On December 10, 2016, Kalon Mitchell will present the sermonette, titled, “Yes or No,” and Michael Link will present the sermon, titled, “The Fools and the Foolish.”

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.

Persistence tends to pay off. By continuing to work tirelessly on a goal, great or small, progress will be made towards its successful outcome. Even if the progress is incremental, it still counts. I like to say, “If you push hard enough in the same direction, you eventually move that way.” The Bible establishes the same principle, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5). Careers have been reinvented, addictions have been beaten, fortunes have been made, and most importantly, sins have been overcome by applying persistence. In the most challenging of circumstances, it is encouraging to know that when we continue to apply our efforts on a focused goal, we have some direct influence on obtaining the outcome we seek.

So then, if we set goals – great or small – and if we can influence progress towards the successful outcome with a persistent effort, it is clearly important to start by setting the right goals! We cannot be tricked into seeking goals that might seem virtuous and good, but are actually void of true value. These kinds of goals are fools’ gold. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:21 that “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” This offers us a good starting point to test the goals that we have in our lives. Is the fulfillment of our goals measured by worldly means or spiritual? While there is nothing inherently wrong with seeking personal achievement in the world, these goals must not overshadow our spiritual achievements. As 1 John 2:15-17 proclaims, seeking worldly goals is temporary and if we have love for these accomplishments, we are misdirected. We need to love the goals that have an eternal and holy result. These are the kinds of goals that are worth our time.

We don’t have to look very far to find an example of a specific goal that fits this profile. Matthew 6:33 clearly and succinctly instructs us, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness….” It is an oft-cited Scripture because it is central to the life of a Christian. Yet, it can be challenging to comprehend the practical meaning. Certainly, the act of seeking the Kingdom of God involves more than paying lip service, and therefore requires that we put some real work behind it. Is the time and effort that we spend in our lives bringing us closer to inheriting the Kingdom of God? It is our job to find ways to respond to this question with an affirmative answer.

The best way to begin making progress towards seeking the Kingdom of God, and to continue once we have started, is to actively work on overcoming sin (compare Colossians 3:1-7). Doing this involves building our understanding of obedience, thereby continuing to learn and grow in righteousness. And, once we deepen our understanding of obedience, we are obliged to change our behavior accordingly. In addition, participating in the Work of God is important as well. Towards the end of Paul’s ministry when he was under house-arrest, he acknowledges and thanks several individuals by name, calling them “fellow workers for the kingdom of God” (Colossians 4:11). These individuals assisted Paul in his work, ministering to Christians in far-reaching corners of the world. In order to actively seek the Kingdom of God, we need to work on overcoming our sins, but also commit ourselves to the Work of the Church of God, whose commission is to preach the gospel to the world as a witness.

Our life’s work will find a successful outcome if we actively put a genuine effort behind targeted goals. However, we must choose our goals very carefully. If we choose a worldly goal, we may very well achieve it, but fail to find eternal life. By setting our sights on things above with a spiritual outcome and actively working at it, our success will be eternal.

In this issue, we are reporting on the presidential election in Austria and the referendum in Italy. Both outcomes have been deeply misunderstood and misinterpreted by the media. While the defeat of Norbert Hofer in Austria has been – wrongly – celebrated as a vote against “right-wing populism” and as a victory for the “establishment,” the defeat of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has been – wrongly – portrayed as a victory of populist voices against the establishment and – even worse – a vote by the Italian people against the euro and the EU. Nothing could be further from the truth, as many articles in this issue will explain. Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Why Italy Will NOT Leave the EU!” 

We continue to focus on developments in and pertaining to Germany and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. We speak on the West’s condemnation of Russia, China and Syria; and we address Time’s choice of Mr. Trump as the “person of the year”—which is by no means the magazine’s endorsement of Mr. Trump, but rather the opposite. We also speak on Mr. Trump’s “twitter fight” with China and his meeting with Al Gore regarding “climate matters.”

We conclude with an essay asking the pertinent question whether under the law, an American President could shut down the U.S. Internet.

Austria’s Norbert Hofer Lost… for Now

Deutsche Welle wrote on December 4:

“… independent candidate Alexander Van der Bellen has been elected as Austrian president after winning 53.6 percent of the vote. Right-wing candidate Norbert Hofer conceded defeat after garnering 46.6 percent of the electorate, confirming that he would not challenge the result… Hofer said he was ‘infinitely upset.’ ‘I would have liked to take care of our Austria,’ he wrote.

“Van der Bellen’s victory on Sunday will come as a huge blow to Europe’s right-wing populist movements which were anticipating a boost ahead of next year’s elections in France, Germany and the Netherlands. Austrian Chancellor and Social Democrat Christian Kern congratulated Van der Bellen shortly after the exit poll was announced… In neighboring Germany, Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel also congratulated Van der Bellen, saying that a ‘huge weight had been lifted off of Europe… the result of the Austrian election will be a clear victory of reason against right-wing populism,’ the Social Democrat (SPD) told German newspaper ‘Bild.’

“Van der Bellen had the backing of Austria’s Green Party, but ran as an independent in Sunday’s election. A pro-European liberal, the 72-year-old aspires to a fence-free ‘United States of Europe’…”

Norbert Hofer Will Fight Again

Breitbart wrote on December 4:

“While Freedom Party candidate Mr. Hofer has conceded defeat, he has vowed to run again… he said he didn’t anticipate the Austrian government surviving long and would stand for president again.

“While the failure to gain the largely ceremonial presidency is a setback for the Freedom party, things are looking good for the coming general election in 2018 [for Austria’s chancellorship]. Their poll ratings have been steadily climbing for years and they now stand ten points clear of their next nearest rivals the left-wing mainstream SPO, and 20 points clear of the Greens.”

Austria One of the Most Politically Influential States in the EU

Deutsche Welle wrote on December 5:

“Norbert Hofer may have lost the presidential election to Alexander van der Bellen, but his Freedom Party has its sights set firmly on the chancellorship. Norbert Hofer, the presidential candidate of the right-wing populist Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), only lost because he wasn’t able to mobilize all his supporters… Nonetheless, the FPÖ remains at 35 percent in the opinion polls, making it by far the strongest political force in Vienna. This is why even the Social Democrat (SPÖ) chancellor, Christian Kern, recently opened up to the shady right-wingers. He met the chief populist and FPÖ chairman Heinz-Christian Strache for a conversation that was broadcast live on radio.

“Politically, Vienna’s Grand Coalition of SPÖ and the conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) is deeply divided, and is pretty much on its last legs… Germany is its most important foreign trade partner by far, and numerous German companies manufacture in Austria… Despite its small size, Austria, with its 8.5 million inhabitants, is one of the most politically influential states in the EU…

“The FPÖ… is making its promises of salvation more confidently than it has done in a very long time…”

Meet the New Austrian President

The Local wrote on December 4:

“Van der Bellen vowed not to swear in FPO chairman Heinz-Christian Strache as chancellor if the poll-leading party wins the next general election scheduled for 2018. The remark, which Van der Bellen later rowed back on, prompted Hofer to call him a ‘green dictator’.
“Critics have also accused Van der Bellen of being a ‘turncoat’ because he was a member of the Social Democrats before joining the Greens in the early 1990s and eventually becoming their president…

“An outspoken supporter of gay marriage, the divorced and recently remarried father-of-two has received strong backing from celebrities, artists and the country’s top politicians… Van der Bellen will be Austria’s second-oldest head of state at the time of his election. His age, combined with a heavy smoking habit, have repeatedly raised questions about his health.

“In late August, Van der Bellen was forced to dispel cancer rumours by releasing his medical records proving he had ‘wonderful lungs’. He insisted he had no intention of giving up smoking. ‘I once quit for four months… but why should I torture myself at my age!’ he said.”

Italian Prime Minister Resigns

The Washington Post wrote on December 4:

“Europe’s embattled political establishment lost another round Sunday in its effort to thwart the anti-elite movement, as Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi resigned following a voter rejection of his constitutional reforms.  [Italy’s President delayed accepting his resignation until after the Parliament approved the new financial budget, which occurred on Wednesday.] The thorough rejection of Renzi’s efforts to streamline lawmaking was a significant boost for the country’s surging anti-establishment forces just weeks after Donald Trump prevailed in the United States. Renzi’s loss also risked unleashing financial upheaval in Europe’s third-largest economy, as Italy’s weak banks struggle to contain the fallout…

“A populist takeover of Italy is still an uncertain prospect, since Renzi’s center-left Democratic Party remains in control of the parliament and national elections do not have to be called until 2018… What comes next will depend partially on Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who is charged with picking a new person to try [to] form a government and whether to hold early elections…”

The Media’s Propaganda

CNN wrote on December 5:

“The stage is slowly being set for a possible Itexit.”

This gives a distorted picture. The current referendum had nothing to do with the survival of the euro in Italy, or an Itexit, and it cannot be compared with the British referendum for or against the Brexit—even though some British papers, such as the Daily Mail, liked to “explain” it that way. For instance, Express wrote the following on December 4:

“Opposition parties [in Italy] are determined to push forward a breakaway from Brussels, and with Brexit increasing anti-EU sentiment across the continent, they will prepare for a fight to topple the Union. If there is a snap election, the anti-establishment Five Star Movement could rise to power and call a referendum over Italy’s membership of the eurozone. This would pave the way for Italy quitting the euro, plunging the eurozone into chaos and leading to the disintegration of the EU.”

This is clearly not going to happen.

Italian Referendum Was Not Even About the Euro

Deutsche Welle wrote on December 4:

“At stake were a number of governmental changes pushed by Renzi and his center-left Democratic Party (PD), which was hoping to reign in an unwieldy parliament by cutting the number of representatives in the upper-house Senate, getting rid of unproductive constitutional bodies and centralizing more power with the executive. But Renzi had faced an uphill battle from the start. By vowing to step down in the case of a ‘No’ victory, he conflated constitutional change with support for himself and his party. In addition, his opposition came from all sides: former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s right-leaning Forza Italia Party, populists Lega Nord and the 5-Star Movement (M5S), and even some members of his own PD were against the move.

“Ahead of the polls, many analysts voiced their concern over the possible instability a ‘No’ vote could usher in, and what effect that might have on global markets. A further concern among those familiar with Italian domestic politics was the possible rise of M5S, a nebulous left-leaning anti-establishment party that has little governing experience and no clear politic agenda. Despite ostensibly being leftist, M5S spokesman Beppe Grillo welcomed last month’s election of Donald Trump, saying that the people were beginning to show their discontent with the status quo.”

The Times of Israel added on December 5:

“After the Brexit vote and Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, the No vote is likely to be interpreted as another victory for populist forces and a potential stepping stone to government for Grillo’s Five Star. But the campaign was not just about popular discontent with the state of Italy. Many Italians of a similar political bent to Renzi had deep reservations about the proposed changes to the constitution.

“Under the proposals, the second-chamber Senate, currently a body of 315 directly-elected and five lifetime lawmakers, would have been reduced to only 100 members, mostly nominated by the regions. The chamber would also have been stripped of most of its powers to block and revise legislation, and to unseat governments.”

Italian Referendum Different from Brexit and Donald Trump’s Election

The Local wrote on December 5:

“While there are some obvious similarities between the victory for No in the referendum and two other political upsets of the year – Britain’s vote to leave the EU and Donald Trump’s election as US president – there are also several crucial differences…

“[James Newall, a UK-based professor and expert in Italian politics] warned against interpreting the result as an ‘anti-establishment, populist revolt’… ‘Matteo Renzi wasn’t an establishment figure and had in fact been proposing reforms to sweep away vested interests.’ Indeed, it was difficult to say exactly who represented the ‘establishment’ in the referendum, and Renzi attempted to portray his reforms as ‘anti-establishment’, given that he argued they would cut bureaucracy and parliamentarians’ salaries…

“Several constitutional experts and politicians – including prominent figures from Renzi’s own Democratic Party – thought the changes would leave too much power in the hands of the premier, removing checks and balances. Others were unimpressed by the lack of scope in the reforms… If it’s uncertain exactly what the electorate were voting against – the establishment, Renzi himself, or the reforms on the table – there is even more confusion over what Italians were voting for.

“British Europhobic tabloid the Daily Mail erroneously referred to the referendum on constitutional change as an ‘EU referendum’, saying ‘now for Italexit!’. Members of British rightwing party Ukip, including its former leader Nigel Farage who campaigned for Brexit, celebrated the victory, with Farage saying Italy’s vote was ‘more about the Euro than constitutional change’. There’s no denying that the referendum and Renzi’s resignation will have consequences for the European Union, and Brussels had backed the PM’s reforms, but Italy is still a long way from fresh elections, let alone questioning its membership of the EU or the euro.

“It’s true that one of the main beneficiaries of Renzi’s defeat is likely to be Beppe Grillo and his anti-establishment Five Star Movement Party, which spearheaded the campaign for No and is openly critical of the EU. However, while the Movement has called for a referendum on Italy’s membership of the euro, Grillo stressed in a blog post after the UK’s Brexit vote that his party believed in the Union and wanted to reform it from within. Furthermore, the party would have to win a general election in order to be able to hold any referendum. Grillo has called for immediate elections following Renzi’s resignation, but it’s unlikely that these will be held until 2018; first, Italy needs to update is electoral law. ‘There’s no reason to be immediately alarmed about the future of the EU, though whether that remains the case will depend on developments over the coming days, weeks and months,’ Italian politics expert James Newall said.

“On the other side of the political spectrum, Italy’s far right were quick to claim the result as a victory all their own – despite the fact that it was a cross-party campaign, including prominent figures from Renzi’s own Democratic Party. Matteo Salvini, the leader of Italy’s far-right Northern League, sent out a series of tweets celebrating the result, including one which read: ‘Long live Trump, long live Putin, long live Le Pen and long live the Northern League!’…

“However, as Newall notes, one thing Italians certainly didn’t vote for was radical change. ‘The result sends a clear message of “business as usual”, because the reforms have been voted down. Paradoxically, the decisiveness of the result means we will likely see less uncertainty than might have been expected – as to what happens next, we will just have to wait and see,’ he said.”

No Euro Crisis after Italian Vote

The EUObserver wrote on December 5:

“EU officials are trying to defuse concerns that the Italian prime minister’s resignation after a failed referendum will spur a new eurozone crisis.  ‘I think there is no reason to speak of a euro crisis,’ German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said on Monday (5 December) before a meeting of eurozone ministers in Brussels… Schaeuble and other eurozone leaders insisted that Italian voters rejected only constitutional reform on Sunday, and that there was no political crisis in Italy after prime minister Matteo Renzi announced his resignation…

“Financial markets seemed to confirm Schaeuble’s… assessment, with the euro regaining during the morning the ground it had lost during the night against the dollar.  At midday, the main indexes in Frankfurt, London and Paris had increased by more than 1 percent, while the Milan stock exchange was losing 0.1 percent.
The Standard & Poor’s rating agency said that Sunday’s result ‘does not have an immediate impact on Italy’s creditworthiness’…

“EU finance commissioner Pierre Moscovici… dismissed the idea that the No vote in Italy was an anti-EU vote. ‘It’s not a Brexit vote, it makes no sense,’ he said, insisting that the referendum was on a domestic issue. ‘Populists in Europe are always trying to turn any vote into a pro-EU or anti-EU vote, but they are wrong,’ he said.”

Angela Merkel May Have to Fight for More than Just Germany

The Associated Press wrote on December 5:

“Unless EU juggernauts like France and Germany find ways to turn the tide, it could leave the defeat of the extremist right wing in Austria’s presidential election on Sunday as a mere blip on an increasingly muddled screen… When the Dutch go to the polls in March, [Geert Wilders and his Party for Freedom in the Netherlands] could well be next to ride the mood of discontent that has trampled the status quo since the June 23 referendum in Britain stunned all powers-that-be and forced Britain to seek an exit from the EU…

“By the time the German elections come around in late September, three-time Chancellor Angela Merkel could well be fighting for something more than just Germany…”

Angela Merkel Re-Elected as CDU Party Leader–Wants to Strengthen the EU and Ban Burka

Deutsche Welle, December 6, 2016

“Germany’s conservatives have re-elected Angela Merkel as their party leader but by a smaller margin than expected. The chancellor received 89.5 percent of delegate votes at the CDU’s party convention in Essen. The outcome may have been a foregone conclusion, but Angela Merkel’s margin of victory was not. After getting 96.7 percent support four years ago, the chancellor was re-elected by a shade less than 90 percent this time around – a minor embarrassment for the woman who has led the party for 16 years.

“The vote came after a keynote address by Merkel… Merkel began her speech by defending her most controversial policy, her welcoming stance toward refugees to Germany from crisis regions like Syria. ‘Not all of the 900,000 refugees who arrived last year will be able to stay,’ the chancellor said. ‘But every single case will be reviewed.’ Merkel stressed that her refugee policy was necessary to combat human traffickers and said it was a ‘scandal’ that the war in Syria had been allowed to rage on for so long. But she also said she supported increased efforts to deport migrants whose asylum applications were rejected.

“It was a nod to conservative forces within her own party as well as the CDU’s Bavarian sister party, the CSU. But that was the only major concession to hardliners…

“Merkel did prominently address the general feelings of insecurity that have encouraged right-wing populism in many Western countries. ‘2015 was a year uniquely full of events,’ Merkel said. ‘Many people feel as though the world is coming apart at the seams.’ She launched what was by her standards an emotional plea for international trade agreements like TTIP, which looks to be dead in the water since Donald Trump’s election to US president…

“Merkel said Germany would need to do more to strengthen the economy throughout the European Union. And on the Brexit, she said that she would demand that Britain respect free trade and other EU freedoms, if London wanted to remain in the European common market. She criticized other EU member states for refusing to take a fair share of refugees to the bloc. ‘2016 has made the world weaker, and we need to emerge stronger from crisis,’ Merkel said. ‘We need to do everything we can to strengthen Europe because the world does better if Europe does well. There’s no returning to the world before globalization.’ She said Germany needed to protect those things that made Germany and Europe stronger…

“The first time the crowd responded with extended applause was late in the chancellor’s speech, when she came out against Islamic Sharia law and the wearing of burqas. But she immediately moved on to condemn hate speech on the Internet…

“Looking ahead to next year’s national election, Merkel said she expected a bitter fight…

“The response of the roughly 1,000 convention delegates to her 1 hour, 17 minute speech was very enthusiastic, if not euphoric. But a surprising number of them decided to abstain in the vote for party chairwoman. Angela Merkel clearly still has some work to do to fire up the CDU grassroots ahead of next year’s national election.”

The Sun, December 6:

“ANGELA Merkel today completed an astonishing U-turn as she formally endorsed a full burka ban following a backlash over her open-door migration policies… ‘The full veil must be banned wherever it is legally possible,’ she said to a large round of applause. Merkel also stressed her determination to ensure that there’s no repeat of last year’s huge migrant influx… Numbers have since declined sharply, but Merkel’s approach to the migrant crisis has provoked discord within her Christian Democratic Union, which has seen a string of poor state election results this year…

“While Merkel has continued to insist that Germany will take in people in genuine need of protection, her government has moved to toughen asylum rules and declare several countries ‘safe’ meaning people from there can’t expect to get refuge in Germany… It comes as the country reacts with horror at the murder of 19-year-old Maria Ladenburger – the daughter of a senior EU official. An Afghan migrant has confessed to raping her and then drowning her in a river in the city of Freiburg, German police say.”

Angela Merkel’s CDU Moves to the Right of Its Leaders

Deutsche Welle wrote on December 7:

“Delegates at the CDU’s party conference in Essen have approved a 20-page position paper… It will serve as a preliminary party platform ahead of the national election next September. With it, German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party has moved slightly to the right…

“The paper… opposed dual citizenship for those who hold a German passport. ‘Multiculturalism has failed,’  CDU General Secretary Peter Tauber told the delegates before Wednesday’s vote. ‘We need a guiding, native culture in Germany…’

“The moderate shift to the right is intended to mollify the conservative wing of the party that had grown increasingly worried about Merkel’s welcoming stance toward refugees from Syria and other crisis regions, which saw nearly 900,000 migrants arrive in Germany last year. But there was no mention of an annual upper limit on the number of refugees to Germany, something demanded by the CDU’s Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) in the paper or at the conference as a whole…

“In her keynote address on Tuesday, Merkel charted a centrist course, but in the speeches in the two following sessions, it was clear that the majority of the party is more conservative than the chancellor. The right-wing of the party was particularly pleased by Merkel’s promise that the biggest wave of refugees was over and by her support for a partial ban on wearing burqas in public in Germany… Merkel’s position on the partial burqa ban – experts agree a total ban would violate the German constitution – dominated the headlines, particularly outside Germany. But it was only a small part of the convention. Both Merkel and the position paper stressed the CDU’s support for cultural diversity and personal liberty.

“This conference was about giving all wings of the party something, while no faction got everything it wanted. That includes the more liberal segments of the conservative party. CDU members of the European Parliament were pleased that their party had stressed the importance of Germany’s leading role in the European Union…”

German’s Migrant Crisis in the News Again

AFP wrote on December 5:

“The German government pleaded for calm Monday after the arrest of a teenage Afghan asylum seeker for the alleged rape and murder of a German [female] student triggered fresh criticism of the country’s liberal refugee policy. The anti-migrant AfD party blamed the crime on the ‘uncontrolled’ influx of foreigners, while the head of a police union warned of the ‘dangers that always go along with massive immigration’. But Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said the murder of the 19-year-old medical student should not be used to whip up hatred against all refugees…

“The 17-year-old suspect, who arrived in Germany in 2015 as an unaccompanied minor, was arrested in the southwestern town of Freiburg on Friday after his DNA was found at the crime scene and he was identified on CCTV. The victim was found dead on a river bank on October 16. An autopsy found that she had drowned.

“News of the arrest triggered strong reaction on social media with some people saying an ironic ‘thank you’ to Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose open-door asylum policy brought a record number of migrants and refugees into Germany last year…”

The West Condemns Assad, Putin and China Over Aleppo

Deutsche Welle wrote on December 7:

“Leaders from several Western states pushed for an immediate ceasefire in the embattled city of Aleppo on Wednesday as Syrian government troops advanced against the rebels. ‘The most urgent goal remains an immediate ceasefire so that the United Nations can bring humanitarian aid to people in East Aleppo,’ said the leaders of Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Italy in a statement released in Berlin.

“The leaders also accused Russia of obstruction at the UN Security Council and urged the UN to investigate reports that war crimes are being committed in Syria…

“Assad’s renewed offensive has come under heavy international criticism for the humanitarian crisis it has exacerbated. Tens of thousands of city residents have become trapped between warring factions, with no way to receive much-needed food or medicine…

“The US… accused Moscow and Beijing of stalling the end of the conflict by refusing to back a UN Security Council measure on Monday that would have called for a seven-day ceasefire… German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the situation in Aleppo ‘a disgrace,’ particularly the failure to create safe corridors for residents to receive humanitarian aid or to flee. She also slammed Russia for the many civilian victims of its airstrike campaign in support of Assad.”

Donald Trump—Time’s Person of the Year

Time.com wrote on December 7:

“This is the 90th time we have named the person who had the greatest influence, for better or worse, on the events of the year. So which is it this year: Better or worse? The challenge for Donald Trump is how profoundly the country disagrees about the answer.

“It’s hard to measure the scale of his disruption. This real estate baron and casino owner turned reality-TV star and provocateur—never a day spent in public office, never a debt owed to any interest besides his own—now surveys the smoking ruin of a vast political edifice that once housed parties, pundits, donors, pollsters, all those who did not see him coming or take him seriously. Out of this reckoning, Trump is poised to preside, for better or worse.

“For those who believe this is all for the better, Trump’s victory represents a long-overdue rebuke to an entrenched and arrogant governing class; for those who see it as for the worse, the destruction extends to cherished norms of civility and discourse, a politics poisoned by vile streams of racism, sexism, nativism. To his believers, he delivers change—broad, deep, historic change…; to his detractors, he inspires fear both for what he may do and what may be done in his name.

“… Trump’s assault on truth and logic, far from hurting him, made him stronger… Yet his victory mirrors the ascent of nationalists across the world, from Britain to the Philippines, and taps forces far more powerful than one man’s message…

“The year 2016 was the year of his rise; 2017 will be the year of his rule, and like all newly elected leaders, he has a chance to fulfill promises and defy expectations. His supporters and his critics will discover together how much of what he said he actually believes. In the days after the election, everything was negotiable: the wall became a fence, ‘Crooked Hillary’ is ‘good people,’ and maybe climate change is worth thinking about. Far from draining the swamp, he fed plums to some of its biggest gators…

“For reminding America that demagoguery feeds on despair and that truth is only as powerful as the trust in those who speak it, for empowering a hidden electorate by mainstreaming its furies and live-streaming its fears, and for framing tomorrow’s political culture by demolishing yesterday’s, Donald Trump is TIME’s 2016 Person of the Year.”

Mr. Trump Takes on China

Newsmax wrote on December 4:

“Donald Trump took on the Chinese government via social media on Sunday, rejecting criticism of his decision to take a phone call from Taiwan’s president at the risk of triggering backlash from Beijing. The U.S. president-elect told his 16.6 million Twitter followers that he wouldn’t be told by China who he should or shouldn’t talk to, and reiterated some of the grievances about China used in his winning presidential campaign. ‘Did China ask us if it was OK to devalue their currency (making it hard for our companies to compete), heavily tax our products going into their country (the U.S. doesn’t tax them) or to build a massive military complex in the middle of the South China Sea? I don’t think so!’ Trump tweeted.

“Over the weekend China complained to the U.S. after Trump flouted almost four decades of diplomatic protocol by directly speaking with the leader of Taiwan, which Beijing considers a rogue province. Its measured response suggested China’s desire to keep the incident from escalating into a full-blown crisis before Trump entered the White House or even appointed a full foreign policy team — in particular, a secretary of state.

“Trump’s retort was consistent with what one of his allies, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, signaled earlier on Sunday. ‘Beijing does not dictate who the president of the United States speaks to,’ Gingrich said on Fox News Channel’s ‘Sunday Morning Futures.’ ‘The United States is not always going to do what China wants them to do.’ Gingrich said the ‘old, timid State Department’ would have advised against taking the call from Taiwan’s president, adding, ‘We elected him not to listen to the current State Department.’”

Donald Trump and Al Gore Meet to Discuss Climate Issues

The Huffington Post wrote on December 5:

“President-elect Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump met with former Vice President Al Gore on Monday to discuss ‘climate issues,’ the Trump transition team said…  Gore disclosed he had also met with the president-elect, describing the conversation as ‘very productive’ and a ‘sincere search for areas of common ground.’ ‘I had a meeting beforehand with Ivanka Trump,’ Gore said… ‘The bulk of the time was with the president-elect, Donald Trump. I found it an extremely interesting conversation, and to be continued…’

“Ivanka Trump is angling to make climate change one of her ‘signature issues’ as a way to build a bridge to ‘moderates and liberals…’

“Gore, an outspoken voice on climate change, supported and campaigned for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. In October, the climate crusader warned that Trump would create a ‘climate catastrophe’ if elected president. Trump and his team have signaled that his administration will undo some of President Barack Obama’s policies aimed at fighting climate change. Trump has also made comments in the past that cast doubt on the link between human activity and climate change. For example, he previously called it a ‘hoax’ invented by China to make U.S. manufacturing less competitive.

“In an interview with The New York Times after his election, however, Trump appeared open to accepting that there’s ‘some connectivity’ between human activity and climate change. But he also warned that combating climate change would ‘cost our companies.’”

Could an American President Shut Down the U.S. Internet?

Forbes wrote on December 2:

“Timothy Edgar, the academic director of law and policy at Brown University‘s Executive Master in Cybersecurity program, has outlined the legal basis for how a President Donald Trump could potentially shut down the U.S. internet in response to a national security crisis… Edgar wrote, ‘The view that the internet should be open, interoperable, and free from state censorship has been a pillar of American policy since the 1990s. Mr. Trump sharply departs from this establishment consensus…

“If Trump decides to build a great firewall, he may not need Congress. Section 606 of the Communications Act of 1934 provides emergency powers to seize control of communications facilities if the president declares there is a ‘war or threat of war’ or ‘a state of public peril.’ In 2010, a Senate report concluded that section 606 ‘gives the President the authority to take over wire communications in the United States and, if the President so chooses, shut a network down.’ With a stroke of a pen, Trump could invoke it… Section 606 has never been applied to the internet, but there is nothing in the law that explicitly says it cannot be… If Trump wants to ‘close that internet up,’ all he will need is an opinion from his Attorney General that section 606 gives him authority to do so, and that the threat of terrorism is compelling enough to override any First Amendment concerns.

“… Other liberal, democratic governments, including the U.K., France, Germany, and Australia, have imposed increased surveillance or flirted with the idea of internet censorship. Desire for such moves are not unprecedented in the United States and are not limited to Trump and Republicans. Let’s not forget Independent Senator Joseph Lieberman‘s 2010 attempt to create an ‘Internet kill switch’ for the President. Sen. Lieberman pointed to China as his inspiration for giving the President such capability…”

Pope Francis: “Europe Needs a Leader”

Express wrote on December 8:

“Pope Francis condemned European leaders for their lack of leadership… In an angry outburst, the head of the Catholic Church, said calls for ‘no more war’ have been ignored.  He said: “‘No more war!’ was something that Europe said sincerely, I believe Schumann, De Gasperi, Adenauer, they said it sincerely. ‘But afterwards, nowadays there is a lack of leaders; Europe is in need of leaders, leaders who go ahead…

“‘I think that ‘No more war!’ has not been taken seriously, because after the First there was the Second, and after the Second there is this third war we are experiencing now, piecemeal. We are at war. The world is conducting a third world war: Ukraine, Middle East, Africa, Yemen. It is very grave. Therefore, we say the words ‘No more war!’, but at the same time we manufacture weapons and sell them, and we sell them to those who are fighting, as arms producers sell them to this and that, to those who are at war with each other…

“‘There is an economic theory that I have not tried to confirm, but which I have read in several books: that in the history of humanity, when a State saw that its accounts were not in good shape, waged war to balance its budget. That is, it is one of the easiest ways to produce wealth. Certainly, the price is very high: blood… One cannot wage war in the name of God or in the name of a religious position.’”

The 21^st Century Cures Act—Blessing or Curse?

The Washington Post wrote on December 7:

“Congress passed sweeping legislation Wednesday that boosts funding for medical research, eases the development and approval of experimental treatments and reforms federal policy on mental health care.

“The 94 to 5 Senate vote Wednesday followed a 392 to 26 House vote last week. The bill, known as the 21st Century Cures Act, now heads to the desk of President Obama, who praised the bill Wednesday and said he would sign it…

“The bill, however, had vocal progressive critics… who said the bill’s changes to drug approval processes gave too many concessions to pharmaceutical companies.

“Public Citizen, a progressive activist group that opposed the bill, called it ‘sorely disappointing that Congress gave Big Pharma and the medical device industry an early Christmas present’ that ‘comes at the expense of patient safety by undermining requirements for ensuring safe and effective medications and medical devices.’”

Good question!   Let us look at what Scripture has to say about this whole matter.

First of all, let us look at what that storehouse of wisdom, the book of Proverbs, has to say on this matter.  Proverbs 26:4 tells us: “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him.”    In the following verse we read: “Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.”

A dictionary definition of a fool is a person who acts unwisely or imprudently; a silly person.  In the past, many have seen this as a contradiction but those who have been members of the Church of God have had this explained on many occasions.   However, it is worth reiterating the value and meaning of these two verses.

First of all, there is no contradiction; otherwise, the Bible itself could not be trusted.   The Bible does not contain contradictions and there are always answers if one allows the Bible to interpret itself.

We should ask God in prayer to help us, should we ever be asked or confronted about our beliefs.  1 Peter 3:15 states: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”  When anyone asks us about our beliefs, a quick prayer to God, asking for His help in discerning what and how much to say, will certainly help.

We should ask for this discernment as to whether the questioner is asking out of politeness, is generally interested or is looking for a chance to argue and debate.  Our assessment then determines what our approach should be.

Proverbs 26:4 warns us against engaging with a fool on his own terms, because we could be seen as foolish as he is, which would not be a good example of Christian behaviour.   A fool despises wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7); fools hate knowledge (Proverbs 1:22); fools die for lack of wisdom (Proverbs 10:21); the folly of fools is deceit (Proverbs 14:8); fools mock at sin (Proverbs 14:9); and, perhaps most revealingly of all, the way of a fool is right in his own eyes (Proverbs 12:15).   When we ascertain that someone is trying to draw us into a discussion that he wants on his terms, we could well be falling into the trap of answering him according to his folly.   We would do well to recall what Jesus said in Matthew 7:6 that we are not to cast our “pearls before swine”.

In Proverbs 26:5 we read that we should answer “a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.”   At times a fool has to be addressed when such a person may be thoroughly convinced of the correctness of his argument, even though he is completely wrong.   In such a case we should show him accurately where he is in error—not as a “put down”, but to make him think about his erroneous stance.

As one commentator put it: “In short, in negligible issues we should just ignore fools, but in issues that matter, they must be dealt with so that credence will not be given to what they say.”

Another area of consideration is to find out what a word, phrase or statement means, as this can vary from person to person.   For example, you could be asked if you were homophobic.   What you may understand by that phrase may be different to the next person.   A fairly standard definition of homophobia is “the hatred or fear of homosexuals – that is, lesbians and gay men – sometimes leading to acts of violence and expressions of hostility.”   However, as we know, if the biblical understanding of this behaviour is quoted, it can be regarded as hate speech.   Therefore, it is important to find out what the other person understands what “homophobia” means to them.   We can then know how to answer accordingly, showing that a true Christian must love the person but hate the immoral action.

We may be called a bigot but, again, what does that word mean to the other person?   Being bigoted means, according to the Oxford Dictionary of English, as “having or revealing an obstinate belief in the superiority of one’s own opinions and a prejudiced intolerance of the opinions of others.”   As our understanding is based on the Word of God, we must be firm in our convictions without being objectionable.   Finding out the other person’s understanding of the word will be helpful in forming a response.

Finding out where the other person is coming from may diffuse potentially difficult situations.  Alan Greenspan once commented humourously: “I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”  We need to ensure that both parties have the same understanding of the word or phrase, so that any response cannot be misunderstood.

Another way of dealing with any enquiry is to find out why the question is asked.  Sometimes that can lead to finding out that the enquirer may just have been asking a question without really wanting an answer.

Let us remember that Jesus answered in the wisest way possible because he could ascertain the purpose and intent of the one who was to be answered – or otherwise.   In Luke 20:1-8, Jesus had His authority questioned and He refused to answer; in Mark 12:13-17, the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus about the paying of taxes to Caesar, and He answered indirectly in a very unexpected way.   In these two instances (and there are others) Jesus decided not to answer directly because of the attitude and intent of the questioners.

Wherever we can, we should use Scripture to answer any religious question that may come our way.   Let us look at how Jesus dealt with Satan in exactly this way, as recorded in Matthew 4:1-3:  “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.  Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’”

Jesus did not argue and debate with Satan but answered him from Scripture (verse 4): “But He answered and said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”’” (quoting from Deuteronomy 8:3).

The adversary then tried another approach, as we read in verses 5-6: “Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: “He shall give His angels charge over you,” and, “In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.”’” Here, Satan quotes Scripture too (citing Psalm 91:11-12), but he totally twists the meaning of the passage.

Again, Jesus answered from Scripture (Matthew 4:7): “Jesus said to him, ‘It is written again, “You shall not tempt (better “test”) the Lord your God”’” (quoting from Deuteronomy 6:16 in the correct context and with the intended meaning).

In verses 8-9 we read: “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 (Matthew 4:10): “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve’” (quoting from Deuteronomy 6:13). Satan had been defeated three times by Jesus by the use of Scripture. “Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him” (verse 11).

We have seen in this brief Q&A that we should discern whether or not to answer and, in addition, it may be advisable to ask what is meant by the question or the definition of a word or phrase if this could be contentious.  Further, answering with Scripture as Jesus did, is always the best way to respond so long as it is appropriate, correctly used and in context.

We should use wisdom at all times and be gentle and friendly and not provocative or confrontational at all; Proverbs 15:1 tells us that “A soft answer turns away wrath.”   Taking that approach will enable us to do “all things decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

“Why Italy Will NOT Leave the EU!”, is the title of a new StandingWatch program presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

Even before Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi lost the constitutional referendum on December 4, 2016, many claimed that a euro exit (Itexit) was inevitable for Italy. Now, the voices of those uninformed “experts” have become louder, but they totally misinterpret and misrepresent the nature of the referendum, alleging that Mr. Renzi’s defeat was a victory of populists against the establishment and – even worse – a vote by the Italian people against the euro and the EU. It is high time that you learn the biblical truth of the matter.

“Warum Italien die EU NICHT verlassen wird!”, posted on AufPostenStehen, also covers the same subject as above. The German APS program also promotes our new video, which was produced by Michael Link, advertising and offering the German Europe in Prophecy booklet. In addition, we have begun an advertisement campaign with a press release and Facebook ads in German-speaking areas, offering our above-mentioned booklet on prophecy.

“Was sagt uns Gott über die Arbeit?”, is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon and is Part 1 with Part 2 to be presented the following Sabbath. Title in English: “What does God tell us about Work?”

“Were Jesus and His Parents Poor?”, the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Many assume that Jesus and His parents lived in poverty, and they point to a few Scriptures which allegedly back up their belief. But what does the Bible really say about this question? And does it matter?

“A Life of Repetition,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Kalon Mitchell, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Do we ever feel like we do the same things over and over again? Do our lives sometimes resemble a game that constantly repeats? We see the use of repetition in nature, in life and even in the Bible. But why? Why is repetition so important for us? What can we learn by examining nature, our lives and the Bible, based on this thought of repetition? What is it that repetition will accomplish in our lives?

On December 3, 2016, Norbert Link will present the sermonette, titled, “Were Jesus and His Parents Poor?”and Kalon Mitchell will present the sermon, titled, “A Life of Repetition.”

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 “Eurozone crisis” is back in the news. After “Brexit,” a new expression was coined, namely “Itexit.” In fact, others refer to “Grexit” and “Spexit.” They mean thereby that countries such as Italy, Greece or Spain might exit the Eurozone or even the EU.

Now, economic “experts” seem to be convinced that “Itexit” (Italy’s exit from the Eurozone) is a strong possibility.

The Financial Times wrote on November 20:

“After Brexit and Donald Trump, prepare for the return of the Eurozone crisis. If Matteo Renzi, Italian prime minister, loses his constitutional referendum on December 4, I would expect a sequence of events that would raise questions of Italy’s participation in the Eurozone.”

The Telegraph wrote on November 27:

“Italy needs reform and a euro exit is inevitable.”

But how probable is it that Italy will leave the Eurozone and replace the euro with its former national currency, the lira? Der Spiegel wrote on November 27 that an exit from the Eurozone would lead to a dramatic crisis situation in Italy, as inflation would increase; nobody would come to Italy’s rescue (the European Central Bank would be prohibited from helping Italy); and Italy’s astronomical national debt (which is calculated in euros) would still have to be repaid.

There have been voices in the past prognosticating all kinds of fanciful results. They declared forcefully that the euro would fail; that the Eurozone would disintegrate; that the member states would return to their former national currencies; and that the European project was dead. On the other hand, many felt that there would be no Brexit.

As it turned out, they have all been wrong. While current and future political and economic developments might have been miscalculated or misunderstood, the reason why all these speculations have failed is that biblical prophecy had been ignored.

With the same bold certainty with which we proclaimed that the euro will NOT fail; that the Eurozone will NOT disintegrate; that the European project is NOT over; but that there WOULD BE a Brexit; we are stating with the same conviction that Italy will NOT exit the Eurozone, let alone the EU.

The Bible makes it VERY clear that Italy will remain as one of the LEADING nations in the European project—not necessarily from a political or economic standpoint, but surely from an historical and RELIGIOUS standpoint. In fact, the whole European unification project is founded on the Treaty of Rome. The Bible shows that ten nations or groups of nations will emerge in Europe (and to be more precise, from the Eurozone), and Germany and Italy will certainly be among those nations. They will give their power to a charismatic political and military leader who will work hand in hand with a religious leader. The Bible speaks of modern Babylon—a European political, economic and military union under Roman Catholic rule. It identifies Babylon as the city built on seven hills, which reigns over the kings of the earth.

At this point, the Eurozone consists of 19 members. This will change. Politico wrote on October 6: “Nobel-prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz believes Italy and several other countries could leave the Eurozone within years… ‘There will still be a Eurozone in 10 years, but the question is, what will it look like? It’s very unlikely that it will still have 19 members. It’s difficult to say who will still belong,’ Stiglitz said in an interview with German newspaper Die Welt.”

While Mr. Stiglitz—as so many other “experts”—is clearly wrong insofar as Italy is concerned, he IS correct that the Eurozone will decrease in numbers, and even though we do not know for sure “who will still belong,” we DO know that Italy “WILL still belong.”

Our free booklet, “The Ten European Revivals of the Ancient Roman Empire” tells you why.

We begin with reporting on the worldwide reactions to the death of hypocritical dictator and mass murderer Fidel Castro, and the incredible distorted world view of some leaders, calling him a hero. 

We continue with a renewed fight between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton and some positive German comments about Mr. Trump’s election; as well as further controversial statements by Mr. Trump and a few more nominations; and we speak on an apparent massive cyberattack, interrupting Internet services in Germany, as well as Angela Merkel’s announcement that 100,000 asylum seekers will be deported from Germany.

We are introducing Francois Fillon, who many believe will be the next French President; and address the upcoming presidential re-election in Austria, as well as the Italian referendum, which will both occur on Sunday, December 4. 

We quote from an extremely interesting article discussing the certainty of a future space war; point at developments pertaining to Turkey and Israel; report on the ongoing terrible situation in Syria; and address plans of ISIS to attack Europe and the UK.

We conclude with articles about the Catholic Church, including stunning comments by Pope Francis which include some truth and much error (please note our new StandingWatch program on this issue, titled, “Pope Francis–Hell Is No Torture Chamber”); and an apparent deal being worked on between the Catholic Church and China, which has been strongly condemned by China’s most outspoken Catholic Cardinal.

“Castro’s Legacy of Failure”

The Editorial Board of “USA Today” wrote on November 27:

“Fidel Castro was a survivor but not a success. He survived guerilla warfare in the 1950s and claimed the leadership of Cuba for nearly half a century. He survived a botched attempt to overthrow him, quickly defeating about 1,400 CIA-trained exiles who invaded Cuba at the Bay of Pigs in 1961. He, and the rest of humanity, survived the Cuban missile crisis, which brought the United States and Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war the following year. He survived harebrained CIA schemes to kill him, including ones involving toxic cigars and exploding seashells, and dozens of later assassination plots by Cuban exiles. And even after a serious gastrointestinal illness forced him to turn over power to his brother Raul in 2006, Fidel survived for another decade before dying of natural causes… on Friday at age 90.

“By virtue of his charismatic personality, longevity in office and ability to torment a succession of U.S. presidents, Castro was a major 20th century figure. He was a spellbinding, if long-winded, speaker who became a hero to many on the American Left. But, ultimately, Castro left a legacy of failure. He stayed in power not by popular consent but through a brutal dictatorship that imprisoned or executed thousands of opponents. He tried unsuccessfully to export his Marxist revolution throughout Latin America and Africa. And he turned his beautiful island nation into an economic basket case rather than a socialist utopia…”

“Castro a Complete Fraud”

Daily Mail wrote on November 27:

“A prodigious womaniser and food connoisseur who kept some 20 luxurious properties throughout the Caribbean — including a private island he used to visit on his beautiful yacht — Castro was a complete fraud. The man who spent his life railing against the excesses of capitalism lived like a king — and a very debauched one at that.

“Western observers have long suspected that ‘El Comandante’ — The Commander — was siphoning off the proceeds from state-run enterprises, including a small gold mine. However, when Forbes magazine listed Castro in 2006 as one of the world’s richest ‘kings, queens and dictators’, he angrily insisted he lived on a salary of £20 a month.

“The full extent of his hypocrisy and personal excesses emerged only in 2014 when a former longtime bodyguard, Juan Reinaldo Sanchez, wrote a book about Castro’s secret life and estimated he was worth at least £100 million…

“Castro, who even kept secret the existence of his wives, was able to conceal a rapacious infidelity that produced at least nine children by four women. Reported lovers ranged from the Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida to an underage nightclub dancer who reported how he smoked continually during sex. His notorious affairs earned him the nickname ‘the Horse’. He had a taste for young Cuban women of every colour and background, and half-jokingly told a journalist that it was his colossal sexual drive that had led him away from the Roman Catholic Church…

“Castro’s craving for prostitutes made problems for his Communist allies. Markus Wolf, East Germany’s former spy chief, recalled a security scare when Castro disappeared on a visit to East Berlin. He climbed out of his hotel window one night and headed off to an illegal brothel…

“With his shadow gone from their lives, Cubans will soon discover all too painfully the extent of the terrible trick he played on them.”

Castro Was a Killer

The Huffington Post wrote on November 28:

“Cuban-American journalists with intimate knowledge of Fidel Castro’s cruelty encouraged Americans on Saturday not to whitewash the legacy of the deceased Cuban strongman. On ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ Saturday, Tom Llamas, whose parents fled Cuba as political exiles, urged those following the news of Castro’s death to view his brutal reign with clarity.

“‘There is this tendency when world leaders die to kind of misplace this romanticism around some world leaders,’ Llamas said. ‘But Fidel Castro is someone who was a tyrant. He was a killer.’”

The Pope Mourns for Fidel Castro

Breitbart wrote on November 27:

“Pope Francis sent a telegram to Cuban President Raúl Castro Saturday, expressing his ‘sentiments of sorrow’ over the death of Raúl’s brother, former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. ‘On receiving the sad news of the death of your dear brother, His Excellency Mister Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, former president of the State Council and of the Government of the Republic of Cuba, I express my sentiments of sorrow to Your Excellency and other family members of the deceased dignitary, as well as to the people of this beloved nation,’ the Pope’s Spanish-language telegram reads. ‘At the same time, I offer prayers to the Lord for his repose and I entrust the whole Cuban people to the maternal intercession of our Lady of the Charity of El Cobre, patroness of this country,’ he said.

“Baptized a Catholic as a child, Castro was educated by the Jesuit order to which Pope Francis belongs. Despite his religious upbringing, Castro was an avowed atheist throughout his life. Fidel Castro took power in Cuba in January 1959 after an armed insurgency that toppled dictator Fulgencio Batista, and he subsequently ruled Cuba with an iron fist for nearly 50 years. Castro declared Cuba to be an atheist state when he rose to power and suppressed the Catholic Church during his reign, expropriating Church properties, exiling or jailing priests…, closing Catholic schools, and banning the celebration of Christian holidays.

“In 2006, Fidel ceded power temporarily to his brother Raúl Castro. Two years later, due to his worsening health problems, the succession became final. In September 2015, Pope Francis became the third pontiff to visit Castro’s Cuba after… John Paul II and Benedict XVI.”

World Leaders Praise Brutal Dictator and Mass Murderer Fidel Castro

In two related articles, Breitbart wrote on November 26:

“Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid tribute, calling Castro a ‘remarkable leader’ and ‘legendary revolutionary’ who made ‘significant improvements’ to his country. UK opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn also called Castro ‘an internationalist and a champion of social justice,’ while Russian President Vladimir Putin praised him as someone who ‘embodies the highest ideals of politics, citizen and patriot, sincerely convinced of the rightness of the case, which gave his whole life.’

“Their statements are in stark contrast to U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump, who called Castro a ‘brutal dictator’. ‘Fidel Castro’s legacy is one of firing squads, theft, unimaginable suffering, poverty and the denial of fundamental human rights,’ he said. ‘While Cuba remains a totalitarian island, it is my hope that today marks a move-away from the horrors endured for too long, and toward a future in which the wonderful Cuban people finally live in the freedom they so richly deserve.’…”

“‘At this time of Fidel Castro’s passing, we extend a hand of friendship to the Cuban people,’ Obama said, noting that many Cubans and Cuban Americans had ‘powerful emotions’ about the dictator’s death. Obama did not mention Castro’s evil dictatorship, his suppression of human rights, or the brutal oppression and murder of millions of Cuban citizens in his statement. Instead he noted that the relationship between Cuba and the United States was ‘marked by discord and profound disagreements.’”

New Fight Between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton?

The Associated Press wrote on November 27:

“President-elect Donald Trump claimed without evidence Sunday that ‘millions’ voted illegally in the national election, scoffing at Hillary Clinton’s nearly 2 million edge in the popular vote and returning to his campaign mantra of a rigged race even as he prepares to enter the White House in less than two months. Trump and his lieutenants assailed an effort — now joined by Clinton — to recount votes in up to three battleground states, calling the push fraudulent, the work of ‘crybabies’ and, in Trump’s estimation, ‘sad.’

“The president-elect himself launched a Twitter offensive that spanned more than 12 hours on Sunday, casting a shadow over the legitimacy of an election that he actually won. ‘I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally,’ he tweeted in the afternoon before alleging in an evening tweet ‘serious voter fraud in Virginia, New Hampshire and California’…

“Trump on Sunday tweeted part of Clinton’s concession speech, when she told supporters they must accept that ‘Donald Trump is going to be our president,’ and snippets from her debate remarks, when she denounced the Republican nominee for refusing to say in advance that he would accept the Election Day verdict… Clinton leads the national popular vote by close to 2 million votes, but Trump won 290 electoral votes to Clinton’s 232, not counting Michigan. She could conceivably tip the electoral balance in the remote event that all flipped to her in recounts…

“Clinton’s lawyer said her team has been combing through the results since the election in search of anomalies that would suggest hacking by Russians or others and found ‘no actionable evidence’ of an altered outcome. Moreover, Elias said, Trump has a vote lead even in the closest states that well exceeds the largest margin ever overcome in a recount. But ‘we feel it is important, on principle, to ensure our campaign is legally represented in any court proceedings and represented on the ground in order to monitor the recount process itself,’ he said.”

Bavaria’s Horst Seehofer Invites Donald Trump

The Business Standard wrote on November 25:

“The leader of the German state of Bavaria has invited Donald Trump to visit, reports said today, after he urged European politicians to keep an open mind about the controversial US President-elect. Premier Horst Seehofer, a maverick member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative bloc, wrote to Trump to congratulate him on his victory and said he would be welcome ‘any time’ in his state capital Munich, Bavarian government sources told German news agency DPA.

“Specifically, Seehofer suggested Trump could attend the city’s annual international security conference in February, just weeks after his inauguration as US president on January 20, the unnamed sources added. In contrast with many German and European officials, Seehofer warned soon after the November 8 US election against prejudging Trump too harshly. ‘I would urge us to see what he actually does,’ Seehofer said, calling for dialogue between Germany, European partners and the United States on ‘shared policy’.

“Seehofer has frequently clashed with Merkel over her liberal border policy, which permitted the arrival of around one million asylum-seekers over the last two years… Trump, whose paternal grandparents hailed from Germany, is expected to attend the G20 summit, which Merkel will host in Hamburg next July.”

Donald Trump Suggests Revoking Citizenship for Flag Burners

The Huffington Post wrote on November 29:

“President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday suggested that people who burn the American flag should lose their citizenship. This goes against current U.S. law, as well as a landmark Supreme Court case.

“Burning the flag is completely legal in the U.S. As the Supreme Court ruled in 1989’s Texas v. Johnson, it’s protected as free speech under the First Amendment. The late Justice Antonin Scalia, who Trump often praises, joined the majority opinion in that case.

“Lawmakers have in the past floated the idea of making the practice illegal, but none have gone as far as to suggest revoking citizenship. Citizenship is very difficult to take away; broadly speaking, an American would only lose his or her nationality by pledging allegiance to another country, committing treason, or voluntarily giving it up…

“Trump has contradicted the U.S. Constitution before. He’s promised to crack down on the press (a possible violation of the First Amendment), vowed to ban Muslims from entering the country (which could go against the Equal Protection Clause), and suggested we should torture people because they deserve it (cruel and unusual punishment).”

Here is what Mr. Trump twittered: “Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag – if they do, there must be consequences – perhaps loss of citizenship or year [sic] in jail!” It is obvious that he spoke without thinking too deeply about it. His proposal, if taken seriously, would of course be totally unconditional and illegal. But in the meantime, after listening to his advisors, it seems that he modified his public stance on the press, on banning Muslims and on waterboarding. The real issue is much more intriguing: what does Mr. Trump REALLY believe, and WHEN will the real President Trump stand up?

The Carrier Deal

Newsmax wrote on December 1:

“President-elect Donald Trump used an announcement Thursday that Carrier would keep its air-conditioning manufacturing plant in Indianapolis — saving 1,100 jobs — to declare that ‘companies are not going to leave the United States any more without consequences.’…

“Carrier said Tuesday that it would not close its air-conditioning plant in Indianapolis [to move to Mexico] after reaching a deal with Trump, initially sparing 1,000 jobs…

“Indiana offered the company $7 million in tax incentives after negotiations with Trump’s team to keep some jobs in the state…

“He also reiterated campaign pledges to reduce business taxes to as low as 15 percent — from the current 35 percent — and roll back regulations that he said have been crippling American companies… The president-elect also slammed NAFTA… and declared that ‘it will be changed… ‘We have to let other companies know that we’ll do great things for business. You don’t have to leave anymore. Your taxes will be at the very low end — and your unnecessary regulations will be gone.’…

“During the campaign, Trump threatened to impose sharp tariffs on companies that moved factories to Mexico… He repeated that pledge in Indianapolis, saying that companies will be ‘taxed heavily at the border if they want to fire their people, leave, make their products in different countries — and then think they’ll sell that product over the border.’”

Mr. Trump also reiterated his promise that he would build a wall at the US-Mexican border.

Mr. Trump Nominates Tim Price as Head of Department of Health; Picks Elaine Chao as Transportation Secretary

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 29:

“US President-elect Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he would nominate Georgia Congressman Tom Price as head of the Department of Health and Human Services. The orthopedic surgeon is a critic of the Affordable Care Act, more commonly referred to as ‘Obamacare.’…

“After announcing the pick, the president-elect called the congressman ‘exceptionally qualified to shepherd our commitment to repeal and replace Obamacare and bring affordable and accessible healthcare to every American.’…

“Price’s appointment will require Senate confirmation, after which both houses of Congress would have to agree on any move to dismantle Obamacare.

“New York Senator Chuck Schumer, who will become the Democrats’ minority leader in the upper chamber, slammed the choice, calling Representative Price’s ideas ‘far out of the mainstream of what Americans want when it comes to Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, and Planned Parenthood.’ Trump’s spokesman, Jason Miller, defended the nomination in a CNN interview, saying that the Affordable Care Act was already ‘imploding’ due to rising premiums.

“Later on Tuesday, Donald Trump also declared that his pick for Transportation Secretary would be Elaine Chao, who lead the Department of Labor under President George W. Bush and was the first Asian-American woman in the US cabinet. Chao is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who was largely silent on Trump’s candidacy until the very end of the election campaign, when he offered the president-elect his somewhat muted support.”

Will Medicare Survive?

Newsmax wrote on December 1:

“President-elect Donald Trump vowed during his campaign that he wouldn’t cut Medicare or other entitlement programs, but Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., who he tagged this week as his Health and Human Services secretary, backs a plan that would end guaranteed government coverage for seniors… Price, like House Speaker Paul Ryan, backs a plan to turn Medicare into a ‘premium support’ system, meaning seniors would receive a specific amount of money from the government that would help them buy health coverage from a private company, rather than participate in government-run Medicare coverage.

“Democrats say the plans ends guaranteed coverage, and that the financial assistance would not keep up with rising healthcare costs, meaning seniors could end up paying more of their own costs. Proponents, however, say changes are needed to make Medicare more efficient and will save the government money, and warn the program will become insolvent if left alone. While campaigning, Trump told The Daily Signal that he was ‘not going to cut Social Security like every other Republican, and I’m not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid.’…

“Price and Ryan say they are serious about the Medicare changes, with Price telling reporters this month that lawmakers can fast-track reconciliation to push a Medicare overhaul through the Senate with 50 votes.”

Mr. Trump Nominates Wall Street Insiders

The New York Times wrote on November 30:

“In a campaign commercial that ran just before the election, Donald J. Trump’s voice boomed over a series of Wall Street images. He described ‘a global power structure that is responsible for the economic decisions that have robbed our working class, stripped our country of its wealth, and put that money into the pockets of a handful of large corporations.’ Now Mr. Trump has named a former Goldman executive and co-investor with Mr. Soros to spearhead his economic policy.

“With Wednesday’s nomination of Steven Mnuchin, a Goldman trader turned hedge fund manager and Hollywood financier, to be Treasury secretary, a new economic leadership is taking shape in Washington. Mr. Mnuchin will join Wilbur L. Ross Jr., a billionaire investor in distressed assets, who has been chosen to run the Commerce Department, and Todd Ricketts, owner of the Chicago Cubs, who has been picked to be deputy commerce secretary. All are superwealthy and to be overseen by the first billionaire president in United States history… While that approach has been cheered by investors… it stands in stark contrast to the populist campaign that Mr. Trump ran and the support he received from working-class voters across the country…

“Mr. Mnuchin, 53, and Mr. Ross, 79, are both familiar with buying distressed properties and selling for a profit. But they are political neophytes with scant experience in managing large organizations. They will oversee two government agencies that together employ about 130,000 people around the world. In the case of Mr. Mnuchin at Treasury, his experience as a principal investor who made large sums of money through high-risk, high-return wagers suggests that he will look critically at the thicket of regulations that now constrain the risk-taking activities of investment banks.”

“Entire internet Will Be Saved in Canada to Keep it from Donald Trump”

The Independent wrote on December 1:

“The Internet Archive – which exists to keep a store of the internet and of human knowledge – has said that it will be moving its store of the web to another country in order to keep it safe. It said it made the decision in the wake of the election of President-elect Trump, who has in the past suggested ‘closing up’ the internet. The decision has been made because libraries tend to get lost, it said. But that had become extra clear recently because of changes in the US, where its archives are currently stored.

“Events including the election of Donald Trump have led [it] to realise that it needs to make another store of the huge amount of information it has stored up, it said. As such, it will put that information in the Internet Archive of Canada, in a project that will cost millions but will look to keep the data safe. ‘On November 9th in America, we woke up to a new administration promising radical change,’ the archive wrote in a blog post. ‘It was a firm reminder that institutions like ours, built for the long-term, need to design for change. For us, it means keeping our cultural materials safe, private and perpetually accessible. It means preparing for a Web that may face greater restrictions. It means serving patrons in a world in which government surveillance is not going away; indeed it looks like it will increase.’

“The archive is now asking supporters to help fund the decision by donating to it. Donald Trump has given varying statements of his policy on the internet. But many of them have suggested that he will interfere with the web more and that he may look to shut parts of it off.”

Massive Suspected Cyberattack Interrupts Internet Survices in Germany

Deutsche Welle reported on November 28:

“A suspected cyberattack has disrupted internet service for nearly a million households in Germany…  ‘We believe that influence was exerted on the routers from outside,’ an unnamed company spokesman told the AFP news agency, noting that malware had been installed on routers that prevented them from connecting to the company’s network… Customers have been advised to disconnect their routers if they suspect that they were targeted.”

The apparent cyberattack also prevented our Church in Germany from broadcasting over Internet most of our live Sabbath services. Viewers were advised to directly connect to the sermon posted on YouTube. Interestingly enough, the sermon dealt with the question as to how Satan attacks us.

German Leaders Angry at Cyberattack

Deutsche Welle wrote November 29:

“German politicians say action must follow a hack that paralyzed some 900,000 internet connections… Internet service has still not returned to normal for all of the hundreds of thousands of Germans affected by the hack, but a lively and agitated discussion is underway about what should be done to prevent future disturbances – and who might be responsible for the attack.

“German provider Deutsche Telekom believes the disruption was part of a failed attempt to turn a large number of routers into part of a so-called botnet and sees a connection with other recent hacks around the world. Germany’s political leadership is very unhappy about the possibility that Russia might have been involved, but isn’t quite ready to point the finger directly at Moscow.”

Germany to Return 100,000 Asylum Seekers to Afghanistan

Daily Mail reported on November 28:

“Germany is planning to return 100,000 rejected asylum seekers to their home countries after Angela Merkel admitted: ‘It cannot be that all young people from Afghanistan come here’. About 60,000 will be returned under voluntary repatriation programmes while the rest face compulsory deportations, the German chancellor revealed. They will be given money as ‘start-up’ aid to help them resettle in their homeland as well as a plane ticket, it has been reported in Germany…

“Merkel has previously come under fire in Germany for her ‘open-door’ policy, in the wake of Europe’s worst migration crisis since World War II.”

Meet Francois Fillon—the Next French President?

The Guardian wrote on November 27:

“François Fillon, the socially conservative former prime minister who plans to shrink the French state, has won the primary race to become the French right’s presidential candidate next spring. Fillon, 62, gained support in the final days of the primary race after writing a book on the dangers of ‘Islamic totalitarianism’ in the wake of recent terrorist attacks in France and defending a tough line on French national identity… France’s two-round presidential elections in April and May are being watched as the next possible shakeup of the political system, after Donald Trump won the US presidency this month.

“Polls in France have consistently shown that the far-right Front National leader, Marine Le Pen, will make it to the final round runoff but that it would be difficult for her to win. Fillon is now the favourite to face her and win the presidency next year. In his victory speech, Fillon said the Socialist François Hollande’s presidency had been ‘pathetic’ and France now had to be overhauled in a way that it ‘hasn’t been for 30 years’…

“Fillon is a Catholic traditionalist who deliberately appealed to the conservatism of the religious right and wants to increase state benefits for families. He complained about being attacked as a ‘medieval reactionary’ during the campaign because, having voted against France’s recent introduction of same-sex marriage, he promised to roll back certain parental rights for same-sex couples. He said it was his private belief that abortion was not a fundamental right but promised not to change French abortion law.

“Fillon, who is on first-name terms with Vladimir Putin after they served as prime ministers in the same period, has advocated a stridently pro-Putin policy towards Russia. He said Russia was no threat, should be a partner in Syria and that European sanctions against Russia should be lifted. He said the fight against Islamic State meant France should not rule out cooperating with Syria’s Bashar al-Assad.

“Fillon has taken a hard line on Islamic extremism as well as the place of Islam in France, warning that ‘radical islam is corrupting some of our Muslim fellow citizens’. Over the summer, he said he was in favour of banning burkinis, or full-body swimsuits, from French beaches. ‘No, France is not a multicultural nation,’ Fillon said during the final TV debate, adding that foreigners who came to France must assimilate. He said: ‘When you come to someone’s house, by courtesy, you don’t take over.’

“… Hollande is expected to announce within days whether he will stand for re-election. His party is in disarray and there are serious doubts among Socialists about Hollande’s chances of even making it past the first round. He is the least popular French president since the second world war, with his satisfaction rating in one recent poll as low as 4%.”

Subsequently, Mr. Hollande announced that he would not stand for re-election.

Austrian Presidential Re-Election this Sunday

The EUObserver wrote on November 28:

“Austria’s presidential candidates have clashed in a TV debate over US president-elect Donald Trump, immigration and the future of the EU before voters head to the polls on Sunday (4 December). Alexander Van der Bellen, backed by the Greens, and far-right contender Norbert Hofer for the Freedom Party (FPOe) echoed the faultlines where mainstream politics and populism have clashed in Western democracies recently. Van der Bellen accused Hofer of creating insecurity by threatening to pull Austria out of the EU. ‘The FPOe has always been an EU exit party,’ he said.

“Hofer had earlier pledged to call for a referendum on EU membership if Turkey joined the union or if Brussels tried to centralise power. ‘The most important thing is the solidarity between member states, otherwise we won’t be able to assert ourselves in the face of Russia or the United States,’ 72-year-old Van der Bellen said during the live debate broadcast on private channel ATV.

“Hofer, 45, dismissed such claims, saying: ‘There won’t be an Oexit.’ Hofer attacked Van der Bellen for criticising the US election victory of Donald Trump.

“Van der Bellen said many in Europe felt ‘anxious’ about the US president-elect who has been accused of sexism and racism. Van der Bellen also warned that the election of Donald Trump in the US showed there was justified anger, which made voters feel abandoned and forgotten. Hofer retorted by saying that in Austria a lot of people feel abandoned… Hofer blamed German chancellor Angela Merkel for the EU’s failed migration policy. He also doubted Turkey will hold itself to the migration deal with the EU for much longer.

“The two candidates have already made history, since it would be the first time Austria’s president does not come from the Social Democratic and Austrian People’s Party, which have dominated the political scene since World War II. Hofer could also become Europe’s first postwar far-right head of state after 4 December. Austrian voters need to head to the ballot boxes again after Hofer challenged the result of the May election which he narrowly lost to Van der Bellen. Hofer said however he would not contest the outcome this time.”

Fears Mount in Anticipation of Italian Referendum on December 4

The Financial Times wrote on November 28:

“Up to eight of Italy’s troubled banks risk failing if prime minister Matteo Renzi loses a constitutional referendum next weekend… Mr Renzi… says he will quit if he loses the referendum… The situation is being closely watched by financiers and policymakers across Europe and beyond, who worry that a mass failure of Italian banks could trigger panic across the eurozone banking system.

“… Italy’s banks have €360bn of problem loans versus €225bn of equity on their books…”

Please read our Editorial in this week’s Update, discussing the situation in Italy and Europe.

War in Space, which the US Could Lose

CNN wrote on November 28:

“Since man first explored space, it has been a largely peaceful environment. But now US adversaries are deploying weapons beyond Earth’s atmosphere, leading the US military to prepare for the frightening prospect of war in space. ‘As humans go out there, there has always been conflict. Conflict in the Wild West as we move in the West … conflict twice in Europe for its horrible world wars,’ Gen. John Hyten, head of US Strategic Command, told CNN. ‘So, every time humans actually physically move into that, there’s conflict, and in that case, we’ll have to be prepared for that.’

“Today, the US depends on space more than any other nation. Without satellites, televisions would go blank, mobile networks silent, and the Internet would slow and then stop. Dependent on time stamps from GPS satellites, everything from stock markets to bank transactions to traffic lights and railroad switches would freeze. Airline pilots would lose contact with the ground, unsure of their position and without weather data to steer around storms. World leaders couldn’t communicate across continents. In the US military, pilots would lose contact with armed drones over the Middle East. Smart bombs would become dumb. Missiles would sit immobile in their silos. The US could lose early warning of nuclear attacks for parts of the Earth. ‘There’s incentive to take that away from us,’ said Peter Singer, who advises the Defense Department on space threats…

“‘And that means if there was conflict on Planet Earth, it would almost inherently start with some kind of conflict in space.’ America’s chief adversaries in space are familiar ones: Russia and China are extending above the atmosphere the competition and conflict already boiling down here on Earth — from Syria to Ukraine to the South China Sea to cyberspace. China and Russia are taking aim at America in space with a dizzying array of weapons seemingly borrowed from science fiction. Russia has deployed what could be multiple kamikaze satellites such as ‘Kosmos 2499’ — designed to sidle up to American satellites and then, if ordered, disable or destroy them. China has launched the ‘Shiyan’ — equipped with a grappling arm that could snatch US satellites right out of orbit…

“In 2015, Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work expressed his grave concern that the military was not ‘ready to do space operations in a conflict that extends into space.’ He was proven right when, months later, US space forces were overwhelmed in a mock attack on US military satellites… as Russia and China make rapid advances, some of the most senior military commanders are sounding the alarm that this is a war — the next world war and the first to extend beyond the confines of Earth — that America could lose… Winning a space war means rethinking how the US wages war, and that rethinking is one our current military leaders and politicians are only just beginning to undertake. So is the US moving quickly enough to respond to the new threats in space? ‘I would say the answer was no,’ said Gen. William Shelton, former head of Space Command. ‘Could we provide active defense of our own satellites? The answer’s no.’ The stakes couldn’t be higher. How the US responds to this new threat could determine who wins the defining conflict of the 21st century.”

The sad truth is, there will soon be another world war, which will be fought with horrific nuclear weapons—and it could very well include space warfare.  The Bible prophecies that the USA WILL lose World War III.

Turkey’s Death Penalty Plans

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 29:

“Turkey’s government is pressing on with its plans to bring back the death penalty despite the risk of dashing EU accession hopes… When Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) abolished capital punishment in 2004, the move was widely praised as evidence of the pragmatism and political maturity of the country’s religious conservatives. Turkey had not carried out a death penalty since 1984 but its legal abolition was hailed…

“Just 12 years later, the… ruling party is in the final stages of preparing to reinstate capital punishment as part of a radical set of changes to Turkey’s constitution that supporters and critics alike say will be a blueprint for the country’s future…

“Getting people on the street to comment is far from easy these days, but those that are willing to talk don’t mince their words. ‘Capital punishment is part of Islam, it is religion. If someone kills another man then he deserves to be killed too – for me it is that simple,’ 59-year-old Huseyin Akturan told DW…”

Erdogan: We Must Defend the Temple Mount

The Times of Israel wrote on November 29:

“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday urged Muslims to defend the Palestinian cause… ‘It is the common duty of all Muslims to embrace the Palestinian cause and protect Jerusalem,’ the president of the majority country told a parliamentary symposium on Jerusalem in Istanbul.

“Safeguarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque should not be left to children armed with nothing but stones, he said, in a likely reference to Palestinian youths who sometimes hurl stones at Israeli security forces on the Temple Mount. The Jerusalem hilltop is the third most sacred site to Muslims and the holiest to Jews, who traditionally believe it to be the location of the two biblical temples.”

Europe and the Jews

The Jerusalem Post wrote on November 28:

“European intervention in Israeli-Palestinian affairs is hard to rationalize if viewed through a foreign policy prism… The European-Israeli conflict is the world’s oldest, lasting for 2,300 years… The feud dates back to Greek and then Roman invasions of Judea. While other nations accepted the European invaders, the Israelites rebelled…

“In the 11th century, Europe’s conflict with Israel escalated as the crusaders coerced European Jews to ‘kiss the cross’ or die. They then proceeded to Jerusalem and slaughtered the city’s Jews alongside their Muslim brethren.

“… by the end of the 19th century, European Jew-hatred reinvented itself in the form of national and racial hatred, and a new term began to be used: antisemitism… European anti-Jewish sentiment found an outlet. This time, toward the collective of Jews – the State of Israel.

“… history shows that when a society in Europe felt humiliated, the Jews were often the ones who paid the price… it was France’s humiliating defeat by Prussia in 1870 which eventually led to the Dreyfus Affair. Fifty years later, it was Germany’s humiliating defeat in World War I which eventually led to the Holocaust…”

The Syrian Nightmare Continues

The Telegraph wrote on November 28:

“Syria’s rebels lost all of the northern neighbourhoods of their stronghold in east Aleppo on Monday, as the army gained significant ground in its offensive to recapture the entire city. The regime’s advance has prompted an exodus of desperate citizens, some fleeing to districts held by the government or Kurdish forces, others heading south into areas still under rebel control.

“The rebel losses suggested it was only a matter of time before all of east Aleppo – held by the opposition since 2012 – was back in government hands. The loss of the city’s east would be a potentially devastating blow for Syria’s rebels, who have seen their territory fall steadily to the government since Russia began an intervention to bolster President Bashar al-Assad in September 2015…

“Kurdish forces in Syria are officially aligned with neither the government nor the rebels, but the opposition views them as effectively allied with the regime in its bid to recapture Aleppo city…

“The assault has been waged with heavy air strikes, barrel bomb attacks and artillery fire that has killed at least 225 civilians, including 27 children, in east Aleppo, according to the Observatory. Rebels have also fired onto the government-held west of the city, killing at least 27 civilians, among them 11 children, since November 15, the monitor says…

“Assad’s forces already control the capital Damascus, the central cities of Homs and Hama and the coastal city of Latakia. More than 300,000 people have been killed since Syria’s conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011. The war has also displaced over half the country’s population, with millions fleeing across Syria’s border to become refugees.”

ISIS’ Plans to Attack Europe

Daily Mail wrote on November 28:

“Secret documents revealing scores of Islamic State terror plots targeting the UK and Europe have been seized in Iraq and Syria… Major General Rupert Jones said tens of thousands of documents in Islamic State’s ‘external operations hubs’ had been uncovered as towns were liberated from the terror group.

“In a bid to process the mass of data, hundreds of analysts – including from Britain’s security services – are being flown to a top secret location to wade through papers, hard drives and mobile phones… US-led coalition jets and local ground forces are currently engaged in a double-pronged attack on IS in its Iraqi stronghold Mosul, and its de facto capital in Syria, Raqqa.

“Commanders predict the next big fight will be in Anbar province, where extremists retain key areas along the Euphrates river and where UK troops will be at the heart of the battle…

“The general [Rupert Jones]… rejected suggestions by Donald Trump that the terrorists are not being hit hard enough. The US President-elect sparked fury last year when he said he knew more about IS than the generals on the ground, saying: ‘I would bomb the… out of them.’ This month he suggested the US could end its training of moderate Syrian forces ‘because we have no idea who these people are’.

“But General Jones dismissed the claims, saying: ‘The plan is built on those moderates.’ He insisted there was a clear plan and mission that had pushed IS back significantly since Britain entered the fight in September 2014. The UK’s war effort includes more than 500 ground troops helping to train local forces… There are still an estimated 400 Britons who have gone to join IS in Iraq and Syria. But there are being picked off from the IS leadership ‘one by one’. General Jones said recruitment was down from about 1,000 a month to a ‘paltry amount’.”

Ethiopia vs. EU?

Express wrote on December 1:

“Merera Gudina, who leads the Oromo People’s Congress, was detained after returning to Addis Ababa from Brussels where he criticised the government in Addis Ababa for imposing a state of emergency. Mr Gudina has been at the forefront of protests against land grabs in the Oromiya region and what his supporters have described as a government clampdown on political freedoms. His deputy Gebru Gebremariam said: ‘Merera arrived in Addis Ababa on Wednesday morning from a trip to Brussels, where he met members of the European Parliament. Police arrested him in his house the same day in the evening. We haven’t been given reasons behind his arrest.’

“Ethiopian security officials said Mr Gudina had violated guidelines ‘by making contact with terrorist groups’ during his visit to Brussels… More than 500 people died in violent protests against the government until the six-month state of emergency was declared in October…”

If it is Ethiopia’s position that the EU, which is headquartered in Brussels, constitutes a “terror group,” then this will have dire consequences.

Does the Pope Change Catholic Church Doctrine?

Zenit wrote on November 25:

“[The pope] described… how the Lord will judge the great and the lowly ‘according to their deeds,’ with the damned being thrown into the pool of fire. Francis described this as the ‘second death.’ ‘Eternal damnation is not a torture chamber,’ he said. ‘That’s a description of this second death: it is a death. And those who will not be received in the Kingdom of God, it’s because they have not drawn close to the Lord. These are the people who journeyed along their own path, distancing themselves from the Lord and passing in front of the Lord but then choosing to walk away from Him.’

“What eternal damnation is, he explained, is ‘continually distancing oneself from God… It is the worst pain, an unsatisfied heart, a heart that was created to find God but which, out of arrogance and self-confidence, distances itself from God.’ Distancing oneself from God Who gives happiness and Who loves us so much, the Pontiff admonished, is the ‘fire,’ and the road to eternal damnation.”

You can read the true meaning of the second death and the lake of fire in our free booklet, “The Mystery of the Book of Revelation.” Our new StandingWatch and AufPostenStehen programs discuss this matter as well, titled, respectively, “Pope Francis–Hell Is No Torture Chamber,” and “Papst Franziskus–Die Hölle ist keine Folterkammer.”

A Catholic Deal with the Devil?

Breitbart wrote on November 28:

“China’s most outspoken Catholic Cardinal has sharply criticized a potential Vatican deal with China’s Communist Party that would cede some Church decision-making to the atheist government. ‘You cannot go into negotiations with the mentality “we want to sign an agreement at any cost”, then you are surrendering yourself, you are betraying yourself, you are betraying Jesus Christ,’ said Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, the former Bishop of Hong Kong and China’s highest ranking Catholic cleric.

“Early on in the Francis pontificate, the Vatican showed signs of openness to work toward a diplomatic rapprochement with the Chinese government, something Cardinal Zen has resolutely opposed. Last year, Zen told the Italian daily Corriere della Sera Vatican that the Vatican was being naïve in its dialogue with Beijing. ‘Italians in the Roman Curia don’t know the Chinese dictatorship,’ he said, ‘because they have never experienced a Communist regime.’

“Those in Rome who are anxious to succeed at all costs are moving toward a compromise that is really an ‘unconditional surrender,’ Zen lamented…

“The 84-year-old Zen is hero to Chinese Catholics for his outspoken support of the underground Church and his willingness to stand up to the Communist leadership. He was bishop of Hong Kong from 2002 to 2009, and was made a Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006. Mao Zedong set up the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA) as a state-run replacement for the Catholic Church, driving the Catholic Church underground through its systematic persecution of all who remained faithful to Rome and would not collaborate with the government.

“Ever since 1958, the Catholic Church in China has been split into underground and open communities. A Vatican document of 1988 barred Roman Catholics from participating in the sacraments of the Patriotic Church, since the association ‘had broken all relationships with the pope’ and would be ‘under the direct control of the government.’…

“According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), the Chinese government ‘continues to perpetrate particularly severe violations of religious freedom.’ When the commission released its 2016 Annual Report, it once again recommended that China be designated as a ‘country of particular concern,’ based on what it termed ‘systematic, egregious, ongoing abuses.’ ‘The Chinese Communist Party officially is atheist and took steps in 2015 to ensure that Party members reject religion or belief,’ the report stated.

“Throughout the year 2015, Chinese authorities used the pretext of building code violations to target houses of worship, particularly churches, as illegal structures, the report added… Chinese authorities ‘continued to summon, question, detain, and even arrest clergy and parishioners of unregistered house churches,’ the report stated.”

Many assume that mankind has to be saved “today”–in this day and age–and if they do not accept Christ “now,” they will be lost forever. But imagine what this would mean. Many have no understanding about Jesus Christ, and most do not even profess to be “Christians.” Are they all “condemned” and confined to “eternal hell fire”?

The Bible clearly rejects this view in its entirety. It teaches that only VERY FEW are called today for salvation, and that the overwhelming majority will be called at a much later time. Most will be given their opportunity to accept God’s way of life and Jesus Christ as their personal Savor in, what is called, the Second Resurrection or the Great White Throne Judgment. Then their eyes will be opened to the truth… not before then. You might want to read our free booklet, “The Mystery of the Book of Revelation,” which explains this misunderstood truth in great detail.

What then is meant in 2 Corinthians 6:2, where we read in the New King James Bible: “For He says, ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation'”?

Please note that Paul quotes from the Old Testament passage of Isaiah 49:8. In the New King James Bible, the passage in Isaiah reads exactly as quoted in 2 Corinthians 6:2, but when reviewing the rendition in the Authorized Version, we read the following regarding Isaiah 49:8: “Thus says the LORD: In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee…”

This distinction between “a” day of salvation and “the” day of salvation is significant, but why is there such disagreement as to how to translate Isaiah 49:8? In fact, as we will show now, there is also disagreement as to how to translate the entire passage in 2 Corinthians 6:2.

For instance, please note the following, mostly ancient, translations of 2 Corinthians 6:2:

The Wyclif’s Bible of 1395 reads:  “For he seith, In tyme wel plesinge Y haue herd thee, and in the dai of heelthe Y haue helpid thee. Lo! now a tyme acceptable, lo! now a dai of heelthe.”

The Calvin Bible of 1858 reads: “for he says, In an acceptable time I heard you, and in a day of salvation I helped you; behold, now is an acceptable time, behold, now is a day of salvation.”

A Bible with the name, “A Conservative Version,” states: “(for he says, At an acceptable time I heard thee, and in a day of salvation I helped thee. Behold, now is an acceptable time. Behold, now is a day of salvation).”

The Emphasized Bible reads: “For he saith – In an approved season, have I hearkened unto thee, and, in a day of salvation, have succoured thee; – Lo! now, a well-approved season, Lo! now, a day of salvation.”

The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary points out that the rendering of “the day of salvation” should be, “a day of salvation.”

The following was stated in an article from the Internet:

“Many people read into this verse more than is actually stated and also, many English translations add more than is actually in the original Greek. The first part of that verse is a quote from the first part of Isaiah 49:8 which reads in the KJV [Authorized Version]: ‘Thus saith the LORD, In AN acceptable time have I heard thee, and in A day of salvation have I helped thee’… the phrase in 2 Cor. 6:2 is:  ‘behold, now [is the] accepted time; behold, now [is the] day of salvation.’

“Notice that brackets have been put around two words ( [is the] ) above. These words are not in the original Greek. Some of our English translations such as the KJV and NASB, put some words in italics that are not in the original, but they also fail to do so in some instances. The KJV does put the ‘is’ in italics but fails to also put the ‘the’ in italics to show that it is not a word in the original Greek. This can be misleading… below is the way 2 Cor. 6:2 is translated in Young’s Literal Translation and by Darby’s translation…:  ‘for He saith, “In an acceptable time I did hear thee, and in a day of salvation I did help thee, lo, now [is] a well-accepted time; lo, now, a day of salvation”‘ — ‘(for he says, I have listened to thee in an accepted time, and I have helped thee in a day of salvation: behold, now [is the] well-accepted time; behold, now [the] day of salvation…”‘

“So, the thought given in this verse agrees with the Isaiah verse from which it is a quote that [it is] ‘an accepted time’ and ‘a day of salvation’, NOT ‘the accepted time’ and NOT ‘the day of salvation’. This means that now is an accepted time and now is a day of salvation but it IS NOT the ONLY accepted time and NOT the ONLY day of salvation…”

This has also been the explanation of the former Worldwide Church of God (a/k/a Radio Church of God) under its late human leader, Herbert W. Armstrong. The late Dr. C. Paul Meredith, evangelist in the Church and former director of the Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course (from 1953 to 1968), wrote the following article which appeared in The Plain Truth in 1958:

“… some have been confused by II Corinthians 6:2, which seems to say that now is the ONLY day of salvation. But the word ‘the’ in the King James Version is actually misleading, because it is absent in both the Hebrew and the Greek. Actually, II Corinthians 6:2 was quoted by Paul from the Old Testament. Paul is quoting Isaiah 49:8. But the Hebrew text of Isaiah 49:8 does not have a definite article. Neither does the Greek text of II Corinthians 6:2. The first part of the verse is more correctly tendered as follows: ‘I have answered thy prayer, he says, in a [not the only one] time of pardon, I have brought thee help in a [not the only one] day of salvation’ (Knox translation).”

To reiterate, in the Greek text of 2 Corinthians 6:2, the literal translation is as follows:

“… for he says, In a time accepted I listened to thee, and in a day of salvation I helped thee; lo, now [the] time well-accepted; behold, now [the] day of salvation…”

We ask again: Why is there so much confusion as to the correct translation, and why do many Bibles render 2 Corinthians 6:2 as “now is THE accepted time… Now is THE day of salvation.”?

The answer lies in a peculiar phenomenon in the Hebrew and Greek languages, and the existence and non-existence of “definite” and “indefinite” articles in both languages.

The term definite article refers to the word “the”. In English we also have an indefinite article, “a” (or “an” before words beginning with vowels). There is a definite article in the Hebrew (“the”), but no indefinite article.  We either say, THE day or Day.

The same is true in Greek, which knows a definite, but not an indefinite article. You will have to allow the context to tell you whether or not to supply an indefinite article in your English translation.

It is pretty much agreed among scholars that in both the Hebrew text of Isaiah 49:8 and in the Greek text of 2 Corinthians 6:2, NO DEFINITE articles are used in reference to “acceptable time” and “day of salvation.”

The complication arises that even when the definite article is not used in the Greek, that does not mean that therefore an indefinite article must be used in English. For instance, John 1:1 contains an example of a time without an article in Greek, which is needed in English. It says, “en arche ‘en o logos…”; that is (literally), “In beginning was the Word.” Notice that there is no definite article before “arche” (“beginning”). But to leave out the definite article would cause confusion in English. To translate, “In a beginning was the Word…” would imply that there were multiple beginnings to the universe, but that is not what the Bible teaches.

Another critical example, which requires that the English translation must not use an indefinite article, even though the Greek does not use a definite article, is found in John 1:1, in regard to Jesus Christ. Commonly, that particular clause in John 1:1 is (correctly) translated as “… and the Word [Jesus Christ, the Logos or Spokesman, compare John 1:14] was God.” In the Greek, no definite article is used for “God,” but it is clear from the context of the Bible and from many other biblical passages that the translation, “the Word was a god,” is wrong (even though that is how the Jehovah’s Witnesses translate this verse incorrectly, thereby trying to deny that Jesus Christ was and is God–the second member of the GOD FAMILY.)

In returning to the passage in 2 Corinthians 6:2, we can understand why some translations added the word “the” in “day of salvation,” while others did not and chose to use the indefinite article, “a.” It is a matter of interpretation. But even when using the definite article (“THE day of salvation”), this would not mean that today is the only day of salvation for everybody.

In the above-mentioned article by Dr. C. Paul Meredith, the following was added:

“Certainly, this is the day of salvation for those who have been called and whose minds have been opened to the truth by God. Now is their chance — their opportunity to qualify for His Kingdom. This is the day of salvation for them. But it is not the day of salvation for the vast majority. They will receive their chance — their first and only chance — at a later time. It is a day of salvation, but not the only day of salvation.”

For those who ARE called today to God’s truth, this is in fact THEIR only day of salvation; and we should note that in 2 Corinthians 6:2, Paul is addressing Church members in Corinth. Paul stresses this important truth in other passages as well. He says in Hebrews 3:7, 13, again addressing Church members: “… ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion… but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin…”

We should take the admonition in Isaiah 55:6 very seriously, which reads: “Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; and to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.”

To conclude, while today is NOT the only day of salvation for the world—in fact, it is not even “a” day of salvation for the world, as their calling occurs later—it IS THE ONLY day of salvation for those who have been called by God in this day and age. Those who have received God’s Holy Spirit will not be given a second chance when they fall away (Hebrews 10:26-29; 6:4-8); their TIME to inherit salvation is now.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

A new Member Letter (December 2016) has been written and is now posted. It was also mailed out this week. In this letter, Pastor Brian Gale writes of dramatic world news events which are fulfilling biblical prophecy and cautions Christians to remain vigilant as circumstances even within the very Church of God test our endurance.

“Pope Francis–Hell Is No Torture Chamber,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

Recently, Pope Francis declared that hell–or eternal damnation–is not a torture chamber, and he went on to say that the lake of fire in Revelation 20 describes the second death. However, he then gave an unbiblical explanation of the “second death” and of “the fire.” Do YOU know the truth of the Bible?

“Papst Franziskus–Die Hölle ist keine Folterkammer,” is the German language version of the program described above.

“Wie Ihr Wollt, dass Euch die Leute Tun…” is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon. Title in English: “As You Want Men to Do to You…”

On November 26, 2016, Dave Harris will present the sermonette, titled, “All and More,” and Robb Harris will present the sermon, titled, “Divide and Conquer.”

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 U.S. is splintering deeper into isolated and contentious sides of moral and political ideologies.  Paul spoke to Timothy about this age and the characteristics of its people, “but know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be … boasters, proud…without self-control…despisers of good…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…” (2 Timothy 3:1-4). We are being torn apart as a country, not from invading forces but from within—by our own hands.  The reason is simple: man has disavowed God.

This inclination was understood by our founding fathers. Abraham Lincoln stated in his Lyceum Address “…At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer. If it ever reach us it must spring up amongst us; it cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide.”

While we can quickly point to a nation falling apart after generations of spiritual decay, we must also test our own foundations—seeking to continuously shore up our spiritual walls against the constant battering of Satan. We live in an age of spiritual darkness like none other.  We are, by God’s Will, set apart to shine in this blackness as “children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom [we] shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15).

Mankind has pushed God away and has become blinded by Satan, “whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Our only hope of trudging through this darkness is by “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Only by our own weakness will we fail, and only by our reliance on Jesus Christ will we succeed.

We begin with developments in Germany and Europe, including Angela Merkel’s announcement that she will run again in 2017 for the German Chancellorship amidst hostility and polarization, and Europe’s turbulent times ahead, which are also due, in part, to the rising of some far-right European leaders and parties.

We continue with an interesting attempt by Israel’s leading rabbis to persuade Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to help with building the Third Temple (Please view our StandingWatch program, “Europe Reacts to Trump Election”; and the German AufPostenStehen program with the same topic, “Europa Reagiert auf Trump Wahl”). We also report on strong statements by Jerusalem’s chief rabbi, calling homosexuality an abomination and objecting to public transportation on the Sabbath and civil marriages for Jews; and we review revealing accusations by Turkish President Erdogan against the Jewish people.

We continue with developments regarding Mr. Trump, pertaining to personal matters; his official visits and communications with world leaders; his relationship with the press and his many (broken) promises; and the building of his administration; and we speak about very controversial and highly inappropriate comments by Mr. Trump’s “newly-minted chief strategist and senior counselor Stephen Bannon”; as well as frightening Satanic activities in Myanmar and Austria.

We conclude with the Catholic Church’s stance on abortion; a powerful earthquake striking off the coast of Fukushima prefecture in Japan (home to one of Japan’s power plants); the unprecedented destruction of California’s trees and the danger of huge wild fires, bringing to mind some sober biblical warnings for the end time; and new discoveries about the Cheops Pyramid.

Angela Merkel Announces Fourth Term Candidacy in “Turbulent Times”

Deutsche Welle reported on November 20:

“Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced she will stand in next year’s elections for a fourth term… Merkel said on Sunday evening that her decision to stand was not a trivial one, for the country or for herself… ‘This election will be even more difficult than those we have had before as we are facing a strong polarisation’ in the community. She drew a line between Germany and the US in describing as ‘grotesque’ the recent election campaign. Merkel said that for her, political discussion was about engagement not ‘fighting’ and ‘inciting hatred.’…

“Merkel has governed Germany since 2005 and is popular among voters who appreciate her as a pragmatic, down-to-earth politician under whose leadership the country has weathered the financial crisis better than most in Europe. However, she has been highly criticised and has lost popular support following her decision to let in more than one million asylum seekers stranded along the Balkan route in 2015… Her refugee policies have also boosted the populist, right-wing Alternative for Germany Party (AfD), which draws support through harnessing community fears about migration and Muslims. In state elections this year, the AfD garnered up to a fifth of the popular vote.”

Mrs. Merkel also said that “there will be hostility as never before from the right [and] from the left—with the possibility of a red-red-green coalition.”

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 20 in a related article:

“Angela Merkel, ‘The Queen of Germany’ is floundering with her highly controversial policies…  Now Angela Merkel will have to prove herself in the stormy times ahead . Low unemployment, a respectable growth rate and a solid financial position no longer soothe the majority of voters. Germany, Europe and the world have become polarized. Times are turbulent and the number of difficult international partners is growing.

“Merkel often stood up to Putin when her reputation in Germany was still untarnished and she was an important force in the EU. Her new weakness, that she is no longer invulnerable, is being exploited by President Erdogan, Turkey’s strongman. Even small eastern European countries, that once fawned over Germany like a wealthy uncle who would help them be accepted into the European family, are closing ranks against the pro-European chancellor because they believe in the absolute sovereignty of the nation-state…

“She and her party may end up being number one in the parliamentary elections but she will be the chancellor of a polarized political landscape. Her toughest years are yet to come…”

Yes, indeed. And who is to tell whether a serious “challenger” arises before the new election in November 2017?

“Merkel’s Fourth Election Will Be Her Toughest”

Bloomberg wrote on Nov. 21:

“Angela Merkel… will probably face the toughest election of her career; victory is far from assured… many suspect that, for all her skill at working out impossible compromises and pulling out of impossible situations, she doesn’t really have a plan for taking the country forward, whether tackling refugee integration or social security reform…

“Donald Trump showed what happens when people feel they aren’t being consulted on sensitive matters like mass immigration. Though the German system has overcome the initial shock and Merkel has done her bit to contain the flood, she still needs to tell Germans what she intends to do with the newcomers, how they will be integrated or sent back. It’s no longer enough to speak of values — freedom, openness, tolerance, inclusion — as Merkel has often done…

“And even if Merkel wins and finds steady coalition partners, her party, in which she has effectively destroyed all strong competitors for the leadership, will only get a brief respite from needing to look for a replacement… brilliant new politicians at the right of the political spectrum may well see more promise in a populist party like the anti-immigrant AfD than in Merkel’s staid old party that may end up essentially leaderless by the 2021 election.

“Merkel’s dominance has delayed the hour of reckoning for German centrists, something that hasn’t happened in the U.S. and many European countries because they lacked such a figure. Merkel’s fourth run… will… bare the political center’s problems. They can no longer be swept under the rug, in Germany or elsewhere.”

Breitbart added on November 21:

“German Chancellor Angela Merkel has confirmed her decision to run for a fourth term, vowing explicitly to take on the forces of anti-establishment populism currently sweeping the West… ‘This election will be more difficult than any before it, at least not since national reunification [in 1990]’ she said… Merkel followed up the press conference with an in-depth, 25-minute interview with German broadcaster ARD, during which she vowed to press ahead with a ‘strong Europe’ following Brexit, Die Welt has reported.”

… but It Won’t Be Easy to Beat Angela Merkel

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 21:

“The center-left Social Democrats insist they’re not interested in a continuation of the current grand coalition in which they’re junior partners to the conservatives, but they’re refusing for the time being to put forward their own candidate for chancellor. That decision won’t be made until January…

“The SPD contends that Angela Merkel’s ‘myth of invincibility’ is gone, but that claim will be hard to take at face value until someone gets the job of actually trying to beat her. SPD chairman Sigmar Gabriel is the most likely candidate but he has relatively low personal popularity ratings. And European Parliamentary leader Martin Schulz – the only other politician often touted as a potential candidate – is hardly a household name in Germany…”

EU Parliament President Martin Schulz for German Chancellorship? 

Bloomberg wrote on November 24:

“European Parliament President Martin Schulz said he’ll vacate his post and run for a lower-house seat in Germany, marking him as one of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s potential challengers in next year’s election. Schulz, a Social Democrat, has led the European Union’s legislature since 2012 and is a prominent advocate of maintaining the EU. As a senior member of the SPD who’s well-known in Germany, he’ll be in a strong position as the party prepares to select its candidate for the top of the ticket in January.

“Merkel’s announcement on Sunday that she’ll seek a fourth term in 2017 is spurring the Social Democrats, her junior coalition partner, to consider options. Party leader Sigmar Gabriel, who sits at Merkel’s cabinet table as vice chancellor and economy minister, hasn’t said whether he’ll run for chancellor and Schulz, 60, is a possible alternative. ‘More than ever, the world needs a united European Union,’ Schulz told reporters in Brussels on Thursday. ‘From now on, I will fight for this project from the national level. Only by doing this will it be possible to regain the lost trust.’…

“The multilingual Schulz (German, English and French)…  became a member of the European Parliament in 1994. Schulz is due to step down in mid-January… Schulz was given an unprecedented second term as president until January 2017…  [There are] plans to pick a candidate for EU Parliament president next month…”

34 Percent of Germans Feel Like Strangers in Their Own Country

The Daily Caller wrote on November 22:

“A new study reveals some shocking statistics about German attitudes towards Muslim migration to the country. Around 34 percent of Germans reportedly ‘completely or slightly agree’ with the statement ‘because of the many Muslims, I sometimes feel like a stranger in my own country.’ The report, from German nonprofit Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, surveyed the feelings of German citizens in reaction to increased Muslim migration to the country…

“As Chancellor Angela Merkel seeks a fourth term, her chances are dogged by criticism of her refugee policy. A recent report from a German translator working at refugee camps said that asylum seekers had a ‘pure hatred’ of Christians and a desire to Islamize Germany.”

Europe’s Turbulent Times Ahead

Sputnik News wrote on November 18:

“The number of people who believe being an EU member is good for their country has fallen to 53%… 54% of respondents said they think ‘things are going in the wrong direction’…

“2016 has marked an extraordinary turning point in global politics. The status quo is well and truly under attack. In June, came the shock decision by the UK to vote to abandon its EU membership… European nationalism itself is being fueled by a perception that EU institutions, are out of touch with many of its own members. Yet, leaders of the EU Commission and European Parliament, which the general European public is not able to elect, wield significant and far reaching influence over nationally elected governments.

“There is a plethora of far-right leaders lining up for elections in the upcoming months. They’ll start with the Austrian presidential re-run and Italian constitutional referendum on December 4. Austria’s far-right presidential candidate Norbert Hofer, says he represents Austrians frustrated at Brussels’ authority…

“Romanian general elections will also be run on December 11; the Netherlands votes in March. Leader of the far-right Dutch Freedom Party, Geert Wilders, has called Mr. Trump’s recent victory a ‘revolution’, which should be copied across Europe. French Presidential elections will be held in late April, and the beginning of May. Together, with Germany, France has thus far been a strong supporter of the EU. If far-right candidate Marine Le Pen wins, Brussels will lose a key ally, in what would be a huge blow…

“However, it’s not all bad news. There is a vast disparity in how the EU is seen in different member states. In Ireland, 74% are happy that it is worth being a member of the EU… The upcoming political battles over the 12 months will reveal to Brussels whether there really is enough that connects Europeans, to keep the EU project intact.”

Slovakia’s Nazi-Party on the Rise

CBS News reported on November 18:

“The wave of far-right parties across Europe has been gathering steam from Greece to France, Austria and Germany. While most of the continent’s extreme forces have taken pains to steer clear of Nazi imagery, Slovakia’s answer to the trend celebrates it. The People’s Party Our Slovakia won almost 10 percent of the seats in Parliament in March. It openly admires the Nazi puppet state which the country was during the World War II.

“Party members use Nazi salutes, blame Roma for crime in deprived areas, consider NATO a terror group and want the country out of the alliance and the European Union. Thousands have signed a petition demanding that the party be banned. Analysts say the party’s popularity could grow even further…

“On Oct. 13, party members celebrated the 129th anniversary of the birth of Jozef Tiso, a Catholic priest and politician who was Slovakia’s war president. During his rule, some 60,000 Slovak Jews were transported to Nazi death camps. He was sentenced to death and hanged in 1947…”

European Leaders Talk Trump During Obama’s Final Day in Berlin

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 18:

“Closing the final leg of his last European visit as US President on Friday, Barack Obama met with leaders from five European countries as they sought reassurances following Donald Trump’s US election victory. Faced with the uncertain future of a transatlantic relationship with Trump at the helm, Friday’s meeting marked the first time since the Republican win that German Chancellor Angela Merkel, UK Prime Minister Theresa May, French President Francois Hollande, Spanish Prime Minister Mario Rajoy and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi all gathered together, along with Obama.

“A statement issued by the White House shortly after the summit said Obama agreed with his European counterparts that they need to continue working together as part of multilateral bodies such as NATO…

“As the UK prepares to leave the EU following June’s shock Brexit vote, Obama also stressed the importance of a united Europe, and urged the 28-member bloc not to take the transatlantic relationship for granted…

“As a parting gift on Friday, Merkel presented Obama with a German ‘Weihnachtspyramide.’ The traditional Christmas decoration dates back to the Middle Ages. Traditionally, people were said, in dark times, to try and avert disaster with the power of the pyramid’s light – an arguably fitting gift amid the apprehension surrounding Trump’s pending presidency…”

 It also signifies the real presence of evil.

Brexit and Donald Trump Glue Europe Together

The Washington Post wrote on November 24:

“Europe appears to have gotten used to crises by now. The war in Ukraine, the influx of refugees and the Greece’s debt woes have divided the continent. Surprisingly, two very different events that are being perceived as catastrophic in Europe could now help glue the political union back together. First, Britain voted to leave the European Union in a decision that was seen as a watershed moment in Europe’s history and triggered a series of emergency summits. Then, Donald Trump was elected U.S. president. Trump has extremely low approval ratings in Europe, and some leading politicians publicly opposed his candidacy. Again, the European Union called for a ‘crisis meeting.’ But it turns out that both Brexit and Trump’s election could actually help save the European Union…

“On Wednesday, the British government said it would have to borrow about $72 billion more over the next four years because of the economic fallout of the Brexit vote… As the British pound dropped to all-time lows, other nations took note. While more than 40 percent of Danes wanted an E.U. referendum before Britain decided to leave the union, support for such a vote has now declined by nearly 10 percentage points. Could the British decision glue Europe closer together? Austrians will head to the polls next month to elect a new president, and it is likely that far-right candidate Norbert Hofer could win. Hofer had previously demanded an E.U. referendum for Austria. But shortly after the Brexit vote — potentially amid fears that a shift in public opinion would cost him crucial votes — he indicated that being part of the European Union might not be so bad after all…

“The election of Donald Trump has also raised fears in Europe that he could weaken NATO and strengthen cooperation with Russia, which is viewed as increasingly dangerous in E.U. capitals. Eastern European and Scandinavian nations in particular fear Russia’s army and have so far comforted themselves with the presence of U.S. troops in the region. Trump, however, has suggested he would only defend countries that allocate a set ratio of their GDP to defense spending. Nearly no E.U. member state fulfills that criterion.

“German President Joachim Gauck this week was among those who have called for the country to focus more on its own security. His words were unusual for a German president: Most of his predecessors had advocated disarmament instead of more military spending. But Trump’s contradictory statements on that matter have raised worries that the United States might no longer be a reliable military ally. As the influence of NATO could decline during Trump’s presidency, smaller E.U. countries might increasingly have to rely on the European Union, which is pushing for stronger military cooperation on the continent.

“So far, E.U. politics have often appeared far removed from the everyday lives of Europeans. The E.U., critics argued, cared more about regulating the size and shape of bananas than about fundamental issues facing citizens. A military threat could change that calculation and the reputation of the Brussels bureaucracy in European Union member states. It is ironic that 2016, the year that appeared to be the beginning of the E.U.’s end, could in fact give the union its strongest boost.”

Coming—the EU Army

On November 22, Express published an article with the following headlines:

“DAWN OF EU ARMY: MEPs APPROVE new £420million-a-year SUPER FORCE to defend Europe. THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU) Army will be up and running in less than a year after MEPs today voted for the creation of a super force which can override NATO.”

The article continued:

“The vote was not supported by everyone in the Strasbourg Parliament after it narrowly passed by 369 votes to 255, with 70 abstentions. And astonishingly it has been agreed that the EU should also be prepared to act autonomously in cases where NATO is not willing to take the lead… the EU is celebrating this victory claiming the security situation in and around Europe has worsened significantly in recent years, due to challenges like terrorism, hybrid threats or cyber and energy insecurity.

“The EU… says no country is able to tackle defence alone and ‘solidarity and resilience require the EU to stand and act together’. European politicians have now guaranteed at least £420m-a-year in funding to set up their new European wide army which will be a ‘rapid response’ team.”

Does Mr. Putin Destabilize European Security?

The Times wrote on November 22:

“Russia is deploying short-range ballistic missiles to its western European enclave, it emerged yesterday as President Putin threatened ‘counter-measures’ against Nato expansion [and in particular the installation of a U.S. missile shield in eastern Europe.]

“A senior Russian MP said that Moscow would permanently station the nuclear-capable missiles in Kaliningrad, a region between the Nato states of Poland and Lithuania, in retaliation for a military build-up by the alliance in eastern Europe. John Kirby, spokesman for the US State Department, said that the deployment of the missiles was ‘destabilising to European security’. He added: ‘We call on Russia to refrain from words or deeds that are inconsistent with the goal of promoting security and stability.’”

Trump and Putin Asked to Help Building Third Temple

Israel National News reported on November 15:

“Eyeing what appears to be a twice-in-history opportunity, [an] organization called the Sanhedrin has called on U.S. president-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to join forces and back the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. The Sanhedrin is an attempt to renew the glorious Great Court of the same name from the last Jewish kingdom, some 2,000 years ago.

“Prof. Rabbi Hillel Weiss, spokesman for the Sanhedrin, said, ‘The political conditions today, in which the two most important national leaders in the world support the Jewish right to Jerusalem as their spiritual inheritance, is historically unprecedented.’ He said that the election of Donald Trump, who has promised to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, coupled with Putin’s expressed desire for the Temple’s rebuilding, prompted the Sanhedrin to send a letter to both leaders. The letter proposes that they act jointly as did King Cyrus of Persia 2,500 years ago and show most practically that they recognize the importance of Israel and the Holy Temple. ‘We are poised to rebuild the Temple,’ Weiss said.

“Trump’s support for Israel, and for the relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, is well-known, and many of his close aides are similarly strong supporters of Israel. Less well-known is Putin’s support for the Holy Temple. As the Sanhedrin writes in its letter, Putin paid a late-night visit to the Kotel (Western Wall) in 2012, during his third official trip to Jerusalem. Upon his arrival, the former KGB agent who became the leader of Russia stood in silent prayer for several minutes, after which he read Psalms from a Russian-Hebrew prayer book. At one point, an Israeli bystander called out in Russian, ‘Welcome, President Putin.’ Putin then approached the man, who explained the importance of the Temple Mount and the Jewish Temple. Putin reportedly responded, ‘That’s exactly the reason I came here – to pray for the Temple to be built again.’

“The Sanhedrin sent a letter at the time to Putin, calling on him to act to fulfill his prayer. President Putin did not respond, but the Sanhedrin hopes he will respond to the current letter, now that he has a potential ally for the project in the United States leadership.

“Basing himself on Biblical passages and Rabbinic tradition, Rabbi Weiss explained that ‘the leaders of Russia and America can lead the nations of the world to global peace through building the Temple, the source of peace.’ Supporting the Jewish claim to Jerusalem would bring benefit [to] Russia and America, as well as the entire world, he said.”

Jerusalem’s Chief Rabbi: Homosexuality an Abomination

The Times of Israel wrote on November 18:

“Jerusalem’s chief rabbi lashed out at Israel’s gay community in an interview released Friday, calling homosexuality an ‘abomination’ and earning himself a police complaint for incitement. Shlomo Amar, who previously served as the country’s Sephardi chief rabbi, told Israel Hayom newspaper that homosexuality is an ‘abomination,’ and that Jewish law advocates the death penalty for those who choose to engage in same sex relationships.  ‘I call it a cult. It’s a cult of abominations, it is obvious. It’s an abomination,’ he said. ‘The Torah says it is punishable by death. It is in the first rank of severe offenses… a person can overcome it if they want to, like all lusts. This is among the most forbidden lusts, the most severe.’

“… He also came out against rabbis trying to build bridges with the LGBTQ community: ‘There is no such thing, to show understanding or tolerance for this. A simple truth needs to be stated – there is a severe prohibition, and there is no allowance for it.’…

“Amar’s comments were met with fury by members of the LGBTQ community and champions of civil liberties in Israel…

“Amar also … accused Reform Jews of ‘inciting’ against the Torah for political gain… He also said unequivocally that public transportation could not be allowed on Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, and said he was against civil marriage for Jews in the State of Israel.”

Turkey’s President Erdogan Attacks Israel

The Times of Israel wrote on November 21:

“In his first interview with the Israeli press in over a decade, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday slightly walked back a 2014 assertion that Israel’s military offensive in Gaza was more barbaric than Hitler, but made no apology for invoking the Nazi leader’s name in the context, said he was ‘well aware’ of the sensitivities, and again condemned Israel’s ‘barbarism’ against the Palestinians.

“Erdogan spoke to Channel 2’s Ilana Dayan in Turkish in a sweeping, and frequently tense, interview that covered Israel-Turkey relations, the Gaza Strip and the failed coup attempt in Turkey over the summer. The interview… leveled bitter criticism at Israel, especially regarding its policies on the Palestinians…  ‘I don’t agree with what Hitler did and I also don’t agree with what Israel did in Gaza. Therefore there’s no place for comparison in order to say what’s more barbaric,’ Erdogan said when reminded of his 2014 comments.

“Asked if he was conscious of the shock his reference to Hitler caused among Jews, Erdogan said ‘I’m very well aware… But is the Jewish community aware of what is done (in Gaza)? Thousands of people bombed in Gaza and Palestine’ in the 2014 war with Hamas.

“The Turkish president dismissed categorizing Hamas as a terrorist organization, calling it a legitimate political party, and a ‘refugee movement born out [of] nationalism’ that must be part of any future peace deal… He also said he was in ‘constant contact’ with Hamas.

“He accused Israel of failing to respect the holiness of Jerusalem, accusing it of trying to change the status quo at the Al-Aksa compound (the Temple Mount). ‘Jerusalem is holy to three religions. You have to respect that,’ he said.”

For President Erdogan to accuse Israel of “barbarism” is the epitome of hypocrisy, given his barbarous, totalitarian and brutal assaults on Turkey’s opposition. His comments show his deep-seated hatred towards the Jews… and end-time Turkey (biblical Edom) will ultimately act with such cruel hostility towards Israel that God will severely punish Turkey.

Obama’s Legacy in the Middle East

The Washington Post wrote on November 18:

“When President Obama strode to the podium at Cairo University on June 4, 2009, he faced a Muslim world bursting with optimism about his middle name — Hussein! — along with his barrier-bashing skin color, and a heart they believed was wide open to their concerns and dreams… He called for ‘a new beginning between the United States’ and the world’s billion Muslims. He promised to close the reviled prison at Guantanamo Bay, to ‘personally pursue’ Palestinian-Israeli peace and to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq. Obama said he would invest billions in Afghanistan and Pakistan; seek a nuclear deal with Iran; encourage deeper ties in science, education and business; and promote women’s rights…

“Although much of the world still views Obama favorably, the dominant emotion in the Middle East is disappointment. The reasons Muslims give for their disillusionment are almost too many to count: seven years of drone strikes, deepening chaos in Iraq and the rise of the Islamic State, continued violence in Afghanistan, the collapse of Libya, the lack of Israeli-Palestinian progress, ongoing U.S. support for autocratic governments, the failure to close Guantanamo…”

Donald Trump Reiterates Some of His Promises…

Newsmax wrote on November 21:

“President-elect Donald Trump is telling the American people that he is assembling a Cabinet made up of ‘patriots’… He reiterated [in a surprise video] a number of his promises for the first 100 days of his administration, including vows to negotiate new trade deals, remove regulations on businesses and establish a five-year ban on executive officials becoming lobbyists.

“Specifically, Trump vowed to issue a notification of intent on his first day to withdraw from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which he described as a ‘potential disaster for our country.’… Notably missing from his promises is his pledge to repeal the Affordable Care Act and his vow to build a southern border wall with Mexico.”

 … While Breaking Others

The New York Times wrote on November 22:

“President-elect Donald Trump said he would not pursue any further criminal investigations of Hillary Clinton regarding her private email server use or the Clinton Foundation… Trump added he was seeking to unify the nation and he did not believe his decision would upset his supporters… Prosecuting the former secretary of state ‘would be very, very divisive for the country,’ Trump added…

“Trump’s decision brought a strong rebuke from Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch. The organization has filed more than 20 lawsuits against the Obama administration over Clinton’s private email use. ‘Donald Trump must commit his administration to a serious, independent investigation of the very serious Clinton national security, email, and pay-to-play scandals,’ Fitton said. ‘If Mr. Trump’s appointees continue the Obama administration’s politicized spiking of a criminal investigation of Hillary Clinton, it would be a betrayal of his promise to the American people to ‘drain the swamp’ of out-of-control corruption in Washington… President-elect Trump should focus on healing the broken justice system, affirming the rule of law and appointing a special prosecutor to investigate the Clinton scandals,’ Fitton added.”

The New York Post added on November 22:

“At the second presidential debate in October, Trump [promised:] ‘If I win, I am going to instruct my attorney general to get a special prosecutor to look into your situation because there has never been so many lies, so much deception’…”

“Donald Trump Will Pay Dearly for His Outrageous Decision”

Newsmax wrote on November 22:

“President-elect Donald Trump ‘will pay dearly’ for his decision to not seek any new criminal prosecutions against Hillary Clinton for her private email use or the Clinton Foundation, political strategist Dick Morris told Newsmax TV on Tuesday. ‘It’s your own people that will be mad at you, not the others,’ he told “Newsmax Prime” hosts J.D. Hayworth and Miranda Khan.

“‘It is so cynical. All of those Democrats who said this is just political, this is just an election nearing a charade, this isn’t serious judicial stuff, this isn’t real are suddenly proven right. And all the Republicans who said: “No, no this is very serious. This is real. Whether she’s running for president or not, this has to be prosecuted” are suddenly undercut by their own president.

“‘To do it now or to say he’s not going to pursue it when it was such a fundamental part of his campaign is outrageous — and I totally condemn Trump for doing that,’ he added. Further, ‘this makes it very easy for [President Barack] Obama to pardon her. This is outrageous. Just incredible,’ Morris told Newsmax…”

Newsmax also wrote this on November 22:

“Conservative pundit Ann Coulter slammed President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday for not pursuing  charges against Hillary Clinton over her private email server. Coulter, an ardent Trump supporter, tweeted: ‘I thought we elected Donald Trump president. Did we make him the FBI [and the] DOJ [Department of Justice]? His job is to pick those guys, not do their jobs. As happy as I am that our long national nightmare’s over, NO president should be blocking investigators from doing their jobs.’

“It’s not the first time Coulter disagrees with Trump. In August, she criticized his ‘softening’ stance on immigration after the billionaire developer said he would work with ‘upstanding’ illegal immigrants on a plan to have them stay in the country.”

Donald Trump’s Statement “Deeply Disturbing”

Breitbart added on November 22:

“Tuesday’s edition of ‘The Kelly File’ on the Fox News Channel, Breitbart editor at large Peter Schweizer, author of  ‘Clinton Cash,’ criticized President Elect Donald Trump’s statement that he doesn’t want to prosecute Hillary Clinton.

“Schweizer said, ‘I think it’s deeply disturbing. Look, he shouldn’t be talking about this at all. It’s not his job. I was on your program earlier this year, Megyn, talking about how inappropriate it would be for President Obama to intervene in an investigation. It is equally inappropriate for a President Elect and later President Donald Trump to do the same. If he wants to pardon her at the tail end of an investigation, if the Department of Justice decides that they’re not going to prosecute, they are fine to do that, but the FBI is undergoing an investigation right now, and the President Elect should not be telling them to halt their investigation.’

“Schweizer added that Trump was ‘overstepping’ his role, and President Obama would have been hammered by the right for doing likewise. And ‘If Hillary Clinton had won in November, I think it’s safe to assume that she would not have been investigated for the Clinton Foundation. She has lost in November, and now it seems that Donald Trump does not want her to be investigated for the Clinton Foundation. That is the definition of a rigged system.’”

It is also interesting to note that Donald Trump’s Foundation is now being accused of having accepted questionable donations, allegedly causing a serious conflict of interest.

More Broken Promises?

The New York Times wrote on November 22:

“President-elect Donald J. Trump tempered on Tuesday some of his most extreme campaign promises, dropping his vow to jail Hillary Clinton, expressing doubt about the value of torturing terrorism suspects and pledging to have an open mind about climate change.

“But in a wide-ranging hourlong interview with reporters and editors at The New York Times… Mr. Trump was unapologetic about flouting some of the traditional ethical and political conventions that have long shaped the American presidency. He said he had no legal obligation to establish boundaries between his business empire and his White House [He also said that “a sitting U.S. President ‘can’t have a conflict of interest,’” according to Newsmax, dated November 22; a claim which is patently incorrect.]

“He displayed a jumble of impulses, many of them conflicting… The interview demonstrated the volatility in Mr. Trump’s positions…

“On the issue of torture, Mr. Trump suggested he had changed his mind about the value of waterboarding after talking with James N. Mattis, a retired Marine Corps general, who headed the United States Central Command… On climate change, Mr. Trump refused to repeat his promise to abandon the international climate accord reached last year in Paris, saying, ‘I’m looking at it very closely.’…

“Asked about his antagonism with the news media and his vow to toughen libel laws, Mr. Trump offered no specifics but told the group, ‘I think you’ll be happy.’… Despite his frequent attacks against what he has dubbed the ‘failing New York Times,’ Mr. Trump seemed to go out of his way to [offer] praise to the institution, which he called ‘a great, great American jewel, world jewel.’”

What further “surprises” can we expect from Mr. Trump? How many promises will Donald Trump break, until he will experience a really big backlash? Note the next article.

Donald Trump Announces Pro-Common Core Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary 

Breitbart reported on November 23:

“President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team announces the choice of Common Core and charter school  supporter Betsy DeVos as U.S. Secretary of Education.  Anti-Common Core grassroots groups of parents and teachers urged Trump to abandon DeVos as his choice, citing her support for the education reform policies of pro-Common Core Jeb Bush and her influence through the Great Lakes Education Project (GLEP) in favor of Common Core…

“While on the campaign trail, Trump said Common Core was a ‘disaster,’ and criticized Jeb Bush for his support for the standards. Trump also said he would get Washington, D.C. out of education, and said he favored local control of education and the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education.”

Newsmax added on November 23:

‘Conservative Review panned the pick, writing…  ‘DeVos fails on two key promises Trump repeatedly made to voters: ‘Get rid of Common Core’ and ‘keep education local’…”

Multi-Million Dollar Settlement Agreed in Trump University Fraud Case

Deutsche Welle reported on November 18:

“The president-elect has agreed to a $25 million settlement in fraud cases related to Trump University. Trump had previously attempted to shut down the trial and repeatedly insisted the judge was biased against him…

“Trump was accused of misleading students by calling itself a university although it was an unaccredited school and by saying Trump ‘hand picked’ the lecturers. The program also falsely promised students success in real estate through programs which cost up to $35,000. The settlement, however, does not require Trump to acknowledge any wrongdoing.”

For a man who prided himself in not settling law suits, this settlement has opened up all kinds of questions.

Did Donald Trump Trash Major Media Executives?

Newsmax wrote on November 21:

“Major media executives and network hosts were berated in a private, closed-door meeting with President-elect Donald Trump on Monday, according to The New York Post. ‘It was like a… firing squad,’ one source told the Post of the one-hour ‘media summit,’ which took place at Trump Tower and included executives and anchors from CBS, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Fox Business Network, ABC and NBC. ‘Trump started with Jeff Zucker and said “I hate your network, everyone at CNN is a liar and you should be ashamed.”’

“‘The meeting was a total disaster,’ he added. ‘The TV execs and anchors went in there thinking they would be discussing the access they would get to the Trump administration, but instead they got a Trump-style dressing down.’

“Trump has long been at odds with media outlets throughout his campaign, saying reporting has been biased and unfair to him. He has publicly criticized reporters at rallies, once putting an NBC reporter at risk as Trump supporters heckled her, ignored media members altogether, and said the New York Times was ‘failing,’ called them ‘fools’ after a story about a rocky start within his transition team.

“One of Trump’s senior advisers, Kellyanne Conway, meanwhile, called the meeting unprecedented and ‘excellent,’ and one source told The Wrap that Trump’s team and those in attendance made ‘real progress’ with regard to transparency.”

However, Politico collaborated the report of the New York Post. On the other hand, CNN wrote on November 21:

“Trump did criticize the media generally, and some of the networks present — including CNN — at the start of the meeting, another participant said. But that participant said Trump also asked for a positive relationship between his White House and the media, and that a New York Post account which had a source describing the meeting as Trump giving the assembled members of the media a ‘dressing down’ like a ‘firing squad’ was wrong.”

So it appears that we can say with some certainty that there was a meeting between Mr. Trump and the media. Beyond that, time will tell.

Donald Trump Nominates Messrs. Sessions, Pompeo and Flynn

On November 18, Newsmax wrote the following:

“President-elect Donald Trump has tapped three senior leaders of his national security and law enforcement teams, choosing Sen. Jeff Sessions for attorney general, Rep. Mike Pompeo as CIA director, and General Mike Flynn as national security adviser. All three have accepted, Reuters reports…

“All three have been fierce critics of President Barack Obama’s handling of terrorism and national security, and their selection likely signals a sharp shift in U.S. policy… Sessions and Pompeo would both require Senate confirmation before assuming their designated roles; Flynn would not.

“Even with Republicans in control of the Senate, Sessions could face obstacles. He withdrew from consideration for a federal judgeship in 1986 after being accused of making racist comments while serving as a U.S. attorney in Alabama…

“Pompeo is… a strong critic of Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran… Pompeo has said that Muslim leaders are ‘potentially complicit’ in terrorist attacks if they do not denounce those made in the name of Islam…

“Flynn was a critic of Obama’s military and… has been outspoken in his warnings about the dangers of Islamist groups… Flynn has also worried some national security experts with his warmth toward Russia. Like Trump, he’s called for the U.S. to work more closely with Moscow… Last year, Flynn traveled to Moscow to join Russian President Vladimir Putin at a celebration for RT, a television channel funded by the Russian government. Flynn said he had been paid for taking part in the event and brushed aside concerns that he was aiding a Russian propaganda effort…

“Since his stunning victory over Hillary Clinton last week, Trump has spoken with Russian President Putin, British Prime Minister Theresa May and nearly three dozen other world leaders by telephone. Ron Dermer, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, also visited the Trump Tower and called the billionaire businessman ‘a true friend of Israel.’ He specifically cited as another ‘friend’ Trump campaign CEO Steve Bannon, whose selection as a top White House adviser has created a backlash among Democrats. Bannon’s news website has peddled conspiracy theories, white nationalism and anti-Semitism…”

Donald Trump Picks S. Carolina Governor Nikki Haley for UN Ambassador

Deutsche Welle reported on November 23:

“The President-elect has chosen former critic Nikki Haley as the US ambassador to the UN. Haley, who has little foreign policy experience, is the first woman to be tapped for a top-level post in Trump’s administration… Haley is the daughter of two Indian immigrants and became South Carolina’s first female and first minority governor in 2011. She is also the first woman and person of color to be nominated to a top Cabinet position in Trump’s administration… Last year, Haley signed a bill to remove the Confederate flag from state capitol grounds. The flag is an emblem of the American South and is associated with slavery…

“Haley was fiercely critical of Trump’s divisive election campaign in which he called Mexican immigrants rapists and criminals, threatened to ban Muslim immigration, and faced accusations of sexual harassment and assault from multiple women… Trump also criticized Haley on Twitter, writing in March that ‘the people of South Carolina are embarrassed by Nikki Haley!’…

“The UN ambassador position is the second highest-profile diplomatic position after Secretary of State…”

Her bill removing the confederate flag from state capitol grounds has been sharply criticized by many as being deeply offensive, including by those whose forefathers fought for the South.

Japan’s Prime Minister Meets with Mr. Trump

Deutsche Welle reported on November 18:

“Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has met President-elect Donald Trump in a hastily-arranged 90-minute meeting. Abe is the first foreign leader to meet Trump face-to-face… Abe, whose stances on security have earned him a reputation as a defense hawk, reportedly wanted Trump’s assurances on issues ranging from Asian security to trade… Japan will also want to know how Trump plans to approach North Korea, which has ramped up its testing of missiles this year, including a nuclear warhead… Trump alarmed Tokyo during his campaign by suggesting a pull-out of thousands of US troops from the region. He also said that Japan – officially pacifist – may need nuclear weapons…

“Trump has said that while Japan is spending more on defense, in the long run it will need to expand military spending… Trump also said he would tear up the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a proposed trade pact backed by outgoing President Barack Obama and which Abe had made a top priority. If the TPP is ratified before President Barack Obama leaves office, Trump still has the authority to withdraw the US from the treaty… Many commentators believe it highly likely Trump will slap tariffs on Asian imports, possibly triggering a currency war. A survey of investors in July by Nomura Holdings noted a list of worries under a Trump presidency: from a possible rise in trade protectionism to threats to regional security if the US cuts its military commitments in Asia.”

Asia Concerned

The South China Morning Post wrote on November 22:

“Pivot or not, the future of the US policy of engagement with Asia is likely to be a defining feature of a Donald Trump presidency, especially after the US president-elect released a video on Monday in which he pledged to withdraw from a major regional trade accord on his first day in office. Turning the worst nightmare of America’s regional allies into reality, the 70-year-old real estate mogul’s surprise election victory threatens to dismantle US President Barack Obama’s Asia policy legacy and put decades-old US alliances in the region in doubt.

“Some diplomatic pundits even say an isolationist foreign policy under Trump, known for his showman style and brash and blunt personality, might become a turning point for America’s leadership of a chaotic world – with an increasingly assertive China in mind as a successor. Although America’s president-elect has yet to unveil his foreign policy line-up or release any policy road map, observers warn that Asian nations should expect a bumpy ride ahead, with post-election chaos and uncertainty likely to reign in Washington in the coming weeks, if not months…

“In his post-election diplomatic debut, Trump met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Trump Tower in Manhattan on Thursday. Abe described the hour-long meeting with the president-elect as ‘candid’, which in the lexicon of diplomatese usually means heated discussion with few concrete results.”

Stephen Bannon’s Highly Offensive Comments

The Daily Mail wrote on November 19:

“Donald Trump’s newly-minted chief strategist and senior counselor Stephen Bannon seems to get a kick out of the villainous caricature liberals and the media have constructed for him. ‘Darkness is good: Dick Cheney. Darth Vader. Satan. That’s power,’ Bannon told the Hollywood Reporter in a new profile. ‘It only helps us when [the media and liberals] get it wrong. When they’re blind of who we are and what we’re doing.’

“He later adds that the media is ‘just a circle of people talking to themselves who have no… idea of what’s going on’…”

If his comments regarding Darth Vader and Satan were supposed to be “jokes,” then they were truly bad ones. If they were meant to be serious, then God help us.

Dark Forces in Myanmar

Deutsche Welle reported on November 18:

“A self-proclaimed sorcerer has gone on trial in Myanmar over charges of murdering three young children. The man told the court that he was overtaken by a ‘dark spirit’ during an exorcism ritual… He had previously told the children’s parents that they were possessed by demons and gave the villagers ‘blessed water’ to drink, causing them to lose their senses. The supposed exorcism ritual lasted for two days, according to witnesses. ‘Because of what he did everyone was out of their mind,’ an uncle of one of the murdered children told the AFP agency.

“Most of the population in Myanmar are Buddhist, but superstitions including astrology and evil spirits have strong influence as well. The country was run for more than 25 years by the famously superstitious military dictator Ne Win, who consulted soothsayers, changed the law to force everybody to drive on the other side of the road on the advice of a wizard, as well as changing the denominations of country’s bank notes – making them multiples of his lucky number nine.”

These Satanic and demonic activities in Myanmar (which include the belief in astrology) must be taken very seriously. It shows how active demons are these days… and the Bible prophecies that in the end time, demons—the powers of darkness—will rage and destroy as never before in the history of mankind.

The Terrible Krampus Legend of the Christmas Season

The Sun wrote on November 21:

“Satanic celebrations erupt in Austria as hundreds turn out as [the] terrifying Christmas demon Krampus. The folklore legend punished naughty children by beating them with branches – or even EATING them. The ‘Henndorfer Perchtenlauf’ event in Austria draws thousands of people as performers brandish flame torches and weapons to thrill the crowds. Thousands run through the streets dressed as the half goat, half demon folklore legend.

“… The half-goat, half-demon is the exact opposite of Santa Claus and legend has it that Krampus punishes children who have misbehaved… performers can be seen wearing gruesome goat masks and fur coats as they run through billowing clouds of dark smoke. The performers – many on stilts – parade up to children in the crowds and bare their sharp teeth as they celebrate pre-Christian traditions.

“Some brandish weapons such as pitchforks and smokebombs, while others have terrifying bloodshot eyes. Dozens stomp through Henndorf in Salzburg chasing children and adults with cowbells around their necks. Last year, a Christmas comedy horror film – ‘Krampus’ – based on the character was released, grossing over £1.4million at the UK box office.

“The terrifying legend was the opposite of St Nick but would visit houses with him and punish children. Krampus historically comes around the night of December 5 alongside Santa Claus. He visits houses all night with St. Nick and punishes naughty children. Legend has it that throughout the Christmas season, misbehaved kids are beaten with birch branches or can disappear – stuffed into Krampus’ sack and hauled off to his lair to be tortured or eaten.”

These are not just harmless ideas. They are Satanic and also reveal much about our pagan Christmas traditions. In Germany, Krampus is known as “Knecht Ruprecht”—the demonic alter ego of Santa Claus.

The Santa Claus Lie–“Harmless” or Dangerous?

Daily Mail wrote on November 24:

“For most young children, it is an essential part of the magic of Christmas. But letting them believe in Santa Claus could do more harm than good, two academics claim. That is because when a child discovers the truth, they will no longer trust their parents, the pair claim in the respected medical journal Lancet Psychiatry.

“Professor Christopher Boyle, a psychologist at the University of Exeter, and researcher Dr Kathy McKay from the University of New England in Australia,… add: ‘All children will eventually find out they’ve been consistently lied to for years, and this might make them wonder what other lies they’ve been told.’…

“Last night Professor Boyle… defended the claims, made in an essay titled A Wonderful Lie. ‘The morality of making children believe in such myths has to be questioned,’ he said… ‘The point is that it is based on a myth, it is based on a lie. There comes a point where the child is going to ask you “Is Santa real?” and at that point you have to decide what to tell them.’…

“In the essay, they write: ‘Perhaps the biggest moral breach of the Christmas lie comes with the fact that one day, the truth comes out. Children must all find out eventually that their parents have blatantly and consistently carried on a lie for a number of years. Children may find out from a third party, or through their parents getting bored of the make-believe and making a mistake; both might affect the trust that exists between child and parent. If adults have been lying about Santa, even though it has usually been well-intentioned, what else is a lie? If Santa isn’t real… [is] God?’”

The Catholic Church’s Stance on Abortion

CNN wrote on November 21:

“Pope Francis has extended indefinitely the power of Catholic priests to forgive abortions, making the announcement in an apostolic letter released Monday. It continues a special dispensation granted last year for the duration of the Year of Mercy — which finished Sunday — which gave all priests, rather than just bishops and specially designated confessors, the power to absolve the sin of abortion…

“[The] Catholic Church’s stance on abortion has not changed — it is still viewed as a ‘grave sin.’ But it makes it easier for women who have had abortions to be absolved for their actions, and rejoin the church… Since the first century, the Catholic Church has held that abortion is a ‘moral evil.’ The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that every human life ‘from the moment of conception until death is sacred’ — and that any Catholic who procures an abortion incurs automatic excommunication, a penalty that often only a bishop could lift.

“John Paul II, whose papacy ran from 1978 to 2005, emphasized the traditional Catholic view on abortion, describing it as ‘murder,’ and the church has been a strong force behind pro-life groups worldwide…

“Pope Francis has forged a more forgiving, merciful direction for the Church since his papacy began in March 2013, taking a more welcoming position toward groups that had previously found themselves on the margins of the Catholic establishment, such as gays and lesbians, and divorced Catholics…”

The Catholic Church is correct in stating that human life begins with conception; that abortion is murder; and that God forgives upon true and genuine repentance.

Earthquake Strikes Off Fukushima in Japan

NBC wrote on November 21:

“An earthquake with preliminary magnitude of 7.3 [Deutsche Welle wrote about a magnitude of 7.4] struck Tuesday off the coast of Fukushima prefecture in Japan. A tsunami warning for waves of up to 10 feet was issued. The Japan Meteorological Agency says the quake struck around 6 a.m at a depth of 6 miles. It warned people along the coast to move to higher ground.

“Fukushima prefecture is home to the nuclear power plant that was destroyed by a huge tsunami following an offshore earthquake in 2011. NHK urged people to flee the coast immediately, reminding them of the devastating 2011 quake that killed about 18,000 people.”

Israel in Flames

“More than 60,000 people from the northern city of Haifa were evacuated from their homes Thursday, as firefighters battled a series of massive blazes that have gripped the country over the past three days. Five countries, including Russia and Turkey, sent fire fighting planes to assist Israel in tackling the fires, which officials said might have been started intentionally — possibly for nationalist motives. Israel’s internal security agencies are looking into the causes of the fires, which started on Monday night and have broken out in several places around the country since…

“Israeli officials said that some 10 firefighting planes from Greece, Italy, Croatia and Cyprus, as well as Turkey and Russia, had either arrived in Israel or were on their way to help put out the blazes that have showed no signs of abating. Netanyahu spoke Thursday morning with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who agreed to send two massive firefighting planes that could drop water on the blazes. Local media reported that Israel was planning to bring the supertanker firefighting plane from the U.S. to gain control of the situation but it will only arrive in 24 hours.”

“‘Unprecedented’: More than 100 Million Trees Dead in California”

The San Francisco Chronicle wrote on November 17:

“California’s lingering drought has pushed the number of dead trees across the state past 100 million, an ecological event experts are calling dangerous and unprecedented in underlining the heightened risk of wildfires fueled by bone-dry forests.

“… the U.S. Forest Service said 62 million trees have died this year in California, bringing the six-year total to more than 102 million. Scientists blame five-plus years of drought on the increasing tree deaths — tree ‘fatalities’ increased by 100 percent in 2016 — but the rate of their demise has been much faster than expected, increasing the risk of ecologically damaging erosion and wildfires even bigger than the largest blazes the state’s seen this year. There are about 21 million acres of trees spread across California’s 18 national forests, and the latest figures show 7.7 million of them — more than one-third — are dead…

“Rising temperatures throughout the state aren’t helping matters, and neither are the persevering infestations of bark beetles fond of gnawing through pine trees stressed by drought, leaving in their wake thousands of acres of brown, dead wood… Tree mortality, and what drives it,… is still a poorly understood process…”

New Discoveries About the Cheops Pyramid

Haaretz wrote on November 23:

“The oldest known harbor in the world has been discovered by archaeologists diving off Egypt’s Red Sea coast at Wadi el-Jarf. The site was found near a huge archive of papyri – which is also the oldest known to date, and which describe how the harbor was built and used by the great King Cheops to import materials to build his flagship monument, the Great Pyramid of Giza… Cheops, also known by his Egyptian name Khufu… had the harbor erected 180 kilometers south of Suez, in the foothills of the desert mountains. The site is nowhere near Giza: it seems it served mainly to import relatively lighter copper and minerals, which were used to manufacture the tools that were employed to build the pyramid…

“King Cheops himself was not only a great pyramid builder but evidently also a great businessman, trading along the Canaanite coast up to Byblos (today in northern Lebanon), and inland to the Sinai Desert and Jordan. The ancient Egyptians may have built the harbor to secure their supply of strategic resources, such as copper and turquoise, which were mined in the southern Sinai. Indeed, the entire history of pharaonic Egypt was inextricably linked with use of boats and ships.  Sail boats augmented with oars could travel 80 kilometers in a day, convenient not only for trade, but to quickly deploy troops…

“Perhaps most astounding was the discovery in summer of around 800 pieces of papyri, dating to the reign of Cheops´s 27th regnal reign. This is the oldest papyrus archive ever found in Egypt, according to the Egyptian Institute of Antiquities… The excavators believe that the papyri are the archive of a team of sailors, and includes two categories of documents. One is accounts organized in tables, corresponding to daily or monthly deliveries of food from various areas including the Nile Delta: mostly bread and beer for the port workers. The other documents are logbooks recording everyday activities of a team led by an inspector named Merer, an official from Memphis… Every fourth day, blocks would be delivered to a pyramid construction site on the Giza plateau called the ‘Horizon of Cheops’, the papers explain…

“Recent calculations estimate that actually building the pyramid required 5,000 men, or, 15,000 if one includes people bringing the raw material to Giza… They were not slaves, but specialists who were employed all the year long by the royal administration – and, from the records that we have on the papyrus, they were rather privileged…”

Strong evidence exists that Cheops, also known by his Egyptian name Khufu, was none other than the biblical Job.

The passage in John 16:26-27 states the following:

“In that day you will ask in My name, and I DO NOT SAY TO YOU THAT I SHALL PRAY THE FATHER FOR YOU; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God…”

In our booklet, “Teach Us to Pray!”, we wrote this in the chapter, titled, “In the Name of Christ” (pages 82 – 86):

“Christ tells us that we are to pray to the Father in ‘Christ’s name’ (compare, for instance, John 16:23: ‘… whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.’). What, exactly, does it mean to pray to God the Father in Christ’s name?…

“John 14:13-14 says that whatever we ask in Christ’s name, Christ will do it… When we pray to the Father in Christ’s name… we acknowledge Christ’s role and function while we pray, expecting Christ to do something while we pray. In general, when we pray to God in the name of Christ, we are praying through Christ—expecting Christ to back us up, support us, and do something in regard to what we say. The Commentary on the Whole Bible, by Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, explains that Christ is the living Conductor of the prayer upward, and the answer downward…

“When we pray or say something in the name of Christ, we say it, not only with or by His authority, but we actually speak through Christ… Christ lives in us, and when we pray in the name of Christ, it is actually Christ who gives us the mind to say the right things, and it is He who even communicates to the Father what we might have wanted to say—but we could not find the right way to express them. We read that the Spirit makes intercession for us, when we pray (Compare Romans 8:26-27). Verse 34 clarifies that it is actually Christ, through His Spirit, who makes intercession for us or pleads our cause. He is a life-giving Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45)…”

In the booklet, we also ask the very question raised in this Q&A, by referring to John 16:26-27, stating: “Doesn’t this passage say that Christ will NOT pray for us to the Father?” We should realize that if that were the case, then literally dozens of Scriptures would be annulled. We read that Christ is our Intercessor, interceding for us. We point out in our booklet:

“The Commentary on the Whole Bible, by Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, explains: ‘Christ does pray the Father for His people, but not for the purpose of inclining an unwilling ear… It is not that the Father were not of Himself disposed to aid you.’

“…Christ was saying, in effect: It is not that the Father does not love you. He does love you, because you have loved Me. At the same time, Christ IS our Mediator, and it is His role, as the One who HAD BEEN MAN, and can therefore sympathize with our weaknesses, to speak to the Father on our behalf… Christ lives in us (2 Corinthians 13:5). Christ lived in Paul, and Paul lived by the faith of Christ (Galatians 2:20, Authorized Version), even when he spoke to people and when he prayed to God.  Notice 2 Corinthians 13:3: ‘… since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me.’ As Christ lived in Paul, He was speaking through and for Paul.

“So again, when we pray to the Father in the name of Christ… we ask Christ to communicate our prayers, in their intended way, to the Father… Hebrews 9:24 tells us that Christ appears in the presence of God the Father for us, NOW, every time we pray in His name…”

This conclusion has been questioned by some. In pointing at John 16:26-27, it was stated that Christ only intercedes for us when we have sinned and pray to God for forgiveness; or, that Christ does not intercede for us at all in an active way; but when we use the words “in Christ’s name,” God the Father remembers thereby Christ’s Supreme Sacrifice, and that is all which is necessary, without any active role of Christ and without any literal intervention or intercession.

These concepts are erroneous. As we have seen, Christ’s role in interceding for us is VERY active, direct and immediate.

Let us therefore review some more statements from commentaries, trying to explain the meaning of John 16:26-27.

Barnes’ Notes on the Bible says:

“In John 14:16, Jesus says that he would pray the Father, and that he would send the Comforter. In John 17 he offered a memorable prayer for them. In Hebrews 7:25, it is said that Jesus ever liveth to make intercession for us; and it is constantly represented in the New Testament that it is by his intercession in heaven now that we obtain the blessings of pardon, peace, strength, and salvation. Compare Hebrews 9:24. This declaration of Jesus, then, does not mean that he would not intercede for them, but that there was no need then of his mentioning it to them again. They knew that; and, in addition to that, he told them that God was ready and willing to confer on them all needful blessings.”

The Adam Clarke Commentary agrees, stating:

“I need not tell you that I will continue your intercessor: I have given you already so many proofs of my love that ye cannot possibly doubt this: besides, the Father himself… loves you, and is graciously disposed to save you to the uttermost, because ye have loved me and believed in me as coming from God, for the salvation of the world.”

The Expositor’s Greek Testament makes it even clearer:

“The intention of the statement is to convey fuller assurance that their prayers will be answered. The Father’s love needs no prompting. Yet the intercession of Christ, so emphatically presented in the Epistle to the Hebrews and in Romans 8:34, is not ignored. Jesus says: ‘I do not base the expectation of answer solely on my intercession, but on the Father’s love… I do not bring this forward as the sole reason why you may expect to be heard’…”

Similarly Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible:

“John calls [Christ] our Advocate, (1 John 2:1.) Paul also testifies that Christ now intercedes for us (Romans 8:34); and the same thing is confirmed by the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, who declares that Christ always liveth to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25)… Christ does not absolutely say, in this passage, that he will not be Intercessor, but he only means, that the Father will be so favorably disposed towards the disciples, that, without any difficulty, he will give freely whatever they shall ask…”

A very insightful comment can also be found in Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible:

“This is a further exhortation for the apostles to pray directly to God in Jesus’ name, on the grounds that the love of God for Christ is extended to Jesus’ disciples. This love of God was the result not merely of their belief in Christ… but was also based upon their love of Christ…. because… such love means keeping Jesus’ words and obeying his commands (John 14:15).”

The Wycliffe Bible Commentary elaborates:

“In the future, prayer would indeed be in the name of Christ, but not in the sense that the Son would be the means of overcoming some sort of hesitancy or resistance in the Father which otherwise believers would encounter. On the contrary, the Father loveth them, and is ready to receive them because of their attitude toward his beloved Son.”

The Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament state:

“When Christ says, I do not say that I will pray the Father for you, the meaning is not that he will lay aside his office as intercessor for believers, but that they had not only his intercession, but the Father’s love, upon which to ground their hope of audience… the Christian’s prayers, put up in Christ’s name, cannot fail of audience and acceptance for the sake of the Mediator’s intercession and the Father’s love… in our prayers we ought so to eye and look up to Christ’s intercession, as not to overlook and forget the Father’s love, but ground our hopes of audience upon both.”

Justin Edwards’ Family Bible New Testament writes:

“The Saviour does not mean to deny that he will intercede with the Father for his disciples; but rather to lead their minds beyond this truth, which he had frequently stated, to another: that the Father is one with him in loving them, so that his intercession for them must prevail.”

We can see from the Bible, as the above-quoted commentators also recognize, that Christ continues to intercede for us quite actively, and when we pray to the Father in Christ’s name, we emphasize the fact that we are aware of Christ’s very personal and individual intercession on our behalf. At the same time, we must also realize the great love that the Father has for us, so that the Father’s and Christ’s love for us, who are “one” in mind and purpose (John 10:30), will guarantee that our prayers will be heard, when we do our part (1 John 3:22), and that we will receive what we ask in accordance with God’s Will (1 John 5:14).

The Catholic concept is preposterous that people must pray to the “Virgin Mary” who, as Christ’s mother, has allegedly more love for us than the Father. Equally preposterous is the idea that when praying to the “Virgin Mary,” she will intercede for us in speaking to Christ; and He will listen to His mother and then intercede for us in pleading with the Father who is portrayed as the cruel and harsh Old Testament God.

First of all, there is only ONE Mediator between God and Man–Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). He is the ONLY one who was resurrected to eternal life; those who died in Christ will be resurrected to eternal life at the time of His Second coming… not before then (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). The “Virgin Mary” is no intercessor… she is not in heaven, nor even alive; she is dead in her grave, waiting for the resurrection from the dead.

In addition, the false idea that the Father is the harsh God of the Old Testament, while Christ is the loving God of the New Testament, is also quite blasphemous, because it was Jesus Christ who, as the God of the Old Testament, dealt and acted directly with the Israelites (1 Corinthians 10:4)–but He was by no means harsh and cruel; as the second member of the God Family, He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He came to reveal the Father who was unknown to most people (Matthew 11:27; John 1:18; 5:37).  (For more information, please read our free booklets: “Jesus Christ–a Great Mystery“; “Do You Know the Jesus of the Bible?” and “God Is a Family.”)

Therefore, Christ emphasizes in John 16:26-28 that the Father, as God, IS love (1 John 4:8), and that He loves us (1 John 4:9-10). His intercession is not for the purpose of awakening or stirring up God’s love; it is however, at times, for the purpose of re-emphasizing the fact that we are flesh and blood human beings who are weak and feeble; and that Jesus lived as a man and experienced how it is to be tempted in the flesh in all things, while overcoming sin in the flesh and staying sinless (Romans 8:3; Hebrews 4:15).

It is also for this very reason that Jesus is the Judge of all men, because He is the Son of MAN (John 5:22, 27)… having lived as a human being (John 1:1, 14; Philippians 2:5-8) and experienced the weakness of the flesh (Matthew 27:41). We read that God loves the Son, and because of His Son, He also loves us with the SAME love (John 17:23), if we are willing to manifest His love (1 John 5:2-3), which “has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit [which] was given to us” (Romans 5:5).

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

“Europe Reacts to Trump Election,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

Why is the Trump election prophetic in accordance with the Bible? In light of comments made by Donald Trump regarding NATO and his relationship with Vladimir Putin, Europe feels compelled to create an EU army. Germany is about to replace Joachim Gauck as the German President with “anti-Trump” Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, partly in response to the Trump election. Leading Jewish rabbis have asked Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin to get involved with the building of the Third Temple in Jerusalem–a move which would cause Europe to intervene militarily.

“Europa Reagiert auf Trump Wahl,” presented by Evangelist Norbert Link, is the German language version of the StandingWatch program mentioned above.

“Was Satan Uns Antut!”, is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon. Title in English: “What Satan Does to Us.”

“Walking in the Valley,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Dave Harris, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Christians face trials—hard ones! The record of the Bible shows that righteous people encountered difficult tests throughout their lives. When we find ourselves in trying situations, how do we react?

“Fiery Darts,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Eric Rank, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Satan specializes in finding our weaknesses and using them against us. Unless we are properly equipped to defend ourselves from his taunting attacks, we are at risk of becoming overwhelmed by sin and compromising our relationship with God. How can we expect to be spiritually attacked? Most importantly, what can we do to protect ourselves from temptations we experience and win our battles against sin?