Update 1082

On August 26, 2023, Kalon Mitchell will present the sermonette, titled, “Learning to Follow Directions,” and Michael Link will present the sermon, titled, “The Mystery of Biblical Numbers – Part 2″.

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.

This past week, I was involved in a Jiu-Jitsu competition where I sparred with two other guys and came out in second place. 

The past few weeks though, leading up to this competition, have been tough in training and preparing for this moment. Almost 6 weeks ago, I pulled the ligament in my foot and had to take a week off, and I also had to be very careful now during training. All said and done, while it was fun to win second place, the most important thing I felt was not getting reinjured. 

While this has all been going on, even more importantly, I have been writing Q&As and messages for the upcoming Feast of Tabernacles. In all of our lives, we have moments that we prepare for. We must continue to prepare in our lives. Once we reach one milestone and one goal, more goals appear and the cycle continues.  

The Bible encourages us to be prepared in many areas of our lives. 

Specifically, we are told: 

• To prepare by working to be able to provide for our family, and to be able to give tithes and offerings (compare Proverbs 21:20; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Timothy 5:8);
• To be prepared to give an answer about our faith and what we believe (1 Peter 3:15-16). This means that we have to know what we believe which takes studying God’s Word. We have so much material on our website https://www.eternalgod.org/ that can be used. If we cannot give an answer to people, then we are not prepared and we should dig in a little more;
• To prepare to be counted worthy to stand before Christ at His return (Luke 21:36; Matthew 24:42);
• To prepare for the Feast of Tabernacles. Some will be giving messages, some will be translating, some will be giving special music, etc. All of this takes preparation and time. It should be something that we do with joy and great excitement. Whether or not we have been specifically assigned to serve at the Feast in some capacity, we should be prepared for this time and enjoy it with enthusiasm and great attitudes (Leviticus 23:33-44).

We are not the only ones preparing. Christ is preparing “a place” for us, as we read in John 14:3. 

The opportunities to prepare are given to us so that we can learn not to neglect the important things in life. The most important thing is living in a way that God is happy about. This challenge is laid out for us so that we may prove to Him that we want to be in His Family. This is an all-encompassing Way of Life that has to be studied and acted upon throughout our entire lives. 

What do you consider the most important thing in your life? How much do you prepare? 

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

Preparations are happening for all of us in various ways. Let’s make sure we are preparing properly and with the right intent and motivation. It is then that we can make progress in our life. 

by Norbert Link

We begin with new developments, revelations and reactions regarding Georgia’s indictment of Donald Trump and the frightening but to a large extent ignored terrible economic situation in the USA.

In contrast, we point out dissatisfaction of most Germans with their country’s miserable conditions and address logical reactions which the German government is unwilling to accept. In fact, their attempts to “handle” the situation make matters even worse for them. In this context, please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “America and Germany in Decline!”

We address the somewhat useless announcement by the USA of having given the green light for delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine in the distant future; and show how America’s misguided policies have managed to alienate its friends and to embolden its enemies.

We speak on Saudi Arabia’s willingness to become custodian of the Temple Mount and Al Aqsa; and the military collaboration between Russia, China, India, North Korea and Iran. We also report on developments regarding the BRICS bloc.

We continue with a historical drought affecting the Panama Canal; and further attempts to influence a gullible public to take more and more booster shots, and to be prepared for another “virus,” allegedly necessitating again drastic governmental measures to combat it. Please read in this regard our new member letter, dated August 21, 2023. brethren-20230821.pdf

We conclude with insightful articles on nature worship and demonic possession.

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

Georgia’s Indictment Started with Fake News

Breitbart wrote on August 18:

“The fake news was reporting that Trump had told Georgia officials, by telephone, to fabricate votes.

“In early January 2020… Trump was reported to have told Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to ‘find’ the votes he needed to win. Actually, what Trump said was: ‘I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have because we won the state’ (emphasis added)… Trump was speaking in the context of believing he had already won the state…

“As George Washington University Law School professor Jonathan Turley has noted: ‘… it seems more likely that Trump was swatting back claims that there was no value to a statewide recount by pointing out that he wouldn’t have to find a statistically high number of votes to change the outcome of the election. It is telling that many politicians and pundits refuse to even acknowledge that obvious alternate meaning.’

“The term ‘find’ is also used colloquially, and often, in the context of counting votes. Political analysts on television routinely say that a candidate needs to ‘find’ votes in one area or another, having already been cast, as results are reported by local precincts.”

It is just appalling to see how the left-wing mass media—also being described as fake news—influences the governments on federal and state levels… and vice versa. Of course, Georgia’s left-wing biased prosecutor Fani Willis jumped on just about anything she could think of in order to accomplish her declared goal of “getting Trump.”

Trump Cancels Press Conference on Indictment in Georgia

Breitbart wrote on August 18:

“Trump will no longer hold a media conference… to address his fourth indictment…

“‘Rather than releasing the Report on the Rigged & Stolen Georgia 2020 Presidential Election on Monday, my lawyers would prefer putting this, I believe, Irrefutable & Overwhelming evidence of Election Fraud & Irregularities in formal Legal Filings as we fight to dismiss this disgraceful Indictment,’ Trump wrote…”

As we predicted, these criminal indictments by Jack Smith and now by Fani Willis have opened a pandora’s box in that the carefully avoided discussions by the mass media of possible voter fraud and a rigged election in 2020 are now being attempted to be finally litigated in the courts, as this was for the most part NOT done before. The often-repeated claim by the mass media that many courts have decided on the merits that there was no voter fraud is absolutely false.

Schiff in Prison for a Millennium 

American Insider wrote on August 20:

“‘Remember the Russian hoax and the Mueller investigation?’ Senator Graham asked rhetorically. ‘Donald Trump is being charged with a criminal act for telling people to watch a network show about the election.’ ‘If that becomes a crime Adam Schiff will be in jail for 1,000 years!’ he continued. ‘How many times did Schiff go on MSNBC and CNN and tell us Donald Trump was a Russian agent?’…

“The blatant lies of Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff were recently exposed with the release of the bombshell ‘Durham Report.’ Schiff spread false information to Americans by repeatedly claiming President Trump’s 2016 campaign was coordinated with Russia to influence the election…”

A funny suggestion by Graham. Although satirical, it shows the blatant hypocrisy of Schiff and others regarding their condemnation of Trump.

CNN: Biden Was Wrong, Trump Was Right

Fox News wrote on August 19:

“CNN host and chief Washington correspondent Jake Tapper admitted that former President Donald Trump ‘was right’ when he accused then-presidential candidate Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden of accepting large amounts of foreign money during the 2020 presidential debates…

“Tapper also declared that Biden ‘was wrong’ during the match-ups between the two candidates three years ago, when the then-Democratic nominee denied Trump’s allegations that his son made ‘a fortune in Ukraine, in China, in Moscow and various other places.’ At the time Biden flatly rejected the claim, saying, ‘None of that is true.’…”

Even though Tapper seemed to suggest that Joe Biden might not have known better—a rather ridiculous assumption—CNN keeps shooting at Biden by finally admitting what has been known to be the truth for many years.  

Biden Lies and Lies…

The Editorial Board of the New York Post wrote on August 20:

“President Joe Biden is in the middle of a victory tour over his supposed economic successes — but the numbers keep showing his arguments for Bidenomics are pure disinformation. ‘It’s working,’ he crowed Tuesday to an audience in Milwaukee on a re-election campaign tour stop. Not, it’s not.

“…Average Americans are spending $709 more per month on everyday goods and services like food than they were two years ago. That’s an eye-watering $8,508 yearly bump. 

“Indeed, inflation since Biden took office totals 15%. Focus on daily essentials (like food, power bills, mortgages), and prices are up almost 25%…

“Biden’s lies on the economy are nothing new. Witness his February claim that ‘We created more new jobs in two years than any president did in their entire term.’ No: Those were jobs lost to COVID policy overreactions that came back during the long and tepid employment recovery he oversaw. 

“Seems the overall Biden strategy here just to lie and lie and lie as liberal [journalists] seal-clap, and figure everyday voters will buy it. Huge mistake: Every trip to buy milk or fill the tank proves what a disaster Bidenomics has been…”

The tragedy is, even though many Americans suffer economically and otherwise, they do not seem to be able or willing to connect the dots. Something else is happening in Germany; note the following articles.

Germans Dissatisfied

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 18:

“If you think Germany is efficient and decisive, you probably don’t live here. From unreliable passenger rail to long waits for public services, too few appointment slots to see doctors and not enough room in preschools, German institutions seem increasingly unable to meet the everyday needs of the population they serve. 

“That hasn’t gone unnoticed by the general public. Just 27% of people in Germany have the sense the state is able to fulfill its responsibilities…

“Germans are looking for leadership…”

It currently does not exist in Germany. But things will change…

Germany’s Decline

Daily Mail wrote on August 18:

“German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock, en route to Australasia on a week-long, high-profile mission to enhance her country’s status in the Indo-Pacific region, was left stranded in Abu Dhabi when her government A340 Airbus broke down during a refuelling stop in the Gulf. Attempts to continue her journey were aborted twice, minutes after take-off. She abandoned her diplomatic mission and returned to Berlin on a commercial flight…

“That broken-down official jet, opined Der Spiegel, the country’s leading news magazine, ‘fits with everything you’ve been hearing about the country lately’, capturing the pervasive sense of gloom that grips Germany these days — and with good reason.

“The economy, now in recession, has declined for three consecutive quarters. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) thinks Germany will be the only major economy to shrink this year… The country is gripped by a variety of woes signalling long-term decline, most of which can be traced to Angela Merkel’s 16 years as German Chancellor…

“Germany’s mighty car industry has its back to the wall, especially since it has no special advantages when it comes to building electric vehicles (EVs) and Berlin has inflicted such high costs on it. The combined market value of the country’s legendary carmakers — BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen and Porsche — is now barely 50 per cent of Elon Musk’s Tesla. Chinese-manufactured EVs are eating away Germany’s once huge share of the car market…

“Government bureaucracy is mired in the analogue age, which makes it inefficient, and even its fabled railways no longer run on time. Indeed, some run so late that Switzerland often stops German trains at the border so they don’t mess up the immaculate time-keeping of its own train services.

“There are a lot of ways to ruin a nation… Merkel and her successors seem to have discovered most of them….”

Sadly, this seems to be very true. And so, Germans are crying out for change and decisive leadership.

The Success Story of Germany’s AfD

The left-wing radical Washington Post wrote on August 18:

“Maximilian Krah, the newly elected top candidate of the far-right Alternative for Germany for the European elections, doesn’t believe in watering down political messages to win centrist votes… he has described Pride Month as ‘disgusting,’ is a proponent of deporting immigrants and peppers his speech with allusions [to] white supremacist conspiracy theories [Not really, see his statements and explanations below.]. ‘We have become clearer in what we want and what we think,’ the 46-year-old rising star of the far right said of his party, known by its German acronym AfD. ‘We have more of the Trumpian style of communication.’

“Far-right experts say his recent election as lead candidate to represent the party in the 2024 European Parliament elections was just another sign of the AfD’s increasing radicalization [How his election to the European Parliament is a sign of his party’s increasing realization is difficult to fathom.]. But while the party is becoming unpalatable as a partner even to some of Europe’s most radical right-wing populists, it is attracting a record number of German voters. In recent months the AfD has surged to become the second strongest political force in the country after the opposition Christian Democrats, polling at around 21 percent, ahead of all members of the country’s liberal governing coalition…

“While other European far-right parties… have toned down and turned their focus to courting more centrist conservatives, the AfD stands apart. ‘The experts and pundits always tell us that if you want to have better election results, you have to give up your positions, you should become a more centrist style party,’ said Krah, who has eight children by three women… ‘We are not the kind of singer that asks what your audience wants and then sings a song,’ he said… ‘We have a clear ideology.’

“At the European Union level, even Hungarian populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban last year said he was ‘forced to sacrifice relations with the AfD on the altar of good international relations’ while far-right Italian politician Matteo Salvini has indicated he’s looking for more centrist allies… At the summit in Magdeburg over weekends in late July and early August, 600 candidates vied to represent the party and adopt an election program that branded the European Union a ‘failed project.’ Guest speakers included Bulgarian right-wing extremist Kostadin Kostadinov, who fondly referred to the alliance between Germany and Romania during both world wars and called for Germany to take ‘its rightful place as a great power, and not only in Europe.’..

“The party has so far failed to overturn a decision by the agency to put it under surveillance, with a Cologne court ruling in March last year that there were ‘sufficient indications of anti-constitutional endeavors within the party’ to justify its monitoring…

“Krah rejects the notion that the party is becoming more extreme or that he’s to the right of it… The idea that immigrants are replacing ethnic Germans is ‘a description’ of the situation rather than a conspiracy theory, said Krah, who also doesn’t see an issue with saying that Germany should reclaim its rightful place in the world. ‘Germany is a country in a crisis, and it’s not just an economic crisis. It’s also an identity crisis,’ he said. ‘It’s a crisis where Germans forgot to be proud of their own fathers and grandfathers. Mothers and grandmothers.’…

“The AfD’s record-high position in the polls comes amid brimming dissatisfaction with Germany’s ruling three-party coalition, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democrats… [In addition to Germany’s mishandling of the Covid pandemic and Germany’s shaky economy,] Krah puts the party’s success down to the population’s distain for liberal policies on climate, gender and LGBT issues, immigration and the war in Ukraine, saying established political parties have no answer to real issues German face… the party’s increased success makes it difficult for others to make viable political coalitions without them…  ‘The right wing is on rise,’ [Krah] said. ‘And that’s Europe wide.’”

The left-wing narrative in the article cannot hide the fact that, reading between the lines, many of the positions of the AfD, as described herein, are not unreasonable. They also seem to indicate the beginning of the fulfillment of prophecy.

AfD Politician Convicted of “Incitement”!

Deutsche Welle reported on August 18:

“A court in the German city of Munich on Friday convicted a politician from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party over remarks comparing a coronavirus vaccination campaign with Nazi-era anti-Jewish pogroms.

“Florian Jäger, who served as a member of Germany’s national parliament, the Bundestag, posted a video on his Facebook page in 2021. In it, he claimed that the German government’s COVID measures were comparable with the November pogrom terror campaign against German Jews in 1938…

“The court ruled that the comments in question amounted to incitement and sentenced Jäger to pay a fine of €2,700 ($2,930)…

“If the Holocaust is degraded to an arbitrary object of comparison for measures that are perceived as unwelcome, then the protection of Jewish people from anti-Semitic attacks, would also be dragged down,’ [the prosecutor] said.

“Jäger is currently the chairman for the AfD in the district Fürstenfeldbruck. He has one week to appeal the decision.”

An absolutely ridiculous decision. By no stretch of the imagination was the Holocaust “degraded” and neither was the “protection of Jews from anti-Semitic attacks” endangered. The comparison between Germany’s unconstitutional measures of “fighting” the Corona pandemic and Germany’s terror campaign against Jews amounted to just the opposite. But the German legal system does not want to hear this. No wonder the AfD rises in popularity with such nonsensical and blatantly false allegations and “findings” against it.

F-16 Jets for Ukraine Without Immediate Benefit!

The Wall Street Journal wrote on August 18:

“Washington has cleared the way for the Netherlands [and Denmark] to deliver F-16 jets to Ukraine…

“The announcement comes amid growing concerns that Ukraine’s counteroffensive has stalled, with Kyiv’s forces having so far failed to punch through fortified Russian lines. One U.S. official said an intelligence assessment concluded it was unlikely that the Ukrainians would reach Melitopol, their presumed objective near the Sea of Azov, during their current counteroffensive…

“Western officials caution it will take time to train Ukrainian pilots and deliver the aircraft. Ukrainians won’t have the aircraft until well into 2024, and perhaps not until the middle or latter part of next year, they said. Only eight Ukrainian pilots are currently deemed to meet the language requirements to immediately begin training…

“Ukrainian officials have complained about the slow pace of the projected delivery schedule and argued that Washington has dragged its feet…  Gen. James Hecker, the top U.S. Air Force commander for forces in Africa and Europe,… warned it could be [four or five] years before Ukraine would make full use of the jets…”

Washington’s blessing for the plane donations to Ukraine and the training of Ukrainian pilots are needed because the aircrafts are made in the United States.

America’s Friends Alienated and America’s Enemies Emboldened

The Telegraph wrote on August 20:

“[In 2021], the Americans handed to the Taliban one of the most expensive and complete sets of military equipment in the world… the manner of the withdrawal [from Afghanistan] and the weakness it projected have had profound implications. Many experts believe that Vladimir Putin’s long-held desire to annex Ukraine was sparked into action by the ineffectual way in which the US withdrew. Worse is that the axis on which the global order moves has subtly shifted in the resulting period.

“For instance, if you are going to make one big mistake in a region, you had better make sure that every other alliance is in very good working order. The necessary isolation of Russia since its aggression in Ukraine has certainly pushed Russia closer into its own axis, of China and Iran… far from being without clout, and all the more reason to shore up your natural allies. The Biden administration has been exceptionally poor at doing that.

“Israel is generally thought of by outsiders as being almost de facto within the orbit of America. But the fraying of that relationship during the Obama administration (during which Biden was vice president) is undeniable. During that time, Israel inevitably had to keep other lines of friendship open, including with Russia. So Israel has, as a matter of realpolitik, kept itself out of the clear demarcations the rest of America’s allies have held to since the start of the Ukraine crisis.

“Such things happen once you take to hectoring allies, rather than working with them. Until recently, there were few similarities between the Israelis and the Saudis. But Biden has managed to create some… With energy prices soaring last summer due to the fallout of the Ukraine war, Biden personally went to Saudi Arabia and asked them to increase oil production. There was a time when an American leader just needed to pick up the phone. But with midterms looming, Riyadh actually cut production. It was an amazing… sign not only that the Saudis didn’t need to do what the US asked, but could do the opposite if they chose.

“In such a situation, dangerous new alliances form. What has been most striking in the past year has been the audacious efforts by the Chinese to step into the roles once expected of the US. If there was a peace deal to be brokered in the Middle East, it used to be assumed that it would be America that would broker it. No more. 

“When a deal was agreed in March to restore relations between the bitter enemies Iran and Saudi Arabia, it was Beijing that brokered it. Around the same time, it was the Chinese leadership that started touting a ‘peace deal’ to end the war in Ukraine… as the Ukrainian counteroffensive makes slow progress, many nonaligned countries see China at least providing some solution to the conflict. The Americans, meanwhile, just talk the language of taking ‘as long as it takes’. And whatever your views on the Ukraine conflict, it is hard to deny that the line from Washington has changed again and again.

“Munitions that are ruled out one month are passed another month. Tanks and planes are presented as unthinkable to provide one month and provided the next. None of this is helped by the sheer lack of confidence that anybody dealing with the US president himself must feel. 

“Last month, Biden held a meeting at the White House with the Israeli president Isaac Herzog. The hope was that it would reassure Israelis that the relationship was as solid as ever. This came at the same time as Biden was chiding prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his judicial reforms. That in itself is a classic Biden misstep. What business is it of the Americans if the Israeli government chooses to make long overdue changes to its supreme court system?… the belief that the Americans have the right to lecture everyone in the region is built into the system…

“Tehran is once again extorting the US by demanding money for prisoners. Iran has been a rogue state since 1979, but there are few rogue states in the world that America is so constantly and successfully blackmailed by. Expect pallets of cash to be handed over once more, as during the Obama-Biden years, to a regime dancing on the edge of trying to become a nuclear power. 

“For many countries in the region, Saudi Arabia and Israel perhaps most of all, that is the nightmare scenario, an Iran that goes nuclear fast. But then, Iran is in a good position. It has some strong friends… and some weak enemies, including the US…”

An accurate description of America’s shameful and incompetent performance on the world scene.

Saudi Arabia to Take Over the Temple Mount?

Israel News wrote on or about August 20:

“The timing was not accidental when Saudi Arabia announced over the weekend that its ambassador to Jordan will also take on the roles of ambassador to the Palestinian Authority and consul general in eastern Jerusalem…

“Although Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on Sunday quickly shot down the idea of a Saudi consulate for the Palestinians in eastern Jerusalem, Saudi and Palestinian officials said, ‘The Saudi move is an indication of the possibility of an agreement to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia soon and is a signal to the entire region.’

“But Saudi and Palestinian officials also said, ‘Saudi Arabia wishes to signal to Jordan that it considers itself entitled to set foot in the al-Aqsa mosque in east Jerusalem, which would make the crown prince and the Al Saud dynasty responsible for the three holy places of Islam: Mecca, Medina and al-Aqsa.’… For several years, Saudi Arabia has been signaling to Jordan that it intends to replace Amman as custodian of Jerusalem’s Temple Mount…

“Dr. Mordechai Kedar… said… ‘When considering the negotiations to bring normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, it is important to remember that the Saudis do not consider the Palestinians to be Arabs… If the Saudis take over the Temple Mount, it will be a huge blow to the Palestinians. Without Al Aqsa, the Palestinians have nothing; no connection to the land, no political claim, no claim to status in Islam…’”

Interesting developments in the Middle East. The Temple Mount and the Al Aqsa mosque keep at the forefront of attention.

China and Russia Collaborate Militarily

Business Insider wrote on August 20:

“China claims it has remained neutral and has repeatedly denied sending military equipment to Russia since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

“But The Telegraph’s investigation found that the country has delivered tens of thousands of shipments to Russian military equipment manufacturers… Trade between the two countries is set to exceed $200 billion this year, per the report — setting a new record.”

Russia and Iran Collaborate Militarily

The New York Post wrote on August 20:

“Russia is secretly working on building thousands of drones through a covert partnership with Iran… Engineers are quietly working to construct 6,000 drones by the summer of 2025 via a billion-dollar weapons deal between Moscow and Tehran. The work is being carried out at a facility in Tatarstan, about 500 miles from the Russian capital.

“Leaked documents… show that Russian drone production is heavily reliant on electronic parts from other countries and that Russian engineers have been trying to improve on the Iranian Shahed-136 attack drone, which is able to travel over 1,000 miles. Among the attempted improvements is making the drones able to carry out a swarm attack, in which they autonomously coordinate to strike a common target.”

Russia and India Collaborate Economically and Militarily

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 22:

“Russia, an enemy? Not in India, where Russia has long been viewed as a valued political and economic partner. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, the relationship has even picked up additional pace. India has declined to join the West’s sanctions on Moscow, and the country is now importing more crude oil from Russia than ever before…

“Russia has become India’s fourth-largest source of imports in the past year… The economic and political relationship between Russia and India, which are both nuclear powers, is not only based on their mutual interest regarding oil. It also goes back to their long-standing cooperation during the Cold War era.

“The Soviet Union supplied weapons to India for decades and trained Indian forces in how to use them. India obtained three-fifths of its arms from the USSR between 1955 and 1991… military cooperation between India and Russia remains significant… By contrast, there was a cooler relationship with the United States, which delivered arms to India’s enemy Pakistan…

“‘The Russian-Indian partnership will continue,’ Rajan Menon and Eugene Rumer from the US think tank Carnegie Endowment for International Peace wrote in September last year. ‘For India, Russia remains an important supplier of weapons…’”

The Kings of the East are coming together, including China, Russia, India and North Korea (see article below).

The Russia-North Korea-Pact

Daily Express US wrote on August 23:

“Russia’s ‘probable secret’ nuclear agreement with North Korea signals a ‘very dangerous development’…

“According to Paul Bracken, professor of management and political science at the Yale School of Management, the alliance between Russia and North Korea is a major cause for concern. He told Daily Express US: ‘We’re seeing new coalitions taking shape right before our eyes…’

“North Korea currently holds a huge stockpile of ballistic missiles… [It] has conducted more than 100 weapons tests since 2022, some involving nuclear-capable missiles designed to strike the US mainland and its allies South Korea and Japan.

“Russia, meanwhile, has the world’s largest stockpile of nuclear weapons, with around 6,000 warheads in its arsenal.”

It is alleged that North Korea provides Russia with conventional weapons while Russia provides North Korea with information as to how to build nuclear weapons.

The BRICS Bloc to Enlarge?

Portland Press Herald wrote on August 21:

“The BRICS bloc – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – will use an annual leaders’ summit in Johannesburg this week to begin the process of enlisting more members to bolster its global heft, a push driven mainly by Chinese President Xi Jinping but also backed by Russia and South Africa. There will also be talks on how to accelerate a shift away from the dollar, in part by increasing the use of local currencies in trade between members, which is surging…

“The summit could see the bloc’s first expansion since South Africa was added in 2010. High on the list of potential candidates are Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, as well as the United Arab Emirates, Algeria and Egypt. But India wants the process to be gradual. An expanded group would represent about half of global output by 2040… double the share of the Group of Seven, a reversal from the turn of this century. A bigger BRICS would account for almost half of the global population, up from 42% currently…

“Russian President Vladimir Putin is staying away from this year’s summit because he faces a war-crimes arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, of which host South Africa is a member. He will participate remotely. The gathering will give him another opportunity to present his narrative of the Ukraine invasion directly to leaders from the Global South, many of whom have been sympathetic to his accounts in the past. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa have been cautious about openly taking Russia’s side in the war, but have also been unwilling to ally with the West in opposing it...”

The Guardian wrote on August 24:

“The Brics group of big emerging economies has announced the admission of six new members, in an attempt to reshape the global world order and provide a counterweight to the US and its allies. From the beginning of next year, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Argentina, the UAE and Ethiopia will join the current five members – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – it was announced…

“The decision to admit Iran, also looking for a way to sidestep sanctions, represented a win for Putin and Xi, helping give the group a more anti-western, non-democratic tinge. They prevailed over the more cautious approach of the other members, who prefer to portray the group as non-aligned…”

South Africa—a modern descendant of the House of Israel–appears to be out of place in this group.

Panama Canal Dried Out

On or about August 20, MSN wrote the following:

“In what is being called the ‘world’s worst traffic jam,’ some 200 cargo ships are waiting to pass at the Panama Canal… the area experiences its worst drought in 100 years... the huge backlog has been growing for some time and might not get any better for a few weeks yet. The human-made passageway is famous not only as one of the world’s most impressive feats of engineering but as one of the most important trade routes on Earth.

“The Panama Canal relies on massive amounts of water, the supply of which is shrinking in the current drought…

“Though the flow of ships at the Panama Canal started at about 1,000 vessels when it opened in 1914, that traffic has steadily increased. In the 2022 fiscal year, the passageway was crossed by over 14,200 ships, accounting for some 40% of U.S. container traffic and annually representing $270 billion in cargo…”

Not surprisingly, the current drought is being blamed on “man-made climate change.” Sounding like a parrot, the author mentions climate change eight times in this short article.

More and More Boosters

The Dossier wrote on August 17:

“Pfizer announced Thursday that their new shot, which targets the Eris variant (whatever that is) of… Covid-19, is showing great promise in mice.  And given that Big Pharma heavyweights like Pfizer pretty much control America’s Government Health institutions, we should expect to see FDA authorization for another ‘emergency use’ shot in the coming weeks.

“… this would make for an eighth dose of mRNA in under three years… some… now recommend a booster every two months for the immunocompromised. If you’re not yet immunocompromised, you can take a shot every four months…

“… most Americans have stopped getting mRNA injections, largely because many quietly realized that they have been bamboozled by Big Pharma into taking a shot that does not in fact stop [Corona].”

COVID Mandates Are Coming Back!

Breitbart wrote on August 21:

“COVID mask mandates are returning to Hollywood, with Lionsgate being the first major studio to reinstate masking and daily testing for its Los Angeles office workers… A growing number of colleges and medical institutions throughout the country are also reinstating mask mandates, with the mainstream news media running articles pushing for the return of face coverings…

“The return of mask mandates comes as the Biden administration is ramping up another round of COVID hysteria ahead of 2024, pressuring all Americans to get the latest booster this fall. This had led to growing suspicion that Democrats will not only impose mask mandates but bring back mass lockdowns ahead of the next presidential election, in a repeat of 2020… the new push for Americans to line up for booster shots follows the revelation in January that health officials want to make coronavirus booster vaccinations an annual event.”

This is so appallingly incredible. Please take note of our new member letter, dated August 21, 2023, which addresses this issue in great detail.

A New Virus on the Horizon?

LifeSiteNews wrote on August 19:

“There are strong indications that another alleged ‘virus’ may be released early this Fall and that governments will once again, on the advice of the WHO, declare a health emergency mandating masking, lockdowns and much more and put heavy pressure on the populace to be ‘vaccinated.’ Should this happen and the public again complies, the results are certain to be catastrophic…

“We now know that all the mandates and policies for the last coronavirus alleged ‘pandemic’ were not only useless and medically and scientifically unjustified, they were also devastatingly harmful…

“If another health emergency is declared… will be told another pile of seemingly convincing lies and for many it will be hard to resist the lies and the pressures to comply…

“Dr. Meryl Nass wrote: ‘We can produce vaccines in 100 days and manufacture them in 130 days–but there will be no guarantees that the products will be safe, effective, or adequately manufactured. And we can expect large profits but no consequences for the manufacturers… New biological weapons can be engineered. They can be shared. Maybe that will speed up the development of vaccines and therapeutics. But who really benefits from this scheme? Who pays the price of accidents or deliberate use? Wouldn’t it be better to end so-called gain-of-function research entirely through restrictions on funding and other regulations, rather than encouraging its proliferation?’”

Big Pharma would fight it. And so will be the mass media. Note the next article.

YouTube on the Warpath Again

Rebel News wrote on August 16:

“YouTube will censor content creators that disagree with, or perhaps only question, guidance from the World Health Organization or local health authorities, according to the company’s updated ‘medical misinformation’ policy.

“The change has broad, sweeping implications for content creators. The platform’s previous policy touched on vaccines, abortions and content promoting or glorifying eating disorders but severely ramped up during COVID-19.

“In the new, ambiguously worded update, YouTube says it ‘doesn’t allow content that poses a serious risk of egregious harm by spreading medical misinformation that contradicts local health authorities’ (LHAs) or the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidance about specific health conditions and substances.’…

“Part of the policy means that one cannot make ‘claims that an approved COVID-19 vaccine will cause death, infertility, miscarriage, autism, or contraction of other infectious diseases.’”

This is completely unjustified and constitutes censorship aimed at supporting Big Pharma and suppressing the Truth.

Maui Wildfire Was Preventable!

Breitbart wrote on August 23:

“Evidence suggests the heartbreaking Maui wildfire was preventable… Democrats have become the equivalent of pagan sun worshippers. Nature has become their god. Therefore, in their pagan minds, human beings are nothing more than viruses, a threat to their god. This means that on their list of priorities, we humans come way behind the air, water, plants, animals, and even insects.

“Democrats believe every living thing on the planet is sacred, worthy of respect, requires protection, and is part of the natural world … except human beings, especially Western ones. You see, with our hamburgers and air conditioners and automobiles and plastic coolers, we’re an aberration, a mistake made by nature. We are in the way.

“Hawaii is one of the most left-wing states in the union… Hawaii votes for politicians who put nature above human safety and comfort…

“Firefighters in Maui didn’t run out of water to fight this deadly fire because Maui doesn’t have enough water…  With wildfires ravaging West Maui on Aug. 8, a state water official delayed the release of water that landowners wanted to help protect their property from fires. The water standoff played out over much of the day and the water didn’t come until too late…

“Then there are the pagan nature worshippers who neglected fire control to worship Gaia…

“We see this doom spiral throughout the country in one catastrophic Democrat-run city after another. In Hawaii, it was a totally preventable wildfire. In Chicago, Baltimore, New York, Detroit, Oakland, and San Francisco, it’s totally preventable violent crime, filthy and dangerous streets, hate crimes, addiction, failing schools, and exorbitant home prices…

“It’s a cult so brainwashed its members believe trashed cities and dead children are preferable to mean tweets. The Chief Priests of this cult will, of course, blame Climate Change… To them, Maui’s dead children are a necessary sacrifice to a pagan god that keeps them wealthy and powerful.”

Also note the next article.

Demonic Possession Is Real!

LifeSiteNews wrote on August 21:

“The idea that people can be possessed by malevolent spirits has been the basis of countless books, movies, and TV shows, many of which were, and remain, enormously popular… Despite our fascination with the topic, many people are ambivalent in their feelings about the demonic realm. Some dismiss the whole idea as mythical, assuming that all human wickedness can be explained as symptoms of psychological illness (or maybe politics).

“Others assume that incidents such as the one described in… Matthew 15, where Jesus frees the daughter of a Canaanite woman from possession — are artifacts of the distant past. ‘That was Bible times,’ they’ll say. ‘Such things don’t happen anymore.’

“Yet, the [Catholic] Church insists demons are indeed real, and that they’re as active today as they were in Jesus’ time. They work at the behest of Satan, and their intention is to make bad things happen. Really bad things…

“The Canaanite people (of whom the woman in Matthew’s Gospel was one) worshiped a variety of gods, each of which personified some force of nature. The Bible talks about the shrines, altars, and high places of worship at which the rituals of Canaanite religion were carried out. Those sites dotted the countryside, constant reminders of pagan presence in the land of Israel. The rites practiced there could open the hearts of participants to demonic influence (which may explain the daughter’s problem).

“Nature worship still exists… as Environmentalism… the Environmental Movement has elevated concern for ‘Mother Earth,’ a created thing, over devotion to God who created it… But environmentalism, in the extreme form to which it has mutated, is a false god. And the worshipping of that false god has opened many people’s hearts to demonic influence, prompting numerous evil acts…

“This preoccupation with ‘Mother Earth,’ often to the exclusion of human need and safety, is just the kind of opening after which demons prowl. Another is involvement in the occult.

“Ouija boards, tarot cards, fortune telling, seances, crystals and pyramids, astrology — such devices have long been of great popular interest… they’re specifically intended for contacting a world outside of conscious life. And when people become absorbed in them (which happens more frequently than may be apparent), such practices can come to dominate someone’s thoughts. People can begin to make important decisions on the basis of ‘signs,’ ‘influences,’ and ‘messages’ from the beyond… These too are false gods. And giving oneself over to them can provide an opening to malevolent spirits…

“… in this modern era, we’ve seen evil of such magnitude that psychological illness (or even politics) is not sufficient to explain it.”

Satan is the god and ruler of this world, and he and his demons give their powers to whomever they want. Possession is clearly a fact, and not a thing of the past. Those who want to get in contact with demons—in whatever way—will pay a heavy price.

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.

It can seem bleak when it comes to the immediate future. Especially, when looking at it through the eyes of a young person growing up to become a Christian. With everything that is happening in the world at this time, how can a young person have hope for their future? Is it worth growing up and trying to accomplish things in this life?  

The definition of hope is “to trust in, wait for, look for, or desire something or someone; or to expect something beneficial in the future.” Viewing hope through the eyes of a young person is not something that comes easily. It is, however, something that is learned and which needs to grow. God will protect and help design the lives of the youth, giving them hope and encouragement throughout their lives. 

When we are young, it can be hard to see the future. Everything seems to be in the “here and now.” In an age of immediate gratification, it is challenging to sow seeds for the future. But these formative years as a young person are quite important. 

The book of Proverbs, being very informative, gives young people useful knowledge to live by. One of the best things one can do as a young person is to learn how to apply knowledge and understanding. Many young people in the world today are growing up without Godly knowledge, resulting in the breakdown and destruction of society. Notice, we are told in Proverbs 20:11: “Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right.” Today, most children are not worried about nor do they care about doing what is right; or we find most are doing whatever they feel is good. Society and social media continue to feed young children’s minds with thoughts of equality and gender neutralism with a picture of a “feel as you are” mentality.

While it is the parent’s duty to help educate children to understand the difference between right and wrong and to encourage them to do what is right, there is much more to say. 

One of the most important things to understand is that God has placed parents in young people’s lives for a reason. The 5th commandment, which is the first one mentioned after the first four which are directed towards God, is to honor our parents. Giving honor to parents is the first command that comes with a reward. By honoring our parents, God says we will receive a long life. 

How do you as a child honor your parents? Do you listen to what they have to say? Do you respect their wishes? Do you have good communication with them and do you not talk back? The list of questions could go on and on, but the idea is pretty simple—what do you do to show respect and honor? 

Going back to the promise of long life, this command is directed to children today! Long life will be theirs if they are willing to obey God. His commands come with built-in rewards. It is truly remarkable. 

God gives us hope for our futures—even for the future of young people! 

It is not wrong to think in terms of what one wants to do in the future. God gives everyone gifts in terms of talents (Romans 12:6)—what they are good at. Some people are good at math. Some people may be gifted at music or art. Not everyone is able to do the same things.

As you, as a young person,grow up, your talents and gifts will start to mature. This becomes important as you move on with your life. Including God in these matters and asking Him to show you the course of direction is extremely important. There are a few persons in the Bible who did this, and God led them through their lives (including Samuel, Daniel and his friends, Jeremiah, and Jesus Christ). Even Christ grew up learning how to be a carpenter. In our free booklet, “Do You Know the Jesus of the Bible?”, in chapter 9, it states that Christ was a carpenter or an architect. He didn’t just get this skill automatically and by chance. It took a lot of learning from His step-father Joseph, and He did work in this occupation until He started His public ministry. This is important to realize as you grow up. If there is a trade that interests you, you are going to have to spend time and effort in acquiring the skills to learn this trade. 

Recently, in a Youth Forum, Delayla Sperzel wrote about how a door was opened for her to have a part-time job. She rightly gave thanks to God for His hand in opening the door. Delayla had to take the initiative and do the work to get this job and to show up on time and to have a good attitude and strong work ethic, but God opened the door and gave favor to her in the eyes of her future boss. This is just one example of how God can operate in our lives. 

There is a large group of younger people today who feel lost and unsure. They are scared of all the uncertainty and are in desperate need of direction. It is easy to fall into this category. But this is not the type of attitude God wants young people (or anyone, for that matter) to have. In 2 Timothy 1:7, we find quite the opposite, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

When the lead writer of this Q&A was growing up, he remembers hearing messages from some ministers about the end of the world and how close it was, and he remembers overhearing adults around him being fearful. He remembers growing up and not having a purpose and wondering what he would do. Would Christ come back before he had a chance to grow up? Was the world going to end soon? What was the point of school, of education, finding something meaningful to do? 

Well, many years later, he looks back and realizes that this was the wrong attitude to take. Since then he has heard ministers in our Church say, and rightly so, that we need to live as if we have a lifetime ahead of us and yet be ready at all times for the return of Christ. As a young person, this means making plans for the future and spending time learning and being curious about how the world works, by asking questions. Having hope that you, as a young person, will accomplish the goals and the tasks you set your hand to. But at the same time, not to engage in foolish and ungodly conduct.

The early disciples tried to stop children from coming to Christ at times, and Christ rebuked them and had the little children come to Him. Mark 10:14-15 reads: “But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” The attitude of children is what Christ was observing—being humble and able to learn, being willing to listen to adults and showing respect. 

God clearly states that He knows us and our children, being called and sanctified in this lifetime, well before we are born (Psalm 139:15-16). God’s plan for each and every person has its time and place. Those whose parents are called as Christians now are in a special group of people. God will certainly work with those young people and encourage them, giving them the help they need and directing their lives as long as they depend on Him, respecting and building a proper relationship with Him. 

As a young person, the hope for your future begins now. It begins when you start to choose to learn about God’s ways—when you start including God in your thoughts and in your prayers. We are told that God is a rewarder of those who diligently—constantly—seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Building faith in God can begin at a young age. Converted parents have seen miracles that God has done for their children. God is constantly watching over them, as they also know that He has protected them multiple times so far.  

Psalm 108:13 tells us: “Through God we will do valiantly.” With God’s help, we will do mighty things. As children, it can feel challenging at times with situations they may go through, and it can feel like they don’t know what to do, say, think; especially, when it is a big trial, or challenge, or the test of their conviction. No matter what it is, God promises that if they take their request or challenge before Him and ask for help, for understanding or guidance, He will provide a solution or a door will open that they never considered.

The Bible is full of Scriptures showing us that when we are overwhelmed, we can turn to God and expect answers. 

The apostle Paul was encouraged to write the following in Romans 8:31: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Paul went through incredible challenges as he lived his life, and so for him to tell us this, we should feel encouraged. 

One of the very interesting things about God is His desire for us to try out His Way of Life. He tells us to tithe diligently, and then to watch and observe how He opens the doors and gives us blessings. The choice to do this, God leaves it up to everyone. 

The future of God’s Kingdom is ahead of us. God says He will protect and preserve our children. They will live in the Millennium and will continue to learn how to live righteously. We do not quite know in every little detail what the future will be like in the Millennium, but much has been revealed to us (compare our free booklet, “Biblical Prophecy—From Now Until Forever.”). We can be certain that there will be peace, no more wars [with two noteworthy exceptions at the beginning and the end of the Millennium] and plenty to do. The skills and experiences that are forming children now will be useful for their future. With all the previous destruction that happened before Christ’s return, there will be a lot of opportunities in the Millennium to help regenerate the earth and learn how to do things in a better way.

In all of this we should remember that God is the One Who is in control. He tells us in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” A future and hope belong to our young people (and the old ones) who learn to rely and lean on God throughout their lives. 

Lead Writer: Kalon Mitchell

compiled by Dave Harris

“America and Germany in Decline!” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

As we will show in this program, both America and Germany are experiencing a decline in so many areas which is unprecedented in recent history, but which seems to have similar causes.  Many Americans seem to be unable or unwilling to connect the dots. This is not the case for most Germans. However, the fate and future for both countries is quite different. While America will be falling and rising, Germany will be rising and falling. 

“Amerikas und Deutschlands Niedergang,” is the title of  a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This program covers the same information as described above.

A new Member Letter (August 2023) has been sent to our subscribers and posted. Written by Norbert Link, this letter warns of more and more attempts by governments to control whole populations regarding such things as pandemics and climatic change. He asks what will true Christians do in the times ahead when confronted with rules that contradict what God commands.

Two new Spanish booklets were finalized and posted on our Spanish website:

“La clave para Matrimonios y familias felices” (“The Keys to Happy Marriages and Families”) and “Europa en la profecía—El desarrollo de acontecimientos del fin de los tiempos” (“Europe in Prophecy: The Unfolding of End-Time Events”) 

We received today, ready for distribution, the printed copies of our new German booklet, “Aufstieg und Fall von Deutschland und Europa” (“The Fall and Rise of Germany and Europe”).

“Wachstum nach Gottes Willen,” last Sabbath’s German sermonette presented by Robert Muhr, is now posted. Title in English: “Growth According to God’s Will.”

“Hugging the Cactus,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Frank Bruno, is now posted. Here is a summary:

There are a couple of uses of this phrase that can be meaningful to a true Christian in the world today. One such use refers to the love we have for our children that can often be disregarded and unreciprocated. The other use is the idea of confronting that within each of us that is sinful and dealing with it so we can leave it in the past. In this sermonette, we explore Scriptures and examples that can help us in taking the necessary action to move forward productively.  

“Milestones,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Eric Rank, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Milestones mark the progressive achievements along a path. Christian growth involves reaching these demarcation points, one after the other, on a continual journey of conversion.