Independence Day in July Around the World

The newsletter of 123greetings wrote on July 2:

“While Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary of Confederation on 1st of July in the biggest Canada Day party in Ottawa over the entire long weekend, the United States of America is gearing up for Fourth of July jubilations. It is the day it attained its independence from Great Britain in 1776… Many other countries are celebrating Independence day in July which includes Venezuela, Somalia, Slovakia, Rwanda, Peru, Maldives, Liberia, Belgium, Bahamas [and] Argentina…”

It is interesting that all these “Independence days” are celebrated in July.

Israel’s Plot on the Temple Mount?

Israel National News wrote on June 27:

“Dr. Najah Bakirat, director of the Koran Academy at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, called on Muslims to save the northern and eastern parts of the Temple Mount from Jewish visitors and to prevent the ‘occupation’ from implementing its ‘destructive’ plans…

“According to Bakirat, there is an Israeli plan to build a synagogue and to open the ‘Gate of Mercy’ on the eastern side of the Temple Mount, which has been closed since the days of Saladin in 1187 CE…. He also said that Israel is interested in separating the northern part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, a name he used to describe the entire Temple Mount, and erect a synagogue there. In order to thwart the plan, he urged Muslims… to build on the site…

“The Palestinian Authority and radical Palestinian Arab Islamists… maintain that the two Holy Temples never existed. They claim the site as a solely Muslim and Palestinian Arab site.”

Whether or not Bakirat’s statements are nothing more than invented propaganda, ultimately, Israel WILL build a Third Temple on the Temple Mount. The claim that the first two Temples never existed is provocative ridiculous nonsense.

Israel No Sovereignty over Old Jerusalem?

Israel National News wrote on July 4:

“UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee passed a resolution condemning Israel for its policies in the Old City of Jerusalem Tuesday. Ten member states voted in favor of the resolution, three voted against it, and three states abstained. The resolution refers to Israel ‘the occupying power’ in its capital and denies Israel’s claims to the Old City and eastern Jerusalem.”

Since Israel considers Jerusalem as its undivided capital, tensions in the region are bound to continue.

A Red Heifer in 2018?

Israel National News wrote on June 28:

“Raise a Red Heifer in Israel Project Update: Good News: Expecting Potential Red Heifers in 2018.

“Yitzchak Reuven shares an update on the Temple Institute’s Raise a Red Heifer in Israel project with the exciting news that five red angus cows are currently carrying potential red heifer candidates. This good news of course coincides with this week’s Torah reading of Chukat, in which the laws of the Red Heifer are presented.”

Although the Bible nowhere prescribes the existence and use of a red heifer as a prerequisite for the building of the Third Temple, many orthodox Jews believe that a red heifer is to be used first to “clean” the area of the Temple Mount. While many Jews reject this idea, it is interesting to see whether such a red heifer will be born.

UK Threatens to Close Jewish School for Not Teaching LGBT Agenda

Israel National News wrote on June 28:

“A private [Jewish] school with 212 students in northern London is in danger of being ordered to close after it failed its third inspection since February 2016 last month. The school, which teaches… girls ages three to eight, was reported as not giving students ‘a full understanding of fundamental British values’ because they do not teach the LGBT agenda…

“According to [the government,] the girls ‘are not taught explicitly about issues such as sexual orientation. This restricts the pupils’ spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development and does not promote the equality of opportunity in ways that take account of differing lifestyles.’…”

This policy of “understanding of British values” is shameful and abominable in God’s eyes, as is the concept explained in our next article.

Same-Sex Marriages Legal in Germany

The Independent wrote on June 30:

“Germany’s parliament has voted to legalise same-sex marriage by 393 votes to 226, despite Angela Merkel opposing the move… ‘For me, marriage in German law is marriage between a man and a woman and that is why I did not vote in favour of this bill today,’ she told reporters moments after the historic vote…

“Hundreds of members of the Bundestag rose to their feet in a spontaneous standing ovation…

“Ms Merkel, herself married twice, has always been unequivocal with her personal opposition to marriage equality, citing German law, her values as an evangelical Christian and those of her party, which describes its foundations as the ‘Christian understanding between people and their accountability before God’…

“The Netherlands was the first European country to legalise same-sex marriage, back in 2001, followed by countries including Belgium, Spain, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Iceland, Denmark, France and the UK…”

Please watch our new sermon, “Lot in Sodom.”

New German Law: “Delete Hate Speech or Pay Up”

The New York Times wrote on June 30:

“Social media companies operating in Germany face fines of as much as $57 million if they do not delete illegal, racist or slanderous comments and posts within 24 hours under a law passed on Friday…

“Technology companies and free speech advocates argue that there is a fine line between policy makers’ views on hate speech and what is considered legitimate freedom of expression…

“The law will take effect in October, less than a month after nationwide elections, and will apply to social media sites with more than two million users in Germany. It will require companies including Facebook, Twitter and Google, which owns YouTube, to remove any content that is illegal in Germany — such as Nazi symbols or Holocaust denial — within 24 hours of it being brought to their attention. The law allows for up to seven days for the companies to decide on content that has been flagged as offensive, but that may not be clearly defamatory or inciting violence. Companies that persistently fail to address complaints by taking too long to delete illegal content face fines that start at 5 million euros, or $5.7 million, and could rise to as much as €50 million…

“Germany… has some of the most stringent anti-hate speech laws in the Western world… The standoff between tech companies and politicians is most acute in Europe, where freedom of expression rights are less comprehensive than in the United States…”

These are VERY dangerous developments. Who is to decide as to what constitutes hate speech? Is one engaging in hate speech when quoting biblical passages condemning homosexuality? Some hateful proponents of “anti-hate” speech laws would think so.

Germany and France to Lead Europe

The EUReporter wrote on June 27:

“France and Germany will take the lead on post-Brexit reforms starting this year, the European Union’s second-in-command [Dutchman Frans Timmermans] said… Timmermans said Russia’s resurgence has… played a role in galvanising Europe, as did U.S. President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from a global deal on fighting climate change, and his vague stance on European security guarantees under NATO…

“The unity of the remaining 27 EU states is widely seen as crucial for the unprecedented Brexit talks…”

The evolving European power bloc will indeed be led by Germany, with the help of France and other core nations. Euro News added on July 3: “Fears the US will withdraw its security umbrella from Europe could push countries to develop their own nuclear weapons, according to a group that monitors global arsenals.”

Austria Uses Armored Vehicles to Prevent Migrants Stuck in Italy from Entering Austria

The Telegraph wrote on July 4:

“Austria has deployed armoured vehicles close to its border with Italy and will send up to 750 soldiers to block any migrants trying to head north… The move reflects deep concern in Vienna and elsewhere in Europe over the huge number of asylum seekers who continue to cross the Mediterranean from Libya – so far this year more than 85,000 have been rescued and brought to Italy…

“There are concerns that when Austria holds an election in October, the far-Right Freedom Party could do well unless the government can seize the initiative on migration and border security. With France and Switzerland closing their borders to migrants since last year, the tens of thousands in Italy have nowhere to go… Italy says it can no longer be expected to deal single-handedly with the vast number of asylum seekers… The Italian government has warned that after years of taking in hundreds of thousands of migrants, the country is now at breaking point…”

Sadly, because of perceived political “needs,” the individual lives of victims are being overlooked.

Britain Withdraws from London Fisheries Convention

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 2:

“Britain on Sunday said it would withdraw from the London Fisheries Convention, which allows some other European countries to fish within an area between 6 and 12 nautical miles (11 and 22 km) of its coastline… However, withdrawing from the convention will mean that UK vessels will also no longer be permitted to fish in the area 6 to 12 nautical miles off the coast of the other countries covered by the agreement: Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands…

“The signing of the London Fisheries Convention pre-dates Britain’s EU membership, and would thus still be in force after the country leaves the EU unless it starts the withdrawal period now…

“Fishing rights were the subject of heated debate in the run-up to the June 2016 Brexit referendum…”

It is highly debatable whether Britain’s withdrawal from the Fisheries Convention will be to Britain’s advantage or disadvantage. In the end, Britain is doomed to fall.

Trade Deal Between Europe and Japan?

Reuters reported on July 1:

“Japan and the European Union are on the cusp of a wide-ranging free trade agreement that could help blunt the forces of protectionism sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies… Clinching a deal would offer Japan and Europe an important political victory and could raise questions about the U.S. government’s influence on the agenda for the global economy…

“European officials have been pushing for a reduction in Japanese tariffs on cheese and agriculture imports that are as high as 30 percent in return for phasing out tariffs on Japanese autos and auto parts… Japan and the EU have been negotiating a trade deal since 2013. The talks have taken on a greater sense of urgency since Trump walked away [from] the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), leaving the other 11 members of the Pacific Rim trading bloc, including Japan, in limbo.”

As America withdraws from the world scene, the vacuum will be filled by other powers. Note the next article.

Deutsche Welle reported on July 6:

“EU and Japanese officials have reached [an] agreement ‘in principle’ on a free trade deal. Both the EU and Japan have stressed that the pact is a rejection of the kind of protectionism US President Donald Trump advocates.”

The Washington Post added on June 6:

“Leaders from Japan and the European Union on Thursday announced their agreement on the broad strokes of a trade deal that will cover nearly 30 percent of the global economy, 10 percent of the world’s population and 40 percent of global trade.”

Making America Weak Again and Again

The Guardian wrote on July 2:

“This is the Trump paradox, five months into his presidency: the more he tries to assert US leadership, the less of a leadership role he plays. For someone who campaigned on the promise to make America great again, the reality of government has been an exercise in looking weak again and again… The scandals and investigations engulfing him are more profound and numerous than anything since Watergate…

“The Trump effect in the Middle East represents the kind of unpredictability that threatens to destabilize further a region already in turmoil. By improving relations with some allies, Trump has worsened relations with others. Along the way, he has jeopardized American national security interests…

“Instead of promoting American leadership, Trump is leaving a vacuum in Europe that is being filled by the German-French alliance. With Britain busy with its own Brexit chaos, that leaves Trump and the US with fewer friends and less influence…

“But the pace and the depth of Trump’s decline is astonishing… The first six months do not bode well for Trump or America’s fortunes. If this is Trump’s idea of a stronger America, his foreign foes have less to worry about than his friends.”

Sadly, this analysis is very true. America’s allies feel compelled to look elsewhere for leadership, stability, national security, strength and economic growth.

US Import Restrictions May Lead to Global Trade War

The Guardian wrote on July 1:

“Chinese and European diplomats have warned Donald Trump against reported plans to restrict imports of steel and aluminum – a strategy that risks triggering a global trade war. By invoking a rarely used law from the cold war era, the US president could limit imports of goods deemed critical to national defence and satisfy the ‘America first’ elements of his support base…

“Trump… told a meeting of top officials at the White House on Monday that he wants to impose tariffs [on China and other countries] as high as 20% on the metal, as well as potentially on other imports such as aluminum, semiconductors, paper and washing machines…”

The World Looks Past the USA

CNN wrote on July 4:

“… increasingly, top foreign policymakers from Germany to Iraq and Canada to Asia are contemplating a period when US leadership that many took for granted may be less evident in global affairs…

“It’s not just uncertainty about American global strategy that is convincing some allied leaders to look past the United States. Trump’s unpopularity makes it much more difficult for them politically to support him…”

Bloomberg added on July 3:

“When world leaders meet in Hamburg on Friday [for the G-20 summit] , China and Germany will move in to usurp the U.S.’s role. The two industrial powerhouses of Asia and Europe are being nudged into an informal alliance to pick up the leadership baton that the U.S. is accused of having dropped since President Donald Trump’s inauguration earlier this year… Trump risks finding himself alone against a united front of European allies, neighbors such as Canada and Mexico, and America’s former Cold War foes…”

Very soon, America will find itself completely alone in the world.

War With North Korea?

Newsmax wrote on July 5:

“United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley on Wednesday said North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile launch was ‘quickly closing off the possibility of a diplomatic solution’ and vowed that the U.S. would use ‘our considerable military forces … if we must.’… Haley called Pyongyang’s missile launch on Tuesday ‘a clear and sharp military escalation…

“North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un said Tuesday that Pyongyang had successfully tested an ICBM that rose more than 1,741 miles and traveled 578 miles from the launch site… CNN reported Wednesday that U.S. intelligence officials believed that the two-stage missile had never been seen before and had the capacity to reach Alaska…

“President Donald Trump also ripped China for continuing to trade with Pyongyang…”

War with North Korea is not beyond the realm of possibilities. But it would not be an easy and speedy task for America.

Donald Trump in Europe

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 6:

“If Donald Trump chose Warsaw for his first major European visit because he presumed there wouldn’t be protesters in the streets, Warsaw didn’t disappoint him… Trump didn’t let Warsaw down, either… ‘In the Polish people, we see the soul of Europe,’ he told them… ‘A strong Europe is a blessing for the West and for the world,’ the US president said.”

That Poland should be the soul of Europe is difficult to comprehend, and a strong Europe will decisively NOT be a blessing for the USA and the UK. On the other hand, “President Trump reaffirmed Article 5 of NATO, the alliance’s principle that an attack on one NATO nation is an attack on all of them, while calling out NATO nations for not spending enough on defense” (CNN, July 6).

 In Hamburg, ahead of the G-20 summit, which begins Friday, about 8,000 protesters clashed with the police.

The Week stated on July 6, “More than 20,000 officers will work during the summit, as 100,000 protesters are expected to march in Hamburg throughout the event.”

“Dollar Posts Biggest Quarterly Drop in Nearly Seven Years”

Reuters reported on July 1:

“The U.S. dollar… posted its biggest quarterly decline against a basket of rival currencies in nearly seven years… [amidst] doubts that U.S. President Donald Trump could enact his pro-growth agenda…

“The euro accelerated more than 7 percent against the greenback for its biggest quarterly percentage gain since the third quarter of 2010…”

The American economy is by no means as strong as the Trump Administration wants us to believe.

Republicans Stuck… Facing a Train Wreck

The Associated Press wrote on July 1:

“Republicans are stuck on health care, can’t pass a budget, and hopes for a big, bipartisan infrastructure package are fizzling. Overhauling the tax code looks more and more like a distant dream. The GOP-led Congress has yet to salt away a single major legislative accomplishment for President Donald Trump — and a summer of drift may lead to a logistical nightmare this fall… [It] is looking more and more like it’ll be a train wreck.

“… 20 GOP moderates signaled a revolt on the budget… announcing their opposition to an emerging plan to force cuts to government agencies and benefit programs such as food stamps…

“So it’s not just the Senate effort to repeal and replace Democrat Barack Obama’s health care law that’s foundering. The annual congressional budget measure — a prerequisite to this fall’s hoped-for tax effort — is languishing as well, as are the 12 annual spending bills that typically consume weeks of House floor time each summer.

“…are several other problems that need to be taken care of, including increasing the nation’s borrowing authority, preventing a government shutdown, and lifting budget ‘caps’ that are hobbling efforts to beef up the military. Unlike health care, the debt limit and a deal to fix the spending caps… can only be resolved with Democratic help. However… there’s no political pay-off, other than forestalling disaster.

“First, Congress is off on vacation to return in July for a three-week session. Then comes the traditional month-long August recess. After Labor Day comes a four-week sprint to October and the deadline to avert a government shutdown with a temporary spending bill — and to forestall a disastrous default on U.S. obligations by lifting the debt limit, which is a politically toxic vote for many Republicans…”

A grim and unpleasant picture indeed. The Bible tells us that America is destined to experience a complete and utter downfall in these end times.

US Child Protective Services (CPS) and Foster Care Homes Accused of Outrageous Conduct on a Large Scale

The Huffington Post wrote on June 24:

“CPS agencies need children in their foster care to meet their federal mandates. The federal funding is distributed to local communities, meaning the more children in the foster care system, the higher the paychecks for those involved. These funds extend to foster parents, teachers, attorneys, doctors, judges, therapists, caseworkers and coaches, as well as to several sub-agencies…

“64 percent of children are abused in foster care; people close to this industry believe the true number is closer to 87 percent… 80 percent of all foster care children are given sedation drugs… which entitles foster parents and all involved to larger payments… it is [a] CPS caseworker that decides what foster children be prescribed medication, not a doctor or therapist… caseworkers… benefit from legal immunity, meaning they cannot be held accountable for poor judgment or bad decisions that may lead to a missing child, child abuse or even a child’s death while in foster care…

“It takes one anonymous caller with a false allegation to have a child removed from a home. A caseworker may claim that a ‘parent has a history of mental illness’ or ‘a history of substance abuse,’ without referring to an incident, naming a doctor, referring to specialized diagnoses, or supplying medical records… in CPS courts parents are guilty until proven innocent, meaning a false allegation can lead to one’s children immediately being taken away, without a Hearing or Session.

“The majority of these parents are accused of ‘Abandonment,’ which covers a broad spectrum of situations, from parents working long hours at a minimum wage job, to a single mother with a terminal illness and even soldiers called to duty. And often, once the caseworker has placed the children in foster care and it is discovered that said allegations were false, caseworkers will look for other reasons to keep the children in CPS custody because of economic interests. Again, these allegations can lead to any child being placed into CPS/State Custody permanently…”

Since many outrageous examples of CPS misconduct were reported in the past, CPS agencies have earned a terrible reputation of incompetency, and much worse. But these facts, as described in this article, are of such despicable proportions that one must wonder why nothing is being done to correct these atrocities and perhaps dissolve CPS.

Myths of Transgender Ideology Exposed

The Daily Signal wrote on July 3:

“Twin studies prove no one is born ‘trapped in the body of the wrong sex.’… the idea that ‘feminized’ or ‘masculinized’ brains can be trapped in the wrong body from before birth… is a myth that has no basis in science… 75 to 95 percent of pre-pubertal children who were distressed by their biological sex eventually outgrew that distress. The vast majority came to accept their biological sex by late adolescence after passing naturally through puberty…

“There is an obvious self-fulfilling effect in helping children impersonate the opposite sex both biologically and socially. This is far from benign, since taking puberty blockers at age 12 or younger, followed by cross-sex hormones, sterilizes a child… the risks of cross-sex hormones include, but are not limited to, cardiac disease, high blood pressure, blood clots, strokes, diabetes, and cancers…

“Advocates… allege that suicide is the direct and inevitable consequence of withholding social affirmation and biological alterations from a gender-dysphoric child… there is no evidence that harassment and discrimination, let alone lack of affirmation, are the primary cause of suicide among any minority group… Over 90 percent of people who commit suicide have a diagnosed mental disorder… Adults who undergo sex reassignment… have a suicide rate nearly 20 times greater than that of the general population…

“… professionals are using the myth that people are born transgender to justify engaging in massive, uncontrolled, and unconsented experimentation on children who have a psychological condition that would otherwise resolve after puberty in the vast majority of cases. Today’s institutions that promote transition affirmation are pushing children to impersonate the opposite sex, sending many of them down the path of puberty blockers, sterilization, the removal of healthy body parts, and untold psychological damage. These harms constitute nothing less than institutionalized child abuse.”

The false transgender ideology is extremely harmful to children and parents. Note the next article as well.

Becoming Transgender Through Pills and Drugs?

The Telegraph wrote on July 2:

“A fifth of male fish are now transgender because of chemicals… being flushed down household drains… Male river fish are displaying feminised traits and even producing eggs, the study found. Some have reduced sperm quality…

“The chemicals causing these effects include ingredients in the contraceptive pill, by-products of cleaning agents, plastics and cosmetics… More than 200 chemicals from sewage plants have been identified with oestrogen-like effects and drugs such as antidepressants are also altering fish’s natural behavior…”

If chemicals have these effects on fish, causing transgender, maybe they have similar effects on humans.

Pride Parade on Day of Atonement

JTA wrote on July 4:

“North Carolina’s Jewish community is expressing disappointment and anger over the scheduling of the state’s annual Pride parade and festival on Yom Kippur. The NC Pride event in Durham has been held on the last Saturday of September for the past 17 years, according to organizers. This year, Saturday Sept. 30 is Yom Kippur…

“Several Jewish groups have marched in the parade in recent years… The conflict comes on the heels of an incident at the Chicago Dyke march in which three Jewish women were asked to leave over their Jewish Pride flags, which include a Star of David in the center of a rainbow flag.”

Jewish groups don’t seem to have a problem with participating in Pride Parades, even on the weekly Sabbath… but they only object to the Pride Parade on Yom Kippur. It was also reported in the press that on July 3, Oregon became the first state in the US to allow residents to mark their gender as “not specified” on applications for driver’s licenses, learner’s permits and identity cards. Other states will surely follow Oregon’s “lead.” The Oregon Transportation Commissioner stated that “It’s fitting that this is before us during Pride Week in Oregon and Pride Month around the country.”

Turmoil in the Catholic Church

The Associated Press wrote on July 1:

“Pope Francis declined Saturday to renew the mandate of the Vatican’s conservative doctrine chief… Cardinal Gerhard Mueller’s five-year term ends this weekend and he turns 70 in December. The normal retirement age for bishops is 75.  Francis could have kept him on, but declined to do so. The two have clashed over the pope’s openness to allowing civilly remarried Catholics to receive Communion. Mueller has insisted they cannot, given church teaching on the indissolubility of marriage. [Church teaching holds that unless these Catholics receive an annulment, or a church decree that their first marriage was invalid, they are committing adultery and cannot receive Communion unless they abstain from sex.] The Jesuit pope tapped the No. 2 in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Jesuit Monsignor Luis Ladaria Ferrer, to succeed Mueller.

“It was the second major shakeup this week, after Francis granted another Vatican hardliner, Cardinal George Pell, a leave of absence to return to his native Australia to face trial on sexual assault charges. Mueller and Pell were two most powerful cardinals in the Vatican, after the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and their absences will likely create a power vacuum for the conservative wing in the Holy See hierarchy.

“Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI had tapped Mueller, his fellow German countryman, to lead the congregation in 2012. Benedict had taken a hard line against clerical sex abuse during his time as prefect of the congregation himself, and later as pope, defrocking hundreds of priests accused of raping and molesting children. It was also Benedict who insisted that bishops around the world send all cases of credibly accused priests to the congregation for processing, since bishops had for decades moved pedophiles around from parish to parish rather than sanction or report them to police…”

It will be interesting to see whether the conservative or the liberal wings will prevail in the Catholic Church.  What is happening in the Catholic Church mirrors to an extent what can be observed in some of the Sabbath-keeping Church of God organizations.

Gay Orgy in the Vatican

The Daily Mail wrote on July 5:

“Vatican police have broken up a gay orgy at the home of the secretary to one of Pope Francis’s key advisers… The flat belonged to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is in charge of tackling clerical sexual abuse.”

The Black Death Is Alive

The website of npr wrote on June 29:

“Once known as the Black Death… the plague swept Europe 700 years ago, killing a third of the population — an estimated 25 million. It wiped out millions in China and Hong Kong in the late 1800s before people…

“Centuries later, the plague periodically pops up in countries across the globe — though at minor levels compared to its medieval heyday. In 2015, the World Health Organization recorded 320 cases across the globe, including 77 deaths. A flea-dwelling bacterium, Yersinia pestis, causes the scourge… the disease likely hitched a ride to the U.S. in 1900 on flea-infested rats, which had boarded steamships in Asia. Since then, infected fleas have taken up residence on [coyotes and] rodents including chipmunks, squirrels and prairie dogs across the southwest. New Mexico and neighboring states are nearly plague-perfect settings, with their buffet of possible rodent hosts…

“The plague can persist in rodent populations, especially wild ones, for a long time without affecting humans. But it can re-emerge… Once a rodent is infected, the illness can spread to wild carnivores that eat it, or to cats, dogs and people that come within flea-jump range… prairie dogs are particularly vulnerable to plague. If a whole colony gets the illness, the bacterium amplifies… As their rodent hosts die off, fleas will seek a new one… Sometimes, that new host can transport the fleas a few miles away and spread them to other animals. Cats and dogs can catch fleas while exploring outdoors, or they can drag infected rodents directly into the home. Sick cats, which are more susceptible to the disease than dogs, can also pass the infection to humans directly…

“In places with poor access to health care, the illness can be deadly on a larger scale…”

The Bible prophesies that in the future terrible disease epidemics, including the plague, will be responsible for the death of many people. Note our free booklet, “Biblical Prophecy—From Now Until Forever.”

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer

These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.

Coming–Violent Civil War in the USA?

The Week wrote on June 23:

“The most telling aspect of a crazed partisan’s 50-round assault on Republican lawmakers last week was that it was not all that surprising. Horrifying, yes. Shocking, no. Mass shootings have become as commonplace in this country as wildfires; partisan hatred has reached a fever pitch unseen since the 1960s, and perhaps the 1850s. Millions of people despise the other political tribe with a visceral passion, and the other tribe loathes them right back.

“Two decades ago… just 21 percent of Republicans and 17 percent of Democrats gave the other party a ‘very unfavorable’ rating. By last year, that contempt rating had shot up to 58 percent and 55 percent, respectively. More troubling still: 45 percent of Republicans and 41 percent of Democrats view the other party as ‘a threat to the nation’s well-being.’ Combine apocalyptic panic with the most polarizing presidency in modern times, frequent and increasingly violent conflicts between far-left and far-right protesters, and 300 million or so firearms, and you’ve got a nation whose RPM needle is climbing into the red zone.

“… Democrats and Republicans are self-segregating into geographic, cultural, and media ghettos of like-minded souls, making it easier to demonize those who are outside the wall…”

Obama Administration’s Inaction on Russia’s Meddling in US Elections

The Week wrote on June 23:

“On Friday, The Washington Post published an extraordinary, comprehensive report of the Obama administration’s action and inaction in the face of mounting evidence that Russia had severely affected the U.S. presidential election last year. ‘It is the hardest thing about my entire time in government to defend,’ one senior Obama administration official confessed. ‘I feel like we sort of choked.’

“The administration’s response is depicted as frustratingly hesitant, even as the severity of Russia’s actions became impossible to ignore. ‘Obama’s approach often seemed reducible to a single imperative: Don’t make things worse,’ the Post writes. Additionally, ‘the assumption that [Hillary] Clinton would win contributed to the lack of urgency.’ While Obama eventually took steps to ready an attack against Russia’s cyber-infrastructure, it falls on ‘President Trump to decide whether to use the capability.'”

The Senate’s Proposed Health Care Bill

The Huffington Post wrote on June 22:

“Senate Republicans released their draft health care bill Thursday, unveiling a proposed rollback of Medicaid expansion and funding while ensuring hefty tax cuts for the wealthy and health care companies. Among other things, the bill reduces the number of middle-income people eligible to get tax credits for private health insurance, eliminates the individual and employer mandates, and bans Planned Parenthood from receiving any federal funding for one year.

“The Senate’s bill is similar to the one the House passed last month. The Senate bill would cut Medicaid more than the House measure, allow insurers to charge older people higher rates [up to five times what they charge younger people] and permit states to waive rules guaranteeing insurance covers a basic set of benefits [for health care products and services]. The Senate bill does not include some of the particularly harsh aspects of the House legislation, including a provision that would let states end protections for people with pre-existing conditions [Insurance companies cannot deny coverage or charge higher rates for people with preexisting conditions, based on patients’ health or medical histories].”

In a related article, The Huffington Post wrote:

“Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) slammed Senate Republicans’ bill to repeal Obamacare as a ‘barbaric’ plan that means thousands will die so the wealthy can get billions of dollars in tax breaks… ‘If you throw 23 million people off of health insurance, if you cut Medicaid by over $800 billion dollars, there is no question but that thousands of Americans will die… The purpose of this whole legislation… is to provide $500 billion in tax breaks for the top 2 percent, for the insurance companies, for the drug companies and other major corporations.’…

“Sanders acknowledged that premiums, deductibles and copays are currently ‘too high’ under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare… But he added that prices are rising because the Trump administration is ‘sabotaging’ Obamacare, and the system will not be improved by ejecting millions who rely on it, including children. ‘I don’t care what your political view is,’ Sanders said. ‘I don’t think there are many Americans who think that we [should] give unbelievably large tax breaks to billionaires, and then tell disabled kids or people who are in nursing homes today … that we’re going to punish them to give tax breaks to billionaires. Man, that is not what this country is supposed to be about.'”

More Opposition to Healthcare Bill

The Associated Press reported on June 24:

“Nevada Republican Dean Heller became the fifth GOP senator to declare his opposition to [the proposed 142-page Senate Health care bill]… more than enough to sink the measure and deliver a stinging rebuke to President Donald Trump unless some of them can be brought aboard… Facing unanimous Democratic opposition, [the Senate Republicans] can afford to lose just two of the 52 GOP senators and still prevail.

“Besides the five who’ve announced outright opposition, several other GOP senators — conservatives and moderates — have declined to commit to the new overhaul…

“Heller, facing a competitive re-election battle next year, said he was opposing the legislation because of the cuts it would make in Medicaid. The federal-state program provides health care to the poor, disabled and many nursing home patients… The Senate legislation would phase out extra federal money Nevada and 30 other states receive for expanding Medicaid to additional low earners. It would also slap annual spending caps on the overall Medicaid program, which since its inception in 1965 has provided states with unlimited money to cover eligible costs…

“Trump has spoken favorably about both the House-passed bill and the Senate version unveiled this week, though he declared several times as he ramped up his campaign for the presidency that he would not cut Medicaid…”

Vote on Senate Health Care Bill Delayed

Newsmax added on June 28:

“Tuesday’s decision to delay the vote… came amid deep GOP discontent with the proposed legislation… Five Republican senators indicated they would not proceed to a debate on the proposed legislation… Senate Majority Leader… McConnell’s decision to delay the vote took some of his Republican colleagues by surprise… McConnell told Republican senators his goal is to revise the bill and hold a vote soon after the July 4 recess…  But Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said: ‘Tinkering isn’t going to work, from my perspective. There would have to be a major overhaul of the bill … to win my support.’”

A new NPR/“PBS NewsHour”/Marist poll, which was released on June 28 suggests that the proposed Senate health care bill is extremely unfavorable with the vast majority of the American people. Only 17 percent supported the bill, while more than half of respondents said they disapprove of the legislation, and 24 percent said they hadn’t heard enough about it to have an opinion.

Four Million People Would Lose Health Insurance in 2018 under Proposed Senate Health Care Bill

Newsmax reported on June 26:

“Four million people will lose their employer-provided healthcare coverage next year under the Senate’s repeal-and-replace Obamacare proposal – twice as many predicted to lose their work coverage under a House plan [according to the Congressional Budget Office’s scoring of the Senate bill]… According to the report released Monday, 15 million more people would become uninsured next year. The CBO projected 22 million people will lose coverage over the course of 10 years…”

With a typical response, the White House rejected the CBO’s unfavorable predictions.

US Supreme Court Allows Limited Version of Trump’s Travel Ban to Take Effect

The Washington Post wrote on June 26:

“The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to allow a limited version of President Trump’s ban on travelers from six mostly Muslim countries to take effect, and will consider in the fall [in October] the president’s broad powers in immigration matters in a case that raised fundamental issues of national security and religious discrimination.

“The court made an important exception: it said the ban ‘may not be enforced against foreign nationals who have a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States.’ The court also said in the ruling that it would consider whether the case will be moot by the time it hears it; the ban is supposed to be a temporary one while the government reviews its vetting procedures.

“The action means that the administration may impose a 90-day ban on travelers from Libya, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen and a 120-day ban on all refugees entering the United States, with the exceptions noted by the court. Trump said last week the ban would go into effect 72 hours after receiving an approval from the courts…”

In clarifying the requirement of a bona fide relationship, the Huffington Post added on June 26:

“The court’s order… said that a ‘close familial relationship is required’ for individuals who wish to live with or visit a family member. When the relationship is with an entity like a university, it must be ‘formal, documented, and formed in the ordinary course…

“As an example, they said, students and lecturers would have a formal relationship, as would someone who accepted employment with an American company. But it would not apply to someone who ‘enters into a relationship simply to avoid’ the executive order. For example, the order said, ‘a nonprofit group devoted to immigration issues may not contact foreign nationals from the designated countries, add them to client lists, and then secure their entry by claiming injury from their exclusion.’”

The New York Times provided further information on June 26:

“The court, in effect, said that foreigners with ties or relationships in the United States would not be prohibited from entering the country. But, those applying for visas who had never been here, or had no family, business or other ties could be prohibited… The court said the distinction should be easy to administer…

“Justice Clarence Thomas, joined by Justices Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Neil M. Gorsuch, dissented from part of the court’s opinion. They said they would have revived the travel ban in its entirety while the court considered the case. ‘I fear that the court’s remedy will prove unworkable,’ Justice Thomas wrote.”

JTA wrote on June 26:

“HIAS — formerly known as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society… called the announcement ‘mixed news’… the group’s CEO and president, Mark Hetfield… criticized the fact that those without such [bona fide] ties [including refugees] could now be barred from entering the United States… ‘Certainly in the case of refugees, this order will have a tragic toll on those who have fled for their lives and played by our rules to find refuge in the United States.’ HIAS was founded in the 1880s as a resource for newly arrived Jewish immigrants.”

The 16-page decision by the US Supreme Court states that generally, the President has the right to prohibit certain people from entering the USA, and it quoted a decision to the effect that an unadmitted and nonresident alien has no constitutional right of entry to this country. The Supreme Court also said that in the case of a refugee lacking a bona fide relationship with a particular person, “the balance tips in favor of the Government’s compelling need to provide for the Nation’s security.” With this highly questionable rationale, thousands upon thousands of Jews were barred from entering the United States prior to and during World War II and were murdered in Nazi Germany’s concentration camps.

The decision failed to address the legal argument that the travel ban could very well be construed as a Muslim travel ban, given the President’s and his advisors’ own words and descriptions of the ban, which could be unconstitutional for that reason alone.

The Supreme Court’s decision, and the US immigration law on which it is based, are bound to create strong dissent within the USA and all over the world, as the decision would allow the President to prevent anyone, lacking a “bona fide relationship,” from entering the USA, including tourists as well as refugees fleeing for their lives. This could include persons from France and Germany, as he once threatened. It is high time the USA wakes up and notices what is happening.

Who Can Come In

Bloomberg wrote on June‎ ‎28‎, ‎2017:

“The Trump administration issued guidelines to U.S. embassies and consulates on how to enforce new restrictions on travel to the U.S. by refugees and migrants from six countries [which went] into effect as of 8 p.m. eastern time Thursday…

“A diplomatic cable outlining the guidelines defines close family that would be allowed U.S. entry as a parent (including parent-in-law), spouse, child, adult son or daughter, son-in- law, daughter-in-law, sibling, whether whole or half and including step relationships…

“But it doesn’t include grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-laws and sisters-in-law, fiancés and any other extended family members, the person said…

“Existing visas will be respected, but new applicants from the countries must prove a relationship with a parent, spouse, child, sibling or close in-law already in the U.S…

“Implementing the ban requires providing clear guidance for thousands of customs and consular officials, as well as airlines and other travel companies around the world seeking to avoid the confusion and chaos generated by Trump’s initial attempt to enforce his policy in January.”

Please note our new StandingWatch program, “Limited Version of Trump’s Muslim Travel Ban Takes Effect”.

“The TSA Is Going to Look Through Your Books but Promises Not to Notice what You’re Reading”

On June 25, the Drudge Report linked to the following article by The Week, dated on June 1:

“The TSA began a new screening policy for paper products at airport checkpoints in Missouri last month, and now the agency’s branch in Sacramento, California, is testing out more invasive searches for books and food items.

“In the new system, passengers are required to take all reading material and food out of their carry-on luggage and place it in a separate bin. TSA screeners can ‘fan’ through travelers’ books to see if anything is hidden in the pages, but agency officials insist they will not pay attention to the content. Critics have long argued passengers selected for extra screening are not chosen as randomly as the TSA claims, and book content — particularly of a political or religious nature — could re-ignite that debate. ‘It’s always been a series of insults,’ said Julie Sze, University of California, Davis, professor who experienced the test procedure at Sacramento. ‘Books, magazines, food, those are like my three treasured things. It feels personal on a whole different level.’

“Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said Sunday he will likely expand the new searches nationwide and may also ban laptop carry-ons for all international flights in and out of the United States.”

The continuing intrusive conduct of TSA is very time-consuming, annoying and bothersome for travelers, to say the least. Why TSA would need to look at books or magazines to find hidden material, which would clearly show up through normal screening of the carry-on luggage, is beyond anybody’s imagination. The same goes for the ridiculous and unintelligent plan to ban laptop carry-ons.

The Associated Press reported on June 28:

“The Homeland Security Department is set to announce new security for international flights bound to the United States. Industry and U.S. officials briefed on the announcement said airports and airlines around the world will be required to implement the measures. If they don’t, their passengers may be barred from carrying laptops and other large electronics in passenger cabins…”

“Donald Trump’s Deputies Quietly Push Transgender Ideology Onto Schools”

Breitbart wrote on June 23:

“An internal memo in the Department of Education says officials will investigate schoolteachers who do not comply with children’s demands to be called by the opposite-sex pronoun, for example, ‘her’ instead of ‘him.’ The instruction was part of a jargon-filled memo dated June 6, and signed by Candice Jackson, the Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights in the U.S. Education Department, which provides instructions to staff concerning ‘complaints involving transgender students.’…

“In February, the Trump administration reversed former President Barack Obama’s guidance that allowed gender-confused students to use the bathrooms and showers of whichever gender they prefer – without restrictions – rather than those corresponding to their biological sex… However… Trump’s new policy… has not formally rejected the transgender ideology. The ideology claims that a person’s legal sex — and their pronouns — are determined by their flexible choice of ‘gender identity,’ not their actual biology… even if the parents oppose…

“The OCR memo also underscores the potential dangers inherent in school vouchers and other financial mechanisms that use taxpayer funding to facilitate school choice. Federal oversight, as seen in the OCR memo, could be extended to these schools as well…”

American Ambassador Meddling in Romanian Affairs on Same-Sex Marriage

Breitbart reported on June 24:

“The Obama-appointed ambassador to Romania, Hans Klemm, has stoked a national debate on the role of U.S. diplomacy abroad by openly advocating same-sex marriage… Last month, Klemm attended a widely publicized Gay Pride march in Bucharest on May 20 to show his support for the LGBT agenda in a country where same-sex marriage is still illegal…

“Last fall, Klemm explained in an interview with a Romanian news agency why he publicly pushes for gay marriage. While acknowledging that it is a ‘sensitive subject,’ Klemm claimed that the U.S. Supreme Court had ‘resolved the legal problem over gay marriage, stating that it is unconstitutional and illegal to deny civil marriage to same-sex couples… Therefore, the U.S. should support gay marriage everywhere in the world,’ Klemm stated.

“Klemm’s overt advocacy of gay marriage has met with backlash in the conservative country, and the ambassador has been criticized for abusing his position to meddle in the internal affairs of the nation…

“It remains to be seen whether President Trump will encourage officials from the State Department to continue to actively agitate for the LGBT agenda abroad, or whether he will instead encourage restraint and greater respect for national sovereignty, faith, and traditions.”

It is highly inappropriate for any ambassador to meddle in the internal affairs of the nation where he resides—and especially when advocating something which the Bible clearly condemns.

President Trump’s Awful Reputation Worldwide

Flipboard wrote on June 25:

“A new poll from the Pew Research Center has found that Donald Trump’s presidency is strongly and negatively impacting how the rest of the world views the United States. At the end of Barack Obama’s term, 64 percent of global respondents said they were confident in the U.S. president, compared to 22 percent now. Seventy-four percent of those surveyed said they have no confidence in Trump. Compared to the final years of Obama’s presidency, Trump received higher ratings in just two of the 37 countries surveyed – Russia and Israel… ‘The sharp decline in how much global public’s trust the U.S. president on the world stage is especially pronounced among some of America’s closest allies in Europe and Asia, as well as neighboring Mexico and Canada,’ the report states.

“The negative perceptions of the U.S. president appear to be impacting U.S. favorability ratings in general. Sixty-four percent of those surveyed had favorable views of the U.S. at the end of the Obama presidency, compared to 49 percent now…

“Arrogant, intolerant and dangerous — these are all traits that a sizeable majority of global respondents said describe the U.S. president. On the other hand, 55 percent see him as a strong leader, while 39 percent say that he is charismatic. Only about one in four people stated that they found Trump ‘well-qualified to be president’  and ‘caring about ordinary people.’

“The survey asked about five of the Trump administration’s signature policy proposals — withdrawing from the Iran deal, restricting travelers from some Muslim-majority countries, withdrawing from climate change and trade agreements, and building a wall along the border with Mexico. It found that all of these positions are unpopular globally…

“Poll results in Mexico show some of the most dramatic drops in confidence for the U.S. president — from 49 percent under Obama to 5 percent under Trump…”

Trump’s Deeply Offensive Tweet Condemned

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 29:

“US President Donald Trump has attracted criticism from within his own partyfor a Twitter tirade against female journalist Mika Brzezinski. Republicans said the comments were ‘beneath the office’ of president. Trump unleashed his attack on Thursday, apparently in response to comments by television host Mika Brzezinski on the left-leaning network MSNBC.

“Ironically, it came after Brzezinski had attacked Trump for his ‘bullying’ Twitter tirades. During the ‘Morning Joe’ show, Brzezinski said that if an executive at NBC, MSNBC’s parent company, ‘started tweeting wildly about people’s appearances, bullying people… that person would be thrown out. There would be concerns that the person who runs the company is out of his mind.’

“Trump’s response was aimed at both Mika Brzezinski and her co-host Joe Scarborough. Trump hurled a rapid-fire series of insults in just one Tweet, accusing Brzezinski of having a ‘low IQ,’ being ‘crazy’ and ‘bleeding badly from a face-lift’ while on a visit to his Mar-a-Lago golf resort. Trump called Scarborough a ‘psycho.’

“Many senior Republicans sought to distance themselves from the tweets. ‘Obviously I don’t see that as an appropriate comment,’ said Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. ‘The president’s tweets today don’t help our political or national discourse and do not provide a positive role model for our national dialogue,’ said Republican Senator James Lankford.

“One of Trump’s more frequent Republican critics, Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska, urged the president to restrain himself. ‘Please just stop. This isn’t normal and it’s beneath the dignity of your office.’ Longtime Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said the tweets were ‘beneath the office’ of president and that they represent ‘what is wrong with American politics.’

“There were also responses on Twitter, including one from Jeb Bush, Trump’s rival for the White House nomination last year. However, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders defended the president, saying he was ‘pushing back against people who have attacked him day after day after day. Where is the outrage on that?’…

“In addition to his attacks on the mainstream media, Trump has singled out individual journalists before, including a notorious invective against former Fox News and current NBC journalist Megyn Kelly. The president has also made numerous statements about women that have been widely criticized as inappropriate, misogynist, sexist, and offensive to women.”

“Merkel’s Husband’s Plans for Melania Trump”

Bild Online wrote on June 26:

“Prof. Joachim Sauer (68), husband of Chancellor Angela Merkel (62, CDU) [and a quantum chemist,] wants to raise awareness of the dangers of climate change for Donald Trump’s wife Melania (47) and daughter Ivanka (35) at the G20 summit (from July 7 to July 8, 2017).

“As is well-known, US President Donald Trump (71) is not yet too convinced that climate change exists at all. This might be the reason why Sauer has included a visit to the German Climate Computing Centre (DKRZ) in the so-called partner programme… The Centre features superfast high-end computers. Researchers investigate and simulate what climate change might mean for our future and that of the Earth.”

No More Teaching of Evolution in Turkey’s High Schools

The New York Times wrote on June 23:

“Turkey has removed the concept of evolution from its high school curriculum… Starting in September, a chapter on evolution will no longer appear in ninth graders’ textbooks because it is considered too ‘controversial’ an idea, an official announced this week. ‘Our students don’t have the necessary scientific background and information-based context needed to comprehend’ the debate about evolution, said the official…

“‘The last crumbs of secular scientific education have been removed,’ said Feray Aytekin Aydogan, the head of Egitim-Sen, a union of secular-minded teachers… Removing evolution from the curriculum, Ms. Aydogan said, puts Turkey in the same league as ultraconservative Saudi Arabia, where the concept is briefly mentioned in the curriculum but strongly criticized.”

Whatever the motives are behind Turkey’s decision not to teach evolution in high school, we applaud this decision as the evolution theory is clearly false and completely unscientific.

Newsweek added on June 23:

“[The] Evolutionary theory is contentious in some majority-Muslim countries, where creationism—a belief that a divine being created human beings as they exist in their current state—holds sway. A 2011 survey of 23 countries found that Saudi Arabia, a conservative Islamic kingdom, led the way in terms of creationism, with 75 percent of respondents saying they did not believe in evolution. Turkey was second, with 60 percent of respondents saying they were creationists.

“But creationism is also a widely-held belief in some Western or traditionally Christian countries, including the United States. A 2014 poll found that 42 percent of Americans believed that God created humans in their present form around 10,000 years ago.”

Actually, God created humans “in their present form” about 6,000 years ago.

A New Noah’s Ark Exhibit

The Times of Israel wrote on June 26:

“Noah’s seaborne menagerie [carried] enough animals, birds and insects to repopulate the earth after the great flood waters receded. And for those wondering what the floating fauna looked like, a new exhibit at the Morgan Library & Museum called ‘Noah’s Beasts: Sculpted Animals from Ancient Mesopotamia’ suggests that they were strikingly similar to the kinds of animals still found in the contemporary Middle East.

“The show explores the story of the great deluge through actual animal depictions dating back to 3300 BCE. But it also connects past to present: All of the sculptures on display… still roam the world today… On display through August 27, the exhibit offers a glimpse into the way people who lived thousands of years ago interpreted a story that is found in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions…

“An Assyriologist named George Smith earned worldwide fame when, in 1872, while an assistant at the British Museum, he translated a tablet from seventh century BCE inscribed with a story of a long ago flood. The story etched into that stone, now known as ‘The Epic of Gilgamesh,’ was quite similar to the story told in the Book of Genesis.

“But the inspiration for the show came from… an even older cuneiform tablet containing the story known as the ‘Epic of Atrahasis,’… the earliest Akkadian version of the iconic flood story… Discovered in 1898, the tablet dates from the reign of the Babylonian King Ammisaduqa, who ruled between 1646 and 1626 BCE… archaeologists have unearthed evidence for devastating floods, most notably at Ur, located in present-day Iraq…”

It is interesting that the exhibit portrays animals which are strikingly similar to “modern” animals, which is biblically correct. Many exhibits of Noah’s Ark (especially those sponsored by “Creationists” who believe that the earth is only 6,000 years old) include pre-Adamic extinct animals, even though this would not be in accordance with the Bible.

Ridiculous Ultimatum for Qatar

Express wrote on June 24:

“Qatar… was given [an] ultimatum amid fears the diplomatic crisis in the region could further deepen, having so far failed to respond to a list [of] 13 demands brought by four Arab nations… The escalating crisis has been exacerbated by the sudden promotion of Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to crown prince of Saudi Arabia by his ageing father King Salman. Some officials in Riyhadh believe the 31-year-old is too impulsive, temperamental and aggressive to one day rule the oil-rich nation.

“As defence minister, Prince Mohammed led the country into the war in Yemen, considered a disaster by many and resulting in the deaths of countless civilians.  With greater power and influence, observers are worried the headstrong prince will take an even more robust approach towards Qatar if it fails to heed the warnings.”

As The Times of Israel reported on June 23, some of the 13 demands include:

“Curb diplomatic ties with Iran and close its diplomatic missions there. Expel members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard from Qatar and cut off any joint military cooperation with Iran… Shut down Al-Jazeera and its affiliate stations. Shut down news outlets that Qatar funds, directly and indirectly, including Arabi21, Rassd, Al Araby Al-Jadeed and Middle East Eye. Immediately terminate the Turkish military presence currently in Qatar and end any joint military cooperation with Turkey inside of Qatar…

“Revoke Qatari citizenship for existing nationals where such citizenship violates those [foreign] countries’ laws. Stop all contacts with the political opposition in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain. Hand over all files detailing Qatar’s prior contacts with and support for those opposition groups. Pay reparations and compensation for loss of life and other, financial losses caused by Qatar’s policies in recent years. The sum will be determined in coordination with Qatar.

“Align itself with the other Gulf and Arab countries militarily, politically, socially and economically, as well as on economic matters… Agree to all the demands within 10 days of it being submitted to Qatar, or the list becomes invalid…”

As could be expected, Qatar has already rejected these outlandish and ridiculous demands, and Turkey slammed them as violating international law.

Top US Senator to Block Arms Sales to Gulf States over Qatar Crisis

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 26:

“The chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee [Republican Senator Bob Corker] said Monday he would block US arms sales to Saudi Arabia and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) until a diplomatic spat with Qatar is resolved… The senior senator’s threat adds pressure on GCC members to settle the crisis, triggered on June 6 when Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates imposed a blockade on Qatar and cut diplomatic ties.

“Under US law, the State Department must notify Congress 30 days before any major arms sale. Congress can then block the arms sale, or if it does nothing the sale goes through. Corker’s office said in a statement that major arms sales are also subject to ‘preliminary approval’ by the chairman and vice-chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee before the 30-stay congressional review process…”

Bombing Near Mecca

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 24:

“Regional rivals [Iran and Qatar] sent Saudi Arabia their support after police foiled a suicide bomber near Islam’s holiest site (Mecca) during Ramadan – an event that drew more than 1 million people this year… Police said they engaged in a shootout at the three-storey house with the suicide bomber, who blew himself up and caused the building to collapse. He died in the explosion and police arrested five other people…

“The Interior Ministry said the thwarted ‘terrorist plan’ would have violated ‘all sanctities by targeting the security of the Grand Mosque, the holiest place on Earth.’… Since late 2014, the kingdom has faced periodic bombings and shootings claimed by the ‘Islamic State.’ Saudi officials said three terror groups had planned Friday’s attack against the Grand Mosque: two based in Mecca and a third in the nearby city of Jeddah.”

One can only imagine what would have happened if that attack had been successful.

Liberal Islam?

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 24:

“It was described as a ‘world event in the heart of Berlin.’ And judging by the overwhelming response both at home and abroad to the opening of the determinately ‘liberal mosque’ in a Protestant church in Berlin’s Moabit district, this assessment is justified.

“… Seyran Ates, a German-Turkish lawyer and women’s rights activist, presented her reform project to the public: an integrative mosque for everyone. The Ibn Rushd-Goethe Mosque welcomes all Muslims, irrespective of denomination and sexual orientation.

“Furthermore, this house of worship – the only one of its kind in Germany – has explicitly abolished the segregation of the sexes during prayer. Men and women can pray alongside one another. A man and a woman led the first Friday prayers together. And – an important point, given the heated Islam debates in this country – the ‘female imam’ did not wear a headscarf!

‘The fact that reactions from predominantly Muslim countries to the opening of the Ibn Rushd Goethe Mosque have been both hostile and particularly forceful is not really any great surprise – not, at least, if one is aware of the repressive realities in these countries. This is true, too, of Egypt and Turkey, where protests against the Berlin mosque were particularly fierce…”

These forms of “liberal Islam” will not find any acceptance by the governments of Muslim countries. Shiite and Sunni countries even have a hard time cooperating with each other… a combined and unified “liberal” form of Islam, which to a large extent violates the clear dictates of the Koran, would be a total impossibility. Note the next article.

“Turkey Says Liberal German Mosque ‘Incompatible’ with Islam”

The Local wrote on June 22:

“Turkey’s religious affairs agency has expressed distaste over a new mosque in Berlin where men and women mingle freely, saying it was incompatible with the principles of Islam. Diyanet, which oversees religious activity in Turkey… said that the mosque ‘neglects’ the basic principles of Islam and was ‘incompatible with the worship, knowledge and methodology’ accumulated since the faith was founded by the Prophet Mohammed 14 centuries ago…

“Diyanet has influence over Muslim worship among the Turkish diaspora through the Ditib organisation controlled by Ankara that manages some 900 mosques or religious communities in Germany. Diyanet sends clerics to work in its mosques.

“Earlier this year, a furore erupted when German police raided the homes of four Turkish Muslim clerics working for Ditib suspected of spying for the government… Diyanet later said it had recalled six clerics from Germany for exceeding their authority but lashed out at German police for raiding the homes of the preachers.”

Further Persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia

Newsweek wrote on June 23:

“A Crimean member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses has been ordered to prove he has renounced his faith or else take up arms for the occupying Russian army. The move follows Russia’s banning of the Christian denomination in April and its annexation of the Ukrainian territory of Crimea in 2014.

“One of the central tenets of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ faith is an opposition to serving in the military. Previously in Russia, members have been allowed to undertake alternative civilian service. But that has changed since the country’s Supreme Court upheld a ruling from the justice ministry that they violated an anti-extremism law, liquidating all 395 of its local religious chapters and rendering the faith of 175,000 of its members illegal.

“There have since been multiple reports of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia being denied alternative civilian service… As well as violating the individual’s religious liberty, the order [to take up arms in Crimea] … flouts international humanitarian law. A United Nations resolution passed last December recognized Russia as an occupying force in Crimea.

“The Geneva Conventions states, ‘The Occupying Power may not compel protected persons to serve in its armed or auxiliary forces. No pressure or propaganda which aims at securing voluntary enlistment is permitted.’ Despite that, Russia has continued to conscript Crimeans into military service…

“The treatment of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia since the Supreme Court decision has already come under the microscope. As well as being denied alternative civilian service, there have been reports of meetings being disrupted by police and, in one instance, a Danish member being arrested. He now faces up to 10 years in prison.

“An appeal against the Supreme Court’s decision will be heard on July 17…”

Russia’s mean-spirited actions against political and religious minorities are appalling. The world stands idly by while Putin’s brutal dictatorship widens beyond restrictions.

“Netanyahu Under Fire after Reneging on Western Wall Deal”—No Mixed Gender Prayers at Western Wall

AFP wrote on June 26:

“Israel’s shelving of a deal to allow mixed-gender prayers at the Western Wall echoed far beyond religion Monday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused of abandoning reform efforts for political gain. Netanyahu’s cabinet voted Sunday to back out of the hard-won deal, provoking a flood of criticism and warnings it could damage Israel’s relationship with the United States’ influential Jewish community.

“That followed pressure from ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties who are part of Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition and follow a strict interpretation of religious rules. Such parties have often played a kingmaker role in Israeli politics and have opposed years of efforts by more liberal Jews to win equal rights for women at the Western Wall, one of the holiest sites in Judaism.

“Women and men currently pray in separate areas at the site in Jerusalem’s Old City, where religious affairs are overseen by Israel’s ultra-Orthodox establishment. A compromise reached more than a year ago would have created a third space near the wall, open to both women and men. Sunday’s cabinet vote froze the deal — effectively cancelling it — despite the government having earlier endorsed it.

“In a sign of the tensions the decision provoked, the Jewish Agency, a quasi-governmental organisation that helped mediate the deal, heavily criticised the move and cancelled an event with Netanyahu scheduled for Monday evening in response. Yair Lapid, an opposition figure and leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, said the decision meant Israel was ‘the only democracy in the world without equality for Jews.’…

“[Netanyahu’s] coalition, seen as the most right-wing in Israel’s history, holds 66 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament. Ultra-Orthodox parties control 13 of the coalition’s seats. Some 10 percent of Israel’s population are considered ultra-Orthodox.

“The Western Wall, located in Jerusalem’s Old City, is venerated by Jews as a remnant of a wall supporting the Second Temple complex, which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD…

“Sunday’s move to back out of the deal prompted anger among Jewish movements in the United States, home to more than five million Jews, most of whom are not Orthodox… It is a sensitive issue for Israel, which relies on the United States as its most important ally, providing it with strong diplomatic support and more than $3 billion (2.7 billion euros) per year in defence aid. Many Israelis see support from Jewish communities in the United States and worldwide as essential… But for Israel’s ultra-Orthodox establishment, changes such as mixed prayer betray Jewish tradition…”

These developments are interesting in that we read in Zechariah 14:14 that ultimately, Jews will fight “against” Jerusalem, as the passage should read (Revised Standard Version; New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible; Luther Bible; compare our booklet, “The Book of Zechariah—Prophecies for Today!,” page 83-84.). Also, we find a reference to gender separation in Jerusalem for the end time (“in that day”) in Zechariah 12:10-14.

Australians Forsake Christianity

The website of abc.net.au reported on June 27:

“Australians are ditching religion in unprecedented numbers. About one third of Australians said they had no religion. That’s a huge shift from 50 years ago, when the vast majority of Australians were Christian. While Australians are turning away from the Christian religions, there’s been a massive growth in Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam…

“About one million Australians were born in China or India — and these two countries are the biggest sources of migration to Australia… England and New Zealand are still the most popular countries of birth, but there’s no real growth in migrants from these two countries. English is still the main language for three quarters of Australians, but there are 301 other different languages spoken in homes across the country…

“A record number of same-sex couples — nearly 47,000 — were counted in the census. The number of male and female same-sex couples is roughly equal…”

BuzzFeed wrote on June 26:

“For the first time ever, ‘no religion’ has overtaken any single religious denomination, toppling Catholicism as the number one religious affiliation for Australians… Christianity is still the most common religion (52% of Australians identified as any of the Christian denominations) but has been declining in popularity in Australia for the past 50 years – in 1966, 88% of Australians identified as Christian and by 1991 it was 74%. Catholicism is the largest Christian grouping, accounting for almost a quarter (22.6%) of the Australian population…”

Martin Schulz—an Unlikely Comeback?

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 25:

“Amidst more bad news in opinion polls, Social Democratic chancellor candidate Martin Schulz went on the attack at the party conference in Dortmund. But does he have the policies and charisma to make up a huge deficit?…

“Opinion polls released this weekend put the SPD at 23 to 24 percent… The election is only 90 days away, which means that Schulz and the SPD need to start mounting an unlikely comeback…

“The 61-year-old SPD candidate, a former EU parliament president who spent 13 years working in Brussels and only rejoined German national politics last year, began by attacking the conservatives and Merkel… Schulz drew some of his most enthusiastic applause when he criticized Merkel’s statement, largely interpreted to express the growing distance from the Donald Trump-led US, that the times when Germany could ‘rely on others’ were ‘to a degree over.’ Schulz called that statement non-specific and hedged… The implication was that the SPD would stand up to Trump in a way Merkel would not…

“There may be something to the Social Democrats’ criticism of Merkel, but German voters seem to like the chancellor the way she is. Moreover, her most controversial policy, the one on which she is most vulnerable, is her welcoming stance toward refugees, and that is not a position the SPD can or would want to attack.”

As AFP reported on June 25, Martin Schulz “also laid down gay marriage as a condition for any future coalition involving the SPD… The SPD’s call for gay marriage comes just a week after the Greens set a similar condition, while Merkel’s CDU has so far refused to allow same gender couples to wed.”

Humanly speaking, it does not appear that Martin Schulz has any chance of beating Angela Merkel. But ultimately, the person will be “elected” who will be most equipped of bringing about end-time prophetic events, especially involving Germany and Europe.

Coming: Same-Sex Marriages in Germany

Deutsche Welle wrote on  June 27:

“Gay marriage could become a reality in Germany almost overnight after Chancellor Merkel made certain concessions. However, the issue is also being used as a political bargaining ahead of the September 24 elections. German Chancellor Angela Merkel removed the previous requirement of party whip control on the issue of voting on gay marriage in Germany’s lower house of parliament, the Bundestag. In other words, members of the Bundestag will be allowed to vote on the issue on the basis of their own conscience and not be required to toe the party line of their political affiliation.

“The chancellor herself worded the vote as a ‘question of conscience’ during a TV interview the previous evening. The vote… could likely see gay marriage become a reality in Germany before the September 24 elections…

“At present, gay and lesbian couples can opt to have a civil partnership, which afford many of the same benefits and protections as traditional marriage, but lacks equity between gay and straight couples in some key areas such as adoption rights…

“The CDU’s sister-party, the Bavaria-based CSU, meanwhile also agreed that its parliamentarians should vote according to the conscience, even this meant a departure from the party’s view that ‘marriage for all’ was not in line with the party’s views. The party said that marriage between a man and a woman should enjoy special protections while stressing that same-sex relationships made valuable contributions ‘to our society,’ which were recognized with the special provision of civil partnerships.

“Rather than genuine concern for gay and lesbian couples, the vote on gay marriage appears to be used as a bargaining chip between the two major parties, Merkel’s CDU and her current coalition partner, the SPD, headed by Martin Schulz. It appears that Schulz is hoping to gain votes by pushing the decision through the Bundestag less than three months ahead of the general elections…

“All of Merkel’s potential coalition allies favor same-sex marriage, with some saying that it’s a precondition for a coalition: Both the Free Democrats and the Greens are in support of the notion. Merkel is likely to need [the] to support of both parties if she wants to lead a coalition without the SPD.

“Same-sex marriage is already legal in 14 EU states, including France, Spain, Portugal, the UK and the Benelux countries…

“… homosexuality in politics has also become much more commonplace. Many homosexuals occupy important government posts and live openly in same-sex relationships. That is a far cry from 2004, when Guido Westerwelle became the first top-tier German politician to come out as gay. Then again, Westerwelle, who passed away last year, was not a member of either of the Union parties, but rather a member of the liberal FDP.”

A vote in the German Parliament on the issue of same-sex marriages has been set for Friday. It is expected that the vote will pass overwhelmingly in favor of same-sex marriages.

Merkel’s Vision of France-German Led Europe

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 29:

“Germany is reorienting itself away from the US and the UK and toward France. Chancellor Merkel made that abundantly clear in a major speech to parliament about the EU’s future and next week’s G20 summit in Hamburg.

“Germany and France will take a greater role in leading the European Union, and Europe must take a greater role in leading the world. That would be one way of summarizing Angela Merkel’s speech to the German parliament on Thursday.

“Merkel looked ahead to the G20 summit of the world’s leading nations that will take place in the northern German city of Hamburg on July 7 and 8. The chancellor stressed the need for Europe to present a common front against Donald Trump, particularly over the Paris Agreement on climate protection… The chancellor also took aim at Trump’s national chauvinism… Merkel acknowledged that it would be difficult to talk with Trump on issues like terrorism, protectionism and climate change in Hamburg…

“Merkel underscored the theme of European solidarity by meeting in Berlin after her speech with the leaders of the other EU countries taking part in the G20 summit as well as the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council. The Chancellor said that the EU wanted to send a ‘message of unity and determination.’…

“SPD parliamentary chairman Thomas Oppermann… questioned whether the chancellor would truly stand up to the US president at a G20 summit that promises to be far more confrontational than such past meetings… ‘Donald Trump divides the west,’ Oppermann said. ‘It is necessary for us to take an unambiguous stand. In Hamburg, we must show the American president that he stands alone on climate change…’”

“The East-West Divide in the EU Deepens”

Deutsche Welle reported on June 24:

“While the German and French leaders celebrated the close ties between their countries during this week’s EU summit, divisions between western and eastern European leaders grew…

“Merkel described the mood of the two-day summit, which ended on Friday, as ‘optimistic and dynamic.’ Such words are more easily uttered in the knowledge that economies in almost all member states… are starting to grow again. The eurozone has just completed its best quarter in almost six years…

“The EU also wants to take the lead in maintaining free trade around the world, which member states see threatened by the protectionist tendencies of US President Donald Trump. But, as French President Macron said, the EU is not ‘naïve’ either. Openness also necessitates fairness. European governments find it unfair that some countries seemingly flood the European market with dumping prices, or that companies from third states buy European firms while at the same time blocking European takeovers in theirs. The main culprit in both instances is China…

“But the generally positive mood that has come on the heels of the Brexit depression did not brighten every topic of discussion – such as that of immigration. Macron, who is seen by many as Europe’s new hope, began the conference by angering eastern European countries that have refused to accept refugees from the bloc’s main countries of arrival, Italy and Greece… Although he did not name names, those he was referring to, such as Hungary, felt attacked… Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern, on the other hand, stood by Macron…

“In an effort to smooth over differences, Macron also met separately with heads of government from the so-called Visegrad Group: Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Nothing, however, came of the meeting. After the summit, Merkel said that all members were ‘very, very much in agreement’ on the issue of fighting the root causes of migration and the control of Europe’s exterior borders. She resignedly added: ‘Unfortunately, we made no progress on the question of distribution’…

“In his joint press conference with Merkel, Macron added: ‘The current refugee crisis is not a temporary, but rather a long-term challenge, which can be resolved only through long-term stabilization in Africa and the Middle East and through ambitious European development policies.’…

“The summit made clear that Emmanuel Macron’s election has given a jolt of energy to the French-German duo that will perhaps be able to drive new European projects. But at the same time, it also highlighted the threat that the divide between new EU member states from the east and old ones from the west could grow ever deeper.”

We should take note of several issues addressed in the article. First, a possible “divide” between some EU members gives fuel to the concept of a Europe with two speeds, or a core Europe, consisting of ten nations or groups of nations, which will emerge from the current EU. In addition, the comment that long-term stabilization in the Middle East is needed reminds us of the biblical prophecy of Europe’s future military intervention in the Middle East.

Deal Reached between Theresa May and Northern Ireland’s DUP

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 26:

“Theresa May and leaders of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party have reached a deal… May entered into talks with the DUP, a right-wing regional party that won 10 seats in June’s elections, to try to shore up her government after her Conservatives lost their majority in the House of Commons earlier in June. With the support of the 10 DUP lawmakers, May would have the numbers she needs to put down a likely series of legislative challenges from her Tories’ main rival, Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party and allied opposition factions.

“… Under the deal, the smaller party will support the Tories in all fiscal matters and confidence votes, as well as Brexit talks and national security. The faction’s backing will be case-by-case on other issues… The Tories and DUP also said that they would ‘consider options to support’ British reserve troops on Northern Ireland’s soil… On several issues, notably abortion rights and same-sex marriage, the two factions do not hold common ground.”

Google Fined Almost 3 Billion Dollars by the EU

Bloomberg wrote on June 27:

“Google was fined 2.42 billion euros ($2.7 billion) by the EU on Tuesday, wrapping up a seven-year probe into complaints that it abuses its power as the world’s biggest search engine to muscle out smaller shopping search rivals. It’s one of three investigations targeting Alphabet Inc.’s Google in Europe with final results of a probe into the company’s Android mobile-phone software and online advertising service yet to come. Publishers are also seeking a probe into claims that Google unfairly uses their content, causing them to lose lucrative advertising revenue…”

 Acknowledgement and Disclaimer

These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.

German Minister Sees Hope of ‘Soft’ Brexit—But That Won’t Happen

The Associated Press wrote on June 18, 2017:

“German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel told Sunday’s Welt am Sonntag newspaper that ‘maybe there is now a chance to achieve a so-called “soft Brexit.”’ But he said staying in the single market would require Britain to accept EU workers’ freedom of movement. It also would have to accept the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice…

“For many Brexit advocates, those conditions would be impossible to accept…

“[Gabriel] criticized May’s Conservatives, saying that they ‘played with the emotions of citizens in Britain, told fake news about Europe and left people unclear about what consequences this would all have.’ Referring to the ‘difficult, even impossible situation’ created by the indecisive election, he added: ‘Here, those who created such chaos would have long since gone.’ ‘We will negotiate fairly,’ Gabriel was quoted as saying. ‘And fair means that we want to keep the British as close as possible to the EU — but never at the price that we divide the remaining 27 EU states.’”

On June 12, BBC explained the distinction between “hard Brexit” and “soft Brexit,” as follows:

“… they generally refer to the closeness of the UK’s relationship with the EU, post-Brexit. So at one extreme, ‘hard’ (or ‘clean’) Brexit could involve quitting without a deal in place. This would mean no compromise on issues like the free movement of people, leaving the EU single market and trading with the EU as if it were any other country outside Europe… the UK and EU would probably apply tariffs and other trade restrictions on each other. At the other end of the scale, a ‘soft’ Brexit could involve keeping close ties with the EU, possibly through some form of membership of the European Union single market, in return for a degree of free movement.”

It appears that Mr. Gabriel was referring to “soft Brexit” in this way, suggesting that Britain might stay as a member of the EU single market (but not as a member of the EU). It is not foreseeable that such a soft Brexit will occur. The Brexit HAD to happen to fulfill biblical prophecy. And with the Brexit will come an ongoing deteriorating relationship between Europe and the UK.

In this light, the Telegraph wrote on June 18:

“The Chancellor has dismissed speculation the UK could pursue a soft Brexit and remain part of the EU’s customs union and the single market. There have been rumours that Philip Hammond, who backed the remain camp during last year’s EU referendum, will use Theresa May’s weakened authority… to water-down [May’s] Brexit stance. Last week in Luxembourg, he failed to confirm that Britain would depart the single market despite being asked twice by reporters whether the country would stay or go.

“However, the chancellor has now moved to quash speculation that he would push Mrs May to abandon her plan for a hard Brexit… ‘We’re leaving the EU, and because we’re leaving the EU we will be leaving the single market and by, the way, we’ll be leaving the customs union,’ Mr Hammond told the [BBC]…”

Brexit’s First Day of “Negotiation”

Express wrote on June 19:

“Michel Barnier tonight warned Britain he is in no mood to make concessions during the Brexit talks, saying the UK would have to pay the ‘substantial consequences’ of its decision to leave the EU. The usually cool-headed Frenchman showed flashes of anger as he was asked what concessions he had been prepared to make to his British counterpart David Davis during a frantic opening day of talks [on June 19].

“In response Mr Barnier, who is the EU’s chief negotiator, launched into a furious tirade against the Brexit decision… His outburst came at the end of an evening press conference… he warned the UK against expecting some kind of special status outside the EU, saying it would be in the same position as any other third country looking for ties with Brussels… His forceful defence of the EU’s unshakeable negotiating position provided an early demonstration of the monumental task facing Mr Davis…”

The Local added on June 22:

“German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday that the EU’s future took priority over Brexit talks, in a rebuke to British Prime Minister Theresa May’s plans to bring the negotiations up at a Brussels summit. ‘For me, the future of the (remaining) 27 member states comes before the exit negotiations with Great Britain’ said Merkel, Europe’s most influential leader, as she arrived for the two-day meeting.”

The Queen’s Speech

Breitbart wrote on June 21:

“Queen Elizabeth II has announced the Government’s two-year legislative programme, with Brexit at its heart. Many contentious policies… to have been dropped…  Instead, the speech put efforts to secure the ‘best possible deal as we leave the European Union’…

“Whilst the Government hopes to establish a ‘deep and special partnership with European allies’, it appears to have committed to leaving the EU’s Customs Union and Single Market, in order to pursue an ‘independent trade policy’…

“Potentially controversial plans to make Britain ‘the safest place to be online’ with a new ‘digital charter’ were also confirmed, with concerns that heavy regulation of the Internet will undermine personal freedom and expression…

“Curiously, whilst a state visit by the Spanish royal family was announced, there was no mention of one for U.S. President Donald Trump, previously thought to have been all but a done deal following the prime minister’s own visit to Washington, D.C…”

The Death of Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl

The Guardian wrote on June 17:

“Helmut Kohl, who died on Friday aged 87, was one of a trio of dominant western conservative politicians – along with Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher – whose determined ideological and practical opposition to the Soviet Union helped lead in the closing months of 1989 to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent end of the cold war that had gripped Europe since 1945.

“But despite his reputation as a hardliner and his achievement as Germany’s longest-serving chancellor since Bismarck, Kohl… freely admitted… that he did not foresee the sudden Soviet implosion and was as surprised as anyone when it happened.

“The days when Europe was divided between east and west are hard to picture now. But a visitor to West Berlin in December 1988 was confronted by a grim reality…  watchtowers manned by armed East German border guards, snow falling on barbed-wire coils suspended over the river Spree, the forbidding no-man’s land of Checkpoint Charlie, and the burned-out Reichstag building silhouetted against an icy black sky…

“Kohl rose to the occasion presented by East Germany’s collapse with a purposeful single-mindedness that shocked and alarmed many in the west, not least Margaret Thatcher. Kohl took literally the injunction in the West German constitution to restore the country’s unity… In a series of bold and rapid moves in 1990, he travelled to Moscow to seek President Mikhail Gorbachev’s acquiescence in German reunification, signed a fast-track economic and social union treaty with the East German leaders who had ousted Erich Honecker’s Communists, and with the help of his able foreign minister, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, won the backing of the US.

“Kohl had luck on his side, too…

“For her part, Thatcher remained opposed to reunification throughout, fearing that a resurgent, reviving Germany would once again dominate Europe. She was comprehensively out-manoeuvred by Kohl. But 25 years later, it could be said that Thatcher’s premonition has proved accurate… Reunification, ratified in September 1990, turned out to be an enormously costly business for both Germanys. The eastern states were poor, persecuted and polluted, while the taxes levied in western Germany to pay for the project, and accompanying westwards migration of jobless Ossis (East Germans), caused deep resentment in some sections of German society.

“The fact that Germany has ultimately proved able to afford this epic act of national reconstruction is attributable, in part at least, to Kohl’s other signal political achievement: the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 that brought the European Union into existence and paved the way for the creation of the euro currency. Whatever else they may have done, the EU and the euro (replacing the former, less politically integrated European Economic Community) gave Germany the markets and the means to produce a second German industrial and manufacturing miracle.

“In this ambitious vision for a united Europe, Kohl found a willing partner [in] François Mitterrand, France’s Socialist president. Both men remembered the bad old times. Both reasoned that Europe would only be safe and secure if its two leading powers and its most frequent antagonists, France and Germany, worked in tandem. For Kohl, such cooperation was at one with his instinct for peaceful reconciliation. Early in his second term as chancellor, in 1984, he shook hands with Mitterrand on the first world war battlefield at Verdun, as if to finally bring down the curtain on two world wars.

“In the same year he became the first German leader to address the Knesset in Israel. At the same time, he was not afraid to confront strength with strength, in facing down the totalitarianism of the Soviet Union. West Germany played a full part in the controversial 1980s US deployment of intermediate-range cruise and Pershing nuclear-tipped missiles in Europe, under the banner of Nato…

“And it was Kohl who was happy to play host to Reagan, the hawkish US leader, and sit with him on a platform near the Brandenburg Gate in divided Berlin in 1987 when Reagan issued his challenge: ‘Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!’

“Kohl served as chancellor continuously from 1982 to 1998. He retired from public life in 2002. His later years were marred by a scandal over CDU party financing and the suicide, in 2001, of his popular wife, Hannelore. Until he suffered the first of a series of serious illnesses, he continued to air his views, and was sharply critical of Merkel’s pro-austerity policies in response to the global financial crisis. Kohl’s verdict was terse: ‘Die macht mir mein Europa kaputt’ (‘She’s destroying the Europe I built.’).”

World Leaders Mourn Loss of Helmut Kohl

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 17:

“World leaders are paying tribute to former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl… The EU’s Jean-Claude Juncker said flags would fly at half-staff in Brussels to honor a ‘great European’ … as a tribute to the man who ‘filled the European house with life.’

“Former US President George H. W. Bush…  described Kohl as ‘a true friend of freedom,’ saying that he considered him ‘one of the greatest leaders in post-war Europe.’… Gorbachev, the last leader of the USSR, said Kohl was an ‘outstanding person’ whose impact on world history would stand the test of time…

“German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel… lauded [Kohl’s] legacy of helping Europe grow closer… German Chancellor Angela Merkel… described her mentor as a ‘stroke of luck’ for Germany… Russian President Vladimir Putin [described Kohl as] ‘one of the patriarchs of European and global politics.’

“French President Emmanuel Macron [praised] Kohl for paving the road to [a] ‘united Germany and German-French friendship’… [German] President Steinmeier said Kohl ‘was deeply convinced that Europe was our destiny’…

“Merkel’s Social Democratic challenger in this year’s German federal election, Martin Schulz, said that…’Helmut Kohl was the chancellor of German reunification… Kohl’s vision of a European Germany… is a legacy to the German nation and to all of Europe.’…

“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Kohl as a ‘friend of Israel’ who was ‘fully committed’ to the security of the Jewish state. British Prime Minister Theresa May called the German politician ‘a giant of European history.’…

“US President Donald Trump hailed the former German chancellor as a ‘friend and ally of the United States’…”

Helmut Kohl was the man of the hour for his time, bringing about German and European unification with a new currency, the euro. There was no “luck” involved, but this HAD to happen, and we can clearly see God’s hand in this to bring about the fulfillment of prophecy—the final revival of the ancient Roman Empire in continental Europe, under German leadership.

Massive Victory of Macron’s Party

AFP wrote on June 18:

“French President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party won a massive [absolute] majority in parliamentary elections on Sunday, dominating the country’s traditional forces in a dramatic re-drawing of the political map… [giving] Macron one of France’s biggest post-war majorities, strengthening his hand in implementing his program of business-friendly reforms.

“… Just months ago, Macron was given little chance of becoming president, never mind controlling parliament, but he and the movement he founded 16 months ago have tapped into widespread desire for wholesale change. His party dominated France’s traditional parties, the right-wing Republicans and Socialists, but also the far-right National Front (FN) of Marine Le Pen — whom he defeated in the presidential run-off — which fell far short of its target…

“Despite the zest for political renewal, the vote failed to generate much excitement. Official statistics showed turnout at a near 60-year low, revealing a high degree of election fatigue after four votes in under two months.”

Mr. Macron is another interesting “surprise” figure who became president with a big majority in parliament for a reason… to help bring about stronger military EU unification and a Europe with two speeds.

Make Europe Great Again

Newsweek wrote on June 16:

“French President Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump don’t have many obvious parallels… But… Macron’s… plans for European trade have a distinctly protectionist flavor. You might even say he wants to ‘make Europe great again’ and ‘put Europe first.’… Macron is seeking… a Europe that ‘concentrates on major challenges and dares to defend its interests and values in the world.’

“Macron’s proposals include a ‘buy European act’ that would make it harder for non-EU companies to get public contracts in Europe…”

“German Defense Commissioner Vows: ‘In the End There Will Be a European Army’”

Breitbart wrote on June 20:

“As negotiations between Britain and the EU over Brexit get underway, a senior German politician has declared that a ‘European Army’ is inevitable. Hans-Peter Bartels, the parliamentary commissioner for the Armed Forces, insisted: ‘In the end, there will be a European Army.’ Bartel alleged the age-old system of national armies accountable to national governments was ‘disorganised, technically fragmented and duplicate structures unnecessarily’.

“He added: ‘Every step in the right direction [towards an EU army] is important.’ Bartel’s comments follow European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker announcing a European Defence Action Plan, amongst other measures to deepen EU military integration…”

Indeed, a mighty and powerful European army is inevitable, as it is clearly prophesied to occur in the near future.

Germany and Austria Blast New US Sanctions on Russia

AFP wrote on June 16:

“Germany on Friday lashed out at Washington over new sanctions against Russia… The new penalties, approved by the US Senate on Thursday, include a paragraph that threatens to penalise European companies that push ahead with energy export programmes with Russia. Those include the Nord Stream 2 pipeline which would pump Russian gas under the Baltic Sea directly to Germany.

“‘It is strange that in the sanctioning of Russia’s behaviour, with regards to the US elections for instance, that the European economy should become a target of American sanctions. That must not happen,’ said Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert. He added that Merkel shared the concerns raised by Germany’s Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern who charged in a joint statement Thursday that the measure brings a ‘completely new and entirely negative quality to European-US relations’.

“In a hard-hitting statement, the German and Austrian said they ‘cannot accept the threat of extra-territorial sanctions against European companies that participate in the expansion of European energy supplies’, adding that this would ‘violate international law.’”

“They accused Washington of using the sanctions to squeeze Russian gas supplies out of Europe in favour of US energy exports… ‘Political sanctions should not be mixed up with economic interests,’ they warned, stressing that ‘Europe’s energy supply is Europe’s business and not that of the United States’. ‘We decide who delivers energy to us and how, according to rules of openness and economic competitiveness,’ said Gabriel and Kern.

“The bill as originally introduced was exclusively about slapping new sanctions on Iran. But lawmakers attached a bipartisan amendment on Russia to it early this week. The addition came with the White House deeply embroiled in crisis over whether Trump’s campaign team colluded with a Russian effort to sway the 2016 election…”

Insofar as a criminal investigation against Mr. Trump regarding obstruction of justice is concerned, there have been conflicting reports. After the Washington Post reported that Mr. Trump was under investigation, Mr. Trump admitted the same on Twitter, but subsequently one of his personal attorneys denied the same in several rambling and quite hostile TV interviews. However, in the course of the interviews, he kept contradicting himself, by first admitting that an investigation had begun, and then subsequently denying it, while finally saying that he had not been “informed” that an investigation was being conducted. In addition, ABC claimed that special prosecutor Robert Mueller had not yet started a full-scale investigation, but that he had begun some preliminary planning. Both the Washington Post and ABC backed up their stories through “anonymous sources.”

Much more importantly, not a week or maybe even a day goes by when disagreements don’t surface between Europe, under Germany leadership, and the USA under Mr. Trump. As we have been pointing out, Mr. Trump came to power, not as an accident, but because of God’s hand… to contribute to the fulfillment of the biblical prophecy of destroying the USA from the outside and domestically.

Syrian War Could Escalate

The Hill wrote on June 20:

“The United States is inching closer to involvement in the Syrian civil war after U.S. forces shot down a Syrian fighter jet on Sunday… it carries the potential for further escalation — particularly with Russia threatening to target U.S. aircraft that fly into parts of Syria. It was the first time the United States has shot down a Syrian plane, and the first time a U.S. military jet has shot down any manned aircraft since 1999.

“On Monday, Russia responded by saying its surface-to-air missile systems in Syria would begin to track [and shoot down] manned and unmanned aircraft from the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition if they go west of the Euphrates River… Robert Ford, a former U.S. ambassador to Syria, said there is real danger to the U.S. as tensions flare.

“… experts worry about the U.S. military attacking pro-Assad forces without a larger Syria strategy from President Trump.”

Why is America Meddling in Syria?

The Week wrote on June 20:

“Open conflict between Russia and the United States is heating up in Syria…

“An all-out nuclear exchange between the United States and Russia is one of the few things that could threaten human extinction. Hundreds of millions, perhaps billions, would be killed in the immediate attack, blowing the world economic system apart, and beginning what would probably be several years of nuclear winter, devastating agriculture. People might survive in remote locations — perhaps Australia and New Zealand — but it’s not at all guaranteed in such an extreme scenario. It would be the worst disaster in history, by several orders of magnitude…

“Ultimately a nuclear conflict would be the worst imaginable strategic outcome for both nations…

“So what are we doing in Syria to justify ratcheting up tensions with Russia?… In Syria there is not only no strategic threat, there is not even a realistic American objective of any kind…

“Remarkably, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson does seem to grasp the need for diplomacy, with the construction of a new diplomatic framework for handling tensions with Russia… But there is little sign Trump is even capable of paying attention to such things…

“In any event, it’s worth emphasizing that not only is America pouring money and lives down the drain in Syria for virtually no reason, we are also increasing the chance of extremely risky confrontation with Russia — during the presidency of the most inept person ever to hold the office. (The mind reels at the idea of this president attempting to navigate a serious diplomatic crisis.)

“If Congress had any sense at all, they would be asserting their constitutional duty to oversee the use of military force — remember there has never been any congressional authorization of Syrian intervention— and liberals would be a bit more careful with anti-Russia diatribes.”

We know from biblical prophecy that no nuclear war will take place between Russia and the USA… but tragically, the USA and the UK WILL become targets of nuclear attacks, leading to their total destruction—and that from a power very few seem to be able to acknowledge and identify.

More American Confusion over Qatar

The Guardian wrote on June 20:

“The US state department has issued a stinging rebuke to Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies saying they had failed to come up with a justification for the embargo they imposed on Qatar earlier this month.

“The public and blunt criticism of Riyadh and the United Arab Emirates marked a sharp about-turn from Donald Trump’s wholehearted backing for the embargo, and his accusations of terrorist funding against Qatar. It follows an increasing pattern in which the state and defence departments have pursued policies abroad that are far removed from Trump’s rhetoric.

“‘Now that it has been more than two weeks since the embargo started, we are mystified that the Gulf states have not released to the Qataris, nor to the public, the details about the claims they are making toward Qatar,’ Heather Nauert, the state department spokeswoman said. ‘The more that time goes by, the more doubt is raised about the actions taken by Saudi Arabia and the UAE,’ she added. ‘At this point, we are left with one simple question: were the actions really about their concerns regarding Qatar’s alleged support for terrorism? Or were they about the long-simmering grievances between and among the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] countries?’

“Trump was feted by Saudi Arabia when he made Riyadh the destination of his first trip abroad as president, on 20 May. Riyadh declared its embargo on Qatar just over two weeks later and Trump made repeated statements in support of the move, appearing to take at face value Riyadh’s justification that it was to punish Doha for its backing of terrorist groups. In a tweet on June 6, Trump even appeared to claim credit for the blockade, suggesting it showed that his trip to Riyadh was ‘paying off.’ ‘The nation of Qatar, unfortunately, has historically been a funder of terrorism at a very high level,’ Trump said in the Rose Garden three days later. ‘We have to stop the funding of terrorism.’

“But last week, the defence secretary, James Mattis, signed an arms deal in which the US sold Qatar 36 F-15 fighter planes, worth $12bn…

“The Gulf dispute is just one of several issues on which the state and defence departments appear to follow a different tack from the president. The divergence is particularly evident in matters connected to Russia. Tillerson and Mattis, supported by most congressional Republicans, have insisted sanctions on Russia for its military intervention in Ukraine and annexation of Crimea, remain in place until the Kremlin withdraws its forces. Trump has quietly sought to have the sanctions lifted.”

The Trump Administration manifests a picture of total and utterly hopeless confusion, inconsistency and apparent in-fighting in high places. America’s allies must be bewildered, and America’s enemies must be cheering.

“Trump Betraying All His Health Care Promises BIGGEST SCANDAL of All”

Vox wrote on June 16:

“Candidate Trump… was going to protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security from cuts and replace the Affordable Care Act with a ‘terrific’ new system that would ‘cover everyone’ and offer the lower premiums and deductibles the American people wanted… The only problem is that it’s all lies. Trump’s health care plan doesn’t protect Medicaid, it loots it to finance hundreds of billions of dollars in tax cuts. The new ‘flexibility’ it gives to states will ensure that the most vulnerable are the most hurt. In addition to slashing the Medicaid rolls by millions, the Trump health care plan will see millions more lose coverage, and the remainder will face higher premiums for plans that cover less…

“The centerpiece of the Trump-endorsed American Health Care Act… is a $600 billion tax cut. Families with incomes below $208,500 per year will see their taxes fall by an average of $0 per year, receiving none of that money. But members of the top 0.1 percent of the income distribution — households with an annual income of more than $3.75 million — will see their taxes fall by an average of $165,090 per year…

“Specifically, under the House bill, about 14 million more people would be uninsured in 2018, according to the Congressional Budget Office, increasing to 23 million in 2026. On the regulatory side, one-sixth of Americans live in states that CBO expects to pursue broad waivers from Obamacare regulations prohibiting insurers from charging sick people more than healthy people and requiring certain services to be covered. The analysts predict that the individual insurance markets in those states would start to destabilize after 2020, as insurance becomes unaffordable for people with high medical costs…

“The savage cuts to Medicaid — reducing enrollment by a staggering 14 million — are particularly cruel in light of Trump’s explicit promise not to do this. But what’s truly shocking is that the Trump administration thinks this isn’t enough. His budget proposal for the next fiscal year includes even more Medicaid cuts that, paired with AHCA, would cut the program nearly in half.

“To make things even more disturbing and outrageous, not only is Trump breaking his promise on this score, his administration is simply in an ongoing process of lying about it….

“Voters ought to consider the credibility of Trump’s other promises in light of his willingness to promise not to cut Medicaid… Already his administration has piloted a thin edge of the wedge by proposing large cuts in Social Security Disability Insurance and claiming that’s consistent with his pledge to avoid Social Security cuts on the theory that Social Security Disability Insurance isn’t really part of Social Security (a theory that would come as news to the Social Security Administration)… Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) is already laying the groundwork for a big Medicare-cut-bill that he believes he can get Trump to sign. After all, if Trump sold out his promises on Medicaid and Social Security, why wouldn’t he sell out the Medicare promises too?

“… on health care [Trump] is mounting a… campaign of political deception. He knows that the American people are, rightly, dissatisfied with the fact that the Affordable Care Act left most of us with premiums and deductibles that are higher than we’d like and has fallen short of its promise of universal coverage. He would like us to believe that his health care initiatives would alleviate or solve these problems, when in reality they will do the opposite — sucking money out of the provision of health care and using it to finance a large tax cut for affluent families.

“And as far as political deception campaigns go, Trump’s health care lies are breathtaking in score… But at the same time, Trump has succeeded in persuading the media and the political system to process these highly public lies as a kind of banal non-story… Trump’s decision to build his approach to one-sixth of the economy on a foundation of enormous lies is a huge scandal.”

It makes your blood boil when you read about the horrendous corruption of America’s political system; the continuing bold and blatant lies of the leadership; and the indifferent and willfully ignorant media. God abhors lying, and those who are guilty of it will have to pay a costly price. Continued lying is one of many reasons why God will proceed soon to punish the USA in unparalleled ways.

Confusion over GOP Health-Care Draft and President Trump’s Mixed Signals

The Washington Post wrote on June 20:

“After weeks of secret deliberations, Senate Republicans are in the final stages of a sweeping rewrite of the nation’s health-care laws amid growing frustration among the rank and file over how to fulfill the party’s top campaign promise over the past seven years. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that GOP leaders will produce a ‘discussion draft’ on Thursday and hinted that a final vote could come next week… McConnell’s strategy for achieving that goal — writing a bill with a handful of aides behind closed doors — has come at a cost that reached new heights on Tuesday: anger among Republicans who feel shut out of the process…

“Trump has sent mixed signals to Capitol Hill and has played a more hands-off role in Senate deliberations than he did in the House. While the president has pushed for swift action on health care and celebrated the passage of the House bill in May, he also ‘wants a bill that has heart in it,’ press secretary Sean Spicer said at the White House on Tuesday. And at a private meeting with senators recently, Trump called the version that passed the House ‘mean’…”

Incredible! The House bill which Mr. Trump publicly applauded and celebrated was criticized by him as being mean and without heart, which in fact it is. And it appears that the contemplated Senate bill will be even meaner…

Senate GOP Bill in Jeopardy Upon Arrival

Newsmax reported on June 22, after, as the Washington Post put it, “Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell introduced draft text — crafted behind closed doors among a small circle of lawmakers and aides — of the Senate GOP bill in a private meeting with Republican senators on Thursday morning”:

“Four Republican senators [Ted Cruz, Ron Johnson, Mike Lee and Rand Paul] say they are not ready to vote for the GOP health care bill, putting the measure in jeopardy… The four say there are provisions that are an improvement to the current health care system. But they add that the measure fails to accomplish what they have promised to their constituents, ‘to repeal Obamacare and lower their health care costs.’

“GOP leaders hope to vote on the bill next week and can only afford two defections from the 52 Senate Republicans.”

However, it must be said that some of their “concerns” might make the Senate bill even much worse…

“California May Have Just Boosted Trump’s Chances of Winning in 2020”

CNBC wrote on June 19:

“The Golden State has decided to take its opposition to President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration beyond defending sanctuary city policies. The Democrat-dominated state legislature has just approved nearly $50 million for a program that will provide legal services and representation for illegal immigrants… this is how you get 8 years of President Trump instead of just 4… California isn’t likely to go from blue to red in the next election over this. But as the rest of the country learns about how far Democrats and liberals are willing to go in using other people’s money to support illegal immigration, there’s likely to be a significant push back.

“You wouldn’t know this just by listening to Democratic politicians and the mainstream media, but illegal immigration is unpopular with most American voters. A recent Gallup Poll showed that 59 percent of Americans (79 percent of Republicans and 48 percent of Democrats), ‘worry’ a great deal’ or a ‘fair amount’ about illegal immigration. This level of worry has remained steady over the last 17 years that Gallup has polled on the issue.

“… For all the talk about how President Trump takes major political gambles, it’s hard to call his move to deport more illegal immigrants a gamble in a country where a rare 59 percent majority continues to consider illegal immigration a real and serious problem… One of the great disconnects in 2016 was the fact that so many experts thought candidate Donald Trump’s focus on illegal immigration was political suicide. Instead, it’s clear it was a major boost on the way to his election.

“Now, California has given him and his supporters a new punching bag that should resonate in the red and swing states across the country. The tin ear of the left has struck again, and once again it’s a self-inflicted wound.”

Whether or not the California move on supporting illegal immigration would be a decisive factor in 2020, we strongly feel that Donald Trump will not be replaced during his term in office (whether for four or eight years).

Fronleichnam—“The Body of Christ”— Another Wrong and Damaging Catholic Festival

The Local wrote on June 15:

“Thursday (June 15)  is yet another public holiday in the Catholic states of southern and western Germany. The celebration of Fronleichnam (Corpus Christi) is one of the more obscure… Catholic celebrations…

“The word comes from the Middle High German vronlicham meaning ‘the body of God.’ In English the festival is known by the Latin name Corpus Christi, which also means body of Christ. On Fronleichnam, Catholics celebrate the belief that Jesus remains with us in the flesh through the bread and wine consumed during communion… Catholics believe that Jesus created the sacrament of the Eucharist when he told his disciples that the bread ‘is my flesh’ and the wine ‘is my blood.’ The first Fronleichnam procession was held in the year 1270…

“Fronleichnam is always celebrated on the second Thursday after Whitsun… In Fritzlar in north Hesse, the celebrations start on Wednesday night with the so-called Katzenkoppschießen. During this ceremony, the eight bells of the town cathedral are rung and a canon is fired, a ritual that is repeated three times. In Cologne, there is a procession involving over 100 ships, while in Bamberg 18 men carry a huge cross through the town.

“… the processions have often had a subversive element. The extrovert and bombastic character was meant to show Protestants how great it is to be a Catholic. Luther, for his part, described the holiday as ‘the most damaging of all festivals.’”

Luther had a point, even though celebrations of Christmas and Easter are equally damaging. The whole concept of “Fronleichnam” is wrong and totally unbiblical that “Jesus remains with us in the flesh through the bread and wine consumed during communion.” When Christ said that this IS my body and this IS My blood, He meant that the bread and the wine SYMBOLIZED His broken body and His shed blood. Only those who are properly baptized are to participate in the ceremony ONCE a year… during the annual Passover. Christ was offered only ONCE… to believe that the bread and the wine change into His body and blood would mean that Christ is being sacrificed continually. Also, we are clearly forbidden to eat blood. So, Fronleichnam is celebrated at a wrong time and for the wrong reasons. It is altogether unbiblical and contrary to biblical truth.

For more information, please read our free booklet, “The Meaning of God’s Spring Holy Days.”

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer

These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.

Theresa May’s Election Debacle

The Associated Press wrote on June 9:

“Having called an early election in hopes of getting an increased majority that could have strengthened her hand in Britain’s exit talks with the EU, [Theresa] May instead saw her majority evaporate completely — leaving her fortunes hanging by a thread and dark clouds over the Brexit negotiations just 10 days before they are due to start…

“May’s snap election call was the second time that a Conservative gamble on the issue of Britain’s relations with Europe backfired. Her predecessor, David Cameron, first asked British voters to decide in 2016 whether to leave the EU. Cameron, gambling that Britons wouldn’t want to sever their network of ties with the continent, had promised the Brexit referendum during a 2015 election campaign that gave Conservatives a surprise Parliamentary majority. When voters stunned him and Europe by voting to leave, he resigned, leaving May to deal with the mess…

“May… was criticized for a lackluster campaigning style and for a plan to force elderly people to pay more for their care, a proposal her opponents dubbed the ‘dementia tax.’… Then, attacks in Manchester and London that killed a total of 30 people brought the campaign to a halt — twice. They sent a wave of anxiety through Britain and forced May to defend the government’s record on fighting terrorism…”

Theresa May’s debacle might have negative consequences for Britain regarding its power to negotiate successfully in the upcoming Brexit talks. Note the next articles.

Consequences for Brexit

Express wrote on June 9:

“European Council President Mr Tusk… tweeted: ‘We don’t know when Brexit talks start. We know when they must end.’ … Manfred Weber, MEP and chairman of the European People’s Party group, wrote: ‘… EU is united, UK is deeply split…’ [Tusk also wrote:] ‘The timeframe set by Article 50 of the Treaty leaves us with no time to lose,’… referring to a deadline of March 2019 when Britain will no longer be a member of the bloc, whether or not a deal is reached to avoid legal uncertainties.”

The Guardian wrote on June 11:

“Theresa May is to be told the EU will take a year to draft a new mandate for its chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, effectively killing the Brexit negotiations, if she insists on discussing a future trade relationship at the same time as the UK’s divorce bill…

“The EU’s 27 leaders formally agreed to give Barnier a narrow set of tasks at a summit in April and they have no intention of rethinking the so-called phased approach when they meet May at a European summit on 22-23 June…

“The threat to take a year out of the already dwindling window for negotiations under article 50 of the Lisbon treaty illustrates the intense frustration felt in Brussels.”

A one-year delay in negotiations or their total abandonment would not change the fact that Britain will no longer be a member of the EU by March 2019. But Britain would clearly end up on the losing side. Note the next article.

The Clock Is Ticking

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 12:

“When Prime Minister Theresa May triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty in March, thus beginning the formal process of Britain’s exit from the European Union, she did not realize she would soon be fighting for her political life. Article 50, which was not designed to make things easy for the country exiting the EU, sets a strict two-year timeline for talks, giving Britain until March 2019 to conclude discussions…

“Talks had been expected to begin on June 19. ‘There is absolutely no doubt that the UK government enters these negotiations tremendously diminished, and the absence of a clear mandate risks further destabilizing what was already likely to be a difficult, complex process,’ Sophie Gaston, head of international projects at the think tank Demos, told DW. ‘Triggering Article 50 before an election was grossly arrogant and has left the country in a highly vulnerable position. We can delay the start date for talks as long as we wish, but the clock will not stop ticking on their end date.’…

“‘The damage that will be caused by Brexit will be more directly caused by May’s sequence of bad decisions than by the actual referendum result,’ lawyer and legal commentator David Allen Green told DW. ‘The UK is now three months into the Article 50 process and it seems we are in a worse position because of May’s frolic of a general election than when the UK made the notification.’”

“British Employers Unprepared for Immigration Changes after Brexit”

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 12:

“Roughly half of employers in the UK looked unprepared for the government’s planned changes to immigration rules after Brexit… About 30 percent of respondents said they expected freedom of movement to continue for citizens from the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA) as long as job offers were available. Another 17 percent thought there would be no change at all to the current rules, with the Resolution Foundation calling such views ‘totally unrealistic,’ given that Prime Minister Theresa May had pledged to cut immigration to the tens of thousands, regardless of businesses’ demand for foreign labor.

“Forty-six percent of companies employing nationals from the EU or EEA said they did not expect any decline in their numbers, even though official data had already shown a sharp drop in net migration. ‘There’s a stark gap between what businesses want and expect from our post-Brexit immigration system and what the government has pledged to deliver,’ policy analyst Stephen Clarke said in a statement.”

“London May Lose Euro Clearing Business”

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 13:

“The EU is scheduled to unveil new rules for the financial sector that could result in a huge slice of London’s banking business leaving after Brexit. It would be a severe blow to London’s role as a financial hub… the new rules could deny post-Brexit London the right to host financial market clearing houses that deal in euros, the eurozone’s single currency. Clearing houses are a key part of London’s financial operations, with trillions of euros being handled every year.

“The issue of whether the euro clearing business can remain in the British capital is set to be one of the most contentious issues when the UK negotiates its future trade relationship with the EU.

“Brussels said last month it was exploring several options including the possibility of Britain keeping its euro clearing, while accepting strict EU oversight. But experts fear that this oversight might be so tough that many clearing houses would still want to relocate to EU member countries. The London Stock Exchange has bitterly objected to any such relocation activities. ‘It’s going to be complete chaos,’ LSE Chief Executive Xavier Rolet told reporters…

“Rolet argued a forced relocation of euro clearing to the EU would require a near doubling of the $83 billion (74 billion euros) that finance companies set aside for contract defaults. European financial experts say this figure is exaggerated…”

The end-result of the Brexit will be an economic downfall for the UK.

Civil War in May’s Party

The Daily Mail wrote on June 9:

“Furious Tory MPs last night threatened to oust Theresa May within six months after her disastrous election campaign. The party was plunged into civil war after the Prime Minister lost her Commons majority, with MPs aghast at her campaign tactics that resulted in the Tories blowing a 20-point lead over Labour. They demanded the resignation of Mrs May’s closest aides, and amid reports the PM had to be talked out of resigning early yesterday, some ministers said she would be forced from office in months…

“In a defiant statement on the steps of No 10 yesterday, Mrs May vowed to ‘get to work’ on delivering Brexit… However, the tone of Mrs May’s statement only enraged Tory MPs further as she failed to mention the MPs who had lost their seats, or show any contrition for a result that plunges the country – and Brexit negotiations – into turmoil.

“After critics said she was ‘in denial’, Mrs May later made a statement in which she apologised to Tory MPs who lost their seats and promised to ‘reflect’ on the result.”

Many feel that Theresa May will not survive this debacle for long.

Party Uncomfortable with DUP Alliance

Bloomberg reported on June 10:

“Anger in her ranks is palpable, with some prominent [members] uncomfortable with the plan to form a parliamentary alliance with the Democratic Unionist Party, [a pro-British Protestant group] which opposes gay marriage and abortion. Ruth Davidson, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, who is a lesbian, expressed those doubts publicly on Friday evening after speaking to May…

“Conservatives [are left] with 317 seats in Parliament out of 650, meaning they’re likely to need the DUP’s 10 votes to win a confidence motion… In return, the DUP is likely to ask for more money to be spent on Northern Ireland, and other specific concessions.

“In the meantime, European Union leaders are showing May little sympathy with Brexit negotiations due to start in nine days. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she saw no reason to grant the U.K. a grace period…”

Note too that British voters elected a record number of 45 LGBTQ candidates to parliament — 7 percent of its 650 members, according to the Washington Post, dated June 11.

Warnings against a Deal with DUP

The Daily Mail wrote on June 10:

“It had previously been thought that the party once run by the late Ian Paisley would only enter into a confidence and supply deal with the Tories – an agreement which would see the two parties agreeing support on a law-by-law basis…

“The DUP is the leading unionist party in Northern Ireland and it is supposed to share power with republican Sinn Fein but bitter feuds have left the devolved assembly suspended. Westminster is supposed to act as an honest broker between the parties… Sinn Fein is already suspicious of Tory neutrality because of the party’s traditional closeness to the DUP and any form of coalition will chill relations further. The deal will raise the prospect of a long-term collapse in Northern Ireland devolution. The current row was triggered by DUP leader Arlene Foster refusing to resign as First Minister over a green energy funding scandal.

“Jonathan Powell, a key adviser to Tony Blair when he brokered peace in Northern Ireland, warned yesterday: ‘Even John Major didn’t resort to relying on DUP… This could undo 20 years of work in Northern Ireland.’”

This makes it indeed very difficult for Britain to be a neutral broker in Northern Ireland’s internal fight. Deutsche Welle added on June 15: “The EU’s Michel Barnier and UK’s David Davis have agreed to meet next week to start talks on Britain’s departure from the bloc. Theresa May has still not sealed a deal for the DUP to support her minority government.”

Macron’s Overwhelming Victory

Reuters reported on June 11:

“French President Emmanuel Macron’s party and its allies have won the biggest share of the vote in the first round of legislative elections on Sunday… Macron’s Republic on the Move party (LREM) and its allies [won] over 30 percent of the vote… a result that pollsters say could deliver him as much as three quarters of lower house seats when the second round results [which will take place next Sunday] come in [putting his party and ally Modem on track to take between 415 and 455 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly].

“The results are another blow to the country’s mainstream Socialist and conservative parties already reeling from Macron’s election in May, which blew apart the left-right divide that has shaped French politics for the past century.

“Macron professes to be neither right nor left. His one-year-old Republic on the Move (LREM) party fielded more than 400 candidates, bringing together seasoned veterans and political novices…

“[The] results… give France’s youngest leader since Napoleon a powerful mandate with which to make good on his campaign pledges to revive France’s fortunes by cleaning up politics and easing regulations that investors say hobble the euro zone’s No.2 economy.”

Emmanuel Macron’s victory is indeed interesting in the light of the European unification process, given the fact that Mr. Macron and Mrs. Merkel are strong supporters of a powerful Europe. Note the next article.

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 12:

“LREM’s win is one of the largest parliamentary majorities in the history of France’s Fifth Republic, allowing Macron to implement a range of reforms he promised ahead of the presidential election a month ago.

“Macron had called for a reform of the European Union, including a strengthening of the Eurozone through a common budget, as well as introducing ‘new executive powers’ in the euro region, a ‘Euro chamber’ and a ‘Euro commissioner.’ …”

Coming… a Most Powerful EU Army

The Daily Star wrote on June 13:

“THE EU is developing a massive army capable of going toe-to-toe with Vladimir Putin in eastern Europe… European nations are working together to finance plans for a combined fighter jet force as the dawn of a new EU super-army draws closer. French aviation giant Airbus has been commissioned to build the deadly new fighters by the governments of Germany and Spain – with France also looking likely to take part.

“Airbus’ military division head Fernando Alonso said: ‘We have to work together in Europe. There is no more space for two or three different systems. The time is ripe for making and implementing a decision on common defence.’”

We hear more and more about Europe’s determination to establish a powerful army. Some still question this or feel this will take a long time. However, the Bible says that it will happen very suddenly and it will be surprising to many.

The Netherlands Still Without a Government

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 13:

“Almost three months after the federal election, the Netherlands still can’t form a coalition government… Four parties were attempting to form a coalition on Monday evening, but discussions ran aground…

“Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Liberal VVD party won the most seats in the March 15 election, and was negotiating with leaders from the centre-right CDA, progressive D66 and ecologist leftwing GroenLinks to form a four-party coalition. Geert Wilders’ anti-Islam, anti-EU Freedom Party came second in the election, but most major parties had vowed not to work with him… Wilders seized on the disagreement, saying that only with the help of his party would the Netherlands get a strict immigration policy…”

The Netherlands—descendant of the biblical tribe of Zebulon—are an interesting phenomenon. Traditionally on bad terms with Germany, it will remain to be seen whether they will end up as a part of the core European nations.

Who Is Lying—Mr. Trump or Mr. Comey?

The Guardian wrote on June 9:

“Who is lying – Trump or Comey? What is clear is that the members of the Senate intelligence committee appear unanimous in their agreement that it must be Trump. Not one senator hazarded as much as a single question challenging Comey’s veracity… a bipartisan group of senators made clear their belief that the president was lying.

“The conclusion follows not simply from Trump’s long and durable history of mendacity. To believe the president’s statement, we must conclude not only that Comey perjured himself on Thursday but that the former director is a liar of exceptional premeditation and forethought. We must conclude that Comey dashed out of a [private] meeting with the president [after Trump allegedly asked everyone else to leave] to fabricate a false contemporaneous account of that meeting [during which Trump allegedly said to Comey that he “hoped” he would let Flynn go] which he then maliciously shared with other senior officials.

“We must additionally believe that Comey is not simply a liar but also a traitor, who has been conspiring to bring down the recently elected president of the United States. Bizarre as this sounds, it is precisely what the president’s statement claims…

“[It has been] suggested that no one has ever been convicted of obstruction of justice for expressing ‘hope’… The eighth circuit court of appeals has upheld a conviction in precisely such a case…”

The Huffington Post reported on June 10 that a new Huffpost/YouGov poll found that “by a 20-point margin, 46 percent to 26 percent, Americans say Comey is more honest and trustworthy than Trump, with the remainder unsure.”

Troubling Facts Emerge

Business Insider wrote on June 10:

“Trump’s defenders make much of the fact that Comey said he wasn’t under investigation for collusion. But they ignore the likelihood that Trump is now under investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller for obstruction of justice — and for good reason: He all but confessed to the crime. As former Watergate prosecutor Philip Allen Lacovara writes: ‘Any experienced prosecutor would see these facts as establishing a prima facie case of obstruction of justice.’…

“The only thing standing between Trump and impeachment is the new partisanship of the Republican majority on Capitol Hill. But if Democrats win the 2018 midterm elections, we are likely to see the most serious impeachment proceedings since Watergate.”

Even though impeachment proceedings might be initiated, they will not lead to President Trump’s stepping down from office… he was placed in his position to fulfill his purpose, and he will stay in office until it has been fulfilled… leading to the complete downfall of the United States.

President Trump Under Criminal Investigation?

The Times of Israel reported on June 15:

“US President Donald Trump on Thursday denounced reports that the special counsel appointed to investigate Russian influence in the 2016 presidential campaign is now examining whether he tried to obstruct justice…  ‘They made up a phony collusion with the Russians story, found zero proof, so now they go for obstruction of justice on the phony story. Nice,’ the president tweeted just before 4 a.m….

“An hour later Trump tweeted… ‘You are witnessing the single greatest WITCH HUNT in American political history – led by some very bad and conflicted people!… ‘

“In a pivotal shift in the investigation that has riveted Americans like no other for decades, senior intelligence officials have agreed to be interviewed by investigators working for the special counsel, Robert Mueller, the [Washington] Post said.

“It quoted five people briefed on the requests and said those who have agreed to be interviewed are Daniel Coats, the director of national intelligence, Admiral Mike Rogers, the head of the National Security Agency, and his recently departed deputy, Richard Ledgett…

“Trump’s personal lawyer Marc Kasowitz, who issued a statement which did not deny the story, but did say that the FBI was behind it, calling the leak ‘outrageous, inexcusable and illegal.’…

“Quoting officials, the newspaper said one event of interest to Mueller is an exchange on March 22, when Coats told associates that Trump had asked him to intervene with Comey to get him to back off the focus on Trump’s former national security advisor Mike Flynn as part of the FBI probe of the Russia affair.

“A few days after the March 22 meeting, Trump spoke separately with Coats and Rogers and asked them to issue public statements to the effect that there was no evidence of coordination between his campaign and Russia. The Post said both men refused the president’s request…”

The irony is that if President Trump had not fired Mr. Comey, there would not be, in all likelihood, any criminal investigation. In addition, to imply that special prosecutor Robert Mueller is part of a witch hunt and belongs to the category of “very bad people” is not the wisest of all comments.

Attorney General Sessions “Testifies” –Sort of…

Bloomberg wrote on June 14:

“Anyone hoping for a big revelation from Attorney General Jeff Sessions yesterday would have been disappointed. Sessions, who reportedly had fallen out of favor with Trump in recent weeks, staunchly refused to answer senators’ questions about his exchanges with the president during a hearing about Russian election interference and the James Comey firing. That prompted Democrats to accuse him of stonewalling without any legal justification.”

Jeff Sessions “stonewalling” and his refusal to answer any “sensitive” questions should have been obvious to everyone. Jeff Sessions did not cite any legal justification for his assertion of any privilege, and in fact, there does not seem to exist one (He only cited an unnamed DOJ “policy,” which would of course have no legal relevance). He did not plead “executive privilege,” because only the President can do this, and Mr. Sessions admitted that the President had not done so. But then, he alleged that since the President could raise it in the future, Mr. Sessions would not answer any questions pertaining to talks between him and the President. A rather strange legal conclusion by the highest legal official in the USA!

In addition, Bild Online wrote: “The most common phrase which Sessions used was, ‘I do not remember.’” Mr. Sessions also “vehemently rejected the suggestion he colluded with Russia… branding the accusations an ‘appalling and detestable lie.’… Sessions may be under a further cloud after Comey suggested the attorney general may have failed to take appropriate steps to protect the FBI chief from political pressure from Trump’s White House” (The Times of Israel/AFP, dated June 13).

Jeff Sessions admitted that a private meeting between President Trump and Mr. Comey took place after everyone had left the room. But he did not adequately explain why—after Mr. Sessions had recused himself–Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein’s letter and Mr. Session’s letter of recommendation to fire Mr. Comey (containing evaluations which have been strongly disputed by the FBI and the acting FBI director) played any role in President Trump’s previous decision to fire Mr. Comey anyhow over the “Russian thing.”

Deutsche Welle added on June 14:

“[Sessions] submitted himself to probing questions by senators about Russia’s influence on the US federal election or the reasons behind the dismissal of former FBI director, James Comey. The attorney general did not disclose any information that could damage Trump. During the hearing, Sessions suffered from attacks of amnesia; or he refused to give evidence when things got too risky… transparency comes across differently. Sessions’ testimony did not instill any confidence – neither in him, nor in this administration…

“So the ghost of potentially too close contact between Trump and Russia will continue to haunt the corridors of Congress… Jeff Sessions defended the president’s decisions and his process of decision-making. One day he might regret this.”

US Recession Coming?

Agora Financial wrote on June 14:

“Last December, the Fed began a cycle of rate increases every three months. The Fed is eager to raise interest rates so it has room to cut them again whenever the next recession or financial shock hits.

“But these increases now appear to be pushing a fragile economy over the edge — perhaps causing the very recession the Fed was preparing to fight…”

Trump Afraid of Visiting the UK?

The Daily Mail wrote on June 11:

“President Donald Trump has said he has called off state visits to the UK over large scale protests he is likely to face from the British public. The commander-in-chief is understood to have called Prime Minister Theresa May to tell her that he didn’t want to visit the UK if there were going to be demonstrations against him – meaning his visit could be indefinitely postponed. But Mrs May’s office denied there had been any changes to the planned visit and refused to comment on the reports around the phone call – even though it is possible she will not be Prime Minister by the time the scheduled visit occurs [the trip was tentatively planned, but not yet scheduled for October]…

“Trump’s relationship with the British public has been highly strained for years… Last week Theresa May told Trump she was ‘disappointed’ at his decision to take the US out of the Paris climate change agreement, although she did not join other European leaders in signing a joint statement condemning the action… The animosity felt towards Trump by the British people is likely to be a thorn in the president’s side. An Anglophile who has long boasted of his British heritage – his mother, Mary-Anne Trump, was born in Tong, Scotland – Trump longs for acceptance from the country.

“At the start of the year he sent the UK government a list of demands for his then-expected visit. They included having the Queen join him for a game of golf on the nine-hole course at her castle in Balmoral, Scotland… His PR team had hoped to replicate a photograph similar to the 1982 image of Ronald Reagan and the Queen riding horses together. He also wanted dinner at Blenheim Palace – Winston Churchill’s birthplace – in Oxfordshire, England, and tea at Buckingham Palace in London…”

Even though Theresa May’s office refused to comment on the report and the White House flatly denied its accuracy, the source claimed to be present in Downing Street when the call came through and The New York Times confirmed at least some details of the report from American officials. This means, somebody is lying.

“Trump Finally Finds Place to Stay in Hamburg for G20 Summit”

The Local wrote on June 9:

“US President Donald Trump reportedly struggled at first to find a place to stay on his first official visit to Germany. But the Hamburg city government has come to his rescue, German media report. Is it just that there wasn’t any space left in the inn?

“With 6,000 delegates set to attend the G20 summit in Hamburg in July, plus security personnel and several thousand journalists, there is high demand for rooms in the port city. So maybe this is the reason that the swanky Four Seasons Hotel told Trump back in April that they couldn’t offer him a room for the event, despite having hosted former Secretary of State John Kerry in December…

“Rumour had it that the US President’s team had been unable to find him suitable accommodation in the port city, deciding instead to book him a room in Berlin and fly him to Hamburg for the summit on each of the two days. But Bild reported on Friday that the White House has now secured a roof over the President’s well-coiffed head. The Hamburg city government has offered Trump a villa it uses as a guest house, according to the tabloid. US Secret Service teams are set to visit the location next week with German colleagues to assess its security. A river that passes in front of the building is likely to be closed to boats.”

Very suspicious. President Trump is just not liked at all in Germany, and the feeling seems to be mutual.

Another Court Ruling Against Trump’s Travel Ban

CNN wrote on June 12:

“Another federal court has ruled against President Donald Trump’s revised executive order limiting travel from six predominately Muslim countries — and like other courts, used his tweets against him… ‘We conclude that the President, in issuing the Executive Order, exceeded the scope of the authority delegated to him by Congress,’ the three judges… wrote… The judges cited Trump’s latest tweets in the travel ban saga. ‘That’s right, we need a TRAVEL BAN for certain DANGEROUS countries, not some politically correct term that won’t help us protect our people!’ Trump tweeted on June 5.

“They also cited White House press secretary Sean Spicer’s confirmation that the President’s tweets are ‘considered official statements by the President of the United States’… Monday’s ruling will no doubt be appealed to the Supreme Court, which is already considering a similar case from the Fourth US Circuit Court of Appeals in Virginia…”

The Associated Press added:

“US President Donald Trump says the latest federal court ruling against his proposed travel ban comes at a ‘dangerous time.’ The president tweets: ‘well, as predicted, the 9th Circuit did it again – Ruled against the TRAVEL BAN at such a dangerous time in the history of our country. S.C.’ It was not immediately clear what “S.C.” refers to in his tweet.”

Unwisely, from a legal standpoint, President Trump used again the words “Travel Ban,” even though the White House spokespersons and his lawyers had represented that it was not a travel ban.

America’s Inconsistent Messages on Qatar

The Huffington Post wrote on June 9:

“Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates to end their blockade of Qatar on Friday. He then went over to the Rose Garden at the White House, where President Donald Trump completely contradicted his messaging, choosing to lambast Qatar for funding terrorists…

“Tillerson seemed to be doing damage control Friday, which was all upended when his boss approached the podium later in the day… Trump appeared to offer support for the blockade on Twitter beginning Tuesday, saying ‘So good to see the Saudi Arabia visit with the King and 50 countries already paying off.’ He reportedly [according to MSNBC] ‘may not have known’ Qatar is home to the United States’ largest military base in the Middle East.”

President Trump’s position on Qatar remains a mystery, as it clearly does not serve American interests.

Iran to the Rescue?

Deutsche Welle reported on June 11:

“Iran has sent cargo planes laden with vegetables and fruits to Qatar as the Gulf country faces a food shortage… Five Iranian cargo planes arrived in Doha on Sunday with food supplies as sanctions placed by the neighboring Gulf states have started to hurt Qatar. ‘So far five planes carrying … vegetables have been sent to Qatar, each carrying around 90 tones of cargo, while another plane will be sent today,’ Iran Air spokesman Shahrokh Noushabadi said. ‘We will continue deliveries as long as there is demand’ from Qatar, Noushabadi added…

“The Iranian Tasnim news agency quoted a government official as saying that three ships loaded with 350 tones of food items were also set to leave for Qatar. Qatar, a tiny nation of 2.5 million people, was importing 80 percent of its food requirements from bigger Gulf Arab neighbors before the diplomatic standoff.

“The Arab countries have blocked their air, land and sea routes with Qatar, which is affecting its air traffic and imports. To ease stress on Qatar, Iran opened its airspace to about 100 more Qatari flights, which has increased Iranian air traffic by 17 percent.”

When a vacuum is created, it is filled somehow. In addition, Turkey has also voiced strong support for “the leadership of Qatar… sending a clear signal to Saudi Arabia [and the USA] that Qatar is not alone” (Deutsche Welle, June 12). In addition, “The Saudi-Qatari standoff poses a great diplomatic challenge to Pakistani authorities as they enjoy close economic and geopolitical ties with both Riyadh and Doha” (Deutsche Welle, June 12).

AFP added on June 13:

“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan slams the economic and political isolation of Qatar as inhumane and contrary to Islamic values… ‘Taking action to isolate a country in all areas is inhumane and un-Islamic,’ Erdogan says in televised comments to his party in Ankara… Erdogan adds he will hold three-way phone talks on the crisis later today with French President Emmanuel Macron and Qatar’s emir…”

Turkey’s stance on the matter is very interesting, as it clearly conflicts with the Trump administration’s undefined and confusing policy.

How confusing and inconsistent the American policy is, can be seen when considering this note by Deutsche Welle, dated June 15:  

“The US and Qatari defense ministers have met in Washington, signing off on a fighter jet deal worth billions. This follows four regional rivals severing ties with US ally Qatar, a move Donald Trump initially lauded.”

Newsmax commented on June 15: “President Donald Trump authorized a $12 billion arms deal with Qatar days after he accused the country of sponsoring terrorism.”

Merkel in Mexico

AFP wrote on June 10:

“President Enrique Pena Nieto told German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday he wants a significant increase in trade with the European Union, vowing to complete a new trade deal by year’s end. Pena Nieto’s Mexican government has been actively seeking new trade opportunities since US President Donald Trump came to office with a threat to curb Mexico’s privileged access to American markets… Merkel praised Mexico’s ‘strong commitment to free trade,’ in a veiled jab at Trump’s attacks on globalization.

“Both Merkel and Pena Nieto have been on the receiving end of some of Trump’s most fiery attacks on trade. The US president has triggered the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico, which he says has resulted in American jobs flooding south across the border. Last month he also lashed out at what he called the United States’ massive trade deficit with Germany, and accused the country of failing to pay its way in the Nato alliance.

“Mexico and Germany did $17.8 billion in trade last year, and are keen to expand the relationship. Major German automakers such as Volkswagen and Audi have opened large plants here, helping make Mexico the seventh-largest auto producer in the world. Germany’s foreign direct investment here totaled $2.4 billion last year, more than any other country except the United States and Spain.

“Merkel, who is traveling with a large business delegation, was in Argentina – another Latin American powerhouse – on Thursday and Friday morning.”

Reuters added on June 10:

“German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday that putting up walls will not solve problems that countries are seeing due to immigration. Speaking in Mexico City alongside Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Merkel said the history showed only when empires have gotten on well with their neighbors have migration pressures been resolved in a way that ensured stability.”

While trade agreements between America and its partners are placed on hold, other powerful economic agreements are reached between America’s “allies,” to the exclusion of America.

Merkel Praises German Army

The Associated Press reported on June 10:

“German Chancellor Angela Merkel is praising the country’s army as ‘indispensable’ amid friction between military and government over the handling of a series of scandals in the Bundeswehr. It is under scrutiny over allegations of abuse, the discovery of suspected far-right extremists in its ranks and questions over its ability to fulfil its missions. In a pre-recorded video Saturday, Merkel said ‘there were events recently that deserved to be criticized.’ But she insisted that ‘the vast majority of soldiers are performing an invaluable service.’

“Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen angered some in the military with her sweeping criticism while investigations into alleged wrongdoing were still underway. German weekly Der Spiegel reported Friday that the army filed a criminal complaint against an officer who jokingly called for a military putsch.”

These comments are somewhat interesting in light of the fact that Germany’s army will indeed become indispensable and invaluable for the EU army in the making.

Germany to Lead

The website of ecfr.eu wrote recently:

“Under the cover of business as usual, a silent revolution is taking place in German attitudes to Europe. The habitual reluctance of post-war Germans to assume responsibility, to express their preferences and to lead in their neighbourhood, is giving way to an acceptance of Germany’s special role in Europe. This new attitude is more functionalist than triumphalist, but it is underpinned by considerable confidence…”

Bloomberg added on June 14:

“Merkel may not like to hear it, but in the age of Donald Trump, Germany is re-emerging as an alternative global power in Europe and beyond.”

Germany, with the help of France, will in fact become the leading nation of Europe.

Violence in the Philippines

The Associated Press wrote on June 10:

“Thirteen Philippine marines were killed in fierce fighting with Muslim militants who have laid siege to a southern city for nearly three weeks in the biggest single-day loss for government forces… A U.S. Navy aircraft provided surveillance for the local troops as the battle raged in Marawi on Friday, confirming the involvement of the U.S. military in helping quell the urban insurrection at the request of the Philippine government…

“Philippine marines were conducting a house-to-house search for militants allied with the Islamic State group who are still occupying parts of Marawi… Philippine military officials say the violence has left at least 138 militants and 58 government troops dead. At least 21 civilians have been killed… Hundreds of thousands of people have fled the city, parts of which were reduced to rubble by fighting and government airstrikes in an attempt to dislodge the rebels…

“Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law in the Mindanao region, the southern third of the Philippines and home to a decades-long Muslim separatist rebellion. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, the designated administrator of martial law, has ordered the arrest of nearly 200 militants, politicians and other suspected civilian backers of the unprecedented uprising in Marawi, the mosque-studded heartland of Islamic faith in the south of the predominantly Roman Catholic nation…”

Reuters reported on June 11:

“President Rodrigo Duterte said on Sunday he did not seek support from Washington to end the siege of a southern Philippines town by Islamist militants, a day after the United States said it was providing assistance at the request of the government. Duterte told a news conference… that he had ‘never approached America’ for help.

“The cooperation between the longtime allies in the battle is significant because Duterte, who came to power a year ago, has taken a hostile stance towards Washington and has vowed to eject U.S. military trainers and advisers from his country. It is unclear whether the pro-American military went over Duterte’s head in seeking U.S. help…”

Time will tell how long the cooperation between the USA and the Philippines will continue—if it even exists today. In the long run, such cooperation will cease completely, as the USA will become totally isolated and utterly forsaken by all of its allies.

“Temple Mount Briefly Closed to Muslim Entrance Following Attack”

The Jewish Press wrote on June 11:

“On Sunday morning, a group of Jews touring on the Temple Mount were attacked by a Muslim stone-thrower from the direction of the mosques. One of the men was lightly injured in the leg, but did not require evacuation for medical treatment…

“In response to the stoning attack, the police, following the Jerusalem District Commander[‘s] new instructions… closed the entrance to the Temple Mount to Muslim worshipers. In the past, following Islamic attacks on the Temple Mount, the Jewish visitors are usually rushed off the Temple Mount, and often enough, no further Jewish visits are allowed for the day.

“This represents a very interesting change in policy.”

Jordan Won’t Ban “Wonder Woman”

JTA wrote on June 14:

“Jordan decided not to ban the film ‘Wonder Woman’ from the country’s movie theaters… The movie will be rolled out throughout Jordan over the next month…

“But at least one movie theater in Amman has apologized for showing the movie and canceled future screenings over the fact that the star, Gal Gadot, is Jewish…

“Israel and Jordan signed a peace agreement in 1994. The Jordanian commission’s review of the ‘Wonder Woman’ came after Lebanon banned the film as part of its boycott of all things Israeli. Lebanon remains technically at war with Israel.

“A Tunisian court last week banned the screening of the film while the country’s cultural review commission decides whether or not the movie should be permanently banned over Gadot’s Israeli military service.”

Israeli Support for Gay Marriage at an All-Time High

JTA wrote on June 9:

“… public support for allowing gay couples to marry in Israel has reached an all-time high… 76 percent support last year, and just 53 percent in 2009… 92 percent of secular Jews and 100 percent of voters for the left-wing Meretz and center left Zionist Union parties said they support same-sex marriage, compared to zero percent of haredi Orthodox Jews and a 65 percent of voters for the pro-settlement Jewish Home party…

“Even among religious Zionists, who generally vote right wing, a plurality — 47 percent — backed gay marriage… The state recognizes gay marriages and civil unions performed abroad… there are some 284,000 gay people in the country, who cannot marry due to the lack of civil marriage or state recognition for gay marriage.”

This is a sad report on “God’s chosen people,” as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob condemns same-sex marriages in the strongest terms. Note the next article.

Tel Aviv’s Gay Pride Parade

The Times of Israel reported on June 10:

“Over 200,000 people from Israel and abroad attended Tel Aviv’s Gay Pride Parade on Friday… The parade is the region’s biggest as Israel stands in sharp contrast to much of its neighbors. Across the rest of the Middle East, gay and lesbian relationships are mostly taboo… Same-sex relations are punishable by death in Iran, Sudan and elsewhere…

“About 10 floats took part in the beachside procession, one of them depicting an ancient warship built by staff at the British embassy in Tel Aviv, the embassy website said. Britain’s ambassador to Israel is David Quarrey, an openly gay man… ‘Tel Aviv, which has already been acknowledged as the world’s “most gay-friendly city” will continue to be a light-house city – spreading the values of freedom, tolerance and democracy to the world,’ said Tel Aviv-Jaffa Mayor Ron Huldai…

“The Tel Aviv municipality places a large emphasis on Pride Week, since it is a huge draw for international tourists. More than 30,000 came to Israel for pride week last year. Eitan Schwartz, CEO of Tel Aviv Global — part of the mayor’s office — said, ‘Gay tourism is one of the pillars of our economy’…

“The theme of the parade this year was ‘Bisexual Visibility,’ making it one of the largest parades in the world celebrating bisexuality…”

We should be able to see more and more why God is very angry with the Jewish people. For further information, please read our free booklet, “The Fall and Rise of the Jewish People.” Please also note the next article.

Smoking on the Rise in Israel

JTA wrote on June 7:

“Israel has one of the highest life expectancies in the world — 82.5 years, on average. But a surprising increase in smoking rates may threaten that status… Israel’s Health Ministry recorded the biggest single-year setback in more than a decade, with the rate rising to 22.5 percent in 2016 from 19.7 percent the previous year…

“Health professionals and anti-smoking activists have long been sounding the alarm about smoking in the Jewish state… And while numerous factors are likely in play, many have accused the government of not taking the threat seriously enough.

“Smoking is one of the leading causes of death in Israel, and has been shown to kill up to half of smokers… approximately 8,000 Israelis die each year for reasons linked to smoking, among them 800 non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke inhalation. The Jewish state’s new smoking rate is comparatively high — ranking 28 out of 35 European countries… Europe has the highest rate of any region of the world… About 15 percent of Americans smoked in 2015…

“Although e-cigarettes are not tobacco products, they often contain nicotine and other chemicals that could pose health risks to users… tobacco companies spend more than 60 million shekels ($17 million) a year on marketing, while the ministry only spend 500,000 shekels ($140,000) on anti-smoking advertising… The price of a pack of cigarettes is now between 22 and 35 shekels (about $6 to $10). But a growing number of Israelis have started smoking loose tobacco, which costs about 43 percent less than buying the same amount of tobacco in a pack…

“Yehuda Glick, a Knesset member for the ruling Likud party…  is working on a bill to reduce smoking among Israelis under the age of 21, since many young Israelis begin smoking in high school or during their army service… Although Israel last year enacted a ban on smoking at educational institutions…, it needs to be better enforced. The Health Ministry found that 24.8 percent of males and 14.9 percent of females were smoking by the time they began their mandatory military service after high school… by the time they were discharged from the army, 40 percent of men and 32 percent of women smoked — a 42 percent increase over the course of service.”

This is another troubling development in Israel and all over the world. Smoking IS a killer. Those who smoke are engaging in slow suicide. Note the next article.

Smoking by Pregnant Women Dangerous for Unborn Baby

 The Daily Mail wrote on May 29:

“A potent mix of chemicals found in cigarette smoke destroys the livers of unborn children… The findings are yet further damning evidence of just how dangerous smoking is for pregnant women…

“Dangers include: Increased risk of complications in pregnancy and birth; Less likely to have a healthier pregnancy and a healthier baby; Increased risk of stillbirth; Baby more likely to be born too early… Baby more likely to be born underweight; Increased risk of cot death.

“Each year, smoking during pregnancy in the UK causes an estimated: 2,200 premature births; 5,000 miscarriages; 300 stillbirths…

“Expectant women are encouraged to give up tobacco use due to the known links it has to a range of medical conditions… But it is not illegal for a pregnant woman to harm her unborn child by smoking and drinking… More than ten per cent of British women smoke while pregnant and this figure is as high as 27 per cent in some northern cities such as Blackpool.”

How irresponsible of a mother to jeopardize the life of her baby in such a way.

Parents Charged for Murder for Refusing Medical Treatment for their Child

Slate wrote on June 9:

“Two members of an Oregon sect that believes in faith healing have been charged with murder in the death of their premature infant daughter… [The mother] gave birth to twin girls at her grandparents’ home in March. The birth was attended by three midwives, church members, and family members. But when one of the twins… struggled to breathe, no one called 911. A church elder contacted the city’s medical examiner only after the baby died.

“The [parents] are members of a Christian sect called the Followers of Christ Church, which has a history of infant deaths. Adherents reject traditional medical care in favor of prayer, and believe that if a person dies, the death was God’s will… The church [is] influenced by Pentecostalism…”

We say the following in our free booklet, “Sickness and Healing – What the Bible Tells Us”:

 “… the law in most countries prescribes that, as a parent, you are to seek medical help for your sick child. If you fail to do so, the government might take your child away from you, or, if the child should die, you may face charges of involuntary manslaughter, or worse… This is not to say that parents are not to teach their children the necessity of having faith in God when they are sick. They are, in fact, supposed to encourage them to ask God for healing by asking the elders of the church to anoint them with oil and to pray over them. We are only addressing here those parents who, because of conscientious reasons, would refuse to consult and work with doctors and get medical help. Even though parents are to teach their children to place their faith in GOD for healing, they should not withhold medical help from them, if it is due (compare Proverbs 3:27).”

Daily Aspirin Far More Dangerous Than Thought

The Telegraph wrote on June 13:

“Taking a daily aspirin is far more dangerous than was thought, causing more than 3,000 deaths a year, a major study suggests.  Millions of pensioners should reconsider taking pills which are taken by almost half of elderly people to ward off heart attacks and strokes, researchers said. The study by Oxford University found that those over the age of 75 who take the blood-thinning pills are ten times more likely than younger patients to suffer disabling or fatal bleeds.

“Researchers said patients of this age who have already suffered heart attacks or stroke should still take the daily tablet, but should also take an extra drug to reduce the risk of bleeding. And they said millions more pensioners who take aspirin daily ‘as a health choice’ to cut their risks of heart disease should consider weaning themselves off the drugs. Doctors stressed that no-one should come off the pills quickly, or without consulting their doctor, as doing so would create an immediate risk of heart attacks…

“It has long been known that the pills carry a risk of gastro-intestinal bleeding. But the new study, published in The Lancet, suggests the danger increases far more sharply with age than was thought… Dr Tim Chico, consultant cardiologist, University of Sheffield, said the risks of aspirin were often underestimated. ‘Although bleeding is a well-recognised side effect of aspirin, this drug is still seen by many people as harmless, perhaps because of how easily it can be bought over the counter,’ he said. ‘Prescription of any drug is a balance between the benefits of the medication against its risks, and aspirin is no different,’ he said. “

It goes without saying that one should be careful with and be knowledgeable about the risks and side-effects, before taking ANY medications.

Sessions Asks Congress to Let Him Prosecute Medical Marijuana Providers

The Washington Post wrote on June 13:

“Attorney General Jeff Sessions is asking congressional leaders to undo federal medical marijuana protections that have been in place since 2014, according to a May letter that became public Monday. The protections, known as the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, prohibit the Justice Department from using federal funds to prevent certain states ‘from implementing their own State laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession or cultivation of medical marijuana.’ In his letter… Sessions argued that the amendment would ‘inhibit [the Justice Department’s] authority to enforce the Controlled Substances Act.’ He continues:  ‘I believe it would be unwise for Congress to restrict the discretion of the Department to fund particular prosecutions, particularly in the midst of an historic drug epidemic and potentially long-term uptick in violent crime. The Department must be in a position to use all laws available to combat the transnational drug organizations and dangerous drug traffickers who threaten American lives.’

 “Sessions’s citing of a ‘historic drug epidemic’ to justify a crackdown on medical marijuana is at odds with what researchers know about current drug use and abuse in the United States. The epidemic Sessions refers to involves deadly opiate drugs, not marijuana. A growing body of research (acknowledged by the National Institute on Drug Abuse) has shown that opiate deaths and overdoses actually decrease in states with medical marijuana laws on the books. That research strongly suggests that cracking down on medical marijuana laws, as Sessions requested, could perversely make the opiate epidemic even worse.

“… In a Senate drug hearing in April 2016, Sessions was vocal in opposition of marijuana legalization…

“The Rohrabacher-Farr amendment has significant bipartisan support in Congress. Medical marijuana is incredibly popular with voters overall. A Quinnipiac poll conducted in April found it was supported by 94 percent of the public. Nearly three-quarters of voters said they disapprove of the government enforcing federal marijuana laws in states that have legalized it either medically or recreationally. Through a spokesman, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R.-Calif.) said that ‘Mr. Sessions stands athwart an overwhelming majority of Americans and even, sadly, against veterans and other suffering Americans who we now know conclusively are helped dramatically by medical marijuana.’…

“The letter, along with a signing statement from President Trump indicating some skepticism of medical marijuana protections, ‘should make everyone openly question whether candidate Trump’s rhetoric and the White House’s words on his support for medical marijuana was actually a lie to the American public on an issue that garners broad, bipartisan support,’ said Hudak of the Brookings Institution.”

It seems like the Trump administration wants to pursue bullheadedly what they want to do, irrespective of the wishes of the vast majority of American citizens who voted them into office. How long can this continue until there will be a violent uprising and an open revolt in America? More and more observers already speak of civil war in the USA, which, at this point, is still rather peaceful, apart from some mindless violent attacks by crazy people, criminals and fanatics. But this can change quickly. Again, we emphasize in this context that no Christian should have any part in violence, or in the incitement of violence. Please read our free booklet, “Should You Fight in War?”

Soon… Driverless Cars Pose Huge Security Concerns

The New York Times wrote on June 7:

“It started about seven years ago. Iran’s top nuclear scientists were being assassinated in a string of similar attacks: Assailants on motorcycles were pulling up to their moving cars, attaching magnetic bombs and detonating them after the motorcyclists had fled the scene. In another seven years, security experts warn, assassins won’t need motorcycles or magnetic bombs. All they’ll need is a laptop and code to send driverless cars careering off a bridge, colliding with a driverless truck or coming to an unexpected stop in the middle of fast-moving traffic…

“Those fears came into focus two years ago when two ‘white hat’ hackers — researchers who look for computer vulnerabilities to spot problems and fix them, rather than to commit a crime or cause problems — successfully gained access to a Jeep Cherokee from their computer miles away. They rendered their crash-test dummy (in this case a nervous reporter) powerless over his vehicle and disabling his transmission in the middle of a highway. The hackers… discovered an electronic route from the Jeep’s entertainment system to its dashboard. From there, they had control of the vehicle’s steering, brakes and transmission — everything they needed to paralyze their crash test dummy in the middle of a highway… the research… came at a steep price for Jeep’s manufacturer, Fiat Chrysler, which was forced to recall 1.4 million of its vehicles as a result of the hacking experiment…”

It seems that America is just being threatened from many different directions. Note the next article.

America’s Fight against Drones

Flipboard wrote on June 10:

“A US Air Force F-15 jet fighter has shot down a large, armed drone that attacked pro-US forces near At Tanf, a strategic town in southeastern Syria near the border with Iraq. The aerial clash on June 8, 2017 was the first time that an American warplane had engaged an armed enemy drone in the sky—and could be a preview of dangers to come as more and more rogue states acquire cheap, sophisticated, armed robotic aircraft…

“Iranian and similar Chinese-made drones are popular with poor and rogue states across Africa and the Middle East. Syria, Iraq and Nigeria [as well as pro-Syrian government militias and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group that has intervened in Syria on behalf of the government] all operate missile-armed Iranian- or Chinese-made UAVs… the Islamic State has bought quadcopter-style commercial drones, fitted them with hand-grenade-size bombs and sent them on bombing runs against its opponents in Iraq and Syria.

“… most US fighter pilots do not routinely train to shoot down slow-flying drones, which by virtue of their small size and lightweight construction can be difficult to detect—especially if they’re flying low over rough terrain…”

“Massive Asteroids in Popular Meteor Shower Pose Major Threat”

CNet wrote on June 9:

“If a newly discovered group of asteroids makes its way to Earth, the biggest of the fireballs could make a destructive entrance, astronomers warn… A team of Czech astronomers analyzed 144 fireballs seen during the last hyperactive Taurid shower in 2015 and concluded a ‘new branch’ of the Taurids exists that the Earth drifts through every few years.

“While great for shooting-star fans, the bad news is this newfound orbital structure contains at least two asteroids that are nearly 1,000 feet (300 meters) across, and probably more big ones that haven’t been spotted yet…

“If an asteroid 1,000 feet across were to make impact anywhere near a major population center, the results would be catastrophic, to say the least.”

Express added on June 11:

“NASA has announced that it has discovered 10 new ‘potentially hazardous’ space rocks close to Earth that could put life on this planet at risk… On top of the 10 ‘potentially hazardous’ objects, Nasa says that they have identified 97 other space rocks and seen an unexplained spike in comet activity.”

The danger from asteroids should not be under-estimated. Our free booklet, “Evolution—a Fairy Tale for Adults?” describes in detail the devastating effects of asteroids—in the past and in the future.

“You Must Obey Your Pope”

Zenit wrote on June 13:

“When Pope Benedict XVI appointed Msgr. Peter Ebere Okpaleke as the diocese’ [Nigeria’s Diocese of Ahiara’s] bishop in 2012, lay people and priests of the diocese rejected their new bishop because, unlike his predecessor, Msgr. Victor Chikwe, part of the Mbaise ethnic group, which makes up the majority of the diocese, he comes from the Ibero ethnic group, which makes up the majority in southeast Nigeria…

“Pope Francis’… said, ‘I ask that every priest or ecclesiastic incardinated in the Diocese of Ahiara, whether he resides there or works elsewhere, even abroad, write a letter addressed to me in which he asks for forgiveness; all must write individually and personally… In the letter, one must clearly manifest total obedience to the Pope, and whoever writes must be willing to accept the Bishop whom the Pope sends and has appointed.’ The letter, Francis explained, must be sent within 30 days, from today to July 9th, 2017. Whoever does not do this,’ the Pope warned, ‘will be ipso facto suspended a divinis and will lose his current office.’”

The Pope’s claim for unquestioned (godly) authority will become stronger in the future.

The (False) Mystery of the Trinity

Zenit wrote on June 11, quoting from several Catholic rites:

“The Mystery of the Trinity is a great mystery which surpasses our minds but speaks deeply to our heart because it is, in its essence, nothing but the explication of the profound expression of Saint John: ‘God is love’ (1 Jn 4:8,16). If God is love, he cannot be loneliness in himself. In order to have a love affair, it must be at least two…

“This mystery of love is concrete… when… we make the sign of the cross. By marking this holy sign, almost without being fully aware, we call upon the One and Triune God, saying, ‘In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost’…

“The entire Christian life is accompanied by the Trinity… In fact, we are baptized (= immersed) in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit… Not only Baptism, but all the other Sacraments of the Church are conferred with the sign of the Cross and in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In fact, we have been confirmed with the anointing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. In the Sacrament of Penance, we are forgiven for our sins in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Again, in this name the bride and groom are united in marriage… In the Eucharist [communion], the Triune God… is fully involved with our human condition…

“In the priestly ordination, the new priests are consecrated in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit… In illness and in the last hour, when the priest will anoint us, he will recommend the soul in the name of the Father who created us, of the Son who has redeemed us, and of the Holy Spirit who has sanctified us.

“In this way, all of our Christian existence is under the irradiation of the Trinity…”

When reading this, one becomes aware how shocking this false concept of the Trinity is, and how it permeates the entire belief system (both in theory and in practice) of Catholics and Protestants alike. However, God is NOT a Trinity. This false idea has been adopted from pagan philosophies, and so is the sign of the cross. It is true that God consists of TWO Persons—the Father and the Son—while the Holy Spirit is NOT a person, but the power of God emanating from the Father and the Son. For more information, please read our free booklets, “Is God a Trinity?”; “God is a Family”; and “Baptism—a Requirement for Salvation?”

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer

These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.