Volume XXXVIII      Issue V      May 2019
Last Trumpet Ministries, PO Box 806, Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Phone: 920-887-2626 Internet: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org

Disaster And Disease In A Havoc Stricken World

"For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?"

"And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds."

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will focus our attention on today's current events, including the havoc induced by disaster and disease. Recent headlines tell of powerful storms, disastrous flooding, and volcanic eruptions. Dangerous new diseases are also being reported, and officials are warning that some of them are incurable. Additionally, numerous countries around the world are experiencing protests involving thousands of people as the ever-present discontentment of the masses boils to the surface.

As we see the condition of our world continue to deteriorate, fear and anxiety, especially regarding climate change, has taken hold with a growing number of people believing that the future of the world is too bleak to consider raising children. In February 2019, New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez held a live broadcast on the social networking website known as Instagram and told her audience, "There's scientific consensus that the lives of children are going to be very difficult. And it does lead young people to have a legitimate question: is it okay to still have children?" (1) As it turns out, Ocasio-Cortez is not the only woman to ask this question. In response to what is regarded as the futility of the future, hundreds of women have already pledged to not have children. A new movement known as BirthStrike, which was founded by British musician Blythe Pepino, already has about three hundred members. Speaking of her group, Pepino was quoted as saying, "BirthStrike came about because I realized I didn't feel like we had a chance of surviving. I felt very faithless that humans could turn this around. So, I've given myself five years to try my best to be part of the movement." (2) In a similar fashion, Rivka Weinberg, a professor of philosophy at Scripps College in Claremont, California, suggested that climate change might make parenthood too risky. "Given that life is already quite risky, unpredictable, and often utterly miserable, the environmental factor might be a tipping point for the question, 'Is life a worthwhile risk?'" Weinberg wondered. (3)

Prominent news outlets have covered this trend in recent days, thus planting the seed in the minds of the people that having children is a questionable or possibly reckless endeavor. For example, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, or CBC, published a story on April 9, 2019, with the headline, "Not having children a way to cut a person's carbon footprint, some environmentalist groups say." (4) The article cites a Canadian man who recently underwent sterilization because of climate change. "Why should we be creating more people to create more suffering for ourselves and the rest of the planet?" the man questioned. (5) Not to be outdone, NBC News published a story on April 21, 2019, with the headline, "For some millennials, climate change clock ticks louder than biological one." (6) The article details at great length the anxiety that millennials feel over raising children, and even refers to the fact that public education has influenced this increasingly common mindset. "Climate concern appears to be surging. Today's young adults have been taught since grade school that life on Earth promises to become more precarious," the article states. (7) Thus, when we read between the lines, we see that the young adults of today have undergone brainwashing.

Interestingly enough, Jesus Christ Himself spoke of a time when this attitude would be prevalent. In Luke 23:29, Jesus tells us, "For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck." People are saying these very things right now.

While it is true that our world is engulfed in calamity, the majority of people alive today seem oblivious to the one thing that would truly make a difference. Widespread genuine and sincere repentance would certainly stem the flood of judgment that is falling now and will continue to intensify in the future. Yet, Revelation 16 tells us that even in the face of great judgment, people in their stubbornness will refuse to repent. Revelation 16:8-9 tells us, "And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory." Nevertheless, despite the problems we face in this world, we as God's children are not without hope. In Romans 5:1-2, the Apostle Paul reassures, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." If you would like to be a recipient of the hope that we find only in Christ, 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.

Earth - A Planet Out Of Balance

As I studied news reports from around the world in preparation for this newsletter, a realization struck me. This planet that we live on today is very much out of balance. There is some good news. On April 24, 2019, it was reported that drought in the United States is at its lowest level since the year 2000. (8) Even the state of California, which has become well-known for its desperately dry conditions in recent years, has now been declared drought-free for the first time since December 2011. (9) However, while the United States is no longer suffering from dry conditions, much of the country is enduring flooding. The springtime flooding, which was especially bad in the Midwestern portion of the United States has caused an estimated 12.5 billion dollars in damage according to Accuweather. The report further states that at least one million acres of farmland have been flooded with the states of Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Missouri being the hardest hit. Other states affected by the deluge include Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, and Kansas. (10) Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts marveled at the damage, stating that the flooding was "the most extensive damage our state has ever experienced." (11) Projected rainfall this spring could also bring flooding to the states of Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. (12)

While much of the United States is saturated with water, the European continent is battling drought and forest fires. "If the dry weather continues in the coming months, the drought of 2018 could be repeated or even exceeded," warned Udo Busch of the German Weather Service. (13) In recent days, German firefighters have battled blazes in the states of Hessen, Brandenburg, and Thuringia, while the nation of Sweden has been battling ten to fifteen wildfires each day. Amazingly, 99 percent of the Czech Republic is suffering from drought conditions at this present time. (14)

In Iran, devastating flooding has struck there, too. The damage has been extensive and has impacted 25 of the 31 provinces in the Islamic country. According to a report published on April 15, 2019, ten million people from two thousand municipalities have been affected, with more than 500,000 people displaced. More than 14,000 kilometers, or 8,700 miles, of road have been damaged. Seventy-eight people have died, with more than one thousand more suffering injuries. (15)

The African continent has also been battered by disastrous weather in recent weeks. On March 14, 2019, Cyclone Idai made landfall on the coasts of Mozambique and also hit the countries of Zimbabwe and Malawi. The damage inflicted on Mozambique by this storm is astonishing. More than 600 people were killed, 1,641 were injured, and 239,682 homes were damaged. The death toll in Zimbabwe was 344, and in Malawi, 60 people died. (16) On April 24, 2019, it was reported that another storm, this one called Cyclone Kenneth, was about to hit Mozambique. With sustained winds of 140 miles per hour, this is said to be the strongest storm ever to hit the African nation. Significant flooding is likely as more than twenty inches of rain has been forecasted for the region. (17)

Another area of concern is in Mexico where the volcano known as Popocatepetl has been increasingly active. On March 28, 2019, it was reported that the volcano had released more than two hundred discharges in a twenty-four hour period, which prompted an alert from Mexican officials. Some of these eruptions shot volcanic rocks over a mile away and set fires to pastures in the area. (18) The activity at Popocatepetl has caused speculation regarding the possibility of a powerful eruption that could inflict significant destruction in Mexico. The volcano is only thirty-five miles away from Mexico City, and there are many other towns and villages nearby, too. Experts say deadly hot mud and debris could travel as fast as sixty miles per hour and also warn that toxic volcanic ash would pose a significant health risk in the event of a more forceful eruption. (19)

The extreme weather and natural disasters that are happening all over the globe certainly qualify as "fearful sights." Jesus warned us that such things would come to pass. In the days ahead as this planet gradually unravels, we will continue to watch in amazement. However, it is not enough to just watch, but we also need to pray. For as Jesus tells us in Mark 13:33, "Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is."

An Enormous Problem

Over the course of the last five years, a strange new germ has been slowly making its way around the world. It has been found In Venezuela, Spain, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, South Africa, and more recently, the United States. The germ, which is a fungus called Candida auris, is quickly becoming notorious because it is so difficult to treat. In May of 2018, a man was admitted to a hospital in Brooklyn, New York, when he became infected with this fungus. After staying in the hospital for ninety days, the man passed away, and the hospital had to go to great lengths to purge this pernicious fungus from their facility. "Everything was positive - the walls, the bed, the doors, the curtains, the phones, the sink, the whiteboard, the poles, the pump, the mattress, the bed rails, the canister holes, the window shades, the ceiling, everything in the room was positive." Cleaning crews were forced to rip out portions of the ceiling and floor tiles in an attempt to cleanse the room. (20)

This germ is resistant to most antifungal medications, and medical professionals are very concerned. "It's an enormous problem," said Matthew Fisher, a professor at Imperial College in London, England. Dr. Lynn Sosa, who is deputy state epidemiologist for the American state of Connecticut, agrees. "It's pretty much unbeatable and difficult to identify," Dr. Sosa said. Dr. Tom Chiller, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also expressed his frustration. "It is a creature from the black lagoon. It bubbled up, and now it is everywhere," the doctor said. (21) More than seven hundred cases of Candida auris infections have been reported in the United States in recent months, with most of them found in Illinois, New Jersey, and New York. (22) "Most strains of C. auris are resistant to at least one antifungal drug, one-third are resistant to two antifungal drug classes, and some strains are resistant to all three major classes of antifungal drugs. C. auris can spread readily between patients in healthcare facilities. It has caused numerous healthcare-associated outbreaks that have been difficult to control," the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists said in a statement. (23) Candida auris has been reported to have a 40 percent mortality rate. (24)

Doctors are also gravely concerned about the rise of "superbugs." These bugs are an assortment of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics due to the widespread overuse of such drugs. According to a report by CBS News, the British government estimates that ten million people each year could die from superbug infections by the year 2050. (25)

Meanwhile, the Ebola outbreak in Africa's Democratic Republic of the Congo is still going strong. According to a report by Reuters News Service, progress against the virus has been hampered by the people's mistrust of medical crews. A large portion of the Congolese people refuse to believe that the disease is real. (26) In some cases, doctors and hospital personnel have been killed by rebels and angry mobs. To date, 1,340 cases of Ebola infection have been reported in the African country, which resulted in 874 deaths. (27)

France Under Fire

Over the course of the last decade, the world has seen its fair share of protests. In places such as Tunisia and Egypt, anti-establishment uprisings have toppled governments, and even to this day, it seems there is always an uproar somewhere. At this present time, you can find massive protests in places like the African country of Sudan and the South American country of Venezuela. Some of the longest lasting protests, however, have been in France.

The protests in France have now taken place every Saturday for the last twenty-five weeks in a row. (28) As would be expected, the size of these protests has shrunken over time. They had been as high as 300,000 throughout the nation of France last November. In recent weeks, an estimated 30,000 protestors have turned out for demonstrations. (29) The protests are rooted in a deep-seated dissatisfaction with the policies of French President Emmanuel Macron, who has attempted to placate the people with various reforms. For example, on April 25, 2019, Macron promised to enact tax cuts that would benefit fifteen million French households. (30)

The protests in France, many of which take place in Paris, often turn violent. During demonstrations on April 20, 2019, agitators clad in black apparel were seen setting fire to trash cans and scooters on the streets of Paris, while they were pelting police officers with rocks. Five thousand police officers were on hand to contain the angry demonstrators. (31)

Interestingly enough, the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris caught fire on April 15, 2019. The spire on the famous building was completely engulfed and destroyed by the flames while the roof and other portions of the building sustained significant damage. (32) The cathedral is a source of national pride for the citizens of France, and many people have bemoaned the damage sustained by the renowned structure. Remarkably, hundreds of millions of dollars in donations flowed in to repair the building even as it was still smoldering from the fire. (33) It is a pity that people seem to love their buildings more than they love God. The fire at this man-made monument to religion serves as a poignant metaphor for the Roman Catholic religion itself, which due to numerous scandals brought to light in recent months is very much under fire.

If the French government was hoping that the fire at Notre Dame would draw attention away from the anti-establishment protests, their hopes have indeed now been dashed. The rapid influx of donations only angered some protestors more. It is unknown when these protests might subside, but they likely will eventually. One thing is sure, however, and that is that there will be more fires. The Scriptures tell us that in the end, all the works of man will be burned up. II Peter 3:10 tells us, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."

Corrupt Religion In Our Modern Time

In last month's issue of this newsletter, I wrote in-depth about the decline of religion in the United States. This decline is very real and very noticeable. Yet, much of what remains of modern religion is not only corrupt but in some cases blasphemous and antichrist. A very large part of the problem is that many pastors are now afraid to preach the entire truth from God's Word. According to a recent study, about one-half of the pastors in the United States are worried about offending their congregations. In particular, the report indicates that 44 percent of pastors "feel limited in their ability to speak about homosexuality." (34)

Although homosexuality is a lifestyle that the Bible clearly and emphatically forbids, numerous religious institutions are now embracing it. This trend has caused great discord within the United Methodist Church, a denomination that is now on the verge of splitting apart. (35) Although the denomination recently affirmed its belief that homosexuality is contrary to God's Word, many Methodist churches are protesting the decision, even going as far as to raise rainbow flags in their buildings. Some churches are also refusing to pay their dues. This includes the largest church in the denomination known as the Church of the Resurrection, which has 22,000 members at four locations in Kansas and Missouri. (36)

Additionally, the Mormon Church, which is officially known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, announced in April 2019 that it is softening its stance on homosexuality. "Previously, our handbook characterized same-gender marriage by a member as apostasy. While we still consider such a marriage to be a serious transgression, it will not be treated as apostasy for purposes of church discipline," the church announced. (37)

Meanwhile, the Roman Catholic Church, which has been besieged by scandal due to widespread abuse, was recently forced to suspend a priest in the Netherlands by the name of Pierre Valkering after he presented a pro-gay homily to his congregants. During this homily he promoted an autobiographical book wherein he admits to not only being a homosexual, but also to committing homosexual acts even while holding his position in the Catholic priesthood. (38) Oddly enough, Valkering presented a pro-gay book to Pope Francis in 2016 and faced no repercussions for doing so. (39)

In another appalling development, a diocese of the Church of Sweden has published a new guide for so-called "Christian queer kids." This blasphemous guide asserts that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality, and further claims that Jesus Christ was "queer." (40) People would be far better off not attending church at all rather than supporting this antichrist institution. Needless to say, we now live in the time spoken of by the Apostle Paul in II Timothy 4:3-4 which tells us, " For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

In closing, I urge every reader to hold fast to God's truth even as we face worsening conditions in a deteriorating world. The Apostle Paul instructs in II Timothy 1:13-14, "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us."

Thank you all for your kind support of this newsletter. May God bless and keep you all. If you have any prayer requests, great or small, please do not hesitate to send them our way. We always give each request individual attention. Grace and peace be unto you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.