NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017 | THETRUMPET.COM

Las Vegas massacre: problem, cause—solution Is God answering America’s prayers? Avoid chronic disease Transgendered children? Lessons from Weinstein

The political quake that is shaking Germany— and all of Europe COVER September’s federal elections in Germany revealed a NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017 | VOL. 28, NO. 10 | CIRC. 246,769 divided country yearning for a strongman. (gary dorning/trumpet)

UNDER FIRE People flee at a country music festival in Las Vegas after a gunman fires on the crowd on October 1. (david becker/getty images)

FEATURES DEPARTMENTS 1 FROM THE EDITOR 13 Wanted: A Leader for Europe! 28 WORLDWATCH Las Vegas Massacre: Problem, 31 SOCIETYWATCH Cause—and Solution 16 A Religious Revival in Europe? 27 The Vatican’s Political Rise 33 PRINCIPLES OF LIVING 2 Is God Answering America’s Civilize Your Children Prayers? 18 INFOGRAPHIC 34 DISCUSSION BOARD 4 God Has Responded to Past National Combined Might Days of Prayer 35 COMMENTARY 6 A Second Civil War 20 Lighting the Latin Fuse What the Weinstein Scandal Teaches Us About America 7 Repentance Toward God 23 How to Avoid Chronic Disease 36 THE KEY OF DAVID TELEVISION LOG 8 Encouraging Gender Fluidity 24 Buying Black Gold Without Is Child Abuse Greenbacks

10 COVER STORY The Election That Shook Germany

Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Trumpet executive editor Stephen News and analysis Regular news updates and alerts Flurry’s weekly television program Flurry’s television program updated daily from our website to your inbox theTrumpet.com/keyofdavid theTrumpet.com/trumpet_daily theTrumpet.com theTrumpet.com/go/brief FROM THE EDITOR Las Vegas Massacre: Problem, Cause—and

Investigators are looking for a motive. Here is what they need to understand.

he modern world broadly denies the existence of simply to not watch too much of it. Get your mind off it and the spiritual. It wants only material explanations. move on with your life. Is that really a solution? That might T But you cannot understand what happened in Las help a little bit for a short time, but you cannot ignore the bad Vegas on the night of October 1 that way. news for long. It is filling the world more and more! For 10 long, horrifying minutes, Stephen Paddock rained We need a much better solution than that. bullets on an open-air crowd of concertgoers from his room Ignorance doesn’t solve anything. We must seek under- on the 32nd floor of a nearby hotel. He standing and truth. The truth actually provides genuine hope. killed 58 people and injured 546 more Jesus Christ gave understanding about the real cause of in the deadliest mass shooting in Amer- tragedies like the Las Vegas massacre. He spoke explicitly ican history. Then he shot himself. about an evil spirit being, “the devil,” who “was a murderer Investigators are beside themselves from the beginning” (John 8:44). He called him “the prince trying to figure out why this man would of this world”—acknowledging his widespread malevolent commit such a bloody act. influence (John 14:30). He knew that He Himself would be bru- Pure evil is baffling to people, even talized and murdered by this “power of darkness” (Luke 22:53). gerald flurry when they are looking right at it. How much do you know about this dangerous being? The As the media try to make sense of this, Apostle Paul warned that if we are ignorant of him, he will they focus on a few basic themes. One is that they all seem to “get an advantage of us” (2 Corinthians 2:11). agree how good the people were who were targeted, and how Scripture reveals that Satan is not alone: He rules over good the people were who helped them, and how good Amer- millions of demons. It also shows that in this end time, he and ica is for being resilient in the face of such evil. They also want his demons have been confined to this Earth, which brings to blame this tragedy on Congress and on poor gun control. terrible woe on all of us who live here! (Revelation 12:9, 12). None of these responses will prevent more tragedies like Think on the blood- and tear-soaked streets of the Las this. In fact, it is all a distraction that prevents us from deal- Vegas Strip to get an idea of the fathomless woe these diaboli- ing with the deeper sickness in our country. cal spirits can cause! Nightmares like this are part of the curses on our lawless society. The Prophet Isaiah wrote, “[T]heir works are works None of these responses will prevent more of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet tragedies. In fact, they prevent us from dealing run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are with the deeper sickness in our country. in their paths” (Isaiah 59:6-7). Our leaders are helpless to stop such attacks. The harder they try, the more violent society Sadly, their lethal, hellish influence is growing, and it is becomes, and the clearer it is that they have no answers. “The going to get even worse! More and more people are inviting way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their demonic presence into their lives. They are saturating goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth their minds in evil entertainment; they are giving in to evil, therein shall not know peace. Therefore is judgment far from us, hateful emotions; they are becoming addicted to prescription neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold drugs in record numbers; they are taking other dangerous obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness” (verses 8-9). mind-​altering substances—all of which make it far easier Commentators cannot provide any real context or meaning for demons to manipulate their thinking! The number of behind events like this. “We grope for the wall like the blind, unstable people in this world is growing rapidly. and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as If you let Satan get to you, you can end up doing some abom- in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men” (verse 10). inable things! You simply cannot make sense of it without the orientation In Las Vegas, authorities are looking for motives. This is the provided by the Bible. motive: “for the devil is come down unto you, having great A lot of people are becoming depressed by what is happen- wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time”! ing. One doctor suggested on television that the solution is LAS VEGAS PAGE 36 u NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017 1 IS GOD ANSWERING AMERICA’S PRAYERS? In the face of recent disasters, national leaders are calling on people to pray. Will these requests make a difference? by gerald flurry

urricane Harvey dropped When we see horrific crises like confrontation in Charlottesville, Vir- a year’s worth of rain on these, we have to honestly ask ourselves ginia, between white nationalist groups the Houston area in just a an important question: Is God answer- and so-called anti-fascist groups. It few days. Texas governor ing our nation’s prayers today? exposed the terrible divisions that are Greg Abbott called it “one If you look in the Bible, you’ll see abso- growing among the American people. I of the largest disasters lute promises from God to answer our wrote about this in my article last month, HAmerica has ever faced.” The National prayers. And if you look at America’s his- “Charlottesville Violence—The Real Dan- Weather Service said, “This event is tory, you see many examples of answered ger Is Invisible” (theTrumpet.com/16251). unprecedented, and all impacts are prayer. This is a historical fact you can In response, U.S. Vice President Mike unknown and beyond anything expe- prove (sidebar, “God Has Responded to Pence quoted a Bible verse. It is a verse rienced” (emphasis mine throughout). Past National Days of Prayer,” page 4). that he has used in multiple interviews, After this devastation, Governor In this case, though, it seems clear in several campaign speeches, in at Abbott called a day of prayer. On Septem- that God did not answer those prayers. least one campaign advertisement and ber 1, President Donald Trump signed Why not? on other occasions since the election. a proclamation for a National Day of If you closely study your Bible, you will Other leaders used it after the hurri- Prayer. Thousands of people, if not mil- see that prayers alone are not enough. canes that devastated parts of America. lions, surely responded to these requests. After disasters, people often say and The verse is 2 Chronicles 7:14. It is the But then, just days later, Hurricane sing, “God bless America.” But is God verse on which the vice president swore Irma crushed the Caribbean islands blessing America? his oath of office: “If my people, which and the East Coast of the United States. are called by my name, shall humble nicholas It was the largest-ever hurricane to A Misquoted Bible Verse themselves, and pray, and seek my face,

strike from the Atlantic Ocean. Many in America consider this a religious and turn from their wicked ways; then kamm /

Soon after that, Hurricane Maria nation. When crises arise, people often will I hear from heaven, and will forgive afp /

obliterated Puerto Rico. turn to the Bible and to God for solace. their sin, and will heal their land.” getty More than 100 people died in these We saw this tendency in the days Here again we see a focus on prayer

images hurricanes, and we sustained hun- just before Hurricane Harvey struck. as a solution to America’s problems. dreds of billions of dollars in damage. America was reeling from a race-related But there is a serious problem with how 2 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET in Amos 4:5: “you, O ye children of Israel.” Do you know who “Israel” is in prophecy? If you don’t, you won’t know to whom this is addressed. Herbert W. Armstrong’s book The United States and Britain in Prophecy proves conclusively that the most prominent descendants of ancient Israel, and the nations most directly spo- ken of in prophecies about “Israel,” are America and Britain. (We will send you a free copy of this book upon request.) When Bible prophecy discusses Israel, it is referring primarily to them. These modern nations have a history with God. Notice how precise this prophecy, directed at America today, gets: “And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon

UNANSWERED PRAYERS it rained not withered” (Amos 4:7). President Trump and supporters pray in the Harvey and Irma flooded Houston Oval Office on September 1 after the president signed a proclamation for a National Day of with over 50 inches of rain, and Prayer for the victims of Hurricane Harvey. torrents of water filled cities across America’s southeast. At the same time, the West Coast was parched, and fires were scorching millions of acres! It was exactly as God prophesied through Amos! Vice President Pence has been quoting The pastor who led the prayer also This prophecy does more than tell us this scripture. On all these occasions, he referred to 2 Chronicles 7:14. He did that such disasters will occur. It tells us intentionally left out “turn from their include the phrase “forgive their sin,” why they are occurring—and how to wicked ways” and “forgive their sin”! but like the vice president, he omitted prevent them from continuing! The way he says it sounds nice to “turn from their wicked ways.” When such calamities strike, God religious Americans, but he leaves out Jesus Christ commands us to live by expects us to seek Him. This means the most important part—the part that every word of God (Matthew 4:4)—not prayer, but also much more. Read actually shows how to heal America’s by our own versions of God’s words! verses 8-11. These verses foretell of deadly division! This intentional misquotation of intensifying curses, and state four This one verse alone shows that 2 Chronicles 7:14 is doubly destructive times: “… yet have ye not returned prayer alone is not enough. If you want and tragic because the words they are unto me, saith the Lord.” God keeps God to “hear from heaven” when you leaving out are the words America needs repeating this crucial point! pray, then there is more to the equa- most! Americans desperately need to Certainly we must pray—but we tion! It also requires that we humble hear these corrective words because must also return to God! Returning ourselves, seek God’s face, and turn repenting and turning to God is the to God requires real, tangible action. from our wicked ways. only way people in this cursed, dying Mr. Pence clearly does not want to tell nation can be saved! Warnings From Our Creator Americans that they could be guilty of Amos’s prophecy continues: “There- sin and wickedness—and that they must ‘Return to Me!’ Says God fore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: repent! Even many Americans who The Prophet Amos showed us how to and because I will do this unto thee, consider themselves Christian would receive answers to and results from prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. For, reject such a message, and reject him. our prayers. lo, he that formeth the mountains, and Other religious Americans are mak- There is a lot of evidence that Amos createth the wind, and declareth unto ing this same misquotation. Religious is a prophecy for this end time. (Request man what is his thought, that maketh leaders were present with President a free copy of my booklet The Lion Has the morning darkness, and treadeth Trump in the Oval Office when he Roared for proof.) And notice who it is upon the high places of the earth, The signed the day of prayer proclamation. specifically directed at—you can see it Lord, The God of hosts, is his name” NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017 3 (Amos 4:12-13). Note that! God creates (Amos 8:2). This is the time we are in Jewish state called “Israel”—have a the wind that propels hurricanes! He now: The end is come. God “will not unique history with God. He was once has power over the elements. And also, again pass by”—this is our last chance their King! And He holds these nations He knows what human beings are to heed His warning! accountable in a way that He does not thinking. What a mighty Being! Amos develops this theme in the yet hold Russia or China or Japan or the God is using these natural elements third chapter of his prophecy: “Hear Arabs in the Middle East or the African in ways intended to turn us to Him. this word that the Lord hath spoken nations or anyone else. (Again, The He doesn’t want to see us suffer these against you, O children of Israel, against United States and Britain in Prophecy calamities. But if we fail to heed, He the whole family which I brought up will explain this to you.) God has a won- warns that worse curses will come. The from the land of Egypt, saying, You only derful plan for all those nations as well, opportunity to respond is closing fast. have I known of all the families of the which will come into effect at a future This is clear from a prophecy in Amos earth: therefore I will punish you for all time (e.g. 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). 8: “Then said the Lord unto me, The your iniquities” (Amos 3:1-2). Again, the But God does not punish without end is come upon my people of Israel; modern-day nations of Israel—chiefly warning first. “Shall a trumpet be I will not again pass by them any more” America and Britain, and also the blown in the city, and the people not be God Has Responded to Past National Days of Prayer fter Hurricane Harvey decimated Houston and the by themselves for these essential purposes, and may enable ATexas Gulf coast, United States President Donald Trump every instrument employed in its administration to execute declared September 3 a day of national prayer. He called on with success the functions allotted to his charge.” Americans “of all faiths and religious traditions and back- America’s second president, John Adams, proclaimed a grounds to offer prayers … for all those harmed by Hurricane national day of humiliation, thanksgiving, fasting and prayer Harvey, including people who have lost family members or in 1798 and 1799. Almost every other president since has been injured, those who have lost homes or other property, issued a proclamation of thanksgiving and/or prayer (Religion and our first responders, law enforcement officers, military and the Continental Congress). personnel, and medical professionals leading the response During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln declared and recovery efforts.” April 30, 1863, as a day of national prayer. On this and other “God is our refuge and strength,” President Trump quoted occasions, he openly recognized that God was cursing from Psalm 46:1, “a very present help in trouble.” America for its many sins, including slavery. He called on When faced with hardship, Americans have a history of Americans to repent: “We have been the recipients of the coming together and crying out to God. As early as the 1600s, choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these American communities traditionally kept their own special many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in num- fast day each spring, just as they kept a day of thanksgiving bers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown. But each fall (Religion and the Continental Congress, 1774–1789). we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand National days of prayer in America go back to June 12, 1775, which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and at the start of the American Revolutionary War, when the strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceit- Continental Congress declared: “Congress … considering the fulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced present critical, alarming and calamitous state … do earnestly by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated recommend, that Thursday, the 12th of July next, be observed with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient by the inhabitants of all the English colonies on this continent, to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too as a Day of Public Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer, that we proud to pray to the God that made us. It behooves us, then, to may with united hearts and voices, unfeignedly confess and humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our deplore our many sins and offer up our joint supplications to national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.” the all-wise, omnipotent and merciful disposer of all events, A few months later, the Union won the Battle of Gettysburg, humbly beseeching Him to forgive our iniquities.” turning the tide of the war. The fledgling 13 colonies went on to win a miraculous vic- During World War i, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed tory in the war for independence against the greatest empire May 30, 1918, to be a day of prayer. The German empire had in the world. America was born as a republic of miracles. almost broken through the Allied lines. Russia had just quit President George Washington understood that. In his the war, and German reinforcements were pouring into Inaugural Address on April 30, 1789, he stated, “[I]t would be Western Europe. Paris was in danger of falling. The president peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act my fervent wrote: “I, Woodrow Wilson, president of the United States of supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the America, do hereby proclaim Thursday, the 30th day of May, a universe, who presides in the councils of nations, and whose day already freighted with sacred and stimulating memories, providential aids can supply every human defect, that His a day of public humiliation, prayer and fasting, and do exhort benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness my fellow citizens of all faiths and creeds to assemble on that of the people of the United States a government instituted day in their several places of worship and there, as well as in 4 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the terrible trials and tests prophesied men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, the Lord hath not done it?” (Amos 3:6). to befall Israel, our people will finally O ye children of Israel? saith the Lord. God is blowing a trumpet of warning. come to know God. But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; His prophecies of curses on our nations and commanded the prophets, saying, are already coming to pass, and should The God Who Blesses Prophesy not.” cause us to fear Him. Many people will pray to God. But how Yes, God has a strong message of “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, many will obey Him and allow Him to prophecy—intended to warn and but he revealeth his secret unto his rule them? Very few. to help His people. But those He servants the prophets. The lion hath The Prophet Amos even reveals instructed to proclaim that message roared, who will not fear? the Lord God that most of the people in God’s own refused to do so! Ninety-five percent of hath spoken, who can but prophesy?” Church—who make up what the Bible God’s own Church has rebelled and now (verses 7-8). God is like a roaring lion! refers to as spiritual “Israel”—have refuses to prophesy! Colossians 2:19 His message is fearsome. Will we listen? turned away from Him. You can see this says that these people are “not holding Devastation is coming to those who in Amos 2:11-12: “And I raised up of your the Head,” speaking of Jesus Christ! don’t heed God’s warning. Yet through sons for prophets, and of your young Christ should be our Head—our Lord God Has Responded to Past National Days of Prayer their homes, to pray Almighty God that He may forgive our sins and shortcomings as a people and purify our hearts to see and “It behooves us, then, love the truth, to accept and defend all things that are just and to humble ourselves right, and to purpose only those righteous acts and judgments before the offended Power, which are in conformity with His will.” to confess our national sins, The very next day after the day of prayer, the United States and to pray for clemency Marine Corps began its first major engagement of the war at and forgiveness.” Belleau Wood. There something miraculous occurred: The Americans won a stunning victory over the Germans, keeping the Allies from losing the war. God did not answer those prayers to bless America. He Similar miracles happened for Britain during World War ii. caused or allowed more hurricanes. A day of prayer was called on May 26, 1940, for Britain as the If you compare President Trump’s proclamation to other trapped British Expeditionary Force faced annihilation by the national proclamations of prayer, there is one stark differ- Nazi war machine on the beaches of Dunkirk. King George vi ence. It boils down to one word: repentance. broadcast on national radio, calling on the British people not In each of the cases where God dramatically responded to only to plead for divine help, but also to turn back to God in days of prayer and miraculously intervened, American leaders a spirit of repentance. Between May 26 and June 4, a storm had not only called on their citizens to pray and beseech God grounded the German Air Force, the German Army inexpli- to intervene, but to fast and to repent of sin. cably halted, the English Channel calmed, and 340,000 Allied President Trump’s predecessors would have said the troops were saved. record-setting destruction was the consequence of national A joint resolution of Congress in 1952 signed by President sin; President Trump only mentioned “the consequences of Harry Truman permanently established an annual National this terrible storm.” Day of Prayer. Since 1988, it has been held on the first Thurs- President Trump’s proclamation made no mention of day in May. repentance from sin, no acknowledgment that Hurricane But in the hurricane season of 2017, President Trump had Harvey was a punishment from God, no exhortation for reason to call a special day of prayer on September 3. When Americans to turn from their wicked ways. The president had that day (a Sunday) came, there was a religious showing stated in his inaugural address that America is a “righteous across America. The president and his wife attended a people and a righteous public.” church service, as did Texas governor Greg Abbott. Churches Even after disaster struck and other disasters were loom- all over America held services for the victims, and thousands ing, even when declaring a national day of prayer, the presi- of Americans came together to pray. dent declined to tell Americans to repent of their sins. But instead of a miracle, America got another disaster. In a crisis, people do begin to talk about seeking God. But On September 6, Hurricane Irma plowed through the even as they suffer, they do not want to admit that they have Caribbean, desolating Barbuda and other Caribbean islands sinned and must change their beliefs and their actions. and striking Florida. Then Hurricane Maria smashed Puerto While God might not respond to America’s national day Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Harvey, Irma and Maria cost of prayer, He will respond to individual, heartfelt prayers more than 100 American lives and somewhere between $100 of repentance. He may have already responded to personal domain and $300 billion in damage, in addition to the lives lost and prayers from some who suffered these recent tragedies, if they

public destruction wrought on other Caribbean islands. are willing to turn from sin and obey Him. tyrel schlote NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017 5 and Master! If you lose your head, you day dark with night: that calleth for the An Unbreakable Promise are in grave danger! waters of the sea, and poureth them out Study the context of the verse that When he was writing about God, the upon the face of the earth: The Lord is America’s vice president and others have Prophet Amos used the word “Adonai” his name” (verse 8). This is exactly what misquoted. God gave that promise as He 25 times—more than the other 11 minor we saw in these recent hurricanes: God accepted the temple that King Solomon prophets combined. This word means brought trillions of gallons of water out had dedicated to Him. God said, “If I “Headship,” “the Head,” or “the God who of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic shut up heaven that there be no rain, or blesses,” according to the Companion Ocean and poured it on American cities! if I command the locusts to devour the Bible. Amos discussed a lot of negative He would much rather use water to grow land, or if I send pestilence among my prophecies, but he kept reminding our crops and give us prosperity, but we people; If my people, which are called by himself of the great God behind the must listen to Him. He has to get our my name, shall humble themselves, and punishments—the God who sometimes attention if He is going to give us eternal pray, and seek my face, and turn from sends trials and tests to humble us and life and rule over the entire universe. their wicked ways; then will I hear from to move us to get to know Him. When “For I know your manifold transgres- heaven, and will forgive their sin, and you understand their purpose, even sions and your mighty sins …” (verse 12). will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:13-14). These leaders not only leave out parts of verse 14, they totally omit verse 13, which says that God will actually cause A Second Civil War destruction to come on the land! They merica desperately needs healing. Serious people are sincerely considering the also leave out verses 19-22, where God A possibility that America could erupt in a second civil war! says that if Israel turns away from God, Radio host and author Dennis Prager wrote an article on Townhall.com called “America’s He will bring “all this evil upon them” Second Civil War.” A CNN news anchor accused President Trump of “clearly trying to ignite and even “pluck them up by the roots a civil war in this country.” Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is also a historian, out of my land which I have given them,” said in a Fox News interview, “I think we should take the threat of civil war very seriously.” sending them into exile. “What you’re seeing with Antifa, what you’re seeing on college campuses, what you’re Vice President Pence and other seeing, to some extent, in the bureaucracy, is a real division of the country,” Gingrich said. American Christian leaders, writers “As a historian, my view is pretty straightforward: One side or the other wins.” and everyday people apply this passage In an article called “There Will Be No Winners in the Second Civil War,” Newsmax.com (at least the positive parts) to the United concluded: “[M]any people see war not only as imminent, but as virtually inevitable. If that’s States. Many others—including many the case, we’d better get busy digging ourselves bunkers … and graves” (August 25). American Christians—disagree: They How serious is this issue? The first civil war cost almost as many American lives as all say this passage only applied to Israel, other American wars combined! But another eruption of violence between Americans a long-gone ancient kingdom. But that would be far worse. If the country plunges into infighting, many foreign nations will be is not true. God preserved this passage ready to pounce. America is the wealthiest nation in history: If it continues to destroy itself, for 3,000 years because these verses— nations like China, Russia, North Korea, Iran and others will destroy whatever the civil war every word of these verses—continue doesn’t as they vie for the loot. The American superpower will become history, and a third to apply to the modern descendants of world war, with multiple nuclear powers, will follow. ancient Israel! The Trumpet and, before us, Herbert W. Armstrong have warned of World War III for The book of Chronicles is not just over 80 years! This war is prophesied in your Bible. America’s division is hastening the a leftover record of what God told an fulfillment of what God forecast thousands of years ago. gerald flurry ancient king. It is primarily for our time! And it is primarily for three end-time nations of Israel: America, Britain and God’s difficult prophecies are inspiring This is why God punishes us with hur- the Jewish state. America and Britain and uplifting! God is a God of love. He ricanes! We could pray and not even get received the birthright promises of only sends chastening to inspire us to close to God if we are not obeying Him. unmatched national abundance. The return to Him. When we are involved in transgressions Jewish state called Israel received the “Hear ye this word which I take up and sins, then God will not listen to or scepter promise of a royal dynasty against you, even a lamentation, O answer our prayers (Proverbs 28:9; that God promised would endure until house of Israel. … For thus saith the Isaiah 1:10-15; 59:1-2). We must repent the return of Jesus Christ. (This is all Lord unto the house of Israel, Seek ye and return to God to reap tremendous explained in The United States and Brit- me, and ye shall LIVE” (Amos 5:1, 4; blessings. ain in Prophecy.) The promise in Chron- see also verse 6). God delivers bad news, “Seek good, and not evil, that ye may icles—and the warning—is for our day! but if we respond the right way, we will live: and so the Lord, the God of hosts, In 2 Chronicles 7:14, the wonderful, live forever! shall be with you, as ye have spoken” loving God tells us exactly how to “Seek him that maketh the seven stars (Amos 5:14). Clearly, God wants you to avoid national suffering, division and and Orion, and turneth the shadow of live! He wants every human to live an destruction. He makes an unbreakable death into the morning, and maketh the abundant life (John 10:10). AMERICA’S PRAYERS PAGE 26 u 6 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET Repentance Toward God by gerald flurry

Below is an excerpt from Gerald Flurry’s free booklet Repentance Toward God. This booklet presents the biblical definition and biblical examples of repentance and shows you how to draw close to God the Father and Jesus Christ.

onversion is a lifelong process. To become con- Yes, when Christ came to this Earth, His life was at stake. verted is to have God’s thoughts—rather than carnal He could, indeed, sin. Christ’s life was the greatest risk in the C thoughts and emotions and desires. We must think history of man. But He took it because He wanted people like like God! That is very difficult to accomplish, and a deep sub- Abraham in His Family—people who would go out and sacrifice ject to think on. We must constantly grow in our conversion. their own son if necessary, knowing that God would resurrect Baptism is only the starting point. him to fulfill a promise (Hebrews 11:17-19). Abraham had that Here is how the Apostle Paul described it: “Testifying both kind of faith and trust in God, and God returned that love many to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, times over. All people who can repent like you, Abraham—I will and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). Many give my life for them. I know that if I don’t make it, nobody else people know why we must have faith toward Jesus Christ: We will. But I’m going to do this so we can build the Family of God. must believe on and accept His sacrifice in order to be recon- That is the cost it took for us to receive God’s Holy Spirit. ciled to God and to receive the Holy Spirit. But how deeply do If Christ had failed, God the Father would have been sitting you understand repentance toward God? in solitary confinement for the rest of eternity! That’s the kind of sacrifice these Gods made for us. We can forget that The Goodness of God in our callous, carnal thinking. But God the Father and Christ “And thinkest thou this, O did it—and they did it for you. They want you to be aware of man, that judgest them that. Not out of their vanity, but so that you will recognize which do such things, and that repentance must be toward God! We must understand doest the same, that thou repentance if we are to enter the God Family. shalt escape the judgment of Meditate deeply upon God’s goodness! It is contrary to God? Or despisest thou the everything we see in this miserable, evil world. His mind is in riches of his goodness and perfect accord with His law in every detail. forbearance and longsuf- fering; not knowing that the Godly vs. Worldly Sorrow goodness of God leadeth thee Here is a description of the repentance all of Israel will one day to repentance?” (Romans 2:3- experience. “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon 4). Obviously, repentance is the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplica- of the Holy Spirit. But here tions: and they shall it says the goodness of God For a free copy of Repentance Toward God, look upon me whom leads us to it. visit theTrumpet.com/go/rtg or write to they have pierced, Do you realize how good the address on the back cover. and they shall mourn God is? How good He is for him, as one mour- to you? How much He has neth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one given you? When we evalu- that is in bitterness for his firstborn” (Zechariah 12:10). ate ourselves and compare We must strive for this kind of repentance today. We are all ourselves with the goodness Christ killers! We have killed the firstborn Son of our beloved of God, we see how evil we are. Compare your goodness with Father! And if we are thinking the way God does, we will God’s, and then you begin to see why we really need to repent experience the same intensity of emotion over what we have toward God and not toward man. done as we would over losing a firstborn son! How good is God? Just think about Christ’s crucifixion. This is getting at the heart of the difference between godly Notice Genesis 22. After Abraham proved he was willing to sorrow and worldly sorrow. “For godly sorrow worketh sacrifice his son for God, the God who later became Jesus repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow Christ said this: “By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for of the world worketh death” (2 Corinthians 7:10). The reason because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy godly sorrow is “not to be repented of” is because it causes son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in you to overcome your sin! Someone with worldly sorrow may multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven feel bad for a while, but he will never overcome his problems. …” (verses 16-17). God swore by Himself in making this promise With godly sorrow, it may not be immediate, but you are not to Abraham. In other words, He was telling Abraham, I’m content until you overcome that problem. You get into contact going to give my life for you, or I’m going to die trying. Because with God and take the problem to Him, and you strive with all you have done this deed, my death will pay for your sins and I’m your being to become like God in that area. That is when you going to bring you into my Family. I swear this by my own life. begin to make real progress. n NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017 7 The University of California–San Francisco director of mental health now claims that 2-year-olds can know they are transgender. According to Dr. Diane Ehrensaft, a 2-year-old boy can know he should have been born a girl, and a girl can know, at 2, that she should have been born a boy. “We expect a 2-year-old to know ‘I am boy. I am girl,’” she explained. “So why can’t that also apply to transgen- der children?”

Child Psychology Gone Mad Dr. Ehrensaft has a history of advocat- ing for children to determine them- selves whether they are transgender. She supports the Rainbow Day Camp in northern California—where trans- gender youths as young as 4 may attend. According to her, the camp has experi- enced a “sea change, maybe we can even call it a tsunami, in the number of little kids showing up with their families.” What if a boy wants to wear dresses? “I would say, get him the dresses,” Ehrensaft says. “Have your child free to choose. Maybe, they’ll stop wearing dresses. Maybe, they grow up to be gay” (cnsNews.com, August 14). Ehrensaft suggests parents listen carefully to their children’s “use of [pronouns] regarding gender,” that they ENCOURAGING look for frustration concerning his or her own genitals, and take it seriously when a boy wants to wear a dress or a GENDER FLUIDITY girl wants to play with trucks. This last suggestion is called, in professional terms, “gender expansion play.” IS CHILD ABUSE cnsNews.com offered advice for parents from another gender expert, Now psychologists say 2-year-olds know they are transgender. Johanna Olson-Kennedy, from the Cen- They are pushing these children toward a lifetime of misery. ter for Transyouth Health and Devel- by dennis leap opment at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. She recommends “that parents everal new words have entered process of changing his birth sex, often go away for a weekend with your child in our English language that have with the help of medical intervention. order to learn more about his or her gen- Spowerfully changed American Transgenderism made big headlines der preference.” Would you take them and Western family structures, legal when Olympic gold medalist Bruce to the beach, the zoo or an amusement systems, military, politics and social Jenner changed to Caitlyn Marie Jenner park? No. “Do a weekend as a different norms: cisgender, gender-fluid, nonbi- and North Carolina had a legal furor gender, and see what you learn … letting nary (gendered), pansexual, trans and over whether transgender schoolchil- them use a different pronoun or wear a transgender. A cisgender is an individual dren could use bathrooms matching dress or other clothing of their choice.” istock who identifies with his or her birth sex. their new identities. I ask: What has happened to human . A nonbinary or pansexual is one who has Now the transgender movement minds that could think or advocate com / not made up his mind yet—he does not continues to march into new territory. such things? frwooar identify as either male or female. A trans, What’s the new turf? The physical and I am a father of four daughters and or transgender, has changed or is in mental health of very young children. grandfather of nine grandchildren. Not 8 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET one of my daughters ever questioned Here is the problem with the expan- A little child’s life is precious. It is her birth sex. None of the grandchil- sion in the number of clinics. natural for parents to be protective. dren (five girls, four boys) has pro- Children who “consistently and per- One of the biggest scare tactics trans- claimed, “I should have been a boy,” or, sistently insist” that they are not their gender supporters throw at parents “I should have been a girl.” birth sex are considered innately trans- is that they must allow gender trans- What 2-year-old, just learning to talk, gender. (“The fact that in normal life and formation in order to prevent suicide. doesn’t at times mix up her pronouns? in psychiatry, anyone who ‘consistently This is a huge lie. In Sweden, one of the How can a 2-year-old girl playing with and persistently insists’ on anything world’s most lgbt-affirming countries, her brother’s cars or trucks represent else contrary to physical reality is con- the suicide rate for adults who undergo gender confusion? It takes an adult sidered either confused or delusional is sex reassignment is 20 times greater mind to see this innocence as some conveniently ignored,” writes Cretella.) than that of the general population. form of transgenderism. Then trained medical professionals “These harms constitute nothing Let’s be truly honest, adults. Playing recommend parents adhere to a less than institutionalized child abuse. at cross-dressing with a child is the transition-affirming protocol: They Sound ethics demand an immediate end best way to introduce confusion into a are to act as if the child is the gender to the use of pubertal suppression, cross- child’s mind concerning sexual identity. he or she desires. When the child is 11 sex hormones, and sex reassignment or 12, parents should place him or her surgeries in children and adolescents, as The New Normal on puberty blockers. If by age 16, the well as an end to promoting gender ide- Michelle Cretella, M.D., pediatrician child still believes he or she is trapped ology via school curricula and legislative and president of the American College in the wrong body, the child should be policies,” Cretella states (ibid). This is a of Pediatricians, has a different view placed on cross-sex hormones; girls may laudable desire. Sadly, it is unlikely that of the transgender ideology. She views receive a double mastectomy. “[G]enital Dr. Cretella and her peers will appear it as an infection disrupting American reassignment surgeries are not rec- on our nightly news or in our national politics and our legal systems. ommended before age 18, though some newspapers. They have great difficulty “[T]ransgender ideology is not just surgeons have recently argued against finding amplification for their message. infecting our laws. It is intruding this restriction,” continued Cretella. into the lives of the most innocent None of this sounds normal to me. Destruction of Biblical Family among us—children—and with the This trend is part of a highly organized apparent growing support of the Large-scale Child Abuse plan to destroy biblical family, com- professional medical community,” Dr. Cretella confirmed Ehrensaft’s view monly known as traditional family. It she wrote for the Daily Signal. “I that the number of children claiming has been happening for decades. Dr. have witnessed an upending of the to be transgender is increasing dramat- Ehrensaft admits her part in the move- medical consensus on the nature of ically. The United Kingdom alone has ment in a book she coauthored, My Son gender identity. What doctors once seen a 2,000 percent surge in referrals Wears Heels. “A long time ago, I grew up treated as a mental illness, the med- since 2009. “The transgender movement to be a feminist of the 1960s. Looking ical community now largely affirms has gained legs in the medical commu- back on that time, we all thought we and even promotes as normal” (July 3; nity and in our culture by offering a were kicking up some dust, and we were emphasis added throughout). deeply flawed narrative,” she wrote (ibid). happy for it,” she writes. “We had no idea The diagnosis for children distressed She believes the transgender movement we had started a landslide, earthshaking by their biological sex used to be has opened the door to large-scale child tremors that would set in motion, with called “gender identity disorder.” In abuse. You can read the details debunk- our allies in the lgbtqi movement, a new 2013, the term was changed to “gender ing the transgender movement’s flawed era in which homosexuality would be dysphoria.” Disorder means “a state of claims in her full article. deleted as a mental disorder in the Diag- confusion,” whereas dysphoria means “These professionals are using the nostic Statistical Manual (1973), gay mar- “a state of unease.” This change was myth that people are born transgen- riage would be legalized in the United accomplished by the often-unseen der to justify engaging in massive, States (2015), and reparative therapy to hand of the transgender movement. uncontrolled and unconsented exper- try to fix the gender identity for minors In 2014, there were only 24 pediatric imentation on children who have a [seeking to change someone’s homo- “gender clinics” along the East Coast psychological condition that would sexual orientation] would be banned in and in California to help children dis- otherwise resolve after puberty in the several states in the United States and a tressed by their biological sex. By 2015, vast majority of cases,” warns Cretella. province in Canada. … When even Target there were 40 across the nation. “With “Today’s institutions that promote stores dispense with gender categories 215 pediatric residency programs now transition affirmation are pushing in their toy departments (which they training future pediatricians in a tran- children to impersonate the opposite announced in the summer of 2015), we sition-affirming protocol and treating sex, sending many of them down the are definitely in a whole new world.” gender-dysphoric children accordingly, path of puberty blockers, sterilization, Long forgotten is the fact that a gender clinics are bound to proliferate,” the removal of healthy body parts, and supreme, all-powerful Creator God said Cretella. untold psychological damage” (ibid). GENDER PAGE 32 u NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017 9 The Election That SHOOK GERMANY

Voters handed the political establishment a beating. The nation may not have a government for months. When it comes, it will be divided and weak. Germany’s recent election portends greater crisis to come. by brad macdonald

ermany’s federal Germany, the election only brought in Germany’s history. The process is elections on Septem- more instability and uncertainty. expected to take months; Germany may ber 24 were supposed Europe’s most powerful nation is now not form a government until well into to be boring. The Wall on the verge of a full-blown political next year. If Merkel fails to form a coa- Street Journal said crisis, one that could have major social lition, she may even have to step down. on September 10, “A and economic implications. Even if she can successfully navigate bland and predict- Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union negotiations, the end result will be a able campaign should be admired in (cdu) and its Bavarian sister-party, the weak and unwieldy government. Gthe midst of a chaotic Continent.” On Christian Social Union (csu), won just September’s federal election revealed September 11, the EU Observer said, 33 percent of the vote, their worst result a divided, frustrated and unstable

“Finally an election in Europe that since 1949. The Social Democrats (spd), Germany. Both of the biggest parties gary

isn’t racking our nerves.” Bloomberg led by Martin Schulz, garnered roughly ignored the issues that mattered most dorning Businessweek asked, “How, in 2017, 20 percent of the vote, also its worst to the people. /

can Europe’s biggest economy have a result since World War ii. Many called this election result a trumpet normal, even boring, election while The big winners were the far-right political earthquake, and Germany cer- /

crusading populists have upended the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), which tainly has been shaken. Earthquakes istock political order elsewhere?” gained a shocking 13 percent of the vote strike without warning, though—and . Two weeks later, Germany experi- to become Germany’s third-biggest party, this political quake was at least two com / enced an election that was anything and the far-left Free Democratic Party years in the making. michaelutech but boring. (fdp) with roughly 11 percent of the vote. The election revealed that Germany’s Angela Merkel was reelected, as Merkel is now stuck trying to real crisis lies much deeper than most expected. But instead of stabilizing form the first four-party coalition people know. It gave us a glimpse into 10 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET GERMANY’S POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE the much more significant crisis rum- thinking seriously about its disturbing the AfD as “a vacuum cleaner for those bling beneath the surface. ramifications. unsatisfied with the other parties.” This is truly alarming: The trans- If the cdu/csu Union wants those Germany’s Conflicted Soul formation now occurring in the soul of voters back, it will have to move much The Trumpet has warned for years that the German people will culminate in more to the right, especially on immi- Germany is experiencing a quiet crisis. the seventh and final resurrection of gration. Polls show that a growing Fundamentally, this crisis isn’t political the Holy Roman Empire! number of Germans want the migrant or economic, but psychological. It is flow stopped or seriously curbed. A unfolding in the minds and hearts of the Rise of the Far Right Bertelsmann Foundation survey found people. A growing number of Germans Even after the election, few are facing that 54 percent believe the country can- feel an inner struggle between who this crisis. Though many labeled it a not handle more migrants—the first they aspire to be and who they are. It’s political earthquake, few have studied time a majority expressed this opinion a struggle between how they want to the fault lines that caused it. Angela (just two years ago, only 40 percent felt feel—about Islam, about the migrants, Merkel actually said she would have this way). The study concluded: “Many about Germany’s traditional culture and done nothing differently, and that the feel that the maximum limit has been heritage—and how they actually feel. AfD’s election success would not influ- reached” (emphasis added throughout). Postwar Germany prides itself on ence her refugee policy. Meanwhile, Merkel refuses to put a being multicultural, tolerant and lib- Meanwhile, back in reality, the polit- cap on the number of migrants enter- eral. Germany is widely considered the ical success of the AfD and the far-left ing the country. standard for moral, political and social fdp powerfully proves that the public A study published in August by the sophistication and enlightenment. is increasingly dissatisfied and fearful. R+V Info Center revealed that Islamist Twenty-first-century Germany abhors The AfD’s dramatic rise is sobering. terrorism is now the top fear of Ger- war, defends the environment and human rights, and values international cooperation and collaboration. This is “Voters are disoriented, full of uncertainties. the type of person (and nation) many I have never before seen so much anger and Germans aspire to be. But there’s a problem. The influx of hatred.” —STEPHAN GRÜNEWALD, Rheingold Institute more than a million Muslim migrants, together with Russia’s dramatic resur- The party was only founded in April 2013. mans. Analyst Brigitte Roemstedt said gence and Europe’s rolling financial Less than six months later, it won 4.7 fear of a terrorist attack is now “at one problems, is arousing other feelings and percent of the vote in the federal election. of the highest levels that has ever aspirations. And these emotions don’t By spring 2017, it had representation in been measured.” square with the desire to be tolerant 13 of the 16 German state parliaments. Yet despite this, Angela Merkel and and multicultural. Being tolerant feels This September, the AfD became Martin Schulz barely discussed Isla- good, until hundreds of thousands of Germany’s third-largest political mist terrorism ahead of the election. A foreigners enter your nation and expect party. It will have roughly 90 seats in Rheingold Institute study just before you to foot the bill. Being multicultural the Bundestag, marking the first time the vote quoted chief psychologist is wonderful, until Muslims waving in 60 years that a party further right Stephan Grünewald, who said, “On Islamic State flags settle in your village than the cdu/csu will have parliamen- a fundamental level, the voters are and begin eyeing your teenage daughter. tary representation. This is astounding totally disappointed in this election Being anti-war feels righteous, until considering the AfD did not tone down campaign.” The German people “feel Russian tanks start rolling westward. its rhetoric in order to win more votes. like the things that are important to Harsh realities are forcing more and It remained staunchly anti-migrant, them aren’t being discussed, and that more Germans to reconsider their post- anti-Islam and anti-EU. many are being glossed over. … In war values in light of more basic urges. The cdu and the csu, or simply “the the in-depth interviews, all people Tolerance is being replaced by preju- Union,” suffered a nearly 9 percent drop wanted to talk about was the refugee dice, multiculturalism by patriotism, in votes from 2013. In Bavaria, the csu’s crisis, refugee crisis, refugee crisis. community spirit by a greater drive for home state, it was a 10 percent drop. Despite being so elegantly left out of the self-preservation and self-advancement. The AfD was there to pick up the frus- campaign, it is still a sore spot that Perhaps the most disturbing aspect trated voters. However, polls indicate hasn’t been treated by politicians.” of this story is that Germany’s “elite” that a massive number of AfD voters— “Voters are disoriented, full of thinkers and leaders, the nation’s roughly 70 percent according to some uncertainties,” warned Grünewald. mainstream journalists and politi- surveys—voted merely to protest the “They describe Germany either as an cians, including Angela Merkel, do not other parties, not out of any great loyalty ailing, rundown country or as a secure publicly recognize Germany’s con- to the AfD. Nico Siegel, head of the Infra- island of affluence in a sea of risk. It’s flicted soul. They do not appear to be test dimap polling agency, described all very fragile and leads to emotional NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017 11 outbursts. I have never before seen and it has a rich history with some of views on key issues, especially the so much anger and hatred among Europe’s most powerful empires and refugees. The csu is positioned to be test subjects.” most dangerous regimes. “Bavaria has that party—to capitalize on any Merkel Merkel managed to squeak out a win, often been a center for new political misstep, or perhaps a forced retirement but little has meaningfully changed in experiments in Germany,” explained or political collapse. Germany since the election. Germany’s think tank Stratfor. “In times of deep The man to watch inside the csu is mainstream leaders, including Chan- social upheaval, this involved embrac- Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg. He is a cellor Merkel, still have not seriously ing extreme positions” (Oct. 18, 2015). native Bavarian and a disciple of Ger- addressed the issues disturbing a large Bavaria, and specifically the city man strongman Franz Josef Strauss. number of Germans. There is a lot to of Munich, was a breeding ground of Before he moved to America in 2011, he admire about Angela Merkel, but when National Socialism. The young Adolf was defense minister, the nation’s most it comes to the refugee issue, she is Hitler was raised in Bavaria, and popular politician, and the man many dangerously out of touch with the pub- Munich was where he made his first expected to become a future chan- lic. The consequences of such thinking attempt to seize power in the Beer Hall cellor. Guttenberg has an aristocratic are alarming. These issues will only Putsch of 1923. Munich “had a special pedigree, movie-star looks and a char- grow more serious, as will the public’s place in the Nazi pantheon, and in 1935 ismatic personality. He communicates sense of abandonment and anger. Hitler declared it ‘the capital of the Nazi with force and vigor, but is also a prag- Already people are more anxious, more movement’” (ibid). matic, deep thinker. He understands uncertain and more irritated. A major It is likely that Germany’s next leader Germany and Europe. When you listen political crisis is imminent! will come from Bavaria. The primary to his speeches, you can see that he understands the conflict gnawing at the German soul. Prior to the election, for the first time since a plagiarism scandal forced him from office more than six years ago, Guttenberg was in Germany, campaign- ing for the cdu/csu. Even now there are rumors that, following the election, he will move back to Berlin to take up a cab- inet post within the new government.

A New Germany Is Imminent If you think Germany is strong now, just wait. Slowly but steadily, this identity crisis is causing Germans to accept that meekness, tolerance and To learn more about KARL-THEODOR ZU GUTTENBERG and why the Trumpet believes he could be passivity are ill advised and dangerous significant, watch our video “Who Is Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg” (theTrumpet.com/15739) or read Chapter 2 in A Strong German Leader Is Imminent by Gerald Flurry (theTrumpet.com/go/germanleader). in an increasingly unstable and violent world. At a grassroots level, Germany is developing a new postwar identity. Craving a Strongman political party there is the csu, one of The Trumpet and its predecessor In November 2015, the Trumpet wrote, Germany’s largest. Together with the the Plain Truth have been prophesying “Time will tell, but Merkel’s embrace cdu, it has composed the most influen- about the emergence of a strong, active, of the migrants could be her undoing.” tial alliance in modern German politics. powerful Germany since 1944. We’ve In the two years since, Merkel has The refugee crisis has introduced based this forecast on many Bible remained, but Germany’s soul has only tension and instability into this alliance. prophecies. In Isaiah 10:5, for example, grown more tormented. The urges The csu staunchly opposes Merkel’s God says, “O Assyrian [a name in bibli- of self-preservation and nationalism views on the issue. Bavaria is on the cal prophecy for modern-day Germany], have intensified. The people want a front lines of the crisis; it has watched the rod of mine anger, and the staff in

leader and political party willing and refugees pour into its cities and villages. their hand is mine indignation.” This is peter

The csu is more in tune with the a prophecy about God deploying Ger-

able to lead Germany (and even Europe) kneffel through this tumultuous period. German people on this issue than many as a rod of correction to inflict /

The region to watch closely is Bavaria. Merkel and the cdu. The majority of horrifying violence and pain on the afp /

Situated in southeastern Germany, bor- the public, though they disagree with modern-day nations of Israel. getty dering Austria and the Czech Republic, Merkel, do not want to join Die Linke Germany is also a protagonist in the

images Bavaria is the soul of the nation. It is or Alternative für Deutschland. They end-time prophecy of Ezekiel 23. This conservative and staunchly Catholic, want a mainstream party with the same prophecy says that Britain, America 12 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET GERMANY’S POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE

and the Jewish state in the Middle East revoke the region’s autonomy. will align themselves with Germany, In Austrian elections on which will be the dominant world October 15, the center-right leader. Verses 9-12 read: “Wherefore I Austrian People’s Party have delivered her into the hand of her shifted so far to the right lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, that it won a third of the upon whom she doted. … She doted vote. Now, its leader, Foreign upon the Assyrians her neighbours, Affairs Minister Sebastian captains and rulers clothed most gor- Kurz, is in line to become geously, horsemen riding upon horses, the next leader of Austria. all of them desirable young men.” He is set to form a coalition Again, this prophecy shows that with the Freedom Party of Germany will be an impressive political Austria, a far-right party and military power, a mighty, impe- Wanted: A Leader founded by ex-Nazis, which rialistic nation that subjugates large won a quarter of the vote. swathes of civilization! for Europe! Last year, the Freedom Hosea 5 has another, similar end- Party of Austria came time prophecy about the nations of within a whisker of taking Israel, mainly Ephraim (Britain). But Europeans need a leader: They are about the presidency. This is only notice, God says that “[w]hen Ephraim to get a fierce king. by richard palmer the latest in a series of elec- saw his sickness, and Judah saw his tions that have seen fringe wound, then went Ephraim to the ou can divide most of parties win big in Germany, France and Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet Europe into three the Netherlands—and that’s just since could he not heal you, nor cure you of sections: places that March.Meanwhile migrants continue your wound” (verse 13). This foretells are on fire, places to pour into Europe. Italy alone has Britain looking to Germany for support. that are charred, and absorbed 100,000 migrants so far this Why? Apparently Germany at this time places that are starting year and is struggling to cope. is the world’s leading nation! to smoke. Given its economic, migration and There are similar prophecies in Greece is a largely burned-out coun- political crises, what Europe needs Habakkuk 1, Daniel 7, 8 and 11, and Ytry. Eight years after being walloped by is leadership. What it has instead Revelation 13 and 17, for example. These a serious economic crisis, its economy is the European Commission. That speak of the emergence in the end time produces only three quarters of what bureaucratic administration has of a German-led, Catholic-inspired it once did. One in five Greeks is still repeatedly proved incapable of European superstate. As hard as it is unemployed. The country is dependent providing decisive direction. right now to imagine the EU as an impe- on bailouts from the rest of the world. Europe’s super-bureaucracy is being rialistic superpower, this is exactly Its economy is effectively under Ger- overwhelmed by crises, and it is being what the Bible prophesies! man control. rejected by citizens who are voting for And at the core of this European The Ukraine crisis continues to nationalistic parties. In times like this, empire is an extremely powerful, smolder, with nearly 100 civilians Europe’s most powerful and prosper- extremely assertive, extremely aggres- killed between the start of the year and ous nation is expected to step up. That sive German nation! mid-August: The total death toll now would be Germany, the bloc’s widely This Germany is forming even exceeds 10,000. With Russia holding its acknowledged de facto leader. now. The inner struggle within many largest-ever post-Cold War drills just Except Germany is now incapacitated. Germans will only intensify after this north of Ukraine in Belarus, all Eastern Its domestic leadership was critically recent election. More of Merkel means Europe is nervous. injured in its September 24 federal elec- more of the same. Now that the election Meanwhile Spain, right at the core of tion. This political paralysis, coming is over, what is left to motivate her to Europe, is grappling with its largest cri- at a time when Germany’s leadership make the changes the people seek? sis since it became a democracy in 1978. is needed more than ever, will trigger And unless some dramatic changes are The autonomous region of Catalonia some major changes in Europe. made, Germany will only grow less sta- voted to secede from Spain on October images ble and the people more anxious, more 1. The central government in Madrid Headless Governments frustrated, and much more angry! declared the referendum illegal and Belgium set a new world record on Oct. getty / Eventually, the tension and anger will tried to stop it by force. Police fired rub- 11, 2011. On that day, the nation finally explode, initiating a course of events ber bullets at unarmed civilians, violat- formed a government after 589 days that will bring about the rise of a new, ing Catalan law. The crisis has continued of coalition negotiations—the lon- schuermann

more powerful, more assertive, more to escalate, and Madrid is now locking gest-ever delay for a modern developed sascha terrifying Germany! n up political leaders and threatening to nation. The Netherlands set a similar NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017 13 record in October, spending 209 days In fact, the Greens promised during the together a coalition with such com- in coalition negotiations—the longest election campaign to not enter any gov- promises, but these compromises will period in its history. ernment that places a cap on migrants merely put off the points of contention. This is the future Germany appears or doesn’t allow family members to What happens when Germans repeat- to be heading for. Few expect the nation immigrate. Most Green Party supporters edly see two members of their ruling to have a government in place by the want it to stay out of any coalition, so the coalition advocating two directly oppos- end of the year. In fact, it took almost Greens have little incentive to compro- ing policies? What happens when the a month of fractious talks before the mise with the cdu, let alone with the fdp. 200,000 cap is reached, and the Greens political parties even agreed on the new And migration is far from being the and csu cannot agree on how to proceed? seating arrangement in parliament. only sticking point. The Green Party Germany is set for months of coali- Chancellor Angela Merkel has a and the fdp fiercely opposed each other tion negotiations followed by an unsta- history of wiping out her coalition part- during the campaign. The Greens ble and uncertain coalition. Meanwhile, ners. She forces them to compromise campaigned to destroy the internal Europe continues to burn. with what they promised their support- combustion engine; the fdp promised ers, which causes them to lose votes in to save it. The Greens want the German What Next for Europe? subsequent elections. So other parties government to do more to help the rest When Belgium and the Netherlands have little incentive to join a coalition of the eurozone financially; the fdp squabbled over government posts, with her Christian Democratic Union wants it to do much less. Europe could get by with little inconve- (cdu)—and if they do, they have little nience. But Germany is not Belgium or incentive to compromise. Her previous the Netherlands. It is the only power that SEISMIC SHIFT Election results coalition partners, the Social Demo- can address Europe’s crises. While it crats, fared so badly in the September Percentages of votes for Germany’s political parties remains leaderless, the crises will grow. elections that they have already ruled And so will the pressure on Germany. 2013 out joining a coalition this time around. Europe’s acute need for real leader- n CDU/CSU 45.3 The Alternative für Deutschland ship is about to become more obvious n SPD 29.4 (AfD) party went from zero seats in than ever. n Left 8.2 parliament to roughly 90, which would The worse this leadership vacuum n Green 7.3 be valuable to a governing coalition. gets, the more Germans will demand n FDP 2.4 However, the party includes some rad- that it be filled with someone who can n AfD 1.9 ical far-right elements, and the other stop the chaos in German politics and major parties have said they will not in Europe. Trumpet editor in chief Ger- 2017 work with the AfD. They also ruled out ald Flurry has often warned that weak n CDU/CSU 32.9 working with the far-left Left Party. German leadership will open the door n SPD 20.5 This leaves just one viable possibility for a strong leader to rise in European n Left 9.2 for accumulating enough seats in par- politics. In a 2009 Key of David program, n Green 8.9 liament to form a ruling coalition—and he said this leader could “perhaps take n FDP 10.7 it’s a complicated one. Merkel’s cdu and advantage of a weak coalition.” n AfD 12.6 its sister party, the Christian Social That’s certainly the situation in Union (csu), will have to join with the Germany right now. But why would pro-immigration and environmentalist Somehow Chancellor Merkel must he make such a statement? Because Green Party, as well as the pro-business bring all these parties together. Bible prophecy foretells a strong leader Free Democratic Party (fdp). Merkel is trying to produce a series rising in Europe—and even how that Germany has never had a coalition of carefully crafted compromises. For strong leader will emerge. with so many different parties. Worse, example, she agreed with the csu to Daniel chapters 8 and 11 are full of these parties contradict each other in implement a pseudo-cap on migration prophecy God gave around 500 years important ways. that allows in a maximum of 200,000 before Jesus Christ’s first coming. Some Immigration is the big subject of the new refugees. Yet once this limit is of these prophecies are now history. A moment. After losing votes to the AfD reached, additional refugees will not be great “king of Grecia” attacked Persia and facing state elections next year, the turned away at the border. And the cap long ago—this was Alexander the csu has shifted to the right and supports can be lifted in case of an emergency. Great, in 323 b.c.—just as Daniel 8:20-21 capping immigration and denying And nobody will call it a “migrant cap” foretold. But much of these recent refugees the option of inviting so as not to upset the Greens. chapters is for “the time of family members to join them. But even with this cap-that’s-not- the end” (Daniel 8:17; 11:40). The Greens are one of the most leftist a-cap, the Greens are upset. Party Daniel 8:23-24 describe parties. They oppose capping immi- co-chair Simone Peter said the policy is the rise of “a king of fierce gration and support recent refugees “far” from what they expected. countenance, and under- bringing family members into Germany. Ms. Merkel may be able to cobble standing dark sentences.” 14 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET GERMANY’S POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE

Where will he rule? Verse 25 says this could literally be called a king. Even if Finally, note what Daniel 11 says about king will be defeated after he stands up he is not, the Bible gives him that label. how this man will come to power. Verse “against the Prince of princes.” Daniel When the Bible talks about a king, in 21 states that the people “shall not give” 11:40-45 make similar prophecies about most cases it’s saying that this is not this Antiochus “the honour of the king- a ruler of a power called “the king of the a democratic government. Even if he dom: but he shall come in peaceably, north.” Put the two together, and it’s doesn’t have that title, he is going to lead and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.” clear that the king of Daniel 8:23-24 and like a king. This vision in Daniel shows The Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Com- the leader of the king of the north in that the European empire is about to mentary says that “the nation shall not, Daniel 11:40-45 are the same individual. become a lot more authoritative.” by a public act, confer the kingdom on This man cannot arise in Britain Modern Europe is democratic: So him, but he shall obtain it by artifice, and America—these are the modern how could such an autocratic leader ‘flattering.’” Barnes Notes on the Old and descendants of Israel (for proof of this, arise? The implication is that European New Testaments states that “in other request our free book The United States democracy must be in crisis. words, it should not be conferred on and Britain in Prophecy, by Herbert W. Daniel 11:21-31 tell us how. Most Bible him by any law or act of the nation, or in Armstrong). Daniel 11:44 describes this commentaries correctly say this passage any regular succession or claim.” king attacking nations to the north and refers to Antiochus Epiphanes around “This man doesn’t come to power the east of Jerusalem, referring to Russia 175 to 163 b.c. These scriptures describe honorable way—by being voted into and China, so this fierce king is not exactly what this man did. Verse 31 office,” Mr. Flurry wrote in November from those Asian nations. states that he would “pollute the sanc- 2002. “He takes it dishonorably! He will That leaves Europe as one of the few tuary of strength, and shall take away work behind the scenes and come to major powers remaining. the daily sacrifice, and they shall place power by flatteries—not votes!” Daniel 11 shows that this king of the the abomination that maketh desolate.” Complex coalition negotiations or an north is a modern successor Antiochus did exactly this: He attacked ineffective coalition government pro- to the Roman Empire, which and slaughtered the Jews and attacked vide the perfect opportunity for these further confirms that this the Jewish religion. He attempted to prophecies to be fulfilled. If Germany leader arises in Europe. (For stamp out Jewish worship at the temple remains politically paralyzed while more information about the and he set up a pagan statute to Jupiter troubles multiply at home and Europe Daniel 11 prophecy, request Olympius in front of the altar. burns, it is easy to foresee Germans our free booklet History and Jesus Christ clearly refers to this verse clamoring for a strong leader. This is Prophecy of the Middle East.) in Matthew 24:15: “the abomination where Germany’s political paralysis Further confirming this, Isaiah of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the and Europe’s crises are leading. 10:5-19 give a similar prophecy, clearly prophet.” But He talks about it as some- But all these prophecies also have describing the same leader. This passage thing that will happen in the future! another detail in common. This strong- adds that this leader shall be “the king of If this was fulfilled by Antiochus man wreaks his destruction just before Assyria.” Assyria refers to the ancestors Epiphanes 200 years earlier, why did Jesus Christ returns to Earth. Christ of modern Germany. (For proof, request Christ tell His disciples to watch for said, “[W]hen ye shall see all these our reprint article “The Remarkable this event? Why have His words been things, know that it is near, even at the Identity of the German People.”) preserved for 2,000 years? doors” (Matthew 24:33). The prophecy in Isaiah 10 partially As in Isaiah 10, this prophecy had an Just as sure as the Bible’s prophecies refers to Assyria’s ancient attack on ancient fulfillment—but it will also were fulfilled by violent Antiochus Jerusalem in the days of Hezekiah. Yet have a modern one. It refers both to Epiphanes, they will be fulfilled by a much of this chapter was not fulfilled Antiochus Epiphanes and to a future modern-day fierce leader in Germany. in that time period. This prophecy will arrival of a modern-day Antiochus. As And just as sure as this leader’s reign remain partially unfulfilled until the the rest of Matthew 24 makes clear, this will begin soon, so too will the subse- time of this future king. modern-day Antiochus attacks Jerusa- quent reign of Jesus Christ! This leader, then, will arise in Germany lem, just like the king described in Dan- Conditions are ready for this man and lead this coming European power. iel 8 and 11 and Isaiah 10. This Antiochus to arrive in Germany—which means What will he be like? In our free booklet and this king are the same man. we are drawing near to Jesus Christ’s A Strong German Leader Is Imminent Mr. This is a fearsome leader more deadly return and the time when all war and Flurry writes: “This soon-coming ruler and more destructive than any before! conflict are stopped for good. n

GERMANY WANTS A STRONGMAN. The euro. The economy. Political gridlock. Migration. Terror. War. With each new crisis, the German people crave a strong leader more and more. Bible prophecy says they will get one. To learn more, request Gerald Flurry’s booklet A Strong German Leader Is Imminent. shifted their rhetoric away from strict secularism and have begun to empha- size how Christian their nations are. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was one of the earliest to take this route. In May 2015, he said flatly, “I think we have a right to decide that we do not want a large number of Muslim people in our country.” “Let us not forget, however, that those arriving have been raised in another A Religious Revival religion and represent a radically dif- ferent culture,” he wrote in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. “Most of them are in Europe? not Christians, but Muslims. This is an important question, because Europe and European identity is rooted in Feeling threatened by Muslims, Europeans are Christianity” (Sept. 3, 2015). seeking cultural cohesion in their Christian heritage. Orbán has since been joined by many Bible prophecy foretold the trend. by richard palmer others. Slovakian Prime Minister Rob- ert Fico said in May 2016, “I do not want to see a Muslim community in Slovakia. … We do not want to change the tradi- apernaum Church in about its importance to their culture. tions of this country, which are built downtown Hamburg, Although Europeans aren’t going to on the Christian tradition.” The pres- Germany, is under church or letting religion tell them how ident of the Czech Republic warned in new management and to live their lives, they are looking to January 2016 that integrating Muslims is much busier than it religion to tell them who they are. into Europe “is practically impossible.” used to be. The main Earlier this year, Polish Interior Min- hall accommodates Eastern Europe ister Mariusz Błaszczak said that the 500 worshipers. Under the building’s As early as 2014, the Catholic magazine presence of the largely Muslim refugee Cprevious owners, the Evangelical First Things noticed this trend emerg- population is a “ticking bomb.” Church, only about 20 people showed up ing in Central and Eastern Europe: “In The rhetoric is popular. Polls in Poland each week. But for its new owners, the Hungary, Croatia, and elsewhere in and Bulgaria show that three quarters of hall is not big enough. Eastern Europe, a pro-family, pro-life respondents want their countries to stop Why the dramatic change? Because it revolution and a rediscovery of Chris- accepting Muslim migrants. is now the Al-Nour Islamic Center. tian roots is occurring. Catholic leaders also support this The change is symbolic of the trend “Unnoticed in the shadow of a sec- stance. Although Pope Francis has sweeping Europe. In London, since 2001, ularized West, religion’s public role been one of the most prominent leaders 500 churches have become private has been growing in the East since the encouraging Europe to take in more homes, and more than 400 mosques collapse of communism” (Jan. 17, 2014). migrants, senior bishops in the East are have opened. In 2016, seven French This process has sped up dramatically singing from a different hymn sheet. churches were demolished, 26 put up as Europe’s migrant crisis has worsened. The former leader of the Czech Repub- for sale, and many more converted into Since 2013, around 2.5 million migrants lic’s bishops’ conference, Archbishop offices, apartments, gymnasiums, etc. have applied for asylum in the Euro- Jan Graubner, has said his country Meanwhile, since 2003 nearly 1,000 pean Union. The EU does not track the should take only “Christian refugees.” At French mosques have been built. religion of asylum seekers, but the vast a February meeting of Catholic leaders So it seems odd to talk about a Chris- majority are from Muslim-dominated from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, tian revival in Europe. Churches are countries. According to Pew Forum in the current Czech president of the bish- dying. Religion is playing a smaller role 2010, about 19 million Muslims lived in ops’ conference, Cardinal Dominik Duka, than ever in people’s everyday lives. the EU. So the EU has had roughly a 10 said, “The whole history of humanity But in politics, religion is making a percent jump in its Muslim population shows how uncontrolled migration

major comeback. due to the refugee crisis alone. causes violence and conflict, as well as istock Politicians are talking about their As thousands of Muslims have arrived economic and cultural collapse.” . com nation’s religious heritage more than every year, bringing their religion “The larger the Muslim community, / ma

ever. They are using it to differentiate with them and setting up numerous the likelier the violence—in such a - no themselves from Muslims. They talk mosques, European leaders have situation, it’s legitimate to ask about the 16 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET GERMANY’S POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE religion these people profess, and how scandal. So Marine Le Pen and her far- hardly paragons of chastity and virtue. beneficial it is to our society,” said Arch- right National Front party attempted to Two of its top leaders are lesbians. But bishop Stanislav Zvolenský, the leader raise the standard of Christendom. it is identity that matters. Even the of the Slovak bishops’ conference. “We Le Pen’s religion is “a secularized lesbian leaders have made no big push shouldn’t forget that Christianity and Christianity as culture,” Rogers Bru- for homosexual “marriage” or any other Islam are, despite all efforts at dialogue, baker, a sociologist at the University of kinds of homosexual rights. In the in permanent conflict. Once one side California–Los Angeles, told Atlantic culture wars, they are on the side of the gains the upper hand, there’s always magazine. “It’s a matter of belonging Christian right, and the Christian right conflict” (emphasis added throughout). rather than believing,” he said. Bru- is happy to accept them. baker described it as a Christianity The AfD’s stunning election suc- The West that says, “We are Christians, precisely cess—coming from nowhere to become In the West, bishops who will speak so because they are Muslims. Otherwise, the third-largest party in Germany’s bluntly are scarce, but they still exist. we are not Christian in any substantive parliament—shows the appetite in Ger- The most high-profile is Cardinal Chris- sense” (May 6). many for this kind of religion in politics. toph Schönborn, who is considered a That is an excellent summary of the But the AfD isn’t the only group possible successor to the current pope. trend occurring across all Europe. Chris- embracing this Christian heritage. “Will there now be a third attempt at tianity is not motivating people to attend Angela Merkel’s sister party, the Chris- an Islamic conquest of Europe?” Schön- religious services or to obey religious tian Social Union, has kept much closer born asked in September 2016. “Many rules, but it is being used to drive people to its Christian heritage. The party has Muslims think so and long for it and to vote for religious-sounding leaders. good relations with Viktor Orbán. It say: Europe is at an end.” Germany’s September 24 election even invited him to Bavaria, despite Luc Ravel was made archbishop of saw the same Christian revival. One great opposition from the German Strasbourg, France, by Pope Francis in mainstream political party that has federal government. February. In July, Ravel told a French helped form the foundation of German The csu’s star speaker in the recent newspaper, “Muslim believers know politics since World War ii—the Chris- election, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, very well that their birth rate is such tian Democratic Union (cdu)—was brought a “Christian” message. At the that today, they call it ... the Great founded by those seeking to cement Gillamoos festival, he told a packed Replacement. They tell you in a very Germany’s Christian character. How- crowd, “When we are not ready to calm, very positive way that, ‘one day all this, it will be ours.’” Christianity is not motivating people to This trend extends even to political leaders in Western Europe. attend religious services or to obey religious Western Europe is traditionally the rules, but it is being used to drive people to most secular place on Earth. In late vote for religious-sounding leaders. 2015, a Gallup International poll found that Western Europe and Oceania were ever, despite its having “Christian” in love our culture, then others will start the only regions in the world where its name, it has grown progressively to define our culture,” adding that around half of the population was either more secular. It seems many voters in Germany must protect its “Christian/ atheist or nonreligious. But even here, September’s election punished the cdu Jewish Western society” (Trumpet political religion is making a comeback. by migrating to the far-right Alterna- translation throughout). In France the very religious François tive für Deutschland (AfD) party, which “If you go outside in August with Fillon was nominated to lead Les achieved great success. temperatures of 35 to 38 degrees [95 Républicains—France’s main conserva- Foreign Policy wrote about the “par- to 100 degrees Fahrenheit] and go tive party. “Help, Jesus Has Returned!” ty’s goal to become the true guardian of through a street in Munich and you was the headline in the Libération Germany’s—and Europe’s—Christian see a gentlemen from Abu Dhabi … and newspaper (Nov. 24, 2016). identity” (September 11). A group of at a respectable distance, one or two Robert Zaretsky at Foreign Policy Catholic and Protestant theologians women with a niqab behind him, I don’t wrote, “[L]egions of Frenchmen and formed the organization “Christen in see much freedom there,” he said. The women who have not kept their faith der AfD” to urge support for the party. “suppression of the woman has no room will nonetheless turn out in droves for They warned that if Germany loses its in our culture!” a politician who has. … [I]n a country Christian identity, it will “endanger His statements are milder than the where barely five citizens in 100 attend nothing less than the foundations of our message from the AfD or many in East- church, the weight of Catholicism is still system of state and of our civilization.” ern Europe. But they are stronger than evident” (Dec. 1, 2016). He termed these The AfD, though, is a perfect example many Western mainstream politicians voters “France’s zombie Catholics.” of this “belonging rather than believing” are willing to make. And they were met As it turned out, Fillon crashed and Christianity. Its election slogans, such with enthusiastic applause. burned, brought down in a financial as “Burkas? We’re into bikinis,” are RELIGIOUS REVIVAL PAGE 27 u NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017 17 COMBINED

MIGHTIn a Europe hit by the euro crisis, a wave of terrorism and mass immigration, the need for a common army is one thing most European leaders can agree on. Leaders from Germany, France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have called for a common military. The rise of a European superpower capable of fielding a powerful military force, independent from the United States, would be one of the biggest geopolitical events of the last century. The combined power of such a military would revolutionize the balance of power around the world.

1 Ireland 2 Portugal 3 Spain 4 France 5 Malta 6 Italy 7 Croatia 8 Slovenia 9 Austria 10 Germany 11 Luxembourg 12 Belgium 13 Netherlands 14 Denmark 15 Sweden 16 Finland 17 Estonia 18 Latvia 19 Lithuania 20 Poland 21 Czech Republic 22 Slovakia 23 Hungary 24 Romania 25 Bulgaria 26 Greece 27 Cyprus

2

COMPARING BULLETS WITH BULLETS

Comparing the military strength of nations is a difficult task. To provide a benchmark, Credit Suisse, a leading financial services company headquartered in Switzerland, assigned weighted values to six key components of military power. By summing up the military might of 27 EU nations, it is possible to estimate how a unified European military would compare to the armies of China, Russia and the United States.

PERSONNEL COMBAT TANKS ATTACK HELICOPTERS AIRCRAFT 5% VALUE 10% VALUE 15% VALUE 20% VALUE

UNITED 1,373,650 5,884 947 13,651 STATES RANK .90 RANK .86 RANK .95 RANK .95

EUROPEAN 1,487,617 6,103 268 6,854 UNION RANK .91 RANK .87 RANK .87 RANK .92

RUSSIA 798,527 20,616 490 3,755

RANK .81 RANK .95 RANK .90 RANK .90

CHINA 2,260,000 6,457 206 3,790

RANK .95 RANK .90 RANK .86 RANK .86 GERMANY’S POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE

POUND FOR POUND NUCLEAR POWER THE ULTIMATE COST

The combined defense-spending budget After Brexit, France will be the only “You may be sure the West European of the European Union (minus Britain) official nuclear-armed state in Europe. leaders are conferring hurriedly and makes this political alliance the world’s Yet the United States has loaned nuclear secretly about how and how soon second-biggest military spender. weapons to Belgium, Germany, Italy and they may unite and provide a united the Netherlands. European military force so they can COMBINED defend themselves! And so they will no annual military spending total nuclear warheads longer have to give in meekly to Russia! united states $600,233,000,000 united states 6,900 And who will they blame for their european union $198,445,000,000 european union 420 humiliation and their necessity now russia $70,345,000,000 russia 7,000 to have a united Europe, with a united china $131,000,000,000 china 260 government, a common currency, and a common military force as great or MIGHT greater than either the USSR or the 16 15 U.S.A.? They will blame the United 17 States! And when they are strong 14 enough to assert themselves, they will 18 first attack Britain for standing firm 1 19 13 with the U.S., and then they will return a lot of hydrogen bombs the U.S. has 12 20 stored now in Europe!” 11 10 21 herbert w. armstrong 22 plain truth, april 1980 4 9 8 23 7 24 6

25 3

26

5

27

TOTAL AIRCRAFT CARRIERS SUBMARINES WEIGHTED 25% VALUE 25% VALUE VALUE

19 70

RANK .95 RANK .95 .94

8 53 RANK .74 RANK .72 .81

1 63

RANK .52 RANK .86 .80

1 68 RANK .52 RANK .90 .79 gross domestic product, 15 percent of raw material exports, and 20 percent of oil reserves. One fifth of all United LIGHTING THE States crude oil imports come from Latin America, making this region more important to U.S. energy security than the entire Middle East. Latin America is also a critical geo- graphic zone for illegal drug produc- tion and trafficking. Mexico, the rest of Central America and Venezuela are LATIN principal corridors for transporting illegal drugs into the U.S. The criminal activities of U.S. drug consumers and Latin American drug suppliers are producing tragic statistics: Although Latin America has only 8 percent of the world’s pop- FUSEA spark in one Latin American nation could set ulation, it has 37 off an explosion that engulfs the entire region. percent of the by andrew miiller world’s homi- cides. It also has eight of the world’s 10 most

n international news, Latin The 20 Spanish- violent countries. istock America and the Caribbean are and Portuguese- Acute poverty, . often ignored. Yet events in these speaking countries south government instability com /

I erhui regions are important, not only for of the Rio Grande are home to and societal breakdown

their own sake, but also for how they approximately 626 million people. They are churning inside Latin Amer- 1979 can affect the rest of the world. account for 7 percent of the world’s ica—crises so potent that they could

MEXICO CENTRAL AMERICA bout 12,500 people were mur- rate from 2015—to 21 murders per ang violence in El Salvador, Gua- A dered in Mexico during the first 100,000 people in 2017. G temala and Honduras is making half of 2017—more than 2,000 victims An estimated 55 percent of all Mexi- life in Central America unbearable and per month. The International Insti- can homicides (and 7 percent of all U.S. forcing thousands of people to flee. tute for Strategic Studies says this homicides) are related to drug traffick- Since gang violence began escalating makes Mexico more violent than the ing. The drug cartels reportedly field in 2013, the murder rate in these small war zones in Afghanistan, Iraq and some 100,000 foot soldiers. The Mexican Central American nations has soared. Yemen. If this rate of carnage contin- government is now in its 11th year of war El Salvador became the murder capital ues, Mexico will suffer its bloodiest against the cartels, it has deployed its of the world in 2015, when 108 out of year in at least two decades. military to support the overmatched every 100,000 people in the country The arrest of the notorious drug police, and the U.S. has provided a steady were murdered (22 times the homi- lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán in stream of military equipment. Yet cide rate in the United 2014 was a major victory for the Mex- cartels continue to grow more powerful States). Honduras ican government, yet it also created and more violent. Why? Because roughly and Guatemala also a power vacuum in Guzmán’s Sinaloa 10 percent of U.S. residents over age 12 have extremely high Cartel, which had been the world’s are addicted to illegal drugs. Ultimately, homicide rates—64 most powerful drug trafficking orga- it is America’s 24.6 million drug users per 100,000 and 31 nization for 27 years. Now fragments who are fueling a $100 billion-per-year of Sinaloa and other cartels are industry, causing more than 21,000 To learn more about the power that will align with Latin America, fighting turf wars, contributing to a overdose deaths and 12,000 drug- request your free copy of The Holy Roman Empire in Prophecy. 23 percent jump in Mexico’s homicide related homicides every year. 20 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET cause a meltdown equivalent to the your land; and they shall besiege you in Catholic Church will almost certainly Arab Spring. all your towns throughout all your land, use its influence in Latin America to The violence that Latin Americans which the Lord your God has given you” bind this region to Europe. are suffering can also spread. An (Revised Standard Version). Bible prophecy strongly indicates estimated 500,000 Latin American Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry that Europe will edge out U.S. influence refugees already cross illegally into the wrote in “Where America’s Race Riots from Latin America. As crises intensify, United States each year. The spread of Are Leading” (theTrumpet.com/12158) Latin Americans will cry out to Catho- refugees, the power of the cartels, and that this reference to America’s “high lic Europe for help, willingly subjecting the insatiable demand in the U.S. for and fenced walls” falling refers to ille- themselves to the Holy Roman Empire. illegal drugs means that the instability gal immigrants streaming into the U.S. This empire will then use its Latin allies of Latin American nations could extend (Trumpet, November-December 2014). to lay siege to Canada and the U.S. The throughout the Western Hemisphere. People across the Western Hemi- Bible says God will allow this destruc- As astounding as it may sound, this sphere have turned away from God, tion in order to fulfill His purpose. He situation was actually prophesied in and violence is escalating. The Bible will precisely measure out this punish- your Bible. Jesus Christ forecast that prophesies that God will allow a final ment in order to bring Americans of all “great tribulation, such as was not resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire ethnic backgrounds to a point where since the beginning of the world” will to conquer America as punishment for they will heed Him and embrace a way encompass all nations, including those its sins. This empire is termed “holy” of life that eliminates drug addiction, in Latin America (Matthew 24:21). because it is guided by a religious organized crime, corrupt government, In the Old Testament, the same God entity, the Roman Catholic Church. The crushing poverty, and tragic death. told the ancestors of the Anglo-Amer- icans that they would be blessed for obeying His laws and cursed for dis- CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA obeying. In Deuteronomy 28:43 and 52, MEXICO He specified that one curse for disobe- CUBA dience would be that “[t]he sojourner GUATEMALA who is among you shall mount above HONDURAS you higher and higher; and you shall EL SALVADOR come down lower and lower. … They COLOMBIA shall besiege you in all your towns, until VENEZUELA your high and fortified walls, in which BRAZIL you trusted, come down throughout all

CENTRAL AMERICA BRAZIL per 100,000 respectively. razil is relatively stable demanded After a two-year truce between El B compared to the cartel-dom- Temer’s res- Salvador’s two most powerful street inated war zones in Mexico and ignation after a gangs crumbled in 2014, the death toll Central America. But its govern- leaked conversation jumped 70 percent from the previous ment is vulnerable for other showed that he was year. As El Salvador, Guatemala and reasons. One year ago, Brazilian allegedly involved in a Honduras crack down on gang warfare, President Dilma Rousseff was hush-money scandal. A small the violence is intensifying and tens of ousted in a 61-20 impeachment group of these protesters set thousands of people are fleeing every vote. Now the new president, fire to an Agriculture Ministry year from forced gang recruitment, Michel Temer, has been building in the capital. Temer violence and the threat of death. An accused of corruption, bid deployed soldiers onto the estimated 10 percent of the region’s rigging and money laundering streets to restore order. In 30 million residents have already fled. using other high-ranking mem- June, demonstrators shut Most travel north seeking sanctuary. bers of the government. down bus services in Brasília and In 2015, more than 60,000 unaccompa- The actions of the Temer admin- blocked roads with burning tires in nied child migrants reached the United istration have already provoked a sum- many other cities. States’ southern border. mer of unrest. In April, protesters set Meanwhile, about 10,000 Venezuelan buses on fire, blocked roads and clashed refugees are streaming into Brazil each To learn more about the power that will align with Latin America, with police during a labor union strike month in search of food and medicine, request your free copy of The Holy Roman Empire in Prophecy. against government austerity mea- and economic pressures on the nation sures. In May, thousands of protesters are intensifying. NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017 21 CUBA uba’s geographic location has included missiles and nonconventional told the Washington Free Beacon. “The C made it a strategically important arms. The United Nations reported Castro regime in August and Sep- island since the 1500s. It has served as that there was a “planned strategy to tember 2016 deepened ties with Iran an important asset to Spain, to the Holy conceal the existence and nature of the through high-level visits, and there Roman Empire and, more recently, to cargo.” Despite this incident and Cuba’s are reports that Iran-backed terrorist Communists and terrorists. ongoing aggressive rhetoric against the group Hezbollah has established a base Since 1959, Cubans have been held United States, the Obama administra- in Cuba” (Oct. 27, 2016). in the grip of the despotic Communist tion removed Cuba from its list of state In May, the Wall Street Journal Castro regime, which, allied with the sponsors of terrorism in May 2015. reported that Cuba has sent dozens of Soviet Union and other enemies of the Since then, leaked intelligence from high-ranking officers and thousands West, became one of four state spon- Hillary Clinton’s personal e-mail server of intelligence agents to Venezuela to sors of terrorism and attempted in 1962 shows that Hezbollah, a Lebanese terror- monitor Venezuelan Army officers and to install Soviet supersonic nuclear ist proxy of Iran, has been cooperating prevent a military uprising that could ballistic missiles just 90 miles from the with the Cuban government since 2011. overthrow communism and restore U.S. mainland. Some U.S. lawmakers are concerned democracy. In 2013, Panamanian authorities that Cuba is still passing intelligence Much of the current violence in Ven- seized a ship carrying “undeclared to Hezbollah and Iran to use against ezuela is aided and abetted by Cuba’s weapons of war” from Cuba to the the U.S. “The Castro regime has shown terrorist-sponsoring regime. Cuba North Korean dictatorship of Kim no inclination to end its anti-American is reemerging as a clear and present Jong-un. Panamanian President activities, including espionage,” Repub- danger to peace and stability across the Ricardo Martinelli said the cargo lican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida Western Hemisphere.

VENEZUELA ollowing elections this past with unusually harsh retribution, and a military coup is a real possibility. To F summer, Venezuela has been many of Maduro’s political opponents prevent this scenario, Maduro has plagued by anti-government protests are being arrested and beaten. accepted dozens of Cuban intelligence that have a real chance of plunging Since the beginning of the year, more officials to monitor Venezuelan Army the country into civil war. Venezuelan than 120 people have been killed in officers. He has also started distribut- President Nicolás Maduro held the clashes between police and protesters. ing weapons to civilian militias loyal to elections to redraft the country’s The threat of famine adds to the des- the government. United States security constitution. His opponents say he is peration and the violence. Meanwhile, analysts, including Central Intelli- attempting to create a dictatorship. Venezuela’s average inflation rate over gence Agency Director Mike Pompeo, Already suffering from a five-year eco- the past 12 months was 460 percent. have warned that these weapons could nomic crisis brought on by Venezuela’s Reports say that nine in ten households easily end up in the hands of terrorist socialist economic system, men, women can’t afford proper nutrition. organizations and drug cartels, cre- and teenagers have protested in the If elements of the Venezuelan mili- ating an “incredibly real and serious” streets. The government has responded tary decide to side with the protesters, danger to the region.

COLOMBIA enezuela’s socialist collapse has Venezuelan students and profession- Colombia (farc). The peace has been V triggered a migrant crisis on the als are working as street vendors messy, and many now fear that the Colombia-Venezuela border. Colombian there, trying to save enough money to Venezuelan refugee crisis will open government records indicate that at migrate to Peru or Chile. Others are the door for other criminal groups least 153,000 Venezuelans have over- turning to smuggling and prostitution. to fill the vacuum left by farc, using stayed their 90-day tourism cards, and The illegal trade of state-subsidized drug trafficking and illegal mining to many of them must intend to remain Venezuelan gasoline into Colombia is a fund criminal operations. in Colombia illegally or continue to booming business. The crisis unfolding in Venezuela Ecuador or Chile. The Colombian government rati- will undoubtedly compound Colombia’s Many Venezuelans are illegally fied a peace deal in November 2016 security challenges, potentially leading settling in the border city of Cúcuta to end 52 years of war with South to a resurgence of drug cartel activity to work in construction or housework. America’s oldest leftist rebel group, in the nation’s eastern provinces. n The PanAm Post reports that many the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Research assistance by Jack Wood 22 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET Physical inactivity has been shown to cause substantial increases in risk factors for 30 chronic diseases and condi- tions. The evidence is overwhelming that insufficient bodily movement causes a rapid deterioration in life quality, as well as total years of life. Another risk factor is a poor, unbalanced diet of refined carbohydrates, sugar and unhealthy fats, which fails to supply proper bodily nourishment. Abuse of tobacco and alcohol also contributes to lung disease, metabolic disorders and cancer. Sadly, Western nations are exporting the worst of our eat- ing habits. In 2010, Nestlé began sailing a supermarket barge down the Amazon River to compete with Unilever to reach 800,000 customers in emerging markets. The company has a stunning 10-year target of doing almost half of its business in the developing world. kfc is also seeking to expand across How to Avoid Africa, while the leading Coca-Cola bottler and distributor, sabMiller, aims to double fizzy-drink sales in South African Chronic Disease townships. Unsurprisingly, what were once mostly Western diseases have become global pandemics. It’s the world’s leading cause of death, The political response has been tepid as corporations freely and it keeps getting deadlier. But you don’t use manipulative, pervasive and sophisticated marketing need to succumb to it. by jorg mardian techniques to influence a “brand deprived” people already suffering from about 80 percent of the world’s ncds. s the global population pushes toward 8 billion, As long as society continues to use toxins in foods and the the number of people dying from chronic diseases is environment, these will influence bodily function and boost A rising rapidly. Chronic disease accounts for 63 percent the number of ncds. Entire populations are being turned into of all deaths. These noncommunicable diseases (ncds) are the “walking wounded.” responsible for snuffing out the prime years of life in 50 Modern medicine is fighting a losing battle with chronic percent of those afflicted with them. The World Health Orga- diseases. Despite untold billions invested, despite all the nization (who) projects that by 2020, ncd deaths will rise to research and science and advancements in medicine, seven 78 percent across the world. of the top 10 causes of death are chronic diseases. We may, to This crisis reflects a refusal to address real causes. You can a degree, manage cancer at 65, persist with heart disease at substantially reduce your risk for these modern afflictions by 75, and regulate Alzheimer’s at 85. It also means people live following commonsense advice. with deteriorating quality of life wracked with illness, pain and disability. What Is an NCD? What is the problem? Available treatments ignore causes ncds are noninfectious, nontransmissible medical conditions and focus on controlling conditions and symptoms. In truth, of long duration and slow progression. The four dominant chronic disease rates remain stubbornly high because types are cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respira- a) drugs do not address the cause, b) big business thrives on tory diseases and diabetes. They are said to disproportionately illness, and c) only a measly percentage of health-care costs affect older people. But about 15 million ncd-related deaths are allocated to preventing disease. are now shifting to those between ages 30 and 60, a concern- ing pattern. These diseases are even affecting children. Follow the Rules Adding urgency to the debate, the United Nations estimates Good health comes from living by the principles of a balanced that about 2 billion more people will die from ncds globally life: moderation and quality. These are revealed in the Bible by 2050. Economic costs will also be staggering as the five top and can cause a seismic shift in our thinking. Observing bibli- diseases will cost the world an astounding $47 trillion annu- cal laws of health costs nothing more than effort, yet it brings ally, according to the World Economic Forum. In the words of rich rewards. We all have a choice: continue with the status former who Director General Margaret Chan, “[T]hese are the quo or take up the challenge and invest now in healthier living. diseases that tax health systems to the breaking point. These Be wary of anything man-made, whether you apply it are the diseases that break the bank” (May 21, 2012). topically or consume it. Eat fresh, wholesome food. Fast occasionally. Maintain personal cleanliness and hygiene. Major Risk Factors Enjoy regular sunshine, exercise and fresh air. Get plenty of ncds are often referred to as “lifestyle” diseases because most sleep. Build a positive mental attitude. Observing these sim- trumpet / of them are preventable. Four of the most important risk fac- ple, commonsense laws of physical health will be effort well tors—unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol spent, substantially reducing your risk of chronic disease as goddard use—are behaviors that each of us freely decides to engage in you forge a strong, healthy body that will last into old age. n

julia or refrain from. Jorg Mardian is a certified holistic nutritionist. NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017 23 Buying Black Gold Without Greenbacks

A new financial instrument gives oil-exporting nations their long-sought alter native to the petrodollar. by jeremiah jacques

hina will soon introduce a But China’s new futures contract flow through that artery, withering or crude oil futures contract allays those fears by making the yuan possibly even severing it. C denominated in yuan and fully convertible into gold. “In addition to reducing a major convertible into gold, the Nikkei Asian “It’s a transfer of holding their assets in source of funding for the U.S. govern- Review reported on September 1. Ana- black liquid to yellow metal,” said Grant ment’s enormous deficit spending, the lysts say that since China is the world’s Williams, a finance expert who advises introduction of a gold-backed yuan largest oil importer, the move could Vulpes Investment Management. “It’s oil futures contract is an important deal a major blow to the global influ- a strategic move swapping oil for gold, step toward removing the dollar as the ence of the United States dollar. rather than for U.S. Treasuries, which world’s reserve currency,” wrote Invest- The contract will allow oil-exporting can be printed out of thin air” (ibid). ment Research Dynamics. “More sig- nations such as Russia, Iran and Venezu- Alasdair Macleod of Goldmoney Inc. nificantly, it reintroduces gold into the ela to conduct sales in yuan, instead of in told the Nikkei Asian Review that the global monetary system” (September 3). U.S. dollars, and to then change the yuan gold conversion option is “likely to After such a reintroduction of the into gold on both the Hong Kong and appeal to oil producers that prefer to precious metal into the world system, Shanghai exchanges. It will also allow avoid using dollars and are not ready the anemia of America’s fiat currency these countries, which often fall afoul of to accept that being paid in yuan for oil would contrast starkly with the ruddy American foreign policy, to circumvent sales to China is a good idea either” (ibid). currencies of economies that are sanctions based on the U.S. dollar. The Asia Times said, “The new healthier and/or backed by something The Chinese government has been triad of oil, yuan and gold is actually besides consumer confidence. This developing the gold-backed futures a win-win-win” for China and the would rapidly fade the dollar’s global contract for years, and Oilprice.com oil-exporting nations. “No problem at reserve currency status. reports that it is expected to launch all if energy providers prefer to be paid this year. It will be China’s first com- in physical gold instead of yuan. The Bolt From the Blue? modities futures contract available to key message is the U.S. dollar being The appeal of the new Chinese futures foreign entities. Analysts expect many bypassed” (September 5). contract may go beyond the usual sus- oil-exporting nations and firms to find The bypassing of the U.S. dollar pects on the list of American adversaries. it appealing. would be a win for China and many oil Back in July, the Trumpet called exporters. For the American economy, attention to reports saying that China ‘Black Liquid to Yellow Metal’ it could represent a catastrophic loss. would become the main investor in the Leaders of oil-exporting nations, such forthcoming initial public offering of as Russia, Iran and Venezuela, have Black Eyes for the Greenback Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil often expressed the desire to bypass The dollar has dominated interna- company. Aramco will be worth about the U.S. dollar. But avoiding the green- tional markets since the end of World $2 trillion; it will be the highest-valued back has proved challenging, largely War ii in 1945. Since 1973, the Orga- firm on the globe. due to the size of America’s economy, nization of the Petroleum Exporting If this sale goes through as planned, the dominance of U.S. markets, and Countries (opec) has priced, quoted, Macleod said the Chinese would be in a the momentum of long-standing global traded and settled oil sales in U.S. position to switch the pricing of Saudi

finance practices. As much as these dollars, also known as “petrodollars.” oil from dollars to yuan. “[I]f China can melissa nations would like to close the curtain The widespread conversion of these tie in Aramco, with Russia, Iran et al., on the U.S.-dominated economic petrodollars into U.S. Treasuries has she will have a degree of influence over barreiro order, the Chinese yuan and other been a vital artery for the American nearly 40 percent of global production, /

currencies have not garnered enough economy and has helped finance the and will be able to progress her desire trumpet international confidence to be viewed nation’s vast deficit expenditures. The to exclude dollars for yuan,” Macleod as trustworthy alternatives. Chinese contract could dry up the said (Nikkei Asian Review, op cit). 24 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET Buying Black Gold Without Greenbacks

A new financial instrument gives oil-exporting nations their long-sought alter native to the petrodollar. by jeremiah jacques

Such a dramatic and unexpected dollar is devalued, inflation will almost trade blocs, Europe and Asia, mesh shift by Riyadh would also erode the surely result,” he wrote, “and eventual together and begin calling the shots in very foundations of the U.S.-Saudi Ara- economic collapse for the United States” world commerce. These nations … are bia relationship. (co-worker letter, March 26, 1968). going to be literally besieged—econom- Mr. Armstrong’s forecast was based ically frozen out of world trade!” Red Flags for the Status Quo on Bible prophecies, such as those This prophecy is based on specific Whether the Saudis sign up for the recorded in Leviticus 26 and Deuteron- Bible passages in Ezekiel 5 and 27, Isa- Chinese futures contract or not, the omy 28, which show that if the people of iah 22 and 23 and Revelation 18, and is development is expected to be a game America rejected God, He would bring thoroughly explained in Mr. Flurry’s changer for the global oil industry. the nation to ruin: “Those of you who free books Isaiah’s End-Time Vision and Investment Research Dynamics said truly believe the prophecies of your Ezekiel: The End-Time Prophet. China’s new contract “is a significant Bible know such economic collapse is If China’s new oil futures contract step in removing the global reserve cur- prophesied to happen!” Mr. Armstrong succeeds in pushing oil-exporting rency status of the dollar and resetting continued. “We have shown how God nations away from the dollar and the global economic and geopolitical prophesied a virtual trade war will get toward the gold-backed yuan option— ‘landscape’” (op cit). underway against the United States as numerous experts believe it is James Corbett, founder of the Corbett and Britain—and how our national eco- certain to do—this development will Report, called the development “earth- nomics will falter, and then collapse!” precipitate the dollar’s demise and set shaking” and said it is “potentially Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry the international stage for this prophe- ominous for what it portends for the has also written in his booklet Isaiah’s sied siege to take place. near future.” End-Time Vision that Asian nations will Bible prophecy makes clear that this Corbett said: “If this really is the work in conjunction with European will lead immediately into a time of shot across the bow, then those kinds states to block the U.S. and Britain unprecedented destruction and dev- of shots can turn into real shots very out of world trade. “[W]e believe there astation for the U.S., Britain and Israel, quickly. … Over the course of the next may be a brief alliance between the and that those flames will then spread year, I think we are going to be seeing German-led Holy Roman Empire and to engulf the whole world. some pretty tectonic shifts taking place certain Asian powers (Russia, China, But there is some spectacularly good monetarily, geopolitically and, as a Japan—the kings of the east),” he writes. news connected to this looming crisis. result, potentially militarily. And, well, This group of Asian and European Mankind will survive. Jesus Christ that could kick off any day presumably” countries will function as a “dynamic will interrupt that global conflict and (September 6). market of nations,” he writes, adding usher in a golden age that will saturate that they are “going to besiege America, all countries of the world with stability, A Golden Age Britain and the Jewish nation.” peace and prosperity. He was born to be For five decades, the Trumpet and In Ezekiel: The End-Time Prophet, King of kings in that future world gov- our forerunner magazine the Plain Mr. Flurry offers more vivid details ernment (Luke 1:31-33; John 18:36-37; Truth have warned that a catastrophic about this prophesied siege against Revelation 19:11-16). And financial crisis centered in the U.S. the English-speaking countries: “The its establishment will send deep reverberations across United States and Britain are going to is now just on the the planet and help recolor the entire be left out in the cold as two gigantic horizon. n geopolitical landscape. In 1968, Plain Truth editor in chief Herbert W. Armstrong discussed the What happens when the greenback fades away? Dollar dominance will end soon! To learn how the Trumpet can be so dire economic conditions that would certain, read He Was Right and prove the accuracy of Bible prophecy. afflict America in the end time. “If the u AMERICA’S PRAYERS FROM PAGE 6 to national captivity—both historically Raising the Ruins promise: If we turn from our sins, He and presently! The land that God gave to the tribes will heal us! This applied in the ancient Verse 21 points out that this cata- of Israel was taken away from them past, it applies to the dangerous pres- strophic national tragedy for Judah “[ful- because of sin. It was made desolate, ent, and it applies to the glorious future! filled] the word of the Lord by the mouth and people from other nations con- God does promise to heal our land. of Jeremiah.” God had sent a prophet to quered it. But God had not forsaken the But the people must heed His warning. warn Judah that their sins were leading descendants of Israel forever. The minds of the people must be healed! to captivity. Jeremiah told them how God “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of would heal their land, but they would not Persia, that the word of the Lord spo- Curses and Captivity listen. Their leaders convinced them that ken by the mouth of Jeremiah might We can learn what is ahead for the mod- God would save them, but the people did be accomplished, the Lord stirred up ern descendants of Israel by looking at not turn from their wicked ways—so God the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that what happened to our ancestors. Solo- did not heal their land. he made a proclamation throughout all mon and many people in his kingdom But notice this: The book of Jeremiah his kingdom, and put it also in writing, did turn away from God to a significant is specifically addressed to Israel saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, degree, but the Bible indicates Solomon (Jeremiah 2:4; 3:12; 4:1; 5:15, etc). This is All the kingdoms of the earth hath the repented. After Solomon died, the sin significant, because Jeremiah lived in Lord God of heaven given me; and he and wickedness continued, the king- Judah, and actually witnessed Judah’s hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The OMISSION Vice President Mike Lord his God be with him, and let him Pence has repeatedly go up” (2 Chronicles 36:22-23). quoted 2 Chronicles 7:14—but not all of it. These are the last two verses of the This intentional misquotation Old Testament (in its original form), of 2 Chronicles 7:14 is doubly and they are incredibly hopeful verses! destructive and tragic because the Bible scholars are befuddled by these words they are leaving out are the two concluding verses of Chronicles. words that America needs most! They are exactly the same as the first verses of the book of Ezra. So, they rearranged the books, placing Ezra dom split, and the two sides, Israel and destruction at the hand of Babylon. Yet after Chronicles. Judah, nearly went to war. They both his book was not primarily for Judah. Chronicles centers around David’s continued to sin against God, although It was for Israel, and ancient Israel had throne, which Jesus Christ will rule Judah had a few righteous kings who did been destroyed and taken captive in from when He returns to the Earth. Ezra, lead the people to righteousness—and 721 b.c.—several decades before Jere- who wrote the book, is trying to get us to healing and blessings. But the people miah was even born! Jeremiah never focus on Jerusalem—the future head- continued to turn back to sin, and they delivered his message to ancient Israel quarters of the Earth and the universe! were cursed. They suffered numerous because it no longer existed as a nation. (Request my free booklet The Book of wars and even went to war against each The reason for this is that Jeremiah’s Chronicles to understand this inspiring other at times. Finally, Israel was con- prophecy is for our nations today, the truth.) Look to the future! What a per- quered by the Assyrian Empire, and its descendants of ancient Israel: America fect transition to the New Testament. sinning people were plucked out of their and Britain! These are warnings that God After being freed from slavery, land. Later, Judah was conquered by the wants us to “consider”—which means the Jews returned to Jerusalem, Babylonian Empire, and its sinning peo- understand thoroughly—“in the latter constructed the second temple, and ple were also plucked out of their land. days,” the end time! (Jeremiah 30:24). built a wall around the city. God “And them that had escaped from We must take these warnings seri- healed their land and allowed them the sword carried he away to Babylon; ously! We need God to hear us and to to raise the ruins—a type of God’s where they were servants to him and answer our prayers! Continuing in our Work today and of the healing that his sons until the reign of the kingdom ways and twisting His Word to fit our will soon spread across the of Persia” (2 Chronicles 36:20). National preferences is not the way to ask Him planet and throughout sin leads to national curses, which lead to save us! the entire universe! n cengiz

yar / It’s not just weather. It’s a warning. afp / The destruction inflicted on America and other nations is not senseless. God is allowing it, and He is using it to try to wake us up! getty A powerful verse in the book of Amos reveals key understanding about the tumultuous times you live in. To understand why these

images disasters are occurring and the only solution that will end them, request Gerald Flurry’s free booklet The Lion Has Roared.

26 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET u RELIGIOUS REVIVAL FROM PAGE 17 military power! … They have made a real with the Vatican astride and ruling …” A Growing Trend effort toward union in the Common (Plain Truth, January 1979). Europe’s rediscovery of its Christian Market. … But they well know there is The Catholic Church has been the identity comes mostly as a reaction to but one possibility of union in Europe— one missing ingredient in European Islam. Muslim migration is changing and that is through the Vatican.” unity. And now that ingredient is being the nature of Europe’s cities, and radi- Mr. Armstrong forecast a common added back into the mix. cal Islam is outright attacking them. currency in Europe. In the Novem- The same prophecies that forecast Time has proved that the migration ber-December 1954 Plain Truth, he European unity also foretell that a and the attacks are not going away. wrote, “Germany inevitably [will] church will have major role in leading In response, secular Europe is only emerge as the leader of a united this new superpower. Revelation 17 becoming more Christian. Europe”—a sentiment many in south- describes a woman that sits “upon “We know who we are only when we ern Europe would agree with today. The many waters.” Her power stretches over know who we are not and often only September 1967 Plain Truth declared, a vast portion of the Earth. Typically in when we know whom we are against,” “[O]ne thing you can count on. In fact it the Bible, a woman represents a church. wrote Samuel Huntington in his classic is so sure you can bank on it: The cry The “kings of the earth have committed work The Clash of Civilizations. “For of a political union in Europe will get fornication” with this woman, meaning people seeking identity and reinventing louder.” In April 1952, Mr. Armstrong’s that she is a major political power. ethnicity, enemies are essential.” Many Good News said, “Russia may give East The religious revival in Europe is pav- of Europe’s enemies have been Muslim. Germany back to the Germans and will ing the way for the return of this woman. And so the Continent is adopting the lan- be forced to relinquish her control over The Bible has a great deal to say about guage, symbols and identity of Christi- Hungary, Czechoslovakia and parts of what this European religious power will anity—because that is what most clearly Austria” in order to complete this union. look like. And so does history. Religious distinguishes it from these enemies. So much of this has already happened. empires, in close alliance with the Vati- “Instability and violence in the Middle Mr. Armstrong’s forecasts, based on can, have repeatedly risen in Europe. East has led to Muslim migration to Bible prophecy, have proved accurate. Our free book The Holy Roman Empire Europe,” wrote Geopolitical Futures ana- Yet full union has not yet been achieved. in Prophecy puts this history and proph- lyst Jacob Shapiro. “Muslim migration Why? Mr. Armstrong wrote, “In only ecy together. It proves how much of this has, in turn, stoked nationalism, some- one way can this resurrected Holy prophecy has already been fulfilled. It times to electoral effect, and has even Roman Empire be brought to fruition— shows what is to come in the near future, led to limited European involvement in by the ‘good offices’ of the Vatican, while at the same time proving what a Muslim wars” (August 23). Terrorism, he uniting church and state once again, sure foundation Bible prophecy is. n pointed out, has been rising in Europe since 2005. Nationalism began rising at almost exactly the same time. The ter- rorism is already transforming Europe. The Vatican’s Political Rise “The age-old conflict between Europe he Catholic Church is playing a major and increasing role in world affairs. A few recent and the Middle East, Christendom and T examples illustrate this point. Islam, is simmering once more” (ibid). In 2015, it was because of letters from the pope, delivered in a secret visit to the United Once again, religion is playing a States by Cuban Archbishop Cardinal Jaime Ortega, that the U.S. reestablished diplomatic major role in the fate of Europe! relations with Cuba. The details of that peace deal were hammered out at the Vatican. The Trumpet and, before us, the In September of this year, Pope Francis made a six-day trip to Colombia. This was no Plain Truth have been watching for quiet, pastoral visit. It came after the Catholic Church played the leading role in ending a this development since the 1930s. For conflict that had killed nearly a quarter of a million people. The church negotiated a deal decades Herbert W. Armstrong fore- between Colombia’s government and Marxist militant rebels from the Revolutionary cast that Europe would unite into a Armed Forces of Colombia. Now it is trying to negotiate a similar deal with the National 10-nation superpower. But most of the Liberation Army, another Colombian Marxist separatist group. At the beginning of the Continent’s history is of one European pope’s visit, the leader of one of Colombia’s most powerful drug gangs, the Gulf Clan, sent a nation fighting another. What force is message to the pope and to the Colombian president offering to surrender. strong enough to bind Europe together? Many in Colombia do not support the terms of these church-brokered peace compromises. Attacks on Europe from outside are In fact, they voted against them last year on the grounds that the deal with the Revolutionary one powerful motivating force. Europe- Armed Forces of Colombia granted the Marxist rebels too much. Right or wrong, it is a ans certainly have one common enemy: powerful example of the Catholic Church shaping the fate of nations. radical, extremist Islam. But there is It may soon repeat its mediating role even more overtly in neighboring Venezuela, which one other important factor all European is engulfed in violence. During his trip to Colombia, the pope met with Venezuelan priests. nations share: their Christian heritage. The Catholic Church has long played a role in this conflict. Last October, President Nicolás In August 1978, Mr. Armstrong wrote Maduro met privately with the pope, who has pushed for several efforts at negotiation. in the Christian-living magazine Good As religion revives in Europe, the Catholic Church will soon play a similar role there. News, “Europeans want their own united richard palmer NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017 27 RESCUE A Libyan conditional upon the continued coast guardsman flow of European cash—and thus, watches over illegal immigrants trying to in a sense, beholden to European WORLDWATCH reach Europe. wishes. Libyans have already begun to distrust the GNA for compromising its sovereignty by allowing Europeans to travel around paying people off and by inviting Italian warships into Libyan territorial waters without Europe’s shady migrant consulting other Libyan leaders. Libya losing sovereignty to deal with Libya Europe resonates with historic associations and has powerful prophetic implications. he number of migrants Minniti personally traveled This means Italy has begun Since 2011, editor in chief crossing from Libya to Libya in July to deal with indi- to pay off the very groups Gerald Flurry has pointed to Tinto Italy dropped vidual groups that hold power responsible for smuggling Libya as a flashpoint between dramatically in August, after in key cities along the migrant people through Libya and onto radical Islam led by Iran and Italy reached deals with Libyan routes and promise cash. While boats in the first place. Catholic Europe. This is based on militia groups. most of this money is handed This is how Europe has chosen the prophecy in Daniel 11:40-43, Italian Interior Minister out to the internationally backed to deal with Libyan migrants and which clearly states that Europe Marco Minniti told the Guardian Government of National Accord is why so many fewer migrants will retaliate against the push in an interview published on (GNA), some is flowing directly made it to Italy in August. from radical Islam by taking September 7, “The crucial point from the European Union to Italy While this pay-off scheme over Libya, among other nations. for me had been to go to Libya to the hands of local leaders. seems to be working, it certainly For more about Europe’s to find a solution. In Turkey, with “We discussed a pact,” Minniti undermines Libya’s sovereignty. long-standing strategy in Libya, its migrant crisis, there was said. “It was quite simple: Engage Local militias and tribal please read “Mediterranean a strong leader with which to yourself against the trafficking leaders have been gaining Battle Escalating Into World War work—perhaps too strong. In of human beings and we will help income from smugglers, but III!” from our July 2016 issue Libya, it was the opposite.” you build an alternative economy.” now their business model will be (theTrumpet.com/13891). n

Extending Europe’s borders to Africa Austrian election shakes Europe uropean leaders meeting of its kind in months. devised yet another German newspaper Süddeut- far-right party won one E plan to stem the flow of sche Zeitung wrote that the out of every four votes migrants from Africa during a agreement essentially expands in Austria’s elections on A VICTOR summit in Paris on August 28. Europe’s borders to Africa. Eva October 15. The Freedom Party 31-year-old Kurz Officials from France, Ottavy, of the French charity of Austria (FPÖ) was founded could become Austria’s next Germany, Italy and Spain Cimade, told Agence France- by former members of the Nazi leader. met with leaders from three Presse: “We’re extending the SS. The party, which won 26 countries through which most European border farther and percent of the vote, will almost he took over leadership. A year

migrants travel: Chad, Niger farther away.” certainly be part of Austria’s and a half later, the 31-year-old taha

and Libya. The seven nations North African transit routes new coalition government. is now on his way to becoming jawashi agreed to set up pre-asylum are busy with human trafficking The main winner, the Austrian the youngest leader of any /

hubs in Africa to vet migrants and terrorism that is increas- People’s Party (ÖVP) also raised developed nation. afp /

before they attempt to journey ingly crippling Europe. They eyebrows. Its new leader, How did the ÖVP become the getty to Europe. For those who are also are regions where Europe Foreign Minister Sebastian most popular party in Austria?

images granted asylum, the facilities had strong colonial influence Kurz, dramatically improved the Kurz shifted it to the right—so

will coordinate migration to before World War II, and strong party’s fortunes. Before last May, much so that the far-right party , sean Europe. Those who are denied imperial influence in the times the party had been losing voters complained he was stealing its

gallup asylum will be redirected back of the Holy Roman Empire. and was the junior coalition ideas. The success of the ÖVP /

to their home countries. Intentionally or not, Europe’s partner to Austria’s main left- and the FPÖ, along with Kurz’s getty French President Emmanuel leaders are extending its wing party. The party became so pending chancellorship, shows

images Macron called the summit the borders back to Holy Roman desperate that it agreed to grant that Europe’s shift toward the most effective and far-reaching Empire territory. n Kurz unprecedented powers if right continues. n 28 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET acres. Los Angeles experienced FACING HEAT Firefighters douse flames as a house burns its worst fire ever, and the in California’s Napa region. state’s renowned wine-growing industry was battered. Israeli F-15 Some fires burned for fighter jet months. One in southern Oregon has raged since July, Israel bombs Syrian burning 180,000 acres, and weapons facility Montana is fighting its worst fire season in at least 20 years n September 7, Israeli and possibly in history. missiles struck and The United States Forest O destroyed a Syrian Service has spent around $2.4 military site known for its billion fighting fires so far in production and development of 2017—the most ever shelled out chemical weapons. Record wildfires destruction has affected nine for fire suppression in one year. Experts had reported that torch Western U.S. American states and puts the And it is running out of money. the site was frequented by nation on course for one of its The rise in environmental Iranian chemical weapons ildfires have worst wildfire seasons on record. disasters we are seeing was specialists and Hezbollah scorched more than California suffered its prophesied in your Bible thou- operatives. A United Nations W 8.78 million acres deadliest wildfires in history. At sands of years ago. Jesus Christ commission had just released of the United States so far in least 31 people were killed and forecast that natural disasters a statement citing extensive 2017, according to data collected hundreds missing in blazes that would increase because of evidence that Syrian forces from the National Interagency burned an area the size of New rebellion against God (Matthew had used chemical weapons Fire Center on October 18. The York City—roughly 190,000 24:7-8; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:11). n 20 times during the Syrian civil war. This included the Sarin gas attack on Khan Sheikhun in America New Royal Navy April, which killed 83 Syrians. pours more ‘frigate’ is These are chemical strength into undersized, weapons that Syria supposedly Afghanistan underpowered destroyed or relinquished in 2014 under Russian supervision. nited States ritain announced plans In August, an independent President to build a new frigate panel of UN experts submitted

Donald DEPLOYED on September 7. Yet the a report to the UN Security U U.S. servicemen B Trump announced new Type 31e frigate will prob- Council exposing ongoing arrive in Helmand on August 21 that the Province, ably be smaller, less powerful chemical weapons cooperation U.S. would continue Afghanistan. and less effective than the between North Korea and Syria images troop deployments warships it is designed to replace. and reporting that two North

getty to Afghanistan for the foresee- report, the Afghan government Early designs indicate the vessels Korean shipments en route to /

afp able future. The U.S. plans to now controls less than 60 will lack some of the traditional Damascus had been intercepted / add 4,000 more troops to the percent of the country. The capabilities of frigate-class ships, in the first half of this year. guez

12,000 already there in order to Islamic State is also growing including close-range sonar and On Sept. 6, 2007, Israeli jets jack , combat territorial gains made more active in Afghanistan. anti-submarine weapons. covertly flew into Syria and

images by the Taliban and al Qaeda. President Trump stated The Royal Navy wants the first destroyed a secret nuclear

“We are not nation-building that “the American people are Type 31e completed by 2023, but facility used for the production getty / again,” he said. “We are killing weary of war without victory.” some analysts say this time line is of plutonium. The reactor had terrorists.” President Trump Leviticus 26:16, 19-20 describe unrealistic and that the warships been built with the aid of the renneisen

stated that he had now changed this situation: “I will even will either miss the deadline or North Koreans and the Iranians. his mind from his pre-election appoint over you terror … I will resort to inferior designs. The international community andrew

, position, which opposed break the pride of your power Meanwhile, in 2018, the Royal continues to willfully overlook continuing America’s presence … [a]nd your strength shall be Navy will retire its current such dangerous collusion, images in Afghanistan. spent in vain.” America has anti-ship missiles. Replacements leaving Israel alone to deal with getty

/ The Taliban has now consol- lost 2,500 lives in Afghanistan, for those missiles will not arrive such threats. Bible prophecy afp

/ idated more than 10 percent $800 billion and 17 years to the until “around 2030.” Until then, makes clear that the Jewish of the country and is currently longest war in its history. It has Britain’s warships will have state will be unable to edelson contesting about 30 percent nothing to show, and the end is no missile capability and will single-handedly manage these

josh more. According to a watchdog nowhere in sight. n struggle to sink enemy ships. n threats for much longer. n NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017 29 TORPEDOING AN this is the case, then the U.S. is ALLIANCE? North Korea simply going to have to accept test launches North Korea as a nuclear power.” a strategic ballistic missile. In such a scenario, Geopo- litical Futures said the North Korean regime in Pyongyang could use its nuclear power to pressure South Korea into ending its alliance with the

U.S. and ousting the 28,500 SHINZŌ ABE troops America has stationed Will North Korea in South Korea. “As far-fetched Facing a North as it might seem,” it wrote, “it is Korean threat, force South Korea a viable scenario if Pyongyang Japan accelerates possesses a nuclear deterrent.” remilitarization to oust the U.S.? The ramifications of such an ouster would go far beyond illions of Japanese the Korean Peninsula. “[I]t is a citizens awoke early orth Korea carried clear, Geopolitical Futures wrote: scenario that would profoundly M on September 15 to out its sixth and most “The United States will either change the balance of power in the wail of emergency sirens, N powerful nuclear have to accept North Korea as a East Asia. It would undermine warning that a North Korean test on September 3. The nuclear power, or it will have to the credibility of U.S. security missile was flying toward them. country’s five previous nuclear destroy North Korean nuclear guarantees, forcing countries A text message was sent to detonations tested weapons facilities while it still can. … At such as Japan to reconsider the residents of Hokkaido saying, that use uranium or plutonium stake is nothing less than the terms of their alliance” (ibid). “Missile launch!” as loudspeakers or both. The latest detonation regional balance of power for For decades, the Trumpet has warned them to “take cover in reportedly could have been decades to come” (September 5). expected the balance of power a building or underground.” It from a far more powerful Most analysts believe South in Asia to shift away from the U.S. marked the second time in a thermonuclear hydrogen bomb. Korea would support a U.S. and toward China and Russia. month that Japan’s emergency Such weapons could potentially strike against North Korea. But In our January 2014 issue, we alert system was activated due be small enough to mount on Geopolitical Futures speculated wrote: “The scenario of an Amer- to a North Korean weapons test. North Korea’s intercontinental that it might oppose it: “What ica-free Asia will not remain The North’s increasingly ballistic missile and yield enough if a U.S. attack is predicated hypothetical for much longer. provocative behavior is explosive power to destroy a city. on South Korean involvement? We can already see tectonic prompting the Japanese to build The message the North What if the U.S. can’t attack if geopolitical shifts that are rapidly up their military. Prime Minister Korean test sent to America was Seoul doesn’t participate? If turning it into a reality.” n Shinzō Abe said Japan could “never tolerate” North Korea’s “dangerous provocative action United Nations passes weak that threatens world peace.” str UNANIMOUS BUT WEAK / afp The UN votes to Japan’s current defense

sanctions against North Korea / sanction North getty Korea. plan establishes a 0.8 percent

he United Nations The U.S. watered down its increase in defense spending images Security Council passed proposal and passed Resolu- for each year from 2014 to , T a unanimous resolution tion 2375, which merely caps 2018. But due in large part to tomohiro on September 11 to increase North Korean oil imports at North Korea’s overt threats,

sanctions against North Korea. current levels. This resolution the government now says this ohsumi However, due to Russian and is unlikely to make much of amount needs to increase to 2.5 / Chinese influence, the measure an impact on Pyongyang. South Auditorium, Trumpet editor in percent in order to develop more afp / is much weaker than the United Korean lawmaker Lee Soo-hyuck chief Gerald Flurry emphasized powerful, longer-range missiles. getty

States had hoped. said on September 11 that the cap that the world should be The Japanese public have images Donald Trump’s administra- was “meaningless.” concerned about Russia and resisted previous attempts by , tion had proposed a total ban Writing for Quartz, Steve China, and that those two the government to boost military drew

on exporting oil to North Korea, Mollman said: “[T]he resolution nations enable the North Korean spending. But now, with alarms angerer which would have significantly basically bans or caps what regime to behave as dangerously literally going off in Japanese /

affected the country’s economy China and Moscow permitted to as it does. The United Nations cities, and with the United getty in an effort to change the status be banned or capped.” resolution that was approved States showing itself to be an

images quo. But Russia and China On September 2, during state- just a few days later supported unreliable ally, this resistance to opposed the idea. ments delivered at Armstrong his Bible-based analysis. n remilitarization is weakening. n 30 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET Antifa attacks ‘No to Marxism in America’

everal dozen Antifa clad in black and wearing masks SOCIETYWATCH agitators and anarchists attacked anti-Marxists. In one S attacked and injured six instance, a group of five people people in Berkeley, California, on punched and kicked a man lying August 27 on the campus of the on the ground. Police arrested University of California. Two of 13 people on charges including the victims required hospitaliza- assault with a deadly weapon. tion, and one police officer was also injured. The confrontation More states occurred after a group scheduled a “No to consider legalizing Marxism in America” rally, which was later canceled due to public safety ‘NO U.S.A. AT ALL!’ Antifa assisted suicide renounces America at a concerns. A few dozen rally in Berkeley. anti-Marxist protesters n recent years, a dramat- Less than 1 percent of all came anyway, as did an The attacks came two weeks ically higher number of assisted suicide legislation has estimated 4,000 leftists and an after Antifa made headlines I state legislatures in the been passed into state law, but estimated 100 Antifa members. on August 12 for brawling with United States have begun with the increase in lawmakers Among other things, the leftist neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, debating whether to legalize debating the issue, fueled in group chanted, “No Trump. No Virginia. Yet no neo-Nazis were assisted suicide. Research done part by its growing popularity KKK. No fascist U.S.A.” and “No visible in the Berkeley crowd. by Dr. Jacqueline Abernathy of in mainstream entertainment, Trump. No wall. No U.S.A. at all.” Those who were attacked Tarleton State University says more states may join California, Antifa members hurled insults, by Antifa were part of a rally that since 1994, legislators in 25 Colorado, Montana, Oregon, taunts, water bottles and paint organized by a group called states have debated a total of 231 Vermont, Washington State and at the anti-Marxists and pepper- Patriot Prayer, which says it assisted suicide bills—almost the District of Columbia, where sprayed a man wearing a Patriot supports free speech and the one fifth of which have been it is already legal to help people Prayer shirt. Several dozen First Amendment of the United introduced this year alone. kill themselves. n Antifa agitators and anarchists States Constitution. n

St. Louis riots BREAKING DOWN America’s largest after officer acquittal Rioters confront festival of police in St. Louis in a scene becoming debauchery ore than 120 people increasingly frequent. images

were arrested ens of thousands of getty / M between September people attended the 15 and 17 during three nights of Burning Man festival olson T riots in St. Louis, Missouri. The between August 27 and scott , destruction and violence came September 4. The bacchanalia after former police officer was marked by depravity and images Jason Stockley, who is white, debauchery, including wild getty

/ was acquitted of murder in the raves fueled by hallucinogenic afp / 2011 shooting of Anthony Lamar drugs. “Burners” wore Smith, who was black. American flag, and marched The violence echoed race riots outlandish and provocative osborne In response, protesters through a mall, chanting, “Black that engulfed Ferguson, Missouri, costumes or went nude, many amy

, gathered outside the Carnahan lives matter,” “No justice; no in 2014; Baltimore, Maryland, in engaging in sexual promiscuity Courthouse in St. Louis profits,” “Shut it down,” and 2015; and Charlotte, North Caro- and perversion. The annual and marched through the “You can’t stop the revolution.” lina, in 2016, and are happening event began 31 years ago when downtown. Demonstrators At night, demonstrations and with increasing frequency. To a group of about a dozen friends later threw rocks at the home riots continued, and several learn what Bible prophecy says burned an effigy on a San of the mayor, smashed windows hundred demonstrators outside about it, read Gerald Flurry’s Francisco beach at the summer katarzynabialasiewicz / in police vehicles, assaulted the city jail chanted “Free our article “Where America’s Race solstice. It now attracts 70,000 com . police officers with bricks and people!” in support of those who Riots Are Leading” at people, a picture of American

istock other projectiles, burned the had been arrested for rioting. theTrumpet.com/12158. n moral corruption. n NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017 31 u GENDER FROM PAGE 9 of all medical and mental health pro- knowledge,” Mr. Armstrong continued. made a man and a woman out of the fessionals: Do No Harm. Yet all around Man has excelled at gaining knowledge dust of the earth. The history of this me, physicians, psychiatrists and child of how to deal with material things. Mr. event is recorded simply and beauti- therapists are doing just that—in clinics Armstrong explained, however, that fully in the first pages of the Bible. “So and private practice consultation rooms man needed two other important kinds God created man in his own image, in where parents are advised to take away of knowledge to have a truly happy, suc- the image of God created he him; male their little boy’s dolls and pink tights cessful life: how to build a relationship and female created he them” (Genesis or make their little girls grow out their with God, and how to have a relation- 1:27). You can read further details of buzz cuts; mothers and fathers are ship with others, especially those of his Adam’s creation in Genesis 2:7 and of directed to ignore or punish their chil- own immediate family. Eve’s in verses 21-23. Then, on the very dren’s ‘inappropriate’ gender expres- Adam needed God’s Holy Spirit to day of their creation, God instituted sions and pay attention to or reward gain the other two kinds of knowledge. marriage, making these two human only the ‘gender-appropriate’ ones; and “The Holy Spirit would have imparted beings—a man and a woman—a family! families are sent home to make sure the to him knowledge for contact and rela- Sadly, soon after, that man and gender-nonconforming children are tionship with God—how to get along woman rejected the God who made redirected to same-sex friendships and with his fellowman—how to treat his them and the way of life He had mapped to their same-sex parent as the main or mate and rear his children. But Adam out for them. They thought they could only parent to identify with,” Ehrensaft rejected the Spirit of God (tree of life) devise something better. Mankind has writes (Gender Born, Gender Made: and took to himself the knowledge of been cut off from God and lived misera- Raising Healthy Gender-Nonconforming good and evil,” explained Mr. Arm- ble lives ever since (Genesis 3:22-24). Children). Let’s be reasonable. Who is strong (ibid). We live in the world that The same God who created a man actually harming children? It should be Adam and Eve began—a world in rebel- and a woman has stated clearly that easy to answer that question. lion against its Creator. homosexuality, lesbianism, transgen- Herbert W. Armstrong, the most So where does this leave us on the derism and even cross-dressing are important theologian of the 20th cen- subject of transgenderism? Children wrong (Leviticus 20:13; Deuteronomy tury, wrote a groundbreaking article are born with the same human spirit as 22:5; Romans 1:26-27). The Apostle titled “What Psychologists Don’t Know an adult. A child can think, reason and Peter warned that those who commit About Child Rearing.” He wrote: “The make decisions. But at birth, a child’s such sins, unless they repent, will face psychologists who reject the revealed mind is a blank slate. He must be taught severe punishment (2 Peter 2:6). Word of God cannot rightly teach you to think and reason properly. He must Can Diane Ehrensaft offer this world how to rear children. They do not know be taught about gender and the God-or- something better than what God offered what the human mind is” (Plain Truth, dained purposes behind sex. Boys must our first parents? Read carefully what October 1984). All parents must learn be taught how to be men; girls must she writes: “As the 21st century rolls on, that eliminating gender confusion is a be taught how to be women. Parents we are bearing witness to an explosion matter of proper child rearing. should teach their sons and daughters in the acknowledgment, understanding All proper child rearing begins with about the proper use of clothing and liv- and celebration of people of all genders understanding how God created the ing a sexually moral life. Parents should and sexualities. Gender used to be human mind. “Adam, the first created teach their children to live by and obey bedrock, and now we’ve converted it human, was created with a spirit in all of God’s Ten Commandments. This into moving boulders. Marriage used him,” wrote Mr. Armstrong. “The spirit flies in the face of all modern think- to be the sole providence of a man and was not a ‘soul.’ The breathing physical ing, but it is the only way to solve this a woman, and I should add as a man and man was the soul (Genesis 2:7). The world’s growing social problems. a woman who started out that way. Now spirit in him did not impart life to him. Mr. Armstrong expounded on this we recognize marriage as the loving His breathing imparted the breath of teaching on the human spirit and God’s union between two people of any gender life to his circulatory system. So says purpose and plans for mankind in his and any sexual identity” (ibid). This God” (ibid). This is astounding biblical book The Incredible Human Potential. psychologist celebrates the destruc- revelation that few understand today. We are happy to send tion of gender as a bedrock of human Study Job 32:8 and 1 Corinthians 2:11. you this book free of society; she celebrates that (according “Adam was created with a human spirit charge and without to man’s law) marriage is no longer the by which, of himself, he could acquire follow up. n sole possession of a man and a woman. She celebrates homosexuality and cross-dressing. Do we see that she also celebrates confusing little children? You aren’t alone. Do you feel pressured to accept wrong ideals? An agenda to destroy What Psychologists Don’t Know family is at work. To learn who is behind it and what is ultimately at “As a clinical psychologist, I am bound stake, request your free copy of Redefining Family. by the oath that dictates the actions 32 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET like natural-born saints, sages and savants. The human nature in each one of us is a selfish savage that must be PRINCIPLES civilized. As children, we have it in spades—unless par- OF LIVING ents (and teachers) diligently confront it. That’s why Prov- erbs 29:15 says, “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” Civilize Your Where this reality truly hit me was on the playground. I spent three recesses outside with Children first graders, then second graders, then fifth graders. Each successive mob was Contrary theories aside, worse behaved. The fifth graders, real life shows that babies having lived more years without being don’t refine themselves. properly civilized, displayed genuine savagery. Everywhere I turned, it was on parade: ome years ago I spent a day at my eldest name-calling, accusing, cursing, screaming, boast- daughter’s elementary school, and I learned quite a ing, pushing, sulking, cheating. S bit—about human nature. Most of these same kids had just been inside under I was participating in a school program that invited students’ the authority of effective, qualified teachers who had kept a fathers to be on campus throughout the day, serving as an lid on this ugliness. The level of viciousness displayed on this extra pair of eyes policing the halls, an playground correlated precisely with the lack of government extra set of hands helping in classrooms. in their lives at that moment. I witnessed some impressive things Take a good student out of the structure of a disciplined in some classes. One teacher had her classroom and turn him loose with 60 other kids and virtually fourth graders breaking down sen- no supervision, and you have The Lord of the Flies. tences grammatically with jaw-drop- I have noticed the same dynamic at work in my own home. ping precision. As they recited in perfect Every time my family gets overly busy and I in particular begin unison rules about “semantic gradabil- letting events overtake us, then the savagery emerges. If my joel hilliker ity” and “inflectional morphology,” I wife and I don’t pay close attention, it gets louder and uglier wondered how inexpensive it would be until it’s too obvious to ignore and we step in with a firm enough. to hire one of those 9-year-olds to tutor me in grammar. That’s not how God intended family to be. Yet this “ignore Other classrooms were different. Teachers were still the barbarians until they drive you mad” form of child train- instructing, but private conversations were bubbling up ing is perhaps the commonest method in the Western world. continuously, and virtually any minor distraction derailed Parents, maintain a steady civilizing presence in your chil- students from the task at hand. Students spoke out whenever dren’s lives. Provide their minds and energies with activities, thoughts popped into their heads—even rude ones. instruction, discipline, reading, games, work, chores, crafts, I’m no expert in elementary education, but I believe I can charts, schedules, rewards, punishments, supervision. distill the difference between the educational and the less-​ Kids crave structure. When it isn’t there, they act more and educational classrooms down to a single factor: the teacher’s more wild until they get it. Structure helps free your child’s determination to confront bad behavior. energies from following his every whim and enables him to Put a bunch of kids together and you are bound to see some focus—and to achieve some amazing things. bad behavior. It often starts small. But if it isn’t confronted, it Don’t get me wrong, family is not boot camp. You don’t have spreads. A child talks while the teacher is instructing. If noth- to exert enormous effort to steer clear of pandemonium in ing happens, the next kid thinks: Huh! I guess that’s OK. So favor of structured or even lightly supervised play. And they he talks. Some other kid thinks, Well if she can do that, I’ll do need room to make mistakes. Let them play. Beware of criti- THIS. In no time, the room sounds like Grand Central Station. cizing them for every word or deed that reveals what they are: Sometimes I think children are hardwired to continue little people who are not yet civilized. getting louder until someone tells them enough. Teach your children the overall principle: When they do The truth is, they are getting louder specifically to test how things decently and in order—as God does—life is happier, long it takes before someone tells them enough. more fun, more rewarding in every way. Dr. Albert Siegel once wrote, “When it comes to rearing As our children grow, the responsibility for structuring children, every society is only 20 years away from barbarism. their lives and bridling their impulses must gradually shift Twenty years is all we have to accomplish the task of civilizing onto their own shoulders. They need practice at civilizing the infants who are born into our midst each year. These sav- the savage within. Otherwise, the moment your child is on ages know nothing of our language, our culture, our religion, his own, he will reveal that he is just a bigger version of the

imgorthand our values, our customs of interpersonal relations. … The savage fifth grader on the playground. If you want to know / barbarian must be tamed if civilization is to survive.” what that looks like, visit an American university. com . It’s a bit dramatic, but the principle is painfully true. Calling The task of civilizing the precious infants born to us is a istock children savages reflects reality far better than treating them crucial duty. Twenty years is all we have. n NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017 33 DISCUSSION BOARD

This magazine is so different. My son brings over the newspaper when he visits, and I read that. But it’s different when I pick up the Trumpet. It analyzes everything so well, and it gives you a better understanding compared to the other news.

Ellen Ballard nevada

Just by looking at the cover, you are I am so, so happy to have found your awakened by alarms of intrigue, or you magazine. I am 82 years old, and when I was should be. What a wonderful artist the a young man I never learned more about work has! religion from anyone other than the good I like to read your world events. I would

Kristopher B. Willsey texas Herbert W. Armstrong. I am happy to see he like to know more about how world events is still alive in spirit. It means a lot to me. combine with the Bible, with some related

We have the Trumpet in our local library, and Carl Salamun california Islamic events, if it is possible.

I am happy to see that so people can pick Mohammad Qamar Khan karachi, pakistan it up. You have one of the most informative I am enjoying the Trumpet and getting lots magazines. I used to be in the Roman Catholic of insights from the many fascinating and I really like your Trumpet. No other Church, but I left it; that is one of the biggest inspiring articles, most especially those magazine speaks to me so loudly. The cults in the world. I really wish the Trumpet prophecy-related. I am eagerly looking knowledge is incredible! You can’t have a came out every week like Time magazine. You forward to receiving monthly physical favorite editor; they all say something so are covering everything so well. copies of your articles as well. Thank you. important every time.

Wanda Rossi fond du lac, wisconsin David Welle Terence Dahle ontario, canada

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34 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET COMMENTARY What the Weinstein Scandal Teaches Us About America

The problem goes way beyond Hollywood. by joel hilliker

ne of the most powerful men in entertainment, Jesus Christ told us to judge by fruits, and the revelations Harvey Weinstein, now stands exposed as a serial about Harvey Weinstein are fruits by which his industry O womanizer and a brazen pervert, a fitting symbol of a should be judged. corrupt industry. In not-unrelated news, pornographer Hugh Since the truths about Weinstein have emerged, others Hefner recently died, and was widely eulogized as a cultural have denounced him—only to be subsequently exposed for revolutionary who valiantly conquered sexual repression. similar sins of their own. More and more women are emerg- Few would acknowledge it, but there is a link between these ing with accusations against more and more actors and indus- episodes and the spate of curses besieging America lately: hur- try leaders. But that’s not all. One former child star insists ricanes, wildfires, mass shootings, political chaos, social frag- that sexual harassment of women in Hollywood is secondary mentation and so on. The immorality that gave us Hefner and to the greater problem of sexual harassment of children. His Weinstein is the direct cause of these effects—far more so than explosive charge was backed up by the 2015 documentary An global warming, inadequate gun control, or systemic racism. Open Secret, which exposed the “pedophilia epidemic” inside Weinstein had been indulging in his gross escapades for the entertainment industry. decades. He targeted dozens of women. Many acquiesced to These are people with enormous social influence. These are his salacious demands, and many more caved in to his threats people Americans subsidize and idolize. They shape society’s to keep quiet, fearing harm to their careers. attitudes, change its standards, animate its dreams. Now everyone is piling on Harvey Weinstein. Suddenly, every- God calls America “an hypocritical nation” for good reason one is appalled. Politicians who accepted millions of his dollars (Isaiah 10:6). Hollywood culture is intrinsically, undeniably are acting disgusted and shocked. But Weinstein’s behavior and epically hypocritical. It masquerades as feminist and was no secret. People in Hollywood say that everyone knew. pro-women, while it treats women as sex objects—in private Employees helped him get alone with vulnerable woman after at parties and in public at the cinema. It rails against guns in vulnerable woman. Untold numbers—including his political the political arena but romanticizes gun violence on the silver connections—looked the other way. His sins were condoned and screen. Its moral standards are as fake as its movie sets. This nurtured within the fetid incubator that is America’s entertain- shouldn’t shock us. This industry’s business is playacting. Its ment industry. He thrived within a vast system of complicity. product is image. Pretending like Weinstein’s perversion is some sort of A lot of people are getting a self-righteous charge out of con- anomaly in Hollywood is as phony as a Styrofoam movie prop. demning one movie producer right now. The Motion Picture He was abetted by a casting-couch culture that has pervaded Academy booted him and said, “[T]he era of willful ignorance this industry from its earliest days. and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and Scripture condemns not only the adulterer, but also the one workplace harassment in our industry is over.” We’ll see. But who keeps company with him (Psalm 50:18). don’t expect the product to change. Nobody can be genuinely shocked at this man’s immorality. Romans 1 condemns those who reject God and take on a Hollywood glamorizes immorality. The fact that this powerful reprobate mind, becoming filled with all unrighteousness, producer—whose movies have made billions of dollars and fornication, wickedness, maliciousness, deceit and malig- images won dozens of prestigious film awards—could commit these nity. But God doesn’t just condemn those who commit such things—He also condemns those who “have pleasure in them

getty sexual crimes for so long highlights the nature of the people / he mixed with and the product he peddled. Tens of thousands that do them.” That’s a whole lot of people in America today. of people in Hollywood literally work day in and day out to Can we then turn around and expect only blessings? “How rodriguez e

script, rehearse, build sets for, film, edit, polish, mass market, shall I pardon thee for this?” God asks through one of His distribute, project and broadcast this exact kind of private prophets (Jeremiah 5:7-9). “[T]hy children have forsaken me, alberto

, vice. How can society suddenly condemn his reprehensible and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to actions, yet not recognize the problem with the films that the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled them- disseminate this culture far and wide? How is a secluded selves by troops in the harlots’ houses. They were as fed horses jdawnink / solicitation worse than one that is recorded, glamorized and in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour’s wife. com . distributed worldwide? Society cannot freely enjoy the latter Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: and shall not istock without having to deal with the former as an ugly consequence. my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?” n NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017 35 u LAS VEGAS FROM PAGE 1 That verse has bad news—but also very good news! Satan’s time left on Earth is “short”! He is about to be kicked off his throne on this Earth and banished by the King of kings (Revelation 20:1-2). However, in the short term, our world is going to experience worse and worse atrocities as Satan’s great wrath reaches unparalleled heights! A demoniacal gunman firing on a crowd is only the start. Look around Philadelphia Trumpet editor at the explosion of crises plaguing our world: weather in chief Gerald Flurry appears disasters, racial hatred and social unraveling, economic each week on The Key of David volatility, international instability, nuclear proliferation! explaining the meaning behind Christ prophesied that these problems would culmi- world events and teaching the nate in a short period of the worst suffering in human inspiring truths of the Bible. history! (Matthew 24:21). The program is also available The world keeps looking for material explanations— at keyofdavid.com. even as it gets consumed in spiritual darkness! If you leave God out of the picture, not only can you not understand events, but they will lead to a catastrophic ALL TIMES ARE A.M. LOCAL TIME UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED climax: human annihilation! (verse 22). This is a stark UNITED STATES reality that the media and politicians refuse to face. If Nationwide Satellite Salinas KION 9:30, Sun there is no God, we are not going to survive. Galaxy 3 Trans. 17 11:30 ET, Tue/Thu San Francisco KKPX 6:00, Fri AT&T U-verse Santa Barbara-Santa Maria KSBY-DT But there is a God. He is letting us go our own way for Entertainment Studios, 7:30 ET, Sun 9:30, Sun the time being so we can see that we are unable to prop- Direct TV Colorado, Denver KPXC 5:00, Fri CW Plus, Chan. 34, 9:30 ET/PT, Sun Grand Junction KJCT-DT 8:30, Sun erly rule ourselves! ION, Chan. 305, 6:00 ET, Fri Montrose KJCT-DT 8:30, Sun You know, if you have lived a while, that you can’t solve Justice Central/Comedy.tv, 7:30 ET, Sun Connecticut, Hartford WHPX 6:00, Fri Dish Network Florida, Gainesville WCJB-DT 9:30, Sun your problems. I couldn’t. I just made a disaster of my life ION, Chan. 216, 6:00 ET, Fri Jacksonville WPXC/WPXJ-LP 6:00, Fri trying to do things my way. I had to learn that that would Justice Central, 7:30 ET, Sun Miami WPXM 6:00, Fri Verizon FiOS Orlando WOPX 6:00, Fri never work! Entertainment Studios, 7:30 ET, Sun Panama City WJHG-DT 8:30, Sun What sort of disasters will it take before people learn Nationwide Cable Pensacola WFGX 7:30, Sun CW Plus, 9:30 ET/PT, Sun Tallahassee WTXL 7:30, Sun; WTLF/ that lesson? ION, 6:00 ET/PT, Fri WTLH-DT 9:30, Sun “And take heed to yourselves,” God says in Luke 21. Buckeye Systems Tampa WXPX 6:00, Fri Justice Central/Comedy.tv, 7:30 ET, Sun West Palm Beach WPXP 6:00, Fri Watch yourself! You cannot trust your human nature. You CenturyLink Georgia, Albany WFXL 10:30, Sun cannot trust anybody but God. Take heed, “lest at any time Entertainment Studios, 7:30 ET, Sun WSWG-DT 9:30, Sun Mediacom Atlanta WPXA 6:00, Fri your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunken- Comedy.tv/Pets.tv, 7:30 ET, Sun Augusta-Aiken WAGT-DT 9:30, Sun ness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you NCTC Brunswick WPXC 6:00, Fri Entertainment Studios, 7:30 ET, Sun Columbus WLTZ-DT 9:30, Sun unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that Suddenlink Macon WMAZ-DT 9:30, Sun dwell on the face of the whole earth” (verses 34-35). Comedy.tv, 7:30 ET, Sun Savannah WGSA-DT 9:30, Sun Alabama, Birmingham WPXH 5:00, Fri; Thomasville WTLF/WTLH-DT 9:30, Sun This is a promise from God. Nightmares are not going WVUA 8:30, Sun Hawaii, Hawaii Na Leo Chan. 54 6:30, Sun; to be restricted to cities like Las Vegas and pockets of Dothan WDFX 8:30, Sun 8:30, Wed WTVY-DT 8:30, Sun Kaui Ho’ Ike Chan. 52 9:30, Tue the world. Tribulation is coming upon all those on this Mobile WFGX 7:30, Sun Maui/Lanaii/Molokai/Niihau/Akaku whole Earth. God is going to correct all people! Montgomery-Salem WBMM-DT/WNCF-DT Chan. 52 6:30 pm, Sun; 3:30, Mon 8:30, Sun Oahu Focus Chan. 49 7:00 am, Sat So here is what you need to do, and we all need to Alaska, Anchorage KYUR-DT 8:30, Sun Chan. 27 5:00 am, Fri KPXO do: “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be Fairbanks KATN-DT 8:30, Sun Idaho, Boise KYUU-LP/KBOI-DT 8:30, Sun Juneau KJUD-DT 8:30, Sun Idaho Falls KIFI-DT 8:30, Sun accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall Arizona, Phoenix KPPX 5:00, Fri; Pocatello KIFI-DT 8:30, Sun come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (verse 36). KASW 8:00, Sun Twin Falls KMVT-DT 8:30, Sun Yuma KECY-DT 8:30, Sun Illinois, Bloomington WEEK-DT 8:30, Sun Moffatt translates that verse as, “From hour to hour Arkansas, El Dorado KNOE-DT 8:30, Sun Chicago WCUU 7:00, Mon-Fri; WCIU 9:30, keep awake”! Keep awake! 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