Tuesday, September 12th, in the year of our Lord 2017

By Kevin Swanson

Hurricanes in America Wreak Unprecedented Destruction

Tragedies have reached epic proportions this year for America.

It was the first time in history that the United States was hit by two Category 4 hurricanes in one year. Irma was the most powerful hurricane in the open Atlantic in recorded history, with winds blowing at 185 mph. The storm was still a Category 5 when it hit Cuba — setting another record. 

By God’s mercy, Irma’s winds abated to 115 mph before hitting America’s coastlines. However, Jacksonville, Florida and Charleston, South Carolina report record flooding.  

AccuWeather President Joel Myers is putting damages for both Irma and Harvey at $290 billion, making it the worst hurricane season in American history. 

Amos 3:6 asks, “Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the LORD has done it?”

At Least 90 People Dead from Earthquake in Mexico

The death toll from last week’s 8.1 magnitude earthquake in southern Mexico has climbed to 90 people at last count. Residents in the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas have felt some 800 aftershocks. 

It was the strongest earthquake hitting Mexico in a century. 

UN Security Council Pushes for Embargo on North Korea

The United Nations Security Council is pushing for an embargo on oil shipments to North Korea, and an asset freeze on North Korean international investments.

The North Korean foreign ministry responded with another pungent threat that “the forthcoming measures to be taken by [North Korea] will cause the U.S. the greatest pain and suffering it had ever gone through in its entire history.”  

Chinese Human Rights Lawyer Imprisoned in Beijing

One month has gone by since Gao Zhisheng, the Christian human rights lawyer, was taken from house arrest and disappeared on August 13th. 

Now, International Christian Concern confirms that Zhisheng is being held in Beijing. Gina Goh, International Christian Concern’s Regional Manager for Southeast Asia, explained to The World View why China targets human rights lawyers.  

“I believe they became the targets because they defend the most vulnerable including Christians, especially house church Christians. They feel like their power is being threatened by a large amount of people, and if they continue to thrive, they feel like they are threatened. And these lawyers are fighting for their rights, so they don’t like to see that.”

 Goh shared the most pressing prayer needs for Zhisheng and his family right now.

“First and foremost, definitely his health, because he’s been through a lot, and he has teeth problems. And his request of seeing a dentist has been denied so many times. After all these years his health in general is not good. We also don’t know what his detention condition is at this moment. In terms of health that is one big issue.”  

Broadcaster Larry Bates Sentenced to Prison for Ponzi Scheme

Larry Bates, the former CEO of Information Radio Network and well-known Christian broadcaster, was sentenced to 21 years in prison for his part in a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme. 

The U.S. District court ordered Bates to repay $21 million which he bilked out of Christians and retired elderly persons. According to Time Magazine, they had collected $87 million from clientele, with a promise to deliver on gold and silver coins. 

At one time, the Information Radio Network aired on 2,500 radio stations, and merged with Marlin Maddoux’s USA Radio Network in 2008 with Larry Bates heading the company.

Two of Larry Bates’ sons and a daughter-in-law have also been convicted of similar charges and have yet to be sentenced. 

Leviticus 19:13 strongly warns us, “You shall not defraud your neighbor, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with you all night until the morning.” 

National Debt Rises to over $20 Trillion

After President Trump signed the bill suspending the debt limits over the weekend, the national debt topped $20 trillion for the first time. 

The debt was $10 trillion when President Obama took office in 2008, and $1 trillion when President Reagan took office in 1980 (adjusted for inflation). The debt to Gross Domestic Product ratio is 103%, up from 67% in 2008.

Deuteronomy 28:15, 43-44 says, “If you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe. . . His commandments … The sojourner who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you. . .He shall lend to you, and you shall not lend to him. He shall be the head, and you shall be the tail.”

And that’s The World View in Five Minutes.