Update 1171

On August 9, 2025, Norbert Link will present the first message, titled, “Comments on News and Prophecy, August 9, 2025,” and Michael Link will present the sermon, titled, “A Story of Sacrifice.”

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.

When men and women put themselves forward in political elections, if successful, they take on great responsibility.

The law of the land is already there, and they not only must uphold those laws, but they will be required to enact new laws, if deemed necessary.

Law is vital in any civilised society to avoid anarchy; most people will accept that, although we do hear of elected politicians who break the law and suffer the consequences.   Others just break the law, hoping to get away with their infraction.

When it comes to the Law of God, mainstream Christianity in general dismisses this as not being necessary, since it teaches that Jesus has done it all for us!  How blessed are we in the Church of God to know that we DO have to keep God’s Law!

Law is a vital part of life, whether people like it or not.  

And then there is the law of unintended consequences.

The Tutor2u website gives this definition: “The law of unintended consequences refers to the idea that actions or decisions can have unforeseen and unintended consequences, often in ways that are not immediately apparent. This can occur because complex systems often have multiple interconnected parts, and a change in one part of the system can have ripple effects that are difficult to predict.”   They give a number of examples, two of which are as follows:

1. The minimum wage: A policy to increase the minimum wage may be intended to help low-wage workers, but it could also lead to unintended consequences such as businesses reducing their workforce or raising prices to offset the higher labor costs.
2. Prohibition: The prohibition of alcohol in the United States in the 1920s was intended to reduce crime and social problems, but it had many unintended consequences, including the growth of organized crime and an increase in the consumption of illegal and potentially dangerous alcoholic beverages.

There are many examples on the internet. One was about India’s vultures, and it read as follows:

“In the mid-1990s India’s population of vultures began to die in droves. At first it was thought the animals were being killed off by a mysterious disease, but the culprit was eventually identified as an anti-inflammatory drug called diclofenac that was being administered to sick cattle.

“As the vultures scavenged meals from the cows that didn’t pull through, they consumed small quantities of the drug. A vulture’s stomach acid is capable of dissolving anthrax and cholera bacteria, but the slightest trace of diclofenac causes their kidneys to fail. In a matter of just a few years India’s vulture population plummeted from 40 million to just 100,000 birds.

“In India cattle are raised almost exclusively for dairy rather than meat, so when the beasts die their carcasses are left for scavengers. When the vultures all but disappeared, food was in plentiful supply for the millions of feral dogs that roam India in packs. More dogs meant more humans being bitten, and this in turn led to an increase in fatalities from rabies.

“The Indian Government banned the use of diclofenac in 2006, but the damage may prove to be irreversible. Despite the efforts of conservationists several species of vultures remain critically endangered.”

There were quite a few unintended consequences in that story.  

Bringing this right up-to-date, we read on thewoof.org how recent events in the USA have had such awful unintended circumstances for those animals which cannot look after themselves:

“One of the administration’s executive orders focuses on intensifying immigration enforcement, leading to an uptick in deportations and detentions. This surge has resulted in numerous pets being abandoned or surrendered when their owners are detained or deported.

“Animal shelters, especially in areas with large immigrant populations, are witnessing an influx of these displaced pets, stretching their already limited resources. The Guardian highlights cases where pets are left behind due to sudden deportations, emphasizing the emotional and logistical challenges faced by both the animals and shelter workers.”

Did the Trump administration even consider these consequences in their race to impose draconian measures that have been compared to Nazi Germany in the 1930s?   Probably not, but if they did, it would show how little regard they have for the welfare of God’s creatures.   Galatians 6:7 is clear: “…whatsoever a man sows, that he will also reap.”  Those involved will be held accountable for not only these appalling actions but all the others that are currently being foisted on the human race with no regard for the welfare of some of God’s creatures.

BBC News reported on 12th April 2025 that “An animal sanctuary has said it is bracing itself for ‘another tidal wave of rescue cases’ if Donald Trump’s trade tariffs put extra financial pressure on UK pet owners.

“Woodlands Animal Sanctuary in Holmeswood, Lancashire, said existing cost-of-living pressures had made the past winter much busier than previous years, and that its cattery was full by March.

“The sanctuary said 90% of the animals it had taken in were given up by owners who could no longer afford to keep them or who were facing eviction from their homes.”

There are so many problems in the world today, and decisions taken on another matter, in another country, can have devastating effects elsewhere. 

Animal welfare is just one of them, but it can be heartbreaking to consider that because of the law of unintended consequences, decisions taken about one issue can unexpectedly affect those which completely rely on man for their existence.

There seems to be, so much of the time, very little kindness in the world today, and the treatment of animals is right up there with so many other examples.  Kindness is a godly quality, mentioned many times in the Bible, and one that can be most ignored.   And recent events where people are arrested without regard for the welfare of the animals affected and left behind is just one of so many actions that would come under the law of unintended consequences.

We can learn from this so that when we make decisions, we consider every facet that that decision will bring about.   This is especially true in our spiritual lives which must be of paramount importance.

When Jesus returns and sets up the soon-coming Kingdom of God, decisions will then be made on a godly basis with every consideration taken into account when action is required, and the law of unintended consequences will not be applicable!

by Norbert Link

We begin with Trump’s furious reaction to the new unfavorable job report and continue with his tariffs policy which is backfiring on America; his new (proposed) tariff rates; and an interesting development regarding a pending court decision on the constitutionality of his tariffs. We also report further on the “deal” between the EU and the USA. Please view our recent StandingWatch program, titled,  “US-EU Trade Deal—Biggest Deal Ever Made, or a Disaster?”

We speak on the turmoil in the Middle East (especially related to Palestine; Hamas and Gaza); actions in the Far East; fights between Republicans and Democrats; more discrepancies in the Epstein debacle; and conclude with new discoveries regarding the Shroud of Turin and Canada’s [and America’s] appalling hypocrisy related to their Covid policies; as well as a welcome decision by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

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

Job Report Not to Trump’s Liking 

The Daily Mail wrote on August 1: 

“The president is taking out his frustration on Dr. Erika McEntarfer, the commissioner of labor statistics, who was appointed to the role by former President Joe Biden. He accused her of ‘faking’ jobs numbers before the 2024 election to ‘try and boost Kamala’s chances of victory,’ in a blistering post to Truth Social that did not provide evidence of the stunning accusation… 

“Hiring growth dropped dramatically last month and unemployment ticked up, the latest jobs report released on Friday showed. Non-farm payrolls added 73,000 in July, far lower than the 100,000 expected by analysts. The unemployment rate also ticked up to 4.2 percent. The report also sharply revised down the figures for May and June by a combined 258,000 jobs from the previously released figures. 

“Following the revision June’s total was left at just 14,000 and May’s at 19,000 — effectively flat. Analysts say July’s figure is also likely to be revised lower, possibly into negative territory.

Trump hammered the economist for those revisions, although they are routine in the government’s monthly job reports – sometimes going up, sometimes going down as businesses around the country report on their payrolls. .. The latest figures suggest cracks are in fact starting to show up in the economy, despite a slew of previous better-than-expected economic data released recently… 

“It is just the latest example of Trump demanding that even traditionally independent parts of the government bend to his preferences – although a president who is denied bad information about the unemployment situation would be deprived timely information to change course for their own political benefit.”

“Trump Lies About Labor Statistics Chief” 

The Guardian wrote on August 2: 

“Speaking to reporters on Friday, Donald Trump defended his decision to fire Erika McEntarfer, the commissioner of labor statistics, and falsely accused her of having released reports just before the 2024 election that overstated the number of new jobs created by the Biden-Harris administration. Asked by a reporter, ‘Why did you fire the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics?’ Trump replied: ‘Because I think her numbers were wrong, just like I thought her numbers were wrong before the election.’

“The president then went on to give a wildly inaccurate account of the jobs data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2024. ‘Days before the election, she came out with these beautiful numbers for Kamala, I guess Biden-Kamala, and she came out with these beautiful numbers trying to get somebody else elected,’ Trump said, entirely misrepresenting the jobs report released on 1 November 2024, four days before the election, which in fact showed the US added just 12,000 jobs over the previous month. 

“At the time, the Trump campaign called the jobs report ‘a catastrophe’ that ‘definitively reveals how badly Kamala Harris broke our economy.’ On Friday, however, the president offered a very different account of that report released just nine months ago. ‘Then, right after the election,’ Trump claimed, ‘she had an 8- or 900,000 dollar [sic] massive reduction, said she made a mistake.’ 

“What Trump was misremembering is a Bureau of Labor Statistics announcement, on 21 August 2024, that updated data showed that there had been 818,000 fewer jobs added in the US in the previous year than it had initially estimated. That downward revision was large, but part of an annual process, in which the bureau updates its initial estimates when it gets better data.

“The same day that revision was announced in 2024, Trump [posted] that the Biden-Harris administration had been ‘caught fraudulently manipulating Job Statistics’ and the ‘New Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the Administration PADDED THE NUMBERS with an extra 818,000 Jobs that DO NOT EXIST, AND NEVER DID.’ On Friday, however, Trump repeatedly insisted that the August revision had not come until after the November election…” 

Express wrote on August 2: 

“Pressure inside the White House has risen once again as Donald Trump erupted, sacking the head of the US statistics agency after they released data about the nation’s weakening jobs market… [despite] zero evidence that any data was tampered with…

“His brash move has triggered concerns for bankers and markets around the world, who believe Trump may now interfere in the publishing of financial stats and reports that decide the prices of a wide variety of assets.” 

This will contribute to America’s economic downfall. 

Trump’s Tariffs Policy Backfires 

The New York Post wrote on August 1, 2025: 

“New cracks emerged in the U.S. economy on Friday after the government reported a significant slowdown in job growth, a sign of the serious and accelerating effects of President Trump’s punishing new tariffs... The jobs data offered only the latest indication that Mr. Trump’s policies, particularly his expanding global trade war, had started to put the squeeze on the economy. Tariffs are taxes on imports, paid by U.S. companies purchasing those goods abroad. Other economic data released this week offered fresh evidence that Mr. Trump’s duties had slowed trade and started to send prices higher… 

“Adding to its challenges, the president late Thursday announced a dramatic widening of his trade war, slapping major new tariffs on dozens of countries that take effect on Aug. 7. Switzerland was stunned by a 39 percent tariff, among the highest. Syria, Laos and Myanmar were handed rates of 40 to 41 percent… Earlier in the week, Mr. Trump imposed 50 percent tariffs on Brazil as punishment for its prosecution of Jair Bolsonaro, his ally, who is accused of plotting a coup after he lost the last presidential election.”

New Tariff Rates… For Now! 

The New York Post wrote on August 1: 

“Among the notable rates that will be charged at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 7 — rather than on the Friday deadline initially announced by the White House — are 15% for Iceland and Israel, 30% for South Africa, 39% for Switzerland and 20% for Taiwan and Vietnam… 

“The steepest tariff rates will be carried by Syria (41%), Laos and Myanmar (40%), Switzerland (39%) and Iraq and Serbia (35%). The list also denotes a 35% rate on imports from Canada after Trump signed an order upping the current tariff by 10 percentage points.” 

More and more Americans are waking up to the fact that Trump’s economic policies just don’t work and are harmful to America. Note the next article. 

Most Americans Unhappy with Trump 

The Guardian wrote on August 1: 

“Americans are struggling financially, grappling with debt and the rising cost of living, and are blaming the Trump administration and corporate interests for worsening economic outlooks for working families, according to a new poll. Six out of 10 Americans place blame on the Trump administration for driving up their cost of living, according to a poll conducted by Morning Consult for the Century Foundation… 

“Sixty three per cent said Trump had had a negative impact on grocery prices, and 61% said he had had a negative impact on the cost of living. Nearly half, 49%, said the Trump administration had had a negative impact on their finances. Nearly eight out of 10 Americans, including 70% of Republicans, fear that Trump’s tariffs will increase the price of everyday goods. ‘Donald Trump has simultaneously raised prices on everyday goods through a reckless approach to tariffs, a decimation of programs that help Americans afford healthcare, education, food and childcare, and then kneecapping federal regulators who keep banks and other big businesses from swindling consumers,’ said Julie Margetta Morgan, president of the Century Foundation…

“According to the poll, more than six out of 10 Americans said it had become more difficult to find a good paying job, buy a home and afford childcare. More than four out of five Americans, 83% said they were concerned about the cost of groceries, with 46% saying they were very concerned. Some 47% said they were worried about being able to pay their rent or mortgage, 64% said they were worried about affording an unexpected medical expense. 

“About 48% said they believed they would have trouble affording an unexpected $500 bill without borrowing. One in four said it would be ‘very difficult’… Americans also fear things are getting worse economically, with 76% of those polled saying they fear a looming economic recession…” 

These are terrible figures, but sadly, they reflect reality. 

Switzerland Faces Unpredictable Bad-Tempered Trump 

The Guardian wrote on August 4: 

“Switzerland, home to some of the world’s best-known luxury brands, was left stunned after the US president on Friday imposed one of the highest tariff rates [39%] in his global trade reset. Industry associations said tens of thousands of jobs were at risk. 

“Local media had reported that after three months of talks, negotiators believed they had secured a 10% tariff on exports to the US, a key market for Swiss products such as luxury watches, jewelry and chocolate but also machinery and pharmaceuticals. But after a 30-minute call with Keller-Sutter on Thursday evening variously described as ‘bad-tempered’, ‘disastrous’ and ‘badly misjudged’, Trump imposed a levy even higher than the 31% he had announced on his so-called ‘liberation day’ in April… 

“Analysts have said tariffs could still change at any moment because of the unpredictability of the Trump administration…” 

A subsequent meeting between Marco Rubio and Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter in Washington did not result in any changes.

India Not Happy 

Breitbart wrote on August 1: 

“President Donald Trump increased the pressure on [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi on Wednesday by threatening to impose a 25% tariff on Indian imports, plus additional penalties if India continues to do business with Russia… Trump… castigated India for buying the ‘vast majority of their military equipment from Russia,’ and he seemed to accuse the Indians of financing the invasion of Ukraine by purchasing large quantities of Russian oil… 

“In another Truth Social post, Trump appeared to wash his hands of India altogether. ‘I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care,’ he grumbled…” 

The New York Times wrote on August 3:

“Indian officials said on Saturday that they would keep purchasing cheap oil from Russia despite a threat of penalties from President Trump, the latest twist in an issue that New Delhi thought it had settled… 

“India has drastically increased its purchases of Russian oil since the Kremlin invaded Ukraine. Russia is now the source of more than one-third of India’s oil imports — up from less than 1 percent before the war. It brings in about two million barrels of crude oil a day, making it the second largest importer of Russian oil, after China.” 

Newsmax wrote on August 4: 

“President Donald Trump said on Monday he will substantially raise tariffs on India over its purchases of Russian oil. ‘India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine,’ Trump said in a post on Truth Social.”

India will become part of the kings of the East, joining Russia, China and other Far Eastern nations. 

Court of Appeals to Decide on Trump’s Tariffs 

Politico wrote on July 31: 

“Federal appeals court judges on Thursday sharply questioned President Donald Trump’s authority to impose sweeping tariffs on foreign trading partners under an unprecedented use of emergency powers. Several judges of the Washington, D.C.-based Federal Circuit Court of Appeals repeatedly wondered how Trump could justify the broad tariffs using a 1977 law known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, that presidents have used to set economic sanctions and other penalties on foreign countries — but never previously tariffs… 

“However, the 11 judges vigorously questioned attorneys for the states and the private companies as well… 

“The New York-based U.S. Court of International Trade ruled in May that Trump had exceeded his authority under IEEPA to impose the tariffs and ordered them to be vacated. The Trump administration appealed that ruling to the Federal Circuit, which allowed the government to continue collecting the duties while the case proceeds. The appeals court set a rapid-fire schedule to consider the matter in front of the court’s full 11-member bench, which is made up of eight Democratic appointees, three Republican appointees and no Trump appointees. The lawsuit is expected to end up at the Supreme Court.” 

A decision of the Court of Appeals is expected to be announced in August. 

Focus wrote on August 1: 

“The court could prohibit Trump from pursuing the tariff war. Then the 15 percent tariffs on most goods would also be invalidated [including those against the EU and Germany] … Trump is imposing his tariffs… without parliamentary approval… In parliament, the Republicans hold a narrow majority in both chambers (Senate and House of Representatives). This majority could be enough for Trump to push through his tariffs after all. 

“However, the next elections are scheduled for 2026. Parliament will largely be re-elected. The parliamentarians must already seek re-election. Trump’s tariffs are also rather unpopular among Republican voters. It is possible that some Republican dissidents will oppose Trump… Even if the appeals court rules against Trump, the tariff war is likely to continue to occupy Germany for a long time.” 

Meaning, the relationship between the USA and Germany will continue to deteriorate drastically. 

US-EU Deal Unenforceable 

Politico wrote on July 28: 

“The European Union has admitted it doesn’t have the power to deliver on a promise to invest $600 billion in the United States economy, only hours after making the pledge at landmark trade talks in Scotland. That’s because the cash would come entirely from private sector investment over which Brussels has no authority… ‘It is not something that the EU as a public authority can guarantee. It is something which is based on the intentions of the private companies,’ said one of the senior Commission officials. The Commission has not said it will introduce any incentives to ensure the private sector meets that $600 billion target, nor given a precise timeframe for the investment… 

“The Commission pointed out that the figure would come from private companies, not European taxpayers, contrasting with Japan’s promise to mobilize $550 billion of both public and private investments in the U.S. as part of a recently agreed trade deal.

“But the idea that the private sector can be relied upon to provide that level of investment was met with skepticism… ‘[The EU] is not China, right? So nobody can tell private companies how much they invest in the U.S.’...” 

In addition, all 27 EU member states would have to approve the deal. Some, like France, Hungary and now even Germany have expressed reservations. 

Trump Threatens EU 

The New York Post wrote on August 5: 

“President Trump warned Tuesday that if the European Union fails to deliver on its commitment to invest $600 billion in the US,  he will ramp up tariffs against the 27-nation bloc… ‘Then they pay tariffs of 35%,’ Trump [said] when asked what would happen if the EU doesn’t pony up. ‘They brought down their tariffs, so they paid $600 billion and because of that, I reduced their tariffs from 30% down to 15%,’ the president explained. 

“‘They gave me $600 billion and that’s a gift. … They gave us $600 billion that we can invest in anything we want.’… ‘The details are $600 billion to invest in anything I want. Anything. I can do anything I want with it,’ Trump reiterated when pressed for more specifics…” 

EuroNews wrote on August 5: 

“The European Commission is unable to design and implement investments on behalf of the private sector. The $600 billion has been described by the Commission as an indication based on the executive’s contacts with industry. ‘It’s not something the EU, as a public authority, can guarantee – it’s something based on the intention of private companies,’ a senior official said last week.” 

Euractiv wrote on August 5: 

“An official White House account of the deal also states that the EU has committed to purchase  ‘significant amounts of US military equipment’ – a claim rejected by Brussels.” 

NPR wrote on August 5: 

“Four European countries have agreed to buy $1 billion worth of U.S. weapons and send them to Ukraine… ‘We already have commitments from the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark – over one billion dollars for American weapons that Ukraine will receive…’, Zelenskyy wrote on X.” 

Major Tourist Visa Change 

MSN wrote on August 4: 

“The State Department is proposing a rule requiring some business and tourist visa applicants to post a bond of up to $15,000 to enter the United States, a step critics say could put the process out of reach for many… The new visa bond program will take effect on August 20… 

“Under the plan, U.S. consular officers can require a bond from visa applicants who meet certain criteria. This includes nationals of countries with high visa overstay rates, countries with deficient screening and vetting, and those that offer citizenship-by-investment programs, particularly where citizenship is granted without a residency requirement. Visitors subject to the bond will receive it back upon leaving the U.S., naturalizing as a citizen, or in the event of death. If a traveler overstays, however, the bond may be forfeited and used to help cover the costs associated with their removal… 

“Citizens of countries in the Visa Waiver Program are exempt, and consular officers will retain the discretion to waive the bond on a case-by-case basis… The list of affected countries will be published at least 15 days before the program begins and may be updated with similar notice. In the 2020 version of the pilot, countries such as Afghanistan, Angola, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Congo, Eritrea, Iran, Laos, Liberia, Libya, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen were included.” 

Ex-Obama Officials Face Federal Grand Jury Probe 

The New York Post wrote on August 4: 

“The Justice Department is opening a federal grand jury investigation of former Obama administration officials… including former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey… 

“Trump and current DNI Tulsi Gabbard have called for a federal probe into the early days of the Russia collusion probe dubbed ‘Crossfire Hurricane’… The president has accused the former officials of a treasonous and seditious conspiracy to undermine his first-term agenda, which ultimately led to more than two years of leaky investigations before special counsel Robert Mueller turned up no evidence of collusion…

“Treason does not have a statute of limitations, but no American has been convicted of that charge since 1949. It’s possible that prosecutors could develop a novel legal theory to revive seemingly expired charges, as performed by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg last year when he won a 34-count felony conviction against Trump for falsifying business records to conceal 2016 hush money payments.”

Banks Debanked Trump

The New York Post wrote on August 5:

“JPMorgan and Bank of America  ‘debanked’ President Trump for his role in the January 6 Capitol Hill melee following pressure from the Biden administration’s banking regulators and the Federal Reserve… sources at the banks — the largest and second-largest in the US in terms of assets — confirmed… threats from President Joe Biden’s bank regulators that banking the former president’s money put them in danger of falling afoul of rules that prohibit financial institutions from doing business with individuals and companies that present a ‘reputational risk.’…

“Trump himself revealed that he was debanked… He said he was denied services at both institutions sometime after his first term ended in January 2021, just weeks after the storming of the Capitol…  First, he said, he was booted by JPMorgan. ‘I had 100s of millions. I had many, many accounts loaded up with cash. I was loaded up with cash, and they told me, “I’m sorry, sir, we can’t have you. You have 20 days to get out.” I said, “You’ve got to be kidding. I’ve been with you for 35, 40 years.”’ Then he was denied services by Bank of America…. 

“Trump and his regulators have sought to end the practice and he’s issuing an executive order imminently to end politically motivated debanking.”

This is really outrageous. Trump’s executive order would be more than overdue. 

Fight Between Republicans and Democrats Intensifies in Texas 

Texas Tribune wrote on August 4: 

“The Texas House voted Monday afternoon to track down and arrest more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who were not present when the chamber gaveled in. After the 85-6 vote, House Speaker Dustin Burrows said he would immediately sign civil warrants for each of the legislators, empowering the chamber’s sergeant-at-arms and state troopers to arrest and bring them to the Capitol. They will not face civil or criminal charges from the arrests. The warrants apply only within state lines, making them largely symbolic as most of the legislators in question decamped to Illinois, New York and Massachusetts to forestall passage of the GOP’s proposed redraw of Texas’ congressional map… 

“The current congressional map, drawn by a Republican-dominated Legislature in 2021, has netted 25 GOP seats in the last two elections. But after pressure from President Donald Trump’s team, Abbott directed lawmakers to redraw the map during the special legislative session, which started July 21. Last week, the House proposed new congressional lines dividing up existing districts in Austin, Houston and Dallas with the aim of netting five more Republican seats… 

“Rep. Gene Wu, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, said in a statement Sunday, accusing Abbott of ‘using an intentionally racist map to steal the voices of millions of Black and Latino Texans, all to execute a corrupt political deal.’… The departed House members will face fines of $500 for each day that they miss, as well as the threat of reprimand, censure and expulsion, although that would require a two-thirds vote among members.” 

Newsmax wrote on August 6: 

“Defiant [Democratic] House members remaining absent from the Texas Legislature stand to be fined nearly $400,000, according to the state chamber’s rules… A total of 57 Democrats skipped Monday’s session, bringing the penalties to $28,500.” 

CNN wrote on August 5: 

“For a second day in a row the Texas House failed to reach a quorum as dozens of Democrats have left the state in protest over GOP plans to potentially eliminate five Democratic US House seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections… Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he would seek court rulings against the Democrats if they don’t return by Friday ‘ensuring that their seats are declared vacant.’…” 

This would be an unprecedented and, legal experts say, likely futile effort requiring individual lawsuits against each member and new elections to fill their seats 

Two US Nuclear Submarines Positioned to Reach Russia 

Express wrote on August 1: 

“The war of words between US President Donald Trump and Dmitry Medvedev, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, escalated on Friday evening. The American leader announced on the platform Truth Social that he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned ‘in appropriate regions’ in light of ‘foolish and inflammatory statements’ coming from Russia… It comes after Medvedev warned Mr Trump to remember Russia has Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities of last resort. That came after Mr Trump told Medvedev to ‘watch his words’… 

“[Medvedev] said Mr Trump should remember how dangerous the fabled ‘Dead Hand’ can be. This was a reference to a secretive Russian command system designed to launch nuclear missiles if Russia’s leadership were to be taken out in an enemy strike.” 

It won’t come to that. No major war between the USA and Russia, let alone a nuclear war, is prophesied in the Bible. But, a nuclear war between Russia and a German-led Europe IS foretold in Scripture. 

Russia and China Begin War Games 

MSN wrote on August 4: 

“Russia and China are staging mock combat drills and other war games in the Sea of Japan in a sign of strengthening military ties. 

“Though pre-planned, the joint naval exercises that began on Sunday came a day after Donald Trump moved US nuclear submarines closer to Russia in response to inflammatory comments from Russia’s former president Dmitry Medvedev.”  

Putin Moves Nuclear Bombers Closer to Europe

Express wrote on August 4: 

“Vladimir Putin has moved at least four heavy Tu-95MS nuclear bombers closer to Europe. 

“The strategic aircraft are often used to bomb Ukraine, and Insider UA says they have been loaded with missiles, leading to a ‘high probability’ of an imminent major attack.” 

“Only 16% of Germans Would ‘Definitely’ Fight for Country” 

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 4: 

“Around one in six Germans say they would join the military in the event of a conflict or a call to arms, a new survey… recorded that 16% of participants said they would ‘definitely’ fight, while another 22% said they would ‘probably’ do so. 

“However, 59% said they would ‘probably not’ or definitely not be willing to defend Germany in the event of an attack… More than one in four respondents (27%) said they considered a military attack on Germany within the next five years to be very or somewhat likely. Meanwhile, 59% of respondents said they felt it was likely that Germany would have to provide military assistance to another NATO member.” 

These results make little sense. But these “opinions” are only temporary anyhow.  

Recognizing Palestine? 

The New York Post wrote on August 1: 

“French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced this week that their countries would unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state. The first problem with that is ‘Palestine’ is a fictional place. There never was any such thing… 

“What happens when a civil war breaks out? Because the prospects are quite high… The French and Brits should recall that the first thing Gazans did when handed a protostate in 2005 was to destroy over 3,000 greenhouses and modern farming systems that American Jews had purchased for $14 million and handed them, gratis. The second thing they did, though, was put Hamas in charge.

“So, will France and Britain support open elections in this new nation?… What if Hamas, or some other iteration of that organization, wins those elections? Will France and Britain recognize such a state?… 

“Is France or Britain going to disarm Hamas? Is France or Britain going to bring back the more than 50 hostages still being held and tortured in Gaza?…” 

Canada has also declared that they want to recognize a Palestinian state. Germany has said that they are supporting a two-state solution. But a two-state solution is fiction. Israel does not want it, and neither do Hamas and the Palestinians. They want a one-state solution—without Israel. 

Hamas Sabotages Humanitarian Supplies 

Nius wrote on August 2: 

“The German government has increased its concern about the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius stated that despite ‘initial slight progress’ in providing aid to the population, the emergency remains acute. Of particular concern is the systematic diversion of aid supplies by Hamas and other criminal organizations, which are blocking urgently needed aid for the civilian population. 

“According to German security sources, a significant portion of the aid supplies entering the Gaza Strip are stolen by Hamas and other groups. 50 to 100 percent of the aid is intercepted by armed forces or criminal organizations, according to a security insider. Since May 19, a total of 2,010 trucks carrying aid from the United Nations have entered the Gaza Strip. However, official UN figures show that only 260 of these trucks reached their destination. The majority, approximately 1,753 trucks, were forcibly intercepted by armed forces. These goods then often end up on the black market and do not reach the affected civilian population.” 

But it’s easy to blame Israel for this as well. Anti-Semitism is in high gear. 

Prayer on the Temple Mount 

BBC News wrote on August 4: 

“Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has visited the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem and prayed there, violating a decades-old arrangement covering one of the most sensitive sites in the Middle East. Photos and videos of his visit show Ben-Gvir leading Jewish prayers at the compound, which is known by Jews as the Temple Mount, in occupied East Jerusalem. Praying at the site breaks a long-time arrangement that allows Jews to visit the site but not pray. 

“The Israeli prime minister’s office released a statement saying there had been no change to Israel’s policy of maintaining the status quo agreement that allows only Muslim worship there. Jordan, custodian of the site, called Ben-Gvir’s latest visit ‘an unacceptable provocation’. Hamas called it ‘a deepening of the ongoing aggressions against our Palestinian people’, while a spokesperson for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the visit ‘crossed all red lines’. 

“The site is the holiest place for Jews because it was the site of two Biblical temples. It is the third holiest place for Muslims, who believe it was where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. It was captured by Israel from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East war… Palestinians… complain that in recent years Jewish visitors have often been seen praying without being stopped by Israeli police. The Waqf, the Islamic endowment which runs the site, said Ben-Gvir was among 1,250 Jews who ascended the compound on Sunday morning. Ben-Gvir, an ultra-nationalist who as national security minister oversees the police, has visited the site before, but the Times of Israel reported this was the first time that he openly prayed at the site. He was flanked by police officers while entering and touring the compound. 

“In a statement at the site, Ben-Gvir said ‘horror’ video of hostages recently released by Hamas, in which they appear emaciated, were aimed at putting pressure on Israel, and called for the hostages’ return. The minister also repeated his call for Israel to occupy the whole of the Gaza Strip (so is Netanyahu) and to encourage what he described as ‘voluntary emigration’ of Palestinians from the territory…” 

Why is it that Muslims are allowed to pray on the Temple Mount, but Jews are not?

More Discrepancies in the Epstein Tale 

The Daily Beast wrote on August 1: 

“A mystery third person was spotted on camera in jailhouse footage from Jeffrey Epstein’s final night alive, a CBS News investigation has revealed. The person, who was not identified or even mentioned in a Department of Justice investigative report, is seen entering a common area near where Epstein’s cell was located just after 4 a.m. on Aug. 10, 2019, two hours before he was found dead. 

“A CBS analysis of footage determined that the guards on duty, Tova Noel and Michael Thomas, did not unlock a door to let the unknown person into the Special Housing Unit within the Metropolitan Correctional Center. That reportedly contradicts what Noel told the DOJ, when she said that the opening of the door to the area ‘requires a physical key.’ Without the key, which was supposedly only accessible to Noel and Thomas, it is unclear how the mystery person entered the unit. 

“Footage released by the government this month comes from a security camera that did not have a visual on the entire common area for Epstein’s unit. It recorded the guard’s desk, which was a floor below where Epstein was held, and only a sliver of the staircase that led to the convicted sex offender’s cell block. The limited footage is extremely grainy, making it challenging to analyze movements in the area. 

“CBS notes that the lone security camera with footage—the DOJ says other cameras were broadcast live to a security center, but their footage was lost—did not capture enough of the staircase leading to Epstein’s cell block to say definitively that the mystery person did not approach it. ‘There is no way to know from the video if it indeed was possible for someone to enter the unit and climb the stairs to Epstein’s cell without being seen,’ the network reported…

“White House officials from the administrations of both Joe Biden and Donald Trump have said that all evidence points to Epstein’s cause of death being a suicide. Still, debate over whether the alleged sex trafficker died via suicide or was murdered—as his brother, Mark, and many MAGA figures believe—has been widely debated. The CBS analysis includes the expertise of video forensics specialists. They said they saw multiple issues with the government’s conclusions about what went down on Epstein’s final night alive. Among the reported ‘discrepancies’ was a mysterious ‘orange shape’ that was recorded ascending the stairs to where Epstein’s cell was located… 

“Despite the guards on duty being required to check on Epstein every half-hour, as he was on suicide watch and temporarily did not have a cell-mate, the DOJ said no guards checked on him that night. His body was found at breakfast the next morning…” 

at.com reported on August 1: 

“President Donald Trump’s name [as well as the names of other prominent public figures were] redacted ‘numerous times’ in the Jeffrey Epstein files by an FBI team determining which information potentially could be released to the public, according to an explosive report published Friday.” 

It was also revealed that the redaction took place before it was announced that “no further disclosure” of the Epstein files “would be appropriate or warranted” (Common Dreams, August 1). 

Newsmax wrote on August 6: 

“Maxwell… reportedly told Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche during their interview last month that President Donald Trump never did anything inappropriate in her presence… Maxwell, who is serving 20 years in prison after being convicted of sexually trafficking minors, further said nothing that could be considered harmful to the president…” 

Her attempt to get a pardon or at least leniency is obvious. 

Kennedy Bans Mercury in Vaccines 

Breitbart wrote on August 2: 

“Robert F. Kennedy Jr…. confirmed the move on Saturday, blasting federal health agencies for allowing a known neurotoxin to be injected into pregnant women and children for decades… Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that thimerosal, a mercury based preservative still found in flu shots given to children and pregnant women, has now been fully banned in the United States… 

“A… study found that this highly toxic mercury remains in the brain for over 27 years. Kennedy cited a CDC-funded 2017 study linking flu shots during pregnancy to miscarriage, which found the odds of miscarriage within 28 days were 7.7 times higher for women who received the vaccine. He also referenced a 2017 study… that reported an elevated risk of autism spectrum disorders in children whose mothers received a flu shot during the first trimester…

“Despite intense pressure and smears from the pharmaceutical industry and its media allies—many of whom labeled him an ‘anti-vaxxer’—Kennedy never backed down. ‘I’ve spent 20 years trying to get mercury out of vaccines,’ he declared… 

“Kennedy framed the decision as the beginning of a reform movement to restore public trust in federal health agencies… He called on global health bodies, particularly the World Health Organization and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, to end the use of mercury-based preservatives in vaccines administered to babies in developing countries… 

“The call comes just weeks after the Gates Foundation pledged $1.6 billion to GAVI, a global vaccine initiative that says it helps immunize children in poor countries. Gates [is] a longtime vaccine advocate and former associate of Jeffrey Epstein…” 

A good and much needed decision by Kennedy. 

Shroud of Turin Was Not Laid on Jesus’ Body 

The Daily Mail reported on August 1: 

“For centuries, devout Christians have flocked to the Italian city of Turin to pay their respects to one of the most famous relics in the world. The Shroud of Turin is a piece of linen, measuring 14ft 5in by 3ft 7in, that bears a faint image of the front and back of a man. Many believe that this image was created when Jesus was wrapped in the venerated shroud shortly after his death on the cross 2,000 years ago. 

“However, according to a new study, the Shroud of Turin was never laid on Jesus’ body. Brazilian 3D designer and researcher Cicero Moraes, an expert in reconstructing historical faces, says that the shroud is nothing more than a ‘masterpiece of Christian art’. Mr Moraes used digital modelling software to examine how cloth drapes over the human body compared to a low, flat sculpture of a body. These results… show that the shroud’s distinctive pattern could only have been produced by a sculpture.” 

Canada’s Shameful and Appalling Hypocrisy 

The New York Post wrote on August 2: 

“According to Canada’s top prosecutors, the only thing worse than tyranny is ‘mischief.’  And the worst possible ‘mischief’ is objecting to tyranny. 

“In a sentencing hearing earlier this week, the Canadian government sought a ludicrous eight-year sentence for Chris Barber, one of the leaders of the Covid ‘Freedom Convoy’ protest that riled Ottawa in early 2022. For another leader, Tamara Lich, the Crown asked for an outlandish seven years. 

“In April, a court ruled that Barbers and Lich were not guilty of obstructing police or intimidation during the demonstrations. But they were convicted of ‘mischief’ — in part because the truckers in the 40-mile convoy honked their horns to protest some of the most oppressive Covid mandates in the world… From the start of the pandemic, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acted as if Covid entitled him to absolute power. Anyone who refused to get the approved Covid vaccines was castigated as a public enemy…. Banks were authorized to freeze the personal accounts of anyone suspected of donating to the truckers.  

“The Covid vaccines were catastrophically failing to prevent infections at the same time Trudeau dropped an iron fist on anti-vax protestors. Almost 90% of Canadian adults had been vaccinated by the start of 2022 as Covid cases were soaring… Even though he was vaxxed and boosted, Trudeau himself came down with Covid during the trucker protest. Trudeau pretended that no Canadian had a right not to get injected because he personally proclaimed that the Covid vaccine was safe. But the rushed approval process ignored potential adverse side effects. 

“In January 2024, Canadian federal judge Richard Mosley ruled that Trudeau’s use of the Emergencies Act had been unreasonable, illegal and unconstitutional. Trudeau’s regulations ‘criminalized the attendance of every single person at those protests regardless of their actions.’  The judge slammed ‘the absence of any objective standard’ for freezing bank accounts, but the court decision provided no relief for any of the victims whose bank accounts were unjustifiably seized or whose freedom and privacy was shredded. 

“America saw similar absolute immunity for politicians who fueled fear and fabricated emergencies to seize absolute power, including New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s disastrous decree forcing nursing homes to accept Covid patients, President Joe Biden’s illegal vaccine mandate for large private companies and Covid Czar Tony Fauci’s presidential pardon for sending U.S. tax dollars to the Wuhan Institute of Virology that killed 7 million people worldwide…” 

Appalling, shameful, disgusting, despicable. You name it. 

 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.

If God gave me something great – whatever we imagine to be great; whether it be a wife or a husband, a lot of money, a house, or a position in the Church or at work –, then I would give it my best! We may have said this before or thought it. I would be ready for more. I would love to serve God with something significant.

But Jesus draws our attention to an important connection. In Luke 16:10, he says, “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”

Jesus is referring to the principle of faithfulness here. And He makes it clear that faithfulness does not begin with big, admirable tasks. It begins with the small things, in the hidden places, in everyday life.

The very little things are the small moments in our lives that seem insignificant: how we handle our money, how we talk about people when they are not present, how we manage our time, whether we keep our promises, whether we pray, whether we keep the temple of our body clean. It is often the inconspicuous decisions that say a lot about our character.

God does not look at the outward size of a task, but at the attitude of the heart with which we approach it. The question isn’t: How great is what we do? But rather, are we faithful in it? Jesus says that our behavior in small things reflects our inner state.

Those who are unjust in small things, that is, careless, complacent, dishonest, will also be so in big things. Conversely, those who prove themselves faithful in small things show that they are also ready for greater responsibility.

In Luke 19:17, Jesus emphasizes this principle again. In the parable of the talents, the Lord says to his servant: “… ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’”

In Matthew 25:21, Jesus also calls out to the faithful servant in the parable: “… ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”

This means that being faithful in small things is not insignificant, but preparation – the door to greater blessings, greater responsibility, and greater impact. God tests our hearts through small things. They are not unimportant; they are crucial.

This is also evident in Proverbs 28:20, which says, “A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.” Faithfulness bears fruit in the long run. On the other hand, those who are only interested in quick profits or outward success are easily tempted. God honors the faithful heart.

But we live in a world where often only the big things count – big projects, big visibility. However, in God’s Kingdom, things work differently. There, it is not size alone that matters, but character. Not influence, but integrity. Not applause, but faithfulness.

Paul also addresses this topic. In 1 Corinthians 4:2, he writes: “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

When God entrusts people with tasks, reliability is His most important criterion. It is not how spectacularly someone acts, but how faithfully they use and pass on what has been entrusted to them.

That is why it is dangerous to say: Once I am given a big task, I will take it seriously. Because our behavior in small things will be repeated in big things. Those who are careless, imprecise or complacent today will be so tomorrow, only with greater responsibility and greater impact.

If we want to serve God, it starts today with small decisions. Am I reliable in my everyday life? Am I honest in small things, friendly to people? Romans 12:18 says: “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”

Faithfulness is also shown in not giving up when immediate results are not visible. Paul encourages Christians in Galatians 6:9 with the words: “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

This means that there will be a harvest, but it will come later. Faithfulness is the way to get there.

We should also serve God in our everyday lives and at work. Paul writes in Colossians 3:23-24:

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

This shows that when we go to work in the morning and do our best, remain honest, and take responsibility, we honor God.

God sees into our hearts. Psalm 101:6 says:

“My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land, That they may dwell with me; He who walks in a perfect way, He shall serve me.”

God is looking for faithful Christians; people He can rely on, who serve with dedication in small tasks.

An example of such a person is Hanani in Nehemiah 7:2: “[T]hat I gave the charge of Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the leader of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.”

That is why Nehemiah appointed him over Jerusalem; not because he was the most talented person, but because he was a faithful man.

Finally, the book of Revelation describes a great promise from God to faithful people. In Revelation 2:10, we read: “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” What a promise! Faithfulness has eternal value. Those who remain faithful to God, even in difficult times, in trials, in seemingly unimportant situations, will ultimately be rewarded by God Himself.

All these Bible passages show that faithfulness in small things is not a side issue. It is crucial for our spiritual growth, for our witness, for our calling. God does not call us first to do great things, but He wants us to follow Him faithfully, day after day.

And it is there, in faithfulness to the little things, that the way opens up for what God has in store for us.

Faithfulness in small things is so important because it reveals our heart and character. Those who are faithful in small things—such as in their use of money, time, words, or a promise—prove that they are also ready for greater tasks.

Great deeds impress people. But faithfulness in small things impresses God.

Lead Writer: Christoph Sperzel (Germany)

Initial translation: Daniel Blasinger

compiled by Dave Harris

“Die Geschichte des Opfers” is the title of this Sabbath’s first German split sermon, presented by Michael Link. Title in English: “A Story of Sacrifice.”

“Könnte Ihre Unpünktlichkeit Sünde sein?” is the title of this Sabbath’s second German split sermon presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Could Your Unpunctuality Be Sinful?”

“Kontrollieren Sie Ihre Gedanken” last Sabbath’s German sermonette presented by Dmitrij Niemann, is now posted. Title in English: “Control Your Thoughts.”

“William Tyndale,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Paul Niehoff, is now posted. Here is the summary:

God has raised up many people to do the work He required. One of them used to translate much of the Bible into English from the original languages was William Tyndale, a Catholic priest whose aim was to enable the common people to read God’s Word in their native language. Because of doing this, he was put to death.

“Beyond the Basics of Obedience,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Kalon Mitchell, is now posted. Here is the summary:

The 10 Commandments are the basics in the laws of God. They are the cornerstones for any true practicing Christian. Yet, Christ goes on to tell us that the 10 Commandments are not enough in terms of going above and beyond. What does that mean and what does that look like?