One week, three shootings; Obama’s call to action and ICG comments

Clackamas Town Center, Happy Valley, Oregon

The USA has had at least three shootings this week, two of which were mass shootings (the first mass shooting being in “Happy Valley” at the Clackamas mall, the second at an elementary school in Connecticut, and there was a non-mass shooting, but “only” a murder-suicide last night in Las Vegas), bringing 2012’s total to three mass shootings (the third being Colorado earlier this year, see TW: Colorado Massacre; Reader ‘Demonic’ Possession?).

Here are reports on two different shootings which occurred within the past 24 hours, the first of which has been described as the second-worst school shooting in U.S. history:

December 15, 2012

A gunman with a mind for destruction turned the idyllic Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown into a scene of horrific chaos and carnage Friday morning, killing 20 children and six adults, including the school’s principal, in the worst shooting at a primary school in U.S. history.

The shooter also killed himself inside the school, authorities said, and his mother was later found dead at her home 2 miles away. http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-newtown-sandy-hook-school-shooting-20121214,0,5043872.story

December 15, 2012

Paging CSI. In an incident straight out of the hit television show, a man at the Excalibur hotel in Las Vegas shot a concierge vendor and then himself Friday night. http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2012/12/15/murder-suicide-on-the-strip.html

US President Barack Obama put all a call for action:

15 December 2012

President Obama has urged “meaningful action” against gun crime in the US after a school shooting in Connecticut left 27 dead, including 20 children…

As Mr Obama reacted with a televised statement, he paused several times to wipe tears from his eyes.

“As a country we have been through this too many times,” he said.

“We’re going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20738025

Barack Obama did not specify what action he wanted, but possibly something related to gun control and/or more regulations. I do not wish to get into a debate about the pros and cons of gun control regulations here. But I will state that teaching people the right way of life and a call for real repentance is what really is needed (Barack Obama did not truly call for either). However, at this stage, it appears it will take the return of Jesus Christ for this to happen.

The USA has had a lot of mass shootings. There is much violence in the land (and it is not limited to these type of shootings). God is not pleased with violent lands:

23 ‘Make a chain,
For the land is filled with crimes of blood,
And the city is full of violence.
24 Therefore I will bring the worst of the Gentiles,
And they will possess their houses;
I will cause the pomp of the strong to cease,
And their holy places shall be defiled.
25 Destruction comes;
They will seek peace, but there shall be none. (Ezekiel 7:23-25)

6 “Will not all these take up a proverb against him,
And a taunting riddle against him, and say,
‘Woe to him who increases
What is not his — how long?
And to him who loads himself with many pledges’?
7 Will not your creditors rise up suddenly?
Will they not awaken who oppress you?
And you will become their booty.
8 Because you have plundered many nations,
All the remnant of the people shall plunder you,
Because of men’s blood
And the violence of the land and the city,
And of all who dwell in it. (Habakkuk 2:6-8)

America will be consumed by violence, though the final amount will come from external, primarily Gentile, sources, as the above teaches. Abortion, frequent support of war, violent sports, etc. all identify the USA now (as does the massive amount of debt, referred to as loading up with “pledges” above as the USA is now the most indebted nation of all time)–there truly is violence in the land and the city.

Related to a couple of the shootings, here are some comments in his latest newsletter from ICG’s Mark Armstrong:

It seems as though we’re being steamrolled with an onslaught of the worst news, and worst prospective news ever. Not only is the Middle East grinding toward an explosive crescendo at a time when we’re bracing ourselves against predictions of several potential disruptions of the financial system, but we also have to try to absorb the mindless insanity of mass shootings of innocent bystanders (as in the Portland mall incident early this week) or little school children (as in the case of the elementary school massacre in Connecticut this morning).

How do we even begin to process the depths of depravity responsible for the mass killing of elementary school children? No doubt there will be lots of details and explanations in the days ahead. But the true culprit probably won’t be identified. Most probably can’t bring themselves to recognize the fact that this world has fallen under the all encompassing influence of evil. Obviously, there are enough heartless lunatics running around to keep perpetrating these kinds of atrocities indefinitely.

It seems that evil has gained the upper hand, around the world and throughout our society. Usually it’s explained if not excused as some kind of anomaly. But the reports of evil atrocities are coming over the wire at such a pace now that we have no time to get over one before being hit with another. A 22 year old shoots up a mall full of shoppers, miraculously killing only two besides himself. Now a twenty two year old one carries out a massacre, reportedly killing both father and mother in addition to eighteen little kids and several more adults. What manner of evil is at work?

Satan is evil and influences many to be evil. It is possible that one or more of the shooters this week was demonically possessed or influenced. The frequency of suicide with the shootings is consistent with demonic behavior (cf. Matthew 8:31-32).

One does not need to be a Satanist or directly possessed to be influenced by him. And there have been others that have made the news for what appears to be fairly severe demonic influence (see Man-Eating Zombies? No, But Likely Demonic Influence).

But as far as being Satanically-influenced, notice the following scriptures about Satan, his desires, and his influence:

44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. (John 8:44)

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. (Ephesians 2:1-3)

9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:9)

While Satan has deceived the whole world, those who are not properly converted remain under his influence.

Satan is opposed to God, the truth of God, and the laws of God. These shooter were all influenced by Satan.

My prayers continue to go out for the victims of these Satanically-inspired tragedies.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Close Encounters of a ‘Spirit’ Kind discusses some experiences I believe were (demon) ‘spirit’ related.
Mardi Gras: The Devil’s Carnival? Do you know that in Bolivia the carnival/Mardi Gras time is part of a celebration known as the Devil’s Carnival? Did Jesus celebrate Carnaval? Where did it come from?
Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? Has the Roman Catholic Church allowed abortions? What about the real Church of God?
Is American Football Evil? Is the most popular spectator sport in the USA something that Christians should watch? What do the Bible and early writings show?
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West?
Prophecies of Barack Obama? Eight reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and eight reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. This article includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests? Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”, based up an early 20th century writing–here is a short article.
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught?