An End Times Ambiance

"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

Luke 21:25-28

"And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows."

Mark 13:7-8

In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will examine the events of recent weeks which have left a foreboding impression that the world we live in is facing great peril in the days ahead. It is truly remarkable how much has happened in just the short time since I wrote the September issue of this newsletter. Against the backdrop of devastating hurricanes, heatwaves, massive wildfires, powerful earthquakes, and a growing possibility of war between the United States and North Korea, many people are starting to wonder if we could be living in the end times. In fact, even the New York Times published an article on September 8, 2017, with the headline, "Apocalyptic Thoughts Amid Nature's Chaos? You Could Be Forgiven." (1) The article cites science fiction writer John Scalzi who recently wrote that it "feels like the end times are getting a few dress rehearsals right about now." (2) Richard Hecht, a professor specializing in religious studies at the University of California in Santa Barbara was also quoted by the Times. "End of times fantasies have been a central part of American religiosity since the beginning, so it shouldn't be any surprise," Hecht stated. He further goes on to say, "It's one thing to believe the ministers' or preachers' calculations of the end of days. But now you have objective truths: Charlottesville, the solar eclipse, Hurricane Harvey, the earthquake in Mexico, Hurricane Irma. These are events no one can dispute. It's not the same order of a preacher saying that on September 8, at 10 o'clock, the world will end." (3) While the point of the article is to reassure the reader that the world is not really ending soon, the fact that it was written at all is indicative of the end time ambiance that many people are feeling today.

In Luke 21:25-28 we are warned by our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." We are also told in Mark 13:7-8, "And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows." Jesus specifically told us to watch for "the sea and the waves roaring," "men's hearts failing them for fear," nations rising against nations, and earthquakes in divers or various places in the days leading up to His return. All of these things are happening now, and while we cannot say with any certainty that the world as we know it will end in the next five, ten, or even twenty years, it certainly feels like it could. In Matthew 24:35-36 we are told by Jesus, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." Therefore we continue to watch, pray, and wait for the great and notable day of our Lord's coming.

The Sea And The Waves Roaring

The rapid succession of tropical storms and hurricanes forming in the Atlantic Ocean over the last four weeks is a cause of great concern to scientists. While such storms are a normal fact of life and regularly appear each year during hurricane season, news outlets are reporting that these storms appear to be intensifying. First there was Hurricane Harvey, which became especially active in late August 2017, followed by Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Jose, Hurricane Katia, and Hurricane Maria, all within the month of September 2017. (4) In fact, the month of September was so active for hurricanes that Irma, Jose, and Katia were all churning at the same time. (5) Regarding the recent spate of hurricanes, meteorologist Bob Henson was quoted as saying, "The season has been an overachiever by almost every index. We've had more than a year's worth of named storms when you look at the long-term average, and that's being just past the midpoint of the season." Mr. Henson then warned that there will probably be more storms. "I would be shocked if we didn't get at least two more," he said. (6)

Hurricane Harvey, which first made landfall in Texas on August 25, 2017, as a Category 4 hurricane with 130 miles-per-hour winds, (7) was truly a storm of Biblical proportions. In fact, the storm dumped a trillion gallons of water on the state of Texas with Cedar Bayou, a city about 30 miles from Houston, receiving a record-breaking 51.88 inches of rain. (8) At least 82 people were killed in the storm (9) and between 30,000 and 40,000 homes in the Houston area were completely destroyed. (10) In total about 100,000 homes were damaged by the storm, which prompted Brock Long, the administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, to say "The state of Texas is about to undergo one of the largest housing recovery missions the nation has ever seen." (11) The damage in economic terms is also mind-boggling. According to Accuweather founder Dr. Joel N. Myers, the losses caused by Harvey could reach a whopping 190 billion dollars. "This is the costliest and worst natural disaster in American history," Dr. Myers opined. (12)

On September 10, 2017, Hurricane Irma made landfall in the state of Florida. This storm is notable for many reasons. With Hurricane Harvey previously hitting Texas, the arrival of Irma marked the first time since records have been kept that two Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes have hit the United States mainland in the same hurricane season. (13) Prior to hitting the United States, Hurricane Irma gained force and became a Category 5 hurricane after reaching a sustained wind speed of 185 miles-per-hour. This wind speed was the second highest ever recorded for an Atlantic hurricane, trailing only behind Hurricane Allen of 1980. (14) Not only did Irma have a wind speed of 185 miles-per-hour, but this speed was constant for 37 consecutive hours, which is another record. (15) Irma was enormous too. At its peak, the storm covered a distance of 800 miles. Irma made its way through ten different Caribbean countries and caused great devastation. According to the Prime Minister of Barbuda, Irma left the island "barely habitable" with 95 percent of its buildings suffering damage. (16) The island has been completely evacuated in the wake of the storm's destruction. "The damage is complete. For the first time in 300 years, there's not a single living person on the island of Barbuda - a civilization that has existed on that island for over 300 years has now been extinguished," the island's Ambassador to the United States Ronald Sanders lamented. (17)

In total, this brutal storm caused the death of 73 people in the Caribbean and the American states of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. (18) Amazingly enough, Hurricane Irma weakened significantly after making landfall in Florida. Although the state still suffered significant damage, the storm was diminished to a Category 1 hurricane by the time it reached the city of Tampa. (19) It could have been a lot worse, and I know that many of God's people were praying.

On September 18, 2017, Maria, another Category 5 hurricane, made landfall at the Caribbean island of Dominica. (20) The devastation was swift and severe. "The country is in a daze - no electricity, no running water - as a result of uprooted pipes in most communities and definitely no landline or cellphone services on island, and that will be for quite a while," said Hartley Henry, who is principal advisor to the island's prime minister. Henry then went on to say, "In summary, the island has been devastated." (21) Maria became the third hurricane to wreak havoc on the United States this year when it made landfall at the American territory of Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017. (22) So widespread was the damage that the entire island lost access to electricity. (23) In the aftermath of Maria's destruction, Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner, Jennifer Gonzalez, was quoted as saying, "The devastation in Puerto Rico has set us back nearly 20 to 30 years. I can't deny that the Puerto Rico of now is different from that of a week ago. The destruction of properties, of flattened structures, of families without homes, of debris everywhere. The island's greenery is gone." (24) The hurricane season of 2017 will be remembered for quite some time. Without a doubt, the sea and the waves have been roaring.

A Scorched Earth

For those who live in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, the wildfires of this year have been unrelenting. In early September 2017, it was reported that 137 significant wildfires, covering an area of 7.8 million acres, were burning out west. (25) These fires covered the entire state of Washington in smoke, while residents in Portland, Oregon, reported that it was "snowing ash." Emergencies were declared in California and Washington due to the hazardous air quality imposed by these cruel blazes. (26) To further worsen matters, there were 153 active wildfires in British Columbia, Canada, as of September 2017. Incredibly, smoke from the fires in the United States and Canada has even reached Europe in recent weeks according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA. (27)

Europe has been contending with devastating wildfires too. These fires have thrived because of a scorching heatwave that Europeans have nicknamed "Lucifer." In an article published in August 2017 by Popular Science Magazine, we are told, "If you load up the European Commission's fire map, it looks like the end of the world, especially in Italy and Romania." (28) This same article states that wildfires have also afflicted the Siberian region of Russia. (29) It is interesting that Popular Science would mention "the end of the world" in their report. In Revelation 16, we are told that one of the end times' punishments of God upon mankind will be a scorching heat. Revelation 16:8-7 declares, "And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory." While the current wildfires and heatwaves now happening may not be precisely what these verses are speaking of, the present affliction of fire and heat are a preview of things to come. When that vial of judgment is poured out, I do not believe that mankind will even recognize it as judgment. Rather, the great heat by which men are scorched will be blamed on climate change and global warming. Perhaps the people of earth should ask themselves: What if the coming disasters attributed to climate change are in reality the fulfillment of Bible prophecy?

Planet Earth Is Rumbling

Students of the Bible have always taken a keen interest in earthquakes. It is a sign that Jesus Christ specifically told us to watch for, warning His people that there would be "earthquakes in divers places." Earthquakes have become so common in this modern age that few people even take notice of them anymore. News reports will cover significant earthquakes, but the vast majority of seismic events that happen every day are never mentioned. According to the US Geological Survey, there have been 1,764 earthquakes in the last thirty days as of September 25, 2017. This amounts to nearly sixty quakes per day! (30) Some areas of the world are especially prone to seismic shakings. For example, New Zealand suffered a record-breaking 32,828 earthquakes in 2016. (31) Unless you happen to live in New Zealand, you probably did not hear about most of them.

Unfortunately, human civilizations have a propensity to build large cities in areas that are prone to earthquakes. This holds true of Mexico City in Mexico, which was originally called Tenochtitlan by the Aztecs upon its founding in 1325. The site was chosen based on a superstitious Aztec prophecy which asserted that the location of their new city would be marked by an eagle aloft a cactus eating a snake. (32) As it turns out, this is a dangerous location for a large city. On September 19, 1985, a powerful earthquake measuring 8.1 in magnitude, shook Mexico City and killed thousands of people. Oddly enough, exactly thirty-two years later, Mexico City suffered another devastating earthquake on September 19, 2017. (33) The powerful temblor, which measured 7.1 in magnitude, has claimed the lives of at least 320 individuals in Mexico City and the surrounding areas as of this writing, while leaving thousands upon thousands of people homeless. (34) The Mexico City quake came just days after an 8.2 magnitude earthquake shook the southern region of Mexico on September 7, 2017. The quake in southern Mexico was said to be the most powerful earthquake to strike the country in 100 years. (35) According to the National Seismological Service in Mexico, there have been an astonishing 4846 aftershocks in the region as of September 25, 2017. (36) At least 96 people died and 16,000 homes were destroyed in the Mexican states of Chiapas and Oaxaca. (37)

How Technology Will Induce Subservience

In recent issues of this newsletter, we have covered the topic of microchip implants in-depth. I still find it an amazing thing that American citizens are being microchipped today, and it is even more incredible that it is happening in my home state of Wisconsin. The announcement made in July 2017 that a company from River Falls, Wisconsin, known as Three Square Market, would begin microchipping its employees in August of this year was big news, making headlines all over our state and sending shockwaves throughout the nation. On August 23, 2017, I was stunned to find that our local newspaper, the Daily Citizen, had republished an article originally from the Chicago Tribune which extolled the so-called virtues of these new microchip implants. "Imagine walking into the bank and not wracking your brain for your ATM pin code. Or never wondering where you left your credit card, transit pass, or ID. Imagine sailing through airport security without producing a driver's license or passport. Or through your security gate at work without fumbling for an ID card that you left in your other jacket," wrote the article's author, James Brooks. He later went on to write, "No more wallets, keys, credit cards? Everything available with a flick of the wrist? Sounds great." (38) The author also claimed that these chips would be a wonderful safety device for young children and people with memory issues, (39) which is something I predicted would be said when I wrote about this topic in the August 2017 issue of the Last Trumpet. Sadly, if this article is any indicator, there are many men and women in this country who will not only accept these microchip implants, but are eager to do so.

In the future, microchips may not only be used to implement a global cashless society, but they may also be used to control the population of the world. In 2014 it was announced that Microsoft founder Bill Gates was funding the research of a contraceptive microchip. When implanted in women, this chip would have the capability to deliver birth control to their bloodstreams every day for up to sixteen years. A wireless remote control would allow for the microchip to be turned on or off at will, (40) although there is no guarantee that women who have these chips would have access to the remote control. Such technology could easily become a nightmare with Big Brother deciding who can have children and when they can have them.

Even as microchip implants are being given to American citizens, recent news reports indicate that there is a renewed interest in establishing universal basic incomes for the American people. In other words, every American would be given money each month simply for existing with no requirement for employment. We are told this will be necessary because so many jobs are being lost to automation and people in the coming decades will be left with no work to perform. For this reason, it was announced in September 2017 that lawmakers in the state of Hawaii have voted to research the concept of a basic income for their citizens. "Our economy is changing far more rapidly than anybody expected," said Representative Chris Lee of Hawaii. Lee further stated that it is important "to be sure that everybody will benefit from the technological revolution that we're seeing to make sure that no one's left behind." (41) An article published by CNBC on August 31, 2017, also promoted the universal basic income concept. Citing a report from the Roosevelt Institute, the article asserts that giving every adult in the United States a thousand dollars each month would grow the American economy by 2.5 trillion dollars by the year 2025. (42) While the idea of receiving free money likely sounds fantastic to a majority of the population, I cannot help but wonder if those who receive this monetary benefit will be required to receive a microchip implant first. It is an easy way to implement this invasive technology, and I am sure that many people would gladly accept it!

Meanwhile, the United States government seems determined to get driverless cars on American roads. In September 2017, the United States House of Representatives unanimously approved a new initiative that will allow up to 25,000 autonomous vehicles to be deployed all over the country without meeting existing safety requirem"The autonomous vehicle bill just passed by the House leaves a wild west without adequate safety protections for consumers. It pre-empts any state safety standards, but there are none at the naents. The plan calls for another 100,000 of these vehicles to be deployed on American roads each year for the next three years. (43) This new law, which must still pass in the Senate, was quickly panned by a group known as Consumer Watchdog. tional level," the group said in a statement. (44) Why the sudden rush to bring driverless cars to American roadways? Autonomous vehicles will be yet another way that the American people are forced to cede their independence. It is a technology, which along with microchips, would induce subservience to a global one world government.

Is The United States Dangerously Close To War?

In recent weeks, the rhetoric between the United States and North Korea has intensified. North Korea has continued to test ballistic missiles while threatening to develop nuclear weapons and attack the United States. American President Donald Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un have insulted and threatened each other repeatedly. Could we be close to war? Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov seems to think so. Speaking of the bad blood between the United States and North Korea, Lavrov was quoted as saying in August 2017, "The risks are very high, especially regarding the rhetoric [between the two countries]. We hear direct threats to use force. At the same time, US Secretary of Defense Mattis stated once again, Yes, this will involve a huge number of human casualties, and yet talks about a pre-emptive strike on North Korea, talks in Pyongyang [North Korea], that it is necessary to strike the Island of Guam, where several US military bases are located, do not stop." (45) China, which is North Korea's strongest ally, also weighed in on the controversy. In August 2017, a Chinese newspaper known as The Global Times, which serves as a state-run mouthpiece for the Chinese communist government, indicated that China would stand by North Korea in the event of a pre-emptive strike by the United States on North Korean territory. "China should make clear that if North Korea launches missiles that threaten U.S. soil first and the U.S. retaliates, China will stay neutral," the newspaper said. It then went on to say, "If the U.S. and South Korea carry out strikes and try to overthrow the North Korean regime and change the political pattern of the Korean Peninsula, China will prevent them from doing so." (46) Simply put, the article indicates that if North Korea attacks the United States, China will stay out of it. However, the warning indicates that if the United States or its allies attack North Korea, then China will intervene. In which case, a war with North Korea could also mean a war with China.

In September 2017, Donald Trump's administration implemented new economic sanctions against North Korea. The two leaders then traded insults with each other. "Kim Jong Un of North Korea, who is obviously a madman who doesn't mind starving or killing his people, will be tested like never before," Trump wrote. (47) In response to a speech given at the United Nations wherein Trump heavily criticized North Korea, Kim Jong Un issued a statement calling Trump a "mentally deranged dotard." He then went on to say, "I will make the man holding the prerogative of the supreme command in the U.S. pay dearly for his speech. I am now thinking hard about what response he could have expected when he allowed such eccentric words to trip off his tongue. Whatever Trump might have expected, he will face results beyond his expectations." (48) I cannot help but imagine the North Korean dictator furiously studying a thesaurus before issuing his threat.

As a further escalation of tension between the United States and North Korea, the North Korean government has asserted that the United States has declared war, and as such, they claim a right to shoot down American planes. "The whole world should clearly remember it was the U.S. who first declared war on our country. Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country." (49)

If a war with North Korea should break out, those who suffer the most will likely be poor North Korean citizens who will die as military offensives are carried out. This is truly sad, for if we believe the reports we have seen of the brutal North Korean regime, most North Korean people are hostages in their own country suffering through a meager existence with little hope for a better future. I feel compelled to pray for the North Korean people who are trapped in this mess. Perhaps God will intervene and topple the regime of Kim Jong Un in another way.

In closing, the world we live in today has become a messy place. We are feeling the pressure of the times we live in, and there truly is an end times ambiance right now. Yet, Isaiah the Prophet tells us of our God in Isaiah 25:4, "For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall." The best thing we can do right now is put our hope and our trust in God. If you have not yet repented of your sins and dedicated your life to God, I urge you to do so now.

As always, we are grateful to our readers and supporters. Thank you for your kindness which enables us to operate this ministry. If you have any prayer requests, great or small, please do not hesitate to send them our way. We give each prayer request individual attention. Grace and peace be unto you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Samuel Meyer - Last Trumpet

Acknowledgements
01. The New York Times, September 8, 2017, By Henry Fountain, http://nytimes.com.
02. Ibid.
03. Ibid.
04. Wikipedia, 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season, http://wikipedia.org.
05. The Daily Caller, September 6, 2017, By Michael Bastasch, http://dailycaller.com.
06. The New York Times, September 19, 2017, By Maggie Astor, http://nytimes.com.
07. Chicago Tribune, September 3, 2017, By Tom Skilling, http://chicagotribune.com.
08. ABC News, August 30, 2017, By Michael Edison Hayden, http://abcnews.go.com.
09. The Washington Post, September 14, 2017, By Eva Ruth Moravec, http://washingtonpost.com.
10. The New York Post, August 30, 2017, By Lia Eustachewich, http://nypost.com.
11. National Public Radio, September 1, 2017, By Pam Fessler, http://npr.org.
12. Accuweather, September 1, 2017, By Accuweather, http://accuweather.com.
13. The Weather Channel, September 10, 2017, By Chris Dolce, http://weather.com.
14. NJ Advance Media, September 7, 2017, By Len Melisurgo, http://nj.com.
15. Wired UK, September 11, 2017, By Matt Burgess, http://wired.co.uk.
16. Ibid.
17. Public Radio International, September 14, 2017, By TJ Raphael, http://pri.org.
18. The Weather Channel, September 21, 2017, By Sean Breslin, http://weather.com.
19. Slate, September 11, 2017, By Daniel Politi, http://slate.com.
20. The New York Times, September 18, 2017, By Azam Ahmed and Kirk Semple, http://nytimes.com.
21. USA Today, September 20, 2017, By Trevor Hughes, http://usatoday.com.
22. Fox 6 Now, September 20, 2017, By Tribune Media Wire Service, http://fox6now.com.
23. National Public Radio, September 20, 2017, By Doreen McCallister and Amy Held, http://npr.org.
24. Associated Press, September 24, 2017, By Danica Coto, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
25. Futurism, September 21, 2017, By Claudia Geib, http://futurism.com.
26. The New York Times, September 16, 2017, By Troy Griggs, K.K. Rebecca Lai, Jeremy Ashkenas, and Jugal K. Patel, http://nytimes.com.
27. Atlas Obscura, September 15, 2017, By Atlas Obscura, http://atlasobscura.com.
28. Popular Science Magazine, August 4, 2017, By Kendra Pierre-Louis, http://popsci.com.
29. Ibid.
30. US Geological Survey, September 25, 2017, http://earthquakes.usgs.gov.
31. Stuff News, January 2, 2017, By John Kirk-Anderson, http://stuff.co.nz.
32. The New Yorker, September 22, 2017, By Marcia Bjornerud, http://newyorker.com.
33. Ibid.
34. New York Daily News, September 25, 2017, By Reuven Blau, http://nydailynews.com.
35. The New York Times, September 8, 2017, By Paulina Villegas, Elisabeth Malkin and Kirk Semple, http://nytimes.com.
36. National Seismological Service, September 25, 2017, http://twitter.com/SismologicoMX.
37. Insurance Journal, September 12, 2017, By Christopher Sherman, http://insurancejournal.com.
38. The Daily Citizen, August 23, 2017, By James Brooks, http://wiscnews.com/bdc.
39. Ibid.
40. The Washington Post, July 17, 2017, By Dominic Basulto, http://washingtonpost.com.
41. Associated Press, September 4, 2017, By Cathy Bussewitz, http://hosted.ap.org.
42. CNBC, August 31, 2017, By Catherine Clifford, http://cnbc.com.
43. Reuters News Service, September 6, 2017, By David Shepardson, http://reuters.com.
44. Ibid.
45. Sputnik International, August 11, 2017, By Sputnik International, http://sputniknews.com.
46. Reuters News Service, August 10, 2017, By Reuters Staff, http://reuters.com.
47. The Washington Post, September 22, 2017, By David Nakamura and Anne Gearan, http://washingtonpost.com.
48. Ibid.
49. The Washington Post, September 25, 2017, By Carol Morello, http://washingtonpost.com.