On April 2, 2016, Robb Harris will present the sermonette, titled, “The First Step,” and Dave Harris will present the sermon, titled, “It’s A Miracle!”

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 Church of God transcends the lifetimes of those called into it. Since the very beginning, God has chosen people for membership in what the Bible identifies as the “body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:12).

Have you ever stopped to think about all those who will be among the firstborn in the Kingdom of God—with whom we now stand (compare Hebrews 11:39-40)?

When we consider those who are our brethren, we tend to think in terms of those who are alive within our immediate fellowship. Yet, we are among generations of faithful men and women who form the Church of God.

Being in the Church of God has great implications for us, for we have been imbued with the Holy Spirit of God, and that makes us part of the Family of God:

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of [sonship] by [which] we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit [itself] bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Romans 8:14-17).

If we can truly understand the significance of our calling, then our service to God becomes even more imperative!

We might think, “What can we do?” Can a relatively small group of Christians really accomplish anything meaningful in the work God has commissioned? The fact is that the Church of God has always been small (Luke 12:32), persecuted (John 15:20; 16:33) and challenged to keep the faith (Jude 1:3). In spite of that, throughout the centuries, true brethren have continued to serve God—to stay in the Church of God and not fall away!

What we must understand and never lose sight of is that Jesus Christ is the living Head of His Church—the Church of God! He knows each one of us. He continues to guide us, if we continue to submit to His lead.

We begin with a report about secret meetings of the G-20 with the goal to “knock out the US dollar.” Business Insider calls this new effort “the most important financial development of 2016, with enormous implications,” and “a major turning point in the international monetary system.” We also report on mass demonstrations in Germany against German troops in foreign countries and American nuclear weapons on German soil. In this context, please view our new StandingWatch program, “Will Europe Face a Nuclear Attack?”

Turning to the Middle East, we speak on the King of Jordan’s and Israel’s warning against Turkey as well as a bill in Israel to grant more Sabbath protection; American “allies” which turn against each other in Syria; and Iran’s continuing development of ballistic missiles. We also report on Cuba’s rejection of American influence.

We speak on embarrassing problems with artificial intelligence and another shameful victory of the vaccination lobby, and the ongoing battle between the FBI and Apple. In this regard, please view our recent StandingWatch program, “Why Would Apple Resist the FBI?”   

We continue to focus on the presidential election campaigns in the USA, including an article claiming that “Heidi Cruz is to be feared the most after Hillary Clinton”; several articles explaining the controversial world views of Donald Trump [in this regard, please view our new special StandingWatch program, “Why ALL Candidates are WRONG on Abortion!”]; Glenn Beck’s bizarre claim that “no real Christian” would vote for Donald Trump and that a presidency under Ted Cruz would be the “fulfillment of prophecy”; allegations apparently “steaming” from the Rubio camp (as “reported” by the National Enquirer) that Ted Cruz has been having numerous extramarital affairs (these allegations, whether true or not, might very well contribute to his downfall); and the strongly worded opinion of Dr. Ben Carson that Christianity and the very concept of the God of the Bible are under worldwide attack, including in the United States.

We conclude with the suspension of a Professor at an American Catholic University for objecting to their prohibition of debating same-sex marriages, and with a court decision in Germany, punishing a landlord for not renting his place to a gay couple.

Secret Meetings of G-20 Core Group to Knock Out the US Dollar

Business Insider wrote on March 27:

“The U.S. dollar has just been knocked down and forced to serve the interests of the world against the will of the American people… Based on the best information we’ve been able to obtain, it looks like the dollar has just been Shanghaied by the G-20 (the unelected, unaccountable group of 20 nations that collectively control the world monetary system). This could be the most important financial development of 2016, with enormous implications for you and your portfolio…

“This new effort to knock out the dollar was contrived in a secret meeting in Shanghai on Feb. 26… Janet Yellen from the Fed, Christine Lagarde from the IMF, Mario Draghi from the ECB and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew were all there, along with their central bank and finance ministry counterparts from Japan, China and the other BRICS…

“The main meeting of the G-20 finance ministers and central bank governors was no secret. It was conducted with much fanfare and publicity. Thousands of reporters descended on Shanghai to cover the proceedings. A side meeting of a core group consisting of the U.S., Europe, Japan, China and the IMF was a secret. This group really calls the shots…

“There’s another secret G-20 meeting on April 16, 2016. This will take place on the sidelines of the IMF spring meeting in Washington, D.C… it will go down in history as a major turning point in the international monetary system.”

Ultimately, we can expect that the US Dollar will lose in value, especially against the euro.

Demonstrations Against American Nuclear Weapons on German Soil

Deutsche Welle reported on March 28:

“More than 20,000 people gathered to participate in Germany’s ‘Easter marches’ over the holiday weekend. The annual events protest militarization and the presence of German troops in foreign countries. The numbers were an increase on the previous year in spite of the changeable weather… nationwide there were about 80 different related demonstrations and gatherings to promote peaceful resolution to conflict.

“Kristian Golla of the ‘Peace Cooperative’ network in Bonn said that strong turnout showed ‘the basic skepticism with which our society views war and military intervention.’ One event in the Eifel region of western Germany called for an end to the presence of American nuclear weapons in Germany. The Büchel air base in the Eifel received some 20 new B 61-12 atomic weapons from the US in September of last year, at the same time similar weapons were moved to bases that cooperate with the US in Aviano, Italy, and Incirlik, Turkey.

“The Easter marches began in Germany in the 1960s at the initiative [of] German Quaker pacifist Konrad Tempel. In the late 50s, Chancellor Konrad Adenauer had dismissed concerns about nuclear weapons, saying they were ‘the latest development’ in military technology and their existence was keeping Germans safe…”

King of Jordan: “Turkey Is Deliberately ‘Unleashing’ Isis Terrorists into Europe.”

The Independent wrote on March 27:

“Turkey is exporting Isis-linked terrorists to Europe, according to King Abdullah of Jordan. The monarch’s remarks came in a meeting with members of the US Congress, in which he said that Islamist militants were being ‘manufactured in Turkey’ and ‘unleashed’ into Europe. He also… [reminded] the US politicians of Turkey’s alleged complicity in buying Isis oil. ‘The fact that terrorists are going to Europe is part of Turkish policy,’ said King Abdullah… [arguing] that the autocratic Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan believes in a ‘radical Islamic solution to the region’…

“The meeting was held on 11 January, but details of the King’s opinions have only just been leaked…

“Although Turkey and Jordan are officially allies, the refugee crisis has heightened tensions between the two nations. King Abdullah is understood to have been angered by the EU’s generous offer of cash and diplomatic ties in return for Turkey limiting the onward flow of refugees into the continent. At roughly 75 million, Turkey’s population is over ten times that of Jordan’s, meaning the Arab nation is hosting a proportionately greater number of refugees.”

Israel Asks Its Citizens to Leave Turkey Immediately

JTA wrote on March 28:

“Israel warned its citizens living in or visiting Turkey to leave immediately. The travel warning was issued Monday by the National Security Council Counter Terrorism Bureau, which is part of the Prime Minister’s Office. The warning, which was upgraded from a basic concrete threat to a high concrete threat, comes a week after a suicide bombing at a main shopping center in Istanbul killed three Israelis and one Iranian national. Turkish media later reported that the bomber targeted an Israeli tour group.”

Bill to Protect Sabbath Rest Proposed in Israel

Israel National News reported on March 25:

“A bill… which would extend Shabbat ‘day of rest’ benefits passed an initial vote in the Knesset on Wednesday. The proposal would protect all workers in Israel who choose not to work on Shabbat from losing their jobs, regardless of their level of religious observance. In addition, the law would prohibit employers from using discriminatory hiring practices which target workers who refuse to work on Shabbat.

“Currently, Israeli law only recognizes the rights of religious Jews to refuse work on Shabbat. Non-Jews and secular Jews may be forced by their employers to work on Shabbat, or face loss of employment. If entered into law, [the bill] would give all workers in Israel the same Shabbat ‘day of rest’ rights, enabling anyone, regardless of religion or level of observance, to claim Shabbat as a religious day of rest.”

In many European countries, no religious protection exists for the observance of God’s Sabbath. In the USA, such protection might exist on paper, but seldom in practice. That is one of the great sins this world is committing, causing the outpouring of God’s wrath on a rebellious mankind.

American “Allies” Turn Against Each Other in Syria

The Los Angeles Times wrote on March 27:

“Syrian militias armed by different parts of the U.S. war machine have begun to fight each other on the plains between the besieged city of Aleppo and the Turkish border, highlighting how little control U.S. intelligence officers and military planners have over the groups they have financed and trained in the bitter five-year-old civil war…

“The attacks by one U.S.-backed group against another come amid continued heavy fighting in Syria and illustrate the difficulty facing U.S. efforts to coordinate among dozens of armed groups that are trying to overthrow the government of President Bashar Assad, fight the Islamic State militant group and battle one another all at the same time.”

Iran—President Obama’s New Ally?

Reuters wrote on March 28:

“Iran will pursue its development of ballistic missiles despite the U.S. blacklisting of more Iranian companies linked to the program, a senior Revolutionary Guards commander said on Monday… The Revolutionary Guards, Iran’s elite fighting and security force, maintains dozens of short and medium-range ballistic missiles, the largest stock in the Middle East. It says the missiles are solely for defensive use with conventional, non-nuclear warheads…

“Iran has denied U.S. accusations that it is acting ‘provocatively’ with the missile tests, citing a long history of U.S. interventions in the Middle East – including a U.S.-engineered coup in Tehran in 1953 – and a right to self-defense.”

Cuba—President Obama’s New “Friend”?

Deutsche Welle reported on March 28:

“In a lengthy letter, the 89-year-old former Cuban leader said his country ‘has no need of gifts from the (US) empire.’ The scathing note follows a landmark visit by Obama amid a warming of ties… His 1,500 word note appeared to ignore a strengthening of relations between the two former foes…  ‘Listening to the words of the US president could give anyone a heart attack… Nobody has any illusion that the people of this noble and selfless country will surrender glory and rights and the spiritual wealth that has come through the development of education, science and culture,’ he added…

“Last week, Obama said he had come to bury the two countries’ history of Cold War hostility but questioned Cuba’s human rights record and called for democracy and greater freedoms. His visit was the first by a US president in 88 years. Although he did not meet with Fidel Castro, he did hold talks with his brother Raul Castro…”

Problems with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Platform

The website of arstechnica.com reported on March 25:

“Microsoft has apologized for the conduct of its racist, abusive machine learning chatbot, Tay. The bot, which was supposed to mimic conversation with a 19-year-old woman over Twitter, Kik, and GroupMe, was turned off less than 24 hours after going online because she started promoting Nazi ideology and harassing other Twitter users…

“[The] machine learning platform doesn’t really know what it’s talking about… Tay has no understanding; if a bunch of people tell her that the Holocaust didn’t happen, for example, she may start responding in the negative if asked if it occurred. However, that’s not because she has any understanding of what the Holocaust actually was. She just knows that the Holocaust is a proper noun or perhaps even that it refers to a specific event. Knowing what that event was and why people might lie to her about it remain completely outside the capabilities of her programming. All she knows of the event is that people tell her it didn’t happen…”

The website of wtsp.com added on March 26:

“The company said it will bring Tay back after engineers can plan better for hackers with ‘malicious intent that conflicts with our principles and values’…

“Artificial intelligence is gaining momentum as computing power continues to grow exponentially… Not everyone is thrilled with the prospect of machines gaining the ability to reason like humans. Tesla founder Elon Musk continues to warn about the rise of robots…”

When man tries to “create” artificial intelligence, he walks on a slippery slope towards having to deal with a Frankenstein monster.

De Niro Gives In to Vaccination Lobby to Suppress the Truth

The Independent wrote on March 27:

“There has been mounting pressure on Robert De Niro to withdraw an anti-vaccination documentary from the Tribeca Film Festival line-up. After days of deliberation and a statement defending the controversial film, Vaxxed: From Cover-Up To Catastrophe will no longer show at the festival.

“Previously, De Niro said of the documentary, which attempts to show a link between vaccines and autism: ‘I am not personally endorsing the film, nor am I anti-vaccination; I am only providing the opportunity for a conversation around the issue.’ However, in a more recent statement to the BBC, the actor said: ‘We have concerns with certain things in this film.’ After reviewing Vaxxed with fellow festival organisers, as well as scientists, they concluded that the film does not contribute to the discussion over vaccinations in the way they’d like it [to].

“Vaxxed is directed by Andrew Wakefield, a former British doctor whose 1998 study linking MMR vaccinations and autism was discredited and retracted from medical journal The Lancet… Wakefield, who has previously described it as a ‘whistle-blower documentary’, said in a statement following the decision that he and producer Del Bigtree [have] ‘just witnessed yet another example of the power of corporate interests censoring free speech, art and truth’.

“In recent years, many actors have taken controversial stances on vaccinations, including Jim Carrey who has campaigned against vaccine legislation on numerous occasions.”

 It is shocking how “scientists” are able to suppress real concerns about vaccinations to manipulate a gullible public.

Fight Between FBI and APPLE to Continue

CNN reported on March 29:

“The Department of Justice says the FBI has accessed the iPhone used by one of the gunmen in the San Bernardino terrorist shooting. Law enforcement officials were able to break into the phone used by Syed Farook with the help of an unnamed third party. Government officials did not go into detail about what was found on the phone. ‘The FBI has now successfully retrieved the data stored on the San Bernardino terrorist’s iPhone and therefore no longer requires the assistance from Apple required by this Court Order,’ DOJ spokeswoman Melanie Newman said in a statement. The DOJ is dropping the case against Apple, since it no longer needs the company’s help.

“Farook was one of two shooters in the December 2015 attack that left 14 people dead, and the government has been trying to force Apple to help bypass the phone’s security features. Apple has declined to help, saying it would compromise the security of all iPhone users. The company has argued that law enforcement officials don’t understand the consequences of creating a backdoor…

“The fact that the DOJ was able to successfully access the phone without Apple’s help is bad news for the tech giant because it suggests Apple’s encryption technology is not as advanced as once thought. In a statement, Apple said the case ‘should have never been brought.’ It reiterated its objection to the FBI’s demand that the company build a backdoor into the iPhone, a step it said would have ‘set a dangerous precedent.’ However, Apple said it plans to continue to help police with other criminal investigations. For instance, the company currently provides police who have warrants access to customer iCloud accounts…

“Apple did not address the hack specifically in its statement Monday. However, previously the company said this vulnerability was consistent with its fear all along — that it was in an ‘arms race’ with people looking to exploit bugs in its software. A law enforcement official… refused to say whether the FBI will disclose this hacking method to Apple so the company can protect future phones from being hacked this way.

“Normally, in a situation like this, the FBI must hold a high-level meeting with the president’s National Security Council to discuss whether to tip off Apple about the hacking method, according to a senior Obama administration official. Hacks are only possible through vulnerabilities in technology, and the same method used by the FBI could be used by foreign governments to hack Americans’ iPhones.

“The FBI should have that discussion immediately, said Ross Schulman, senior policy counsel at the Open Technology Institute, a think tank. ‘The bug is, so far as we know, widely distributed and can give complete access to a device that so many of us rely on daily. Those are great reasons to tell Apple so they can fix the problem,’ he said. Several experts closely watching this case say the fight between the FBI and Apple will only continue elsewhere. Both sides are already waging a similar battle over a criminal’s iPhone in New York City.  ‘This case was never about just one phone,’ said Alex Abdo, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union. ‘Unfortunately, today’s news appears to be just a delay of an inevitable fight over whether the FBI can force Apple to undermine the security of its own products.’”

Heidi Cruz to be Feared the Most after Hillary Clinton?

News with Views wrote on March 26:

“While I am aware that Heidi Nelson Cruz apparently does suffer from deep depression, just after Hillary Rodham Clinton, she is the next person to be feared the most in this presidential race for 2016…

“In an article written by Jesse Byrnes for The Hill that was released today on March 25, 2016, under the title ‘Trump aide fulfills threat to “spill the beans” on Heidi Cruz,’ he reports on the recent interview on MSNBC that Steve Kornacki had with Katrina Pierson who is an aide for Donald Trump…

“According to Katrina Pierson, ‘Spilling the beans is quite simple when it comes to Heidi Cruz. She is a [George W.] Bush operative; she worked for the architect of NAFTA, which has killed millions of jobs in this country; she was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations who—in Sen. Cruz’s own words, called – a nest of snakes that seeks to undermine national sovereignty; and she’s been working for Goldman Sachs, the same global bank that Ted Cruz left off of his financial disclosure. Heidi’s entire career has been spent working against everything Ted Cruz says that he stands for.’

“According to the Council on Foreign Relations when Heidi Cruz was on the CFR-sponsored Independent Task Force on the Future of North America in 2004, she served at the White House under Dr. Condoleezza Rice as the Economic Director for the Western Hemisphere at the National Security Council as Director of the Latin America Office at the U.S Treasury Department, and as Special Assistant to Ambassador Robert B. Zoellick, then U.S. Trade Representative. Previously, Heidi Cruz had been employed with J.P. Morgan at New York.

“Heidi Cruz had contributed to the writing of Building a North American Community, which was published by the Council on Foreign Relations and released in May of 2005. Its goals… were designed to establish a supranational government that would destroy our nation’s sovereignty and supersede our Constitution as the forthcoming North American Union with its own currency call the Amero. The proposed ‘North American Border Pass’ would essentially ‘erase’ our international boundaries with Canada and Mexico. To ‘Establish a Common Security Perimeter’ for North America and ‘Increase Labor within North America’ would weaken our national defense because we would no longer have any authority or control over who enters Canada or Mexico from overseas or elsewhere in the Western Hemisphere…”

The Controversial and Unpopular World View of Donald Trump

The New York Post wrote on March 26:

“Donald Trump wants US allies to ante up if they want to continue under the ‘cloak of American protection,’ according to his first detailed comments on his foreign-policy platform. ‘We’re not being reimbursed for the kind of tremendous service that we’re performing by protecting various countries,’ the Republican front-runner was quoted as saying.

‘Trump said he would boycott oil from Saudi Arabia and other allies unless they provide troops or funds to fight ISIS. ‘If Saudi Arabia was without the cloak of American protection… I don’t think it would be around,’ he told The New York Times.

“Trump is open to removing US forces from Japan and South Korea if they did not take on the cost of housing and feeding troops on American bases there, the report said. He argued that it is getting expensive to keep ‘defending the world.’…

“He vowed to renegotiate the Iran deal to extend restrictions on the country’s ability to build nuclear weapons while also allowing Iran to buy planes and other goods made in the United States. ‘We gave them $150 billion, and they can’t spend it in our country,’ he said.

“The United States, in Trump’s view, has lost power economically and militarily for decades. He cited the Teddy Roosevelt era as the period when America’s might peaked… Trump vowed to restore the country’s role as a global superpower.

“A cornerstone of the Trump doctrine is his ‘unpredictability’ in dealing with foreign leaders. He defended US surveillance of allies like Israel and Germany, saying, ‘They’re spying against us.’ Trump said he would allow Japan and South Korea to develop their own nuclear programs instead of depending on America for protection from China and North Korea. He wouldn’t rule out using nuclear weapons against an adversary, saying he would use nukes as an ‘absolute last step.’

“But Trump held out hope he could facilitate the greatest deal of them all — lasting peace in Israel. ‘I would have a better chance than anybody of making a deal,’ he said.”

JTA wrote on March 28:

“Discussing the Iran nuclear deal, Trump expressed surprise that sanctions remaining in place keep Iran from spending money released in the deal in the United States… David Sanger, a New York Times reporter, told Trump that sanctions in place kept Iran from trading to the United States. The Obama administration is keeping sanctions in place and in some cases adding new ones to maintain leverage against Iran in its backing of terrorism and its human rights abuses.

“‘Uh, excuse me?’ Trump said, apparently unaware of the sanctions. ‘So how stupid is that? We give them the money, and we now say, “Go buy Airbus instead of Boeing,” right? So how stupid is that?’”

The New York Times added on March 27:

“Mr. Trump repeated [his recent suggestions that United States pull back from NATO unless other nations pay more of the alliance’s costs] and called NATO ‘obsolete’ in the fight against terrorism.

“Mr. Trump was also asked if he would rule out internment camps for American Muslims – an idea he has never proposed, though he has argued for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the country if they are not American citizens. ‘I would rule it out, but we would have to be very vigilant,’ Mr. Trump said…”

The Daily Mail added on March 28:

“Donald Trump has claimed that England is not a ‘safe place’ in the wake of the Brussels terrorist attacks. The leading Republican Presidential candidate said that England was among the countries which have become ‘weak’ and cannot protect themselves. [Trump also said that America is no longer a safe place for Americans.]

“Mr Trump said Europe had ‘very, very severe’ problems with terrorism and that it needed better law enforcement…  Mr Trump’s comments on Britain risk a backlash similar to that he received in December when he claimed that police in London were ‘afraid for their own lives’ because some areas of the capital are so radicalised.”

Trump Reverses Statement on Women and Abortion after Outcry

CNN reported on March 31:

“Donald Trump scrambled to clarify his position on abortion Wednesday after he said women who undergo the procedure should face ‘some form of punishment’ should the practice be outlawed.

“Several hours later — after widespread condemnation from Trump’s presidential rivals and even leading anti-abortion groups — he walked back his remarks, releasing a statement in which he said that women who obtain abortions are victims and that doctors who perform the service are the ones who should be punished. ‘If Congress were to pass legislation making abortion illegal and the federal courts upheld this legislation, or any state were permitted to ban abortion under state and federal law, the doctor or any other person performing this illegal act upon a woman would be held legally responsible, not the woman,’ Trump said. ‘The woman is a victim in this case as is the life in her womb. My position has not changed — like Ronald Reagan, I am pro-life with exceptions.’

“… anti-abortion groups swiftly criticized Trump’s comments. March for Life released the toughest statement… calling Trump’s remarks ‘completely out of touch with the pro-life movement.’ ‘Being pro-life means wanting what is best for the mother and the baby. Women who choose abortion often do so in desperation and then deeply regret such a decision. No pro-lifer would ever want to punish a woman who has chosen abortion. This is against the very nature of what we are about,’ the president of the group’s education and defense fund, Jeanne Marcini, said in a statement.

“The National Right to Life Committee noted in a statement that it has never supported penalties against women who undergo abortions. The Susan B. Anthony List chalked up Trump’s comments to his recent opposition to abortion rights and said punishments should only be dished out to ‘the abortionist.’

“Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton retweeted an NBC News reporter, adding, ‘Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse. Horrific and telling.’… Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders tweeted, ‘Your Republican frontrunner, ladies and gentlemen. Shameful.’…

“Ohio Gov. John Kasich told MSNBC, ‘Of course, women shouldn’t be punished for having an abortion.’ And Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said Trump’s comment ‘demonstrated that he hasn’t seriously thought through the issues, and he’ll say anything just to get attention.’ ‘On the important issue of the sanctity of life, what’s far too often neglected is that being pro-life is not simply about the unborn child; it’s also about the mother — and creating a culture that respects her and embraces life,’ Cruz said. ‘Of course we shouldn’t be talking about punishing women; we should affirm their dignity and the incredible gift they have to bring life into the world.’”

Please view our new special StandingWatch program, titled, “Why ALL Candidates are WRONG on Abortion!” 

Glenn Beck: “‘No Real Christian’ Would Vote for Trump”

Newsmax wrote on March 25:

“Conservative commentator Glenn Beck said he believes supporting Donald Trump for president goes against the tenets of Christian faith. ‘No Christian, no real Christian — I don’t mean a judgmental Christian, I mean somebody who is living their faith — no real Christian says, “I want that guy. That guy is the one for me,”‘ said Beck on TheBlaze’s ‘Glenn Beck Program.’… If Americans are following Christian values, Beck asked, ‘Then why are we in so much trouble?’…

“Beck, a Mormon, is a supporter of Ted Cruz’s campaign for president.  At a campaign stop for Cruz in Provo, Utah, Beck said he believes Cruz is a fulfillment of a Mormon prophecy, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. That prophecy, according to Charisma News refers to the U.S. Constitution ‘hanging by a thread,’ and a ‘White Horse’ coming in to save it. Although the prophecy is not part of Church of Latter-Day Saints canon, it is believed by many Mormons.”

It is true that no real Christian should vote for Donald Trump. However, no real Christian should vote for Ted Cruz either, or John Kasich, Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders, or any other candidate running for the presidential office.

Allegations of Cruz’ Extramarital Affairs

Newsmax reported on March 25:

“Ted Cruz is angrily denying a National Enquirer report that he engaged in extramarital affairs — and is blaming Donald Trump for the publication of the allegations… The Enquirer — which has brought down other politicians with stories about their affairs, including former Sens. John Edwards and Gary Hart — said Cruz’s alleged trysts stand to ‘destroy’ his presidential hopes. The Enquirer article also showed pictures of five women it said Cruz had allegedly played around with. Their faces are pixilated.

“Trump, in a Facebook posting, denied any involvement in the Enquirer story, and then went on to taunt his rival about its accuracy… The Enquirer has officially endorsed Trump for president…

“In its expose, The Enquirer quotes Roger Stone, a veteran GOP political consultant who advised Trump early in his campaign, as saying rumors of affairs have been ‘swirling around Cruz for some time.’ Reached by USA Today on Friday, Stone insisted: ‘I played no role in the placement of the story.’”

The Daily Mail added on March 27 that “Rumors surrounding Ted Cruz and allegations he cheated on his wife with five women are believed to have steamed [sic] from Marco Rubio’s camp – not Donald Trump’s…”

While the National Enquirer is a mass tabloid of questionable reputation and veracity, it must be said that these kinds of allegations have destroyed prior politicians and candidates for public office. As the Newsmax article points out, some of those allegations of marital infidelity were finally proven to be correct, while other allegations could not be proven, but they nevertheless forced the particular candidates to step down. For example, Herman Cain had to suspend his presidential campaign in December of 2011 when faced with numerous (unproven) allegations of marital infidelity.

In addition, Daily Mail reported on March 28:

“[Ted Cruz] declined to answer a question on Monday about whether he has ever been unfaithful to his wife Heidi… instead of making a blanket declaration that he has been faithful during the entirety of his 14-year marriage – a move that would effectively end the vicious news cycle – Cruz stood silently as campaign surrogate Carly Fiorina leapt in to intercept the question and change the subject…

“DailyMail.com directed the question a second time at Cruz when Fiorina had finished. ‘Senator I’m sorry, this is a very serious question about your character,’ the second question came. ‘Will you just – if the answer is, “Yes, I’ve always been faithful to my wife,” can you just say so please?’ His practised answer stuck to the more limited denial that the National Enquirer story was false, calling it ‘complete garbage.’”

Dr. Ben Carson: True Christianity Under Worldwide Attack

Breitbart wrote on March 25:

“Asked if he thought the media took religious issues seriously during his time running for the GOP nomination, former Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson told Breitbart News… they didn’t — and many would be happy to see Christianity vanish off the face of the Earth… ‘The Bible, they believe, is largely fantasy — and the whole concept of God,’ added Carson, pointing out that he felt mocked by the media several times for his belief in God…

“Asked if he thought there was a global war against Christians going on today, Carson said yes. ‘Christians are caught between secularism, which is on the rise and doesn’t like to be reminded of its negative aspects, and between Islamic Jihadists, who want to dominate the religious scene,’ he said. ‘As Christians,’ continued Carson, ‘we’re caught between a rock and a hard place and have to recognize, first of all, that we are under attack…’

“Faulting the U.S. government’s efforts, Carson said: ‘They for the most part won’t even acknowledge what’s going on with the Christians and the Yazidis and all the various people around the world. It’s like it doesn’t exist. They don’t seem to recognize that these are not isolated incidents that won’t find their way into our culture, as well.’”

Jesuit University Prohibits “Debate” Same Sex Marriages and Suspends Disagreeing Professor

Breitbart reported on March 29:

“John McAdams, a conservative professor at Marquette University, has been suspended after criticising a fellow lecturer for refusing to allow same-sex marriage to be debated in class. The suspension will be extended indefinitely unless McAdams ‘admits his guilt’ within two weeks.

“In a blog post, McAdams drew attention to an incident in which a student was told… by instructor Cheryl Abbate to leave her philosophy class if he wished to debate same-sex marriage or adoption by gay couples.

“Then things deteriorated further as the student said that it was his right as an American citizen to make arguments against gay marriage. Abbate replied that ‘you don’t have a right in this class to make homophobic comments.’ She further said she would ‘take offense’ if the student said that women can’t serve in particular roles.”

This is just incredible! Or, is it?

Shocking Decision in Germany

The Local wrote on March 30:

“Germany may not grant equal marriage rights to same-sex couples, but its laws do protect them against discrimination.

“A man has been slapped with a steep fine by a Cologne court after he refused to rent a villa to a same-sex couple. The landlord must pay €1,700 in compensation to the couple, a regional court said on Tuesday. The man regularly rented out his personal villa to newly-weds to earn a bit more cash, but when he learned that the couple in question were gay, he refused to sign a contract with them.

“The court charged the man with discrimination, stating that his refusal to rent to them was illegal and violated German law concerning equal treatment, calling it ‘discrimination based on sexual orientation’. The court could not find a substantive reason to justify the discrimination, according to Legal Tribune Online.

“Nor did the judge side with the defendant’s argument that renting to the couple would conflict with his ‘sense of morality and decency,’ saying that there was no reason, even if he was also using the villa, that he should be more offended by a gay couple than by a straight one.

“While Germany is ranked fairly low among its western European counterparts for gay rights, according to EU-funded Rainbow Europe research, German law does protect individuals from discrimination due to their sexual orientation in the workplace and in access to goods and services. Same-sex marriage is not legal in Germany, though civil partnerships are, and gay couples are not granted equal rights, for example on adoption.”

The trend continues to “protect” sinful conduct of homosexual couples by violating the rights of heterosexual people. For the judge to say that there was no “substantial reason” for refusing renting to a gay couple shows the extent to which landlords are being forced to act against their convictions. It is hoped that this wrong decision will be overturned on appeal and that it will not serve as precedence for other cases… as this may force landlords to refuse renting out their place to anyone.

Some claim that this Scripture shows us that Gentile Christians are only obligated to abstain from the four things which are specifically mentioned in that passage, and that they are otherwise free from the “Old Testament” law. Others claim that today, they don’t even have to abstain from these four things anymore.

However, Acts 15:19-20 does not teach anything of the kind. It quotes James as saying: “Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.” This concept is reiterated in Acts 15:28-29.

To fully understand this passage, we must review the context. The Jerusalem Council was held because the charge had been made by some that Gentiles could not be saved unless they became “circumcised according to the custom of Moses” (Acts 15:1) and unless they kept “the law of Moses” (verse 5; compare Acts 15:24).

During the discussion, it was emphasized that God had called Gentiles to repentance irrespective of circumcision and the observance of ritual laws (verses 6-9). As mentioned, the discussion evolved strictly around the “custom of Moses” and the “law of Moses.”

The law of Moses included ALL kinds of commandments, including the spiritual law of the Ten Commandments (Romans 7:14) as well as the temporary laws of animal sacrifices, physical circumcision and ritual washings. All these laws were written in the “book of the law of Moses,” sometimes referred to as “the book of the law” or “the law of Moses” (Deuteronomy 17:18; 28:58; 29:21; 30:10; 31:26; Mark 12:26).

The decision, which was pronounced in Acts 15:19-20, did not address the Ten Commandments. It would have been a rather strange conclusion to say that Gentiles were entitled to kill someone, steal from someone, lie to and about others, commit adultery, or dishonor his or her parents. In the entire New Testament, it is emphasized time and again that true Christians must keep the Ten Commandments, and since the law of the Ten Commandments is a package (compare James 2:8-11), they are therefore obligated to keep the first four commandments as well, including the Sabbath commandment.

But, why was it specifically mentioned that the Gentiles must abstain from things polluted by idols, sexual immorality, strangled meat and blood? These four aspects can be found in the law of Moses, where they are listed in connection with religious worship at the tabernacle, including temporary rituals and animal sacrifices (Leviticus 17:7, 10).

Please note that it was commanded in the law or the book of Moses to abstain from things polluted by idols (Exodus 34:15-16; compare Psalm 106:28, 37-38); from sexual immorality (Leviticus 19:29; Deuteronomy 23:17-18); from things strangled (Leviticus 22:8); and from blood (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 3:17).

These four prohibitions were especially mentioned in Acts 15 to emphasize to the Gentiles that they were still binding on Christians, to avoid any misunderstanding. Prior to their conversion, many Gentiles would engage in those practices. They would of course sacrifice to idols; they would often times drink blood with their sacrifices or they would eat their sacrifices with the blood still in the meat (as happens when animals are strangled); or they would commit fornication with temple prostitutes in their religious services. Even though it would be made clear to the Gentiles that temporary ritual laws, animal sacrifices and circumcision were not binding on them, the apostles and elders clarified to the Gentiles that those four categories, although mentioned in the context of the sacrificial system, were still valid and in force and effect. The emphasis here was not on what had to be done, but on what was NOT to be done.

At the time of Acts 15, the temple still stood, and animal sacrifices were still being given (even though it was no longer a necessity to do so, since Christ’s death did away with the need to bring animal sacrifices, compare Hebrews 9:9-10). But since the priests would bring daily sacrifices and perform other ritual washings, until the temple was destroyed in 70 AD, it was needful to explain to the Gentiles, so that there would be no misunderstanding, as to what was clearly NOT permitted in the law of Moses in the context of the sacrificial system and religious practices.

Many say today that these four things were specifically mentioned to the Gentiles as not to offend “Jewish” sensitivities, but as more and more Gentiles became converted, it became no longer necessary to abstain from these four categories. Even though it should be obvious to converted Christians that sexual immorality will never be permitted by God, this is, sadly, not obvious today to many professing Christians.

With their liberal “live-and-let-live” attitude, they condone and justify more and more the concept of sexual immorality and fornication, including living and sleeping together without being married, while attending and participating in religious services; or functioning as practicing homosexual priests and ministers. In addition, many nominal Christians have no compunctions eating food with blood in it, or dinking blood (blood sausage is very common in many Catholic and Protestant countries). Finally, they may enjoy eating food sacrificed to idols (including Easter or Christmas cakes, compare Jeremiah 7:18).

Even though Paul made clear that true Christians can eat food which has been sacrificed to idols, as long as they do not approve of the sacrificial idolatrous practice, they should not do so when the conscience of others becomes defiled (1 Corinthians 8:4-13; 10:25-33). Still, it is clearly wrong to eat food which is sacrificed to or “polluted” by idols in the context of religious practices [For instance, one participates in a wrong kind of “communion” (compare 1 Corinthians 10:14-22), or one partakes of an Easter or Christmas meal as part of Easter or Christmas celebrations, which are polluted by pagan sun and moon gods and goddesses].

Note what the New Testament has to say about these kinds of wrong practices, mentioned in Acts 15:19-20, which are still clearly prohibited for Christians today.

Regarding “sexual immorality,” Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:18: “Flee sexual immorality. Every SIN that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.” Compare also 1 Thessalonians 4:3.

In a prophecy for the end time, God condemns those who are eating, drinking or sacrificing the blood of animals, as well as those who are eating unclean animals.

We read in Isaiah 66:3 (Living Bible): “But those who choose their own ways, delighting in their sins, are cursed. God will not accept their offerings. When such men sacrifice an ox on the altar of God, it is no more acceptable to him than human sacrifice. If they sacrifice a lamb, or bring an offering of grain, it is as loathsome to God as putting a dog or the blood of a swine on his altar! When they burn incense to him, he counts it the same as though they blessed an idol. I will send great troubles upon them—all the things they feared…”

In addition, we read in Isaiah 65:2-6: “I have stretched out my hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in a way that is not good According to their own thoughts; A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face; who sacrifice in gardens, and burn incense on altars of brick; who sit among the graves, And spend the night in the tombs; who eat swine’s flesh And the broth of abominable things [Margin: unclean meats] in their vessels; who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’ These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day. Behold, it is written before Me: ‘I will not keep silence, but will repay—Even repay into their bosom…’”

The Living Bible renders verse 4 as follows: “All night they go out among the graves and caves to worship evil spirits, and they eat pork and other forbidden foods.”

Finally, in a message to the church in Pergamos, we read this dire warning: “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam… to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality… Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth (Revelation 2:14, 16).

It is clear that all Christians must still abstain today from the four categories mentioned in Acts 15:19-20, but it is also clear that these are not the ONLY four things which they must avoid doing. Those who believe the contrary are condemned with the strongest terms in the book of Revelation.

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire, which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).

And:

“But outside [the new Jerusalem] are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie” (Revelation 22:15).

We must avoid doing what God condemns, by following the deceitful doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1-2). Rather, we need to listen to Christ who tells us: “If you want to enter into [eternal] life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17; compare also 1 Corinthians 7:19).

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

Next week, beginning with arrival on Thursday, April 7, 2016, we will conduct our annual Church Conference in Ramona, California. Along with updates in Sabbath services, we will publish highlights of the meetings in our April Member Letter.

“Will Europe Face a Nuclear Attack?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

Will ISIS attack Europe with nuclear weapons? Will Russia? What about the USA? What is the fate of the great Western powers?  Did you know that God’s Word paints a terrible picture for their future, but it also tells us why this is. God is very ANGRY with us, and we need to realize the reasons.

“Why ALL Candidates are WRONG on Abortion!”  is the title of a new special StandingWatch program. Here is a summary:

Donald Trump ignited a national and international firestorm when he said that if Congress declared abortion to be illegal, aborting women should be punished in some way. All the political candidates and major pro-life groups condemned him for his statement, and shortly thereafter, Trump walked back and said that a woman should not be punished, as she is a victim. This program shows why all these opinions are wrong, based on the Bible.

“Was demnächst in Europa und Amerika geschieht!” is this week’s new German sermon. The title in English: “What Will Happen Soon in Europe and America!”

“How Do We Love God?” the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Kalon Mitchell, is now posted. Here is a summary:

As we come up to the spring Holy Days, Satan will do everything he can to destroy us and make us doubt and lose interest in staying too close to God. Do we ever think about giving up because of what we go through? What keeps us coming back to God? What keeps us grounded? It comes down to our love for God, His commandments and our faith in His promises.

“What’s Next for America and Europe?” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

In these times of anxiety, war, terrorism and lack of Western leadership, we might wonder whether the Bible tells us with certainty as to what the future holds for America and Europe. Will America become great again and return to its former glory? Will the migrant crisis destroy and end the European unification? Will the UK leave the EU? Will Europe always be America’s and Israel’s friend and ally? Surprising developments for the near future paint an astonishing and deeply disturbing picture.

by John Amorelli

“Make America Great Again!” “I will work for YOU!” “New Possibilities, Real Leadership!” “Reigniting the Promise of America!” “From Hope to Higher Ground!” “A Time for Greatness!” and “Trust Me!”

These political slogans are some of past and present trademarks within the social media landscape, coming from all kinds of different sources. What especially caught my attention was the catchphrase: “Trust Me!” Now, it is a good thing that I don’t believe in voting in political elections because I am an ambassador for Jesus Christ and I am not to be involved in this world’s politics.  But if I was to vote for someone, it would have to be a candidate who would have the trustworthy character that no one else could ever challenge! Someone who would say one thing and not “flip-flop.” Someone who would not lie about ANYTHING. Someone who would REALLY put other people first. Someone with a government that has a vision of real peace and real truth. Basically, a perfect government.

I am looking forward to a wonderful future when this SOMEONE will not be incompetent and selfishly ambitious in the political arena, and who will not have covetous hands on the throttle of governmental power by the deceptive political methods of THIS world.

As I watch and read articles about the “Barnum-and-Bailey-circus” of the political candidates’ quagmire, I think about a quote stated by Sir Winston Churchill before the United States Congress years ago: “There is a purpose being worked out here below.” God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ are working out a plan, a perfect master plan, for setting up THEIR government here on earth in the near future.

So, I vote for God’s new world government and I trust THEM as the only candidates. I really pray that that government may come soon.

On March 26, 2016, Kalon Mitchell will present the sermonette, titled, “How Do We Love God?,” and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “What’s Next for America and Europe?”

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.

One of my favorite Scriptures about the Millennium which shows what conditions will exist in Jerusalem in the future, is in the eighth chapter of the book of Zechariah, verses 3-5:

“Thus says the LORD: ‘I will return to Zion, And dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, The Mountain of the LORD of hosts, The Holy Mountain.’  Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Old men and old women shall again sit In the streets of Jerusalem, Each one with his staff in his hand Because of great age. The streets of the city Shall be full of boys and girls Playing in its streets.'”

Christ promises here that He will return to Jerusalem, and we also get a glimpse of conditions there when old men and women will sit in the streets and young boys and girls will play there without fear of harm.

What a contrast as to what we see there today, with terrorists attacking citizens, setting off bombs which kill innocent men, women and also children, while young Palestinians are not only taught to hate the Jews, but also, how to stab them to death.

Things will only get worse until the return of Christ, when a new mindset will be instilled in people, causing totally different conditions.

Jeremiah 30:18-20 tells us:

“Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will bring back the captivity of Jacob’s tents, And have mercy on his dwelling places; The city shall be built upon its own mound, And the palace shall remain according to its own plan. Then out of them shall proceed thanksgiving And the voice of those who make merry; I will multiply them, and they shall not diminish; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.  Their children also shall be as before, And their congregation shall be established before Me; And I will punish all who oppress them.”

Eventually, there will be peace in the region which has been impossible to achieve under the current rulers in the area, because of the absolute hatred for the Jews and the desire of some of the surrounding Arab nations to completely annihilate the state of Israel.

But this will change, as we read in Jeremiah 31:33-34:

“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

For conditions to improve in the Middle East, a change of heart and attitude is needed for all the nations in the area, and then, and only then, will there be peace in that part of the world, and in all countries. Let us pray that those wonderful days are not too far in the future.

We begin with a Russian warning hinting at a coming nuclear war in Europe (which, sadly, will indeed occur in the future), speak on Russia’s desire to complete the building of an historic bridge between Crimea and Russia (which has been a long-time dream and ambition of Russian leaders); and point out that in accordance with some strategists, the employ of more than 450,000 Western soldiers would be needed to prevent a chaos in the Middle East (The Bible predicts that a huge European military intervention will occur soon.)

We continue with disturbing accounts on Israel’s involvement in toppling Egypt’s president Morsi and President Obama’s controversial accusations that the current Libyan crisis was caused by European leaders, especially David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy.

We report on the troublesome popularity of Germany’s right-wing anti-migrant party AfD (Alternative for Germany), and of Geert Wilders, the Dutch leader of the right-wing anti-immigration Freedom Party.

We quote the most recent unintelligible comments by Pope Francis pertaining to the European migrant crises, and we discuss extensively the deal reached between the EU and Turkey, which many observers feel is not only immoral, but also patently illegal.

A British research organization (“Economist Intelligence Unit”) found that Donald Trump, if he became president, would be a global danger to the economy and security. Others disagree, especially in light of the most recent terrorist attack in Belgium, for which the barbarous murderers of ISIS claimed responsibility. Quite a few articles are published in this edition on this controversial man, as well as President Obama’s failure in dealing with ISIS. You might also view our most recent StandingWatch program on this issue, titled, “Why the West Is to Be Blamed for ISIS Terror Attacks.”  

We also publish articles on Hillary Clinton’s problems. We continue with articles on President Obama’s visit in Cuba; China’s financial troubles; the controversial Easter dating; transgender ideology (which has been labeled as mental disorders); religious change in the USA; and the long history of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.

We conclude with an article about the Neanderthals, proving again their truly modern human origin.

Nuclear War Likely in Europe

Reuters wrote on March 19:

“The East-West standoff over the Ukraine crisis has brought the threat of nuclear war in Europe closer than at any time since the 1980s, a former Russian foreign minister [Igor Ivanov] warned on Saturday… While Russia and the United States have cut their nuclear arsenals, the pace is slowing. As of January 2015, they had… over 7,000 nuclear warheads each, about 90 percent of world stocks…

“In remarks that are likely to alarm European and NATO diplomats seeking a political solution to the separatist conflict in Ukraine that has killed more than 9,000 people since April 2014, Ivanov also said Europe and Russia have little chance of a broader reconciliation… adding that Russia could not be the eastern flank of a ‘failed greater Europe’ [and] that Russia’s destiny was now as the leader of a greater Eurasia stretching from Belarus to the Chinese border.”

The Bible prophesies that, ultimately, a nuclear war will break out between a powerful European Empire and a strong Russia in collaboration with other Far Eastern nations.

Historic Bridge Between Russia and Crimea?

Daily Mail reported on March 18:

“Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to ‘hang’ an official in Crimea if a bridge between the illegally annexed region and Russia is not completed. The former KGB officer was visiting the region on the second anniversary of the occupation of the peninsula (on March 16, 2014)  which is also claimed by Ukraine. The international community condemned the Russian invasion of Crimea and has subjected Moscow to a range of economic sanctions…

“The Russian president told reporters at the construction site about the ‘historic mission’ of the planned 12-mile long bridge… According to the Tass news agency, Putin claimed the first plans to build a bridge between the Taman and Crimean peninsulas [were] attempted under Tsar Nicholas II in 1910, but the First World War stopped the construction. Soviet engineers attempted another bridge which was abandoned at the outbreak of the Second World War.

“Putin claimed: ‘Nazi invaders tried to build a bridge here. Their intention was to build a bridge that would last for decades and the Russian command took a decision not to bomb this section to spare what had been done.’ However, this bridge was destroyed by ice. He claimed: ‘Our predecessors understood the importance of this bridge between Crimea and the Caucasus and have been trying to implement this project. Let us hope we will be the ones to fulfill this historic mission…

“Putin’s determination to build a bridge linking Crimea with Russia is regarded as confirmation he has no intention [of] returning the area to Ukraine… cities around Russia prepared to celebrate the second anniversary of what Moscow calls the reunification of Crimea, which was part of Russia until 1954…

“Putin’s approval rating among Russians is at its highest in four years and 95 percent of Russians support Crimea’s annexation…

“Building the bridge, at a cost of £2.12 billion, and supporting Crimea will impose additional burdens on Russia’s shrinking state budget, which has been hammered by a collapse in global oil prices – the country’s main export… ‘The annexation of Crimea was an obvious mistake, which the Kremlin and the majority of Russian people will not recognise for a long time. But we continue to pay for it,’ Russian business daily Vedomosti wrote in an editorial on Friday…”

More than 450,000 Western Soldiers Needed in the Middle East

Daily Mail wrote on March 18:

“Last week in Washington, I met an old friend who is one of the smartest strategy wonks I know… During our conversation, he offered some speculations about what could happen to our world over the next decade or two which made my hair stand on end.

“He predicts that the seismic turbulence in the Middle East will continue, and indeed worsen, unless or until the West is willing to commit stabilisation forces to the region. He calculates that an army of the order of magnitude of 450,000 men would be necessary, to have any chance of success…

“The most obvious lesson of history is that events and threats always take us by surprise. Consider the shocks we have experienced in modern times. Almost nobody expected the Irish Troubles; the Argentine invasion of the Falklands; the collapse of the Soviet Union; the dramatic rise of Muslim extremism; the 9/11 attacks in New York and 7/7 bombings in London; the global banking disaster of 2007-8; the break up of the Middle East that began with the 2003 Iraq invasion…

“Everything that has happened since shows that Fukuyama was as wrong as could be. Across large swathes of the globe, authoritarian regimes flourish like the green bay tree. Democracy has never looked rockier, even in the United States. My think-tank friend in Washington observed last week: ‘Democracy only works where there is a broad consensus about the distribution of wealth and power.’ And it is because this consensus faces unprecedented stresses in consequence of migration in Europe, that he believes some factions may resort to violence, even outright war.

“It seems foolish to dismiss this warning out of hand. The threat posed by mass population movement is huge and intractable… 77 million Turks will have the right to travel all the way to Calais unhindered…

“The entire Middle East is in a ferment, and it is impossible to see any reason why peace should be restored any time soon…

“The principal charge against Europe’s leaders today is that none of them… has begun to come clean with us about the enormity of the challenge. Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel appeared a towering figure until August, when she made her disastrous unilateral commitment to open her country’s doors.”

The Bible tells us: When they say, “Peace, Peace,” there will be no Peace.

Israel Helped in Overthrowing Egypt’s Morsi

Global Research wrote on March 18:

“Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon admitted in his speech at the annual AIPAC conference, the largest Zionist lobby supporting Israel in the US, that the overthrow of Mohamed Morsi and the installation of Egyptian President Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi was planned, in cooperation with generals in the Egyptian and Gulf armies and intelligence agencies… [He] also explicitly said: ‘We decided to allow General Al-Sisi, who was the defence minister at the time, to take over power by mobilising the army in order to become a president. The West should consider this of strategic interest for them as well.’

“This is not the first testimony made by the Israeli occupation’s generals and rabbis regarding the need to keep Al-Sisi as president of Egypt in order to serve Israel’s interests. The archive of relations between the two countries is full of flattery and statements of complete support for this government…”

For the future relationship between Egypt and Israel, please read our free booklet, “Middle Eastern and African Nations in Bible Prophecy.”

Obama and Cameron at Odds over Libya

The Daily Mail wrote on March 20:

“Obama slammed European leaders [including Cameron] in a major foreign policy interview [regarding Libya.]… Mr Cameron… said ‘everyone has to take responsibility’ for the failure to stop the north African nation slipping into chaos, becoming a gateway for the migrant crisis and foothold for ISIS on Europe’s doorstep…

“The remarkable insight into the US President’s critical view of Mr Cameron’s foreign policy revealed Mr Obama believed Britain and France were too happy to rely on the US to deal with conflicts on Europe’s doorstep. And he warned Mr Cameron last summer that the ‘special relationship’ between Britain and America would be lost if he refused to commit the UK to spending the Nato target of 2 per cent of GDP on defence… Mr Obama said he wanted Mr Cameron and the then French President Nicolas Sarkozy to take charge of the campaign to oust Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi in the spring of 2011 instead of relying on the US acting ‘unilaterally’…

“He even went as far as describing the likes of Britain and France as ‘free riders,’ adding later that he had told Mr Cameron that ‘free riders aggravate me’ when he had told the PM: ‘You have to pay your fair share’… In a damning assessment of Mr Cameron’s record in Libya, Mr Obama said bluntly that the intervention ‘didn’t work’…

“Mr Obama… admitted it had been a mistake to trust Mr Cameron and Mr Sarkozy. ‘When I go back and I ask myself what went wrong, there’s room for criticism, because I had more faith in the Europeans, given Libya’s proximity, being invested in the follow-up,’ Mr Obama said…

“In the interview, Mr Obama also cited Britain as a ‘major factor’ in his decision not to enforce the ‘red line’ on the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime. The President called off at the last minute a planned attack in response to the gassing as he decided to refer the issue to a vote in Congress. Mr Obama said: ‘A… major factor was the failure of Cameron to obtain the consent of his parliament.’”

The Controversial Demands of Germany’s AfD

Daily Mail wrote on March 20:

“The far right party which made huge gains in Germany’s regional elections is planning broad new policies designed to crack down on Islamic practices. Among the measures Alternative for Germany (AfD) hopes to ratify are bans on mosque minarets, women wearing burqas in public and the Jewish and Muslim practice of male circumcision.

“The strong gains made by the anti-immigration party in three German state elections last Sunday stunned Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative party… It emerged last week that German magazine Compact, which espouses the AfD views, has seen a rise in popularity as it shares the party’s ideology… Some of its recent headlines include Asylum Chaos, Dictatorship Merkel, Vote Her Out, The Better Chancellor – a reference to AfD co-leader Frauke Petry – and Fair Game Woman, an allusion to sexual assaults by North African migrants…

“Compact editor-in-chief Juergen Elsaesser, an outspoken fan of Russian President Vladimir Putin, argues that Petry would make a better chancellor than Merkel…”

Red warning signs should go up, when reading all of this.

The Netherlands’ Geert Wilders Faces Another Trial for “Hate Speech”

Deutsche Welle reported on March 18:

“The leader of the right-wing anti-immigration Freedom Party, Geert Wilders, faces trial for 2014 election campaign comments about Moroccans. Meanwhile, his party leads the polls with elections due within a year. The charges date back to the 2014 European election campaign, in which he repeatedly called for ‘fewer Moroccans’ in the Netherlands. At one rally, he asked supporters if they wanted more or fewer, prompting chants of ‘Fewer! Fewer!’ Wilders smiled, and responded: ‘We’ll take care of that.’

“The prosecution argues that this constitutes hate speech, saying that this case against Wilders is stronger than a previous one, in which his comments pertained to the religion of Islam, not a specific group of people…

“Koen Vossen, a lecturer for the political science department at the University of Nijmegen… [states that] Wilders is effectively arguing that he was making a policy pledge. Take his proposals to send criminals with dual nationality back to their home countries, plus reduced migration from Islamic countries, and the upshot for the Netherlands would be fewer Moroccans…

“Treading this fine linguistic line is something of a trademark of Wilders’ politics. With his Freedom Party (PVV) currently leading the polls in the Netherlands, and elections due within the year, the 52-year-old also said recently that if his party were excluded from the next ruling coalition, then his supporters would not tolerate this and might revolt. ‘So then, if people attack him, saying he’s calling for revolution, he replies: “No, listen to what I said. I don’t want there to be a revolt, I said that it might happen if people exclude me from the coalition,’” Vossen explains. ‘He is very good at this: always making remarks that are very controversial, evoking lots of anger, discussion and media attention; but at the same time, it’s always possible to defend them. That’s what he’s doing now, in court, and I think that it will be really difficult to convict him.’…

“Certainly, the trial has not yet hurt Wilders’ approval ratings – with his PVV party polling 10 points clear of any other political grouping in the country. Conservative Prime Minister Marc Rutte, currently in a ‘grand coalition’ with historical rivals the Social Democrats (PvdA), has until March 2017 to call elections; Vossen believes the established parties will wait as long as possible, hoping for a change in the political wind. ‘The refugee crisis was extremely inconvenient for the government,’ he notes, saying Wilders has moved his rhetoric further to the right in recent months, not unlike Germany’s AfD…”

Some of the statements regarding Geert Wilders bear an obvious resemblance to Donald Trump. However, the arguments of the prosecution are ridiculous, which does not help anyone. Claiming that Wilders’ comments, as quoted in the article, would constitute hate speech, is simply preposterous. On top of it, it was reported that many of the prosecutions’ affidavits of alleged witnesses were “fake”; that they were drafted by the police and others; and that they were signed by “witnesses” who did not even speak the native language. Sadly, these tactics and show trials will only raise Wilders’ popularity in the Netherlands.

Pope Francis’ Address—Quite a Stretch

The Associated Press wrote on March 20:

“Pope Frances has blessed palm fronds and olive branches held by faithful in St. Peter’s Square as Holy Week ceremonies begin at the Vatican.

“The pontiff in his Palm Sunday homily lamented what he called the ‘indifference’ of all those who don’t want to take on the responsibility of deciding the destiny of refugees flooding into Europe. He offered a comparison to what happened before Jesus’ crucifixion, when local authorities washed their hands of his fate and passed the decision on to others.”

However, that is not at all what the Bible says.

Migrant Deal Between the EU and Turkey

Deutsche Welle wrote on March 19:

“The EU and Turkey have sealed a deal to end the migrant flow… All migrants arriving illegally on European shores from this Sunday on are to be returned to transit country Turkey, starting on April 4…

“From Sunday on, the EU may ship any migrant arriving in Europe via the Aegean Sea back to Turkey… In return for any Syrian refugees the EU ships back from Greece to Turkey, the EU will take in one Syrian refugee currently in Turkey. This number, however, is to be capped at 72,000…

“The European Union has agreed to speed up talks concerning Turkey’s EU membership, meeting a key Turkish demand. However… Turkey had requested that five so-called chapters of the EU accession talks be opened, but the EU has merely agreed to open one. That chapter – on budget and financial issues – is relatively less important than the rest…

“The EU remains cagey about Turkey’s demand that all visa restrictions on its citizens traveling to the Schengen passport-free travel zone be lifted by the end of June…

“Ankara had wanted an additional 3 billion euros ($3.33 billion) to better care for Syrian refugees, on top of the 3 billion euros already pledged by the EU in the fall. But the EU has only said it will ‘speed up’ the disbursement of these funds, and has vaguely held out the prospect of making more money available…

“Resettling refugees has proven a very thorny issue among EU member states. So far, they have only committed to taking in 18,000 people. To fulfill the EU concession to take in up to 72,000 refugees from Turkey, a further 54,000 places will have to be found throughout the EU. Hungary and Slovakia have made it clear that these will not be found in their countries…

“Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said Greece needed some 2,000 additional lawyers and judges to deal with asylum requests and returns to Turkey, but he said his country could only muster 270… Human rights organizations fear there will be mass returns of migrants without a fair and individual assessment of asylum requests. After the deal was announced, NGO Oxfam called it a ‘further step down the path of inhumanity.’ Amnesty International echoed the harsh criticism.”

Immoral and Illegal

In a related article, Deutsche Welle raised in its article of March 19 the “illegal” aspect of the deal:

“The EU has finally agreed on its elusive goal: a European solution to the refugee crisis. And it turns out to be the Turkish solution that Chancellor Merkel came up with as a last political resort…

“But what a price Europe is paying for this deal. It effectively outsources the protection and care of the majority of refugees from the Middle East to Turkey. On paper, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will commit to keeping international legal obligations and respecting the rights of refugees in accordance with the Geneva Convention. But since when is the autocrat in Ankara known for keeping his promises?…

“The EU, however, will have lost all leverage should Turkey begin to push people back into Syria or Iraq – or if it leaves them begging and starving in the streets of Izmir and Istanbul… the Europeans will be mere onlookers in this drama… Sultan Erdogan… ridicules all admonishments to respect freedom of the press, opposition rights and demands to restart peace talks with the Kurds…

“Europe… is turning itself into a fortress that will be inaccessible to large numbers of refugees… Apart from all the practical problems of implementing this deal and its precarious legal standing, the pictures of Syrian refugees stuck in Turkey’s border regions or Iranians and Afghans looking in vain for protection will come to haunt us. The criticism of human rights organizations holds true: This deal is dangerous, illegal and inhumane.”

The Guardian added on March 19:

“Human rights organisations have hailed a ‘dark day for Europe’ after a controversial deal between Turkey and the European Union aiming to stem the number of refugees fleeing across the Aegean Sea was reached in Brussels… Human Rights Watch condemned the situation as a ‘new low’ and said the proposed conditions put the ‘very principle of international protection for those fleeing war and persecution at stake’…

“Save the Children said that almost 90 per cent of Syrians and 80 per cent of Iraqis have their asylum application granted, making any division on the basis of nationality ‘arbitrary and illegal’. The UN raised similar concerns, saying ‘blanket returns’ would not be consistent with international or European law.

“Amnesty International’s UK director, Kate Allen, said: ‘This is a dark day for the Refugee Convention, a dark day for Europe and a dark day for humanity… It’s absolutely shameful to see leaders seeking to abandon their legal obligations. Forcing refugees back into the hands of the very smugglers they just came from so they can have another go at exploiting them is obviously madness. There’s no way anyone should herald this as a solution.’

“The Overseas Development Institute, which has conducted research on why refugees choose to migrate, warned that the deal is ‘unlikely to work’ to stop the crisis. Marta Foresti, the think-tank’s Director of Governance and Security, said: ‘Our research shows refugees and migrants do not make the decision to leave their home lightly, are willing to take significant risks and will not be deterred by the policies and restrictions of EU countries. Those excluded from the deal will continue to try different, more dangerous routes if the border between Turkey and Greece is shut to them. The EU has failed to provide a humane or pragmatic response to the crisis, what is now needed is leadership at the global level.’”

Hillary Clinton’s Email Debacle Won’t Go Away that Easily

The New York Post wrote on March 20:

“FBI chief James Comey and his investigators are increasingly certain that presidential nominee Hillary Clinton violated laws in handling classified government information through her private email server, career agents say. Some expect him to push for charges, but he faces a formidable obstacle: the political types in the Obama White House who view a Clinton presidency as a third Obama term. With that, agents have been spreading the word, largely through associates in the private sector, that their boss is getting stonewalled, despite uncovering compelling evidence that Clinton broke the law.

“Exactly what that evidence is… has not been disclosed… as FBI director, Comey can only recommend charges to the hacks in the Obama Justice Department. Indeed, many law enforcement officials who know the FBI chief and the bureau’s inner workings believe the evidence would have to be overwhelming for Comey to even recommend charges, much less for DOJ to pursue them… Just how close Comey is to any recommendation… is difficult to know. But agents believe the probe is nearing an end. A State Department staffer who set up Clinton’s email server, for instance, was recently granted immunity from prosecution to provide Comey’s team with evidence…

“Most officials know private email servers are easier to hack into than secure government servers. They also know that even documents not labeled ‘classified’ may be top secret. That’s why they’re supposed to be sent only through government accounts. Those who don’t follow those rules, like former CIA Director David Petraeus, have faced consequences. Another matter for Comey & Co.: whether Clinton comingled her official State Department business with her role at the Clinton Foundation, and whether she wiped clean messages that show her using her office at State for foundation work.

“Law enforcement sources also say Comey’s record as a prosecutor shows he has zero tolerance for such abuses… FBI sources say [Comey] has no backing from President Obama and Attorney General Loretta Lynch to recommend charges against the former secretary, since a Clinton presidency may be the best chance to preserve the Obama legacy. That leaves Comey in a bind: Does he do what is politically expedient and deny the reality that Clinton’s email server activities violated the law, or follow the evidence to wherever it takes him?”

Bill Clinton Slams Barack Obama

The American Mirror wrote on March 21:

“Bill Clinton is either losing it, or he’s ramping up his attacks on President Obama. Neither is good news for Hillary Clinton. During a speech in Spokane, Washington on Monday, Clinton seemed to tear down Obama to boost his wife.

“‘Literally from the time I met her till we talked yesterday, she is the best change maker I have ever known… if you believe we can all rise together, if you believe we’ve finally come to the point where we can put the awful legacy of the last eight years behind us… you should vote for her,’ Clinton said.”

Hillary Clinton will not be too happy about her husband’s statements.

US Democrats in Germany Back Sanders over Hillary

The Local wrote on March 21:

“The majority of American Democrats living in Germany voted for Bernie Sanders in a global primary held this month, showing greater success for the senator abroad than he’s having Stateside. Sanders secured roughly 69 percent of the 2,917 votes cast in Germany, compared to 27.5 percent for Hillary Clinton… The Vermont senator also won with a clear majority worldwide at 69 percent of the vote…

“The group will send 13 delegates and eight super-delegates this year to the Democratic National Convention, which is more than the state of Wyoming’s total of 18. Sanders picked up nine pledged delegates in the global primary, while Clinton secures an additional four delegates.”

Trump a Danger for World’s Economy and Security?

NBC News reported on March 17:

“A British research organization has warned that a Donald Trump presidency could have a dangerous impact on the world economy, increasing the potential of Islamic terror attacks and of a trade war with Mexico and China.

“The Economist Intelligence Unit released its updated global risk assessment, ranking the election of Trump a 12 on a scale of one to 25 — the same number it assigned to the possibility that jihadi terrorism would destabilize the global economy.

“The firm pointed to a number of reasons, including Trump’s hostility toward free trade, his accusing China of being a ‘currency manipulator,’ his advocating the killing of terrorists’ families, and his proposal to move troops into Syria to fight ISIS and take its oil.

“This appeared to be the first time the EIU had rated a presidential candidate’s election as a global risk… The organization ranks risks by impact and probability. A Trump presidency bore high impact, but moderate probability, the EIU said. ‘Although we do not expect Mr. Trump to defeat his most likely Democratic contender, Hillary Clinton, there are risks to this forecast, especially in the event of a terrorist attack on U.S. soil or a sudden economic downturn,’ the authors wrote.

“Other global threats on the list included a ‘sharp economic slowdown in China,’ a collapse of investment in the oil sector, the break up of the European Union, the further rise of jihadi terrorism, and Russian actions in Ukraine and Syria leading to ‘a new “cold war.’”…

“Also Wednesday, the Washington Post editorial board called for the Republican Party to aim for [a] brokered convention to prevent a Trump nomination, arguing that Trump ‘presents a threat to American democracy.’…”

However, the more institutions and papers write and speak against Trump, the more his popularity rises within the USA. It must also be stated that some, if not many of the “global threats” listed by the EIU are really not relevant or will not come to fruition (such as the clearly wrong prognostication of a break-up of the EU or the expectation that Trump would be defeated by Clinton and that a Trump presidency had only a “moderate probability”). This shows that the EIU may not be as informed as they are portrayed to be.

Incredible Hate and Violence of Anti-Trump “Demonstrators”

The Washington Post wrote on March 21:

“Brandon Tatum, an officer in the Tucson Police Department, went to a Trump rally on Saturday as a civilian to see what was going on. In a subsequent video, he said he thought there was going to be “a full-fledged riot” at the event — but not because of Trump’s supporters. The protesters were the problem, Tatum said. ‘These people were acting so outrageous,’ he said…

“Tatum said he went to the rally at the Tucson Arena dressed in civilian clothes — a black shirt and khakis — to hear what Trump had to say… But at the door, he said, protesters were ‘verbally violent’… ‘I could not believe what I saw,’ said Tatum, who is African American.

“Someone in the crowd was wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood, Tatum said, and people were ‘cussing and screaming’ and tackling one another to the ground… ‘People were directly yelling at me as if I’m a criminal…’

“On Saturday morning, protesters blocked traffic leading to a Trump rally near Phoenix… Hours later, protesters in Tucson formed a human wall in front of the entrance to a second rally site…

“Tatum said Trump had rented out the venue and, therefore, had the legal right to remove people from the event. It was the violent protesters who were violating people’s constitutional rights to freedom of speech and assembly, he said.”

Trump Scores Big at AIPAC

JTA wrote on March 21:

“Donald Trump… earned an enthusiastic response to his speech at AIPAC’s [American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s] annual conference… [He] softened two positions that have created unease among pro-Israel activists — his insistence on remaining ‘neutral’ in brokering Israeli-Palestinian peace and his refusal to commit to recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

“On Jerusalem, Trump vowed to move the American embassy to the city, ‘the eternal capital of the Jewish people.’ And he said the Palestinians must accept as a given the closeness of the U.S.-Israel relationship. ‘The Palestinians must come to the table knowing that the bond between the United States and Israel is absolutely unbreakable,’ Trump said. ‘They must come to the table willing to accept that Israel is a Jewish state and it will exist forever as a Jewish state.’

“Trump opponents who had said they would protest the speech because of his broadsides against minorities and his sanctioning of political violence were not visible during his speech, which earned repeated standing ovations.

“Trump’s enthusiastic embrace of pro-Israel orthodoxy appeared to resonate with the AIPAC activists in the Verizon Center arena, and the loud applause was not the only indication. Immediately following Trump’s speech, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, his closest rival in the presidential race, scored Trump for pledging neutrality on Israel and for not promising to ‘shred’ the Iran deal upon election. Both gibes fell flat.

“Trump delivered broadsides against his likely rival in the general election, Hillary Clinton, calling her a ‘total disaster’ and blaming her for last year’s Iran nuclear deal. The line earned laughter and applause, although Clinton’s speech, earlier in the day, was well received.

“Trump’s biggest applause line was when he began a sentence, ‘President Obama, in his final year – yay!’ AIPAC led opposition last year to the Iran nuclear deal and clashed repeatedly with the Obama administration in its unsuccessful bid to get Congress to nix the deal.”

It is amazing how the mass media tries to downplay Trump’s impact. Deutsche Welle reported on March 21, that “Trump has received a lukewarm response from pro-Israeli advocates” at the AIPAX meeting. This is clearly not the case, as the Jewish JTA reported (see above). Rather, Trump received enthusiastic approval from the Jewish audience. To try to stop Trump with lies will not work. And while Trump won big on Tuesday in Arizona’s election, he lost big against Ted Cruz in Utah.

Trump vs. Germany?

The Washington Post wrote on March 21:

“Donald Trump outlined an unabashedly noninterventionist approach to world affairs Monday, telling The Washington Post’s editorial board that he questions the need for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which has formed the backbone of Western security policies since the Cold War… Trump said he advocates a light footprint in the world. In spite of unrest abroad, especially in the Middle East, Trump said the United States must look inward and steer its resources toward rebuilding domestic infrastructure… For the first time, Trump also listed members of a team chaired by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) that is counseling him on foreign affairs and helping to shape his policies: Keith Kellogg, Carter Page, George Papadopoulos, Walid Phares and Joseph E. Schmitz.

“… on the subject of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, [Trump]  said America’s allies are ‘not doing anything.’ ‘Ukraine is a country that affects us far less than it affects other countries in NATO, and yet we’re doing all of the lifting,’ Trump said. ‘They’re not doing anything. And I say: “Why is it that Germany’s not dealing with NATO on Ukraine? Why is it that other countries that are in the vicinity of Ukraine, why aren’t they dealing? Why are we always the one that’s leading, potentially the third world war with Russia.”’

“Trump said that U.S. involvement in NATO may need to be significantly diminished in the coming years, breaking with nearly seven decades of consensus in Washington. ‘We certainly can’t afford to do this anymore,’ Trump said, adding later, ‘NATO is costing us a fortune, and yes, we’re protecting Europe with NATO, but we’re spending a lot of money.’… He questioned the value of massive military investments in Asia and wondered aloud whether the United States still was capable of being an effective peacekeeping force there…”

The German boulevard press does not like Trump’s statements. Bild Online reported on March 21: “Trump Attacks Germany” (apparently for his suggestion that Germany should do more regarding Ukraine) and on March 22: “Trump Speaks of World War III.” They also stated on March 21 that Trump’s vocabulary is that of a fifth-grader. This accusation is obviously ridiculous.

Terror Attack in Belgium–“Is Trump So Wrong?”

On March 22, Mail Online published the following article by Piers Morgan (former “America Has Talent” judge and CNN moderator):

“How many more? That’s all I could think this morning as news broke of yet another ISIS terror attack, this time in Brussels. How many more innocent men, women and children are going to be blown to pieces by these murderous bastards? How many more airports, train stations, sports stadiums, restaurants or concert halls will be obliterated in a hail of suicide bombs and bullets? How many more world leaders will wring their hands on national television afterwards and spout pointless platitudes about the ‘poor brave victims’ and ‘heroic emergency services’? How many taunting, gleeful claims of responsibility will the despicable perpetrators of these evil crimes be able to issue?…

“The inherent problem which causes it, chaotic war-torn instability in the Middle East, is getting worse, not better; just as the financial and military resource of the enemy is growing greater, not reducing. Yet just as the world is crying out for strong decisive leadership, there is none.

“America has a demob happy President Obama eeking out his last few months in office. A man whose infamous ‘leading from behind’ philosophy to foreign policy has been partly responsible for the war in Syria raging uncontrollably for five years – allowing fundamentalism to ferment. Obama has zero interest in doing anything tangible to really deal with ISIS. This is now parked in the tray marked ‘next president’s problem.’

“Europe, meanwhile, is splintering at the seams, ravaged by an unprecedented migration crisis that nobody seems to have a clue how to handle. German chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision to let a million migrants into its country is already seen to be an utter disaster. France, reeling from two horrendous attacks in Paris, is understandably highly fearful of yet more terror coming its way. Belgium officials effectively conceded today that they have no real way to protect themselves against the ISIS threat. A fact surely born out by the fact that today’s onslaught in Brussels happened right when the city most expected it, following the capture of Paris attacks suspect Saleh Abdeslam three days ago.

“Britain, surely a target anytime soon, is on red alert but its warring politicians are too distracted by the upcoming EU referendum in June to pay anything more than lame lip service to terrorism. So nobody seems to be doing anything concrete to stop ISIS, or even suggesting a new way to do so given the spectacular lack of success to date.

“Well almost nobody.

“By coincidence, I had an interview scheduled today with the world’s most controversial man, Donald Trump, for my UK show, Good Morning Britain. It was set up a couple of weeks ago, but the timing was eerily prescient. Here is one man who definitely has a plan to deal with ISIS terrorism. Several plans in fact. The problem is that people don’t like them. Well, a lot of people don’t anyway.

“Trump, current front-runner for the Republican nomination, wants to hit ISIS ‘so hard they never recover’… He also wants a short-term ban on Muslims entering the U.S. until, as he puts it, ‘we figure out what the hell is going on?’ And he wants to torture suspects like Abdeslam with techniques like water-boarding to try and extract information about future attacks. Oh, and he wants to build a giant wall to stop illegal immigrants pouring over the Mexican border into America…

“Trump told me countries must tighten their borders in light of these terror attacks, especially to anyone related to an ISIS fighter in Syria. Is he so wrong?

“He told me he wants law-abiding Muslims to root out the extremists in their midst, expressing his bafflement and anger that someone like Abdeslam was able to hide for so long in the very part of Brussels he had previously lived. Is he so wrong?

“He told me America must make it far harder for illegal immigrants to enter the U.S. and thinks European countries should follow suit. Is he so wrong?

“He told me he believes there are now areas of many major European cities which have become poisonous breeding grounds for radicalized Islamic terror. Is he so wrong?

“I didn’t feel I was talking to a lunatic, as many seem to view Trump. I saw a guy, a non-politician unfettered by PC language restraints, who is genuinely furious at the devastation which ISIS is wreaking, and seriously concerned for the security of his fellow Americans and indeed, the citizens of Europe.

“His plans for tackling this extraordinarily dangerous threat to the world have been widely condemned as ‘bigoted’ and ‘racist’. But although I publicly criticised him for the Muslim short-term ban suggestion, I’ve known Trump for ten years and I don’t believe he’s a racist… And right now, he firmly believes that ISIS will murder countless more Americans and Europeans if somebody somewhere doesn’t stand up and punch them hard in the face.

“Someone prepared to stop spewing politically-correct niceties after these attacks, hoping nobody gets offended, and actually DO something. Let’s be honest with ourselves, right now ISIS is winning this war and will continuing committing utter carnage on our streets on an ever graver and more barbaric scale until they are stopped.

“I don’t have the answers to how to do that. But I don’t hear any good ideas coming from any world leaders at the moment either, and it’s their highly paid jobs to work it out. Instead, I see a global paralysis driven by fear, confusion and woeful lack of leadership. And it will only get worse.

“Hate Donald Trump all you like, but at least he seems to recognise the magnitude of the threat and at least he has firm proposals for how to try to defeat it. They may not win him the Politically Correct Pontificator of the Year award. But how many more scenes like this morning’s appalling images from Brussels are we going to tolerate before we try a non-PC option to beat these disgusting excuses for human beings?

“At the end of our interview, I asked Donald Trump to send a message to the large majority of non-violent, decent Muslims who are as disgusted by these attacks as the rest of us. ‘I have great respect for Muslims,’ he said, ‘I have many friends that are Muslims. I’m just saying that there is something with a radicalized portion that is very, very bad and very dangerous. I would say this, to the Muslims, when they see trouble, they have to report it, they’re not reporting it, they’re absolutely not reporting it and that’s a big problem.’ Is he so wrong?”

ISIS Ready to Attack Europe

The Associated Press wrote on March 23:

“The Islamic State group has trained at least 400 fighters to target Europe in deadly waves of attacks, deploying interlocking terror cells like the ones that struck Brussels and Paris with orders to choose the time, place and method for maximum carnage, officials have told The Associated Press.

“The network of agile and semiautonomous cells shows the reach of the extremist group in Europe even as it loses ground in Syria and Iraq. The officials… described camps in Syria, Iraq and possibly the former Soviet bloc where attackers are trained to attack the West. Before being killed in a police raid, the ringleader of the Nov. 13 Paris attacks claimed he had entered Europe in a multinational group of 90 fighters, who scattered ‘more or less everywhere.’…

“Estimates range from 400 to 600 Islamic State fighters trained specifically for external attacks… Some 5,000 Europeans have gone to Syria.”

President Obama’s Failed “Strategy” Regarding ISIS

The New York Times wrote on March 22:

“It is not working. President Obama’s slow-but-steady strategy to defeat the Islamic State… is doing nothing to dent the charismatic appeal of the militant group, disrupt its propaganda or prevent it from killing Europeans.

“The Brussels attacks that left at least 30 people dead at the city’s international airport and a subway station adjacent to the European Union headquarters — the symbolism could scarcely be more potent — came just four days after the capture in the Belgian capital on Friday of Salah Abdeslam. He was the sole survivor among the 10 men believed to have perpetrated the attacks that killed 130 people in Paris a little more than four months ago.

“The Islamic State claimed responsibility. The Brussels slaughter bore its hallmarks — an apparently retaliatory attack, carried out by members of a large Belgian cell, many of them trained in Syria, all living in a European country that has permitted Islamist terrorists to infiltrate its neighborhoods. The message was clear: We can still hit you at will. Nothing that Western governments have done since Paris has changed that…

“Since the Paris attack, Obama has insisted that an anti-Islamic State coalition with European and other allies is getting the job done… The president has suggested that more radical military action to crush the militants — essentially the deployment of infantry — would drag the United States into another Middle Eastern war and increase the appeal of the Islamic State… This is a very high-risk policy… It allows the Islamic State to strut its pure evil in and from Raqqa. The Obama approach posits that the Islamic State can be beaten before European and American societies are undermined. Again today, speaking in Havana, he said, ‘We will defeat those who threaten the safety and security of people all around the world.’ But the president does not say when victory will come against these forces he declined to identify, and time counts… [the] ponderous wait-them-out approach to the murderous fanatics of the caliphate looks like capitulation.”

Obama in Cuba

The Guardian wrote on March 21:

“President Raúl Castro of Cuba demanded that Barack Obama hand back Guantánamo Bay and fully end the US trade embargo as their historic first summit in Havana witnessed an unexpectedly spirited clash of political values. Despite emotional scenes of reconciliation that earlier saw the Star Spangled Banner played to spine-tingling effect by a Cuban band in Revolution Square, the two leaders made clear that rapprochement had only come so far. ‘There are profound differences between our countries that will not go away,’ said Castro as he turned the tables on the question of human rights and criticised the US for its failures to ensure universal healthcare and equal pay for women… The Cuban leader also angrily rejected questions by a US journalist who questioned his country’s human rights record… When asked why Cuba still held political prisoners, a visibly irritated Castro responded by asking: ‘What political prisoners? Give me a list of the political prisoners and I will release them immediately…’

“Obama agreed that the two countries still had much to disagree about and said the two had ‘frank and candid’ exchanges during nearly three hours of bilateral meetings earlier on Monday. ‘After five very difficult decades, the relationship between our two countries will not be transformed overnight,’ said the US president. ‘We continue to have significant differences … and that includes democracy and human rights…’

“‘Cuba’s destiny will not be decided by the United States or any other country,’ Obama added…  Obama’s conciliatory remarks – in which he predicted Congress would soon lift the embargo – may anger critics back home, who claim he has given away too much for too little by restoring diplomatic relations without guarantees of political reform… Many thorny issues remain unresolved. Cuba is adamant that no full rapprochement is possible unless the US lifts its embargo and returns the US navy base at Guantánamo Bay. Neither are acceptable to the Republic-controlled US Congress…”

Sadly, in his typically apologetic manner, President Obama said that he ‘“personally would not disagree’ with some of Cuban President Raul Castro’s criticisms of America,” according to the Weekly Standard on March 21. He spoke in Cuba during a press conference for less than a minute on the terrorist attack in Belgium and then went to a baseball game with President Castro …

Nothing Learned

Newsmax added on March 24:

“President Barack Obama came under bitter attack Wednesday for doing the tango and taking in other pleasures on his visits to Cuba and Argentina amid the deadly terrorist attacks in Brussels… In Buenos Aires on Wednesday, President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama were coaxed onto the dance floor by professional tango dancers at a state dinner hosted by Argentine President Mauricio Macri…

“Obama played golf on Martha’s Vineyard in September 2014 after making a quick statement condemning the beheading of Foley, a freelance journalist from New Hampshire, by Islamic State terrorists. He later admitted that the move was a mistake after widespread outrage by critics.”

Even the German media reported about President and Mrs. Obama’s conduct with disgust.

Will China’s Economic Bubble Burst?

 Quartz wrote on March 22:

“The US subprime boom that eventually would trigger the 2008 global financial crisis started when lenders pushed outsized home loans on people without the wherewithal to pay them back. These homeowners were often so cash-strapped that they made tiny down payments on their properties. When home prices fell and loans went bad, banks and investors holding the loans, and financial investments build off them had to eat massive losses. One corner of China’s property market is starting to look very similar. That’s because Chinese home buyers are borrowing huge amounts of money to pay for down payments through the country’s hard-to-track shadow banking system…

“Normally, to get a mortgage in China, homebuyers need to put down at least 20% of a home’s value, and more in some big cities. But in recent years, these new players have stepped in, making it possible for someone with no savings at all to take out a mortgage…

“China’s top leadership is worried [pointing] out parallels between China’s situation and the US subprime crisis, [stating that it] could lead to a financial disaster… borrowing money to cover home down payments [is] not allowed… the problem has already grown to many billions of dollars… Even as China’s economic growth has slowed, outstanding mortgage loans have continued to grow. Chinese bank-issued home loans rose to 14 trillion yuan ($2.2 trillion) in 2015, 6% faster than the previous year…”

The Convoluted Hotchpotch of Easter Dating

The Independent wrote on March 21:

“Easter is fast approaching as Lent draws to a close and the festival takes place this Sunday 27 March… Easter’s date fluctuates every year. This year, the date is the earliest for almost a decade…

“As a general rule, it falls on the first Sunday which follows the first full moon after 21 March. The convoluted system is the product of a mix of Hebrew, Roman and Egyptian culture and calendars. The Egyptians based their calendar on the movement on the Sun, which was adopted by Roman and then Christian culture. However, Judaism used one based on the phases of the moon, which Islam also incorporates.

“Easter’s date fluctuates due to an attempt to harmonise these solar and lunar calendars. However, the issue is further complicated as there is no one fixed way to calculate Easter. Rather, more than a dozen different formulas exist. Many people have called for the system to be simplified to reduce confusion. In 1928 an Easter Act was passed which fixed the date as the first Sunday after the second Saturday in April. However, the law did not catch on and very few people adopted it. It has never been enforced by the Government and has largely been forgotten.

“The most common date for Easter is 19 April, making this year’s date very early. The earliest it can be is 22 March. However, it has not fallen on this date since 1818 and won’t fall here again until 2285. The latest day on which Easter can fall is 25 April. This last happened in 1943 and will next come round in 2038.”

The pagan festival of Easter has really nothing to do with true Christianity, and it is actually a dangerously dark and sinister holiday. For more information, please view our new StandingWatch program, “The Dark Side of Easter.” 

Transgender Ideology “Mental Disorder” and “Child Abuse”

Breitbart wrote on March 21:

“In a strongly worded statement…, the professional association of pediatricians says ‘a person’s belief that he or she is something they are not is, at best, a sign of confused thinking.’ It describes such thinking as [a] problem that exists in the mind and not the body and ‘it should be treated as such.’ The college of pediatricians is joining a heated debate that increasingly pits concerned parents against school teachers, administrators, legislators, and transsexual advocates who are pushing the trans agenda in grade-schools, city governments, state governments, and the federal government.

“A wave of ‘non-discrimination’ bills are appearing around the country that require public women’s restrooms to accommodate men who think they are women and even those who consider themselves ‘gender non-binary,’ that is, men who appear to be men but who say there are neither male or female…

“The statement points out that such gender confusion should be treated as a psychological disorder called ‘gender dysphoria’ and is ‘a recognized mental disorder in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-V).’

“The group is most concerned about the regimen of drugs that are given to children to block puberty. ‘Children who use puberty blockers to impersonate the opposite sex will require cross-sex hormones in late adolescence. Cross-sex hormones (testosterone and estrogen) are associated with dangerous health risks including but not limited to high blood pressure, blood clots, stroke and cancer.’

“Rates of suicide among adults who use cross-sex hormones and undergo sex change reassignment surgery are ‘twenty times greater’ than the rest of the population even in such trans-friendly places as Sweden. The doctors argue that ‘Conditioning children into believing a lifetime of chemical and surgical impersonation of the opposite sex is normal and healthful is child abuse.’”

The transgender ideology is indeed the product of a spiritually unhealthy mind. Please view our “controversial” and not necessarily highly popular StandingWatch program, “God’s Viewpoint on Transgender and Homosexual Individuals.”  

Religious Change in the USA

The Atlantic wrote on March 20:

“In the United States, fewer young Americans identify as religious or attend regular services than members of any other living generation… Religion is no longer the mode through which many people live their lives…

“But even as the country is becoming somewhat less religious, it is also becoming more religiously diverse… Immigrants are introducing their cultural practices into so-called old-time religion…

“Religious choices… create some of the most intense and hate-filled conflicts in American politics…  This might include the choice of who to marry, whether to convert, and how to spend a Friday night or Sunday morning. Some face the dilemma of staying in a religion that upholds tenets with which they disagree, or leaving a religion they love… The way young Americans wrestle with these choices will not only shape their futures. It will shape the future of the country.”

The Bible says that end-time America will totally reject the true God.

The Long Sad History of Anti-Semitic “Conspiracy” Theories

The Guardian wrote on March 19:

“Whenever I hear Jews announce their hatred of Israel’s very existence, I suspect that underneath their loud bombast lies a quiet plea to the Islamists and neo-Nazis who might harm them: ‘I’m not like the others. Don’t pick on me.’…

“Whether the antisemitic conspiracy theory is deployed by German Nazis [including German Neo-Nazis] or Arab dictators, French anti-Dreyfusards or Saudi clerics, the argument is always the same. Democracy, an independent judiciary, equal human rights, freedom of speech and publication – all these ‘supposed’ freedoms – are nothing but swindles that hide the machinations of the secret Jewish rulers of the world…  The ‘Israel lobby’ controls western foreign policy. Israel itself is the ‘root cause’ of all the terrors of the Middle East, from the Iraq war to Islamic State. Polite racism turns the Jews, once again, into demons with the supernatural power to manipulate and destroy nations. Or as the Swedish foreign minister, Margot Wallström, who sees herself as a feminist rather than a racial conspiracist, explained recently, Islamist attacks in Paris were the fault of Israeli occupiers in the West Bank.

“Or consider the otherwise bizarre indulgence of ultra-right religious extremists by people who otherwise describe themselves as liberals and leftists. As someone who warned… about the growing darkness on the left, I am pessimistic about the chances of change…  they will have to learn to treat all racisms equally. They will need to make a brief acquaintance with European history and understand that the left has no guaranteed immunity from fascistic ideology. They will have to see antisemitism for what it is and understand why it always leads to despotism and despair…”

Rightly understood, the ideology of anti-Semitism has had a field day in radical left philosophies. Stalin’s Russia persecuted the Jews, as did other Communist countries. So did Hitler’s Germany. But even though it is normally “described” as a radical right-wing philosophy, the term Nazi actually means “national SOCIALIST.”

Neanderthals Were Modern Human Beings!

Reuters reported on March 19:

“Scientists said on Friday an analysis of genetic information on about 1,500 people from locations around the world indicated at least four interbreeding episodes tens of thousands of years ago, three with our close cousins the Neanderthals and one with the mysterious extinct human species known as Denisovans. People living on the remote equatorial islands of Melanesia represented the only population found to possess an appreciable level of Denisovan genetic ancestry. These Melanesians, like most human populations, also had Neanderthal genetic ancestry…

“Denisovans, discovered in the past decade, are known only from a pinky finger bone and two teeth from a northern Siberian cave.”

This would again prove that Neanderthals (and Denisovans, if they really existed) were human beings (homo sapiens), and not ape-like creatures. For more information and proof, please read our free booklet, “Heavens and Earth… Before and After the First Man.” 

The House of Judah rejected Jesus Christ when He first came to them—a fact foretold and indeed fulfilled! Yet, it was from among His countrymen—Jewish men and women—that Jesus first found those who came to believe that He was “‘…the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (Mathew 16:16).

There was a sense of expectancy for the appearing of the Messiah in the time of Herod the king. Luke, chapter 2, and Matthew, chapter 2, recount events which occurred in the land of Judea following the birth of Jesus—all pointing to prophecies about the Messiah. These things were known— they were spoken of by many people (compare Luke 2:17).

It was knowledge of the Messianic prophecies which drew the attention of those who did follow Christ:

“Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph’” (John 1:45).

The apostle Paul identified himself as “‘…a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee’” (Acts 23:6). For a time Paul did not believe Jesus to have been anything more than a dangerous cult leader. Note what he says of himself:

“For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers” (Galatians 1:13-14).

However, when Jesus miraculously appeared to Paul, He commissioned him to proclaim the gospel:

“Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. Then all who heard were amazed, and said, ‘Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?’ But Saul (Paul) increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 9:20-22).

Note how Paul proved what he taught:

“[F]or he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 18:28).

Some Jews believed what Paul taught:

“Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.’ And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas” (Acts 17:1-4).

Most Jews rejected what Paul taught:

“On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, ‘It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles’… But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region” (Acts 13:44-46, 50).

Later in his ministry, being a prisoner, Paul was taken to Rome. Nonetheless, he was still able to teach those who came to him. Among those were leaders of the Jews in Rome (Acts 28:17), and Paul spoke to them:

“So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved” (Acts 28:23-24).

To address the specific question of the Q&A, Paul explained why most of the Jews did reject Jesus, and he used the analogy of the veil that Moses had to place over his face due to the glory of his countenance following his presence before God:

“But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away” (2 Corinthians 3:14-16).

Paul made clear that the rulers killed Jesus because they did not understand the wisdom of God:

“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:7-8).

Christ confirmed this fact, praying to God the Father to forgive His murderers, because “they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34).

On the other hand, it is true that the Pharisees had some knowledge about the Person of Christ. Nicodemus, one of the Pharisees, came to Christ by night and told Him: “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with Him” (John 3:2).

Still, they rejected Him because they were envious and did not want to lose their positions in the community (Matthew 27:18; John 11:48). They even accused Him of casting out demons through the power of Satan, which caused Christ to give them a stern warning, since they knew better (Matthew 12:22-32).

The apostle Peter boldly preached to the Jews about Christ, showing again that the Jews were “ignorant” as to who Christ was:

“The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses… Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled” (Acts 3:13-15, 17-18).

The people did not really understand who Christ was. Christ asked His disciples: “What do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” The disciples answered: “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah, or some of the prophets.” When Jesus asked them: “But who do you say that I am?”, Peter answered: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Christ responded that this revelation had to come from God the Father; otherwise, he would not have understood this either (compare Matthew 16:13-17).

Because of the healing of a man who had been lame from his birth, Peter and John were arrested and brought before Jewish leaders in Jerusalem:

“And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, ‘By what power or by what name have you done this?’ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the “stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.” Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved’” (Acts 4:5-12).

Stephen was brought before the council of the Jews for preaching about Jesus (Acts 6:15), and in his address to these leaders of the Jewish nation, he sharply rebuked their obstinate rejection of God:

“’You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it’” (Acts 7:51-53).

What Stephen said so enraged the Jews that they murdered Stephen (compare Acts 7:54-60). The Jewish leaders had also opposed what Jesus said, and they plotted His death—which was agreed to by the Jewish people (compare Acts 2:23, 36) and carried out by the Romans. The New Testament records the fact that Jesus was rejected by the House of Judah:

“He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11).

In responding to the Jews and their leaders in Jerusalem, Jesus challenged their lack of understanding, for He consistently revealed Himself by referring to prophecy:

“’You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me… Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?’” (John 5:39, 45-47).

Following His resurrection, Jesus proved His own identity by what was written in the Old Testament. Here is what Jesus said to His disciples: “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27); and, “Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me’” (Luke 24:44).

In unsparing words, Jesus denounced the hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees—the religious leadership in Judea (compare Matthew 23). Even in His blistering rebuke, Jesus also pointed to a future time when “His own” would not reject Him:

“‘O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”’” (Matthew 23:37-39).

Indeed, the Jewish people who lived under the rule of the Roman Empire looked for a Savior for deliverance, and they applied the Messianic prophecies to their own circumstances instead of what was actually revealed in the Word of God. Also, the religious leaders in Judea were unwilling and unable to turn to God. They failed to “bear fruits worthy of repentance” at the preaching of John the Baptist (compare Matthew 3:7-10). With premeditated evil, they plotted the death of Jesus (compare Matthew 26:3-4) and rejected Him as their King (compare John 19:1-22).

Finally, consider these words from Jesus Christ—directed squarely at the Jews of His time and for all of us:

“‘…Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: “This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men–the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do’” (Mark 7:6-9).

Most of the Jewish people and their leaders rejected Christ because of a lack of understanding as to who He was. They were “willfully ignorant” (2 Peter 3:5, Authorized Version).

It is the same today. Most Jews, as well as most people around the world, do not really know God the Father and Jesus Christ, because the true knowledge as to who and what God is has been hidden from them (John 16:3). As a consequence, Christ’s true disciples are rejected by the world and will have to endure persecution (Matthew 24:9; John 15:18-21).

Lead Writers: Dave Harris and Norbert Link

A new Member Letter (March 21, 2016) has been mailed to our subscribers. In this letter, Eric Rank addresses the urgent need for us to examine our actions and to make certain that we are bearing fruit pleasing to God. This letter is also posted on our website.

“Why the West Is to Be Blamed for ISIS Terror Attacks,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

The ISIS terror attacks in Brussels, Belgium, have reinforced the conviction of many observers that the Western world has utterly failed in its fight against radical Islam. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are at the forefront of blame and criticism, especially regarding their mishandling of the “disastrous” migrant crises, the “uncontrollable” war in Syria and the “ill-advised” Iran deal. How did Western leaders contribute to the rise of ISIS? Will we see further terrorist attacks in Europe and in the USA? In this program, we show you from the Bible WHY we find ourselves in such a precarious situation. We also offer you a free booklet, explaining Old Testament prophesies for our modern time.

A new Global Trailer with Pastor Brian Gale was posted on our YouTube channel globalchurchsw BG. The program is titled, “The Mysteries of the Bible”

Here is a summary:

We must let the Bible tell us just what the gospel is, because, there is only one gospel. Many have turned away from the true gospel of God AND Christ, and have replaced it with a counterfeit. This happened early in the New Testament Church, at the time of Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, and it has continued ever since.

Another Global Trailer with Pastor Brian Gale was posted on our YouTube channel, titled, “Should You Fight in War?” 

Here is a summary:

Throughout this booklet, we will consider some interesting quotes from famous persons who might have understood something regarding the issue of war and peace, which sadly, most people have failed to comprehend. However, regardless of the conclusions of our discussion, one fact should be clear: Every war has terrible consequences, both economically and in terms of human suffering and pain.

“ENGEL, DÄMONEN UND DIE GEISTIGE WELT,” is the title of our new German booklet. It is now posted on our German website, and it has been sent to the printers.

“Liebe aus ganzem Herzen,” is the title of this week’s German sermon. Title in English: “Love With All Our Heart.”

“Face It,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Dave Harris, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Living as a Christian tests us.. It involves ongoing correction, change and growth. The challenge for us is to become truly submissive to God.

“Let God Fight the Battles,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Eric Rank, is now posted. Here is a summary:

When we encounter situations of conflict, it might be tempting to take matters into our own hands and leave God out of the picture. The Bible teaches that it is important for us to bring God into our lives to help in times of conflict, but also to faithfully turn matters into His hands to take care of the situation for us. We can be relieved to know that God is willing to fight our battles, but only if we let Him.