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END-TIME PROPHECY E-NEWSLETTER ... an extension of www.prophecyfulfillment.com ...
ISSUE NUMBER 18
Abortion: An End-time Challenge for Christians Part 2 – The magnitude of the problem
[The LORD, making a covenant for His people, said through Moses]: “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;” (Deuteronomy 30:19)
The divisive issue of abortion defines political thought and matters of faith. This topic will be controversial for some readers. Please read this three-part series of newsletters. Write, if you disagree with me. If you are pregnant and are considering an abortion OR if you have had an abortion and experience shame, guilt, or depression, PLEASE read next week’s newsletter. People in your community can help you by informing you of life-affirming alternatives to abortion and sharing God’s love and grace. God loves you. He wants to restore you to fullness of life and the joy of being His beloved daughter. Don’t bear your burdens alone. Jesus stands ready to help you now (Matthew 11:28-30): [Jesus said] “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
INTRODUCTION: See the last newsletter, number 17, to read some Scriptures related to life: www.prophecyfulfillment..com/en017a.html . Father God, who created all mankind and gave each person life and an eternal spirit, affirms the sanctity of life throughout His written word. In this newsletter, I wish to discuss the magnitude of abortion. As I have stated before in these newsletters, I am an American and I write about the conditions I know– conditions in America. If you are a subscriber who lives in another country, the conditions I describe may be better or worse in your country. I cannot include national statistics for each country represented in my mail list.
A DAY OF SHAME: A day of shame in America occurred on January 22, 1973. On this day, rulings in two cases were handed down by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS): Roe vs Wade and Doe vs Bolton. These cases legalized abortion throughout the United States, and have proven to be a death warrant for nearly 50-million unborn babies. A summary of these cases may be of interest:
Roe vs Wade: This case is central to unlimited abortion. SCOTUS ruled that women have a constitutional right to abortion, through an implied right to privacy stemming from the Ninth and Fourteenth Amendments. SCOTUS ruled that a fetus is not a person, but a “potential life.” (In my opinion, such a ruling ignores facts and commonsense logic, and must have been handed down by justices without brains, only “potential brains.”) Accordingly, a fetus has no rights and is not protected by the Constitution. In typical legal doublespeak, SCOTUS ruled that a state government may not regulate abortion for any reason during the first trimester (first third) of pregnancy; a state may regulate abortion only to protect the health of the mother during the second trimester; and a state may not prohibit abortion, except to preserve the life or health of the mother, during the third trimester.
Norma McCorvey, the plaintiff “Roe” in Roe vs Wade, in 1969 was a pregnant, 21 year-old woman in Texas. Although she was impregnated by consensual sexual intercourse, she claimed she became pregnant through gang rape to garner sympathy for her case. She sought an abortion, but was told it was illegal in Texas. She filed a lawsuit on behalf of herself and “all other women similarly situated.” Slowly the case made it through the legal system, until decided of January 22, 1973. Before that decision, Norma delivered a healthy baby. She later had a Christian conversion. She now regrets her involvement in this case and hopes the verdict will be reversed.
Doe vs Bolton: This case accompanied Roe vs Wade and modified, or better defined it. SCOTUS ruled that a state could not limit the right of a woman to have an abortion, if the abortion is sought for reasons of maternal health. SCOTUS defined health to include “all factors,” physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the mother’s age. This health exception expanded the right to abortion for any reason through all three trimesters of pregnancy, including partial birth abortion.
Sandra Cano, the plaintiff “Doe” in Doe vs Bolton, was trapped in an unhappy marriage. Pregnant with her fourth child, she placed her children in foster care. She sought legal assistance for a divorce. Pro-abortion advocates claim Cano applied for an abortion, which was denied because of Georgia state law, but Cano denies she sought an abortion and the alleged application for abortion has “disappeared.” Denial of this alleged application for abortion formed the basis for the lawsuit which bears her name. She signed papers, which she thought was for her divorce, later to find that she had agreed to become the plaintiff in a lawsuit which would be used to overturn existing abortion-regulation laws. She adamantly asserts she has never had an abortion and has always been pro-life.
SCOTUS has ruled in other important abortion cases (which I do not have space to summarize, but which can be researched through Web sources), including: Planned Parenthood vs Danforth, Maher vs Roe, Colautti vs Franklin, Harris vs McRae, H..L. vs Matheson, City of Akron vs Akron Center for Reproductive Health, Thornburgh vs American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Webster vs Reproductive Health Services, Rust vs Sullivan, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania vs Casey, Hill vs Colorado, and Stenberg vs Carhart.
Because of this day of shame, pro-life organizations and some churches observe memorial services on Sanctity of Life Sunday, which is the Sunday immediately before January 22 (or, Sunday, January 17, 2010 this year)..
THE EFFECT OF THESE SHAMEFUL DECISIONS ON AMERICA: The Roe vs Wade and Doe vs Bolton cases have had profound effects on the United States. Consider the following:
Number of unborn children killed by abortion: Since January 22, 1973, it is conservatively estimated that more than 49,550,000 unborn babies have been killed by abortion. I qualify this estimate with “conservatively.” Many abortions are unreported or under-reported in number, so that the number of abortions may be much greater. The highest number of abortions occurred in 1990 (more than 1.6-million abortions), and the number has declined a little since then. This is partly due to efforts of pro-life groups to counter lies by the pro-abortion business (“It’s not a baby; it’s just a clump of cells”), the use of ultrasound equipment in crisis pregnancy centers to demonstrate a living baby in a client’s womb, and an aging population (fewer women in child-bearing age). Even so, approximately 1.2-million babies will be killed by abortion in America in 2009. Thus, there are 3,285 abortion deaths every day, Sunday through Saturday, of every week (1,200,000 abortions/ year divided by 365.25 days/ year)..
China leads all nations in the number of abortions– 13-million per year.
At least two victims for every one abortion: As alarming as nearly 50-million abortions since 1973 may seem, there are at least 50-million other victims. Most pregnant women who submit to abortion are victimized. These women feel intense shame, sorrow, and other symptoms of grieving over the loss of their children. Their grief may be even more intense than if they had lost babies naturally (spontaneous abortion), because they feel responsible for the death of their children. They frequently have no one (mothers or sisters, for example) with whom to discuss their feelings, because abortions are often shrouded in secrecy. Many women try to soothe their depression and sorrow by looking for love, acceptance, and dulling the pain in the wrong ways– through substance (alcohol, drug) abuse, careless and relentless sexual promiscuity, and so forth.
These mothers may be victims, but others in the family (husbands, boyfriends, parents, siblings, and so forth) may also feel victimized by the loss of a baby through abortion.
In the next newsletter, I will discuss the post-abortion syndrome. If your church is typical, one out of every four women sitting on a pew has had an abortion. If you are a pastor or congregant and allow a woman in your church to suffer post-abortion syndrome symptoms without explaining in love God’s magnificent plan of grace and eternal forgiveness, shame on you!
A tragedy every day of the year greater than 9/11: America is still shocked and saddened by the September 11, 2001 (9/11) Muslim terrorist attacks against America. It is estimated that at least 2,998 persons died in these terrorist attacks (including the nineteen terrorists). We still mourn the deaths of the 2,979 innocent victims on this one day. However in America, 3,285 innocent victims of abortion are killed every day, and no one takes notice.
Bias in government reporting leads to a lie: If any public health official is asked about the leading causes of death in America, he or she will reply with a list that begins: heart disease, 724,269 deaths; cancer, 538,947 deaths; and so forth.
As well meaning as these statistics may be compiled, the officials are in error. Abortion, with 1,200,000 unborn baby deaths each year, is the most common cause of death, approximately equal to the number of deaths from heart disease and cancer combined.
The officials perpetuate misleading statistics– actually, a lie– because of their bias. They do not consider unborn babies as persons, and these babies cannot be considered in mortality statistics.
Know the truth: the leading cause of death in America is abortion on demand, not heart disease.
A devastating, unappreciated death-producing epidemic in America: Imagine this scenario: A deadly virus was introduced into America in January, 1973. Since that date, every person (every man, woman, and child) has died in twenty-four states.
In 2008, the following states had an estimated population of 48,351,179 persons: Wyoming: 532,668 || Vermont: 621,270 || North Dakota: 641,481 || Alaska: 686,293 || South Dakota: 804,194 || Delaware: 873,092 || Montana: 967,440 || Hawaii: 1,288,198 || New Hampshire: 1,315,809 || Maine: 1,316,456 || Idaho: 1,523,816 || Nebraska: 1,783,432 || West Virginia: 1,814,468 || New Mexico: 1,984,356 || Nevada: 2,600,167 || Utah: 2,736,424 || Kansas: 2,802,134 || Arkansas: 2,855,390 || Mississippi: 2,938,618 || Iowa: 3,002,555 || Connecticut: 3,501,252 || Oklahoma: 3,642,361 || Oregon: 3,790,060 || Kentucky: 4,269,245.
Between 1973 and 2008, it is estimated that 48,350,000 unborn babies have been killed by abortion.
If a virus had run rampant in America since 1973 and had killed the entire population of twenty-four states– a total of 48,350,000 citizens– with an additional 1.2-million annual deaths expected far into the future, the public would be greatly alarmed, even hysterical. The government would demand action (expensive programs regardless of likelihood of success would be implemented, of course). The media would contain little else than reports about this infection and editorial demands for action. Churches would be filled with congregants on their knees, praying earnestly to God for delivery from this national calamity.
When this hypothetical “virus” is abortion and the only victims are unborn babies, however, the public, government, media, and churches take no notice and remain silent. We condemn ourselves by our silence.
Abortion– America’s Holocaust: In the past, Nazi Germany exterminated “undesirable people,” primarily the Jews, a heinous act known as “the Holocaust.” It has been pointed out that nations of the world are engaging in a Holocaust, which is abortion to rid “undesirable people” (unborn babies) from our presence. I will compare and contrast Germany’s Holocaust with America’s Holocaust:
Governmental sanction: ** Germany: sanctioned by the Third Reich, through Adolph Hitler. ** America: sanctioned by Supreme Court decisions, complicit agreement by Congress, and active promotion by the most pro-abortion of all presidents, Barack Obama.
Involvement of citizens: ** Germany: tolerated and accepted by apathetic German citizens and churches; a few citizens worked in death camps; most citizens wished not to think about what was happening. ** America: tolerated and accepted by apathetic American citizens and churches; a few citizens work in the abortion clinics; most citizens wish not to think about what is happening.
Victims: ** Germany: innocent Jews (primarily). ** America: innocent unborn babies.
Legal charges lodged against victims: ** Germany: None. ** America: None.
Legal proceedings provided for victims prior to execution: ** Germany: None– no representation by an attorney; no trial appearance; no appeal to a higher court; all civil rights abolished. ** America: None– no representation by an attorney; no trial appearance; no appeal to a higher court; all civil rights abolished.
Killing place: ** Germany: Nazi concentration camps. ** America: American abortion clinics.
Method of killing: ** Germany: gas suffocation/ intoxication; starvation; burning; shooting. ** America: chemical poisoning (saline, RU-486); tearing apart, dismemberment while still alive.
Reasons for killing: ** Germany: Jews inconvenient, unwanted, burdensome, with few friends to speak in their behalf. ** America: Unborn babies inconvenient, unwanted, burdensome, with few friends to speak in their behalf.
Results of Holocaust: ** Germany: 6,000,000 Jews killed. ** America: nearly 50,000,000 unborn babies killed.
Date killing stopped: ** Germany: 1945. ** America: killing continues.
Cessation of killing: ** Germany: Yes. Germany has closed her death camps; Jews are no longer killed.. ** America: No. American abortion clinics flourish, and another 1.2-million unborn babies will be killed this year. And, next year…. And, next year…. And, …..
America’s war casualties: In America’s war on her unborn children– children killed by abortion– which began on January 22, 1973, more than 49,550,000 casualties (aborted unborn children) have occurred.
In America’s major wars, “only” 1,110,563 casualties have occurred, as follows:
** Revolutionary War: 4.435 casualties. War ended mid-eighteenth century. ** War Between the States (Civil War): 498,332 casualties (North and South combined). War ended mid-nineteenth century. ** World War I: 116,708 casualties. War ended early twentieth century. ** World War II: 407.316 casualties. War ended mid-twentieth century. ** Korean War: 25,604 casualties. War ended mid-twentieth century. ** Vietnamese War: 58,168 casualties. War ended mid-eighteenth century.
(Other casualties occurring in the War of 1812, Spanish-American War, and recent wars in the Middle East are not included in this list. The statistics would be little affected by adding these casualties.)
Americans rightfully recognize the veterans who served our country and paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We never think of the casualties resulting for our war on the unborn. For every soldier killed in battle since the1770s, 44..5 unborn babies have been killed in abortion clinics.
“We have met the enemy and he is us:” Pogo was a little Okefenokee Swamp critter, made famous by cartoonist Walt Kelly. In 1952, Kelly wrote a book, The Pogo Papers, in which he had Pogo make this famous statement. Pogo may have been grammatically challenged, but he expressed a truth.
In many instances of failure, failure of a cause comes not because of the actions of the cause’s enemies but because of failure of the cause’s champions to fight for that cause.
Consider two quotations:
** (2 Chronicles 7:14): [The LORD said] “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
** “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Edmund Burke (1729-1797)
If America’s Christians by the millions passionately and relentlessly protested the 1973 Supreme Court decisions legalizing all abortions, Congress would have acted. We would have commonsense protection of unborn babies. We would not have nearly fifty-million abortions by this date.
We Christians– God’s people who are called by His name (2 Chronicles 7:14)– were shamefully meek, silent, and timid, and made little protest against the slaughter of innocent babies in our land.
We Christians, mostly good people, did nothing, and evil triumphed (Edmund Burke).
We Christians need to become actively involved against abortion, reaching out in love to pregnant women who may be considering abortions and women who have had abortions. We can make a difference. In the next newsletter, I will discuss ways we Christians can become involved and make a difference. Even one little life saved is worth our efforts.
NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER. I will complete this series in the next newsletter. In that newsletter, I will discuss what we, as Christians, should be doing. Abortion is the problem it is today because Christians have not done what we have been called to do. ** We are too timid. ** We have not championed the truth. ** We have not demanded that government officials oppose abortion. ** We have not reached out in love to help frightened, hurting pregnant and post-abortive women.
Abortion is a challenge for Christians living in the last days. Without opposition, any evil practice will easily flourish. Stand up and speak out for things that are right! You are the voice for unborn babies who have no voice. You speak for Jesus in His absence.
I re-emphasize: If you are pregnant and considering an abortion, or if you grieve because of a past abortion, there are people in your community waiting to help you. God is always available to you through prayer. Don’t face this burden alone.
CONTACT ME: raymondfinney@ymail.com or (865) 984.1424.
If you have questions, comments, or especially if you need to know how to become a Christian, please contact me. I will be honored to try to help you in any way possible.. Unless otherwise stated, Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version.
May God bless and protect you and your family. Maranatha! Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20b)
Raymond Finney Maryville, Tennessee U.S.A..
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