On August 8, 2026, Norbert Link will speak about News and Prophecy and Kalon Mitchell will give the sermon, titled, “The Weight of God’s Glory”

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 the ancient people of Israel were freed from captivity in Egypt and called to depart from their sins to serve God, it was no easy path for them to enter the new life God had planned for them.

Time and again, Israel forgot that God had delivered them from Egyptian slavery with a mighty hand, and the Bible shows us this pattern many times, especially during the journey through the wilderness and also later throughout the entire Old Testament period, extending into the New Testament, and even beyond into the present day.

God’s miracles were repeatedly forgotten, in no small part because Israel had continuously expressed its discontent and dissatisfaction. God had provided them with everything they needed for the entire forty years; He even gave them silver and gold jewelry, clothes, and precious garments, useful household items, livestock, and much more for their exodus from Egypt.

Nevertheless, they had decided – and even encouraged one another – to grumble against God, to rebel, and to openly display their ingratitude.

They had simply allowed God’s great deeds to fade from memory, even though He had reminded them with these words: “…because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it” (Numbers 14:22-23).

One might say, “A murmuring heart found no peace even at a bountiful table.” That is sad, but true!

David put it very aptly in Psalm 106:7: “Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; They did not remember the multitude of Your mercies, But rebelled by the sea—the Red Sea.”

But even today, if one understands who and where Israel and Judah are now, one can see that they have forgotten God’s great deeds—everything He once did for their ancestors and everything He has done for them to this day. God’s mercy is so immeasurably great, yet people seem to have a tendency to forget—time and again, and especially very quickly.

Why does this even happen? Why don’t people remember God’s good deeds? Why are His blessings and His guidance so quickly forgotten? How quickly do we forget today?

Even though Paul had repeatedly written it down in the letter to the Hebrews as a reminder, precisely so that people would not forget: “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…” (Hebrews 12:1). 

One might add here: “…and let’s not forget!”

But on the one hand, the human heart often tends toward selfishness or egotism, and on the other hand, prosperity and wealth can replace good memories of God’s deeds. Furthermore, false pride can also attribute success to oneself, as God already warns us in Deuteronomy 8:11,17: “Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today… then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’”

This is also why Christ said in Matthew 19:23: “…Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of [God].”

We are God’s chosen people today – all of us throughout the world who have been baptized in the proper manner and who are part of the Body of Christ.

God the Father, as well as Jesus Christ, have called us out of this sinful world, just as He did with Israel in those days. We read this call – “Come out of her, my people” – in Revelation 18:4, and it is one of God’s most urgent calls to His people – to us today in these end times. We are all spiritual Israelites and must never allow the works of God to fade from our minds and hearts.

It is Satan who tries to steal the memory of God’s Word from our hearts. Christ explains this unequivocally in the Parable of the Sower:

“…When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts” (Mark 4:15; compare Matthew 13:19).

This statement applies not only to hearing the Word of God, but also to its enduring effect in our lives. Satan does everything in his power to ensure that God’s Word and His Truth fall into oblivion, lose their power, and bear no fruit in us.

That is why it is not enough to hear or read the Word of God just once a week. We must continually keep it within us, reflect on it again and again, and bring it to life in our daily routines. Thus, it will remain in our hearts, shape our thoughts and actions, and produce the fruit that God expects of us.

This means that our memory needs constant care and conscious recall. It is no coincidence that the Bible contains so many exhortations such as “Remember…,” “Do not forget…,” “Tell your children about it…,” or “Write down these words…” There is a deep spiritual principle behind this as well.

God knows how easily people forget – even His greatest blessings, miracles, and acts of help. That is why He repeatedly calls on us, His people, to consciously remember His deeds, His commandments, and His promises, and not to forget them.

According to the Bible, remembering is not a passive process, but a conscious spiritual exercise and discipline. Those who regularly recall God’s works through Bible study, prayer, meditation, and fasting strengthen their faith, maintain gratitude, and remain steadfast in their trust in God.

But when we stop consciously remembering God’s deeds, we often fall into ingratitude, doubt, disobedience, and rebellion. That is why God repeatedly calls on His people to consciously keep His miracles, His commandments, and His help in mind.

David gives us a beautiful guide for anchoring this in our memory. We read in Psalm 103:2-5:

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,  Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Initial translation from the German: Daniel Blasinger

By Norbert Link

We address America’s leadership relinquishment of a U.S.-led NATO command in Germany; President Trump’s broken promise allowing Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missiles; and Russia’s dangerous violation of Poland’s airspace. 

We continue with the “invasion” of many migrants into the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla; and the alleged deal ‌to bring peace to Gaza which has no chance of success.

We report on a macabre and bizarre decision by the Sanhedrin ordering God to reveal the Messiah and have Him build the Third Temple; and we remind the reader of the Holy See’s support of Dr. Fauci and Big Pharma. 

We speak on Russia’s ongoing persecution of the Jehovah’s Witnesses; Germany’s ongoing persecution of the AfD; the anniversary of July 20, 1944; and the question regarding Jens Spahn’s possible comeback.

We conclude with FIFA’s debacle (of which Trump claims he knew nothing); his botched up pool; and the dangers of AI.

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “USA Dangerously Short on Essential Missiles.”

USA Gives Up Leadership of NATO Command in Germany

Politico wrote on July 31:

“The Pentagon is giving up leadership of a U.S.-led NATO command in Germany that coordinates military aid to Ukraine, the latest sign of a broader American withdrawal from its closest allies.

“… the removal of U.S. leadership from a pivotal program on the continent reinforces the extent to which America is distancing itself from European partners… The move will mean the U.S. no longer helps shape what Ukraine’s future military will look like.”

Trump’s Gibberish on Ukraine

The Huffington Post wrote on July 31:

“President Donald Trump on Friday offered a 645-word string of incoherent non-sequiturs to explain whether he is honoring a previous commitment to let Ukraine build its own Patriot anti-missile interceptor factory to defend itself against Russian attacks. ‘We have not agreed to that. We’re talking about it. But it’s a hard thing to give away that kind of technology. And I don’t think this would ever happen, but, you know, you give that technology, they can someday turn on you. You know, that is possible. You look at war, it’s happened a couple of times over the years, right,’ Trump said, answering a reporter’s question about whether he was now reneging on his pledge from just three weeks ago…

“In his answer, he twice mentioned Tomahawks, a completely different missile that was not asked about. At the end, even after an attempted follow-up…, [it] was unclear what Trump meant… Ukrainian officials, meanwhile, said they were proceeding based on the commitment made earlier this month, which was reaffirmed at the Oval Office meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday, and further affirmed in a phone call between Zelenskyy and Vice President JD Vance on Friday morning…

“Trump publicly announced at the NATO summit in Ankara… that Ukraine would be granted a license to manufacture interceptors for its Patriot anti-missile system, which are currently scarce because so many have been used in Trump’s war against Iran… Questions about Trump’s commitment to that pledge, though, arose after his interview with the Financial Times on Thursday, during which he said the following about the Patriot license: ‘It’s a very extraordinary weapon, and we have to be a little bit careful of who we license to.’”

Violation of Polish Airspace by Russia

ZDF Heute reported on July 31:

“While Ukraine is attacking new targets in Russia and even in the Caspian Sea, Russian attacks are continuing as well: the most recent target was western Ukraine, during which a presumably Russian cruise missile struck Polish territory. Such a missile—potentially highly dangerous and precise—flew approximately 95 kilometers across the Ukrainian border without being intercepted.

“Military and security expert Nico Lange explains the potential consequences of these airspace violations in Poland for NATO… For Lange, the impact in Poland is alarming for several reasons… the cruise missile flew 95 kilometers without being stopped by Polish or NATO air defenses… ‘With actions like this, Russia is testing whether air defenses are functioning at 100 percent capacity.’ Yet no one managed to shoot down the missile…”

USA Has Used Up Virtually All Essential Missiles

Fox News wrote on August 4:

“The Army has used ‘virtually all’ of its inventories of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) during the five-month conflict with Iran, Reuters, citing people familiar with internal U.S. military data, reported Tuesday. Officials fear the drawdown could complicate the military’s ability to respond to future crises involving adversaries such as China and Russia, according to the report.

“The White House disputed any suggestion the U.S. military lacks the weapons needed to carry out its missions…. If accurate, the report underscores a longstanding Pentagon concern: America’s most sophisticated precision weapons can be expended in months but often take years to replace. Reuters also reported that the conflict significantly reduced inventories of Patriot and THAAD missile interceptors, along with Tomahawk cruise missiles, though the Pentagon has maintained the U.S. military retains the capabilities needed to carry out operations worldwide…

“Independent analysts have also warned that months of combat have strained U.S. inventories of high-end munitions. The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated last week that the U.S. had expended roughly 65% of its Patriot interceptor stockpile and that inventories of THAAD interceptors had fallen by at least 38% since the start of the Iran conflict…”

Russia Exposes NATO Weapons Gap 

Fox News wrote on July 28:

“Days after NATO allies committed tens of billions of dollars to new air and missile defenses, the alliance’s top transformation commander warned that the West must fundamentally redesign its weapons and industrial base to withstand attacks at the scale now being demonstrated in Ukraine and the Middle East. ‘Today, the math is not in favor of the West,’ Adm. Pierre Vandier, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT), told Fox News Digital…  The summit produced commitments to acquire 900 Patriot missiles and invest more than $40 billion in counter-drone capabilities throughout five years.  But Vandier argued that simply buying more of the West’s existing weapons will not solve the underlying problem… ‘There is no way to produce 50,000 Patriots a year,’ Vandier said. ‘We don’t have the supply chain, and it’s not worth doing that given the cost of the weapon.’…

“Trump announced at the summit that the United States would grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot interceptors, potentially allowing Kyiv to build more of the weapons it urgently needs to defend against Russian ballistic missiles. [Apparently, Trump later went back on that promise; see above-quoted article.] But asked whether the announcement changed his assessment that Patriots alone could not protect Europe throughout the next five years, Vandier pointed to a deeper obstacle: Western weapons were designed around an industrial base that no longer exists…

“We are at a moment where some stuff will be redesigned under pressure to be mass-produced… For NATO now, it’s a question of speed of adaptation… The Pandora’s box is open again,’ Vandier said…”

How China Won the Iran War

On August 3, Paul Krugman wrote in his newsletter:

“Make America Great Again?… Donald Trump has weakened us with astonishing speed… The disintegration of U.S. power was well underway before Trump started his war on Iran, but the pace of decline has accelerated sharply since the magnitude of our defeat started becoming apparent…

“China hasn’t been a direct combatant in the third Gulf war, and its support for Iran has, until recently, been discreet… China has been a serious geopolitical rival to the United States for some time. China’s manufacturing sector overtook the US in 2010, and the gap has continued to grow… Even before the bombing of Iran began, some observers worried about the state of the U.S. military… the war has really put the nail in the coffin of the U.S.-centered alliance system….

“Trumpian tariff policy, by itself, was an announcement to the world that agreements with the U.S. government are worthless. Add to this the demands that Canada become the 51^st state, that Denmark hand over Greenland…, and America had thoroughly lost the trust of its former friends even before the Iran war…. Trump launched a war that, in addition to creating death and destruction, cut off much of the world’s oil supply without so much as consulting other nations. Once the war began, America proved both incapable of imposing its will on Iran and unable either to open the Strait of Hormuz or to protect regional allies…

“The end of U.S. leadership and China’s growing geopolitical ascendancy are bad things. China is a corrupt autocracy, with little respect for human rights and none at all for democratic values.”

Spain Invaded by Migrants?

Daily Mail wrote on July 31:

“Morocco has been accused of facilitating the mass influx of around 60,000 migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Around 60,000 people swam from Morocco into the Spanish city located on the northern coast of North Africa on Thursday.  The Spanish territory, which shares a land border with the North African country, was overrun as tens of thousands of migrants arrived in just 24 hours…

“Spain’s Supreme Court recently ruled that migrants who are stopped at sea attempting to reach Melilla or Ceuta, both Spanish enclaves, could not be summarily sent back to Morocco. Amid the chaos, Italy has suspended its EU border-free Schengen arrangements with the Mediterranean country… Italy does not have a land border with Spain; however, the move will affect those travelling by plane or boat between the two countries… Meanwhile, the Italian interior ministry also said it had agreed with Paris to tighten controls along the Franco-Italian border… Finland backed calls for the Mediterranean country to be booted out of the Schengen area, which allows passport-free travel between 29 European countries.  

“The chaos in Ceuta also spread to Spain’s second North African enclave of Melilla overnight…

“Spain’s socialist government stands out in Europe for its pro-migrant stance, and has recently launched a programme to provide legal status for some 500,000 undocumented migrants, triggering an influx of applications double that number…”

Euractiv wrote on July 31:

“Pedro Sánchez found himself increasingly isolated in Europe on Friday evening as leaders turned the Ceuta migration crisis into a test of Spain’s credibility at controlling the bloc’s borders… Calls from EU national leaders to suspend Spain from Schengen came thick and fast… The move to suspend cooperation on Schengen with Spain is highly legally questionable, and was never truly on the table…

“Even leaders who stopped short of endorsing Meloni’s call adopted a tougher tone. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged Madrid to emulate Poland’s hardline approach at its Belarusian border, saying Spain ‘must follow our example if Schengen is to survive.’

“Paris struck a more conciliatory tone than several European counterparts by stressing that it stood ‘ready to assist’ Madrid if requested…

“But socialist leader António Costa, who chairs the European Council, appeared determined not to leave Sánchez isolated. The EU leader delivered a very different message late on Friday, commending Spain for its ‘firm’ response and sending an explicit message of ‘solidarity’ to Sánchez.”

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 31:

“Spain’s government said that… 48,300 migrants had returned to Morocco… The figures would mean that most of the 60,000 migrants estimated to have breached the border into Ceuta have already left.”

Don’t Believe the Spin

The Telegraph wrote on August 4:

“[When] Spain’s prime minister, declared shortly afterwards that ‘practically all’ of them had returned to Morocco, relief quickly gave way to mockery – even though almost nobody had bothered to verify Madrid’s claims… German liberal weekly Die Zeit denounced what it called ‘fact-free Spain-bashing’ and went further still: ‘The new arrivals were returned quickly and without bureaucracy…’  It would be comforting if that were true. It is not….

“The facts on the ground told a different story. The area around Ceuta’s hopelessly overcrowded reception centre remained in a state of emergency on Sunday evening. There was violence. Residents told a local news outlet that people had tried to break into their homes.

“Meanwhile, two local media organisations reported that migrants had reached the Spanish mainland – less than 12 miles away and therefore inside the Schengen area – in speedboats and on jet skis. Both said the vessels had departed from Ceuta. Were migrants who had only just entered Ceuta illegally already being smuggled onward to mainland Europe? Or had the boats in fact set off from Morocco? That remains unclear. What is clear is that the crisis is not over…

“… allowing thousands of people simply to swim around a border fence that barely reaches into the sea — or to walk around it without anyone stopping them — is not an unavoidable tragedy. It is a display of abject weakness….

“The events in Ceuta have exposed an uncomfortable truth. Whether Ceuta, Melilla, the Canary Islands or the Spanish towns along the Strait of Gibraltar become the next centre of Europe’s migration crisis is determined less by Spain or Brussels than by Morocco.”

Morocco to Occupy Ceuta and Melilla?

Politico wrote on August 5:

“The ease with which tens of thousands of migrants penetrated the border has ramped up a sense of vulnerability to hybrid attack. And that alarm has only been amplified by a fear that traditional NATO allies in the U.S. and the EU are no longer fully dependable because of their political feuds with Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Buoyed by an increasingly warm relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, Rabat is seizing the moment and doubling down on its claims to Ceuta and Melilla, which it sees as occupied territory, in Morocco’s state-aligned press…

“Ceuta and Melilla are among the few remaining vestiges of the vast Spanish Empire. They have been under Madrid’s rule since 1668 and 1497, respectively, and are fully-integrated parts of Spain — and the European Union. But since gaining independence from France in 1956, Morocco has consistently claimed sovereignty over both settlements, which it characterizes as “colonies” that are “occupied” by Spain…

“Morocco and the United States have become [close] since 2020. That year, Trump took the landmark step of recognizing Rabat’s claim to the disputed territory of Western Sahara in exchange for the normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel. Last week, Trump reaffirmed that recognition in a statement issued by the U.S. embassy in Rabat at the same moment as the migrants surged into Ceuta.”

Hamas to Give Up Weapons?

Thomson/Reuters wrote on July 31:

“U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday a deal he announced ‌to bring peace to Gaza was ‘a great breakthrough’ despite signs from both Hamas and Israel that significant hurdles remained before a deal can be implemented. The comment came a day after what Trump called a ‘major milestone’ towards ending the war in Gaza that he said would see the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups…

“A senior Hamas official involved in the negotiation told Reuters that implementation of the deal would depend on Israel first meeting its commitments under an ​agreement reached last year that bound it to a phased end to military operations and withdrawal of its forces from Gaza. An Israeli official said Israel’s position remained ⁠that ‘there will be no withdrawalwhatsoever of the ⁠IDF from the current yellow line unless Hamas undergoes a genuine disarmament…’

“Trump, who met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on Tuesday, said Israel was ‘very happy’ about the deal… An Israeli political source said on Thursday the issue of Gaza did not come up during Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump…

“Former Canadian ambassador to Israel Jon Allen is ‘highly skeptical’ about the deal announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, saying the president has made many promises, but significant controversy remains over the outcome…”

Axios wrote on July 31:

“… the deal requires Hamas and Israel to complete a complicated series of reciprocal and independently verified steps over roughly seven to eight months. Israeli officials remain deeply skeptical that Hamas will surrender its weapons, while comments from a senior Hamas official suggest the sequencing of disarmament and Israel’s withdrawal could still be contested.”

The Augsburger Allgemeine wrote on July 31:

“Disarm Hamas? The sooner, the better. However, matters are not as simple as Donald Trump imagines. Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon are terrorist organizations with which one does not negotiate as one would with normal governments. Their business model is fear—and no one is afraid of unarmed terrorists.

“Any pledge to voluntarily lay down arms could therefore mean the exact opposite: in Lebanon, Hezbollah has repeatedly promised to disarm, yet its arsenals remain stocked with thousands of rockets because the Lebanese military is too weak to take on the terrorist militia. And in the Gaza Strip, Hamas has so far used every ceasefire and every phase of negotiations to replenish its weapons stockpiles…

“Trump has no answer to the most important questions anyway: Who is actually supposed to disarm Hamas—an international intervention force that is frequently discussed but does not yet exist? Or the Israeli army, to which Hamas is unlikely to voluntarily submit? The Palestinian transitional administration tasked with organizing the disarmament exists only on paper so far. And who guarantees that its ranks won’t include Hamas activists or covert sympathizers?

“Trump’s optimism is all well and good. But if Hamas makes Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza a condition for its disarmament, the US President must not fall for the ruse… the Israeli army can only withdraw once Hamas has been disarmed.”

This is another pipedream.

God Is Ordered to Reveal the Messiah and Have Him Build the Third Temple?

Israel365News wrote on July 29:

“The nascent Sanhedrin issued a formal ruling this week, asking the Holy One… to remove hostile forces from the Jewish people and the Land of Israel, reveal the Mashiach (Messiah), rebuild the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple), and restore prophecy to Israel. The written ruling… follows a session the court’s members described as several hours long, during which two of the judges argued against moving forward before ultimately joining the majority.

“The Sanhedrin operates on the premise that a rabbinical court has the standing to issue a psak, a binding halachic ruling, and that, in matters concerning the fate of the Jewish people, a court above is bound to follow the ruling of a court below…

“The document closes by repeating the formula that just as the court below has ruled, the court above should rule the same, ‘and so may it stand’…”

Israel365News wrote on July 30:

“A reconstituted Sanhedrin has issued a ruling asking Heaven to reveal the Mashiach and rebuild the Temple. But the classical sources draw a sharp line the court has crossed… Nowhere… does the court receive authority to issue a psak (binding ruling) that obligates Heaven to bring the Mashiach or to rebuild the Temple….

“The King Mashiach arises, restores the Davidic monarchy, rebuilds the Temple, and gathers the dispersed. A candidate is presumed to be the Mashiach when he studies Torah, strengthens Israel in observance, and fights the wars of God; he is confirmed only when he succeeds in building the Temple and gathering the exiles…

“The resolutions… present the revelation of the Mashiach, the clearing of obstacles, and the return of prophecy as outcomes the court can decree, and Heaven is expected to implement.

“What would have fallen inside the court’s proper authority is a ruling directed at the people themselves… A court today could call the nation to coordinated teshuva (repentance); to fasting and prayer in that same representative spirit; to concrete acts of preparation for the Temple service; to the removal of internal corruption through established legal and communal means; and to the strengthening of Torah observance… But it does not follow that a human court can decree the arrival of the Mashiach and bind Heaven to perform it…”

It is the same argument which is advanced by the Catholic Church that whatever that church binds on earth, God must bind in heaven. However, the exact opposite is true. Note our Q&A about the power to bind and loose in Matthew 16:19. https://www.eternalgod.org/question-and-answer-70/

Holy See Supported Fauci

LifeSiteNews wrote on July 31:

“On May 6, 2021, while the entire world was still under the yoke of the health dictatorship, the Holy See hosted… a conference titled ‘Exploring the Mind, Body & Soul. Unite to Prevent & Unite to Cure.’ Opening the proceedings was not a theologian, not a pastor, not a defender of natural law. It was Anthony Fauci. Beside him, Deepak Chopra, Chelsea Clinton… and, in the program, the top executives of Pfizer and Moderna.

“The same Holy See that should have raised its voice against the lie, against mass experimentation, against the suspension of fundamental rights, actively collaborated with the architects of what has been—and remains—one of the greatest operations of social control and health fraud in contemporary history: a true crime against humanity.

They cannot say they did not know.

“They cannot say they were not warned… The May 2021 event was not a ‘simple conference.’ It was a public demonstration of complicity. The Holy See did not limit itself to silence: it offered its moral authority and its image to those who, in the name of ‘health,’ imposed limitations on fundamental freedoms, discrimination, blackmail, and above all experimental serums that have caused the deaths of millions of people…”

Persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia

Newsmax wrote on July 31:

“A court ‌in the Russian capital has confiscated 123 real estate assets which belonged to the Jehovah’s Witnesses and ‌transferred them to ​the Russian state, Moscow’s court service said on ⁠Friday.

“It said the property ​assets had previously been registered as belonging ⁠to the Swedish branch of Jehovah’s Witnesses and included 63 residential ‌and commercial properties ​with a total area ‌of over 11,000 square ‌meters and 60 plots of land with a total area of ⁠5.6 hectares ‌situated across ⁠the country. A Russian court banned ⁠Jehovah’s ⁠Witnesses as an ‘extremist organization’ in 2017, a ‌move that the European Court of Human Rights ruled in ‌2022 ​was itself ‌unlawful. Many Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia have since been ​jailed after being convicted of ‘extremist activity.’”

And the West watches and does nothing…

Banning the AfD Without a Ban…

Nius wrote on July 30:

“In Lower Saxony, several AfD candidates were barred from running for district administrator or mayor. Local election committees determined in each case that the candidates lacked the necessary commitment to the constitutional order. The decision was justified by the claim that mere membership in the AfD state branch—which the Office for the Protection of the Constitution has classified as ‘right-wing extremist’ in Lower Saxony—was sufficient grounds…

“For Lower Saxony’s Interior Minister Daniela Behrens, AfD membership aloneis an indication that candidates lack commitment to the constitutional order… There had been no such procedure previously. Never before had members been barred from an election simply for belonging to a radical party. The Greens were radical—and the Left Party remains so today—and both were long under the scrutiny of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. If the same criteria applied to them as to the AfD, several state branches of the Left Party, or even the party as a whole, would have to be classified as ‘left-wing extremist’ and their candidates barred from elections. That does not happen…

“The SPD, CDU/CSU, and the Greens—who oversee the domestic intelligence agencies at both the state and federal levels—regularly call for a ban on the AfD but do not petition the Federal Constitutional Court for one. They know there are insufficient grounds for such a ban, as the AfD does not aim to abolish parliamentary democracy.

“So, the AfD’s opponents are abandoning the path of the rule of law and trying a different approach. For years, AfD representatives in parliaments have faced systematic discrimination and been denied offices to which they are entitled. The plan from Lower Saxony takes this conduct to a new extreme: now, there is an attempt to bar candidates from the hated party from elections altogether. They are forced to sue, yet the courts do not issue rulings until after the election—an election in which the plaintiffs were not permitted to run.

“The SPD-led state government in Lower Saxony has planned, and is now executing, a quiet, covert coup. It is undermining electoral rights and seeking to render votes for the AfD ineffective. It claims to be protecting democracy from extremists; in reality, the government itself has become an extremist force intent on manipulating democratic elections. It aims to effectively ban the AfD without a formal ban—by keeping it off the ballot—a move that is demonstrably unconstitutional.”

The government’s actions are clearly wrong… and illegal. And they will backfire badly.

Commemorating July 20, 1944

The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger reported on July 29:

“On July 20—the anniversary of the failed 1944 assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler—Cologne-based writer Navid Kermani spoke in Berlin about the significance of conscience…

“‘July 20 stands for the necessity of resistance when the fulfillment of duty constitutes a crime… Should a future federal government seek to lead you into a war that is as blatantly contrary to international law and as politically disastrous as the recent war waged by the United States and Israel against Iran, it will be your duty to refuse the order… the threat to annihilate an entire civilization, or a declared attack on a country’s civilian infrastructure, constitute such an obvious wrong that one need be neither a lawyer nor consult one’s own conscience to recognize it…

“‘When the federal government, of all bodies, distinguishes itself by treating international law as a secondary matter—or when a German Chancellor, of all Western leaders, is the only one to defend the American President’s threat to annihilate an entire civilization—this is devastating not only for our reputation, upon which we rely economically as an export nation. No, the trivialization of international law by the highest authorities also sends a disastrous signal for our democracy. For if the rule of law erodes in our foreign relations, it will not be long before it is held in contempt at home as well…’”

“‘As someone who is not only German, the disregard shown for our constitutional state perhaps angers me even more than it does most of you. For as the child of Iranian parents, I am also a citizen of a state that, earlier this year, allegedly shot dead some thirty thousand demonstrators in the span of two days… Imagine delivering this same speech in the country where I was born: I likely wouldn’t even survive it.

“‘Dear recruits, young as you are, there is a possibility that war could return to Germany during the course of your military careers… From a historical perspective, it is unlikely that your entire lives will unfold during a time of peace. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, one of the current front lines has moved close to Germany… Please always bear this in mind, every single second: No matter how viciously the enemy behaves from your perspective, he remains a human being just like you. For if you view the enemy as an animal, as a mere blip on a monitor, or as a monster—simply to make it easier to kill him—then you will transform yourselves into an animal, an AI, or a monster.

“‘I have never held a weapon in my hands, but as a reporter, I have witnessed enough wars up close to know how quickly people become brutalized. There is no war—not yesterday’s, not today’s, not tomorrow’s—in which the fighting cannot suddenly devolve into bloodlust, sadism, and sexual violence…’”

In fact, there is no war which is justified in the eyes of God.

Is Spahn Making a Comeback?

The Frankfurter Allgemeine wrote on August 1:

“Judging by comments from the CDU/CSU parliamentary group and party leadership, nothing stands in the way of a comeback for Jens Spahn. Markus Söder was the first to show leniency: ‘I believe Jens Spahn’s journey is not yet over.’ Steffen Bilger, the new minister, echoed this sentiment: ‘I very much hope he remains in politics—and, of course, as a member of our parliamentary group.’

“Many fellow party members evidently share this view. Just days after the outcry over Spahn’s surrogacy scandal had reached a fever pitch, they were praising his strengths and achievements—albeit anonymously… After all, the CDU doesn’t exactly have an abundance of Spahns…

“When Spahn returns to the parliamentary group after the summer recess, he will surely be asked: Will you follow Friedrich Merz’s example? Merz tried something new and waited more than ten years. If Spahn wants to become Chancellor, he will have to do things differently.”

Söder also said: “After all, someone with such talent and political drive will certainly take on a leading role again at some point.”

FIFA and Infantino Give Up

Reuters wrote on July 31:

“FIFA’s plan to sell a piece of its business empire to outside investors has collapsed following an open revolt by soccer officials worldwide and a major rift among top FIFA executives… The deal, in which FIFA had aimed to raise up to $4.2 billion by selling a roughly 20% stake in the group, valuing the new arm at $20 billion, is no longer active…

“The proposal, which came out on Tuesday, was met with immediate resistance led by European soccer ruling body UEFA… On Thursday, UEFA’s 55 member nations voted unanimously to boycott all FIFA tournaments…

“Carlos Cordeiro, a senior advisor to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, quit on Friday in protest at the plan and FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour said staff were ‘deceived’ by Infantino…

“Thrive Eternal, a fund run by Thrive Capital, founded by Joshua Kushner, was expected to lead the proposed investor group, FIFA said. Joshua is the brother of Jaared Kushner,  U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law…”

The New York Post wrote on July 31:

“Infantino gave FIFA’s 211 member nations until Sept. 19 to back the deal, dangling payouts of up to $40 million each. Critics called it a bribe with a deadline. But FIFA and its bankers badly misread the mood in Europe, where the sport’s richest clubs and leagues bring in most of the game’s revenue….”

No More Confidence in Infantino

The Associated Press wrote on August 1:

“UEFA says it has lost confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino…

“Successfully stopping Gianni Infantino’s FIFA plan to sell World Cup profits to private investors was the first half of a high-stakes game in global soccer politics.

The second half kicked off Saturday with what seemed a clear aim of ending Infantino’s decade-long presidency. ‘No option should be off the table,’ said European soccer body UEFA, whose president Aleksander Čeferin has led the fight against Infantino in a seismic week for FIFA. ‘The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.’

“Later Saturday, the governing body for North and Central American and Caribbean soccer (CONCACAF) called for accountability, saying: ‘A (World Cup) proposal of this magnitude does not reach that stage by accident. It is a symptom of leadership that has stopped putting football first. This recent unilateral and egregious act of poor governance and leadership follows a pattern of missteps and similar behavior. A full review of this leadership must now take place.’…

“Asia’s soccer body joined Europe and North America in opposing [Infantino’s scheme].”

Trump Knew Nothing

Daily Mail wrote on August 1:

“Gianni Infantino’s humiliating downfall is almost complete after his friend and ally Donald Trump denied all knowledge of the FIFA president’s disastrous plot to try and sell off the World Cup to private investors…

“When asked ‘did Mr Infantino speak to you about his proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup?’ Trump brutally first replied: ‘Who?’ After the question was repeated, the president then added: ‘No, I didn’t speak to him.’”

Really?

Gianni Infantino Begs Trump to Save His Job

The New York Post wrote on August 3:

“FIFA President Gianni Infantino wants the Trump administration to help keep him in office and has scheduled private talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio Monday amid growing pressure to resign over his scheme to sell off the World Cup to Josh Kushner’s private equity firm… ‘He wanted to get online with the secretary and talk about how soccer can be a form of soft power for America,’ said one insider briefed on the matter. ‘But we all know that it is about job protection. It is not about anything else at this point.’ A second source said the Swiss-Italian sports suit felt ‘isolated’ by the avalanche of negative media coverage.

“The State Department denied the call was taking place… Sources also say that Infantino, 56, has repeatedly tried and failed to reach Trump, 80, by phone since his plan to sell off the game’s commercial assets to private investors collapsed on Friday.”

Of course, this is all being denied by the White House. Subsequent reports state that allegedly, a scheduled phone call with Rubio was postponed.

Trump’s Botched Up Pool—He Can’t Let Go!

ABC News wrote on August 1:

“The Justice Department moved to dismiss [without prejudice] the criminal case against Olympian David Hearn, who was alleged to have vandalized the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting pool, acknowledging the damage to the pool ‘was the result of flawed installation by the contractor.’ Hearn pleaded not guilty to a felony destruction of property charge earlier this month after the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro accused him of allegedly ‘forcefully and violently’ ripping up parts of the pool floor. Pirro’s office said in a filing Friday seeking to drop the case that it only learned of evidence pointing to ‘a rushed and flawed installation process’ after Hearn had been indicted by a grand jury.

“The filing stated Pirro herself visited the Reflecting Pool on July 17 after it had been fully drained and became aware of significant damage throughout the pool area, which spurred the DOJ to request all documents from the U.S. Interior Department about how the pool was lined. Those documents indicated a flawed installation by the contractor, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, ‘with repeated failures of the lining during the installation process, and extensive peeling of the lining throughout the Reflecting Pool’ and a rush to complete the renovation project before the America 250 celebration on July 4… The filing includes an email sent on June 11 by a National Park Service engineer to others in the Department of the Interior describing their ‘concern’ that overspray of the new pool coating along the perimeter of the pool could lead to a one-to-two-foot strip ‘that is vulnerable to peeling.’ That was the area along the perimeter that Hearn was alleged to have pulled up…

“On Saturday, the president chastised Pirro in a social media post for dropping the charges, though he acknowledged there may have ‘been some contractor difficulty’ with the project. ‘I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, on the Reflecting Pool. I don’t know what she was thinking? To me, it was a pure case of VANDALISM,’ he wrote…”

It obviously wasn’t; otherwise, the case would not have been dismissed. But now, Trump is threatening Pirro with termination.

AI Tried to Trick Humans Into Poisoning Code

Politico wrote on August 4:

“A leading artificial intelligence model from Anthropic created fake online personas and tried to deceive human coders into abetting a cyberattack during a recent safety evaluation… AISI determined that Mythos 5 and GPT 5.6 took ‘autonomous, unsanctioned action on the live internet, targeting real people and organizations’…

“In another sign of worrying behavior AISI uncovered in its investigation, multiple AI agents it was testing — including GPT-5.6 — appeared to communicate with one another about how to solve the cyber evaluation. ‘One agent left public messages on GitHub offering collaboration with other agents working on the same challenge,’ AISI wrote, in what it described as an example of ‘unexpected collaboration’ between different autonomous AI agents.”

When will we understand how dangerous and destructive AI is?

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 the contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing to worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.

In this new series, we will continue to give examples of phrases from the Bible that are part and parcel of our everyday language.  We will also give examples which are not found in the Bible per se, but which are close and express biblical principles, and we will quote examples which are not in the Bible and even contradict biblical teaching, even though some people think that they are in God’s Word.

Pride goes before a fall 

This is a close quote, but not totally accurate. The passage in Proverbs 16:18 reads: “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.” On Little House on the Prairie, Caroline Ingalls corrected Mrs. Oleson who had just chastened her with the misquote of pride goes before a fall. 

A labor of love

This phrase is used to describe the motive behind working or laboring. Ultimately, we work for God. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 1:3: “… remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father…”

No rest for the wicked

A common phrase, but again, not totally accurate. The passage in Isaiah 57:21 reads: “‘There is no peace,’ Says my God, ‘for the wicked.’” Of course, both phrases are connected. Someone who has no rest has no peace. He lives in constant fear.

Casting pearls before swine

It is often used to say that we must be careful not to share good advice with others who don’t want it. It goes back to Christ’s stern warning not to teach spiritual knowledge to those who reject and despise it. 

He said in Matthew 7:6: “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”

Go the extra mile

Again, not a totally accurate quote. It refers to the idea to go beyond and above what we must do… be it in respect to our work or to our relationship with others. Christ used this phrase to warn His disciples not to turn to violent resistance against the government. The Romans had a habit of forcing casual travelers to carry their belongings for a mile. Christ said that rather than violently resisting such practice, volunteer to go even another mile with them. He said in Matthew 5:41: “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.”

Turn the other cheek

A close quote, but not totally accurate. It stands in direct context with the concept of going the extra mile. Jesus was saying that we must not resist others by resorting to violence; that it is better to suffer injustice than to commit it ourselves. He states in Matthew 5:39: “But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.”

An eye for an eye

A phrase associated today with revenge. However, it is based on equal or retaliatory justice. It has been wrongfully used to justify revenge, but the real purpose was to have a judge or magistrate give fair compensation for a harm done… to pay the victim the value of the incurred damage. 

Exodus 21:24-25 reads: “… eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”

A thorn in the flesh 

This phrase is used in this world to describe a sometimes minor, uncomfortable unpleasantry. However, it is a famous saying by Paul, who suffered, it seems, from an incurable physical sickness which he attributed to Satan’s doing. Paul asked God three times to be healed from this disease but God told him that in that particular case, God said HE wanted Paul to stay “weak” so that God’s strength could rule his life. Paul relates this in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 as follows:

“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.’”

A house divided against itself will not stand

This phrase can be found in Matthew 12:25 where Christ said: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.”

This quote is often attributed to Abraham Lincoln. But while he used the phrase in a famous speech, he didn’t invent it. Jesus used it when dealing with Pharisees, claiming wrongfully that He was casting out demons because He was allegedly possessed Himself. He asked the Pharisees with what power their sons cast out demons (a power He had given some of them at that time).

See eye to eye

This phrase signifies that people agree on something. It is taken from Isaiah 52:8 which says: “Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, With their voices they shall sing together; For they shall see eye to eye When the LORD brings back Zion.” They will see “eye to eye” or agree with God. 

There are many more examples which we could have given. 

The Bible is, and has been down through the last 2,000 years, respected by so many who appreciate its wisdom and the Truth it reveals.

On the digitalcommons.liberty.edu website, they list 60 famous people, 16 of whom were Presidents of the USA, who speak so highly about the Word of God.  Below are just 6 of these which are a small sample size of those to whom the Bible was precious:

Abraham Lincoln – “But for this Book we could not know right from wrong. I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt – “It is a fountain of strength. I feel that a comprehensive study of the Bible is a liberal education for anyone.”

Winston Churchill – “We rest with assurance upon the impregnable rock of Holy Scripture.” 

Haile Selassie – “The Bible is not only a great book of historical reference, but it also is a guide for daily life, and for this reason I respect it and I love it.” 

Douglas MacArthur – “Believe me, sir, never a night goes by, be I ever so tired, but I read the Word of God before I go to bed.”

Charles Dickens – “It is the best Book that ever was or ever will be in the world.”

And from this Book of books we have only quoted a few examples in this Q&A of its influence on our everyday language and there are scores more which are worth reviewing when you take the time.

On the other hand, we do not want to conclude this Q&A without pointing out that there are “famous” phrases which are NOT in the Bible, even though some people may think that they are. 

 “God helps those who help themselves”

This phrase is not in Scripture. It actually has its origin in ancient Greek, even though it is most often attributed to Benjamin Franklin since it appeared in his book Poor Richard’s Almanac. One commentator wrote: “This runs contrary to biblical teaching, since man can do nothing to help himself apart from God’s grace”—or we might add, “apart from God’s Will.”

“Cleanliness is next to godliness”

This phrase was used by Charles Dickens in his book Great Expectations, but it does not appear in the Bible. 

“God works in mysterious ways”

This is a paraphrase of a 19th-century hymn by the English poet William Cowper (“God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform’). It does not appear in the Bible, but the Bible does say, of course, that there are certain mysteries which He has revealed only to His people. 

“Money is the root of all evil”

It’s close, but not totally accurate. Instead it says, “For the LOVE of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). 

“The seven deadly sins”

This list of seven deadly sins (wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, gluttony) is not in the Bible. It was the Catholic Church that made up this phrase and its accompanying list. It is most certainly inaccurate to assume that these sins are “more deadly” than the violation of the Ten Commandments and its statutes and judgments. 

“Charity begins at home”

This phrase is credited to Terence, the Roman comic writer. But it is also sometimes attributed to Sir Thomas Browne. It is not found in the Bible. 

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions”

A common saying which is not found in Scripture. Another false quote would be: “All roads lead to Rome.”

“Once saved, always saved”

This phrase expresses a completely false concept of salvation. It is not found in the Bible.

God will never give you more than you can handle

This is another common phrase which, as quoted, is not in accordance with Scripture. It is not found in the Bible. One commentary stated astutely: 

“When someone is going through a difficult time in life, whether they are feeling overwhelmed, stricken with grief, or just generally burdened, they are often encouraged that though their challenges are considerable, God would never give them more than they could handle. But, despite what we might say, God will give us more than we can handle [or bear]. 

“Rather, God will never allow us to be tempted [or tested] beyond what we are able to [handle or bear]. He will always provide a way for us [to escape and] to be faithful to Him, even when the pull toward a different path is as strong as it has ever been.” 

Paul assures us in 1 Corinthians 10:13: 

“No temptation [or sore trial] has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

So, whatever we are being confronted with, GOD will help us. We need GOD… on our own, we can do and accomplish nothing. But with God, we can do and endure everything.

“Love the sinner, hate the sin” 

Even commonly used in religious circles, Christ did not say these words. 

St. Augustine’s Letter 211 (c. 424) contains the phrase Cum dilectione hominum et odio vitiorum, which translates roughly to “With love for mankind and hatred of sins.” The phrase has become more famous as “love the sinner but hate the sin” or “hate the sin and not the sinner” (the latter form appearing in Mohandas Gandhi’s 1929 autobiography).

Next time you hear yourself say something that sounds pretty familiar and you think that it might be from the Bible, it is a good reason to find out if it is or not, and if it is, from which book of the Bible it is from.

Lead Writers: Brian Gale (United Kingdom) and Norbert Link

Compiled by Norbert Link

“USA Dangerously Short on Essential Missiles” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

According to several reports, the Army has used virtually all of its inventories of its necessary missiles, complicating the military’s ability to respond to future crises and adversarial attacks. In addition, it is claimed that the USA must fundamentally and speedily redesign its weapons.  President Trump reacted angrily, denying these and similar  reports, and threatened the “leakers” with jail. Obviously, something isn’t adding up here.

“Amerikas gefährlicher Mangel an notwendigen Raketen” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.

Norbert Link’s sermonette has been posted, titled, “Dubious White House Announcements—Comments on News and Prophecy, August 1, 2026” 

Here is a summary:

Several spectacular announcements by the White House sounded great at first sight, but did not pass muster on closer examination. This is especially true for an alleged America-Saudi-Arabia nuclear deal and the “great breakthrough” of “bringing peace to Gaza” by disarming Hamas. In other news, we discuss the Holy See’s support for Anthony Fauci; shocking allegations of Israel’s Finance Minister and incredible announcements of the Sanhedrin; America’s unclear position on the Ukrainian production of Patriot anti-missile interceptor factories; and the collapse of FIFA’s ill-advised plan to have Joshua Kushner sell a piece of FIFA’s business enterprise to outside investors.

Norbert Link’s sermon has been posted, titled, “What Christianity Does Not Know About the Holy Spirit.” 

Here is a summary:

Why doesn’t the world know the Truth about the Holy Spirit? What is the Holy Spirit? Did the Holy Spirit dwell in people of the Old Testament? What about Christians in the New Testament? Can one have and keep the Holy Spirit when sinning—even committing serious sins? What are the essential prerequisites for receiving the Holy Spirit? And how can we lose the Holy Spirit?

Norbert Link’s German sermon for this week has been posted. It is titled, “Warten auf Gott.” (Title in English: “Waiting for God.”)

Jens Herrmann’s German sermonette from last week has been posted, titled, “Der richtige Weg von Herzen zu vergeben.“ (Title in English: „The Right Way to Forgive From the Heart.”)

On August 1, 2026, Norbert Link will speak about News and Prophecy and he will give the sermon, titled, “What Christianity Does Not Know About the Holy Spirit.”

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

By Paul Niehoff (Australia)

It can be instructive for us to examine the events regarding the establishment of the Tabernacle in the wilderness and the building of the First and Second Temples. To see the people’s attitudes and understand the response from God in each case. In the case of the building of the Tabernacle and the First Temple, these are defined in the Scriptures as the Work of God. And we will see when we examine the situation around the building of the Second Temple, that this was also commanded by God and so would be considered the Work of God.

When the Tabernacle was being constructed, we read that, “…everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the LORD’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments” (compare Exodus 35:21). In fact, we read later that they brought more than enough and had to be restrained from bringing any more offerings.

How did God respond to this? In the New Testament, we read that God loves a cheerful giver (see 2 Corinthians 9:7), and these people were obviously cheerful givers. And not just in objects, but those who had the talent, in weaving fine yarn and fabrics.

Next, with the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the various leaders and people also brought the offerings needed to build and furnish the Temple. And again we read: “Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the LORD; and King David also rejoiced greatly” (compare 1 Chronicles 29:9). Again, God loves a cheerful giver.

However, the Jews who returned from Babylon did not have the same attitude. At least not early on. King Cyrus had provided a permit to build the Second Temple, as we read in 2 Chronicles 36:23, “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up!” Since this was according to God’s command, it is considered His Work.

In the first chapter of the book of Ezra, King Cyrus encouraged those who chose not to go to Jerusalem to provide gold and silver, goods and livestock for the construction of the Temple. King Cyrus himself provided the implements that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Solomon’s Temple, to be used in the new Temple as a part of its service.

The Jews who had left the comforts of Babylon came to Jerusalem, a city that had been destroyed, with the object of building the Second Temple of God. But they were soon distracted from the project, as we read in Haggai 1:2, remarking on what Haggai, the LORD’s prophet and messenger, said to the leaders, “Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time that the LORD’s house should be built.”’”

They were more concerned about building their own homes and paneling them with fine timbers before doing the Work of God. God made the powerful statement twice for emphasis in verses 5 and 7: “Consider your ways!” Then He reminded them that they were not being blessed. They did not have enough to eat or drink or clothe themselves adequately. Also, their income seemed to disappear from a bag with holes. This reminds us of Christ’s words in Matthew 6:31, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat? or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” Because God was aware of their needs and would provide them. These three things the people lacked in Jerusalem.

So, under the strong leadership of Haggai, Zerubbabel and Joshua, the people repented and began building the Temple. And from the day they laid the foundation, God began to bless them and told them twice again to consider how God was blessing them (compare Haggai 2:18-19). When they were not doing God’s Work, they were told to consider why God was actually against them, but when they began doing God’s Work, they were to consider that God was blessing them from then on.

This is all interesting reading, but does it have anything to concern us today? Romans 15:4 informs us, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” 1 Corinthians 10:11 also reinforces this, “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”

While these examples might not have been expressly about the building of the Temples, the principle still applies to us. We can learn from the interaction between God and His people in their good times and their bad times. 

The actual meaning of “consider” is to think about something carefully and deliberately, often before making a decision, judgement or taking action. It is used over a hundred times in the Bible. We should consider that we have been called to do God’s Work and when we do it, we thereby receive God’s blessing. In the three examples mentioned previously of building the Tabernacle and the two Temples, we see that the people were blessed when they did God’s Work willingly, but when they refused, they were cursed until they repented. 

In our case, we are called to do God’s Work although it is not to build a physical building but a spiritual temple, and to assist in preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. We do this by means of our prayers and tithes and offerings. We remember that in the book of Malachi, God condemned the people for robbing Him in tithes and offerings, but also for some other problems they had.

Our task is not only assisting in the preaching of the Gospel. We also have the responsibility to be examples by means of the way we live. We are informed in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

So, we must also consider our ways, not only in assisting in the preaching of the Gospel, but in the way we represent the Family of God by our actions. Do we do it joyfully and willingly, thereby pleasing God? Actually, the term “consider your ways” does not occur as such in the New Testament, but a similar term is used, especially being brought to our attention before Passover. That term is, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith” (see 2 Corinthians 13:5). Are we living a Way of Life that is pleasing to God, or not? If not, then we should repent as the people did in the days of Haggai, and do God’s Work as we have been called to perform it.

By Norbert Link

We begin with a shameful delivery of the Aachen Peace Prize to an American queer sex shop and point out the hypocritical conduct of big churches towards the AfD and those people voting for the party. We also discuss syncretism within the Catholic Church.

We speak on further frictions between the USA and France and continue with deeply disturbing reports about Israel; the dubious nuclear deal between the USA and Saudi-Arabia; and the demand to know where the money from Venezuela ended up in the US.

We speak on further developments on America’s lost war in Iran; and Trump’s goal to impose tariffs on many countries without any evidence, reason or legitimacy.

We conclude with a horrible example of IRS misconduct against innocent American citizens, and how the American Police State gets away with murder.

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Fauci’s Responsibility… But Many Others Are Guilty Too!”

The Aachen Peace Prize… a Disgrace

The Aachener Zeitung wrote on July 27:

“Martin Schulz [will] deliver the laudatory speech for Aachen Peace Prize recipients.

“On September 1, the Cologne-based initiative ‘Palestinians and Jews for Peace,’ as well as ‘Unidos MN’ and the team behind the queer sex shop ‘The Smitten Kitten’ from the USA, will be honored in Aachen. A prominent SPD politician from the region will deliver the keynote address.

“Martin Schulz—an SPD politician from Würselen and former President of the European Parliament—will deliver the laudatory speech for the designated recipients of the 2026 Aachen Peace Prize. The Aachen Peace Prize Association made this announcement recently. The award ceremony will take place on Tuesday, September 1, starting at 7 p.m. at the Aula Carolina, Pontstraße 7.”

An American gay sex shop is receiving the Aachen Peace Prize, and the former President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, is delivering the laudatory speech. Truly, Sodom and Gomorrah playing out right before our eyes.

The Churches’ Hypocrisy Regarding the AfD

Nius wrote on July 24:

“The churches do not want people to vote for the AfD. Consequently, two Catholic dioceses have launched a campaign titled ‘With Heart and Conviction for Democracy and Charity.’ The aim is to keep the AfD’s vote share low in the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state election.

“The dioceses have no quarrel with socialists, proponents of wealth redistribution, or advocates of expropriation. It is only the AfD that the Berlin and Hamburg dioceses are showing the red card. Once again, it is evident: the ‘church-tax church’ is blind in its left eye. It has taken a partisan stance in the undemocratic defensive struggle against the Right. In this regard, one can rely on the church-tax churches: the spiritual realm recedes to the extent that the political realm gains ground…

“Let us be clear: the Diocese of Berlin does not want AfD supporters present at anti-AfD events. It implies that nearly 30 percent of Germans are incapable of reasoned argument and capable only of hateful agitation. This is as stupid as it is vile. Yet, they are still happy to collect church taxes from this very demographic. The Archdiocese of Hamburg is also alarmed. Its territory extends into Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where the AfD is heading toward an election victory. Domradio reports on the efforts to prevent precisely that…

“On Instagram, the Archdiocese of Hamburg states that the campaign’s goal is ‘to encourage people to reflect on their voting decision and to make it responsibly and guided by values.’ This, too, amounts to berating voters. According to this logic, the only voter who decides reflectively, responsibly, and based on values ​​is one who does not cast their vote for the AfD.”

Syncretism in the Catholic Church

LifeSiteNews wrote on July 23:

“The Archdiocese of Los Angeles allowed the performance of a ‘Misa Azteca’ (‘Aztec Mass’) concert, which featured pagan Aztec music, dances, and poetry in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels last month… Joseph Julián González, the composer of the ‘Misa Azteca,’ claimed that the Mass composition was born out of his devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and recalled how he felt inspired to write it after the ‘Kyrie’ from the High Mass played to an Aztec dance rhythm popped in his head, believing this was ‘divine inspiration.’”

It might have been some kind of “inspiration,” but it was most certainly not “divine.”

Incredibly, the article claimed:

“While the Catholic Church has always sought to bring people of all cultures together, it has also always condemned the concept of syncretism, or the blending of pagan and other non-Catholic rituals, such as Aztec dances, with Catholic practices.”

This statement is 100% wrong, and the ignorance of the writer is mind-boggling. The Catholic church has ALWAYS welcomed syncretism as a way of bringing pagans into the church’s fold.

The article at least admits that much:

“Despite the Church’s clear teaching, syncretism has become common in many Catholic churches across the globe in recent decades.”

As mentioned, the Church has no teaching against syncretism; just the opposite is true.

US Walks Out on France

The Associated Press wrote on July 27:

“U.S. diplomats walked out as their French counterparts were speaking at the United Nations on Monday after America’s close European ally criticized the Trump administration’s human rights record. The surprise move during a U.N. Security Council meeting on Ukraine followed U.S. opposition to giving U.N. human rights chief Volker Tuerk another four-year term. The reappointment on Friday got overwhelming support, including from France.

“The U.S. walkout reflects not only the more strained relations between President Donald Trump and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, but also wider tensions between the U.S. and Europe…

“What sparked the walkout was a social media post Friday from France’s U.N. Mission in Geneva criticizing U.S. opposition to a second term for the U.N. rights chief. The General Assembly voted 144-10 with 13 abstentions in support of Türk, with the U.S. among the ‘no’ votes. ‘The US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore. Today, it stands alongside North Korea, Nicaragua, Mali & Russia, isolated. And the world no longer listens to it,’ the French Mission tweeted.

“Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., in responding on X, accused France of coddling ‘some of the worst human rights abusers’ and voting ‘for someone who has been lecturing, free, sovereign democracies like the United States, the UK, and Israel, while cozying up to the world’s worst oppressors.’”

And so does Trump, counting dictators such as Erdogan, Xi Jinping, Putin, Kim Jong Un, Mohammed bin Salman (Saudi Arabia), Al Thani (Qatar) and other autocrats as his friends.

Shocking Allegations by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich

LifeSiteNews wrote on July 24:

“Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated Tuesday that Israel has ‘no interest’ entering the ongoing U.S.-Iran confrontation… Israel has chosen to stay out of this renewed bombing campaign despite the U.S. State Department publicly acknowledging the Trump administration had initiated its unprovoked attacks on Iran ‘at the request’ of Israel. Since military hostilities reignited earlier this month, Iranian missiles and drones have struck U.S.-linked targets in several Arab countries but have not hit Israel itself so far.

“Smotrich stressed that Israel’s long-term objective remains weakening the Iranian regime in order to topple its government, a goal he noted does not likely align with U.S. priorities… He argued that undermining Iran’s economy, harming the civilian population, represents the most effective strategy. ‘Currently, inflation in Iran is at 85 percent, food inflation of over 134 percent in a total of four months, and the Iranian rial is trading at an exchange rate of 1.9 million to the dollar – and it’s going up,’ he celebrated.

“While Israel has avoided direct strikes on Iran, reports indicate it is actively supporting the U.S. effort through intelligence sharing and other assistance…

“Smotrich embraces the most radical forms of Zionism that support the deadly suppression or expelling of the native Palestinian people from their lands to create an ever expanding ‘Greater Israel.’ This planned expanse includes not only the internationally recognized Palestinian territories… but [also] parts of Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia… Smotrich has described thwarting any future Palestinian State as ‘my life’s mission.’… On Gaza, Smotrich… asserted in 2024 that it would be ‘right and moral’ to starve the entire population (including 1 million children) in Gaza ‘to death.’

“Currently in Gaza, the Israeli army continues to violate the signed ‘ceasefire’ agreement from last October, expanding its military occupation to around 70% of the territory and attacking the virtually defenseless population almost daily, killing 1,180 (at least 247 children, 191 women) in this timeframe and wounding 3,810.

“Since October 2023, Israel has dropped the equivalent of at least 13 atomic bombs on Gaza, directly killed at least 73,293 Palestinians, including approximately 22,000 children at a confirmed minimum, with at least 173,960 people injured, including over 10,000 children who have lost at least one leg. An additional 10,000 Palestinians are missing and presumed dead and buried under the rubble….”

If these reports and numbers are only remotely correct, the world’s anger with Israel can be understood. Note the next article.

Israel365News wrote on July 24:

“A majority of Americans continue to back Israel over Hamas, but a new Harvard CAPS/Harris poll finds that voters under 25 favor Hamas by a wide margin, and most Democrats say Israel should not be formally defined as a Jewish state.”

The Insanity of Gender Segregation in Israel

Deutsche Welle reported on July 18:

“Bnei Brak, a predominantly ultra-Orthodox city in Israel, plans to introduce separate pedestrian routes for men and women. But fierce criticism appears to have put the project on hold… According to local reports, the Bnei Brak municipality had already started widening sidewalks, erecting barriers and putting up signs that are intended to physically separate male and female pedestrians from one another in the city just east of Tel Aviv. It would have made Bnei Brak the first city in Israel with gender-segregated streets…. Less conservative Israelis fear Bnei Brak could set a precedent that will further strengthen Orthodox hard-liners in society. 

“Gender segregation is not unusual in Judaism. Orthodox synagogues have separate areas for men and women and conservative practitioners won’t touch members of the opposite sex, even in greeting. At holiday ceremonies and weddings, Orthodox Jewish men and women typically sit in separate areas….

“The proposed gender segregation on Bnei Brak’s streets originates from the latter issue. That neighborhood is home to banquet halls usually booked for weddings, and local rabbis want guests to be able to arrive already separated by gender….

“Previous attempts to impose gender segregation have been struck down by the country’s Supreme Court. A 2011 ruling said there could be no mandatory segregation on public buses, even those serving predominantly conservative neighborhoods, and that there must be no pressure on women to sit at the back of the bus….

“On Thursday, the Knesset approved a law that essentially permits universities and colleges to offer segregated master’s and doctoral degree programs…. Local universities protested the law ahead of the vote because, they argued, it could undermine academic standards in the fields like medicine and health and actually make it more difficult for women to access highly specialized professions…

“The vote on segregating university courses was one of the last in the current session of the Israeli parliament. The Knesset has been dissolved in order to pave the way for the general election on October 27.”

This is SO crazy and incomprehensible! Even though the Bible seems to indicate that at the time of Christ’s return, gender segregation still exists in synagogues, it does NOT approve of such practice.

Another Red Heifer?

Israel365News wrote on July 23:

“… the National Red Heifer Institute is announcing the birth of a second red heifer [in the herd of Shai Givon, a farmer with the Institute]… Asked how two red heifers could be born so close together, Givon said he sees the timing as more than coincidence…. [it] ‘gives the strong sense that God is pressing us to accelerate the path toward building the Temple. The real question is whether we want to.’…

“The question now, Ben Tzvi said, is whether the Jewish people want the Temple built, and what each person is doing to advance that process speedily in our days. Yehuda Ben Tzvi [is] one of the Institute’s leaders…”

A red heifer is not biblically necessary for the building of the Temple.

Dubious USA-Saudi-Arabia Nuclear Deal

NBC News wrote on July 23:

“President Donald Trump said Thursday that a nuclear deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia requires the kingdom to normalize relations with Israel— a significant condition not previously mentioned as the deal was announced… Trump added that the deal ‘is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords.’..

“An agreement to normalize ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia had previously been a U.S. requirement for any deal allowing the Gulf kingdom to enrich uranium, but Saudi leaders have long insisted that would not be possible without meaningful progress toward a Palestinian state…

“There was no mention of the Abraham Accords when the Energy Department announced the deal on X on Wednesday… The oil-rich kingdom did not mention Trump’s stipulations in its own release about the agreement.. Nuclear enrichment is part of the process of both civil nuclear power generation and, at higher grades of enrichment, the development of nuclear weapons.”

Deluded LGBT Activists

Daily Mail wrote on July 28:

“Across most of the Muslim world, being gay is not a picnic. In Afghanistan , the Taliban imposes the death penalty on anyone convicted of same-sex relations, including public stonings.

“Saudi Arabia and Iran have also executed large numbers of gay people in recent years, including by public stoning – while several other countries, among them tourist favourites such as Egypt, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, all keep the death penalty for homosexuality on their statute books.

“When Isis controlled parts of Iraq and Syria during the 2010s, the authorities murdered gay men by throwing them off tall buildings. In Gaza, today, Hamas tortures and executes gay people for ‘moral violations’. (Yet Israel, anathema to many Left-wingers, hosts some of the largest and safest gay pride parades in the world.)…

“So it might seem odd that huge numbers of ‘LGBT’ campaigners have in recent years become bizarrely obsessed with Islam… Last weekend’s atrocity in Berlin should be the moment the ‘LGBTQ’ lobby, and the wider Left, recognise their true enemy: radical Islam, and the issues the West now faces having imported millions of people from distant lands who – to put it mildly – hold different opinions on sexual liberalism.”

Where Is Venezuela’s Money?

The Financial Times wrote on July 23:

“The Trump administration has collected more than $13bn in revenues from Venezuelan oil sales this year, according to FT calculations, but has said almost nothing about what has happened to the money… six months after the US seized control of the funds, economists say the evidence of a recovery in Venezuela is relatively muted — a potential sign that the US has not sent all the revenues back to Caracas.

“Washington has given diverging accounts of what it is doing with the money, ranging from an executive order describing its own role as ‘custodial’ to President Donald Trump saying the US was ‘making a lot of money’ from Venezuelan oil. US lawmakers from both parties are starting to pressure the administration to explain where it has gone and what it is doing to prevent corruption around its allocation….

“Shortly after the January raid, President Trump said the revenues ‘will be controlled by me.’” 

“The fate of Venezuela’s oil money has become even more pressing in the aftermath of the two devastating earthquakes on June 24. The UN estimates the cost of damage to buildings and infrastructure alone will be $37bn.”

Fishy indeed…

US Bans Foreign-Made Humanoid Robots

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 29:

“The United States has announced a ban on the import of foreign-made humanoid and quadruped robots in a move which will likely exclude Chinese manufacturers from the US market and could strain tensions between Washington and Beijing…

“Currently…, US robot exports remain in their hundreds while Unitree and AGIBOT, two of China’s biggest advanced robotics companies, each shipped more than 5,000 humanoid robots in 2025 alone. Beyond the industrial market effects, the FCC ban could also have diplomatic consequences…

“The US has already banned imports of Chinese-made drones and is considering restrictions on Chinese open-source artificial intelligence (AI) models, citing cybersecurity concerns including espionage, surveillance and data collection.”

More Threats, Violence and Attacks

Fox News wrote on July 26:

“Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Sunday that Tehran would maintain its support for Hezbollah as a strategic policy in a letter to the terror group’s secretary-general, while declaring there was no path forward except ‘jihad and resistance.’…

“Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi accused Ukraine of attacking an Iranian commercial vessel and killing a sailor, warning Sunday that the incident “cannot go unanswered.”

Newsmax wrote on July 29:

“Iran launched a barrage of missiles at American forces in the Middle East early Wednesday as the U.S. partnered with Saudi Arabia to strike Tehran-backed militias in neighboring Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters.

“The flare-up on multiple fronts… raised the risk of a return to all-out war. It also underscored the difficulty of winding down a five-month conflict that has jolted the world economy and is unpopular among Americans. The fighting was also likely to add to concerns that the U.S. is further drawing down already diminished stockpiles of sophisticated munitions needed to defend its bases and allies…. The renewed hostilities sent oil prices spiking…”

Trump’s reaction was telling, but his threats become more and more empty hyperbole. The New York Post wrote on July 29:

“President Trump vowed Wednesday to ‘beat the f–king s–t out of’ Iran in response to a surprise missile attack by the Islamic Republic targeting US troops stationed in Jordan… Still, despite the plans for additional retaliation, Trump added that negotiations with Iran will continue.”  

A North America Air Filter Barrier?

Daily Mail wrote on July 26:

“President Donald Trump has doubled down on his threat to build an air filter barrier between the United States and Canada… The president on Monday imposed a 50 percent tariff on Canada over wildfire smoke which has been choking US cities.

“A Trump administration official said the US president had also requested that his aides look into additional tariffs on Canada after accusing the country of ‘coming in and poisoning our air.’”

Punitive Tariffs on Lettuce?

Bild Online reported on July 25:

“US President Donald Trump (80) has announced high tariffs against Mexico due to a wave of diarrhea in the US. US health authorities traced the illnesses in nine states to a parasite found in lettuce from Mexico…

“However, the cause of the illnesses has not been conclusively proven. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to suspect chopped iceberg lettuce from a Mexican supplier as the source of the parasite—even though test results have not yet confirmed this.”

More Tariffs

In the latest attempt to circumvent Congress, Trump imposed new tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on goods from more than 80 countries, including China, Canada, and the 27 European Union member states. The trumped-up, crazy justification is a violation of forced labor laws—something which Trump never even dreamed of before. And is Trump imposing those tariffs because of humanitarian reasons to force those countries to abide by these alleged labor law violations? Of course not!

The Guardian wrote on July 23 that the new tariffs are most likely illegal, and if they are challenged in court, they will be overturned. It also said:

“The New York Federal Reserve estimated that 90% of the economic burden imposed by tariffs was passed on to US consumers and businesses…  72% of Americans believe tariffs have had a negative impact on consumers, including 64% of Republican voters.”

How the IRS Persecutes Innocent Americans

The Washington Times wrote on July 24:

“A 76-year-old Tennessee farmer, Wilson Perry Kirby, mistakenly received a $20,000 refund from the IRS in 2022, and when he tried to return it, the IRS wouldn’t let him. So he hired a tax expert to take care of the matter. But that didn’t work, either. Instead, the IRS charged him interest and took his entire 2025 tax refund amount as payment — as payment for the $20,000 the IRS mistakenly sent him in 2022 and subsequently refused to take back… This is why Americans hate the IRS…..

“Someone within the IRS knew Kirby’s accountant tried to return the $20,000. Yet someone within the IRS — more likely, a group of somebodies — made the decision to refuse the return of money; refused to acknowledge the bureaucratic error; and instead, chose to criminally, wickedly, deceptively seize Kirby’s 2025 refund monies. Someone within the IRS offices knew the IRS had made a mistake, but rather than fix the mistake, decided to persecute an innocent American individual. This isn’t just a bureaucratic nightmare.

“This is a jail-able offense.”

“Someone within the IRS needs to pay the consequences for this persecution, and those consequences should include fines, fees, firing and imprisonment.”

The entire IRS needs to be fired. It is a nuisance and completely incompetent. Some prominent politicians have asked for the abolishment of the IRS—with good reasons—but have not been successful at all.

The National Enquirer added on July 23:

“Kirby’s exhausted every avenue for help. ‘I’ve tried the president, governor, mayor. They don’t mind asking you to vote for them, but when you need help you can’t get ahold of nobody,’ he said… the IRS letters never stopped. A notice sent in early July demanded he pay up to $4,300 in interest on money he says he never spent, threatening property seizure if he didn’t comply. The agency had already confiscated his $1,800 refund earlier this year.”

The Daily Mail wrote on July 23:

“Honest widower, 76, alerted IRS after they accidentally sent him $20k refund he wasn’t owed… now its idiot staff are ruining his finances and threatening to seize his farm…”

The arrogance of the IRS is abominable. According to some reports, there are literally thousands upon thousands of cases pending which are being mishandled by the IRS, where taxpayers are deprived of money they are entitled to. But a reckoning of such misconduct will come!

How to Get Away With Murder in the US

The Rutherford Institute wrote on July 22:

“Having burned through billions of dollars and depleted critical munitions stockpiles, the Pentagon is running out of money… Once again, the government is looking to the American people for a taxpayer-funded bailout—this time to the tune of $67 billion (caused largely by the Iran war). Nor is the $67 billion emergency infusion the end of it. Trump’s fiscal year 2027 budget calls for an unprecedented $1.5 trillion in national-defense spending—a staggering increase…

“The Iran war is not merely another example of government waste, although the cost is already staggering… This is government without accountability… American service members are dying in a war that is not making America safer, no matter what Trump insists to the contrary…

“Under Trump, the buck stops nowhere. No one in power pays a personal price. No one admits fault. No one resigns. No one is prosecuted. No one is held accountable. Likewise, in the American Police State, those in power are protected. Those without power bear the consequences. And the machinery of government moves on without accountability… that is how the American Police State gets away with murder.”

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 the contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing to worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.

It is interesting that there are so many phrases in everyday use that can be found in the Bible.   Many may use these phrases without even thinking about where they came from and many may be atheists or agnostics anyway.   Some who may never have even opened the pages of the Bible may be surprised how many phrases contained in the Word of God have become everyday phrases in our society.

In one internet forum, a contributor observed that “In general the bible is ignored by modern society. It is ignored largely because people think its moral standards and helpful counsel is hopelessly out of date. Most people want to live their lives without anyone telling them what to do, or what not to do. That has not changed since the Garden of Eden.”   These are just some of the reasons why some never read or consult the Word of God.

With the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI), so much information has now become even more available at the touch of a button.   An AI overview acknowledges that there are, therefore, challenges and considerations as follows:

Accuracy and Verification: AI models can produce incorrect information (hallucinations), necessitating human verification, particularly when dealing with complex or niche topics.

Information Overload: Despite the ability to summarize, the sheer volume of information generated can become a “knowledge epidemic”.

Over-reliance: Increased reliance on AI for quick answers may hinder the development of in-depth critical thinking skills.

We have to be careful when looking at their overviews on everything, as they may just be quoting from one source or several sources, which might be incorrect or totally wrong.  However, in the case of phrases in the Bible that have become normal in society today, it can be simple to compare with or check with the Bible itself.

Therefore, in this new series, we will be giving just some of so many examples of phrases from the Bible that are part and parcel of our everyday language.   These are readily available on the internet but many may not even have thought about the connection between language from centuries ago, which was translated into English and which has become part and parcel of the way we speak today.

We will also give examples which are not found in the Bible per se, but which are close and express biblical principles, and we will quote examples which are not in the Bible and even contradict biblical teaching, even though some people think that they are in God’s Word.

The blind leading the blind

It describes a situation where a person ignorant of a given subject gets advice and help from someone just as ignorant (Wikipedia). If things are not going well or according to plan, criticising leadership in government, mainstream churches, large corporations and businesses can become the norm and a regular habit.

We could apply this saying to many leaders in the world today as they do not consult the Word of God in their decision making.   We only have to look at the sorry mess the world is in to see how bad decision making has been.   Jesus was talking about the spiritual leaders of His time which is so applicable to so many spiritual leaders today!

In Matthew 15:14, Christ warns us: “Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

Christ’s warning applies likewise, and perhaps even more so, to the many incompetent political leaders in this world.

Escaping by the skin of your teeth

When we have a narrow escape by just avoiding whatever danger there was and by the slimmest of margins, we can say that we escaped by the skin of our teeth. It may describe a situation where failure was expected or highly likely, and the success was extremely close, almost not happening, and it could happen in many situations in which we may find ourselves.

In Job 19:20, Job exclaims: “My bone clings to my skin and to my flesh; I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.”

A fly in the ointment 

Today, we use this expression in any situation that may cause a problem with someone’s plan(s). Solomon speaks of the stench of a fly in a perfumer’s oil,contrasting it to a small problem that spoils something valuable.  It can also be an expression for a hitch in a plan, especially one that was not at first apparent.

In Ecclesiastes 10:1, King Solomon writes: “Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.”

A stumbling block

The first mention of stumbling blocks in the Bible is in Leviticus 19:14, where the admonition was not to put a stumbling block in front of the blind.   Wikipediaobserves: “…a stumbling stone or tripwire; anything that makes someone trip and fall. This figuratively means ‘something that causes someone to lose faith in Jesus’.  Of course, today, with the Bible being seen as outdated or irrelevant, many will just see a stumbling block in everyday terms in their own lives such as an obstacle, hindrance, or barrier that prevents progress, agreement, or action.   It is certainly a phrase commonly used by many.  But the Bible speaks about not putting stumbling blocks in front of those new to the faith.

In Romans 14:13, Paul cautions and encourages us: “Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.”

A drop in the bucket

This is quite a common saying that implies that something is small or insignificant.   It is a tiny amount compared with what is needed or expected.  It is trivial, a pittance, that on its own is unlikely to make any difference.   An example would be where a government is sending tons of food to a poor country but, on its own, that would be just a drop in the bucket compared to what is needed.  Of course, if many nations did the same, it could start to become significant.

It refers to something very insignificant, without making a tremendous difference. This is how the nations are in the eyes of God. They can try to usurp God’s plan and reject Him; it will all come to nothing. Isaiah 40:15 reads: “Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, And are counted as the small dust on the scales. Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing.”

The writing is on the wall

It is an idiom indicating that there are clear, inescapable signs of imminent failure, misfortune or downfall and that, unless some unforeseen circumstances arise, the inevitable will happen.

Certain events seem to lead inevitably to a specific outcome. When you see something that predicts an obvious conclusion, you might say the writing is on the wall.

The phrase ironically describes a situation that wasn’t so obvious at the time. No one knew what the writing on the wall in Daniel 5 meant, until God gave Daniel the interpretation that the kingdom would be taken away from the king (Daniel 5:25-28).

In Daniel 5:5, we read about Belshazzar’s Feast: “In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.”

A leopard cannot change its spots

Of course, it is biologically impossible for a leopard to change its spots.   Ginger software observes that “the phrase ‘a leopard never changes its spots’ means that it’s impossible for one to change their character, even if they will try very hard. The expression may also be used to explain the idea that no one can change their innate nature.”

People can get stuck in their ways and cannot change, just like a leopard can’t change its spots. It’s something we can say that means a person’s character, especially if it is bad, will not change, even if they pretend that it will.   Of course, when someone is called by God to His Way of Life, they should change a great deal; nevertheless, they are still subject to the pulls of the flesh and the constant barrage of negative broadcasting from Satan and his demons. And, of course, only a tiny fraction of the world’s population are being called to God’s Way of Life today.

The famous saying can be found in Jeremiah 13:23: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or a leopard its spots?”

Salt of the earth

If someone is referred to as the “salt of the earth,” they are deemed to be a good person. You can count on them. They are dependable and honest. It describes humble, straightforward individuals who possess good values and are dependable. At least, that’s how the phrase is often used today.

Jesus said His followers were to be the salt of the earth. This means that they had to have high standards.

He tells us in Matthew 5:13: “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”

Wolves in sheep’s clothing

This idiom today is, in the world, about those who appear harmless, kind, or trustworthy but are actually dangerous, deceitful, or malicious. With many scams that are rife in our current society, this is a particularly important saying to keep in mind.

In a religious situation, this can refer specifically to those who claim to be literal “prophets,” or leaders. It also applies, in general, to those who make false religious claims. A true Church of God member who “rightly divides the word of truth” (compare 2 Timothy 2:15) and carefully studies the Bible will be able to identify false prophets. 

In Matthew 7:15-16, Christ warns us: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?’

Oh you of little faith 

This is a phrase that many can use in a secular setting as a friendly or cordial good-natured approach to another who may doubt what has been promised, or an expected conclusion or consequence. Jesus used this phrase a number of times to His disciples as a means and expression of encouragement at a time when they may have been going through trials and problems that tested their faith. But He also reminded them that they had to allow their faith to grow to master tremendous challenges. Please see Matthew 6:30: “Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”

Also note Matthew 8:26, 16:8 and Luke 12:28.

A man after my own heart

People say this all the time, referring to someone they admire. In 1 Samuel 13:14, God said this about David, as He recognized his willing heart to repent.

If you’re without sin, cast the first stone

Christ used this somewhat identical phrase when He told the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees who accused the woman caught in adultery and who wanted to trick Him. The direct saying was, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first” (John 8:7).

In the twinkling of an eye 

It describes a very brief moment. Paul uses it to show the tremendously fast change from mortal to immortal when Christ returns. “… we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). Even science fiction writers like Brian Aldiss used this term as the title of one of His books.

The truth will set you free

In general terms, we should recognize that it is always safer to tell the Truth than to resort to a lie, because sin will find us out, and unrepentant liars will end up in the Lake of Fire. Christ used this phrase in John 8:32 for His disciples in this context: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Free from error and deception.

He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword

Not an exact quote, but close. Christ told Peter to put his sword away when he was willing to defend Christ against those who wanted to arrest and kill Him. He said: “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52). The warning is repeated in Revelation 13:10: … he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword.”

(To Be Continued)

Lead Writers: Brian Gale (United Kingdom) and Norbert Link

Compiled by Norbert Link

“Fauci’s Responsibility… But Many Others Are Guilty Too!” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary: 

Anthony Fauci was questioned this week about Corona, but refused to give answers. However, he was not the only one who was greatly responsible for the terrible restrictions imposed on the people during that time—and the push by both administrations for measures which were questionable at best. But the corona hysteria is not over yet, because it is big business for Pharma. And so are many other “methods” when it comes to “treatment” of sicknesses. What is lacking in this country is faith in God’s mighty power and His justice.

“Faucis Verantwortung… doch auch viele andere sind schuldig!” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.

Kalon Mitchell’s sermonette has been posted, titled, “How Much Fruit Are You Bearing?” 

Here is a summary:

Spiritual growth can feel vague and hard to track. This sermonette examines what Christ teaches about pruning and bearing fruit in John 15, and asks whether our own growth is something we can actually see and measure, week by week.

Michael Link’s sermon has been posted, titled, “Forging Ahead.” 

Here is a summary:

By using the analogy of chess and focusing on the pawn, we can see throughout the Bible how God chose “regular common” individuals to fulfill His purpose. At first glance, the pawn is considered the weakest piece, and it is only able to move forward; however, its significance increases as it reaches the other side of the chessboard, becoming more valuable by reaching its full potential. Just like us, we have a similar goal in life as we move forward, learning from mistakes along the way, so we can ultimately reach our goal of eternal life.

Michael Link’s German sermon for this Sabbath has been posted. It is titled, “Brot vom Himmel.” (“Bread From Heaven.”)

Christoph Sperzel’s first German split sermon has been posted, titled, “Die richtige oder wahre Beständigkeit.“ (“The Right and True Constancy.“)

Thilo Hanstein’s second German split sermon has been posted, titled, “Wahrheit—ein nebensächlicher Wert?“ (“Truth—a Value of Secondary Importance?”)

On July 25, 2026, Kalon Mitchell will present the sermonette, titled, “How Much Fruit Are You Bearing?”, and Michael Link will give the sermon, titled, “Forging Ahead.”

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.

The closer you are to God, the more immediately He can respond to any issue or trials you may be going through. Peter’s example of walking on water is evidence of this. We read in Matthew 14:28-31: “And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ So He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’”

Even though Peter began to sink, he was already so close to Christ that He reached out and saved him from drowning. 

It is important for us to remain close to God in order to get such a response when facing trials or imminent danger. Prayer is one tool given to us by God to achieve such a state. We read about Christ getting up early and going to a quiet place to pray. “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed” (Mark 1:35).

He did this to remain close to his Father, the Most High God. We have other examples of God’s servants who prayed regularly to maintain close contact with God. Daniel 6:10 tells us: “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed [prohibiting to pray to God], he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.”

Notice, this was his daily habit since early days. 

With all the distractions in this day and age, we must not neglect to follow the examples left to us in the Bible for our own good. 1 Thessalonians  5:17 encourages us to “pray without ceasing.” This is an admonishment to persist in prayer even when it is not answered immediately by God. 

Certain frustration may set in when prayers are not answered in what we may feel is an adequate time. In some cases, they may not be answered in the way we want them to, as shown in Paul’s request to be healed by what appears to be some eye issue.  What did Christ say to him? “Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9). 

So, the reality is we may not get the answer we expect now; and when it comes to healing, some of us may have to wait until the resurrection for God to fulfill His promise of healing. That doesn’t mean we should ask God for healing once and not ask again. Rather, we should be persistent as shown in the parable below.

Luke 18:1-6 reads:  “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: ‘There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, “Get justice for me from my adversary.” And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, “Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.” Then the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unjust judge said.’””

Furthermore, when praying about someone, we should continue until God heals them or until He makes it clear that He will not do so in this life, as He did in the case of the Apostle Paul. 

Prayer is a powerful tool we have in order to maintain a close relationship with God; so let us ensure we are not letting down in this important area of our lives.

By Norbert Link

We begin by reporting on Britain’s new Prime Minister Andy Burnham who attacked right away Margaret Thatcher and received praise from Donald Trump; continue with our coverage on the horrible continuation and totally insane spreading of the Iran war; and speak on Trump’s primary address which constituted a wasted opportunity.

We address at length the downfall of one of Germany’s leading politicians, if not the most powerful politician, Jens Spahn, but it would be premature to conclude that his downfall is permanent. “Deadly wounds” can be healed. In fact, Spahn’s incredible pride and his past scandals mirror those of Donald Trump. 

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “The Downfall of Germany’s Most Powerful Politician.”

Speaking of Trump, we report on his effort to destroy the World Cup, showing his blatant arrogance again, and conclude with FIFA’s hypocrisy and that of Trump’s buddy, FIFA’s President Gianni Infantino.

PM Andy Burnham Attacks Margaret Thatcher

Fox News wrote on July 18:

“Britain’s… Prime Minister Andy Burnham [who was sworn in on Monday]  used his first speech as Labour leader Friday to condemn the economic model established in the 1980s by Margaret Thatcher and promise greater public control of essential services… [He] said that Britain had taken ‘a series of wrong turns in the 1980s,’ when political power was centralized and economic power was transferred to private companies. … Burnham’s speech offered the clearest indication yet that the former Greater Manchester mayor intends to move the party… toward greater state ownership, expanded council and social housing, giving more power to regional government and increased state involvement in essential services…

“Although he did not explicitly advocate returning Britain to the 1970s or refer to the late Lady Thatcher by name, free-market critics portrayed his attack on her reforms as an effort to revive the state-dominated economic policies that preceded her government…. The ideological shift presents an immediate political gamble. Burnham must unite Labour’s competing factions, reassure financial markets and respond to Reform UK’s growing challenge — all while taking office without winning a national election.”

The Telegraph wrote on July 20:

“Burnham’s attack on Thatcher ignores the rot she inherited, and the transformation delivered. [The new] Labour leader’s premise is profoundly misleading, and a familiar Left-leaning narrative…”

Attacking Thatcher will not fly too well for many Brits.

Trump Praises Burnham!

The Sun wrote on July 19:

“DONALD Trump has branded the UK a ‘poverty-stricken disaster’as he praised Andy Burnham over reported plans to open new North Sea oil drilling… In a Truth Social post the US president said: ‘The People of Aberdeen, in Scotland, are dancing in the streets because the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has stated that he will be opening up, all the way, the invaluable North Sea Oil!’

“Trump described drilling the North Sea as ‘one of the Greatest Sources of quality Oil on Earth’. The commander-in-chief also said the drilling would be an economic boost for Brits. He added: ‘Britain pays Norway Billions of Dollars a year to buy its Oil, which they get from a less valuable part of the North Sea. How ridiculous is that!’..

“Going ahead with drilling would also go against Labour’s 2024 manifesto, under Sir Keir Starmer, which pledged not to issue new licences but to honour existing ones.”

Church of England Debates Israel

The Jerusalem Post wrote on July 13:

“The Church of England’s General Synod on Monday voted overwhelmingly in favor of a motion to ‘hear’ a Palestinian Christian text that describes the State of Israel as ‘a colonial enterprise built on racism.’

“The General Synod is the national assembly and legislative body of the Church of England. It is the only body alongside the UK Parliament empowered to pass national laws for England, and is responsible for setting church budgets and shaping doctrine…

“The Synod ran out of time before the motion could be put to a vote. It will return to the agenda at the next Synod in November. The debate itself, however, showcased multiple conflicting perspectives…”

Fighting With No End

Fortune wrote on July 18:

“Iran just crossed Trump’s red line for resuming all-out war as fighting continues to escalate with no end in sight.”

The President of Iran has stated that total war has begun.

Trump’s Useless Attacks

Politico wrote on July 22:

“Trump’s air war in Iran may be reaching its limits. President Donald Trump is trying to put more pressure on Tehran — but the regime isn’t budging, so far, and there’s no clear endgame for the war.”

Politico explained that air wars have never led to a successful conclusion of a war.

Hiding True Numbers of Wounded US Soldiers

Daily Mail wrote on July 20:

“Dozens of US troops were wounded in three Iranian strikes in Jordan that the Pentagon kept quiet in the week before Friday’s attack that killed two American soldiers and left one missing. [Another American soldier was killed in northern Iraq on Saturday during the controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.]

“The attacks damaged multiple American helicopters and were never publicly disclosed,… US Central Command (CENTCOM) said last week it was retaliating against Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, never mentioning the strikes on American troops in Jordan. The discrepancy exposes the tension between what the Pentagon says it must keep secret to protect operational security and its obligation to keep the public informed about the war. 

“CENTCOM is not required to release information about injured troops. … Spokesman Sean Parnell dismissed claims of a cover-up as ‘baseless and malicious’’. Trump’s confrontation with Iran is spiraling toward a far wider conflict as American deaths climb…”

All the American propaganda cannot hide the fact that the war spins out of control and HAS BEEN LOST! According to Iran, the USA has lost 40 soldiers and 400 helicopters in the war.

What Americans Should Not Know

The Jerusalem Post wrote on July 20:

“The Trump administration has… failed to report the cost of weapons used against Iran, and how the regime has retained and rebuilt its current missile capabilities… Last month, wounded US soldiers also told CBS that their injuries were more severe than had been designated by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth…  

“Sergeant First Class Cory Hicks was one of the dozens hurt in the strike in Kuwait that killed six soldiers. He suffered severe shrapnel wounds and underwent emergency surgeries in Kuwait. A US Army official had told his wife that his injuries were ‘minor,’ he told CBS. CBS cited Hicks as saying that he ‘absolutely’ believed that the Pentagon has tried to downplay the incident.”

Cost of War

ABC News wrote on July 21:

“Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told congressmembers on Capitol Hill that the war in Iran has cost the U.S. $37.5 billion so far.”

Hegseth is currently asking for a historic $1.5 trillion defense budget. He said that without those funds, “we face critical shortfalls.”

The Houthis Block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait

CNBC wrote on July 20:

“Houthi militants in Yemen on Monday declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia effective immediately, threatening to exacerbate the oil supply disruption triggered by Iran’s attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

“The Houthis have repeatedly threatened to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait during the U.S.-Iran war. The strait is a choke point for commercial ship traffic that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and global markets.

“The Saudis have diverted millions of barrels of oil per day through a pipeline to an export terminal on the Red Sea. Those exports have acted as a crucial relief valve for global oil markets during the U.S.-Iran war….”

Reuters added on July 20:

“Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis said on Monday they were imposing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, a move that opens a new front against the United States in its war on Iran and widens the threat to global energy supplies and trade beyond the Gulf…

“The full closure of the Bab el-Mandeb strait would reduce global oil supply by 7% as it would leave most of Saudi oil exports unable to leave the region. The disruption would add to the massive cut to global oil flows from the war in the Gulf, which has already reduced shipments by 10% of global supply.”

Deadly Iran War Continues and Spreads…

Daily Mail wrote on July 17:

“Iran has told its citizens to turn off their air conditioning during peak hours as the country’s power grid came under strain amid US strikes… Donald Trump ordered the US military to hit Iranian bridges throughout coastal cities along the Strait of Hormuz… Trump has threatened to broaden the campaign to Iran’s power plants and bridges unless Tehran returns to talks…

“The conflict spiraled last night as Iran targeted Kuwait’s drinking water and power plants with drones and missiles after Trump caused widespread chaos throughout Iran with devastating attacks on their bridges and airports.

“Kuwait is an oil-rich desert nation where everyday life depends on desalination plants, which produce about 90 percent of the country’s drinking water by converting seawater from the Gulf… Kuwait’s government has urged residents to ration electricity to ease strain on the national grid during the height of summer, as soaring temperatures push demand to its annual peak…

“The renewed fighting has been deadly, killing at least 30 people since last week, while oil prices have spiked sharply.”

This is total insanity. Ungodly men do NOT know the way of peace.

Trump’s Illegal Threats

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 22:

“US President Donald Trump has issued a social media post threatening that the US will start striking Iranian infrastructure in response to future attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. ‘From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT, including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of Tehran,’ Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. 

“Targeting key civilian infrastructure, such as power generation systems or bridges, is deemed a war crime in international humanitarian law, as is deliberately targeting civilian or commercial shipping.”

Oil Prices Have Rocketed

Daily Mail wrote on July 22:

“Oil prices have rocketed to their highest level in more than a month after Marco Rubio warned the US would keep striking Iranfor as long as it throttles the Strait of Hormuz… Energy markets were being squeezed on three fronts as chaos hit the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea and the Black Sea.

“At least two oil tankers bound for the Bab al-Mandeb chokepoint in the Red Sea turned back overnight after Iran-backed Houthi rebels threatened to blockade Saudi Arabia, choking a route that handled 12 percent of global oil flows before the war. Ukrainian attacks on Russian shipping have meanwhile disrupted a third artery, with a key Black Sea terminal halting deliveries of Kazakh oil after strikes on tankers.”

This world is doomed.

“Trump Reality Check Reveals Devastating Record of Damage”

Focus wrote on July 22:

“In a democracy, those in power should do what they say. Donald Trump has violated this principle, as a reality check shows. The US President’s record of damage is devastating… He has violated the supreme principle of democracy—telling the people what you think and doing what you say—in five key areas…

“His promise sounded alluring: ‘From this day forward, our country will flourish again and be respected throughout the world,’ he had promised at the start of his second term… A year and a half later, Trump is a man without friends. He has fallen out with his immediate neighbors—Mexicans and Canadians. He has snubbed his NATO partners to such an extent that some are no longer willing to share their intelligence with the Pentagon… There is no longer a ‘Trump camp’ in Europe that he could rely on. His last friend, Viktor Orbán in Hungary, was voted out of office. The ‘Trump perfume’ no longer seemed alluring, but rather repulsive—like the secretions of a polecat…

“In his inaugural address, he promised: ‘I will instruct all members of my cabinet to fight record-high inflation and rapidly lower costs and prices’… Since that statement, inflation has risen from three percent to a peak of 4.2 percent in May 2026, and currently stands at 3.5 percent… prices… in Trump’s USA [continue] to rise unabated. For instance, the price of ground meat has risen by 24 percent since he took office. Orange juice: up nine percent. Gasoline: up 31 percent. Electricity: up six percent. Milk: up 7.5 percent…

“[Another statement:] ‘Jobs and factories will come roaring back to our country.’… Industrial jobs shrank from 19.6 million in June 1979 to 12.6 million in June 2026—a decline of 36 percent. This process was not reversed during his second term but continued. Another 75,000 blue-collar jobs were lost…

“At the ‘Liberation Day’ event in the White House Rose Garden, Trump was still confident: ‘It is up to us to prosper, using trillions of dollars to cut our taxes and pay down our national debt. And it will all happen very quickly.’… The only thing that happened quickly during his second term was the accumulation of debt. During his second term, he drove the debt level up from the $36 trillion seen in the final year of Joe Biden’s presidency to a [projected] $45 trillion in 2029… [For] the first time in over a century, the USA no longer holds a triple-A rating from any of the major agencies. Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase—the world’s most powerful banker—said earlier this week that he could not currently recommend buying long-term US government bonds. Yet, reluctance to buy drives up interest rate premiums—and with them, US debt…

“In his inaugural address, he promised: ‘We will measure our success not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars we end—and perhaps most importantly: by the wars we are not drawn into in the first place.’… After 547 days in office, the conclusion is clear: Trump has caused explosions and clashes in every direction. Above all, the war against Iran that he initiated and the threats issued against the civilian population will… be remembered… There are no signs of a quick end to the war—and thus a normalization of energy prices.

“Bottom line: American democracy cannot be satisfied with this record of damage. While the president provides a daily spectacle for the media, he is not delivering to his citizens what he promised them…”

And so, Trump has already completely destroyed American democracy.

Trump’s Address a Wasted Opportunity

The New York Post Editorial Board wrote on July 17:

“Election security is a legitimate issue, but President Donald Trump’s primetime speech on the issue was a dud that won’t even help pass the SAVE Act that aims to address the problem. And even most Americans who share his concerns would’ve preferred to hear more about the economy or the war. Trump himself didn’t seem to have his heart in it. His points didn’t always hit home, either: The Chinese have gathered more than 200 million voter files? OK, but what can they do with the info? It ‘includes names, addresses, phone numbers, political party preferences,’ the president reports. But much of that is available in the phone book, and more can be purchased from a host of sources. And if he’s that upset about it, shouldn’t he be raising hell with his Xi Jinping?

“Our electoral system has major vulnerabilities: States like California have gone bananas regarding how they distribute, collect and count ballots; many fail to prune their rolls of people who’ve died or moved away. But there’s still no hard evidence of voter fraud extensive enough to make a difference in any election, barring a very few extremely local races.

“We too favor tighter election protocols, voter-ID laws and other provisions of the SAVE Act, but Republicans don’t have the votes to get it through the Senate and they won’t get them anytime soon. Most important: Election security is nowhere near the top of the list of America’s priorities right now.

“The public’s attention, even to our president, is a limited commodity. A major address demands a major issue, and rehashing horror stories about changes to Michigan voter-registration rules in 2020 ain’t it. In less than four months, Americans will decide what the last two years of Trump’s presidency are going to be about: Growing the economy and creating peace — or impeachment, investigation and socialism.

“If you don’t put that choice front-and-center, Mr. President, the GOP won’t win even if they’re the safest elections ever.”

It seems Trump is totally out of touch with reality and the concerns of the American people. It is hard to see how Republicans could win the midterm elections.

Trump Starts New Trade War With Canada

NPR wrote on July 21:

“President Donald Trump on Monday imposed 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods, declaring that Canada has unfairly discriminated against American autos, alcohol and dairy products. The move could unleash a new wave of economic chaos, with risks of higher inflation and further fraying of relations between two nations that had been closely woven together before Trump’s return to the White House. The administration official previewing the action said that Canada was one of the only nations other than China that retaliated against Trump’s previous tariffs and must be held accountable….

“The new tariffs carry serious political and economic risks for Trump ahead of the November midterm elections for control of Congress. His ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs last year in April provoked a financial market meltdown over concerns about inflation and a recession, prompting him to walk back the rates for a period of negotiation. The Supreme Court ruled this February that Trump had lacked the legal authority to impose the tariffs by declaring an economic emergency, causing the administration to find alternative ways to raise import taxes based on a series of legal authorities…

“The president maintains that the costs created by tariffs will cause manufacturing to relocate to the U.S., though there is little evidence of that in the economic data. The new 50% tariffs would exclude energy products, potash, fish and critical minerals, but they would include goods that had previously been protected from import taxes by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. That 2020 trade pact was not renewed by the U.S.”

Total stupidity… Donald Trump… the modern King Midas In Reverse! Trump has now announced that higher tariffs will also be enforced against 60 countries, including members of the EU.

Trump’s Dangerous Arrangements With Saudi Arabia

The Associated Press wrote on July 22:

“President  Donald Trump has approved an agreement with Saudi Arabia that could potentially provide the kingdom with uranium enrichment capability for its civilian nuclear program… The deal is expected to last 30 years and is also expected to involve U.S. firms in developing the program. The deal could allow for the building of a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia… But the deal, which is expected to be submitted to Congress for review, could face headwinds among lawmakers who fear that helping the Saudis fulfill their long-standing desire to enrich their own uranium would open new rounds of nuclear proliferation and competition.”

The New York Times wrote on July 22:

“The agreement will require review by Congress, which under the Atomic Energy Act has the power to vote a resolution of disapproval. But as a practical matter, the agreement would likely pass, because Congress would have to assemble a veto-proof [two-thirds] majority to override Mr. Trump’s initiative.

“Nonetheless, debate over the accord is likely to be fierce. To get the deal done with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country’s 40-year-old de facto leader, Mr. Trump had to agree to terms that may limit international inspectors from going to any sites in the country that they think could be a pathway to diverting fuel to weapons projects..

“Prince Mohammed has vowed he would build nuclear weapons if Iran does so, even insisting in one interview he would do so ‘without a doubt.’”

Saudi Arabia will become a fierce enemy of Israel… and possibly the USA. Following the uproar, Trump suddenly announced for the first time that Saudi-Arabia has to first improve its relationship with Israel and become a member of the Abraham Accords. This will not happen.

Jens Spahn’s Controversy and Hypocrisy

Deutsche Welle reported on July 17:

“Conservative politician Jens Spahn and his husband have announced that they have become parents with the help of a surrogate mother in the US… The news has sparked a political debate because such a procedure would be prohibited in Germany.

“A surrogate mother makes her body available to carry a baby to term and is typically paid for doing so. Spahn’s party, the center-right CDU… is staunchly opposed to making this legal in Germany. As recently as February 2026, the party passed a resolution reiterating this at their federal party convention. ‘In light of ethical, legal and practical concerns regarding surrogacy, the CDU of Germany reaffirms its demand that surrogacy — including altruistic models — remain prohibited in Germany in order to prevent abuse, exploitation and health risks,’ read the resolution.

“Jens Spahn, Germany’s former federal Health Minister and currently leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag, was present at the convention. At the time, a surrogate mother based in the US, was already pregnant with the child of Daniel Funke, Spahn’s husband.

“Spahn and his husband don’t have to fear legal consequences. Surrogacy is not prohibited in the US. In Germany, only the doctors and intermediaries involved would be liable to prosecution. It is not illegal in Germany to raise a child who was born abroad to a surrogate mother.

“Throughout his career, Spahn has consistently expressed criticism of surrogacy. In 2015, he told GQ magazine: ‘As a gay man and a Christian, I personally find it very difficult to come to terms with the idea of a “rented womb.”’… In 2020, the opposition neoliberal FDP… sought to initiate a debate on liberalizing Germany’s surrogacy laws, when Spahn was health minister. He opposed the move, citing the CDU’s familiar arguments, but also arguing that surrogacy could lead to ‘particular difficulties in the child’s sense of identity.’ Now, he stands accused of double standards…

“The 46-year-old has weathered plenty of scandals in the past. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was responsible for the overpriced purchase of protective masks, which later led to legal disputes with suppliers worth billions. Although the scandal continues to haunt Spahn to this day, he has remained politically influential.”

Spahn—the “I-First” Man!

Bild Online published the following commentary on July 16:

“There is nothing right about it when one of the leading politicians and power brokers of the Chancellor’s party circumvents German law while abroad—law that he himself—most recently as Health Minister in 2020—actively denied to all Germans: surrogacy…

“For Jens Spahn, it is about Jens Spahn. HE is fulfilling HIS dream by circumventing—legally, yes—HIS German law. Why? Because he can—and because he can afford it. Spahn’s message of hypocrisy: ‘The law applies to you. I circumvent it—I.'”

Did Spahn learn this kind of arrogance from Trump?

Spahn No Longer Tenable

On July 16, Nius published the following commentary:

“Morality ends where double standards begin… As the most powerful Union politician in the legislature, Spahn has become untenable in his office due to this maneuver. This is not a case of accidental drunk driving or a speeding violation; rather, it is a blatant disregard for the law that makes his conduct—and his continued tenure in this post—completely unacceptable…”

Jens Spahn’s End?

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 18:

“Jens Spahn, the parliamentary leader of the ruling conservative bloc in the Bundestag [the CDU], stepped down on Saturday amid a controversy surrounding his decision to have a child via surrogacy…

“This is not the first time Spahn has faced controversy. As Germany’s COVID-era health minister, Spahn was investigated for alleged misuse of public money. However, state prosecutors dropped their investigation into his COVID-era dealings in March. Spahn was seen as a rising star in the conservative bloc, having been re-elected leader of the parliamentary group with 85% of the vote in May.”

However, Spahn was never liked by many in his own party, nor by the nation as a whole. He survived numerous scandals. To count him out now would be clearly premature.

ntv wrote on July 19:

“Spahn acted exactly as one would expect from someone like him: he confirmed judgments and prejudices about career politicians—ranging from dishonesty to hypocrisy and double standards. Instead of informing his party early on that he—and his husband—were becoming fathers with the help of an American woman, he allowed the CDU to reaffirm its opposition to surrogacy at the party conference in February. It was outrageous to leave his own party looking so foolish. Yet Spahn clung to the CDU/CSU parliamentary group leadership even as anger within the CDU erupted with unprecedented intensity. Not even the deputy chair of a local chapter with a handful of members came to his public defense—he is completely discredited.

“Spahn’s behavior demonstrated a level of selfishness and arrogance that was bound to shock the party. His resignation did not stem primarily from an acknowledgment of his questionable conduct, but rather from immense pressure coming from all levels of the CDU. Reportedly, Spahn was still intent on retaining the parliamentary group leadership as late as Saturday morning. It was CDU Chairman and Chancellor Friedrich Merz who persuaded him to resign…”

Spahn: Germany’s Most Unpopular Politician

Nius reported on July 20:

“Even more unpopular than the Chancellor: Following the surrogacy scandal involving Jens Spahn, the CDU politician has slipped to last place in the INSA politician rankings… In the survey, 62 percent expressed a negative view of Spahn; Friedrich Merz received the same score. The Sauerland native leads Spahn only in terms of approval ratings: 15 percent expressed a positive view of the Chancellor, compared to just ten percent for Spahn…

“The top rankings, however, remain unchanged. Germany’s most popular politician remains—undisputed—SPD Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. He is followed in second and third place by the new Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg, Cem Özdemir, and North Rhine-Westphalia Minister-President Hendrik Wüst… the popularity of AfD leader Alice Weidel continues to rise. She has swapped places with Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder, moving from fifth to fourth.”

Spahn’s Successor… Not Without Controversy

ntv reported on July 22:

“Thorsten Frei, Head of the Chancellery, is set to succeed Jens Spahn—who has stepped down—as leader of the Union parliamentary group. CDU and CSU leaders Friedrich Merz and Markus Söder officially nominated the 52-year-old today. All 208 MPs were subsequently informed via text message. They will decide on the appointment during a special session next Wednesday.”

Bild Online wrote on July 22:

“The Magdeburg-based Volksstimme views the nomination of Thorsten Frei (52, CDU) as the new leader of the Union parliamentary group critically. In a commentary, the newspaper writes that Frei—during his time as Minister of the Chancellery—was ‘dangerously close to being the wrong person for the job.’ The Baden-Württemberg native is held responsible for too many communication and coordination mishaps within the federal government. The Volksstimme explains Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s (70, CDU) decision to back Frei primarily by citing his loyalty. Unlike Jens Spahn (46, CDU), Frei is considered an ‘unreservedly loyal confidant of Merz.’ This is precisely what makes him the Chancellor’s preferred candidate. The newspaper emphasizes that this personnel decision cannot be seen as a major breakthrough or a liberating move for the government….

“According to the Handelsblatt, the nomination of Thorsten Frei (52, CDU) as the new leader of the Union parliamentary group is viewed with reservations in some quarters of the Union. In a commentary, the Düsseldorf-based business newspaper writes that, for some Union MPs, his close proximity to Chancellor Friedrich Merz (70) is now seen ‘not as an asset, but as a liability’….

“Journalist Ulf Poschardt (59) of the daily newspaper Die Welt… has criticized the nomination of Thorsten Frei (52) as the new leader of the Union parliamentary group. Writing on X, Poschardt stated that with this personnel decision, the Union is adhering to a ‘status quo logic’ when a ‘revolutionary logic’ is actually what is needed. Commenting on the agreement reached by CDU leader Friedrich Merz (70) and CSU leader Markus Söder (59) to appoint Frei as Spahn’s successor, Poschardt concluded: ‘The Union is beyond help.’”

It truly is. But what (or who) will come next?

How Trump Destroyed World Cup Soccer

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 20:

“‘Trump cast a shadow over the entire tournament, weaponizing it for domestic political purposes, regardless of whether he showed up at matches in person,’ Jules Boykoff, a professor in the Politics and Government Department at Pacific University in the US state of Oregon, told DW…. Such unprecedented and direct political intervention… drew scorn and fury from most of the rest of the world — with politicians, football federations, fans and coaches all piling on to criticize. But that won’t bother Trump, Boykoff said.

“‘Based on his actions, Trump does not appear to care much about what the rest of the world thinks of him. His anti-immigration policies stained the World Cup and undercut FIFA’s slogan that ‘Football Unites the World.’ Trump used the tournament to further fracture the world while stoking his base’s worst instincts ahead of the midterm elections,’ he said.”

Trump only cares about himself.

Trump’s Incredible Arrogance

Die Welt wrote on July 20:

“Then, finally, the big moment after 104 matches at the XXL World Cup: Trump and [FIFA President Gianni] Infantino [Trump’s “buddy”] presented the trophy to Spain’s captain, Rodri. Infantino stepped away from the stage, intending to leave the spotlight to the Spaniards. But he hadn’t reckoned with the US President—Trump simply stayed put. Infantino tried to get the 80-year-old to follow him, but without success. So, the FIFA President hurried back to Trump and positioned himself a meter away from the action. Trump spoke briefly with Rodri and then moved aside—by a mere meter. Yet, as the captain hoisted the trophy high, the US President was still standing right there in the huddle of players. In doing so, he ensured his presence in the World Cup victory photos.

“Trump and Infantino were booed by large sections of the crowd.”

The booing was more than justified. Ironically, the Spanish football federation and FIFA excluded Donald Trump from the official World Cup celebration pictures shared on social media.

Corrupt FIFA over Falkland

BBC wrote on July 17:

“The White House has defended the Argentinian football team’s right to free speech after they controversially waved a banner in support of their country’s territorial claim to the Falkland Islands while celebrating their World Cup win against England… The Falklands, a British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean, remains the subject of a sovereignty dispute between the UK and Argentina. Players for Argentina held a banner after Wednesday’s semi-final match reading ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’, which translates as ‘The Falklands are Argentine’.Speaking to reporters on Friday, Giuliani referenced free speech protections in the US Constitution, saying: ‘We believe in our First Amendment rights here in the United States of America’ [Really? So, why were Iranian soccer players not allowed to say anything critical of the USA or in support of Iran?]…

“For its part, the government of the Falkland Islands said it was ‘disappointed but not surprised’ about the banner and it hopes Fifa will ‘sanction all behaviour of this nature in line with its own rules’… Argentina players also sang chants which referenced the Falklands …

“A brief but bitter war arose between Britain and Argentina over the territory in 1982. A British military task force ejected Argentine forces, who had landed on the Falklands to stake a territorial claim. The 74-day conflict led to the deaths of 255 British military personnel, three islanders and 649 Argentine soldiers.”

Giuliani and the White House are such hypocrites. FIFA’s own rules state (not that they are necessarily being adhered to by FIFA):

“FIFA’s regulations strictly prohibit all political, religious, and personal statements, slogans, or imagery during official matches. Governed primarily by the IFAB Laws of the Game and FIFA’s Stadium Code of Conduct, players and teams can face sanctions—including fines and suspensions—for breaching these neutrality mandates.”

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.

This is a very interesting question; particularly, when we think of the ages of some of the patriarchs, and we look at the ages of people at other times during the last 6,000 years.   We want to briefly explore the question of life-spans and why King David only lived to the age of 70 when he was considered to be very old, which is not very old by today’s standards.

From the Bible, many people will know that Methuselah was the oldest man who ever lived – he was 969 years old when he died (Genesis 5:27), Jared was 962 (Genesis 5:20) and Noah 950 years old (Genesis 9:29).   The next oldest were:

Adam – 930 (Genesis 5:5)

Seth – 912 (Genesis 5:6-7)

Canaan- 910 (Genesis 5:14

Enosh – (not to be confused with Enoch) 905 (Genesis 5:11)

Mahalalel 895 (Genesis 5:17)

Lamech 777 (Genesis 5:31)

Enoch 365 (Genesis 5:23)

These were all before the Flood around the year 1,656, but after the new beginning with Noah and his family, ages came down dramatically. Some have proposed that in Genesis 6:3, God reduced the life-span of man to 120 years. However, God’s reference to 120 years in Genesis 6:3 has nothing to do with the average life-span of man; rather, it is God’s expression that He would bring the Flood in about 120 years which would destroy all life. Noah was about 600 years old when the Flood came, and he lived many hundreds of years after the Flood along with Shem, Ham and Japheth. Even several generations later, men like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived much longer than just 120 years.

There are many theories as to why this should be the case but the Bible doesn’t specifically give us the full explanation. What we can say is that in Genesis 1:31 we read: “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”  Man would be formed in, and live in, a perfect world, whereas later man would soon go the wrong way.

One commentator wrote this: 

“The most straightforward explanation may be that as time has ticked on since the Flood, disease and other dangers of this world have simply taken their toll on us. Today, mutations of diseases mean that we have more things trying to kill us now than we did a decade ago. Decay and entropy have likewise broken things down more and more as the centuries go by… with the new world breeding various new diseases and other natural problems that took their toll on Moses and his descendants. A comparison would be how the quality of life in first-world countries dramatically affects lifespans compared to those in third-world countries. In this case, we may consider the living conditions before and after the Flood as so different that lifespans were naturally shortened.”

Others try to explain the shortened life-span of man after the Flood with the disappearance of a water canopy. It is suggested that the pre-Flood Earth was surrounded by a dense layer of water vapor or ice. The canopy was believed to have trapped heat uniformly, producing a mild, tropical climate worldwide, and shielding the Earth from harmful cosmic radiation. When the “windows of heaven” opened, the canopy condensed and collapsed, providing 40 days of rain.

We say the following in our free booklet, “The Theory of Evolution, A Fairy Tale for Adults?”

“… many theologians and scientists state that a vapor canopy once surrounded the earth. Theologians refer to Genesis 7:11 where it says that the ‘windows of heaven were opened.’ They feel this is probably a reference to the pre-flood vapor canopy. Another reference to this canopy can be seen in Genesis 1:6-7, where we read that God made a firmament and divided the waters under the firmament from the waters above the firmament, giving reference to a water vapor canopy. This canopy, scientists explain, would have created a greenhouse effect. This seems to be confirmed in Genesis 2:5 where we are told that the antediluvian world was watered by dew or mist, not by rain. This dew would have been dependent upon humidity, saturation, temperature, dew point and condensation—all made possible through the water vapor canopy.”

That could be an explanation for the shortening of the life-span of man after the Flood, or part of it, but we simply don’t have the direct answer from the Word of God.

Later we see that Abraham died at age 175 (Genesis 25:7) and his wife Sarah lived 127 years (Genesis 23:1).  Their son Isaac lived to age 180 (Genesis 35:28) and Jacob (Israel) lived to be 147 (Genesis 47:28), all long life-spans compared to today but many hundreds of years less than those quoted at the beginning of this Q&A.

Moses wrote the following words in Psalm 90:10: “The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”

That would have been true at the time of Moses; it was not necessarily true for the centuries before or since then, nor would it have to be true for us today or for future generations to come.

King David was probably the oldest king except for King Saul who was 70 or 72 when he died. In 1 Chronicles 29:26-28 we read:

“Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. And the period that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years he reigned in Hebron, and thirty-three years he reigned in Jerusalem. So he died in a good old age, full of days and riches and honor; and Solomon his son reigned in his place.”

We learn this from 2 Samuel 5:4: “David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.” And so that would mean that he was 70 when he died.

It is interesting what many Bible Commentaries say about 1 Kings 1:1 which reads: “Now King David was old, advanced in years; and they put covers on him, but he could not get warm.” The margin of some of the New King James Bibles explains that “advanced in years” means “seventy years.” The Authorized Version states that he was “stricken in years.”

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers points out:

“Stricken in years—about seventy years old. Since ‘clothes’ mean ‘bed-clothes,’ the meaning is that the King was now too feeble to rise from his bed. His life began its responsibilities early; it had been hard and trying; and, as the history shows, not wholly free from self-indulgence. Hence, at no excessive age, its complete decrepitude.”

The Benson Commentary states:

“They covered him with clothes, but he got no heat — Which is not strange, considering he was a person who had been exercised with so many hardships in war, and with such tormenting cares, and fears, and sorrows for his own sins, (as divers of his psalms witness,) and for the sins and miseries of his children and people. Besides, this might be from the nature of his bodily distemper, which Dr. Lightfoot thinks was a dead palsy. (David now began to feel the effects of old age…).”

Barnes Notes on the Bible explains:

“…..the Jews at this time were not long-lived. No Jewish monarch after David, excepting Solomon and Manasseh, exceeded sixty years… The king was evidently bed-ridden (1 Kings 1:47).”

In passing, some disagree with the view that no Jewish monarch exceeded 60 years except for Solomon and Manasseh, as they say that Uzziah was 68 when he died.   Nevertheless, the ages of kings were not long-lived.

The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary states:

“Now king David was old—He was in the seventieth year of his age (2 Samuel 5:4, 5). But the wear and tear of a military life, bodily fatigue, and mental care, had prematurely, if we may say it, exhausted the energies of David’s strong constitution (1 Samuel 16:12). In modern Palestine and Egypt the people, owing to the heat of the climate, sleep each in a ‘separate’ bed. They only depart from this practice for medical reasons (Ecclesiastes 4:11).”

We want to clarify that we do not necessarily agree with that assessment and especially with the quote of Ecclesiastes 4:11 as proof for sleeping in separate beds.

Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible points out:

“…there are many persons at the age he was, that are lively, healthful, and robust, comparatively speaking at least; but David’s strength was impaired, and his natural force abated by his many wars, fatigues by night and day in campaigns, and the many sorrows and afflictions he met with from his family and his friends, as well as enemies; which exhausted his natural moisture, weakened his nerves, and drank up his spirits, and brought upon him the infirmities of a decrepit old age very soon.”

The Pulpit Commentary states in general:

“David’s early hardships and later sorrows and anxieties appear to have aged him prematurely. Possibly he was also afflicted with disease.”

A number of other Bible Commentaries come to pretty much the same conclusions as stated in those already quoted and seem to feel that David’s lifestyle, toils, and hardships contributed to him being feeble, aged and very old. Even though he was “only” 70, he was considered very old in the Bible, based on his condition. In addition, when noting the following explanation, aged 70 could already be described as very old in general terms for people living at the time of David.

On the website “Longevity in the Ancient World,” we read:

“There is little firm information about the collective lives of those who lived in the first centuries BC and the first centuries AD, but the conjecture is that the average life span was about 35 years. The 35-40 average life span of people in the Western world held true through the Dark Ages, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance until the 19th and 20th centuries when modern medicine and its life-preserving discoveries began in earnest. For thousands of years, life was uncertain but it was pretty certain the normal person would not live past 40 years. Ambitious or talented young men, or young men like Herod the Great’s 19-year-old son Archelaus who inherited kingdoms, were forced to grow up quickly because by age 20 their life was already half over. Alexander the Great in the 3rd century BC reigned over his father’s kingdom and commanded the army that would conquer the known world when he was 20. Charlemagne ruled most of western Europe in the 700’s AD when he was 26. Genghis Khan in the 1100’s began building the army that would conquer Asia when he was 20. Chaucer the Father of English Literature wrote his first major work, the Book Of Duchess, in the 14th century when he was 25. Shakespeare wrote his first play when he was 26 in 1590…”

As an example of how life spans have increased in more modern times, we quote from the UK Office for National Statistics:

“In 1841 the average newborn girl was not expected to see her 43rd birthday. Thankfully times have changed and so have life expectancies in the 170 years since the first lifetable was constructed.  The information contained in the Decennial Life Tables release, produced every 10 years, provides a fascinating insight into those changes, spanning three centuries.  In 2011 life expectancy at birth is almost double what it was in 1841.”

And so, when we think about King David being very old at age 70, we may view this through the optics of what we see in life expectancy today or in previous times, and may also have in mind some of the extraordinary longevity of Old Testament examples at the dawn of civilisation and after the Flood.  How things have changed over the centuries!

And they might still change once again. We are told that Christ will rule mankind on earth for 1,000 years, during the Millennium. We do not know what age the people will reach then… how long they will live in the flesh. It is POSSIBLE that some, if not most, will live for close to 1,000 years to qualify before being changed into immortal Spirit beings. We know that people will live for 100 years in the flesh during the Great White Throne Judgment period. 

On June 12, 2013, the BBC website reported that “A Japanese man recognised as the world’s oldest living person, and the oldest man recorded in history, has died aged 116, local officials say. Jiroemon Kimura died of natural causes on Wednesday in a hospital in Kyotango, Kyoto, a government statement said.  In December, Guinness World Records recorded Mr Kimura as the oldest man ever verified to have lived.”

Of course, they are not taking into account biblical examples and the Guinness Book of Records has only been in operation since 1955. We are now more informed about how to prolong our lives through information about health, hygiene, better food supply, nutrition and exercise. Although this Q&A was about King David and his age, we finish by showing just a few examples as to how different it is today. 

In the Countries ranked by life expectancy (2025), we see the following results with the numbers showing the ranking average ages for 201 countries [compare https://www.worldometers.info/demographics/life-expectancy/]:

1. Hong Kong                      85.77

5. Switzerland                     84.23

6. Australia                          84.21

19. Canada                          82.88

20. Israel                              82.77

29. Austria                           82.29

36. Germany                        81.71

37. UK                                 81.60

48. USA                               79.61

201. Nigeria                         54.78

As a footnote to the life of David during his seventy years, we quote from gotquestions:

“God blessed King David with a long and prosperous life. He survived a battle with a giant, multiple attempts by King Saul to murder him, various wars, and a coup led by one of his own sons. In the end, he died of old age. Scripture leaves no doubt that David was of sound mind when he died. Knowing his death was imminent, David was able to give support and guidance to his heir and successor. Despite his many faults, David was admired and respected as a hero by the people of Israel. His dedication to God, loyalty in the face of ill-treatment, courage in war, benevolence in conquest, and faithfulness in friendship were so extraordinary that he would forever be viewed as an ideal king and a man after God’s own heart.”

We might add: David sinned, but his repentance was genuine and sincere. His heart was right, and so he WAS a man after God’s own heart.

Lead Writers: Brian Gale (United Kingdom) and Norbert Link

Compiled by Norbert Link

“The Downfall of Germany’s Most Powerful Politician”

is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

Jens Spahn resigned, or was forced to do so, due to a scandal which was described as proof for his hypocrisy and arrogance. But would it be premature to rule him out for a vital role in the future? After all, deadly wounds can be healed. Some aspects of his character and personality are worthwhile considering in light of what the Bible says about the coming “beast” in Europe. This program explains in detail what to watch for.

A German AufPostenStehen program was posted with the same topic. The title is: “Jens Spahn—der Fall von Deutschlands mächtigstem Politiker.”

Frank Bruno’s sermonette has been posted, titled, “Our Spiritual Continuing Education.” 

Here is a summary:

As humans we continue to learn new information each day—some more than others, but the point is that there is always new information we can consume and utilize. As true Christians who have been called by the Father we should be eager to learn and be guided by God and by Jesus Christ in matters of our faith. There is nothing more important in our lives than preparing ourselves and serving God and His Son. In this Sermonette we will cover various scriptures that can assist us along the way.

Eric Rank’s sermon has been posted, titled, “Hard Things.” 

Here is a summary:

The life of a Christian is definitively not for the faint of heart. It requires overcoming obstacles, dealing with difficult circumstances, and resisting temptations every single day. To be Christian is to become comfortable doing hard things. Through the examples in the Bible we will learn about those who have gone before us, having faced difficulty, and overcome. We will also learn why it is so important to actively choose to do the difficult things that God directs us to do, because the reward that comes from doing them is great.

Dominik Kaltenegger’s German sermonette from last Sabbath has been posted. It is titled, “Sollten Christen sich bekreuzigen?”(“Should Christians make the sign of the cross?”)