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TruAbout Benghazith DECEMBER 2012 aftermath The interior Vol. 23, No. 10 of the U.S. consulate in Benghazi lies in ruins after terrorists Circ. 341,259 T attacked on Sept. 11, 2012.

COVER 1 | from the editor | The Truth Revealed in the Benghazi Attack 2 | ‘How Could This Happen?’ Humiliation in Cairo and death in Benghazi shook America. But our response has been even more terrifying.

world etc. 28 | increase your bible iq What Is the True Gospel? 7 | Next in Line, Please America is pulling 8 | living | The Cure for Shopping out of the Middle East. Who will fill the void? Addiction 33 | commentary 12 | The Deadliest Mystery in the Middle East 10 | living | As Gun Sales Rise, What Is Reflections on a Battlefield 13 | ‘The Stockpiles Were in Iraq’ Your Source of Protection? People seem to be bracing for crime and riots to explode—by 34 | discussion board 16 | Worldwatch Breaking from Europe? • arming themselves to the teeth. Union within the Union • Ditching dollars for 36 | television log yuans • Holy site, unholy enmity • How not to 15 | economy | The Dollar Killer

solve economic problems • No winners in drug- cover tainted cycling titles 22 | living | : Eat Whole Does your diet include getty 26 | this simple ingredient? The health benefits are War Over the Nile too great to ignore! images 30 | Europe: The Spirit Behind the Beast FROM THE EDITOR GERALD FLURRY The Truth Revealed in the Benghazi Attack n September 11, Americans were honoring the and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.” The Libyans and Ethio- death of almost 3,000 victims who were murdered by pians will also be allied with Iran, and Egypt is going to swing al Qaeda terrorists 11 years ago. That date borders on them into that camp. sacred to most Americans. Yet on that very day, Egyp- In the October 2011 issue of this magazine, I wrote an article Otians attacked the American Embassy in Cairo. They ripped the called “Egypt and Libya to Join Terror Network.” How could I American flag to shreds and hoisted a black Islamist flag. have known that? Only through Bible prophecy. The Benghazi The same day, terrorists attacked the United States Consulate attack is prophecy being fulfilled. This is one of the most specific in Benghazi, Libya. They murdered four Americans, including prophecies in the Bible. the ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens. Fulfilled prophecy is the greatest proof of the existence of The United States provided the military power to overthrow God! And fulfilled prophecies are flooding world news today! Libya’s dictator, Muammar Qadhafi, last October. Ambassador Stevens was personally involved. He risked his life to help ensure Where Is America’s Response? the Libyans would have a more democratic government. Because This tragedy also illustrates another prophecy being fulfilled. of his efforts to promote democracy, Stevens became the target of a The Libyan terrorists killed America’s ambassador and three terrorist group affiliated with al Qaeda. He knew about it and told others on the most painful date possible—yet months later, Washington that his life was under threat. The last day of his life, America still hasn’t figured out how to respond! This is a massive he was pleading with the American government to send more help insult to our country and our dead. But it doesn’t infuriate to protect him. There is evidence that the consulate staff was ap- our people the way it should. pealing for help while shots were being fired—and help was denied. This is far more dangerous than it is insulting—because Why didn’t the U.S. fulfill that request? Why not send help to America’s pathetic response to this attack shows the entire world a man so dedicated, so willing to risk his life for his country? That how weak America is! It is a spectacle of American weakness. is a maddening question, and is currently under investigation. God says He has broken the pride of our power (Le- But the main message from Sept. 11, 2012, doesn’t need an in- viticus 26:19). Benghazi perfectly shows that though America has vestigation—it is obvious. This attack sent a clear signal that Lib- tremendous power, we fear to use it. It is a sign that America has ya is following Egypt into the Iranian terrorist camp. receded into the background and is declining fast. Being weak causes violence and wars! The fact that America Getting Control of Libya will not respond will only allow evils like this to increase. As we Many American leaders don’t want to acknowledge it, but there get weaker, people is a rising tide of Islamism in Libya. The radicals have a particu- will attack us more Being weak causes larly strong hold in the east of the country. and more violently. Even fewer will admit that these radicals are getting a lot of And why is violence and wars! The their support from Iran. The Iranians are funneling aid to Libyan America so weak? extremists through Egypt, which lies along Libya’s eastern border. Study Leviticus 26. fact that America will not We prophesied that this would be the case. The Trum- It is because of our respond will only allow pet has said for almost 20 years that Egypt would come into Iran’s sins. That is why camp. Now that prophecy is fulfilled. And before there was any God brought this evils like this to increase. trouble in Libya, we prophesied that it too would ally with Iran. curse upon us. This past summer I said Egypt would lead Libya into that alliance America can bomb Qadhafi out of power, yet is afraid to put with Iran. Now we see Libya following Egypt into an alliance boots on the ground to finish the job. (In this case, it is afraid with Iran. to do so even to save an ambassador and his men!) The nation’s Libya’s radicals are gaining control. Look what they did to terrorist enemies are happy to finish the job themselves, and we America’s consulate—and the Libyan government has done al- just hand it over to them. most nothing about it! The “democratic” Libyans don’t have a Just like we handed Egypt to the Muslim Brotherhood. Now chance. How can they stand up to the heavy armaments that Israel and Egypt are very close to war. The Jews are surrounded have poured from Egypt into the hands of Libyan Islamists? by terrorists who want to kill them. What does it all mean? It means the “king of the south” The curses on America are plain to see. Prophecy is being ful- is getting control of Libya! filled—in Benghazi and all over the globe! You would think that reuters What we’ve seen happen in Egypt and Libya was prophesied as times get worse and worse, people would look to the Bible to in Daniel 11:40-43. This passage speaks of a European power, see what God has to say. Conditions are intensifying and getting / esam “the king of the north,” attacking a Middle Eastern alliance led so bad that anybody can recognize something is terribly wrong. al by Iran. That European “king” “shall stretch forth his hand also Why is everything going wrong for America? I strong- - fetori upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.” The ly encourage you to request a free copy of our book The focus is mainly on Egypt here. Verse 43 adds that “the Libyans United States and Britain Prophecy to understand! n 1 cairo yemen ‘How Could this Happen?’ tunisia pakistan

2 Humiliation in Cairo and death in Benghazi shook America. But our response has been even more terrifying. By Stephen Flurry and Joel Hilliker

t was a mortifying week. We uprisings in these exact countries to help But instead of pausing to reassess its watched angry crowds protesting the people topple long-standing dictators strategic alliance with these so-called outside of American outposts Hosni Mubarak and Muammar Qadhafi. liberators of Libya, the United States just throughout the Middle East and Washington brimmed with optimism for laughed off the grisly killing. “We came, beyond. Violent mobs chanted, the future of these “liberated” peoples. we saw, he died,” Secretary Clinton joked “We are all Osama.” Structures The back-to-back attacks—the first as- during an interview with cbs. In other were defaced or burned. Islam- saults on American diplomatic facilities in words, why should Libya’s “freedom” ic banners were hoisted where either country—shattered those illusory march be hindered by a messy war crimes American flags once flew. hopes. They highlighted the stark reality investigation? The tyrant may have been Americans were trying to focus on pre- that “liberating” these nations had created brutally beaten, sexually assaulted and paring for a presidential election—and we a dangerous vacuum and unleashed some shot dead—but Libya was now on the gotI handed a new mini-9/11. violent, unpredictable forces. road to full democracy! President Obama In the week after September 11 this German newspaper Die Welt ran the said Qadhafi’s death marked the end of a year, Muslim anti-Western violence hit headline: “U.S. President Barack Obama’s long and painful chapter in Libya. He said nearly 30 countries, killing about 30 Middle East policy is in ruins.” the people in the “new and democratic people. Especially in the Middle East and “[N]ow parts of the freed societies are Libya” now had a chance to determine North Africa, we witnessed a meltdown of turning against the country that helped their own destiny. order in country after country. It felt like bring them into being,” the article said. This is what the leaders of the United the world was unraveling. “Anti-Americanism in the Arab world has States of America were saying about the This explosion of unrest sent a chill- even increased to levels greater than in the new Libya in October 2011. ing message. For the past four years, the Bush era. It’s a bitter outcome for Obama.” But what was the Trumpet saying? That Obama administration has worked hard Indeed. same month, in the October 2011 cover to reach out to the Muslim world—wish- Amazingly, though, this isn’t the way story, editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote ing Muslims a happy Ramadan; embrac- the Obama administration viewed these this: “Now America and the West have ing the Muslim Brotherhood; apologizing events at all. It immediately and vocif- paved the way for another Iranian vic- for things America did in the Middle East erously promoted a completely different tory in Libya. We are rejoicing about the to defend against the Soviets half a cen- reading of what had happened, and of the overthrow of Libya’s Muammar Qadhafi, tury ago; criticizing America’s response to state of the Middle East and North Africa. while we should be mourning. Libyan cha- the Twin Towers falling. When the Arab If the attacks themselves didn’t illus- os is now the ideal setting for Iran to bring Spring began last year, the White House trate the failure of American policy vivid- that nation into its deadly terrorist web. embraced it, praising and supporting the ly enough, the official interpretation made The government that replaces Qad- empowerment of the Muslim street. it far worse. hafi will be a thousand times worse” September 2012 proved that strategy a (emphasis added throughout).

afp failure. How Could This Happen? The signs were there. Really, is what / getty “Today, many Americans are asking—in- happened on 9/11 such a shock? How Cairo and Benghazi deed, I asked myself—how could this hap- couldn’t this happen? images In two countries in particular, the attacks pen?” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Essentially the same story played out ,

mohammed were especially vicious—and stung Amer- said the day after the murders in Libya. in Egypt. When public protests broke out ica the worst. “How could this happen in a country we against the rule of Mubarak—America’s It started in Egypt—and on the anni- helped liberate, in a city we helped save longtime ally—the Obama administra- huwais versary of 9/11 no less. An angry, armed from destruction?” tion took their side. Mubarak responded group of about 2,000 Egyptians sur- It’s an excellent question—one that de- to the pressure with a warning: “You don’t / afp

/ rounded the American Embassy in Cairo, serves to be answered honestly. understand the Egyptian culture and getty breached the compound, yanked down Strong clues lie in the events that led what would happen if I step down now.” images the American flag, ripped it and burned up to the previous Libyan government’s He feared that the Muslim Brotherhood, it, then raised a black flag bearing these fall. For seven months, a U.S.-led bomb- a popular Islamist organization he had , rizwan words in Arabic: “There is no god but Al- ing campaign smashed Qadhafi’s forces. suppressed for decades, would take over.

President Obama ignored the warning. tabassum lah, and Mohammed is his messenger.” This bombardment raining down from But that horrific affront was not the above allowed the Islamists on the ground His administration celebrated Mubarak’s worst thing to happen that day. Six hun- to go on the offensive. They rounded up fall as a victory for freedom and democra- / afp cy, a model of a “peaceful” transition away

/ dred miles away in Benghazi, Libya, a Qadhafi loyalists, including many civil- getty group of over a hundred heavily armed ians, and conducted mass beatings and from dictatorship. He even took some of images terrorists stormed the American consulate killings. The United States turned a blind the credit, praising America’s instrumental after nightfall. They fired rocket-propelled eye to these atrocities. Then, Libya’s rebel support for the opposition. “I think histo- , khalil grenades and set it ablaze, attacked a near- forces got hold of Colonel Qadhafi. They ry will end up recording that at every junc- / afp by cia safehouse with guns and mortars, proceeded to sodomize him and parade ture in the situation in Egypt that we were / getty and killed a highly respected ambassador his beaten and bloodied body through the on the right side of history,” he boasted. and three other Americans. streets of Sirte en route to his public execu- images In Egypt and Libya. Just last year, Pres- tion. The dictator’s lynching was recorded December 2012 ident Obama threw his weight behind and distributed worldwide via YouTube. THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET 3 Once again, the Trumpet had a far dif- his murder was a premeditated strike; that of Libya.” Nothing to worry about, then. ferent view. “For three decades, [Mubarak] the Americans under fire requested mili- White House press secretary Jay Car- just about single-handedly held Egypt’s tary help at least three times, and were— ney also performed an acrobatic dance forces of religious extremism and anti- for unknown reasons—thrice denied; that around the issue: “This is … in response Israelism in check. Now … those forces Americans were killed only after hours of not to U.S. policy, not to, obviously, the ad- have driven him from office,” we wrote being under siege without receiving help; ministration, not to the American people,” in our April 2011 cover story. “Time will that American officials in Tripoli, the Pen- he explained. “It is in response to a video— soon show: Egypt, the Middle East, and tagon, the State Department and the White a film—that we have judged to be repre- the world are far more perilous for it.” Six House were watching everything as it hap- hensible and disgusting.” In other words, months later, in that same October 2011 pened thanks to a live video feed from un- We’re on the same side as the protesters. We story, Mr. Flurry wrote, “The end result manned drones over the city. all agree: This video is reprehensible and is going to be that we exchanged Mubarak Stunning. The reality that this was a disgusting. “[T]his is not a case of protests and ‘the only successful Middle East peace well-planned, well-executed and lethal directed at the United States, writ large, or treaty’ [the one between Egypt and Israel] terrorist attack on American soil was at U.S. policy,” he assured us. for the Muslim Brotherhood—allied with known virtually right away. If these mobs did want to protest U.S. Iran. … It shows that Egypt is already al- Nevertheless, administration offi- policy, the administration, the American lying itself with Iran in its bloody terror- cials—apparently intent on preserving people, or the United States writ large, ist war. This has the potential to cause the the myth of the success of their outreach what would they have to do? Is- Middle East to explode and drag all the to the Muslim world—immediately began lamist chants, flag burning, arson, mur- der—Washington doesn’t take any of these Al Qaeda is definitely “on the run,” as Mr. Obama personally. A reporter asked Mr. Carney if the repeatedly stated. But it isn’t running from American attacks occurred because of “perceived American weakness” that stems from forces—it is instead rushing to fill the power void left Obama’s leadership. He answered, “We’re by a superpower that has spent its strength in vain. very proud of the president’s record on foreign policy.” Earth’s inhabitants into World War iii!” promoting a bizarre and altogether false Even as he said that, anti-American Sure enough, soon after Mubarak was version of events. violence was erupting all over the world. gone, the Brotherhood rose, and grisly The president, the secretary of state In Tunisia, Islamist protesters scaled the signs of its radicalism emerged. Now and the UN ambassador sprang into ac- wall of the U.S. Embassy compound, Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel is effec- tion and lashed out … at a YouTube video. broke windows, started fires and raised tively dead; the most powerful Arab coun- An Egyptian Salafist television station, the black flag of al Qaeda. In Sudan, a try in the Middle East is rapidly forging a in order to incite anti-American violence mob of 5,000 protesters marched right by fresh alliance with Iran. And the mobs on on the anniversary of 9/11, had screened Sudanese policemen and set the German the streets are flying an Islamist flag at the a low-budget, poorly made mockery of Embassy on fire. In Yemen, the United American embassy. the Islamic prophet Mohammed that was States dispatched Marine reinforcements How could this happen? Well, again— made by a Coptic Christian from Egypt to fend off attacks. In London, 200 pro- how couldn’t it? living in California and apparently assist- testers burned American and Israeli flags However, to an American administra- ed by people from Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Pak- outside the U.S. Embassy. In Sydney, Mus- tion intoxicated with the notion that Mus- istan, Iran and Egypt. This video served lim protesters were waving signs that read, lim radicals can be won over with polite- as the flimsy pretext for some of the anti- “Behead all those who insult the prophet.” ness, this came out of nowhere. America rioting. But the mob in Cairo— The Sunday after the 9/11 attack, Libyan led by Mohammad Zawahiri, brother of President Mohamed Yousef told cbs’s Face Protecting Their Story al Qaeda’s leader—had been coordinated the Nation that he had “no doubt” that This long-cherished idea that the White by Salafist militants weeks in advance of what happened in Benghazi had been a House’s outreach to Muslims is brilliant the video being broadcast. And the terror- preplanned terrorist strike. But that same foreign policy is extraordinarily resilient. ist strike in Benghazi had no connection hour, on abc’s This Week, U.S. Ambassa- Not even the Sept. 11, 2012, attacks were to the video whatsoever. Nevertheless, the dor to the United Nations Susan Rice said able to kill it. administration briskly diverted attention the attack was not premeditated; it was a If anything, those attacks prompted from what had really happened by fixating “spontaneous” protest that was inspired the Obama administration to defend its its attention on this YouTube clip. by the violence in Cairo, which happened strategy even more aggressively. The fact American officials relentlessly attacked because of the video. The Benghazi “pro- that the president’s reelection was at risk the video as a disgusting, reprehensible, ab- test” was then “hijacked” by “clusters of surely increased the stakes. horrent attack on Islam and on freedom of extremists,” and the whole thing just sort Consider the horrific facts about Beng- religion. They asked YouTube to censor it. of “evolved” from there, Rice said. hazi that emerged in the weeks after the They applauded the media for going after Quite an elaborate account. And en- attack. Among them: that the consulate the video producer, who was subsequently tirely fictional. had warned the State Department a month tracked down and arrested. And then they In the days that followed, as more facts before 9/11 that it would not be able to de- did everything they could to downplay the emerged, the administration’s story got fend against a “coordinated attack” due to seriousness of the attack. “We must be clear- more and more convoluted. And just as “limited manpower”; that Am- eyed, even in our grief,” said Secretary Clin- all this was blowing up, the presidential bassador Chris Stevens knew he ton. “This was an attack by a small and sav- debates occurred. In the vice presidential 4 was on an al Qaeda hit list, and age group—not the people or government debate on October 12, Joe Biden defended the White House’s account of the Beng- hazi attack (which for two weeks had been that it spontaneously sprang from—in the president’s own words before the United Nations—“outrage” over a “crude and dis- gusting video”). Biden said this explana- tion was “exactly” what the intelligence community had told them—when in re- ality, the State Department was calling it a coordinated terrorist attack almost immediately. Mr. Biden also claimed the government didn’t know the consulate in Libya wanted more security—even though evidence proved that the State Department had repeatedly received those requests and they had obviously been denied. Whatever mistakes were made in Benghazi, this administration would not even acknowledge they existed, let alone graphic image take responsibility. Libyans carried U.S. Ambassador But it went even a step further. Even Christopher Stevens, dying or dead, as its misdirection and cover-up were be- through the streets of Benghazi. ing exposed and refuted by emerging evi- dence—and even with countries through- out the Middle East in tumult—the White And his statement about al Qaeda being American people with this “major lie” in House made a gutsy move: It ramped up decimated was awkward, considering that order to justify the U.S. exit strategy. Dur- its “right side of history,” “proud of the it was an al Qaeda-affiliated terrorist mob ing a 60 Minutes episode on September 30, president’s record” rhetoric. that struck the consulate. But what the Logan interviewed Gen. John Allen, the president said about Afghanistan war- commanding officer of U.S. forces in Af- We’re Doing Everything Right rants particular scrutiny. ghanistan, Afghan President Hamid Karzai In his debate, Mr. Biden praised the presi- Mr. Obama took credit for bringing and a Taliban commander who had been dent for his tremendous progress on the the situation under control to the point trained by al Qaeda. All of them agreed: Al Iran problem: Though they were on the rise where America can hand control back to Qaeda and other terrorist organizations are when he took office, the Iranians are now Afghanis. But the facts undermine this now returning to Afghanistan. more isolated than ever and far less power- claim. Ever since the so-called Obama Al Qaeda is definitely “on the run,” as ful. Biden gushed about his achievements, surge—when in 2009 he shifted attention Mr. Obama repeatedly stated. But it isn’t “This is a guy who’s repaired our alliances away from Iraq and sent an additional running from American forces—it is in- so the rest of the world follows us again.” 33,000 troops to Afghanistan—there has stead rushing to fill the power void The rest of the world is now following been a dramatic rise in U.S. casualties. Of left by a superpower that has spent America again? That is an astonishing the more than 2,100 U.S. service mem- its strength in vain. take on the state of global affairs. bers who have been killed in Afghani- This is the real story. America is fad- In the presidential debate about for- stan, about 70 percent have died on Mr. ing. After a decade of fighting an unwin- eign policy, Mr. Obama also paraded his Obama’s watch. Of even greater concern nable war in Afghanistan, most Ameri- accomplishments. “We ended the war in is the alarming increase of “green on cans want out. The nation’s leaders have Iraq, refocused our attention on those who blue” attacks. This year there have been responded by declaring victory so they actually killed us on 9/11. And as a conse- more than 30 attacks on coalition forces can finalize an exit strategy. quence, al Qaeda’s core leadership has been by their Afghan “partners.” The problem Even Obama’s Republican opponent decimated. In addition, we’re now able to has gotten so bad that U.S. forces now actively promoted the “mission accom- transition out of Afghanistan in a responsi- carry weapons at all times—even while on plished” propaganda. “We’ve seen prog- ble way, making sure that Afghans take re- base—to protect themselves from people ress over the past several years. The surge sponsibility for their own security.” He even who are supposed to be on their side. has been successful, and the training pro- praised himself for his handling of Beng- Despite these many setbacks, however, gram is proceeding at pace,” Mitt Romney hazi: “When we received that phone call, I the Obama administration actively ped- said at the foreign-policy debate. There immediately made sure that, number one, dled the “mission accomplished” theme are now a large number of Afghan securi- that we did everything we could to secure on Afghanistan. During the vice presiden- ty forces—350,000—that are ready to step those Americans who were still in harm’s tial debate, Mr. Biden said America’s pri- in to provide security, and we’re going to way.” And despite the radicalism that has mary objective in Afghanistan is “almost be able to make that transition by the end emerged in Egypt and Libya, the president completed.” Mr. Obama took it even fur- of 2014.” He emphatically told America’s reiterated his conviction that he was right ther, repeatedly saying on the campaign enemies that as president, he would stick to support the ousting of Mubarak, and trail that America has “blunted the Tali- to the 2014 timetable. Obviously in that correct in dethroning Qadhafi. ban’s momentum” and that al Qaeda is on debate, he was speaking to undecided images The families of the Americans killed in the “path to defeat.”

getty Benghazi have every right to take excep- But according to cbs reporter Lara Lo- / December 2012 afp tion to his “everything we could” remark. gan, the administration was misleading the THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET 5 “Now America and the “The end result is going much talking about subjects concerning West have paved the to be that we exchanged which the voters don’t care all that much.” way for another Iranian Mubarak and ‘the only That is astonishing, given the state of the world. Americans are eager to pass victory in Libya. We are successful Middle East responsibility for Iraq onto Iraqis, for Af- rejoicing about the over- peace treaty’ for the Mus- ghanistan onto Afghanis, for Israel onto throw of Libya’s Muam- lim Brotherhood—allied Israelis, and for every other problem area mar Qadhafi, while we with Iran. It shows that onto “partners” in the international com- should be mourning. Egypt is already ally- munity. They like their presidential can- didates to talk about exerting leadership Libyan chaos is now the ing itself with Iran in its in the world, but in the end, they pretty ideal setting for Iran to bloody terrorist war. This much would like the world to take care of bring that nation into its has the potential to cause the itself. The nation’s role in the world is pe- deadly terrorist web. The govern- Middle East to explode and drag all the ripheral to their interests. ment that replaces Qadhafi will be Earth’s inhabitants into World War iii!” Well, the truth is that, more and more, a thousand times worse.” Gerald Flurry, October 2011 America’s role in the world is pe- ripheral to the world’s interests as well. America’s “ability to impose its will voters, moving to the center to avoid com- doing what we’re doing. These leaders, anywhere on the planet” is long gone. And ing across as radical. But how telling is it in their arrogance, think they write the when a political candidate says “the rest of that this is what it takes to appeal to a war- script. In Afghanistan, they have decided the world follows us again,” the rest of the weary American electorate in 2012? in their own minds that America won. world chuckles—and then carries on with Are you buying what these leaders are But the reality, Logan says, is that “After its business in post-American reality. selling? The prevailing narrative is that 11 years of war in Afghanistan, where we They are confident that the next ad- America is doing everything essentially are surrendering—rushing for the exits as ministration will oversee the continuing right. In Syria, Bashar Assad is sure to fast as we can—not only do we not dictate contraction of American influence and go eventually; we just need to keep do- the terms, but we have less power to dictate power. America is becoming irrelevant. ing what we’re doing. In Egypt, we were anything on the world stage.” The U.S. is disengaging from the world, correct in ousting Hosni Mubarak; we’re In other words, it isn’t al Qaeda or any and the world is returning the favor. better off with the Muslim Brotherhood in other terrorist group that is on the path to But the story doesn’t end there. This charge. In Libya, we did right in knocking defeat. It’s the United States of America. massive geopolitical shift is going to have off Qadhafi; Libya is progressing nicely. In How is this possible? Isn’t the U.S. the fearsome consequences. Probably within Afghanistan, we’ve basically done our job; world’s strongest nation? In the foreign- this next presidential term, the multipolar, the locals can keep things under control policy debate, Mr. Obama boasted, “We post-American world will explode with now, so we can bring our boys back. spend more on our military than the next shocks so earthshaking that no president Apparently, a great many Americans 10 countries combined.” But the painful will be able to paper over the facts. Amer- believe it. They want so much to think truth is, that expenditure provides us with ica’s pride in its power has been broken. that the greatest dangers facing the nation nothing. The U.S. “no longer has the … And the powers that are rising to replace are now in the past. basic ability to impose its will anywhere it are about to tear this world apart. n But the cold, hard, stark reality is, it on the planet,” Tom Engelhardt wrote on just isn’t true. Real Clear World. “Quite the opposite, U.S. military power has been remarkably The Post-American World discredited globally by the most pitiful of Worse—and Events are exploding in America’s face. The forces” (October 10). Even a hundred or so Middle East is transforming, and in spite of terrorists can poke America in the eye with BETTER—than enormously costly American efforts, it is a sharp stick by destroying an American descending deeper into radicalism. On top consulate and killing an ambassador—and you think! of that, the rest of the world faces tremen- face no consequences whatsoever. dous instability. Europe is in turmoil, seized The time of American superpower is The world has entered the post-American with unrest that, history shows, could be past. We are in a multipolar world. Wash- period. What happens next is even more commandeered by extremists of a different ington’s authority and influence is bleeding terrifying and violent that you expect. But stripe. Asia is being redrawn as China rises out in several directions, and is being ab- what happens after that global explosion is and actively undermines American inter- sorbed by unpredictable, unstable powers. the greatest period in human history. Bible ests. Latin America is also decoupling from Can Americans recognize this? Do prophecy predicted the rise of the United the U.S. and playing host to more extremist they even care? Judging by presidential States. It predicted its present decline, and and violent elements. Frankly, the prolifera- politics, it seems the stunning answer is its imminent fall. But it also predicts the tion of factors that could lead to devastating no. As George Will said of Obama and soon coming, literal return of Jesus Christ! conflicts can numb the mind. Romney after their foreign-policy debate, This revolution is very close. To understand But America’s top leaders—both Dem- “They understand, both of them, that for- what the Bible says about the ocrat and Republican, it seems—insist eign policy is very peripheral to Ameri- post-American world, request that things are under control. America has cans’ interests today, and what foreign a free copy of our book never been stronger and safer. policy they want needs a lot less Ameri- The United States and We just need to stay the course. can involvement overseas. Tonight we saw Britain in Prophecy. 6 Make a few tweaks, but keep two men who don’t really disagree all that FROM WHERE WILL HELP COME? Syria is one of many flash points in the region that are opening the door for foreign intervention.

Next in Line, Please America is pulling out of North Africa and the Middle East. Another power is gearing up to fill the void. By Jeremiah Jacques and Richard Palmer

merica wants out. After 11 working, slowly, quietly and consistently. EU is hardly a disinterested bystander to years of war, it wants to bring its Middle Eastern affairs. In fact, it is prov- soldiers home from Afghanistan; Building an Anti-Iran Alliance ing itself quite engrossed in them—even it wants to leave the Middle East The new United Nations peace envoy to yearning to influence their outcome. andA North Africa for others to deal with. Syria is planning to send 3,000 peacekeep- In recent years, one of the EU’s main The question arises, who will it be? ing troops to Syria to help quell its civil goals for the Middle East has been the Radical Islam is rising. Disorder is seiz- war. Where will the 3,000 come from? creation of a coalition of Muslim nations ing country after country throughout the The UN envoy, Algerian Diplomat Lakh- to act as an anti-Iran alliance. This is evi- region. Will anyone actually step up to dar Brahimi, feels that his options are denced by the EU’s leading power, Ger- bring the situation to heel, to help steer limited. He considers African troops too many, steadily improving trade relations events in the right direction? ill equipped, soldiers from neighboring with and military investment in nations Right now, at least superficially, there Arab countries too close to the rebels to be like Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Tur- doesn’t appear to be an obvious contender considered neutral, and British and Amer- key and the Gulf states. for the job. ican forces tainted in the eyes of the locals Germany is supplying scads of weapons images

When you look closer, however, and because of their involvement in Iraq and to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates start putting events and trends together, Afghanistan. Russia and China’s support and Bahrain. It has also deployed its fed- getty / an answer begins to surface. There is a for the Assad regime rules them out, too. eral police to Riyadh to help the Saudis afp / foreign power positioning itself to ex- So, who is left? Only one power: the Eu- with border security and to train moore

ert control. It certainly isn’t going for ropean Union. them to squelch uprisings. After phil shock and awe—at least not yet. But it is It’s a striking conclusion, because the See LINE page 26 ➤ 7 As Gun Sales Rise, What Is Your Source of Protection? People seem to be bracing for crime and riots to explode— by arming themselves to the teeth. By Joel Hilliker

ave you got your gun yet? federal budgets are cut back, public ser- ready to boil over. Stories are numbering Millions of your neighbors have. vices, including law enforcement, are be- in the hundreds of gangs of young people Americans have always loved ing trimmed. A growing number of people committing random acts of terror—steal- their guns, but lately they are just don’t think the government will pro- ing, vandalizing, intimidating, assaulting, loadingH up more than ever. tect them. Also, more and more believe the even raping and killing. Racial provoca- U.S. civilians lead the world in private world is coming to an end and are bracing tions and violence have grown routine. gun ownership: They own an estimated themselves to survive doomsday. Soaring welfare dependency means that 270 million guns—nine privately owned Added to these fears is growing ner- any disruption in benefits—whether from firearms for every 10 people. vousness that politicians are about to en- budget cuts, a government shutdown Precise gun sales figures don’t exist, but act stricter gun control. It’s a showdown: or default—could mobilize an army of firearm manufacturers know the score. On one side are people who say that keep- discontents overnight. A currency melt- Because of exploding demand, they sim- ing guns out of people’s hands makes ev- down—made increasingly likely by reck- ply can’t keep the shelves stocked. Sturm, eryone safer. On the other are those who less government monetary policy—would Ruger and Co. received more orders in the believe that taking guns away only leaves transform the country. first quarter of this year than the number law-abiding people vulnerable to crimi- On top of these dangers are the possi- of guns it made in all of 2011. Smith & Wes- nals who will get them illegally. As society bilities of unforeseen disaster—a terrorist son said its backlog at the end of the second grows more dangerous, they argue, the attack, weather catastrophe, major earth- quarter was worth nearly $400 million, only source of protection they can really quake or disease pandemic. All have the more than double the same time last year. have confidence in is themselves. potential to not only bring a high body The firearms industry grew 66 percent Are you one of these people? What is count, but also to upset the infrastructure in economic impact (job creation and tax your source of protection? and technology our society depends on— payments) between 2008 and 2011. And This is an important question, because the systems that enable food distribution, the number of background checks linked those who lack protection are about to electricity production and delivery, com- to buying firearms is soaring: 1.7 million find themselves in a world of trouble. munication, waste management and so in March—up 20 percent from March last on. The resulting tribulations could spark year. It was the 22nd month in a row that You Need Protection! significant unrest. shapecharge this number rose. Numbers are still well Given current trends, it’s not difficult Little wonder that people are seeking over a million a month. to see why people are concerned about out ways to protect themselves.

Clearly, people are concerned. Many are breakdowns in social order. All around we But there is yet more to indicate the / istockphoto anxious over economic instabil- see clues that it is unraveling. In an eco- fragility of our society—and this is the ity and the potential for societal nomically depressive atmosphere, it seems most concerning of all. It is the warning 8 breakdown. As local, state and anger and hostility are always simmering, of biblical prophecy. A host of chilling scriptural passages with the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12)—or full of dangers. He knew those who follow warn of exactly these sorts of scenarios as the Fenton translation renders it, He Him would be under threat of crime and hitting us very soon. “ranked among the outlaws.” Christ said, violence. That is why He instructed His The end-time prophecy of Ezekiel 5, for “For I say unto you, that this that is writ- disciples to pray daily, “Deliver us from example, reveals that America is about to ten must yet be accomplished in me,” and evil” (Matthew 6:13). fall victim to a siege of violence within its He had them get a sword to fulfill that major cities. Economic collapse will cause prophecy—not to use in killing. Real Protection serious breakdowns. Panic will spread. Before He was crucified, Jesus told Many people who call themselves Chris- Lawlessness will explode. We will see riot- Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world: tians actually ridicule the idea of divine ing, burning and brutality amid popula- if my kingdom were of this world, then protection. They practice a religion “hav- tion centers. We will experience the worst would my servants fight …” (John 18:36). ing a form of godliness, but denying the evils of human nature. To this day, His Kingdom has not yet power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5). Now—add 270 million guns to this come to this Earth. When it does, Christ But God is real. His power is real—His equation. Prophecies make it obvious that will lead the charge and make war in righ- power to save from danger those who fear these weapons will be put to use. Not just teousness (read Revelation 19:11-16). and obey Him is real! “The Lord knoweth in occasional gang-on-gang violence, or Until then, however, did Christ say His how to deliver the godly out of tempta- only between criminals and policemen— followers should arm themselves and use tions, and to reserve the unjust unto the but by people who are driven by fear, des- self-defense? day of judgment to be punished” (2 Peter perate for food, fighting for their lives, de- No, He did not. “Resist not evil,” Jesus 2:9). The Bible is filled with examples of termined to protect their loved ones. said. “[W]hosoever shall smite thee on thy God delivering His faithful out of all sorts What will you do in these nightmarish right cheek, turn to him the other also” of life-threatening situations—conquer- conditions? How will you keep your fam- (Matthew 5:39). ing kingdoms, quenching fire, closing ily safe from hungry, desperate people? The approach of arming oneself, in- the mouths of man-eating beasts, putting How will you survive? tending on using guns to defend against whole armies to flight (Hebrews 11:33-34). Are guns your best form of protection? other human beings, contravenes Christ’s God does promise in many scriptural Well, when you understand those bibli- clear instruction. (Using guns for hunting passages that in the coming tribulation, cal prophecies, a terrible reality emerges: or recreation is far different than procur- He will provide a special place of protec- Guns are only going to help so much. Set ing them for self-defense.) Taking another tion for His people. You can read about aside practical considerations—the fact person’s life also breaks the Sixth Com- this by requesting our free booklet Jordan that they can jam, or misfire, or be stolen mandment, “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus and God’s Church in Prophecy. and used against you. Set aside questions 20:13). There is no limit on God’s ability to like how you could be sure you wouldn’t Restraining use your gun for evil. force would be ap- Realize that the scale of violence about propriate to exer- GUNS PER CAPITA BY COUNTRY to engulf our society will simply be too cise under certain overwhelming. No one is going to escape circumstances. But United states of america #1 89% the coming tribulation—which is de- someone who is scending on America and other nations striving to live by serbia #2 58% because of God’s wrath—through surviv- God’s law of love, yemen #3 55% alist skills. Those who plan to weather the even if provoked, coming storms through their own fore- should never use a SWitZerland #4 46% sight and marksmanship are underesti- weapon with intent mating the savageness of the time ahead. to inflict injury on saudi arabia #6 35% There is, however, another, far more ef- another person. fective form of protection available. “Dearly beloved, irAq #7 34% avenge not your- Didn’t Jesus Say to Buy Swords? selves,” wrote the Canada #13 31% Many gun-buyers are Christian. When Apostle Paul, “but Jesus Christ walked this Earth, He spoke rather give place germany #15 30% (SOURCE: SMALL ARMS SURVEY) about the subject of self-defense. Did He unto wrath: for it is teach people to take up weapons and de- written, Vengeance fend themselves from dangers? is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” intervene on your behalf—except the There was one instance, often cited by (Romans 12:19). quality of your faith and obedience. “And some who consider the Bible authoritative, However, it is far from true that Christ whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, be- where Jesus actually told His disciples, “he left His disciples defenseless. He well knew cause we keep his commandments, and do that hath no sword, let him sell his gar- of—and specifically prophesied of—the those things that are pleasing in his sight” ment, and buy one” (Luke 22:36). Why? crime and violence that would over- (1 John 3:22). Are you doing what is pleas- Was it so they would be prepared to wage whelm our world today. “For then shall ing in his sight? war against the government of Rome, or be great tribulation,” He said of the time The question is about to become one to defend themselves against criminals? just before His Second Coming, “such of life and death: Do you have God’s No—the next verse gives the reason. Jesus as was not since the beginning of the protection? n fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21). during His years in the flesh, and this was December 2012 one of them: that He would be “numbered He knew that this society would be THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET 9 The Deadliest Mystery in the

By Gerald Flurry Middle East he Middle East is exploding Syria’s neighbor to the west. This terrorist On the other hand, there is a moun- with unrest and violence. But group is allied with Syria. Those weapons tain of evidence that Saddam Hussein one situation in particular could could go from Syria to terrorists like Hez- had wmd. He used mustard gas, VX and cause a major catastrophe for bollah, and from there to Western targets! sarin against the Kurds in the 1980s. He the world, including the United “U.S. and Israeli officials fear that the used those terrible weapons to fight a war TStates—and is being almost entirely over- chemical sites could be looted, leading against Iran. He used them many times looked by the media. It could be the dead- to weapons being sold or given to radical to kill Iraqis, his own people. So we know liest mystery in the Middle East. Islamists or to Iranian-backed Hezbollah those weapons existed. Western intelligence agencies are wor- fighters. A single crate of artillery shells In 1991, 60 Minutes spotlighted Sad- ried about Syria’s chemical weapons. They or a few barrels of chemical precursors dam Hussein’s nuclear bomb program. In estimate that Syria has several hundred would contain enough lethal poisons for a 1992, it quoted the United Nations saying tons of chemical weapons at perhaps 20 or series of terrorist attacks, weapons experts that his gassing of the Kurds was almost more sites throughout the country. They say” (ibid). without parallel since Adolf Hitler and the are most concerned about the deadly So a deadly chemical attack—or series Nazis. Saddam Hussein confessed that he nerve agent, sarin gas. “Syria is thought of attacks—could happen outside of Libya, had plenty of wmds in 1995. to possess the world’s third-largest stock- in Israel or even in the United States. After In 1996, 60 Minutes said that Iraq’s bio- pile of chemical weapons after the United all, who do these terrorists hate most of all? logical weapons hoard was “much more States and Russia …. Syria’s weapons, pre- America is their ultimate target. The attacks extensive than anyone had believed.” Dur- dominantly deadly nerve agents that can on America’s embassies and consulates on ing the Clinton administration, that news be delivered by artillery rockets, shells the anniversary of 9/11 demonstrate that. In program and many others emphasized the and aircraft munitions, were developed October, Iran actually tried a bold terrorist danger of Saddam Hussein’s weapons. In for use in a war against Israel” (Washing- attack against America—to assassinate the 1998, President Clinton announced that ton Post, September 6). Saudi ambassador to the U.S. right there in an Iraqi informant admitted that Iraq was Syria has never been known to be a Washington, d.c. Thankfully, that plot was continuing to develop chemical weapons manufacturer of chemical and biologi- thwarted. But just because that attack failed after the Gulf War ended in 1991. cal weapons. Where did it get all of these doesn’t mean the next one will. All the major intelligence agencies weapons of mass destruction? agreed that Iraq had these weapons in Syrian forces have these wmd, and they What Happened to Saddam’s WMD? massive amounts. They estimated that could use them. President Bashar Assad’s When the United States led a coalition of there were potentially dozens of chemical regime has said that it might do exactly nations in war against Saddam Hussein in and biological weapons sites across Iraq. that against foreign attackers. 2003, the consensus in the intelligence com- The United States couldn’t eliminate But something even more terrifying munity was that Iraq had massive stockpiles those chemical threats by bombing the fa- could happen to those weapons. of wmd. Today, however, it is widely consid- cilities. We had to send in tens of thousands ered fact that those stockpiles didn’t exist. of troops. And that’s exactly what we did in Concerns Over Looting What is the proof? As Melanie Phillips 2003, because we were certain that Saddam About half of the country is now in the wrote this past summer, it is simply “that Hussein had produced massive stockpiles hands of Syrian rebels. Assad’s regime none was ever found, surely one of the of wmd and that he constituted a clear dan- looks like it could fall any day. What most profoundly illogical and imbecilic ger to the United States and other nations. might happen then? U.S. Secretary of De- formulations ever to have fallen from hu- The U.S. and its allies went into Iraq fense Leon Panetta has said that he is wor- man lips” (Daily Mail, July 25). for the express purpose of getting rid of ried that Syria’s military could suddenly Saddam Hussein was a vile dictator Saddam’s wmd. But we didn’t find any! walk away from its chemical weapons with many enemies, both nearby and What happened to Saddam Hussein’s without securing them. If that happens, abroad. This man was feared because weapons of mass destruction? Where did terrorists could seize them! of these powerful weapons. Yet most of they go? Hezbollah is entrenched in Lebanon, the world apparently believes that he de- The other question is, where did all of stroyed his own wmd. We haven’t found Syria’s wmd come from?

December 2012 one shred of evidence to prove that he There is powerful evidence that those 10 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET would handicap himself that way. weapons stockpiles did exist—and they do ------So …. They And from said this ,and—al - , May 6, 2004 . Al Qaeda’s . Al Qaeda’s has found 41 41 found has wmd Townhall.com [T]here’s no doubt[T]here’s these guys — operation” would have “de in Iraq] said, in an interim report, major InApril of 2004, Jordanian authorities AlQaeda, 20 of tons tockpiles foiled an al Qaeda terrorist The plot. cell had 20 chemicals, of tons including poi tons of wmd son gas! Twenty inleader admitted Jordan that the ter roristsplanned kill to 20,00080,000 to Jordanians. King Abdullah ii “major, capitated thegovernment.” most—80,000 murdered Jordanians. Yet Jordanians. murdered Yet most—80,000 the media paid almost it attention. no Nobody asked, Where did all those chemi- cals come from? want Maybe they don’t knowto the answer: Evidence indicates thatthose manufactured weapons were by Saddam Hussein Syria and by deployed the to terrorists! “The (sidebar: Stockpiles in Iraq”). Were - - - of There’s a lotThere’s of reason to think [the source of the chem components were shipped to Syria. John Loftus: n 2004, terrorism expert John Loftus granted an interview with Larry Elder concerning the lack media’s of interest in the origins of the 20 tons of chemical weapons found in Jordan that Loftus year. is a re I ‘The S in Iraq’ Were spected Army officer Department former Justice and prosecutor. They couldn’t have obtained it from Syria? ? Why aren’t we more cu more we ? Why aren’t one of the most destructive chemical mass production weapons you can use IN … E Sure. It would only bring the United Nations down on their heads if they were shown Syria does have the ability to produce certain kinds of nerve gasses, but in small quanti It’s embarrassing to the [press]. They’ve staked their reputations that this stuff wasn’t A possibility? had We a Syrian journalist who defected to Paris in January. The guy is dying You said theYou Russians told Saddam, “There is going to be an invasion. Get rid of your It seems to me that this is a huge, huge story. David Kay [the man in charge of searching for wmd HUSS arry Elder: oftus: oftus: oftus: oftus: Elder: L Elder: L Elder: L L L in Jordan in We knowWe from Israeli and defectors’ intelligence that the son of the Syrian defense minister was D MelaniePhillips concluded, “Might aren’tWhy asking more people that there was a possibility that wmd chemical and biological weapons.” weapons.” biological and chemical icals] might be Iraq. captured We Iraqi members of al Qaeda, who’ve been trained in Iraq, planned for the mission in Iraq, and now they’re in Jordan with nerve gas. That’s not the kind of thing you buy in a grocery store. have to have obtained You it from someplace. there. And now all of a sudden we have al Qaeda agents from Iraq showing up with weapons of destruction.mass of cancer, and he said, “Look, my friends in Syrian intelligence told me exactly where the stuff is bur ied.” He named three sites in Syria, and the Israelis have confirmed the three sites. They know where the stuff is, but the problem is that the United States can’t just go around invading Arab countries. … paid 50 million bucks to bring the stuff across the border and bury it. different material breaches where Saddam did have a weapons of mass destruction program of various types. It was completely illegal. But no one could find the stockpiles. And the liberal press seems to be focusing on that. to really have weapons of mass destruction.It’s not generally known, but the cia ties. The large stockpiles were knownto be inIraq. The best U.S.and alliedintelligence say that in the weeks10 before the Iraq Saddam’s war, Russian adviser told him to get rid of all the nerve gas. … they shipped it across the border to Syria and Lebanon and buried it. … the description, it appears this is the form of nerve gas known as VX. It’s very rare and very tough to manufacture wanted to build three clouds, a mile across, of toxic gas. A whole brew witch’s of nasty chemicals that were going to go into this poison cloud, and this would have gone over shopping malls, hospitals. confessed on Jordanian television that they received the training for this mission in Iraq. … M W There is something else that figures prom inently into this equation. happened in It Jordan. chemicalarsenal in the region, without theinternational community really real izing when or how. Basharof some al-Assad’schemical and possibly biological arsenal Saddam have name it?” on Hussein’s this question with do Doesto rioushave it it? about politics? There has been deception of a lot need get to the to truth,here. We because so much is stake—perhaps at the lives millions of people!

------in rap Syria were arriving were in were transferred were Syria to just being in Syria surfaced. have A UNA weapons inspectormade

wmd wmd

arsenal. This group received many received arsenal. This group acquired perhaps the most fearsome

Additional evidence from Iraqi docu According terrorism to expert John All this of evidence was later corrobo They accept the notion that wmd no Surely would agree you that something Over the pastwhile year, Syriahas Syria tried develop its to own nuclear

border to Syria to border and Lebanon and buried it.” nerve gas. So … they shipped across it the Russian adviser him told get to rid all of the 10 weeks before the Iraq War, Saddam’s Saddam’s weeks the10 before Iraq War, U.S. and allied intelligence say that in the security clearances in the “The world, best Loftus, who has held some of the highest Syriathey where had been buried. Syria, and even identified three places in reported wmd that Iraq’s A Syrian journalistwho defected Paris to and Syria just the prior to U.S. invasion. gested that Iraq was transferring its wmd Syria. to the same claim. There reports were sig of nificanttruck between movement Iraq ArielSharon, said that satellite data sug During that time, Israel’sprime minister, The lead-up to the Theto lead-up war year. took aboutone Syria! Ignored Evidence! exist. They transferred were from to Iraq credible reports about pre-invasion weap transfersons Syria. to wmd with learning what had happened Iraq’s to duced a detailed report about the Iraq Sur multinationala veyGroup, group tasked June 2010, Ryan Media Mauro 2010, June PJ of pro evidence a weapons transfer of Syria. to In Iraq when the U.S. invaded also revealed transporting weapons and missile com federal was who agent the on ground in Iraq received assistance from Russia in an Iraqi Air commander Force and U.S. a ments seizedments during the war indicates that acrossponents After the border. the war, the media reported. have is not right here. There this to is more than or shoved aside shoved asor propaganda! Iraq’s All this evidence has been simply ignored been in turmoil, still reports more about the media ignored have theseYet reports. before thebefore war started in 2003. certain rated by one of Saddam’s former gener Saddam’s of rated one by als, Georges Sada. says is He he absolutely story that the war in Iraq was un in Iraq that the was war story somehow, Yet that in 2007. them! it Why? feeds Because their program,Israel but quicklydestroyed existed, that or Saddam himself destroyed Iraq after the war that proves they never andnecessary, a mistake! idly

mike nelson /apf/getty images death factory? In a photo taken in 2002, a WMD REALITY A Kurdish father holds his baby in his arms in Halabja, plant lies 300 miles northwest of Baghdad. Iraqi officials Iraq, on March 20, 1988. Father and daughter were killed when the Iraqi government allowed journalists to tour the site, claiming the plant was launched a confirmed genocidal military poison gas attack against its own citizens. It used to produce chemicals for fertilizers. The same site is believed that the Iraqi military massacred approximately 5,000 villagers by bombing housed a uranium extraction plant until it was destroyed Halabja with mustard gas and sarin, tabun and VX nerve agents. The slaughter is rec- during the 1991 Gulf War. ognized as the worst-ever chemical attack against civilians.

Syria is the world’s second deadliest managed to acquire its massive stockpile Middle East is leading. state sponsor of terrorism. It has actu- of wmd. It has never had the reputation To understand the truth, you have to ally used some dangerous weapons in for being a large-scale manufacturer of understand Bible prophecy. Psalm 83 re- that process. It tried to decapitate peace- such weapons—certainly not like pre- veals what is ahead. Based on that proph- ful little Jordan. Don’t you think it might 2003 Iraq. Yet when Assad’s government ecy, the Trumpet has forecast for years that use some of those chemical weapons at its said it possessed a deadly wmd arsenal, Syria is going to break away from its disposal? Or that it could give them to ter- no one doubted the claim. There were no alliance with Iran. It appears that is rorists? Evidence suggests it already has! intelligence reports theorizing that Syria what is happening right now. Again, this is the fundamental ques- suspended its wmd program years ago— Prophecies in Psalm 83 and Daniel 11 tion that no one is asking: Where did or saying that the stockpiles simply do are unbreakable, and they reveal that this these terrorists get 20 tons of poison gas not exist. world is about to explode with violence— to use against Jordanians? The Jordanians No—everyone knows they exist. But and those weapons of mass destruction will knew: It came from Syria. no one asks how they got there in the actually get detonated! Those prophecies first place, because raising that question show that the spark that ignites the next world war will come from the Middle East. But this horrible news is going to give They accept the notion that no wmd in Iraq way to good news! after the war proves that they never existed, Look at Daniel’s prophecy in Daniel 11:40—then follow it to the end. It con- or that Saddam himself destroyed them! Why? cludes by talking about the return of the Because it feeds their story that the war in Messiah! The Messiah is coming! Fulfilled

prophecy in the Middle East is proof of ramzi that. And just as sure as these prophecies Iraq was unnecessary, and a mistake! have been fulfilled, the prophecies about haidar /

Will Those WMD Be Used? would lift the veil covering the media’s the Messiah’s return will be fulfilled. afp / Today, with Syria engulfed in civil war shameful record of deception and lies. Matthew 24 tells us that if Christ getty

and Bashar Assad’s regime in trouble, Politicians and news producers are so didn’t come to stop this madness, there some people are panicking a bit about worried about their own careers that they would be “no flesh saved alive.” But thank images ,

what might happen to Syria’s chemical won’t talk about it! God that He is coming to stop the mass afp / weapons in the event of a regime change. We have a very good idea where the destruction and the mass murder and getty They are right to panic! wmd in Syria—and Jordan—came from. lead the Middle East and the world into a

Hardly anyone, though, has And we have an even better understand- time of peace. We are on a countdown to images 12 bothered to ask about how Syria ing of where this horrific situation in the that glorious event! n The Dollar Killer The Fed’s latest announcement is a death knell for the greenback. By Robert Morley

merica’s economy is in deeper trouble than thought. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Ber- nanke confirmed it. His official announcementA on September 13 said America is on the mend, it is just expe- riencing a few headwinds from Europe. He then went on to unleash a quantita- tive easing program (qe3) so potentially massive in scope that it could dwarf qe1, qe2, Operation Twist, and all the money- printing schemes the Fed has carried out so far—combined! If you really want to know what is go- rate it charges banks to borrow money at It is happening already. Within just a ing on in the economy, ignore what the zero percent until at least 2015. few hours of Bernanke’s statement, the Fed says—and watch what it does. Remember: This new qe3 program is dollar lost over half a percent in value. in addition to the current $45 billion per The following day it lost more than half a Another Bank Bailout month the Fed is using to purchase U.S. percent again. Bernanke announced that the Fed treasury bonds—and to keep the federal The Federal Reserve’s qe policy will will spend a whopping $40 billion per government paying its bills. In the past, the drive the dollar “through the floor,” says month—$480 billion per year—purchas- Federal Reserve has only lent money to the Peter Schiff, ceo of Euro Pacific Capital. ing mortgage-backed securities from the federal government short term, but now it “This is a disastrous monetary policy; it’s big Wall Street banks. He called it an ef- is going to use this $45 billion per month kamikaze monetary policy,” Schiff told fort to drive down mortgage rates and get to lend to the government “longer term.” cnbc. “The dollar … is going to be in free more people buying and building houses, fall at some point … ultimately there’s go- thus creating jobs. What This Does to the Dollar ing to be a currency crisis.” If this is the best the Fed has to offer, For those not versed in the intricacies of Schiff is absolutely right. When Amer- America is in big trouble. Mortgage rates Federal Reserve machinations, remember ica’s central bank announces that it is go- are already at historic lows, and people that the Fed has no money of its own. Any ing to create unlimited amounts of new cannot afford to buy more houses. Push- money it spends, it does via a printing money to fix the economy, you need to ing record-low rates a few fractions of press, or its electronic equivalent, which it realize that America is in serious trouble. a percent lower won’t do much. What is uses to create dollars out of thin air. The truth is that America is addicted to likelier is that the big banks will finally But there is no free lunch. Economists quantitative easing. It can no longer func- have an opportunity to unload all their always forget the other side of the equa- tion without it. The federal government garbage subprime-mortgage-backed secu- tion. You don’t just create $40 billion, can’t cover its bills without money print- rities at the expense of taxpayers. In other throw it at the banks, and get magical eco- ing. The banking sector would collapse words, this is another bank bailout. nomic growth. Every time the Fed “cre- without money printing. The mortgage But if that part of the Federal Reserve’s ates” money out of thin air, it cheapens the market would no longer function without announcement wasn’t shocking enough, value of all preexisting dollars. various forms of quantitative easing. And what it said next should blow your socks So while dollar money supply totals now Bernanke says the job market may off. The Fed said it was writing itself a may grow by $40 billion per month, and not recover without qe. blank check for how much it could spend while America’s gross domestic product America needs to prepare for massive until the labor market improved “substan- may increase, it is phony growth because economic upheaval. America’s top banker tially.” It gave itself no predefined limit on the dollars are worth less. Yes, people are has signaled that it is quantitative easing how much it could spend or for how long spending more, but they are getting less. or sudden death for the economy. There under this new qe3 program. It is com- Printing money to buy things is “Zim- is no choice. If the money printing stops, pletely open-ended. babwe policy.” What happened to Zimba- America stops. But that means the dollar n

(3) The Fed also indicated that if this did bwe when it tried this? Eventually it cost is going to get killed. not prove enough to stimulate the job Zimbabweans billions of dollars to buy a

market, it could unveil other policy weap- banana. This is where the quantitative- December 2012 istockphoto ons. For starters, it will keep the interest easing road leads. THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET 13 The Cure for Shopping Addiction

uying things makes us happy. It thanksgiving. An attitude of grati- (Philippians 4:11-12). busts depression, grows our circle tude for those blessings we already pos- When we concentrate on and worry of friends, solves our family prob- sess—particularly the spiritual blessings. about what we don’t have, we make our- lems. Buying things is the quickest selves poor. When we are grateful for and Bpath to robust health and a future of ease. Putting It in Perspective content with everything we do have, we At least, that’s what the ads tell us. In the United States, the fourth Thursday discover how rich we truly are. Experience, on the other hand, tells in November is Thanksgiving Day. This A lack of contentment is really a lack us something quite different: that buying noble public holiday represents a godly at- of perspective. If you are anxious about things usually just gets us more things— titude we need to cultivate daily through- what you’ll eat or drink, your perspective more things that need to be taken care of, out the year. is off, Christ instructs us. Just be thankful more things that break. Jesus Christ tells us not to accumulate you have a life to sustain with food and In our materialistic world, shopping has treasures on Earth, which can break down, drink! Don’t fret about clothes—be thank- become a common addiction—something fall apart or be stolen (Matthew 6:19). In- ful you have a body to clothe! (read Mat- we end up needing to do not to supply our stead, a Christian is to seek incorrupt- thew 6:25-34). needs, but for its own sake. The greed habit ible spiritual treasures (verses 20-21). The And God not only wants us to have comes with a high cost: escalating debt, Apostle Paul offered this timeless wisdom: an attitude of thanksgiving, but He also pervasive discontent, stress-related sick- “Set your affection on things above, not on wants us to express that thanks to Him. ness, strained and fractured families. things on the earth” (see Colossians 3:1-2). Follow Paul’s admonition in Hebrews 13:15 There is a cure for all that madness. He followed his own advice and remained to “offer the sacrifice of praise to God con- If any single thing can yank us out of always content, whatever his physical cir- tinually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving the rat race of materialism, here it is: cumstances—rich or poor, better or worse thanks to his name.”

14 The Cure for Shopping Addiction By joel hilliker

Feeling Entitled spoiling us. Just as the Israelites were extend to us and which to withhold. My three children are growing up with a about to enter the Promised Land, God In the end, God is after our character much higher material standard of living had a powerful message for them—one development. Sometimes physical blessing than the one my wife and I had at their extremely relevant in our world today. If helps us develop character. Sometimes de- age—in their home, their toys, the oppor- you remain obedient, He told them, I’ll privation helps us even more. tunities available to them. As they have bless you abundantly! Then He reminded How do you respond to God’s blessings been able to travel and attend certain spe- cial events, my wife and I have detected If any single thing can yank us out of the rat race an unattractive side effect: a sense of en- titlement. Woe be to any of us when we of materialism, here it is: thanksgiving. An attitude start feeling entitled to what are actually luxuries. We have talked to our children of gratitude for those blessings we already about it, taught them to be vigilant against possess—particularly the spiritual blessings. it—and even limited some of those special things in their lives. them of how much gratitude they owed in your life? God gives us blessings as it In making this decision, my wife and I Him for bringing them there. Surely they pleases Him—and as we please Him. Once are simply trying to follow God’s example looked back on their time in the wilder- we receive them, He expects us to thank as a parent. ness as a massive trial—but God said, Him. And He wants us to be content even Read the 8th chapter of Deuteronomy; Look, I orchestrated that whole experience. when we don’t receive those blessings. it vividly shows how God walks the line I was right with you the whole time, and it “Every good gift and every perfect gift with His people between blessing us and was all for your spiritual benefit. Remem- is from above, and cometh down from the ber that. Now, as you enter the Promised Father of lights …” (James 1:17). Make a Land, I want you to enjoy it to the full! mental list of all the good and perfect gifts But remember where it came from. That your Father has given you. God even tells prosperity is not a result of your own doing! us to count trials as blessings since they Be thankful, and don’t take it for granted. produce positive spiritual growth in us God knows human nature well enough (e.g. James 1:2-3). Can you honestly think to know there was a danger that the Israel- of one thing in your life, then, that isn’t a ites would get their minds too much onto blessing for which to thank God? physical things and off Him. When we begin to set our affections How thoroughly up to date that speech on things on this Earth, it is easy to lose is! We are modern-day Israel, frighten- this perspective. There will always be ingly susceptible to the same traps our plenty of material things we lack. Nearly forebears fell into. all people think they would be so much happier if their paycheck was just 10 per- What’s More Important Than Stuff cent bigger. God has much to give; He could prosper But what peace and joy flood into each of us to the heights in a minute! But our lives when we focus on the real, the He knows that instant prosperity could true—when we can sincerely thank our hurt us, and only supplies what we can great God for all the blessings He gives us, handle. Like any parent, He wants to bless even our trials! Greed shrinks; discontent us abundantly—but when He detects a dissolves; materialism melts away. When lack of gratitude, then He thinks twice. thankfulness moves in, it brings its com- And sometimes He withholds blessings in panion, contentment. “And let the peace of order to benefit our character. God rule in your hearts, to the which also “Two things have I required of thee; ye are called in one body; and be ye thank- deny me them not before I die,” reads ful” (Colossians 3:15). a prayer recorded in Proverbs 30:7-9: How nice—a cure with no negative side “[G]ive me neither poverty nor riches; feed effects. And on top of all the other ben- me with food convenient for me: lest I be efits, it will probably fatten your wallet. full, and deny thee, and say, who is So, “therefore let us offer the sacrifice of the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of take the name of my God in vain.” These our lips giving thanks to his name.” n few verses contain much wisdom. They

provide insight into how God must rea- December 2012 son when considering which blessings to THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET 15 europe worldwatch One reason this has been possible is that government allies have remained aloof on David Cameron’s govern- the subject. Until now. “I reckon the edu- ment has broken a taboo, cation secretary and his cabinet supporters publicly questioning Britain’s are genuinely ready to try to take Britain membership in the EU. out of the European Union,” Oborne wrote. On October 23, British Foreign Minister William Hague all but handed in Britain’s notice to the EU. “Public disillusionment with the EU in Britain is the deepest it has ever been,” he warned. “People feel that the EU is a one-way process, a great machine that sucks up decision-making from na- tional parliaments to the European level until everything is decided by the EU. That needs to change. If we cannot show that decision-making can flow back to national parliaments, then the system will become democratically unsustainable,” he said. 1 | britain Break from Europe? Ambrose Evans-Pritchard distilled Hague’s declaration: “What Mr. Hague is ver since Britain joined the Eu- court—would invite a backlash.” really doing is preparing the ground for ropean Economic Community in 1973, Also in October, Michael Gove, the withdrawal” (Telegraph, October 23). Ethe Trumpet and its predecessor, the education secretary and a top candi- Such a development would rock Brit- Plain Truth, have forecast that Britain will date to be Britain’s next prime minister, ish politics and Britain’s relationship with one day remove itself from—or be tossed shocked many when he fired off an Europe. “It is clear that the Conservative out of—the European Union. Recent unprecedented verbal attack on the EU. Party has reached a turning point,” wrote events have brought that day much closer. He announced that if a referendum on Oborne. “Mr. Cameron has resolved to On October 15, Home Secretary The- Britain’s EU membership were held to- risk detonating the European bomb, in the resa May announced that the British gov- morrow, he would vote for a British with- full knowledge of the consequences.” ernment plans to opt out of more than 130 drawal. “Give us back our sovereignty or What does Europe think of all this? It European Union laws on crime, justice and we will walk out,” he told Brussels. seems ready to make a break as well. policing. It was a watershed declaration, Gove has been publicly supported by In October, Spiegel Online reported one the Euroskeptic Daily Express heralded Defense Secretary Philip Hammond. The that while German Chancellor Angela as “Britain’s First Step to EU Exit.” Daily Mail says at least six other top-level Merkel once went out of her way to keep Much of the British public has long government ministers have also privately Britain in Europe, this is no longer the been unhappy in the EU. Now, for the sided with him. case. She is looking now to create a smaller, first time, this public opposition is ac- “The importance of these remarks “new, more deeply integrated Europe,” and tually infiltrating the government and [from May, Gove and Hammond] can- has “come to terms with the fact that there resulting in substantial political and not be overstated,” the Telegraph’s Peter will no longer be a path back to the center of legislative action against the EU. This is a Oborne explained. “Although many the Union for the British” (October 15). major change in direction for London. people have criticized Europe, no se- More evidence of the coming split arose It is entirely legal, under the Lisbon nior British politician has actually dared last fall, when “the British blocked an at- Treaty, for Britain to opt out of these to advocate a severance of relations”—at tempt by the other 26 EU member states to EU laws. The thing is, no one actually least, not since about 30 years ago, when establish a joint headquarters for military thought the British government would a man who did so was humiliated in a missions,” reported Spiegel. “Now the plan do it. When the treaty was being negoti- major political race. Ever since, Britain’s is to be revived and implemented, even ated, the opt-out clause was thought of as main political parties have agreed that against London’s resistance, if necessary.” simply a way to appease Euro-haters. Yet Britain should remain in the EU. British conservatives are hoping the suddenly, even liberals and Europhiles Oborne continued: “Mr. Gove’s deci- split on policing laws can lead to a friend- want Britain to opt out. The Financial sion to break with that consensus would ly renegotiation of Britain’s relationship Times, which in the past has called for be a moment of first-rate importance to Europe. But the signs so far are that

Britain to join the euro, wrote, “Any even if he were acting on his own. But Britain is heading for a messy divorce. jean - government, especially a Tory one, has to he reportedly has the support of approxi- This is exactly the outcome the Bible christopher acknowledge the EU’s increasingly shaky mately half the Conservative members of prophesied centuries ago. Britain is head- legitimacy in the UK—where polls sug- the cabinet.” In fact, some speculate that, ing out, while the EU is consolidating gest a majority want to withdraw from considering his close personal relation- into a smaller group of 10 nations that verhaegen the Union altogether. … [T]o concede ship with David Cameron, he may have will pursue closer integration until they / a further loss of national control—in the prime minister’s sympathy as well. become a unified superstate. afp / such a sensitive area to an unaccountable Ever since Prime Minister Cameron The Europe question is about to ex- getty took office, his government has success- plode in Britain, and when it does, as

fully practiced a sweep-it-under-the-rug Mr. Oborne wrote, it “could all be very images 16 policy regarding Britain leaving Europe. bloody and horrible.” 1 | GERMANY Democracy, who needs it? German Finance 1 Minister Wolfgang Schäuble put for- ward a radical re- sponse to Europe’s 2 financial crisis on October 14. Schäu- ble’s most contro- 2 | GREECE ‘You know, neo- versial proposal is Nazis have some good points’ The European Commission has to create a currency authorized some EU nations to commissioner The neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party is now form a club within a club. who would have the third-most popular party in Greece, the power to block according to a survey by Pulse RC pub- national budgets. lished September 6. Over 10 percent of the Unlike most other Greek population now supports it. The Union within the Union EU commissioners, New Democracy party holds support from leven eurozone nations received permission from this official would 25 percent of voters, followed by the radi- the European Commission on October 23 to impose a small be able to act in- cal left-wing Syriza. pasok, which used to Etax on all their financial transactions. Austria, Belgium, dependently of the be a major party, received only 8 percent Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, other commission- support, less than Golden Dawn. The Slovenia and Spain signed up for the tax, which is intended to ers. Spiegel Online poll shows a stunning change in Greek finance bailouts within those nations. wrote that this new politics. Three years ago, pasok won Under European Union law, a group of at least nine nations post would be “one the election with 44 percent of the vote, can push toward “enhanced cooperation” on an issue, leav- of the most power- while Golden Dawn received 0.29 percent. ing the rest of Europe behind. The tax is the most significant ful positions in Golden Dawn’s popularity continues to instance so far of a smaller group of nations within the EU the EU.” Schäuble rise even though its supporters have been moving forward without the rest of the Union. The only other also said that only implicated in brutal attacks against im- times the enhanced cooperation provision has been used was to members of the Eu- migrants (the party insists it is not behind simplify cross-border divorces and patents. ropean Parliament these attacks). Greece is a shocking ex- The fact that only 11 nations agreed to move forward with the from eurozone ample of how dramatically a nation can tax is more proof that the eurozone cannot achieve the federal- countries should be change and a society can break down once style integration it wants without shrinking the number of na- able to vote on EU its economy falls apart. The once-trendy tions involved. Earlier in the year, 11 member states formed the matters. He said wave of multiculturalism comes crashing “Future of Europe Group,” also known as the “Berlin Group,” to his proposition had down, poverty spreads, people behave at a discuss ways that EU nations could draw closer together. These the full support of more base level, and crime increases. Keep aren’t the same 11 that signed up to the tax, but Europhiles see the German Chancel- watching Greece for clues as to what may trend nonetheless: If you want to get anything big done, you have lor Angela Merkel. lie in store for other countries teetering on to cut some nations out of the club. Biblical prophecy shows that Unsurprisingly, the economic brink. ultimately, the European alliance will be comprised of “ten kings.” other EU nations dislike Schäuble’s proposal. It was not on the agenda images for the EU summit Just admit it’s a federation getty , in mid-October. European Commission President José Manuel Barroso called “Let’s not be afraid But we can expect for Europe to become a “federation” in his state of the union of the words: We images Germany to con- speech on September 12. “A deep and genuine economic and will need to move getty / tinue to push for a monetary union, a political union, with a coherent foreign and towards a fed- afp / strong figure who defense policy, means ultimately that the present European eration of nation-

gobet will be able to whip Union must evolve,” he said. Barroso also said that forming

Europe’s finances “this federation of nation-states will ultimately require a new states …. This is our political horizon.” georges into shape. treaty.” Barroso made these sweeping statements in spite of the , fact that nearly every nation in Europe opposes a new EU treaty. José Manuel images Even Germany’s traditional allies, the northern eurozone states, Barroso oppose a new treaty. Berlin is the only one pushing hard to European Commission getty / President

afp rewrite the rules. EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy / pushed for similar measures in an issues paper he published the florin day of Barroso’s speech. He called for “a central budget for the

euro area” and proposed creating a new eurozone parliament. December 2012 frederick The cry for a new European federation is becoming bolder. THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET 17 schäuble worldwatch asia 1 1 | Russia 2 | China Iran rebuked 5 —but don’t be 6 2 3 fooled 4 In mid-September, Russia and China joined four West- ern powers in the International | Atomic Energy 3 Japan PM takes hawkish turn Agency (iaea) and Speaking at a naval ceremony on October issued a resolution 14, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko against Iran for its Noda unleashed some hawkish rhetoric failure to cooper- More countries are not previously seen in his leadership ap- ate over its nuclear picking up the yuan proach. Noda’s speech program. over the dollar. included a jingoistic Moscow and phrase used in a slogan Beijing have criti- for naval battles during cized the West’s Ditching dollars for yuans the early 20th century’s expanded uni- Russo-Japan War, as well lateral sanctions ast Asian states have formed a “renminbi bloc,” as nationalistic slogans against Iran’s oil which is focused on abandoning the U.S. dollar and peg- Japanese naval cadets exports and have Eging currencies to the Chinese renminbi, according to a noda have recited since before repeatedly blocked report published October 24. (The primary unit of renminbi is World War ii. “We have a neighbor that UN Security the yuan.) This bloc represents a major success in China’s at- launches missiles disguised as satellites Council resolu- tempt to internationalize its currency. and engages in nuclear development. We tions condemning The report, published by the Peterson Institute for Interna- are facing various cases related to terri- Iran’s ally Syria for tional Economics, said Beijing is moving closer to its long-term tory and sovereignty,” he said, referring its violent repres- goal of establishing the yuan as a global reserve currency. The to North Korea, China and South Korea. sion of uprisings. latest data shows that in July, yuan-denominated trade account- For years, U.S. foreign policy has worked Both were also ed for 10 percent of China’s total foreign trade. Two years ago, to suppress indications of Japanese mili- initially reluctant that figure was zero. tarism, but with China rising and the U.S. to submit the iaea The report said that since the global financial downturn, afflicted by economic and moral disease, resolution. Russia more and more countries view the yuan as the chief reference Washington appears ready to allow Tokyo and China join- currency when setting exchange rates. Now seven out of ten to take on a greater regional security role. ing the West and economies in the region—including Indonesia, South Korea, Although much of the friction and poten- boosting pressure Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand—monitor the yuan more tial for arms buildup in the region is due against Iran was closely than they track the greenback. This report shows not only to disputes between Asian states, watch heralded as a sur- the waning influence of the United States and the emergence of for these bickering nations to ultimately prise victory by China, but also Asian nations’ moves toward unification. pool together in an Asian superpower. Western powers; however, analysts believe Moscow and Beijing prob- 2 | China Hackers breach U.S. military network “We know that foreign cyber actors ipandastudio ably calculated the Hackers connected to China’s government infiltrated a U.S. are probing America’s critical infra- move to relieve government computer network containing some of Washing- structure networks. They are target- / the pressure on ton’s most sensitive information, the Washington Free Beacon ing the computer control systems istockphoto them and to excuse reported on September 30. U.S. authorities declined to officially that operate chemical, electricity themselves from blame China for the attacks, but experts say the hack was the ,

and water plants and those that toshifumikitamura endorsing tougher handiwork of Chinese military cyberwarfare specialists tied to measures against a unit called the 4th Department of General Staff of the People’s guide transportation throughout Iran in the Secu- Liberation Army. Since the hacked system is used for U.S. mili- this country … seeking to create rity Council. tary nuclear commands, the cyberattack is considered one of advanced tools to attack these / Overall, these Beijing’s most belligerent ever. If Beijing’s attack was successful, systems and cause afp / two Asian powers China could possibly use the information it obtained in future panic and destruc- getty

will continue to conflicts to intercept presidential communications, locate and images make the task of target the president, and disrupt his strategic command of U.S. tion and even the

loss of life.” , isolating Iran ar- forces. The incident underscores the failure of past and present getty duous for administrations to confront China about its cyberespionage. Leon Panetta images Western Beijing’s rapidly expanding technological reach now allows it to U.S. Secretary of Defense

18 powers. extend its belligerence right into the White House. middle east 4 | EGYPT Cleric: ‘Rend 5 | Lebanon Soon to leave Iran Young Arabs throw the Jews A car bomb killed Maj. Gen. Wissam rocks toward Israeli asunder!’ al-Hassan, Lebanon’s intelligence chief, police during a Morsi: ‘Amen!’ along with seven others on October 19. Jewish festival. Egyptian Presi- Syria is believed to be behind the assas- dent Mohammed sination. After al-Hassan’s funeral, hun- Morsi attended dreds of protesters marched against the Islamic prayers offices of Lebanese Prime Minister Najib on October 19 led Mikati. Mikati is viewed as being too by Sheikh Futouh friendly with Syria’s Bashar Assad and Abd Al-Nabi Man- Hezbollah, which forms part of the Leba- sour. Mansour’s nese government. Pressure is mounting concluding tirade on Syria and on the Hezbollah-led gov- aired on Egyptian ernment in Lebanon. Watch for Syria and television: “Oh Lebanon to ultimately align not with Iran Allah, absolve but with Germany and a bloc of “moder- us of our sins, ate” Arab states. strengthen us, and grant us victory over the infidels. Oh Allah, deal 6 | ISRAEL with the Jews and their supporters. Oh Allah, disperse Holy site, unholy enmity them, rend them undreds of Arab worshipers threw stones at Is- asunder. Oh Allah, raeli police officers near the Western Wall on October 6, demonstrate your Hmarking an uptick in violence during the Jewish fall holy might and great- Syrians protest outside the day festival of Sukkot. Just after Muslim prayers concluded, ness upon them. government palace in Beirut. swarms of Arabs on the Temple Mount began stoning the of- Show us your ficers stationed below, prompting the officers to storm through omnipotence, oh the Mughrabi Gate and fire several stun grenades to disperse Lord.” The camera the riotous crowd. also caught Morsi, The Temple Mount has long been a source of contention be- head bowed, nod- 4 | EGYPT 6 | ISRAEL tween Jews and Palestinians. Palestinian resentment over Jewish ding and, after ev- presence in the area has led to multiple violent protests over the ery phrase, repeat- Flight stopped: Tel Aviv to Cairo years. Expect more clashes at the Temple Mount and in Jerusa- images ing “Amen.” Morsi, Israel’s largest airline, El Al, is looking to lem. Tension in this city is prophesied to explode, with East Jeru- getty / the former leader cancel all flights from Tel Aviv to Cairo, salem falling under Arab control. afp / of the Muslim Egypt, indefinitely. Under the 1979 peace Brotherhood, has treaty, Israel and Egypt agreed to keep gharabli also been called flights between the two nations operation- on to denounce al. “In the absence of a business justifica- ahmad ,

(2) recent inflamma- tion, and in light of the financial resources

tory statements involved in providing this service (high- images made by the cur- security guidelines), El Al is unable to

getty rent leader of the continue to bear the burden of these heavy /

afp Islamist group,

/ costs, and therefore our intention is to end but has remained the service to guez silent. Cairo imme- jack , diately,” El Al Hamas presents its form of civilized debate. images

ceo Eliezer Shkedi wrote getty / to Israeli afp

, | Foreign Min- An El-Al 6 ISRAEL Firing rockets at civilians resumes Boeing 747 images ister Avigdor Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants resumed launching rockets

Lieberman in into southern Israel from Gaza on October 8. The rocket attack, getty / September. Although El Al is the only air- which consisted of more than 40 rockets, was the first since afp / Morsi nods during line to offer direct flights between the two June. The Israeli Air Force responded by striking a terror tunnel cities, deteriorating relations between the in northern Gaza and a train- desouki

an anti-Jewish harangue. two countries over the past year has left ing camp in Beit Lahiya. No December 2012 khaled the flights virtually empty. casualties were reported. THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET 19 morsi worldwatch Latin america, africa 2 | Argentina

1 How not to fix your economy 3 rgentina may soon stop paying its debts and stiff its creditors as President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Atightens her grip on the economy. Already Argentina stands accused of rigging its national 4 | S. Africa inflation number, which allows it to underpay investors in its Army on 4 inflation-linked bonds. In 2001, Argentina fired its statisticians 2 and began reporting inflation rates that consistently seemed ‘high alert’ low. Foreign mistrust was compounded by Argentina’s decision For the first time to seize control of Spanish-owned oil producer ypf sa earlier since the end of this year. This has impaired the na- apartheid, the tion’s ability to borrow money on South African the international market. military was put on It has also ignited a rush to get high alert. Com- money out of the country before the manders took this government seizes it. To combat the extraordinary number of investors pulling their precaution during assets out of Argentina, politicians September in prep- have imposed strict currency con- aration for a speech trols. This has only increased peo- to be given by fire- kirchner ple’s desire to expatriate their wealth. brand ex-politician Facing capital flight and a frozen bond market, Argentina Julius Malema to a A road in Haiti has resorted to printing currency to pay its bills. This has crowd of disgrun- broken up by caused the Argentine peso to plummet in value and sent real tled soldiers in the the storm. inflation rates to more than double the official 9 percent. Johannesburg area. But there is always a cost to stiffing your creditors. On Octo- During the speech, 1 | Caribbean ber 20, Kirchner ordered Argentina’s navy to abandon a frigate Malema told the that was seized by Ghana on October 2. A Ghana court ordered soldiers to mobilize Hurricane Sandy strikes the seizure due to Argentina’s 2001 default on $300 million in in a disciplined way At least 69 people were killed by Hurricane debt, which is now owed to U.S.-based investment firm Elliot to save their jobs. Sandy in the Caribbean. The worst dam- Management. The Argentine Frigate Libertad was in Ghana on Defense Minister age was in Haiti, the region’s poorest na- a training mission. Nosiviwe Mapisa- tion. Massive flooding caused mudslides to As Argentina’s economy has deteriorated, the Kirchner gov- Nqakula accused engulf buildings and swept flimsy shacks ernment has focused on populism and has ramped up its rhetoric Malema of trying to out to sea. Almost three quarters of the about retaking the Falkland Islands from Great Britain, instead “mobilize against

nation’s crops were destroyed in the hard- of proposing real solutions to its problems. Expect more of it. the state.” Malema alexander est-hit areas. More than 50 people were is hoping that the reported dead. According to the govern- ruling African

joe

ment, 200,000 people became homeless. National Congress / afp

In Cuba, 11 people were reported dead party will oust / | getty along with widespread damage to around 3 Mexico Drug war rages on President Jacob

130,000 homes. One fifth to a third of the Mexican law enforcement found 16 Zuma as its leader images

nation’s coffee crop was said to be de- bullet-ridden bodies inside an aban- at its national con- , stroyed. The state-run newspaper Gran- doned van beside a road in the west- ference this Decem- getty

marun said the economy took a huge ern state of Guerrero in September. ber—and reverse images hit and that rebuilding will take years. Authorities believe the victims were the decision to , Jamaica reported major flooding in rural casualties of an ongoing turf war expel him from the pedro

areas and one death. between two drug cartels, the Mi- party. However this pardo In the Bahamas, two people were choacan Family and the Knights Templar. Eleven other bodies situation plays out, / afp

killed. Two more people were killed in were found on a nearby highway in August. Over 55,000 people Malema’s political / the Dominican Republic while reportedly have been killed in violent drug wars since 2006 when President meddling and his getty

attempting to cross a river. Parts of its Felipe Calderón deployed Mexican armed forces to combat the xenophobic rants images capital, Santo Domigo, were submerged, powerful drug cartels. America’s ravenous appetite for deadly against white busi- , but flooding was worst in the southern drugs—cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and others—is fuel- ness owners will thony

part of the country. One death was re- ing what the United Nations estimates is a $142 billion-a-year continue to destabi- belizaire ported in Puerto Rico. business, and it’s destroying the nation of Mexico. lize South Africa. / afp / getty numbers People killed in People killed by Percent increase in

Mexican drug wars Hurricane Sandy violent crime across images 20 55,000 since 2006 69 in the Caribbean 17 the U.S. in 2011 Anglo-america

Random shootings cause chaos Teen sexting Reports of 22 random, close-call shoot- linked to ings at vehicles in four Michigan counties risky sexual placed residents on edge and disrupted behavior normal routines. Fifteen attacks between One out of every October 16 and 18 are believed to be linked seven Los Angeles to one serial shooter. Law enforcement high school stu- authorities went on high alert and collab- Cyclist Lance dents with a cell orated in investigations. The motivation Armstrong has phone has sent a behind the shootings was not known. No been exposed as sexually explicit one was injured although there were some an athletic fraud. text message or “very, very close calls,” according to Sher- photo, according to iff Mike Bouchard. Sheriff Bouchard and a recently published others fear that this shooting spree could study. The research devolve into something like the “sense- No winners in drug- found that those less,” three-week Washington, d.c., sniper same students are shootings of 2002. more likely to en- tainted cycling titles gage in risky sexual n October 21, the International Cycling Union behavior. The study, Canada: Iran a security threat stripped seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Arm- published in the On September 7, the Canadian govern- Ostrong from all his titles and all 14 years of his racing his- journal Pediatrics, ment closed its embassy in Tehran, Iran, tory. His was a fairy-tale story that inspired untold thousands. discovered that L.A. and requested that all Iranian diplomats He was a cancer survivor, an underdog cyclist who bounced teens who had sent in Canada leave the country within five back to win a record seven titles in a row and beat the French pornographic texts days. The move at their own game. Now, the world knows Lance beat the Tour (known as “sexts”) caught diplomats field the same way he beat cancer: using drugs. were seven times around the world International Cycling Union President Pat McQuaid was “sick- more likely to be by surprise. ened” by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (usada) investigation that sexually active than Foreign Af- provided “overwhelming” evidence that Lance was a serial drug- those who never fairs Minister John taker who helped orchestrate “the most sophisticated, profession- “sexted.” “What Baird made the alized and successful doping program” in the sport’s history. we really wanted announcement The blow to the credibility of the sport is so huge that the to know is, is there from Vladivostok, Tour de France will not award Lance’s gold medals to the silver a link between Russia, where he medalists. Drug usage is so widespread that it is unlikely the sexting and tak- baird was attending the other podium finishers were any cleaner. A whopping 20 of the ing risks with your Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation sum- 21 cyclists to make it to the podium between 1999 and 2005 (the body? And the an- mit. “Iran is among the world’s worst years Lance won gold) have since been tied to doping, according swer is a resounding violators of human rights. It shelters and to the usada. yes,” said Eric Rice, materially supports terrorist groups,” The story is a sad reflection of America’s general declining a social network Baird said in explaining the decision. morality. Similar scandals have rocked other sports, but this researcher from the He further cited Iran’s support of Syrian crisis of character goes well beyond sports. The win-at-all-costs University of South- President Bashar Assad’s regime, its fail- mindset infects business, politics and many other arenas. The ern California, ure to comply with United Nations reso- impacts are national in scope. They begin with damaged fami- who led the study. lutions on its nuclear program, and its lies and result in broken economies and nations. A similar study of threats against Israel. He also referenced high-schoolers in Iran’s “blatant disregard of the Vienna Houston, Texas, Convention that guarantees protection of released this sum- diplomatic personnel.” This observation mer revealed that followed the November 2011 storming of Violent crime rates on the rise one in four students the British Embassy in Tehran by Iranian Year-to-year violent crime rates in the United States rose for the had sent a nude students, who ransacked its offices. Baird first time in nearly 20 years, according to a report released by the photo of themselves images also stated that concerns over the safety U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics. The October 17 report indicated either by sexting or getty

, of Canadian Embassy staff contributed to that the trend of declining year-to-year violent crime rates since by e-mail. The same the decision to close the embassy. 1993 was reversed in 2011, when the rate rose by 17 percent. Prop- conclusion was images Relations between Canada and Iran erty crime—which includes burglary, larceny, shoplifting, auto- drawn in that study: getty

/ have been strained since the 1979 hostage theft, arson and vandalism—rose 11 percent. Simple assaults The teens sexting afp

/ crisis. Iran’s Foreign Ministry called increased by 22 percent to 5 million cases. Researchers estimate were involved in Canada’s move “hasty and extreme” as that less than half of all crimes are even reported to the police. risky sex behavior. sothy well as “hostile behavior [by] the current Geopolitical, social, moral and spiritual trends, as well chhin

racist government in Canada” and hinted as Bible prophecy, forecast an explosion of violence in December 2012 tang at some form of response. America’s cities that will shatter previous records. THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET 21 hanis/istockphoto ------njust Treaty In 2010, Ethiopia, In2010, Kenya, Uganda, Egypt’s strength and ability impose to Due colonial-era to treaties between Over the years, nations such as Kenya, that now beBut may change. about to Nile Blue RiverEthiopia’s generates ap More thanMore leading the charge—it is oot of Conflict hallenging an U tion, will biggest the become of 10 one top dams in the will It world. be gener to able threeate times the the power Dam Hoover does. will It also greatly increase Ethiopia’s regional importance providing by desper ately needed electricity its to neighbors. Rwanda and Tanzania signed an agreement rejecting Egypt’s claim the to Nile and formed a new partnership redistribute to C Ethiopia claims that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is needed its own for domestic electricity requirements. This dam, which is currently under construc R Egyptsay To and Ethiopia the have not do best relationships of is putting mildly. it During the Egypt 1960s, a major played in role helpingEritrea break from away Ethiopia. Cairo was ground zero the for formation the of Eritrean Liberation and the LiberEritrean Movement People’s theation Front, primary behind forces Er war long independence. for Duringitrea’s and ’80s,the Egypt ’70s actively supported several other terrorist groups that also overthrow to worked the government in Ethiopia. When Eritrea finallygained in dependence hadinit Egypt 1993, thank. to its will its on neighbors is a function not just its of military, also but its of economy. And that is economic dependent on trea ties in This force. the of is one roots of betweencontention Egypt and Ethiopia. Egypt, Sudan and the Kingdom, United Egypt sole authority holds the over Nile this Until recently, water—forever. River’s meant that if any upstream nation (also former British protectorates/colonies at the wanted time) use to water from any tributary flowing into the Nile, they had seekto Egyptian approval. and Tanzania Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia largely have these abided by pre- independence treaties—often the to detri theirof ment own people. proximately the of 85 percent total water flowing into the Nile. Ethiopia contends that was it a signatory not trea the to 1959 and thusty, by abide to should have it not a treaty that takes virtually of percent 100 its water that flows into the Nile. Thus, Ethiopia is leading the charge rewrite to the treaties. thenow first nation actively to challenge Egypt’s virtual the on Nile. monopoly ------

ver the ver

In March the at 2011, of height the of political in revolution Egypt, Ethi t Morley The power to shut down the Theshut to power Nile—even temporarily—is the to power ar coming seeds soon may be were to Ethiopia. The sown decades the now bitterago, but fruit is beginning appear. to announcedopia that would it soon start construction a massive on hydro r pand. Egyptian standards living of rose—and the population skyrocketed. Egypt.destroy

be

ar O ar o

For Egypt,For allowing Ethiopia construct to this dam is somewhat like Israel allow Egypt is nothing without the Nile. Almost Egypt’s of percent 100 million 83 in

y R W

22 W Ethiopian government? B Will Egypt the topple Egypt several for years and perhaps permanently, is it an but existential threat Egypt. to only will this dam undoubtedly reduce the amount water flowing of into Sudan and electricdam the on headwaters theof Nile River.This is an explosive declaration. Not ing Iran build to a nuclear weapon.

superpower. Thesuperpower. massive lake created the by dam allowed Egypt expand to its agri engineering feats all of time, helped transform modern Egypt into a Middle Eastern the turbines Egypt’s at giant Aswan Dam. This dam, the of one biggest hydroelectric thanjust support agriculture and industry; providesit the water necessarypush to habitants live along the isNile the River. It lifeblood theof doescountry. more It cultural production like turned never before. It swaths whole desert of into lush, irri gated farmland. Electricity production allowed businesses and manufacturers ex to

Nile

the river’s water more equitably. and riots. Even Western newspapers like ETHIOPIA Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam the Christian Science Monitor and the SOURCE OF THE NILE is the first test of this agreement—and Washington Times are warning about an N Egypt’s resolve. It is scheduled for com- Islamic backlash and the radicalization of pletion in three years, at which time Ethiopian Muslims. EGYPT large amounts of water will be withheld Then, on August 20, Ethiopia’s long- RED S from the Nile. But perhaps even more time prime minister, Meles Zenawi, sud- SAUDI ARABIA importantly from Egypt’s perspective, if denly died. His successor is untested and ile River N E not stopped it could herald a gold rush comes from a small Protestant group as A of other hydroelectric projects that will opposed to one of the major religious af- inevitably lead to increased agricultural filiations. There is talk of a power struggle. projects within the region. If other Nile On August 22, just two days after Ze-

River nations begin to consume water the nawi died, Gerald Flurry said on a Key of Blue N way Egypt does, it will be the end of the David program that Daniel 11:43 shows SUDAN that Egypt is about to have a “major im- ile Nile. Even today, the Nile River delta is re- Lake treating due to vastly reduced amounts of pact on other nations in the Middle East, Tana ile water making it to the Mediterranean Sea. and in Libya and Ethiopia in particular.”

If Ethiopia succeeds, it will be the end He went on to say that Egypt would play White N ETHIOPIA of Egypt’s control of the Nile. In water- a critical role in turning Ethiopia into an 85% of the Nile’s water Egypt-Iran allied state. limited Africa, that would be an unmiti- SOUTH SUDAN is generated in Ethiopia. gated disaster for the land of the pharaohs. Events are now bearing out that prophecy. Advance Intelligence ALIA SOM An indication of how this potentially ex- What Will Egypt Do? UGANDA plosive situation could play out comes from According to a recent report by the intel- KENYA a remarkable source: biblical prophecy. ligence company Stratfor, Egypt has three Lake In the April 2011 issue of the Trumpet, choices. First, Egypt can bring political and Victoria Gerald Flurry prophesied specifically that economic pressure on Ethiopia to prevent Libya and Ethiopia would become the vic- the construction of the dam. This has al- tims of radical Islam. At the time, there was ready had a limited effect, but it probably ETHIOPIA very little physical evidence to suggest Ethi- won’t be enough to stop Ethiopia. Although opia could ever be threatened. But he made Egypt and Sudan have successfully discour- that prediction based upon the prophecy in aged international investors from financ- what appears to be happening. Daniel 11:40-43, which foretells an end-time ing the $5 billion project, Ethiopia appears On October 13, Ethiopia announced clash between a German-led Holy Roman to be internally funding construction. that it had seized 500 weapons and thou- Empire and an Iranian-led Islamic coali- Second, Egypt could resort to direct sands of rounds of ammunition being tion called the king of the south. In verse military intervention. Although Stratfor smuggled into the country from Sudan. 43, Daniel lists the “Libyans and the Ethio- says this is a last option, it also warns that The seizure came just a month after pians” as part of the king of the south alli- “Cairo will use any tool at its disposal to six exiled Ethiopian opposition groups ance. “This verse states that Libya and stop the project, including military force announced the formation of armed Ethiopia are also going to be closely if necessary.” This jibes with the Stratfor movements against the government. allied with Iran!” stated Mr. Flurry. files that were stolen by WikiLeaks and According to Africa Review, 12 armed op- When this article was published, some published on August 31. According to position groups have recently taken up readers said the idea that largely Christian these WikiLeak documents, Egypt has arms against the Ethiopian government. Ethiopia could ever fall into the radical procured the use of Sudanese military Ethiopia may quickly be headed for civil Islamist camp was outrageous. Muslims bases to launch military attacks on Ethio- war—instigated by Egypt! According to and Christians had been peacefully coex- pia’s dam project. One high-level Egyp- one report, most of these groups are prox- isting for years, they said. tian official was reported to have said: “If ies of Egypt’s Eritrean and Sudanese allies. Based on the physical evidence at that it comes to a crisis, we will send a jet to Will Egypt soon topple the Ethiopian time, these critics seemed right. But look bomb the dam and come back in one day, government? Egypt has tens of billions of at Ethiopia now. as simple as that. Or we can send our spe- dollars’ worth of U.S. military hardware. In November 2011, the Ethiopian gov- cial forces in to block/sabotage the dam.” It has well-positioned and locally sup- ernment discovered plans by a group of Third, Stratfor says Egypt could reac- ported militant groups based in Ethiopia Wahhabi Muslims to turn Ethiopia into an tivate and support proxy militant groups. and on its borders. And it is facing the Islamic country governed by sharia law. In There are at least a dozen such armed prospect of losing control of its most im- a press conference, the Ethiopian govern- groups scattered across ethnically divided portant and strategic asset—a river that is ment expressed concern over the increas- Ethiopia that are working to overthrow the lifeblood of its existence. ing incidence of violence against moderate the government or carve out independent The Bible says Egypt will soon be in- Muslims and Christians by radical Wah- regions. strumental in bringing a radical politi- habi Muslims. Since then, there has been Egypt could also use its allies in Eritrea cal reorientation to Ethiopia. a huge uptick in Islamic-inspired protests to destabilize Ethiopia. This is exactly Watch while it happens. n

To learn more about the future of Ethiopia, request a free December 2012 copy of our booklet Libya and Ethiopia in Prophecy. THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET 23 A Brief History of White Flour Society’s understanding of just how good natural food is has grown slowly over the past couple of centuries. Consider the ex- ample of white flour. When we first began milling white flour, it was said to be an improvement over brown—better for you, and without the nasty dirty, gritty stuff. Science, however, quickly proved that wrong. In 1826, the Lancet medical journal detailed a study where one dog was fed “coarse” bread exclusively and another ate white. The first dog was reported to be healthy. The one that ate white bread died within 50 days. More rigorous analysis followed. Sci- entists realized that refining white flour stripped out not only the germ and the bran, but also the fiber, vitamins and min- erals, leaving only calories. Instead of nourishing people, white bread made them ill. By the 1930s, it was clear that white bread was not giving people EAT WHOLE the nutrients they needed. However, rather Does your diet include this simple ingredient? The health than getting to the root of the problem— benefits are too great to ignore! By Richard Palmer that refined flour simply isn’t good enough to eat—governments and millers came up with a quick fix. Now, the law in many hy is healthy eating so heart disease are more common than ever. countries requires that food processors add complicated? One month, a A third of Americans are overweight, and certain nutrients back into the white flour. product is heralded as the lat- another 36 percent are obese. The link be- Enriching the flour prevented some of est miracle food, the must- tween our diet and these diseases has been the new illnesses caused by refining flour. Whave for every diet. The next, it’s a leading shown to be quite strong. But nutritionists still didn’t see all the oth- cause of cancer. Never has so much been Still, the question remains: Amid all the er benefits of whole wheat. written about diet. And never has bad diet confusion and misinformation on the sub- Over the last couple of decades, many been so widespread. ject, how can you really improve your diet? studies have shown that eating whole Straight out of science fiction have Here is a wonderful truth you can count grain improves overall health. It can lower come edible substances grown in labs and on. It is simple, and it is powerful. All it blood pressure, aid weight loss and diges- dispensed from machines, formulated takes is a dash of humility about the limits tion, and help prevent heart disease, dia-

to be convenient, taste great and make a of food science. You have to acknowledge betes and several types of cancer. One 14- kaanates profit. Yet these concoctions—margarine, that the healthiest food is natural food de- year health study suggested that anyone

high-fructose corn syrup, refined flour, signed by a great, Almighty Creator—en- who avoids smoking, exercises 30 minutes / istockphoto etc.—are huge failures. They may taste gineered to be just what our bodies need. a day, avoids being overweight and eats good, but they are destroying our health. The key to a healthier diet is this: Eat a diet containing, among other things, a Diet-related diseases like diabetes and natural foods. high amount of whole grains and a low

food Carbohy- FIBER PROTein thiamin (b1) riboflavin niacin (b3) PANTOTHENIC pyridoxine Wheat Flour energy drates (b2) ACID (B5) (b6) What happens to wheat when it is enriched or refined? Here is a comparison of components relative to the unprocessed wheat grain. WHOLE ENRICHED 13% 13% 75% 43% 43% 19% 75% 27% 93% 22% 22% REFI24 NED 20% 176% 105% 105% 107% 107% 230% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% amount of heavily processed fats will ex- maximum health benefit. perience dramatic benefits: 80 percent re- Jacobs and Steffen called this food syn- Top Whole Foods duced risk of coronary heart disease, 90 ergy. This phenomenon gives us a glimpse percent of type 2 diabetes and 70 percent of the awesome mind that designed this Almonds A generous source of mono- of colon cancer. Even after adjusting for food. The hundreds of interactions within unsaturated fatty acids, almonds boost factors like weight, sex and lifestyle, those the food as originally designed are simply good cholesterol while lowering the who habitually eat whole grains have a too complex for scientists to figure out right dangerous kind; they’re also an abundant mortality rate 15 percent lower—in other now. But God planned it out, and He has source of membrane-fortifying vitamin E. words, they tend to live longer. given us a glorious abundance and variety of Avocado These “alligator pears” are a rich Why, though, are whole grains so natural foods, each one perfectly packaged. source of both potassium and heart-healthy much better for us? Scientists continued A simple example of food synergy comes fats that keeps us from feeling hungry. to press for answers. from how your body digests the carbohy- Blueberries Rich in cholesterol- drates in grains. When you eat white bread reducing antioxidants, these berries Food Synergy or rice, you process the carbohydrate quick- function as an efficient anti-diabetic Scientists have tried to isolate exactly what ly, spiking your blood sugar levels, which agent, enhancing memory and bolstering it is about whole grains that makes them can lead to health problems including dia- cardiovascular health. so great. Is it the fiber? The vitamins? But betes. When you eat whole grains, the fiber Flax Seed Just one spoonful of this oil they were surprised to find that if you just that gets digested with the carbohydrates provides 8 grams of omega-3 fatty acids, add the fiber, by itself, back into your diet, slows down the digestion. Energy is re- which are packed with several vitamins those whole-grain health benefits don’t re- leased over a longer period of time, exactly like niacin, riboflavin, thiamin and folate. turn. Nor do those benefits return if you the way the body processes it best. This is Kale An excellent source of vitamin A— add just the vitamins. an oversimplification though. Food syner- which promotes immune and eye health— A survey of studies by David R. Ja- gy studies show that there is more going on and of cancer-fighting antioxidants. cobs and Lyn M. Steffen published in The in whole-grain digestion than just the pres- Lemons A single lemon contains more American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in ence of fiber. There’s a miraculous world of than 100 percent of a person’s daily 2003 concluded that components of whole reactions inside those tiny grains—far more vitamin C intake. Flavonoids in this fruit grains are good on their own, but when advanced than we ever realized. also act as anti-inflammatories and inhibit combined in exactly the quantity found in Food synergy is found throughout na- the multiplicity of cancer cells. whole grains, they have an added benefit. ture. Another article in The American Pomegranate The seeds in one The whole is literally greater than the sum Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2009) writ- pomegranate contain 1.5 grams of of its parts. ten by Jacobs, along with Myron Gross protein. Pomegranates also fight free Science is starting to uncover how and Linda Tapsell, highlighted this prin- radicals that can contribute to cancer and complex and perfect the natural process ciple. Nuts, for example, have a high level other chronic diseases. of wheat growth is. Its hundreds of natu- of unsaturated fats. But they also contain Quinoa This gluten-free seed contains ral chemicals all work together to power chemicals that protect the body against the more iron, fiber, protein and calcium than human health. When just one of these harmful effect of these fats. Fruits are of- rice, oats or wheat. chemicals is eaten by itself, it doesn’t have ten viewed as merely a source of vitamins. Spinach One cup of “Popeye’s steroid” the same benefit. You could take some vi- But several studies on apples found that the contains a person’s daily requirement of tamins in pills, eat the fiber on its own, whole apple is much better at combatting vitamins A and K, and nearly 100 percent and get your calories from white bread. cancer than vitamin C on its own. And a of manganese and folate. You could find some way to still get all the portion of apple that includes the skin is Wild Salmon A premium source components that make up whole grains. significantly better than a portion of only of omega-3 fatty acids to boost brain But that still wouldn’t be as good for apple flesh. It is much better to eat a piece function; an abundant source of vitamin you. When eaten inside the natural, un- of broccoli than to eat the main nutrients in B-12, crucial for red blood cell production touched grain, these chemicals are mixed broccoli manufactured artificially. Pome- and proper nerve function. together in the perfect ratio to give us the granate juice is much better for you than

Foltate (b9) vitamin e calcium iron magnesium phosphorus potassium sodium zinc copper manganese selenium

December 2012 5% 5% THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET 31% 31% 16% 16% 24% 24% 18% 18% 26% 59% 44% 44% 30% 38% 38% 26% 40% 40% 48% 48% 25 350% 120% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% (source: USDA) just eating the key nutrients, extracted ➤ LINe from page 7 little attention to? Because of the prophe- and taken alone. The same is true for cies of the Bible. tomatoes. the Israeli-Lebanon war of 2006, Europe Three thousand years ago, God in- sent thousands of its troops to Lebanon, as spired the biblical Prophet Asaph to How to Change Your Diet part of the United Nations Interim Force prophesy about modern-day Europe— Scientists have found that food synergy in Lebanon. The German Navy still patrols led by Germany and steered by the Vati- also exists within diets. A single food Lebanon’s coast as part of the mission. can—allying with Syria, Lebanon and has its benefits. But when it is part of Now, the UN is planning to send 3,000 other “moderate” Arab nations: “For they a healthy diet, its effect is once again European troops into Syria, which could have consulted together with one consent: greater than the sum of its parts. work to release Syria from Iran’s orbit and … The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ish- This reveals one of the key flaws in absorb it into this congealing alliance. maelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Ge- how we often approach diet. We look at Such a shift would represent a debilitat- bal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philis- a healthy diet that works, try to isolate ing blow to Iran and a great victory for the tines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur the key components, and stick them EU. In terms of region-wide geopolitics, also is joined with them …” (Psalm 83:5-8). in a pill. It’s only human: We want the the stakes in Syria could scarcely be high- Both Gebal and Tyre in this passage quick fix! But our bodies are much er, and here’s the bombshell: Years before refer to the people of the modern-day na- more complex than that. Instead, real the Syrian uprisings began, the Trumpet tion of Lebanon, while Assur refers to nutrition comes from real changes. said with certainty that Syria would sever Assyria, which is modern-day Germany. Here’s how you can begin using the ties with Iran and ally with this anti-Iran The Hagarenes anciently dwelt in the land key of natural foods to drastically im- bloc that is now solidifying. known today as Syria. Edom and Amalek prove your health. both refer to modern Turkey. Moab and Start with a small change. Substitute Pope Visits Lebanon Ammon are Jordan. The Ishmaelites are whole wheat for white flour. Try brown The UN isn’t the only tool the EU is using modern-day Saudi Arabia, and the peo- bread and brown pasta. Order brown to exert its influence under German lead- ples that populate the southern parts of rice instead of white. The adjustment ership. History shows that when Germany the Arabian Peninsula are also descended can be challenging. Wholemeal may wages campaigns of conquest, it tends to from the patriarch of Araby, Ishmael; so seem unusual at first. But as you get do so under the auspices and guidance of from a biblical perspective—regardless of used to it, you will find that not only is the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican their modern borders—they may be count- it healthier for you, it even tastes better is both a key decision maker in Europe ed among the tribes and clans of Ishmael. than white. and a tool for extending EU power. This alliance has never happened in Next, eat more fruit and vegetables. For that reason, the Trumpet was keen- history—yet it is described in your Bible. They are perfectly designed to nourish ly interested in Pope Benedict xvi’s three- And, most remarkably, the groundwork is your body and combat sickness. day visit to Beirut, Lebanon, in mid- being laid for this group of nations to come Finally, cut out refined, processed, September. “A Middle East without together today. man-made junk foods. Cut down on Christians would no longer be the Middle Syria and Lebanon are, in a way, the dessert. Try baking your own instead, East,” he said during a meeting with Leba- front line of a cold war against Iran. If the using natural foods like honey, maple nese leaders. “Looking at your country, I EU can negate Iran’s influence in those syrup or unrefined sugars like demer- also come symbolically to all countries of nations—and the Bible says it will—then it ara. You can find ways to make your the Middle East as a pilgrim of peace, as will deny Iran crucial allies and key loca- favorite treats using natural foods, so a friend of God and as a friend of all in- tions on the Mediterranean, thus gaining you may still enjoy them occasionally. habitants of all the countries of the region, a significant victory. When trying to decide which food whatever their origins and beliefs,” he is healthier, use this key to guide you: said. Although the trip into the heartland Europe Invades Africa Choose whatever is closest to natural of Hezbollah was potentially life-threaten- There is another front in this cold war: food, whatever has had the least “stuff” ing to Benedict, it appears to have brought North Africa. There, radical Islam is rap- done to it. It’s a simple guide in an age the Vatican nearer to its aim. One Muslim idly making political and territorial gains. of confusion. student in Beirut told nbc News that “the Among the most recent is in the deserts Herbert W. Armstrong used to pope’s visit is going to make a big differ- of northern Mali. After rebel troops staged frequently quote the advice of one ence, especially in the view of what’s hap- a coup d’état in Mali in March, the coun- dietician: “My basic rule in diet pening these days, like the protests. He is try descended into chaos. Islamic groups is: Eat only those natural foods that coming for peace and bringing Muslims such as al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, will spoil—and eat them before they and Christians closer, that’s the important which have long festered in the region, do.” Many of the “rules” of diet have thing. Peace … we need peace.” The visit seized the north of the country. been argued and overturned. But this added to a growing body of evidence that Why does Mali matter? It is as remote one has stood the test of time. After the Vatican actively supports the EU’s goal as Timbuktu (literally—Timbuktu is in all these years, it is still vindicated by to create that anti-Iran coalition. Mali). But look at it on a map. Northern modern science. Again, the Trumpet has said for years Mali gives the terrorists a base in the Sa- There is more you can do to improve that Lebanon, too, will ultimately fall in hara Desert, from which they can launch your diet once you’ve taken these three line with this Europe-led coalition. attacks throughout Northern Africa. Just simple steps. But these will take you a over the border, Algeria is a natural gas long way toward better eating. So don’t Alliance Foretold Millennia Ago and oil hub for Europe. Nigeria, the larg- be put off by all the conflicting How can the Trumpet make such far- est supplier of crude oil to the U.S., is not advice out there. Eat natural reaching forecasts based on these meet- far to the south. Nigeria, Libya and Algeria 26 food, the way God made it. n ings and plans that mainstream media call are Africa’s top three crude oil producers, Although its efforts are low-key ALGERIA at present, Europe is proactively N countering the spread of radical Islam. MAURITANIA MALI providing nearly one tenth of the world’s the end of the year. His goal? To push for SAHEL oil. If Islamic extremism is allowed to take more European support of sanctions on root and spread there, it threatens key en- Iran. The visit is part of a strategic shift ergy suppliers of both Europe and the U.S. by Israel away from America and toward Naturally, the threat has attracted Europe, the New York Times reported, cit- NIGERIA the attention of more than just Europe. ing a senior anonymous source. America’s concern has it also considering On October 15, the EU levied a new military intervention. But Europe is posi- array of sanctions on Iran, saying it was tioning itself so that it will take the lead in troubled by what it called Tehran’s refusal any international venture. to come clean on its nuclear program. Eu- On October 9, one of Europe’s most rope also increased diplomatic pressure MALI experienced leaders was appointed the on the Syrian regime. The next day, Ne- special envoy for the Sahel, the region just tanyahu praised the EU for toughening its south of the Sahara that includes northern stance against what he called “the greatest the formation of the Psalm 83 alliance. But Mali. As a former Italian prime minister threat to peace in our time.” it isn’t the alliance’s ultimate goal. These and president of the European Commis- The Times of Israel said the events indi- allied nations say among themselves, “let sion, Romano Prodi was a surprisingly cate a shift in Israel’s foreign policy away us cut them off from being a nation; that high-profile choice. The appointment is from the U.S. and toward Europe: “After the name of Israel may be no more in re- also curious considering that Prodi has unsuccessfully lobbying U.S. President membrance” (Psalm 83:4). Once Iran is zero experience in conflict mediation. His Barack Obama’s administration for support defeated, this German-led coalition will appointment seems to have more to do for [a military] strike—or for an American go after Israel—and “Israel” in this con- with the EU getting its man into the top declaration that Iranian activity beyond a text does not just refer to the Jewish nation job than with Prodi’s actual qualifications. certain ‘red line’ would invite U.S. military in the Middle East, but also America and Prodi’s influence also stretches far be- intervention—Netanyahu’s plans for a Eu- Britain. (You can prove this crucial truth yond Mali. The Sahel extends across North ropean trip to push for tighter sanctions on by requesting a free copy of our book The Africa, all the way into Sudan. With Prodi Tehran seem to signal a shift in policy.” United States and Britain in Prophecy.) in place, the EU is already preparing to This too is a shift specifically proph- For the last 70 years, Germany has had send soldiers to the region. The main focus esied in Scripture and about which the to live beneath the weight of the world’s of this mission will be training Mali’s army Trumpet has been forewarning for years. memory of its World War ii atrocities. to deal with the terrorists in the north, but But, sadly, the Holocaust did not end with Reuters reported that the EU troops could The Real Target that war. That was only round one. Bible also accompany Mali’s soldiers in battle. Although its efforts are low-key at pres- prophecy indicates that there is coming an Although the mission has the solid sup- ent, Europe is proactively countering the even worse effort to erase even the memory port of Germany, France is the one taking spread of radical Islam. But is this good of the Jewish nation forever! the lead. After all, most of the countries news for America, Britain and Israel? If The same quiet and canny set-up that involved are former French colonies, and Europe is joining the fight against radical Germany is employing against Iran under France has the deepest economic ties in Islam, have they gained an ally? its EU cloak will be used against Israel. A the area. This arrangement probably suits It may look that way. But the appear- German-led European power will obliter- Germany. Berlin is happy to let France ance is deceiving. ate Iran, and the world may even appear lead, providing it is in the direction Ger- The Bible actually warns Britain, Israel safe for a time. But then will come the many wants to go. and America to beware a huge double cross double cross. Europe­—in the form of a While this area of the world isn’t in the coming from Europe. German-led resurrection of the Holy Ro- Psalm 83 alliance, it would still represent Daniel 11 vividly prophesies that a man Empire—will conquer Jerusalem— quite a conquest. It already illustrates how, German-led European alliance (the “king and thus ignite World War iii. once again, Europe is taking the lead— of the north”) will defeat an Iranian-led This is why it is essential that you see ahead of America—in confronting the Middle Eastern alliance (the “king of the who is now stepping into the Middle East dangerous spread of radical Islam. south”)—decisively dealing with the Is- as America’s influence there fades. The lamist threat. But it also reveals that Eu- Bible is clear: Jerusalem being surround- Israel Looks to Europe rope won’t stop there. Daniel 11:41 tells us ed with European armies is the sign that Europe’s maneuvers into the void left by what happens next: The king of the north World War iii is here (Luke 21:20). But the U.S.’s withdrawal from Iraq and Af- “shall enter also into the glorious land.” that same event also starts the 3½-year ghanistan are not going unnoticed by Europe will conquer Israel. Within a countdown to the return of Christ. Israel. On October 2, Israeli officials an- month, this empire will also claim Brit- Watch Europe closely. The EU’s nounced that Prime Minister Benjamin ain and America as victims (Hosea 5:7). mounting assertiveness signals that Netanyahu will visit Europe by The rise of Iran may be the catalyst for Christ’s return is drawing near! n

For more detailed information on the prophecies in this December 2012 article, request our free booklet Jerusalem in Prophecy. THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET 27 increase your bible iq withheld Christ’s gospel—the rest of what He taught. And billions have been deceived by these false gos- pels, just as Christ predicted! Remember, a deceived person does not know he is deceived. Otherwise he would not be deceived. Mil- lions have been deceived into accepting a false gos- What Is the pel—a false salvation! 2. Did the Apostle Paul lament the fact that there were already many false apostles, teaching a counter- True Gospel? feit gospel in his day? Galatians 1:6-9. About 20 years after Christ’s death, Paul pro- nounced a curse on anyone who would dare preach The Philadelphia ust believe on the name of the Lord Je- any gospel besides the one true gospel Jesus preached. Trumpet, in conjunc- sus Christ and you’ll be saved.” That’s what That is the message Paul continued to preach to the tion with the Herbert most Christian ministers are working very Galatians, yet the Galatians had also heard another W. Armstrong College “Jhard to try to get across to you. Turn on your “gospel” preached by false ministers who claimed to Bible Correspondence television on Sunday and see Gospel Video tv, the represent Christ. Today we have even more perverted Course, presents this Gospel Entertainment Network, the Gospel Music gospels being taught. The vast majority of believers brief excursion into Channel and so on. You’ll see preachers telling you all know a gospel, but they don’t know Christ’s gospel! the fascinating study about who Jesus was. Believe on Him! Accept Christ! 3. What did Paul say is in store for those who of the Bible. Simply Let Him into your heart! through their wickedness suppress the truth of God? turn to and read in The gospel is everywhere on Sunday! Or is it? Romans 1:18. (The Revised Standard Version plainly your Bible each verse Believe it or not, preaching about Jesus Christ and translates “hold the truth” as “suppress the truth.”) given in answer to the imploring the unconverted to believe on Him is not Before the end of the first century a.d., the message questions. You will be the same as preaching Christ’s gospel! of the true gospel taught by Christ and His apostles amazed at the new Jesus was the Son of God and our Savior. But He was suppressed, and false “gospels” had been substitut- understanding gained was also a messenger. His purpose was to communi- ed. Christ’s message would not be proclaimed world- from this short study! cate something from God to mankind. The miracles wide again until the latter half of the 20th century! of Jesus Christ are not the gospel. His personal attri- 4. Did Jesus Christ say it is necessary to believe the butes are not the gospel. The existence of Jesus Christ gospel to be saved? Mark 16:15-16. is not the gospel. Notice Jesus said, “He that believeth.” Believes What Jesus Christ preached is the gospel! what? The message He preached—the gospel! Not a So, if Jesus’s message wasn’t just about Himself, gospel. Not any gospel. THE gospel! Jesus Christ told then what was it about? What is the gospel? His apostles—and you—that you must believe His precise, identical gospel in order to be saved! False Gospels Preached Today In order to believe that gospel, however, you must In today’s professing Christian Western world, we first come to know what gospel Jesus preached. hear a variety of “gospels”: the “gospel of grace,” the “gospel of salvation,” the “social gospel.” Most of The ‘Gospel of the Kingdom of God’ these are messages about Christ. Others include the 1. Where did Jesus first preach the gospel? Mark 1:14; “science of mind” or “religious science.” Acts 10:36-37. When did Jesus begin preaching the None of these is the gospel Jesus proclaimed! gospel? Same verses. The true gospel Jesus brought proclaims the so- Galilee is the place where Jesus first preached the lution to the world’s sufferings, frustrations and in- gospel, not Jerusalem. And He began preaching “after describable evils. It goes so far beyond proclaiming the baptism which John preached.” that Jesus was real. But men rejected that gospel and 2. What was the “gospel” Jesus preached? Mark 1:14. crucified Jesus for preaching it! Billions today believe The message God sent by Jesus Christ was the “gos- on Christ, but do not believe His gospel—because pel of the Kingdom of God.” Jesus was sent to announce most have never heard it! They have heard of Christ that message. He did not force men to accept it, be- and what He did. But no one has relayed His actual lieve it, or act upon it. He never pleaded with a single message. And that true gospel is the solution to your person to become converted. He proclaimed the good problems, national problems and world problems! It news of the Kingdom of God, and then left it to God explains how to receive happiness, abundance, fulfill- the Father to call, through that announcement and ment and eternal life! Yet the vast majority of Chris- His Spirit, those whom He would select (John 6:44). tians have never heard the true gospel. Christ did not come at that time to convert the world! 1. What did Jesus tell His disciples would happen He did not launch a “soul saving” crusade. He came to prior to His return? Matthew 24:4-5. announce the gospel—the good news—of the coming This is shocking when you really think about it. Kingdom of God! Jesus Christ prophesied that many people would be 3. Nevertheless, did Jesus say it was necessary to re- deceived about Him. He said that “many” ministers pent and believe the gospel He preached? Mark 1:14-15. would teach that He was the Christ, yet He called The gospel of Jesus Christ is not that familiar gos- them “deceivers.” Thousands of “Christian” minis- pel about the life and times of Christ. It is Christ’s ters have “preached Christ” for centuries. They have gospel—the gospel He preached. Scripture calls it not 28 said Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ. But they have “the gospel about God,” but “the gospel of God.” 4. Whom did Jesus plainly say sent Him and told Him what to say? John 12:49-50. The Father sent Jesus bearing a special message: the good news of the Kingdom of God. Jesus is God’s Spokesman—the Word that was made flesh and lived, and taught, on this Earth! 5. When Christ comes, what will His mission be this time? Revelation 19:11-16. See also Revelation 11:15. When Christ returns, He will not be simply preaching about the Kingdom of God—He will be es- tablishing and ruling the Kingdom of God! If you be- lieve your Bible, you’ll see the “Kingdom of God” is a literal government ruling over every nation on Earth. At Christ’s Second Coming, He will literally take over every national government. He will become the “King of kings,” ruling and enforcing the law of God. The gospel of the Kingdom of God is the good news that the government of God is coming to rule the world! THE MAN OR THE MESSAGE? The Kingdom of God is also the Family of God into Herbert Armstrong said that most Christian churches which human beings will be born—the divine royal have preached a gospel message about what Jesus Family! This is what Jesus preached at His first com- was like—forgetting what He actually taught. ing, and it is what He will establish at His second!

Christ’s Gospel Has Been Proclaimed to the World! most widely viewed religious program in the U.S., John the Baptist was the “messenger” that Mala- and was watched by multiple millions worldwide. His chi prophesied would prepare the way before Je- flagship magazine, the Plain Truth, reached a monthly sus Christ’s ministry 2,000 years ago (Malachi 3:1; circulation of 8.4 million, and an estimated readership Mark 1:4, 7-8; Luke 1:13-17). An angel prophesied that of 25 million in six languages across 200 countries. John would go ahead of Christ “in the spirit and pow- 2. Where did Jesus say the gospel of the Kingdom er of Elias [Elijah], to turn the hearts of the fathers to of God would be preached? Mark 13:10. When did He the children, and … to make ready a people prepared say that the gospel would be preached in all the world for the Lord” (Luke 1:17). as a witness? Matthew 24:14. 1. After John was put in prison and Christ had be- The fruits of Herbert W. Armstrong’s life prove gun His ministry, what did Jesus prophesy about Eli- that God used him to fulfill Matthew 24:14. That jah? Matthew 17:10-13. Did Malachi also prophesy of gospel has been preached to all the world as a another Elijah? Malachi 4:5. What would this “Elijah” witness! To prove for yourself whether or not he do? Malachi 4:6; Matthew 17:11. was the modern-day Elijah, request our reprint The apostles were expecting an Elijah to come article, “Elijah Has Come Already.” in the future. Jesus Christ said that he would indeed 3. How did Christ compare the works that His come in the future, and he would restore “all things.” servants would do to the mighty miracles He per- Jesus also revealed to them something else that they formed while on Earth? John 14:12. didn’t know. Another type of the original Elijah— Christ’s work today is reaching far more people John the Baptist—had already come (verses 12-13). than He reached while on Earth! With modern Jesus Christ said that John was a type, not only of technology, His gospel message can now reach mil- the original Elijah, but also of the future “Elijah.” lions of people via print, television, radio and the This man would also be sent by God in the spirit and Internet. power of Elijah the prophet. When Christ spoke these The Philadelphia Trumpet magazine is proclaim- This short study words, that hadn’t happened yet! This Elijah was to ing Christ’s gospel and His warning as a powerful is a sample of the come prior to His Second Coming (Malachi 3:1-6). witness to a readership of over one million. It is trans- method employed Christ will restore God’s government over the entire lated into Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish in each lesson of Earth. Before that, He sent someone in the spirit and and Norwegian. The Key of David with Gerald Flurry the free Herbert power of Elijah to restore His rule inside His Church airs on over 200 television stations around the world. W. Armstrong first. Believe it or not, that event has happened already! This is a globe-girdling work! The sun never sets College Bible God used this modern Elijah to restore the truth on the offices of the Philadelphia Church of God. The Correspondence Christ taught, including Christ’s gospel of the King- Church is prophesying again as Christ commanded, Course. Over 50,000 dom of God! That gospel was restored at the begin- delivering His gospel! (Revelation 10:11). people have enrolled ning of 1934 when Herbert W. Armstrong went on air The gospel has been preached to all the world as a in this exciting, with the World Tomorrow radio program. By 1953, witness. Now, in this time of no more delay, the mes- dynamic course. the same gospel Christ preached was being broadcast sage must be delivered once more just before Christ Ordering information around the world, and by 1972, Mr. Armstrong was returns. This is now being fulfilled before your very is on the back cover meeting presidents and heads of state worldwide— eyes and ears! n of this magazine. proclaiming that same gospel. You can read previous articles in this Mr. Armstrong produced the World Tomorrow December 2012 television program, which by the mid-1980s was the T series online at trmpt.co/bcc THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET 29 The Spirit Behind the Beast Hidden from the view of commentators is the spirit that has risen to dominate the EU through its most influential movers and shakers. By Ron Fraser

ell, I suppose we can The EU is a behemoth built in particular by riding atop—“astride”—this developing be grateful that the EU the Roman Catholic elites of Germany over union of church and state! (verses 3, 7). didn’t win the Nobel decades of patient and painstaking imperial That prophesied church-state union Prize for Economics,” effort. It amounts to none other than a liter- could not effectively emerge till the Fran- “Wquipped Peter Hitchens in the Daily Mail. al resurrection of the old Holy Roman Em- co-German bloc was broken and a new Like many commentators, he was incredu- pire of the German Nation—and behind it balance of power was established in Eu- lous that the European Union—this mas- is the same spirit that empowered the Holy rope: a Rome-Berlin axis! Just such an axis sive experiment in federalism, destroying Roman Empire on six previous occasions! has emerged. Few indeed grasp the reality democratic structures and smashing na- We have been attuned to the rise to po- of this sea change in Europe. tional sovereignty all over the Continent, litical and economic dominance of Europe and currently being crushed by economic by Germany for some time. But it’s the sud- Rome-Berlin Axis crisis—could possibly have been honored den rise to prominence of the spirit of Baby- This is a rough time economically for with the Nobel Peace Prize. lon that has caught most observers of Eu- Europe. Many nations are being forced “But there is a sense in which the EU rope off guard. Indeed few, even now, have to take steep austerity measures aimed at has brought peace,” Hitchens continued. recognized what is increasingly influencing getting their books balanced. Anticipating “It has done so by allowing France, and the consolidation of this empire: It is not the increasing clamor for EU leaders to more recently Britain, to pretend to be Berlin, or even Rome, per se, but rather an promote growth amid these cuts, Italian independent powers, while actually being ancient religion, the religion of Babylon. Prime Minister Mario Monti and German vassals of Germany. And it has allowed Chancellor Angela Merkel colluded with Germany to be the imperial ruler of Eu- The Only Way to Unite European Central Bank (ecb) President rope while pretending to be a European- In the January 1979 issue of the Plain Truth Mario Draghi to establish the future of ized, neutered nothingness.” newsmagazine, Herbert Armstrong made EU economic policy. Merkel’s and Mon- That is the reality in Europe today. this statement, with great prophetic fore- ti’s staffs planned several joint German- Germany is imperial ruler. sight: “The nations of Europe have been Italian economic stimulus initiatives for How has this happened without attract- striving to become reunited. They desire approval by the European Council. ing the attention of media experts? And, a common currency, a single combined In the process, Socialist François Hol- indeed, the attention of the national leaders military force, a single united government. lande’s France was marginalized. The who have been the dupes over the past 70 They have made a start in the Common Franco-German axis was broken. years in willingly signing up to this project? Market. They are now working toward a Fully three months after the Trumpet Well, the reason is spiritual. The true common currency. Yet, on a purely political broke this story, the German news source nature of the beastly power that has arisen basis, they have been totally unable to unite. Spiegel headlined it thus: “Is the Franco- in Europe is only apparent to those minds “In only one way can this resurrected German Axis Kaput?” (October 22). attuned to the reality of the spiritual pow- Holy Roman Empire be brought to frui- With Chancellor Merkel detaching her ers behind it. tion—by the ‘good offices’ of the Vatican, nation from France, watch for her to be Such a one was Herbert W. Armstrong. uniting church and state once again, with increasingly influenced by Rome in her This man prophesied the seventh and fi- the Vatican astride and ruling (Revela- political and economic outlook. nal resurrection of the Holy Roman Em- tion 17:1-5).” There is the prophecy of Rev- This is the reality of Herbert Arm- pire even while its Hitlerian sixth resur- elation 17 stated in cold, hard, up-to-date strong’s prophecy that the Vatican will sit rection collapsed under the onslaught of language. astride both church and state—Rome and the Allied powers in their victory over That was written over 30 years ago— Berlin—when the beast power reaches its Nazism almost 70 years ago. yet it’s happening before your eyes today! final configuration! Today a few—admittedly still a very The religion and the state leading Europe small handful—of commenta- are suddenly being revealed as the prime Same Old Spirit tors on the European scene, such components of a final resurrection of the This is not a new thing. It is a very an- 30 as Peter Hitchens, see this reality. Holy Roman Empire, with the Vatican cient phenomenon that tracks right back to shortly after the establishment of post- A Woman Riding a Beast upon a “soldierly spirit.” Their founder, Flood civilization. It has to do with a spir- Revelation 13 records the famous prophecy Loyola, regarded the pope as “Christ on it—the spirit of Babylon that permeated the of a “beast.” A thorough study of all related Earth.” The same source mentions that effort to centralize government under one scriptures and a comparison with the events “The name ‘Societas Jesu’ had been born dominant spiritual power in that ancient of history show that this beast is the Roman by a military order approved and recom- city (Genesis 11:1-6). Yet, as the biblical re- Empire. In the latter part of this chapter mended by Pius ii in 1450.” cord indicates, it is a spiritual influence at is described “the mark of the beast.” This When the Vatican reacted against complete odds with God’s will (verses 7-9). mark is the mark of the Roman Empire. the Protestant Reformation with its own As the Trumpet’s editor in chief has Note well, however, what Herbert Arm- Counter-Reformation, “The Jesuits natu- stated, “This great false church oper- strong wrote about the influence, the chief rally endeavored to counteract the spread ates from a city on Earth that rules over spirit, behind this beast, in his booklet The of Protestantism,” this encyclopedia says. ‘the kings of the earth.’ She will guide a Mark of the Beast: “In Revelation 17 a later “They became the main instruments of the 10-nation European power, headed by stage of this same wild beast is pictured, Counter-Reformation; the re-conquest of Germany. … This system is so evil that it and there a ‘woman’—a great church— southern and western Germany and Aus- imagines, or plots and plans, against God sits astride it, guides it, rules over it. But tria for the church, and the preservation of Himself! (see Revelation 13 and 17). The the mark is the mark of the Roman Em- the Catholic faith in France and other coun- system is led by Satan, whom they wor- pire—not the Roman Catholic Church. tries, were due chiefly to their exertions.” ship (Revelation 13:1-4)” (Nahum—An End … It brands on the people the mark of the What Jesuit-based “basics” does Van Time Prophecy for Germany). This system is dominated by a resil- ient spirit—one that has moved minds to continue the Babylonish approach to cen- “Today, Mario tralized, collective, catholic, universalist Draghi, Mario imperialism in an effort to rule the world time and time again. Monti and No entity has been more successful in myself are all this effort than the one that, over the cen- turies, has continually risen and fallen, three alumni only to be resurrected yet again: the Holy Roman Empire. That same spirit drives from the today’s EU imperialists toward the same Jesuits. Back old imperial goal. Do you know what Italian Prime Minis- to basics.” —Herman van Rompuy ter Monti, Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, ecb head Mario Draghi, and EU Council President Herman van Rompuy all have in common, apart from being prominent leaders within today’s European Union? They all have the same Jesuit-edu- cated mind in their approach to the euro- crisis. Their education was guided by that same spirit which sought over 4,000 years ‘beast’—that is, the mark of the Roman Rompuy seek to return “back to” if not ago to garner central power over the nations Empire, not the mark of the Church. … The those of the soldierly, crusading spirit of under the influence of the ancient leader of Roman Empire is the real author of this the Jesuits? Babylon, Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-10). ‘mark.’ It is the mark of the beast, not the This is that spirit that Pope Bene- Merkel joining forces with these men woman who rode the beast.” It is thus the dict xvi sought to revive as he recently places the EU’s purse strings—and the spirit of the woman riding, or guiding, the launched the Vatican’s Year of Faith. German levers of power—much closer to beast—a Holy Roman imperial spirit—that Rome’s grasp. It was ever so in ancient causes people to carry the mark of the beast. A New Crusade Babylon—this nexus between Babylon Commencing October 11, on the 50th an- and Assyria, the nation from which to- ‘Back to Basics’ niversary of the opening of Vatican ii, the day’s Germany descends (verses 11-12). European Council President Herman van Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pope So history comes full circle. The Rompuy made an interesting observation Benedict launched what amounts to a new world’s systems of religion, education, when commenting on himself and his crusade by the Roman Catholic Church. government, trade and commerce began Jesuit-educated fellows all sharing high Called the “Year of Faith,” the next 12 under a central authority based in ancient office in the European Union. During a months will showcase a plethora of initia- Babylon. And thus, your Bible declares, it keynote speech delivered at an EU confer- tives designed to revive what the Vatican shall be at the end! (Revelation 18). ence in November 2011, he declared, “To- sees as the key role of the church: its com- Expect Berlin and Rome to jointly day, Mario Draghi, Mario Monti and my- mitment to evangelize the world. dominate EU policy decisions from here self are all three alumni from the Jesuits. “The Church exists to evangelize,” an- on. But more than that, look for the Vati- Back to basics.” nounced the pope during his homily in house

can, to whom the Jesuits in particular give Just what did he mean by that? St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, complete allegiance, to have an overarch- According to the Catholic Encyclo- October 8. “At various times in chatham ing influence on both church and state! pedia, the Jesuits are an order founded history, divine providence has 31 given birth to a renewed dynamism in the apostles to extend and direct with author- parliamentary seat. As Giacomo Galeazzi church’s evangelizing activity.” The strong ity, which He erected for all ages as ‘the pil- explained in a Vatican Insider article: “The implication was that now is one of those lar and mainstay of the truth.’ This Church, symbol of Europe was conceived by a Cath- “various times in history.” constituted and organized as a society in olic, and tomorrow, for the first time, the Our question is, with Europe in crisis the present world, subsists in the Catholic statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be carried and the world in the utter turmoil of glob- Church, which is governed by the successor past the EU Parliament building. … The 12 al disorder, why now? of Peter and by the bishops in communion stars on the EU flag are an homage to her Believe it or not, your Bible answers with him” (emphasis mine). Thus it was re- and yet this will be her first ‘visit’ to the po- that question. The timing of Pope Bene- established as a binding doctrine of Roman litical headquarters of the EU. Tomorrow at dict’s new crusade gels perfectly in se- Catholicism at Vatican ii that the Roman 10 a.m., the statue of the Virgin Mary will quence with the signs Jesus Christ gave to Church is the only true church. be brought to the cathedral of the city that highlight those world events leading up Incidentally, these singular universal symbolizes European technocracy.” to His Second Coming (Matthew 24:4-5, claims of the Vatican inspired Adolf Hit- What is European technocracy? Boiled 24). It all has to do with the stirring of a ler’s interpretation of dictatorial rule un- down to its essence, it is the imposition of powerful spirit that has traditionally used der one doctrine in his effort to produce the Holy Roman imperialist will of un- the Vatican as a springboard for action a thousand-year Reich. “Until now, there elected technocrats on an unsuspecting (Revelation 17:13). has never been anything more grandiose public on the continent of Europe! Why launch the Vatican’s crusading on the Earth than the hierarchical organi- “Few people know that the symbol of Year of Faith on the 50th anniversary of zation of the Catholic Church,” Hermann unified Europe has exquisitely Marian Vatican ii? Well, there is deep symbolism Rauschning recorded Hitler as saying. “I origins, as the European Union’s official flag proves with its 12 stars and the Virgin Mary’s blue and white colors,” Galeazzi this is it Once again, the Vatican continued. His article also highlighted “the is growing bolder in insisting that the requests which Our Lady of Fatima became Catholic Church is God's only church. a bearer of in order to save Europe and the world and ensure peace and prosperity.” Thus, the symbol of a woman—which tracks back to Nimrod’s mother-wife, Semiramis, the original symbolic great re- ligious whore of Babylon—is transferred to its modern-day counterpart, symbolizing the final resurrection of that old Babylon- ish empire in its European Union clothes. Same spirit, same old whore, same tac- tics—same outcome! “And I saw the wom- an drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Je- sus” (Revelation 17:6). The Ultimate Outcome Yet though the whole world has so often suffered the perverse legacy of the spirit of Babylon, the most tremendous hope is contained in the prophecy of its future de- struction. As the Trumpet’s editor in chief here that points to the future direction of transferred much of this organization into has declared, “God is about to destroy the Europe. my own party” (Hitler m’a Dit). whole Babylonian system forever. It will Vatican ii became the catalyst for an This same Babylonish spirit of forced never rise again” (op. cit.). ecumenical drive by Rome to garner back acceptance of universalist rule is prophe- That outcome is affirmed in the more into its fold the Orthodox churches and sied to dominate the final rise of the Holy sure word of prophecy contained in the wayward Protestant daughters. Roman Empire. This is revealed in the Revelation 18. Whereas the most well-known doctrine prophecies of Revelation 13 and 17. And what lies beyond the destruction affirmed unanimously by all delegates of the great Babylonish religious whore? to Vatican i, convened by Pius ix in 1868, The Power of Symbolism You need to read our booklet The Won- was papal infallibility, the most declara- The power of symbolism to convey im- derful World Tomorrow—What It Will Be tive statement made at Vatican ii relating plicit messages to the masses is not lost Like to discover that great wonder! That catholic to Rome’s interpretation of its role was the on those who are shaping Europe into its old spirit of Babylon will be replaced by

Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, final 10-power configuration. the very Holy Spirit of God, which will church Lumen Gentium. It states that “the sole The most potent of symbols overlay- reveal to humankind their incredible , Church of Christ which in the creed we pro- ing the European Union is its flag. In late human potential. The vistas of truth, of england fess to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic, October, that flag was paraded together peace, of plenty and of abundance of bless-

which our Savior, after His resur- with its source of inspiration in Strasbourg ings that Spirit opens up will remove all and

rection, commissioned Peter to as a sign of the further assertion of the remembrance forever of that old Babylon- wales 32 shepherd, and him and the other Babylonish spirit that dominates the EU’s ish spirit of the Holy Roman Empire! n COMMENTARY Joel Hilliker Reflections on a Battlefield Corregidor: An epic struggle, a futile shame

t jarred me, the way those hulking relics of war “solemn pledge” was a blatant lie. The help never came. Allied stood starkly against the tropical foliage. Demolished, pock- forces on Corregidor eventually succumbed to Japanese butchery marked concrete—surrounded by beautiful, lush green and surrendered on May 6, 1942. plants. This is Corregidor, island of antithesis. The presentation well conveys the terror of those days with IThis small island fortress in the Philippines was the setting sounds of enemy planes buzzing outside, of bombings that shook of some of the most dramatic scenes of World War ii. It simulta- the tunnels, of the voice of President Quezon lamenting, “How typ- neously symbolizes bravery and betrayal, humanity and hatred, ical of America to writhe in anguish at the fate of a distant cousin, strength and savagery. Gazing across the scene, I was bombarded Europe, while a daughter, the Philippines, is being raped in the back by incongruous images and emotions. But the biggest collision in room!” Then, the radio announcement from the Voice of Freedom: my mind was between the epic past and the uncertain present. Despite the Allied forces’ “superhuman endurance … in the face of After it captured the island from Spain in 1898, the United overwhelming odds,” “Bataan has fallen, but the spirit that made it States built a major military outpost on Cor- regidor. “The Rock” bristled with guns and mortars, a total of 23 separate batteries. Yet Corregidor was also a soldier’s paradise, with a sandy beach, golf course, baseball diamond, opulent cinema, lavish officers’ quarters and excellent barracks housing thousands of men—all against the backdrop of the calm waters of Manila Bay. Most of these impressive installations are still there. But now they are skeletons bearing the garish scars of the horrors they endured. Of those enormous barracks filled with soldiers, only empty concrete shells remain, interlaced with rebar that holds sagging chunks of stair- cases and walls aloft in twisted formations. Gap- ing holes and mounds of rubble mutely testify to the furious Japanese aerial bombardment. The theater is roofless and hollow. The swimming pool is a cavity carpeted with vegetation. The ruins still reverberate with the voices relics The modern ruins of of the soldiers who occupied these structures, a recent battle symbolize struggle, who manned these munitions. Every blast hole fear, carnage, courage and futility. brings to mind the men whose bodies were also blasted and battered when the bombs fell. Buried in the center of the island lies Malinta Tunnel, a co- stand—a beacon to all the liberty-loving peoples of the world—can- lossal bunker complex that the Americans drilled into a moun- not fall!” It was galvanizing yet gut-wrenching to hear, knowing tain over the course of a decade. The wide but dank passage now the hellish death march those captured soldiers afterward endured. serves as the setting for an audio-visual show telling the story The next wave I felt was one of redemption, hearing how of its construction and use during the war: MacArthur turning America partially atoned for its treachery when it fought back it into usaffe headquarters; the Philippine government taking for the Rock three years later. On the island’s Topside hill is a refuge there; and the unfolding of the most shameful chapter in field too small for an airborne combat landing zone. Yet this is America’s World War ii history—the “Betrayal in the Pacific.” where hundreds of daring men parachuted down from just 400 Ten days after attacking Pearl Harbor, the Japanese descend- feet—descending directly into a cauldron of fierce, close-range ed on the Philippines, America’s possession. President Franklin warfare. These tough men, who knew both the nobility of sacri- Roosevelt immediately proclaimed his “solemn pledge,” backed fice and the brutality of killing, were the liberators of Corregidor. by “the entire resources in men and materials of the United A short walk away is the Pacific War Memorial Museum. States,” that America would come and safeguard the Filipinos’ There I stared at the black-and-white portraits of the offi- freedom. MacArthur skillfully evaded Japan’s powerful clutches, cers who had orchestrated the offensives and commanded the troops. They seemed like superior men. Serious, manly, steely, flickr evacuating U.S. and Filipino forces to Corregidor to / make a stand until reinforcements arrived. But the See reflections page 36 ➤ johnson . b Read more about the history of America and the Philippines December 2012 neal in Gerald Flurry’s booklet ‘We Have Had Our Last Chance.’ THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET 33 discussion board often refers to the first few distractions that can get a lot of headlines verses of the third chapter and raise a lot of curiosity and maybe even of Isaiah in describing the fear. But the only source of truth is God’s Letters from last issue lack of leadership in today’s Word. He gives us the signs to watch for. American and British so- Let’s not waste that time. M.H. Disgraceful media cieties. It is interesting in What continues to amaze me light of what you bring out Prophecy fulfilled is the consistency of the West- in your article, that verses 6 Mr. Flurry has warned us for so long that ern liberal media to exclude through 7 of this prophecy Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia would shift to reporting the important oc- show that Israel’s leader- the radical king of the south, Iran, because currences to justify their past ship crisis and national ca- of Daniel 11:42-43 (“Egypt Unites With erroneous conclusions (“A lamities will get to the point Iran and Fulfills a Bible Prophecy,” Octo- New Pharoah,” October/No- where no one will actually ber/November). Now soon, the king of the vember). When an occurrence is so great want to lead either nation. north will conquer these three countries, that they have to report on it, they twist Matthew Robinson—Australia as we also can read in this prophecy! and malign facts and truths to continue to Joop Roelofszen—Netherlands justify their liberal objectives. What a dis- Our descent into collapse is a predictable grace! Alain Jolin—Canada one based on history. Some of the typical The character of a gentleman steps have already taken place: the mas- King David knew that everything he did, And we still give Egypt money? “Follow sive increase in the size government, a had, requested, it all came from God (“A the money” has been a battle cry for a long welfare status of the population, creating Real Gentleman,” October/November). time. Who are our leaders fighting for? of a fiat financial system, and then the He led his family with the example of Gary F. Restall—Massachusetts intentional devaluation of the currency prayer and we have so many psalms and to equalize the debt and interest prob- prayers of David. He wasn’t afraid to A poisoned chalice lems. Recently, Mr. Biden was called out express his emotion and to let it all out. I agree that no one would vote for a can- on his statement that massive borrowing Some have the impression that being a didate who would address our dire fi- and deficit spending was the way to the gentleman is about “perfection.” I think nancial situation (“7 Challenges Face the fix the financial problems in the U.S. It as we get older we see the imperfections of Next President,” October/November). It does appear that he is right in a sense, it everyone, and realize it is more about re- would mean a greatly reduced lifestyle for doesn’t really fix anything but it is the alizing our imperfection and asking God the voter. C. Dawson—Oklahoma only way to keep the government afloat. to make us perfect. I am grateful for my Michael Scribner—Maine husband of 27 years for constantly learn- Another fantastic yet sobering article! ing, growing, and giving me an example The U.S. presidency, once the most Prophets of doom vs. the Bible of courage and faith as well as protection. prized office on Earth, has now become There will always be those who come up … Women rely on and trust a man who more of a poisoned chalice rather than an with their prophecies about the end of the stands up for what he believes and doesn’t accolade for the winner of the next elec- world, whether it’s the Mayans or Ras- change to suit someone else. It’s not just tion. One has to wonder, would any sane putin (“Will the World End? In Decem- manners, but complete character. person really want the job? The Trumpet ber?,” October/November). Satan has his Susan Kossey—Pennsylvania online highlights

ur readers like Bible prophecy. They want to understand, and even which is the modern identity of the lost 10 tribes of Israel. The reason why more so they want to see it fulfilled. Our two most popular articles these tribes lost their identity revolves around Sabbath-keeping and wor- Ofor the last two months focused directly on Bible prophecy and its shiping God on the right day. fulfillment. The proof of the accuracy of that article rests on Bible prophecy com- The top-visited article was on enforced Sunday observance, what Bible ing to pass, and there was much proof of that these last two months, prophecy calls the mark of the beast. “Is the EU About to Enforce Sunday mostly centered on the Middle East. The Trumpet’s online coverage of the Worship in Greece?” (thetrumpet.com/go/9828) reported on a leaked letter September 11 attacks on American embassies in several countries, most from Greece’s creditors, the European Union and International Monetary notably in Cairo and Benghazi, generated a lot of response, and forms the Fund, calling for its government to enforce a six-day workweek or lose its core of our feature story “'How Could This Happen?'” in this issue (page bailout money. The six-day workweek would force workers to rest on Sun- 2). “America Pays a Horrific Price for Liberating Egypt and Libya” (thet- day, conforming to the teachings of the Catholic and Orthodox churches— rumpet.com/go/9868) disproved the notion that a video was to blame and and aligning with biblical prophecy. Anyone with different religious beliefs traced the cause of the disaster back to the U.S. handing Libya over to Is- would not be able to rest on their day of choosing. lamic radicals after removing Muammar Qadhafi. This was then followed up One commentator questioned whether God really cares which day we by an article putting these horrifying events in context. “Making Sense of worship Him. The answer to that question—and the understanding of the America’s Bungled Response to Muslim Rage” (thetrumpet.com/go/9907) significance of the leaked letter—rests on understanding that prophecy. explained these events were prophesied to happen. But Bible prophecy is locked. “Why Most People Don’t Understand Events like these get people saying “It Feels Like the End Times” (thet- Bible Prophecy” (thetrumpet.com/go/9895), written by editor in chief Ger- rumpet.com/go/9919). Ron Fraser reminds readers that while we are in the ald Flurry, gives readers the key to understand the mystery of prophecy, end times, there is hope at the end of all these days.

Comments? Write to [email protected] or The Trumpet, P.O. Box 1099, Edmond, OK 73003. December 2012 34 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET sign up for a free account online for exclusive Web content at theTrumpet.com. Online Conversations Francois Van Wyk: I can see now how Satan Catherine Flaxington: It’s one thing to be is going to sway the whole world to worship aware that politicians lie and have always a “United States of Europe,” because they lied. It’s quite another to sit back and say America Pays will be seen as the great savior and hero nothing, which is what much of our coun- a Horrific who will save the world from this terror. try is doing. What is going on with this Price for administration is beyond empty promises Liberating Cherry Ann: I agree with you. I could feel and smoke screens, it’s dangerous propa- Egypt and Libya myself wanting to cheer on the Europe- ganda, and too many of our people are thetrumpet.com/go/9868 ans and tell them, “Go teach those bul- just swallowing it in blind acceptance. lies some lessons!” But no, these events do Michael Scribner: On September 16, Am- prepare Europe, especially Germany, to Iain Harper: America’s foreign policy is bassador Rice made a day of propaganda- take center stage and be the savior of the indeed “foreign” and prophetic (Leviticus like interviews to sell the administration’s Western world and not America. Easy to 26:19) in which the pride of their power sad story of spontaneous terror attacks. see why Israel will go to Germany for help. has been broken and their leadership At stake was the reality of a failed foreign ignorant of the obviousness of it all. To policy by the administration. Along with say our relationship with our allies in the that failure comes the record of the first The 'Alternate region is stronger than ever now would significant terror attack on the U.S. since Universe' of be like saying we have prevailed over our Sept. 11, 2001. Not the kind of milestone a America’s enemies in the region as well. president who touted that he could relate Leaders to the Islamic world, and they would in thetrumpet.com/go/9882 H: Truth—just quote their own words back turn relate well to him, would want to to them and they just can’t stand it. Speak- have. The truth is a victim in this case. Joshua James Roberts: The dnc has to be ing and writing the truth is something that The media has saturated cyberspace with completely blind to not see that the crowd will get you in huge trouble these days. its rendition of a spontaneous attack. was upset that God and Israel were added If you expose lies and hypocritical words Given the American public’s attention back to the platform. Is Obama really the and actions prepare to feel the wrath of the span it seems when the truth does trickle best friend Israel ever had? He canceled liberal media and those you expose. What out, there will not be an audience for it. the prime minister’s visit to go on the I love about this magazine and this website David Letterman Show, and the Muslim is that it speaks the plain hard truth Carmen D Rivera: America’s weakness is Brotherhood was invited into the White and does not pander to anyone. My hope is shown for the entire whole world to see— House. This doesn’t seem like a friend that others will find this resource. Keep up this only emboldens our enemies! to Israel at all—looks like an enemy. your hard work.

French Magazine reader engagement Provokes Top retweeted tweets Islam thetrumpet.com/go/9906

Sarah: Great point about America cower- ing with an immediate apology—makes me sick to my stomach when I see all the graves and names of those who have fought bravely (and died heroically! ) for the United States only to be followed by a generation of spine-

images less, politically correct, softies. Just sayin’… getty / Tahir: Nobles in all societies, no matter to afp / which religion they might belong, always respect others’ elders. Respect begets re- richards . j

spect. Love begets love. This is the basic

paul lesson taught in all societies, creeds, reli- , gions and faiths. Every noble gentleman would condemn the act of ridiculing oth- Top commented Facebook post: Top commented Google+ post: gettyimages ers’ patriarchs. The publisher should stop /

afp and think for a moment how would he/she Trying to make sense of The purpose of life. Do you / feel if naked pictures of his/her father or America’s bungled response to know it? It is positively astound- dufour mother are published on the Internet? the Middle East rage? Trumpet ing! It has remained undiscov-

fred Columnist Stephen Flurry points ered by science! No religion has , Richard Howard: I can’t say I approve of the to a prophecy that describes the revealed it! Higher education has cartoons, but it is refreshing to see a different leadership we are seeing. never taught it! Is it possible the whole

gettyimages world has been deceived regarding

/ approach than the UK and U.S. have. Mus- afp lim aggression is begging to be answered. the awesome purpose of human life? 35 ➤ reflections from page 33 television log intelligent—men of character, men who inspired men. I felt small. The stories of the Japanese Imperial Army evoked in me a different kind of won- der. Their warrior code of honor, Bushido, exalts death above surrender. In the Ma- All times are a.m. local time unless otherwise noted. linta Tunnel we learned what this means. That great bunker, which had survived in- United States Kaui Ho’ Ike chan. 52 9:30, Tue tensive shelling throughout the war, in the Nationwide Satellite Maui/Lanaii/Molokai/Niihau/Akaku Chan. 52 6:30 pm, Sun; 3:30, Mon end succumbed to sabotage from within: Galaxy 3 Trans. 21 11:30 ET, Tue/Thu Galaxy 5 Trans. 7 8:00 ET Oahu focus Chan. 49 7:00 am Sat (Olelo) Two thousand Japanese soldiers stationed Direct TV chan. 27 5:00 am, Fri KPXO inside, knowing Allied troops were about CW Plus, Chan. 34, 9:30 ET/PT, Sun chan. 333 3:30 am, Sun The Discovery Channel to capture them, blew themselves up. Ap- Discovery, Chan. 278, 6:30 ET/PT, Sun Idaho, Idaho Falls KPIF/KBEO 10:30, Sun parently this grim business was repeated ION, Chan. 305, 6:00 ET, Fri Pocatello KPIF 10:30, Sun WGN, Chan. 307, 8:00 ET, Sun Twin Falls KMVT-DT/KTWT-LP 10:30, Sun in caves all over the island: After the U.S. Dish Network Illinois, Bloomington WHOI-DT 8:30, Sun reclaimed it, for days Corregidor reverber- Discovery, Chan. 182, 6:30 ET/PT, Sun Chicago WCUU 7:00, Mon-Fri; WCIU 9:30, Sun; ated with underground explosions of Japa- ION, Chan. 216, 6:00 ET, Fri WCPX 5:00, Fri nese suicides. Haunting. WGN, Chan. 239, 8:00 ET, Sun Peoria WHOI-DT 8:30, Sun I tried to comprehend this conflicted Nationwide Cable Rockford WREX-DT 8:30, Sun CW Plus, 9:30 ET/PT, Sun Indiana, Fort Wayne WPTA-DT 21.2 9:30, Sun past: noble and brutal, crucial and futile, Discovery, 6:30 ET/PT, Sun Indianapolis WIPX 6:00, Fri eternal and long-gone. These ruins im- ION, 6:00 ET, Fri Terre Haute WBI 8:30, Sun pressed me with what men did here, yet I WGN, 8:00 ET, Sun Iowa, Austin KTTC-DT 8:30, Sun could not escape the whole truth: Like ev- Alabama, Birmingham WPXH 5:00, Fri Cedar Rapids KPXR 5:00, Fri Dothan WTVY-DT 8:30, Sun Des Moines KFPX 5:00, Fri ery battlefield, this was just another horrid Montgomery WBMM/WBMM-DT 8:30, Sun Keokuk WEWB 8:30, Sun chapter in human war-making, another Alaska, Anchorage KIMO-DT 8:30, Sun Kirksville KWOT 8:30, Sun place where high rhetoric clashes with the Fairbanks KATN-DT 8:30, Sun Mason City KTTC-DT 8:30, Sun low things human beings do to each other. Juneau KJUD-DT 8:30, Sun Ottumwa KWOT 8:30, Sun These ruins are oddly relevant to the Arizona, Phoenix KPPX 5:00, Fri Sioux City KTIV-DT 8:30, Sun Yuma-El Centro KSWT-DT 9:30, Sun Kansas, Topeka KSNT 8:30, Sun present. Their hollowed hulks evoke the Arkansas, Fayetteville KWFT 8:30, Sun Kentucky, Bowling Green WBKO 8:30, Sun decline of America. As Moses prophesied Fort Smith KCWA 8:30, Sun Lexington WUPX 6:00, Fri long ago, the pride of its power has been Jonesboro KJOS 8:30, Sun Louisiana, Alexandria KBCA 8:30, Sun broken and lies in rubble; only the facades Rogers KWFT 8:30, Sun El Dorado-Monroe KNOE-DT 8:30, Sun Springdale KWFT 8:30, Sun Lafayette KLWB 8:30, Sun remain. Three generations after what California, Bakersfield KGET-DT 9:30, Sun Lake Charles WBLC 8:30, Sun proved to be America’s last unequivocal Chico KHSL-DT 9:30, Sun; KRCR 9:00, Sun New Orleans WPXL 5:00, Fri military victory, the U.S. presence in the El Centro KWUB 9:30, Sun Maine, Bangor WABI-DT 9:30, Sun Philippines is only an echo. America’s rep- Eureka KUVU-DT 9:30, Sun Presque Isle WBPQ 9:30, Sun utation is mortally wounded; its ambition Los Angeles KPXN 6:00, Fri; TVCLT-Bilingual, 7:30 Sun Maryland, Salisbury WBD 9:30, Sun Monterey KMWB 9:30, Sun Massachusetts, Holyoke WBQT 9:30, Sun has shrunk. Its unprecedentedly superior Palm Springs KESQ/KCWQ-DT 9:30, Sun Springfield WBQT 9:30, Sun military is oddly impotent against the Redding KHSL-DT 9:30, Sun; KRCR 9:00, Sun Michigan, Alpena WBAE 9:30, Sun most pitiful of threats. Today, an attack on Sacramento KSPX 6:00, Fri; TVCLT-Bilingual, 7:30 Sun Cadillac WGTU/WGTQ 9:30, Sun an American consulate, rather than being Salinas KION 9:30, Sun Detroit WPXD 6:00, Fri; WADL 10:00, Sun San Diego TVCLT-Bilingual, 7:30 Sun Grand Rapids WZPX 5:00, Fri soundly punished, sets off a rash of eva- San Francisco KKPX 6:00, Fri Lansing WLAJ-DT 9:30, Sun sion, backbiting and recrimination that Santa Barbara KSBY-DT 9:30, Sun Marquette WBKP 9:30, Sun tears the government up internally. Sun City/Menifee TVCLT-Bilingual, 7:30 Sun Traverse City-Cadillac WGTU-DT/WGTQ-DT 9:30, Sun It all makes Scripture’s most shocking Colorado, Denver KPXC 5:00, Fri Minnesota, Duluth-Superior WDLH 8:30, Sun prophecy seem far more conceivable: When Grand Junction KCJT 8:30, Sun Mankato KWYE 8:30, Sun Montrose KKCO-DT 10:30, Sun Minneapolis KPXM 5:00, Fri the next world war breaks out, America Connecticut, Hartford WHPX 6:00, Fri Rochester-Austin KTTC-DC 8:30, Sun will shrink all the more—and horror will Delaware, Dover WBD 9:30, Sun Sioux Fall (Mitchell) KWSD/KSWD-DT 8:30, Sun spread over the globe virtually unchecked. Salisbury WMDT-DT 9:30, Sun Mississippi, Biloxi WBGP 8:30, Sun I walked beyond the memorial mu- Florida, Gainesville WCJB-DT 9:30, Sun Columbus WCBI-DT 8:30, Sun Jacksonville WPXC/WPXJ-LP 6:00, Fri Greenville WBWD 8:30, Sun seum to a rotunda. There I saw words Miami WPXM 6:00, Fri Greenwood WBWD 8:30, Sun chiseled in stone that finally reminded Orlando WOPX 6:00, Fri Gulfport WBGP 8:30, Sun me of hope: “Sleep my sons, your duty Panama City WJHG-DT 8:30, Sun Hattiesburg WBH 8:30, Sun done … for freedom’s light has come. Sleep Tallahassee WTXL 7:30, Sun Laurel WBH 8:30, Sun in the silent depths of the sea, or in your Tallahassee-Thomasville WTLF-DT/WTLH-DT 9:30, Sun Meridian WTOK-DT 8:30, Sun Tampa WXPX 6:00, Fri; WTTA 8:30 am, Sun Tupelo WCBI-DT 8:30, Sun bed of hallowed sod, until you hear at West Palm Beach WPXP 6:00, Fri West Point WCBI-DT 8:30, Sun dawn the low, clear reveille of God.” Georgia, Albany WBSK 9:30, Sun Missouri, Columbia KOMU-DT 8:30, Sun I look forward to meeting them when Augusta WAGT-DT 9:30, Sun Hannibal WGEM-DT 8:30, Sun that dawn comes. n Brunswick WPXC 6:00, Fri Jefferson City KOMU-DT 8:30, Sun Columbus WLGA 9:30, Sun Joplin-Pittsburg KSXF 8:30, Sun Macon WBMN 9:30, Sun Kansas City KPXE 5:00, Fri December 2012 Savannah WGSA/WGCW-LP 9:30, Sun Quincy-Keokuk WGEM-DT 8:30, Sun 36 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET Hawaii, Hawaii Na Leo chan. 54 6:30, Sun; 8:30, Wed St. Joseph WBJO 8:30, Sun Philadelphia Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry appears each week on The Key of David explaining the meaning behind world events and teaching the inspiring truths of the Bible. The program is also available at keyofdavid.com. The Key of David is now available to 110 million homes throughout Europe and the Middle East via CNBC at 11 a.m. Central European Time.

Montana, Billings KTVQ-DT 8:30, Sun Wilkes Barre WQPX 6:00, Fri Bluefield KVVA-DT 9:30, Sun Cuba WGN Bozeman-Butte KBZK-DT/KXLF-DT Rhode Island, Providence WPXQ 6:00, Fri Charleston WLPX 6:00, Fri 8:00, Sun 10:30, Sun South Carolina, Charleston WCBD-DT Clarksburg WVFX-DT 9:30, Sun Dominican Glendive KWZB 10:30, Sun 9:30, Sun Oak Hill KVVA-DT 9:30, Sun Republic WGN Great Falls KRTV-DT 10:30, Sun Florence WWMB/WWMB-DT 9:30, Sun Parkersburg WBPB 9:30, Sun 8:00, Sun Helena KMTF-DT 10:30, Sun Myrtle Beach WWMB/WWMB-DT Weston WVFX-DT 9:30, Sun Haiti WGN 7:00, Sun Missoula KPAX-DT 10:30, Sun 9:30, Sun Wheeling WBWO 9:30, Sun Jamaica WGN 9:00, Sun Nebraska, Lincoln-Hastings South Dakota, Mitchell KWSD 8:30, Sun Wisconsin, Eau Claire WQOW-DT/WXOW- Puerto Rico WGN 8:00, Sun KCWL-TV 8:30, Sun Rapid City KWBH-LP 10:30, Sun DT 8:30, Sun Trinidad and Tobago WGN 8:00, Sun Kearney KCWL-TV 8:30, Sun Sioux Falls KWSD 8:30, Sun La Crosse WQOW/WXOW 8:30, Sun Europe/Middle EAst North Platte KWPL 8:30, Sun Tennessee, Jackson WBJK 8:30, Sun Milwaukee WPXE 5:00, Fri Pan-European satellite Astra 1L (free Scottsbluff KCHW 10:30, Sun Knoxville WPXK 6:00, Fri WAOW/WYOW 8:30, Sun Rhinelander to air) 19.2ºE transponder 26 11.597V Nevada, Reno KREN/KREN-DT 9:30, Sun Memphis WPXX 5:00, Fri Wausau WAOW-DT/WYOW-DT 8:30, Sun 220000 (DVB); Astra 1KR 19.2ºE New York, Albany WYPX 6:00, Fri Nashville WNPX 5:00, Fri Wyoming, Casper 10:30, Sun transponder 50 10.729V (analogue) 11 Binghamton WBXI 9:30, Sun Texas, Abilene KTWS-DT 8:30, Sun Cheyenne KCHW 10:30, Sun Central European Time, Sun Buffalo WPXJ 6:00, Fri; WUTV 10:00, Sun Amarillo KVII-DT/KVIH/KVIH-DT 8:30, Sun Riverton 10:30, Sun Belgium TV Vlaanderen channel 62 Elmira WBE 9:30, Sun Beaumont KFDM-DT 8:30, Sun Canada New York City TVCLT-Bilingual, 10:30 Sun Brownsville KSFE-LP/KTIZ-LP 8:30, Sun 11:00, Sun Nationwide satellite KRIS-DT 8:30, Sun Germany KDG channel 840 11:00, Sun; WPXN 6:00, Fri Corpus Christi Galaxy 3 Trans. 21 11:30 ET, Tue/Thu WUHF 8:30, Sun TVCLT-Bilingual, 9:30 Sun TalkTalk TV channel 510 11:00, Sun Rochester Dallas Galaxy 5 Trans. 7 8:00 ET, Sun Syracuse WSPX 6:00, Fri Harlingen KSFE-LP/KTIZ-LP 8:30, Sun Ireland sky channel 505 10:00, Sun; UPC Nationwide cable WBU 9:30, Sun KPXB 5:00, Fri channel 204; 10:00, Sun Utica Houston WGN 8:00 ET, Sun WWTI-DT 9:30, Sun KTXW 8:30, Sun Italy sky Italia channel 518 11:00, Sun; Watertown Laredo Vision TV 4:30 pm ET, Sun WRPX 6:00, Fri; KCEB 8:30, Sun Tiscali TV channel 518 11:00, Sun North Carolina, Durham Longview CHCH 11:30 ET, Sun 9:00 am, Sun Lubbock KLCW 8:30, Sun Mediterranean Grace Television Network 11:00 ET, Sun Fayetteville WFPX 6:00, Fri Midland KWWT 8:30, Sun Eurobirdi 11261 H 232516 E-FTA Alberta, Red Deer KAYU 8:30, Sun Greensboro WGPX 6:00, Fri Odessa KWWT 8:30, Sun 11:00 am Central European Time Calgary KAYU 8:30, Sun Greenville WEPX 6:00, Fri; WNCT-DT Port Arthur KFDM 8:30, Sun Middle East eurobirdi 11261 H 232516 E-FTA Edmondton KAYU 8:30, Sun 9:30, Sun San Angelo KWSA 8:30, Sun 11:00 Central European Time, Sun Medicine Hat KAYU 8:30, Sun Lumber Bridge WFPX 6:00, Fri San Antonio KPXL 5:00, Fri Netherlands Ziggio channel 505 11:00, Sun Lethbridge KAYU 8:30, Sun New Bern WNCT-DT 9:30, Sun Sherman-Ada KTEN-DT 8:30, Sun Poland cyfra+ channel 105 11:00, Sun British Columbia, Vancouver Raleigh WRPX 6:00, Fri; 9:00 am, Sun Sweetwater KTWS-DT 8:30, Sun Portugal ZonTVCabo channel 210 11:00 KVOS 8:30, Sun; CHEK 9:00 Sun; CHNU Washington WNCT-DT 9:30, Sun Tyler KCEB 8:30, Sun Central European Time, Sun 5:30 pm, Sun Wilmington WBW 9:30, Sun Victoria KWVB 8:30, Sun Romania UPC channel 146 12:00 am, Sun Victoria cHNU 5:30 pm, Sun North Dakota, Bismarck KWMK 10:30, Sun Weslaco KSFE-LP/KTIZ-LP 8:30, Sun Spain Hispastat 1.092V 11:00, Sun Maritime Provinces ciHF 7:30, Sun Dickinson KWMK 10:30, Sun Wichita Falls KAUZ-DT 8:30, Sun Switzerland Nakoo channel 63; Cablecom Manitoba, Winnipeg WUHF 8:30, Sun; CIIT Fargo WDAY-DT 8:30, Sun Utah, Salt Lake City KUPX 5:00, Fri channel 151 11:00, Sun Joy TV 11:00, Sun Minot KWMK 10:30, Sun Vermont, Burlington WVNY 10:00, Sun United Kingdom sky: Channel 505 10:00, Nova Scotia, Halifax WUHF 8:30, Sun Valley City WDAY-DT 8:30, Sun Virginia, Charlottesville WVIR-DT 9:30, Sun Sun; Freestat channel 210 10:00, Sun; Sydney WUHF 8:30, Sun Ohio, Cleveland WVPX 6:00, Fri Harrisonburg WVIR-DT 9:30, Sun Virgin Media channel 613 10:00, Sun

Cincinnati WSTR 8:30, Sun Norfolk WPXV 6:00, Fri Ontario, Toronto WADL 10:00 Sun; CHNU 8:30 pm, Sun; Latin America Lima WLIO-DT 9:30, Sun Roanoke WPXR 6:00, Fri Regional satellite galaxy 3 Trans. 21 11:30 WBWO 9:30, Sun WDCW 8:00, Sun; WPXW WUTV 10:00, Sun Steubenville Washington D.C. ET, Tue/Thu Zanesville WBZV 9:30, Sun 6:00, Fri P.E.I., Charlottetown WUHF 8:30, Sun El Salvador WGN 6:00, Sun Oklahoma, Ada KSHD 8:30, Sun Washington, Kennewick KCWK 9:30, Sun; Quebec, Montreal WVNY 10:00, Sun Guatemala WGN 6:00, Sun Lawton KAUZ 8:30, Sun KIMA-DT2 9:30, Sun Saskatchewan, Saskatoon WUHF Honduras WGN 6:00, Sun Oklahoma City KOPX 5:00, Fri Pasco KEPR 6:30, Sun; KIMA-DT2 9:30, Sun 8:30, Sun Mexico TVCLT-Bilingual, 7:30 Sun; Tulsa KTPX 5:00, Fri Richland KCWK 9:30, Sun; KIMA-DT2 Caribbean WGN 7:00, Sun Oregon, Bend KTVZ-DT 9:30, Sun 9:30, Sun Regional satellite WGN 7:00, Sun Klamath Falls KMFD 9:30, Sun Seattle-Tacoma KWPX 6:00, Fri Galaxy 3 Trans. 21 11:30 ET, Tue/Thu Panama Medford KMFD 9:30, Sun Seattle KCPQ 7:00, Sun Galaxy 5 Trans. 7 8:00 ET, Sun Australasia Portland KPXG 6:00, Fri Spokane KGPX 6:00, Fri; KAYU 7:30, Sun Aruba WGN 8:00, Sun Australia, Adelaide TV44 9:00, 9:30 CST, Pennsylvania, Erie WBEP 9:30, Sun Yakima KIMA-DT2 9:30, Sun Bahamas WGN 8:00, Sun Sun; 8:30 CST, Mon-Sat Philadelphia WPPX 6:00, Fri West Virginia, Beckley KVVA-DT 9:30, Sun Belize WGN 7:00, Sun Philippines TV4 9:30 PHT, Sun

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Staff Publisher and Editor in Chief Gerald Flurry The Philadelphia Trumpet (issn 10706348) is published monthly Contact us Please notify us of any change in your address; include your old mailing label Executive Editor News Editor (except bimonthly May-June and November-December issues) by the and the new address. The publishers assume no responsibility for return of unsolicited Stephen Flurry Ron Philadelphia Church of God, 14400 S. Bryant Ave, Edmond, ok 73034. artwork, photographs or manuscripts. The editor reserves the right to use any letters, Fraser Managing Editor Joel Hilliker Contributing Periodicals postage paid at Edmond, ok, and additional mailing offices. in whole or in part, as he deems in the public interest, and to edit any letter for clarity Editors Brad Macdonald, Robert Morley, Jeremiah Postmaster: Send address changes to: the philadelphia trumpet, or space. Website www.theTrumpet.com E-mail [email protected]; subscription or Jacques Associate Editors Donna Grieves, Philip p.o. Box 3700, Edmond, ok 73083. ©2012 Philadelphia Church of God. literature requests [email protected] Phone U.S., Canada: 1-800-772-8577; Austra- Designer Contributors All rights reserved. printed in the u.s.a. Unless otherwise noted, lia: 1-800-22-333-0; New Zealand: 0-800-500-512. Contributions, letters or requests may Nice Steve Hercus Richard scriptures are quoted from the King James Version of the Holy Bible. be sent to our office nearest you: United States p.o. Box 3700, Edmond, ok 73083 Canada Palmer, David Vejil Image Researcher Aubrey U.S. How your subscription has been paid: The Trumpet has no subscrip- p.o. Box 400, Campbellville, on l0p 1b0. Caribbean p.o. Box 2237, Chaguanas, Trinidad, Mercado Production Assistant Deepika Azariah tion price—it is free. This is made possible by the tithes and offerings w.i. Britain, Europe, Middle East p.o. Box 900, Northampton, nn5 9al, England Africa p.o. Circulation Shane Granger International Edi- of the membership of the Philadelphia Church of God and others. Box 2969, Durbanville, 7551, South Africa Australia, Pacific Isles, India, Sri Lanka p.o. Box Contributions are welcomed, however, and are tax-deductible in the 375, Narellan, nsw 2567, Australia New Zealand p.o. Box 6088, Glenview, Hamilton, 3246 tions Wik Heerma French, Italian Deryle Hope United States, Canada and New Zealand. Those who wish to voluntarily Philippines p.o. Box 52143, Angeles City Post Office, 2009 Pampanga German Hans Schmidl Spanish Carlos Heyer support this worldwide work of God are gladly welcomed as co-workers. Latin America Attn: Spanish Department, p.o. Box 3700, Edmond, ok 73083, U.S. Is there anything wrong with family time and gift-giving?

Not at all—unless it's in front of a Christmas tree.

Reprint Article Article number r023 Billions of people are getting ready to observe this holiday and its customs. But few of them Why Christmas Is So know where symbols like the Christmas tree

Trumpet 2002 Philadelphia ImportantDecember To God came from or what they represent. And even Reprinted from the ds always brought By Carl Hilliker and Mark Jenkins a cold, rainy season in Judaea. The shepher ection. Song of as stir old their flocks in from the fields and mountains that to bewinter corralled was a fewer know God's opinion about this holiday. by mid-October at the latest, for their protepherds would not he traditions surrounding Christm e together. Solomon 2:11 and Ezra 10:9 and 13 show warm feelings in the hearts of many—young and rainy season, thus confirming that the sh lebrated on this alike—all over the Earth. Families com like it. have been in open fields on December states,25. “The reason T Why then would Christ’s birth be ce Shoppers go into a frenzy. Kids await the day isn’tthey’ll surprising. receive d on December 25 their presents. There is no other time quite day? The Encyclopedia Britannica ly the reason is that The attachment people feel to thesen going days on for hundreds of cription in the Bible: why Christmas came to be celebrate th the pagan After all, these traditions have bee remains uncertain, but most probab onquered generations. Consider the following des early Christians wished the date to coincide wi They deck it with silver and festival marking the ‘birthday of the unc “[F]or one cutteth a tree out of the forest, theith work hammers, of the handsthat it Roman makes many of the workman, with the axe. clearly describing a sun.’” Catholic Encyclopediaw: To prove the Christmas question In addition, the ls of the with gold; they fasten it with nails andok w of Jeremiah hundreds move not” (Jer. 10:3-4). That description, startling admissions. Here are just a fe as not instituted Christmas tree, was recorded in the bo customs of “Christmas was not among the earliest festivathe apostles of years before the birth of Christ. be talking about Church ….” That’s right—Christmas w But consider the opening of verse 3: “For the by Jesus Christ, nor was it observed by any of He is the people are vain.” Vain? This couldn’t personally instructed by Christ. first found for yourself, request our free booklet, the Mass of Christ, Christmas, could it? ly celebration. In fact, we are told that “The word for thChristmas of Christ. in late What does God think of Christmas? Rest assured,eir family, Old English is Cristes Maesse, gypt” (not very interested in this holiday and its year se customs in 1038.” That is 1,000 years after the dea Most people simply follow the customs of th “The first evidence of the. Egyptian feast is theologiansfrom E began ost never ask about the a.d region or nation without knowing where tho nts on this Jerusalem). About 200 originated or why they are kept. M esents the birth celebrating the birth of Christ on the 25th of Pachon,ot observe which Pagan Holidays—or God's Holy Days—Which?

origins of Christmas, why people exchange prese corresponds to May 20 by our calendar. day, or even whether this holiday really reprs observance? If The truth is, the earlyt’s birth.Christians The Christian did n theologian of Jesus Christ, after whom it is named! birthdays—not even Chris) asserts, “[I]n the Scripturesy.” sinners mxtama Does the Almighty God command it s. Origen (185-232 a.d. forbid that we partake in it? also states, “Pagan customs not, does He alone, not saints, celebrate their birthda the January Let us obtain the true facts about Christma The Catholic Encyclopedia and our free reprint, [not Christian customs] centering around Historical Perspective calends gravitated to Christmas.” not about celebrating date of His birth? As you can see, secular and Catholic history shows that, The date of December 25 is widely associated were with thein the birth same of originally, Christmas was definitely Jesus Christ. But is this really the correct g watch over the birth of Jesus Christ. In order to find the true origins of / "Why Christmas Is So Important to God" When Jesus Christ was born, “there istockphoto country shepherds abiding in the field, keepin OD RCH OF G their flock by night” (Luke 2:8). December is in the midst of CHu © 2007 PHILADELPHIA COPyRIGHT

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