The Update

On April 25, 2026, Michael Link will present the first split sermon, titled, “Reasons for Trials” and Kalon Mitchell will present the second split sermon, titled, “When Is God Glorified?”

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.

A hallmark of the writings of the Apostle Paul was his unyielding focus on the future—that is, life in the Family and Kingdom of God.

We have many details of Paul’s calling and then the message he taught under the inspiration of God. We are also told of his struggles, persecutions and health problems (2 Corinthians 11 and 12). In Romans 7:24, Paul writes, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”

Today, among brethren in the Church of God, we also see great personal trials.

Of course, that is true of the world at large, and that is because of sin, its penalty and the influence of Satan. But we have been called out of this world—still in it but not part of it (John 17:16). This is what Paul preached, and how he lived his life.

Paul wrote:

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it” (1 Corinthians 9:24)

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

Paul said, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1), and in that, we find our ultimate example—as Paul also wrote:

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

By Norbert Link 

A substantial rift is developing between Trump and Netanyahu. A fragile ceasefire between Iran and the USA is about to collapse, as the Strait of Hormuz has been closed again by Iran, while the USA continues its blockage, and key demands and concessions are rejected by both sides. Talks between Israel and Lebanon ignore the real problem, which is Hezbollah. Trump rejects any help from NATO, and Europe is developing its own defense system and army without the USA.

A mentally unstable president has the unrestricted power to start a nuclear war, and while Franklin Graham attempts to defend Trump’s blasphemous depiction of himself as Jesus and then lies about it, Tucker Carlson is wondering out loud whether Trump might be the Antichrist.

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Trump’s Announcement of the Third Temple?” 

 Also, please view our recent StandingWatch program, “Pope Leo’s Condemnation of Trump’s Unholy Iran War” 

Israel “PROHIBITED” by the US From Bombing Lebanon, and Strait of Hormuz Open?

The Guardian wrote on April 16:

“A half hour after posting that the US naval blockade on Iran was still in effect [and will remain in full force until a deal is reached with Iran], Donald Trump posted that ‘Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer’. ‘They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!! Thank you!’ the US president wrote…” 

Netanyahu Stunned and Alarmed 

Newsmax reported on April 18: 

“Israel sought clarification from the White House following a statement by President Donald Trump in which he said Israel had been ‘prohibited’ from carrying out airstrikes in Lebanon… Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was reportedly ‘stunned and alarmed’ by Trump’s statement and learned of it from the media…. A U.S. official later clarified Trump’s remarks, telling The Times of Israel that the ‘ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel clearly states that Israel will not carry out any offensive military operations against Lebanese targets but preserves its right to self-defense against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks.’… 

“Trump announced the agreement as a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. However, Israel has not been fighting with Lebanon itself, but rather with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants inside the country, who were not formally part of the agreement… [Netanyahu] said Israeli troops would not withdraw… [but would] extend six miles into Lebanon. ‘That is where we are, and we are not leaving,’ he said.’” 

Trump and Netanyahu don’t see eye to eye. Who will prevail in that fight? 

Lebanon Not the Problem

The Jerusalem Post wrote on April 17: 

“The breakthrough in Israel-Lebanon talks is that both sides now agree that Hezbollah is the problem, but whether Lebanon can do anything about it is a different question…  it’s nice to have hope… but it’s dangerous to have illusions, or to create them…. 

“The problem is that Lebanon – or, more precisely, the government of Lebanon – is not the problem. It is not the one ordering the rocket and drone attacks on Israel. Hezbollah is doing that, and it is taking its orders from Iran. Israel and Lebanon can talk all they want, but if Lebanon cannot force its will on Hezbollah, then what is it worth?…  if the Lebanese government cannot even implement an order to expel a diplomat [Iran’s ambassador] it itself declared persona non grata, how in the world is it going to disarm Hezbollah?” 

The deal, brokered by the US and France, requires the Lebanese government to prevent Hezbollah from attacking Israel. This is a non-starter. Also, Hezbollah approved the ceasefire deal but demanded full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, which Netanyahu rejected. 

Closed Again 

Thomson/Reuters wrote on April 17: 

“Merchant ‌vessels attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday received radio messages from Iran’s navy telling them they were not allowed to pass, while two ships reported being hit by gunfire… ‘Attention all ships, ⁠regarding ⁠the failure of the U.S. government to fulfill its commitment in the negotiation [including lifting its blockade], Iran declares the ‌Strait of Hormuz completely closed again. No vessel of any type or nationality is allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz,’ the radio ‌message said. 

“Hundreds of ships and about ‌20,000 seafarers remain stranded in the Gulf, waiting to pass through the key waterway…” 

Even after Iran temporarily opened the Strait and before it closed it again, oil tankers remained cautious about sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. A number of tankers and cargo ships tried to exit the strait on Friday via the route designated by Iran around Larak Island, but they suddenly turned back. 

The Sun wrote on April 18:

“Tehran is yet to agree to a second round of negotiations, a source told Iranian state TV, adding that the regime will not waste its time with America’s ‘excessive demands’…. Trump warned the US will resume its bombing campaign in Iran if peace is not reached by Wednesday…”

Trump Threatens AGAIN…

Newsmax wrote on April 19: 

“President Donald Trump on Sunday morning threatened to ‘knock out every single power plant and every single bridge’ in Iran unless the country’s leaders accept a ‘very reasonable deal’ offered by the United States.” 

The Algemeiner added on April 19: 

“Iran rejected new peace talks with the United States, its state news agency reported on Sunday, hours after US President Donald Trump said he was sending envoys for talks in Pakistan [JD Vance, Kushner and Witkoff] and would launch new strikes on Iran unless it accepts his terms.” 

Trump Extends Ceasefire… Again! 

The Independent wrote on April 21:

“President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the U.S. would extend its ceasefire with Iran that was due to expire tomorrow, at the request of Pakistani authorities… The president’s latest walk-back of his threats to resume the U.S. air campaign against Tehran comes hours after he told CNBC he was not inclined to agree to any extension of the ceasefire…

“For their part, Tehran’s negotiators had refused to participate in the sessions unless Trump had lifted the blockade of Iran’s ports… [Trump said he would not end the blockade]. Tuesday’s announcement is just the most recent in a series of reversals, which critics have come to give the derisive acronym TACO (‘Trump Always Chickens Out’) that have characterized Trump’s second bite at the apple of presidential power….

“The ceasefire extension echoes his decision to announce the ceasefire agreement on April 7, hours ahead of a self-imposed deadline before he ordered U.S. forces to bomb Iranian civilian infrastructure.”

Further, the White House confirmed the US team (JD Vance, Kushner and Witkoff] would not be traveling to Pakistan on Tuesday. So, no talks, but a fragile “ceasefire”? Trump’s declarations of intent cannot be trusted. 

Iran Seizes Two Cargo Ships

The U.S. Sun wrote on April 22:

“IRAN has claimed it seized two cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz and fired at a third, just hours after Donald Trump extended a ceasefire with the rogue nation… Hopes of a deal to end the war were dashed as the rogue state inflicted ‘heavy damage’ on one ship as the crew dived for cover…

“Iran shot at and seized the ships, despite Trump’s claims to have wiped out the threat posed by the Revolutionary Guard’s navy.”

“Trump’s Blockade COLLAPSES”

Daily Mail wrote on April 22:

“Donald Trump’s naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is unraveling after dozens of Iranian vessels secretly slipped past US surveillance… Approximately 34 Iranian oil tankers have slipped through the blockade, with 19 vessels exiting the Persian Gulf past Trump’s navy and another 15 ships entering from the Arabian Sea toward Iran… Six of those tankers were smuggling Iranian crude oil totaling 10.7 million barrels, estimated to be worth approximately $910 million in revenue for the regime. ..

“As reports of Iranian gunfire on three container ships emerged, oil prices rose with Brent crude futures up to $99.21 a barrel. Gas prices in the US have skyrocketed to above $4 a gallon as polling suggests the public is turning against Trump’s war… Senior officials say Trump seemed wary about prolonging the conflict because of how deeply unpopular it is with the American public.”

The Huffington Post wrote on April 23:

“Iran flaunted its tightened grip over the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday with video of its commandos storming a huge cargo ship, after the collapse of peace talks.”

America’s Concessions… But Iran Unwilling to Concede 

The Daily Mail wrote on April 6: 

“US officials have said that Washington and Tehran are negotiating a three-page plan to end the war, which could see Iran surrender its enriched uranium in exchange for $20 billion in unfrozen funds… 

“There has been no confirmation from Iran, however, that it made this concession… ‘Iran clearly wants the $20 billion — and a lot more. They clearly want to sell oil at free-market rates without sanctions. They want to participate in the global financial system. But they also want to have this nuclear weapons program,’ one official said. The official added: ‘They want to fund terrorists like Hamas. And they don’t want to give that up enough to get the things we’re offering.’”

Trump later declared that Iran won’t get $20 billion in unfrozen funds. Iran denied Trump’s claim that it was ready to surrender nuclear materials, saying those materials are located on Iran’s holy ground and cannot be given away.

Chaos Inside the White House 

The Guardian wrote on April 19: 

“… the US president’s chaotic approach to diplomacy doubles the need for Tehran to act calmly and strategically – two competencies it believes he totally lacks. 

“Such is the distrust and fog surrounding relations between Iran and the US that no one can know whether Trump… has once again decided to use diplomacy as a giant smokescreen prior to a further military attack on Iran… 

“…in a series of tweets on Friday Trump… gave the impression that Iran had surrendered. The backlash that followed in Tehran on Friday was inevitable… the leader of Iran’s delegation to Islamabad, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf,… accused Trump of telling lies… 

“The sense of unbridled chaos inside the White House was only underlined by a flurry of conflicting reports as to whether the vice-president, JD Vance, was to attend… None of this brings either side closer to the solving the substantive problem of how to address Iran’s determination to maintain a right to enrich uranium on Iranian soil…”

It gets worse. Note the next article.

Trump Was Screaming at Aides for Hours 

The Independent wrote on April 19: 

“When President Donald Trump learned that two American pilots had gone missing in Iran on Good Friday, he ‘screamed at aides for hours’ and was then ‘kept out of the room’ while his team was given minute-by-minute updates, according to a report [by the Wall Street Journal]…. ‘Images of the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis—one of the biggest international policy failures of a presidency in recent times—had been looming large in his mind,’ The Journal reported…. ‘Aides kept the president out of the room because they believed his impatience wouldn’t be helpful,’ the official told the newspaper…. 

“Trump boasted about the success of the mission on Truth Social at around midnight and went to bed at 2 a.m., according to the WSJ… The next morning, Trump ordered Iran to ‘open the F***in’ Strait, you crazy b*******, or you’ll be living in Hell,’ in an expletive-laden post that ended with ‘Praise be to Allah.’ On April 7, Trump threatened that a ‘whole civilization will die tonight’ unless Iran agreed to open the strait…. The comments prompted global alarm and caused concerned lawmakers to contact the White House to inquire about the president’s state of mind, according to the newspaper.”

Trump later said that he sent out his provocative note with his foul language and the desecration of Allah so that he would be viewed as being mentally unstable, as to deceive his enemy and have them guess as to what he would do next. Apart from the doubtfulness of his “defense,” he did not have to send out that note so that people would reach that conclusion.

Trump: No Need for NATO Help 

The Daily Mail wrote on April 6: 

“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday that his country was prepared to contribute to a mission ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that input from the United States would also be ‘desirable’… [and] that this could include… mine clearing. 

“’We will therefore take part in the further military planning discussions that are taking place…’ 

It comes after Trump wrote on Truth Social: ‘Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would need some help. I TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY, UNLESS THEY JUST WANT TO LOAD UP THEIR SHIPS WITH OIL. They were useless when needed, a Paper Tiger! President DJT’ 

Trump also said that the US/UK relationship is “not good, not good at all.” Friedrich Merz claimed that only he and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte can still talk to Trump. What does this say about the strength of Merz and Rutte?

New Rifts Between Washington, Europe, the Vatican, and Israel 

The Jerusalem Post wrote on April 16: 

“In a matter of days, tensions have surfaced simultaneously across different arenas: the United States has openly criticized its European allies for what it sees as a lack of support; Italy has recalibrated its position toward Israel following a series of incidents in Lebanon; and an unusually direct confrontation has emerged between Washington and the Vatican…

“The deterioration in relations between Italy and Israel must be understood as a gradual escalation rather than a single decision point… The disagreement between Washington and European capitals over Iran… reflects long-standing differences in strategic culture, threat perception, and political capacity that the war has brought into sharper focus… 

“Trade between the European Union and Iran… still exists, and European governments continue to weigh the economic consequences of escalation… Germany earns about €1.2 billion from exports to Iran and imports roughly €200 million in Iranian goods, while Italy exports around €700 million to Iran and imports about €170 million… Iran seeks to destroy Israel, not Italy or Germany… 

“From Washington’s perspective, European restraint is not interpreted as strategic caution but as a failure to meet alliance expectations. The Trump administration has framed the issue in terms of burden-sharing, arguing that European allies have benefited from American security guarantees while declining to support US-led efforts in the current conflict… 

“The tensions reached their most visible point in the overlapping confrontation involving President Trump, Meloni, and Pope Leo XIV… The feud with the Vatican is not just another Trump spectacle. It matters because the Holy See occupies a distinctive place in international politics… Massimo Faggioli, a professor of theology and religious studies at Trinity College Dublin, told The Media Line that President Trump’s posture reflected political self-legitimization. ‘It is the picture of a presidency that sees itself with a religious function… it is covered with a messianic cloak. Trump believes he is the savior of America, the savior of the Middle East, the savior of the world.’… 

“Taken together, these developments point to a broader transformation rather than a temporary rupture… This means that NATO loses importance… The Iran war did not create this shift. It exposed it.” 

Rejected by Everyone 

Politico wrote on April 20: 

“The Iran war is damaging America’s influence around the world and exacerbating tensions… an erosion of power that could be tough to reverse… 

“The war appears to be accelerating what some see as a U.S. break-up with much of the rest of the planet…” 

“When an Amateur Wages War” 

ntv wrote on April 12: 

“A golfer—indifferent to the world, to facts, and to science—rules the most powerful country on Earth like an autocrat… 

“We can safely assume that the man in the White House unwaveringly believes in his own absurd self-assessments… ‘We have had a regime change,’ Trump declared regarding the fact that numerous figures who had previously been influential spokespersons within Iran’s political, military, Revolutionary Guard, and intelligence circles had lost their lives. The executions of insurgents serve as proof that the ‘barbarians in Tehran’ have not lost an ounce of their domestic power. ‘Iranian patriots, keep protesting!’ Trump had urged the courageous demonstrators via Truth Social in mid-January. ‘Help is on the way.’ The opposition has been waiting for that help to this day. Anyone who relies on Trump is left in the lurch. Europe and NATO are feeling the effects of this as well… 

“Trump has no boldly hatched plan—or any plan at all, for that matter. The only thing that drives him is generating headlines, so that he can dominate the news cycle every day and feel vindicated in his belief that he is a brilliant leader.”

“Trump’s most effective tactic is retaliation. He vows revenge against anyone who does not fall in line—imposing a tariff here, issuing a threat to cut off military aid there. The man may possess a certain street smarts; yet in the realm of global politics, he has so far proven himself to be clueless and incompetent… To this day, Trump fails to even grasp that NATO is a defensive alliance, not a coalition for waging wars… 

“Reports emerging from the U.S.—suggesting that intelligence officials and military leaders no longer dare to present the President with findings and facts that do not suit his agenda—appear entirely plausible… U.S. ‘War Secretary’ Pete Hegseth serves as the archetype of these absurd figures. His public appearances—his effusive paeans of praise to Trump—are so preposterous that one can scarcely distinguish them from satire… 

“Trump has maneuvered himself into a dead end… The beneficiary of this fiasco is China, along with its allies, Russia and Iran… This tripartite alliance… flanked by North Korea and economically closely linked with India—poses a formidable challenge to the United States… 

“The conflict with Iran has exposed just how easily the U.S. President can be defeated. All it takes is driving up oil prices… On the stock market, a term for this phenomenon has already emerged: TACO. The acronym stands for ‘Trump Always Chickens Out’—or, loosely translated: Trump always folds. Iran grasped this reality very quickly and translated it into policy. Other nations will undoubtedly follow suit. A development that renders the world an even more precarious place…” 

EU Military Plans… 

Inbox.Iv wrote on April 17: 

“Serious discontent is growing within the North Atlantic Alliance due to a number of defense initiatives proposed by the European Union. According to the Financial Times, NATO is particularly irritated by projects such as the ‘drone wall’ and plans to strengthen the EU’s central military headquarters. According to the publication, alliance officials see these steps as an attempt by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to establish herself as the key architect of Europe’s militarization. In NATO, such initiatives are perceived as an effort to make rearmament the main element of her political legacy. 

“The European Union is steadily and systematically enhancing the military component of its foreign and domestic policy. In the spring of 2025, a colossal rearmament plan… was unanimously approved at an emergency summit in Brussels, with a budget of a staggering 800 billion euros. This ambitious plan includes joint arms procuremen…”

… Without USA

RBC wrote on April 17: 

“The European Union will hold its first large-scale exercises on activating the mutual assistance mechanism in the event of armed aggression against one of its member states…   

“The purpose of the exercises is to test Article 42.7 of the EU Treaty, which obliges member states to provide assistance by ‘all means in their power’ in the event of an attack on the territory of one of them. This wording is considered legally stricter than Article 5 of the NATO Charter, which only requires allies to take actions they ‘deem necessary.’… 

“The need to implement defence guarantees has become more relevant amid growing tensions in transatlantic relations. In particular, this includes threats by US President Donald Trump to withdraw from NATO and his statements regarding Greenland…. In recent months, discussions about Europe’s autonomous defence capabilities have intensified significantly. In particular, the Wall Street Journal reported that European countries have begun secretly developing a plan B in case the US withdraws from NATO… 

“In addition, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has directly stated that the EU should move towards creating its own army and deeper defence integration in order to take security matters into its own hands… NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed during talks in Brussels the need to urgently accelerate weapons production in Europe…” 

Euractiv wrote on April 17 that “EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius on Friday proposed a new intergovernmental European treaty to create a defense union and prepare the bloc to defend itself.”

Sebastian Kurz on Friedrich Merz 

Die Welt reported on April 11: 

“Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz warns of ‘massive rifts’ within NATO in light of the conflict involving Iran. ‘Regardless of who is President in America, I do not believe that, in the medium term, it will be possible for the USA to stand by the European Union’s side whenever we happen to want them to—for example, in Ukraine’s defensive war against Russia,’ Kurz said in an interview with Business Insider and WELT AM SONNTAG… 

“Kurz considers Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s stance on the conflict involving Iran to be misguided. Merz had stated: ‘Germany is not a party to this war, nor do we wish to become one.’ Kurz countered…: ‘It is crucial that the European Union—and, above all, the NATO member states—make a fundamental decision regarding how cooperation with the USA is to proceed in the future.’ He argued that this conflict involving Iran affects Europe just as profoundly as the war in Ukraine… 

“Following his withdrawal from politics, Kurz worked—among other roles—as an advisor for Thiel Capital, the firm founded by Silicon Valley investor Peter Thiel. In 2022, he co-founded the company Dream Security alongside Shalev Hulio. By 2025, the start-up was valued at 1.1 billion US dollars. Kurz himself holds a 15 percent stake in the company. 

“Dream’s AI models were able to uncover, for instance, a cyber-espionage campaign orchestrated by Iran that aimed to sabotage negotiations regarding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages. Using disguised emails, diplomats from Oman, Egypt and the USA, were able to spy on and falsify their communications in real time.”

“U.S. Nuclear Scientist LEAKS Trump’s SENSATIONAL IRAN Plan”

The Times of India wrote on April 22: 

“A shocking undercover video has put the US military under scrutiny after a senior nuclear official was caught allegedly revealing sensitive details about war operations and chemical weapons. The footage, now viral, shows the official speaking casually about nuclear systems, missile detection, and even potential plans involving Iran’s leadership. The claims go further, touching on nerve agents, civilian casualties, and internal safety failures. The US Army has reacted swiftly, placing the official on administrative leave and launching an investigation. 

“However, the incident has triggered deeper concerns about how securely critical information is handled. It also raises uncomfortable questions about the gap between official policy and what may be happening behind closed doors. At a time when tensions with Iran remain volatile, this leak is not just a scandal. It is a moment that could reshape perceptions about US military conduct, transparency, and the risks of sensitive information slipping into the public domain.”

When the President Pulls the Nuclear Trigger 

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on April 17: 

“Larry Johnson is reporting ‘shocking details of what is going on behind the scene at the White House [where] Donald Trump began exhibiting signs of early dementia in September 2025… He frequently confabulates [In psychology, it describes when a person unintentionally creates false memories to fill gaps, often seen in dementia or brain injuries. Synonyms include chats, converses, gossips, confers, or consults. Examples include casual chatting or fabricating memories.] … he routinely loses his temper and unleashes screaming rants, and he is incapable of doing critical thinking. [As a result] Trump’s senior White House staff are behaving like children with an abusive, drug-addled father… i.e., they walk on egg shells fearful of saying anything that might ignite Trump’s rage.’ 

“… Beyond his mental breakdown, Trump’s foreign and domestic policies are characterized by their belligerency [a generally hostile or aggressive attitude], full of threats directed against imaginary enemies, friends and allies unwilling to go to war for nothing, and anyone in the media or among the public who dares to criticize what comes out of the White House… 

“… Trump is full of threats to ‘obliterate’ foreign countries, and includes unconscionable diatribes [bitter, angry and abusive speeches] against folks like the Roman Catholic Pope Leo for daring to ask for an end to wars and to seek peaceful coexistence among nations. After Trump posted an Artificial Intelligence picture of himself as Jesus, the Pope argued ‘Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.’.. 

“Trump is also outraging America’s former loyal allies in NATO… But unfortunately there is much more than the trading of insults at stake in the Donald Trump debacle… 

“So for the benefit of all those, like myself, who want to learn what happens when the United States President pushes the so-called button or pulls the trigger, whichever metaphor one prefers, to start a nuclear war, I will outline what I have discovered. The biggest surprise to me was that there are not really any checks and balances on what takes place to make sure that no president is making a mistake or exceeding authority to go nuclear. Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution states that ‘The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States’ and both courts and legal scholars have long interpreted this clause as giving the President direct command over military operations, including decisions about when and how to use specific weapons. Indeed, no statute or constitutional provision requires the President to get approval from anyone else before ordering a nuclear strike… he has absolute authority to launch when, in his or her judgement, there is a proportionate imminent threat coming from a hostile state…

“… in practice, every President retains the physical ability to order a first strike without asking Congress first as the launch system does not distinguish between retaliatory and first-use orders. The button to push is located on an electronic ‘nuclear football’ that is carried around in close proximity to wherever the president is at by a military aide… the fact is that Donald Trump… could no doubt both legally and practically initiate a nuclear weapons attack on Iran or any other country based on his ‘feelings’ about what is going on with that country’s foreign policy. In shaping any such a judgement he will no doubt have plenty of false information fed to him…

“Trump, to be sure, is the second president in a row who has not been of sound mind and the danger that he might stumble into doing something awful is all too real…”

The author is apparently referring to Biden and Trump as two presidents in a row who have not been of a sound mind. However, studies suggest that half of all presidents suffered from mental illness. If a president is perceived as acting irrationally and willing to use nuclear weapons against an “enemy,” it is not unreasonable to assume that the “enemy” will strike first, preemptively with nuclear weapons. A nuclear war between Europe and the USA is prophesied. Time will show HOW this war is triggered. 

Franklin Graham’s “Defense” of Trump 

The Huffington Post wrote on April 17: 

“On Thursday, Franklin Graham… a longtime prominent ally of Trump… took to X to vehemently defend President Donald Trump for posting an AI-generated image that depicted him as a Jesus-like figure earlier in the week… He… said he was ‘thankful’ that Trump had since made it ‘very clear’ that he believed the AI image depicted him as a doctor ‘helping someone,’ not Jesus…. 

“Graham suggested on X that he didn’t come to the same conclusions as just about everyone else who thought Trump was depicting himself as Jesus…. Graham went on to defend another Jesus post that Trump shared on Truth Social… Graham said he liked the image.” 

Graham’s statements are to be rejected as being strictly political. Trump lied about his posts, and Graham should recognize this. After Trump admitted that he sent out the image of him being Jesus, but it allegedly depicted him as a doctor, he denied posting it a day later. One lie followed the next lie. 

Tucker Carlson: Is Trump the Antichrist? 

The Wrap wrote on April 18: 

“Tucker Carlson is beginning to wonder if Donald Trump might be the Antichrist… ‘Here’s a leader who’s mocking the gods of his ancestors, mocking the God of gods and exalting himself above them. Could this be the Antichrist? Well, who knows?…’” 

MSN added on April 18: 

“Carlson read from Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians, describing a ‘man of lawlessness’ who opposes God and exalts himself, often linked in Christian teaching to the Antichrist. He also cited the Book of Daniel’s prophecy of a ruler who acts as he pleases, speaks against God, and elevates himself above all gods. Carlson suggested Trump’s behaviour, including self-promotional religious imagery, could fit these descriptions, though he left the question open-ended.” 

The passage in 2 Thessalonians does not depict “the Antichrist,” if it is interpreted to mean the “beast” in the Book of Revelation, but it speaks about the false prophet who will sit in the temple of God [to be built in Jerusalem prior to Christ’s return], proclaiming to be God (or that he is Jesus Christ who has allegedly returned). The passage in the book of Daniel 11 does however depict the beast. Trump is not “the Antichrist” or the beast, but the Bible speaks about many “antichrists” who have risen…false messengers who proclaim a teaching opposed to the true Jesus of the Bible. 1 John 4:3 reads: “And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” 2 John 7 reads: “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh [that Christ lives today in His disciples]. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

Pope Leo’s False Message

EWTN wrote on April 13:

“‘The Sunday Eucharist is indispensable for Christian life,’ Pope Leo XIV said before reciting the Marian prayer of the Regina Caeli on April 12 in St. Peterʼs Square… ‘Faced with the offer to save their lives on the condition that they renounce celebrating the Eucharist, they [some martyrs of the early African Church] replied that they could not live without celebrating the Lord’s Day… For this reason, on the “eighth day,” that is, every Sunday, the Church invites us to do as the first disciples did: to gather together and celebrate the Eucharist as one,’ he said…. ‘May the Virgin Mary help us to do this — she who is blessed because she was the first to believe without seeing,’ he said.”

The pope’s comments are filled with errors. Sunday is the first day of the week, not the eighth day, nor is Sunday the “Lord’s Day.” Christ said that He is the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). The Eucharist is not a biblical concept either. Christ commanded His disciples to partake of the Passover once a year, not participating in an “Eucharist” every Sunday. The disciples did not assemble on Sunday for worship services, nor did they celebrate the “Eucharist” together on Sunday. They continued to assemble on the Sabbath to keep it holy. (See our previous Update #1202 and the article, “A Christian Bishop’s Confession: We Changed God’s Sabbath”.)

The “Virgin Mary” – Mary did not stay a virgin after her conception of Jesus – was most certainly not the first one to believe without seeing. She believed that she would bear a Son—Jesus—but she did not believe Him (she even thought at times that he was mad) until she became converted and received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost in 31 AD.  Please read our free booklet, “Jesus Christ—a Great Mystery.” 

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.

My staff at work have come to expect my request to hear the end of a story before they launch into a long explanation for something that may or may not be significant. I make clear that I will listen to the story if they first succinctly share what happened. This has become a standard that even my board members expect of us. It makes us more effective in getting to the point and not drifting. Everything in the Bible is significant and mustn’t be abbreviated; however, it is beneficial never to lose sight of Scriptures that God wants us to live by. For example, John 3:16 is a foundational Scripture for all true Christians, and it sets the context for all that follows in the life of Jesus. Sadly, this Scripture has been widely messaged in greeting cards and billboards by mainstream “Christianity,” thus trivializing this amazing gift from God. 

So many in the world also consider the end of Jesus Christ’s human life as He died on the cross at the end of the story.  This brings me to the point of this Q&A: how should true Christians discern the meaning of John 19:30? This Scripture captures a moment of terrible pain and human suffering for Jesus. He had been beaten, tortured and nailed to the cross for our sins. Then comes the pivotal moment in John 19:30 (New International Version throughout): “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” While some may use these words to justify that all that had come before the birth of Jesus Christ was no longer valid, true Christians must see this verse as the embodiment of Scripture and prophecy, and the beginning of all that is still to come. The Greek word tetelestai literally means, it is finished, or it has been accomplished, as in a contract. This usage aligns with the Hebrew word Shalem, which denotes reconciliation or wholeness. Jesus was therefore stating that that part of the Work which the Father had sent Him to do had been accomplished, thus setting the stage for the Lord and Master of the soon-coming Kingdom of God.

Let us look to the book of John to initiate our deeper consideration. In John 1: 1-4 we read: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” We know that Jesus was sent by the Father for a purpose; to be a sacrifice, the Lamb of God, for the sins and transgressions of humankind over past generations and for those to come. It was not the pointless death that many of the Roman soldiers and Jewish leaders of the day thought it would be. It was the fulfillment of Scripture, as we see in John 1:29: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’”

John the Baptist was made aware by God that he would know and recognize Jesus by the presence of the Spirit that would come down from heaven and remain on Jesus, and as John responded in verse 34: “I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.” Jesus was beginning His ministry and He knew what lay ahead, but it was not the end of the story that He was preparing for, but the preparation for His future kingdom. 

In Isaiah 9:6, we see this wonderful prophecy unveiled: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” This was reinforced by the words of the prophet Micah, who lived during the same period as Isaiah—the 8^th century B.C. Consider his words in Micah 5:2: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.”

In Luke 2:11, we see the further embodiment of God’s promise: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” The angels who came among the shepherds rejoiced in proclaiming this news. The birth of the Christ, the Savior, was a moment of great joy. This joy would soon be tempered by the words of Jesus Himself soberly stating the plan the Father had for Him in Luke 9:22: “And he said: ‘The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” 

Jesus prophesied a great future and a place in the Kingdom for His followers, but made clear that sacrifice was required. We see this in John 12:23-24: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” Continuing this theme in verses 27 and 28, we read: “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” 

So again, the words of Jesus captured for us in John 19:30, “It is finished,” do not signify a sad ending to the life of the Son of God, but the assurance that He will return to set up His Kingdom on earth. Jesus Himself addressed this for us as we just read in John 12:27. We honor His sacrifice for us by obeying Him. In 1 Samuel 2:30, God tells us that those who honor Him, He will honor, but those who despise Him with their thoughts and actions will likewise be disdained.

There was a time, prior to my calling and conversion, when I read John 19:30 with great sadness and misunderstanding. However, now I rejoice in His gift and look forward to the glory of the Kingdom and the new Jerusalem. John 19:30 was truly a new beginning for those who are called and honor the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Let’s be certain to be counted worthy of His gift!

Lead Writer: Frank W. Bruno

compiled by Dave Harris

“Trump’s Announcement of the Third Temple?”  is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

Is Donald Trump indeed set aside to help build the Third Temple? Some, if not many, doubt this, but yesterday’s events should not be ignored, and they were not coincidental. Has God shown us His plan again through most unusual developments, and are we willing to pay attention?

“Trumps Ankündigung des dritten Tempels?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This program covers the same topics as described above.

A new Member Letter (April 2026) has been posted and will be mailed to our subscribers. Norbert Link writes about prophetic events regarding the Iran war, the downfall of the United States and the formation of a powerful European political and military alliance and crucial developments in the State of Israel which will open the way for the building of the Third Temple in Jerusalem.

“Gott IST… unsere Bestimmung!” is the latest German short video by Michael Link which has been posted on YouTube. Title in English: “God Is… Our Destiny!”

“Duale Ausbildung im Unternehmen Gottes,” last Sabbath’s first split sermon in Germany presented by Tahir Coban, is now posted. Title in English: “Dual Training in God’s Enterprise.”

“Die Blindheit des Herzens,” last Sabbath’s second split sermon in Germany presented by Mike Richter, is now posted. Title in English: “The Blindness of the Heart,”

“Keep Going,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Michael Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Even when we find ourselves in unexpected circumstances, and our patience and strength are tested, how do we keep going when things seem hopeless? Here is a true story of my family’s trip to Germany and the absolute chaos we faced at the airports along the way.

“Faith in God’s Protection,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

God has promised us His protection, and many biblical examples demonstrate God’s mighty intervention. But does God still perform miracles today? Does He still intervene in our lives in unexpected and unfathomable ways? Do we truly believe in His miraculous power—just as David and Daniel did, for instance? And how, exactly, does God deliver us from time to time?