Professional Documents
Culture Documents
cause and
The history Worth
cure iran forgot Less
Trumpet
January 2011
The Philadelphia www.thetrumpet.com
Target: Jerusalem
Three powerful states are locked in a battle over the Holy City
contents January 2011 Vol. 21, No. 10 Circ. 300,380
9 20
1 10 28
Departments world living
11 from the editor 41 Target: Jerusalem 131 How to Concentrate
The Last Crusade 71 Get Ready for Oil War
141 Loneliness: The Cause and Cure
161 worldwatch 241 Clouds Across the Rainbow
Following the World Cup euphoria,
311 principles of living it’s back to cold reality in South Africa. history
Break Through 201 The History Iran Forgot
GIANT Barriers 281 ritain Buddies With France:
B An inspiring look back at when the
What Could Possibly Go Wrong? Islamic Republic’s forefathers were
341 letters friends and champions of … the Jews
T
he Crusades were a series of Roman Catholic through bloodshed. Remember, this wish
“holy” wars to wrest control of the Holy Land from to rule all Christianity is at “the very gerald Flurry
Muslims. They produced some of the bloodiest battles heart of the revolutionary papacy.” That Editor in chief
in history. means this philosophy has motivated
Did you ever wonder how the Catholics reconcile that “holy” them for nearly 2,000 years. And they still believe violent and
slaughter with the Bible, which states, “Thou shalt not kill”? Or bloody crusades are righteous. Have they ever truly repented of
how they can read the Sermon on the Mount and still lead the this condemning history? The answer is no.
religious world in spilling rivers of blood? History proves the Catholic Church to be one of the most
They are called the Christian Crusades. That label itself is a militant institutions ever. Catholic leaders do not believe in a
deception. They were primarily Catholic Crusades. Other Chris- democratic philosophy. They have often “converted” people by
tian religions have their problems, but let’s not blame them for the sword. And yet, this world seems unwilling to hold them ac-
what the Catholics did—and will do. countable for their war crimes.
This last crusade is not just about the evils of Catholicism; it’s Modern historians have shown how closely they worked with
also about evils of other nations and religions. Some background the Nazis. It was through the Catholic Church that most of the
will help us understand. leading Nazis escaped after World War ii. We have shown in
past articles how well documented that history is; no one should
Pope Urban II doubt it. (Read The Unholy Trinity by Mark Aarons and John
In a.d. 622, Catholics fought and were defeated in a crusade Loftus, available at bookstores.)
against the Persians and the Jews. Some 60,000 Catholics were Doesn’t that crime reveal that the Catholics were deeply in-
killed, and 35,000 enslaved. The fall of Jerusalem left the Catholic volved with the Nazi war machine?
world shocked and mourning. This subject is too important to let our emotions stand in the
This war left Catholics bitter against the Jews for the role they way, because the worst is yet to come!
played in the war. Much anti-Semitism began because of it. The last crusade will be the supreme inquisition of all history.
Some historians consider this the First Crusade. But the Cru- It is time we understood the bloody history of the Crusades and
sades we best remember came later, beginning in the 11th century. let it be a warning!
Pope Urban ii unleashed a savage Catholic army and started The world seems almost unaware of these monstrous crimes.
these later Crusades. This “righteous” army marched 3,000 miles The Jones and Ereira book continues, “Urban’s army would
to conquer the Holy Land. also rescue Jerusalem, the spiritual (and therefore the physical)
Here is an excerpt from the book Crusades, by Terry Jones and center of the universe. He hoped that the redeemed Jerusa-
Alan Ereira, which became a bbc television series: “By summon- lem would be directly ruled by the church.
ing an army under the banner of the Cross, the pope was ex- “Every man who enrolled for the struggle must mark himself
tending the church’s mantle over all Christendom. This out by wearing a cross and, most important, vow to continue on
was the idea at the very heart of the revolutionary pa- his way until he reached Jerusalem.
pacy; in place of separate local churches at the center of discreet “Urban’s method of raising this army was completely original;
communities, there was to be one overarching church, as well as pay, he could offer paradise—anyone who took part
ruled by one overarching pope. The Crusade was to be its had all their sins forgiven. ‘Whoever for devotion alone, not to
expression and its instrument” (emphasis mine throughout). gain honor or money, goes to Jerusalem to liberate the church of
They state that this thinking was at the heart of the papacy. God can substitute this journey for all penance.’”
The popes wanted to rule any church called Christian. Through Any Bible student ought to know that only God can offer
the Holy Roman Empire, they also tried repeatedly to rule most of paradise and forgive sins. But that is the big problem with most
the world. They have succeeded six times and are about to succeed Christians: They don’t believe and obey the Bible!
again, for the last time, according to Bible prophecy. (Request our The whole world, including the religious world, is deceived
free booklet Germany and the Holy Roman Empire.) (Revelation 12:9). Enormous problems like the Crusades will con-
The Protestant churches are prophesied to be brought back tinue until we confront our own deception.
into the Catholic Church (Isaiah 47). Mostly this will be done Jones and Ereira conclude, “By saying that carrying out a
T
was both deliberate and calculated—cal-
culated to get a reaction!
his is not a story you are ments intent on “holy war” have been And what a reaction it received! Public
going to see on the nightly blowing up airplanes, blowing up embas- demonstrations broke out in Turkey, in
news. Yet it is a huge story of sies, blowing up their enemies by blowing Iran, in the Islamic communities in Brit-
the moment that will soon themselves up in their midst, in their ef- ain and on the European continent. Effi-
dominate all news media. forts to achieve the universal salvation of gies of the pope were burned in the streets.
Iran and the Vatican mankind in the name of Allah and their Al Qaeda called for the pope’s death.
State—representing two great prophet Mohammad. They take the future Ever since, Islamic extremists have in-
religious movements: pan-Islamism and seizure of Jerusalem as a given. creasingly targeted Christians—mainly
Roman Catholicism—and the most pow- Recently the pope upped the ante in his Roman Catholics—in the Middle East,
erful state in Europe, Germany, are gear- crusade via his coded anti-Islam verbal especially within Iran’s western neigh-
ing up for a titanic battle for the posses- salvos. He received a swift, violent Muslim bor, Iraq. UN statistics show that, before
sion of the “city of peace”—Jerusalem. response: the slaughter of Roman Catholics the Iraq War began in 2003, Baghdad was
Besides those two globally dominant home to 1.5 million Christians of various
religions claiming entitlement to that city, The recapture of Jerusalem sects. Today that number is fewer than
a third does as well: world Jewry.
This is an age-old battle. In modern
has burned as a fervent 500,000—mostly because of those who
have fled religious persecution.
times it has waged since World War ii, desire in Vatican hearts
when Islam, under the Ottoman Turks,
lost Jerusalem, and since Kaiser Wilhelm
since the days of the great Extraordinary Synod
This past October, the pope called an
was denied its possession by British Impe- Crusades, initiated by extraordinary synod of archbishops to-
rial forces occupying Palestine, freeing the Pope Urban ii in a.d. 1095. gether in Rome to consider the fate of
city from past Islamic dominance and the the church in the Middle East. It was a
prospect of a Teutonic-Roman takeover. celebrating mass in a cathedral in Baghdad. watershed event in the pope’s program for
Check the sequence of events. evangelizing the world. For Benedict, the
Vatican Vision First came Pope Benedict’s verbal out- fulcrum around which his global project
The recapture of Jerusalem has burned burst in his controversial speech at Regens- revolves is—as it has always been with the
as a fervent desire in Vatican hearts since burg, Bavaria, in September 2006. Careful Vatican down through the ages—Jerusa-
the days of the great Crusades, initiated by analysis of that speech reveals that Benedict lem. To this end, the Vatican is ramping up
Pope Urban ii in a.d. 1095. was accusing Islam of being an irrational its involvement in the Middle East peace
Since the end of World War ii, and faith. Indeed, he provoked great wrath process.
especially since the 1962 Vatican ii con- from Islamic clerics by quoting a dialogue This synod was the platform the Vati-
gress, Rome has worked toward this goal. between a Byzantine Emperor Manuel ii can used to further emphasize its coded
Through diplomacy, primarily employ- Paleologus and an educated Persian on the verbal crusade against Islam.
ing its excellent international intelligence subject of Christianity and Islam: “Show In his homily at the close of the synod
network and by exercising more open me just what Mohammad brought that on October 24, Pope Benedict recalled,
dialogue with its wayward Protestant was new, and there you will find things only “During the work of the synod what was
and Orthodox daughters, it has sought to evil and inhuman, such as his command to often underlined was the need to offer the
achieve a bridgehead in the drive for the spread by the sword the faith he preached.” gospel anew to people who do not know it
universal conversion of mankind with Je- The stab at Islam was not lost on the re- very well or who have even moved away
rusalem as its spiritual capital. ligious and political leaders of modern Per- from the church. What was often evoked
At the same time, since the Israelis sia—Iran—nor on their terrorizing lackeys! was the need for a new evangelization for
withdrew from the territories they occu- Pope Benedict is known for his bril- the Middle East as well.” To Islamic ex-
pied in 1967, Islam has chosen the path of liant intellect. This was a well-thought-out tremists, that statement would have to
jihadist war through terrorism to achieve speech, prepared in advance, not off the have been like waving a red flag in front
similar goals. Extremist Islamic move- cuff. The choice of Manuel ii’s statement of a bull!
david niblack/trumpet, lluis gene/afp/getty images The Philadelphia Trumpet January 2011 5
To top it off, Benedict promised that on crusading jihad warfare against Chris- single most popular politician in Germany.
the theme for the next synod in 2012 tendom. In the Middle East, once again, This means the younger Guttenberg may
would be “the new evangelization for the Islamists slaughter Roman Catholics. have a real chance, and soon, to become the
transmission of the Christian faith.” He When will the pope move beyond his next chancellor of Germany after Angela
explained, “At any time and in any place— war of words? Merkel” (Inside the Vatican, Oct. 19, 2010).
also in the Middle East today—the church The Vatican may well be able to boast Meanwhile, across the Tyrolean border
is present and works to welcome each hu- of a billion-plus adherents to the Roman in neighboring Germany, it was as though
man being ….” Catholic faith—yet crusades are fought by the whole country was seized with Gut-
Those are crusading words—words bloodletting battles. It is to the Vatican’s tenberg fever. One German newspaper
that offer a powerful challenge to any traditional protector, Germany, that the termed it “Guttenberg Hysteria.” Liter-
competing religion that has its own mis- popes have looked as Rome’s defender ally every leading German newspaper and
sionary zeal to convert the world—which, since the time of Charlemagne. magazine has carried a major story on
very obviously, Islam does! Believe it or not, your Bible prophesies the Guttenbergs since the end of summer.
It was no coincidence that, on Oc- that Rome will yet again look to Germany Germans are simply enraptured with the
tober 31, just one week later, masked Is- for support in one final crusade to elimi- baron and his wife.
lamist gunmen burst through the doors nate the threat of Islam and recapture the But what will be most intriguing to
of a Catholic cathedral in Baghdad and real prize in the process—Jerusalem. readers of the Trumpet is the following
slaughtered 58 Roman Catholics attending statement made by Dr. Moynihan: “The
Sunday evening mass. Days later, follow- The Pope and the Baron fact is that this concert for the German
up attacks occurred in Christian neigh- In the early Crusades, the Franks were at pope was conducted by the father of the
borhoods in Iraq. the forefront. It is interest- man who may soon head the German
The pope had his answer to his latest ing to note that a bright, government.
“This at least suggests a strength-
“So it is not easy to have, even with moderate ened connection between Berlin and
Rome, or between the two men, should
Jews, a rational discussion about what is they come into contact in the future as
actually happening in the Middle East.” world leaders” (ibid., emphasis mine
throughout).
—European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht For decades we have been looking
missionary challenge to Islam! charismatic young Frank, Karl-Theodor out for two dominant leaders to come to
zu Guttenberg, Germany’s current defense the fore in Europe: one, a powerful politi-
Historic Comparison minister, has become the driving force be- cal leader from Germany; the other, an in-
Compare these events with the spark that hind the effort to drastically upgrade the fluential religious leader from Rome. This
ignited Rome’s earliest crusade to capture German armed forces. In the process he power pair is prophesied to dominate the
Jerusalem. In a.d. 1077, the Seljuk Turks has made it clear that he seeks the amal- final rise of a European-based empire, a re-
massed in Jerusalem and slaughtered gamation of nato with a combined Eu- incarnation of the old Holy Roman Empire.
around 3,000 Catholic pilgrims. The at- ropean military force to produce a battle Watch for further developments that
tacks continued on Catholics over the next group of a size and with the nuclear power may suddenly propel this duo into the
decade and a half. In 1095, Pope Urban ii potential to match all comers! spotlight! The fact that one of the most
cried “enough” and challenged the knights This same young Frankish aristo- astute watchers of Vatican politics is pre-
of Europe at the Council of Clermont to crat traces his lineage back 900 years to pared to suggest a future linkage between
a crusading battle to seize Jerusalem and the First Crusade! His family has been Pope Benedict xvi and fellow Bavarian
wreak revenge on the Islamic hordes: “The dedicated supporters of the popes down Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, a Frankish
Turks and Arabs have attacked our breth- through the centuries. baron of the Holy Roman Empire, is most
ren in the East and have conquered the Recently on a balmy Roman autumnal intriguing indeed.
territory of Romania (the Greek Empire) evening, the pope witnessed a stunning
as far as the shore of the Mediterranean performance of Verdi’s Requiem Mass led Another Target of the Vatican
and the Hellespont …. They have killed by a fellow Bavarian, conductor Enoch zu One other dramatic episode emanated
and captured many and have destroyed Guttenberg, father of Germany’s minister of from that recent synod in Rome. What was
the churches and devastated the [Roman] defense, at the Paul vi Hall in the Vatican. most profound in relation to the “peace”
Empire …. On this account I … persuade Among the audience was an inveterate spoken of there was the stance the Vatican
all people of whatever rank, foot soldiers Vatican watcher, Dr. Robert Moynihan. He took on the tiny, embattled, fighting-for-
and knights, poor and rich, to carry aid was moved by the uniqueness of the event its-own-survival, Judaic nation of Israel.
promptly to those Christians ….” to make an intriguing observation in re- Reuters reported that, in their con-
Thus was the First Crusade enkindled. spect of this particular performance. Refer- cluding statement, the bishops declared
Nine centuries later, another Islamic ring to “the political overtones of the event,” that “Israel cannot use the biblical concept
horde pushes at the doors of Jerusalem and Moynihan noted that “[t]he concert had of a Promised Land or a chosen people to
Rome, threatening to overtake much of perhaps unintentional political overtones justify … territorial claims …” (Oct. 23,
Europe by mass migration from the Mid- because the son of the conductor, right 2010). When Greek-Melchite Archbishop
dle East and to push the tiny nation of Isra- now Germany’s minister of defense, Karl- Cyrille Salim Bustros was asked about
el into the sea. Hidden among the émigrés Theodor Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg, this passage at a news conference, he re-
are hundreds of extremist Islamists bent 38, has just become, according to polls, the sponded, “We Christians cannot speak
T
he world’s greatest terror- Department considers a terror- firms: Either commit to business es—but also looking with appre-
ist-sponsoring nation now ist organization. So opec is now in Iran or prepare to have your hension at a withdrawing America
presides over the world’s chaired by a terrorist representing assets seized. and with interest at emerging
most powerful oil cartel. What will a terrorist-sponsoring nation. Iran has other weapons too. European aggressiveness.
this mean for oil prices, and for Clearly the Arabs dread of- Europe depends on imports for In an oil-constrained world,
the world? One Russian analyst fending Iran far more than they do the vast majority of its oil. Germa- Iran believes its position is im-
says an international oil dispute is America. ny, the Netherlands, France and pregnable. As opec’s second-
sure to erupt—but this time, it is Italy import almost all of their oil. largest producer, it has the oil, and
not America’s fight: It is Europe’s. Iran vs. Europe Nearly half of Europe’s imported it is now leveraging its position
On October 14, Iran was Fear of Iran infects the Persian oil comes from the Middle East. within opec to push its agenda
unanimously elected president Gulf. And the Arabs should be And most of that comes through and try to attain nuclear capability.
of opec, the Organization of the afraid. America has begun with- the Persian Gulf—which is half Yet a nuclear-armed dominant Iran
Petroleum Exporting Countries. drawing from Iraq and will begin Iranian coastal waters. is not something Europe wants to
The move says a lot about Amer- pulling out of Afghanistan soon. “Security of energy without live with either. This is not a recipe
ica’s waning global influence. The Arabs will be left to deal Iran has no meaning,” opec’s for peace in the Middle East.
This grouping of nations, some with—perhaps submit to—Iran. new president warned on October Tensions are escalating even
of which are American “allies,” Iran is acutely aware that 14. The international community faster than the price of oil, if that
clearly intended the vote as a slap America is an exiting superpower. and Europe in general should take is possible. But where is it all
to America’s face. Not only did it But what exactly is Iran’s agenda? close note, he said. headed?
ignore Washington’s outreach to Iran will certainly work to It wouldn’t take much to send The Bible says a clash be-
many of them—which included increase oil prices, and will likely the cost of crude oil soaring. tween Iran and Europe is inevita-
the U.S. propping up the Iraqi gov- succeed, says Russian Center Global estimates suggest that due ble. Daniel 11 prophesies that an
ernment and selling Saudi Arabia for Public Policy Research direc- to depletion, over the next 5 to 10 Iranian-led Middle Eastern power
$60 billion worth of upgraded tor Vladimir Yevseyev. But Iran is years the Middle East is going to (referred to as “the king of the
F-15 fighters—but it also under- gearing up for a far bigger battle, become the world’s most valuable south”) will push at a European
mined U.S.-led efforts to enforce he says: one against Europe. source of oil. Iran is predicted to power (“the king of the north”)
sanctions on Iran for continuing to As head of opec, Iran will be one of the few countries with and provoke a war. The Trumpet’s
pursue nuclear weapons. leverage its position to counter the excess oil supplies. editor in chief has written that oil
Making the slap sting all the policy of the European Union. “[T]he political risks are ris- would likely be a big part of this
more is the fact that Iran’s oil Europe, in addition to partici- ing,” says Russia’s Yevseyev. “I push—specifically the tightening
minister, Seyed Masoud Mirka- pating in certain embargoes that do not see the way how this situ- of Europe’s oil supply.
zemi, holds the opec presidency. complicate Iranian oil sales, ation could change, as I do not Iran’s taking control of opec is
Mirkazemi is a senior-level has recently begun tak- see grounds for a rapprochement a sign of its power and confidence
commander within the ing further steps to re- between Iran and Europe. … Eu- growing. Expect it to use its new
Iranian Revolution- strict trade and foreign rope looks at Iran’s presidency of position to continue to push at
ary Guard Corps, investment in Iran due opec as a problem with which it Europe until it eventually provokes
which the U.S. State to Iran’s pursuit of will fight, but not as the possibility a far bigger response than antici-
nuclear weaponry. On of rapprochement with Iran” (em- pated. Robert Morley
September 30, four of phasis mine).
Europe’s largest oil compa- Yevseyev is right. Rapproche- You can read more
nies (Shell, Total, Statoil and Eni) ment is out of the question. about this prophe-
announced they had committed to cy in our booklets
stopping business with Iran. The Push The King of the
The situation is getting touchy. The Middle East has the oil. Eu- South and History
Iran has now retaliated by giving rope needs it. Iran wants to use it and Prophecy of
ultimatums to other European oil as a tool to push Europe. Europe the Middle East.
Have You
keys are not a nicer species of human-like Robert Morley noted in the August 2009
creatures. They are actu- Trumpet, “According to the evolutionary
ally “just like” human theory, there should be millions and bil-
beings! lions [of transitional fossils]. Animals have
You want scientific been evolving into new species for hun-
proof? All you have to do dreds of millions of years, the theory goes.
a Monkey?
“Equal Minds”? dreds, or maybe 10, fossils of transitionary
It used to be, in order species. But they can’t find a single one!”
to link human beings to But never mind the bones. Just look
chimpanzees, you had to at monkeys, some atheists now say, as
at least produce evidence they scoff at the thought of a great Creator
in the fossil record. In 1912, God. Consider this statement from the 60
By Stephen Flurry for example, a group of paleontol- Minutes report, made by Bill Wallauer,
ogists in Britain found a human-like skull a photographer who works at the Jane
with an orangutan jawbone. And for Goodall Institute: “You get the feeling
more than 40 years, Piltdown Man, when you’re looking at him [a monkey]
as it was dubbed, was universally and he’s looking at you—it’s equal minds.”
accepted throughout the scientific I don’t get that feeling at all—not when
community as the “missing link” watching 60 Minutes or while observing
between apes and humans. The dis- monkeys at a zoo or wildlife preserve.
covery was widely disseminated When I watch monkeys, as fascinating as
as indisputable proof of evolu- it is to see one use a stick to fish for ter-
tion both in scientific journals mites, it reminds me of the giant gulf
and school textbooks. that exists between the animal kingdom
Not until 1953, after the de- and human beings.
velopment of more sophisticated
age-dating techniques, was the The Source of Mind Power
Piltdown fossil exposed as one of Why such a massive gap? As far as the
the greatest scientific frauds in physical composition is concerned, there
history. It wasn’t a transition- is little difference between the brains of
al fossil after all—just a col- human beings and monkeys; they’re near-
lection of bone fragments ly identical. Why, then, is the human mind
that had been cobbled so vastly superior to the animal brain?
together by evolutionists It’s because of a nonphysical component
eager to “prove” their that exists in man called the human spirit
theory dishonestly. (see Job 32:8 and Zechariah 12:1).
This same story This is what gives human beings mind
repeated itself in power!
2009. During “For what man knoweth the things
the bicentenary of a man, save the spirit of man which
of Charles is in him?” the Apostle Paul asked in 1
D a r w i n ’s ➤ See monkey page 36
Why Your
Dollars
Buy Le
says that, considering the 500,000 jobs is not even close to what Ameri- debt instrument—a promise to pay. And
debt deleveraging ca needs. Over 8 million jobs have been lost America has issued them to the point that
and the during this recession. And America needs they have—literally—gone out of style.
ss
to create around 150,000 jobs per month What does this mean for Americans? It
just to keep up with population growth. means that inflation is virtually guaran-
an
America’s biggest economic prob- teed. It means that not only will the sup-
lem is by far its debt problem— ply of dollars surge due to the government
and now it is the world’s printing presses, but trillions more dollars
d
problem. that until now have been locked away in
government vaults in China, Saudi Ara-
bia, and elsewhere will also be released
into the economy.
It means that foreign sovereigns are
about to go on a shopping spree in Ameri-
cans’ backyards.
Le
O
show that “just me” homes are 27 percent of U.S.
ur society is afflicted with households today. These figures are similar for
chronic loneliness. Concerned ex- most countries throughout the Western world.
perts warn that loneliness is at the So we can see there has been a marked change
epidemic stage, affecting both gen- in our social landscape. More and more people
ders of all races. It is a global problem. live alone. The startling truth is, single-person
Of course, it is only human to feel lonely at households are the fastest growing segment of
times. Professionals refer to this as situational our 21st-century populations.
loneliness. For example, the death of a loved one No wonder loneliness has risen so dramati-
can cause painful loneliness. However, this con- cally. Some predict that this century will be
dition generally lessens with the passage of time. known as the lonely century.
Chronic loneliness is far more dangerous. Several centuries ago, when large extended
Confronting loneliness daily is a difficult strug- families dominated society, a single adult living
gle. Medical professionals now see it as a serious alone would have been unthinkable. Even in the
health threat that can lead to heightened stress, mid-20th century, single adult homes were domi-
high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep disor- nated by either young, pre-married males or old-
ders and depression. er widows. Yet today, the majority of one-person
The irony is, world population is at an all- households are middle-aged men and women.
time high. Cities are bulging with people. So Why are so many people living alone? Some
why should anybody be lonely? What is the are forced to because of the death of a spouse,
cause? What is the cure? You may be surprised but this primarily affects the elderly; younger
at the answers. widows and widowers often have children living
with them, and they are far likelier to remarry.
People Living Alone The majority of people living on their own
To understand the cause of loneliness, we must today are those who have suffered through di-
first recognize that it is a modern malady. Pre- vorce. Worldwide divorce rates have risen sharp-
to accommodate both
the Taliban and neigh-
is also look-
ing to include 2Cost of
boring Iran. America,
pushed into a corner, is
accepting the prospect
Iran in forging
a solution for
Afghanistan. On
broken homes
of greater Iranian and
Taliban involvement.
The U.S. intelligence
October 18, an
Iranian repre-
sentative joined
O n November 4,
Britain’s Work and
Pensions Secretary Iain
community agrees that officials from the U.S. several years—intended Duncan Smith
the Taliban is maintain- and other countries at a to buy the government’s revealed that
ing its strength; Ameri- security conference on loyalty and promote children who
ca’s intensified military Afghanistan in Rome. Iran’s interests. Karzai come from
campaign has inflicted Iran has a strong called the cash “official broken homes
only fleeting setbacks presence in Afghani- aid” and said he would are nine
on the insurgency. stan—aiding both sides continue to ask for Ira- times likelier can Smith,
Military officials say in the conflict in order nian money. to commit a family break-
the Taliban appear con- to enhance its own re- Karzai then lashed crime than down costs
fident they can outlast gional position. “From out at the U.S., accus- those raised in the nation
the U.S. troop buildup, the U.S. perspective, a ing it of exporting kill- stable families. Speak- ₤20 to ₤40 billion a
which is scheduled to settlement in Afghani- ing to Afghanistan by ing before an audience year. However, add-
diminish in July. stan underwritten using private security at a family counseling ing hidden costs such
Conceding this real- by Iran and Pakistan companies. In a heated service, Duncan Smith as “social breakdown,
ity, Afghanistan’s new could create the condi- session with nato made what the Daily addiction, crime, lost
High Peace Council on tions conducive to a commander Gen. Da- Mail called “the stron- productivity and tax
October 21 offered to Western military with- vid Petraeus and other gest defense of mar- revenues” could put the
make concessions to drawal from the coun- officials, he stormed riage made by a major figure over £100 billion,
bring Taliban fighters try,” reported Stratfor out, saying he didn’t government figure in he said.
to the negotiating table. (Oct. 26, 2010). need the West’s help. years” (Nov. 4, 2010). “Lone-parent fami-
The 70-member council Afghanistan’s presi- These actions speak “It is important that lies are more than twice
was formed last Sep- dent seems quite happy volumes about Karzai— we recognize the role as likely to live in pover-
tember to seek a negoti- with Iranian involve- a supposed American of marriage in build- ty than two-parent fam-
ated end to the war. Its ment. Hamid Karzai ally. Like the Taliban ing a strong society, ilies,” he said. He stated
spokesman said induce- admitted on October 25 and Iran, Karzai sees especially if we want to that “Only 30 percent of
ments to get Taliban that Iran has supplied the day of the American give children the best young offenders grew
fighters to work with the his office with millions withdrawal nearing and chance in life,” he said. up with both parents.”
government could in- in cash over the past is preparing for it. According to Dun- Speaking of the op-
position party, Duncan
3 Guttenberg: The military is for using! Smith said, “Sadly,
the last government
16 January 2011 The Philadelphia Trumpet getty images, massoud hossaini/afp/getty images, index open
HMS bankrupt
2 Her Majesty’s military is
3
cutting core capabilities.
4
1
frustrated
President Obama’s agenda
was rejected by voters.
5America votes
4 Japan: nationalism on the rise for change—again
A round 5,000 Japa-
nese nationalists
chooses to.”
These provocations
to develop its military
power, will not remain.
I n midterm elec-
tions on November
2, Americans handed
can Party.
Seventy percent of
Americans now be-
assembled in Tokyo on are stirring up nation- Despite the hostility, congressional Demo- lieve America is on the
November 6 to demon- alism and jingoism in Japan and China are in- crats a drubbing. wrong track. Almost as
strate against China. It Japan partly because creasingly dependent on In the House of many believe it is fac-
was the latest of many only two decades ago, each other economical- Representatives, where ing a “crisis” in leader-
signs that China’s Japan was the rising ly. China has surpassed all 435 seats were up for ship. Approval ratings
expanding economic star of Asia. Now it sees the U.S. to become election, Republicans for Congress are at
clout, political assertive- that China has taken its Japan’s most important won more than 60 near-record lows.
ness and military might place. More and more trade partner. In 2009, seats and a comfortable The Financial Times
are provoking a nation- Japanese desire a stron- China consumed a majority. In the Senate, reported that the elec-
alistic backlash in Japan. ger military in response. record 19 percent of Ja- where a little more than tion showed deep divi-
The protest was the The Defense Ministry pan’s exports, and Japan a third of the 100 seats sions across the political
third since early Sep- announced October 21 bought 22 percent of its were contested, Repub- map, producing the
tember, when a Chinese that Japan’s navy plans imports from China. licans retained all 41 of most polarized Con-
fishing boat rammed to add six submarines to Bible prophecy re- their seats and won six gress in recent history.
a Japanese patrol ship its fleet. Tokyo’s gover- veals that Asian nations more from Democrats. Nine out of 10 African-
near disputed islands nor said Japan would be will soon put aside their President Obama Americans voted
in the East China Sea. able to confront China if differences to unite conceded that the elec- Democrat, and 8 out of
A video of the collision it had nuclear tion rep- 10 whites voted Republi-
was leaked to YouTube weapons. resented a can. Similarly wide gulfs
on November 4, show- Back in “shellack- separated the old from
ing that it was a delib- 1971, Herbert ing” for the young, and people
erate act of Chinese W. Arm- Demo- from small towns versus
aggression—and enrag- strong pre- PRIDE crats, but city dwellers.
ing the Japanese. dicted Japan Japanese refused Now, politicians
Tokyo is also disput- would awake show to admit from both parties are
ing with Russia over the from its post- national that it digging in for what will
Southern Kuril Islands, war slumber: solidarity. reflected assuredly be two years
which both nations “Japan today a repudia- of nasty gridlock.
claim. When Russian has no mili- tion of his No amount of
President Dmitry Med- tary establishment …. against a common en- liberal agenda. change in human gov-
vedev visited the islands But we should not lose emy. Japan’s economic Exit polls indicated ernment will fix what is
in November—a first sight of the fact that Ja- cooperation with Chi- voters felt both parties already broken. Soon,
for any Russian lead- pan has become so pow- na, alongside America’s were out of touch, a we can expect the ac-
er—Japan denounced erful economically that waning influence in the phenomenon appar- celerating pace of pro-
the trip. Russia’s foreign it could build a military region, will ultimately ent in the success of phetic events to fully
minister responded that force of very great power lead Tokyo and Beijing the “Tea Party,” which expose the fact that
the islands are “Russian very rapidly.” to a powerful military arose largely because mortal men cannot
land” that the president Today’s tensions, alliance, just as Mr. many voters felt aban- solve the colossal prob-
“can visit whenever he while prodding Japan Armstrong foretold. doned by the Republi- lems facing America.
getty images, tadayuki yoshik awa/afp/getty images The Philadelphia Trumpet January 2011 17
worldwatch
Europe n Conservative mep Daniel Hannan control of parliament. The
second round of the country’s
n France’s protests turned vio- “The official launch of the [European legislative elections gave Shiite
lent in October. At one point, External Action Service] represents a sig- and independent candidates a
one in four gas stations in the parliamentary majority in the
country ran dry as protestors
nificant ramping up of the EU’s ambition Persian Gulf kingdom. The
shut down oil refineries and to be a global power.” Shiites comprise the majority
airports. Youths led the way in of Bahrain’s population and
rioting, overturning cars and get is $9.2 billion—over double failed spectacularly. … Iran the results are a major blow to
attacking police in several cit- that of the British Foreign has outmaneuvered the U.S. in Sunnis, who had dominated
ies. The protests were triggered Ministry. The eeas will em- shaping the new government the last two parliaments. The
by a bill that raises the French ploy around 7,000 people; the to its own liking.” election sweep by the Shia is
pension age from 60 to 62, British Foreign Office employs another indicator of growing
which ended up passing into 4,863. Conservative mep Dan- n The U.S. has labeled an Ira- Iranian-Shiite influence in the
law on November 10. Mean- iel Hannan wrote in the Daily nian anti-government militant Persian Gulf region.
while, protestors in Greece sent Mail that “the EU means to group as a terrorist organiza-
mail bombs to embassies in signal to other countries that tion, in a major concession to n Nigeria’s secret service said
Athens, and leaders outside of it, rather than its 27 constituent Tehran. On November 3, the on October 26 that it had inter-
the country, including German members, should now be their U.S. State Department placed cepted 13 containers of weap-
Chancellor Angela Merkel. Ex- first port of call. To a remark- Jundallah, a Sunni-Balochi ons from Iran that were possi-
pect this kind of lawlessness to able degree, it has already suc- rebel group, on its list of in- bly destined for the Gaza Strip.
cause Europe to clamp down ceeded” (Nov. 1, 2010). ternational terrorist entities. Rocket launchers, grenades
harder on its citizens. Voice of America points out and other explosives camou-
the irony that “Although Iran flaged as building materials
n In Brussels on October 29,
EU leaders agreed on budget-
MidEast is on the U.S. list of state spon-
sors of terrorism, the Depart-
were seized in the Nigerian
port of Lagos after being un-
ary reforms aimed at prevent- n Incumbent Iraqi Prime ments of State and Treasury loaded from an Iranian ship.
ing another economic crisis. Minister Nouri al-Maliki was designated one of the Tehran Israeli defense sources believe
Under the new German- reelected on November 11. The government’s most radical this may be part of a new
designed initiative, which EU day before, Iraqi political par- opponents as a terrorist or- smuggling route from Iran to
member states were pressured ties had agreed to a framework ganization” (Nov. 3, 2010). Hamas in Gaza, via Africa.
to accept, the Lisbon Treaty for a new government, ending The U.S. decision represents
will be revised to create new eight months of gridlock fol- “a huge gesture toward Iran,”
I
n 1971, Iran threw a party. A Why such a spectacular celebration? agree that the Persians are an Indo-Euro-
big one. What was so important that the shah felt pean people, meaning they can trace their
It took 10 years to plan and compelled to transform the Iranian desert heritage back to Shem, the Caucasian son
lasted five days. The Guinness into an exquisite tent city so he could cel- of Noah. The Jewish historian Josephus
Book of Records recorded it as the ebrate with hundreds of the world’s most records the Persians as being descendants
largest gathering of world leaders powerful leaders? of Shem’s son Elam (Genesis 10:22).
in history. More than 600 foreign It was the 2,500-year anniversary of the For about 1,500 years after the Flood, the
dignitaries, including some 65 heads of founding of the Persian Empire! Persians herded sheep and raised horses on
state, abandoned their presidential pal- In the sixth century, King Cyrus the the plains of Mesopotamia, mostly in the
aces and braved the Iranian desert—on Great displayed unmatched and unique region just north of the Tigris River and
sand dunes on the outskirts of Persepolis, skills of leadership to forge the disparate the sea known today as the Persian Gulf.
capital of the ancient Persian Empire. peoples of Mesopotamia into one of the In the mid-sixth century b.c., however, the
The shah was a gracious host and mightiest civilizations in mankind’s his- Persian lifestyle experienced an upheaval.
spared no expense to ensure their com- tory. In 1971, the shah of Iran celebrated this Under the leadership of Cyrus the
fort. Two hundred and fifty custom-built history with such grandeur in an attempt to Great, the Persians began conquering sur-
red Mercedes-Benzes zipped across the “reawaken the people of Iran to their rounding city-states. First, they conquered
desert carrying foreign diplomats. Hair- past and reawaken the world to Iran.” the Medes, who in defeat accepted an in-
dressers and make-up artists were flown The shah had his critics for this giant vitation from Cyrus to join forces with
in from Paris; drapes and flowers were celebration—but we need to think about the Persian army. Within 10 years, King
imported from Italy. Guests stayed in gi- the history he was trying to invoke. His Cyrus was ruling over a kingdom of then
gantic air-conditioned tents, constructed desire to showcase the legacy of Cyrus the unprecedented proportions, one stretch-
in traditional Persian style. They ate the Great and ancient Persia was praisewor- ing from Thrace in the west to Egypt in
finest food, catered by Maxim’s de Paris, thy. He was absolutely right: Iran boasts the south to the Indus River in the east.
which closed its Paris location for two one of the most unique and majestic histo- Politically, the Persians were very dif-
weeks to prepare for the banquet. More ries of all countries on the planet. ferent from the Assyrians before them. Af-
than 150 chefs, bakers and waiters were Moreover, the history of King Cyrus ter Cyrus conquered the gargantuan As-
imported. The world’s master hotelier, and ancient Persia is more vital, more il- syrian/Babylonian-Chaldean empires and
a Frenchman, was brought out of retire- lustrious, more inspiring, more hope- fused the disparate peoples and cultures
ment to manage the waitstaff. Attendees filled, more faith-building than the shah into a single kingdom, succeeding mon-
dined on fine china and drank from gob- of Iran ever knew! The shah could have archs managed to keep the kingdom unit-
lets made from Baccarat crystal. spent $2 trillion on his celebration and ed and strong for some 250 years. It wasn’t
There were fireworks displays, per- still not have properly showcased the im- till Alexander the Great barreled eastward
formances from some of the world’s fin- portance of this history. in 333 b.c. that Persia was knocked from its
est musicians and spectacularly choreo- perch above the civilized world.
graphed parades by Iranian soldiers, all The Origins of Persia Historians agree on and admire the
dressed in traditional Persian garb. The Before the 1930s, today’s Iran went by the fundamental reason Cyrus and his succes-
price tag of the grand affair, according to name Persia. Today the names Iran and sors were able to maintain such an enor-
the New York Times, was $100 million. Persia remain interchangeable. Historians mous kingdom: The Persian monarchs
Our Candelabra
More than 40 years ago, when the shah
of Iran was making preparations for his
spectacular celebration, he commissioned
January 2011 23
hard reign Shantytown
the construction of two candelabra. Dur- dwellers chant slogans during clash-
ing the weeklong celebration, the 7-foot es linked to anti-foreigner violence.
brightly lit giants, each weighing 650
pounds and decked with 802 pieces of
Baccarat crystal, stood in the midst of
the royal tent where all the world leaders
gathered to dine.
Together, these shimmering beauties,
and the history of King Cyrus and ancient
Persia that they embodied, dazzled the
kings and queens, presidents and prime
ministers at that royal banquet.
Clouds Across
Today, those candelabra stand tall
and bright in the grand lobby of Arm-
strong Auditorium, our breathtaking
new concert hall here in Oklahoma.
the Rainbow
Just as they did to the world’s royalty
and upper echelon nearly 40 years ago,
those same candelabra dazzle the con-
certgoers and artists that enter our au-
ditorium today!
They really are stunning. But as Following the euphoria surrounding the World Cup, it’s
breathtaking as they are in appearance, back to cold hard reality in South Africa. By Ron Fraser
A
it’s the story behind them we most cher-
ish. Our candelabra were part of the cel- few weeks ago I was sitting in result has been an obvious reduction in
ebration of the 2,500-year anniversary of the lounge of the King George the efficiency of the delivery of service.
Cyrus the Great and the Persian Empire. Hotel in beautiful George in Those whose minds have been per-
The shah intended that these candelabra South Africa’s Western Cape verted by the inane political correctness
awaken the Iranian people and the world province. Memories of South Africa’s big of the age will have trouble handling that
to Iran’s majestic history! moment of the year, the hosting of the statement of fact; nevertheless, it is the re-
Sadly, the hope emanating from Iran soccer World Cup, were already fading. ality. There is no political correctness in
was extinguished in 1979, when the shah The country had returned to dealing—or today’s South Africa—just a blatant effort
was violently overthrown and Iran’s gov- rather not dealing, in many respects— by the leaders of the majority ethnic pop-
ernment was replaced by an Islamic the- with its ongoing challenges. ulation to take from those who brought
ocracy. Since then, very few people have Looking out across the rugged Oute- them from rank tribalism to civilized so-
revisited the history of Cyrus the Great niqua Mountains, all appeared calm and ciety in barely a couple of centuries.
and Persia. peaceful, just as it did when I first took in
Until now! this view back in 1994. But then, as now, A Broken Promise
These two candelabra standing in the view belies the reality. South Africa Any transition of power from a dominant,
Armstrong Auditorium recall that his- is far from being “the rainbow nation at sophisticated culture to a less developed
tory to us today in a beautiful, majes- peace with itself,” as touted by Nelson culture would ordinarily take a good deal
tic way. They remind us of the glorious Mandela shortly after he gained the na- of time and effort, and full cooperation
reign of Cyrus the Great—the Persian tion’s presidency in 1995. This troubled so- between the parties involved. This has not
king whose life, from beginning to end, ciety is jarringly at odds with the beauty been the case with South Africa. The old
was shaped by God. of the handiwork of the Creator who government simply wanted to divest itself
This was the king who guaranteed carved out its breathtaking countryside. of the largest problem in its “too hard”
the Jews’ presence in Jerusalem, the king After spending a few days in the pic- basket, for the right price. The new gov-
whose mind God inspired to rebuild the turesque tourist resort of George, we ernment came in with an agenda: Displace
temple in Jerusalem—a temple designed landed in Cape Town, its renowned Table whites from their perch and take over the
to point people toward God’s future Mountain dominating the hinterland, the wealth of the land, distributing it to privi-
temple in new Jerusalem! waters of the famous harbor glistening in leged blacks who had been the most vocal
If you haven’t done so yet, make it a spring sunshine. and active in resisting white rule.
goal to come visit Armstrong Audito- The first time I took in this view was In South Africa, the result has been
rium. When you enter the grand lobby also in 1994. I expected change, and that’s much the same as in other ex-colonial Af-
of the auditorium, stop a moment to look what I saw. The most obvious change rican nations: The Big Men (and women)
at these candelabra. As you do, let your is the prominence of African blacks in get the lion’s share of the wealth; the poor
mind hearken back to the glorious and positions of service previously held by continue to rot in their festering ghettos.
spiritually uplifting history of ancient whites. This is the result of a deliberate A year after the handover of the coun-
Persia, of Cyrus the Great, a patron of policy of the African National Congress try by President F.W. de Klerk to the anc-
the Jews—and a man whose life and (anc)-dominated government to displace dominated government, I stood only a
work prove the existence of an all-pow- whites with blacks based on racial pref- few yards away from Nelson Mandela in
erful God! n erence rather than job performance. The the press gallery on the lawns in front of
reuters/siphiwe sibeko, singh raveendran/afp/getty images The Philadelphia Trumpet January 2011 25
i n c r e a s e Y o u r B ibl e I Q
The Philadelphia Trumpet, in conjunction with the Herbert W. Armstrong College Bible Correspondence Course,
presents this brief excursion into the fascinating study of the Bible. Simply turn to and read in your Bible each verse
given in answer to the questions. You will be amazed at the new understanding gained from this short study!
What Is the
Day of the Lord?
T
o the average person, the In love, God revealed His way of life the Old and New Testaments, the period
idea of Jesus Christ returning to that leads to everything good and desir- of Christ’s supernatural intervention and
Earth is a fantastic fable that has able—including eternal life—to our first wrath at mankind’s sins is called the Day
no bearing whatsoever on the re- parents, Adam and Eve. But they rejected of the Lord!
alities of life. that way. Their descendants have contin- 3. How long does this prophetic “day”
Yet millions of professing Christians ued to reject God’s way for 6,000 years! of the Lord’s wrath last? Isaiah 34:8; 61:2;
still expect the Second Coming of Christ— Therefore, as any wise and loving fa- 63:4. Does a prophetic day often represent
though widely divided among themselves ther punishes his children for their own a year? Numbers 14:34.
as to why, when and how He will appear. good when they refuse to respond to kind Comment: The “day of the Lord” re-
Just before His death and res- fers to a year-long punish-
urrection—before His departure ment that culminates with
from the Mount of Olives almost the return of Christ.
2,000 years ago—Jesus Christ
promised, “I will come again” The Trumpets Begin to Sound!
(John 14:3). In the last installment, we
So was Christ telling the learned that the Great Trib-
truth? Will He come again? The ulation is immediately fol-
answer is a resounding YES— lowed by supernatural signs
though the manner of His return in heaven (Matthew 24:21,
will be shocking to most profess- 29). The signs in heaven are
ing Christians. also referred to as the sixth
Jesus Christ came about seal in Revelation (Revelation
2,000 years ago as a meek lamb 6:12-14).
to be slain for the sins of the 1. What happens next? Is
world. But when He comes the seventh seal, which con-
again, He will be wrathful—an- tains the seven trumpets,
gry—toward all evil! He will use opened? Revelation 8:1-6. Is
His mighty power to change the this time period of the sev-
ways that have caused all the enth seal (which occurs im-
sorrow and suffering on Earth. mediately after the heavenly
Let’s understand why. and loving verbal admonition, an all-lov- signs) called the Day of the Lord? Acts 2:20.
ing, all-wise God will have to punish this Comment: The wrath of the “day
What Christ Will Do When He Returns world to bring it to its senses! The glorified of the Lord” is manifested in the seven
1. When Christ returns, exactly why will Christ is coming in all the splendor, power “trumpet” plagues which are unleashed
God have to punish mankind? Revelation and glory of God to stop escalating wars, consecutively over a period of months, cul-
11:18, last few words; Zephaniah 1:17. nuclear mass destruction, and human minating in the Second Coming of Christ.
Comment: God is love (1 John 4:16). pain and suffering. He is coming to usher 2. What will occur on Earth when the
God and Christ love all of humanity (John in peace, abundant prosperity, happiness first angel blows his trumpet? Revelation
3:16). But Christ will be angry at the sins and joy for all mankind. 8:7.
of mankind when He returns. To save the 2. What is this time period of God’s Comment: A gigantic firestorm will
human race alive (Matthew 24:22), He is wrath called? Isaiah 13:6, 9; Joel 1:15; Zeph- burn all green grass and one third of the
coming to punish in love! Otherwise, man aniah 1:18. trees. Burned vegetation will be the first
would destroy all life upon the Earth! Comment: In over 30 prophecies in punishment on mankind for continued re-
Enroll in
that will jolt humanity? Verse 13. Are these
three woes the same as the final three
trumpets? Same verse.
Comment: These three woes involve
our free
three final major battles, each so horrifying
that it is called a “woe” by Almighty God.
Each battle is so destructive that only God
will be able to repair the damage man’s
Bible course!
armies will do to the surface of the Earth.
At the third battle—the third woe and
last trumpet—all mankind will be saved
from extinction only by a miracle from
God. If God did not personally intervene
in this climactic war, men would destroy This short study you’ve just completed is a sample of
the last vestige of human life from the face
the study method employed in each monthly lesson of
of the Earth!
2. What is revealed about the fifth the Herbert W. Armstrong College Bible Correspondence
trumpet, the first woe? Revelation 9:1-12. Course. Over 50,000 people have already enrolled in this
3. Does the Apostle John describe ter- exciting, dynamic course! Ordering information is on the back
rifying “locusts”—grasshoppers—that will
be used to inflict pain on men? Verses 3-10. cover of this issue.
Comment: John used the symbolic
Britain buddies
with Franc
What Could Possibly Go Wro
Facing a budget pinch, the UK stakes its fortunes on an Even if Sarkozy and Cameron see eye to
alliance with a longtime European foe. By Joel Hilliker eye, what could possess them to believe
W
their successors will—until 2060, no less?
hat an odd turn of events! its innate logic and “perfect sense” is crazy. In reality, it isn’t fellow feeling or
Suddenly the leaders of Britain “From a purely practical military per- shared interests driving these nations into
and France are fawning over spective,” explained the head of Britain’s each other’s arms. It’s beggary. Both Brit-
each other as they join in a mil- Armed Forces, Gen. Sir David Richards, ain and France are strapped for cash and
itary alliance supposedly to last 50 years! “we have been working very closely with desperate. Though their militaries are Eu-
What is going on here? For the better the French ever since the First World War, rope’s two largest, they’re shrinking and
part of the previous six centuries, these two but particularly in nato.” falling apart, getting slammed by budget
have been bitter enemies. For the past cen- Uh … not quite. As historian Andrew cuts. This awkward alliance is their effort
tury they’ve been grudging partners at best. Roberts responded, “If filling in the gaps to maintain some semblance of power.
Their national interests have gone in on the Western front after the French Army Britain in particular is looking for ways to
opposite directions far more often than mutinied in 1917, sinking the French fleet at strengthen its military on the cheap.
they’ve lined up. As recently as the Iraq Oran in 1940 and being bombed in Gibral- But those budget cuts, and this pact,
War in 2003, Britain sent 45,000 troops tar by the Vichy air force in retaliation, cap- are based on a dangerous miscalculation.
while France actively worked to keep Sad- turing Lebanon and Syria from the French They reflect terrible weakness—and re-
dam Hussein in power. in 1941, invading French North Africa and markable lack of vision. They expose Brit-
Now the leaders are instant buddies. In Madagascar in 1942, opposing French poli- ain’s foolish overdependence on nations it
early November, France’s Nicolas Sarkozy cy toward Bosnia, Rwanda and latterly Iraq, considers allies, and reveal the steep de-
and Britain’s David Cameron signed up for while watching General de Gaulle expel all cline in what even a few generations ago
their nations to share aircraft carriers; col- nato forces from France, can possibly be was history’s greatest empire.
laborate on technology for nuclear weap- described as ‘working very closely with the Anyone who has followed the prophet-
ons, ballistic missiles and nuclear subma- French ever since the First World War,’ then ic warnings of Herbert Armstrong or the
rines; work together on cyberwarfare; and General Richards is right. If not, then it is— Trumpet over the years knows this story
commit troops to a joint rapid reaction unit, like the defense pact itself—merely wishful won’t have a good ending. The Bible spe-
among other things. And they act like any- thinking” (Wall Street Journal, Nov. 5, 2010). cifically prophesies of this problem—and
one who doesn’t embrace the agreement for What are France and Britain thinking? reveals its devastating conclusion.
ce
35 percent of its artil- Further underscoring this trend of The notion that these two countries
lery will go. The 20,000 dependency is the fact that the Royal Air would actually be able to agree on just
British troops in Ger- Force’s Nimrod spy planes will also be cut. where and for what to deploy their joint
many will come home. These nine planes were built for patrolling forces is difficult to swallow.
(Compare the 95,000 the waters around Britain and intercept- Even since the split over the Gulf War,
troops Britain will ing unwelcome foreign submarines and French leaders have repeatedly voiced
have by 2015 with the other ships. Now, reported The Sun, Brit- their contempt for the UK. They have
ng?
690,000 it had in 1957.) ain “will have to depend on the French to snootily derided Britain for its incessant
Britain’s navy—the stave off a naval attack” (Oct. 22, 2010). niggling over regulations and procedures,
greatest symbol of the “French Atlantique planes operating from for dragging its feet on European integra-
global power it once UK bases will monitor and intercept un- tion, for slowing the EU’s progress. Their
wielded—will suffer authorized ships and submarines,” it said. disdain only intensified when the global
some of the worst em- Essentially, in order to cover its defense economy tanked: They looked down their
barrassment. The na- budget gaps, Britain is banking on its Eu- noses and blamed London for its loose
vy’s aging Ark Royal aircraft carrier will ropean neighbors—France in particular. fiscal practices. They dropped the regula-
go out of service. The navy’s fleet of de- This ignores the yawning historical, cul- tory boom in punishment. Britain’s rela-
stroyers and frigates will shrink to 19. (In tural and political gaps between the Eng- tionship with Europe, always prickly, has
World War i Britain had over 300 destroy- lish-speaking Brits and Europhile French. looked wobblier than ever—even up to
ers alone, out of a fleet of nearly 600. After quite recently.
these cuts, the fleet will be smaller than it Can Britain Really Trust France? It all makes the sudden camaraderie,
has been since the days of Henry viii.) President Sarkozy says—with a straight the handshakes and grins, a bit surreal.
The most bizarre turn of events sur- face—that it’s impossible to imagine a For Britain, this pact represents a lurch
rounds two new 60,000-ton aircraft car- away from the United States in favor of Eu-
riers being built for the Royal Navy—the rope. American insiders are warning that
largest, most expensive ships in Britain’s il- U.S. cooperation and intelligence sharing
lustrious naval history. Britain can’t afford with Britain is going to be curtailed out
them, but contractual obligations actually of fear of the wrong information reaching
make it cheaper to finish the mammoth France and spreading from there. David
projects than to stop them. Thus, as soon Campbell Bannerman of the UK Indepen-
as possible after the first one is completed dence Party concurred: “In a nutshell, the
in 2016, it will be mothballed or even sold. closer we get to France, the more we risk
It gets worse. The government also de- losing the support of the biggest military
cided to scrap the navy’s 80-strong fleet power in the world—the usa.”
of Harrier jump jets within a year. This If history is any guide, this portends
means the aircraft carriers will have—of n The UK government has made disaster for Britain.
all things—no jets to carry. New fighters plans to sell off Britain’s forests. As former Prime Minister Margaret
won’t be available until 2020. Thus, these Law currently governing treatment Thatcher wisely said in 1989, “In my life-
floating airbases will only be able to serve of “ancient forests” is likely to be time all our problems have come from
as helicopter pads and assist with humani- changed, giving private firms clear- mainland Europe, and all the solutions
tarian missions. ance to cut down trees in 1.8 million have come from the English-speaking na-
In the words of one serving navy com- acres of woodlands including Sher- tions who have kept law-abiding liberty
mander, “How can you send an aircraft wood Forest, among others. for the future.”
T
hink positive. This world is ugly—but don’t be- painful and disgusting, health officials say these kids are asking
come a cynic or a brooder. That’s brilliant advice from for nasty, even dangerous infections, and are liable to give each
one of history’s spiritual giants, the Apostle Paul. “Fi- other blood-borne diseases like hepatitis and hiv. C’mon folks.
nally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, Do you really have to be told not to do this?
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is Another mind-boggling trend coming to an urban center
gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy near you is zombie walking. It started in California nine years
of praise, think about these things,” he wrote (Philippians 4:8; ago and has spread, virus-like, to cities across America, Britain
Revised Standard Version). It’s one of the most helpful admoni- and Australia. Feeding off a booming film and television trend,
tions in Scripture about maintaining mental and spiritual health. multitudes—sometimes thousands strong—dress up like ghoul-
Take a glance around, and you see a world dead set on think- ish reanimated corpses, spattered with blood, for a few hours of
ing the polar opposite. Whatever is foul or crooked, whatever is public moaning and foot-dragging, pretending to be on the hunt
unjust and impure, whatever is grotesque, whatever is hateful, for human flesh. Parents bring their children and make it a fam-
if there is any degeneracy, anything barbaric and evil, anything ily affair, and police close streets and provide escort.
worthy of condemnation, that is what people tend to think on. There is an explanation for all this nonsense. These modern
The other night, after putting the kids to bed, amusements actually have evil roots that go back
I turned on the television. I walked to an adjoin- millennia.
ing room, which put the remote out of reach. God has seen it all. He knows the way to happi-
Suddenly—at the same time one of my daughters ness. He is full of joy; He is love (Psalm 16:11; 1 John
emerged from her bedroom asking for a glass of 4:8). He is light, and there is no hint of darkness in
water—an ad came on that showed four grotesque Him (1 John 1:5). He doesn’t find wickedness the
murders in about 10 seconds. “Do not look at the least entertaining, and He doesn’t dismiss evil as
television!” I said, scrambling for the remote. harmless fun (e.g. Psalm 11:5; Proverbs 14:9).
This repulsive nightmare was meant to attract God forbids us to consume blood (e.g. Leviti-
viewers to an upcoming program. Shows about cus 17:10; Acts 15:20), or to practice occultism and
bizarre, deviant acts and morbidly violent crimes witchcraft, with which it is often paired, as in
dominate the airwaves. vampire lore (Leviticus 19:26).
That schlock fittingly symbolizes the terminal He is a God of life. “[T]o be carnally minded
condition of our culture. As this sick world rots, is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and
people are increasingly fascinated with all things peace” (Romans 8:6). In ancient priestly law, God
dead—and undead. forbade even touching a dead body. “I have set be-
You’ve heard of Twilight, the series of books and movies about fore you life and death,” He says in Deuteronomy 30:19—“there-
a love affair between a glamorous vampire and a gorgeous woman fore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.”
he must protect from a hunky werewolf. The books have sold over But there is another spirit being that Scripture calls the “god
100 million copies and been translated into 38 languages; the three of this world” and “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit
films have raked in over $2 billion. “Box office gross” indeed. that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” He is the an-
Adding in popular tv shows like hbo’s True Blood and the cw tithesis of everything God is. He propagandizes and peddles evil
Network’s The Vampire Diaries, all told, vampire entertainment by any and every means—making it alluring and glamorous,
is now a $7 billion industry and growing. It’s a world of glamor, making it light and funny. He promotes the perverse. He exalts
romance and sex mingled with blood, violence and occultism. death. And he’s dangerously good at what he does. Scripture also
Millions of minds are marinating in this lurid material. Harmless calls him “the great dragon … that old serpent, called the Devil,
escapism, most people say. I disagree. But no one can argue that and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.”
in some few, it’s having truly bizarre effects. The only blood God tells us to “drink,” symbolically, is that of
A subculture of people who consider themselves real vampires Jesus Christ, which was spilled to pay for our sins. Jesus said, “Ex-
is taking root and spreading. Joseph Laycock, author of Vampires cept ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have
Today: The Truth About Modern Vampirism, says these wackos ei- no life in you” (John 6:53). Is it any wonder the prince of the power
ther consume blood or believe they absorb life energy from people of the air has inspired a twisted yet seductive counterfeit about im-
around them—and most think their physical, mental and emotion- mortals who must drink human blood to sustain their existence?
al health will fade if they don’t feed. Somebody please slap them. Evil is a drug. It gets its hooks into you. Paul compared it to
Stupid teenagers are reportedly biting each other and licking slavery. It leads to death (Romans 6:16). Our society is saturated
or sucking each other’s blood. “These are kids who think they are with it, obsessed with it. No shock, then, that it’s increasingly
real vampires,” Dr. Orly Avitzur of the Consumers Union told an obsessed with death. They go together.
msnbc reporter. One teen wrote on a vampire-themed website, That’s why God warns us not to even start down that road.
“Having that thick, warm copper-tasting blood in my mouth is Abhor what is evil—cleave to what is good, He tells us. Shun twist-
the best thing I can think of! Sometimes my boyfriend lets me ed death mythology. Think up, think positive. Whatever is true,
feed off him. I let him feed off me as well.” think about that. Whatever is honorable, just, pure, lovely. If there
This passes for a hobby these days? Aside from it being sick, is any excellence, anything worthy of praise, think about that. n
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