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MAY–JUNE 2021
The Interview That
Shook the Royal Family
Transgenderism and the
Pursuit of Happiness
THE MARS
LANDING
and YOUR
FUTURE
Why Are the
Wealthy ‘Woke’?
The Economy of
Tomorrow’s World
cover Artist’s rendering of the
Perseverance rover on Mars
this page Artist’s rendering of the
Perseverance rover casting off its
spacecraft’s cruise stage minutes
before entering the Martian
atmosphere (NASA/JPL-CALTECH)
MAY–JUNE 2021 | VOL. 32, NO. 5 | CIRC. 243,028
FEATURES
FROM THE EDITOR | COVER STORY 1
Mars Landing: A Preview of
Your Incredible Potential!
There’s Intelligent Life Alright 2
Intelligence Can’t Solve Man’s Problems 4
Why Are the Wealthy ‘Woke’? 5
The Economy of Tomorrow’s World 9
Transgenderism and
the Pursuit of Happiness 11
Putin and the ‘Greatest Catastrophe’ 15
INFOGRAPHIC Vladimir Putin:
Forging the Empire Back Together 18
The Interview That
Shook the Royal Family 20
Biden Middle East Policy: Pushing
the World Toward Christ’s Return 22
Revealing the Two Witnesses 26
DEPARTMENTS
WORLDWATCH 28
SOCIETYWATCH 31
PRINCIPLES OF LIVING 33
Are You Laughing at Things You Shouldn’t?
DISCUSSION BOARD 34
here is something
COMMENTARY 35
Fake History Does Real Damage
cosmically inspiring:
THE KEY OF DAVID TELEVISION LOG 36 That war is the very
reason you were created!
Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry’s Trumpet executive editor Stephen Regular news updates and alerts News and analysis
weekly television program Flurry’s television program from our website to your inbox updated daily
theTrumpet.com/keyofdavid theTrumpet.com/trumpetdaily theTrumpet.com/go/brief theTrumpet.com
FROM THE EDITOR
GERALD FLURRY
Mars Landing:
A Preview of Your
Incredible Potential!
T
See images from Mars for what they truly are: a preview of your future mission.
he world has been dazzled by images from Mars. This history can be proved from the Bible. Herbert
America’s Perseverance rover is traveling across W. Armstrong explained all this clearly in his book The Incred-
the Martian surface and sending back some of ible Human Potential (request your free copy). In that book,
the best pictures, video and even audio that we he wrote, “Apparently all such planets in the entire universe
have ever had from that planet. The mission also now are waste and empty—decayed (tohu and bohu)—like the
includes test-flying a remote helicopter and gath- Earth was, as described in Genesis 1:2. But God did not create
ering rock and soil samples that scientists hope to them in such conditions of decay—like our moon. Decay is not
bring back to Earth later this decade. This truly is an amazing an original created condition—it is a condition resulting from
and stunning achievement! a process of deterioration. Evidently if the now-fallen angels
These scientists are searching for signs of past life on Mars. had maintained the Earth in its original beautiful condition,
But the overwhelming reality, confirmed by the work of this improved it, carried out God’s instructions, and obeyed His gov-
rover, is that this planet is dead and in a state of decay. ernment, they would have been offered the awesome potential
The contrast with the planet we inhabit is unmistakable: Earth of populating and carrying out a tremendous creative program
is full of life! Mars and every other planet are decayed wastelands. throughout the entire universe. When they turned traitor on
Here is a most exciting truth, revealed in your Bible: The Earth, their sin must have also brought simultaneously physical
condition of these planets is closely linked with your incredi- destruction to the other planets throughout the universe, which
ble human potential! were potentially and conditionally put in subjection to them.”
As impressive and inspiring as the Mars landing is, this bibli- Now here is something cosmically inspiring: That war is
cal truth makes it a million times more so. Let me tell you why. the very reason you were created!
Mr. Armstrong continued: “As God surveyed this cataclysmic
Cause of Decay tragedy, He must have realized that since the highest, most
What caused the state of decay on Mars and the other planets? perfect being within His almighty power to create had turned
The Bible tells us. to rebellion, it left God Himself as the only being who would
God created angels, and they were present when He created not and cannot sin.” This is a profound statement. God realized
the Earth and the universe. These “sons of God shouted for joy” that only beings with His own perfect character could rule this
over this creation (Job 38:4-7). God sent Lucifer and one third planet and the universe. So He decided on a different plan—a
of the angels to Earth to administer His law and beautify and spectacular plan to re-create Himself.
build. This planet was to be a training ground for far greater That was the basis of His creating human beings. You
future projects. need to study this book to fully understand. It will show you that
But some time later—unrevealed in Scripture but perhaps these statements fit perfectly into the master plan of the Bible.
millions of years—a great many angels, led by the greatest angel The angels had destroyed the surface of the Earth, so God
of all, Lucifer, rebelled against their Creator and launched a war renewed it (Psalm 104:30; Genesis 1:2-25) to prepare it for His
against Him (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-17; Luke 10:18; Revela- new creation. Then He made human beings—in His own image
tion 12:7-9). It was the most destructive war ever, and it left Earth, and likeness (verse 26)—and put the material creation under
the moon, Mars, the other planets and apparently the rest of the our subjection (verses 27-31). It was a means of preparing us for
universe that God had created perfect in a state of desolation! much more ambitious plans to come.
MAY–JUNE 2021 1
Yes, God created mankind with the destiny to remove the needs desperately to be set free. God created life on Earth—
decay from Mars and the universe. You have a direct connec- human beings—for that purpose,
tion to the universe! He wants us to help make the universe to make it flourish with new
look like Earth, like the beautiful Garden of Eden! That is man’s beauty and life! Request your free
copy of Our Awesome
destiny, and you can prove it from the Bible. “ We k n o w t h at t h e w h o l e Universe Potential.
creation has been groaning in
A Coming Birth! travail together until now; and not
The Apostle Paul understood this truth. Notice what he wrote only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of
in Romans 8:18-19: “I consider that the sufferings of this pres- the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the
ent time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be redemption of our bodies” (verses 22-23; rsv).
revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the God personifies the Earth and universe as in a state of “labor
revealing of the sons of God” (Revised Standard Version). pains” just before God gives birth to the sons of God! The word
Why would the creation wait for the sons of God—here refer- adoption is an absolutely wrong translation. The translators
ring to human beings—to be glorified? “For the creation was couldn’t believe that mankind is to be born into the Family of
subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who God—of which human birth is a type. This truth is so incredible
subjected it in hope; because that men refuse to believe God! We will not be adopted by God—
the creation itself will be we are going to be born into His Family, and you can prove it.
set free from its bondage No wonder the word hope is used five times in verses 24-25!
to decay and obtain the glo- How awesome this truth is! And God is inviting you to be part
rious liberty of the children of this magnificent universe-building program. Can you believe
[sons] of God” (verses 20-21; your Bible? You can if you study The Incredible Human Potential
rsv). The Earth and universe with it and let God build your faith.
must be “set free from its
bondage to decay.” Focus on the Creator
When we see pictures of Why do scientists want to reach Mars? It gets back to one over-
the moon and Mars, we see all question: Is there life there?
this “bondage to decay.” It But they are asking the wrong question! They should ask, “Why
is obvious that the universe are Mars and the rest of the universe there?” This question
surface of another planet using a to New York in just over 15 had hit the atmosphere until
sky crane. It sounds like science minutes. Entering the Martian four minutes after it had already
fiction. It’s actually science atmosphere, its heat shield was touched down—or crashed.
history. It happened for the first blasted with temperatures higher The atmosphere slowed the
time in 2012, and then again on than 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit. rover down to “only” 1,000 miles
February 18 this year. This kind To land safely, Perseverance per hour. Then the craft deployed
There’s of mission is almost becoming
routine. And the most recent one
had to decelerate from 12,500
miles an hour to a standstill
its parachute. Still traveling
faster than the speed of sound,
Intelligent carried a helicopter.
There is intelligent life after
in seven minutes—without
damaging its robotic arm,
the 70-foot-wide chute deployed,
slowing the streaking craft down
Life Alright all—it’s here on Earth.
NASA’s Perseverance traveled
spectrometer, cameras, weather
station, ground-penetrating
to 200 miles per hour.
The Perseverance rover also
C uriosity, NASA’s miraculous
Mars rover, has already
revealed a remarkable discovery.
293 million miles, the equivalent
of driving around the Earth’s
equator nearly 12,000 times. As
radar, laser or other equipment.
Radio signals from Perseverance
take 11 minutes to reach Earth, so
had to select its own landing
site—with no time to get any input
from humans. Its target, the
NASA landed a nuclear- it neared Mars, it was traveling the landing had to be completely Jezero crater, has not hosted a
powered robot car with a at 12,500 miles an hour—fast automated. Scientists wouldn’t Mars rover before—it’s too rocky
rock-zapping laser on the enough to fly from London even know that Perseverance for one to land. As Perseverance
2 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET
A composited panoramic
image of Mars captured
by the Perseverance rover
leads us to the Creator! Scientists
are focused on the creation, not the Scientists can see that Mars and the
Creator. And though it may be done in
ignorance, it amounts to an exercise in
universe are waste and in a state of decay.
futility and rebellion against God.
The Apostle Paul encountered scholars who were asking the Scientists are looking for life on Mars. They ought to
wrong question and whose focus was warped. He wrote about be learning how to save life on Earth! Our number one
them in Romans 1:24-25: “Therefore God gave them up in the problem is human survival!
lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their We have done to Earth what Satan did to the universe—only
bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth worse! Why is that the case? Because he is “the god of this
about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature world” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen” (rsv). We can only make Mars flourish with beauty and life if we
The word creature means things or beings. Those ancient first allow God to change our human nature!
scholars and our modern scientists do not worship God, so
they worship themselves or other human beings and the rest Sons of God
of God’s creation, like Mars. Most people—including most Angels have a fiery splendor that would make us faint if we
religious people—worship science, scientists and the universe, saw them. Yet God never said to any of the angels, “You are my
not God. How disgusting and shallow men are when they wor- son” (Hebrews 1:5). They are not on the God level. God never
ship things and beings—the creation—and not the Creator of intended that they be born sons of God.
those things and beings. We ask, “Is there life on Mars?” But we Your potential is so much greater than that of the dazzling
should ask, “Is there a Creator of Mars?” angels! Are you grateful for that?
Scientists can see that Mars and the universe are waste and “For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world
in a state of decay. Some dream of somehow escaping Earth to come, whereof we speak” (Hebrews 2:5). God is going to
and introducing life to Mars. Can they do that? Look at what remake the Earth and universe. He isn’t putting that “world to
human beings have done to this planet. We are about to destroy come” under the angels—but He is putting it in subjection to
all human life on Earth! Even if we “escaped,” we would bring men and women who enter His Family! This shows that God is
rebellious, destructive human nature with us! Even if we found working to build His very character—which alone can rule the
life on Mars, we would just destroy it in the end! universe—in human beings.
The spacecraft carrying
Perseverance slows down as
it enters Mars’s atmosphere.
got closer to the ground for the
boulders and cliffs to become
visible, computers scanned and
found a patch of ground smooth
enough for it land.
Once the rover was 6,900 feet
above its selected landing zone, it
jettisoned, and then dodged, the
parachute and fired up its eight
rockets—slowing its descent
further. But the rover couldn’t
land using the rockets: The dust
cloud would have damaged its
instruments. Instead, a sky crane
held aloft by rockets floated
NASA/JPL-CALTECH (5)
above the ground and lowered
Perseverance deploys a An illustration of
Perseverance down by tethers parachute to slow it down Perseverance rover
before landing. landing safely on Mars
onto the Martian surface. n
MAY–JUNE 2021 3
“But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things [Moffatt
thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest translates the Hebrew word for ‘all things’ as the universe in
him?” (verse 6). This quotes Psalm 8:4-6, where David looked Hebrews 1:3] in subjection under his feet. For in that he put
up at what he could see of the universe and asked God why He all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put
was so mindful of human beings. under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him”
Most of us don’t grasp the deep meaning of this verse. God (Hebrews 2:7-8). God is going to put Mars and the universe
is obviously concerned about the universe. But His main focus under man’s rule—He just hasn’t done so yet. What jaw-drop-
is on His masterpiece of creation: man! God is “mindful”—His ping potential—higher than angels!
mind is full—of mankind and our potential! The universe “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom
would be of little value to God without His Family to rule it. are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the
“Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (verse 10).
crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him God perfects us through suffering. We experience trials to help
change our human nature, to help prepare
us for our mind-boggling future. The Cre-
ator became a human being and conquered
human nature, never sinning even once.
Intelligence Can’t Solve Man’s Problems And He will empower you and me to conquer
sinful human nature as well.
T he Mars mission brings to mind both
the dramatic strengths and the tragic
weaknesses of our human minds.
But God had to stop mankind at
Babel. He effectively jammed their
communications and decentralized
Verse 11 says that He is not ashamed to
call human beings who do so His brothers!
The angels were never called the brothers of
Consider the paradox here: The them. Why? Because when man uses Christ in this way, because they were never
human mind can surmount thousands of his brilliant mind and his five senses, he sons in God’s Family.
technical problems and land a perfectly only brings himself closer to destroying
functioning, high-tech, remotely others and himself. Without the vital Our Universe Dream
controlled robot on another planet. spiritual dimension of knowledge, man This world is about to enter a very dark age.
Why, then, cannot humanity’s best can build towers and rockets—but he Actually, you could say Earth has been in the
minds solve poverty? And end war? cannot bring peace. He cannot stop dark ages throughout man’s history. God is
Surely getting along with one another crime, hatred, perversion or hopeless- letting the trauma intensify until we finally
can’t be much more complicated than ness. He hasn’t even really gotten a realize how inept we really are.
vaporizing Martian rocks with lasers? handle on famine, epidemics or poverty. In this convulsing world, we need our uni-
Actually it is. With that spiritual dimension missing, verse dream. We need to see the stupendous
Man “is limited in knowledge to mankind’s amazing physical accom- possibility and the eternal majesty God is
that which may be transmitted into plishments have just meant more wars offering human beings.
the brain through the physical senses with increasingly destructive weapons. People are intrigued and inspired by the
of sight, hearing, tasting, smelling The wonderful news is that human Mars landings. But most will have only a few
and feeling,” Herbert W. Armstrong nature will change! fleeting moments of inspiration, then the
wrote in his magazine the Plain Truth, First, man will need to learn just how hope will fade. Please don’t let this happen
predecessor of the Trumpet. “Man’s deficient, how incomplete, his mind is to you. Your potential beyond those pictures
most serious problems are spiritual in without the spiritual dimension from is breathtaking and inspiring beyond any-
nature. But man is naturally confined to God. Then God will make it so that “the thing you have ever known. See those Mars
thinking solely in terms of the physical earth shall be full of the knowledge of pictures for what they truly are: a window
and material. He cannot grasp or the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” into the greatest hope you can ever imagine!
comprehend spiritual problems or (Isaiah 11:9). Nothing can stimulate our imagination like
spiritual knowledge” (September 1980). When mankind is willing to listen, comprehending our universe potential! n
On a physical level, man has “a God will show the world the way to
God-type mind,” Trumpet editor in chief peace. He will give us the spiritual
To Mars and beyond!
Gerald Flurry said in October 2004. answers to our problems and the
It’s a “mind power that ought to just will to provide the crucial component
stagger us in wonder and awe.” that is so conspicuously absent from
Mr. Armstrong wrote, “The intelligent life here on Earth: His Holy Humans are fascinated with the
human mind’s capacity for material Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:11-14). heavens because we are destined
accomplishment seems unlimited.” Man already has a God-type mind on to go there—just not in the way
As God looked down on mankind the physical level. God plans on adding most think. To read the logical,
working together at the tower of Babel to that, giving man a God-type mind on biblical, thrilling purpose for the
in antiquity, He said, “nothing will be the spiritual level, as well. He wants to universe, request your free copy of
restrained from them, which they have create His perfect mind in mankind! The Incredible Human Potential,
imagined to do.” RICHARD PALMER by Herbert W. Armstrong.
4 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET
WHY ARE THE
WEALTHY
‘WOKE’?
Big business backs Biden, the
super-rich support socialism, and
CEOs want to change the world.
BY RICHARD PALMER
W
GARY DORNING/TRUMPET: ISTOCK.COM/HOCUS-FOCUS, VCG/GETTY IMAGES, JUSTIN SULLIVAN/GETTY IMAGES, ANADOLU
hat do Nike, Pepsi, Billionaires donate to radical politicians that it also has a lot to say about our
AGENCY/GETTY IMAGES, TAYLOR HILL/GETTY IMAGES, GETTY IMAGES, ISTOCK.COM/MSHCH, ISTOCK.COM/DAVID TRAN
Lego, Disney, L’Oreal, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. modern businessmen.
kfc, Pfizer, Comcast, If you want to avoid giving your dollars
FedEx, Home Depot, to companies that support radical-left Money
Ve r i z o n , G o o g l e , causes, good luck. More and more big Part of the reason for this political
Starbucks, Papa Johns, Coca-Cola, businesses and big businessmen are shift left in the business realm is
Morgan Stanley and Deloitte all have pushing the woke agenda. self-interest. In general, businesses
in common? They are giant, hard-to- Aren’t corporations supposedly try to appeal to the relatively young.
ignore businesses. What’s more: They right wing? Why have so many moved If young people have a job, they likely
have all supported Black Lives Matter, so far left? have more disposable income than a
the lgbt movement or the racial justice The impact of big business and big pensioner, and if they become loyal
movement—or all three. businessmen on our society is enor- to your brand at age 20, they have
Meanwhile, their executives travel the mous. They are playing a leading role in many years of purchasing ahead. The
world in private jets, lecturing people driving the world down this road. 2020 Pew Party Identification Survey
about the dangers of climate change. The Bible has a lot to say about the of 12,000 registered voters found that
Organizations such as Davos and the decline in modern society’s moral 54 percent of millennials (ages 24
World Economic Forum promote pro- standards. It discusses our politics and to 39) lean Democrat, whereas only
grams of thinly disguised communism. politicians. Thus, it is unsurprising 38 percent lean Republican.
MAY–JUNE 2021 5
Protesters from Boston Socialist Alternative,
Freedom Fighters Coalition and Sunrise
Movement–Boston march on election night.
It’s no coincidence, then, that busi- in persecuting businesses. So for busi- business supports. When did you last see
nesses that have shifted furthest to the nesses, it’s the left they need to appease. one of these companies stand up for lgbt
left have the youngest customers. For They aren’t so keen on left-wing ideas rights in Iran? Or to speak out against
example, people under age 34 make up such as high taxation—so they promote slavery in China? Doing the latter would
43 percent of Nike’s business; 89 percent the ideas that hurt them little. hurt their supply chains. So Nike, Apple
of Starbucks customers are under age 40. “Corporate activism on social issues and Coca-Cola lobbied Congress to allow
Businesses also tend to appeal to urban isn’t in tension with corporate self-in- them to continue to use Chinese concen-
consumers. Those in big cities visit terest on tax policy and corporate stingi- tration camp inmates. Pharmaceutical
Starbucks more often. And 62 percent of ness in paychecks,” wrote Ross Douthat giant Gilead sponsors homosexual pride
urban-registered voters lean Democrat, in the New York Times. “Rather, the parades—while charging over $2,000
compared to just 31 percent Republican. activism increasingly exists to protect a month for an anti-hiv drug. Signaling
The New Republic wrote that businesses the self-interest and the stinginess—to their support for the lgbt movement is
shifting left are “just opening their eyes justify the ways of ceos to cultural power much cheaper than lowering the price
to how important political involvement is brokers, so that those same power bro- of a drug that would predominantly help
to their profits” (April 30, 2018). kers will leave them alone (and forgive those in that community.
Young, urban workers are not just their support for Trump’s economic Look at just how targeted these sup-
target customers, they are also target agenda) in realms that matter more to posedly altruistic social efforts are, and
employees. Businesses competing to hire the corporate bottom line” (Feb. 28, 2018). it’s not hard to recognize the monetary
young people entering the workforce shift Douthat called the new state of affairs motivation behind them.
politically left to increase their appeal. “the Peace of Palo Alto, in which a certain
But some brands, like Gillette, have kind of virtue-signaling on progressive Big Regulation
moved left even against the preferences social causes, a certain degree of perfor- There’s another reason for big business
of their target consumers. Why? mative wokeness, is offered to liberalism to support radical-leftist causes: Big
ERIN CLARK/BOSTON GLOBE/ GETTY IMAGES
and the activist left preemptively, in the business and the radical left both love
Appeasement hopes that having corporate America big government.
Leftists are working hard to politicize take their side in the culture wars will Left-wing politicians continually
the marketplace, aggressively target- blunt efforts to tax or regulate our new publicize the fiction that business hates
ing businesses that transgress their monopolies too heavily.” regulation. True, your local accountant,
standards. In today’s political climate, Does all this sound a bit too cynical? baker, electrician, hardware store owner
those on the right have little interest Consider the left-wing causes big and restaurateur all hate regulation. But
6 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET
not big business. Why? Big businesses a huge network of nonprofits, none of incredibly fake. The youthful partici-
can afford to hire lobbyists to shape reg- which give any clear indication of being pants aren’t so much being empowered
ulations. They can hire experts that help related to Omidyar or to each other. as instrumentalized. After all, they are
them ensure compliance with the most They have names like the Democracy part of the portfolio of an investment
complex and labyrinthine of red tape. Fund, Healthy Democracy and the fund that is using them to ‘shift power,’
And if a government regulator comes MacArthur Foundation. with part of the strategy being to shame
after them, they can hire lawyers and Fuller wrote, “If one accepts what ‘giv- politicians for not being nice enough to
buy influence to push back. But all these ers,’ like Omidyar et al, say, it becomes hysterical children.”
options are far out of reach for small busi- But Omidyar doesn’t just fund activist
nesses. Regulation also stops potential
competitors before they ever get started.
“On one level, it is groups. He funnels money into “research
organizations” that describe themselves
The upshot is, the more regulation, great that young as “independent” or “nonprofit.” You
t h e l e s s c o m p e t i t ive t h e m a rke t
becomes for the corporate giants. So
people are taking presume them to be groups of scientists
doing studies, but look deeper and you
even in countries known for being “free part in politics. find that they are firms full of public rela-
market” and “free enterprise,” big busi-
ness is devoted to big government.
But on another level tions managers and strategy directors.
Some of these “research organiza-
The total money spent by registered it is incredibly fake. tions” produce “sample op-eds” that you
lobbyists rose from $2.4 billion in 1988
to a peak of $3.5 billion in 2009 during
The youthful can use to write your own, complete
with facts and stats backing up the point
Barack Obama’s first year in office participants aren’t you want to make. No wonder so much
(figures adjusted for inflation). And this
was just the official, registered spending.
so much being of the media sounds the same.
In addition to this, these different
On average, an estimated $3.7 million empowered as groups work together. For example,
is spent lobbying each member of Con-
gress each year.
instrumentalized.” a billionaire-funded “independent
research institute” publishes a study on
This lobbying creates a lucrative Roslyn Fuller “fake news.” The study recommends an
revolving door. Ex-political advisers can “independent” fact-checking group. It
make a lot of money selling their services apparent that rather than participating turns out that the fact-checker is funded
to businesses, helping them navigate the in traditional acts of charity, like by the same billionaire—a fact it does
laws they just created. Here’s one case founding a hospital for the needy, they not disclose.
in point: Jake Sullivan helped President are attempting to engage in ‘social engi- The desire to reshape society is now
Obama negotiate the Iran deal. He then neering’—that is, using their resources commonly talked about by the super-rich.
got a job helping big business trade with to artificially change the structure of The World Economic Forum famously
Iran, using his intimate knowledge of society to what they think it should be. started talking about the “Great Reset.”
the deal he helped craft. Now, Sullivan is If successful, this would amount to an Klaus Schwab, one man pushing hard
back in politics as President Joe Biden’s extreme circumvention of democracy, for this “reset,” writes in COVID-19: The
national security adviser. utilizing money not just to win elections, Great Reset: “At the time of writing (June
At times, industries lobby to have but to substitute paid or subsidized 2020), the pandemic continues to worsen
regulations put in place that serve no content for actual support, and thereby globally. Many of us are pondering when
benefit to customers, but which earn flip an entire political culture on to a dif- things will return to normal. The short
businesses tremendous profit. As the ferent track by amplifying some voices response is: never. Nothing will ever
government encroaches deeper into and drowning out others.” return to the ‘broken’ sense of normalcy
more and more areas of our lives, more One group that receives funding that prevailed prior to the crisis because
of these businesses stand to benefit. from Omidyar, the Sunrise Movement, the coronavirus pandemic marks a fun-
describes its plan to “take over the damental inflection point in our global
Faking a Popular Movement entire United States and all the insti- trajectory.” This man sees the disruption
But not all business support for the leftist tutions in it.” It “moved activists into to all of our lives this past year as prog-
agenda comes from cynical self-interest. ‘dorm-style Sunrise Movement Houses ress toward some twisted socialist utopia.
Many, especially among the super-rich, for three to six months’ in order to
appear to be true believers. So they bring create leaders who had a deep level of Backing Biden
to bear their wealth, influence and expe- commitment ‘for everything that would It’s no surprise to see many in business
rience in shaping governmental policy. come afterwards’” (ibid). These leaders acting on their commitment to reshaping
Roslyn Fuller tracked how this works are trained to turn more people to the society by backing Joe Biden for United
for her article “The Billionaire Takeover cause until they reach a critical mass. States president. In October 2020, cnbc
of Civil Society” (Spiked, January 29). “On one level, it is great that young wrote that the Democrats had “crushed”
She zoomed in on one individual: Ebay people are taking part in politics,” Republicans in fund-raising, “fueled, at
billionaire Pierre Omidyar. He funds Fuller wrote. “But on another level it is least in part, by Wall Street executives.”
MAY–JUNE 2021 7
In Time’s shocking admission of insider reported that Goldman Sachs has. “BlackRock needs to be broken up
election interference, “The Secret had a similar, but quieter, policy. Deut- and regulated,” director of research
History of the Shadow Campaign That sche Bank announced plans to distance at the American Economic Liberties
Saved the 2020 Election,” the author itself from President Trump. Project Matt Stoller said. “BlackRock
described the role big business played in Then, as Biden chose his administra- ceo Larry Fink knows this, so he’s been
the most recent elections: “There was a tion, his links with the radical left and storing hack Democrats on ice so they
conspiracy unfolding behind the scenes, big business became even clearer. can go into the Biden administration
one that both curtailed the protests BlackRock manages more assets than and make sure that doesn’t happen.”
and coordinated the resistance from anyone in the world: the equivalent of BlackRock chairman Larry Fink is
ceos. Both surprises were the result of $8.7 trillion. Bloomberg characterizes an enthusiastic Democrat. In January
an informal alliance between left-wing it as the “fourth branch of government.” 2017, he sent an open letter to over 1,000
activists and business titans. The pact As the government prints money to keep ceos urging them to “respond to broader
was formalized in a terse, little-noticed the economy afloat, BlackRock is an social challenges.” He encouraged them
joint statement of the U.S. Chamber of essential partner, managing that cash. to follow the examples of businesses
Commerce and afl-cio published on The company has a revolving door that cut ties with the National Rifle
Election Day. Both sides would come relationship with the Obama-Biden Association and praised examples like
Walmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods,
which responded to a mass shooting
BlackRock chairman by quickly announcing policies against
selling guns to customers under 21.
Larry Fink is an As a business, BlackRock will support
enthusiastic Democrat. radical-left projects when it suits them.
They made a big show of their plan to
In January 2017, stop investing in any company that makes
he sent an open more than 25 percent of its revenue from
coal. They are less proud of the fact they
letter to over 1,000 are the world’s largest investor in fossil
CEOs urging them to fuels—due to their heavy investment in
the oil industry (though, interestingly
“respond to broader enough, not in the Keystone Pipeline).
social challenges.” But these close ties to government
have also brought Fink great returns.
Since 2004, his company has hired at
least 84 former government or central
bank officials. That is how you become
the fourth branch of government.
And once you’re in, all kinds of doors
to see it as a sort of implicit bargain— administration. BlackRock investment open up. Ex-BlackRock executives are
inspired by the summer’s massive, executive Brian Deese was a senior big fans of trade with China. And with
sometimes destructive racial-justice adviser to President Obama. He now Biden in office, BlackRock is readying
protests—in which the forces of labor leads the National Economic Council some major deals with Beijing.
came together with the forces of capital under Mr. Biden. Adewale Adeyemo
to keep the peace and oppose Trump’s was Obama’s senior international All Forecast
assault on democracy” (February 4). economics adviser, then chief of staff to The radical left has the support of big
Business leaders were worried about BlackRock’s chief executive and is now government, big media, Big Tech and
“economy-disrupting civil disorder,” deputy treasury secretary for Mr. Biden. also big business. The Trumpet has
wrote Time. They reached out to radical Michael Pyle who worked in the Obama written extensively about how the Bible
left-wing groups to ensure the mob got administration, has become BlackRock’s prophesied the rise of the radical left. So
what it wanted. global chief investment strategist and it’s not surprising that these same scrip-
This approach kicked into overdrive will now be chief economic adviser to tures have a lot to say about the wealthy.
after the January 6 “insurrection.” Vice President Kamala Harris. More Many of these prophecies are in the
Stripe stopped processing payments than a dozen people went from the book of Amos, which is an end-time book
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
for the campaign. American Express Obama administration to BlackRock. for the people descended from ancient
and JPMorgan Chase said they would No business has ever had this level of Israel, most notably America. The Anchor
no longer donate to candidates who influence in the United States Treasury, Bible Dictionary states, “Amos decried
supported the “insurrection” or voted not even Goldman Sachs. the social injustice, the oppression of the
against confirming President Biden’s Even some on the left are concerned poor, and the lack of any moral or ethical
victory in the Electoral College. An with the level of power BlackRock now WEALTHY PAGE 32 u
8 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPETentity gives as little as possible and takes
as much as possible. In fact, this funda-
mental attitude of selfishness saturates
the human nature of every person in
every sector of every economy in every
country of every era. Our very nature
is self-oriented, self-conscious, self-es-
teeming, self-serving, self-defending,
self-aggrandizing, self-enriching and,
ultimately, self-destructive. It is also
destructive toward others. Selfish nature
is in you and me, when we are building
a home, when we are inside our homes,
when we leave home. It is the foundation
of our finances, our commerce, our econ-
omies, our governments, our health, our
entertainments, our work and every part
of our everyday lives. The human condi-
tion is built on selfish human nature.
The Economy of
But why shouldn’t the same human
beings on the same land with the same
resources experience work, commerce
Tomorrow’s World
and life in a way that is positive, virtuous,
unoppressed, sharing and inspiring
rather than negative, bleak, pointless
and terminal?
Revolution is coming! BY PHILIP NICE We should. But it requires a change in
our spirit, our attitude, our motivation
and the nature that human beings have
T
had from the beginning.
hrough the rafters, and where for this family and to be part of what it Changing human nature cannot be
the rafters will be, daylight is fad- represents in the larger sense: the hard done by human government. It would
ing. You chisel one last mortise, work, discipline, fairness, generosity, require a government with spectacular
then box up your saws, squares and drills camaraderie and family that went into power, power to not only construct the
to tidy up and protect against tomorrow’s building the place where this family and universe but to create the human body,
morning dew. No need to protect against generations unborn will live most of their the human brain, the human spirit, the
anything else. Good thing, since you’ve lives and build most of their character. human power of choice and human
never owned anything with a lock or key. After the patriarch gives thanks and relationships. It would require the very
From the other side of the walls, and everyone says “Amen,” the buzz begins: Creator of human beings ruling the
where the walls will be, comes the buzz of spoons clinking on dishes, ice tinkling creation directly and guiding, correcting
voices. The young family whose home you in pitchers, bubbling voices, bursting and helping human beings to choose to
are timber-framing is setting supper on a laughter—talking about the day, talking give instead of choosing to get.
stack of beams along with father, mother, about people, talking about creation, It would require replacing the very
brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and talking about the Creator. It’s a starry foundation of society with a new one:
cousins who have walked over from their night. It’s a good meal. It’s good to be the literal government of God on Earth.
homesteads to help build this one. alive, here, doing this. You love this fam-
Your own homestead needs your atten- ily. You love this work. Everyone loves Laws
tion, so it is a sacrifice to be here instead. home. And you are a home builder. Human government is built on human
But there was a need, you could help, you nature. God’s government is built on
said you would, so here you are. In fact, Foundation God’s nature. God is love (1 John 4:8).
even though you could be done by now, In a way, this jobsite is a fiction. Homes Apart from God, human beings are
you are putting in extra time, effort and are not built like this. They are built by incapable of generating or even under-
materials just to give that roof a couple development groups, bank stockholders, standing real love. But God describes
more centuries of durability and a bit investment funds, government agencies, to human beings His loving nature and
JULIA GODDARD/TRUMPET
more beautiful geometry. You are not title companies, sales firms, roving work how to apply it. These descriptions are
charging extra: In fact, you’re not even crews and manufacturers, and inhabited called laws. Like the laws of physics a
telling them. It’s enough satisfaction to by a series of mortgage debtors in an builder employs to build a solid house,
make this house everything it can be impersonal process through which each these spiritual laws come from the
MAY–JUNE 2021 9Creator, never change based on human all their transactions, eliminating the building, what would matter most to
ideas, and always produce good results. enormous economic effects of lying. you would be family, giving, character,
In the government of God, the two People would not covet. They would be your relationships with others, your
main principles of that constitutional free of that enslaving mentality, free of relationship with your Creator.
law are love toward God and love toward wasted time, free of lives that go unful-
fellow man (Matthew 22:36-40). These filled even when a person gets what Real Estate
two legal principles then subdivide he coveted. People would care far less Why should this be hypothetical? It
into 10 fundamental laws: the Ten Com- about what they own and far more about shouldn’t be—and it won’t be. This is
mandments (Exodus 20). who they are. actually a nonfiction description of the
Many people know about God, know Under God’s government, the individ- economy of the World Tomorrow!
about these laws and presume that they ual would pay no income tax, business The Bible prophesies that this will
are in general compliance with most of tax, sales tax, property tax, health-care be the basic picture of life on Earth not
them—or that Jesus Christ abolished tax or death tax. Instead, he would pay far from now. Jesus Christ will return,
them. They fail to understand that He his first tithe (10 percent of his profits) He will establish His government, and
did not abolish cause and effect, and and offerings of his own determination His subjects will learn to keep the laws
that the effect—our crumbling world— (Deuteronomy 14:22; Exodus 23:14-16). God has made in everything from land
is caused by people breaking these laws This would produce the spiritual bless- management to electromagnetism to
of “spiritual physics.” ing of developing humble, loving, giving worship. No one will be left out: Each
But what would happen if the Creator character, which would facilitate fur- person will have the same power of
took over all day-to-day executive, ther blessings by God, the least of which choice to receive these blessings and
legislative, judicial, local, national and would be financial abundance. far more. Their selfish nature will begin
international governance and taught Under God’s government, the individ- changing, and scenes of sharing, giving,
and enforced these laws? ual would pay no interest and charge no communing, obeying and building will
People would truly obey the Ten interest. This would limit much of the be unfolding at farms, ranches, gardens,
Commandments, not only strictly by power money would otherwise have. barns, stables, workshops, harbors,
the letter but also in their spirit and People would be free of credit card debt, stores, libraries, parks and neighbor-
intent. They would learn to willingly vehicle debt, student debt, commercial hoods from mountainsides to hills to
choose to have no other gods, including debt, mortgage debt and national debt. river valleys to savannas to rainforests
their own will, before God. They would Yet loans would still exist. They would to canyons to shorelines, every man
make no idols, including money and be interest-free; provided by family, under his vine and under his fig tree,
goods. They would highly honor the very friends and neighbors; and used for having life, liberty and the pursuit of his
name and authority of God. They would a loan’s actual purpose: to truly help incredible human potential.
keep the day of the week God made for someone who truly needs money and The ruler of this soon-coming govern-
worshiping Him. They would keep the will truly do everything he can to repay ment said in Luke 16:10: “He that is faith-
first four commandments of showing (see Deuteronomy 15). Every seventh ful in that which is least is faithful also in
love toward their Creator, along with year would bring a year of release in much.” The “least,” in this case, will be
the last six commandments of showing which everyone cancels all short-term incredible prosperity and meaningful
love toward other people. Each son debts. Every 50th year, people would lives. What is the “much”? Hebrews 2:8
and daughter would honor his or her experience not a depression but a jubi- reveals the answer: The Creator of all
father and mother, learning from them, lee (Leviticus 25). material things wants to build the char-
living near them and caring for them. These foundational laws of pros- acter of human beings to the point that
Providing financially for them would perity reveal an amazing truth about He can give us all material things. Scenes
be a given. Surrounded by family and the prosperous economy of God’s of obedience, family, community, pro-
fulfilling the crucial teaching role of government: It’s not about prosperity. ductivity, generosity sacrifice, laughter,
an elder, old age would be perhaps the Proverbs 3:9-10 describe abundance meaning, purpose and love won’t be con-
best part of life! People would not kill: that would be literally uncontainable. fined to an otherworldly timber-frame
No fear or resources would be diverted But for all your owning, earning, acquir- residential construction site. In fact, they
toward preventing war, murder, harm ing, creating, helping, beautifying and will not be confined to this world. n
or hatred. All spouses would devote
themselves completely to their husband
or wife. Among the benefits of these
See the future.
safe, trusting, happy marriages would
be prosperity within families and in
society. People raised properly would
not steal. They would fear and scorn Read a biblical, practical, surprisingly detailed description of the
the idea of even giving the buyer, seller, government, economy, education, religion and culture that Jesus Christ
worker or employer less than 100 per- will establish at His return. Request Herbert W. Armstrong’s booklet
cent. People would tell the full truth in The Wonderful World Tomorrow—What It Will Be Like.
10 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPETTransgenderism
and the Pursuit
of Happiness
Why are mental health problems so common among
gender-dysphoric people? Only by correctly
answering that question can we find a solution.
BY JOEL HILLIKER AND JOSUÉ MICHELS
Y
oung people are growing At Levine’s confirmation hearing in surgical and hormonal treatments that
up in a society where February, Sen. Rand Paul questioned destroy healthy body parts? Mainstream
homosexuality, pansexuality, Levine on whether children should news executives and their journalists say
transgenderism and gender be able to bypass their parents and, you’re a bigot for asking the question!
fluidity not only have their through medical professionals, inter- This is just one example of a broad
place but are celebrated. And these ventions and surgery, try to change their effort to hide the ugly truth about trans-
young people are getting the message. sex. Levine’s answer was an evasion that genderism. There is a reason Levine
A Gallup poll in February reported amounted to: Confirm me as assistant wouldn’t answer that question. It’s
that of all American adults, 5.6 percent secretary and then I’ll gladly answer. because transgender activists know that
say they are lesbian, gay, bisexual After follow-up questions, Levine the less the public understands about
or transgender. That represents a remained stubbornly elusive. these procedures, the better. The more
60 percent jump in less than a decade. Yet in reporting on this exchange, main- you know about these procedures, the
And the biggest part of that jump stream media sources didn’t criticize more appalled you will be.
happened in Generation Z. Among
those born between 1997 and 2002, a
jaw-dropping 16 percent categorize
themselves as not heterosexual. Among Transgender activists know that the
these young adults, that’s 1 out of every 6. less the public understands about
And if radicals get their way—and
they are getting their way—more and
these procedures, the better.
more children far younger than their The more you know about
20s will be asking about gender and these procedures, the
considering surgical destruction of their
sex. They insist that this will make these
more appalled you will be.
Rachel Levine
children happier and more fulfilled.
One of these radicals could well be
President Joe Biden’s choice for assis- Levine for his equivocating—they criti- Trampling the Truth
tant secretary for the United States cized Senator Paul for asking the ques- Here are some facts. It is a scientific
Department of Health and Human Ser- tion. For example, here’s how abc News, fact that people are biologically male
vices, where the motto is “Improving the the Daily Beast and the Washington Post or female. It is a scientific fact that
ISTOCK.COM/ADRAGAN, CAROLINE BREHMAN/GETTY IMAGES
health, safety and well-being of Amer- portrayed it: “First Transgender Nominee biological sex comes with physiological
ica.” His name is Rachel Levine, and if Deflects Inflammatory Questions From and even mental and emotional pre-
confirmed he would be the first openly GOP Senator,” “Rand Paul Launches dispositions. But science can tell you
transgender person to be appointed to a Into Transphobic Rant Against Trans nothing about a man feeling that he is
president-nominated, Senate-confirmed Nominee” and “Rand Paul’s Ignorant actually a woman. There is no scientific
federal office in history. But we are not Questioning of Rachel Levine Showed explanation for that.
sure what he thinks about surgically Why We Need Her in Government.” Transgender activists say gender
removing and altering the sex organs of Should children be able to decide for is an “artificial construct.” Yet at the
children—because he won’t say. themselves whether to have irreversible same time, they say the entire society
MAY–JUNE 2021 11must pivot for someone who is exhib- or whether you are free to live by the Many individuals who undergo these iting stereotypical and even cartoonish dictates of your own conscience. procedures often find themselves expressions of his “authentic gender Society can’t afford to accept this requiring substantially more medical identity”—if it is different from his lightly. It needs answers. attention afterward. Many say the doc- actual, scientific gender identity. They tors who advised them led them astray. say a person’s “real self” is separate from Diagnosing the Cause And rather than becoming happier, they his or her physical body. Then they say Prof. Miroslav Djordjevic is a leading often become unhappier. In many cases that the person’s body must be surgically surgeon in an unusual field: genital they become suicidal. transformed to make the person “whole.” reconstruction. For years he has Mental health problems among They say that even children must take been voicing his concern about rising transgenders are already terribly com- puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones requests for surgeries to undo prior gen- mon: Almost every second transgender and surgical procedures to match the der transition surgeries. He says people person battles some anxiety disorder physical body to the idea in the mind. wishing to undergo the transformation or depression, and suicide attempts are This thinking is obviously and bla- should receive better counsel. He says nearly nine times higher than among tantly anti-science. But if you try to talk these decisions are being driven by the “cisgender” Americans. But those who about scientific facts, you are labeled an effort to be politically correct, rather have had transition surgery are 19 times intolerant, discriminating bigot. than to be actually correct—to do what likelier than the average person to die Here are more facts these activists is in each individual’s best interest. He by suicide! This alone shows that the portray as “transphobic.” Science shows says institutions must overcome fears of problem goes far beyond simply needing that among children who struggle with political correctness and conduct more better counsel regarding surgery. Some- gender dysphoria, 80 percent of girls research into the serious questions thing is dangerously wrong. and 95 percent of boys will reconcile raised by gender-reassignment surgery. with their biological sex if they are Studies of this subject are rare, but Is It Society’s Fault? allowed to go through puberty. Puberty stories of many unhappy transgender Those promoting transgenderism will blockers and cross-sex hormones have people are out there. For example, Ryan say that what is “dangerously wrong” is been shown to damage cardiovascular T. Anderson’s book When Harry Became society’s hostility to transgenderism. For health, bone density and reproductive Sally—an important book on the subject example, a 2016 Psychology Today article functions. Nearly half of people who that Amazon pulled from its offerings in discussing transgenders’ mental health identify as transgender experience February with no explanation—has an problems explained: “It has nearly every- anxiety disorders or depression. An entire chapter titled “Detransitioners thing to do with the way they are treated” estimated 41 percent have tried to kill Tell Their Stories,” and it is heartbreak- (emphasis added throughout). themselves. And more and more people ing. Many people describe growing up The only solution, they say, is to who suffer the misery of surgery come dissatisfied or questioning their sexual transform society. We must make to regret having done so. Some even orientation early in life. They tried dif- society wholeheartedly embrace trans- undergo surgery to undo that surgery ferent forms of sexual experimentation, gender people and any and all forms of and try to un-destroy their sex. Becom- but they did not find happiness. gender dysphoria, so that everyone—no ing transgender has not helped these Then they were offered a more radical matter how they view themselves, what people “be who they really are,” and it solution: surgically changing their gender. they want to look like, which bathroom certainly has not led to happiness. Yet People have faith in the wonders of or locker room they want to visit, which these are voices this movement doesn’t modern medicine. They think changing sport they want to play—is universally want you to hear. their sex is not only possible but fairly considered perfectly healthy and nor- We can’t ignore such voices. We straightforward. But the reality is, biolog- mal. To suggest that the individual might need to understand the truth about ical differences between men and women need to adjust his or her thinking is big- transgenderism. This isn’t just a matter are extensive and complex. Hormone oted and unloving. If everyone in society of accepting a handful of people whose blockers can prevent a boy’s voice from simply accepts everyone and everything, thinking doesn’t match their biology. getting deeper or a girl’s hips from getting and loves everyone and everything, then This has huge ramifications in every wider; hormone treatment can shrink a the mental health problems, depression aspect of modern life. It raises not just man’s testicles or cause a woman to grow and suicidal tendencies experienced economic questions in areas like public facial hair. Surgery can remove body by transgender individuals will vanish. bathrooms, gym facilities, prisons parts specific to male or female, and it These people can only find happiness and homeless shelters—not just edu- can attach artificial body parts. But no when society embraces this movement cational questions like what the state treatment or procedure can turn a man and grants its every conceivable request. is force-feeding your kindergartner’s into a woman or a woman into a man. Virtually overnight, the elites in mind—but also questions about free- The scientific fact is that your biologi- American society—and British, and dom of speech and freedom of religion, cal sex is not “assigned at birth,” as trans elsewhere—the politicians, media and questions about whether you can be activists insist. It is embedded into your educators—have determined that this is fined or jailed for being anything less dna from conception, and it affects every how we will solve this problem. This is than fully supportive of this movement, system in your body. the message we will send to individuals 12 THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET
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