NewsWatch

During His ministry on earth, Jesus Christ emphasized the need to watch the times in which we live and to pray we would be ready for His return: “And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:37). On these pages, we plan to keep you informed of noteworthy news and current events that we believe should have your attention. Today’s world is changing quickly, and here at Tomorrow’s World we want to help you fulfill Christ’s admonition to watch!

The Filter Power of Seafood

Shellfish—including lobsters, oysters, mussels and crabs—are consumed by people around the globe as a delicacy, yet few realize they are dining on creatures that God created for an entirely different purpose. An AFP article noted, “The mussel is the [vacuum cleaner] of the sea, taking in phytoplankton for nourishment along with microplastics, pesticides and other pollutants…. It’s a super-filter in the marine world, filtering up to 25 litres of water a day…. [Mussels] store almost everything else that passes through—which is why strict health rules apply for those destined for human consumption” (August 18, 2019).

Because mussels store the contaminants they filter from the water, they are excellent “bio-indicators” of the health of the waters in which they reside. Scientists are now using mussels to determine which toxins are present in aquatic environments, and researchers are considering “deploying” mussels and oysters to rid polluted waters of microplastics, pesticides, bacteria, and other environmental toxins.

Though the same scientists claim mussels are safe to eat, they should reconsider! As discussed in our July-August 2019 article, “Do You Really Want to Eat That?” by Dr. Douglas Winnail, shellfish are scavengers—part of the “clean-up crew” for aquatic environments, never intended by God to be food for human beings (Leviticus 11:9–12).

Disaster in the Bahamas

On September 1, Hurricane Dorian devastated the northern islands of the Bahamas as a category 5 typhoon. “Dorian was the most powerful hurricane on record to hit the Bahamas… with wind gusts topping 320 kph (200 mph)” (Deutsche Welle, September 7, 2019). The number of dead stood at 56 on September 30, and that number is expected to rise.

According to the United Nations, some 70,000 people lacked food and shelter (BBC, September 9, 2019). The devastation is far-reaching and extreme. “Mark Green, head of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), said he had been ‘struck by the focused nature of the devastation’ on the Abacos, and that some areas looked ‘almost as though a nuclear bomb was dropped.’” Residents are reporting no food, no water, no medicine, and no fuel.

The totality of the devastation on the Abacos Islands is alarming and heartrending, and the fact that well into the twenty-first century we are still so vulnerable to the natural forces around us should be humbling. Our free booklet Acts of God: Why Natural Disasters? explains the relationship between these awesome forces, God’s sovereignty, man’s choices, and the years ahead of us.

There Is No “Gay Gene”

As reported by Live Science, in a genome-association study of nearly 500,000 people in the U.S., U.K., and Sweden, researchers noted, “No individual gene alone makes a person gay, lesbian or bisexual; instead, thousands of genes likely influence sexual orientation” (August 29, 2019). The finding led the researchers to conclude that “the predisposition to same-sex sexual behavior appeared influenced by a complex mix of genetic and environmental influences.” That is, homosexuality is not something preordained at birth. As one of the study’s co-authors stated, “It’s effectively impossible to predict an individual’s sexual behavior from their genome,” demonstrating that the “gay gene” is, in the words of Live Science, “a total myth.”

Fragile German-U.S. Relations

According to German news source Der Spiegel, “Never since the founding of postwar Germany have relations between Berlin and the United States been as fragile as they are today” (August 21, 2019). President Trump and Chancellor Merkel communicate very little and have not had a good relationship. In addition to President Trump’s comments that Germany needs to pay more for Europe’s defense, the U.S. Ambassador to Germany has made provocative statements about Germany’s internal domestic politics. Der Spiegel noted that a majority of Germans view their nation’s relationship with America negatively, and more than 40 percent of Germans see China as a more reliable partner than the United States.

Current events seem to be propelling Germany in the direction of greater involvement in world affairs. Bible prophecies reveal that a German-led Europe will emerge to play a major role that will impact the world in the years just prior to the return of Jesus Christ at the end of the age. To learn more about this coming superpower, request our free booklet The Beast of Revelation: Myth, Metaphor or Soon-Coming Reality?

New Archaeological Support for the Bible

Archeology continues to reinforce the accuracy and historicity of the Bible. “Archaeologists excavating on Mount Zion in Jerusalem have uncovered evidence of the Babylonian conquest of the city, appearing to confirm a Biblical account of its destruction” (CNN, August 12, 2019).

Archaeologists have unearthed a gold earring among debris and arrowheads—items not usually found together in dig sites. CNN reports that Shimon Gibson from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte said that “the recovery of the rare piece of jewelry is the first time that archaeologists have uncovered signs of the ‘elites,’ appearing to confirm Biblical descriptions of Jerusalem’s wealth prior to the conquest in 587–586 BC,” noting that “jewelry is a rare find at conflict sites as warriors would normally loot it and melt it down.” According to Gibson, the find is a “clear indication of the wealth of the inhabitants of the city at the time of the siege.”

The Bible records the destruction of Jerusalem under Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar—an event that has been described in its ancient pages for thousands of years (see 2 Kings 25 and Jeremiah 39 and 52). As history and science advance, the accuracy of the biblical text continues to be confirmed.

Children’s Bodies Invaded by Plastic

Between 2014 and 2017, the German Environment Ministry and the Robert Koch Institute examined blood and urine samples of 2,500 children. The study found plastic byproducts in 97 percent of those samples (Deutsche Welle, September 14, 2019). One of the study’s authors reported, “Our study clearly shows that plastic ingredients, which are rising in production, are also showing up more and more in the body.”

According to researchers, “Plastic from cleaning products, waterproof clothing, food packaging and cooking utensils frequently comes into direct contact with the body.” However, the plastics from non-stick cookware and waterproof clothing were most concerning to scientists, as these products are most dangerous to the reproductive systems and the liver. “Plastic byproducts are also blamed for disrupting hormone function, which could lead to obesity, reproductive disorders, cancer and development delays in children.” The youngest children and those from the poorest families had the highest levels of plastic in their bodies.