Volume 44         Issue Two         February 2025

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

 

Disruption

 

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”

 

         Psalm 46:10-11

 

As the United States prepared to ring in a new year on December 31, 2024, something remarkable happened. Four of the most iconic structures in the country were all struck by lightning on the same day. In New York City, New York, the Empire State Building and the One World Trade Center received lightning strikes. About 230 miles away, a storm was brewing in our nation’s seat of government, too, as lightning struck the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. (1) Although it is not unusual for tall structures to be struck by lightning, it is quite extraordinary that these strikes all took place on New Year’s Eve as our country was preparing to enter what is likely to be a profoundly consequential year. Was it just a coincidence, or is it a sign that change is in the air? Mike Lee, a Republican Senator from the state of Utah, posted a video of the Capitol Building strike on X and wondered if there was a deeper meaning to be gleaned from this amazing sight. “Feels like an omen. What’s it telling us?” he wrote alongside the video. (2)

 

 

 

There’s just something special about lightning. It is a visible demonstration of God’s majesty, power, and sovereignty. Psalm 135:6-7 declares, “Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.” No human being can say for certain when and where lightning will strike, but God knows. Thus, lightning is a reminder that God is in control and His will will be accomplished. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ also associated lightning with His sudden and unexpected return when he told his disciples in Matthew 24:27, “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Just as no one knows when lightning will strike, no one knows the day or the hour of our Lord’s return. We do know, however, that each moment that passes draws us closer to that fateful day. In any case, the lightning strikes in New York City and Washington, D.C., serve as a salient metaphor for the many surprises and disruptions that are coming in the days ahead.

 

An Unhappy New Year’s Surprise

 

In the early morning hours of January 1, 2025, a forty-two-year-old U.S. Army veteran was on a mission. This mission, however, was very different from the work he did on behalf of the army when he was deployed in Afghanistan. As Shamsud-Din Jabbar traveled from his home near Houston, Texas, in a rented pickup truck, he recorded a series of ominous videos on his phone while he drove. “I wanted to record this message for my family. I wanted you to know that I joined ISIS earlier this year,” Jabbar confessed. The recordings took an even darker turn when Jabbar admitted that he had considered killing his own family. “I don’t want you to think I spared you willingly,” he said. He then explained that he worried that the killing of his family would distract the news media from the “war between the believers and the disbelievers.” From 1:29 A.M. until 3:02 A.M., Jabbar continued to post his videos online. Moments after the final video was posted, he used his rented vehicle to plow into a crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. The attack killed fourteen people before Jabbar was shot and killed by the New Orleans police department. (3)

 

For those who knew him, Jabbar’s descent into homicidal madness and religious fervor came as a jarring surprise. “He was a great soldier, someone who showed discipline and dedication,” his former commander, Rich Groen, said. Jabbar’s half-brother, Abdur-Rahim Jabbar IV, expressed his shock in a report published by NBC News. “It’s a complete surprise. A shock to everyone. There weren’t any moments leading up to this that were apparent or red flags to show that he’s been radicalized or changed in any way from the loving brother and father and son that we all know,” he said. (4) Ironically, in previous years, the army gave Jabbar a Global War on Terrorism service medal. (5) 

 

Just hours later, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The driver of the vehicle was a 37-year-old active-duty member of the U.S. Army Special Forces by the name of Matthew Livelsberger. According to reports, Livelsberger fatally shot himself while he sat in the vehicle shortly before it exploded. In a letter left behind, Livelsberger insisted that his actions were not a terrorist attack. “This was not a terrorist attack; it was a wake-up call. Americans only pay attention to spectacles and violence. What better way to get my point across than a stunt with fireworks and explosives,” he wrote. (6)

 

News reports indicate that Livelsberger was a troubled soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Yet, there are a lot of mysterious circumstances involved in this story. According to Newsweek, the troubled soldier allegedly emailed a “manifesto” to a retired U.S. Army intelligence officer just days before the bombing in Las Vegas. The email suggests that Livelsberger was not suicidal but rather feared for his life and intended to flee to Mexico. “In case I do not make it to my decision point or on to the Mexico border I am sending this now. Please do not release this until 1JAN and keep my identity private until then,” he wrote. He then went on to claim that he had special insider knowledge of advanced drones being operated by the United States and China. “What we have been seeing with ‘drones’ is the operational use of gravitic propulsion systems powered aircraft by most recently China in the east coast, but throughout history, the US. Only we and China have this capability,” he insisted. He later went on to write, “Because of the speed and stealth of these unmanned AC (aircraft), they are the most dangerous threat to national security that has ever existed. They basically have an unlimited payload capacity and can park it over the WH (White House) if they wanted. It's checkmate.” (7)

 

Were these statements just paranoid delusions from a soldier plagued by mental illness? We may never know for sure. Regarding the bombing, FBI Special Agent in Charge Spencer Evans was quoted as saying, “Although this incident is more public and more sensational than usual, it ultimately appears to be a tragic case of suicide involving a heavily decorated combat veteran who was struggling with PTSD and other issues." (8)

 

What is truly remarkable, however, is how quickly the public moved on from the tragic events of New Year’s Day. The attack in New Orleans dominated headlines for a few days, and then everyone moved on to the next story. This is yet another indicator that we are living in extraordinary times. With so many events unfolding at such a rapid pace, it is almost impossible to keep up. There is an overload of information, and society has grown increasingly desensitized to tragedy. We know that the world is saturated in violence today, just as it was in the days of Noah. Jesus warned in Matthew 24:37 that this would be a societal condition in the days leading up to his return. This verse reads, “But as the days of Noe (Noah) were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

 

Hellscape Los Angeles

 

On January 5, 2025, Hollywood’s biggest stars gathered for the Golden Globe Awards. The event was hosted by comedienne Nikki Glaser, who thought it would be humorous to poke fun at God. Midway through the ceremony, Glaser told her audience, “So much has already happened in the first half, and the acceptance speeches have been on fire. Who got shouted out the most? Let's look at the numbers.” She then presented a scoreboard. “Alright, cast and crew are leading the way with 11 mentions. Moms are holding strong with three shoutouts.” she tallied. She then continued, God, creator of the universe, zero mentions. And Mario Lopez, host of Access Hollywood, one. Alright. No surprise in this godless town.” (9) Two days later, much of Los Angeles was up in flames.

 

On the morning of January 7, 2025, a small brush fire ignited in the upscale neighborhood of Los Angeles known as Pacific Palisades. This fire grew into an enormous monstrosity that mercilessly scorched 23,448 acres of land and destroyed more than 6,800 structures. (10) Hours later, the Eaton Fire broke out north of downtown Los Angeles. This fire stretched for 14,021 acres and damaged or destroyed more than 9,418 structures. (11) Remarkably, more than 16,000 firefighters worked day and night to subdue the flames, (12) but fierce Santa Ana winds greatly hampered their work. “The Eaton Fire was something we have never experienced – winds were gusting over 100 mph,” said Pasadena Fire Department Apparatus Engineer Sean Katt. Cal Fire Director Chief Joe Tyler also chimed in, stating, “In my 34 years as a firefighter, I have never seen fire conditions in January like those we experienced.” (13)

 

Some of the most expensive real estate in the country was burned to the ground, and a slew of Hollywood celebrities reported that their homes were wiped off the face of the earth, including actors Billy Crystal, Anthony Hopkins, John Goodman, and Mel Gibson among many others. (14) A report from AccuWeather published on January 13, 2025, estimates that the total cost of the fires could exceed 250 billion dollars. (15) “These fast-moving, wind-driven infernos have created one of the costliest wildfire disasters in modern U.S. history. Hurricane-force winds sent flames ripping through neighborhoods filled with multi-million-dollar homes. The devastation left behind is heartbreaking, and the economic toll is staggering,” said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter. (16)

 

Even as efforts continued to put out the destructive flames of the Palisades and Eaton fires, another fire broke out in Los Angeles on January 22, 2025. It has impacted 10,425 acres of land. (17) According to a report from The Telegraph, the Hughes Fire spread to more than 9,000 acres in just a few hours because of the Santa Ana winds. (18) Three massive infernos engulfed Los Angeles in chaos throughout the month of January 2025. There were some smaller fires, too. The apocalyptic scenes that unfolded turned the City of Angels into a vision of hell.

 

When the fires broke out in early January, the Los Angeles area had not seen any meaningful rainfall in eight months. In a piece published by the Los Angeles Times on January 4, 2025, National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Kittell was quoted as saying, “It’s safe to say this is [one of] the top ten driest starts to our rainy season on record. Basically, all the plants are as dry as they normally are in October.” Then in a statement that proved to be remarkably prescient, he went on to say, “Typically we see, at this time of year, close to 4 inches of rain, which would usually be enough to squash any significant fire weather concerns. But because we haven’t had anything close to that, and because we’ve had a really active two years [of plant growth] ... there’s a lot to burn.” (19) On January 26, 2025, it finally rained in smoldering LA. (20)

 

The Return Of Donald J. Trump

 

For many, January 20, 2025, was a day of celebration and jubilation. For others it was a day of fear and dread. On this day, Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. Trump, who served as the 45th President from 2017 until 2021, is the most polarizing figure in America. He was the first President to ever be impeached and acquitted twice, and he is the only President to ever be convicted of a felony after leaving office. Millions of Americans adore him, millions of Americans despise him, but very few are indifferent about him. Whether he churns your stomach or fills you with a sense of admiration, one thing is certain – the next four years will not be boring.

 

From the very start, it was clear that Trump will be a very different President from his predecessor, Joe Biden. Trump’s inauguration was attended by some of the most prominent figures in technology, including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon founder and owner of the Washington Post Jeff Bezos, Google’s chief executive Sundar Pichai, Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook, and TikTok’s chief executive Shou Zi Chew. As would be expected, the world’s richest man, Elon Musk was also on hand to witness the historic event. (21) Their presence suggests that technology is going to play a massive role in Trump’s presidency. It also indicates that the wealthiest class in America is eager to curry favor with the new Commander-in-Chief.

 

Although Presidential inaugurations are usually held outdoors, the proceedings were moved inside the Capitol in Washington, D.C. This meant that former President Joe Biden was seated directly behind Donald Trump. The former President sat quietly during the inaugural address, rarely applauding and bearing a facial expression reminiscent of a man who had just consumed a tall glass of sour milk. As the audience looked on, President Donald Trump began his inaugural address.

 

The golden age of America begins right now,” Trump declared as he began his thirty-minute speech. “From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation. And we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer.” The new President then promised to reverse the policies of his predecessor and bring sweeping changes to the United States. “Our recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal, and all of these many betrayals that have taken place, and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy and indeed their freedom. From this moment on, America's decline is over.” The President would later go on to express his belief that God had spared his life for a special purpose. “Just a few months ago, in a beautiful Pennsylvania field, an assassin's bullet ripped through my ear. But I felt then, and believe even more so now, that my life was saved for a reason. I was saved by God to make America great again.” Thus, we see that Trump believes he not only has a mandate from the electorate but also a mission from God. He would again acknowledge God later in his speech when he said, “We will not forget our country. We will not forget our Constitution. And we will not forget our God.”  (22)

 

While it is a positive thing that Trump acknowledges God, it is not enough to simply acknowledge our Creator. I would be thrilled to see our President issue a national call to repentance, much like the king of Ninevah did in the book of Jonah. Sincere and genuine repentance on a wholesale level would completely reshape this country for the better and make America great again. Trump’s words reflected a belief in a divine purpose, but the true test will be in the actions that follow.

 

True to his word, Trump hit the ground running and signed a pile of executive orders on day one of his presidency. According to a list published by National Public Radio, Trump issued twenty-five executive orders, memorandums, and proclamations on January 20, 2025. By the end of his first week as President, the list swelled to thirty-six executive actions. These orders include a declaration of a national energy emergency; an order to federal agencies to terminate all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs; an order proclaiming that there are only two genders: male and female; an order to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and Alaska’s Denali mountain to Mount McKinley; an order to restore freedom of speech and end federal censorship; an order withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization; and numerous others. (23)

 

The busy leader of the free world has also made some unique and controversial proposals. Trump has suggested that the United States should regain control of the Panama Canal, merge the United States with Canada, and buy Greenland from Denmark. Neither Panama, Canada, nor Denmark are enthusiastic about the proposals. In fact, media reports indicate that Denmark is in crisis mode after the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen received a phone call from Trump regarding Greenland. One unnamed official in Denmark was quoted as saying, “It was horrendous.” Another official further added, “He was very firm. It was a cold shower. Before, it was hard to take it seriously. But I do think it is serious, and potentially very dangerous.” (24) Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued a statement urging Europe to stand together. “I want to ensure that all of Europe stands together. Not only in connection with the kingdom of Denmark but also more broadly,” she said. She also acknowledged that relations with the United States could be quite different under Trump. “Everyone in Europe can see that it will be a different collaboration with the USA now. At least these are the tones we hear from Washington in relation to trade and economic cooperation. What the consequences of that are, we don’t know yet,” she added. (25)

 

If we were to select one word to describe the month of January 2025, disruption would be a fitting choice. From a terrorist attack in New Orleans to raging wildfires in Los Angeles to the return of Donald Trump to the White House, it was a month filled with dramatic twists and turns. Even as everything changes from day to day, one thing remains steadfast and sure: God is still God. Psalm 46:10-11 declares, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” If you have not yet repented of your sins and dedicated your life to God, I urge you to do so now.

 

Thank you all for your kind support. If you have any prayer needs, we invite you to send us your requests. Each request is always given individual attention. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

 

Samuel David Meyer

 

This newsletter is made possible by the kind donations of our supporters. If you would like to help us, you may send your contribution to our postal address or donate online at http://lasttrumpetnewsletter.org/donate.

 

 

References

 

01. Newsweek, January 2, 2025, By James Bickerton, newsweek.com.

02. Ibid.

03. The New York Times, Updated January 16, 2025, By Edgar Sandoval, Eduardo Medina, Adam Goldman and Rukmini Callimachi, nytimes.com. 

04. NBC News, January 2, 2025, By Suzanne Gamboa, Chloe Atkins, Alicia Victoria Lozano, and Rich Schapiro, nbcnews.com.

05. The New York Times, Updated January 16, 2025, By Edgar Sandoval, Eduardo Medina, Adam Goldman and Rukmini Callimachi, nytimes.com. 

06. Associated Press, January 3, 2025, By Tara Copp, Rio Yamat, Alanna Durkin Richer, and Colleen Long, apnews.com.

07. Newsweek, January 3, 2025, By Jesus Mesa, newsweek.com.

08. Ibid.

09. Mashable, January 6, 2025, By Sam Haysom, mashable.com.

10. NBC News, January Updated January 27, 2025, By Tim Stelloh, Marlene Lenthang, Rebecca Cohen, and Phil Helsel, nbcnews.com.

11. Ibid.

12. The State of California, Official Press Release, January 24, 2025, gov.ca.gov.

13. Ibid.

14. People Magazine, January 27, 2025, By Stephanie Sengwe and Alex Apatoff, people.com.

15. AccuWeather, January 13, 2025, By Monica Danielle, accuweather.com.

16. Ibid.

17. Cal Fire, January 28, 2025, fire.ca.gov.

18. The Telegraph, January 23, 2025, By Connor Stringer, telegraph.co.uk.

19. Los Angeles Times, January 4, 2025, By Grace Toohey, latimes.com.

20. Bloomberg, January 27, 2025, By Will Wade, Christopher Charleston, and Mary Hui, bloomberg.com.

21. Associated Press, January 20, 2025, By Ali Swenson, apnews.com.

22. CBS News, January 20, 2025, By Melissa Quinn and Caitlin Yilek, cbsnews.com.

23. National Public Radio, January 28, 2025, By NPR Staff, npr.org.

24. The New Republic, January 24, 2025, By Malcolm Ferguson, news.yahoo.com.

25. The Guardian, January 28, 2025, By Miranda Bryant and Jennifer Rankin, theguardian.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1