The Trumpet Herald

Giving the trumpet a certain sound

February 2010

Security threats

In the aftermath of a failed terrorist attack on a jetliner, U.S. President Barack Obama has exposed a “series of human errors” that led to the failure of U.S. security agencies to stop the attack before it happened.

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama ordered his top intelligence chiefs Thursday to patch gaps in the way terrorism intelligence is distributed, analyzed and checked against watch lists used to identify potential attackers bound for the U.S.

It was his strongest and most detailed response to the Christmas Day attempt to blow up an airliner bound for Detroit. “We are at war,” the president said. “We are at war with al Qaeda.” (“Obama Orders Security Fix,” The Wall Street Journal (online.wsj.com), Jan. 8, 2010).

In addition to the national and personal security threat posed by a suicide bomber that manages an attempt in the skies over Detroit, the ongoing Iranian nuclear enrichment program aggravated by bellicose statements by that government is another cause for worry.

Last September, when Iran’s uranium enrichment plant buried inside a mountain near the holy city of Qum was revealed, the episode cast light on a wider pattern: Over the past decade, Iran has quietly hidden an increasingly large part of its atomic complex in networks of tunnels and bunkers across the country.

In doing so, American government and private experts say, Iran has achieved a double purpose. Not only has it shielded its infrastructure from military attack in warrens of dense rock, but it has further obscured the scale and nature of its notoriously opaque nuclear effort. The discovery of the Qum plant only heightened fears about other undeclared sites (“Iran Shielding Its Nuclear Efforts in Maze of Tunnels,” The New York Times (www.nytimes.com), Jan. 6, 2010).

Inspired commentary

A major goal of terrorist activity is to instill fear in a target population. Fear has been identified as one of the indicators of the nearness of Christ’s return.

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory (Luke 21:25-27).

Archbishop: Catholicism defends Europe

Could the Papacy ever dominate Europe again as it did during the Middle Ages? The outgoing archbishop of Prague warned that Islam could dominate Europe if present trends continue.

Europe will fall to Islam unless its inhabitants embrace Catholicism, said the outgoing archbishop of Prague, Cardinal Miloslav Vlk. “Europe has denied its Christian roots from which it has risen and which could give it the strength to fend off the danger that it will be conquered by Muslims—which is actually happening gradually,” he said in an interview, published January 6.

“If Europe doesn’t change its relation to its own roots, it will be Islamized,” he said. …

Cardinal Vlk wants Europe to fight back by returning to its medieval-style, Catholic-dominated roots (“Archbishop: Without Catholicism, Europe Will Be Conquered by Islam,” www.theTrumpet.com, Jan. 7, 2010).

Inspired commentary

If Europe ever again came under the control of the Catholic Church, the abuses of the Middle Ages could conceivably re-occur.

These records of the past clearly reveal the enmity of Rome toward the true Sabbath and its defenders, and the means which she employs to honor the institution of her creating. The word of God teaches that these scenes are to be repeated as Roman Catholics and Protestants shall unite for the exaltation of the Sunday (The Great Controversy, p. 578).

The Roman Church now presents a fair front to the world, covering with apologies her record of horrible cruelties. She has clothed herself in Christlike garments; but she is unchanged. Every principle of the papacy that existed in past ages exists today. The doctrines devised in the darkest ages are still held (The Great Controversy, p. 571).

D.C. Mayor to sign gay marriage bill in a church

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty will sign legislation Friday to legalize same-sex marriage in the District at a bill-signing ceremony so historic that his staff scrambled to find the perfect location Thursday.

Would it be All Souls Unitarian Church, a Northwest house of worship known for its diversity, liberalism and welcoming of same-sex couples? Would it be Covenant Baptist Church, a predominantly black church in Southwest where husband-and-wife team of Dennis and Christine Wiley serve as co-pastors and support gay marriage? Or would it be a secular site?

Late in the day, Katie Loughary, executive director at All Souls, said it appeared that Covenant was winning. “We’re disappointed, yes,” she said. “But we’re excited that it’s happening.”

But the letdown was turned around when the Rev. Robert Hardies, All Souls’ senior pastor, said that he had been contacted by the mayor’s office and told that his church would be the spot.

“We’re honored to be able to host this historic bill-signing,” he said. “We believe this is a historic step forward for justice and human rights in our nations capital” (Fenty to sign same-sex marriage bill at church in NW D.C.,” www.washingtonpost.com, Dec. 18, 2009).

Inspired commentary

It seems that the proponents of evil are becoming more bold in their challenges to the teachings of the Bible. An omniscient God notices.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (2 Timothy 3:1-4).

Diseases from animals to humans

More diseases will jump from animals to humans as changes in living conditions bring people in closer contact with animals, scientists say. These diseases will spread even further and faster due to globalization.

Changes to the environment are altering the spread of human diseases on a scale not seen since the Industrial Revolution, according to Dr. Montira Pongsiri, an expert on environmental health in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“More Diseases to Spread From Animals to Humans, Say Scientists,” www.theTrumpet.com, Jan. 4, 2010).

Inspired commentary

Disease in animals is increasing in proportion to the increase of wickedness among men. The time is near when, because of the iniquity of the fallen race, the whole animal creation will groan under the diseases that curse our earth (Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 366).