The Update

On May 24, 2025, Norbert Link will present “Comments on News and Prophecy, May 24, 2025,” and the sermon, titled, “Why So Many False Teachings About the Holy Spirit?”

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

In January 2025, I looked at the BBC Parliament Channel on television and saw a discussion entitled, “Flood Resilience in England”. Here were the great in London and via video calls giving evidence, information and suggestions on this subject.

The Environmental Audit Committee was undertaking an inquiry on how flood resilience can be strengthened in response to increasing risks from extreme weather, rising sea levels, and evolving flood hazards.

There seemed to be about 20 in the chamber which included politicians, professors and other interested and involved parties.

Their concerns were that in England, an estimated 5.7 million properties are at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea, surface water, and groundwater.  A number of recent problems outlined the challenges that have brought flood risk management back into the national spotlight.

It was stated on the TV channel that “looking to the future, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) anticipates that by 2050, the UK will face warmer, wetter winters, hotter, drier summers, and continued sea level rises.  Sea levels, which have already risen by 16cm since 1900, could place a third of England’s coastline under significant flood pressure. Flooding and coastal erosion are complex issues with serious economic, social, and environmental consequences. They pose significant risks to lives, health, homes, and infrastructure, yet the best path forward remains uncertain. Critical national infrastructure—including water supply systems, rail networks, and electricity grids—face vulnerabilities that will require careful evaluation and planning.”

Many would question the accuracy of their predictions. Still, their concerns and considerations, at least in a general way, should be taken seriously, as prevention is always better than a cure.   However, these are not the only critical issues to be addressed in a nation deluged with a seemingly endless list of problem areas.   Wherever you look, very little is working perfectly, and endless meetings, committees, commissions, talks and task forces, both local and national, convene to grapple with the problems confronting them and the nation.   It seems to be an endless grind and even when decisions are found, rarely is there enough money to fund the required action.

Sound familiar?  It should be as it seems to not only be a UK problem but extant in so many countries and areas around the world.   Why should it be?

Simply answered, it is because God is ignored.   The Bible is full of admonitions about how to do this, that and the other, but man always seems to know best and pursues his own line of reasoning and implementation.

God gave His Commandments for man to follow for his own well-being.   Many ignore them, even including those who say that they love God.   God gives counsel and rules in so many areas of our lives, and most of those are disregarded or rejected such as how to treat and deal with others, our own personal godly example, correct worship, tithing, eating only clean foods and correct sexual practices, and much more.

In Proverbs 11:1, we read: “Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight.”   We should never cheat anyone either personally or in business but how often is that ignored?   We should never lie to others just to get our way or the best in a business deal.   No shady deals.  The list could go on and on, but because God and His Ways are ignored, problems inevitably ensue.   

It will not be so in the Millennium.  All things will be done in a Godly fashion for the benefit of all concerned.   Jesus Christ and other born-again members of the Family of God at that time will ensure that all of God’s instructions are adhered to and the result will be a complete removal of all the problems that man has himself created and is now looking at how to deal with them.   And this has been because God and His Way have been ignored.   In the future, it will not be as it is currently.   Think tanks, conferences, symposiums, assemblies and gatherings will not be necessary as they are today, as matters will be dealt with perfectly from inception, therefore not requiring any remedial action.   Perfect from the get-go.

The difference will be stark, and the right Way will last for eternity!

by Norbert Link

We begin with the long-awaited phone call between Putin and Trump which proved to be fruitless; and continue with legal and economic developments in the USA (please view our new message, titled, “The Constitution Under Attack—Comments on News and Prophecy, May 17, 2025″ ).

We continue with Pope Leo XIV’s new comments (please view in this regard our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Pope Leo’s Demand of ‘Unity in Faith!”)  

We report on the dubious and contested “finding” of the FBI that Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide.

We address the highly controversial deal between Great Britain and the EU; Israel’s war in Gaza; and Germany’s role in Europe.

We conclude with the elections in Romania and an article about the creation of the universe. 

Trump’s Phone Conversation With Putin 

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 19: 

“US President Donald Trump says talks between Russia and Ukraine to end the war would start ‘immediately.’ In a post on his Truth Social, Trump said his call with Russian President Vladimir Putin went ‘very well.’… Putin described the conversation with Trump as ‘frank and meaningful.’…  

“Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected Russian demands to withdraw Ukrainian forces from key regions in the east and south of the country claimed by Moscow… Russia has made it a condition for ending its war in Ukraine… [Zelenskyy] told reporters that he emphasized to US President Donald Trump that no decisions should be made about Ukraine without involving Kyiv… He spoke with Trump before and after the US president held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.” 

The New York Post wrote on May 19:

“[Putin] doubled down Monday on not accepting a cease-fire… following a two-hour call with President Trump — saying that Moscow was not ready for peace until the ‘root cause’ of the ‘crisis’ is addressed.” 

Trump’s “happy spin” can’t ignore the fact that the phone call did not accomplish anything. He stressed that Russia wants to become trading partners with the US — and made no mention of secondary sanctions, which the Europeans are determined to impose (note article below). 

Victory for Putin 

Die Welt wrote on May 19: 

“Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with his US counterpart Donald Trump for two hours. There was no sign of Trump’s criticism of the Russians’ behavior in Ukraine. Putin can count the day a victory… For Putin, this means, on the one hand, he can continue fighting until a ceasefire is agreed upon – and with Trump’s tacit approval. Previously, some of Trump’s reactions to Russian attacks on residential buildings in Kyiv had caused irritation in Moscow. Now Moscow has nothing to justify itself for. 

“Trump failed to criticize the largest Russian drone attack on Ukraine since the war began on Sunday night. On the other hand, [Putin] can set conditions for the ceasefire alone… 

“The pressure on the Europeans is now increasing. The recently signaled transatlantic unity is over faster than it began.”

Bild Online wrote on May 19:

“If Putin’s statement is to be believed, the talks with Trump ended WITHOUT any concrete results. Russia is unwilling to fulfill Trump’s most important demand, an immediate 30-day ceasefire… That means: nothing will happen immediately. Putin will continue bombing Ukraine… This makes it clear: Putin once again turned down the most powerful man in the world.” 

As was to be expected, Trump lost again… while Putin was playing him like a fiddle. This was SO predictable. Note the following articles below which had been published prior to the phone conversation between Putin and Trump.

Putin Warns Trump 

The Daily Mail wrote on May 18: 

“Russian state TV aired a video of Vladimir Putin warning Donald Trump to stop trying to dictate the terms of a ceasefire with Ukraine. Putin stressed that he plans to finish what he started three years ago and warned that Trump should not push him into a US blueprint for stopping the war…. 

“Putin’s words were recorded in late March but broadcast today after Trump made clear he wants the Russian leader to concede a ceasefire… ‘We have enough strength and resources to bring what was started in 2022 to its logical conclusion with the result that Russia needs,’ Putin added.” 

This does not look like Putin is REALLY interested in a lasting peace agreement which can be secured and guaranteed. 

Trump Got It All Wrong 

The New York Post wrote on May 19:

“It was never going to be easy for President Trump to bring an end to the Ukraine war, but it’s even harder when he’s operating under an erroneous theory of the conflict. The man who instigated the war and who is the chief obstacle to peace is Vladimir Putin. Yet this enemy of the West, murderer of dissidents, and serial perpetrator of wars of territorial aggrandizement has never been subjected to the same US pressure campaign as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose fundamental offense is to be leading a country that his larger neighbor wants to subjugate… Putin, in contrast, has been at the receiving end of an all-carrots approach, and has reacted accordingly. 

“Pretty much whatever Putin does, Trump says someone else would do the same in his circumstances… 

“The play for the Kremlin is obvious here. It wants to keep inching ahead with territorial gains in the war, and if it continues to string along negotiations, has to hope that Trump tires of the whole thing and cuts off US aid to Ukraine. That would reward [Putin] with a very important diplomatic victory — a split between the US and Europe — and a chance to make major advances against an increasingly hard-pressed Ukraine…

“Whatever you think of the policy of NATO expansion, Ukraine didn’t invade Russia, and Putin has made it clear that Ukraine’s existence as its own independently governed nation is at the root of his war. So long as Putin believes that he’s winning and holds ‘all of the cards,’ there’s no reason for him to become more pliable… Putin has every reason to think he can persevere when the world’s superpower is inclined to blame the victim of his unprovoked aggression.” 

German Foreign Policy and the Dubious Trump 

Bild Online published the following commentary on May 15: 

“If Chancellor Friedrich Merz believed in Kyiv this weekend that the Europeans had Donald Trump (78) back on their side with the spontaneous call from Emmanuel Macron (47) and the prearranged statement, then he must now realize: No, Trump is continuing as before. 

“Trump’s statement today, after Russian dictator Vladimir Putin canceled the meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, is devastating. Trump isn’t even gently criticizing the Russian president; he even understands his cancellation. The Kremlin must be laughing its head off… 

“If Merz cannot announce tough sanctions together with the US (for example, on oil and gas)…, that would be his first major embarrassment as Chancellor… 

“But Vice Chancellor Klingbeil also has a problem. The CDU/CSU and SPD had announced that they did NOT want to discuss arms deliveries in order to keep Putin in the dark. Just a few days after Merz reiterated this position regarding Taurus cruise missiles… Klingbeil’s parliamentary group leader, Mattias Miersch, showed that he couldn’t care less about the Chancellor’s words. Miersch publicly stated that he was AGAINST Taurus deliveries… Why? So that Putin knows exactly, shortly before possible negotiations, that he can rely on the SPD?… 

“Foreign policy is already becoming the biggest test for Merz and Klingbeil.” 

New European Sanctions Against Russia

Express wrote on May 16:

“European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen criticized Vladimir Putin for his lack of presence at the peace talks with Ukraine on Thursday in Istanbul, Turkey, stating that it demonstrates Putin’s disinterest in peace. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had urged Putin to personally engage in peace talks with Zelensky regarding the ongoing three-year conflict, but Putin dispatched lower-level delegates instead, which many interpreted as an indication that Putin is indifferent to peace. Consequently, Zelensky also opted to send lower-ranking officials, with von der Leyen indicating that the EU is now compelled to impose further sanctions on Russia due to Putin’s actions….

“‘… [The] new package of sanctions… will include for example sanctions on Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2. It will include working on listing more vessels of the Russian shadow fleet and also lowering the oil price cap, and it will include more sanctions on the financial sector in Russia,’ she detailed.” 

It will remain to be seen whether Europe is going to go through with this without the USA. 

New Sanctions 

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 20: 

“The EU on Tuesday approved its 17th round of sanctions on Russia, the bloc’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas announced at a meeting of foreign and defense ministers in Brussels. The new measures target the nearly 200 ships of Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet.’ These ships are used to help Russia evade oil sales restrictions, and are often dilapidated, uninsured, with unclear ownership. 

Kallas added that more Russia sanctions are ‘in the works… The longer Russia wages war, the tougher our response,’ she added. .. 

“Kaja Kallas… called for the United States to take ‘strong action’ against Russia if ceasefire talks do not come to fruition. ‘America said that if Russia doesn’t agree on an unconditional ceasefire, then there are going to be consequences. So, we want to see those consequences, also from the US side,’ Kallas said… 

“The UK on Tuesday said new sanctions would target Russia’s military, energy and financial sectors, coming as the EU also adopted a new raft of sanctions. The UK Foreign Office said the dual sanctions were part of ‘a coordinated effort to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.’”

Already: Merz in a Bind 

Focus wrote on May 16: 

“Politicians should always set the bar so high that they can just barely fit under it. For the tall Friedrich Merz, this advice, given half a century ago by Franz Josef Strauss, is difficult to follow. And Merz promptly broke in his first week in government – his own bar. 

“The resounding failure of the Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul after 90 minutes, the demonstrative departure of the delegations from the negotiating room, does not fit at all with the images of that conspiratorial gang of four a few days ago. They showed a standing Friedrich Merz in a light blue sweater, clearly briefing his counterparts from France, Poland, and Great Britain on his way to Kyiv about his actions in Ukraine. 

“A 30-day ceasefire as a prelude to serious peace negotiations was the demand of the united leading Europeans who had been working with the new Chancellor from Germany who should have been looked upon as a new leader… Merz remained vague. A tough chancellor would have sounded different… Merz suffered his first bitter foreign policy defeat. Annalena Baerbock couldn’t have done better, and Merz must realize that the international stage wasn’t waiting for this German.” 

Perhaps not for Merz… 

The Most Important American 

ntv wrote on May 18: 

“Trump is no longer the most important American in the world, that’s now Robert Francis Prevost. The headline in the New York Times sums it up. Pope Leo XIV has already won the sympathy of Trump’s critics – as a 100 percent antithesis to the US President… There were only doubts as to whether, after the Jesuit Bergoglio, it would be another person of a religious order, the first Augustinian ever in the history of the Church… 

“Of course, this Pope also carries the burdens of the Catholic Church: Half of humanity is women, but they have no say in his election or in his Church. Pope Leo XIV will also have to address the many cases of abuse by clergymen of their wards, minors, women, and men in the Church… 

“A harsher political antithesis to Trumpism is hard to imagine. The US President may have many Catholic voters, but he doesn’t have the Church…” 

The Pope’s Vision of the “Unity of Faith” 

Vatican News reported on May 19: 

“Speaking first to other Christian Churches and ecclesial communities, Pope Leo XIV took note of the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea, emphasizing that unity among Christians ‘can only be unity in faith.’…

“Turning to representatives of non-Christian religious traditions, Pope Leo XIV said our ‘common path’ can and must be understood to involve everyone, ‘in a spirit of human fraternity.’ 

The Council of Nicea decided dogmatically that God is a Trinity–  three co-equal and co-eternal Persons. All who disagreed were declared “anathema” (“cursed”) from  Christ and excluded from fellowship. Pope Leo’s somewhat inconsistent statements are interesting: “Unity among Christians can only be united in faith” seems to be saying what the Council of Nicea decreed with its consequences for “heretics,” while non-Christians seem to be given some time in reaching a “common path,” until the “unity of faith” must be encompassing them as well? 

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Pope Leo’s Demand of ‘Unity in Faith!’” 

Trump’s Goals Are Crystal Clear 

Focus wrote on May 18:

“Trump’s policies are so consistent that the surprise in the liberal part of the West can only be explained by self-deception. Yet the US President’s goals are crystal clear. 

“The truly astonishing thing about Donald Trump’s policies is that they still astonish so many. The headlines express shock and disbelief whenever Trump once again shakes a cornerstone of the liberal world order – whether by endorsing Russia’s claim to Ukrainian territory, bringing up the forcible annexation of Greenland, or triggering economic chaos with tariff announcements.” 

Supreme Court Stops Trump 

CNBC wrote on May 16: 

“The Supreme Court on Friday granted a request by Venezuelan nationals seeking to block their removal from the United States under the Alien Enemies Act.  In a 7-2 decision, the court said the Trump administration had not given the detainees enough time or adequate resources to challenge their deportations. ‘Under these circumstances, notice roughly 24 hours before removal, devoid of information about how to exercise due process rights to contest that removal, surely does not pass muster,’ the ruling said. 

“The justices barred the removal of the men, who the Trump administration alleges are members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, pending a new decision from a lower federal appellate court… The justices did not rule on whether the Alien Enemies Act, which the Trump administration invoked in mid-April to deport the detainees, had been applied correctly. ‘To be clear, we decide today only that the detainees are entitled to more notice than was given on April 18,’ their ruling said… 

“Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented from the opinion.” 

Trump raged against the order. 

Suspending Habeas Corpus? 

The Ron Paul Institute published the following article by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano on May 15: 

“What if the writ of habeas corpus has been guaranteed to the British since 1215 and to Americans since 1789? What if this encompasses the right of every person who is confined by the government against his or her will to compel the jailer to justify the confinement before a neutral judge? 

“What if this right is personal and individual and applies to all persons at all times? What if the right can be exercised by anyone who is arrested… What if this right — to be free from an unjust confinement; to be free from arrest without trial — is one for which the Founders and the Framers fought the American Revolution? 

“What if habeas corpus is today recognized by all judges in the United States? What if judges actually stop court proceedings when a habeas corpus petition is received in order to hold a hearing and compel the government to lay out the evidence against the accused and justify his or her confinement, lest he or she spend one minute more behind bars than is lawful? 

“… What if even the most tyrannical and absolute of monarchs in Britain recognized and respected habeas corpus for their subjects in Britain?… 

“What if Madison recognized that in cases of invasion or rebellion, Congress might want to suspend habeas corpus until the rebellion or invasion subsided? What if Congress — in order to prevent frivolous or politically based suspensions of the right — defined invasion or rebellion as a state of affairs of such calamity that the federal courts are unable to conduct proceedings? 

“What if Abraham Lincoln suspended habeas corpus during the War Between the States in certain regions in the north so he could arrest his critics without trial? What if the Supreme Court ruled that under the plain meaning and recognized structure of the Constitution, only Congress — not the president — can suspend habeas corpus?… 

“What if Franklin D. Roosevelt did the same based on race during World War II and he claimed he did so based not on invasion or rebellion but on the fear of invasion or rebellion? What if — in one of its lowest moral rulings in history, at a time of anti-Japanese racial animosity in America — the court permitted the suspension? 

“What if subsequent Congresses and presidents and courts condemned this ruling and this suspension? What if Congress — 40 years later — compensated those still living and their offspring for these arrests without trial? 

“What if George W. Bush tried to suspend habeas corpus in the months following 9/11?… What if the Supreme Court ruled against him? What if Congress tried to implement arrest without trial and the Supreme Court ruled that there was no invasion or rebellion of such chaotic magnitude that the federal courts could not conduct proceedings, and so it invalidated the suspension of habeas corpus? 

“What if here we go again? What if the White House (Stephen Miller) announced last week that it—not Congress—is contemplating the suspension of habeas corpus, but only for certain persons?…” 

What if we never learn from history? 

Walmart Buckles… Somewhat 

Fox Business reported on May 18: 

“Walmart is going to absorb the cost of some tariffs, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday after speaking with the company’s CEO in the wake of President Donald Trump’s warning that the retail giant should ‘eat the tariffs.’… 

“On Thursday, [CEO Doug] McMillion said Walmart would do its best to keep prices down, but with the ‘magnitude’ of the tariffs, ‘even at the reduced levels announced this week, we aren’t able to absorb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margins.’” 

One wonders what was going on behind the scenes. 

Strong Accusations by Rand Paul Against Trump 

Politico wrote on May 18: 

“Sen. Rand Paul attacked the economic logic of President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff strategy on Sunday… 

“The Kentucky Republican said Trump’s sweeping tariffs on foreign trading partners are based on ‘an economic fallacy’ about trade deficits… 

“‘Well, tariffs are taxes, and when you put a tax on a business, it’s always passed through as a cost. So, there will be higher prices,’ Paul said…

“Courts have previously upheld the legality of tariffs when they’re based on congressional authority. However, Trump’s decision to impose tariffs by himself has raised legal questions about whether he is exceeding his delegated power. ‘Now, we do have a long history, though, of both parties abdicating their responsibility on tariffs and granting power to Congress, which brings up another constitutional question, can Congress delegate powers given to it under the Constitution to the president?’ Paul said.” 

Interesting legal questions indeed… 

Jeffrey Epstein Committed Suicide? Hardly! 

Financial Express wrote on May 20: 

“Hoping to finally move past convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s death, the FBI gave its verdict on the case. Declaring the sex offender’s 2019 death inside the notorious Metropolitan Correctional Centre a suicide, Deputy Director Dan Bongino (alongside FBI Director Kash Patel) that there was no evidence to prove any foul play being at work… [Epstein’s] brother, Mark Epstein, has since slammed the suicide verdict. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he fumed over Patel having ‘no idea what… he’s talking about,’ as he ‘wasn’t there, he didn’t see the body, he didn’t see the autopsy.’.. 

“He admitted that it would be a lot easier for him to move on as well if he accepted his brother’s death as suicide. Suggesting that there was a ‘long list of things’ that serve as bombshell evidence of Jeffrey Epstein having been murdered in his prison cell. And so, Mark is among the many who are cynical of the FBI’s declaration… Standing his ground, Mark alleged that there was good reason for people wanting his brother dead, especially for ‘what he knew, what he had on people.’ … 

“While Jeffrey’s file states that he was discovered hanging by a bedsheet, Mark Epstein said, ‘I don’t think that sheet could have held his weight, it would have torn.’.. In light of the two cameras trained on Epstein’s cell experiencing technical issues, Mark went on to say, ‘So, [former attorney general] Bill Barr came out and said he personally viewed the video and nobody went in or out of the tier [where Epstein was housed]. When I heard that I said this is cover up.’… Noting that 11 or 12 inmates were already on that tier, Mark said, ‘They would not have to go in or out of the tier to kill somebody in their cell. Supposedly cell doors were left locked.’ The Epstein brother laid emphasis on how easily someone could have gotten into ‘Jeff’s cell and killed him.’.. 

“Mark Epstein’s argument aligns with what forensic pathologist Michael Baden had to say about the case. The deceased billionaire’s family hired Baden after his death was initially ruled a suicide. According to the pathologist, homicide was more likely than suicide, as he focussed on fractures in Epstein’s thyroid cartilage and hyoid bone being indicative of strangulation.”

The suicide story seems to be a fabrication and a cover-up. Far too many famous people would be interested in putting this case to rest and burying what could otherwise come to light.

Starmer’s Betrayal of Britain 

The Sun wrote on May 19: 

“BRITAIN will pay money to Brussels for a ‘sellout’ deal that drags the country back under the control of European judges and grants French boats access to our fishing waters for 12 YEARS. The agreement signed by Sir Keir Starmer in London today reveals the UK will be tethered to the EU’s rulebook on trade standards… 

“Former PM Boris Johnson blasted: ‘Two-tier Keir is once again going back on his promises to the people of this country – by making us non-voting members of a two-tier European Union. ‘Under this appalling sell out of a deal the UK will have to accept EU law on a host of measures from food standards to emissions trading.’… 

“The deal will see Britain follow the EU’s food standards but only be involved in ‘early stages’ of setting the rules – with the European Court of Justice the ultimate arbiter… The text also shows British taxpayers will make an ‘appropriate financial contribution’ to the EU as the price of what critics are blasting as a ‘surrender’ deal… 

“Sir Keir has agreed to give EU nations full access to its fishing waters until June 2038. The 12-year concession undermines one of the primary promises of Brexit: regaining control over British waters. UK fishermen, who were gunning for greater independence have expressed outrage at the major policy surrender.” 

Further evidence for Britain’s downfall. 

Britain Surrenders to the EU

On May 18, The Sun published the following article by Chris Philp, Shadow Home Secretary: 

“Whenever Labour negotiates, Britain loses. Keir Starmer is shamefully giving away Chagos Islands and then pay to rent them back. The two-tier tax deal with India was deeply unfair to British businesses. And today, we will see him roll over once again at his EU surrender summit… While he now talks tough on immigration for the cameras, we all know behind closed doors he doesn’t believe a word of it… 

“Today is Starmer’s first step in a walk of shame back to the EU’s stranglehold so he can crack Britain’s borders even wider open… It would make it far easier for hordes of unemployed people to come to the UK at a time when Labour is driving unemployment through the roof…” 

… and that without a shot having been fired…

Nigel Farage Issues Damning Verdict 

Daily Express published the following article by Nigel Farage on May 19:

“So, it’s happened. The Brexit betrayal by Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour party is in full swing. In 2016 we voted to take back control of our fishing waters from the EU and give a much-needed lifeline to our fishing industry. Today, we learn that Sir Keir [Starmer] will grant European fishermen access to British waters for 12 years. It’s an abject surrender… What makes this so galling is that 12 years is essentially enough to give European boats permanent access to our waters. This is because during that time older fishermen will leave the industry, and there will be no younger ones joining, and likewise no investment in new boats. With no new investment, the UK will quickly become an island with no fishing industry to speak of.

“First, he targeted our farming industry with increased inheritance tax on family farms. Now, he’s undermining our fishing sector by granting unbridled access to EU competitors. Starmer’s track record consistently puts foreign interests ahead of those of the British people. A clear example is the Chagos Islands deal, which is projected to cost the taxpayer £50 billion over its lifetime…” 

Starmer’s and Germany’s Take

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 19:

“The EU and UK are working towards a level of cooperation not seen since Brexit, with new agreements on fisheries, trade and security… ‘This is the first UK-EU summit,’ Starmer told reporters on Monday. ‘It marks a new era in our relationship, and this deal is a win-win.’ 

“An agreement on fisheries allows EU fishermen to have access to British waters for an extended period of 12 years in exchange for the EU indefinitely easing red tape on food and drink imports and exports. The eased customs checks on food and plant products are expected to add ‘nearly 9 billion pounds’ ($12 billion/€10.7 billion) to the British economy by 2040, Starmer’s office said in a statement.  Downing Street also said a new defense and security pact with the EU deal ‘will pave the way’ for the UK defense industry ‘to participate’ in a €150 billion ($167-billion) defense fund being set up by the EU… 

“Since taking office in July 2024, Starmer has pushed for what he calls a ‘reset’ of ties with the EU… Von der Leyen called the new agreements a ‘success’ and ‘an historic moment.’ Since the UK formally left the EU in 2020 after the Brexit referendum in 2016, ties have mostly been governed under a ‘Trade and Cooperation Agreement’ negotiated by former conservative PM Boris Johnson and signed in December 2020. Starmer… had opposed Brexit…

“In its election manifesto last year, Labour promised that it wouldn’t rejoin the EU’s single market and customs union, and free movement of people and goods. In August 2024, Starmer said revamping agreements with the EU ‘does not mean reversing Brexit or re-entering the single market or the customs union.’” 

Starmer has said the deal does not mean that Britain joins the EU. Stamer and the Labour Party are clearly engaging in double-talk. Starmer’s ambitions and goals are clear, but he will not succeed. Britain will never again become a full-fledged voting member of the EU. However, Starmer’s conduct may lead to a further surrender of Britain and its ongoing prophesied downfall. 

To Take Control of ALL of Gaza

AFP wrote on May 19:

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel will ‘take control’ of the whole of Gaza, as the military pressed a newly intensified campaign in the war-ravaged territory. After Israel announced it would let a ‘basic amount’ of food into the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu said it was necessary to prevent a famine for ‘diplomatic reasons.’… Last week President Donald Trump acknowledged that ‘a lot of people are starving,’ adding ‘we’re going to get that taken care of.’ In his inaugural mass, Pope Leo XIV [said], ‘In Gaza, the surviving children, families and elderly are reduced to starvation’… 

“But Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir argued against any resumption of aid, saying on X: ‘Mr Prime Minister, our hostages receive no humanitarian aid… The Prime Minister is making a serious mistake in this move, and he has no majority at all. Hamas must only be crushed, and not at the same time provided with oxygen for its survival,’ he said in a statement… 

“Since a two-month ceasefire collapsed in March as Israel resumed its offensive, negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have failed to make a breakthrough. Netanyahu has opposed ending the war without Hamas’s total defeat, while Hamas has balked at handing over its weapons…

“Hamas’s October 2023 attack that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians… Hamas also took 251 hostages during the attack, 57 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 the military says are dead. Gaza’s health ministry said Sunday at least 3,193 people have been killed since Israel resumed strikes March 18, taking the war’s overall toll to 53,339.”

A terrible situation all around. Trump’s Gaza “Riviera vision” becomes more and more a bad joke.

“Germany Can Still Rule the World” 

On May 17, the following article was authored by Johannes Koenraadt and published on linkin.bio: 

“… the Germans during the time of Otto von Bismarck were trying to unify all Muslims of the Middle East under the rule of the Turkish Ottoman Empire… Von Bismarck wanted… to attack colonial British interests in Egypt, Sudan, and Syria, by causing a revolt against the colonial rule. Germany could then seize control of the important trade routes of the Suez Canal and the Persian Gulf. Indeed, the surrounding territories such as Palestine, Iraq, Iran, and Syria were once allies of Germany during the world wars, even Turkey was an ally during World War I… 

“… American strategists also deeply fear… a German conquest of Russia… new German chancellor Friedrich Merz… vows to make the German army the strongest in Europe!

“During the Second World War, Germany was barely 1.5 times richer than Soviet Russia. Today, Germany is nearly 7 times richer than Putin’s Russia… Germany may indeed try to conquer Russia again… to ‘bring democracy’. With the EU’s help, by switching from Russian gas to gas from Qatar, the Muslim world might, for reasons of profit, even support the new German war machine…”

The Bible does indeed prophesy that Germany will enter into a collaboration treaty with Arab nations and Turkey to conquer Israel, and that a war will break out between Europe under German leadership and Russia and other Far Eastern nations. We are informed that the German leader will be disturbed by unsettling rumors from the Far East and will go out against those regions with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. 

The “Report” Against the AfD 

On May 15, Nius published the following commentary by Julian Reichelt: 

“This horrific report [by the “Verfassungsschutz” or “Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution”] is not about the AfD. It’s about the fundamental right to freedom of expression and all of us. The AfD is merely being used as a pretext to criminalize and permanently make impossible completely legitimate expressions of criticism of power and government… We are witnessing the most dangerous and unscrupulous attack on freedom of expression in the history of the Federal Republic. The report should remain secret so that you don’t realize that it’s not really about the AfD, but about your most sacred fundamental right… 

“In order to keep this report secret, the old government lied to us in its final hours in office. The failed, authoritarian former Interior Minister Nancy Faeser claimed that secret sources had to be protected… Now, our research reveals: There are no sources at all in this report. The report consists exclusively of public statements that were copied and documented from social media and public speeches… 

“Every journalist who has read this report must have realized: If the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution gets away with it, freedom of expression will end for every citizen. The secret dossier is nothing less than a legal basis for the prosecution of any criticism of power… The Stasi would be proud of this Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which naturally also wants to pursue comparisons to the GDR as delegitimization. Criticism of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution is, of course, also recorded by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and classified as right-wing extremist… 

“Criticism of Microsoft founder Bill Gates is classified by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as anti-Semitism because Bill Gates supposedly ‘reads Jewish.’ This means: The secret service assumes that people are criticizing the political activist Bill Gates, who has financed Der Spiegel with millions, simply because they consider him a Jew, even though he is not.”

German Police Union: Tougher Border Checks Not Sustainable

Deutsche Welle reported on May 18: 

“Germany’s intensified border checks and the rejection of asylum seekers cannot continue for much longer…

“[Andreas] Rosskopf, chairman of the German Police Union (GdP) police union, [said] that the current measures were only sustainable because duty rosters had been adjusted, training sessions paused, and officers’ overtime leave canceled. ‘The police can only keep up these intensive checks for a few more weeks,’ Rosskopf said, noting that more than 1,000 riot police officers had been deployed in border areas for several days.

“Shortly after taking office earlier this month, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt ordered stricter border controls, allowing authorities to turn back migrants even if they seek asylum. According to Dobrindt, the number of people turned away has increased by nearly 50% since the changes were introduced….” 

What will the new German government do next? 

Pro-European Nicusor Dan Weins Romania‘s Election 

Newsmax wrote on May 18:

“Pro-European Union candidate Nicusor Dan has won Romania’s closely watched presidential runoff against a hard-right nationalist… A huge turnout Sunday played a key role in the tense election that many viewed as a geopolitical choice between East or West. 

“The race pitted front-runner George Simion, the 38-year-old leader of the hard-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, or AUR, against Dan, the incumbent mayor of Bucharest. It was held months after the cancelation of the previous election plunged Romania into its worst political crisis in decades… In the first-round vote on May 4, Simion won almost double the votes as Dan, and many local surveys had predicted he would secure the presidency.

“But in a swing that appeared to be a repudiation of Simion’s more skeptical approach to the EU, which Romania joined in 2007, Dan picked up almost 900,000 more votes to solidly defeat his opponent in the final round… 

“Romania’s political landscape was upended last year when a top court voided the previous election in which far-right outsider Calin Georgescu topped first-round polls, following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference, which Moscow denied.” 

Romania has been accused of dictatorial methods and undue interference in the election process. 

WHY Does the Universe Exist? 

BBC wrote on May 20:

“Inside a laboratory nestled above the mist of the forests of South Dakota, scientists are searching for the answer to one of science’s biggest questions: why does our Universe exist?

They are in a race for the answer with a separate team of Japanese scientists – who are several years ahead… 

“The current theory of how the Universe came into being can’t explain the existence of the planets, stars and galaxies we see around us… 

“The scientists will travel 1,500 metres below the surface into three vast underground caverns…. ‘We are poised to build the detector that will change our understanding of the Universe with instruments that will be deployed by a collaboration of more than 1,400 scientists from 35 countries who are eager to answer the question of why we exist,’ [Dr Jaret Heise] says. When the Universe was created two kinds of particles were created: matter – from which stars, planets and everything around us are made – and, in equal amounts, antimatter, matter’s exact opposite.

Theoretically the two should have cancelled each other out, leaving nothing but a big burst of energy. And yet, here we – as matter – are… 

“Scientists believe that the answer to understanding why matter won – and we exist – lies in studying a particle called the neutrino and its antimatter opposite, the anti-neutrino. They will be firing beams of both kinds of particles from deep underground in Illinois to the detectors at South Dakota, 800 miles away. This is because as they travel, neutrinos and anti-neutrinos change ever so slightly. The scientists want to find out whether those changes are different for the neutrinos and anti-neutrinos. If they are, it could lead them to the answer of why matter and anti-matter don’t cancel each other out. 

“The Japanese-led team will be ready to turn on their neutrino beam in less than three years, several years earlier than the American project.  

Has one ever heard such total nonsense? Apart from this colossal waste of time and resources, it shows the absolute stupidity with which scientists are approaching the “mystery” of creation, even though the Bible has been giving the answers all along. But of course, scientists are too proud and far too “educated” to accept the simplicity of the Truth!

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:

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

At first glance, it might seem a ridiculous question to ask but there are those who think that when Jesus went back to Heaven, He did so as a physical being.

In our Q&A entitled “How Important is the Correct Understanding About the Immortal Soul? (Part 2),” we quoted a Christian author who wrote:

“A fundamental article of the Christian faith is that the resurrected Christ now dwells in Heaven. We are told that His resurrected body on Earth was physical and that this same, physical Jesus ascended to Heaven, from where He will one day return to Earth. It seems indisputable, then, to say that there is at least one physical body in the present Heaven.”

On the website catholic.com, we read: “In Luke 24:39, the risen Jesus says to the disciples, ‘See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have’ (emphasis added). This verse is sufficient to debunk the idea that Jesus did not rise bodily, but John 2:19-22 provides another nail in the coffin. Here Jesus claims, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ Two verses later, it is made clear what Jesus has in mind; ‘he spoke of the temple of his body.’ Thus, Jesus prophesied that his body would rise.”

We will discuss at length Jesus’ statement in Luke 24:39 in the next instalment. Regarding John 2:19-22, the Catholic teaching does not follow, as it is being overlooked that Spirit Beings do have Spirit bodies; that is, they do have form and shape, but that is not physical. God created us in His image; with our potential of becoming immortal Spirit beings, as God is Spirit or a Spirit being.

In the book of Daniel, God the Father is described with form and shape consisting of Spirit, and so is Jesus Christ, even before His incarnation. We read that Moses saw the form of the LORD—Jesus Christ. Also, glorified angels are described with form and shape. What Christ is saying in John 2 is that He will be resurrected with a body composed of Spirit. His body which did not see corruption would be changed into Spirit—as we will be changed into Spirit when we are still alive at the time of Christ’s return. Others who have died in Christ, will then be resurrected as Spirit Beings. More about that later.

So, Christ confirmed that the Father would resurrect Him—bring Him back to life—and that He then would rise up—stand up—no longer with a physical body, but with a body composed of Spirit.

It appears that there are others who share this false Catholic “understanding”.

Let us have a thorough look at this assertion.

In John 1:1-3, we read:

^“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”

In verse 14, it states:

^“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

It is evident that the Logos, The Word, was always an immortal Spirit being along with the Father. Jesus later prayed to God the Father prior to His arrest, to bestow on Him the glory which He had with the Father before the world was. Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers observes: “‘The Word was made flesh.’ The term ‘flesh’ expresses human nature as opposed to the divine, and material nature as opposed to the spiritual…”

It is interesting that Jesus as the God of the Old Testament had a discussion with Moses about Who He was and what His Name was, as we read in Exodus 3:13-14:

^“Then Moses said to God, ‘Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they say to me, “What is His name?” what shall I say to them?’ And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.”’”

Matthew Henry’s Commentary states: “A name that denotes what he is in himself, I AM THAT I AM. This explains his name Jehovah, and signifies That he is self-existent: he has his being of himself. That he is eternal and unchangeable, and always the same, yesterday, today, and forever…”

That was about Jesus Christ as the God of the Old Testament—He was Spirit or a Spirit being for eternity along with God the Father, with no beginning. Then He came to earth and for about 33½ years was a human being before being crucified.

Most theologians and writers would probably agree with the fact that Jesus has always existed, except for those who believe that Jesus was a created Being which is contradicted by a number of Scriptures, or that He is the archangel Michael or Gabriel although the Bible shows that “Jesus is so much better than angels.” We also read that we will rule angels. If Christ was an angel, we would rule over Him—a preposterous concept.

Hebrews 1:2-4 reads:

“[God the Father] has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”

In addition, this passage also describes Jesus as “the brightness of His glory” which, of course, far exceeds any physical body.

Regarding the assertion that we are discussing in this Q&A, “Is Jesus Christ a Spirit Being Today?” the following is the answer given on gotquestions.org:

“Later in the same chapter of Luke, Christ makes it plain to His disciples that He does have a physical body; He is not a disembodied spirit: ‘See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have’ (Luke 24:39).  After spending forty days with His disciples, Jesus ascended bodily into heaven (Acts 1:9).  Jesus is still human, and He has a human body in heaven right now. His body is different, however; earthly human flesh is perishable, but heavenly bodies are imperishable (1 Corinthians 15:50).   Jesus has a physical body, with a difference. His resurrected body is designed with eternity in view.”

As mentioned, we will address Luke 24:39 in the next instalment. It seems, one writer copies the false “explanation” from another writer, and so on. All of this is just a man-made invention.   Why not just admit that Jesus was raised from the dead with a body composed of Spirit and all of this new-found wording would be unnecessary?

1 Corinthians 15:50 reads: “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption,” but then there are those who invent a new description of Jesus “who has a physical body, with a difference. His resurrected body is designed with eternity in view.”  It is much easier to accept that Jesus, at His resurrection, was resurrected as a glorified Spirit being to continue as He was before coming to this earth to die for the sins of mankind, than making up a new description which is without any biblical foundation.

At His resurrection, Jesus was raised from the dead with a body composed of Spirit. Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers discusses 1 Peter 3:18, as follows:

“‘Being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.’… we should point to such passages as Romans 1:4; Romans 8:11 to show that the resurrection of Christ was due to the action of the Holy Ghost (better “Spirit”).”

Romans 1:4 reads:

“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”

McLaren’s Expositions state, “The grand avowal of faith in His Resurrection loses meaning, unless it is completed as Paul completed his ‘yea rather that was raised from the dead,’ with the triumphant ‘who is at the right hand of God.’ Both are supernatural, and the Virgin Birth corresponds at the beginning to the supernatural Resurrection and Ascension at the close.”

Since both Father and Son are “supernatural,” the Son cannot have a physical body!

In Romans 8:11, we read:

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who (better “which”) dwells in you.”

Acts 13:34 confirms the following Truth: “And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption…”

It has been pointed out that Christ gave His flesh for the world, and He could therefore not receive it back in the resurrection, as His Supreme Sacrifice was made only once and for all time. Another question is: How could He appear and disappear with a physical body?

This, and more, will be answered in the next instalment.

(To be continued)

Lead Writers: Brian Gale and Norbert Link

compiled by Dave Harris

“Pope Leo’s Demand of ‘Unity in Faith!’” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

We are told that Pope Leo XIV has become the most important American in the world. We are also confronted with his declaration that unity among Christians can only be unity in faith. In saying this, he referred to the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea. What was that council; what did it decide; and what were the consequences for those who did not agree with that decision? Could something similar happen again in the future?

“Papst Leos Forderung der “Einheit im Glauben“” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.

“Warum so viele falsche Lehren über den heiligen Geist?”, last Sabbath’s German sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Title in English: “Why So Many False Teachings About the Holy Spirit?”

“Warum bitten?” last Sabbath’s German sermonette presented by Johann Schell, is now posted. Title in English: “Why Ask?”

“The Constitution Under Attack—Comments on News and Prophecy, May 17, 2025,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

The current administration has applied the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deportations of aliens. Is this law constitutional, and if it is, can it be legally used as a basis for such deportations? The US Supreme Court has had opportunity twice to look into this question, but has sidestepped it. 

The current administration is considering suspending habeas corpus. Would this be constitutional? Are the administration’s attacks against lawyers and judges constitutional? Is a recent executive order ending birthright citizenship constitutional? The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week on this and related issues. How will they decide—or will they sidestep this important issue as well?

Do these and many more developments in the legal field threaten our liberties and freedoms, as well as our democracy and the US Constitution?

“Consider This…” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Brian Gale, is now posted. Here is the summary:

We often do things by rote – that is by repetition – where we don’t have to think about such things which enables us to live our lives more easily.   But there are things that we do have to consider and this message reviews a number of those.   

“Pentecost – The Feast of Firstfruits” is the latest video in our Bible Story Series on YouTube.

PENTECOST will be observed on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Live Services will be available.