On July 9, 2022, Norbert Link will present, “Comments on News and Prophecy, July 9, 2022,” and Michael Link will present the sermon, titled, “Specks and Planks.”

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 today’s world, social media is king. People can sit behind their glass screens and post about anything they want to. A lot of this posting is filled with vitriol and hatred. The words that are used are oftentimes cruel and demeaning and devoid of empathy or love.

But this is not how we are to be. Our communication with each other and with the world is to be with love and kindness. The more the world turns inward towards hatred and evil, the more we will have to combat this attitude. We are living in this world, and we are susceptible to the attitude of the current world ruler.

In our dealings with each other, there is a constant need for respect and love – especially in the things that we choose to say to each other. If we really examine the words that are coming out of our mouths – they will show how close we are to God OR how influenced we are by Satan.

God is very serious about this matter. He cares about what we say to others. Because how we choose to speak shows what is in our hearts. And there really is no room for two ways in our hearts.

Matthew 12:33-37 states: “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

We will have to give an account. That truly is something to keep in mind and to make us aware that we need to be very mindful of what we say to people.

Our communication is powerful. We are in charge of what we allow to come out of our mouths. We can destroy people – or we can lift them up – all is in our power. This quote speaks volumes: “Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can be only forgiven, not forgotten.” If we just say, “Oh sorry, I can’t control my thoughts and my words,” then we are choosing to allow ourselves, through our words, to become part of this world. If we are not in control, who is?

The Bible confirms this assessment!

James tells us (James 3:5) that the tongue is a small part of our body – but if we are not careful, it can set on fire a forest, meaning that if we are not diligent in watching what we say, we can cause extreme damage—maybe with our spouse, maybe with our children, maybe with members of the church, and maybe even with those outside.

If we are constantly angry in our vocabulary or show disrespect to others, then there is something wrong within ourselves. When we do this, we are not behaving as a Christian. If we actually care about and have love for others, then we will be extra diligent with our words.

We find in Colossians 3:8 that we as Christians have an obligation to be mindful about communicating in a way that is right:  “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.” We must be aware that individually, we can alter situations and help keep the peace. Colossians 4:6 says: “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

While we are in the world, we do NOT have to act like the world. Rather, we can be the difference, the “Light on the hill”. We each can choose how we are going to speak. We each can choose how we will apply these Scriptures. Ephesians 4:29 states: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouths, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

If we wait for others to treat us differently in communication, we are missing the point. We each can and must choose to lift others up in how we communicate. If we change how we communicate with others, it will have a positive net outcome. If we choose to speak harshly and without consideration, this too will have a net outcome – but in a very negative way.

Really, if each of us were to take scriptures such as Philippians 2:3 to heart and work on applying them in our lives, how much more powerful and good would our words to each other be?: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better [higher] than himself.”

It truly is amazing how much our words can affect others. As we live this Christian Way of Life, our duty is to continue to change, to continue to grow. What better way than to examine our words and see if they really are Christian-like, kind and loving, or if they are reflecting this ugly, broken and dying world. Notice the following proverbs:

Proverbs 16:24: “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.”

Proverbs 18:21: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Proverbs 12:18: “There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.”

Proverbs 15:1: “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Proverbs 15:4: “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”

I would challenge each of us to take a look back on the words we have spoken during the week, and then work towards improving our choice of words the next week to be more in accordance with what God shows us. If we do this consistently, we will see the fruit that is brought forth in ourselves and with others!

by Norbert Link

We begin with America’s incredible failings of its airline industry and President Biden’s shortsighted and dangerous approach towards US oil and gas production; report on another mass shooting; and point out shocking developments about the willingness of many Americans in a disunited country to take up arms against the government. Please view in this regard our recent message, “America No Longer a Great Nation—Comments on News and Prophecy, July 2, 2022.” 

We speak about  “permissive” conduct of Pope Francis and quote his remarkable statements regarding war, arms sales and the powerless UN; and we address the situation in Israel with the Knesset dispersing itself and new elections having been set for November 1, while opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu is waiting in the wings. We also speak on French President Macron’s dream of a unified powerful EU Army, which is still very much alive, while his political star is setting.

We report on the declaration of Boris Johnson (who just resigned as Conservative Party leader) to revive or recreate the Roman Empire; the fact that Britain is unprepared for World War III; and the possibility of human annihilation in case of nuclear war.

Please view our new StandingWatch program in this regard, titled, “Boris Johnson Resigns and Leaves a Mess” 

We address the typical non-committal declarations of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz regarding Russia and Ukraine, while at the same time threatening the possibility of new freedom-robbing mask mandates; and we point out the dire economic situation in Germany due to its addiction to Russian oil and gas.

We speak on the “biblical” plague of devouring crickets in the Western US; and a devastating drought in Italy; as well as the new hysteria regarding monkeypox.

We conclude with a shocking report on the record-breaking 50th-anniversary Pride parade in London, which Boris Johnson characterized as “a milestone,” while paying tribute to the “bravery” of those involved.

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

Armageddon

CBS News reported on July 1:

“As the U.S. prepares for what some in the industry are calling ‘airmageddon,’ travelers are bracing for a possible meltdown at airlines, airports and security and customs checkpoints, not to mention hotels and hotel services… 3.5 million people are expected to fly this holiday weekend. Airfares cost, on average, 14% more, and in some markets have quadrupled. And hotel rates are up a whopping 23% since 2021.

“And all this is happening as the major airline and travel stakeholders spar over delays and cancellations. The airlines are blaming the [FAA] for delays, the FAA claims the airlines are flying schedules they can’t physically support, pilots are blaming the airlines for increased workloads and flying hours they claim could be a safety issue, passenger complaints against airlines are up 300% over 2019, and the U.S. Department of Transportation is contemplating emergency rulemaking options… In the U.S., the DOT reports that the airlines have lost or mishandled 21% more bags this year than last.

“Earlier this week, Delta issued an unprecedented July 4 weekend ‘air waiver’ to its customers, citing ‘operational challenges.’ The airline admitted it expected trouble in supporting its schedule — meaning, they don’t have enough pilots, flight attendants, baggage handlers and other employees to staff all their scheduled flights, among other challenges  — over the next four days, and encouraged travelers to rebook for other flights and other days without being charged any fees or penalties. The airline was essentially asking their passengers not to fly. No other U.S. airline has so far matched that waiver.

“…Airlines are also parking dozens of 50-seat regional jets because they don’t have the pilots to fly them — and because at current fuel prices the airplanes are unprofitable to operate. Translation: Secondary market cities in the U.S., such as Ithaca, New York, and Toledo, Ohio, will have severely reduced — or in some cases, no — airline service by Labor Day.”

Another sign of America’s failing economy.

WHY Airline Delays and Cancellations

LifeSiteNews published an opinion by “American Thinker”  on July 4:

“Every night, I hear a report on the network news announcing the number of flights canceled… Thousands of flights are axed on any given day. Many more are delayed. News readers just read the report, without any substantive questioning about why there’s suddenly a great shortage of pilots. The weather is the only excuse ever offered, and that doesn’t work when there are no storms slowing things down.

“What’s going on? We’ve never had a pilot shortage before. We may currently have more air travelers needing flights than a year ago, but not more than before COVID – and yet here we are, facing an entirely new problem. It’s so bad that American Airlines is offering pilots on its regional carriers double and triple pay for the month of July if they’ll take extra flights.

“It’s not hard to figure out what’s happening – despite the seeming prohibition on our pilots saying anything about it… Nobody is questioning this fiasco beyond some Fox Business report of a lot of pilot retirements. It just is, apparently. [The Fox Business report says] that it’s ‘expensive to become a pilot.’ Give me a break! That’s never been an issue before. So why even consider it now? What job does one get where advanced training doesn’t cost money?

“… if pilots refuse to get the jab, they can no longer fly due to mandates. We have a perfect storm: If pilots are vaccinated, many can’t fly because of vaccine injury – a state far, far more common than our government would lead you to believe. They are desperate to keep that fact hidden…”

Die Welt reported that in 2021, an unprecedented number of 2.5 million Germans went to a doctor because of side effects from corona vaccinations. These reported side effects were felt to be serious enough to see a doctor. The article also pointed out that the public reports of side effects were far below the actual number of established cases. It was also stated in the news that those who have received vaccinations are running a risk of becoming reinfected (The Wall Street Journal, July 5).

Is Joe Biden Set on Destroying the USA?

Breitbart wrote on July 3:

“U.S. President Joe Biden has proposed blocking all new drilling in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as the world cries out for more energy from more sources far from Russia, the Middle East, and the OPEC oil cartel.

“Biden is also moving to shut down exploration and production of oil and gas on onshore federal lands…”

These are incredibly shortsighted and dangerous concepts.

The “Wisdom” of Kamala Harris and the Fall of Joe Biden

Breitbart wrote on July 4:

“Harris spoke about her concern about the Supreme Court ending abortion rights for women, calling it ‘outrageous on every level.’.. She argued the right to abortion was fundamental to the founding of the United States…. Harris also compared abortion to slavery, recalling the government once tried to ‘claim ownership over human bodies.’”

At the same time, Breitbart reports on July 4 that only “18 percent of independents approve of President Joe Biden’s job performance, while 68 percent disapprove and 13 percent neither approve nor disapprove.” In general, “Biden’s job approval rating is down to the lowest of his presidency, 30 percent as of Saturday. On Monday, Biden was not only at his lowest approval rating to date, but also at his highest disapproval rating at 58 percent.”

The New York Post added on July 5 that “71 percent of respondents don’t want Biden to run for a second term in 2024.”

The Ron Paul Institute stated on July 5: “Biden has a big problem: Americans do not believe him. According to a Rasmussen poll earlier this month, only eleven percent of Americans believe Biden’s claim that Russian president Vladimir Putin is to blame for high prices… President Biden’s attempts to bring down gasoline prices are bound to fail because he does not understand the problem… The strangest part of this idea that Americans must suffer to hurt the Russians is that these policies aren’t even hurting Russia! On the contrary: Russia has been seen record profits from its oil and gas exports since the beginning of the Ukraine war. According to a recent New York Times article, increasing global oil and gas prices have enabled Russia to finance its war on Ukraine. US sanctions did not bring the Russian economy to its knees, as Biden promised. They actually brought the American economy to its knees while Russian profits soared.”

But what choices do the Democrats have? It appears that every potential alternative candidate is at least as bad or even worse than Biden.

Another Mass Shooting in America

Newsmax wrote on July 5:

“Highland Park, Illinois, Mayor Nancy Rotering says the gun used in the mass shooting Monday at a Fourth of July parade [killing at least six and injuring more than 30 others] was ‘legally obtained.’”

Breitbart wrote on July 4:

“A red flag law, a waiting period for gun purchases, licensing requirements, and numerous other gun controls did not prevent the July 4, 2022, Highland Park attack.”

The suspected crazy and undoubtedly demon-influenced shooter dressed in women’s clothing to conceal his facial tattoos and to disguise himself to aid his escape. He fired over 70 rounds. “The massacre marked the 309^th mass shooting in the USA this year,” according to the New York Post, dated July 5, continuing, “Five other mass shootings broke out in the US on July Fourth, including incidents in Boston, Chicago and Richmond, Virginia. The Highland Park shooting, meanwhile, joined the list of 13 mass murders in the United States with 20 victims or more since 2013.”

What is wrong with these people? Let us never forget that Satan and his demons are ruling this sick and evil world.  It must be through a change of mind and the nation’s return to the TRUE God and the rejection of Satan if we want to save the body.

Fox News wrote on July 6:

“Fox News contributor Bill Bennett brought attention to what he called young male mass shooters’ ‘deeply spiritual problems’…. [He reacted to the July 4 parade mass shooting and said:]

“‘I think you need police. You need parents, for sure. You need schools. You need to clean up social media. You need all that. But you know, you may need an exorcist, too. … If you look at these boys – these men, these young men – they have deeply spiritual problems, deeply. If you go into the labyrinthine caves of the Internet way down, and I don’t recommend it – it’s ugly stuff. And these guys dwell there. They live there. They drench themselves in it. And it’s as ugly and evil as it gets. Where are the ministers? Where are the rabbis, the priests?… It’s a deeply spiritual void, I think, that these young men have in their hearts and their souls. And I think it needs to be addressed. And I don’t think we get at it, frankly, with these externalities – as important as some of them may be – and they may be. We need to do it all, but we need to do more.” 

The Disunited States

DNYUZ wrote on July 2:

“… the United States appears to be drifting apart into separate nations, with diametrically opposed social, environmental and health policies… The most immediate breaking point is on abortion, as about half the country will soon limit or ban the procedure while the other half expands or reinforces access to reproductive rights. But the ideological fault lines extend far beyond that one topic, to climate change, gun control and L.G.B.T.Q. and voting rights….

“Historians have struggled to find a parallel moment, raising the 19th-century fracturing over slavery; the clashes between the executive branch and the Supreme Court in the New Deal era of the 1930s; the fierce battles over civil rights during Reconstruction and in the 1950s and early 1960s; and the rise of armed, violent groups like the Weather Underground in the late ’60s. For some people, the divides have grown so deep and so personal that they have felt compelled to pick up and move from one America to the other.”

Newsmax wrote on July 1:

“56% of Americans believe the government is ‘corrupt and rigged’ against them. 49% agreed they ‘more and more feel like a stranger in [their] own country.’… In one question, voters were asked if it will be ‘necessary, at some point soon, for citizens to take up arms against the government.’ Overall, 28% of voters agreed, 59% disagreed, and 12% weren’t sure…

“Newhouse and Benenson, who discussed their findings on CNN, found the percentage of Americans pondering a physical fight against government tyranny as ‘alarming.’ ‘These are stunning results,’ said Newhouse. ‘We knew the mood of the country was not positive, but it is so much worse than we thought it was.’… ‘Democrats don’t trust Republicans. Republicans don’t trust Democrats. Democrats think Republicans are getting disinformation. Republicans think the same thing about Democrats. There is no middle ground here whatsoever.’”

A country divided cannot survive.

Pope on Communion for Pro-Abortion Catholic Politicians

LifeSiteNews wrote on July 4:

“Pope Francis has broken his silence on the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which grants states the power to outlaw abortion, saying that bishops must be ‘pastoral’ with pro-abortion politicians…. On distributing Communion to pro-abortion politicians like Pelosi, Francis, who spoke in Italian and without aides present, said, ‘When the Church loses its pastoral nature, when a bishop loses his pastoral nature, it causes a political problem. That’s all I can say.’…

“Responding to the Pope’s comments, Catholic writer and catechist Deacon Nick Donnelly wrote on Twitter that by ‘pastoral’ Francis means ‘permissive.’”

We would agree.

Pope on Just War, Arms Sales and the UN

CNA reported on July 1:

“In an interview published Friday, Pope Francis said that he believes it is time to rethink the concept of ‘just war.’… A war may be just, there is the right to defend oneself. But we need to rethink the way that the concept is used nowadays,’ Pope Francis said…. ‘I have said that the use and possession of nuclear weapons are immoral’…

“… the pope said that there is ‘an entire infrastructure of arms sales’ that supports war today. ‘A person who knew about statistics told me, I don’t remember the numbers well, that if weapons were not manufactured for a year, there would be no hunger in the world,’ he said….

“The pope also said that the situation in Europe today shows that the United Nations ‘has no power’ to stop a war….”

Herbert W. Armstrong was present at the 1945 UN conference and wrote in the Plain Truth that after listening to the speeches and declared goals, he concluded that the UN would not bring about world peace.

Israel’s New General Election in November

Israel 365 wrote on June 30:

“Israel’s Knesset on Thursday set November 1 as the date for the country’s next general elections….

“The Knesset approved in third and final reading a bill to disperse itself, meaning that Yair Lapid is set to become caretaker prime minister at midnight on Friday, replacing Naftali Bennett. Bennett, who announced on Wednesday that he will not run in the election, will become alternate prime minister after Yair Lapid becomes the premier….

“Long-time political partner Ayelet Shaked will replace Bennett as the head of Yamina. She has said she would be open to joining Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu in forming a right-wing government.”

The Algemeiner wrote on July 3:

“Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Sunday formally invited opposition leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, for a security briefing… Netanyahu is a rival of Lapid’s for the premiership in the upcoming elections to be held on November 1…

“He did not receive direct security updates from the previous prime minister, Naftali Bennett, while he was in office.”

France for EU Army

Express wrote on July 1:

“EMMANUEL MACRON’s dreams of a united European defence system were ‘accelerated’ during France’s presidency of the EU…. According to an EU diplomat speaking to Euractiv, the war marked ‘an unprecedented geopolitical situation that has led the EU to activate a real defence policy’…

“The French President has also called on EU members to make themselves available to act independently of the US and NATO… The idea has always been seen as a distant prospect, due to a lack of political will from member states wary of sending their troops into action under an EU flag…. The invasion of Ukraine has, however, triggered a series of policy changes across Europe, in particular, Germany.”

Macron’s star is setting, but his idea of a powerful European Army is still shining bright and gets even brighter.

Boris Johnson’s Trouble

The Guardian wrote on July 6:

“It has been with some fascination and no little scorn that media outlets in continental Europe have received news of Boris Johnson’s latest travails. That the British prime minister appears to have been tripped up by his own untruths does not appear to have surprised many commentators or headline writers. The speed of the unravelling of the UK government, or ‘Boris Johnson’s sinking ship of fools’, as the conservative German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung describes the cabinet, has, however, raised eyebrows after such a long period of ‘getting away with it’, as one Dutch newspaper put it.

“In Germany, Der Spiegel writes that Johnson ‘obviously failed to see the calamity that had been building for the past few days…’ Of the case of Christopher Pincher, the deputy chief whip who was appointed by Johnson despite the prime minister having known of past complaints about his alleged sexual behaviour, Der Spiegel writes: ‘The Pincher case… just happened to be the last drop in a bucket full to the brim of stinking pigswill at the door of the office of the British premier.’

“The liberal leaning Süddeutsche Zeitung felt there was enough in the Johnson back catalogue to list a mouthwatering ‘selection’ of 13 misdemeanours, covering everything from the mystery of who had paid for the prime minister’s Caribbean holiday… to the mishandling of the pandemic…

“The paper writes: ‘That he is not a man of integrity one might have reckoned with. When Johnson became the British prime minister in 2019 the former foreign minister and mayor of London had a longstanding reputation for buoyantly stepping from one blunder to another. And once arrived in the highest echelons of the government, he just kept going in the same vein…’

“In France, an early morning news bulletin on the biggest public radio station, France Inter, headlined ‘Storm in Shakespeare-land’, described Johnson’s premiership as being in chaos after ‘countless scandals based on alcohol, wandering hands and lies’… Le Monde remarked that ‘up until now Johnson had seemed able to withstand every scandal’, but asked ‘will this be the final blow?’

“An answer to the question of whether this really could the end for Johnson is offered in the Netherlands by the liberal newspaper Trouw, which suggested that the latest cabinet resignations ‘could well spell the death blow for Boris Johnson’s premiership’. In Belgium, Ivan Ollevier… offered a similar analysis while admitting that Johnson ‘always seems to get away with it’… The Flemish newspaper De Standaard felt the same. ‘Much has already been written, but the end of Prime Minister Johnson now seems very close…’

“In Spain, La Vanguardia’s Rafa Ramos recognised that the prime minister would fight to the last to keep his position… ‘There are three weeks to go until the summer recess and Johnson will nail himself to his desk chair if need be,’ the journalist writes. ‘But his position is more precarious than ever. As Hemingway said, one goes bust gradually, and then suddenly.’”

Johnson Resigns

The Associated Press reported on July 7:

“Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his resignation Thursday amid a mass revolt by top members of his government, marking an end to three tumultuous years in power in which he brazenly bent and sometimes broke the rules of British politics. [Johnson] who took Britain out of the European Union and steered it through COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine was brought down by one scandal too many — this one involving his appointment of a politician who had been accused of sexual misconduct. The messiest of prime ministers did not leave cleanly. Johnson stepped down immediately as Conservative Party leader but said he would remain as prime minister until the party chooses his successor. The timetable for that process will be announced next week. The last leadership contest took six weeks. But many want him to go now, with some Conservative politicians expressing fear he could do mischief even as a caretaker prime minister…

“Critics said the [resignation] speech showed Johnson, to the end, refusing to take responsibility for or admit his mistakes… In his rise to power he showed many of the same habits and abilities that would carry him far but also spell his downfall: He was an ebullient, attention-loving mayor of London; a journalist who was fired for making up a quote and filed exaggerated stories about EU excesses…  He became known for his light regard for the truth and his glib and offensive remarks…

“Now with a leadership election upon them, the Conservatives will have to decide whether they can stomach Johnson as a caretaker leader, a job that normally entails saying little and doing nothing.”

Thomson/Reuters added on July 7:

“After days of battling for his job, Johnson had been deserted by all but a handful of his closest allies after the latest in a series of scandals sapped their willingness to support him… The crisis comes as Britons are facing the tightest squeeze on their finances in decades, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with soaring inflation, and the economy forecast to be the weakest among major nations in 2023 apart from Russia….

“It also follows years of internal division sparked by the narrow 2016 vote to leave the European Union, and threats to the make-up of the United Kingdom itself with demands for another Scottish independence referendum…”

t-online wrote on July 7:

“Boris Johnson realized far too late that he had to give up his post as British Prime Minister. What remains is a country that looks like a shambles… With his Brexit campaign, Johnson ruined his homeland… Even Johnson’s Brexit campaign was nothing more than a big gamble: When he decided to support leaving the EU, he had previously prepared two different columns for Britain’s ‘Daily Telegraph’: one for and one against Brexit…

“Johnson’s daring course may have spelled the end of the UK in the long run…

“The Brexit chaos will remain Johnson’s legacy, but it is only a part of his tumultuous political career. Johnson’s argumentative approach to the corona pandemic will also stick… the ‘Partygate’ revelations [made] clear that the prime minister and his staff were not too particular about the corona rules….

“What remains is a country that is tottering into a more than uncomfortable future. Whoever succeeds Johnson must prepare for difficult years in a politically and economically divided country.”

Johnson Wants to Recreate the Roman Empire!

Israel 365 News wrote on July 4:

“Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party, has always been controversial but he raised the volume last week when he suggested that the best way to unite Europe was by recreating the Roman Empire! His vision of the Roman Empire in the 21st century is based on a partnership that included Turkey and the North African states. At the NATO summit in Madrid last month, he told reporters that this would be based on the Mare Nostrum, the Latin term for the Mediterranean Sea.

“It is interesting to note that 19th-century Italian nationalist fascists used the term to describe Italy as the successor state to the Roman Empire. The term was again taken up by Benito Mussolini for use in fascist propaganda, in a similar manner to Adolf Hitler’s lebensraum system of colonialism…

“Johnson has compared his country to the Roman Empire on several occasions. Last year, he blamed the fall of the Roman Empire on uncontrolled immigration, adding that the same problem was to blame for the current global warming, a problem which threatened to return the world to the ‘dark ages.’…

“This claim citing immigration as the cause of the fall of the Roman Empire was widely contested on social media… ‘Even though England was under Roman rule, its origins are in Germany,’ Rabbi Winston said. Britain was a part of the Roman Empire for almost 400 years after the Britons were conquered by Julius Caesar in 54 BCE… Roman goddess Britannia became the female personification of Britain. But the Britons were Germanic in origin.

“‘English is a Germanic language, not a romance language. But even Germany saw itself as the inheritor of the title of the Roman Empire. The Nazis referred to themselves as the Third Reich, as the presumed successor of the medieval and early modern Holy Roman Empire of 800 to 1806 (the First Reich) and the German Empire of 1871 to 1918 (the Second Reich).’…

“[Britain] has a tendency to hate Jews and like Arabs,’ Rabbi Winston said. He noted that all of Britain’s Jews were expelled in 1290 by an edict that was not rescinded until 1655. Blood Libels which falsely accuses Jews of murdering Christian boys in order to use their blood in the performance of religious rituals originated in 12th century England.

“One of the worst anti-Semitic massacres of the Middle Ages took place in York in 1190. The city’s entire Jewish community was trapped by an angry mob inside the tower of York Castle. Many members of the community chose to commit suicide rather than be murdered or forcibly baptized by the attackers.’ Imperialism is anti-Bible,’ Rabbi Winston said. ‘If you believe in the world to come, in God’s judgment, you wouldn’t endanger that by cruelly conquering others…’”

Truth mixed with error. Rabbi Winston confuses Germany with Germanic—a quite common mistake of ignorance. Further, African nations will not be part of the revised Roman Empire, which WILL exist soon, and neither will be Britain. However, Britain and some African nations will be conquered by the revived Roman Empire.

Britain Unprepared for World War III

Express wrote on July 1:

“Boris Johnson’s pledge to increase defense spending falls far short of what is needed if the Ukraine war spills over to other European countries and escalates into a Third World War, former First Sea Lord Admiral Lord West has warned on GB News. As the war shows no signs of abating and Russian troops are making advances in Ukraine, fear is mounting over the possibility of Putin targeting other neighbouring countries – the latest country under threat was Lithuania over its blockade of Russia’s enclave of Kaliningrad…

“A baffled Lord West raised his concerns on GB News, saying: ‘…the government still has not added any spending to defence in the near term. There are shortfalls in stock holdings. There are shortfalls in the maintenance of equipment, which is not ready. There are shortages in numbers… As of earlier last week, we had 17 major warships operational in our Navy, once the greatest Navy in the world – which is dreadful…They’re not actually willing to fight, and they’re not going to be able to fight…’”

A nuclear war between Russia and Britain is not prophesied, but a nuclear war between Britain and Europe is…

Nuclear World War III and the Danger of Annihilation

Truthout wrote on July 3:

“Joe Biden and top subordinates have refused to publicly acknowledge the danger of nuclear war — even though it is now higher than at any other time in at least 60 years…. In the aftermath of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, President John F. Kennedy was more candid. Speaking at American University, he said: ‘A single nuclear weapon contains almost 10 times the explosive force delivered by all the allied air forces in the Second World War… The deadly poisons produced by a nuclear exchange would be carried by wind and water and soil and seed to the far corners of the globe and to generations yet unborn.’…

“At the time of Kennedy’s presidency, nuclear war would have been indescribably catastrophic. Now — with large arsenals of hydrogen bombs and what scientists know about— ‘nuclear winter’—experts have concluded that a nuclear war would virtually end agriculture and amount to omnicide (the destruction of human life on earth)…

“The Biden administration and the bipartisan leadership in Congress have made clear that their basic approach to the surging danger of nuclear war is to pretend that it doesn’t exist… the denial heightens the risk of exterminating almost all human life. There’s got to be a better way.”

Indeed there is, but human governments will not be able to bring this better way about. Quite to the contrary, they will engage in nuclear war which WOULD destroy ALL LIFE on this planet, if not stopped. But JESUS CHRIST will return just in time to end this madness of stupid human misrule by power-hungry incompetent politicians and prevent the human race from committing “omnicide.”

Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Ukraine and Masks

Thomson/Reuters wrote on July 3:

“Germany is discussing security guarantees for Ukraine with its allies in preparation for a time after the war, but these will not be the same as for a member of the transatlantic alliance, German Chancellor Scholz told the broadcaster ARD on Sunday.

“Scholz, who took office in December, has faced accusations at home and abroad of failing to show leadership in the Ukraine crisis and failing to convey empathy for citizens struggling with the soaring inflation that it has helped to fuel.

“… the Social Democrat chancellor[‘s] mechanical style of communication has earned him the nickname ‘Scholzomat…’ [He] said Germany would not shut schools and non-essential businesses again if infection rates rose significantly this year, but that face masks would play a bigger role…”

Scholz’s hesitant and “cautious” political conduct and approach towards Russia and Ukraine continues, while he is contemplating once again to limit liberties and freedoms for the citizens in his own country.

Negative Consequences for Germany’s Addiction to Russian Oil

Breitbart wrote on July 3:

“Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning that Germany’s addiction to Russian gas would have extremely negative long-term consequences appears to have been proven prophetic, with officials in the country now warning of ‘chaotic conditions’ and [of a] severe economic recession should they lose access to Moscow’s supply…

“According to various European and German news sources, the country’s officials are now firefighting regarding the possible worsening of the already severe gas crisis which has seen one major energy company enter existential financial difficulty… The German government is now looking to pass emergency legislation imposing a financial levy on all energy companies — whether they are involved in Russian gas imports or not — to split the costs of rising prices in an attempt to keep infrastructure afloat…

“Issues surrounding the purely economic elements of the crisis are far from the only ones to arise, with warnings that a sudden loss of gas in the country would be extremely difficult to reverse on the local level due to safety mechanisms within home boilers… a loss of supply would result in a fuse being triggered in hundreds of thousands of boilers across the country — fuses that could only be reset by trained professionals, a process that would take a significant amount of time…”

Germany’s failed relationship with Russia will have self-imposed serious and long-lasting consequences.

“‘Biblical’ Swarms of Giant Crickets Ravage Western US Crops”

The Jerusalem Post wrote on July 2:

“Farmers in the western United States are battling new outbreaks of Mormon crickets, ancient insects that can grow to almost three inches (8cm) in length… Mormon crickets are not new to Oregon, which was among the worst-hit states; they are native to western North America and their name dates back to the 1800s when they ruined the fields of Mormon settlers in Utah. The US West is currently amid a decades-long ‘megadrought’ that has dried up water resources and challenged farming and ranching operations across the region….

“These outbreaks can be extraordinary, as the species often travel in groups of millions or billions of individual insects… Last year, 10 million acres in Oregon, which has seen the worst of the swarm, were destroyed by Mormon crickets and grasshoppers…”

Historic Drought in Italy

The Guardian wrote on July 5:

“Italy has declared a state of emergency in five northern regions and announced emergency funds over a worsening drought that has plagued the Po valley in recent weeks… Italy is facing an unusually early heatwave and a lack of rainfall, particularly in the northern agricultural Po valley, which has been hit by its worst drought in 70 years… the drought threatens more than 30% of national agricultural production and half of the farms in the Po valley…

“The Po River is the peninsula’s largest water reservoir, much of which is used by farmers… Another consequence of the drought is that hydroelectric power production has fallen sharply. Hydroelectric plants, mostly in the mountainous north of Italy, account for nearly 20% of national energy production.”

God does not leave Gentile Nations without warning, either.

And Now a New Hysteria Involving Monkeypox

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 1:

“The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that Europe needs to take ‘urgent’ action against the spread of monkeypox… The WHO’s Europe chief [Hans Kluge] said that 31 countries in the European region had now identified cases. He also reported that around 90% of known infections have been reported in Europe. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recorded more than 5,000 cases in 51 countries worldwide…  Kluge said that almost all cases were reported in men, especially men who have sex with other men… most people who catch the virus experience symptoms such as rash, fever, fatigue, muscle pain, vomiting and chills…

“Germany and the UK, among others, have already started vaccinating vulnerable people. Reports of the virus outside of Africa were rare until May. It is considered endemic in several African countries and has been sickening people in parts of central and west Africa for decades…”

One should be able to connect the dots.

50^th Anniversary Pride Parade in London

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 2:

“More than a million people flocked to central London on Saturday for a record-breaking 50th-anniversary Pride parade. The three-hour-long procession retraced part of the route of the first Pride parade in 1972 and was led by veterans of the fight for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people as well as those questioning their sexuality or gender identity (LGBTQ)… Among those marching was a contingent from Ukraine, who criticized homophobia in Russia.

“UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the 50th anniversary a ‘milestone,’ and paid tribute to the bravery of those who arranged the first events…

“The first Pride, in March 1972, saw just a few hundred marchers met by a heavy uniformed police presence. It took place just five years after homosexuality was decriminalized in the UK… In the 1980s, the campaign would go on to fight against then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s legislation against the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ in schools… Now, as LGBTQ people in the UK experience greater inclusion and equality, Pride in London is more celebration than protest.”

How the world has changed…

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.

Until very recently, this would have seemed a really stupid thing to ask as we should all know the answer.   Throughout the history of mankind, for some 6,000 years, there is no record of this question needing to be answered because male and female genders were clearly understood.

On the website zfacts.com, we read: “The woke position currently amounts to this: women should not talk about themselves as an identity group. That group is apparently now politically incorrect and undeserving of a name, especially undeserving of its old and well-respected name.”  It goes on to say that “woke ideology (but not woke individuals) should be erased. Claiming to be woke — alert to injustice — is just a cover for authoritarian excess.”

However, it seems that this is an ongoing issue and one outcome is the confusion concerning the use of gender-neutral toilets.

Wikipedia writes under the heading of “transgender” the following:

“Transgender people have a gender identity or gender expression that differs from the sex that they were assigned at birth.   Some transgender people who desire medical assistance to transition from one sex to another identify as transsexual.  Transgender, often shortened as trans, is also an umbrella term; in addition to including people whose gender identity is the opposite of their assigned sex (trans men and trans women), it may also include people who are non-binary or genderqueer.”

And then comes along the “trans” lobby and a nominee for the US Supreme Court who said she couldn’t define what a woman is.

Quoting from thefederalist.com, we read the following:

“Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who was nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Joe Biden in large part because of her sex, said she couldn’t define what a woman is on Tuesday during her confirmation hearings.

“Jackson was chosen to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer in fulfillment of Biden’s identity politics pledge to install a black woman on the Supreme Court. Despite those reasons for her nomination, Jackson stumbled through giving a definition of ‘woman’ when Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn asked the straightforward question. ‘Can you provide a definition for the word “woman”?’ Blackburn asked during the hearing. ‘No, I can’t,’ Jackson said after confirming the question.

“The progressive judge claimed she was unable to provide a definition because ‘I’m not a biologist.’ ‘The meaning of the word woman is so unclear and controversial that you can’t give me a definition?’ Blackburn pressed. ‘Senator, in my work as a judge, what I do is I address disputes. If there’s a dispute about a definition, people make arguments, and I look at the law and I decide,’ Jackson said.

“As Blackburn noted in her response, the fact that Jackson couldn’t give ‘a straight answer about something as fundamental as what a woman is underscores the dangers of the kind of progressive education that we are hearing about.”

It is worth repeating that exchange to show how common sense is so under threat from the woke brigade and the liberal left.

And it doesn’t stop there.

Kirrin Medcalf, head of trans inclusion at the controversial LGBT lobby group, made the following comments during an employment tribunal hearing when he was asked, “Do you define women as anyone, including men who say they are women?”  Medcalf replied, “Bodies are not inherently male or female. They are just their bodies.”

It appears that we can read from the comments of some “luminaries” that there is no longer a definition of what a woman is, and that bodies are not inherently male or female.

In our 2018 booklet, “God’s Teachings on Sexual Relationships,” we covered much information including all of the wrong sexual practices that the world now, in general, seems to approve of in direct opposition to what the great Creator God instituted when man was formed some 6,000 years ago.   On page 111 of this booklet, we write as follows under the headline “God Created Male and Female”:

“The Bible is very clear on this matter. We previously discussed in this booklet that God created human beings as man and woman (Genesis 1:27–28; 5:2; Matthew 19:4–6)—two genders with no other variation—and told them to be fruitful and multiply. That cannot happen with a number of wrong sexual practices that exist today.”

God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), but Satan the devil is.   We read in John 8:44:

“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

Wherever there are problems, and the world is full of them, it can be guaranteed that our adversary, Satan the devil, will be in the mix somewhere.

In the Washington Examiner on 22^nd March 2022, the headline read: “It’s not just Jackson: Even scientists and ‘philosophers of biology’ can’t define what a woman is, says USA Today.”

As Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson cannot define what a woman is nor, apparently, can “scientists and ‘philosophers of biology’”, let us educate them all on this matter.

Wikipedia (amongst others) gives the following information:

“A woman is an adult female human. Prior to adulthood, a female human is referred to as a girl (a female child or adolescent). The plural women is sometimes used in certain phrases such as ‘women’s rights’ to denote female humans regardless of age.

“Typically, women have two X chromosomes and are capable of pregnancy and giving birth from puberty until menopause. Female anatomy is distinguished from male anatomy by the female reproductive system, which includes the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina and vulva. The adult female pelvis is wider, the hips broader, and the breasts larger than that of adult males. Women have significantly less facial and other body hair, have a higher body fat composition, and are on average shorter and less muscular than men.”

In spite of what man might be trying to engineer, only women can conceive and give birth to children.

In the first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis, we read in Genesis 1:26-28: “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’  So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.  Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’”

We appreciate that there is so much antagonism towards the Word of God today where the numbers of believers in an all-powerful Creator God seem to reduce by the year, but that, in no way, negates the Truth that it contains. Had God not made male and female, the only two genders that there are, none of us would be here today.

Trends, styles, crazes, fashions and fads will come and go but the Word of God, the Holy Bible, is constant in its instructions and guidance.   It defines who we are, what we are, and what we can look forward to in the soon-coming Kingdom of God.   When we take notice of the Bible, we reap the rewards of its unending urging, direction and answers.

In 2 Timothy 3:15-17, the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy: “…from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.   All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Taking note of what the Almighty says is of far more importance and infinitely wiser than listening to the thoughts and musings of fallible men and women who come up with their own theories, philosophies and considerations.

God says that He created a man and a woman, and they were to multiply on the face of the earth, and they have done and are doing that.

And that has been achieved with just two genders, male and female.

God has designed male and female as both equal and different.   Both have different roles in life.   We read in Titus 2:3-5: “…the older women likewise [are to] be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.”

Of course, that doesn’t go down well with the “women’s lib” movement, but it is taken from the Word of God which is written for the good of mankind, and there are many other Scriptures which attest further to the roles of men, women and children.

In short, a woman marries a man, bears children where possible, nurtures and protects her family, is a homemaker and a support for her husband.   He, in return, has the responsibility to provide for his family in the best way possible.  There are biological and emotional differences, and they complement each other as God ordained it so.

Proverbs 31:10-31, which is a wonderful description of a virtuous woman, would be a good starting point for anyone to read, particularly those who can’t define what a woman is and those who ridiculously state that “bodies are not inherently male or female.”  However, that would probably be a leap too far to ask strident, God-defying people to look at, or review anything other than their own perceived wisdom.

That’s a shame because they could learn much from the Word of God!

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“Boris Johnson Resigns and Leaves a Mess,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

Boris Johnson announced his resignation as Conservative Party leader, but wants to remain as a caretaker prime minister until a successor is found.  This crisis comes at a terrible time for the Brits, and it has been said that the country looks like a shambles. Before his resignation, Johnson made the spectacular suggestion of recreating the ancient Roman Empire in Europe, which will indeed rise again, but the consequences for the UK will be disastrous. On top of that, it has been said that the UK is totally unprepared for a nuclear world war which could ultimately annihilate all of mankind.

“Boris Johnson hinterlässt einen Scherbenhaufen,” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This program in German covers the topic presented above. 

A new Member Letter (July 2022) has been written by Brian Gale. In his letter, Mr. Gale reflects on the worldwide chaos now occurring—a time very much like that of Noah’s day. He further encourages us to not “be caught unawares” when God decides to act to put a stop to all the evil.

“God Is… Our Destiny,” a new booklet written by Norbert Link, has entered final a final editing before sending it to graphic artist Shelly Bruno.

“Die Bedeutung von Gottes Heiligen Herbstfeiertagen,” the German translation of our English booklet, “The Meaning of God’s Fall Holy Days,” has reached the final review cycle. 

“David und Absalom… schuldlos ist keiner!” is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “David and Absalom… None Without Fault!”

“Erfolgreiche Sündenüberwindung,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath in Germany by Andreas Raetz, is now posted. Title in English: “Successful Overcoming of Sins.”

“America No Longer a Great Nation—Comments on News and Prophecy, July 2, 2022,” the first message presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

President Donald Trump said it well at a recent rally in Mendon, Illinois: “It is no longer a great nation. It is a nation in decline.” He then went on to explain as to why he came to that conclusion which is, sadly, very true. In this program, we also discuss the possibility of “legal civil war” in the USA, as well as the willingness of many American citizens to take up arms against the government “at one point soon.” Finally, we quote recent comments from Pope Francis which echo what Herbert Armstrong already said in 1945.

“Greatly Divided We Fall,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Kalon Mitchell, is now posted. Here is a summary:

In a world that is divided on all sides – where do we stand in regards to our relationship with God and with our fellow Christians? We have to be united or we will fall.

On July 2, 2022, Norbert Link will present, “Comments on News and Prophecy, July 2, 2022,” and Kalon Mitchell will present the sermon, titled, “Greatly Divided We Fall.”

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.

Today’s focus is on materialism. Most people are very concerned about the difficulties that life brings – about making ends meet – and how to get more for their money.

God warns us about the greedy, selfish spirit that dominates our society today: “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:9-10).

Most people are not ready for being wealthy. They simply can’t handle it.

How would we handle extra money? Would we use it wisely? All too often, that may not be the case.

Money is power. It needs to be controlled. Without self-control and restraint, money becomes a curse. Satan’s goal is to encourage us to destroy ourselves, to turn blessings into curses.

Wealth is a trial.

Christ tells us: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).

Where is our treasure? Are we materially-minded?

Christ also states: “…You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).

Satan knows, when it comes to the priority that dominates us, the choice is either God or material wealth. If he succeeds in tempting us into materialism, pleasure, and a comfortable life, so that we come to think we cannot live without these, then he can draw us away from the loving God.

Because the Bible clearly reveals that having the mindset on the things of the flesh and being carnally minded, is enmity against God. We can read this in Romans 8:4-7.

Wealth is a blessing from God. But it needs to be used properly.

The devil’s plan is getting people to misuse prosperity so that it becomes a curse rather than a blessing. He wants people to attach their hearts to material things and to forget God.

Satan would like to whisper to us: “Look, aren’t things going very well? Why are you keeping the shield of faith so high? And why have you put on the breastplate of righteousness? You do not need all this. And surely you do not need the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God).”

But at the end of the day, this is not a whisper, but rather the roar of a lion, walking about and seeking to devour us.

Ephesians 6:12-18 tells us:

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…”

Money is Power. Using it properly is up to us.

Initial translation from German: Daniel Blasinger

by Norbert Link

We are discussing the repercussions of the US Supreme Court decision, overturning Roe v. Wade, resulting in national and international condemnation from some and praise from others; and we are reflecting on the fact that this country is divided as never before in recent history, with the strong possibility of a “legal civil war.”

We address the sober realization that the USA is no longer a great and influential nation; and that the violence and “insurrection” occurring now is not much different from what happened on January 6, 2021.

We also speak on a court decision regarding public prayer; the outbreak of monkeypox; developments in Germany regarding abortion; Putin’s decision to send nuclear-capable missiles to Belarus; the dangerous expansion of NATO; the fear that no one would come to Israel’s defense; Germany’s military ambitions; and the gathering of seven weak and controversial “leaders” at the G-7 summit in Germany.

We conclude with a very sarcastic piece by Piers Morgan about the prospects of a US presidency under Kamala Harris.

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “And the Beast Is…”

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

US Supreme Court Overturns Roe v. Wade

Breitbart wrote on June 24:

“The Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade on Friday, holding… that the Constitution does not include a right to abortion and returning the issue of abortion laws and regulations to state legislatures… With Roe overruled, the issue of abortion now goes back to the states to pass whatever restrictions on abortions the voters of each state choose to adopt.”

The Associated Press wrote on June 26:

“Friday’s outcome is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states… Thomas… wrote a separate opinion in which he explicitly called on his colleagues to put the Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage, gay sex and even contraception cases on the table. But Alito contended that his analysis addresses abortion only…”

Many misconceptions regarding Roe v. Wade exist. Contrary to public opinion, the case did NOT guarantee an unrestricted nationwide right to abortion. The Britannica Encyclopedia explains:

“The Supreme Court [in Roe v Wade] disagreed with Roe’s assertion of an absolute right to terminate pregnancy in any way and at any time and attempted to balance a woman’s right of privacy with a state’s interest in regulating abortion. In his opinion, Blackmun noted that only a ‘compelling state interest’ justifies regulations limiting ‘fundamental rights’ such as privacy and that legislators must therefore draw statutes narrowly ‘to express only the legitimate state interests at stake.’ The Court then attempted to balance the state’s distinct compelling interests in the health of pregnant women and in the potential life of fetuses. It placed the point after which a state’s compelling interest in the pregnant woman’s health would allow it to regulate abortion ‘at approximately the end of the first trimester’ of pregnancy. With regard to the fetus, the Court located that point at ‘capability of meaningful life outside the mother’s womb,’ or viability, which occurs at about 24 weeks of pregnancy.”

Also, many misconceptions exist regarding the most recent Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade.  As Fox News wrote on June 25:

“… many [are] acting as if abortions had been banned nationwide. In response, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., explained… that in reality ‘nothing has been banned’ – as the ruling simply reversed the regulatory power over abortion laws to the state legislatures, as prescribed by the 10th Amendment for those powers not explicitly enumerated in the Constitution.”

Still, the national and international condemnation of the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade is telling, and those who are ringing the alarm bell, favoring abortion, can be found in any religious affiliation. Note the next article.

National and International Condemnations

Chuck Schumer

Fox News reported on June 24:

“Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer [Catholic] called Friday ‘one of the darkest days our country has ever seen.’…

Merrick Garland

“Attorney General Merrick Garland [conservative Jew] said that the Department of Justice ‘strongly disagrees’ with the Supreme Court, and that it delivered a ‘devastating blow’ to reproductive freedoms in America…

Ilhan Omar

“Rep. Ilhan Omar [Muslim] compared the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade to decisions legitimizing slavery and concentration camps….

Barack Obama

“Former President Obama [Protestant Christian] slammed the Supreme Court for having ‘not only reversed nearly 50 years of precedent,’ but having ‘relegated the most intensely personal decision someone can make to the whims of politicians and ideologues—attacking the essential freedoms of millions of Americans.’…”

Business Insider wrote on June 24 that Obama said: “Join with the activists who’ve been sounding the alarm on abortion access for years — and act. Stand with them at a local protest.”

Nancy Pelosi

Fox News wrote on June 24:

“House Speaker Nancy Pelosi [Catholic] on Friday said the ‘Republican-controlled’ Supreme Court ‘achieved the GOP’s dark and extreme goal of ripping away women’s right to make their own reproductive health decisions… This cruel ruling is outrageous and heart-wrenching…’

Joe Biden

“President Biden [Catholic] on Friday urged Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade by codifying abortion rights into federal law… while urging protesters to remain peaceful and saying ‘violence is never acceptable.’… The president said Roe v. Wade ‘reaffirmed basic principles of equality that women have the power to control their own destiny, and to reinforce the fundamental right of privacy.’”

Reuters added on June 26: “Biden, a lifelong Catholic, condemned the ruling, calling it a ‘sad day’ for America and labelling the court’s conservatives ‘extreme.’”

Fox News wrote on June 24: ‘‘Excited to hear ‘devout Catholic’ Biden condemn today’s Supreme Court decision that any devout Catholic would agree with,’ Washington Times columnist Tim Young remarked, pointing out the irony in Biden’s position.”

LifeSiteNews wrote on June 24:

“Biden decried the pro-life victory as stripping women of the ‘right to choose’ to murder their unborn children, claiming abortion should be an ‘intensely personal decision… Biden assured his fellow abortion supporters that while the overturning of Roe v. Wade ‘casts a dark shadow over large swaths of the land,’ there remain ‘many states in this country that still recognize a woman’s right to choose’…. Biden reminded the public that ‘the Supreme Court’s decision does not prevent [a woman] from traveling from her home state to the state that allows it.’…

“Biden’s statements were met with immediate backlash, with many implying the president is a hypocrite for consistently calling himself Catholic while flagrantly denying the Church’s explicit condemnation of abortion.”

Biden stated that the right to travel must be upheld, referring to the right to travel from one state to another to have an abortion.  This is ironic as he abolished the right to travel during the coronavirus crisis.

 Emmanuel Macron

Fox News wrote on June 24:

“French President Emmanuel Macron [baptized as a Catholic, an agnostic today] tweeted Friday… ‘Abortion is a fundamental right for all women. It must be protected. I wish to express my solidarity with the women whose liberties are being undermined by the Supreme Court of the United States.’”

 Boris Johnson

Express added on June 24: “Prime Minister Boris Johnson [formerly Catholic, now Anglican] called the decision a ‘big step backwards.’ He added: ‘I have always believed in a woman’s right to choose and I stick to that view, that’s why the UK has the laws that it does.’”

Justin Trudeau

MSN on June 24 wrote that leftist “Canadian Prime minister Justin Trudeau [Catholic] also called the news ‘horrific,’ saying that ‘no government, politician, or man should tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her body.’”

LifeSiteNews wrote on June 24: “Trudeau’s claim that no government or politician can tell a woman what to do with her body is at odds with the COVID vaccine mandates he imposed on federal workers and for travel. People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier called Trudeau a ‘hypocrite’… Campaign Life Coalition (CLC) President Jeff Gunnarson blasted Trudeau for his comments… ‘What’s horrific is that we have a Prime Minister who is absolutely callous toward the some 100,000 pre-born Canadian children who are killed every year by abortion. What is truly horrific is the disembowelment, dismemberment, and decapitation of these innocent human beings,’ noted Gunnarson… Trudeau for years has professed his support for abortion despite claiming to be Catholic…”

Lisa Paus

Deutsche Welle reported on June 24 that “Germany’s Minister for Family Affairs Lisa Paus [member of The Greens; her religion is designated as “Christian”] said she was ‘shocked’ by the development.”

Jacinda Ardern

The Guardian wrote on June 24 that “New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern [formerly Mormon, renounced her faith in favor of the LGBT movement], said… the ‘removal of a woman’s fundamental right to make decisions over their own body’ was ‘incredibly upsetting.’”

Kamala Harris

Breitbart added on June 26:

“Vice President Kamala Harris [Baptist] on Friday mourned the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade… She warned that other rights guaranteed by the court such as same-sex marriage, contraception, and interracial marriage were threatened by the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade…. ‘Today I invite all people to stand together in defense of one of the most fundamental ideals and principles for generations, for centuries…’

Hillary Clinton

“Two-time failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton [Methodist] on Friday condemned the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. ‘Today’s Supreme Court opinion will live in infamy as a step backward for women’s rights and human rights…’”

Praise for the Decision

Fox News wrote on June 25:

Donald Trump

“Former President Trump praised the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade… When asked whether he feels he played a role in the reversal of Roe v. Wade, after having appointed three conservative justices to the high court, the former president told Fox News: ‘God made the decision.’…

Mike Pence

“Former Vice President Mike Pence celebrated the court’s decision… ‘Today, Life Won. By overturning Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court of the United States has given the American people a new beginning for life, and I commend the justices in the majority for having the courage of their convictions… Having been given this second chance for Life, we must not rest and must not relent until the sanctity of life is restored to the center of American law in every state in the land.’…”

Franklin Graham

Newsmax wrote on June 24:

“Franklin Graham praised the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, calling the abortions of more than 60 million fetuses since the landmark court ruling 50 years ago a ‘genocide against the unborn’… ‘Today, abortion is not illegal in the United States… I wish it was wiped out completely but it’s not. There are going to be many states that will permit abortions, but I believe this is a step in the right direction.’… ‘We have a lot of evils in this world and abortion is one of those evils and I hope and pray that one day it will be terminated in this country in every state,’ he added.”

The Vatican

Newsmax reported on June 24:

“The Vatican’s Academy for Life on Friday praised the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on abortion, saying it challenged the world to reflect on life issues, but also called for social changes to help women keep their children… The Roman Catholic church teaches that abortion is murder because life begins at the moment of conception and ends with natural death. Pope Francis has compared having an abortion to ‘hiring a hit man’ to eliminate a problematic person.”

The Vatican’s statement that women must be helped to keep their children is of utmost importance.

The Vatican’s Hypocrisy

The Associated Press wrote on June 29:

“U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with Pope Francis on Wednesday and received Communion during a papal Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica… despite her position in support of abortion rights… Pelosi met with Francis on Wednesday before the Mass and received a blessing…”

Both seem to be oblivious to the obvious hypocrisy they are both showing.

American Jewish Perspective

JTA wrote on June 24:

“American Jews favor abortion rights, more than any other religious group, according to public polling. And traditional Jewish law permits (and even requires) abortion in some circumstances, particularly when the life or health of the pregnant person is at stake.”

That position is appalling.

Prohibiting Contraception?

Boston Globe wrote on June 24:

“In an opinion concurring with his conservative colleagues on the Supreme Court to overturn the fundamental right to an abortion, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote on Friday that striking down Roe v. Wade should also open up the high court to review other precedents that may be deemed ‘demonstrably erroneous.’ Among those, Thomas wrote, was the right for married couples to buy and use contraception without government restriction from the landmark 1965 ruling in Griswold v. Connecticut.

“‘In future cases, we should reconsider all of this Court’s substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell,’ Thomas wrote… ‘we have a duty to correct the error established in those precedents.’…

“In Griswold, the Supreme Court invalidated a law prohibiting birth control…”

Apart from the legal technicality as to who has jurisdiction to decide the issue, the substantive question is as to what is meant by “contraception.” Are they talking about the pill AFTER conception [so-called telemedicine abortions, ENDING a pregnancy], or are they referring to measures preventing pregnancy? If the latter is meant and contraception before pregnancy was to be prohibited, that would be a ludicrous and extremely serious ungodly outcome.

Civil War in the USA?

Fox News wrote on June 24:

“Liberal media outlets, with most of the noise emanating from MSNBC and CNN, went full scorched-earth after the Supreme Court… send abortion back to the states. Journalists, pundits and guests quickly gave emotional reactions to the news, claiming that a ‘legal Civil War’ was imminent and lamenting the Supreme Court as a partisan institution bent on destroying women’s rights…

“NBC’s Chuck Todd immediately reacted to the news by claiming many Americans believe the Supreme Court is ‘rigged.’…

“CNN’s legal analysts also weighed in on the ramifications of the ruling, with Toobin predicting that the result would lead to ‘legal civil war.’ ‘It’s going to be legal chaos, forget the legal Civil War,’ legal analyst Lauren Coates similarly stated. Lawyer and Slate senior editor Dahlia Lithwick joined MSNBC just after the ruling and stopped herself short of agreeing with the Civil War phrase, but added that the Court’s decision would at the very least lead to’”immense bickering.’ ‘There are two countries [now]. There are quite literally red states and blue states,’ she added.”

t-online wrote on June 24:

“With their decision on Friday to leave abortion laws to the respective states and thereby potentially criminalizing millions of women, America’s top judges are driving the country into an unprecedented political and social divide… The USA is no longer only divided politically and socially. Two different legal systems are emerging – one in the states governed by Democrats, the other in the states governed by Republicans. It is a legal ditch that is becoming more and more obvious….

“The most powerful democracy in the world is in danger of collapsing because of these internal political struggles…. The most important world power threatens to fail for the foreseeable future…  the US will be busy trying not to plunge into civil war amid social tensions…”

This nation is terribly divided. Note the next article as well.

A Divided Nation—and Newsom the New Democratic Star?

The Los Angeles Times wrote on June 25:

“Gavin Newsom (California) called the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade sickening and beckoned women in other states to California, their ‘sanctuary’ for free abortion care… Greg Abbott (Texas) celebrated the ruling and promised he will ‘always fight to save every child from the ravages of abortion.’ The disparate responses from the governors of the two most populous states in the nation highlighted the stark political divide in America, deepened by radically different approaches to healthcare, gun control, the COVID-19 pandemic, LGBTQ rights, immigration and now, once again, reproductive rights…

“The gulf between red and blue states has widened significantly in recent years. That reversed a long trend that started just after World War II of growing uniformity across the country, as legal racial segregation ended in the South and the federal government and courts expanded rights for all American citizens. The split on abortion closely reflects public opinion in the states. In California, Oregon and Washington, for example, roughly 60% of residents said abortion should be legal in all or most cases… By contrast, only about 40% of people took that position in the most strongly antiabortion states, including Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, South Dakota, Utah and Idaho…

“[Newsom] also used the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision as an impetus for signing a bill that protects abortion providers in California from liability when caring for patients traveling from areas where the procedure is now banned or access is narrowed. Newsom said the law counters one passed in Texas last year allowing private citizens to sue anyone who ‘aids or abets’ an abortion in the state after about six weeks of pregnancy…

“Last year, as the response to the COVID-19 pandemic became highly partisan, mask and vaccine mandates became political battlegrounds. California was the first state to announce that it would require all public employees and healthcare workers to show proof of vaccination or be tested weekly. In Alabama, Gov. Kay Ivey signed a law last year banning employers from firing workers who refuse a COVID-19 vaccination if those employees claim a medical or religious exemption…

“In 2004, as the newly elected mayor of San Francisco, [Newsom] decided to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in defiance of state law. More than 4,000 couples wed before the California Supreme Court put a halt to the issuances; those unions were later nullified. The young mayor instantly became the national face for the gay marriage movement, much to the chagrin of both social conservatives and some gay rights activists, who worried his action would set back their cause. National Democrats chastised Newsom at the time and he was put on the defensive when John Kerry lost the presidential election that year.

“But with Democrats eventually embracing same-sex marriage, which was made legal nationwide after a 2015 Supreme Court decision, Newsom is now seen as an early leader on that issue….”

Many Democrats would like to see Newsom become the next President.

No Longer a Great Nation

Newsmax wrote on June 25:

“‘It is no longer a great nation,’ Trump told his crowd in Mendon, Illinois, at a rally…  ‘It is a nation in decline — hate to say this to you… It is no longer energy independent or energy dominant… It’s a nation that is begging Venezuela and Saudi Arabia for oil… It’s a nation that surrendered in Afghanistan, leaving dead soldiers, American citizens, and $85 billion worth of the finest military equipment in the world behind… It’s a nation that allowed Russia to devastate a country, Ukraine, killing hundreds of thousands of people, and it will only get worse… It’s a nation that has weaponized its law enforcement against the opposing political party like never before. A nation that no longer has a free press or a fair press…

“‘It’s a nation where free speech is no longer allowed, where crime is rampant, where the economy is collapsing, where more people died of COVID in 2021, than in 2020… It’s a nation that is allowing Iran to build a massive nuclear weapon… and China to use the trillions of dollars that [it] has taken from us to build a military rival. It will be just a disaster for the world… Perhaps most importantly, a nation that… is no longer respected or listened to around the world… It is a nation whose economy is floundering, whose stores are not stocked, whose deliveries are not coming, and whose educational system is ranked in the lowest quadrant of 45 countries and yet spends more money per student than any other country by three times.’”

Sadly, his assessment is very true. He hopes that beginning in 2024, things will change for the better. But will they?

Violence, “Incitement” and “Insurrection”

The Sun wrote on June 25:

“Anti-abortion demonstrators gathered outside the Arizona Capitol Friday night forcing lawmakers to huddle in a basement after the Supreme Court overturned the landmark ruling. SWAT team members with the Department of Public Safety fired tear gas from the second floor of the old Capitol building to disperse protesters in the mall between the current House and Senate buildings. KPHO-TV reported the officers opened fire when several anti-abortion protesters started banging on the glass doors of the Senate building.

“Arizona is among the eight states where abortion clinics paused abortion services… The incident sent Senate lawmakers into the basement for about 20 minutes… Stinging tear gas wafted through the building afterwards, forcing the Senate to move its proceedings to a hearing room instead of the Senate chamber…

“Huge crowds of protestors gathered outside the Supreme Court and in multiple cities such as Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco and New York City… At least 25 people were arrested in New York with one police officer estimating that 17,000 gathered in a march in Washington Square Park… Protesters clashed with police in Los Angeles after some threw fireworks and other objects…”

Fox News added on June 25:

“Arizona Senator Kelly Townsend said abortion protesters are holding her and other lawmakers ‘hostage’ inside the Capitol building in Phoenix.”

The Washington Free Beacon wrote on June 24:

“Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) on Friday joined protesters outside the Supreme Court to call the institution ‘illegitimate’ and urge supporters ‘into the streets’ to fight for abortion… Ocasio-Cortez [Catholic] is one of 27 House Democrats who recently opposed a bill that bolstered security measures for the justices, following protests outside their homes…

“Rep. Maxine Waters (D., Calif.) also told protesters, ‘The hell with the Supreme Court—we will defy them….’ ‘You see this out here?’ Waters added, referencing the size of the protest outside the Court. ‘You ain’t seen nothing yet’… Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas)… condemned Democrats whom he believes are inciting [violence].”

Congresswoman Maxine Waters [“Christian”] is considered by many to be one of the most powerful women in American politics today. As beliefnet reports, “She also said God was ‘on our side’ when she urged her party in late June to take on members of the Trump administration. ‘If you see anybody from that cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd, and you push back on them, and you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere,’ Waters said.”

How are the events in Arizona and elsewhere, described above, any different from Donald Trump’s statement on January 6, 2021 when he called for peaceful protests, saying, make your voices heard “peacefully and patriotically.” In addition to Obama’s statements, quoted earlier, if Trump is supposed to be held accountable for the “insurrection” of January 6, 2021, why would Ocasio-Cortez and Maxine Waters not have to be held accountable for “inciting” violent acts, occurring now?

Thoughts About Abortion, War and Violence

On June 27, Dr. Ron Paul wrote in his weekly column in the Ron Paul Institute publication:

“The Supreme Court undid one of its worst mistakes last week when it overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision declaring a constitutional right to abortion. The Constitution reserves to the states the authority to write and enforce laws regarding murder. Since the question of whether or not to legalize abortion revolves around whether abortion is murder, it is not a federal issue. Roe was thus an illegitimate usurpation of state authority… Murder is certainly an act of aggression. Therefore, even though all humans have a right to bodily anatomy, this does not justify abortion.

“No one ever asked an expectant mother, ‘how’s the fetus?’ Instead, people ask about the baby. This implicitly acknowledges the unborn child’s humanity and thus the child’s right to live. The denial of this right has warped our constitutional system. More importantly it has contributed to the devaluing of human life that is the root of much of America’s moral crisis. A society that devalues life will not respect liberty. Therefore, all who value liberty must protect the right to life. This does not just include ending abortion. It also includes rejecting the militaristic foreign policy that kills innocents in the name of ‘freedom and democracy.’

“Just as pro-life conservatives should be antiwar, progressives should reject the violence government commits against its own citizens via taxation, income redistribution, and the fiat money system that robs average Americans to benefit politicians and elites. Rejecting the use of force, including government force, will lead to a society that values and protects our lives, liberty, and property.”

Coach Can Pray

The Associated Press wrote on June 27:

“The Supreme Court sided with a football coach from Washington state [Kennedy] who sought to kneel and pray on the field after games. The court ruled 6-3 for the coach with the court’s conservative justices in the majority and its liberals in dissent. The justices said the coach’s prayer was protected by the First Amendment. ‘The Constitution and the best of our traditions counsel mutual respect and tolerance, not censorship and suppression, for religious and nonreligious views alike,’ Justice Neil Gorsuch  wrote for the majority.

“In a dissent… Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that the coach decision ‘sets us further down a perilous path in forcing states to entangle themselves with religion.’

“Kennedy… wanted to continue praying on the field himself, with students free to join if they wished. Concerned about being sued for violating students’ religious freedom rights, the school asked him to stop his practice of kneeling and praying while still ‘on duty’ as a coach after the game. The school tried to work out a solution so Kennedy could pray privately before or after the game. When he continued to kneel and pray on the field, the school put him on paid leave.”

Monkeypox Underrated?

npr wrote on June 25:

“On the surface, the monkeypox outbreak in the U.S. doesn’t look that bad, especially compared with other countries…. But in the U.S., the official case count is misleading… The outbreak is bigger — perhaps much bigger — than the case count suggests… Infections have been largely found in men who have sex with men…

“… as the need for testing grew — and the disease became more common than officials initially predicted — the testing system set up by the CDC stopped functioning well, because it actually deters doctors from ordering a monkeypox test. Providers have to go out of their way to order a test.”

One HAS to ask: WHY are tests discouraged??? Could it have something to do with the nature and origin and transmission of the sickness?

Germany Revokes Ban on Promotion of Abortion

AFP wrote on June 25:

“Germany’s parliament on Friday removed a… law that limits the information doctors and clinics can provide about abortion. One of the most controversial sections of the penal code, Paragraph 219a, prohibits the ‘promotion’ of abortion… [The law was adopted] in 1933, shortly after Adolf Hitler had taken power… The Bundestag decision came just hours before the US Supreme Court struck down the constitutional right to abortion in the country…

“Germany’s ruling coalition, comprising Buschmann’s Free Democrats, the Social Democrats and the Greens, had made a pledge to remove the law when they signed up to govern together. The opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the far-right AfD voted against scrapping the law.

“Elisabeth Winkelmeier-Becker of the CDU argued that while a woman may face difficulties because of an unwanted pregnancy, ‘we are also thinking of the child’s right to live.’ She pointed this out as the ‘key difference’ between the ruling coalition and her party… Despite dating back to the darkest chapter in German history, the law was applied until recently. Courts handed out penalties to doctors for offering information on the internet about pregnancy terminations….

“Women wishing to have an abortion must have an obligatory consultation at an approved center… After the consultation, patients must wait for three days… before making a decision. Around 100,000 abortions are carried out in Germany annually, although the number has dropped in recent years… In large parts of the vast southern state, no hospitals offer the procedure. Many people opt to cross the border to Austria instead.”

Nuclear-Capable Missiles for Belarus

Aljazeera wrote on June 25:

“Russia will supply Belarus with missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads after the president complained about nuclear-armed NATO flights coming close to the Belarusian border…

“Lukashenko expressed concern about the ‘aggressive’, ‘confrontational’, and ‘repulsive’ policies of Belarus’s neighbours Lithuania and Poland.”

Belarus, as well as Ukraine, will ultimately be a part of a full-fledged military alliance with Russia.

No One Will Come to Israel’s Aid

Israel 365 wrote on June 27:

“… for Ukrainians, the situation must be particularly galling. After all, it has been barely 20 years since the Budapest Memorandum was signed, in which Russia, the U.S. and the U.K. pledged to refrain from threatening or using military force or economic coercion against Ukraine if the country gave up its nuclear weapons. They also pledged—among other things—to respect Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty according to its then-current borders.

“Clearly, there have since been blatant Russian violations of the Memorandum, notably the 2014 annexation of Crimea and then the 2022 invasion of Ukraine…

“For Israel, the message is stark and unequivocal: It must remember that should it cede vitally important strategic territory at the behest of foreign governments, it could well tempt its adversaries to launch a deadly assault on it, because it would be far more vulnerable and exposed than before. Moreover, Israel should remember that it can expect scant support from other countries, which will be reluctant to come to its aid. For, as Yossi Cohen [former director of Mossad] warned… if Israel is attacked, it must be prepared for the possibility that ‘no one will come.’”

NATO to Grow by 650 Percent

UPI wrote on June 27:

“The NATO chief [Jens Stoltenberg] announced plans to shore up NATO’s eastern flank nearer Russia by boosting NATO’s quick-response forces by 650%. The force would grow from 40,000 to 300,000 as part of the ‘biggest overhaul of our collective defense and deterrence since the Cold War.’”

Sweden and Finland Give In to Erdogan

The Guardian wrote on June 28:

“[An] agreement has been reached between Turkey, Finland and Sweden to allow the two Nordic countries to become Nato members…  [Swedish prime minister] Andersson hailed the deal as a ‘very good agreement’, rejecting claims that she had conceded too much to Erdoğan in order to persuade him to drop his veto…

“Turkey had said it would block the applications of Sweden and Finland unless it received satisfactory assurances that the Nordic countries were willing to address what it regards as support for Kurdish groups it designates as terrorist organisations, in particular the Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK)…

“The Nordic countries said they confirmed that the PKK was a proscribed organisation and, in a key concession, would ‘not provide support’ to the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union party (PYD) and People’s Protection Units (YPG) groups that have been active in the fight against Islamic State in Syria… all three countries said they would work together on extradition requests.

“Sweden is home to 100,000 Kurdish refugees and Turkey has called for the extradition of individuals it says are linked to the PKK or the Syrian YPG. Stoltenberg said Finland and Sweden had agreed to ‘further amending their domestic legislation’ to give Turkey the anti-terror reassurances it had sought, and would be ‘cracking down on PKK activities’ and ‘entering into an agreement with Turkey on extradition’.

“US president Joe Biden congratulated the three countries on securing the deal, which he described as ‘a crucial step towards a Nato invite to Finland and Sweden, which will strengthen our alliance and bolster our collective security.’ Boris Johnson greeted the announcement by tweeting: ‘Fantastic news as we kick off the Nato Summit. Sweden and Finland’s membership will make our brilliant alliance stronger and safer.”

These are very troublesome and dangerous developments, and the [willful?] blindness of Biden and Johnson is amazing, as they should be able to see clearly that Putin will consider these developments as provocations, while Turkey under dictator Erdogan is being given dangerous powers.

Germany’s Military Ambitions

Express wrote on June 29:

“In February, just days after Russia invaded Ukraine, Germany announced it would sharply increase its defence spending to more than two percent of its economic output. Chancellor Olaf Scholz insisted ‘we will have to invest more in the security of our country to protect our freedom and democracy’… Some French politicians have since blasted the move, which they perceive to be an attempt to overtake France’s military power.

“Les Patriotes official Joffrey Bollée wrote in a post on Twitter: ‘Germany completes its power! After having used the EU as a stepping stone and as a tool to weaken France, Germany is now displaying its military ambitions.’ He insisted that France ‘must urgently counter this project and keep our first rank in terms of defence’.

“Mr Bollée and others appear to have taken particular issue with Mr Scholz’s claim Germany will possess the greatest military force in Europe. The Chancellor last week told the German Parliament the country should boast [the] ‘largest conventional army’ among European NATO state members…

“Les Patriotes President Florian Philippot saw this as a simple act of power play over France. He wrote: ‘In a few weeks, the German Chancellor repeated twice and forcefully that “Germany will soon have the largest army in Europe” (implied, ahead of France)! It might be time to wake up, right?!’”

If Germany under weak and indecisive Chancellor Scholz is already perceived as displaying its military ambitions, only imagine how the world will look when the “beast” comes to power.

G-7 Meeting in Germany

Deutsche Welle reported on June 26:

“Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) began three day talks on Sunday in Germany’s Bavarian Alps with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine set to dominate the agenda.

“German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden are also set to discuss proposals to tackle the sharp rise in food and oil prices across the world, as well as inflation, with the leaders of Canada [Trudeau], France [Macron], Italy [Draghi], Japan [Kishida] and the United Kingdom [Johnson]. One of the first announcements was a $600 billion (€568 billion) infrastructure initiative to help developing countries tackle climate change.”

Incredibly, Biden thanked Scholz for his leadership on the Ukraine crisis, saying his leadership had been crucial. What an unbelievable joke, uttered by one failing leader to another. And what a group of “leaders” has been assembling in Germany!

Joe Biden Has the Worst G7 Summit Since Jimmy Carter

The New York Post wrote on June 28:

“This G-7 has to be judged the worst G-7 meeting since the one in Japan in 1979 that also took place amid a global energy crisis and rising inflation. The other factor these two summits, 43 years apart, have in common: an out-to-lunch American president.

“Both the 1979 meeting and this week’s meeting attempted to create an oil buyers’ cartel to limit oil imports but with opposite targets in mind. In 1979, the G-7 wanted to limit imports from the Middle East (the attempt failed immediately). Today the G-7 wants to limit imports from Russia… while begging the Middle East, and especially the dominant producer Saudi Arabia, to increase oil exports to the West.

“As in 1979, when the other G-7 leaders were harsh toward President Jimmy Carter at the summit, this week France’s Emmanuel Macron… advised [Biden] that the Saudis and other top Persian Gulf producers are close to current maximum capacity and as such aren’t able to bail out Biden even if they wanted to…

“Biden… appears oblivious to the fact that Europe is looking for a face-saving way to ease existing sanctions that threaten to harm their own economies more than Russia’s.

“Another parallel between Biden’s position and the dismal Carter years:… In 1979, Saudi Arabia was enraged that the United States sat back during — even encouraged — the fall of the shah in Iran, thus handing over Iran to radical Islamists who have destabilized the Middle East ever since. The Saudis resent Biden calling them moral monsters one day and coming begging for more oil at a lower price the next day, while reopening the futile negotiations with Iran that will have only one outcome — a nuclear-armed Iran….”

“If You Think Joe Biden Is Bad, Just Imagine President Kamala…”

On June 28, the New York Post published the following opinion by Piers Morgan:

“Picture the scene:

“It’s July 4, 2023, and President Kamala Harris is about to address the American people about Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Poland.

“She’s been leader of the free world for six months since Joe Biden, implementing the 25th Amendment, abruptly resigned on the grounds of physical and mental incapacity after the Democrats suffered the worst midterm election mauling in history, losing 120 House seats and eight Senate seats…

“President Harris’ tenure in office has bordered on the miraculous, in that she has managed to be even worse than her predecessor — something political experts didn’t think was possible.

“In fact, her presidency has been a catalog of calamities, dominated by woke-ravaged lunacy. Her first decision was to make freshperson Congressperson Megan Rapinoe her vice president, saying how delighted she was to appoint the first gay woman to such high office…

“Schools are in meltdown after she made Meghan Markle the new education secretary and her first act was to make it a firing offense for teachers to even mention the names of… American icons like Abraham Lincoln, Elvis Presley, Neil Armstrong and Mickey Mantle because they all ‘looked like the cruel white supremacists in the royal family’ from whom she was forced to escape.

“Illegal immigration has exploded after Harris declared an immediate path to full US citizenship for anyone who turns up to attempt illegal entry on the southern border and identifies as a legal immigrant…

“Crime has also dramatically increased after President Harris’ new secretary of homeland security, Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, introduced a substantial defunding of the police, which led to instant widespread lawlessness…

“Gas prices are now $12 a gallon after Harris signed an emergency executive order banning all US government dealings with Saudi Arabia… The Saudis responded by saying, ‘This is why we don’t let women drive cars’ and giving all their oil to China and Russia, massively worsening America’s energy supply crisis.

“Inflation has continued surging to 15%, a full-blown recession is raging, another Great Depression is looming, and her only response has been to give an interview to Jen Psaki on MSNBC…

“If President Harris’ domestic agenda is a disaster, then her performance on the international stage has been a catastrophe of biblical proportions.

“She withdrew all US weapons supplies to President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ukraine after discovering he had cracked ‘totally, like, inappropriate’ trans jokes when he was a comedian. This woeful inaction of woke-induced military hardware cancel culture promptly emboldened Russia to attack and seize Kyiv, thus completing their illegal takeover of the entire country…

“But her most shocking move was to unilaterally disarm the United States of all its nuclear weapons because Putin said he would too if America went first… Of course, like Adolf Hitler in 1939, Putin went back on his word, and has attacked Poland, telling NATO if they respond, he will nuke them to rubble.”

In spite of his biting sarcasm, Morgan does describe a horrifying and not all that unrealistic scenario.

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.

While there are certainly times when God does not immediately answer our prayers because He chooses to respond in a more important way for us (compare 2 Corinthians 12:7-10), the Bible also clearly reveals that sin will affect our prayers.

It is important to understand that God has promised to respond to His people, and we find this very fundamental but absolutely vital condition set forth in the Book of Zechariah:

“‘The LORD has been very angry with your fathers. Therefore say to them, “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Return to Me,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets preached, saying, “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds.’” But they did not hear nor heed Me,’ says the LORD’” (Zechariah 1:2-4).

God is always abundantly ready to help us in our times of need, but by sinning we can cut ourselves off from God and from Him hearing or answering our prayers:

“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2).

An example of this is set forth in the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18, verses 9-14. The Pharisee thought he was righteous and without blame before God (Verses 11-12); however, the Tax Collector openly and with heartfelt humility pleaded, saying, “‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’” (Verse 13).

The Bible has many other explicit examples of how sin separated individuals and nations from having contact with God—so that He would not and did not answer their prayers (compare John 9:31).

In examining our own relationship with God, a FIRST STEP is to STOP SINNING! That means we must turn from disobedience to obedience to have God answer our prayers:

“And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22).

A SECOND STEP in having God answer our prayers is DON’T GIVE UP! Jesus taught us that we should be tenacious in our prayers to God:

“‘Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened’” (Matthew 7:7-8).

Just such an example of one who prayed with persistent determination is that of Hannah, the mother of Samuel the prophet, and her remarkable story is found in 1 Samuel, chapters 1 and 2. Hannah was childless for many years and was constantly chided by the other wife of her husband, Elkanah, who did have children. Finally, Hannah did conceive and bore Samuel as well as other children. Hannah did not give up, and God did answer her prayers.

The Bible tells of many others who were faithfully praying for years before God dramatically intervened in their lives:

“There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always” (Acts 10:1-2).

This man, his family and friends, were chosen by God to be the first of the Gentiles to “‘hear the word of the gospel and believe’” (Acts 15:7). It is evident that Cornelius was steadfast and faithful in praying to God, and God answered him in ways far beyond what he might even have hoped—a fact that applies to those who don’t give up in praying to God.

Remember how willing God is to hear and answer His servants:

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20).

Also, note how God responded to King Solomon’s prayer:

^“Then God said to him: ‘Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days’” (1 Kings 3:11-13).

Remember, we must never give up in praying to God (compare Luke 18:1-8)—even if we don’t get the answer right away. Trust God completely to answer you in the way that is best.

A THIRD STEP in having God answer our prayers is to BELIEVE GOD! Sometimes, perhaps, we simply need to re-examine the fact that God requires that we believe Him.

“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).

Jesus taught about how to have our prayers answered:

“‘Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them’” (Mark 11:24).

James writes of how we should pray, using the example of requesting “wisdom”:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:5-8).

Jesus was asked to heal a centurion’s servant, and He agreed to do so:

^“And Jesus said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’ The centurion answered and said, ‘Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, “Go,” and he goes; and to another, “Come,” and he comes; and to my servant, ‘”Do this,” and he does it.’ When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!’… Then Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.’ And his servant was healed that same hour” (Matthew 8:7-10, 13).

We can have great faith and truly believe God if, when we pray, we are doing the following:

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14).

Finally, we have the supreme help of Jesus Christ in having our prayers answered:

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Lead Writer: Dave Harris

compiled by Dave Harris

“And the Beast Is…” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

Many have tried to figure out who the beast is—that very charismatic end-time personage mentioned in the Book of Revelation. But what does the BIBLE tell us about the beast? How else is the beast referred to, and what are the national origins and characteristics of the beast? Where will the beast arise, and where not? And will everybody be able to recognize the beast?

The German AufPostenStehen program with the title, “Und das Tier ist…” covers the same topic. 

“Warum bald nur sehr wenige überleben werden!” is the title of this Sabbath’s new German sermon, presented by Michael Link. Title in English: “Why only very few will survive soon.”

“Freut Euch!”, the sermonette presented last Sabbath in Germany by Manuel Giermann, is now posted. Title in English: “Rejoice!”

“It is Written,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Frank Bruno, is now posted. Here is a summary:

It is easy to take all the world’s literature for granted these days—there are many choices and many outlets from which we can read, learn, and enjoy great works. Scripture is different in that it was given to mankind to get to know God and draw closer when He calls us. It is so important that we utilize the gift of the written word contained in our Bible and understand that each word builds on another as God intended. In this Sermonette we will cover various Scriptures that help us use these words given by God for our spiritual growth.

“Why Change?”, the sermon presented last Sabbath by Eric Rank, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Sometimes it is important to change, and sometimes it is important to resist change. How can we discern the right things to commit to if we want to live a life that pleases God?

On June 25, 2022, Frank Bruno will present the sermonette, titled, “It is Written,” and Eric Rank will present the sermon, titled, “Why Change?”.

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 1949, George Orwell published a book, entitled “1984”, picturing what he thought the conditions in a future world would be like. The lead character in it was employed in the “Ministry of Truth” to revise past issues of newspapers in the cases where politicians’ promises were not fulfilled. His revisions were to change the promises to what really happened, destroy the old copies and file the new copies as their replacements.

This was also carried out by others in the “Ministry of Truth” on books and other historical documents so that all past references as to what was expected to happen would be changed to what did happen. So, historical researchers would “find” that all predictions actually happened as they were predicted to. In other words, they were destroying Truth to make politicians look good.

At that time, 1984 as suggested by George Orwell, the governments would be highly oppressive and employ “Thought Police” to arrest and “Disappear” citizens who disagreed with the government’s narrative—at times even going so far as to remove all records of that person’s existence, as if they had never lived. Orwell also coined the term “Big Brother Is Watching”. Of course, that was purely fiction and did not happen in 1984.

However, looking at today’s situation, some of the things George Orwell wrote about are happening. This present situation is mentioned in Isaiah 59:14-15. It is a prophecy that will occur just before the return of Jesus Christ, although it may have happened in other times as well. The verses state, “Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands afar off; For truth is fallen in the street, And equity cannot enter. So truth fails, And he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.” The term prey is sometimes translated as ridiculed, but more often as plundered. It could even mean in today’s terminology, make oneself a target. All of these meanings are occurring in today’s world.

When we look at the situation today, justice is often dependent on political favour. Truth is certainly not evident in many places. And where do we find righteousness? The fulfilment of these two verses has been made plain during the current pandemic. The meaning of words has been changed for political reasons. Pandemic used to be a situation with extreme numbers of deaths and illnesses. This was changed within the last twenty years to only require a high number of cases without an extreme number of deaths.

Also, the definitions of vaccines and herd immunity have been changed to suit the current narrative.

As for becoming a target, doctors and nurses can lose their medical licenses if they treat patients with effective and safe medications that the government forbids for political or economic reasons. This even extends to requiring the professional to have a psychiatric examination before regaining their license—something no professional wants on their resume.

Regarding the legal area, some schools teach a distorted history and can groom young children towards trans-sexuality. The parents who object vocally at school meetings have been labelled “Domestic Terrorists” by a government agency. A Supreme Court nominee was unable to give a definition of what a woman is when asked. From a technical legal standpoint, she might even have been correct to an extent, when considering current law in some states, when anyone can legally call themselves the opposite gender from their birth sex. For example, a man has the legal right in some places to call himself a lesbian and anyone who objects can be prosecuted because of using hate speech. It is indeed a sick world, totally departing from God’s standards.

While people in this day and age are not usually “disappeared” as George Orwell wrote, they can be “disappeared” or cancelled from social and other internet websites for disagreeing with the government narrative and speaking what is true. Truth has indeed departed and people readily become targets for not agreeing with evil in today’s world.

So, what does God require of us as He is a God of Truth which we read in Deuteronomy 32:4? “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.” So, those items mentioned as missing in Isaiah 59:14-15, justice, righteousness and Truth, characterise God.

As for us, God requires Truth to be a part of our character, a part of our Way of Life, and not just in our words, but also in our thoughts—our innermost being, if we want to live with Christ for eternity. As we read in Psalm 15:1-2: “LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart.”

We live in a very corrupt and evil world ruled by Satan, and while we have to live in it, we must not be a part of it. As we read in Revelation 18:4, “And I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.’” While this chapter begins by mentioning Babylon in Revelation 18:2, Revelation 18:3 expands this to include all nations, the whole world, as “all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

So, we need to recognize that this world is evil, and to please God, we must not partake of any of this evil, but live a life of Truth and be valiant for it.

by Norbert Link

We begin with articles addressing the perceived consequences of the Ukraine war; speak on Emmanuel Macron’s disastrous defeat; and address the prospects of a full-fledged war between Israel and Iran, as well as the collapse of the Israeli government.

We report on a major earthquake in Afghanistan and on ongoing speculation that Pope Francis might resign soon; and quote several articles pointing out the sick state of affairs in the United States, including the analysis that we are ALREADY in a recession now [please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “We Are in a Recession Now!”] the push on our children to embrace sexual activities prohibited by God; the proposed prohibition of conversion therapies for confused minors; transgender athletes, drag queens; the devastating effects of lockdowns; and covid vaccinations for infants.

We conclude with developments in Germany contemplating to reintroduce the ineffective and potentially harmful wearing of masks indoors in public places.

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

Some Thoughts About the War in Ukraine

The Ron Paul Institute wrote the following on June 20:

“Putin is to be condemned for launching this war– as is virtually any leader who launches any war. Putin can be termed a war criminal… secondary condemnation belongs to the US (NATO) in deliberately provoking a war with Russia by implacably pushing its hostile military organization, despite Moscow’s repeated notifications about crossing red lines, right up to the gates of Russia…

“Russia is winning the war, Ukraine has lost the war… American sanctions against Russia have turned out to be far more devastating to Europe than to Russia… There are already deep cracks in the European façade of so-called ‘NATO unity.’ Western Europe will increasingly rue the day that it blindly followed the American Pied Piper to war… NATO may in fact ultimately emerge weakened… Europe will sooner or later return to the purchase of inexpensive Russian energy… Europe already perceives the US as a declining power… a Europe that perceives the US already in decline has a little incentive to join the bandwagon against China…

“We now see how massive US sanctions against Russia, including confiscation of Russian funds in western banks, is causing most of the world to reconsider the wisdom of banking entirely on the US dollar into the future…

“One of the most disturbing features of this US-Russian struggle in Ukraine has been the utter corruption of independent media. Indeed Washington has won the information and propaganda war hands down, orchestrating all Western media to sing from the same hymnbook in characterizing the Ukraine war… Nor, of course, is the Russian press to be trusted either… serious analysts must dig deep these days to gain some objective understanding of what is actually taking place in Ukraine…

“China and Russia have now been decisively pushed ever more closely together… That the US can split… Russian and Chinese cooperation is a fantasy. Russia has scientific brilliance, abundant energy, rich rare minerals and metals… China has the capital, the markets, and the manpower to contribute to what becomes a natural partnership across Eurasia.

“Sadly for Washington, nearly every single one of its expectations about this war are turning out to be incorrect…”

We have omitted much of the questionable rhetoric in the article, but what we published above is quite interesting. Please view our recent message, “Biden’s Ministry of Truth and Consequences of the Ukraine War.” 

Anadolu Agency reported on June 17:

“Russia is not concerned that Ukraine could get the status of a European Union candidate ‘because the EU is not a military organization,’ Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday… On future relations with Ukraine, he said Moscow remains willing to build relations with anyone, but ‘only our army and navy can be the guarantors of our security.’”

Putin Back on the World Stage

CNN wrote on June 22:

“When Russian President Vladimir Putin dials into the virtual BRICS summit hosted by Beijing on Thursday, it will be his first time attending a forum with the heads of major economies since launching an invasion of Ukraine earlier this year.

“For Putin, this could offer a welcome picture: his face beamed onscreen alongside other leaders whose countries make up this acronymous grouping: China’s Xi Jinping, India’s Narendra Modi, Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa — a signal that Russia, though battered by sanctions and remonstrations for the invasion, is not alone.

“It’s a message that may resonate even more clearly as China and Russia, weeks before the invasion, declared their own relationship to have ’no limits,’ and as each of the BRICS leaders have avoided condemning Russia outright… and run foul of Western friends…. the decision by the group to press ahead with its 14th annual summit does reflect a view held by BRICS countries on the global order and, by extension, the situation in Ukraine, that departs from that of the West, experts say…

“The BRICS summit is followed days later by the meeting of a bloc of the world’s leading advanced economies, the Group of Seven, which have been united in their voice against Russian aggression, and kicked Moscow out of their bloc following its annexation of Crimea in 2014.”

The formation of some of the future participants of the “kings of the East” is in the making…  

UK Army Commander: Prepare to Fight in Europe in WW III

The Daily Mail wrote on June 18:

“Britain’s top army general has told his troops to prepare to fight and beat Putin’s armies in a European land war… General Sir Patrick Sanders, who assumed overall command of the British Army this week, warned soldiers ‘we are the generation that must prepare the Army to fight in Europe once again’ as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine rocks global stability… ‘I am the first Chief of the General Staff since 1941 to take command of the Army in the shadow of a land war in Europe involving a continental power…

“It comes as Putin menaces NATO countries and this week taunted former Soviet states in Europe by declaring: ‘They are part of historic Russia’…”

A war on European soil will be fought in the future, involving a United States of Europe and Russia, but Britain will not be a part of that fight.

Disastrous Defeat for Macron

Breitbart wrote on June 20:

“… the French public has refused to grant President Emmanuel Macron a parliamentary majority as Marine Le Pen’s populists on the right and an ecological alliance on the left surged at the ballot box to strip the once self-described ‘Jupitarean’ leader of his ability to govern France firmly.

“Just under two months after securing a second term as President of France, Emmanuel Macron and his Ensemble! coalition have suffered a disastrous result in the final round of voting in the parliamentary elections on Sunday, securing just 245 seats, far short of the 289 necessary to maintain a governing majority…

“The night’s true victor… was perhaps Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN), which saw a surprising result of 89 candidates elected to the National Assembly, the most in the history of the party…

“Though Mr Macron… had promised in 2017 that his presidency would unify France by doing ‘everything in the five years to come so there is no more reason to vote for the extremes,’  he has apparently failed on this front, with the socialist NUPES coalition headed by far-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon winning 131 seats, making the hard left the largest opposition voting bloc in the parliament, should the group of socialists, communists, and greens maintain a unified front… something which could prove difficult for Mélenchon…

“The beleaguered president will most likely need to turn to the centre-right Les Republicans, meaning Macron may need to shift to the right to pass legislation [But for now, the Republicans have ruled out a partnership.] … The loss of his parliamentary majority may also see Macron diminished on the world stage… it remains to be seen how effective Macron will be at casting himself as the premier leader in Europe.

“Upon the retirement of Angela Merkel in Germany and the subsequent elevation of Social Democrat (SPD) Olaf Scholz as chancellor — who is the head of a somewhat precarious ‘traffic light’ coalition government including the Greens and the centrist-liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) — the mantle of head honcho in the European Union appeared to be within grasp for Macron. Yet, Sunday’s results may throw such a vision in doubt….”

DNYUZ wrote on June 20:

“France woke up on Monday wondering whether President Emmanuel Macron would be able to govern effectively… fueling fears of political gridlock. ‘Ungovernable!’ read the front page of Le Parisian, a daily newspaper.”

With a greatly weakened Emmanuel Macron and an indecisive and mostly inconsequential German Chancellor Olaf Scholz who follows, rather than leads, the world, without knowing it, is waiting for the beast to arrive in Europe.

Full-Fledged War Between Israel and Iran on the Horizon

The Wall Street Journal wrote on June 20:

“Israel is intensifying its campaign to thwart Iran’s nuclear, missile and drone programs with a series of covert operations targeting a broader range of key targets… The new moves are the latest evolution of a strategy that has been dubbed the Octopus Doctrine by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett…

“After failed Iranian attempts in recent years to target Israeli civilians around the world, including in Africa, Asia and South America, Israel has been warning its civilians not to travel to Turkey, especially Istanbul, due to an immediate threat posed to them by Iranian units looking to harm Israelis… Israeli concerns reached a fever pitch on Friday night when Israeli officials in the Hebrew media advised Israeli tourists in Istanbul to stay in their rooms and not answer the door to strangers amid a warning that Iran had given the go-ahead for a deadly attack in Turkey… Mr. Bennett made it clear that Israel would do everything to foil those terrorist attacks…

“Israel has carried out more than 400 airstrikes against Iran and its allies in Syria since 2017. Most recently, Russia and Syria accused Israel of carrying out an airstrike earlier this month that shut down the international airport in Damascus. Israel and Iran have each used mines to hit their rival’s ships in waters across the Middle East. Israel says it has shot down advanced drones sent from Iran.

“Iran, in turn, has accused Israel of carrying out a massive airstrike on one of its drone facilities and retaliated for the strike by firing missiles at a compound in northern Iraq that Tehran said had been used by Mossad agents to organize the attack. Israel has used drones and sabotage—including cyberattacks—to target Iran’s nuclear and missile programs…

“The evolution of the Israeli policy comes as U.S.-led efforts to broker a new deal to contain Iran’s nuclear capabilities with Iran appear to be on the brink of collapse. Iran has removed surveillance cameras from various nuclear-related sites across the country and expanded its advanced centrifuge work…”

JTA wrote on June 21:

“Israeli security forces evacuated Israeli citizens from their Istanbul hotel last week, allegedly ahead of an Iranian hit-squad that was intent on kidnapping or killing them.”

In addition, according to Israel 365 of June 17: “Israel’s actions in Jerusalem will lead to a ‘religious war… [that] will reach the US, Europe, and the entire world’… These are threats coming from PA Chairman Abbas’ official spokesmen and advisors.”

Israel Today added on June 17:

“Despite all the warm words in Jerusalem, there’s no sign that this EU hostility is about to ease… It promotes the Palestinian narrative that seeks to delegitimize Israel through lies about its ‘illegal’ settlements and alleged Israel Defense Forces’ aggression; it funds NGOs devoted to harming and destroying Israel; in an aggressive move in 2015 against Israeli ‘occupation’ of the disputed territories, it started to label products from the ‘West Bank.’… von der Leyen announced the transfer to the Palestinian Authority of some 214 million euros (about $224 million). This money had previously been frozen because of the incitement against Israel in Palestinian schoolbooks. Now it’s been unfrozen, even though the incitement remains…

“The Europeans are playing the double game so familiar in the West—pledging support for the Jewish people while empowering Israel’s mortal enemies…. This twin-track has long been the strategy of both Britain and America…”

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Will Israel Attack Iran?”. Please also note our recent StandingWatch program, titled, “Time to Build the Third Temple in the Face of Violence?” 

Coalition in Israel Collapses

The Times of Israel wrote on June 20:

“After months of dysfunction, Israel’s 24th Knesset is set to come to an end, as Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid announced Monday that they would submit a bill next week to voluntarily dissolve the Knesset. The dramatic joint statement by the two architects of the so-called change government, which put an end to 12 straight years of the Benjamin Netanyahu premiership, said that all efforts to save the government had been ‘exhausted,’ due to numerous rebellions by wayward MKs…

“Following the Knesset’s dissolution, Lapid is slated to become caretaker prime minister until a new government is sworn in, as per the original coalition agreement. Bennett is expected to become alternate prime minister, a post Lapid currently holds, and will also be responsible for the ‘Iran file,’ Hebrew media reports said.

“Given legal and holiday constraints, new elections are expected at the end of October, possibly the 25^th…”

Newsmax wrote on June 22:

“Israel moved closer on Wednesday to its fifth election in less than four years after lawmakers gave an initial nod to dissolve parliament, with a comeback by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu already dominating the campaign… The Knesset voted unanimously to dissolve in a preliminary reading of a bill expected to be finalized next week.”

Israel Today wrote on June 22:

“… elections could still be avoided if opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu succeeds in forming a government before the Knesset is dissolved. Can he do it? Netanyahu currently controls 55 Knesset seats. He needs 61, a bare minimum majority in Israel’s 120-seat parliament… The other party in the opposition, the Joint List, an anti-Zionist Arab party, can be immediately ruled out as a potential partner…”

Israeli observers say that Netanyahu’s chances to form a coalition government before the final vote of the Knesset next week to dissolve parliament and set the dates for new elections are very slim…

Better Relations Between Saudi Arabia and Turkey

Reuters wrote on June 22:

“Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Turkey for the first time in years on Wednesday for talks with President Tayyip Erdogan aimed at fully normalising ties that were ruptured after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi… Erdogan said last week he and Prince Mohammed would discuss ‘to what much higher level’ they can take ties during talks in Ankara…

“In a statement following the talks, the two countries emphasized determination on ushering in a new period of cooperation in bilateral relations… The two countries also discussed improving cooperation in trade and sectors such as defence, energy and tourism among others…”

The Bible prophesies the formation of a confederacy between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and other nations against Israel (Psalm 83:1-8). 

“Deadliest Earthquake in Afghanistan in Two Decades”

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 22:

“1,000 people died after a magnitude 6 earthquake hit the mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan. The death toll is likely to rise as search efforts continue… The magnitude 6 quake struck around 44 kilometers (27 miles) from the city of Khost, located near the border with Pakistan…

“The disaster comes as Afghanistan battles a humanitarian and economic crisis that has worsened since the Taliban seized power last year.  Many international aid agencies left Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover and the chaotic withdrawal of US and NATO forces from the country…

“In 2015, more than 200 people were killed in northeastern Afghanistan and neighboring northern Pakistan as a major earthquake hit. Around 1,000 people were killed in a 6.1-magnitude quake in 2002, four years after another devastating 6.1 earthquake and subsequent tremors in Afghanistan’s remote northeast killed at least 4,500 people.”

There will be “great earthquakes in various places” (Luke 21:11).

Rumors Regarding Sick Francis’s Resignation Persist

 The Daily Mail wrote on June 20:“Pope Francis has fuelled speculation that he could resign after postponing a trip to Africa and announcing an unusual meeting of cardinals. Hobbled by pain in his knee and forced to use a wheelchair in recent weeks, the 85-year-old pontiff postponed a July trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan last week. He also announced an unusual decision to hold a consistory to name new cardinals during a Vatican vacation month and arranged meetings to ensure his reforms stay intact. The extraordinary consistory will be held on August 27, a slow summer month at the Catholic headquarters, to create 21 new cardinals – 16 of whom will be under the age of 80, thereby eligible to elect his successor in a future conclave….

“On August 28, Francis will then pay a visit to L’Aquila and the tomb of Celestine V – the first pope to have resigned from the papacy, in the 13th century….The moves have triggered intense speculation about his plans for the future, including the most radical – that he was planning to step down. The resignation of a pope was once almost unthinkable until Benedict XVI renounced his reign in 2013, citing his declining physical and mental health….  in May, as reported by various Italian media, Francis joked about his knee during a closed-door meeting with bishops: ‘Rather than operate, I’ll resign.’

“But Vatican insiders do not yet think Francis is on the verge of handing over the papal keys… A trip to Canada at the end of July is still on the pontiff’s schedule, and the pope continues to receive injections in his knee and physical therapy, according to the Vatican.

“As a child, Francis had one of his lungs partially removed. Today, besides his knee issue, he suffers recurring sciatic nerve pain.”

When he became pope, Francis declared that his papacy would be short.

Pope No Plan to Resign?

Newsmax wrote on June 23:

“Pope Francis on Wednesday told a group of Brazilian bishops that he had no plans to step down despite recent rumors that he will resign. In a Portuguese translation of the Vatican newsletter, Archbishop Roque Paloschi said Francis told the bishops that, ‘I want to live my mission as long as God allows me and that’s it.’

“Paloschi added that ‘resignation does not cross his mind.’”

His wording, though, “as long God allows me,” is telling.

America’s Belief in God

GALLUP wrote on June 17:

“The vast majority of U.S. adults believe in God, but the 81% who do so is down six percentage points from 2017 and is the lowest in Gallup’s trend. Between 1944 and 2011, more than 90% of Americans believed in God. Gallup’s May 2-22 Values and Beliefs poll finds 17% of Americans saying they do not believe in God…

“Fewer Americans today than five years ago believe in God, and the percentage is down even more from the 1950s and 1960s when almost all Americans did. Still, the vast majority of Americans believe in God, whether that means they believe a higher power hears prayers and can intervene or not. And while belief in God has declined in recent years, Gallup has documented steeper drops in church attendance, church membership and confidence in organized religion, suggesting that the practice of religious faith may be changing more than basic faith in God.”

But the real question is, do those who believe in God believe in the true God of the Bible? Otherwise, “in vain” do they worship God, teaching for doctrines the commandments and philosophies and ideas of men.

In Favor of Killing Babies?

The Daily Mail wrote on June 17:

“[In a speech to religious conservatives in Nashville, Tennessee, Donald Trump] claimed that Democrats were in favor of killing babies… and said the education system was so distorted that teachers could not teach the Bible but were allowed to teach Kindergarten children they could pick their gender… And he repeated his… claims that his defeat to Joe Biden was the result of widespread fraud…

“’Our children are captives to unhinged Marxist educators who are pushing inappropriate sexual, racial and political material on our children from the youngest possible age,’ he said… ‘The current education system is so upside down that school prayer is banned. But drag shows are absolutely allowed… The biggest applause line came when he teased a possible 2024 run, something he has floated repeatedly without yet announcing… He added that he would consider pardons for people arrested in connection with the January 6 attack...”

Supreme Court Expands Gun Rights

The Associated Press wrote on June 23:

“In a major expansion of gun rights, the Supreme Court said Thursday [in a 6-3 decision] that Americans have a right to carry firearms in public for self-defense…

“Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for the majority that the Constitution protects ‘an individual’s right to carry a handgun for self-defense outside the home.’ The decision struck down a New York law requiring people to demonstrate a particular need for carrying a gun in order to get a license to carry one in public. The justices said that requirement violates the Second Amendment right to ‘keep and bear arms.’… “

The New York Post added on June 23:

“In a separate opinion concurring with Thomas, Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that Thursday’s ruling does not preclude state and local restrictions on gun ownership by felons and the mentally ill — or laws banning the carrying of firearms in ‘sensitive locations’ like schools and government buildings.”

Trespassing in the US Capitol

Breitbart wrote on June 17:

“The U.S. Capitol Police arrested a group of nine staffers from CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert for allegedly trespassing in the U.S. Capitol on Thursday night, according to Fox News…

“Fox News’s Jesse Watters reported that the Colbert staffers were let into the House office building by Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Jake Auchincloss (D-MA). There have been calls for Schiff to resign from his post on the January 6 Committee over this breach of security. In addition, many want to see Colbert’s staffers arrested and charged with the same crimes as those who entered the Capitol on January 6.”

It is ironic that Adam Schiff is a member of the sham-and-farce-committee trying to establish Trump’s responsibility for the January 6 “insurrection.”

We Are in a Recession Now

Newsmax wrote on June 18:

“The United States may not be in an official recession yet, according to the federal government, but the nation is ‘in a recession now,’ and tens of millions of American families already believe the worst is already happening because prices are going up higher than their incomes, and their savings are being rapidly depleted, Steve Forbes, editor-in-chief of Forbes Media, told Newsmax. ‘We’re in a big mess, and we’re going to be already over the cliff on the economy,’ Forbes said…

“‘Unfortunately, the Federal Reserve believes that the only way to control inflation is by crushing demand… ‘When they talk about a soft landing or trying to slow the economy down, that means making people poor… Consumer debt is going up, and credit card debt is going up… Mortgage payments are going to be very bad when those adjustable mortgage rates are readjusted later this year… And when heating oil prices come in this winter, when you’re paying twice as much as you were before and you have to heat your home, that’s going to be a disaster…’

“Meanwhile, the government is releasing lower inflation numbers based on the ‘so-called consumer price index,’ said Forbes, so one must take the numbers with a ‘grain of salt.’ ‘What people feel is, How much are they paying for food? How much are they paying for fuel? What are they paying on their mortgage rates? What are they paying for college and the basic things that they have to do on a day-to-day basis?’

“On that level, Steve Moore, another economist, said, ‘You know the official rate is maybe 8.5%. [But] people feel it’s more like 20%, so the cost of living is going up rapidly, and what’s bad about inflation? Among other things, it’s a hidden tax and the [government’s] reckless overspending…’ This also means that even when people get pay raises, they’re still behind, according to Forbes.”

Please view our recent StandingWatch program, titled, “Civil War, Violence and Misery in the USA.” 

Biden’s Gas Relief as Likely as a “Purple Cow Jumping Over the Moon”

The New York Post wrote on June 22:

“President Biden repeated his charge that high gas prices are Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s fault… Gas remains almost $5 a gallon nationwide and analysts predict $6 a gallon is coming [In California, for example, the average gas price a gallon has already exceeded $6.]. A Rasmussen poll found that just 11% of voters blame Putin for gas prices; almost five times as many blame Biden.

“Another Rasmussen poll found that only 27% of likely voters approve of Biden economic policies and 74% believe the economy has ‘gotten worse’ during his presidency.

“Biden portrayed himself Wednesday as a consumer savior for proposing to suspend the 18-cent-agallon federal gasoline tax for 90 days. He said the US government could afford to suspend gas taxes (which finance highway repair) because the federal deficit declined last year. He didn’t mention that the deficit is $1 trillion this year and will surge in the coming years…

“The White House PR team should have added a drawing of a purple cow jumping over the moon. It is just as likely as Biden delivering $1-a-gallon relief. A White House economic adviser summarized the administration’s struggle on gas prices: ‘They’re fighting about narrative rather than fighting about substance … Nobody thinks there’s going to be a compelling solution.’

“While the president delivered his awkward pitch, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell demolished one of Biden’s chief talking points during testimony Tuesday on Capitol Hill. Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) asked him: ‘Would you say that the war in Ukraine is the primary driver of inflation in America?’ Powell replied, ‘No. Inflation was high, certainly before the war in Ukraine broke out.’”

“Joe Biden’s Political Future in Europe”

Adam Dick wrote the following in the Ron Paul Institute of June 23:

“President Joe Biden’s popularity among American voters has been in descent since he took the oath of office in January of 2021. Indeed, by May 25 of this year, Biden’s approval rating, as related by Paul Bedard in a Washington Examiner editorial, had fallen below that of every president back through Harry Truman at that point in their presidencies. And Biden’s approval rating has continued to drop since then…

“One option for the career politician who may not want to step away from the political power just yet is to look for opportunity in Europe. Less than 4 in 10 Americans polled say they support Biden, and a majority disapprove. In at least some countries in Europe, in contrast, polling suggests majority support for Biden.

“Spring polling numbers from Pew Research Center indicate confidence in Biden was at 53 percent in France, 56 percent in both Spain and Great Britain, and a whopping 64 percent in Germany…  Europe may be a land of political opportunity for Biden after so many people in his home country electorate and even in his own party have soured on the prospect of him seeking reelection as US president… Maybe Biden could even hold a high government office in Ukraine…”

It is beyond belief that Biden should have such approval rates in parts of Europe, especially Germany. It can only be explained by total ignorance and utter distortion of the facts by the mass media in those countries. The same could be said about President Clinton’s and President Obama’s incredible popularity in Germany. 

Germany’s Energy Crisis

Breitbart wrote on June 23:

“The energy crisis appears to only be going from bad to worse in Germany, with the country announcing that it was triggering the second level of its three-tier gas emergency plan, with the last and final level being available to the state allowing authorities to begin rationing supply. It comes shortly after Moscow dramatically reduced the amount of gas it is supplying to the central European state, which has become heavily addicted to Russian energy exports in part as a result of the country’s obsession with its climate change agenda.

“According to a report by Die Welt, Germany’s Economics and Climate Action Minister Robert Habeck announced the move to the second level of emergency powers on Thursday, with the country now aiming to fill its gas storage tanks before winter hits. ‘We are in a gas crisis. Gas is now a scarce commodity. The prices are already high and we have to be prepared for further increases,’ the publication reports Habeck as saying…. The minister then proceeded to call on ordinary Germans to cut their own energy usage…”

New Rules for Transgender Athletes

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 19:

“World swimming’s governing body FINA adopted new rules for [male-to-female] transgender athletes… only permitting swimmers who transitioned before age 12 to compete in women’s competitions…

“Female-to-male transgender athletes (transgender men) are eligible to compete in men’s swimming competitions, as their physical makeup at birth puts them at a disadvantage, if anything… FINA also intends to create an ‘open category’ to allow transgender athletes to compete in a separate class at elite level…

“The new rules drew mixed reactions. British swimmer Sharron Davies said that she was proud of FINA… On the other hand, advocacy group Athlete Ally called the new eligibility criteria ‘discriminatory, harmful, unscientific.’”

It is sad that in this God-defying world, these kinds of issues even exist and will have to be discussed and regulated.

Pelosi, Harris and the Drag Queens

IFN wrote on June 16:

“… the Left has been using drag queens to advance the LGBT agenda and groom our children. For example, Fisher-Price has just introduced a set of RuPaul drag queen figurines marketed to children as young as one. To celebrate Pride month this year a gay bar in Dallas, Texas, hosted a ‘family friendly’ drag show targeted at children… at the event children threw dollar bills at scantily-clad drag queens and went on stage with them. And now two prominent Democratic leaders—U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris—are proudly hanging out with drag queens to show support for the radical LGBT agenda.

“In an episode of the RuPaul Drag Race show which aired on June 10, 2022 on Paramount +, Speaker Nancy Pelosi makes a guest appearance and gives strong support to the drag queens. In the episode Pelosi states: ‘It is my honor to be here to say to all of you how proud we all are of you. Thank you for the joy and beauty you bring to the world. Your freedom of expression of yourselves in drag is what America is all about. I say that all the time to my friends in drag.’…

“Vice President Kamala Harris, however, would not let Speaker Pelosi steal the show in giving support to drag queens… Harris and her husband appeared at the Capitol Pride event in Washington, DC, and both went on stage with the drag queen winner of season thirteen’s RuPaul’s Drag Race… After the event Harris posted on Instagram a picture of herself hugging the drag queen with the words ‘Love is love. Happy Pride!’”

“That is what America is all about!” Maybe it’s true…and so, the downfall of America is irreversible. Please view our new sermon, “Rumors, Fake News and the Truth” .

No Conversion Therapy for Confused Minors

Breitbart wrote on June 18:

“The Biden administration promised this week to ban ‘conversion therapy’ for minors who claim they are members of the opposite sex… Now, in sync with pro-transgender activists and clinical organizations, President Joe Biden’s White House is using an overly broad definition of ‘conversion therapy,’ seemingly in the hopes of silencing ‘gender identity’ critics — all while promoting puberty-blockers, cross-sex hormones, and even surgeries for sex-questioning youth…

“Florida Medicaid found that there is ‘low or very low quality’ evidence that so-called ‘puberty blocker’ drugs protect the mental health of minors who want to live as members of the opposite sex. Another study completed by the Heritage Foundation suggests making puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones easier for minors to access has increased youth suicide rates…

“But why is the federal government so eager [to] push gender ideology onto younger generations, while also preventing counselors and religious leaders from exploring alternatives?…  there is a great deal of money to be made from ‘gender transitions.’ A report released in December 2020 found that the U.S. sex reassignment surgery market size was valued at $267 million in 2019 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 14.4 percent from 2020 to 2027.”

It’s the same with the push for vaccines. Big Pharma makes a fortune. See below.

Covid Vaccinations for Infants

Breitbart wrote on June 19:

“The Biden administration’s long-predicted coronavirus vaccine program tailored exclusively for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers began Saturday on the back of requests from the pharmaceutical industry.

“The shots will expand the nation’s vaccination push down to children as young as six months with an estimated 18 million possible recipients to be targeted.

“President Joe Biden hailed what he called the ‘monumental step forward in our nation’s fight against the virus,’ adding ‘for parents all over the country, this is a day of relief and celebration.’ The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices unanimously recommended approval of vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna for use among the child target group.

“A recent survey asked parents with children under the age of five if they plan to get their youngest children vaccinated. A majority, 52 percent, said they are either not getting their children vaccinated or are ‘not sure.’ Of the 52 percent, specifically, 34 percent said they will ‘not’ get their children vaccinated, and 17 percent said they are not sure. Forty-eight percent however, said they plan to do so.

“The government has already been gearing up for the vaccine expansion, with millions of doses ordered for distribution to doctors, hospitals and community health clinics around the country.”

Another example of greed and insanity in our times. Note the next article.

Did Russia Fake Its Covid Vaccine Trial?

The Daily Mail wrote on June 21:

“Russia appears to have faked trial results of its flagship Covid vaccine, according to an analysis. A team of researchers in Australia and Singapore, who pored over the original study, have uncovered what they believe is proof the Kremlin fabricated efficacy data. Russian scientists claimed the jab produced nearly identical results across five different age groups when the trial was published last year. It sparked claims among some experts the results were ‘too good to be true’, given the tiny numbers of infections that occurred in each cohort.

“Now researchers have run the trial through a simulation model 50,000 times to test the likelihood of the results being genuine. They found the chance of replicating the same efficacy across all five age groups again was just 0.02 per cent…. Hundreds of millions of people are thought to have been vaccinated with Sputnik worldwide. Around 70 countries had placed orders worth up to £7billion before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine….”

The question is, however, how reliable and SAFE are the vaccines which have been approved by Western nations?

Lockdowns Led to Global Mental Health Crisis

Daily Mail wrote on June 21:

“Covid lockdowns have created a ‘global crisis for mental health’, the World Health Organization has admitted. An international report by the UN agency found two years of restrictions have led to ‘significant mental health consequences’, especially for young people. The WHO now estimates more than a billion people around the world are living with a mental health disorder as a result, a quarter more than pre-Covid. It said there had been an even bigger rise among children…

“Curbs imposed to control Covid led to feelings of ‘social isolation, disconnectedness and uncertainty about the future’, the report added. The admission comes despite the WHO hailing China’s lockdowns at the start of the pandemic and warning that lifting measures too early in Britain may cause a ‘deadly resurgence’ in 2020.

“Schools were closed nationally at least twice over the course of the pandemic, with students also forced to learn from home because of individual closures. More than 100 countries also shut down schools during the peak of the first wave… The most common types include anxiety, depression and developmental disorders like autism.”

The Foolishness of Man!

Germany Considering Mask Mandates for the Winter

LifeSiteNews wrote on June 18:

“The German government is considering a proposal that would require citizens to wear masks indoors every winter in anticipation of annual COVID waves.  According to German newspaper Die Welt, the proposal would require mask wearing in all public spaces, including restaurants, bars and retail stores, throughout the entire winter season of October to March. It is unclear if the proposal would extend to schools or other settings with young children.

“The justification being given for the annually renewing mandate is the idea that COVID, like the flu, experiences an uptick in cases during the cold weather, and the widely disputed idea that mandating the wearing of masks could limit the spread of the highly survivable virus… at least 47 studies have indicated that masks are ineffective at stopping the spread of the coronavirus.  An additional 32 studies… suggest that mask wearing can actually negatively impact one’s health… Many are concerned that masking has caused needless and even irreparable harm.’”

It’s mere lunacy…

Austria Scraps Unsuccessful COVID Vaccine Mandate

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 23:

“Austria is scrapping an already-suspended COVID-19 vaccine mandate, Health Minister Johannes Rauch said on Thursday. [He said:] ‘… today that means the abolition of compulsory vaccination… No one is getting vaccinated because of the compulsory vaccination…’

“Originally, the plan was to threaten those who refused vaccination with a fine of up to €3,600 ($3,780), as of March 15. But by the beginning of March there were few signs that people were responding to the possible financial penalties, and the law was suspended… In February, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen signed into law a mandate for all eligible adults over 18 in the country to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The move sparked fierce protests…

“Last month, Austria announced it would be dropping its mask wearing mandate  though the health ministry said it may return later in the year.”

These mandates were stupid ideas from the outset. 

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.

The Wikipedia Encyclopedia says this about the covenants of the Bible:

 “The Hebrew Bible makes reference to a number of covenants (Hebrew: בְּרִיתוֹת) with God (YHWH). These include the Noahic Covenant (in Genesis), which is between God and all living creatures, as well as a number of more specific covenants with Abraham, the whole Israelite people, the Israelite priesthood, and the Davidic lineage of kings. In form and terminology, these covenants echo the kinds of treaty agreements in the surrounding ancient world.

“The Book of Jeremiah, 31:30-33, say that Yahweh will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah… Students of the Bible hold wildly differing opinions as to how many major covenants exist (or did exist) between God and humanity, with numbers ranging from one to at least twelve… Some scholars classify only two…”

As we have explained in our free booklet, “And Lawlessness Will Abound”, as well as in this series of Q&As, the concept that there are only one or two covenants must be rejected. There were clearly multiple covenants between God and man in the Old Testament, in addition to the New Covenant which is described in the Old and in the New Testaments as well.

For example, we read about a covenant with day and night; a covenant with David and another covenant with Levi; a marriage covenant; and a covenant with Noah. We saw that God made several covenants with Abram or Abraham, in addition to covenants with Isaac and Jacob. He also made several covenants with the people of Israel at Mount Sinai and in Moab.

The fact that God speaks about “My covenant” in the singular in the Hebrew Bible has led to the wrong conclusion that there is only one covenant. However, when analyzing the covenants which God made, they are quite different in scope and nature, and some apply to us today, while others do not. For example, the covenant of circumcision is no longer in effect; and neither is the original covenant which God made with Israel at Mount Sinai (or which He made after Israel sinned in building a golden calf, or which He made with the new generation of Israel in Moab).  On the other hand, His covenant with Abraham, and His covenant with Isaac, and His covenant with Jacob have great importance for us today insofar as they refer to the blessing through the Messiah, including the promise of eternal life and rule over the earth (thereby including aspects of the New Covenant), but are of limited significance for true Christians when addressing the physical blessings of the House of Israel (but they are of significant importance for the descendants of the House of Israel today).

The same can be said about His covenant with David—that he would always have a descendant sitting on his throne, ruling over at least one tribe of Israel. Insofar as his physical descendants are concerned, they are of limited significance for true Christians today (but they are of tremendous importance for the descendants of the house of David today), but as Jesus Christ, a descendant of David, will occupy David’s throne when He returns, God’s covenant with David is of incredible importance for all Christians [and the entire world] in this day and age.

When addressing the covenant which God made with the people of Israel at Mount Sinai, it only included physical blessings. Israel broke this covenant when building the golden calf, and as a consequence, Moses broke the tablets of the Ten Commandments, on which the covenant was based. So, the covenant was renewed, but Israel kept breaking it as well. The same is true for the covenant which God made with Israel in Moab. Even though God expected that the people would at least keep their commitment in a physical way—He knew of course that they were unable to do so in spiritual terms—they did not even abide by their promise to keep the covenants and the laws on which the covenants were based, in their physical application. That is why God pronounced that He would offer them and was willing to make a New Covenant with them, based on better promises, which would include forgiveness of sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit, enabling them to keep the spiritual laws of the Ten Commandments on which the New Covenant would be based, in a spiritual way. As true Christians, we are today spiritual Israelites, so we can live under the conditions of the New Covenant which will be fully established when Christ returns. (In passing, as we explained, God made another covenant with the people of Israel at Mount Sinai, pertaining to the weekly and annual Sabbaths. This covenant is still in full force and effect today and also includes true Christians—spiritual Israelites).

Jeremiah tells us in chapter 31 (see below) that people who are parties to the New Covenant have obtained, and can obtain, forgiveness of sin—something the previous covenants did not offer—and they can have spiritual understanding of God through the Holy Spirit given to them—again, something that was not offered to such an extent in previous covenants. Notice this additional prophecy regarding the New Covenant in Jeremiah 32:38–40: “They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.” By the fear of God, one departs from evil (Proverbs 16:6). God’s Spirit will be living in those people, so that they will not practice the way of disobedience any longer.

As God draws a parallel in Jeremiah 31 between the covenant He made with the people of Israel in the day when He led them out of the land of Egypt, and the New Covenant which He promises to make with them after Christ’s return, many speak therefore of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. However, we must point out and will explain that the term “Old Covenant” is nowhere expressly used in the Old Testament or the Hebrew Bible. And even in the New Testament, the term is only used on a very few occasions, depending on what translation from the Greek is being used, and in this regard, the context is commonly overlooked.

Still, as God made so many covenants with man, why does He not speak in the Hebrew Bible about covenants in the plural, but only refers to “My covenant” in the singular?

When addressing God’s covenants with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we stated the following in our first installment of this series:

“Even though God made covenants with Abraham, and then, because of the obedience of Abraham, He made a covenant with Isaac, and another one with Jacob (Leviticus 26:42), the Bible may sometimes speak about God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as the subject matter and the promises involved were the same. (The promises which God gave Abraham were the same as the promises which He gave Isaac and Jacob.) Still, God made individual covenants with Abraham and with Isaac and with Jacob, as the parties to the covenants were not identical.”

So, it is important to review the context and especially the subject matter to determine WHAT covenant God makes reference to. This is especially critical when analyzing the “Old” and the “New” Covenant.

For instance, we read in Jeremiah 31:31-33:

“‘Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them,’ says the LORD. ‘But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’”

First, we should note that even though two covenants are mentioned the terms “Old Covenant” and “New Covenant” are not specifically used in this passage.

Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible gives the following explanation:

“‘Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers’…  Meaning not Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; but the ancestors of the Jews [Israelites] that came out of Egypt, as appears by what follows… That the Sinai covenant is intended is clear by the following circumstances:

“‘…in the day that I took them by the hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt’; that is, immediately after their being brought out of Egypt, the covenant was made with them; see Exodus 19:1; at which time of their bringing out, the Lord took them by the hand, as being unable to deliver themselves, and to go out of themselves; which is expressive, as of their weakness, so of his power and goodness, kindness and tenderness to them; and is an aggravation of their ingratitude to him in breaking the covenant, made with them at such a time by the Lord, who was so kind and indulgent to them; and which is still more fully expressed in the following clause:

“‘…which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord’; they promised fair, but did not perform; their hearts were not right with God, nor were they steadfast in his covenant; though it was such a solemn transaction, and had the nature of a matrimonial contract; it was the day of their espousal; they were betrothed to the Lord, and he acted the part of a husband to them in nourishing and cherishing them in providing food and raiment for them; manna that continued with them, and clothes that waxed not old; and in protecting them from their enemies, and bringing them to a good settlement in the land of Canaan…”

So, from the context, the covenant God has reference to in Jeremiah 31, which was broken, was in fact the initial one made at Sinai, but it had to be renewed at Sinai (or a second covenant had to be made), since it was broken, and it was renewed again in Moab, as technically, the new generation had not as yet entered into the covenant relationship.

This passage of Jeremiah 31 is quoted in the New Testament in the Book of Hebrews. In Hebrews 8:1-13, we read:

“(1) Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, (2) a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. (3) For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. (4) For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; (5) who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, ‘See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.’ (6) But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. (7) For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. (8) Because finding fault with them, He says: ‘Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—(9) not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. (10) For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. (11) None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. (12) For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.’ (13) In that He says, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.”

Notice carefully: Nowhere do we read about the “old covenant.” Even the word “covenant” in verse 7 (in the phrase, “that first covenant”) was added by the translator and is not in the Geek (it simply says, “for if that first had been faultless”), but since verse 9 does speak about “the covenant” which God made when he brought Israel out of Egypt, it is clear that a covenant is being referred to (Note, however, verse 13, where the word “covenant” has also been added. The original Greek says: “In the saying, new, He has made old the first…”). But what exactly is the reference? The whole context speaks about the sacrificial system, human priests and the earthly tabernacle, which are being contrasted with Christ’s Sacrifice, His ministry and the heavenly Tabernacle. Paul is addressing here the fact that due to Christ’s Sacrifice, animal sacrifices are no longer required and have become obsolete.

Regardless, when God speaks about the covenant in the context of the letter to the Hebrews, quoting from Jeremiah, He uses the word “covenant” as an all-inclusive summary term, while really addressing the covenants He made with Israel at Mount Sinai and even in Moab, which were all interconnected and included the same subject matter and the same physical blessings (but NOT the Sabbaths covenant which was separate and distinct.) But when He says that the “first” was made “old”, He is not referring to the entirety of the law on which the covenant was based, but only to certain portions of it (the rituals and sacrifices).

To use the word “covenant” as a summary term for several covenants is not a unique phenomenon in the Bible; Scripture speaks many times of the Law or of Sin, as summary terms, including and referring to many laws or sinful actions.

It is also interesting to review Ephesians 2:12 where Paul says that in former days, Gentiles were strangers from the covenants of promise—clearly referring to more than just one covenant.

The Jamison-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary states: “The plural implies the several renewals of the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and with the whole people at Sinai.” Matthew Poole’s Commentary adds: “…those covenants in which the great promise of Christ and salvation by him was made. The covenants were several, as that with Abraham, and that by Moses, and differ in some accidents, but the promise in them was one and the same, which was the substance of each.” Barnes’ Notes on the Bible says: “The covenants of promise were those various arrangements which God made with his people, by which he promised them future blessings, and especially by which he promised that the Messiah should come. To be in possession of them was regarded as a high honor and privilege; and Paul refers to it here to show that, though the Ephesians had been by nature without these, yet they had now been brought to enjoy all the benefits of them.”

A similar explanation applies to Romans 9:4, where the plural form of covenants is mentioned as well, stating that “the covenants” pertain to the Israelites. Barnes’ Notes on the Bible comments: “The various compacts or promises which had been made from time to time with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and with the nation; the pledges of the divine protection.” Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers says: “Not the two tables of stone, but the several compacts made by God with Abraham and his descendants.” The Benson Commentary writes: “He says covenants, in the plural, also, because God’s covenant with his people was often and variously repeated.” Similar the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary: “‘the covenants of promise’ to which the Gentiles before Christ were ‘strangers’ (Eph 2:12); meaning the one covenant with Abraham in its successive renewals.”

Galatians 4:24 also speaks of covenants in the plural, but as we explain in our free booklet, “Paul’s Letter to the Galatians,” the reference here is not to the “old” or “first” covenant made at the Mount of Sinai, and the New Covenant.  We state the following:

“Most commentaries will tell you that Paul is addressing here the Old and the New Covenant, and conclude that the Old Covenant with all its laws has been abolished. However, Paul is not speaking here about the Old Covenant. Rather, he is describing in his allegory (verse 24) two ways of life—a ‘covenant’ with death and a ‘covenant’ with life. When we are in Christ, we are no longer under the penalty of the law. We are no longer in ‘bondage’ (verse 24) to death. We read in Isaiah 28:15, 18 that carnal people made a covenant with death, thinking they could escape death even though they lived wrongly. But we can only escape death through our acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice. Hagar’s son Ishmael was born according to the flesh. However, Sarah’s son Isaac was born according to promise, symbolizing, in this allegory, the gift of the Holy Spirit which would ultimately be in Isaac. Paul could not have talked here about the Old Covenant, because at the time of Hagar, the Old Covenant under Moses was not even made…

“Paul is describing in his allegory our spiritual battle, which goes on in our mind. God’s Spirit in us wars against our flesh. Our flesh ‘persecutes’ the Spirit of God and must therefore be cast out (compare James 4:4–5, 8; Romans 6:1–4; 8:5–9; and Colossians 2:11–13). Paul also points out, in verse 31, that we are no longer children of the bondwoman—children of bondage to death—if we let Christ live in us. It is Christ who sets us free from sin and death… Paul is not talking in verse 1 [of chapter 5] about the Old Covenant or even the sign or covenant of circumcision (Acts 7:8), because the Galatians had never been part of the Old Covenant, nor were they part of the covenant of circumcision—so they could not AGAIN be entangled with the ‘yoke of bondage.’ Rather, Paul continues his theme of addressing two ways of life. He explains that we must walk by the Spirit, which sets us free, not by the flesh, which brings us into bondage.

“… As we have to cast out the fleshly desires and our human nature, Abraham had to cast out the bondwoman and her son (Galatians 4:30). And why? Because the son of the bondwoman, who was born according to the flesh, persecuted the son of the freewoman, who was born according to the Spirit (verse 29). And Paul continues to allegorize by saying that this is also the case today (same verse)… God’s Spirit in us wars with our flesh. Paul said that he did not do what he wanted to do, but that he gave in at times to his flesh, following its desires (Romans 7:13–25). As our flesh ‘persecutes’ our Spirit-begotten minds, so we must cast out the flesh and its desires, including temptations which might originate with Satan or this world.”

Another confusion arises when in the New Testament, translators use the word “covenant” and the word “testament.” Only the context can determine which is the correct rendering, as in the Greek, the word for covenant is the same as the word for testament. The connection between covenant and testament is the concept of inheritance which we discuss more fully in the first part of our series, when quoting from our booklet, “And Lawlessness Will Abound.”

In 2 Corinthians 3:14, we read in the New King James Bible that the minds of the Israelites, under Moses, were blinded, which was symbolized by the veil which Moses put over his face, and that the same veil remains uplifted “in the reading of the Old Testament.” Here, the translation of “testament” rather than “covenant” seems correct. Most older Bibles (English and German) use here [in 2 Corinthians 3:14] the word “Testament” even though newer Bibles use the word “covenant”. It makes sense to talk about reading of the Old Testament (compare Luke 24:44-45; see also Acts 15:21), but it would make little sense to speak about reading of the “old covenant”—also, because this term is never used anywhere else. Either way, the context in verse 15 indicates that only a portion of the Scriptures is meant. It says that when “Moses is read”, the “veil lies on their heart.” The reference to the veil on Moses’ face is to the two great massive stones on which the Book of Moses was written (verse 7). We discuss this in our booklet, “The Ten Commandments”, chapter 14.

Hebrews 9:15 speaks about Christ as the “Mediator of the new covenant… for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant.” The Authorized Version uses here the rendition “testament” in both cases. So does the old Luther Bible, whereas the newer Luther renditions use the word “covenant.”  We see again that the choice of words is up to the translator and his interpretation. Actually, both renditions make sense here.  The people sinned by breaking God’s covenant (the summary term for all the covenants He made with His people), and they also transgressed all the laws written in the Old Testament.  Christ is the Mediator of the New Covenant and also of everything written in the New Testament Scriptures which we can only understand when the mind and the Spirit of Christ are in us. And as our Mediator, He helps us to keep the law, and He appears in front of God the Father as our High Priest who understands the weaknesses of our flesh.

To conclude, we are quoting again from our free booklet, “And Lawlessness Will Abound”:

“The New Covenant is based on God’s law, just as all the other covenants were based on God’s law, and the New Covenant is not identical with God’s law, just as none of the other covenants were identical with God’s law. However, the New Covenant is not based on laws that God has decreed are no longer valid. The New Covenant is not based, for example, on the sacrificial system, the Levitical priesthood, and other rituals and washings. But it is important that we understand why those particular laws are no longer valid. Not, because the ‘Old Covenant’ was abolished, and with it all Old Testament laws. The concept that the ‘Old Covenant’ ended, and with it all the laws of the Old Testament, is WRONG, as a covenant is not identical with the law, but it is BASED on the law…

“… certain Old Testament laws are no longer binding because God tells us in the New Testament that they are no longer binding. Therefore, the covenants which God made with ancient Israel at Mount Sinai and in Moab are vanishing, because they were based, along with other laws, on ritual statutes and sacrificial regulations which are no longer valid today—and, of course, because Israel kept breaking the covenants…

“When analyzing His covenant with the Levitical priesthood, we find that He kept that contract alive, but He modified it, as the provisions or laws regarding the collection of tithes were changed. That right was transferred from the Levites to Christ. The remainder of the contract between God and the Levites, including the Levitical right to bring, and to eat from, the sacrifices, stayed in effect. As you will recall, it will be the Levites who will administer the sacrifices, which will be reestablished in Jerusalem for the Jews prior to Christ’s return (Daniel 12:11; 8:11-12), and at the beginning of the Millennium for unconverted people (Ezekiel 44:15, 29–30).

“When analyzing the covenants that God made with the ancient nation of Israel at Mount Sinai and in Moab, God did away with those covenants [except for the Sabbaths covenant with Israel, which remains in force and effect], as too many laws on which those covenants had been based, had become obsolete. Also, God wanted to make a new covenant that would include additional promises that were never a part of the previous covenants with the nation of Israel. So, God abolished the previous covenants with the nation of Israel because certain laws on which the covenants were based were changed or abolished.”

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

compiled by Dave Harris

“We Are in a Recession Now!” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

We are experiencing terrible economic times, and we are told that things will get worse. The “solutions” offered by our government, if any, are failing miserably. Is there hope to see an end to this total misery and disaster?

“Will Israel Attack Iran?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

The possibility of an Israeli military strike against Iran exists. Why do we say this? And what would be the consequences for Israel?

“Wird Israel den Iran angreifen?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program presented by Norbert Link. This program covers the same topic in German as described above in English.

“HABEN WIR EINE UNSTERBLICHE SEELE?”, a new German booklet translated from our English version, “Do We Have an Immortal Soul?”, has been sent to Germany for printing.

“Warum der Prediger Salomo missverstanden wird” is the title of this Sabbath’s new German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Why the Book of Ecclesiastes Is Misunderstood.”

“Die Grundfesten Gottes,” the sermon presented last Sabbath in Germany by Thilo Hanstein, is now posted. Title in English: “The Foundations of God.”

“Himmel und Hölle für immer?”, the sermonette presented last Sabbath in Germany by Tahir Coban, is now posted. Title in English: “Heaven and Hell forever?”

“The Silver Suitcase,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Brian Gale, is now posted. Here is a summary:

This message shows how a mistake that was made can be turned into a very good learning experience in not taking the truth for granted.

“Rumors, Fake News and the Truth,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

All of us are potential victims of fake news, false reports and rumors. We are confronted with them everywhere—including and especially in regard to the teachings of the Bible, but we also find them in the worldly mass media and the propaganda of the lying press.  Why do so many believe rumors and false reports so quickly? And how can we distinguish between what is true and what is false?