Update 1024

On June 4, 2022, Kalon Mitchell will present a split sermon, titled, “Mental Stability for the People of God,”   Michael Link will present a split sermon, titled, “Honor To Be Honored.”

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.

PENTECOST: We will broadcast live Pentecost services on Sunday, June 5, 2022, at 12:30 pm Pacific Time. Paul Niehoff will present the Offertory, and Dave Harris will present the sermon, titled, “The Gift of God Which is in You.”

I recently woke up during a weekday in a pretty grumpy mood. I knew that I had a grueling day at work that was about to begin, and I wasn’t looking forward to it. Even my morning cup of coffee didn’t do much to lift my mood! But I proceeded to face the day, as was my duty.

As I sat down at my desk to begin my workday, I took a moment of pause before getting started. This is a regular habit that I have built into my day. I normally take about a minute before I officially start work to simply write down something that I’m grateful for. Some days, it can be more difficult than others to find something to write, and this particular day was one of them. I began to write, “I am grateful that…”, and stopped there. It took a few moments to contemplate, considering the difficult day that I had ahead of me. But then I continued, “… this stuff in life doesn’t really matter.” Almost immediately, the weight of the day was lifted.

Of course, such a statement as “nothing in this world really matters anyway” is a nihilistic expression that needs to be qualified, rather than taken as an absolute truth. The fact is that there is a lot in this life that does matter. We need to be good stewards of the blessings that God provides us with. We take care of our health, maintain our relationships with others, and dedicate ourselves to the work that we put our hands to do, even when we might not look forward to it (compare Ecclesiastes 9:10). To say that “nothing matters” is not categorically true, but there is an element of truth when put into the right context.

To begin with, the stuff in this life does matter because this is where God presents opportunities for us to grow. We learn to overcome the world by putting our spiritual understanding into practice in the context of our current circumstances. We are training now to live a godly life, walking in the Spirit. And the only way we can do that is by taking advantage of the stuff in life that we have to deal with, both good and bad. The lives that we live are a physical means to a spiritual end.

Knowing that we seek a spiritual change to live an eternal life in the Family of God, we do not work towards an end goal that is physical in nature. In this way, truly, nothing that this physical life has to offer really matters. This is the perspective that God instructs us to have. “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” (1 John 2:15-17). Placing our value in worldly outcomes only leads us away from God.

Regardless, we are bound to live in these physical bodies, in this physical world. This is our place now where we have to learn how to overcome. We cannot yet leave it behind. When Jesus Christ was preparing for His Sacrifice to take place, He prayed to God about us and our circumstances in this life. “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth” (John 17:18-19). Even though we are not to love the world, we have to be here now so that we can put the Truth of God into practice, and overcome the world through Christ. We are set apart for a spiritual purpose, learning obedience and the love for God’s Way of Life.

The only possible way that we can overcome the world, living and walking in the Spirit, is through the Spirit of God that lives within us. Jesus Christ had to leave the world so that the Holy Spirit would become available to us (compare John 16:5-7). Because of this amazing gift from God, we understand what it means to say that nothing in this life matters. With the mind of Christ, we look forward to a life that is so much better than what we can possibly imagine.

With Pentecost upon us, we have an annual reminder that the Holy Spirit is ours to use. It lives within us, giving us the discernment that we need to overcome sin in this world. When we face our circumstances in life, we can find encouragement in knowing that the glory that God has in store for us is what matters, making everything else worthless by comparison.

by Norbert Link

We begin with an article describing our culture of violence and death and are raising the question as to what possible justification could there be for permitting any 18-year-old boy or girl to acquire an AR-15-style rifle, while Donald Trump seems to be shamelessly displaying a “change of heart” in the matter of assault weapons. We also point out the war propaganda of the mainstream media when reporting on events in Ukraine, how the world finances Putin’s war; and emphasize once again German Chancellor Scholz’s dubious conduct, wondering what game he and his government are playing.

We address Denmark’s potential change of mind regarding their “neutrality” towards the EU; and we point out the not-so-“hidden sins and secrets” of the Catholic Church, especially regarding Pope Pius XII; and Pope Francis’s most recent political move on the issue of abortion.

We speak on an abominable, but telling new antisemitic law in Iraq pertaining to Israel and Jews worldwide, and speculate about a possible comeback of Benjamin Netanyahu.

We report on the acquittal of Clinton Lawyer Michael Sussmann, showing again how corrupt our legal system is; the despicable modern Sodom and Gomorrah environment being created by the Biden Administration; WHO’s recommendations of support for the LGBTQ+ community; and conclude with some news on travel restrictions in Europe.

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Theocratic Abortion—a God-Given Right in Many Religions”

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

Our Culture of Violence and Death

The Federalist wrote on May 27:

“As the country reels over the Texas massacre, where 19 children and two adults were gunned down by a single shooter who was barely more than a child himself, the question on everyone’s mind is why? Why would any person march into an elementary school and open fire on innocents? And why can’t we overcome such evil?

“… it’s impossible to look honestly at mass shootings and ignore the culture of death that prompts them. This culture is much deeper than abortion… That barbaric ritual is in many ways just another piece of rotten fruit from the same Godless tree. It’s in rejecting the Creator’s authority and the truth that He made every human being in His own image and for His glory, not our own, that our society embraces death.

“After all, if there is no God who assigns value to human life, we really are nothing more than aimless clumps of cells without worth or eternal purpose…

“In addition to euphemizing the murder of the unborn, we’ve cultivated an antisocial culture of screen addiction then used it to dispense violence as entertainment… When children misbehave, we diagnose and medicate them rather than discipline them.

“When we don’t like something, we tear it down even if it doesn’t belong to us… We’ve created a culture of death, and now we have to live in it.”

.. and unless there is a change of heart, we will die in it…

Trump’s Change of Heart?

Mediaite reported on May 27:

“Former President Donald Trump was reportedly ‘shaken’ after a 2019 massacre at an El Paso Walmart, and asked a chief advisor, ‘What are we going to do about assault rifles?’

“The New York Times noted the country’s 45th president was also disturbed by the 2018 shooting in Parkland, Florida, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The massacre left 17 dead and another 17 injured. Trump made news at the time by saying he was open to imposing some restrictions on firearms. He dropped the issue following a meeting with the NRA.

“The Times reported: ‘Unbeknownst to the public, however, Mr. Trump again pushed inside the White House for significant new gun-control measures more than a year later, after a pair of gruesome shooting sprees that unfolded over 13 hours. Those discussions have not previously been reported. On Aug. 3, 2019, a far-right gunman killed 23 people at a Walmart store in El Paso. Early the next morning, a man shot and killed nine people outside a bar in Dayton, Ohio. Both assailants used semiautomatic rifles. At the White House the next day, Mr. Trump was so shaken by the weekend’s violence that he questioned aides about a specific potential solution and made clear he wanted to take action, according to three people present during the conversation.

“According to sources who were then close to Trump, he questioned if there was anything that could be done about the legality of popular AR-15 rifles. Trump asked former acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney: ‘What are we going to do about assault rifles?’ Mulvaney’s reported response: ‘Not a… thing.’ According to the Times, Trump asked Mulvaney, ‘Why,’ and was told, ‘Because… you would lose.’”

As the next article shows, Trump gave in, and today, as he is preparing for a come-back in 2024, he fully endorses the gun lobby.

The New York Post wrote on May 27:

“Former President Donald Trump on Friday said that the gunman who murdered 21 people at a Texas elementary school is ‘damned’ to ‘burn in the fires of hell’ as he read aloud each victim’s name to a tolling bell… ‘The monster who committed this crime is pure evil,’ Trump said. ‘While those he slaughtered are now with God in heaven, he will be eternally damned to burn in the fires of hell.’

“Trump offered an array of policy suggestions to prevent school shootings, including allowing teachers to concealed-carry firearms… Trump defiantly pressed for protecting the rights of gun owners. ‘The existence of evil is one of the very best reasons to arm, law abiding citizens,’ Trump said…

“He did not endorse any gun control measures — as he did during his presidency…  As president, Trump upset gun rights advocates in 2018 by expressing a willingness to enact reforms in response to the murder of 17 people at a Parkland, Fla., high school by 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, who used a legally purchased AR-15-style rifle. Trump endorsed a higher age limit for AR-15 rifles, background checks for private gun sales and reforms to let police ‘take the guns first, go through due process second’ to reduce the risk posed by mentally ill people.

“Later that year, the Trump administration banned ‘bump stocks’ that hasten the firing rate of semiautomatic rifles in response to that tool’s role in the murder of 60 people at a Las Vegas concert in 2017.”

Sadly, it appears that if a Republican wants to become elected, he cannot oppose the powerful NRA conglomerate.

How America can even allow an 18-year-old boy to purchase an AR-15-style rifle, with the only conceivable reason to shoot and kill, is beyond comprehension.  America’s fascination with and glorification of guns is something that the rest of the world cannot understand. Parents should and must do everything they can to fight against any fascination of their children with guns, rather than encouraging it in any way. Also, what we all must do is to pray for our children and grandchildren daily, that God would protect them from such unspeakable evil perpetrated by mad violent people under demonic influence and possession.

No Handgun Ban in the USA

Newsmax wrote on May 31:

“Law Professor Joseph Blocher of Duke University told Newsweek on Tuesday that there is ‘no chance either politically or constitutionally’ that a handgun ban similar to Canada’s could be implemented in the United States… ‘The Supreme Court has been clear that the Second Amendment protects the fundamental right to have a handgun in the home for self-defense,’ he added.

“The law professor’s statement comes after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced new legislation in his country’s parliament that seeks to prohibit the ability to ‘buy, sell, transfer or import handguns anywhere in Canada.’

“The proposed Canadian law is in reaction to a series of mass shootings that have hit the U.S. recently, including one that resulted in 10 deaths at a supermarket in Buffalo on May 14 and another at a Texas elementary school on May 24, where 19 children and two teachers died…

“‘So, even if handgun prohibition were politically feasible [in the USA], the courts will strike it down,’ [Blocher] added…”

When Christ rules this earth, no one will have a gun in his or her home for the purpose of self-defense. Trudeau’s announcement must be seen, however, in the light of his desire to remain as Canada’s unquestionable dictator.

War Propaganda

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on May 27:

“With Russia’s war in Ukraine now in its fourth month, mainstream media consumers have been treated to seemingly endless headlines and analysis of Russia’s extensive military losses. At the same time Ukrainian forces have tended to be lionized and their battlefield prowess romanticized, with essentially zero public information so far being given which details up-to-date Ukrainian force casualties, set-backs, and equipment losses.

“But for the first time The Washington Post is out with a surprisingly dire and negative assessment of how US-backed and equipped Ukrainian forces are actually fairing. Gone is the rosy idealizing lens through which each and every encounter with the Russians is typically portrayed. WaPo correspondent and author of the new report Sudarsan Raghavan underscores of the true situation that ‘Ukrainian leaders project an image of military invulnerability against Russia. But commanders offer a more realistic portrait of the war, where outgunned volunteers describe being abandoned by their military brass and facing certain death at the front.’

“As many careful and less idealistic observers suspected the whole time, a steady stream of both wartime propaganda and one-sided social media feeds where it seems the only tanks being blown up are Russian ones has served to present a very skewed portrayal of the battlefield to the Western public…

“The Washington Post report belatedly admits the avalanche of propaganda based in a pro-Kiev, pro-West narrative from the outset: ‘Videos of assaults on Russian tanks or positions are posted daily on social media. Artists are creating patriotic posters, billboards and T-shirts. The postal service even released stamps commemorating the sinking of a Russian warship in the Black Sea.’

“The report then pivots to the reality of an undertrained, poorly commanded and equipped, rag-tag force of mostly volunteers in the East who find themselves increasingly surrounded by the numerically superior Russian military which has penetrated almost the entire Donbas region. ‘Ukraine, like Russia, has provided scant information about deaths, injuries or losses of military equipment…”

In the end, Ukraine and Russia will be united against Europe. However this will come about, whether by Russian occupation or due to a “peace” agreement between Russia and Ukraine, remains to be seen.

How the World Finances Putin’s War

Money Control wrote on June 1:

“In early March, as the US and its allies unleashed a wave of sanctions on Russia, President Joe Biden stood in the White House and said they wanted to deal a ‘powerful blow to Putin’s war machine.’ But as the war in Ukraine approaches its 100th day, that machine is still very much operational. Russia is being propelled by a flood of cash that could average $800 million a day this year — and that’s just what the commodity superpower is raking in from oil and gas. For years, Russia has acted as a vast commodity supermarket selling what an insatiable world has needed: Not just energy, but wheat, nickel, aluminum and palladium too…

“Russia is far from unscathed by the sanctions, which have made it a pariah across the developed world. Corporate giants have fled, many walking away from billions of dollars of assets, and the economy is heading for a deep recession. But Putin can ignore this damage for now, because his coffers are overflowing with the revenue from commodities, which have become more lucrative than ever thanks to the surge in global prices driven in part by the war in Ukraine… Russia’s oil-and-gas revenue will be about $285 billion this year…  That would exceed the 2021 figure by more than one-fifth. Throw in other commodities, and it more than makes up for the $300 billion in foreign reserves frozen as part of the sanctions.

“Europe is only slowly weaning itself off this dependency. That’s giving Moscow time to find other markets — such as… China and India — to limit any damage to export revenue…  The ruble has become another symbol used by Putin to project strength… to become the world’s best-performing currency against the dollar this year. Putin… said he’ll allow exports of grain and fertilizer only if the sanctions on his country are lifted…

“One of the big holes in the sanctions against Russia is the willingness of other nations to continue oil purchases… Indian refiners purchased more than 40 million barrels of Russian oil between the start of the Ukraine invasion in late February and early May. That’s 20% more than Russia-India flows for the whole of 2021… China is also strengthening its energy links with the country, securing cheaper prices by buying oil that’s being shunned elsewhere. It’s boosted imports and is also in talks to replenish its strategic crude stockpiles with Russian oil.

“It’s a similar story for steelmakers and coking coal. Imports from Russia rose for a third month in April to more than double last year’s level… And some sellers of Russian oil and coal have tried to make things easier for Chinese buyers by allowing transactions in yuan… The vast majority of the world is not involved in imposing sanctions…. The trade will go on, the need for fuels will be there… and buyers in Asia or the Middle East will step up…

“About 40% of the EU’s gas needs are met by Russia… European deliveries even jumped in February and March as the invasion caused a price spike in European gas hubs, making purchases from Russia’s Gazprom PJSC cheaper for most customers with long-term contracts. Volumes have decreased since then, thanks to warmer weather and record inflows of liquefied natural gas from the US and other countries. There’s also been disruptions because of military activity, and Russia itself halted supplies to Poland, Bulgaria and Finland, which refused Putin’s demand to pay in rubles. [Also, exports to the Netherlands and Denmark are being stopped.]

“Even as the EU reduces its dependency — Germany says it’s down to 35% from 55% — there are complications at every step…”

“Solutions” fail.

Olaf Scholz Keeps on Wavering… Why?

Politico wrote on May 27:

“The German chancellor, who has steadfastly refused to visit Kyiv or even say he wants Ukraine to ‘win’ the war, has been under heavy fire since March for hesitating on delivery of tanks to Ukraine. When Scholz last month bowed to pressure and agreed to send some heavy weapons, he surprised the Ukrainians, allies and experts with his decision to provide anti-aircraft tanks, which Kyiv hadn’t asked for, while continuing to hold off on the delivery of the battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles Ukraine had been urging the West to send.

“Scholz’s latest scolding came this week from Polish President Andrzej Duda, who accused the German government of breaking its promises on military support for Ukraine, which just entered its fourth month of intense fighting. Poland has donated over 200 of its own Soviet-made tanks to Ukraine and was counting on Germany to replace them with modern German equivalents, Duda said, adding that Berlin had not honored a commitment to do so….

“Even before Russia’s latest invasion, Ukraine has urged Germany, the world’s fifth-largest arms exporter, to send tanks, most notably the Marder infantry fighting vehicle and the Leopard battle tank. However, ‘there is an absence of political will to really do something,’ Andrij Melnyk, the Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, told POLITICO.

“The German government presented various arguments for why it wasn’t able to comply with Kyiv’s request, first saying that it could not deliver weapons to crisis zones, and then… arguing that German tanks required too much training for Ukrainian soldiers, before also backtracking on that claim. Berlin further argued that it could not spare any tanks from its own reserves. Yet German defense companies like Rheinmetall say that they could directly deliver decommissioned tanks from their stocks — if Scholz authorized them to do so. (Defense contractors require government permission before exporting arms.)… Ukrainian officials say they began discussing the Marder deal as far back as March with Rheinmetall, which told them it could deliver within weeks. But so far, Berlin has refused to greenlight the deal.

“This week, German Deputy Defense Minister Siemtje Möller came up with a new justification for holding back the Marders…  claiming that NATO countries had collectively agreed to not send any Western-type battle tanks or infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine. Möller’s comments triggered an immediate backlash from the German center-right opposition. ‘Such an agreement does not exist,’ said Roderich Kiesewetter, a lawmaker from the Christian Democratic Union, arguing that Möller had ‘promulgated false information. The absence of any agreement ‘is confirmed by different sources, among others, directly by NATO,’ he added.

“Möller has since backpedaled via a spokesperson, arguing that she had merely intended to point out that other allies like the U.S. were also not supplying Ukraine with modern Western-made armored combat vehicles, such as the American M1 Abrams, the U.S.’s main battle tank. Yet, given that the American tanks are located thousands of kilometers away in North America and would require much more intensive training than Germany’s Marders, which could be delivered to the Ukrainian border in less than 24 hours, Möller’s argument has struck many allies as fairly eccentric.

“What’s more, the U.S. has been Ukraine’s main arms supplier… and unlike Germany, it hasn’t made promises to Ukraine its hasn’t fulfilled….

“The chancellor has in recent weeks repeatedly argued in background discussions with journalists that he does not want to repeat the mistakes of Wilhelm II, the last German emperor, who played a key role in Europe’s fatal descent into World War I in 1914…. In other words, when it comes to actually winning the war, Ukraine shouldn’t look to Berlin.”

What game is the German government playing?

Germany’s €100 Billion Deal

Politico wrote on May 30:

“After weeks of negotiations, German politicians finally reached a deal on a massive €100B military modernization fund… [It] will raise Germany’s annual military spending from roughly €50 billion to an average of €70 billion over the course of five years. That would put Germany in line with the NATO goal to spend 2 percent of economic output on defense — a commitment Berlin has so far blatantly violated. However, the deal reached on Sunday night falls short of enshrining the 2 percent target in the German constitution. Instead, it says the benchmark should be reached ‘on a multi-year average,’ meaning Germany might spend more than 2 percent in some years due to major military investments, but less in others….

“Although Germany’s official list of military investments is secret, there is one huge project the government has made public: The purchase of U.S. F-35 stealth fighter jets… Notably, these high-tech jets should, if worst comes to worst, be able to carry U.S. nuclear weapons… Sunday’s deal specifies that the new money must be used for Bundeswehr investments, raising hopes among German defense companies like Rheinmetall that they will get fresh orders for new tanks and ammunition…

“Given that the €100 billion will be spent over five years, Germany is unlikely to soon have more tanks and artillery to donate to Ukraine…

“Scholz’s government has been hammered internationally in recent months for being too hesitant to provide Ukraine with military support. While Scholz’s pledges to make Germany a more prominent European military power are being welcomed in many EU capitals, especially in the east, many nations are waiting to see if those words are followed by deeds. On that front, Scholz’s track record so far is quite thin.”

Scholz Being Pushed Again…

Breitbart wrote on June 1:

“German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Wednesday his country will rush modern anti-aircraft missiles and radar systems to Ukraine… His promise to Kyiv came just hours after U.S. President Joe Biden announced he was releasing advanced rocket systems to help Ukrainian forces repel their Russian invaders…”

Of course, a “promise” by Scholz, which he was pushed to make, does not mean that it will be carried out any time soon.

Weak Germany Loses Authority

Express wrote on June 1:

“Germany and Austria have ruled out any future European Union embargo on Russian gas imports after a Brussels summit agreed a partial oil ban last night… Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are already pushing to step up Russian energy sanctions to keep the pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, but other EU countries said the bloc had hit the political limit. Setting the scene for a new clash over sanctions, Karl Nehammer, the Austrian chancellor, said that there could be no question of suspending gas imports because of the effect on major European economies, such as Germany’s. He said, in a reference to the German chancellor ruling out any moves towards a ban during talks last night: ‘The gas embargo will not be a topic, Olaf Scholz has made this clear as well.’…

“The crumbling of German authority was on vivid display this week as EU heads of state and government struggled to reach an agreement to embargo Russian oil and to overcome the stubborn opposition of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.”

Hungary was permitted to keep importing its needs for oil from Russia. Hungary gets more than 60% of its oil from Russia. Scholz is viewed by observers as the weakest and most inconsequential and irrelevant chancellor in the history of Germany. But Germany’s lack of influence will change under a new leadership.

Denmark Reconsidering its “Neutrality”

Courthouse News Service wrote on May 25:

“In 1992, Danes voted against the Maastricht Treaty, which established the European Union. Instead, the Danish Parliament suggested joining the treaty with several significant reservations as a compromise. Denmark joined the bloc but kept its own currency, maintained a line between Danish national citizenship and EU citizenship, and opted out of EU justice, police and defense policies. The latter means that Denmark does not contribute soldiers, financing and equipment for EU-led military operations abroad… The only EU-related defense efforts from the Danish government have involved sending police on civilian missions for peacekeeping purposes. Otherwise, the small Nordic country has abstained from 11 EU operations in global hotspots, mainly on the African continent.

“But now, in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the defense reservation has been put up for a new referendum. On June 1, Danish citizens will vote on whether to lift the 30-year-old military opt-out. In March, the Danish government announced an agreement on an updated national security policy. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized how she wishes to go all-in on the defense collaboration with the EU…

“The defense reservation is heavily debated in the Danish public and media. Political opponents of lifting it have warned of the prospect of an EU army and how Denmark can become an involuntary pawn in large military operations caused by strategic considerations of bigger EU member states, such as France. But supporters argue that [the] time has come for Denmark to take responsibility for security in Europe and abroad… The share of Danish voters who support joining the EU defense pact has grown to 42%… Twenty-eight percent of Danes are opposed to lifting the country’s defense reservation while 22% are undecided.”

It will be interesting to observe where the Nordic nations of Denmark, Sweden and Finland—all descendants of the ancient house of Israel—will end up in relationship with a united Europe, a core Europe, and a European Army.

Denmark Voted to Join the EU’s Defence Policy

 The Guardian wrote on June 1:

“Denmark has voted overwhelmingly to join the EU’s common defence policy, becoming the last of the bloc’s members to sign up… The referendum on Wednesday, in which voters backed the government’s proposal by 66.9% to 33.1%, followed historic applications by Denmark’s previously non-aligned Nordic neighbours, Finland and Sweden, to join Nato last month…

“Participation in the EU’s defence policy will allow Denmark, a founding Nato member, to take part in joint EU military operations, such as those in Bosnia, Mali and Somalia, and will allow Danish officials to stay in the room when EU colleagues discuss defence issues…

“‘The political significance will outweigh the military contribution,’ said Kristian Soby Kristensen, a senior researcher at Copenhagen University’s Centre for Military Studies. Those opposed to abandoning the opt-out argued that the EU’s defence cooperation is hampered by excessive bureaucracy and inefficient decision-making, and that a joint European defence would come at the expense of Nato.”

The Not-So-Hidden Truth About Pope Pius XII

DNYUZ wrote on May 27:

“David Kertzer… a 74-year-old historian… cut through a crowd lined up to see Pope Francis, showed his credentials to the Swiss Guards and entered the archives of the former headquarters for the Holy Roman Inquisition. Over the last few decades, Mr. Kertzer has turned the inquisitive tables on the church. Using the Vatican’s own archives, the soft-spoken Brown University professor and trustee at the American Academy in Rome has become arguably the most effective excavator of the Vatican’s hidden sins, especially those leading up to and during World War II.

“The son of a rabbi… participated in the liberation of Rome as an Army chaplain… [A new book] documents the private decision-making that led Pope Pius XII to stay essentially silent about Hitler’s genocide and argues that the pontiff’s impact on the war is underestimated. And not in a good way…

“The current pope, Francis, said ‘the church is not afraid of history,’ when in 2019 he ordered the archives of Pius XII opened. But as Francis wrestles with how forcefully to condemn a dictator, this time Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, Mr. Kertzer has unearthed some frightening evidence about the cost of keeping quiet about mass killings.

“Mr. Kertzer makes the case that Pius XII’s overriding dread of Communism, his belief that the Axis powers would win the war, and his desire to protect the church’s interests all motivated him to avoid offending Hitler and Mussolini, whose ambassadors had worked to put him on the throne. The pope was also worried, the book shows, that opposing the Führer would alienate millions of German Catholics. The book further reveals that a German prince and fervent Nazi acted as a secret back channel between Pius XII and Hitler, and that the pope’s top Vatican adviser on Jewish issues urged him in a letter not to protest a Fascist order to arrest and send to concentration camps most of Italy’s Jews…

“Defenders of Pius XII, whose case for sainthood is still being evaluated, have long argued that he worked behind the scenes to help Jews, and that anti-Catholic enemies have sought to stain the institution by sullying the pontiff… But the urge to protect Pius’s reputation, according to Mr. Kertzer, reflects a more general refusal by Italy — and apologists in the Vatican — to come to terms with their complicity in the Second World War, the Holocaust and the murder of Rome’s Jews…”

Actually, Pope Pius’ collaboration with the Italian and German Nazis has been known for a long time. One revealing book in this regard is David Kertzer’s work, “The Pope and Mussolini,” which was published in 2014.

Pope Francis’ Political Move and Pelosi’s “Defense”

Fox News reported on May 29:

“Pope Francis on Sunday named as cardinal San Diego Bishop Robert W. McElroy, a Roman Catholic leader who had spoken out against the calls for bishops to exclude pro-choice politicians like President Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi from Holy Communion over their stances on abortion.

“The move comes in the wake of San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone’s announcement earlier this month that he would bar Pelosi from receiving Holy Communion due to her stance on abortion. In naming McElroy, Francis passed over Cordileone, who holds a higher rank…

“Despite Cordileone’s clear declaration, Pelosi received Holy Communion at the 9 a.m. Mass at Holy Trinity in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., last Sunday. Pelosi defended her position and condemned Cordileone’s move in remarks last Tuesday. She claimed the issue of abortion is not just about terminating a pregnancy because the people criticizing its legality and morality also oppose contraceptives, family planning and in-vitro fertilization… ‘This decision… [is] not consistent with the Gospel of Matthew,’ she argued.”

For Pope Francis to say that the issue of the eucharist should not be politicized and then heavily politicize it himself is stunning.. .and then maybe not. Pelosi’s “defense” conveniently muddles the issues of abortion and conception.. but the ban on conception (a wrong teaching by the Catholic Church) was not at issue here. The gospel message according to Matthew most certainly does NOT endorse or even allow for abortion.

Iraq to Become Arch-Enemy of Israel?

Israel Today wrote on May 27:

“Iraq on Thursday passed a new law criminalizing the normalization of relations with Israel, ostensibly ending any hope that it would eventually sign on to the Abraham Accords.  Those violating the law could face the death penalty or life in prison. It was passed by an overwhelming majority of 275 lawmakers out of Iraq’s 329-seat parliament…

“The US State Department on Thursday issued a statement decrying the new Iraqi law: ‘The United States is deeply disturbed by the Iraqi Parliament’s passage of legislation that criminalizes normalization of relations with Israel. In addition to jeopardizing freedom of expression and promoting an environment of antisemitism, this legislation stands in stark contrast to progress Iraq’s neighbors have made by building bridges and normalizing relations with Israel, creating new opportunities for people throughout the region.’”

The Algemeiner added:

“The provisions outlaw ‘contact and communication of any kind and means with the occupying Zionist entity, its nationals, and representatives, whether individuals or institutions or organizations, for any reason.’ Also prohibited are any ‘financial or moral assistance’ to the State of Israel or Israeli organizations, alongside the ‘promotion of any ideas, ideologies, principles, or Israeli or Zionist conduct, in any form.’”

The law also states this:

“This law aims to achieve the following: 1. Criminalizing normalization with the Zionist entity in any form. 2. Preventing the establishment of diplomatic, political, military, economic or cultural relations or any other form of relations with the occupying Zionist entity… It is forbidden to normalize and establish diplomatic, political, military, economic, cultural, or any other relationship with the Zionist entity.”

The law also forbids any Iraqi to travel to Israel and to visit any Israeli institution throughout the world.  

The Bible indicates in Psalm 83 that Iraq (possibly identified as parts of “Moab”) might belong to a confederacy of Israel’s enemies determined to destroy and obliterate the state.

Will Netanyahu Return?

The Jerusalem Post wrote on May 27:

“Since the current coalition came together, it has appeared impossible that Netanyahu could ever form a government again, overcoming both the political vetoes of key figures on the Right and his ongoing corruption trial. But over the past two weeks, the eulogies have been halted, and even the most anti-Netanyahu media have started speaking seriously – and objectively – about the possibility of a Netanyahu comeback…

“Over the past couple weeks, the top state’s witness, former Communications Ministry director-general Shlomo Filber, has repeatedly harmed the prosecution by denying key elements in its story about how Netanyahu tried to evade the law. The prosecution was scolded by the judges for seeking to change the indictment in Case 4000 following Filber’s apparently self-contradictory testimony. Even legal analysts who have repeatedly predicted that Netanyahu will end up in jail wrote that the prosecution has lost its momentum in the trial… Netanyahu’s associates said Wednesday that they have never been more relieved that he did not accept a plea bargain before the departure of former attorney-general Avichai Mandelblit.

“The second reason for renewed optimism about a potential Netanyahu comeback is the rapid disintegration of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s inner circle in the Prime Minister’s Office. Over the past two weeks, he lost his powerful diplomatic adviser, Shimrit Meir, and his loyal chief of staff, Tal Gan-Zvi…

“A successful comeback after he failed in four elections still remains far-fetched. But he has surprised both his strongest supporters and worst enemies before. Don’t rule out being surprised once again.”

It would be extremely premature to rule out a comeback of Netanyahu. It was predictable from the outset that the current coalition government would not hold.

Clinton Lawyer Michael Sussmann Acquitted—No Surprise

Techno Fog wrote on May 31:

“The acquittal is no surprise. This is a DC jury, after all. In the Roger Stone case, for example… a juror lied to get on the panel (That judge didn’t care.) Making matters worse, the Sussmann judge wrongly allowed for a woman to remain on the jury, despite the fact that her daughter and Sussmann’s are on the same high school crew team. One can’t help but think that juror had her own daughter’s interests in mind – the cohesion of the crew team, sparing her of teenage drama, etc. – when she reached a decision…

“On the facts, the evidence was more than sufficient to prove Sussmann’s guilt. Sussmann lied to then-FBI general counsel James Baker via text message in order to get a meeting to pass the Alfa Bank hoax materials to the FBI. Sussmann lied again during the meeting – stating he was not there on behalf of a client – in order to get the FBI to open an investigation into the Trump Organization’s purported ties with Alfa Bank….

“I won’t say the verdict doesn’t matter. Of course it matters. It would have proven that a DC jury can convict one of their own. It would have resulted in accountability for lying to the FBI. Not the gravest of crimes, but it is still a crime…”

The judge in the case was an Obama appointee. Several jurors were Clinton supporters. So how could this have been a fair trial? But it shows again how corrupt our legal system is.

The USA Under Biden… the New Sodom and Gomorrah

The Federalist wrote on May 25:

“K-12 schools must allow boys into girls’ private areas to obtain federal funds for lunches, breakfasts, and snacks, the Biden administration announced this month…

“Under this new demand, establishments that accept any federal food funding, including food stamps, must also allow males who claim to be female to access female private spaces, such as showers, bathrooms, and sleeping areas. Such organizations must also follow protocols such as requiring staff to use inaccurate pronouns to describe transgender people and allowing male staff to dress as women while on the job.

“Religious institutions, however, qualify for a waiver exempting them from these requirements… Organizations may request a religious exemption by submitting a written declaration to the Secretary of Agriculture identifying the provisions that conflict with a specific tenet of the religious organization…

“Government schools can receive no exemption…

“Parents have told The Federalist that their daughters no longer use the bathrooms or locker rooms at their public schools because they don’t feel safe there. Many parents are finding after the fact that school districts are helping their children live as the opposite sex and hide that from their families….”

This is awful. How a professing “Christian” government and nation can endorse such blatantly ungodly concepts is beyond belief.

“Important” to Support Family-Friendly Gay Parades

Insider Paper wrote on May 31:

“There is no reason to avoid LGBTQ+ parades, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), despite the recent outbreak of monkeypox virus, which has been confirmed in over 435 cases in nearly 24 countries… While the virus is not a sexually transmitted infection… the most recent outbreak appears to have been spread among men who have sex with other men.

“The WHO, on the other hand, emphasized that anyone can contract monkeypox and that it is critical to show support for the LGBTQ+ community. ‘It’s important that people who want to go out and celebrate gay pride, LGBTQ pride, to continue to go and plan to do so,’ Andy Seale, strategies adviser at WHO’s department of sexually transmitted infections programmes, said… ‘Most of these events – the official events – are outdoors, they’re family friendly…’

“… people expressed concern about upcoming pride marches in New York on June 26 and Berlin on July 23, among other cities.”

Travel Restrictions Lifted for Germany?

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 25:

“Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said that, as of next Wednesday, people entering Germany would no longer have to show proof of vaccination or negative test result or demonstrate a recent recovery from the coronavirus… ‘Until the end of August, we will suspend the 3G rule on entry,” Lauterbach [said].  It is not clear what will happen from September onward… Stricter rules will remain in force for people entering from ‘virus-variant’ areas…

“Earlier this month, Germany said it had no plans to lift the mask mandate for flights coming into the country despite new EU guidance.”

Lauterbach has lied many times before or walked back his “promises.” It will remain to be seen what is going to happen… especially beginning in September.

European Payback

Express wrote on May 28:

“Brexit has resulted in many changes for Britons since it came into force at the beginning of 2021. Holidays to EU countries have been impacted, with British citizens now having to pay extra to travel to Europe. From next year, UK passport holders travelling from Britain will have to pay to get a visa…. This means Britons will have to pay to enter 27 countries, all of which are in the EU.

“To acquire a visa, British holidaymakers will need to have it issued through the European Travel Information and Authorisation System if they’re travelling for less than 90 days during an 180 day period. This applies to anyone travelling to any EU country by plane, boat, or car.

“The visa must be applied for 96 hours before departing on a trip, and will cost €7, or £5. Travellers younger than 18 years old and older than 70 will be the only ones not required to get one. Applicants will be asked for information about their identity, passport, education, job, recent travel, and criminal convictions. The visa will last for three years, but expires when a person’s passport expires.

“… Under new requirements, Britons must have a specific length of time left on their passport in order for it to be classed as valid for travel… A passport issued by non-member states hoping to visit the Schengen Area must have been issued in the past 10 years. If your passport doesn’t meet these rules, you need to apply for a new passport before travelling to the countries affected…’

More paperwork… more money… more time wasting… more complicated procedures. But Europe’s payback because of the Brexit has only just begun.

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer

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

In Exodus 31:12-17, God made another covenant with the people.  This is a separate covenant from the one between God and the children of Israel and it is a sign that God is their LORD: “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: “Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the God who sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.”’” It is a perpetual covenant throughout all their generations forever. Again, as noted previously, perpetual and forever are translated from the same Hebrew word. This covenant would never be replaced. It was based on the law of the weekly and annual Sabbaths. As we explain in our free booklet, “And Lawlessness Will Abound”:

“By observing and being mindful of this sign, Israel would understand that it is God who sanctifies them, and Israel as a nation would become a sign to the other nations of this world, as the keeping of God’s Sabbaths does single one out.

“This separate Sabbath covenant between God and His people was never abolished—neither were the laws of God commanding us to keep His weekly and annual Sabbaths holy. And, since Christians are to be spiritual Jews (Romans 2:28–29; Galatians 6:16; Revelation 2:9; 3:9), they have a two-fold obligation to keep God’s Sabbaths—first, because God commands us to do so; and second, because they are under a specific covenant or agreement that God made with both physical and spiritual Israel, for all generations.”

Looking back to the statement of the laws of the covenant in Exodus 23:32-33, God told them that when they went into the land of Canaan, “You shall make no covenant with them”—the people currently living in the land—“nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”

This command is repeated in Exodus 34:10-13 when God made another covenant with Israel after they had sinned by building a golden calf: “And He said: ‘Behold, I make [better: “I am making”, so the New International Version; similar the Living Bible and the New American Bible] a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the LORD. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you. Observe what I command you this day. Behold, I am driving out from before you the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be a snare in your midst. But you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images.’”

This was again repeated in Deuteronomy 7:2-4. God here tells the people not to allow their sons to marry the daughters of the people of the land, nor their daughters to marry the sons of the people of the land: “…and when the LORD your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them. Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the LORD will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly.”

In Deuteronomy 7:9-10, God reminds the people of His faithfulness: “Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face.” This faithfulness for a thousand generations is basically everlasting.

There is a strong warning to those under the covenant in Deuteronomy 17:2-5: “If there is found among you, within any of your gates which the LORD your God gives you, a man or a woman who has been wicked in the sight of the LORD your God, in transgressing His covenant, who has gone and served other gods and worshipped them, either the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded, and it is told you, and you hear of it, then you shall inquire diligently. And if it is indeed true and certain that such an abomination has been committed in Israel, then you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman who has committed that wicked thing, and shall stone to death that man or woman with stones.”

When the children of Israel entered the land under Joshua, they were deceived by the Gibeonites. These people had heard how the Israelites under Joshua had defeated fortified cities. They therefore sent ambassadors to Gilgal. Joshua 9:6-9 states: “And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and the men of Israel, ‘We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.’ Then the men of Israel said to the Hivites, ‘Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you?’ But they said to Joshua, ‘We are your servants.’ And Joshua said to them, ‘Who are you, and where do you come from?’ So they said to him: ‘From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt.’”

The reason Joshua and the men of Israel were deceived is mentioned in Joshua 9:14-15: “Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the LORD. So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.” They did not ask counsel of the LORD but used their own human reason. However, when they found out that the Gibeonites were close neighbours, they did not attack them because of the covenant they had made, but instead made them slaves for service at the house of God. Joshua 9:27 says: “And that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, in the place which He would choose, even to this day.”

Shortly after this, the kings of five neighbouring cities who had heard that the Gibeonites had made peace with Israel decided to attack Gibeon. Joshua 10:3-4 reads: “Therefore Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying, ‘Come up to me and help me, that we may attack Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.’”

The response by the Gibeonites was to ask for help from Joshua, reminding him that they were the servants of Israel. Joshua 10:6 states: “And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, ‘Do not forsake your servants; come up to us quickly, save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the mountains have gathered together against us.’” The result was that Joshua and the men of Israel attacked at the LORD’s direction, not using their own human reason as before, and the LORD assisted Joshua in destroying the Amorites. In fact, this was the time when, at Joshua’s request, God caused the “sun to stand still” for about a whole day so the men of Israel had time to defeat the enemy (compare Joshua 10:12-14). We see here that the children of Israel fought at the LORD’s direction. God was helping the children of Israel to keep the covenant they had made with the Gibeonites, even though they should not have made it in the first place. God even stopped the earth rotating (to the people looking at the sky, it appeared as if the sun stood still) which shows how important He considers it is to keep a covenant.

The next mention of the Gibeonites is in 2 Samuel 21:1. This shows again how seriously God considers the keeping of a covenant, and how God expects His people to be faithful, even when the covenant was made against His directions and without seeking His advice: “Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, ‘It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites.’” So because of Saul’s breaking the covenant with the Gibeonites, God sent a famine on the land of Israel.

It is of interest that the modern day Falashas in Ethiopia are considered by the state of Israel to be descended from the Gibeonites, and in 1975 were accepted by the Chief Rabbinate as Jews and were allowed to migrate to Israel. (See the Q&A “Who are the modern-day Gibeonites?”) 

The whole of Leviticus 26 presents a list of blessings for keeping God’s laws and the covenants which are based on God’s laws, and cursings for breaking God’s laws and covenants. And yet, even if they were to break God’s laws and covenants and would be taken into captivity, Leviticus 26:44-45 informs us that God will not break His covenant because He is a faithful God: “Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, nor shall I abhor them, to utterly destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God. But for their sake I will remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.”

In this passage in Leviticus 26, the covenant God is referring to is the one He made at Sinai with the children of Israel. Back in Leviticus 26:42, God brings up the covenants He made with the patriarchs. If the people who have broken their covenant with God confess their iniquity, “Then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham I will remember; I will remember the land.” The land was specifically mentioned in the covenants God made with the patriarchs.

Another covenant that God made with Aaron and the children of Levi is mentioned in Numbers 18:19: “All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer to the LORD, I have given to you and your sons and daughters with you as an ordinance forever; it is a covenant of salt forever before the LORD with you and your descendants with you.” Reference to the covenant of salt was already made in Leviticus 2:13: “And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.” Salt, as well as being a flavouring, is also a preservative. It is also extremely durable symbolizing that God’s covenant with Levi is also durable or everlasting.

Salt is mentioned because it pictures permanence. Because the Levites were given no inheritance in the land, God gave them all the tithes in Israel in return for the work of the tabernacle of meeting.

This particular covenant between God and the Levites is mentioned in Malachi 2:4-8 where God is condemning the priests who were not performing their duty: “‘Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you, That My covenant with Levi may continue,’ Says the LORD of hosts. ‘My covenant was with him, one of life and peace, And I gave them to him that he might fear Me; So he feared Me And was reverent before My name. The law of truth was in his mouth, And injustice was not found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and equity, And turned many away from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But you have departed from the way; You have caused many to stumble at the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,’ Says the LORD of hosts.””

So the obvious question is, why did God make a perpetual covenant with the tribe of Levi, which is also referred to in Jeremiah 33:18–22? Exodus 32 begins to provide part of the answer. This passage describes the time when Moses had gone up to the mountain to receive instructions about the worship of God and the formation of the priesthood. The people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain and they said to Aaron to make them gods to go before them. Aaron fashioned a golden calf and the people worshipped in front of it. We read in Exodus 32:25-29, “Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained (for Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame among their enemies), then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, ‘Whoever is on the LORD’s side—come to me!’ And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him. And he said to them, ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel: “Let every man put his sword on his side, and go in and out from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and let every man kill his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.”’ So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day. Then Moses said, ‘Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD, that He may bestow on you a blessing this day, for every man has opposed his son and his brother.’” They, as a tribe, were willing to stand up for God and His laws.

This was repeated in Deuteronomy 10:8-9 where this separating of the tribe of Levi is again described: “At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister to Him and to bless His name, to this day. Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, just as the LORD your God promised him…”

In Numbers 25, the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. They were also joined to Baal of Peor, so God sent a plague on the people. When one of the men “presented” a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, Phinehas took a javelin in his hand and thrust both the man of Israel and the woman through their bodies. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel (compare verses 6-8).

We read in Numbers 25:10-13 that God made a covenant with Aaron’s grandson Phinehas: “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with My zeal among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal. Therefore say, “Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace; and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.”’”

In Deuteronomy 4:30-31, there is a prophecy that if the people sinned and worshipped false gods and were sent into captivity, God would not forget them if they repented: “When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice (for the LORD your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.” (Compare Deuteronomy 5:2-3 and Leviticus 26:45.)

(To Be Continued)

Lead Writer: Paul Niehoff (Australia)

compiled by Dave Harris

“Theocratic Abortion—a God-Given Right in Many Religions” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

Why do many religions believe and teach that abortion is a religious right under some or even all circumstances? Why do many Jews believe this; why do many Muslims believe this… and why do many who claim to be Christians believe this as well? And even those who don’t believe this may sometimes take a very hypocritical approach in the matter. The Guardian published a telling article on June 2 about theocratic abortion rights, given or bestowed on us by immediate divine guidance. But is that the Truth? 

“Gerüchte, Fake News und die Wahrheit,” is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Rumors, Fake News and the Truth.”

“Gottes Geist der Barmherzigkeit (Pfingsten 2022),” is the title of the German sermon for Pentecost, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “God’s Spirit of Mercy (Pentecost 2022)”

“In aller Liebe,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath in Germany by Robert Indlekofer, is now posted. Title in English: “With All Love.”

“You’re Better Than That!”, the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Dave Harris, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Sometimes we meet with disapproval by our actions when we make mistakes we shouldn’t have made. In fact, the Word of God challenges us to become better. Do we have eyes to see and ears to hear God’s correction?

“When Satan Messes with You,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Eric Rank, is now posted. Here is a summary:

As unpopular as it is to say, Satan is the ruler in this current age. He never ceases to find our weaknesses and exploit them so that we turn away from God. How can we tell when Satan is attacking us and what can we do to overcome his influence, taunts, and temptations?