In Other News
An estimated 15,000 congregations will shut their doors in 2025, far outpacing the few thousand new ones expected to open. Reports and experts report a broader religious shift that could see up to 100,000 churches close in the coming years. Pew Research Center data shows a dramatic decline in Christian affiliation—from 78 percent of Americans in 2007 to 62 percent today, and a record 29 percent identifying as religiously unaffiliated. Protestant denominations like Methodist, Presbyterian and Lutheran are falling fastest. Meanwhile, evangelical and non-denominational megachurches are growing thanks to charismatic leaders, social media savvy and ties to sympathetic politicians. These conflicting trends are crucial to understand. Read “What’s Wrong With American Christianity?”
“I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man,” wrote the Apostle Paul. The Church of England disagrees so strongly they just made a woman the archbishop of Canterbury, the church’s most senior clerical role. Dame Sarah Mullally is also woke, tweeting her support for Black Lives Matter, encouraging the Church of England to bless same-sex couples, and attacking even limited attempts to address Britain’s migrant crisis. Her appointment has met little criticism in the United Kingdom, showing how far Anglicanism has departed from believing the Bible. But Anglicans elsewhere in the world, and even a few in Britain, take the Bible more seriously. This decision will create a crisis for many. Compared to such blatant disregard for biblical teaching, the Catholic Church looks like a bastion of tradition. A growing number of traditional-minded Christians are returning to Rome, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance. The Church of England’s decision could accelerate that trend. But do the ancient traditions of the Catholic Church come from the Bible? This return to Rome is a prophesied trend—but it will not lead people to God. Learn more in “Returning to the Fold” from our free booklet He Was Right.
“We are celebrating the 35th year of being united in peace,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said today in his address in Saarbrücken. “Our nation is in the midst of an important, perhaps decisive phase in its recent history.” He noted that “alliances of autocracies are forming against us” and new customs barriers are “weakening us economically.” Germany is not alone in this fight. French President Emmanuel Macron joined the celebrations, calling Germany’s reunification “a turning point in history” for all of Europe. This is true: In the last 35 years, much of Europe has rallied around Germany to create a new power bloc. Read Gerald Flurry’s article “Germany’s Astonishing Military Rise” to see the true significance of Germany’s ascent from the ashes of World War ii to become Europe’s leader.
President Trump gave Hamas a three-to-four-day deadline to accept his peace plan, which expires today. It seems Hamas may decline the offer, in which case it will face serious consequences. Whatever Hamas decides, Bible prophecy reveals that no man will bring lasting peace to the Middle East.
The JS Chokai is heading to America, where it will spend the next year acquiring the Raytheon’s Tomahawk missile system. These cruise missiles can hit targets 1,000 miles away. Though Japan committed to pacifism in 1945, it is quickly abandoning that philosophy as its neighbors, especially China, become belligerent. Bible prophecies state that a militarized Japan will join an Asiatic military alliance led by Russia.
India and Russia are conducting joint military exercises in Rajasthan this month. Beginning yesterday, 250 Russian personnel are joining the two-week “Indra 2025” drill, simulating desert war zones. The Russian Embassy in India stated, “The joint exercises confirm the nature of the special, privileged strategic partnership between Moscow and New Delhi.” This comes weeks after India joined Russia’s “Zapad” exercises by sending 65 personnel. Tightened ties between India and Russia are a trend prophesied in the Bible.
Europe needs to send “a very strong answer” to Russia, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said yesterday. She highlighted Moscow’s usage of drones in its “hybrid war” and said Europe faces its “most difficult and dangerous situation” since World War ii. The Bible prophesies that Russian aggression will be a major reason behind Europe’s militarization and unification into one of the greatest powers in human history.
The 27 heads of state and government of the EU met in Copenhagen yesterday. On the agenda were security for Europe, aid for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia. Given recent drone incursions over Denmark and East European countries, Denmark’s capital turned into a fortified city for the event. “I have never seen such security measures in Copenhagen before,” a Danish police officer told Bild. Tourists in Denmark had the rare sight of a German frigate and other antiaircraft systems supplied by nato. “Europe must be able to defend itself,” said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. The Trumpet has long warned that fear of Russia will unify Europe militarily.
The Freedom Party of Austria (fpö) has been using religion as a key feature in its marketing recently, hoping to attract voters dissatisfied with Muslim immigration. Its recently reelected leader, Herbert Kickl, has called himself a devout Christian, and at the fpö conference last week, the Bible was referenced several times. One of their slogans last year referenced “The Lord’s Prayer”: “Thy will be done.” They have also held several significant rallies at the Stephan Dome Square, the site of a giant Catholic cathedral. Bible prophecy foretells a strong Catholic resurgence in Europe. The fpö seems to be turning over a religious leaf, a sign of this approaching resurgence. Learn more in “The Holy Roman Empire Goes Public—Big Time!”
Britain’s National Health Service published a controversial report supporting first-cousin marriage last week. The report, which has since been removed, claimed the practice had upsides like “stronger extended family support systems and economic advantages,” while downplaying the risk of birth defects. Its initial release was a clear effort to accommodate Islamic groups in Britain and to push back against efforts to ban the practice.
Russia may build a nuclear power plant in Vietnam, Russian media announced Sunday. Nikolai Shulginov, a Russian official, said he hoped an agreement would be signed later this year. This move highlights the continually tightening relationship between Russia and other nations in Asia, a trend that is clearly prophesied.
China has expanded its missile bases on its coast near Taiwan, according to recent satellite imagery. Brigade 611, a base 440 miles from Taiwan, has doubled in size, now complete with dozens of missile launchpads. Another base, Brigade 616, is being equipped with the Dongfeng-17, a missile capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads at least five times the speed of sound. Based on Bible prophecy, the Trumpet has warned that Taiwan is destined to become part of China. These missile bases will likely be used to make that a reality.
Frigates from the EU-led naval mission Aspides rescued the crew of a Dutch freighter yesterday morning after it was attacked by a Houthi missile in the Gulf of Aden. The Yemeni rebels are believed to have fired the shells to hinder European trade and show support for Hamas. It is one more provocation among many between the EU and radical Islam, which are prophesied to clash spectacularly.
Hamas seems inclined to reject President Trump’s peace deal, Reuters reported yesterday. Its anonymous Hamas source said the peace plan is “completely biased to Israel” and imposes “impossible conditions.” If Hamas does reject the deal, President Trump has promised Israel his full support in finishing Hamas. However, parts of the deal, such as the creation of a multinational peacekeeping force in Gaza, could still proceed. For more on the deal and its flaws, listen to yesterday’s Trumpet Daily show.
Russia may be preparing China to invade Taiwan by selling amphibious assault vehicles and parachutes, according to documents obtained by a hacking group. This could be Russia returning the favor to China for supporting the Ukraine war. The strengthening of Russia and China’s relationship fulfills Bible prophecies regarding an Asian power bloc called the “kings of the east.”
Afghanistan’s Taliban released U.S. citizen Amir Amiri on Sunday, the fifth U.S. citizen they have released this year. This comes as the Taliban and the U.S. are allegedly in negotiations to normalize relations. President Trump reportedly hopes to include the U.S. regaining Bagram Air Base, which it gave up amid the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. The Taliban have stated an American military presence in Afghanistan is out of the question. But Amiri’s release during ongoing negotiations suggests they may be bearing fruit. The Taliban would be the last regime in the world one would think the U.S. would want to normalize relations with. This is the same regime that sponsored the 9/11 terror attacks. There is no reason to think the Taliban have reformed their views.
YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million after settling a lawsuit relating to the suspension of President Trump’s YouTube account after the January 6 protests. Most of it, $22 million, will go into a trust to help fund the White House ballroom renovation; another $2.5 million will go to pro-Trump organizations. This adds to Trump’s haul from Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, $25 million, and Twitter/X, $10 million. The radical left were powerful enough to shut down even the social media accounts of a president. That dominance has now been destroyed. Truly a miraculous turnaround.
While the Trump movement becomes more religious, the media seems determined to rub people’s noses in perverse weirdness. A Puerto Rican “musician” called Bad Bunny will perform the show. His real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio. He protests President Trump’s migration policies, and has performed in a dress, in full “drag” and alongside dancers dressed as demons. This is what will be broadcast to America on what is typically the most-watched annual television event in the U.S. “They display their sin like the people of Sodom and don’t even try to hide it,” says God in Isaiah 3:9 (New Living Translation). “They are doomed! They have brought destruction upon themselves.”
The UN resumed sanctions on Iran on Saturday in response to its advancements in nuclear technology. These sanctions include an arms embargo, restrictions on uranium enrichment, and a ban on activities involving ballistic missiles. Iran said this decision would be met with a “harsh response.” The United Nations has been notoriously soft on Iran in recent decades. Considering that Iran has continued to pursue its nuclear ambitions even after direct military attacks on its nuclear sites by Israel and the U.S. this past summer, we can be certain that this measure won’t deter a nuclear Iran.
Germany deployed the frigate Hamburg to Copenhagen at Denmark’s request. The vessel will support enhanced air space surveillance during the EU summit on October 1-2. Denmark’s minister for transport said that in the last week, the country’s air space has faced violations on a scale not seen since World War ii. Russia’s aggression is driving more European nations to turn to Germany for security.
In a video posted Thursday, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (elca) concluded “a Lutheran reading [of the Bible] frees us from taking all the scriptures only literally.” The elca, one of the largest Christian denominations in the nation, thus rejects Paul’s teaching that all Scripture is inspired (2 Timothy 3:16) and Jesus Christ’s command to live “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). To navigate such religious confusion, read Can You Prove Which Church Is God’s?
Keir Starmer is Britain’s most unpopular prime minister since recordkeeping began: His minus-66 percent satisfaction rating is the lowest since Ipsos began the poll in 1977. He beats the previous record of minus-59 percent set by John Major in 1994. He’s wildly unpopular because Britain faces radical problems, and none of his ideas solve them. Read “The Rise and Fall of an Empire” for the deeper roots of these problems.
The Houthis are working with the Islamic State and al Qaeda, recent reports from the Crisis Observatory of the Platform Tracking Organized Crime Yemen Center show. Though the Houthis are ideologically at odds with these groups, it is putting those differences aside to pursue collective goals. Notably, a September 22 report shows that the Houthis are bringing captured Islamic State and al Qaeda terrorists into their own ranks. The Houthis are a proxy of Iran, the nation prophesied to lead radical Islam and create a powerful axis of Middle Eastern and African nations. A union with the Islamic State and al Qaeda could forward Iran’s aims, especially its goal of gaining further control of African nations.
China is testing two xxl underwater drones in the South China Sea off the coast of Hainan. Each drone is over 40 meters long, the size of many regular submarines. China has been militarizing this area for over a decade. If it succeeds in dominating the South China Sea, it can control one third of global sea trade. Bible prophecy warns of an economic siege by Asian and European nations that will cripple the United States. Gerald Flurry wrote, “If Europe finds a way to take advantage of key resources and strategic holdings of China, Russia and Japan—even for a short period—then it would have more than enough power to besiege the Anglo-Saxon nations. This is why China’s moves to militarize the South China Sea should be so concerning.” To learn more about this economic siege, read “China Is Steering the World Toward War.”
Germany to allow army to shoot down drones: On Saturday, the country’s interior minister announced plans to grant the armed forces legal authorization to shoot down hostile aircraft, a power previously reserved for domestic security agencies. This decision is in response to recent drone incursions. Since World War ii, the German military has largely been barred from domestic security operations. However, legislation has gradually loosened those restrictions. While this step may sound reasonable, it’s another step toward German militarization and normalizing the use of the military at home.
