Volume 39      Issue One      January 2020
Last Trumpet Ministries, PO Box 806, Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Phone: 920-887-2626 Internet: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org

A Great Transitional Stage

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

"For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will examine a world that has changed in profound ways over the course of the last decade and is now in a great transitional stage. The last ten years have brought astonishing new technology to the world, which in turn has dramatically modified our day-to-day lives. The Internet has altered how we communicate, socialize, work, study, shop, and receive our news. The proliferation of smartphones has provided the masses with devices that are always on and always with you, allowing those who use them to be continuously monitored and tracked.

Life was different ten years ago. In the year 2010, only 20.2 percent of the American people carried a smartphone. By the year 2019, that percentage had increased to 71.4 percent. (1) These little devices have amazing capabilities that far eclipse the power of computers from the 1980s and 1990s. With just one device, the user can take photographs, browse the Internet, listen to music, watch television, conduct financial transactions, access global positioning satellite navigation systems, and perform a plethora of other tasks. Not surprisingly, these devices are highly addictive. If you attend a social function, you will probably notice that many people have their smartphones out. When people eat at restaurants, they often do so under the glow of their iPhone or Android phone. People have become so dependent on their smartphones that many of them have developed a condition that scientists have called "smartphone separation anxiety" or nomophobia. (2) The term is used to describe the panic people feel when they cannot use their smartphones. Researchers say this unhealthy attachment is due in part to a sense that people's smartphones are an extension of themselves. "As smartphones evoke more personal memories, users extend more of their identity onto their smartphones. When people perceive smartphones as their extended selves, they are more likely to become attached to the devices, which, in turn, leads to nomophobia by heightening the phone proximity-seeking tendency," declares a report from the journal known as Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. (3)

Amongst the many advanced functions of the smartphone is a nefarious capability. Smartphones, as it turns out, serve quite effectively as tracking devices. In a piece published by the New York Times on December 19, 2019, the authors explain how staff involved in the Times Privacy Project were given access to a massive set of data spanning 50 billion records and covering more than 12 million Americans in New York City; San Francisco, California; Los Angeles, California; and Washington, D.C. (4) Remarkably, this data is not being collected at the behest of a government, (though I am quite sure they do it, too) but rather by private corporations who gain access to the devices when users install smartphone software commonly known as "apps." This sad reality prompted the authors to write, "Within America's own representative democracy, citizens would surely rise up in outrage if the government attempted to mandate that every person above the age of 12 carry a tracking device that revealed their location 24 hours a day. Yet, in the decade since Apple's App Store was created, Americans have, app by app, consented to just such a system run by private companies. Now, as the decade ends, tens of millions of Americans, including many children, find themselves carrying spies in their pockets during the day and leaving them beside their beds at night - even though the corporations that control their data are far less accountable than the government would be." (5)

In response to the story above, Bloomberg News declared on December 20, 2019, "The 2010s should be remembered as the decade tech turned dystopian." (6) Indeed, the problem goes far beyond smartphones. The people of today's modern world have invited Amazon to spy on them by installing listening devices known as Amazon Echo which feature the friendly artificial intelligence personality known as Alexa. More and more people are installing smart doorbells equipped with video cameras that allow users to be watched. Everything we do online is tracked and cataloged, and as a result, true privacy is teetering on the brink of extinction.

Strangely, despite the increased connectivity of a world now ruled by technology, those most deeply ensnared can sense that something is very wrong. In a report titled "Alienated, Alone, and Angry: What the Digital Revolution Really Did To Us," Buzzfeed News states that those who once dreamed of a highly technological society have been disappointed by the end result. "When they opened their eyes, they did indeed see that the Digital Nation had been born. Only it hadn't set them free. They were being ruled by it. It hadn't tamed politics. It sent them berserk. And it hadn't brought people closer together. It had alienated them." (7)

Sadly, an overabundance of technology that is always competing for our minds and eyeballs has also changed the way our brains function, causing a dramatic decrease in attention spans. A report from Time Magazine published in May 2015 declares in its headline, "You Now Have a Shorter Attention Span Than a Goldfish." At the time, researchers in Canada studied 2,000 participants and determined that they had an average attention span of eight seconds. (8) The short attention spans that are so common today have prompted the Australian division of the automobile maker known as Hyundai to release a novel new advertisement campaign. These commercials, which were produced for use on the Internet, are only four seconds each and were inspired by a study claiming that the average attention span of online users is only 4.1 seconds. (9) As attention spans continue to diminish, it is increasingly difficult for people to read the Bible, pray, and seek God's presence. With so many distractions surrounding us, it is more important than ever that we give God our time, seek His will in our lives, and let Him renew our minds. Romans 12:2 instructs, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." We are further told in Romans 8:5-6, "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

Robots Among Us

As we march into the future, the human race is not marching alone. Rather, a growing force of robots are being built each and every year, and many of them have worked alongside humans in factories and warehouses for quite some time. In recent years, robots have slowly been introduced to the public, and in the 2020s, these robots are poised to become mainstream entities in our world.

Off in remote locations of American desert, a company known as Flirtey has been testing delivery drones, a technology they are growing closer to perfecting. The drones were recently filmed in action for the first time according to CBS News. "We've been secretly testing this technology in the desert for years, and this is the first time a film crew has come out and seen it," said Matthew Sweeney, the founder and CEO of Flirtey. Sweeney predicts that his drones will be making deliveries to the public by the winter of 2020, and as demonstrated by tests in New Zealand in 2016, the drones can also be used to deliver pizzas. (10) Amazon is developing similar technology, which they hope to use to deliver their vast assortment of merchandise to the American public. (11)

On the streets of Berkeley, California, four-wheeled robots known as Kiwibots are performing food deliveries. According to Kiwibots CEO Felipe Chávez, the people have already grown accustomed to these robots traveling alongside them. "People, like, at the beginning, a lot of people were taking photos, super-excited. Now for some people it's just normal," Chávez said. (12)

Moving south to the University of Texas at Dallas, a fleet of thirty robots began food deliveries on December 3, 2019. The robots, which are equivalent in size to a medium dog, have become a source of pride for the university. "The robots are the natural next horizon in the evolution of UT-Dallas. We are a very creative, high-tech young university celebrating 50 years, and this service as we see it will continue to enhance the faculty, staff, and student experience," said UT-Dallas vice president for facilities and economic development Calvin Jamison. (13) The students are said to be quite fond of the robots. "We see it as being this little friendly character that's delivering your food rather than just mechanics. It's kind of like your childhood movie coming to life," said one student. (14) Amazingly enough, the robots are averaging 240 deliveries a day. (15) These robots are made by a company from San Francisco, California, known as Starship Technologies. Plans are underway to introduce them to one hundred university campuses by August 21, 2021. (16)

A wide assortment of other robots are also in development. These include a humanoid robot from Toyota, which is controlled remotely by a human and may someday be used to perform surgery, (17) and tiny robots from Swiss scientists that are designed to look like insects. Weighing less than one gram each, the tiny robotic bugs are rugged and able to withstand hits from a fly swatter and being stepped on by a shoe. (18) Google's parent company, Alphabet, Inc., has robots equipped with artificial intelligence that are designed to learn from their experiences. Dubbed "the Everyday Robot," these machines are smart enough and nimble enough to solve a Rubik's Cube, though right now their primary function is collecting and sorting trash. (19)

According to Reuters News Service, robotics are expected to be one of the defining characteristics of this new decade. (20) The United States Army is now testing robots in their war games which have been highly successful. (21) Meanwhile, a report from Forbes Magazine published on December 26, 2019, suggests that we might look to robots for salvation. "Can High-EQ Robots Save the World?" the headline asks. The piece argues that by equipping robots with emotional quotients (EQ) they can be designed to be moral, ethical, and beneficial to mankind. It is also suggested that robots should be used to provide care for America's elderly people since it is estimated that there will be a need for 3.5 million additional healthcare workers by the year 2030. (22) No doubt, the world is changing. By that critical and often mentioned year of 2030, which is now just ten years away, the robotics industry is expected to be worth 277 billion dollars. (23) Not surprisingly, this growth could have quite a detrimental impact on the human workforce. A firm known as McKinsey & Company believes robots will replace 800 million workers around the world by 2030. (24)

2020s: A Decade Of Global Transformation

If the United Nations has its way, the world will be drastically different by the year 2030. This plan was outlined in 2016 when the consortium of global powers released a plan known as "The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development." The United Nations still touts this plan today, and in a review of this last decade, they called it a "blueprint for a better future." (25) As I have stated in previous issues of this newsletter, the UN's 2030 Agenda is nothing less than a plan to foist a global socialist government upon the entire world. The agenda leaves no person, entity, or country behind. "This Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet, and prosperity. All countries and all stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership, will implement this plan," the Agenda's preamble declares. (26) One of the major ways the United Nations plans to transform the world can be found in Goal 10 of their agenda, which demands that every nation in the world works to "reduce inequality within and among countries." The document further states that this goal will "only be possible if wealth is shared and income inequality is addressed." (27) In other words, this goal calls for the redistribution of wealth, which is a core socialist tenet, on a global level. The document goes on to say that the United Nations intends to seize control of the means of production in every country. "We commit to making fundamental changes in the way that our societies produce and consume goods and services," the agenda insists. (28)

It remains to be seen how much of the United Nations' agenda will be achieved over the course of the next ten years. God is ultimately in control. What is undeniable, however, is the simple fact that more and more young members of the American population are openly embracing socialism. In a recent poll conducted by YouGov on behalf of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, it was discovered that 70 percent of Millennials who responded said they would possibly vote for a socialist presidential candidate, while 20 percent of the 70 percent said they were "extremely likely" to vote for a socialist. The study also found that only one out of two respondents between the ages of 16 and 38 have a favorable view of capitalism. (29) Even more disturbing, 22 percent of all Millennial respondents said that "society would be better if all private property was abolished." (30)

How did the United States of America get to this point? My father, Pastor David J. Meyer, used to warn that communism and socialism were being taught at American universities. Young people were conditioned to accept this type of government, which as we can see now, has happened. To further cause this shift in ideology, pressures were applied that made their lives tremendously more difficult. Young people were told that they must attend college if they hope to be successful in life, and then the cost of higher education rose exponentially. The average student loan debt upon graduation was 29,800 dollars in 2018, and the national total for student loan debt exceeds 1.5 trillion dollars. (31) Millennials are the most indebted generation that has ever lived, according to a report by Business Insider. (32) To make matters worse, when the Great Recession hit in 2007, many Millennials were just graduating from college with an enormous amount of student loan debt and were unable to find gainful employment.

I believe all of this was done to make socialism appear to be a more appealing option. Thus, young people today blame most of society's ills on capitalism. However, it is not capitalism that is the problem, but rather rigged capitalism. In a truly capitalistic society, you have the right to own private possessions and to conduct free enterprise. In such a system, a person's ability to succeed is directly dependent on how hard he or she is willing to work, but in a socialistic or communistic society, everyone is given the same amount of resources regardless of how hard they work. People are enticed by a promise that all will be equal without realizing that it really makes everyone equally poor. While I do not condone greed on any level, I have no desire to live in a world where a massive global government is the one deciding what we should or should not have.

Nevertheless, the polls indicate that many young people today prefer the socialist Bernie Sanders as their candidate of choice in the 2020 election for President of the United States. A recent Quinnipiac poll shows that 52 percent of voters age thirty-four and under support Sanders. (33) Members of the Democratic Party are even saying he could win their party's nomination. "I believe people should take him very seriously. He has a very good shot of winning Iowa, a very good shot of winning New Hampshire, and other than Joe Biden, the best shot at winning Nevada. He could build a real head of steam heading into South Carolina and Super Tuesday," said Dan Pfeiffer, who served as an adviser to former President Barack Obama. (34)

Blasphemous Entertainment On Demand

When Netflix entered the scene in 1997, it changed the world forever. This online video rental service became well-known for delivering DVDs to homes all over the United States, and in 2010, they launched their online streaming format. This new format meant users no longer had to wait for discs to arrive in the mail, but rather, simply using their Internet connection, they could log on at any time and instantly begin watching a wide assortment of entertainment. The business has thrived, and today there are over 151 million subscribers to the service in more than 190 countries. (35) Unfortunately, the content provided by this iconic company has grown increasingly worse over the years, and much of it at this present time is profane and blasphemous. In 2018, Netflix aired an episode of the filthy comedienne Michelle Wolf's show known as "The Break." The episode was a "Salute to Abortion." (36) Also in 2018, Netflix announced that it was rescuing the television program known as "Lucifer," which had been canceled by Fox after three seasons. (37) Then in November 2019, it was announced that Netflix had renewed the witchy show known as "The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina." Upon learning of the renewal, show creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa excitedly proclaimed, "Praise Satan! I'm so grateful to my partners at Warner Bros., Netflix, Berlanti Television and Archie Productions for supporting this darker vision of the world's most famous teen witch." (38) Finally, as if it could not get any worse, Netflix released a satirical film in December 2019 produced by a Brazilian company known as Porta dos Fundos. This vulgar film, entitled "The First Temptation of Christ," portrays Jesus Christ as a homosexual. "Jesus, who's hitting the big 3-0, brings a surprise guest to meet the family. A Christmas special so wrong, it must be from Porta dos Fundos," the show description says. (39) In response to the show's release, more than 1.3 million people signed a petition to have Netflix remove the show. However, it seems unlikely that Netflix will heed this call based on its penchant for releasing filthy and objectionable material. (40) It is my recommendation that all God-fearing Christians cancel their Netflix accounts. Those responsible for this disgusting content will have to answer for it someday. For as it tells us in Galatians 6:7, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

A Contentious End To 2019

The tumultuous presidency of Donald Trump has been a constant barrage of uproars since its very start. This country has moved from one controversy to the next with people, usually on both sides, being angry most of the time. As an exclamation mark on the turmoil, the House of Representatives, which is controlled by a Democrat majority, voted to impeach President Trump. (41) The case will now go to the Senate, which is controlled by the Republicans, for trial. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the most likely outcome is that the Senate will vote to acquit the President of all charges. In fact, amid this circus show, Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, the woman responsible for bringing the charges against the President, has already invited Trump to give a State of the Union Address on February 4, 2020. Trump has accepted the invitation. (42) If the trial, which will likely take place in January, has not yet ended at the time, it will surely be quite the spectacle.

The Impeachment proceedings have only galvanized Trump's supporters. Many on the right have expressed their unwavering support, including most of the Republican politicians. Frankly, the supporters sometimes go way too far. In fact, Representative Barry Loudermilk, a Republican from Georgia, seemed to be comparing Donald Trump to Jesus when he said, "When Jesus was falsely accused of treason, Pontius Pilate gave Jesus the opportunity to face his accusers." (43) It is not appropriate to compare Trump's impeachment with the trial of Jesus. Nor is it accurate in any way, shape or form to imply that Trump's ordeal is in any way similar to what our Saviour went through. A mere mortal human being should never be elevated to a god-like status. Trump is a man just like everyone else, who must repent of his sins if he wants to be saved.

In closing, I offer my sincere thanks to all who have supported this newsletter over the years. It is astonishing how much the world has changed since my father left this earth in 2010, and I began writing this newsletter in his stead. Yet, we know that despite all of the changes over this last decade, our God never changes. Malachi 3:6 tells us, "For I am the Lord, I change not…" Hebrews 13:8 further informs, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." As we look to the future, we are believing God for great things ahead, despite the uncertainty of the times. We embrace the words of our Saviour in Matthew 28:20 which declare, "…lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." 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. Also, you are encouraged to send your prayer requests if you need prayer. We always give each prayer request individual attention. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.