By Jeff Wehr

With new same-sex marriage laws passed in states like Maine, and the legalization of marijuana in states like Washington, the nation is slouching closer and closer to Sodom. These liberal “victories” may seem like the Sunday laws are further down the road, but it may have just the opposite effect of producing such a sudden and heavy pendulum swing to the right.

By Jeff Wehr

According to the Washington Post, December 30, 2012, “56 relatives of lawmakers have been paid to influence Congress. More than 500 firms have spent more than $400 million on lobbying teams that include the relatives of members. . . . in the past six years, for example, 36 congressional relatives—including spouses, children, siblings, parents and in-laws—have been paid to influence 250 bills passing through their family members congressional committees or sponsored by the members. . . . Most relatives—48 of the 56—began their careers as congressional lobbyists only after they had family members elected to the House or Senate. . . . 73 lawmakers sought bills that benefit industries in which they had significant holdings. . . . 133 lawmakers bought and sold stock in a company lobbying for a bill before them.”

In the end, lawmakers will be pressured to pass a national Sunday law. No doubt some of that pressure will come from lobbyist family members. It is unimaginable that lawmakers may be paid by relatives and friends to pass a law that strikes directly against the separation of church and state and the fourth commandment.

By Jeff Wehr

The past year, 2012, gave us the Olympic Games in London, another presidential election, a declining Euro, the warmest year on record, and the Mayan apocalypse.

What could we be looking for in the year to come?

1. What will happen to the European economy? Any major downturn will affect not only the economy in the US but also in China and around the world.
2. Will Israel need to strike nuclear sites in Iran? If so, what kind of reciprocal response may we expect from Iran and other Arab nations? How will this affect oil prices, and hence, food prices? How will it affect the recovery of the economy?
3. With the school shooting at Newtown, Connecticut, what will happen with gun laws in America?
4. Will Assad’s regime in Syria be toppled or will the civil war continue with more casualties and refugees?
5. Will more extreme weather bring on ever increasing loss of life and economic woe? Will we see record droughts and super storms in the near future?

All of this may seem scary, but these are real issues that could affect the year 2013. More than this could happen as well. But the greatest thing that could happen is the dedication of God’s people to draw closer to Christ that they may be fitted for the outpouring of the latter rain. My prayer is that we do not need to go through more record breaking years of disasters. There are too many Christless graves. It is time to get the message out and go home.

By Jeff Wehr

Over 500,000 Syrians have become refugees due to the civil war in Syria. Soon that number will be one million. Neighboring countries like Lebanon and Jordan indicate that they cannot take care of them. There is a request for $1 billion US dollars to help this human catastrophe. This whole situation is such a sad commentary on human affairs.

Will a deal be made between Russia, the US, and the Sunni-majority Syria, in relation to the Sunni-majority Iran and their quest for nuclear power? Could a dictator in Syria remain in power to work out a deal to limit Iran’s nuclear ambitions? That is the question that many politicians are now asking themselves.

But does anybody really believe that Iran will not strive for nuclear military capabilities? By March 2013, some predict that Iran’s nuclear capabilities will be irreversible. Will Israel react before this potential deadline?

It is amazing how many potential scenarios could throw our little world into absolute chaos. Yet God holds back the four winds of strife until His people are ready to be sealed. See Revelation 7.

By Jeff Wehr

The end of the world prediction for December 21st or 24th came and went. Some suggest that it was not a prediction of the end of the world, but rather the end of an era. They argue that the Mayan Calendar actually makes predictions about events thousands of years yet in the future. Either way, the Mayan Calendar is creature-made and cannot with any certainty predict the future. Only One knows the end from the beginning. God alone knows the future perfectly. He has made plain to us the events that will transpire in these last days. Oh that man would cease to follow Mayan Calendars and such, and turn to the Word of God alone.

By Jeff Wehr

If the economy was not already bad enough, do we really need bankrupt politics to make it even worse? We are trillions of dollars in debt. We do need to cut spending, but we also need revenue. Somewhere there must be a balance between increasing taxes on the wealthy while cutting back on some of our entitlement programs. But will bankrupt politics get in the way by simply killing people’s confidence in a recovering economy?

With Obama winning reelection, the Democrats need to see the economy improve if they are going to avoid a political catastrophe in the 2014 and 2016 elections. Tragically, Republicans would seem to benefit if the economy does not improve under an Obama second term. Unless, of course, they were blamed for the cause of the economy due to any obstructionist attempts to solve the country’s financial crisis.

So will some Republicans play the obstructionist card to recovery? I fear that some will. While there are many Republicans who want to work with those across the aisle and show the American people that they can solve problems on Capitol Hill, there are others who showcase to the American public and the world that we cannot work together.

The inability of Congress to work together manufactures uncertainty, which breeds discouragement. All of which will have an ill-effect on the economy and consumer confidence.

By Jeff Wehr

The year of 2012 was the busiest year for the Red Cross. They responded to over 113 large events, which included devastating tornadoes, summer drought, hurricanes, and Superstorm Sandy. But there are other kinds of disasters, such as school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut. Our world is waxing worse and worse, and sad to say, the busiest year for the Red Cross is yet to come.

By Jeff Wehr

Martin Luther wrote concerning the Pope, “The Pope is not and cannot be the head of the Christian church and cannot be God’s or Christ’s vicar. Instead he is the head of the accursed church of all the worst scoundrels on earth, a vicar of the devil, an enemy of God, an adversary of Christ, a destroyer of Christ’s churches; an arch church-thief and church robber of the keys of all the good of both the church and the temporal lords; a murderer of kings and inciter of bloodshed; a brothel-keeper over all brothel-keepers and all vermin, even that which can’t be named; an anti-Christ, a man of sin.” Martin Luther, Against the Roman Papacy As an Institution of the Devil.

Ralph Reed wrote concerning the Catholic Church and evangelicals, “The future of American politics lies in the growing strength of Evangelicals and their Roman Catholic allies.” Ralph Reed, Politically Incorrect, 16.

What a contrast! Protestants today are now Prostrators to the Catholic church. Of course, this was all prophesied two thousand years ago when John the Revelator saw the first beast of Revelation chapter thirteen, the Papacy, and the second beast, Protestant America, working together. Clearly we are living in the last days.

As we near the coming of our Lord, we naturally focus on end-time events. We look for the sure signs of His imminent return. But what about looking at the very beginning to understand the very end?

The first thing we learn about the human race is that Adam and Eve were from the beginning perfect in every way. Man was created in God’s image physically, mentally, and spiritually. Adam was twice as tall as men are today, while Eve’s head rested a little above his shoulders. They were clothed in a covering of light and glory, such as the angels wear.

Before they could be eternally secure, their loyalty was to be tested. The fact that there was a test proved that Adam and Eve were free moral agents. Without this freedom, they could not develop characters after the similitude of God.

It was not simply a matter of exercising their God-given freedom to choose, but they must choose for the right if they were to enjoy life, discover new truths, and obtain clearer perceptions of God’s altogether perfect character. This would necessarily imply that man was given a great intellect. He would by necessity need to discern right from wrong. It would not simply be enough for man to believe something. He must have the capacity to know what truth is.

So here we are today. We are half the size of Adam. We live but threescore and fifteen years. Our minds have been compromised by poor diet, television, worldly music, etc. Yet out of this last generation will stand a people who know truth. They will be tested. The severest penalties will be thrust against them. However, they will choose the right. As a result they will have clearer perceptions of God’s character. They will discover Bible truths that had been lost through the traditions of men. They will discover what life is truly about, namely, perfect obedience and love toward God.

By Jeff Wehr

“And then the great deceiver will persuade men that those who serve God are causing these evils. The class that have provoked the displeasure of Heaven will charge all their troubles upon those whose obedience to God’s commandments is a perpetual reproof to transgressors. It will be declared that men are offending God by the violation of the Sunday sabbath; that this sin has brought calamities which will not cease until Sunday observance shall be strictly enforced; and that those who present the claims of the fourth commandment, thus destroying reverence for Sunday, are troublers of the people, preventing their restoration to divine favor and temporal prosperity.” GC 590

Notice that it is not the gays, gamblers, violent offenders, and pedophiles that are to blame for the lost temporal prosperity, but the commandment-keeping people of God. We ask ourselves, “How could the world be so deceived?”

Deception is the key. Jesus said concerning last day events, “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. . . . And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. . . . For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matthew 24:3, 4, 11, 24.

And the Revelator wrote, “And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by [the means of] those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.” Revelation 13:13, 14.

The greatest deception of all is when Satan personates Christ. “Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.” Luke 21:8.

“In this age antichrist will appear as the true Christ, and then the law of God will be fully made void in the nations of our world. Rebellion against God’s holy law will be fully ripe. But the true leader of all this rebellion is Satan clothed as an angel of light. Men will be deceived and will exalt him to the place of God, and deify him. But Omnipotence will interpose, and to the apostate churches that unite in the exaltation of Satan, the sentence will go forth, `Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.’”

“Disguised as an angel of light, he [Satan] will walk the earth as a wonder-worker. In beautiful language he will present lofty sentiments. Good words will be spoken by him, and good deeds performed. Christ will be personified, but on one point there will be a marked distinction. Satan will turn the people from the law of God.

“He will declare that the Sabbath has been changed from the seventh to the first day of the week; and as lord of the first day of the week he will present this spurious sabbath as a test of loyalty to him.

“It is impossible to give any idea of the experience of the people of God who shall be alive upon the earth when celestial glory and a repetition of the persecutions of the past are blended. They will walk in the light proceeding from the throne of God. By means of the angels there will be constant communication between heaven and earth. And Satan, surrounded by evil angels, and claiming to be God, will work miracles of all kinds, to deceive, if possible, the very elect. God’s people will not find their safety in working miracles, for Satan will counterfeit the miracles that will be wrought. God’s tried and tested people will find their power in the sign spoken of in Exodus 31:12-18. They are to take their stand on the living word: “It is written.” This is the only foundation upon which they can stand securely.” E. G. White, Maranatha, 205