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

A Time Of Continuous Evil

"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."

"Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

"Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished."

In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will focus our attention on today's current events, which demonstrate a rapidly deteriorating condition in our world. As I write this newsletter in late October 2018, the United States of America continues to suffer from an astonishing disregard for propriety and decorum. Hatred abounds in the hearts of men and women, and much of the population is captivated by continuously wicked thoughts. As such, we see a condition today that strongly resembles the attitudes of people in Noah's day. In Genesis 6:5 we are told of that period of time: "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."

Countless studies have shown in recent years that the American people are well aware of the partisan discord that has split this country in two. In one of the more recent studies conducted by the National Opinion Research Center and published by the Associated Press in October 2018, it was found that eight out of ten respondents believe that the United States is "greatly divided about important values." Thirty-nine percent of the respondents said they believe the condition of this country will worsen, while only twenty percent said it would improve. Seventy-seven percent of respondents indicated that they are dissatisfied with the tumultuous political climate. (1)

Sadly, this is an era where men and women who are supposed to be the dignified leaders of our country behave more like petulant children. Prior to the American presidential election of 2016, former First Lady Michelle Obama became known for encouraging her fellow Democrats to take the high road in response to what was deemed to be obnoxious behavior by Donald Trump when he was running for President. "When they go low, we go high," Obama would say. It seems the attitude of prominent Democrats has shifted dramatically. In fact, former Attorney General of the United States Eric Holder recently urged his fellow liberals to abandon Michelle Obama's advice, stating that the new strategy should be, "When they go low, we kick them." (2) In like manner, former First Lady Hillary Clinton has declared that civility in the United States cannot return unless the Democrats take control of the United States Senate and House of Representatives in November 2018. "You cannot be civil with a political party that wants to destroy what you stand for, what you care about. That's why I believe if we are fortunate enough to win back the House and/or the Senate, that's when civility can start again. But until then, the only thing that the Republicans seem to recognize and respect is strength," Clinton declared. (3) In other words, Hillary Clinton, who is supposed to be a mature 71-year-old woman, is insisting that she and her fellow Democrats will refuse to behave in a civil manner unless they get what they want. This is the epitome of childish behavior.

As I have mentioned previously in this newsletter, various mainstream news sources have suggested in recent months that the United States is on the brink of a new civil war. This trend has continued. According to a report published by Newsweek on October 25, 2018, political adviser Steve Schmidt, who formerly worked for the late Senator John McCain, has made the claim that a civil war, albeit a "cold" one, is already underway. "Trump has stoked a cold civil war in this country. His rallies brim with menace and he has labeled journalists as enemies of the people. That someone would seek to kill their political enemies is not aberrational but rather [an] inevitable consequence of Trump's incitement," Schmidt wrote. (4)

Amazingly enough, in October 2018 the New York Times published a fictional short story that imagines the assassination of American President Donald Trump. The story, which was written by novelist Zoe Sharp, is centered on a Russian spy who is sent to assassinate the President. After the foreign agent's weapon malfunctions, he is offered an assist from the American Secret Service. "The Secret Service agent stood before him, presenting his Glock, butt first. 'Here,' the agent said politely. 'Use mine,'" Sharp wrote in her story. (5) This tale is no doubt one that the staff at the New York Times would love to see become a reality. The increasingly hostile political climate prompted Republican Senator Rand Paul to say, "I fear there's going to be an assassination. I really worry that somebody is going to be killed, and that those who are ratcheting up the conversation… they have to realize they bear some responsibility if this elevates to violence." (6)

As it was in the days of Noah, we are living in a period of time when the minds of the people are filled with wicked imaginations. These imaginations can easily become actions, and we know that in Noah's day there was great violence in the land. God saw this violence and determined that He would judge the world with a flood. In the end there was just one thing standing in the way of the annihilation of mankind. That one thing was grace. Genesis 6:8 tells us, "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." Today, there is still only one thing standing in the way of man's destruction, and it is still grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." I urge every reader of this newsletter to repent of your sins if you have not yet done so, and dedicate your life to God. In so doing, you will find the grace of God that we all so desperately need.

Terror In The Mail

There are quite obviously evil forces at work who would love nothing more than to whip up the people into a hate-fueled frenzy. It is evident that our country is under a great spiritual strain at this time, and people on all sides are starting to crack. While there are groups such as Antifa brawling in the streets, others are using the United States Postal Service to terrorize their political opponents. On October 2, 2018, it was reported that someone had sent mail to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., that was intended for United States Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and was suspected of containing a deadly poison known as ricin. (7) On the same day, the campaign office of Senator Ted Cruz in Houston, Texas, received an envelope in the mail that contained a white powdery substance. As a result of the suspicious mail, two workers were hospitalized until tests confirmed that there was no hazardous substance in the envelope. Reports indicate that white powder was also sent to members of President Trump's family in recent months. (8)

Meanwhile, on October 22, 2018, a rudimentary explosive device was delivered to the home of the elitist billionaire known as George Soros. (9) Soros is well-known for funding protests, and he is widely believed to be using his vast wealth for conspiratorial purposes. As it turns out, the pipe bomb sent to the home of Soros was just the beginning of a campaign which included similar devices addressed and mailed to Hillary Clinton, former American President Barack Obama, former CIA Director John Brennan, Democratic Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz in Florida, Democratic Representative Maxine Waters in California, actor Robert De Niro, former American Vice President Joe Biden, Democratic Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. (10) None of the poorly-crafted bombs detonated, which suggests that the perpetrator may have only intended to frighten his victims. This fact led some conservative commentators such as Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh to suggest the bomb mailing campaign may have been a ruse to garner sympathy for the Democrats. (11) However, law enforcement has identified the alleged perpetrator as 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc. The man was who was arrested in South Florida on October 26, 2018, is reportedly an ardent supporter of President Trump. (12) Oddly enough, Sayoc's relatives claim that the man never used to talk about politics. "He didn't discuss politics. This has to be when Trump got in, very recently, that he lost his mind," said one of Sayoc's cousins. (13) Lawyers who worked with the man in the past described him as "maybe delusional" and "mentally ill." (14) Of course, in many cases, mental illness is caused by evil spirits that torment people. Could this be another example of mind control? God knows.

Following the arrest of Cesar Sayoc, President Trump congratulated law enforcement personnel for the quick apprehension and issued a statement saying, "We must never allow political violence to take root in America. We cannot let it happen. I am committed to do everything in my power as president to stop it and stop it now." He then went on to say, "Americans must unify. And we must show the world we are united in peace and harmony." (15) Considering the turmoil in the United States today, "peace and harmony" seems a long way off. One thing is certain, sending pipe bombs to one's enemies is certainly not Christian behavior. While George Soros, Hillary Clinton, and the others who were targeted have said and done reprehensible things, God will be their judge, and He will judge them far more appropriately than any of us ever could. Romans 12:17-19 tells us, "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

Witchcraft In America Is Thriving

If you have noticed that it seems like there is a great spiritual pressure in the United States today, you could be feeling the impact of occult forces at work. In fact, recent reports indicate that witchcraft, paganism, and the occult rituals that accompany these beliefs are growing exponentially in popularity. In November 2017 the New York Times published a story declaring that it is now the "Season of the Witch." (16) In another report, also published in 2017, Buzzfeed News proclaimed of witchcraft, "It's a spirituality, it's an aesthetic, and it's more popular than ever." (17) The article goes on to describe how witchcraft is thriving online with a growing number of businesses that sell occult-related goods. The article also cites author Alex Mar who claims there are up to one million pagans and witches in the United States today. I suspect that the actual number is much higher. Many of these young witches first learned of occult concepts in popular culture, including music, movies, and television shows. "I realized that a lot of people who are deeper into witchcraft than me first got into it through pop culture references - that's more accepted in the community than I first thought," said one witch who publishes an occult magazine. She further went on to say, "In terms of being attracted because of the aesthetic, if someone picks up a pentagram because they think it's a cool symbol, it doesn't mean they won't then learn the meaning behind it, too. I think for most [young witches] now, it's a combination of the aesthetic and the search for something spiritual." (18)

Women in particular are often drawn to witchcraft because in Wicca females are more powerful than men. This is confirmed in an article published by Stuff, a news source in New Zealand. The piece quotes a witch as saying, "I think it's tied to feminism. A lot of witchcraft is about the goddess, expressing the feminine side and having strength in that. All that sort of stuff is tied up together. I think for women it's a particularly empowering idea. There's a really famous phrase that people use, they say, 'we're the grand-daughters of the witches they couldn't burn.' So there's this idea of women being persecuted and of them rising up against persecution." (19) It is no coincidence that occult-themed television shows feature a female in the leading role. In the 1990s this was true of the shows known as "Charmed," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." Interestingly enough, some of these shows are now being remade. A new version of "Charmed" began airing on October 14, 2018. (20) Speaking of the new show, actress Alyssa Milano, who starred in the original program, was quoted as saying, "I wish that they would have come to us and we would have been involved since the beginning. But having said that, I do hope that it reaches the newer generation and impacts that generation the way ours was able to do for its generation." (21) Milano is no doubt hoping that the new show will turn the hearts of its viewers toward witchcraft. Netflix is also onboard with bringing witchcraft to the masses and recently began offering a show entitled "The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina," which is said to be a creepier version of "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." (22)

In another indicator of how pervasive witchcraft has become, an event was held on October 20, 2018, at an occult bookstore in Brooklyn, New York. The purpose of the gathering was to put a hex on the newly appointed Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. "Please join us for a public hex on Brett Kavanaugh, upon all rapists and the patriarchy at large which emboldens, rewards and protects them," the event description said. The description further went on to say, "We are embracing witchcraft's true roots as the magik of the poor, the downtrodden and disenfranchised and its history as often the only weapon, the only means of exacting justice available to those of us who have been wronged by men just like him." The description also promised there would be a second ritual after the first which they dubbed "The Rites of the Scorned One." Tickets for this ghoulish event were ten dollars each with a promise that 25 percent of the proceeds would be donated to the abortion provider known as Planned Parenthood and another 25 percent to an LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) advocacy group. (23) This is not surprising since abortion is a practice that is usually well-favored by witches.

Sadly, multitudes of people have been unable to fill their spiritual longings in today's modern churches. As such, men and women of this age are turning to witchcraft in an effort to fill the spiritual void in their lives. According to a recently published article by the Christian Post, there are now more witches in the United States than Presbyterians. (24) Yet, those who fall into the trappings of the occult will one day find out that there is no such thing as good witchcraft, and they will, without a doubt, regret their participation in such ungodly practices.

The Religious Practice Of Abortion

On a handful of occasions, God warns us in His Word that there are certain individuals who are reprobate. These people often claim to be godly or Christian but have an inability to discern right from wrong. In Titus 1:16 we are warned of these people by the Apostle Paul when he wrote, "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." It is for this reason that we see people today who claim to be Christian and yet glorify the barbaric practice of abortion as good and virtuous. Such is the case with a woman known as Dr. Susan K. Smith, a so-called minister who is planning to hold an event on November 9, 2018, which has been called "Holy Ground: Blessing the Sacred Space of Decision." During this event, Dr. Smith will gather with other clergy members to bless a Planned Parenthood clinic in the state of Ohio. "In celebration of conscience and moral decision making, this event will include interfaith blessings, prayers, and testimonies about receiving and providing abortion care. This clinic blessing will create space for progressive voices of faith to speak boldly in support of comprehensive reproductive health care, especially abortion," the event description reads. Dr. Smith further defended her stance and was quoted as saying, "Anti-abortion advocates do not have the monopoly on faith or God. Many faith leaders and people of faith hold that accessing and providing abortions are good and godly decisions." (25) Sadly, someone with such a warped mind is likely beyond reasoning, though Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of former President and First Lady of the United States, Bill and Hillary Clinton, would likely applaud Dr. Smith's stance. In September 2018, Chelsea Clinton stated during a radio interview that it would be "unchristian" to end legalized abortion in America. "That's unconscionable to me, and also, and I'm sure that this will unleash another wave of hate in my direction, but as a deeply religious person, it's also unchristian to me," Clinton said. (26)

When we read the words of these women, it becomes obvious that they do not view abortion as a mere medical procedure but rather as a religious practice. Perhaps this is why there are so many women today who are filled with madness over the possibility of Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal in the United States during the 1970s, being overturned. For the record, I would love to see Roe vs. Wade overturned, but I am not expecting it to happen even with a conservative majority now on the Supreme Court. Nevertheless, Planned Parenthood is already making plans to build an underground abortion network if Roe vs. Wade is overturned. The plan involves expanding their murder facilities in states such as New York and California where abortion would still be legal. They also hope to facilitate the distribution of abortion pills to women in states where abortion would become illegal. (27) How sad it is that there are so many women who are desperate to kill their children.

Elitists love abortion, too. In fact, liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg made an astonishing statement in 2009. Speaking of the Roe vs. Wade decision of 1973, Ginsburg said, "Frankly I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don't want to have too many of." (28) In other words, according to Ginsburg, the real purpose of abortion is to control the population and particularly certain types of population. What types of population might she be referring to? It is a historical fact that Margaret Sanger, the woman who founded the organization that would eventually become Planned Parenthood, had a great disdain for black people. In fact, she is reported to have given presentations to the Ku Klux Klan. Today, more black babies are aborted in the United States than any other ethnicity. According to the Wall Street Journal, in the year 2014, 36 percent of all abortions were performed on black women despite the fact that they account for only 13 percent of the American population. (29) One thing is certain, the slaying of infants of any color is abhorrent to God.

Another Climate Change Warning

The warnings come at regular intervals these days. People around the world have become accustomed to hearing that the very planet we live on today is in imminent danger of complete destruction if something is not done to stop climate change. The latest report came in October 2018 from the United Nations' agency known as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC. The report insists that steps must be taken to prevent the earth's global temperature from rising 1.5 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times. Speaking of their report, the agency issued a statement saying, "The report shows that we only have the slimmest of opportunities remaining to avoid unthinkable damage to the climate system that supports life as we know it." (30)

The newly published report prompted former American Vice President and climate change evangelist Al Gore to warn the world, "The report will encourage the development of new technologies, which is important. However, time is running out, so we must capitalize and build on the solutions available today." (31) Mr. Gore and the climate change scientists who published the UN report insist that the world only has twelve years remaining to reverse climate change. However, the measures that they suggest be implemented are excessively burdensome if not impossible. "Limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is possible within the laws of chemistry and physics, but doing so would require unprecedented changes," said Jim Skea of the IPCC. (32) What would these unprecedented changes entail? The UN report insists that the world must implement new carbon taxes if climate change is to be reversed. To be effective, the tax rate would have to be 5,500 dollars per ton of carbon dioxide by the year 2030. This would result in a 49 dollars per gallon gas tax! (33)

Dire warnings of impending doom are nothing new. For example, scientists predicted in 1989 that "entire nations could be wiped from the face of the earth" by the year 2000. (34) Needless to say, if climate change is really as disastrous as they say it is, implementing new taxes is not going to save the world. In fact, the Scriptures warn us in Isaiah 51:6 that this world will not last forever. This verse tells us, "Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished." The good news is that God's salvation outlasts this world. Thus, our faith and our hope is in God. I urge you all to fully trust Him.

Thank you to all of our kind supporters. We appreciate your help as we endeavor to share with the world the important news of our time and the hope that we find in our Lord and Saviour. If you have any prayer requests, great or small, please remember that our team of intercessors are ready to bring your petitions before the throne of Almighty God. Each prayer request is always given individual attention. Your requests will be read and each one will be prayed for. Grace and peace be unto you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.