For the past few days, the Internet has been buzzing about a Universal Pictures movie called “The Hunt,” which was scheduled to be released next month, on September 27.  The trailer, which is far too violent and disturbing to post here, but those with strong stomachs can easily find it on the Internet, has been viewed by millions.

The plot is that progressive coastal elites kidnap “deplorables” from flyover country, take them to a secret location called “the Manor,” and hunt and kill them.  For fun.  In the trailer, a dozen Trump voters from middle America wake up in a clearing and gradually realize that they are being stalked and killed for sport.

There have been other films with a “hunting humans” theme, but never with such heavy political overtones. Producer Jason Blum’s working title was “Red State vs. Blue State,” and the Left against Right theme is prominent throughout. 

"Did anyone see what our [obscenity]-in-chief just did?" one character asks early in the film. Another responds: "At least the hunt's coming up. Nothing better than going out to the Manor and slaughtering a dozen deplorables."

The trailer reveals that the idea for the hunt was dreamed up by a woman, and also shows that the heroine will be an alpha female who organizes the hunted to evade and eventually fight back against the hunters.  In the end, the story will boil down to woman against woman.  Because one thing that is even more important to our coastal progressive elites than demonizing President Trump and his “deplorable” voters, is transforming the sexes so that the females are the warriors; presidents come and go, but destroying the created sexual order will always be the top priority.

But then we had two mass shootings in one weekend, the trailer became so controversial that several networks would not show it, and President Trump weighed in with a couple of tweets.  Universal decided not to release the picture, but shelve it.  Given the extreme division in this country—which has aptly been called a cold civil war—it is hard to imagine who at Universal ever thought this project would be acceptable.

We fervently hope that the enmity between the “deplorables” and the coastal elites does not become a shooting war.  This unfortunate film project does remind us, however, that Sabbath-keepers will be hated and hunted in the last days.  The Pen of Inspiration tells us that in the time of trouble people will be allowed to hunt Sabbath-keepers:

“ . . . I saw the leading men of the earth consulting together, and Satan and his angels busy around them. I saw a writing, copies of which were scattered in different parts of the land, giving orders that unless the saints should yield their peculiar faith, give up the Sabbath, and observe the first day of the week, the people were at liberty after a certain time to put them to death. But in this hour of trial the saints were calm and composed, trusting in God and leaning upon His promise that a way of escape would be made for them.” EW 282

Fortunately, God’s people will not need to depend upon an amazon warrior to defend us in that terrible hour; rather, God’s angels who excel in strength will protect us:

“In some places, before the time for the decree to be executed, the wicked rushed upon the saints to slay them; but angels in the form of men of war fought for them. Satan wished to have the privilege of destroying the saints of the Most High; but Jesus bade His angels watch over them.  . . . Jesus would be honored by translating, without their seeing death, the faithful, waiting ones who had so long expected Him.”  EW 282

“Though a general decree has fixed the time when commandment keepers may be put to death, their enemies will in some cases anticipate the decree, and before the time specified, will endeavor to take their lives. But none can pass the mighty guardians stationed about every faithful soul. Some are assailed in their flight from the cities and villages; but the swords raised against them break and fall powerless as a straw. Others are defended by angels in the form of men of war.”  GC 631

The deliverance of the righteous is not based upon their skill at arms but upon God’s desire to spare the people He loves dearly, who were bought by the suffering of His precious Son, and who have chosen the seal of God rather than the mark of the Beast:

“They shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” Malachi 3:17. If the blood of Christ's faithful witnesses were shed at this time, it would not, like the blood of the martyrs, be as seed sown to yield a harvest for God. Their fidelity would not be a testimony to convince others of the truth; for the obdurate heart has beaten back the waves of mercy until they return no more. If the righteous were now left to fall a prey to their enemies, it would be a triumph for the prince of darkness. Says the psalmist: “In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me.” Psalm 27:5. Christ has spoken: “Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity.” Isaiah 26:20, 21. Glorious will be the deliverance of those who have patiently waited for His coming and whose names are written in the book of life.”  GC 634