Showing posts with label Everlasting Gospel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Everlasting Gospel. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved

What's the difference between aerobic endurance and muscular endurance? -  220 Triathlon

But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.

13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.        Mark 13:9-13

Friday, July 31, 2020

The Three Angels and Babylon's Fall

The Third and Final “Woe” | The Revelation of Jesus ChristAnd I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

8And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

9And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12Here is the patience (endurance) of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.         Revelation 14

Friday, July 1, 2016

The Influence Of Evil Forces In This Modern Age

Image result for bad influence
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
Galatians 5:19-21
"There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee."
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord."
Acts 3:19
In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will examine today's current events and mankind's inclination toward evil things. At the heart of every man, woman, and child, there lies an innate desire to have a spiritual connection. While this desire can be a wonderful thing if it results in a man or woman seeking God, it can be disastrous to those who turn elsewhere in an attempt to find spiritual fulfillment. We must remember that Satan is a spiritual being, and as such he operates in a spiritual realm. When people seek to join this realm, they often become practitioners of the occult.
As many readers of this newsletter know, my father, Pastor David J. Meyer, was heavily involved in the occult world before his miraculous deliverance and salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ. As such, he would frequently use this newsletter as a platform to warn others about the occult influences that are so common in this world today. I do not write about such topics as often as he did, but I do feel compelled in this newsletter to warn everyone that witchcraft is still common today, and I believe the influence of occult practices is causing great spiritual damage in our country.
In this modern age, it is often difficult to convince people that witchcraft is any more than fantasy. Sure, they are familiar with the Harry Potter book series, but such material is brushed off as harmless fun. Real witches do not exist today, do they? Yes, witchcraft is real and it is thriving. In fact, if one were to travel to the East Village in Manhattan, New York, you would find the city's oldest witchcraft store. This store, which is known as "Enchantments," has been in operation for thirty-four years and specializes in carved candles used by customers for supposed "good magic" rituals. According to the store's owner, her clients come from many different professions and walks of life. "We get doctors, lawyers, bartenders, people who have been practicing pagans for 20 years and people who have never done any of this before in their life," the store owner said. She further went on to say, "I think with the current economic times people are looking for something that has a much more active feel to it, like, I can make things happen as opposed to some random force in the universe can make things happen." (1)
According to an article published by The Guardian in October 2013, witchcraft has been making a comeback in books, movies, and television programming in recent years. Such material has an especially strong appeal for teenage girls, because in the realm of Wiccan witchcraft, the female is always more powerful than the male. Recalling the trend toward witchcraft in the 1990s, social history professor Owen Davies of the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom was quoted as saying, "When Buffy and Charmed were at their peak, I would get letters from teenage girls, mainly from America, asking for help about where to look for spells. Those shows gave teenage girls a feeling of empowerment; there's something very appealing about magic and witchcraft. There have also been studies of girls who were interested in witch shows in the 1990s, following how many went on to become practicing Wiccans. It's not a huge number, but it's interesting that some of them watched the shows and thought, 'I want to know more.'" (2) Author Ruth Warburton, who has written a novel entitled "Witch Finder," openly admitted her intent to entice young girls into the realm of witchcraft. "Increasingly, we're trying to bring our daughters up to believe they can be the leader; they can have the adventure; they can do the cool stuff, and one thing about witches is that they allow you to explore that moment when girls become teenagers and realize the power they have as women and how exhilarating that can be," Warburton declared. (3)
Hollywood has certainly proven to be a powerful recruitment tool for occult practitioners. In fact, when a motion picture entitled Ouija was released in 2014, the sales of Ouija boards increased by a whopping 300 percent in the months following the film's release. (4)
One of the most significant occult movies to ever be released was a film known as "The Craft." I remember my father warning people regarding the dangers of this film when it was released in 1996, and since that time it has generated a considerable amount of interest in Wiccan witchcraft. In fact, a recently published article by MovieFone declared, "The Craft has been credited as the main influence on the growth of real-life teen interest in Wicca over the past twenty years." (5) The article also notes that at least one of the actresses featured in the film, Fairuza Balk, is a real-life practicing witch. (6) Furthermore, it was noted that unusual happenings occurred during the filming of this movie. For example, during a scene wherein an occult ritual is performed on a beach, a swarm of bats suddenly appeared out of nowhere and lingered. (7) In June 2016, it was announced that plans are underway to make a sequel to The Craft. Speaking of this development, film producer Douglas Wick said, "There will be callbacks to the original movie, so you will see there is a connection between what happened in the days of The Craft and how these young women came across this magic many years later." He further went on to say, "Here are some young women who once again discover the power of magic, and we explore their emotional lives, their wants, their fears, their longings, as they become empowered." (8)
Yes, it has become clear that the occult, whether it be Wiccan witchcraft, Satanism, or other forms, is popular in Hollywood right now. In fact, a horror film known as "The Witch" has been a surprise hit, and has even been endorsed by The Satanic Temple. "The Witch is not only a powerful cinematic experience, but also an impressive presentation of satanic insight that will inform contemporary discussion of religious experience," wrote Jex Blackmore, a spokesman for the group. (9)
You can even find witchcraft on the Hallmark Channel. This network, which is owned by the same company known for its famous line of greeting cards, is generally considered to be a family friendly television network. Yet, it was announced in June 2016 that their program known as "Good Witch" has been renewed for a third season. "Fans are enchanted by the magical adventures of Cassie, Sam, and Grace - charming characters who have inspired our viewers to believe in the magic that can be found in our everyday lives. We're excited to see this captivating adventure continue with a third season," stated Michelle Vicary, who is the Executive Vice President of Programming and Network Publicity at Crown Media Family Networks. (10)
Despite the popular perception of many people, there is no such thing as good witchcraft. It is condemned numerous times in the Scriptures, both in the Old and New Testaments. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12 we find the following warning, "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee." In like manner, we are told in Galatians 5:19-21, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Any movies, books, or television shows which portray witchcraft in a positive light should not be embraced by God's people. There is no doubt in my mind that this prevalent occult activity unleashes unclean spirits all over the world. This is one of many reasons that the United States of America is in so much trouble today.
The Evil Spirits Of Hillary Clinton!
Amazingly enough, the next President of the United States could be a woman who is actively involved in occult practices. Former First Lady of the United States, Hillary Clinton, who is now the Democratic nominee for President in the 2016 American election, is known to have conversations with the dead. According to reports, Clinton is known to have spoken with the deceased Eleanor Roosevelt in the White House with the assistance of her New Age advisor Jean Houston. (11) Such activity is a form of witchcraft known as necromancy, and it is forbidden in the Scriptures. Although Houston would later try to pass off this activity as a mere "brainstorming" session, Hillary Clinton's obsession with Eleanor Roosevelt is widely known. In fact, a speechwriter by the name of Ted Widmer, who worked for Bill Clinton, recalled, "We talked about history all the time. We felt like Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt were friendly spirits." It is also interesting to note that Bill Clinton made a rather bizarre statement at an event in 2012. At this event, Bill told his audience, "As you famously learned when I served as president, my wife, now the Secretary of State, was known to commune with Eleanor on a regular basis. So she called me last night on her way home from Peru to remind me to say that: That Eleanor had talked to her and reminded her that I should say that." Although Bloomberg News made the claim that the former president was merely telling a joke, (12) I suspect that he was being more truthful than people realized.
Hillary Clinton has also expressed great admiration for Margaret Sanger, the woman who founded the organization which eventually became Planned Parenthood. History records that Margaret Sanger despised children. She believed in the purification of races by the process of eugenics and is known to have given speeches to groups affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan. It should be noted that Hillary Clinton was given the Margaret Sanger Award in 2009 for her efforts in furthering abortion. In her acceptance speech, Clinton told the audience, "I admire Margaret Sanger enormously, her courage, her tenacity, her vision. I am really in awe of her, there are a lot of lessons we can learn from her life." (13) Of course, Clinton is proud of her association with Planned Parenthood, and in a recent speech, she dedicated her campaign to the evil organization. "I'm grateful to the entire Planned Parenthood family. You made this campaign your own. It belongs to the staff, the donors, and to the providers," Clinton declared. She later went on to say, "I've been proud to stand with Planned Parenthood for a long time, and as president, I will always have your back." (14)
I suspect that Hillary Clinton is a woman infested with many evil spirits. In fact, former Secret Service agent Gary Byrne has reported in a new book that Clinton is often overtaken by inexplicable fits of rage. "The First Lady had a different sort of liveliness. She once threw a Bible at an agent on her detail, hitting him in the back of the head. He bluntly let her know it wasn't acceptable. He told me that story himself," Byrne wrote in his book, which is entitled Crisis of Character. Byrne further wrote in his book, "Most of us knew to brace for her inevitable eruptions. They didn't happen every day, but behind closed doors we learned about them fast. In public, she was everyone's best friend. Privately, she was her normal self." Additionally, Clinton was known to verbally hurl obscenities for no discernable reason at the agents charged with protecting her. (15)
In review, Hillary Clinton is involved in the occult practice of necromancy. She absolutely loves to see babies slaughtered by the barbaric practice of abortion, claims Margaret Sanger as an inspiration, and is abusive towards people who work for her. Of course, she is also known to be a habitual liar, and I have no doubt in my mind that she is one of the wickedest women alive today, and yet, it is a very real possibility that she could be the next American President.
Will Donald Trump Save America?
By now, we should all be able to see that Hillary Clinton would make an awful president, but what about Donald Trump? At this point, I would like to say that I am well aware that many of our readers support Donald Trump and hope that he will be the next president. I certainly hope that if he is given the presidency that he will bring about positive change to this country, but in all honesty, I have misgivings about the man. For one thing, in the not so distant past, Donald Trump was not only a registered Democrat, but was a very liberal man in word and deed. In 1999, Trump appeared on the television program Meet the Press, and stated that he was "very pro-choice." (16) Since that time, he has claimed to have had a change of heart and says he is now pro-life. If his change of heart is sincere, that is a wonderful thing, as abortion is a very grievous sin which has brought a great curse upon this land. I just hope his conviction is genuine, and that he is not simply saying what conservative audiences want to hear. Also in 1999, he told talk show host Larry King that he was "very liberal when it comes to health care" and further stated that he supports "universal healthcare." (17) Trump has also donated large sums of money in the past to the woman who is now his opponent, Hillary Clinton. They had a very cordial relationship, insomuch that Hillary Clinton and her husband Bill sat in the front row at Trump's wedding in 2005. (18) Donald Trump has switched political parties on more than one occasion. In 1999, he left the Republican Party and became an independent, then switched to the Democratic Party in 2001, and finally switched back to the Republican Party in 2009. (19) Regarding the homosexual lifestyle, Donald Trump has always been in favor of it and still is today. "I live in New York. I know many, many gay people. Tremendous people," he said in 2011. (20) Trump's support for homosexuality recently prompted Gregory T. Angelo, president of the Log Cabin Republicans to say, "He's the most pro-gay nominee that the party has ever had for president." (21)
Donald Trump's lack of understanding on spiritual matters is also troubling, especially since he professes to be a Christian. According to his own words, he has never repented of his sins. In late 2015, when he was asked if he ever asked God for forgiveness, Trump's reply was, "I am not sure I have. I just go on and try to do a better job from there. I don't think so. I think if I do something wrong, I think, I just try and make it right. I don't bring God into that picture. I don't." (22) As another reminder of the man's checkered past, a photo taken in June 2016 featured Donald Trump, Jerry Falwell Jr. (the son of the famed evangelical pastor who started Liberty University), and a backdrop with a wall of magazines featuring Donald Trump on the cover. One of the prominently displayed magazines on the wall is none other than Playboy. It has been noted that in the interview featured in this filthy magazine, Trump was quoted as saying that Mother Teresa and Jesus Christ had "far greater egos than you will ever understand." (23) One thing is certain, Donald Trump needs prayer. It would be wonderful if he truly repented of his sins. In Acts 3:19, we are told by the Apostle Peter, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." We should also be mindful of the fact that we have only one Saviour, and He is the Lord Jesus Christ. We must put our faith, hope, and trust in God, and not in a mere mortal man.
Intensifying Violence In The United States!
For those who follow the news, it is easily discerned that we live in a violent world. For example, there is certainly no shortage of violence in the Middle East where multiple conflicts are in progress each and every day. There is always trouble and strife in various regions of Africa. The South American country of Venezuela is also in turmoil where an astounding 87 percent of the population has no money to buy food. (24) As would be expected, this has caused widespread rioting and looting, and sadly, the murder rate has increased exponentially. So what about the United States of America?
The United States is supposed to be a highly developed and civilized nation. Yet, reports have surfaced which indicate that violent crimes are on the rise, and law enforcement officials have no explanation for this development. Regarding the increase in violent crime, FBI Director James Comey was quoted as saying, "It's being reported on at local levels, but in my view, it's not getting the attention at the national level it deserves. I don't know what the answer is, but holy cow, do we have a problem." He later went on to say, "Sometimes people say to me, 'Well, the increases are off historic lows.' How does that make any of us feel any better? A whole lot more people are dying this year than last year, and last year than the year before. And I don't know why for sure." (25) I believe that violent crimes and murder at their very core are the result of demonic activity. When there is an increase in occult activity, such as I wrote about earlier in this newsletter, there is also an increase in demonic activity. Constant exposure to violent content in movies and on television is not helping matters either. In fact, it was reported in early June 2016 that a 19 year-old man was arrested in Indianapolis, Indiana, after he killed three people over the course of four nights. According to an article written by the Associated Press, the young man was inspired to commit these murders after watching a science fiction horror film known as "The Purge." (26)
One of the most violent cities in the United States is Chicago, Illinois, despite the fact that this city has some of the strictest gun control regulations in the country. It seems that every time there is a holiday, people in Chicago get shot. Over Memorial Day weekend in May 2016, six people were shot and killed in Chicago while 56 more were wounded. (27) The Chicago Tribune reported that this was the deadliest month of May the city had seen in 21 years. (28) In June 2016, violence broke out again over Father's Day weekend in Chicago when 13 people were killed and 42 more were injured. This violent weekend increased the total number of shootings in Chicago to 1,780 this year. (29)
The most notable violent event of recent days occurred on June 12, 2016, when a lone gunman entered a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, where he then proceeded to massacre 49 people and injure 53 more. The shooter, Omar Mateen, was also killed that night. (30) The nightclub where this bloody event occurred is known as "Pulse" and is patronized for the most part by homosexuals. According to media accounts, Omar Mateen, who is of Afghani descent, was motivated by his Islamic beliefs and even pledged allegiance to the terrorist organization known as the Islamic State or ISIS. It is interesting to note that Mateen had been investigated twice in the past by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was deemed to not be a threat. In fact, not only was he allowed to purchase weapons, but he also worked as a security guard. (31)
The facts as detailed above are all part of the official story. Nevertheless, there are certain things about this story that do not quite make sense. For one thing, a news report has surfaced which indicates that police officers arrived at the club just shortly after the attack began, but they were specifically told NOT to pursue the shooter for 15 to 20 minutes while they waited for a SWAT team to arrive. "We kept hearing people scream and shots fired," said Officer Brandon Cornwell. He then went on to say, "We just basically stayed there, waited for movement, and we just held our position until SWAT got there. Once SWAT got there they told us to retreat, that they'd take over because we were not really in tactical gear - we were just in our police uniforms." (32)
We have also been told that the shooter was motivated by a hatred for homosexuals and that he pledged allegiance to ISIS. Yet, according to witnesses, Omar Mateen had been seen at the nightclub on numerous other occasions and was known to be a homosexual himself. One witness was quoted as saying, "He'd come in for years, and people knew him." (33) "Sometimes he would go over in the corner and sit and drink by himself, and other times he would get so drunk, he was loud and belligerent" stated another witness. (34) CBS News has also reported that a man claiming to have been one of Mateen's lovers believes the shooting was actually an act of revenge rather than an act of terrorism. "He adored Latinos, gay Latinos, with brown skin, but he felt rejected. He felt used by them. There were moments in the Pulse nightclub that made him feel really bad. Guys used him. That really affected him," the man stated. (35) Obviously, not everything about this event is as it seems.
Of course, the act of murder is never justified, and it is sad that so many people lost their lives. However, this does not change the fact that the homosexual lifestyle is sinful and that God abhors their behavior. This event has already been used by homosexuals to garner sympathy, and as such it will become even more perilous for the Christian people who hold fast to Biblical truth. Even Pope Francis has now said that the Christian people need to apologize to gay people. "I believe that the Church not only should apologize to the person who is gay whom it has offended, but has to apologize to the poor, to exploited women, to children exploited for labor; it has to ask forgiveness for having blessed many weapons," Pope Francis said. He then went on to say, "The church must say it is sorry for not having behaved as it should many times, many times - when I say 'the church,' I mean we Christians because the Church is holy; we are the sinners. We Christians must say we are sorry." (36)
In closing, I know that we are indeed living in perilous times. There are multitudes of people living under the influence of evil forces, and as such, we will face many challenges in the days ahead. Yet, we can draw comfort from the promises of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who assures us in Matthew 24:13, "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." If you have not yet repented of your sins and dedicated your life to God, I urge you to do so now. In so doing, you will find that strength so desperately needed to endure until the end.
Thank you all for your support of this ministry. We at Last Trumpet Ministries are grateful to be able to serve you. It is my hope that God will bless you all mightily in the days ahead. If you have any prayer requests, great or small, we are here and ready to pray for you and whatever your needs may be. We serve an Almighty God with whom nothing is impossible. Grace and peace be unto you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Samuel David Meyer

Acknowledgements
01. The Guardian, June 11, 2016, By Olga Oksman, http://theguardian.com.
02. The Guardian, October 26, 2013, By Sarah Hughes, http://theguardian.com.
03. Ibid.
04. The Daily Mail, November 30, 2014, By Neil Tweedie, http://dailymail.co.uk.
05. Moviefone, May 2, 2016, By Gary Susman, http://moviefone.com.
06. Ibid.
07. Ibid.
08. Entertainment Weekly, May 3, 2016, By Gerrad Hall, http://ew.com.
09. People Magazine, February 17, 2016, By Drew Mackie, http://people.com.
10. Deadline, June 2, 2016, By Denise Petski, http://deadline.com.
11. Bloomberg News, June 13, 2016, By Emily Greenhouse, http://bloomberg.com.
12. Ibid.
13. Life News, September 23, 2014, By Steven Ertelt, http://lifenews.com.
14. Life Site News, June 10, 2016, By Ben Johnson, http://lifesitenews.com.
15. Breitbart News, June 20, 2016, By Matthew Boyle, http://breitbart.com.
16. The Washington Post, July 9, 2015, By Hunter Schwarz, http://washingtonpost.com.
17. Ibid.
18. Ibid.
19. Ibid.
20. New York Times, April 23, 2016, By Maggie Haberman, http://nytimes.com.
21. NBC News, June 18, 2016, By Rob Smith, http://nbcnews.com.
22. Business Insider, January 17, 2016, By Maxwell Tani, http://businessinsider.com.
23. RedState, June 22, 2016, By Ben Howe, http://redstate.com.
24. Breitbart News, June 20, 2016, By Frances Martel, http://breitbart.com.
25. Associated Press, June 5, 2016, By Lisa Marie Pane and Don Babwin, Chicago, IL.
26. Associated Press, June 2, 2016, By Associated Press, Indianapolis, IN.
27. Associated Press, June 5, 2016, By Lisa Marie Pane and Don Babwin, Chicago, IL.
28. The Chicago Tribune, June 2, 2016, By Alexandra Chachkevitch, Rosemary Regina Sobol, and Jeremy Gorner, http://chicagotribune.com.
29. The Atlantic, June 20, 2016, By Matt Vasilogambros, http://theatlantic.com.
30. The New York Times, June 13, 2016, By Mark Mazzetti, Eric Lichtblau, and Alan Blinder, http://nytimes.com.
31. Ibid.
32. The Washington Post, June 21, 2016, By Stephanie McCrummen and Abigail Hauslohner, http://washingtonpost.com.
33. The Orlando Sentinel, June 13, 2016, By Gal Tziperman Lotan, Paul Brinkmann, and Rene Stutzman, http://orlandosentinel.com.
34. Ibid.
35. CBS Local News, June 21, 2016, By CBS Local News, http://newyork.cbslocal.com.
36. National Public Radio, June 26, 2016, By Colin Dwyer, http://npr.org.             Last Trumpet

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Our Responsibility

     There are times when a distinct view is presented to me of the condition of the remnant church, a condition of appalling indifference to the needs of a world perishing for lack of a knowledge of the truth for this time. Then I have hours, and sometimes days, of intense anguish. Many to whom have been committed the saving truths of the third angel's message fail of realizing that the salvation of souls is dependent upon the consecration and activity of God's church. Many are using their blessings in the service of self. Oh, how my heart aches because Christ is put to shame by their un-Christlike behavior! But, after the agony is past, I feel like working harder than ever to arouse them to put forth unselfish effort for the saving of their fellow men. 

     God has made His people stewards of His grace and truth, and how does He regard their neglect to impart these blessings to their fellow men? Let us suppose that a distant colony belonging to Great Britain is in great distress because of famine and threatened war. Multitudes are dying of starvation, and a powerful enemy is gathering on the frontier, threatening to hasten the work of death. The government at home opens its stores; public charity pours forth; relief flows through many channels. A fleet is freighted with the precious means of life and is sent to the scene of suffering, accompanied by the prayers of those whose hearts are stirred to help. And for a time the fleet sails directly for its destination. But, having lost sight of land, the ardor of those entrusted with carrying food to the starving sufferers abates. Though engaged in a work that makes them colaborers with angels, they lose the good impressions with which they started forth. Through evil counselors, temptation enters. 
 
     A group of islands lies in their course, and, though far short of their destination, they decide to call. The temptation that has already entered grows stronger. The selfish spirit of gain takes possession of their minds. Mercantile advantages present themselves. Those in charge of the fleet are prevailed on to remain on the islands. Their original purpose of mercy fades from their sight. They forget the starving people to whom they were sent. The stores entrusted to them are used for their own benefit. The means of beneficence is diverted into channels of selfishness. They barter the means of life for selfish gain, and leave their fellow beings to die. The cries of the perishing ascend to heaven, and the Lord writes in His record the tale of robbery. 

     Think of the horror of human beings dying because those placed in charge of the means of relief proved unfaithful to their trust. It is difficult for us to realize that man could be guilty of so terrible a sin. Yet I am instructed to say to you, my brother, my sister, that Christians are daily repeating this sin. 

     In Eden, man fell from his high estate and through transgression became subject to death. It was seen in heaven that human beings were perishing, and the compassion of God was stirred. At infinite cost He devised a means of relief. He "so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. There was no hope for the transgressor except through Christ. God saw that "there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him." Isaiah 59:16. 

     The Lord chose a people and made them the depositories of His truth. It was His purpose that by the revelation of His character through Israel, men should be drawn to Him. To all the world the gospel invitation was to be given. Through the teaching of the sacrificial service, Christ was to be uplifted before the nations, and all who would look unto Him should live. 

     But Israel did not fulfill God's purpose. They forgot God and lost sight of their high privilege as His representatives. The blessings that they had received brought no blessing to the world. All their advantages were appropriated for their own glorification. They robbed God of the service He required of them, and they robbed their fellow men of religious guidance and a holy example. 

     God finally sent His Son to reveal to men the character of the Unseen. Christ came and lived on this earth a life of obedience to God's law. He gave His precious life to save the world and made His servants His stewards. With the gift of Christ all the treasures of heaven were given to man. The church was freighted with the food of heaven for starving souls. This was the treasure that the people of God were commissioned to carry to the world. They were faithfully to perform their duty, continuing their work until the message of mercy had encircled the world.

     Christ ascended to heaven and sent His Holy Spirit to give power to the work of His disciples. Thousands were converted in a day. In a single generation the gospel was carried to every nation under heaven. But little by little a change came. The church lost her first love. She became selfish and ease-loving. The spirit of worldliness was cherished. The enemy cast his spell upon those to whom God had given light for a world in darkness, light which should have shone forth in good works. The world was robbed of the blessings that God desired men to receive.

     Is not the same thing repeated in this generation? Many in our day are keeping back that which the Lord has entrusted to them for the salvation of a world unwarned, unsaved. In the word of God an angel is represented as flying in the midst of heaven, "having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them
                                                                          
that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." Revelation 14:6,7.

     The message of Revelation 14 is the message that we are to bear to the world. It is the bread of life for these last days. Millions of human beings are perishing in ignorance and iniquity. But many of those to whom God has committed the stores of life look upon these souls with indifference. Many forget that to them has been entrusted the bread of life for those starving for salvation. 

     Oh, for consecrated Christians, for Christlike consistency, for the faith that works by love and purifies the soul! May God help us to repent and change our sluggish movements into consecrated activity. May He help us to show in our words and works that we make the burden of perishing souls our own. 

     Let us be thankful every moment for God's forbearance with our tardy, unbelieving movements. Instead of flattering ourselves with the thought of what we have done, after doing so little, we are to labor still more earnestly. We are not to cease our efforts or relax our vigilance. Never is our zeal to grow less. Our spiritual life must be daily revived by the stream that makes glad the city of our God. We must be always on the watch for opportunities to use for God the talents He has given us.

     The world is a theater; the actors, its inhabitants, are preparing to act their part in the last great drama. With the great masses of mankind there is no unity, except as men confederate to accomplish their selfish purposes. God is looking on. His purposes in regard to His rebellious subjects will be fulfilled. The world has not been given into the hands of men, though God is permitting the elements of confusion and disorder to bear sway for a season. A power from beneath is working to bring about the last great scenes in the drama--Satan coming as Christ, and working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in those who are binding themselves together in secret societies. Those who are yielding to the passion for confederation are working out the plans of the enemy. The cause will be followed by the effect.
     
Transgression has almost reached its limit. Confusion fills the world, and a great terror is soon to come upon human beings. The end is very near. We who know the truth should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise. 
   
 John writes: "And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." Revelation 20:11, 12. 
    
Are we as a people asleep? Oh, if the young men and young women in our institutions who are now unready for the Lord's appearing, unfitted to become members of the Lord's family, could only discern the signs of the times, what a change would be seen in them! The Lord Jesus is calling for self-denying workers to follow in His footsteps, to walk and work for Him, to lift the cross, and to follow where He leads the way. 

     Many are readily satisfied with offering the Lord trifling acts of service. Their Christianity is feeble. Christ gave Himself for sinners. With what anxiety for the salvation of souls we should be filled as we see human beings perishing in sin! These souls have been bought at an infinite price. The death of the Son of God on Calvary's cross is the measure of their value. Day by day they are deciding whether they will have eternal life or eternal death. And yet men and women professing to serve the Lord are content to occupy their time and attention with matters of little importance. They are content to be at variance with one another. If they were consecrated to the work of the Master, they would not be striving and contending like a family of unruly children. Every hand would be engaged in service. Everyone would be standing at his post of duty, working with heart and soul as a missionary of the cross of Christ. The spirit of the Redeemer would abide in the hearts of the laborers, and works of righteousness would be wrought. The workers would carry with them into their service the prayers and sympathy of an awakened church. They would receive their directions from Christ and would find no time for strife and contention. 

     Messages would come from lips touched with a live coal from the divine altar. Earnest, purified words would be spoken. Humble, heartbroken intercessions would ascend to heaven. With one hand the workers would take hold of Christ, while with the other they would grasp sinners and draw them to the Saviour.
 
     "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Matthew 24:14.

     "If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; if thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not He that pondereth the heart consider it? and He that keepeth thy soul, doth not He know it? and shall not He render to every man according to his works?" Proverbs 24:11, 12.       8 Testimonies p. 24-29

Monday, December 14, 2015

A century ago the Menace newspaper was proclaming the truth about catholicism

December 9, 2015   By Matt Pearce
The Menace

The year was 1915, and the strange new newspaper in Aurora, Mo., had grown so quickly in its first four years that rail officials had to build extra tracks for all the paper and printing materials suddenly rolling into town.
The Aurora post office, according to one account, more than tripled its staff to handle mail to and from the publication's astonishing 1.5 million weekly subscribers — a circulation that dwarfed the largest daily newspapers in New York and Chicago.
Hatred had become big business in southwestern Missouri, and its name was the Menace, a weekly anti-Catholic newspaper whose headlines screamed to readers around the nation about predatory priests, women enslaved in convents and a dangerous Roman Catholic plot to take over America.
"The cowardice of a Roman thug has no parallel in either the human or animal kingdom," the newspaper frothed in one 1914 edition, calling for "men with red blood in their veins" to defend women and children from Catholics. "If we are compelled to live in this county with Romanists, as our weak-kneed Protestant critics say we are, the Romanists will have to be taught their place in society."
America's deep and widespread skepticism of Catholics is a faint memory in today's post-Sept. 11 world. But as some conservative politicians call for limits on Muslim immigration and raise questions about whether Muslims are more loyal to Islamic law than American law, the story of Aurora's long-ago newspaper is a reminder of a long history of American religious intolerance.

Today, there are calls for federal surveillance of mosques in the name of preventing terrorist attacks; a century ago, it was state laws that allowed the warrantless search of convents and churches in search of supposedly trapped women and purported secret Catholic weapons caches.
"I see huge parallels," said Sharon Davies, executive director of the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at Ohio State University. "I think we haven't seen anything quite like this since the beginning of the 20th century, when we passed laws that permitted the Catholics to be treated in ways that no other religious group was treated."
Anti-Catholicism stretches back to the nation's colonial times, when some states barred Catholics from holding office, and continued through the mid-1800s, which saw the Know-Nothing party's campaign against Catholic politicians. Lynch mobs killed Italian immigrants and arsonists burned down Catholic churches.
Perhaps no publication captures the animus toward Catholicism at the start of the 20th century as vividly as the Menace, launched in an old opera house in Aurora in 1911, when the city's population was only a little over 4,000.
The Menace wasn't the country's first anti-Catholic newspaper, but it quickly became one of the biggest, eventually selling anti-Catholic books and launching a lecture series. Its editor, the Rev. Theodore C. Walker, claimed its target was not rank-and-file Catholics but the Catholic Church itself.
"It begins a kind of tidal wave, a journalistic explosion that sweeps the entire country," said Justin Nordstrom, an associate professor of history at Penn State Hazleton who has studied the Menace. "There are people paying attention to this newspaper — urban settings, rural settings — all across the country."
On its banner, the Menace sometimes bore the logo of skull and crossbones wearing a papal hat, as well as a drawing of a public school, which is described as "the antidote for papal poison."

"OPEN ROME'S PRISON HOUSES IN AMERICA!" blared one headline for a December 1911 story that claimed the church was murdering the babies of nuns and throwing the infant corpses into a pit.
In the same issue, the Menace urged its readers to vote against all Catholic political candidates regardless of party or platform, describing the church as "the most dangerous power that threatens our government today." It added ominously, "A defeat at the polls today is far better than a defeat at arms tomorrow."
"There was a widespread belief that Catholics were waiting for the day the pope would put into motion a campaign to make the country Catholic, and in the meantime amassing [stockpiles] of weaponry that would be used when that day came," Davies said.
Not everyone bought what the Menace was selling — which was a year's subscription for 50 cents.
"It is a menace to decency — a menace to peace and order — a menace to tolerance — a menace to true Americanism — a menace to the spirit of fraternity," Chicago journalist Charles A. Windle wrote in one broadside against the weekly. "It breeds bitterness and strife between neighbors and converts life-long friends into enemies. Its columns reek with slander. Every page is a seething cesspool, in which writhe and wriggle hell-born lies."
Catholic leaders also mobilized against the Menace, clipping out accounts asserting lewd behavior by priests to prompt federal prosecutors to indict the paper's editors on suspicion of mailing obscene materials, according to Nordstrom's book on the anti-Catholic press, "Danger on the Doorstep."
When the Menace won the federal obscenity trial in Joplin, Mo., in 1916, one sympathizer wrote that Aurora celebrated, with "an immense crowd comprising more than half the population gathered at the depot, headed by the band, and when the defendants stepped from the train they were royally welcomed." The Menace described its home base as "The World's Headquarters for Anti-Papal Literature."
"It was a black page in Aurora's past," said Mary Strickrodt, president of Aurora's historical society. "I wish everyone had been aghast and run them out of town, but it seems to have hired a lot of people. We have postcards [showing] a huge amount of train cars being loaded with the newspaper to be shipped out."
The paper's immense popularity Strickrodt finds baffling.
"Why did it get big?" she wondered. "Why are people so quick to find people to hate? To be bigger than?"
The paper's circulation declined as the nation turned its attention to the First World War, and soon after the newspaper's printing plant burned down in 1919, the Menace sputtered out, along with other anti-Catholic publications.
Anti-Catholicism lived on in the Ku Klux Klan, but after the country elected its first Roman Catholic president, John F. Kennedy, in 1960, the worst of the hatred seemed to fade.
Rick Hinshaw, a spokesman for the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, said the group's biggest concerns today are anti-Catholic depictions on TV and in movies and the federal government's healthcare mandates.
"Today, it's more the cultural elite that we feel we run into," Hinshaw said.
Little trace remains of the Menace in Aurora, except when new homeowners tear down walls or explore attics and find copies, like the man from Rhode Island who moved to town and called local Chamber of Commerce director Shannon Walker to tell her about a strange discovery in his home.
"You'll never guess what I found," Walker recalled the man telling her.
"The Menace?" she replied. "How did you know?"    latimes

Friday, December 11, 2015

Jesuits in the SDA church