Volume XXXV      Issue I      January 2016
Last Trumpet Ministries, PO Box 806, Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Phone: 920-887-2626 Internet: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org

An Ungodly Transformation Of Our World!

"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief."

"And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever."

"And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone."

In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will consider the nature and the means by which an ungodly transformation of our world is now in progress. At this present time, there are forces at work which are seeking to unite the entire world under a global government. At the forefront of such ambitions is an organization which is known as the United Nations. In August 2015 it was announced that the 193 member states of the United Nations, or UN, had reached a new agreement by which they hope to transform the entire world by the year 2030. (1) Since that time the details of the United Nations' agenda has been released in a report titled "Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development." Although most people are likely unaware of this document, the implications of it affect every country in the world as well as every man, woman, and child. The preamble of the document states, "This Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. It also seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom. We recognize that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. All countries and all stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership, will implement this plan." (2)

The lengthy document then tells us exactly what the United Nations plans to do, and while some of their goals sound innocuous or even good, a careful study of their words reveals this plan is about the universal control of the world's population. In the agenda's introduction, we are informed, "This is an Agenda of unprecedented scope and significance. It is accepted by all countries and is applicable to all, taking into account different national realities, capacities, and levels of development and respecting national policies and priorities. These are universal goals and targets which involve the entire world, developed and developing countries alike. They are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development." (3)

In the United Nations' vision for the future, all people from every country must be a part of their universal education system. "We commit to providing inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels - early childhood, primary, secondary, tertiary, technical and vocational training. All people, irrespective of sex, age, race, ethnicity, and persons with disabilities, migrants, indigenous peoples, children and youth, especially those in vulnerable situations, should have access to life-long learning opportunities that help them acquire the knowledge and skills needed to exploit opportunities and to participate fully in society," the agenda declares. (4) While it may sound like a noble goal to provide every man, woman, and child with an education, we must remember that the curriculum would likely be formulated by the UN, and the main goal of such an educational system is to indoctrinate the people to conform to their specifications of a global citizen.

The agenda also calls for an overhaul of the world's economic system, which would put an end to capitalism and implement socialism on a global scale. "We will seek to build strong economic foundations for all our countries. Sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth is essential for prosperity. This will only be possible if wealth is shared and income inequality is addressed," states the agenda. (5) Apparently, the United Nations intends to take what you have and give it to other people whether you like it or not.

In addition to everything else, the United Nations also intends to implement a universal healthcare system. By universal, they mean a system that encompasses the entire world. "To promote physical and mental health and well-being, and to extend life expectancy for all, we much achieve universal health coverage and access to quality health care. No one must be left behind," the UN document declares. The document also discloses the United Nations' commitment to universal access to abortion and goes on to say, "We are committed to ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services, including for family planning, information and education." (6)

Predictably, the United Nations has also declared itself to be the authority on the world's climate change policies. "We acknowledge that the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) is the primary international, intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate change. We are determined to address decisively the threat posed by climate change and environmental degradation. The global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible international cooperation aimed at accelerating the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions and addressing adaption to the adverse impacts of climate change," the document asserts. (7) As I have said in the past, I believe the call we are now seeing for action against climate change is the mechanism by which the powers that be intend to corral the people and force them into submission. They will enact rules and regulations that are far-reaching and oppressive, but we will be told that if we do not capitulate, the planet we now occupy will die.

It is important to note that the United Nations believes that reducing the world's population is a crucial step to fighting climate change. This is evident in a video found on the video sharing website known as YouTube. In this video, Greg Dalton, who is the founder of an organization known as Climate One, is seen to be interviewing Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC Christiana Figueres. After being asked by Dalton about "stopping the rise of the population," Figueres was recorded as saying, "Obviously less people would exert less pressure on the natural resources." She then noted that estimates indicate the world's population will rise to nine billion people by the year 2050. She further went on to say, "Really, we should make every effort to change those numbers because we are already, today, already exceeding the planet's planetary carrying capacity." The video was recorded in 2013. (8)

For those who doubt that the United Nations really intends to use a climate change agenda as a means to unite the entire world, we need look no further than the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference which took place between November 30, 2015, and December 12, 2015 in Paris France. Following an announcement that an agreement had been reached by world leaders, American President Barack Obama was quoted as saying, "This agreement represents the best chance we have to save the one planet we've got. I believe this agreement can be a turning point for the world." He later went on to say, "Together we've shown what's possible when the world stands as one." (9)

Yes, even as we enter the new year of 2016, powerful figures are working to establish a one world government and a new world order. It is a system they hope to have in place in less than fifteen years. In reality, that is a very short amount of time. Yet, I do not believe they will ever be fully successful in establishing a one world government. We are assured in Scriptures that God has established His kingdom and it will stand forever. Speaking of the time when Jesus came to earth, Daniel 2:44 tells us, "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." It is interesting to note, however, that the United Nations seeks to unite every country in the world, and the 19th chapter of the book of Revelation warns that the kings of the earth and their armies are joined together to make war with Jesus Christ. In Revelation 19:19 we read, "And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army." The fact that the United Nations believes they will establish their global empire in less than fifteen years is a good indicator of where we are in time.

A Push To Unite The World's Religions!

Even as the United Nations attempts to unite the world under global governance, efforts are also being made to unite the world's religions. The driving force behind this movement is none other than Pope Francis. In recent months, Pope Francis has endeavored to forge a bond between those who identify as Christians and those who embrace the Islamic faith. This is evident in a speech given by Pope Francis at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan, New York, in September 2015. In the opening remarks of his speech, the Pope said, "I would like to express two sentiments for my Muslim brothers and sisters: Firstly, my greetings as they celebrate the feast of sacrifice. I would have wished my greeting to be warmer. My sentiments of closeness, my sentiments of closeness in the face of tragedy. The tragedy that they suffered in Mecca. In this moment, I give assurances of my prayers. I unite myself with you all. A prayer to almighty god, all merciful." (10) When we consider this quote, we must ask ourselves which god Pope Francis is talking about. It should be noted that Muslims often refer to their god Allah as being "all merciful." To further emphasize the point, during a visit to the Central African Republic in November 2015, Pope Francis told a crowd while speaking at a mosque, "Christians and Muslims are brothers and sisters." (11) The Pope then joined the mosque's imam in a moment of silence while they both aligned themselves to the so-called Islamic holy city of Mecca. (12)

In the meantime, more stories have surfaced of public schools in the United States promoting Islam. This includes the town of Blaine, Minnesota, which recently held a holiday concert in December 2015. Parents were distressed to learn that one of the songs their children would be singing was an Arabic song about the Islamic holiday known as Ramadan. The song includes the phrase "Allahu Akbar," which is translated as "God is great." (13) In another incident, students at Riverheads High School in Staunton, Virginia, were given an assignment which they were told was a lesson in Arabic calligraphy. In reality, the assignment forced the students to write out the Islamic statement of faith of which the English translation is "There is no god but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." The students were also given an opportunity to try on an Islamic head scarf known as a hijab. (14)

Many people in the United States find the proliferation of Islam around the world to be quite distressing. Yet, it is important for us to remember that our God is sovereign and He can even reach Muslims. In fact, a report surfaced in June 2015 which tells the story of an Islamic State fighter who expressed a desire to follow Jesus Christ after having a series of dreams. His story was recounted by Gina Fadely, director of Youth with a Mission Frontier Missions, or YWAM. "He told this YWAM leader that he had begun having dreams of this man in white who came to him and said 'You are killing my people.' And he started to feel really sick and uneasy about what he was doing. The fighter said just before he killed one Christian, the man said 'I know you will kill me, but I give to you my Bible.' The Christian was killed and this ISIS fighter actually took the Bible and began to read it. In another dream, Jesus asked him to follow him and he was now asking to become a follower of Christ and to be discipled," Fadely said. (15) This is certainly a remarkable story. It bears a strong similarity to the story we find in Acts, chapter 9. Interestingly enough, the story about Paul took place around the city of Damascus, which is located in Syria. The Islamic State operates in that same region of the world.

A Cashless Revolution!

As we move into the new year of 2016, we are witnessing a cashless revolution. It is a transition that has been a long time in the making, but numerous reports indicate that certain countries around the world are on the cusp of becoming a fully cashless society. This is true in the nation of Sweden where a general disdain for cash is prevalent. In fact, physical currency now represents just 2 percent of Sweden's economy, and only 20 percent of all payments in the country were made in cash in 2015. (16) Speaking of this trend, former rock musician Bjorn Ulvaeus, who now operates a museum, was quoted as saying, "We don't want to be behind the times by taking cash while cash is dying out." Mr. Ulvaeus became a proponent of a cashless society after his son's apartment was burglarized. Recalling the burglary, Mr. Ulvaeus said, "It made me think: What would happen if this was a cashless society, and the robbers couldn't sell what they stole?" (17) Even some churches in Sweden have adopted cashless payment systems. This includes the Filadelphia church in the city of Stockholm where about 1,000 members attend. The church has installed a special "kollektomat" card machine, which can accept electronic payments. "People give more money to the church now because it's electronic and easy," said executive pastor Soren Eskilsson. (18)

The nation of Denmark is also moving towards a cashless society. According to a December 2015 report, only 25 percent of Danish citizens still use cash. "We're interested in getting rid of cash. The handling, security, and everything else is expensive; so, definitely we want to push digital payments, and that's of course why we introduced mobile payments to help this process," said IT Director Thomas Grane of the Danish company known as Matas. (19) While the Danish government has pledged to continue providing cash to those who want it, support has been expressed for cashless payments. "We're obliged to supply the amount of cash the population and businesses demand. But on the other hand, we think it's important to have an efficient and secure payment infrastructure, the whole digitalization process is very important in a country like Denmark," said central bank leader Hugo Frey Jensen. (20)

Citizens in Australia have also shown a strong preference for cashless payments. This trend prompted Australian journalist Rex Jory to write in a December 2015 editorial, "For many people the cashless society is virtually here. For others, perhaps less savvy and more suspicious of technology, the transition will take longer. But watch how quickly the cashless society gains traction during 2016." Amazingly enough, the Australian bank known as Westpac predicts that Australia will be an entirely cashless society by the year 2022. (21)

Canada, too, is moving towards a cashless society. In a recent survey conducted by the payment-processing firm known as Moneris, 77 percent of Canadians who responded indicated a preference for debit or credit cards over cash, while 65 percent said they rarely use any cash at all. "I think we're at a point where you don't need cash for most of what you need to do today. I do think people will continue to use cash because it's been around so long… But this growth in contactless (payments using credit cards or mobile apps) I think is going to lead towards the end of cash," stated Rob Cameron, the chief product and marketing officer at Moneris. (22)

Generally speaking, consumers enjoy cashless payment methods, such as credit cards, debit cards, and smartphone programs, because they facilitate convenient and fast payments. Governments also like cashless payment methods because it always leaves a paper trail and makes it more difficult for people to evade taxes. Naturally, a one world government beast system would also love a cashless system, for such a system makes it easier to track, monitor, and control the people. Sadly, this is the direction our world is heading. A recent report published by the New York Times quoted a twenty-three year-old student in Sweden who said, "No one uses cash. I think our generation can live without it." (23)

A Future Without Privacy!

In this connected generation of today, many people, especially young people have become accustomed to sharing every detail of their lives online. This is something they do willingly out of habit without giving it much thought. It seems as though future generations, however many there may be, will not know what it was like to live a life with any semblance of privacy whatsoever. After all, Big Brother is always watching.

In December 2015 the United States Congress passed new budget legislation known as the Omnibus Appropriations Bill. (24) Although this bill was simply supposed to be a required measure to keep the United States government in operation, House Speaker Paul Ryan, who is a Republican from Wisconsin, seized the opportunity and inserted what has come to be known as the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act, or CISA, into the bill. In short, the provisions of this act give American companies immunity from prosecution and lawsuits when they share private data with the National Security Agency, or NSA. After the data of the American people becomes the property of the NSA, it can then be shared with other government agencies, such as the FBI, and used as a method of surveillance. Some lawmakers did protest against the bill, including Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon. Regarding the bill, Wyden was quoted as saying, "These unacceptable surveillance provisions are a black mark on a worthy package that contains the biggest tax cut for working families in decades, an accomplishment I fought for in weeks of negotiations. Unfortunately, this misguided cyber legislation does little to protect Americans' security and a great deal more to threaten our privacy than the flawed Senate version. Americans demand real solutions that will protect them from foreign hackers, not knee-jerk responses that allow companies to fork over huge amounts of their customer's private data with only cursory review." (25)

Ironically, the communist nation of China recently enacted a counter-terrorism law, which functions similarly to the new provisions found in CISA. Yet, Western leaders, including Barack Obama, have been highly critical of China's new rules. China's new law requires technology companies to hand over data encryption keys and other information to the government if they are told to do so. "This rule accords with the actual work need of fighting terrorism and is basically the same as what other major countries in the world do," stated Li Shouwei, who is deputy head of the parliament's criminal law division. (26) Regarding the new law, foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei confessed that they drew upon United States' law for inspiration. "While formulating our counter terrorism law, we learned from the legislatures of other countries, including the U.S.," Lei said. (27)

Meanwhile, the government in Great Britain has also proposed a plan that would give their government more power to conduct online surveillance. The plan calls for technology companies to install backdoors in their products which would give the British government access to sensitive information, while also allowing communications data to be intercepted. This development caused the technology company known as Apple, Inc. to speak out against the proposal. "We believe it is wrong to weaken security for hundreds of millions of law-abiding customers so that it will also be weaker for the very few who pose a threat," Apple said. The company also likened the plan to leaving a key under the doormat. "A key left under the doormat would not just be there for the good guys. The bad guys would find it too." (28)

In closing, our world is indeed undergoing a transformation. As a result of this transformation, the young people of today are embracing a secular world with a different set of values. According to a recent poll from the Pew Research Center, only 63 percent of American respondents to their study claimed to be "absolutely certain" that God exists. This percentage is a stark drop from the year 2007, which was not so long ago, when 71 percent said they were certain that God exists. (29) Amongst those who still claim to be Christian, many are now accepting homosexuality. In fact, another Pew Research study published in December 2015 found that 54 percent of professing Christians who answered their poll said that homosexuality should be accepted and encouraged by society. (30) The people of today are being groomed and conditioned to accept a globalist society, and a one world government. As we continue to move through time, the Christian people will face mounting and intensifying pressure to assimilate with the world. With that thought in mind, let us lay to heart the words we find in II Thessalonians 2:15-17, "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." Yes, our hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have not yet given your heart to God and dedicated your life to Him, I urge you to do so now.

As always, we are here and ready to pray for you and your needs. If you have any prayer requests, please do not hesitate to send them our way. We take prayer seriously and every request is always given individual attention. Thank you all for your support of this ministry. We appreciate your kindness. Grace and peace be unto you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.