Watch egypt An open letter to U.S. manufac- An Islamist party owes its turing: r.i.p. thanks to democracy. the churches of God Assessing industrial collapse february 2006 The Philadelphia www.thetrumpet.com Trumpet
s p e c i a l r e p o r t A Look at Our Work The Philadelphia Trumpet February 2006 Vol. 17, No. 2 Circ. 322,200 10 1 24 28
r e l i g i o n 24 Why You Should 1 From the Editor: Watch Egypt An Open Letter to the Egypt’s largest and most influ- Churches of God ential opposition party is a dangerous terrorist group.
book excerpt 26 4 Absolute Power United Against Israel Iran wants to make the Palestin- The transformation of the ians’ plight a pan-Islamic cause. Worldwide Church of God into a mainstream evangelical group is astonishing. But the version of 27 Pushy, Pushy events coming out of that orga- Iran gets under Germany’s skin. nization is riddled with error.
18 Religion—and the e c o n o m y True Faith 28 The Death of American Religion is headline news—but it Manufacturing is as confused as ever in answer- ing the basic questions of life. 30 Extent of Problem Is Hidden c o v e r 35 Commentary: What behind the work Is News? s o c i e t y 8 Raising the Ruins Why our definition is clearer A new office building—a budding college— than any other news source. 32 SOCIETYWATCH a multiplying media effort—the Philadelphia religion Ruling on Homo- Church of God, which produces this news- sexual Priests ■ homosexual- ity magazine, is successfully rebuilding a vital w o r l d Nations Increase Same-Sex work that had been stopped and dismantled. Couples’ Rights ■ video games 20 WORLDWATCH The Next Level herbert w. armstrong college china The New Technology 12 A Vision of Tomorrow Leader ■ europe EU Exerts We couldn’t raise up the ruins without it. Power Over American Industry departments ■ Blair Betrays Britons to Please 34 EU ■ Cyprus Joins Defense Alli- Letters ance ■ middle east Palestinian 36 Key of David Television Log Authority Puts Terrorists on Payroll ■ africa South Africa, 38 Advertisement: Herbert W. Zimbabwe Unify ■ australia Armstrong College Bible For a free subscription in the U.S. and Canada, Race Riots Shatter Reputation Correspondence Course call 1-800-772-8577
Cover Staff Publisher and Editor in Chief Gerald Flurry The Philadelphia Trumpet (issn 10706348) is published monthly Contact us Please notify us of any change in your address; include your old mail- The Philadel- Executive Editor Stephen Flurry News Editor Ron (except bimonthly March-April and September-October issues) by ing label and the new address. The publishers assume no responsibility for return phia Church of Fraser Senior Editor Dennis Leap Managing Edi- the Philadelphia Church of God, 1019 Waterwood Parkway, Suite F, of unsolicited artwork, photographs or manuscripts. The editor reserves the right God’s new Hall tor Joel Hilliker Assistant Managing Editor Ryan Edmond, ok 73034. Periodicals postage paid at Edmond, ok, and to use any letters, in whole or in part, as he deems in the public interest, and to of Administra- additional mailing offices. ©2006 Philadelphia Church of God. edit any letter for clarity or space. Website www.theTrumpet.com E-mail letters@ tion, illumi- Malone Contributing Editors Mark Jenkins, Brad Macdonald Contributors Fred Dattolo, Andrew All rights reserved. printed in the u.s.a. Unless otherwise noted, theTrumpet.com; subscription or literature requests [email protected] Phone nated at night. scriptures are quoted from the King James Version of the Holy U.S., Canada: 1-800-772-8577; Australia: 1-800-22-333-0; New Zealand: 0-800-500- Aubrey Mercado Hessong, Gary Rethford Associate Editors Donna Bible. U.S. Postmaster: Send address changes to: the philadelphia 512. Contributions, letters or requests may be sent to our office nearest you: United for the Trumpet Grieves, Philip Nice Production Assistant Mi- How your subscription States Canada Research Assistants trumpet, p.o. Box 3700, Edmond, ok 73083. p.o. Box 3700, Edmond, ok 73083 p.o. Box 315, Milton, on l9t 4y9 chael Dattolo Lisa Godeaux, has been paid: The Trumpet has no subscription price—it is free. Caribbean p.o. Box 2237, Chaguanas, Trinidad, w.i. Britain, Europe, Middle East, David Vejil Photo Research Aubrey Mercado This is made possible by the tithes and offerings of the member- India, Sri Lanka p.o. Box 9000, Daventry, nn11 5ta, England Africa p.o. Box 2969, Prepress Production Ryan Malone Circulation ship of the Philadelphia Church of God and others. Contributions, Durbanville, 7551, South Africa Australia, Pacific Isles p.o. Box 6626, Upper Mount Mark Jenkins International Editions Editor Wik however, are welcomed and are tax-deductible in the United States, Gravatt, qld 4122, Australia New Zealand p.o. Box 38-424, Howick, Auckland, 1730 Heerma French, Italian Daniel Frendo German Canada and New Zealand. Those who wish to voluntarily support Philippines p.o. Box 1372, q.c. Central Post Office, Quezon City, Metro Manila 1100 Hans Schmidl Spanish Edition Editor Carlos Heyer this worldwide work of God are gladly welcomed as co-workers. Latin America Attn: Spanish Department, p.o. Box 3700, Edmond, ok 73083, U.S. from the ed i t o r
An Open Letter to the Churches of God If you have ever been associated with the Worldwide Church of God or one of its offshoots, I ask you to prayerfully read this letter.
nyone who was ever a member of the World- high-ranking officials around the world. Mr. Armstrong was wide Church of God when it was led by Herbert invited to speak publicly on many occasions, and he took those W. Armstrong was part of something great. That opportunities to preach the gospel—to tell people about God’s Church was a work of miracles. master plan and about their incredible human potential. These ADo you remember that glorious history? Too many of God’s events opened the way for personal appearance campaigns, people don’t. God challenges us to always keep the big picture. where he spoke to hundreds of thousands of leading people in Over Mr. Armstrong’s 55 various countries. years in Jesus Christ’s min- Herbert W. Armstrong Do you remember that istry, the work blossomed. It history? started as nothing and grew In the wcg’s hometown of into a huge, Spirit-led work Pasadena, we hosted the con- that spread God’s beautiful cert series, staged in the Am- truth throughout the world. bassador Auditorium, which Mr. Armstrong oversaw a attracted world-class per- work that was based on the forming artists and brought principle of give—which is a standard of excellence to what God’s love is. By the the community. Physically, end of his life, each month it was the crowning achieve- the Church was giving 8 mil- ment of a work that over lion free monthly copies of decades had built great re- the Plain Truth newsmaga- sources to draw on for the zine (which this magazine is betterment of mankind. patterned after). We gave 5 Under Mr. Armstrong, the million copies of The United Church of God practiced the States and Britain in Proph- way of give—of godly char- ecy, not to mention countless acter, generosity, cultural en- other magazines, newspa- richment, true education—of pers, books, booklets, tracts beautifying the environment and articles—all free. We and caring for fellowman. made the World Tomorrow Mr. Armstrong never devi- broadcast freely available on over 400 television stations. ated from his God-given commission, and the work prospered! Do you remember that history? God put our tithes and of- His work acknowledged God’s desire to have all men saved and ferings to magnificent use, and we were happy to be a part of brought to the knowledge of His truth (1 Timothy 2:3-6). It was such a noble cause. an inspiring display of God’s love for all mankind. The Ambassador International Cultural Foundation (aicf), When Mr. Armstrong died, he was highly praised by lead- which Mr. Armstrong founded in 1975, freely sponsored hu- ers and prominent individuals from around the world. Even manitarian projects including archaeological digs, schools and unconverted people could clearly see what a towering legacy of anthropological excursions. Its activities stretched from Bom- love and generosity he left behind and were deeply impressed bay to Brussels; the Philippines to the Netherlands; Tokyo to by it. Certainly we in the Church all recognized on a much Cairo. We hosted projects in Jerusalem, Jordan, London, Nepal deeper level what he had achieved. and Okinawa. Why? Because Mr. Armstrong wanted to preach Do you remember that glorious history? the gospel “for a witness unto all nations” (Matthew 24:14). Now, did Mr. Armstrong do all that? Certainly he worked Using the international contacts Mr. Armstrong estab- hard to implement God’s law and government and to walk by lished through the aicf, God opened doors for him to meet faith. But was the work so powerful and effective simply be-
The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 from the ed i t o r Where is the great Almighty God who did that powerful work? Can you answer that question? Far too many of God’s people aren’t even asking it! God did not die with Herbert W. Armstrong! Yet none of the scattered churches of God have that kind of power. They are frankly devoid of the miracles and wonders that were almost routine when the work was led by Mr. Armstrong. We must find and remain with the God of Elijah. cause of Mr. Armstrong’s intellect ambassador auditorium or advertising expertise? Did Mr. Armstrong swing open all those mighty doors? No—the great God did that! It doesn’t take great spiritual dis- cernment to recognize that God was behind that work—God was bless- ing that work—God was empower- ing and multiplying that work—as Mr. Armstrong submitted to Him. No man could have ever built such a marvelous and wondrous work in this satanic world. It was built and sus- tained by the miracles of the living God!
Family Education What truly distinguished Mr. Arm- strong’s accomplishments was that they were all built upon the foun- dation of God’s truth. God flooded Mr. Armstrong with biblical un- derstanding, restoring all founda- tional true doctrine to His Church through that man. We learned and lived by the wonderful truths of God, and our lives were richer Many of God’s people have turned away from God alto- as a result. gether—because of the mistakes and sins of men. They are Right at the heart of Mr. Armstrong’s teaching was his in- missing the big picture. struction about the God-plane institution of family (Malachi Do the sins of men change the truth of God? 4:5-6). He taught us how to build beautiful marriages and to Mr. Armstrong has been dead 20 years now. But did the rear happy children. We educated our children with Youth Almighty God who empowered his work die? Educational Services lessons; we provided our teens rich expe- Is God too weak to do the same marvelous work to- riences through the Youth Opportunities United program— day—simply because a man has passed from the scene? with its sporting events, talent shows and summer camps. Absolutely not. Do you remember what life was like in the Church under Mr. Armstrong? If you were applying God’s family education, “My Father, My Father” then you have personally experienced the blessings that come When the Prophet Elijah was carried away in a whirlwind, his as a result! Do you remember that? student Elisha was moved with emotion. “And Elisha saw it, Naturally, the Church wasn’t perfect; there were problems. and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the Some members and even ministers did not implement God’s horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold loving family government the right way. But the problem went of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces” (2 Kings 2:12). beyond simple neglect. Revelation 3:9 tells us that “the syna- Elijah was not Elisha’s physical father. But he was his spiri- gogue of Satan” was actually at work within the Church of the tual father. That is because Elisha and the sons of the proph- Philadelphia era—under Mr. Armstrong! ets came to God through Elijah. In that sense they were The Bible is filled with prophecies that show how all his sons. God knew this crisis would happen—and actually al- Some people didn’t see Elijah’s office as one of im- lowed it in order to test our loyalty to Him. The Bible portance, but Elisha saw that it was the only office also shows that He is going to bring every abuse to judg- that could lead and carry Israel forward! It ment. God will not be mocked! I strongly encourage you was Israel’s only hope—then and now! He saw that, ul- to request a free copy of my book Malachi’s Message for timately, all Israel would be governed by the teachings a very thorough scriptural study of God’s perspective on Free Upon of Elijah. His statement, “My father, my father,” re- what happened to His Church. Request vealed a deep understanding and a beautiful attitude.
The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 Where is the great Almighty God who did that powerful work? Can you answer that question? Far too many of God’s people aren’t even asking it! God did not die with Herbert W. Armstrong! Yet none of the scattered churches of God have that kind of power. They are frankly devoid of the miracles and wonders that were almost routine when the work was led by Mr. Armstrong. We must find and remain with the God of Elijah.
God liked it so much that He used Elisha to succeed Elijah. they were with that God for so long. The tragic fact is this: God loved his attitude. Not only have most of God’s people left Him—most of them Some people today scoff at such an attitude, but it is very bib- are not even interested in where He is! If they wanted to lical. The Apostle Paul told the Church members in Corinth, know, they would submit to God’s government and end up in “I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons God’s true Church. I warn you” (1 Corinthians 4:14). Paul considered his followers to be his spiritual sons. Why? “For though ye have ten thou- The Work of the Philadelphia Church of God sand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for The Philadelphia Church of God, which prints the Philadel- in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel” (verse phia Trumpet newsmagazine, has far fewer people than the 15). Paul was their spiritual father because they came to God wcg had in its heyday. But I challenge you to examine the through him. He called himself their spiritual father. miraculous work God is doing with this few! Mr. Armstrong said the same to all of those who came to In 2004, the Key of David television program received 146 God, either directly or indirectly, through him. percent of the response The World Tomorrow did in 1980— The original Elijah and the end-time Elijah held extremely while it was on one third the number of stations. And important “father” offices for God. The Philadelphia Church of in 2005, we had a 79 percent increase in the response that we God, like Elisha, recognizes that fact. This is the foundational had in 2004! Currently The Key of David ranks as the third- issue that sets the pcg apart from any other Church of God highest rated religion program in the United States. group. If you follow the Elisha example in this respect, God will (However, our television program is really a news program make you a king with a headquarters position forever. Why? with a religious base; we have to teach about world news and Because this foundational truth points us to God the Father. then show how it is fulfilling Bible prophecy.) This ranking Do you view Mr. Armstrong the way God does? doesn’t even include our worldwide television broadcast. We are seeing similarly exciting growth in literature re- The God of Elijah quests, website traffic, telephone calls, visit requests, and After Elijah was gone, Elisha learned an important lesson. “He other areas of the work. We processed more than twice as took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went much mail in 2005 as in 2004, which itself was our strongest back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; And he took the mantle year to date. We shipped close to 100,000 lessons of our new of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, correspondence course in its first year. Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smit- Our college, Herbert W. Armstrong College, will be pro- ten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went ducing its first four-year graduates this spring, some of whom over” (2 Kings 2:13-14). will be hired full-time in the work. Our building program If you study this account in the original Hebrew language, has just reached an important milestone—the completion of you will see that the first time Elisha came up to the Jordan, our 22,825-square-foot administration building—which has he smote the water but didn’t speak—and nothing happened. enabled us to consolidate all our headquarters activities onto Then he asked the important question, “Where is the Lord the 170-acre college campus for the first time. God of Elijah?” and smote the water, and the river opened up And—most importantly—God has continued to bless us, and he walked across! as He did Mr. Armstrong, with new revelation. The living Do you want to know how to do the work of God today? God did not stop speaking to His people when Mr. How to have doors open for you—even rivers, if necessary? Armstrong died. He has continued to give us “present Here is the formula. Elisha knew where the God of Elijah truth” (2 Peter 1:12) that builds upon the foundation of the was, and he was following his spiritual father. So God opened truth He restored through Mr. Armstrong. The pcg produces up the river for him, just as He did for Elijah. over 60 books and booklets, the large majority of which con- Where is the God of Elijah today? Where is the tain new biblical understanding from the great God. great Almighty God who did that powerful work? That is the single greatest proof that the God who inspired Can you answer that question? Far too many of God’s peo- Mr. Armstrong is behind our work. ple aren’t even asking it! In this issue of the Trumpet, you will read about these and God did not die with Mr. Armstrong! Yet none of the scat- other of the many activities of the Philadelphia Church of tered churches of God have that kind of power. They don’t re- God. We hope you can clearly identify the same miracles and ceive and proclaim God’s revelation. They don’t have the right blessings that built Mr. Armstrong’s work. Most of all, we government. And their works are frankly devoid of the kind of hope and pray that you can recognize the work of miracles and wonders that were almost routine when the work the God of Elijah! was led by Mr. Armstrong. Our time in this age of man is fast running out. God is We must find and remain with the God of Elijah! growing much more urgent in trying to reach His sons who All baptized members of the Church of God during the have turned away from Him, because eternal life hangs in the Philadelphia era will be held accountable for the fact that balance. We urge you to respond to Him! n
The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 b ook excerpt
The transformation of the Worldwide Church of God into a mainstream evangelical group is the most astonishing story in modern religion. wcg leaders have told their version of events in numerous books, articles and interviews. That version, however, is riddled with errors and outright lies.
In a new book to be published this year, Trumpet executive editor Stephen Flurry exposes the reality of what happened to the wcg. Here is the first chapter.
s t e p h e n f l u r r y Absolute Power
“Ironically, the same authoritarian governmental structure that created the heretical environment in the first place was necessary to correct it.” —Michael Feazell, The Liberation of the Worldwide Church of God
et me start with the ending: The ship magazine, the Plain Truth, had a monthly circulation Worldwide Church of God has not of 8.4 million. The church’s other magazines, The Good been transformed by truth over the News and Youth, had circulations of 828,000 and 224,000, past 20 years, as Joseph Tkach Jr. sug- respectively. The church received 6.7 million pieces of mail gested in his 1997 book. The church that year. It answered 1.1 million phone calls and added 2.1 has been transformed—no doubt million new names to its database. Mystery of the Ages was about that. But not by truth. Rather, it its most popular book, requested by more than 750,000 was one of the most treacherous, de- people in just the last five months of 1985. ceitful and abusive transformations in This is what Mr. Armstrong bequeathed to his successor. the history of religion. Fast forward 20 years. Membership ranks have dwin- Consider this snapshot of the Worldwide Church of God dled by 70 percent. The income has plummeted by about (wcg), from 1986, at about the time its founder, Herbert W. 90 percent. The World Tomorrow program—one of the Armstrong, died: It had a worldwide church service atten- most popular religious programs in America during the Ldance of more than 140,000. Another 100,000 were consid- 1980s—vanished from the airwaves in 1994. Ambassador ered co-workers (non-members who regularly contributed College, providing liberal arts training to some 15,000 stu- to the church financially ). More than 700 ministers served dents over the course of five decades, is now defunct: The the needs of the members and prospective members—over Pasadena, California, campus closed its doors in 1990; its 400 of them employed by the church. The church’s annual sister campus in Big Sandy, Texas, followed suit in 1997. income exceeded $200 million, the bulk of which paid for The Good News was discontinued in 1990, while the Plain World Tomorrow television time, publishing costs, salaried Truth barely survives with fewer than 100,000 subscribers. personnel and Ambassador College operations. This is a colossal disaster by any business standard. In 1985, The World Tomorrow was beaming around the Then there is Mystery of the Ages—Mr. Armstrong’s world on more than 400 stations. That year, the church most important book. Written in the last year of his life, it distributed 85.7 million publications. The church’s flag- was far and away the church’s most popular piece of litera-
The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 ture at the time of the author’s death. Tkachism took over “How could the church have lied to me all these years?” in 1986 and the book was gone by early 1988, even though Feazell asked in his book. It’s one thing to disagree with more than a million copies had been distributed—a phe- what Mr. Armstrong believed and taught—a lot of people nomenal success by any measure. did—but to say the church lied? “I felt taken advantage of,” All the unique doctrines of the Worldwide Church of Feazell continued, “spiritually and emotionally raped” God have been changed. All of Mr. Armstrong’s literature (emphasis added). has been retired. All the operations he established have Raped? Because he chose to remain in a church that he been either downsized or phased out. Most ministers and could have walked away from at any time? He’s comparing members have either fled or been excommunicated for re- his upbringing in the wcg to a woman being forcibly raped sisting change. by a sexual pervert? And through it all, a tight-knit band of Tkach loyalists Feazell wrote, “It seemed as though my life had been weathered the spiritual storm and the devastation left in its robbed from me. I could have gone to a state college and wake, all the while amassing a small fortune by selling off had a real career and maybe even been a real Christian. I all the goods and property Mr. Armstrong once used for was angry. I was confused. I was depressed. And I was dis- God’s work. gusted with the seductive assault on the true gospel waged Today, in the wcg, there is no work—just truckloads by Herbert Armstrong’s ‘one and only true church.’” of money brought in from the fire sale. They have sold off I’m disgusted too, that he would compare Mr. Arm- nearly everything that had any monetary value—summer strong’s religion to the despicable deeds of a rapist. campsites, fall festival sites, furniture, books—everything. They even auctioned off personal gifts that world leaders n O n e l O n g “ P r o c e s s ” had given to Mr. Armstrong. In 2000, they sold the Big Sandy campus for $8.5 million. In 2004, they offloaded When Tkach, Feazell and their associates grabbed hold of the fire sale’s biggest prize—their headquarters property the reins from a tyrannical despot who forced his subjects in Pasadena, including the world-renowned Ambassador to submit, one wonders why the system of government Mr. Auditorium. Church officials were ultra-secretive about the Armstrong set up in the church wasn’t the first doctrine final sum they collected for their crown jewels, but it was they changed. Absolute Power probably in the neighborhood of $60 to 70 million. Feazell insists that right after Mr. Armstrong died, one Whatever the final price, it was enough to make Bernie of Tkach Sr.’s “first goals was to dismantle the authoritar- Schnippert positively giddy. “We are in a very good posi- ian approach to government in the church …” (ibid.). Yet, tion financially,” the church’s director of finance told the according to Feazell, Tkach Sr.’s first course of action was Pasadena Star-News in May of 2004. According to Schnip- to tone down authoritative language in a speech club man- pert, the church now had enough to meet the church’s fi- ual—not exactly earth-shaking in its magnitude. nancial obligations and then some. Later in his book, Feazell admitted that when Tkach Sr. died in 1995, he “delegated the same unchecked authority n “A d m i n i s t r at i v e N i g h t m a r e ” to his son, Joseph Tkach Jr., making him the third pastor general of the church.” Think about that—even though In Transformed By Truth, Joseph Tkach Jr. is quite critical one of his “first goals” as pastor general was to supposedly of Mr. Armstrong’s governmental structure. “It is said that “dismantle” the church’s authoritarian government, Joseph power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” Tkach Sr. died with the same “unchecked authority” he he wrote. “Mr. Armstrong may have never wielded absolute had inherited from Mr. Armstrong nearly 10 years earlier. power in our church, but by the same token, there weren’t And as Feazell noted, the father passed those same powers many who would challenge him on an issue. No doubt that down to his son who, at 43 years of age, became supreme is one reason why he earned a reputation ‘on the outside’ as head of the Worldwide Church of God in 1995. a theological despot.” “The younger Tkach,” however, “immediately adopted, Later, he wrote that Mr. Armstrong “was most definitely voluntarily, a consensual style of leadership and began to act and absolutely in charge of our church. … He was the only with approval from the church board of directors,” Fea- founder, and he came on the scene as this transcendental zell wrote. But did he make any permanent revisions to the figure whom most of our members saw as having all au- powers of pastor general? According to Feazell, the younger thority and power ….” Tkach “began the process” of revising the church bylaws in In another book, written by Tkach Jr.’s right-hand man, 1996. Yet, when asked in July of 2002—six years later, during Michael Feazell said Mr. Armstrong “seemed oblivious to a court deposition—if Tkach Jr. had the same absolute power the administrative nightmare his one-man-show style of he inherited in 1995, Feazell said, “That may well be true.” leadership created” (Liberation of the wcg). That was six years after the younger Tkach “began the pro- I can’t figure out how a worldwide work that helped mil- cess” of revising the bylaws—a full 16 years after his father set lions of lives—through the airwaves, with free literature, out to “dismantle” the church’s authoritarian government. international humanitarian projects, a famous concert series, youth programs, two colleges and a high school— n R e a l T ru t h E m e r g e s could ever be characterized as nightmarish, yet that is the way wcg officials today represent that history. In listening Why did it take these men so long to make this change? For to them, you get the impression they had no choice but one, Feazell wrote, the decision to finally begin the process to remain in this church, as if Mr. Armstrong handcuffed in 1996 “was made easier by the fact that rigid doctrinal op- them to the chairs at church services! position in the administration no longer existed.”
The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 b ook excerpt What a shocking revelation. was—by far. According to Feazell, since the Tkaches took Writing as Tkach Jr.’s right-hand man, Feazell admit- over, more than half of the church’s membership and minis- ted in his 2001 book that one reason Tkachism was so slow try has either left or been shown the door. to relax the church’s rigid stance on absolute power is be- Leaving aside the numbers, keep in mind the big pic- cause of the strong opposition within the church against ture. Think about the way Tkachism preserved loyalty to doctrinal reform! It was only after that opposition was its administration. Under Mr. Armstrong, at least members removed that the Tkaches could then finally consider the and ministers had the benefit of knowing what they were prospect of relinquishing their total control. getting into. A prospective member, for instance, could Tkach Jr. said essentially the same thing in his book. have seen Mr. Armstrong on television, requested litera- Writing in 1997, he acknowledged that the church was even ture and then arranged for a visit with a wcg minister. If then working to change the way its government operated. he chose to, that individual could then study for baptism “We do not believe that one form of church government and finally become a member of the church. All along, the is more biblical than another,” Mr. Tkach wrote, “and are member knows exactly what he is getting into. taking steps to decentralize our ecclesiastical structure.” The same would have been true for wcg ministers un- Later in the book he wrote, “There is no question that der Mr. Armstrong. Most were probably trained at Ambas- [Mr. Armstrong’s] administrative and organizational sador College. All of them had a thorough understanding structures allowed unbiblical teaching to be believed and of the church’s doctrines. If that minister, over time, de- perpetuated” (emphasis added). So he blames Mr. Arm- cided he didn’t agree with Mr. Armstrong’s teachings and strong’s authority as the reason why unbiblical teachings started causing division, he would be disfellowshiped. As were believed and perpetuated. Tkach then wrote, “In His Feazell acknowledged, any minister of any church should mercy God has changed our doctrines first, and we are now be required to teach his church’s doctrines. But again, at working to change our governmental structure and polity” least that minister knew what he was getting into from (emphasis added). the beginning. Mr. Armstrong was the founder—what he In other words, now that the changes had been made taught is what the church believed. If the minister once and the opposition removed, it was time to consider re- agreed with Mr. Armstrong’s teachings and subsequently structuring the government. changed, why stay in Mr. Armstrong’s church? How is it How can he condemn the hierarchical government Mr. forcing your will on that individual to tell him, if you don’t Armstrong supposedly employed to perpetuate his beliefs preach the doctrines of this church, you don’t belong here? and, in the very same paragraph, consider that same hier- With Tkachism, however, the element of force was archical form to be divinely inspired because it was used clearly at play. Remember the snapshot: At the point of to dismantle everything Mr. Armstrong stood for? Why Mr. Armstrong’s death, there were 140,000 people in the is Mr. Armstrong’s approach likened to rape, whereas Worldwide Church of God who, to some degree or another, Tkach’s is a sign of God’s love and mercy? agreed with Herbert W. Armstrong’s teachings. But at the Because that’s what Joseph Tkach says—that’s very top of that church’s governmental pyramid, surround- why. Never mind Mr. Armstrong’s legacy—that he left be- ing Tkach Sr., was a band of men who never agreed with hind a financially solvent, unified church with a commit- those teachings but somehow remained in the church. And ted membership devoted to supporting a worldwide work. after the founder died, these men, with Tkach’s blessing, Never mind Tkachism’s legacy of destruction—of excom- determined to change the very core beliefs of a church that municating people by the thousands; dividing families; had existed for over 50 years. destroying marriages; closing colleges, youth programs And since these changes were made from the top and foundations; and stealing money. down, with unchecked authority, ministers and members Never mind all that—just believe what Tkach says. alike were left with only one option: They had to abandon As members in the church taken hostage by Tkachism, the fundamental truths they had proven and believed and that was our only choice—or else we were forced out. I taught for years while inside the Worldwide Church of God repeat: We were forced out! It was Tkachism, certainly and accept Tkach’s new teachings—or be forced out. not Mr. Armstrong, that forced its will on the members of In my mind, that is using authority forcefully and abu- the Worldwide Church of God. sively.
n L e g ac y o f A b u s e n P ow e r l e s s — n O Vo i c e Writing in 2002, Feazell said that Mr. Armstrong “had com- Feazell explained in his book, “Ironically, the same au- plete authority doctrinally and administratively. Disloyalty thoritarian governmental structure that created the hereti- among ministers was dealt with by firing and expulsion cal environment in the first place was necessary to correct from the church fellowship.” And the exact same thing can it” (emphasis added). In his thinking, they were justified be said about the Tkaches, as Feazell later admitted in a in using absolute power, because otherwise, “Tkach would court deposition: “Any minister of any church is required … not have been able to implement the massive doctrinal to teach what the church’s doctrines are.” And, “[I]f some- transformation that characterized the later years of his ad- one teaches contrary to church doctrine [in the wcg], then ministration without the unfettered hierarchical authority they are subject to being disfellowshiped.” And many were. delegated to him by Armstrong” (ibid.). How many is an open question, but it isn’t going far out on a Realize just how stunningly blunt this admission re- limb to suggest that the Tkaches were responsible for more ally is. He knows—he’s admitting—that without total disfellowshipments and firings than Mr. Armstrong ever power, their transformation would have never happened!
The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 The church membership simply would not have allowed it! now beginning plans to implement our long-desired decen- But by God’s “mercy,” they were able to use absolute power tralized financial model” (June 2004). to force it down our throats—or else show us the door. Keep in mind, they had abandoned the headquarters- Feazell continued, writing in a book for all to see, oriented work way back in the mid-1990s. The church’s “[W]ithout such total authority, the changes in doctrine and mission, like most others, was to develop congregations of direction would never have happened” (emphasis added). worship at the local level. Again, Tkachism had completely He’s not saying might, or perhaps, or maybe. Without ab- done away with the “worldwide work” concept. There was solute power, the Tkach transformation would have never no work, except at the local level. Congregations had devel- happened. oped their own identities. That is abuse of power. But the money—by the tens of millions—kept flow- Feazell wrote about seven dynamics that accompany ing into the Pasadena “headquarters” even as late as 2004. an organization in the midst of massive change. Under his Think about that. By 1995, virtually everything in the sixth point, he wrote, “wcg members were frustrated with church had been decentralized—all except for the authori- their sense of powerlessness. Not only did they have no tative government and the financial model! voice in the decision to change their cherished doctrines, In his article, Mr. Kelly mentioned that the process of but in a church culture that valued being able to under- decentralizing the financial model had begun in 2003, stand and explain one’s beliefs, they feared that they could when Pasadena collected $18.6 million in revenue. From not adequately understand the new doctrines” (emphasis that, they returned $1.5 million back to congregations—a added). The entire church membership, he says, cherished meager 8 percent. their old teachings—couldn’t understand the new—and But as of June 2004—with the Pasadena property pull- were powerless to prevent the changes from happening. ing in an estimated $70 million for the faithful band of That is abuse of power. Tkach loyalists—now church administrators were finally Feazell’s seventh point is this: “If you take the pressure prepared to decentralize the financial model so that mem- off, people will revert to their old behavior. People tend to bers’ tithes and offerings could actually be put toward the hope the crisis will just go away. If we were to stop teaching work that church was doing at the local level. the changes right now and invite members to go back to Now, with his absolute, unchecked authority still intact, the old doctrines, I am convinced that a certain percentage Joseph Tkach could divvy up the fortune acquired by sell- would do so.” ing off property paid for by the tithes and offerings of mem- And these men think Mr. Armstrong used his office to bers who had supported the work done by Mr. Armstrong. forcefully pressure people into believing a certain way? Once the spoils are dispersed, maybe then he’ll be ready to decentralize the church’s government model. n n i T ’ s A lway s s O m e t h i n g Then again, maybe not. At a 2002 deposition, we asked Mr. Tkach Jr. about the much-anticipated changes he had vowed to make in church governance. “Were those changes effected by the end of 1997 or 1998?” we asked, referring to what he indicated in his book. Learn the To which he responded, “No.” And what had they done in the six years since Tkach released his book? “We’ve had discussions,” Tkach said. “We’ve produced a manual, and we won’t make those changes until we conclude the sale of our property.” TRUTH Quite a coup: Force new doctrines into the church envi- ronment and give the members “no voice” in determining the church’s course. Do away with the church’s work—the What really happened to the television program, most of the literature, the colleges, the high school, the foundation and so on. Excommunicate Worldwide Church of God? “disloyal” ministers. Drive out “divisive” members by the Stephen Flurry’s book, to be published this year, tens of thousands. Remove all resistance. Then sell off all reveals the answers. It documents the transfer of power the church’s assets—including multiple millions of dollars after Herbert W. Armstrong’s death and the subsequent worth of real estate in Southern California and Texas. doctrinal changes, the founding of the Philadelphia THEN, and only then—MAYBE—consider changing the way church government is administered. Church of God—and the landmark court battle that ensued over the right to keep Mr. Armstrong’s cherished literature available to the public. n N e w F i n a n c i a l m O d e l In the same Worldwide News (the in-house church newspa- The truth will surprise you. per) in which the wcg reported the sale of Ambassador Au- ditorium and the Pasadena property, the church’s control- For more information on the forthcoming book, visit ler, Ron Kelly, announced plans for a new financial model. “As a result of the successful sale of the east campus and the theTrumpet.com/wcgbook sale of a portion of the west campus,” Kelly wrote, “we are
The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 c o v e r s t o r y b e h i n d t h e w o r k
A new office building—a budding college—a multiplying media effort— the Philadelphia Church of God, which produces this newsmagazine, is successfully rebuilding a vital work that had been stopped and dismantled. raising the ruins team work Over 100 Philadelphia Church of God staff and Herbert W. Armstrong College students are dwarfed by the new Hall of Administration as it nears completion in December 2005.
raising the ruins sweet home The Trumpet magazine’s team of writers, editors, researchers and foreign- language staff moved into its new home in January.
he Trumpet staff is thrilled to share We submit that an entire third of the Holy Bible is devoted to an exciting development with our readers. prophecy, and that about 90 percent of that prophecy is for We have just moved into a stunning new of- our time today. That prophecy includes the frightful fate of fice building, freshly completed in January. the American and British peoples, the remarkable rise of the To us, however, this Hall of Administra- Islamic world, the reemergence of a European empire, and the tion is more than a building. It contains vital increasing camaraderie among the nations of the Orient. prophetic significance. That’s right. But Bible prophecy also includes dramatic details of those Most of our readers know that this magazine views cur- who, in this end time, are doing God’s work. The God of Trent events and social trends in the context of Bible prophecy. all these astonishing forecasts is the same God who fore- 10 The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 b e h i n d t h e w o r k told the fate of the antediluvian world This victory helped fulfill a prophecy A Building With a Message through Noah, the fate of Judah through in Amos 9:11 stating that “in that day”— The Hall of Administration is 22,825 Jeremiah, and the rise and fall of world- referring to the end time—God would square feet—doubling the pcg’s executive ruling empires—with specifically named “raise up the tabernacle of David that is space compared to the office suites where kings—through the Prophet Daniel. fallen” and “raise up his ruins, and I will we used to work in downtown Edmond. God always has a work. He always build it as in the days of old.” A taber- The 40-office building, with many commissions a servant to deliver His nacle had certainly fallen, and here was open spaces for numerous cubicles, is a message, as Amos 3:7 reveals. God raising the ruins through a group tremendous upgrade for our staff. The We believe we are fulfilling a work God of only several thousand people scat- resources at our disposal will help us get has commissioned for this end time—a tered around the world. That prophecy God’s message to this world much more work of warning (Ezekiel 33), a work of was partially fulfilled in our attainment powerfully. prophesying again (Revelation 10:11). of those copyrights from the wcg. But it’s not just the work being done To speak only of prophecies related to God wants our work to be a replica in that building that is helping God’s world events would be ignoring certain, of the work He did through Herbert W. message go out. The building itself is a possibly more significant, prophecies Armstrong—just with fewer people. message. This edifice is a testament to about God’s work. That is why, even while still embroiled our raising the ruins. This is where our new administration in the legal fray, the pcg purchased 170 What is interesting is that the same building comes in. acres and raised up a small liberal arts week we broke ground on the Hall of Ad- college—under the charge of “raising the ministration in 2004, a story came out in How We Got Here ruins”—patterning it after Ambassador the Pasadena Star News stating that the To understand this building’s signifi- College. That’s why the pcg embarked wcg would be moving its headquarters cance requires a brief profile of the on a building program reminiscent of operations off the Ambassador College Church that supports this magazine. Mr. Armstrong’s. campus in Pasadena and into the “small- The Philadelphia Church of God Our college, founded in 2001, is appro- er, less expensive trappings of an industri- (pcg) broke away from the Worldwide priately named Herbert W. Armstrong al building” in Glendora, Calif. (Oct. 25, Church of God in December 1989, al- College (see article, page 12). In 2004, it 2004). As that formerly great “tabernacle” most four years after the founder of the became the hub for all the pcg’s mail op- continued to fall, God showed His mighty Worldwide Church of God (wcg), Her- erations when the Mail Processing Center hand by raising the ruins in Edmond. bert W. Armstrong, died. opened. That structure also houses the God is building our work so we can Mr. Armstrong had performed a television department and the studio for deliver His message to this dying world. powerful work for God. He was a man of prophecy, a philanthropist, humanitar- ian and educator (he built three liberal arts college campuses called Ambassa- dor College). The message he proclaimed was more than just the doctrinal tenets of some unique religion—it was a beau- tiful way of life and truth undiscovered by science, not taught by education and misunderstood by religion, and that will one day cover the Earth. When he died, the church Mr. Arm strong founded wanted nothing to do with any of the legacies he left behind— religious or otherwise. The new admin- istration stopped proclaiming almost all of the prophecy Mr. Armstrong taught. The pcg was founded to continue the work the wcg had abandoned—work that had become even more urgent because of roundtable the shortness of time before Christ’s Sec- the Key of David program, Editor in chief Gerald And even the building it- ond Coming. This Church was so commit- which now broadcasts Flurry chairs a meeting self is a prophecy—it’s an ted to this effort that we printed some of weekly on over 200 stations of Trumpet writers to dis- incredible message! The Mr. Armstrong’s literature—publications worldwide. cuss world events in the book of Hebrews says about the wcg had taken out of circulation. wcg In January of this year, new conference room. Noah’s work that even just officials took us to court for copyright in- the entirety of pcg op- the ark was a message in it- fringement, saying it was their “Christian erations moved to the property in north self to that evil world (see Hebrews 11:7). duty” to keep Herbert W. Armstrong’s Edmond, Okla. The new 41-foot-tall ad- The structures we build send a mes- writings out of print. Then, miraculous- ministration building—towering promi- sage about what God is doing today, how ly, after a grueling six-year battle, they nently on countryside hosting small He builds, and how He will soon rebuild decided to sell us the copyrights to every ranches and growing residential commu- this entire Earth! That is the greatest work we were requesting. nities—is the Trumpet’s new home. prophecy we could proclaim! n
The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 11 H e r be rt W. A r m st rong coll ege
A Vision of Tomorrow We wouldn’t be able to “raise up the ruins” without it. By Stephen Flurry
12 The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 b e h i n d t h e w o r k early six years their minds to all truth and ‘prove all God who is doing something through ago, after I picked things.’ And I mean proof that anybody humans, it must start the smallest. Like up my wife and should be able to see. We will give them the grain of mustard seed, the smallest of newborn daugh- hope—based on proof. … herbs, which grows to become the largest, ter at the end of “[O]ur aim will be to provide students God’s works through humans must start the workday, we with a well-rounded, liberal arts educa- the smallest, but they grow, and grow, and drove about sev- tion. We plan to have strong classes in grow, until they become the biggest!” en miles north in history, journalism, music, nutrition, Though his work started from prac- Edmond and pulled off the road onto an computers, television production, speech tically nothing, Mr. Armstrong walked open field. The sun was setting—we have and leadership.” This is what he wrote by faith. He had no scholarly training, Nbeautiful sunsets in Oklahoma—and it just two weeks after buying a field. no corporate funding, and yet, thanks was in June, so it wasn’t too hot yet. We He went on to say: “We will have a to the blessings of God, over a period of got out of our car and started walking class on news analysis, where students decades he raised up a highly successful, across the field. I was holding our new will be taught the true meaning behind globe-encompassing work. baby, and everything was world news. They will see When God builds something through calm and peaceful. true values how world news is fulfill- people He starts small, because He never Not long after we arrived, Students learn to ing Bible prophecy. Their wants us to forget that He is the one pro- a few other cars full of people enjoy fine culture Bibles will come alive as viding the increase! pulled up and did the same as they soak in the they never imagined! “Had Ambassador College started big,” thing—slowly driving through atmosphere at one of “We also have the ca- Mr. Armstrong continued, “with several grass before parking and get- Armstrong College’s pacity to teach accounting, hundred or a few thousand students, a ting out. It reminded me of four annual agriculture, English, Span- great campus filled with large college Field of Dreams—a movie formal events. ish and some other basic buildings—an administration building, about a farmer who built a classes.” classroom buildings, laboratories, music beautiful baseball field and people from Wow! We hadn’t broken ground on a conservatory, large ornate auditorium, miles around showed up just to see it. single building. There were no adminis- gymnasium, a fine quarter-mile track Well, we didn’t have that many people trators. There were no departments, no and football field, a large library building show up—there were about 25 of us. And teachers and no students. Even more as- with 500,000 volumes, dormitories, din- there was no baseball field either. In fact, tounding was that just a few weeks after my ing halls—everything complete, then I there was nothing! I mean, there was a father wrote that article, the Church pur- could certainly have no faith in accepting certain natural beauty to the place—es- chased an additional 120 acres, on which it as God’s college.” But, that wasn’t how pecially because of a small lake that was there was nothing but more grass! Ambassador College developed at all. It clothed by clusters of trees—but most of Without a doubt, our college and new began just the opposite: as a modest insti- it was just an open field with wild grass headquarters facility had to begin first tution, almost comically tiny. that had grown up about knee level. as a vision. There were no roads. A Man of Faith No real entrance onto the property. Raising the Ruins In the spring of 1946, only 12 years after No buildings. Amos 9:11 says, “In that day will I raise God’s work in the Philadelphia era of His Nothing. up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, Church started, Mr. Armstrong saw that And yet, there we were—25 of us— and close up the breaches thereof; and I for the work to really grow into a world- wandering around, sipping champagne. will raise up his ruins, and I will build it wide work, there needed to be a college. We were fellowshiping. We were laugh- as in the days of old.” Even in the early As he prayed about it and collected his ing. We were dreaming. days of the pcg, my father showed us thoughts, he began looking for a place to Shortly after we visited that field, my how this scripture was a prophecy that build around Pasadena, California. father wrote this in the Trumpet: “I plan the work built by Herbert W. Armstrong On November 27 of that year, Mr. to start a small college in 2001, perhaps would fall into ruin—something we had Armstrong located what seemed to be a 2002. In June, the Philadelphia Church already seen fulfilled (see page 4)—and suitable building, though it was some- of God purchased 38 acres of land with a that we would raise it back up again. what run-down. He made a deal that ap- beautiful three-acre lake” (August 2000). God wanted to replicate the way things peared would enable him to take posses- That was quite an announcement! In were done “in the days of old.” sion the following July. our Church newspaper, the Philadelphia If you know anything about Mr. Upon signing the dotted line on the News, it had been mentioned that this 38 Armstrong’s early work, you can see place, Mr. Armstrong produced a special acres might also be the site for a future how precisely that prophecy was coming edition of the Plain Truth magazine, Janu- television studio, an office building, an to pass in those open Oklahoman fields. ary-February 1947, announcing the excit- auditorium, and a youth camp. And—on When Herbert W. Armstrong first ing news: “This year, September 22, our A Vision top of that, according to what Mr. Flurry began building, the work was like a mus- own new school, Ambassador College, wrote in the Trumpet—a new college! tard seed. He wrote in his autobiography, will swing open its doors to students.” That’s quite a lot to squeeze on 38 acres, “When the great God, Creator and Ruler Think about that! If something like especially when a small lake and shore- of the vast universe, does something by this seemed unlikely in 2000 after we line cover seven or eight of those acres. Himself, He demonstrates His supreme bought those 38 acres, how much more of Tomorrow Mr. Flurry continued, “At our college, power by doing it in a stupendous, awe- so in 1947, considering the limited help we will teach our young people to open inspiring manner. But when it is actually and experience Mr. Armstrong had at
The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 13 his disposal? He wasn’t raising ruins that had been built before—he was start- ing from scratch! The Plain Truth continued, “Ambas- sador is to be a general liberal arts in- stitution—not a Bible school, ministers’ college, or theological seminary. It will fit students for all walks of life, offering a general and practical basic education, with unusual advantages for special technical courses, as well as a thorough, sound, complete Bible course …. “There is no other college like Am- bassador.” No other college like Ambassador? At the time Mr. Armstrong wrote that, the Church had just bought a run-down building in Pasadena. There was no Am- bassador College—at least not visibly. Besides Mr. Armstrong, there was no faculty. No students had even applied. But why was Mr. Armstrong so con- fident his vision of Ambassador College would turn into reality? Because he had faith in God! Here is how Mr. Armstrong described this college which, as he wrote, did not exist: “It is, in a sense, a revolutionary new-type college—different from those of today’s world—a forward-looking, progressive institution built on sound- est principles, having highest goals and objectives, yet employing the best of proved methods of administration, and maintaining highest academic stan- dards” (ibid.). Revolutionary? Forward-looking? Pro- gressive? The highest academic standards? How clear the concept was in Mr. Armstrong’s mind. “The vision of this new and different college, and its imperative urgent need, came like a revelation straight from God last spring,” he wrote. “At first the idea seemed impossible, for us—almost fan- tastic. “But the Eternal our God is a miracle- working God who promises to supply every need. And literally, God has per- formed a miracle! When one knows the facts and circumstances, that cannot be doubted. Events have happened swiftly! Amazing developments occurred unex- pectedly. The vision has become a defi- nite reality. The opening of Ambassador College next September is assured.” What an example of faithful reliance on God—and of vision.
Salvation Is Education Mr. Armstrong continued to write in the same Plain Truth about the difference
14 The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 s p e c bi ae hl i bne d h ti n h d e tw ho e r kw o r k
college of the future Clockwise from top left: Students study for final exams outside one of the women’s dorms. A student landscaping employee plants pansies outside the John Amos Field House. The Armstrong College Choral Union—with members of the Oklahoma City Philhar- monic and four professional soloists from around the country—perform G. F. Handel’s Messiah in con- cert. Students relax amid lush landscaping near a small man-made pond com- plete with a waterfall and koi. The ball is inbounded at an intramural women’s basketball game at the field house. Games are played between student classes and faculty members about twice a week.
The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 15 b e h i n d t h e w o r k
in education a student would receive at what is wrong with modern education. with. Ambassador will seek to offer in- Ambassador versus any other college. He wrote, “It wastes precious hours and ducements excelling the recreational The AC student, Mr. Armstrong said, years in the minute study of nonconse- and social and athletic activities of large would receive true education: quential details and impractical and un- universities by a very special program “In other words, though we perhaps true theories, instead of teaching young of our own. We realize that life at Am- never have thought of it in this light, real men and women the basic knowledge bassador must be made attractive to the conversion is education! Not the pure- of life—what life is, why we are here, student! We shall strive to make it enjoy- ly mental, materialistic, largely errone- where we are going, and how to live suc- able, interesting, literally thrilling! The ous education of this world—no, not cessfully, usefully, happily, joyfully! Its buildings and grounds offer the ideal that kind at all!—but real true educa- proponents look wise and dignified, and set-up for this purpose. We shall devote tion, which is the renewing and enlight- speak learnedly of unimportant noth- considerable intelligent attention to the ening of the mind, the feeding of the ings. And they fill students’ minds with social life—directed not toward just ‘fun’ soul, the development of self-discipline much chaff, while their souls starve for alone, or worldly pleasures, but toward and character in true spiritual values! the true educational food! personality and character-development, That is true education! “Yes, something’s wrong with this the acquisition of that portion of culture “That is the type of education to be world’s education, as well as with its re- which includes the graces of politeness, taught at Ambassador College! Truly, it ligions, its politics, its economics, and its courtesy, kindness, gentleness, self-re- is something different in a materialistic society! And wrong education is a basic straint, selflessness. We shall avoid the world that has forgotten God! cause of all the world’s wrongs today!” evils of the ordinary life—such as snob- “Man is the highest mortal being God Ambassador was to be the solution bishness and a feeling of class distinc- has created on Earth. The mind is the to the evils of modern education. Its tion” (ibid.). highest part of man—the faculty which, curriculum would be different from all This great visionary was in his 50s above all else, elevates man above dumb other colleges as well. when he wrote this, and he had never animals. Did not God intend our minds been to college himself. But what is even then, to be developed, trained, used to Mr. Armstrong the Visionary more remarkable about this 1947 article His honor and glory? Mr. Armstrong wrote that Ambassador is that you can read it years later, and it “Can’t we see that none glorifies God would offer a wide gamut of classes. He remains a perfect description of Am- by ignorance, by neglecting this most wanted classes in science and physical bassador College in the 1960s, or even precious heritage God has entrusted to health, and classes on how to have a suc- the 1980s! The Ambassador College that man—the mind? To fulfill God’s pur- cessful family life. existed at the time of Mr. Armstrong’s pose in our existence, our minds need Mr. Armstrong even went so far as to death in 1986 truly was the product of a enlightening through the revelation of describe the social life at this yet-to- vision that started in one man’s mind. God’s Word; they need to be trained, be-established college: “We believe What’s more, on Feb. 14, 1947, Mr. developed, cultivated, used!” in bringing out and developing all the Armstrong actually left for Europe to, of Mr. Armstrong went on to explain personality God has endowed one all things, pursue plans for a second cam-
16 The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 education with vision Clockwise from left: A student employee inspects the AC garden for weeds. The college’s Young Ambassadors perform at their first live concert in December 2005. Campers line up for lunch at Philadelphia Youth Camp, held each summer. Students serve as workers and dorm counselors.
Herbert W. Armstrong College—before it was anything but an open field with knee-level wild grass: “Physically, our small college will be a vision of hope. The Earth will still become a Garden of Eden. Our plot of land will help make that magnificent potential clear. pus, in Switzerland! And although the room, classrooms, offices and a stage “And that’s not all. One day, the whole Switzerland campus did not work out, area. The 53 students who attend col- universe will be made to look like the Mr. Armstrong did go on to build two lege here live in three on-campus dor- Garden of Eden. other college campuses, one in England mitories, as well as homes for two mar- “God is calling us to change the Earth and one in Texas. ried students and their families. Many and the universe. And it starts here and The college model Mr. Armstrong es- of them work in our mail processing now! tablished was a true success for as long center, which houses our television stu- “What we are starting is not an easy as people remained faithful to it. And dio and related offices, a call center, our undertaking. But oh, how rewarding today, we are diligently raising up its ru- mailing offices, and a warehouse stor- it will be! Without vision, our 38 acres ins. Formerly Imperial College, the in- ing over a million pieces of literature. would be just another plot of land. With stitution we are building is now named The field we once stood in, smiling and vision, it will help people see what God after the man whose vision we are seek- sipping champagne, has been replaced is about to do in this world. Our stu- ing to replicate, as we “build it as in the by our beautiful new Hall of Admin- dents will see God’s master plan for the days of old.” istration, pictured on the front of this universe! What a mind-galvanizing vi- magazine. The vision we celebrated sion! And it is no fantasy. There is a rea- Education With Vision that peaceful June evening has become son that universe is out there! We must That plot of land we purchased in 2000 reality—and it continues to grow. expand our thinking beyond Earth. We now supports a multipurpose building Notice what my father wrote in the were created to be in the God Family. with a dining hall, gymnasium, exercise August 2000 issue of the Trumpet about You can’t confine God to this Earth.” n
The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 17 Religion and the True Faith Courtesy of the rise in the public profile of the Vatican and the rise of Islam, religion is headline news. Yet it is as confused as ever in answering the basic questions of life. By Ron Fraser
t is once again fashionable to holy city. None agrees fully on the way to fusion as to just what it is that represents talk about religion. Yet the discus- worship the one God they all espouse. core doctrine. sion of this subject, considered Logic demands that if there indeed If religion is, indeed, the opiate of the passé in the circles of post-1960s is one God, then it ought to follow that masses, as Lenin declared, then among Iacademia, though once again permitted He would define the proper manner in these religions there is a brand to suit all within such circles, is now often couched which to worship Him, and reveal that tastes. The question arises, is there one in the language of political correctness. way to man. Yet these religions differ true faith? If not, then based on the as- There are even efforts to legislate against vastly in doctrine and in practice. sumption of all three of these religions the incitement of religious violence—a One of these religions, Judaism, that there exists one supreme God over violence that, especially in these times, claims that the Old Testament writings all, has that God destined mankind to seems peculiar to the religion of Islam. preserved from ancient times by the Jews a life of confusion over the very basic Some legislators view incitement as are the revealed instructions to man as questions about the reason for human stemming from a person just discussing to how to worship God. life? This is a fundamen- this subject in public without using the Varying divisions of tal question with which requisite politically correct terms. Thus, Christianity lay claim to Unlike other countless generations of while it is fashionable to discuss religion, the same book, the Bi- thinkers, philosophers, it is increasingly verboten to discuss it in ble—incorporating both so-called religionists and educa- terms that reflect the reality of the par- the Old Testament pre- holy books, tionalists have wrestled ticular history and current practices of served by the Jews (albeit for 6,000 years of docu- an individual religion and its real im- in differing versions) and the Bible can mented human history. pact on society. the New Testament pre- Thankfully, it is not the editorial served by the Greeks—as be proven Honest Questions policy of this magazine to subscribe to the basis of their reli- to be the In reference to the refusal the politically correct. We strive instead gion. Yet they disagree on of many men of science to to reflect reality—the reality that God is their interpretation of its inerrant face this most fundamen- working out a definite plan for the ful- teachings. Word of tal of all questions about fillment of the incredible potential of The third of these the nature of our being every human being who has ever drawn great religions places God. and of the universe, Brit- and will ever draw breath. faith in another book as ish historian Paul Johnson the Creator’s revealed knowledge of how recently stated that such men of knowl- Religious Confusion to worship and obey God: the Koran of edge “are not going to confess their own There are three primary religions of the Islamic faith. ignorance, indeed, their intellectual im- man that are considered monotheistic— Within each of these monotheistic re- potence” (Spectator, Nov. 12, 2005). maintaining belief in one supreme Cre- ligions, there are many diverse branches, Johnson is one of those historians (akin ator: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. differing among themselves on religious to American historian John Lukacs, or All three revere the city of Jerusalem as a beliefs and practices to the point of con- the late Allan Bloom) who is sufficiently
18 The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 r e l i g i o n humble so as to challenge the pomposity cade of his life’s experience—a true of its inerrancy into question. Hence the of the West’s intelligentsia. He couches scholar, well traveled, who has written confusing multitude of various Christian his writings in easy-to-understand prose volumes on the human quest for mean- denominations, each claiming a right and is always prepared to thumb his nose ing in life—who has spent most of his to understanding its truths, yet none of at the establishment of academia. own lifetime in an intensive search to them in complete agreement. Paul Johnson is a deep thinker. He find the answers to the very realities of The plain truth of the matter is, un- dares to consider, deeply, those questions the universe—of why it exists, what is its like other so-called holy books, the Bible that most scientists tend to discount due past and what is its future. can be proven to be the inerrant Word of to their inability to come to terms with Chances are that many of the regu- God. The most powerful of proofs of its Religion their outstanding relevance. He dares to lar subscribers to this magazine are in- divine source and its consistency in de- consider God! volved in a similar quest. claring truth is fulfilled Bible prophecy! In that same weekly column in the Dr. Johnson, in fact, does get so close It is a fact that a whole third of the British Spectator magazine, Johnson to the answer: “Only when we elimi- Bible is prophecy for the future, most of challenged the individual who is consid- nate the material dimension altogether it in the process of being fulfilled in our ered to possess one of the most brilliant do those who believe in God acquire day! Indeed, we who live in this age are of mathematical minds, Dr. Stephen an overwhelming advantage” (ibid.). In among the most privileged of people, for Hawking, author of A Brief History of other words, to take a leaf out of Herbert we are surrounded by, involved in and Time. Referring to a tv interview during W. Armstrong’s book, if we seek to prove indeed part of the fulfillment of the most which Hawking was asked the question, the existence of God we simply need ac- dramatic of all prophecies in the Bible! and the True Faith “What existed before the universe be- cess to that which he termed “the miss- For the past 15 years, this magazine gan?” Johnson quoted Hawking’s reply: ing dimension.” has thundered the proof “That’s a meaningless question.” Paul Johnson gets as of the fulfillment of these To this Johnson retorted, “Oh no, close as any human being We are prophecies. Month by it isn’t. … No question is meaningless can in this search for God, month, as current events if it is prompted by a genuine thirst for without direct access to surrounded link with history and bib- knowledge. Physicists expect us to believe that “missing dimension.” by, involved lical prophecy, the Trum- their claim … that not merely something He realizes that there is an pet has offered the most but everything was created out of noth- essence that is part of the in and dramatic proof of the ac- ing, thus breaking the fundamental law human persona—a literal indeed part curacy of biblical proph- of physics. … [T]hey fear that trying to non-physical component, ecies, some having been answer [questions about what happened a spirit in man—which of the originally documented before the ‘Big Bang,’] or admitting that gives a direct connection fulfillment over 3,000 years ago! they are meaningful, will involve them in to man’s Maker, who is the Never was it more cru- debate about the three-letter word which, source of that spirit. This of the most cial to convey this mes- to them, is the final obscenity—G-O-D.” reality, which Paul John- sage of prophecy to this Zeroing in on his own unique quest for son has discovered, is a lit- dramatic of world. In fact, the future answers to this question, Paul Johnson eral extension of the divine all prophe- of mankind depends on admits, “Since an early age I have always Godhead. It is a logic that the continuance of the been puzzled by God” (ibid.). Yet, unlike stems from the knowledge cies in the enterprise to which God the men of science whom he derides for of the very nature of God. Bible. gave a divine commission ignoring these most basic of questions, Johnson expresses this to preach and publish the he has obviously been honest about his reality thus: “God is es- Bible’s prophetic message search to find the answers to his puzzle- sentially a spiritual rather than a physical to the whole world. ment about the Creator. He indicates being, and if He exists outside space and That original divinely commissioned that he started with the intellectually time and all the factors which owe their enterprise has historically been called the correct, yet politically incorrect, logical complexity to them, then the problems of Church of God (Acts 20:28). God declared foundation for his quest: “The fact of an existence begin to seem soluble” (ibid.). of His Church, at its inception, that it all-powerful God, who transcends all the That said, one needs a guide from would never die (Matthew 16:18). Thus it laws of physics, and equally supplies or- one’s Maker to work toward resolution must be extant today in its original Spirit- der in the vacuum left by their non-exis- of these “problems of existence” of God. led form, under its God-gifted original tence, is the only explanation ….” manner of government and administra- Johnson’s questions are akin to those Proof of God tion (Ephesians 4:4-16), preaching the asked by every true and honest thinker There is but one source that contains the same message given it originally by God down through the ages: “If God had al- requisite proofs of God’s existence—the (Mark 13:10). Otherwise, God Himself is ways existed, why did He suddenly de- very documented Word of God. We call proven a liar! And God, by His very na- cide to create the universe and humanity? this collection of divinely inspired writ- ture, cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Romans 3:4). Why did He do it then, and not earlier or ings the Bible. But to the average man, Simply find that Church—the proven later? … He created space and time at the this most published, most translated and continuance of the one true Church that same moment. But what was His motive? most widely distributed book in the world teaches God’s law and has the revelation What did He hope or intend to achieve? remains an enigma. It is subject to count- of prophecy (Isaiah 8:16, 20; Revelation What exactly is God’s plan?” (ibid.). less individual interpretations. Numerous 19:10) and of God’s plan for the salva- Here is a man now in the eighth de- professional theologians call the concept See religion page 31
The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 19 w o r l d w a t c h a Survey of Global Events and Conditions to Keep an Eye on reuters Security Review Commission First, while the U.S. export said that China’s reposition- of information technology is ing itself at the center of the still growing, the leadership technology supply chain position is gone—and it isn’t is “raising the prospect of coming back. In accordance future U.S. dependency on with biblical prophecy, the China for certain items criti- United States is losing its su- cal to the U.S. defense indus- perpower status in one area try as well as vital to contin- after another, continually be- ued economic leadership” ing overtaken by China and (ibid.; emphasis ours). Fisher the European Union. Now warned that the Chinese have that the U.S. has been over- the money to turn their ideas taken in technology exports, into weapons. we can expect its growth to What’s more, on slow and eventually become a CLOSING THE DEAL In December, China’s largest computer December 12, Alan Paller, bona fide decline. maker, Lenovo Group Ltd., announced its plans to buy part of IBM. the head of a leading securi- Second, dependency on ty institute, said that efforts any foreign power leaves a c h i n a to hack U.S. government country in a weak position and industry computers militarily. Ezekiel 7:14 talks The New Technology Leader were probably the work of about a time when the alarm the Chinese military. After of war will be sounded, but any analysts believe The New York Times explaining that the attacks no one goes to battle. This MBeijing wants to con- called the cooperation were traced to the Chinese could very likely be a result trol the technology market among the Chinese arma- province of Guangdong, of mission-critical military worldwide. ments industry, information Paller said the attackers systems being compromised Consider the evidence. technology companies, and “were in and out with no by cyberattacks or other for- Last May, China demon- government research and keystroke errors and left no eign-initiated sabotage. strated how seriously it takes development groups a “‘digi- fingerprints, and created The U.S. is allowing itself technological dominance tal triangle’ that supports a backdoor in less than 30 to be marginalized by the when Chinese computer the country’s rapid military minutes. How can this be Chinese economically. Does maker Lenovo paid $1.75 bil- modernization” (ibid.). done by anyone other than Washington place enough lion to purchase the personal A November 2005 report a military organization?” value on technological leader- computer arm of ibm. The to Congress from the United (China Post, Dec. 14, 2005). ship to prevent future disas- Chinese had already outsold States-China Economic and The story here is two-fold. ters? Bible prophecy says no. American technology goods in 2004, after its informa- tion- and computer-technol- EU Exerts Power Over American Industry ogy exports increased 46 he European Parlia Union’s new regulation—os- ing less than 5 percent of the percent—to $180 billion— Tment approved a regu- tensibly designed to protect global population would, in just that year. Add to all that lation Nov. 17, 2005, that the health of Europeans— effect, be making chemicals China’s moves to assign its could seriously handicap American chemical policy for the entire globe” own standards to technology. the U.S. chemical industry. manufacturers that export (Stratfor, Nov. 17, 2005). Certainly these develop- This approval highlights a chemicals to Europe could In the case of America’s ments have serious economic worrying trend that could be forced to spend millions chemical exports, this legis- ramifications. What might severely cripple American of dollars testing, reporting lation could seriously burden not be so evident, however, industry in general. and registering their chemi- an industry already hurting are the military implications The Registration, cals in order to meet EU economically. of this technological boom. Evaluation and Authoriza standards and conditions. This is an alarming trend. Rick Fisher, vice presi- tion of Chemicals (reach) The EU’s approval of this While reach’s primary dent of the International regulation is designed “to regulation highlights an motive may not have been Assessment and Strategy protect consumers from aspect of globalization that to disadvantage America’s Center in Washington, said the adverse effects of has staggering implications. chemical industry, it could that China’s army is “moving chemicals found in a wide By creating and passing this certainly prove a pleasant very quickly to adopt prac- range of products from bill, the EU is able to extend side benefit, in the EU’s eyes. tically every information- soap powder, children’s its influence into the indus- Might the EU or other na- related aspect of military toys, pesticides to build- tries and economies of other tions enact similar changes technology that the U.S. is ing materials” (Deutsche nations outside of the EU. in order to deliberately harm pursuing at this time” (New Welle, Nov. 17, 2005). Analysts at Stratfor noted: American industries? York Times, Dec. 11, 2005). Under the European “[A] single body represent- As global trade grows
20 The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 e u r o p e He went on: “[Blair] has for the sake of European given away £1.7 billion of the integration.” In other words, Blair Betrays Britons to Please EU rebate over the next seven the British prime minister
getty images getty years, in return for precisely and his government have Reporting for nothing. Just as disgracefully, played right into the hands the British tabloid he has agreed that Britain’s of a European leadership that the Daily Express, annual net contribution to wants to see Great Britain be- Leo McKinstry EU coffers should increase by come a vassal state of the EU. railed: “The Blair a massive 63 percent to £6 bil- But this latest EU summit machine has been lion, in the face of all the evi- was notable for one other in overdrive, dence of endemic waste and glaring deficiency: a seeming trying to pres- corruption within the EU.” total lack of determined, ro- ent Tony Blair’s This performance by bust leadership at any level. divided loyalties Britain’s Tony Blair abject surrender Prime Minister Blair would EUobserver.com put it this to the European appear to be welcome way: “But though it is easy ecember’s European Union as some kind of tri- grist for the mill of the to criticize the lack of British DUnion summit conclud- umph for his diplomacy. But Euroskeptics who comprise leadership, we must ask, in ed with a loss of face and this shameless propaganda a good half of Britain’s fairness, whether Europe funds by Britain, the com- effort is not working, for it electorate. EUobserver.com actually wants to be led at the plete ignoring of the mas- is blindingly obvious that stated, “The budget shenani- present time at all. We may sive fraud and corruption his deal on the EU budget gans have simultaneously have a Europe of the 25, but it endemic to EU bureaucracy, is disastrous for Britain, re- succeeded in losing Britain is a Europe of 25 troubled and and a most obvious yawning quiring us to hand over even friends and influence abroad fractious countries, uncertain leadership gap. more of our cash to Brussels” while the surrender of even as to their future direction on Commentators have been (Dec. 19, 2005). McKinstry a small part of the rebate has almost all fronts. … Yet what devastating in their criticism was referring to Mr. Blair’s enraged the Euroskeptics Europe does need, clearly, is of British Prime Minister willingness to sacrifice back home” (Dec. 19, 2005). leadership. Leadership that is Tony Blair’s performance Britain’s annual rebate from What is even more appall- capable of forging a transna- during his term as president the EU, originally negotiated ing, the very policy that has tional consensus and com- of the EU. by Margaret Thatcher. largely destroyed Britain’s manding respect among the agricultural industry and electorates of member states. disenfranchised many Third This can’t be other than po- World countries from the litical …” (emphasis ours). EU market remained un- The EU simply lacks a touched at this latest EU forceful leader at its helm. summit. McKinstry called Without that, it is a ship all it “the fraudulent Common at sea, without a pilot to di- Agricultural Policy, which rect its political course. swallows 40 percent of the EUobserver.com posed reuters entire EU budget despite the burning question about the fact that only 4 percent the EU’s immediate future: of the EU’s citizens work in “Who indeed will succeed in farming” (op. cit.). drawing this sword from the Commenting on Blair’s stone? That is the real ques- legacy, McKinstry declared: tion for 2006.” The Trumpet “Essentially, he has sacri- has long pointed out, as ficed the interests of his own Herbert W. Armstrong did MARKED A new EU chemical bill could burden U.S. industries. country purely to boost his before us, that the Continent more competitive and new as the industrial power- reputation with European is primed for a “Mr. Europe” players enter the scene, don’t house of the world, the U.S. leaders. His was an act of strongman to take control. be surprised if regulatory would bear the brunt of staggering vanity and colos- In the meantime, watch authorities in the EU, China such hostility. sal national betrayal. … for Blair’s pro-EU policies to and other large markets seek The U.S.’s economy and “He has become Europe’s distance him from his citi- to exploit this powerful weap- industry have never been representative in Britain zens. Not only are his days on—made possible because of in such a fragile state. Both rather than Britain’s repre- in office numbered, so are modern globalization. By de- are on the verge of collapse. sentative in Europe. … Britain’s as a member of a veloping cumbersome inter- We can be sure that the EU “In the context of modern united Europe. If Blair is re- nal regulations, these nations and other foreign powers politics, ‘a good European’ placed by a leader willing to could put foreign companies are acutely aware of this is a politician who is will- stand up for Britain against at a serious disadvantage. possibility and could seek ing to destroy his country’s the EU, then the UK and EU Because of its position to hasten it. freedom and independence may well part company.
The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 21 w o r l d w a t c h trumpet map trumpet e u r o p e as 168 b.c. by the Romans. Catholic Cyprus Joins Defense Alliance armies used the island strong- istory is playing out the EU considered this ex- hold during the Hin Cyprus once again. ercise extremely important Crusades. The Republic of Cyprus (Middle East Newsline, Nov. Cyprus effective- has officially entered into 28, 2005). ly serves as a bridge the European defense re- The EU will reap great between Europe gime. Between November benefits from this military and the Middle 22 and December 1 last year, alliance—not from hav- East. Various na- Cyprus participated in a ing extra Cypriot troops or tions have been military exercise held by the military equipment at the interested in this European Union, operat- EU’s disposal, but because island through ing under the framework of of the strategic importance the years, includ- the European Security and of Cyprus’s geographic ing Britain, Russia Defense Policy. placement in the eastern has been used as a staging and Turkey. Today, however, A Cyprus Defense Mediterranean. ground for military cam- Cyprus is a member of the Ministry press release stated Historically, Cyprus paigns dating as far back EU, subject to EU directives. Cyprus is the perfect m i d d l e e a s t stepping stone for any future EU operations in the Middle East. We can be sure the EU Palestinian Authority Puts Terrorists on Payroll was aware of this when it n Dec. 5, 2005, Palestinian leader coupled with a culture that glorifies de- admitted Greek Cyprus into OMahmoud Abbas approved financial ceased terrorists as national heroes, has the the Union despite unsettled aid for the families of suicide terrorists. potential to increase the number of young disputes with Turkey, a This act guarantees that the cycle of vio- Palestinian Arabs willing to give their lives strong nato ally. lence between Palestinians and Israel will to kill Jews” (ibid.). Using biblical prophecy continue. The day Abbas signed the law, a as his guide, the Trumpet’s With the new law, “The bomber’s fam- Palestinian suicide bomber detonated ex- editor in chief explained ily, along with those of every other deceased plosives in a shopping center in an Israeli in an August 1998 article, killer, will now receive at least $250 a month town north of the West Bank, killing five “The EU is prophesied to in direct government aid …” reuters and wounding scores of others. be ultimately comprised (Jerusalem Newswire, Dec. 5, 2005). In a written statement, Abbas of 10 nations, dominated This means that the annual reacted with mock shock: by Catholicism. Already “martyr” stipend budget will grow “This operation ... against the EU is being called the by $20 million to meet demand. civilians causes the most seri- Holy Roman Empire. They Another recently approved law ous harm to our commitment have traditionally been the will allot $50 million per year to to the peace process and the enemies of the Muslims …. support wounded terrorists or Palestinian National Authority [Y]ou can be certain that the those in Israeli prisons. According (pna) will not go easy on who- EU is thinking about how to Palestinian Authority (pa) fig- ever is found to be responsible to protect the holy places in ures, Palestinians already budget for this operation” (Xinhua and around Jerusalem. They $4 million for those in prison. News Agency, Dec. 5, 2005). have thought like this for al- $11 million is allotted for This new law belies Abbas’s most 2,000 years!” paymaster Abbas families of the 3,746 Palestinians tough rhetoric. What, in fact, The Roman Catholic who have succeeded in terminating their will really happen? At a minimum, a $250 Church has strong interests own lives and those of innocent Israelis. In check will be sent to the family. in Jerusalem. Bible proph- fact, more than 10 percent of the pa’s overall Even though the Palestinian leadership ecy reveals that one more $1 billion budget is earmarked as stipends claims to desire peace, its laws evidence crusade centered around for “martyr” families and imprisoned or the contrary. If Abbas was serious about Jerusalem is yet ahead. This wounded suicide bombers. the Palestinian commitment to peace with city is still highly prized by With this new law joining related laws Israel, his politics would not be a fountain- both Catholics and Muslims, already on the books, the Palestinian head of support for terrorism. and neither camp is willing Authority is funding a culture of terror. And despite Abbas claiming that terrorist to give up its ambitions. The money legitimizes criminals and suicide bombers pose “serious harm” to the Cyprus’s strategic posi- provides incentive for new recruits. “That peace process, his actions speak otherwise. tion in the Mediterranean amount of money [$250] is more than Leaders must be judged by what they provides the EU with a most lower class ‘Palestinians’ can hope do, not what they say. Christ said, by their stronger presence near the to make working menial jobs. This fact, fruits you shall know them (Matthew 7:20). Middle East. The nation of
22 The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 Israel is already looking to a u s t r a l i a tivated attacks began crop- European peacekeepers for ping up in other states. help—a precursor of things Race Riots Shatter Reputation Under the right condi- to come. Watch for the EU tions, race riots could easily increasingly to use Cyprus ast December’s sudden prior, when two lifeguards break out on a massive scale. for military purposes. Loutburst of race riots in from Sydney’s eastern In our free book The For more on the history Sydney—Australia’s most suburb of Cronulla were United States and Britain in of Cyprus and its connec- eminent city—unveiled a assaulted in what was be- Prophecy, we explain that the tion with the final crusade deep-seated crisis in the land lieved to be an unprovoked nations of America, Canada, for Jerusalem, read our down under. attack by a group of Middle Australia, New Zealand and August 1998 cover story at The catalyst for the Eastern men. The Cronulla the United Kingdom com- theTrumpet.com. violence occurred one week attack wasn’t unprecedent- prise the peoples of biblical ed; there had been reports Israel. This is important to a f r i c a of prior incidents of harass- understand, because the Bible ment and intimidation by contains specific prophecies South Africa, Zimbabwe Unify Lebanese Muslims. concerning these nations. In the days following the One of those prophecies attack, a bevy of text mes- discusses the problem these sages inciting revenge spread nations would have with across Sydney’s suburbs. By immigration and the sub- the following Sunday, an sequent racial tension and angry and largely intoxicated violence. Lax immigration crowd of about 5,000 had as- policies and weak borders sembled at Cronulla Beach are playing an instrumen- alexander joe/afp/getty to “reclaim the beach.” As tal role in the fulfillment FRIENDS Zimbabwe’s Mugabe (L) with South Africa’s Mbeki. emotions escalated and mob of Bible prophecy. (See our any worry that South Africa is traveling mentality set in, violence December 2005 issue for Mthe same destructive path as its northern neighbor broke out and a number of more on immigration.) Zimbabwe. Having long suffered from problems similar individuals of Middle Eastern God is cursing the nations to those in Zimbabwe—including crime, corruption and appearance were attacked. of biblical Israel for their fail- economic woes—South Africa now appears intent on fol- The violence overflowed ure to hold fast to His laws. lowing in its footsteps politically. In late November 2005, into as many as eight adjoin- God is humbling them—im- those concerns rose another notch as South Africa and ing suburbs as Muslims, ploring them to turn to Zimbabwe strengthened defense and intelligence ties. mainly of Lebanese descent, Him. Unless the people of South African Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils retaliated. More retaliatory Israel repent, “strangers” “praised Zimbabwe’s ‘advances and successes’ in the 25 violence and vandalism took (as Scripture calls them— years since its independence from Britain. He said the place over subsequent nights. Deuteronomy 28:43-46) will two countries shared a ‘common world view’ and would These race riots have continue to pour through ‘march forward shoulder to shoulder’” (cnn, Nov. 17, 2005). forced one of Australia’s ugli- their ports of entry and “get Zimbabwe has “advanced” in many ways: for in- est secrets to the surface. Even up above” them. Racial ten- stance, its land seizure program has advanced to the stage as the rioting raged in Sydney, sion will only intensify. It is where there is virtually no white ownership of farms in other isolated but racially mo- prophetic fulfillment. Zimbabwe. Consequently, its food-shortage issue has also reached the advanced stage—nearly one third of the pop- ulation is severely short on food. Last year, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was able to use “advanced”
technology to block his political opponents from broad- getty images casting their speeches in the lead-up to elections. Official returns showed that the number of votes received had ad- vanced past the number cast, something that could never be accomplished in a fair election. Inflation is currently over 400 percent, far more “advanced” than most nations. When questioned about South Africa’s support of a country so obviously opposed to human rights, Minister Kasrils responded: “[W]e are indebted to our neighbor for achieving freedom and liberty. This will never ever be forgotten by the people of South Africa” (ibid.). Zimbabwe has South Africa’s unapologetic support, and Robert Mugabe is considered a hero by many in South Africa. Human rights abuses, unfair elections and land seizures CHARGED young Australians vent at police officers as racial seem destined to become the norm in South Africa next. tension boils over into violence at Cronulla Beach Dec. 11, 2005.
The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 23 w o r l d m i d d l e e a s t Why You Should Watch Egypt The Muslim Brotherhood, though officially banned, is now Egypt’s largest and most influential opposi- tion party. This signals a stunning shift within one of America’s few remaining Middle Eastern allies. by Brad Macdonald the run-up to the elections, the Broth- ecember 2005 was a water erhood’s ominously vague campaign shed month in the history of motto was “Islam is the solution.” Egyptian politics. Thanks to Thus, the Brotherhood’s rising popu- Delections that were closer to larity unmistakably signals the growing being democratic than any in Egypt’s desire of many for an Islamic govern- history, the Islamic party of the Muslim ment in Egypt—which makes its success Brotherhood (mb) won 88 parliamentary nothing short of profound. “Consider- seats (the organization is officially ing that the mb won almost half of the outlawed, but it ran its candidates as seats it is contesting, despite reportedly independents)—a more than six-fold widespread voting irregularities, indi- increase over its previous representation. cates the group is emerging as the sin- Considering that Egypt’s parliament gle largest grassroots movement in the is comprised of 454 seats, the mb’s capture country” (Stratfor, Nov. 22, 2005). From of 88 seats—fewer than a quarter of the this point forward, the mb will be at the total—may not seem like much to write vanguard of opposition to the ruling Islamic fundamentalist group to become home about. Despite the gains, the Islam- National Democratic Party. the largest and most powerful opposition ic party will remain outnumbered by the Mubarak is surely aware that the mb’s party in Egypt. The Egyptian people are majority rule of autocratic leader Hosni rise could be the catalyst for his fall. In speaking, and Islamic law and leadership Mubarak’s National Democratic Party. the days before the elections, hundreds is what many increasingly desire. Some argue that as long as Mubarak con- of mb supporters, campaign organizers As America struggles to curb radical trols parliament—as he has for the past and candidates were arrested and jailed. Islamism throughout the Middle East, 24 years—the mb can never play a more At a number of polling stations where the popularity of this party in Egypt is significant role in Egyptian politics. Brotherhood supporters were expected one more thorn in its side. The mb has But politics can be messy business— in droves, Mubarak deployed riot police already made it clear it will gladly align especially in the Middle East. Death, in- and instructed them to restrict the num- with Islamic governments in the region citement, revolution—all can turn a gov- ber of mb supporters who were allowed to limit American influence. ernment on its head in a matter of days. to vote. According to Reuters, the Broth- The Washington Times wrote that The rise of an openly Islamist party in erhood claimed authorities had robbed the mb “has affiliates in many Arab Egypt is no small matter. The political it of 13 or 14 wins by denying its support- states. The Islamic state that the Egyp- success of this long-established Islamic ers access to the polls (Dec. 4, 2005). tian Brotherhood would like to establish group represents a major step toward a As support for the mb grows, Mubarak would be significantly more hostile to fundamental shift in Egyptian politics, isn’t the only one concerned. The United Washington than the current Egyptian made possible by an electorate with a States is also in a quandary. government. … growing affinity for Islamic leadership “The Brotherhood also represents an and law, and mounting disdain for the Results of Democracy anti-American political stance which is Mubarak government. For some time now, America has been particularly popular in Egypt right now. encouraging Mubarak’s government to Egyptians are overwhelmingly opposed Political Shift loosen its grip on the electoral process to the war in Iraq and have long been an- Banned from government in 1954, the in order to foster more democratic elec- gered by what they perceive as unqualified Muslim Brotherhood is an organization tions. Mubarak finally responded. The U.S. support for Israel” (Dec. 3, 2005). of staunch Islamic conservatives with a results of that move are clear: Democratic In December, only days after the mb’s strong desire to install Islamic law as the elections—despite being manipulated by success at the polls, Palestinian Author- foundation of Egyptian government. In the ruling party—enabled an outlawed ity (pa) officials revealed that meetings
24 The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 STR /afp/getty
outlawed Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood gather in Cairo. The party’s motto: “Islam is the solution.” were occurring between the Muslim Soon, the mb could gain control of Islamic powers throughout the region— Brotherhood and Hamas—one of Isra- Egypt. This is evidently what a growing especially Iran. Egypt is one of the largest el’s most notorious and popular terrorist number of Egyptians want. President and most influential nations in the Mid- groups, which spent most of last year de- Mubarak is in his 70s and his health is dle East. As Mubarak’s health weakens veloping a political face so as to increase ailing; clearly, he won’t be on the scene and Egyptians increasingly vote in favor its participation in Palestinian politics. forever. In the meantime, watch for the of the mb, watch for Cairo to disassociate After experiencing enormous success in Brotherhood to exploit any and every itself from America. Should the mb ever municipal elections, Hamas was seeking political misstep Mubarak might make. take control, Iran and Egypt would ce- advice from the mb on how to duplicate In fact, the chips are falling in favor ment a strong alliance. Such a relationship that success in January’s Palestinian of militant Islamic forces throughout would prove deadly for American hopes parliamentary elections. “Hamas is try- the entire Middle East. for peace in the Middle East. Together, ing to copy the Muslim Brotherhood With the Palestinians controlling Iran and Egypt would establish Islamic model,” a senior pa official told the Jeru- Gaza, Islamic groups are flourishing; control over the whole of the region. salem Post. Another stated, “This kind Hamas is growing more popular among Certainly, as discontent with the po- of cooperation between Hamas and the Palestinians, and its relations with Iran litical system in Egypt increases, we can Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is very are strengthening. expect to see the Islamists grow in pop- worrying …. How can we talk about a The U.S. is frankly losing its battle ularity. A change of leadership will oc- peace process when these radical forces in Iraq to Tehran; Iranian influence cur—probably sooner rather than later. are uniting against us?” (Dec. 20, 2005). in Iraq—and across the Middle East— The Trumpet’s editor in chief has pre- These meetings make one point clear: grows by the day. Al Qaeda has it sights dicted for almost a decade that Egypt will The mb is not only popular in Egypt, it set on removing the pro-Western gov- fall under the influence of Islamists. In is gaining friends and allies throughout ernments in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. his booklet The King of the South, Ger- the Middle East. In this context, the mb’s political ald Flurry stated, “Daniel 11:42 implies success should alarm America and the that Egypt will be allied with the king of Islamic Middle East West. The “moderate” Mubarak govern- the south, or Iran. This prophecy indi- Ironically, it is the flowering of democ- ment is one of the last friendly regimes cates that there would be a far-reaching racy that is facilitating this conservative, in the region, and now it is on the rocks. change in Egyptian politics!” anti-American, pro-Islamic political As the mb grows more popular and This change is probably closer than movement in Egypt. powerful, it will strengthen its ties with most people realize. n
The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 25 w o r l d m i d d l e e a s t Hengamet However, Iran has another weapon in its political arsenal en- h F abling it to more or less a h
imi/afp/getty blackmail the Jews: its Palestinian proxies. Hezbollah is the Lebanon-based terror- ist organization that is armed, financed and ideologically motivat- ed by Iran; Hamas is a Palestinian terrorist or- ganization also largely supported and funded by Iran. Iran has strong influence over other Palestinian terrorist organizations as well. Iran uses these terrorist groups as agents to fight against Israel. As Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry has martyrs written, “The real power Iranian women, in support of Palestinians, sign up to participate in suicide missions against Israel. behind the Palestinians is Iran. No other na- tion would dare finance and blatantly encourage such terrorism in Israel” United Against Israel (The King of the South). A clear demonstra- Iran is looking to make the plight of the Palestinians a tion of this reality came in November, when pan-Islamic cause—and to crown itself king over the effort. Iran’s foreign minister met with leading figures by trumpet staff It is true that as Ahmadinejad rages from Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Ji- he Islamic world against Israel, other Iranian politicians had “to coordinate a united front against will not let its wheel and deal behind the scenes to se- Israel” (Sunday Times, Dec. 11, 2005). historic enemy live in cure Iran’s rights to a nuclear program The result? A week later, Hezbollah fired its heartland.” These and enhance its position in the region. a cascade of rockets and mortars at Is- were Iranian President But, as Stratfor stated, “The blend of these raeli targets, initiating the fiercest fight- “MahmoudT Ahmadinejad’s words two approaches—inflammatory remarks ing between the two sides since Israel last October when he declared that by the new and relatively inexperienced withdrew from Lebanon five years ago. Israel should be “wiped off the map” president, coupled with sophisticated Clearly, Iran has the capability and (Telegraph, Oct. 27, 2005). backdoor negotiations by less public but the will to pressure the Israelis using In case anybody thought Ahmadine- more seasoned hands—is an example of these terrorist organizations. With a jad didn’t really mean those statements, Tehran’s preferred method of power poli- Hezbollah command center now estab- he has reiterated them several times tics” (Dec. 14, 2005; emphasis ours). lished in the Israeli-vacated Gaza Strip, since. In one such instance, during a live Statements coming from all Iranian as Middle East Newsline reported Dec. speech broadcast on Iranian television camps—the radical president, the prag- 13, 2005, Iran will be in a better position in December, the Iranian president de- matic conservatives, the clerical leader- than ever to squeeze Israel. “Hezbollah scribed the Holocaust as a “myth.” ship—clearly demonstrate their solidarity, has set up a forward headquarters in the Some feel that the president’s stance particularly over the question of Israel. Gaza Strip to provide a direct link with doesn’t truly reflect the official posi- The Jewish state, for obvious reasons— terrorists in Judea and Samaria [West tion of his country—or even that of its its proximity and the fact that it is the tar- Bank] to transfer funds and instruc- clerical leadership. Commentators talk get—takes Iran’s threats quite seriously. tions,” an Israeli government statement about Iran’s clerical establishment get- It also has the military capability—if not said. “Hezbollah conditions the receipt ting more than it bargained for in Ah- the will—to do something about those of such funds on the perpetration of ter- madinejad, and the “pragmatic conser- threats. Israel has responded by making rorist acts against Israeli targets, regard- vative” camp disagreeing with the con- thinly veiled threats to take military ac- less of the particular ideology of the cells frontational approach of the president. tion against Iran’s nuclear sites. and terrorists involved.”
26 The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 reuters So, after Israel recently hinted that it is prepared to use military means to halt Iran’s nuclear program, Tehran respond- ed by stepping up its support for the Pal- ri/afp/getty h estinians. From anti-Zionist conferences e to high-level meetings with terrorist lead- ers, all Iranian factions have shown unity rouz M h
of purpose in their policy on Israel. Be In December, Hamas’s leader, Khaled Mashal, visited Tehran for three days of talks with top political and security offi- cials from across the political spectrum. The same day (Dec. 12, 2005) that Ah- madinejad was pooh-poohing the Ho- locaust at a Tehran conference on “Sup- porting the Islamic Revolution of Pales- Pushy, Pushy tine,” two-time former president Ali Ak- bar Hashemi Rafsanjani—the pragmatic conservatives’ head—was encouraging Is Iran’s president deliberately trying to get under Hamas’s leader. Rafsanjani offered con- Germany’s skin? If so, it appears to be working. tinuing support in Hamas’s war against Israel, stating that “resistance” is the ome Western observers are publicly airing their views that Iranian President Mahmoud Ah- only option left for the Palestinians (Is- madinejad’s vociferous outbursts about Israel and about his nation’s nuclear capability are raelnn.com, Dec. 13, 2005). Sthe results of political naiveté. But at least one nation, Germany, is taking him seriously. As for the man who holds the ultimate According to German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier, the German government power in Iran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah recently lectured Iran’s top diplomat in Berlin on the issue, condemning his president’s re- Ali Khamenei, he told Hamas’s leader the marks. A few days earlier, German Vice Chancellor Franz Müntefering implied that Germany following day: “The only way to guaran- wouldn’t take the president’s comments lying down. “What is said will one day be wanted tee the freedom and future of Palestine is and also done,” he said, referring to Ahmadinejad’s call for Israel to be wiped off the map or to continue with the resistance …” (meh- moved to Europe. Müntefering called for diplomatic ties with Iran to be reviewed. rnews.com, Dec. 13, 2005). He encouraged In particular, what really stung the German government was just how specific Ahmadine- the Palestinians to continue their jihad. jad was in offering a future location for the Jewish state, “suggesting that if the Europeans The Palestinians are only too happy to really felt that bad for the Jews, that Israel should be picked up and moved to Europe—spe- provide Iran the leverage it seeks. In mid- cifically to Germany and Austria.” As Stratfor mused, “That went over in Germany about as December, the Hamas leader blatantly well as a lead zeppelin” (December 13, 2005). threatened Israel with increased terror- All this is causing ructions in German foreign policy circles. Under former Chancellor ist attacks should any preemptive mea- Gerhard Schröder, the Germans pursued a policy of engagement with Iran. It is well known sures be taken against Iran. Mashal told that Germany has provided technical expertise for Iran’s industrial capacity, a capacity that is reporters Hamas would “step up its war” now intent on developing nuclear technology. This could prove to be Germany’s nemesis. against Israel if it attacked Iran’s nuclear With an unsteady coalition government to control, new German Chancellor Angela Merkel facilities (Israelnn.com, Dec. 15, 2005). has sought to render a “steady as you go” approach to foreign policy, not wishing to rock Clearly, Palestinian and Iranian am- the boat unduly with any foreign nation and be caught without majority support in this vital bitions align perfectly. policy area in the tenuous early days of coalition government. However, the Iranian president In his meeting with Mashal, has forced the issue with his statements—statements that could easily be interpreted as Khamenei stated, “Yesterday they with- deliberately intended to stimulate a reaction from Germany! drew from Lebanon, today they have He did not have to wait long for that reaction. Stratfor described Vice Chancellor Müntefer- been forced to leave Gaza, and, God will- ing’s apparently livid response as “thundering … that Germany is pulling out the stops in seek- ing, tomorrow the Palestinian people ing ‘political consequences’ for Iran in the European Union and at the United Nations” (ibid.). and groups will oust them from Beit-ul- What is particularly interesting about this situation is that not only has it forced an early Moqaddas [Jerusalem].” And herein lies declaration on foreign policy by the German coalition government, but it has also driven the odd Iran’s true motivation: to gain control mixture of political parties that comprise it toward unprecedented unity. As Stratfor observed: of Jerusalem. (Visit theTrumpet.com “For Merkel, this little foreign policy crisis will be liberating. With the entire country and all of its to read our February 2005 article “The five major parties suddenly unified on a topic, Merkel will be able to stake out a major foreign Precious Jewel of Iran’s Plan.”) policy shift with broad support. Combine that with a rapidly dissolving Schröder legacy, and the The Iranian president’s rants against stage is set for a top-to-bottom German about-face. The only question remaining, of course, is, Israel; the top-level meetings between which combinations of directions will a newly empowered Merkel turn her country?” (ibid.). Iran’s leadership and Palestinian terror- That is a worrying question. Which way will Merkel jump? She has an early opportunity to ist organizations; Hezbollah’s expan- cement coalition unity on the most crucial of political portfolios: foreign policy. The direction she sion in the Gaza Strip—these all point to takes could prove to be a make-or-break move for the future of her grand coalition government. what the Bible prophesies: that a unified But more importantly, as long-time Trumpet readers know, the Bible prophesies of an Iran will lead an Islamic power bloc in explosive friction developing between Germany and Iran in the near future. Developments in an effort to take over Jerusalem. n this arena warrant the closest scrutiny. ron fraser
The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 27 The ath
e A Dof m e r i can
Manufacturing
or over a half century, However, manufacturing as a share in manufacturing” (Oct. 1, 2005). But American manufacturing of the economy has been plummeting. even this figure is probably double the has dominated the globe. In 1965, manufacturing accounted for 53 actual percentage, because many work- It turned the tide in World percent of the economy. By 1988 it only ers in a typical manufacturing firm have War ii and hastened the accounted for 39 percent, and in 2004, it service-type jobs. In comparison, dur- defeat of Nazi Germany; accounted for just 9 percent. ing the 1970s, approximately 25 percent it subsequently helped Considering the stupendous list of of American workers were employed rebuild Europe and Japan; America’s manufacturing achievements in manufacturing. From 1990 to pres- it enabled the United States to outlast and the vulnerabilities associated with ent, manufacturing jobs have decreased Fthe Soviet empire in the Cold War. At foreign dependence when a nation lacks every single year; since 1996, they have the same time, it met all the material strong domestic manufacturing, it is plummeted by almost one fifth. needs of the American people. alarming when economists are warning Most recently, these job losses and During this period, many American that the U.S. is facing the “gutting, hol- the hollowing out of American manu- icons were born. Companies like Gen- lowing out and closing down of American facturing have been evidenced in the eral Motors, Ford, Boeing, Maytag and manufacturing forever” (Benson’s Eco- auto industry. Levi Strauss became household names. nomic & Market Trends, Feb. 27, 2004). On Nov. 21, 2005, General Motors American manufacturing became syn- Corporation (gm) announced plans to onymous with quality and ingenuity. Job Losses cut 30,000 jobs and close nine manu- On the back of this industrial output The loss of the manufacturing indus- facturing plants across North America. rose America’s middle class. High-pay- try manifests itself most clearly in job According to its ceo, the decision rep- ing manufacturing jobs, in turn, helped losses. According to the Economist, resented an attempt to “get its costs in spur a robust and growing economy that “For the first time since the Industrial line with major global competitors” and depended little on foreign nations for Revolution, fewer than 10 percent of “return North American operations to manufactured goods and armaments. American workers are now employed profitability as soon as possible” (As-
28 The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 e c o n o m y reuters Ford, another American icon, has U.S. manufacturing jobs. Mexico is now a been slashing jobs too. According to global leader in auto parts manufacturing Forbes, Ford could cut up to 30,000 jobs and one of the world’s largest tv set pro- and close 10 plants (Dec. 7, 2005). ducers. Now, with the startup of the Cen- Egan-Jones Ratings Co., an indepen- tral American Free Trade Area (cafta) dent firm, is predicting that “[t]his is the this January, analysts are anticipating beginning of the end of the U.S. auto another exodus of U.S. jobs to south of industry as most people have come to the border. U.S. household names such know it” (TheStreet.com, May 5, 2005). as Dell, ibm, Sara Lee/Hanes and Maytag However, the auto industry is just one have already been moving business into example of the overall decline in Ameri- the Central American region. can industrial might over the past couple Asia has also been a long-time re- of decades. Other U.S. manufacturing gi- cipient of outsourced American manu- ants are failing, too; in fact, the U.S. has facturing. A study by the universities lost 3 million manufacturing jobs just of Cornell and Massachusetts-Amherst since 1998. In 2003, industrial giant Beth- found that India alone may be respon- lehem Steel folded, causing thousands of sible for up to 700,000 outsourced jobs. employees and retirees to lose their pen- China has also received hundreds of sions. Any Pittsburgh resident would be thousands of outsourced jobs. able to tell you how unprofitable the steel Admirers of globalization contend industry has been over the last 20 or so that freer access to foreign markets and years. Between 1950 and 2000, the U.S. cheap labor increase corporate profits lost more than 491,000 jobs from the and thereby benefit the U.S. economy. primary metals industry alone—most of While this argument may superficially those after 1980; from 2000 to 2003, an sound compelling, it ignores the dan- additional 149,000 of these jobs vapor- gerous long-term effects of manufactur- ized. In 2004, Levi Strauss closed the last ing losses. In reality, outsourcing makes of its more than 60 American factories. Americans poorer over time, because “It was like a death in the family,” said America’s wealth and technology slowly Emma Rice, of Morrilton, Arkansas, migrate to other nations. Globalization and who worked for Levi Strauss for 32 years In the words of the Daily Reckoning, (Times, London, Jan. 10, 2004). Unfor- “Historically, manufacturing, exporting outsourcing are tunately, the former Levi-employed ma- and direct investment produced prosper- hammering our icons of jority of Morrilton tell the same tale as ity through income creation” (April 4, industry. by robert morley those from thousands of towns across 2003). America’s wealth grew when prof- Manufacturing America that have also experienced the its from domestic manufacturing were loss of manufacturing jobs. reinvested into buildings, machinery and But why is this happening? technological change. But now outsourc- sociated Press, Nov. 21, 2005). Following ing is diverting that income to foreigners. these cuts, gm will have laid off 40 per- Outsourcing America may gain access to cheaper cent of its white-collar staff since 2000. Manufacturing loss is occurring because products through outsourcing, but it also In a reflection of the resultant loss of of globalization and outsourcing. Global- comes with attendant problems, includ- confidence in the company, last May gm’s ization is the increased mobility of goods, ing a downward pressure on wages. Laid- debt (sold as bonds) was downgraded by services, labor, technology and capital off manufacturing laborers are largely s&p from investment grade to the highest throughout the world; outsourcing is the switching into lower-paying jobs in the level of junk status; in September, it was performance of a production activity in service industry. Where they once made downgraded even further. Now it is five another country that was previously done an average of $51,000 annually, they now steps below investment grade. Analysts by a domestic firm or plant. make $16,000 in leisure and hospitality, even recommend selling gm stock, with At the dawn of globalization, the elim- $33,000 in health care, or $39,000 in con- one Bank of America Securities analyst ination of trade barriers opened up access struction (Seattle Times, op. cit). In 2004, saying it was “inevitable” that gm would to foreign markets for American manu- average employee compensation in the eventually seek bankruptcy protection facturers in return for building factories U.S. fell for the first time in 14 years. (cnn/Money, Dec. 16, 2005). abroad. In due course, more and more If America does not manufacture and gm’s layoffs exclude the cuts an- manufacturers set up shop overseas, pro- sell goods, then money only leaves the nounced by former gm-owned auto ducing goods to be sold to Americans. country. The U.S. now imports twice as parts maker Delphi, which filed for Today, the trend is so severe, analysts much as it exports. This has resulted in bankruptcy protection last October. In predict that in some industries, a quar- a trade deficit that has ballooned to an 1999, Delphi laid off 18,000 workers. ter to a half of all jobs are likely to mi- unprecedented $800 billion on an an- Now it is reportedly seeking to cut two grate (Daily Reckoning, Aug. 5, 2005). nualized basis. Unfortunately, this trend thirds of its 34,000 hourly workers and With the birth of the North American shows no signs of abating. U.S. exports slash hourly wages from as much as $30 Free Trade Agreement in 1994, Mexico are declining versus imports all across per hour to as little as $10. became a major recipient of outsourced the board. Even agriculture posted a
The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 29 e c o n o m y deficit this past year for the first time in only about 70,000” (July 25, 2005). These Take Boeing, for example. This Amer- living memory. graduates are beginning to fill more ican giant is the type of company that Every time an American manufactur- than just low-end, low-skill jobs. symbolizes the “high-tech leadership on er closes and then reopens elsewhere, the Regarding the effect of this labor shift which the future of the U.S. economy is foreign country gains American tech- on manufacturing, economist Richard widely said to depend” (Newsweek, Dec. nology. Not having to spend resources Benson relates that whether you build a 2, 2005). Yet, 20 years ago, most of its air- developing technology, foreigners can factory here or in China, the factory will craft parts were manufactured domesti- focus on improving or beating it. be the same and the workers will have cally, while today, sadly, up to “70 percent Many developing nations, especially similar skills, but the main difference is of the airframe of the company’s next- China and India, are notorious for their that “the Chinese will work seven days a generation 787 Dreamliner will be made lack of intellectual and technological prop- week for us$0.50 to us$1 an hour with no overseas, including key parts such as the erty rights. According to David Pritchard, benefits for social security, health care, fuselage and wings.” Even the engine will a research associate at State University of vacations, a pension or worker safety. … be produced outside the U.S., while work- New York, American companies are has- In America, the going wage would be 10 ers inside the U.S. are left with layoffs. tening their demise by sharing valuable to 20 times higher including all benefits” Some economists have noticed man- technology with foreign governments (Benson’s Economic & Market Trends, ufacturing losses, but because the nega- intent on setting up their own industries. op. cit.). It’s not hard to see why, in or- tive long-term ramifications have not This is exactly what is happening with der to reduce costs, manufacturing busi- become fully manifest in the economy, aircraft manufacturer Boeing, which has nesses have been abandoning America people are willing to turn a blind eye. been outsourcing labor in China, Japan in droves and fleeing to Asia. Over the short term, companies have and other countries. Many Americans did not take notice become richer through outsourcing, Globalization admirers contend that in the beginning, because it was only and consumers are happy because they because the work forces of developing the low-paid manufacturing workers have cheaper toys. But this will not last nations are unskilled, they cannot com- making toys, shoes and clothing that forever. At some point, manufacturing pete with the U.S.; thus, only low-end, lost their jobs to cheap foreign competi- job losses will mean Americans will not low-skill jobs are lost to outsourcing. tion. But next to go were the higher-paid be able to afford toys at all. However, this is not true. The Asian shipbuilders and steel producers; now it workforce, in particular, has made huge is auto workers and others. The Effect on Americans strides. According to Fortune maga- Continually moving further up the What does the decline in manufacturing zine, in the next year China will pro- value chain, the Los Angeles Times says mean for the average American? duce 3.3 million university graduates, all that even highly skilled, higher-paid First, America as a whole will even- of whom speak English. India too will American workers are starting to feel tually become poorer, so be prepared to turn out 3.1 million English-speaking the outsourcing pinch. Jobs such as en- downgrade your standard of living. As graduates. Furthermore, in engineering gineers, computer software scientists, progressively more manufacturers move alone “China’s graduates will number Hollywood animators and aerospace abroad, the flow of money out of the over 600,000, India’s 350,000, America’s manufacturers are all now under threat. country will exceed the benefits of cheap imports. At some point, America’s trade Extent of Problem Is Hidden t seems that many people, sus Bureau says the boundaries employee at McDonald’s slaps Bureau’s website as examples, even within the government, between manufacturing and a patty between two buns and several other businesses listed Iare not 100 percent sure of other sectors can be “some- throws in a couple of pickles, as “manufacturing” are surpris- what is and what is not manu- what blurry.” To help clarify some mustard and ketchup ing: bakeries, candy stores, facturing. manufacturing, the Bureau says milk bottling and pasteurizing, The 2004 Economic Report it is the “transformation of ma- custom tailors, fresh fish pack- of the President (ERP) suggests terials into new products aging (oyster shucking, fish some seemingly unconventional … although what consti- filleting), water bottling and businesses that can be consid- tutes a new product can processing. ered manufacturers. According be somewhat subjective.” With such a broad defini- to the official definition found in So this brings up the tion of manufacturing listed the report and which was pro- question, just what kinds by the government, the vided by the U.S. Census Bureau, of industries does the increased number of manufacturing includes those Census Bureau con- companies and jobs that businesses “engaged in the sider manufacturing? can be included under the mechanical, physical or chemi- The 2004 ERP goes on heading of manufacturing e m ti cal transformation of materials, to ask, “When a fast-food ms may actually mask traditional- drea substances or components into restaurant sells a hamburger, for type manufacturing job losses. new products.” example, is it providing a ‘ser- count as manufacturing? This could be a factor in why If this definition sounds a vice’ or is it combining inputs to Although fast-food restau- more people are not speaking little hazy to you, do not be ‘manufacture’ a product?” Does rants like McDonald’s are not out about the loss of manufac- alarmed, because even the Cen- every time a minimum-wage specifically listed in the Census turing in America.
30 The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 religion from page 19 deficit will overwhelm us. If this trend tion of humankind (Hebrews 10:12, such as Paul Johnson. After decades of continues, eventually Americans will 26)—and you will find the answers to searching for the answers, Dr. Johnson not be producing enough to pay for the these burning questions about the real muses: “What remains puzzling is why standard of living that post-World War meaning of life! God decided to create a temporal uni- ii America has become used to. verse, and a material dimension, sub- Second, if you are not among the rich The Way to Life ject to space and time, in which to put and you rely on a job, prepare yourself Honest searchers for truth must sym- the souls of his creatures to the test of for job security issues. In plain language, pathize with a man of grand intellect life. The answer may be infinitely com- if you work in the manufacturing in- such as Paul Johnson: a cultured, eru- plex or infinitely simple” (ibid.). dustry, don’t expect raises and don’t be dite teacher of history, a student of the Indeed, the answer is infinitely sim- shocked if your job gets “outsourced.” fine arts, a common-sense commenta- ple (2 Corinthians 11:3). So simple that Jerry Roy is a 49-year-old family man tor on human affairs who has genu- it can be only understood if we literally from Michigan who has worked for gm inely spent all his life, from precocious take on the mindset of a child, being since 1977. According to the New York childhood to his senior years, pursuing willing to be taught by God, wiping Times, when Jerry was first hired, he said the answers to questions about God. our mind clear of all previous bias and it was like “I’d died and went to heaven.” The honesty of such a quest is the very confusion, and allowing the clarifying Such was the promise of manufactur- opposite to the dishonest denial of the light of biblical revelation to reveal the ing being a secure path to the American validity of such questions by the bulk wonder of the meaning of life to us. As dream (Nov. 19, 2005). of intelligentsia. As Johnson declares, the Son of God declared, “Except ye be Actually, four generations of Roys their intellectual impotence is proven converted, and become as little chil- have worked for gm. Jerry’s great-grand- by the fact that they “have no explana- dren, ye shall not enter into the king- father first started at a gm Delco plant tion of being. Their attitude is simply dom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). That during the Great Depression. Then an abdication of thought, a cosmic de- conversion is a literal mind-changing, Jerry’s grandfather worked at the same spair in the ability of the human mind life-changing experience that links plant during the war years when it was to devise any explanation of the most the human mind with its Maker, thus converted over to a machine gun factory. interesting and deepest problems of opening it up to revelation of God- Jerry’s father, mother, an aunt and a great existence” (ibid.). breathed truth. It literally opens the uncle all worked for gm, too. Jerry’s fa- Paul Johnson at least has the vi- human mind to a choice between eter- ther, Gerald, recalled the stark contrast sion, following his lifetime’s quest for nal life and eternal death. It’s a choice between the now-closed plants and the God, to understand a great overarching that all must face eventually so as to “golden” era when production levels were truth—that man possesses “an essential fulfill their reason for being. so high shifts worked around the clock, element or dimension with God, thus There is a book that will guide you never shutting down. Jerry, too, described explaining the … belief that we are all in your search for the answers to these in amazement all the empty parking lots ‘made in God’s image.’ And because the burning questions. It will lead you to that used to be factories (ibid.). Now, Jer- spiritual takes no account of dimension, the biblically proven, inerrant answers ry, who is currently working for former number or complexity, each of our souls to these eternal questions. It will help gm parts unit Delphi, is facing either a has intimate and all-encompassing open up your mind to your major wage cut or a layoff—as are thou- dealings with God …” (ibid.). incredible human poten- sands of others like him. Paul Johnson makes just one critical tial. In fact, that is the very “The days when blue-collar work error in his musings on the meaning title of this book which we could be passed on down the family line of life. He states, “Death of the body offer you, free of charge … those days are over,” said one profes- is thus an insignificant punctuation upon request: The Incred- sor of labor relations at Clark University in the life of the soul, which continues ible Human Potential. Free Upon in Massachusetts (ibid.). indefinitely” (ibid.). Yet the Book of Write now to the address Request Dave Kassel of the outsourcing firm books plainly declares, “The soul that nearest you as shown on International Smart Sourcing says so- sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20). the inside cover of this magazine for berly, “There’s no point looking in the The corollary of this would be, “The your own personal copy of this vitally rear-view mirror.” With alternatives like soul that is sinless, it shall live”! This eye-opening book. Don’t put it off! China, Mexico and now Central Amer- presupposes that in order then for the The fact is, your life can be finite. ica, “expecting U.S. industrial manu- soul not to die, one must find out the You can die … forever! On the other facturers to dominate in the decades to meaning of that term sin, then ensure hand, you can choose a life-changing come is foolhardy” (Daily News, New that the soul finds the way of becom- experience that will guarantee that you York, Aug. 9, 2005). Mr. Kassel also pre- ing sinless. Such knowledge opens up will never die! There is a choice! You dicts that “in a decade Detroit is going to the way to eternal life! owe it to yourself to find out now just be a fraction of what it is today.” But even before we begin that quest, how to make that choice and start im- By building factories overseas, man- we need to find out just what is this mediately fulfilling your ufacturers are sowing the seeds of their thing called “soul.” The answer to that incredible, God-given hu- own long-term destruction by slowly re- question gets to the very heart and man potential! n ducing the wealth of Americans—their core of what a human being is, why he primary customers. is, who created him and just what is his You may also find our free Be warned—and remember the old eternal destiny. These are questions booklet The Proof of the adage: As gm goes, so goes the nation. n that still puzzle esteemed thinkers Bible a helpful study.
The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 31 s o c i e t y w a t c h istockp r e l i g i o n h Ruling on Homosexual Priests oto.com n Nov. 29, 2005, the Chronicle, Nov. 29, 2005). OVatican published its In the British Catholic policy on homosexuality in weekly the Tablet, Timothy the Roman Catholic priest- Radcliffe, the former Master hood. The pronouncement of the Dominicans, es- has many Catholics parsing sentially concurred, saying the language, looking for of the instruction, “[W]e loopholes. must give it as positive an ambiguous? the Vatican says priests with “deep-seated The document specifically interpretation as possible … homosexual tendencies” should not serve as Catholic priests. forbids three groups—“those trying to discern what are who practice homosexual- the true intentions of the this document classifies him to accept an order, will be ity, present deep-seated authors.” Radcliffe rejects as a defective priest.” Thus, seen as the instruction is homosexual tendencies or any notion that the Vatican Radcliffe interprets the carried out. But considering support the so-called ‘gay was banning men who have document to outlaw from the the Vatican’s patently mild culture’”—from being in the a “permanent homosexual priesthood only that indi- response to the Catholic sex priesthood, while permit- orientation,” because of his vidual “whose sexual orien- abuse scandals in the United ting those with a “transitory personal conviction that the tation is so central to his self- States in 2002, one could problem” to serve as priests Catholic Church has many perception as to be obsessive, safely assume they are not if they have overcome the homosexual priests who are dominating his imagination” too far from the mark. tendency for three years. “among the most dedicated (Nov. 26, 2005). The thorniness of this In a church with a billion and impressive priests I have Whether such views accu- entire discussion does bring believers, led by a priesthood met. So,” he concluded, “no rately reflect Vatican intent, to mind a much simpler out- of voluntarily celibate men, priest who is convinced of or are merely wishful think- line of criteria for ministe- many prominent Catholics his vocation should feel that ing by individuals unwilling rial ordination. In fact, this were thus quick to explain how the document did in fact permit homosexuality in h o m o s e x u a l i t y the priesthood. Bishop William S. Nations Increase Same-Sex Couples’ Rights Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic ast year was big for ers permit “civil unions.”) If there is no God, then Bishops, issued a statement Lhomosexual couples A few days later, Britain certainly we can rely on law- acknowledging that the doc- worldwide. Just six months joined the ranks of those makers and courts to define ument raised the question after Spain and Canada countries—Germany, France marriage and family for us. of “whether a homosexually legalized same-sex mar- and Switzerland—that have But if there is a God, inclined man can be a good riage, South Africa’s high- nationwide laws giving ho- why did He—as the Bible priest.” He said yes—as long est court ruled in favor of mosexual couples many of records—create mankind, in as he is a dedicated servant legalizing the union, while the same legal rights as mar- His own image, as “male and who preaches against homo- Britain took a huge step ried heterosexuals, though female”? (Genesis 1:27). Why sexual acts. toward recognizing homo- stopping short of recognizing male and female? What is the James Bretzke, a Catholic sexual partnerships. a same-sex union as a mar- purpose of marriage? What priest and chairman of On Dec. 1, 2005, South riage. On Dec. 5, 2005, the defines it? Is there even such theology and religious stud- Africa’s highest court ruled Britain’s Civil Partnerships a thing as “homosexual mar- ies at the University of San that homosexual couples Act went into effect—causing riage”? Can man, even reli- Francisco, said that the lan- may marry, though it has hundreds upon hundreds of gion, alter God’s definition? guage in the original Italian given Parliament a year couples nationwide to regis- The answers to these ques- version, while labeling as to pass the legislation that ter their partnerships. tions are clear to those who unacceptable “a person ac- would make it official. One lesbian minister, who understand the truth revealed tively looking at pornography When and if this hap- was registering that day, said, in the Bible but not generally or visiting gay bars,” is fuzzy pens, South Africa will “I believe it’s God that has understood—that of the in- enough to permit someone join Canada, Belgium, the opened up this door for the credible human potential. who is attracted to men. “It’s Netherlands and Spain— civil partnerships to happen” The way God designed presented in a somewhat am- the only countries that cur- (cbsnews.com, December 5). male, female, marriage and biguous fashion with in-house rently recognize “marriage” Is that true? Is God be- children, the family unit nat- vocabulary that allows for a between same-sex couples. hind Britain’s move out of urally creates a government range of interpretation to be (One U.S. state also recog- “the dark ages,” as another structure patterned after the taken from it” (San Francisco nizes “marriages”; two oth- man said? God Family pattern. God
32 The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 scriptural outline presents tural descriptions of what to vi d e o g a m e s plain ideals for a godly min- look for in a potential minis- istry that are quite different ter—unmistakable emphasis from those of a celibate, even is placed on the man having a The Next Level reuters homosexual, ministry. sound, healthy family life. hen it was revealed The Apostle Paul provided The reason for that fact Wlast year that Grand this list to the Evangelist is that family is absolutely Theft Auto: San Andreas has Timothy: “A bishop [minis- central to the good news of hidden pornographic con- ter] then must be blameless, the Bible! Paul considered tent, politicians went on the sort of legislation. In 2000, an the husband of one wife, vigi- godly family so central to the attack. Normally, that sort attempt to ban minors from lant, sober, of good behaviour gospel that he declared any of major error would result playing violent games in pub- … one that ruleth well his minister who failed to imple- in a small period of restraint lic arcades was struck down own house, having his chil- ment the laws governing by the people under the hot by an appeals court. The fol- dren in subjection with all family life as being unfit to light, but not this time. Two lowing year, the U.S. Supreme gravity; (for if a man know serve the church. of 2005’s new games feature Court allowed the appeals not how to rule his own Many people rigorously graphic scenes of human court ruling to stand. house, how shall he take care support the biblical teach- cannibalism. The president of the of the church of God?)” (1 ings on how to build and F.E.A.R. and Rebel Entertainment Software Timothy 3:1-5). fortify strong families, but Without a Pulse, because Association says parents have Paul was not mandating very few understand God’s of their graphic cannibal- the tools they need to protect that a minister be a married profound spiritual intent in ism scenes, were listed their children: All game sys- man; in fact, elsewhere he creating family life and the by the National Institute tems currently being designed praised those few who re- specific laws that govern it. If on Media and the Family incorporate parental locks, mained celibate in order to you would like to undertake among 12 games to avoid and games provide a rating dedicate themselves more ful- a thorough biblical study of when it released a report on system. “Now, parents have ly to the work of God. But in this inspiring subject, consid- the video game industry last to do their part in using these this and a parallel passage in er as your starting point our November. tools,” he said. “That is their Titus 1:6—the clearest scrip- free booklet God Is a Family. But it isn’t just a few iso- role, not the government’s lated games; game makers or industry’s” (Indianapolis are trying to plumb new Star, Dec. 2, 2005). if a family is run the depths. The president of the One parent responded by way God intended it institute cited Grand Theft saying his children purchased to be run, then there Auto: San Andreas as an ex- games without his permis- oto.com h are God-plane dy- ample of how vile games are sion: “There’s only so much namics at work—liv- becoming: “In this game— we can do as parents” (ibid.).
istockp ing lessons in God’s the top seller of 2004—kids Really? A Mature rating government and can hack prostitutes to death is the equivalent of an R- family love. with chain saws. Today we’re rated movie. It allows blood To tamper with seeing things we never saw and gore, intense violence, this magnificent in the late 1990s, like can- strong language, strong creation of God, or nibalism. The f-word is now sexual content, and use of to contaminate it common in video games. drugs. Should we really feel designed all of these things with human reasoning as Profanity is up 3,000 per- obligated to allow that sort of the way He did to prepare us influenced by degenerating cent. Sexual content is up influence in our homes? Can for eternal life in His Family. social norms, is a colossal 800 percent” (Star Tribune, we not provide our 9-year- (Request our book The travesty. Family breakdown Nov. 30, 2005). olds with better than “there’s Incredible Human Potential is, in fact, one of the major At the same time, the only so much we can do”? for a thorough biblical expla- sins that is bringing the games—regardless of rat- What good will government nation of this truth.) Western world to its knees. ing—are more accessible to intervention do on this one This is why the human For more on the cul- children than ever. In 2004, issue if we cannot properly family is so critical in God’s tural ramifications of ho- girls as young as 9 were able rear our own children? mind. We need family, as mosexuality and a godly to buy games with a Mature As a parent, you can and God designed it, in order view of the same-sex mar- rating only 8 percent of the must take an active interest to prepare for positions in riage debate, please read time; in 2005, the percentage in protecting your children’s God’s Family! Done right, our September-October skyrocketed to 46 percent. minds—as well as your own. marriage is intended to teach 2003 article “War Over Legislation is under way For practical tips on regu- spiritual lessons about the Marriage” at theTrumpet. that would make it more lating your family’s media God Family (e.g. Ephesians com, and request Herbert difficult to sell games with usage and keeping negative 5:31-33). A child growing up W. Armstrong’s masterful a Mature rating to minors; influences out of your home, in a godly family learns spiri- work on the subject, Why however, courts have previ- read our July 2005 article tual lessons. In other words, Marriage! Soon Obsolete? ously struck down exactly this “Protect Your Child’s Mind.”
The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 33 l e t t e r s do in the constitutional referendum in Tragedy Israel’s Bleeding Wound Zimbabwe in 1999. … My question still The article “Trag- Never before have I read such a remains, do you claim that Africa was edy of Biblical Propor- magnificent and honest account in a always meant to be a backyard of the tions” by Stephen Flur- Christian journal reporting on Israel’s world? Are we not part of God’s proph- ry (November 2005) historic plight (“Israel’s Bleeding ecy, or did God mean for us to be en- really opened my eyes Wound,” November 2005). Joel Hilliker slaved and poor, oppressed by our own to the sins of the house wrote a pragmatic account of our with- and forever servants to the white world? of Israel past, present and future. It also drawal from Gaza in a warm, sympathet- Gilbert O’Neil Mushure— opened my eyes to my own sins that I ic and humane story. I shall never forget E-mail response commit voluntarily and involuntarily. I the Gaza withdrawal which polarized No country was “always meant to be a backyard thank Mr. Stephen Flurry for bringing our nation and divided families. It was of the world.” When God created the Earth and the truth to the world in these last days. an undeclared civil war …. Few, if any, all that is in it, He “saw everything that he had I’m very disappointed as a human being of us believed that the evacuation from made, and, behold, it was very good” (Genesis and citizen in this nation; these Israel- Gaza would lead to peace with the Pal- 1:31). That included man (verse 27). But man ites still do not know who they are, and, estinians. We withdrew to better defend was given free choice to obey God or disobey most importantly, still rebel against the our positions and to protect the lives of Him (Genesis 2:17). The first man and woman great God who brought their ancestors our citizens. … Only dreamers and fools failed that test (Genesis 3:6). Ever since, man- out of slavery. I earnestly pray that as believe that peace can ever be established kind has been generally set on a course that nations, America, Britain and the na- between Israelis and Palestinians, Jews would lead to his eternal death if not for God’s tion-state of Israel, take heed to God’s and Arabs. A glance at the map of the intervention in his life. It is God’s will that none word before it’s too late. New Orleans world clearly indicates why not. … Israel die, but that all should prosper (3 John 2). is just the tip of the iceberg. Slavery is the only non-Muslim state in the re- Africa and Africans are very much part of should not surprise the nations of Is- gion, depriving Muslims of their dream God’s great plan for mankind. Jesus Christ rael, if history is the teacher. of an Islamic empire in which Jews and declared that the true gospel message that He James Granderson—Licking, Mo. Christians can never be equal citizens brought to mankind should be preached to all n but must be reduced to dhimmi status, nations. Africans contribute to the work that servants and slaves of Muslims. There- strives to distribute this message to all nations I have just been sent two issues of fore, Israel will always be the thorn in the via this magazine and other publishing, broad- the Trumpet magazine. … I am very in- Muslim side, always depriving them of casting, Internet-based and personal efforts. terested in studying the Bible, especially their vainglorious dream. Joel Hilliker’s Our book The God Family Vision explains the about the last days before the coming of fine history of events told it clearly and true destiny of all nations, including those of Christ. The Trumpet is extremely help- without reservation. … the great continent of Africa. ful to my understanding of the book of Esor Ben-Sorek—Rishon Lezion, Israel n Revelation and why these natural di- n sasters are occurring. I like the fact that I was a former subscriber to the this magazine gives direct proof from God’s Prophecy for Africa? Plain Truth, and now I feel so blessed hav- the Bible using scriptures. … I have been a reader of your maga- ing found the Trumpet at my hairdress- Natacha Chicaiza—New York zine and have been following your er’s salon and now being a present sub- n argument since 2002. It is true world scriber. I savor every issue; I am under- events are unfolding in a like manner standing Bible prophecy more and more. I was in the doctor’s office reading to predictions. Talk about Iran becom- … I agree with you: The end is near. the November edition, and I could not ing more influential, the EU becoming Ann Marie Alleyne—Trinidad and Tobago put the magazine down. How true it is stronger though facing problems, the that God is sending us a message. This U.S. coming into ruin slowly …. Comments? world we live in is in moral decay. … But my question is, what is the role Russ D’Allura—Troy, Ohio of Africa in all this? True, as you say, [email protected] n British Empiredom has brought the or: The Trumpet, P.O. Box 1099, only form of civilization there is in Af- Edmond, OK 73083 Welfare System rica. This is evidenced by the leading I share Mark Jenkins’s abhorrence nations in sub-Saharan Africa; most for a runaway welfare system (“Caring of them are former settler colonies of Corrections for the Poor,” December 2005). However, Britain—South Africa, Zimbabwe, his equating Medicare and Social Securi- Botswana and Tanzania. These, if you In our January 2006 issue, a map on ty with welfare is an insult to every work- study carefully, are the only countries page 18 erroneously identified as ing person in the U.S. People earn Social with considerable infrastructure set “Slovakia” the country of Slovenia. Security and Medicare credit through up by former masters, though some of n taxes paid during their working years. them are now suffering from our black Medicare and Social Security benefits misrule—the Mugabe-type of rule. This In the first column on page 19, the last are definitely not something for nothing, may also affect Kenya as it is seeking line of text was cut off. The final para- which is the definition of welfare. a constitution giving deity powers to graph should have read, “When it hap- Walter Godwin—Ball, La. the president, just like Mugabe tried to pens, remember—you read it here first.”
34 The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 c o m m e n t a r y What Is News? Why the Trumpet has a clearer definition than any other news source. by joel hilliker
udging by the amount of news that people consume, and so on. They must also factor in suitability for the particu- we’re all bona fide news junkies. We have broadcast news, ca- lar medium; balance with other reports; resources invested (it’s ble news 24/7/365, radio news, news journals and newsmaga- not much of a story, but we’ve spent the money so we’ll go with Jzines, newspapers and Internet news. We are plugged in. it); organizational policy; ideological slant; sense of public need But plugged in to what, exactly? What is news? Given the or taste; need for ratings/subscribers; accountability to adver- dizzying nature of our simultaneously vast and tiny, mass- tisers. Throw in an O.J. or M.J. criminal trial and the whole cal- communication-saturated world of nearly 6½ billion people, culus can get upended for month after interminable month. as we seek to learn about it we have to be very selective. (Even Up and down the chain—from the spark of an idea to the the bbc does, and it’s the world’s largest news organization.) finished news product—these judgments are intrinsic to the Thus, we tend to fixate on what process. In other words, creating tickles our curiosity, what swells or news is not a science. As journalist pinches our pocketbooks, what helps Walter Lippmann once pointed out, or harms our loved ones. news is not the same as truth. It is a But how do the professionals pick concoction—based on reality but what to report on and how? I chal- fundamentally limited, partial and lenge you to think about it. Because artificial. A discerning consumer the publication you’re reading uses an shouldn’t accept it at face value. entirely different criterion than any The magazine you are reading other source out there. faces many of these same decisions as Defining what makes news has to we monitor world events: What will begin with watching. In order to bet- we cover? How should we write about ter manage the overwhelming task it? How much space does it need? of surveillance, news outlets carve What will we feature on our cover? the world into chunks—geographic We grapple with limited intelligence, areas, politics, economy, sports, personal assumptions and flawed per- health, specific organizations and ceptions as much as everyone else. so on. They must decide where to In some basic ways, however, we position their reporters—decisions are quite different from any other that reflect certain prejudices: A source from which you may receive president is more important than a news. For one, producing a free pub- policeman; Manhattan is more important than Minidoka. A lication means we have no accountability to advertisers and little harried assignment editor—monitoring multiple newswires, need to adjust our content in order to pander to subscribers. tv channels, police radio broadcasts and phone tips—will But the key difference is the primary criterion we use to tend to allocate reporters to what looks potentially most dra- determine a story’s newsworthiness. It transcends and super- matic: conflict-driven, telegenic, “man bites dog.” Money is sedes all other criteria by a vast margin—and is completely also a factor: It costs more to send the reporter farther away ignored by every other news outlet. Where other criteria swing and/or for longer periods; not to mention that there are only and fluctuate and can suck the process toward silliness, this so many of them—if they’re all already assigned, everything keeps it focused like a laser beam on what truly is—even in an else slips through the cracks. It’s an obvious truth, but worth absolute sense—important. stating: No matter how important an event may actually be, if That criterion is prophetic significance. the newsman misses it, it ain’t news. In order to prove His omnipotence, millennia ago God re- The reporter on the scene has plenty of decisions to make, corded in Scripture descriptions of future events, and is now too: Who are worthwhile sources? Which details matter? How bringing them to pass (Isaiah 42:9; 46:9-10; 48:3-5). These pro- much background is necessary to understand this? Does it rep- vide signposts pointing to the imminence of Jesus Christ’s Sec- resent a larger trend or is it deviant? His perspective—limited ond Coming—an event which the Messiah Himself told us to and flawed as it may be—will affect all of these choices and prepare ourselves for by watching and praying (Luke 21:36). shape the way he conveys that event. To us, news is much more than a curiosity. As we watch events News directors and editors must determine which of the sto- aligning, bit by bit, step by step, with the prophetic view spelled ries that come in will fill the 23 minutes of that night’s broad- out in the Holy Bible by the living God, it is proof positive that cast, or tomorrow’s paper. And not just to determine whether “the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:17) and the story will air or be printed, but also its prominence: where that He is about to bring justice to this weary world. Thus, our to put it and for how long, how to sell it, whether to pair it with message has driving purpose: to inform, to witness, yes—but other stories. Criteria for making these determinations are also, hopefully, to motivate and inspire. The fact that each story manifold: the story’s timeliness, proximity to the audience, lev- has been chosen for its prophetic significance carries this urgent, el of drama, celebrity of the subject, how many people it affects implicit message: Seek God while He may be found. n
The Philadelphia Trumpet february 2006 35 O n l i n e www.keyofDavid.com The Philadelphia Church of God presents U n i t ed S t a t es Nationwide satellite Galaxy 3 Trans. 7 11:30 am ET, Tue/Thu; Galaxy 5 Trans. 7 8:00 am ET, Sun Direct TV DBS WGN Chan. 307 8:00 am ET, Sun The Key of David Direct TV Ch. 255 6:00 am ET, Fri Dish Network Ch. 181 6:00 am ET, Fri Dish Network DBS WGN Chan. 239 8:00 am ET, Sun; WWOR Chan. 238 9:30 am ET, Sun Nationwide cable WGN 8:00 am ET, Sun Northeast cable WWOR 9:30 am ET, Sun Alabama, Birmingham WPXH 5:00 am, Fri Alabama, Dothan WBDO 8:30, Sun Alabama, Montgomery WBMY 8:30, Sun Alaska, Anchorage KWBX 8:30 am, Sun Alaska, Fairbanks KWFA 8:30 am, Sun Alaska, Juneau KWJA 8:30 am, Sun Arizona, Phoenix KPPX 5:00 am, Fri Arizona, Yuma-El Centro KWUB 9:30 am, Sun Arkansas, Fayetteville-Rogers-Springdale KWFT 8:30, Sun Arkansas, Fort Smith KWFT 8:30, Sun Arkansas, Jonesboro KFOS 8:30 am, Sun Each week Gerald Flurry California, Bakersfield KWFB 9:30 am, Sun discusses world events in California, Chico-Redding KIWB 9:30 am, Sun California, Eureka KWBT 9:30 am, Sun the light of Bible prophecy. California, Los Angeles KDOC 9:30 am, Sun; KPXN 6:00 am, Fri For over a decade, he has California, Monterey-Salinas KMWB 9:30 am, analyzed today’s news Sun California, Palm Springs KCWB 9:30 am, Sun from a unique perspective, California, Sacramento KSPX 6:00 am, Fri California, San Francisco KKPX 6:00 am, Fri providing answers to life’s California, Santa Barbara KWCA 9:30 am, Sun most pressing questions. Colorado, Denver KPXC 5:00 am, Fri Colorado, Grand Junction-Montrose KWGJ 10:30 am, Sun Connecticut, Hartford WHPX 6:00 am, Fri Kansas, Joplin-Pittsburg KSXF 8:30 am, Sun Missouri, Quincy-Hannibal-Keokuk WEWB 8:30 Deleware, Salisbury WBD 9:30 am, Sun Kansas, Lincoln KWBL 8:30 am, Sun am, Sun Florida, Gainesville WBFL 9:30 am, Sun Kansas, Topeka WBKS 8:30 am, Sun Missouri, St. Joseph WBJO 8:30 am, Sun Florida, Jacksonville WPXC 6:00 am, Fri Kentucky, Bowling Green WBWG 8:30 am, Sun Montana, Billings KWBM 10:30 am, Sun Florida, Miami WPXM 6:00 am, Fri Kentucky, Lexington WUPX 6:00 am, Fri Montana, Butte-Bozeman KWXB 10 :30 am, Sun Florida, Orlando WOPX 6:00 am, Fri Kentucky, Louisville WBNA 6:00 am, Fri Montana, Glendive KWZB 10:30 am, Sun Florida, Panama City WBPC 9:30 am, Sun Louisiana, Alexandria KAXN 8:30 am, Sun Montana, Great Falls KWGF 10:30 am, Sun Florida, Tallahassee-Thomasville 9:30 am, Sun Louisiana, Lafayette KLWB 8:30 am, Sun Montana, Helena KWHA 10:30 am, Sun Florida, Tampa WXPX 6:00 am, Fri Louisiana, Lake Charles WBLC 8:30 am, Sun Montana, Missoula KIDW 10:30 am, Sun Florida, West Palm Beach WPXP 6:00 am, Fri Louisiana, Monroe-El Dorado KWMB 8:30 am, Nebraska, Lincoln-Hastings-Kearney KWBL 8:30 Georgia, Albany WBSK 9:30 am, Sun Sun am, Sun Georgia, Augusta WBAU 9:30 am, Sun Louisiana, New Orleans WPXL 5:00 am, Fri Nebraska, North Platte KWPL 8:30 am, Sun Georgia, Brunswick WPXC 6:00 am, Fri Maine, Bangor WBAN 9:30 am, Sun Nevada, Reno KWBV 9:30 am, Sun Georgia, Columbus WBG 9:30 am, Sun Maine, Presque Isle WBPQ 9:30 am, Sun New York, Albany WYPX 6:00 am, Fri Georgia, Macon WBMN 9:30 am, Sun Massachusetts, Boston WBPX 6:00 am, Fri New York, Binghamton WBXI 9:30 am, Sun Georgia, Savannah WBVH 9:30 am, Sun Massachusetts, Springfield-Holyoke WBQT 9:30 New York, Buffalo WUTV 6:30 am, Sun; WPXJ Hawaii, Honolulu KPXO 5:00 am, Fri am, Sun 6:00 am, Fri Michigan, Alpena New York, Elmira Hawaii, Oahu Chan. 52 7:30 am, Sat WBAE 9:30 am, Sun WBE 9:30 am, Sun Michigan, Detroit New York, New York City Hawaii, Maui/Molokai/Lanai Akaku Chan. 52 10:00 WPXD 6:00 am, Fri WPXN 6:00 am, Fri; Michigan, Grand Rapids WZPX 5:00 am, Fri pm, Sun; 7:30 am, Mon WWOR 9:30 am, Sun Michigan, Lansing WBL 9:30 am, Sun New York, Syracuse Idaho, Boise KWOB 10:30 am, Sun WSPX 6:00 am, Fri Michigan, Marquette WBMK 9:30 am, Sun New York, Utica Idaho, Idaho Falls-Pocatello KWIB 10:30 am, Sun WBU 9:30 am, Sun Michigan, Traverse City-Cadillac WBVC 9:30 am, New York, Waterton Idaho, Twin Falls KWTE 10:30 am, Sun WBWT 9:30 am, Sun Sun North Carolina, Asheville lllinois, Chicago WCIU 9:30 am, Sun; WCPX 5:00 WASV 10:00 am, Sun Minnesota, Duluth-Superior KWBD 8:30 am, Sun North Carolina, Fayetteville-Lumber Bridge am, Fri Minnestoa, Mankato KWYE 8:30 am, Sun Illinois, Peoria-Bloomington WBPE 8:30 am, Sun WFPX 6:00 am, Fri Minnesota, Minneapolis KPXM 5:00 am, Fri North Carolina, Greensboro Illinois, Rockford WBR 8:30 am, Sun WGPX 6:00 am, Fri Mississippi, Biloxi-Gulfport WBGP 8:30 am, Sun North Carolina, Greenville Indiana, Fort Wayne WBFW 8:30 am, Sun WEPX 6:00 am, Fri Mississippi, Columbus-Tupelo-West Point WBSP North Carolina, Greenville-New Bern-Washington Indiana, Indianapolis WIPX 6:00 am, Fri 8:30 am, Sun Indiana, Lafayette WBFY 8:30 am, Sun WGWB 9:30 am, Sun Mississippi, Greenwood-Greenville WBWD 8:30 North Carolina, Raleigh-Durham Indiana, Terra Haute WBI 8:30 am, Sun WRPX 6:00 am, am, Sun Iowa, Cedar Rapids KPXR 5:00 am, Fri Fri Mississippi, Hattiesburg-Laurel WBHA 8:30 am, North Carolina, Wilmington Iowa, Des Moines KFPX 5:00 am, Fri WBW 9:30 am, Sun Sun North Dakota, Fargo-Valley City Iowa, Ottumwa-Kirksville KWOT 8:30 am, Sun WBFG 8:30 am, Mississippi, Meridian WBMM 8:30 am, Sun Iowa, Rochester-Mason City-Austin KWBR 8:30 Sun Missouri, Columbia-Jefferson City KJWB 8:30 North Dakota, Minot-Bismarck-Dickinson am, Sun am, Sun Iowa, Sioux City KXWB 8:30 am, Sun KWMK 10:30 am, Sun Missouri, Kansas City KPXE 5:00 am, Fri Ohio, Cleveland WVPX 6:00 am, Fri
36 Wisconsin, Milwaukee WPXE 5:00 am, Fri Wisconsin, Wausau-Rhinelander WBWA 8:30 am, Sun Wyoming, Casper-Riverton KWWY 10:30 am, Sun Wyoming, Cheyenne-Scottsbluff KCHW 10:30 The Key of David am, Sun
C a n a d a Nationwide satellite Galaxy 3 Trans. 7 11:30 am ET, Tue/Thu; Galaxy 5 Trans. 7 8:00 am ET, Sun Nationwide cable WGN 8:00 am ET, Sun; Vision TV 4:30 pm ET, Sun Ontario WUTV 6:30 am, Sun
L a t i n A m e r i c a Regional satellite Galaxy 3 Trans. 7 11:30 am ET, Tue/Thu Argentina WWOR 10:30 am Sun Brazil WWOR 10:30 am, Sun Chile WWOR 10:30 am, Sun Colombia WGN 7:00 am, Sun; WWOR 8:30 am, Sun El Salvador WGN 6:00 am, Sun Guatemala WGN 6:00 am, Sun Honduras WGN 6:00 am, Sun Mexico WGN 7:00 am, Sun; WWOR 8:30 am, Sun Panama WGN 7:00 am, Sun Venezuela WWOR 10:30 am, Sun C a r i b b e a n Regional satellite Galaxy 3 Trans. 7 11:30 am ET, Tue/Thu; Galaxy 5 Trans. 7 8:00 am ET, Sun Aruba WGN 8:00 am, Sun Bahamas WGN 8:00 am, Sun; WWOR 9:30 am, Sun Ohio, Lima WBOH 9:30 am, Sun Sun Belize Ohio, Wheeling-Steubenville WBWO 9:30 am, WGN 7:00 am, Sun Texas, Corpus Christi KWDB 8:30 am, Sun Cuba WGN 8:00 am, Sun; WWOR 9:30 am, Sun Sun Texas, Dallas KDFI 10:30 am, Sun; KPDX 5:00 Ohio, Zanesville Dominican Republic WGN 8:00 am, Sun WBZV 9:30 am, Sun am, Fri Oklahoma, Ada Grenada CCN 7:30 am, Sun KSHD 8:30 am, Sun Texas, Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville KMHB Oklahoma, Lawton Haiti KWB 8:30 am, Sun 8:30 am, Sun WGN 7:00 am, Sun Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Jamaica KOCB 9:00 am, Sun; Texas, Houston KPXB 5:00 am, Fri; KRIV 9:00 WGN 9:00 am, Sun; WWOR 10:30 am, KOPX 5:00 am, Fri am, Sun Sun Oklahoma, Tulsa Puerto Rico KTPX 5:00 am, Fri Texas, Laredo KTXW 8:30 am, Sun WGN 8:00 am, Sun; WWOR 9:30 am, Oregon, Bend KWBO 9:30 am, Sun Texas, Lubbock KWBZ 8:30 am, Sun Sun Oregon, Eugene KZWB 9:30 am, Sun Texas, Odessa-Midland KWWT 8:30 am, Sun Tobago CCN 7:30 am, Sun Oregon, Medford-Klamath Falls KMFD 9:30 am, Texas, San Angelo KWSA 8:30 am, Sun Trinidad CCN 7:30 am, Sun Sun Texas, San Antonio KPXL 5:00 am, Fri; KBEJ 7:30 Oregon, Portland KPDX 8:00 am, Sun; KPXG 6:00 am, Sun E u r o p e am, Fri Texas, Sherman KSHD 8:30 am, Sun Pennsylvania, Erie Malta Smash TV 4:30 pm, Sat; 10:00 pm, Tue WBEP 9:30 am, Sun Texas, Tyler-Longview KWTL 8:30 am, Sun Pennsylvania, Philadelphia WPHL 9:00 am, Sun; Texas, Victoria KWVB 8:30 am, Sun WPPX 6:00 am, Fri Texas, Wichita Falls KWB 8:30 am, Sun A f r i c a / a S I a Pennsylvania, Wilkes-Barre WQPX 6:00 am, Fri Utah, Salt Lake City KUPX 5:00 am, Fri Philippines nationwide Studio 23 8:30 am, Sun Rhode Island, Providence WPXQ 6:00 am, Fri Virginia, Charlottesville WBC 9:30 am, Sun South Africa CSN 6:30 am, Sun South Carolina, Charleston WBLN 9:30 am, Sun Virginia, Harrisonburg WBHA 9:30 am, Sun South Carolina, Florence-Myrtle Beach WFWB Virginia, Norfolk WPXV 6:00 am, Fri a U S t r a l i a / n E W Z e a l a n d 9:30 am, Sun Virginia, Roanoke WPXR 6:00 am, Fri Australia nationwide Network Ten 4:30 am, Sun South Carolina, Greenville WASV 10:00 am, Sun Washington D.C. WBDC 8:00 am, Sun; WPXW Adelaide, South Australia Chan. 31 11:30, Sun South Carolina, Spartanburg WASV 10:00 am, 6:00 am, Fri Perth, Western Australia Chan. 31 11:30 am, Sun Sun Washington, Seattle KWPX 6:00 am, Fri Tasmania Southern Cross TV 6:00 am, Sun South Dakota, Rapid City KWBH 10:30 am, Sun Washington, Spokane KGPX 6:00 am, Fri New Zealand nationwide TV3 6:00 am, Fri South Dakota, Sioux Falls (Mitchell) KWSD 8:30 Washington, Yakima-Pasco-Richland-Kennewick am, Sun KWYP 9:30 am, Sun Tennessee, Jackson WBJK 8:30 am, Sun West Virginia, Bluefield-Beckley-Oak Hill WBB Tennessee, Knoxville WPXK 6:00 am, Fri 9:30 am, Sun Still no program in your area? Tennessee, Memphis WPXX 5:00 am, Fri West Virginia, Charleston WLPX 6:00 am, Fri View or listen to the program, Tennessee, Nashville WNPX 5:00 am, Fri West Virginia, Clarksburg-Weston WVWB 9:30 Texas, Abilene-Sweetwater KWAW 8:30 am, Sun am, Sun or download transcripts at Texas, Amarillo KDBA 8:30 am, Sun West Virginia, Parkersburg WBPB 9:30 am, Sun Texas, Austin KBEJ 7:30 am, Sun Wisconsin, La Crosse-Eau Claire WBCZ 8:30 am, Texas, Beaumont-Port Arthur KWBB 8:30 am, Sun www.KeyofDavid.com looking for answers?
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