On Sept 2, 2023, Paul Niehoff will present the sermonette, titled, “The First and Great Commandment,“ and Rene Messier will present the sermon, titled, “Know the Lord.”

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.

I enjoy watching Do It Yourself (“DIY”) videos on YouTube. From an amateur watch maker who restores old mechanical watches, to a farmer in Ohio who is building his backyard pond, the ability to transform and create something of value is impressive. Many of us have experienced the sense of satisfaction that comes along with building something by hand. Perhaps the task is woodworking, metalsmithing, creating a piece of art, writing something with enduring quality, and even gardening. The feeling that we can derive from a job well done is hard to describe but one knows the feeling. People use the word “satisfying” to describe that sensation of accomplishment that comes from completing a task. It is good to use the skills we have been given by God, but not good to believe that we are independent of God’s grace in our lives.

I have a work-colleague who has mentioned a prior life near the beach in Costa Rica. He would fish for the family dinner, pick fruit from a tree for breakfast, and in general live a self-sufficient lifestyle. He makes it sound wonderful and free of the usual stress and hassle that everyday life typically includes. The positives of such a life seem to outweigh the possibility of negatives but they do exist. Perhaps you will wake up ill one day and be unable to fend for yourself. One would quickly come to understand they are not quite so self-sufficient.

In Proverbs 3, and in verses 5-8, we are directed to: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.”

This is antithetical to the DIY philosophy, but to us as true Christians, it is essential that our toolbox be grounded in our faith, obedience, and trust in the Father. It is also true that God wants those He calls to be productive and use the talents and abilities He gives them. This is not a DIY contradiction because we must remember that despite all that we do and may be proficient at, we must rely on God for blessings and deliverance from the challenges we face.

Isaiah 41 outlines the many things that God does and will do for His people. It is a catalogue of His power and majesty and encapsulated in verse 13: “For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’” Is this not what we all require—God to take our hand and guide us through the difficulties? As we apply our skills and energies to a problem, we must understand that we must rely on Him. The part that many of us struggle with is that if it is not God’s Will to grant a desire, or an outcome He favors, it will not happen, regardless of our skill. As He did with Moses in the Wilderness, God made the impossible occur. He brought forth living water from stone. Later in Isaiah 41,we see His powers clearly, as stated in verses 18 through 20:

“I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.”

As humans, we are not capable of miraculous achievement, regardless of our skill. Even musical and technical prodigies must develop and are flawed. Only God is defined by perfection. He has, however, given us a glimpse of His magnificence through His creation of all of us and the universe around us.In 1 Peter 5, and in verses 6 and 7, we are admonished as follows: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.”

True Christians must understand this and ensure that they do not fall back on the carnal expectation to rely on oneself, or one’s family, friends, or colleagues for salvation. All good things flow only from God. This includes all blessings, skills, sustenance, and even the challenges we face. In Philippians 4, and in verse 6, we understand that we are to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

In our society today, we are accustomed to receiving immediate updates for packages we are expecting. We have similar expectations for resolutions in our lives. Problems we face, health issues, and challenges involving work, are just a handful of matters we deal with in which our expertise may have little impact on the outcome. Yet, our human existence has trained us to believe that we can fix the situation. We also see the reliance that so many people in the world place on governmental leaders to deliver peace, prosperity, and well-being. Political parties and activists promote their ability to provide the answer. As true Christians, we know that this is not accurate, nor is it possible.

As we conclude, let us consider Christ’s words in John 15:4-5: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” This is what it boils down to: We can do nothing without God’s intervention and influence in our lives. When He calls us, we have a choice to make, and as the builder counts the cost of the project, true Christians must understand the full benefit that comes with trusting and relying on God.

By Norbert Link

We begin this edition with frightening developments pertaining to Germany’s legal system which may pose the question as to whether Germany, as a “Rechtsstaat” (“State founded on the Rule of Law”), is becoming more and more a “Unrechtsstaat” (“Unconstitutional State”).

Focusing on current events in the USA, concern is mounting that we are reaching the time of another civil war.

These concerns are, in part, based on events in Georgia and Trump’s declaration that he will be the country’s retribution; allegations by Ukraine’s former prosecutor that Joe Biden took bribes from Ukraine; Biden’s use of email aliases to pass on governmental information to Hunter and others; the declared intention of Biden and other Catholic Democrats to make abortion legal until the time of birth, claiming falsely that the Catholic Church supports their stance;  Biden’s announcement that everyone will be “required” to take a new COVID shot [note in this regard the illuminating article by Dr. Ron Paul and the despicable court decision against Robert F Kennedy Jr.] ; climate czar John Kerry’s attack on “climate change deniers”; and Biden’s intentions to prohibit many household appliances (ceiling fans being the latest example).

Please view our new StandingWatch program, “Civil War Is Going to Happen!”

In other international news, Russia has claimed that the leader of the Wagner troop and warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin has died in a suspicious plane crash, but this claim is disputed; Hungary has demanded that the war in Ukraine must end immediately; and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is threatening to prevent a religious pilgrimage of Jews to Ukraine on the Feast of Trumpets.

We conclude with an interesting and outspoken controversy between Argentinian Pope Francis and the most likely next Argentinian president, Javier Milei.

Throughout this section, we have underlined pertinent statements in the quoted articles, for the convenience and quick overview of the reader.

Travesty of Justice in Germany

Breitbart wrote on August 24:

“A judge who struck down government rules that children must wear masks at school in a German state in 2021 stands to lose his legal career and pension, and has been handed a two-year suspended prison sentence for ‘perverting the law’ (“Rechtsbeugung”).

“Judge Christian Dettmar struck down the order by German state Thuringia in 2021 that, as part of Coronavirus lockdown procedures, children must wear masks while at school, should keep a minimum distance from each other, and should be subjected to virus tests. Ruling that this was not compatible with the welfare of the children involved, Judge Dettmar ordered two schools in the city of Weimar, Thuringa, no longer to enforce the order, and the judge’s decision caused instant outrage in state government.

“His ruling was overturned by a higher court following a complaint by the state’s education department meaning masks returned to schools, and a prosecution against Judge Dettmar was launched, as he stood accused of ‘perverting the law’ and ruling on a matter he did not have authority over…

“Now the Thuringian district court has found against the judge, giving him a two-year suspended sentence. His lawyers had argued for acquittal and the prosecution had asked for a three-year sentence, so now both will appeal the sentence…

“The defence argued the trial was politically motivated and was intended to silence dissenters, while Judge Detmarr himself said he felt no regret and would make the same ruling again ‘out of deep inner conviction.’

“While a two-year suspended sentence may not seem like a serious outcome, it will have massive consequences for Judge Dettmar, as German law dictates any civil servant sentenced to a custodial sentence of more than 12 months is deprived of both their position and their pension… He has already been suspended on probation pending the outcome of the challenges, and police searched his home, offices, and digital devices.”

Legal experts have pointed out that, contrary to the prosecution’s and the courts’ allegations, Dettmar was fully authorized to make that decision as a family judge ruling in family matters, and there can be no doubt that the action by the government, in collaboration with politically motivated courts, is a travesty of judgment… especially, as rumors have it that the German government under Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (who has been called the German Anthony Fauci) wants to soon reinstate rigorous coronavirus restrictions.

LifeSiteNews added on August 24:

“Dettmar’s ruling striking down COVID mandates in schools had caused international headlines. A higher court subsequently overturned his decision on the grounds that a family court is not entitled to issue instructions to public institutions; only administrative courts are allowed to do so. The Thuringian Higher Regional Court and the Federal Court of Justice affirmed that family courts do not have jurisdiction to make such decisions. 

“However, according to Erik Rusch from Epoch Times Germany, this legal interpretation is debatable among experts. ‘If this interpretation of the law were to be followed consistently, sexual assaults against children in private schools, for example, could be attacked and stopped on the basis of Section 1666 of the German Civil Code (BGB) for endangering the welfare of children, but not in public schools,’ Rusch explains. ‘According to this case law, victims of sexual violence in state schools would have to engage in lengthy administrative proceedings.’”

Not only that, in order to be legally convicted, Dettmar must have intentionally issued his decision, knowing that he did not have the authority to do so, even though legal experts said that he had that authority. This defies credibility and is indeed a travesty of judgment. But it’s not the only legal travesty in Germany.

“American Author Convicted in Germany for Comparing COVID Regime to Nazi-Era”

LifeSiteNews reported on August 23:

“American satirist and playwright C.J. Hopkins has been convicted of a crime for content in social media posts that a judge considered to be critical of the German government for its Covid policies. Hopkins, who lives in Germany, was reportedly charged after posting a picture of his book that shows a face mask with a barely visible Swastika printed on it in response to a social media post featuring German health minister Karl Lauterbach…

“A German judge sent Hopkins a ‘punishment order,’ sentencing the writer to a fine of €3,600 or 60 days in jail. The American author told [journalist] Taibbi that he was convicted for ‘disseminating propaganda, the contents of which are intended to further the aims of a former National Socialist organization.’

“Hopkins reportedly responded to a social media post on X, formerly Twitter, by the German newspaper Die Welt, featuring a picture of Lauterbach and a quote from the German health minister: ‘The mask always sends out a signal.’ The American writer responded to the post by quoting Lauterbach’s words back to him with a picture of the cover of his book called ‘The Rise of the New Normal Reich,’ which features a transparent swastika on a face mask.

“Hopkins’ book criticizes the draconian political response to the Covid crisis in Germany and around the world, comparing some aspects of it to the Nazi era. Hopkins stressed that neither his book nor any of his other works ever promoted National Socialism or anything related to it. ‘I’m laughing because it would take all of about 20 seconds of anyone looking at my actual work to determine how absolutely opposed I am to anything resembling totalitarianism, fascism, authoritarianism, anything,’ the author told Taibbi.

“To both Hopkins and Taibbi, the verdict appeared to be an act of censorship against a political dissident by the German state… When Taibbi asked Hopkins whether he thinks the case against him happened because the German government was upset at being compared to the Nazis, the author responded, ‘That’s exactly the way that I interpret it’…

“While it is illegal to spread symbols associated with National Socialism in Germany if the intent is to promote the ideology, many books and movies that depict swastikas are nevertheless allowed in Germany. ‘Yes, if you’re a Nazi, it’s illegal to spread swastikas around in Germany,” Hopkins said to Taibbi. “But if you’re doing art, if you’re commenting on history, if you’re selling a book, there are a whole slew of reasons for exceptions where people can and do use swastikas …’ according to Hopkins, he cannot appeal his conviction and can only go to court to ask for mitigation of the sentence….”

In Germany, judges are employed and appointed for life. It is very difficult to get rid of them. And so, we see more and more examples where German judges usher incredibly outrageous decisions in violation of the law. And as in this case, they cannot even be appealed. Also, in the last issue of our Current Events, we reported the incredible and blatantly false decision of a German judge against an AfD official, Florian Jäger, for alleged antisemitic statements, which “coincidentally” corresponds with the ridiculous decision against Hopkins.

Nothing Works Anymore in Germany

Bild Online wrote on August 29:

“Everywhere you look it crunches… Construction sites like malignant cancers that go on forever, which could be due to weeks of no workers in sight…

“No one can ever be reached by phone if you want to complain to a governmental office or make an appointment. Registry office, passport, driver’s license, doctor – forget it…

“… economically, we are the sick man of Europe, the world economy is growing, we are shrinking, this year by 0.3 percent. On the other hand, we have the highest inflation at six percent, exports are weakening, China is no longer buying our cars…

“Where are all the people who used to work in gastronomy, in medical practices, in sales?… We don’t know. They are just missing.

“But we also have records. Regarding fearmongering or sickness. Every second person has already called in sick this year… We are never part of the solution, but always part of the problem.

“When it comes to absurdities, our state works. Self-determination from the age of 14; i.e., in the middle of puberty?…”

Such incredible nonsense!

Trump: I Am Your Retribution!

Report 24 wrote on August 25:

“His last tweets were from January 2021 – after the alleged ‘storming of the Capitol’ it was over; Donald Trump had been banned from Twitter. He did not respond to the activation after Elon Musk took over the network, but now the former President of the United States has reported back to X. He demonstratively posted his ‘mug shot’ taken of him today at Fulton Prison. The subtitle: ‘Never surrender!’

“X (formerly Twitter) rejoices: Donald Trump is back. While the German mainstream is trying very hard to convey the impression that he would have become unacceptable as the first US President with a so-called mug shot, the users in the social networks seem to see it quite differently: for his still enormous group of supporters the police photo that Trump provocatively posted on Twitter is likely to be a badge of honor.

“The actions of the judiciary against the former US President, who had always campaigned for the fight against the so-called Deep State, is seen as evidence of the machinations that Trump had vehemently denounced in the past. In particular, he saw the Justice Department as infiltrated and in the service of powerful, foreign masters who do not work for the well-being of American citizens but for their own interests – and who accordingly perceive ricochets like Trump as archenemies. Trump promised American citizens in May: ‘I am your warrior, I am your justice, and for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution. I will totally obliterate the Deep State.’

While Democrats and no-Trumpers are gloating, and while many Americans, being sound asleep, have no “opinion” on the matter, others came to his defense, and Trump’s approval rate skyrocketed after he had to present himself to Georgia’s “justice” system in connection with his fourth (!) criminal “indictment” to have his mug shot taken (which had never been taken before of a sitting or former President, but which he later placed himself on Twitter, now called “X,” attempting to show the travesty of the actions taken against him, and to reassure his supporters that he will fight to the bitter end).

Also, his “fundraising committee is selling now T-shirts, mugs, beverage coolers, bumper sticks, and other products featuring Trump’s mug shot and the words ‘never surrender’. The mug shot merchandise ranges in price from $12 for a bumper sticker to $36 for a long-sleeve T-shirt,” according to Newsmax, dated August 25.

Trump: I Will Jail My Opponents

Newsmax wrote on August 30:

“Former President Donald Trump, blaming President Joe Biden for the indictments he’s facing, [said in an interview with radio host Glenn Beck on Tuesday] he’ll have ‘no choice’ when it comes to jailing political opponents if he’s elected as president, as ‘they’re doing it to us.’…

“His comments came after Beck asked if he regrets not locking up his 2016 presidential election challenger Hillary Clinton, despite his calls during the campaign to ‘lock her up.’ ‘Then when you became president, you said, “We don’t do that in America.” That’s just not the right thing to do. That’s what they’re doing,’ Beck said. ‘If you’re president again, will you lock people up?’”

Beck asked a legitimate question as to why Trump broke his word when he did not at least retry to lock Hillary Clinton up.

Set Trial Date Blatant Election Interference

Breitbart wrote on August 28:

“Republicans blasted U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan’s scheduling the trial date for former President Donald Trump’s federal case a day before Super Tuesday, deeming it another ‘corrupt’ act by President Joe Biden’s DOJ as well as a ‘blatant’ form of election interference against the former president and Republican frontrunner.

“On Monday, the Associated Press reported on Chutkan’s decision in Washington, DC, after she denied Trump’s legal team’s request for a spring 2026 date. The trial date for the former president’s case — alleging he attempted to overturn the 2020 election results — is set for a day before more than a dozen states hold their caucuses or primaries, marking one of the most momentous days of the presidential primary process.”

It was pointed out that the Democrats are doing exactly what they are accusing Trump of doing, and that Chutkan should be disbarred. Also, as Breitbart reported, “Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case against Trump alleging 34 counts of falsifying business records is also set to commence this spring on March 25. Smith’s other case relating to classified documents Trump allegedly took at the end of his presidency is set to begin on May 20.”

Could anything be more obvious?

Breitbart quoted former U.S. Ambassador Richard Grenell as saying:

“‘Election interference in broad daylight, right up in your face by a weaponized justice system. Defund the DOJ, impeach Biden & Garland. Power is all they understand, use what power we have or lose the republic… The U.S. State Department usually calls out this type of election interference. Instead, Blinken is participating in election interference. Dictators around the world are celebrating. I look forward to removing these shisters from government and helping restore America’s moral clarity.”

Civil War Is Going To Happen

Daily Express US wrote on August 25:

“Donald Trump’s fourth indictment prompted fury from the former Alaskan Governor, with Sarah Palin evoking violent language and warning that a second Civil War is ‘going to happen’.

“Sarah Palin said a second Civil War is ‘going to happen’ if Donald Trump continues to be persecuted. The former Alaska governor made the grim prediction in an interview with Newsmax after Trump handed himself over to the authorities in Georgia. ‘Those who are conducting this travesty and creating this two-tier system of justice, I want to ask them… do you want us to be in civil war?’ she said. ‘Because that’s what’s going to happen. We’re not going to keep putting up with this.’… Palin also told ex-Fox News anchor Eric Bolling: ‘You suggested that we need to get angry. We do need to rise up and take our country back.’”

There is much anger in this country about what is perceived to be a crooked, corrupt and weaponized injustice department. Only imagine if Trump is convicted and imprisoned, for instance in Georgia, as some conservative legal experts, such as former US Attorney for Washington D.C. Joe diGenova, have predicted will happen, as Trump could not get a fair trial or a fair and impartial judge and jury. You don’t need to be a brain surgeon to know that if or when that happens, it will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

In an interview with Tucker Carlson, the question was asked of Trump: “So what’s next, after trying to put you in prison for the rest of your life? That’s not working. Don’t they have to kill you now?” Trump responded indirectly, saying that violence could break out: “There’s a level of passion I’ve never seen, there’s a level of hatred I’ve never seen,” he said. “And that’s probably a bad combination.”

It won’t be just some violence. It will be a full-fledged civil war, the likes of which we have not seen since THE Civil War which started in 1861 and ended in 1865. We have been warning you of this possibility for quite some time.

Democrats sense that too, but they place all the blame on conservatives and Trump supporters. Disgraced former FBI chief Andrew McCabe said on CNN that Palin’s comments were irresponsible, outrageous and “validate and seem to permit political violence,” while “proposing essentially extortion.” Left-wing reactions on social media were telling, with users suggesting that Palin was inciting violence and should be arrested for her comments.

In an article by BU Today, dated March 27, 2019, the following was stated:

“A recent Washington Post headline says: ‘In America, talk turns to something not spoken of for 150 years: Civil war.’ The story references, among others, Stanford University historian Victor Davis Hanson, who asked in a National Review essay last summer: ‘How, when, and why has the United States now arrived at the brink of a veritable civil war?’ Another Washington Post story reports how Iowa Republican Congressman Steve King recently posted a meme warning that red states have ‘8 trillion bullets’ in the event of a civil war. And a poll conducted last June by Rasmussen Reports found that 31 percent of probable US voters surveyed believe ‘it’s likely that the United States will experience a second civil war sometime in the next five years.’”

In an article by Marca, dated August 23, 2022, it was stated that “half of Americans think there’s another civil war coming.”

That was then. Now it’s even much worse. This country is hopelessly divided. It is a powder keg ready to explode.

Former Ukraine Prosecutor Charges Biden With Receiving Bribes

The New York Post wrote on August 25:

“Former Ukraine prosecutor general Viktor Shokin says in a new interview… that he believes… that President Biden and his son Hunter received bribes in exchange for forcing him out of office in early 2016. ‘I do not want to deal in unproven facts, but my firm personal conviction is that, yes, this was the case. They were being bribed,’ Shokin [said]… ‘And the fact that Joe Biden gave away $1 billion in US money in exchange for my dismissal, my firing, isn’t that alone a case of corruption?’ added the former top law enforcement officer in Kyiv…

“Shokin was dismissed by a vote of Ukraine’s parliament in March 2016 following intense pressure from then-Vice President Joe Biden. His office had been investigating Mykola Zlochevsky, the owner of natural gas company Burisma Holdings, which paid then-second son Hunter Biden up to $1 million per year as a member of the company’s board beginning in April 2014. Biden publicly claimed credit for forcing out Shokin by threatening to withhold $1 billion in US loan guarantees…

“An FBI informant file released publicly last month said that Zlochevsky claimed in 2016 that he was ‘coerced’ into paying $5 million apiece in bribes to Joe and Hunter Biden in exchange for Shokin’s ouster…

“Shokin [also] claimed that Joe Biden was responsible for Russia’s annexation of Crimea, which occurred in early 2014, before Hunter Biden joined Burisma. ‘Everybody knows that it was because of Joe Biden’s actions that Russia was able to claim Crimea without firing a single shot, which of course eventually led to a full-scale war that is currently underway,’ Shokin said…

“This week, purported internal Obama-Biden administration emails… indicate officials were surprised that Biden was pushing for Shokin’s ouster as a condition of US aid… Shokin’s office won a court order to seize Zlochevsky’s property on Feb. 2, 2016… Shokin was fired on March 29. The elder Biden spoke on the phone four times  in February and March 2016 with then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and once with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk as he pushed for Shokin’s ouster.”

Who can seriously question that Joe Biden’s conduct in this entire matter was utterly corrupt, to say the very least?

Joe Biden Secretly Revealed Government Information to Hunter and Others

Breitbart wrote on August 28:

“The National Archives (NARA) possesses about  5,400 emails and records linked to President Joe Biden’s email aliases, the House Oversight Committee revealed Monday evening. ‘The email aliases — ‘Robert Peters,’ ‘Robin Ware,’ and ‘JRB Ware’ — were used to share government information and discuss business with Hunter Biden and associates, according to the Southeastern Legal Foundation…”

When is Biden going to be held accountable for his actions?

Abortion Up to Birth Nationwide

Life News wrote on August 23:

“Joe Biden has a message for the American people. He wants voters to know that, if he’s re-elected, he will institute abortions up to birth nationwide.

“Biden wants Democrats to take over the House and pass a bill through Congress that would restore Roe v. Wade and legalize abortions up to birth without limits and at taxpayer expense across the country.”

International Family News wrote on August 26:

“In a move that contradicts the teachings of the Catholic Church, 30 U.S. House Democrats have claimed that their Catholic faith compels them to support abortion. Led by U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, these lawmakers condemned the Supreme Court’s life-saving decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, stating that their Catholic faith supports a woman’s right to access abortion. They described themselves as devout Catholics who believe in the dignity of every human being and protecting the most vulnerable. However, they reject pro-life laws that aim to protect the lives of unborn babies. They argue that such laws disproportionately harm marginalized communities and violate the principles of social justice and religious freedom.

“Contrary to their claims, pro-life laws have been proven to save lives. Researchers estimate that approximately 25,000 unborn babies have been spared from abortion since the Dobbs decision. Pro-life advocates also ensure that pregnant mothers are protected by the law.

“In contrast, Pelosi and most Democrats in Congress support legislation that would legalize abortion for any reason up to birth and force taxpayers to fund these procedures. They argue that allowing individuals to make their own decisions about their bodies, families, and futures aligns with their beliefs as Catholics. However, Catholic Church teachings are clear that abortion is considered evil, as it destroys human life.

“While Catholics worldwide are active in the pro-life movement, speaking out for the sanctity of life and advocating for policies that protect unborn babies, some Catholic politicians have tried to justify their pro-abortion views by distorting their faith’s teachings. Pelosi, in particular, has faced criticism from San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, who  recently denied her communion in an effort to make her understand the seriousness of her actions.

“The stance of U.S. Catholic bishops on denying communion to pro-abortion politicians remains divided, with some welcoming and offering communion to those who support abortion rights without requiring them to repent. This divisive issue continues to stir debate within the Catholic Church.”

Joe Biden claimed that Pope Francis called him a good Catholic during a recent visit in spite of Biden’s ungodly stance on abortion which also happens to violate the official teaching of the Catholic Church.

Biden: Anyone Will Have to Take New COVID Vaccine

Fox News reported on August 26:

“President Biden said Friday he plans to request additional funding from Congress for the development of a new COVID-19 vaccine, adding he may require everyone to take it, regardless of if they previously received a vaccine or not.”

“Require”? He can’t be serious!

Is Governmental COVID Tyranny Coming Back?

On August 28, Dr. Ron Paul wrote in his “Weekly Column”:

“Just four and a half months since President Biden declared an end to the Covid ‘emergency,’ the media is suddenly full of stories about the return of Covid. This time a new ‘variant’ is being rolled out and the media, in collusion with big Pharma and the fear-industrial complex, are churning out stories about how forced masking is making a comeback. Also, the ‘unvaccinated’ are again to be denied basic human rights in the name of fighting a virus that the vaccine demonstrably does not protect against.

“In short, they are desperately trying to revive the tyranny, insanity, and utter irrationality of the two-year Covid scare. And they are pretending none of us remembers how they destroyed society with their lockdowns, mask mandates, and vaccine mandates. They are hoping that none of us will remember the suicides, lost jobs, broken marriages, increased alcoholism and drug abuse, and the rest of what went along with the world’s experiment with global lockdown.

“Even Fauci himself is back – like a moth drawn to the light of publicity. Despite all the scientific evidence that the lockdowns were a disaster, that they did far more harm than good, Fauci has re-emerged with his trademark arrogance and claimed that they were the right thing to do and should be done again if that’s what it takes to force people to take the vaccine. A vaccine that does not work.

“They won’t even allow us to mention the spike in all-around mortality or the millions who may have been vaccine-injured the first time around. They want us to think that 20-year-old world-class athletes have always just dropped dead of heart attacks out of the blue…

“Yes, look for a renewal of all those old hollow phrases used to attack those of us who can see with our own eyes and hear with our own ears. Their slogans are meant to silence any debate…

“The big question is…why? Why are they doing this and how do they think they can get away with it a second time? One reason they believe they can get away with it again is that no one has ever been punished for what they did the first time. The Federal Government made sure that the pharmaceutical companies would not be liable for vaccine damages.

“The public figures who openly became monsters, demanding the unvaccinated be drummed out of society and maybe even off the face of the earth have not been shamed or shunned. Politicians who displayed cowardice and worse have not been voted out of office for their treachery.

“Why are they coming back around for another round of Covid tyranny? Fear is a weapon to gain control. Last time around they generated fear to radically change how America voted. Suddenly everyone was mailed ballots. How closely were they checked? No one knew and no one dared ask. The people who did ask about the election are now facing jail terms.

“They want us to shut up while they do it again. Will we?”

Even though it states the opposite, let us remind our readers that we are not talking here about communist China, dictatorial Russia or autocratic North Korea, but the USA. Who would have thought a few years ago that such tyranny is even possible in America? Who can doubt that America is experiencing a complete irreversible downfall which will end in TOTAL DESTRUCTION?

Sadly, it is feared that many—far too many—in the USA and elsewhere will be COWARDS again, too afraid to speak up. Others won’t object because they profit financially, or politically, from the fear tactics employed by unscrupulous governmental officials, financially supported medical “experts,” and the left-wing mass media. See our new member letter (August 23). https://www.eternalgod.org/letter-to-the-brethren-august-21-2023/ . And note the next article!

Travesty of “Justice”: Court Rules Against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Breitbart wrote on August 28:

“The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has rejected a request by Democrat primary candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for a temporary restraining order preventing Google-owned YouTube from censoring his content.

“YouTube recently doubled down on its ‘medical misinformation’ policy, which it has used as a pretext to censor RFK Jr., who is Joe Biden’s closest competitor in the Democrat party primary…  ‘The Court finds that the First Amendment claim is unlikely to succeed on the merits because Google and YouTube are not state actors,’ wrote Judge Trina Thompson, who was nominated to serve on the Court by Joe Biden in 2021, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2022. ‘Second, Plaintiff was not, and will not, be irreparably harmed if a temporary restraining order is not issued because he does not demonstrate urgency or that he will not be able to share his videos through other sites and methods.’

“In the application for a restraining order, attorneys for Kennedy sought to prevent YouTube from using its ‘medical misinformation’ policy to censor videos of the candidate during his campaign in the 2024 election. In the ruling, Judge Thompson also argued that even if Kennedy could establish that YouTube is a state actor, the First Amendment does not necessarily protect ‘medical misinformation’… Thompson wrote ‘the coronavirus still poses a health risk to certain individuals, and it would not serve the public interest to let medical misinformation proliferate on YouTube.’”

Who says that Kennedy is disseminating “medical misinformation”? Has anyone ever heard such politically driven nonsense? Where are the “no-nonsense” judges in this country—or in Germany, for that matter?

Social Media Outrage Over John Kerry’s Accusations Against Climate Change Deniers

Fox News wrote on August 26:

“The Biden administration’s climate czar John Kerry sparked social media outrage this weekend with a video of him scolding humanity for threatening itself by not curbing its effect on the climate…. X (formerly Twitter) users ripped into it, calling Kerry a ‘con-artist’ and a ‘tyrant’ for his strong rebuke of those not on board with the climate agenda.

“During the address, Kerry likened climate-change deniers to ‘cult’ members, who ‘lash out at the truth tellers’ and refuse to accept ‘indisputable evidence’ of manmade climate change.”

Actually, much of the “indisputable evidence” of “man-made” climate change has been doctored and manipulated.

More Green Agenda Nonsense From the Biden Administration

The New York Post wrote on August 25:

“Ceiling fans are now the latest target in the Biden administration’s green agenda, sparking pushback from Republicans and manufacturers. The Department of Energy is proposing a rule that would require ceiling fans to be more energy efficient, arguing the move would save U.S. households on energy costs. According to the Energy Department’s analysis, the new rules would save households about $39 over the lifespan of the new energy-efficient fan. However, the cost to manufacturers associated with the increased equipment will total $86.6 million per year, the department said.

“Republicans on the House Committee on Small Business say if the rule goes into effect it could put small manufacturers out of business, given the costs the companies would incur in order to comply with the changes…

“The Energy Department has been on the warpath to impose more stringent regulations on household appliances for the past several months, proposing new standards for gas stoves, ovens, washing machines, refrigerators, air conditioners, dishwashers, and other essentials as part of its mission to advance energy efficiency and conservation.

“On his first day in office in January 2021, President Biden signed an executive order requiring the Energy Department to make ‘major revisions’ to current appliance regulation standards and standards set by the Trump administration. A month later, the agency listed more than a dozen energy-efficiency rules impacting appliances like water heaters, cooking products, and lamps, that it would review….”

The Woke nonsense is sweeping through the Western world, and the unified approach of leaders in different countries suggests coordinated efforts, as were the draconian measures against Corona.

Hurricane Idalia Causes Devastating Damage

The Associated Press wrote on August 30:

“Hurricane Idalia made landfall Wednesday in Florida as a Category 3 storm and unleashed devastation along a wide stretch of the Gulf Coast, submerging homes and vehicles, turning streets into rivers, unmooring small boats and downing power lines in an area that has never before received such a pummeling…

“The National Weather Service in Tallahassee called Idalia ‘an unprecedented event’ since no major hurricanes on record have ever passed through the bay abutting the Big Bend…

“Idalia had grown into a Category 2 system on Tuesday afternoon and became a Category 3 just hours earlier Wednesday before strengthening to a Category 4 and then weakening slightly to a high-end Category 3. Hurricanes are measured on a five category scale, with a Category 5 being the strongest. A Category 3 storm is the first on the scale considered a major hurricane and the National Hurricane Center says a Category 4 storm brings ‘catastrophic damage.’…

“The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently said the 2023 hurricane season would be far busier than initially forecast… The season runs through Nov. 30, with August and September typically the peak.”

Leader of Wagner Group Confirmed Dead

Fox News reported on August 27:

“Russian investigators say DNA testing confirms that Russian warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin was aboard the small jet that crashed outside Moscow under mysterious circumstances last week. [They] confirmed the identities of all 10 people aboard the craft, which also included Prigozhin’s second in command, Dmitry Utkin. Investigators have yet to offer an explanation for why the plane crashed…

“Prigozhin’s private jet plummeted out of the sky on Wednesday in the Tver region outside Moscow…

“Prigozhin’s death comes just months after he led a stop-and-go insurrection against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime earlier this year. Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, expressed anger at how his forces had been used and treated and ordered a march on Moscow. He soon aborted the march after deal making with Putin’s regime, under which he was supposed to remain in exile in Belarus.”

There are speculations that Russia struck the plane with a surface-to-air missile or that a bomb was brought on the plane which exploded during the flight. There have also been speculations that Prigozhin was not on the plane, but another person using his name. It was also reported that Putin has ordered Wagner fighters to sign an oath of allegiance to the Russian state. Note the next article.

Prigozhin Still Alive?

The Daily Mail wrote on August 29:

“A Russian political analyst has claimed warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin is alive after his body double was killed in last week’s plane crash – not the Wagner chief himself.

“Prigozhin is ‘alive, well, and free’ in an unnamed country, according to Dr Valery Solovey, even as Russa stages his funeral which Vladimir Putin is refusing to attend..

“Prigozhin is now plotting his revenge [against the people who tried to kill him, and for killing some of his closest associates], says the political analyst, a former professor at Moscow’s prestigious Institute of International Relations [MGIMO], a training school for spies and diplomats… ‘the plane in which Yevgeny Prigozhin was supposed to fly was downed by a Russian air defence system,’ he said, challenging US intelligence claims that the plane was destroyed by a blast on board…

“Dr Solovey said he would reveal Prigozhin’s supposed country of exile early next month but denied it was in Africa where the Wagner private army has multiple interests… Prigozhin has access to £1.6 billion in bitcoin, Solovey said – a fund he will use to strike back.”

There is also still the existence of an unsolved mystery regarding a second plane taking off at the same time the destroyed plane departed. It is alleged that this second plane carried Prigozhin while others say that it had no connection to the Wagner group.

Hungary: War Must End Immediately

MENAFN wrote on August 27:

“Europe is ‘destroying’ itself… due to its backing of Ukraine, and the European Union’s restrictions strategy is a laughing stock on the international phase, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has stated. He said again his administration’s  [position is] that the war in Ukraine ‘must end this minute.’

“It would be a ‘baroque and poetic exaggeration’ to say that restrictions towards Russia have effectively paralyzed the Russian economy, Szijjarto [said]…. ‘The policy of sanctions has failed,’ he stated, also noting that ‘everywhere in the world, the European sanctions policy is being laughed at.’”

Don’t Travel to Ukraine for Feast of Trumpets?

Israel 365 News reported on August 27:

“Every Rosh Hashana (a/k/a the Feast of Trumpets), tens of thousands of Jewish men travel to the city of Uman in the Ukraine to pray at the gravesite of a Hasidic rebbe. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used this against the Israeli government, threatening to prevent this religious pilgrimage if his political demands were not met…

“The tradition of the Rosh Hashana pilgrimage to his grave began after Rabbi Nachman’s death in 1810 at the age of 38.  For hundreds of years, the tradition was carried out by a small group of ardent followers. His influence continues today, and, after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the New Year’s gathering grew quickly, soon attracting tens of thousands of men. While the sudden influx of foreigners brings massive tourist dollars into the economically depressed country, Jewish tourists have been targeted by violence and anti-Jewish vandalism.

“Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy threatened to shut the borders to Jews for the holiday due to alleged mistreatment of Ukrainian tourists to Israel… In response, Interior and Health Minister Moshe Arbel rejected claims of mistreatment of Ukrainian tourists…

“Despite the ongoing war and travel restrictions, over 20,000 Israelis traveled to celebrate Rosh Hashana in Uman last year… A similar number of Jews are expected to arrive in Uman the week before the Jewish New Year is celebrated on September 15.”

The Department of State continues to advise that U.S. citizens, including Jews, do not travel to Ukraine due to the active armed conflict.

Pope Francis vs. Javier Milei

The Guardian wrote on August 27:

“In one corner of the ring stands Javier Milei, 52,… frontrunner in Argentina’s upcoming presidential elections; in the other, his compatriot Pope Francis, 86,… repeatedly derided by Argentina’s likely next president as… ‘the representative of the evil one on Earth’…

“Milei, a political unknown until 2020, has pledged to wage a ‘cultural battle’ to transform Argentina… From Rome, Pope Francis has expressed grave concern about the rise of such ‘callous’ policies in his home country… In words that seemed to be referring to Milei, the only candidate in the 22 October vote with no political experience prior to 2021, the pope added: ‘I am terrified of saviours of the nation without a political party history.’…

“[Milei said] the pontiff is ‘preaching communism to the world’. Juan Grabois… with close links to the pontiff… calls Milei a ‘false prophet’ but attributes his rise to Argentina’s dire economic crisis…

“Milei is also treading fearlessly into anti-woke territory saying he will reinstate the ban on abortion, legalised in 2020, shut down the ministry of women, gender and diversity, as well as the ministries of science – ‘climate change is a socialist lie’ – health, education, labour and public works, and will legalise the sale of firearms…

“Milei is broadly considered the undisputed shoo-in president appealing particularly to young underprivileged men… Milei’s rise has been nothing short of mesmerizing… ‘What happens if an unstable country is ruled by an unstable leader?’, asks journalist Juan González… 

“In a country that will celebrate four decades of uninterrupted democracy after decades of military rule when the new president takes office on December 10, the prospect of the military reassuming a role in ‘internal conflicts’ is raising alarms…”

It will be interesting to see whether the fight between Pope Francis and Javier Milei will continue after the election on December 10.

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer

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

Peer pressure is an incredibly challenging thing that almost all young people will experience at one time or another in their lives—especially as young Christians or those who are on their way toward becoming true Christians. Even adults have to face peer pressure. The problem with peer pressure is that people want to fit in. They want others to like them and are at times willing to change their conviction in order to gain the approval of those around them. 

The Bible makes very good points about peer pressure and shows good examples of how to deal with these pressures.

It takes a solid understanding of what one believes, and to act toward that understanding to deal with and counter peer pressure. It should be noted that not all peer pressure is bad, and it can be useful to encounter peer pressure of both types to learn how to deal with each kind. 

Peer pressure really starts for early teens when they are trying to understand the world more and as they start to experience and gain more independence from their parents. And it continues through life to varying degrees. 

Peer pressure in and of itself is not a bad thing. Peer pressure can be positive or negative. There is a coach for teens whom I follow on Instagram and he is constantly posting that one of the most crucial things for teens is to choose their friend group – because it has a direct impact on the types of things each individual or the group are going to be influenced to do. 

Bad peer pressure can come about because of the type of people one associates with. 

Two quotes come to mind in this regard. 

• “Associate yourself with people of good quality, for it is better to be alone than in bad company.”  Booker T. Washington
• And a very famous one, with the origin unknown, is: “You become like the 5 people you spend the most time with. Choose carefully.”

When it comes to choosing with whom we make friends, it is essential to look at the qualities they bring to the table. Good people challenge one to also do and be good. A bad friendship causes one to veer off into areas that are not good. 

Here is a quick list of Scriptures that talk about good friendships and what they provide:

“The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Proverbs 12:26).

“A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; The simple pass on and are punished” (Proverbs 27:12)

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20).

“A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17).

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful… Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel” (Proverbs 27:6, 9).

“Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

The Bible also gives us advice on the types of “friends” whom we should avoid so we don’t have to deal with bad peer pressure:

“Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

“A violent man entices his neighbor, And leads him in a way that is not good” (Proverbs 16:29).

“Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul” (Proverbs 22:24-25).

“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful” (Psalms 1:1).

“I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, Nor will I go in with hypocrites. I have hated the assembly of evildoers, And will not sit with the wicked” (Psalm 26:4-5).

When considering with whom to make friends, we should realize that there may be times when we will have to stand up to them in order to keep doing what is right. It may come to the point where we have to distance or disassociate from people whom we once called friends because we choose to walk a different path. It can be challenging and hard to walk away from a group of friends; we may be called names and made fun of or worse, people can try and defame us or cause problems for us. 

Daniel and his friends, when they were young, were asked to eat what appears to have included unclean food. They decided not to do this as they were following their conviction. They had to ask the people over them to give them a trial – they would not eat the unclean food while everyone else did. At the end of the trial, they were found to be healthier than everyone else. Daniel 1:8-16 tells this story. Daniel “set his heart” not to eat the food. Daniel understands the situation, and decides, in his heart, based upon his knowledge of what is right and what is wrong, and chooses to do the right thing. Once set, Daniel would not be moved. Not to give in to bad peer pressure shows the proper type of attitude.

Later on in the book of Daniel, we again see bad peer pressure at play. This time, Daniel’s friends were being “snitched” upon by people who should have been their peers. It involved the king of Babylon and the desire of the king to be worshiped by all people. Daniel’s three friends knew better and chose not to, because they knew they should only worship God, obeying the first commandment. The story shows that they had the faith to stand up for what they believed in, even if it would have resulted in their death. This type of faith was a result of consistent actions throughout their lives. 

Further on in the book of Daniel, in chapter 6, we find when Daniel is praying that people take notice and are jealous. They attempt to trap Daniel, again using the King’s power. Yet Daniel never strays from God, never stops doing what he knows to be right, and never gives in to bad peer pressure. And in return, God powerfully protects him from the lions in the den. 

These three stories iterate the power of bad peer pressure and how evil can be used against God’s people – including young people. More importantly, it shows that God is the One in control and knows the situations that we face. When we include Him in our ways and show Him that we are willing to stand up for what is right, instead of bowing to the pressures of doing what others think is right or cool, He will provide the way of escape. He will give us the power and the strength we need. 

Taking this one step further, we could even pray to God and ask Him to provide friendships for us that are good and helpful. Knowing that we can come to God and ask Him in faith for things such as this is powerful and should be reassuring for us. 

Good peer pressure is having an influence on people’s lives. As Christians, we are told that we are to be the “lights” of the world (Matthew 5:14-16)—meaning, we are to be the ones standing out. Even children, teens and young adults can be lights. This can be very hard for young (and old) people who want to fit in with their peers. Peers are oftentimes thought of as friend groups, but peers can actually be anyone with a similar status, such as age groups or some attribute that is shared. Good pressure is in finding groups where we are drawn to accomplish useful things such as doing well in school, encouraging others, work ethic, being kind to people, choosing not to follow other’s wrong examples, having good clean fun, enjoying other’s company, or finding and keeping up with interesting hobbies. People’s behavior is always influencing others. If one can act with integrity and confidence in good ways, others will take notice and follow. 

Philippians 4:8 tells us: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.”

Bad peer pressure isn’t hard to find. It is easy to fall into the traps of bad peer pressure. It will always be harder to swim against the current of popular culture and maintain that which is good. 

Bad peer pressure can involve many things such as using bad language, taking God’s Name in vain, including expressions such as “My God,” “My Gosh,” “Gee,” “O my Lord,” “My goodness,” cursing and swearing, lying, cheating, calling people names, bullying, harassing, using social media in mean and cruel ways, engaging in inappropriate and wrong activities, smoking, taking drugs, sex or sexting, encouraging others to do wrong things. 

When we engage in bad types of peer pressure, we lose confidence and respect for ourselves, and others can come to lose respect for us as well. God especially will be definitely saddened. When such activities are happening, it is often the case that it can feel scary and intimidating to say no when a wrong action has taken place and continues. 

It is important to realize that one should not engage in them in the first place. If the courage to say no is there at the outset, it will make the future easier. If you find yourself in the place where you are compromising with what you know to be right, then there are a few things to immediately do. Pray – pray to God for forgiveness as He is the only One with the power to forgive fully. Then ask God for the courage to stop and for help to figure out how to get out of the situation. God is always there and wants to help when you include Him. Next, talking to parents or a minister about your situation will help you to see the broader picture. When sin takes hold of you, it can be hard to see a way out, and it can narrow your field of view. The Bible refers to sin as a passing pleasure (Hebrews 11:25). Yes, sin can feel good! But the end is always misery and death, which may perhaps be hard to picture in the moment! 

Peer pressure will be something all young people will deal with. We cannot state strongly enough that God really cares. He knows what we go through. He observes. When we choose to include Him in our lives, actions and challenges, then we can expect help and make better choices and decisions. God is always just a prayer away! Start practicing and see what happens. See how He will help you. The only way to really know is to try and see how it will work out. 

Peer pressure will be a part of almost everyone’s life at some point in time. Understanding what it is should help us to see that a lot of it is about people being insecure and a desire for acceptance from all involved. But we don’t have to fit in with this world, and we are actually told that we shouldn’t fit in with it. Romans 12:2 tells us:

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

If people intimidate you, they are trying to manipulate you! It is very important that you make your own decisions and be the type of person to follow what God says, realizing that everything that He says is for our benefit and well-being. We must settle it in our hearts that we will not give in to peer pressure, no matter what we are facing. If we allow others to decide what we do and how we will behave, we lose our sovereignty. We have the right to our own thoughts. We have the right to choose not to follow what everyone else is doing. If we give that away, it plays right into Satan’s hands, with him seeking how we can fail. When we don’t stand up for what is right, we are in essence standing with those who are doing wrong, as it says in Romans 1:32 “…who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”  The previous verses also show in part what is going on in this world and how, with Satan’s influence growing stronger, people are given over to sin and will attempt to get us to follow suit. 

We will be able to overcome bad peer pressure when we realize it for what it is. Think carefully about the future and realize that many friends in early life will only be there for a brief time, while sometimes it can be a lifelong relationship. What really matters is good friendships and a strong relationship with those who truly love and care for your well-being—God, family and true and helpful friends. 

Lead Writer: Kalon Mitchell

compiled by Dave Harris

“Civil War Is Going to Happen!” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

More and more Americans are convinced that civil war in the USA is inevitable. The reasons for that belief are many, and this program lists quite a few. What does the Bible say about a coming civil war, and how can YOU prepare for it?

“Wird Deutschland zu einem Unrechtsstaat?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Is Germany Becoming an Unconstitutional State?”

“Unsere Kinder sind Gott heilig!,” is the title of this Sabbath’s new German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Our Children Are Holy to God!”

“Babylon, Gestern und Heute – Nimrods Erbe,” last Sabbath’s first split sermon in Germany, presented by Robert Indlekofer, is now posted. Title in English: “Babylon, Yesterday and Today – Nimrod’s Legacy.”

“Die Kraft von oben, der heilige Geist,” last Sabbath’s second split sermon in Germany, presented by Christoph Sperzel, is now posted. Title in English: “The Power from Above, the Holy Spirit.”

“Learning to Follow Directions,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Kalon Mitchell, is now posted. Here is a summary:

What can we learn from teaching children? What lessons can we apply into our Christian lives?

“The Mystery of Biblical Numbers – Part 2,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Michael Link, is now posted. Here is a summary: In this second part of the series, we look at the meaning and symbolism of the biblical numbers 5, 6 and 7.

On August 12, 2023, Norbert Link will present, “Comments on News and Prophecy—August 12, 2023,” and the sermon, titled, “Europe’s War with America, Britain, Israel and Russia.”

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.

There are moments in life that are utterly delightful if we are wise enough to take the time to appreciate them. A quiet, sunny summer morning conversing uninterrupted with my wife over a good cup of coffee is what does it for me. I’m sure you have moments that fit your own formula of delight.  Those kinds of moments are the easy ones to appreciate, of course. When there’s not a problem in the world that comes to mind and everything is wonderful, the experience of joy is readily available.

The thing about delightful moments is that they tend to pass by. If we don’t take the time to acknowledge the good things for which we have reason to be grateful, we can miss out on our opportunity to enjoy the gifts of momentary gladness that God gives us. I dare say that every single day is laden with delightful moments if we are attentive enough to capture them.  But we have to be adept enough to notice them, and deliberate enough to spend our time experiencing them.

For as many reasons that we can find to be delighted, we can find just as many reasons – or more – to be disgruntled. Being human, the disruptive elements in a moment can easily inundate our otherwise blissful state of being. The neighbor’s gas-powered leaf blower on a quiet, sunny summer morning is enough to ruin everything!

Acknowledging that life’s frustrations are abundant, how is it possible to find any meaningful, lasting joy in our life? Jesus Christ gives us a clue in John 16:33, “‘These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.’”

The Bible is very clear in letting us know that life is hard, especially living as a Christian! But Jesus doesn’t tell us that we just have to be tough and suffer through it without any hope of relief in this life. He encourages us to rise above the reasons that we have to complain, and focus instead on the reasons we have to be cheerful. This world in which we find struggle is the same world that Jesus Christ has overcome. And in doing that, He has given us a hope that is far greater than relief from the struggles in life. We have the kind of hope that makes all problems infinitesimally insignificant – if we take the time to acknowledge and meditate on the infinite wonder of eternal life.

We have to look in the right places to find joy. It is not too difficult to indulge in a temporary hedonistic experience, but those will inevitably lead us down the wrong path. We obtain lasting joy by being filled with the Holy Spirit, which helps us understand our life with the mind of Christ and overflow with positive emotion. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul shares his perspective that a delightful state of being is attainable to us all, inspiring us to have a song in our heart!

“Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:17-20).

Our state of mind and Way of Life is filled with inspiration of God’s Spirit. Having God live with or even within us through His Holy Spirit allows us to be thankful for ALL things. Even the hard things that attempt to disrupt our delight serve a meaningful purpose for us in our spiritual growth as we learn to overcome (compare Romans 8:28). By setting our outlook in this way, we understand that each moment is a gift from God that offers us an opportunity to be thankfully delighted, with a song in our heart, knowing that His Will is working in our lives.

by Norbert Link

We begin with further developments regarding the politically motivated and constitutionally failing indictment against Donald Trump pertaining to the election results in 2020. The court case is supposed to be presided over by a biased judge in a hostile environment. We also point out how all charges against Trump could just disappear; and report on the possibility of impeachment by Merrick Garland and four Pinocchios given to Joe Biden for his continuous lies. We also speak on proposals for Trump and Kennedy running together as potential President and Vice-President; and the abominable abolishment of religious exemptions for childhood immunizations in Connecticut (and in many other US states).

We continue with Poland’s diminishing support for Ukraine; the unhappiness of most Germans with their government and the opposition; Germany’s economic hardship; the growing fear of war by German soldiers; Germany’s hesitancy to support Ukraine with more weapons; and the interesting switch in policy of Germany’s right-wing party, the AfD, regarding Europe.

We speak on American anger with Europe; idle attempts by German and Austrian politicians to abolish cash transactions; address the problems and dangers with electric cars; point out misleading and deceiving recommendations by Fauci and others, including Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, regarding the COVID hysteria; and warn of another dictatorial lockdown because of a “new epidemic” and “climate change.”

We conclude with an article about coming persecution and prosecution of Christians in America and the Western world, especially because of the LGBT ideology; and a remarkable article regarding developments in Israel pertaining to the building of the Third Temple.

Throughout this section, we have underlined pertinent statements in the quoted articles, for the convenience and quick overview of the reader.

Biased Judge in Trump 2020 Election Case Must Recuse Herself

Breitbart wrote on August 4:

“Appointed to the bench by the Obama administration in 2014, U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan will oversee the 2020 election case against Trump. Chutkan previously worked in litigation and white-collar criminal defense at Boies, Schiller, & Flexner, where Hunter Biden and Chutkan were colleagues for five years. During her tenure as a judge, she also oversaw an important case regarding the Russia Hoax.

“‘I don’t believe for one second it’s a coincidence that in Washington, D.C., Donald Trump drew the most partisan, bias judge who is incapable of being fair and neutral,’ said Patel, who is a former House Intelligence Committee aide and principal deputy at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).

“Patel argues Chutkan is a partisan judge and has no credibility to oversee Trump’s case after she recused herself from overseeing an ongoing case concerning Trump and the Russia hoax in November 2017. ‘If you’re a judge, and you represented one of the parties or your firm represented one of the parties before you, it’s an automatic recusal, full stop,’ he said…

“‘The [Russia hoax] court case was assigned to Judge Chutkan,’ Patel said. ‘And we litigated the case for approximately one month… after about a month of all that heavy litigation, she just shuts down on her own, recuses herself,’ Patel said. ‘She didn’t file an order justifying it. She just does it…  Why would she recuse from Russiagate? Well, it’s because Boies, Schiller, under her tenureship, represented Fusion GPS, the very firm that was suing us before her [court]… She knew that when we filed the lawsuit because it was Fusion who brought the lawsuit, and she allowed it to be litigated in front of her already, violating the canons of ethics and the rule of law about maintaining neutrality…

“‘She cannot be fair, based on her prior employment at a law firm that has literally been one of the most corrupt, legal con artists for the Democrat National Party [and] in the Hillary Clinton Campaign,’ Patel said, ‘All of which was to get Trump during Russiagate and the Steele Dossier, all of it ran through her.’”

Professor Dershowitz said that she must recuse herself, as she is obviously biased. That should be obvious, but we will see what she will do. Trump is also asking for a change of venue as he could not possibly receive a fair trial in Washington DC. That should be obvious too.

2020 Election on Trial?

Newsmax wrote on August 4:

“Former President Donald Trump and his legal advisers see his latest indictment as another opportunity to argue that the 2020 election was stolen from him in favor of President Joe Biden… Trump’s defense team is signaling that it will rebut allegations in the indictment that Trump knew his claims of fraud in the election were false, but that he allegedly took steps to flip the results.

“According to sources close to Trump, he wants to subpoena people about the election while arguing that he won… Some Republican strategists see this plan as problematic, as they say there are more issues to focus on in the 2024 race…

“Meanwhile, Trump attorney Alina Habba said Thursday that Trump’s defense team will show that he believed there were issues with the 2020 election’s results… ‘When somebody wants to say that the 2020 election was perfect and that President Trump has no right to object to it, we’ve got to go show him all the facts, and there’s a lot of facts to show.”

Habba was also quoted as saying this on National Report:

“Trump has every right to question the integrity of the election… He had every right to do so at the time, I think millions and millions of Americans still to this day also share that sentiment that there may have been issues in the 2020 election…

“We’ve seen a lot of facts that result in this continual belief that things were not done exactly appropriately, and the president did what he wanted to do and what he needed to do in the way that he was advised by some … But imagine any politician who feels that that somebody has lied or that there’s been a fraud, not being able to challenge that fraud and what that means for our country. That’s their job, and he was the sole person in the executive branch who had the power to do so…”

As we pointed out last time, special counsel Jack Smith might have opened a Pandora’s Box.

Did House Select Committee Destroy January 6 Documents?

Newsmax wrote on August 9:

“Former President Donald Trump accused the Democrat-led Jan. 6 House Select Committee of ‘illegally’ destroying records and documents… ‘So now that I have full Subpoena Power… it has just been reported that the Unselect January 6th Committee of Political Hacks and Thugs has illegally destroyed their Records and Documents,’ Trump wrote. ‘This is unthinkable… The system is Rigged & Corrupt, very much like the Presidential Election of 2020. We are a Nation in Decline!’

“Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight for the Committee on House Administration, told Fox News that former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s partisan Jan. panel, which was comprised of Democrats and two anti-Trump Republicans in the previous Congress, failed to adequately preserve documents, data, and video depositions.

“Loudermilk said that he was contacted by a defense attorney, who needed access to key information in one of the video depositions. The committee then realized it did not have the videos he was seeking.”

Nancy Pelosi’s conduct in the matter of the 2020 election deserves some investigation and scrutiny.

How All Criminal Charges Against Trump Could Be Wiped Out

Breitbart wrote on August 3:

“Harvard Law professor emeritus Laurence Tribe told CNN on Thursday that former President Donald Trump could ‘wipe out’ all criminal charges against him, including both state and federal cases if he gets elected to the White House in 2024… Tribe said a Republican president could ‘simply erase’ the charges against Trump if Trump does not win the presidency… ‘Simply appoint an attorney general who dismisses it all.’…

“The fact that Tribe recognized a Trump presidency would ‘wipe out’ all of Trump’s criminal cases is notable because House Democrats consulted with Tribe as they prepared their first articles of impeachment against Trump…”

That Attorney General Merrick Garland [and his special counsel Jack Smith] would be fired under Trump is a foregone conclusion. Tribe also said that Jack Smith’s indictment was brilliant. The truth is, this was a horrible piece of draftsmanship, and there was nothing brilliant about it. A first semester law student could rip (at least some of) it apart. It is an attack on constitutionally protected political free speech. If Trump is convicted (which is the likely outcome in a trial in antagonistic and hostile Washington DC) and the case should not be thrown out by a Court of Appeals and should ever reach the US Supreme Court, it surely would have to be overturned by them.

AG Garland May Face Charges of Obstruction of Justice

Fox News wrote on August 4:

“Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich… believes Attorney General Merrick Garland is in danger of facing charges of his own for ‘directing’ special counsel Jack Smith’s ‘disgustingly political’ assault on former President Donald Trump.

“[Gingrich said:] ‘Look, we have never seen a major political figure as routinely and methodically assaulted as Donald Trump. It’s a sign of how desperate the establishment is. They are terrified that if he’s still standing and in October of 2024, he is going to become the president. And, of course, if he does become the president, all of these people are in jeopardy. Remember, Watergate led to 46 people being convicted. The only Cabinet officer ever to go to jail was Attorney General John Mitchell for obstruction of justice.

‘‘And I am absolutely certain that the current attorney general, Merrick Garland, is in grave danger of being charged with obstruction of justice and with having destroyed the system. And I think the Congress, frankly, should be right now subpoenaing all the documents between Smith and Garland, because I think Garland’s been directing this. I think the timing is weird. As you know, the other night, ‘Jesse Watters Primetime’ put up a chart that showed something happens to Hunter, the next two or three days, something happens to Trump… I mean, this is so blatantly, disgustingly political. And it has no business being in the Department of Justice.’”

Please view our new lengthy and detailed StandingWatch program in this context, titled, “IS America Doomed? The Biden and Trump Scandals.”

Federal Judge Comes Out Swinging Against Jack Smith in Document Case

Fox News wrote on August 7:

“The federal judge overseeing the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump delivered multiple blows to Special Counsel Jack Smith’s efforts in a brief Monday. Judge Aileen Cannon of the Southern District of Florida – who is presiding over the case stemming from a Miami grand jury’s June indictment of Trump – denied the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) request for sealed filings, striking two from the record. Cannon also requested additional information from prosecutors regarding the continued use of an out-of-state grand jury to investigate the case.

“‘The Special Counsel states in conclusory terms that the supplement should be sealed from public view “to comport with grand jury secrecy,” but the motion for leave and the supplement plainly fail to satisfy the burden of establishing a sufficient legal or factual basis to warrant sealing the motion and supplement,’ Cannon wrote in the brief, denying the DOJ’s request. ‘Among other topics as raised in the Motion, the response shall address the legal propriety of using an out-of-district grand jury proceeding to continue to investigate and/or to seek post-indictment hearings on matters pertinent to the instant indicted matter in this district,’ she continued in the brief…”

Trump Not Guiltless

Breitbart wrote on August 7:

“During an interview with NBC News on Monday, 2024 Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stated that the 2020 election was poorly run, but we had mass mail-in balloting because ‘Trump turned the government over to Fauci, they embraced lockdowns, they did the CARES Act, which funded mail-in ballots across the country. Donald Trump signed that bill that funded the mail ballots that all the Republicans have been so concerned about.’ And that the censorship of the Hunter Biden laptop story ‘was Donald Trump’s FBI that was working with that’…

“‘…when they changed the rules for COVID, I think that was wrong. I think some of those changes were unconstitutional. When they do mass mail ballots, I think that’s wrong. I think ballot harvesting is wrong… I think the fact that the FBI was working with Facebook and these other tech companies to censor the Hunter Biden story was wrong. And so, I don’t think it was the perfect election. I remember after, a lot of the media was saying, this was the most secure election in history. How could it be the most secure with those millions of mail ballots going out?…’ [Trump] didn’t have control over his own government. … And so, I think all of those issues were very problematic, but, at the end of the day, Donald Trump helped facilitate that whole set of circumstances.’”

Even though clearly prompted by political motives, DeSantis has a point. Especially Trump’s failure to deal with Fauci and his crazy ideas caused great harm to the country.

Four Pinocchios for Lying Joe Biden

Breitbart wrote on August 3:

“The Washington Post‘s fact-checker, Glenn Kessler, gave President Joe Biden four Pinocchios for lying about his son Hunter Biden not making money in China.

“Kessler documented two instances where Biden denied his son had made money in China.

“In an October 22, 2020 presidential debate, Biden told moderator Kristen Welker: ‘My son has not made money in terms of this thing about, what are you talking about, China. I have not had … the only guy who made money from China is this guy [Donald Trump]. He’s the only one. Nobody else has made money from China.’

“In a September 29, 2020, debate, Trump told Biden, ‘Once you became vice president [Hunter Biden] made a fortune in Ukraine, in China, in Moscow and various other places,’ to which Biden responded, ‘That’s not true.’

“Kessler wrote: ‘But now, nearly three years later, Biden’s assertions have been directly rebutted by Hunter himself. In court testimony last week, the younger Biden acknowledged that he in fact had been paid substantial sums in China — the first official confirmation that this was the case…”

The Ron Paul Institute republished on August 1 the following article by Law Professor Jonathan Turley:

“President Joe Biden has been a regular recipient of ‘Pinocchios’ by the Washington Post for his false statements… Biden is undeterred and regularly repeats false stories from his life… Now, the President has a fresh set of ‘Four Pinocchios’…

“The Post is admitting that Biden has been lying about how his son Hunter never made money from China. It is the latest indication that the protective media wall surrounding Biden is beginning to crumble under the weight of new evidence in the corruption scandal…

“What is curious is that Kessler and the Post waited for Hunter to effectively confess rather than take notice of money transfers and records released by House committees investigating the corruption scandal. The Post and most of the media have taken little observable journalistic interest in independently confirming such payments or benefits. Instead, the media has adopted a largely passive stance and waited for confessions rather than find confirmation…

“Of course, the Post has not been known to be particularly active in independently trying to confirm such benefits [which Joe Biden allegedly received from Hunter’s business deals with foreign associates] absent another Biden admission or confession. As with the clearly false claims that he had no knowledge or involvement in these dealings, the question is now not whether Joe Biden has been lying but why he has been lying.” 

Joe Biden’s blatant denial of Hunter’s receipt of money from China does in fact raise serious questions regarding Joe Biden himself. His continuous lies do not help either.

Kennedy and Trump

American Thinker wrote on August 4:

“Trump’s Achilles heel was allowing himself to be bamboozled into supporting the COVID narrative of the pharmaceutical-medical-globalist complex. Because of his congenital reluctance to issue a mea culpa and admit that he was conned, Kennedy could potentially appeal to this large segment of the electorate… For solid realpolitik reasons Trump avoids attacking Kennedy and is modestly complimentary…

“There will be many disaffected Democrats regardless which candidate secures the nomination. Media and Democratic attacks on Kennedy only help him, similar to Trump… Capturing the Democratic nomination requires that Kennedy overcome the media and the Clinton/Obama machine…

“Kennedy… is a skilled debater, commanding facts, with his finger on the pulse of current existential concerns. No one in his imploding party comes close. No one owns the COVID vaccine debate as he does… Trump currently needs Kennedy more than Kennedy needs Trump…”

An interesting proposal to contemplate.

No Religious Exemption in Connecticut

The Associated Press wrote on August 4:

“A federal appeals court on Friday upheld a 2021 Connecticut law that eliminated the state’s longstanding religious exemption from childhood immunization requirements for schools, colleges and day care facilities. The decision comes about a year and a half after a lower court judge dismissed the lawsuit challenging the contentious law…

“‘This decision is a full and resounding affirmation of the constitutionality and legality of Connecticut’s vaccine requirements. Vaccines save lives — this is a fact beyond dispute,’ Democratic Attorney General William Tong said in a statement. ‘The legislature acted responsibly and well within its authority to protect the health of Connecticut families and stop the spread of preventable disease.’

“The plaintiffs, We the Patriots USA Inc. and others, had argued that Connecticut violated religious freedom protections by removing the exemption. The 2021 law, they said, demonstrates a hostility to religious believers and jeopardizes their rights to medical freedom and child rearing. ‘We fully intend to seek review of this decision in the United States Supreme Court, to obtain equal justice for all children — not only in Connecticut, but in every state in the nation,’ Brian Festa, co-founder and vice president of We the Patriots USA Inc., said in a statement.

“He said his group, which focuses on religious and medical freedom, parental rights and other matters, disagrees with the court’s conclusion that removing the exemption does not violate religious freedom under the First Amendment or the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection under the law…

“Connecticut law currently requires students to receive certain immunizations before enrolling in school, yet allows some medical exemptions. Students could seek religious exemptions as well prior to 2021, but lawmakers decided to end that after being concerned by an uptick in exemption requests coupled with a decline in vaccination rates in some schools. The Connecticut General Assembly ultimately passed legislation that eliminated the exemption but grandfathered students in K-12 that had already received one…”

There is nothing reasonable about this terrible decision which, sadly, reflects the policy of so many states in a country which claims religious freedom but is becoming more and more an autocratic dictatorship.

Poland’s Diminishing Support for Ukraine

The Conversation reported on August 4:

“There has been a fundamental shift when it comes to the stance that young Poles think their government should adopt in the war in Ukraine. In 2022, an overwhelming majority of 83 percent argued that the government should support Ukraine — but this number has changed drastically.

“Now, 65 percent of respondents back continuous support for Ukraine, whereas the remaining 34 percent wish for Poland to stay neutral. Clearly, more than one and a half years into the current phase of the conflict and amid fears of other countries being pulled into the war, young people have become more cautious…

“Asked about the type of support that people consider appropriate for Ukraine, our most recent (2023) data shows that only 2 percent of young Poles want the national army to be involved in the Ukraine war. And while 60 percent support offering humanitarian aid, only 28 percent want Poland to offer weapons.”

That even Poland—Ukraine’s strongest supporter in Europe—has begun to have second thoughts is rather telling.

Germans Unhappy With Political System

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 4:

“If federal elections were held this week, the populist party [AfD] would win 21% of the vote, putting it firmly in second place [after the CDU]. [In a new poll,] Germany’s center-left government [SPD, FDP and the Green] again failed to win a majority… Only one in five respondents said they were satisfied with the work of the federal government…Chancellor Scholz is also becoming increasingly unpopular: Only three out of 10 eligible voters (31%) say they are satisfied with his work, the lowest approval rating since he took office in December 2021…

“Voters are not only dissatisfied with the chancellor and his government, but also with the overall situation in the country. Some 58% say that burdens are not shared fairly in Germany. That feeling has to do with the distribution of wealth, but also with the fact that certain groups in the population feel that their views and interests are not being taken into account enough by the political mainstream… As many as 62% of respondents said politicians focus too much on the interests of those who are wealthy, while 48% think that politicians focus too much on the needs of refugees.

“Despite the fact that the opposition conservative parties are leading in the polls, only 19% said they believe that they would do a better job at solving the country’s problems — in fact, 21% said they would do an even worse job, and 53% said they’d expect a conservative-led government’s overall performance to be similar… The low expectations for a CDU-led federal government correspond to the poor rating of CDU leader Friedrich Merz. Only three out of 10 respondents said they think he is a good party leader, and only 16% said they thought he would make a good chancellor. Perhaps even worse for Merz, only one in three CDU supporters want him to become the next head of government after the general election in 2025…

“The CDU/CSU has been thrown into turmoil by the question of whether the decision to disassociate itself from the far-right AfD should apply at all political levels. This comes after Merz suggested in an interview with public broadcaster ZDF in July that cooperation with AfD representatives on a local level was sensible common practice. He walked his comments back the following day in response to an immediate backlash, including from figures within his own party.

“Overall, 64% of those surveyed for the Deutschlandtrend poll said they think it is right for the CDU to rule out cooperation with the AfD in principle, while 29% are open to considering it. However, there are considerable differences when the western and eastern German states are considered separately.

“While two-thirds of eligible voters in western Germany welcome the CDU’s official stance of rejecting cooperation with the AfD, in eastern Germany, the former German Democratic Republic (GDR), only half of the eligible voters agree. There, the AfD is the strongest party, polling at over 30%.

“Some 70% of all respondents called for more pragmatism: They say that support of individual AfD motions in the parliaments of cities, municipalities and districts should be decided on a case-by-case basis.

“In eastern Germany, as many as 81% of respondents said they were in favor of more pragmatism, compared with 67% in western Germany. Nationwide, it is only Green supporters (51%) where a majority say that all AfD motions should be rejected on principle.”

Germany is in chaos, due to a lack of true leadership. All seem to act as proverbial politicians… without any strong convictions and without any backbone. But this will end soon when the “right man” shows up.

Germany in Deep Financial Trouble

Express wrote on August 8:

“Germany, once regarded as the powerhouse of the European economy, is grappling with severe economic challenges that are leaving a profound impact on its social fabric. The nation’s economic struggles have manifested in a distressing rise in poverty rates, increased reliance on food banks, and a worrying decline in industrial output, particularly within the renowned car manufacturing sector.

“Recent data reveals that more than two million Germans are now dependent on foodbanks for their daily sustenance… Furthermore, approximately 14 million Germans, equivalent to one in six of the population of 88 million, are classified as living in poverty... Amid these challenges, official economic forecasts point toward a recession in Germany this year.”

All the while, enormous amounts of money are being spent on ridiculous “Green” projects and on assisting Ukraine militarily.

Fear of War in Germany

Bild Online wrote on August 4:

“Since Putin’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, the number of conscientious objectors in the Bundeswehr has increased fivefold! Background: In the case of a partial or general mobilization in the event of tension or defense, ALL men between the ages of 18 and 59 could be drafted. THAT apparently scares even soldiers.

“In the German Basic Law, Article 4, Paragraph 3, it says: ‘No one may be forced into military service against his conscience.’ A response from the Federal Government to a small question from the Left Group now shows: More and more are invoking this law – there is a trend towards objection…

“But when do German soldiers actually have to fear being mobilized for a defensive mission? The Bundestag must decide with a two-thirds majority that there is a ‘stress situation’ (“Spannungsfall”). Meaning: increased military alert and general compulsory military service for men up to the age of 60. This is a preliminary stage of the ‘defense case’ (“Verteidigungsfall”).

“The defense case can also occur if the Federal Republic is attacked with armed force [by the enemy; or when such an armed attack is “imminent”]. Then the authority to command the armed forces [of Germany] is transferred to the Federal Chancellor. So far this has remained a theoretical scenario: the stress situation or the defense case have never been announced.”

Sadly, this scenario will become all-too-real pretty soon.

Germany Hesitates to Supply Arms to Ukraine

Focus wrote on August 5:

“In May, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Berlin after a long time—a symbolic visit to show that Ukraine and Germany are now putting their tensions over arms shipments behind them. But little has happened since then. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) promised a comprehensive weapons package worth 2.4 billion euros at his meeting with Selenskyj in May of this year. But until today, this promise has hardly been fulfilled…

“The list of delivered weapons… shows sobering numbers. So far, only a few of the promised weapons have arrived in Ukraine. Only ten of 110 Leopard 1 tanks, twelve of 18 Cheetahs, an air surveillance radar and 850 rounds of artillery ammunition were delivered. Non-lethal weapons such as reconnaissance drones, air surveillance radars and tankers have also not received so far…

“It is also particularly annoying for Kiev that commitments for weapons have apparently been withdrawn…

“Germany also remains hesitant with regard to new types of weapon systems… Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) and his party colleague Ralf Stegner continue to reject a delivery [of German Taurus missiles] in order to avoid an escalation of the conflict with Russia. Taurus missiles have an enormous range and could theoretically hit targets on Russian territory. Ukraine had repeatedly pledged to only use the weapons to defend Ukrainian territories.”

Germany is repeating an all-too-familiar pattern of unreliability.

EU a Failed Project?

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 6:

“Germany’s far-right AfD on Sunday derided the EU as a ‘failed project’ during a party conference in the eastern German city of Magdeburg.

“A text adopted by hundreds of party delegates at the event said the bloc ‘completely failed’ on issues such as climate and immigration. The party also said it does not support the Euro as a currency.  

“However, the text did not urge Germany to leave the EU. The AfD also did not call for the bloc to be dissolved entirely, as suggested by an earlier party draft in June.

“The AfD rather wishes to establish ‘a federation of European nations, a new European economic and interest community that preserves the sovereignty of member states.’

“The party conference this weekend was tasked with preparing a program for next year’s European Parliament elections. Last month, the AfD selected EU Parliament member Maximilian Krah as its top EU election candidate. Krah, an incumbent lawmaker in the European Parliament, has called the AfD ‘the most exciting right-wing party’ in Europe.

“The AfD’s deliberations on its EU strategy come as the anti-immigration party rises in support among the German population. The party has capitalized on rising inflation in Germany as well as higher energy costs following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”

The AfD’s switch in policy towards the EU is interesting. Even though the call for an abandonment of the euro will not come to fruition, the call for greater independence of EU member states might be answered, at least to an extent and for a while, until power and authority is being transferred to “the beast.” Daniel 2:42-43 reads: “… the kingdom [of Europe] shall be partly strong and partly fragile… they [ten core nations of Europe] will not adhere to one another…”

American Anger at Europe

Die Welt wrote on August 9:

“If US citizens want to travel to Europe in the future, they have to register online beforehand – and pay eight dollars for it. Many Americans are angry, others are in a real Oktoberfest panic. The USA has had comparable – and more expensive – rules for travelers from the EU for 15 years…

“They are venting their anger on social networks. Some speak of a ‘deterrent‘ by the EU, while others speak of ‘expensive insolence’.

“The excitement seems so great that ETIAS has already arrived in the US election campaign. Ex-President Donald Trump has already announced that if he is re-elected, he will not allow his compatriots to pay to enter the EU… ‘We give them everything, including military support and trade, and now we are supposed to pay to go there.’ Europeans have no respect for the United States, Trump continues…

“To register, travelers have to pay a fee of seven euros (equivalent to around eight dollars) and provide some personal information. In the US, in addition to the costs, there are also concerns about the latter…

“Nile Gardiner, a former adviser to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, even described the new EU program as ‘Orwellian’ – in reference to George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984 about a totalitarian surveillance state…

“This week showed again that the United States is not squeamish when it comes to entry from EU countries. The US authorities have severely restricted the visa exemption for Hungary. Last week, the ESTA validity period for Hungarian passport holders was reduced from two years to one year, and an ESTA permit is only valid for single entry…

“Some Americans have already drawn their own conclusions from the new EU rules. They no longer want to travel to Europe as a protest, as Jeffery Lawnicki writes on Instagram: ‘Who wants to visit a garbage dump like Europe?‘”

The deterioration of the EU-USA relationship will continue drastically.

Right To Cash

The Associated Press wrote on August 4:

“Austria’s… Chancellor Karl Nehammer said in a statement on Friday that ‘more and more people are concerned that cash could be restricted as a means of payment in Austria.’…  ‘People in Austria have a right to cash,’ Nehammer said.

“While payments by card and electronic methods have become increasingly common in many European countries, Austria and neighboring Germany remain relatively attached to cash. The government says 47 billion euros ($51 billion) per year are withdrawn from ATMs in Austria, a country of about 9.1 million people.

“Protecting cash against supposed threats has been a demand of the far-right opposition Freedom Party, which has led polls in Austria in recent months. The country’s next election is due in 2024…

“The chancellor’s proposal, according to his office, involves a ‘constitutional protection of cash as a means of payment,’ ensuring that people can still pay with cash, and securing a ‘basic supply’ of cash in cooperation with Austria’s central bank. Austria is one of 20 countries that are part of the euro area. Nehammer said he has instructed Finance Minister Magnus Brunner to work on the proposal and plans to hold a round table with the ministries concerned, finance industry representatives and the central bank in September.”

The very thought that people might be prevented from paying in cash is abhorrent and disgusting—and worthy of a manipulating, controlling and suppressing dictatorship.

The Problems With Electric Cars

1945 wrote on August 4:

“In 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom dictated that by 2035, all new cars and trucks sold in the state must be fossil-fuel-free. Electric vehicles, or EVs, are to be the new king of the road…

“Almost every EV battery requires cobalt—a rare and expensive mineral found mostly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The African country is by far the world’s largest producer… The DRC is also rich in other natural resources such as copper, zinc, coltan, cassiterite, gold, bauxite, diamond, oil, and gas. Yet it is also one of the poorest countries in the world, with a gross national income of approximately $550 per person as measured in U.S. dollars.

“The Congolese people have seen little benefit from these immense natural resources, which have been exploited for many decades, particularly by… China, as well as its own government. Not only are miners, including children, essentially working as slaves, risking their lives. Mining for these natural resources is an extremely dangerous endeavor, one that kills up to 2,000 illegal miners a year… Yet, no one, particularly Governor Gavin Newsom, wants to talk about this. 

“Although far behind the Congo, Russia and China are also in the top ten list of producers, raising geopolitical concerns around this valuable mineral. While China is at the bottom of the list, producing only 2,200 MT, the country leads the world in refined cobalt production at 70 percent of the total global supply with most of the raw material coming from the Congo…

“China is also the top consumer of cobalt with most of it used to supply the rechargeable battery industry. The push for EVs drives the U.S. increasingly into the arms of the CCP. While some companies have created batteries without cobalt, these have not proven to provide the necessary energy to power a car for any significant distance…

“Currently, the Lucid Air is the car that can go the farthest on a single charge – 516 miles or approximately the distance from San Diego to San Francisco. The car costs $139,650. The Tesla S Model will take you 405 miles on a single charge, or about the distance from Los Angeles to San Francisco and the vehicle sells to the tune of almost $90,000. 

“The most reasonably priced EVs… like the Chevy Bolt (which is set to be discontinued to make room for other electric vehicle models from Chevy) or the Nissan Leaf, which run between $26,000 and $30,000 – have a maximum range closer to 230 miles which, if driving at 65mph is approximately 3.5 hours. Who drives at 65mph on an open freeway?… This is before, like any battery, the cells lose their maximum charging capacity, which will decrease maximum driving distances…

“Lithium-ion batteries are toxic and can cause destructive fires that spread quickly, particularly when they are stored together. Then there’s the issue of charging stations and availability… It typically takes anywhere between 6 to 12 hours to charge an EV using a Level 2 charger…”

The push for electric cars by the green Woke culture seems to be a rather ineffective, costly and perhaps even dangerous idea.

Biden Administration Concedes No Evidence Behind Recommendation for 6 COVID Booster Shots a Year

Southern Maryland Online wrote on August 8:

“President Joe Biden’s administration concedes that there is no scientific evidence to support an apparent recommendation to receive as many as six COVID-19 booster shots in a year. After Health Secretary Xavier Becerra [an attorney with no medical degrees], a Biden appointee, wrote in a social media post on Nov. 29, 2022, that people should get vaccinated ‘if it’s been over 2 months since your last dose,’ the Functional Government Initiative (FGI) filed a Freedom of Information Act request for documents supporting the statements.

“The watchdog organization then sued after the administration didn’t comply with timelines laid out in the law. FGI asked for, among other documents: ‘Any scientific support relied on by Secretary Becerra when approving or issuing the tweet recommending that all Americans receive a booster shot every two months’ and ‘any study, synopsis, or similar statement or document of scientific, academic, or government research on whether a bi-monthly booster shot will effectively prevent the transmission or susceptibility to COVID-19 and known active variants as of November 2022.’

“It also asked for internal communications regarding Mr. Becerra’s statements. In a new response, the government said it had no evidence to support Mr. Becerra’s recommendation. ‘The department reviewed 1,263 pages of potentially responsive records captured in the agency’s search for this FOIA request. After a careful review of these records, I determined the 1,263 pages were not relevant to your request,’ Alesia Williams, an official in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), told FGI.

“‘The lack of a single record supporting Secretary Becerra’s bold public health recommendation for six COVID boosters a year is a startling development,’ Pete McGinnis, a spokesman for FGI, said in a statement. ‘It is tremendously irresponsible for the government’s chief health official to fire off tweets recommending frequent injections of a new vaccine booster apparently based on no academic or scientific support,’ Mr. McGinnis added. ‘How can the public be assured that the agency is ‘following the science’ on other important public health matters when it demonstrates such clear disregard for basic scientific integrity standards on an issue as important as COVID vaccine shots?’”

This ongoing propaganda by the Biden Administration is truly alarming.

A World Deceived?

The Dossier wrote on August 1:

“Anthony Fauci is a worldwide celebrity and has taken up a prestigious series of appointments at Georgetown University and elsewhere. Bill Gates and the gang are jet setting around the world preaching the gospel of the Climate Hoax Church… Most of the appointees to the Trump and Biden coronavirus task forces have long since cashed out and laundered their credentials through the revolving door and into the BioTech/Big Pharma space…

“So it shouldn’t come as much as a surprise that they’re trying to restart the party to attempt another series of grand slams. The Pharma-sponsored corporate media is once more spreading the fear hype. ‘Time to bring [masks] out again especially as the school season starts,’ read the MSNBC headline Tuesday morning. An entire segment on Tuesday from ABC’s Good Morning America was dedicated to tracking supposed increasing hospitalizations from coronavirus infections, warning that the numbers are ‘on the rise.’

“… the bad guys of the Covid hysteria era never faced any consequences for the human rights atrocities they committed since 2019. And in all likelihood, they probably never will…

“Coronavirus hysteria ended because enough human beings became educated to the reality that the ‘response’ to the ‘pandemic’ was wildly overblown… It’s the same reason why Pfizer and Moderna stock is crashing…

“The problem occurred because it took too many people way too long to realize that humanity had been bamboozled by power hungry tyrants… When the next big power grab arrives, we should hope for much more courage and bravery than last time around.”

Note the next article as well.

Climate Lockdowns?

Report 24 wrote on July 31:

“Klaus Schwab’s daughter Nicole Schwab obviously follows the example of her father. At an event, she indicated that the Covid crisis had shown that radical change is possible if there is enough panic. The best conditions for a Great Reset: Will climate lockdowns follow soon after the Covid lockdowns? The desire to establish a globalist dictatorship including the dystopian ‘Great Reset’ is obviously in the blood.

“The WEF [World Economic Forum] makes no secret that Covid-19 has been used as a test run for a potential climate dictatorship… Nicole Schwab [a ‘WEF Executive Committee member’] takes a similar stance… she sees Covid as a ‘tremendous opportunity’ that has shown that radical change is achievable when people are scared. This could be used to launch the WEF’s ‘Great Reset’ agenda…

“If you take the political measures of the Corona period as a model, the fear arises that globalists are actually flirting with dictatorial ‘climate lockdowns’. That would mean severe restrictions being imposed on individuals and businesses to reduce carbon emissions. These measures could include travel restrictions, strict regulations on energy use and consumption in general, and even temporary closures of industries considered to be harmful to the environment. Globalist advocates argue that strict action is needed to prevent catastrophic consequences of supposedly man-made climate change…”

Too far-fetched to be true? Perhaps not!

“Preparing” For the Next Pandemic

Life Stite News reported on August 7:

“U.K. scientists at a high-security government laboratory have begun developing vaccines for a potential future pandemic. 

“Two-hundred scientists are currently working on vaccines against an unknown ‘Disease X’ at the Porton Down laboratory in Wiltshire, England… Bird flu is considered the most likely candidate to cause the ‘next pandemic’ by the scientists working at the lab. They are furthermore developing vaccines against a potential outbreak of monkeypox and hantavirus, a disease that primarily occurs in rodents. 

“The laboratory reportedly successfully developed ‘the world’s first vaccine against Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, a disease that’s spread by ticks and has a fatality rate of 30%.’ The tropical disease is viewed as a potential global pandemic threat as it is allegedly becoming more common in Europe…

“Since the coronavirus outbreak in 2020 and the subsequent draconian lockdown policies, leading globalists like Bill Gates have been continuously warning about the ‘next pandemic.’

“During a 2023 World Economic Forum (WEF) panel discussion fittingly titled ‘100 Days to Outrace the Next Pandemic,’ former British prime minister Tony Blair predicted that vaccines for future pandemics will require ‘multiple shots.’ Blair called for digital infrastructure ‘to know who has been vaccinated and who hasn’t been.’ A few months later, the European Union (EU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a partnership to create a ‘global system’ of vaccine passports built on the EU’s ‘system of digital COVID-19 certification.’ 

“Moreover, the head of a ‘nudge unit’ employed by the U.K. government during the COVID crisis said in a recent interview that lockdowns would be accepted by the population in future pandemics because people already ‘know what the drill is.’ 

“Professor David Halpern from the Behavioural Insights Team (the ‘nudge unit’) admitted that his agency used psychological manipulation to prime the population and defended the use of fear-based messaging ‘in extreme circumstances.’ He said that visual prompts and catchy slogans can be used to prime people if they ‘are wrongly calibrated.’”

Satan is the ruler of this world, which is also shown in the next article.

Persecution and Prosecution of Christians in the West

The Christian Post wrote on August 6:

“Don’t be surprised if one day you are on trial for quoting the Bible on social media. If that seems unthinkable, you should know it’s already happening to some Christians in other parts of the world… Christians have become accustomed to getting banned (or shadowbanned) on social media for our beliefs, but it seems strange to think that one day we could be arrested for quoting the Bible. 

“But that’s what happened to Päivi Räsänen, a member of parliament in Finland. She has been an elected official since 1995. She was the chair of the Christian Democratic Party from 2004 to 2015, she was minister of the interior from 2011 to 2015, and she is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland with her husband, who serves as a pastor. 

“In June 2019, Päivi tweeted a picture of Bible verses and questioned her denomination’s partnership with an LGBT Pride event. The prosecutor general in Finland opened an investigation against her. In April 2021, the prosecutor announced three charges of hate speech against Päivi — one charge for the tweet, a second charge for a 2004 pamphlet on sexuality for her church, and a third charge for a 2019 radio debate on sexuality.

“Alliance Defending Freedom International supported her defense at a district court, and in a unanimous ruling in March 2022, the court dismissed all charges against her. However, the prosecutor appealed the ruling. So on August 22nd, Päivi will stand trial again.

“It is tempting to think this could never happen in America. Freedom of speech is protected by law in this country. But Päivi can say the same about her country. The constitution in Finland protects freedom of religion and freedom of speech.

“Therefore it is Päivi today, but it could be your pastor tomorrow. If a politician can be charged with hate speech for quoting the Bible, pastors can receive the same charge. If politicians can be charged for that, less powerful people like you can also be charged for quoting the Bible on social media.

“Last week, police officers in Wisconsin arrested several young Christians for preaching the gospel at a public drag queen event that targeted children. In June, the House of Representatives in Michigan passed House Bill 4474, a bill that would make speech that ‘causes the victims to feel terrorized, frightened, or threatened’ a hate crime. Speech against a person’s ‘sexual orientation’ or ‘gender identity or expression’ are listed as hate crimes.

“Western nations like America and Finland founded their legal system on Christian ethics, but now they are radically committed to LGBT ideology and opposed to their founding values. Just as Christian theology shaped the West’s legal system, LGBT ideology is reshaping it. LGBT ideology cannot co-exist with Christian theology… Therefore, it suppresses Christianity through persecution. It arrests Christians for preaching the Gospel. It criminalizes speech against homosexuality and transgenderism.”

The LGBT ideology is condemned in the Bible.

Building the Third Temple

Israel 365 News wrote on August 4:

“Channel 12, a Hebrew-language news site, published an article on Sunday accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of allocating resources to a project aimed at building a third temple on the Temple Mount. The article blames Christians for bringing red heifers to Israel.

“The Channel 12 article cites a project by Boneh Israel, an organization that brings together Jews and Christians. In cooperation with the Temple Institute, Boneh Israel successfully imported five red calves in September to Israel from Texas for the purpose of raising them for the Biblical commandment.  

“The red heifer was the main component in the Biblically mandated process of ritual purification for impurity that results from proximity or contact with a dead body. Because the elements needed for this ceremony have been lacking since the destruction of the Second Temple, all Jews today are considered ritually impure, thereby preventing the return of the Temple service… [Not all religious authorities in Israel agree with this conclusion, but many do. And even though a red heifer is not required in the Bible for the building of the third temple, many rabbis think that it is.]

“The article claimed that the Netanyahu government is complicit. ‘A few years ago, the Jerusalem Ministry submitted a design proposal for the construction of the Mount of Olives Promenade, and officials who were involved in the planning claim that its route is intended to serve, among other things, the future ceremony of burning the cow,’ the article wrote, also blaming the Ministry of Agriculture for complicity by issuing permits for importing the red calves…

“The article also noted that the Minister for Jerusalem and Heritage, Nathaniel Isaac attended the ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport when the calves arrived, citing this as proof that Netanyahu’s government is paving the way for the Third Temple.

“The article quoted Dr. Tomer Persico, a Research Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute, who claimed that Christians are involved in the project in order to help bring about the ‘Temple of the Antichrist’. ‘The Antichrist, the “Satan” one might say, needs to come here and defile the Temple,’ notes Persico…

“The Ministry of Heritage responded to Channel 12 by stating that the project did not receive funding from the government… ‘The Director General of the Ministry participated in the ceremony of their arrival privately and during the tenure of the previous government. The plan for the promenade on the Mount of Olives was intended for tourism purposes and not for the benefit of the Red Cow fire.’

“The Ministry of Agriculture stated in response:  “An import license for the source is granted as long as the country is approved for the type of import requested. The US has been approved for this for about a year. The calves mentioned in the article were imported for breeding purposes, and met all the import conditions required by the ministry.’

“The article raised an uproar among the Arab media. Al Jazeera cited Dr. Saleh Lutfi, ‘a researcher in Jewish, Zionist, and political affairs,’ as saying that in light of the current Palestinian and regional circumstances, the Netanyahu government [thinks] the time is ripe to ‘realize the myth of building the alleged “Third Temple”… All parties in the government coalition… agree among themselves on the need to continue preparations… for the construction of the Temple, the preparation of priests’ clothing, the raising of the red cow, and the strengthening of the position of the Chief Rabbi,’ Lufti wrote.

“He went on to claim that the idea of rebuilding the Temple ‘has become rooted even among large segments of the Israeli secular and liberal movement, as well as among the circles of the so-called Jewish Zionist left.’

“Despite the preparations and the allocation of budgets, Lufti reasoned that the Netanyahu government is not currently building the Temple in the courtyards of the Temple Mount, pointing out that this would be ‘a suicidal step for the Israeli entity, which would ignite a religious uprising in historic Palestine, taking into account that it will spread to the Arab and Islamic worlds, which will expose the region to a religious war… The temple includes a biblical council (Sanhedrin) as well, deciding and prosecuting according to Jewish religious provisions, and paves the way for the preparation of the king, or the so-called chief rabbi, who does not necessarily rule in a democratic manner.’

“Palestinian Shehab News reported that the deputy director of the Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem, Najeh Bakirat, ‘confirmed that the occupation government adopted the project to build the Temple in the place of Al-Aqsa, to make Jerusalem a Jewish capital…through several steps and nonstop violations against the mosque.’”

Netanyahu’s position regarding the Third Temple has been quite ambiguous for a long time. We wonder what is really going on behind the scenes. You might want to listen to our StandingWatch program from 2018, titled, ‘Netanyahu’s Announcement of a Third Temple?”

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer

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

We live in an age where bullying and teasing are rampant, and we hear all these stories about physical bullying, psychological online bullying, known as cyberbullying, and other intimidation and manipulative techniques.  This can happen anywhere, whether it be at school, at work, or through social media, and anyone can be a victim; but in this Q&A we want to concentrate specifically on young people as victims of bullying. How should they respond? We may have been a victim ourselves or we may have even participated in being the bully or involved with teasing, causing hurt to others, which we shouldn’t do, since we are to be good examples.  There are attempts in the workforce or at schools where recommendations are made about whom we need to talk to when trying to deal with these problems, as well as reporting the bully to proper authorities, such as administrators, counselors, human resource departments, psychiatrists, therapists, and so on, but they tend to dismiss the most important One who could truly help us.  What about God?  How can God actually help US in these situations?  And what does GOD say about how we should or should not react?

When it comes to God’s people specifically, we can be bullied or teased strictly on our beliefs and faced with situations where we are put to the test, as many examples in the Bible of God’s people show who had to go through this type of situation. How did they deal with it?  They were also confronted with peer pressure, just as we are on a continuous basis, but the important thing is how they handled it and how we should do likewise.

Quoting at length from our free booklet, “Should You Fight in War?“:

“Do we believe in God and rely on Him for our protection, having the faith that it is GOD who is our protecting shield…? Do we think that God is incapable of helping us in certain circumstances?  We should, of course, do everything that we can do to avoid getting into dangerous situations. We obviously should not go to places where gangs assemble, and we should not get involved with people who are known to be active in crimes, for instance. In addition, Proverbs 15:1 tells us that a soft answer turns away wrath but that grievous words stir up strife. So then, we need to be peacemakers, and we need to avoid everything that would create strife. Proverbs 18:6 reminds us that a fool’s lips enter into contention and that his mouth calls for violent reactions. We are also told in Proverbs 26:17 that he who passes by and meddles with strife belonging not to him, is like one who takes a dog by the ears. The point is, the battles of this world, which are fought by this world, are not our battles! This Scripture tells us not to be a fool, meddling with strife not belonging to us!…

“The most important of all the things you can do to avoid using violence is to pray to God, on a daily basis: ‘Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil’ (compare Matthew 6:13). We are to plead with God daily to NOT ALLOW a tempting situation that might be too difficult for us to bear, to overtake us.  However, we read in the Bible that righteous persons have sometimes found themselves being attacked by others. What did they do, and what should YOU do, if God allows it?

“First, realize that God would NOT allow it if you were not able to bear it, as 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us. And when God does allow it, He will also provide a way of escape for you. This is sometimes literally the case. Sometimes you need to actually flee, to run away! Christ did so on occasion. We read in John 10:39: ‘Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand.’… When we find ourselves, or others, in a dangerous, challenging, life-threatening situation, we must PRAY to God, with faith, to HELP us out of that situation. To fight our fight for us! To give us the wisdom and the power NOT to do the WRONG thing, however tempting it may be.

“We must realize that no matter what harm we may WANT to do physically in a given situation, we must not seriously injure or kill the attacker… If we carry a gun with us or have one handy, say, next to our bed, we will certainly try to use it, but then may be killed in the process… In any case, to use a gun and shoot the attacker would be against the clear Biblical teaching of prohibiting killing. But what about just trying to injure him? In the heat of the moment, you may not be able to do just that, even if you wanted to. And if the attacker would only be injured, he would still have the chance to kill you or others who are with you. Christ told Peter, when he pulled his sword in defense of Christ and just injured the servant, to put his sword away. Christ’s protection did not depend on human weapons. It depended on God the Father and His angels. So, too, with us. Our real protection comes from the same source….”

The same applies to the use of a knife or other tools which a bullied person could use as weapons. The principle is clear not to use anything for the purpose of seriously injuring or even killing an attacker, including a bully. This could even include our own physical strength or skills which would enable us to seriously injure a bully.

Continuing with the above-mentioned booklet:

“The whole issue really comes down to where we place our trust and confidence for our protection, in EVERY situation… When man places his trust and confidence in God, God will protect man. Ultimately though, no matter the consequences, we must be living a life pleasing to God. We must never fear the ones who can take our physical life from us, but we must fear, or deeply respect, the One who can refuse to give us ETERNAL LIFE… 

“We must always have the attitude that Daniel’s three friends had when they were asked to violate God’s laws by worshipping an idol, and in case of refusal, were threatened with being thrown into a fiery furnace. We need to speak and act in the same way when we are being tempted to worship Satan – the god of war – by picking up a gun or a knife or another weapon to injure or even kill another person. We read their answer in Daniel 3:17-18: ‘ … our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.’ We must not serve the wisdom of this world, worshipping the power of the air and the god of destruction and war. Rather, we must always follow the PRINCE OF PEACE.

“Remember what the angels told the shepherds when Christ was born: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests’ (Luke 2, 14, NIV), or, as the NRSV renders it, ‘ … with whom He is pleased.’… When God is pleased with us, when His favor rests on us, THEN He will be our shield and protection in times of impending battles. We must trust in God (compare Psalm 56:3-4, 8-11), AND we must be willing to obey His commandments, no matter what the situation, circumstance or consequence.”

Bullying, even over the internet as cyberbullying, is a form of verbal physical attack, so our comments made herein regarding responding to violent attacks apply clearly to bullying.  In any situation that we may be in, we must firmly keep in mind God’s limitless power and His willingness to help His people, who place their trust and confidence in Him.  If we are a victim of bullying, we may think about ways of fighting back, including bullying the bully.  But that could also have its consequences that we just read about.  Again, resorting to violence with the intent to seriously injure or kill another person, including damaging his or her reputation, even for the purpose of self-defense or defending others, is not in conformity with Christ’s teaching. Let us also never forget that God has assigned angels for our protection. Christ also knew that His protection did not depend on man’s strength — including His own — but on God the Father’s.

A true Christian must allow God to fight his battles for him. The Bible contains numerous examples of when God did just that. In our Q&A: “If someone tries to confront us physically, what is an appropriate response for a Christian? Would it be okay to try to subdue him, or should we not give any resistance at all? What if someone physically assaulted a loved one?” we say the following: 

“When the ancient Israelites left the slavery of Egypt and were pursued by the Egyptians, God fought their battle for them, by drowning the enemy in the Red Sea. Moses told the Israelites at that time: ‘The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace’ (Exodus 14:14).”

This is proven throughout the Bible on many occasions, showing what God accomplished for His people–and what He is willing and capable of doing TODAY for you and me–if we trust in His protection.  

Continuing with the above-quoted Q&A:

“He protected Daniel in the lions’ den, and He protected Daniel’s three friends in the fiery furnace. All these things recorded in the Old Testament ‘were written for our admonition [or instruction], upon whom the ends of the ages have come’ (1 Corinthians 10:11). Christ told us that we must not take the sword or resort to violence. God and His mighty angels are always there to help us (compare Psalm 34:7; 91:11). But we must believe and be persuaded that no matter what the circumstances, we have to remain peaceful, while praying to God to fight our battles for us!”

We say this in our Q&A, “Do You Believe in and Teach Self-Defense?”

“God who protected Daniel in the lions’ den is ready and able to protect us today, if we long for His protection. We don’t need to use violence against others for our own protection, when we trust that God is there to help us, whenever we are in need. As we read in Psalm 46:1-3: ‘God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.’ And notice this comforting reassurance and promise of God’s presence in our lives, and His protection:

“‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you’ (Isaiah 43:2).

“At the same time, we must always look at God’s overall Will for us and our great potential and destiny for our lives, as Christ expressed in Matthew 10:28-31: ‘And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground APART FROM YOUR FATHER’S WILL. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.’”

We also need to consider our thoughts and attitudes toward bullies.  It may be easy to think of them as evil people but this is not a godly attitude.  Quoting from gotquestions.org on bullying: “At the very least, we should pray that the bully would have a change of heart… Many times, though, bullies act the way they do out of their own hurt. Perhaps they were bullied in the past. Perhaps they feel insecure, and the only way they can feel acceptable to themselves is by belittling others. We can empathize with their hurt and extend God’s compassion, love, and grace to them while also maintaining solid boundaries to address their wrong behavior. Whether bullying is driven by past hurt or simply the sin nature, God is the one who can bring healing, restoration, and change. It is always appropriate to pray for both bullies and their victims. Similarly, when we are the victim of bullying, we can go to God with our hurt and seek His reassurance and healing.”

Romans 12:17–21 says, “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to [God’s] wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

In our Q&A, “What does it mean to bless our enemies and those who curse us?” we say the following: 

“When we bless those who curse us, we do this with our mouth–but our words must be coming from the heart. This includes, praying for them. Our prayer could include, asking God to grant them repentance so that their sins may be forgiven. It could include asking God to prevent them from continuing their evil deeds, since their attitudes and conduct harm themselves and others.

“Our prayer might include the plea to God to let our enemies see that what they are doing is wrong. We are not to avenge ourselves because we know that God will avenge us–and if this means that God will allow or bring trials on our enemies to bring them to repentance or a recognition of the evil of their doing, then that, too, would be a blessing for them…

“Blessing would mean not to slander our enemies or to speak evil of them, by inventing facts or ‘adding to’ the truth. It does not mean hiding the facts if there is a need to speak out, but even then, we must be sure that we do not speak or act with hate and with a desire to avenge ourselves (2 Timothy 2:17-18, 20-21; 4:14-15; 1 Timothy 1:18-20).”

This does not mean that we have to be passive victims of bullying and must not do anything in response.

In our Q&A titled, “What Kinds of Sports, Games and Related Activities Are Appropriate and Inappropriate for Christians?” we say: 

“In Matthew 5:38-41 and in Luke 6:27-30, where Christ says that we must not resist an evil person; pointing out that when we are being hit, we are to turn the other cheek; when someone tries to take our cloak, we ought to leave him our tunic, and vice versa; and when someone compels us to go one mile, we must go with him two miles–the famous extra mile. Does all of this mean that we have to passively give in to violent conduct and that we can do nothing in our defense?”

We answer these questions in part 6 (pages 49-56) of our free booklet, “Old Testament Laws—Still Valid Today?:

“Jesus… addressed the principle of ‘an eye for an eye.’ He stated, in Matthew 5:38-39:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist [forcefully, by resorting to violence and thereby injuring or killing] an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” According to the Lamsa Bible, the concept of ‘turning the other cheek’ is another Aramaic idiom, meaning, ‘Do not start a quarrel or a fight…’

“The Old Testament ‘lex talionis’ of an eye for an eye principle was never meant to be applied literally by actually maiming an offender. It was meant to outlaw personal vindictive ‘self-help’ and to allow, instead, a magistrate or a judge to consider the case and render righteous judgment by ordering the offender to pay just compensation to the victim. Jesus Christ addressed a wrong understanding of His listeners who thought they could avenge themselves. He cautioned all of us to be forgiving and kind, and He encouraged us to avoid fights and especially violence, even, if need be, at the price of foregoing our legal rights.”

As we can see, Christ did not mean to imply that we are to be helpless and passive victims and bystanders when confronted with violence. Rather, He told us not to treat violence with violence and revenge.

It is also important when we are victims of bullies, not to pay attention to or get excited about every little comment made about us. Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 admonishes us: “Also do not take to heart everything people say, Lest you hear your servant cursing you. For many times, also, your own heart has known That even you have cursed others.” Proverbs 10:12 adds: “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.” And Proverbs 19:11 tells us: “The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression.”

If you are a victim of a bully, it might be appropriate, depending on the circumstances, to confront the bully, if known to you, and talk to him or her. But it is important to pray first to God that He will give you a discerning and calm heart and a willingness to help the bully to stop hurting you and others, and to give the bully a discerning and receptive heart to see and appreciate his evil conduct. The principle is laid out in Matthew 18:15. Even though it speaks of spiritual brothers, it could also apply in other situations: “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” You might also note the admonition in Proverbs 25:8-12:

“Do not go hastily to court; For what will you do in the end, When your neighbor has put you to shame? Debate your case with your neighbor, And do not disclose the secret to another; Lest he who hears it expose your shame, And your reputation be ruined. A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver. Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear.”

Rather than immediately reporting a bully to the teacher or school principal, or to the boss at work, or “discussing” the bully with other friends in an attempt to “get even,” it might be a better idea to speak first to the bully in a private setting, after having prayerfully sought God’s guidance and inspiration as to what to say, and how to say it.

There are ways we can cope with bullying and teasing as mentioned above, especially for God’s people.  There is NOTHING impossible for God who can help us in every possible way, as long as we do our part and continue being obedient to Him, obeying His Laws, and BELIEVE and have the FAITH that He will help us. Trust in God and we will have nothing to fear.

Lead Writer: Michael Link

compiled by Dave Harris

“Does Netanyahu Secretly Prepare for the Third Temple?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

It is claimed that projects are going on behind the scenes, apparently revealing that Netanyahu and his government are secretly planning to build the anticipated Third Temple. What are those projects, and how credible are the reports about Netanyahu’s and his coalition government’s real intentions, given the fact that he has been quite inconsistent, ambiguous and evasive on the issue when addressing the public.

“Arbeitet Netanyahu im Geheimen am Bau des Dritten Tempels?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German language program  discusses the same topic as the English program described above.

A Tech Team Meeting was held on August 6, 2023, via Google Meets. Hosted by Eric Rank, topics covered included: advertising results for both English and German booklets; purchase of domain names for French and Spanish sites; inclusion of a “Youth Forum” for the Update when submissions are available; technical difficulties in live broadcasting and Feast preparations.

“Die Schöpfung ist logisch,” last Sabbath’s sermonette in Germany by Manuel Giermann, is now posted. Title in English: “Creation is Logical. ”

“Beware the Company You Keep,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Brian Gale, is now posted. Here is a summary:

The importance of keeping good company cannot be over-emphasized, and good and true friends can help us in achieving our goal of making it into the Kingdom of God.   We must always keep in mind that “evil company corrupts good habits.”

“Our Self-Destruction Is Imminent!” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

The Bible warns that the insane behavior of warring powers would lead to the total annihilation of mankind so that no one would survive the coming World War III, if Christ were not to intervene at the last moment to stop such insanity. How can this madness of seduced and seducing warmongers even happen? Christ describes in detail in the Mount of Olives prophecy how the phases of events will unfold and when the end of the world and Christ’s return will come. In the first part of this new series, we look at the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and the Great Tribulation, with special emphasis on false Christianity and its unbiblical teachings, the persecution of true Christians, and how they will be protected from the terrible events to come.