Update 696

On July 11, 2015, Joe Bourque will present the sermonette, and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “Do You Stand Firm in God’s Truth?”

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.

I dare to admit it: I like Donald Trump. That is, I like someone who stands up for his views and does not generally buckle in the face of adversity. And even though he received a lot of rejection for many of his comments, he also got some recognition that he was not “all wrong” in what he was saying. Take, for example, his comments on Mexican immigrants which prompted a whirlwind of hostile reactions. Of course, in context, he never quite said what his opponents claim.

Here are his by now “infamous” words:

“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best… They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems to us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

When challenged by CNN, he stood by his words, emphasizing the obvious—that he wasn’t talking about the Mexican people, many of whom he loves, but illegal immigrants, adding that “somebody’s doing the raping.”

That left-liberal Democrats and moderators are not supporting Trump is obvious. And even most conservative Republicans and commentators, being fearful that a close relationship with him might backfire on them, are reluctant to publically side with Trump. But some few have decided to throw all caution to the wind, saying (as Ted Cruz did) that “Trump speaks the truth.” Ann Coulter agrees, alleging that the mainstream media covers up the many sex crimes committed by Mexican illegal immigrants, adding that the “rate of rape in Mexico is even higher than in India.”

The National Review editor grudgingly consented with some of Trump’s comments in an article, titled, “Sorry, Donald Trump Has a Point,” continuing, “NBC, Univision and Macy’s have all thrown The Donald under the bus… The companies fleeing from Trump were happy to be in bed with him so long as it suited their business interests…  The point surely could be made much more deftly by anyone not named Donald J. Trump. In the meantime, he fills the vacuum, and enjoys the whirlwind.”

Especially America’s mainstream press and also media outlets in Europe (left and right) portray Trump as a villain, a lunatic, a showman, a joke and a laughing stock. Germany’s mass tabloids seem to find the most disadvantageous photographs of him when they “report” about “The Donald.”

In turn, Trump fires back, and his popularity in the USA rises as a consequence. He has not many kind words for politicians from either party. But it would be dishonest to question the accuracy of the following statements (which he made in one of his interviews with Newsmax TV):

“A politician is all talk, no action. They’re not going to get us to the Promised Land… They’re controlled by lobbyists, they’re controlled by their donors, they’re controlled by special interests. … If you’re looking at making our country great again, they’re not going to do it.”

Now, Trump has not always been following through, either. When neither Republicans nor Democrats were willing to publically question Barack Obama’s claim of being born in the USA (a necessity for becoming President), Trump dared to challenge the “evidence,” but he subsequently buckled when a copy of a long-form birth certificate was produced, allegedly “proving” that Mr. Obama was born in Hawaii. Some feel that Trump should not have given in, as in their evaluation, too many unresolved questions remain to this day. They point at the declaration of some analysts that the birth certificate was a fraud. They speak of the death in a plane crash of the governmental official providing the copy of the birth certificate and “affirming” its accuracy—even though Trump found the plane crash to be mysterious. They refer to the uncontested affidavit of Mr. Obama’s grandmother claiming that she was present when he was born in Kenya; and the proclamation of Mr. Obama’s publisher for many years that he was born in Indonesia.

Whatever the case, it seems that Trump may have learned from the past and is now even more determined to run with what has been given to him. No doubt, he will encounter much more opposition in the months ahead from just about every corner. Sadly, in this present evil world, even if he ended up in a high governmental position, he would still not be able to make a substantial difference, because our man-made faulty governmental system would prevent this from happening. It will require the return of Jesus Christ to build a new world from the ruins of a totally destroyed planet. Earth, under Satan’s rule, will be in shambles, caused by man’s greed, injustice, incompetence and his terrible wars.

Even though I can by no means agree with and approve of all of Donald Trump’s words, concepts, methods and courses of action, it is still refreshing to see that someone is apparently willing to cast off the shackles of fearful political correctness and speak his mind—pronouncing what he seems to truly believe, without “retracting” and “apologizing.”

How much more should we, as Christians in God’s service, cry aloud and spare not and show our people their sins and transgressions and identify the rotten EVILS of this world and its total lack of morality, while proclaiming with BOLDNESS and CONVICTION the gospel message of the Kingdom of God and Christ’s soon-coming return in POWER and GLORY? But even though timid lip services to this godly commission might be given occasionally, how many are REALLY willing to follow through with it without compromising, especially when faced with opposition and rejection?

We start with the tumultuous developments in Greece and the ongoing discussion of a potential Grexit; talk about the economic turmoil in China and the fears of a Brexit; report on the outcry against California’s new compulsory vaccination law; speak of a new scandal in Germany regarding NSA’s spying activities; address the growing opposition against Donald Trump and the entire illegal immigration debate; report on San Francisco—the new Rome; Hillary Clinton’s claim of friendship with Israel; Jimmy Carter’s view on Jesus; Kenya’s challenge against President Obama on same-sex marriage and a Nobel Prize-winning scientist’s challenge against President Obama on global warming; and we conclude with the Pope’s visit in South America and ISIS’s ongoing murderous activities.

Greece Votes “No!” — Now What?

Deutsche Welle reported on July 5:

“[The] Greeks have voted against the conditions of any further bailout, raising possible issues with regard to Athens’ future in the euro… It remains to be seen, however, how [the] eurozone leaders… will digest the result, and what’s more, whether it will trigger the ‘Grexit,’ or Greece’s exit from the eurozone, as has been supposed…

“The reaction in Germany was decidedly less enthusiastic [than in Greece]. Michael Fuchs, one of Merkel’s senior conservatives on the federal level, said a ‘disaster happened’ on Sunday…

“Greek government spokesman Sakellaridis said the Bank of Greece was immediately asking the European Central Bank to inject emergency euro cash for Greece’s depleted banks, which have been shuttered all week. Greece was officially declared in default on Friday by the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), which holds some 145 billion euros of Greek loans, after Athens failed to make an IMF repayment.

“Tsipras is demanding that the ECB, IMF and European Commission absolve Greece of 30 percent of the 240 billion euros Athens has received over the past five years. The Prime Minister also wants a 20-year grace period to repay the other 70 percent. Greece’s eurozone counterparts, as well as the institutions that approved and stipulated the bailout, have rejected those demands.”

The Washington Post wrote on July 5:

“… initial reaction from European officials suggested they were unmoved by the result [of the referendum], and had no intention to yield. ‘The E.U. is not a make-a-wish club in which a single member sets the rules and the others pay the bill,’ tweeted Julia Klöckner, deputy chairwoman of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party.

“Germany’s deputy chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, said Greece had ‘destroyed the last bridges across which Europe and Greece could have moved toward a compromise. Tsipras and his government are leading the Greek people onto a path of bitter sacrifice and hopelessness,’ he told Berlin daily Der Tagesspiegel…

“Reuters reported that the euro-zone’s finance ministers, who would be responsible for crafting any deal, had no plans to meet…”

Newsmax added on July 5:

“[The outcome of the referendum] leaves Greece in uncharted waters: risking financial and political isolation within the euro zone and a banking collapse if creditors refuse further aid… Many of Athens’ partners have warned over the past week that a ‘No’ vote would mean cutting bridges with Europe and driving Greece’s crippled financial system into outright bankruptcy, dramatically worsening the country’s economic depression…”

Greece Only Temporarily Without the Euro?

The Telegraph wrote on July 4:

“Germany’s finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble… mentioned the prospect of Greece only temporarily being without the euro, telling the newspaper [Bild] that he is no longer ruling out a Greek withdrawal from the Eurozone. ‘Greece is a part of the Eurozone. There’s no doubt about that. Whether with the euro or temporarily without, this question can only be answered by the Greeks themselves,’ he said… ‘I am certain that Europe and the EU will be better and stronger in a year’s time than at the beginning of the Greek crisis. At least, if we draw the right conclusions from the crisis… a community can only function if the members abide by the rules. And self-critically we must admit: it was us Germans and the French who in 2003 first broke the stability rules of the euro.’…

“A recent poll showed the overwhelming majority of Germans backed Mr Schäuble’s tough stance, with figures from broadcaster ARD giving the finance minister his highest-ever personal approval rating at 70 per cent. This is in stark contrast to public sentiment in Greece, where posters put up by those campaigning for a ‘no’ vote in the Greek referendum depict Mr Schäuble in a vampire-like image…’”

Der Stern wrote on July 5 that Greece has said “Bye-bye” to Europe. On the other hand, Die Welt wrote on July 5 that a Grexit is not inevitable, emphasizing the fact that the referendum was not a vote for Greece’s departure from the Euro, and that most Greeks prefer to stay in the Eurozone. The paper also said that it would be difficult, legally, to declare a Grexit, or to be thrown out of the Eurozone, as the Eurozone treaties compel a member state to remain part of the Eurozone for life. Only a departure from the EU would also include the departure from the Eurozone. (Of course, we also know that legal papers can be easily “re-interpreted” and treaties ignored or broken, and so voicers are being heard advocating a “Grexit” of sorts—by leaving the euro but not the EU.)

At the same time, we must reject speculation in the press that the events in Greece might signal the end of the EU and the Euro, and that national currencies will be reintroduced. Such a conclusion would be ridiculous. However, some ignorant writers propose this.

EU Is Causing Massive Resentment?

The Telegraph wrote on July 6:

“The European Union today is causing massive resentment between European nations. Just look at how relations between Germany and Greece have deteriorated. Far from bringing peace, the EU now sows resentment… Whatever fine aims there were fifty or sixty years ago have no relevance to the reality of life for young people right across the EU now, including in Greece. The EU’s old, outdated ideas have been rejected at the ballot box in exchange for a new approach and fresh thinking…

“The result is a tired, stumbling European Union that is dying on its feet before our very eyes. Credibility for the project is fading fast… With younger generations now turning against the EU project, we can see support for the EU’s dream of a United States of Europe fading fast. An outdated European Union has been found out and rejected emphatically by young Greeks in the 21st century.

“It is all too clear to see why: both the euro single currency and the European Union itself have done great harm to the prospects of young people who are now realising that we do not need a single currency or a political union to be friends, neighbours and trading partners. Far more important than this European Union is the concept of national democracy, of which this Greek referendum and its result are a beaming example of.”

Anti-European feelings might exist in the UK, but most continental Europeans are FOR the EU and the Euro—and most Greeks are likewise. Our new StandingWatch program, “Greece in Prophecy,” makes all of this very clear. But this is not to say that the EU and the Eurozone are a great accomplishment in the eyes of God. However, they fulfill prophecy to bring about end-time events.

Greek Finance Minister Resigns

AFP wrote on July 6:

“Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras sacrificed his finance minister Monday in a gesture aimed at placating his eurozone creditors, which must now decide whether to loan more money to the debt-wracked country or prepare for a ‘Grexit,’ or Greek exit from the euro. Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis announced that he was stepping down immediately and at Tsipras’s request… The euro had tumbled as much as 1.6 percent in electronic trading immediately on the 61-percent ‘No’ result from the referendum, but recovered after Varoufakis’s shock resignation to $1.1086, just 0.25 percent lower. European markets also gave a relatively muted reaction, with losses limited in mid-morning trade at around 1.5 percent…

“More than three quarters of Greeks want to stay in the Eurozone…”

Five Days to High Noon?

 The Washington Post wrote on July 7:

“An emergency summit of European leaders called to salvage Greece’s financial rescue broke up acrimoniously late Tuesday night, with officials saying the country now has just five days to avoid bankruptcy. Following a day’s worth of talks aimed at finding a way out of months of bitter deadlock, European leaders were scathing in their assessments of Greece’s proposals, calling them inadequate and demanding the Greek government return with a detailed plan by Thursday. The leaders of all 28 European Union members will then meet Sunday in what officials said will be the final chance to save Greece from economic oblivion — or the moment the country is ejected from the euro zone…

“European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker pounded the lectern as he announced that Europe has detailed plans for Greece’s exit from the euro zone — known as ‘Grexit’ — and for delivering humanitarian aid to Athens…

“President Obama on Tuesday escalated his involvement, speaking in separate conversations to Merkel and to Tsipras… But that prodding appeared to do little to bridge a divide that has only widened as Greece’s crisis has deepened…

“Even as several European officials expressed grave disappointment with Tuesday’s talks, others held out hope that the worst outcomes can still be avoided. French President François Hollande said France will do ‘everything to save all those who wanted this Europe.’ Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said he was optimistic that ‘we can achieve an agreement on Sunday.’ Analysts, too, said there remained reason to think the two sides can reach a last-minute deal — but only because the dire circumstances in Greece have left no doubt about the potential consequences…”

Is Merkel Facing Her Waterloo?

The Local wrote on July 8:

“Chancellor Angela Merkel’s tough stance on Greece plays well with German voters but carries a huge risk, analysts warn – history would likely blame her for a catastrophic ‘Grexit’. The austerity champion often dubbed the ‘Queen of Europe’ now faces the toughest crisis in her nearly decade-long reign at the helm of the EU’s top economy…

“Daniela Schwarzer, of think-tank the German Marshall Fund of the United States, said Merkel ‘faces a huge dilemma because, on the one hand, if Greece leaves, she will be the chancellor who didn’t manage to hold the eurozone together. But if she keeps Greece in after all that has happened, then she will be extremely criticised for giving up the principles that govern the eurozone. Whichever way this goes, she will be criticised.’…

“The Greek ‘No’ vote to EU-IMF bailout terms last Sunday, cheered by left- and right-wing populists across Europe, heightened the pressure on Merkel. Germany’s conservative daily Die Welt called it her first ‘great defeat’… At home, conservative lawmakers and newspapers have warned Merkel not to give in now, as anger with Greece has come to cross mainstream party lines and polls show about half of Germans favour a Grexit.

“The mass-circulation Bild daily this week urged Merkel to be ‘an Iron Chancellor’ in her dealings with Greece, depicting her with a Prussian spiked military helmet. On Wednesday the tabloid-style newspaper was furious EU leaders were even considering a third bailout and fumed: ‘NO, we are not consistent. YES, we are open to blackmail. What a defeat!’

“News magazine Der Spiegel meanwhile warned that Merkel – heir to chancellor Helmut Kohl, a champion of European unity – could become the leader on whose watch Europe started to crumble. Its stark cover shows Merkel sitting on toppled Greek columns, with the headline ‘The Rubble Woman’, referring to the iconic survivors who cleared up bombed German cities after the Second World War… ‘The Greek crisis called for leadership, a plan, but Merkel did not want to commit to one. Merkel likes power, but at the crucial moment, she doesn’t know what to do with it. Now she faces the ruins of her policy on Europe.’

“Especially outside Europe, many wonder how a divided continent will deal with other challenges – from the Ukraine crisis to dealing with a wave of refugees to the looming threat of Britain leaving the EU. As Berlin has taken an increasingly central role in Europe, many are warning it must not fail now…”

Europe will not crumble. Rather, a powerful leader WILL arise… and it is not Angela Merkel.

Brexit Unimaginable? – Stranger Things Have Happened!

The Telegraph wrote on July 4:

“A British exit from the European Union is ‘unimaginable’, according to a senior German politician, who urged the UK to stay in the bloc… Michael Fuchs, a member of Angela Merkel’s party and deputy chairman of the ruling CDU-CSU coalition… described Brussels as a ‘huge’ bureaucracy that needed to be scaled back…

“Mr Fuchs said it was very unlikely that Mr Cameron would be able to achieve [a treaty change]…. ‘This is not easy because you are talking about the Lisbon Treaty and you know to change it you need 28 votes, a unanimous vote. The fathers of the EU made it complicated for us to change it because they knew at a later stage there could be demand for changes. It is difficult [to change].’”

Apart from the tremendous economic repercussions and political considerations and just analyzing it from a legal standpoint, a Brexit could be “accomplished” much more easily than a Grexit, because Britain is not a part of the Eurozone.

China at the Brink of Economic Disaster?

The Telegraph wrote on July 8:

While all Western eyes remain firmly focused on Greece, a potentially much more significant financial crisis is developing on the other side of world. In some quarters, it’s already being called China’s 1929 – the year of the most infamous stock market crash in history and the start of the economic catastrophe of the Great Depression.

CNBC added on July 8:

“The precipitous plunge in Chinese stocks, and Beijing’s struggle to halt the fall, has sent waves of panic through the country’s 90 million-plus retail investors, who say their life-savings are ‘falling into an abyss.’ At a Citic Securities brokerage in Beijing on Wednesday, the trading hall was packed with retail investors, many of them pensioners, lamenting the loss of the money in the stock market. One investor was watching the big screen between his fingers as if at a horror flick.

“The mood was fearful, panicked and sometimes hostile, as investors huddled around computer screens, waiting to see whether the latest moves by Chinese authorities to prop up the stock market would do any good. ‘The government has been manipulating the stock market all this time,’ one investor who didn’t want to be named told CNBC. ‘The authorities made us believe that we can make money from a bull market but actually we are falling into an abyss losing most of our life savings.’”

Hollywood’s Celebrities Take on Governor Jerry Brown’s Vaccination Law

The Hollywood Reporter wrote on June 30:

“Jim Carrey is speaking out against new legislation requiring all public school children in California to be vaccinated starting in 2016. Carrey, who has been an outspoken critic of vaccinations, said Gov. Jerry Brown needed to be stopped… The new legislation removes personal belief exemptions to vaccinations for religious reasons. Carrey was once in a relationship with Jenny McCarthy, the public face of the anti-vaccination movement. She has said her son developed autism after receiving a vaccination.

“Fellow celebrities have also voiced their displeasure with the law, taking to Twitter to retweet those voicing similar positions and writing their own opinions condemning the compulsory vaccination policy. Amongst those throwing their weight behind Carrey are Kirstie Alley… Others, such as fellow Scientologists Jenna Elfman and Danny Masterson, as well as actress Selma Blair and noted activist Erin Brockovich, clarified that though they aren’t necessarily anti-vaccine, they feel the law is an egregious case of government overreach and suppression of parental rights.

“A petition asking Brown to repeal the law has been gaining steam, with both Blair and Masterson sharing it on Twitter. Thus far, it has nearly reached its goal of 100,000 signatures.”

There can be no doubt that this new law is an incredible governmental intrusion into the rights of parents and another attempt of Big Brother to destroy religious freedom and liberty. In addition, the concern of a connection between vaccination and all kinds of dangerous reactions and sicknesses, including autism, is very real. To blindly believe self-serving scientists (many of whom have a conflict of interest in that they are being supported, sponsored or paid, directly or indirectly, by the drug- and vaccine-producing pharmaceutical industry) could prove to be devastating for our inoculated children.

Inasmuch as there is some confusion as to what the bill (SB 277) does and does not say, we are publishing below the most pertinent provisions:

“SEC. 2. Section 120335 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:…

“(g) (1) A pupil who, prior to January 1, 2016, submitted a letter or affidavit on file at a private or public elementary or secondary school, child day care center, day nursery, nursery school, family day care home, or development center stating beliefs opposed to immunization shall be allowed enrollment to any private or public elementary or secondary school, child day care center, day nursery, nursery school, family day care home, or development center within the state until the pupil enrolls in the next grade span.

“(2) For purposes of this subdivision, ‘grade span’ means each of the following:

“(A) Birth to preschool.

“(B) Kindergarten and grades 1 to 6, inclusive, including transitional kindergarten.

“(C) Grades 7 to 12, inclusive.

“(3) Except as provided in this subdivision, on and after July 1, 2016, the governing authority shall not unconditionally admit to any of those institutions specified in this subdivision for the first time, or admit or advance any pupil to 7th grade level, unless the pupil has been immunized for his or her age as required by this section.

“SEC. 5. Section 120370 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

“(a) If the parent or guardian files with the governing authority a written statement by a licensed physician to the effect that the physical condition of the child is such, or medical circumstances relating to the child are such, that immunization is not considered safe, indicating the specific nature and probable duration of the medical condition or circumstances, including, but not limited to, family medical history, for which the physician does not recommend immunization, that child shall be exempt from the requirements of Chapter 1… to the extent indicated by the physician’s statement…”

CNN Takes on NSA and Obama Administration Regarding Spying on Journalists

CNN reported on July 4:

“An investigation by the German parliament is raising questions on whether the Obama administration not only spied on journalists in that country, but interfered in the exercise of the free press under the guise of U.S. national security…

“That the NSA was spying on German officials is not new, though it continues to upset free press advocates and those with memories of repressive governments both Communist and Nazi.

“… this week came news that the NSA was eavesdropping not only on Merkel, but in some capacity on Germany’s free press as well, namely Der Spiegel… ‘It feels bitter to learn that American intelligence agencies spied on reporters in another country and denounced alleged sources to the government,’ said one reporter involved, who asked not to be identified for fear of repercussions from his government or the U.S. government. ‘This is something I expected to happen in authoritarian states like Russia or China but not in a democracy.’…

“The incident raises questions about what exactly the German Chancellery knew and when it knew it — specifically that officials were notified by the CIA station chief in 2011, two years before the revelation that the NSA was spying on Merkel’s cell phone — that the U.S. was conducting surveillance that touched on both German journalists and the German government… Der Spiegel on Friday reported on the event, writing that ‘it is becoming increasingly clear that representatives of the German government at best looked away as the Americans violated the law, and at worst supported them.’ …

“Without question, Der Spiegel has broken many stories that have frustrated the U.S. intelligence community… It is clear that regardless of the national security principle, the Obama administration has been embarrassed before the world and seen its diplomatic efforts weighed down by the drip-drip-drip of these revelations…”

When even CNN begins questioning the Obama Administration’s conduct in relationship to NSA’s alleged wrongdoing, the situation must be really very serious and troublesome.

Pressure on Merkel… “Only the Tip of the Iceberg”

Daily Mail wrote on July 4:

“German leader Angela Merkel is coming under increasing pressure to act on the NSA spying scandal after it was revealed Washington spooks eavesdropped on the country’s top news magazine as well as politicians. Der Spiegel, a publication which enjoys a high level of trust among readers, politicians and the media classes in Europe, fell victim to the surveillance unleashed on Mrs Merkel and her top lieutenants…

“Germany, which has cherished a free press ever since the overthrow of Nazism, is more bitter about the Spiegel row than the surveillance of top politicians.

“One German journalist told Radio Bavaria: ‘This is a scandalous assault on a free press, a scandalous assault on the dignity of journalists and their craft. America perpetually claims it is acting in the interests of free people everywhere, but when you learn of dirty tricks like this, one must question this.’ …

“Mrs Merkel, who smoothed over relations with America after revelations last year that her own mobile phone was hacked by the agency, is now facing fresh demands for concrete action against Washington following the scandal which broke on Thursday… the latest raft of revelations may prove too large to sweep under the diplomatic carpet…

“Christian Flisek, the senior SPD lawmaker on the NSA committee, said the fresh revelations of spying were only the tip of the iceberg…”

It is very doubtful that Angela Merkel, who has proven to be weak and indecisive in her relationship with Mr. Obama, will take action towards the USA. However, a very charismatic and influential personage will arise in Germany in the near future, who will act…

Negative Media Coverage of Trump Might Actually Help Him

The Huffington Post wrote on July 2:

“According to Facebook… Trump’s announcement [to run for the Presidency] generated 6.4 million ‘interactions’… among 3.4 million Facebook users, over a million more than for Ted Cruz (at 2.1 million)… Only Hillary Clinton (10.1 million interactions among 4.7 million unique Facebook users) did better on her announcement day.

“Similarly, Trump has also dominated the other Republican candidates in Google searches since his announcement two weeks ago, and that huge difference has persisted… On Monday June 29… there were 38 searches for Trump for every 2 for Jeb Bush and 1 for Marco Rubio.”

Trump vs. Rubio vs. Bush—Our Immigration “System” in Shambles

Breitbart wrote on July 4:

“Rubio joined Democrats and liberals—as well as most of the mainstream media—in attacking Trump for calling out international criminals who exploit America’s weak and insecure border to get into the United States illegally. ‘Trump’s comments are not just offensive and inaccurate, but also divisive,’ Rubio said…

“Rubio joins people like Barack Obama’s 2012 presidential campaign co-chair and liberal actress Eva Longoria—who compared Trump to Adolf Hitler—and Univision programming president Alberto Ciurana–who compared Trump to Charleston, South Carolina, mass murderer Dylann Storm Roof. There are plenty of others throughout the mainstream media and institutional left who have slammed Trump as well, and some Republicans like former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former New York Gov. George Pataki [as well as Mitt Romney who said on July 4 that Trump made a “severe error,” that his comments were “unfortunate,” and that he was hurting the Republican Party].

“Sending out a link to a Breitbart California article detailing how one such illegal alien like the criminals Trump called out in his announcement speech allegedly murdered a woman in San Francisco on Wednesday, … Trump sent a message directly to Rubio: ‘… what do you say to the family of Kathryn Steinle in CA who was viciously killed b/c we can’t secure our border? Stand up for US.’…

“In addition, Trump’s adviser told Breitbart News that his boss can’t wait to expose Rubio’s weakness on immigration… Trump has also been extraordinarily critical of the Obamatrade deal that Rubio voted for… Trump is likely to turn the jets on Rubio, as Rubio continues sinking in the polls again…”

In addition, Trump’s outspoken criticism of Jeb Bush [presently number one amongst likely GOP voters] on just about every issue, including immigration—and that even long before Trump announced his candidacy—is well known and has been thoroughly documented. Trump issued the following statement on July 4:

“Just like the simple question asked of Jeb [Bush] on Iraq, where it took him five days and multiple answers to get it right, he doesn’t understand anything about the border or border security… Jeb will never be able to secure our border, negotiate good trade deals, strengthen our military or care for our veterans…”

Trump’s statements regarding an illegal immigrant who allegedly committed murder are to be seen in the light of the following article by The Associated Press, dated July 3:

“Declaring itself a sanctuary with no obligation to obey federal immigration law, the city of San Francisco ignored an order by federal immigration officials to detain for deportation a man now accused of gunning down a young woman at [a] popular city tourist destination. Francisco Sanchez has seven felony convictions and has been deported five times, most recently in 2009, a federal agency said Friday. He was arrested about an hour after Wednesday’s seemingly random slaying of Kathryn Steinle at Pier 14 — one of the busiest attractions in the city.”

This is beyond belief!

Business Insider wrote on July 6:

“Donald Trump is doubling down on his controversial comments about Mexican immigration. The entrepreneur and Republican presidential candidate sent out an epic three page, 881 word statement on Monday afternoon detailing his belief that ‘the worst elements in Mexico are being pushed into the United States by the Mexican government.’ ‘The largest suppliers of heroin, cocaine and other illicit drugs are Mexican cartels that arrange to have Mexican immigrants trying to cross the borders and smuggle in the drugs. The Border Patrol knows this,’ Trump wrote.

“‘Likewise, tremendous infectious disease is pouring across the border. The United States has become a dumping ground for Mexico and, in fact, for many other parts of the world… I have lost a lot during this Presidential run defending the people of the United States. I have always heard that it is very hard for a successful person to run for President. Macy’s, NBC, Serta and NASCAR have all taken the weak and very sad position of being politically correct even though they are wrong in terms of what is good for our country,’ Trump wrote.”

“Obama Administration Responsible”

Breitbart wrote on July 7:

“In 2013 the Obama administration released 36,007 criminal immigrants who had nearly 88,000 convictions. Those convictions included 193 homicide convictions, 426 sexual assault convictions, 303 kidnapping convictions, and 1,075 aggravated assault convictions… of those criminals released in 2013, 1,000 had gone on to commit additional crimes including, terroristic threats, lewd acts with a minor, various types of assault, DUI, robbery, hit-and-run, gang activity, rape, and child cruelty…

“In 2014 the administration released another 30,558 criminal immigrants, who had a total of 79,059 convictions. The convictions included in the 2014 releases included: 86 homicide convictions, 186 kidnapping convictions, 373 sexual assault convictions, 449 commercialized sexual offenses, 1,194 battery convictions, 1,346 domestic violence convictions, and 13,636 DUIs.

“‘When aliens released onto the streets go on to commit additional crimes yet could have been placed in ICE custody, this Administration is responsible …’ House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) said in April… ‘The Administration… will be held accountable,’ he added…

“In May the Obama administration revealed to the Senate Judiciary Committee that between 2010 and 2014, 121 convicted criminal immigrants with final orders of deportation were never removed and now face murder charges.”

Daily Mail wrote on July 7:

“The mother of a teenage boy gunned down by an illegal Mexican immigrant in strikingly similar circumstances to how Kathryn Steinle died, has backed Presidential hopeful Donald Trump to ‘close our borders’. Anita Shaw, whose 17-year-old boy Jamiel Jr was murdered by gang member Pedro Espinoza in Los Angeles in 2008, says she is ‘angry’ at the current immigration policy. She told Daily Mail Online: ‘It makes me sad, it makes me angry, it makes me frustrated. It’s amazing to me that the same incident is still going on today. It’s like, when will the public wake up and do something. And this guy who is running for President, Donald Trump, he’s trying to do something and they’re trying to shut him down.’”

What Americans Think on Immigration

Newsmax wrote on July 7:

“Several recent surveys show that a majority of Americans agree with Donald Trump that the United States needs to secure its southern border with Mexico. According to Rasmussen Reports, 63 percent of Americans want the U.S. to gain control of the border, while just 30 percent want to make undocumented immigrants legal citizens. As for President Barack Obama’s immigration plan that would grant amnesty to as many as 5 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S., 55 percent of those polled by Rasmussen oppose it.

“Further, 58 percent of the Americans surveyed think that providing a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants will lead to more illegal immigration… According to the Rasmussen numbers, Americans have a favorable opinion of immigrants who are living in the U.S. to working hard and trying to achieve the American dream. Trouble is, just 54 percent think that’s what immigrants are doing here.”

Hispanic Leaders Warn GOP

On July 4, the times of Israel published the following article by The Associated Press:

“Hispanic leaders are warning of harm to Republicans’ White House hopes unless the party’s presidential contenders do more to condemn Donald Trump… Trump’s comments… have haunted the party for much of the last two weeks and dominated Spanish-language media. It’s bad timing for a Republican Party that has invested significantly in Hispanic outreach in recent years, given the surging influence of the minority vote…

“Not since the 2004 re-election campaign of President George W. Bush has a Republican presidential candidate earned as much as 40 percent of the Hispanic vote. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton cast Trump’s remarks as ‘emblematic’ of a larger perception within the Republican Party.”

We might recall that during the last presidential race, video-recorded semi-public comments by Mitt Romney about the Spanish community were largely responsible for Romney’s defeat.

San Francisco—The New Rome?

 Breitbart wrote on July 6:

“‘San Francisco: It’s the New Rome.’ That’s the anonymous comment overheard by Politico’s Mike Allen–or one of his sources–at the Aspen Ideas Festival, the summer gathering of the nation’s intellectual elite (and the people with enough money to be seen with them). It is an acknowledgment of the city’s new power–and its decadence…

“St. Augustine wrote that the collapse of ancient Rome showed the contradictions between the City of God–the ideal republic that awaited in Heaven–and the city of man on earth. San Francisco, the new Rome, is beset by contradictions between the ideal of liberal utopia and the reality of liberal government.

“The city’s environmentalists have imposed building restrictions that make housing astronomically expensive. The city’s socialists respond with higher minimum wages that drive up business costs. And so the city welcomes illegal aliens–a minority of whom commit horrific crimes.

“For fifty years, San Francisco has been the capital of a counter-culture–one that has since become the nation’s dominant culture. With the legalization of same-sex marriage as a ‘fundamental right’ by the U.S. Supreme Court last month, the city–recognized for decades as the gay capital of the world–has few taboos left to challenge…

“Today, Rome stands for both rise and fall. Which Rome, then, is San Francisco?…”

San Francisco, as well as the entire USA, is doomed to fall… like ancient Rome did.

Clinton a Better Friend to Israel than Obama

The Jewish Press reported on July 4:

“Hillary Clinton has promised that Israel will have her as a better friend than President Barack Obama if she is elected President next year. She also exclaimed that Iran poses an ‘existential threat’ to Israel…

“While strongly supporting attempts for a ‘good’ deal with Iran, she is trying to reassure wealthy Jews that they can safely contribute to her campaign coffers and can sleep safely last [at] night knowing that she will be good for Israel, even if Israelis spend the night running to bomb shelters. That is what President Obama also said in 2008. That is what every presidential candidate says, but American Jews love to hear [it] because they want to believe it…”

Jimmy Carter’s View of Jesus

Newsmax wrote on July 7:

“Though he admitted he doesn’t have any supporting Scripture, former President Jimmy Carter says he believes Jesus would approve of gay marriage. Appearing on HuffPost Live, Carter, an evangelical Christian, was asked by host Marc Lamont Hill whether Jesus would support same-sex marriage. ‘I believe he would. I believe Jesus would,’ Carter answered, but admitted, ‘I don’t have any verse in Scripture… I think Jesus would approve of any love affair that was honest and sincere, and was not damaging to anyone else. And I don’t think that gay marriage damages anyone else.’”

Jimmy Carter’s view of Jesus is most certainly not in accordance with how the Bible describes Him.

Obama Is Being Warned Not to Bring His LGBT Agenda to Kenya

Breitbart wrote on July 7:

“Kenyan leaders are warning President Obama not to bring his ‘gay agenda’ with him when he visits his father’s homeland at the end of this month… Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, the White House image was cloaked in the militant LGBT rainbow, as was the Facebook profile picture of the U.S. Department of Education.

“In Nairobi on Monday, members of the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya called upon Obama to refrain from discussing the gay agenda… ‘Anybody who tries to come and preach to this country that they should allow homosexuality, I think he’s totally lost,’ said TNA lawmaker Jamleck Kamau, according to The Daily Nation. ‘And I would also like to add, our son from the U.S., Barack Obama, when he comes here, to simply avoid that topic completely because Kenyans will not be happy with him if he comes to bring the issue of homosexuality in this country.’…

“Rose Mitaru, one of 47 female lawmakers in Kenya, said that allowing same-sex marriage in her country would open ‘floodgates of evil synonymous with the biblical Sodom and Gomorrah.’… Deputy President William Ruto also said homosexuality was ‘against the plan of God’ during a church sermon in Nairobi. ‘God did not create man and woman so that men would marry men and women marry women,’ he was quoted as saying by The Daily Nation…

“White House press secretary Josh Earnest said on Monday that Obama would not avoid the topic of the gay agenda during his visit…

“In June, the U.S.’s openly gay ambassadors announced that Obama’s proposed trade agreements ‘will export our values of equality and tolerance,’ and ‘promote greater justice beyond our borders’… the eight openly gay U.S. representatives abroad said ‘trade policy’ is one of the ‘most promising tools’ to advance the meme that the LGBT agenda is the agenda that expresses America’s ‘values.’”

Nobel Prize Winner Challenges Obama on Global Warming

Newsmax wrote on July 7:

“A Nobel Prize-winning scientist who supported President Barack Obama has said that he does not believe global warming is a problem, and has openly criticized the president for his position on the issue. ‘I would say that basically global warming is a non-problem,’ Dr. Ivar Giaever announced during a speech at the 65th Nobel Laureate Conference in Lindau, Germany, last week… Quoting Obama’s warning that ‘no challenge poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change,’ Giaever said it was a ‘ridiculous statement’… Obama said last year that 2014 is [the] hottest year ever. But it’s not true. It’s not the hottest.’

“Giaever, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics in 1973, questioned the theory behind fears about rising carbon dioxide levels and said that the theory is not backed by evidence. ‘Global warming really has become a new religion. Because you cannot discuss it. It’s not proper. It is like the Catholic Church.’…”

The Pope in South America—Hinting At Big Changes

CNN wrote on July 6:

“Several hundred thousand pilgrims thronged to see the popular pontiff preach Monday… in… Ecuador… Waving flags from several South American nations — including Argentina, the Pope’s homeland — the crowd cheered Francis like a native son.

“Monday is the first full day of Francis’ weeklong trip to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay, three of the smallest and poorest nations in South America…

“In his homily, or sermon, the Pope referred to a highly anticipated meeting of bishops to be held in Rome this October. The Catholic leaders are expected to discuss changes to several controversial areas of church teaching, including divorce and homosexuality… ‘I ask you to pray fervently for this intention,’ the Pope continued, ‘so that Christ can take even what might seem to us impure, scandalous or threatening, and turn it … into a miracle’…

“More than 425 million Catholics live in Latin America… That’s nearly 40% of the world’s total Catholic population. But Catholics in nearly every country, including Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay, have fled the church in recent decades for other faiths, or no faith at all…”

Murderous ISIS Terrorists Don’t Stop at Anything

 Breitbart wrote on July 8:

“Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) militants have crucified dozens of Syrian men and boys for breaking the Ramadan fast, according to reports… The victims were placed about a block apart from each other, and some of the victims have signs placed around their necks. According to Syrian activist Saray ad-Din, since the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, ISIS has crucified dozens of civilians on charges of deliberately breaking the fast. This year, Ramadan extends from June 17 to July 17… In late June, ISIS executed and crucified two children in Mayadin on similar charges of having violated the fast.”

Demons are having a field day with the ISIS fanatics.

In a recent Q&A on human nature and the wrong concept of “original sin” of babies, we stated the following about Jesus Christ’s conception and birth as a human being:

“… all are born with HUMAN NATURE or, as the Bible puts it, with SINFUL FLESH. Christ never sinned, but He came into sinful flesh (Romans 8:3). He had human nature passed on to Him through His mother Mary, and He needed God’s help to overcome sin in the flesh. He had the fullness of God’s Spirit within Him without measure, and that from conception (John 3:34, Authorized Version), which enabled Him to stay sinless…

“Christ was not in any way guilty or sinful because of an ‘original sin’ which had been passed on genetically to Him when He was conceived in Mary’s womb, but Christ was conceived with human nature… Romans 8:3 tells us that Christ came ‘in the likeness of sinful flesh’ to overcome and condemn sin in the flesh.”

We also said this:

“A baby in his or her mother’s womb is not guilty because of ‘original sin,’ nor has he or she committed any sinful acts in the mother’s womb. When Jesus was conceived in Mary’s womb, He was not guilty because of any ‘original sin,’ nor did He commit any sinful act in the womb of His mother. But as a human being conceived with human nature, a baby has the propensity of and proclivity for sin, and it would have sinned following birth (The only exception was the Man Jesus Christ—even though He, too, was conceived with human nature, God the Father’s Holy Spirit dwelt within Him from inception without measure, enabling Him to overcome sin in the flesh—including His own human nature—so that He NEVER sinned.).”

When the Bible says that Christ came “in the likeness of sinful flesh,” it also expresses the concept that He came “in” or “into sinful flesh,” as we pointed out in the above-stated Q&A.

The fact that both expressions (“coming in the likeness of sinful flesh” and “coming in sinful flesh”) are conveying identical thoughts has been clearly understood by commentators and translators. For instance, the Jerusalem Bible renders Romans 8:3-4 as follows:

“God has done what the Law, because of our unspiritual nature, was unable to do. God dealt with sin by sending his own Son in a body as physical as any sinful body, and in that body God condemned sin. He did this in order that the Law’s just demands might be satisfied in us, who behave not as our unspiritual nature but as the spirit dictates.”

The “likeness” of something or someone describes an IDENTICAL copy or representation of something or someone else.

The Greek word for “likeness” is “homoioma,” and means, quite literally, “something made like” or “being the same” (derived from “homos,” meaning “the same.”)

The same word is used in Romans 5:14: “… death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam…”

Adam’s descendants had not committed the same identical sin which Adam had committed, in that they did not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but they had sinned, of course, because death reigned over them, and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). We see, then, that the word “likeness” describes the identical duplication or representation of something else. If they HAD sinned according to the “likeness” of Adam’s sin, then they would have committed the same IDENTICAL sin.

The most convincing Scripture proving the accuracy of our statements in this Q&A can perhaps be found in Philippians 2:7 where we read that Christ came “in the likeness (“homoioma”) of man.” This is another way of saying that He came as a man; that He BECAME a man; that He WAS a man (compare John 1:1, 14).

So, when He came in the “likeness” of sinful flesh, He came in or into sinful flesh. That is, He became a man with human nature which is described as sinful as it CANNOT be subject or obedient to the Law of God (Romans 8:7). However, with the help of God the Father, Christ WAS able to OVERCOME His human nature—self—and learned obedience by the things which He suffered (Hebrews 5:8).

As Christ was fully man—as He came in the “likeness of man” and “in the likeness of sinful flesh”—He had to overcome His flesh and make sure that He would not succumb to the temptations of His flesh. That is why we read that Christ, “in the days of His flesh… offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear” (Hebrews 5:7). In that way, He overcame self.

We read that He had a human will which did not want to die, but He submitted to God’s Will, saying, “… not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39), adding, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (verse 41). He knew beforehand what would await Him, and He said to His disciples: “I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished” (Luke 12:50). But if He had followed His human will to escape His pre-ordained fate (giving in to the will of His “weak flesh”), He would have sinned, as He would have disobeyed God’s Plan for Him and for all of mankind.

If Christ would not have had “sinful” human flesh or human nature, He would not have been susceptible to Satan’s temptations either (since God cannot be tempted by evil, James 1:13), but He clearly was tempted by Satan and had to conquer him (Matthew 4:10; Mark 8:33). When Peter tried unknowingly to circumvent the Will of God, Christ told him: “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense [a stumbling block] to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” (Matthew 16:23).

As Christ overcame His human nature, Satan the devil and the world (John 16:33), so must we (Revelation 3:21).  With the living Christ in us, we CAN obey God and become and stay righteous, so that the “righteous requirement of the law” CAN be “fulfilled in us” (Romans 8:4). We do not HAVE TO sin. Human nature cannot be subject to the Law of God, but God’s Holy Spirit in us helps us to overcome human nature and be obedient.

Christ NEVER sinned (Hebrews 4:15). But of Himself, He could do nothing (John 5:19, 30). It was the Father IN Christ who did the works (John 14:10), including the “works” of overcoming and staying obedient. With the help of God the Father’s Spirit within Christ without measure, leading, guiding and empowering Him, He could and did overcome the human nature of His “sinful flesh,” NEVER sinning even once (1 Peter 2:21-22; 1 John 3:5), and thereby becoming the perfect Sacrifice for us, paying the death penalty for our sins on our behalf and giving us the opportunity to “become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

Norbert and Johanna Link, accompanied by Margaret Adair, will be travelling to visit brethren in California, Oregon, British Columbia and Colorado during the next few weeks. Mr. Link will also be presenting live sermons on the Sabbath from some of these locations.

“Greece in Prophecy,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

Greece is faced with turmoil and economic disaster, and the “No”-Referendum did not bring any clarity. Will Greece leave the Eurozone or even the EU? Would this bring about the abolishment of the Euro and the ultimate downfall and dissemination of the United States of Europe? What does the Bible say about all of this? Don’t assume that you know the answer. We are offering FREE CDs and DVDs of a recent three-part sermon series on Prophecy and the current and future developments in Europe.

We just sent out a new German member letter (Rundschreiben) to our mailing
list in the German-speaking areas.The letter summarizes current political events, announces the printing of four new German booklets, upcoming German sermons and the new APS program on Greece, and speaks of the need to prepare for the annual Fall Holy Days and to be cautious not to fall for Satan’s discouragement.

“Was Eine Christliche Ehe ist… und was nicht!” is the title of a new German sermon. The title in English: “What Is a Christian Marriage.. .and What It Is Not.” 

“Griechenland in der Prophezeiung,” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, also presented by Mr. Link, which presents the subject of “Greece in Prophecy” in the German language.

“A Little Strength,” the sermon presented by Eric Rank last Sabbath, is now posted. Here is a summary:

In the book of Revelation, the Church of Philadelphia is described as having a little strength. What characterizes the strength that Christians need to have? Where does that strength come from? How is the strength of a Christian different than worldly strength? Answers to these questions will help to guide spiritual growth and development that is so important for Christian living.