On December 14, 2024, Paul Niehoff will present the first split-sermon, titled, “What Does God Require of Us?” and Frank Bruno will present the second split-sermon, titled, “A Sinless Human Life.”

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

The original book, “The Tale of Two Cities,” was published in 1859 by English author Charles Dickens; it was set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. In this Editorial, I want to look at the people of the ancient cities of Nineveh and Sodom. Both these cities had issues with sin.

In Jonah 1:2, we read God’s words to Jonah: “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” Nineveh had issues with wickedness which is not really defined by God as to the exact problem it had.

This is what is said about Sodom, in Genesis 18:20-21: “And the LORD said, ‘Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.” God states that their sin is great, without going into any detail.

It’s interesting to notice that He, together with two angels, wanted to go in person to see how bad it was. You have probably heard that it is sometimes hard to describe a situation and, “You had to be there to see how bad it was”—to be there in person to get the full impact or feel how bad a situation was. God, in the Person of Jesus Christ, would stay with Abraham but would send His two angels to Sodom to evaluate the people there.

Sodom was really bad, as described in 19:4-5: “Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot and said to him, ‘Where are the men [the two angels] who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.’”

They wanted to abuse the two guests sexually, thinking they were ordinary men, and both young and old were in the mix. It is evident that the whole town was perverted and twisted sexually.

Both these cities had major issues but the outcome of them was totally different.

After trying to avoid his commission, Jonah finally went as instructed by God and warned Nineveh of destruction.  In Jonah 3:2-4, we read that God told Jonah again: ‘‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.’ So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent.  And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’” 

So Jonah sounded the alarm or trumpet as it were of coming destruction; and what was the response from the city?

Jonah 3:6-10 tells us: “Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes.  And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, ‘Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. 

But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?’  Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.”

The result was repentance of the city and thus God changed His mind about destroying it. Please note however that the city of Nineveh was destroyed later by falling back to their old ways.

What about Sodom? Genesis 19:15-17 reads: “When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, ‘Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.’ And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, ‘Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.’”

Continuing in Genesis 19:24-25: “Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens. So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.”

So Sodom was totally destroyed. Lot had apparently been a judge in Sodom, “sitting in the gate” (Genesis 19:1); he had warned the people of Sodom repeatedly (compare Genesis 19:7-9; 2 Peter 2:7), but they did not listen. When the city was evaluated by the two angels, being there in person, it was determined that redemption at that point was far from attainable, leading to its destruction. This is not to say that the people of Sodom, as well as of Nineveh, won’t have a future opportunity to repent after their resurrection to physical life, and then be given an opportunity for salvation.

We all sin from time to time. When we realize our error, we repent and ask for forgiveness, knowing God will forgive us our sins with the understanding that we are to make efforts to overcome sin, not to succumb to it.

On the other hand, if we harden our hearts by sinning and do not repent, we could find ourselves in the situation of Sodom, beyond repair and redemption. But while the unconverted people of Sodom will have a chance in the future, for us, as converted Christians who fall away for good, there is only one final fate, which is the lake of fire from which there is no comeback (compare Hebrews 10:26-27).

As we go forward in our Christian walk, we will sin on occasion, but the final outcome of sin is really up to us; so, let’s make the right choices. 

by Norbert Link

We begin with the fall of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad and the take-over by Islamist rebels, as well as international reactions to the developments, posing the frightening question as to what is next for Syria and the entire Middle East, as well as, potentially, for Europe and the USA. Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Syria’s Terrible Future” 

We report on a revealing interview between Tucker Carlson and Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, as well as the situation in South Korea.

We speak on Trump’s impressive visit to Paris and his plans for his new rule, which are a mixture of good and bad.

We speak on the pagan origin of Santa Claus and a move in Austria to force Santa Claus (or “Nikolaus”) celebrations on children in Kindergarten, while threatening parents with heavy fines who do not want to “integrate.” We also speak on the demonic motives of California’s school shooter; and conclude with a US committee’s devastating findings regarding the “corona scam.”

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

How Assad Fell

Politico wrote on December 8:

“The rapid sweep by a coalition of armed opposition groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an al Qaeda breakaway designated a terror group by the United States, saw rebels at first burst out of an enclave in northwest Syria on Nov. 27. Then there was the capture in quick succession of Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, Hama and then Homs…  By Saturday, the rebels were in Damascus and Bashar Assad had fled, concluding the 10 days that shook the Middle East. [Russian state media confirmed the dictator and his family were granted asylum in Russia for ‘humanitarian reasons’ after their jet landed in Moscow.]

“All the more surprising — some might argue suspicious — is the ease with which the offensive unfolded and the absence of any serious government resistance… the lightning rapidity and ease of the offensive and the melting away of government forces raise questions, as does the failure of Assad’s allies Russia and Iran to do much to disrupt the rebels and save him. The questions include whether there was any rebel coordination with elements inside the Assad regime…

“The country’s prime minister, Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali, said in a video message posted online that he remained at home and was prepared to cooperate with the transfer of power to ‘any leadership chosen by the Syrian people.’…

“[Turkey’s] Erdoğan openly endorsed the rebel offensive… Few observers believe the offensive could have gone ahead without Ankara’s knowledge and approval… [Since 2011, he had] seized a strip of land along the border and has even toyed at times with annexing part of northern Syria, tauntingly suggesting publicly that Turkey has historical rights to do so.

“The final nails in Assad’s political coffin were hammered in not by foes but his allies — Iran and Russia. Their inaction eased the rebels’ advance… U.S. officials agreed that the collapse of Assad’s frontlines had much to do with the absence of any serious Iranian or Russian action — whether from inability or unwillingness because of Ukraine and Lebanon remains unclear…”

Ransacking and Looting

The Sun wrote on December 8:

“SYRIANS gleefully ransacked Bashar al-Assad’s palace [in Damascus] after the ousted tyrant fled the country to [Moscow]… going room from room looting items of value… It’s thought dozens of Assad’s luxury vehicles have also been seized after militants broke into his garage packed with Mercedes, Ferraris, and Audis.

“Militants have also stormed and looted the Iranian embassy as well as the Italian embassy, while the Iraqi embassy has been evacuated to Lebanon… The Italian ambassador was unharmed in the break-in by an armed group of rebels who stole three cars from the garden before fleeing… Syrians have also reportedly been seen leaving the country’s Central Bank with bags stuffed full of cash…”

These actions are similar to the ones which occurred in Iraq after Saddam Hussein’s downfall. Iraq and the USA are most certainly not better off now than they were under Saddam. Will history repeat itself insofar as Syria is concerned?

Future Uncertain

The Sun wrote on December 8:

“Turkey-backed opposition fighters are battling US-allied Kurdish forces in the north, and ISIS is still active in some remote areas…

“Russia has put all of its military bases on high alert… Hezbollah has withdrawn all of its forces from the country… But as Syrians celebrate in the Israeli-occupied buffer zone in the Golan Heights which was captured from Syria in 1967, almost 300 miles away, suspected airstrikes from Israel hit Damascus on Sunday… It is believed that Israel bombed the Khlakhuala air base in the south of the country overnight. It comes after the IDF was deployed in the Golan buffer zone in preparation for chaos following the toppling of Assad, on Saturday night…

[It was also reported that the US on Sunday has struck more than 75 ISIS targets in Syria as part of efforts to “disrupt, degrade, and defeat” the terror group. The US has stationed 900 soldiers in Syria and 2,500 soldiers in Iraq.]

“A number of countries have closed border crossings with Syria as the chaos unfolds, including Lebanon and Jordan. All pro-Iranian forces have reportedly withdrawn from the country… the Kremlin [had been] allowed to operate two military bases inside Syria. One of those was a naval base – giving the Russians a port in the Mediterranean. But those bases might now be under threat as the rebels look to boot the Russians out of the country.”

A New Islamist Rule?

The New York Post wrote on December 7:

“While few will mourn Assad himself, many in the world community — perhaps even among his regional adversaries — may not be so enthused about seeing him toppled. Butcher though he may be, the Syrian dictator has maintained some support both in the region and in his country — especially among Syrian Christians and Druze, who fear persecution under Islamist rule. Assad’s secular regime had refrained from direct provocations against Israel and seems sanguine about Israel’s continued occupation of the Golan Heights. The Syrian civil war destabilized Lebanon, which took in hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees but has not spread to Jordan — a primary US concern. 

“If Assad is now replaced by Islamists sympathetic to Al Qaida, neighboring countries like Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel would be directly threatened. Extremists could gain access to Syria’s chemical weapons and potentially use the country as a launchpad for jihadist recruitment and terrorism. Such a regime would suppress minorities like Christians, Alawites, and Druze, while women’s rights would suffer… the rebels with the most momentum right now appear to be Islamists, especially Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)…  This is a Sunni group that once pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda’s central leadership… HTS imposed Islamic law on areas it has controlled in northwest Syria since 2015.”

Fox News wrote on December 8:

“A coalition of largely radical Islamist groups dislodged Assad’s Iran-backed regime. The U.S.-designated terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist former Al-Qaeda affiliate that is part of the rebel forces, played the decisive role in evicting Assad…

“Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the Islamist leader of HTS, who has a $10 million bounty on his head from the U.S., seeks to present a toned-down version of the radical Islamism that has defined his years of fighting in Syria and in Iraq against American troops. Al-Golani was detained by the U.S. military in the first decade of this century. Syrian experts have told Fox News Digital that HTS seeks to impose a totalitarian Islamist regime on the population. Phillip Smyth, an expert on Iranian regime proxy groups and Syria, who is with the Atlantic Council, told Fox News Digital, ‘HTS is a group that is an outgrowth of Al-Qaeda and has connections to Turkey. Their endgame is to create a Taliban-esque society with a few tweaks.’”

In light of all of this, certain reactions of international leaders seem to sound unrealistically optimistic. Note the next article.

International Reactions to Assad’s Downfall

The Jerusalem Post wrote on December 8:

“Iran seems to be distancing itself from Assad, potentially abandoning everything it has built and fought to preserve in Syria for the past 40 years, which has been its primary foothold in the Arab world…  Egypt has called on all parties in Syria to preserve the capabilities of the state and national institutions…  Saudi Arabia said on Sunday it stands by [the] Syrian people and their choices at this ‘critical stage’ after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was toppled.

“King Abdullah said Jordan respected the choices of the Syrian people… Iraqi government spokesperson Bassem Al-Awadi… reaffirmed the importance of not interfering in the internal affairs of Syria…

“President-elect Donald Trump applauded the fall of the regime and mocked Russia and Iran for losing their core ally. ‘Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer,’ Trump posted on Truth Social. ‘Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success.’… [He also said: “Syria is a mess, but is not our friend. This is not our fight… Do not get involved!”]

“German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized the need to protect minorities in Syria. ‘Bashir al Assad has brutally oppressed his own people, has countless lives on his conscience and has driven numerous people to flee Syria, many of whom have also come to Germany. The Syrian people have experienced appalling suffering. The end of Assad’s rule over Syria is, therefore, good news. What matters now is that law and order are quickly restored in Syria. All religious communities, all minorities must enjoy protection now and in the future.’..

“French President Emmanuel Macron harshly condemned the Assad regime, saying, ‘The barbaric state has fallen. At last.’

“UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer said, ‘The Syrian people have suffered under Assad’s barbaric regime for too long, and we welcome his departure…

“Kaja Kallas, EU Foreign Minister, said, ‘The end of Assad’s dictatorship is a positive and long-awaited development. It also shows the weakness of Assad’s backers, Russia and Iran. Our priority is to ensure security in the region. I will work with all the constructive partners in Syria and in the region.’

“The Taliban applauded HTS [Hayat Tahrir al-Sham] for liberating the Syrian people…

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood along the Syrian border with Israel on Sunday afternoon, hailing the end of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad’s 14-year rule and claiming Israel’s ‘blows inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah’ had a direct impact on the Syrian revolution… he had ordered Israeli forces to seize areas in the buffer zone to ensure Israel’s security and said: ‘We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border.’”

The entire Middle East is a powder keg ready to explode.

Israel Attacks

The Associated Press wrote on December 11:

“Israel carried out a wave of heavy airstrikes across Syria as its troops advanced deeper into the country… and the Israeli defense minister announced that his forces had destroyed Syria’s navy… it remained unclear if Israeli soldiers had gone beyond that area [of the buffer zone], which was established more than 50 years ago. Israel denied that it was advancing on the Syrian capital of Damascus.

“The Israeli military said Tuesday that it carried out more than 350 strikes in Syria over the last 48 hours, hitting ‘most of the strategic weapons stockpiles’ in the country to stop them from falling into the hands of extremists. The targets included air defense systems, military airfields, missile depots and dozens of weapons production sites in Damascus and other cities…

“Israeli missile ships also simultaneously struck two Syrian navy facilities, where the military said 15 Syrian naval vessels were docked. Israel did not specify how many vessels it struck, but the private security firm Ambrey said it had seen evidence that at least six Soviet-era missile ships were hit. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel intended to establish a demilitarized zone in southern Syria.”

New Interim Prime Minister

Middle East Eye wrote on December 10:

“Mohammed al-Bashir, the head of the administration that ran Idlib in northwest Syria has been appointed as the country’s interim prime minister [until March 1] following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. …

“Bashir has been the head of the Syrian Salvation Government, a HTS-controlled administration in the Idlib governorate, since January 2024. … freedom of expression has been stifled by HTS during its rule over Idlib, including violence and arbitrary arrests used to crack down dissenting voices.”

Chaos in Syria

Breitbart reported on December 10:

“Syrian rebels who overthrew the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad on Sunday are reportedly executing their opponents, imposing Islamic sharia law, and threatening non-Muslim minorities, including the Kurdish population in the north. Videos are circulating on social media showing Syrian rebels killing people associated with the regime — some of whom may have been part of the state security services, and others who appear to have been ordinary employees.

“The New York Times reported Tuesday: ‘Islamic State forces on Tuesday killed 54 people in the Homs region in central Syria who had been part of the Syrian government’s military and fled during the collapse of the Assad regime… The killings highlight the chaos in Syria as various rebel factions operate in different regions. One video also shows thousands of smashed bottles of liquor at the duty free store of the Damascus airport, where Islamist rebels apparently enforced the Islamic ban on alcohol by force, as Islamists did in Lebanon in the 1980s.”

Losers and Winners

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on December 9:

“Iran and Russia are the two big losers in the ouster of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday by the Sunni Islamist groups affiliated to al-Qaeda… Israel and Turkey are the biggest winners, having established links with the al-Qaeda groups…

“Turkey has demanded that Syria belongs to Syrian people alone — a thinly covered call for vacation of foreign military presence (Russian, American and Iranian.)… Turkey has special interests in Syria in relation to the Kurdish problem. The weakening of the Syrian state… provides Turkey for the first time a free run in the northern border provinces where Kurdish separatist groups are operating. The Turkish military and intelligence presence in Syria will expand by leaps and bounds…

“Turkish occupation of Syrian territory may assume a permanent character and even a quasi-annexation of the regions is within the realms of possibility… the hour of reckoning has come for reclaiming the Ottoman glory. The present Turkish leadership is committed to the geo-strategy of Neo-Ottomanism.

“The bottom line is that the genie of al-Qaeda is out of the bottle, finally, and there is no stopping its pan-Islamic agenda…”

The Times of Israel wrote on December 9:

“Footage from a mosque in Damascus… showed Syrian rebels vowing to march on Jerusalem. ‘This is the land of Islam, this is Damascus, the Muslim stronghold. From here to Jerusalem. We’re coming for Jerusalem. Patience, people of Gaza, patience,’ vowed an Islamist rebel, surrounded by a group of gunmen who responded with cries of ‘Allahu akbar!’ (‘God is greatest’ in Arabic.).”

Civil War May Not Be Over

The Telegraph wrote on December 8:

“Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist rebel faction that mounted the offensive which led to Assad’s downfall — and which is now likely to play a very influential role in shaping Syria’s future— is very much an unknown quantity. It was an affiliate of al-Qaeda until severing ties in 2017, a move that did not convince the United States to lift its terrorist designation of the group.

“Its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, served five years in various US detention facilities in Iraq, including at Abu Ghraib, and had ties to both al-Qaeda and ISIS. The United States still has a $10 million (£7.8 million) bounty on his head…

“Beyond HTS… there are numerous other rebel factions, from Turkish-backed factions to Kurdish dominated groups, not to mention Isis, heavily weakened but still in control of a sliver of Syrian territory and still able to launch localised attacks…

“… it is also a reminder that the country’s factions will look to secure a place in the new Syria – and that they still have their guns if they do not get what they want. Given that there is unlikely to be much of a restraining hand from the incoming Trump administration, disgruntled armed groups may be even more emboldened to act… In other words, the 13-year rebellion against Bashar al-Assad may be over. Syria’s civil war may not be.”

Bloomberg wrote on December 8:

“… the implications are also quickly sinking in — and not least the prospect of more upheaval and violence as groups tussle for control… Multiple Arab and US officials told Bloomberg that a power vacuum could now be dangerous. Memories of Muammar Qaddafi’s Libya and Saddam Hussein in Iraq loom large in the region: In both countries, those entrenched rulers were swept aside in brief moments of euphoria, only for the countries to descend into deeper turmoil.”

Who Will Rule Syria Now the Assad Regime Has Been Toppled?

The Economist wrote on December 8:

“Syrians are hoping for a peaceful transition of power. They may not get it.

“In Damascus and across the country, Syrians were cheering a fresh start… What kind of fresh start will they get?

“Much depends on whether Syria’s multi-pronged opposition, suddenly bereft of its common enemy, will band together to form a pluralist, federal civilian government over all of Syria, or descend into infighting that plunges the country into a new civil war…

“The rebels, foremost among them Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda affiliate that has ruled a slice of north-western Syria for the past few years, say they have learnt the lessons of past regime changes in the Arab world… But things in Syria have a habit of getting complicated. The de facto partitioning of Syria that took place under Mr Assad has intensified since his fall.

“Rebels from the north, east and south of the country co-ordinated their takeover with remarkable discipline in recent days. Yet because Mr Assad’s regime collapsed far faster than they expected, they have not had time to plan for the day after. Each of the four main factions—Turkish-backed Sunni rebels in the north-west, Kurds in the north and east, Jordanian-backed rebels in the south, and the remaining loyalists from Mr Assad’s Alawite sect in the west—has its own army. All of them have been bolstered by the weapons, land and economic holdings seized from the Assads in recent days. Each group will want its share of the spoils and a slice of whatever package is arranged to reconstruct the devastated country, with needs estimated to cost some $200bn.

“Within hours of Mr Assad’s fall, the fragile truce between the different groups had begun to break down as fighting flared at Manbij, on the line dividing Turkish-backed Arabs in the north-west from the Kurds in the north-east. Syrians have not forgotten that the toppling of Iraq’s and Libya’s strongmen triggered a decade of civil war between their would-be successors. Nor are they unaware how tricky it will be to manage relations with their neighbours…

“The strongest contender to rule Syria is Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, the 42-year-old head of HTS, which launched the rebel offensive from its seat in Idlib in north-western Syria only 11 days ago, on November 27th. Mr Jolani… has… assured Christians and women that he has no plans to impose strict Islamic codes… But Mr Jolani’s past as al-Qaeda’s leader in Syria and his brutal suppression of rivals makes others wary. Getting other rebels to accept his leadership will be his hardest task. For years he fought them more than he did Mr Assad.

“A few hundred former rebels in the south beat Mr Jolani to Damascus. They marched on the presidential palace and detained the prime minister, Mohammad Ghazi Al-Jalali, not only to pursue Mr Assad’s loyalists but to prevent Mr Jolani from getting there first. That America, Russia and the UN all regard Mr Jolani as a terrorist and HTS as a terrorist organisation could also complicate things if he does indeed take charge. His close ties with Turkey and Qatar irk Arab powers who want to limit their zone of influence. Some opposition figures talk ominously about how convenient his assassination would be…

“Many Syrians worry that they could end up replacing one dictator with another, this time an Islamist one. Whoever takes charge in Damascus will have trouble controlling all of Syria. In the north-east, the Kurds will look to the few hundred American troops stationed there to thwart efforts to bring the lucrative oilfields, Syria’s breadbasket and the Arab cities they rule back under central control… they are already fighting Turkish-backed forces to preserve the autonomy they carved out under Mr Assad…

“Mr Assad’s sect, the Alawites, will similarly have to decide whether to fight or accept Sunni-majority rule. In addition to the heavy weapons salvaged from the regime’s rout, they may also look to protection from Russia, which still keeps a naval and airbase there that it may hang on to, subject to negotiation with Turkey and Syria’s new rulers. Civilians in the exiled political opposition in Istanbul, in Turkey, seem to have been sidelined for now…

“After 13 years of civil war and penury, an exhausted population is praying for a peaceful handover that has proved vanishingly rare in the Arab world. With so much division inside and outside Syria, consensus will be hard to find.”

Large Demonstration in Austria

Report 24 wrote on December 8:

“Syrian hordes overrun Vienna’s city center – police show complete powerlessness… Apparently it was possible to mobilize 30,000 Syrians within a very short time, who marched across the ring, making a lot of noise and ‘shooting fireworks’. The police speak of a ‘duly registered rally’ – which is questionable due to the chronology. Under no circumstances could Austria have 30,000 police officers, which demonstrates the state of internal security in an impressive and tragic way… They shouted the well-known ‘Allahu Akbar’ – at the same time the Muslims’ creed (‘Allah is greater’) and the Islamists’ battle cry.

“Islamist butchers have taken control in Syria. It is to be feared that they will take bloody revenge on all those who have previously supported the Assad government. In addition, one can expect the mass expulsion of Shiites, Alawites, Druze and Christians. In the worst case scenario, millions of people will flee to the West… The takeover of state power by Islamist forces was enthusiastically celebrated by tens of thousands of Syrians in many European cities. What is notable is the fact that no women can be seen in any of the videos or photos. The manpower of young Syrians fit for war in Europe is frightening.”

Interview With Lavrov… How the War Could End

The Daily Mail wrote on December 6:

“Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow doesn’t want a war with the United States but will use ‘all means’ to defend its interests in an interview with… broadcaster Tucker Carlson. He went on to argue that, while Russia and the US are officially not at war, Washington’s permission for Ukraine to use American longer-range missiles for strikes on Russian territory marked a dangerous escalation…

“Lavrov, the world’s longest-serving foreign minister who has been on the job for 20 years, said that the recent Russian strike on Ukraine with a new hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile called Oreshnik was a signal to the West that Russia is prepared to use all means to achieve its goals…

“Speaking about the Kremlin conditions for a potential peace deal, he reaffirmed Putin’s declaration that Ukraine should pull back its forces from the four regions that Russia annexed in September 2022 and renounce its bid to join NATO… He added that any peace agreement must secure the rights of Russian speakers in Ukraine… ‘No military bases, no military exercises on Ukrainian soil with participation of foreign troops. We cannot tolerate a deal which would keep the legislation which I quoted prohibiting Russian language, culture and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,’ he said…

“When asked about his view of Donald Trump… Lavrov described him as ‘a very strong person, a person who wants results, who doesn’t like procrastination on anything.’ But he dismissed the idea that Trump is in any way ‘pro-Russian’… ‘The amount of sanctions we received under him was very very big.’…

“Lavrov’s interview with Carlson comes as officials, military chiefs and civilians on all sides of the Ukraine conflict wait to see what approach the Trump administration will take. Advisers to Trump publicly and privately are floating proposals to end the war that would cede large parts of the country to Russia for the foreseeable future… In September, Vice President-elect JD Vance offered former US Navy Seal Shawn Ryan an outline of how peace may be brought about in Ukraine under Trump.  ‘What it probably looks like is something like the current line of demarcation between Russia and Ukraine becomes like a demilitarised zone, heavily fortified for the Russians don’t invade again… Ukraine remains an independent sovereign. Russia gets the guarantee of neutrality from Ukraine.  ‘It does not join NATO and some other allied institutions. Germans and other nations have to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction,’ Vance added.”

We will wait and see whether this is a basis for a peace deal.

Uncertainties in South Korea

Deutsche Welle reported on December 7:

“A motion to impeach South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol failed after most ruling PPP party lawmakers walked out from the vote. The motion was dropped without ballots being counted as the total votes did not reach 200, or the two-thirds majority required for it to pass. Opposition parties, which hold 192 seats in parliament, presented the bill after Yoon briefly declared martial law last week.

“After the vote, PPP leader Han said the party had decided that Yoon would resign and had ‘effectively obtained’ his promise to do so. Han emphasized that Yoon was no longer in a position to carry out his public duties and his resignation was unavoidable. Though he pledged the PPP would ‘resolve this crisis in a more orderly and responsible manner’ than impeachment would have, Han refused to say just when Yoon would step down.

“Yoon’s term in office runs out in May 2027. ‘The People Power Party will pursue an orderly departure of the president in order to minimize confusion for the people,’ said Han, who added that Yoon would be ‘effectively excluded from his duties, and the prime minister will consult with the party to manage state affairs.’

“The opposition DP ridiculed that idea as ‘absurd and illegal.’ ‘Neither the people, nor the law, nor anyone has given Han the power to remove [Yoon] from office,’ the party said in a statement, saying impeachment is the only way.”

Trump Domineering in Paris

The New York Post wrote on December 7:

“President-elect Trump dominated French President Emmanuel Macron during a tense photo-op handshake as the leaders met in Paris ahead of the Notre Dame cathedral’s reopening Saturday — where global heads of state and dignitaries tripped over themselves to pay their respects to ‘The Don.’… Inside the 861-year-old cathedral for the reopening ceremony, Trump enjoyed front-and-center seating between Macron and his wife, Brigitte…

“German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and King Philippe of Belgium flashed wide grins as they shook hands with the once-and-future president, as did Britain’s Prince William, who met with Trump afterward for one-on-one talks at the British ambassador’s residence in Paris… First Lady Jill Biden, who attended the weekend’s festivities in her husband’s stead and was seated next to their daughter, Ashley, appeared visibly uncomfortable just one spot over from Trump…”

Justin Trudeau had visited Trump in Florida to “kiss the king’s ring.” Trump is being recognized as a powerful leader who is respected and feared at the same time.

Trump Reveals His Plans

NBC News wrote on December 8:

“President-elect Donald Trump vowed to make immediate and sweeping changes after he takes office on Jan. 20, such as pardons for those convicted in the attack on the U.S. Capitol…

“In an interview with Kristen Welker, moderator of NBC News’ ‘Meet the Press,’… Trump said he would fulfill a campaign promise to levy tariffs on imports from America’s biggest trading partners. In a noteworthy moment, he conceded uncertainty when Welker asked if he could ‘guarantee American families won’t pay more’ as a result of his plan. ‘I can’t guarantee anything,’ Trump said. ‘I can’t guarantee tomorrow.’

“Trump also said he will not raise the age for government programs like Social Security and Medicare and will not make cuts to them as part of spending reduction efforts led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy…

“He would not concede that he lost the 2020 election. Asked how, in his view, Democrats stole that election but not this one even though they control the White House, Trump said, ‘Because I think it was too big to rig.’… Trump made clear he believes he’s been wronged, but he also [said] he will not appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Biden…  Yet he also singled out people he believes crossed the line in investigating his actions, calling special counsel Jack Smith ‘very corrupt.’

“Members of the House committee that examined the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol were ‘political thugs and, you know, creeps,’ committing offenses in going about their work, he said. ‘For what they did, honestly, they should go to jail,’ Trump said… If Biden wants to do it, he could pardon the committee members, Trump said, ‘and maybe he should.’…

“Immigration was the centerpiece of Trump’s campaign, and he didn’t flinch in saying he will carry out mass deportation of those who are living in the country illegally. First will be convicted criminals, he said. Pressed on whether the targets would go beyond that group… Asked about families with mixed immigration status, where some are in the U.S. legally and some illegally, Trump said, ‘I don’t want to be breaking up families, so the only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back.’… ‘But we’re starting with the criminals, and we’ve got to do it. And then we’re starting with the others, and we’re going to see how it goes.’

“An exception might be the ‘Dreamers’ — people who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children and have lived here for years. He voiced openness toward a legislative solution that would allow them to remain in the country… He also said he intends to eliminate birthright citizenship, the protection enshrined in the 14th Amendment that guarantees citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil regardless of their parents. Asked about the likelihood that doing so unilaterally would face legal opposition, Trump said he would consider amending the Constitution…

“Trump said he is actively trying to end the war, ‘if I can,’ adding that Ukraine can ‘possibly’ expect it won’t get as much military aid from the U.S. when he’s back in office. He would not commit to keeping the U.S. in NATO… ‘If they pay their bills, absolutely,’ he would preserve America’s role in the alliance, he said….”

Some of his ideas are pretty good, other plans are pretty bad.

Hero and Villain

On December 10, The New York Post published the following article by Piers Morgan:

“I cheered when I heard that Marine veteran Daniel Penny had been found not guilty. And I felt shocked and saddened when I saw the footage of  UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson being executed in the middle of Manhattan. Those two reactions would surely be the correct and appropriate ones for anyone with an ounce of fairness and humanity in their heart.

“Penny risked his own safety on the crime-ravaged New York subway to prevent a dangerous, mentally ill, homeless man with a lengthy rap sheet of violence from carrying out his ranting threat to kill someone. For six minutes [or less], he kept the man, Jordan Neely, in a restraining chokehold as he waited for the police to arrive, alternating between applying pressure and not, a tactic he’d learned in the military to subdue people. Why did Penny do this? Because he saw the frightened faces of nearby women and children and wanted to protect them… It was a tragic accident that Neely — who was high on drugs at the time — ended up dying, but that was a direct consequence of his own menacing actions… [a forensic pathologist said Mr Neely could have died from other contributing factors.]

“Yet with pathetic predictability, there was an immediate campaign by left-wing activists to frame this as a racially motivated crime akin to the murder of George Floyd despite there being zero evidence to support this theory and no comparison in the circumstances of the two incidents. Race-baiting charlatan Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez shamefully posted on X: ‘Jordan Neely was murdered.’ Others branded Penny a ‘white supremacist’ without producing anything to back up such an appalling slur. Walter ‘Hawk’ Newsome, the founder of Black Lives Matter in New York, said anyone who thought Penny was innocent had ‘racism in their heart,’ and that ‘the KKK got another victory.’

“Newsome was at it again after the verdict, appearing outside court to shriek, ‘We need some black vigilantes. People want to jump up and choke us and kill us for being loud, how about we do the same when they attempt to oppress us.’… Why has he not been arrested himself for such brazen incitement to deadly violence?

“If the Left’s hateful conduct over this was bad enough, consider the very different way they responded to the disgusting, cold-blooded murder of Brian Thompson. Many openly celebrated, led by liberal journalist Taylor Lorenz, who worked until recently for the New York Times and Washington Post, and who posted: ‘And people wonder why we want these executives dead.’ She later commented ‘I am not alone’ on another X post saying, ‘Healthcare Executive Down’ adorned with party balloons…

“The reaction to the two deaths has been very illuminating about the woke left’s shocking double standards and warped, hypocritical morality…”

Scholz to Request Vote of Confidence

Deutsche Welle wrote on December 11:

“German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday formally applied for a vote of confidence in his government. This is the first step on the road to span elections scheduled for February (23)..

“Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, is scheduled to vote on the motion of the 16th of December. It is largely considered a formality, as opposition lawmakers outnumber those in Scholz’s minority government. The chancellor will then ask President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for approval to dissolve parliament, starting the clock on the 60-day time limit to hold new elections.”

The Many Faces of Santa Claus

Deutsche Welle wrote on December 5:

“Few historical facts… are… known today, so their life stories have been fused together over the centuries, creating famous Saint Nicholas legends… The feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated on December 6… That displeased the famous 16th-century reformer, Martin Luther, who had fallen out with the Catholic Church and thus with almost half the world. He objected to the Catholic worship of saints and wanted to link the Christian bringer of gifts to Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. He wanted to direct people’s interest, especially that of children, away from the countless figures of saints and towards Jesus Christ. And so he replaced Saint Nicholas with Christ as the bringer of gifts, which was quickly accepted in Protestant areas.

“Since the Reformation, the ‘Christkind’ (Christ Child) has brought Christmas presents in Germany, usually on Christmas Eve, December 24, or a day later, on Christmas Day. But the custom of Nicholas placing presents in boots on the eve of December 6 did not die out either…

“In the 16th century, the benevolent Saint Nicholas was joined by a rather malicious antagonist. He was called ‘Knecht Ruprecht’ or ‘Krampus’ in southern Germany… Elsewhere, it has been replaced by Santa Claus, a figure whose origin story is a mixture of the legend of Saint Nicholas, the fairy tale of Father Frost…

“In Eastern European countries and as far afield as Mongolia, people talk of Papa Winter or Father Frost. That figure goes back to a winter wizard from Slavic mythology and is very similar to Santa Claus in its depictions. He is the personification of winter…

“The contemporary Scandinavian version of Santa Claus has various origins, generally predating Christianization, when people celebrated midwinter, called Yule. There is the figure of an old man with a fur cape, hood and beard, who travels through the countryside on a reindeer sleigh and distributes nuts to help people survive the harsh winter. Legend has it that he is a descendant of Odin, the most powerful Norse god.

“In Norway and Sweden, there is a story about a house spirit (‘Tomte’) who watched over the house and yard, but only if he was given enough food. Today, it is the Jultomte or Julenissen who brings presents on Christmas Eve — in exchange for food, of course.”

It’s all pagan and demonic to the core.

If Austria’s Bad Example Were to Set a Precedent…

The Kronenzeitung wrote on December 3:

“Customs and Christian traditions are now anchored in the education plan for the little ones in Lower Austria – cancellations of festivals should therefore be taboo in the future! ‘If you want to live here, you have to respect our values ​​and traditions.’ State Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner sets a clear line after debates about moon bear festivals instead of St. Martin’s Day and crossings in classrooms and hospital rooms. That’s why Nikolaus & Co. are now included in the educational plan for kindergartens. Similar to the school curriculum, guidelines are given as to what content must be taught to the children.

“This is also welcomed by experts. ‘Festivals convey values ​​and a feeling of belonging,’ emphasizes educator Christina Steinböck from Asperhofen in the St. Pölten district. However, due to misunderstood tolerance towards other cultures, children are denied the opportunity to get to know the values ​​that we uphold.

“The ÖVP has a broad majority behind it on this measure. This is confirmed by opinion researcher Christoph Haselmayer, whose IFDD has found that 90 percent of the population in Lower Austria think it is right to celebrate Christmas, Easter, St. Nicholas and St. Martin’s Day in kindergartens. More than two thirds also support that crosses should be present in public buildings as a cultural symbol.

“With so much connection to tradition, the coalition partner obviously doesn’t want to be left behind. The Freedom Party tends to warm up to Krampus: ‘This is an old custom from the Eastern Alpine region,’ says State Vice President Udo Landbauer, emphasizing that Nikolaus’s shaggy companion should not be banned from kindergartens and schools either.”

Krampus—a symbolic figure for Satan. There are all kinds of worrying things on the horizon… It was also reported that if you refuse to take part in St. Nicholas celebrations in kindergarten, you could face a fine of up to 2500 euros…

OE24 wrote on December 3:

“In addition, the state leader once again called for harsher penalties from the incoming federal government for parents of families unwilling to integrate. The fines should therefore be increased from the current maximum of 440 euros to 2,500 euros. ‘By anchoring the traditions in the Lower Austrian education plan for kindergartens and with our demand for harsher punishments for those who refuse to integrate in schools, we are sending an unmistakable signal: Anyone who wants to live here, anyone who wants to raise their children here, must accept and respect our values, traditions and rules,’ says Mikl-Leitner.”

Frightening indeed… In Germany, they are talking about “Leitkultur.” But as we asked in our last edition, what does this mean? Is the celebration of Christmas, Easter or Sunday part of the German Leitkultur concept? What about the abrogation of the Sabbath and God’s annual Holy Days? What about supporting and fighting in war? A potentially dangerous concept indeed. 

California School Shooter’s Demonic Motives

The Algemeiner wrote on December 6:

“A gunman who shot and wounded two kindergarten students at a private school in northern California on Wednesday left behind a note revealing the shooting was motivated by his opposition to ‘America’s involvement with genocide and oppression of Palestinians.’

“The shooter… [Litton] opened fire in the playground of the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists in the town of Oroville, injuring two children. Roman Mendez, 6, and Elias Wolford, 5, are in critical condition and will likely need surgery, according to police. Litton was pronounced dead at the Oroville school shortly after the shooting. Authorities said the cause of death was most likely a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“On Thursday, law enforcement said that Litton had a long criminal history and suffered from mental health issues. Police also revealed disturbing writings believed to be from Litton which provided insight into the shooter’s motives. One note indicated that opposition to US support for Israel’s defensive military operations against the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in Gaza was a motivation for the shooting. ‘Countermeasure involving child executions has now been imposed at the Seventh Day Adventist school in California, United States by The International Alliance,’ the note read…

“Litton reportedly gained access to the Feather River’s campus by securing a meeting with its principal to discuss enrolling a nonexistent grandson. He used a fake name. Having avoided arousing suspicion, Litton followed the meeting by walking to the playground, where he opened fire…”

He might have been suffering from “mental health issues,” but he was clearly influenced by demons. And it is interesting that demons motivated this sick individual to attack a Sabbath-keeping school and tried to kill young children, and that he was influenced by the demonic antisemitic and violent pro-Palestinian propaganda in the US.

The Corona Scam 

Focus wrote on December 5:

“The corona pandemic has scourged the entire world. Many people are still feeling the aftermath of this difficult time today. A US committee has spent two years extensively examining the pandemic and the countermeasures. The results now presented are devastating…

“The Subcommittee finds that Covid-19 ‘most likely’ arose from a laboratory accident during gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China… 

“The 2 meter distance recommendation that has led to school and small business closures across the country was arbitrary and not scientifically based…

“There was no convincing evidence that masks effectively protected Americans from coronavirus…

“Extended lockdowns caused enormous damage not only to the US economy, but also to the mental and physical health of Americans, especially younger citizens…

“Health officials have often spread misinformation through conflicting messages, knee-jerk reactions and a lack of transparency…

“Contrary to what was promised, the vaccine did not stop the spread or transmission of the virus…The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rushed approval of the Covid-19 vaccine to meet the timeline arbitrarily set by the Biden administration. Two top FDA scientists warned their colleagues about the dangers… as well as the likelihood of side effects. However, they were ignored and a few days later the Biden administration ordered the vaccine.

“…vaccination requirements… have done more harm than good. The Biden administration has coerced healthy Americans into complying with Covid-19 vaccination mandates that trampled on individual freedom, hampered military readiness and disregarded medical freedom in order to force a new vaccine on millions of Americans – without enough evidence for their political decisions.

“The government is failing to assess vaccine claims in an efficient, fair and transparent manner…”

To be fair, both the Trump and the Biden administrations are guilty of having severely violated individual freedoms of American citizens by spreading false information and irresponsible political propaganda, inspired by the likes of Dr. Fauci and Big Pharma. 

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.

In the first part of this two-part series, we looked at some of the superstitions that are commonplace in society today.   Let us continue in reviewing this practice.

We read the following at gotquestions.org: “There are many types of superstitions in the world, ranging from the benign—such as not walking under a ladder—to the occult practices of astrology, black magic, divination, voodoo and sorcery. Scripture condemns those who practice astrology (Deuteronomy 4:19), magic, divination and sorcery (2 Kings 21:6; Isaiah 2:6). Idolatry is also forbidden, and no one who practices it will enter the Kingdom of God (Revelation 21:27). These types of practices are extremely dangerous because they open the minds of the practitioners to the influence of the devil.”

On the bible-dictionary.info, we read about superstition:

“An irrational belief or fear that an object or other factor has the power to affect a person’s life with some action bringing bad luck or occasionally good luck. There is no Christian, rational or scientific basis for such behaviour as putting confidence in a lucky charm or doing something to gain protection from misfortune or to bring good luck. God causes or allows everything in keeping with His divine plan (Isaiah 46:9-11; Acts 4:26-28; Ephesians 1:9, 10). 

“Any unbiblical, irrational fear or ritual falls into the realm of superstition with some things what is often termed just a coincidence (1 Samuel 5:4,5; 1 Kings 20:23; Acts 28:3-6).

“However, the Bible says that God’s purposes will prevail and that He is in control of even the most random event (Proverbs 19:21).

“Superstitions range from not walking under a ladder, through astrology, black magic and divination, to voodoo and sorcery. These types of practices are forbidden in Scripture (Deuteronomy 18:10-12;  2 Kings 21:6; Isaiah 2:6). The Bible warns against being taken captive by deceptive philosophies, which are based on human traditions, rather than on Christ; instead we should be alert to the enemies’ tactics as these practices open the mind of the practitioners to the influence of evil (Colossians 2:8-10; 1 Timothy 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8). We are not to give credence or pay attention to superstitions; instead God’s laws, plans and help should be our focus.”

Let us review those Scriptures mentioned above:

Deuteronomy 18:10-12: “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.  For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you.”

The Benson Commentary observes as follows (we quote just a few comments from many that are made):

“That maketh his son or daughter pass through the fire — By a superstitious dedicating, or a cruel sacrificing of them, see on Leviticus 18:2.  That useth divination — Of which there were many sorts, as is implied in the original expressions here: קסם קסמים, kosem kesamim, divining divinations, or with divinations. The meaning undoubtedly is, That seeketh to know or foretel things secret, or to come, by unlawful arts and practices. An observer of times — Superstitiously pronouncing some days lucky and others unlucky: or, an observer of the clouds, or heavens; 

“An enchanter — Or a conjecturer, that endeavours, or pretends, to discover hidden things by a superstitious use of words or ceremonies, by observation of water or smoke, or tiny contingencies.”

2 Kings 21:6: “Also he made his son pass through the fire, practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft, and consulted spiritists and mediums. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger.”

Pretty much the same condemnation as in the previous observations on Deuteronomy 18:10-12.

Isaiah 2:6: “For You have forsaken Your people, the house of Jacob, Because they are filled with eastern ways; They are soothsayers like the Philistines, And they are pleased with the children of foreigners.”

The ways that God taught them were being cast aside for pagan gods.

In 1 Timothy 4:7 we read: “But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.”

Here is an instruction to reject old wives’ fables – the word fable was “muthos”, from which the English words “myth” and “mythology” originate.   Young’s Analytical Concordance of the Bible also describes it as talk, tale or legend.

And 1 Peter 5:8 tells us where all of the wrong words and action emanate from: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

We read on the byjus.com website: “Superstitions are a universal phenomena having their own peculiar place in the cultural ethos and milieu of a people. They epitomize man’s fear of the unknown, fear of evil, blind faith in omens and portents. Superstitions are interwoven with myth, legend, unnatural phenomena and disaster, customs and traditions, and are mainly the outcome of ignorance. They are unreasonable and irrational beliefs that gradually become matters of faith. When certain things and happenings are rationally inexplicable people tend to assign mysterious and supernatural reasons for their operation. Thus a natural disaster is explained in terms of God’s wrath and the failure of one’s project is assigned to the black cat which crossed the path just as one set out on the errand.”

There are many references in the Word of God which clearly condemn the occult, magic, sorcery, witchcraft, astrology and idolatry from where much of superstitious ways emanate from.  It could be said that some of these actions are harmless like for example, crossing fingers, touching wood and throwing salt over your shoulder.   However, they are not harmless in God’s eyes, and a mindset can develop that can regularly involve such actions that progress on to matters of a more sinister nature and can be part of a way of life.

God has given us many warnings against superstition, idolatry, divination, (the art or act of foretelling future events or revealing occult knowledge by means of augury or an alleged supernatural agency), astrology, consulting horoscopes, witchcraft and sorcery (use of supernatural power over others through the assistance of spirits; witchcraft.).  

There are psychics and mediums today who flourish and thrive at the expense of those who are drawn into their web of deceit.   These are not the signs of a sound mind.

Let us look at a few Scriptures to show how important it is to have a sound mind.

In Isaiah 26:3, we read the following:  “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.”   Trusting in God is clear evidence of a right mind which is hugely beneficial in the here and now and essential for life in the eternal Kingdom of God.

Romans 12:1-2 reads:  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 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.”

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary observes: “He (Paul) entreated the Romans, as his brethren in Christ, by the mercies of God, to present their bodies as a living sacrifice to Him. This is a powerful appeal. We receive from the Lord every day the fruits of his mercy. Let us render ourselves; all we are, all we have, all we can do: and after all, what return is it for such very rich receivings? The great enemy to this renewal is, conformity to this world. Take heed of forming plans for happiness, as though it lay in the things of this world, which soon pass away. Do not fall in with the customs of those who walk in the lusts of the flesh, and mind earthly things. The work of the Holy (Spirit) first begins in the understanding, and is carried on to the will, affections, and conversation, till there is a change of the whole man into the likeness of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. Thus, to be godly, is to give up ourselves to God.”

As the people of God, we have to come out of this world and its ways, and replace them with getting, and staying close to God, and His ways.   Anything less will simply not do.

Reviewing 1 Corinthians 2:16 is instructive.  “For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”  

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers puts it well: 

“‘For’—This is the proof that the enlightened spiritual man cannot be judged by any one who is not thus enlightened. ‘Who (thus uninstructed) can know the mind of the Lord Jesus, that he may instruct Him?’; But we.—That is, spiritual men, including the Apostles. The Apostle here identifies Christ with the Spirit, whom he has previously spoken of as the Teacher of spiritual things. He does not mean to assert that the Apostles knew all that the mind of Christ knew, but that all things which they did know were from Him and spiritual (John 15:15).”

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

connectusfund.org comments: “God’s peace is not like the peace of the world. The world’s peace is based on the world’s thinking, which is the thinking of Satan. The world’s peace is circumstantial and depends on comparisons. The world’s peace is fleeting. Here one moment, gone the next. One of Satan’s tricks towards man is to whisper foreboding forecasts and to lie about the meaning of the present situation in order to get you to forget the truth that you know and believe. God’s peace, when it comes, overshadows and drives away the anxiety of the world.” 

Further instruction is given in Colossians 3:2: “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”   We can become too involved in earthly matters that our spiritual life, and future, can be relegated in our list of priorities until we realise that that is not the Way of God.

Finally, let us look at 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”   

This verse promises us that if we are led by the Holy Spirit which we receive at proper baptism and the laying on of hands, we can have a spiritually sound mind.  We read in John 16:13 that the Holy Spirit is vitally important because by it we can be guided into the Truth of God.   That is where our emphasis must be, not on any superstition which has no value at all, but on the Truth that God has revealed to us and which will lead us along the right path towards being in the Kingdom of God when Jesus Christ returns to this earth.

Superstition in all its many forms can sidetrack us, to divert from a main issue or course, which is our calling from God.   A review of whether we have fallen prey to superstition in one way or another, however small that may be, could be worthy of our time.  If we have, without realising it, then corrective action can be taken.   Something as simple as crossing our fingers or knocking on wood might seem, at first glance, a minor matter but they remove what should be our total reliance on our great Creator God.

Please also see our four-part series, entitled “How do you view paganism today, and exactly what is it?”, and our Q&A, titled, “How can Satan and his demons appear to you?”

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“Syria’s Terrible Future,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

The civil war in Syria has never stopped. But most recent events stunned the world. What happened, why, and what is Syria’s future? Many celebrate most current developments, but their celebration might be terribly premature.

“Syriens schreckliche Zukunft,” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This program covers the same topic as described above in English.

The memorial service for Margaret Adair will take place on Sunday, December 15, 2024. It will begin promptly at 12:45pm at Escondido Columbus Club Hall, 515 W. Valley Pkwy, Escondido CA 92025. Please contact Johanna.Link@cox.net if you want to attend.

“Die wahre Liebe,” last Sabbath’s first split-sermon in Germany was presented by Christoph Sperzel and is now posted. Title in English: “True Love.”

“Sei ein Tempel,” last Sabbath’s second split-sermon in Germany was presented by Thilo Hanstein and is now posted. Title in English: “Be a Temple.”

“Reading Right Over Things,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Brian Gale, is now posted. Here is the summary:

It is much more beneficial to our spiritual well-being if we read, think through, and understand the Scriptures we are reading which is obvious, but can be forgotten or neglected.   In addition, using a number of assorted Bible aids we will really profit from greater understanding and all the effort will be very worthwhile.

“Salvation of the World,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Did Christ come to save this world? Or are we talking about a completely different world? Didn’t Christ call us out of this evil world? Is this world being judged today? And if not, when will this be the case? Could this be related to the resurrections? And why does the Bible speak of the resurrection of the just and of the unjust, as well as the resurrection to everlasting life, to judgment and to everlasting contempt or condemnation?

On December 7, 2024, Brian Gale will present the sermonette, titled, “Reading Right Over Things”, and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “Salvation of the World.”

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.

When God created Adam and Eve, He placed them in a beautiful garden with many different trees. Two of them were special—the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God told them that they could eat from every tree—this would have included the tree of life—but not from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He was very specific: He said that if you eat from that tree, you will surely die.

Of course, Adam and Eve disobeyed, ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and were driven out of the garden. They had NOT eaten from the tree of life, and God prevented them now from doing so, lest they “eat, and live forever” (Genesis 3:22).

We have long understood that the tree of life—even though a literal tree—was also symbolic for the gift of the Holy Spirit. If they had eaten from the tree of life, they would have received the Holy Spirit and, after a life of overcoming sin, they would have been able to inherit eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Now, they were cut off from access to the Holy Spirit, and that included all their descendants, with a few exceptions, until the time when Christ will open up the possibility of salvation for everyone, beginning with His Second Coming.

As the tree of life was symbolic for the Holy Spirit, it included the right kind of knowledge—godly knowledge—which God would have revealed to them upon eating from the tree of life. In eating instead from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they rejected godly knowledge and rather embraced humanly devised and satanically inspired knowledge—the “knowledge” of what they felt was good and evil.

For instance, before they had eaten from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they were not ashamed that they were naked (Genesis 2:25)—of course, they were married and the only human beings at the time. But after eating from it, they became ashamed and covered themselves because they were “afraid” (Genesis 3:7, 10). They had chosen to use human wisdom and to decide for themselves what, in their eyes, was good and what was evil (compare Isaiah 5:20-21).

They created a world of Satanic deception—a world being cut off from God the Father. It was and is a world built on sand which cannot and will not endure. The other house—the spiritual temple of Jesus Christ – is built on the rock and will stand forever. However, there cannot be a mixture of the two. As true Christians, being in the Body of Christ, we cannot also be a part of and dwell in the Babylonian house of this world. But not everyone who might be attending a Church of God congregation, is truly righteous and embracing the knowledge of God. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:34: “Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.”

In this world, there is no “truth or mercy or knowledge of God” (Hosea 4:1). God will make the “knowledge“ of the wise men foolishness (Isaiah 44:25). We read that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of (true) knowledge (Proverbs 1:7), but in regard to the people of this world, “there is no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans 3:18).

They still eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil on a DAILY basis; thereby following the knowledge and wisdom of Satan and rejecting the good knowledge of God. That is why we have wars, destruction, misery, cursing, bitterness, unrighteousness, lawlessness, adultery, alternate lifestyles and false religions all around us. That is why no one knows the good way to peace (“knowing” instead that peace must be brought about through war), and no one seeks the true God. No one—except the firstfruits—those very few converted Christians in the Body of Christ. But they, too, must come out of this evil and Satanic world (Revelation 18:4). They must be separate (2 Corinthians 6:17-18). They must continuously eat from the tree of life – which gives us godly wisdom and true understanding (Proverbs 3:18). With it, we can be righteous and a tree of life to others (Proverbs 11:30)—a source of encouragement, help and comfort (Proverbs 15:4; 13:12).

We, who have been eating from the tree of life, must be shining examples (Philippians 2:15) to show what it means to reject eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We must not add to or delete from the Word of God (Revelation 22:18-19; New International Version). We must make sure that we grow in the knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3:18; compare Ephesians 4:13,15), and that we “do His commandments,” so that we never lose our “right to the tree of life” (Revelation 22:14).

We begin with Australia’s highly controversial and ill-conceived plan to ban children under 16 from social media.

We address Trump’s intent to nominate Kash Patel as FBI Director and Joe Biden’s controversial move to pardon his son Hunter.

We speak on Germany’s “new vision”; the country’s and Europe’s preparation for war; and the German main parties fight for leadership, while attacking each other. We also address the collapsing government of France and France’s refusal to arrest Netanyahu.

We speak on Pope Francis’ departure from traditional Catholicism; the false depictions of Jesus Christ [please view our new StandingWatch program, “What Jesus REALLY Looked Like”]; contemplations on how to end the Ukraine war; Trump’s demand to free the hostages in Gaza; the ongoing war in Syria; and the crisis in South Korea.

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

Australia Wants to Ban Children Under 16 From Social Media

The Guardian wrote on November 28:

“On Thursday, parliament’s upper house, the Senate, passed a bill by 34 votes to 19 banning children under 16 from social media platforms.  But academics, politicians and advocacy groups have warned that the ban – as envisioned by the government – could backfire, driving teenagers to the dark web, or making them feel more isolated… Many worry that the process has been too rushed, and that, if users are asked to prove their age, it could lead to social media companies being handed valuable personal data. Even Elon Musk has weighed in. [‘Seems like a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians.’]

“The [law] bans social media platforms from allowing users under 16 to access their services, threatening companies with fines of up to AU$50m (US$32m) if they fail to comply. However, it contains no details about how it will work, only that the companies will be expected to take reasonable steps to ensure users are aged 16 or over. The detail will come later, through the completion of a trial of age-assurance technology in mid-2025. The bill won’t come into force for another 12 months.

“The bill also does not specify to which companies the legislation would apply, though communications minister Michelle Rowland has said that Snapchat, TikTok, X, Instagram, Reddit and Facebook are likely to be part of the ban. YouTube will not be included because of its ‘significant’ educational purpose, she said.”

Big Brother is up and running…

Trump to Nominate Kash Patel as FBI Director

The Huffington Post wrote on December 1:

“Patel is likely to face deep skepticism during his confirmation hearings over… his claims that he would shut down the FBI’s Pennsylvania Avenue headquarters in the nation’s capital and send the thousands of employees who work there to ‘chase down criminals’ across the country…

“He’s talked about trying to rid the government of ‘conspirators’ against Trump and of going ‘after the people in the media who lied about American citizens who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections,’ whether criminally or civilly.”

This would be very interesting…

Trump’s Nominations

 Daily Mail wrote on December 4;

 “Trump’s pick to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration has withdrawn from consideration after MAGA outrage. Chad Chronister, the Sheriff of Hillborough County, Florida, sparked controversy for ordering the arrest of a pastor for holding church services in the height of the COVID pandemic. MAGA ally Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who was leading the charge to get him to step aside, said he simply ‘lost his mind.’ …

 “Conservative Liz Wheeler called him a ‘COVID tyrant’ who ‘abused his power and is unfit to lead the DEA’ and urged him to withdraw.”

 That Trump even nominated such a man is of great concern.

Joe Biden Pardons Hunter… A Story of Lies and Deceit

Deutsche Welle wrote on December 1:

“Joe Biden has pardoned his son Hunter after he was convicted on gun and tax-related federal charges, amid earlier promises against such a move. The pardon spares Hunter a possible prison sentence related to federal felony gun and tax convictions… Biden called his son’s conviction ‘a miscarriage of justice.’…  In June, Biden ruled out a pardon or clemency for Hunter in an ABC News interview. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre doubled down on the promise as recently as November 8. ‘We’ve been asked that question multiple times. Our answer stands, which is no,’ she had said…

“Republican President elect Trump… described Biden’s decision as an ‘abuse and miscarriage of justice.’ ‘Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years?’ Trump said on his Truth Social platform, referring to rioters who were imprisoned after storming the US Capitol on January 6, 2021…

“‘Joe Biden is a liar and a hypocrite, all the way to the end,’ said Congresswoman Marjorie Taylore Greene on X… Congressman Andy Biggs said Biden would ‘go down as one of the most corrupt presidents in American history… Criticism even came from some of Biden’s own Democratic Party, such as Colorado Governor Jared Polis…”

California Governor Newsom wrote on December 3: “With everything the president and his family have been through, I completely understand the instinct to protect Hunter. But I took the president at his word. So by definition, I’m disappointed and can’t support the decision.”

Elon Musk has been one of the strongest critics so far.

NBC News added on December 1:

“The president issued a ‘full and unconditional pardon’ for any offenses Hunter Biden has ‘committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024,’ according to the White House statement…

“The president has discussed pardoning his son with some of his closest aides at least since Hunter Biden’s conviction in June… it was decided at the time that he would publicly say he would not pardon his son even though doing so remained on the table…”

So this was carefully planned, and the American people were intentionally lied to…

The New York Post wrote on December 1:

“We always knew Joe Biden would pardon his troubled son Hunter, no matter how many times he promised he wouldn’t….  the president explained away all his lies to the American people by lying about his lying: ‘For my entire career I have followed a simple principle: just tell the American people the truth.’… Nobody believes the word of a Biden.”

Politico wrote on December 2:

“[Biden’s pardon] insulates his son from ever facing federal charges over any crimes he possibly could have committed over the past decade. Experts on pardons said they could think of only one other person who has received a presidential pardon so sweeping in generations: Nixon, who was given a blanket pardon by Gerald Ford in 1974…

“Conservative commentators have engaged in… speculation that Hunter Biden could be charged with bribery, illegal lobbying or other crimes stemming from his foreign business activities… Trump will not be able to undo the pardon when he takes office. And its sweeping nature means the Trump Justice Department will not be able to reopen the long-running criminal probe of the president’s son…”

Even CNN admitted that Biden tarnished his legacy with his pardon of Hunter [even though Joe Biden’s legacy has long been “tarnished”]. CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig said: “… he lied to us for a long time. He said categorically, ‘I will not pardon my son.’” The Hill provided a list of times Joe Biden and his aides decisively answered “no” after being asked whether a pardon for Hunter was being considered. The Hill listed 10 occasions. Ten is the number of judgment in the Bible, suggesting that God will judge him and his aides for their repeated lies.

Germany’s New “Vision”

The Telegraph wrote on November 29:

“Germany will promote the inherent value of its ‘dominant culture’ and make migrants assimilate, an MP from the country’s government-in-waiting has said. In a clear shift from the Angela Merkel era, the centre-right Christian Democrats Union (CDU) has made the concept of ‘Leitkultur’ a key pillar of its manifesto ahead of snap elections in February… Leitkultur [is] fundamentally the principle that foreigners should adopt German cultural values and not vice versa…

“The phrase ‘Leitkultur’ was popularised by Friedrich Merz, the CDU leader, in a newspaper article 20 years ago in which he said that ‘immigrants who want to live here permanently must adapt to an established liberal German dominant culture’… At the time the concept caused friction in the CDU with many MPs calling it divisive and populist. Mrs Merkel, an arch-rival of Mr Merz, cut the phrase out of party debate and policymaking after she ousted him from the party leadership in 2002.

“German academics have puzzled over the phrase for years as it claims to define the elusive characteristics that bind German society together. CDU party officials stress it is not simply about beer gardens, pretzels and other German cultural habits, but ‘the basic values of our society’ and ‘what unites us’…

“Germany will start turning non-European refugees away from its border if the CDU wins the next election, due to ‘our special duty’ towards Ukraine… On the issue of support for Ukraine, the CDU has adopted a more hawkish stance than Chancellor Scholz. Mr Merz has said he is in favour of sending long-range German Taurus missiles to Kyiv if Vladimir Putin keeps bombing civilian areas… Under Mr Merz, the CDU has shifted further to the right in response to a major increase in irregular migration to Germany following the pandemic.”

What does this mean? Is the celebration of Christmas, Easter or Sunday part of the Leitkultur concept? What about the abrogation of the Sabbath and God’s annual Holy Days? What about supporting and fighting in war? A potentially dangerous concept indeed.

What Germany’s AfD Wants…

Bild wrote on November 30:

“The Saxon AfD is entering the federal election campaign with its co-federal chairman Tino Chrupalla… Merz is ‘more harmful than Merkel and Scholz’ and ‘a representative of foreign interests’ who wants to deliver Taurus to Ukraine. ‘This escalation with a nuclear power is just crazy. Whoever votes for Merz wants war,’ said Chrupalla.

“Instead, the AfD will implement what Merz is currently only promising: secure borders, reject [immigrants]. ‘We’re repairing Nordstream and with us, gas prices will be 5 cents again.’…

“Even before his speech there was standing applause for the honorary chairman of the AfD, Alexander Gauland… Gauland then took aim at the CDU. ‘It’s clear who we have to fight. It’s Mr. Merz’s CDU…‘“

The Westen wrote on December 1:

“Restrictions on abortion and withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement – ​​these are just some of the demands that the AfD lists in its draft program for the federal election in February. The euro should also be under attack. Regarding the currency, the paper says that Germany must ‘end the wrong path of permanent rescue by reintroducing a national currency’. The party continues: ‘We consider Germany’s exit from the European Union and the establishment of a new European community to be necessary’… If necessary, the euro should be able to be retained parallel with a national currency.

“A further point of the AfD, according to its basic program, is the reinstatement of compulsory military service for all young men between the ages of 18 and 25. But so that anti-militarist Eastern voters are not lost to the BSW [a popular left party], the party is now making concessions in its election program… The demand for a return to compulsory military service should suddenly be deleted from the program for the 2025 federal election.”

The euro will not end, but compulsory military service might very well be reintroduced. The concept of creating a new European community (perhaps consisting of ten nations or groups of nations?) is very interesting. Accusations against “war-monger” Merz are not only coming from the AfD. Note the next article.

Fear of War or Russian Roulette?

BR 24 wrote on December 1:

“Union Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz has accused the SPD and Chancellor Olaf Scholz of deliberately stoking fear of war in the Ukraine debate. ‘The mobilization of fear of war is the DNA of the SPD,’ wrote the CDU chairman…

“Merz wants to give the ‘nuclear power Russia’ an ultimatum with a view to possible deliveries of the Taurus cruise missile, said Scholz at a party conference in Berlin. ‘All I can say is, be careful: You don’t play Russian roulette with Germany’s security. When it comes to questions of war and peace, you need a cool head…’

“The Greens are also distancing themselves from Scholz’s Ukraine course.”

In addition, the CDU is now attacking the Green Party under Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck. Note the next article.

Spahn Wants Legal Changes in the Climate Sector

Focus wrote on November 29th:

“At an event organized by the heat pump industry, Union parliamentary group vice-president Jens Spahn confirmed that his party wants to withdraw the heating law and significantly reduce heating subsidies. Instead of relying solely on heat pumps, he advocates ‘green oil’. This is causing considerable uncertainty in the industry… Jens Spahn… explained with regard to the new traffic light rules: ‘There is no planning security for nonsense… The path of the last two years has no acceptance’… That’s why it’s necessary to ‘abolish the heating law à la Habeck’.

“In addition, Spahn announced cuts in financial support for climate-friendly heating… Ultimately, the support should be abolished completely, said the former health minister, who would also like to take over a ministry again in the next government… ‘The argument that we have to leave things as they are now because we need planning security doesn’t work for us,’ he said. Because the Union said from the beginning that it considered the change in the law to be wrong…

“Experts, however, consider Spahn’s proposal to make oil heating systems more climate-friendly in the future through the use of ‘green oil’ to be unrealistic because such fuels, which are made from plants or produced synthetically using green electricity, will be both scarce and expensive.

“At least one of Spahn’s demands met with unanimous approval from industry representatives, namely to reduce electricity prices by reducing electricity taxes and network fees…

Despite his lack of popularity, Spahn is someone to watch out for.

Germany and the Nordic Countries Prepare for Possible War

The Guardian wrote on November 29:

“Germany is developing an app to help people locate the nearest bunker in the event of attack. Sweden is distributing a 32-page pamphlet titled If Crisis or War Comes. Half a million Finns have already downloaded an emergency preparedness guide.

If the prospect of a broader conflict in Europe seems remote for many, some countries at least are taking it seriously – and, in the term used by Germany’s defence minister, Boris Pistorius, taking steps to get populations kriegstuechtig—war-capable… ‘We live in uncertain times. Armed conflicts are currently being waged in our corner of the world. Terrorism, cyber-attacks, and disinformation campaigns are being used to undermine and influence us,’ the Swedish pamphlet’s prologue says… it adds that collective resilience is essential and if Sweden is attacked, ‘everyone must do their part to defend Sweden’s independence – and our democracy … you are part of Sweden’s overall emergency preparedness’…

“Norway’s directorate for civil protection, DSB, has distributed ta similar booklet to the country’s 2.6 million households…  The Norwegian pamphlet advises people, for example, to hold at least a week’s worth of non-perishable food including ‘crispbreads, canned pulses and beans, canned sandwich spreads, energy bars, dried fruit, chocolate, honey, biscuits and nuts’. Norway also advises residents to stock up on essential medicines – including iodine tablets, in case of a nuclear incident – and, like Sweden, recommends that people have several bank cards and keep a ready supply of cash at home.

“In Finland, an exhaustive online guide… offers residents information and advice on anything from water outages to wildfires, the collapse of the internet or ‘longer-term crises … such as military conflict’… Finland – which shares an 830-mile (1,340km) border with Russia – asks its citizens bluntly: ‘Would you survive 72 hours?’…

“Germany’s focus, meanwhile, is on ramping up the number of its bunkers and protective shelters after an official estimate that the nation of 84 million has fewer than 600 public shelters, together capable of holding just 480,000 people. Many cold war shelters have been dismantled owing to the belief they would no longer be needed, but Berlin has now launched a national bunker plan under the Federal Office for Population Protection…  Experts predict an attack by Russia may be a possibility within the next five years and the search is now on for any structure that could be used if such an event occurred, including metro stations and basements of public offices, schools and town halls. German households have been urged to adapt their own cellars, garages or store rooms, or excavate old bunkers, while housebuilders will be legally obliged to include safe shelters in new homes – as Poland has already done.”

The Diplomat in Spain added on November 27:

“Operation Deutschland is a strategic plan developed by Berlin to prepare the country for the possibility of a large-scale conflict in Europe… In this [1,000-pages long] report Germany describes how it could help mobilize up to 800,000 NATO troops, including Americans, to Ukraine if the situation with Russia escalates. It is a preemptive measure in the face of a possible major conflict, such as a World War III… Germany plans how to allow up to 200,000 military vehicles to pass through its territory…

“Recent preparedness measures in Europe for a possible war conflict coincide with repeated warnings from incoming U.S. President-elect Donald Trump about the possibility of a global conflict. On several occasions, Trump has pointed out that the international situation is at a critical point, with three key players – Russia, North Korea and Iran – actively engaging in confrontations affecting U.S. allies…

“Europe is preparing for a war, which… is worrying because an ‘accident’ or a ‘miscalculation’ in this show of force by the two sides that we are witnessing in the Ukrainian war could start an unstoppable escalation that could end with the use of a nuclear weapon…”

Germany’s fear of war will lead to the awakening of the somewhat sleeping German giant—but woe unto the world when this happens.

French Government Collapsed

Breitbart wrote on December 2:

“The neo-liberal French government is likely headed toward collapse this week after Marine Le Pen’s National Rally confirmed that it would join with the left on a motion of no confidence [against] Prime Minister Michel Barnier [after he] attempted to push through financial austerity measures through without a vote in the parliament…

“While the left has been attempting to overthrow the government for months, claiming that it was the winner of the election… this time they were joined by the Le Pen faction, nearly guaranteeing a no confidence measure will succeed….

“The move threatens to throw the French political and financial systems into utter chaos. With French President Macron constitutionally prohibited from calling for fresh legislative elections until June of next year, the Élysée Palace will have limited options should Barnier’s government fall.”

The Guardian added on December 2:

“If the no-confidence motion is carried on Wednesday, Barnier will be forced to offer his resignation [after only two and a half months], but he and his ministers could remain in a caretaker administration until Macron announces a new government… France has been heading towards this political crisis since Macron called a snap election in June that left parliament divided into three roughly equal political factions – left, centre and far right – but none of which has an absolute majority…”

The Sun wrote on December 5:

“FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron is clinging onto power after another damaging political blow saw his government left in disarray. His government collapsed last night after a historic vote of confidence was passed against Prime Minister Michel Bartnier in the National Assembly. Macron is now on the hunt for his sixth PM during his stint as president but it comes amid calls for him to ultimately resign.

“The president has constantly vowed to serve out his term until 2027 despite his political rivals now calling for him to step down immediately.

 “The latest polls out of Paris say the people feel they are entering a period of politics that is incapable of ever moving forwards under a Macron government… A staggering 64 per cent of respondents agreed Macron should step aside immediately.”

Deutsche Welle added:

“Barnier and his ministers remain in charge of daily business until the appointment of a new government…”

Subsequently, Deutsche Welle reported on December 5:

“French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation on Thursday, hours after Prime Minister Michel Barnier handed in his resignation following Wednesday’s vote of no-confidence. Macron rejected calls from the opposition to follow Barnier in stepping down, saying he would remain in office until the next presidential election in 2027. He vowed to ‘appoint a prime minister in the coming days’ saying that this person would be tasked with forming a ‘government of general interest’ in order to pass a budget.”

The situation in France somehow mirrors the debacle in Germany.

France Won’t Arrest Netanyahu

JTA wrote on November 27:

“France has joined the nations who are signatories to the agreement that established the International Criminal Court pledging not to honor its warrants to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant.

“The statement Wednesday by the French foreign ministry adds France to Argentina and Hungary as parties to the 1998 Rome Statute whose leaders have said they will not abide by the warrants…  The French foreign ministry statement said the warrants were flawed because Israel was not a party to the agreement establishing the court…”

Macron also hinted that Netanyahu might have “immunity”.

Pope Francis’ Departure From Catholicism

Newsmax wrote on November 29:

“Pope Francis urged Catholic Church members to embrace cohabiting couples and divorced people while also promoting marriage and traditional family structures… Francis addressed the complexities faced by people living outside the traditional bounds of marriage. ‘The Church does not close the door to those who struggle on the path of faith, indeed, she throws the door wide open, because everyone “needs merciful and encouraging pastoral attention”’…  the pope said Monday. ‘Everyone. Do not forget this word: everyone, everyone, everyone. Jesus said this when those invited to the wedding did not come, and Jesus says: “Go into the streets and bring everyone, everyone, everyone — But Lord, all the good ones, no? — No, everyone! Good and bad! Everyone, everyone.” Do not forget that word “everyone,” which is in a sense the vocation of the Church, mother of all.’

“Francis, with whom church conservatives have differed on certain issues, underscored the dual mission to uphold traditional values while also practicing unconditional love and acceptance…..”

It is amazing how Scriptures are being twisted, like Christ’s words to go into the streets and invite people to the wedding. No word about repentance and stopping their sinful lifestyle. Francis’ comments would equally apply to practicing homosexuals, transgender, drag queens and the LGBTQ+ community. What about pedophiles? Also, the concept of “unconditional love and acceptance” was clearly misapplied here.

What Jesus REALLY Looked Like

The Daily Mail wrote on December 1:

“… experts say that every image you’ve seen of Jesus is almost certainly inaccurate. Not only would Jesus definitely not have had flowing locks, he is also unlikely to have grown a long beard or even worn robes. Instead, historians believe that Jesus would have looked like any other unremarkable member of Judean society in the first century AD… he probably would have been strong and lean… Jesus comes from a family where manual labour is the norm, and he certainly gets exercise with all the walking around.’…

“Jesus was ethnically Judean and came from the region which is now modern-day Palestine. This means his hair and beard would have been black and curly rather than brown and straight. Likewise, it is extremely likely that Jesus would have worn his hair and beard quite short… Around the time of Jesus’ life in the first century AD,… being clean-shaven was extremely important to Romans but, as a Jew, Jesus probably did grow a well-kept beard…

“To have long hair and a long beard signalled something in ancient Judaism – that you were keeping a special vow and not drinking wine. Jesus was actually accused of drinking too much, so he was not keeping such a vow.’ In fact, some of the very first depictions we have of Jesus show him looking distinctly well-groomed. Paintings dating from the first half of the third century AD found the church in the ruined city of Dura-Europos in Syria show Jesus clean-shaven with hair cut well above his collar… In the first century AD… long hair on men was considered ‘rather unseemly’…

“The one thing that our modern images of Jesus get right is that everyone in Judea would have worn leather sandals during the time Jesus was alive…”

The modern Church of God has been saying these things for almost a century.

Ending the Ukraine War?

The New York Post wrote on November 29:

“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is willing to hand over territory to Russia in exchange for NATO protection if it means ending the war.  ‘If we want to stop the hot stage of the war, we should take under [the] NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control,’ Zelensky said through a translator in an interview with Sky News Friday. ‘That’s what we need to do fast, and then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically.’…

“Zelensky hinted that the ‘NATO umbrella’ would not be full membership — something Putin has long vehemently rejected — but could mean member states providing individual security guarantees to Ukraine…  He said other countries have offered to broker a cease-fire agreement between the two countries but he seemed skeptical… ‘We need [NATO protection] very much, otherwise [Putin] will come back,’ he said. ‘Otherwise, how are we going to go to a ceasefire? So for us, it’s very dangerous.’…

“The Kremlin has made huge advances in Ukraine over the past week, taking 90 square miles in the long-bombarded Donetsk region, the fastest clip since the war began nearly three years ago. Putin had previously claimed the only path to peace would be for Ukraine to surrender all its territory that Russia has laid claim to and renounce its intention to join NATO.”

Newsmax added on November 29:

“Zelenskyy’s new position could be a direct result of President-elect Donald Trump’s victory earlier this month… ‘I want to work with him directly because there are different voices from people around him. And that’s why we need not to [allow] anybody around to destroy our communication,’ he said…”

Ultimately, this entire war was good for nothing. Russia and Ukraine will unite, and Europe will be the big loser.

The Price of Defeat

Report 24 wrote on November 30:

“The reality is bleak. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte bluntly admitted to Fox News what many have known for a long time: Ukraine is simply not in a position to negotiate favorable peace conditions. The Russian steamroller continues to roll, while Washington [actually, Ukraine]  is already discussing lowering the draft age in Ukraine to 18…

“The whole thing is made particularly spicy by the appearance of the eternal war drummer Boris Johnson… [He] is now once again calling for NATO troops for Ukraine. His recent threat that Great Britain could intervene militarily on its own sounds like a desperate call for the good old days of the empire…

“Joe Biden greenlights long-range missiles under NATO coordination – as if more weapons ever brought peace. The bitter truth is: What we are experiencing here is the end of an illusion. The question is no longer whether Ukraine can win, but what the price of defeat will be.”

Trump Demands Release of Hostages, Or…

Newsmax wrote on December 2:

“President-elect Donald Trump said there would be ‘hell to pay’ in the Middle East if hostages held in the Gaza Strip were not released before his Jan. 20 inauguration. ‘Everybody is talking about the hostages who are being held so violently, inhumanely, and against the will of the entire World, in the Middle East – But it’s all talk, and no action!’ Trump wrote Monday in a Truth Social post.

“‘Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity. Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!’

“Trump’s post came on the same day Israel Defense Forces confirmed that Cpt. Omer Maxim Neutra, 21, was killed during Iranian-backed Hamas’ terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023, and his body was being held hostage in the Gaza Strip.”

Strong Earthquake Hits California

ABC News reported on December 5:

“A 7.0 magnitude earthquake was reported off the coast of Northern California on Thursday… The epicenter of the ‘strong’ quake was off the coast near Petrolia, in Humboldt County… Also, a tsunami warning that had been issued for coastal areas in California and Oregon, including San Francisco, was canceled just before noon local time…

“Police in Berkeley, California, had issued an evacuation order for parts of the city ‘due to a tsunami coming to West Berkeley.’ The order was subsequently lifted after the tsunami warning was canceled… More than 30 aftershocks have been reported in the region, including a 4.3 magnitude earthquake near Petrolia…”

It was stated that it has been more than 30 years since an earthquake of this size hit California. 

Ongoing War in Syria

The Guardian wrote on December 1:

“Syrian and Russian airstrikes have pummelled areas of northern Syria as Iran’s top diplomat arrived in Damascus in a show of support for Bashar al-Assad’s regime after Islamist insurgents made a sudden advance and seized control of Aleppo. As the regime attempted to repel the strongest challenge to its authority in years, state media in Damascus shared images of airstrikes across opposition-controlled areas, claiming they were targeting enemy command centres and positions. Syria’s military said they struck close to a stadium in Aleppo in a joint operation with Russia.

“An earlier airstrike killed 12 people when it hit a site close to a hospital in central Aleppo, Syria’s second city and a former industrial powerhouse that was the scene of some of the fiercest fighting in the country’s bloody civil war…

“The regime in Damascus has long relied on foreign support, notably during the 2016 battle to retake control of Aleppo, in which Russian air power proved decisive. The Syrian government has also relied heavily on Iranian forces on the ground including members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Israel has rapidly scaled up airstrikes against Iranian targets in Syria over the past year amid increasing regional confrontations with Tehran and its proxies.

“Assad crushed a popular uprising that rose up against him in 2011, before the conflict spilled over into a bloody civil war that has fractured his control of the country and left him heavily dependent on backing from Tehran and Moscow. The Syrian leader also employed airstrikes, siege tactics and chemical weapons against his own people during fierce battles to regain control of territory….

“Across northern Syria, Turkish-backed Syrian rebel groups and Kurdish militias moved to claim territory rapidly evacuated by forces loyal to Damascus, as Syrian government forces retreated from areas they had held for almost a decade… video showed Turkish-backed Syrian rebel forces taking control of the base and weaponry there, including an Iranian-made drone…”

The Daily Mail added on December 1:

“Arab leaders, including Jordan’s King Abdullah II and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, expressed their solidarity with Damascus in calls with Mr Assad.”

Big News Network wrote on December 3:

“Beijing is willing to aid Damascus to prevent the situation from deteriorating further, [China’s] Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian has said… ‘China is deeply concerned over the situation in northwestern Syria, and supports its effort to uphold national security and stability,’ Lin told a press briefing on Monday. ‘As Syria’s friend, China is willing to make an active effort to avoid further deterioration of the situation in Syria,’ the official said.   

“A number of other nations, including Russia, Iran, Iraq and Egypt, have expressed support for Damascus over the past few days… Moscow has slammed the militants’ offensive as a ‘direct violation of Syria’s sovereignty,’ and mobilized air force units stationed in the country to aid the Syrian army. Tehran has urged Islamic countries to unite in helping Syria defeat the militants, placing the blame for the escalation on Israel and the US.”

The Los Angeles Times wrote on December 4:

“Over the past seven days, the rebels — long considered a fractured, hopelessly compromised force — have routed Syrian army troops from their bases and positions, making gains in Idlib, Aleppo and Hama provinces. The offensive represents the most serious threat since 2019 to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and his backers in Iran and Russia… The clashes have brought back to attention a civil war that has largely fallen out of the headlines despite never really ending.”

The Bible reveals that ultimately, Damascus will be destroyed and many Syrians will go into captivity.

South Korea in Crisis

Daily  Mail wrote on December 3:

“South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol sensationally declared emergency martial law today, accusing his political opposition of subverting parliament and railing against ‘pro-North Korea, anti-state forces’ in his country. The shocking late-night address triggered chaos on the streets in Seoul where hordes of angry citizens clashed with riot cops and security forces outside the National Assembly.

“In an announcement which has stunned the world, South Korea’s military proclaimed that under martial law, parliament and other political gatherings that could cause ‘social confusion’ would be suspended and anyone found to violate the regulations could be arrested without a warrant. Yoon vowed ‘to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces plundering the happiness of our people and to protect the constitutional order.’…

“South Korea’s Constitution says the president can declare martial law when it is considered necessary to cope with a military threat or to maintain public safety and order by mobilising military forces… When martial law is declared by the president, they must notify the National Assembly of the decision which can then take a vote on whether martial law should be upheld.  The president must comply when the National Assembly – where the opposition party currently holds a majority – requests the lifting of martial law by a majority vote of members. The National Assembly, with 190 of its 300 members present, has already passed a resolution demanding the martial law be lifted…  But in yet another twist in the night, South Korea’s military announced that martial law will remain in place until it is lifted by Yoon himself…”

Breitbart added on December 3:

“‘If the President does not abide by the results of the motion passed at the National Assembly it is clear treason and an illegal act,’ legislator Cho Kuk declared, adding that Yoon’s impeachment will now be on the table. Cho asked prosecutors to arrest President Yoon and his defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, immediately.”

CNN wrote on December 3:

“Yoon Suk Yeol’s cabinet has reversed a martial law order in the country, just hours after he issued the surprise decree that plunged Seoul into political uncertainty and sparked fierce backlash from lawmakers across the political spectrum.”

Deutsche Welle wrote on December 5:

“South Korean prosecutors said on Thursday that they have opened an official investigation in President Yoon Suk Yeol’s attempt to put the country under martial law. Interior Minister Lee Sang-min and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun are also part of the probe.

“Police said the president was under investigation for ‘insurrection’ and Kim, who had already resigned following the incident, has been placed under a travel ban and forbidden from leaving South Korea….”

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.

In answering this question, let us first of all define what superstition is. Wordnik defines this as follows:

“1. An irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome.

“2. A belief, practice, or rite irrationally maintained by ignorance of the laws of nature or by faith in magic or chance.

“3. A fearful or abject state of mind resulting from such ignorance or irrationality.”

“Therefore, a superstitious person is one who relates to, or is swayed by superstition.

“Superstition is irrational as can be worked out when reviewing some of these actions that are taken by superstitious people:

“… crossing fingers for luck; touching [or knocking on] wood; not walking under a ladder (although it would be sensible if doing that to check that it was safe to do so); throwing salt over your shoulder; a black cat crossing your path; a broken mirror bringing seven years of bad luck; Friday the 13^th being an unlucky day. Some countries won’t have a 13^th level on an apartment block. Don’t open an umbrella inside a house. Finding a horseshoe is good luck.”

And there are more of course. Lucky charms are another source of superstition thinking that a ‘rabbit’s foot,’ a lucky horseshoe or a four-leafed clover can change one’s luck.  Because of its association with the Norse god Odin, the lowly acorn is also considered a symbol of luck. Odin hung himself from an oak tree to gain knowledge, so the acorn has come to symbolize wisdom.

Tempting fate is to invite bad luck or unpleasant situations by showing one’s confidence in something.

It is interesting that many football (soccer) players in the UK step on to the pitch with a variety of different things they do: crossing themselves, kissing their wrist, kissing the ground, looking up into the sky etc.   It could be that they think that it is part of their faith but the Bible nowhere states that such gestures have to be carried out.   It is more likely a ritual for superstitious players. 

One famous football goalkeeper for many years used to wear his socks inside-out during matches!

When a game is on a knife edge, many cricketers who are on the batting side and not on the field of play, will sit in the same position in the pavilion and not move until the outcome of the match is known.   One famous cricket umpire would dance on one foot when the score was on 87 or 111 as these are considered unlucky numbers.

One world famous tennis player goes through the same routine during every game. Before he serves, he places some of his hair behind each one of his ears and also tugs on his shorts and then touches several parts of his head just before serving.   Another champion tennis player always got up second from the chair and would also never step on the lines of the court. And a top female tennis player always brought her shower sandals to the court, tied her shoelaces a specific way and bounced the ball five times before her first serve and twice before her second.

Why?  Reuters reported some years ago that “psychologists say people often become superstitious when faced with unknown and stressful situations, which explains why so many athletes are superstitious and frequently bound to rigid preparation routines.  ‘When the stakes are high and there is a great deal of uncertainty – as in top-level sport – then people will try anything to get the outcome they want,’ Richard Stephens, a senior lecturer in psychology at Keele University, told Reuters.”

There can be references to the “sporting gods” as if they were real rather than just a figment of man’s imagination.

Astrology – looking at what the stars have in store for us – is a pastime, deemed to be harmless, that many regularly get involved with.  [This would also include consulting horoscopes to learn about our future.]  Deuteronomy 4:19 gives us God’s answer to such practices: “And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage.”

The Bible is instructive when it teaches that “whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap” (see Galatians 6:7).   Such instruction reveals that actions produce good and bad results, depending on what they are and these are based on Godly wisdom, not just random or accidental events.

It has been said that because superstition is dependent upon unseen forces, atheists and agnostics often say that anyone who believes in God may well be superstitious.  Of course, this is erroneous thinking as those who truly believe in the great God are confident of, and can prove that, the Creation requires a Creator and there are spiritual unseen forces that must exist for this to have occurred.

We read in Colossians 2:8-10: “ Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”

The Benson Commentary observes: “It seems some teachers had crept in among the Christians at Colosse, either of Gentile or Jewish extraction, who endeavoured to blend deceits of this kind with the gospel of Christ, and that this is what the apostle here condemns; 1st, Because it was empty and deceitful, promising wisdom, but giving none. 2d, Because it was grounded, not on truth, or solid reason, but on the vain and false traditions of men. 3d, Because, as the apostle here says, it was after the rudiments, στοιχεια, the elements, of the world — Such as the [unbiblical] Jewish ceremonies [being a product of human inventions], or the pagan superstitions.”

In 1 Samuel 5, we read about the Philistines taking the ark and putting it next to Dagon in the house of Dagon (verses 1-2).   In verses 4-5 we read: “And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon’s torso was left of it. Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon’s house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.”  

The Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary states the following: “Therefore neither the priests … nor any … tread on the threshold of Dagon—A superstitious ceremony crept in, and in the providence of God was continued, by which the Philistines contributed to publish this proof of the helplessness of their god….unto this day—The usage continued in practice at the time when this history was written—probably in the later years of Samuel’s life.”

There is another excellent example in the Old Testament of superstitious beliefs.   In 1 Kings 18, we read about Elijah’s Mount Carmel Victory: “And Elijah came to all the people, and said, ‘How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’ But the people answered him not a word” (verse 21).  Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal in verses 22-25 and they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon (verse 26).   As nothing happened, we read in verses 27-29, “And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, ‘Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.’  So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them.   And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.”

Again, reading from the Benson Commentary, it observes that: “The worship of idols being a most ridiculous thing, it is perfectly just to represent it so, and expose it to scorn. And nothing can be imagined more cutting and sarcastic than these words of the prophet, in which he ridicules, in the finest manner possible, their wretched, false, and derogatory ideas of the Deity. The two last notions of being asleep and not at home, how absurd soever they may be, when applied to the Deity, were certainly such as several idolaters conceived of their gods, as appears from various passages in Homer…”   These were superstitious, unproven practices that led to the downfall of these pagan priests as we read in verses 30-40.

We read in 1 Samuel 28, starting in verse 7, that King Saul consulted a witch at En Dor.   He should never have done this as God had said, “You shall not permit a sorceress to live” (Exodus 22:18), but he did this out of desperation and the end result was catastrophic as he died in battle the following day.   In Leviticus 19:31 we read: “Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.”   Today, witchcraft and superstition go hand in hand and they are not harmless.

Jeremiah 10:2 states: “Thus says the LORD: ‘Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them.’”  Matthew Poole’s Commentary observes: “Learn not the way of the heathen: the Jews being to live among the Chaldeans in their captivity, where many of them were already, the prophet in this sermon admonisheth them against the superstitions of the Chaldean idolatries…..”

In Ezekiel 13:17-19, we read: “ Likewise, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; prophesy against them, and say, ‘Thus says the LORD God: “Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their sleeves and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive?  And will you profane Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, killing people who should not die, and keeping people alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies?”’”

Barnes Notes on the Bible has this to say about this passage of Scripture: “Most ancient interpreters and many modern interpreters have understood the ‘pillows’ (or charms) and ‘kerchiefs’ (or veils), as appliances to which the sorcerers had resort in order to attract notice. The veil was a conspicuous ornament in the east – women whatever their ‘stature’ (or height) putting them on – and it was worn by magicians in order to seem more mysterious and awful.”   Sorcerers and magic were condemned by God and were part of the superstitious nature that seemed to attract so many.

In Acts 17 we read of Paul and the philosophers at Athens.   The fact that they were superstitious is indicated in verses 22-23: “Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ Hill and said, ‘Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.  For as I passed by and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription: “To the Unknown God”. Whom therefore ye worship in ignorance, Him I declare unto you’” (21st Century King James Version).   It seemed that they were “hedging their bets’ or “to avoid committing oneself; to leave a means of retreat open” (phrases.org.uk). Even those who were supposedly religious, were superstitious in this case.

(To be continued)

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“What Jesus REALLY Looked Like,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

A non-religious publication wrote in a recent article that “experts say that every image you’ve seen of Jesus is almost certainly inaccurate.” It then explains what Jesus did look like—something which the Church of God has been teaching for almost a century. In this program, we quote from the article and make additional comments, and we offer in a short video at the end of this program a free booklet on the Jesus of the Bible. We also point out that, apart from the question as to what Jesus looked like, the important question arises as to how He lived while here on earth, what He stood for, and what He taught.

“Wie Jesus WIRKLICH aussah,” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same material as described above.

The memorial service for Margaret Adair will take place on Sunday, December 15, 2024. It will begin promptly at 12:45pm at Escondido Columbus Club Hall, 515 W. Valley Pkwy, Escondido CA 92025. Please contact Johanna.Link@cox.net if you want to attend.

A Tech Meeting was conducted on December 1, 2024. Hosted by Eric Rank, we reviewed booklet ad campaigns which are ongoing in English and German. 2025 Feast plans were discussed and new advertising sources were presented.

We have created a new WhatsApp channel that you can subscribe to receive information and publications from our church. Click on the link to follow us on WhatsApp.

“Ist man als wahrer Christ einsam?”, last Sabbath’s German sermonette presented by Patrick Flück, is now posted. Title in English: “Are You Lonely as A True Christian?”

“Walk the Talk,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Kalon Mitchell, is now posted.

“We WILL Be Great,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Michael Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

What must we do in this life to become something that this world can’t even comprehend? God has given us a gift of understanding and all the tools necessary to be what He wants us to be. What is our role and what will it take to fulfill His plan for us?

On November 30, 2024, Kalon Mitchell will present the sermonette, titled, “Walk the Talk,” and Michael Link will present the sermon, titled, “We Will Be Great!”

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.

In 1973, a parolee and an accomplice in Stockholm, Sweden, took 7 employees of a local bank hostage for a period of six days. In the end, when the situation was resolved and the two were taken into custody, the hostages declined to assist prosecutors in pursuing charges and, in fact, they began raising funds for the criminal defense of the two.

Wikipedia recounts that Nils Bejerot, a Swedish criminologist and psychiatrist, described the hostages’ reactions as a result of being brainwashed by their captors. He called it “the Norrmalmstorg syndrome;” it later became known outside Sweden as Stockholm syndrome.

As I observed the reaction of many people here in the US to the recent presidential election, the factor that seemed to emerge was a measure of mass hysteria and panic from the liberal and progressives who seemed united in their belief that the freedoms they had heretofore had, to live as they wished, and so-called reproductive right—abortion—would be gone the next morning. The days of Walter Cronkite, Edward R. Murrow, and other news media luminaries of the past reporting the facts in as unbiased a way as humans are capable of has been replaced. Now we see corporate media, backed by unseen and ultra powerful people who seek to divide and destroy morality and civilization.

It seems to me that many have embraced a new religion that transcends politics and ideology and is more about controlling minds and behavior. The ancient Romans were adept at this. Initially hailed for their effective governance, this was not enough for them as they wanted absolute control over the people—both their own citizens, and those they conquered. Rather than winning the hearts and minds of the population, they chose threats, fear and pain.

As true Christians, we have to guard against becoming a hostage to the structures and prevailing thinking of this world. In Proverbs 4:23, we receive pure and simple guidance to aid us: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (New International version throughout). Most of us have to work in business and other structures in the world in order to feed and house our families. However, we can opt out of the holiday parties and events that glorify Satan and his hold on this world. We can avoid being sucked in to the things that cause us to stumble.

When I worked in local government, I noticed how prevailing beliefs often were accepted as facts, much as we witnessed with the Covid crisis. An example was the public reaction to the arrival of West Nile Virus in the summer of 2004. The virus had made its way to the Rocky Mountain region through a specific mosquito vector or species.

There were thousands of residents who wanted mass pesticide fogging at night with trucks rolling down every street. A nearly equal cohort were equally vocal that pesticide fogging would be killing chemically sensitive residents. Of course, neither position was correct to the point of absolute certainty, yet people became hostage to either position and could not get past it. Each side became so enamored of their message that there was no room for facts. Conversely, we know that as true Christians, we are not part of the world’s structures—we must instead be focused and aligned with God. 2 Timothy 1:7 illustrates what God intends for His people in such times: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

God does not want us scared and influenced by society such that we accept and, at worst, identify with the immoral and corrupt elements that surround us. We often hear this characterized as accepting the lesser of evils. In Philippians 4:8, we see what Paul had to say about these matters: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

If we are seeking what is true, pure, noble, and healthy, it is unlikely that we would willfully join a group or take a job that would cause us to constantly be faced with difficult situations pitting God’s ways with the ways of this world. In Isaiah 26:7-10, the prophet Isaiah lays out how true Christians can seek alignment with God versus the world: “The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth. Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgements come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and do not regard the majesty of the LORD.”

God has been remarkably merciful with His people through the ages, and He wants us to grow to the point that we can identify how the evils of this world can draw us in and hold us hostage. Much like those bank employees in Sweden in the 1970’s, if we spend all of our time with our seemingly benevolent captors, we will undoubtedly begin to draw our inspiration and see our future through their corrupt vision. The words of Paul to the Church at Corinth in 2 Corinthians 10:1-6 can help us as we make our way as true Christians in this world.

“By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am ‘timid’ when face to face with you, but ‘bold’ when away! I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.”

We have all of these Scriptures and more available to us to enable us to stand strong; always seeking alignment with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. In this way, we can avoid false doctrines that can hold us hostage to this world.

We begin with dangerous developments involving Russia and the USA; the upcoming German elections; and the need for Europe to act fast. Please view in this regard our recent StandingWatch program, “So Close to World War III.” 

In response to the ICC’s warrant to arrest Netanyahu, and the reactions of some countries stating they would honor the warrant, emotions in the USA are running high, with threats of sanctions against those countries or even an invasion of the Netherlands, should Netanyahu were arrested there. We also address the fragile and temporary ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

We focus on Trump’s economic threats towards Mexico, Canada and China; some of his dubious nominations and his controversial and to an extent unrealistic plan of mass deportation and, if carried out, its inevitable and undesired bad consequences. We also address America’s ridiculous immigration policy for LEGAL immigrants.

We conclude with a report on the tragic death of the famous “killer whale” or Orca Keto.

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

Russia Urges USA “to Show Restraint”

AA wrote on November 21:

“Russia on Thursday urged the US to exercise restraint in response to the Pentagon’s statement regarding the possibility of nuclear strike exchanges. Speaking at a Moscow press briefing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized Russia’s commitment to prevent a nuclear conflict and called on the West to adopt a similarly responsible stance. ‘Russia’s nuclear doctrine underscores our responsible approach to making every effort to avoid such a conflict. We expect other nations to act responsibly and refrain from provocative actions,’ he said.

“The comments followed a statement by Rear Adm. Thomas Buchanan of the US Strategic Command, who said Washington remains prepared for a nuclear exchange under ‘acceptable terms,’ though it does not seek such a scenario.

“Addressing concerns about potential threats to Belarus, Peskov noted ongoing collaboration between Russian and Belarusian intelligence services… He added that the security of Belarus, as a Union State member, is covered under Russia’s nuclear doctrine, which prioritizes deterring aggression against both Russia and its allies using the full extent of its military power, including nuclear capabilities…”

The verbal exchanges become really disturbing.

German Elections Consequential For Europe?

Deutscher Welle wrote on November 23

“European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has voiced her anxiety about upcoming German elections and noted that a strong performance by populist parties could have significant consequences for Europe… Recent opinion polls show the AfD with… 19% support ahead of next year’s elections, with the BSW [a left-wing group] possibly getting as much as 8% of the vote…

“Anger over inflation, migration and lack of housing are some of the reasons why German voters are turning to populist parties. Voters who disagree with German arms deliveries to Ukraine have also been drawn to the AfD and the BSW…

“Metsola also implored the German government to take a decisive stance on European affairs: ‘A strong Europe needs a strong Germany…’

“In the interview, Metsola was asked if she supports the German government delivering Taurus missiles to Ukraine. Taurus missiles have a range of up to 500 kilometers (310 miles). ‘Yes, that is also the position of the European Parliament. There is broad support for this demand. We will see if there is a corresponding policy change after the Bundestag elections,’ she said.  

“The leader of Germany’s conservative opposition [CDU], Friedrich Merz, has supported giving Taurus missiles to Ukraine. Merz has a strong chance of becoming Germany’s next chancellor, as the CDU leads most opinion polls before the February vote. The current coalition government, meanwhile, is helmed by SPD Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who opposes Taurus deliveries to Ukraine, due to fears of escalating tensions with Russia. His coalition partners, the environmentalist Green Party, back the transfer of Taurus missiles to Ukraine.” 

Merz could only become Chancellor if the CDU (32%) forms a coalition. The best option to get a majority would be the AfD (19%) but the CDU has stated, so far, that they will not enter into a coalition with the AfD. The CDU could then form a coalition with Scholz’s SPD (14%), or that alone would presently not be sufficient to gain the majority. So, either the CDU and the SPD would rule as a minority government, or they would have to find another partner (for instance, the Green with 11% or the FDP with 5%). Either way, one can easily see how the next German government would be the same debacle as the current one is or has been.  But maybe, someone else is waiting in the background to step in when the future government is collapsing again—as can be expected.

Europe Needs to Act Fast

Foreign Affairs wrote on November 22:

“With Donald Trump’s return to the White House, there is a genuine risk that U.S. engagement in Europe could drop precipitously… European leaders must act decisively to advance a unified strategy to ensure the continent’s peace and stability. They must quickly… begin a serious effort to create an integrated European defense industry… From now on, Europe’s security will have to be European—or it won’t exist at all…

“For Europe, then, there is no time left to waste… Europe now has no choice but to manage its own security. There is no doubt that it has the economic potential to do so; the combined GDP of the European Union is roughly ten times that of Russia. What holds Europe back is a lack of political will… This pitiful state of affairs has arisen even though the EU has a strong industrial base and counts four of the world’s ten largest arms exporters among its members.

“Europe needs to step up its defense capabilities—and fast. But this project requires political leadership, which is currently hard to come by. In Germany, the coalition government has collapsed, and the country’s politicians will spend the coming months occupied by snap elections scheduled for February 23 and the coalition-building process that will follow. In France, President Emmanuel Macron lost his parliamentary majority this summer, leaving him politically weakened. Meanwhile, the EU’s relationship with the United Kingdom, one of Europe’s most formidable military powers, remains fraught…

“… any substantial defense buildup will need Germany’s economic power and political clout to succeed, which means that the new government in Berlin will need to take the continent’s security challenges seriously and be willing to put money behind a broader European effort.”

It appears that Europe does not have that much time left. Some speak already of the demise of the EU, but that will not happen. What WILL happen, however, is that ten nations or groups of nations will come together (establishing a “core Europe”) to form a mighty power bloc. Before this, Germany would have to have a strong government… which would require other and more competent leaders.

USA Will “Crush” Europe

The Telegraph wrote on November 23:

“A staunch ally of Donald Trump has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the UK will face severe economic consequences if it helps to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu. Senator Lindsey Graham said the US should ‘crush’ the economies of all those who comply with the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).  The prime minister of Israel faces arrest if he enters Britain, Downing Street has said. On Friday No 10 refused to explicitly comment on the case, saying it was a hypothetical situation, but added that the UK would follow its legal obligations.

“The ICC has also issued an arrest warrant for Yoav Gallant, Israel’s former defence minister, over alleged war crimes in Gaza. But the move has provoked fury among Republicans in the US. In response, Mr Graham tweeted: ‘Any nation or organization that aids or abets this outrage should expect to meet firm resistance from the United States, and I look forward to working with President Trump, his team, and my colleagues in Congress to come up with a powerful response…  I’m working with [another US senator] Tom Cotton to have legislation passed as soon as we can to sanction any country that aids and abets the arrest of any politician in Israel. What they’re doing in Israel is trying to prevent a second Holocaust. So, to any ally, Canada, Britain, Germany, France, if you try to help the ICC, we’re gonna sanction you.’…

“But shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel described the move [the issuance of the arrest warrant] as ‘concerning and provocative’ and called on the government to ‘condemn’ them.”

Strong words…

The USA to Invade the Netherlands?

Newsweek added on November 23:

“Several countries… such as Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Lithuania, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Turkey, Jordan, Norway and Sweden, have said they will comply with the ICC’s arrest warrant or are open to it… Senator Tom Cotton… suggested in a post on X… on Thursday that the U.S. could invade the Netherlands, one of the countries that said they would comply with the ICC, if Netanyahu is arrested and brought there to face trial.

“[Cotton referred to] the American Service-Members’ Protection Act, which gives the president the legal authority to use ‘all means necessary and appropriate to bring about the release of any U.S. or allied personnel being detained or imprisoned by, on behalf of, or at the request of the International Criminal Court.’…”

This is hard to believe, but not impossible to imagine. It would completely destroy the relationship between the USA and Europe. Even threats like these do not help the relationship at all.

Trudeau Supports Netanyahu’s Arrest

Breitbart wrote on November 21:

“Radical leftist Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated on Thursday that he would allow the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Canadian soil in observance of a recently issued International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant against him… Trudeau noted that Canada was one of the founding countries of the ICC, which has no enforcement mechanism outside of the actions of members states, and declared that arresting Netanyahu was ‘just who we are as Canadians.’…

“Trudeau said later in the same remarks that the world should embrace the ‘two-state solution’ – the creation of an independent state of ‘Palestine’ – to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas…

“Trudeau’s announcement that he would support Netanyahu’s arrest prompted outrage nationwide. Some members of his own Liberal Party had condemned the ICC’s decision, giving the appearance that the party was divided on the issue. ‘The ICC discredits itself by its actions today,’ Liberal member of Parliament Anthony Housefather wrote in a statement on social media, noting that the ICC accused the Israeli leadership of committing crimes against humanity beginning on the day after the October 7 attack, ‘a day Israel was in shock, grief mourning.’…

“Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos wrote… ‘We stand with the people of Israel and support their right to self-defense against terrorism. The actions taken by both the ICC and Justin Trudeau should be condemned as a dangerous precedent that threatens global stability and the principles of international law.’…

“Canada experienced a shocking surge of antisemitic activity between the initial Hamas attack and October 2024: a 670-percent increase in documented violence and other antisemitic acts against Canadian Jews…

“Netanyahu’s government responded with outrage to the ICC warrants on Thursday. ‘The antisemitic decision of the International Criminal Court is a modern Dreyfus trial – and will end the same way,’ a statement from the prime minister’s office read. ‘Israel utterly rejects the false and absurd charges of the International Criminal Court, a biased and discriminatory political body.’

“‘The decision to issue an arrest warrant against the Prime Minister was made by a corrupt chief prosecutor who is trying to save himself from sexual harassment accusations and biased judges who are motivated by antisemitic hatred of Israel,’ the statement continued.”

While violent antisemitic and pro-Palestinian “protests” were going on in Montreal, with fires burning everywhere, Trudeau was seen dancing at a Taylor Swift concert. The ICC is a disgrace to the free world, and Trudeau (the modern Nero, like the ancient one who played the fiddle when Rome was burning?) is a shameful disgrace to Canada. Trudeau later “condemned” the violent antisemitic and pro-Palestinian protests, not unlike ancient Nero who set Rome on fire and then claimed that Christians had done it.

Antisemitism in France

The Jerusalem Post wrote on November 24:

“12% of the general population in France believe Jews leaving the country is a good thing, compared to 6% in 2020… 17% of under 35s believe this would be a good thing.”

Dershowitz to Defend Netanyahu

The Jerusalem Post wrote on November 25:

“US lawyer and professor Alan Dershowitz is assembling a team to defend Israeli leaders in The Hague… Dershowitz noted that the case would be tried in the court of public opinion as well as in The Hague. ‘For that reason, I am assembling a team of world-class lawyers from around the globe to help defend Israeli leaders against the false charges,’  Dershowitz wrote.”

The Troubled Story of ICC and Its Prosecutor

The New York Post wrote on November 21:

“[British-Muslim judge and ICC’s chief prosecutor Karim Asad Ahmad Khan] turned out to be at the center of sex-pest complaint by a former colleague at the ICC. The woman in question had lodged internal complaints about his lewd behavior… Khan’s brother was recently sent to prison in the UK for sexually assaulting a child.

“As multiple papers around the world have reported, Khan apparently made completely inappropriate sexual demands of a female colleague on multiple occasions. When she complained he threatened to ruin her career… the ‘MeToo’ crowd… seem to have been remarkably quiet.

“In any case, though Khan denied the charges, he must have realized his world might come crashing down, and rushed out a war-crimes charge against the Israeli prime minister. Then he carefully leaked to the left-wing media that he feared Mossad were out to get him…

“[Thankfully] both the United States and Israel were always wise enough not to sign up to the jurisdiction of this preposterous international court. In 2002 Henry Kissinger had an arrest warrant put out for him by a Spanish communist judge while the former Secretary of State was in Paris. Kissinger was whisked out of France in pretty cool time. But it was a reminder of one of one great, anti-democratic move of our era. Which is the idea that sovereign nations should effectively offer up their sovereignty. That the soldiers and statesmen of a sovereign nation should be allowed to be judged by the whims or perversions of a foreign judge in a foreign country…

“Idiotic, self-destructive and short-sighted nations around the democratic world have signed up to the jurisdiction of the ICC. For now — until it comes back to bite them — they seem to think that a couple of crooked judges from Britain or Africa should be allowed to decide how a sovereign nation is allowed to defend itself…

“This is an outrage of course. But it is one that also affects America. If they can do this to Israel, they can do it to America. President elect Trump has a historic mandate for many reasons. But now is a good time for him to make something very, very clear. If you come for America then America will come for you. And if you come for America’s closest allies, then wow will you regret the day…”

The rhetoric becomes louder and more direct…

Germany’s “Hesitant” Approach—Really?

Daily Mail added on November 23:

“Several governments have already expressed caution, while others – including the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Spain and Austria – have insisted they respect the court and will follow the law, however much they may disagree with it… Austria, for one, said they found the ruling ‘utterly incomprehensible’ but said its authorities would have no choice but to make an arrest as ‘international law is nonnegotiable and applies everywhere’. 

“Germany has taken a more hesitant approach, suggesting it will carefully examine the ICC’s warrants but not take further steps until a visit to Germany is planned. ‘I find it hard to imagine that we would make arrests on this basis,’ said German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit on Friday, pointing out that legal questions had to be clarified regarding the warrant. He did not specify what those questions entailed and did not answer when asked whether Netanyahu would be welcome in Germany.

“German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said… that Germany respected the ICC’s work and adhered to the law at national, European and international levels… ‘The German government was involved in the drafting of the ICC statute and is one of the biggest supporters of the ICC – this attitude is also the result of German history,’ said Hebestreit…”

Germany’s double-tongued message is cause for deep concern.

Fragile Temporary Ceasefire

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 27:

“After almost 14 months of fighting, a ceasefire agreement brokered by France and the US has been accepted by both Hezbollah and Israel. But is this the end of the conflict?…

“The ceasefire deal says there will be a two-month halt to fighting between the Israeli military and the armed wing of the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon… Hezbollah is to withdraw north of the Litani River while Israeli troops will gradually withdraw back south of the Blue Line into Israel… The Lebanese army will deploy 10,000 soldiers into the buffer zone to make sure that neither Hezbollah nor Israel returns…

“… experts agree the ceasefire is fragile as the underlying sources of the conflict still exist and its implementation will be difficult. Questions are already being asked about the Lebanese army’s ability to police the buffer zone…

“The ceasefire deal does not apply in any way to what’s going on in Gaza. Biden has said he hopes momentum created by the Lebanon agreement might lead to a similar outcome in Gaza, but Israel’s Netanyahu has already reacted negatively to that suggestion… The ceasefire has not changed the intentions of other members of the so-called ‘Axis of Resistance,’ a number of groups [including Hamas and the Houthis] backed by Iran that consider Israel and the US their enemies.”

Pope Wants Israel Investigated

National Catholic Register wrote on November 20:

“The news that Pope Francis would like the international community to investigate whether Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide has shocked and angered many Jews in the U.S. and Israel. In a book excerpt published Nov. 17 in the Italian newspaper La Stampa, the Pope urges an inquiry into what some have labeled an Israeli genocide of Gaza civilians… ‘What is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide. We should investigate carefully to assess whether this fits into the technical definition [of genocide] formulated by international jurists and organizations,’ the [Pope] writes in the book…

“This is not the first time Pope Francis… has strongly criticized Israel’s actions. In September, he suggested Israel’s military maneuvers in Gaza and Lebanon were… ‘immoral.’…

“Israel insists that it is acting in self-defense against Iran-backed Islamic terrorists bent on its destruction. In addition to the Oct. 7 massacre, both Hamas and Hezbollah have fired thousands of rockets at Israeli towns and cities, displacing more than 200,000 Israelis.  

“The United Nations, Human Rights Watch and several other organizations have accused Israel of genocide, claiming that the IDF intentionally targets Palestinian civilians and is trying to evict Palestinians from Gaza… Israel says the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) goes to great lengths to keep Palestinian civilians out of harm’s way, either by dropping leaflets or telephoning civilians before an airstrike. It is Hamas, Israel asserts, that has launched thousands of rockets at Israel from Palestinian homes, hospitals and even mosques to maximize Palestinian civilian casualties and mobilize international hatred against the world’s only Jewish nation and its supporters. 

“Hamas — which the U.S. has designated a terror organization — is refusing to release the 100 remaining hostages, including seven Americans, that they kidnapped from Israeli homes and a music festival not far from the Gaza border during the Oct. 7 attack. Hostages who were released during a brief ceasefire say they were starved and tortured, imprisoned in airless tunnels or in the homes of Gaza civilians. Some witnessed Israeli women being raped…

“The Israeli government expressed dismay at the Pope’s words. ‘There was a genocidal massacre on 7 October 2023 of Israeli citizens, and since then, Israel has exercised its right of self-defense against attempts from seven different fronts to kill its citizens. Any attempt to call it by any other name is singling out the Jewish state,’ Yaron Sideman, ambassador to the Holy See [said]…

“Leading Jewish organizations have long maintained that the war in Gaza does not come close to meeting the criteria for genocide, noting that the term was being leveled at Israel within days of retaliating against Hamas.

“The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) offered sharp criticism of its own. ‘The State of Israel is currently facing a war of intended annihilation on seven fronts, and these remarks look like a possible opening of an eighth front, from of all places, the Vatican, which can also lead to the spilling of Jewish blood around the world,’ said the organization’s CEO, Sacha Roytman Dratwa. ‘For a Pope who appears to prize even-handedness and peace, we see that the Jewish State once again appears to be the exception…’

“B’nai B’rith International, which self-identifies as the world’s oldest and most widely known Jewish organization, said it is ‘stunned and outraged’ by the Pope’s assertion that Israel may have committed genocide…”

The Catholic Church was never a true friend of Israel, and the Bible shows that the relationship will end up in open hostility and warfare.

Trump to Impose Tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico

Fox News wrote on November 25:

“President-elect Trump on Monday said he would issue an executive order upon taking office to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% tariff on all products coming into the United States, as well as additional tariff hikes on China [a 10% tariff] over the flow of illegal immigrants and illicit drugs…  Trump said he has spoken with Chinese officials about fentanyl coming into the U.S., noting that the communist nation previously promised to put to death drug dealers involved in the illicit trade, but failed to follow through…

“‘Indeed, unknown to most Americans, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is actively funding, supporting, and pushing America’s most deadly drug threat in history,’ reads a Heritage Foundation report…”

The Telegraph wrote on November 26:

“Global stock indexes are mostly down after Donald Trump last night ramped up the rhetoric on tariffs… Europe must prepare for Donald Trump to impose hefty tariffs on its exports, Germany’s economy minister has said.

“Robert Habeck said… ‘We have to be prepared for the fact that something similar could also happen to Europe or Germany.’ He told a business conference in Berlin that the president-elect’s announcement indicates that his threats should be taken seriously… ‘The EU must react to this in a united manner (and) speak together as Europe.’”

Bessent For Treasury Secretary?

Axios wrote on November 22:

“President-elect Trump will nominate Scott Bessent, a financier focused on global macroeconomics, as his Treasury secretary, which would make him the incoming administration’s top economic official… Bessent would bring… a close relationship with Trump — as well as a surprising connection to hedge fund manager George Soros, mega-donor to liberal causes and bogeyman to the political right…

“Bessent, 62, founded hedge fund Key Square Capital Management. Before that, he spent most of his career at Soros Capital Management, including as chief investment officer from 2011 to 2015…

“Bessent is married to John Freeman, a former prosecutor, and they have two children. If confirmed, Bessent would be the first openly gay Treasury secretary…”

DNYUZ wrote on November 23:

“The selection [of Scott Bessent] caps an extraordinary career arc for an investor who was once a protégé of the liberal billionaire philanthropist George Soros and who gave money to top Democrats including Hillary Clinton, John Kerry and Barack Obama… Mr. Bessent who would be the first openly gay Treasury secretary, was a strong advocate for gay rights and marriage equality…

“In the 1990s, he worked as a partner at Soros Fund Management, gaining notoriety by betting against the British pound and earning the firm $1 billion. After leaving to start his own fund, Mr. Bessent returned in 2011 to become Mr. Soros’s chief investment officer…

“As Mr. Trump was making his decision, skeptics of Mr. Bessent raised concerns about his ties to Mr. Soros and suggested that he was not a true believer in tariffs. However, he won the public support of key advisers to Mr. Trump such as Larry Kudlow and Stephen K. Bannon, who viewed him as the best choice.”

What’s going on with some of Trump’s strange nominations? In addition to the controversial nomination of Scott Bessent, we have been witnessing the nomination of the radical and extremely dangerous Stephen Miller; of the controversial, inexperienced and highly unliked Matt Gaetz (who by now withdrew); and of Pete Hegseth (with rape charges hanging over his head, which he denied, but he described more than one affair as “consensual” sex…, i.e. of adultery).  Of course, there will be other nominations which will be, rightly or wrongly, highly contested.

Trump Federal Cases Dismissed

ABC News reported on November 25:

“The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s election Interference case dismissed the case Monday, after special counsel Jack Smith asked the judge to toss the case due to a long-standing Justice Department policy that bars the prosecution of a sitting president. Smith earlier Monday filed a motion to dismiss the case, as well as the appeal of Trump’s classified documents case ahead of Trump’s impending inauguration, due to the DOJ’s presidential immunity policy and not because the charges lacked merit…

“U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan dismissed the election interference charges against Trump without prejudice, leaving open the highly unlikely possibility of a future prosecution… ‘Dismissal without prejudice is also consistent with the Government’s understanding that the immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office,’ Chutkan wrote. However, it’s extremely unlikely that any prosecutor would attempt to bring the same charges in the future, in part because the statute of limitations for the alleged crimes will have expired by the time Trump leaves office in four years….”

In the document case, Smith had appealed a decision by the judge dismissing the case as Smith’s appointment as special prosecutor was found to be illegal and unconstitutional.

AFP wrote on November 26:

“An appeals court on Tuesday granted a request by prosecutors to drop the case against President-elect Donald Trump for mishandling classified documents.”

Breitbart added on November 25:

“Taken together, the moves mark the end of the federal prosecutions against the president-elect, leaving two remaining cases at the state level in Georgia and New York.”

Trump’s Controversial Deportation Plans

The Huffington Post wrote on November 23:

“In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s election to a second term as president, attention has turned to his highest-profile campaign promise: the mass deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the United States… Trump and his allies say they will focus on ‘violent criminals’…  But the fine print is always the same. When they say ‘criminals,’ they mean all roughly 11 million undocumented people in the country, most of whom have lived in the United States here for years, have family and loved ones who are U.S. citizens, and have never committed a serious crime…

“Trump ‘border czar’ Tom Homan] said…that the ‘massive deportation operation’ would be focused on ‘those people entering the country illegally, which is a crime.’ It’s not technically true that all unauthorized immigrants are criminals. Though crossing the border without authorization is a misdemeanor at first, and then a felony every time after that, some undocumented people — such as those who overstay visas — are civil offenders, not criminals.

“Nonetheless, Trump and his allies have painted all undocumented immigrants broadly as criminals, and they’ve said they intend to go after everyone. Last November, Stephen Miller — a key Trump adviser on immigration and the incoming deputy chief of staff for policy — told the New York Times in the paper’s words, that ‘a new Trump administration would shift from the ICE practice of arresting specific people to carrying out workplace raids and other sweeps in public places aimed at arresting scores of unauthorized immigrants at once.’..

“Roughly 11 million undocumented people lived in the United States as of 2022…  Estimates of the undocumented population include people who have temporary protections from deportation, such as people who are applying for asylum (even if they crossed the border without authorization), people with so-called ‘temporary protected status,’ recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or ‘DACA,’ and people applying for certain visas from within the United States. This group with temporary protections accounts for almost 30% of the undocumented population…  The undocumented population estimates do not include naturalized citizens, green card holders, approved refugees, people who’ve been granted asylum, and people with temporary lawful status like students with visas.

“Nearly two-thirds of the undocumented population has lived in the United States for over a decade, and a third of those 15 and older reside with at least one U.S.-citizen child under 18… The vast majority of undocumented immigrants live in ‘mixed status’ households. Some 8.5 million undocumented people live alongside U.S. citizens, or, in some cases, noncitizens with legal status… In all, 5.5 million U.S.-born children live in households with at least one undocumented resident… All told, about 1 in 12 U.S. residents will be at risk of either deportation or family separation — the result of deporting a member of a mixed-status or undocumented household — in 2025…

“Some people have received what are known as ‘final orders of removal,’ meaning an immigration judge has determined they can be deported… [Some] put the figure at between 1.4 and 1.5 million people. Only a fraction of that number is currently in ICE custody, or part of an ‘alternative to detention’ program like wearing an ankle bracelet. This group will be a top priority for the Trump administration, as will detaining people with final removal orders who aren’t in ICE custody… Others have been ordered removed from the country ‘in absentia’ — meaning after they missed an immigration court date — though these orders can be reversed in some cases, for example if the affected person did not receive proper notice of their hearing. In all, there are millions of cases currently pending in immigration court.

“Even if Trump vastly expanded the scale and pace of the immigration legal system — a tall order — he’d still need the cooperation of other countries to accept people deported from the United States. The ‘repatriation’ flights that Miller hopes will ‘constantly’ churn between U.S.-based detention facilities and countries around the world depend in part on diplomacy…

“Trump and Miller have also spoken about the potential for using National Guard and even U.S. military personnel as part of the effort — though U.S. law would complicate this. Immigration enforcement is generally reserved for domestic federal law officers, not the military, and efforts to cross that line would likely end up in court.

“Perhaps the most potent weapon Trump wields when it comes to speeding deportations is the fact that open-ended stays in detention facilities, which are jails in all but name, will lead many to put an end to their misery by agreeing to their own deportation without waiting for a judge’s order. That is likely one of the motivations behind Miller’s effort to build vast detention camps for migrants — they would constitute an extreme attempt to pressure people to leave the country without exercising their right to appeal. Trump applied such pressure in his first term with the ‘zero tolerance’ or ‘family separation’ policy, which Miller and Homan played key roles in crafting. The practice involved criminally charging every adult who crossed the border without authorization, meaning they would be briefly held in jail and their children would be considered ‘unaccompanied’ minors, as detention rules differ for children….”

Some of these concepts are simply terrible.

Using the Military

Reuters reported on November 26:

“President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to use the U.S. military to help deport millions of undocumented migrants, a plan that breaks from U.S. tradition against deploying troops domestically but which legal experts said would still be hard to successfully challenge in court. Trump has not explained how he plans to deploy the military to deport migrants… ‘President Trump will marshal every federal and state power necessary to institute the largest deportation operation of illegal criminals, drug dealers, and human traffickers in American history,’ Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement on Monday.

“Every president since Bill Clinton in the 1990s has sent National Guard or active-duty soldiers to the border in support roles, ranging from surveillance to training and fixing equipment. Experts said the support role exceptions to the Posse Comitatus Act might also allow the military to build vast camps to hold those slated for removal. Stephen Miller, an immigration adviser to Trump, floated that proposal to the New York Times in November 2023…

“If state governors refuse to send their National Guard, Trump could invoke the Insurrection Act… It has been used 30 times in U.S. history…  Trump could be invited by a governor to invoke the act, as former President George H.W. Bush was in 1992 in response to riots in Los Angeles. Trump could also invoke it on his own if there has been a breakdown in law and order or it is needed to defend civil rights. It was invoked in 1871 to fight racial violence by the Ku Klux Klan after the Civil War and in the 1950s and 1960s to enforce school desegregation and protect civil rights marches.”

Bad Economic Impact on Mass Deportations?

AFP wrote on November 24:

“President-elect Donald Trump’s tough immigration proposals — including a controversial mass deportation plan — could prove economically damaging…, with US sectors that rely heavily on foreign workers like agriculture and construction especially hard hit… Around 8.3 million unauthorized people were in the labor force in 2022… That was equivalent to just under five percent of the overall workforce… many of the sectors that could be the hardest-hit have long struggled to attract US workers.

“‘The construction and agriculture industries would lose at least one in eight workers, while in hospitality, about one in 14 workers would be deported due to their undocumented status,’ the non-profit American Immigration Council (AIC) said in a recent report on Trump’s deportation plans. The deportations would also impact ‘more than 30 percent’ of plasterers, roofers, and painters, along with a quarter of housekeeping cleaners, according to the report…

“A recent Peterson Institute for International Economics report… predicted that economic growth by 2028 could be 7.4 percent beneath baseline estimates, ‘meaning no US net economic growth occurs over the second Trump term because of this policy alone.’”

npr added on November 23:

“Clear signals President-elect Donald Trump plans to make good on his campaign pledge to deport millions of undocumented immigrants in his second term has sparked concerns among some in Texas’ business and economic sectors who say mass deportations could upend some of the state’s major industries that rely on undocumented labor, chief among them the booming construction industry… In 2022, more than a half million immigrants worked in the construction industry…  Nearly 60% of that workforce was undocumented… the Texas General Land Office recently offered the incoming Trump administration more than 1,400 acres of South Texas land ‘to construction deportation facilities.’”

It was also stated that Trump’s deportation plans “would devastate our [Texas’] industry, we wouldn’t finish our highways, we wouldn’t finish our schools… Housing would disappear… they’d lose half their labor.”

We will see…

America’s Ridiculous Immigration Nightmare

Fox News wrote on November 21:

“Former NCAA swimmer and conservative activist Biley Gaines…  were married in May 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee… Gaines says Barker, despite coming into the country legally, has not been able to attain citizenship or even a green card yet, despite the fact that the couple has been married for two years… Gaines says the couple received a letter in the mail. The reason Barker has not been granted citizenship is that he does not have the COVID-19 vaccine. ‘Think about how hard our government has made it for people migrating into this country legally in comparison to those who break the law. Because if you just walk across the southern border, you’re given housing, a driver’s license, money.’

“Elon Musk reposed Gaines’ TikTok video on X with a message advocating for legal immigration reform. Musk himself is also a legal immigrant from South Africa who has also spoken in favor of immigration reform in the U.S…. ‘Legal immigration to America is ridiculously slow and difficult, even for super talented people. Needs to be fixed,’ Musk wrote. 

“U.S. immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations prior to the issuance of an immigrant visa. The COVID-19 vaccine was added to that list under the Biden-Harris administration. Panel physicians who conduct medical examinations of immigrant visa applicants are required to verify that immigrant visa applicants have met the vaccination requirements, or that it is medically inappropriate for the visa applicant to receive one or more of the listed vaccinations. However, none of this applies to people who sneak into the country illegally.”

America’s immigration system embraces clearly incredibly stupid requirements and procedures.

The Orca Tragedy

The Sun wrote on November 26:

“A KILLER whale that spent its whole life in captivity and fatally attacked its trainer in 2009 has died at a Canary Islands park… The orca, originally born at SeaWorld Orlando in 1995, had been transferred to Loro Parque in 2006, where he performed for crowds and was used for breeding. Keto’s life began in captivity, born as part of SeaWorld’s controversial orca breeding programme. His mother, Kalina, was the first orca successfully born in a SeaWorld park, while his father, Kotar, died tragically when a tank gate crushed his skull.

“Keto was torn from his mother at just four years old and shuffled between several SeaWorld parks before being loaned to Loro Parque. At Loro Parque, Keto was bred with his niece, Kohana, in an unnatural pairing that resulted in multiple calves. Only one, Adán, survives today. His daughter, Vicky, died at just 10 months old. Keto’s captivity is said to have taken a severe toll on his mental and physical health… engaging in unnatural and harmful behaviours, such as chewing on concrete out of frustration, which severely damaged his teeth…

“On Christmas Eve 2009,  Keto killed his trainer, 29-year old Alexis Martinez, during a rehearsal for a Christmas show… The attack… came just two months before another orca killed trainer Dawn Brancheau  in front of an audience at SeaWorld Orlando.  These tragedies highlighted the dangers of keeping orcas in captivity and prompted SeaWorld to briefly suspend water work with whales. PETA and other animal welfare groups… criticised both SeaWorld and Loro Parque for subjecting him to a life of confinement in small tanks, depriving him of the ability to swim vast distances or form natural social bonds. PETA also noted that Keto’s mixed genetic background—75% Icelandic and 25% Southern Resident orca—would never occur in the wild, as these populations are separated by vast distances and have distinct social structures.

“Keto’s unnatural breeding and life in captivity, they argue, robbed him of a natural existence… [The zoo noted] that 29 years is average for male orcas in the wild. Critics, however, argue that captivity was the true cause of Keto’s early death. In the wild, male orcas can live up to 60 or 70 years.”

The conduct of SeaWorld and other parks must indeed be questioned. Is it really God’s Will to treat or mistreat animals in that way?

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.

A relationship with God is important for us who have been chosen by God in this age to be involved in the preaching of the gospel to the world as a witness, prior to the return of Jesus Christ, as we read in Mathew 24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” We are also admonished to grow in Christ’s grace and His knowledge which helps us get close to God the Father. 2 Peter 3:18 says: “… grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

The key element for developing a close relationship with God is ODEDIENCE, which almost seems like a dirty word to some people.

How important is obedience?  Acts 5:32 quotes the words of Peter in this way: “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom [better: which] God has given to those who obey Him.”

Failure to obey can prevent one from even being properly baptized and receiving the Holy Spirit. And if they received it, they could lose it again if they consistently resist repenting and obeying God. We must constantly use the Holy Spirit by using the tools God has given us, which are prayer, Bible study, meditation and occasional fasting. Otherwise, we might dim or quench the Holy Spirit. We can even witness this by observing how fast biblical knowledge leaves a person when they leave the Church and/or neglect to use the tools provided for us by God. If or when in their presence, you sense that something is wrong.

To keep a fire burning, it needs constant fuel. Once the fuel is stopped, the fire diminishes in heat and size and eventually, it is reduced to glowing coals. If more wood is thrown on the coals, the fire will reignite and burn bright again. If the coals are left without fuel or wood, they diminish in size, but are still able to reignite, but once it gets down to one spark and keeps fading away, there is nothing you can do to revive the fire.

2 Peter 2:19-26 warns us in this regard:

“While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A DOG RETURNS TO HIS OWN VOMIT,’ and, ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.’” 

Refusing to obey has the consequence of possibly losing the Holy Spirit which puts one in the unpardonable sin category.

Hebrews 10:26 says: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins…”

There is no coming back from this state. It’s the state that Satan is in. He cannot repent because he will not repent. His mind is so corrupted because of sin that it is impossible for him to repent and thus, he now hates God, the ONE he once loved and obeyed.

It is a sad state of affairs one can find oneself in by refusing to obey, so obeying is a key factor in our relationship with God. In this context, prayer is also important. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 admonishes us to “pray without ceasing.” In other words, do not ever give up on prayer; because when we pray, we communicate with our Creator.

Philippians 4:6 says: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

By supplication and prayer, we put our requests before God. We have many examples of Christ praying to God the Father, and we know He was definitely close to God; and God was pleased with Christ’s conduct and ways, as we read in Luke 3:22: “And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, ‘You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.’” In addition, we read in Matthew 17:5: “While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’”

The admonition on how to pray is also provided in Scripture. Christ instructs us in Mathew 6:9-13: “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

These are the things we ought to pray about, and the key admonition is to pray “IN THIS MANNER,” as it is an outline which should guide us when we pray.

When we pray, we show obedience. Obedience demonstrates our love for God, and that God’s love is in us. 1 John 5::2-3 says: “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”

The commandments are not nor should they be a burden but rather a blessing when we keep them.

How is the love of God demonstrated? By keeping the Ten Commandments. While the last six commandments demonstrate our love towards our fellow man, the first four commandments show us how to love God. Let us now, in the context of this Q&A, concentrate on the first four commandments.

Exodus 20:2-3 quotes God as saying: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.”

It’s important that we put God in first place in our lives and not replace Him with other gods or idols or worthless objects or things. God is the Eternal God, the Creator of all things through His Son Jesus Christ, as Colossians 1:13-16 tells us: “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”

We are to worship the Father. Be cognizant that God the Father is also the God of Christ, as Christ confirmed in John 20:17: “Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.”’” But we are to pray to the Father in the name and with the authority of Jesus Christ, our Mediator.

Exodus 20:4-6 continues: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

We are not to bow down to any idols, be they statues in a church building, statues of Budha or symbols of fish or land animals. People can also make idols of people like rock stars, politicians, actors, husbands or wives, jobs and positions or anything that takes our eyes and attention off the One true God.

Exodus 20:7 says: “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”

Taking God’s name in vain includes vain repetitions like using beads or rosaries or euphemisms, like “gee” or “gosh.” It also includes cursing as you hear so much in movies and work sites today.

Exodus 20:8-11 continues: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”

God says to remember, and most people forget. The Sabbath is part of the re-creation week. It was created by God for man to rest. By extension, this also includes the annual Sabbaths outlined in Leviticus 23:1-7 and Deuteronomy 16:1-17. These Festivals outline the plan of God from repentance to redemption, showing that eventually every human being ever born will be offered the opportunity to become a member of the Family of God.

The weekly Sabbath is blessed and hallowed by the fact that God puts His presence in the day— but not in any other day, be it Sunday, Friday or any other weekday. Matthew 12:8 quotes Christ as saying: “For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” As Creator of the Sabbath, He is also Lord of the Sabbath and has the authority to instruct us how to keep it.

Further, Exodus 31:13-17 says: “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.'” 

The Sabbath—the weekly Sabbath and the annual Holy Days—are a sign between us and God. They point to the One and true God of Creation—the most high God. They are a perpetual covenant between God and His people, members of God’s Church called in this age.

Bible study is the reading and study of the Bible which holds truths about the creation of the universe and man—including a history of the patriarchs, of the nation of Israel from its slavery in Egypt to becoming a nation and down through the prophets to the time of Christ. It includes the record of the life and history of Christ up to His crucifixion and resurrection, as well as the history of the Church established on Pentecost; the life of Paul; the books of the followers and brothers of Christ up to the book of Revelation, giving us a history of the seven churches down through the ages and prophetic events leading up to the return of Christ. It is crucial to study biblical history, the Psalms and admonitions of the authors of the many books of the Bible. In this context, what is the admonition to us? 1 Peter 3:15 says: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear…”

In order to give a defense of the hope that lies within us, we have to have knowledge and understanding of the Bible, which we attain through studying it.

Meditation is also important, which means thinking about and analyzing what we have read in the Bible. So the more we meditate on God’s Word, the more it will stay in our mind and it is thus easier to recall when required by someone who asks about our beliefs.

Fasting is the one way of developing a strong relationship with God that not everyone is eager to do. This tool was used by Christ for forty days and forty nights prior to the start of His ministry (Matthew 4:1-2), so the example is to use it prior to major decisions or challenges in our lives. Combined with prayer, Bible study and mediation, it is a powerful tool in our arsenal for drawing closer to God.

Our ultimate goal is to qualify to enter the Kingdom of God as His sons and daughters and inherit life that never ends—a life of productivity, joy and fulfillment. Drawing close to God and developing a strong relationship with Him is an important aspect of attaining that goal, since all of us want to hear this praise from our Savior Jesus Christ at His return: “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord’” (Matthew 25:23). 

Lead Writer: Rene Messier

compiled by Dave Harris

The memorial service for Margaret Adair will take place on Sunday, December 15, 2024. It will begin promptly at 12:45pm at Escondido Columbus Club Hall, 515 W. Valley Pkwy, Escondido CA 92025. Please contact Johanna.Link@cox.net if you want to attend.

“Jesus Christus—unser alleiniger Heiland,” is the title of this Sabbath’s new German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Jesus Christ—Our Only Savior.”

“Die Hoffnung in uns,” last Sabbath’s first split-sermon presented by Robert Muhr, is now posted. Title in English: “The Hope Within Us.”

“Wach endlich auf, Juda!” last Sabbath’s second split-sermon presented by Marc Völler, is now posted. Title in English: “Finally Wake Up, Judah!”

“Without Deceit,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Paul Niehoff, is now posted. Here is the summary:

God has given us instructions to remove deceit from our lives reminding us that that is a characteristic of Satan. Jesus Christ praised Nathanael for being without deceit and the one- hundred and forty-four thousand in the book of Revelation are also described as being without deceit. Only those without deceit can be trusted to live God’s way forever.

“Jesus Christ—Our Savior,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

The Bible tells us that we can ONLY be saved through Jesus Christ; that there is no salvation in any other. This means that we CANNOT be saved through any other means or name or religion. But in order to be saved, we must believe and follow the true Jesus Christ of the Bible. A belief in a false Jesus will not save us. What does this mean exactly? What must we believe, and what must we reject?

On November 23, 2024, Paul Niehoff will present the sermonette, titled, “Without Deceit,” and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “Salvation of the World”.

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.

How do we become stronger and stronger in faith? Certainly, we must; but even having faith in our time seems outside our control. We can read about others in the pages of the Bible who were noted for having great faith, but can we also attain that key attribute?

We are challenged by a very crucial requirement as we follow Jesus Christ: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

We see then, first, that we must believe that God is real! That takes faith, because we can’t see Him, for He is a spirit (John 4:24). Yet, we do learn about God through His written Word and the Creation He has made—things we can see and understand. Since that is true, then can we learn more about Him and be strengthened in our faith?

Second, to strengthen our faith as Christians—begotten children of God—we have access to God the Father through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). We can have our prayers answered and, when that happens, our faith can grow. In every aspect of our life, we can seek to walk in righteousness before God, which simply means obeying Him. The more we become obedient sons and daughters of our Father in heaven, the more we will grow in faith.

God has all the answers to anything we could possibly imagine or ever need! Have we grown in faith to the extent that we believe this? Do we truly face all our challenges based on this kind of resolute and unshakeable faith?

Being called by God in this life should allow us to reflect and consider the many times when our faith has been tested. When we fellowship as members of the body of Christ (the Church of God), we share our stories of faith with others. We should also be able to see personal growth and how, with the power of God’s Holy Spirit, we are being strengthened in faith.

Having the kind of faith that will please God is, indeed, the hard work of salvation! Let’s remember that we aren’t alone when it all seems too great a challenge to have faith for the moment. Consider the example of a father who sought to have his son healed. Jesus said, “‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes’” (Mark 9:23).

I think the father’s response hits home for all of us: “‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief’” (Mark 9:24).

He did find the help he needed, as Jesus did help and healed his son. We, too, can be strengthened in faith by God.  In matters small or great, ask for God’s help—fully trusting that He will!

by Norbert Link

We begin with further observations regarding Europe’s antisemitism and its persecution of Jews; speak on Trump’s ever-increasing powerful position and his announced plans to deport up to 20 million immigrants; and further shocking developments in Germany and those pertaining to the war between Russia and Ukraine and possible serious escalations.

Please view our new StandingWatch program with the title, “So Close to World War III.”

We address the intention by some on the Trump team to build the Third Temple in Jerusalem; and speak on the comparison between the UK and the former Soviet Union.

We also quote articles about the truly mind-boggling stupidity of the Evolution Theory; extraordinary findings of remains of extinct animals; speculations about the reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire; and the possibility that Noah’s Ark has been located.

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

Jews Safer in Eastern Europe

The Wall Street Journal wrote on November 15:

“After the attacks in Amsterdam, a delegation of imams from France and Belgium came to the city to condemn the violence and lay flowers at the house where Anne Frank hid during the Nazi occupation before being found and deported to a death camp. Some local Islamic organizations criticized the media and some politicians for using the attacks to stigmatize Muslims.

“Public opinion surveys by the Anti-Defamation League have found that antisemitic attitudes are actually more common in Eastern European countries like Hungary, Poland and Ukraine than in France, Germany and the Netherlands. Yet Eastern Europe, home to the killing fields of the Holocaust in World War II, has reported few violent antisemitic incidents since Oct. 7. Hungary and Poland, home to around 45,000 and 17,000 Jews respectively, each registered a single violent incident. In the Czech Republic, home to around 5,000 Jews, two incidents were recorded.”

Breitbart wrote on November 15:

“Tourism or attending sports games is becoming increasingly difficult in Europe for Israeli citizens, where mass migration has radically altered city demographics in many European states and governments increasingly see events like football matches against Israeli teams as a ‘high-risk’ threat… they would rather do without. A recent home match for a Belgian team against Israel couldn’t find a single city in the country willing to host the game…

“Belgium… refused to allow Israel’s footballers to play there for the UEFA championship this year. The Belgian authorities said at the time it would be ‘impossible to organize this very high-risk match’ due to tensions over the Israel-Hamas war.”

In spite of rampant anti-Semitism in Eastern Europe, Jews feel much safer there than in Western Europe… for now.

Violence in Amsterdam

Bloomberg wrote on November 16:

“… the war in Gaza is reverberating thousands of miles away. All over the world, the conflict has inflamed both anti-Israel rhetoric and antisemitism and blurred the boundaries between them — but Europe’s particular history of persecution has left the region’s Jewish population bewildered and fearful. ‘Antisemitism has made an eerie comeback in the western world,’ said Eva Illouz, a French-Israeli sociologist living in Paris… homes and businesses have been vandalized with antisemitic and pro-Hamas graffiti. Antisemitic slurs have been chanted in the streets, and instances of physical violence against Jews have increased… At the same time, Arab and Muslim people in Europe are also facing extreme levels of discrimination and violence…

“In the wake of the violence [in Amsterdam], Dutch King Willem-Alexander announced that the Netherlands had failed the Jewish community ‘again.’…

“Meanwhile, authorities fear that these issues — and the very real threats facing Jewish and Muslim people — will not disappear anytime soon. Scheinin, the Israeli man who was out in Amsterdam the night of the attacks, felt singled out in the Netherlands long before tensions burst out into the open. He had several close friends cut him off on account of the war, without bothering to ask about his beliefs. He’s grown accustomed to potential partners rejecting him on dating apps for being Israeli. After four and a half years trying to build a life in Amsterdam, he’s giving up. Last week, he decided to move back to Israel.”

Jews feel no longer safe in Western Europe.

“‘Jew Hunts’ Are Returning to the Streets of Europe”

The Telegraph wrote on November 15:

“History is repeating itself – anti-Semitic violence is back once more in Dutch, Belgian and German cities.

“This week an American friend asked me whether it is safe to come to London. He asked me because he is Jewish. I was unsettled by the question but understood why he asked. My friend had been reading reports of violent Jew-hate in Europe. The terrifying events in Amsterdam over the past few days have heightened many Jewish people’s sensitivities to the risks that may surround them. An extra degree of caution is seeping into the thoughts of a growing number as they go about their daily lives. We now know more details of what took place in Holland and the planning that went into it…

“The attacks were well-organised, with taxi drivers responding to calls to mobilise and help identify the whereabouts of Jews… It would be some solace to believe that these horrific events in Amsterdam were an isolated incident, but this is not the case. Accounts of violent racism against Jews have appeared across Europe over the past few days.

“In Germany, a group of Jewish schoolchildren were attacked by a pro-Palestinian mob armed with knives and sticks… In Belgium, police arrested five men as part of a pro-active effort to stop a suspected ‘Jew hunt’…”

Terrible atrocities in Europe! Please note our StandingWatch program, “Why Riots Against Jews in Amsterdam?” 

In our German edition of “Aktuelle Weltnachrichten”, dated November 14, we stated the following regarding the German AufPostenStehen version of our StandingWatch program, titled, “Warum die Gewalt gegen Juden in Amsterdam? 

“For a while, we have been allowing comments on our AufPostenStehen programs, although we do not necessarily share the views expressed there. However, some anti-Semitic statements and absolute propagandistic false statements about the [new] program were particularly frightening, from which we have removed the most blatant ones. A disgrace for Germany that such vile anti-Semitism is possible… and unfortunately, it will only increase.”

Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu

The Associated Press reported on November 21: 

“The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas officials, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the war in Gaza and the October 2023 attacks that triggered Israel’s offensive in the Palestinian territory.

“The decision turns Netanyahu and the others into internationally wanted suspects and is likely to further isolate them and complicate efforts to negotiate a cease-fire to end the 13-month conflict. But its practical implications could be limited since Israel and its major ally, the United States, are not members of the court and several of the Hamas officials have been subsequently killed in the conflict.

“Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have condemned ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan’s request for warrants as disgraceful and antisemitic. U.S. President Joe Biden also blasted the prosecutor and expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas. Hamas also slammed the request…. The court itself has no police to enforce warrants, instead relying on cooperation from its member states.”

Will Trump Be More Powerful Than Ever?

Bild Online wrote on November 15:

“Immediately after his election victory, Donald Trump (78) struck a mild tone – spoke of the ‘time of unity’ and of becoming the president of all Americans. Now he’s back to his old self!

“Trump sent a clear signal to the Republicans that he wants more power. His party should guarantee him that he can install a number of ministers and employees in his future government without a vote in the Senate. His reasoning: ‘Otherwise it would take too long to form a government.’… He expects absolute obedience from the Republicans. And he wants to reduce Congress’s ability to put the White House, and thus him, on a leash.

“His chances of doing so are good. Because the Republicans have a solid majority in the Senate at 53 to 47. And: They are on the verge of getting a majority in the House of Representatives. Trump would have a ‘government trifecta’ – a government hat trick from the White House and both chambers of Congress. The opposition would then be condemned to watch for at least two years. Two years in which Trump has a lot planned…

“Trump announced during the election campaign that he would revamp the powerful justice department, which operates largely independently of the White House. With Matt Gaetz (42), he wants to appoint someone who is absolutely loyal to him as Minister of Justice – and fire all Democrats in the ministry immediately…

“Trump announced during the election campaign that he did not want a say in setting interest rates and threatened to fire Fed Chairman Collin Powell (71). He has already declared that he will demand his term of office in court if necessary. But here too, Trump has the upper hand: in his first term in office, he installed three constitutional judges and created a super majority of his Republicans of six to three judges. Consequence: The court granted the president extensive immunity last July…

“Trump has placed the richest man in the world in a key position in the form of Tesla boss Elon Musk (53, 296 billion euros). The SpaceX boss will head the ‘Department of Government Efficiency’. Specific task: drastic cuts in government spending. Number three on the money list, Jeff Bezos (60, 209 billion euros), is also considered an advisor to the president.

“In plain language: Nothing stands in the way of Trump’s vision of a super president.”

Something Europe will not like for sure…

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 16:

“The incoming president has made clear that he would prefer to circumvent the whole confirmation process altogether. To do so, Trump could make so-called ‘recess appointments,’ installing Cabinet members while Congress is not in session, allowing him to sidestep confirmation hearings. Trump has already called on Republicans to approve his unusual plan in a statement on X…

“The Supreme Court… could be called upon to weigh in on the constitutionality of the domestic deployment of US troops to carry out deportations, or attempts to upend birthright citizenship [guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution], as George Washington University political science professor Sarah Binder told DW. Binder is concerned that the current conservative-majority Supreme Court may choose to ignore legal precedent and instead regularly rule in favor of Republican policies…”

Trump’s Deportation Plans

The Mail on Sunday wrote on November 17:

“When Donald Trump is inaugurated as America’s 47th president on January 20, the event will mark the official start of his second term in office with carefully stage-managed images that will be seen around the world. Within hours of the event, Trump will take his seat behind the Resolute desk in the Oval Office and launch what he calls ‘the biggest mass deportation in American history’.

“While the expulsion of illegal immigrants was a focal point of Trump’s election campaign, the precise details of how he intends to accomplish his goal of removing as many as 20 million people from US soil have largely remained unknown.

“The Mail on Sunday has spoken to those in Trump’s inner circle who say his immigration plans have been top of the list in discussions held at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida home, in the days since his crushing victory. One lawyer familiar with the talks told me: ‘Donald is preparing for a series of moves against illegal immigrants, which he says will cause ‘shock and awe’. Kicking out illegals was the mainstay of his run… The source claims Trump will immediately sign a series of executive orders… Citing an immigration crisis, he will temporarily shut the southern border to give officials a chance to clear a huge backlog of cases…

“There are plans to significantly increase the number of armed officers on horseback patrolling the rugged terrain close to the US’s border with Mexico. And, of course, construction will resume on the… wall running between the two countries…

“Trump plans to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which gives presidents the authority to detain and deport non-citizens from ‘hostile nations’ during times of war and conflict. The law was used to justify the building of Japanese internment camps during the Second World War. According to those familiar with Trump’s plans, he will target the 700,000 Venezuelans, Haitians, Cubans and Nicaraguans he has branded ‘vicious criminals from countries that hate us’, who have been allowed to stay in the US under a Biden parole programme.

“And what if, as is highly likely, countries refuse to take back violent gang members? Trump will cut off aid and ban travellers from those countries from entering the US, even on tourist visas.

“’Step Two’ is to expel more than one million people whose applications to remain in the US have been denied and who are on the deportation list.

“Then the round-up of the millions of remaining illegal immigrants will begin as part of ‘Step Three’. Places of work, including farms and meatpacking plants, will be subject to raids (or ‘targeted enforcement activities’)… Individuals will be taken to ‘holding centres’ before their deportation is fast-tracked.

“Experts say the cost of the first two steps could be as much as $300 billion and the cost of expelling every illegal alien – something even Trump privately admits is impossible – could be as much as $1 trillion… Trump is considering deploying the military and National Guard to build ‘tent cities’ on unused federal land, including property belonging to schools and prisons…

“But it is the rounding up of the bulk of migrants under ‘Step Three’ that will likely produce the defining images of Trump’s second term. Many of these people will have children, after being in the US for years. Pictures of families being torn apart, of children being ripped from their parents’ arms, could backfire on Trump.

“But the lawyer who has been speaking to Trump’s team says: ‘What you have to remember is that President Obama deported five million people, and no one talks about that because he’s a Democrat.’ It was under Obama, he observes, that controversial chain-link fence enclosures – or cages – in deportation holding centres were first built. ‘President Trump has a professional team around him,’ says the lawyer. ‘The best of the best. They have been working on this immigration plan for years.’ And, crucially, Trump ‘has the mandate of the people’.

“He insists that the President-elect isn’t against immigration, pointing out that Trump is married to Melania, a Slovenian-American; his first wife Ivana was born in what was then Czechoslovakia; and Elon Musk, ‘his best buddy’, hails from South Africa…”

We will see if some, or all, of the plans described above will be carried out. As described above, some, if not many, of them do not look too good or just or godly.

Trump Will Declare National Emergency

Washington Examiner wrote on November 18:

“President-elect Donald Trump  confirmed on Truth Social early Monday morning that his incoming administration will declare a national emergency and use military resources to implement a mass deportation of illegal immigrants… the president-elect said he would ‘deport more illegal immigrants from the United States than any of his predecessors.’

“To implement such a plan and facilitate this initiative, Trump announced that Tom Homan, former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, would be the ‘border czar’ for the Trump administration… Homan stressed that he would prioritize deporting the illegal immigrants who were already told to leave the country by a federal immigration judge but have defied those orders… Currently, there are an estimated 1.3 million illegal immigrants who were ordered to leave the country but ignored those orders and remained, the Wall Street Journal reported.”

DACA Recipients Brace for Trump’s Return 

Newsmax wrote on November 15:

“Advocates are advising beneficiaries of a program that protects illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to renew their status immediately, if eligible, because of President-elect Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations. Just a fraction of an estimated 3.6 million illegal immigrants brought to the country as children (called Dreamers) have sought legal protection under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The Obama-era policy protects qualifying Dreamers by temporarily shielding them from deportation and providing them work authorization with possible renewal every two years…

“During his first term, Trump tried to end DACA in 2017. But the Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts, ruled in 2020 the Trump administration did not provide a reasoned explanation for ending DACA. But the court’s ruling allowed the administration to make another attempt to end the program if it used proper administrative procedures, including a well-reasoned explanation for its actions…”

And now, Republican judges are in the majority, 6 to 3. To abolish the protection for “Dreamers” would be absolutely unconscionable.

Is Fauci Finally Going to Pay For His Crimes?

Life Site News wrote on November 19:

“… the newly nominated U.S. Attorney General Matt Gaetz… declared, ‘The Hammer of Justice is coming [on Fauci].’… Anthony Fauci committed a federal crime [on May 11, 2021] by providing false testimony to Congress under oath…

“In June of this year, criminal referral requests against Anthony Fauci and other public health officials were submitted to District Attorneys in Louisiana…  the Trump administration will likely have no issue identifying federal crimes committed during the COVID-19 pandemic… some courts have already taken positive action. Last week, a Michigan jury awarded $12 million to a Blue Cross Blue Shield employee fired after refusing the COVID-19 ‘vaccine’: Much of the award – $10 million – is for punitive damages against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan…

“Another employee from Blue Cross Blue Shield that was fired for refusing to take a COVID-19 mRNA injection was awarded almost $700,000 by a federal jury. This was followed by a court ordering San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) to pay $7.8 million to 6 workers fired for refusing COVID-19 mRNA injections.

“The jury awarded over $1 million to each of six former BART employees who were fired for seeking religious exemptions from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The court rejected BART’s claim of undue hardship, ruling the firings violated their religious rights. This landmark decision came after nearly three years of struggle.

“With a Robert F. Kennedy Jr.-led restructuring of public health agencies and a revamped Department of Justice, the scales of justice are expected to tip in favor of medical freedom and democracy as public and expert opinion continues to shift.”

Late—too late for many—but at least something is happening.

Gaetz Withdraws

Newsmax wrote on November 21:

“Matt Gaetz… withdrew from consideration for attorney general Thursday, saying he was ‘unfairly becoming a distraction’ to President-elect Donald Trump’s transition… his meetings with Republican senators this week reportedly revealed that his nomination would get rejected in confirmation hearings.”

Habeck Presses Charges Against His Critics

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 15:

“Deputy Chancellor Robert Habeck has pressed charges against a man who posted a picture of him with a derogatory caption online… The public prosecutor’s office in Bamberg in northern Bavaria confirmed on Friday that the suspect’s flat had been searched, with a tablet device being seized, and that [Habeck] had asked authorities to prosecute an alleged insult against him…

“[The man] captioned the photo with a phrase that could be translated multiple ways in English, with one strong option being ‘professional idiot’ — with the German ‘Schwachkopf’ literally translating as ‘weak-head.’ The man… appeared to be trying to allude to an advertising campaign by the similarly-named hair care company Schwarzkopf Professional…

“At least in theory, any political officials in Germany — all the way from the chancellor to the municipal level — can press charges against perceived public insults, if they think they can demonstrate reputational harm or an impact on their ability to carry out their role.  If convicted, perpetrators can face a fine or up to three years in prison…”

Report 24 added on November 15 that Habeck, who wants to become Germany’s next Chancellor, has by now pressed 805 charges against German citizens for “inflicting reputational harm.”

Nius added on November 15::

“It is still hard to believe: Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) had filed a criminal complaint against a citizen who had insulted him as an ‘imbecile’. The renowned GDR historian Hubertus Knabe tells NIUS that this is definitely reminiscent of the abuse of justice in the communist German Democratic Republic….

“He thinks: ‘If a member of the government takes criminal action against a citizen because of such a statement, it has another dimension – and it is definitely reminiscent of the abuse of justice in the GDR… As a politician you have to endure more than normal citizens. Especially derogatory statements that are made emotionally – these are part of the political business. If you can’t stand that, then you’re in the wrong place in politics…”

These developments in Germany are truly “hard to believe”—unless you know biblical prophecy. The Bible tells us that Germany will become an absolute unhinged dictatorship. 

Scholz Calls Putin

Breitbart wrote on November 16:

“The German government has collapsed and is rapidly heading to snap elections in early 2025, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz has picked this moment to reach out to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time in two years to ask him to withdraw his troops from Ukraine…

“Per a German government spokesman, the call lasted for an hour and Scholz spent his time on the line with President Putin condemning the Russian war against Ukraine, calling on Moscow to enter negotiations, and urging for the Kremlin to end the conflict by withdrawing their troops. Scholz told Putin Russia had failed to achieve its war aims so it might as well now give up…

“German newspaper Die Welt states that in addition to asking Russia to end the war, Scholz also affirmed on behalf of Germany to President Putin the nation’s ‘unwavering determination’ to keep supporting Ukraine for as long as necessary… Ukraine reacted badly to the call. President Volodymyr Zelensky called it a ‘Pandora’s box’ moment that could lead to other conversations with the Russian leader. Zelensky said this is ‘exactly what Putin has wanted for a long time: it is crucial for him to weaken his isolation.’

“Russia reacted in turn, with their state media stating the country’s position was essentially unchanged, and President Putin has told Scholz Moscow would enter into negotiations to ‘settle the conflict’ as long as all of its conditions were met. While evidently, these are not acceptable to Ukraine or its Western backers, they nevertheless include Ukraine surrendering parts of its territory to the Russian Federation and then becoming a ‘non-aligned’ and demilitarized state…”

That Russia, according to Scholz, had not achieved its military goals and should therefore give up is a rather illusionary conclusion. In addition, Scholz is a lame-duck chancellor and does not speak for Germany at all anymore. It is not expected that Scholz will stay chancellor after the new elections, currently planned in February.

Biden Gives Green Light for Long-Range Missiles

The New York Post wrote on November 17:

“President Biden has reportedly given Ukraine permission to deploy US-supplied long-range missiles to attack targets in Russian territory just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Ukraine said it plans to take advantage of the policy change within days.

“The dramatic shift in policy comes as Ukraine has faced setbacks on the battlefield… Trump had pledged that he will end the war once he takes office in January… Looming over the decision was the Kremlin’s decision to deploy North Korean troops into the bloody war, which presents significant dangers for Ukraine…”

Breitbart added on November 17:

“[Biden’s] move… may escalate the conflict two months before President-Elect Donald Trump comes into office with a mandate to seek a peace settlement… The apparent about-face from the Biden administration may be seen as an attempt to undermine peace efforts by incoming President Donald Trump, who has already embarked upon unofficial diplomatic efforts to fulfil his promise of negotiating an end to the war…

“The ‘Weimar Triangle’ alliance of France, Germany, and Poland are… expected to meet alongside the UK and others next week to discuss potentially increasing European funding for the war if the incoming Trump administration seeks to limit aid to Ukraine. It is unclear, however, how much popular support would be for such a move, given the budget crises currently bedevilling the left-wing governments in Berlin, London, and Paris.”

So far, Scholz has steadfastly refused to allow German long-range missiles to be used to attack targets within Russia. He said he would not allow it even if the USA did… 

Will Scholz Make Room For Pistorius?

The Guardian wrote on November 19:

“Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, is under mounting pressure to step aside as his party’s candidate for the job in February’s snap election in favour of his defence minister, Boris Pistorius, the most popular politician in the country… In a move drawing comparisons to Joe Biden’s decision to step aside for Kamala Harris as the Democratic party candidate in the US election, speculation is rife that the SPD could switch horses at roughly the same moment in the campaign, with about 100 days left.

“Scholz led a fractious three-way coalition from 2021 until it imploded this month after he fired his pro-business finance minister Christian Lindner. He has stated he is seeking a second term at the helm of the EU’s top economic power. But even his swift move… has failed to revive his political fortunes.

“A poll published on Tuesday showed Scholz slipping into last place among Germany’s top 20 politicians in terms of support, with the genial, politically deft Pistorius consistently holding on to the lead… Pistorius had repeatedly demurred when asked about ambitions to replace Scholz, citing loyalty and a commitment to the defence brief. But on Monday evening he shifted his tone, saying: ‘In politics you should never rule anything out.’… The defence minister has made his backing known for shipping long-range Taurus missiles long demanded by Ukraine, while Scholz this week again ruled out such a move over fears of escalation of the war…”

Politico added on November 20:

“Boris Pistorius, Germany’s current defense minister and a member of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), consistently ranks as the most liked politician in the country. Scholz, on the other hand, ranks as one of the least popular politicians…

“Pistorius is known for his relatively hawkish views when it comes to providing arms to Ukraine and expanding Germany’s military. For this reason, he’s not necessarily a natural fit for a party that has traditionally sought to retain ties to Moscow and has remained skeptical of wielding military power.

“Despite that, many inside the SPD are arguing that Pistorius is the only one who can save the party from a stinging defeat in Germany’s early election, expected on Feb. 23, following the collapse of Scholz’s three-party coalition earlier this month…

“SPD leaders have sought to put speculation about a possible Pistorius candidacy to rest, vowing that Scholz remains the party’s top choice. But a growing number within the party’s rank and file are coming out to voice support for Pistorius…

“The goal, he has often said, is to make the German military ‘fit for war.’ Pistorius has also spearheaded a new recruitment effort based on a volunteer model in an effort to bolster Germany’s depleted military ranks… A few years ago, many voters would have rejected Pistorius’s talk of war readiness as militaristic. But Russia’s war on Ukraine has changed minds in Germany, and polls show most Germans favor more investment in their military. Pistorius has also quickly built up his international credentials. His frequent calls for Berlin to meet or exceed NATO’s 2-percent-of-GDP spending target have won him many fans among Western allies who have long urged German leaders to invest more in their military…

“But even if Scholz remains, his party is likely to lose the election, making it unlikely he will hold onto power within the SPD after it’s over. Pistorius, however, is likely to stick around. He could play a major part in any new government… Pistorius… may well end up serving again as defense minister in the next government. This, in turn, could put him in position to become the SPD’s chancellor candidate in the following federal election. In other words: Whatever the outcome of the current machinations inside the SPD, Pistorius appears set to play a key role for the SPD for years to come.”

Pistorius… someone to watch…

Pistorius Won’t Run for Chancellor

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 21:

“Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has published a video on the SPD’s social media accounts, saying he told the party leadership he ‘was not available’ to run for chancellor and would support Olaf Scholz’s reelection bid.”

For now… Pistorius is clearly someone to watch…

So Close to WW III

The Daily Mail wrote on November 19:

“Following President Vladimir Putin’s approval of new rules governing the use of nuclear weapons, the world has rarely been closer to World War III. Putin yesterday signed into law a revised ‘doctrine’ that would permit the Kremlin to authorise a nuclear strike if Russia is attacked by any country that is supported by a nuclear power after Ukraine fired an American-supplied, long-range missile into Russia for the first time.

“Since his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the despot has consistently threatened to deploy Moscow’s fearsome arsenal but his latest move brings the spectre of a nuclear holocaust ever closer.”

Ukraine Attacks Targets Inside Russia

Breitbart wrote on November 20:

“Ukrainian forces have attacked targets inside Russia with British-made Storm Shadow missiles for the first time… Ukrainians have deployed Storm Shadow missiles, which have a range of around 250 km (155 miles), in an attack on the Kursk region of Russia, where Kyiv launched a surprise incursion over the summer…

“The use of long-range British missiles against targets inside Russia comes after lame duck U.S. President Joe Biden reportedly approved the use of 190 mile range (300 km) American Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles for similar strikes over the weekend after months of refusals over concern of escalating the conflict…

‘Russian strongman Vladimir Putin, who controls the world’s largest nuclear weapons arsenal, updated Moscow’s nuclear doctrine  this week to include ‘any attack’ sponsored by a nuclear power that threaten Russia’s ‘sovereignty’ or a ‘large-scale launch of enemy aircraft, missiles, and drones targeting Russian territory’ as justification for a nuclear response from the Kremlin. Ukraine’s reported use of U.S. made ATACMS and Storm Shadows from nuclear armed Britain may therefore qualify under the updated doctrine.

“The United States may have also been involved in the reported Storm Shadow strikes on Wednesday as well, with the Times of London reporting that it is believed that Washington provides navigation assistance for such missile strikes…”

The USA is truly playing with (nuclear) fire.

“Biden’s Missile Crisis”

On November 20, the Ron Paul Institute published the following article by Dennis J. Kucinich, a U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1997 to 2013. He was also a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president of the United States in 2004 and 2008:

“When President Biden approved the use of supersonic Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to strike Russia, he placed in jeopardy the national security of the United States, the safety of our troops abroad and violated the U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 8, which provides that only Congress can declare war. Biden has made a decision to insert the U.S. into an unambiguous, escalatory phase, using the territory of Ukraine to attack Russia directly with missiles which can reach 190 miles deep.  This is an illegal act by the President which puts our nation on a path to war with Russia.  

“The American people voted for Trump to end the wars. Biden apparently wants to end the world. Trump is listening to the American people. Biden is listening to NATO’s malignant agenda…

“No President has the right to use unilateral executive authority to permit a U.S. missile strike against another nation. It invites a retaliatory attack.  It is an impeachable offense… The specter of WWIII has  loomed before,  in October of 1962, when the Soviet Union used the territory of Cuba to place offensive missiles just 90 miles away from the American mainland. Absent the wisdom of President Kennedy and the forbearance of Nikita Krushchev, the world was on a path to nuclear annihilation. 

“If Krushchev had ‘permitted’ Russian missiles to be launched at the U.S.  from Cuba, you would not be reading this.

“It is magical thinking that U.S. missiles can be used to attack Russia without consequences.  Now it is Putin who must exercise forbearance…

“Western vainglorious cynicism, together with hundreds of billions of dollars for weapons, shoved Ukraine into an unwinnable conflict… Now, as U.S. missiles rain down on Russia, a counterstrike will occur, spreading ever wider the misery which has enveloped Ukraine.  

“The Biden Administration, in the face of the Afghanistan withdrawal debacle, rejected a Ukrainian-Russian diplomatic settlement more than two years ago, and continued financing the war for domestic political reasons, giving Americans a false hope for victory over Russia…”

Russia Fires Intercontinental Missile

Reuters wrote on November 21:

“Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile from its southern Astrakhan region during a morning attack on Ukraine on Thursday, Kyiv’s air force said, the first time Russia has used such a powerful, long-range missile during the war. 

“The strike comes after Ukraine used U.S. and British missiles to strike targets inside Russia this week, something Moscow had warned for months would be seen as a major escalation. … The missiles have a range of thousands of kilometres and can be used for delivering nuclear warheads, though they can also have conventional warheads…”

No Intercontinental Missile?

Deutsche Welle reported on November 21:

“President Vladimir Putin said on Russian television that a new intermediate-range missile had been fired at Ukraine, hours after claims from Kyiv of the first known use of an even longer-range intercontinental ballistic missile… He said Russia would have the ‘right’ to strike countries whose weapons were used by Ukraine to strike Russia.”

Whatever the missile was, the escalation is continuing…

Willing to Cede Crimea?

Fox News reported on November 20:

“Zelenskyy told Fox News that his country ‘cannot legally acknowledge any occupied territory of Ukraine as Russian,’ when asked if he was willing to cede land as part of a peace deal…. ‘We cannot spend dozens of thousands of our people so that they perish for the sake of Crimea coming back… we understand that Crimea can be brought back diplomatically.’…

“Zelenskyy told Fox News his country will keep fighting without the support of the U.S., but believes his side will ultimately lose the war if the U.S. withdraws its military funding…”

Coming… the Third Temple

Life Site News wrote on November 15:

“Netanyahu has gained religious Zionist support by… supporting the rebuilding of the Third Temple…

“The rebuilding of the Third Temple, which several Trump appointees appear to support and Mike Huckabee [the designated US ambassador to Israel] definitely does, would also require the destruction of the Al Aqsa Mosque, the third most holy site in Islam. That would be certain to lead to a much larger conflict, or Armaggedon, with all of the world’s Muslims. Increasing indications of Zionist threats to the mosque were said to be one of the major reasons for the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.”

Boris Johnson: The UK Just Like the Soviet Union

The Daily Mail wrote on November 16:

“… two Essex police officers visited newspaper columnist Allison Pearson following a complaint about a social media post from a year ago, which has since been deleted. Ms Pearson says she has not been told which message generated the accusation, or who made it. Mr [Boris] Johnson said that was ‘obviously wrong, and tyrannical, and redolent of the Soviet Union at its worst’. ‘The police should clearly abandon immediately their investigation into this deleted tweet,’ he said. ‘The whole thing would be a complete joke, if it were not so serious for Allison Pearson – and for all of us living in Starmer’s Britain today.’

“Sir Keir this week backed their use, prompting Mr Johnson to attack the PM’s ‘deathless skill in plonking himself on the wrong side of the argument’. ‘If someone doesn’t like what you have said, you can be done for a non-crime hate incident, or worse, and be damned for ever. Isn’t it a nightmare? ‘It’s certainly a disaster for policing, because good officers are having to waste their time on this nonsense, so that they can’t attend burglaries; and every hour that they spend scanning the ether for ‘offensive’ tweets is an hour they can’t spend on the beat deterring the criminal gangs who swipe your mobile phone.’” 

Not just the UK… As the article above showed, it’s happening in Germany too…

Witchcraft On the Rise

CBN News wrote on October 28:

“From dabblers to hard-core practitioners, witchcraft has been on the rise in the U.S. in recent years… The occult has gained popularity in the political realm as well, once again on display during this election season.

“In the lead-up to the presidential election, witches were trying to cast spells against Donald Trump, but this time around they were reportedly frustrated that their spells weren’t working…

“The trendiness of witchcraft on social media makes some young people believe it’s just a harmless hobby. But people who used to be practitioners of witchcraft warn it is real, and it eventually destroys the person practicing it.  CBN News has spoken with an ex-witch named Jenny Weaver… ‘I had such a fear that gripped my life. It crippled me. The next thing that I knew, I was seeing things, hearing things, and I was being tortured by demonic spirits that had come in through the use of witchcraft. It was a very scary time. I didn’t even want to close my eyes to wash my face. I was that terrified. If you think that it is innocent I am telling you it will take you down a road you do not want to go down…’”

It is dangerous and foolish to get involved in witchcraft. Please read again our Q&A from last week, https://www.eternalgod.org/how-can-satan-and-his-demons-appear-to-you/

More Foolishness of the Evolution Theory

Daily Mail wrote on November 14:

“Octopuses are the species that are most likely to take over the world after humans, scientists say… [being] primed to become the dominant force on Earth should humanity die out.  In the event of a wipeout through either wars or climate change, the marine invertebrates are said to possess the ‘physical and mental attributes necessary’ to evolve into the next civilisation-building species… they could create complex tools to build a vast Atlantis-like civilisation underwater. And although the octopus is ‘unlikely’ to develop into a full land animal, it was clever enough to ‘extend’ its time out the water to develop new methods of hunting…

“Professor Coulson, who is one of the world’s leading zoologists and biologists and has advised governments, said the cephalopods were now in ‘pole position’ to colonise the world in the event humanity dies out… The professor said the predators – which can breathe for 30 minutes out of water – could, over millions of years, develop their own methods of hunting on land in much the same way as humans have done at sea.

“This could include SCUBA-like breathing gear to extend the time they can remain out of the water, he said… the creatures… could conceivably build underwater cities and towns akin to those we recognise on land. Thanks to evolution, it is ‘possible, if not probable’ that they could develop their own methods of breathing out of water and hunt prey like deer, sheep and other mammals on land…” 

Have you ever read such nonsense? Words fail… 

Extraordinary Finds of Remains of Extinct Animals

The Sun wrote on November 16:

“SCIENTISTS have uncovered a perfectly preserved sabre-toothed tiger cub frozen deep in Siberian ice. The extinct beast was found complete with its fur and sharp claws intact as the remarkable discovery is believed to be over 35,000 years old… The pristine remains of the three-week-old kitten were first found in 2020 in the Russian Republic of Sakha, along the Badyarikha River…

“Frozen remains of mammals from around this time are said to be ‘very rare,’ the researchers claim… It comes as the world’s tiniest dinosaur egg from a whopping 80 million years ago has also been discovered ‘perfectly preserved.’… Another ancient discovery saw miners stumble upon a preserved woolly rhino… The magnificent 10,000-year-old beast was found by gobsmacked workers while digging for gold…

“There are hopes of bringing such extinct animals —  including woolly mammoths – back to life by using DNA found on such carcasses preserved in the  ice….”

The given dates are surely debatable, but the excavations could lead to scientists’ foolish interest in trying to “recreate” or bring “back to life” dangerous and vicious animals.

Why the Fall of the Ancient Roman Empire?

The Daily Mail wrote on November 16:

“Scientists have uncovered an unlikely event that led to the eastern Roman Empire’s collapse 1,500 years ago. They discovered that the Romans miscalculated their Persian opponents which caused their downward spiral, leaving them weak and allowing Islam to rise in a manner that essentially wiped out the once-powerful civilization. The two groups were at war from 54 BC to 628 for control of territories, but the Persians took over Roman trade routes that were critical to their victory.

“Without access to trade, the economy quickly collapsed and forced people in the Roman Empire to flee to other regions like Constantinople, the researchers said… The researchers said during the 2nd century AD, the number of Roman shipwrecks stayed consistent with between 200 and 300 occurring every 50 years. ‘Then, at the very end of the 5th century, there is a sharp decline of almost fifty percent in shipwreck numbers,’ the team shared. ‘The reason for such a severe reduction was most probably due to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the late 5th century. ‘The fall of the west also symbolized the decline of the city of Rome and other western trade cities and their hinterlands, and their subsequent reduction in population.’

“The data also showed the number of vessels dropped to just 67 by the second half of the 7th century, signifying that their trade routes were cut off. ‘This decline was most probably an outcome of the Persian war, and the Islamic conquest shortly after, which deprived Constantinople of most of the territories that were previously under the rule of the Eastern Roman Empire,’ said the researchers…”

It was prophesied that the Roman Empire would fall but be revived ten times throughout history. 

Noah’s Ark… Located?

Israel 365 News wrote on November 17:

“In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have deciphered what is believed to be the world’s oldest map—a 3,000-year-old Babylonian clay tablet that may reveal the location of Noah’s Ark. The artifact, known as the Imago Mundi, has been housed in the British Museum since 1882 after its discovery in what is now Iraq… According to the Bible… the flood lasted 150 days, after which the ark came to rest on the ‘mountains of Ararat.’

“Dr. Irving Finkel, Assistant Keeper of Ancient Mesopotamian script at the British Museum, led the team that unlocked the tablet’s secrets. The Imago Mundi depicts a circular world map showing ancient Mesopotamia at its center, surrounded by a ‘bitter river’ that the Babylonians believed encircled the world. The tablet’s most intriguing features are found on its reverse side, which contains detailed travel instructions leading to a location called ‘Urartu’—the Assyrian equivalent of the Biblical ‘Ararat.’ Dr. Finkel explains: ‘The first place you come to is called “Urartu”, it’s drawn on the map. Now, the interesting thing about that is that in the Bible Noah, in his Ark, landed on a mountain where the name is “Ararat” and “Ararat” is the Hebrew equivalent of the Assyrian “Urartu.’”…

“The Biblical flood story closely parallels an earlier Babylonian version, where a man named Utnapishtim… builds the ark at divine command. In the Babylonian account, the god Ea sends the flood, and Utnapishtim’s family and the animals survive by landing at one of Urartu’s peaks… As Dr. Finkel concludes, ‘From the Babylonian point of view, this was a matter of fact thing’…”

Many findings point at the strong possibility that Noah’s Ark is still up there on the mountain of Ararat in Turkey. 

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.

Many are under the misimpression that no matter what we do, God will always love us. Not too long ago, we published four Q&As on the concept of “unconditional love.” We follow up on them in this Q&A and add some clarifying comments, lest someone misunderstands.

In part 1 of our series (https://www.eternalgod.org/does-god-love-everyone-does-the-bible-teach-unconditional-love-part-1/), we stated the following, citing and then discussing Paul’s words in Romans 9:9-13:

‘”For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”’…

“In Romans 9:13, God explains that He CALLED Jacob, and that He did NOT CALL Esau at that time. We need to understand that God had decided to call or choose for salvation certain ones ‘before the foundation of the world’ (Ephesians 1:3-4). We don’t know exactly, and God does not reveal, on what basis He chooses and elects those whom He had preordained, but we know that He does make such an election, as the Bible tells us so. In calling Jacob, God loved him in a special way, by opening his understanding to His truth, and by ultimately granting him His Holy Spirit [during his life, as he will be in the first resurrection, compare Hebrews 11:9]. God did not call Esau AT THAT TIME. He WILL call Esau and all of his descendants later…

“By comparison, God ‘loved’ Jacob more than Esau. God’s ‘love’ needs to be understood in light of God’s calling at that time. In not calling someone to repentance and to the understanding of His truth, God ‘loves’ such a person ‘less’ by comparison — at that moment in time — but not forever. God knows that such a person, still cut off from Him, will engage in sinful ways, bringing about automatic penalties…

“… We might also note that the Bible itself sometimes describes ‘hate’ as ‘love less by comparison.’ In Luke 14:26 we read that Christ tells us, ‘If anyone comes to Me and does not HATE his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.’ In the parallel passage, in Matthew 10:37, the word ‘hate’ is described as ‘love less by comparison.’ We read, ‘He who loves his father or mother MORE than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter MORE than Me is not worthy of Me.’ In other words, we must love them LESS, by comparison, than Jesus Christ…”

We also explained that the word “hate,” in the context, can quite literally mean hating the evil in others and in ourselves.

Even though in Paul’s statement in Romans 9, the reference is clearly to the timing of God’s calling, in God’s original statement in the Old Testament, God’s condemnation of Esau is more encompassing and does not limit it to the time of God’s calling to salvation. Therefore, the meaning of this phrase can have a dual meaning. We read in Malachi 1:2-3:

“‘I have loved you,’ says the LORD. ‘Yet you say, “In what way have You loved us?” Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?’ Says the LORD. ‘Yet Jacob I have loved; But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness.’”

Somehow, God’s “love” for Jacob and His “hatred” for Esau were associated with the character of these two individuals and their offspring. God, who knows our hearts, saw in Esau really bad character traits. He is referred in Hebrew 12:16 as a “profane” or “godless” person.

We continue quoting from the above-cited Q&A:

“Sometimes, Scriptures may suggest that God does not only hate the sin, but also the sinner. For instance, we read in Psalm 5:4-6: ‘For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.’

“Psalm 11:5-6 states: ‘… the wicked and the one who loves violence His [the LORD’s] soul hates. Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup.’

“Furthermore, Psalm 7:11 states: ‘God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day.’…

“God is angry with and hates the wicked behavior of the sinner… When biblical passages say that God hates the workers of iniquity and the wicked persons, then the sin or wickedness is ‘personified.’ Such usage of words is not uncommon in the Bible (compare Romans 7:8, 11, 17). But… God loves the sinner (but not his sinful way, nor does He love what he is doing) and because of His love for him, He is willing to give him the opportunity to repent and submit to and love Him.”

Before elaborating on these statements, let us first note how God’s great love is described, and in what context.

1 John 4:9-10, 16 says:

“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.”

Notice, God’s love is described here in relationship to those whom He has called in this day and age. The same is true for the next two passages:

In Galatians 2:20, Paul states: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in [better: of] the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” And also in Ephesians 2:2-4: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”

Apart from God’s love for those whom He calls to salvation, He expressed His love, for example, for His people Israel whom He called to have a special physical relationship with Him, without offering them the Holy Spirit and salvation at that time.

In Jeremiah 31:3-4, we read about the nation of Israel:

“The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel!…’”

His love for Israel is described as everlasting as He knew that Israel would be brought to repentance even in a physical sense, and so God, out of love for them, would restore them as a nation following God.

In Deuteronomy 7:7-8, we read:

“The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”

But notice God’s warning, following in verses 9 and 10:

“Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face.”

A still stronger statement can be found in Isaiah 63:9-10:

“In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the Angel of His Presence saved them; In His love and in His pity He redeemed them; And He bore them and carried them All the days of old. But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; So He turned Himself against them as an enemy, And He fought against them.”

Based on these passages and the fact that God hates evil conduct, it would be incorrect to state that God loves everybody, regardless as to how they live. God is love; this means, there would be no love except for God. But love does not exclude hatred. We quoted above Psalms 5, 7 and 11, stating that although it says that God hates the wicked, He actually hates their wicked conduct. This is true, as far as it goes. But what if the wicked does not repent of his wicked conduct? Is it still correct to say that God loves the unrepentant sinner who refuses to repent? Since God is love, does this mean that He loves Satan and his demons? Can God’s love cease to be expressed towards others in certain circumstances?

Focusing again on Psalm 5:5, let us read the passage in context:

In Psalm 5:4-6, it is stated:

“For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.”

Even though it is the sin, expressed by man, which God hates, He does not love the sinner to the extent that He lets him go unpunished. The sinner is responsible for his conduct, and so God will destroy him, unless he repents. God will DESTROY those who speak falsehoods. In the final analysis, unless they repent, they will be cast into the lake of fire to be burned up.

We say this in our Q&A  https://www.eternalgod.org/does-god-love-everyone-does-the-bible-teach-unconditional-love-part-3/ :

“After Christ gave His life, He wanted that those whom He would call—now or later—to believe in Him. Their faith was supposed to be obedient faith (Romans 1:5). And in loving God, by keeping His commandments, they would keep themselves in the love of God (Jude 21). They would not continue to live a disobedient lifestyle, as expressed by John in 1 John 3:17: ‘But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?’

“And so, we read the following alarming pronouncement by Christ in Matthew 24:48-51: ‘But if that evil servant says in his heart, “My master is delaying his coming,” and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

“This evil servant is one who has committed the unpardonable sin, and whose fate it is to be thrown into the lake of fire where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth (compare Matthew 13:41-42, 49-50). But before he ends up in the lake of fire, he will be ‘cut in two.’ This ‘correction’ is not for the purpose of leading him towards salvation; rather, it is punishment for his evil deeds with which he influenced and tortured others, without a willingness to repent. His punishment reflects God’s love for others, as well as His righteousness, which demands that the sinner has to pay. It is clearly NOT a reflection of God’s ‘unconditional’ love for the incorrigible sinner.

“These people had lost God’s love which had been poured in their hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). They had chosen the way of hate and unrighteousness. Christ who gave His life for them when they were still sinners will not have ‘unconditional’ love for them when they are to be punished for their wickedness [by suffering] the second death (Revelation 20:14).”

What we should take from the above-quoted comments is that we may lose God’s love; or better put, that God may stop loving us, depending on our conduct. And this does not only speak about those who have committed the unpardonable sin. Even people, who may not have received God’s Holy Spirit, but who might have a relationship with God in other ways, can come to the point, depending on their evil conduct, that God ceases to love them, at least until they come to repentance.

We read in Ecclesiastes 3:1, 8: “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven… A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.”

This would apply to God, too, depending on the circumstances. 

Notice the following passage in Hosea 9:1, 9, 12, 15-17:

“Do not rejoice, O Israel, with joy like other peoples, For you have played the harlot against your God. You have made love for hire on every threshing floor… They are deeply corrupted, As in the days of Gibeah. He will remember their iniquity; He will punish their sins… Though they bring up their children, Yet I will bereave them to the last man. Yes, woe to them when I depart from them!… All their wickedness is in Gilgal, For there I hated them. Because of the evil of their deeds I will drive them from My house; I will love them no more. All their princes are rebellious. Ephraim is stricken, Their root is dried up; They shall bear no fruit. Yes, were they to bear children, I would kill the darlings of their womb… My God will cast them away, Because they did not obey Him; And they shall be wanderers among the nations.”

Because God’s love ceased for them (“I hated them”… “I will love them no more”), they will be punished and destroyed. That should be a warning for all of us not to test God and rebel against Him, thinking that God who “loves everybody” could in no way cease to love us. This is decisively not true.

The Berean Study Bible comments:

“The expression (“I hated them”) is a strong description of God’s response to Israel’s sin. [It] conveys intense aversion and rejection. [It is] a divine response to persistent unfaithfulness and idolatry. It reflects God’s holiness and justice, as well as the seriousness of Israel’s covenant violations… The phrase ‘I will no longer love them’ is a poignant declaration of the withdrawal of God’s… love. The Hebrew word for ‘love’ encompasses loyalty, affection, and commitment. This statement does not imply a change in God’s character but rather a response to Israel’s persistent unfaithfulness.”

Barnes Notes on the Bible adds:

“For there I hated them – ‘There, in the very place where heretofore I shewed such great tokens of love to, and by My gracious presence with, them, “even there I have hated them” and now hate them.’ ‘He saith not, there was I angry, or displeased with them, but in a word betokening the greatest indignation, ‘I hated them.’ Great must needs be that wickedness which provoked the Father of mercies to so great displeasure as to say, that He ‘hated them;’ and severe must needs be those judgments which are as effects of hatred and utter [aversion] of them, in Him.”

The Jamieson-Fausset and Brown commentary adds: “‘there I hated them’—not with the human passion, but holy hatred of their sin…”

The Pulpit commentary writes:

“‘For the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of my house, I will love them no more.’ They were driven out like Hagar out of the house of the patriarch, that Ishmael might not inherit with Isaac; like an unfaithful wife divorced and driven out of the house of the husband whom she has dishonored; or like an undutiful and disobedient son whom his father has disinherited. Further, God disowns the rebellious son, and acknowledges the paternal relationship no longer.”

Yes, God chastens us because He loves us, wanting us to repent (Revelation 3:19). But when repentance is ignored and rejected, and harsh punishment may still not lead to repentance, then God’s love for us may cease, as His chastisement may not do us any good. Notice Isaiah 1:4-5:

“Alas, sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity, A brood of evildoers, Children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the LORD, They have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, They have turned away backward. Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, And the whole heart faints.”

Let us make sure that we remain in God’s love so that we will never hear God say to us: “I will love you no more.”

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

compiled by Dave Harris

A memorial service for Margaret Adair will be held on Sunday, December 15. The exact time and location will be announced soon. If you are interested in attending, please contact Johanna.Link@cox.net. 

“So Close to World War III,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

Nuclear World War III is coming, but not in the way most suspect. Still, the terrible recent developments involving the war between Russia and Ukraine – and the conduct of Western nations, including the USA and Britain – have brought the “spectre of a nuclear holocaust ever closer” (Daily Mail, November 19). And what can we say about “Biden’s Missile Crisis?,” as Democratic author Dennis J. Kucinich described it?

“Dem Dritten Weltkrieg sehr nahe!” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.

A new member letter has been written by Michael Link and will be posted and sent out soon. The letter includes reports on the Feast sites in 2024 in the USA and Germany and encourages all of us to grow in faith and to rely on God in everything.

“Die letzten Worte Jesu am Kreuz,” last Sabbath’s German sermonette by Tahir Coban, is now posted. Title in English: “The Last Words of Jesus on the Cross.” 

“A Mind to Work,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Eric Rank, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Even when facing opposition, we can be confident that God’s work is worth doing. In the story of Nehemiah, the Jews rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem facing ridicule and adversity. Through their perseverance, dedication, and unwavering focus, they succeeded. What can we learn from their example that can help us succeed in our endeavors?

“Why Are There Preachers?” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Dave Harris, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Are preachers chosen by God, or can just anyone—man, woman or child—decide on their own to preach? Do preachers have a specific message to proclaim, and does God give extra power to His preachers? Also, will those who preach be held accountable for what they teach? Do Christians really need preachers?