MARCH-APRIL 2020 THE RCG.ORG/REALTRUTH TM

A MAGAZINE RESTORING PLAIN UNDERSTANDING

THE BLIND TO SEE Humanity’s Fight to Cure Blindness

Why Britain Never The Pope: “Christendom Russia on the Coronavirus: Anatomy of Fit in the EU No Longer Exists” Brink of War? a Global Outbreak HOW THIS MAGAZINE IS PAID FOR: The Real Truth TM is made possible by the voluntary, freely given tithes and offerings of the members of The Restored Church of God ®, and by the offerings and donations of co-workers and donors around the world. Contributions are gratefully welcomed and are tax deductible in the U.S. and Canada. Those who wish to voluntarily aid and support VOL. XVIII | NO. 2 | MARCH-APRIL 2020 the Work of God in preaching and publishing the gospel to all nations are gladly welcomed as co-workers. ARTICLES RCG.ORG/REALTRUTH Contributions may be sent to the fol- lowing address:

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PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID C. PACK MANAGING EDITOR EDWARD L. WINKFIELD SENIOR EDITOR BRADFORD G. SCHLEIFER ASSOCIATE EDITOR SAMUEL C. BAXTER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS DAVID C. PACK SAMUEL C. BAXTER WULPHERT DE GRAAF ANDREW J. HOLCOMBE GREGORY E. KAIDANNEK DAVID J. LITAVSKY g The pope delivers a message during Personal from the Editor-in-Chief FRANK LYDICK the traditional exchange of New Year Easter’s Ancient Origins KENNETH M. OREL GARRICK R. OXLEY greetings at the Vatican (Jan. 9, 2020). Page 1 JAMES F. PASTOR PHOTO: REMO CASILLI/POOL PHOTO VIA AP TIMOTHY D. RANNEY Why Britain Never Fit in the EU BRADFORD G. SCHLEIFER NESTOR A. TORO The United Kingdom’s departure from the multinational F. JACO VILJOEN The Pope: “Christendom bloc was inevitable from the start. VIDAL N. WACHUKU No Longer Exists” Page 4 EDWARD L. WINKFIELD EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS The Catholic Church— MELISSA M. HOLCOMBE The Blind to See DAVID J. LITAVSKY along with Protestant Humanity’s Fight to Cure Blindness ART/GRAPHICS Christianity—is in the midst Numerous humanitarian organizations and charitable JODY E. LYDICK groups are resolved to eradicate a debilitating eye PAULA C. RONDEAU of a culture war pitting tra- SARAH O. VIDAL disease. Their work points to an even greater purpose. EILEEN M. WILLARD ditionalists against progres- Page 8 WEBSITE SERVICES sives. For average parish- BRADFORD G. SCHLEIFER Russia on the Brink of War? ANGELA K. BAXTER ioners, the conflict should A series of domestic and international shake-ups from AMANDA B. DODD SARAH A. PERKINS Moscow have experts worried it is ramping up for elicit important questions. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY renewed conflict with the West. TIMOTHY C. WILLARD Page 16 Page 12

Coronavirus: Anatomy of a Global Outbreak Page 21

Train Up Your Children! All parents know they are to prepare their children for adulthood. While this is no easy task, there is an The preparation and production of instruction manual to help you along the way. this magazine involved the work of FRONT COVER: A man with cataracts sits editors, proofreaders, graphic artists, outside a building in Oman (Feb. 5, 2019). Page 26 illustrators, writers, researchers and those who support the Work of God. PHOTO: LIA MARMELSTEIN/EYE CARE FOUNDATION Copyright © 2020, The Restored World News Desk Page 32 Church of God. Printed in the USA. CREDITS: All photos from Getty Images All rights reserved. unless otherwise noted. Articles on pages The Restored Church of God is not responsible for the return of 16-24 contain information from The unsolicited articles and photos. Associated Press. Scriptures are quoted from the King James (or Authorized) Version of the Bible, unless otherwise noted. PERSONAL FROM

Easter’s Ancient Origins

aster is a worldwide tradition involving Bible Authority for Easter? many customs that people believe to be Christian. The Bible is the source for all things Christian. Does it E mention Easter? Yes. What is the origin of Lent and sunrise services? Notice Acts 12:1. King Herod began to persecute the How did rabbits, eggs and hot-cross buns become Church, culminating in the brutal death of the apostle associated with Christ’s Resurrection? Is Easter men- James by sword. This pleased the Jews so much that the tioned in the Bible? Did the apostles and early Church apostle Peter was also taken prisoner by Herod. The plan keep it? The answers will shock you! was to later deliver him to the Jews. Verse 3 says, “Then Most people follow along as they have been taught, were the days of unleavened bread.” The New Testament assuming that what they believe and do is right. They Church was observing these feast days described take their beliefs for granted. Most do not take time in Leviticus 23. Now read Acts 12:4: “And when he to prove why they do the things that they do. [Herod] had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and Why do you believe what you believe? Where did you delivered him to [sixteen] soldiers to keep him; intending get your beliefs? Is the source of your religious beliefs the after Easter to bring him forth to the people.” Bible—or some other authority? If you say the Bible, are Is this Bible authority for Easter? you sure? This passage is not talking about Easter. How do What about Easter? Since hundreds of millions keep it, we know? The word translated Easter is the Greek supposedly in honor of Jesus Christ’s Resurrection, then word pascha (derived from the Hebrew word pesach; certainly the Bible must have much to say about it. Surely there is no original Greek word for Passover), and it there are numerous verses mentioning rabbits, eggs and has only one meaning. It always means Passover—it egg hunts, baskets of candy, hot-cross buns, Lent, Good can never mean Easter! For this reason, we find a Friday, and sunrise services—not to mention Easter itself. Hebrew word used in the Greek New Testament. Once Do not be so sure. Easter requires close scrutiny and again, this Hebrew word can only refer to Passover. this Personal examines it carefully. Other translations, including the Revised Standard

MARCH-APRIL 2020 1 Version, correctly render this word on eggs dyed in various colors. These the Venerable…the origin of the term Passover. eggs, which will later be hidden and for the feast of Christ’s Resurrection Instead of endorsing Easter, this searched for, are placed into lovely, has been popularly considered to be verse really proves that the Church was seasonal baskets. The wonderful aroma from the Anglo-Saxon Eastre, a god- still observing the supposedly Jewish of the hot-cross buns mother is baking dess of spring…the Old High German Passover 10 years after the death of in the oven waft through the house. plural for dawn, eostarun; whence has Christ! Forty days of abstaining from special come the German Ostern, and our Now let’s go to the other scriptures foods will finally end the next day. The English Easter” (The New Catholic authorizing Easter. This presents a whole family picks out their Sunday Encyclopedia, 1967). problem. There are none! There are best to wear to the next morning’s “The fact that vernal festivals absolutely no verses, anywhere in the sunrise worship service to celebrate the were general among pagan peoples no Bible, that authorize or endorse the savior’s resurrection and the renewal doubt had much to do with the form keeping of Easter! The Bible says of life. Everyone looks forward to a assumed by the Eastern festival in the nothing about Lent, eggs and egg hunts, succulent ham with all the trimmings. Christian churches. The English term baskets of candy, etc., although it does It will be a thrilling day. After all, it Easter is of pagan origin” (Albert mention hot-cross buns and sunrise is one of the most important religious Henry Newman, A Manual of Church services as abominations, which God holidays of the year. History). condemns. We will examine them and Easter, right? No! This is a descrip- “On this greatest of Christian festi- learn why. tion of an ancient Babylonian fam- vals, several survivals occur of ancient The mistranslation of Acts 12:4 is a ily—2,000 years before Christ—hon- heathen ceremonies. To begin with, the not-so-subtle attempt to insert a pagan oring the resurrection of their god, name itself is not Christian but pagan. festival into Scripture for the purpose Tammuz, who was brought back from Ostara was the Anglo-Saxon Goddess of authorizing it. the underworld by his mother/wife, of Spring” (Ethel L. Urlin, Festival, Ishtar (after whom the festival was Holy Days, and Saints Days). When Easter Came to America named). As Ishtar was actually pro- “Easter—the name Easter comes to Easter has long been known to be nounced “Easter” in most Semitic dia- us from Ostera or Eostre, the Anglo- a pagan festival. America’s founders lects, it could be said that the event Saxon goddess of spring, for whom a knew this! A children’s book about portrayed here is, in a sense, Easter. spring festival was held annually, as it the holiday Easter Parade: Welcome Of course, the occasion could easily is from this pagan festival that some Sweet Spring Time! by Steve have been a Phrygian family honor- of our Easter customs have come” Englehart, states: “When the Puritans ing Attis and Cybele, or perhaps a (Mary Hazeltine, Anniversaries and came to North America, they regarded Phoenician family worshipping Adonis Holidays: A Calendar of Days and the celebration of Easter—and the and Astarte. Also fitting the description How to Observe Them). celebration of Christmas—with sus- well would be a heretic Israelite fam- “In Babylonia…the goddess of picion. They knew that pagans had ily honoring the Canaanite Baal and spring was called Ishtar. She was iden- celebrated the return of spring long Ashtoreth. Or this depiction could just tified with the planet Venus, which, before Christians celebrated Easter… as easily represent any number of other because…[it] rises before the Sun… for the first two hundred years of immoral, pagan fertility celebrations or sets after it…appears to love the European life in North America, only of death and resurrection—including light [this means Venus loves the a few states, mostly in the South, paid the modern Easter celebration as it has sun-god]…In Phoenecia, she became much attention to Easter.” come to us through the Anglo-Saxon Astarte; in Greece, Eostre [related to Not until after the Civil War did fertility rites of the goddess Eostre the Greek word Eos: “dawn”], and in Americans begin celebrating this holi- or Ostara. These are all the same Germany, Ostara [this comes from the day: “Easter first became an American festivals, separated only by time and German word Ost: “east,” which is the tradition in the 1870s” (ibid.). culture. direction of dawn]” (Englehart, Easter Remarkable! The original 13 colo- If Easter is not found in the Bible, Parade). nies of America began as a “Christian” then where did it come from? The vast As we have seen, many names are nation, but did not observe Easter majority of ecclesiastical and secular interchangeable for the more well- within an entire century of its found- historians agree that the name Easter known Easter. Pagans typically used ing. What happened to change this? and the traditions surrounding it are many different names for the same deeply rooted in pagan religion. god or goddess. Nimrod, the Bible Where Did Easter Come From? Notice the following powerful figure who built the city of Babylon Does the following sound familiar? quotes that demonstrate more about (Gen. 10:8-10), is an example. He Spring is in the air! Flowers and bun- the true origin of how the modern Easter was worshipped as Saturn, Vulcan, nies decorate the home. Father helps celebration got its name (emphasis the children paint beautiful designs added throughout article): “Since Bede Please see PERSONAL, page 30 2 The REAL TRUTH Is God Calling Me?

ow do you feel while reading The Real Truth magazine? Does it H often seem like the information it contains is speaking directly to you? Does it make the Bible open up to you like never before? Jesus Christ stated, “No man can come to Me, except the Father which has sent Me draw him…” (John 6:44). If you understand the truths explained in this publication, read the article “Are You Being Called?” at rcg.org/aybc. You owe it to yourself to find out the answer! Why BRITAIN Never Fit in the EU The United Kingdom’s departure from the multinational bloc was inevitable from the start.

BY NESTOR A. TORO

rom the moment the Many reasons have been cited for ing a sigh of relief for having finally United Kingdom joined the complex relationship: Britain’s quit the bloc. “We are at the end of a the European Economic imperial past casting a cloud over its very long road,” said Martin Callanan, F membership—the strip of water sepa- a Conservative minister, as Brexit day Community (the European rating the country from what is often approached. Union’s predecessor) in 1973, referred to as the Continent—and wari- Why has Britain been so at odds the countdown clock to Brexit ness of the shifting alliances that have with its mainland partners? had already begun ticking. It was played out in Europe since the Norman just no one knew January 31, conquest of 1066. Tough Path Ahead 2020, would be the day the bell Some even say the Brexit referen- Even though the UK has officially left rang, time’s up! dum results would have shown more the EU, the two parties will continue to Throughout its 47 years of support for departure if done earlier. squabble over Brexit details. Until the British approval “of membership end of 2020, Britain will remain with- membership, it was clear Britain has only briefly been above 50%, and in the EU’s economic arrangements, was never quite happy with its by 2010 was dipping below 30%,” including the tariff-free single market position in the bloc. Though a full Financial News reported. “A referen- and the customs union, during which member, it continued to use its dum back then most likely would have time Prime Minister Boris Johnson own currency and opted out of the resulted in an even bigger majority for hopes to conclude a wide-ranging trade Schengen Agreement, which pro- leaving.” agreement for the EU. Both sides face motes open borders among mem- The UK was hesitant to join the challenges as they define their post- ber nations. The UK also chose not bloc in the first place. While a mem- Brexit stances. to participate in a program for joint ber, it often grumbled about many of Three weeks before Britain was EU military operations. the integration suggestions that came due to leave the European Union, the Yet the concessions were not up. Words like “awkward” or “semi- president of the European Commission enough. Contention over EU mem- detached” were common descriptions warned that the UK will not get the bership boiled over until a 52-percent of Britain’s membership. “highest quality access” to the EU’s majority of citizens voted to leave in Though still a work in progress, market after Brexit unless it makes June 2016. many in the nation seem to be breath- major concessions.

4 The REAL TRUTH Britain has always perceived itself as a land apart—a significant reason why it could never quite fit in the EU. Just as the United Kingdom is geo- graphically disconnected from main- land Europe, it is also disconnected socially, economically, militarily and politically from Europe-at-large. The man- and woman-on-the-street in the UK is British, first and foremost, and then European (that is, if it is conve- nient, practical and does not interfere with being British). Britain has long held an island- nation mentality, as the country is physically separated from Europe. It tends to favor its own interests above the collective mindset of the Continent. Ironically, it was Winston Churchill EU who called for a “kind of United States of Europe” in the grim aftermath of World War II. In a speech in Zurich in 1946, Churchill outlined his vision for post- war Europe. Peace and prosperity, he said, could only come if France and Germany put aside their centuries of In a friendly but frank message to This is a thorny issue. Speaking mistrust and start operating as part- the UK, Commission President Ursula at the London School of Economics ners. von der Leyen said negotiating a new before her meeting with Mr. Johnson, “The structure of the United States UK-EU trade deal will be tough. She Ms. von der Leyen warned that “with- of Europe, if well and truly built, also said the end-of-2020 deadline that out a level playing field on environ- will be such as to make the material the British prime minister has imposed ment, labor, taxation and state aid, you strength of a single state less impor- on negotiations makes it “basically cannot have the highest quality access tant,” he said. “Small nations will impossible” to strike a comprehensive to the world’s largest single market.” count as much as large ones and gain new agreement in time. “With every choice comes a conse- their honour by their contribution to International trade agreements typ- quence. With every decision comes a the common cause.” ically take years to complete. Though trade-off,” she warned. Churchill, notably, did not envi- Britain has a one-off option to request The EU worries that Britain plans sion Britain being part of this grand an extension to this so-called transi- to cut environmental and employment endeavor. Its role, like that of “mighty tion period for a further two years, standards in order to position itself as America” and even of Soviet Russia, Mr. Johnson has insisted he will not a low-regulation, low-tax competitor would be to act as “friends and spon- be taking that up. This means discus- to the bloc. sors of the new Europe.” sions over the future relationship on Mr. Johnson sought to allay those That perception about Britain’s role an array of issues, including trade and fears, telling Ms. von der Leyen the provides one explanation to its ambig- security, will have to be completed UK would continue to maintain high uous relationship with Europe in the this year. standards “in areas like workers’ decades since. If no agreement is reached and Mr. rights, animal welfare, agriculture and Johnson refuses to take up the option the environment.” Critical Past of the extension, then tariffs and other In short, both sides have many Though the UK-EU partnership impediments on trade between the two wrinkles to iron, kinks to straighten, seemed to work for a little while, their sides will have to be put in place. and jagged-edged rips to sew up. path into the future was fraught with Prime Minister Johnson also said roadblocks, bumps and chaotic turns Land-apart Mindset the UK is seeking a wide-ranging free that seemed to detour into uncertainty. trade deal but does not want to agree to Mr. Johnson’s demandingness over But with fundamental differences keep all EU rules and standards. future-deal terms gives a taste of how between them, separation was inevi- MARCH-APRIL 2020 5 table. There were too many disagree- opted to steer clear of a partnership in this detail from Britain’s origin is to ments, too many misunderstandings. the first place. understand why, naturally, it has bris- What ultimately went wrong? A look at Britain’s history reveals tled whenever bureaucrats approve Had Britain grown tired of an additional reason behind its untam- EU restrictions over British laws. European technocrats overruling able spirit and estranged EU relation- Brexit merely confirms it further. British lawmakers and telling the UK ship. The relatively tiny island nation, what laws Europe would allow to go once the seat of a world-leading global Greatness Fulfilled unchecked? Was it Europe’s insis- empire, has spawned a long line of As Britain was striving to enter the tence that the UK accept any and all royal leaders who helped influence and EEC in the 1960s, then-president of immigrants into its fold, regardless of shape the policies of entire nations. France Charles de Gaulle accused UK immigration laws or how it would Its ancient past holds the key to London of a “deep seated hostility” affect Britain economically, socially, why the island nation of the British toward European construction and politically? peoples always had a mind of its of “being more interested in links The answer: all the above. own—why it ruled or directly influ- with the US.” (It is interesting to note There was, nonetheless, one addi- enced one-quarter of the Earth, giving that Prime Minister Johnson himself tional looming issue. In any agree- rise to the once-popular saying, “The was born in New York, and only ment, particularly marriage agree- sun never sets on the British Empire.” renounced his American citizenship ments, two parties must fully come Something about its past explains in 2016.) to terms with and even disclose their why, at its zenith, the British Empire The entire world remains in bliss- history to one another in order to managed to stretch across the planet, ful ignorance of the startling begin- reach mutual understanding. If this including Ireland, Canada, the origi- nings of the world’s greatest nations, step is omitted, one of the sides could nal 13 colonies of America, Bermuda, especially the unique link between potentially accuse the other of fraud, Jamaica, South Africa, Egypt, Sudan, Britain and the United States. should some previously undisclosed Nigeria, Sierra Leone, India, Iraq, The connection between these two inconvenience come to light. Burma (today’s Myanmar), Australia, nations goes way back, to much earlier Unwittingly, there could have New Zealand and Fiji, to name a few. than the times of the EEC. Further even never been full disclosure on the part Britain’s distinctive precedent than the American Revolutionary War. of Britain—it is not fully aware of its explains why it has grown used to To truly understand those national own ancient past! Had it known it and ruling on its own and charting its own links, one must go to where they are disclosed it, both parties may have course into the future. To understand first mentioned. g Guests celebrate the moment Britain leaves the EU during a Brexit party in Warrington, United Kingdom (Jan. 31, 2020). PHOTO: ANTHONY DEVLIN/GETTY IMAGES

6 The REAL TRUTH In early biblical times, a unique blessing was passed down from Abraham, through Isaac and Jacob (who was renamed Israel), ultimate- ly to Joseph—namely to his sons Ephraim and Manasseh. The bless- ing involved a promise that some- day the descendants of the older brother, Manasseh, would “become a people, and he also shall be great.” Additionally, the younger brother Ephraim “shall become a multitude of nations” (Gen. 48:19). The book America and Britain in Prophecy, written by this magazine’s publisher and editor-in-chief David C. Pack, presents proof after proof of how these blessings have been poured out on the modern descendants of these two brother nations. No other nations in history come close to fitting the bill. Indisputably, g British Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen only America can historically qualify at 10 Downing Street in London, England (Jan. 8, 2020). as the “great” nation and Britain as PHOTO: PETER SUMMERS/GETTY IMAGES the “multitude of nations.” Only with this understanding can any normal dove, but to “a silly dove His entire plan of salvation is insepa- all Bible prophecies directed to the without heart.” rable from, and relates to, the nation people of Ephraim—meaning Britain Beyond Brexit, this nation is fore- of Israel. Notice: ‘Who are Israelites; and the peoples still linked to its told to again get tangled in regrettable to whom pertains the adoption, and the “multitude of nations”—be unlocked! international affairs, until it finally glory, and the covenants, and the giv- learns an important lesson: It must ing of the law, and the service of God, Beyond Brexit “return to the Lord their God” and and the promises…’ (Rom. 9:4).” One of these prophecies is in Hosea “seek Him.” The book continues: “Now ask 7: “Ephraim, he has mixed himself People in Britain and America, yourself: Why is it then that the among the people; Ephraim is a cake along with Canada, Australia, New English-speaking peoples most profess not turned. Strangers have devoured Zealand and other English-speaking to believe in the Bible and the God it his strength, and he knows it not… nations, do not know what is set to describes? Why is it that all peoples and they do not return to the Lord occur for their peoples because they do of the world professing worship of their God, nor seek Him for all this. not know how to identify their origins the God of the Bible, were at one Ephraim also is like a silly dove with- in Scripture. time taught by these English-speaking, out heart: they call to Egypt, they go No wonder God lamented in the Anglo-Saxon people? Why is it that to Assyria” (vs. 8-11). book of Isaiah: “The ox knows his these same people have done more to While this prophecy speaks of a owner, and the ass his master’s crib: preserve the Bible than any other? Is time soon to come, note that it high- but Israel does not know, My people do it not also strange that these nations lights Britain’s proclivity to “mix” not consider” (1:3). have proliferated the Bible around the itself among certain groups of people, Note that God is specifically world far more than all other nations and to be “a cake not turned”—God’s addressing the modern descendants put together?” words. of Israel. Awe-inspiring prophecies If you would like to learn more Not sure? Go get a Bible and read regarding history’s great nations have about America and Britain’s bibli- it! Then think of its “half baked” deal- yet to be fulfilled. Roughly one-third cal origins—and why they are such ings with other nations. of the Bible is prophecy, which is his- uniquely blessed and prosperous peo- Notice too that the Creator com- tory written in advance by inspiration ples—read America and Britain in pares it to a “dove.” This is a fasci- of God. Prophecy at rcg.org/aabibp. nating symbol, especially considering Consider the following excerpt The future no longer needs to that doves are known to mate for life. from America and Britain in Prophecy: remain shrouded in mystery and uncer- Make note that God likens it to not “God’s Holy Word clearly reveals that tainty. c MARCH-APRIL 2020 7 THE BLIND TO SEE Humanity’s Fight to Cure Blindness Numerous humanitarian organizations and charitable groups are resolved to eradicate a debilitating eye disease. Their work points to an even greater purpose.

BY EDWARD L. WINKFIELD

hose of us who can see oping nations—have opened the eyes are dependent on their family to whom clearly (even with the help of the masses (both literally and figu- they become a burden.” T of glasses or contacts) ratively). Those suffering from cataracts, sometimes take it for granted. Yet A former leper colony in Ethiopia which is a clouding of the eye lens, was the site for one of HCP’s recent in developing nations discover that a look at conditions in another cataract surgery campaigns. life as they knew it is essentially over. part of the globe can provide a Dr. Matt Oliva, one of four surgeons One woman, blind from the condition, fresh perspective. on the team, described the situation to said: “My little children look after me, Cataracts are the chief cause of Vice News: “Blindness in Ethiopia is a I can’t even visit my friends. I just blindness on the planet. Groups such death sentence, it’s a social problem, stay at home” (ibid.). it’s a human suffering problem, and as the Himalayan Cataract Project it’s an economic problem.” Another g A child with cataracts in both eyes awaits (HCP)—with its pioneering work in ophthalmologist on the team added, “In surgery in Basankusu, Democratic Republic of eliminating cataract disease in Nepal, the Congo (April 9, 2019). a society where you don’t have social PHOTO: ANDRAS D. HAJDU/OWW AND FOUNDATION OF Ethiopia, Myanmar and other devel- security or things like that, these people DOCTOR RICHARD FOR CONGOLESE PATIENTS 8 The REAL TRUTH An elderly man with milky white g Left, a man is overjoyed after his surgery screening at a clinic in Ethiopia (Oct. 8, 2019). Right, an examiner explains vision testing to an elderly woman during a village screening in Papua New eyes due to the disease painted a simi- Guinea (Sept. 13, 2019). larly grim picture: “I’m a farmer and PHOTO: ULRICH EIGNER/LIGHT FOR THE WORLD (LEFT); THERESA GENDE/FRED HOLLOWS FOUNDATION PNG I used to grow khat and sorghum. But (RIGHT) now I can’t do it anymore. So, I have become a beggar and now I beg every rience a sense that many patients had Though slicing into the surface day.” long given up on—sight. of the eye and poking and prodding The HCP mission is seeking to The pure happiness on display, around may sound gory, it remark- change it all by eradicating as much genuine embraces, and overwhelm- ably is not. The procedure requires no unnecessary blindness as possible. ing emotions are heartwarming. They stitches and there is little to no blood According to its website, cureblindness. demonstrate, in a most graphic way, involved. org, since 1995 it and partners have the one-of-a-kind joy of being made The surgery is completed within screened and treated over 7.3 million whole. 10 minutes, and the doctors apply people, provided more than 900,000 thick eye patches with bandages in the sight-restoring surgeries, and trained One Man’s Vision hope that the patient’s vision will be hundreds of doctors to do the same. The Himalayan Cataract Project was restored following a day of recovery. Over the course of one week, using co-founded by Dr. Sanduk Ruit, a Family and friends witnessing the what can best be described as a human 65-year-old ophthalmologist from removal of the bandages are usually assembly line, the HCP team of four Nepal. just as excited in anticipation of the eye surgeons in Ethiopia restored sight Following his studies in India, the patient once again recognizing them, to 700 patients. This surprisingly large Netherlands and the United States, sometimes after years of being unable number is contrasted by a surprisingly Dr. Ruit pioneered a simple, stitch- to. When the patches are removed, small one—25. This is the number of free surgical technique to cure cata- it takes a couple of seconds for the dollars it costs to purchase the kit used racts. The procedure was so effective it brain of the former cataract sufferer to to help repair the sight of a cataract began to be called a Ruitectomy. adjust to what is being seen. Moments patient. Put another way, the amount Instead of relying heavily on later there is an unbelievable smile, a person living in a developed nation machines, Dr. Ruit’s manual surgical demonstrating that the surgery was would spend on a restaurant meal is technique involves making a small a success. Ninety percent of patients more than enough to help a blind per- incision on the surface of the eye just will see well enough to pass a U.S. son see again. Shocking. below the iris. Guided by a highly driver’s license test. Watching young and old in jubila- magnified image, the surgeon inserts The ease and manual nature of the tion as their vision is restored changes a small tool resembling tweezers into surgery, the assembly line approach, you. One by one, as doctors remove the the incision and pulls out the damaged and Dr. Ruit’s innovative $3-per arti- surgical bandages a mere 24 hours fol- lens. The doctor then replaces the old ficial lens is how $25 of supplies and lowing the procedure, patients scream, lens with an artificial one by pushing it 10 minutes can help a person see squeal and dance as their brains expe- into the same opening. again. MARCH-APRIL 2020 9 care personnel from 43 countries, of Jesus’ first official miracle was Greater Impact which 493 are doctors. They have built changing water to wine at a wedding, Organizations besides HCP are also hospitals in Ghana, Ethiopia, India which also helped people to believe taking on the task of doing all they can and China. They have also worked in in His divine authority (John 2:11). to cure blindness. The International North Korea, Cambodia, Bangladesh This act caught the attention of those Agency for the Prevention of and Vietnam. of a certain status. However, Christ’s Blindness lists other partners such as These individuals are some of the most numerous and arguably impactful Orbis International, SightLife and Eye many in the blindness prevention com- miracles were those through which He Bank of Ethiopia. The primary focus of munity hoping to bring the joy of sight brought or restored health to others, all these groups is on the blind in the to hundreds, thousands and eventually many of them poor. John 6:2 records, developing world. millions. “A great multitude followed Him, Their work was initially shunned because they saw His miracles which in ophthalmology circles. Many took Miracle of Sight He did on them that were diseased.” issue with the unconventional research Helping people see again is inspiring. Christ’s divine healing of the masses and work in environments considered In our world dominated by misery and could not be explained away by nature squalid by Western standards. Yet despair, it is encouraging to witness or science. groups stuck to the belief that excel- uplifting accounts of people having Blindness was just one of the myr- lent care could be delivered to the poor. their vision restored. iad diseases Jesus addressed: “And Not only do the majority of these In a section on the cureblindness. great multitudes came unto Him, hav- programs waive surgery fees for those org website titled “Grateful” are sev- ing with them those that were lame, unable to pay, they also utilize mobile eral quotes summarizing the impact blind, dumb, maimed, and many oth- eye camps to take their services direct- of the charity’s work. One statement ers, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; ly to people in hard-to-reach places. stood out: “It’s an amazing moment to and He healed them: insomuch that the For instance, those doing work in and watch [patients] realize that they can multitude wondered, when they saw around the Himalayan region transport see, and to watch everything come into the dumb to speak, the maimed to be their equipment by vehicle as far as focus, it feels like a miracle.” whole, the lame to walk, and the blind possible, then complete the journey by The work of the HCP does feel to see: and they glorified the God of foot through mountainous terrain. miraculous. Though cataract surgery Israel” (Matt. 15:30-31). Once these mobile care teams get may not fit the exact definition of People brought their loved ones to a village, they immediately begin a miracle, it is nevertheless hard to with the hopes of them being made the work of transforming any avail- explain it any other way. whole. Many who had all but given up able space into a sterile location for Miracles grab and hold our atten- hope had their lives forever changed. surgery. The location must be acces- tion. When the healing came, it brought sible and able to handle a large vol- Jesus Christ knew this very fact. tremendous joy and exuberance (Luke ume of patients who travel from miles He even explained it to a high-ranking 17:15-16). around seeking to be cured. In a mat- official who, despite his status, was Yet the question remains: What did ter of hours, the team converts a dusty unable to find a cure to his son’s the divine healings signal or indicate? room into an operating area nearly terminal illness. He was left with no Yes, people were made to feel better, equivalent to a clinic in the developed other option but to seek Christ and beg but to what did it all point? What was world. Him to heal his dying son (John 4:46- the purpose of Christ’s ministry? Through this and other similar 47). Christ’s response alluded to His Read His own words: “Then Jesus efforts, experts have made a posi- important purpose for healing people: answering said unto them, Go your tive impact on the world’s blindness “Except you see signs and wonders, way, and tell John [the Baptist] what problem. In Nepal, for instance, doc- you will not believe” (vs. 48). He then things you have seen and heard; how tors have managed to reverse the rate healed the official’s son. This irrefut- that the blind see, the lame walk, the of blindness from 1 per 100 out of a able sign made the man and his entire lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the population of 26.4 million to about 1 household believers in Christ and His dead are raised, to the poor the gospel per 400. Other places are experiencing ministry (vs. 53). is preached” (Luke 7:22). similar benefits. The Greek word translated “signs” Christ wrapped His greater mes- While the work of all these organiza- means an indication, especially sage—that of the gospel—in the heal- tions is admirable, millions are still suf- supernatural (Strong’s Exhaustive ing of the sick. Helping people see, fering from cataracts and awaiting care. Concordance). This term is many hear, walk and in some cases live again This reality drives efforts to pass times translated “miracle.” A true mir- got their attention and the attention of along blindness prevention knowledge acle is an event inexplicable by natural witnesses. to other doctors. The HCP alone has or scientific laws. It is solely of divine helped train more than 19,381 eye- origin. Please see BLIND TO SEE, page 31 10 The REAL TRUTH Everyone, if they live long enough, WORLD REPORT ON VISION will experience at least one eye condition in their lifetime. Refractive Error

Cataract Macular Degeneration Glaucoma $14.3 BILLION The investment needed globally to treat existing unaddressed cases of refractive error and cataracts.

$6.9 $7.4 BIL. BIL. Cataract Refractive g A woman awaits her first visual exam at the free Cataract Surgery Camp at Nakuru Surgery Error County Referral Hospital in Kenya (May 30, 2019). PHOTO: SERGIO CARMONA AND SILVIA TABLADA/VISIO SENSE FRONTERES

Projected number of people estimated to have age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma, 2020-2030. 2020 2030

234.4 Million

195.6 Million

Age-related macular degeneration 95.4 Million 76 Million g A couple sits in the operating room after Glaucoma bilateral cataract surgery in Timor-Leste (Aug. 22, 2019). 2.2 BILLION PHOTO: FRENKY DE JESUS/HNGV Estimated number of people living Eye conditions are projected to increase due with vision impairment. to a variety of factors, including aging population and lifestyle. 1 BILLION Number of cases in which vision impairment could have been prevented or has yet to be addressed.

Unaddressed vision impairment (in millions): 826 Presbyopia 123.7 Refractive error 65.2 Cataract

6.9 Glaucoma g Left, a woman learns the alphabet with her great granddaughter after her cataract surgery in 4.2 Corneal opacities Kolkata, India (Oct. 8, 2018). Right, a patient expresses his joy after cataract surgery (Aug. 28, 2019). 3 Diabetic retinopathy Source: World Health Organization PHOTOS: AVIJIT GHOSH (LEFT); SHYAM VYAS/TILGANGA INSTITUTE OF OPHTHALMOLOGY (RIGHT) 2 Trachoma Graphic: Sarah O. Vidal MARCH-APRIL 2020 11 Russia on the Brink of War?

A series of domestic and international shake-ups from Moscow have experts worried it is ramping up for renewed conflict with the West.

BY DAVID J. LITAVSKY

s the 2020s dawn, a third “Now we have a situation that the U.S. military pondering defense of a century since the end is unique in modern history when strategies. Unlike a regular missile A of the Cold War, Moscow they are trying to catch up to us,” warhead that follows a predictable has Washington on its heels. the Kremlin leader said at a meet- path, this new intercontinental ballistic missile can make sharp maneuvers in Russian President Vladimir ing with top military brass in December. Putin announced that his nation g Russian President Vladimir Putin watches a The Avangard missile, as it has been navy exercise from the Marshal Ustinov mis- has become the only country in named, can reportedly fly 27 times sile cruiser in the Black Sea in Crimea (Jan. the world to deploy hypersonic 9, 2020). faster than the speed of sound—over PHOTO: ALEXEI DRUZHININ/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL weapons. 20,000 miles per hour—and has left PHOTO VIA AP 12 The REAL TRUTH the atmosphere en route to the “our society is clearly demonstrating a before he stepped down last year target, making it much harder demand for change,” and cited a “need after nearly three decades in power in to intercept. to expedite achievement of the large- the former Soviet country,” Reuters “No existing defenses, in scale social, economic and technologi- explained. the United States or elsewhere, cal challenges our country faces” to “Before leaving office, the can intercept a missile that can justify the changes. 79-year-old Kazakh president boosted move so fast while maneu- Add to this Russia’s annexation the powers of his Security Council vering unpredictably,” think of Crimea in 2014, and its reported and made himself its chairman for tank Quincy Institute analyst support of military groups in eastern life, allowing him to retain a central Steven Simon stated in The Ukraine. role in the country’s leadership after New York Times. If such a Silently amassing political power. stepping down. weapon were launched from Government officials being flushed “Bestowed by parliament with the mainland Russia toward New out. Touting superior nuclear missiles. official title of ‘The Leader of the York City, U.S. defense forces To the West, this all sounds distinctly Nation,’ Nazarbayev also retains his would have at best 15 minutes Russian. role as the leader of the ruling party. to decide how to respond. Yet understanding the giant nation’s “A role in a super-charged parlia- While the Pentagon has been motives has always been a challenge ment could be an appealing option chasing hypersonic weapons for western Europe and the United for Putin. Some analysts have said he technology, it will be “a couple States. could consider becoming the speaker of years” before the U.S. could of the reformed legislative body, a role match the Avangard, Defense Guns and Government that would also allow him to perpetu- Secretary Mark Esper stated. The Kremlin has made military mod- ate his influence.” Shortly following Russia’s ernization a top priority amid the Mr. Putin’s exact motives are weapons announcement, tensions that followed the annexation characteristically hazy. The 67-year- Moscow had its largest shake- of Ukraine’s Crimea. In January, Mr. old former KGB officer, who has led up in recent memory. In mid- Putin described a buildup of NATO’s Russia for more than 20 years—the January, Mr. Putin announced forces near Russia’s western borders longest since Soviet leader Joseph plans for reforms. Prime and the U.S. withdrawal from the 1987 Stalin—likes to keep his plans secret Minister Dmitry Medvedev Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces until the last moment. resigned—and the entire gov- treaty among top security threats. Not much has changed since 1939, ernment was dismissed. “It The leader argued that Russia must when British Prime Minister Winston came out of nowhere. Even have the best weapons in the world. Churchill famously called Russia “a ministers in the Russian gov- “It’s not a chess game where it’s riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an ernment apparently did not see OK to play to a draw,” he said. “Our enigma” as war with Germany was their departure coming,” BBC technology must be better. We can breaking out. reported. achieve that in key areas and we will.” Critics have described Mr. Regarding the political shake-up, Cracking the Enigma Putin’s plans as an attempt to President Putin has not explained why From the top down, Russians want to secure his rule over Russia for he hastily moved to amend the con- be and have the best. life. stitution now, four years before the “We always aimed to be number “One of the standout propos- end of his term. The move drew sug- one in the world, and Putin under- als is making the State Council gestions it could herald a plan to call stands that,” Ruslan Parshutin, 35, said a formal government agency an early parliamentary or presidential to NPR. He said the return of Russia enshrined in the constitution,” election. to the world stage is “important to BBC continued. “At the moment The amendments give parliament us because we remember our roots it is an advisory body packed with 85 the right to appoint cabinet mem- from Soviet times. Patriotism is in our regional governors and other officials bers, but they are focused primarily blood.” including political party leaders. It is so on preserving and even strengthening Not all feel this way. Most 18-to- large that when it meets it fills a hall in the powers of the presidency. The 24-year-old Russians want to leave the the Kremlin. Kremlin-controlled lower house of country permanently. “But Mr. Putin clearly has designs parliament, the State Duma, rubber- Yet for “Russians like [Mr. on its future. One theory is that he could stamped the amendments by a unani- Parshutin] who lived through the pov- become a new, powerful leader of the mous vote in the first of three required erty, crime and chaos of the 1990s, State Council.” readings. Putin represents a return not just to During an annual speech to top “A similar move was made by stability but to national greatness. Russian officials, Mr. Putin stated that Kazakh leader Nursultan Nazarbayev Even after two decades in power, MARCH-APRIL 2020 13 Putin consistently enjoys approval war for the Soviet Union—is consid- the end of 1948, Stalin had fully co- ratings around 70%.” ered Russia’s most important holiday opted or crushed the remaining non- When looking at its roots, the gen- of the year. Communist elements in the govern- eral populace wants to see the country American involvement in post- ments of Eastern Europe.” move in the direction the president is war Europe further solidified a Soviet leading: prosperity, global influence sense of superiority. National Code and greatness. Foreign Policy explained: “Stalin, Boiled down, warfare has shaped A clue to understanding Russia is whose country was struggling to how Russians—from government to knowing how it views its own history. recover from Nazi devastation, fell citizens—see themselves. Viewing A Conversation article called back on defense. His aim now would history from their perspective helps “Why Russia Thinks It’s Exceptional” be to hold the new security zone in uncover the motives for their actions: stated: “America is not alone in pro- Eastern Europe and to prevent the J The nation feels it has never jecting itself as an exceptional power United States from controlling Russia’s acted as an aggressor, only a defender and indispensable force for good in mortal enemy: Germany.” of itself and disenfranchised nations. the world. Russia makes the same In 1947, the United States Even its campaigns of conquest claim.” announced its Marshall Plan, which (including the annexation of Crimea) Centuries of fending off large-scale are usually performed under the guise invasions—each devastating to the of “protecting Russians” or elimi- population, land and economy—con- “In a sense, Russia nating potential threats before they tributes to this sense of exceptionalism. advance. It began in the 13th century when sees itself as a J Russia has historical reason to the Mongols first under Genghis Khan kind of sacrificial be suspicious of the West and main- swept across Asia. “God’s scourge,” tain an arms race with it. as he called his hordes, advanced until lamb, having shed J For Moscow, coalitions are not being stopped by Russians, who now to be trusted. Historically, Russia claim they had “shed their blood to its own blood to stood alone against allied armies: protect the rest of Europe from this Napoleon’s forces included Poles, dire threat” (ibid.). save Europe— Italians and Germans, while Hitler A loose pattern of invasion contin- had Hungary, Romania and Finland ued practically every 100 years. The and the world— on its side. Today, NATO is viewed Crimean Tartars destroyed Moscow in from seemingly with caution. the 16th century. In the 17th century, In fact, a popular refrain in state- Poles deposed the czar and murdered impossible-to- sponsored advertisements today is the head of the Russian Church. In Czar Alexander III’s joke, “How the 18th century, Swedes invaded but defeat foes.” many allies does Russia have? Two: were defeated by Peter the Great. its Army and its Navy.” The defeat of Napoleon’s army provided aid to reconstruct war-torn J Russia favors centralized cemented the idea that Russia was Europe. The initiative was mostly power and political opposition is destined for greatness. intended to secure democratic inter- often viewed as an existential threat. “After the Napoleonic Wars, a ests in Europe. According to this thinking, the state’s volcano of patriotism erupted across “Stalin denounced the plan as a survival is only possible when citi- Russian society,” The Conversation vicious American plot to buy political zens abdicate personal freedoms. continued. “At its center was the and military domination of Europe,” “Nothing but war teaches Russians widely shared belief that Russia had Foreign Policy continued. “He feared better that, while at the center of saved Europe. Moreover, no other losing control not just of Germany world-shaking events, they are on the country on its own had repelled an but of Eastern Europe, too. Prior side of the good and always come out invasion by Napoleon or crushed to the launch of the Marshall Plan, on top,” The Conversation summed his army, which had once seemed Stalin had never been dogmatic about up. “Nothing raises the ideological invincible. Commonly disparaged by the forms of socialism pursued by scaffolding higher than seeking to Western Europeans as savages or bar- countries within the Soviet sphere. make Russia great again following barians, Russians could now turn their Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, the breakup of the Soviet Union.” reputation on its head.” Poland, and Romania were all allowed In a sense, Russia sees itself as a This fervor was enhanced by a to form coalition governments of one kind of sacrificial lamb, having shed costly victory against Nazi Germany sort or another. His demand had mere- its own blood to save Europe—and the in 1945. Even today, May 9—Victory ly been fealty to Moscow on foreign world—from seemingly impossible- Day commemorating the end of the policy. That would soon change. By to-defeat foes. 14 The REAL TRUTH g President Putin visits the National Defense Control Center in Moscow to oversee the test launch of the Avangard hypersonic missile (Dec. 26, 2018). PHOTO: MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/SPUTNIK/AFP

has been variously called Meskhi or tary force to play a key part in God’s History Reveals Future Moschi throughout history. Plan for mankind. While there are marked differences What does this have to do with Yet Russia is not the only nation between the U.S. and Russia, their sim- Scripture? mentioned in the Bible. America, ilarities are what cause the most fric- In the Bible, nations—which are Britain, Germany and many other tion. Think. They both have a desire merely families grown large—are peoples have crucial roles to play in to fix the world—yet with completely often named after their ancestors. the very near future. incompatible methods. In the 20th cen- Notice Genesis 10: “The sons of Here is a main reason God has for tury, this clash threatened to heat up Japheth [one of Noah’s three sons]: all of this: So the nations “shall know Cold War into World War III. In its Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and that I am the Lord, the Holy One in worst-case scenario, this would have Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Israel” (Ezek. 39:7). God plans out been a war in which the world’s great- Tiras” (vs. 2). events so He can prove to human est military powers threw in all their The Meskhetians or Meskhi claim beings that He is in control. Also, He resources in a desperate bid to “save ties to Meshech in the Bible. Also, does not respect persons (Rom. 2:11) the world” (a move that would have note that Madai gave rise to the and has no pleasure in death (Ezek. inevitably destroyed it). Medes. Interestingly, Tubal (some- 18:32). He wants all to come to see The same tensions are simmering times spelled Tabal) and Meshech Him as Creator and to repent of their in the 21st century. Should we be con- (Moschi) are phonetically similar own ways and sense of superiority (II cerned it could happen? to the modern-day Russian cities of Pet. 3:9). No historian, philosopher or pundit Tobolsk and Moscow. When all peoples come to recog- can answer this for certain. Yet Bible Put together: When Meshech or nize this—Russians, Americans and prophecy can. In order to see what the the Medes are mentioned in Bible everyone else alike—all will be able future has in store, we must first peer prophecy—events that have not yet to enjoy the good things God promises further back into history. occurred—you should think Russia! under His world-ruling government. The modern-day nation of Georgia, A number of Old Testament proph- To learn more about this soon- which borders Russia’s North Ossetia ecies point to the modern Medes coming, benevolent leadership struc- region, claims ties to the Meskhetians— being used for important purposes. ture headed by God Himself, read who also historically lived between the Ezekiel 38-39 shows that Russia and What Is the Kingdom of God? at rcg. Black and Caspian seas. This people its allies will amass a gigantic mili- org/witkog. c

MARCH-APRIL 2020 15 The Catholic Church—along with Protestant Christianity— is in the midst of a culture war pitting traditionalists against progressives. For average parishioners, the conflict should elicit important questions. THE PO BY SAMUEL C. BAXTER “Christendom No Longer Exists”

ver since Benedict XVI parallel magisterium, or official church Benedict’s association with the book announced he would teaching, at a time when the church is was surprising, given that he had vowed become the first pope in already polarized between conserva- to live “hidden from the world” when E tives longing for the orthodox purity he stepped down in 2013, precisely 600 years to resign, Catholic theo- of Benedict’s reign and progressives to avoid any suggestion that he still logians, canon lawyers and others cheering Francis’ liberalizing reforms. wielded papal authority. warned of the potential confusion Benedict and Francis represent old Cardinal Sarah, for his part, denied in having two popes living side and new, conservative and progressive, allegations that he had manipulated the by side in the Vatican, one reign- past and future. Their positions reveal 92-year-old Benedict. Yet the cardinal— ing, the other retired but calling a religious institution in the midst of its a hero to purists and conservatives and most significant shift perhaps since the a quiet critic of Francis—also admitted himself “emeritus pope” and still Protestant Reformation. that he knew a Benedict-written text on wearing the white cassock of the “It’s one thing to publish, as a priestly celibacy would create a clamor, papacy. private citizen, a book about Jesus and that he persuaded the pope emeritus Their fears came true in as Benedict did before he resigned,” it was worth it. January—in an event that laid bare Jean-Francois Chiron, a theologian at Again, historical tradition pitted a growing rift in the church. the University of Lyon, wrote in the against modernity. In a saga befitting the Oscar- French Catholic daily La Croix. “It’s Francis’ approach is well-known. nominated movie “The Two Popes,” another thing to take sides in impor- The New York Times summarized his Benedict co-wrote a book reaffirming tant, current questions facing the uni- agenda: “Unlike his predecessors, who the “necessity” of a celibate priest- versal church.” cracked down on dissent and promoted hood. There was nothing novel with Ultimately, Benedict distanced bishops and cardinals who emphasized his position, but the book came out himself from the publication and asked fealty to church doctrine, Francis wants at the same time Pope Francis was to be removed as the co-author of the an inclusive church that welcomes back weighing whether to ordain married book, From the Depths of Our Hearts. into the fold Catholics who felt geo- men in the Amazon because of a priest The pope emeritus’ longtime secre- graphically, pastorally and ideologically shortage there. tary, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, alienated. That mission has earned him The potential implications of said that there had been a “misunder- the enmity of church conservatives, Benedict’s intervention were serious standing” with his co-author, Cardinal especially in the United States, who feel since the issue of priestly celibacy is Robert Sarah of Guinea, and that while he is diluting the church’s teaching for perhaps the most consequential and Benedict contributed an essay to the the sake of a cheap embrace.” controversial decision on the current book, he never intended to be listed as For Francis, the world has changed pope’s agenda. It raised the specter of a the co-author. so much that he even declared that 16 The REAL TRUTH THE POPE “Christendom No Longer Exists”

PHOTO: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES g Left, Pope Francis delivers Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City (Dec. 24, The pontiff issued a stark reality 2019). Right, Pope Francis greets Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as he arrives at St. Peter’s Basilica during a celebration for grandparents and the elderly in Vatican City (Sept. 28, 2014). check to the men in the Sala Clementina PHOTOS: FRANCO ORIGLIA/GETTY IMAGES of the Apostolic Palace, acknowledging that Christianity no longer holds the “Christendom no longer exists,” dur- Church has 1.3 billion adherents commanding presence and influence in ing his annual Christmas greetings to worldwide—over double the rest of society that it once did. He cited the late the cardinals, bishops and priests who Christianity put together—it becomes Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, a leader work in the Holy See. the case study to examine the situa- of the progressive wing of the Catholic Consider those words: tion. Church, who lamented in 2012 that the “Christendom no longer exists.” By As you read, ask yourself: “With church found itself “200 years behind” this Francis means there is no lon- modern Christianity in flux, where because of its inbred fear of change. ger a bloc of Christian nations that can I turn to shore up my faith?” “Today we are no longer the only can work together to evangelize non- ones that produce culture, no longer the Christian ones. He feels the world 200 Years Behind? first nor the most listened to,” Francis view and standard operating proce- During Pope Francis’ speech when told the prelates. “The faith in Europe dures for the Vatican are woefully out he declared Christendom dead, he and in much of the West is no longer of date. To him, change is a necessity. warned that “rigidity” in living out an obvious presumption but is often Yet the conservative block of the the Christian faith is creating a “mine- denied, derided, marginalized and ridi- Catholic Church will not go down field” of hatred and misunderstanding. culed.” without a fight. He called for Vatican bureaucrats to The mainstays of Catholicism are in Regardless, Catholicism and instead embrace change. decline. In the U.S., the church has seen Protestant Christianity are both in Francis’ message appeared aimed at an 8 percent dip in membership from decline, the road forward obscured. conservative and traditionalist Catholic 1965-2010. Mexico had an 11 percent These religious institutions are fight- leaders who have voiced increasing drop during the same period. It was ing over whether to stay the same or opposition to his progressive-minded even worse in Honduras, 39 percent, adapt to societal trends. papacy. Their criticisms have acceler- and Brazil, 33 percent. All nations in the The rapidly shifting societal ated over the past year, amid Vatican Western Hemisphere reported negative and religious landscape can make financial and sex abuse scandals that numbers. those who identify as Christians feel may have predated Francis’ papacy but What about Europe? Spain was unmoored. Because the Catholic are nevertheless coming to light now. down 22 percent, France 18 percent, 18 The REAL TRUTH and Austria 21 percent. Even Italy, Traditionalist Catholics have John Paul II, and was blamed in part home to the Vatican itself, saw a drop denounced Francis’ emphasis on mercy for the Vatican’s refusal to crack down of 11 percent. and openness to doctrinal wiggle on pedophile priests. The outgoing Overall, numbers of Catholics room on issues such as sacraments dean, who is now 92, continued to worldwide continue to increase, due to for divorced and civilly remarried wield behind-the-scenes influence in surges of numbers in Africa and Asia. Catholics. They also sharply criticized the two papacies that followed, acting But the church’s landscape is quickly his recent synod on the Amazon, which most recently as something of a beacon shifting. called for the ordination of married men for conservative opposition to Francis. As a result, the pope urged the as priests, and what they considered His ouster is another sign the tradi- Catholic hierarchy during his speech pagan worship of an Amazonian statue tionalist bloc is losing power. to embrace the necessary pastoral of a pregnant woman that was featured Francis, who is now 83, has worked reforms and outlook that will make the during the meeting. feverishly during the first six years of church attractive so that it can fulfill its Francis has defended his outlook his papacy. The New York Times stated mission to spread the faith. and priorities as a reflection of the gos- that “his effect within the church may “Here we have to beware of the pel, and the axiom that the true tradition be lasting.” temptation of assuming a rigid out- of the church is one of a continuous, “By appointing cardinals and more look,” Francis said. “Rigidity that is discerned path of change. than a thousand bishops on the front born from fear of change and ends “Tradition is not static, it’s dynam- lines of the faith, Francis is reconstitut- up disseminating stakes and obstacles ic,” he said. ing a church in his image. It is one that in the ground of the common good, In a tangible sign of change, Francis decentralizes power from Rome to the turning it into a minefield of misunder- then issued a decree limiting the term bishops around the world, that is will- standing and hatred.” of the dean of the College of Cardinals, ing to work through the challenges of He recalled, as he has in the past, an influential job that had previously the modern world together with other that people who take rigid positions are been held for life. Francis accepted faiths, and with atheists.” usually using them to mask their own the resignation of the current dean and problems, scandals or “imbalances.” decreed that going forward the future Record of Change “Rigidity and imbalance fuel one top cardinal would only have a five- A major reason conservatives are los- another in a vicious circle,” he said. year renewable term. ing ground in the Catholic Church is “And these days, the temptation to The outgoing dean had been the that the Vatican has a long history of rigidity has become so apparent.” powerful secretary of state under Pope reversals and changes. Once ironclad

MARCH-APRIL 2020 19 rules have often been tossed out or ple had not been cleansed of the origi- Do not overcomplicate this. While softened. nal sin through baptism.” some ministers may be single, the A Foreign Policy article detailed a Parishioners never really latched apostle Paul—inspired by God—clearly number of major reversals that have onto the idea of limbo and it was rare- stated they can marry and have children. come from the Vatican over the years. ly discussed from the pulpit. Foreign Another example of “teaching for J Original rule about usury: “Lend Policy wrote: “In 2004, John Paul II doctrines the commandments of men” freely, hoping nothing thereby, the formed a commission to come up with is taking days with pagan origins and Bible teaches. Interpreted literally, this a more coherent and enlightened way adopting them for “Christian” worship. prohibition against profiting on loans of describing what happens to infants Jeremiah 10 is clear: “Thus says the played a major role in the creation of who die. In 2007, Benedict signed a Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, the European credit markets during the report recommending the concept be and be not dismayed at the signs of Middle Ages. Bankers had to devise dropped. Instead of going to limbo, heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at methods of profiting from moneylend- unbaptized babies would enjoy eter- them” (vs. 2). ing without directly charging interest.” nal happiness after death, but would The pagan roots of Christmas and This rule fell by the wayside during not achieve communion with God.” Easter are well known. Ask: Would God the Renaissance when European capi- allow these heathen days—even if they talism took over—as charging interest What Everyone Misses are repurposed—especially when the is a mainstay of the modern financial This all brings out important questions: days He commands are swept aside? system. Should Christianity change with the Note that God commanded His J Original rule on slavery: “No times? Using modern technology and weekly Sabbath day and annual Holy less an authority than St. Augustine equipment is a given. Yet what about Days to be “a perpetual covenant” (Ex. said that Jesus Christ did not make doctrines? Should those adapt as well? 31:16; 12:20, 24). men free from being slaves. As late In the culture war of modern Read what God says in Exodus 31: as 1860, the church taught that it Christianity, there is one thing rarely “It is a sign between Me and the chil- was not a sin to own another human mentioned—if at all. That is what the dren of Israel forever: for in six days being so long as the slave was treated Bible actually says. the Lord made heaven and earth, and humanely.” Every churchgoer owes it to them- on the seventh day He rested, and was The church did not take a firm selves to stop and look at God’s Word. refreshed” (vs. 17). stance against slavery until it was large- Then, they should take a long hard While the leaders of modern ly forbidden in the West. While Pope look at the churches of today. Do these Christianity squabble over the future of Gregory XVI first criticized the practice “houses of worship” and their leader- their churches, you should focus instead in 1839, it was not until Leo XIII, the ship match up to what the Bible says? on what your Creator wants. Ignore the first 20th-century pope, that the Vatican Look at what Jesus Christ declared: political wrangling and petty arguments declared slavery a moral outrage. “But in vain they do worship Me, over tradition! J Original rule about Mass: teaching for doctrines the command- You need to prove to yourself “Traditionally, Catholic Mass was cel- ments of men” (Matt. 15:9). Mark 7:7 the Bible is God’s Word. Make I ebrated in the original Latin, with says the same thing. Thessalonians 5:21 your guiding light: priests facing away from congregants. A lot of the arguments among mod- “Prove all things; hold fast that which More generally, the institutions of the ern church leaders are over this: the is good.” church maintained a level of distance commandments of men. These are While society is well into a “post- from both followers and the modern ideas that have no biblical backing. Christian era,” the Bible remains as world as a whole.” The celibate priesthood relevant as ever: “But the During the Second Vatican Council is one example. Notice word of the Lord endures in the 1960s, it was decided to allow what I Timothy 3:2 states: forever” (I Pet. 1:25). Mass to be celebrated in local languag- “A bishop then must be In addition, God es. The council also began a number of blameless, the husband of declares, “I change not” in initiatives including greater dialogue one wife, vigilant, sober, Malachi 3:6, and Hebrews with other faiths and more decentraliza- of good behavior, given to 13:8 states that “Jesus tion of authority from the Vatican to hospitality, apt to teach.” Christ is the same yester- local districts. For emphasis, read day, today, and forever” J Original rule on limbo: “In tra- Titus 1:6, which also (NKJV). ditional Catholic theology, limbo is states ordained men must Read Bible Authority… the halfway point between heaven and be “the husband of one Can It Be Proven? at rcg. hell where the unbaptized, including wife, having faithful chil- org to begin to understand infants, go after death. Even though dren not accused of riot or Order a Free Copy! what God wants for your they had committed no sins, such peo- unruly.” rcg.org/bacibp life. c 20 The REAL TRUTH hen news broke that China built and complet- W ed a brand-new hospital in 10 days, it was clear the coro- navirus outbreak was no ordinary epidemic. Authorities ordered the construction of a prefabricated, 1,000-bed hospital in Wuhan, the epicenter of the latest out- break. The 11-million strong city is known as the Chicago of China given its central location and large car manufacturing industry. According to The Washington CORONAVIRUS Post, dozens of other facilities “have been built from scratch or refashioned from existing hospital Anatomy of a Global wards.” The last time Beijing slapped a Outbreak hospital together in a matter of days was during the SARS virus crisis. That epidemic killed 800 in 2002-2003. Fearing the worst with coronavi- rus, government officials shut down Wuhan and several other major cities where infections had spread—putting an unprecedented 50 million people on lockdown. As The Real Truth goes to print, the total number of cases in mainland China reached 52,526 and the death toll hit 1,367. Three people died elsewhere, one in Hong Kong, one in the Philippines and one in Japan. Scientists identified the virus as a novel (or new) coronavirus. The name families or went abroad for the Lunar are already facing a slowdown: Japan, comes from the Latin word for crowns New Year holiday. Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, or halos, which coronaviruses resem- “Not only has the outbreak hit dur- Italy and the U.S. have all imposed trav- ble under a microscope. The coronavi- ing the Chinese new year, when people el restrictions,” Time magazine reported rus family has many types that affect make billions of trips to visit family, but as the number of cases continued to people. Some cause the common cold it comes as the country is reporting its increase. while others originating in bats, camels lowest rate of economic growth in near- Oil prices fell 20 percent in January and other animals have evolved into ly 30 years,” Financial Times reported. because of a drop in China’s demand, more severe illnesses such as SARS— What started with a few people leaving OPEC countries debating severe acute respiratory syndrome— catching the virus from a market in whether to cut oil production. or MERS—Middle East respiratory Wuhan caused rippling global effects. But perhaps the greatest cost will syndrome. The novel strain is called come to “China’s reputation as a reli- COVID-19. Financial Downturn able trade partner,” Time continued. With tens of millions of Chinese The world’s economy turns heavily on “In the process, China creates the ordered to stay put and many others China’s markets. It represents one-fifth impression that it has learned little avoiding travel, tourism around the of the global GDP and is the world’s since the SARS crisis, giving the rest globe is taking a heavy hit. The out- second biggest economy. of the world reason to try to reduce its break coincided with China’s busiest “Companies in other countries dependence on China for growth and travel season as people visited their dependent on Chinese supply chains production.” MARCH-APRIL 2020 21 “We’re moving closer to the day pleted. The ship was refused entry at the government is turning their home when it is China’s increasingly hefty Kaohsiung port after three passengers into a “leper colony.” economy, not America’s, that’s most to on an earlier voyage later tested positive As of this writing, the virus has yet blame for a global recession.” for the virus. to be confirmed in Africa, but global The interconnected global economy The British government declared the health authorities are increasingly wor- means U.S. companies have plenty of virus a “serious and imminent threat ried about the threat to the continent, customers and suppliers in China. Its to public health,” which it said gives where an estimated one million Chinese economy accounts for 6 percent of all authorities powers to forcibly detain now live, as some health workers warn revenue for S&P 500 companies over infected people if necessary. The change they are not ready to handle an outbreak. the last 12 months. That is nearly double comes after a British man who caught The continent is racing to take pre- any other country besides the United COVID-19 in Singapore appeared to be cautions as hundreds of travelers arrive States, according to FactSet. linked to at least seven other confirmed from China every day. Safeguards “Markets hate uncertainty, and the cases in Europe. include stronger surveillance at ports of coronavirus is the ultimate uncertainty Five Britons, including a 9-year- entry and improved quarantine and test- in that no one knows how badly it old boy, contracted the virus in the ing measures across Africa, home to 1.2 will impact the global economy,” Alec French Alpine ski town of Contamines- billion people and some of the world’s Young, managing director of global Montjoie after staying in the same cha- weakest systems for detecting and treat- markets research at FTSE Russell, said let as the British man. ing disease. to The Associated Press. In South Korea, officials acknowl- But the effort has been complicated edged missteps in monitoring visitors by a critical shortage of testing kits and Struggle to Quarantine from China as 23 cases of the infection numerous illnesses that display symp- The outbreak also revealed the weak were confirmed. Residents threw eggs toms similar to the flu-like virus. points in individual nations’ healthcare and other objects at government offi- “The problem is, even if it’s mild, systems. Those efforts have not always cials over plans to quarantine about 700 it can paralyze the whole community,” been smooth, with violent protests evacuees from Wuhan at facilities in said Dr. Michel Yao, emergency opera- near quarantine centers, banishment their neighborhoods. tions manager in Africa for the World to remote islands, and some citizens Australia has been criticized over its Health Organization. allowed to leave quarantine early. decision to quarantine about 300 Wuhan Hong Kong quarantined 3,600 peo- evacuees on a remote island used in the Challenge to Authority ple on board a cruise ship for multiple past to banish asylum seekers and con- While the coronavirus outbreak is, at days until health checks were com- victs. Some inhabitants of the island say its core, a humanitarian issue, it is also political. China’s ruling Communist g Security guards hold the curtain for a cyclist to pass through a disinfectant spray in order to Party has faced criticism of its heavy- return home to a residential complex (Feb. 11, 2020). handed censorship, on display during PHOTO: CHINATOPIX VIA AP the outbreak, and other social controls under President Xi Jinping, who took power in 2012 and has accrued more political power than any Chinese lead- er since Mao Zedong. There is no indication Mr. Xi faces any serious challenge to his position, but public anger could give opponents in the ruling party ammunition to push back against his autocratic rule. “In the long term, I think it will damage him,” said Steve Tsang, direc- tor of the China Institute at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. But for now, even party figures who might be quite happy to see Mr. Xi weakened feel obligated to rally around him, Mr. Tsang said. “They will not risk allowing a crisis like this to destroy the credibility of the Communist Party itself,” he said. 22 The REAL TRUTH The party has also faced an outburst of public anger following the death of Li Wenliang, a physician in Wuhan who was reprimanded in December for warning about the virus. Local authori- ties were accused of discouraging doc- tors from talking about the outbreak to avoid overshadowing Hubei prov- ince’s major political event, a legislative meeting in preparation for the National People’s Congress. Comments left on Dr. Li’s microb- log account accused Wuhan authorities of valuing politics over public safety. Party leaders have tried to divert anger by allowing state media and social media users to criticize local Wuhan officials. No Vaccine? Researchers worldwide are scrambling to find a vaccine against the surprise health threat, but there is no guarantee one will arrive in time. Just days after Chinese scientists g Shoppers wear face masks at a supermarket in Wuhan, China (Jan. 25, 2020). shared the genetic map of the cul- PHOTO: CHINATOPIX VIA AP prit coronavirus, researchers at the U.S. National Institutes of Health had engi- Review any list of history’s deadliest 200,000 cases and 30,000 deaths each neered a possible key ingredient for a diseases and note the common thread year, 90 percent of which occur in vaccine they hope to begin testing by throughout. Africa. April. Bubonic plague: The bacteria What is not debatable about each of Scientists from Australia to France, known as the Black Death killed nearly these is that animals were the source of along with a list of biotech and vaccine 25 million in the 14th century—one- the illness—whether humans ingested companies, jumped in the race, pursuing third of the world’s population at the tainted meat or came in contact with a different types of inoculations. time. It originated as ordinary bacteria creature carrying the pathogen. Texas researchers froze an experi- in the digestive tracts of certain mam- Some of the most extreme diseases mental vaccine developed too late to mals, mostly rodents, that was trans- are zoonotic, which means they derive fight SARS but are pushing U.S. and ferred from host to host by fleas. from animals. COVID-19 falls in this Chinese authorities to give it a try this Spanish flu: The deadly influenza category. A study in the Journal of time around. that infected more than half a billion Medical Virology pinpointed bats as All that work is coming at lightning people in just under two years (January the origin of this respiratory illness, speed compared to past outbreaks. Yet 1918 to December 1920) is believed which mutated and was passed onto many experts agree it still may take a to have started in birds, transferred to snakes that likely ate the infected bats. year—if every step along the way goes pigs, and then passed to humans. CNN reported: “In the case of this well—for any vaccine to be ready for HIV/AIDS: This virus is believed 2019 coronavirus outbreak, reports widespread use. to have originated from chimpanzee state that most of the first group of blood to human blood sometime in the patients hospitalized were workers or The Animal Connection late 19th century to early 20th century. customers at a local seafood whole- Government organizations, healthcare It is estimated that up to 44 million sale market [in Wuhan] which also providers and doctors have poured all people globally were living with HIV sold processed meats and live con- their resources into stopping the spread by the end of 2018, and 770,000 died sumable animals including poultry, of COVID-19. They want to avoid an from AIDS that year. donkeys, sheep, pigs, camels, foxes, all-out pandemic. Yellow fever: Believed to have badgers, bamboo rats, hedgehogs and Yet disease outbreaks keep coming. originated in primates, the main vector reptiles.” Why can we not address the causes of of this disease is mosquitos. Yellow Other reports indicate that snakes these outbreaks? fever virus is estimated to cause were sold at the market, which is now MARCH-APRIL 2020 23 closed, where the virus likely jumped to humans. Pestilences Foretold This is not the first time China has As long as these instructions from been walloped by a zoonotic disease— God are hidden or outright disre- the outbreaks SARS and MERS both garded, diseases with animal origins HA I I originated from bats. will continue to spread. In fact, it will The become a bigger concern as the world Preventing Disease coronavirus enters a time Jesus Christ prophesied family has People will never stop using animals as having increased disease outbreaks. many types for food and other domestic purposes. When asked, Jesus told the disciples that affect Does that make it impossible to prevent exactly what would occur and what to people. zoonotic disease from ever spreading? look for leading up to His Return Some cause the common Consider this point before we to Earth. Included in the “signs” or cold while others originating address the answer: For the most part, indications of the end was increased in bats, camels and other animals have evolved into people know not to eat something that “pestilences” or plagues and disease more severe illnesses such is proven to be poisonous. Plants, for epidemics (Matt. 24:3, 7). as SARS. instance, are known to be good or bad The key is that there would be for consumption. Most everyone knows an upsurge in disease. This is obvious HR I I CM RM not to touch poison ivy, or that certain because disease is an age-old prob- First cases mushrooms are safe to eat and others lem. Its proliferation, though, is an appeared in are deadly if ingested. indication of what the Bible refers to December Yet few know there are also param- as the “end of the age.” in Wuhan, a CHIA eters for what animals are good for The coronavirus outbreak repre- city in central food. That is because the consequences sents just a fraction of pestilences China’s Hubei are more subtle. raging across the planet. Consider province. Therefore God, who made all flesh, the worst outbreaks of 2019: Ebola HA AR H MPM outlined these rules in His Word. Though continues to plague central Africa, many meats are edible, not all were dengue fever took 622 lives in the Symptoms of the coronavirus made “clean.” Ingesting food deemed Philippines, some 28,000 cases of include fever, “unclean” puts one on the path for health person-to-person Hepatitis A were cough, tightness problems—disease, physical or mental recorded in the U.S., and measles of the chest and deterioration, or even genetic disorders. made a large comeback in America shortness of Leviticus 11 lists qualifications for and abroad. breath. animals—land, sea and air—that are As these continue to get worse, In serious cases, the virus can allowable to eat and others that are con- it is a sign the “end” is nearing. This cause pneumonia and death. sidered an “abomination”—filthy, pol- end is a culmination of man’s rule on luted—and thus unfit for human beings’ Earth, where he has had millennia to H I I RA digestive systems. Among these unclean try his own forms of government and There is a test kinds of flesh are snakes and bats. solutions to problems. Look at histo- to identify the Of course, this does not mean clean ry—mankind’s solutions do not work! virus, but no meats are guaranteed to result in per- Soon, a loving God will help all alive vaccine to fect health—mad cow dis- to learn this lesson and to prevent an infection. ease and salmonella prove teach them His way of life. The symptoms are treated this. But the human record This includes how to avoid with pain and fever medication. shows those meats God disease pandemics. identified as unclean have Our book Why Man H I I brought the worst conse- Cannot Solve His Problems PRAI quences—long-term and (rcg.org/uun) explains Many short-term. more why humans have not coronaviruses To learn more about been able to conquer ill- can spread this and other biblical ness, along with all of their through principles whereby you age-old problems—crime, coughing or sneezing, or by can improve your health, war, starvation, illiteracy touching an infected person. read our booklet God’s and needless suffering—as Source: AP Order a Free Copy! Graphic: Staff, TNS Principles of Healthful well as how they can and Living at rcg.org/glohl. rcg.org/glohl will be fixed. c 24 The REAL TRUTH HELD CAPTIVE and Completely Unaware!

here are forces at work that have held sway over civilization since the dawn of mankind. Humanity has believed the soothing words of a captor, thinking Tthemselves better off under this subtle but powerful influence. Yet deliverance is coming soon! Read the fascinating story that has been hidden from all generations. Claim your free copy of A World in Captivity today at rcg.org/awic. Train Up Your Children!

All parents know they are to prepare their children for adulthood. While this is no easy task, there is an instruction manual to help you along the way.

BY TIMOTHY D. RANNEY

hink about a time you sat ertheless the screams impact you and different way: Is avoiding teaching a in a public place, perhaps a everyone around! child proper behavior demonstrating restaurant, waiting for a bus The episode is just as frustrating love? T for the parents. It is a scene filled with The answer to this question from or a train, at a movie, or maybe on confusion and embarrassment about God’s perspective is easy to find. His a plane. You were trying to read a the inability to control their child’s principles regarding teaching our chil- book, check your email or just sit behavior in public. dren are clearly spelled out in the quietly and think about your day. Do these parents love their chil- Bible. dren? The parents would respond with Suddenly, you are interrupted by a A Command from God! screaming child nearby! yes and almost certainly be offended by the question. In nearly every case par- Both the Old and New Testaments Perhaps being a mother or father ents say and feel that their childrearing command children to obey their par- yourself, your heart goes out to the habits are guided by a love for their ents. Ephesians 6:1-3 states this in parents and even more to that frus- children. They want what is best for clear terms: “Children, obey your trated child. However, this may not them. They do not want them in pain parents in the Lord: for this is have been your immediate reaction. or discomfort. They know that paren- right. Honor your father and mother; In such instances, the parent or tal love is one of the most important (which is the first commandment with adult responsible appears to have things they can offer. promise;) that it may be well with completely lost control. He or she The word “love” is often confused you, and you may live long on the seems to have little or no influence by those in today’s society. It can begin earth.” over the child’s behavior. Granted, to mean whatever we want or think Exodus 20:12 adds more about the the child may be tired or frustrated it to mean. We should therefore ask promise: “Honor your father and your by some unavoidable nuisance, nev- about love for our children in a slightly mother: that your days may be long 26 The REAL TRUTH upon the land which the Lord your can show our displeasure with certain Notice this advice expands on God gives you.” facial expressions and our tone of teaching your child the concept of right What parents would not want to voice. These can be very effective and wrong—showing right behavior ensure the blessing of long life for ways of letting children know we at the right time and avoiding wrong their children? are not pleased with their behavior. behavior. Yet note this: The responsibility Rewarding and not rewarding certain Another quote from the book for the child keeping this command behaviors can be effective as well. includes some all-important instruc- from God begins with the parents! The goal in both cases is to make tion on how to teach right and wrong Read Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a clear there are rewards or conse- concerning behavior in public places child in the way he should go: and quences for the child’s actions. to very small children so their behavior when he is old, he will not depart When it comes to the “when” of is appropriate: “This means making from it.” This is the other side of teaching our children, many well- them practice at home. Your children God’s command to children! It is meaning parents tend to procrastinate: need to understand that at naptime, or required that we as parents train— “Just wait until the terrible twos,” or, at any other time you want them to do teach—our children if we want them “Just wait until they start school,” or, this, they must respond to the meaning to experience a long, prosperous life. “Just wait until they’re a teenager”! of ‘head down.’ It is a good idea to try But how? This reveals a tendency to under- to coordinate your little children’s nap- Frankly, our society is generally estimate how capable a child is of time to the time you need them to be lost on the answer to this question. learning. quiet, such as during church services. Experts abound. Yet their counsel is Yes, children do grow and develop But this also applies to them being often critical of and in direct opposi- in their ability to understand and quiet when awake in a public place, tion to God’s own instructions. retain certain concepts as they get such as a restaurant.” Add to this the fact parents today older, but they know and understand This is just one simple example, are forced to raise children in a world more than what we give them credit however, implementing it properly can immoral and twisted in character and for. Start to teach right and wrong as go a long way to ending the heartache the task can seem overwhelming. Yet early as possible. and grief so often associated with parents must ask themselves, what Most parents can recall being very parents dealing with their children in should my child be taught? And how? excited upon the news that a child is public. Further, how do I make it “stick” so coming. It would benefit all parents It is cruel of parents to tolerate or that my child will continue in what I in this position to know that teach- even encourage “cute” behaviors, hab- have instructed? ing and rearing a child should begin its really, that later must be broken. In early—but also should be fun. truth, parents must teach their children Start Early the behavior they want them to demon- Teaching must begin at an early age. How to Teach strate. They cannot expect children to Even small children can learn right So how does a parent go about teach- simply figure it out on their own. from wrong. Social smiles begin in ing a child? If some time has already Though such actions on the part of babies between 6 and 8 weeks of age. passed and your child is a little older, the parents take work, doing so will Less than 2 months old! It is endear- this is an even more important ques- help them and children reap success. ing to see parents and their friends tion. For instance, some parents are play games such as peek-a-boo to already in the midst of their children’s Teaching Is Intentional coax a smile out of a baby. You are “terrible twos.” Is it too late? Children should not amble through likely smiling as you read this. A quote from David C. Pack’s life until they reach the “adult age” The point here is that the parent book Train Your Children God’s Way of 18-20 years, and then suddenly be is already teaching in this moment! helps explain the way to approach expected to behave and act as adults. Fathers and mothers both are trying this situation by pointing back to the We must teach them early. But there is to teach a small infant to use a smile scene mentioned at the beginning of more to understand. Teaching children socially, to help a baby appropriately this article: “…for those who need proactively and consistently is also a interact with others. The playing asso- their very small children to be quiet in crucial part of the equation. ciated with peek-a-boo is a way to public places or at church services, it Deuteronomy 6:6-7 confirms this: teach children when and how to smile is crucial that you teach them when to “And these words, which I command as they watch and learn from you. ‘hush.’ While it is wonderful to watch you this day, shall be in your heart: and These are examples of teaching them tiny children ‘discover’ their voices, you shall teach them diligently unto proper or correct behavior. they must understand that there is a your children, and shall talk of them No one would argue that physical time and place for this. Be sure you when you sit in your house, and when discipline is inappropriate for the very are regularly teaching your children you walk by the way, and when you lie youngest of children. However, we the importance of ‘quiet time.’” down, and when you rise up.” With the MARCH-APRIL 2020 27 Bible as a guide, use the opportunities Any information on how to raise becomes rare because their children of daily life to diligently teach your children must include what to do when learn to respect them and obey their children. Your instruction should liter- a child does not properly heed instruc- words. ally be morning, noon and night! tion. “The rejection of spanking flies in This passage reinforces that we We have two basic extremes in the face of multiple biblical injunc- are to teach our children as soon and society today, both of which are ditch- tions regarding child discipline. It’s as early as possible. Naturally, as the es to avoid. First, there are parents who unreasonable to demand that believ- problems and solutions in the life of discipline to the point of child abuse. ing Jews and Christians dismiss clear our children become more complex, The numbers who do this every year teachings like the one in Proverbs our parental responsibility grows. are staggering. Child abuse in some 22:15: ‘Folly is bound up in the heart Lessons learned at age 2 will greatly cases is a matter of parents ignorant of a child, but the rod of discipline differ from those learned at 12 and of the proper way to discipline their will drive it far away.’ beyond. children. In other cases it is a reflection “The ancient rabbis weren’t fools. The main point: We must teach, of parents taking their own dissatisfac- They understood human nature and teach, teach all the time. We have a tions and frustrations out on little chil- recognized that children are born with God-given responsibility to instruct dren. Whatever the reason, child abuse, wills that need to be quelled.” them. God not only gives parents this verbal or otherwise, is wrong. The author’s point is sound, yet responsibility, He also lays out the But many appalled by such the verse in Proverbs was not from values to pass along. This allows the abuse end up falling into the oppo- ancient rabbis, but God Himself! HE discerning parent to encourage and site extreme—they discipline little or knows what is best when it comes enforce behaviors children need for not at all. Children without disci- to discipline in childrearing. Read success. pline inevitably become undisciplined it again in the King James Version: Lessons can start with teaching adults. They must understand that “Foolishness is bound in the heart of appropriate times to be quiet. It can life and specifically their decisions a child; but the rod of correction shall grow into teaching times to lay down have consequences. Just like there are drive it far from him.” for a nap, avoiding electrical outlets, rewards for doing the right things, Also notice another proverb on the or when to stay close to a parent. there are also penalties for doing the subject: “He that spares his rod hates Later it can be not taking what does wrong things. Failing to teach this can his son: but he that loves him chastens not belong to you, avoiding strangers, lead to catastrophic results when they him [diligently]” (Prov. 13:24). the importance of being where you get older and more is at stake. The Wall Street Journal editorial say you will be, and coming home on Put simply, discipline is an impor- concluded with an important point: time from playing outside. Finally, tant element of instruction. It should “It [spanking] should continue to be there are the more advanced lessons always be delivered in a controlled, an option for loving parents to employ of being honest, having integrity, and intentional manner and for the good of when disciplining their children.” fairness. These values and many oth- the child. Notice the words “option” and ers all become important for a child’s This correction can often be quiet “loving parents.” This is not describ- overall health and future. yet stern verbal direction. It can be ing frustrated moms and dads who In raising our children this way, we guiding children through a crowd hold- abuse or berate their children or think help them show a respect and maturity ing their hands, or with a hand on their that physical discipline is their only that their peers lack. These increas- shoulders as a consequence for them recourse. Loving parents understand ingly rare qualities help the child to choosing to run off. It can be forbid- that including proper and age-appro- listen to teachers in school and later ding them to go outside to play or priate physical discipline in their bosses at work. So few children and watch television. Examples can go on teaching repertoire can be effective. young adults today seem to grasp these and on. However, there are times when Every parent is frustrated from all-important lessons. more is required. time to time. During these moments, parents must remember that the love Discipline Corporal Punishment they have for their children should Childrearing is basically about caring In a February 2019 opinion piece in guide them to demonstrate proper for and teaching your offspring. There The Wall Street Journal, Dr. Robert behavior. Little ones see how their are myriad opinions available from a C. Hamilton, a pediatrician practicing parents behave and they subsequently near innumerable number of experts. in Santa Monica, California, summa- adjust. Parents, like it or not, set the But our Creator is the ultimate expert rized the subject of physical discipline tone. on humans since He designed us! So of a child: “Disciplining children is Also, moms and dads must remem- these basics on childrearing are not just time-consuming and unpleasant. But ber that they are adults and children human opinion. They are based upon parents who do so consistently and are children. Frustration-fueled abuse God’s instructions. conscientiously find that spanking by a much bigger person can leave a 28 The REAL TRUTH much smaller child with physical and This list can go on and on, but it Another illustration from my now emotional scars for life. is an example of the deeper and more adult children. They have often said Proper spanking, when necessary, meaningful life lessons that will pre- that although they considered their is meant to be a deterrent. When done pare your children for their future. parents “strict” by society’s stan- early and consistently—and most par- Remember, teaching must be con- dards, they also never doubted that ents who have done it effectively will stant. It must be persistent. It must they were loved, unlike many of their tell you this—children rarely if ever be thoughtful. Do your best to leave friends. To them, love from my wife continue to need spanking. This is the nothing out and repeatedly emphasize and me was proven by our actions— ultimate goal. the most important things. You are caring enough to make sure God’s the adult in the relationship and, more principles were taught and expected Teach: Leave Nothing Out important, you are the parent. to be followed. You too can apply Remember we need to teach, teach the very same principle toward your and teach again. This includes train- What Does Love Look Like? children. ing that incorporates the practical We ask again: “Is avoiding teaching A good place to find more detailed aspects of learning. The “doing.” The proper behavior to a child demonstrat- information is in Train Your Children attitude, actions and behavior of the ing love?” The answer is clearly no. God’s Way available at rcg.org/tuyc. parent matters. Our example goes a True love of our children includes In it, you will find practical guide- long way! It is arguably more impact- taking the opportunity to teach them lines for teaching your children. Take ful than anything we say. proper behavior. Doing so will help the time to download this free book A simple example points this them avoid many problems common in today and help prepare your child for out. Many studies have found that in society and become successful adults. a profitable future. c households where parents exercise, the children are much more likely to do the same. The same can be said of sons and daughters of parents who do not exercise. Children tend to do what their parents do. Children Do Have an Being raised in a family that exer- cised regularly, my adult children have continued to do so and as a result Instruction Manual! are experiencing fuller and better he world brims with ideas on how to rear children. Each lives. This has also led to many other T year, 3,000 parenting books are published in the United positive benefits such as improved States and there are half a million available on the internet self-discipline and motivation. library Google Books. These guides can be difficult to inter- When considering ways to show pret, as they offer a wide range of competing childrearing the proper example, keep your child’s “rules.” They may contain interesting facts, quotes and future adulthood in mind. Someday, they will be in the same position points, but none bring the solutions that parents long for— you are and faced with the exact and desperately need. same decisions. A few lessons to pass Man has not known that there is an instruction manual along: “Eat right—you’ll be healthy.” that contains all the information necessary to rear children “Exercise—you’ll be strong, clear- the right way. This inspired Book—the Bible—strips away er minded and have better health.” the confusion, division, competing “Get enough sleep—rest restores our bodies and keeps the mind sharp.” traditions, and ignorance that have “Control excessive indulgences in shrouded the truth about childrearing. all things—you’ll be more balanced, To learn what God’s Word says healthy and productive.” about parenting, order a free copy A few more: “Be polite and of Train Your Children God’s Way at respectful of others—you’ll go fur- rcg.org/tuyc today. It pieces together ther in life.” “Live within your means and create a budget—you’ll be hap- principles from God’s Instruction pier and reduce stress.” “Use prop- Manual and provides the keys to er language (this includes avoiding successfully rearing children. swearing)—you’ll be articulate and able to convince others.” MARCH-APRIL 2020 29 Tammuz (John Landseer, Sabaean have been very prominent as sym- PERSONAL Researches). Alexander Hislop’s The bols of new life and resurrection” Continued from page 2 Two Babylons says this of the origin (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1991). of Lent: “The forty days abstinence of Finally, the following comes Kronos, Baal, Tammuz, Molech and Lent was directly borrowed from the from Egyptian Belief and Modern others, but he was always the same worshippers of the Babylonian goddess. Thought by James Bonwick: “Eggs god—the fire or sun god universally Such a Lent of forty days, in the spring were hung up in the Egyptian temples. worshipped in nearly every ancient cul- of the year, is still observed by the [German scholar Christian Charles ture. (Read our booklet The True Origin Yezidis or Pagan Devil-worshippers of Josias von] Bunsen calls attention of Christmas to learn more about this Koordistan, who have inherited it from to the mundane egg, the emblem of holiday and Nimrod’s part in it.) their early masters, the Babylonians. generative life, proceeding from the The goddess Easter was no dif- Such a Lent of forty days was held in mouth of the great god of Egypt. ferent. She was one goddess spring by the Pagan Mexicans…Such The mystic egg of Babylon, hatching with many names—the goddess of a Lent of forty days was observed in the Venus Ishtar, fell from heaven to fertility, worshipped in spring when all Egypt…” the Euphrates. Dyed eggs were sacred life was being renewed. Lent came from paganism, not from Easter offerings in Egypt, as they are The widely known historian Will the Bible! (To learn more about the still in China and Europe. Easter, or Durant, in his famous and respected Lenten season, read the article “The spring, was the season of birth, terres- work Story of Civilization, writes, “Ishtar True Meaning of Lent.”) trial and celestial.” [Astarte to the Greeks, Ashtoreth to the What could be more plain in show- Jews], interests us not only as analogue Eggs and Easter ing the true origin of the “Easter egg”? of the Egyptian Isis and prototype of Eggs have always been associated with An Easter egg is just an egg that per- the Grecian Aphrodite and the Roman the Easter celebration. Nearly every tains to Easter. God never authorized Venus, but as the formal beneficiary culture in the modern world has a long Passover eggs or Days of Unleavened of one of the strangest of Babylonian tradition of coloring eggs in beautiful Bread eggs, but there have been Easter customs…known to us chiefly from a and different ways. I once examined eggs for thousands of years! famous page in Herodotus: Every native a traveling display of many kinds of It naturally progressed that the woman is obliged, once in her life, to sit beautifully decorated egg designs that egg, representing spring and fertility, in the temple of Venus [Easter], and represented the styles and traditions would be merged into an already pagan have intercourse with some stranger.” of virtually every country of modern springtime festival. Connecting this Is it any wonder that the Bible speaks of Europe. symbol to Christ’s Resurrection in the the religious system that has descended Notice the following: “The origin of spring required much creativity and from that ancient city as, “Mystery, the Easter egg is based on the fertility human reasoning! babylon the great, the mother of lore of the Indo-European races…The Additional points regarding Easter harlots and abominations of the egg to them was a symbol of spring…In observance could be covered. To learn earth” (Rev. 17:5)? Christian times the egg had bestowed more, read my booklet The True Origin We must now look closer at the ori- upon it a religious interpretation, of Easter. Along with what has been gin of other customs associated with the becoming a symbol of the rock tomb presented here, it delves deeper into modern Easter celebration. out of which Christ emerged to the the origin of Easter observance, what new life of His resurrection” (Francis the scriptures say about sunrise ser- Origin of Lent X. Weiser, Handbook of Christian vices, and how Jesus Christ as Savior According to Johannes Cassianus, who Feasts and Customs). This is a direct relates to the subject. You will be sur- wrote in the fifth century, “Howbeit example of exactly how pagan symbols prised by what you read. you should know, that as long as the and customs are “Christianized,” i.e., Avoiding the observance of Easter primitive church retained its perfec- Christian-sounding names are superim- and other worldly holidays steeped in tion unbroken, this observance of Lent posed over pagan customs. This is done pagan tradition is important for build- did not exist” (First Conference Abbot to deceive—as well as make people feel ing a proper relationship with God, Theonas). There is neither biblical nor better about why they are following a who commands true Christians to keep historical record of Christ, the apostles, custom that is not in the Bible. His Holy Days instead. To learn more or the early Church participating in the Notice: “Around the Christian about these days and how you can keep Lenten season. observance of Easter…folk cus- them, read God’s Holy Days or Pagan Since there is no instruction to toms have collected, many of which Holidays? observe Lent in the Bible, where did have been handed down from the Do not believe that God will accept it come from? A 40-day abstinence ancient ceremonial…symbolism of the celebration of traditions He did not period was anciently observed in honor European and Middle Eastern pagan establish. Always seek Him on His of the pagan gods Osiris, Adonis and spring festivals…for example, eggs… terms as outlined in His Word. c 30 The REAL TRUTH is therefore left with the same ques- In God’s Kingdom, people will BLIND TO SEE tion presented to the throngs that be healed and made whole. They Continued from page 10 followed the living Jesus Christ. Will will find permanent solutions to what you believe? ails them, physically, emotionally and Making people whole became the The Real Truth and The Restored spiritually. They will also experience catalyst or means by which Christ Church of God are committed to the exuberance that comes along with spread the gospel. The word gospel obeying Christ’s command to “preach it. appears in the Bible over 100 times. the gospel to the poor” (Luke 4:18). For more on what the gospel is and It is an Old English word meaning The articles we present bring a is not, according to the Bible, order “god spell” or good news. The word clearer understanding to the problems our free booklet titled Which Is the kingdom is also an Old English term of today’s world. More importantly, True Gospel? (rcg.org/witrg). It will that means “government.” they reveal the lasting solutions, in give you a much clearer understand- Therefore, it is proper to say that the same spirit of the good work ing of the central message Christ Jesus Christ came as a divine news- being done by organizations commit- delivered, and paints a picture of the caster bringing the gospel or good ted to curing blindness, but with more awesome environment in which all news of the soon-coming Kingdom of far-reaching effect. will soon be made whole. c God (Mark 1:14). Do not be fooled or misled by those who claim the gospel is about the person of Christ or various misnomers such as the “gospel of sal- vation,” “gospel of grace,” “gospel of foods,” “gospel of faith” or a “social gospel.” These are unbiblical! Jesus Christ, who plays a cen- tral role in Christianity and salvation, brought the only true gospel the Bible speaks of—the good news of God’s Kingdom coming to Earth. He also tied it to the joy and elation of being healed. The government of God coming to Earth is God’s overarching message to mankind. Under this divine rulership, all of mankind will have access to its Creator and will learn to live His way of life. One of the benefits of this way is good health. This is a major reason Christ focused on this during His 3.5- year ministry. Healing the sick on the spot helped people recognize Christ’s credibil- ity and believe His seemingly unbe- lievable statements. Making them whole also became the chief reason to believe He was the Son of God who brought a message to mankind (John 7:31). The happiness that comes with being healed made Christ’s words live, just as they do today. Coming Good News Good news is coming. God promised g Top, a mother looks at her son for the first time after cataract surgery in Peru (July 23, 2019). it would. He said plainly that we Bottom, a doctor working with a volunteer cataract surgery caravan in Binh Long, Vietnam, shares the excitement of a patient able to see after surgery (Dec. 29, 2018). should repent (change) and believe PHOTOS: GIOCONDA ARMAS/OPHTHALMOLOGICAL CLINIC SELVA (TOP); ULRICH EIGNER/LIGHT FOR THE WORLD the gospel (Mark 1:15). The reader (BOTTOM)

MARCH-APRIL 2020 31 WORLD NEWS DESK

EUROPE Auschwitz Survivors Warn of Rising Anti-Semitism 75 Years On not expect to make it to the next commemoration and wanted to trans- mit a message to his grandchildren’s generation: That the destruction of the Jews began with small steps that were tolerated. What began with ban- ning Jews from sitting on benches in Berlin evolved in incremental steps to ghettos and death camps. “Auschwitz did not descend from the sky,” he said, crediting those words to Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen, among those present. Calling for people to not be indif- ferent, he said: “Because if you are indifferent, you will not even notice it when upon your own heads, and g Polish President Andrzej Duda walks along with Holocaust survivors through the gates of the upon the heads of your descendants, Auschwitz Nazi concentration camp during the 75th anniversary of its liberation in Oswiecim, Poland (Jan. 27, 2020). another Auschwitz descends from the PHOTO: AP PHOTO/CZAREK SOKOLOWSKI sky.” In Paris, French President swiecim, Poland (AP) – Survivors They gathered under an enormous, Emmanuel Macron paid his respects O of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death heated tent straddling the train tracks at the city’s Shoah Memorial and camp prayed and wept as they marked that had transported people to Birkenau, warned about rising hate crimes in the the 75th anniversary of its liberation, the part of the vast complex where most country, which increased 27 percent returning on January 27 to the place of the murdered Jews were killed in gas last year. where they lost entire families and chambers and then cremated. Auschwitz “That anti-Semitism is coming warning about the ominous growth of was liberated by the Soviet army on back is not the Jewish people’s prob- anti-Semitism and hatred in the world. January 27, 1945. lem: It’s all our problem—it’s the “We have with us the last living sur- Ronald Lauder, the president of the nation’s problem,” Mr. Macron said. vivors, the last among those who saw the World Jewish Congress, brought the Hundreds of diplomats and guests Holocaust with their own eyes,” Polish crowd to tears with the story of a survi- along with several Holocaust survivors President Andrzej Duda told those at vor who was separated from his family: joined UN Secretary-General Antonio the commemoration, which included The man watched his young daughter, Guterres and General Assembly the German president as well as Jewish, in a red coat, walk to her death, turn- President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande Christian and Muslim leaders. ing into a small red dot in the distance for a ceremony at the United Nations “The magnitude of the crime perpe- before disappearing forever. in New York. trated in this place is terrifying, but we After the end of the war, when “the “May we make a pledge: We must not look away from it and we must world finally saw pictures of gas cham- stand united against hate,” said Rabbi never forget it,” Mr. Duda said. bers, nobody in their right mind wanted Arthur Schneier, a Holocaust survi- About 200 camp survivors attend- to be associated with the Nazis,” he vor. “We stand united against anti- ed, many of them elderly Jews and recalled. “But now I see something I Semitism. We stand united against non-Jews who traveled from Israel, the never thought I would see in my life- xenophobia and racism and any form United States, Australia, Peru, Russia, time, the open and brazen spread of of bigotry.” Slovenia and elsewhere. Many lost par- anti-Jewish hatred.” Mr. Guterres said that “solidarity ents and grandparents in Auschwitz or “Do not be silent! Do not be com- in the face of hatred is needed today other Nazi death camps during World placent! Do not let this ever happen more than ever,” and that the UN War II, but were joined by children, again—to any people!” Mr. Lauder said. “will stand firm every day and every- grandchildren and even great-grand- Marian Turski, a 93-year-old where against anti-Semitism, bigotry children. Polish Jewish survivor, said he did and hatred of all kinds.” c 32 The REAL TRUTH TERRORISM & SECURITY ISIS Tries to Stage Comeback amid Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions eirut (AP) – The Islamic State October, when Turkey began a mili- Iraqi intelligence major was killed in B group’s self-styled “caliphate” tary operation against Kurdish fight- a car bomb north of Baghdad. across parts of Iraq and Syria seemed ers in northern Syria. One of the deadliest attacks largely defeated last year, with the Still, the militants clearly gained occurred in Syria on January 14, loss of its territory, the killing of its at least temporary breathing room as when ISIS fighters stole some 2,000 founder in a U.S. raid and an unprece- the killing of Soleimani, along with cattle from a village near the east- dented crackdown on its social media a senior Iraqi militia leader, brought ern town of Mayadeen. One of the propaganda machine. Iran and the U.S. to the brink of war four shepherds that own the cattle But tensions between the United and outraged Iraqis, who considered informed authorities, and a Syrian States and Iran and the resulting clash the strike a flagrant breach of sover- government military force was sent over the U.S. military presence in the eignty. to the area, where they were met by region provide a comeback opportu- On January 5, Iraq’s parliament ISIS fire. nity for the extremist group, whose called for the expulsion of the 5,200 As the forces returned to their remnants have been gradually build- U.S. troops from the country who base, ISIS gunmen laid an ambush, ing up a guerrilla campaign over the have been there since 2014 on a mis- killing 11 troops and pro-government past year, experts say. sion to train Iraqi forces and assist in fighters as well as two shepherds. American troops in Iraq had to the fight against ISIS. The U.S.-led ISIS published photos showing pause their operations against ISIS for coalition then put the fight against bodies of soldiers said to have been nearly two weeks amid the tensions. ISIS on hold to focus on protecting killed in the attack, along with a From the other side, Iranian-backed its troops and bases. It had resumed destroyed armored vehicle and an Iraqi militiamen who once focused those operations after a 10-day halt. overturned truck. on fighting the militants have turned “This tension will for sure help On the same day, seven shepherds their attention to evicting U.S. troops Daesh, as all forces fighting it become were found shot dead west of the east- from the Middle East. busy with other matters,” warned ern city of Deir el-Zour. On January In the meantime, Islamic State Abdullah Suleiman Ali, a Syrian 4, 21 shepherds were found shot in group sleeper cells intensified researcher who focuses on jihadi the back of their heads, their hands ambushes in Iraq and Syria in the past groups, using the Arabic acronym for were tied behind their backs. few weeks, killing and wounding doz- ISIS. Dozens of members of the ens of their opponents in both coun- Among other things, he said Iran- U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian tries. Activists and residents say the U.S. tensions help give ISIS the Democratic Forces have been killed attacks have intensified since the U.S. opportunity to restructure as its new over the past months in attacks killed top Iranian general Qassem leader, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al- claimed by ISIS as well. Soleimani in a January 3 drone strike Qurayshi, strengthens his grip. Mr. With the painful strikes, ISIS is at Baghdad’s airport. Qurayshi was announced in the post “taking advantage to boost its influ- It is not clear whether the uptick after longtime leader Abu Bakr al- ence” and send a message to their is related to the repercussions that Baghdadi was killed by a U.S. raid in supporters that they are still strong, followed from the strike, and it is Syria in October. said Omar Abu Laila, an activist from possible some of the attacks had been “The day the American-Iranian Deir el-Zour now based in Europe. planned before Soleimani’s killing. clash began, Daesh started inten- “Some civilians don’t dare leave U.S. officials deny seeing any partic- sifying its attacks,” said Rami their homes after sunset because of ular increase in ISIS activities. “They Aburrahman, who heads the Britain- fear of Daesh,” Mr. Abu Laila said. haven’t taken advantage of it, as far based Syrian Observatory for Human The group is also trying to restore as we can see,” said James Jeffrey, Rights, an opposition war monitor. its presence on social media and the the State Department envoy to the On January 14, ISIS launched a internet—a key component to its abil- international coalition fighting the cross border attack from Syria into ity to raise financial support from Islamic State. Iraq, killing an Iraqi officer. A day abroad and recruit new fighters. Mervan Qamishlo, a spokesman later, ISIS fighters attacked an Iraqi So far, those efforts have not for Syria’s U.S.-backed Kurdish- force in the central Salaheddine been very successful as international led force, said the intensification of region, killing two soldiers and authorities work to chase them down ISIS attacks began even earlier, since wounding five. Two days later, an on those outlets as well. c MARCH-APRIL 2020 33 What Does the Future Hold?

he most prosperous and influential civilizations have come and gone with T no exceptions. Will America and Britain’s future be the same? The answer to this question is key to understanding what the world will look like in just the next few years. Unknown to most, the Bible speaks volumes about these two nations. Using history and prophecy as a guide, the book America and Britain in Prophecy explains exactly what is in store for these two superpowers. Order your free copy at rcg.org/aabibp.