Volume 41 Issue Five May 2022
Last Trumpet Ministries · PO Box 806 · Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Phone: 920-887-2626 Internet: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org
“For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” I Cor. 14:8
Travail
“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”
Romans 8:22-23
“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”
Luke 21:28
When news anchor David Muir begins his nightly broadcasts on the ABC News program known as World News Tonight, he will often begin by saying “It’s great to have you with us.” Yet, recent broadcasts have covered topics such as the Russian war in Ukraine, red hot inflation, soaring fuel costs, outbreaks of tornadoes and other storms, devastating wildfires, and mass shooting after mass shooting in the United States. They talk about the Covid-19 pandemic, too, as government officials bicker over whether or not the American people should still wear face coverings. If you watch news broadcasts frequently, it begins to feel as if every episode is a rerun filled with topics that have already been discussed ad infinitum. On a typical day, there is little if any good news, and the bleak images and footage often have the look and feel of an apocalypse. This will likely be true no matter which news source you watch or read.
Clearly, there is extraordinary trouble in these perilous times, and humanity is feeling the pressure of incessant crises. Remarkably, more than 50 percent of the world’s population suffers from “headache disorders” according to a recent report published by The Washington Post. (1) Additionally, a survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau near the conclusion of 2021 found that 47 percent of adult Americans reported they suffered from anxiety, 39 percent said they have depression, and 1 out of 5 said they are afflicted by a mental illness. (2) One out of every eight adult Americans are taking antidepressant medications. (3) What is causing so much anxiety and distress?
For the last two years, the American populace has been waiting for a pandemic to end and for the unease it instilled to fade into history. However, as the American people continue to wait for things to get better, it only seems as if everything is getting worse. In a piece published by The New York Times on April 25, 2022, writer Mark Penn claims that voter morale in the United States is quite low due in part to rising inflation and poor economic conditions. This dissatisfaction comes even as the country prepares for its midterm elections in November 2022 that will decide who will control the American Congress. He then informs his readers that it is not just poor economic conditions troubling the American people. “These economic blows are just one element in a cascading set of problems all hitting at the same time. It combines the nuclear anxieties of the 1950s and ‘60s with the inflation threat of the ‘70s, the crime wave of the ‘80s and ‘90s, and the tensions over illegal immigration in the 2000s and beyond,” Penn wrote. (4)
100 Seconds To Midnight
As if the problems listed in the previous paragraph weren’t bad enough, the United Nations is causing further agitation with its increasingly dire predictions about climate change. A recent report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change at the United Nations seems to suggest that humanity has just eight years left to stop climate change from causing irreparable damage to the planet. This panel of experts believe that global warming must be curtailed and prevented from increasing to 1.5 degrees Celsius or 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit by the year 2030. “Every year that you let pass without going for these urgent emissions reductions makes it more and more difficult. Unless we really do it immediately, it will not be possible to limit warming to 1.5 degrees,” said energy researcher Jim Skea of Imperial College in London. (5)
Interestingly, the world has been experiencing large-scale disasters more frequently than in previous historic periods. This trend was noted by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction in a publication released on April 25, 2022. The report claims the planet we occupy has experienced between 350 to 500 medium to large-scale disasters each year over the last two decades. The agency estimates that the world will experience about 560 significant disasters annually by the year 2030 or about 1.5 disasters per day. The group claims these trends toward worsening disasters “is setting humanity on a spiral of self-destruction.” (6)
If scientists and climate experts think the situation is bad now, it should be noted that the Scriptures tell us it is going to get much worse. Revelation, chapter 16, is all about seven angels who “pour out the wrath of God upon the earth.” These descriptive Bible verses use metaphors to describe a time before the coming of the Lord when humanity will experience “noisome and grievous sores,” particularly those who received the mark of the beast. We are also told that vials of wrath would be poured out upon the sea, rivers, and “fountains of waters,” which suggests a contaminated water supply. We are told that an angel pours out a vial of wrath upon the sun, which then causes men to be scorched with great heat, a metaphor that could easily be describing what is commonly referred to as global warming or climate change. We are told that the kingdom of the beast will be afflicted with pains and sores, which suggests the emergence of a strange new disease. Further, we are informed that the Euphrates River, which is the symbolic boundary between East and West, will be dried up to prepare “the way of the kings of the east.” This verse is often interpreted as a metaphor for China, the most powerful nation in the East that now seeks to become the world’s premier superpower. Additionally, we are told that there will be “thunders, and lightnings” and a “great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth,” thus suggesting that, yes, there will be worsening and intensifying disasters in the days to come.
I grew up in a Bible-believing household. My father, Pastor David J. Meyer, led an old-fashioned Bible-believing church. He devoted a great deal of effort to speaking about the end times. In fact, one of the most common criticisms levied against him was that he spent too much time speaking on this topic. If he were alive today, I have no doubt that he would be amazed at how much the world has changed in the nearly twelve years since his passing. I believe we are getting closer each and every day to the second coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amazingly enough, some in the scientific community, too, believe that humanity is perilously close to the end of the world. This includes the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a group founded in 1945 by Albert Einstein and a cohort of scientists from the University of Chicago. Each year, this group publishes its symbolic “doomsday clock,” which is supposed to gauge how close the world is to doomsday. In January 2022, it was proclaimed by the organization that the world is “At doom’s doorstep: It is 100 seconds to midnight.” (7) As we move ever closer to the fateful day of our Saviour’s return, we see the whole creation groaning in travail. The dictionary defines “travail” as “pain, anguish or suffering resulting from mental or physical hardship.” (8) It is noteworthy that the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:22, “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” This travail is the creation’s response to sin. We are further told in Romans 8:23, “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” Thus, we see that God’s people groan and travail, too, but we do so in anticipation of our Saviour’s coming and the day of our adoption and transformation into Heaven.
Wars And Rumours Of (Nuclear) Wars
When the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists issued its warning to the world in January 2022, one of their biggest concerns was the advancement of nuclear weapons capabilities in the modern world. “US relations with Russia and China remain tense, with all three countries engaged in an array of nuclear modernization and expansion efforts – including China’s apparent large-scale program to increase its deployment of silo-based long-range nuclear missiles; the push by Russia, China, and the United States to develop hypersonic missiles; and the continued testing of anti-satellite weapons by many nations. If not restrained, these efforts could mark the start of a dangerous new nuclear arms race,” the doomsday report declares. (9) All of this was written a month before Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and it is safe to say that the world is in an even more precarious position now.
My father was born in 1950. For much of his life, the United States was engaged in a Cold War with the Soviet Union. It was called a “cold war” because neither country had declared war on the other, yet there were great efforts made to impede the progress of each nation. As a result, there was a nuclear arms race that caused a tremendous amount of anxiety for the American people. My father would often talk about the “duck-and-cover” drills he had to participate in during his school days. The drills required students to crouch under their desks and cover their heads in anticipation of an atomic blast. In 1951, the now defunct Federal Civil Defense Administration commissioned the production of a video to be shown in schools across the nation. This video, entitled “Duck and Cover,” featured Bert the Turtle who would duck and cover in his shell when there was danger nearby. The video then goes on to explain that an atomic bomb could go off at any time with or without warning and that children and adults should be prepared to dive for cover under desks and tables or against walls. They were instructed to tightly cover the back of their necks and their faces in an attempt to minimize damage to their bodies. (10) Living with this constant fear no doubt had a profound impact on children. My father used to say, “They dropped that bomb on us every day.” Of course, he wasn’t referring to a literal bomb, but rather the fear instilled by the possibility of a nuclear attack at any moment.
Bert the Turtle in “Duck and Cover.”
A young boy is seen “ducking and covering” in the instructional film.
The Cold War would last about forty-five years, and the underlying fear that a nuclear war could be fought did not begin to subside until 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed. Subsequent generations of the American people have not had to live with this fear. Those of the Millennial Generation, which were born between 1981 and 1996, were either quite young or had not been born yet when the Cold War ended. Generation Z, which followed the Millennials, were born between 1996 and 2012. Thus, they have never had to live with the fear of nuclear war. That is, until now. A recent survey published by the American Psychological Association found that 84 percent of respondents agreed: “The Russian invasion of Ukraine is terrifying to watch.” Sixty-nine percent indicated, “They fear that we are at the beginning stages of World War III.” The same percentage of respondents expressed that “they are worried the invasion of Ukraine is going to lead to nuclear war.” (11) Why is there so much concern?
Shortly after the invasion of Ukraine began in February, Russian President Vladimir Putin put his nuclear forces on high alert. (12) Since that time, the chatter regarding a potential nuclear attack on Ukraine has increased considerably. Furthermore, recent events suggest that Russia might even consider using nuclear weapons beyond Ukraine. When asked if Putin might use nuclear weapons, Dmitry Polyanskiy, who is the Russian Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, was quoted as saying, “If Russia is provoked by NATO, if Russia is attacked by NATO, why not? We are a nuclear power.” (13) Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has claimed the fact that NATO and the United States are supplying weapons to Ukraine is a justification to attack the West. He even suggested that such an attack could be nuclear in nature. “I would not want to see these risks artificially inflated now, when the risks are rather significant. The danger is serious. It is real. It should not be underestimated,” Lavrov declared. (14) William Burns, who is the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the United States, stated in a speech given at Georgia Tech that the U.S. cannot “take lightly” the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons. “Given the potential desperation of President Putin and the Russian leadership, given the setbacks that they’ve faced so far militarily, none of us can take lightly the threat posed by a potential resort to tactical nuclear weapons or low-yield nuclear weapons,” Burns said. He was quick to note, however, that there is no evidence that the use of such weapons is imminent. (15)
In early April 2022, Putin attended a funeral for a deceased Russian politician. At this event he was accompanied by a man believed to be carrying a briefcase that contains the apparatus necessary to launch a nuclear attack. (16) Thus, the implication is that the Russian President seeks to remain ready to attack at any moment. In late April 2022, he issued a chilling warning to the world. “They must know that our response to counterstrikes will be lightning fast,” Putin boasted. He further went on to say, “We have all the weapons we need for this. No one else can brag about these weapons, and we won’t brag about them. But we will use them.” (17)
To which weapons might Putin be referring? On April 20, 2022, Russia announced it had successfully carried out a test launch of its new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, which has been given the sinister nickname of “Satan-2.” The missile can reportedly travel thousands of miles and is capable of carrying twelve nuclear warheads. “This truly unique weapon will strengthen the combat potential of our armed forces, reliably ensure the security of Russia from external threats and make those who, in the heat of aggressive rhetoric, try to threaten our country, think twice,” Putin declared. (18) Here let it be noted, after news broke of Russia’s test launch, television commentators on the state-owned Russian TV network, Russia-1, were heard to be laughing as they discussed the possibility of bombing New York City with the Sarmat missile. “If 7.5 megatons will be delivered to the territory of our so-called partners… then objects like the city of New York, a good city, but it would be gone. Completely gone, with one rocket. Completely, I mean completely,” the presenter said while smiling. (19) New York City is home to more than eight million people, a significant portion of which are of Russian descent. Clearly, one would have to have a very warped mind to laugh at the potential demise of so many individuals. Needless to say, the United States would immediately retaliate with a nuclear attack on Russia, and as I wrote in last month’s issue of this newsletter, in an all-out nuclear war, there are no winners.
As the battle rages on in Ukraine, concern remains that the conflict could spread across the war-torn nation’s borders at any moment. Poland, which borders Ukraine, has played a central role in the conflict. It has served as a crossing point for refugees fleeing cities besieged by Russian troops and has been a conduit for the transport of weapons from NATO and the United States into Ukraine. Interestingly enough, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, has signaled that his country would be open to hosting nuclear weapons owned by the United States. “If the Americans asked us to store American nuclear weapons in Poland, we would be open to it. This would significantly strengthen Moscow’s deterrence. At the moment, this issue does not arise, but it may change soon. The initiative would have to come from the Americans. In principle, however, it makes sense to extend nuclear weapons sharing to the eastern flank.” (20)
The United States has already spent large sums of money on the weapons that have been sent to Ukraine. This has raised the ire of the Russian government, which prompted them to send an angry letter to the United States government in April 2022 demanding that they stop sending weapons to Ukraine immediately. The letter warns that continued shipments of weapons to Ukraine could result in “unpredictable consequences.” (21) The United States remains undeterred, however. On April 28, 2022, CNBC reported that American President Joe Biden is seeking authorization from Congress to spend an additional 33 billion dollars on the war effort in Ukraine. (22)
While President Biden has repeatedly said the United States will not send American troops to Ukraine, at least one of his advisers believes he should reconsider this policy. On April 24, 2022, the London, England, newspaper known as The Times published a lengthy article featuring an interview with retired American General Philip Breedlove. According to Breedlove, who reportedly has the ear of President Biden, it is time for the United States to deploy troops to Ukraine. “We must respect the fact that Putin might use nukes but we shouldn’t be paralyzed by it,” Breedlove opined. He further went on to say, “Would his use of tactical nukes in Ukraine be a tipping point for NATO and the EU (European Union) and the world? We have nukes and I’m not being flippant. We have to take action to deter him.” He later added, “So what could the West do? Well, right now there are no Russian troops west of the Dnieper River. So why don’t we put NATO troops into western Ukraine to carry out humanitarian missions and to set up a forward arms supply base?” (23) It should be noted that the probable outcome of such an endeavor would be the outbreak of World War III.
It is likely that Russia is exaggerating its own military capabilities and that the nuclear rhetoric is intended to intimidate and dissuade other countries from interfering with its endeavors in Ukraine. After all, the war has not gone as planned so far. According to an article published by Forbes Magazine, an estimated 21,900 Russian troops have been killed in the war. (24) This figure suggests Russia has faced stronger opposition than it had anticipated. Nevertheless, there is a very real threat that a global conflict could begin soon. Furthermore, as long as there are nuclear weapons in existence, there always remains the risk that someone might use them. Thus, we see that there remains a very urgent need to watch and pray as these events unfold.
A New Way To Pay
For decades, animal owners have been taking their pets to veterinary clinics to be implanted with microchips. If the animal should get lost at any point in time and is then found later, the chip can quickly be scanned by anyone with the necessary chip reader and the animal can be reunited with its owner. In recent years, a growing number of humans have also received implantable microchips. The chips have been especially popular in Sweden. In fact, National Public Radio published a piece in October 2018 with the headline, “Thousands of Swedes Are Inserting Microchips Under Their Skin.” (25) These chips, which are about the size of a grain of rice, are said to be useful for an assortment of activities including unlocking doors and storing emergency contact information. They can even be used to store a digital passenger train ticket. (26)
In 2017 Wisconsin-based Three Square Market made headlines when it decided to begin implanting microchips in the hands of its employees. The radio frequency identification (RFID) chips allowed those who received the chips to purchase items from vending machines by simply waving their hands in front of a chip reader; no cash, coins or card required. Like the chips in Sweden, these implants can also be used to open doors and even store medical records. When this story broke in 2017, Three Square Market chief executive officer Todd Westby was quoted as saying, “Eventually this technology will become standardized allowing you to use this as your passport, public transit, all purchasing opportunities, etc.” (27)
Over the last few years, more and more people have received microchip implants. In January 2022, it was revealed that these chips could even be used as vaccine passports in Sweden. Although many folks find the technology creepy, Hannes Sjoblad, who is the managing director of the Swedish firm known as Dsruptive Subdermals, matter-of-factly declared, “This technology exists and is used whether we like it or not.” (28)
When credit card companies began sending new cards equipped with chips a few years ago, stores and businesses in the United States and around the world began upgrading their credit card machines to be able to receive signals that allow them to accept contactless card payments. What few people realized at the time is that microchips similar to the ones contained in modern day debit and credit cards can also be implanted in humans. Thus, the infrastructure already exists for establishments around the world to accept payments via implantable microchips. In April 2022, it was revealed that a company in the United Kingdom known as Walletmor is attempting to bring implantable microchips to the mainstream, boasting that their implants can be used to pay for goods and services all over the world. “The implant can be used to pay for a drink on the beach in Rio, a coffee in New York, a haircut in Paris – or at your local grocery store. It can be used everywhere contactless payments are accepted,” said Walletmor’s founder Wojtek Paprota. (29) Considering the fact that American President Joe Biden recently signed an executive order decreeing that the United States begin developing a digital dollar, I strong suspect that the forthcoming microchip implants could one day be used as a wallet to store digital currency. This would make digital dollars accessible to everyone and in the process, tag human beings like animals for tracking and control purposes.
In closing, we clearly live in a period of time when trouble is all around us and fearful sights are happening every day. Yet, even as these events unfold, we can take comfort in the words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who declared in Luke 21:28, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” In the meantime, we turn to our Saviour for peace. In John 16:33 Jesus tells us, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” If you have not repented of your sins and dedicated your life to God, I urge you to do so now.
As always, we invite you to send us your prayer requests. Each request is always given individual attention. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Samuel David Meyer
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Acknowledgments
01. The Washington Post, April 17, 2022, By Erin Blakemore, http://washingtonpost.com.
02. Psychiatric Times, April 1, 2022, By Leah Kuntz, https://www.psychiatrictimes.com.
03. The New York Times, April 21, 2022, By Melinda Wenner Moyer, http://nytimes.com.
04. The New York Times, April 25, 2022, By Mark Penn, http://nytimes.com.
05. The New York Times, April 4, 2022, By Brad Plumer and Raymond Zhong, http://nytimes.com.
06. AFP, April 25, 2022, By AFP, http://terradaily.com.
07. Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, January 20, 2022, Editor John Mecklin, http://thebulletin.org.
08. Dictionary.com, http://dictionary.com/browse/travail.
09. Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, January 20, 2022, Editor John Mecklin, http://thebulletin.org.
10. History.com, March 26, 2019, By Sarah Pruitt, http://history.com.
11. American Psychological Association, http://apa.org.
12. NBC News, February 27, 2022, By Patrick Smith, http://nbcnews.com.
13. Yahoo News, April 20, 2022, By Kate Buck, http://news.yahoo.com.
14. The Times of Israel, April 26, 2022, By David Keyton, http://timesofisrael.com.
15. The Hill, April 14, 2022, By Morgan Chalfant, http://thehill.com.
16. Newsmax, April 8, 2022, By Solange Rayner, http://newsmax.com.
17. The Sun, April 27, 2022, By Imogen Braddick, Will Stewart, and Aliki Kraterou, http://the-sun.com.
18. AFP, April 20, 2022, By AFP, http://news.com.au.
19. The Daily Mail, April 21, 2022, By Rachael Bunyan, http://dailymail.co.uk.
20. Newsweek, April 3, 2022, By Shane Croucher, http://newsweek.com.
21. Newsweek, April 25, 2022, By Isabel Van Brugen, http://newsweek.com.
22. CNBC, April 28, 2022, By Amanda Macias, Christina Wilkie, and Holly Ellyatt, http://cnbc.com.
23. The Times, April 24, 2022 By Michael Evans, http://thetimes.co.uk.
24. Forbes Magazine, April 26, 2022, By Derek Saul, http://forbes.com.
25. National Public Radio, October 22, 2018, By Maddy Savage, http://npr.org.
26. Ibid.
27. Washington Post, July 25, 2017, By Dan Beyers, http://washingtonpost.com.
28. The Express, January 3, 2022, By Antony Ashkenaz, http://express.co.uk.
29. BBC News, April 11, 2022, By Katherine Latham, http://bbc.com.
If you would like to submit a prayer request, you may send email to prayer@ltmmail.org or mail it to our postal address.