Update 1051

On December 31, 2022, Brian Gale will present the sermonette, titled, “I Wouldn’t Have Done That!,” and Eric Rank will present the sermon, titled, “True Repentance.”

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

The other day, I was at our local library and snow was expected.  Two employees were discussing closing early. As the one with the authority walked away, the other remarked: “Remember, use your powers for good!” We’ve heard this phrase: “use your powers for good,” typically in a light-hearted manner and most often in the superhero storyline.

People enjoy seeing underdogs overcome evil. It is satisfying watching a porch pirate or an internet scammer receive his or her due. While we are not meant to deliver retribution, it is hard to watch evil and selfish people rise to power and corrupt cities, states, and nations; we want David to overcome Goliath.

God gave us the capacity to learn and develop our skills, and we are capable of significant accomplishment. If one studied the early actions by the Nazi command in WWII, one could see the role that radar and codes had in triangulating points in England to be bombed. In this way, the German Air Force could run raids regardless of weather or darkness.

The codes the Nazis used were complex and had so many combinations that breaking them proved to be nearly impossible. Mathematicians and others were at work at Bletchley Park, 50 miles northwest of London, attempting to break the codes.

Though fascinating, our focus is on the evil that inspired the work of creating the codes that would be used to destroy British military targets and level cities rich with history, culture, and people of all ages. It was a time that evil was establishing a foothold in Europe and had eyes on conquering the rest of the world. This behavior is clear to us in the book of Isaiah, chapter 5 and verse 20, and we read: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

History is tainted by human perception, but provides some understanding of a moment in time. World domination and the eventual annihilation of a group of humans was not clear when Hitler rose to power in the mid-1930’s. The pursuit of excellence in industry, the arts, and technology is often the screen for more nefarious goals. As Hitler came on the scene, the nation was still recovering its economic footing following WWI. A leader who could galvanize people to action would have been welcome. However, understanding his deeper motivation was difficult in the early days of his role as Chancellor.

Evil can be masked and characterized in ways that people can be drawn to it and embrace it willingly. This was the case with Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin in that era. Of course, in our time, we are witnessing the rise of evil in so many ways, and it is not limited to government.

As Europe came increasingly under Nazi control, it became clear that revitalizing Germany was no longer the primary goal.  The military leaders could no longer deceive themselves into thinking that Hitler was nothing more than a strong leader. I suspect many Russian troops found themselves in a similar dilemma with their recent attempts to invade Ukraine. However, in time they too understood that the same treatment would be given to their homeland by the opposition, just as it occurred in WWII. War is evil and killing begets more killing.

In Galatians 6:7-8, we read: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” No manner of rationalization can alter this truth.

We know that God did not create us to be evil. This is the motivation of Satan; given the carnality and free will of mankind, we seek to do at times what we understand to be evil. God however wants us to obey and follow Him. In Ephesians 5:8-9, we see what God wants for us: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth)….”

Similar skills and expertise that led to the use of the codes and radar to kill, led to the creation of a replica of the code machine at Bletchley. This work began to turn the tide of the war; however, it did not end the evil and killing. The code breakers were using their skills for good, but war is immoral on all sides. We see this lesson in Romans 3:10:  ^“As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one.” And the point is enhanced in verse 23 of Romans 3: “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Though we may believe our cause is just, unless it is God’s Will and in obedience to God, it cannot be just. Any action that leads to more killing is wrong and is not pleasing to God. He did not imbue us with skills to use for evil purposes. For example, God chose David to lead His people, but He was not pleased with David’s tendency for violence. It was God’s Will that allowed David to defeat Goliath, but in 1 Chronicles 22:8, we see how God viewed David’s war-like focus that he continued to pursue: “… but the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight.’” Psalm 11:5 provides a blunt warning to all: “The Lord tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.”

It may be tempting to see evil receive its due, but this is in God’s hands, and we need to focus on using our talents and abilities to honor Him with all we do. Remember, let’s all use our God-given skills for good and turn from evil whenever we confront it.

by Norbert Link

We begin reporting on, what has been termed America’s “worst winter storm in decades” and the troubles of Southwest Airlines; continue with the shameful adoption of the omnibus bill and even another secretly adopted interim spending bill, showing how utterly corrupt and incompetent Congress is [please view our new StandingWatch program, “The Omnibus Bill—An Insane Way to Run the Country.” ]; continue with the shameful action of the FBI in the Twitter scandal and its despicable “justification” of indefensible conduct, as well as the manufactured propaganda regarding the COVID pandemic; and point out how corrupt the sham-and-farce January 6 Committee has been in their effort to blame Donald Trump for the events, while conveniently ignoring and suppressing the culpability of Nancy Pelosi.

We address the animosity of American Jewish rabbis towards Israel’s new government; the strong condemnation of Europe by Israel’s Knesset members and Europe’s antisemitism; and an interesting discussion in a Knesset Committee regarding building the Third Temple.

We continue with Croatia’s adoption of the euro and its becoming the latest member of the Schengen Agreement; and speak on the fact that Europe is presently a mess; and how it is being humiliated by Ukraine’s President Zelensky. In this regard, please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Europe Against Ukraine and Israel – YouTube”

We conclude with a cryptic message of Pope Francis and his ignorance of the true Jesus; and with the adoration, if not worship, of the Christmas Tree in Germany.

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

Worst Winter Storm in Decades in the USA

The Associated Press wrote on December 25:

“Millions of people hunkered down in a deep freeze overnight and early morning to ride out the frigid storm that has killed at least 24 people across the United States, trapping some residents inside homes with heaping snow drifts and knocking out power to several hundred thousand homes and businesses.

“The scope of the storm has been nearly unprecedented, stretching from the Great Lakes near Canada to the Rio Grande along the border with Mexico. About 60% of the U.S. population faced some sort of winter weather advisory or warning, and temperatures plummeted drastically below normal from east of the Rocky Mountains to the Appalachians…

“Some 1,346 domestic and international flights were canceled as of early Sunday… Forecasters said a bomb cyclone — when atmospheric pressure drops very quickly in a strong storm — had developed near the Great Lakes, stirring up blizzard conditions, including heavy winds and snow.

“The storm unleashed its full fury on Buffalo, with hurricane-force winds and snow causing whiteout conditions, paralyzing emergency response efforts… and shutting down the airport through Monday…

“The storm knocked out power in communities from Maine to Seattle… Across the six New England states, about 121,300 customers remained without power on Sunday, with Maine still the hardest hit…

“In South Florida, temperatures dropped to as low as 43 degrees (6.1 degrees Celsius) in West Palm Beach. The temperature drop was conducive to iguanas falling out of trees since the cold-blooded reptiles typically become immobilized in unusually cold weather.”

So much for man-made global warming.

Southwest Airlines Chaos

OpentheBooks Substack wrote on December 27:

“Southwest Airlines received $7.2 billion in federal subsidies for payroll and operations since 2020. However, the airline stranded tens of thousands of passengers around the country on the Christmas holiday when it canceled 5,400 flights in less than 48 hours…

“Southwest is blaming the failure on a crash of its internal systems that schedule flight crews and pilots. A union for Southwest Airlines flight attendants attributed the meltdown to outdated scheduling systems that should have been upgraded years ago.

“Late yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that it opened a federal investigation into the airline… [CITING] concern about an ‘unacceptable rate of cancellations and delays and reports of lack of prompt customer service.’

“Indeed. The Southwest mobile app, phone lines, and website were offline for much of yesterday afternoon and evening. In major hubs like Chicago Midway, some in-person customer service personnel walked off the job with hundreds of stranded passengers waiting to reschedule cancelled flights.

“Once bags were checked, the bags flew to final destinations even though no flights were available for canceled passengers. Stranded passengers found this baggage policy completely unacceptable – passengers were not able to reclaim checked luggage after flights were cancelled.

“It was absolute chaos for thousands and a logistical nightmare for the airline that won’t be solved for weeks…

“In September 2020, as part of massive COVID relief packages, Southwest received a $3.3 billion from the federal government. Its stock price also received a boost, with the US Treasury agreeing to purchase 1,054,907 shares of Southwest stock as part of the deal. In April 2021, as a part of the American Rescue Plan Act and other subsidies, Southwest received another $3.8 billion…

“In total, federal aid to the entire airline industry amounted to $64 billion in cash and loans during the Covid-period… While some of the aid was technically a loan, for example, Southwest only has to pay back 30% of the first $3.3 billion ($976 million) at a low interest rate over a ten year period.

“Southwest received so much federal aid, they turned a profit of $116 million in 2021… Other airlines were also received their cut of pandemic aid, of course, with the Treasury awarding over $37 billion of the first $54 billion in payroll support to the top ten airlines alone.

“During the 2022 Christmas holiday period, those airlines were able to keep their planes flying, by and large.”

Southwest Airline Chaos Continues

Newsmax wrote on December 28:

“Families hoping to catch a Southwest Airlines flight after days of cancellations, missing luggage and missed family connections suffered through another wave of scrubbed flights, with more than 2,500 pulled from arrival and departure boards Wednesday… In all, Southwest has canceled more than 15,700 flights since winter weather began disrupting air travel Thursday… And the chaos seemed certain to continue. Southwest already has scrubbed nearly 1,400 for Thursday…

“Southwest’s problems began over the weekend and snowballed Monday, when Southwest called off more than 70% of its flights. That was after the worst of the storm had passed…  Casey Murray, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, said the airline failed to fix problems that caused a similar meltdown in October 2021. ‘There is a lot of frustration because this is so preventable,’ Murray said. ‘The airline cannot connect crews to airplanes. The airline didn’t even know where pilots were at.’…

“The size and severity of the storm created havoc for many airlines, although the largest number of canceled flights Tuesday were at airports where Southwest is a major carrier… Spirit Airlines and Alaska Airlines both canceled about 10% of their flights, with much smaller cancellation percentages at American, Delta, United and JetBlue…”

Obviously, the storm cannot be blamed for Southwest Airlines’ incredible incompetence.

Shameful Omnibus Bill Approved

Breitbart wrote on December 23:

“The House passed the $1.7 trillion omnibus bill Friday by a vote of 225-201-1. Nine Republicans voted for the bill… Many of the GOP ‘yes’ votes came from outgoing members who lost their reelection bids in the 2022 cycle or are retiring [Of course, “RINOs” Adam Kinzinger  and Liz Cheney were among those “Republicans” voting for the scandalous bill. They might have figured, “I might as well vote for it, because my political career is over anyhow.”]…. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) was the only Democrat ‘no’ vote. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) voted present…

“The House rushed to vote on the bill before the looming government shutdown Friday night. The omnibus passed the Senate by a vote of 68-29 on Thursday afternoon. Eighteen Republican Senators voted for the 4,155-page bill [Shame on them]…

“Critics of the bill opposed the $45 billion aid to Ukraine. That $45 billion is in addition to the $66 billion of taxpayers’ money lawmakers have already approved for Ukraine… America’s debt stands at over $31 trillion.”

Republican Opposition

Fox News wrote on December 23:

“House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy blasted the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill after it passed on Friday, calling it a ‘stain’ on this Congress… ‘For the first time in history, a bill in the House was passed without a physical quorum present—more people voted by proxy than in person,’ McCarthy tweeted… adding that proxy voting will be repealed…

“In total, the omnibus contains 7,200 earmarks that add up to over $15 billion. The bill drew complaints from Republicans and some Democrats, with Sen. Rand Paul R-Ky., saying that ‘The process stinks. It’s an abomination. It’s a no good, rotten way to run your government. $6 trillion entity. And they want 24 hours to process this and then they want to go forward,’ Paul said.”

McCarthy also criticized the bill for forwarding various “left-wing pet projects.” He said: “This is a monstrosity. That is one of the most shameful acts I’ve ever seen in this body,” continuing, “The appropriations process has failed the American public, and there’s no greater example of the nail in the coffin of the greatest failure of a one-party rule of the House, the Senate, and the presidency.”

Washington is doomed. America is doomed. Competent leadership is missing. This is a fiasco with a circus of leaders who should never be responsible for running the country. But Satan is the god, prince and ruler of this world, and those not being called by God (and very few are in this day and age) are following the Devil’s evil desires and devices.

This is even more appalling when considering the incredibly high amount of taxes which hard-working Americans have to pay to the government which is just misusing, pilfering and wasting taxpayers’ money. But an accounting will come when Jesus Christ returns to this earth, replacing all these incompetent leaders and demanding a reckoning for their evil deeds.

Just to name a few “pork” examples, the ludicrous omnibus bill includes, according to Breitbart, $11 million for LGBT-related projects; $410 million for border security for other countries, including Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, and Oman; $1.5 million for the “COVID–19 American History Project”; $3.6 million for the establishment of a Michelle Obama Trail in Georgia; and $2 million in taxpayer dollars for the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore, Maryland; and $2.3 million for the Allotment (going to the Secretary of Education) to “conduct outreach to borrowers” who could qualify for the Biden administration’s stalled plan to cancel the debt of student loan borrowers.

We doubt that tax-payers, IF they were asked, would approve of any of this wasteful spending, while they are suffering to bring food on the table and make ends meet. Please view our new StandingWatch program, “The Omnibus Bill—An Insane Way to Run the Country.” 

The entirely POLITICAL nature of this bill can also be seen, when considering the following two examples.

It’s Just Political

Deutsche Welle wrote on December 23:

“The sweeping package includes $45 billion for Ukraine aid… The legislation was passed just days after… Zelenskyy visited the White House to argue for the $45 billion aid. Failure to place the bill on Biden’s desk would have been a foreign policy embarrassment.

“One of the key provisions of the bill includes an overhaul of the 1887 Electoral Count Act… The new revision makes it clear that vice presidents do not have the power to overturn elections… Trump had exploited the loosely worded text of the 19th century law to argue that his deputy—Mike Pence—could halt the transfer of power.

“In response, Pence issued a statement rejecting the then-president’s claims that he could subvert the outcome of the election.”

Under the old law, Pence’s conclusion was highly debatable.

America’s Absolutely Corrupt and Incompetent Congress

Fox News wrote on December 25:

“Believe it or not, despite weeks of machinations, a 4,100-page bill and a House roll call vote on Dec. 23, Congress still missed its deadline to fund the government… Lawmakers dithered for weeks – dragging out the final vote on the omnibus spending bill until nearly the last moment…

“A big, complicated bill like the omnibus must be ‘engrossed’ and ‘enrolled.’ Engrossment refers to the final version of legislation when passed by one body or other – but before it’s sent to the other chamber. In other words, the Senate passed the omnibus and then altered the legislation on the fly, adopting a host of amendments. So, upon passage, the Senate sent the tweaked version to the House to pass.

“Once the House approved the bill [better, rubber-stamped, without even reading it], both bodies were in sync. But, it would take time for congressional enrollment clerks to finalize the bill for President Biden’s signature. This is not an easy process. In fact, it was likely the enrollment clerks would need a couple of days to get the bill into proper parliamentary form as it was…

“Federal law requires Congress to print the legislation on parchment. That’s a practice which dates back to the beginning of the republic. Printing the bills on parchment was a method to protect Congress against forgeries. Plus, the speaker of the House and the president pro tempore of the Senate need to sign the bill. So, the technical process of getting the omnibus to the president to sign before the Friday night deadline was out of the question. This was going to take until a few days after Christmas at the earliest…

“Very quietly… both the House and Senate approved yet another interim spending bill. This would just keep the lights on for a few days, giving the enrollment clerks time to prepare the bill. It would only run through Dec. 30…”

This is SO incompetent and appalling. America’s governmental system is becoming a mockery.

Kamala Harris Strong Leader?

The New York Post wrote on December 23:

“Vice President Kamala Harris complained this week about poor media coverage — during a friendly interview with a Washington Post columnist — moaning that the press doesn’t focus on what she called ‘the strength of my leadership.’…

“[Interviewer] Capehart argued that contrary to conventional wisdom, Harris, 58, has ‘had a most excellent year’… Capehart [cited] Harris’ appearance at the Munich Security Conference in February just prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. What he did not mention was that Harris was roundly mocked for telling reporters at that conference that Europe had enjoyed ‘peace and security’ since the end of World War II.

“That remark, as many critics pointed out, ignored the 40-year Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe, the violent breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, and Russia’s invasion of Georgia in 2008 and annexation of Crimea in 2014.”

We would be hard-pressed naming a vice president as incompetent as Kamala Harris. Her proud self-adoration of strong leadership would be laughable, if it were not that serious.

The Shameful Action of the FBI

The Ron Paul Institute published on December 23 the following article by Law Professor Jonathan Turley:

“It is not clear what is more chilling: the menacing role played by the … FBI in Twitter’s censorship program or its mendacious response to the disclosure of that role. This week saw another FBI ‘nothing-to-see-here’ statement to the release of files detailing how it actively sought to suppress the Hunter Biden story before the 2020 election, gave millions to Twitter, and targeted even satire or tiny posts that did not conform with its guidelines… The FBI has largely shrugged and said that there is nothing concerning about over 80 agents working on the censoring of posters, including many American citizens.

“… the FBI is now adopting the language of pundits on the left that any objections to its role in censorship is a ‘conspiracy theory’… it is attacking free speech advocates who are raising the concern that Twitter had become an agent of the government in censorship. Notably, Twitter itself now believes that such an agency relationship existed.

“[The FBI] is still engaged in framing public opinion and echoing the narrative being advanced by the White House…”

As is so often the case, the villain becomes a denier or even the accuser.

How Twitter Suppressed COVID Information

Newsmax wrote on December 26:

“Twitter helped manipulate the COVID-19 debate by relenting to government pressure and censoring content related to the virus, according to the latest ‘Twitter Files’ release.

“Reporter David Zweig on Monday morning took to Twitter to post about COVID-19-related actions by the social media platform before billionaire Elon Musk assumed control… The reporter cited numerous examples, including how Twitter suspended journalist Alex Berenson hours after President Joe Biden, in the summer of 2021, said social media companies were ‘killing people’ for allowing vaccine misinformation. ‘Berenson sued (and then settled with) Twitter. In the legal process Twitter was compelled to release certain internal communications, which showed direct White House pressure on the company to take action on Berenson,’ Zweig tweeted.

“A recent summary of meetings with the White House by Lauren Culbertson, Twitter’s head of U.S. public policy, said the Biden team ‘was “very angry” that Twitter had not been more aggressive in deplatforming multiple accounts. They wanted Twitter to do more,’ Zweig tweeted… Twitter ‘did suppress views — many from doctors and scientific experts — that conflicted with the official positions of the White House. As a result, legitimate findings and questions that would have expanded the public debate went missing.’

“That included some experts’ opinions, despite being in line with vaccine policies in numerous other countries, being labeled ‘false information’ because they differed from the CDC guidelines. Zweig said that internal files he viewed showed that both the Trump and Biden administrations pressed Twitter executives and other social media platforms to moderate pandemic content.

“Zweig’s 40 posts on Monday morning concluded with an obvious question. ‘What might this pandemic and its aftermath have looked like if there had been a more open debate on Twitter and other social media platforms — not to mention the mainstream press — about the origins of Covid, about lockdowns, about the true risks of Covid in kids, and much more?’…”

A good question, but this was not in the government’s interest, showing how WRONG the government [with the “guidance” of Dr. Fauci and others] has been in dealing with COVID 19. And the government CONTINUES to be wrong with its ridiculous vaccine “recommendations” and mandates.  

How the Mass Media and the US Government Colluded on the Corona Narrative

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on December 28:

“From the beginning of the Covid panic, it felt that something was very wrong. Never had a pandemic, much less a seasonal pathogenic wave, been treated as a quasi-military emergency requiring the upending of all freedoms and rights… And what applies at Twitter pertains equally to Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, and all platforms associated with those companies (YouTube, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp)… These platforms colluded with the federal government’s administrative arm to craft a particular Covid narrative, throttling and censoring dissidents and boosting any credentialed expert who was willing to toe the line.

“At this point, it is wise to trust no one and nothing but those who fought against this nonsense… I watched the population gradually fall into a medieval-style disease panic that tore families apart, kept loved ones from traveling, wrecked businesses and churches, and even violated the sanctity of the homes… The closing down of opinion and debate resulted in unspeakable human carnage. And even as I write, the largest sources of the mainstream media are still refusing to report on this...”

The Corrupt Conduct of the January 6 Sham-and-Farce Committee

On December 213, Life Site News reprinted the following article by WND News Center:

“A partisan congressional committee this week blamed former President Donald Trump for the January 6 riot at the Capitol that left an unarmed protester dead at the hands of police, asking the Department of Justice to investigate and charge him with four crimes. However, a new report from the House GOP suggested that outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her staff were more culpable than they’ve ever admitted…

“Jim Jordan (R–OH) who soon will be the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and heading up various investigations, said, ‘The reason there wasn’t a proper security presence on that day goes right to the speaker’s staff and the speaker’s office.’ It’s been reported before that Trump had offered additional National Guard troops to be present at the Capitol that day, but those responsible for security of the building, including Pelosi, refused.

“That day hundreds of protesters amassed outside the Capitol to protest the expected congressional confirmation of President Joe Biden’s move into the White House, on the belief the election was stolen from President Trump… what has been documented are at least two significant influences on the election, either of which could have taken the win away from Trump.

“One was the $400 million-plus Mark Zuckerberg handed out, through foundations, to various local election officials who often used it for get-out-the-vote schemes in Democrat strongholds. The other was the decision by the FBI to interfere in the election and tell social media to beware of ‘disinformation’ about Hunter Biden’s scandal-ridden laptop computer, which he abandoned at a repair shop. However, the reporting on the Biden family schemes revealed that was all accurate…

“Just the News said while Pelosi denied any power over Capitol police or influence on security, ‘Two years later, that claim is directly challenged by contemporaneous text and email messages made public by five House Republicans showing her staff had direct contact with the officials who planned the security and even edited some of the plans and notifications in the fateful days before tragedy struck.’ And the details ‘are prompting serious questions about whether the January 6 Capitol breach could have been prevented while creating a new push for Republicans to summon Pelosi for testimony after they take over the House next month.’…

“Just the News reported police whistleblowers confirmed there were enough warnings that violence would occur, but ‘the leadership of the Capitol Police failed to adjust the security plan to address the threat while the political leadership in Congress repeatedly refused to provide resources to secure the building.’ Whistleblowers confirmed ‘congressional security leaders turned down resources like armed officers or National Guard troops ahead of the tragedy because of concerns about the political optics.’

“The document reveals House security planners slammed Pelosi for failing to provide the resources necessary for Capitol security. It was House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving who had to resign after the riot, but Just the News reported staff members believed he, and Capitol Police Chief Steve Sund, were made the ‘fall guys.’…”

All of this, and much more, has been reported before, but the sham-and-farce Committee, in its desire to blame Trump and protect Pelosi and other Democrats, chose to ignore these reports. In regard to Trump’s asking for National Guards, the Committee just said there was no “evidence” for that claim. And even though admitting that Trump did tweet twice right after the riot had begun, stating that violence should cease, the Committee said the tweets had no impact, apparently concluding that it could therefore ignore them.

American Rabbis Oppose Israel’s New Government

The Algemeiner wrote on December 23:

“Over 330 senior American rabbis are vowing to ban members of the far-right Religious Zionism bloc in Benjamin Netanyahu’s incoming government from appearing at their synagogues… Following a convincing victory to the right-wing bloc in November’s general election, Netanyahu brought in members of a far-right faction and promised an expanded national security ministry to firebrand Itamar Ben-Gvir… The incoming government, which Netanyahu announced he formed late Wednesday, is expected to be the most right-wing in Israel’s history…

“An open letter from rabbis and other Jewish community leaders in the U.S. charges that the policies of Ben-Gvir and his associates ‘will cause irreparable harm to the Israel-Jewish Diaspora relationship.’ The signatories say they will not invite members of the bloc ‘to speak at our congregations and organizations. We will speak out against their participation in other forums across our communities. We will encourage the boards of our congregations and organizations to join us in this protest as a demonstration of our commitment to our Jewish and democratic values.’

“… However, not a single Orthodox rabbi signed the document.”

The anti-Israel stance by many left-wing American Jews is well-known. The rabbis’ “open letter” is another interesting development as the Bible says in the Book of Zechariah that Judah will fight against Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:14; Revised Standard Version).

Russia’s Plan on the World Scene

Fox News wrote on December 27:

“Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday said there will be no more joint projects with the European Union and said Moscow will instead turn to ‘like-minded’ allies for future diplomatic partnerships… The minister’s comments come as Russian President Vladimir Putin has increasingly looked to bolster ties with China and Iran in recent months, turning to the latter for arms as its looks to shore up economic ties with Beijing…

“The Russian foreign minister accused the EU of following in the footsteps of the U.S. and NATO… Lavrov has repeatedly accused the U.S. and its Western allies of waging war against Russia by providing Ukraine with defensive and humanitarian aid – including financial support to help Kyiv restore its energy infrastructure which Russia began targeting ahead of winter…”

Preparations are being made for the prophesied emergence of the kings of the East.

Putin Calls Netanyahu

Israel Today wrote on December 23:

“Just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was feted in the White House and US Congress, Wednesday, and hours after incoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he had formed a government, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the Israeli to congratulate him on winning the General Election seven weeks before…  The two leaders reportedly spoke about Ukraine, with Netanyahu expressing his hope that a way would be found to bring the conflict to an end… Some journalists speculated that, going forward, Netanyahu might make an effort to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow…

“Other observers pointed to another ‘coincidental’ state visit taking place as Zelenskyy jetted across the Atlantic – that of former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Chinese President Xi Xinping in Beijing to discuss ‘advancing the bilateral relations in a new era and jointly promot[ing] global governance in a more just and reasonable direction’. These commentators suggested that Putin might have thoughts about trying to manoeuvre Israel into Russia’s orbit by driving a wedge between allies.”

No doubt, and Europe in particular will turn against Israel even more forcefully. And that with the help of Turkey, Jordan and other Arab nations, as Psalm 83 explains. We even read that America will be against Great Britain, and vice versa, and both will be against Israel (Isaiah 9:21).

Knesset Members Strongly Condemn the EU

Israel 365 News reported on December 23:

“Forty Knesset members sent an open letter to European Union leaders on Tuesday, protesting the recently exposed E.U. document outlining a strategy to expand the Palestinian presence in Israeli-controlled territory in Judea and Samaria. ‘[W]e learned of an official policy document of the European Union, a document the gravity of which cannot be overstated, one that leaves no room for doubt as to the one-sidedness and animosity of the E.U. towards the State of Israel and the Jewish people,’ the Knesset members wrote.

“Their letter was addressed to Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission; Charles Michel, president of the European Council; and Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament.

“‘The document completely ignores our people’s historical affinity to our homeland, completely ignores the political agreements and the status of the State of Israel in Area C and seeks to establish the 1949 borders as Israel’s final-status permanent borders—in complete disregard of the Jewish communities in the area,’ the letter continued… ‘Your efforts to expedite the Palestinian Authority’s seizure of Area C… constitute an extremely grave breach of the relationship between Israel and the European Union, causing irreplaceable damage to natural and archaeological treasures throughout Judea and Samaria,’ the lawmakers said.

“‘We were apparently mistaken in thinking that racist, religious hatred of Jews and Israel was a thing of the past. It saddens us to discover time and time again that under the thin veneer of the E.U.’s civility and manners and the seeming concern for human rights, the same old blood libels can be found, along with the same flames of primitive hatred that seek this time to persecute—not the individual Jew, but the tiny Jewish state,’ the Knesset members wrote.

“The letter concludes by calling on the E.U. to halt all illegal construction in sovereign Israeli territory, especially Area C; halt the damage done by E.U.-funded illegal activity to heritage sites and nature in Judea and Samaria; desist from funding delegitimization groups that promote antisemitism against the State of Israel; and cease funding Israeli organizations that promote E.U. foreign policy interests.”

Strong words. Will Europe listen? The answer should be obvious, and all lip-services aside, the Bible is very clear that there is a deep-seated European hatred for the state of Israel.

The EU’s Subversion of Israel

 Jewish News Syndicate wrote on December 22:

“Earlier this week, Israel’s Channel 13 revealed that a document drafted by the European Commission in eastern Jerusalem proposed helping the Palestinian Authority secretly take control of land in Area C—which is supposed to be under full Israeli control according to the Oslo Accords—and suggested using left-wing NGOs in Israel for this purpose.

“The document… said the E.U. should map the land to ‘prove’ Palestinian Arab rights in the disputed territories, as well as violate local land-planning law, without leaving any trace of its activities. The document also called for ‘following and monitoring Israeli archaeological activity in the area,’ claiming that this was being used as a pretext for settlement building in Judea and Samaria.

“What this really means is that the E.U. wants to stop these excavations because they are consistently uncovering indisputable archaeological proof that the Jews are the indigenous people of the land. By saying it wants to ‘prove’ Palestinian rights to the land, the E.U. revealed its true intention: to fabricate an entitlement that doesn’t exist. The only people with a legal, historical and moral claim to the land are the Jews… the E.U. and the Palestinian Arabs who are stealing land to which the Arabs have no entitlement… the Palestinian Authority and the E.U. are rapidly annexing areas surrounding Jewish towns in Judea and Samaria…

“The E.U. is in effect helping the Palestinians build a state in Judea and Samaria. It is also helping the Bedouin illegally carve up the Negev in a further dire threat to Israel’s security…

“Now the E.U. has been engulfed by revelations of a corrupt relationship with Qatar—the sponsor of Hamas and mortal foe of Israel. While details are still unfolding, this axis isn’t surprising. There’s a nexus between the universalism embodied by the E.U. and the desire to bring down Israel…”

Ultimately, the EU, under German leadership, WILL become a mortal enemy of the state of Israel. In this regard, please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Europe Against Ukraine and Israel – YouTube”

Discussions in a Knesset Committee about the Third Temple

Israel 365 News wrote on December 22:

“During a discussion in a Knesset committee concerning a new law, a question was raised about its application after the construction of the Third Temple. Though the suggestion was in jest and generated light-hearted banter, most of the opposition to the law came from the religious MKs while many of the non-religious lawmakers said they supported the law and did not oppose the Temple…

“The question was raised by MK Michal Shir (Yesh Atid), a non-religious MK, if the government would be able, or even required to appoint an additional minister if the Third Temple is constructed. It should be noted that Shir opposed the bill and clearly intended the question to be a critical note of sarcasm to illustrate the shortcomings of the intended law.

“The suggestion caused a bit of consternation as questions were raised if voting in favor of the amendment implied support for the construction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Several MKs noted that they favored the law but not the Temple. Others noted that they opposed the law but not the Temple.

“This caused a moment of confusion when a vote was called with one MK asking if they were voting for the Temple or the amendment. Several of the religious MKs voted ‘Nay’, presumably opposing the amendment but not necessarily opposing the Third Temple. ‘You see, the Reform Jews will make the Temple for us,’ one religious MK noted. ‘I have no problem that there will be a Temple,’ MK Shir said. ‘It may as well come tomorrow, as far as I am concerned.’”

One must ask the question why “schizophrenic” RELIGIOUS MKs opposed the concept of building the Third Temple. Is it because of fear of political repercussions and reactions?

Croatia Adopts the Euro

The Los Angeles Times wrote on December 22:

“More than nine years after Croatia became the European Union’s newest member, the country is on a roll to make the most of its status as the EU member in the Western Balkans. [Croatia joined the EU in 2013, the last time the bloc admitted a new member]…

“Croatia is adopting the EU’s common currency, the euro, and joining the Schengen Area, Europe’s visa-free travel zone, on Jan. 1. Officials in the small nation of 4 million people say the developments will be remembered as one of the country’s biggest achievements since it gained independence during the breakup of Yugoslavia 31 years ago.

“Adopting the euro offers economic benefits stemming from deeper financial ties with the currency’s 19 other users and with the European Central Bank. It also means that the 340 million people who live in the current Eurozone will no longer need to exchange their euros for Croatian kuna. Schengen Area membership allows travelers to enter the country… from other Schengen nations without stopping at border controls.

“‘After 10 years of membership [in the EU], we intentionally and deservedly reached the stage where we would become the only country in history to join the Schengen and euro zones on the same day,’ Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said at a recent business conference on the upcoming integration milestones. ‘Some countries achieved the two goals one after another over a relatively short period of time, but none achieved both on the same day,’ he said…

“But not all Croats are so excited by the upcoming changes, especially the phasing out of their national currency. Some are sentimental about the kuna, which was introduced to secure monetary autonomy after Croatia’s split from the former Yugoslavia and after a devastating 1991-95 war…

“The Croatian kuna and the euro will be in dual use for cash payments for only 14 days, but as people enjoy post-holiday sales in January, they will receive only euros in change.”

More and more nations are joining the euro and the Schengen community, but this alone will not help Europe become a great economic powerhouse. Note the next article.

Europe—and Especially Germany—Is a Mess!

The Hill wrote on December 20:

“Europe is a mess. The three basic pillars of power have remained the same since the time of the ancient Greeks. What is the state of a country’s army? What is the state of a country’s economy? How politically unified is a country to act both within and beyond its borders? By these exacting and unchanging political risk standards, Europe remains a busted flush as a great power, a political entity promising much and perpetually underdelivering.

“First, the continent punches way below its weight in terms of its military. Germany, both Europe’s greatest power and the source of many of its ills, is a case in point. Berlin long has outsourced its military policy to America, its energy policy to Russia (ruinously), and its trade policy to China. Rather than serving as the engine of the European Union as a rising power, instead Germany has been an intellectual black hole over the past generation where every good idea for Europe’s revival goes to die.

“Whereas the U.S. will spend 3.5 percent of its GDP on defense, only France comes close to NATO’s required 2 percent of spending at 1.9 percent. In contrast, Italy will spend only 1.5 percent, Germany a laughable 1.4 percent, and Spain a risible 1 percent. This isn’t remotely intellectually serious even as the problem has festered for a generation…

“Economically, Europe is also so much less than meets the eye… Germany — the continent’s undoubted economic powerhouse — best explains the problem. Here the Ukraine war has done more than point out Germany’s military follies; it also underlines the fact that its vaunted economic model is now irretrievably broken.

“The German model was based on buying cheap Russian energy to make high-end products (machine tools, petrochemicals, luxury cars)… Now, in our dawning age of insecurity, the Russian cheap energy inputs that the German model requires are definitively at an end… The German model is definitively broken, and nothing has yet emerged to take its place…

“Finally, Europe is a Tower of Babel. How could it be otherwise? There are 27 countries in the European Union… As such, the EU’s policy outputs, even when generally on the money, will always amount to half-measures, compromises that do not genuinely ‘solve’ any of its problems.

“The common position on Ukraine is a case in point. Beneath a surface agreement about the war, deep fissures exist on the continent… As the war drags on into 2023, look for these hairline cracks to become canyons.

“Militarily anemic, economically sclerotic, and politically divided — this is the reality of a Europe that has been mastered by history over the past generation. It must face up to these festering problems… And there is simply no more time to waste.”

That is why ten European core nations or groups of nations will emerge, and they will in turn give their power to a European dictator of German or Austrian descent (compare Revelation 17:12-13).

Europe’s Humiliation

The Telegraph wrote on December 22:

 “Naturally, President Zelensky’s appearance before Congress as a war-time leader appealing for American support, has been likened to Winston Churchill’s address on almost exactly the same date in 1941. Yet by then the US had declared war on Germany and victory was arguably assured. Today in Ukraine, victory is far from assured. Putin could still win.

“A more appropriate comparison would be with Churchill’s conference with Franklin D Roosevelt on board the USS Augusta and HMS Prince of Wales in August 1941. As with Ukraine, the US had been supplying arms to the UK. Churchill’s purpose, like Zelensky’s, was to consolidate US support for a long war ahead.

“Though even this is not like-for-like. In 1941, with all of Europe occupied, Churchill had nowhere else to turn. That is, of course, not the situation today – Europe is free and prosperous. So why did Zelensky not make his address to the European Parliament in Brussels instead? Indeed, how extraordinary that after decades of peace on the Continent, with European nations claiming to have learnt the lessons of the Second World War, a fellow European nation battling tyranny still has to rely on the United States above its neighbours.

“Despite a comparable GDP to the US… EU countries are supplying less than half that of the US… Some of the wealthiest nations on the Continent have inadequate supplies to maintain their own sovereignty, let alone that of Ukraine or the West.

“But this is no excuse. The weakness of European will since February has been disgraceful. Remember when, as Russian troops massed on Ukraine’s borders, several Western European countries were so terrified of antagonising Putin that they balked at the idea of providing even small, defensive-only equipment? For a time, Germany refused all arms exports, limiting military aid to 5,000 combat helmets and doing its best to hold up weapons supplies from Eastern European Nato members…

“France, with the second largest economy in the EU, is still only the 11th largest donor in the world. Germany, meanwhile, has repeatedly failed to follow through on the commitments it eventually made. Its ‘tank swap’, a scheme to replace Soviet-era tanks with German models, still remains largely unfulfilled. Thus, with the notable exception of brave Eastern European governments like those of Poland, Lithuania and Estonia, the Continent’s leaders have failed Ukraine.

“No wonder Zelensky had far more praise for Boris Johnson than either Macron or Scholz. And who can blame him for travelling across the Atlantic first? For without British and American strategy and leadership, EU nations would almost certainly have defaulted to their habitual compromise and capitulation, pressuring Zelensky into negotiations on Putin’s terms. Indeed, Macron pretty much confirmed that on his recent visit to Washington when he ridiculously spoke of Nato making security guarantees to Russia if negotiations began, when his talk should only have been of Russian guarantees to Ukraine… In 2022, the EU showed the world that, when push comes to shove, it is nowhere to be found. Now Britain, like Zelensky, is better off staying closer to Washington than Brussels.”

Ultimately, Ukraine and Russia will unite AGAINST Europe. And Europe will become a deadly enemy of the USA and Britain.

The Pope’s Cryptic Message

Life Site News wrote on December 22:

“In his annual Christmas address to the Roman Curia, Pope Francis claimed that ‘true heresy’ involved not only ‘preaching another Gospel’ but in neglecting to ‘translate it into today’s languages and ways of thinking.’…

“Reiterating his argument for some kind of development of doctrine in ‘form,’ Francis employed the words of Scripture and placed his own interpretation on them, stating: ‘True heresy consists not only in preaching another gospel… as… Paul told us, but also in ceasing to translate its message into today’s languages and ways of thinking, which is precisely what the Apostle of the Gentiles did. To preserve means to keep alive and not to imprison the message of Christ.’

“The Pontiff did not expand on what imprisoning the message of Christ might look like, or how the Roman Curia was to change the ‘form’ of the Gospel while somehow keeping the ‘substance’ the same…

“Pope Francis has used such language… with increasing regularity over the past years. In his recent address to the International Theological Commission, Francis urged them to avoid ‘going backward’ in ‘Tradition’ instead asking them to promote the Gospel by consulting non-Catholic ‘experts.’… Pope Francis’ promotion of such themes is being evidenced through the agenda of his Synod on Synodality – which is pushing for female deacons and wider ‘inclusion’…”

Core Europe will unite with and under the tutelage of the Catholic Church. A new “Holy Roman Empire” will emerge—the last European revival of ancient Rome.

Pope Ignorant of the True Jesus

The Associated Press wrote on December 24:

“Recalling Jesus’ birth in a stable, Pope Francis rebuked those ‘ravenous’ for wealth and power at the expense of the vulnerable, including children, in a Christmas Eve homily decrying war, poverty and greedy consumerism. In the splendor of St. Peter’s Basilica, Francis presided over the evening Mass attended by about 7,000 faithful, including tourists and pilgrims… ‘Jesus was born poor, lived poor and died poor,’ Francis said…

“When the Mass ended, the pope, pushed in a wheelchair by an aide, moved down the basilica with a life-sized statue of Baby Jesus on his lap and flanked by several children carrying bouquets. The statue then was placed in a manger in a creche scene in the basilica.”

The contrast between the Catholic Church’s incredible riches and the Pope’s plea to help the poor should be noted, as well as the irony of making that plea “in the splendor” of St. Peter’s Basilica. But it is absolutely false to say that Jesus lived and died poor. Also, to carry a statute of Jesus is in violation of God’s Ten Commandments. Please read our booklets, “Do You Know the Jesus of the Bible?” and “The Ten Commandments.”

Christmas Customs in Germany

The Local wrote on December 24:

“As is the case across most of Western Europe, Germany’s main day of celebration for Christmas is the 24th, the so-called ‘Heiligabend’. In the morning of the 24th, the Christmas tree is put up and decorated, and in the evening, children get to open their presents. Shops usually close earlier on this day, and businesses shut for the whole day or a half day.

“However, while Christmas Eve is the main event of the German Christmas calendar, the 25th and 26th are still designated ‘Feiertage’ (celebration days/holidays) with their own festive traditions…

“Christmas tree praising is a fabulous tradition in southern Germany, specifically southern Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, where visitors come to your home to admire and compliment your tree, usually with a reward of one (but probably a few more) glasses of schnapps. Because Christmas trees are traditionally put up on Christmas Eve in Germany (at least traditionally), the praising of the Christmas tree occurs during the period “zwischen den Jahren”, or between the years, meaning the period between Christmas and New Year.

“While this tradition can happen between neighbours – and can be a great way to get to know your community – it is often a feature of a group; for example, the staff of a small business or members of a football team will go to each individual’s house to praise their Christmas trees one by one. The praising can sometimes take an entire day and can end up quite merry. It can also get pretty competitive, with the most lavish, over the top tree being hailed the winner and given a special prize (most likely also in the form of a festive beverage).”

This adoration and worship of the Christmas tree is aptly described and condemned in the Bible. Compare Jeremiah 10.

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer

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

In a series of three Q&A’s entitled, “why do you consider the Old Testament so important?,” we discussed the close connection between the Old and New Testament which is shown by the number of times the Old Testament is quoted in the New Testament.   The Old Testament had the approval of Jesus Christ and He quoted from it to prove the point.

In 2 Timothy 3:16, we learn an important lesson about ALL Scripture: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

As we explained in the previous series, Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers observes the following when discussing that it can be translated as: “Every scripture inspired by God is also profitable for doctrine, for reproof… “:

“The rendering followed by the English version, and which is certainly grammatically possible, by making—’all Scripture’ the subject, and ‘given by inspiration of God’ the predicate, declares positively the inspiration of all the Old Testament Scriptures, for this is what the Apostle must have referred to, if we understand this verse as we have it rendered in the English version above.”

In Acts 20:27, Paul wrote: “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God,” and that must have been from the Old Testament which was the main written text at that time plus the teachings of Jesus which were, for the most part, not yet part of the written Word of God. Scholars tell us that some of the New Testament texts (such as the gospel records according to Mark, Matthew and Luke, and 1 Thessalonians) were all written before the book of Acts.

A key verse in the New Testament can be read in John 14:26: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom (which) the Father will send in My name, He (it) will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

Barnes Notes on the Bible are instructive about this verse:

“Will send in my name – On my account [or better: “through Me”]. To perfect my work. To execute it as I would in applying it to the hearts of men. See John 14:13.

“Shall teach you all things – All things which it was needful for them to understand in the apostolic office, and particularly those things which they were not prepared then to hear or could not then understand. See John 16:12. Compare… Matthew 10:19-20. This was a full promise that they would be inspired, and that in organizing the church, and in recording the truths necessary for its edification, they would be under the infallible guidance of the Holy Spirit. [We hasten to add that the Holy Spirit is not a Person, but God’s power emanating from the Father and the Son.]

“Bring all things to your remembrance – This probably refers to two things:

“1. He [that is, Jesus through His Spirit] would seasonably remind them of the sayings of Jesus, which they might otherwise have forgotten. In the organization of the church, and in composing the sacred history, he would preside over their memories, and recall such truths and doctrines as were necessary either for their comfort or the edification of his people. Amid the multitude of things which Jesus spake during a ministry of more than three years, it was to be expected that many things which he had uttered, that would be important for the edification of the church, would be forgotten. We see, hence, the nature of their inspiration. The Holy Spirit made use of their memories, and doubtless of all their natural faculties. He (better “it”, unless we speak of Jesus Christ, working through His Spirit) so presided over their memories as to recall what they had forgotten, and then it was recorded as a thing which they distinctly remembered, in the same way as we remember a thing which would have been forgotten had not some friend recalled it to our recollection.

“2. The Holy Spirit [that is, Jesus Christ, through His Spirit] would teach them the meaning of those things which the Saviour had spoken. Thus they did not understand that he ought to be put to death until after his resurrection, though he had repeatedly told them of it, Luke 24:21, Luke 24:25-26. So they did not until then understand that the gospel was to be preached to the Gentiles, though this was also declared before. Compare Matthew 4:15-16; Matthew 12:21, with Acts 10:44-48.”

The ministry then, and down through the ages until the present time, were instructed in 2 Timothy 2:15: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Therefore as “rightly dividing the word of truth” is required, the admonitions and teachings of the New Testament must be God-breathed in order for His ministry to accomplish this.

A look at some of the New Testament writers will reveal much about the God-inspired nature of their writings.

As mentioned above, Paul addressed the Ephesians’ Elders and stated: “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”  We know from Acts chapter 9 that Saul was “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (verses 1-2).  On the road to Damascus, he met Jesus and, after 3 days of blindness which was healed, he was baptised (verses 3-18).   In verses 19-20, we read:

“So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.”   After persecuting those of “The Way,” he became one of the giants of the New Testament with many of his writings becoming part of the Word of God.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 14:37: “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.”

There is further proof in 1 Corinthians 2:13-16: “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.  For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”

In 2 Corinthians 2:17, there is further proof that what Paul wrote was of Godly inspiration: “For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.”

In 1 Peter 1:12, Peter writes: “To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.”

It is interesting that Peter indicates that Paul’s writings are to be viewed as are the rest of the Scriptures:

“…and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures” (2 Peter 3:15-16).

The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary observes: “other scriptures—Paul’s Epistles were, therefore, by this time, recognized in the Church, as ‘Scripture’: a term never applied in any of the fifty places where it occurs, save to the Old and New Testament sacred writings.”

In 1 Thessalonians 2:13 we read what Paul wrote to the Church there: “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.”

We read in Luke 1:2-4: “… just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.”   It is clear that the physician Luke, who also wrote the Book of Acts, wrote this gospel record to inform positively to the “most excellent Theophilus” about the truth, life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

In the Book of Revelation which was the last book written and which was included in the Scriptures, we read the following in Revelation 1:1-2: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.”

This statement in the last book of the Bible clearly shows that Jesus Christ revealed to the apostle John those things that had to happen in the future. The Greek word for Revelation is apokalupsis (apocalypse) which is an uncovering, revealing or unveiling and it was God the Father who, through Jesus, gave this information thus sealing it with Godly authority.

(To be continued)

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“Europe Against Ukraine and Israel,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

Presently, Europe, and especially Germany, are a mess, but don’t let that fool you. Europe’s real attitude towards Ukraine and the state of Israel are telling, and it will get much worse and dangerous, when decisive leadership will take over the continent.

“Europa gegen die Ukraine und Israel,” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This program covers the same topic as described above for StandingWatch. 

“Gute Vorsätze für 2023,” this coming Sabbath’s new German sermon by Norbert Link, is now posted. Title in English: “Good Intentions for 2023.”

“Ein Stein des Anstosses,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath in Germany by Mike Richter, is now posted. Title in English: “A Stumbling Block.”

“A Short History of Christmas Observance,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Paul Niehoff, is now posted. Here is a summary:

The celebration of Christmas, as well as being Pagan, has had a long and confusing observance. December the twenty fifth is not the only time it was and is celebrated, and at different times and places, it was banned altogether. God commands us not to keep it.

“Why is Jerusalem Important?”, the sermon presented last Sabbath by Dave Harris, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Jerusalem is the most contested city on the planet, and that status will become even more intense in the near future! Few understand that Jerusalem is destined to soon become the capital of the world but that tremendous problems lie still ahead!