth. He ended up laying in the street with his lawnmower,” said a neighbor who witnessed the assault. He further went on to say, “The kid did it on a dare. He said ‘Give me five dollars and I’ll knock that guy out.’” (22)

According to a report by newswoman Greta Van Susteren, the perpetrators of these attacks are often black teenage males. Responding to this disturbing trend, the reporter pleaded with influential black leaders to condemn these attacks. “I beg of Reverend Jesse Jackson, Reverend Al Sharpton, and even President Obama to step up right now and speak out. Your silence will speak volumes, but your voice could make a big difference. Don’t wait. Be leaders, they need you. We need you,” Van Susteren said. (23)

It is a sad state of affairs when the land is filled with so much violence. Yet, Jesus himself predicted that this would be the condition of the world in the last days. In Luke 17:26, we read, “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.” What was the world like in the days of Noah? In Genesis 6:11, we find the following description, “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” As violence intensifies across the land, it is yet another indicator that we are drawing ever closer to the return of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

A Continual Flood Of Wickedness!

In Genesis 6:5, we find another descriptor regarding the days of Noah. The text of this verse reads, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” We are now living in a time when the thoughts and actions of many people in this world are continually wicked and evil.

This flood of evil includes an American government that has fully embraced the homosexual lifestyle. Those who approve of such behavior include none other than Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who became the first member of the highest court in the land to officiate at a same-sex wedding in August 2013. Speaking of the event, Ginsburg stated, “I think it will be one more statement that people who love each other and want to live together should be able to enjoy the blessings and the strife in the marriage relationship.” (24) Another milestone of depravity was crossed in November 2013 when two men were married at the chapel of the United States Military Academy known as West Point. “It’s maybe one more barrier that’s pushed over a little bit, or maybe one more glass ceiling that’s shattered that makes it easier for the next couple,” said Larry Choate III, one of the men in the homosexual couple. (25) Meanwhile, Illinois has become the sixteenth state in the United States to legalize same-sex marriage. Speaking before a crowd of thousands, state Governor Pat Quinn celebrated the passage of legislation which will accommodate homosexual couples who wish to be married. “Illinois does not have a situation where individuals are discriminated against in any way when it comes to love and marriage,” Governor Quinn stated triumphantly. (26) Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel also expressed his approval for this new law. “We’ve realized that to have a forward-looking state, you cannot have backward-looking laws that discriminate against good and talented people, regardless of their sexual orientation,” Mayor Emanuel declared. (27) The first same-sex marriages in Illinois are expected to take place next summer after the law takes effect on June 1, 2014. (28)

The homosexual lifestyle is also often embraced in the realm of higher education. This includes the University of Oregon which reportedly paid the well-known homosexual advice columnist Dan Savage 24,000 dollars to speak at an event on October 15, 2013. During the event, Savage gave advice to the students in attendance on how to perform various perversions. Keith Van Norman, the manager in charge of the event, offered the following explanation for his decision to host Savage: “The university brings lots of speakers to campus. The return a university gets from sponsoring programs where students are exposed to nationally prominent resource people is in the form of sparking thought and considering new perspectives. This is part of the work of a university.” (29)

Dan Savage is infamous not only for his advice column, but he is also known to be incredibly hostile to the Christian people. Oddly enough, it was reported in November 2013 that he is now attached to a program known as the NALT Christians Project, with NALT serving as an acronym for “Not all like that.” Specifically, this group of professing Christians has launched an outreach website for homosexual youth to encourage them in their Biblically contrary lifestyle. “The purpose of the NALT Christians Project is to give LGBT-affirming Christians a means of proclaiming to the world – and especially to young gay people – their belief and conviction that there is nothing anti-biblical or at all inherently sinful about being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender,” declares a statement on the group’s website. This group has the support of such groups as Reconciling Ministries Network, Methodists in New Directions, Dignity USA, and the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists. (30)

Sadly, even very young children have become involved in licentious behavior. According to a shocking report issued in November 2013, a thirteen year-old boy in the United Kingdom was convicted of rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault on an eight year-old girl. The young teenage boy was frequently exposed to hardcore pornography and became addicted to it by the age of ten. In an attempt to explain why this happened, Dawn Hawkins, the Executive Director of Morality in Media, was quoted as saying, “He’s acting out with another kid what he viewed. It’s common among adults, and even more common among children. With pornography, children are mimicking what they see adults do, and they don’t know it’s wrong. They haven’t been taught that yet.” (31) Despite the horrifying nature of this story, reports indicate that such behavior is far more prevalent than many people realize. In fact, children in the United Kingdom committed 5,028 sexual offenses between the years 2009 and 2012. This trend is likely fueled by the widespread exposure to pornography amongst children. “We know that technology and easy access to sexual material is warping young people’s views of what is normal or acceptable behavior,” stated Claire Lilley, policy adviser at the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. (32)

On November 18, 2013, a shameful event was held in New York City. The event was a telethon held by a group known as NARAL Pro-choice America, which sought to raise money to fund abortions in the state of Texas. The government in Texas has made a concerted effort to make abortions more difficult to obtain, and because of that, those who favor the slaughter of innocent children are hopping mad. The event was hosted by the filthy comedian known as Sarah Silverman and a woman by the name of Lizz Winstead, who is co-creator of the television program “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” At one point during the telethon, Silverman jokingly said, “We’re actually going to do a live abortion in this show.” In the end, this despicable event managed to raise $53,000, which will be used to help women in Texas kill their babies. (33)

Disappointment And Anger Over Obamacare!

In the previous issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, I wrote about the failure of the Obamacare website known as healthcare.gov. Since that time, the disappointments regarding the Affordable Care Act, which is commonly known as Obamacare, have continued to pile up, and multitudes of people have discovered that this new healthcare system is not what Barack Obama promised it would be. In the years leading up to the passage and implementation of the Affordable Care Act, Obama made many promises to the American people. One such promise was that those who already have health insurance would be able to keep their current plan if they like it. “If you like your private health insurance plan, you can keep your plan. Period,” Obama famously declared as he promoted the new health care system. (34) Yet, as the provisions of the Affordable Care Act began to take effect in October 2013, millions of people in the United States began to receive cancellation notices from their insurance companies indicating that they would lose their health insurance coverage. It was discovered that in most cases, the new insurance plans being offered as replacements came at a highly inflated price. In fact, this point is so glaringly obvious that an official in the Obama Administration was forced to admit it. This admission came in the form of a letter written by Gary Cohen, director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, which was addressed to state insurance commissioners. In this letter, Cohen wrote the following: “Although affected individuals and small businesses may access quality health insurance coverage through the new Health Insurance Marketplaces, in many cases with federal subsidies, some of them are finding that such coverage would be more expensive than their current coverage, and thus they may [be] dissuaded from immediately transitioning to such coverage.” (35) According to a report published by the Washington Bureau of the McClatchy News Service, as many as 52 million Americans could lose their current health insurance coverage. (36)

Facing strong opposition to the Affordable Care Act, Barack Obama’s approval rating has continued to plummet. According to a poll conducted in mid-November 2013, only 39 percent of those polled approved of the president’s performance, which is a new all-time low. “President Obama’s job approval rating has fallen to the level of former President George W. Bush at the same period of his presidency,” said Tim Malloy, assistant director at the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. (37) In another poll conducted by CBS News and published on November 20, 2013, it was revealed that 61 percent of respondents disapprove of Obamacare. (38) Facing mounting criticism over his faulty website and the revelation that millions of Americans will be forced to pay more for health insurance, Obama has indicated that he plans to rebrand his health care program. “We are going to have to, (a) fix the website so everybody feels confident about that. We’re going to have to, obviously, re-market and re-brand, and that will be challenging in this political environment,” Obama said at a meeting in Washington, D.C. (39) Senator Al Franken, a Democrat from Minnesota, has suggested that Obama may be forced to delay the requirement that all Americans purchase health insurance if problems persist with the implementation of the new system. “I think then we have to consider extending the deadline for the mandate, but let’s hope that doesn’t happen,” Franken said. (40)

In closing, I urge every reader of this newsletter to make God the center of your life while there is still time to do so. Even as we endure these perilous times, we are often reminded of just how fragile life is and how quickly it can be over. One such reminder occurred on November 8, 2013, when a devastating storm known as Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines. It was one of the most powerful typhoons ever recorded with winds of up to approximately 167 miles per hour. Over one million homes were damaged in the storm, and at least 5,209 people lost their lives. (41) In the book of James, chapter 4, verses 13-15, we find the following admonishment: “Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” Only God knows when our time in this world will end. For that reason, we should always be ready to meet our Saviour, for we could pass from this world to the next in just a moment of time. If you have not yet fully given your heart to God, I urge you to do so now.

Thank you all for your generous support of this ministry. As this is the final issue of the newsletter for the year 2013, please remember to send in your renewal form if you would like to continue receiving the Last Trumpet Newsletter throughout the coming year. If you have any prayer requests, please do not hesitate to send them our way. We will gladly lift you up in prayer and carry your petitions before the throne of the Almighty. Grace and peace be unto you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.