An Approaching Spiritual Storm!

“This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.”

Daniel 4:17

“I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.”

Isaiah 66:4

“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.”

Psalm 118:6-9

“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?”

Mark 4:37-40

In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will thoughtfully consider the recent events of our day and examine the implications that such events may have on the future of the United States and the entire world. At this present time, the world is undergoing a profound transformation as we continue to see the United States transmuted into a socialist country, wars and turmoil in the Middle East persisting, and the European Union continuing to suffer the consequences of an unstable economic system. I believe the forthcoming years may be the most significant time in the history of mankind, which will culminate in the destruction of Satan’s kingdom and the return of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

In late October 2012 with Election Day drawing near, a massive storm began to approach the East coast of the United States. This storm, which was known as Hurricane Sandy, was the largest storm by diameter ever recorded over the Atlantic Ocean with the reach of its winds stretching 1,100 miles from one end to the other. “Its circulation is enormous; it’s affecting one way or another, the entire eastern third of the country. The storm is the largest tropical storm in the Atlantic,” said Rob Carolan, a meteorologist from Nashua, New Hampshire. Mr. Carolan further went on to say, “I have never seen a storm this large in regards to wind flow. So many bad things had to come together all at once. It is going to make the ‘Perfect Storm’ look small. It’s remarkable what an impact this is going to have.” (1) On October 29, 2012, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley issued a dire warning. “The days ahead are going to be very difficult,” Governor O’Malley declared. “There will be people who die and are killed in this storm.” (2)

Remarkably, Hurricane Sandy accomplished feats that would have otherwise seemed impossible. For example, not only did the storm wreak havoc on air travel around the world while causing nearly ten thousand flights to be cancelled, it also resulted in the shut-down of the New York Stock Exchange, as well as the cancellation of all meetings that had been scheduled at the United Nations building. (3)

In the aftermath of the storm, millions of people in the states of New York, New Jersey, and the surrounding regions were without power. (4) Facing a sprawling power outage and widespread gasoline shortages, the people of New York and New Jersey grew increasingly frustrated and began to lash out against the authorities. “This is America, not a third world nation. We need food, we need clothing,” said Staten Island borough president Jim Molinaro. (5) The unpleasant circumstances prompted one New Yorker to say, “I feel like a victim of Hurricane Katrina. I never thought it could happen here in New York, but it’s happened.” (6)

The damage caused by the storm was significant. In fact, a report by the Associated Press indicates that thousands upon thousands of trees have been uprooted, some of which were over 120 years old. “These are perfectly healthy trees, some more than 120 years old that have survived hurricanes, ice storms, nor’easters, anything Mother Nature could throw their way. Sandy was just too much,” said Todd Forrest, a vice president at the New York Botanical Garden. (7) An estimated 10,000 trees were destroyed in New York City, while 113,000 were reportedly destroyed or damaged within the state of New Jersey. (8) Sadly, Hurricane Sandy also claimed the lives of over two hundred people within the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean region. (9)

For several months I had felt in my spirit that Barack Obama would be given four more years as President of the United States. As I watched the news of Hurricane Sandy, I could not help but feel even more certain that Obama would be re-elected. A storm of such significance, which occurred right before the election, hardly seemed like a coincidence. I believe that Hurricane Sandy was symbolic of the approaching spiritual storm which will soon engulf the United States and much of the world.

Thankfully, we have a Saviour who will guide us through this storm, and with His strength we will have the power to endure until the end. In the book of Mark, chapter 4, we read of Jesus Christ rebuking a storm and uttering the command, “Peace, be still.” In like manner, our Lord is ready and willing to give us the strength and wherewithal to withstand the spiritual storms of this life. Even as the waves are crashing all around us and the world sometimes seems to be a bleak and hopeless place, our Saviour can speak to our souls and tell us, “Peace, be still.” For as the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” If you have not yet completely yielded your heart to God, I urge you to do so now.

The Ramifications Of The 2012 Election!

On November 6, 2012, Barack Obama was declared to be the winner of the 2012 presidential election. As news of the election results were announced, the political divide in the United States became fiercely pronounced. While Obama’s supporters reacted with great jubilation, his opponents responded with disgust, and in some cases, incendiary remarks. In fact, upon learning that Obama would occupy the Oval Office for another term, real estate mogul Donald Trump declared the following, “This election is a total sham and a travesty. We are not a democracy!” Mr. Trump then suggested that the American people should stage a revolution. (10)

A large contingent of the American people are so angry over the election results that they have filed petitions with the White House requesting that their respective states be allowed to secede from the United States of America. Although every American state has some signatures requesting the right to secede, the state of Texas exceeds all others by far with over 115,000 people signing the petition as of this writing. (11) While it is safe to assume that the Federal government of the United States would never allow a state to peacefully secede from the Union, these petitions serve as an indicator of how unhappy and angry many Americans have become. It is interesting to note that Texas Governor Rick Perry made an allusion to the possibility of state secession during a speech in 2009. “We’ve got a great union. There’s absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that,” Governor Perry stated. (12)

I believe the 2012 election is an indicator of a shift in the values of the majority of the American people. This change in ideology will likely become even more noticeable as the older conservative generations are replaced by young people who have been taught from the time they were little children to embrace liberal values such as socialism, abortion, and homosexuality. A liberal writer by the name of Andrew Sullivan, who is widely known to be one of Obama’s biggest supporters, wrote the following words after the conclusion of the election, “And one felt something tectonic shift tonight. America crossed the Rubicon of every citizen’s access to healthcare, and re-elected a black president in a truly tough economic climate. The shift toward gay equality is now irreversible. The end of the prohibition of marijuana is now in sight. Women, in particular, moved this nation forward – pragmatically, provisionally, sensibly.” (13)

Barack Obama has become well-known for enacting oppressive new regulations such as the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, which allows for the indefinite detention of American citizens. Now that he has been given another four years as President of the United States, it seems likely that he will continue to enact new rules, regulations, and executive orders, which will expand the size of the government, expand its powers, and continually strip the American people of their rights and freedom. Here let it be noted that the Obama Administration has published an average of sixty-eight new regulations and notifications per day over the last three months. (14) It is also worthwhile to note that Barack Obama signed an executive order on October 26, 2012, mandating the expansion of the Department of Homeland Security by means of a Security Partnership Council, which will establish partnerships between sectors of the Federal government with non-government organizations. A portion of the executive order reads as follows: “We must tap the ingenuity outside government through strategic partnerships with the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, foundations, and community-based organizations. Such partnerships are critical to U.S. success at home and abroad, and we will support them through enhanced opportunities for engagement, coordination, transparency, and information sharing.” (15) This executive order will establish a mechanism by which private organizations may become tentacles of an ever-expanding government.

Although the re-election of Barack Obama is difficult for most conservative Americans to swallow, we must remember that God allowed this to happen for a reason. For as it says in Daniel 4:17, “This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” I do not pretend to know the mind of God; however, I do trust Him implicitly and fully believe that in the end all will be well through his mercy and grace.

A New Wave Of Layoffs!

As Barack Obama hit the campaign trail in 2012, he boasted that his economic policies are working and that the rate of unemployment was improving. Yet, in the days immediately following the election, the United States was hit with a deluge of job layoffs. One such example is Murray Energy, which received attention in the media after the chief executive officer of the company led a prayer just before he began laying off his employees. “Lord, please forgive me and anyone with me in the Murray Energy Corporation for the decisions that we are now forced to make to preserve the very existence of any of the enterprises that you have helped us build,” prayed CEO Robert E. Murray. (16)

Another expansive loss of jobs came at the hands of Hostess Brands Inc., which announced on Friday, November 16, 2012, that it would shutter its operations permanently, including 565 distribution centers, 33 bakeries, and 570 bakery outlets. It was also announced that approximately 18,500 workers would be laid off. (17) Meanwhile, numerous companies have also announced layoffs, including Energizer, Exide Technologies, Westinghouse, Research in Motion Ltd, Hawker Beechcraft, Boeing, and US Cellular amongst various others. (18)

A large proportion of the layoffs now being announced are the result of an increase in operating costs caused by Barack Obama’s forthcoming healthcare reforms, known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. However, some companies have chosen more creative ways to make up for the lost revenue. For example, Jon Metz, a man who operates about forty Denny’s restaurants in the state of Florida, has announced that his establishments will be adding a 5 percent surcharge to every customer’s bill in an effort to cover the increase in expenses. It was also announced that the restaurants would reduce the hours of many employees to twenty-eight per week to keep them under the threshold which require they be provided with insurance. Explaining the rationale for his decision, Metz was quoted as saying, “Obviously, I’d love to cover all our employees under that insurance. But to pay $5,000 per employee would cost us $175,000 per restaurant and unfortunately, most of our restaurants don’t make $175,000 a year. I can’t afford it.” (19)

Even as numerous companies struggle to remain profitable, the United States Postal Service had a record loss for the fiscal year 2012, totaling 15.9 billion dollars. The dire situation has caused great alarm for Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe who was quoted as saying, “It’s critical that Congress do its part and pass comprehensive legislation before they adjourn this year to move the Postal Service further down the path toward financial health.” Donahoe further went on to say, “We cannot sustain large losses indefinitely. Major defaults are unsettling.” (20) Senator Tom Carper, a Democrat from the state of Delaware, has also expressed concern over the fate of the postal service. “The U.S. Postal Service is clearly marching toward a financial collapse of its own. I am hopeful that now that the elections are over, my colleagues and I can come together and pass postal reform legislation so that a final bill can be signed into law by the end of the year,” Senator Carper said. (21) Art Sackler, co-coordinator of the Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service, also expressed worry regarding the postal service. “If Congress fails to act, there could be postal slowdowns or shutdowns that would have catastrophic consequences for the eight million private sector workers whose jobs depend on the mail,” Sackler said. (22)

The Strong Ties Of Obama And Planned Parenthood!

In Matthew 19:14 we read, “But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” This verse is just one of many that demonstrate the love and affection God has for children. Conversely, we know that Satan has inspired men to slaughter children throughout the ages, including the time of Moses’ birth in Egypt and the time of Jesus’ birth when Herod ordered the slaying of all male infants, age two and under, found in Bethlehem and the coastal areas. Sadly, this same satanic influence is present today in the United States where millions of innocent babies are aborted every year.

One of the staunchest proponents of abortion in America today is none other than Barack Obama, who implied on the campaign trail in 2008 that he would prefer his daughters to seek abortions rather than to give birth in the case of unwanted pregnancies. “I’ve got two daughters, nine years old and six years old. I am going to teach them about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby,” Obama declared. On July 24, 2012, Obama again mentioned his daughters as part of the reason he supports Planned Parenthood, an organization which proudly butchers babies when given the opportunity. “Mr. Romney wants to get rid of funding for Planned Parenthood. I think that’s a bad idea. I’ve got two daughters. I want them to control their own health care choices. We’re not going backwards, we’re going forward,” Obama said. (23)

Obama expressed his support for Planned Parenthood multiple times on the campaign trail in 2012 and even mentioned the organization four times during a presidential debate in October. The praise for the group prompted Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards to say, “Never in their life would they imagine Planned Parenthood would be mentioned with such pride by a president speaking to millions, praising the work of Planned Parenthood. This has long-term consequences. This is a day to remember.” (24) Frances Kissling, a scholar from the University of Pennsylvania, declared that there has been “a shift in the political climate” and that “the president and others now think associating themselves very publically with Planned Parenthood is favorable in the public eye.” (25)

In the United States, approximately 40 percent of all abortions are performed at Planned Parenthood clinics. This slaughter of innocents is reportedly a very lucrative business, which earns the group 51 percent of its revenue, or about $164,154,000 each year. The group also receives 487.4 million dollars each year from taxpayers. (26)

As we consider these facts, one might wonder how Planned Parenthood came into being and how it has risen to such prominence in recent years. In 1921 a group known as the American Birth Control League, which would later become Planned Parenthood, was founded by a radical socialist and humanist known as Margaret Sanger. (27) This woman was known to espouse the virtues of eugenics, which is a belief that breeding should be carefully controlled to promote the proliferation of desirable genetic traits, while culling weak or undesirable genetic traits from the human race. She also believed that black people are inferior to whites, and she was invited to speak before groups involved with the Ku Klux Klan over a dozen times. (28) In 1939 she began the “Negro Project,” which involved the hiring of influential black ministers to encourage black women to use birth control. (29) It is widely believed that this was an effort to pare down the black population in the United States. Sadly, her plan seems to have worked. Although black people only constitute about 12 percent of the population in the United States, they account for 37 percent of all abortions in the country, and 512 out of every 1000 pregnancies involving black women are now terminated by abortion. (30)

Incidentally, Ms. Sanger also held great contempt for large families. In her book entitled Woman and the New Race she wrote, “The MOST serious evil of our times is that of encouraging the bringing into the world of large families. The most immoral practice of the day is breeding too many children.” In another portion of the book she wrote, “The most merciful thing that the large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it.” (31)

Today, Margaret Sanger is heralded as a liberal hero and a champion of “women’s rights.” Planned Parenthood is now bigger and more powerful than ever, and as a consequence, I believe it has brought a curse upon the United States of America. In the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 30, the Israelites were warned of the consequences that would befall them if they served other gods. It is interesting to note that the worship of false gods would often include child sacrifice, and even today, many women, holding a belief that raising a child would be too much of a financial burden, sacrifice their children for the sake of money, which for many people has become a false god. Deuteronomy 30:17-19 conveys a remarkable message when you consider it in the context of abortion. These verses read as follows: “But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.”

An Attempt By Atheists To Ensnare Your Children!

In Psalm 53:1 we read the following, “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.” This verse makes it clear that there were people alive even thousands of years ago who were foolish enough to proclaim that there is no God. In recent years atheists have grown bolder, and one of their latest endeavors is a new website designed to ensnare young children and teenagers. The website, which is entitled “Kids Without God,” features resources for children designed to convert them to a humanist mindset. “Whether they already made up their minds to reject supernatural explanations, or are just questioning, it’s time to make available an online resource that’s built just for kids without God,” said Roy Speckhardt, executive director at the American Humanist Association. (32)

The front page of the website features an introduction which says, “Welcome to Kids Without God, a site for the millions of young people around the world who have embraced science, rejected superstition, and are dedicated to being Good without a God!” (33) The section of the website intended for young children features videos designed to brainwash them as well as a cute animated dog named Darwin who is supposed to teach them to be good children without the influence of God. (34) The section designed for teenagers features an advice column entitled “Dear Atheist” and articles such as “Can I date an atheist even if I’m not one?” (35)

This website is another ploy from the enemy designed to capture the minds of our impressionable youth. With the constant barrage of secularism spewing forth from popular culture, it is becoming increasingly difficult for parents to protect their children from the flood of evil now so prevalent in these last days.

Trouble On The Horizon!

The world is facing numerous threats which indicate the coming years may be very distressing for the earth’s population. In November 2012, a flare-up between Israel and the Palestinians served as a reminder of just how volatile the Middle East is in these tumultuous times. In this latest conflict, one hundred and thirty Palestinians and five Israelis lost their lives as each side launched a barrage of rockets at each other. After eight days of fighting, a fragile cease-fire was announced, but there remains much animosity between the two sides. “This is a critical moment for the region. The people of this region deserve a chance to live free of fear and violence and today’s agreement is a step in that direction. Now we have to focus on reaching a durable outcome,” said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. (36)

In November 2012 it came to light that the entire Eurozone, which consists of seventeen nations who use the euro currency, has now fallen into a recession. “We can dispense with the euphemisms and equivocation and openly proclaim that the euro area economy is indeed in technical recession,” said James Ashley, a senior economist at RBC Capital Markets. (37) Austerity measures in several European nations have sparked protests, and experts have warned that more protests are likely in the coming days. “The likelihood is that this anger will continue to grow unless European leaders and policymakers start to act as if they have a clue as to how to resolve the crisis starting to unravel before their eyes,” said Michael Hewson, an analyst at CMC Markets. (38)

Meanwhile, economists are also warning that the United States will likely enter into another recession in 2013 if something is not done to prevent the nation from falling over a “fiscal cliff,” which is a term coined by Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke to describe potential economic strife brought on by tax increases and budget cuts scheduled to take place next year. “The fiscal cliff impacts the economy both by creating uncertainty and by imposing austerity. If we go over the cliff for an extended period of time, a recession is likely,” opined Ethan Harris, an economist at Bank of America. (39)

In closing, I want to encourage each and every one of you to fully put your faith and trust in God. This world is not always a pleasant place, yet through the mercy of our Saviour we can truly be at peace. When I consider the trouble in this world, I can’t help but think of the words of the Apostle Paul, written in II Corinthians 4:6-9, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 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.”

Thank you to all who so generously support this ministry. This issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter concludes the 2012 volume of publication. If you subscribe to the paper edition of this newsletter and would like to be included on the mailing list for the year 2013, please remember to mail us your renewal form. As always, if you have any prayer requests, we will gladly carry your petition before the throne of the Almighty on your behalf. Grace and peace be unto you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Samuel David Meyer

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