Update 1075

On July 8, 2023, Dave Harris will present the sermonette, titled, “Selfish or Selfless?” and Eric Rank will present the sermon, titled, “Living the Dream.”

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

In the 1990s, there was a sports figure who was really muscular, with the help of steroids. He thought of himself as a lady’s man and, not lacking any humility, referred to himself as the total package. Today, he is a shell of his former self and has had several health issues related to his steroid use. 

There is one individual who lived in the past as a Man who humbly walked the earth to bring us a message of peace to come in the future Kingdom of God. He healed the sick, cast out demons, walked on water and performed miracles; yet, this did not go to His head; rather, He gave credit to God Most High. In the truest sense, He was the total package, and that was and is Jesus Christ. 

We look to Him for healing and follow the admonition of James when we are sick, to seek anointing from true ministers of Jesus Christ.  James 5:14 tells us: “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

We usually ask for anointing and healing when we are physically sick, but how often do we ask for anointing and healing when we are suffering from emotional distress? For instance, we might be living and reliving the grief and hurt of having to deal with divorced parents. We might be disturbed and grieved by the memory of sexual abuse which leaves scars for a long time, or by the emotional trauma of rejection and lack of love from someone close to us. 

These are sicknesses of the mind and heart, as it were, leaving psychological scars, not physical ones, and for which we can go to God and ask for the application of the stripes of Jesus Christ to these non-physical issues we may be going through. If Christ prayed for Peter, why can’t we ask Christ to pray for us in trials and stressful situations? He is not a respecter of persons and converted brethren are His brothers and sisters. We belong to a loving family and have a glorious future.

So, when facing physical or psychological trials and tests, let’s not forget that Christ, as the total package, can come to our aid in all of our sicknesses—whether they are physical, emotional, psychological or even mental or spiritual.

by Norbert Link

We begin with reporting on the riots in France which have been described as the first stages of civil war and the most severe occurrance of urban violence for over 18 years. Ostensibly caused by the killing of a 17-year-old Muslim teenager by a police officer, the circumstances of which are under investigation, ensuing riots were blamed, among other reasons, on mass migration, the failure to integrate the country’s Muslim immigrant population; Muslim life in a ghettoized community; as well as a weak government.

We also speak on the rise of the political right in Europe.

We continue with numerous decisions of the US Supreme Court which have been applauded by the right and which have angered most of the left, even though they seem to be well-grounded in the Constitution, including the rejection of Biden’s student loan forgiveness program; the refusal of a web designer to design websites for same-sex weddings; and the prohibition of affirmative action because of race with respect to college admissions.

We also report on the unanimous decision of the US Supreme Court regarding accommodations of religious beliefs (including not working on the Sabbath unless it constitutes a substantial burden for the employer, causing him substantial hardship).

We continue with an explosive temporary injunction against the Biden Administration; and Joe Biden’s repeated (but highly questionable) denials of knowledge of or involvement with his son’s business deals and the White House’s refusal to even talk about the matter.

In this context, please view our new StandingWatch program, “Why Many Feel Joe Biden Should Not Run the USA.” This program discusses the question whether Joe Biden is habitually lying and/or whether he is suffering from worsening dementia.

We focus on reports about more attempts by the Biden Justice Department to charge Donald Trump and his attorneys with something; the troubled relationship between the UK and the USA; the coronation of King Charles of Scotland; and America’s endless wars. We address comments and actions by Marjorie Taylor Greene and Ron DeSantis; and focus on Tucker Carlson’s comments regarding Sodom and Gomorrah and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s stance on abortion.

We conclude with the dangerous nonsense of the Woke culture and increasing religious persecution in Europe.

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

Rioting in France

Express wrote on June 30:

“France has boosted the number of police on its streets to 45,000 this evening as it braced for more rioting…

“French President Emmanuel Macron also urged parents Friday to keep teenagers at home and blamed social media for fuelling unrest which has spread dramatically across the country since the fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old driver [from a French-Algerian family] earlier this week…

“With dramatic footage of widespread disorder circulating on Twitter, right-wing Dutch commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek tweeted: ‘It seems like France might have actually entered into the first stages of a civil war as a result of mass migration.”

The U.S. Sun added on June 30:

“Emmanuel Macron was seen boogying at an Elton John gig while Paris descended into chaos amid protests over the ‘execution’ of a teenager. The French leader appeared footloose and fancy-free during Wednesday’s concert while his nation was torched and looted by rioters… as protestors pelted fireworks at police, Macron shamelessly danced to Elton John’s greatest hits at the Accor Arena…

“It is not the first time he has been accused of being tone-deaf to the anger among his people.”

How long will left-wing Macron be able to survive politically?

France to Cut Off Social Media in Times of Trouble?

The Guardian wrote on July 5:

“Emmanuel Macron has said the French government should consider controlling and cutting off social media networks ‘when things get out of hand’ in the country. The president’s comments came as ministers blamed young people using platforms such as Snapchat and TikTok for organising and encouraging rioting and violence after the shooting last week of a teenager during a police traffic stop in a Paris suburb…

“Critics said it would put France alongside authoritarian countries such as China, Russia, Iran and North Korea in considering such measures… Macron reportedly also suggested fining the parents of children involved…”

These are some dangerous proposals.

Muslims in France—a Ghettoized Community

Fox News wrote on July 1:

“‘What’s happening there is the consequence of a failure to integrate the country’s Muslim immigrant population,’ Alan Mendoza, co-founder and executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, told Fox News Digital. ‘The France of legend is far removed from the daily realities of life in a ghettoized community that does not have the same opportunities to progress and succeed as the native population,’ he said. ‘France’s forgotten communities are showing that they will stay forgotten no longer’…

“Secretary-General of Unite SGP Police FO union Gregory Joron said police ‘haven’t seen such urban violence in 18 years in so many cities around France.’

“Police pulled over the teenager, identified only as Nahel M., in the Paris suburb of Nanterre on Tuesday morning. Nahel worked as a delivery driver, but he pulled over to speak with two police officers, who approached his vehicle to explain that he had broken traffic rules, a prosecutor said. The exact spark for the incident remains unclear, partially due to the contradiction of police reports and video that circulated on social media. Police said that Nahel drove his car at one of the officers, while the video shows one of the officers pointing a weapon at him and saying, ‘You are going to get a bullet in the head,’ according to France24.

“Nahel drove a yellow Mercedes. [He] had two passengers in the car and no license on him at the time. He reportedly had been placed in detention for refusing to comply with a previous traffic stop and was scheduled to appear in juvenile court in September. The officer then appears to shoot Nahel as the car suddenly pulls away, traveling only a short distance before crashing, with Nahel dying at the scene. Police took the offending officer into custody and opened an investigation into charges of voluntary manslaughter, with charges brought against him on Friday.

“Reuters reported that in an interview with French television the police officer’s lawyer Laurent-Franck Lienard, said his client had aimed at the driver’s leg but was bumped when the car took off, causing him to shoot towards his chest. ‘Obviously (the officer) didn’t want to kill the driver,’ he said according to the report…

“Macron has provided a mixed response to the crisis, initially describing the shooting as ‘inexplicable’ and ‘unforgivable’ but then decrying the protests and blaming everything from social media to video games for the increasing violence. Macron argued that social media platforms, including TikTok, Snapchat and others, helped fuel the riots… Macron also denied there was systemic racism within the country’s law enforcement services.

“Nahel’s mother accused the police of responding violently to ‘an Arab face,’ drawing attention to the underlying tension between what some observers say is a massive and underserved North African, mainly Muslim, immigrant population and the police.

“While he had no criminal record, Nahel had been subject to five police checks since 2021 and had refused to comply with an order to stop. Most of the stops involved either driving without a license or insurance and using false number plates…”

So, there may be more to the unfortunate killing of Nahel than meets the eye. The ensuing protests may have little to do with this occurrence.

Muslim Rage

Israel Today wrote on July 2:

“Let’s see how the French deal with their own nationwide unrest. Foreign media is quick to point out that the ‘riots came after police violence in France.’ So we are supposed to have some kind of understanding for the violence due to an act of police violence? To what end? To excuse this Muslim outburst of violence and pretend like France’s Muslim population is otherwise perfectly peaceful?

“A 17-year-old Muslim was killed by a French police bullet, sparking the current riots. Can France be set on fire because of this? Surely not…

“France is burning. In the numerous videos, the country looks like it is at war. Vehicles and houses burned in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Strasbourg and other cities. Numerous stores were looted, including Apple. More than 1,300 rioters were arrested and 79 police officers were injured. In addition, 31 police stations were attacked. Thousands of cars have been set on fire and 2,560 fires are believed to have broken out on public roads, the French Interior Ministry said yesterday. Over 45,000 police officers were mobilized nationwide. Due to the ongoing intifada in France, President Emmanuel Macron has canceled his two-day state visit to Germany…

“According to official figures, around five million Muslims live in France today, which makes up 8.2 percent of France’s total population (60.5 million). Unofficially, however, there is talk of more than 10 percent Muslims in France… Today it is even estimated that there are around 50 million Muslims in Europe.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I have many Muslim friends and acquaintances, both in Israel and in Sinai. But what is happening in France now and could break out across Europe at any moment is a real danger for the Christian Occident. I know not all of our readers see Europe as ‘Christian,’ for Europe has broken away from the Christian faith in general. But the point is that for the Muslims who are now plundering and burning France, Europe is a Christian continent. In the Arab press they even still refer to Europeans as ‘Crusaders.’

“Earlier last week, a 37-year-old Iraqi immigrant burned pages from the Koran in Stockholm, Sweden, and announced further actions of this kind. The Islamic world reacted with outrage. Demonstrators stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad. Morocco withdrew its ambassador. Erdogan condemned the burning with sharp words. When the Bible is blasphemed, the Christian world does not freak out, nor does the Jewish community worldwide….”

Antisemitism in France

Israel Today wrote on July 2:

“Israel is closely monitoring and deeply concerned about ‘waves of antisemitism sweeping over France,’ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during Sunday’s weekly Cabinet meeting. ‘In recent days, we have witnessed criminal assaults against Jewish targets. We strongly condemn these attacks and support the French government in its fight against antisemitism,’ he added…

“Rioters in areas with large Muslim populations have torched cars and looted shops, clashing with police and causing hundreds of injuries… Antisemitic chants have been heard during riots and Jewish businesses were ransacked in the Paris suburb of Sarcelles, dubbed ‘little Jerusalem’ due to its large Jewish population… Jews have been targeted repeatedly in France… Outwardly identifiable Jews have routinely been attacked in cities across the country.”

France is a powder keg ready to explode at any moment. France would need a strong leader to avoid these occurrences from happening again and again. But Macron is not such a strong leader…

The Rise of the Right in Europe

BBC News wrote on June 29:

“… the EU’s third largest economy, Italy, is run by Giorgia Meloni, head of a party with neo-fascist roots. In Finland, after 3 months of debate, the far-right nationalists The Finns recently joined the coalition government. In Sweden the firmly anti-immigration, anti-multiculturalism Sweden Democrats are the second largest party in parliament, propping up the right-wing coalition government there.

“In Greece last Sunday three hard-right parties won enough seats to enter parliament, while in Spain, the controversial nationalist Vox Party – the first successful far-right party in Spain since the death of fascist dictator Francisco Franco in 1975 – outperformed all expectations in recent regional elections…

“Then there are the ultra-conservative, authoritarian-leaning governments in Poland and in Hungary... Including even Germany… Polls there now put the far right AfD just ahead of, or neck and neck with, Chancellor Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD)…

“So what’s happening? Are millions upon millions of European voters really swerving far-right? Or is this more of a protest vote?…

“On the one hand, many a mainstream politician has in recent years grabbed slogans or stances from the far-right, hoping to rob them of their supporters. But by doing so they help make the far right seem more mainstream. While at the same time, a number of far-right parties in Europe have intentionally moved more towards the political centre, hoping to entice more centrist voters…

“Polls suggest the EU is more popular amongst Europeans at the moment than it has been for years. And so far right parties now speak about reforming the EU, rather than leaving it. And they’re predicted to perform strongly in next year’s elections for the European parliament…”

Of course, many parties and governments in Europe, being referred to as “mainstream,” are in reality far-left socialists or even Marxists.

More Success For the AfD

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 3:

“German politicians and media are once again fretting about the rise of far-right populism in the country, after two local runoff votes in eastern Germany were won by the… AfD, the country’s most successful far-right party since World War II.

“On Sunday evening, the AfD’s Hannes Loth beat independent candidate Nils Naumann in the small town of Raguhn-Jessnitz, Saxony-Anhalt, to become the AfD’s first ever mayor in Germany. This came a week after the AfD’s Robert Sesselmann won a similar runoff in the district of Sonneberg, Thuringia.

“Though the two districts are relatively small, the results are considered significant because they confirm a trend in national polls: The far-right party can now claim the approval of 20% of German voters, the same as Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democrats…

“Chancellor Scholz insists the AfD’s rise has nothing to do with any troubles in his government, but the party that arguably faces the biggest dilemma is the center-right… CDU, which, despite leading in the polls, is struggling to profit from the wrangling of the coalition government. CDU leader Friedrich Merz has been forced to retreat from his promise, made in 2019, that he would halve the AfD’s voter base…

“… many German voters appear to be undeterred… by the fact that the party is under surveillance as a potential threat to the country’s constitutional order… a lot of Germans — especially but not only in eastern Germany — maintain a critical attitude toward the intelligence agency…  They say: Well, we’ve had enough experience with the Stasi [secret service of the communist East German regime 1949-1990], we won’t let anyone prescribe to us what is right and wrong…”

This should come as no surprise when considering the past and current activities of Germany’s past and present intelligence agencies.

US Supreme Court: No Student Loan Forgiveness

The Daily Mail wrote on June 30:

“The Supreme Court has struck down President Joe Biden’s $400 billion student loans forgiveness plan in another bombshell decision. The justices ruled 6-3 Biden’s controversial plan to wipe out debts for 26 million Americans at taxpayers’ expense was unconstitutional and an overreach of his executive power. The plan would have eradicated $10,000 in debt for borrowers earning less than $125,000 and up to $20,000 for those with Pell Grants. But it was challenged by six Republican states and two borrowers who argued Biden should have sought approval from Congress for a plan using substantial taxpayer funds. 

“Chief Justice John Roberts agreed and said in the majority opinion that a move ‘requires that Congress speak clearly before a Department (of Education) Secretary can unilaterally alter large sections of the American economy.’ 

“President Biden called the decision ‘disappointing’ and ‘wrong’ and vowed to fight back in a statement released hours after the ruling came down…

“Former President Trump’s Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told DailyMail.com in a statement following the decision that ‘everyone knew the debt scheme was illegal,’ including Biden himself… The former secretary said the ‘ploy’ by the Biden administration was also ‘deeply unfair to the majority of Americans who don’t have student loans, and equally concerning, would have only exacerbated the problem of ever-rising college tuition.’

“House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., added in a tweet that Biden ‘must follow the law.’ ‘President Biden’s student loan giveaway is ruled UNLAWFUL. The 87% of Americans without student loans are no longer forced to pay for the 13% who do.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Slams Joe Biden on the Student Debt Issue

Breitbart wrote on June 30:

“Democrat presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. slammed President Joe Biden for failing to ‘bring Congress together’ on the student debt issue after the Supreme Court struck down Biden’s attempted debt transfer… Kennedy said the Court’s decision was ‘the predictable result of Biden’s failure to bring Congress together on this issue of crucial importance to young Americans.’ ‘President Biden knew his plan wouldn’t survive a legal challenge. His plan gave the appearance of action, while accomplishing nothing,’ Kennedy added.

“Biden responded to a reporter’s question on Friday and insisted he ‘didn’t give borrowers false hope,’ [adding that] the Republicans snatched away the hope that they were given and it’s real hope.’ Biden then claimed the Court ‘misinterpreted the Constitution’ when a reporter asked if he overstepped his presidential authority…

“Kennedy also promised to work on reducing the cost of higher education… ‘If we devoted even a fraction of our military budget to higher education, it could be virtually free to all (as it is in many other countries)… Let’s invest in America’s young people instead of in the forever wars,’ the Democrat presidential nominee added.”

How true! But the investment in forever wars is not something which Biden and many Democrats [or Republicans] would want to give up.

Biden’s and the Democrats’ Contempt for the Constitution

Fox News wrote on June 30:

“Fox News contributor [and Law Professor] Jonathan Turley joined ‘America’s Newsroom’ Friday after the Supreme Court struck down President Biden’s student loan relief plan. Turley said the decision is the latest instance where the administration ‘overreached on their authority,’ calling it ‘absurd’ for Biden to enact the plan without Congress’ approval…

“‘This is a huge defeat for the Biden administration, politically and legally. It is only the latest such defeat where the president has overreached on his authority. Previously, the president argued that he could use the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] as the basis for the eviction moratorium during the pandemic, even though many of us said that he clearly lacked that authority, he went ahead and did it anyway. In fact, he admitted that by the time the courts might strike down his efforts, he could get a lot of money out the door. Well, that’s a level of contempt that does not sit well with courts.

“‘In this case, you have the Heroes Act, which is just a few pages long, and was clearly designed to help people who are serving abroad in military conflicts so that they didn’t have to worry about their college tuition payments. The use of the Heroes Act for this massive loan forgiveness program was absurd, and bordered on the obscene. I mean, it was clear that they could not get this through Congress and that they decided to come up with this novel theory to circumvent Congress. What was really unbelievable to watch is that the Democrats applauded him for that. He essentially made Congress a functional nonentity and half of Congress gave him a standing ovation.’”

As we pointed out on numerous occasions, the USA, under Joe Biden and his colleagues, is becoming more and more a dictatorship.

US Supreme Court Sides With Designer Against Same-Sex Couples

The Associated Press wrote on June 30:

“In a defeat for gay rights, the Supreme Courts’ conservative majority ruled on Friday that a Christian graphic artist who wants to design wedding websites can refuse to work with same-sex couples…

“The court ruled 6-3 for designer Lorie Smith, saying she can refuse to design websites for same-sex weddings despite a Colorado law that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, gender and other characteristics. The court said forcing her to create the websites would violate her free speech rights under the Constitution’s First Amendment.

“The decision suggests that artists, photographers, videographers and writers are among those who can refuse to offer what the court called expressive services if doing so would run contrary to their beliefs. But that’s different from other businesses not engaged in speech and therefore not covered by the First Amendment, such as restaurants and hotels…

“The decision is a win for religious rights and one in a series of cases in recent years in which the justices have sided with religious plaintiffs. Last year, for example, the court ruled along ideological lines for a football coach who prayed on the field at his public high school after games. And on Thursday the court in a unanimous decision used the case of a Christian mail carrier who did not want to deliver Amazon packages on Sundays to solidify protections for workers who ask for religious accommodations… [See discussion below.]

“President Joe Biden said in a statement that the ruling was ‘disappointing’…”

So, President Biden, a confessing and practicing Catholic, finds it disappointing when a decision is rendered by the US Supreme Court which upholds Catholic doctrine? Biden also said that this court was not “normal.” So, is it normal, then, for a confessing and practicing Catholic to disagree with the doctrines of his church?

Are Orthodox Christians or Gays Disfavored?

The New York Post published on June 30 the following opinion by David Harsanyi:

“First, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson releases a blistering defense of racial discrimination in her dissent from the Supreme Court’s affirmative-action decision Thursday. Then, on Friday, Justice Sonia Sotomayor puts out a largely incoherent defense of state-compelled speech in commercial life… As soon as the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Christian web designer named Lorie Smith, who had refused to create a gay wedding site, CNN blasted out this headline: ‘Supreme Court limits LGBTQ protections’…

“Lorie Smith never turned away a customer because of their sexual preference or skin color or religious belief or anything else: She refused to create a message celebrating an event that conflicted with her sincerely held religious convictions. She was practicing her First Amendment rights.

“It’s an easy contention to prove. If a straight person had tried to commission a same-sex wedding site, Smith would have turned them away, as well…

“Think about it this way: A devout orthodox Christian — or Jew or Muslim — walks into a gay-owned bakery and demands the proprietor create a cake with the message, ‘Homosexuality is a sin in the eyes of God.’ Should that baker be forced to make it?

“Christians, after all, are also a protected group under anti-discrimination laws. If the gay bakery refused, would it be discrimination or an issue of free expression?…

“The sitting president of the United States flies pride flags right next to American ones on the South Lawn of the White House while virtually every major corporation pays its respects on pride month. If any group is disfavored in American life right now, it’s the orthodox Christian…”

If a Catholic President can behave in the way he does, with support of other Catholic Democrats, then it is very true that orthodox Christians who accept the Bible as their guide, are a disfavored group in this country.

US Supreme Court Decision on Accommodation Gains Huge Support

JTA wrote on June 29:

“In a case that drew support from a broad array of Jewish groups, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that employers had to show a ‘substantial’ burden to deny workers religious accommodation.

“In a decision released Thursday, the court sided with Gerald Groff, an evangelical Christian mail carrier who asked not to work on Sundays, his Sabbath. Jewish groups that do not often line up on the same side of church-state issues before the court were of a single voice in this case.

“Justice Samuel Alito, writing the opinion, sought to substantially narrow a 1977 decision that faith groups have for years said is so broad in setting the standard for religious accommodation that it is meaningless. ‘We think it is enough to say that an employer must show that the burden of granting an accommodation would result in substantial increased costs in relation to the conduct of its particular business,’ Alito said.

“The previous decision had said that ‘to require TWA to bear more than a de minimis cost in order to give Hardison Saturdays off is an undue hardship.’ (The now defunct airline in that case was the employer and Larry Hardison was the employee seeking the Sabbath off.) With this ruling ‘substantial’ effectively replaces ‘de minimus,’ or ‘minimal,’ as the standard.

“The decision will have far-reaching consequences for Orthodox Jews, said Mitchel Aeder, the Orthodox Union’s president. ‘Members of our community require accommodations for Sabbath and holiday observance, times to pray, the ability to keep kosher, and the like,’ he said in a statement. ‘Such accommodations enable us to be not only faithful Jews but productive workers and members of American society. That is why the Orthodox Union advocated to the Court in support of Mr. Groff and why we welcome this landmark ruling.’…

“‘Not every belief or practice can be accommodated, but experience has shown that with some effort and goodwill, most can,’ Marc Stern, the AJC’s [American Jewish Committee’s] chief legal officer, said in an email. ‘The court’s insistence that hardship on employers means substantial hardship and not de minimis hardship, puts real teeth into the law.’”

It will remain to be seen whether employers will take to heart the decision of the Supreme Court, or whether they will try to circumvent the law, hoping that many employees will cave in or refuse to take legal action.

The Fury of the Left

CNN published the following opinion and analysis by Stephen Collinson:

“Conservatives – despite their limited federal elected power – racked up another huge win in the great political battle of the early 21st century. The Supreme Court’s gutting of affirmative action in college admissions on Thursday toppled another pillar of America’s liberal social infrastructure. Two more setbacks followed on Friday: the high court struck down the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness program and dealt a blow to LGBTQ rights when it sided with a Christian web designer in Colorado who refuses to create websites to celebrate same-sex weddings out of religious objections…

“The decision saying colleges can no longer take race into account as a specific basis for admissions… sent shockwaves across the country. It was a generational decision comparable to another precedent-busting move a year ago, when the court’s conservative majority took away the constitutional right to an abortion by throwing out the half-century-old, society-molding decision of Roe v. Wade… ‘This is not a normal court,’ Biden said…

“But not all of the court’s recent decisions have infuriated the White House and Democrats. Earlier this week, for instance, liberals were hugely relieved when the court rejected a long-dormant legal theory that held that state courts and other state entities have a limited role in reviewing election rules established by state legislatures when it comes to federal elections…”

For the record, there is no constitutional right to an abortion. Rather, there is a constitutional right to life—the life of the unborn child. And what the Supreme Court addressed was the [unconstitutional] use of affirmative action in college admissions in favor of (some) minorities (mainly black) for the purpose of discriminating against other equally or even more qualified applicants (mostly white).

Temporary Injunction Against Biden Administration Another Big Blow

Breitbart wrote on July 4:

“Federal Judge Terry A. Doughty issued a temporary injunction on Independence Day blocking members of the Biden administration from having further contact with social media companies during a censorship trial.

“The judge, an appointee of President Donald Trump, is presiding over a case brought by Missouri and Louisiana challenging federal efforts to block alleged misinformation about the coronavirus and elections on social media. Critics allege that the federal government censored free speech, using private companies to carry out actions that it cannot take under the First Amendment. In so doing, critics say, the government stifled scientific debate, and weaponized social media platforms to help Democrats and hurt Republicans in recent elections.

“The Washington Post reported Tuesday: ‘The injunction was a victory for the state attorneys general, who have accused the Biden administration of enabling a ‘sprawling federal “Censorship Enterprise’” to encourage tech giants to remove politically unfavorable viewpoints and speakers, and for conservatives who’ve accused the government of suppressing their speech…”

“In his order, the judge made some exceptions for communications between the government officials and the companies, including to warn them of national security threats or criminal activity.”

Fox News added on July 5:

“Former White House press secretary and current MSNBC host Jen Psaki was named several times by a federal judge who is temporarily preventing White House officials from meeting with tech companies about social media censorship. The injunction said that Psaki ‘publicly began pushing Facebook and other social-media platforms to censor COVID-19 misinformation’ on May 5, 2021. ‘At a White House Press Conference, Psaki publicly reminded Facebook and other social-media platforms of the threat of “legal consequences” if they do not censor misinformation more aggressively,’ it continued…

“Doughty is barring several federal officials and agencies – including some of Biden’s Cabinet members and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre – from contacting social media companies in efforts to suppress speech. The injunction also states that the government’s actions ‘likely violate the Free Speech Clause’… ‘If the allegations made by Plaintiffs are true, the present case arguably involves the most massive attack against free speech in United States’ history,’ the injunction said. ‘In their attempts to suppress alleged disinformation, the Federal Government, and particularly the Defendants named here, are alleged to have blatantly ignored the First Amendment’s right to free speech.’”

Is there finally the day of reckoning coming?

President Biden Keeps Denying…

Breitbart wrote on June 30:

“President Joe Biden has denied his involvement in the Biden family business nine times over four years. While at least 23 instances of evidence directly contradict his claims, including but not limited to photos, texts, an audio recording, and IRS and former business partner whistleblower testimonies, Joe Biden remains steadfast in insisting that many established facts do not mean he was somehow involved in the family’s overseas business. The list of denials begins in 2019 when he ran for president.”

Breitbart then listed Biden’s denials on May 13, 2019; August 28, 2019; September 19, 2019; October 4, 2019; October 22, 2020; June 8, 2023; June 14, 2023; June 26, 2023, and the latest (so far) on June 28, 2023. In regard to that latest denial, Breitbart stated:

“While speaking outside the White House, reporters swarmed the president with questions about his involvement with the family business in response to whistleblower testimony to Congress that his name was thrown around in his son’s deals. ‘How involved were you in your son’s Chinese shake-down text message? Were you sitting there? Were you involved?’ a reporter asked. ‘No, I wasn’t.’ ‘Were you?’ a second reporter asked. ‘No!’ Biden shouted back.”

It appears that Biden said he was not sitting next to Hunter when the WhatsApp message was sent, calling his son, in effect, a liar. But it is doubtful that Biden really intended to answer that question in that way. How long can Biden continue to try to keep the American people in the dark? Note the next article.

White House Evades Tough Questions About Hunter Biden

The Washington Times wrote on June 26:

“James Rosen, White House correspondent for Newsmax TV, asked National Security Council spokesman John Kirby in a recent presser about the curious WhatsApp message from Hunter Biden to his communist-tied Chinese buddy Henry Zhao that seems to implicate Joe Biden in his son’s scandalous business dealings — specifically, that Joe Biden has lied repeatedly by claiming zero knowledge of his son’s overseas’ dealings — and Kirby ran like a little girl from the podium. This must be the approved talking point by the Democrats’ war room: When asked about Hunter — gather your skirts and run! ‘Cause Kirby’s not the only one doing it.

[In the WhatsApp message, Hunter claimed to be sitting next to his father when writing the threatening message to Zhao, demanding payment.]

“He was replaced by a dismissive White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre who was then asked the same question Kirby avoided — and she booted, deflected, avoided and then got really ticked; no doubt, even more ticked when other reporters in the White House briefing room wouldn’t let the matter drop. ‘Was the president there or not?’ asked an off-camera female journalist, following on Rosen’s line of questioning that went unanswered. ‘I will refer you to my colleagues. They have addressed this and I will refer you to them,’ Jean-Pierre said.

“Only — they haven’t.

“The White House hasn’t really explained the matter of the WhatsApp message that, if taken at face value, shows Joe Biden being used as a bulldog by his son to threaten communists into paying up, or paying — some unstated price… ‘White House STILL insists Joe was not involved in Hunter’s business dealings as Karine Jean-Pierre is hit with [a] barrage of questions on WhatsApp message to Chinese businessman and his state dinner invitation,’ the Daily Mail wrote in a recent headline…

“And that is why the White House is behaving like frightened little girls. They understand all too well where this could lead.”

In fact, the evidence suggests that Joe Biden was involved, that he lied about this to the American people on numerous occasions, and that America’s security interests have been compromised.

“Now the Gloves Are Off”

Newsmax wrote on July 2:

“The Biden Justice Department is reportedly preparing a superseding indictment of 30-45 more charges against former President Donald Trump, fearing a Trump-appointed judge might rule unfavorably against it. The scope of the charges could potentially bring the presidential documents case to another jurisdiction and include charges against Trump-tied associates, sources told The Independent.  

“According to the report, the DOJ fears Southern District of Florida Judge Aileen Cannon – randomly selected for the case – might give deference to the former president. Trump is already facing a 37-count federal indictment delivered by special counsel Jack Smith. Among the charges are 31 counts of willful retainment of military documents under the Espionage Act of 1917. Trump argues he was permitted to possess those documents under the civil statute of the Presidential Records Act, as determined by the precedent of the former President Bill ‘Clinton socks case’ which was ruled around a decade ago by Judge Amy Berman Jackson, appointed by President Barack Obama…

“The special counsel’s team is apparently also considering bringing charges against attorneys for Trump, including those defending him during the 2020 presidential election challenge, like former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani was the Trump-directed attorney who unearthed Ukraine/Burisma corruption allegations against Joe Biden when Trump was still in the White House. The Biden DOJ, facing allegations it has throttled back investigations into the Bidens, now might move forward with charges against the one who began looking into the Biden family’s connection to Ukraine…

“Trump had, until recently, vowed not to prosecute his political opponent… ‘when they indicted me for nothing, I said, “Now the gloves are off,'” Trump told a Pickens, South Carolina, rally Saturday… ‘Now we have to say it like it is. He’s a crook… it’s crooked Joe, because it’s a much more appropriate name right now for this man who’s just destroying our country.’”

How is it that many cannot or do not want to see what is really behind these contemplated additional charges against Trump and his attorneys?

USA and UK… a Troubled Relationship

AFP wrote on July 2:

“US President Joe Biden…is set to depart on July 9 for Britain…

“The stop in London will offer the veteran Democrat a chance to meet with King Charles III for the first time since the monarch’s coronation, as well as hold more talks with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, a month after his Washington visit.”

Nile Gardener wrote in The Telegraph, on July 1:

“Is there no end to Joe Biden’s sneering disdain towards this great country? The man who I see as far and away the most anti-British occupant of the White House in the modern era made his agenda clear on day one of his presidency, when he ordered the removal of Winston Churchill’s bust from the Oval Office…

“Joe Biden’s shameful mistreatment of Britain is a monumental folly. It is symbolic of his wider US foreign policy: weak, rudderless and lacking in any grand vision.”

Despite the idea that the relationship between the USA and the UK is “strong,” the opposite is the case… and that is a development which has been prophesied to occur in the end time.

King Charles Crowned King of Scotland

The Daily Mail wrote on July 5:

“King Charles was presented with the crown jewels of Scotland in a historic thanksgiving serving today before he and Queen Camilla stood side by side with the Prince and Princess of Wales to watch a Red Arrows flypast.  

“The monarch received the Crown of Scotland, the Sceptre and the Sword of State of the Honours of Scotland – the country’s crown jewels – at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh eight weeks after his crowning at Westminster Abbey…

“The Right Reverend Sally Foster-Fulton, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, delivered the sermon, in which she called for action to tackle global warming to stop the world ‘baking to a crisp’…

“During the processions activists loudly booed and shouted ‘Not My King’ from a protest spot yards from the Royal Mile – leading to criticism from royalists who believe they should have been given a less prominent location…”

“Consisting of the priceless crown, sceptre and Sword of State, the Honours of Scotland were first used together at a Coronation in 1543 for Mary, Queen of Scots when she was just nine months old. They were later used to crown her son, James VI – who went on to become James I of England – in 1567, Charles I in 1633 and Charles II in 1651. The Crown of Scotland… was placed on the coffin of the late Queen during a moving service at St Giles’ Cathedral after her death last year.

“… the sceptre was a gift from Pope Alexander VI to James IV in 1494. It was re-modelled and lengthened in 1536 and has small figures of the Virgin and Child, St James and St Andrew as well as a polished globe of rock crystal.

“The Sword of State was also a papal gift from Pope Julius II to James IV in 1507 and the blade features figures of St Peter and St Paul and Pope Julius’s inscription…

“Scotland’s crown jewels have not had a smooth or easy journey to their present-day display cabinet at Edinburgh Castle. In mid-17th century, the hoard had to be hidden from Oliver Cromwell – who had already melted down the English Crown Jewels – and they were taken to Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire before being buried in a nearby church…”

America’s Forever Wars

The Future of Freedom Foundation wrote on June 29:

“There are multiple problems facing our nation…

“Consisting of the Pentagon, the vast military-industrial complex, the enormous empire of domestic and foreign military bases, the CIA, and the NSA, along with its foreign policy of interventionism, the national-security establishment is the root cause of the perpetual wars in which the United States has been embroiled since 1947…

“The Cold War. The Korean War. The Vietnam War. The Persian Gulf War. The war on terrorism. The war on Islam. The War on Afghanistan. The War on Iraq. The war on Syria. The war on Yemen. The war on China. The war on Iran. Multiple military incursions. Multiple coups and state-sponsored assassinations. And now the renewed Cold War on Russia, which has gotten us perilously close to all-out, life-destroying nuclear war, just like it did back in October 1962.

“Of course, there is lots of focus on ending America’s ‘endless wars.’… Ending one forever war accomplishes nothing from a long-term perspective because always around the corner is another forever war…

“A national-security state necessarily depends on forever wars or, at the very least, crises, dangers, and threats from official enemies, adversaries, opponents, and competitors in order to justify its existence and its ever-growing taxpayer-funded largess… There is, of course, the out-of-control federal spending, debt, and monetary debauchery that comes with all this to consider… It’s also the warfare state, which is costing American taxpayers close to a trillion dollars a year…”

Sadly, America will continue to conduct or be engaged in its “forever” wars until it is defeated in World War III.

Firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene Sparks Controversy… Again…

Newsweek wrote on June 30:

“Marjorie Taylor Greene has sparked controversy by accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is Jewish, of having a ‘Nazi army.’

“The House Republican made the comment via Twitter on Thursday, in response to Zelensky holding a meeting with Greta Thunberg and other environmental campaigners in Kyiv.

“Russian President Vladimir Putin has sought to justify his invasion of Ukraine by claiming he is trying to ‘denazify’ the country… Russian state media has continued to spread the conspiracy theory that Ukraine is secretly colluding with Nazis…

“Greene commentated:

“‘Somehow this makes so much sense [meeting with Greta] from the actor wearing army green every day, fully funded by U.S. warmongers, and who just recently canceled elections, controls his state media, and has a Nazi army.’

“… former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson labeled the Ukrainian leader a demagogue, though others pointed out there is a track record of democracies not holding elections when they face an existential threat, such as Britain, which postponed parliamentary elections for most of World War II.

“Greene’s comments sparked a mostly negative response from other social media users… However, not everyone responded to Greene so negatively…”

The optics of Zelensky meeting with Greta Thunberg on the same day when He met with former Vice President Pence are clearly not good. It is interesting that elections have been placed on hold in times of war, such as was the case in Britain during World War II. Could the same happen in the USA?

Ron DeSantis Under Fire

Breitbart wrote on July 1:

“Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R-FL) presidential campaign is coming under fire across the political spectrum for its ‘pride month’ campaign video, released on the last day of what society has deemed ‘pride month.’

“The ad begins by featuring former President Donald Trump touting a commitment to ‘protect’ LGBTQ citizens. It also highlights Caitlyn Jenner’s meeting with Trump and a drag queen saying, ‘Make America Great Again.’ The ad then cuts to an image of DeSantis with lightning coming out of his eyes with the caption, ‘No.’ The infamous ‘Giga Chad’ meme appears on the screen before the ad highlights headlines of the actions taken by DeSantis opposing the LGBTQ agenda.

“DeSantis Signs ‘Most Extreme Slate of Anti-Trans Laws in Modern History,’” one headline reads… The ad features more headlines, including DeSantis’s efforts to shut down drag events geared toward children and signing what the HuffPost deemed a ‘draconian anti-Trans bathroom bill’ into law.

“It continued to showcase leftist outrage against DeSantis for taking such ‘draconian’ actions to push against the LGBTQ agenda.

“Some on the right, however, were turned off by the campaign video. The Log Cabin Republicans, a Republican LGBTQ group, deemed the campaign’s video ‘divisive and desperate.’ ‘Republicans and other commonsense conservatives know Ron Desantis [sic] has alienated swing-state and younger voters,’ the organization wrote… ‘Ron DeSantis’ extreme rhetoric…has just ventured into homophobic territory,’ it continued, warning that DeSantis’ rhetoric ‘will lose hard-fought gains in critical races across the nation… Ron DeSantis and his team can’t tell the difference between commonsense gays and the radical Left gays... His naive policy positions are dangerous and politically stupid.’

“… former U.S. Ambassador Richard Grenell [who is openly gay, called] the DeSantis video ‘undeniably homophobic.’” [Homophobic means, showing fear, hatred or dislike of or prejudice against gay people.]

Is it all because of the votes?

Modern Sodom and Gomorrah

LifeSiteNews wrote on July 1:

“In a less than five-minute Twitter monologue on Friday, Tucker Carlson… observed that the ‘Pride’ campaign being imposed by the powerful is ‘just another religious war’ between ‘the people who think they’re God versus everybody else,’ and the first category includes ‘virtually everybody… in a position of authority in the United States.’…

“‘People assumed there were consequences to pretending that you were God. They thought Sodom and Gomorrah were real places that were destroyed for disobedience,’ he said, referring to the account in Genesis 19 when God destroyed these cities with ‘brimstone and fire’ for the sins of unnatural sexual practices.

“Such peoples ‘imagined the same thing could happen to them’ if they violated God’s law, Carlson said.”

As Carlson implies, many do not believe today in the literal occurrence of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, thereby rejecting the clear testimony of the Bible and the fact that God has given us rules which we must obey.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s. Stance on Abortion

International Family News wrote on July 3:

“Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has reiterated his support for abortion rights, despite his belief that ‘every abortion is a tragedy.’… Kennedy argued that the government should not be involved in decisions that belong to women and advocated for medical freedom and bodily autonomy. He acknowledged that he finds third-term abortions appalling and expressed a desire to end them in other ways, although he did not specify his stance on government intervention at various stages of pregnancy.

“Kennedy’s stance on abortion has garnered support from some Democrats, with a recent poll showing that 52% of Democrats support his candidacy. This support could potentially pose a challenge to President Joe Biden’s 2024 run, given his current polling weakness and historical precedent of sitting presidents losing general elections after facing primary challengers…

“Kennedy’s focus on bodily autonomy ignores the fact that abortion ends the life of a genetically distinct human being. His organization… should extend its mission to include protection for preborn children from the moment of conception.”

Absolutely. Kennedy’s current position on abortion is clearly wrong.

The Dangerous Stupidity of the Woke Nonsense

The Daily Mail wrote on June 22:

“Britain’s strictest headteacher has said children allowed to self-identify as animals, moons and holograms should be moved to another school by their parents.  Katharine Birbalsingh, founder of the Michaela School in west London, said she was aware of a child at one school who identified as a gay male hologram – and at least one school where a group of students identified as cats. She claimed the ‘issue’ was widespread but that people are unaware because teachers are ‘not allowed to tell you’. 

“The headteacher, who said she has no pupils identifying as animals at her own school, said it is a ‘societal problem’ where teachers and parents have allowed children to lead the way. Her comments come after a recording revealed the moment a schoolteacher branded a [13 year old] pupil ‘despicable’ after they rejected a classmate’s claim that she identified as a cat…

“Ms Birbalsingh says parents should act quickly if schools tolerated children wanting to be recognised as animals… She also retweeted a tweet from a parent which said: ‘A girl at my daughters school identifies as a Wolf. It’s real. A fact. I doubt she is the only person in the UK.’”

This sounds like Grimm’s fairy tales. Where are the parents and the teachers who allow their young kids to adopt this kind of nonsense? Shame on them for abrogating their duty! Of course, governments and the left-wing mass media are also to be blamed for the encouragement of such dangerous nonsense.  

Isaiah 3:12 comes to mind: “Children are the masters of My people, and women rule over them” (Luther Bible 1984).

Note the next article.

Religious Persecution in Europe and Elsewhere

Catholic News Agency wrote on June 27:

“Although the most severe cases of religious persecution are currently taking place in certain African and Asian countries, the 2023 Religious Freedom in the World report highlighted dangerous trends within Europe and the Western world. The report… showed a rising trend in compelled speech, hate speech laws, censorship, the rise of cancel culture, and a growing intolerance toward some faith-based views in the West.

“The Catholic organization is also following threats in Ukraine to religious freedom from the Ukrainian, Belarusian, and Russian governments amid the ongoing war. In some African and Asian countries, the persecution is often more direct, such as China’s internment of Uyghur Muslims or Nigerian Islamists slaughtering Christians. In Western countries, policies that discriminate against religious groups are more subtle…

“ACN-USA Director of Outreach Edward Clancy… cited examples such as a U.K. doctor who lost his job for refusing to use preferred pronouns, French laws that have restricted religious symbols in certain public places, and COVID-19 restrictions that put harsher rules on religious gatherings than other functions, such as in New York.

“On the subject of cancel culture, the report notes that the rejection of new concepts about gender have subjected people to threats of ‘legal sanction’ in some Western countries and that ‘laws have been introduced, such as hate speech, to legally enforce and entrench these concepts as new [human] rights.’

“The report detailed a case in Finland in which Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola and Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen were charged with hate speech based on a Twitter post about the Lutheran teaching on homosexuality. The prosecutor general alleged that Räsänen’s post, which referenced a 2004 pamphlet published by Pohjola, was ‘likely to cause intolerance, contempt, and hatred towards homosexuals.’ Although the charges were dismissed, the prosecutors have appealed the verdict…

“According to Clancy, Ukraine has shut down Russian-speaking religious services and Russia has shut down Ukrainian religious activity in Russian-dominated areas...”

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.

We continue our journey to review more descriptions in the Bible about Jesus.

• Savior

There are a number of Scriptures that reveal that Jesus Christ is the Savior of mankind. In Luke 2:11, we read: “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Right from the very beginning of His human life, it was revealed to a few people, His parents, the shepherds and later the wise men, that Jesus Christ was the Savior–the Lord. Remember that we explained in part 2 of this series that “Jesus” means “the Lord is salvation” or “the Lord saves,” while Christ means the “anointed one” or the “chosen one.”

The wording, “a Savior” instead of “the Savior” in Luke 2:11 is interesting. We know that there is no salvation in any other than Jesus Christ, and we read in Isaiah 45:21 that Jesus Christ, the God of the Old Testament, is the only Savior for mankind. Still, we need to understand that God the Father is also called our Savior (1 Timothy 1:1), in that it was He who gave His only begotten Son and the Savior for mankind, and God’s born-again children are also referred to as saviors (Obadiah 1:21), in that they will help Christ to bring about the salvation of all mankind.

Still, the emphasis in Luke 2:11 is on Jesus Christ, and in this regard, the Living Bible is correct when translating: “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem!”

In our booklet “Do You Know the Jesus of the Bible?,” we read the following on page 9:

“The Bible teaches very clearly that Jesus Christ is God. For undeniable proof, notice Titus 2:11–14: ‘For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.’

Christ—the Great God and Savior

“The Jamieson, Fausset and Brown commentary confirms that the entire phrase ‘Great God and Savior’ refers to Jesus Christ:

“There is but one Greek article to ‘God’ and ‘Savior,’ which shows that both are predicated of one and the same Being… Also… ‘appearing’ (epiphaneia) is never by Paul predicated of God the Father… it is invariably applied to Christ’s coming… Also… in the context… there is no reference to the Father, but to Christ alone… Also… the expression ‘great God,’ as applied to Christ, is in accordance with the context, which refers to the glory of His appearing.”

There is so much information on the fact that Jesus Christ is the Savior of mankind that, for true Christians, this matter is irrefutable.

• Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

All five of these attributes are seen in Isaiah 9:6: “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

There is so much to think about and digest about the above attributes of Jesus that it would take much more than a Q&A to explain these. We can only wonder, at this time, how great a difference the Kingdom of God will make after the return of Jesus to the appalling state of society worldwide today.  Man has simply no answer to the insurmountable problems that exist so much so that at the end of this age, it will take divine intervention to save the world from extinction: “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved [alive]; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22).

Christ spoke here about human survival; not spiritual salvation. Therefore, the meaning is that no human being and no animal would be saved alive; no flesh would survive.

The attributes in Isaiah 9:6 will be clearly seen when Jesus returns to this earth—something that all true Christians should be eagerly looking forward to.

Christ will indeed be “Wonderful” or full of wonders and true miracles, and He will usher in the wonderful world tomorrow. He will be a true Counselor by giving sound counsel and advice; and He will be the Prince of Peace as of “the increase of His government and peace There will be no end” (Isaiah 9:7). As we have seen above, He is also called the “Great God” or, as Isaiah says, the “Mighty God,” “upholding all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3). He will also live for all eternity (compare Revelation 1:18; 4:9), so the designation “everlasting” is quite appropriate. But why is He also called the “Everlasting Father,” given the fact that He is not our Father, but that He is the Son of God the Father?

We state the following in our Q&A on the question why Jesus is referred to as “Father”:

“Since God [the Father] created everything through Christ, it is also said in Isaiah 9:6 that Christ will be called in the future—after His Second Coming—the ‘Everlasting Father.’ This statement proves, too, that Christ existed for all eternity. He is referred to here as the ‘everlasting Father’ or ‘the everlasting Source’ of everything—the ‘beginning of the creation of God.’ However, when the Bible speaks of the ‘Father,’ it normally refers strictly and exclusively to the highest God being in the God Family… Jesus, who as the Son was also a ‘Father’ or better ‘Source’ in the creation of mankind–especially for the people of Israel–acknowledged the ultimate authority of God the Father: ‘…My Father is GREATER than I’ (John 14:28).”

• Chief Cornerstone

When Peter addressed the Sanhedrin as outlined in Acts 4, he made these important statements: “… let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.  This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’  Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved’”(Acts 4:10-12).

Wikipedia gives this information about what a cornerstone is: “The cornerstone (or foundation stone or setting stone) is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.” They go on to say: “cornerstone (Greek: Άκρογωνιεîς Latin: Primarii Lapidis) will sometimes be referred to as a ‘foundation-stone’, and is symbolic of Christ, whom the Apostle Paul referred to as the ‘head of the corner’ and is the ‘Chief Cornerstone of the Church’ (Ephesians 2:20).”

This is a vital description of Jesus Christ. As mentioned several times before, He is the only One through whom salvation is available.

Matthew Poole’s Commentary gives the additional explanation of the words “chief cornerstone”:

“The head of the corner; or the corner stone: Christ is frequently so called (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10), and that,

“1. Because he sustains and upholds the whole building.

“2. He is a rock or stone of offense (Romans 9:33); as many run upon and are hurt by a corner stone.

“3. He is most precious (1 Peter 2:6), as the corner stones are usually the largest, firmest, and best.

“4. Christ is a light to lighten the Gentiles, as well as the glory of the people of Israel; and both Gentile and Jew are united in him, and saved by him, as the corner stone is equally necessary for both sides, which are united in it, and borne up by it.”

• Apostle and High Priest

In Hebrews 3:1, we read: “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus…”

According to The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, an apostle is one sent with a special message or commission. We understand that Jesus came to preach the gospel of the soon-coming Kingdom of God (compare Mark 1:14-15).

Christ was sent by God the Father (John 6:57). Christ, as THE Apostle, sent His disciples or apostles into the world to proclaim the gospel message to all nations (John 17:18).

He is also referred to as our High Priest:

“Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17).

On biblehub.com, we read: “Christ is called the High Priest of our profession. High Priest, because He stands for mankind before God: High Priest, because He has made one all-sufficient sacrifice for the sins of men: High Priest, because He does for men what they could not and cannot do for themselves. Christ’s priesthood means that we have a way by which we may approach the eternal and all-holy Father.” 

He is the one who intercedes for us (Romans 8:34; compare also Hebrews 9:11-14, 24).

• The Way, the Truth, and the Life

In John 14:1, when comforting His disciples, Jesus said: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me,” and then in verse 6: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”

Jesus is the way, the only way to salvation (Acts 4:12).

In John 17:17 we read: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

It is only through Jesus that we can receive and understand the Truth and receive eternal life. There is no other way, and we read in 1 John 5:11-12: “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

Christ is THE Way, THE Truth and THE Life; and He shows us the way, reveals the Truth to us, and leads us to eternal life.

• The Good Shepherd

Jesus told us: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.  But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.  I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own” (John 10:11-14).

A shepherd’s main responsibility is the safety and welfare of his flock. The Church is the flock which Jesus tends and looks after. In Psalm 23:1, we read what David said: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

The Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary states:

“‘I am the good shepherd’—emphatically, and, in the sense intended, exclusively so (Isa 40:11; Eze 34:23; 37:24; Zec 13:7).”

The Pulpit Commentary adds:

“There may be many shepherds worthy of the name, but he alone justifies the designation… The good Shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep; not only does his work with his life in his hand, but he deliberately lays down his life and consciously divests himself of his life, and is doing it now. The Shepherd dies that the sheep may live (cf. 1 John 3:16; John 15:13). Elsewhere Jesus says, ‘The Son of man gives his life a ransom for many’ (Matthew 20:28). The thought is very grand, and is a strange addition to the claim to be the Shepherd of Israel, and gives intense pathos to the language of our Lord to Simon Peter (John 21:16), ‘Shepherd my sheep.’”

As Christ, as THE Apostle, sends out human apostles and other ministers to preach the gospel, so Christ, as THE Shepherd, uses human “shepherds” to feed the flock in a selfless and concerned way.

See also our Q&A on “Feeding My Sheep.”

• Lion of the Tribe of Judah

In the Book of Revelation, we read in chapter 5 about the Lamb taking the scroll.   We’ve already covered earlier in these Q&As that Jesus was the Lamb of God, and in Revelation 5:5 we read: “But one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.’”

In the following verses 6 and 7, we read that the Lamb (Jesus) took the scroll.  The rest of the chapter is praise about the Lamb.

Barnes Notes on the Bible writes:

“This appellation [“Lion of the Tribe of Judah”] is not elsewhere given to the Messiah, but it is not difficult to see its propriety as used in this place. The lion is the king of beasts, the monarch of the forest, and thus becomes an emblem of one of kingly authority and of power… and as such the appellation is used in this place. It is because Christ has power to open the seals – as if he ruled over the universe, and all events were under his control, as the lion rules in the forest – that the name is here given to him.”

Matthew Poole’s Commentary writes:

“The Lion of the tribe of Judah; he is so called, undoubtedly, with allusion to Jacob’s prophecy, Genesis 49:9, 10, wherein Judah was compared to a lion’s whelp, because he should be victorious. Christ was to be born of this tribe, and was to be a great Conqueror.”

Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible reads:

“Christ, who, according to the flesh, was to come of the tribe of Judah; and certain it is, that our Lord sprang from thence: and he is said to be the lion of that tribe, in allusion to the prophecy concerning Judah in Genesis 49:9, where he is said to be a lion, an old lion stooping down and couching, and on whose standard was the figure of a lion. Christ may be compared to one, because of his great strength, he being the mighty God, the able Saviour, and strong Redeemer, and protector of his church and people, and the avenger of their enemies; and because of his courage and intrepidity when he engaged with Satan, and his principalities and powers, when he bore the sins of his people, sustained his Father’s wrath, and the terrors of death set themselves in array against him; and because of the fierceness of his wrath, and fury against the wicked, and for his generosity and lenity towards those that stoop unto him, and obey him…”

• Head of the Church

We know that there are different governmental structures in the churches of God today where human leadership exists. However, we read in the Word of God that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, and human leaders themselves are to be subject to Jesus Christ as the spiritual Head of the true Church of God.

In our booklet, “Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians — How to Understand It,” we read the following on page 18:

“… Paul goes on to say that through God’s power, Christ was placed above all ‘power, and might, and dominion.’ As we explain in our free booklet, ‘Angels, Demons and the Spirit World,’ these expressions could refer to angelic ranks in the spirit world. Paul’s point is that Christ was placed over anything and everything created. He has been given all authority in heaven and on earth (Hebrews 1:1–4). All things are placed under His feet, and He is the Head over all things, including the Church, the ‘body of Christ’ (Colossians 1:18).”

Ephesians 1:21-23 reveals more information about Christ being the Head of the Church: “… far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Matthew 28:18 is revealing: “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.’”   Since He was given this authority over all things, these would include His Church. Ephesians 5:23 says specifically: “Christ is the head of the church” (Authorized Version).

Beware of any man who may wish to take all authority to himself and ignore the Head of the Church who is also the Word of God!

(To be continued)

Lead Writers: Brian Gale (United Kingdom) and Norbert Link

compiled by Dave Harris

“Why Many Feel Joe Biden Should Not Run the USA,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

Many claim that Joe Biden is unfit for office because they believe that he lied intentionally and repeatedly to the American people in regard to his alleged knowledge of Hunter’s business dealings with foreign entities. But is there another explanation? What IF Joe Biden were to suffer from worsening dementia, as many suspect? This program evaluates the signs which could lead to that conclusion.

“Das Geheimnis der biblischen Zahlen” is the title of this Sabbath’s new German sermon, presented by Michael Link. Title in English: “”The Mystery of the Biblical Numbers.”

A Tech Team meeting was conducted on Sunday, July 2, 2023. Hosted by Eric Rank, ongoing results from our ad campaign featuring our booklet, “The Fall and Rise of the Jewish People,” were discussed, and plans to expand our efforts in Spanish through further booklet translations were made. Please note a new recent Spanish translation of our booklet on the Trinity on our Spanish webpage, with more translations to come soon.  https://www.eternalgod.org/articulos-en-espanol/

“Waiting is Hard!”, last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Frank Bruno, is now posted. Here is a summary:

In this human lifetime, it seems that we wait for so many things to happen: an appointment with the dentist and a concert that we are looking forward to, and as followers of the Creator, we await the return of Jesus Christ and the institution of the Kingdom. There are times when waiting is especially difficult. Perhaps we are waiting to heal from a health issue, or a situation in our lives and our jobs in which we must rely solely on God for resolution. This can be trying for us, but we know that we can rely on God, and His Word to strengthen us. In this Sermonette we will cover Scriptures that are relevant to this very human challenge—learning to place the situation in God’s hands and not in our limited, carnal human potential.

“Christ and the Church,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Dave Harris, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Do you believe that Jesus Christ still guides the Church of God, today? If you do, are you keeping what He commands, and, most importantly, are you a member of the True Church of God that is revealed in the Bible?