WEBVTT
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There's a new epidemic
affecting our world today.
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And I'm not talking about
a new variant of COVID-19.
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In fact, it's not a virus
or a disease at all.
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It's not spread through
coughing or sneezing,
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and lockdowns surely
won't help.
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So, what is it?
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And how are you
affected by it?
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It is the epidemic
of loneliness.
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Now, you might think,
"What are you talking about?
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That's not an epidemic.
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That's what all of us experience from time to time."
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But this is different.
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I'm talking about a chronic sense of isolation and
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disconnection from others,
from any sort of community,
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from anything meaningful
in life.
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And why wouldn't millions
feel empty and alone in
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our world today?
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After all, generations have
been taught there's no purpose
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to life and we are the
products of random chance.
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Regarding Charles Darwin's
theory of evolution,
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the late science fiction writer,
Arthur C. Clarke once wrote:
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"Two possibilities exist:
either we are alone in
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the Universe or we are not.
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Both are equally terrifying."
01:07.801 --> 01:11.604
More recently, evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins wrote,
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in River Out of Eden:
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"The universe we observe has
precisely the properties we
01:17.377 --> 01:20.246
should expect if there is,
at bottom, no design,
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no purpose, no evil and
no good, nothing but blind,
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pitiless indifference."
01:27.821 --> 01:30.957
Maybe there's a reason
why so many today feel
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chronically alone.
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Maybe we as society have absorbed the fables
01:35.929 --> 01:37.363
of evolution.
01:37.430 --> 01:40.200
And they are profoundly
affecting how we think
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about our place in the
Universe, in society,
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and even in our own homes.
01:45.438 --> 01:48.441
You might be one of the
millions today suffering
01:48.508 --> 01:51.377
from a sense of isolation
and loneliness.
01:51.444 --> 01:53.947
If you are, take heart.
01:54.013 --> 01:55.315
You're not alone.
01:55.381 --> 01:58.117
And there is help; most
importantly, from the
01:58.184 --> 02:00.019
pages of the Bible.
02:00.086 --> 02:03.289
So, let's discuss this
issue on today's program.
02:03.356 --> 02:06.359
But before we do, be sure to have a pen and paper on hand,
02:06.426 --> 02:09.529
so you can request the free literature we're offering today,
02:09.596 --> 02:13.066
The Real God:
Proofs and Promises.
02:13.132 --> 02:15.535
Join me today on
Tomorrow's World,
02:15.602 --> 02:19.305
as we discuss the problem
and the ultimate solution to
02:19.372 --> 02:22.175
"Loneliness: The New Epidemic."
02:22.242 --> 02:24.043
I'll be right back.
02:24.110 --> 02:30.517
♪
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Welcome to Tomorrow's World, where we help you make sense
02:33.786 --> 02:36.756
of your world through
the pages of the Bible.
02:36.823 --> 02:39.526
There is an epidemic
ravaging our world,
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and it's called loneliness.
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Now, are we overstating this?
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After all, an epidemic is an out-of-control health crisis
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where people get sick and
die--and in large numbers.
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And of course, everybody feels
lonely from time to time.
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Is the term "epidemic of loneliness" an exaggeration?
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This is the point of an article from January 24, 2025 in
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The Atlantic entitled "The Myth of a Loneliness Epidemic."
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The author says:
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"No one would blame you for thinking that we're in the
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midst of an unprecedented
global loneliness emergency.
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The United Kingdom and
Japan have named
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"loneliness ministers"
to tackle the problem.
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In 2023, the World Health Organization declared loneliness
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a pressing public-health concern, and then-President
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Joe Biden's surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, issued an
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advisory warning about an
"epidemic of loneliness."
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American commentators have
painted a bleak portrait
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of a nation collapsing
into ever more distant
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and despairing silos.
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And polls do suggest that a
lot of people are lonely--
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some of the time, at least."
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But is it an epidemic?
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The author explains that
it's difficult to quantify
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something like loneliness,
especially when trying
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to compare it to
historical trends.
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People's expectations of relationships may be different
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today than they were a generation or two ago.
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That's all true.
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So, is this a fad?
04:11.718 --> 04:14.954
Is it a trendy new band
wagon to jump on?
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Or is there really
something to it?
04:17.757 --> 04:20.793
Whatever it is, some
governments are taking
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it very seriously.
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As the article mentions, the government of Great Britain
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commissioned one of its Ministers of Parliament with
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the task of tackling the
growing problem of loneliness
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and social isolation
in British society.
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And believe it or not, the
British government has spent
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over 80 million pounds studying and combating this problem.
04:43.483 --> 04:47.120
When we think of loneliness
as a social ill, it's not
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surprising that the elderly would come to mind.
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After all, older people
often have to face the
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challenge of losing a
mate and living alone.
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They oftentimes struggle with challenging health issues.
04:58.631 --> 05:02.035
Isolation and loneliness
only makes it worse.
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Family members may be
hundreds of miles away.
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Or, they may have no contact with family members at all.
05:08.508 --> 05:11.344
Some may divorce,
even later in life.
05:11.411 --> 05:15.081
The American Association
of Retired Persons website
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reports that there has been
a dramatic increase in
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so-called "gray divorces."
05:20.820 --> 05:22.055
Notice:
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"A new analysis of divorce data from 1990 to 2021 released
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in July by Bowling Green State University's National Center
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for Family and Marriage Research found that divorce rates for
05:34.701 --> 05:38.371
those age 45 and over rose
during that period...
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The most significant increase
in divorce rates was among
05:41.841 --> 05:44.310
people 65 and older:
05:44.377 --> 05:48.448
"The rate tripled from
1990 to 2021.
05:48.514 --> 05:51.718
At these older ages, rates
of divorce among women
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nearly quadrupled...
05:53.419 --> 05:57.890
older adults "now face record
high divorce rates"...."
05:57.957 --> 06:02.295
So, the rise in divorces is also a driving force in more feelings
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of isolation and disconnection among seniors today.
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But even under the
best of circumstances,
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with regular contact from
loving family and friends,
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aging is challenging.
06:14.173 --> 06:16.309
But it's not just the
elderly who suffer from
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being isolated.
06:17.744 --> 06:20.713
In 2021, the Japanese
government instituted
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a ministry of loneliness,
like Great Britain.
06:23.516 --> 06:26.385
Their specific aim was
to address the growing
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suicide rate among the
elderly, working women,
06:29.889 --> 06:32.425
part-time workers,
and the unemployed.
06:32.492 --> 06:36.229
The COVID-19 pandemic had
also made social isolation
06:36.295 --> 06:38.331
an even worse problem.
06:38.397 --> 06:42.535
Makoto Watanabe, is a
communications professor
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at Hokkaido Bunkyo University.
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In an article for Deutsche Welle, he explained the
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problem of men being marginalized because of
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the struggling economy:
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"There is a "lost generation" of thousands of 40-and 50-something
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men, primarily, who could not get a good job when they left
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school because the economy was bad and they have just stayed
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at home ever since.
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The number of single households and "hikikomori"--social
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recluses--has been increasing rapidly for many years...."
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So, there are economic forces driving the loneliness trend.
07:20.273 --> 07:22.675
Unemployment, and the
lingering effects of the
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COVID pandemic play a part.
07:24.577 --> 07:27.180
And it's not just in
the Western world.
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But perhaps more alarming
yet, is the number of
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young adults experiencing
chronic loneliness at even
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higher rates than the elderly.
07:35.621 --> 07:38.591
An NBC News survey
reported this:
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"Twenty-nine percent of U.S. adults under age 30 say they
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feel lonely or isolated from those around them all of the
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time or most of the time.
07:48.167 --> 07:52.405
Similarly, 26% of the next
oldest generation, or those
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ages 30-44, say they
feel lonely or isolated
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all or most of the time.
07:58.511 --> 08:02.882
But only 15% of survey respondents who are members
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of Generation X, or those
who are 45 to 64 years old,
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said they felt they were
lonely or isolated most or
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all of the time, and only 8%
of those ages 65 and older
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said the same."
08:18.164 --> 08:20.900
A similar article in The
Telegraph told the same
08:20.967 --> 08:23.002
story in the United Kingdom.
08:23.069 --> 08:27.006
Published on February 29,
2024, it was entitled,
08:27.073 --> 08:31.043
"Britain is in a loneliness epidemic--and young people
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are at the heart of it."
08:32.979 --> 08:35.982
So, there does seem to
be something happening.
08:36.048 --> 08:38.918
Ironically, it's in a time
with ever-increasing
08:38.985 --> 08:42.088
connection through the
Internet and smartphones.
08:42.154 --> 08:45.858
Loneliness seems to be
increasing across the board.
08:45.925 --> 08:47.693
But why is it happening?
08:47.760 --> 08:48.895
What's behind it?
08:48.961 --> 08:51.564
Is there anything we can
discern from the Bible that
08:51.631 --> 08:54.500
can shed light on
this growing scourge?
08:54.567 --> 08:57.069
We'll explore that in
the next segment.
08:57.136 --> 09:00.439
But before that, let me take
a moment to offer you our free
09:00.506 --> 09:04.210
study guide, The Real God: Proofs and Promises.
09:04.277 --> 09:06.946
You'll see that our lives
are not just a product of
09:07.013 --> 09:08.147
random chance.
09:08.214 --> 09:10.750
And we don't live on an earth that's just hurtling
09:10.816 --> 09:12.985
recklessly through the Universe.
09:13.052 --> 09:15.988
There is a real God,
and you can prove it.
09:16.055 --> 09:19.625
Creation demands a Creator;
Life demands a Life-giver;
09:19.692 --> 09:23.696
Law demands a Law-giver;
and Design demands a Designer.
09:23.763 --> 09:26.899
This study guide will explain this--and much more.
09:26.966 --> 09:30.136
So, don't take it for granted--
prove these things for yourself.
09:30.202 --> 09:31.604
You need this booklet.
09:31.671 --> 09:34.340
So, order online,
call or write to us.
09:34.407 --> 09:35.207
Order today.
09:35.274 --> 09:36.108
♪
09:36.175 --> 09:42.815
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this vital truth--
09:53.793 --> 09:56.829
straight from the
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If you're calling for
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♪
10:35.501 --> 10:37.069
Welcome back.
10:37.136 --> 10:39.138
In the last segment,
we discussed the growing
10:39.205 --> 10:42.141
epidemic of loneliness
around the world.
10:42.208 --> 10:43.909
But why is it happening?
10:43.976 --> 10:47.013
Many experts give opinions
about why the loneliness
10:47.079 --> 10:48.748
epidemic is growing.
10:48.814 --> 10:51.617
They'll cite reasons such
as, people spending more
10:51.684 --> 10:55.488
time online; less contact
person-to-person; the fact
10:55.554 --> 10:58.724
that it's a more mobile
society; the pandemic.
10:58.791 --> 11:01.961
And that's all true--those
certainly have contributed
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to the loneliness epidemic.
11:04.563 --> 11:08.234
But one source most experts overlook is the Bible.
11:08.300 --> 11:11.771
And yet, the Bible is the foundation of understanding.
11:11.837 --> 11:14.040
It's the first place we
should look when seeking
11:14.106 --> 11:17.810
to discern the answers to
the big questions of life.
11:17.877 --> 11:20.179
And it's where we should
turn when we're grappling
11:20.246 --> 11:23.215
with why the world
is the way it is.
11:23.282 --> 11:26.952
Notice an interesting
statement Jesus made in
11:27.019 --> 11:30.523
Matthew 24:10 and 12,
speaking of the conditions
11:30.589 --> 11:32.058
at the end of the age:
11:32.124 --> 11:35.628
"And then many will be offended, will betray one another,
11:35.694 --> 11:37.363
and will hate one another...
11:37.430 --> 11:40.566
And because lawlessness
will abound, the love of
11:40.633 --> 11:42.535
many will grow cold."
11:42.601 --> 11:45.204
Is that describing
our world today?
11:45.271 --> 11:47.673
We're shocked to see
the lack of empathy
11:47.740 --> 11:50.342
in some people today,
in our news reports.
11:50.409 --> 11:53.946
Well, Jesus predicted the
world of the last days
11:54.013 --> 11:57.283
would be one in which
"love would grow cold."
11:57.349 --> 12:00.686
Could we be witnessing the
beginning stages of that
12:00.753 --> 12:03.055
breakdown of society now?
12:03.122 --> 12:06.625
Notice what the apostle
Paul wrote to Timothy
12:06.692 --> 12:09.328
in 2 Timothy 3:1...
12:09.395 --> 12:12.665
"But know this, that in
the last days perilous
12:12.731 --> 12:14.200
times will come..."
12:14.266 --> 12:18.971
This word "perilous" is also translated "times of stress."
12:19.038 --> 12:21.607
Hard times were predicted
to come just before
12:21.674 --> 12:23.042
Christ's return.
12:23.109 --> 12:25.611
And then Paul described
some of the specifics of
12:25.678 --> 12:27.880
why those times would be hard.
12:27.947 --> 12:32.218
In 2 Timothy 3:2-3, we read...
12:32.284 --> 12:35.688
"For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,
12:35.754 --> 12:39.391
boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents,
12:39.458 --> 12:44.163
unthankful, unholy,
unloving, unforgiving..."
12:44.230 --> 12:48.601
Unthankful, unholy,
unloving, unforgiving?
12:48.667 --> 12:52.004
That sounds like a society
where people are increasingly
12:52.071 --> 12:54.807
polarized and hateful
to each other.
12:54.874 --> 12:57.843
That's describing
our world today.
12:57.910 --> 13:01.046
It's no coincidence that
these conditions increase
13:01.113 --> 13:06.085
in a world where many have no respect for the Bible or God.
13:06.152 --> 13:08.587
Notice what the apostle
Paul said in his letter
13:08.654 --> 13:09.488
to the Romans.
13:09.555 --> 13:12.892
In Romans 1:28...
13:12.958 --> 13:15.761
"And even as they did not
like to retain God in their
13:15.828 --> 13:19.999
knowledge, God gave them over
to a debased mind, to do those
13:20.065 --> 13:22.268
things which are not fitting..."
13:22.334 --> 13:25.704
When many in society cast
aside a real understanding
13:25.771 --> 13:29.808
of God and respect for His
word, bad things happen.
13:29.875 --> 13:32.611
And we're witnessing
that in our world today.
13:32.678 --> 13:37.950
In Romans 1:29-31,
he explains they would be...
13:38.017 --> 13:42.454
"...full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness;
13:42.521 --> 13:46.792
they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud,
13:46.859 --> 13:50.863
boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to
13:50.930 --> 13:54.767
parents, undiscerning,
untrustworthy, unloving,
13:54.833 --> 13:57.836
unforgiving, unmerciful..."
13:57.903 --> 14:01.473
This is describing the breakdown of a well-connected,
14:01.540 --> 14:03.642
fully-functioning society.
14:03.709 --> 14:06.378
It's describing a society
where people don't trust
14:06.445 --> 14:09.181
their leaders, don't trust
the media, don't even trust
14:09.248 --> 14:11.150
members of their own family.
14:11.217 --> 14:15.054
And why wouldn't our
society be on this path?
14:15.120 --> 14:18.357
Since the 1800s,
evolutionary theory--
14:18.424 --> 14:22.361
which proposes a meaningless
and purposeless existence--
14:22.428 --> 14:25.397
has been pushed as a fact.
14:25.464 --> 14:28.500
Let me quote from Evangelist
and Tomorrow's World writer
14:28.567 --> 14:31.470
Douglas Winnail, writing
in today's offer,
14:31.537 --> 14:34.139
The Real God:
Proofs and Promises.
14:34.206 --> 14:36.475
He says on page 6:
14:36.542 --> 14:40.045
"Over the last two centuries, belief in God has come
14:40.112 --> 14:42.948
under attack by many intellectuals in the West....
14:43.015 --> 14:45.818
Philosopher Friedrich
Nietzsche asserted that
14:45.884 --> 14:48.020
God is merely a thought.
14:48.087 --> 14:51.757
Neurologist Sigmund Freud
termed belief in God a
14:51.824 --> 14:53.292
mental disorder....
14:53.359 --> 14:57.296
H. L. Mencken asserted,
"God is he immemorial refuge
14:57.363 --> 15:00.866
of the incompetent, the
helpless, the miserable."
15:00.933 --> 15:04.570
In the 1960s, prominent theologians echoed Nietzsche's
15:04.637 --> 15:09.441
earlier sentiments and actually questioned whether God was dead.
15:09.508 --> 15:14.647
Oxford zoologist Richard Dawkins asserted, in his 2006 book
15:14.713 --> 15:18.217
The God Delusion, that there
is no evidence to support
15:18.284 --> 15:21.553
religion and that better educated people today
15:21.620 --> 15:22.688
admit this.
15:22.755 --> 15:26.091
He claims that "only the
scientifically illiterate"
15:26.158 --> 15:28.661
believe in a Creator God."
15:28.727 --> 15:32.798
Again, isn't it a surprise that we as a society are drifting?
15:32.865 --> 15:35.234
That many of us are
increasingly lonely and
15:35.301 --> 15:39.038
feel no connection to others
and no purpose in life?
15:39.104 --> 15:41.940
After all, for generations,
our world has been absorbing
15:42.007 --> 15:45.544
the message that our
lives are meaningless.
15:45.611 --> 15:47.313
On page 8, he observes:
15:47.379 --> 15:51.617
"Evolutionists' purposeless universe has proven to be
15:51.684 --> 15:55.988
a psychologically empty
and depressing concept."
15:56.055 --> 15:58.657
It's no wonder that more
and more of us today are
15:58.724 --> 16:01.026
depressed and discouraged.
16:01.093 --> 16:03.762
Our world preaches to us
that we have no purpose
16:03.829 --> 16:05.698
of being here at all.
16:05.764 --> 16:08.500
But the Bible predicted this.
16:08.567 --> 16:12.271
In it, God prophesied a spiritually bankrupt society
16:12.338 --> 16:13.939
at the time of the end.
16:14.006 --> 16:16.308
And that's what we're
witnessing, day by day.
16:16.375 --> 16:19.645
It's not surprising,
against this backdrop,
16:19.712 --> 16:24.216
that we also have an epidemic
of loneliness and despair.
16:24.283 --> 16:26.652
So, what can you
and I do about it?
16:26.719 --> 16:28.454
Is there a solution?
16:28.520 --> 16:30.956
We'll discuss that
when we come back.
16:31.023 --> 16:33.559
But first, let me offer
you our free study guide,
16:33.625 --> 16:36.462
The Real God:
Proofs and Promises.
16:36.528 --> 16:39.031
There's a reason why
so many today sense
16:39.098 --> 16:41.800
no purpose and meaning
in their lives.
16:41.867 --> 16:45.304
It comes from a lack of
understanding of a real God,
16:45.371 --> 16:47.873
and the reason He
put us on this earth.
16:47.940 --> 16:50.576
We all need to become better acquainted with the real
16:50.642 --> 16:54.646
God who made us and gives
every breath we take.
16:54.713 --> 16:56.048
You need this booklet.
16:56.115 --> 16:57.916
So order yours right away.
16:57.983 --> 17:00.119
Call, click,
or write today.
17:00.185 --> 17:01.019
Order now...
17:01.086 --> 17:02.087
♪
17:02.154 --> 17:03.922
This clear and
straight-forward resource
17:03.989 --> 17:06.525
will help you understand
this vital truth--
17:06.592 --> 17:09.261
straight from the
pages of the Bible.
17:09.328 --> 17:10.462
Call now!
17:10.529 --> 17:14.266
Or go to...
17:14.333 --> 17:16.268
♪
17:16.335 --> 17:17.803
Welcome back.
17:17.870 --> 17:20.806
In the last two segments of today's program we saw the
17:20.873 --> 17:24.176
growing problem of loneliness
in our world today.
17:24.243 --> 17:27.179
And we saw that the harsh
conditions of the world of
17:27.246 --> 17:30.716
the end-times would be the result of a spiritual collapse
17:30.783 --> 17:32.785
and a rejection of God.
17:32.851 --> 17:35.154
But where does that leave us?
17:35.220 --> 17:37.656
What can we do about it?
17:37.723 --> 17:40.959
Earlier in the program we
touched on divorce and the
17:41.026 --> 17:44.530
breakdown of the family
as a factor in loneliness.
17:44.596 --> 17:48.066
Marriage and the family
truly is a basic building
17:48.133 --> 17:50.102
block of a strong society.
17:50.169 --> 17:53.605
In Genesis chapter 2 we
read of the first marriage.
17:53.672 --> 17:56.942
After God created Adam,
notice what He said.
17:57.009 --> 18:00.045
Genesis 2:18...
18:00.112 --> 18:02.915
"And the LORD God said,
'It is not good that
18:02.981 --> 18:05.918
man should be alone;
I will make him a helper
18:05.984 --> 18:07.519
comparable to him...
18:07.586 --> 18:10.956
And the LORD God caused a
deep sleep to fall on Adam,
18:11.023 --> 18:13.091
and he slept; and He
took one of his ribs,
18:13.158 --> 18:15.327
and closed up the
flesh in its place.
18:15.394 --> 18:18.363
Then the rib which the
LORD God had taken from man
18:18.430 --> 18:21.800
He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man."
18:21.867 --> 18:22.968
Think about that.
18:23.035 --> 18:26.171
When God made Adam, He
also provided companionship.
18:26.238 --> 18:28.574
And that was through the
institution of marriage.
18:28.640 --> 18:31.677
And that's why God says
He hates divorce.
18:31.743 --> 18:35.581
We read that in Malachi 2:16...
18:35.647 --> 18:39.485
"For the LORD God of Israel
says that He hates divorce,
18:39.551 --> 18:42.788
for it covers one's
garment with violence."
18:42.855 --> 18:46.158
Divorce tears apart the bonds that give families--and
18:46.225 --> 18:47.926
communities--their strength.
18:47.993 --> 18:50.462
In a crisis of loneliness
in our world today,
18:50.529 --> 18:53.098
why aren't more leaders
advocating for stronger
18:53.165 --> 18:54.900
marriages and families?
18:54.967 --> 18:57.536
Why aren't more social commentators calling for
18:57.603 --> 19:02.040
abstinence before marriage and
a lifelong marriage covenant?
19:02.107 --> 19:03.742
That would be a
good first step.
19:03.809 --> 19:05.577
But that's not all.
19:05.644 --> 19:07.946
Actually, the covenant
between a man and wife is
19:08.013 --> 19:11.884
secondary to a spiritual
marriage covenant God wants
19:11.950 --> 19:13.685
us to make with Him.
19:13.752 --> 19:16.355
When a lawyer questioned
Jesus about the greatest
19:16.421 --> 19:19.224
commandment, He gave a
very interesting answer.
19:19.291 --> 19:23.295
He said--yes, love others--
love your neighbor as yourself--
19:23.362 --> 19:25.764
that includes our wife
or our husband.
19:25.831 --> 19:29.434
But even more important,
love God.
19:29.501 --> 19:34.573
It's found in
Matthew 22:37-38...
19:34.640 --> 19:37.543
"Jesus said to him,
'You shall love the LORD
19:37.609 --> 19:40.946
your God with all your
heart, with all your soul,
19:41.013 --> 19:43.081
and with all your mind.'
19:43.148 --> 19:46.585
This is the first and
great commandment."
19:46.652 --> 19:50.522
We are to have a close and intimate relationship with God.
19:50.589 --> 19:53.325
And yet, in our modern
society, many have let God
19:53.392 --> 19:55.227
be pushed into a corner.
19:55.294 --> 19:58.664
Why are we surprised at the epidemic of loneliness,
19:58.730 --> 20:01.567
when we've pushed God
out of our lives?
20:01.633 --> 20:04.736
When Jesus was in the
worst trial of His life,
20:04.803 --> 20:08.974
about to be arrested, tried and
executed, He gave some final
20:09.041 --> 20:11.209
encouragement to His disciples.
20:11.276 --> 20:13.979
He knew that in their
weakness they would desert
20:14.046 --> 20:16.114
Him in His hour of need.
20:16.181 --> 20:18.884
And yet, in His mercy
and kindness, He didn't
20:18.951 --> 20:22.020
harangue them--instead,
He explained where He
20:22.087 --> 20:23.589
placed His trust.
20:23.655 --> 20:27.426
Notice, in John 16:32...
20:27.492 --> 20:31.763
"Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will
20:31.830 --> 20:35.067
be scattered, each to his
own, and will leave me alone.
20:35.133 --> 20:39.771
And yet I am not alone,
because the Father is with Me."
20:39.838 --> 20:43.809
Who did Jesus look to, to
sustain Him in His darkest hour?
20:43.875 --> 20:45.777
His Father in Heaven.
20:45.844 --> 20:51.116
You see, His God--and our God--
is not just a powerful Sovereign
20:51.183 --> 20:52.951
ruling over the Universe.
20:53.018 --> 20:56.054
Yes, He has power over the
elements--the sun, the moon,
20:56.121 --> 20:59.224
the stars, the mountains,
the oceans, the great beasts
20:59.291 --> 21:02.928
of the earth and the waters,
the powerful forces of nature,
21:02.995 --> 21:04.763
seen and unseen.
21:04.830 --> 21:07.766
But He also is a loving
Being who wants to have a
21:07.833 --> 21:09.801
relationship with His children.
21:09.868 --> 21:12.037
And we are His children.
21:12.104 --> 21:13.372
He created us.
21:13.438 --> 21:15.774
He wants to know us.
21:15.841 --> 21:18.944
Can we begin to see just
how foolish and reckless
21:19.011 --> 21:21.647
the evolutionary fables are?
21:21.713 --> 21:25.384
When so-called experts
try to convince us we are
21:25.450 --> 21:28.720
living in a world where
no one really cares?
21:28.787 --> 21:32.958
As if we are alone in the
cold, heartless Universe?
21:33.025 --> 21:36.228
Again, Richard Dawkins
said this, in the book
21:36.294 --> 21:37.696
River Out of Eden:
21:37.763 --> 21:42.134
"[N]ature is not cruel, only pitilessly indifferent.
21:42.200 --> 21:45.070
This is one of the hardest
lessons for humans to learn.
21:45.137 --> 21:48.407
We cannot admit that things might be neither good nor evil,
21:48.473 --> 21:52.577
neither cruel nor kind, but simply callous--indifferent
21:52.644 --> 21:55.947
to all suffering,
lacking all purpose."
21:56.014 --> 21:58.717
What a sad, hopeless philosophy.
21:58.784 --> 22:01.620
We at Tomorrow's World
reject the notion that the
22:01.687 --> 22:04.623
Universe is indifferent
and lacking purpose.
22:04.690 --> 22:07.359
Because we can have a
personal relationship
22:07.426 --> 22:11.263
with the awesome, mighty God
who rules that Universe.
22:11.329 --> 22:13.765
And that changes everything.
22:13.832 --> 22:16.902
And when we begin to
have a close relationship
22:16.968 --> 22:19.771
with our Father,
we're never alone.
22:19.838 --> 22:21.807
He's always with us.
22:21.873 --> 22:25.444
In fact, Jesus also explained that in the same evening,
22:25.510 --> 22:27.145
to His disciples.
22:27.212 --> 22:30.415
He was speaking to them about sending the Holy Spirit after
22:30.482 --> 22:32.217
His death and resurrection.
22:32.284 --> 22:35.921
He said this,
in John 14:15...
22:35.987 --> 22:38.857
"If you love Me,
keep My commandments.
22:38.924 --> 22:41.326
And I will pray the Father,
and He will give you
22:41.393 --> 22:42.494
another Helper...
22:42.561 --> 22:46.932
I will not leave you orphans;
I will come to you."
22:46.998 --> 22:49.201
Are you struggling
with loneliness?
22:49.267 --> 22:52.537
Do you feel hopeless
and alone sometimes?
22:52.604 --> 22:54.773
Reach out to family members.
22:54.840 --> 22:56.908
Call or write to a friend.
22:56.975 --> 22:58.844
You need that contact.
22:58.910 --> 23:02.447
Even if it's difficult at
first, you need to reach out.
23:02.514 --> 23:06.151
But more importantly, talk
to your Father in Heaven.
23:06.218 --> 23:10.522
He loves you, He cares for you, He gave His Son for you.
23:10.589 --> 23:14.259
Yes, for the other 8 billion people on this earth, too.
23:14.326 --> 23:16.928
But He also gave
His Son for you.
23:16.995 --> 23:19.731
He loves you and
He cares for you.
23:19.798 --> 23:23.969
As Peter wrote,
in 1 Peter 5:7...
23:24.035 --> 23:29.141
"...[C]asting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."
23:29.207 --> 23:32.344
And thank your Elder
Brother, Jesus Christ.
23:32.410 --> 23:34.279
He died for you.
23:34.346 --> 23:36.648
Because He loves you as well.
23:36.715 --> 23:40.318
And He wants to have a personal relationship with you.
23:40.385 --> 23:44.656
He explains that in
Matthew 7:21-23...
23:44.723 --> 23:47.692
"Not everyone who says to Me,
'Lord, Lord,' shall enter
23:47.759 --> 23:50.562
the kingdom of heaven,
but he who does the will
23:50.629 --> 23:52.764
of My Father in heaven.
23:52.831 --> 23:55.233
Many will say to Me in
that day, 'Lord, Lord,'
23:55.300 --> 23:58.537
have we not prophesied in
Your name, cast out demons
23:58.603 --> 24:01.807
in Your name, and done
many wonders in Your name?
24:01.873 --> 24:06.745
And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you....'"
24:06.812 --> 24:08.480
Now, think about
this for a moment.
24:08.547 --> 24:10.015
What is Jesus saying?
24:10.081 --> 24:12.150
What does He want in us?
24:12.217 --> 24:14.152
Yes, we must obey Him.
24:14.219 --> 24:16.188
We must respond to Him.
24:16.254 --> 24:20.425
But because He loves us,
He wants to get to know us.
24:20.492 --> 24:24.996
As we walk with Him every
day of the rest of our lives.
24:25.063 --> 24:27.199
There's so much more
that could be said.
24:27.265 --> 24:29.267
And that's why we're
offering to send you,
24:29.334 --> 24:31.937
The Real God:
Proofs and Promises.
24:32.003 --> 24:34.673
In it, Evangelist
Douglas Winnail asks:
24:34.739 --> 24:38.476
"If you have sensed a void
in your life, if you feel
24:38.543 --> 24:42.647
cut off and alone, why not talk to God about it in prayer?
24:42.714 --> 24:45.483
If you can see the lack of
meaning and purpose in our
24:45.550 --> 24:49.688
secular, materialistic world, why not get down on your knees
24:49.754 --> 24:53.425
in a private place and talk
with your Father?"
24:53.491 --> 24:56.628
You see, this is not just
an academic exercise we're
24:56.695 --> 24:57.729
talking about.
24:57.796 --> 25:00.365
It's about knowing our
Father in Heaven, and
25:00.432 --> 25:02.434
our Savior Jesus Christ.
25:02.500 --> 25:05.237
So don't delay--order your
free booklet today.
25:05.303 --> 25:07.539
Call, click or
write to us.
25:07.606 --> 25:08.607
Order now.
25:08.673 --> 25:09.474
♪
25:09.541 --> 25:16.615
For today's free
offer call...
25:16.681 --> 25:21.753
Or go to...
25:21.820 --> 25:24.823
This clear and straight-
forward resource will
25:24.890 --> 25:27.125
help you understand
this vital truth--
25:27.192 --> 25:30.695
straight from the
pages of the Bible.
25:30.762 --> 25:32.264
If you're calling for
the first time,
25:32.330 --> 25:35.333
you will also receive a
free annual subscription to
25:35.400 --> 25:37.168
Tomorrow's World magazine.
25:37.235 --> 25:40.772
Six inspiring issues
discussing news, science,
25:40.839 --> 25:43.642
and modern culture will
help you make sense of
25:43.708 --> 25:47.212
your world from a
biblical perspective.
25:47.279 --> 25:50.181
Call today and join
millions around the world
25:50.248 --> 25:52.817
who are turning to
Tomorrow's World for
25:52.884 --> 25:58.323
truth, prophecy, and hope
in these confusing times.
25:58.390 --> 25:59.858
Call now!
25:59.925 --> 26:03.762
Or go to...
26:03.828 --> 26:09.034
♪
26:09.100 --> 26:12.304
In 2023, the United States
Department of Health
26:12.370 --> 26:15.307
and Human Services
published the pamphlet,
26:15.373 --> 26:18.777
"Our Epidemic of Loneliness
and Isolation."
26:18.843 --> 26:22.580
In it, the then-U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy,
26:22.647 --> 26:26.084
offered this advice for combatting loneliness.
26:26.151 --> 26:27.686
Here is what he said:
26:27.752 --> 26:30.355
"Each of us can start now,
in our own lives,
26:30.422 --> 26:33.525
by strengthening our
connections and relationships.
26:33.591 --> 26:37.362
Our individual relationships
are an untapped resource--
26:37.429 --> 26:40.665
a source of healing
hiding in plain sight.
26:40.732 --> 26:43.234
They can help us live
healthier, more productive,
26:43.301 --> 26:45.236
and more fulfilled lives.
26:45.303 --> 26:47.405
Answer that phone
call from a friend.
26:47.472 --> 26:49.107
Make time to share a meal.
26:49.174 --> 26:51.643
Listen without the distraction of your phone.
26:51.710 --> 26:53.211
Perform an act of service.
26:53.278 --> 26:55.413
Express yourself authentically.
26:55.480 --> 26:58.550
The keys to human
connection are simple,
26:58.616 --> 27:01.186
but extraordinarily powerful."
27:01.252 --> 27:02.887
That's great advice.
27:02.954 --> 27:06.224
The antidote for loneliness
is to reach out and connect
27:06.291 --> 27:07.492
with others.
27:07.559 --> 27:10.428
But at the same time,
there's something profoundly
27:10.495 --> 27:12.430
missing in his advice.
27:12.497 --> 27:15.633
An acknowledgement that
overcoming loneliness
27:15.700 --> 27:19.037
starts with a personal
relationship with God.
27:19.104 --> 27:20.271
We are His children.
27:20.338 --> 27:22.540
And if we put our faith
and trust in Him,
27:22.607 --> 27:24.743
He will never let us down.
27:24.809 --> 27:27.679
As it says in Hebrews 13:5...
27:27.746 --> 27:31.449
"... For He Himself has said,
'I will never leave you
27:31.516 --> 27:33.618
nor forsake you.'"
27:33.685 --> 27:34.719
Thank you for watching.
27:34.786 --> 27:36.755
And don't forget to order
your free copy of our
27:36.821 --> 27:40.392
study guide, The Real God: Proofs and Promises.
27:40.458 --> 27:42.961
And be sure to join us next time, as Gerald Weston,
27:43.028 --> 27:46.998
Wallace Smith, and I explain the Good news of Tomorrow's World,
27:47.065 --> 27:51.036
and the truth, comfort and
hope it can bring to you
27:51.102 --> 27:52.570
and your family.
27:52.637 --> 27:53.671
So, see you next time.
27:53.738 --> 27:54.539
♪
27:54.606 --> 28:01.012
For today's free
offer call...
28:01.079 --> 28:06.117
Or go to...
28:06.184 --> 28:08.520
Call today and join
millions around the world
28:08.586 --> 28:11.089
who are turning to
Tomorrow's World for
28:11.156 --> 28:15.427
truth, prophecy, and hope
in these confusing times.
28:15.493 --> 28:17.929
The preceding program
is produced by the
28:17.996 --> 28:19.097
Living Church of God.
28:19.164 --> 28:24.069
♪