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MAY-JUNE 2017 | THETRUMPET.COM

Germany and the last Holy Roman Empire Should Britain just ‘Keep calm and carry on’? A world without manhood Unraveling the KKK— with friendship 12 prophecies to watch

THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON (It’s not a bomb. It’s an idea.) COVER The world’s most powerful weapon is MAY– JUNE 2017 | VOL. 28, NO. 5 | CIRC. 263,551 not what you may think. (pixelsquid/trumpet)

FEATURES

1 FROM THE EDITOR Germany and the Last Holy Roman Empire

4 The Deadly ‘Keep Calm and Carry on’ Mentality

7 How Europe Is ‘Winning’ Against the Far Right

8 The World’s Most Powerful Weapon It is over a thousand times more destructive than the biggest bomb ever detonated.

12 What Does It Mean to Be a MAN? Having discarded millennia-old definitions of manhood, society is deeply confused.

16 Unraveling the KKK—With Friendship

18 INFOGRAPHIC 12 Prophecies to Watch

20 ’s Strategy to Sabotage World Trade

22 Will America’s Asian Allies Pivot to China The [European] Community is living largely DEPARTMENTS “ by the heritage of the Holy Roman Empire, 26 INCREASE YOUR BIBLE IQ though the great majority of the people Where to Turn for Advice who live by it don’t know 28 WORLDWATCH by what heritage they live.” 31 SOCIETYWATCH

33 PRINCIPLES OF LIVING Rekindle Your First Love

34 DISCUSSION BOARD

35 COMMENTARY Dishonorable Conduct TROUBLING HISTORY Artist’s rendering of the Siege of Acre, one of the first 36 THE KEY OF DAVID TELEVISION LOG battles in the Third Crusade (heritage images/getty images)

Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Trumpet executive editor News and analysis Regular news updates and alerts Flurry’s weekly television program Stephen Flurry’s television program updated daily from our website to your inbox theTrumpet.com/keyofdavid theTrumpet.com/trumpet_daily theTrumpet.com theTrumpet.com/go/brief FROM THE EDITOR Germany and the Last Holy Roman Empire

This church-state combine has caused more destruction than any kingdom in history. Why is it a mystery to this world?

n the late 1970s, Germany was considered one of crown of the Holy Roman Empire, which embodies the America’s very best friends. Yet in recent years, many tradition of Charlemagne.” I Germans’ view toward the has become You are going to see that crown take on more than just quite negative. A 2014 Pew Research poll shows that 47 per- symbolic meaning. That empire is prophesied to rise again! It cent of Germans have an unfavorable view of America. It looks is ready to burst on the world scene shortly—perhaps even in like their antagonism has been growing even worse since 2017! And the head of that empire will be a king with a crown! Donald Trump was elected America’s He will rule over all of Europe in the tradition of Charlemagne. president. Germany is now one of the What is the tradition of Charlemagne? The Frankish King world’s 10 biggest critics of the U.S. Charlemagne waded through rivers of blood to convert Euro- Few people recognize this, but a peans to Catholicism. If they didn’t convert, they died! You prophecy in the Bible actually describes can read more about this history in our free booklet The Holy the relationship between the U.S. and Roman Empire in Prophecy (request a copy, or read it online at Germany in our day. It says Germany theTrumpet.com/go/hre). is America’s preeminent “lover.” That Charlemagne was the second head of the Holy Roman gerald flurry “lover” relationship began to develop Empire; Adolf Hitler was the sixth. Hitler also ruled in the after World War ii, in which America spirit of Charlemagne, his hero. Charlemagne’s kingdom defeated the Nazis and then spent billions of dollars to rebuild was the First Reich; Hitler’s was the Third Reich. Yet, today, Germany and to bring it back into the civilized world. Germans are proud of Charlemagne’s legacy! But is trusting Germany a good idea? Germany started The 2002 edition of Encyclopedia Britannica offers this dis- World Wars i and ii. Your Bible says it will also start World turbing statement about Charlemagne’s forced conversion of War iii. That war will be so destructive that it will bring about the Saxons: “But the violent methods by which this missionary the Second Coming—Jesus Christ will have to return to Earth task was carried out had been unknown to the earlier Middle in order to stop mankind from annihilating itself with Ages, and the sanguinary [or bloody] punishment meted out to weapons of mass destruction! those who broke canon law or continued to engage in pagan Since the dawn of the Holy Roman Empire in a.d. 554, Ger- practices called forth criticism in Charles’s own ….” many has been a curse on this world in many ways. Most of the Even Charlemagne’s closest advisers were alarmed by his time, Germany has led this bloody church-state combine. This bloody punishment of those who broke his canon law or gruesome war machine will become a great enemy of America, engaged in pagan practices! Those engaged in “pagan prac- Britain and the Jewish state in the —one final time. tices” were people who refused to practice his Catholic religion, which is filled with pagan practices, according to the Bible. Charlemagne’s Legacy Despite the barbaric nature of its history, Europe still Some German and European leaders are lionizing the history wants to resurrect the Holy Roman Empire in the tradi- of the Holy Roman Empire. There is strong evidence that some tion of Charlemagne! So beware of what this empire is are actually preparing for one final resurrection of that empire! about to inflict on this world! The late European parliamentarian Otto von Habsburg said, In his 1995 book The Rotten Heart of Europe, British econo- “The [European] Community is living largely by the heritage mist Bernard Connolly wrote about an agreement signed in of the Holy Roman Empire, though the great majority of the September 1978 between then French President Valéry Gis- people who live by it don’t know by what heritage they live.” card d’Estaing and then German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt. This means that our historians, politicians and the media are The signing ceremony was held in Aachen, Germany, “prin- asleep and dangerously deceived about this empire. cipal seat and burial place of Charlemagne,” Connolly wrote. Mr. Habsburg was a descendant of the Habsburg dynasty “The symbolism was heavily underlined in both France and that ruled the Holy Roman Empire for 400 years. He was one Germany; the two leaders paid a special visit to the throne of of many leaders who have recognized the symbolic power of Charlemagne and a special service was held in the cathedral; that empire. Referring to the crown that resides in a museum at the end of the summit, Giscard remarked that: ‘Perhaps in Vienna, Austria, he said, “We possess a European symbol when we discussed monetary problems, the spirit of Char- which belongs to all nations of Europe equally; this is the lemagne brooded over us’” (emphasis mine). MAY-JUNE 2017 1 Mr. Connolly also called the European Union a “cloak for has been throughout history than a mighty beast. This empire German ambitions”! Insiders don’t want people to know the has seven heads—seven distinct periods of dominance over a real motive behind the EU. span of 1,500 years. You can follow these seven heads through- Historian Paul Johnson wrote in A History of Christianity, out history! There is tremendous destructive power here, and “We are right to regard the total Christianity of the Carolin- the church has been guiding it and riding it. We explain all this gian Age as one of the great formative phases of human his- in The Holy Roman Empire in Prophecy. tory.” The Holy Roman Empire has left a permanent mark on “And the angel said unto me, Wherefore history. We can expect the final resurgence of this kingdom didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery to do more of the same. of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns” Hitler’s Memoirs (verse 7). This woman is a mystery. God reveals The spirit of Charlemagne is alarmingly alive in Germany today. the depths of her evils! Did you know that Hitler’s book Mein Kampf has become This beast power will “ascend out of the bot- a bestseller? In his manifesto, he explained his anti-Semitic tomless pit,” or come out of hiding, shocking philosophy, his political views and his vision for Germany’s everyone (verse 8). This time, the Holy Roman Empire will be future, including annexing neighboring countries. It outlines more lethal than it has ever been before! the ideology that inspired him to try to exterminate the Now, notice this detail in John’s prophetic description: Jewish people—a goal that he nearly accomplished in Europe! “And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and During the World War ii era, 12.4 million copies of the book with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I were published. The German government even gave copies to wondered with great admiration” (verse 6). This woman has newlyweds as a wedding gift. been getting drunk on the blood of God’s people throughout In 1945, after Hitler was defeated, the Allies gave control the centuries! I strongly urge you to learn about this vital of the main Nazi publishing house to Bavaria, along with the subject by requesting a free copy of my book rights to the book. “For 70 years, it refused to allow the inflam- The True History of God’s True Church—And matory tract to be republished out of respect for victims of the Its 2,000-Year War With the Great False Church. Nazis and to prevent incitement of hatred,” reported Agence This book explains the real spiritual France-Presse (January 3). Recently, however, a publisher was power behind this false church and this given rights to reprint the book. It first planned to print only unholy empire: Satan the devil. He hates 4,000 copies, but because of high demand, the book is now on God’s people and comes after them most of all. its sixth print run. Mein Kampf is flying off the shelves. Since Contrast the woman in Revelation 17 with its release in January of last year, 85,000 copies have sold! the one depicted in Revelation 12. “And there This is a sign of horrible things to come. Germany and the appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the Holy Roman Empire are rising on the world scene. This is sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown what the success of Mein Kampf is all about. of twelve stars” (Revelation 12:1). This woman—also a symbol Why are people not more concerned? of a church—is brilliant and beautiful! Germany and the Holy Roman Empire are a great mystery This is the true Church of God. Her crown of 12 stars is sym- to this world. People don’t understand the truth about this bolic of the 12 tribes of Israel. She is clothed with the sun. The conglomerate. There have been six resurrections of this sun produces more energy in just one second than the entire empire so far, with a seventh one upon us.Why don’t people human species has consumed in its history! This shows the know more about an empire that has been one of the biggest power of God behind His little Church, a remnant of loyal saints. world powers in history, especially for the last several hun- But see what happens to this woman: “And she being with dred years? child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold Two Women a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and Do you know what the number one target of the Holy Roman seven crowns upon his heads” (verses 2-3). Empire has been over the centuries? The truth of history is The devil is depicted as a dragon. In this prophecy, the sym- depicted in a spectacular way in biblical prophecy. bol is actually expressed in terms of the Holy Roman Empire, The book of Revelation describes the Holy Roman Empire which Satan inspires, controls and uses as his instrument! as a union of church and state by using a powerful symbol: a There are those seven heads—seven periods of that empire’s woman riding a beast. dominance—and Satan has ruled every one of them! “So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I Here you see the Holy Roman Empire’s attack on God’s true saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of Church in more detail: “And the woman fled into the wilderness, blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns” (Revelation 17:3). where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed Many prophecies use a woman as a symbol of a church. This her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days” (verse woman is a “great whore” (verse 1)—a large false church that has 6). The “days” spoken of here are actually years in prophetic ful- unholy political dealings with governments all over the world. fillment. (You can see this “day for a year” principle of prophecy And there is no better description of the terrible and destruc- in scriptures like Ezekiel 4:6). God’s Church was forced to flee tive political-military machine that the Holy Roman Empire from the bloodthirsty Holy Roman Empire for 1,260 years! 2 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.” —REVELATION 12:1

“And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abomina- tions and filthiness of her fornication.” —REVELATION 17:4

This prophecy has a specific end-time counterpart. Put Rev- There are over 100 prophecies that back up what you have elation 17 together with other prophecies, and it is clear there read in this article! And world events are rapidly aligning to is one last terrifying martyrdom coming. This Satan-inspired bring them to fulfillment! church-state combine is rising again, and as it has done so As fearsome as this empire will be, though, the good news many times in the past, it is going to come after God’s people. is that its evil reign of terror will last only a short time! As Those who are faithful to Him, God promises to protect in a it rampages through its conquests, it will run straight into a place of safety. “And to the woman [the church of faithful saints] power far greater than itself! were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent” (Reve- and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faith- lation 12:14). This period of 3½ years is elsewhere described as ful” (verse 14). Jesus Christ Himself will return and crush this 42 months (Revelation 11:2; 13:5)—or 1,260 days, not years. destructive, perverted kingdom! Already He has an awesome, But sadly, in this very end time, many of God’s people have unstoppable plan in motion to replace it with His own rule on rebelled against Him—and they will end up being slaugh- Earth! And we are very close to seeing His plan realized. tered! (Revelation 12:17; 13:7). Making this prophecy even more inspiring is what it says about God’s saints—those who are “called, and chosen, and The Good News faithful” today. Christ will be “Lord of lords, and King of Why would God record all these details in prophecy? It is kings.” Who are those other “lords” and “kings” over whom because He wants to warn us about what is coming—so we Christ will rule? Revelation 1:6 says to God’s people that Christ can take action to repent and turn to Him for protection! He “hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father”! wants people to avoid these indescribable nightmares. God These and many other Bible passages show that when Christ always warns before He allows such suffering! establishes His Kingdom on Earth, He will have a dedicated The window of opportunity is closing—but there is still group of kings and priests serving under Him—not human time to heed God’s warning and repent! kings and priests, but individuals who have been transformed The beast in Revelation 17 is the final resurrection of the Holy into spirit, like God! Together, these God beings will help Roman Empire, and it has “10 horns.” What are these horns? Christ crush the Holy Roman Empire and all other world pow- “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which ers, and bring peace, joy and happiness to the Earth forever! have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings If you dedicate yourself to God’s work today, this is the one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give tremendous reward that God promises you! n their power and strength unto the beast” (Revelation 17:12-13). Watch Europe! This last “head” of the Holy Roman Empire is going to have 10 kings banding together, with one as the Ten kings in prophecy (2) supreme head. Even today, Europe is looking for a strong leader who can resolve the challenges of European unity and Why is the Trumpet concerned with trumpet

/ move the project forward. You can be sure that this most Germany and the new Holy Roman Empire? powerful king will be from Germany. As has been the case so The Bible explains. Order your free copy of dorning many times in history, Germany will preside over and control Germany and the Holy Roman Empire. gary the whole empire. MAY-JUNE 2017 3 BACK TO NORMAL Pedestrians cross the Westminster Bridge two days after the terrorist attack.

THE DEADLY ‘KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON’ MENTALITY

eep calm and carry on. It’s a Instead of changing the behavior that caused the crisis, cute maxim, as British as tea we return as quickly as possible to behaving exactly the same way. and crumpets. And it captures by brad macdonald an admirable characteristic Kof the English, their indomitable spirit and capacity to remain resolute in the The morning after the attack, signs Carry on Sleeping face of adversity. with motivational messages popped up “Keep calm and carry on” was coined But it can also be a colossal handicap. in Underground stations across . in July 1939 by Britain’s Ministry for This trait was on display in London One read, “All terrorists are politely Information, and it embodies the spirit on March 22, when an Islamic terrorist reminded that this is London and what- of wartime England. It was one of three in a rental car mowed down more than ever you do to us we will drink tea slogans created to boost the morale of 40 people on Westminster Bridge, and jolly well carry on” (March 22). the British people during the Second smashed into the fence that protects Simon Jenkins, the popular and World War. Britain’s Houses of Parliament, and influential Guardian columnist, coun- Though “keep calm and carry on” fatally stabbed a policeman. Within seled Britain not to “overreact.” Jenkins was never officially used, the other two minutes of the attack, the main mes- compared the Islamist terrorist threat phrases were printed on posters and sage radiating from every corner of to that of the Irish Republican Army plastered all over the nation. These two Britain was: “Keep calm and carry on.” (ira) in the 1970s and ’80s. “[F]or the reveal the motive behind the campaign That evening, Prime Minister The- most part, British freedoms were not and the broader mindset that was start- resa May encouraged the nation to infringed, life went on and the threat ing to take hold on Britain in July 1939. behave as normal. “Tomorrow morning, eventually passed,” he wrote. “Let us One read, “Your courage, your cheerful- Parliament will meet as normal. We will hope the same applies today.” ness, your resolution, will bring us vic- come together as normal. And London- The reaction to the March 22 attack tory.” The other stated, “Freedom is in ers, and others from around the world was an example of how modern Britain peril, defend it with all your might.” who have come here to visit this great and America deal with crisis. When Notice. These slogans convey a sense of city, will get up and go about their day as catastrophe strikes, our immediate crisis; they were clearly designed to stir

normal” (emphasis added throughout). priority is to calmly return to normal the British people to action. chris The following tweets, pulled from life as quickly as possible and to hope Britain in the summer of 1939 was

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thousands, encapsulate the general the threat passes. It feels rational and finally beginning to accept that it faced ratcliffe response on Twitter: “As ever, the best mature. And we believe such a response an existential crisis. The enemy had /

reaction … is calmness, not hysteria. is a mark of our sophistication. been clearly identified, and there was afp /

We’re British, that’s what we do ….” Truth is, this contemporary inter- consensus on the magnitude of the dan- getty “Don’t start finger pointing and blam- pretation of “keep calm and carry on” is ger. Britain’s leaders were finally rec-

images ing, don’t turn on anyone. Keep calm. destructive. This mentality has put these ognizing that Adolf Hitler wanted war That’s how it gets beaten ….” nations on the road to national suicide. and had started to prepare the nation. 4 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET There was a fighting mentality behind But this is not happening today. On scrutiny of Britain’s Muslim communi- “keep calm and carry on.” It meant, keep March 22, even with London locked ties, more aggressive steps to get danger- calm and carry on fighting. Keep calm down, Britain exuded remarkable calm- ous individuals out of the country (and to and defend freedom with all your might. ness and composure. Though there prevent them entering). Londoners could These slogans consoled and motivated a was a sense of alarm on the streets have initiated a national conversation nation that recognized it was experienc- surrounding Parliament, that was about multiculturalism and the state of ing a crisis, a nation that was prepared the extent of it. In some respects, the British culture and society in general. to act. These slogans engaged the public calmness was admirable. But it exposed Instead, the nation opted to “keep in the fight against Nazi tyranny. profound passivity and apathy. One calm and carry on.” Today, “keep calm and carry on” is would have expected an attack of this deployed to disengage the British magnitude and the publicity to arouse Learning From History public from reality. Today, “keep calm greater indignation, to provoke much Reflect on the mood in Britain before and carry on” stems from apathy and more reflection and self-evaluation. the summer of 1939. The prevailing complacency. It is used to dissuade Londoners could have searched for mindset in the nation for virtually the people from contemplating the truth, entire decade was much like today: from asking tough questions, and from Keep calm and carry on. putting in place meaningful solutions. During the 1930s, multiple crises The phrase that once meant keep calm erupted, each revealing Germany’s and carry on fighting now means keep motives and ambitions. Evidence calm and carry on sleeping. abounded proving Hitler’s deep hatred Its appeal makes it all the more for the Jews, his desire for lebensraum, deadly. It conjures images of wartime and his determination for conflict and Britain. It makes the English who conquest. The Nuremberg Laws, passed use it feel proud, brave and patriotic. in 1935, endorsed the persecution Meanwhile, in their effort to keep calm of Jews. In March 1935, 22,000 Nazi and carry on, they ignore reality. They soldiers marched into the Rhineland. don’t take serious action to address the In August 1936, Germany introduced fundamental causes of the crises. FIRST RESPONSE conscription. German factories were Khalid Masood, the terrorist who left Armed police attend churning out warplanes, tanks and London strewn with bodies on March a victim; mourners weapons throughout most of the 1930s. set up a memorial. 22, was born and bred in England. He In November 1937, Germany signed a was radicalized in English prisons, and military pact with fascist Italy. Also in he had connections to the Islamic State. 1937, the Luftwaffe bombed Spain. In His attack on London ought to have ini- March 1938, Germany invaded Austria; tiated some searching questions. What in October, it marched into Sudetenland. conditions had made his radicalization Such actions got the attention of Brit- possible? How many others are there ish leaders and initiated some urgent like him? Why didn’t Masood’s “moder- discussions. In the end, however, the ate” friends and acquaintances inform general response was to keep calm, the authorities about him? What does carry on as normal, and simply hope for the radicalization of Masood and those the best. like him reveal about multiculturalism Terrorism isn’t solved by Sound familiar? in Britain? keeping calm and carrying On March 7, 1936, a few hours after When you look honestly at these on. It is solved by asking his troops took the Rhineland, Hitler images questions, practical solutions begin to tough questions, addressed the Reichstag. In his message getty / emerge. For example, how hard would by recognizing where he promised no further acts of aggres- it be for Britain to actively purge rad- sion. “Germany will never break the court ical Islam from its prisons? Could the our system is failing, peace,” he promised. The West naively carl , government do more to encourage mod- and by changing the way took Hitler at his words. Winston Chur- erate Muslims to join the fight against we think and behave. chill listened to the speech and said images

radical Islam and terrorism? All sorts of It is solved by taking action. that Hitler’s message was “comfort for getty / meaningful actions could be initiated. everyone on both sides of the Atlantic Terrorism isn’t solved by keeping answers. Why did this happen? Where who wished to be humbugged.” images

pa calm and carrying on. It is solved by have we failed? What are we doing This, sadly, is the state of Britain (and / asking tough questions, by recognizing wrong? How do we prevent this? They America) today: These nations wish where our system is failing, and by could have demanded meaningful to be humbugged! In Britain, neither rousseau changing the way we think and behave. action from the government. A purge of the leaders nor the public have the stefan It is solved by taking action. Britain’s correctional facilities, greater will to discuss the truth about Islamist MAY-JUNE 2017 5 terrorism, and certainly not to take great as it is now,” Churchill wrote in has failed. That Britain, if it is ever to serious actions to confront radical the Daily Mail in 1932. “The habit of say- truly solve this issue, will have to take Islam. The U.S. has the same willful ing smooth things and uttering pious meaningful actions on a large scale. blindness. Both of these nations expe- platitudes and sentiments to gain Instead, Britain’s leaders and its rience one crisis after another, one ter- applause, without relation to the under- media pundits responded with smooth rorist attack after another, one political lying facts, is more pronounced now words and pious platitudes. Encour- failure after another, one social disas- than it has ever been in my experience.” aging the nation to not overreact, to ter after another, one financial crisis That gap is even greater today. Think remain non-judgmental and to carry on after another. Yet rather than using about some of the remarks following as normal made people feel righteous each crisis as an opportunity to reflect, the March 22 attack. The sign in the and rational. Invoking the “keep calm to ask some searching questions and London Underground station telling and carry on” maxim makes everyone then to take meaningful actions that terrorists, “whatever you do to us we feel brave and tough, like their forefa- will prevent the crisis from happening will drink tea and jolly well carry on.” thers in World War ii. again, these nations choose to keep The tweet telling Britons, “Keep calm. Yet does such a response do anything calm and carry on. That’s how it gets beaten.” Such poetic to prevent another Islamist attack? Instead of changing the behavior remarks may sound rational and virtu- that caused the crisis, they deter- ous. But truly, when was the last time an Silent Dogs minedly return as quickly as possible evil force was “beaten” by a victim who The Prophet Isaiah also compares to behaving exactly the same way! remained calm and carried on with nor- Britain’s and America’s leaders in the When Hitler invaded the Rhineland, mal life? Defeating a determined enemy end time to lazy, slothful watchdogs. France’s foreign minister tried to per- always requires action. Perhaps not “His watchmen are blind: they are all suade British Prime Minister Stanley military action, but certainly changes ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, “The habit of saying smooth things and loving to slumber” (Isaiah 56:10). What an apt description of the leadership uttering pious platitudes and sentiments and mainstream media in Britain and to gain applause, without relation to the America. (For proof that the term Israel underlying facts, is more pronounced now in these prophecies refers to these modern nations, read our free e-book than it has ever been in my experience.” Britain’s 4,000-Year-Old History at —WINSTON S. CHURCHILL theTrumpet.com/go/BritishIdentity.) “People are just not alert to what’s Baldwin to support a potential French in thinking, changes in behavior, happening in this world, and that decision to dispatch police to the demil- changes in government policy. includes the media,” Trumpet editor in itarized zone to oppose the Germans. Britain and America today are mak- chief Gerald Flurry said in his Dec. 22, The Nazis had not yet secured their ing the same mistakes they made in 2002, Key of David television program. position and intelligence indicated it the 1930s. They prefer pious platitudes “God calls most of the watchmen just was still possible to oust them. Baldwin and smooth things over the cold, hard dumb dogs. They won’t bark! They told the French, “You may be right, but truth. The Prophet Isaiah discussed won’t tell you what’s really happen- if there is even one chance in a hundred this destructive tendency. He prophe- ing, either because they don’t know— that war would follow from your police sied that these modern nations would and even if they do know they won’t action, I have not the right to commit be “rebellious people, lying children, really tell you the blatant, scary truth England.” In the end, France and Brit- children that will not hear the law of the about all this.” ain did nothing. Lord: Which say to the seers, See not; Why are they silent? Verses 11-12 To Britain in 1936, “peace was ‘worth and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us explain: “The shepherds also have no taking almost any risk,’” William Man- right things, speak unto us smooth things, understanding: they have all turned to chester wrote in The Last Lion. That was prophesy deceits …” (Isaiah 30:9-11). their own way, each to his own gain, one the spirit of England in the 1930s, to keep Instead of encouraging her people and all. ‘Come,’ they say, ‘let us get wine, calm and carry on ignoring anything to carry on as normal, Prime Minister let us fill ourselves with strong drink; uncomfortable. Instead of acting, they May ought to have been bolder, like her and tomorrow will be like this day,

merely hoped Germany’s acts of aggres- World War ii counterpart, Winston great beyond measure’” (Revised edward sion would pass. Britain’s silence and Churchill. Braving the accusations “war Standard Version). The leaders and apathy only empowered Hitler and made monger” and Islamophobe, the prime media are more concerned about self- steichen the inevitable conflict much worse! minister should have stated the obvi- ish interest than about the peace and /

“I cannot recall at any time when the ous—radical Islam has burrowed deep safety of their nation. getty gap between the kind of words which into Britain. That it is a threat to the Ponder that final statement: “Tomor-

images statesmen used and what was actually nation, to its institutions, culture and row will be like this day, great beyond happening in many countries was so communities. That multiculturalism KEEP CALM PAGE 11 u 6 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET He told antisocial Turkish youths, in crass terms, to go back to . “Everybody knows immediately this is Wilders’s style. … It’s almost a dialect word, a little bit archaic,” said Henk te Velde, a professor at Leiden University who studies political language, referring to the phrase Rutte used. Then, just a few days ahead of the election, Turkey gave Rutte a gift. Turkey is scheduled to hold a constitutional referendum on April 16 on shifting more powers to the presi- dency. A significant number of Turkish citizens live in the Netherlands and are How Europe Is eligible to vote in the referendum. So Turkish ministers scheduled rallies in ‘Winning’ Against the Far Right the Netherlands to whip up support. The Dutch government was not keen If you can’t beat them … by richard palmer on Turks holding rallies so close to general elections—elections in which his is a year of elections for place second in a national election. Islam had grown to play such a key role. Europe. France, Germany and A generation ago, it would have been It tried negotiating with Turkey. During T possibly Italy will each hold their unthinkable for someone like Geert the talks, Turkey threatened to impose most important election in generations. Wilders to do so well. sanctions on the Netherlands if the In each of these major countries, the Wilders’s influence extends far latter attempted to restrict the rallies. post-World War ii political system is beyond those who actually voted for This prompted Rutte to get tough. If crumbling. The unthinkable is now him. As James Traub wrote for Foreign Turkey was going to make threats, then possible: France could elect a far-right Policy, “In the weeks leading up to the no Turkish ministers would be allowed president, Italy could quit the eurozone, vote, the Dutch have been preoccupied, in the country, he said. The Turkish and the European rock of stability, Ger- almost obsessed, with issues of immi- foreign minister’s airplane was denied many, could convulse. gration, integration and national iden- permission to land in the Netherlands. Across the world, observers are tity. Overschie is a largely white enclave That didn’t stop Turkey. Turkey’s watching anxiously. in a city that, like most major urban family affairs minister traveled to But one country has already held its centers in the Netherlands, consists Germany, along with a couple of decoy 2017 election, and its results give us a about equally of immigrants and native ministers, to try and sneak across powerful message about what to expect. Dutch, and everyone I spoke to in the the border into the Netherlands. But Boulevard [a pub where the regulars are Dutch police spotted the real minister Europeans Want a Strongman all older white men] agreed with some nonetheless, and she was escorted back The Dutch election on March 15 part of Wilders’s nativist agenda. … to Germany. exposed a major shift in European “He has so thoroughly reshaped Dutch As a result of this diplomatic incident, politics. Ahead of the election, many political culture that voters who share the Dutch rallied around their leader, polls showed that Geert Wilders and his views, but find him ultra vires, can not because he was accommodating his Party for Freedom (pvv) would now vote for any number of parties that or sophisticated, but because he was win. “I hate Islam” is among one of have taken a hard-line on immigrants tough. According to one poll, 86 percent Mr. Wilders’s more controversial and on Islam, including the vvd itself. of the Dutch said they supported Rutte’s statements. He also wants the Koran This is Europe’s politics in 2017; the actions. Many say that the incident outlawed. When he only came second, center holds, but only by giving ground occurring the weekend before the elec- the Western media were euphoric. to the nationalist right” (March 13). tion is what boosted Rutte’s popularity Bloomberg: “Dutch Liberals Defeat Dutch center-right leader Mark Rutte enough to beat Wilders. Spiegel Online Wilders’s Party in Blow to Populist and his People’s Party for Freedom and wrote, “Rutte’s election win had a Turk- Surge.” Daily Mail: “Far-Right Dutch Democracy “won” the elections. But the ish father: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.” M.P. Geert Wilders FAILS to Make intriguing question is: How did he man- This is the path to popularity in Inroads in General Election.” The Tele- age to claw ahead of Wilders in the polls? Europe now. Stand firm for your coun- graph: “Netherlands Rejects Far Right.” During the campaign, Rutte delib- try. Stand up to Islam. Sound like your Welcome to 2017 Europe, where it is erately echoed Wilders. Immigrants far-right opponent. a “major defeat” for a far-right party to must “act normal or leave,” he wrote. FAR RIGHT PAGE 32 u MAY-JUNE 2017 7 The World’s Most Powerful Weapon It is over a thousand times more the ideologies that influence and con- revolution in 1859 with his book On the destructive than the biggest bomb trol human minds are far more power- Origin of Species. ever detonated. by andrew miiller ful than any thermonuclear device. The book, along with its sequel, The Since moral laws are the social force Descent of Man, argued that all organic he most powerful that restrains humans from committing life descended from one primordial thermonuclear device atrocities, an ideology that misassesses organism. By providing a scientific ever detonated was concepts of right and wrong is a greater hypothesis that God does not exist, called the Tsar Bomba. threat than any physical weapon of mass Darwin revolutionized the world in When it was tested over destruction. And an ideology that pro- ways even he probably did not expect. Severny Island on Oct. poses that there is no such thing as right American writer, critic and natu- 30, 1961, this Soviet rds- and wrong is the greatest threat of all. ralist Joseph Wood Krutch published 220 hydrogen bomb exploded with a That is why Herbert W. Armstrong, his book The Modern Temper in 1929. Tforce 3,800 times greater than the blast the editor in chief of the Trumpet’s pre- Krutch, who believed the evolutionary that leveled Hiroshima, Japan. decessor, the Plain Truth, wrote in 1928 hypothesis, proceeded to its logical— If the Tsar Bomba had been dropped that evolution is the “most powerful and chilling—conclusion: on the center of New York City, half of modern weapon.” “Formerly [man] had believed in even Brooklyn would have been incinerated In a world full of horrifying weapons his darkest moments that the universe in a 7-mile-wide fireball. Every residen- and dangerous ideologies, the claim was rational if he could only grasp its tial building in the Greater New York that evolution is the most dangerous rationality, but gradually he comes to City area would have been flattened by weapon of them all may seem like an suspect that rationality is an attribute the high-pressure airburst emanating exaggeration. Yet a historical exam- of himself alone and that there is no from this fireball. People 50 miles away ination of the past 150 years reveals reason to suppose that his own life in Trenton, New Jersey, would have that the application of the evolutionary has any more meaning than the life of suffered third-degree burns from a theory to the realm of human morality the humblest insect that crawls from radiation wave engulfing an area larger is wreaking more destruction upon one annihilation to another,” he wrote. than the state of Connecticut. Western civilization than the airbursts “Nature, in her blind thirst for life, has Over 7 million people would have of 1,000 hydrogen bombs! filled every possible cranny of the rot- perished, and millions more would ting Earth with some sort of fantastic have suffered debilitating injuries. What If There Is No God? creature, and among them man is but Yet there is a greater threat to human- The idea of a creation that came into one—perhaps the most miserable of ity than the Soviet rds-220. being without a creator has been taught all, because he is the only one in whom julia

Thermonuclear weapons don’t make since the days of the Epicurean philoso- the instinct of life falters long enough to goddard themselves. They don’t detonate them- phers of ancient Greece. But this notion enable it to ask the question ‘Why?’ As /

selves. They don’t use themselves as did not take deep root in the Western long as life is held to have been created, trumpet leverage to threaten their enemies. It’s world for thousands of years. Then creating may be held to imply a purpose, human beings who do that. Therefore, Charles Darwin sparked an academic but merely to have come into being is, in 8 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET The World’s Most Powerful Weapon all likelihood, merely to go out of it also.” Everything Is Relative “The political philosophy of the 18th In short, if humanity is only a distant Many politicians and educators still pay century was formulated before the cousin of insects, as Darwin proposed, lip service to the Bible and Christianity; announcement and acceptance of the then the 7 million people who would die even some popular atheists say that theory of evolutionary development,” in a thermonuclear strike on New York some Bible teachings are useful social wrote U.S. educator Frank Goodnow in City are no different from the 7 million constructs. But the glowing reactor core 1916. “The natural-rights doctrine pre- ants dying of boric acid poisoning in a of modern culture is evolution. Six in 10 supposed almost that society was static routine pest control procedure today U.S. adults believe humans evolved over or stationary rather than dynamic or down the street from your house. time. Roughly the same ratio believes progressive in character.” Even Darwin himself realized the that knowledge of what is right or wrong In his essay “The American Concep- radical implications his theory would is a matter of personal experience. tion of Liberty,” Goodnow described how have on ethics and morality, even In the early modern period, Ameri- America’s founders believed “rights” though he avoided commenting on ca’s founders voiced the nation’s broad were “eternal and immutable” because them in On the Origin of Species. political consensus in the Declaration they came from humanity’s Creator. But the father of evolution addressed the subject in his later book, The Descent of Man, in 1871. Darwin admit- ted that “the moral faculties of man” An ideology that proposes are not inherent. Rather, he proposed that morality is an ever changing that there is no such thing byproduct of evolution. “In order that as right and wrong is the primeval men, or the ape-like progeni- tors of men, should have become social,” GREATEST THREAT OF ALL. he wrote, “they must have acquired that same instinctive feeling which of Independence: “all men are created He disagreed with this assessment, impel other animals to live in a body.” equal, that they are endowed by their however, saying the “rights” outlined in Those who follow the Christian ideol- Creator with certain unalienable rights, the Declaration of Independence did not ogy believe that morality is God’s defi- that among these are life, liberty and come from a creator, but from human nition of right and wrong. Those who the pursuit of happiness” (emphasis beings, who invented them based on the follow the evolutionary ideology believe added). About 100 years later, following “social and economic conditions of the that morality is actually an invention of the publication of On the Origin of Spe- time.” He argued therefore that “rights” the human mind. Therefore, logically, cies, the political consensus began to can and should be “amended” as society the human mind can alter the definition change as people increasingly accepted changes, in a similar way to how Darwin of right and wrong at will, because the the premise that concepts like morality said organisms change based on the human mind is the authority that made and human rights were themselves environment around them. up right and wrong in the first place. byproducts of evolution. What was right in the past may not be MAY-JUNE 2017 9 right today. Morality laws are even less truth.” And America then elected him doing so would ease poverty and create permanent than scientific laws. Right to the presidency, twice. a more equitable world? Would you be and wrong evolve. Once you realize the logical conclu- willing to kill a countless number of This is a well-developed, widely sion of evolution—that truth, morality, people who were preventing paradise? believed ideology that now dominates right and wrong are just made up by In Stalinist Russia, over 20 million education, politics, philosophy and human minds—you will be shocked at people were executed, starved or entertainment in the West. People call how widespread this radical thinking worked to death in the evolutionary this concept Moral Darwinism or Moral is. Without realizing it, you have even struggle between social classes. In Relativism. It began to take deep root in absorbed some of it yourself. atheistic China, the state slaughtered 40 the American educational system as the million people and actually encouraged Progressive Era began in the 1890s. The ‘Man’s Mind Is Man’s Fate’ teenagers to literally eat school princi- ideology comes straight from the pages In a world where God is a myth and pals suspected of counterrevolutionary of Darwin’s The Descent of Man, yet there is no absolute morality, the most sympathies. Some 3 million North Kore- even most Christian denominations in powerful force in the universe is the ans have been murdered in a state-sanc- the have now accepted, human mind. Thus, instead of trying tioned attempt to purge society of the wittingly or unwittingly, the notion that to limit the power of the government in concept that “inalienable rights” exist. there is no global, absolute moral order to protect your and my individual These millions of grisly murders starkly violate God’s moral law. But they did not violate the man-made morality of the societies that perpetrated them. Until humanity accepts God’s Darwin wrote in The Descent of Man, “If … men were reared under precisely inexorable spiritual law as static, the same conditions as hive-bees, stationary, eternal and unchanging, there can hardly be a doubt that our unmarried females would, like the WE STAND IN GREAT DANGER. worker-bees, think it a sacred duty to kill their brothers, and mothers would law that applies to all people, for rights that are endowed by our Creator, strive to kill their fertile daughters; and all time, and in all places. atheists often try to get control of gov- no one would think of interfering.” Because society at large accepted ernments and to expand their power to If you believe in an ideology of “moral the premise that everything is relative, the point that they can use them to end absolutism”—if you believe truth, by including morality, evolutionists like war, poverty and suffering. definition, doesn’t change—if you Alfred Kinsey and Wilhelm Reich This is the logic that led to the totali- believe that right is always right and were able to propagate the idea that tarianism of Communist Russia. wrong is always wrong, no matter the perversions like fornication, adultery, Famous Soviet defector Whittaker time, place or society—then you have homosexuality and pedophilia are not Chambers wrote in his 1952 memoir, faced the most revolutionary question in inherently evil, but are natural results Witness, that Josef Stalin’s Gulag history—“God or man?”—and, whether of the evolutionary process and are only Archipelago was the inevitable result of you realize it or not, made your choice. “wrong” because people arbitrarily Russia’s embrace of Darwinist-inspired Natural law and absolute truth exist say they are wrong. After all, if there atheism. “Hence the Communist Party only in a universe created by a Creator. is no God, marriage is not a divinely is quite justified in calling itself the If humans are only the most sophis- sanctioned union between a man and most revolutionary party in history,” ticated of the apes, and they only come a woman; it is a social construct that he wrote. “It has posed in practical into existence to go back out of it, then humanity invented in order to give form the most revolutionary question the rule of law must give way to the children their best chance at survival. in history: ‘God or Man?’ It has taken law of the jungle. The strong rule the If society wants to dispense with that the logical next step which 300 years weak. Only the fittest survive. institution, it’s not fundamentally right of rationalism hesitated to take, and or wrong to do so because marriage is said what millions of modern minds Consequences of Lawlessness not right or wrong because there is no think but do not dare or care to say: After 150 years of indoctrination in evo- such thing as right and wrong. ‘If man’s mind is the decisive force in lutionary theory, almost every sector of It isn’t only radicals on the fringe of the world, what need is there for God?’ Western society has accepted the prem- society who believe there is no such Henceforth, man’s mind is man’s fate.” ise that there is no absolute truth. Peo- thing as absolute morality, absolute right In other words, if you believe there ple protest and riot in the streets over and wrong, absolute truth. This ideology is no God, and that mankind’s fate is in whether or not the concept of gender of moral relativism is everywhere. mankind’s hands, what price would you is a biological reality, whether or not a In fact, former U.S. President Barack be willing to pay to establish your ver- mother has the right to kill her child, Obama wrote in The Audacity of Hope sion of “utopia” on Earth? Would you be and whether or not the unemployed that there is no such thing as “absolute willing to kill someone if you believed have a right to use the government to 10 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET forcibly extract wealth from others. Chambers referenced. It is the atheist-in- u KEEP CALM FROM PAGE 6 The fact of the matter in all human spired philosophy that proposed that measure.” This is the Prophet Isaiah controversies is this: If humanity “human reason” is the only source and prophesying—roughly 2,500 years evolved from primordial ooze, no only judge of all kinds of knowledge. In ago—that Britain and America would one can say what is “right” or “wrong” other words, if there is no God, whatever in the end time have a deadly keep because there is no such thing. There is seems reasonable to you is right. calm and carry on mentality! only the strong and the weak. This is the line of thinking that Of all the questions that needed “Both our practical morality and our leads to family breakdown, welfare to be raised and discussed following emotional lives are adjusted to a world addiction, drug addiction, gang the March 22 attack, one is especially that no longer exists,” wrote Joseph membership, racial problems, looting, important: Where was God? God wit- Krutch shortly after he accepted evolu- rioting and anarchy. The moral law nessed the attack. In fact, He knew what tion. “In so far as we adhere to a code revealed in the Holy Bible says that Khalid Mahood was thinking the instant of conduct, we do so largely because such behavior naturally leads to a this evil entered his mind. Yet God certain habits still persist, not because condition where cities are “laid waste, allowed him to do it. Why? Why has He we can give any logical reason for pre- without an inhabitant” (Jeremiah 4:7; removed His protection from Britain? ferring them ….” also Jeremiah 2:15; Ezekiel 6:6). How can His protection be restored? Abortion, assisted suicide, sexual The blast radius of a Soviet rds- What about you? Will you avoid this promiscuity, drug use and numerous 220 hydrogen bomb is 45 miles, but “keep calm and carry on as normal” other practices that were once con- the destruction unleashed by moral mindset as you watch world events? demned are now socially acceptable. lawlessness, the logical conclusion of The Apostle Peter wrote, “Be sober, be We live in a different social universe the evolutionary theory, has become vigilant; because your adversary the than we did a century ago, a universe entrenched in most of modern civiliza- devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, where the laws of morality are turned tion. This makes moral relativism over seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter upside down. The whole world is in the a thousand times more destructive 5:8). Vigilant means “to take heed lest midst of a moral crisis. than the Tsar Bomba! through remission and indolence [or Nearly 40 years after Herbert “When Satan destroys belief in laziness] some destructive calamity Armstrong warned about the danger creation—when the devil succeeds in suddenly overtake one.” of evolution, he further elaborated on convincing men that this Earth was When crisis strikes, either indi- the moral crisis precipitated by Moral not created by an all-powerful creating vidually or collectively, the natural Darwinism. “The world crisis had God, but that it came … ‘by continuous tendency is to quickly move on, to already started prior to World War i,” he progressive change, by natural causes, “keep calm and carry on.” But this can wrote on Nov. 24, 1967. “Only most of the according to fixed laws, brought about be a fatal mistake. We must learn to peoples of the world were not yet aware only through resident forces’—then stop, analyze the events, recognize the of it. But men like Karl Marx and Nikolai has Satan destroyed the proof of God,” mistakes, meditate on the lessons, and Lenin knew. This world crisis resulted Mr. Armstrong explained in 1928. This then change the behavior that caused from the impact of science and technol- is why “evolution is the devil’s most the crisis. The worst thing we can do ogy—and the injection of godless ‘Ger- powerful weapon.” is quickly return to the behavior that man rationalism’ into education. World Until humanity accepts God’s inexo- caused the crisis in the first place. Yet, wars are the military expression of that rable spiritual law as static, stationary, that’s what Britain and America do crisis. Worldwide depressions are the eternal and unchanging, we stand in today. And so do many individuals. economic expression. The so-called great danger. Unless the Creator, whose What happened in London was terri- ‘New Morality’ is the moral expression— existence evolutioninsts so adamantly ble. Your heart goes out to the victims. plummeting morals into the cesspool. deny, intervenes to save this world’s But it was only a hint of the terror Universal desperation is the spiritual sick society, the moral relativism and attacks radical Islam wants to commit. expression. This has spawned the beat- evolutionary progressivism radiating And it was nothing compared to the niks and the hippies—the riots—the throughout society will poison all suffering Bible prophecy says is coming marches—the ‘civil disobedience’—the humanity, leading to the extinction of upon America and Britain. The way to breakdown of law and order” (Plain all life on Earth (Matthew 24:22). prevent this from happening again, to Truth subscriber letter). Thankfully, the Bible records a defin- prevent a larger terror attack from hap- The “German rationalism” Mr. Arm- itive promise that God will intervene to pening, is to ask: Why did this happen? strong referred to was the save human beings from ourselves as How did this happen? What do we need “rationalism” Whittaker soon as we prove this lesson. n to change so this does not happen again? You won’t find our leaders asking these questions. But that doesn’t mean Is it rational to believe in God? you can’t ask—and answer—these vital questions. “But the end of all things Educational institutions have indoctrinated society to think belief in God is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and is illogical. But what is the truth? To learn the answer to this all-important n question, request Herbert W. Armstrong’s free booklet Does God Exist? watch unto prayer” (1 Peter 4:7). MAY-JUNE 2017 11 What Does It Mean to Be a MAN?

This generation has discarded the basic idea of manhood that has dominated civilization for thousands of years. What are the results? by joel hilliker

What is manhood? In a society of same-sex “marriages” and transgender bathrooms, the answer to this question has never been more confusing. This generation has challenged, castigated and changed virtually everything that has defined manhood throughout human history.

Consider Some Facts In 1960, about two thirds of American men at age 30 had finished school, left their parents’ home, become finan- cially independent, gotten married, and had a child. By 2000, that number was cut in half. In 1970, 80 percent of about 20 percent—almost double the and writing skills. Boys 25-to-29-year-old American men were rate among women the same age. are more likely to be held back or

married. Now that number has also In secondary education, boys are suspended from school. More boys melissa been cut in half. In 1950, one in 20 men outnumbered by girls in student drop out. More boys are on Ritalin, and

of prime working age was not working. government, honor societies, debating more get involved in crime, alcohol and barreiro Today, it’s about 1 in 6. clubs and school newspapers. They illegal drugs. /

Today, about 60 percent of 18-to-24- are outperformed on tests of artistic Women are pursuing higher educa- trumpet year-old males live with their parents. and musical ability. The typical boy is a tion in far greater numbers than men. Among 25-to-34-year-olds, it’s still year and a half behind girls in reading Every year 170,000 more women than 12 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET What Does It Mean to Be a MAN?

men earn bachelor’s degrees. They women to stand on their own, shunning cycle: A man with less motivation to expect higher earnings and better dependency on men and becoming provide devotes more time to senseless professional advancement than young laborers, wage-earners, managers, pursuits, which renders him even less men do. And although the average man executives and even soldiers. capable of fulfilling his role. And the earns 10 percent more, the average Women have proved to be spectacu- instant he turns away from his mascu- 20-something woman earns more than larly capable, and men have gotten the line responsibilities, a black hole of vice the average 20-something man. clear message, You are no longer needed. and wastage sucks him in. Women are even avoiding serious rela- It’s a proven, demonstrable after- Video game addiction is about four tionships so as not to derail their career effect: In areas where they compete, times more common among boys than goals. When they decide they want to women’s success tends to discourage girls. The average American boy spends marry, they are finding fewer men who men. You can attribute this to chauvin- 13 hours a week absorbed in video have developed their minds, bodies and ism, sexist indoctrination or whatever games, compared to five hours for the skills. Their choice is to either “marry you would like, but it is real, average girl. Half of college down” or not to marry at all. and it is powerful. Once men students admit that video More single women than single men see women providing for games preempt their stud- are buying their own homes. More and themselves, they lose inter- ies “some” or “a lot.” By the more are having children on their own. est in doing so. This effect time the average American Many think marriage would be nice, is apparent throughout youth reaches drinking age, but they find it unnecessary. They can the workforce. As women he will have devoted 10,000 take care of themselves, after all, and enter a profession, men lose hours to gaming—enough don’t need another dependent, another interest in it. Thus, men are time to have earned two mouth to feed. abandoning more and more bachelor’s degrees. These developments are a reversal jobs, and women are rushing Those 10,000 hours are of the relationship between males and in even faster to fill the void. 60% spent viewing and interact- females that has existed for virtually all Women’s options for employ- of 18-to-24-year- ing with either superfluous of human history. ment keep expanding as old males still live characters or with outright Feminists may celebrate, but more men surrender them. with their parents. sexualized, violent or ghoul- and more people are recognizing that The upshot of all this ish worlds. Millions of young this trend comes with some steep costs is “the emergence of an American people are immersing themselves in that we are only starting to see. matriarchy, where the younger men realistic games that encourage them to especially are unmoored, and closer become killers, sadists, mutilators and A Relic than at any other time in history monsters that use every conceivable For millennia, men have been providers: to being obsolete—at least by most weapon for murder, torture, dismem- providers of defense, security, shelter, traditional measures of social utility. berment, decapitation, impalement, food and the means for other heavy And the women are left picking up the ethnic cleansing and rape. necessities of life for women, who them- pieces” (Hanna Rosin, The End of Men; When they turn away from the selves provided the finer necessities of emphasis added). video games, millions of boys and men the relationship. As pioneering, farming Unmoored. Obsolete. These are pain- turn to pornography. Explicit sexual and other occupations gave way to fully accurate terms for far too many of media are now mainstream, pervasive, wage-earning jobs, men did the smithing, today’s aimless, indifferent men. This socially accepted, devilishly easy to get, ranching, mining, felling, milling, build- is the void that now exists where the and intensely addictive. The demand is ing, clerking and other work outside the sense of duty to provide used to be. monstrous: For every two feature films home—the work of providers. This inte- This is what happens when you cut made in America, the country produces gral role in life propelled males through society from its moorings. But there 45 full-length commercial pornography their childhoods, their educations, their is more. films. The average high school boy careers and their lives. watches two hours of pornography a Now, this model is mocked. Two-in- Retreat week. Researchers conducting a study come families are the norm, with Lacking any apparent responsibility, in July 2011 on pornography and pros- neither husband nor wife fulfilling men have devoted themselves to their titution had so much difficulty finding their historic role. Feminists encourage own pleasure. It is a self-perpetuating nonusers that they had to loosen their MAY-JUNE 2017 13 definition in order to muster 100 men 1. Children without a positive father strong men as a curse on our nations— for a control group. relationship are more negative about because of our sins. These perverted images and warped school and their teachers. Fatherless When strong men are not here to concepts filling men’s minds have devas- boys are far more likely to commit lead, others fill the void: “As for my tating effects on men’s relationships and crime, take illegal drugs, smoke ciga- people, children are their oppressors, mental health. Video games and pornog- rettes and abuse alcohol. Males with an and women rule over them. O my people, raphy tend to become a substitute for absentee father are nearly they which lead thee cause normal face-to-face interactions, which three times likelier to carry thee to err, and destroy the makes users more isolated, socially a gun and engage in drug way of thy paths” (verse 12). awkward, and susceptible to depression. deals than those who have Teenage Some say more work needs They have also been shown to suppress a father at home. Fatherless pregnancy is to be done to secure wom- the willingness to take risks and to nav- girls are much more likely en’s rights. God says women igate the intricacies of real-world rela- to fornicate; teenage preg- 4 TIMES and children already lead tionships, education and employment. nancy for girls who grow up more prevalent in society! These influences are crushing man- without a father is four times girls growing up The Jamieson, Fausset hood. One specific proof: Academics higher than among those without a father. and Brown Commentary have uncovered a correlation between with a father in the home. shows that verse 12 can pornography viewing and an increase in And fatherless girls who marry are far also refer to men who act like children a man’s willingness to move back in with likelier to file for divorce as adults. and who rule like women. Do you see his parents. Risk-averse men who cannot Anyone who looks at these real-world any leaders today who are immature, handle life’s complexities are deeply dis- results and applauds them is insane. effeminate and worse? advantaged if not crippled in ever being Anyone assessing them honestly sees able to support a family and assume that this revolution has been a disaster. Reaping What We Have Sown other responsibilities of manhood. The loss of strong manliness is a plague The problems associated with the dis- on our society. appearance of strong male leadership When Dad’s Not Around Believe it or not, this exact calamity are everywhere in America and other Feminists applaud the breakdown of was prophesied in your Bible thousands English-speaking nations. long-held traditions in male-female of years ago. Modern education is increasingly relations. But look what has taken sacrificing intellectual excellence on their place: academically and finan- Where Are the Real Men? the altar of anti-masculine liberal ideol- cially thriving women with no one to Isaiah 3 is primarily about the end ogy. Students are embracing ridiculous marry, juvenile men huddling in caves time, which other passages prove is utopianist notions that absolve them of of self-indulgence, and children who the era we are living in right now. It personal accountability. Like spoiled think this is normal and then grow specifically focuses on “Jerusalem” and children, they blame their personal fail- up and break down their “Judah,” biblical language ings on a supposedly unfair and unjust relationships even further. for the modern descendants world rather than growing up and Is this what feminists want? of ancient Israel, including taking responsibility for themselves. The loss of breadwinning America and Britain. Look The loss of masculine wisdom, men in favor of perpetual 170,000 around! Isaiah described righteousness, honor and virility adolescents has produced more women than exactly what we see before has hollowed out the strength of the a swarm of other problems men graduate our eyes: nations where world’s most powerful militaries that result when men with bachelors’ strong male leadership has and economies. America’s military is disengage from family and degrees every virtually disappeared. plagued by lack of willpower. Political from society. Yes, women year. Notice: “For, behold, the correctness has become the priority are succeeding financially Lord, the Lord of hosts, doth over effectiveness and victories. Sex and professionally—but families are take away from Jerusalem and from integration has gone so far that women fragmenting, and society is morally and Judah … The mighty man, and the man are now purposefully sent into combat spiritually disintegrating. of war, the judge, and the prophet, and situations. Many strong warriors and The role of fathers has shrunk the prudent, and the ancient, The cap- military leaders have left the forces in dramatically. More and more children tain of fifty, and the honourable man, disgust at the changing policies. are growing up without fathers at all. and the counsellor, and the cunning Our governments are plagued with And the science is in: Fatherlessness artificer, and the eloquent orator” (Isa- immaturity and selfishness. Vicious causes severe problems. Nearly half iah 3:1-3). On the whole, mighty, heroic, divisions prevail, and politicians of children who live with their single discerning, farsighted, wise, honest, increasingly express heedless criticism, mother live in poverty. Children who skilled, articulate, spiritual male lead- blind bias, unabashed arrogance, and have limited interaction with fathers ership is gone. naked hatred for their opponents. Poli- have higher rates of behavioral prob- This prophecy reveals the true, ticians approach their responsibilities lems; these show up as early as age but hidden, cause: God has removed like spiteful children. In America, the 14 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET political atmosphere has become so hos- engagement, successful leadership, gain from studying this subject. tile and the government is so paralyzed firm guidance, emotional stability and Your job as a man is perhaps the most by division that it is killing the govern- real love. challenging job God gives you! The ment’s ability to manage crises—our Society, often without realizing it, Bible shows that you hold an office: the leadership is incapable of acting wisely cries out for masculinity of substance: office of a son, the office of a brother, and decisively on important security, strong character, untarnished fidelity, the office of a husband, the office of a defense, foreign-policy, economic and exemplary behavior, empathetic yet father, the office of a man. social concerns. Meanwhile, law and decisive leadership. Deep down, we Any man who wants to live up to order are giving way to social break- yearn for men with spines. God’s definition of manhood has real down, racial hatred and criminal activity. Society still appreciates such men, work to do. He must devote his energies This weakness domestically is under- yet it teaches and pressures males to do to swimming upstream against society. cutting America’s global leadership the opposite. To grow into a real man, He must make it his unwavering aim role. Like Great Britain before it, the you must be strong enough to follow a to grow—against pressure—in those power that has been used to benefit the different path. qualities that will arm him for the rig- world for decades is being squandered Where is that path? How do you walk ors of true manhood. He must eschew through poor decision-making and it? What is true masculinity? By now the pastimes that weaken men. He must leadership. Tyrants are filling the void. it should be clear that you aren’t going avoid the addictions that eat away at America’s weakness is enabling the rise to find the answer on , men’s minds, blacken their consciences, of Iran and radical Islam, a belligerent in the news media, bookstores, legis- and destroy their confidence. He must Russia, an ascendant China, and other latures or universities. To know what stoke the flames of ambition in his life. dangerous and unpredictable powers. manhood really should be, you need to He must aim high, and equip himself The instability seizing today’s world look into the Holy Bible and consult the to become an able leader of a strong, can be directly traced back to Amer- Creator of manhood. capable woman, and a builder of family ica’s retreat—which is a result of the Learn God’s definition of manhood. and society. disappearance of godly men. Learn what your God-given duties are in This is what God wants. This is how Disappearing masculinity, which your home, with your family, in your job, we were created. This is literally what many view as a minor cultural or soci- toward your neighbors and toward soci- we were born to do, men: Grow up, etal issue, has real-world consequences ety. Understand what masculinity truly achieve, mature and embrace the role for you, your family, your finances, is—a definition that does not change that our masculine minds and bodies your health, your future and even your from day to day, from year to year, or were designed for. very security! even from generation to generation. This is the elusive solution—hiding in Decades of godless living are taking You are living in a society that has plain sight if your Bible is open—to our their toll. We are reaping what we launched a revolution and successfully manless society. It’s not about getting have sown. overthrown biblical manhood. Most back to the traditions of yesteryear. It’s men have joined in or allowed them- about embracing how we were cre- The Path to True Manhood selves to be silently led along. You now ated. Discover it, live it, and you will Feminists say they want equality for have a choice: Will you be different? be embarking on a life full of growth, women. But how many of them actually Will you live your life as a man according challenge, fulfillment and happiness want weak men? No woman applauds a to the pressures of society—or accord- built on knowing what it really means man for being addicted to video games ing to the clear commands of God? to be a man. n or pornography. What is honorable and Seeing the full picture of the mas- worthy of admiration is the man with culine duty God has vested in you is self-mastery, who refrains from being awesome and inspiring. It can also be entrapped by such sins. We yearn for intimidating, even overwhelming. But the man with self-control, with temper- take heart. Maturing as a godly man is ance, with strong moral character. a lifelong endeavor, and it is never too A strong man is a blessing to his wife early or too late to start. Every man and children. He provides more than struggles. Every man can grow in bib- money—he provides security, attentive lical manhood. You have everything to

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This article is adapted from the preface of an e-book called Biblical Manhood. Download your free copy at theTrumpet.com/go/manhood. chapters, the Invincible Empire Knights Unraveling the KKK— of the Ku Klux Klan. Not one to aim low, Davis set up a meeting with the Grand With Friendship Dragon, the highest-ranking Klansman in the state. The Grand Dragon in Mary- land was a man named Roger Kelly. While arranging the meeting, Davis decided not to tell Kelly that he was black; he thought divulging that little detail could dissuade the Grand Dragon from meeting with him. Davis arrived in the designated hotel room before Kelly. In his book, Davis describes the attire of the Grand Drag- on’s bodyguard: “A young man dressed in military camouflage fatigues with the Ku Klux Klan insignia, a white cross in a red circle with a red blood drop in the center, on one side of his chest, and the WINNING FRIENDS initials ‘kkk’ on the other side, entered Reformed white supremacist Scott the room. This was the Grand Knight- Shephard (left) and hawk, body guard to the Grand Dragon.” Daryl Davis meet with Normally when a person is hated, filmmaker Matthew The Grand Knighthawk also carried he hates right back. Not Daryl Davis. Ornstein. a loaded 9-millimeter pistol on his belt. When he saw that Davis was a black man, the Knighthawk froze in his steps. “Upon by jeremiah jacques A Burning Question seeing me, he stopped short, causing the That experience planted a question in Grand Dragon, following behind him, hen Daryl Davis was a Cub Davis’s mind that he was determined to to almost bump into his back,” Davis Scout in 1968, his troop was answer: How can a person hate another writes. “I noticed the apprehension in Wmarching from Lexington, person who they don’t even know? their faces as their eyes quickly scanned Massachusetts, to Concord to com- During his teenage years, Daryl the room and darted back to me.” memorate the Ride of Paul Revere. As suffered a few other racially motivated They feared that they had walked into they approached a certain cluster of affronts. Each one intensified his an ambush. Davis sought to quickly reas- spectators, 10-year-old Davis suddenly desire to comprehend what fueled the sure them, so he rose from his seat with felt the sting of a rock striking his arm. blind hatred. He read every book he his right hand extended toward Kelly. Then another. And then several more. could get his hands on about the Ku “I’m Daryl Davis, come on in,” he said. “I was being pelted,” Mr. Davis writes Klux Klan, a white supremacist group The tension was surreal. in his book, Klan-destine Relationships. with a long history of using physical Davis stood there with his open “I turned, and to my surprise, saw they assault, terrorism and murder against palm outstretched. Davis was smiling came from some of the spectators, even black people and other minorities. warmly and sincerely. But he under- children, along the parade route.” Daryl also read all he could about the stood the vastness of the distance he Young Daryl was oblivious to the fact racism of Nazis during World War ii, was attempting to reach his arm across. that he was the only black Cub Scout about American neo-Nazi groups, and Finally, the Grand Dragon extended his in the parade, and he initially thought about black-supremacist groups. hand toward Davis and shook his hand. those spectators must have had a prob- As the years went by, he learned an “Roger Kelly,” he said. lem with the Scouts. But when his Cub immense amount, but he realized that Throughout most of the two-hour master ran over to shield him from the to fully answer to question, he would interview, the atmosphere remained stones, Daryl suddenly realized that he need to have firsthand discussions with palpably tense. The Grand Knighthawk was the only Scout being targeted. white supremacists. remained on high alert, vigilant for

His parents explained to him later anything that could endanger his leader. smallz that the people attacking him were A Risky Rendezvous “Every time I reached into my bag to &

racists, whose only problem with him Mr. Davis knew these would be danger- pull out a blank cassette or other item raskind was that he was black. “It was very hard, ous meetings for a black man to take part I needed,” the Knighthawk “brought his /

at the age of 10, to understand why some in, but he was determined to forge ahead. hand to rest on his gun,” Davis writes. getty people who didn’t even know me would It was the early 1990s. He was living But Daryl Davis and Roger Kelly

images inflict pain upon me for no other rea- in Maryland, and decided to try to speak kept talking. They talked not just sons than the color of my skin,” he wrote. with a member of one of the state’s kkk about racial issues, but also about the 16 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET deterioration of family values in Amer- then said something that astounded several leaders to quit, and then the rest ica, the difficulties of raising children Davis: “If I should die before you, Daryl,” of the faction dissolved. “When he gave in the modern climate, and the dangers he said, “I would like you to be at my up the Klan, the kkk in Maryland fell of recreational drug use. They found funeral, and I’ll put that in my will.” apart,” Davis said. “That doesn’t mean that they agreed on the causes of many A few months later, after Roger Kelly there are no more racists here. [But] as a problems plaguing American society. and his wife had had a baby girl, an result of this leader becoming my friend, A short time after the interview, Kelly even bigger bombshell was dropped: the Klan in Maryland fell apart.” was elected Imperial Wizard of the The Kellys asked Mr. Davis to be their After Kelly’s resignation, Davis Invincible Empire Knights of the kkk. daughter’s godfather. The next day, decided to see if he could have the same He was no longer just head of the Mary- Davis viewed the request as a major impact on other defiant racists. He had land chapter, but of the whole country. milestone that brought a Bible passage remarkable success. During the 30 years to mind: “[I]t was a life-affirming move that he has been reaching out to white Accidental Friendship which, I hope and believe, heralds a supremacists, Davis has helped to per- Over the next few months, Davis and future in which ‘they shall beat their suade around 200 Klansmen to give up Kelly met for several more interviews. swords into plowshares … neither shall their robes. Since the kkk has an esti- Davis was extraordinarily patient and they learn war anymore,’” he writes. mated 6,000 members nationwide, this meek, but also persistent and authen- What happened next made even that number represents more than 3 percent tic. He would occasionally explain to “life-affirming” milestone event seem of the racist group’s total membership. Kelly how his racist viewpoints were comparatively minor. Just by reaching his hand out to them, flawed. Davis initially feared that these as he did toward Roger Kelly during corrections would anger or embarrass Renouncing the Robe their first meeting, Daryl Davis has Kelly, and destroy the rapport they had On July 9, 1999, Roger Kelly, the Impe- had a stunning and measurable impact established. Instead these interjections rial Wizard of the Invincible Empire of on American race relations. By being seemed to make Kelly think. the Ku Klux Klan, gave up his robe. He patient, friendly and authentic, he has The conversations went on. quit the Ku Klux Klan. accomplished an astonishing feat. Soon the two began to sometimes Mr. Davis’s example is unusual, but it visit each other’s homes. Davis’s book is not entirely unique. In 2015, Trumpet describes one of his visits to the Impe- editor in chief Gerald Flurry called rial Wizard’s home: “He gave me a glass attention to a similar situation. That of ginger ale, and we sat down around year, a psychopathic, white supremacist the table, talking about everything. I in Charleston, South Carolina, opened had thought we would talk for an hour fire on the Emanuel African Methodist or two. However, I got there shortly after Episcopal Church, killing nine black 10 in the morning, and it was now almost PERSUASION people. The victims’ relatives shocked Davis has convinced 7 in the evening when I got up to leave.” approximately 200 America by saying that instead of hat- They lost track of time the way people Klansmen to give ing the racist murderer, they forgave up their robes. often do when they’re enjoying each him. They said they were in deep pain, other’s company. but that they were praying for the killer. On several occasions, Kelly invited “You get a little older, you get a little “This example should have been held up Davis to kkk rallies. At one such event, wiser,” Kelly said in an interview at the for the whole nation to follow,” Mr. Flurry Kelly was in the middle of delivering a time with the Herald-Mail newspaper. wrote. “This is a lesson and an example speech when he pointed to Davis and This was never Davis’s goal. He was for all of us in a way of life that can really called him his friend. Davis was shocked, only trying to understand racial hatred. solve our problems!” (July 3, 2015). but he realized it was true. Over the He didn’t realize he would be able to This example is one that Daryl Davis years—mostly because of Davis’s change the mind of a hate-filled racist. is also setting in a deeply powerful way. patience, persistence and authentic- “That was pretty surprising to me And he says that, with patience, meek- ity—the two men had unexpectedly and because I had never expected someone ness and love, any of us can help to solve accidentally become friends. who was that entrenched, who had that race problems. “We all can do it,” he One evening, the man who had been much hatred in him, to quit,” Davis said said. “And we all need to do it because Kelly’s Grand Knighthawk died. This in an interview with wsre Pensacola. this world and our country is getting man had been a very close friend to Kelly’s resignation was major news in smaller and smaller, and the more we Kelly, and the death was difficult for the Klan. It sent reverberations through- learn to communicate with diversity, him. Kelly said he would have liked out the group, especially in Maryland. the better we’ll be able to navigate in davis for Davis to accompany him to the It started a chain reaction that caused our own society.” n funeral, but out of respect for the daryl of bodyguard’s parents, who would have To understand more about the approach America needs to heal its race-related wounds, read been uncomfortable with his presence, Gerald Flurry’s article “How to Solve America’s Race Problems” at theTrumpet.com/go/12944. courtesy they decided Davis shouldn’t go. Kelly MAY-JUNE 2017 17 PROPHECIES TO WATCH What sets THETRUMPET.COM apart from other news sites? These ancient forecasts. A major update of theTrumpet.com launched in March, along with a boost in its organization One third of the Bible consists of forecasts for the future, most of which are for the 21st and staff. The new website offers more timely posts on more topics more often, as well century. These prophecies can be grouped into four main geographic areas, each of which 12as regular e-mail alerts, new videos, upgraded search capability, an enhanced reading is the focus of numerous forecasts. experience, and other improvements. But what sets the new website apart from others is Here are just three prophecies for each group. To get today’s up-to-date and even up-to- the same thing that has always set the Trumpet apart: Bible prophecy. the-hour news that proves Bible prophecy, visit theTrumpet.com.

EUROPE 2 A GERMAN STRONGMAN WILL DOMINATE EUROPE Ten European leaders will empower a dictator of German descent. theTrumpet.com/12522

1 3 BRITAIN WILL BREAK FROM EUROPE Britain’s EUROPE WILL BECOME A 10-NATION 44-year membership in Europe’s economic bloc will end, SUPERPOWER The Continent will and the European bloc will ultimately attack it. This break unite into a resurrected Holy Roman is currently occurring. Empire dominated by the Vatican. theTrumpet.com/13988 theTrumpet.com/13072

glyn kirk /afp/getty images 4 5 6 A RUSSIAN STRONGMAN RUSSIA WILL ALLY WITH CHINA A Russian CHINA WILL JOIN AN ANTI-AMERICAN TRADE BLOC WILL DOMINATE ASIA and Chinese military alliance mustering Major Asian powers and the German-led European A Russian dictator will lead 200 million troops will ultimately oppose Union will form a brief economic alliance to oppose an Asian military alliance. a German-led European superstate. America, Britain and other English-speaking nations. theTrumpet.com/11979 theTrumpet.com/5560 theTrumpet.com/13880 adam berry/getty images , nicolas asfouri /getty images MIDDLE EAST

7 8 9 HALF OF JERUSALEM WILL IRAN WILL ALLY WITH EGYPT IRAN WILL LEAD AN ISLAMIST FALL Arabs will violently Egypt will end its long-standing POWER BLOC Iran will dominate take over the eastern part of autonomy and opposition to Iran the Middle East through its power Jerusalem. and will ally with it. over radical Islamic terror. theTrumpet.com/14527 theTrumpet.com/8599 theTrumpet.com/12459

ilia yefimovich /getty images , ullstein bild/getty images

ANGLO-AMERICA11 LOSS OF SEA GATES The United States and Britain will lose control of the world’s maritime shipping lanes, straits, canals, channels and ports. theTrumpet.com/10308

10 12 VIOLENCE WILL ERUPT WITHIN U.S. CITIES U.S. ECONOMY WILL COLLAPSE The moral breakdown of American society will The American monetary system will culminate in large-scale looting, rioting, violence and crash, draining its superpower murder in America’s most densely populated areas. status and leaving it vulnerable. theTrumpet.com/12629 theTrumpet.com/5563 chip somodevilla /getty images the Houthis’ missiles. The attack was foiled, but the Houthis were undeterred, and within the same week launched two SYRIA more missile attacks against the Mason. In March, the United States Office Mediterranean Sea IRAQ IRAN of Naval Intelligence warned that the Suez Canal Houthi militia had upped the ante by deploying naval mines in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The U.S. Navy said it P e r would remove the mines, but it didn’t si an G happen fast enough. On March 10, a EGYPT ulf Coast Guard vessel hit a mine SAUDI Strait of Hormuz and exploded, killing two sailors and ARABIA injuring eight others. Naval mines, drone attack boats, R e d cruise missiles: These are the latest S e a weapons used in Iran’s quest to control the southern Red Sea passageway. YEMEN Arabian Sea Prepping for War Bab el-Mandeb Strait den of A Gulf Ever since the Houthis took over Yemen’s capital in late 2014, the Trumpet has emphasized that this was actually a victory for Iran. In the April 2015 issue, editor in chief Gerald Flurry Iran’s Strategy to wrote, “The Houthis’ takeover of Yemen was not just a grassroots revolution. It Sabotage World Trade was a part of a deliberate and calculated Iranian strategy to conquer the Red Sea.” These latest actions by the Houthi After taking Yemen’s capital two years ago, the Islamic Republic is now militia prove that Iran is making prog- shifting its focus from land to sea. by brent nagtegaal ress in controlling this waterway. Along with the uptick in its actions against he footage was shaky, grainy Saudi frigate, killing two sailors and naval targets through its Houthi proxy, and out of focus, but the moment announcing to the world that the mili- Iran is directly exerting power over the T it captured was unmistakable. tia’s arsenal now includes naval drones. southern Red Sea. Across the water in the distance is a A few months earlier on October 1, In late February, the Islamic Republic massive warship. The amateur videog- the weapon was different, but the of Iran Navy conducted a large-scale rapher does his best to keep the vessel chants were the same. However, instead exercise in the northern Indian Ocean. in the frame as small waves lap the edge of a naval drone causing the carnage, it Operation Velayat 95 included oper- of his skiff. For a minute, he chats in was a C-802 antiship missile, made by ations in an area of nearly 800,000 with another onlooker. Then, in the Chinese, reverse engineered by the square miles, from the Strait of Hormuz anticipation, they fall silent. Iranians, and fired by the Houthis. This leading into the Persian Gulf, around the Then it happens, just as planned. time, it was a -op- Arabian Peninsula to the Bab el-Mandeb A massive fireball erupts from the erated hsv-2 Swift advanced transport Strait leading into the Red Sea. This stern of the warship, sending out an vessel that was destroyed. is an annual war drill for the Iranian instantaneous shock wave that rocks A week after that, the most powerful Navy. However, the drill this year was the camera. A second later the fiery navy in the world was the target. On different from the one last year in one explosion turns black as smoke billows October 9, the Houthis picked a fight notable way: This was the first time the skyward. The Arabic voiceover returns, with the uss Mason—far out of its weight exercises extended to the Bab el-Mandeb. this time with much more fervor: “God is class, but they had no fear. The militia Geopolitical Futures wrote that the great! Death to America! Death to Israel! launched two land-based cruise missiles inclusion of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait Curse the Jews! Victory for Islam!” at the Mason, an American destroyer “offers a window into Iranian strategy,” This was the scene in the south- stationed just north of the sea’s critical explaining that “Iran’s recent naval ern Red Sea in late January when southern choke point, the Bab el-Man- exercises indicate that Iran could be Iranian-backed Houthi militiamen deb Strait. The Mason was forced into preparing to take advantage of a dis- successfully rammed an unmanned, defensive measures including the firing tracted United States should conflict explosive-laden boat into the side of a of three of its own missiles to intercept in the South China Sea or elsewhere 20 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET take place. If the U.S. does not have the as the way in which it was tested, show shipping in the waters off the Yemeni resources necessary to prevent Iran the Iranians’ primary purpose for the coast and the effectiveness of an arms from projecting power in the region, missile: to destroy ships. embargo against the Houthis. If not the Iran wants to be sufficiently prepared But Iran is not done yet. In a March sign of a new weapon, the attack could to take advantage of the situation. 22 report, sources indicated suggest a shift in the group’s tactics Therefore, we can conclude that Iran that Iran’s long-standing support for that may equally threaten ships in the considers the Bab el-Mandeb import- the Houthis has increased in recent Red Sea” (Oct. 5, 2016). ant enough to increase its capabili- months, and that it has provided Iran is completely aware of the stra- ties to project force in that region. … special assistance through its Quds tegic significance of this gate. On Jan. “Iran is adding the Bab el-Mandeb to Force. According to Reuters, “A senior 17, 2015, the Iranian state-sponsored the theaters in which the country feels Iranian official said Maj. Gen. Qassem Tasnim News Agency published an arti- it must be capable of operating. There Suleimani, commander of the Quds cle that boldly proclaimed: “Today, all are no precise details on what Iran has Force—the external arm of the Islamic the arteries of oil transport—from Bab deployed, but in this case, the specifics Revolutionary Guard Corps (irgc)—met el-Mandeb Strait to Suez Canal and the of the deployment are less important top irgc officials in Tehran last month Strait of Hormuz—are under Iranian than observing that Iran now consid- to look at ways to ‘empower’ the Houthis. control, by means of Syria, Yemen and ers the Bab el-Mandeb part of its “‘At this meeting, they agreed to Bahrain, and within range of Iranian immediate strategic environment” increase the amount of help, through missiles” (Middle East Media Research (February 28; emphasis added). training, arms and financial support,’ Institute translation). Iranian ambition in the Bab el-Man- the official said.” Two months later, on March 2, the deb is natural considering one of its irgc weekly, Sobh-e Sadeq, wrote, leaders claimed dominance over the Iran’s Strategy in Yemen “… Yemen has a highly sensitive geopo- waterways following the 2011 Houthi Gerald Flurry wrote in 2015 that the litical status, stemming in part from its uprising. “We in the “Houthi takeover in Yemen proves that location in the Gulf of and the Bab are the new sultans of the Mediterra- Iran is implementing a bold strategy el-Mandeb. [Yemen’s] location links East nean and the Gulf,” said Mohammed to control the vital sea lane from the with West. These days, Europe imports Sadeq al-Hosseini, adviser to former Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea” 3.5 million barrels of oil through these Iranian President Mohammed Khatami. (op cit). This was at a time when most straits, and if the crisis in Yemen “We in Tehran, Damascus, [Hezbollah’s] commentators were focusing on the worsens and Bab el-Mandeb is closed, it southern suburb of Beirut, Baghdad would create a dangerous situation.” and Sanaa will shape the region. We are Iran is fully aware that controlling the new sultans of the Red Sea as well.” WHY IS THE this gate will give it virtual control of Moving forward into 2017, Iran is BAB EL-MANDEB the trade through these seas. simply implementing the strategy it SEA GATE SO IMPORTANT? Over 300,000 tons of shipping, hinted at years earlier. including 3.8 million barrels of oil, pass n u m b e r s The types of weaponry that Iran between the Mediterranean Sea and 20,000 SHIPS PER YEAR chose to test in early 2017 also reveal its 15 PERCENT OF GLOBAL MARITIME TRADE the Indian Ocean every day. Each ship naval strategy. On the second day of the 10 PERCENT OF GLOBAL SEABORNE OIL must sail through the southern passage Velayat 95 exercises, Iran successfully of the Red Sea: the Bab el-Mandeb. Mea- test-fired its Dehlaviyeh antiship mis- s h o r t c u t suring just 18 miles across, this channel THE PERSIAN GULF ROUTE IS 43 PERCENT sile for the first time. This land-based, SHORTER THAN SAILING AROUND AFRICA. is the closest point between the two laser-guided missile system created by landmasses of central Africa and the Iranian technicians jeopardizes ship- b o tt o m l i n e Arabian Peninsula. The northeastern ping traffic navigating the narrow sea CONTROLLING BAB EL-MANDEB IS EQUAL edge of the strait is in Yemeni territory. TO CONTROLLING THE SUEZ CANAL. passages of the Red Sea and Persian Gulf. The strategic importance of con- In early March, Iran launched two trolling this strait is equal to controlling Fateh-110 short-range ballistic missiles. Houthi rebellion as an attempt to take the crucial Suez Canal, since every ship The last time this model was used, the over land and destabilize Iran’s rival, that sails between Asia and Europe Fateh (Persian for “Conqueror”) starred , which is Yemen’s northern through the Red Sea must go through in a propaganda film in which it blew up neighbor. But Mr. Flurry foresaw that both of these passages. If sailing from a simulated U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. Iran’s interest in the Houthi uprising the Persian Gulf this route is 43 percent According to Fox News sources, the was aimed at a vital strategic goal: dom- shorter than sailing around the conti- new Fateh-110 has been updated with ination of the southern Red Sea passage. nent of Africa, which makes it the most “active seeker” technology that allows After the October 1 Houthi missile affordable route and saves shipping it to better detect ships at sea. The mis- attack on the U.A.E. vessel, Stratfor companies millions of dollars. siles are road-mobile and can be used wrote that the attack “indicate[s] that For this reason, roughly 20,000 ships against land-based targets. But the the group has acquired new capabilities, pass through the Suez Canal and Bab improvements to the weapon, as well raising questions about the security of IRAN PAGE 36 u MAY-JUNE 2017 21 Will America’s Asian Allies Pivot to CHINA?

After the U.S.’s unsuccessful pivot to counter China, many of America’s allies feel forced to reorient T HE PHILIPPINES themselves alongside Beijing. by jeremiah jacques

t was slightly overcast in Canberra, Australia, when or decades, the Philippines has been one of America’s most United States President Barack Obama entered Parlia- loyal allies. Since 1951, a bilateral agreement for mutual I ment. As he made his way through the chamber, hands F defense has bound the two nations, making the Philippines extended toward him from all directions, eager to shake the one of just two American treaty allies in . The alliance president’s hand. After a warm introduction from Australia’s has been of immense benefit to the Philippines, as evidenced by the prime minister, Mr. Obama walked to the lectern. In some hundreds of millions of dollars America has given Manila over the ways, the prepared remarks waiting for him there were like years for military aid, development assistance, humanitarian assis- those of any other speech. In other ways, they were an abso- tance and storm relief. The alliance has also made the Philippines a lutely tectonic shift. pillar of U.S. foreign policy in the region. This was the speech in which Obama announced his But last June, a new Philippine president came to power in Manila administration’s “pivot to Asia.” The speech, given Nov. 17, who seems to have little affection for America: Rodrigo Duterte. After 2011, signaled that the Bush-era focus on the Middle East and seeing the Obama administration’s failure to counter China’s bullying Europe was over. The shift meant nothing less than taking the of the Philippines in the South China Sea, Duterte wasted no time in resources, political power, financial leverage, military projec- reaching out to China once he entered office. tion and economic mass of a continent-wide superpower, and After members of the Obama administration had criticized diverting the bulk of it to interaction with Asian powers. human rights violations in Duterte’s domestic anti-drug campaign, With the pivot, President Obama aimed to revive U.S. he insulted President Obama personally, and said the U.S. military influence in the vital Asia-Pacific region. And by boosting should prepare to get out of the Philippines. cooperation with America’s Asian allies and partners, the Duterte then told his government that back when Ukraine’s shift sought to contain and engage China. The plan included Crimean Peninsula was annexed by Russia, America “wasn’t able to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (tpp), a free trade deal that do anything.” In light of this, and referencing Manila’s defense treaty would link the U.S. with several Asia-Pacific countries, and with the U.S., he asked his officials: “Do you really think we need it?” reduce China’s leverage over participating nations. While visiting Beijing, Duterte ramped up the rhetoric to a new In terms of diplomatic shuttling, wire transfers, cable extreme, announcing his country’s “separation” from the U.S. and traffic, consulate staffings, bills of lading, naval planning, realignment with China. “America has lost now. I’ve realigned myself troop deployments, merchant tonnage, port construction, [with China’s] ideological flow,” he said. “And maybe I will also go to and customs volume, there could hardly have been a greater Russia to talk to Putin and tell him that there are three of us against long-term structural transformation than what the “pivot to the world: China, Philippines and Russia. It’s the only way.” Asia” aimed for. Later, under pressure from the top brass in the Philippines military, Slowly, yet inexorably, we were all about to feel the Earth Duterte softened some of his anti-U.S. statements, saying he only move under our feet. wanted a more independent foreign policy so he could build a closer Except it was a failure. Within a few months, it was clear relationship with China. But despite the partial backtracking in words, that the talk of the pivot was not translating into much action. Duterte’s actions have made clear that he is willing to sacrifice the Wash- The plan was not just failing to curb Chinese aggression—it ington-Manila relationship in order to strengthen bonds with China. was provoking more of it. And as China bullied U.S. partners Duterte also canceled some joint Philippine-U.S. patrols moni- in the area, the Obama administration took little action to toring Chinese vessels near Philippine territorial waters. He canceled counter it. As the years went by, it appeared to many of Amer- some joint exercises with the American military, announced that he ica’s Asian partners that Washington was appeasing Beijing. would start buying weapons from China, and signed an assortment of In late 2016, when it became clear that the transition in U.S. deals with Beijing worth tens of billions of dollars. leadership would mark the death knell of the tpp, it felt to Meanwhile, Duterte placed a distinguished feather in the cap of many of America’s partner nations like the final straw. They Chinese President Xi Jinping by declining to acknowledge a victory began to panic. Unsure about the direction and commitment the Philippines had won against China in an international court at of America, and unable to ignore Beijing’s growing power The Hague. China asserts sovereignty over 80 percent of the vast and intensifying resolve to use its power, these nations that South China Sea, parts of which are also claimed by the Philippines, have been aligned with the U.S. for decades are now changing Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. Since 2012, Chinese island- course, pivoting to China. building and vessel movement in this disputed region have pushed 22 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET Will America’s Asian Allies Pivot to CHINA?

T HE PHILIPPINES MALAYSIA

into Philippine territory, posing n the eve of a historic visit to Beijing in November, Malaysian a major challenge to the Prime Minister Najib Razak said he would work to “elevate rules-based global order, and O the relationship between” China and Malaysia. He praised leading to the high-profile 2016 CHINA the way Beijing has “created benefits not just for the people of [China court case. The court ruled and Malaysia] but also for regional stability and harmony.” that the maritime territories The assertion is not grounded in reality. It was apparently designed lawfully belong not to China, to flatter the Chinese leadership, a government that Najib justifiably THE but to the Philippines. Duterte’s PHILIPPINES fears, especially as he sees the U.S. retreating from Asia. decision to basically ignore the In Beijing the next day, Najib signed a deal to buy Chinese naval ruling equated to the deepest patrol vessels. This marked a milestone development: Malaysia’s first kowtowing the Philippines can ever major defense deal with China. render toward the Chinese. Najib then warned “former colonial powers” (read America and The decision, alongside China’s For decades, the Philippines Britain) against “lectur[ing] countries they once exploited on how to massive military buildup there, has been one of America’s conduct their own internal affairs today.” Malaysians have long held also means Beijing could most loyal allies, and a a favorable view of and a thriving diplomatic relationship with the soon declare an Air Defense pillar of U.S. foreign policy United States, so the sudden shift alarmed American leadership. Identification Zone over the in Asia. Now the leadership Richard Heydarian, a specialist in Asian geopolitical affairs, said the South China Sea. is telling America that realignments of the Philippines and Malaysia are alarming because they In a particularly strange act those days are over. happened so abruptly: “This is a dramatic turn of events, since not only are of obsequiousness, Duterte the Philippines and Malaysia considered as staunch strategic partners of also told Chinese officials that the West, but they have also been caught in bitter territorial disputes with he would be happy to share any oil that the Philippines finds in the China, which has rapidly expanded its footprint across the South China disputed region with Beijing. Sea” (, Nov. 8, 2016). These moves demonstrate that even if Mr. Duterte is unable to These countries should be accomplish an immediate and total “separation” from the U.S., he is angry at China for its bullying, eager to drastically reduce Manila’s reliance on America. They show Heydarian says. But they that he is determined to align with China. apparently have calculated that After America’s transition from President Obama to Donald it is now too late for that. It is Trump, there was hope that Duterte would reverse direction back time to instead give the bully toward America. After all, Mr. Trump has not criticized the human their lunch money. rights violations of Mr. Duterte’s drug war as Mr. Obama had so Heydarian also said that CHINA infuriated him by doing. But there is no indication of an improvement more defections to China may in the U.S.-Philippines relationship. In fact, 10 days into Mr. Trump’s follow: “Put together, Najib’s and presidency, Duterte asked the U.S. to no longer store weapons in Duterte’s back-to-back visits Philippine facilities under the existing defense pact, saying he does to Beijing have provoked panic not want the Philippines to become entangled in any fighting that in some Western capitals, with

erupts between China and the U.S. observers causally warning MALAYSIA A willing treaty ally would not speak of such potential fighting as about a wave of defections something it is detached from, and intends to remain uninvolved with. among traditional Western In February 2017, Duterte refused to assign an ambassador to the partners now pivoting to China.” Malaysians have long had United States. “No ambassador will go there,” he said. “I don’t feel like This feared “wave of a favorable view of and sending one.” defections” gathered major a thriving diplomatic These are not the words or actions of a willing treaty ally. momentum in late December relationship with the Days after Mr. Duterte’s alarming statements about seeking when officials in another Amer- United States. Somewhat “separation” from America, the leader of another staunch American ican-friendly Asian nation made suddenly, the nation is partner nation expressed the same sentiments. a landmark announcement. instead looking to China. MAY-JUNE 2017 23 THAILAND VIETNAM

n 1954, the U.S. and Thailand signed the Manila Pact of the s recently as 2014, it former Southeast Asia Treaty Organization. This pact and two seemed that Vietnam’s I later agreements welded Washington and Bangkok together as A fear of Chinese aggres- official treaty allies. For decades, the alliance was unshakable. sion was intense enough to keep CHINA But in 2014, Thailand’s Royal Armed Forces launched a coup d’état it firmly in the U.S.’s corner. That that overthrew the country’s government and established a junta to summer, China’s state-owned oil rule in its place. The military officers who took power repealed parts company illegally positioned an VIETNAM of the constitution, dissolved parliament, declared martial law and oil rig in the waters of Vietnam’s set a nationwide curfew. They outlawed political gatherings, arrested exclusive economic zone. numerous anti-coup activists, and took control over Thai media. The move sparked tensions Washington froze security and defense aid to Thailand and said culminating in Vietnamese and relations can return to normal only after human rights violations end Chinese fishing vessels ramming and democracy is restored. each other. The U.S. pounced The country’s pro-Western But China makes no such demands. In stark contrast to America’s on the opportunity to strongly government was recently sermonizing about human rights abuses and democracy suppression, condemn China and to back Viet- replaced by the China is utterly unconcerned about such issues. In December 2016, a nam’s pro-Western government China-friendly Communist group of Thai officials traveled to Beijing and were won over to China. by funding an upgrade of parts Party of Vietnam. They announced that Thailand would develop a major joint military of the nation’s military. The new leadership production facility with China. The Diplomat said the spike in is tilting the nation It didn’t end there. In early January, Thailand said it was buying a tensions meant China-Vietnam away from Washington sizable quantity of VT-4 tanks relations had “passed the point and toward Beijing. from China, and consulting with of no return.” China on Thailand’s joint invest- But in January 2016, the ments in tanks and other heavy situation began to drastically change. Vietnam held its 12th National weaponry. Even before the Congress, which saw the pro-Western leadership replaced by a December visit, the air forces pro-China faction headed by Nguyen Phu Trong. As the new head of of China and Thailand held their Vietnam’s politburo, Trong wasted no time tilting the country toward first ever joint exercises. Now China and away from Washington. CHINA Thailand has selected China for Vietnam’s reorientation was on full display in January when a multibillion-dollar contract Trong visited Beijing for four days. President Xi staged a state-level to build its first submarines. welcoming ceremony for him. The trip resulted in a joint communiqué Bangkok and Beijing have stressing both nations’ commitment to bolstering their strategic coop- also taken milestone steps to eration. The Diplomat admitted that time had proved its earlier “point collaborate on military training, of no return” statement wrong and said Trong’s visit “underscored a THAILAND personnel exchanges and major shift in Sino-Vietnamese bilateral relations” (January 25). antiterrorism cooperation. The trip showed that Vietnam “seems to anticipate certain obsta- It is possible that U.S.-Thai cles to its partnership with Washington under President Trump,” the For decades, the U.S.-Thai relations will warm again after Diplomat said, “particularly now that he has withdrawn the United alliance was unshakable. Thailand has elections that the States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).” But since a coup d’état junta has promised will take Forbes’ Asia analyst Ralph Jennings said the leadership transition overthrew the country’s place in 2018. But by that time, in America is not likely to improve U.S.-Vietnam relations, but only to government and established Beijing’s tightening grip may further strain them. “Compared to the still new U.S. administration, a junta to rule in its place, leave little room for the U.S. to China feels comfortably predictable,” he wrote. “It’s got unwavering everything is changing. wriggle back into Thailand. one-party rule like Vietnam” (February 20).

Three Trends in One There is evidence of the same trend happening, to varying Asian nations are acutely aware of America’s decline and degrees, in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. China’s rise. Their desire for self-preservation prompts them At first glance, this may appear to be driven by the smaller to realign accordingly. Asian nations’ increasing fondness for China. This may factor In a strategy report released in December, Ross Babbage, into the calculus of Duterte and some others to a small degree. senior fellow at U.S. think tank Center for Strategic and But these course changes are happening mostly because Budgetary Assessments, explained: “In effect, Beijing is 24 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET pressuring regional countries into an arrangement that Asian nations. Ezekiel 38 provides many more details about mirrors the contract struck with its own people: economic this Asian military bloc, including the fact that it will be led benefits in exchange for political compliance, with a big stick by Russia, with China in a number two position. lurking in the background threatening retaliation for aberrant The Asian nations rallying behind China today are laying behavior. … Significant damage is being done to U.S. and allied the foundation for the “kings of the east” prophecy to be credibility. In the absence of major changes in allied policy, fulfilled. They are the “kings of the east” coalescing into the much of Southeast Asia will likely shift into Beijing’s orbit.” Asian bloc. These nations see China’s big stick hovering in the back- The third trend being fulfilled is what the Bible calls “the ground, and also see that the U.S. can no longer be relied times of the Gentiles.” Jesus Christ Himself used this term upon to protect them from it. So they are making a calculated (Luke 21:24). The context shows that these “times” will occur realignment: If you can’t beat them, join them. after a shift in global power takes place, pushing power away It is possible that Mr. Trump could prioritize recovering from America and Britain and toward two main power blocs: U.S. leadership in the region. He could attempt major changes one led by Germany, and the other led by Russia and China. to demonstrate U.S. military superiority to discourage fur- For this prophesied time to occur, there has to be a shift of ther Chinese adventurism and to win back the confidence of America’s allies. But the damage has been done. Such an attempt would accomplish little. Most Americans may not accept This development highlights three prophetically significant trends: The decline of American power, the coming together that the United States’ will to of the “kings of the east,” and the rise of China’s might. use its power is broken, but Herbert W. Armstrong forecast the deterioration of Ameri- ca’s power decades ago. Just after America’s failed invasion of America’s Asian partners can see Cuba in 1961, Mr. Armstrong pinned the blame not on the U.S. it clearly. As a result, these Asian military, or even on the Kennedy administration, but on the American people: “Unless or until the United States as a whole states are rallying around China. repents and returns to what has become a hollow slogan on its dollars: ‘In God we trust,’ the United States of America has won its last war! … [T]he God America has deserted gave it its power to China. This is what we are seeing as Asian nations most humiliating defeat! What does the Cuban debacle mean? pull away from America, and tilt suddenly toward China. It means, Mr. and Mrs. United States, that the handwriting is Bible prophecies show that these trends will lead to a time on your wall!” (Plain Truth, October 1961). of unparalleled global conflict and suffering (Matthew 24:21). Mr. Armstrong knew that America’s power was crumbling Knowing about that impending war and suffering makes it and that the nation was headed for collapse. He made these sobering to watch the decline of America, and the rise of a statements with confidence because they were based on bloc bent on destroying the global order. But it is vital to know biblical prophecy. The Bible includes a startlingly specific that these sobering trends are closely connected to the most and recognizable forecast for the descendants of Israel, which hope-filled and radiant future imaginable. The Bible makes include America. God said that if the nation rejected His law, clear that just after all the devastation occurs, the most awe- “I will break the pride of your power” (Leviticus 26:19). some and wonderful event in the history of the universe will In the decades since Mr. Armstrong penned those words, come to pass: the return of Jesus Christ. the people of America have calcified their rejection of God’s The trends underway in Asia right now show that Jesus Christ law. They have only intensified their disdain for it. In the will very soon return to usher in an age of peace and prosperity time since, America has inserted itself into dozens of military for the peoples of China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, altercations. And each of the halfhearted campaigns has Vietnam, the U.S. and all countries! Of this future time of global drained a little bit more of the country’s pride in its power. peace, Isaiah 2:4 says: “[N]ation shall not lift up sword against On Oct. 1, 2012, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry said nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” America’s flat-footed reaction to the Benghazi massacre the Knowing how near that bright future month before meant that the Leviticus 26:19 prophecy had is can give us the proper perspective then been fully fulfilled. He said: “It’s no longer God saying, ‘I and fill us with hope and optimism. n will break the pride of your power.’ It’s now God has broken it! I’ve never seen America in such a low as this!” Most Americans may not accept that the United States’ Is a clash between the U.S. will to use its power is broken, but America’s Asian partners and China inevitable? can see it clearly. As a result, these Asian states are rallying around China. This too was prophesied to happen. Revelation 9:16 speaks of an Eastern army comprised of a Bible prophecy holds the answer. jaw-dropping 200 million soldiers. Revelation 16:12 calls this Request Russia and China in Prophecy huge force the “kings of the east,” with the plural kings signal- to get tomorrow’s headlines today. ing that this will be a multinational force, a bloc of multiple MAY-JUNE 2017 25 INCREASE YOUR BIBLE IQ Where to Turn for Advice

Do you have someone to trust for the right answer every time? You sure do!

The Philadelphia ife can be confusing. When you come up correction shows them the right course. Do you? Trumpet, in against a problem and look for help, you can Will you let God’s Word show you how to change conjunction with L hear one piece of advice from one friend, differ- your life? After you read a scripture or a passage, the Herbert ent advice from a different friend, opposite advice ask yourself, how do I need to change my life to W. Armstrong from a colleague, and conflicting advice from your follow what God is telling me? College Bible spouse. How can you tell the right answer from the 4. Is there an attitude God wants in us as we seek Correspondence wrong one? Or should you just “do what feels right”? Him through Bible study? 1 Peter 5:5; Isaiah 66:2. Course, presents Imagine knowing the right answer, every time. We cannot seek God with a “take me as I am” this brief excursion Imagine having someone right beside you through- attitude and expect results. We must be humble, into the fascinating out your life who always gives you the best advice. knowing that we do not have the answers. Then study of the Bible. What a relief that would be! we will tremble at His word, respecting what God Simply turn to and Where can you turn for dependable advice every says enough to act upon it and to turn away from read in your Bible time? To the same source that the Trumpet turns: our mistakes (see also Isaiah 57:15). When you are each verse given the Bible! humble, God can actually dwell with you, coming in answer to the The Bible may seem deeply mysterious, impossi- to your side as your Adviser. questions. You will bly huge, terribly complicated or excessively diffi- 5. What did the psalmist do when he needed be amazed at the cult to read. But believe it or not, it has the answers help, understanding and guidance? Who was his new understanding to the everyday difficulties you face. Get to know it, source? Psalm 119:9-11, 17-18, 140-144. How zeal- gained from this and it will be your most reliable, lifelong counselor, ously did he seek God? Verse 10. short study! because it contains the counsel of the Source of To truly understand the Bible, you must pray all wisdom: the living God. And He will advise you, first for understanding. Through­out the Psalms, through the pages of His inspired Word. you will see the wonderful relationship between the authors and God. In your studies, the Psalms Do You Really Need Advice? can help you see how to develop the same deep 1. Does man really need guidance from God? Can relationship with your Creator. If you feel like you he reason out for himself how to properly lead his do not know how to pray, do not be afraid to kneel own life? Proverbs 14:12; Jeremiah 10:23. down and openly, honestly, humbly talk to God. Most people disagree with these verses. They This is just the type of prayer God will hear! believe that they ultimately have the answers. 6. What are the rewards of seeking God’s under- But our world is a disaster not because we inten- standing through His Word? Proverbs 3:13-18. tionally choose the worst courses of action, but Seek God’s advice, and you will receive these bless- because we choose what we think is the best ings! In fact, this is the only way to receive these course—and we are wrong! And we make these rewards. Bible study is the chief way to do that. This disasters even worse because we don’t admit that is the way to achieve success, peace, happiness and we are incapable of correctly discerning right abundance. If you lack the motivation to study, ask from wrong. The sooner you acknowledge that you God to give you the desire for it! Read Luke 11:9-10. don’t have the answers, the better off you will be. 7. How important does God consider Bible study? Only after you admit you do not know better will Deuteronomy 8:3; 11:18-21. you be willing to listen to advice. God compares Bible study to nothing less than 2. Why can’t human beings look to themselves the food we eat every day for physical survival. It for the answers? Jeremiah 17:9. The “heart” this may be hard to perceive this “spiritual hunger,” verse speaks of is the human mind without God—a but spiritual starvation is just as real as—and far state the Bible refers to as “carnal.” What’s wrong more common than—physical starvation! with allowing yourself to be governed by your carnal mind? Romans 8:6-8. Practical Advice on Seeking Advice This is hard to admit, because we like to think How do you begin to find the practical wisdom we’re pretty good. But it is reality! contained within this massive book? 3. Why did God give us His Word? 2 Timothy 3:16-17. 1) Study consistently, study frequently. For Notice the words reproof and correction. Most the Bible to become an effective counselor in your people do not like to be corrected, even though life, you have to get to know it well. Daily study is 26 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET DAILY STUDY IS ESSENTIAL. SET A REGULAR STUDY SCHEDULE INTO YOUR EVERYDAY ROUTINE.

essential. Set a regular study schedule into your everyday routine. Study when you are alert, when it can be an activity you will truly anticipate. 2) Try different types of studies. When you face a specific problem, do a special study on the make God’s Word come alive and really penetrate subject to get the rock-solid advice you are looking your heart and consciousness? Meditate. (See for. A couple of basic Bible tools can help. Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:2; 77:12.) For God’s advice to The simplest tool is a concordance. This allows sink in, you have to think often and think deeply you to look up any word and see all the places about what you study. where that word appears in the Bible. Strong’s Concordance shows you what the original Hebrew Am I Reading This Right? or Greek words are, and can help you more deeply Although we understand that the Bible is God’s understand the meaning of the words that have Word, it seems there are as many different inter- been translated into English. With a topical Bible, pretations of the Bible as there are religions and you can search for the subject you need advice on churches. The Bible itself is often written in what and find many relevant scriptures grouped under you could call a code. How can you know if you’re that subject. Another great reference tool is a reading it correctly and getting the right advice? cross-referencing Bible like Thompson’s Chain 1. Should we rely on our own or any other man’s Reference Bible, which references a topical index interpretation of the Bible? Proverbs 3:5; 2 Peter 1:20. beside each Bible verse pointing you to other pas- Let the Bible interpret itself! Herbert W. Arm- sages that can give you additional instruction. strong often compared the Bible to a jigsaw puzzle, A Bible dictionary or Bible encyclopedia can with all the scriptures on a given subject scattered define difficult Bible words or give you helpful “here a little, and there a little” (Isaiah 28:10). Avoid background information so you can understand taking scriptures out of context, or using only one the historical context of books in the Bible. Com- scripture to prove a point. Read numerous scrip- mentaries can have good information and insight, tures on a given subject to see the complete picture but they also have conflicting and erroneous of what a specific verse or passage means. interpretations as well. 2. Amid all the confusion, how can we get God’s Two other effective Bible studies are: 1) studying interpretation, and not that of the many men who the life of a person in the Bible, whether good or bad; claim to understand the Bible? 1 Thessalonians 5:21. and 2) studying a specific book, such as Proverbs. Study to prove God’s Word. Look into history This short study The translation you read is also important. and see if God has brought His prophecies to pass. is a sample of the We recommend the King James Version and, as Look into world events today and see whether method employed supplements, the Revised Standard Version and God’s predictions have come true. in each lesson of the Moffatt translation. A translation can contain Never approach Bible study with an attitude of the free Herbert many errors; for instance, the New International disproving God. Only if you test and prove God’s W. Armstrong Version has mistranslations in many cases and Word by obeying it will you receive the incredible College Bible even leaves a few scriptures completely out. Some blessings of Bible study. God promises blessings for Correspondence “translations” of the Bible aren’t even translations, heeding His commands and taking correction. Obey Course. Over but are paraphrases of other translations. and put those promises to the test. See if God keeps 100,000 people 3) Develop a system to mark your Bible. Choose His promises. (Read Malachi 3:10 as an example.) have enrolled in this a color code for highlighting scriptures. For Then, once you prove something good, hold fast exciting, dynamic instance, you might mark promises in green, per- to it! Never let it go! Build your life around the course. Ordering sonal correction in yellow, and doctrine in orange. foundational truths you learn in your Bible study. information is on the Colored pencils work well. You can also find good, Learn what your Creator advises you to do. Begin back cover of this indelible fine-point ink pens that will allow you to your study of the Bible today! n magazine.

kjekol write notes in your margin to remind you of details / and instruction that apply to the noted verses. com . You can read previous articles in this 4) Meditate and review. After learning lessons, series online at theTrumpet.com/go/iq. istock it does not take long to forget them. How can you MAY-JUNE 2017 27 for EU nations to agree to them. But these fundamental princi- ples have been established, and WORLDWATCH it will be much easier to expand the border and coast guard, the research budget and the command center’s authorization than it was to create them in the first place. In 1978, Herbert W. Armstrong wrote, “The Euro- Europe approves peans are far more disturbed about their safety in relying on military HQ ON PATROL United States military power to A Bundeswehr soldier protect them than Americans mans an outpost in Mali. realize! The United States is not loved in Europe. European uropean Union But EU leaders have said this commanding combat missions. confidence in U.S. protection leaders approved the is only the beginning. EU foreign- Following Britain’s vote to against their next-door E creation of a military policy chief Frederica Mogherini leave the Union last summer, Communist neighbor has been headquarters on March 6. The said, “We are progressing the EU officially launched its lessening and lessening. Military Planning and Conduct steadily toward strengthened European Border and Coast “Europeans want their own Capability will allow the EU to defense cooperation, and we Guard Agency in October, a united military power! They run joint military operations will continue to do more.” new fund for European defense know that a political union of abroad, the first such joint “It’s a first step,” said Belgian research in November, and now Europe would produce a third command in EU history. Deut- Foreign Minister Didier Reyn- has established its own military major world power, as strong sche Welle called it “a military ders, adding, “A European army, command center. as either the U.S. or the USSR— headquarters—in everything maybe later.” EU Observer said Each of these steps is almost possibly stronger!” (Good News, but name” (March 7). some regard this headquarters laughably small: a border and Aug. 28, 1978). Under the current plan, the as “the nucleus of a future coast guard with only 1,500 Watch Europe’s military headquarters will be limited to European army” (March 6). personnel, a defense research initiatives and see whether managing training missions— The EU already plans to fund of only $27 million, a military they remain insignificantly tiny, including those currently review the headquarters command that cannot conduct or whether they expand and underway in Mali, Somalia and next year, when it may extend combat missions. The tiny size of allow Europe to grow into a the Central African Republic. its authorization to include these initiatives made it possible superpower. n

China now Germany’s top trading partner JUST BUSINESS Chinese cargo arrives ata released in if the new U.S. government in Hamburg, Germany. February reveals that engages in protectionism as D China overtook the promised, the European Union United States in 2016 to become should realign its economic Germany’s new top trading policies toward the Asian partner. The U.S. fell to third place, supercontinent. The head of alexander behind France. Reuters reported, Germany’s BGA trade associ-

“The development is good news ation, Anton Börner, echoed koerner for the German government, Gabriel’s sentiments by stating on trade. Trump has already the German-led EU. Trade /

which has made it a goal to that, “given the protectionist canceled the Trans-Pacific between Europe and Asia getty safeguard global free trade after plans of the new U.S. president, Partnership (TPP), a trade deal already exceeds transatlantic

images U.S. President Donald Trump one would expect that the trade designed to contain China. But trade. This commerce will only

threatened to impose tariffs ties between Germany and China now it looks as though the increase as China and other , sean on imports and his top adviser will be further strengthened.” remaining TPP countries could nations continue massive new

gallup on trade accused Germany of President Trump heavily criti- actually continue the partnership construction of roads, railways, /

exploiting a weak euro to boost cized China’s trade and economic and replace the U.S. with China. pipelines and other infrastruc- getty exports” (February 24). manipulation throughout his Doing business with a ture along the Silk Road that

images German Vice Chancellor presidential campaign, often powerful Asian trading bloc ties together the powerful Sigmar Gabriel proposed that stating that “China is killing us” looks very tantalizing to economies of Eurasia. n 28 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET Is Hamas without officially recognizing charter its anti-Semitic tirades Will Iran get nukes reinventing itself? Israel. This amendment is claiming that the Jews caused from ? likely designed to match the both world wars and other injus- amas is planning to December 2016 tices against humanity. Asharq ran is steadily making alter its charter. Some Security Council Resolution al-Awsat’s Hamas source said progress towards a H observers say the 2334, which outlaws all Jews the new charter “strictly defines “I nuclear weapon and proposed changes renew hope living outside the 1967 borders. animosity against occupying is doing so via North Korea.” for peace between the forces, and not Jews in an This was the assessment of Gaza-based Palestinian attempt to shake off accu- two nuclear experts in a paper terrorist group and Israel. sations of anti-Semitism.” published by the Begin-Sadat London-based Arabic These changes may Center for Strategic Studies newspaper Asharq improve Hamas’s image, on February 28. Dr. Rafael al-Awsat reported on but they don’t spring Ofek and Dr. Dany Shoham say the amendments to the from a sudden change of Iranian leaders circumvented 29-year-old document on heart. For one, in February, the nuclear deal implemented

March 7, about a month REFORMED? Hamas Hamas appointed a new on Jan. 16, 2016, by outsourcing before their scheduled militants in Gaza leader in Gaza, Yahya work to North Korea. released. Three of the Sinwar, who is a literal This nuclear partnership more dramatic changes to the Hamas was founded in 1987 killer. For another, this group has began in the 1990s. The paper charter decree that: 1) Hamas as the Palestinian branch of spent three decades recruiting, says collaboration intensified endorses a Palestinian state Egypt’s MB. Since Iran took grooming, funding, arming, glori- in 2012 when U.S. President with 1967 borders; 2) Hamas over as Hamas’s main sponsor fying and rewarding the families Barack Obama began trying officially breaks with the Muslim in the early 2000s, however, of terrorists who have murdered to coax Iran into signing a Brotherhood (MB); and 3) Hamas the group’s connection to the Israelis. These changes are nuclear compromise. Iranian is no longer anti-Semitic. Brotherhood has weakened. designed to gather political scientists and technicians were Previously, Hamas viewed Hamas insists it will continue and financial support, which often present at North Korea’s any acceptance of the 1967 resisting Israel, but separating may enable Hamas to defeat nuclear tests between 2013 and boundaries as tacit recognition from the MB could still improve its Palestinian rival, Fatah, and 2016. Numerous North Korean of the State of Israel. Now, its own international reputation. strengthen its position against delegations also visited Iran’s Hamas apparently will accept Hamas also reportedly Israel until the time comes to nuclear and ballistic facilities; those boundaries, though still intends to expunge from its turn up the terror again. n the last visit coming one month before the nuclear deal was agreed to in June 2015. Japan’s bold show of military force The paper says Iran signed a formal agreement with North uthorities in Tokyo Japan has no Korea just two months after the said on March 14 that claims to the Obama administration secretly A Japan’s Maritime South China Sea, offered to open a direct channel Self-Defense Force will send but is entangled of communication with Iran. its largest warship, the Izumo in separate terri- The Obama administration helicopter carrier, on a three- torial disputes TERRITORIAL reportedly permitted planes A Japanese warship month tour through the South with China over patrols the East China Sea. from North Korea to fly directly China Sea. Japan’s largest parts of the East to Iran without having to stop for show of military force since China Sea. Tokyo’s decision to cannot project offensive power. nuclear proliferation inspections. World War II, the move marks dispatch the 817-foot Izumo But this label is misleading. The paper said the similarities a major step toward Tokyo’s shows that Japan supports The Center for International between the two countries’ images remilitarization. the tougher stance the United Maritime Security says the weapons programs belie a great getty

/ China claims nearly all of the States is taking toward China Izumo has “inherently offensive deal of “undisclosed interaction vast, resource-rich South China under President Donald Trump. capability” that runs “counter between Tehran and Pyongyang.” Sea, through which passes one It also suggests that Japan may to the values espoused in Editor in chief Gerald Flurry yamanaka third of the world’s maritime seek to establish its own military Article 9 of the Japanese asked in the April 2016 Trumpet toru , trade. Brunei, Malaysia, the Phil- presence in the South China Sea. Constitution.” The warship issue, “Why were Iranian offi- ippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also Since Article 9 in Japan’s shows how powerful Japan’s cials present for North Korea’s images

claim portions of the sea. Recent Constitution bans the country military could be, and the illegal nuclear weapons tests? getty / Chinese island-building and from acquiring offensive decision to sail it through the Are the Iranians outsourcing hams

vessel movement in the region weapons, Tokyo labels the $1.2 South China Sea represents their nuclear program, or at have posed a major challenge to billion Izumo as a destroyer, a how boldly Japanese leaders least parts of their nuclear mahmud the rules-based global order. class of vessel that typically could wield such a force. n bombs?” n MAY-JUNE 2017 29 South Africa CASPIAN RUSSIA SEA proposes forced land redistribution SOUTH OSSETIA BLACK SEA Georgia outh African President Armenia Jacob Zuma has Azerbaijan endorsed the possible Turkey S confiscation of white-owned lands without compensation, Russia separatists began to increase. breaking with two decades of Tension climaxed in 2008, when post-apartheid precedent. assimilating Georgia waged a resolute “We have identified the weak- ground and air assault. Putin nesses in the land restitution South Ossetian responded by invading Georgia and redistribution program,” he and pushing Georgian soldiers said on March 3. “The ‘willing SEPARATIST South Ossetian out of South Ossetia and out buyer, willing seller’ principle forces leader Leonid Tibilov meets with Putin at the Kremlin. of Abkhazia, Georgia’s other did not work effectively.” pro-Russian breakaway region. Since the end of apartheid ussian President Vlad- formerly part of the Soviet After the invasion, Putin in 1994, the imir Putin instructed bloc. But in 1992, shortly after recognized the independence South African R his government on the Soviet Union’s collapse of both regions and asserted de government March 14 to finalize a deal to and after several eruptions of facto control over them. has sought to absorb the military forces of violence, the region declared Georgia, along with the buy land from another country. The order independence. For over a United States and the European willing sellers ZUMA establishes Russian military decade, South Ossetia existed Union, labeled the Russian move and redistribute it to black command over the military in as a semiautonomous region an illegal land grab. Georgia settlers. Now Zuma is proposing South Ossetia, a breakaway in a state of general peace continues to insist that both a “pre-colonial audit of land region of Georgia. The alarming with the rest of Georgia. But in regions are Georgian territory, ownership, use and occupation move represents a major 2004, the Georgian government a view which international law patterns.” After the audit, development in Putin’s quest to launched efforts to regain supports. But such claims mean he wants the South African reconstruct the Soviet empire. control of the region, and less and less as Russia asserts Constitution to be amended to Officially, South Ossetia conflicts between Georgian more real-world control over allow forced land confiscation is part of Georgia, a nation soldiers and South Ossetian South Ossetia and Abkhazia. n without compensation. Zuma is considering this scheme as popular support for Russia attempts assassination in Montenegro his political party, the African National Congress, is at its n February 18, the The Telegraph reported on given Moscow an opportunity to lowest level since 1994. Many world was reminded February 18 that intelligence install a pro-Russia government, members have left the party O of just how deadly officials had confirmed who wrecking Montenegro’s hopes to join the Economic Freedom Russia’s resolve can be. That was behind the plot: “Russian of joining NATO this summer Fighters, a Marxist party day, revelations emerged intelligence officers with and of joining the European founded in 2013 on a pledge to that Moscow had planned to backing from Moscow.” Union in the early 2020s. nationalize banks and redis- kirill stop Montenegro from joining NATO officials confirmed Russia denies involvement, but tribute land. Zuma’s new populist

NATO by assassinating its that two Russian intelligence Montenegrin Defense Minister tone is reportedly an attempt kudryavtsev pro-Western prime minister, officers had spent months Predrag Bosković said the to win back members who have Milo Djukanovic. in Montenegro recruiting evidence his ministry has gath- defected to other parties. / The assassination was to and arming some 20 Serbian ered confirms the assessments When Zimbabwean President afp / take place on Oct. 16, 2016, nationalists to carry out the of NATO and British officials: Robert Mugabe’s government getty

the day Montenegro held attack. Thanks to a tip from “There is not any doubt that it was began to forcibly seize images parliamentary elections. The a plotter-turned-informant, financed and organized from white-owned land without , conspirators planned to open Montenegrin authorities foiled different sources or different compensation in 2000, some gallo fire on a crowd at Montenegro’s the plan just hours before it was parts of Russian intelligence, 4,000 white farming families

images parliament building as election to take place. together with some Monte- were evicted from their homes. / results were announced. In the Had the plan succeeded, negrin opposition parties, but Dozens of farmers were getty ensuing mayhem, other plotters authorities believe it would have also under the strong influence murdered in a move that cost

images would enter the building and tipped the Balkan nation into of some radicals from Serbia Zimbabwe billions of dollars in assassinate Djukanovic. civil war. The chaos would have and Russia.” n lost agricultural production. n 30 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET “A 1952 federal statute permits Drug killings the president to suspend the surge in Mexico immigration status of any SOCIETYWATCH person or group whose entry hree police officers into the United States might were tortured and impair public health or safety or T beheaded in south- national security,” wrote Judge eastern Mexico in January. Andrew Napolitano for Reason. Authorities found the decap- “Trump exercised that authority itated bodies on a roadside in in accordance with the 1952 law the municipality of Huimanguillo when he signed his January 27 on January 28, a day after the Ninth Circuit order banning all immigration officers had been kidnapped from the seven named countries” during a routine patrol in the Court attempts (February 9). nearby Veracruz municipality. ‘BAN THE LAW’ It is undisputed that The perpetrators have not been Protesters against Trump’s America’s president has the caught, but this was almost coup d’état travel ban gather in front of the Ninth Circuit Court. legal authority to temporarily certainly a drug cartel attack on ban certain immigrants from Mexican law enforcement. he Ninth Circuit Court According to Charles entering the country in the face Between 2007 and 2014, of Appeals committed a Kurzman, a University of North of a national security threat. more than 160,000 people T dangerous act of judicial Carolina sociology professor, 23 In fact, President Trump’s six were murdered in Mexico, more overreach on February 9. After percent of Muslim-Americans predecessors, including Barack than the total number of civilian the states of Washington and involved with extremist plots Obama, also used their power deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan Minnesota sued United States since the September 11 attack to temporarily ban certain combined. Since the Sinaloa President Donald Trump on on the World Trade Center have groups of immigrants from Federation drug cartel started January 30 for an executive had family backgrounds from at entering the country. What fragmenting into smaller cartels order temporarily restricting least one of the seven countries is really at stake here is who in 2014, the murder rate has the flow of refugees from seven subject to the travel ban. decides which immigrants pose grown even worse. Nationwide, countries known for exporting Even if the judge’s conclusion a national security threat. Is it January murder rates jumped 34 terrorists, a district court judge were correct, however, his the U.S. president, who receives percent from 1,442 homicides in struck down the president’s order would still be an act of a daily security briefing and is in 2016 to 1,938 homicides in 2017. order with a restraining order judicial activism. The courts are charge of enforcing laws? Or is It is estimated that 55 of his own. The judge barred constitutionally responsible for it any federal judge who thinks percent of all Mexican enforcement of the travel ban ruling whether or not it is legal the president’s assessment is homicides—and 7 percent of all anywhere in the U.S. until the for a president to temporarily flawed? U.S. homicides—are related to Trump administration proves suspend immigration. It is not The recent ruling by the Ninth drug trafficking. Over 100,000 there is an actual threat of their responsibility to assume Circuit is a judicial coup d’état foot soldiers work directly for terrorists traveling into the the president’s responsibility against the executive branch’s Mexican cartels. country from Iran, Iraq, Libya, for deciding whether a partic- constitutional authority to The primary reason these Somalia, Syria, Sudan and Yemen. ular threat is real. conduct foreign policy. n criminal cartels are so successful, however, is that about 10 percent of Americans 100 U.S. economic freedom hits historic low 90 over the age of 12 are addicted 80 70 to illicit drugs. This means 24.6 he United States is Heritage Foundation started 60 million U.S. drug users are 50 no longer among the ranking economies in 1995. funding a $100 billion per year T world’s top 15 freest America now ranks behind Chile, industry that directly causes economies. According to an Estonia, Hong Kong, Singapore over 21,000 overdose deaths U.A.E annual index released by the and the United Arab Emirates. CHILE and 12,000 drug-related TAIWAN CANADA IRELAND ESTONIA GEORGIA LITHUANIA AUSTRALIA SINGAPORE Heritage Foundation on February The Heritage economic KONG HONG homicides every year. LUXEMBOURG NEW ZEALANDNEW SWITZERLAND NETHERLANDS UNITED STATES WORLD AVERAGE 15, the U.S. has fallen from being freedom index is calculated KINGDOMUNITED U.S. President Donald INDEX OF ECONOMIC FREEDOM 2017 the sixth-freest economy in based on 12 factors of economic Trump has pledged to “break images the world when Barack Obama freedom, including property deficits, an enormous national the back” of the cartels by getty

/ took office in 2009 to being the rights, government spending, debt, a substantial expansion building a wall on the Mexican afp

/ 17th-freest today. freedom from corruption, busi- of government bureaucracy border and declaring a war America’s economic freedom ness freedom, trade freedom and an increased tax burden on crime. But with such a edelson score for 2017 was 75.1 out of and investment freedom. The as contributing to the decline in voracious demand, there will

josh 100—its lowest level since the 2017 report lists large budget America’s economic freedom. n always be a steady supply. n MAY-JUNE 2017 31 u FAR RIGHT FROM PAGE 7 standing up to Turkey. But that boost parties of their usual votes. Traditional Other countries are taking note. As shows what Europe’s voters want. coalitions stopped working. Mainstream German business paper Handelsblatt It is making German political leaders parties on the right and on the left wrote in an article titled “Beating Pop- think seriously about the need for created complicated coalitions to keep ulists: Lessons From the Dutch Vote”: strongmen to win elections. the fringe parties out of power. These “Dutch prime minister and Liberals coalitions were unstable or ineffective, leader Mark Rutte prevailed over right- A Shattered Electoral System and more voters decided to leave the wing politician Geert Wilders thanks The Dutch election also demonstrated mainstream and back the fringe parties. to statesmanship, a clear line against another important pan-European trend: What we are seeing in 2017 is nothing Turkish campaigning and by partially the breakdown of the political system. less than the complete breakdown of adopting Mr. Wilders’s position on The main left-wing party in the the European political system. immigrants” (March 17). Netherlands, the Dutch Labour Party, The continuation of liberal democracy The message from the election is clear: collapsed from 38 seats to 9. “[I]n this is not inevitable, and in most of Europe, If you want to beat them, join them. election, the fight seemed to be between democratic governments are actually It’s a message Germany’s conserva- right and righter, with some charming relatively recent. European leaders are tive parties will be thinking hard about. alternatives to the left, and no real place already toying with alternative systems The Alternative für Deutschland party for the center-left,” wrote the European (read our article “Democracy Is Dying” is not going to win Germany’s general Council on Foreign Relations (March 21). at theTrumpet.com/go/14439). election in September. But it could Now, Dutch politics is dominated by This too matches the Trumpet’s fore- siphon off enough votes from the main- a range of smaller parties. Wilders’s cast, which is based on biblical prophecy. stream conservative parties to cause pvv, the Christian Democratic Appeal In A Strong German Leader Is Immi- them to lose the election. and the Democrats 66 party each won nent, Mr. Flurry writes, “Daniel 11:21 Shifting to the right, standing up to about 20 seats. The Green Left and the prophesies that this strong leader will Islam, encouraging national pride— Socialist Party each won 14. In 2012, come into power ‘by flatteries’—proba- these were the paths to electoral suc- nearly 65 percent of the vote went to bly not by votes, but through a coalition cess in the Dutch elections. And they are the top three parties. This time, they government of some kind.” important trends to watch in Germany. won only 47 percent. “The Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Since its inception in 1990, the The governing coalition must be Commentary says ‘the nation shall not, Trumpet has intently watched for the made up of at least four separate by a public act, confer the kingdom on emergence of a strongman in Germany. parties. “This year’s election may give him, but he shall obtain it by artifice, “Routinely in German history, when the Netherlands its most fragmented ‘flattering,’’’ writes Brad Macdonald in Germans become anxious about world government in history,” wrote the New the same booklet. “In other words, a events, they call on a York Times. “Some political deceived public, or a group of European strongman to lead them!” Request your analysts believe it could leaders, likely invites this man into power.” writes Trumpet editor in free copy of take weeks or months “This soon-coming ruler could liter- chief Gerald Flurry in A A Strong German to form a government ally be called a king,” notes Mr. Flurry. Leader Is Imminent. Strong German Leader Is and that the governing “Even if he is not, the Bible gives him Imminent. “They have done coalition will be fragile. In that label. When the Bible talks about a so throughout history—and they are Belgium, which has a similar political king, in most cases it’s saying that this going to do it again.” system as the Netherlands, it famously is not a democratic government.” “The weakness being demonstrated took nearly a year and a half after This breakdown in European politics by the West is exposing the crying inconclusive elections in June 2010 to is setting the stage for a leader to rise need for stronger leadership. And form a government” (March 15). through these sorts of “flatteries.” whether or not people want to believe Berlin elections last year showed the This prophetic framework does it, that leadership is going to arise in same trend. After support for Germa- not tell us exactly what will happen Germany,” he writes. ny’s two mainstream parties fell so low in the French, German and possible “Today, Europeans are looking for that they could not even muster a major- Italian elections. But it gives a general another ruler like Charlemagne.” ity between them, George Friedman at outline of what to expect in Europe: Mr. Rutte stood up to Turkey and Geopolitical Futures wrote that “the what trends will be important in these received the support of 86 percent of results of the Berlin election look like elections and beyond. Political systems his countrymen for his handling of someone smashed a plate on the floor— will stall. People will become desperate the issue, according to a snap poll by with support for the various parties for a strong leader. They will get one. Maurice de Hond released days before fragmenting into pieces” (Sept. 20, 2016). Europe will form a united front. And the election. He is not this coming This is dangerous territory, and this king will ultimately go to war with strongman—he is not that strong and, country after country is venturing into Islam and with powers beyond. despite his electoral victory, received it. The last time we were here was in the This is exactly the type of leader the only limited support. He got a boost 1930s, and it was a vicious cycle. The rise Trumpet has said to look for in Ger- in support due to a single instance of of fringe parties deprived traditional many. Keep watching for him. n 32 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET there is: our glorious wedding day! The elegant ceremony only lasted about 15 minutes—but what an exhilarating, emotional PRINCIPLES experience it was for my wife and me. OF LIVING We still laugh about the lighter moment we shared amid the formal setting. For the start of the wedding, just before the bridal party Rekindle Your entered the hall, my wife had choreographed a moving three-minute candle-lighting ceremony. It ended with our First Love mothers walking onstage to light two candles. In the ceremony, after my wife and I made our vows and Bible instruction for a lifelong happy marriage exchanged rings, we took the two candles, joined their flames together and lit another, larger “unity candle.” After that, we y wife and I have attended a lot of weddings. I am were supposed to blow out the two smaller candles—which sure we will attend many more in the future. These we did. Unfortunately, the forceful blast my wife exhaled also M are beautiful ceremonies, not just because of the managed to extinguish the unity candle. elegance, emotion and joy of the day, but because of what they The flame we meant to keep burning had quickly died out! reflect: nothing less than a God-level relationship. It was the one hiccup to an otherwise flawless ceremony. The Creator of human beings created marriage to help Over the past 20 years, we’ve had our occasional hiccups. prepare us for life in His divine Family. That is what makes a But the flame we lit together during our courtship—and God-centered wedding so momentous: faithfully promised to If the two remain faithful—to God stoke forever after—is still first, then to each other—it marks the going strong. It’s not always beginning of an exciting journey that as easy and effortless as it leads right into the Kingdom of God. once was. In fact, once the Whenever we attend a wedding, we newness wears off, it is easy can’t help but reminisce about the to let down in some areas. days that led up to our own marriage For example, I don’t stephen flurry vows more than 20 years ago—and the always open the car door for wonderful years we have enjoyed since. my wife like I used to. But Like most of the young couples we have congratulated you know what? When I do, over the years, my wife and I were brought up in wonderful, it still makes her smile. And God-fearing families. Marriage, we had been taught, was a that’s the thing—all those career that one must prepare for. This meant using textbooks little things that added up to a lot of love and affection still like Herbert W. Armstrong’s The Missing Dimension in Sex to work, if I do them. She still loves a bouquet of fresh flowers, a understand God’s perspective on dating, love, marriage and sex. thoughtful card or an unexpected chat over the phone. When I A good marriage, we were also taught, doesn’t happen by make omelets on Sabbath morning, it always reminds us of our accident. It takes a submissive attitude toward God and hard honeymoon. We still make time for and thoroughly enjoy long work to make it happy and fulfilling. conversations. We try to plan getaways from time to time. We Early on, when the romance is brand new, building the schedule lunch dates. We still love to dance. And hold hands. relationship can seem so effortless and smooth-going. For me, And say I love you every day. We kiss every morning before I it hardly seemed like work at all! head off to work—and again when I return home. When my soon-to-be wife lived far away from me, our eagerly You could say we’re still dating. It’s such an important yet anticipated weekly, three-hour phone conversations seemed often overlooked key to maintaining a great marriage. as if they were short, five-minute chats. The handwritten let- In Revelation 2, God praised the first-century Christians for ters and notes we exchanged would go on and on—page after the way they began their relationship with God. “Nevertheless page. And when I received them, I read them again and again. I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first When she moved to Oklahoma, the phone calls and letters love” (verse 4). They grew weary in well doing. They stopped turned into long walks together, stimulating conversations, doing the things that made the relationship flourish early on family socials, game nights, church activities and dancing. The in their spiritual romance. And so, they left their first love. more we dated, the more we talked, the more time we spent In verse 5, God offers this simple solution: “Remember together, the more we knew how much we loved each other. therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the We went through marriage counseling together—studied first works.” The Missing Dimension in Sex together. During our engagement, Herein lies the key to building a successful family relation- we worked together to plan the wedding—create a budget, look ship, whether it involves a newly begotten Christian and Jesus

peopleimages for the venue, order the buffet, draw up the guest list, mail Christ or a newly married couple. Remember all the romantic / invitations, choose the music and arrange the honeymoon. little things you repeatedly did at the very beginning of your com . All that planning—the many years of preparing for our courtship? Keep doing them, God says. istock marriage career—culminated in the most joyous ceremony If you do, the flame of your first love will never go out. n MAY-JUNE 2017 33 DISCUSSION BOARD

I repair bicycles and maintain a couple of expensive road bikes (“Trade Wars Have Begun,” theTrumpet.com/go/14643). The tires I prefer are Continentals—made in Germany. They are already expensive at approximately $75 each. A 35 percent tariff would put them out of reach cost-wise. I can’t imagine why anyone would believe an America-first policy on trade would help us. We depend far too much on the rest of the world for supplies. Robert Jones

President Trump, with a $20 trillion debt to I have so much interest in this! It is so deal with, will soon have a funding crisis and interesting to see all the things that are possible government shutdown (“Who Is happening in the world. The way your the Modern-Day Jeroboam?” theTrumpet. organization has put it all together is truly spread the word around this area as much com/go/14642). He already looks like he is amazing and I really appreciate receiving as I can, giving people your address and weak, as per this analysis, in not dealing with this at no cost! phone number, because I think you people left-liberal control of education. Frances Scott south carolina are amazing! T. Lawrence David Ridings south carolina Your magazine the Trumpet honestly proves Easy when it’s not you so much. I am just astonished. There were Thank you for publishing this magazine. It There’s a video on YouTube where an some things I didn’t believe, but when I is the best! It is wonderful and priceless— undercover reporter asks pro-illegal looked them up they are true. All I can say is really. It is in depth and informative. I can’t immigrant protesters if they are willing to thank you very much. It is very eye-opening. tell you how much I love the magazine and put up an illegal immigrant in their own home I am trying so hard to spread the word but the contents and the people. (“Must Cities Enforce the Law?” theTrumpet there are so many people that get upset Barbara Biehl maryland .com/go/14647). They all replied no. The when you do that. pro-illegal lobby is so generous with the money Shirley Bisson-Nagel michigan I had canceled your magazine, but I changed of other people and their endangered lives. my mind. I don’t agree with everything that Ken Sack I thank God every day for that church out you say, but you are saying things about the there. I just finished The King of the South government and the world we live in and I see people reading your Trumpet magazine and now I am reading The Incredible I need to know what’s going on. You are when I go into the doctors’ offices, and I am Human Potential. You all are a blessing opening the eyes of people. Our country is in like, Wow! This is great! It is amazing how to me. I got the Philadelphia Trumpet bad shape. Thank God we have a magazine much the doctors themselves appreciate the magazine from the doctor’s office. I asked like yours that is exposing the corruption in magazine—even the ones who aren’t Christian. him if I could have it and he said yes. I our government. Jeanine McGee had never heard of you before but I have Georgeana Thompson alabama

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All that for a simple e-mail address. Sign up at theTrumpet.com/go/brief. ….” Gen. George Washington and the Continental Congress knew that freedom from Great Britain was impossible without divine intervention. The proclamation urged soldiers to ask COMMENTARY forgiveness for the sins of “profane swearing” and “immorality.” Today, as in 1775, America’s servicemen are simply a sub- section of American society as a whole. And today, unlike 1775, Dishonorable Conduct profane swearing, immorality and all forms of pornography prevail among all ranks of American society, from east to west, liberal to conservative, old to young. The U.S. military was rocked by a pornography It’s not just American servicemen who are addicted to scandal. But the problem extends further than pornography. America is addicted to pornography. you might think. by andrew miiller An estimated 72 million Americans view online pornogra- phy at least monthly; one in five American men self-admits to he United States Marine Corps calls honor the bed- accessing pornography at work. About 24 million American rock of a marine’s character. It says this “is the quality that self-admit to having “Internet sex addiction.” The addiction T empowers marines to exemplify the ultimate in ethical rate among young, male military personnel is believed to be and moral behavior. … It represents the maturity, dedication, much higher. And the definition of “addiction” would exclude trust, and dependability that commit marines to act responsibly.” a lot of regular use of what is an inherently toxic influence, News came out in March showing numerous marines however small the dose. Many military chaplains believe demonstrating the opposite of maturity, responsibility and online pornography is perhaps the biggest personal problem ethical and moral behavior. facing service members today. Journalist and Marine Corp veteran Thomas Brennan Study after study shows a direct link between pornography reported at the Center for Investigative Reporting on March consumption and the commission of sex crimes. Data from the 4 that members of a group called Marines United Department of Defense shows that reported sexual assaults on were distributing photographs of dozens of naked female ser- military members increased vice members. The group includes marines, Navy corpsmen from 19,300 in 2010 to 26,000 and British Royal Marines. About 1,200 of the 30,000 mem- in 2012. The main cause of bers are believed to have been involved in pornography-post- sex scandals and crimes in The pornography ing activity, and investigations are still ongoing. the U.S. military is that all scandal rocking This scandal is not limited to just the Marines United Americans are growing up the military is Facebook page, or even to the Marine Corps. Since this in a hyper-sexualized society vile, but it is only scandal became public, investigators have found hundreds that openly glorifies illicit one symptom of of indecent photographs of female service members from sex on television, movies, the the pornography every branch of the military posted to another image-sharing Internet, books, magazines, scandal that is message board. Some of these women were stalked and pho- posters and billboards, and American society. tographed by male comrades. Others shared lewd photos of that distributes 25 times themselves, intending them to be private, only to be betrayed more pornography movies by whomever posted them publicly on social media. every year than Hollywood Many condemn “toxic masculinity” and “macho culture” as films. This saturation in sex has been proven to cause a phys- the cause of this scandal, but is this moral evil unique to the ical and psychological rewiring of the brain, desensitizing the soldiers’ barracks? viewer to the needs of others, and fueling an abnormal desire The real pornography scandal is nationwide. And yes, it does for even more depraved perversions. hurt its female victims, its perpetrators, force readiness, home- Many people bristle at the suggestion that “casual” por- land security and the very survival of our nation. nography viewing is connected to the military photo-sharing In The United States and Britain in Prophecy, Herbert W. Arm- scandal. Many others dismiss it as irrelevant, a minor cul- strong explained how modern Britain and America descended tural concern and not a national security problem. America’s from ancient Israel. The Bible records Israel’s history and first commander in chief would tell you that both of these specifies that its national security depended less on economics, views are dangerously wrong. technological superiority and strategy than it did on ethical and The pornography scandal rocking the military is vile, but moral behavior. When the Israelites behaved according to God’s it is only one symptom of the pornography scandal that is laws, including laws on sex, they won incredible military victo- American society. That scandal is not only underreported, it ries. When they turned from His laws, they suffered shocking is denied or even glorified. Until Americans as a whole start and devastating defeats (Deuteronomy 11:18-25). fleeing immorality and teaching their children a wholesome, Past generations of Americans understood this general biblical view of sex, the devastation caused by pornography principle. Shortly after the Second Continental Congress will continue, outside the Department of Defense and within alekseykh / established the U.S. Army on June 14, 1775, it proclaimed “a day it. Now would be a good time for a day of fasting and prayer com . of solemn fasting and humiliation to implore of Almighty God to implore “Almighty God for forgiveness of the many sins istock for forgiveness of the many sins prevailing among all ranks prevailing among all ranks” of American citizens. n MAY-JUNE 2017 35 u IRAN FROM PAGE 21 el-Mandeb each year—an average of 55 per day. About 15 percent of all global maritime trade and nearly 10 percent of global seaborne oil passes through the gates of the Red Sea. More specifically, almost all of the trade between Europe and Asia is seaborne and travels through the Bab Philadelphia Trumpet editor el-Mandeb sea gate. That amounts to almost $700 billion in chief Gerald Flurry appears worth of trade per year that Iran could conceivably delay, each week on The Key of David sabotage, or stop dead in the water. explaining the meaning behind On Oct. 25, 2016, Foreign Policy wrote of the Bab world events and teaching the el-Mandeb, “If a coastal foe can menace shipping tran- inspiring truths of the Bible. siting this narrow seaway, it would disrupt the shortest, The program is also available most convenient sea route connecting Europe with South at keyofdavid.com. and . Doing so would carry significant economic and military repercussions.” It certainly would, and biblical prophecy indicates that ALL TIMES ARE A.M. LOCAL TIME UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED it most definitely will. Geopolitical analysts are watching UNITED STATES Nationwide Satellite Santa Barbara-Santa Maria KSBY-DT Iran closely every day and trying to predict where its Galaxy 3 Trans. 17 11:30 ET, Tue/Thu 9:30, Sun efforts will lead. But incredibly, there is a source even Galaxy 3 Trans. 21 11:30 ET, Tue/Thu Colorado, Denver KPXC 5:00, Fri AT&T U-verse Grand Junction KJCT-DT 8:30, Sun older than Iran itself that forecasts what it will do in Entertainment Studios, 7:30 ET, Sun Montrose KJCT-DT 8:30, Sun the 21st century! The Bible actually contains specific, Direct TV Connecticut, Hartford WHPX 6:00, Fri CW Plus, Chan. 34, 9:30 ET/PT, Sun Florida, Gainesville WCJB-DT 9:30, Sun detailed foresights of what modern nations will do. ION, Chan. 305, 6:00 ET, Fri Jacksonville WPXC/WPXJ-LP 6:00, Fri Included in these forecasts is 21st-century Iran. Justice Central/Comedy.tv, 7:30 ET, Sun Miami WPXM 6:00, Fri WGN, Chan. 307, 8:00 ET, Sun Orlando WOPX 6:00, Fri “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south Dish Network Panama City WJHG-DT 8:30, Sun push at him: and the king of the north shall come against ION, Chan. 216, 6:00 ET, Fri Pensacola WFGX 7:30, Sun Justice Central, 7:30 ET, Sun Tallahassee WTXL 7:30, Sun; WTLF/ him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, WGN, Chan. 239, 8:00 ET, Sun WTLH-DT 9:30, Sun and with many ships; and he shall enter into the coun- Verizon FiOS Tampa WXPX 6:00, Fri Entertainment Studios, 7:30 ET, Sun West Palm Beach WPXP 6:00, Fri tries, and shall overflow and pass over” (Daniel 11:40). Nationwide Cable Georgia, Albany WSWG-DT 9:30, Sun According to this verse, at the time of the end this “king CW Plus, 9:30 ET/PT, Sun Atlanta WPXA 6:00, Fri ION, 6:00 ET/PT, Fri Augusta-Aiken WAGT-DT 9:30, Sun of the south” is going to push at the king of the north. WGN, 8:00 ET, Sun Brunswick WPXC 6:00, Fri Since 1994, Gerald Flurry has forecast that Iran would Buckeye Systems Columbus WLTZ-DT 9:30, Sun Justice Central/Comedy.tv, 7:30 ET, Sun Macon WMAZ-DT 9:30, Sun grow to become the dominant power in the Middle East, CenturyLink Savannah WGSA-DT 9:30, Sun heading up a powerful alliance of radical Islamic nations Entertainment Studios, 7:30 ET, Sun Thomasville WTLF/WTLH-DT 9:30, Sun Mediacom Hawaii, Hawaii Na Leo Chan. 54 6:30, Sun; known as the king of the south. The king of the north in Comedy.tv/Pets.tv, 7:30 ET, Sun 8:30, Wed this prophecy is a united Europe led by Germany. While NCTC Kaui Ho’ Ike Chan. 52 9:30, Tue Entertainment Studios, 7:30 ET, Sun Maui/Lanaii/Molokai/Niihau/Akaku the world is mostly blind to it, some in Europe are waking Suddenlink Chan. 52 6:30 pm, Sun; 3:30, Mon up to Iran’s plan to capture the Mediterranean and the Comedy.tv, 7:30 ET, Sun Oahu Focus Chan. 49 7:00 am, Sat Alabama, Birmingham WPXH 5:00, Fri; Chan. 27 5:00 am, Fri KPXO Red Sea. The Europeans see that this strategy and Iran’s WVUA 8:30, Sun Idaho, Boise KYUU-LP/KBOI-DT 8:30, Sun overall strategy of aggressiveness and terror is a definite Dothan WTVY-DT 8:30, Sun Idaho Falls KIFI-DT 8:30, Sun Mobile WFGX 7:30, Sun Pocatello KIFI-DT 8:30, Sun push. And Europe will eventually push back. Montgomery-Salem WBMM-DT/WNCF-DT Twin Falls KMVT-DT 8:30, Sun On February 3, in a letter to supporters of the Trum- 8:30, Sun Illinois, Bloomington WEEK-DT 8:30, Sun Alaska, Anchorage KYUR-DT 8:30, Sun Chicago WCUU 7:00, Mon-Fri; WCIU 9:30, pet and other Philadelphia Church of God projects, Mr. Fairbanks KATN-DT 8:30, Sun Sun; WCPX 5:00, Fri Flurry wrote that the aggressive king of the south is Juneau KJUD-DT 8:30, Sun Peoria WEEK-DT 8:30, Sun Arizona, Phoenix KPPX 5:00, Fri; Rockford WREX-DT 8:30, Sun about to push the world into an all-out world war. The KASW 8:00, Sun Quincy WGEM-DT 8:30, Sun increasingly violent actions by Iran and its proxies in the Yuma KECY-DT 8:30, Sun Indiana, Fort Wayne WISE-DT 21.2 9:30, Sun Arkansas, El Dorado KNOE-DT 8:30, Sun Indianapolis WIPX 6:00, Fri; WNDY Red Sea are one part of that push; a push that will ulti- Fayetteville KHBS-DT/KHOG-DT 8:30, Sun 10:30, Sun mately succumb to a violent and forceful counterstrike Fort Smith KHBS-DT/KHOG-DT 8:30, Sun Terre Haute WBI 9:30, Sun Jonesboro KJOS 8:30, Sun Iowa, Cedar Rapids KPXR 5:00, Fri by a superior force from the north. Rogers KHBS-DT/KHOG-DT 8:30, Sun Des Moines KFPX 5:00, Fri However, while that will be a time of worldwide suf- Springdale KHBS-DT/KHOG-DT 8:30, Sun Keokuk WGEM-DT 8:30, Sun California, Bakersfield KGET-DT 9:30, Sun Mason City KTTC-DT 8:30, Sun fering, it also announces the beginning of the very last Chico KHSL-DT 9:30, Sun; KRCR 9:00, Sun Ottumwa KWOT 8:30, Sun world war that will engulf this planet. After Daniel 11:40 El Centro KECY-DT 8:30, Sun Sioux City KTIV-DT 8:30, Sun Eureka KUVU-LP/KVIQ-DT 9:30, Sun Kansas, Topeka KTKA-DT 8:30, Sun are verses that announce that all the armies of this world KCAL 6:30, Sun; KPXN 6:00, Pittsburg KSXF 8:30, Sun will finally be put down by the most superior force of all— Fri Kentucky, Bowling Green WBKO-DT 8:30, Sun Monterey KION 9:30, Sun Lexington WUPX 6:00, Fri that of Almighty God (Daniel 12:1-3; Matthew 24:29-31). Palm Springs KCWQ/KESQ-DT 9:30, Sun Louisiana, Alexandria KALB-DT 8:30, Sun Continue to watch for Iran to strengthen its presence Redding KHSL-DT 9:30, Sun; Monroe KNOE-DT 8:30, Sun KRCR 9:00, Sun Lafayette KADN 7:30, Sun; KATC-DT inside Yemen, as well as in the waters around the Bab Sacramento KSPX 6:00, Fri; 8:30, Sun el-Mandeb Strait. Here lies the very beginning of the Salinas KION 9:30, Sun Lake Charles KVHP-DT 8:30, Sun prophesied push that leads into a global conflict. n San Francisco KKPX 6:00, Fri New Orleans WPXL 5:00, Fri 36 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET Maine, Bangor WABI-DT 9:30, Sun Oklahoma City KOPX 5:00, Fri Milwaukee WPXE 5:00, Fri For a free Portland WPME 7:30, Sun; 7:00, Mon-Fri Tulsa KTPX 5:00, Fri Rhinelander WAOW/WYOW 8:30, Sun Presque Isle WBPQ 9:30, Sun Oregon, Bend KTVZ-DT 9:30, Sun Superior KDLH-DT 8:30, Sun subscription to the Maryland, Salisbury WMDT-DT 9:30, Sun Eugene KEVU-TV 10:00, Sun; KLSR 8:30, Wausau WAOW-DT/WYOW-DT 8:30, Sun Philadelphia Trumpet Massachusetts, Holyoke Sun; KMTR-DT 9:30, Sun Wyoming, Casper KCWY-DT 8:30, Sun WWLP-DT 9:30, Sun Medford-Klamath Falls Cheyenne KGWN-DT/KCHW 8:30, Sun in the U.S. and Canada, Springfield WWLP-DT 9:30, Sun KTVL-DT 9:30, Sun Riverton KCWY-DT 8:30, Sun call 1-800-772-8577 Michigan, Alpena WBAE 9:30, Sun Portland KPXG 6:00, Fri Cadillac WBVC 9:30, Sun Pennsylvania, Erie WSEE-DT/WICU-DT CANADA Detroit WPXD 6:00, Fri; WADL 10:00, Sun 9:30, Sun Nationwide satellite Grand Rapids WZPX 5:00, Fri Philadelphia WPPX 6:00, Fri Galaxy 3 Trans. 17, 21 11:30 ET, Tue/Thu STAFF WLAJ-DT 9:30, Sun WQPX 6:00, Fri Publisher and Editor in Chief Lansing Wilkes Barre Nationwide cable Gerald Flurry Marquette WBKP-DT/WBUP-DT 9:30, Sun Rhode Island, Providence WGN 8:00 ET, Sun Executive Editor Traverse City WBVC 9:30, Sun WPXQ 6:00, Fri Vision TV 4:30 pm ET, Sun Stephen Flurry Minnesota, Duluth KDLH-DT 8:30, Sun South Carolina, Anderson WYCW 9:00, CHCH 11:30 ET, Sun Managing Editor Mankato KWYE 8:30, Sun Sun Atlantic Provinces Joel Hilliker Minneapolis KPXM 5:00, Fri Charleston WCBD-DT 9:30, Sun CTV Atlantic 11:00 AT, Sun Contributing Editors Rochester-Austin KTTC-DC 8:30, Sun Florence WWMB-DT 9:30, Sun Alberta, Red Deer KAYU 8:30, Sun Brad Macdonald, Richard Palmer, Robert Sioux Fall (Mitchell) KWSD/KSWD-DT Greenville WYCW 9:00, Sun Calgary KAYU 8:30, Sun Morley, Jeremiah Jacques, Dennis Leap Associate Editor 8:30, Sun Myrtle Beach WWMB-DT 9:30, Sun Edmonton KAYU 8:30, Sun Philip Nice Mississippi, Biloxi WXXV-DT 8:30, Sun Spartanburg WYCW 9:00, Sun Medicine Hat KAYU 8:30, Sun Designer Columbus WCBI-DT 8:30, Sun South Dakota, Rapid City Lethbridge KAYU 8:30, Sun Steve Hercus Greenville WBWD 8:30, Sun KWBH/KNBN-DT 8:30, Sun British Columbia, Vancouver Contributors Greenwood WBWD 8:30, Sun Sioux Falls (Mitchell) KSFY-DT 8:30, Sun CHEK 9:00, Sun; CHNU 5:30 pm, Sun; Anthony Chibarirwe, Andrew Miiller, Gulfport WXXV-DT 8:30, Sun Tennessee, Chattanooga WFLI 10:30, Sun KCPQ 7:00, Sun Brent Nagtegaal, David Vejil, Callum Wood Hattiesburg WHLT-DT 8:30, Sun Jackson WBJK 8:30, Sun Victoria CHNU 5:30 pm, Sun Production Assistants Laurel WHPM-DT 8:30, Sun Knoxville WPXK 6:00, Fri Manitoba, Winnipeg WUHF 8:30, Sun; Deepika Azariah, Aubrey Mercado Researchers Meridian WTOK-DT 8:30, Sun Memphis WPXX 5:00, Fri CIIT Joy TV 11:00, Sun Elizabeth Clarke, Kieren Underwood Tupelo WCBI-DT 8:30, Sun Nashville WNPX 5:00, Fri; WZTV 6:30 New Brunswick, Moncton CKCW-DT Design Assistant Missouri, Columbia KOMU-DT 8:30, Sun Texas, Abilene KTXS-DT 8:30, Sun 11, Sun Reese Zoellner Hannibal WGEM-DT 8:30, Sun Amarillo KVII-DT/KVIH-DT 8:30, Sun Saint John CKLT-DT 11, Sun Artists Jefferson City KOMU-DT 8:30, Sun Beaumont KFDM-DT 8:30, Sun Nova Scotia, Halifax WUHF 8:30, Sun; Gary Dorning, Melissa Barreiro, Joplin KSXF 8:30, Sun Brownsville KCWT/KNVO-DT 8:30, Sun CJCH-DT 11, Sun Julia Goddard Prepress Kansas City KPXE 5:00, Fri Corpus Christi KRIS-DT 8:30, Sun Sydney WUHF 8:30, Sun; CJCB-TV 11, Sun Wik Heerma KWOT 8:30, Sun KDAF 7:00, Sun CJOH 5:30, Sun Kirksville Dallas Ontario, Ottawa International Editions St. Joseph KBJO/KNPN-DT 8:30, Sun Harlingen KCWT/KNVO-DT 8:30, Sun Toronto WADL 10:00 Sun; Brad Macdonald Montana, Billings KTVQ-DT 8:30, Sun Houston KPXB 5:00, Fri; KTXH 7:30, Sun WUTV 10:00, Sun; French, Italian Bozeman-Butte KBZK-DT/KXLF-DT Laredo KYLX 8:30, Sun CHNU 8:30 pm, Sun Deryle Hope 8:30, Sun Longview KYTX-DT 8:30, Sun P.E.I., Charlottetown WUHF 8:30, Sun; German Glendive KWZB 8:30, Sun Lubbock KLCW-DT 8:30, Sun CKCW-DT 11, Sun Hans Schmidl Great Falls KRTV-DT 8:30, Sun Midland KWES-DT 8:30, Sun Quebec, Montreal WVNY 10:30, Sun Spanish Helena KTVH-DT 8:30, Sun Odessa KWES-DT 8:30, Sun Saskatchewan, Saskatoon CFQC 5:30, Sun; Carlos Heyer Missoula KPAX-DT 8:30, Sun Port Arthur KFDM 8:30, Sun WUHF 8:30, Sun Nebraska, Lincoln-Hastings San Angelo KDXE 8:30, Sun THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET KWBL 8:30, Sun San Antonio KPXL 5:00, Fri CARIBBEAN (issn 10706348) is published monthly (except bimonthly May-June and Kearney KWBL 8:30, Sun Sherman KTEN-DT 8:30, Sun Regional satellite November-December issues) by the North Platte KWPL 8:30, Sun Sweetwater KTXS-DT 8:30, Sun Galaxy 3 Trans. 17 11:30 ET, Tue/Thu Philadelphia Church of God, 14400 S. 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