Last Trumpet Newsletter - September 2020

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

Astonishing Trouble In Unprecedented Times

"Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh. Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment."

"I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body."

In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will examine the astonishing events of recent weeks which demonstrate quite clearly that we live in a world filled with chaos and trouble. As we entered the month of August, I said to my wife with some trepidation, "I wonder what will happen this month." Of course, if 2020 has taught us anything, it is that unexpected happenings can now be expected. This reality became evident to the people of Beiruit, Lebanon, when a massive explosion on August 4, 2020, caused by improperly stored chemicals resulted in widespread damage and the death of at least 220 people while thousands more were injured. (1) This tragic event was just the beginning of a chaotic month, which also saw a devastating storm strike the American state of Iowa and other areas of the Midwest. In California, pictures and videos found online look very much like hell on earth as much of the state burns due to massive wildfires. Later in the month, the United States received another unwanted surprise when it was reported that not one but two tropical storms had formed at the same time and were threatening the Gulf Coast of the country. Meanwhile, riots, looting, pillaging, and unspeakable acts of violence have continued across the nation and show no sign of abating any time soon. Besides everything else, there is still a COVID-19 pandemic, high unemployment, and a national debt that continues to grow by trillions of dollars even as China becomes increasingly hostile to the United States.

When we assess the current condition of our world, it is natural to wonder, "What will happen next?" The simple truth is that none of us know for certain, but all indicators suggest that humanity as a whole is in for a bumpy ride in the days ahead. If you had asked people fifty years ago what they imagined the end times would be like, they would have, perhaps, described a scenario that sounds very much like the world at this present time. I make no prediction as to when the end will be; the Scriptures plainly tell us that no man knows the day or the hour of our Saviour's return. What we can say with certainty is that we are getting closer, and the words of the Apostle Paul found in Romans 13:11 certainly ring true in this modern age. This verse declares, "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." I urge every reader of this newsletter to put your faith, hope, and trust in God. If you have not yet repented of your sins and dedicated your life to God, now would be an excellent time to do it.

In what serves as a poignant metaphor for a stormy and tumultuous year, an unusual storm struck a large region of the Midwestern United States on August 10, 2020. Starting in the state of South Dakota, a thunderstorm complex known as a derecho left devastation in its wake as it traveled 770 miles over the course of 14 hours. (2) It passed through the states of Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana (3) with wind speeds at times exceeding 100 miles per hour (4) and reaching a speed of 112 miles per hour in Midway, Iowa, a speed equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane. (5) Over one million customers were without power in the states of Iowa and Illinois on the night of August 10. (6) The far-reaching destruction of this storm system prompted United States Representative Abby Finkenauer, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to say, "This is a disaster that we have never seen before. It is something that is essentially like a hurricane coming through the Midwest." (7) In a similar fashion, Cedar Rapids city council member Dale Todd was quoted as saying, "It feels like we got kicked in the teeth pretty good." (8) The storm system also spawned multiple tornadoes, including seven tornadoes in the Chicago, Illinois, area, one of which reached a wind speed of 110 miles per hour. (9)

The damage wreaked by this disastrous derecho is truly amazing. In total, an estimated 37.7 million acres of farmland were impacted by the storm system, including a whopping 14 million acres in Iowa. (10) In the aforementioned city of Cedar Rapids, more than eight hundred buildings were damaged, including twenty schools. "Nearly every home has damage. Most big trees in the city fell. Most local businesses are closed. Every business is damaged. Most roads are impassable," said a Cedar Rapids resident shortly after the derecho passed through. (11) About one half of the city's tree canopy was destroyed. (12) For the farmers who toiled in their fields this year, it must be heartbreaking to lose so many of their crops in such a short amount of time. Sadly, months of work was wiped out in just 14 hours, further compounding the misery and uncertainty of a year that has already brought so much turmoil and pain. Yet, these storms are just one of many "fearful sights" making headlines in recent weeks.

Each summer, the western United States, and particularly the state of California, face the risk of devastating wildfires. There certainly have been many bad fires in recent years; however, the wildfires of 2020 have been especially intense. In fact, Accuweather reported on August 21, 2020, that two of the many fires burning at the time were the second and third largest ever recorded. (13) "California is battling two of the largest fires in our history and has seen nearly 600 new fires in the last week caused by dry lightning strikes. These are unprecedented times and conditions, but California is strong - we will get through this," said California Governor Gavin Newsome. (14) Just how bad has it been in California? A statement released by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection published on August 26, 2020, offers the following summary: "Since the lightning siege that started on Saturday, August 15, 2020, there have been nearly 14,000 lightning strikes. During this time period, there have been more than 700 new wildfires which have now burned over 1.32 million acres. The significant acreage burned makes the fires collectively larger than the state of Delaware. In this siege, there have been seven reported fatalities and nearly 1,700 structures destroyed." (15) Amazingly enough, some of these wildfires were reported to be burning up to 1,000 acres per hour. (16) As would be expected, Governor Newsome declared a state of emergency in California. (17) These historic fires are happening even as the state of California grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced many people to live under onerous restrictions. As of this writing, the citizens of California are still on lockdown by order of the government and only allowed to leave home for essential shopping or to work at an essential job. (18) To make matters worse, California is also suffering from its worst heatwave in seventy years. (19) Because of the dry conditions and an overtaxed electrical grid, officials in California have also been performing rolling blackouts in some areas of the state, which leaves families trapped in their homes with high temperatures and no electricity. (20) It is interesting to note that one of California's major fires at this time is located near Los Angeles and is known as the "Lake Fire." (21) This is remarkably close to the term "lake of fire," which is used in the Book of Revelation to describe a place of eternal torment. Indeed, I am sure that many Californians are wondering when their hellish ordeal will end.

Wildfires are burning elsewhere in the United States, too. As of August 25, 2020, there were sixteen fires in Arizona, fourteen in Oregon, seven in Alaska, and six in Colorado. (22) The Pine Gulch Fire in Colorado is the largest fire in the history of the state as of August 27, 2020, with 139,006 acres so far consumed by flames. (23) On a global level, fires in Brazil's Amazon Rainforest have become a significant problem as well. In July of 2020 there were 6,803 Amazon fires, an increase of 28 percent over July 2019. (24) While some of these fires are set intentionally to clear land, this significant increase has caused concern amongst ecologists. "It's a terrible sign. We can expect that August will already be a difficult month and September will be worse yet," said Ane Alencar, science director at the Amazon Environmental Research Institute in Brazil. (25) Additionally, National Geographic reports that worse than usual fire activity has been reported in the Arctic Circle this year. Russia's government estimates that millions of acres have burned in eastern Siberia. (26) As we draw ever closer to the return of our Saviour, it is likely that these wildfires will not only continue, but also intensify. Ultimately, the entire planet will burn in the end. II Peter 3:10 declares, "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." While this verse does not paint a pretty picture for this planet, we are reassured in verse 13 of the same chapter, "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

Each year coastal regions of the United States are at risk of the perilous threat of hurricanes. For those who live in vulnerable states, weathering these powerful storms has become a part of life. It is certainly not a surprise that hurricanes happen, but we are seeing rather unusual activity this year. In early August 2020, forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, warned that the hurricane season, which lasts from June 1 to November 30, could be more severe than usual. "This is one of the most active seasonal forecasts that NOAA has produced in its 22-year history of hurricane outlooks. We encourage all Americans to do their part by getting prepared, remaining vigilant, and being ready to take action when necessary," admonished U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. NOAA has predicted that there will be nineteen to twenty-five named tropical storms this year with seven to eleven of them likely developing into hurricanes. They further warned that these storms could break records. (27)

Just weeks later, it was announced that two tropical storms, known as Laura and Marco, had formed in the Atlantic Ocean and were heading toward the Gulf of Mexico. Both storms were projected to make landfall in the United States just a short time apart, a circumstance that in ordinary times would be unusual, but somehow seems appropriate for the year of 2020. According to records dating back to 1900, two hurricanes had never before been simultaneously reported in the Gulf of Mexico, and the last time there was a pair of tropical storms was in 1959. (28) This abnormal circumstance prompted Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves to say, "We are in unprecedented times." (29) Thankfully, Tropical Storm Marco weakened considerably before making landfall in the United States on August 24, 2020. (30) Hurricane Laura, on the other hand, was decidedly more impactful. Making landfall at Cameron's Parish, Louisiana, on August 27, 2020, Laura was a Category 4 hurricane with a top wind speed of 150 miles per hour, which made it the most powerful hurricane to hit Louisiana in 150 years. (31) Republican Senator John Kennedy did not mince words when describing the carnage. "I'm not going to bubble wrap it. We took it full in the face. We still are. It looks like you've been bombed. People are shocked," he lamented. (32) The damage from Hurricane Laura is still being assessed, and it seems likely that there will be more hurricanes and tropical storms to come before the season ends in November. Even before Marco and Laura came along, there had already been thirteen tropical storms in the Atlantic Ocean with five of them having made landfall in the United States. According to Bloomberg News, this is the fastest start to a hurricane season since 1856. (33) These storms call to mind the warning from our Lord Jesus in Luke 21:25-26 which describes the end times and tells us, "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken."

As we move into the month of September 2020, the United States is facing grave danger. Since the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25, 2020, the protests and riots on the streets of America's largest cities have never ceased. I understand that many people do gather with the intent to protest peacefully, and they have every right to do so as American citizens. However, we have seen time and time again that these protests often devolve into hate-fueled mayhem. If people are attending protests with weapons, power tools, lasers, and fireworks, the intent is certainly malicious. Even if it is only the actions of a few, it undermines any underlying peaceful intent. August 2020 was an especially terrible month with astonishing events taking place in various cities that have left the masses feeling vulnerable and afraid for their lives.

Portland, Oregon, has become a hotbed of unrest that has not ceased since May of this year. Many of the so-called peaceful protestors have taken on a particularly nasty tone. On the night of July 31, 2020, and into the early morning hours of August 1, 2020, demonstrators operating under the banner of Black Lives Matter did something appalling. "People began starting a fire in the street in front of the federal courthouse which started with burning a Bible, then an American flag, until more and more items were added. Finally around 1 a.m. (Saturday), yellow-clad members of the group Moms United For Black Lives Matter went over to the fire and put it out with bottles of water and stamped it out," reported Danny Peterson of KOIN CBS 6 News. (34) This is so heinous and reprehensible. Burning Bibles has nothing to do with ending racism in the United States. Rather it is an indicator that those responsible for this activity are God-hating revolutionaries. A video posted online shows that it was not just one Bible that was burned, but rather an entire stack. (35)

The notion that the demonstrators in Portland are "peaceful protestors" quickly falls apart when you consider their actions. For example, on the night of July 31st, rioters threw glass bottles and shined lasers at police officers and about 150 gunshots were fired into an apartment complex. (36) On the night of August 12, rioters were at it again and repeatedly attempted to cause bodily harm to police officers. "A large explosive and other fireworks were thrown towards officers, along with fist-sized rocks, bottles, and cans of paint," said the Portland Police Department. (37) A few days later on August 16, an angry mob surrounded a man driving a pickup truck. In a panic he attempted to flee the scene in his vehicle, but after crashing into a tree, he was dragged from the vehicle and violently assaulted. The man was repeatedly punched and kicked before being left unconscious in the road. (38) In another shocking incident, rioters went to the Portland Police Department's East Precinct building and placed barricades around the building's exits. They then attempted to set the building on fire while police officers and staff were inside. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler was livid. "When you commit arson with an accelerant in an attempt to burn down a building that is occupied by people who you have intentionally trapped inside, you are not demonstrating, you are attempting to commit murder," Mayor Wheeler declared. (39)

Just a few weeks after the despicable incident in Portland, a similar incident took place in Seattle, Washington. On August 24, 2020, rioters went to the East Precinct of the Seattle Police Department and destroyed the electronic key card reader off the door and then attempted to seal the door shut with quick-set concrete. The perpetrators then attempted to set fire to the building while officers were still inside. Thankfully, the building's occupants were able to kick the door open because too much water was used in the concrete mixture. Needless to say, these incidents are nothing short of domestic terrorism. This sentiment is shared by Seattle Police Officers Guild president Mike Solan who was quoted as saying, "It's clear that domestic terrorists are continuing to hold our great city hostage by their criminal acts." He then went on to say, "What's next has been seen before and I'm fearful that someone will lose their life in the coming days. This could all stop if our public officials would decry and push back against these criminal acts." (40)

Sadly, an incident in my home state of Wisconsin has served as yet another flashpoint for violence and riots in the United States. On the evening of August 23, 2020, police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin, attempted to apprehend a black man by the name of Jacob Blake. Mr. Blake scuffled with the police officers who attempted to use a stun gun to subdue him, but the efforts were unsuccessful. Mr. Blake then continued to move towards his vehicle and disregarded numerous orders from the officers to stop. As Mr. Blake attempted to enter his vehicle, seven shots were fired from an officer's service weapon, some of which struck Mr. Blake in the back. A knife was recovered from the vehicle on the floor of the driver's side. (41) Mr. Blake survived the shooting, but will likely be paralyzed from the waist down for the rest of his life. (42)

Violence and rioting quickly erupted after the incident which threw the city of Kenosha into chaos. As buildings were vandalized and set ablaze, a state of emergency curfew of 8 P.M. was declared by Kenosha County. State Governor Tony Evers deployed National Guard troops to the city on August 25. Sheriff David Beth told the public to stay home "for their safety." (43) Unfortunately, people did not stay at home. On the night of August 25, violence again erupted. A 17-year-old boy from nearby Antioch, Illinois, who was armed with a semi-automatic rifle, shot and killed two protestors and wounded a third. (44) The boy's lawyer claims the boy was acting in self defense, however, he has been arrested and charged with homicide. (45)

Clearly, the United States is on edge, and as such, it is likely that the grotesque violence we have seen in recent weeks will continue for the foreseeable future. Lawyer Benjamin Crump, who is serving as legal representation for Jacob Blake, was quoted as saying, "If we don't have the systemic reform that this moment in America is crying out for, then we are going to continue to see hashtag after hashtag, protest after protest, and cities burning all across America." (46) The American people are unquestionably on edge and many are fed up with the rioting and violence taking place. In just the first half of 2020 alone, 2.5 million Americans became first-time gun owners. (47)

Without a doubt, we are seeing an endless barrage of conflict in this world, and I do believe we are living in a period of time unlike any other point in human history. As we see terrible storms, devastating fires, unrest in city after city, and threats of disease and pestilence, Psalm 60:2-3 seems especially descriptive of our modern world. These verses read, "Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh. Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment." Yet, despite calls for peace and safety, true peace will never be found by those who reject the Prince of Peace, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Isaiah 57:19-21 declares, "I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." However, those who know the Lord will find peace in their hearts even in these times of trouble. The Apostle Paul was a man who was well acquainted with peril. After his conversion he suffered false accusations, beatings, stoning, and even shipwreck, yet none of these troubling things were able to shake his faith in God. In II Corinthians 4:8-10, he wrote, "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." In like manner, he admonishes us in Philippians 4:6-7, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Thank you for your kind support of this ministry. We appreciate each and every one of you and are thankful for this opportunity to serve you. Please keep in mind that the United States Postal Service is presently in dire financial straits, and as such, the mail is moving significantly slower than it did before. We hope that this newsletter will reach your mailboxes in a timely fashion, but if it does not, we apologize for the delay and thank you for your patience. If you have any prayer requests, great or small, please send them our way. We always give each prayer request individual attention. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

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