The Trumpet Herald

Giving the trumpet a certain sound

July 2002

Female Slavery in China

The News Telegraph from the United Kingdom reported recently that:

"… an estimated 50,000 girls and young women, some as young as eight, have been sold or abducted into human slavery in China. The trade is largely the result of the nation’s ‘one child policy’, which has led to a shortage of young women and millions of unmarried men ("Scandal of the £300 Chinese girl slaves," June 6, 2002).

The government policy in effect since 1980 attempts to limit population growth. Families prefer male children to work and carry on the family name, so more female babies are aborted or killed. A government authority said they are fighting the problem attributed to criminal activity, but there was not an indication that the causative policies were under consideration.

Inspired Commentary

The tendencies of mankind without submission to God are clearly described in the Bible:

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:19-21).

Jesus, probably remarking on the evil of the last days, once wistfully asked:

"And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:7, 8, emphasis added).

Fires In the American West

As this issue goes to press, MSNBC is reporting:

"Two enormous, wind-driven wildfires were expected to merge on Sunday into a 50-mile-long line of flame devouring the paper-dry forest in eastern Arizona. The impact of the blazes is massive: At least 185 homes have been destroyed and as many as 25,000 people have fled more than half a dozen towns. ‘It is devastating,’ Arizona Gov. Jane Hull said Sunday" ("25,000 in Arizona flee wildfires," June 23,2002).

Firefighters reportedly expected the fire to reach the town of Show Low (pop. 7,700) on Monday (6/24/2002) and the town is under an evacuation order. "Nature is in control," said fire control spokesman Jim Paxton. Unable to stand against the onslaught, firefighters were trying to wrap houses in fireproof material and aerial tankers were dropping fire retardant directly on houses.

The report indicated that 2.3 million acres, more than double the 10-year average, had burned this year so far in the western U.S.

Inspired Commentary

While there may be some moral judgements involved in individual cases, another issue also comes to mind, the transitory nature of our "stuff." Inspiration has directed the appropriate focus:

"In the last scenes of this earth's history war will rage. There will be pestilence, plague and famine. The waters of the deep will overflow their boundaries. Property and life will be destroyed by fire and flood. We should be preparing for the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for them that love Him.—Mar 174 (1897)" (Last Day Events, p. 24).

Safe Sex Classes Ineffective

A recent research study published in the British Medical Journal and reported in The Independent (an online newspaper from the United Kingdom) stated:

"Sex education classes do not reduce the number of teenagers who practise unsafe sex, according to research that suggests parents can play a more influential role. …

"Dr Daniel Wight, who led the study, said the findings implied that sexual education classes had a limited impact on teenagers’ behaviour and other methods were needed to help young people to make responsible decisions. …

"He added: ‘Parents seem to be important. There seems to be clearly scope for parents to be given more help in helping their kids to avoid unwanted sexual risk-taking’" ("Classes in safe sex are ineffective, says study", June 14, 2002).

Inspired Commentary

In what seems to be an increasingly secular society where the social moorings of the family are frequently weakened, it is good news to hear about a rediscovery of parental responsibility by some social scientists.

Speaking to a prominent church family, inspiration once said:

"Would the lightning and thunder of Sinai arouse this church? Would they arouse you, fathers and mothers, to commence the work of reformation in your own houses? You should be teaching your children. You should be instructing them how to shun the vices and corruptions of this age. Instead of this, many are studying how to get something good to eat" (Testimonies, v. 2, p. 361).

Weapons of Mass Destruction

The Jerusalem Post recently reported that:

"The German Daily Die Welt on Saturday published a report, according to which China is set to aid Egypt in obtaining nuclear weapons, Israel Radio reported. The report quoted Western intelligence officials.

"According to the report, Egypt intends to mine natural uranium in the Sinai Peninsula and enrich it to weapons' grade material. The material would then be used on long-range missiles" ("German daily: Egypt trying to develop nuclear weapons," .June 22, 2002).

Inspired Commentary

"As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be when the Son of man shall be revealed. The Lord is removing His restrictions from the earth, and soon there will be death and destruction, increasing crime, and cruel, evil working against the rich who have exalted themselves against the poor. Those who are without God’s protection will find no safety in any place or position. Human agents are being trained and are using their inventive power to put in operation the most powerful machinery to wound and to kill" (Testimonies, v. 8, p. 49, emphasis added).