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The Trumpet Herald

Giving the trumpet a certain sound

May 2006

Tornadoes Increasing

According to reports by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the frequency of tornadoes in the United States has been increasing generally over the past 10 years and 2006 is off to a start surpassing all previous years in that period. By mid-April the preliminary report showed 561 tornadoes.

It will be noted that the frequency of tornadoes this year is increasing earlier in the year than the previous highest year in this 10-year period (2004 that had 1819 tornadoes). (http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/torn/monthlytornstats.html)

Inspired Commentary

While the facts of frequency are fairly clear, the meaning of the increases is disputed. Here is one inspired comment:

The spirit of antichrist is prevailing in the world to a far greater extent than it has ever prevailed before. The day of test and purification is just upon us. Signs of a most startling character appear, in floods, in hurricanes, in tornadoes, in cloud-bursts, in casualties by land and by sea, that proclaim the approach of the end of all things. The judgments of God are falling on the world, that men may be awakened to the fact that Christ will come speedily. (Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, November 8, 1892)

Climate Change

In its March 26 cover story, Time magazine observed:

Disasters have always been with us and surely always will be. But when they hit this hard and come this fast—when the emergency becomes commonplace—something has gone grievously wrong. That something is global warming. (“Polar Ice Caps Are Melting Faster Than Ever... ” Time, Mar. 26, 2006)

What few people reckoned on was that global climate systems are booby-trapped with tipping points and feedback loops, thresholds past which the slow creep of environmental decay gives way to sudden and self-perpetuating collapse. (ibid.)

The cover of the magazine headlined the warning “Be Worried. Be Very Worried.”

Inspired Commentary

It is sometimes politically unpopular to suggest that supernatural powers might be involved in the events of nature or that events of nature might be related somehow to divine interaction with human behavior. However inspiration reveals:

God’s message for the inhabitants of earth today is, “Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 24:44. The conditions prevailing in society, and especially in the great cities of the nations, proclaim in thunder tones that the hour of God’s judgment is come and that the end of all things earthly is at hand. We are standing on the threshold of the crisis of the ages. In quick succession the judgments of God will follow one another—fire, and flood, and earthquake, with war and bloodshed. We are not to be surprised at this time by events both great and decisive; for the angel of mercy cannot remain much longer to shelter the impenitent. (Prophets and Kings, p. 278)

Christian Churches Together

Efforts continue to be made to unite churches to increase Christian influence in society and accomplish joint tasks.

Leaders of 34 U.S. church bodies have officially launched the broadest-ever Christian unity organization in American history, and said fighting poverty will be its first priority.

Christian Churches Together in the USA was formally inaugurated on March 31 after a three-day meeting outside Atlanta. A public kickoff is scheduled at the group's scheduled meeting next February.

The loose knit group brings together five Christian “families” who have long been divided by historical and theological differences, including Catholics, mainline Protestants, evangelicals and Pentecostals, historically black churches and Orthodox churches.

Together, the five “families” represent more than 100 million American Christians. The nation’s largest Protestant body, the Southern Baptist Convention, has said it will not participate.” (“Broadest-Ever U.S. Church Unity Group Launched,” Religion News Service, 2006)

Inspired Commentary

Attempts to increase the power and influence of combined churches may be justified by the declaration of noble goals, but prophecy predicts that at some point the goals will become less than noble:

Liberty of conscience, which has cost so great a sacrifice, will no longer be respected. In the soon-coming conflict we shall see exemplified the prophet’s words: “The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17. (The Great Controversy, p. 592)