Update 1142

On January 18, 2025, Kalon Mitchell will present the sermonette, titled, “Your Confidence,” and Michael Link will present the sermon, titled, “Against the World.”

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.

New year, new opportunity, so they say in the world. Well, the world has ushered in the year 2025 with many wrong things, which I won’t go into here, but I would like to ask a question: What are we going to do in 2025?

Will we continue to do the same this year as the year before? Was it perhaps a year of escape, escape from the Church, from the Truth, from God? Or have we been careless? If so, then we should turn quickly from the wrong path and withdraw from this society or from carelessness.

But what can we do? Who can help us?

It is not enough to eliminate the obvious sins in our lives. We must also actively resist the wrong influence of this society.

God tells us in James 4:7 what to do: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

So far, so good. But it’s not that easy, is it? And so, James gives us further instructions: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (verse 8).

We are in a spiritual battle that requires spiritual help. Let us look at another passage in Ephesians 6:12-13: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

God is Spirit, as we read in John 4:24. He can give us the spiritual help we need—which we desperately need. We have to ask Him for help. “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find” (Romans 7:18).

We need spiritual nourishment. We need God; we have to spend time with God, praying, meditating, and studying God’s Word.

But, somehow, we don’t see it that way. We try to convince ourselves that we don’t need to spend that much time with God; we tell ourselves that we don’t have that much time. All too often, the physical displaces the spiritual.

Jesus Christ spoke of a field that could have produced fruit but instead thorns and thistles sprang up and choked the Word. What were the thistles? Matthew 13:22 tells us: “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.”

Jesus Christ said that worrying about the material things of this life can prevent us from being fruitful!

Luke 10:40 says: “But Martha was distracted with much serving,” while Mary chose to listen to the Truths Christ was imparting to her. And so, in the remaining part of verse 40, we read: “…and she [Martha] approached Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.’”

But Jesus’ response to Martha was surprising to her:

“And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her’” (verses 41-42).

Too many of us are spiritual Marthas!

There is nothing wrong with serving, nothing wrong with doing physical labor. But if we allow a lack of time because of material activities to push God into the background, then we are on the wrong path.

Let’s be honest with ourselves. Have we really spent enough time with God? If not, let’s pray to God as David did in Psalm 119:18: “Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.”

As we absorb God’s thoughts by studying His Word, our overall spiritual resilience will increase. We will automatically be better equipped for the struggles and temptations of the upcoming day. Of course, we will still have problems, but from now on we will make progress.

The fight continues this year, it might even get tougher.

Twenty-four hours a day, Satan is active. He never stops attacking the human spirit. Whether we are ready to fight or not, Satan is already throwing all his energies into the battle. He is not waiting for us to declare war on him! We cannot afford to delay the fight. We must start arming ourselves immediately.

For what do we read in Ephesians 6:10-18?

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…”

If we are not prepared to resist Satan’s attack, we have already lost the battle! Satan will not give us any advance warning. He is like a cunning serpent.

The key to victory is to make wise use of our time. Let us not be too busy or careless to pray or study God’s Word.

Let us not be among the many who will stand unprepared, perplexed and maybe even shocked before our Creator, wishing they could live their lives all over again to rearrange their daily schedule to include God.

If we haven’t already done so, now is the time to begin implementing our plan of attack. Let’s be sure we can say with the apostle Paul: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Let us hold on to what we have. Christ tells us in Revelation 2:25: “But hold fast what you have till I come.” And if it has slipped out of our hands, let us bring back what we had, while it is still possible. Christ warns us again in Revelation 3:11: “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.”

Our eternity is at stake!

Initial translation from the German: Daniel Blasinger

by Norbert Link

We begin with further developments in Syria and Turkey’s aggressive role, prompting the question whether it is time to expel Turkey from NATO; and we continue with a deal between Israel and Hamas, which is not as good as some may believe. Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “The Hostage Deal—Peace in the Middle East?” 

We report on Biden’s controversial past and present actions; and report at length about the wildfires in Los Angeles and the blame placed correctly, for the most part, on California’s incompetent government, beginning with Governor Gavin Newsom whose resignation is way overdue.

We continue with the hoax of sentencing Donald Trump for a non-existent crime; and speak about the international uproar caused by Trump when claiming that Greenland should become part of the USA.

We conclude with Germany’s sudden desire to exert political and military influence and power.

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

Ending the Civil War in Syria?

Breitbart wrote on January 10:

“Leaders in Syrian Kurdistan asked the United States this week to provide protective troops and become more involved in keeping the peace as they face an ongoing campaign by Turkish proxy forces to eradicate them. One senior leader… suggested American troops, with French help, could ‘secure the entire border’ between Turkey and Syria. The top commander of the U.S.-allied, Kurdish-run Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Gen. Mazloum Abdi, also said in an interview on Thursday that American forces could be the ‘key factor of stabilization’ in northern Syria.

“Syria endured a decade-long period of civil war under ousted dictator Bashar Assad that began in 2011 and, by late 2024, had reached a point of apparent stagnation. The al-Qaeda offshoot jihadist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) staged a surprise attack on Aleppo in late November, shocking the Assad regime and resulted in a string of victories as a result of the collapse of the Syrian military. By early December, HTS reached the outskirts of Damascus; Assad himself is believed to have fled the country between December 7 and 8.

“At the same time that HTS solidified control and became the de facto government of Syria, the Syrian National Army (SNA) launched a campaign to destroy the SDF called ‘Operation Dawn of Freedom.’ The SNA is… largely considered a proxy force for the Turkish government. The SDF is a Kurdish-led coalition with close ties to the United States that played a major role in the dismantling of the Islamic State ‘caliphate’ headquartered in Syria in 2017.

“The Turkish government considers the Syrian People’s Protection Units (YPG/YPJ), the heart of the SDF, terrorist organizations indistinguishable from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PPK), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. The disagreement over cooperating with the Syrian Kurds has caused a rift that could potentially pit Turkey and America, NATO allies, against each other… During a press conference in December, Trump described the fall of Assad as an ‘unfriendly takeover’ by Turkey and hinted that Turkey itself could pose a threat to American forces in Syria…

“… Erdogan and his officials threatened the SDF again on Friday, describing them as ‘separatist terrorists’ and threatening them with a ‘bitter end.’…”

Time to Expel Turkey From NATO

Israel 365 News wrote on January 12:

“I’m not sure what the rationale was for bringing an Islamist nation with expansionist goals and a vision of creating a revised Ottoman caliphate into NATO to begin with. Still, if it ever made sense, it no longer does.  It’s time to expel Turkey from NATO…

“Turkish fingerprints are all over the fall of the Assad regime in Syria by arming and supporting the jihadi terrorists that now control much of Syria. What would happen if Russia or Iran sought to regain their lost influence by taking military action against Turkey? Would NATO members need to defend that?  What if Turkey’s growing occupation of Syria puts its targeting of the US-backed Kurdish community in jeopardy and in the crosshairs of the US? Could it trigger a war by Turkey attacking US allies, in which the US is obligated under NATO to defend Turkey? 

“What if the newfound Turkish influence in and occupation of Syria brings it to direct conflict with Israel, as Turkish President Erdogan had threatened multiple times, and is now physically closer and able to implement through its neo-Ottoman land bridge?  Will NATO be forced to confront Israel if Israel were to attack Turkey to defend itself?…

“Growing signs that Israel must prepare for a potential war were addressed in the recent report of Israel’s Nagel Committee to assess the growing risk of a direct armed conflict with Turkey. The report highlights ‘Turkey’s ambitions to reclaim Ottoman-era influence, posing a threat that could surpass even the Iranian challenge’…  

“A military confrontation between Turkey and Israel would be unprecedented, whether intentional or not. Israel, which is still in the midst of a war on multiple fronts and with an Iranian threat still looming, still dealing with the trauma of the Hamas massacre and ensuing war, will not tolerate additional threats. Were Erdogan to take aggressive military action, Israel would be hard-pressed not to respond forcefully. A war with Turkey would be shocking and unprecedented but not impossible…

“For all these and other reasons, whether it’s expelling Turkey from NATO or scrapping NATO and creating NATO 2.0 excluding Turkey, the status quo cannot remain…”

Turkey will collaborate with Europe AGAINST Israel and the USA.

The Hostage Deal

The Jerusalem Post wrote on January 14:

“Israel’s agreement to the emerging hostage deal —one that, if fully implemented, could secure the release of all 96 remaining captives, both living and dead, in exchange for thousands of Palestinian security prisoners, including convicted terrorist murderers serving life sentences – marks a triumph of the heart over the head.

“The deal would also see Israel withdrawing to a buffer zone along Gaza’s perimeter, relinquishing control over key areas such as the Netzarim Crossing and, in stages, the Philadelphi Corridor, while allowing Gazan civilians to return to northern Gaza and effectively bringing the war to an end with a long-term truce.

“… Leading with the heart means placing empathy, intuition, and moral values at the forefront… Those who have been pushing with full force for a hostage deal have indeed emphasized empathy…  Saving the lives of the hostages and reuniting them with their families is… seen as an expression of the solidarity and mutual responsibility…

“By contrast, leading with the head prioritizes logic, reason, strategy, and long-term consequences over emotions… Those opposed to the deal are not cold individuals with hearts of stone; rather, they are looking beyond the now and the individual and judging the agreement based on whether it is good in the long term and for the collective…

“First, the deal will incentivize hostage-taking… Second, releasing thousands of Hamas terrorists, hundreds with blood on their hands, will inevitably lead to more terrorism… The final concern is that Hamas remains standing… it still retains control of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure and is left in place under the agreement. It is only a matter of time… before the terrorist organization regroups and rearms…

“The joy of seeing hostages reunited with their families will be profound, but the strategic ramifications will echo far beyond this moment… The national sense of relief if and when the agreement is finalized will be real and palpable, but the true cost of that moment may only be fully reckoned many years from now.”

What It All Entails

The New York Post wrote on January 15:

“The breakthrough deal is the first of its kind in more than a year. It will create a 42-day cease-fire in the… Palestinian territory. The pause in fighting will allow Israel and the terror group Hamas to negotiate the terms to release the 97 hostages remaining in Gaza. Only 60 hostages are believed to be alive, including three Americans…

“The first day of the cease-fire is expected to see the freedom of three hostages as a sign of goodwill and compliance. After that, another four hostages will be released on the seventh day of the cease-fire, with further releases happening every week as agreed to by both parties…

“Should the first phase be completed, Hamas and Israel will continue the cease-fire to negotiate the terms to release all the remaining living hostages in exchange for Israel’s complete withdrawal from Gaza. 

“The terms of the second phase remain the most contentious as Israel has repeatedly said it would not leave the Gaza Strip until Hamas is completely eradicated. The terror group has said it would not release every hostage until it sees proof that Israel is out of all sectors of the Palestinian territory.

“Should Israel and Hamas reach an agreement on the second phase, the war will end with the bodies of the remaining hostages returned in exchange for a three- to five-year reconstruction plan to rebuild Gaza.  The reconstruction would be carried out under international supervision, with the future governance of Gaza still in the air as Israel maintains that Hamas can no longer be the de facto leader of the territory.”

Why Is Trump Pushing Israel Toward a Bad Deal?

Israel Hayom wrote on January 15:

“According to senior Israeli officials, Trump’s rigid expectation for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to finalize a deal before his presidential inauguration is what compelled Netanyahu to accept the current framework…

“Hamas, despite suffering substantial losses, stands to receive at least 1,000 new operatives directly from Israeli prisons. This influx of ‘new blood’ – both figuratively and literally – is likely to reignite violence within Gaza and potentially beyond its borders…  Israel… is repeating a historically proven mistake, as mass releases of prisoners have consistently triggered waves of renewed terror…

“The newly freed operatives are expected to quickly integrate into Hamas’s extensive network across Judea and Samaria, Gaza, Qatar, and Turkey, from where they will likely orchestrate new attacks. This scenario is comparable to the United States allowing Guantanamo detainees to disperse along its borders with Canada and Mexico a year after 9/11, or permitting them to join Taliban forces against US troops in Afghanistan – a notion that defies strategic logic.

“Furthermore, the Hamas deal encompasses a substantial increase in the flow of goods and fuel into Gaza, bolstering the group’s military and economic capabilities…

“Paradoxically, it is now Trump who is pressuring Netanyahu to accept a framework designed in May 2024 under the Biden administration…”

How Biden and His Administration Suppressed the Truth

Breitbart wrote on January 10:

“Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg told Joe Rogan in an interview published Friday that ‘people in the Biden administration’ pushed Meta ‘super hard’ to censor users who were posting ‘true’ information about the coronavirus vaccines.

“‘These people from the Biden administration would call up our team and scream at them and curse,’ Zuckerberg said [and that] he felt censorship on his platforms ‘hit the most extreme’ during ‘the Biden administration, when they were trying to roll out the vaccine program [and that] they also tried to censor anyone who was basically arguing against it… They basically pushed us and said, “Anything that says that vaccines might have side effects, you basically need to take down.”’

“Zuckerberg added that there were instances in which Meta refused to take down ‘humor and satire,’ resulting in President Joe Biden accusing Meta of ‘killing people’… ‘And then all these different agencies and branches of government basically started investigating and coming after our company,’ Zuckerberg said.”

Why did it take Zuckerberg so long to come forward with admitting these well-known facts of Biden’s censorship?

Biden Awards Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Vatican News reported on January 10:

“President Joe Biden conferred the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction—the nation’s highest civilian honor—upon Pope Francis… recognizing his dedication to peace, human rights, care for the poor, and environmental protection.

“This marks the second time a Pope has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. On June 4, 2004, President George W. Bush presented the award to Pope John Paul II during a Vatican visit, recognizing his tireless advocacy for peace and human dignity.”

Breitbart added on January 12:

“Mr. Biden also conferred the medal on leftwing billionaire disrupter George Soros, a Nazi collaborator, promoter of open borders, and ‘anti-Catholic bigot.’ According to the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, ‘George Soros has done more to destroy western civilization and the United States, in particular, than any single person in the world… his anti-law enforcement policies have impoverished and punished legions of innocent black Americans…’

“President Biden, whom the media describes as ‘deeply Catholic,’ also granted the award to Cecile Richards, the former president of Planned Parenthood… Cecile Richards reportedly presided over the deaths of 3.9 million babies by abortion.”

Another downer for the “Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction,” bestowed by a “good Catholic” on the pope.  No further comments.

Hollywood Celebrities Blast Newsom

The New York Post wrote on January 9:

“Big Hollywood names have started to turn on Los Angeles’ Democratic leadership… Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar led the charge, criticizing the Democratic leadership on Instagram for failing to direct the tens of thousands of Southern California residents trying to flee as the fires burned uncontained Wednesday. ‘City of LA you want everyone to evacuate yet you have complete gridlock and not one traffic cop on the roads helping,’ Gellar wrote…

“Actor James Woods, who lost his home in the Palisades Fire, vented on X that the wildfires weren’t caused by ‘climate change’ but by ‘liberal idiots like Gavin Newsom and [LA major] Karen Bass.’ ‘One doesn’t understand the first thing about fire management and the other can’t fill the water reservoirs,’ he added…

“Actress Sara Foster also took to X to lament how Los Angeles residents pay exorbitant taxes but the state was still completely unprepared to take on such massive wildfires. ‘Our fire hydrants were empty. Our vegetation was overgrown, brush not cleared. Our reservoirs were emptied by our governor because tribal leaders wanted to save fish. Our fire department budget was cut by our mayor…’ The politically active actress, who is the daughter of music mogul David Foster, called on Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom to resign, writing, ‘your far left policies have ruined our state. And also our party.’

“Former ‘Dancing with the Stars’ professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy also vented his frustrations over the state’s lack of preparedness, writing on social media Wednesday, ‘5th largest economy on the planet. Firefighters didn’t have enough water pressure to do their jobs?! Are you joking me?! The taxes we pay for 3rd world infrastructure is unbelievable?! Come on.’

“‘Shazam!’ star and longtime Los Angeles resident Zachary Levi also ripped into Newsom and Bass for their handling of the crisis. ‘This is just incredible mismanagement, incredibly poor leadership. I would go so far as to saying that it’s criminally negligent because, I mean, Gavin Newsom has been either the governor for five years or lieutenant governor prior to that for eight, nine years, some of the worst fires we’ve ever had in California under that watch. He clearly knows that the biggest problem that we suffer in California are these fires. And, by the way, the mudslides that follow,’ Levi said. ‘And for them to do essentially not just nothing, but worse than nothing, when firefighter budgets are being cut… There is something that’s almost criminally intentional about this. Like, what are they doing? I don’t know.’”

Newsweek added on January 10:

“During an appearance on Thursday’s installment of The Joe Rogan Experience, actor Mel Gibson, who lives in Malibu, discussed the ‘inferno’ engulfing his neighborhood and other areas in and around Los Angeles… ‘The wildfire situation … How crazy it is that they spent $24 billion last year on the homeless, and what did they spend on preventing these wildfires? Zip,’ podcast host Joe Rogan said.

“Gibson then interjected by directly accusing Newsom of failing to ‘take care of the forest,’ while jokingly suggesting that the governor was spending all of California’s ‘tax dollars’ on his ‘hair gel.’ ‘In 2019, I think Newsom said, “You know, I’m going to take care of the forest and maintain the forest, all of that kind of stuff,”’ said Gibson. ‘He didn’t do anything…’

“Gibson [argued] that Newsom was responsible for San Francisco supposedly becoming ‘apocalyptic’ and ‘a mess’ because homeless people live there before suggesting that civilization itself might soon ‘cave in and collapse.’”

Breitbart wrote on January 12:

“Veteran actor and singer Robert Davi has gone nuclear on California leaders for their catastrophic mismanagement of the Los Angeles fires, saying California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) ‘should [be] thrown out of office’… In the case of stars like Dwayne Johnson and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Davi called on them to use their massive social media platforms to start speaking out about the failure of leadership that has plunged the state into chaos… ‘Actors are frighted to speak out. They’re frightened because of their jobs, they’re frighted of being black listed.’”

Trump also demanded that Newsom must resign. In fact, Newsom’s resignation is long overdue. It should already have occurred, if not much earlier, when Newsom’s hypocritical conduct during the Corona pandemic was revealed.

Major Pacific Palisades Reservoir Was Offline And Empty When Fires Broke Out

Mediaite wrote on January 10:

“The Los Angeles Times reported on Friday that a major reservoir in the Pacific Palisades was offline and empty this week when devastating wildfires ravaged the LA-area community. Staff reporter Matt Hamilton spoke to local officials who told ‘the Times that the Santa Ynez Reservoir had been closed [since about February] for repairs to its cover, leaving a 117 million gallon water storage complex empty in the heart of the Palisades.’

“The report added that the ‘revelation comes among growing questions about why firefighters ran out of water while battling the blaze. Numerous fire hydrants in higher-elevation streets of the Palisades went dry, leaving firefighters struggling with low water pressure as they combated the flames.’…

“The fires were fueled by high winds and dry conditions throughout the region. Storm chaser Colin McCarthy explained the perfect storm of events that led to the disastrous conditions that were not mitigated by local officials, writing that ‘after Los Angeles experienced its second-wettest two-year period on record. Since April, it has barely rained in Southern California, leaving the massive buildup of vegetation bone dry. Now, one of the strongest Santa Ana wind events in modern history is expected, with winds reaching up to 100 mph. This is essentially a worst-case scenario.’”

AFP added:

“But this explanation alone falls short for many Californians, thousands of whom have lost everything… Karen Bass, the city’s mayor, has come in for heavy criticism because she was visiting the African nation of Ghana when the fire started, despite dire weather warnings in the preceding days. Budget cuts to the fire department, and a series of evacuation warnings erroneously sent to millions of people this week, have only stoked the anger further.”

The New York Post added on January 12:

“Newsom on Sunday tried to play semantics and weasel out of blame by saying state reservoirs were ‘completely full’ when the LA fires broke out — even though a county-run reservoir had been drained at the time… Reporter Jacob Soboroff pressed Newsom on his response by pointing out how the LA-County-run Santa Ynez Reservoir was bone dry — something that even has prompted a probe from Newsom.”

What hypocrisy!

California’s Failing Leadership

The Editorial Board of the New York Post wrote on January 11:

“If only we were in charge, the liberals say, with unlimited money and unlimited power and unlimited resources, we would make the world a utopia. Such a place exists. It’s called California. And today, it is in ashes. With a Democratic governor, Democratic mayors, Democratic city councils and a Democratic justice system, the progressives have darkened the land of perpetual sunshine.

“Since 2019, the state has spent an astonishing $24 billion to ‘solve’ homelessness. Homelessness increased… Since enforcing the law is ‘racist,’ thieves are no longer prosecuted. Shoplifting increased 28%, and stores locked up the shampoo. Criminals are let go with no bail. Drug users are allowed to slowly kill themselves in public spaces…

“This week’s devastating wildfires are the pinnacle of Democratic incompetence. Environmentalists and politicians refused to clear the underbrush that fueled the flames. A reservoir in Pacific Palisades was shockingly closed for repair. With the forecast showing 100 mph Santa Ana winds, only three tankers of water were available there to keep the hydrants flowing…

“But Democrats have not just failed the fire department, or the people whose homes have burned. They have failed the 39 million residents of California.

Consider what they have wasted. California has the highest top income-tax bracket in the country, 13.3%. That’s just state taxes, on top of federal. It has the highest state sales tax in the nation, 7.25%. California brought in $17 billion more in tax revenue than it expected last year. It has a budget surplus of $363 million. They are swimming in money… California residents will rightly wonder: Where did all that money go?

“… Democrats have enjoyed one-party rule in California for far too long, and there is no one else to blame for what has happened. California is not paradise lost. California is paradise squandered…”

It has now been reported that “Los Angeles landlords are being accused of raising rents as the supply of homes in the Southern California metropolis drops amid the fires… rents are likely to increase around the areas hardest hit by the fires: Pacific Palisades and Altadena. Those seeking to rebuild will trigger a bidding war for contractors… the impact on the home insurance market [will] lead to increased costs for all Los Angeles residents” (Newsmax, dated January 12).

Shocking and appalling. Carnal human nature at its worst.

What Happened to the Money?

Breitbart wrote on January 12:

“Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) reportedly awarded government workers with major wage increases before making cuts to the city’s fire department budget… Mayor Karen Bass’s budget cuts to the city’s fire department, enacted just months ago amid warnings about the city’s deteriorating finances, stand out as a striking example of misplaced priorities… The cuts stemmed from a budget crisis triggered by her administration’s decision to reward city employees with rich contracts and benefits—even as it dismissed worries that the reductions would hurt services…

“Bass… cut almost $20 million from the city’s budget for fire services for the current fiscal year…”

Incompetence and favoritism galore.  

The Fall of Gavin Newsom

The New York Post wrote on January 11:

“The smug and ambitious progressive California Governor whose political aspirations went up in flames as Los Angeles continues to burn to the ground, leaving a shocking number of residents’ lives in tatters. And it’s Newsom, who has become the arsonist, setting the fire to his political fortunes with a series of unforced errors — putting a cap on years of mismanagement and abandoning crucial infrastructure in favor of useless far left policies that made social justice and climate warriors feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

‘Since the inferno broke out, Newsom has shown that he’s ill-prepared and shameless: shifting blame to others…

“As Pacific Palisades was ablaze, Anderson Cooper asked Newsom about the dry hydrant situation there. Instead of owning any failure:… ‘Look, the local folks are trying to figure that out,’ he told Cooper… This apocalyptic inferno wasn’t some freak accident in a backwater that no one could find on the map. This was Los Angeles, home to millions, and a city that remains under constant threat of wildfires.

“Then he cowardly tried to use a fake phone connection to brush off an anguished mother sifting through the rubble of her community…

“Newsom… is slick and handsome. But he is empty and incompetent…”

Advice for the Feds, the Media and the People

On January 13, Ron Paul wrote the following in his weekly column for the Ron Paul Institute:

“The Federal Reserve should… resolve to refrain from developing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). A digital currency controlled by the Fed will give government new power to violate Americans’ financial privacy.

“The media should resolve to stop gaslighting the American people with misinformation. For example, the media should stop repeating the lie that a failure to raise the debt ceiling will lead to a government default on its debts. The truth is a refusal to raise the debt ceiling would force Congress to reduce present and future spending — just like most people do when they find themselves in debt. Another example of false news is that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was unrelated to the US supported 2014 coup in Ukraine and the breaking of the promise that if the Soviet Union withdrew from Eastern Europe the US would not support expanding NATO.

“Finally, those committed to the cause of liberty should resolve to increase their understanding of the benefits of liberty and the dangers of authoritarianism. This means… staying up to date with current events and trying to find the truth behind the lies of the mainstream media and the political class…”

Good advice!

Strange Plans for Trump’s Inauguration

The New York Post wrote on January 13:

“A Muslim cleric who refused to call Hezbollah a terrorist organization and has a ‘significant history of extremism’ has been tapped to deliver a benediction at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next [Monday]. Husham Al-Husainy…  is among four religious leaders listed in an Inauguration Day program… 

“The Middle East Forum, a conservative nonprofit focused on Islamic issues, has described Al-Husainy as ‘a radical anti-Semitic, pro-Hezbollah Shia imam’…”

Other religious leaders supposed to speak are Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York; Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference; Paula White, a Florida televangelist; Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center; Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham; and Wayne T. Jackson who runs Great Faith Ministries International and Impact Television Network.

The Sentencing of Donald Trump

After Judge Merchan sentenced Trump to an “unconditional discharge” without any jail time or probation, a fine or community service, but still making him a ”felon,” the New York Post published on January 10 the following article by Professor Jonathan Turley:

“[This] is a damning indictment of the entire New York court system. [Judge Juan] Merchan allowed a dead misdemeanor to be resuscitated by allowing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to effectively prosecute declined federal offenses. He allowed a jury to convict Trump without any agreement, let alone unanimity, on what actually occurred in the case.

“Merchan ruled that the jury did not have to agree on why Trump committed an alleged offense [and what the alleged offense was] in describing settlement costs as legal costs. Neither the defendant nor the public will ever know what the jury ultimately found in its verdict…

“Even liberal legal experts have denounced the case…

“Now, Merchan seemed quick to assure this Frankenstein case was just like any other creature of the court. It did not matter that it was stitched together from dead cases and zapped into life through lawfare. Merchan knows that there is a fair chance this monstrosity will finally die on appeal…

“The verdict, however, is likely to last far longer than the Trump verdict. It is a judgment against not just Merchan but the New York legal system, which allowed itself to be weaponized against political opponents. Trump can now appeal the case as a whole. Prior appeals in the New York court system were unsuccessful, and hopes are low that the system will redeem itself. However, Trump can eventually escape the vortex of the New York court system in search of jurists willing to see beyond the rage and bring reason to this case.

“Merchan’s monster will now go on the road and work its way back to the Supreme Court… Lawfare is that monster. It threatens us all, even those who hate Trump and his supporters. Once released, it spreads panic among the public, which can no longer rely on the guarantees of blind and fair justice. That includes businesses that view this case and the equally absurd civil case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James as creating a dangerous and even lawless environment…”

With his conviction, unless overturned by a higher court, Trump cannot own a gun or reenter the casino business, nor hold a liquor license (but his golf courses and hotels won’t have to stop selling alcohol). Even though he is allowed to travel outside the USA, some countries, such as Canada, the UK and Israel, may prohibit him to visit (which is rather unlikely). As he is registered to vote in Florida, he will still be able to vote there. He can also, of course, hold a federal office (This might be different from state or local offices).

On the federal level, special counsel Jack Smith cowardly resigned from the DOJ after losing his two cases against Trump. That resignation had been widely expected to preempt his humiliating termination after Trump’s inauguration.   

Jack Smith’s Phony Report

The New York Post wrote on January 14:

“Special counsel Jack Smith’s report, which concluded that Donald Trump made a ‘criminal effort’ to overturn the 2020 election, was ‘a partisan effort at lawfare’ against the president-elect, a constitutional lawyer said… Attorney Katie Cherkasky dismissed the 174-page document as ‘nothing more than a prosecution on paper.’ ‘It’s every prosecutor’s dream. You have no rebuttal, you have no cross-examination. You don’t actually have to prove this case,’ she told Fox News…

“Cherkasky said it was a ‘shame’ that the report was ever released…”

We agree. Jack Smith’s and the DOJ’s lawsuit was a hoax from the beginning, designed to defeat Trump in the election… but their plan terribly backfired for them. Now Smith says Trump would have been convicted if Smith had been able to move forward. With our corrupt court system, who knows… But according to the Bible, you would need two witnesses, subject to cross-examination, before you can convict someone.

Seizing Greenland?

The U.S. Sun wrote on January 9:

“VLADIMIR Putin has desperately hit back at Donald Trump after he refused to rule out using military action to potentially seize Greenland… Trump said that US ownership of Greenland is an ‘absolute necessity’ to protect global ‘national security and freedom’…

“[Putin’s] mouthpiece, Dmitry Peskov, attempted to push Russia’s influence over the Arctic region in a desperate warning when asked about the incoming US leader’s remarks. ‘The Arctic is a zone of our national interests, our strategic interests,’ he said. ‘We are watching this rather dramatic development of the situation very closely,’ Peskov added…

“An attempt to take over the resource-rich island for national security reasons might not be as mad as it sounds. Greenland sits right in the middle of the Arctic Ocean and is among the key trade routes in the region. The Arctic has increasingly become the object of a struggle between international superpowers as Russia and China have both ramped up efforts to take control of the area. Putin, whose nation owns around 40 per cent of the Arctic coastline, has been particularly proactive in cranking up military moves. The Kremlin has started building the world’s largest fleet of nuclear icebreakers to open up new shipping routes.

“Russia has not been the only country to send a warning Trump’s way after several major EU nations spoke out. Both Germany and France made surprise warnings to the president-elect against using force to possibly take the ice island. French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot suggested moves on the territory would be an attack on the European Union… German chancellor Olaf Scholz said Trump’s remarks triggered ‘incomprehension’ among European leaders…

“Trump also oddly put out potential plans for the US to retake control of the Panama Canal, change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and make Canada the 51st state. He called the border between Canada and the US an ‘artificially drawn line.’”

Germany did not occupy Greenland during World War II. However, the Nazis established weather stations in Greenland during World War II, planning to use them in a possible invasion of the USA. The United States and its allies intervened to prevent the Nazis from gaining control of the island. The United States occupied Greenland in 1941 to prevent Germany from using the island. That kind of rationale could be used again in the future; this time in light of a threat from Russia or China. Note the next article.

Not a Crazy Idea?

Newsmax wrote on January 12:

“President-elect Donald Trump has said the importance of Greenland to national and global security cannot be overstated and former NATO supreme allied commander James Stavridis agreed… ‘It’s not a crazy idea,’ Stavridis [said]. ‘We could do an awful lot in terms of business, investment, box out the Russians, box out the Chinese, and work very closely with Greenland.’

“The former NATO commander called the large Arctic island a ‘strategic goldmine for the United States… It sits at the very top of the North Atlantic; it protects approaches to our own country… It’s geographically very important. It’s full of strategic minerals, rare earth, probably a lot of gold. It’s got a lot of natural resources…’

“For skeptics refusing to listen to Trump’s logic, Stavridis reminded all to just listen to Greenland and its people. ‘The prime minister of Greenland said, “We are not for sale, but we are open for business” – I think we ought to take him at his word,’ Stavridis said of Premier Múte Egede… Regardless of forging a deal to bring Greenland under U.S. control from Denmark, the Greenlanders say they are at least ready for independence. ‘Greenland is for the Greenlandic people,’ Egede said Friday. ‘We do not want to be Danish, we do not want to be American. We want to be Greenlandic.’ Egede added he is ‘ready’ to talk to Trump on a deal.”

Denmark Ready for Concessions?

The New York Post wrote on January 12:

“Danish leaders have sent private messages to President-elect Donald Trump’s team in recent days in a bid to pacify his ambitions for taking over Greenland…  Copenhagen is allegedly open to allowing US military presence on the autonomous island to boost security and appease Trump… The Danish government, which is responsible for Greenland’s defense, wants to avoid clashing with the US and hopes to assure Trump that Greenland will be safe from Russia and China without the need for American annexation…

“Copenhagen has also asked Trump’s team to clarify the incoming president’s comments after he shocked the world by suggesting that the US could invade the longstanding NATO ally… Denmark was widely seen as America’s closest ally in the European Union, and… no one could have imagined it’d be the first Trump would pick a fight with.

“Greenland had been a colony of Denmark since the 18th century and became a self-governing Danish territory in 1953… The US already has a military base on Greenland and has had a defense agreement in place since 1951, which would make it easy to increase American troops on the island.”

What Europe would do in case of an American invasion is still open to debate. Europe is afraid of this, as it knows that at this point they are no match for the USA. But note the next article.

Easy to Take?

The Sun wrote on January 11:

“DONALD Trump could storm Greenland and claim it within 24 hours in the ‘world’s shortest war’, professor Anthony Glees [has] revealed… Greenland – the largest non-continent island in the world – has a population of just 57,000, and virtually no defensive capabilities of its own… As owner of the island, Denmark is responsible for Greenland’s protection and their army would be the army to mobilise against the Americans. Its defence budget is around £6billion – 100 times smaller than the eye watering almost £750billion America splashes on defence… There are only 17,000 active Danish troops, and most of the country’s heavy military equipment has been donated to Ukraine – so their defences are even thinner than usual.

“Some Danish coastguards man south-eastern Greenland, but the Danish press has reported that software needed to shoot at targets was never bought – rendering the patrols toothless… Denmark’s best hope of defending against the Americans would be to prove that the EU or Nato had a legal requirement to step in and protect Greenland…

“Ulrik Pram Gad, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, [said] that ‘there is no defensive capacity in Greenland’… The US has a nuclear base on the island that is constantly manned by troops…

“Glees said it was likely that, in the event of a US invasion, ‘there would be no military response to it, because it is unthinkable that any Nato member would attack the US... There would have to be a response of sorts, and Article 5 of Nato would bind the rest of us to support Denmark in whatever non-military measures it took to try to get the Americans out. This could take the form of “economic sanctions”, but “Trump would shrug them off,”’ Glees said…

“Trump’s threats could have ‘profound consequences’ for Europe… My opinion is, he is making a disastrous miscalculation there. No country, however powerful it is, can walk alone in the world. The idea of a fortress America, it sounds good – but it has never worked in the past. An isolated America is a vulnerable America…’”

America WILL become isolated, as Europe will be forced to become more unified and stronger militarily. And ultimately, they WILL attack the USA.

Many Americans Support Trump’s Suggestions Regarding Greenland and Panama Canal

Newsmax wrote on January 14:

“More than two-thirds of Republican voters support President-elect Donald Trump’s suggestion the U.S. acquire Greenland and/or the Panama Canal, according to a new Rasmussen Reports survey. When asked whether they support or oppose the U.S. taking back the Panama Canal, 73% of GOP voters say they support the move. That includes 51% who say they strongly support the action. When asked whether they support or oppose the U.S. purchasing Greenland, 70% of GOP voters say they support the move. That includes 45% who say they strongly support it.

“Among Democrat voters, only 23% say they support buying Greenland, and 22% say they support reclaiming the Panama Canal. Among voters unaffiliated with either major party, 40% say they back purchasing Greenland, and 43% say they support taking back the Panama Canal.”

This plan is not going away soon or easily.

The “Make Greenland Great Again Act”

Reuters wrote on January 13:

“President-elect Donald Trump’s Republican allies in the U.S. House of Representatives are trying to build support for a bill on authorizing talks for the purchase of Greenland according to a copy of the bill circulated for co-sponsors on Monday. …The bill [introduced by Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.)] is called ‘Make Greenland Great Again Act’…

“The bill, if passed, will allow the president to enter into negotiations with Denmark [‘to secure the acquisition of Greenland’] by the United States on Jan. 20, when Trump takes office…”

Axios added on January 13:

“It’s the latest in a series of proposed Republican legislation… Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) last week introduced a bill that would have the Gulf of Mexico renamed the ‘Gulf of America’ on official documents and maps. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) also introduced a bill last week along with 15 other Republicans that would authorize talks to repurchase the Panama Canal… The bill would give Congress the ability to block any agreement within 60 days, though it would need a veto-proof two-thirds majority in both chambers to do so…

“To be approved by Congress, the bill would almost certainly need Democratic support… But some centrist Democrats aren’t ruling out working with Trump on the idea, noting the geopolitical importance of both territories (Panama and Greenland).”

The Fight Between USA and Europe Has Begun

The Guardian wrote on January 11:

“Europe has been braced since the US presidential election in November for the challenge posed by Donald Trump’s return, but the threat to European stability has come earlier and appears far more serious than predicted, even by the pessimists.

“Trump has already revived his territorial aspirations for Greenland… Meanwhile Trump’s financial backer and confidant Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has been using his ownership of the X social media platform to aggressively further the cause for far-right parties in Europe, threatening the continent with the realisation of its ultimate nightmare, the return of fascism, this time abetted from Washington.

“… the fallout from Trump’s territorial ambitions is felt most keenly in Europe. Capitals are in a dilemma over how to respond, torn between outrage over the blatant interference in favour of extremists, and anxiety over becoming a focus for Trump and Musk’s personal grievances.

“At stake is not just a looming transatlantic trade war… Ukraine and European security are also in the balance. European leaders and diplomats know the war in Ukraine has entered a new phase in which… he decides whether to continue to supply US weaponry to Ukraine…

‘Denmark, a Nato ally, has been plunged into a political crisis by Trump’s stated intention to acquire Greenland, and the threat to impose tariffs if he is thwarted. Amid a flurry of emergency meetings with the king and Greenlandic leaders, the Danish government has been careful in the wording of the response…

“The European dilemma is even more complex with Musk… Musk has used X as a megaphone to promote the far-right Alternative für Deutschland party, claiming: ‘Only the AfD can save Germany’. In a… conversation with… Alice Weidel, on Thursday, Musk showered her with praise. It was a direct challenge to the efforts of Germany’s mainstream parties to quarantine the AfD and exclude it from power, in the run-up to crucial elections on 23 February…

“For the UK – outside the EU and traditionally more beholden to the relationship with Washington – the response to provocations from Trump and Musk has been just as tentative. Musk has become preoccupied with calling for the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, to be sacked, for a far-right extremist, Tommy Robinson, to be released from jail, and spreading hard-right Islamophobic propaganda to the point, it was reported on Friday, that his social media posts were monitored by the security services…

“‘On the eve of a second Trump term, the United States and Europe have rarely appeared so at odds,’ a group of European foreign policy experts wrote in the Foreign Affairs Journal…”

The left-wing rhetoric of this left-wing outlet notwithstanding, it does show the growing alienation between the USA and Europe.

German and Austrian Institutions Depart From X

Deutsche Welle reported on January 9:

“Scores of universities and research institutions in Germany and Austria on Friday announced their intention to drop their presence on the online messaging platform X… The planned withdrawal in the academic sphere comes as the German government says it is also considering leaving the platform because it was having an ‘agitated and polarizing’ effect on public political discussion.

“On Thursday, the trade unions GEW, which represents educators and teachers, and Verdi announced they were deleting their X presence, as did the Federal Court of Justice (BGH).”

Breitbart added on January 15:

“The German Defence Ministry announced that it will no longer actively post on Elon Musk’s X social media site amid growing calls to censor the platform in Europe…”

This will hurt them more than Musk.

“Germany Sets Up Military Division Dedicated to Territorial Defence”

Reuters wrote on January 11:

“The German military will establish a new division tasked exclusively with territorial defence, the army said on Saturday, bringing all existing reserve units under direct army command. The reorganization will take effect in April and raise the number of German divisions – units of some 20,000 troops – to four without increasing the total number of around 180,000 soldiers in the German forces…

“The Western military alliance NATO is at its highest alert stage since the Cold War, with its more pessimistic officials, including German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, saying that an attack by Russia on its borders could happen within four years. The German move will streamline command structures in territorial defence at a time when what Berlin describes as acts of Russian sabotage against the country’s critical infrastructure have reached a new high…

“So far, Berlin has three divisions that NATO can call upon in case of a conflict, whose main job will be defending the alliance by confronting an adversary right at the front lines. The fourth division will be tasked with Germany’s defence at home, including the protection of infrastructure such as ports, railways and supply and deployment routes.

“Germany is gearing up for its role as major logistics hub in any conflict with Moscow, with tens of thousands of reinforcement troops from other NATO allies expected to be deployed east through Germany after arriving at its North Sea ports.”

Why this sudden move towards German military power? 

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

In the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 17, we read about an instruction that was to be given to a king showing that he was not to look after his own personal interests as being foremost in his activities, but to learn to fear God and to observe His law and statutes. Deuteronomy 17:14-20 reads as follows:

“When you come to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’ Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself. Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.”

In respect of what qualified as a book that the king had to write out as a copy, we read these observations In Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible:

“In our opinion, neither a few verses nor a short document qualifies as ‘a book.’ Perhaps this is the reason that the Septuagint (LXX) translated this place in such a manner as to make the meaning ‘a copy of all the law of God.’ Recent knowledge of the suzerainty treaties (see below for an explanation of these) and the resemblance to them found in Deuteronomy has shed some light on this, and, as Kline expressed it: ‘A duplicate copy of the suzerainty treaty was provided for each vassal king.’… Moreover, that ‘copy’ was not a few excerpts, but the whole document, the entire treaty. That is clearly what is indicated here.

“Canon Cook discerned this a long time ago, writing that, ‘What was given to the king was the whole Pentateuch, or at any rate the legal portion of it… Only the whole law of the covenant could preserve the king from the dangers of his position.’… Note also, in this connection, what was to be copied: It was that which was laid up ‘before the priests and the Levites,’ (Deuteronomy 17:18) and that is a clear reference to ALL of the sacred law. [The Pulpit Commentary] also concurred in this view: ‘The priests were the custodians of the written Law (Deuteronomy 31:26) and from the text of their codex was the king’s copy to be written…”

What are the suzerainty treaties referred to above? Wikipedia states that these were the “Type of relationship between a dominant and a vassal state.  Suzerainty includes the rights and obligations of a person, state or other polity which controls the foreign policy and relations of a tributary state, but allows the tributary state internal autonomy. Where the subordinate party is called a vassal, vassal state or tributary state, the dominant party is called a suzerain.” 

Why should this be of any real interest and importance to us today? If the king did not follow this instruction and practice about which he was commanded to both read and write out, he would be like the rest of the world and miss out on the benefits that following such an instruction would bring. It took work but was surely worth all of the effort in following what God instructed for his own good and that of his subjects and nation.

This Q&A is not designed to be a thorough exposition of everything that surrounded this instruction and all the different views that many have about it today, but to show the wisdom of God in issuing this requirement then and what we can learn from this today.

Theologyofwork.org makes these interesting and legitimate observations:

“Just as people and institutions must not contravene legitimate authority, people in positions of power must not use their authority illegitimately. Moses specifically deals with the case of a king… He shall have a copy of this law diligently observing all the words of this law and these statutes, neither exalting himself above other members of the community nor turning aside from the commandment, either to the right or to the left… In this text we see two restrictions on the use of authority—those in authority are not above the law but must obey and uphold it, and those in authority must not abuse their power by enriching themselves…

“Today, people in authority may try to put themselves above the law, as for example when police and court workers ‘fix’ traffic tickets for themselves and their friends, or when high-ranking public servants or business employees do not obey the expense policies others are subject to.  Similarly, officials may use their power to enrich themselves receiving bribes, zoning, and licensing exemptions, access to privileged information, or personal use of public or private property. Sometimes special perks are granted to those in power as a matter of policy or law, but this does not really eliminate the offense. Moses’ command to kings is not to make sure to get legal authorization for their excesses, but to avoid the excesses altogether. When those in power use their authority not simply to gain special privileges but to create monopolies for their cronies, to appropriate vast lands and assets, and to jail, torture, or kill opponents, the stakes become deadly. There is no difference in kind between petty abuses of power and totalitarian oppression, merely in degree…

“The more authority you have, the greater the temptation to act as though you are above the law. Moses prescribes an antidote. The king must read God’s law (or word) every day of his life. Not only must he read it, but he must develop the skill to interpret and apply it rightly and fairly. He must develop the habit of obeying God’s word himself, of putting it into practice in his work, ‘diligently observing all the words of this law’ (Deuteronomy 17:19).  By this the king learns to revere the Lord and fulfill the responsibilities God has given him. He is reminded that he too is under authority. God does not give him the privilege of making a law unto himself, but a duty of fulfilling God’s law for the benefit of everyone.”

These comments, as far as they go, are very helpful. However, what this commentary and many others overlook or fail to mention is the instruction that the king had to write himself God’s Word in a personal book of his to read from it (compare Deuteronomy 17:18: “… he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites.”). We will address this unique requirement in the next instalment.

Let us look at what the torah.com has to say about this matter:

“The book of Deuteronomy presents itself as the final address of Moses, delivered to the Israelites upon the plains of Moab, on the verge of their entry into the land.  The book is set in the time between the wilderness period and Israel’s future life as inhabitants of the land, a space opened between memories and threats, past and future.

“The core of the book is the Deuteronomic law collection, spanning chapters 12–26 which is followed in chapter 28 by a list of the rewards for obedience (vv. 1–14)and a much longer list of consequences for disobedience (vv. 15–69).

“Moses’s Deuteronomic address, delivered to the Israelites on the eve of their entry into the land, anticipates and establishes the perpetuity of the Israel’s subjection to YHWH’s rule. In this, YHWH was no different from any other suzerain in the ancient Near East, or ever since. The people as a multitude and as a nation are placed at a juncture in which they have to agree to serve YHWH loyalty, or face an endless slew of punishment, and they remain in that juncture ever since.

“For the people standing in the Plains of Moab, compliance is not really a choice at this point. The revelation at Horeb has already taken place, the previous generation has already been punished for its sins, and the laws have already been explicated. Israel’s agency here is limited to their agreeing to follow YHWH’s commands or suffer the deity’s wrath.”

Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible has this to say: “Thus he should ensure that he had his own copy of the record of Yahweh’s doings and of His Law as contained in the books which were in the levitical priests’ care. (As Deuteronomy was not, at this stage in his speech, in written form, this must refer to an earlier written Law). And he must keep it ever by him and read it every day of his life, so that he might learn to fear Yahweh his God, and keep His Instruction and what He had laid down, in accordance with what was now being spoken of by Moses.” 

From the jewishvirtuallibrary.org website we read about the problems after the death of Solomon:

“The experiment with the opulence and power of the great eastern kingdoms had ended in disaster for Israel.  King Solomon created the wealthiest and most powerful central government the Hebrews would ever see, but he did so at an impossibly high cost. When Solomon died, between 926 and 922 BCE, the ten northern tribes refused to submit to his son, Rehoboam, and revolted.

“From this point on, there would be two kingdoms of Hebrews: in the north – Israel, and in the south – Judah.  The Israelites formed their capital in the city of Samaria, and the Judaeans kept their capital in Jerusalem. These kingdoms remained separate states for over two hundred years. [In fact, they never became united again. This will only happen after Christ’s return.]

“The history of the both kingdoms is a litany of ineffective, disobedient, and corrupt kings. When the Hebrews had first asked for a king, in the book of Judges, they were told that only God was their king. When they approached Samuel the Prophet, he told them the desire for a king was an act of disobedience and that they would pay dearly if they established a monarchy. The history told in the Hebrew book, Kings, bears out Samuel’s warning.” 

(To be continued)

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“The Hostage Deal—Peace in the Middle East?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

Will the deal between Israel and Hamas last? Will it bring back the hostages? Will it end the war and bring peace? Do you know what the elements and conditions of the deal are? COULD it even be successful? Is it good for Israel, America, Europe and the entire world? Does the Bible have something to say about all of this?

“Das Geiselabkommen—Frieden im Nahen Osten?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.

“Opfer einer bösen Welt,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented in Germany by Robert Indlekofer, is now posted. Title in English: “Victims of an Evil World.”

A new episode of our German series on “Biblische Geschichte” has now been posted.

“Das Abgabensystem heute und in der nahen Zukunft,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented in Germany by Thilo Hanstein, is now posted. Title in English: “The Tax System Today and in the Near Future.”

“LA Fires, Greenland, Canada and Germany—Comments on News and Prophecy, January 17, 2025,” the first message presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Many feel that the fires in Los Angeles show the incompetence of California’s woke government; and some wonder whether Trump’s statements regarding Greenland and Canada are serious—which they clearly are. America’s interest in these areas is not new, as history proves. We also show how the relationship between the USA and Germany is deteriorating, while the German political establishment refuses to face reality and moves into dangerous territory.

”Does the Bible Condemn Animal Cruelty?” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Absolutely! And human cruelty is probably nowhere more evident than in the torment of helpless animals. But many people don’t understand that they are animal abusers and why they became so. This sermon gives you numerous examples of the various excesses of animal cruelty and shows how GOD behaves towards His animals and what He expects from our behavior towards the animal world.