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

A Time Of Great Wickedness And Despair

"In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah."

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will again set our focus on the happenings of a world where great wickedness and despair abound. The headlines of our day reveal that despite the advancements of mankind there are multitudes of human beings who are quite miserable. According to an article published by The Guardian, a record-breaking 68.5 million people were forced to flee their homes in 2017 because of war or persecution. (1) In the United States, the rate of suicide has risen precipitously with an increase of 25 percent between the years 1999 and 2016. Sadly, nearly 45,000 Americans took their own lives in 2016. (2) This rise has occurred even as an increasing number of Americans take medications which may cause depression as a side effect for a variety of illnesses and conditions. These medications include birth control pills, prescriptions to treat heart conditions, and even antacids. "Many may be surprised to learn that their medications, despite having nothing to do with mood or anxiety or any other condition normally associated with depression, can increase their risk of experiencing depressive symptoms, and may lead to a depressive diagnosis," said assistant professor Dima Qato of the University of Illinois in Chicago. (3) About one third of Americans today are taking medications that can cause depression. (4)

Meanwhile, a report released by Pew Research indicates that a substantial number of Americans are suffering from "news fatigue." According to the study, 68 percent of participants reported feeling overwhelmed by the amount of news they are barraged with on a day-to-day basis. (5) Part of this problem is likely caused by the fact that the mainstream news media incessantly reports every minor action of American President Donald Trump, including such inane details as how many cans of Diet Coke the President consumes each day. We also see numerous reports regarding the investigation of special counsel Robert Mueller as he investigates whether or not there was collusion between President Trump and Russia in the tampering of the 2016 Presidential Election in the United States. I suspect that the investigation is all for show and will lead nowhere. It has, however, cost the American taxpayers more than seventeen million dollars to date. (6) It is no wonder that so many people are suffering from news fatigue.

The publishing of this newsletter requires that I spend a great deal of time scrutinizing the news. I am sometimes asked if I have a "good news source." As it turns out, I do, and that good news source is the Holy Bible. In God's Word we find the gospel, and the word gospel literally means "good news." So while the headlines of today's mainstream news may cause weariness and fatigue, I find restoration and joy in Scripture. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus tells us, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." If you are seeking rest for your soul, you can find it in Jesus Christ. I urge every reader of this newsletter to repent of your sins and dedicate your life to God if you have not yet done so.

The Elites Meet Again

Each year, a group of elites gather for what has come to be known as the Bilderberg Meetings. During these meetings, powerful figures from Europe and North America gather to discuss topics they deem to be important. What precisely happens in these meetings is a closely guarded secret, but it is not far-fetched to think that these gatherings have impactful ramifications for the world we live in. It is widely believed that one of the goals of the Bilderberg Group is to establish a one world government. Interestingly enough, the late Denis Healy, who was a British Labor Party politician and a member of the Bilderberg steering committee for more than thirty years, told a reporter back in 2001, "To say we were striving for a one-world government is exaggerated, but not wholly unfair. Those of us in Bilderberg felt we couldn't go on forever fighting one another for nothing and killing people and rendering millions homeless. So we felt that a single community throughout the world would be a good thing." (7) Consider the profundity of this statement. Not only did Healy admit that his group would like a one world government, but also that those who attend these meetings have power and influence over millions of lives.

While the contents of this annual gathering are not disclosed to the general public, the group's official website does release a list of discussion topics each year. For the 2018 meetings, which occurred from June 7 until June 10, the topics were "Populism in Europe," "The Inequality Challenge," "The Future of Work," "Artificial Intelligence," "The US Before Midterms," "Free Trade," "US World Leadership," "Russia," "Quantum Computing," "Saudi Arabia and Iran," "The 'Post-truth' World," and "Current Events." I believe that this is a list of global topics wherein these powerful people seek to wield their influence and thus manipulate events around the world. Perhaps the most interesting topic on the list is post-truth world. "Post-truth" is a buzzword that was selected as "word of the year" in 2016 by the Oxford English Dictionary. It is defined as a term meaning "relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief." (8) Evidently, the Bilderberg members believe we now live in a world where the truth is not highly regarded. They are not wrong. In fact, a low regard for the truth has been a problem for thousands of years. In Isaiah 59:14 we read, "And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter."

While news media outlets will often mock those who believe that the Bilderberg Group has nefarious intentions, I cannot help but wonder why these people are so secretive if these meetings are supposed to be a good thing. If these meetings are so wonderful, where are the live video feeds for television and Internet sites? Where are the transcripts of what was discussed? Secrecy is often used as a veil to hide evil, and we know that it is the opposite of how our Lord and Saviour operated when He was here on earth. In John 18:20 Jesus informed Pilate, "…I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing." Oddly enough, one of the attendees of this year's meeting was none other than Cardinal Pietro Parolin who is Secretary of State at the Vatican. According to reports, this is the first time a representative from the Vatican has attended the Bilderberg Meetings. (9) Precisely why he was there is not fully known at this time, but we do know that Pope Francis seems eager to establish a one world religion, and such a religious structure would work hand-in-hand with a one world government. In any case, such secrets will be revealed in due time. Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:26, "Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known."

The Real Goal Of The Climate Change Agenda

With each passing year, the outcry from scientists regarding climate change only seems to grow more frantic. It comes in waves as we see news stories declaring that our planet is presently on a trajectory of great peril. One of the latest entities to cry out is the city council of Berkeley, California. On June 12, 2018, the council issued a declaration stating that climate change is a global threat of a greater severity than World War II. The resolution further states that "reversing ecological overshoot and halting the sixth mass extinction requires an effort to preserve and restore half [of] earth's biodiversity in interconnected wildlife corridors and to humanely stabilize population." (10) As we have seen time and time again, this statement reveals the real goal of the climate change agenda. This goal is to reduce the population of the world. Many of the young people today have attended public schools and universities where they have been taught that the world is overpopulated and that the population of the world must be stabilized, controlled, and reduced. These same people then repeat what they were taught and never stop to think about what reducing the population would entail. To put it simply, to reduce the population of the world means that people have to die. Oddly enough, the people who suggest that the world is overpopulated never seem to volunteer to be "reduced." It should be noted that when scientists talk of reducing the world's population, they are not talking about a small number. As of this writing, there are approximately 7.6 billion people in the world. In April 2012 The Guardian published an interview with climate change extremist Paul Ehrlich wherein he suggested that the ideal population of the earth is 1.5 to 2 billion people. "How many you support depends on lifestyles. We came up with 1.5 to 2 billion because you can have big active cities and wilderness. If you want a battery chicken world where everyone has minimum space and food and everyone is kept just about alive you might be able to support in the long term about 4 or 5 billion people. But you already have 7 billion. So we have to humanely and as rapidly as possible move to population shrinkage," Ehrlich insisted. (11) Have you ever noticed that these extremists often talk about reducing the world's population in a "humane" way? The simple fact is that there is no humane way to reduce billions of people from existence.

To combat climate change, government entities will no doubt begin to enforce harsh restrictions on how the common people can live their lives. This is already starting to happen. On May 31, 2018, California Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation that establishes a personal water use goal of 55 gallons per person each day. The new guidelines are set to take effect in 2022 and will further reduce the suggested limit to 50 gallons per person each day by the year 2030. "In preparation for the next drought and our changing environment, we must use our precious resources wisely. We have efficiency goals for energy and cars - and now we have them for water," Governor Brown stated. (12) Although the new law does not mandate fines against individuals, water utilities could be hit with a penalty of one thousand dollars per day if they exceed the new water limits. (13) Fifty-five gallons of water per person per day is not nearly enough to live a normal life. According to a report published by The Washington Times, an eight minute shower uses about seventeen gallons of water. One load of laundry can easily use forty gallons of water, and a typical bathtub can hold eighty to one hundred gallons. (14) As such, the new limit would allow enough water to permit a person to perhaps do one load of laundry per day and take one shower, but a bath would certainly be out of the question.

Meanwhile, the famous environmental group known as Greenpeace would like to mandate what people are allowed to eat. Specifically, a report published by the organization in March 2018 insists that consumption of meat and dairy products must be cut in half by the year 2050 to prevent catastrophic climate change. (15) As we look at these reports, a pattern starts to emerge, and it becomes abundantly clear that people in the future will likely live lives that are far more restricted than the life we know today assuming this world continues to exist.

A Pope Unlike Any Other

Since Jorge Bergoglio, who is now known as Pope Francis, ascended to the Catholic Papacy in 2013, he has established himself as a controversial figure. In recent months, news reports allege that Francis has admitted in private conversation that he doubts the existence of hell. In another private conversation which made headlines in May 2018, it was reported that Francis told a gay man that sexual orientation "does not matter." (16) On numerous occasions, Francis has shown an affinity for communism. In an interview conducted in November 2016, the Pope was quoted as saying, "It has been said many times and my response has always been that, if anything, it is the communists who think like Christians. Christ spoke of a society where the poor, the weak, and the marginalized have the right to decide. Not demagogues, not Barabbas, but the people, the poor, whether they have faith in a transcendent God or not. It is they who must help to achieve equality and freedom." (17) During a visit to South America in July 2015, the Pope was given an unusual gift by Bolivian president Evo Morales. The gift was a communist crucifix, with an image that was supposed to be Jesus Christ nailed to a cross that was fashioned from a hammer and sickle. The hammer and sickle, of course, is a well-known symbol of communism. Francis readily accepted the gift, stating, "I understand this work. For me it wasn't an offense." (18)

Although popes are usually revered and respected by Catholic people, a rift is now forming in the Catholic Church, and many of the religion's adherents are deeply critical of Pope Francis. In 2017 a group of more than two hundred priests and scholars signed a letter declaring that Francis is spreading heresy, a development which prompted Politico to publish a story with the headline, "Heretic in the Vatican." (19) Considering his propensity to espouse communist values and his eagerness to lecture the world about climate change, the current Pope seems to be just as much a politician as a religious leader. He truly is a pope unlike any other, and he is attempting to use his influence to change the world in unprecedented ways. These are days of great intrigue.

A World With More Pride Than Ever

Each year, the month of June is proclaimed to be "Pride Month." It is a time that is dedicated to the celebration of homosexuality and the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning) movement. We know from Scripture that God does not approve of this lifestyle, nor does He approve of pride. In fact, the Bible warns us time and time again regarding the dangers of pride. Psalm 10:4 tells us, "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts." In like manner, Psalm 59:12 warns, "For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak." We are also warned in Proverbs 6:17 that God hates "a proud look." The New Testament condemns pride as well. James 4:6 informs, "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." Despite these verses, what have we seen in the month of June 2018? Thousands have gathered for gay pride parades, stores and businesses are selling rainbow colored merchandise declaring "pride," and a new greeting is being uttered by a growing number of people who enthusiastically exclaim, "Happy Pride!"

The support of gay pride by businesses has never been greater. In fact, Target stores set up colorful displays in June featuring toys, clothing, and other merchandise celebrating gay pride. Many of the items for sale are geared toward children, including a stuffed rainbow-colored unicorn named "Bliss - the Super Unicorn." (20) On their website, Target issued a statement declaring, "Pride month is underway and we're helping families get ready to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and TakePride with a new, exclusive product collection. It's just one way we show our longstanding commitment to the community." (21) McDonalds got in on the act, too. From June 9 through June 11, 2018, three McDonald's locations in the Washington, D.C., area sold large orders of fries in rainbow colored boxes to celebrate homosexuality. "The rainbow fry boxes are a fun way to show our support of the LGBTQ community using one of McDonald's most iconic and recognizable items; however, these fry boxes are 'small potatoes' in the grand scheme of our commitment to the community," stated Cathy Martin, who is the co-chair of the McDonald's Pride Network. She further went on to say, "We are proud to honor and celebrate the LGBTQ community, including our employees, customers and beyond, each and every day." (22) Numerous apparel makers, including Converse, Levi's, H&M, American Eagle, and Nike, introduced collections of Pride merchandise of which a portion of the proceeds were given to homosexuality advocacy groups. (23) Not to be outdone, the iconic Walt Disney Company introduced a line of rainbow emblazoned merchandise including hats, backpacks, t-shirts, and sunglasses. (24)

Throughout Europe, thousands of people marched in gay pride parades this year. (25) Those events paled in comparison, however, to the bawdry festivities in Tel Aviv, Israel. The coastal city, which borders the Mediterranean Sea, is known as the "most gay friendly city" in the world. Over 250,000 people were on hand for the 20th Annual Pride Parade on June 8, 2018. (26) The event calls to mind the words we find in Isaiah 3:9. "The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! For they have rewarded evil unto themselves."

As the years have passed in the early 21st century, homosexuality has become normalized and same-sex marriage has been legalized in a growing number of countries. There are now twenty-seven countries where such unions are allowed, many of which are in Europe. The Netherlands was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage all the way back in the year 2000. Fifteen years later, the United States followed suit, and in 2017 Australia did so as well. (27) Same-sex marriage is also legal in the United Kingdom, and in the coming months, Ivar Mountbatten, who is a distant cousin of Queen Elizabeth the II, is set to become the first member of the extended Royal British Family to marry a member of the same gender. (28)

Meanwhile, homosexuality is continuously gaining acceptance in American religious institutions. As such, an event known as the Revoice Conference is scheduled to take place at Memorial Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, Missouri, on July 26 through July 28, 2018. The stated purpose of this event is "Supporting, encouraging, and empowering gay, lesbian, same-sex attracted, and other LGBT Christians so they can flourish while observing the historic Christian doctrine of marriage and sexuality." (29) It is amazing how brazenly people parade their sin in this modern age, and it is evident that there are hordes of humanity who have no fear or respect for God.

New World Babies

The world we live in today is home to many confused souls. There are multitudes of tormented people who are unwilling to accept the gender that God has given them. This confusion has given way to the transgender movement, and as a result, we see many bizarre stories surfacing in the news. According to an article published by The Telegraph, a woman in the England and Wales region of the United Kingdom has gone to court against her government in an effort to abolish the requirement that a child be born to a mother. The woman claims to be a transgender man despite the fact that she recently gave birth, and she is fighting to be recognized as the father of the child on the birth certificate. The barrister (the British equivalent of a lawyer) for the woman was quoted as saying, "It is an accepted fact that a female who transitions to male may in law maintain the ability to conceive and give birth to a child. (He) seeks a declaration that being forced to register as a mother to his son is contrary to his right to private and family life within Article 8 of the Human Rights Act of 1998 and that such interference, in the light of the changes which have evolved in society are no longer proportionate..." (30)

It appears that society is a confused mess and is growing more so with each passing day. The notion that a man can give birth to a child is quite absurd, and yet a fashion show which took place in London, England, during the month of June 2018 featured male models dressed in maternity wear. The models used prosthetics to appear pregnant as they trotted down the fashion runway displaying fake bellies. One model wore a t-shirt emblazoned with the words "New World Baby." (31) In an effort to explain this bizarre spectacle, clothing designer Xander Zhou was quoted as saying, "At Supernatural, Extraterrestrial & Co., we're prepared to welcome a future of male pregnancy." (32) The spirit of confusion is growing more pervasive with each passing day.

A Startling Turnabout In North Korea

It is a well-known fact that relations between the United States and North Korea have been tense over the years. We have been told that North Korea is building a nuclear arsenal, and just last year there was great concern that the hostile nation might launch a nuclear attack against the American state of Hawaii or the American territory of Guam. Japan, which is an important ally to the United States and only a short distance from North Korea, was also considered to be in danger of an attack. For much of 2017, American President Donald Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un traded insults back and forth, often on the social networking website known as Twitter. It seemed highly unlikely that there would be an end to these hostilities any time soon. "North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States. They will be met with fire, fury like the world has never seen," Trump wrote in August 2017. (33) In September 2017, Kim Jong Un fired back when he wrote of Trump, "He is unfit to hold the prerogative of supreme command of a country and he is surely a rogue and a gangster fond of playing with fire, rather than a politician." He further went on to say, "Whatever Trump might have expected, he will face results beyond his expectation. I will surely and definitely tame the mentally deranged U.S. dotard with fire." (34) Shortly thereafter, Trump responded to Kim's threat and wrote, "Kim Jong Un of North Korea, who is obviously a madman who doesn't mind starving or killing his people, will be tested like never before!" (35) Looking back, these statements seem comical, and frankly, a bit childish. It is hard not to laugh, but there was certainly genuine concern that war could break out at any moment. As late as January 2018, Trump and Kim were threatening to use nuclear weapons against each other. (36)

In March 2018, everything inexplicably changed, and leaders from North Korea signaled for the first time that they were willing to denuclearize their country. (37) Even more startling, Kim Jong Un and President Trump met in Singapore on June 12, 2018, to discuss denuclearization and an agreement for peace. Both leaders signed a document agreeing to work toward these goals, prompting the American President to say, "We are signing a very important document, a pretty comprehensive document, and we have had a really great term together, a great relationship." (38) Kim also was pleased with the meeting. "We overcame all kinds of skepticism and speculations about this summit and I believe that this is good for the peace. I believe this is a good prelude for peace," Kim said. (39) While this development is a cause for optimism, nothing is guaranteed. "North Korea has previously confirmed to us its willingness to denuclearize and we are eager to see if those words prove sincere," said United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. (40)

What caused this turnabout? No one knows why Kim Jong Un's attitude suddenly changed, but we do know that we serve a God who can work miracles and soften hearts. Nevertheless, we must continue to watch and pray as there is great strife in this present age.

In closing, there is great wickedness at work in our world, and it is easy to see that evil men and seducers are waxing worse and worse. There are spirits of delusion, deception, and confusion hard at work attempting to ensnare the people. Our God gives us not only salvation, but a refuge from despair. Psalm 67:7-8 tells us, "In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah."

Thank you all for your kind support of this newsletter. As always, our team of intercessors is ready to bring your prayer requests before the throne of the Almighty, so if you have any requests, great or small, you are welcome to send them our way. Grace and peace be unto you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.