On April 25, 2020, Frank Bruno will present the sermonette, titled, “Leaving So Soon?” and Dave Harris will present the sermon, titled, “Father and Mother.”

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.

According to Wikipedia, “The modern motto of the United States of America, as established in a 1956 law signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, is ‘In God We Trust’. The phrase first appeared on U.S. coins in 1864.”

This happened on 30th July 1956, just over 61 years ago, and notice how society has changed since then.

It is an interesting question to ask if such a phrase would be permitted today. Maybe it would, as many still pride themselves on believing God… but it would just be a phrase without substance. The USA, as well as many other nations around the world, have become a much more secular and permissive society. In fact, Wikipedia goes on to say that “Some groups and people have expressed objections to its use, citing its religious reference that violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. These groups believe the phrase should be removed from currency and public property.”

As each day goes by, the lobby being anxious to diminish the influence of God seems to proceed with indecent haste. It’s almost like a death wish.

In an article by Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell on May 7, 2013, she wrote: “Following the April 29 (2013) opening of their documentary The Unbelievers at Toronto’s Hot Docs Film Festival, outspoken atheists Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss discussed the merits of their approaches to ‘ridding the world of religion.’ In a recent interview with Steve Paikin, they made it clear that, despite their sometimes different personas, they have the same agenda—getting people to get rid of their belief in God. Yet they both say that Christians should not feel ‘threatened’ by their efforts to expunge religion from human history.”

These people are quite open about their agenda and assault on God, but make the ridiculous comment that “Christians should not feel “threatened.”

Today, it could be said that people generally do not believe in the true God, let alone trust Him. However, many now trust in human beings. For example, when a new Prime Minister or President is elected, they are expected by their followers to put everything right, and so people put their trust in that person. In addition, we see at football (soccer) matches large banners that read: “In (a person) we trust” – and the name of the manager is usually inserted where God should be in that phrase.

The phrase “trust me” is one that is now used in general conversation to give the impression that the person speaking has all knowledge on the subject matter in hand, and that no other consideration or opinion matters. I often think that when someone who wants to be wise in this world (1 Corinthians 1:20) says “trust me,” I had better look very carefully at that situation as it may only be a phrase used to show that they are an expert on the matter, which probably they are not. It can be a personal ego-building assertion.

In Psalm 118:8 we read: “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” One Internet writer gave these reasons why “no matter how good a man is, you cannot compare him with God”: “God cannot change but men are subject to change; men can lie but God never lies; men can fail but God never fails; God is omniscient but man is limited in his knowledge; God is faithful but men are not; God cannot forget His promise but men can easily forget their promise and God cannot, and never will, betray our confidence.”

The recent Coronavirus pandemic has caused panic among the nations with the media’s obsession with all things Covid 19—so much so that you can’t switch on a television news bulletin at any time of the day or night without being assailed with all the latest statistics, interviews via Skype (or similar) and any other information that they can squeeze out of this issue. Of course, it is a truly terrible situation causing much heartache to so many, but trust is in the NHS (National Health Service) in the UK, and around the world, not in the great God who is seldom mentioned, and when He is, it is oftentimes just lip service. Those of us in the true Church of God know better.

We must always rely on God and trust Him. President Eisenhower was right about the phrase but, in general, man now ignores this precious knowledge and he is always the poorer for doing so. In Proverbs 3:5 we read: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.”

Let the people of God never forget where their complete and total trust should be!

by Norbert Link

We begin this issue with important developments OTHER THAN news directly addressing the coronavirus, including reports on Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel as well as the al-Aqsa mosque and a new abominable Bible translation of the Danish Bible Society which is controlled by the Lutheran church  (in this context, please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Netanyahu Is Here to Stay… Why?” ).

We report on the desire of the EU to build a unified army and on several powers that are now challenging the USA militarily; as well as the ongoing threat of Chernobyl and criminal scanners.

Articles supporting or questioning governmental restrictions and actions pertaining to the coronavirus include dictatorial measures to silence dissenters; nationwide protests in the US against the lock-down and stay-at-home orders; a coming clash between state governors and local officials and citizens; the crazy approach by the US to use Chinese drones to spy on Americans; the question as to whether the lock-down was a big mistake; new controversial US immigration restrictions and extensions of travel bans, including by the USA, Canada, Mexico and Germany; and the beginning of a realization, including by Pope Francis and others, that the lock-down and stay-at-home orders severely threaten our religious liberties and freedoms.

We also report on inconsistent and insane regulations in Germany, Italy and Spain; and pose the question as to whether there will EVER be a successful vaccine against the coronavirus. We conclude with a thought-provoking article about biblical prohibitions and terrible consequences for disobedience.

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

Netanyahu Stays as Prime Minister

JTA wrote on April 20:

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz signed a deal Monday to form a ‘national emergency government’ that keeps Netanyahu as the prime minister for [18 months. Gantz would be prime minister-designate]. Israel has spent more than a year under a caretaker government as neither Netanyahu nor Gantz could assemble a coalition government. With the agreement, the country avoids a fourth national election in less than a year and a half.

“Monday evening… is the start of Yom Hashoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day.”

Israel Today wrote on April 19:

“Benjamin Netanyahu again showed his political genius and expertise… Many are having trouble believing that Netanyahu will keep his word and step down in another year-and-a-half…

“What is certain is that Netanyahu has come out on top… Benjamin Netanyahu has proved time and again that he is the most savvy and experienced politician in Israel. Despite the tireless efforts to remove him from power, he is here to stay…”

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Netanyahu Is Here to Stay… Why?” .

Al-Aqsa Mosque Closed

Breaking Israel News wrote on April 20:

“Prayer at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City will be banned during the Muslim holiday of Ramadan in order to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, Muslim clerics said on Thursday. This is the first recorded closure of the mosque since its construction in 692 CE.

“The Jordan-appointed Waqf council that oversees Jerusalem’s Islamic sites called the decision ‘painful,’ though said it was ‘in line with legal fatwas [Islamic religious rulings] and medical advice,’ according to Reuters. The decision extends an already existing suspension of prayer at the site that has been in effect since March 23.

“Muslims should ‘perform prayers in their homes during the month of Ramadan, to preserve their safety,’ said the council.”

When the Al Aqsa mosque can be closed that easily during a health crisis, it is no longer so far-fetched to see how it can be replaced in a bigger war-like crisis.

New Protestant Bible with Glaring Omissions

Breaking Israel News reported on April 20:

“… the Danish Bible Society just published a revised translation of the New Testament. The new edition has many surprises… the word ‘Israel’ is only used once in the ‘Bible 2020’, which is the name of the new edition. In all other passages, the word ‘Israel’ is either replaced with ‘Jews’, ‘the land of the Jews, or not replaced with any alternative term…

“Posts on social media suggested that the change may have been politically motivated as an anti-Israel statement… the new edition has already been downloaded to more than 90 countries… the Danish Bible Society is run by the Evangelical Lutheran Church…

“It should be noted that the term ‘Israel’ is used a total of 73 times in the New Testament… The word ‘ Israel’ appears over 2,200 times in the Torah, Writings, and Prophets…”

First, the Catholic Church changed the calendar from Saturday to Sunday, by designating the first day of the week (Sunday) as the seventh day of the week, the biblical Sabbath. Now, the Protestant Church changes Israel to Jew, or omits it altogether. One wonders what will be next.

Dutch Court Approves Euthanasia

The Guardian wrote on April 21:

“Doctors in the Netherlands are able to carry out euthanasia on patients with severe dementia without fear of prosecution even if the patient no longer expresses an explicit wish to die, the country’s highest court has ruled…  ‘A physician may carry out a written request beforehand for euthanasia in people with advanced dementia.’…

“The case was seen as an important test of the law in the Netherlands, which legalised euthanasia in 2002, followed shortly afterwards by neighbouring Belgium.”

One of God’s commandments reads: You shall not kill.

EU Army after UK Has Left Europe

uwidata wrote on March 24:

“… the European Union… is pursuing numerous high-profile projects… in order to improve its defense… and sovereignty. Its strongest bet is the PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation)…

“It currently has 25… States and is carrying out 17 defense collaboration projects that include a medical command, maritime surveillance, cyber security and military mobility. This last point is of great importance as it suggests the possible creation of a joint force capable of acting wherever needed…

“As soon as it joined the European Union, the United Kingdom was reluctant to cede its sovereignty to Brussels, especially in the area of ​​defense. Nonetheless, it covered 25% of the EU defense budget: now the burden will fall mainly between France and Germany. The Anglo-Saxon country continuously tried to block any project to form a common defense force with Europe, always betting on NATO first, following the interests of Washington and influencing countries such as Poland, sewing distrust around the idea of a joint defense pact in the European Community…. The departure of the United Kingdom is a huge opportunity to consolidate a serious defense policy in the EU that is not blocked by a member state…

“The European Union needs to create a force capable of facing any adversity without depending on third countries. The exit of the United Kingdom from the EU is perhaps one of the most important and determining elements for the PESCO, and for the general consolidation of a common European Union defense pact, which would allow the organization to improve its defenses and gain independence from NATO and the United States. However, it must be recognized that this presents a challenging scenario for member countries that will have to adapt to the needs that such commitment and cooperation demands, relinquishing some degree of sovereignty in favor of a common effort by all member states.”

A European army is coming… and it will be a challenge to the USA.

Foreign Powers Challenge US Military

The Hill wrote on April 19:

“U.S. adversaries are probing America’s defenses as the world is preoccupied with the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. In the past two weeks, Russia, China, Iran and North Korea have all moved to test Washington in the sea, in the air and on land as U.S. forces have become more restricted in movement amid concerns over the spread of COVID-19…

“On Tuesday, North Korea launched ground cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles from fighter jets into the sea, the first time in three years Pyongyang had launched such projectiles. That followed a slew of short-range ballistic missile tests in March as the hermit nation took part in large-scale live-fire military training.

“Then on Wednesday… a Russian fighter jet came within 25 feet of a Navy reconnaissance aircraft while inverted, putting the U.S. ‘pilots and crew at risk,’ the Navy said in a statement about the incident. That same day, 11 ships from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy repeatedly came close to U.S. Navy and Coast Guard Ships in ‘dangerous and harassing approaches’ in the Gulf.

“China, meanwhile, has been showing its force in the Pacific region, sinking a Vietnamese fishing boat in the South China Sea on April 2 and sending its aircraft carrier near Japan’s and Taiwan’s territorial waters…

“Flexing their might is not new for these rival countries, but the difference now is that the U.S. military and the nation at large seems to be preoccupied in a way it hasn’t been before as it deals with the pandemic… To combat the spreading illness, the Pentagon has restricted troop movement and on Saturday extended a domestic and overseas travel ban for service members until June 30 — more than a month past the original end date of May 11. In addition, the department has paused routine rotations and port calls, canceled war games, and curtailed individuals entering basic training…”

CNN wrote on April 20:

“A Russian fighter aircraft approached a US Navy aircraft over the Mediterranean Sea Sunday… The US Navy it said was the second time in four days that Russian pilots made unsafe maneuvers while intercepting US aircraft. ‘The unnecessary actions of the Russian SU-35 pilot were inconsistent with good airmanship and international flight rules, seriously jeopardizing the safety of flight of both aircraft,’ the US Navy said.”

The Bible prophesies a complete economic and military downfall of the USA and that it will be occupied by a foreign power, even though it will not be Russia or China or North Korea or Iran (see next article). Still, are we seeing the beginnings of these developments?

“Shoot Them Down”

Reuters wrote on April 22:

“President Donald Trump said on Wednesday [in a tweet] he had instructed the U.S. Navy to fire on [“shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats”] any Iranian ships that harass it at sea, a week after 11 vessels from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) came dangerously close to American ships in the Gulf.

“Close interactions with Iranian military vessels were not uncommon in 2016 and 2017. On several occasions, U.S. Navy ships fired warning shots at Iranian vessels when they got too close. While the Navy has the authority to act in self-defense, Trump’s comments appeared to go further…

“Trump wrote [the] tweet, hours after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps said it had launched the country’s first military satellite into orbit.”

Over 26 Million Americans Filed for Unemployment So Far

 Breitbart wrote on April 23:

“The coronavirus continued to ravish the U.S. economy last week, with 4.4 million of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims… The total number of Americans who have lost their jobs since claims spiked five weeks ago because of coronavirus and shutdowns rose to around 26.4 million, enough to erase all the job gains since the economy began to recover after the financial crisis…

“Self-employed workers and independent contractors can now file for benefits, expanding the number of claims… Actual job losses may be higher than the most recent figures reveal. Applications in many states have been hampered by websites and phone lines failing due to the rapid rise in the volume of claims.

“Employers are slashing their payrolls to try to stay afloat because their revenue has collapsed, especially at restaurants, hotels, gyms, movie theaters, and other venues that depend on face-to-face interaction. Auto sales have sunk, non-healthcare related manufacturing has ground to a halt, and factories have closed. More than 90 percent of the U.S. population is now under stay-at-home orders, which have been imposed by most U.S. states…”

Closing the country down has brought American economy to its knees. But this outcome was prophesied to happen.

Wildfires Threaten Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster Site

Breaking Israel News reported on April 17:

“Over 1,000 firefighters are struggling to control wildfires at the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site despite high-winds that threaten to send radioactive smoke to nearby residents as well as neighboring countries. The fire has been burning since April 3. It was successfully extinguished but fires cropped up again on Tuesday. Aerial firefighting equipment including helicopters and airplanes were brought in to fight the blaze earlier this week but high-winds are preventing these elements from being utilized in new blazes that have flared up. The fires are reportedly blazing less than one mile from the remains of the nuclear power plant…

“Chernobyl was home to a Soviet nuclear power plant which exploded on 26 April 1986 during an emergency drill that was botched, leading to an explosion and the meltdown of its number four reactor. It is still considered the worst peace-time nuclear disaster in history. Though it is uncertain how many deaths can be attributed to the disaster, the estimates range from 4,000-9,000 in former Soviet states to 16,000 fatalities when assessing the total continent of Europe…”

Global radioactive threats ARE prophesied.  

Beware of Criminal Scammers

Digital Trends wrote on April 17:

“Google has revealed that on each day over the past week, its Gmail-linked computer systems detected — and blocked — 18 million malware and phishing emails related to the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. On top of that, it also blocked more than 240 million daily spam messages linked to the virus.

“… scammers will stop at nothing to trick innocent people into handing over cash… some are impersonating high-profile bodies such as the World Health Organization… The perpetrators send the bogus emails to try to solicit fraudulent donations, or  distribute malware, which, if downloaded, could give remote access to the victim’s computer or mobile device.

“Some criminals are imitating government institutions in a bid to trick small businesses, while others are trying to exploit people working from home for the first time, sending emails pretending to be from ‘the admin department’ and asking the recipient to click on a (dangerous) link. Although Gmail and other email platforms endeavor to catch these odious emails, you should still stay alert for such content, and always take extra care when it comes to downloading attachments or clicking on links.”

In times of these, criminal scammers manifest carnal human nature at its worst.

How to Silence Dissenters

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on April 17:

“In the Soviet Union, activists were sent to state psychiatric wards. According to the state, any and all opposition to government policy was considered a form of mental illness… It is not likely German lawyer Beate Bahner will be tortured like Brodsky. However, that does not make her arrest and forced confinement in a mental institution any less egregious…

“‘Bahner had become known in the past few days with a call for nationwide demonstrations and an urgent application for the abolition of all corona protective measures,’ reports Welt. ‘The [medical specialist] lawyer from Heidelberg considers the corona rules to be excessive and advocates for them to be abolished.’… Bahner’s website was shut down at the request of the Mannheim police…

“In America… police have threatened people for attending church services and disobeying social distancing mandates… In Australia and Britain, police are fining citizens for daring to go outside… The dictator president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has ordered police and the military to shoot and kill all in violation of an iron-fisted lockdown…

“Officialdom has warned lockdowns may be in place until a vaccine is manufactured, possibly 18 months from now. This is a sure recipe for civil unrest and violence. It is not feasible for millions of people—and billions around the world—to endure lockdown and other authoritarian measures, possibly indefinitely.

“In Germany, the state has moved to declare opposition to the destruction of civilization a mental illness. As more people resist mass house arrest… the state will undoubtedly resort to measures above and beyond locking activists up in mental institutions… The [US] military is now engaged in a PR campaign to ‘reassure the public’ that it will use the appropriate protective equipment as it prepares to put down inevitable uprisings…”

Terrible. The fear as to what might happen in Germany is very real. Please view our recent program, “Shocking Developments in Germany—Comments on News and Prophecy, April 18, 2020” 

Dr. Oz and Dr. Phil under Fire

The LAT wrote on April 17:

“Two of television’s most well-known daytime hosts are under fire for their comments questioning stay-at-home restrictions put in place to contain the spread of the coronavirus. In a Thursday appearance on the Fox News show ‘The Ingraham Angle,’ Phil McGraw suggested it was dangerous to shut down the economy in order to stop the COVID-19 pandemic…

“‘The fact of the matter is 40,000 people die a year from automobile accidents. 480,000 from cigarettes. 360,000 a year die from swimming pools, but we don’t shut the country down for that. But yet we’re doing it for this?’ said the host of ‘Dr. Phil’…

“A day earlier, Dr. Mehmet Oz expressed similar sentiments during Fox News’ prime-time programming… Both hosts faced immediate backlash on social media… The statements… come amid a growing call among conservatives to ease social-distancing measures… Fox News personalities such as Laura Ingraham have been pushing to reopen the economy…

“In the same episode of ‘The Ingraham Angle’ on which McGraw appeared, Dr. Anthony Fauci… pushed back against Ingraham’s suggestion that the virus may simply ‘disappear’ without a vaccine…”

Stuffnews added on April 17:

“Elaborating on the long-term health risks of extreme isolation, [Dr. Phil] said, ‘This is invisible. I can’t show you an X-ray of depression. I can’t show you an X-ray of anxiety…

“‘There’s a point at which people start having enough problems in lockdown that it will actually create actually more destruction and actually more death across time than the actual virus will itself.’”

The left-liberal mass media does not like “dissenters” challenging their propaganda. Note the next articles.

Anti-Trump Bill Gates Supporters Fire Back

DNYUZ wrote on April 17:

“In a 2015 speech, Bill Gates warned that the greatest risk to humanity was not nuclear war but an infectious virus that could threaten the lives of millions of people. That speech has resurfaced in recent weeks with 25 million new views on YouTube — but not in the way that Mr. Gates probably intended. Anti-vaccinators, members of [a] conspiracy group… and right-wing pundits have instead seized on the video as evidence that one of the world’s richest men planned to use a pandemic to wrest control of the global health system…

“The wild claims have gained traction with conservative pundits like Laura Ingraham and anti-vaccinators such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Mr. Gates has emerged as a vocal counterweight to President Trump on the coronavirus. For weeks, Mr. Gates has appeared on TV, on op-ed pages and in Reddit forums calling for stay-at-home policies, expanded testing and vaccine development…

“His disdain for Mr. Trump… has also become public… Mr. Kennedy, a son of former Senator Robert F. Kennedy, who campaigns against vaccines as a director of the Children’s Health Defense network… has said Mr. Gates pushes vaccines to feed his other business interests… Mr. Kennedy, whose Instagram followers have doubled to more than 285,000 since March, said in an interview that he was telling the truth about the ‘terrible damage’ that Mr. Gates had inflicted on the world with vaccines.

“In an April 7 tweet, Ms. Ingraham, a Fox News host, shared a conspiracy theory about nefarious motives behind Mr. Gates’s call to track and identify who had received a Covid-19 vaccine. ‘Digitally tracking Americans’ every move has been a dream of the globalists for years,’ she wrote…”

Trump Supports Protesters Who Demand End of Lock-Down

The Associated Press reported on April 17:

“Asked about the [nationwide] protesters, Trump expressed sympathy with their frustration — ‘They’re suffering … they want to get back’ … On Friday, he egged the protesters on, tweeting for supporters to ‘LIBERATE’ three states with Democratic governors: Michigan, Virginia and Minnesota.”

Breitbart wrote on April 19:

“President Donald Trump on Sunday continued to defend protesters of overbearing state lockdowns during the coronavirus pandemic. ‘These are great people … They’ve got cabin fever they want to get back. They want their life back; their life was taken away from them,’ Trump said. Trump was asked by Today‘s David Jackson if he is concerned his calls for ‘liberation’ and defending the Second Amendment are ‘inciting violence’ against some of the Democrat governors who enacted the lockdowns.

“But the president defended the protesters as patriotic. ‘I’ve seen American flags all over the place. I’ve never seen so many American flags at a rally than I’ve seen at those rallies,’ Trump said. ‘These people love our country. They want to get back to work.’”

Medical expert Anthony Fauci issued a warning to protestors, saying protests would only delay the re-opening of the country.

Small Businesses Could Not Get Funding Meant for Them

The Washington Post wrote on April 20:

“The federal government gave national hotel and restaurant chains millions of dollars in grants before the $349 billion program ran out of money Thursday, leading to a backlash that prompted one company to give the money back and a Republican senator to say that ‘millions of dollars are being wasted.’

“Thousands of traditional small businesses were unable to get funding from the program before it ran dry. As Congress and the White House near a deal to add an additional $310 billion to the program, some are calling for additional oversight and rule changes to prevent bigger chains from accepting any more money.”

 This is another example of man’s carnal selfish nature at its worst.

Facebook Works Hand in Hand with State Governments

Breitbart wrote on April 20:

“Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says that posts and pages attempting to organize protests against stay-at-home orders will be banned as ‘misinformation’… while at the same time saying that it’s important ‘that people can debate policies.’

“A Facebook spokesman confirmed to CNN that planned protests in California, New Jersey, and Nebraska were having their pages removed from Facebook at the request of state authorities…”

Clash Between Governors and Citizens Coming

The Hill wrote on April 20:

“Governors are heading for a clash with their own citizens and local officials as they weigh how and when to reopen the country’s economy amid the coronavirus pandemic…  governors are facing growing pressure from the public in states such as Ohio and Michigan, where protests have called on leaders to quickly lift stay-at-home orders and bans on large gatherings and to allow nonessential businesses to open their doors…

“More protests are expected in the coming days in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Idaho, giving a public voice to the opposition to social distancing restrictions across the country. In Michigan, a crowd of demonstrators organized by a conservative group on Wednesday descended on the state Capitol to protest Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s (D) stay-at-home order… Whitmer faces two lawsuits over her stay-at-home order, with the plaintiffs — Michigan residents and businesses — claiming the April 9 order infringes on the constitutionally protected freedom of association and due process rights…

“In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy (D) has been under criticism for his decision to include churches and other houses of worship in his state’s strict social distancing guidelines. During a tense interview with Tucker Carlson of Fox News, Murphy was asked about constitutional protections after police broke up a rabbi’s funeral in early April at a synagogue in Ocean County, N.J., arresting 15 men. ‘That’s above my pay grade, Tucker,’ Murphy replied. ‘I wasn’t thinking of the Bill of Rights when we did this…’

“The landmark 1905 Supreme Court decision in Jacobson v. Massachusetts held that constitutional rights can be lawfully restricted when emergency public health measures are in place, though the precise scope of government public health power is not clearly defined. But there has not been a direct legal ruling yet on mandatory stay-at-home orders, and state and local leaders could find themselves dragged into court fights if they adopt an overly aggressive approach to enforcing mitigation measures… Governors and local officials may need to walk a tight line in enforcing restrictions…”

Abuse of Power by US Governors

Newsmax wrote on April 20:

“Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who has been in lock-down in Italy for several weeks, on Monday said there are several U.S. governors who are showing their ‘ideological bias’ with shutdown rules and people have their ‘teeth on edge because they’re watching politicians abuse their power.’

“‘One governor, for example, said it was okay for Planned Parenthood to stay open for abortions, but it wasn’t okay for the churches to have services,’ Gingrich said… ‘Well, that’s clearly just an ideological abuse of emergency.’”

Lacking American Leadership

The New York Times wrote on April 23:

“The pandemic sweeping the globe… is shaking fundamental assumptions about American exceptionalism — the special role the United States played for decades after World War II as the reach of its values and power made it a global leader and example to the world…

“As the calamity unfolds, President Trump and state governors are not only arguing over what to do, but also over who has the authority to do it… ‘America has not done badly, it has done exceptionally badly,’ said Dominique Moïsi, a political scientist and senior adviser at the Paris-based Institut Montaigne… In the United States, it has exposed two great weaknesses that, in the eyes of many Europeans, have compounded one another: the erratic leadership of Mr. Trump… and the absence of a robust public health care system and social safety net.

“… this is perhaps the first global crisis in more than a century where no one is even looking to the United States for leadership… ‘There is not only no global leadership, there is no national and no federal leadership in the United States,’ said Ricardo Hausmann, director of the Growth Lab at Harvard’s Center for International Development…

“The current crisis, some fear, could act like an accelerator of history, speeding up a decline in influence of… the United States… Mr. Garton Ash said that the United States should take an urgent warning from a long line of empires that rose and fell. ‘To a historian it’s nothing new, that’s what happens,’ said Mr. Garton Ash. ‘It’s a very familiar story in world history that after a certain amount of time a power declines.’”

Much nonsense is included in the article, especially when it comes to the ridiculous praise of Angela Merkel’s “leadership” and of the dictatorial measures taken in Germany to fight the coronavirus, but the sections quoted above about Europe’s perspective of America’s lacking leadership are worthwhile noticing.

Crazy—US Uses Chinese Drones to Spy on Americans

Daily Wire wrote on April 19:

“An MSNBC segment from late last week sparked controversy after it shined a light on a program that some localities across the U.S. are participating in that uses Chinese-made drones to monitor American citizens in an effort to enforce social distancing. ‘The drones make it easier for police to see into certain areas where access by patrol cars is more difficult,’ MSNBC reported. ‘That includes tight spaces between buildings, behind schools, and in backyards. Failure to comply could lead to a summons or a thousand dollar fine.’… ‘The drones donated by DJI, a Chinese company, have gone to 43 agencies in 22 states, all to help enforce social distancing rules,’ MSNBC continued…

“Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) responded to the segment by writing on Twitter: ‘Think about this for a second. This virus originated in Communist China and the Chinese Communist Party’s lies helped it spread around the world. Now we’re using drones made by a Chinese company and backed by the CCP to enforce social distancing. This is crazy!’”

Many concerns have been raised that these Chinese-made drones, which are now being used by US governments to spy on Americans, are at the same time being used by China to spy on America as well.

The Lockdown—a Big Mistake?

Ron Paul wrote on April 20 in “The Ron Paul Institute”:

“From California to New Jersey, Americans are protesting in the streets. They are demanding an end to house arrest orders given by government officials over a virus outbreak that even according to the latest US government numbers will claim fewer lives than the seasonal flu outbreak of 2017-2018.

“Across the US, millions of businesses have been shut down by ‘executive order’ and the unemployment rate has skyrocketed to levels not seen since the Great Depression. Americans, who have seen their real wages decline thanks to Federal Reserve monetary malpractice, are finding themselves thrust into poverty and standing in breadlines. It is like a horror movie, but it’s real.

“Last week the UN Secretary General warned that a global recession resulting from the worldwide coronavirus lockdown could cause ‘hundreds of thousands of additional child deaths per year.’ As of this writing, less than 170,000 have been reported to have died from the coronavirus worldwide.

“Many Americans have also died this past month because they were not able to get the medical care they needed. Cancer treatments have been indefinitely postponed. Life-saving surgeries have been put off to make room for coronavirus cases. Meanwhile hospitals are laying off thousands because the expected coronavirus cases have not come and the hospitals are partially empty…

“US states that did not arrest citizens for merely walking on the beach are not doing worse than those that did… Governments have no right or authority to tell us what business or other activity is ‘essential.’ Only in totalitarian states does the government claim this authority…”

Temporary Suspension of Some Green Card Applicants

NBC San Diego reported on April 21:

“President Donald Trump announced what he described as a ‘temporary suspension of immigration into the United States’ on Tuesday, an executive order barring those seeking permanent residency green cards but not temporary workers. Trump said he would be placing a 60-day pause on the issuance of green cards in an effort to limit competition for jobs in a U.S. economy wrecked by the coronavirus… An administration official familiar with the plans said the order would apply to foreigners seeking employment-based green cards and relatives of green card holders who are not citizens…

“Almost all visa processing by the State Department has been suspended for weeks. Travel to the U.S. has been restricted from much of the globe. And Trump has used the virus to effectively end asylum at U.S. borders, including turning away children who arrive by themselves and putting a hold on refugee resettlement…

“Trump first announced his intentions in a vague tweet Monday night. Across the country, those who could be impacted waited in suspense through the day. Chicago immigration attorney Fiona McEntee said she had been inundated with calls, emails and social media messages, including from company executives hoping to expand their business in the U.S., a person applying for a fiance visa and wondering about their wedding plans, artists seeking ‘extraordinary ability’ visas and foreign students. ‘It has created absolute panic,’ said McEntee. ‘These are people’s lives. … It is irresponsible and cruel to put out something like that without any consideration.’…”

Trump’s executive order expressly states that it does not apply, among others, to “any lawful permanent resident of the United States”; “any alien who is the spouse of a United States citizen”; or “any alien who is under 21 years old and is the child of a United States citizen.”

According to polls, about 79 percent want a full halt on immigration to the U.S. More than 80 percent of American adults call mass migration to the U.S. a “threat.”

The fear has been expressed that Trump and his anti-Immigration guru and right-wing hardliner Miller will use the “temporary” immigration “suspension” to make it permanent.

Fox News wrote on April 21: “Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Arizona, applauded the planned executive order, and suggested a total immigration suspension should continue indefinitely… ‘All immigration to the United States should halt until every American who wants a job has one!’”

Suspension of Green Card Applications Just a First Step?

Breitbart wrote on April 23:

“…the promise of Trump’s tweet was blocked amid furious closed-door lobbying by hugely wealthy Fortune 500 companies and elite investors. Their opposition was chiefly intended to stop the inflow of non-immigrant, white collar visa workers, including the roughly 900,000 H-1B workers who spike stock prices by shrinking salaries for U.S. professionals….

“That was a deep disappointment to many supporters… But Trump’s offer of a June re-match between voters and the Fortune 500 gives the public another chance to shift the nation’s economic policy towards employees, say reformers…

“Many polls show… the public strongly objects to companies hiring foreign workers before American  employees…

“But Trump’s zig-zagging between donors and voters is alienating many of those who stuck with him in 2016… ‘We knew it was best not to react to Trump’s initial claims about stopping immigration or any immigration matter because his past behavior has shown us there is an 80% chance that what he is telling us isn’t true,’ said William Gheen,  the founder of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC… ‘Trump has broken most of his key campaign promises … here once again he promises his audiences he will end all immigration for 60 days, but then guts the actual order to where it will have little impact for American workers.’”

In fact, suspending applications for permanent green card holders (most of them family-based) will have virtually NO impact on jobs for American workers. It is just a smokescreen to help Trump not to lose face completely, pacify (some) of his supporters and big companies and lobbyists, and to open the way for much severe  anti-immigration measures in the hope of wooing hard-core anti-immigrant voters as we are getting closer to the 2020 presidential election in November.  

US Travel Ban with Canada Extended

The Hill wrote on April 18:

“The U.S.-Canada border restrictions will be extended for another 30 days… The restrictions took effect on March 21, banning any nonessential travel between the two countries…

“When asked about potentially relaxing border restrictions with Canada on Wednesday, President Trump said, ‘…It will be one of the early borders to be released…’”

That does not sound good for a relaxation of the travel ban with other countries.

US Travel Ban with Mexico Extended

NPR wrote on April 20:

“The United States and Mexico are extending restrictions on nonessential travel across their shared border for an additional 30 days… The temporary closure was first put in place on March 21 and does not target the crossing of merchandise. People with temporary work visas, emergency personnel, students and those traveling for business are also still allowed to enter the U.S. However, the partial ban places stringent limits on tourism and shopping for people from California to Texas.”

No Lifting of German Travel Ban Any Time Soon

Deutsche Welle wrote on April 17:

“Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Friday that travel warnings aren’t going to be relaxed any time soon. ‘At the current point in time, I see absolutely no reason to lift the travel warnings,’ Maas told the mass-circulation Bild newspaper. He noted that even if Germany were to relax its measures, the curfews and other restrictions that other countries have put in place make it nearly impossible to go on holiday there.

“Germany issued a global travel warning in mid-March advising against non-essential travel abroad, particularly against travel for tourism purposes. The current warning has been extended to May 3, along with Germany’s nationwide social-distancing measures.

“The German government will reevaluate the situation from week to week and any loosening of restrictions would need to be coordinated on a European level, Maas noted. Mass warned that if people were to ignore travel warnings and try to continue with their summer vacation plans, the German government won’t fly them home from abroad this time…

“The German government launched a massive repatriation effort last month to fly home tourists who were stranded by the coronavirus outbreak. Although 240,000 people have been brought back so far, the government hasn’t been able to reach everyone just yet, Maas said. Over the next few weeks flights have been planned to bring German citizens back from South Africa, Peru, Argentina, and Pacific Island nations. Those who have since returned to Germany still likely face a bill from the government for the emergency flights.”

In an incredible article by Focus, dated April 18, titled, “Reason rather than naïve [plump] obedience… German calmness is success of democracy,” the author argues that the passive reaction of most Germans to the authoritarian measures by their government is a sign of a strong and successful democracy and can be explained by a trust in politics and acceptable arguments.

Der Spiegel took a completely different stance on April 17, writing: “Many Germans are growing impatient with the hesitant pace of efforts by the government to loosen the lockdown imposed to bring the number of coronavirus infections under control… And when will residents of Germany once again be able to exercise their constitutional rights, like going to church or attending a demonstration?”

So, who is right? Focus or Spiegel? Also, Bavaria announced that its Oktoberfest has been canceled for the first time since World War II. As Bloomberg reported on April 21, “The festival was called off twice in the past due to outbreaks of cholera, in 1854 and 1873.”

Change of Mind? Pope Warns Now Against Coronavirus Restrictions for Churches

Katholisch.de wrote on April 17 that Pope Francis warned against the consequences of a relationship with God without the church, stating that in internet services, people are together and not together.

He spoke of a danger when religious communication only occurs through the media and that one cannot just receive spiritual communion. “This is not the church,” he said.

The pope’s previous far-too-ready adherence to and even approval of the authoritarian restrictions of the governments, prohibiting church assemblies, is now backfiring, forcing him to eat his own words.

Der Spiegel wrote on April 17:

“German Chancellor Angela Merkel [conducted] a videoconference with the governors of Germany’s 16 states…

“North Rhine-Westphalia Governor Armin Laschet… clashed with other meeting participants primarily on the issue of religion. A Catholic by confession, Laschet joined Thuringia Governor Bodo Ramelow, a member of the far-left Left Party, in arguing that religious services should be permitted as long as certain measures were observed.

“Others noted that it is primarily the elderly – those who are most at risk in the coronavirus epidemic – who attend church services and that the kind of singing that takes place during church services increases the risk of transmission via exhaled particles…

“The decisive argument was delivered by, of all people, [Bavarian Governor Markus] Söder… A Protestant himself, he is nonetheless head of a largely Catholic state. He pointed out that even the pope celebrated Easter mass completely on his own. Why should Germany do any different?”

Can one believe such utter nonsense as expressed by German governors (!), in regard to singing in church services? This is absolutely insane. But that happens when the pope wants to play coy and be cute. Now note the next article.

No Justification to Prohibit Religious Assemblies

Bild Online published the following commentary on April 16:

“To give up the constitutional right of free exercise of religion because of reasons of protection against the epidemic is difficult to swallow… Now stores will soon be open again, but religious services remain prohibited. With that, any semblance of proportionality has disappeared, with which we could justify such a grievous intrusion into our freedom.”

Bild has been taking a rather inconsistent approach throughout their “reporting”, reflecting the inconsistent approach of many Germans towards their government’s inconsistent handling of the coronavirus situation.  A constitutional scholar, Hans Michael Heinig, also stated that it would not be ok anymore to prohibit church assemblies in Germany, and Deutsche Welle reported on April 17 that in the German state of Saxony, church assemblies with up to 15 people plus the pastor will now be allowed. Deutsche Welle reported on April 21 that “Berlin is also set to allow church services of up to 50 people starting from May 4, according to the city’s culture minister.”

Germany’s Constitutional Court’s Incongruous Decisions

Deutsche Welle wrote on April 18:

“Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court rebuked Stuttgart city for just citing a local pandemic decree and saying ‘no’ on the phone to a person who planned to hold a 50-person demonstration on Saturday against the coronavirus-related lockdown measures in place… The government of Stuttgart, the state’s capital, argued that the decree [issued by Baden-Württemberg state] gave it no scope to even issue a legally contestable reply…

“The plaintiff approached Karlsruhe after losing a lower-court appeal before Baden-Württemberg’s top administrative court on Wednesday. The three-judge Karlsruhe panel in their ruling said the Stuttgart city administration in negotiations with the applicant could have agreed on a lower number of participants combined with physical spacing, location and demonstration timing. On Wednesday, Germany’s top court in similar fast-track provision rulings, had quashed two rejections of demonstrations in Giessen, a city in Hesse state, enabling them to proceed, but under strict safeguards.”

At the same time, as we reported earlier, the same court had found that the prohibition of RELIGIOUS assemblies and church services, even under strict safeguards, was justified. Who can understand those inconsistencies?

More German Confusion and Inconsistencies

AFP wrote on April 20:

“With small shops opening on Monday for the first time in a month, Merkel said the authorities can only allow such small cautious steps each time to avoid a devastating relapse… From florists to fashion stores, the majority of shops smaller than 800 square metres (8,600 square feet) were allowed to welcome customers again in much of Germany… But the government is facing increasing pressure from other sectors still facing curbs to move faster and let them get business back on track.

“… each of Germany’s 16 states is taking action at a slightly different pace. In eastern Saxony state, pupils taking final examinations began streaming back to classrooms, two weeks ahead of their peers in other states, where school gates will reopen only from May 4… Though not yet obligatory, the government ‘strongly advises’ wearing a mask in public. [Earlier, Merkel had strongly advised AGAINST wearing a mask in public. But now, almost all German states require the wearing of masks in public, but with inconsistent regulations.]

“… state premier of North Rhine-Westphalia Armin Laschet warned that some coronavirus restrictions could last until 2021.

“Cultural venues, bars, leisure centres and beauty salons will remain closed for the time being, and large-scale public events such as concerts and football matches have been banned until August 31. With larger shops unable to open, the German Trade Association warned Friday of a possible ‘distortion of competition’.”

Deutsche Welle added on April 20:

“Merkel has criticized excessive discussions about easing lockdown measures in Germany, warning that an ‘orgy’ of talks on when to reopen for business could jeopardize the progress made so far against the virus.”

The opposition party, the FDP, criticized Merkel sharply for her “choice of words” and her “grip of power” which she “does not have” (MSN, April 20, 2020).

Italian Insanity

Breitbart reported on April 20:

“Italian police used drones, quads, and a jeep to hunt down and fine a man thought to be spreading coronavirus by lying alone on an Italian beach.

“The City of Rimini posted a video of the police action against the sunbather on its website, boasting of the efficiency of local police in bringing the miscreant to justice.

“On Sunday, the Italian news service ANSA reported that photos of the police operation had gone viral, unleashing an unexpected avalanche of fury against the government for its ‘dictatorial’ methods, while others praised the lone bather for his exemplary ‘social distancing.’

“The Italian Interior Ministry reported Monday that 17,500 people were issued citations over the weekend for failing to comply with the…  coronavirus lockdown provisions… 8,641 were fined for traveling outside the home without sufficient justification, 74 for false declarations, and 9 for violated quarantine.”

Words fail in light of such governmental stupidity.

Extraordinary Damage for Global Economy

Money Week wrote on April 20:

“Covid-19 has wrought extraordinary damage on the global economy. Unemployment continues to soar to unprecedented levels. Companies continue to scramble for government support. We are unquestionably facing an economic slump larger than any we’ve ever experienced… Everything about this crisis has been off the charts in terms of historic comparisons…

“… there are signs that the market – in the US certainly – is… overvalued, just a month after hitting its coronavirus lows… The action taken by central banks now… will undermine our system yet further, and set up the conditions for a future blow-up…”

Killing Coronavirus with Disinfectants?

Zerohedge wrote on April 18:

“The Spanish government has just ‘authorized’ the military to prepare planes for aerial spraying of disinfectants across major metro areas…

“The order was first published in the Boletín Oficial del Estado, the country’s official gazette, on Friday, that ‘authorizes the NBQ (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) units of the Armed Forces and the UME to use biocides authorized by the Ministry of Health in disinfection efforts to deal with the health crisis caused by the coronavirus.’…

“The order continues to say ‘aerial disinfection’ missions will be conducted ‘regularly’ as long as the pandemic continues to ravage the country… Spain has deployed unmanned aerial systems and ground-based robots to spray disinfectants on the street level…[now] the government [wants] to blanket entire towns with disinfectants via airplanes…”

This is INSANE!

There Might NEVER Be a Vaccine… but It May Be Unnecessary

The Daily Star wrote on April 19:

“Professor Ian Frazer, one of the world’s leading vaccine inventors [said] that trying to immunise against coronavirus was like trying to immunise against the common cold – difficult to impossible… ‘Coronavirus doesn’t get into you, it stays on the surface cells in your lungs,’ he added. ‘All these flu viruses get into you, so the body can fight and makes T cells. ‘This virus doesn’t kill the cells, it makes them sick. At the moment we don’t know how to make a coronavirus vaccine work. That’s why there are 100 vaccines under testing using every conceivable approach. We don’t know if any of them will work.’

“On a more positive note, Prof Frazer pointed out that a vaccine was never developed for SARS following an outbreak in China in 2003, but it burnt out on its own. The virus became less effective as it passed from host to host, explained Prof Frazer – something that could feasibly happen with Covid-19 too. He added: ‘It may well be the same with this virus. It’s not very effective in making us sick. It may become less effective.’”

Vaccines a Longshot with no Success Guaranteed

Breitbart wrote on April 20:

“The government’s chief scientific advisor [Sir Patrick Vallance] admitted that vaccines for new viruses are ‘long shots’ and that ‘only some end up being successful’…

“Oxford University scientist Sarah Gilbert … raised other complications in the rollout and manufacturing of a vaccine, including that the injection may alter a person’s immune system, making contracting the Chinese virus more dangerous…”

And still, due to the panic and lucrative prospects of a vaccine for the pharmaceutical industry and its supporters and investors, we predict some kind of a vaccine will be produced and rushed through, while it will be claimed that it is safe so that it can be made mandatory for the entire globe.

Ongoing Isolation for Athletes and the Elderly without Vaccine

The Daily Mail wrote on April 20:

“World No 1 Novak Djokovic’s opposition to vaccines could stand in the way of his return to tennis when eventually it resumes following the coronavirus pandemic. A push is growing for all players to be vaccinated when tennis starts again, provided one is produced by then…

“Professor Gilbert said her team hopes to begin clinical trials towards the end of this week… The 510 or so healthy volunteers, between 18 and 55, are currently being recruited and having health checks. Half of all the trial volunteers will get the new coronavirus vaccine and the other half will get a vaccine licensed to protect against meningitis. Volunteers will not know what they are given…

“Scientists have asked people not to pin their hopes on a vaccine. However, it’s believed that vaccines are the only way for high-risk people, such as the elderly, will be able to mingle in society in the future. Over-70s may potentially have to wait for a vaccine before going back to normal life, according to lockdown exit plans reported by the Sunday Times yesterday.”

Twelve More Months of Lockdown in Australia?

The Sun wrote on April 17:

“AUSTRALIA is thinking of extending its lockdown to a YEAR  – despite suffering just 63 coronavirus deaths. Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned life ‘down under’ could be constrained for 12 more months… And some see the proposal as a sign other countries may also be thinking of very lengthy lockdowns…

“Restaurants, bars and other ‘non-essential’ businesses have closed [in Australia] and public gatherings of more than two people are banned under the threat of fines and even prison… Ministers in Australia have already refused to rule out keeping travel restrictions in place until 2021- meaning a ban on tourism. Citizens are being advised to plan vacations in their own country when the crisis is over…”

Man Reaps what He Sows

Express wrote on April 22:

“CHINA is facing pressure for answers as the world fights the coronavirus pandemic – and science highlighting that the outbreak started via bat-to-human transmission suggests that warnings in the Bible on the consumption of ‘unclean’ meat have been ignored with fatal consequences for humanity…

“Scientists say that coronavirus is highly likely to have come from bats to humans via pangolins. This is believed to have started in China’s Hubei province and its capital, Wuhan, where the sale of bats and pangolins for human consumption is widespread and profitable. The Book of Leviticus… does warn against people eating them.

“Chapter 11 offers instructions on how to remain clean by abstaining from the consumption of certain animals. It reads: ‘These you shall detest among the birds, they shall not be eaten – the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture, the kite, the falcon of any kind, every raven of any kind, the ostrich, the nighthawk, the seagull, the hawk of any kind, the little owl, the cormorant, the short-eared owl, the barn owl, the tawny owl, the carrion vulture, the stork, the heron of any kind, the hoopoe, and the bat…’

“Though bats are now considered mammals, until the Middle ages, organisms were classified into three categories, those that walked on land, those that flew through the air and those that lived in water. By this method, bats are grouped into the same category as birds.

“The passage goes on to warn that anyone who does not follow these rules will remain ‘unclean’ until they repent. Some online users have linked this extract with coronavirus… referencing Leviticus 26:14-18, which reads: ‘If you won’t listen or obey my commands and reject them and violate my covenant, then I will bring on you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and sap your strength. If you still disobey Me, I will punish you sevenfold.’

“One Twitter user commented: ‘If China keeps eating unclean food, God will punish you sevenfold.’ Another added: ‘Leviticus reveals the punishment for disobedience.’”

Interesting thoughts. In Leviticus, God’s punishment is mainly directed to the modern houses of Israel and Judah, and it is of course not limited to eating unclean meat (even though this is included), but God calls this practice an “abomination” and He does pronounce serious punishment on ALL who do so in the book of Isaiah (65:3-5; 66:15-17).

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.

First of all, what is an ambassador?

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines an ambassador as follows: “The highest-ranking person who represents his or her own government while living in another country.” Another definition is “an accredited diplomat sent by a state as its permanent representative in a foreign country.” In another way, an ambassador can be “a representative or promoter of a specified activity.”

Let us look at some of the requirements of a diplomatic ambassador who is domiciled in a foreign country, as they are sometimes listed, and compare them to the requirements of Spirit-begotten members of the Family of God. We understand, of course, that in far-too-many cases, these requirements for an ambassador in a foreign country are not present or manifested by him or her, but these are the requirements an ambassador should have, and which we as Christians must have or develop.

In 2 Corinthians 5:20, we read that we are to be ambassadors for Christ: “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”

We will see that there are many comparisons with the job function and responsibilities of a career ambassador and that of a Christian who is an ambassador for Christ.

1. To be selected in the first place, an ambassador must possess politeness, courtesy, hospitality and other skills that will help him in the execution of his important duties.

A Christian must also possess these qualities in order to be the example that he should be. In Matthew 5:16, we read “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

1 Timothy 3:1-7 speaks about such qualities and while this is about the qualifications of an Elder, the same qualities are just as relevant to members who haven’t been ordained: “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop he desires a good work.  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;  one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence  (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

In Colossians 3:13, discussing the character of the new man, we read “bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”

2. An Ambassador is a representative in a foreign land for his own country.

An ambassador is not to reflect the will of his people at home, nor of the people where he resides, but he reflects his government’s stance.

We are not to reflect the will of the people or governments and other high ranking officials in society, but to practice the Way and Will of God at the core of our lives. We read in John 18:36: “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.’”

When Jesus was praying for His disciples just before His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, He said: “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” They were representatives of the coming Kingdom of God in the world which is a foreign environment run by Satan, “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). We read in Colossians 1:13: “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.”

John 17:16 Jesus prayed for His disciples then and by extension to His disciples down through the ages, when He said: “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” While we are in this society, its way of conducting itself is far removed from God’s Way and, therefore, we must reject the way of the society which we live in.

3. An ambassador is trustworthy and sets an example for his country by his demeanour, personality, skills and training.

True Christians have been called by God and given a task to do. In 1 Thessalonians 2:4, we read: “But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.”

Matthew 10:16 says: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” We should be trustworthy with the Word of God and with our dealings with other people. In a world where there is little trust and much compromise, it is important that we have and display this quality. In Proverbs 11:13, we read: “A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.” In other words, those who have a faithful spirit are trustworthy.

In Colossians 4:5-6 we read further instructions as to how we are to comfort ourselves: “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.  Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

4. An ambassador must have diplomatic skills, including not being offended or causing offence.

In 1 Corinthians 13:5, which is a chapter devoted to Christian love, we read: “(Love) does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil.” This quality of not being offensive is spoken about in 2 Corinthians 6:3: “We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.”

Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 states: “Do not take to heart everything people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. For many times, also, your own heart has known that even you have cursed others.”

We live in a time when many are easily offended; in fact, some seem to be just waiting to be offended which is a trait that a Christian must not succumb to, as Philippians 1:9-11 explains: “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

We know what it will be like at the end of the age: “…then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another” (Matthew 24:10), and so we have been warned!

5. An ambassador must be humble, acting as a servant and spokesperson, articulating his country’s position in any given situation.

As an ambassador articulating his own country’s stance, Christians must do likewise. We read in Acts 1:8: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Today, the Church of God has a commission to preach the gospel as it was prophesied to occur in Matthew 24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

In 2 Timothy 2:15, the apostle Paul writes: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” A few verses on in 2 Timothy 2:24-26, we read “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” The qualities required of Christians are clearly set out here.

6. An ambassador does not give his own opinions, but that of his native country.

Before conversion, we may have had many ideas that were false and not in line with our subsequent calling. In 1 Peter 3:15, we read that we must now speak of the things of God; not, what our opinion is on any given matter: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”

Even Jesus Christ said that it was the Father who did the works in and through Jesus, as we read in John 14:10: “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.” There were no personal opinions spilling over into Christ’s speech.

In Ephesians 6:20, we read: “…for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Paul spoke boldly as we see in many passages of Scripture and it was always about the Way of God. As we know, “the Way,” meaning the Christian Way of Life, is spoken of in Acts 19:9; 19:23; 22:4; 24:14 and 24:22.

7. An ambassador doesn’t vote in the country he lives in.

The subject of voting has been covered many times, and quoting very briefly from our Q&A on this matter will clearly show that as an ambassador does not vote in the country in which he represents his own nation, we, likewise, are not to vote for reasons as explained below.  This Q&A can be accessed on our website as follows: https://www.eternalgod.org/why-we-must-not-vote-in-governmental-elections/:

“To be blunt, voting in governmental, national and presidential elections violates God’s plan for true Christians and constitutes a grave sin. It manifests the absence of faith in God; reveals a complete lack of understanding as to what the role of a true Christian is today; and shows utter ignorance as to who is ruling this world…

“We believe that a Christian’s duty to God is of a superior and higher nature than our duty arising from any human relationship (Acts 4:18-20; 5:27-29). We therefore, following Biblical commands and principles, do not participate in voting for national elections or jury duty, and we do not join the military…

“The Bible is very clear: We are SINNING if we judge in jury duty services or vote in national elections, while forgetting our true responsibility of being AMBASSADORS for Christ and the coming Kingdom of God. Once God rules on earth, there will be NO MORE VOTING in political campaigns. For true Christians, there must be no voting today.”

As one commentator wisely wrote: “Our chief influence in the world is to be through prayer, not the ballot box.”

8. An ambassador is not involved in the politics of the country he lives in.

In Philippians 3:20, we read: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Like ambassadors of a foreign country, we cannot get involved in political affairs, nor should we want to, as this could easily be a distraction from our goal of becoming a born-again member of the Family of God.

We read in John 15:18-19: “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” Jesus Christ was telling His disciples that they (and we today) are not of this world (society) and don’t get involved in its affairs.

Two more Scriptures are worth mentioning in respect of us not getting involved in this world and its politics.

1 John 2:15-17 says: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

2 Timothy 2:24-26 reads: “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

One commentator wrote: “The political world is openly antagonistic to Christian principles and is riddled with humanist thinking. There are no Scriptures to indicate that the Christian should attempt to influence things for good through political processes and activities.”

Let us finish by quoting from Mr. Herbert W Armstrong’s article “How Would Jesus Vote for President?,” which was published in the October-November 1984 issue of the “Good News” magazine, beginning on page 3 (This is also quoted more fully in our free booklet, “Should You Fight in War?):

“This is not a world of God’s making. This is SATAN’S world! Satan is the invisible god of this world. He is the author of its organization, its basic philosophies, its systems of government, business, society – yes, and RELIGIONS! This thing we boast of as CIVILIZATION is, in actual fact, Satan’s handiwork, not God’s! Strange as it may seem, that is true! All nations – not just the heathen powers, but all nations, including ours – are DECEIVED, swayed, led, by Satan (Revelation 12:9, 18:3, 20:2-3). The Bible speaks of this world as `this present EVIL WORLD’ (Galatians 1:4, AV) … No, Jesus did not enter into THIS WORLD’S politics! He called His disciples out of this present evil world – out of all its customs and philosophies and ways – to live a life of SEPARATION from the world…

“Thus Jesus’ disciples live in this present evil world as though they were foreigners, here merely as the guests of the nation where they reside, as AMBASSADORS for Christ and His coming Kingdom, not of any of this world’s governments … [Foreign ambassadors do not involve themselves in] making their state [where they live] a better state, or voting, or entering their army or fighting for their cause … [T]he true Christian is one who follows Christ, and Christ did not vote! Jesus did not try to reform Caesar … He preached the doctrine of a radically different world to come … This is Satan’s world and Jesus Christ did not come to reform Satan or improve Satan’s handiwork, but to save His followers from Satan and his system. Since God’s Kingdom is not literally set up as yet, the true Christian’s citizenship is now reserved in heaven (I Peter 1:4, Ephesians 2:19) …”

We are ambassadors for Christ in the truest and fullest sense of the words. Let us behave as such in order to become immortal God beings in His very Family.

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

A new Member Letter (April 2020) has been written, posted and mailed to our subscribers. Pastor Rene Messier reflects on the startling changes brought about by the Coronavirus, while reminding us that we must remain focused on God’s calling as times grow even more difficult in the future.

Our new booklet, “Obeying God Rather Than Men,” written by Norbert Link, has entered a second review process.

“Netanyahu Is Here to Stay… Why?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

An important deal has been reached in Israel with wide-ranging prophetic consequences. Why is this deal so significant in regard to Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump and Boris Johnson, as well as events which have been prophesied thousands of years ago in your Bible?

“Eine Welt in Panik,” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “A World in Panic.”

“Beamter auf Lebenszeit,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath in Germany by Jens Herrmann, is now posted. Title in English: “Civil Servant for Life.”

“Was ist unser Anteil?”, a sermonette presented by Daniel Blasinger in Germany, is now posted. Title in English: “What Is Our Share?”

“Shocking Developments in Germany—Comments on News and Prophecy (April 18, 2020),” the first message presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

What is happening in Germany right now—under the disguise of protecting the public from the coronavirus—should shake everybody up. Horrible methods are being used to silence dissenters, while restrictive measures remain in force which are clearly violating the German Constitution. But some are waking up, especially when it comes to the disproportionate prohibitions of religious services and assemblies.

“Dangerous Prayers,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Kalon Mitchell, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Are we willing to pray dangerous prayers? What constitutes dangerous prayers? What we pray about has serious consequences for our spiritual life and our eventual outcomes. How well do we know God?

On April 18, 2020, Norbert Link will present “Comments on News and Prophecy (April 18, 2020), and Kalon Mitchell will present the sermon, titled, “Dangerous Prayers.”

It’s pretty hard to hear the news these days. Circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 escalate day after day. The so-called experts interviewed in news reports fail to articulate answers about how to really solve problems. In fact, they aren’t even able to fully explain the problems in the first place! With such a lack of reliable information available, it is hard to believe that anyone has a plan to improve things any time soon.

With unemployment rates increasing and basic freedoms being stripped from people worldwide, there will be casualties of COVID-19 beyond those who have become infected. Depression, suicide, domestic violence, and substance abuse are among the destructive agents that will undoubtedly result from measures put into place by the world’s governments. The bad news of the pandemic will turn worse. Unfortunately, there is a grim outlook for the immediate future in the world we live.

With bad news lurking behind each corner, it is important for our wellbeing to have a source of joy in our lives that we can trust in. But where can we find it? How is it possible to find joy in the trial that spreads around the world? Clearly, the answers to these questions are different for each of us individually. But as hard as they might be to answer, it is critically important that we take the time to make sure that we do have an answer. If we do not make the effort to find true, meaningful, virtuous joy in our lives, our hearts will grow hard. God will not be able to work in our lives if we refuse to find delight in His plan for us. God provides reason for joy in the darkest of times, but if we fail to acknowledge it, we will only fall into deeper darkness.

As His imminent death drew near, Jesus Christ knew that His disciples were going to face difficult times. But He gave them encouragement. First, He explained that His love was reason for joy. “‘As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full’” (John 15:9-11). The joy that Jesus Christ offers to us comes from the knowledge that God loves us, plain and simple. When all else fails, we have this fact to give us hope.

The source of joy that we have in knowing God loves us keeps us grounded, but this does not mean that we will be invincible to the effects of sorrow. Quite the contrary. Jesus Christ also knew that His disciples would suffer and experience sorrow. When preparing them for His death, Jesus said to them, “‘Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you’” (John 16:20-22). Again, the reassurance and source of joy come from having a greater perspective – seeing the big picture. Even though we will experience sorrow, it is temporary, and there is a greater future that we are to be a part of.

Certainly, it is comforting to know that we have a wonderful future to look forward to if we stay close to God. But we have to wait for the gratification in receiving that joy. Is there something else we can do to find joy in the present experience of life? Fortunately, the answer is, “Yes!” The method also involves changing our perspective in how we view our circumstances.

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon expresses his grief in the endeavor to find enduring satisfaction in the products of his work. He saw that his accomplishments would only be temporary, and felt despair in that ultimate result (compare Ecclesiastes 2:9-23). However, he also reconciles his sorrow by finding reason for joy, even knowing the eventual fate of his work. By finding inherent satisfaction in the process of working hard and the daily experience of life, there is cause for joy. “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 3:11-12). Even in the hard times, we can always continue to put forth our best efforts, whether the results succeed or not. We can find a moment to see the beauty of God’s creation. We can find happiness in sharing a smile with one another. In so many simple ways, life offers ample opportunity to find joy in the moments of our experience.

Truly, it is a gift of God to find joy. By understanding His plan that involves each and every one of us, we have hope for a much better future. By seeing the goodness and beauty that resides in our daily activities, we have solace in the present. By keeping our perspective fixated on remembering our blessings, we will find joy in the places where it seemed to be hiding before.

by Norbert Link

We are presenting you with many articles about most recent developments since our last Update about governmental measures regarding the coronavirus and warnings from many sources questioning the constitutionality and effectiveness of such measurers, while driving the USA and the UK into an economic abyss without any realistic hope for recovery. Fights between President Trump and the medical “experts,” as well as State Governors, appear inevitable, and at the same time, questions are being asked about what is really behind the desperate efforts to find and create a vaccine. In this context, please view our recent StandingWatch program, titled, “Coronavirus Lockdown Measures and a Vested Financial Interest in Vaccines.” 

We are also quoting many articles about the situation in Germany, due to measures employed there regarding the coronavirus, and warn that soon more dramatic developments are to be expected there, based on biblical prophecy.

In other news, we are reporting on increased volcanic and earthquake activity; tornados in the USA; plagues caused by huge hornets and locusts; and we conclude with an article on America’s failed attempt to create peace in Afghanistan.

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

Trump vs. State Governors

The Associated Press wrote on April 13:

“President Donald Trump claimed the ‘total’ authority Monday to decide how and when to reopen the economy after weeks of tough social distancing guidelines aimed at fighting the new coronavirus. But governors from both parties were quick to push back, noting they have the primary constitutional responsibility for ensuring public safety in their states and would decide when it’s safe to begin a return to normal operations… ‘When somebody is president of the United States, the authority is total,’ Trump said at Monday’s White House coronavirus briefing. ‘The governors know that.’

“But he would not offer specifics about the source of that claim, which governors asserted was a vast power grab… The president’s guidelines have little force. Governors and local leaders have issued orders that carry fines or other penalties, and in some jurisdictions extend into the early summer. ‘We’re going to write up papers on this,’ Trump said, brushing aside questions about his claim of absolute authority to order states to reopen, adding, ‘The governors need us one way or the other.’

“Vice President Mike Pence backed up Trump’s claim, also without offering specific grounding, saying that at times of emergency, the powers of president are ‘unquestionably plenary.’…

“Trump’s claim that he could force governors to reopen their states represents a dramatic shift in tone… Trump can use his daily White House briefings and Twitter account to try to shape public opinion and pressure governors to bend to his will…”

Apart from the devastating effects on the American economy, Trump also realizes that public resistance against the authoritarian measures is growing. However, he subsequently reversed to a large extent his public position on the President’s authority. This does not have to mean that he changed his mind on the issue. 

Also, on April 16, new federal guidelines were announced which seem to change little regarding the present status quo, even though they were summarized by the President as “opening up” the country. The same can be said about new guidelines and regulations which were announced in Europe this week.  

Resistance to House Arrest Orders

The Ron Paul Institute published an article on April 7 with the following headline:

“Resistance Building to Coronavirus ‘House Arrest’ Orders… It’s About Time!”

The article continued:

“Across the country, from political leaders, to small business owners, to parents who just want to take their children to the park, resistance is growing to the authoritarians who have effectively suspended the Constitution and placed most of the country under house arrest. Lawsuits are also challenging unlawful ‘stay at home’ orders. What if all the hysteria-driven orders have actually made the virus outbreak even worse?…”

Huge Demonstration against Stay-At-Home Order in Michigan

 The New York Post wrote on April 15:

“Thousands of protesters on foot and in vehicles converged Wednesday on Michigan’s capital to rally against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home orders in the state. ‘Operation Gridlock’… created a huge bumper-to-bumper traffic jam around the Michigan Capitol Building in Lansing…

“Meshawn Maddock, an organizer for the group, said the demonstrators include Republicans, Democrats and independents. ‘Quarantine is when you restrict movement of sick people. Tyranny is when you restrict the movement of healthy people,’ Maddock told Fox News. ‘Every person has learned a harsh lesson about social distancing. We don’t need a nanny state to tell people how to be careful.’”

“Draconian” Coronavirus Lockdown Measures and Our Civil Rights

The Washington Examiner wrote on April 9:

“Attorney General William Barr said the United States would be wise to make sure measures taken to stem the spread of the coronavirus do not unnecessarily infringe on the civil rights of U.S. citizens… ‘I think we have to be very careful to make sure … that the draconian measures that are being adopted are fully justified, and there are not alternative ways of protecting people,’ he added… ‘I’m very concerned about the slippery slope in terms of continuing encroachments on personal liberty,’ Barr said…”

To Regain Religious Freedom?

The Guardian wrote on April 5:

“In executive orders issued in quick succession this week, [Florida’s governor] DeSantis designated religious services as ‘essential activities’…

“Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas… this week signed his own executive order designating religious services as ‘essential’ and leaving houses of worship to make their own decisions…

“The homepage for executive orders signed by the Michigan governor, Gretchen Whitmer, includes the words: ‘A place of religious worship is not subject to penalty.’…

“New Mexico banned gatherings of more than five people anywhere, with ‘churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship’ among the exceptions. West Virginia’s order, meanwhile, adds specific wording to assure citizens that travel to and from a place of worship would also not be considered a violation…”

Other states, mainly run by liberal Democratic left-wing governors such as in California, did not exempt churches.

Now Witch-Hunt against Churches

The Guardian wrote on April 3:

“A California megachurch has found itself at the center of a coronavirus outbreak after public health officials connected it to 71 cases… The church is reported to be the largest Slavic congregation in the US, with 3,500 members and a total attendance at some services of up to 10,000…

“Places of worship across the county have in recent weeks found themselves in the spotlight after resisting or being slow to enforce social distancing norms. Hugs, handshakes, or passing a common donation basket can easily pass the virus from one person to the next…

“‘While we know that the church as a whole has ceased to meet and the leadership is hosting online services, we have been told by multiple sources that there are groups that continue to meet in homes, despite the public health order to not gather with anyone outside of household members…’ the health department said.”

Christian Churches Become Scapegoat

Prophecy News Watch wrote on April 4:

“A national tragedy occurs, and Christians get scapegoated. The ancient pagans of Rome, as their society fell apart, blamed Christians… Watch for the focus on churches to continue to get increased scrutiny in the press.

“New York City… Mayor Bill de Blasio has already warned pastors to shut down their houses of worship – or else.  The mayor said the police department, fire department and building inspectors ‘will force congregations to disperse if they are found holding worship services… Any congregation that refuses to comply with the mayor’s order, could face fines or have their buildings permanently closed.

“… As emotions begin to run high, don’t be surprised [about] spread [of] the mindset that if you need someone to blame other than the politicians, those Bible believing Christians are next in line…

“The New York times ran a disturbing piece last week with the title: ‘The Road to Coronavirus Hell Was Paved by Evangelicals’…”

Obviously, Satan is behind those attacks on religious freedom.

Gross Abuse of Power

 The Huffington Post wrote on April 15:

“Pastors from three California churches are suing Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and several local officials for restricting religious gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic ― arguing that their congregations can worship in person and practice social distancing at the same time. In a federal lawsuit filed in the Central District of California on Monday, the evangelical Christian plaintiffs insist it’s unconstitutional for the state to allow some businesses to stay open ― such as grocery stores, restaurants, and laundromats ― while houses of worship are forced to close, even if they agree to abide by the government’s guidelines for social distancing.

“‘If a Californian is able to go to Costco or the local marijuana shop or liquor store and buy goods in a responsible, socially distanced manner, then he or she must be allowed to practice their faith using the same precautions,’ Harmeet Dhillon, former vice chairwoman of the California Republican Party and a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, told The Associated Press…

“The lawsuit claims Newsom’s stay-at-home order from, March 19 and similar measures by Riverside and San Bernardino local officials, are a ‘gross abuse’ of power that takes advantage of the pandemic to expand government authority ‘by unprecedented lengths.’ Newsom’s order deems as essential ‘faith-based services that are provided through streaming or other technology,’ but in-person services are not listed. 

“James Dean Moffatt, senior pastor of Church Unlimited in Indio, California,… believes it is important for Christians to ‘come together, remember, and celebrate all that Jesus has done for this world,’ the lawsuit states. The pastor also believes the Bible commands him to baptize people and pray for the sick by laying his hands on them ― two acts that can’t be done online…” 

Unqualified Pastors?

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on April 14:

“Here is a recent tweet of [a pastor]: ‘As Americans, our Man-given freedom of speech seems to have overridden our God-commanded fear of authority. We need to repent of this, as complaining against & defying God-given authority is sin (unless they tell us to do something sinful). To be clear, not uncomfortable. Sinful.’

“Freedom of speech is God-given, not man-given. The First Amendment doesn’t say that Congress grants to Americans the freedom of speech. Rather, it prohibits Congress from abridging the freedom of speech… The First Amendment restricts government from prohibiting the free exercise of religion. One of the foundations of the Christian religion is worshiping God… in churches. Is not the government prohibiting the free exercise of religion when it tells churches they have to close or limit their gatherings to ten or fewer people?…

“The First Amendment also protects from government interference the right of the people peaceably to assemble. Does this not include the right of Christians to assemble in their churches?… Christians are commanded to not forsake the assembling of themselves together (Hebrews 10:25)… The coronavirus panic and insanity that has gripped the United States is all based on government distortions and lies. Just a little reading beyond the mainstream media makes this perfectly clear… It is pastors like the one who made the ridiculous tweet that Christians should socially distance themselves from. He will be among the first to support the next government lie or government war—in the name of ‘safety’ or ‘national security’ of course.”

Not Deserving Liberty?

Breitbart wrote on April 14:

“Benjamin Franklin once said, ‘Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.’ Today, we are seeing the very thing Franklin warned against in real-time…

“The problem today isn’t just the virus. The problem is overreaching governments that have abused power in a moment of opportunism across several local jurisdictions in this country.

“This week we have witnessed several first-hand accounts of religious discrimination, and the selective targeting of worship gatherings and religious assemblies, ostensibly for reasons of public health and safety.  

“In Greenville, Mississippi, Mayor Errick Simmons, a Democrat, along with the city council, banned churches from hosting drive-thru services. Police in Greenville also issued $500 fines to congregants of Temple Baptist Church, who were sitting in their parked cars during a Wednesday night service. This was while they were clearly abiding by CDC guidelines for safe, social distancing.

“In Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, instructed state police to take down license plate numbers of attendees at drive-thru services and have the state health department issue a mandatory 14-day quarantine.  That order affected members of Maryville Baptist Church. 

“Similarly, in Louisville, Mayor Greg Fischer, a Democrat, called on churches to forgo Easter drive-thru services to slow the spread of the virus. For anyone paying attention, there is no mistaking the overt pattern of enforcement against religious groups by Democratic officials…

“Thankfully, Pastor Chuck Salvo of On Fire Christian Church filed a lawsuit and temporary injunction against the Louisville mayor in U.S. District Court.  Judge Justin Walker, a Trump appointee, granted the injunction and further rebuked Mayor Fischer for criminalizing religious liberty…

“Churchgoers are not being protected — they are being penalized… when civil authorities go beyond safety guidelines and overreach, Christians should be ready for a fight by whatever legal means necessary… Upholding and defending religious liberty is the most patriotic and neighborly thing we can do.”

America’s Fascination with “Essential” Guns…

Deutsche Welle wrote on April 3:

“According to a memorandum issued by the federal Department of Homeland Security, the import, manufacture and sale of weapons are part of the US’s essential infrastructure… Weapons and ammunition are also in high demand… In February, the FBI ran more than 2.8 million background checks…”

Selling guns is essential. Selling recreational marijuana is essential. In some areas, the Easter bunny, abortions and assisted suicide are essential (see article below). But conducting church services is not…?

ABORTION “Essential” and Must Go On

Breaking Israel News wrote on April 7:

“The WHO released a policy statement on Saturday stating that they will continue to prioritize abortion, diverting medical assets towards what they labelled ‘reproductive health.’ ‘Women’s choices and rights to sexual and reproductive health care should be respected, irrespective of whether or not she has a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection,’ WHO said in the statement…

“Rabbi Yosef Berger, the rabbi of King David’s Tomb on Mount Zion, noted that… ‘This love of abortions is a replay of Pharaoh throwing babies into the [River] Nile… the situation today is twice as bad as it was in Egypt. Pharaoh only killed the male babies.’

“Rabbi Hillel Weiss, the spokesman for the nascent Sanhedrin, reacted strongly to the pro-abortion by the WHO… ‘These values they call human rights have only one possible outcome: the destruction of humanity.’”

America Will Never Be the Same Again

WND published the following commentary by Pat Buchanan on April 2:

“What a difference a month can make… What March 2020 produced and what it appears to portend is a sea change in U.S. history… If March shocked this nation… what is coming may be even more sobering.  Are millions of unemployed workers without the cash to pay for or to find medicine and groceries likely to stay indoors for weeks or months?

“All those criminals being given early release from virus-infested jails and prisons without the means to provide for themselves and their families, how will they react to weeks of mandatory sheltering in place? … Will the system gradually break down just as the second wave of the virus in the fall appears?”

National Quarantine Is National Suicide

Newsweek wrote on April 3:

“On his Fox News program Friday, host Tucker Carlson said infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci had been wrong about the current coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. ‘repeatedly’ and that his call for all states to issue stay-at-home orders would amount to ‘national suicide.’… ‘More than 10 million Americans have already lost their jobs,’ Carlson said. ‘Imagine another year of this. That would be national suicide, and yet, that is what Anthony Fauci is suggesting, at least.’

“Carlson suggested Fauci was not looking at the economic ramifications of the coronavirus response because Fauci has ‘bulletproof job security.’ High U.S. unemployment rates, according to Carlson, are ‘a far bigger disaster than the virus itself by any measure.’ ‘Our response to coronavirus could turn this into a far poorer nation,’ Carlson said. ‘Poor countries are unhealthy countries, always and everywhere. In poor countries, people die of treatable diseases. In poor countries, people are far more vulnerable to obscure viruses, like the one we are fighting now. You want to keep Americans from dying before their time? Then don’t impoverish them.’”

See the interesting article below about Dr. Fauci’s economic interest.

It Was SO Predictable—“Anthony Fauci Sets Stage for Mandatory — Lucrative! – Vaccine”

On April 8, The Washington Times published the following “analysis/opinion” by Cheryl K. Chumley:

“Anthony Fauci, America’s most-listened-to medical professional on the coronavirus… has just warned what cooler-head coronavirus watchers have suspected all along: that this country may never, no never, go back to normal. Never, that is, Fauci suggested, until a vaccine is developed. And by logical extension, that’s to say — never, until a vaccine is developed that must then be included on the required list of shots for all children to attend school…

“What great news for Bill Gates who just announced his foundation is going to spend billions of dollars to help build factories for seven possible coronavirus vaccine makers. ‘Spend’ is probably the wrong word here. Invest is more like it…

“… deaths due to the coronavirus are wildly open to interpretation, wildly speculative, wildly unscientific… What do doctors consider a coronavirus death? In the United Kingdom, health officials give daily counts of deaths of those who tested positive for the coronavirus, but who might have actually died from other medical conditions. In the United States, doctor discretion reigns…

“‘The World Health Organization, UNICEF, the National institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have announced a collaboration to increase coordination across the international vaccine community and create a Global Vaccine Action Plan,’ the Gates Foundation reported in a press release. ‘The collaboration follows the January 2010 call by Bill and Melinda Gates for the next ten years to be the Decade of Vaccines.’

“The ‘Decade of Vaccines?’ It’s a structured campaign. It includes a Leadership Council, a Steering Committee, an International Advisory Committee — and [more]. But here’s an interesting link. The Leadership Council ‘is comprised of … Dr. Anthony S. Fauci,’ the Gates Foundation reported. Fauci, the same guy who just set the stage for the dire need for a protective coronavirus vaccine, has a vested interest in seeing this vaccine… come to widely administered fruition…

“… for certain… insider folk, vaccines are… great economic and political investments. Especially when they come as saving grace solutions to wildly spread fears — especially when they come as required, mandated protections for global populations.”

Sebastian Kurz (33)—Austria’s very young and somewhat radical Chancellor—has announced that “unless we will have a vaccine or other successful medicines, there won’t be any freedom to travel, as we know it” (Bild Online, April 7, 2020). In spite of or maybe because of his extreme measures, Austrians love and approve of him… and so do most Germans who have, sadly, always been receptive to extreme conduct in a time of crisis. When the prophesied “beast” arrives—a political, economic and military leader of German or Austrian descent—most Germans and Austrians will greet, support and even worship him. In fact, the whole world will… at first.

Bill Gates’ Terrible History with Vaccines

Robert Kennedy Jr. is an American environmental attorney, author, and opponent of vaccination. Kennedy is a son of Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of former president John F. Kennedy. He wrote the following in “Children’s Health Defense” on April 9:

“Vaccines, for Bill Gates, are a strategic philanthropy that feed his many vaccine-related businesses… and give him dictatorial control of global health policy. Gates’ obsession with vaccines seems to be fueled by a conviction to save the world with technology… Gates took control of India’s National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) which mandated… polio vaccines… to children before the age of five. Indian doctors blame the Gates campaign for a devastating… epidemic that paralyzed 490,000 children beyond expected rates between 2000 and 2017. In 2017, the Indian government dialed back Gates’ vaccine regimen and asked Gates and his vaccine policies to leave India…

“In 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) reluctantly admitted that the global explosion in polio is predominantly vaccine strain. The most frightening epidemics in Congo, Afghanistan and the Philippines are all linked to vaccines. In fact, by 2018, 70% of global polio cases were vaccine strain.

“In 2014, the Gates Foundation funded tests of experimental HPV vaccines, developed by Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) and Merck, on  23,000 young girls in remote Indian provinces. Approximately 1,200 suffered severe side effects, including autoimmune and fertility disorders. Seven died. Indian government investigations charged that Gates-funded researchers committed… pressuring vulnerable village girls into the trial, bullying parents, forging consent forms, and refusing medical care to the injured girls. The case is now in the country’s Supreme Court.

“In 2010, the Gates Foundation funded a phase 3 trial of GSK’s experimental malaria vaccine, killing 151 African infants and causing serious adverse effects including paralysis, seizure, and febrile convulsions to 1,048 of the 5,949 children.

“During Gates’ 2002 MenAfriVac campaign in Sub-Saharan Africa, Gates’ operatives forcibly vaccinated thousands of African children against meningitis. Approximately  50 of the 500 children vaccinated developed paralysis… Nelson Mandela’s former Senior Economist, Professor Patrick Bond, describes Gates’ philanthropic practices as ‘ruthless and immoral.’

“In 2010, Gates committed $10 billion to the WHO saying, ‘We must make this the decade of vaccines.’ A month later, Gates said… that new vaccines ‘could reduce population’. In 2014, Kenya’s Catholic Doctors Association accused the WHO of chemically sterilizing millions of unwilling Kenyan women with a ‘tetanus vaccine campaign’. Independent labs found a sterility formula in every vaccine tested. After denying the charges, WHO finally admitted it had been developing the sterility vaccines for over a decade.  Similar accusations came from Tanzania, Nicaragua, Mexico and the Philippines.

“A 2017 study… showed that WHO’s popular DTP vaccine is killing more African children than the diseases it prevents. DTP-vaccinated girls suffered 10x the death rate of children who had not yet received the vaccine. WHO has refused to recall the lethal vaccine which it forces upon tens of millions of African children annually…

“In addition to using his philanthropy to control WHO, UNICEF, GAVI, and PATH, Gates funds a private pharmaceutical company that manufactures vaccines, and additionally is donating $50 million to 12 pharmaceutical companies to speed up development of a coronavirus vaccine. In his recent media appearances Gates appears confident that the Covid-19 crisis will now give him the opportunity to force his dictatorial vaccine programs on American children.”

Deutsche Welle wrote on April 12:

“Microsoft founder Bill Gates has called on industrialized countries to invest billions in the development and distribution of a coronavirus vaccine. In an opinion piece for Germany’s Welt am Sonntag newspaper, the US billionaire said the race was on to find a vaccine to help curb the pandemic, predicting that researchers are aiming for ‘at least one of them to be ready for use in 18 months.’”

Gates also said that the flu vaccine “isn’t that effective” in older people so vaccines for COVID-19 will have to be different… The eight months hypostasis matches the “warnings” as expressed in the next article:

USA to Be Prepared for 18 Months of Shutdown?

Morning Watch wrote on April 12:

“Neel Kashkari, the head of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis,… while acknowledging the downside of what a prolonged shutdown could mean for the economy, said the U.S., ‘barring some health-care miracle,’ is looking at an 18-month strategy of rolling shutdowns…”

It seems the mighty and rich are “strategizing” with each other…

Beware of Coronavirus Vaccine

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on April 14:

“Ron Paul… warns that people ‘should be leery about’ coronavirus vaccines that may come out. Further, says Paul, a doctor and former United States House of Representatives member… [stressed] the potential danger of a vaccine as well as the overstated threat from coronavirus… Paul describes the results of the push for people to take the swine flu vaccine [in 1976] as follows:

“‘They rushed the vaccine through. The vaccine was not properly made. It had nothing to do with the virus that was out there, so it saved nobody’s life from it. It caused a lot of harm. More people ended up dying from the inoculation than died from the flu that year… that’s about what happens when governments get involved and you do things for political reasons…’

“Paul notes that many of the people whose deaths have been blamed on coronavirus are elderly people, including people living in nursing homes, who have multiple other diseases. Further, explains Paul, doctors have ‘been instructed by [the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and other politicians that, when the doctors sign the death certificate, if [patients] have four different things but they happen to have a positive test for the virus that is to be put down as the major cause of death.’ ‘The numbers mean nothing,’ concludes Paul regarding the daily tabulation of coronavirus deaths… With ‘probably millions of people’ having contracted coronavirus, Paul concludes that the percentage of people who have contracted coronavirus and have died as a result ‘is probably very, very small.’”

Mandatory Coronavirus Vaccine?

Lew Rockwell wrote on April 15:

“If and when the COVID vaccine arrives…, certificates would be used to signify immunity for all those who take the shot. It would function as a license [to] circulate and travel and enter schools…

“[This] is a set-up for the vaccine, and for mandatory vaccines [with a] special exemption from liability recently issued by the US Dept. of Health and Human Services. Basically, anyone associated with pharmaceutical strategies undertaken ‘against the coronavirus’ cannot be sued, regardless of ‘adverse effects’ of medicines or vaccines…”

Trump Suspends US Funding for WHO and Is Globally Condemned

Times of Israel wrote on April 15:

“The European Union’s top foreign policy representative on Wednesday denounced President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend US funding for the World Health Organization… Trump’s latest decision reflects his belief that the WHO has been biased towards China, colluding to prevent the US’ main economic rival from having to be open about the unfolding health crisis… The US is the biggest funder of the WHO, providing it $400 million last year…

“Germany slammed the US decision as Foreign Minister Heiko Maas [said:] ‘One of the best investments is to strengthen the UN, above all the under-financed WHO… in the development and distribution of tests and vaccines.’…

“Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates… said Trump’s decision is ‘as dangerous as it sounds.’”

Gates stands much to lose financially if a vaccine were not to be developed.

Open Up Soon

The Associated Press wrote on April 8:

“Conservative voices… are pushing for an economic and social restart, urging Trump to overrule health officials. ‘At some point, the president is going to have to look at Drs. Fauci and Birx and say, we’re opening on May 1,’ Fox commentator Laura Ingraham tweeted. ‘Give me your best guidance on protocols, but we cannot deny our people their basic freedoms any longer.’”

The Daily Mail wrote on April 10:

“Ron Paul called on President Donald Trump’s administration Thursday to fire Dr. Anthony Fauci… after he lowered the nation’s death estimates for the coronavirus. The former Texas Republican representative accused Fauci of providing ‘bad information’ when he said Thursday that he expects about 60,000 people will die from the outbreak, down from 100,000 to 200,000, but only if social distancing continues and effectively slows the spread of the disease.

“Paul, speaking on his program, ‘Ron Paul Liberty Report,’ unleashed his criticism on Fauci, saying he was using the virus as an excuse to get ‘total control’ of the American people…Paul, 84, who has run three presidential campaigns since 1988, is also a physician…”

Paul also stated that people might die in a car accident, and doctors will say that they died of the coronavirus.

Economic Disaster and Riots

The Sun wrote on April 4:

“… the world is falling to pieces… Experts say that coronavirus will bankrupt far more people than it kills. Already we are seeing footage from Italy of desperate families with no food and no money trying to kick their way through a supermarket’s windows… When farmers can’t pick food because they don’t have the workforce and nobody could afford it even if they did, we are going to have riots.

“Governments have already promised trillions in aid. But it’s trillions they do not have. They will have to borrow the money, and to pay it back, they are going to have to tax the few of us left in work… As each day passes, the situation is getting worse until eventually, someone is going to have to admit that Donald Trump had a point when he said that ‘the cure cannot be worse than the problem’… You can cure an ingrowing toenail by removing the leg. But it’s not sensible…”

Surge in Domestic Violence

npr wrote on April 6:

“United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres [cited] a sharp rise in domestic violence amid global coronavirus lockdowns.

“… Domestic violence rates have surged in France and South Africa… Lebanon and Malaysia have seen the number of calls to help lines double… In China, the number of calls has tripled… In Australia… Google reports a 75% increase in online searches for help with domestic violence. Meanwhile, in Turkey… the killing of women has risen sharply since a stay-at-home order was issued on March 11.”

There has also been a huge surge in suicide cases. Also, the following was found on the Internet: “Weird dreams. If fear and dread have invaded your dreams, you’re not alone. Plenty of people are having vivid dreams with images such as tidal waves, lethal injections and masses of thin white worms.”

The Trillion Dollar Coins

Fortune wrote on March 25:

“How does America pay for a $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill? With two shiny coins… The minting of such mammoth mammon isn’t just a thought experiment—it’s an actual draft bill being floated in Congress…

“Under the plan, the Treasury would mint the two $1 trillion coins, then deposit them at the Federal Reserve. Forced by law to recognize the coins as legal tender, the Fed would add $2 trillion to the Treasury’s account…”

Forbes wrote already 7 years ago, on January 19, 2013:

“No doubt, you’ve heard about the latest irresponsible fiscal/monetary proposal to be floated by members of Congress… It entails having the Treasury avoid the federal debt limit by handing the Federal Reserve a single $1 trillion platinum coin.  The Fed would then credit the Treasury’s bank account with $1 trillion, which the Fed could spend on… anything it wants.

“Is there anything special about platinum? Well, yes. The coin doesn’t have to contain $1 trillion worth of platinum.  It can be microscopic for all the Fed cares as long as they can use a electron microscope to read the $1 trillion In God We Trust inscription.   But it has to be made out of platinum.  No other metal or substance… will do.  The reason is that the Treasury has the right, by an obscure law, to mint platinum coins, but only platinum coins…”

The Death of Cash… Banks Would Love It

Money Morning wrote on April 3:

“There is much talk about how Covid-19 will change the world. There is less about how it is simply accelerating trends that were already underway… One to keep a particular eye on is a theme we have been watching for some time – the death of cash… ‘card only’ signs are appearing everywhere…

“Back in 2015, Andy Haldane, chief economist at the Bank of England, made a speech in which he explained [that it would] be much easier if we weren’t allowed [cash]; that way, the Bank could have significantly more control over how and when we spent our money.”

FDIC Scared of a Bank Run?

Cyrptopotato wrote on April 5:

“The FDIC is the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. It was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression to insure any money deposited at U.S. depository institutions. As a result, all U.S. checking accounts are insured (up to $150,000) by Uncle Sam. The official Twitter account for the FDIC tweeted this message Tuesday: ‘Forget the mattress! Keeping large sums of cash at home is risky. The best place to protect your money is in an FDIC-insured bank where it’s safe and sound.’

“So if the authorities are actually this concerned that Americans will literally start hoarding cash under the mattress like in the Great Depression, then is it okay for the rest of us to go ahead and panic? Because hearing the FDIC Chair say this makes me want to drive straight to my bank to withdraw. And pull out everything that isn’t auto-paying next month’s bills…

“I am worried about the world right now, but I wasn’t afraid of money not being in the bank until the insurer of bank deposits had to go on air and assure us our money’s fine. Now I’m afraid…

“The U.S. banking system prints ‘In God We Trust’ on the money, but the way the financial system acts they don’t seem to be very God-fearing. All this unsinkable ship talk of the Titanic didn’t work out so well… don’t be so certain [the U.S. financial system is] collapse proof. Especially not the way they’re riding it lately…”

Wearing Masks… Yes, No or Indifferent?

The Associated Press wrote on April 3:

“President Donald Trump announced new federal guidelines Friday recommending that Americans wear face coverings when in public to help fight the spread of the new coronavirus. The president immediately said he had no intention of following the advice himself, saying, ‘I’m choosing not to do it.’… stressing the recommendations did not amount to requirements…

“Surgeon General Jerome Adams wrote on Twitter at the end of February that people should ‘STOP BUYING MASKS’ and said they were not effective in protecting the general public. On Monday, he noted that the World Health Organization does not recommend masks for healthy members of the population. Three days later, he tweeted that though there remains ‘scant’ evidence that wearing a mask… can protect the wearer, ‘emerging data suggests facial coverings may prevent asymptomatic disease transmission to others.’”

Politics Home wrote on April 3:

“Deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van Tam… said: ‘I was on the phone this morning to a colleague in Hong Kong whose done the evidence review for the World Health Organisation on face masks. We are of the same mind that there is no evidence that the general wearing of face masks by the public who are well affects the spread of the disease in our society… In terms of the hard evidence, we do not recommend face masks for general wearing for the public.’”

Again, our medical experts seem to know next to nothing.

It’s Getting Crazier and Crazier

npr wrote on April 4:

“Dr. Deborah Birx said]… ‘The next two weeks are extraordinarily important… ‘This is the moment to not be going to the grocery store, not going to the pharmacy…’”

Subsequently, on April 6, Birx somewhat modified her prior statement, adding however that her grandchild became sick with a high fever and that she, even though a doctor, would not visit him and treat him, due to the restrictions. President Trump seemed surprised and puzzled by her public statement [Trump, in his seventies, has a minor son.] Dr. Birx’s position is very difficult to understand by a parent or a grandparent.

Big Brother in the USA and Elsewhere

CNN wrote on April 4:

“[Trump] wants to use Americans’ smartphone location data to help track and combat the spread of coronavirus. Now, a pair of US data companies are making a public pitch to show just how that kind of technology might work.

“X-Mode and Tectonix focused on a high-profile case: tracking location data from the phones of people who visited the beach in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in March — among them spring breakers who made national news two weeks ago when they ignored warnings to practice social distancing… The results of tracking data… showed where people went after they visited the beach…

“Across the globe governments are weighing the need to contain the virus against citizens’ privacy… Israel last month deployed spy technology to track coronavirus patients and the people they may have come in contact with. And authorities in Moscow are using the city’s vast system of 170,000 surveillance camera with facial recognition technology to catch and fine people violating quarantine and self-isolation rules.

“Facebook and Google confirmed… that they were exploring ways to use… location data [as] part of a series of interactions between the White House and the tech industry…”

Deutsche Welle wrote on April 7:

“Germany is developing a smartphone app that warns people if they’re close to someone who’s tested positive for COVID-19. Similar apps are widespread in Asia, prompting Germans to rethink their data privacy laws.”

The Associated Press wrote on April 10:

“Apple and Google launched a major joint effort to leverage smartphone technology to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. New software the companies plan to add to phones would make it easier to use Bluetooth wireless technology to track down people who may have been infected by coronavirus carriers. The idea is to help national governments roll out apps for so-called ‘contact tracing’ that will run on iPhones and Android phones alike.”

Of course, once this technology is in place, it can be used for other governmental purposes as well.

Restrictions on Free Expressions

Deutsche Welle wrote on April 7:

“The messaging app WhatsApp has moved to limit the increasing spread of misinformation through its platform… Governments around the world have urged social media companies to attempt to curb the spread of misinformation through tighter regulations…

“Misinformation that has been spread on WhatsApp often relates to miracle cures and so-called ‘treatments’ to cure patients of COVID-19 and to conspiracy theories regarding government or private involvement in the outbreak…

“The new limits are in place indefinitely.”

Coming… Hyperinflation in the UK?

Money Week wrote on April 10:

“During inflation, prices are going up… But in hyperinflation, the speed of the increase in prices is so extreme that measuring it is almost irrelevant… one estimate [suggests] that inflation in Weimar Germany peaked in 1923 at 29,500%… a month… Zimbabwe in 2008 was even worse… hyperinflation really describes a situation where the currency is essentially meaningless. It’s the collapse of an economy and its currency, rather than simply a tough period… to quote the title of Adam Fergusson’s history of the Weimar collapse, hyperinflation is quite literally ‘When Money Dies’…

“[For hyperinflation] there needs to be a [supply shock or a] sharp reduction in the productive capacity of the economy… In Weimar Germany, the supply shock was World War I…  Secondly, a country needs to have a lot of obligations that need to be paid in a foreign currency… This makes it impossible for a country to simply print money to get rid of its obligations… Again, if you look at historical hyperinflations, all of them involve countries or regimes with large overseas obligations. In Weimar Germany, it was reparations, denominated in gold…

“Thirdly, you need a vicious circle to drive prices up and sustain them at the extraordinary levels seen in a hyperinflation. This ‘transmission mechanism’ comes in the form of rising wages. Prices soar, workers can’t pay for goods, so they demand and get pay rises, which drives up prices further…”

In Weimar, the prices got so high and the value of the currency so low that one could not even buy a loaf of bread for 1 Million Reichsmarks.  The ghost of Weimar might very well be lurking… for the UK and perhaps even for other countries.

Germany Attacks the USA… again…

The Guardian wrote on April 10:

“In the latest sign of tensions with the US, Germany’s foreign minister Heiko Maas criticised the Trump administration’s handling of the outbreak as too slow… Maas took aim at the two extremes of national coronavirus responses, contrasting China’s ‘very authoritarian measures’ with America’s decision to play down the threat ‘for a very long time’.

“‘These are two extremes, neither of which can be a model for Europe,’ Maas said… Maas said he hoped the US would rethink its international relationships in light of the crisis… Although Trump enjoyed a small bump in support at the beginning of America’s outbreak, it fell far short of the increase enjoyed by George W Bush after 9/11, and recent polls have seen his ratings fall back to pre-coronavirus levels.”

Maas is not the one who should be talking about two extremes, given Germany’s slow “response” and the subsequent authoritarian measures which Europe, including Germany, Austria, Italy and Spain, have been imposing on their citizens. The fact that even the coronavirus debacle is being used by Maas for European verbal attacks on the USA is quite remarkable… and sickening.

Prohibiting Church Services Not Unconstitutional in Germany

Deutsche Welle wrote on April 7:

“Berlin’s administrative court on Tuesday rejected an emergency application from an offshoot of one Catholic congregation that wanted a service limited to 50 persons. Berlin’s coronavirus control decree did not violate religious freedoms, judges ruled. Earlier, administrative courts in Hesse and Saxony had declared pandemic bans on gatherings as lawful, and in Hesse’s case, rejected a lone Catholic’s application.

“On Tuesday, constitutional jurist Horst Dreier told Düsseldorf’s Rheinische Post newspaper that banning church services was ‘very problematic.’… Protestant and retired TV presenter Peter Hahne accused Protestant leaders of rushing last month to obey secular authorities. ‘Beverage stores are open, the church is not. Whom do you want to explain that to?’ said Hahne, telling the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung newspaper that not being allowed to physically attend services struck at the ‘core’ of church practice…”

The highest court subsequently confirmed this decision. Sadly, the history of the big two Churches in Germany has been such that they have far too often worked hand in hand with the state and thereby compromised their respective positions. The Catholic and the Protestant churches’ collaboration with Hitler and Mussolini are prime examples. If they would have taken a stance now, maybe the courts would have decided differently.

Most ridiculous and inconsistent regulations have been enacted in Germany and elsewhere which even the mainstream German press acknowledges. But sadly, over 50% of Germans are in agreement with the restrictions or even think that they should be stronger, and they are opposed to revoking them at this time. Further, police have been patrolling Germany from the air with helicopters and drones, as well as on the streets and in parks. Many zealous Germans have been reporting “violators ” to the authorities. All of this reminds one of Germany’s dark days during the Hitler era and during the Communist rule in Eastern Germany. The following development even more:

Die Welt reported on April 10 about statements by Saxony’s Social Minister Petra Koepping (SPD) to the effect that someone can be institutionalized in a psychiatric clinic, under police surveillance, if he or she violates private quarantine. An attorney of the Green party in Leipzig, Juergen Kasek, also supports such a measure, as long as it is “proportionate.”

In addition, note the outrageous comments by the GERMAN Head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen saying that the European “bloc’s elderly may have to be kept isolated until the end of the year to protect them from coronavirus. ‘I know it’s difficult and that isolation is a burden, but it is a question of life or death, we have to remain disciplined and patient. Children and young people will enjoy more freedom of movement earlier than elderly people and those with pre-existing medical conditions,’ she said” (Deutsche Welle, April 12). She has warned EU nationals against booking their summer vacation just yet. “I advise people to delay such plans. No one can make reliable predictions for July and August at the moment,” she told German newspaper Bild am Sonntag.

Why isn’t there an OUTCRY in Europe and all around the world against such authoritarian and dictatorial stupid concepts to imprison the helpless innocent elderly—all under the DISGUISE of wanting to “protect” them? Simply because we are moving towards the Satanic climax and the end of this rotten evil world, as prophesied in the Bible. Satan is holding this entire world captive, having bombarded it and its politicians and leaders with his ideas, having made it and them “drunk,” and his wrath is great, knowing that he has but a short time left.

And note the next articles which are a perfect example of the kind of panic-driven propaganda in Germany which is sadly so prevalent today.

German Propaganda

Deutsche Welle reported on April 8:

“‘Right-wing extremists are trying to capitalize on the crisis,’ Stephan Kramer, president of Thuringia’s office for the protection of the constitution, told German news outlet RND. ‘They criticize the government and the EU for apparent failures [and] are asserting that the coronavirus serves as a means to set up a police state.’

“Kramer also warned that some right-wing extremists were… offering assistance and carrying out community work… Bavaria’s interior minister, Joachim Herrmann, also warned that members of the right wing-extremist party Der Dritte Weg (the Third Way) have been particularly active. Members have been offering assistance in everyday life or going shopping for people during the crisis, in order to win new supporters. They were using the crisis to present themselves as a social organization ‘that takes care of them or the problems of the “little” people,’ said Herrmann…”

Pretty soon, everyone who is questioning the extreme measures imposed by the German government may be labeled as a “right-wing” extremist.

“Germany to Lead EU ‘Coronavirus Presidency”

Deutsche Welle reported on April 13:

“Berlin has vowed a robust response to the health emergency when the country takes over the EU’s rotating presidency in July. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas also called for the strengthening of the WHO and vaccines… Germany has promised strong leadership to help EU countries to overcome the coronavirus pandemic…

“When Germany takes over the presidency [on July 1], Maas said one of the first tasks would be to ‘gradually lift the restrictions on travel and the internal market in an incremental and coordinated manner.’… Maas said if EU leaders learn from the coronavirus crisis, the bloc will come out ‘stronger’ and ‘more unified’ than ever before…

“He added that strengthening the United Nations and the ‘underfunded’ World Health Organization (WHO), especially in the development and distribution of tests and vaccines, is ‘one of the best investments in the fight against the pandemic.’”

Note our articles on vaccines above.

No Major Events in Germany for a Long Time

Deutsche Welle wrote on April 16:

“Germany’s latest lockdown measures now include a ban on major public events until August 31. Although Oktoberfest is due to start after the current cut-off, Bavaria’s state premier said the festival will probably not take place this year. ‘I am very very skeptical. And based on the current situation, I can hardly imagine that such a large event would even be possible at that time,’ Markus Söder [said]…

“Oktoberfest is the world’s largest beer festival… This year’s festivities are scheduled to start on September 19 and run until October 4.”

September 19 is also the Feast of Trumpets. September 28 is the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day are from October 3 until October 10.

Volcanos Erupt

Deutsche Welle wrote on April 11:

“Indonesia says the volcano continues to spill lava, hours after the initial eruption… Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano spewed a column of ash 500 meters (1,640 feet) into the sky… Friday’s eruption came two years after a huge flare-up caused a tsunami along the coasts of Sumatra and Java, killing 430 people. Thousands were injured…

“Anak Krakatau, which means Child of Krakatau, is located between the islands of Java and Sumatra and was created after the legendary eruption of Krakatau volcano in August 1883. The eruption was so violent that the volcanic island that had existed until then sank into the sea. More than 35,000 people lost their lives.

“The sea between Sumatra and Java, like the rest of the island nation, sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the most geologically active zone on earth where volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are frequent.”

The Guardian wrote on April 10:

“Volcanic activity is escalating in a region of Iceland that has not erupted for 800 years, with scientists warning it could cause disruption for centuries to come. Since 21 January, the Reykjanes peninsula south-west of Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, has experienced more than 8,000 earthquakes and about 10cm of land uplift due to magma intrusions underground…

“Situated close to the town of Grindavík and the popular Blue Lagoon tourist attraction, and only nine miles (15km) from Iceland’s international airport, the region last erupted about 800 years ago (though there have been more recent eruptions offshore). Geological evidence shows the area is fed by five volcanic systems, which seem to come to life in a coordinated way roughly every 1,000 years.

“The last period of volcanic activity on the peninsula began in the 10th century and continued until the 13^th… ‘The worst-case scenario is if lava flows towards the town of Grindavík,’ said… the Icelandic Meteorological Office. ‘There is also other important infrastructure in the vicinity including a geothermal power plant…’”

Waves of Earthquakes

Breaking Israel News wrote on April 13:

“The earth seems to be waking up as seismic activity is being reported around the globe. Last month, a 6.5 magnitude earthquake shook Idaho, generating a multitude of avalanches. The quake was the largest in the region since a 6.9 quake hit in 1983. There have been 238 earthquakes in Idaho in the last week… Five of those have been substantial in size rating 4.0 to 6.5…

“Two weeks before Idaho felt the earth move, Salt Lake City, Utah, approximately 340 miles away from the Idaho epicenter, was hit by a 5.7 magnitude earthquake. Since that earthquake, there have been 886 smaller earthquakes and aftershocks in the Salt Lake area.

“The belly of the country is clearly rumbling as the University of Utah Seismograph Station mapped a total of 980 tremors throughout Idaho, Utah and Wyoming since March 18… Though the epicenter in Idaho was over 200 miles distant from the Yellowstone caldera, Yellowstone experienced 111 earthquakes in March…

“Although the probability of an eruption at Yellowstone may (or may not) be small, the results of such an event would be catastrophic in the extreme. Yellowstone Park is seismically active with more than 10,000 thermal features of which more than 500 are geysers. The Yellowstone caldera is listed as the most dangerous supervolcano in existence and as such, is the most monitored volcano in the world…”

Tornadoes in the USA and the Coronavirus

The Guardian wrote on April 12:

“A tornado strike destroyed homes and left a trail of devastation across large parts of the US south on Sunday… The storm provided a dilemma for public safety officials trying to find a balance between wanting people to stay in lockdown for the coronavirus pandemic and wanting them to leave their homes for shelter…

“The American Meteorological Society [said:] ‘Do not let the virus prevent you from seeking shelter in a tornado… If a public tornado shelter is your best available refuge from severe weather, take steps to ensure you follow CDC [federal] guidelines for physical distancing and disease prevention.’ Community shelters, the meteorological society said, should be a last resort.”

Animals Take Over

Newsmax wrote on April 3:

“The coronavirus pandemic has cleared the streets in some of the world’s largest cities… [and] various wild animals are reclaiming the streets… In east London, a herd of 100 deer… settled in at a housing estate in Harold Hill. Deer also moved into the ancient Japanese capital of Nara, where around 100 deer were seen casually walking around the city… Spotted deer were also seen wandering along a road in the [Indian] city of Tirupati… during the nation’s lockdown of 1.3 billion people.

“In the north of Italy, wild boar have been seen roaming regions such as Bergamo… Paris, too, has drawn a pack of wild boar while the city is on lockdown.

“In the Chilean capital Santiago, Puma were seen on the streets of the city… Fox News reported hordes of starving monkeys were spotted in the streets of Thailand, fighting over food scraps, due to the pandemic.”

Deadly Asian Giant Hornets Invade Washington

WSU wrote on April 6:

“More than two inches long, the world’s largest hornet carries a painful, sometimes lethal sting and an appetite for honey bees. It is also the newest insect invader of Washington state. The Asian giant hornet, Vespa mandarinia, is unmistakable…

“WSU scientists are bracing for the giant hornet’s emergence this spring. Sighted for the first time in Washington last December, the hornet will start to become active in April… In the first-ever sightings in the U.S., WSDA verified two reports of the Asian giant hornet late last year near Blaine, Wash…  It is not known how or where the hornet first arrived in North America… At home in the forests and low mountains of eastern and southeast Asia, the hornet feeds on large insects, including native wasps and bees. In Japan, it devastates the European honey bee, which has no effective defense… Multiple stings can kill humans, even if they are not allergic…”

The Sun added on April 9:

“The insects, which can kill with a single sting, may have a devastating impact on the already dwindling honeybee population in the U.S…. Experts estimate the pests may cause America a staggering $29.3 million [a year] as they invade.”

Locusts More Destructive than the Coronavirus?

The Associated Press wrote on April 10:

“Weeks before the coronavirus spread through much of the world, parts of Africa were already threatened by another kind of plague, the biggest locust outbreak some countries had seen in 70 years. Now the second wave of the voracious insects, some 20 times the size of the first, is arriving. Billions… are winging in from breeding grounds in Somalia in search of fresh vegetation springing up with seasonal rains.

“Millions of already vulnerable people are at risk… Some people will even tell you that the locusts are more destructive than the coronavirus… The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization has called the locust outbreak… ‘an unprecedented threat’ to food security and livelihoods… Favorable breeding conditions through May mean there likely will be another new round of swarms in late June and July, coinciding with the start of the harvest season…”

Taliban Breaks Off Talks in Afghanistan

Deutsche Welle wrote on April 7:

“The Taliban broke off talks over a prisoner exchange with the Afghan government Tuesday. The exchange was a key step in the peace talks brokered by the US after it agreed a troop withdrawal pact with the militant group. The Taliban’s technical team would no longer participate in ‘fruitless meetings,’ spokesman Suhail Shaheen wrote on Twitter shortly after midnight on Tuesday. ‘Unfortunately, their release has been delayed under one pretext or another,’ he wrote…

“The US signed a peace deal with the Taliban in February, but the success of the pact is dependent on talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government… There are concerns that the talks breaking down could lead to a further escalation in violence.”

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.

This Q&A is not meant to be a comprehensive review of various political persuasions, but rather a look at whether true Christianity and politics are compatible. Even within various political parties, there can be quite a difference of views from various factions within the party, but this usually only increases the difference with apostolic Christianity. We want to make it plain that adherence to any political persuasion is but folly and not to be countenanced by those who are baptised Church of God members.

First of all, let us quote from our Statement of Beliefs under the heading “Relationship with God”:

“We believe that a Christian’s duty to God is of a superior and higher nature than our duty arising from any human relationship (Acts 4:18-20; 5:27-29). We therefore, following Biblical commands and principles, do not participate in voting for national elections or jury duty, and we do not join the military…”

We have some previous Q&As on the question of voting, as follows:

“Why do you teach that a Christian should not vote in governmental elections?” (31^st January 2002).

“Is It Really That Important to Understand that We Must Not Vote in Governmental Elections?” (17^th April 2015).

“Would you please explain why and in what way governmental officials are ‘God’s ministers,’ as mentioned in Romans 13:4, 6? Does this mean that we could or even should vote for them in political elections?” (28^th December 2012 and 4^th January 2013).

“Is it a Sin to Vote in the Presidential Election?” (4^th November 2016). In that Q&A, we say this:

“In our free booklet, ‘Should You Fight in War?’, we address biblical passages which PROHIBIT a true Christian from voting in governmental and presidential elections and from getting involved in political campaigns in ANY way, pointing out that one cannot separate the issues of voting, jury duty service and FIGHTING IN WAR! We state the following:

“‘It is inconsistent to take the position that one cannot join the military because one is an ambassador of Jesus Christ and a citizen of another government – the Kingdom of God – while at the same time serving on a jury or voting in governmental elections. For instance, in the United States, the President is also the Commander-in-Chief, having both the right and the obligation under the Constitution, in certain circumstances, to declare war. How can one refuse to participate in war, while voting for a person who has the right and the obligation to declare war? In the past, people were disqualified as conscientious objectors because they did not refuse to serve on a jury or to vote in governmental elections. It was ruled that such an obvious inconsistency in position showed evidence for non-sincerity of the applicant.’

“We also explain in our booklet that it is SATAN who rules this world and EVERY country, WITHOUT exception. It is true, of course, that Satan can only do what God ALLOWS him to do, but generally speaking, God is NOT getting involved in the affairs of this world, and neither should we. God will ONLY intervene and see to it that certain individuals end up in governmental positions, if they are temporarily needed to fulfil aspects of God’s plan. But this would be GOD’s doing, NOT ours.”

We feel that it is worth reiterating the biblical view on voting so that there is no doubt whatsoever as to what God’s Word teaches.   We have been consistent over many years and it is important to lay this foundation before embarking on looking at true Christianity and politics and why they are simply not compatible. That is not to say that we are not to take an interest in what is going on but that we are not to get involved and entangled in political arguments favouring one party or another as none of them have the answers to ridding the world of poor and ineffective government, and they simply do not agree with or implement true Christian teachings as a basis for their existence.

We have also propounded this teaching in sermons and sermonettes over the years, including “My Candidate is Not Standing,” “Why Not Vote” and “The Christian in a Political World.”

There are, and have been, those who think that Christianity and politics are inseparable. In the 20^th century, Donald Soper was a UK high profile and prominent “Methodist minister, socialist and pacifist.” We can see straight away a contradiction in terms – a minister and a socialist, thus taking and advocating a particular political stance.

On the BBC News website, dated 17th February 2015, the following report was published: “In a letter urging congregations to vote on 7 May, the House of Bishops said that ‘it does not endorse a political party but encourages debate on issues such as nuclear defence and the economy.’” This is about the Church of England, of course – in politics. They said: “We want to encourage people… to engage more deeply with politics.” Politicians need to deliver a “fresh moral vision” ahead of the general election, the Church of England says. “We want to encourage people… to engage more deeply with politics”. The 52-page letter – an unprecedented intervention by the House of Bishops – says: “It is the duty of every Christian adult to vote, even though it may have to be a vote for something less than a vision that inspires us.”

Just look at ANY candidate – and we do mean ANY candidate standing in any constituency for any party at any election at any time.   Ask yourselves these questions:

Are they promoting the true Christian message? Are they totally opposed to abortion? Are they totally opposed to homosexuality? Do they denounce the evils in society? Do they even know what they are? Will they pursue the goal of eliminating blasphemy in our society? Will they uphold the sanctity of marriage? Will they promote biblically based laws and understanding? The list could go on and on…

Could any politician, of any persuasion, anywhere in the world put across a programme endorsing God’s Way—and for the electorate to vote for this and for him or her to have the ability to implement? Not a chance on either count—Satan would see to that!

One well-meaning but confused website remarked: “Where we have a voice and can elect our leaders, we should exercise that right by voting for those who best demonstrate Christian principles.”

A writer in the Christian Post wrote in 2015: “When the moral and righteous people of God do not take it upon themselves to vote or run for office, they are carelessly leaving the fate of future generations in the hands of the wicked and immoral – and that, dear brothers and sisters, is not loving your ‘neighbour as yourself.’”

Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, the late human leader of the now defunct Worldwide Church of God,  wrote the following:

“Jesus’ disciples live in this present evil world as though they were foreigners, here merely as the guests of the nation where they reside, as AMBASSADORS for Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:20) and His coming Kingdom, not of any of this world’s government.   A foreign ambassador does not involve himself in making their state [where he lives] a better state, or voting, or entering their army or fighting for their cause… The true Christian is one who follows Christ, and Christ did not vote! Jesus did not try to reform Caesar… He preached the doctrine of a radically different world to come… This is Satan’s world and Jesus Christ did not come to reform Satan or improve Satan’s handiwork, but to save His followers from Satan and his system. Since God’s Kingdom is not literally set up as yet, the true Christian’s citizenship is now reserved in heaven.”

In John 17:16, Jesus was praying for His disciples and said: “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”

One commentator wisely observed that “The political process is dirty and broken and far from Jesus. Paranoia and vitriol are hardly attractive accessories for the bride of Christ.”

We must remember that politics is a profession of leaks, briefings, lies, double-dealing, deceit, division, argument, name-calling, horse-trading, compromise, intrigue, hypocrisy, coups and much more, where politicians can be cowed into submission for the good of the party, often at the expense of personal conscience. It is a profession with pretty much the sum total of human nature operating in the quest for, or the maintenance of, power. Politics, often, rides roughshod over God’s laws and commandments, and politicians are often involved in the introduction of new laws that are not in accordance with the Will of God. This paragraph alone gives enough information to clearly show that true Christianity and politics are totally incompatible.

Some have come to the erroneous conclusion that we should vote (and, therefore, be involved in politics) by voting for the lesser of two evils. This was evident in the comments of many in the 2016 US Presidential election, but for the true Christian, 1 Thessalonians 5:22 is a piece of Scripture that must be followed: “Abstain from every form of evil.”

True Christians are a rare breed of God-fearing people on earth in these end times, and it is clear that true Christianity and politics are completely incompatible.

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

A new booklet, “Obey God Rather Than Man,” has been written by Norbert Link, and it has been sent to Phyllis Bourque for initial editing.

Our booklet, The Ten Commandments, has been posted on our CEG website, as well as the new German booklet Und weil die Gesetzlosigkeit überhandnimmt… (And Lawlessness Will Abound…) on our German website.

“Haben Sie das Malzeichen des Tieres ?” is the title of this Sabbath’s new German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Do You Have the Mark of the Beast?”

PLEASE NOTE: Multiple sermonettes and sermons given during the Sabbath and Days of Unleavened Bread will be available on our English website for YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxoDri8qNpjFgIjf1uzQhHw and our German website for YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aufpostenstehen

These presentations are also available at www.eternalgod.org and https://www.ewigengottes.de/

On April 4, 2020, Robb Harris will present the sermonette, titled, “From All Sides,” and Dave Harris will present the sermon, titled, “The Second Exodus.”

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.

NOTICE: We will not publish an Update next week (April 10, 2020), but we will resume publishing the following week (April 17, 2020).

PASSOVER will be observed on Tuesday evening, April 7, 2020, following sunset (which begins the day of April 8^th). The FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD will be observed April 9-15, 2020. We will broadcast live services in the morning and afternoon on the Holy Days—Thursday, April 9^th and Wednesday, April 15^th. Further details are available at https://www.eternalgod.org/live-services/

As most of the world sits locked down in their homes and scared, how are we doing as Christians? Are we succumbing to the daily terror in the news? Are we becoming discouraged and disheartened about what is happening? What is our mental attitude and state of mind at this time?

We are rapidly approaching the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. I remember thinking a month ago that I needed to really start digging in and examining myself, and I am surprised by how quickly that time has passed.

The god of this world, Satan, is causing massive panic (toilet paper shortages, as one small example) and great distress on ALL people right now. Most everyone I have talked within the Church is facing trials and troubles in unprecedented waves. It also appears to me that our trials are coming with such frequency that it can be hard to properly focus and take the time to examine ourselves correctly for the Passover.

While trials are not new to us, maybe the intensity with which they are coming is new.

I want to encourage each of us to MAKE the time to seek God, to examine ourselves and to work on the growth of our relationship with God. It takes effort and it takes time. I was listening to an old sermon by Mr. Edwin Pope (the late Senior Pastor of our Church), and he was reiterating how important our relationship with God actually is. The first few chapters of the Bible are replete with individuals who shaped the world by their relationship with God. We have to realize that we too have this same weight on our shoulders. I would suppose that this is not something that we venture to think about a lot. But our relationship with God, and our obedience, is in direct relation to helping to shape the outcomes in this world. Please note Matthew 6:33; 2 Peter 3:12; Matthew 24:22; and Matthew 24:14.

These Scriptures plainly tell us that we each have a direct responsibility in helping to accomplish these things. It is easy to not realize the impact and the magnitude of our calling. Satan wants to destroy each of us because of the impact we can have. James 4:8 tells us: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Now is the time to really be drawing close to God, especially as the Passover draws near. If we have not been zealous in this regard, it is time to rectify this (Matthew 22:37; Romans 12:11; Hebrews 10:19-22, 4:6, 11; 7:25; 11:6 ). Drawing near to God is not a physical act, though it can include that. It is directing our heart, our mind and our attention to God, to His laws and commands, and being willing to look into our hearts and recognize where we have sin and then root it out. As Mr. Norbert Link has asked all of us to do, we should set aside a personal day of fasting and prayer prior to the Passover, if we have not already done so.

The Apostle Paul had to rebuke the Corinthian church, but he was pleased with the results. 2 Corinthians 7:5-12 states: “For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.”

We need to continue looking at ourselves, examining ourselves and making sure that we will be taking the Passover in a right and worthy manner. We need to make sure that we are drawing close to God, so that our examination is not just causing worldly sorrow, but rather godly sorrow that produces change in us. Are we changing? Are we allowing God’s Spirit to help us to change? If we are attempting to get rid of sin on our own, we will fail (2 Corinthians 13:5; 2 Peter 1:10-11).

While we begin to see the prophesied downfall of the modern House of Israel, it should cause us to wake up and to become more diligent in seeking and maintaining a right relationship with our great God. We need to do this so that we can stay mentally strong and sound in the faith (1 Corinthians 16:13; 1 Peter 5:1-10; Ephesians 6:18).

When we are properly seeking God, we will be having different desires than this world has. We will want to seek God. We will want to change. We will have hope (Romans 15:13). We will have desire for the Kingdom of God, and our entrance into it. Philippians 2:13 tells us that if we are on the proper wavelength  and have the right mindset, then God can and will work through us. This should be what we are desiring and striving towards.

It is amazing how the Word of God is also needed, as we seek to draw closer to God. When we properly spend time in studying the Word of God, we start to become convicted of what we read, and we can really begin to make the changes in our lives that must be made to draw close to God.

by Norbert Link

We begin with restrictions for US citizens in connection with the coronavirus and the resulting consequences for personal liberty and freedom, religion and the economy. In this regard, please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Religious Persecution of Christian Pastors in the USA?”

We quote articles claiming that mass quarantines are not sustainable and showing the devastating effects on personal health conditions.  

Europe’s situation is deeply troublesome and poses the question as to whether and when a powerful charismatic autocratic leader will arise to lead core European nations out of this and other crises.

We cite two articles from Great Britain strongly disagreeing with measures taken by Boris Johnson to combat the coronavirus; ask whether the post-Brexit negotiations between the UK and the EU will have to be suspended; and report on a controversial decision regarding religion in Brazil.  

We speak on attempts to sacrifice a Passover lamb on the Temple Mount; and conclude with an alleged attempt by Pope Benedict to bring about the downfall of Pope Francis.

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

President Trump Passed Historic Bill 

MarketWatch wrote on March 27:

“President Donald Trump on Friday signed a $2 trillion stimulus bill that would cut $1,200 checks to many adults, expand unemployment insurance payments and extend loans to businesses, all in an effort to combat the coronavirus outbreak’s toll on the economy…”

Until recently, the national debt was above 23 trillion dollars. With the rescue package of 2 trillion dollars and more money needed in the future, the national debt will most likely soon exceed 26 trillion dollars. Some analysts fear we might see a national debt of over 30 trillion dollars within the next two years.

Clearly, this country is being brought down to its knees as NEVER BEFORE.

Pastor Arrested for Conducting Church Services in Florida

CNN wrote on March 30:

“Rodney Howard-Browne, a Tampa Bay area pastor, has been arrested following two large services at his church over the weekend…

“Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said Howard-Browne has been charged with two counts: unlawful assembly and a violation of health emergency rules. Both are second-degree misdemeanors… Last week Hillsborough County issued an order directing residents to remain at home effective March 27 except for ‘essential services’… ‘His reckless disregard for human life put hundreds of people in his congregation at risk,’ Chronister said at a news conference on Monday, ‘as well as put thousands of residents who may interact with them in danger.’

“… one of [the pastor’s] attorneys issued a statement Monday challenging the logic of the county’s stay-at-home order and saying the River church took extra health precautions for its services Sunday. The church gave each attendee hand sanitizer, had its staffers wear gloves and enforced a six-foot distance between family groups in the auditorium, attorney Mat Staver said… ‘the actions of Hillsborough Country and the Hernando County Sheriff are discriminatory against religion and church gatherings.’…

“‘I’m not… negating that people are dying from the coronavirus,’ [Rodney Howard-Browne] said. ‘We’re not saying that, just saying that the thing is blown totally way out of proportion…’

“In a statement posted March 22 on its website, the church claims that closure orders violate religious freedom. ‘…By what authority does the government declare the church non-essential?… The Church is a place where people turn for help and for comfort in a climate of fear and uncertainty. In a time of crisis, people are fearful and in need of comfort and community, more than ever before.’”

Focus reported on March 31 that Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne surrendered voluntarily to the police after learning that a warrant for his arrest had been issued; and that after posting bail in the amount of $500.00, he was released within less than an hour. His arrest appears to be unreasonable and overbearing. 

Police Attack on Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland

The Baltimore Sun wrote on March 31:

“A prominent pastor is vowing to hold worship services this Sunday and beyond after Baltimore police tried to shut down a service at his church amid increasing coronavirus-related constraints on social gatherings… Alvin Gwynn Sr. said he was delivering a sermon Sunday to 10 worshipers when four patrol cars containing ‘eight or nine officers’ pulled up in front of the Friendship Baptist Church and several tried to enter the building.

“Gwynn, the longtime senior pastor of the church on Loch Raven Boulevard, said security guards prevented the officers’ entry until he had finished his sermon. ‘You should have seen it, man, it looked like a police raid on a drug deal,’ he said… When he asked officers to explain why they were there, Gwynn said, they looked ‘bewildered,’ declined to answer, and called a superior. Lt. Suzanne Fries had advised the officers on the scene to ‘shut down the gathering,’ according to an incident report supplied by the Baltimore Police Department. ‘At this point, the church service ended and the crowd dispersed,’ the report continued. That, Gwynn said, was when the patrol cars departed and his congregants left.

“Gwynn, 74, also serves as president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Metropolitan Baltimore, a group that includes the leaders of more than 50 churches. He said he limited the size of the gathering to 10 — the church’s five security guards were stationed outside the sanctuary — and ensured that those present had at least 6 feet of space between them, in compliance with guidelines issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the state health department…

“A police spokeswoman, Detective Chakia Fennoy, said officers were responding to a report of a gathering in violation of the governor’s orders… ‘We encourage residents to call 311 with any nonemergency calls related to improperly open businesses or unlawful gatherings of crowds,’ the department said in a statement. ‘Any officer that observes a business that is in violation of the governor’s executive order must investigate the complaint.’…

“Gwynn… argued that under the Bill of Rights, the government cannot restrict either the size of gatherings for worship or a citizen’s right to attend a service… The [governor’s] order requires all those living in Maryland to stay home unless it’s to participate in ‘essential activities,’ regardless of the size of the gathering… A statement from the governor’s office of legal counsel seemed to support ‘minimal’ activity at houses of worship… the governor’s communications director, Mike Ricci, tweeted a response to a question about whether a group of five people would be in compliance if they assembled in church to record a pastor’s sermon for online use. ‘Yes. Churches may have those kinds of minimal operations,’ Ricci replied.

“Gwynn pointed to a 2018 federal directive that appears to contradict [governor] Hogan’s decision to classify churches as ‘nonessential.’ In June of that year, the CDC issued guidelines on how governments should respond in the event of widespread contagion. ‘The collaboration of faith-based agencies with public health agencies will be essential in protecting the public’s health and safety if and when an influenza pandemic occurs,’ it reads…

“Police Commissioner Michael Harrison… said Tuesday that the department is prepared to enforce the stay-at-home order… ‘When we find that people are not voluntarily complying, then the instructions will be to make a physical arrest,’ he said…”

These events are taking place in the democratic USA with a Constitution guaranteeing the unrestricted RIGHT and FREEDOM of worship and religious assembly. 

More State vs. Church Battles in Louisiana

CBS News reported on April 1:

“Buses and cars filled a Louisiana church parking lot for another service Tuesday evening as worshippers flocked to hear a Louisiana pastor who is facing misdemeanor charges for holding services despite a ban on gatherings…

“A few protesters turned out, too, including a man shouting through a bullhorn against those gathering at the Life Tabernacle Church in the city of Central…

“[Pastor Tony] Spell… compared going to church to going to the hospital, but for spiritual healing…

“The order from Gov. John Bel Edwards prohibits gatherings of more than 10 people… Each violation carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $500 fine… The governor has urged church leaders instead to continue their services online or in smaller groups to lessen the risks.”

Spell posted this on Facebook: “This is a government overreach. They are asking us as a government to stop practicing our freedom of religion. And we have a mandate from God to assemble and to gather together and to keep doing what we’re doing.”

All of this could boil over very soon, as more and more church services will be conducted in open and sometimes provocative defiance of any order by state governors.  To enforce such orders might prove to be extremely counterproductive. On the other hand, the appearance of vocal anti-church demonstrators might also lead to violence. If politicians are not very careful, they may lose the support and the votes of the evangelical communities. 

Texas Governor: “Church Services ARE Essential”

 Breitbart reported on April 1:

“Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed an executive order that makes churches an ‘essential service’… Abbott included language to encourage online worship services and told church leaders and parishioners to practice ‘social distancing’” to prevent the spread of the virus if they do gather for services…

“There has been controversy, particularly in the Houston area, over church closures in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Pastors are in court challenging a stay-at-home order that Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced a week ago that restricts churches to online-only services. To that end, Abbott’s latest executive order supersedes ‘any conflicting order issued by local officials.’…

“The executive order… comes one day after Fox News guest commentator Dr. Steven Hotze and three Houston pastors asked the Texas Supreme Court to declare unconstitutional a March 24 order from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo barring in-person religious services. ‘The circumstances presented by coronavirus do not excuse unlawful government infringements upon freedom,’ Hotze argued in the emergency petition for writ of mandamus filed with the state’s high court on Monday…

“[One Texas pastor] alleged… that a Houston police officer threatened him with jail and a $1,000 fine ‘if he did not stop preaching the gospel to his congregation,’ according to the petition.”

More Totalitarian Measures in the USA

Insider wrote on March 28:

“The National Guard assisted Rhode Island police with house-to-house searches on Saturday to seek out anyone who has traveled from New York and force them to self-isolate…

“The National Guard was deployed to all 50 states in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The Trump administration stressed that the deployment did not equate to martial law, and that the troops served as an additional resource that governors could assign…”

Newsmax added on April 1:

“The National Guard can be used to enforce individual states’ stay-at-home orders as the coronavirus pandemic forces nationwide closures and restrictions, Defense Secretary Mark Esper confirmed… ‘That would be an option for the governors,’ Esper said.”

Something similar seems to happen in Germany and in many other countries where the military is being employed more and more to “help” the governments, the “public” and the police in their fight against the coronavirus. In addition, it was posted by the Drudge Report that two U.S. states — Alabama and Massachusetts — have begun providing the addresses of those known to have been diagnosed with COVID-19 to the police.

Ending Democracy?

The Week wrote on April 1:

“…regimes around the world are using new powers to protect themselves from public scrutiny while claiming to be protecting the public…

“In this battle, [the state] has no legitimate basis for limiting press freedom, restricting public criticism, or otherwise interfering with the process of public accountability…”

Order to Bring Former Troops Back to Active Duty

Newsmax reported on March 28:

“President Trump issued an order Friday night that permits the Pentagon to bring former U.S. troops and members of the National Guard and Reserve back to active duty to augment forces already involved in the military’s response to the coronavirus pandemic…

“Former active-duty and reserve service members… are commonly considered out of the military and rarely recalled…”

But in times of crisis, extraordinary measures are being employed and largely accepted by most people. 

Order to Produce More Ventilators

Newsmax also reported on March 27:

“President Donald Trump on Friday ordered General Motors Co. to make ventilators for coronavirus patients, invoking a federal law that gives him vast powers over industry in crises…

“Trump said in a statement that he had signed a memorandum ‘directing the secretary of Health and Human Services to use any and all authority available under the Defense Production Act to require General Motors to accept, perform, and prioritize federal contracts for ventilators’…”

Trump Extends Guidelines… After All That Talk!

Breitbart wrote on March 29:

“President Donald Trump on Sunday said that guidelines for Americans fighting the coronavirus will be extended to April 30… acknowledging that his hopeful Easter deadline for loosening restrictions was shattered…”

Newsmax wrote:

“Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in an interview with CNN: ‘… we argued strongly with the president that he not withdraw those guidelines after 15 days, but that he extend them. And he did listen.’”

The Algemeiner added:

“Asked during the briefing if floating the idea of lifting restrictions by mid-April had been a mistake, Trump called it ‘just an aspiration’ and said he now believed the country could be on its way to economic recovery by June 1.”

Trump also remarked that limiting the number of deaths to 100,000 or 200,000 would constitute a “good job,” according to Deutsche Welle.  Doctors or so-called “experts” rule—even though they admit that they do not know much about the virus.

For instance, Austria has made face masks mandatory for people shopping and in all other settings where people can come into close contact. In following her medical experts, Angela Merkel responded by saying that Germany will not proceed in this way, stating that masks are counterproductive and could even be dangerous in that they are becoming virus-carriers within a short period of time.

Now, the discussion about the feasibility of wearing masks has reached the USA. And this, after medical “experts” have proclaimed time and time again that face masks are ineffective for the “ordinary” citizen and should be reserved for doctors and nurses. This proves again how little “experts” know… but rulers and governmental officials follow blindly medical experts whom they choose, no matter what, and the mass-media and the public “stand in awe.”

Financial Disaster

The Week wrote on March 31:

“… stocks… capped off their worst quarter since the 2008 financial crisis as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic. The S&P 500 finished the quarter down 20 percent, its largest decline since 2008, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 23 percent. The downturn was global in scope — Stoxx Europe 600 had its biggest quarterly drop since 2002, and Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average fell to 2008 levels, as well…”

According to Newsmax, dated April 1, “The Dow Jones tumbled more than 700 points on Wednesday as investors fled to safe-haven assets after new orders for U.S.-made goods plunged to an 11-year low and private payrolls fell for the first time since 2017.”

The Week wrote on April 1:

“… the latest plunge came after President Trump warned the next two weeks would bring some of the most ‘painful’ fallout yet. DoubleLine Capital CEO Jeffrey Gundlach predicted the market lows of March will be surpassed by new lows in April.”

Staggering Numbers of Unemployment

 Deutsche Welle wrote on April 2:

 “The unemployment rate in the US surged to a new record high on Thursday, with the US Labor Department reporting that 6.6 million people filed unemployment claims just last week alone. The latest figures far surpass the previous week’s record of 3.3 million.

 “Efforts to curb the COVID-19 pandemic by implementing strict social distancing measures and shuttering businesses and restaurants have led to mass layoffs across the country — prompting the unprecedented spike in US unemployment…

 “During the Great Depression from 1929 to 1933, the US unemployment rate peaked at 24.9% — a figure that economists and officials fear could now be topped due to the coronavirus pandemic… the Federal Reserve estimated that the unemployment rate in the US could rise to 32.1%… Some economists estimated that by the end of April, as many as 20 million people in the US will have lost their jobs.”

In light of all this, one would hope that people wake up and examine their spiritual condition and their relationship with the true God. Sadly, this does not seem to be true at all for the overwhelming majority. 

The Next Financial Crisis: A Collapse of the Mortgage System

Politico wrote on March 27:

“The U.S. mortgage finance system could collapse…

“When individuals stop making payments on their home mortgages, the companies that handle the loans and process those payments, so-called mortgage servicers, are still on the hook: They’re legally obligated to keep sending money to insurers and investors in mortgage-backed securities…”

Low Oil Prices… a Mixed Blessing?

Money Morning wrote on March 30:

“The oil price has collapsed this year…

“… the market is being flooded with more oil than ever before… The US is currently the world’s top oil producer, ahead of Saudi Arabia. But that might not last if the country is forced to slash production as low oil prices continue. The other massive problem is on the demand side. Coronavirus means that people have virtually stopped flying… People have stopped driving too…

“Another problem is that we are running out of storage space for the spare oil. Analysts suggest that at current storage capacity we have months or perhaps weeks before storage space is full. That leads to the idea that we could even at some point see a negative oil price – where people are literally paying others to take it off their hands…”

Half of Canadians on the Brink of Insolvency, Due to Coronavirus Restrictions 

Financial Post wrote on March 30:

“The coronavirus crisis is delivering an unprecedented financial shock to Canadians at a time when their personal finances were already fragile.

“… half of Canadians… surveyed are now on the brink of insolvency, saying they are $200 or less away from not being able to meet their debt obligations each month. A quarter of these said they are already unable to meet those obligations…”

Mass Quarantine Not Sustainable over a Long Period of Time

Deutsche Welle wrote on March 27:

“More than a billion humans around the globe are trying — hard — to endure… various symptoms of self-isolation. Expect many to fail.

“… Shutting schools has added to the pressures… Some people will develop psychiatric conditions, mental health conditions. There will be a rise in depression… Some people develop, particularly health professionals… an increase in the rate of post-traumatic stress disorder… there will be an increase in psychiatric disorders…”

Violence might be a result as well. Note the next article. 

Chinese Citizens Furious with their Government

Breitbart wrote on March 28:

“A huge protest march swept out of China’s Hubei province on Friday, with thousands of angry residents pouring across a bridge into neighboring Jiangxi province and clashing with police…

“The Hubei residents streaming across the bridge are clearly angry after weeks of the coronavirus lockdown, which in theory is being lifted… Evidently the protesters are infuriated by how the government has treated them during the crisis…”

A preview as to what is to come in other countries as well, including the USA?

Divorce Rates Climb Due to Quarantine

Newspunch wrote on March 31:

“Divorce rates in China have soared because ‘couples are spending too much time together’ during coronavirus quarantine…

“Shaanxi Province in northwestern China have seen an unprecedented rise of divorce appointments since re-opening on March 1, with people queueing around the block to file divorce papers, reports say. ‘Young people are spending a lot of time at home. They tend to get into heated arguments because of something petty and rush into getting a divorce,’ Mr Lu  explained…”

This is the fruit of human attempts to fight one problem—reaping many more problems as a consequence.

Moment of Truth for Merkel

Politico wrote on March 27:

“Just when it looked like Angela Merkel was going to ride quietly into the sunset, fate intervened. Two weeks ago, the German leader’s biggest worry was finding a successor and a life after politics. Now she finds herself in the center of what many consider the most serious global crisis since World War II…

“For better or worse, Merkel is the only European leader with either the experience or stature to take charge… For the woman who steered Europe through the financial panic that nearly brought down the euro and the refugee crisis of 2015, this might seem like familiar territory. It’s not. This time around, the scope of the crisis and the consequences of failure are much greater than anything Merkel has ever dealt with…

“In Europe, it’s up to each individual country to decide if and when to stop listening to the epidemiologists and public health officials arguing for extended lockdowns… Yet given Merkel’s political influence and the importance of Germany’s economy to the rest of Europe, many are likely to follow her lead…”

None of this sounds very promising or encouraging for Europe. It is obvious that very soon, a core Europe will have to form and a strong, powerful and totalitarian leader must arise. We have felt for many years that this would happen, in all likelihood, in a time of crisis. And totalitarianism is already a sick phenomenon that permeates Europe. 

Totalitarianism in Hungary

Axios wrote on March 30:

“Hungary’s parliament passed a law Monday to allow Prime Minister Viktor Orbán almost unlimited power, for an indefinite period, to fight the coronavirus outbreak…

“Hungary has taken a sharply authoritarian [turn] over the past decade under Orbán, and it’s likely that he and other strongman leaders around the world will seek to maintain powers they gain during the current crisis long after it’s over.”

This is indeed the fear and the anticipation, but most are asleep at the wheel and do not comprehend the dangers of such authoritarian powers which they are willing to accept, until it is far too late.  

Deutsche Welle added on March 30:

“The [law] includes the introduction of jail terms of up to five years for people who spread ‘fake news’ about the virus or measures against it, raising anxieties about freedom of press in Hungary.”

Totalitarianism in Serbia

The National wrote on March 29:

“Serbia has sentenced a man to three years in jail for breaking self-isolation orders… It was the first such sentence in Serbia…

“Serbia has introduced some of the most restrictive measures including a 12-hour police enforced curfew and a 24-hour ban on leaving the home for those older than 65. Authorities say at least 112 people are in detention in Serbia for ignoring orders to stay at home and are awaiting trial…”

Jews Blamed for the Coronavirus

Breaking Israel News wrote on March 27:

“… anti-semites of all sorts are echoing the blood libels from 700 years ago when the Jews were blamed for the Black Death that killed over 100 million people…

“During the Black Death in Europe from 1348 to 1351, Jews were blamed for the pandemic that killed over 100 million people, nearly half the population of Europe. This led to countless pogroms and at least 510 Jewish communities were destroyed in this period. In many cities, the civil authorities either did little to protect the Jewish communities or actually abetted the rioters. The pogroms motivated by the plague continued until 20 years after the plague disappeared.”

Will we be seeing a massive repeat of such atrocities due to panic and the search for a “scapegoat”? 

Israeli Government Escapes to Underground Bunker

Breaking Israel News wrote on March 26:

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that future cabinet meetings will be held in an underground bunker in the Jerusalem hills…

“Called the National Management Centre, the hardened underground complex includes living quarters and command facilities. ‘This [bunker] is another tool for managing, controlling, oversight and tracking’ the coronavirus…’ [according to an unidentified source.]

“Some Israeli officials tried to joke off the move… Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said in an interview with Tel Aviv radio station 102 FM that the bunker had limited usefulness in the current crisis as ‘it protects from bombs, but not from microbes.’…

“Construction on the $240 million underground bunker began in 2007. Designed to withstand a nuclear bomb, it can house the Prime Minister’s Office, military commands centers and the necessary civil authorities to run the country.”

The whole world seems to be in a state of panic, leading to most unreasonable and sometimes even laughable decisions—if the entire situation would not be so terribly serious. More than 1 million Israelis or more than 24% of the workforce are now unemployed. 

Panic Galore 

On March 29, The Mail on Sunday published the following article by one of its journalists, Peter Hitchens:

“As I watched the Prime Minister [Boris Johnson] order mass house arrest on Monday night, I felt revulsion, anger and grief – as anyone brought up when this was a free and well-governed country would. I also felt terribly alone. You could not have known, from anything broadcast that night or printed the following day, that anyone was unhappy with these events. But they were.

“… I now suspect this dark season might get still worse before we see the clear, calm light of reason again. The greater the mistake we have made, the less willing we are to admit it or correct it. This is why I greatly fear worse developments… When I predicted roadblocks in my column two weeks ago, which I did, I did so out of an instinct that we were entering on the craziest period of our lives since the death of Princess Diana…

“But even I would not have dared to predict the mass house arrest under which we are all now confined… Perhaps we will emulate the French or Italian states, which have returned to their despotic origins.

“…as a former resident of the USSR, I can tell you that this sort of endless meddling by petty authority in the details of life… is normal in unfree societies – such as we have now become for an indefinite period. It is, by the way, also a seedbed for corruption… The vast majority develop very mild symptoms or none at all. Millions may already have had it…

“Many people will die with coronavirus. But this does not mean that they died of it… John Lee, a recently retired professor of pathology and a former NHS consultant pathologist, writes in The Spectator this weekend that by making Covid-19 a notifiable disease, the authorities may have distorted the figures.

“‘In the current climate, anyone with a positive test for Covid-19 will certainly be known to clinical staff looking after them: if any of these patients dies, staff will have to record the Covid-19 designation on the death certificate – contrary to usual practice for most infections of this kind. ‘There is a big difference between Covid-19 causing death, and Covid-19 being found in someone who died of other causes. Making Covid-19 notifiable might give the appearance of it causing increasing numbers of deaths, whether this is true or not. It might appear far more of a killer than flu, simply because of the way deaths are recorded.’”

Very true, but in our panic-driven media-propagated hysterical societies, who wants to hear words like these?

A Former Supreme Court Judge Speaks out against Mass Hysteria 

Express wrote on March 30:

“Lord Sumption, a former UK Supreme Court judge, has criticised the emergency measures taken in response to the coronavirus pandemic as proof of ‘hysteria-driven Government policy’. He called the current Government measures ‘symptoms of collective hysteria’ and warned that the ‘cure was becoming worse than the disease’… [He] branded the widespread confinement to houses as imprisonment and called the Derbyshire police force ‘disgraceful and shameful’ for their overreach.

“Lord Sumption told the BBC’s World at One programme:

“‘When human societies lose their freedom it is not usually because tyrants have taken it away, it is usually because people have willingly surrendered their freedom for protection against some external threat… Anyone who has studied history will recognise the symptoms of classic collective hysteria… Hysteria is infectious. We are working ourselves up as we exaggerate the threat and stop asking ourselves whether the cure is worse than the disease. We have to recognise that this is how societies become despotisms.

“‘The symptoms of coronavirus are clearly significant for those with other underlying health conditions, especially if they are old. There are exceptional cases when young people are struck down. But, in Italy, only 12 percent of deaths can be clearly tied to coronavirus being the main cause of death. Yes this is serious but is it serious enough to warrant placing the entire population under house imprisonment, wrecking our economy for an indefinite period, destroying businesses that honest and hard-working people have taken years to build up, saddling future generations with debt, inflicting depression, stress, suicide and unbelievable distress on millions of people who are not especially vulnerable.’ 

“He criticised the press for ‘amplifying and echoing’ the public’s sense of panic before ripping into the conduct of the police – singling out Derbyshire Police for criticism. Derbyshire Police have garnered controversy recently for dumping black dye into a picturesque blue lagoon to stop people posing for photographs during the lockdown. Last week, the same police force shamed dog walkers and ramblers after tracking them through the hillsides with drones.”

Deutsche Welle reported on March 29 that “The lockdown in the United Kingdom could continue for up [to] six months.” The UK will NEVER be able to recover economically. And the developments, as pointed out in the next article, do not help at all. 

UK-EU Post-Brexit Negotiations to Be Suspended? 

The Telegraph wrote on March 27:

“Boris Johnson faces escalating pressure to suspend all post-Brexit trade negotiations… the prime minister has been urged to pause talks until parliament returns and the crisis is under control… the Welsh and Scottish governments [also] called on the prime minister to halt the negotiations over the UK-EU’s future relationship…

“Downing Street has repeatedly insisted that there will be no extension to the 11-month transition period.”

The EU indicated that they would be willing to extend the negotiations. 

Places of Worship “Essential” in Brazil

24matins.uk wrote on March 27:

“Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro decreed Thursday that places of worship are ‘essential services’ that must be exempted from coronavirus confinement orders… The decree… adds ‘religious activities of any kind’ to the list of exempted services, alongside supermarkets and pharmacies… The president, who has called the reaction to the pandemic ‘overblown,’ says such measures are unnecessary and will wreck Latin America’s biggest economy…

“Last week, the influential evangelical pastor Silas Malafaia, a Bolsonaro ally, called confinement measures ‘a tactic by Satan… Satan works with fear,’ he said.”

Passover Sacrifice on the Temple Mount?

Breaking Israel News wrote on March 31:

“… the Sanhedrin is preparing for an actual sacrifice fully consistent with Biblical requirements, brought on the Temple Mount… The Sanhedrin has issued a formal request [to] the leaders of Israel and the U.S. to allow this to happen…

“The vessels have been prepared and merely need to be immersed in a ritual bath to be purified. Kohanim (Jewish men descended from Aaron the priest) are registered for service and their Biblically mandated clothes are ready. Wine and oil, prepared to the strictest requirements, are ready. A red heifer is being raised but lacking one, the halacha (Torah law) permits time-bound public sacrifices like the Korban Pesach and the Korban Tamid (twice daily offering) to be brought in impurity…

“Rabbi Hillel Weiss, the spokesman for the Sanhedrin… [said:] ‘The only thing preventing the Jewish People from performing the Passover sacrifice is the Israeli government.’…

“The Passover sacrifice can only be offered in one place; on the Temple Mount. The sacrifice does not require an actual Temple structure but it does require an altar that is built to adhere to the Biblical requirements. Such an altar was constructed last year and stands ready… The material was ruled to be fit for use in the Temple…”

Even if the government were to allow this one-time Passover sacrifice on the Temple Mount, it would not mean, of course, that therefore the prophesied end-time daily sacrifices would have begun. 

Pope Benedict Accused of Plotting Downfall of Pope Francis

Express wrote on March 30:

“POPE BENEDICT is ‘plotting the downfall of Pope Francis’…

“Many cite Benedict as one of the key traditionalists within the Catholic church is pushing against Francis’ wish to allow sweeping changes at the Vatican… Expert Lynda Telford… fears that Benedict… is leading a charge of angry traditionalists within the Vatican who do not want to see… modern ideals as part of a new Catholicism mandate…

“Benedict and Francis’ relationship has been difficult over the course of his tenure at the Catholic church’s helm. Benedict resigned seven years ago, claiming poor health and growing mental pressures within the chief position. It was the first time such a move was made since the 1400s, and has seen Benedict continue to exert his authority and influence over some of the church’s most staunch traditionalists.

“Some argued that Francis’ decision to not allow a move that would have seen married men allowed to become priests in the Amazon regions, in a bid to combat a worrying decline of clergymen in the most remote areas, was due to Benedict.”

Perhaps, we still might not have heard the last word about Benedict. 

Large Earthquake in Idaho

The Associated Press wrote on April 1:

“A large earthquake struck north of Boise Tuesday evening… The U.S. Geological Survey reports the magnitude 6.5 temblor struck just before 6 p.m…

“The earthquake added stress during an already tense time for the region… the Idaho region has an earthquake of about this size every 30 or 40 years… Tuesday’s quake appeared to be on an unmapped ‘strike-slip fault’…

“The area [has] already recorded five aftershocks within the first hours after the 6.5 earthquake.”

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.

People claim, oftentimes falsely, that they have received God’s call—especially to preach or witness for Jesus. Indeed, the Bible does speak of God calling people, but what does that really mean and how can you know that God has called you?

On the Day of Pentecost when God’s Holy Spirit was given to His Church, we find this:

“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call’” (Acts 2:38-39).

Here, Peter addresses the fact that God is calling specific people, and later he writes to those who have been called; those who are now part of the Church of God:

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10).

Throughout history, God has called people for His unique purposes, and we have the extraordinary example of Abraham:

“Now the LORD had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran” (Genesis 12:1-4).

It is also important to note how willingly Abraham responded to God’s call:

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8).

Of the prophet Jeremiah, God said, “‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations’” (Jeremiah 1:5). In other words, Jeremiah was predestined before he was even conceived to be called during his lifetime! That also happened to Cyrus, king of Persia, for God named him and appointed him to return the Jews from Babylonian captivity and to cause them to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem—this was written in the Book of Isaiah about one-hundred-fifty years before the birth of Cyrus (compare Isaiah 44:28—45:1-7).

Of course, the greatest example of God’s predestination and calling is that of Jesus Christ. Consider the overwhelming number of prophecies about Him and the very explicit details which were written long before His birth (compare, for example, chapters 49 and 53 in the Book of Isaiah).

With God’s calling comes great responsibility! The Father sent His Son, Jesus, to be the Savior of the world (compare John 12:47; 1 John 4:14). If you are called by God, it is to do His Will, and that involves a role in the Church of God. The Church of God is composed of those whom God has called out of the world, as Jesus said about His disciples, and, by extension, all who will have come afterward:

“‘If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you’” (John 15:19).

In praying to His Father, Jesus spoke of those who are called as being separate from the world (compare John 17:14-17). Why? Because being in the world and embracing this society, its customs and practices, is not living according to the spiritual laws of God—it is in fact, “enmity against God” (Romans 8:6-7). Those who are called are to live lives which are unmistakably different from those who are not called, and the Apostle Paul clearly explains what it means to be called by God:

“This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:17-24).

To be called by God includes great potential for those who finish their calling:

“Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life” (1 John 2:24-25).

Paul wrote to the brethren in Thessalonica encouraging them to “…walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:12). He, as he did so often in his epistles, reminded them of the tremendous goal ahead for those whom God calls.

We find more details about the future in God’s calling:

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.  Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:1-3).

However, today is not the time when God is calling everybody to salvation! Now is the time God is calling a select few to be, what the Bible calls, “firstfruits” (James 1:18), and to be in the First Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:4-6). This fact is shown in the Holy Days of God—specifically in the meaning of the Feast of Pentecost. Leviticus 23:15-22; Exodus 23:16; 34:22 and Deuteronomy 16:9-12 all describe this annual Holy Day of God as depicting the firstfruits of harvesting in the spring—while the fall feasts, the Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day, represent a much greater harvest and period of judgment. A fuller explanation is available in our booklets: God’s Commanded Holy Days; The Meaning of God’s Spring Holy Days and The Meaning of God’s Fall Holy Days.

Jesus called His disciples a “‘little flock’” (Luke 12:32), and history has certainly proven that very few people have ever been a part of the Church of God. Paul explained to the brethren in Corinth about whom God has chosen to call:

“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).

Very few people have been called by God at this point in time! In fact, Jesus said that not all could even understand His teachings—only those to whom it was given (Mark 4:10-12). Being called by God means that He has initiated contact; otherwise, we would not even have access to the Father or to Jesus Christ, and this is what Jesus explained:

“‘No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him…’” (John 6:44); and, “‘…I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6).

Is God calling you to salvation? Jesus said, “‘And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:32). Are you able to understand the truth found in God’s Word—and believe it? Are you acting on the truth you understand—without compromise? Have you come to believe the gospel—the good news of the Kingdom of God, which Jesus preached (Mark 1:14-15) and what the Church of God is commissioned to preach in our time (Matthew 24:14)?

If you are called by God, here are some first steps by which to prove your calling:

“But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!’ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our report?’ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  (Romans 10:8-16)

Once God calls us, we must grow in our calling—as the Apostle Peter explains:

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,  as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:2-11).

When God calls you, you have a responsibility to respond to His calling and strive to live in accordance with His Word. God’s true calling will be your only opportunity to inherit eternal life when Christ returns.

Lead Writer: Dave Harris

compiled by Dave Harris

Our new booklet, The Ten Commandments, has been posted on our CEG website, as well as the new German booklet Und weil die Gesetzlosigkeit überhandnimmt… (And Lawlessness Will Abound…) on our German website.

Our booklet “The Mysteries of the Bible” has been translated into Spanish, titled “LOS MISTERIOS DE LA BIBLIA” and has been posted to our Spanish site.

A shortened Church Conference was conducted via SKYPE on Sunday and Monday (March 29-30, 2020). Necessary administrative items were discussed along with future plans in light of the current Coronavirus difficulties.

“Religious Persecution of Christian Pastors in the USA?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

We hear about more and more cases where pastors defy the orders of the state governments prohibiting them and their Church congregations to assemble for worship services. Police are being employed to break up the services and fine and perhaps even arrest the pastor and others. Some wonder as to how long will Americans tolerate such intrusion into their sacred and cherished rights of religious liberty, warning that civil unrest and worse could be the consequence. Listen to what the Bible has to say about this serious development.

“Totalitarismus notwendig zur Bekämpfung des Coronavirus?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Nobert Link. Title in English: Totalitarianism Necessary to Combat the Coronavirus?”

“Das teure Blut Jesu Christi,” is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “The Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.”

“God’s Message to Laodicea,” is the title of a special Bible Study presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

In what way is God’s letter to His Church in Laodicea a strong warning for us today, especially in light of the coronavirus? Are the oftentimes totalitarian measures to combat the virus a preview of the manifestation of the beast? In this sermon, we will also discuss questions such as: What is meant with a lukewarm attitude? Did Christ have a beginning? Who was Melchizedek? Why won’t God protect many Laodiceans during the Great Tribulation? Why does God warn especially Laodiceans not to fight in war?