The Trumpet Herald

Giving the trumpet a certain sound

May 2010

Push for Sunday in Europe

Although the date for a certain European conference has passed, and there is little apparent news of what happened there, it is appropriate in light of Bible prophecy to note that a conference was held on March 24 in the European Parliament in Brussels to relaunch a debate on Sunday protection. A press release from the Commission of the Bishop’s Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) stated that the conference was supported by “several European trade unions, civil society organisations and Churches.”

Making the case for Sunday legislation, the press release stated:

Meanwhile, recent studies have demonstrated the existence of a strong link between workers’ health and a work-free Sunday. Furthermore, a common weekly rest day for the whole of society allows families to spend time with each other, and all citizens to engage in cultural, spiritual and social activities. Sunday moreover strengthens the social cohesion of our societies, which has been undermined by the current economic crisis. It therefore represents a precious achievement, which should be recognised as a pillar of the European Social Model (“Mobilisation for the protection of Sunday at European level,” http://www.comece.org/content/site/en/press/pressreleases/newsletter.content/1185.html, no date).

Inspired commentary

Students of prophecy will take note of perhaps small events that may foreshadow predicted trends.

The dignitaries of church and state will unite to bribe, persuade, or compel all classes to honor the Sunday. The lack of divine authority will be supplied by oppressive enactments. Political corruption is destroying love of justice and regard for truth; and even in free America, rulers and legislators, in order to secure public favor, will yield to the popular demand for a law enforcing Sunday observance. (The Great Controversy, p. 592).

And 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 (Rev. 14:8).

Rising National Debt

The USA national debt has been predicted by the Congressional Budget Office to be 90 percent of the total national projected economic output by the year 2020.

According to a report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released on Thursday, the United States 2011 fiscal budget will amass $10 trillion in budget deficits over the next 10 years. This will raise the federal debt to 90 percent of the nation’s estimated economic output in the year 2020.

The estimate is more than a trillion dollars over the Obama administration’s projections, which estimated a 10-year deficit total of $8.53 trillion. Brian Riedl, a budget analyst, said, “An additional $1.2 trillion in debt dumped on [gdp] to our children makes a huge difference. That represents an additional debt of $10,000 per household above and beyond the federal debt they are already carrying.”

The federal public debt currently stands at $8.2 trillion—having surged from $6.3 trillion when Obama entered office. According to the CBO’s estimates, it will reach $20.3 trillion by 2020—which is more than $170,000 per household (“Deficit to rise to 90 percent of GDP,” www.thetrumpet.com, Mar. 28, 2010).

If the projection came to be actuality, it seems the stress would cause great societal disruptions.

Inspired commentary

A major economic collapse in the United States would likely generate major social tension and scapegoating. The resulting anger and stress would undoubtedly reverberate around the world.

Satan puts his interpretation upon events, and they think, as he would have them, that the calamities which fill the land are a result of Sunday-breaking. Thinking to appease the wrath of God, these influential men make laws enforcing Sunday observance. They think that by exalting this false rest day higher and still higher, compelling obedience to the Sunday law, the spurious sabbath, they are doing God service. Those who honor God by observing the true Sabbath are looked upon as disloyal to God, when it is really those who thus regard them who are themselves disloyal because they are trampling under foot the Sabbath originated in Eden (Manuscript Releases, v. 10, p 239).

Large earthquakes continue

A major earthquake (7.2 magnitude) occurred near the Mexican border city Mexicali on Sunday, April. 4.

Two people died and more than 200 were injured on Sunday when a 7.2 magnitude quake rocked the area around the border city of Mexicali. Baja California Governor Jose Osuna said the victims were crushed by a collapsed house and a falling wall (“Mexico-California border towns shaken after quake,” www.reuters.com, Apr. 5, 2010).

Other recent earthquakes included a 6.4 magnitude event in Indonesia on March 12, a 6.6 magnitude earthquake in Japan on March 14, a 6.9 magnitude in Chile on March 11, a 6.0 magnitude in Turkey on March 8, a 6.5 magnitude in Sumatra on March 5, and a 6.4 magnitude in Taiwan on March 4. The big one in Chile was on February 27, and was a magnitude 8.8. The Haiti earthquake was a magnitude 7.0 on January 12.

Inspired commentary

Should one look for meaning in the frequency of these major earthquakes? What may happen in the future is difficult to predict, but we do have some guidance from the Bible. And we do know that God is ultimately in control and it is most appropriate to humble ourselves before Him.

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows (Matt. 24:6-8).

The tempest is coming, and we must get ready for its fury, by having repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord will arise to shake terribly the earth. We shall see troubles on all sides. ... The end is near, probation is closing. Oh, let us seek God while he may be found, call upon him while he is near! The prophet says: “Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness; it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger” (The Signs of the Times, Apr. 21, 1890).