thetrumpet--2020-03-17--Who Will Help Syria’s Children?

Who Will Help Syria’s Children?

A medical worker works on samples to be tested for coronavirus at a community health-care service center on March 13 in Taiyuan , China .
The disease has practically brought the world to a standstill .
The World Health Organization officially designated coronavirus a pandemic on March 11 .
A pandemic is a disease that spreads in multiple countries across the world at the same time .
The most recent pandemics include diseases such as the H1N1 swine flu and hiv/aids .
Now they are joined by coronavirus , with cases outside of China having increased 13-fold in the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelming majority of cases , with over 80,000 people infected .
However , Italy has passed 24,000 cases , Iran has over 13,000 , and South Korea has over 8,000 cases .
The U.S. has now surpassed 3,700 cases .
In total , the disease has infected about 169,000 people worldwide , and killed about 6,500 .
This gives it a mortality rate of about 3.8 percent .
While the spread of the disease has slowed in China , it is gathering speed in Europe , other East Asian countries and the U.S @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 24,000 cases and 1,800 deaths so far , Italy has been affected the worst , outside of China .
It has , therefore , taken some drastic measures to stop the spread .
In a televised address to the nation , Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the mandatory closure of all bars , restaurants , salons , barbershops and nonessential company departments .
Only supermarkets , food stores and chemists are to remain open .
Streets are empty , tourist hubs are abandoned , and Italian league soccer games are being played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the players ’ shouts are heard .
Almost everyone is in quarantine .
In addition , according to Italian newspaper Il Sore 24 Ole , anyone who exhibits symptoms of illness and refuses to self-quarantine could face up to 21 years in prison for “ intentional murder.
” Ireland has taken a similar route , with Prime Minister Leo Varadkar ordering the closure of schools , colleges and child-care facilities until March 29 .
He has also banned all indoor gatherings of over 100 people and outdoor gatherings of over 500 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Latvia have also closed schools and universities , and placed restrictions on planned public events .
Of these measures , Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said , “ We must be prepared that today we will come with the strongest and most radical measures we have had in peacetime in Norway.
” As such , the free movement of citizens throughout the European Union , widely considered the EU ’ s crowning achievement , is also under threat because of the disease .
Several European countries are introducing border checkpoints for the screening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Continent .
Across the Atlantic in the U.S. , days after an usher was found to have coronavirus , New York announced it would be shutting down Broadway and all gatherings over 500 people .
Additionally , after two schools in the Bronx were closed after one student had been found to be infected , Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that all public schools in New York would be shut down , affecting over 1,800 schools and about 1 million students .
“ There is a real possibility , ” de Blasio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools now , we may not have the opportunity to reopen them in this school year.
” California has imposed similar measures restricting gatherings of more than 250 people , including sporting events , conferences and concerts .
The Roman Catholic archdiocese of Seattle has also suspended all public masses , with bishops in Virginia and Washington , D.C. , saying they would do the same .
President Donald Trump has been widely criticized for a perceived poor response to the outbreak , but he has also taken serious action against the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe for the next 30 days .
The National Basketball Association announced last week that it was suspending the rest of the season indefinitely , after two basketball players tested positive for the disease .
The National Collegiate Athletic Association canceled the March Madness basketball tournament .
In motorsports , the Australian Grand Prix was canceled .
The Bahrain and Vietnam races were canceled soon after as well , and the Spanish and Dutch Grand Prix are now also being called into question .
In soccer , the Spanish league suspended all games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Madrid ’ s first team self-isolated , and various European club games are already being played behind closed doors .
International friendly games , such as Wales vs. U.S.A. , have been canceled , while the Euro 2020 Competition also faces suspension .
Rugby league games between teams from Scotland , Ireland , Wales , Italy and South Africa have been suspended until further notice .
The Tennis atp tour has been suspended for six weeks , while the Golf Players Championship instituted a spectator ban beginning March 13 .
So many normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been impacted by coronavirus .
People are fighting over toilet paper ; streets are empty ; fans are worried their favorite celebrities are about to die .
Sporting events , concerts and travel have all been suspended or canceled .
Disney is closing theme parks and some people can ’ t even go to church .
Stock markets are tumbling as fears over the disease increase .
The Federal Reserve cut its rates to zero to stabilize the economy .
Politicians and public figures are being tested for the disease , with some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and actor Tom Hanks , testing positive ; while others , like Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife , are simply self-isolating .
This is only one disease that has infected about 170,000 people .
This one disease has caused mass panic all over the world and triggered responses that have practically brought the world to a standstill .
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the 2009 H1N1 pandemic infected up to 90 million people in the U.S. alone , killing an estimated 500,000 people worldwide .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ globally .
While it has not yet reached maximum saturation levels , it is currently not as deadly as other pandemics have been .
And yet , paradoxically , the levels of panic caused by coronavirus are greater than almost anything seen in the modern era .
Social media and better modes of communication have surely played a part in this .
What happens when it is not just one pandemic rapidly spreading all over the world , but several diseases , infecting and decimating global populations ?
What will happen to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shopping , human interaction , international relations , the global economy—when the biblically prophesied “ four horsemen of the apocalypse ” begin to ride ?
Jesus Christ prophesied of such a time when nations would rise against nation , “ kingdom against kingdom : and there shall be … pestilences … in divers places ” all before His return ( Matthew 24:7 ) .
In “ Coronavirus and Other Modern Plagues in Prophecy , ” Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote : What we are seeing happening right now is a harbinger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a sign of how close we are to the glorious return of Jesus Christ .
But before that happens , things will get a great deal worse .
To learn more about what is just ahead and how to better prepare for it , please read “ Coronavirus and Other Modern Plagues in Prophecy .
”

Have we forgotten Syria’s children? Since 2011, around 9,000 boys and girls have lost their lives or been injured in attacks and bombings in Syria. “A child dies every 10 hours as a result of the war,” the United Nations Children’s Fund (unicef) reported on March 13.
The civil war in Syria broke out nine years ago in March 2011. The Syrian crisis is one of the worst humanitarian crises in mankind’s history. Since its start, we have witnessed the rise of the Islamic State, the resulting horrors in the region, and the subsequent intervention of Iran, Russia, Turkey and the United States.
Despite the suffering, most nations involved see Syria as more of a geopolitical battleground than a humanitarian crisis. Turkey, Iran, Russia and others are fighting in Syria, but none of them are fighting to end the country’s suffering.
Those who support Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government, like Iran and Russia, support a regime that uses chemical weapons against its own citizens and is responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands and the flight of millions more. Others who support the rebels seek to overthrow the government in hopes of bringing regime change in their favor. Others, like the Kurds, hope to use the crisis to establish their own independent state—a goal vehemently opposed by Turkey. All this has devastating consequences for the country.
Millions of children grow up in Syria without education. The civil war is their everyday reality, and many of them know nothing else.
unicef is pleading for support, as over 5 million Syrian children and 2.5 million others in neighboring countries need help. “In recent weeks,” Deutsche Welle noted, “some 900,000 individuals, including more than half a million children, have been forced to flee the area due to confrontations between Turkish troops and Syrian government forces.”
But the refugees have no place to go. Turkey has taken in close to 4 million and is overburdened and in dire economic condition. Europe has closed its borders to Turkey after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hoped to pressure Europe into getting involved in Syria by allowing thousands of refugees to enter Europe.
Videos of hopeless young children in between borders have caught the world’s attention. But who can end their suffering?
Europe, led by Germany, is now positioning itself to get involved in Syria. Some see this as Syria’s only hope. But as Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry explained in “How the Syrian Crisis Will End,” “For Germany, Syria’s revolution isn’t about a humanitarian crisis at all. It’s about geopolitics and how Berlin can aggressively advance its strategic interests in the Middle East!”
U.S. efforts in Syria have failed, and if Europe won’t help Syria, who can bring this country peace?
Mankind’s history is one of war and hopelessness. Most don’t seem to care unless they are personally affected. When Jesus Christ walked this Earth, He was moved with compassion by seeing the suffering of this world (Matthew 9:36). He prophesied of a time so terrible that “there should no flesh be saved” alive, unless God supernaturally intervened (Matthew 24:22).
God will end mankind’s suffering; He is the only one who can. God’s intervention is mankind’s only hope. Watch the video below to understand why God allows suffering and His plan to end it.


thetrumpet--2020-03-16--Coronavirus Officially a Global Pandemic

The World Health Organization officially designated coronavirus a pandemic on March 11. A pandemic is a disease that spreads in multiple countries across the world at the same time. The most recent pandemics include diseases such as the H1N1 swine flu and hiv/aids. Now they are joined by coronavirus, with cases outside of China having increased 13-fold in the last two weeks.
.@WHO is deeply concerned by the alarming levels of the #coronavirus spread, severity & inaction, & expects to see the number of cases, deaths & affected countries climb even higher. Therefore, we made the assessment that #COVID19 can be characterized as a pandemic. https://t.co/97XSmyigME pic.twitter.com/gSqFm947D8 — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) March 11, 2020
Mainland China has the overwhelming majority of cases, with over 80,000 people infected. However, Italy has passed 24,000 cases, Iran has over 13,000, and South Korea has over 8,000 cases. The U.S. has now surpassed 3,700 cases.
In total, the disease has infected about 169,000 people worldwide, and killed about 6,500. This gives it a mortality rate of about 3.8 percent.
While the spread of the disease has slowed in China, it is gathering speed in Europe, other East Asian countries and the U.S. Governments are taking action.
With over 24,000 cases and 1,800 deaths so far, Italy has been affected the worst, outside of China. It has, therefore, taken some drastic measures to stop the spread.
In a televised address to the nation, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the mandatory closure of all bars, restaurants, salons, barbershops and nonessential company departments. Only supermarkets, food stores and chemists are to remain open.
Streets are empty, tourist hubs are abandoned, and Italian league soccer games are being played in empty stadiums where only the echoes of the players’ shouts are heard. Almost everyone is in quarantine.
Italy’s Milan central station is eerily empty, and it’s the same situation in many parts of Rome as the country is on a strict lockdown in a fight against the #coronavirus https://t.co/mv1QwZYN2R pic.twitter.com/k2HjiuiNF0 — Reuters (@Reuters) March 12, 2020
In addition, according to Italian newspaper Il Sore 24 Ole, anyone who exhibits symptoms of illness and refuses to self-quarantine could face up to 21 years in prison for “intentional murder.”
Ireland has taken a similar route, with Prime Minister Leo Varadkar ordering the closure of schools, colleges and child-care facilities until March 29. He has also banned all indoor gatherings of over 100 people and outdoor gatherings of over 500 people.
Denmark, Norway, Estonia and Latvia have also closed schools and universities, and placed restrictions on planned public events. Of these measures, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said, “We must be prepared that today we will come with the strongest and most radical measures we have had in peacetime in Norway.”
As such, the free movement of citizens throughout the European Union, widely considered the EU’s crowning achievement, is also under threat because of the disease. Several European countries are introducing border checkpoints for the screening of all those engaging in travel across the Continent.
Across the Atlantic in the U.S., days after an usher was found to have coronavirus, New York announced it would be shutting down Broadway and all gatherings over 500 people. Additionally, after two schools in the Bronx were closed after one student had been found to be infected, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that all public schools in New York would be shut down, affecting over 1,800 schools and about 1 million students. “There is a real possibility,” de Blasio said, “that by closing our schools now, we may not have the opportunity to reopen them in this school year.”
California has imposed similar measures restricting gatherings of more than 250 people, including sporting events, conferences and concerts. The Roman Catholic archdiocese of Seattle has also suspended all public masses, with bishops in Virginia and Washington, D.C., saying they would do the same.
President Donald Trump has been widely criticized for a perceived poor response to the outbreak, but he has also taken serious action against the disease, banning all travel to and from Europe for the next 30 days.
The National Basketball Association announced last week that it was suspending the rest of the season indefinitely, after two basketball players tested positive for the disease. The National Collegiate Athletic Association canceled the March Madness basketball tournament.
In motorsports, the Australian Grand Prix was canceled. The Bahrain and Vietnam races were canceled soon after as well, and the Spanish and Dutch Grand Prix are now also being called into question.
In soccer, the Spanish league suspended all games for the next two weeks after Real Madrid’s first team self-isolated, and various European club games are already being played behind closed doors. International friendly games, such as Wales vs. U.S.A., have been canceled, while the Euro 2020 Competition also faces suspension.
Rugby league games between teams from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Italy and South Africa have been suspended until further notice. The Tennis atp tour has been suspended for six weeks, while the Golf Players Championship instituted a spectator ban beginning March 13.
So many normal aspects of life and day-to-day activities have been impacted by coronavirus. People are fighting over toilet paper; streets are empty; fans are worried their favorite celebrities are about to die. Sporting events, concerts and travel have all been suspended or canceled. Disney is closing theme parks and some people can’t even go to church. Stock markets are tumbling as fears over the disease increase. The Federal Reserve cut its rates to zero to stabilize the economy. Politicians and public figures are being tested for the disease, with some, like Brazil’s communications chief and actor Tom Hanks, testing positive; while others, like Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, are simply self-isolating.
This is only one disease that has infected about 170,000 people. This one disease has caused mass panic all over the world and triggered responses that have practically brought the world to a standstill.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the 2009 H1N1 pandemic infected up to 90 million people in the U.S. alone, killing an estimated 500,000 people worldwide. Coronavirus has infected and killed far fewer globally. While it has not yet reached maximum saturation levels, it is currently not as deadly as other pandemics have been.
And yet, paradoxically, the levels of panic caused by coronavirus are greater than almost anything seen in the modern era. Social media and better modes of communication have surely played a part in this.
What happens when it is not just one pandemic rapidly spreading all over the world, but several diseases, infecting and decimating global populations? What will happen to the fabric of society—to travel, sports, shopping, human interaction, international relations, the global economy—when the biblically prophesied “four horsemen of the apocalypse” begin to ride more powerfully?
Jesus Christ prophesied of such a time when nations would rise against nation, “kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be … pestilences … in divers places” all before His return (Matthew 24:7). In “Coronavirus and Other Modern Plagues in Prophecy,” Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote:
These are not dusty old prophecies. They are mostly for our time today! They are dramatic, dire prophecies whose fulfillment lies directly before us! Multiple millions of people are prophesied to perish from sickness and disease! So we should expect diseases like this new Wuhan coronavirus to get worse, and to eventually spread like medieval pandemics and kill millions of people! Whether or not this specific new outbreak will cause such ruin, these prophecies are sure.
What we are seeing happening right now is a harbinger of what is to come. It is a sign of how close we are to the glorious return of Jesus Christ. But before that happens, things will get a great deal worse. To learn more about what is just ahead and how to better prepare for it, please read “Coronavirus and Other Modern Plagues in Prophecy.”


thetrumpet--2020-03-16--Health Officials the World Over: Be Afraid—Be Very Afraid

Surrounded by members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force , Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious @ @ @ @ @ as US President Donald Trump listens during a press conference on COVID-19 at White House @ @ @ @ @ on March 13 , 2020 .
Leaders around the world are inciting panic in response @ @ @ @ @ National Insitute of Allergy and Infectious Disease head Anthony Fuaci said yesterday , “ If @ @ @ @ @ re overreacting , you ’ re probably doing the right thing.
” Former Ronald Reagan @ @ @ @ @ that saying “ Don ’ t panic ” is “ rotten advice , ” and @ @ @ @ @ just good sense.
” What is the cost of this widespread panic ?
Why are @ @ @ @ @ What happened to common sense ?
On today ’ s show , I talk about @ @ @ @ @ Bible prophecy and how this crisis is exposing our nation ’ s division and leadership @ @ @ @ @ Trumpet Daily Radio Show on Apple Podcasts , Google Play or by RSS

Health Officials the World Over: Be Afraid—Be Very Afraid
Leaders around the world are inciting panic in response to the coronavirus outbreak. National Insitute of Allergy and Infectious Disease head Anthony Fuaci said yesterday, “If it looks like you’re overreacting, you’re probably doing the right thing.” Former Ronald Reagan speech writer Peggy Noonan wrote that saying “Don’t panic” is “rotten advice,” and that “sometimes paranoia is just good sense.” What is the cost of this widespread panic? Why are leaders stoking the paranoia? What happened to common sense? On today’s show, I talk about coronavirus in the framework of Bible prophecy and how this crisis is exposing our nation’s division and leadership failings.


thetrumpet--2020-03-13--Global Pandemics and Mass Hysteria

Global Pandemics and Mass Hysteria

At this stage , the hysteria over the coronavirus is a bigger story than the virus itself .
The radical-left @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump over his handling of the coronavirus .
In this segment , I take @ @ @ @ @ the Obama administration handled the outbreak of swine flu in 2009 and how the media @ @ @ @ @ One of the big takeaways from the coronavirus outbreak is how it has redefined geopolitics @ @ @ @ @ and Europe is deepening .
And as the Telegraph noted recently , the virus has @ @ @ @ @ is back !
Subscribe to the Trumpet Daily Radio Show on Apple Podcasts , Google @ @ @ @

Global Pandemics and Mass Hysteria
Coronavirus Hysteria (9 minutes)
At this stage, the hysteria over the coronavirus is a bigger story than the virus itself.
What About Swine Flu? (23 minutes)
The radical-left media are continually hounding President Donald Trump over his handling of the coronavirus. In this segment, I take a look back at how the Obama administration handled the outbreak of swine flu in 2009 and how the media reacted at the time.
Coronavirus Reshaping the World (15 minutes)
One of the big takeaways from the coronavirus outbreak is how it has redefined geopolitics. The rift between America and Europe is deepening. And as the Telegraph noted recently, the virus has certainly shown that the nation-state is back!
Listener Feedback (5 minutes)


Is Christ Divided?

The greatest tragedy in this end time is the falling away of Godʼs own Laodicean Church ( Revelation 3:14-22 ) @ @ @ @ @ of several groups , are deceived on many different issues .
But there is one @ @ @ @ @ Laodiceans are deceived on : Godʼs government !
And it is the most important subject @ @ @ @ @ booklet will explain how Christ is the Head of His spiritual Body , the Church @ @ @ @ @ protects His Family , if they respond to Him.The lukewarm Laodiceans will experience the greatest @ @ @ @ @ 50 percent of them will die for all eternity !
Remember , these are Godʼs @ @ @ @ @ afford not to understand this subject !

The greatest tragedy in this end time is the falling away of Godʼs own Laodicean Church (Revelation 3:14-22). The Laodiceans, comprised of several groups, are deceived on many different issues. But there is one issue that all of the Laodiceans are deceived on: Godʼs government! And it is the most important subject in the Bible! This booklet will explain how Christ is the Head of His spiritual Body, the Church. He looks after and protects His Family, if they respond to Him. The lukewarm Laodiceans will experience the greatest suffering ever on this Earth—and 50 percent of them will die for all eternity! Remember, these are Godʼs own people. You canʼt afford not to understand this subject!


thetrumpet--2020-03-17--The Anatomy of a Pandemic

The Anatomy of a Pandemic

Medical staff takes samples at a drive-through coronavirus testing lab set up by a local community center in West Palm @ @ @ @ @ this time of public health crisis , it ’ s important to remember Herbert W. @ @ @ @ @ of radiant health .
In this segment , I remind listeners about those seven laws @ @ @ @ @ a positive mental attitude !
How does the coronavirus compare to other outbreaks and causes @ @ @ @ @ segment , I try to put today ’ s pandemic in perspective .
President Donald @ @ @ @ @ to politicize the coronavirus to attack and undermine his presidency .
Meanwhile , commentators who @ @ @ @ @ viciously attacked .
Subscribe to the Trumpet Daily Radio Show on Apple Podcasts , Google @ @ @ @

The Anatomy of a Pandemic
Laws of Radiant Health (5 minutes)
During this time of public health crisis, it’s important to remember Herbert W. Armstrong’s seven laws of radiant health. In this segment, I remind listeners about those seven laws and emphasize the importance of a positive mental attitude!
Coronavirus Hysteria (18 minutes)
How does the coronavirus compare to other outbreaks and causes of death? In this segment, I try to put today’s pandemic in perspective.
Politically Motivated Hysteria? (32 minutes)
President Donald Trump’s enemies continue to politicize the coronavirus to attack and undermine his presidency. Meanwhile, commentators who draw attention to this are viciously attacked.


Britain’s Un-Conservative Budget

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak poses outside No.11 Downing Street before delivering the first post-Brexit budget in London on March 11 .
Is debt a smart way to escape the economic impact of coronavirus ?
Newly appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced Britain ’ s budget for the coming year on March 11 .
In it , he unveiled massive spending and borrowing on a scale not seen for decades .
Many now question whether the Conservative party is embracing outright socialism .
His budget totals £928 billion ( us $ 1.12 trillion ) , compared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
It will run a deficit of 2 percent to 3 percent gross domestic product .
Everyone expected an increase in spending .
But many were still surprised by the sheer amount of money Sunak threw at the economy for the coming year .
“ Is This Government Socialist ?
” asked a headline in the Telegraph .
Many commentators expressed surprise at how un-conservative the budget was .
Sunak hailed his budget as “ the largest sustained fiscal boost for 30 years.
” The Times called it “ the biggest such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was less a Conservative budget than ‘ the people ’ s budget , ’ ” stated a prominent website that supports the Conservative party .
The “ people ’ s budget ” was proposed by Lloyd George in 1909 and aimed to radically increase funding for social welfare programs .
“ It ’ s safe to say that the Tory party is operating with a brand new economic tool kit , ” said the Spectator .
Others labeled Sunak a more radical version of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown , who was known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Exchequer in the mid-2000s .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson campaigned on a platform of tax cuts .
However , the budget raises revenues from taxes by £5.5 billion ( $ 7 billion ) a year .
Where will the funding go ?
The largest portion , £30 billion ( $ 37.6 billion ) goes to a broad stimulus package aimed at combating the adverse effects of coronavirus on trade and business .
Keynesian economics , the school of thought that informs most politicians , says a government should run large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The government injects money to encourage consumer and business spending , stimulating the economy to make up for lost productivity .
But Sunak ’ s splurge goes further than offsetting the effects of coronavirus .
It provoked strong reactions from those who oppose strong government intervention .
“ Some infrastructure and public services spending , as well as supporting individuals and businesses during covid-19 , is necessary , ” wrote the Adam Smith Institute , a UK-based economic think tank .
“ But in the longer-run , spending like a drunken sailor will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asked to defend his decisions , Sunak pointed to interest rates , currently low because of coronavirus .
But assuming that conditions will stay this way is dangerous .
“ The national debt is already roughly double where it should be for peacetime , and one thing is for sure , financing conditions are not going to remain as favorable as they are now for ever , ” wrote the Telegraph .
Britain ’ s debt-to-gdp ratio is already unprecedented outside of wartime , and another fast change could put it in dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always proved difficult .
And government spending programs are not always the answer .
“ [ T ] he plans the chancellor unveiled betray an extraordinary faith in the power of government to make a success of every project.
” An all-out spending spree is worrying .
But so is the fact that it happened under a conservative government .
Since it began , the Conservative party has stood for reductions in the size of government .
In contrast to the Labour party , it has sought to cut taxes and curb major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the most notable examples of this approach .
The Conservatives have shown Britain that they are drifting to the left .
And it ’ s not just Sunak who espouses a radical belief in high spending .
“ [ O ] ur sense is that this was not a budget drawn up by the chancellor .
Rather , it was masterminded jointly in Downing Street , to which the top of the Treasury , in the form of Sunak , has been yoked , ” wrote political commentator Paul Goodman .
Socialism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s major parties .
The Conservative budget is liberal .
Yet it ’ s only a fraction of the extreme spending that would have occurred under a Labour government .
Promoted as a cure-all for the economic ailments of coronavirus , many recognize Sunak ’ s budget will be dangerous for Britain in the long run .
What Britain is doing is nothing new .
United States President Donald Trump is the self-proclaimed “ king of debt.
” Britain is following the same risky path .
Historically , the Conservative party has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of debt , but this is changing .
Much of this is because of a society that endorses instant gratification and promotes debt as a healthy way of life .
Few today stop to ask where the material wealth came from that enabled Britain to be so prosperous for such a long time .
That answer , which almost nobody understands , is found in the pages of the Bible .
Our free book The United States and Britain in Prophecy , by Herbert W. Armstrong , explains that both Britain and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Israel .
The Bible prophesied that these nations would be blessed with wealth above that of the rest of the world .
History proves that this happened .
Britain once had a global empire .
It was the strongest commonwealth of nations in the world .
The U.S. was the greatest single nation .
What has Britain done with those economic blessings ?
“ When God lavished on our peoples such wealth and power and economic possession as no peoples have ever before enjoyed , did we appreciate what we had or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its wise and proper use ?
” asked Mr. Armstrong .
Have we been responsible ?
Debt is the way of life for politicians and ordinary people alike .
God warned that we would lose this tremendous wealth as a result of disobedience to His law .
Deuteronomy 28:44 describes a time when our people are forced to borrow and unable to lend .
This is happening .
Britain has the world ’ s second-largest national debt , after the United States .
An economic crisis that weakens the U.S. and Britain will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rise .
Mr. Armstrong wrote in a July 22 , 1984 , co-worker letter that a major banking crisis in the U.S. “ could suddenly result in triggering European nations to unite as a new world power , larger than either the Soviet Union or the U.S. ” As the United Kingdom follows the U.S. down this dangerous path , how can you prepare for the future ?
Read our free booklet Solve Your Money Troubles !
to learn the answer .

Newly appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced Britain’s budget for the coming year on March 11. In it, he unveiled massive spending and borrowing on a scale not seen for decades. Many now question whether the Conservative party is embracing outright socialism.
His budget totals £928 billion (us$1.12 trillion), compared to a total of £821 billion last fiscal year. It will run a deficit of 2 percent to 3 percent gross domestic product.
Everyone expected an increase in spending. But many were still surprised by the sheer amount of money Sunak threw at the economy for the coming year.
“Is This Government Socialist?” asked a headline in the Telegraph. Many commentators expressed surprise at how un-conservative the budget was.
Sunak hailed his budget as “the largest sustained fiscal boost for 30 years.” The Times called it “the biggest such capital-spending splurge since 1955.”
“This was less a Conservative budget than ‘the people’s budget,’” stated a prominent website that supports the Conservative party. The “people’s budget” was proposed by Lloyd George in 1909 and aimed to radically increase funding for social welfare programs.
“It’s safe to say that the Tory party is operating with a brand new economic tool kit,” said the Spectator. Others labeled Sunak a more radical version of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who was known for high spending when he was chancellor of the Exchequer in the mid-2000s.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson campaigned on a platform of tax cuts. However, the budget raises revenues from taxes by £5.5 billion ($7 billion) a year. Where will the funding go?
The largest portion, £30 billion ($37.6 billion) goes to a broad stimulus package aimed at combating the adverse effects of coronavirus on trade and business.
Keynesian economics, the school of thought that informs most politicians, says a government should run large deficits when the economy slows down. The government injects money to encourage consumer and business spending, stimulating the economy to make up for lost productivity.
But Sunak’s splurge goes further than offsetting the effects of coronavirus. It provoked strong reactions from those who oppose strong government intervention. “Some infrastructure and public services spending, as well as supporting individuals and businesses during covid-19, is necessary,” wrote the Adam Smith Institute, a UK-based economic think tank. “But in the longer-run, spending like a drunken sailor will not create a thriving entrepreneurial economy.”
Asked to defend his decisions, Sunak pointed to interest rates, currently low because of coronavirus. But assuming that conditions will stay this way is dangerous.
“The national debt is already roughly double where it should be for peacetime, and one thing is for sure, financing conditions are not going to remain as favorable as they are now for ever,” wrote the Telegraph. Britain’s debt-to-gdp ratio is already unprecedented outside of wartime, and another fast change could put it in dangerous economic territory. Forecasting interest rates has always proved difficult. And government spending programs are not always the answer. “[T]he plans the chancellor unveiled betray an extraordinary faith in the power of government to make a success of every project.”
An all-out spending spree is worrying. But so is the fact that it happened under a conservative government.
Since it began, the Conservative party has stood for reductions in the size of government. In contrast to the Labour party, it has sought to cut taxes and curb major government spending. Margaret Thatcher was one of the most notable examples of this approach.
The Conservatives have shown Britain that they are drifting to the left. And it’s not just Sunak who espouses a radical belief in high spending.
“[O]ur sense is that this was not a budget drawn up by the chancellor. Rather, it was masterminded jointly in Downing Street, to which the top of the Treasury, in the form of Sunak, has been yoked,” wrote political commentator Paul Goodman.
Socialism is becoming fashionable in both of Britain’s major parties. The Conservative budget is liberal. Yet it’s only a fraction of the extreme spending that would have occurred under a Labour government.
Promoted as a cure-all for the economic ailments of coronavirus, many recognize Sunak’s budget will be dangerous for Britain in the long run.
What Britain is doing is nothing new. United States President Donald Trump is the self-proclaimed “king of debt.” Britain is following the same risky path.
Historically, the Conservative party has not been keen on keeping ultra-high levels of debt, but this is changing. Much of this is because of a society that endorses instant gratification and promotes debt as a healthy way of life.
Few today stop to ask where the material wealth came from that enabled Britain to be so prosperous for such a long time. That answer, which almost nobody understands, is found in the pages of the Bible.
Our free book The United States and Britain in Prophecy, by Herbert W. Armstrong, explains that both Britain and the United States descended from the ancient nation of Israel. The Bible prophesied that these nations would be blessed with wealth above that of the rest of the world. History proves that this happened. Britain once had a global empire. It was the strongest commonwealth of nations in the world. The U.S. was the greatest single nation.
What has Britain done with those economic blessings?
“When God lavished on our peoples such wealth and power and economic possession as no peoples have ever before enjoyed, did we appreciate what we had or feel the commensurate sense of responsibility for its wise and proper use?” asked Mr. Armstrong. Have we been responsible? Debt is the way of life for politicians and ordinary people alike.
God warned that we would lose this tremendous wealth as a result of disobedience to His law. Deuteronomy 28:44 describes a time when our people are forced to borrow and unable to lend. This is happening. Britain has the world’s second-largest national debt, after the United States.
An economic crisis that weakens the U.S. and Britain will set the stage for a European superpower to rise. Mr. Armstrong wrote in a July 22, 1984, co-worker letter that a major banking crisis in the U.S. “could suddenly result in triggering European nations to unite as a new world power, larger than either the Soviet Union or the U.S.”
As the United Kingdom follows the U.S. down this dangerous path, how can you prepare for the future? Read our free booklet Solve Your Money Troubles! to learn the answer.


thetrumpet--2020-03-18--New York Times Admits Error in 1619 Project

A medical worker works on samples to be tested for coronavirus at a community health-care service center on March 13 in Taiyuan , China .
The disease has practically brought the world to a standstill .
The World Health Organization officially designated coronavirus a pandemic on March 11 .
A pandemic is a disease that spreads in multiple countries across the world at the same time .
The most recent pandemics include diseases such as the H1N1 swine flu and hiv/aids .
Now they are joined by coronavirus , with cases outside of China having increased 13-fold in the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelming majority of cases , with over 80,000 people infected .
However , Italy has passed 24,000 cases , Iran has over 13,000 , and South Korea has over 8,000 cases .
The U.S. has now surpassed 3,700 cases .
In total , the disease has infected about 169,000 people worldwide , and killed about 6,500 .
This gives it a mortality rate of about 3.8 percent .
While the spread of the disease has slowed in China , it is gathering speed in Europe , other East Asian countries and the U.S @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 24,000 cases and 1,800 deaths so far , Italy has been affected the worst , outside of China .
It has , therefore , taken some drastic measures to stop the spread .
In a televised address to the nation , Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the mandatory closure of all bars , restaurants , salons , barbershops and nonessential company departments .
Only supermarkets , food stores and chemists are to remain open .
Streets are empty , tourist hubs are abandoned , and Italian league soccer games are being played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the players ’ shouts are heard .
Almost everyone is in quarantine .
In addition , according to Italian newspaper Il Sore 24 Ole , anyone who exhibits symptoms of illness and refuses to self-quarantine could face up to 21 years in prison for “ intentional murder.
” Ireland has taken a similar route , with Prime Minister Leo Varadkar ordering the closure of schools , colleges and child-care facilities until March 29 .
He has also banned all indoor gatherings of over 100 people and outdoor gatherings of over 500 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Latvia have also closed schools and universities , and placed restrictions on planned public events .
Of these measures , Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said , “ We must be prepared that today we will come with the strongest and most radical measures we have had in peacetime in Norway.
” As such , the free movement of citizens throughout the European Union , widely considered the EU ’ s crowning achievement , is also under threat because of the disease .
Several European countries are introducing border checkpoints for the screening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Continent .
Across the Atlantic in the U.S. , days after an usher was found to have coronavirus , New York announced it would be shutting down Broadway and all gatherings over 500 people .
Additionally , after two schools in the Bronx were closed after one student had been found to be infected , Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that all public schools in New York would be shut down , affecting over 1,800 schools and about 1 million students .
“ There is a real possibility , ” de Blasio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools now , we may not have the opportunity to reopen them in this school year.
” California has imposed similar measures restricting gatherings of more than 250 people , including sporting events , conferences and concerts .
The Roman Catholic archdiocese of Seattle has also suspended all public masses , with bishops in Virginia and Washington , D.C. , saying they would do the same .
President Donald Trump has been widely criticized for a perceived poor response to the outbreak , but he has also taken serious action against the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe for the next 30 days .
The National Basketball Association announced last week that it was suspending the rest of the season indefinitely , after two basketball players tested positive for the disease .
The National Collegiate Athletic Association canceled the March Madness basketball tournament .
In motorsports , the Australian Grand Prix was canceled .
The Bahrain and Vietnam races were canceled soon after as well , and the Spanish and Dutch Grand Prix are now also being called into question .
In soccer , the Spanish league suspended all games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Madrid ’ s first team self-isolated , and various European club games are already being played behind closed doors .
International friendly games , such as Wales vs. U.S.A. , have been canceled , while the Euro 2020 Competition also faces suspension .
Rugby league games between teams from Scotland , Ireland , Wales , Italy and South Africa have been suspended until further notice .
The Tennis atp tour has been suspended for six weeks , while the Golf Players Championship instituted a spectator ban beginning March 13 .
So many normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been impacted by coronavirus .
People are fighting over toilet paper ; streets are empty ; fans are worried their favorite celebrities are about to die .
Sporting events , concerts and travel have all been suspended or canceled .
Disney is closing theme parks and some people can ’ t even go to church .
Stock markets are tumbling as fears over the disease increase .
The Federal Reserve cut its rates to zero to stabilize the economy .
Politicians and public figures are being tested for the disease , with some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and actor Tom Hanks , testing positive ; while others , like Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife , are simply self-isolating .
This is only one disease that has infected about 170,000 people .
This one disease has caused mass panic all over the world and triggered responses that have practically brought the world to a standstill .
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the 2009 H1N1 pandemic infected up to 90 million people in the U.S. alone , killing an estimated 500,000 people worldwide .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ globally .
While it has not yet reached maximum saturation levels , it is currently not as deadly as other pandemics have been .
And yet , paradoxically , the levels of panic caused by coronavirus are greater than almost anything seen in the modern era .
Social media and better modes of communication have surely played a part in this .
What happens when it is not just one pandemic rapidly spreading all over the world , but several diseases , infecting and decimating global populations ?
What will happen to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shopping , human interaction , international relations , the global economy—when the biblically prophesied “ four horsemen of the apocalypse ” begin to ride more powerfully ?
Jesus Christ prophesied of such a time when nations would rise against nation , “ kingdom against kingdom : and there shall be … pestilences … in divers places ” all before His return ( Matthew 24:7 ) .
In “ Coronavirus and Other Modern Plagues in Prophecy , ” Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote : What we are seeing happening right now is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is a sign of how close we are to the glorious return of Jesus Christ .
But before that happens , things will get a great deal worse .
To learn more about what is just ahead and how to better prepare for it , please read “ Coronavirus and Other Modern Plagues in Prophecy .
”

Nikole Hannah-Jones, head of the New York Times’ flagship 1619 Project, has acknowledged that she was mistaken in saying that “one of the primary reasons” the colonists revolted against England was to preserve the institution of slavery.
She has altered her original statement, which claimed all the colonists revolted against Britain to preserve the practice of slavery. It now says that only “some” of the colonists rebelled to preserve slavery.
Her change strikes at the heart of the New York Times’ radical attempt to rewrite American history.
The New York Times published a series of essays called the 1619 Project in August 2019. These essays claimed that the true foundation of the United States did not lie in the Declaration of Independence. Instead, the nation’s origins come from 1619—the date the first slave arrived in America. America’s history was reinterpreted in light of slavery. It claimed that every facet of capitalist, democratic American society was built on slavery.
In being forced to admit that slavery was not “one of the primary reasons” the colonists revolted against England, Hannah-Jones has undermined the whole project.
In an editorial note published March 11, Hannah-Jones backtracked on what she’d originally written. She clarified that she meant “some” colonists revolted against slavery, instead of all of them. “In attempting to summarize and streamline, journalists can sometimes lose important context and nuance. I did that here,” she tweeted on March 12.
https://twitter.com/nhannahjones/status/1238122289041997824
Her admission comes seven months after the essays were published, and after historians leveled myriad criticisms at her project, all of which she previously denied.
Criticism from journalist Leslie Harris, who worked as a fact checker on the 1619 Project, likely precipitated this admission. Writing for Politico, Harris said she made a vigorous argument against the slavery statement but was ignored by Hannah-Jones.
The New York Times stood by the main point of the project. The editorial note claimed it was based on “scholarship into the origins and character of the Revolution that has marked the past 40 years or so of early American historiography.” Revisionist history, such as Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States and other anti-American works, fall into this category of “scholarship.”
Recognized, credible historians of high standing have weighed in on the lack of factual truth found in the 1619 Project. In a letter published in the Dec. 29, 2019, issue of the New York Times, they demanded “prominent corrections of all the errors and distortions presented in the 1619 Project.”
The errors, combined with a response of denial rather than willingness to admit mistakes, “suggest a displacement of historical understanding by ideology. Dismissal of objections on racial grounds—that they are the objections of only ‘white historians’—has affirmed that displacement” (ibid).
What is causing one of America’s biggest news sources to push a factually incorrect and racially incendiary narrative of the nation’s history?
There is no question that the New York Times is pursuing a political message that threatens the increasingly fragile unity of the U.S. Trumpet executive editor Stephen Flurry explained the deadly risk it poses to America’s fragile peace in his article “The New York Times’ Dangerous New Agenda.” He wrote:
These journalists and politicians are hastening the fulfillment of the terrifying prophecy of Isaiah 1: “Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers [Gentiles] devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers” (verse 7). This is about race wars destroying our cities. And God is allowing this destruction because of America’s sins—because the nation is “laden with iniquity” (verse 4). The Times is fomenting racial hatred that will end in death and suffering and the burning of America’s cities. Abraham Lincoln was right when he quoted Jesus Christ: A house divided against itself cannot stand (Matthew 12:25). The nation’s only hope is to look to the same God Lincoln did and seek the Eternal while He may be found, and call upon Him while He is near (Isaiah 55:6).
The Bible foretells that division and hatred will rip American society apart prior to Jesus Christ’s return. But you can escape. As this time of suffering approaches, you can discover and turn toward the way that brings true peace for every race.
For more on the political agenda behind the 1619 Project, read “The New York Times’ Dangerous New Agenda,” by Stephen Flurry.


thetrumpet--2020-03-18--Coronavirus Recoveries and Government Overreach

In the midst of the panic over the coronavirus , it can be easy to lose sight of what is @ @ @ @ @ segment , I remind listeners about the fruits of God ’ s Holy Spirit and @ @ @ @ @ focus on the most important task at hand !
The coronavirus pandemic creates a unique @ @ @ @ @ many countries , the use of surveillance tactics and other monitoring techniques is reaching new @ @ @ @ @ where the balance is between government intervention and preserving civil rights .
Subscribe to the @ @ @ @ @ Apple Podcasts , Google Play or by RSS

Coronavirus Recoveries and Government Overreach
What’s Most Important? (15 minutes)
In the midst of the panic over the coronavirus, it can be easy to lose sight of what is most important. In this segment, I remind listeners about the fruits of God’s Holy Spirit and encourage them to maintain their focus on the most important task at hand!
Coronavirus Crackdown (37 minutes)
The coronavirus pandemic creates a unique opportunity for autocrats. In many countries, the use of surveillance tactics and other monitoring techniques is reaching new extremes. Many are wondering where the balance is between government intervention and preserving civil rights.


thetrumpet--2020-03-18--Coronavirus Conceals Iran’s Push in Iraq

An impact crater resulting from U.S. military air strikes at a militarized zone in the Jurf al-Sakhr area in Iraq ’ s Babylon province controlled by Kataib Hezbollah Mass panic provides a veil for the U.S. to begin its retreat from Iraq .
The United States is in “ national emergency ” mode .
Since President Donald Trump declared a state of national emergency on March 13 , shelves have emptied , schools have closed , and flights have been canceled .
Meanwhile , perilous events occurring on the geopolitical scene are being superseded by fears of coronavirus .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Wuhan coronavirus , Iran ’ s renewed push to drive the U.S. out of Iraq has found itself buried by the media-inflicted mass panic .
On March 11 , the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia fired a barrage of 15 Katyusha rockets at the Taji military base a few miles north of Baghdad .
Two Americans and one British soldier died and several others were injured in the attack .
But the media ’ s preoccupation with coronavirus and the mass panic of the American people caused this crossed “ redline ” to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quite contrary to parallel events in December and January when an American contractor was killed in a Kataib Hezbollah missile attack , these deaths have gone largely unnoticed and unreported by the media .
Instead , the focus remains on coronavirus .
The next day , U.S. retaliatory air strikes struck five Kataib Hezbollah sites .
Instead of being temporarily chastened , Iranian militias actually struck back at America .
On March 14 , Kataib Hezbollah launched another barrage of 33 Katyusha missiles at the same base they attacked just three days earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Iraqi military claimed that several Iraqi servicemen were “ critically wounded ” and two of the three injured American troops were “ seriously injured ” and undergoing treatment in Baghdad .
“ The retaliatory strikes were meant to deter militia from staging any more rocket attacks , ” explained Reuters .
But the strikes failed “ to stem more attacks on the U.S.-led coalition … .
The Iraqi military said on Saturday that [ Iraq ] should instead hasten to implement a parliamentary resolution expelling them [ U.S. forces ] .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ expel U.S. forces has already been passed .
However , since the Iraqi parliament does not have the political authority to kick out the U.S. , the resolution was symbolic of the direction the Iraqi government is shifting .
Several Iraqis have come out condemning the U.S. air strike launched in response to Iran ’ s earlier attack .
The Iraqi military claimed the strikes killed six Iraqis—three members of the Iraqi security forces , two policemen and a civilian—and injured four soldiers , two policemen , a civilian and five militiamen .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ civilians killed in the strikes were construction workers at an airport building site in Karbala , a Shiite holy city .
Iraqi President Barham Salih condemned such attacks , claiming that they could push Iraq over the edge to become a failed state and cause a revival of the Islamic State .
Iraq ’ s Foreign Ministry announced plans to bring a complaint to the United Nations .
Notice the quick political backlash the U.S. received from the Iraqi government .
There is a deep hatred and mistrust of America brewing in Iraq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. and desire its help in freeing them from the Iranian-influenced regime , that faith in America has been slowly eroding over the past 18 years of conflict—especially this last year as Iraq has found itself in the crossfire between Iran ’ s proxies and U.S. forces .
This public Iraqi outcry is partly because Iran heavily influences Iraq ’ s military and parliament .
A decree by former Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi called for the Iran-backed—and in many cases , Iran-aligned—Shiite militias to merge with the Iraqi security forces .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ training and weaponry and gave them virtual invulnerability , because attacking the militia became attacking the Iraqi state ( as we now see playing out in last week ’ s air strikes ) .
In the May 2018 elections , the pro-Iran Fatah Alliance coalition—partly composed of Iran-backed , U.S.-designated terrorists who became politicians—won the second-highest number of seats in the Iraqi parliament .
Ever since , they have called for the ousting of U.S. forces .
The terrorists ’ dream may soon become a reality .
According to nbc News , three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military is planning to consolidate hundreds of troops in Iraq , including withdrawing troops from joint bases at al-Qaim near the Syrian border , Qayyarah Airfield West near Mosul , and possibly Al Taqaddum Air Base west of Baghdad and K-1 Air Base in Kirkuk ( where the U.S. contractor was killed in December ) .
Additionally , the military is also considering reducing the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve from a three-star to a two-star command , putting the operation under a major general instead of a lieutenant general .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ less focus on and be less involved in the Iraqi theater .
A U.S. defense official reportedly said that the recent decision to consolidate troops in Iraq was not a result of the rocket attacks on Taji last week , but has been in the works for several months .
While this may or may not be true , the timing of the consolidation—or partial withdrawal—is interesting considering the recent attacks and the media ’ s preoccupation with coronavirus .
The hysteria and fear surrounding the new disease has provided a cover for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s retreat .
Journalist Lee Smith wrote in the New York Post on January 7 that Qassem Suleimani ’ s assassination was “ an opportunity ” to implement “ the immediate and complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
” In the March Trumpet issue , we gave five trends to watch in the post-Suleimani Middle East , one of which was “ The United States will exit Iraq.
” In the January 2018 Trumpet feature article “ America ’ s Greatest Defeat—Iran ’ s Victory , ” Trumpet editor in chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have helped drive the Islamic State out of Iraq and Syria—but now America is about to be driven out of Iraq and Syria by Iran !
We are about to see a vicious turnaround .
In many ways , it has already started.
” Daniel 11:40 prophesies of an end-time power bloc called “ the king of the south ” that is extremely aggressive .
In his booklet The King of the South , Mr .
Flurry identifies this Middle Eastern power bloc as radical Islamic extremism , led by Iran .
Daniel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push ” the world toward war .
In the last month , Iran has attacked U.S. troops , announced it has enough uranium required to build a bomb , and worked with the Houthi militia in targeting international trade through the Bab el-Mandeb strait and the Red Sea .
Yet these significant geopolitical events have gone largely unnoticed by the media .
Iran ’ s rise as the king of the south is partially being concealed under a veil of media-induced coronavirus panic .
While the coronavirus is definitely an issue that needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the disease has , in some ways , been a large distraction from world-shaking geopolitical events .
As the U.S. and the world as a whole focuses on coronavirus , events in Iraq and the Middle East are speeding toward the fulfillment of Bible prophecy .
For more information , read “ America ’ s Greatest Defeat—Iran ’ s Victory , ” by Gerald Flurry .

The United States is in “national emergency” mode. Since President Donald Trump declared a state of national emergency on March 13, shelves have emptied, schools have closed, and flights have been canceled. Meanwhile, perilous events occurring on the geopolitical scene are being superseded by fears of coronavirus.
As America turns inward to focus on combating the Wuhan coronavirus, Iran’s renewed push to drive the U.S. out of Iraq has found itself buried by the media-inflicted mass panic.
On March 11, the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia fired a barrage of 15 Katyusha rockets at the Taji military base a few miles north of Baghdad. Two Americans and one British soldier died and several others were injured in the attack. But the media’s preoccupation with coronavirus and the mass panic of the American people caused this crossed “redline” to be become lost in the news. Quite contrary to parallel events in December and January when an American contractor was killed in a Kataib Hezbollah missile attack, these deaths have gone largely unnoticed and unreported by the media. Instead, the focus remains on coronavirus.
The next day, U.S. retaliatory air strikes struck five Kataib Hezbollah sites. Instead of being temporarily chastened, Iranian militias actually struck back at America.
On March 14, Kataib Hezbollah launched another barrage of 33 Katyusha missiles at the same base they attacked just three days earlier. According to Reuters, the Pentagon and the Iraqi military claimed that several Iraqi servicemen were “critically wounded” and two of the three injured American troops were “seriously injured” and undergoing treatment in Baghdad.
“The retaliatory strikes were meant to deter militia from staging any more rocket attacks,” explained Reuters. But the strikes failed “to stem more attacks on the U.S.-led coalition …. The Iraqi military said on Saturday that [Iraq] should instead hasten to implement a parliamentary resolution expelling them [U.S. forces].”
This “parliamentary resolution” to expel U.S. forces has already been passed. However, since the Iraqi parliament does not have the political authority to kick out the U.S., the resolution was symbolic of the direction the Iraqi government is shifting.
Several Iraqis have come out condemning the U.S. air strike launched in response to Iran’s earlier attack. The Iraqi military claimed the strikes killed six Iraqis—three members of the Iraqi security forces, two policemen and a civilian—and injured four soldiers, two policemen, a civilian and five militiamen. Iraqi religious authorities claimed that the two civilians killed in the strikes were construction workers at an airport building site in Karbala, a Shiite holy city. Iraqi President Barham Salih condemned such attacks, claiming that they could push Iraq over the edge to become a failed state and cause a revival of the Islamic State. Iraq’s Foreign Ministry announced plans to bring a complaint to the United Nations.
Notice the quick political backlash the U.S. received from the Iraqi government. There is a deep hatred and mistrust of America brewing in Iraq. While some Iraqis still support the U.S. and desire its help in freeing them from the Iranian-influenced regime, that faith in America has been slowly eroding over the past 18 years of conflict—especially this last year as Iraq has found itself in the crossfire between Iran’s proxies and U.S. forces.
This public Iraqi outcry is partly because Iran heavily influences Iraq’s military and parliament.
A decree by former Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi called for the Iran-backed—and in many cases, Iran-aligned—Shiite militias to merge with the Iraqi security forces. This move gave the militias access to advanced training and weaponry and gave them virtual invulnerability, because attacking the militia became attacking the Iraqi state (as we now see playing out in last week’s air strikes). In the May 2018 elections, the pro-Iran Fatah Alliance coalition—partly composed of Iran-backed, U.S.-designated terrorists who became politicians—won the second-highest number of seats in the Iraqi parliament. Ever since, they have called for the ousting of U.S. forces.
The terrorists’ dream may soon become a reality.
According to nbc News, three U.S. defense officials said that the U.S. military is planning to consolidate hundreds of troops in Iraq, including withdrawing troops from joint bases at al-Qaim near the Syrian border, Qayyarah Airfield West near Mosul, and possibly Al Taqaddum Air Base west of Baghdad and K-1 Air Base in Kirkuk (where the U.S. contractor was killed in December).
Additionally, the military is also considering reducing the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve from a three-star to a two-star command, putting the operation under a major general instead of a lieutenant general. This means the U.S. wants to put less focus on and be less involved in the Iraqi theater.
A U.S. defense official reportedly said that the recent decision to consolidate troops in Iraq was not a result of the rocket attacks on Taji last week, but has been in the works for several months. While this may or may not be true, the timing of the consolidation—or partial withdrawal—is interesting considering the recent attacks and the media’s preoccupation with coronavirus. The hysteria and fear surrounding the new disease has provided a cover for both Iran’s rise and America’s retreat.
Journalist Lee Smith wrote in the New York Post on January 7 that Qassem Suleimani’s assassination was “an opportunity” to implement “the immediate and complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.”
In the March Trumpet issue, we gave five trends to watch in the post-Suleimani Middle East, one of which was “The United States will exit Iraq.”
In the January 2018 Trumpet feature article “America’s Greatest Defeat—Iran’s Victory,” Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote: “America may have helped drive the Islamic State out of Iraq and Syria—but now America is about to be driven out of Iraq and Syria by Iran! We are about to see a vicious turnaround. In many ways, it has already started.”
Daniel 11:40 prophesies of an end-time power bloc called “the king of the south” that is extremely aggressive. In his booklet The King of the South, Mr. Flurry identifies this Middle Eastern power bloc as radical Islamic extremism, led by Iran. Daniel 11 also says that Iran will “push” the world toward war. In the last month, Iran has attacked U.S. troops, announced it has enough uranium required to build a bomb, and worked with the Houthi militia in targeting international trade through the Bab el-Mandeb strait and the Red Sea. Yet these significant geopolitical events have gone largely unnoticed by the media.
Iran’s rise as the king of the south is partially being concealed under a veil of media-induced coronavirus panic. While the coronavirus is definitely an issue that needs to be addressed, the recent obsession over the disease has, in some ways, been a large distraction from world-shaking geopolitical events.
As the U.S. and the world as a whole focuses on coronavirus, events in Iraq and the Middle East are speeding toward the fulfillment of Bible prophecy.
For more information, read “America’s Greatest Defeat—Iran’s Victory,” by Gerald Flurry.