On May 6, 2017, Kalon Mitchell will present the sermonette, titled, “Great Pain,” and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “For Life.”

The live services are available, over video and audio, at http://eternalgod.org/live-services/ (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time; 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time; 9:30 pm Central European Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

So called, “Fake News,” makes it difficult to accept what we read or hear. “Alternative facts” in political statements leave us wondering what we can really believe.

In a recent issue of Time Magazine (March 23, 2017), the cover image asked a startling question: “Is Truth Dead?” The subject of this cover and an article in the issue was President Donald Trump–about the way he has handled truth and falsehood in his career and now as president. Mr. Trump has become the focus of constant fact-checking reporting. His seemingly contradictory statements have dismayed world leaders. Confidence in United States leadership is now severely eroded.

This is but one example, and we certainly understand that the battle between truth and deception is a global concern and that it is orchestrated by the ruler of this age—Satan the Devil (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19). He is called “a liar and the father of it,” by Jesus. Satan rules this world by lying, and the world believes him (Revelation 12:9). It is little wonder, then, that human leaders follow the lead of Satan.

However, what we are witnessing is a smothering of truth as falsehood GAINS POWER in the world. Of our time, God says:

“In transgressing and lying against the LORD, And departing from our God, Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands afar off; For truth is fallen in the street, And equity cannot enter. SO TRUTH FAILS, And he who departs from evil makes himself a prey…” (Isaiah 59:13-15).

Knowing that his time to rule is short (Revelation 12:12), Satan will especially attack those who have the TRUTH. The reason the people of God—Christians—will suffer persecution is because we know and practice the TRUTH!

While headlines in the news may focus on the veracity of a particular statement by various leaders or their aides, the bigger picture is more foreboding. Worldwide deception—supported by miraculous signs—is coming!

It will be against this backdrop of all-encompassing deceit that the Church of God will stand up for and stand in the TRUTH. It is what we are to be doing now, as well. It is the fulfilling of our commission to preach the TRUTH—the good news of the coming Kingdom of God!

by Norbert Link

In this issue, we are focusing on Brexit guidelines adopted by the EU and tough Brexit talks ahead; as well as the EU’s commitment to establish a common “security defense”; and we continue with the election in France and its importance for the survival of the EU. We also speak on persecution of Jews in Europe and Europe’s decision regarding the visa waiver program for Americans and Canadians.

We speak on the volatile situation regarding North Korea and the mixed messages coming from the White House; and we discuss Donald Trump’s “first hundred days of chaos”; a welcome clarification regarding IRS restrictions for churches; and the successful attempt to rush through a new healthcare bill in the House with devastating consequences for many insured. We also address the enactment of a highly controversial spending bill allowing the US government to continue operations until the end of September; and Puerto Rico’s unprecedented declaration of bankruptcy.

We address Turkey’s ongoing descent into a totalitarian dictatorship; and we point out the deteriorating relationship between Germany and Israel, as well as between Germany and Russia.

We conclude with articles about Britain’s intolerance towards those who emphasize biblical standards; and Pope Francis’ controversial comments about existing concentration camps in Europe.

EU Countries Agree on Brexit Guidelines

The Telegraph wrote on April 29:

“The EU 27 have unanimously agreed their guidelines for the forthcoming negotiations with the UK, in a meeting that lasted ‘one minute’ and ended in spontaneous applause, as the draft guidelines were ratified without a single major alteration… French President François Hollande said the UK must ‘pay the price’ for its decision to leave the EU.

“… Only a small number of amendments were made to the draft guidelines, which now list securing protections for EU citizens resident in the UK ahead of its financial obligations – reversing the previous position. Along with citizens’ rights, the disputed ‘divorce bill’ the UK will have to pay on exit – estimated at a potential £50 billion – and the question of how to maintain a free-flowing Irish border are among the key issues. Mr Tusk said ‘sufficient progress’ on all three were needed before the EU’s future relationship with Europe and trade deals could be addressed, in spite of Ms May’s call for parallel talks…”

Tough Brexit Talks Ahead

The Telegraph wrote on May 1:

“The European Union has warned that it is ‘more likely than not’ that Brexit talks will fail after Jean Claude Juncker accused Theresa May of being ‘deluded’… The President of the European Commission launched a scathing attack on Mrs May after the meeting on Wednesday last week… telling the PM ‘I’m leaving Downing Street 10 times more sceptical than I was before.’ He reportedly… threatened to end talks without a trade deal if Britain refuses to pay a ‘divorce’ bill.

“The Prime Minister said that the UK is not legally obliged to pay the EU anything as it leaves the EU. Mr Juncker and his colleagues responded by saying that Britain cannot simply cancel its membership of the EU as if it was a ‘golf club’…

“After the meal Mr Juncker called Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, saying that Mrs May was ‘living in another galaxy’… His call led to Mrs Merkel publicly warning that Britain was suffering from ‘illusions’ about Brexit. Mrs May subsequently highlighted her comments and said that EU nations were ‘lining up’ to oppose Britain and that talks would be ‘tough’…

“The European Union also appeared to reject calls by Mrs May for talks to remain confidential… The European Commission said that this would be ‘impossible’ given the need to consult member states and the European Parliament over discussions. ‘All documents must be published,’ the report suggested.”

These talks could become so tough that Theresa May may just walk away from them without a deal, as British media suggests and advocates. She stated that Britain will under no circumstances pay any “divorce bill” of £50 billion to the EU.

Explosive Crisis Ahead?

The Daily Mail wrote on May 3:

“Brussels admitted yesterday that it faces an ‘explosive’ political crisis if the UK refuses to pay a [by now 100 billion] pound Brexit bill…

“The bloc called for EU citizens who arrive in the UK just a day before Brexit to be granted full residency rights which can later extend to their families. It also demanded that millions of EU migrants in the UK should be governed by Brussels rules for decades to come – even if this means providing better benefits than Britons receive…

“The EU’s latest demands were rejected by Brexit Secretary David Davis. He also dismissed threats from Brussels to use the issue to block a trade deal, insisting Britain will not pay a penny if talks collapse…”

EU to Intensify “Defense Cooperation”

AFP wrote on April 28:

“Led by France and Germany, the European Union has identified defence cooperation as a key area for rebooting the crisis-hit bloc after Britain’s traumatic vote to leave… This could include efforts to relaunch a so-called rapid response force, which was approved as a rotating battle group led by member states a decade ago but never deployed…

“Britain, nuclear armed and with a permanent veto at the United Nations, long opposed such efforts, fearing the creation of a ‘European army’ commanded from Brussels. But Brexit has taken Britain out of the equation…

“German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said it was ‘impressive to see that now all 27 member states (minus Britain) are ready to put the security and defence union on a good path…. We see this year as the year of implementation.’”

These developments will lead to the prophesied establishment of a European Army.

French Election and Europe’s Future

On April 29, Joschka Fischer (former German Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor from 1998-2005) wrote in project-syndicate.org:

“A lot can happen between now and the second round of the French presidential election on May 7, so it is still too early to celebrate. But, even with the nationalist, populist candidate Marine Le Pen still in the running, many observers are genuinely hopeful that the first-round winner, Emmanuel Macron, will be France’s next president.

“With Macron’s victory, Europe would avoid self-destruction yet again. A President Le Pen would almost surely bring about the end of the European Union. Taking France out of the eurozone, as Le Pen has promised, would lead to the collapse of the euro itself. After that, the EU common market and other core institutions would fall like dominoes. Europe would plunge into the abyss, and 60 years of political, economic, and social progress would be lost…

“For starters, it is in Europe’s interest that a President Macron not fail. The EU’s future, and particularly that of Germany, depends on a successful Macron presidency to lift France from its long economic malaise and resolve its paralyzing identity crisis… At the same time, a strong, self-confident France is necessary for the EU’s long-term survival… The EU is a complicated entity that can be led only by a strong French-German axis working in concert with other member states. That, too, is a lasting lesson that European leaders should take from the French election…

“As the French presidential election reaches its conclusion, the description of Europe as a ‘community of destiny’ still holds true, even after 60 years. On May 7, France will decide not just its own fate, but that of the EU, too. Europeans should rejoice – but then they must get down to work.”

At this point, the EU will not fall into the abyss or the bottomless pit, out of which it has been coming (Revelation 9:1-2; 17:8), until it has carried out its prophesied purpose.

Persecution of Jewish Beliefs and Practices in Europe

JTA wrote on May 2:

“Considering Marine Le Pen’s historical gains in the French presidential elections, the Dutch far-right’s rise and the assault on ritual slaughter in Belgium, this spring is shaping up to be a life-changing time for Europe — its religious minorities in particular…

“Did a majority of Dutch lawmakers show respect and tolerance for the country’s religious minorities when they passed a ban on ritual slaughter in 2011 — despite passionate pleas by Jews, Muslims and many Christians?

“The prohibition eventually was overturned by the Dutch Senate. But in recent weeks, two of Belgium’s three regions introduced plans to ban the custom, ignoring the pleas of a Jewish community leader to ‘not repeat the actions of the Nazis,’ who had introduced Belgium’s previous ban…

“Even if… Macron beats Le Pen 60-40 percent in the final vote on May 7, she will still have more than doubled the showing of 18 percent that her father had in 2002 – the first time the National Front made it to the second round. In Jewish communities across Western Europe, the rise of Marine Le Pen – who despite distancing herself from the rhetoric of her father has vowed to ban ritual slaughter as well as the wearing of both the kippah and Muslim garb in public – is seen as an existential threat…

“Indeed, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, the Luxembourg-born president of the Conference of European Rabbis, told me that he believes that Le Pen’s popularity already is emboldening initiatives to ban ritual slaughter and circumcision in Belgium and beyond…”

Europe’s intolerance for religious and ethnic minorities will continue…

EU Rules Out Suspension of US, Canada Visa-Waivers

The Associated Press wrote on May 2:

“The European Union says it has decided not to suspend visa-free travel arrangements with the United States and Canada given good progress made on resolving the standoff. The United States is refusing to allow visa-free travel to citizens of Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania until they meet the requirements of U.S. law. Canada has limits on certain categories of Bulgarian and Romanian citizens. But the European Commission said Tuesday that ‘contacts have been re-launched with the new U.S. administration’ and Canada has pledged to lift all outstanding visa restrictions by December… EU lawmakers are pressuring the European Commission to suspend the visa waiver with both countries.”

This is good news. In spite of the Trump Administration’s controversial stance towards some EU countries, the EU decided not to make it more difficult for Americans and Canadians to visit the EU, at least for the time being. Another strange move this week was the Trump Administration’s singling out Europe when issuing a travel warning to American tourists visiting Europe… as if it would not be equally dangerous, if not more so, to travel within the USA or to non-European countries.  

Trump’s Stance on North Korea Missile Defense “Chaotic”, says South Korean Media

The Guardian wrote on May 1:

“The South Korean media has accused Donald Trump of weakening bilateral security ties at a time of heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula after he said Seoul should pay for a controversial missile defence system. The US president was accused of dropping ‘a barrage of verbal bombs’ and sending ‘confusing and contradictory’ messages over Washington’s commitment to the country’s security.

“… However, Trump’s national security adviser, HR McMaster, reportedly told his South Korean counterpart on Sunday that the US would shoulder the costs for the system, which is designed to intercept North Korean missiles in mid-flight.

“… The US and South Korea originally agreed that Washington would pay for Thaad in return for South Korea providing land for missile batteries, radar and other facilities.”

These contradictory messages from the Trump Administration are truly embarrassing. President Trump has refused to state how he will deal with North Korea if they were to continue with their missile tests, which is to be expected.

“Trump Says He’d ‘Be Honored’ to Meet North Korea’s Kim”

Newsmax wrote on May 1:

“President Donald Trump said he would meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un amid heightened tensions over his country’s nuclear weapons program if the circumstances were right. ‘If it would be appropriate for me to meet with him, I would absolutely, I would be honored to do it,’ Trump said Monday in an interview with Bloomberg News. ‘If it’s under the, again, under the right circumstances. But I would do that.’

“North Korea has become the most urgent national security threat and foreign policy issue facing Trump as his first 100 days in office passed. Kim’s regime has continued development of its nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile program in defiance of international condemnation and sanctions. Kim has never met with a foreign leader since taking charge after his father’s death in 2011 and hasn’t left his isolated country… Tensions have escalated since Trump vowed in January that he wouldn’t let North Korea develop a nuclear weapon capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, and North Korea has labeled American military moves in the region as acts of ‘intimidation and blackmail.’ North Korea has continued to test missiles this year after carrying out its fourth and fifth nuclear tests in a decade last year.”

How can the US President feel “honored” to meet with a criminal and murderer like Kim Jong Un?

Trump’s 100 Days in Office and His Wish for Dictatorship

The Guardian wrote on April 29:

“On his 100th day in office on Saturday, facing historically low popularity ratings, a succession of intractable foreign crises and multiple investigations of his links with Moscow, Donald Trump… declared himself ‘disappointed’ with congressional Republicans… He blamed the constitutional checks and balances built in to US governance. ‘It’s a very rough system,’ he said. ‘It’s an archaic system … It’s really a bad thing for the country.’…

“He has failed to get any of his priorities turned into legislation in the face of party disunity, and his attempt to rule by executive order has been largely hollow. His decrees have been either meaningless, like his one-page, detail-free tax reform plan, or have been blocked by the courts, such as his travel ban for Muslim countries and refugees…

“But his core supporters have remained faithful, choosing to believe that the mainstream media are purveyors of fake news…”

To attack the US Constitution in such a way is troublesome. President Trump’s major accomplishment during his first 100 days in office has been the replacement of the late conservative US Supreme Court Judge Anthony Scalia with conservative Judge Neil Gorsuch.

“100 Days of Chaos”

Der Spiegel wrote on April 28:

“With his attacks on judges, journalists and critics, U.S. President Donald Trump is chipping away at the foundations of democracy. Is the American Constitution strong enough to withstand the assault?… Trump has never made a secret of his intense disdain for the institutions that are necessary for a vigorous democracy: an independent judiciary, a critical press and a healthy opposition. Essentially, Trump would be happy to do away with all of that, or at least marginalize it. Following the ruling from San Francisco, he indicated that he is broadly dissatisfied with the federal judges there and threatened to curtail their power…

“[Trump] harbors admiration for autocrats. He has often praised the leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin and one of his first visitors in the White House was Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. Furthermore, he could hardly congratulate Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan fast enough following his victory in the recent constitutional referendum that brought the country a giant step closer to becoming a dictatorship…

“After 100 days of chaos, Trump is the least liked of all modern presidents…”

Freedom of Churches and the IRS

Newsmax wrote on May 3:

“President Donald Trump will sign an executive order Thursday that rolls back at least some of the restrictions religious organizations have when it comes to getting political. Thursday is the National Day of Prayer, and Trump will host religious leaders at the White House to mark the occasion.

“According to The New York Times, Trump may sign a directive that would cancel out a section of the federal tax code that prevents religious organizations from participating in politics because of their tax-exempt status. Organizations have complained for years about the speech restrictions placed on them simply because of their legal status with the IRS.”

This would be an important and necessary change, as the interpretation of the IRS pertaining to “political speech” of churches can be quite restrictive and overreaching.

CNN reported on May 4:

“The order will direct the IRS to exercise ‘maximum enforcement discretion’

over the Johnson Amendment, which prevents churches and other tax-exempt religious organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates…

“By directing the IRS to use its discretion in enforcing the Johnson Amendment, religious organizations are likely to escape punishment for backing political candidates. Religious leaders have argued the provision stifles their rights to free speech.

“The 1954 measure says any tax-exempt group can lose its exemption if it is found to have endorsed or actively opposed a candidate for political office…

“Trump himself vowed early in his presidential tenure to get rid of the measure, though completely striking the amendment would require an act of Congress…”

This is indeed an important and necessary change, as the interpretation of the IRS pertaining to “political speech” of churches can be quite restrictive and overreaching.Subsequently, Mr. Trump signed the executive order.

House to Rushed Through Healthcare Bill… Another Debacle in the Making

The Associated Press reported on May 3:

“The House will vote Thursday on GOP legislation to repeal and replace Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, as Republicans finally aim to deliver on seven years of campaign promises that helped them gain control of Congress and the White House. But the move announced late Wednesday by GOP leaders also carries extreme political risk, as House Republicans prepare to endorse a bill that boots millions off the insurance rolls and may not even survive the Senate…

“After an earlier defeat when Republican leaders were forced to pull the bill for lack of votes, the decision to move forward indicated confidence on the part of GOP leaders. Failure would be catastrophic. But a successful outcome would make good on the GOP’s No. 1 goal of undoing Obama’s signature legislative achievement, and provide a long-sought win for Trump, who has been in office more than 100 days without a significant congressional victory save Senate confirmation of a Supreme Court justice.

“The White House had aggressively pushed House leaders to act, and Trump got heavily involved in recent days, working the phones and personally agreeing to changes earlier Wednesday that brought two pivotal Republicans back on board. Reps. Fred Upton of Michigan and Billy Long of Missouri emerged from a White House meeting with Trump saying they could now support the bill, thanks to the addition of $8 billion over five years to help people with pre-existing conditions…

“The latest iteration of the GOP health care bill would let states escape requirements that insurers provide a menu of basic services like preventive care and charge healthy and seriously ill customers the same rates — changes that brought a key group of conservatives on board last week. Overall, the legislation would cut the Medicaid program for the poor, eliminate fines for people who don’t buy insurance and provide generally skimpier subsidies. The American Medical Association, AARP and other consumer and medical groups are opposed. The AMA issued a statement saying the changes… ‘tinker at the edges without remedying the fundamental failing of the bill — that millions of Americans will lose their health insurance as a direct result.’

“If the GOP bill became law, congressional analysts estimate that 24 million more Americans would be uninsured by 2026, including 14 million by next year.

“When the health bill does come to a vote Thursday it will be without an updated analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office about its cost and affect, a point Democrats complained about bitterly…”

It does not appear that there is anything godly or righteous about this new healthcare bill proposal…

Republican Obamacare Replacement Bill Passes House

CNBC wrote on May 4:

“Highlights of the GOP bill

“… Allow older adults to be charged premiums that are five times higher the premiums charged younger adults, instead of the 3:1 ratio established by Obamacare. Impose a premium penalty for people who do not maintain continuous health coverage… Give states power to request waivers for insurers that allow them to charge people with pre-existing health conditions higher premiums if they let coverage lapse…”

Deutsche Welle reported on May 4:

“The US House of Representatives has approved a bill to repeal major portions of Obamacare replacing it with a Republican health care plan. It’s a win for President Trump – even though passage in the Senate is uncertain.  By a vote of 217-213, Republicans managed to obtain just enough votes to push the bill through the House, sending it to the Senate for consideration. No Democrats voted in favor of the House bill…

“In a push to pass the bill before representatives left on for a week in their home districts, the House voted before the bill could be assessed by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which is in charge of estimating its cost and effect on insurance rolls. The bill will reportedly be assessed by the CBO and fixes will be made before the Senate can get to vote on it.

“In the Senate, where the Republican majority is narrow, lawmakers said the bill would face much greater scrutiny and skepticism… While private insurance companies also showed their disagreement with Obamacare, every major medical group, including the American Medical Association, American Hospital Association and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) opposed the Republican bill introduced by the Trump administration…

“A number of skeptical Republican lawmakers got behind the bill after President Trump proposed a compromise, which would add $8 billion over five years to help cover the cost for people with pre-existing illnesses who could otherwise not afford insurance without Obamacare. However, health care consultancy and research firm Avalere Health believes that the Republican bill featuring Trump’s compromise could only cover 5 percent of enrollees with pre-existing conditions.”

It was stated that the Senate would most certainly not adopt the bill in its present form. Any changes agreed upon by the Senate would have to be sent back to the House for its approval. So, the fight for Trumpcare and against Obamacare is far from over.

Unwilling to Let Go

The Huffington Post wrote von May 1:

“President Donald Trump is refusing to let go of his unsupported claim that former President Barack Obama ordered wiretapping on Trump Tower, despite multiple intelligence agencies and congressional investigations finding no evidence of any such activity. Trump revived the claim — again with no evidence — during an Oval Office interview with CBS’ John Dickerson that aired Monday. When asked to defend the claim, he ended the interview and walked back to his desk…

“Dickerson pressed the president on whether he still stood by the wiretapping claim. Trump wouldn’t say, but claimed ‘our side has been proven very strongly.’ ‘You can figure that out yourself,’ he said. ‘I don’t stand by anything. You can take it the way you want. I think our side has been proven very strongly, and everybody has been talking about it.’

“Dickerson repeatedly asked Trump to elaborate, but to no avail. ‘I just wanted to find out. You’re the president of the United States. You said he was sick and bad,’ Dickerson said, referring to Trump’s tweets on his allegation against Obama. ‘I want to know your opinion.’ ‘I gave you my opinion,’ Trump said.

“After several more refusals to answer, Trump dismissed Dickerson and ended the interview, angrily walking back to his desk. ‘OK, it’s enough. Thank you. Thank you very much,’ the president said.”

Embarrassing…

How To Keep the US Government Running

McClatchy wrote on May 1:

“Congressional negotiators have come up with a $1.07 trillion plan to keep the government running through the end of September – but there’s a lot missing from the 1,665-page bill. And much of it involves items that President Donald Trump promised during his campaign and the early days of his presidency.

“Here’s a list of GOP-friendly issues missing from the spending bill.

“Border wall

“The bill includes $1.5 billion for border security, but noticeably absent is any funding for a border wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, a major promise of the Trump administration to curb illegal immigration. Instead, the money will go toward enhanced technology and improving existing infrastructure.

“Planned Parenthood

“There are no cuts for Planned Parenthood, a target of abortion opponents and many Republicans for its provision of abortion services. Republicans have threatened to shut down the federal government in the past over Planned Parenthood funding.

“Deportation forces

“During the presidential campaign, Trump promised to build a ‘new special deportation task force’ to remove millions of immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally. No funding goes toward such a force. The bill does, however, fund 5,000 additional detention beds.

“$18 billion cut in non-defense spending

“There is no sign of massive non-defense spending cuts, another goal of the Trump administration. The Environmental Protection Agency maintains nearly 99 percent of its funding, $295 million goes toward Medicaid in Puerto Rico and $4.6 billion is set aside to permanently grant health benefits to 22,000 retired Appalachian coal miners. In a March budget proposal, the Trump administration sought to cut EPA funding by $2.6 billion. It also aimed to decrease funding for the National Institutes of Health by $5.8 billion. Instead, NIH will receive a funding increase of $2 billion.

“Sanctuary cities

“So-called sanctuary cities – which limit cooperation with the federal government on immigration law in order to shelter immigrants here illegally – will not be deprived of federal funding. Trump has threatened to withhold funds from sanctuary cities in the past.

“Cuba

“The bill does not roll back President Barack Obama’s easing of economic and trade restrictions with Cuba, a goal of some Republicans such as Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. It contains no language barring Americans from bringing home merchandise from Cuba or doing business with companies owned by Cuban officials or family members. Travel for educational purposes is also still allowed. In February, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Trump would take a ‘full review’ of U.S. foreign policy on Cuba.

“Marijuana

“The bill bars the Department of Justice from using funds to interfere with medical marijuana use in states where it is legal. Operators of marijuana companies will still have to deal in cash, as lawmakers rejected a proposal that aimed to make it easier for cannabis shops to use banking services.”

According to Eurozone Wirtschaft, dated May 3, the European economy has gained twice as much as the American economy in 2017.

Puerto Rico Declares Bankruptcy

The New York Times wrote on May 3:

“With its creditors at its heels and its coffers depleted, Puerto Rico sought what is essentially bankruptcy relief in federal court on Wednesday, the first time in history that an American state or territory had taken the extraordinary measure. The action sent Puerto Rico, whose approximately $123 billion in debt and pension obligations far exceeds the $18 billion bankruptcy filed by Detroit in 2013, to uncharted ground…

“While many of Puerto Rico’s circumstances are unique, its case is also a warning sign for many American states and municipalities — such as Illinois and Philadelphia — that are facing some of the same strains, including rising pension costs, crumbling infrastructure, departing taxpayers and credit downgrades that make it more expensive to raise money. Historically, Puerto Rico was barred from declaring bankruptcy. In the end, however, financial reality trumped the statutes, and Congress enacted a law last year allowing bankruptcy-like proceedings.

“… The island’s many creditors… are likely to receive far less of their money back than they want. Their predicament may turn out to be a cautionary tale for bond holders of other troubled states and cities. Puerto Rico’s case could show public workers and retirees that seemingly inviolate pension systems can be changed, too…”

A warning sign indeed for other US states and the entire USA.

Turkey’s Dictatorship

UPI wrote on April 29:

“Turkey has blocked all access to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia inside the country on Saturday morning… Turkey’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority confirmed the bar citing a law allowing it to obstruct certain websites to protect public order, national security or general public well being… No reason was given for the action…”

German-Israeli Relations Take a Turn for the Worse

Der Spiegel wrote on April 28:

“It has long been one of the fundamental convictions of German foreign policy that, given the crimes committed by the Nazis in World War II, the country should hold back in its criticism of Israel. But this axiom no longer holds.

“One reason is Netanyahu’s construction of an increasing number of new settlements in the West Bank, thus imperiling the establishment of a viable Palestinian state. Another is the disquiet in both the Chancellery and the Foreign Ministry over the right-wing Israeli government’s harrassment of opposition groups…

“The impression has been growing for some time now within the Chancellery that Netanyahu is exploiting the German-Israeli friendship to serve his own purposes…

“Many in Jerusalem are now wondering if the unlimited solidarity Merkel claimed with the Jewish state in the Knesset in 2008 still applies. ‘Germany is a key country for Israel in Europe and the world,’ says Avi Dichter, the former head of the Israeli domestic intelligence agency and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Knesset… Dichter, a fellow member of Netanyahu’s party, visited the German capital at the end of March and returned to Israel feeling alarmed. Foreign Minister Gabriel had explained to his Israeli guest that it was growing increasingly difficult for the political elite to defend justified Israeli interests because the German population was growing increasingly critical of Israel…

“Indeed, there appears to be a sharp contradiction between the mantras of sworn friendship between Germany and Israel and the growing lack of understanding between the two countries. Members of the Israeli parliament and government have the impression that their German counterparts have become obsessive about Israeli settlement policy and are no longer taking legitimate Israeli concerns seriously.  Most importantly, politicians in Jerusalem have the impression that the threat posed by Iran is being downplayed by the Germans… ‘Germany and the EU are closing their eyes to the Iranian threat,’ Dichter says, critically…”

In an editorial, Der Spiegel asked on May 1 why Germany feels it must bring peace to the Middle East. This is an interesting question in light of the fact that Europe, under German leadership, will try to do so in the future, using military means.

Russia vs. Germany

The EUObserver wrote on May 3:

“Differences between Germany and Russia were put on display on Tuesday (2 May), as German chancellor Angela Merkel visited Russia for the first time in two years. Merkel travelled to Russia in preparation for a G20 summit – an international forum of countries, including Russia – which Germany currently chairs. The German chancellor met with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Sochi and told a press conference that there was a need to continue dialogue despite their clashing views. But international reporters present at the press event noted that the atmosphere was tense, and that the two leaders barely made eye contact.

“Merkel said it was important that NGOs were allowed to work freely in Russia and voiced concern about attacks on gay men in Chechnya, a semi-autonomous Russian republic. The German leader asked Putin ‘to protect the rights of minorities’. Last month, a Russian newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, reported that some 100 gay men had been detained or had disappeared.

“But Putin said Russian authorities had not broken any laws. He added that his law enforcement agencies, which are notorious for corruption and human rights abuses, were ‘far more restrained and lenient in their conduct than their colleagues in some European countries’. The Russian leader also said his government had ‘never’ tried [to] influence foreign elections, despite a US intelligence report in January that said Russia tried to sway last year’s vote.

“Merkel and Putin diverged on the war in eastern Ukraine, where Russian-armed and controlled forces were still fighting with the Ukrainian army… The two sides noted that, despite political differences, Russia and Germany had close economic ties, with Germany being ‘the number one investor in the Russian economy’, according to Putin.”

According to Die Zeit Online, dated May 2, 2017, Angela Merkel also confronted Vladimir Putin regarding the recent Russian prohibition of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and asked Putin to guarantee and defend human rights in his country. Putin denied that there were any violations.

Britain’s Intolerance

The Independent wrote on April 28:

“Conservative MP Andrew Turner will stand down at the general election after a pupil at a school in his constituency wrote on Facebook that he had described homosexuality as ‘wrong’ and ‘dangerous to society’… Mr Turner has been the MP for the Isle of Wight since 2001…

“Labour shadow minister and elections chairman Andrew Gwynne had called for Mr Turner to be suspended as a Tory candidate and said: ‘These allegations are deeply worrying. There is no place for bigotry and hatred like this in modern society, and no one holding these views is fit for public office… I look forward to Theresa May doing the right thing and speaking out against these homophobic allegations and show that she is now serious about LGBT equality.’’

What is deeply shocking are the hypocrisy and intolerance of those who do not allow a public official to state the clear teaching of the Bible—that the practice of homosexuality IS wrong and a danger to society!

European Migrant Holding Facilities Concentration Camps?

Deutsche Welle wrote on April 30:

“The pontiff’s choice of words was met with shock in Germany and outrage among some Jewish organizations. But Pope Francis has said he stands by his choice of words – despite the swirling controversy. Pope Francis repeated his claim on Saturday that some migrant holding facilities in Europe are tantamount to ‘concentration camps,’ even after some Jewish organizations urged him to stop using the controversial term…

“The American Jewish Committee (AJC) sharply criticized the pope’s choice of words and urged him to reconsider…”

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.

There are those who believe that Satan can influence us whilst we are asleep and others who think exactly the opposite.   What does the Bible have to say on this matter?   Where can we find Scriptural references that give us the answers?

To give you just one example of how wrong conclusions are reached, one commentator quoted Ephesians 6:12 where it states: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”   He said that Paul was making it very clear that this fight that we face daily in this world is not against flesh and blood (other human beings) but against demonic forces, such as fallen angels and demons. “It is in this spirit realm that every human being enters when they fall asleep that the battles truly begin” (our emphasis). It is difficult to see how such a conclusion could be reached.

Job 4:13 is often used to support the idea about demonic influence whilst asleep.   This reads: “In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls on men, Fear came upon me, and trembling, Which made all my bones shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; The hair on my body stood up It stood still, But I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; There was silence; Then I heard a voice saying: ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?’”

The Benson Commentary observes as follows: “These thoughts, it seems, arose from the visions of the night, which, probably, he had had before, and were the occasion of the fear mentioned in Job 4:14.   Visions differed from dreams herein, that God imparted his mind to men in dreams when asleep, but in visions when they were awake.”

Barnes Notes on the Bible states: “From the visions of the night…..This was a common mode in which the will of God was made known in ancient times.”

Matthew Poole’s Commentary writes: “When deep sleep falleth on men;  in the dead of the night, when men usually are in a deep sleep; though Eliphaz was not now asleep, as appears from the nature of a vision, and from the following words.”

Other commentaries agree with these observations that Eliphaz was not asleep and the vision was from God. However, they are wrong to conclude that this “vision” was from God. It was most certainly not godly, but demonic.

We state the following in our free booklet, “Angels, Demons and the Spirit World”:

“We read in Job 4:12–16 about Eliphaz’ encounter with a spirit: “Now a word was secretly brought to me, And my ear received a whisper of it. In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls on men. Fear came upon me, and trembling, Which made all my bones shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair on my body stood up. It stood still, But I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; There was silence; then I heard a voice…”

“Eliphaz saw some kind of a form before his eyes but he could not discern the appearance of the spirit. This indicates that it was a demon, as the Bible does not show that God’s angels appear to man in such a way. It was something like an apparition—a phantasm.”

At the same time, we need to emphasize that Eliphaz was not asleep. He was quite awake and had “disquieting thoughts”, but the encounter with the demon happened at night, when deep sleep falls on (other) men.

There are situations that are not specifically covered by the Bible and a classic case is that of smoking.  If every facet of living was specifically covered in the Bible, it would be a much larger book than it is currently, and the Jews have their list of do’s and don’ts and it is still insufficient to cover all that they face in their lives in a world of increasing complexity.  However, as a general practice, by reviewing God’s Word on smoking, we can see a number of Scriptures and principles that can be applied to this habit showing that it is not a Godly practice.  The same approach can be applied to this particular question about Satan and whether he can influence human beings whilst they are asleep.

We can, and should, pray that God will help us in every facet of our lives and it is inconceivable that He would protect us whilst we are awake as we are able to make decisions and judgments with our full faculties but leave us to the devices of Satan and his demons whilst we are asleep and not able to fend off these invisible but highly dangerous adversaries.  That would be an inconsistent stance to take and not compatible with the love that God has for His people.

God wants us to search the Scriptures (see John 5:39) as did the Bereans (see Acts 17:10-11). Let us look at some Scriptural evidence.

God gives us His armour to protect us as we read in Ephesians 6:10-18, as briefly mentioned above: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”

“Wrestling” is an activity where the contestants are conscious and their minds awake and focused on the activity, and the same principle must apply when wrestling “against… principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this age and against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”   We simply couldn’t wrestle against these forces when asleep.

One area that we might want to meditate on is that Satan can influence us in our daily lives when we are conscious, and we know that this is true because Satan may tempt us to sin and we have to repent of any sins that we commit.   It might be that when this is stored in our memory bank, any such contact may be on our mind and be reflected in any dreams that we may have afterwards.  Our brain continues to function even when we are asleep, but this does not mean that demons “enter” our mind and brain while we are sleeping. On the other hand, we simply mustn’t get involved in the occult, séances or other demonic activities during the day as that would be counter-productive to our Christian lives and could also give opportunity for us to have dreams and nightmares at a later time.   In these ways, demonic influence could be indirectly felt but surely God would not allow Satan and his demons “open season” to afflict us when we are in the unconscious state of sleep.

There are examples where God has “spoken” to different people in dreams; for example, Abraham, Abimelech, Pharaoh, Joseph, Solomon, Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar, Joseph, the step-father of Jesus, Pilate’s wife, Ananias, Paul, the apostle John – and others.   These were all for positive purposes, as we would expect from the God of love.   If Satan and his demons were to be allowed into our minds whilst we were asleep, it would always be negative and for evil reasons.

We can take a famous passage of Scripture and see relevance to the matter in hand.   We read in Matthew 4:8  “Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.’  Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan!  For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.”’  Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”   This is also recorded in Luke 4.

In these passages, we see that Jesus was not asleep, when Satan approached Him, but He was quite conscious and able to resist the devil.

As followers of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we can take the same action that He took.  A key verse is found in James 4:7 which states: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”   We resist the devil whilst we are awake and are able to send him packing.   Whilst asleep, we would not be in the same position and, therefore, how could God allow Satan free reign to influence us whilst we are not in a position to thwart his broadcasting?

Proverbs 3:21-24 is further vital information about wisdom and understanding where we read: “My son, let them not depart from your eyes— Keep sound wisdom and discretion; So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck.  Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.”  Our sleep could not possibly be sweet if our minds were being assailed by Satan’s evil broadcasting, and this is another proof that he cannot influence us whilst sleeping.

Psalm 3:4-5 conveys a similar thought: “I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah. I lay down and slept, I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.” Leviticus 26:6 even states: “I will give peace in the land and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid.” This would most certainly have to include demons while we are sleeping.

In 1 Timothy 2:4, the apostle Paul states this about God: “… who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  Also, in Romans 11:26 we read; “And so all Israel will be saved…”, which is a phrase that should encourage us, knowing that God will do everything He can to facilitate this in spite of Satan’s best attempts to do otherwise, which begs the question why God would allow His Will to be put in danger by allowing evil influences to run riot in the minds of humans whilst they are not in a position to defend themselves?   The answer is, of course, that God will not allow this.

It is not God’s Will that we should fail, and allowing Satan to play around with our minds for 7-8 hours a day as he pleases whilst we are asleep would inevitably thwart that desire.   We know that the damage that can be done by Satan in a very short space of time can be immense, and God wants us to succeed and He is not going to put us through trying to win when the task is impossible.

Hypnosis is something else to consider.   Let us quote very briefly from our Q&A on hypnosis entitled, “Should a Christian Use Hypnosis?”

“Romans 6:16 reads: ‘Do you not know that to whom you present (yield) yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?’  It is all about controlling our own minds and not letting anyone else into that territory.  We are to yield wholly, fully and completely to God and His Will which is perfect.  Hypnosis gives away that control to another person or another spiritual entity, such as a demon influencing the hypnotist to use his power.”

The full Q&A can be reviewed at http://www.globalchurchofgod.co.uk/should-a-christian-use-hypnosis

If we voluntarily submit our minds to the influence of a hypnotist, then it is possible that Satan or his demons might influence us while we are in that state. In fact, depending on the circumstances, this might be very likely. But hypnosis is not the same as normal sleep. That is why hypnosis is so dangerous.

In addition, once a person is totally possessed (as distinguished from just occasionally influenced), then the demon has gained complete control over such a person; regardless as to whether the person is asleep or awake.

There are those today who believe that God has spoken to them in a dream or a vision. Upon further investigation, this belief is erroneous in just about every case (only very rare exceptions might exist today),  and there is no evidence that the prophecy in Joel 2:28 has yet begun.  We read in this verse: “And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.”   This happened in part on the day of Pentecost just after Christ ascended to heaven.   It was a preliminary fulfilment and there is more to come at the end of this age of man, but that time has not yet arrived.

Philippians 4:6-7 is a passage of Scripture which gives us the assurance that God will guard our hearts and minds: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

In conclusion, we can see that there is sufficient evidence from the Scriptures quoted and the general principles that we have briefly reviewed to see that a loving God would not allow our minds to be influenced at a time when we would not be in a position to fight back spiritually against a clever and cunning adversary.

This Q&A clearly shows that Satan cannot influence us whilst we are asleep, and regular prayer will keep us close to God and will help to reduce or eliminate any influence that Satan would like to exert whilst we are awake!

Lead Writers: Brian Gale (United Kingdom) and Norbert Link

compiled by Dave Harris

“Missverständnisse über König David,” is the title of this Sabbath’s new German sermon. Title in English: “Misunderstandings about King David.” It’s part 1 of a new series on David.

We have posted several pieces of German literature on our German website, www.aufpostenstehen.de , including our new German booklet, “Himmel und Erde… vor und nach dem ersten Menschen” [this booklet is presently being printed]; and Q&A articles containing guidelines as to how to give a sermonette and the first part of our series on how the Church of the Eternal God is different from other organizations. All video-recorded German messages which were given during the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread season were also posted on our German website.

“Milk and Honey,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Michael Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

What does the Bible refer to when describing the Promised Land as a land flowing with milk and honey? Is there a connection between the physical meaning as well as a spiritual significance? What does the future hold for this world and for God’s people, the spiritual Israelites?

“Understanding the Work of God,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Is there a Work of God today? If so, what is it? Or, has the Work of God ended? Will it ever end? Is there a connection between the Work of God and the creation of man, the building of the tabernacle and the temple, the appearance of Jesus Christ as a Man, the Sabbath and the preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom of God? How can you have a part in the Work of God? The Bible gives us astonishing answers and contradicts common beliefs about the Work of God.

We have also posted the recorded English messages which were given during the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread season.

On April 29, 2017, Michael Link will present the sermonette, titled, “Milk and Honey,” and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “Understanding the Work of God.”

The live services are available, over video and audio, at http://eternalgod.org/live-services/ (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time; 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time; 9:30 pm Central European Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

The headline in an article in the magazine “The Week” on April 14th 2017, caught my eye.   It said: “Pence: When Does Christian Virtue Become Sexism?”

What was the problem?  Mr Pence is the Vice-President of the USA and is devout to his Christian beliefs.   He refuses to eat alone with a woman who is not his wife, or work late with a female aide, or attend any party where alcohol is being served unless Karen Pence, his wife of 31 years, is at his side.

Other newspapers and outlets took up the story.   One commentator wrote: “How sexist! screamed half of the internet. This is akin to Salafism, argued others.  Conservative Christians who attempted to stand up for Pence were quickly shouted down.”

Hmmm….some of these writers have never taken the time to look at biblical principles.   Perhaps they are not interested – or just plain ignorant? – or probably both!

It was written that “the vice president’s rule is a variation of what is known in evangelical circles as the ‘Billy Graham Rule.’ Billy Graham famously refused to meet, travel, or dine with a woman alone. The presumed reasoning behind this rule was that Graham did not want to create the conditions that might lead to any extramarital dalliances or, given Graham’s ministry, the mere appearance of any impropriety that would harm his ability to win souls to Christ. Many, many evangelical pastors and laymen still follow some version of this rule.

“Those outside the Church should know the Billy Graham Rule has come under a lot of criticism within the Church. It’s increasingly recognized that the Billy Graham Rule is sexist in practice if not in theory.”

To quote from all of the many articles written on this subject would cover many pages of this Editorial, but I would like to just quote a few to show exactly what Christians are up against.   We are under fire again!

The NewYorker.com opined that “President Trump and his straight laced VP have something in common.   They share a stated inability to resist women.”   The Washington Post wrote that “we’ve learned that Pence, too, is evidently helpless in the face of female temptation.”   The lack of understanding by the writer is breathtaking and their logic seriously flawed.   They add up two and two and come up with five but so many will just believe what they read!

The Cosmopolitan.com stated that Pence’s view of women as sirens and his fear of his own sinful nature put the women who work beneath and around him at a huge, albeit very familiar, disadvantage.

TheAtlantic.com took the view that “treating people in workplaces differently based on their gender inevitably hurts women’s careers.”

The UK Guardian newspaper had an article which said: “And while Pence trended on Twitter for his old-school sexism, what went largely unremarked on was that the vice-president cast the tie-breaking vote to push forward legislation that allows states to discriminate against Planned Parenthood and other healthcare providers that provide abortion when giving out federal Title X funds.  Pence is a misogynist. We know it from his voting record, we know it from the things that he’s said about women’s rights and now we know it because of his odd personal rule not to dine with women alone. But let’s not let one man’s sexism distract us from his whole party’s sexist agenda.”

It is easy to see how a person’s character can be blackened just because his beliefs and actions don’t conform to the liberal agenda which has been foisted on a gullible public for some years now.   They would have you believe that Mr Pence is helpless in the face of temptation, his actions hurt women’s careers and put them at a disadvantage and that he is a misogynist and sexist because he voted against the murder of the unborn (abortion).    What twisting of correct behaviour of an individual by those who seem to have a death wish for all reasonable and sensible conduct!

The Church of God for decades has taken a very similar stance to that of Mr Pence when addressing the issue of private meetings between an unmarried couple. We have to remember that Satan is more cunning and powerful than any human being, and he will do everything in his power to throw a true Christian off the path to eternal life.   Temptations can come in many forms and we read in 1 Corinthians 6:18: “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.”   Also in 2 Timothy 2:22: “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

If we don’t put ourselves in potentially compromising situations, we will avoid the pitfalls that have plagued so many by the temptations that may confront them.   We have our own tendencies to sin but this can be reduced considerably by staying close to God.   Ephesians 5:11 is instructive in this regard: “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them,” as the apostle Paul instructs us to walk in the light.

In addition, we read in 1 Thessalonians 5:22: “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (Authorized Version) and in Romans 13:14: “… put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

These are simple enough admonitions that can have the liberals apoplectic with rage but such biblical instructions simply have pre-eminence over any and all of the utterings of man.

In this issue, we report on the election result in France; Russia’s outrageous prohibition of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the dire consequences for all Christian minorities; as well as Turkey’s descent into a dictatorship under President Erdogan. We also publish an article about MOAB–the “Mother of all Bombs.”

French Election and Europe

Deutsche Welle reported on April 25:

“The runoff election in France [on May 7] pits diametrical visions for Europe against each other: Liberal-socialist Macron and populist-conservative Le Pen. For Brussels, the outcome can mean any number of things… A President Emmanuel Macron will carry European integration forward. Under Marine Le Pen, France would likely distance itself from its neighbors, double down on borders and get rid of the euro. Such a political earthquake could rattle the EU far more than Brexit…

“European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and his colleagues were celebrating Sunday night [April 23]. Macron winning the most votes was a sigh of relief for European leaders. ‘The much-anticipated domino effect following the Brexit vote and Donald Trump’s election has not, so far, materialized. And the European project has won,’ Britain’s Guardian newspaper wrote the day after the vote…”

We do not expect that Marine Le Pen will win, nor have we ever felt that way. Prophecy strongly suggests that the end-time “European project” will be run by Germany and France.

Russia Prohibits Jehovah’s Witnesses…. Persecution of Religious Minorities Ongoing

Christianity Today reported on April 20:

“It’s official. Jehovah’s Witnesses can no longer practice their faith freely in Russia, where the Supreme Court on Thursday declared the pacifist religious organization an ‘extremist group’ and banned all of its activity. The judge ordered all 395 local chapters and its Russian headquarters to close and authorized the government to seize all property. Under the ruling, distributing copies of the Watchtower, discussing their beliefs in public, or even worshipping at a meeting hall has become a crime…

“To human rights and religious freedom advocates around the world, the move comes as a major blow. While ties between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Kremlin have put ongoing scrutiny on all non-Orthodox faiths, this case represents the first time the country has banned a registered religious group…The Jehovah’s Witnesses Administrative Center has 30 days to appeal to a three-person panel at the Supreme Court, but Jehovah’s Witnesses say they anticipate serious problems, regardless of any pending appeal. Jehovah’s Witnesses added that, if necessary, they will take their case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

“‘If Jehovah’s Witnesses are persecuted, then that means later “on the block” will come other religious movements—for example, Protestant churches,’ law professor Anatoly Pchelintcev told Portal-Credo, an Orthodox news site. ‘For the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Armageddon has arrived, and the faithful of other religions await the apocalypse.’

“The crackdown on Jehovah’s Witnesses follows rising nationalist furor in Russia and a skepticism toward groups associated with the West. ‘The treatment of the Jehovah’s Witnesses reflects the Russian government’s tendency to view all independent religious activity as a threat to its control and the country’s political stability,’ according to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which condemned Russia’s ongoing campaign against the group. ‘This approach dates back to the Soviet period and impacts other religious groups, including peaceful Christians and Muslims.’”

Russia’s Modern Persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses

The Independent wrote on April 20:

“Jehovah’s Witnesses first registered as a religious group in Russia in 1991 and registered again in 1999, but have been targeted repeatedly by authorities in a wide-ranging crackdown on religious freedom.

“Russia changed its legal definition of extremism in 2006, removing requirements for violence or hatred but stating the ‘incitement of….religious discord’ as criteria, leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses with the same legal status as Isis or Nazis. The group’s international website was blocked in Russia two years ago over alleged extremism, with the group’s Bibles banned the following year, while a local chairman was jailed for two years on charges of possessing ‘extremist literature’ in 2010.”

Russia’s Persecution of Jehovah’s’ Witnesses because of their Stance on Voting, Violence and the Military

The Washington Post added on April 20:

“After years, even decades, of persecution against the religious group, the Kremlin moved to get rid of the denomination for good. In February, Jehovah’s Witnesses were labeled ‘extremists’ and locked out of their offices. Then Kremlin officials launched a legal effort to ban the faith. That case quickly wound its way to the Supreme Court, where Justice Ministry attorney Svetlana Borisova said the Christian group posed a ‘threat’ to ‘public order and public security.’… After six days of hearings, the Supreme Court sided with the government on Thursday. They ruled that the group’s St. Petersburg headquarters and 395 churches could be seized and liquidated. All church activities, including worship and door-to-door evangelizing, were banned. Those who defy the ruling face a fine of several thousand dollars and six to 10 years in prison…

“In the Soviet era, religion… was officially banned…

“Experts like Alexander Verkhovsky, who monitors extremism in Russia, say there is no evidence that Jehovah’s Witnesses are a public threat… ‘But they are seen as a good target. They are pacifists, so they cannot be radicalized, no matter what you do to them.’… The church’s 170,000 Russian members don’t vote, won’t serve in the military and refuse to attend national celebrations that glorify violence. That means they often avoid state-sponsored rallies celebrating, say, the annexation of Crimea. That’s a problem for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is naturally suspicious of groups with pro-Western sympathies (the sect is based in the United States). It’s also a way for him to show support to the Russian Orthodox Church…”

Russia’s Orthodox Church Major Player in Suppression of Jehovah’s Witnesses

The New York Times added on April 20:

“The ruling, which confirmed an order last month by the Justice Ministry that the denomination be ‘liquidated’… had been widely expected. Russian courts rarely challenge government decisions, no matter what the evidence…

“Hard-line followers of Russia’s dominant faith, the Orthodox Church, have lobbied for years to have Jehovah’s Witnesses outlawed or at least curbed as a heretical sect, but the main impetus for the current campaign to crush a Christian group active in Russia for more than a century seems to have come from the country’s increasingly assertive security apparatus. Founded in the United States in the 19th century, Jehovah’s Witnesses has its worldwide headquarters in the United States and, along with all foreign-led groups outside the control of the state, is viewed with deep suspicion by Russia’s post-Soviet version of the KGB: the Federal Security Service, or F.S.B.

“Jehovah’s Witnesses shuns political activity and has no record of even peaceful — never mind violent — hostility to the Russian authorities. But it has faced growing hostility from the state since President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia began his third term in 2012 and put the Orthodox Church at the center of his push to assert Russia as a great military and moral power.

“The denomination suffered relentless persecution by the KGB during the Soviet era, and after more than a decade of relative peace following the collapse of Communism in 1991, it again became a target for official harassment under a 2002 anti-extremism law. That law makes it illegal for any group, other than the Orthodox Church and other traditional religious institutions, to proclaim itself as offering a true path to religious or political salvation.”

Russia’s blatantly illegal actions towards the Jehovah’s Witnesses are a preview of much more religious persecution to come.

Turkey’s Erdogan “Wins” Referendum

The Sun wrote on April 18:

“RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, the President of Turkey, once said that democracy was like a bus. He would ride it to the destination he wanted. Once there he would get off. On Sunday Erdogan got off the bus. Taking his country with him. This is a tragedy for Turkey. But it is a deep problem for Britain and Europe too. Erdogan’s direction of travel has been clear ever since the start of his dramatic political ascent more than two decades ago, when he was Mayor of Istanbul. In public as well as private it was clear he had an Islamist view of the world. For decades he remorselessly rolled back the secular advances his country made almost a century ago. As he became Prime Minister, journalists and other critics were thrown in prison. The role of religion in politics grew.

“Then Erdogan moved from Prime Minister to President. And Turkey — which had once seemed a beacon of potential progress in the Islamic world — began to roll backwards. Last summer a coup was staged. And ‘staged’ may be the right word. Within hours, lists were produced of thousands of judges and others allegedly involved. It was the perfect pretext for Erdogan to tighten his grip on the army, the judiciary and every other wing of state that had avoided his grasp.

“Sunday’s referendum on increasing the President’s powers may have been a ‘vote’ only in the way last year’s events were a ‘coup’. But in any case, the public were said to have voted for what Erdogan wanted, effectively making him sovereign over Parliament and every other part of the state. His progress from democrat to sultan is complete.

“Among those who should feel shame for this are all those who spent the years of Erdogan’s rise arguing for his country’s entry into the EU. On a visit to Turkey in 2010 our then Prime Minister, David Cameron, told Erdogan: ‘Turkey deserves its place at the top table of European ­politics — and that is what I will fight for.’ As late as last year Cameron restated that it was UK government policy to lobby for Turkey to join the EU. The present Government’s crazy policy is that although Britain is leaving the EU we will continue to argue for Turkey to join…

“Other governments across Europe have argued for Turkish membership. Only in recent months have they taken anything like a realistic stance on what Erdogan has actually been doing. This was partly because of Turkey’s role in improving — or worsening — the migration crisis…”

Erdogan Defies Europe

Newsmax added on April 18:

“A defiant Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan denounced the West’s ‘crusader mentality’ on Monday after European monitors criticised a referendum in which he won sweeping new powers… Opponents accuse him of leading a drive towards one-man rule in Turkey, a NATO member that borders Iran, Iraq and Syria and whose stability is of vital importance to the United States and European Union… [Erdogan] said it was not important if the EU suspended Turkish accession talks. Germany, home to several million Turks, said it was up to Erdogan himself to heal the rifts that the vote had exposed.”

President Trump Congratulates Erdogan on His Win as a Dictator

The Telegraph wrote on April 18:

“US president Donald Trump called his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday to congratulate him on winning the referendum boosting his powers, the White House said on Monday… The reaction from Mr Trump contrasts with EU leaders… ‘President Trump thanked President Erdogan for supporting this action by the United States, and the leaders agreed on the importance of holding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accountable,’ the statement continued.”

The outcome of the referendum will increase the brutal and inhumane persecution of everyone in Turkey who is not a strong supporter of dictator Erdogan, while the West will sit idly by… especially in light of Turkey’s “help” with the migrant crisis and Turkey’s membership in NATO. Daniel 11 prophecies that Europe will not overpower modern Turkey at first, but other Scriptures show that subsequently, Europe will fight against Turkey. For more information, please read our free booklet, “Middle Eastern and African Nations in Bible Prophecy.”

The USA Uses the “Mother of all Bombs”

The Daily Mail wrote on April 14:

“The  US dropped its largest non-nuclear weapon on ISIS in Afghanistan… The GBU-43, otherwise known as the Mother of All Bombs, or MOAB unleashes a devastating fireball that incinerates and vaporizes anything within 30 feet when it first detonates. In the milliseconds following the initial blast in Afghanistan, all the oxygen would have been forced out of the tunnels and for hundreds of feet around, literally sucking the life out of ISIS terrorists, suffocating them as their lungs imploded. Then, in a flash the fiery shockwave would have radiated outwards at the speed of sound for up to a mile, causing huge blunt force trauma injuries to anyone caught in its path, leveling buildings and trees. Ears would have been left bleeding… and internal organs battered by the sheer force of the shockwave. The blast would also have caused many within two miles of the blast to lose their hearing.

“Anyone caught inside the tunnels would have been crushed as the force of 19,000 pounds of highly complex explosives caused them to collapse on top of the ISIS terrorists. Anyone left alive would have been shocked and left in awe by the sight of a terrifying mushroom cloud – the psychological scars staying with them forever.

“The Pentagon estimates that 800 ISIS terrorists were in the area. Its frightening  power was unleashed by the United States for the first time on Thursday when it was dropped on an ISIS camp in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar Province, in order to obliterate underground tunnels used by the terrorists. A crater left by the blast is believed to be more than 300 feet wide after it exploded just six feet above the ground…”

We publish this article to show the terrible weapons which man has at his disposal.

Genesis 1:2-2:3 describe the re-creation of the surface of the earth, after a catastrophe caused the earth to become void and empty. God brought order into the chaos in six days, followed by the creation of the seventh day—the Sabbath. During the six days, God created those kinds of animals which are still in existence today; and He created man.  (For a full explanation of these events, please read our free booklets, “The Theory of Evolution–a Fairy Tale for Adults?“ and “Heavens and Earth… Before and After the First Man.”)

Some have proposed that the days mentioned in the above-quoted Scriptures were indefinite time periods of perhaps millions or billions of years. The underlying rationale might be that this would explain the existence of planet earth for a much longer time than just 6,000 years. However, this interpretation would be unnecessary, as the earth was created in the beginning (Genesis 1:1)… and the Bible does not tell us when that beginning was. It is only the re-recreation of the surface of the earth which occurred approximately 6,000 years ago.

The concept of the seven days in Genesis describing billions of years is commonly known as the “Day-Age-Theory.” It was not mentioned until the 1800’s, when the idea of evolution became popular.  But as the evolution theory is wrong, so is the Day-Age Theory.

The Hebrew word for “day” is “yom”. It is true that this word is used in a variety of ways. It is used in the prophetic term, “day of the Lord,” which describes a time span of approximately one year; and it is also used in Genesis 2:4 when the entire creation or better restoration of the heavens and the earth is referred to as “in the day.” (Compare, “Heavens and Earth…Before and after the First Man!,” page 26).

But in the vast majority of passages, the word “yom” describes a twenty-four hour day. Researchers tell us that the word is used about 2000 times, and in 95% of all Old Testament Scriptures, it refers to a twenty-four hour day with a daylight portion of approximately 12 hours, followed by the dark portion of 12 hours (compare John 11:9-10). In addition, when the word “day” (“yom”) is combined with a number (first day, second day, seventh day), it always describes a twenty-four hour time period. Again, researchers tell us that this is the case in about 200 Old Testament Scriptures.

We should also note that when the words “evening” and “morning” are used together, they describe portions of a twenty-four hour day (compare Exodus 16:8). We read in Genesis 1:5: “So the evening and the morning were the first day.” (Compare also Genesis 1:8, 13, 19, 23, 31). According to the Hebrew calendar, days begin and end with sunset (evening). That is why we read here that “evening and morning were the first day”; and not, that “morning and evening” were the first day. Literally, the passage should be translated as, “And evening was, and morning was, day one.” Of course, the Bible uses the term, “from morning to evening,” again clearly identifying the time period as not exceeding 24 hours (compare Exodus 18:13-14).

We also read in Genesis 1:4-5 that God divided the light from the darkness, calling the light “Day” and the darkness “Night,” and that evening and morning became the first day. We see that the expressions darkness, night and evening are used interchangeably, as are the terms light, day and morning. They all describe portions of a normal twenty-four hour day.

A compelling reason why the days in Genesis 1 could not possibly describe time periods longer than 24 hours can be seen in the phenomenon of symbiosis, which can be defined as “a close connection between different types of organisms in which they live together and benefit from each other.” This interdependency can be seen in the relationship between plants, birds and insects. Fruit-bearing plants were created on the third day but insects (like bees) to pollinate such plants (so that the plants could reproduce) were apparently created on the fifth or the sixth day (when “birds” and “creeping things” were created.) Plants could not have survived if the days were to be understood as epochs of millions or billions of years.

We read that the yucca plant is totally dependent on the yucca moth for pollination and reproduction. An interesting example was reported about the Calvaria tree on the Mauritius islands. It was dependent on the dodo bird for survival. The dodo bird ingested the tree’s seed, scarified its hard coating, and excreted the seed before germination. The dodo bird became extinct in 1681. No reproduction of the tree has occurred since then.

The idea that the days in Genesis 1 and the first three verses in Genesis 2 could refer to time periods lasting for millions or billions of years is contradicted by the fact that the seventh day (Genesis 2:1-3) is the weekly Sabbath day. God rested on that day, to give us an example to do likewise. But the Sabbath day is clearly a time period of 24 hours. Leviticus 23:32 speaks of the annual Sabbath of the Day of Atonement as the time lasting from evening to evening. It is not an epoch, lasting billions of years. God rested only on that very first Sabbath, which He created for man. He has not been resting for billions of years since that time (John 5:17).

One objection has been raised in connection with Genesis 2:19-20 where we read that Adam named the animals which were brought to him. It has been claimed that Adam could not possibly have named the animals in just one day. But reading the passage carefully, we find that God brought to him only the cattle, the birds and the beasts of the field, to show him that they would not qualify as “helpers compatible to him.” This could have been easily accomplished in one day.

In conclusion, the evidence is overwhelming that the days in Genesis 1:2-31 and in Genesis 2:1-3 were literal twenty-four hour days, and not indefinite epochs of millions or billions of years.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

Norbert and Johanna Link, along with Michael Link, have safely returned this week following observing Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread with members in Germany. Also, Brian and Jill Gale returned last week to England following their visit to Southern California.

We are very pleased to announce the baptism of four people in Germany during the Spring Holy Days.

“When You Think You Stand,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Eric Rank, is now posted. Here is a summary:

It is human nature to believe we are performing well at a job even if we’re not doing so well. What can we do to overcome self-deception about how well we are doing as Christians?

“The Genesis of Christianity,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Robb Harris, is now posted. Here is a summary:

The first book of the Bible sets the pillars for all understanding of God’s Plan. This statement might seem obvious but many that practice Christianity regard hard to explain parts of this book as stories or myths. Some even go so far as to ignore the basic precepts of Genesis in an attempt to make religion comfortable for modern interpretations. We must be extremely careful to not take this foundational book as anything other than the inspired true Word of God.

We are saddened to announce the death of Francine Tibbs on Friday, April 14, 2017. While in the hospital in Denver, Colorado, Francine suffered a massive and fatal heart attack. Throughout all of her struggles, her faith remained strong and she was very thankful to God for the many ways that He continued to help her.

On April 8, 2017, Robb Harris will present the sermonette, titled, “Equity,” and Dave Harris will present the sermon, titled, “The Perspective of Passover.”

The live services are available, over video and audio, at http://eternalgod.org/live-services/ (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time; 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time; 9:30 pm Central European Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

Passover will be observed after sunset on Sunday evening, April 9, 2017; the Night to be Much Observed after sunset on Monday evening, April 10^th; Holy Day services for the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread on Tuesday, April 11^th; and Holy Day services for the last day of Unleavened Bread on Monday, April 17^th.

Live services will be available on Tuesday, April 11, 2017—the First Day of Unleavened Bread. The morning service will be 10:00 am Pacific Time. The afternoon service will be 3:00 pm Pacific Time. Please refer to our Live Services schedule for other dates and times.

Please NOTE: We will not publish an Update for the weeks of April 14^th and 21^st as we observe Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread.

It’s easy to become discouraged when trying to live our life in a way that is at odds with the mainstream ideals of the world. Quite simply, a Christian life in this age could be a hard one. When we choose to apply godly virtue and obedience in our thoughts and actions, we choose to elevate our standards for the sake of pleasing God, not man. Often, taking this course of action will be opposed to social norms and expectations of our peers, and on occasion, it could even be in conflict with the laws of the land. There is no shortage of pressure to conform to the ways of the world, and compromise our Christian convictions.  As the Bible forebodes, “… Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14).

Even though it might be “a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (compare Hebrews 10:31) and while it is an ongoing challenge to commit our lives to righteousness, we must realize that we will be successful if we don’t give up. The Gospel of the Kingdom of God explains that it is God’s great pleasure to give us eternal life. From the beginning, God’s plan involved challenging mankind to overcome our carnal nature, and not succumb to sin. Certainly, this way of life is at times a hard one, but it is not impossible to pursue it.

God knows that everyone He calls will struggle to succeed, and for this reason He offers tremendous support. To begin with, the Holy Spirit of God the Father and of Jesus Christ dwells within everyone who has been properly baptized, strengthening righteous convictions and granting godly understanding. This gift provides a necessary means of overcoming sin. But the support provided by the Holy Spirit alone is not enough. We must apply our own effort to repent of our sins, and conform our behavior to righteousness. To face this challenge can be intimidating, and even induce fear of failure.

Something that should give us comfort when we face fear and discouragement in living a Christian life is that we’re not alone. Countless people have faced the same challenges and emerged successfully. I believe that it is safe to say that all of them needed encouragement.

When Joshua was leading the nation of Israel into the Promised Land, God recognized that he needed encouragement. As the story begins, he is encouraged repeatedly, but the best summary can be found in Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” God was aware of the great challenge that Joshua faced and anticipated that he might react fearfully. Bringing hundreds of thousands of people into a land filled with foreigners must have been a daunting responsibility. But Joshua followed God’s instructions, providing us with a tremendous example of faith. Joshua overcame any fear in large part because he was encouraged by the promises made by God.

In the letters that Paul wrote, there is a strong theme of encouragement in most of them. Many of the people in the young church congregations had their own unique struggles. In some cases, Paul had to admonish and correct their behavior, but even so, it was for the purpose of encouraging them to get on the right track and overcome sin. Paul recognized that it was important to encourage those who were struggling so that people did not become disheartened by the difficulty of living a Christian life and give up.

In his letter to Timothy, Paul offers some very personal encouragement. He writes, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:6-7). Timothy is reminded by Paul about his commission, and that he has nothing to be afraid of when facing the challenges faced in fulfilling his ministry. Even though these reminders were sent to Timothy intending to give him some individual encouragement nearly 2,000 years ago, we too should be encouraged by these same words. When we have the Holy Spirit, we can stir it up and put it to work, overcoming sin, and replacing it with godly love. This is God’s purpose for us (compare 2 Timothy 1:9).

Certainly, we can find encouragement through the knowledge of God’s purpose for us and through the words of the Bible, but encouragement must not end once we receive it. On the contrary, we have a responsibility to perpetuate it. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25). As Christian brethren, we must remember to offer strength to others. Even when we might feel weak ourselves, an encouraging reassurance offered to someone else can be extremely helpful. As much as we might need encouragement ourselves, we need to offer encouragement to others as well.

There is no question that we can find many reasons to be discouraged in our Christian walk, if that’s where we focus our attention. However, these are poisonous distractions. Rather than focusing on the “reasons” why we might fail, we must remember to nurture our sources of positive encouragement that lead us to success. We find strength from our brethren, from the words of the Bible, and above all, from God’s faith in us.

We begin with developments in Europe and the UK, including the official launch of the Brexit process (please view our recent StandingWatch program, “Brexit and Core Europe—Fulfilled Prophecies”); address in this context the renewed battle for Gibraltar; and discuss the disconcerting and even hostile relationship between Europe under German leadership and the USA (please view our recent StandingWatch program, “Germany and the USA… What Next?”).

We speak on the challenging situation related to North Korea and President Trump’s controversial politics pertaining to war and immigration.

We continue with the current policy of Israel’s courts forbidding the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb near the Temple Mount; and report on Germany’s anti-Semitism and public approval of gay marriages.

60 Years of Europe

Deutsche Welle wrote on March 25:

“Leaders from 27 member states declared ‘Europe is our common future’ in a final declaration signed [at a palace in Rome], where on March 25, 1957 six founding states signed the Treaty of Rome paving the way for today’s EU.

“Noticeably absent was British Prime Minister Theresa May…

“… The document signed in Rome sets a new course for the EU, laying out the principle of a multi-speed bloc wherein some countries move ahead on stronger integration while others may not participate on certain issues. ‘We will act together, at different paces and intensity where necessary, while moving in the same direction,’ the declaration states…”

Poland and Greece had threatened to veto the declaration, which has to be unanimous, but they finally signed it as well; which means, Europe of two speeds or a core Europe is now the official European policy of the EU.

Brexit Process Launched

The Independent wrote on March 29:

“Britain has officially launched the Brexit process, triggering Article 50 and starting a two-year countdown before the country drops out of the European Union.

“The historic moment came as a letter signed by Prime Minister Theresa May was delivered to the Brussels office of European Council President Donald Tusk, notifying him of the UK’s intention to leave…

“Manfred Weber, an ally of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel tweeted: ‘EU has done everything to keep the British. From now on, only the interests of the remaining 440 million Europeans count for us…’

“… the Prime Minister said… ‘This is an historic moment from which there can be no turning back.’”

Deutsche Welle wrote on March 29:

“London can expect an expensive divorce… [The] EU [is]  seeking a 60-billion-euro… ‘exit bill’ from [the] UK…”

The Daily Mail wrote on March 29:

“The tensions between the two sides was underlined when German Chancellor Angela Merkel flatly rejected Mrs May’s call for the talks on the divorce and a future trade deal to happen in parallel.”

Germany’s Martin Schulz… One of Brexit’s Harshest Critics

The Telegraph wrote on March 26:

“Martin Schulz, who has emerged as the most serious challenger Angela Merkel has faced in more than a decade in power, is best known in Britain as one of Brexit’s harshest critics… He has threatened ‘the hardest Brexit possible’…

“As for Brexit negotiations, he made his priorities clear: ‘With me there will be no Europe bashing’”.

Renewed Battle for Gibraltar

The Telegraph wrote on April 2:

“Theresa May would go to war to defend the sovereignty of Gibraltar just as Margaret Thatcher did with the Falklands, a former Tory leader has suggested. Lord Howard said the British Government will stand by Gibraltar during Brexit talks amid claims of an EU ‘land grab’ for the territory by Spain…

“This morning the Prime Minister told Gibraltar’s chief minister that Britain will never allow Spain to take over the peninsula against its will. Sir Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, has also pledged to ‘protect’ Gibraltar ‘all the way’…

“A European Council document on Friday suggested that Spain will be given an effective veto on whether the Brexit deal applies to Gibraltar. The draft guidelines drawn up by EU leaders state that the Brexit deal will not apply to Gibraltar without an ‘agreement between the kingdom of Spain and the UK’. The clause has taken British officials by surprise. ‘The Rock’, a British Overseas Territory since 1713 with 30,000 residents, remains a major source of diplomatic tensions.

“… Last night Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, said that the UK’s support for Gibraltar will remain ‘implacable and rock-like’…”

The Church of God has felt for a long time that ultimately, the UK will lose Gibraltar to Europe.

The Gibraltar War

The EUObserver wrote on April 3:

“The European Commission has put its ‘full support’ behind giving Spain a veto on the economic future of Gibraltar. Commission spokesman Margiritis Schinas said on Monday (3 April) that veto, as proposed by the European Council last week, had ‘the full backing of the European Commission, of president Juncker and of Michel Barnier, let there be no doubt about that’.

“He said the Commission president and Barnier, its Brexit negotiator, had ‘worked closely’ on the EU guidelines for Brexit that included the veto. ‘We’re very happy to reaffirm our support’, he said…

“The spectacle of the EU institutions and the 27 remaining member states taking a common line against an outgoing member is a first in EU history…”

EU Threatens USA

Express wrote on March 31:

“European Union boss Jean-Claude Juncker issued a jaw-dropping threat to the United States, saying he could campaign to break up the country in revenge for Donald Trump’s supportive comments about Brexit. In an extraordinary speech the EU Commission president said he would push for Ohio and Texas to split from the rest of America if the Republican president does not change his tune and become more supportive of the EU.

“The remarks are diplomatic dynamite at a time when relations between Washington and Brussels are already strained… A spokesman for the bloc later said that the remarks were not meant to be taken literally, but also tellingly did not try to pass them off as humorous and insisted the EU chief was making a serious comparison.”

White House in the Dark

Newsmax wrote on March 30:

“A day after Prime Minister Theresa May signed the letter beginning the process known as ‘Brexit,’ the White House hailed the decision of British voters last year to take the United Kingdom out of the European Union. ‘We respect the will of the British electorate and Her Majesty’s government in taking steps of departing the European Union,’ Press Secretary Sean Spicer told Newsmax, ‘Whatever future the UK-EU relationship looks like, we want the UK to remain a strong leader in Europe, for both the EU and Europe to remain strong leaders globally.’

“Spicer also fired back at a warning from Jean Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, for Mr, Trump to stop encouraging countries to copy Brexit because ‘if the European Union collapses, you will have a new war in the Balkans.’ Juncker also told the Financial Times last Friday that Trump ‘does not understand anything about Europe.’

“When Newsmax read Juncker’s comments to Spicer Wednesday, the President’s top spokesman replied: ‘I think the President is very well steeped in world affairs, especially Europe, NATO, all of the issues. He was a leader in the effort to call Brexit, as you know.’”

Sadly, the Trump Administration does NOT understand much about Europe, and especially not about biblical prophecies, predicting Europe’s future. The idea that Britain could remain a strong leader in Europe after Brexit shows a complete failure of comprehension as to what is and will be happening. The fact that Mr. Trump strongly supported Brexit will backfire in dramatic and hostile ways.

President Trump’s Politics Cause for Great Concern in Germany

Deutsche Welle reported on April 2:

“Following US President Donald Trump’s executive orders signed on Friday to review causes of US trade deficits, Germany’s Economy Minister Brigitte Zypries said US President Donald Trump is signaling policy decisions that would send the country in ‘completely the wrong direction.’ ‘The US obviously wants to move away from free trade and trade agreements,’ Zypries said…

“Trump repeated on Friday claims that he made throughout his campaign about seeking to bring back industrial jobs to the US. Before signing the orders, he said it was time to ‘correct’ bad agreements with other countries and claimed that ‘thousands of factories have been stolen from our country.’… Zypries… criticized a lack of clear communication and communication channels concerning trade under the new Trump administration.

“Germany’s Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has said he shares Zypries’ concerns. Gabriel told German newspaper ‘Rheinische Post’ that Trump’s executive orders signaled the US government ‘is ready to favor American companies, even if it contradicts international law.’ Gabriel told the EU on Friday to consider filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) over a US plan to impose duties on steel plate imports from eight countries including Germany. The plan to impose duties came from one of Trump’s executive orders signed on Friday and also includes steel imports from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.”

The Local wrote on March 31:

“Germany Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel isn’t mincing his words. The pugnacious politician has called a Nato defence spending target being pushed by the US ‘completely unrealistic’ for Germany. ‘I don’t know of a single German politician who believes that is either achievable or desirable,’ he added…

“Nato heads of state are meeting at the end of May in Brussels, with the US reportedly planning for the 2 percent target to be agreed upon as a fixed amount which all states will have to meet. But Gabriel said that no other country could demand of Germany that it spends 2 percent of GDP on its military. The Social Democrat Foreign Minister further claimed that no such 2 percent goal had been agreed upon in Wales. Nato members had only agreed to work towards this goal, he insisted.”

The relationship between Europe under German Leadership and America under the Trump Administration is predestined to deteriorate rapidly.

Will North Korea Be Stopped by China or USA?

The Telegraph wrote on April 2:

“The US will take unilateral action to eliminate the North Korean nuclear threat if China does not help bring pressure to bear on Pyongyang, Donald Trump has warned. Mr Trump, who will meet Xi Jinping, the president of China, for the first time on Thursday, said the US would go it alone if Beijing refuses to cooperate, but refused to say whether he implied taking military action against the hermit dictatorship…

“Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, also issued a stark warning saying America would ‘no longer take excuses from China’.

“… Concern has been mounting about the North Korean missile program in the US for some years. Barack Obama’s administration identified North Korea as the top national security issue for Mr Trump’s administration during the handover of power.

“Ash Carter, US Defence Secretary under President Barack Obama, said he doubted Beijing would cooperate. He said: ‘I’ve been working on the North Korea problem since 1994 and we have consistently asked Chinese leaders, because they uniquely have the historical and the economic relationship with North Korea, to make a difference. They haven’t used that influence, and so it’s hard for me to be optimistic with that.’ Mr Carter… warned a US pre-emptive strike against North Korea’s nuclear weapons risked triggering an invasion of South Korea.”

North Korea is becoming more and more a thorn in the flesh of the United States. A unilateral military attack by the USA on North Korea would surely prove to be disastrous for America in its relationship with other countries in the Far East, including China.

Bannon Removed from National Security Council

The Los Angeles Times reported on April 5:

“President Trump has removed chief strategist Stephen Bannon from the National Security Council in a shakeup that consolidated the power of White House national security advisor H.R. McMaster… During the first weeks of Trump’s presidency, Trump was criticized for taking the unusual step of allowing his political advisor to attend all National Security Council meetings, giving Bannon unusual influence over key military and intelligence decisions… Bannon, the former head of Breitbart News, is widely seen as a disruptive force in the White House, but has been close to Trump since the campaign.”

“Frustrated” McCain Attacks “Incredible” Trump Policy Regarding Syria

Newsmax reported on April 4:

“Following reports of a gas attack by the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that has killed dozens of civilians, Sen. John McCain lashed out Tuesday on CNN’s ‘New Day’ at the Trump administration’s decision to no longer prioritize ending the Syrian civil war as ‘another disgraceful chapter in American history.’… McCain said statements by the U.S. administration figures that ‘the Syrian people would be determining their own future themselves one of the more incredible statements I’ve ever heard given the involvement of Hezbollah, of the Iranians, of the Russians.’

“Activist groups have blamed Assad’s regime for the attack in the north of Syria on Tuesday in which dozens of people were killed and more than 200 injured due to asphyxiation caused by exposure to a chemical agent… The Republican Arizona senator said he is frustrated that Trump does not have any clear foreign policy doctrine and insisted the U.S. must ‘help people who are struggling against one of the great dictators [Assad] in history.'”

It was stated in the press that both Obama’s declaration of a “red line,” which was not followed, and Trump’s declaration of non-involvement have emboldened Assad to use chemical weapons against his own people.

Irresponsible GOP Healthcare Proposal

Newsmax wrote on April 4:

“Proposals to revive the Republican healthcare bill would cast aside a popular requirement of Obamacare: a mandate that people would be allowed to buy insurance even if they have pre-existing conditions. States could opt out of Obamacare regulations on pre-existing conditions and on essential health benefits, according to terms described by Rep. Mark Meadows… Meadows said the proposed changes, which are not final, would be of interest to the Freedom Caucus. Any bill in the House would need that group to pass, and nearly every Republican would need to be on board to get it past the Senate.

“Opting out of benefit requirements could damage the usefulness of insurance, for example, if a cancer patient could buy a plan but the plan was not required to cover chemotherapy. Opting out of essential benefits and community ratings would prevent denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions, but it would lead to insurers being allowed to charge whatever they wanted for the coverage, although the government would provide subsidies, the Times reported.

“State governments, under the proposal, would face the tough choice of cutting rules that become optional, which would leave sick people without insurance choices, or keep the options, and see prices increase for those who cannot afford them under the new subsidies. Those with pre-existing conditions would still struggle with comprehensive health plans, like before Obamacare was installed in 2009, according to the Times. ‘There is no deal, in principle,’ Meadows said, but called the proposal a ‘solid idea.’’

This is not a solid idea, but a stupid idea. The fact that such an appalling concept is even proposed and considered is mind-boggling. On his campaign trail, Mr. Trump assured the public and his supporters that the mandate of insurance for people with pre-exiting conditions would be retained. Let us hope that he keeps his promise.

More Deaths and Wars under President Trump

AFP wrote on March 25:

“The Pentagon under President Donald Trump is enjoying greater freedom to run its wars the way it wants… Many in the military appreciate this increased autonomy, but critics charge it is raising civilian death rates, puts the lives of US troops at greater risk and leads to a lack of oversight of America’s conflicts…

“Trump… has repeatedly deferred to his defense secretary, Jim Mattis, on military moves. Mattis, a retired general, has delegated expanded authorities to his battlefield commanders… Trump has also faced criticism for his hands-off approach, especially after he approved a special operations raid in Yemen that went horribly wrong, leading to the death of a Navy SEAL, multiple civilians including children and a crashed helicopter… Observers are also calling into question whether the Pentagon is allowing civilian casualties to mount…

“Airwars, a London-based collective of journalists and researchers, said Friday it had become… overwhelmed tracking civilian deaths allegedly caused by US and coalition planes… The Pentagon has acknowledged at least 220 civilians have been unintentionally killed since operations to defeat IS began in late summer 2014. Airwars estimates the real number to be more than 10 times that.”

Another Defeat–Second Travel Ban Barred

Newsmax wrote on March 29:

“President Donald Trump was barred from enforcing his revised travel ban on six mostly Muslim nations while he defends it in a court battle that will stretch for months, perhaps years. While [the] Trump administration tailored the latest version to shed all religious references, a Honolulu federal judge found that the president’s campaign rhetoric, including calls for a Muslim ban and registry, point toward discriminatory intentions. The Justice Department will probably appeal the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco, the same court that upheld the order stopping Trump’s original travel order.

“U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson turned an earlier temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit brought by the state of Hawaii challenging Trump’s travel directive as unconstitutional religious discrimination… Hawaii and other opponents of the ban claim that the motivation behind it is based on religion and Trump’s election campaign promise of ‘a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.’

“Seeking the longer-lasting hold, state Attorney General Douglas Chin argued that the ban’s implied message is like a ‘neon sign flashing “Muslim ban, Muslim ban'” that the government didn’t bother to turn off.”

This was a predictable outcome… at least for the time being, even though many legal “experts” did not see it coming. The next article shows that the American immigration policy under President Trump is clandestinely changing in a drastic way. Nevertheless, it seems that President Trump is failing on many different fronts. The Bible has made it clear that the downfall of the USA is unavoidable, due to its many sins.

President Trump’s Shift in Immigration Procedures Affects Green Card Applicants

WBUR News reported on March 31:

“Federal immigration officers arrested five people in Lawrence on Wednesday when they showed up for scheduled appointments at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office. WBUR has confirmed that at least three of those arrested were beginning the process to become legal permanent residents. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says the agency had orders to detain each of the five individuals for deportation…

“Because Doyle’s client is married to a U.S. citizen, she is eligible for a specific application process sponsored by her husband. Both [attorney] Doyle’s client and her husband were present at the USCIS office for what’s called a marriage petition interview, a process used to screen for fraudulent marriages. Doyle said his client, a small business owner with no criminal record, had just completed her 40-minute question and answer session when an ICE agent entered the office and informed her that she was ordered removed and was being taken into custody… He says his client could be detained, away from her three children and husband, for weeks while the legal process unfolds. Ultimately, she could be deported to Brazil — a country she has not visited in more than 15 years.

“Susan Church, who heads the New England chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, says she finds the arrests at the USCIS office not only troubling but also surprising. ‘The detention of an individual under these circumstances and most likely the arrest would be something that is definitely new,’ Church said…  ‘What this means is that people who are eligible to obtain their green card in the United States, who are following the law, who are following the rules, who are doing what the government is instructing them to do, are going to be too terrified to show up and follow through with the process,’ Church said. ‘And now a whole new category of people is going to go back into the shadow of immigration land and be living in fear.’”

It is hard to justify these procedures when applying Mr. Trump’s declaration that only the “bad dudes” would be dealt with.

Highly Controversial Immigration Changes Pursued by Trump Administration

The Wall Street Journal wrote on April 4:

“Foreigners who want to visit the U.S., even for a short trip, could be forced to disclose contacts on their mobile phones, social-media passwords and financial records, and to answer probing questions about their ideology, according to Trump administration officials conducting a review of vetting procedures. The administration also wants to subject more visa applicants to intense security reviews and have embassies spend more time interviewing each applicant. The changes could apply to people from all over the world, including allies like France and Germany…

“Homeland Security officials say the agency is planning to significantly increase demands for information from all visa applicants, including visitors, refugees and others seeking to immigrate. The changes might even apply to visitors from the 38 countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program… That includes some of the U.S.’s closest allies, such as the U.K., Japan and Australia.

“The biggest change to U.S. policy would be asking applicants to hand over their telephones so officials could examine their stored contacts and perhaps other information… ‘We want to say for instance, “What sites do you visit? And give us your passwords,” so that we can see what they do on the internet,’ Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said at a congressional hearing in February. ‘If they don’t want to give us that information then they don’t come.’

“In response to Mr. Kelly’s hearing, a coalition of about 50 civil liberties and other groups issued a statement that month saying requiring passwords is ‘a direct assault on fundamental rights,’ including freedom of expression. They also complained that the policy could be mirrored by foreign governments demanding passwords from Americans.”

If these plans by the Trump Administration are being carried out, they would cause tremendous backlash from America’s closest allies and the entire world. They would strongly contribute to America’s ultimate downfall.

Terror Attacks in Jerusalem

Time of Israel wrote on April 2:

“A senior police officer said Sunday that security will be bolstered in Jerusalem ahead of the upcoming Passover festival as a precaution against possible terror attacks. Speaking a day after a terrorist stabbed three people in Jerusalem’s Old City, Commander Doron Turgeman… said terror groups seek to attack Israelis around the Jewish holidays.  ‘Holidays and festivals over the years have caused higher tensions and sensitivity and are a preferred period for attacks,’ Turgeman told Army Radio…

“The weeklong Passover festival begins on April 10. Tens of thousands of people are expected to visit Jerusalem’s Old City during the holiday… On Saturday afternoon, a Palestinian terrorist stabbed two young men and the police officer in the Old City, wounding them, before being shot and killed by security forces… It was the second stabbing attack in the Old City last week.

“Palestinian media identified the assailant as 17-year-old Ahmad Jazal from the West Bank village of Sebastia, near Nablus… Shortly before carrying out the attack Jazal photographed himself smiling outside the Temple Mount’s Dome of the Rock. The photos were shared by Palestinians on social media, with some praising the ‘martyr’ for his actions… In the past year and a half the Old City, and the Damascus Gate in particular, have seen several attacks by Palestinians, and in one case a Jordanian national.”

Incitement of Hatred by Palestinians

The Times of Israel wrote on April 3:

“The Palestinian Authority’s new textbooks for first to fourth grades demonize Israel and glorify ‘martyrdom,’ a report published Sunday claims…  The report… says that the 2016-2017 elementary school curriculum in the PA ‘teaches students to be martyrs, demonizes and denies the existence of Israel, and focuses on a “return” to an exclusively Palestinian homeland.’”

Jews Forbidden to Sacrifice Passover Lamb Near Temple Mount

The Times of Israel wrote on April 2:

“The High Court of Justice on Monday upheld a police decision to bar a group of Temple Mount activists from trying to reenact the ritual slaughter of a sacrificial animal near the Jerusalem holy site in preparation for the upcoming Passover holiday. The attempt by the activists and the routine denial by the law and order authorities has become a ritual in its own right in recent years.

“For over a decade a group called the Temple Mount Institute have held a demonstration of the ritual slaughter of the Passover offering, a sheep or goat sacrifice. Each year they request to do it on or near the Jerusalem holy site where ritual sacrifices were carried out at the time of the temple. And each year they are refused by police and the courts fearing it could cause unrest, with the site that currently houses the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, the most hotly contested site in the Middle East conflict.

“The group perform the demonstration because a ‘real’ Passover sacrifice may only be conducted on the Temple Mount. The group this year requested to hold the religious ceremony at Davidson Park, an archaeological site adjacent to the West Wall on the southern side of the Temple Mount complex. This too was rejected by the court. The group launched a crowdfunding appeal and has already raised over half the money for the sacrifice, said to cost NIS 30,000 ($8,250). As in previous years, it is expected that the group will relocate their demonstration to another site. The sacrifice is expected to take place Thursday.”

In the not-too-distant future, animal sacrifices WILL be brought again on or near the Temple Mount, which will create an outcry around the world.

Anti-Semitism in Germany

Deutsche Welle reported on April 2:

“The story of a 14-year-old who had to change schools to escape anti-Semitism is making headlines in Germany. The boy’s tormentors were of Arab and Turkish descent – making the news even more explosive.

“… The story opened the floodgates for social media posts attacking Muslims and excoriating Chancellor Angela Merkel’s welcoming stance toward refugees. In fact, there was no indication that any of the tormentors came from refugee families, and anti-Semitic attacks on Jews in Germany are carried out not just by Muslims… On the other hand, there is no denying that anti-Semitic thought and speech is common among some Muslim students in some German schools. Activists have been drawing attention to the problem for years… And the problem is by no means confined to the German capital.”

Vast Majority for Gay Marriages in Germany

Deutsche Welle wrote on April 2:

“… an opinion survey carried out by pollster Emnid for ‘Bild am Sonntag’ on gay marriage showed that 75 percent of respondents favored full legal equality for homosexuals in life partnerships with the laws for a traditional marriage between a man and a woman… In January, a survey by the Federal Anti-Discrimination Bureau (ADS) showed 83 percent of respondents saying marriage between two men or two women should be allowed…

“The chancellor candidate for the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Martin Schulz, has called for equality for gay marriage, and the party looks set to make it an election issue. The party has proposed protection for the status of marriage and family and to extend it to ‘other forms of cohabitation,’  Thomas Oppermann, chairman of the SPD parliamentary group, said last month. The Greens and Left (Linke) parties also support the idea.”

God does not. He calls it an abomination in the Bible.

“Russia’s Jehovah’s Witnesses Could Be Labeled Extremist, Worship Banned”

Newsmax reported on April 4:

“Russia’s Supreme Court may declare Jehovah’s Witnesses an extremist organization at a hearing Wednesday, which means the Jehovah’s Witnesses headquarters would be seized and their organized worship banned in the country. ‘If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the authorities, it will be the first such ruling by a court declaring a registered centralized religious organization to be “extremist,”’ the UN human rights’ high commissioner’s office said in a statement, Time reported.

“David Semonian, an international spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses, said the decision is troublesome (for) the religious group. ‘They would basically be prosecuting Jehovah’s Witnesses as criminals,’ Semonian said, according to Time magazine. ‘Anyone who would actually would have our publications could be criminalized. It is of great concern.’

“According to Newsweek, Thomas J. Reese, chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, said, ‘The Russian government’s latest actions appear designed to eliminate the legal existence of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia… USCIRF calls on the Russian government to stop its harassment of this peaceful religious group… The treatment of the Jehovah’s Witnesses reflects the Russian government’s tendency to view all independent religious activity as a threat to its control and the country’s political stability.’…

“Many on Twitter expressed their disdain for the potential ban.”

Russia’s Supreme Court Considers Jehovah’s Witnesses Ban

BBC News reported on April 5:

“Russia’s Supreme Court has begun hearing a government request to outlaw the Jehovah’s Witnesses and declare it an extremist organisation. The justice ministry has already placed its headquarters near St Petersburg on a list of extremist groups… As the case began in Moscow on Wednesday, lawyers representing the movement submitted a counter suit, asking the High Court to declare its members victims of political repression and the justice ministry’s action unlawful. The court ruled that this was not part of its jurisdiction, but did not say whose it was… The case was eventually adjourned until Thursday.

“The ministry argues that the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ activities ‘violate Russia’s law on combating extremism’ and their pamphlets incited hatred against other groups… The group was founded in the US in the late 19th Century and during Joseph Stalin’s reign of terror in the Soviet Union it was outlawed and thousands of members were deported to Siberia. As the Soviet Union collapsed, there was a revival of Christianity in Russia and the ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses was lifted in 1991. Gradually attitudes towards the movement hardened and in 2004 a group was banned on charges of recruiting children and preventing believers from accepting medical assistance…

“In 2009 a report commissioned by prosecutors in southern Russia found that they ‘undermined respect’ in other religions. Human rights group Sova has said that an ‘official repressive campaign’ has been conducted against the movement for years and many of their members have been physically attacked.”

This is an interesting question.

Today, many can use the arguments that as culture changes, God will go along with the flow and bend according to the particular dictates of man at any given time. They don’t phrase it that way of course, but that is how they view it.

In an article in April 2015 in the New York Times, a columnist wrote: “And homosexuality and Christianity don’t have to be in conflict in any church anywhere. That many Christians regard them as incompatible is understandable, an example not so much of hatred’s pull as of tradition’s sway. Beliefs ossified over centuries aren’t easily shaken.  But in the end, the continued view of gays, lesbians and bisexuals as sinners is a decision. It’s a choice. It prioritizes scattered passages of ancient texts over all that has been learned since — as if time had stood still, as if the advances of science and knowledge meant nothing. It disregards the degree to which all writings reflect the biases and blind spots of their authors, cultures and eras. It ignores the extent to which interpretation is subjective, debatable.”

Can you see how subtle and deceptive this all is? The article goes on to show how “advances” in understanding have been made in respect of slavery, contraception, gender roles and same sex marriages. This author and the people he quotes who share many of his views obviously think that they know better than God.

So let us quickly take, for example, homosexuality which is one of the areas of their “new understanding”. It is very clear to those who have eyes to see that the Bible in both the Old Testament and the New Testament denounces this abominable practice and yet it is seen as something good and acceptable by so many societies around the world. This is one of many cases where the application of Isaiah 5:20 is clearly shown: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil…” It is interesting that Romans 1:32 states “…that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” We see that approval is also condemned! We know that, so often, the law of man in the case of homosexuality takes precedence over the Word of God but God does not change when it comes to such matters! (Please see our Q&A dated 11^th March 2005 entitled “The Biblical Teaching on Homosexuality.”) God has not changed His instruction on this subject just because there are those who come up with arguments to prove that “we have to change with the times.” Perhaps, nearly 2,000 years ago, there were the “modernists” who might have felt that the condemnation of this practice in the Old Testament ought to be brought up to date to suit their wrong understanding of morality as laid out by the God who created us all. There were the “naysayers” then [a naysayer is one who denies, refuses, opposes, or is sceptical or cynical about something (Merriam-Webster)] and we have them today, so what changes?

We know from Malachi 3:6 that God does not change: “For I am the LORD, I do not change”. Another verse that is used to show the unchanging nature of God is found in Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” In James 1:17 we read: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

There are a number of examples where God DID change His mind and so how do we explain that? Let us look at some of these examples.

In Genesis 6:5-6 we read that “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.”

Genesis 18:26-32 relates Abraham’s negotiation with God over how many righteous in Sodom would be needed in order to save the city from destruction. First of all it was 50, then God agreed to 45, then 40, then 30, then 20 and finally 10. Quite a few changes of mind there because of Abraham’s pleading.

Numbers 14 tells the story of Israel refusing to enter Canaan and instead of entering the land immediately, God changed this by deferring their entry for 40 years.

In 2 Kings 20 we read that King Hezekiah was “sick and near death” (verse 1) and the King prayed about this matter (verse 2-3) and God changed His mind and added another 15 years to his life (verses 5-6).

Jonah was sent out on a mission to Nineveh but Jonah tried to opt out of this task. Eventually he did deliver the message that in “forty days… Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4). However, all the Ninevites repented and “God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it (verse 10).” Again a change of mind by God.

We can see from these examples that God did change but none of these changes involved alterations to His unalterable spiritual law. God does not alter, nor does He compromise, with His plan for mankind which is set out in His Holy Day calendar (Please see our free booklets “The Meaning of God’s Spring Holy Days” and “The Meaning of God’s Fall Holy Days”) where His plan of salvation for ALL people is revealed, even those who, at this present time are disobedient to the truths and Way of Life that God has shown His called out ones. He doesn’t change on the need to keep His law – the Ten Commandments.

It is interesting that the Roman Catholic Church has defied God and “replaced” His seventh day Sabbath with Sunday. They also keep the paganised holidays such as Christmas and Easter (and other days) whilst ignoring and rejecting the Holy Days that God says are His. Leviticus 23:1-2 clearly states: “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.” God then gives details about the Sabbath and all the annual Holy Days.

The Church of God has long understood that if one part or passage in the Bible is contradictory then God’s Word could not be trusted. If God went back and forth about His spiritual Law for mankind, then how could we trust Him?

God is perfect in all His ways and we know that the Father and Jesus are one (see John 10:30 and 17:11) – unified and with a singleness of purpose.

We are truly blessed that God is constant, His integrity intact and that we can fully trust the great Creator God of the universe. This is confirmed in Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding.”

God does NOT change when it comes to the eternal truths that He has made clear in His Word. God has, and is, perfect character which cannot change and we have to have the spiritual insight and understanding to comprehend this, rather than lumping everything together. (Please see our Q&A, “Does the Bible say anything about man’s character development?” – 24th July 2009 No. 404).

We read in Deuteronomy 32:4: “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.” God’s called-out ones can understand that but the author quoted at the beginning of this Q&A would believe that these glorious words are “beliefs ossified over centuries (that) aren’t easily shaken.” Those who currently rail against the Word of God will, one day, have the opportunity to understand when they have their calling, and it is to be hoped that they will have a complete change of mind at that time.

Moral absolutes are just that – absolute. They cannot be changed and God does not change in this area. However, God can and has changed His mind over certain events as outlined earlier in this Q&A.

Knowing the difference makes all the difference!

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

Norbert and Johanna Link, along with Michael Link, have traveled this week to meet with members in Germany for the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread. Brian and Jill Gale have stayed in California following the Church Conference, and Mr. Gale will conduct Passover services with the members there.

We are greatly pleased to announce the ordination of Dawn Thompson as deaconess on last Sabbath, April 1, 2017. Dawn is from Rosemead, California.

A new Member Letter (April 2017) has been written and mailed to our subscribers. This is a letter from the entire ministry, and it reviews highlights from our recent Church Conference.

Note that information for observance of the 2017 Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day is now posted on our website.

“Terror Attacks in Jerusalem,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. This program also contains a video clip offering our newest booklet, “The Fall and Rise of the Jewish People.” Here is a summary:

Many are not aware of the fact that terror attacks happen in Israel and Jerusalem on a frequent basis. This fact, in addition to anti-Semitism in the Middle East and Europe, the bringing of animal sacrifices (including the Passover sacrifice) and the building of a Third Temple on the Temple Mount; will lead to prophesied end-time developments of catastrophic proportions.

“Brexit and Core Europe—Fulfilled Prophecies,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

March 29 and March 25, 2017, will be viewed as unique historical dates with tremendous significance. In addition, the Brexit and a core Europe have been prophesied in your Bible for thousands of years.

“Brexit und Kern-Europa—Erfüllte Prophezeiungen ,” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program in which Norbert Link presents the same topic as described above in German.

“Goal of Perfection,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Michael Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

To achieve perfection, we must be prepared at all times by doing what God specifically tells us to do. To help us better strive for that perfection, we must have hope, faith, and love towards each other and God’s law. Having the right attitude and the right goal will ultimately bring us closer to perfection.

“How Thankful Are You?” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Are we thankful enough? Do we only show our gratitude when it goes well with us? How can we be thankful in trials? What is a major cause for unthankfulness? Is thankfulness conditional?