FEBRUARY 2018 | THETRUMPET.COM
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How the wrangling over the Holy City hastens Bible prophecy FEBRUARY 2018 | VOL. 29, NO. 2 | CIRC. 248,247 COVER The fight over Jerusalem (gary dorning/trumpet)
NO RECOGNITION Female members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group protest President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. (mohammed abed/afp/getty images)
FEATURES
1 FROM THE EDITOR 16 Why We Translate Into 10 Languages DEPARTMENTS How King Hezekiah Saved 28 WORLDWATCH Jerusalem Anciently 18 INFOGRAPHIC 31 SOCIETYWATCH American Education Is Failing 2 COVER STORY 33 PRINCIPLES OF LIVING Donald Trump Brings Prophecy 20 North Korea, Balloon Warriors— The Encourager Alive in Jerusalem and a World Held Captive 34 DISCUSSION BOARD 4 An Unremarkable Declaration 22 North Korea—Truly an Isolated State? 35 COMMENTARY 7 WHY THE TRUMPET WATCHES 26 The Significance of the A Lesson From Backflipping Robots America’s Retreat From Global Hezekiah Bulla Leadership 36 THE KEY OF DAVID TELEVISION LOG 32 The Smoke and Mirrors of Medical 10 The Deadly Climate Change Marijuana Deception
13 U.S. Economy: Germany’s Next Crisis 14 Will Donald Trump’s Tax Plan Lead to Trade War?
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 How King Hezekiah Saved Jerusalem Anciently
The world’s attention is riveted on the Holy City as dangers increase. Some history shows how Jerusalem’s security could be guaranteed.
he world is up in arms over United States President Jerusalem has never been a point of debate. Only Arab leaders Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the who say Israel shouldn’t exist at all dispute the Jews’ claim T capital of the Jewish state of Israel. Leaders all over the over the area where the U.S. plans to move its embassy! world made strong statements against it. Protests filled the So this announcement supposedly destroys the peace pro- streets in several capitals. Palestinian leaders called for a cess. But the truth is that the peace process has been a farce violent uprising. No city stirs passions like Jerusalem! from the beginning! It has been a deadly “wound” to Israel It is remarkable to see this city (Hosea 5:13). You can read more about this in my free booklet continually in the news. But when you Jerusalem in Prophecy. understand the Bible’s prophecies, you Other nations now say the United States cannot mediate in know why this is the case. the Middle East. Europeans are putting themselves forward The truth is, no city stirs God’s as the natural replacement. This is exactly what Bible proph- passions like Jerusalem! This city is ecy foretold (article, page 2). And Bible prophecy also tells us extremely important to God—like no the horrifying outcome of Europe’s involvement! city on Earth. gerald flurry God says Jerusalem will be a “burden- some stone” and “all that burden them- “Peace in the Middle East cannot selves with it shall be cut in pieces” (Zechariah 12:3). In a sense, be achieved by one side dictating you can see this fulfilled to a certain degree today. Every effort the conditions.” —Spiegel Online to solve the impasse over Jerusalem has ended in failure. Jerusalem means “city of peace.” Yet if you understand the The German media had a lot to say about President Trump’s history of Jerusalem, this could be likened to a sick joke. This announcement. “Donald Trump has made a historic mistake,” city’s history has been filled with rivers of blood. No city has wrote Spiegel Online. “Peace in the Middle East cannot be seen more bloodshed! No city has suffered like Jerusalem. It achieved by one side dictating the conditions” (Dec. 7, 2017; has known almost no peace! Trumpet translation throughout). Their general view is that But there is very good news. This blood-soaked city will yet the Jews are occupiers and the Palestinians are victims. Is become a city of peace. that an unbiased view? Anyone who thinks that Germany and Europe would be an Europe’s Response impartial mediator in this conflict needs to see reality. There is Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. It has been right at the heart a strong swell of hatred for the Jews in Europe. Reports of rising of the Jews’ presence in that area for thousands of years (“An anti-Semitism in Germany are routine. On the weekend after Unremarkable Declaration,” page 4). President Trump’s announcement, thousands of people demon- Every country has its embassy in the other country’s capital, strated in Berlin. Polls show a lot of hatred for Jews growing in but they are afraid to do that where Jerusalem is concerned. that nation today. We see that in their stance on Jerusalem. The last three American presidents had promised to move the In an article titled “Jerusalem Dispute: EU Rejects Net- American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem because that anyahu,” Spiegel Online reported, “Benjamin Netanyahu is irrefutably the capital. But they never followed through on demands that Europeans recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s their promise because they were intimidated by the Arabs. capital, but EU foreign ministers are giving the premier a cool However, President Trump has moved forward on that reception in Brussels” (Dec. 11, 2017). promise. He hasn’t let the Arabs or anyone else intimidate “For 3,000 years, Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jew- him. He may have to pay a price for that. ish people,” Netanyahu said at a meeting in Brussels. He said Across the world, probably the most common response to that has been the case since it was “established by King David, his announcement was that it proved America can no longer [which is] well documented in the history of the Bible ….” be the mediator of the Arab-Jew peace process. They said that In response to his statement, Spiegel Online quoted a profes- recognizing Israel’s capital in West Jerusalem betrays a bias sor of history and culture of ancient Judaism and Christianity against the Palestinians—even though Israel’s hold on West HEZEKIAH PAGE 24 u FEBRUARY 2018 1 Donald Trump Brings Bible Prophecy Alive in JERUSALEM
America’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital was a good one, but not for the reasons you might think. by brad macdonald
hen United States significantly accelerated the fulfillment President Donald of three key end-time Bible prophecies. Trump recognized That means this decision thrust us Jerusalem as Israel’s much closer to the coming of the Messiah! capital on Dec. 6, 2017,W the announcement pleased many One: A Vanishing Superpower Jews around the world and was an One of the most significant effects of injection of confidence and hope for President Trump’s decision is that it the people of Israel, including Prime will be used to undermine and margin- Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But alize America’s role as the chief broker elsewhere—throughout the Middle for peace in Israel. East, Europe, Asia and elsewhere, it This should not happen. The fact that was panned as a terrible blow to peace. America’s president showed himself That the announcement was contro- capable of telling the truth ought to versial is a measure of just how difficult inspire confidence in Washington. and perplexing issues surrounding But this is not the way the Palestinians, Jerusalem can be. In many ways, Mr. the Muslim world and the liberal West Trump’s support was a simple statement see it. They saw Trump’s announcement of fact (sidebar, page 4). It did not change as a sign that the U.S. is not objective the status quo nearly as much as the 2016 and therefore cannot be trusted to lead United Nations Security Council resolu- peace negotiations. Most people agree tion that declared Israeli communities with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, in the West Bank illegal and invalid. Yet who said that Mr. Trump had “crossed that decision was universally accepted, all the red lines with the Jerusalem while this was treated as though it would decision” and had disqualified America spark a violent intifada and destroy pros- as a peace broker in the Middle East. pects for advancing the peace process. A few days after Mr. Trump’s deci- Ultimately, this victory for Israel sion, representatives from 57 Muslim and Mr. Trump will come with a heavy nations met in Istanbul to discuss how price. Since the decision was made, it the Muslim world should respond. The has been hijacked and manipulated to gathering produced the Istanbul Decla- harm Israel, to undermine America, ration on Freedom for al Quds (the Ara- and to create more hostility, tension bic word for Jerusalem). Among other and violence in Jerusalem. conclusions, this dossier stated that But the fallout from Mr. Trump’s America could no longer be recognized decision will not be entirely negative. as an “unbiased” voice in peace talks. This announcement, and the reaction The Arab nations were supported from the international community, has by leaders of the United Nations and 2 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET mandel ngan /afp/getty images UNITED Israeli PrimeMinister Netanyahu stand united onJerusalem. U.S. President Trump and The absence of the U.S. in these end- time prophecies is telling: By the time these events unfold, America has been marginalized as a world player. Now let’s notice a more specific prophecy in Hosea 5:13. This end-time prophecy says, “When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then RAGE Demonstrators wave went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent Palestinian flags in front of the Brandenburg Gate in to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, Berlin, Germany, as they nor cure you of your wound.” Proving protest Trump’s declaration. the identity of Ephraim (Britain), Judah (the Jewish state) and Assyria (Germany) Europe, and even the pope, all of others) describe the emergence of three is not that difficult. You can prove it for whom forcefully condemned President powerful Gentile powers: a German-led yourself by reading our free book The Trump’s decision and said that it under- European empire, the Iran-led king of United States and Britain in Prophecy. mined peace in Israel and Jerusalem. the south, and an Asian conglomerate, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry The way this situation has been manip- led by the “prince of Russia” (Vladimir explained more than 20 years ago that ulated to attack the U.S. is significant. Putin). Daniel 11 and Ezekiel 38 do not this prophecy is about Israel’s peace Regular Trumpet readers will be discuss America (nor Britain). Isaiah 10 process. The term “wound” describes familiar with the end-time prophecies does discuss America, but it depicts the Israel’s struggle with the Palestinians. in Daniel 11:40-45, Ezekiel 38 and U.S. as a helpless victim of the Ger- (This is proved thoroughly in Jerusalem Isaiah 10. These prophecies (among man-led European beast power. in Prophecy, free upon request.) But
An Unremarkable Declaration
There shouldn’t be anything controversial about saying Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. by brad macdonald
hen U.S. President Donald Trump officially stint in Egypt, Abraham established his family home “between recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and Bethel and Hai” (verse 3), only 10 miles or so from Jerusalem. W pledged to move the American Embassy to Jeru- Abraham visited Jerusalem often. Genesis 14 talks about salem, the announcement plunged the civilized world into Abraham visiting there and dining with the “king of Salem.” mass hysteria. Pundits called it the “kiss of death” for peace Abraham even paid tithes to Jerusalem’s king. A study into between Israel and the Palestinians and said it would plunge Abraham’s life shows that his behavior, lifestyle and ambi- the world into “a fire with no end.” tions—his entire identity—was shaped by Jerusalem, by his In fact, the truth at the heart of this announcement is relationship with the high priest and king in Jerusalem, and entirely unremarkable. It was a simple formal recognition by his hope in the prophecies about Jerusalem. of a demonstrable truth, a truth that rational human beings Abraham passed this affection for Jerusalem on to his the world over have accepted for 4,000 years. Since the time offspring, especially his son Isaac, grandson Jacob and his of Abraham, humanity has recognized Jerusalem as the family. Between about 2000 b.c. and 1750 b.c., Abraham and capital of the Jews’ homeland and a city that is inextricably his extended family populated a vast amount of territory in connected to Judaism and the Jewish identity. the land of Canaan, including a lot of land east of the Dead Sea Granted, many of these people did not particularly like this (in modern-day Jordan). At the center of Abraham’s realm was reality, and there were periods when foreign powers (such as Jerusalem. the Babylonians, Romans and Turks) managed to temporarily Abraham’s descendants (the Israelites) were captives in wrest control of the city from the Jews. But whether they liked Egypt between the mid-18th century and the mid-15th cen- it or not, humanity for four millennia has at least recognized tury b.c. But upon their release, they returned to Canaan, the Jews’ historic attachment to Jerusalem. and by the beginning of the 14th century b.c., had once again It is generally believed that the Jews’ history with Jerusalem settled the land, inhabiting territory that extended from
began with King David in the 11th century. In fact, the Jews’ Egypt in the south to Dan (near modern-day Damascus) to the sean attachment to Jerusalem began about 1,000 years earlier. north; and from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the land
gallup The Old Testament (and Jewish historians) plainly reveal of Edom, Moab and Ammon east of the Jordan River and Dead / that Abraham was the great-grandfather of Judah, the son of Sea. We know too that the tribe of Judah (Jews) inhabited a getty Jacob from whom the Jewish people descended. Abraham was large section of land in the south—land that included the city
images born in Chaldea and spent time in Egypt, but his homeland was of Jerusalem (which they shared with the Jebusites). You can the land of Canaan. Genesis 13 shows that following his short read this history in Joshua 15. 4 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET notice: America is not even mentioned! Chief Federica Mogherini said Dec. 7, Germans—to come up with new ideas The time is coming when Israel will 2017. She also said the announcement and new formats” for securing peace not look to America for help in the “could diminish the potential role” of between Israel and the Palestinians peace process. the U.S. The EU is “now determined to (Dec. 8, 2017). Why not? Because the U.S. will have play an even more convinced and active German Foreign Minister Sigmar been pushed out of that process! role in trying to relaunch the peace Gabriel made similar remarks. Accord- Part of the reason America is process” (emphasis added throughout). ing to von Mittelstaedt, “No other sidelined, Mr. Flurry explains in Jeru- Other European foreign ministers conflict should be as important to salem in Prophecy, is that by this point, concurred. French Foreign Minister Europe as the one between the Israelis America “will be too weak and too sick Jean-Yves Le Drian said: “We’ve been and the Palestinians.” She also said that itself to help.” waiting already for several months Germany and Europe needed to develop for the American initiative, and if one a peace strategy in “cooperation with Two: The German Savior is not forthcoming then the European moderate Arab countries” in the region. President Trump’s decision to recog- Union will have to take the initiative.” Does this sound familiar? The nize Jerusalem lit a fire in European The Germans seemed especially prophecy in Hosea 5:13 states, “When capitals. Following the announcement, enthused about the opportunity to get Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah many European leaders and journalists more involved in Israel. A few days after saw his wound, then went Ephraim to openly called for Europe to get much the announcement, Der Spiegel ran an the Assyrian ….” Here is how Mr. Flurry more involved in the peace process. editorial titled “Time for Europe to explained it, again, more than 20 years “The European Union will engage Take the Lead on Peace.” The article ago: “Hosea prophesies that wounded even more with the parties and with said Mr. Trump’s decision “disqualifies Judah [Israel] and sick Ephraim [Brit- our regional and international part- the United States as a mediator.” Thus ain] will go to Germany for help. Why? ners,” European Union Foreign Policy “it is now up to us—the Europeans, the Because America is even sicker than
In the mid-11th century b.c., King David, a warrior from the tribe of Judah, consolidated Israel’s power and transformed the nation into a regional power. Like his forefather Abraham, King David’s life orbited around Jerusalem. The Jewish king augmented Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, fortifying it as the seat of Israel’s political, cultural and religious identity. King David was succeeded by his son Solomon. Under Solomon, Israel became a world empire with two navies, tin REALITY President and copper mines in Arabia, and a trade network reaching Trump displays his signed into Africa and Asia (1 Kings 10). But of all King Solomon’s proclamation recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. incredible accomplishments, his crowning achievement was the work he did developing Jerusalem, all of which revolved around the construction of the first temple. Romans conquered the region in the first century b.c. But After Solomon’s death, Israel split into two nations. The even though they didn’t control Jerusalem, the Jews main- nation of Judah (comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benja- tained a large presence in the city throughout Roman rule, min) remained in the south and continued to revolve around right up until Jerusalem’s destruction in a.d. 70. The Jews did the temple in Jerusalem. Jerusalem remained the political not regain control over the city after the Roman conquest— nucleus of the Jewish people till the early sixth century b.c. over the next 1,600 years the city was controlled by Muslims, In 585 b.c., the city was destroyed and the remaining Jews Catholics, Ottomans and the British—but they did maintain were taken captive to Babylon. But the Jews’ disappearance an uninterrupted presence there and in the wider region from Jerusalem was short-lived. Seventy years later, Persia’s until they regained control in the 20th century. King Cyrus—recognizing the Jews’ abiding attachment to This history is undeniable. Jerusalem has been central to images Jerusalem—allowed a contingent to return and rebuild the Judaism and the Jewish identity for 4,000 years. No other getty
/ city. The Jewish population grew, and over the next five cen- people on Earth are as inextricably attached to a city or region afp
/ turies, Jerusalem was inhabited mainly by Jews (though it was as the Jews are to Jerusalem.
ngan visited, sometimes with painful consequences, by attackers Yes, this truth is contentious and, for some, inconvenient.
from both the north and south). But it’s still the truth: Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital, mandel The Jews lost significant control over Jerusalem when the literally and figuratively, since the time of Abraham. n FEBRUARY 2018 5 Three: Devastating Self-reliance is what Mr. Flurry wrote more than 20 America recognizing Jerusalem as Isra- years ago: “It seems the Israelis can el’s capital reinforced the popular nar- trust their worst historical enemy, rative that the Palestinians are helpless but they can’t trust God to protect victims and that Israel is a tyrannical them! And God is their only source of apartheid state. That is not the truth. But help” (op cit; emphasis his). even in the West, the accepted narrative is the one espoused by Turkey’s radical Where It Will End president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Fol- Prophecies in Daniel 11 and Matthew 24 lowing Mr. Trump’s announcement, he also discuss Germany’s involvement stated: “Palestine is an innocent victim,” in Israel, and specifically in Jerusalem. and “Israel … is a terrorist state—yes, Daniel 11:41 says that following its clash terrorist!” (Dec. 10, 2017). with the king of the south (Iran-led Sa’adollah Zaeri is an Iranian journal- radical Islam), the king of the north ist with connections to Iran’s Islamic (the German-led European power) Revolutionary Guard Corps. He admit- immediately enters the “glorious land,” ted that President Trump’s decision or Jerusalem. has advantages for Iran and the Pales- In fact, as Mr. Flurry writes in Jeru- tinians. “This situation … makes Iran’s salem in Prophecy, there is a “strong work in forming a resistance front with indication that the [Daniel 11:40] war a focus on defending Palestine easier,” was triggered over that city.” Jerusalem he wrote for the Tasnim News Agency. is the German-led king of the north’s Speaking from Gaza following Pres- “main concern.” “The Vatican and Ger- ident Trump’s decision, Hamas leader many are the heart of the Holy Roman Ismail Haniyeh called for a third intifada Empire,” writes Mr. Flurry. “They have and stated that the Palestinians should conquered Jerusalem several times not stop fighting until Jerusalem and the before. And they are destined to do West Bank have been liberated. Remarks so one last time!” (ibid). like these, and those from Turkey’s pres- The issue of Mr. Trump’s decision and ident, explicitly promote violence. Yet its repercussions is such a paradox. On who in the West will condemn Erdoğan one hand, there are many, many tragic or Hamas or Palestinian leaders for repercussions. It is inciting greater inciting violence against Israel? hatred of Israel, and uniting much of the jaafar The truth is, many believe such world against the Jewish state. It is also
remarks are a justifiable response causing America, Israel’s primary ally ashtiyeh to Mr. Trump’s decision. After the since World War ii, to be sidelined from /
announcement there was a massive the peace process. Finally, it is driving afp /
outpouring of compassion for the Pales- Israel into the arms of the nation respon- getty tinian cause. In the end, the Palestinian sible for the Holocaust, a nation with a
cause will likely come through this long-standing history of anti-Semitism. images BURNING HATE (top to bottom) Palestinians burn
stronger, healthier, with greater global On the other hand, this decision ,
an effigy of President Trump on Dec. 7, 2017. said Hamas leader Haniyeh calls for a new Palestinian sympathy and support. accelerates the fulfillment of some intifada. Palestinians in the West Bank protest khatib President Trump’s Jerusalem proclamation. Sadly, Israel’s response to the hostil- key end-time Bible prophecies. Proph- /
ity and persecution it faces will result ecies in Daniel, Isaiah and Matthew 24 afp / both of them and can be of no help in much greater pain and suffering. clearly warn that events in Jerusalem getty The prophecy in Hosea says that Israel, are the catalyst that initiates the return at that point!” (Hosea: Reaping the images Whirlwind; emphasis his). instead of trusting in God, as many of of Jesus Christ. ,
President Trump’s decision, and its ancestors did (such as David, Jere- Jerusalem, Mr. Flurry has stated, is issam Europe’s promise to get more involved miah and Hezekiah), trusts in its own the primary “thermometer” we use in Israel’s peace process, brings this judgment. Instead of relying on God, to detect when the Messiah is about to rimawi
prophecy into dramatic focus. This Israel rushes into the arms of Germany return. And the thermometer reading / anadolu prophecy has not been fulfilled com- and Europe, even though much of the is off the charts! n
pletely, but it is getting easier to see anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian discourse agency that it soon will be! originates in Germany and Europe. To learn more about what /
Expect Germany and Europe to take Trusting in Germany will prove to be to expect in the Holy getty much greater interest in Israel and Jeru- a painful mistake. Hosea 5:13 says, “[Y]et City in the time ahead,
images salem, and for Israel to rely increasingly could he [Germany and Europe] not heal request our free booklet on Germany and Europe for support. you, nor cure you of your wound.” Here Jerusalem in Prophecy. 6 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET WHY THE TRUMPET WATCHES AMERICA’S RETREAT FROM GLOBAL LEADERSHIP
A trend that is reshaping the world order by andrew miiller
hat happens when a super- economics, underwritten by American they fail to recognize what the Bible power loses its superpowers? economic, political and military might. says about this massive event. Even W History shows that when a Unfashionable though they may be, many Christian leaders ignore the fact superpower declines, rival nations the facts show that America (and Brit- that the Bible is full of prophecy, from challenge it for global supremacy. The ain before it) did more good than harm Genesis to Revelation—and a great deal end result is almost always war. to other nations. These English-speak- of it speaks of this modern trend. For seven decades, the world has had ing peoples have been a blessing to the One prophecy that carries special sig- relative peace and unprecedented pros- world for the past 200 years. nificance today is in Micah 5:7-14. This perity. As recently as 2011, psychologist But Britain has already faded from passage is about “the remnant of Jacob.” Steven Pinker actually argued that the power. And now America is retreating The patriarch Jacob was renamed Israel better angels of our nature were finally from global leadership. (Genesis 35:10). Micah says his descen- turning us away from the nasty, brutish Burdened by public debt, domestic dants would receive great wealth and violence that has dominated human his- unrest and guilt over past mistakes, power from God, and would dominate tory. But the truth is that this long peace America is withdrawing from the world every other nation. But unlike most is primarily due to one factor: the United States of America. Historians call it the American Peace, or Pax Americana. We are facing the end of Western dominance and American assistance helped Britain a new era of competition between rising powers. and France win World War i. American might helped to save Europe from and focusing on internal problems. But other empires, they would use their the Nazi menace and to save China, if the United States no longer steps wealth and power to save and improve the Philippines and Southeast Asia up to handle global crises, who will? the lives of people around the world. from Imperial Japan. American aid Global leadership is now up for grabs. “And the remnant of Jacob shall be in and protection saved many of these We are facing the end of Western the midst of many people as a dew from same nations from Soviet enslavement dominance and a new era of competi- the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, during the Cold War. tion between rising powers. that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth During the 20th century, millions The remarkable thing is that the Bible for the sons of men. And the remnant of of people would have starved without foretold Pax Americana thousands of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the U.S. projects like the Marshall Plan, the years ago. And just as the Bible foretold midst of many people as a lion among Point Four Program, the Alliance for how this period of peace and prosperity the beasts of the forest, as a young Progress, and the Food for Peace Initia- would begin, it foretells how it ends. lion among the flocks of sheep: who, tive. Democratic societies would never if he go through, both treadeth down,
davealan have spread around the world without A Lion Among the Nations and teareth in pieces, and none can / Anglo-Saxon ideals of limited govern- Newscasters and politicians often deliver. Thine hand shall be lifted up com . ment, separation of powers, rule of law, speak about the dangers of America upon thine adversaries, and all thine istock freedom of religion, and free-market retreating from global leadership. But enemies shall be cut off” (Micah 5:7-9). FEBRUARY 2018 7 Micah wrote these prophecies after with military victories and economic power He gave to the Americans. The the northern 10 tribes of Israel had prosperity. And He promised that if they same is true of the British. These nations already been conquered by Assyria, so disobeyed, He would curse them with have indisputably rejected the beliefs of he was not describing a period of ancient military defeats and financial ruin. the Bible, and they are also losing con- greatness under King David or King Sol- trol of the world’s strategic trade routes, omon. He was describing a future time Sudden Destruction plunging further into debt and suffering when Israel would achieve superpower God’s promise to punish Israel for serious domestic problems. status on the world scene. These scrip- disobedience is reiterated in Micah 5. The Americans filled the power vac- tures describe the generation of Israel Here God explains how and why Israel’s uum the British left behind after World just before the Messiah comes. time as world superpower will come to War ii. Now the Americans are leaving This generation would possess great an abrupt end. behind a power vacuum. power. It would be like a lion among the “And it shall come to pass in that day, Who will fill it? nations, the king of the beasts. Thus, if saith the Lord, that I will cut off thy you have proved that we are living in the horses out of the midst of thee, and Time of the Gentiles last days, you can identify the descen- I will destroy thy chariots: And I will The greatest prophet of all time, Jesus dants of the ancient Israelites simply by cut off the cities of thy land, and throw Christ, told His disciples about the time when the world would be dominated by non-Israelite nations. America filled the power vacuum the British left “And as he sat upon the mount of behind after World War II. Now the Americans Olives, the disciples came unto him pri- vately, saying, Tell us, when shall these are leaving a power vacuum. Who will fill it? things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” locating the global superpower. Which down all thy strong holds: And I will cut (Matthew 24:3). Jesus did not correct nations have been like lions defending off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and these men and tell them that the world the world from tyrants like Napoleon thou shalt have no more soothsayers: as we know it would never end. He Bonaparte, Shaka Zulu, Kaiser Wilhelm, Thy graven images also will I cut off, and answered their question, detailing Adolf Hitler, Hideki Tōjō and Joseph thy standing images out of the midst of specific events that would occur when Stalin? Which nations have been like thee; and thou shalt no more worship the present civilization comes crashing showers upon the grass, spreading the work of thine hands. And I will pluck down (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21). food, technology, free markets and free up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so Jesus said the people of “Jerusalem” societies around the globe? will I destroy thy cities” (verses 10-14). would “fall by the edge of the sword, From the start of the 19th century According to this prophecy, at the and shall be led away captive into all until today, it has been the peoples of moment end-time Israel reaches the nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand zenith of its power, God cuts off its down of the Gentiles, until the times of and the U.S. who have fulfilled this role. armaments of war and throws down the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24). The very existence of Pax Americana is its strongholds. He breaks the pride Who are the Gentiles? Most people proof that these nations are Israel. of its power. Why? Because the people think that all non-Jews are Gentiles. The Bible records that God created have turned away from Him to embrace But the Jews are just one of the 12 tribes human beings and gave them the oppor- “witchcraft” and “soothsayers.” This of Israel. There are 11 other tribes that tunity to obey Him, but they chose to means the people look to false teachers are Israelite, and not Gentile. turn from His laws and rely on their who refuse to teach God’s commands. The first book of the Bible lists the own beliefs of right and wrong. Then, Instead, they promote lawlessness and tribes of Israel, and prophesies their about 2,000 years after God created the moral relativism. They endorse sins fate in “the last days” (Genesis 49:1). first man and woman, He founded the like abortion, adultery, drug abuse, Genesis says that the descendants of nation of Israel. He gave these people homosexuality, lying, Sabbath-break- Joseph’s son Manasseh would become a His laws so they could be an example to ing and sexual promiscuity. They “great” nation and that the descendants all other nations. In Leviticus 26, God indulge in shallow religions, false doc- of Joseph’s son Ephraim would become made a special covenant with the Israel- trines and even literal witchcraft. a “multitude of nations” (Genesis 48:19). ites. He promised that if they obeyed Because of these sins, God is keeping This prophecy is one of the many proofs Him, He would bless them His promise and stripping away the that Manasseh is the United States, the strongest nation in world history, and Ephraim is Great Britain, which gov- The remarkable history and future of America erned a vast commonwealth of nations. Jesus said that the “times of the To discover the true origin of the American people and learn what Bible prophecy Gentiles” would be a sign of the end time. says will happen to this one-time superpower, request your free copy of Herbert W. Armstrong’s book The United States and Britain in Prophecy. This means that there had to be what you might call the “times of the Israelites” 8 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET prior to that. This is the period referred Judah will fall together in their iniquity to in Micah and other books of the Bible. (Hosea 5:5-7). Secular historians call it the Pax Britan- The Bible reveals that various Gentile nica and Pax Americana. nations will war against each other for Yet Micah said that Israel’s time as global supremacy. These prophecies a “lion among the beasts of the forest” forecast that 10 dictators will arise in would abruptly end. And Jesus said Europe, in the region once dominated the rise of Gentile nations would be a by the Roman Empire. They will give sign of the end of this world and of His their power over to an arch-dictator Second Coming. referred to as the “beast” in scriptures such as Revelation 17:12-13. This Return of Jesus Christ dictator of dictators will war against These non-Israelite nations spoken of by another Gentile power, known as the Jesus Christ will wreak unimaginable “king of the south.” Then this beastly havoc on Earth, to the point where they authoritarian will conquer the Israelite would destroy all life on Earth if Jesus nations (Daniel 11:40-44; Hosea 5:5). did not return to stop them. But even then, this world war will not Yet the seismic shift away from be over. Scriptures say that the beast America and toward Gentile nations power will attack a confederation of like China, Iran, Germany and Russia Asian strongmen known as the “kings is actually good news. While Ameri- of the east.” These Asian kings will WHY THE ca’s influence has been declining for gather an army of 200 million soldiers decades, the Bible says that the “time of to assault Europe (Revelation 9:16; TRUMPET the Gentiles” will be very short. It will 16:12). This final battle between Europe be ended by the return of Jesus Christ and Asia will be so devastating that WATCHES to set up the Kingdom of God. Jesus Christ will have to intervene to “And there was given me a reed like stop humanity from self-annihilation. unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, All these events are lining up per- This magazine is Rise, and measure the temple of God, fectly to unfold in precise accordance utterly unique in and the altar, and them that worship with the Bible’s prophetic outline. This therein. But the court which is without is why the Trumpet watches the geopo- what it reports— the temple leave out, and measure it litical balance of power tipping away only prophetically not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and from America and toward the world’s the holy city shall they tread under foot Gentile powers. America and Britain important news. forty and two months” (Revelation 11:1-2). are retreating into isolationism. This is Verse 2 reveals that the times of the the first step heralding the beginning Gentiles will last only 3½ years after of the end of mankind’s experiment in Learn what trends the fall of Jerusalem. The only thing self-government. currently stopping Gentile nations Mankind must recognize the dread- the Trumpet follows from conquering Jerusalem is the alli- ful results our 6,000 years of self-rule and prove its track ance between America, Britain and the have produced. The evil that permeates Jewish state. But soon these Israelite the world today must be removed for record of analysis. powers will be too weak to prevent a mankind to truly live the abundant conflict over “the holy city” from ignit- life and for the godly way of ing World War iii. life to cover the Earth. The Bible prophecy also often uses Jeru- horrors of the Great Tribu- salem, the capital of ancient Israel, to lation will lead into the Pax symbolize all the modern descendants Millennium—the 1,000-year of Israel. This means all the nations that rule of Jesus Christ. This descended from the ancient Israelites will be the greatest time temmuzcan / will be conquered and trodden underfoot of peace and prosperity com . by Gentile powers. But most especially, that has ever been. Until it means that America, Britain and the then, the warning must go istock , Jewish state will be taken away captive. out. This hope-filled The patriarch Jacob placed his name message culminates costint / on Ephraim and Manasseh, giving in the establishment com . these tribes the birthright of Israel of God’s soon-coming istock (Genesis 48:16). Israel, Ephraim and Kingdom! n theTrumpet.com/trends THE DEADLY CLIMATE CHANGE DECEPTION
Analysts and experts have dangerously misdiagnosed the cause of devastating weather disasters. by gerald flurry
assive climatic disas- were irrefutable scientific fact. The wicked: the Lord hath his way in the ters are happening reg- truth, though, is that it is an ideology, whirlwind and in the storm, and the ularly. Evidence shows and it will negatively affect every single clouds are the dust of his feet” (Nahum they are increasing in person who falls for it! 1:3). This says that God has power over frequency and intensity. I don’t want to discuss political views; the storms. He controls where and how MThe usual political and media response my job is to give you God’s view. Our hard they strike. is to blame this trend on “climate great Creator knows that climate change The idea that carbon emissions cause change.” The worse the disaster, the is not the cause of weather disasters! storms is the antithesis of what God says!
louder the calls for taking action against Read the rest of the Prophet Nahum’s david climate change by addressing the sup- account. It is consistent with the
The Worst Weather Disaster Ever mcnew posed man-made causes, such as carbon Do you believe the Bible? It gives an message you find throughout the Bible. /
emissions and the use of fossil fuels. undeniably clear explanation for what It says that, in a sense, humans are getty This view about “climate change” has causes climatic disasters. responsible for weather disasters. Not
images taken hold of millions of minds around “The Lord is slow to anger, and great because of fossil fuels, but because of the world. It is often presented as if it in power, and will not at all acquit the sin—breaking God’s commandments! 10 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET CLEANUP A woman stands amid the remains of her home on Barbuda after DELUGED Hurricane Irma Houston, Texas, sits under nearly leveled 50 inches of rainfall from the island. Hurricane Harvey.
as yet [nobody saw that storm coming], ‘For Correction’ moved with fear, prepared an ark to Here is another clear statement of the saving of his house; by the which he God’s power over the weather—and it condemned the world, and became heir explains why God uses it as He does: of the righteousness which is by faith” “He loads the thick cloud with moisture; (Hebrews 11:7). For 100 years, Noah the clouds scatter his lightning. They warned of the Flood that would come as turn round and round by his guidance, punishment for the rampant sins of the to accomplish all that he commands entire world. Nobody believed him, and them on the face of the habitable world. they paid a terrible price. Whether for correction, or for his land, or for love, he causes it to Diligently Seek God happen” (Job 37:11-13; Revised Standard Hebrews 11 talks about the faith we Version). All these natural elements need in order to please God. Notice: obey God’s commands! “But without faith it is impossible to One reason God sends storms is for please him: for he that cometh to God correction. God corrects us through the must believe that he is, and that he is a weather, and there are many scriptures rewarder of them that diligently seek him” that tell us this. Could this be the rea- (verse 6). That is a powerful statement. son for some of the disasters we have God expects you to test and prove Him seen recently? on that to make sure His words are true. To say that climate change is Do you have faith in what God says causing all these violent storms is in the Bible? We need faith in order rejecting everything God says about to escape the storms. God says we this subject. Those who believe in that can have the very same faith that Jesus wouldn’t all say they are anti-God or NATURE’S FURY? Christ had on Earth (e.g. Galatians 2:20). irreligious. But what they are saying is A wildfire rages in Ojai, California. As we walk by that faith, and diligently in direct conflict with what God says. seek God and do as He commands, He And whose view on this issue do you That might seem strange to some, will reward us—physically, spiritually, think will prevail? but think about the greatest weather mentally, emotionally—in a multitude Here is yet another Bible passage on disaster in history: the Flood of Noah’s of ways! That is the truth of your Bible— this subject: In Amos 4:7, God says, “And day. There the waters covered even Old Testament and New Testament. also I have withholden the rain from you, images the peaks of the highest mountains, Are the people who proclaim the dan- when there were yet three months to getty
/ killing every human, except for those gers of climate change diligently seeking the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon preserved on Noah’s ark! (Genesis 6-8). God? From everything I have seen, it is one city, and caused it not to rain upon raedle Talk about a killer storm! And it wasn’t usually the reverse: They leave God another city: one piece was rained upon, joe , caused by climate change. It was God entirely out of the picture. But God and the piece whereupon it rained not punishing people for their sins! will not be left out. withered.” Here God is controlling the images
There was no physical evidence to pre- What the authorities of this rainfall, causing floods and droughts! getty / dict that storm, but Noah had received world are saying about climate Why would He do that? Verse 8 answers: platt
word from God that it was coming, and change destroys faith! It deprives “So two or three cities wandered unto he warned the world. “By faith Noah, people of those great rewards of God. It one city, to drink water; but they were spencer being warned of God of things not seen destroys our hope! not satisfied: yet have ye not returned FEBRUARY 2018 11 unto me, saith the Lord.” God causes Daniel continues, “As it is written in my people” (verse 12). What is better these conditions as punishment for the law of Moses, all this evil is come than being in the good graces of the pushing Him out of our lives. These are upon us: yet made we not our prayer Almighty God? What blessings come prophecies for the near future. before the Lord our God, that we when we follow God’s law as revealed in Many scriptures show that God might turn from our iniquities, and the first five books of the Bible! This is rewards and protects those who put understand thy truth. Therefore hath an absolute promise from God! Him first. If everyone in America would the Lord watched upon the evil, and God’s blessings hinge on our obedi- look to God, the plagues would stop! brought it upon us: for the Lord our ence. But notice what God says if we Here is just one example: “Because thou God is righteous in all his works which don’t obey. From here on, this chapter hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice” delivers bad news: “But if ye will not even the most High, thy habitation; (Daniel 9:13-14). hearken unto me, and will not do all There shall no evil befall thee, neither God loves us, and does all that He can these commandments; And if ye shall shall any plague come nigh thy dwell- to bless us. But what is He supposed to despise my statutes, or if your soul ing. For he shall give his angels charge do when we are caught up in sin and abhor my judgments, so that ye will not over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” are disobeying Him? It is clear that God do all my commandments, but that ye (Psalm 91:9-11). God does try and test punishes, just like any father who loves break my covenant” (verses 14-15). In His people, but overall, He protects and his children. That is the only way He verse 16, He says we will experience blesses and rewards those who make can turn us around so we can be in His “terror,” or terrorism, as He tries to God their habitation. He instructs His Family! It is all done in love. get our attention and direct our minds angels to watch over them. A former U.S. president recently said back to Him. We are seeing all these that rejecting the popular view of man- curses today. Blessings and Curses made climate change is the same as “… I will make your heaven as iron, The book of Daniel is only for our rejecting the future. You have no future and your earth as brass: … for your land day—“the time of the end” (Daniel if you don’t believe it, he said. shall not yield her increase, neither 12:4, 9). In it, the Prophet Daniel shows That is the exact opposite of God’s shall the trees of the land yield their us where to look for the solution to view! God says that you had better fruits” (verses 19-20). God curses us with weather disasters and other curses. accept His view of climate change, or weather catastrophes when we rebel! “Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy you don’t have a future—forever! No rain falls. Our crops don’t grow. The law, even by departing, that they might Whom do you believe? God, or men? damage and the death toll mount. not obey thy voice; therefore the curse Leviticus 26 is known as the blessings “And if ye walk contrary unto me, and is poured upon us, and the oath that is and curses chapter. Read the entire will not hearken unto me; I will bring written in the law of Moses the servant chapter, and apply each point to Amer- seven times more plagues upon you of God, because we have sinned against ica today. It is extremely accurate— according to your sins” (verse 21). God him” (Daniel 9:11). “Israel” here refers more relevant today than ever! Daniel will continue to ratchet up the weather primarily to America and Britain, not states that it is mainly for this end time. disasters until we finally begin to just the Jewish state in the Mideast. “If ye walk in my statutes, and keep listen to Him! (Read The United States and Britain in my commandments, and do them; Then God wants to give us every blessing Prophecy to prove this point.) I will give you rain in due season, and imaginable, but first we must turn to Israel is cursed for not obeying “the the land shall yield her increase, and Him in humble obedience. law of Moses”! That is talking about the the trees of the field shall yield their This is the major lesson that God first five books of the Old Testament, fruit” (Leviticus 26:3-4). This is how wants to teach us in these weather known as the Pentateuch, which Moses to avoid violent storms and climatic disasters. That is why it is such a wrote. Daniel refers us to the books of extremes. When we obey Him, God dangerous deception to remove God Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers provides temperate weather. He isn’t from the equation and blame all these and Deuteronomy. These spell out eager to inflict storms, but there is a problems on carbon emissions causing God’s law—but they also have a lot of reason He causes them at times, and it climate change. prophecy. Genesis 48-49, for example, is connected to how we live. We need to be concerned about our prophesy what will happen to America Read verses 5-8, and you see how moral conduct. We need to go back to and Britain in our day. And Daniel spe- the nation that obeys God enjoys the law of Moses. We must accept the cifically speaks of “the curse” that abundance and peace, security from correction of our loving Father and God says will come upon enemies. “And I will walk among you, return to Him in humble repentance us if we disobey His law. and will be your God, and ye shall be and obedience. That is the way to reverse this deadly trend and end the disasters. God rewards those who dil- Why does God allow suffering? igently seek Him. He will give us all the blessings we can imagine—including Natural disasters raise this fundamental question. To learn the protection from all these storms—if we biblical answer, request your free copy of Why ‘Natural’ Disasters? will just do that! n U.S. Economy: Germany’s Next Crisis
Conditions are in place for bringing Europe’s strongest economy to its knees. by richard palmer
ermany has a spending prob- such riches while Germany’s neighbors On the other hand, this makes lem. It’s a problem that is poi- struggle with austerity” (Nov. 22, 2017). Germany uniquely vulnerable to G soning negotiations on forming Germany is Europe’s economic super- global economic shocks. In 2009, its a government and threatening the star—its great success story. At 3.6 per- economy shrank by nearly 6 percent. nation’s relations with other countries. cent, Germany’s low unemployment rate The crisis hit Europe hard, and at The various political parties all dis- is half the overall rate for the European that time over 60 percent of German agree on how to eliminate it. Union, and the envy of the Continent. exports went to Europe. The problem? What to do with Ger- Its economy continues to grow steadily Many of Germany’s main trading many’s “cash mountain.” while other major EU countries like partners are still recovering from the Almost every other Western govern- Spain and Italy have barely grown at all crisis. Germany, in order to pick up ment is borrowing money to make ends since the financial crisis in 2008. the slack, turned to America. In 2016, meet. Germany’s federal government is Despite all this good news, Germany America accounted for 9 percent of bringing in more money than it spends. has a deadly Achilles’ heel: the United German exports. Furthermore, 15 out of Germany’s 16 States. This means that nearly 4 percent of states are also enjoying budget surpluses. Germany’s economy comes from selling Just about every other country in Germany’s Economic Achilles’ Heel to the U.S. Europe would love to have this problem. Germany’s economy depends on The indirect impact stretches even The new German government will exports, which account for nearly half further. America’s other top trading images collect €30 billion (us$35.6 billion) of its economy. partners are France (8.3 percent of getty
/ more than it spends in its first year, On the one hand, Germany’s strength exports), the United Kingdom (7.1 afp
/ at least according to official figures. is that its economy relies on producing percent) and China (6.2 percent). These “According to one insider, the true goods and selling them to other coun- nations’ economies are also closely tied figure was closer to €60 billion,” wrote tries—unlike Britain and America, to America’s. When America’s economy jutrczenka Philip Stephens in the Financial Times. whose economies rely on their own cit- slows, these nations’ economies slow von “The politicians kept quiet because it izens borrowing money and spending it too—which means they also import bernd would have been embarrassing to admit on services. less from Germany. FEBRUARY 2018 13 Making matters worse, Germany’s the world catches a cold. But Germany’s for what is happening today in Germany, exports tend to be the kind of products massive dependence on exports means he pointed to the late 1920s and 1930s. that people first stop buying when times it is at risk of pneumonia. Though Friedman said he felt it was are bad. In 2016, 20 percent of Germa- “less intense” this time, this is still a ny’s export revenue to the U.S. came Political Crisis remarkable statement. If we are look- from the automotive industry. When Few commentators detect this risk, but ing at history to guide us through what recession hits, sales of new cars fall fast. an exception is Geopolitical Futures is happening in Germany, we must This makes Germany’s exports vul- founder George Friedman, who has look to the time immediately before nerable to big decreases. In 2009 Ameri- been speaking on this potential crisis. World War ii! ca’s economy shrank by 2.8 percent, but His biggest concern? “The most import- Other analysts are making compari- its imports from Germany shrank much ant consequences of financial crises sons to this period. Harvard professor more. German exports to the U.S. in are political,” he told the 2017 cfa Insti- Charles S. Maier wrote an article for 2009 were 27 percent lower than in 2008. tute European Investment Conference the New York Review of Books titled If this happened today, the direct in Berlin on Nov. 16, 2017. “In Merkel’s Crisis, Echoes of Weimar” effects alone would cause Germany’s “My eyes at least, if not everyone’s (Dec. 4, 2017). economy to shrink by 1 percent. Once eyes, are on Germany,” he said. “How “For all the institutional safeguards in the knock-on effect is factored in—with does it navigate the next few years? Germany’s postwar system, which were Germany’s other top customers all cut- How does it navigate an American designed to prevent extremist parties ting back at the same time—Germany’s recession? How does it sustain from gaining seats in parliament, the economy could be pushed into a serious exports? And if it can’t sustain exports, September election results bear a depression very quickly. how will it politically manage the distinct resemblance to the results of For Germany at this time, a 5 percent contraction in gdp and the inevitable the September 1930 election for the fall in exports means a nearly 2.5 per- unemployment that follows?” Reichstag,” Maier wrote. “Naturally, the cent drop in the size of the economy. The result of this unemployment ideologies of the parties of left and right From 2008 to 2009, Germany’s exports would be “more fuel for the right-wing in 2017 are different from those that fell by nearly 20 percent. parties,” he said. The entire political contended in 1930, but the logic of the “Understanding the degree of depen- establishment could be discredited. political divisions in the two legislatures dency of Germany and its export growth “People who have never been politicians is nevertheless similar. This can hardly on the U.S. becomes key to analyzing before will have more credibility than be encouraging—either for the stability the dynamics of the German economy,” those who have been politicians for of any government or for the long-term wrote Geopolitical Futures (June 29, 10 years,” he said. This would lead to a health of Germany’s political culture.” 2017). For most of the world, the old “social crisis.” When asked what is the He’s right. Germany is struggling to adage holds true: When America sneezes, best period of history to use as a guide form a government because so many
Will Donald Trump’s Tax Plan Lead to Trade War?
nited States President Donald Germany and other European Organization. The tax reforms may vio- Trump is set to sign a contro- nations see the tax bill as an attempt to late its commitments and agreements U versial tax reform plan into penalize imports and discourage trade as a member of that group. law. This plan has Europe worried, as with other countries. Subsidiaries of Spiegel Online, a German news Spiegel Online reported on Dec. 8, 2017. foreign companies will now have to pay source, stated: “The American tax It marks the biggest overhaul of U.S. tax a special tax if they import components reform is nothing less than the begin- policy in decades—and it could lead to from their parent companies, pushing ning of a new tax race. … Trump’s an international trade war. them to do more business in America. unilateral actions could prompt a As Spiegel reported, the new tax plan With its economy so dependent on new push towards European unity.” If will transform the U.S. from a high-tax exports, Germany is worried. Germany, America starts looking out more for country to a low-tax country, making France, Britain, Spain and Italy have itself than for the international good, America much more attractive for busi- written a complaint to U.S. Treasury Europe will fight back by doing the nesses. To make up for the subsequent Secretary Steven Mnuchin, warning same—matching an “America first” revenue shortfall, the plan includes him that the tax reforms may violate policy with a “Europe first” policy. measures to tax imports more heavily. international treaties, including the Herbert W. Armstrong warned that This is why Europe eyes the bill with German-American Treaty of Friend- economic pressures could lead to a suspicion. The tax bill embodies Pres- ship, which forbids Germany and coming trade war. In the March 1971 ident Trump’s protectionist “America America from “discriminating” against Plain Truth, he wrote: “Either we start first” policy. Germany, in particular, is each other’s companies. America is raising high tariff barriers against unhappy about where that leaves it. also a member of the World Trade other countries, starting a trade war 14 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET people voted for the fringe left and For most of the world, the old adage holds true: fringe right that no standard, main- stream coalitions are possible. This When America sneezes, the world catches a cold. is a parallel with history the Trumpet wrote about in our September 2012 But Germany’s massive dependence on exports issue (“Déjà Vu,” theTrumpet.com/9740). means it is at risk of pneumonia. This is the situation in Germany today—and this is in the absence of a German economy on America. Now an Mr. Habsburg that he thought it would major financial crisis. Once such a cri- expert in geopolitics is warning that a take a financial crisis to unite Europe. sis hits, conditions will get even worse. financial crisis in America could lead Mr. Habsburg agreed. There is always a lot of furious to Germany repeating the history of In 1984, Mr. Armstrong wrote that economic debate on whether an the 1930s. These men are giving the a massive banking crisis in America American financial crisis is imminent. same warning! “could suddenly result in triggering But what almost no one disagrees on For 80 years, the Trumpet and Plain European nations to unite as a new is that, at some point, an American Truth have blasted a very specific world power larger than either the recession is inevitable. warning about Europe: Ten nations will Soviet Union or the U.S” (co-worker When that happens, it will trigger a unite under the leadership of a power- letter, July 22, 1984; emphasis added). political earthquake in Germany far ful German leader. That will be a big Mr. Armstrong “showed how the larger than the one it experienced in change in how Europe is constituted American economic danger and the the September election. today—and it won’t be easy. For such a European superpower will be linked,” leader to rise up, a political revolution wrote Mr. Flurry in the May-June A Long-term Forecast will have to occur in Germany. It will 2015 Trumpet. Both Plain Truth publisher Herbert W. also require European powers, which Our forecasts of this united power Armstrong and Trumpet editor in chief have centuries of enmity among them- come directly from the Bible. Gerald Flurry have written about the selves, to overcome their differences to “The Bible’s prophecies about this role an economic crisis could play in form a single superstate. final resurrection of the Holy Roman transforming Europe. For decades, the Trumpet has said Empire say that it will comprise a union A “financial crisis in Europe … is that a financial crisis—specifically one of ‘ten kings’ (Revelation 17:12),” he going to bring a strongman on the originating in America—could serve as wrote. “Ten leaders, representing 10 scene,” Mr. Flurry said in a 2015 a catalyst to revolutionize Europe. European peoples, will join together Key of David program titled “The In fact, Mr. Armstrong discussed this to forge a superstate more powerful America-Europe Financial Crisis.” He with one of the EU’s greatest statesmen, than any Europe has seen for a long emphasized the dependence of the the late Otto von Habsburg. He told time. ‘These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast’—prophetic language for a mighty political and military empire (verse 13). Will Donald Trump’s Tax Plan Lead to Trade War? “What will cause these nations to unite so forcefully? It is very difficult which in time will trigger the nuclear economic siege that will destroy Amer- to unite nations into ‘one mind’! That’s war that would destroy us—or Ameri- ica economically. President Trump’s an incredibly challenging undertaking. can workers are going to have to meet tax reform plan is leading toward that But it is going to be done. In fact, it is the competition of the workers in other siege, although he doesn’t know it yet. taking place even now before our eyes. countries, by lowering living standards. A trade war is fast becoming a dan- “Mr. Armstrong had profound insight Obviously American workers are not gerous reality. A trade war could well in specifically forecasting that the catalyst for this dramatic unification would be a massive financial crisis America is raising tariffs against other countries. that starts in America and ripples out This move could lead to trade war and economic from there.” With Germany’s politics already in siege that would destroy America economically. crisis, just think of the effects that an economic crisis could have. “Watch going to choose to do the latter. And if form a major component of the eco- the economic situation in America they don’t—well, the handwriting is on nomic crisis that spreads from the U.S. closely, and its effect on Europe—and our national wall.” to Europe. It did in the 1920s and ’30s. see if this dramatic prophecy from Mr. That is exactly what we see hap- To learn more about the prophesied Armstrong doesn’t come to pass just as pening today. America is raising its trade war and where it will lead, read he said it would!” concluded Mr. Flurry. tariffs against other countries. This Brad Macdonald’s article “Trade Wars Nearly three years on, the stage is move could lead to the trade war and Have Begun” (theTrumpet.com/14643). perfectly set for this to happen. n FEBRUARY 2018 15 languages
The Trumpet’s Afrikaans dieBasuin.com hebrew publisher currently dutch deTrompet.nl italian laTromba.org translates content finnish Pasuuna.com norwegian Trompeten.co laTrompette.fr aTrombeta.pt into 10 languages. french portuguese german diePosaune.de spanish laTrompeta.es
12 4 15 9 2 8 1 16 10
11 7 6 ENGLISH One of the 14 three most commonly spoken languages in the world: 1 billion 3 speak English as a first or second language. 6.6 billion are non- English speakers. 13 5
across four continents. These men and women volunteer their time after Why We Translate work hours, on weekends, or in retire- ment to take on the task of converting the original English into Afrikaans, Into 10 Languages Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Nor- wegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian and now Hebrew. The publisher of the Trumpet reaches beyond This army of volunteers cheerfully the English-speaking world. by edwin trebels shoulders the inherently tedious, detailed process of selecting words that retain the original meaning of the source he Philadelphia Church of However, there are six times as text while rendering text that reads as if God (pcg), publisher of the many people on Earth who don’t speak produced by a native speaker. The pcg’s T Trumpet, produces a televi- English as a first or second language. first translations were produced in 1991, sion program, magazines, booklets, The Church is making a strong effort less than two years after the Church was websites, videos, radio and other to reach as many of these individuals incorporated. Many of these volunteers media, primarily in English. Its Bible as possible with a translations depart- have contributed thousands of man- prophecy-based commission is to pub- ment that renders English-language hours, and some have sacrificed their lish a message about and principally media into 10 other languages. time for more than 25 years. directed toward the modern descen- The most remarkable part of this As of the end of 2017, the Church has dants of Israel. These descendants effort is that it is powered mainly by approximately 2 million words avail- mostly speak English. dozens of Church members scattered able in its English literature library and 16 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET Volunteer translators
The translations department has 1. Austria, 2. Belgium, 3. Brazil, 4. Canada, Combining all non-English languages, added new staff in recent months, 5. Chile, 6. Colombia, 7. El Salvador, 8. France, the translations department but the lion’s share of translation 9. Germany, 10. Italy, 11. Mexico, 12. The publishes about 1.5 million words per continues to be done by about 50 Netherlands, 13. South Africa, 14. Suriname, year, the same amount of words as volunteers from 16 countries. 15. United Kingdom, 16. United States two King James Bibles.
A bimonthly Spanish-language version of the Trumpet, called La Trompeta, currently reaches 5,000 subscribers.
Listen Online Trumpet Hour (segment begins at 33:56) theTrumpet.com/go/flt
approximately 7 million words in 250 Spanish websites. It also offers YouTube experiencing. Our websites garner pieces of literature in nine other lan- channels in these languages, with an large surges in traffic during elections, guages. Staff members at the Church’s emphasis on producing Gerald Flurry’s terrorist attacks and other major headquarters in Edmond, Oklahoma, Key of David program. Short videos are world news developments. The depart- print, pack and mail these materials also available, some of which have been ment is now reaching larger numbers around the world to those who have viewed tens of thousands of times. of people online than it did previously requested them, free of charge. Over the past year, the translations with print magazines. Over the past few years, the trans- department has expanded its reach But the goal for pcg translators will lations department increased the online. For Dutch, French and Ger- always be the same: to produce more manpower and resources devoted man, the department now maintains words, more books, more booklets, toward this effort. It launched its first regular Facebook and Twitter feeds. It more videos, more website posts, more four websites in 2016 and added five also offers e-mail newsletters in nine social media updates, more e-mail more in 2017. It also brought one of its languages, advertises online in three newsletters and more advertisements— longtime volunteers on board full-time languages, and is examining digital more Bible prophecy-based insights, at headquarters to edit literature trans- marketing strategies for all languages. warnings and hope, reaching more lations and manage the new websites. In the first 11 months of 2017, the people. The goal of the publisher of the A graduate of Herbert W. Armstrong department recorded 300,000 page Trumpet will always be to reach the College also now serves on the staff to views across its Dutch, French, German largest audience possible. n help produce foreign-language videos and Spanish websites and fulfilled and provide German translations. online and in-print orders for 10,000 Edwin Trebels is the foreign language The department strives to produce pieces of literature. translation department manager at the one new post per business day for each The translations department Philadelphia Church of God regional of the Dutch, French, German and is excited by the growth it is office in Edstone, United Kingdom. FEBRUARY 2018 17 %
76 Percentage of American high- graduates school in the United States who “were adequately not prepared for academically first-year college courses.”
16,268 per expenditure annual student the in united states 1,893 annual expenditure per student thein U.S. 1945 in $ $ ailing
student OECD in countries 9,487 per expenditure annual $ Less was spent on the students from these outperformed Americans then countries, who in all three core academic categories of Singapore, mathematics: and science reading, Hong Kong, Japan, Estonia, Taiwan, Finland, South Korea, Ireland, Slovenia, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Belgium, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Portugal. U.S. students lag the behind industrial world The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a test measuring the performance of 15-year-old students in more than countries 70 and educational systems. The most recent analysis from 2015 assessed the literacy, math and Americans. proficiencyscience 5,700 540,000 pupils, including for 1500 1400 1600 Education Is F
18 THE PHILADELPHIA American TRUMPETAmericans A in an get spending. Over education years, has it the past 70 increased inflation-adjusted by per student spending 650 percent. approximately America spends more now any than per pupil money Earth. on country behind its lag students Yet nations other in students science and literacy, in math. basic Defining Dumbness Downward Thomas Jefferson said the U.S. “to that duty provide is government’s every citizen in it should receive an proportioned condition the education to and pursuits of his life.” The educational system the Founding Fathers built has opportunitiesmillions provided vast for in But history. American throughout recent years, the effectiveness of that reason The deteriorated. has education for the decline, according to Susan Jacoby, author of The Age of American Unreason, dumbing comprehensive a been has down of American education. She wrote, “Dumbness, to paraphrase the late senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, has been steadily decades, several for defined downward irresistible heretofore of combination a by video of triumph the forces. include These culture over print culture, … the erosion of about arrogance [and] knowledge, general that lack of knowledge.” %
% 97 % 52 not could explain the meaning of metaphor a in a poem. % 90 % 86 85 % % 74 76 Percentage of American high- graduates school in the United States who “were adequately not prepared for academically first-year college courses.” % 52
%
ICELAND 37 %
33 LUXEMBOURG
ITALY
LATVIA
UNITED STATES UNITED
CZECH REPUBLIC CZECH SPAIN Percentage of Americans who cannot name any of their government of branches three the of any Or
FREEDOM SPEECH OF FREEDOM OF RELIGION FREEDOM OF THE PRESS THE RIGHT OF ASSEMBLY THE RIGHT TO PETITION
RUSSIA We Don’t Need No Education Percentage of Americans who cannot name the following rights from the First Amendment … ~ rights listed in the First Amendment government States United the of branches three the nor … judicial) and executive (legislative, ~
AUSTRIA SWEDEN
failed one or more complex
FRANCE % PORTUGAL
tasks, such as understanding credit card offers or comparing with editorials newspaper two of contrasting interpretations evidence.scientific economic or 95
UNITED KINGDOM UNITED
VIETNAM AUSTRALIA
24th in reading literacy 25th in science literacy mathematics 40th in BELGIUM
• • • POLAND
By subject American students ranked: students American subject By
NORWAY
DENMARK
NEW ZEALAND NEW
SWITZERLAND
THE NETHERLANDS
GERMANY
SLOVENIA
IRELAND
CHINA
SOUTH KOREA SOUTH
FINLAND
TAIWAN
CANADA
ESTONIA
MACAO JAPAN
cannot find Iraqcannot cannot find Mississippi
cannot find Louisiana cannot find Israel cannot cannot find India cannot
HONG KONG HONG %
% % % %
SINGAPORE
On a U.S. map … American students lag behind the the behind lag students American industrial world. They fell to 31st place in overall scores among the 35 OECD testing. 2015 in countries 37 map … On a world 47 60 75 Literacylimited Many American adults who beyond education formal lack trouble have school high comprehending and locating information. everyday 48 WHERE THE IN WORLD? AmericansYoung don’t know their way around the world, or the country.
/ . skynesher com istock
Thomas Jefferson said the U.S. “to that duty provide is government’s every citizen in it should receive an proportioned condition the education to and pursuits of his life.” The educational system the Founding Fathers built has opportunitiesmillions provided vast for in But history. American throughout recent years, the effectiveness of that reason The deteriorated. has education for the decline, according to Susan Jacoby, author of The Age of American Unreason, dumbing comprehensive a been has down of American education. She wrote, “Dumbness, to paraphrase the late senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, has been steadily decades, several for defined downward irresistible heretofore of combination a by video of triumph the forces. include These culture over print culture, … the erosion of about arrogance [and] knowledge, general that lack of knowledge.” Dangerous Ignorance education America’s deficiencyThe of the just beyond evident is systems subjects of reading, science and math. A Americans young of number staggering geographicallyare great and illiterate, constitutional of unaware percentages are rights that have been vital to America’s success. This indicates that such rights are not as secure as they may seem. by guaranteed rights the “Protecting we Constitution presupposesthe that know what they are,” said Kathleen Hall Center Policy Annenberg Public Jamieson, director. “The fact that many don’t is worrisome.” FEBRUARY 2018 19 seoul, south korea ee Min-bok’s home, some 25 miles south of the 38th parallel that L divides North and South Korea, is built out of shipping containers. In his driveway, he parks a five-ton second- hand truck, the bed of which is laden with a large hydrogen tank. The vehicle is a vital tool for Mr. Lee’s life’s work. Mr. Lee counts himself immensely blessed to be living in South Korea. In 1991, he escaped from his native North Korea. He was 34 years old and had been working in a government-run agricultural research company when he happened upon a stray leaflet. The piece of paper had made its way into the North from South Korea, and it stated a claim that shocked Mr. Lee: It wasn’t the United States that started the Korean War, as your government constantly says. North Korea started it. Your government is lying to you. Mr. Lee said he was shaken by these words. He read them again and again, and began asking older North Koreans who lived near the border and remem- bered the war if the assertion was true. He soon became convinced that it was correct, and that his government was deceiving its people. A few months later, Mr. Lee escaped into China. Eventually, he made his way into South Korea where he lives today, and where the Trumpet spoke with him. “I am so happy and grateful to have broken out,” he said. North Korea, Balloon Warriors— and a World Held Captive julia
goddard An inspiring story /
of a brave defector trumpet by jeremiah jacques
20 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET ‘The Diabolical Regime’ Life After Escape over North Korea’s forested uplands and Mr. Lee’s gratitude is easy to understand Each year, some few North Koreans mountains and across its alluvial plains. when you consider how abusive the manage to escape. Many settle into Mr. Lee launches up to 1,500 balloons North Korean government is to its people. a new life in South Korea or another each year, each carrying some 30,000 Life for most of the country’s 25 country and try to quietly forget the leaflets. million citizens is a slow-motion still-ongoing nightmare they left behind. And he is not the only “balloon warrior” nightmare. One out of every hundred Mr. Lee could have taken this route quietly fighting the propaganda, border is imprisoned, mostly on trumped up after he broke free. Instead he has guards, secret police, prison camps, tor- charges of treason. Prisoners regu- devoted his life to doing for others what ture and executions of the Kim Jong-un larly suffer abuse and torture. Even was once done for him. He is trying to regime. About 50 other individuals, “free” citizens live in grim squalor. The penetrate the regime’s deception and most of whom are defectors from the average North Korean lives on $25 tell the North Korean people the truth. North, are pursuing the same mission. to $30 per month. More than three “For me, escaping North Korea was Since the efforts began in 2003, together, quarters of North Koreans are starv- the beginning of a new human life,” he these individuals have launched more ing. One out of every three children is said. “I am determined to share this than 250 million balloons. severely malnourished, to the point of happiness and freedom with all the “The balloons provide us with a cheap, stunted growth. people still in North Korea.” safe and peaceful way to get the truth And the people are not allowed to Since the government controls infor- into the North,” he said. “They allow leave. Fences and walls surround the mation tightly, breaking through from us to continuously send news of truth nation. Soldiers open fire on people the outside is not easy. Mr. Lee uses from the outside world.” who try to escape. Anyone caught is an unconventional method to get his The North Korean government killed or tortured. And if one individ- message across the border and inside abhors the balloons. It considers them ual attempts escape—whether he is North Korea. an attack on the country, and soldiers successful or not—authorities often brutally punish everyone in his family, including small children. The regime also controls information. Every word that is printed in any book or newspaper must be approved by the government. Practicing religion is a criminal offense punishable by impris- onment or death. Every word spoken on radio or tv is censored by or actually written by the regime. The government uses its grip on information to lie to HOPE-FILLED and brainwash its people: This country South Koreans release balloons with messages for North Koreans. is paradise, better than any nation on Earth. People in all other countries are racially inferior savages who are far “Balloons cannot be blocked by radar, along the border sometimes shoot them poorer than you. Your leader is a god— heat, radio jammers or border guards,” down. But most get through, and Mr. the only god, in fact. You should worship Mr. Lee said. Lee and the others hope their ongoing and bow to him. You are infantile, and On days when the winds blow north- campaign will eventually convince the you need his benevolent guidance. ward, Mr. Lee drives his truck up to people to rise up for freedom. They “The diabolical regime idolizes itself,” locations near the border. He fills up hope that once the people are made Warriors— Mr. Lee said in an e-mail, adding that dozens of huge, cylindrical balloons aware of the regime’s deception, they the process of brainwashing North with hydrogen. To each balloon, he will work to overthrow the corrupt rul- Koreans to worship their leaders begins attaches numerous bundles: small ers of the country. The balloon warriors World “as soon as they are born.” amounts of money, computer memory hope their message will convince the From cradle to grave, all North Kore- sticks and hundreds of leaflets. people that they can and must be free. ans are taught that the members of the The leaflets explain that the North
(2) Kim dynasty are their gods. That great Koreans are being deceived by the A Microcosm Captive numbers of them believe the lies was government, that communism and the The largely unknown truth is that, on a images apparent in 2011, when it seemed that Juche ideology have failed, and that Mr. spiritual level, almost everyone on Earth
getty the entire nation was weeping uncon- Lee has found freedom and hope in his is in the same trap as the North Koreans. /
An inspiring story jun trollably in the streets after Supreme understanding of Christianity. Mr. Lee In his book Mystery of the Ages, the - of a brave defector Leader Kim Jong-il died. has invented a timer device that allows late Herbert W. Armstrong wrote, “For sung by jeremiah jacques “North Koreans have been enslaved by each balloon to drop multiple bundles almost 6,000 years a civilization has
chung the leadership’s deception,” Mr. Lee said. at several different points as it drifts developed, which we call the world. But FEBRUARY 2018 21 it has been a world held captive. It has “[T]his world has been so completely then see reality for what it is. They are become Satan’s world, though millions deceived that it cannot realize shown the truth, and it makes them have been deceived into believing it is what actually has happened to it. free (John 8:32). At a later phase in His God’s world. To this day, Satan is still “[R]emember, one who is deceived would plan, all men will have the opportunity on that throne.” not be deceived if he were aware of the to know and be liberated by the truth Mr. Armstrong’s understanding of this deception,” Mr. Armstrong wrote in A (1 Timothy 2:4; Revelation 20:12). global spiritual captivity came from the World Held Captive. “It’s a world held Bible: 2 Corinthians 4:4 states that the captive, deceived into loving its captiv- Metaphorical ‘Balloons of Truth’ “god of this world” is not God but Satan. ity,” he stated in the booklet’s quip. The organization behind the Philadel- John 12:31 designates “the prince” of the Mr. Armstrong was only able to phia Trumpet works with a goal that Earth as Satan. Revelation 12:9 explains understand this concealed truth parallels the efforts of Mr. Lee and that Satan “deceiveth the whole world.” because he was divinely led to see other balloon warriors. We send out These and other Bible passages, through the deception. He escaped it, magazines like this one you are reading such as Matthew 4 and Ephesians 2:2, just as Mr. Lee and some other North that point readers to Mystery of the show that the world today is ruled Koreans escape their government’s Ages and other books explaining the and deceived by a being far more evil deception and enslavement every year. truth about “the world held captive.” than the leader of North Korea. He has The Bible shows in such scriptures We send these books and booklets out deceived mankind into thinking it is as John 6:44 that God chooses to free freely to anyone who wants to read free. In reality, mankind is enslaved some people from Satan’s deception at them. We post links to articles on to him. this early phase of His plan. They can theTrumpet.com out on social media
missiles and miniaturized nuclear weapons so rapidly. And an increasing number realize that it could not have happened without a considerable outside help. “The idea that [Kim] would simply be developing this on an indigenous basis within his own population of scientists simply seems unlikely given how fast it’s moving,” said former SPONSORED North Korean nato Supreme Allied Cmdr. James Stavridis in a December 3 dictator Kim radio interview with AM 970 in New York. Jung-un’s benefactors allow him to continue his The Dragon and the Bear tyrannical rule. Stavridis said “at least part” of North Korea’s nuclear and mis- sile advancements are “coming from either China or Russia.” The Washington-based c4ads think tank agrees with North Korea— Stavridis’s assessment. Its 2017 report states: “North Korea is not self-sufficient in supporting weapons programs devel- Truly an Isolated State? opment. It remains highly dependent on foreign sourcing of both sophisticated technology and mundane items like switches and relays.” A look below the surface shows that the North is c4ads says the evidence shows that Pyongyang is actually receiving some vital support from other nations. “far from being isolated,” and that the regime “is globally by jeremiah jacques active through its overseas networks.” The companies in North Korea’s networks use “layers of orth Korea is the world’s most isolated country shell and front companies,” which allow them to camouflage and also one of the poorest. Yet this isolated and the true nature of the business they are conducting. N impoverished state is now able to legitimately threaten On the other side of the equation, c4ads identified who the mightiest military power in the world—the United these North Korean firms are doing covert business with: States—with a nuclear weapons strike. “Chinese trade data suggests that there are additional types This was evident on Nov. 29, 2017, when Pyongyang success- of goods, including potential dual-use weapons components, fully tested a new advanced intercontinental ballistic missile being exported to North Korea,” the report said.
capped with a “super-large heavy warhead” that is capable of Stavridis, too, singled out China as the nation giving the str /
striking the U.S. mainland. “[W]e have finally realized the most assistance to North Korea: “China is going to have to afp /
great historic cause of completing the state nuclear force,” make a choice about whether or not it will continue to align getty North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said after the launch. with North Korea ….”
images Many experts are perplexed by how such a poor and appar- The “best tool” China has to pressure Pyongyang with is ently isolated nation could have developed sophisticated “control over oil going to North Korea,” Stavridis said, adding 22 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET platforms and elsewhere on the Inter- messages do not immediately reveal His Father’s directions and does what net, striving to make them visible to as the truth to readers, viewers and listen- pleases His Father. Many people would many individuals as possible. ers, they could still give them precious say such a mindset is lacking in free- We also broadcast episodes of the education that will be of great benefit dom. That’s a slave mentality! If you’re Key of David on channels that reach in the near future. free, you will do what pleases you! across the United States and much of To understand how and why this But Christ disagrees with that rea- the rest of the world (see page 36). We world was taken captive, and the soning: “If ye continue in my word, then broadcast radio shows such as Trumpet details of what true freedom is, please are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall Daily Radio Show, Trumpet Hour, Watch order our free reprint “A World Held know the truth, and the truth shall Jerusalem and Live by Every Word—all Captive” by Mr. Armstrong (theTrumpet make you free” (verses 31-32). of which explain the truth about the .com/go/captive). Mr. Lee quotes this scripture on the “world held captive” and what the solu- leaflets he drops onto North Korea. tion to that ubiquitous deception is. The Truth Shall Make You Free Only God’s truth can liberate a person Each book, booklet, magazine, Jesus Christ revealed an amazing truth from spiritual deception and give him article, tv program and radio episode in John 8:28-29: “I do nothing of myself; true freedom. Anything else is not could be viewed as a balloon of truth but as my Father hath taught me, I actual freedom. Christ concluded His being sent out into the enslaved world. speak these things. ... I do always those discussion of true freedom in verses Each could help to educate and liberate things that please him.” 33 through 36 by saying, “If the Son the people who find it. Each could Christ is saying that He doesn’t do therefore shall make you free, ye shall help them see the truth. Even if these anything of Himself. He only follows be free indeed” (verse 36). n
that this tool could enable Beijing to “stop that [North Korean] A Forecast Confirmed economy in a heartbeat.” Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry was not duped by Russia’s But on Dec. 2, 2017, news emerged showing that both Russia and China’s September 11 UN vote. In the days following the and China are utterly unwilling to use that “tool.” Journalists vote, he said that the world should be more concerned about with Asia Press International news agency reported that day Russia and China than about North Korea, partly because it that “massive amounts” of fuel were flowing from Russia into is these two nations that allow the North to behave as it does. the North Korean province of Ryanggang. The influx of fuel This analysis, he explained, is based on Bible prophecy. has been substantial enough to reduce the price of diesel oil “The Bible’s prophecies show that, in a sense, the North sold in North Korea by 60 percent since early November, and Korea crisis is a massive distraction from the real threat the price of gasoline by 25 percent. posed by China and Russia,” he wrote. “These powerful Asian Ryanggang does not border Russia, so for the Russians to nations are the only reason North Korea is able to operate so move fuel into this part of North Korea, they would first have freely. And Bible prophecy shows that they pose a threat many to ship it through a large section of northeast China. This times greater than the one from North Korea!” (co-worker shows that China is at a minimum complicit in this fuel flood- letter, Sept. 13, 2017). ing underhandedly into North Korea. The statements from Stavridis, c4ads and Asia Press Inter- national prove that Mr. Flurry’s assessment is spot on. Double Dealing The specific prophecies his analysis is based on are On Sept. 11, 2017, shortly after North Korea had conducted recorded in Ezekiel 38 and 39, Daniel 11 and Revelation. They its sixth and largest nuclear test, both Russia and China show that in the near future, Russia will lead a powerful voted to pass a United Nations Security Council Resolution military bloc of Asian nations, with China in a position of that banned exports of condensates and natural gas liquids secondary leadership. Smaller Asian countries such as North to North Korea and restricted exports of refined petroleum Korea will be assimilated into that Russian-led bloc and lend products to the country. As a result of this resolution, during their military power to it, but they will not be instigators or late September and throughout October, the price of fuel in major players (Ezekiel 38:1-6). North Korea skyrocketed. To understand the significance of the increasingly pushy By late October, the soaring prices showed that the policies of Russia and China, and what their support for North economic pressure that the United States and the UN were Korea means for the future, request a free copy of Mr. Flurry’s striving to apply was reaching a critical level. But that is booklet Nuclear Armageddon Is ‘At the Door.’ around the time when Russian fuel shipments began to arrive in North Korea, via China. And the numbers reveal that the unauthorized fuel is releasing that pressure. Deceived, kidnapped and enslaved. The fuel imports show that despite bouts of agreeable That’s how the Bible describes your world. But there is hope! rhetoric from Russia and China and despite their occasion- To learn how God plans to free the world, request Herbert W. ally cooperative UN votes, Moscow and Beijing are not truly Armstrong’s free reprint article “A World Held Captive.” willing to help apply pressure on the Kim regime. FEBRUARY 2018 23 u HEZEKIAH FROM PAGE 1 of Judah.” Trumpet writer saying, “I do not know which edition of the Bible Mr. Netanyahu Brent Nagtegaal was one of owns.” This scholar could hardly have made a more ignorant three people involved in the statement! Has he ever even looked at the Bible? excavation, and another was Spiegel went on to say, “Even among Israelite researchers, also a member of our staff. it is controversial whether David was the king of an empire The head archaeologist with temples and palaces or ruled as a clan chief over a few who unveiled the find, Dr. mud-huts. Furthermore, 3,000 years ago there was no Jewish Eilat Mazar, called the bulla people in the present sense.” That is abysmally wrong! There “the closest as ever that we is abundant archaeological and historical evidence to prove can get to something that that the biblical account of King David is accurate! What was most likely held by King Netanyahu said is true! But sadly, nobody believes the Bible. Hezekiah himself.” This The hostility against the Bible and the hostility toward the bulla makes the events sur- Jews and their presence in Jerusalem are closely related. And rounding Hezekiah’s leader- they come from fundamentally the same source. ship come alive in a powerful That hostility is going to erupt into violence. Bible prophecy way (article, page 26). shows that Jerusalem will be at the center of that explosion— What made Hezekiah so and that this will actually be a trigger for end-time events. unique? One of his most (This is also covered in Jerusalem in Prophecy.) remarkable traits was how The Trump administration’s announcement regarding he handled threats against Jerusalem could hasten that violence. Read our article on page the nation. He put his trust 2 to learn more about this. We need to be watching closely for in God. the fulfillment of these urgent end-time prophecies. The beautiful temple that Solomon built had fallen into Israel is in a precarious position. A shift away from America disuse and disrepair. Previous kings had ignored it and and toward Europe as a peace broker is not going to make it allowed it to degenerate into ugliness and ruin. They even more secure. It actually signals the beginning of the fall of the permitted idolatry within its hallowed walls. But Hezekiah Jewish state! The Jews should never place their trust in other had the temple cleansed of all filth and idolatry (2 Chronicles 29:4-19). Something was very wrong in Judah, and Hezekiah worked to change that! He worked to restore the rich temple Israel is in a precarious position. services that King David had established (verses 20-36). He A shift away from America and reinstituted holy day observance (2 Chronicles 30). toward Europe as a peace broker God was very moved by what this man did. It’s amazing will not make it more secure. what a king can accomplish when God is behind him. He can change the direction of his nation and even other nations! It actually signals the beginning But God did test Hezekiah’s faith. Assyria was a fearful super- of the fall of the Jewish state. power at this time. Its king, Sennacherib, launched an invasion against Judah and began conquering its cities. He set his sights nations for their own protection—especially the very people on the greatest prize of all: Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 32:1-2). that perpetrated the Holocaust in recent history! One of the cities that Sennacherib had conquered was Whom should the Jews look to for protection? There is Lachish (verse 9). The Assyrian king considered this a great an example in Israel’s history of how to thrive amid terrible accomplishment. He had the scene of its defeat carved into opposition and danger. It is powerful history that the Jews the walls of a room in his palace in Nineveh. This too is history should be looking to today. that archaeology has proved true. You can see this carving today: It is housed in the British Museum in London. How Jerusalem Was Saved Before Hezekiah was aware of Sennacherib’s conquests, and knew The vivid example can be found in the Bible that so many that Jerusalem was his next target. How did he respond? He people dismiss. It’s the story of King Hezekiah of Judah—the humbled himself before God! Then he sent his men to the kingdom from which the modern state of Israel descended. Prophet Isaiah to learn what God would do and how he should “Jew” is simply a shortened version of “Judah.” approach the imminent invasion (2 Kings 19:1-2). Hezekiah was a king who followed King David’s example, What a rare approach for a king to take toward God! It is an doing what pleased God (2 Chronicles 29:2). 2 Kings 18:5 tells approach filled with faith. This is a rare occurrence in Judah. us that Hezekiah “trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that Sennacherib sent men to taunt the Jews and instill as much after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor fear in them as possible. Hezekiah fervently prayed for God to any that were before him.” What a commendation! deliver the nation. He showed abundant faith. Scholars push aside this history, but Hezekiah is no myth. God was very pleased with Hezekiah’s response. He He lived and ruled. In 2009, archaeologists in Jerusalem dis- sent an encouraging message to Hezekiah through Isaiah covered a bulla, or clay seal, dating to his period and inscribed (verses 20-34). That message concludes, “Therefore thus saith with these words: “Belonging to Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, king the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come 24 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET Among all the cities on Earth, it is this city that God has chosen—for a spectacular purpose. God has been involved with this city from the beginning.
into this city [Jerusalem], nor shoot an arrow there, nor come God’s chosen city—and the Bible account explains why! God before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it. By the way destroyed his army because one king looked to God in faith. that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come Hezekiah’s example should intensely resonate with the Jews into this city, saith the Lord. For I will defend this city, to save today, especially as the terrorist threat grows. Look what could it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.” happen—what would happen—if they followed that example The threat against Jerusalem was every bit as great as the of faith and looked to God! The Old Testament examples of one facing that same city today. But how did that threat end? faithful men and women were recorded for our learning and “And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord for us today (1 Corinthians 10:11). went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred Imagine if leaders of Israel today took Hezekiah’s approach. fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the Would Jerusalem be in the turmoil it is today? Would Jews have morning, behold, they were all dead corpses” (verse 35). God to fear Palestinian terrorists? Would they face a double cross supernaturally wiped out that whole army—185,000 from European leaders? Absolutely not. soldiers—in one night! God would gather Jerusalem together under His wings for This is the only way to protect Jerusalem today! protection (Matthew 23:37). He looks after those who look to Him, and rewards those who diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6). ‘O Jerusalem, Jerusalem’ And on top of that, God truly loves the city of Jerusalem! This is a powerful example of what God will do for the nation that puts its confidence and faith in Him! It is amazing what God Has Chosen Jerusalem could happen to a nation if they would listen to God’s prophet Among all the cities on Earth, it is this city that God has cho- and the message of God. sen—for a spectacular purpose (1 Kings 11:13, 32; Zechariah This lesson even applies in our individual lives. The Jews 3:2). God has been involved with this city from the beginning. facing the Assyrians were helpless. “They faced certain defeat— In fact, the evidence in the Bible is that God Himself founded just as you may feel helpless in the face of your troubles today,” it! (This is proven in Jerusalem in Prophecy.) Herbert W. Armstrong wrote. “If some of you try to solve your It was in this city that Abraham sacrificed Isaac (though problem or overcome your bad habits or resist sin in nothing God didn’t make him go through with it). And it was in this more than your own power and strength, you, too, will find city that God the Father sacrificed His Son Jesus Christ! God’s yourself outnumbered, overpowered and doomed to defeat! You emotions about Jerusalem run deep. must learn, as this ancient king did, that God stands ready and It was this city that served as the capital of Israel under willing to fight your battles for you” (Good News, March 1985). kings David and Solomon. And if you study into the Bible’s After returning to Assyria, Sennacherib recorded his endeav- prophecies, you will know that God is going to make this city ors to take over all of Judah on a clay prism, the Taylor Prism. It the capital of the whole world after Christ returns! andronov reads: “As for Hezekiah the Judahite who did not submit to my Jerusalem will yet dazzle the world with godly brilliance!
leonid yoke: forty-six of his strong-walled cities … I besieged and took The entire world will soon be looking to this city for leadership! / them. … [Hezekiah] himself like a caged bird I shut up in Jeru- In the end, God Himself will establish new Jerusalem on com . salem, his royal city.” And that is where the account ends. There Earth and move His throne room there—and make it the istock is no historical record of Sennacherib actually conquering capital of the whole universe! n FEBRUARY 2018 25 Even secular sources corroborate the existence of King Hezekiah, and, by extension, the veracity of the Bible. Assyr- ian King Sennacherib, who invaded Israel and surrounded Jerusalem, wrote about Hezekiah in his annals. Still, uncov- ering this bulla right in the royal quarter of Jerusalem adds exciting proof and detail to what we know about this king— and we were directly involved in its discovery. The history of King Hezekiah is deeply inspiring. It is actu- ally extremely prophetic for us today! This seal has a message for this world that it desperately needs to hear.
A History With Bullae The Hezekiah bulla is not the first seal impression of a Judean noble that we have been interested in. In 2005 and in 2008, Dr. Mazar’s team unearthed bullae belonging to Jehucal and Gedaliah, respectively. These are two Judean princes who persecuted the Prophet Jeremiah. Both are named in the very same verse of the Bible: Jeremiah 38:1. These two seals powerfully corroborate the record Jeremiah wrote. Miraculously, the first place these two bullae were publicly The Significance of the displayed was 6,856 miles away, in Edmond, Oklahoma. Dr. Mazar agreed that Armstrong Auditorium, on the same Hezekiah Bulla campus as our main Trumpet offices, would be an appropriate place to display these amazing archaeological finds, and the The official seal of a Judean king holds a moving Israel Antiquities Authority approved. The “Seals of Jeremi- message for the whole world. by gerald flurry ah’s Captors Discovered” exhibit was on display to more than 4,000 visitors, and thousands more concertgoers who visited n 2016, our small liberal arts institution, Herbert W. Armstrong Auditorium for over three years. Armstrong College, received recognition for an exciting On the very day we packed up the Jehucal and Gedaliah bul- I archaeological discovery at the Ophel excavation site lae to ship back to Israel, Dr. Mazar announced discovery of in Jerusalem. It was a small clay seal belonging to one of the the Hezekiah bulla. In many ways this is an even greater find, greatest kings in Judah’s history, King Hezekiah. with more historical significance, than the bullae of the two What a message this small clay seal has for the world, if evil princes who tried to have the Prophet Jeremiah killed. It people will listen! is certainly a much more inspiring find, with a spectacularly Hebrew University wrote in a statement that the discov- uplifting message! ery “vividly brings to life the biblical narratives about King Hezekiah and the activity conducted during his lifetime in Hezekiah and the Temple Jerusalem’s royal quarter.” Look at what Hezekiah accomplished when he was king. 2 The bulla was actually found in material excavated back in Chronicles 29 shows that when he took office at age 25, he 2009. It takes time to wet-sift and process what you uncover in began his reign the right way. He refused to follow the idola- those digs. At the time it was found, the excavating was being trous path of his father, King Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:22-25). He done by three people, two of whom were saw the spiritual filthiness of his nation our Herbert W. Armstrong College stu- and immediately began to purge all dents: Brent Nagtegaal and Harley Breth. pagan practices. He cleansed the temple So we were directly involved in what of God and put a prod on the priesthood turned out to be a massive discovery! to purify themselves and serve God once The head archaeologist, Dr. Eilat again (2 Chronicles 29:11-17). He got rid
Mazar, and her team didn’t realize it of the idolatry. He singlehandedly put courtesy until 2015, but this bulla has an inscrip- the nation back on course to properly tion reading: “Belonging to Hezekiah worship the true God! How impressive! eilat
[son of] Ahaz king of Judah.” It’s amazing what one man can do when mazar Other seals of King Hezekiah have HIDDEN TREASURE he zealously commits himself to God. Herbert W. Armstrong College alumnus / been available on the antiquities Brent Nagtegaal sorts through sifted Hezekiah led the people to resume ouria material from the 2009 Ophel excavation. market since the 1990s. But their ori- keeping the holy days. He wrote letters tadmor gins are suspect. The bulla Dr. Mazar to all of Judah and Israel to convince ,
unearthed in 2009 was the first seal impression of an Israelite them to attend the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread trumpet or Judean king that has ever been found in a scientific archae- services at the temple in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 30:9). ological excavation. Sadly, many of the people refused to follow Hezekiah in this 26 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET righteous cause (verse 10). But there were some who humbled What did God do? “So the Eternal rescued Hezekiah and the themselves and came to Jerusalem to keep the holy days citizens of Jerusalem from Sennacherib the king of Assyria as (verse 11). True joy began to flow in their lives. Verse 21 says well as from all other foes, protecting them on every side” (verse they “kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great 22; Moffatt). God sent a death angel into the Assyrian camp by gladness”—or “great delight” (Moffatt). night to slaughter 185,000 troops (2 Kings 19:35). He supernat- This is how to have joy in your life! “So there was great joy in urally wiped out the entire Assyrian force that had gathered Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king against Jerusalem! Sennacherib returned home in disgrace of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem” (verse 26). If you and was eventually killed by his own sons (verses 36-37). don’t have this joy in your life, follow Hezekiah’s example, and Realize that this is written as an example for us to follow! serve God with all your might! The deep lesson in what Hezekiah accomplished can be Look at this world. Do you see great joy in America and Brit- applied to the physical nations of Israel today. These are times ain and Judah? No—you see terrible problems, fears, anxieties of grave national sins. How could Jerusalem be saved today? and stress-induced sickness. There is a cause for every effect. Or America, or Britain? Hezekiah shows how to save a nation! The cause for the problems that plague our peoples is sin. Obey God! What joy it gives us when we do things the way God’s Protective Wings God wants them done! At the center of Hezekiah’s bulla is a small circle representing the sun. And Hezekiah had it depicted with wings, outspread Deliverance From Destruction and oriented down a bit. What might a circle with down- Setting the kingdom of Judah back on track spiritually was turned wings mean? It symbolizes the fiery, all-powerful courageous, arduous, difficult work for Hezekiah. But after God who is also a God of love! It shows that God shelters and that came a monumental trial. protects us! When we face tribulation, God will simply wrap Assyria was a fearsome superpower at the time. The armies of King Sennacherib were massive. They could not be beaten by any physical army, and they struck terror in nations! And The towering lesson from they began to move on the cities of Judah (2 Chronicles 32:1). the life of King Hezekiah that we must learn is The Jews were greatly outnumbered and had no hope of with- God must fight our battles— standing this daunting enemy. or we will not win. To understand how terrifying the Assyrian army must have been to the Jews, think about the modern descendants of the Assyrians under Adolf Hitler. Hitler’s goal was to exterminate every Jew in Europe and eventually the world. His fanatical anti-Semitism stemmed from his hatred for God! God entrusted the Jews to preserve His oracles and the Hebrew calendar, so Satan used Hitler to try to wipe them out. Hitler nearly succeeded, killing 6 million Jews in concen- tration camps and causing the deaths of 60 million people in World War ii. The Bible says the Assyrian war machine will be far more destructive the next time around. We can see that prophecy borne out in the proliferation and scale of the us up in His wings. God even told Hezekiah through Isaiah advanced weaponry that exists today. that He was like a bird flying over and protecting Jerusalem But Hezekiah responded to this crisis by turning to God and (Isaiah 31:5). He will rescue us from trials, whether they are crying out for deliverance (2 Kings 19:1-2). He also became close related to health, finances, persecution or even invading friends with the Prophet Isaiah. Not many national leaders armies! That is quite a symbol! look to men of God as this king did. Hezekiah put this hopeless That symbol points to a statement Jesus Christ made in situation completely into God’s hands. Matthew 23:37: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the God heard Hezekiah’s prayer and gave a courage-building prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often reply through the Prophet Isaiah (verses 32-34). Hezekiah would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gath- passed God’s encouraging words on to the people. “And ereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” God he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them wants to protect His people, just like He did Hezekiah. He would together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake shelter them if they would just obey Him! But what do they do? comfortably to them, saying, Be strong and courageous, be They kill the prophets and stone those who come to help them! not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the What would it do for Jerusalem today if the Jews would multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than turn to God the way Hezekiah did? What do you think would with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord become of all the rocket attacks and stabbings that have been trumpet
/ our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people occurring there? What would it do for America and Britain? rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah” Their problems would be solved! In this age of terror, the dorning (2 Chronicles 32:6-8). One godly leader can inspire an entire Hezekiah bulla should resonate with the Jews more than any
gary nation to trust God! HEZEKIAH BULLA PAGE 36 u FEBRUARY 2018 27 German military CONTINGENCY PLANNING plans for a possible German soldiers participate collapse of the West in military exercises. WORLDWATCH
he German Army is working out what to do T if Europe falls apart, according to leaked documents published by Der Spiegel New coalition magazine on Nov. 4, 2017. time is over. As the EU and NATO The 102-page document, crack under an increasingly deal—a solution published in February 2017 and divergent set of interests among titled “Strategic Perspective their members, Germany is for Germany? 2040,” reveals that the German making its own plans, and it is ANGELA MERKEL Army is contemplating how to planning for the worst. react to six political trends that Spiegel noted that the erman Chancellor will extend into early 2018. could escalate in the coming Bundeswehr’s future projection Angela Merkel is Merkel’s Christian Democrats years. The document describes “describes a world in which the G making a second have formed a coalition with the as its sixth and worst-case international order erodes after attempt to form a coalition Social Democrats twice before, scenario “The Collapse of the EU ‘decades of instability,’ in which government after her first which has led many to think and Germany in Reactive Mode.” the value systems worldwide effort collapsed on Nov. 19, 2017. these negotiations will be easy. The document proves Germany diverge and globalization stops” Federal elections on Sept. 24, However, after their epic defeat has a strategy for a time when it (Trumpet translation). Bible 2017, led to an attempt to team up in September, the SPD’s survival is no longer under United States prophecy shows that such with the environmentalist Green as Germany’s main left-wing or European Union dominance. plans will be necessary sooner Party and the pro-business party is on the line. It has to take For 70 years, Germany has than most people realize. And Free Democrats. But the Free a stand for its policies and avoid been content to rest in Ameri- it shows that Germany will be Democrats pulled out, with their the perception of “vote for the ca’s shadow and hasn’t bothered a country ready to take advan- leader declaring, “It is better not SPD, get Angela Merkel.” For with this kind of planning. That tage when that time comes. n to govern than to govern badly.” these reasons, Merkel will find On November 30, Merkel, the SPD difficult to negotiate with who leads the Christian and any coalition to be unstable. Germany to upgrade Democratic Union, along with This difficult negotiation Saudi Arabia’s Horst Seehofer, leader of the process is a symptom of a armaments industry Christian Social Union, met with deeper problem. Combined,
Martin Schulz, chairman of the Germany’s two main parties n October, Saudi Arabian patrik Social Democratic Party (SPD). received only 53 percent of the Military Industries (SAMI)
These three parties formed vote, their worst showing in announced its appointment LOOKOUT stollarz I A Saudi soldier the coalition that governed postwar history (down from at of a German military arma- guards the border. / Germany prior to the September least 75 percent in the 1990s). ments director to become its afp / election. But after the SPD In 2017, voters abandoned chief executive officer. Andreas in 2016. German manufacturers getty experienced its worst election mainstream parties and turned Schwer is “closely enmeshed have also promised to help the images result since World War II, its to fringe parties that oppose with the [European Union’s] local Saudi armaments industry , leaders said they did not want to traditional politics. This shows arms industry” and thus can to produce half of its armory cihan
govern with Chancellor Merkel a growing anxiety and dissatis- “possibly open doors for SAMI and even export weapons. / barcroft any longer. After the November faction among German voters. at the EU’s arms producers or Germany and Saudi Arabia meeting, however, the SPD said A CDU-SPD coalition may their subsidiaries outside the EU” share a common enemy in it was open to the possibility. not even happen, but if it does, (German-Foreign-Policy.com). Iran, and, as RT reported, the media /
Will a partnership with it cannot solve Germany’s Saudi Arabia is one of the top Germans consider the Saudis a getty the Social Democrats solve problems as it ignores five military spenders in the “stabilizing factor” in the Middle
images Germany’s coalition quandary? underlying causes. A Germany world. A significant amount of East. The common interests
No. These parties still have a with a weak government or its imports come from Germany, of both powers in this volatile , sean long way to go before starting no government is ready for a and that trend is growing: In region, boosted by increased
gallup negotiations. As of yet, the strongman to take advantage. the third quarter of 2017, it military cooperation, are /
SPD has not committed to Read Gerald Flurry’s booklet nearly quadrupled its imports uniting Germany and Saudi getty even exploratory talks. Most A Strong German Leader Is of German military equipment Arabia into an alliance that was
images politicians and commentators Imminent (theTrumpet.com/go/ to $175 billion, compared to $48 prophesied millennia ago in the agree that these negotiations germanleader). n billion during the same period Bible in Psalm 83. n 28 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET openly training together in Blue Flag 2017 marks a new chapter in Israeli-German relations. “Every cooperation with Germany and Israel is very PREPARED emotional,” Israel’s Ovda base Chinese soldiers commander told Deutsch- fire a howitzer during military TRUSTWORTHY? landfunk. “We can’t eliminate training. Israeli F-15s participate the past. But we are looking in military exercises with Germany. forward. And the relationship of China’s military our aircrafts is based on trust” catching America German, Israeli fighter jets train together (Trumpet translation). in East Asia Many see German and srael hosted Blue Flag 2017 military cooperation by forcing Israeli fighters flying side by hina’s military might from November 5 to 16, the air forces to work together,” side as signifying hope for the is catching up to that I the largest international the Times of Israel noted, citing relationship between the two C of the United States military exercise ever in the Israeli Air Force officers. countries despite the Holocaust in East Asia, according to an nation, and the largest air drill The maneuvers were not only and the rising anti-Semitism in assessment by U.S. Navy Adm. in the world in 2017. enormous but also symbolic. Germany. The Bible prophesies James Stavridis (Ret.) published The drills at Ovda Air Base For the first time in Israel’s that Germany and nations like in the Nikkei Asian Review on involved air forces from Israel, modern history, the German Air Israel will reconcile, but that this Nov. 22, 2017. the United States, India, Greece, Force flew through Israeli skies. reconciliation will be illusory. God “At present, China seeks the Poland, Italy, France and Germany has provided warns in Hosea 5:13 against Israel ability to control East Asia, Germany. They were designed military support to Israel and its allies turning to Germany dominate the South China Sea, to “strengthen diplomatic for decades, but most of this for help. Bible prophecy warns operate at will in the East China relations between the coun- support has been secretive to that Germany will double-cross Sea, overpower any Asian tries, expose the participating avoid provoking the Arab nations Israel. Read Jerusalem in competitor (notably Japan), and militaries to new tactics and surrounding the Jewish state. Prophecy for more information compete with the U.S. in the techniques, and improve German and Israeli air forces (theTrumpet.com/go/jip). n region,” Stavridis wrote. He explained that even though America’s $600 billion military Putin to Russian budget is around three times the companies: amount China is estimated to be Prepare for war spending on defense, “The mili- tary balance is approximately ussian President equal in East Asia.” Vladimir Putin told his Beijing’s “$200 billion focused R country’s top defense on regional security roughly companies to be ready to boost equals the U.S. spending arms production in case of a GETTING READY and presence in the Pacific,” images sudden declaration of war. Russian President Putin Stavridis wrote, adding that examines models of new getty “The economic ability to military equipment. “Chinese military spending and via
/ increase the production of operations are increasing, while defense products and services simulated attack by Western “[S]ome Europeans recognize the U.S.’s are largely static.” quickly is a vital element of mili- nations. Putin had high praise that Putin’s power maneuver on For the past 72 years, the klimentyev tary security,” Putin told senior for the Russian troops in his Ukraine was no isolated incident,” world has enjoyed relative peace. defense officials on Nov. 22, address, but noted that military Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Since the U.S. and its allies have mikhail , 2017. “All strategic and simply manufacturing companies’ Flurry wrote in The Prophesied been the powers primarily readiness was unacceptable. ‘Prince of Russia’ (theTrumpet responsible for keeping the images large companies, regardless of
the type of ownership, must be “The exercise has exposed .com/putin). “The Ukraine crisis peace, journalists and historians getty / able to do this.” certain shortcomings. We must continues, and America is have taken to calling the time vcg , This proclamation comes only analyze them so as to propose sleeping through it. But Europe period since World War II the two months after the weeklong additional measures to enhance is deeply alarmed! The changes American Peace, or Pax Amer- images Zapad 2017 military exercises mobilization readiness,” he said. this crisis provokes in Germany icana. Now, the rise of nations getty / held in Russia’s westernmost Putin’s focus on military and Europe will shake the like China, Germany, Iran and afp / states. The war games involved readiness and the aggressive nations! … We need to watch Russia threatens to bring this guez thousands of soldiers, testing direction he is taking Russia has what is happening in Russia and period to an abrupt end—in East
jack Russian defenses against a many Europeans concerned. how Europe responds to it.” n Asia and beyond. n FEBRUARY 2018 29 ABLAZE The Thomas Fire Bel-Air. The fire skirted along Islamic State burns near Santa the edge of Interstate 405, fighters return to UK Paula, California, on Dec. 5, 2017. temporarily shutting down the without punishment nation’s busiest highway. What is causing the wildfires? he British government The most popular answer is believes up to 850 climate change. “Fire season T Britons left the United usually peaks in October in Cali- Kingdom to fight for the Islamic fornia, but officials suggested State. Over 400 have returned that with climate change, more home, but only 54 have been fires are occurring later in convicted of crimes. The rest Worst wildfires in the year,” the New York Times have been left free to reintegrate. reported (Dec. 6, 2017). Cali- “So far, only a small proportion California’s history fornia Governor Jerry Brown [of Britons returning from Syria] blamed a “warming climate.” have been prosecuted, and But there is more to this than counterterrorism officials have swath of new wildfires thousands of homes, requiring climate change. The Bible warns said it can be difficult to find lit up Southern mandatory evacuations for that God punishes with “natural” evidence that they committed A California in early more than 27,000 residents. disasters. “Thou shall be visited crimes in the war zones of December. Yet even before More than 1,000 structures of the Lord of hosts with thunder, Syria and Iraq,” the Telegraph these fires ignited, 2017 was burned to the ground. and with earthquake, and great reported on Oct. 29, 2017. already the worst wildfire Soon after, two other fires noise, with storm and tempest, Terrorism legislation season in California history. sprang up in the San Fernando and the flame of devouring fire” advisor Max Hill said Islamic The new fires began on Dec. Valley, one that burned more (Isaiah 29:6). An increase in State fighters returning to 4, 2017. The largest and most than 7,000 acres; the other, earthquakes, storms, tempest the UK should be kept out of destructive, in Ventura County, more than 12,600 acres. On and devouring fires marked this the court system because scorched 140 square miles. December 6, another fire past year. For a more detailed they “traveled out of a sense Strong Santa Ana winds fueled ignited, reaching homes in the explanation, read Gerald Flurry’s of naivety, possibly with some the fire, which threatened wealthy Los Angeles suburb of article on page 10. n brainwashing along the way ….” The Telegraph also reported “the Home Office is looking at Slavery booming in Africa, Mexico and beyond a new strategy to reintegrate extremists that could even uthorities in five African or human life,” Interpol said. see them propelled to the top nations rescued In Mexico, the 30 women, of council house waiting lists A some 500 victims of mostly from Colombia and if needed.” They could even human trafficking, including Venezuela, were being held have their rent paid by British 236 children, a Nov. 23, 2017, against their will as prostitutes. taxpayers. One unnamed source Interpol report said. Two days The two rescue operations said, “We are planning a number later, Mexican police rescued 30 were conducted after footage of pilots to explore the best way women from sex trafficking. emerged of people in Libya being to diverting such people from The African operation took sold as slaves for $400 each. terrorism and extremist activity.” place in Chad, Mali, Mauritania, These heart-wrenching United States, 7,621 cases of The Bible has a perfect Niger and Senegal and led to the accounts show that human trafficking and enslavement description for behavior arrest of 40 suspected human trafficking and slavery still were reported in 2016—up like this. The book of Hosea traffickers, mostly women. thrive. In fact, the International from 5,575 the year before. describes many of the Interpol said female traffickers Labor Organization (ILO) “Slavery isn’t just a scourge afflictions of the modern kyle ensnared many of the vulnerable estimates that in 2016, some of the past,” we wrote in descendants of the ancient grillot girls and young women into 40.3 million men, women and the February 2014 Trumpet Israelite tribe of Ephraim. / prostitution rings. Other victims children worldwide were (theTrumpet.com/11234). “It “Ephraim is oppressed and afp / were handed over by destitute victims of slavery. This is more is in your country, your city, broken in judgment. … Ephraim getty parents on promises that than triple the total number of even your neighborhood. But a is like a dove, easily deceived images traffickers would provide them Africans who were shipped to solution is coming soon that will and senseless” (Hosea 5:11 and , with a better life; instead, victims the Americas during the entire break the shackles that bind 7:11; New International Version). istock
were forced “to engage in 360-year history of the New them all.” That solution is the The modern descendants . com
activities ranging from begging World slave trade. return of Jesus Christ and His of Ephraim are the British, / mshep to prostitution, with little to no Modern slavery is not limited establishment of the Kingdom and these descriptions are regard for working conditions to the Third World. Across the of God. n startlingly accurate. n 2 30 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET to deal with these troubled children and their destructive behavior in the classroom. SOCIETYWATCH The National Center for Education Statistics released its 2016 Indicators of School Crime and Safety report last May. It found that “10 percent of elemen- tary teachers and 9 percent of secondary teachers reported being threatened by a student Elementary schoolteachers from their school in 2011–12.” The report also said, “During the flee classroom violence 2014–15 school year, there were 1.3 million reported discipline incidents in the United States ozens of school- resignations since October. … And many of the personal for reasons related to alcohol, teachers have quit their While not all of these resigna- things that I have bought for my illicit drugs, violence or weapons D jobs amid a wave of tions were in response to unruly classroom have been broken or possession that resulted in a violence from students as young students, Barksdale is calling destroyed,” first grade teacher student being removed from the as 7 years old. The Harrisburg for a task force of teachers, Amanda Shaeffer told board education setting for at least an Educational Association says at administrators and parents to members on Nov. 20, 2017. entire school day.” least 45 teachers from Penn- help students who display violent “Many minutes are spent each The trend vividly fulfills sylvania’s capital city resigned behavior. day dealing with violence that the prophecy of Isaiah 3:5, between July and October 2017, “I have been kicked, punched, is happening in the classroom.” “[T]he child shall behave himself and association president Jody hit, scratched. I’ve had a student Shaeffer was one of the half proudly against the ancient, Barksdale told the Associated physically restraining me in dozen teachers who appealed and the base against the Press that there have been more front of my other students. to the board for decisive steps honourable.” n
Third of UK children born to unwed couples
he number of babies couples are much likelier to born to single mothers experience family instability, Tin the United Kingdom school failure, and emotional has fallen to its lowest level problems than are the children since 1986, the Times of of married couples. n England reported Nov. 28, 2017. However, nearly a third of UK Babies born in children are born to couples England and Wales to: who are not married but live MARRIED COUPLES together, and more than 1 in 10 COHABITING COUPLES British children have parents SEPARATED COUPLES Americans still paying holiday bills from 2016 who live apart. SINGLE MOTHERS This means that almost half hristmas shopping debt—including credit card of British babies are born to 1986 bills from 2016 have debt, auto loan debt, student unmarried parents, whether 78.5% still not been paid off loan debt and mortgage single mothers or cohabiting 10.0% kerkez
/ C by 8 percent of baby boomers, debt—is $12.96 trillion, couples. These statistics 4.2% com . 16 percent of Generation X, surpassing the amount owed show that the traditional 7.2% and 24 percent of Millennials, at the beginning of the Great family structure in the United istock , a Nov. 17, 2017, CNBC report Recession. Kingdom continues to implode, kim
_ stated. The report highlighted National debt is now $20 a trend that can only have 2016 a disturbing trend in American trillion. According to the U.S. disastrous consequences. 52.4% consumerism. debt clock, U.S. total debt is over A 2014 study sponsored by 32.1% dongseon / Total U.S. credit card debt $68 trillion. The U.S. economy the National Marriage Project at 10.3% com . is more than $1 trillion and is wallowing in debt on both the University of Virginia found 5.2% istock counting. Total household individual and national levels. n that the children of cohabiting FEBRUARY 2018 31 he push to legalize marijuana Cannabis use doubles a driver’s risk of in America is gaining momentum. The Smoke crashing his vehicle, according to the T Today, 29 states allow cannabis U.S. National Library of Medicine. Work- for “medicinal” use, and another eight and Mirrors place performance also suffers through for “recreational” use. A 2016 Gallup absenteeism, turnover rates and produc- poll found that 13 percent of Americans of Medical tivity loss. Users have 55 percent more smoke the drug, 43 percent admit industrial accidents and 85 percent more to trying it, and 60 percent support Marijuana injuries compared to nonusers. They full legalization. With more support also cause 40 percent of all industrial campaigns underway, more states are fatalities, according to a 2014 study by certain to allow cannabis use. Do the scientific health Smart Approaches to Marijuana. Is marijuana a harmless high? Are benefits of marijuana With marijuana smoke containing there actually medicinal health bene- outweigh its downside? over 400 chemicals—many of which are fits to the drug? What harm does it do? by jorg mardian toxic—risks increase. Users are likelier to have a stroke, and their lungs to suf- How Marijuana Affects You fer with increased coughing, bronchitis Marijuana originates from the Cannabis and infections almost 20 years earlier sativa plant and can be smoked, eaten, than cigarette smokers. Cancer also vaporized, brewed and even taken looks likely to be linked because mari- topically. The drug contains more However, this is the same chemical that juana has been found to damage dna. than 60 chemical substances; its major causes a psychotropic high. Although psychoactive ingredient is tetrahydro- marijuana temporarily alleviates symp- Smoke and Mirrors cannabinol (thc). toms of certain medical conditions, its Marijuana’s reputation as “nature’s Cannabis is recognized as a psychoac- thc content is of questionable safety. medicine” continues to grow. However, tive drug. One drag causes a chain reac- The other active chemical is cannabi- the entire premise that marijuana has tion of mood and personality changes, diol (cbd), which is non-psychoactive and legitimate medicinal uses may really including passivity, agitation and even outshines thc in health benefits. Molec- be a smokescreen that obscures the aggression. Sensual Drugs author Hardin ular Cancer Therapeutics says it provides public’s perception of the drug’s risks. B. Jones writes, “The thc content of mar- relief from pain, anxiety, paranoia and A profit-driven marijuana industry is ijuana is 10,000 times stronger than alco- seizures, and has potential as a cancer using it to aggressively market its prod- hol in its ability to produce intoxication.” treatment. Many states have deemed uct, expand its market, and push more More concerning is marijuana’s cbd oil a legal, safe product due to its potent (and more addictive) cannabis increasing chemical strength. The thc harmless medicinal effects and overall strains. Their success is causing trou- content of cannabis has increased from separation from thc-based marijuana. ble for a country already in a devastat- about 1 percent in 1970 to 10 percent or ing substance abuse public health crisis. even upward of 30 percent in today’s Alternately a Poison Former Rhode Island Rep. Patrick street-grade variety, according to the What are the effects of legalizing Kennedy likens marijuana proponents Potency Monitoring Project. marijuana? to the big tobacco industry, saying thc is also slow to leave the body. Already, nearly 100,000 teens are lobbyists pushing for legalization “are Alcohol in moderation is metabolized treated annually for marijuana depen- trying to sell the public on a Trojan quickly by the body. But with mari- dency. Legalization is certain to boost horse—making the drug seem more juana, about 30 percent lingers in brain the addiction rate. And Bristol Univer- normalized and acceptable in society. and fatty tissues after one week, and sity researchers found that teens who Public health doesn’t stand a chance 10 percent remains even after seven regularly smoke pot are 26 times likelier in this fight, because we’re up against weeks. The more a person smokes, the to begin using other drugs by age 21. money that is going to continue to grow more thc he accumulates. More concerning, marijuana hijacks as this industry spreads.” normal brain functioning in teens, and It’s a sobering commentary on soci- Promising Health Benefits many scientists believe the drug may ety’s moral and spiritual bankruptcy. The National Academies of Sciences, have permanent effects on brain develop- 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether Engineering and Medicine analyzed ment. Studies show that in teens who use therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever more than 10,000 studies and believe marijuana, memory-related structures ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Eating cannabis has many positive health in the brain shrink, and knowledge and healthy food or drinking a glass of wine
effects based on two primary chemicals. verbal ability significantly decline. The aligns with the will of the Creator, as istock Clinical Psychology Review says thc National Academy of Sciences found that each promotes the health of the body . shows evidence of being an effective adolescents with a “wake-and-smoke” He created. Intoxicating the mind with com / treatment for depression, arthritis, habit risk a permanent 8-point loss in IQ. a psychoactive drug violates our obliga- heibaihui anxiety, lupus and multiple sclerosis An intoxicated person taking his tion to honor God through good health, and for preventing epileptic seizures. “high” on the road endangers the public: clear thinking and sober actions. n 32 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET Commenting on that verse in his book The Last Hour, Gerald Flurry writes, “How often do you husbands see your wife PRINCIPLES down and depressed, and you know she needs your encour- OF LIVING agement? A righteous husband will be there for his wife.” That is what Jesus Christ does for His wife. When His people are discouraged, Christ does not make us feel judged The Encourager and condemned. This verse shows that Christ is doubling His efforts to encourage us and set us back on our feet! “Christ doesn’t ask us to do things in our marriage that He will What to do when your wife is discouraged not do in His marriage to the Church. We have the supreme Hus- band of all husbands!” Mr. Flurry writes. “Christ gives us every he words felt foreign as they slipped from my lips. opportunity because so much is at stake. How we are loved!” “Sweetie, I just want you to know that I love you, and I God’s love is so multidimensional. God hates sin passion- T have no problem with your being emotional right now,” I ately. He recognizes our wrong emotions and knows we need said. “I understand why you’re upset.” to grow up and expunge them. At the same time, even in our I wasn’t upset. And the event that had precipitated my worst state, His love for us never diminishes. wife’s distress was over, with no negative effects. When we are down—especially when it is obviously because Which is why my normal reaction of our own sin—wouldn’t we be far less inclined to seek God out under the circumstances would have if all we got from Him was cold belittlement or condemnation? been some variation of unhelpful. You There is tremendous comfort in knowing that, when our emo- shouldn’t feel that way. Aren’t you over- tions are out of kilter, we can kneel before God and seek that reacting? (judgment). Seems to me you spiritual connection. We can unburden ourselves, talk through need to apologize to that person (diag- our conflicted thoughts, lay bare our weaknesses, and trust that nosis). Why are you mad at me? You’re our Advocate and Encourager will somehow make sense of it all. being unfair (my own special habit of “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we joel hilliker taking things personally). know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Maybe it’s a man thing. In the face of itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which can- negative emotions, I instinctively reach for explanations and not be uttered” (Romans 8:26). There really is no better tool answers. Honestly, on some level it is an effort to turn sadness for getting our emotions back into balance. into joy. As instantaneously as possible. Needless to say, it never works. Amazingly, though, what I did in this instance did work. The distress on my wife’s face instantly melted into relief. A smile, even. She held her arms out for a comforting hug. It seemed the pain all but vanished in a moment. What she “Part of our difficulty is that we think we have to have needs first, answers for every problem our spouses raise,” says Dr. Edith and often Munger. “Actually, a personal relationship is not predicated solely, is on solutions to problems or answers to questions. Our top goal encouragement. should be to understand each other, to get close to each other …” (Alan Loy McGinnis, The Friendship Factor, emphasis added). In sharing her hurt with me, my wife wasn’t looking for my Such prayers enable us to anchor ourselves to God, and the “solutions.” She certainly wasn’t inviting my judgment. She loving, calming, stabilizing influence of His presence. We can was only trying to make a connection. always avail ourselves of His generally silent, always steady Of course, occasionally when a wife is discouraged or encouragement. Then, once we are closer to being aright, if nec- upset she may need her husband to help her set her thinking essary God will give us the answers or the correction we need. straight. Sometimes she does need his problem-solving ability. “Our physical marriages are a type of our marriage to But virtually all the time—perhaps not in every single Christ,” Mr. Flurry writes. Contemplate these profound instance, but almost, even when she needs those other things words. “We must strive to pattern our physical marriages too—I’m convinced that what she needs first, and often solely, after Christ’s marriage to the Church. Only then are we is encouragement. fulfilling the God-ordained purpose of marriage!” (ibid). There is a beautiful spiritual dimension to this dynamic Only then. Only as we husbands consider His example as a within a marriage. The marital bond pictures the relationship Husband and really endeavor to emulate it. between Jesus Christ and His people (you can see this deep Christ’s role as our Encourager illustrates His love, concern, spiritual truth described in Ephesians 5:22-33). And a husband patience, commitment, and determination to understand and aleksandarnakic / encouraging his wife points to Jesus Christ doing that for us. embrace every individual whom His Father has selected for com . Read 1 John 2:1, which says that when we sin, Jesus Christ His Bride—probably better than anything else you could name. istock becomes our Advocate. That word also means Encourager. Emulate Him. Be your wife’s encourager. n FEBRUARY 2018 33 DISCUSSION BOARD
I want to thank you for your prompt responses to my questions. The answers you have given me hold true to the biblical account and teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong. When I was first introduced to your Philadelphia Trumpet magazine it was 2003, and I was 22 years old. Now it is 2017, and I am 37 years old. That is nearly 15 years of reading and rereading over and over again to show myself approved of the truths that God the Father has given to me as a gift through you.
Phillip Massey georgia
I thank you for all the literature I’ve received, Re: Trumpet Brief: The antidote to toxic masculinity especially the Philadelphia Trumpet; it is one This is a subtle and very dangerous way to of my favorite magazines. I really like how it take the American people’s focus off what is relates Scripture to today’s events, like with going on in the world—the urgent matters— South Korea and all the mass shootings. and instead, focus continually on the petty Congratulations on the new theTrumpet.com.
Vaughn Shelton florida details and behavior of movie and TV icons, It appears God’s warning is available to the airing our dirty laundry continuously for the world as never before—beyond restoring Just writing to say that there are some world to see! That’s one sure way for the the ruins, I think. The whole team you have brilliant reports coming out of the Trumpet rest of the world to know that our backs are working with you deserves the biggest at the present time, and they are greatly turned, and we’re not paying attention to thumbs-up. This is quite an understatement. appreciated by me. anything but the trite. Of course, as you say, it (e-mail response) Jane Barber is an important subject, but not to constantly be burying our noses in it so that we no Your articles are beyond excellent, and they Excellent job at the Trumpet. It is my only longer see what’s happening in the rest of are relevant, timely and very well written. source of reliable, honest and accurate news. the world and who’s sneaking up on us! What a jewel I have found in you!
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34 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET Think about the ultimate impact of these creations and all our intellectual progress. Has Atlas the robot gymnast, or Facebook and Google, or the iPhone helped make us more mod- COMMENTARY est, more teachable, more selfless, more serving? Is humanity happier, healthier and stronger, physically, mentally, emotion- ally and spiritually? Are human beings getting along better? A Lesson From I’m not criticizing smart people, technology or the quest for knowledge. I’m thankful to live in the 21st century and Backflipping Robots to be able to travel to Europe on a jet, not a sailing ship. The problem isn’t knowledge, gadgets or smart people. The issue is human nature and our proclivity to invest our hope, trust People are capable of astonishing achievement. We and confidence in the human mind. just need to keep our perspective. by brad macdonald The problem, as the Prophet Isaiah warned 2,500 years ago, is that we have made an idol of the human mind! recently read a prophecy made by the Prophet Isaiah We are so blinded by our adoration of the human mind and about 2,500 years ago. Discussing the end times, Isaiah the material realm that we fail to see God and His plan for I wrote: “Their land is filled with idols [and] they bow down human beings. to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made.” God’s power and supremacy can be “clearly perceived Just a few minutes after studying this end-time prophecy in the things that have been made” (Romans 1:20). The in Isaiah 2, I saw a video of a robot named Atlas, the “world’s most amazing physical creation of all, the universe, declares most dynamic humanoid,” performing an impressive routine the existence of its Creator. Yet smart people insist that the of box jumps and turns in the air, and finishing with a back myriad marvels in the natural world around us are products flip. Boston Dynamics had posted the clip on YouTube, and of chance—not designed, engineered or created. Then they within a week it had been viewed more than 11 million times. turn around and wonder at the works of our own hands. SpaceX ceo Elon Musk was one of the millions who watched The development of Atlas and other artificial wonders ought the clip. He tweeted: “This is nothing. In a few years, that bot to cause us to marvel all the more at the God-given potential will move so fast you’ll need a strobe light to see it.” of the human mind and brain. If we are humble and teachable, The natural response to such technology is to marvel at we will watch that clip of Atlas and marvel that human beings mankind’s astonishing intellectual power and progress. I have similar thoughts when I read about developments in artificial intelligence, or consider the algorithms behind Facebook and Google, or even see the capabilities of a common iPhone. As magical as many of Humanity in the 21st century is just so incredibly smart. our technologies are, And there’s the rub. The logical progression from marvel- is our collective pool of ing at mankind’s brilliance is to trust in this brilliance for knowledge significantly guidance and leadership. If we can figure out how to create an and permanently acrobatic humanoid, then surely we can eventually cure our improving the diseases and ultimately erase human suffering. human condition? The more knowledge we acquire, the more we tend to trust in our own abilities, especially in the products, technologies and philosophies of the smart people among us. This can be dangerous. Acquiring knowledge tends to fos- even possess the ability to think, reason and create. We will ter pride and self-reliance. We lose sight of the fact that the wonder, Where did man’s creative genius come from? Forget human mind is limited, flawed and dysfunctional. We think about how much knowledge we have—think about how man our intellects are up to any task and can fix every problem. came to possess the ability to even acquire knowledge. We fail to realize that our most fundamental problems cannot Remember too: While smart people can make robots and be solved through science and human reasoning. iPhones, they cannot answer these questions. Their intel- As magical as many of our technologies are, is our collective ligence is limited and incomplete. Thus, caution is warranted pool of knowledge significantly and permanently improving about investing hope and trust in smart people for long-term the human condition? solutions and right answers. Most importantly, our magical creations have separated If you want to understand why human beings have had us from God, just as Isaiah prophesied. We “bow down to the such success in some areas and so little in others, request The work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made.” Incredible Human Potential, by Herbert W. Armstrong. Out- Atlas the acrobatic robot, Facebook, Google, the iPhone: These side of the Bible, you won’t find a better book to explain the ducu
123 are truly astonishing inventions, but haven’t we really just human mind and our ability to think, reason and create. This / replaced idols hewn from wood and stone with those hewn book is special—not because it comes from a smart person, com . from tungsten and silicate? We are worshiping the handiwork but because it comes from the mind of God. And getting istock of our own minds and imaginations. information from the mind of God—now, that’s smart! n FEBRUARY 2018 35 u HEZEKIAH BULLA FROM PAGE 27 election or policy or form of self-defense. The story of this great king shows the Jews, the other descendants of ancient Israel, how to solve our problems! If they followed this example, God would do for them exactly what He did for Judah under King Hezekiah. This world needs hope. We are in dark times that are get- ting darker. We are experiencing regular terrorist attacks. The Jews in the Middle East are facing nation-threatening problems—some are concerned they could lose Jerusalem! If you understand Bible prophecy, you know that the mod- ern descendants of the Assyrian empire that threatened Hezekiah’s Judah are rising again—and they are going to deal a deathblow to America, Britain (the birthright nations) and the Jewish state (the scepter nation)! God is going to use that same empire to punish those three nations most of all, because of their rebellion against Him. God will use Germany to purge America, Britain and Judah of sin (Isaiah 10:5). The Germans are subtly rearm- ing and controlling more and more territory. They are moving their soldiers into the Middle East. Philadelphia Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry appears Our peoples have an inexplicable disdain for history. each week on The Key of David explaining the meaning behind Just 70 years ago, United States President Franklin world events and teaching the inspiring truths of the Bible. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill The program is also available at keyofdavid.com. pledged never to allow Germany to rise again. Just a few years ago, few people would have imagined Germany pro- ALL TIMES ARE A.M. LOCAL TIME UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED viding armaments to much of the world. Yet today, that is one of the most profitable sectors of its economy! Today, UNITED STATES Nationwide Satellite Connecticut, Hartford WHPX 6:00, Fri Germany is more powerful than ever. Galaxy 3 Trans. 17 11:30 ET, Tue/Thu Florida, Gainesville WCJB-DT 9:30, Sun The Germans are coming! The Assyrians are on the Direct TV Jacksonville WPXC/WPXJ-LP 6:00, Fri CW Plus, Chan. 34, 9:30 ET/PT, Sun Miami WPXM 6:00, Fri march once again. God is going to correct our people. ION, Chan. 305, 6:00 ET, Fri Orlando WOPX 6:00, Fri The Messiah is coming soon, whether people heed the Dish Network Panama City WJHG-DT 8:30, Sun ION, Chan. 216, 6:00 ET, Fri Tallahassee WTXL 7:30, Sun; WTLF/ warning or not. Nationwide Cable WTLH-DT 9:30, Sun I am sure this is why God brought Hezekiah’s bulla into CW Plus, 9:30 ET/PT, Sun Tampa WXPX 6:00, Fri ION, 6:00 ET/PT, Fri West Palm Beach WPXP 6:00, Fri the spotlight. That bulla has a message of tremendous Alabama, Birmingham WPXH 5:00, Fri; Georgia, Albany WFXL 10:30, Sun hope, especially for those three nations! As our nations WVUA 8:30, Sun WSWG-DT 9:30, Sun Dothan WDFX 8:30, Sun Atlanta WPXA 6:00, Fri cower in fear under the threat of Islamic terrorism, God’s WTVY-DT 8:30, Sun Augusta-Aiken WAGT-DT 9:30, Sun Church sees a symbol of hope in the face of grave danger: Montgomery-Salem WBMM-DT/WNCF-DT Brunswick WPXC 6:00, Fri 8:30, Sun Columbus WLTZ-DT 9:30, Sun the Hezekiah bulla. The story of Hezekiah really shows Alaska, Anchorage KYUR-DT 8:30, Sun Macon WMAZ-DT 9:30, Sun Jews and the other nations of Israel how to solve their Fairbanks KATN-DT 8:30, Sun Savannah WGSA-DT 9:30, Sun Juneau KJUD-DT 8:30, Sun Thomasville WTLF/WTLH-DT 9:30, Sun problems. It shows us physically and spiritually how to Arizona, Phoenix KPPX 5:00, Fri; Hawaii, Hawaii Na Leo Chan. 54 6:30, Sun; win our battles! It is dual—and it is mainly for today. KASW 8:00, Sun 8:30, Wed Yuma KECY-DT 8:30, Sun Kaui Ho’ Ike Chan. 52 9:30, Tue “O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up Arkansas, El Dorado KNOE-DT 8:30, Sun Maui/Lanaii/Molokai/Niihau/Akaku into the high mountain; O thou that tellest good tidings Fayetteville KHBS-DT/KHOG-DT 8:30, Sun Chan. 52 6:30 pm, Sun; 3:30, Mon Fort Smith KHBS-DT/KHOG-DT 8:30, Sun Oahu Focus Chan. 49 7:00 am, Sat to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be Jonesboro KJOS 8:30, Sun Chan. 27 5:00 am, Fri KPXO not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!” Rogers KHBS-DT/KHOG-DT 8:30, Sun Idaho, Boise KYUU-LP/KBOI-DT 8:30, Sun Springdale KHBS-DT/KHOG-DT 8:30, Sun Idaho Falls KIFI-DT 8:30, Sun (Isaiah 40:9; Jewish Publication Society translation). God California, Bakersfield KGET-DT 9:30, Sun Pocatello KIFI-DT 8:30, Sun commands His loyal remnant to warn Zion (the rebellious Chico KHSL-DT 9:30, Sun; KRCR 9:00, Sun Twin Falls KMVT-DT 8:30, Sun El Centro KECY-DT 8:30, Sun Illinois, Bloomington WEEK-DT 8:30, Sun Laodiceans), Jerusalem (America and Britain primarily) Eureka KUVU-LP/KVIQ-DT 9:30, Sun Chicago WCUU 7:00, Mon-Fri; WCIU 9:30, and Judah. We must shout with all our strength, “Behold Los Angeles KCAL 6:30, Sun; KPXN 6:00, Fri Sun; WCPX 5:00, Fri Monterey KION 9:30, Sun Peoria WEEK-DT 8:30, Sun your God!” That is what the Hezekiah bulla is all about. Palm Springs KCWQ/KESQ-DT 9:30, Sun Rockford WREX-DT 8:30, Sun; WREX Redding KHSL-DT 9:30, Sun; 10:30, Sun KRCR 9:00, Sun Quincy WGEM-DT 8:30, Sun Sacramento KSPX 6:00, Fri; Indiana, Fort Wayne WISE-DT 21.2 9:30, Sun This article is excerpted from a longer article Salinas KION 9:30, Sun Indianapolis WIPX 6:00, Fri San Francisco KKPX 6:00, Fri Terre Haute WBI 9:30, Sun about King Hezekiah and the significance of the Santa Barbara-Santa Maria KSBY-DT Iowa, Cedar Rapids KPXR 5:00, Fri bulla discovery. For the full article, request our 9:30, Sun Des Moines KFPX 5:00, Fri Colorado, Denver KPXC 5:00, Fri Keokuk WGEM-DT 8:30, Sun reprint “The Significance of the Hezekiah Bulla,” Grand Junction KJCT-DT 8:30, Sun Mason City KTTC-DT 8:30, Sun or read it online at www.pcog.org/go/bulla. 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Study proof of biblical history. Visit watchjerusalem.co.il
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