On August 11, 2018, Norbert Link will present the sermonette, titled, “A few More Things about the Two Witnesses,” and Kalon Mitchell will present the sermon, titled, “In the Presence of God.”

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.

As I read through Luke 17, it impressed upon me the great urgency to be prepared today, not tomorrow, for the return of Christ. All that we have and all that we can do as physical beings will not matter the instant Christ appears. But the world will not watch and try to prepare for this day, quite the opposite.  Man will be so deeply enthralled in his own pursuits that for the majority of the world, including many of those who profess Christianity, this day will come as a surprise.  What seems so clear and obvious in the Bible is profoundly misunderstood by the world.  We need to rejoice in the understanding we have our eyes opened to!

We should not let this understanding cloud our eyes through complacency and deception.  Christ warned His disciples of this very attitude, “Then He said to the disciples, ‘The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, “Look here!” or “Look there!” Do not go after them or follow them’” (Luke 17:22-23). We pray for an expedient return of Christ and His rulership on earth during most prayers. And we must likewise pray for discernment, because many will continue to be lead astray.

Christ goes on to explain exactly how His appearing will take place. “For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day” (Luke 17:24). Lightning is triggered during tumultuous storms and the return of Christ will be a storm that will wash over the entire planet with power no human has experienced.

We must keep our eyes opened to watch and not be drawn into a slumber Satan’s deception exudes upon this world. Holding on to this truth and vigilantly preparing for this instant of time is the only way to escape The Day of the Lord. “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 3:10).

But even with these simple warnings, the world will still be satiated with their own desires and lusts when Christ returns. He continues in the book of Luke showing the attitude upon His return, “And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed” (Luke 17:26-30).

It will be “just” like that on the day that Christ returns. We need to stay watchful so that we can be those who are “…changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

by Norbert Link

We begin with very troublesome and highly significant discussions about reinstating the military draft in Germany and making the country a nuclear power [note our new StandingWatch program, “Germany Goes Nuclear?”]; and we report on the economic boom of that country.

We continue with the worldwide perception of the USA being a major threat; the potential of cyberattacks against the USA; and the ongoing and escalating trade war. In this context, a compelling parallel is being drawn between the policies of former British Chancellor Neville Chamberlain and US President Donald Trump. We also address new US sanctions on Russia and Iran and Europe’s response.

We are also speaking of anarchy in Oregon; money-laundering measures leading to total governmental control [please view our recent StandingWatch program, “Do Banks and the Government Control You?”]; a controversial law in Florida which raises concerns of unjustified governmental surveillance; another move by major global technology companies to restrict and suppress free speech; and the legitimate concern that innocent defendants plead guilty due to coercion.

We continue with Israel’s false pride in “pride parades”; governmental attacks on white farmers in South Africa; North Korea’s attempts to clone people for their army; chaos in Venezuela following a suspicious “attack” on Venezuela’s far-left President; a deadly earthquake in Indonesia, which sits on the “Ring of Fire”; and terrible persecutions of Christians in India.

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

Germany Considers Military Draft

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 5:

“Germany’s ruling CDU party has launched a debate on reinstating military conscription…

“… representatives of Angela Merkel’s CDU party started a nation-wide discussion on the return of mandatory military service. The general conscription was scrapped in 2011 after Berlin decided to professionalize its troops. Prior to this decision, all young males were obligated to either serve in the nation’s military, the Bundeswehr, or perform an alternative service in civilian areas such as emergency management or medical care for a limited period of time.

“Currently, the Bundeswehr consists only of career soldiers and long-term contract troopers, although the army still offers an option of short-term paid military service to young volunteers. In a surprising move on Friday, however, the CDU Secretary General Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer pledged to ‘very intensively’ discuss military service and mandatory conscription…

“Other ranking CDU members were quick to back Kramp-Karrenbauer’s initiative, but kept equally vague on the details. The party’s youth wing leader Paul Ziemak spoke of a ‘community year’ which would see young students take part in some sort of a mandatory service program… CDU lawmaker Oswin Veith commented that youths could serve with the Bundeswehr, but also with first responders or medical institutions. ‘It should last for 12 months and apply to young men and women over the age of 18,’ he said. Several other CDU politicians also stressed the program would apply to both men and women…

“Some politicians from the SPD, the CDU’s junior partner in the grand coalition, said the idea was worth considering. Others, including the Parliamentary Commissioner for Defense, Hans-Peter Bartels, insisted that mandatory service would clash with Germany’s ban on forced labor… The business-friendly FDP called the proposal ‘absurd’… Other opposition parties in the parliament, the Left and the Green party, also oppose the idea.

“At the same time, right-wing AFD came out in favor of reviving conscription… On Twitter, AFD’s parliamentary group leader Alice Weidel said… the Bundeswehr needed to become ‘an attractive employer again’ in order to be able to fulfill its defense duties.”

Breitbart and The Associated Press reported on August 6:

“Merkel Party Mulls Bringing Back Draft to Heal Social Divisions… Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party is debating the merits of reintroducing some kind of civilian or military national service for young people…

“The idea has drawn a mixed response. Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, the ex-defense minister who scrapped conscription, told Monday’s Bild daily that it would be costly and the constitution ‘doesn’t foresee such compulsory, or forced, work assignments.’”

The Local wrote on August 6:

“On Monday, the federal government said that it had no intention of re-introducing compulsory military service at this stage… The CDU will debate the issue at their party conference in December and will decide what steps to take following their discussions.”

Handelsblatt Global added on August 6:

“Advocates argue that national service, whether it be military or civilian in nature, improves social cohesion, teaches unruly youths a thing or two and instils a sense of pride and community. In Germany, many also think it can help to fill the ranks of the military… ‘A community year gives the opportunity to give something back and, at the same time, to strengthen the country’s unity,’ Paul Ziemak, the CDU’s youth wing leader, told the Bild newspaper…

“Opponents say that national service is unnecessary, expensive and damaging to the careers of young people, with some likening it to slave labor…

“Several countries in Europe maintain national service, including Greece, Austria and Norway. President Emmanuel Macron has proposed reintroducing it in France but has met with stiff resistance from unions and business.”

Focus and HuffPost reported on August 4, 2018, that some politicians in Merkel’s party (CDU) and the coalition party, SPD, advocate reinstating the military draft for men and introducing it for women. Seven years ago, on July 1, 2011, the draft was abolished. It is now claimed that in light of the uncertain world situation, compulsory military service is “inalienable.” Die Welt reported on August 5 that a majority of Germans support the military draft. 55.6 % are in favor, while only 39.6 % are against or “probably” against it. More than 60 percent of the right-wing AdF Party are in favor.

Sadly, these propagandistic viewpoints in support of the draft are only all too common. It is amazing how sinful conduct can be justified with nice-sounding platitudes. The German attitude towards military service and war has shockingly, but predictably, changed in recent months. Germany was once proud of its “pacifistic” viewpoints, but this is no longer the case. The Bible shows that Germany will become VERY militaristic again and it will, together with many other continental European countries, ultimately start a NUCLEAR WAR against the USA and the UK.

Coming–A Nuclear-Armed Germany?

Politico wrote on August 26:

“Imagine a nuclear-armed Germany. No, this isn’t a fantasy… but a real debate, happening in present-day Berlin. As Germany’s foreign policy establishment becomes increasingly convinced that Donald Trump’s aggressive rhetoric toward Berlin and NATO represents a seminal shift in transatlantic relations, some are daring to think the unthinkable.

“‘Do We Need the Bomb?’ reads the front page headline in Welt am Sonntag, one of the country’s largest Sunday newspapers. ‘For the first time since 1949, the Federal Republic of Germany is no longer under the U.S.’s nuclear umbrella,’ Christian Hacke, a prominent German political scientist, wrote in an essay in the paper…

“It would be easier to dismiss the article as the ramblings of an eccentric academic were Hacke not a fixture of Germany’s foreign policy establishment and a respected university professor.  That the debate is happening at all speaks to how unnerved Germany’s security community has become in the face of Trump’s threats…

“This isn’t the first time Germany has considered its nuclear options. In the early 1960s, then-Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, who had his own doubts about the reliability of the U.S. as an ally, approached Charles de Gaulle to see if he might include Germany in the Force de frappe, France’s nuclear strike force. He was politely rejected.

“A few years after Adenauer left office, Germany ratified the 1968 nuclear non-proliferation treaty, which bars it from developing atomic weapons. Under the so-called Two Plus Four Agreement, a 1990 treaty between the two Germanys and World War II allies that paved the way to German reunification, the country also committed to eschew nuclear weapons…

“Nonetheless, even some who oppose Germany going nuclear are grateful for the debate… Germany’s membership of NATO and the EU already put it under France and the U.K.’s nuclear protection… almost any scenario that would justify Germany employing nuclear weapons against an aggressor would prompt France to take the same step…”

The Business Insider added on August 4:

“This is not the first round of this debate. Not long after Trump’s election, European officials — including a German lawmaker who was foreign-policy spokesman for the governing party — suggested French and British nuclear arsenals could be repurposed to defend the rest of the continent under a joint command with common funding or defense doctrine.

“In mid-2017, a review commissioned by Germany’s parliament found Berlin could legally finance another European country’s nuclear weapons in return for protection… French President Emmanuel Macron has advocated closer defense cooperation between France and Germany, but Paris has in the past expressed reservations about ceding control of its nuclear weapons…”

The Bible shows that a unified European power bloc consisting of ten nations or groups of nations will possess and use nuclear weapons. Germany and France will be part of that configuration (but not the UK), so it is somewhat academic to speculate whether Germany, all by itself, will be nuclear-armed or whether it will “only” have access to the bomb as part of a combined nuclear core Europe. After all, it will be Germany which will lead that future power bloc, and it will be a charismatic political and military leader of German or Austrian descent, called the “beast,” who will receive unchecked power and authority from those ten nations.

German National Debt At Lowest Level for Many Years

The Local wrote on August 2:

“The German public debt has dropped below €2 trillion for the first time in years thanks to robust economic growth. Public debt in Germany sank to €1.967 trillion in 2017, marking a drop of 2.1 percent in comparison with 2016… The €42.1 billion drop in public debt levels is a result of high tax intakes from a booming economy and historically low interest rates…

“Reductions in public debt were seen from the level of local government all the way up to the federal administration. The federal government was able to bring down its debts by 1.2 percent to €1.242 trillion by the end of 2017. The federal states performed even more strongly, reducing their debt by 3.7 percent. Saxony was the state with the most prudent monetary policy, cutting debt by 16 percent and thus beating the famously penny-pinching state of Baden-Württemberg – where public liabilities were cut by 13 percent. On the level of local government, the Gemeinden in Saxony were also able to boast of a 9.5 percent reduction in debts, higher than in any of the other 15 states.”

What is worrisome, however, is the fact that the debt was reduced as a result of high taxes. And a debt of roughly two trillion euros is still an astronomical figure. Of course, there is no comparison with the irresponsible and appalling figure of over 21 trillion dollars of US debt, which amount, despite campaign promises to the contrary, is still consistently growing!

USA Perceived to Be Most Threatening in the World

On June 4, Axios wrote:

“Russian aggression and the rise of China are among the biggest foreign policy concerns Americans face. In many countries, though, the world power seen as most threatening is the United States.

“According to a 2017 Pew survey, 39% of respondents across 38 countries consider U.S. influence and power a major threat to their countries, compared to 31% for both Russia and China. That’s up from 25% in 2013, when the survey was conducted previously. Approval of U.S. global leadership fell to 30% worldwide, per a January Gallup poll. That’s narrowly behind China (31%) and ahead of Russia (27%). It’s also the lowest score in the 10 years the survey has been conducted, and down from 48% in Barack Obama’s last year. America’s favorability around the world has fallen sharply, particularly among key allies like Mexico, Canada and Germany. And that was before Trump’s trade war and Iran deal withdrawal…

“Partnerships with South Korea and Japan are crucial to containing both the North Korean threat and the rise of China. Unsurprisingly, both countries list China as among the top threats they face. Startlingly, though, the U.S. is right behind — with 70% in South Korea and 62% in Japan viewing the U.S. as a major threat. Meanwhile, some NATO allies like Germany apparently see the threat to the west as larger than the one to the east. 35% of Germans view the U.S. as a major threat, compared to 33% for Russia…

“Global views of the U.S. have slumped before — during the Iraq War, for example — and cracks in U.S. alliances have been repaired in the past. But as the mistrust grows, it could get harder and harder to put Humpty Dumpty back together again.”

Cyberattack—Biggest Threat to the USA

Axios wrote on August 4:

“Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said this week that the U.S. is in ‘crisis mode,’ comparing the danger of a massive [cyber] attack to a Category 5 hurricane looming on the horizon. Intelligence chiefs from the last three administrations agree, and told Axios there is no graver threat to the United States. A well-executed cyberattack could knock out the electrical grid and shut off power to a huge swath of the country, or compromise vital government or financial data and leave us unsure what is real…

“Russia, China, Iran and North Korea are the top U.S. adversaries in the cyber realm, but the threat extends to non-state actors and criminal groups… The fact that so many intelligence experts have reached the same conclusion — and feel so strongly about it — shows how much the dangers to the United States have changed since 9/11.”

America is facing many different threats, massive cyberattacks being just one of them.

American Sanctions Against Russia

The New York Times wrote on August 9:

“Russia’s currency fell on Thursday to its lowest dollar value in nearly two years, jarred by new American sanctions imposed in response to a nerve-agent attack on a former Russian spy in Britain…

“As the ruble slumped through the day, officials in Moscow expressed dismay that the new restrictions came so soon after what they saw as a positive summit meeting between President Trump and Vladimir V. Putin, in Helsinki, Finland last month.”

EU Condemns American Sanctions Against Iran

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 7:

“The European Union’s top foreign affairs representative Federica Mogherini and three EU foreign ministers, Jeremy Hunt from the UK, Jean-Yves Le Drian from France and Heiko Maas from Germany, have jointly condemned American sanctions against Iran… The EU Commission considers the ‘secondary sanctions’ imposed by the US on European companies illegal. The Americans are seeking to ban European carmakers, banks and energy companies from doing business with Iran. If they violate the ban, their assets in the US may be seized. Even American companies dealing with European companies, which in turn are engaged in Iran, face penalties.

“For this reason, the EU has adopted a so-called ‘blocking statute’ in order to ward off the effects of American sanctions… With the new rules European companies are granted the right to challenge US sanctions in European courts and seek compensation from the US government or American companies. In practice, this path promises to be cumbersome and costly…

“The EU Commission is unable to quantify the amount of economic damage for companies that are subject to America’s secondary sanctions. But many companies and banks have already announced their intention to withdraw from Iran, especially ones that have corporate assets or real estate in America which the US government could get their hands on…

“The blocking statute prohibits European companies from abiding by American sanctions. However, a company can always say that it is pulling out of Iran for business reasons and not because of US sanctions…

“The EU now wants to check whether the member states’ central banks are able to maintain further transactions with Iran’s state bank. However, many banks, including Deutsche Bank, have put Iran on the back burner. For them, unhindered access to the US financial market is much more important. Even the European Investment Bank (EIB) is extremely cautious…”

EU to Firms: Ignore Trump

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 7:

“European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini directly called on EU companies to defy US President Donald Trump.

“Mogherini was responding to Trump’s early-morning tweet threatening companies that did not adhere to renewed US sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran. In it, Trump warned: ‘Anyone doing business with Iran will not be doing business with the United States.’

“In her response, Mogherini said it was up to European companies to decide who they trade with. She voiced support for trade as an integral part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, in which Iran pledged to stop its nuclear program in return for the relaxation of sanctions and increased trade relations. The JCPOA was signed by Iran, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany, the EU and the United States in October 2015. Trump, who has called the JCPOA, ‘the worst deal in history,’ withdrew the US from it in May of this year. He reinstated harsh sanctions on Iran on Monday…

“Mogherini emphasized: ‘We are encouraging small and medium enterprises in particular to increase business with and in Iran as part of something [that] for us is a security priority.’ Though the EU, which said it ‘deeply regretted’ the US move, issued a ‘blocking statute’ on Monday in an effort to protect European companies, several, such as Germany’s Daimler, announced they would comply with Trump’s wishes rather than put their US investments at risk.”

China’s and Germany’s Growing Anger towards USA

The Algemeiner wrote on August 8:

“China and Germany defended their business ties with Iran on Wednesday in the face of President Donald Trump‘s warning that any companies trading with the Islamic Republic would be barred from the United States. The comments from Beijing and Berlin signaled growing anger from partners of the United States, which reimposed strict sanctions against Iran on Tuesday, over its threat to penalize businesses from third countries that continue to operate there…

“European countries, hoping to persuade Tehran to continue to respect the deal, have promised to try to lessen the blow of sanctions and to urge their firms not to pull out. But that has proved difficult: European companies have quit Iran, arguing that they cannot risk their US business. Among those that have suspended plans to invest in Iran are France’s oil major Total, its big carmakers PSA and Renault, and their German rival Daimler.

“Danish engineering company Haldor Topsoe, one of the world’s leading industrial catalyst producers, said on Wednesday it would cut around 200 jobs from its workforce of 2,700 due to the new US sanctions on Iran, which made it very hard for its customers there to finance new projects… Turkey, however, said it would continue to buy natural gas from Iran…”

The controversy and antagonism between the USA and the EU intensifies, but the EU realizes grudgingly that they cannot oppose Trump successfully at this point. And so, they are most anxious to figure out as to how to change the status quo.

Trade War

NBC San Diego wrote on August 3:

“China said Friday it is poised to impose retaliatory tariffs on $60 billion worth of U.S. imports, including coffee, honey and industrial chemicals… after the U.S. proposed increasing duties on $200 billion of Chinese goods in the second round of a dispute over technology…

“Washington imposed 25 percent duties on $34 billion of Chinese goods on July 6 in response to complaints Beijing steals or pressures companies to hand over technology. Beijing retaliated by imposing similar charges on the same amount of U.S. products…

“There’s no end in sight, and the dispute could chill global trade and economic growth. China’s new threat targeting a smaller amount of U.S. goods reflects the fact that Beijing is running out of products for retaliation due to its lopsided trade balance with the United States. China’s imports from the United States last year totaled $153.9 billion. After the earlier tariffs $34 billion of U.S. goods, about $120 billion is available for retaliation…

“The United States and China have the world’s biggest trading relationship but official ties are increasingly strained over complaints that Beijing’s technology development tactics hurt American companies… the U.S. Commerce Department reported Friday that the American trade deficit climbed to $46.3 billion in June from $43.2 billion in May. The deficit in goods trade with China also rose. So far this year, the trade gap is up more than 7 percent from January-June 2017.”

Fortune wrote on August 6:

“China will survive its escalating trade conflict with the United States, the Chinese authorities have warned through state media… ‘China has to defend its right to development, and we don’t fear sacrificing short-term interests,’ The Global Times wrote in an editorial. ‘… China is prepared for a protracted war… In future, the U.S. economy will depend more on the Chinese market than the other way around.’…

“The list of almost 6,000 items that China unveiled Friday may be meant more to save face than as a direct tit-for-tat, as 500 of the listed items aren’t traded in the first place and another 2,000 see less than $1 million a year in imports…”

This is one side of the story. Here is another one:

America’s Chamberlain

On August 1, Project Syndicate published the following article by Harold James (Professor of History and International Affairs at Princeton University and a senior fellow at the Center for International Governance Innovation [as well as a] specialist on German economic history and on globalization):

“US President Donald Trump’s attempts to flex America’s muscles with the use of tariffs harks back to one of the darkest periods of modern history. During the Great Depression, the governments of Britain and France pursued a similar policy, unwittingly alienating would-be allies and strengthening Nazi Germany…

“There is nothing new in Trump’s assertion that, ‘Trade wars are good, and easy to win.’… When Neville Chamberlain was serving as Britain’s Chancellor… in 1932, he reversed his country’s century-old position as a champion of free trade. Worried about Britain’s longstanding trade deficit, he announced a new ‘system of Protection,’ which he hoped to use ‘for negotiations with foreign countries which have not hitherto paid very much attention to our suggestions.’

“Chamberlain… was paving the road to World War II. His trade policy weakened Britain and strengthened Germany. And in a mere six years, his appeasement policy toward the Nazi Germany regime would reach its pinnacle with the 1938 Munich Agreement, which Hitler discarded six months later by destroying… Czechoslovakia and bringing it under the control of the Third Reich…

“[The] Great Depression [was] owing primarily to France and Britain’s own protectionist policies. Both countries shifted abruptly to a policy of high tariffs and import quotas that gave preference to products from their overseas empires. The result was that Czechoslovakia’s industrial producers and Romanian and Yugoslav agricultural exporters could no longer sell to Western Europe. Instead, they became increasingly dependent – economically as well as politically – on Nazi Germany. Likewise, Poland, after fighting a customs war with Germany in the 1920s and early 1930s, entered into a non-aggression pact with the Nazi regime in 1934…

“The lesson of the Great Depression is clear: trade wars intended to strengthen national security actually undermine it. This is especially true in the case of defensive alliances, because trade barriers force allies to forge closer ties with the very revisionist power that was supposed to be contained.

“Precisely this scenario is playing out today. Trump’s protectionist rhetoric is a response to the dramatic rise of China. But by launching a tariff war that also affects the European Union and Canada, Trump is making China look like a more attractive partner than the US… Like Germany’s neighbors in the 1930s, Europe and Canada may feel as though they have no other choice than to seek out a more open – or at least more stable – partner.

“Trump’s trip to Europe last month went a long way toward destroying the alliances that have maintained global stability since the end of WWII. And his… press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin had more than a whiff of Chamberlain-style appeasement. If Trump actually wanted to make China more attractive to the world, then he could do no worse than to continue his war on free trade and the multilateral institutions that arose from the ruins of 1945.”

Trump the Last President of the USA?

CNS News reported on August 9:

“There is a real insurgency taking place” – and it’s coming from an extremely surprising source, [filmmaker Michael] Moore said: ‘The revolution is happening in the most unlikely of places. The resistance ― the true resistance ― is not coming from the Democratic Party or from the liberal establishment. I can’t reveal too much right now, but there is a real insurgency taking place.

“‘Ladies and gentlemen: the last president of the United States’ [is] the trailer for Moore’s film…”

Anarchy Breaks Out in Portland, Oregon

The Wall Street Journal wrote on August 3:

“A vicious mob targeted the ICE office and even a food cart. The police followed orders to do nothing…

“Along the trolley tracks behind the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office, a biohazard cleanup crew works under police protection. It finds used needles and buckets of human waste simmering in nearly 100-degree heat… For more than five weeks, as many as 200 people had occupied the site to demand ICE’s immediate abolition…

“A mob surrounded ICE’s office in Southwest Portland June 19. They barricaded the exits and blocked the driveway. They sent ‘guards’ to patrol the doors, trapping workers inside. At night they laid on the street, stopping traffic at a critical junction near a hospital. Police stayed away. ‘At this time I am denying your request for additional resources,’ the Portland Police Bureau’s deputy chief, Robert Day, wrote to federal officers pleading for help. Hours later, the remaining ICE workers were finally evacuated by a small federal police team. The facility shut down for more than a week.

“Signs called ICE employees ‘Nazis’ and ‘white supremacists.’ Others accused them of running a ‘concentration camp,’ and demanded open borders and prosecution of ICE agents. Along a wall, vandals wrote the names of ICE staff, encouraging others to publish their private information online. Federal workers were defenseless… Every American flag was defaced. Anarchist and communist flags were unsoiled… the occupiers have been evicted but taxpayers will have to foot the costly cleanup bill…”

Largest Fire in California History

The Week wrote on August 7:

“The Mendocino Complex fire in Northern California has grown to more than 290,000 acres as of Tuesday morning, the Los Angeles Times reports. By Monday, the fire spanned more than 283,800 acres, making it the largest blaze in the state’s history. Fire officials said 130 structures have been destroyed, including 75 homes, and thousands more are threatened; the fire is only 34 percent contained.

“The Mendocino Complex fire is actually two fires that have burned for several days: the Ranch fire, north of Clear Lake, and the River fire, which has swept through an area west of Clear Lake. Thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate their homes. California’s previously largest fire was the Thomas Fire, which burned 281,000 acres just last December.”

The Hysteria of “Anti-Laundering” Measures Leading to Total Governmental Control

Reuters wrote on August 3:

“Deutsche Bank has uncovered shortcomings in its ability to fully identify clients and the source of their wealth, internal documents seen by Reuters show, more than a year after it was fined nearly $700 million for allowing money laundering… reviews found gaps in Deutsche’s screening process, which aims to meet so-called ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) requirements that are a cornerstone of global anti-money laundering controls… Regulators around the world require banks to vet customers so that criminals cannot mask their identity through complex company and ownership structures to launder money or sidestep international sanctions… Banks have been fined billions of dollars for lax oversight, including the failure to identify customers.

“In January 2017, Deutsche Bank agreed to pay U.S. and UK regulators $630 million in fines over artificial trades between Moscow, London and New York that authorities said were used to launder $10 billion out of Russia. The U.S. Federal Reserve fined the bank an additional $41 million for failing to ensure its systems would detect money laundering in May 2017. Deutsche Bank is under pressure after three consecutive years of losses, and it agreed to pay a $7.2 billion settlement with U.S. authorities last year over its sale of toxic mortgage securities in the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis…”

Sounds good, BUT these procedures, which are also implemented by US banks and which are apparently instigated by the US government, lead to appalling violations of the rights and privileges of harmless and innocent customers who find themselves to be the targets of ridiculous governmental “oversight”… without any court approval or other legal justification whatsoever. It is a sad occurrence in the history of the relationship between even democratic governments and their citizens that legitimate governmental concerns are being used far too often to engage in illegitimate and terribly autocratic conduct.

Newsmax ran an article on August 6 with the following headline: “Banks Get the Go-ahead to Seize Your Accounts Including IRA and 401K,” continuing, “The Federal Government via the Dodd Frank Act, allows ‘Too Big To Fail’ banks and financial institutions to seize your Deposits and bail out themselves. This means your cash becomes their assets, and your deposit loses its FDIC insurance. You are defenseless against this law. Therefore protecting your assets outside of banks now, is crucial for your hard earned money to be immune from any form of confiscation.”

In addition, as the Local reported on August 5 in connection with US sanctions on Iran, “Germany’s big banks, Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank, stayed clear of Iran after the US fined them hugely in 2015 for violating previous sanctions.” One must wonder how long Germany and Europe will tolerate this kind of American behavior. Not for too much longer; that should be clear.

Bundesbank Restricts Withdrawals of Its Customers

Handelsblatt Global wrote on August 3:

“Germany’s central bank changed its terms and conditions so that it can more tightly control withdrawals. The move is seen as bowing to US pressure over trade with Iran… In the future, Germany’s central bank plans to impose new controls on cash withdrawals from accounts it holds, with any large withdrawals subject to thorough checks and possible refusal…

“It seems the Bundesbank is now running scared of those sanctions and the dangers of breaking them. Among possible reasons for refusing a large withdrawal, its new terms and conditions list anything which might ‘substantially threaten’ the Bundesbank’s role in transfer payments and currency reserve management. Specifically, it mentions possible ‘jeopardizing of important relationships with central banks and financial institutions of third countries.’…

“Clearly, the Bundesbank, like many German commercial banks, is worried about the… possible exclusion from US capital markets. Other reasons given by the Bundesbank for refusing withdrawals include money laundering and terrorism… the European Union suggested that European central banks could handle some foreign exchange payments on behalf of the Iranian government. The change to the Bundesbank’s terms and conditions can be regarded as an emphatic refusal of these EU proposals.”

More Governmental Control in Florida

Education Week wrote on July 26:

“As part of their efforts to prevent school shootings, Florida lawmakers mandated the creation of a centralized database that will combine individual-level records from the state’s law-enforcement and social-services agencies with information from people’s personal social media accounts. The provision… marks a potentially dramatic increase in the state’s collection and sharing of data on individuals. While the new database could have big consequences for individual privacy and civil liberties, proponents described it as necessary to ensure public safety…

“To date, the far-reaching legislation… has garnered attention primarily for imposing new restrictions on access to guns, establishing a voluntary program to train and arm some school employees, providing $400 million for school mental health services and security measures, and establishing a new Office of Safe Schools within the Florida Department of Education. But a mostly overlooked provision of the legislation also directs that new office to ‘coordinate with the Department of Law Enforcement to provide a centralized integrated data repository and data analytics resource to improve access to timely, complete, and accurate information.’

“… According to the law, data sources must include, at a minimum, the state’s departments of Children and Families, Law Enforcement, and Juvenile Justice; local law enforcement agencies; and ‘social media.’ Privacy experts, civil-liberties advocates, and researchers who specialize in ‘integrated data systems’ around the country criticized the law as vaguely written and lacking in adequate safeguards.

“Faiza Patel, the co-director of the Liberty & National Security Center at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University… said, the actual legislation’s imprecise language seems to allow for open-ended vacuuming up of any and all social-media information, not just reported threats. And even just the latter could allow for a great deal of unvetted, low-quality, and biased information to flood into the system, she said. Just look at the rash of recent incidents in which white people reported black people to law enforcement for ‘suspicious’ activities such as sitting in a Starbucks, napping in a college dorm, and grilling in a park.

“In addition, said Patel and other experts, it’s unclear exactly who will have access to the information in the new Florida database, what specific purposes the data can (and can’t) be used for, how it will be secured, how long it will be retained, or what rights individuals may have to review and contest the information that is held about them.”

Another step towards the “Big Brother” governmentally controlled society.

Facebook and the Banks

The Verge wrote on August 6:

“Facebook is asking large banks in the US to share their customers’ card transactions, shopping habits, and checking account balances to offer new financial services, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

“In an emailed response to the report, Facebook denies that it’s ‘actively asking financial services companies for financial transaction data.’ It says that it’s simply looking to partner with banks and credit card companies to offer customer service through a chatbot in Messenger or help users manage their accounts within the app. Similar features already exist on Messenger with American Express, Mastercard, and PayPal integrations, but Facebook is looking to expand its partnerships with more traditional banks…

“The tech giant has talked to banks including JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, and US Bancorp about what sorts of banking services Facebook Messenger could provide for customers…Facebook’s reputation is marred by its recent data privacy scandal where Cambridge Analytica misused the data of 87 million Facebook users. Sources told the WSJ that the banks are concerned about how Facebook would handle data privacy when it comes to financial information…

“Other tech companies like Google and Amazon are also asking banks to share customer data so that they can add banking services on their voice assistants…”

Actually, customers should also be VERY concerned about how their banks are handling data privacy.

Global Technology Companies Remove InfoWars because of “Hate Speech”

Deutsche Welle reported on August 6:

“Spotify, Facebook and Apple have all taken down content by Alex Jones, whose InfoWars site has a mass following. While he’s previously taken heat for fake news, it was hate speech that landed him in hot water now… The news came one day after media news website BuzzFeed reported that Apple had removed the majority of Jones’ podcasts from its platforms…

“Jones is a controversial radio and internet host who is accused of promoting fake news and conspiracy theories, such as disputing the mass school shooting in 2012 at Sandy Hook elementary school in the US. Facebook said it had removed four of Alex Jones’ video pages… ‘ for glorifying violence, which violates our graphic violence policy, and using dehumanizing language to describe people who are transgender, Muslims and immigrants,’ the statement read. The company also said that it had also suspended Jones’ personal profile for 30 days for his having posted the offensive content…

“Jones founded Infowars in 1999, building a massive following. Among the many conspiracy theories he has put forward is that the US government was involved in the September 11 attacks.”

Whether one agrees or disagrees with Jones’ concepts and (at times far-fetched) speculations, to remove him because of alleged hate-speech violations [who defines what constitutes hate speech, “dehumanizing language” or “glorifying violence”?] does set an extremely dangerous precedent for suppressing free speech.

Farrakhan’s Video Against Interracial Marriage Removed from Facebook

Breitbart wrote on August 8:

“Facebook has removed a video from Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan in which he advocates against interracial marriage… in the video, Farrakhan stated that black people had been ‘mongrelized’ by interracial marriage, something which Farrakhan blamed on ‘the enemy’ in Hollywood.

 “A Facebook spokesperson initially stated that the video was allowed to stay on the platform as it was reportedly ‘unclear’ how Farrakhan was using the term ‘mongrelized.’ A second review, however, determined that the word was being used to attack people and the video was removed from the platform. This is reminiscent of how Facebook initially supported Infowars staying on the platform, then suddenly removed both Alex Jones and Infowars from the platform as part of a larger purge by Big Tech.

 “According to Facebook, the guideline that Farrakhan violated was tier 1 of Facebook’s hate speech policy which prohibits: ‘dehumanizing speech or imagery including … reference or comparison to animals that are culturally perceived as intellectually or physically inferior.’”

Innocent Defendants Pleading Guilty

Forbes wrote on July 31:

“Defendants in federal cases face life changing choices once they have been charged, plead guilty and take a less severe penalty, or exercise their right to a trial and risk years (decades) in prison.  It is no wonder that some have pondered whether innocent people are pleading guilty to crimes they did not commit.

“A new paper [was] published by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), [stating that] going to trial can be a gamble with one’s life.  One conclusion reached by the NACDL was that ‘There is ample evidence that federal criminal defendants are being coerced to plead guilty because the penalty for exercising their constitutional rights is simply too high to risk.’…

“Another case NACDL cited was that of… Christian Allmendinger [who] was involved in a complex case of purchasing life insurance policies.  He was partners with another guy, Brent Oncale.  Onacle pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.  Allmendinger went to trial where Onacle testified against him … he was found guilty and sentenced to 45 years in prison.  Onacle had his sentence reduced to 5 years after testifying.  It is disparities like this that are just a few of the reasons we have a growing issue with our criminal justice system.”

This is another reason (among MANY MORE reasons) why a true Christian should NOT be participating in jury duty services.

Israel’s LGBTQ Parades

JTA wrote on August 2:

“A record crowd estimated at 30,000 or more marched Thursday in support of the LGBTQ community at the [17^th annual] Pride Parade in Jerusalem… The march comes a week after more than 60,000 demonstrators in Tel Aviv protested the Knesset’s passage of a new surrogacy law that excludes gay couples as well as single men. That demonstration capped off a day of strikes and protests in support of gay surrogacy and the LGBTQ community.

“The Pride Parade marchers called for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign over the surrogacy law and also carried signs against the nation-state law passed last month…”

Time Magazine wrote on August 3:

“Jerusalem holds a modest parade annually in contrast to festivities in nearby liberal Tel Aviv, which drew over 250,000 people to its parade this year… Israel has emerged as one of the world’s most gay-friendly travel destinations in recent years, in sharp contrast to the rest of the Middle East where gays are persecuted and even killed. In Israel, homosexuals serve openly in Israel’s military and parliament, and many popular artists and entertainers are homosexual. However, leaders of the gay community say Israel still has far to go in promoting equality.”

God calls this promotion of equality “abominable.”

South African White Farmers Under Attack

Express wrote on August 5:

“South Africa’s white farmers have hit out in anger at the government’s decision to agree to constitutional changes to seize land from them. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa recently announced plans to allow white people’s land to be taken without compensation, which will then be distributed to black people in a move that he believes will be good for the economy…

“The farmers have claimed that the government’s plan will be ‘catastrophic and could lead to anarchy and food shortages like Venezuela or Zimbabwe’. The economy of Zimbabwe collapsed after their own land reform was carried out.

“More than 20 years after the end of apartheid in South Africa, white farmers still own the majority of South Africa’s land…  In the 1990s black South Africans received grants and subsidies to buy land plots, which resulted in overcrowding and poor land use…”

North Korea Preparing a Super Army of Human Clones?

The Daily Star wrote on August 5:

“Dictator Kim Jong-Un wants to create an army of super soldiers who will obey his every command. Genetic scientists have spent billions on a secret cloning programme started by Kim’s grandfather more than 30 years ago… MI6 believes the secretive Communist state has already cloned cats, dogs and horses – and has been experimenting on human embryos for at least 10 years. Senior spooks working alongside the US intelligence agency [and] the CIA have uncovered information suggesting human cloning has taken place at two secret laboratories…

“A senior intelligence official told the Daily Star Sunday… ‘Prisoners have been used in cloning and other terrible experiments for years. Kim is obsessed with human cloning. He has been attempting to grow human tissue, organs and clone embryos. He believes he can live forever by making clones of himself. Human cloning is very advanced on the Korean peninsular. Both the North and the South have been experimenting for decades. What we don’t know is whether they have had any success.’…

“In theory, human cloning could produce an identical copy of a living person whose body parts could be used to replace organs such as heart, liver and kidneys. There is no worldwide ban on human cloning although in at least 70 countries around the world, including the UK, it is illegal.

“Both South and North Korea have a controversial history with cloning. Laboratories in South Korea will clone family pets, such as dogs and cats for around £80,000. A spokesman for the North Korean embassy refused to comment.”

Even though the concept of cloning humans for the military or engaging in other military endeavors (such as constructing man-like robotic soldiers) may sound far-fetched, an interesting prophecy in the book of Revelation should be considered, which speaks of a huge Far-Eastern army of about 200 million “horsemen” (Revelation 9:16). These “horsemen” could arguably include human beings, cloned humans, and even robots.

Chaos in Venezuela

AFP wrote on August 5:

“The United States on Sunday denied involvement as Nicolas Maduro blamed the opposition and Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos for an alleged ‘assassination’ attempt on the Venezuela president. Venezuela’s far-left government said seven soldiers were wounded by the alleged attack using explosive-laden drones during a military parade in Caracas on Saturday. Maduro pointed the finger at outgoing Colombian President Santos and ‘the ultra-right wing,’ a term he uses to describe domestic opposition, as a mysterious rebel group claimed responsibility.

“US national security advisor John Bolton insisted there was ‘no US government involvement’ and even suggested that the incident could have been ‘a pretext set up by the regime itself.’ Venezuela has already reacted to Saturday’s events with a series of arrests as Attorney General Tarek William Saab, who was also present at the parade, warning: ‘There will be a ruthless punishment.’…

“Maduro has remained in power in oil-rich Venezuela despite a collapsing economy and a long-running political crisis. Hundreds of thousands have fled due to food and medicine shortages and hyperinflation that could reach one million percent this year… Maduro, a 55-year-old former bus driver, has effectively sidelined the fractured opposition through control of the courts and the electoral body — and unstinting support from the military, which holds key posts in his government…

“Maduro often accuses the opposition and the United States of working together to foment a ‘coup’ to topple him. This year he brought forward to May presidential elections — boycotted by the opposition — which handed him a new six-year term.”

The idea that the incident in Venezuela might have been caused by the regime itself is worth considering, as the parallels to the alleged recent “coup” in Turkey are striking, which helped Erdogan to become the absolute dictator in that autocratic country who is ruling it with an iron fist.

Deadly Earthquake in Indonesia

The Telegraph wrote on August 6:

“Indonesian security forces and emergency workers were racing on Monday to aid victims of a magnitude 7 earthquake on Lombok that killed at least 98 people [142 as of Monday morning, August 6], while tourists were being evacuated from the worst-hit areas. The tremor, which came just a week after another quake killed 17 people on the island, was also felt on the neighbouring resort island of Bali, where frightened tourists ran onto the streets.

“The earthquake struck just 10km underground, according to the US Geological Survey, and was followed by a series of strong aftershocks, prompting many to spend the night outside. ‘The search and rescue team is still scouring the scene and evacuating (people),’ national disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said. ‘We estimate the number of victims will rise.’ He described the damage as ‘massive’ in the north of Lombok, citing an example of a collapsed mosque where worshippers are believed to have been buried during evening prayers… Some areas still hadn’t been reached, with rescuers hampered by collapsed bridges, electricity blackouts and damaged roads blocked with debris…

“A nearby volcano was evacuated after the earthquake struck. Indonesia straddles the so-called Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’, where tectonic plates collide, making the nation one of the most disaster prone in the world. Some 90 per cent of the world’s earthquakes happen in this region. Other countries including Bolivia, Chile, Japan, and the US west coast also sit on the ‘Ring of Fire.’

“In 2004 a tsunami triggered by a magnitude 9.3 undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra in western Indonesia killed 220,000 people in countries around the Indian Ocean, including 168,000 in Indonesia…”

Christ warned of ever increasing earthquakes as a sign of the times, prior to His return. He also stated that earthquakes will strike “here and there,” indicating that they would also happen in unusual places and locations.

Christian Persecution in India

World Watch Monitor wrote on August 6:

“Christian villagers in a rural district of India’s Maharashtra state have been told that one church will be closed down every week because they have been ‘destroying’ local tradition and culture by ‘luring’ others to convert to Christianity. Since June, over a dozen houses belonging to Christians have been attacked by local extremist groups… Christians… have also been told that if they pursue with Christianity, they will be cut off from local water supplies and will no longer have access to government-subsidised groceries.

“The latest incident took place on Sunday, 5 August, in Kospundi, when a local Christian, Gallu Kowasi, was badly beaten by locals demanding he renounce his faith… the extremists are being ‘propelled’ by the government in the name of a law on self-governing in tribal areas…

“Several Christians have received death threats or have been threatened with expulsion from their village, while new converts to Christianity face being ostracised from both their family and local community. ‘If one person in the family is converted to Christianity, the rest of the family unites with the village and all of them immediately socially boycott that person,’ World Watch Monitor’s source explained. ‘The new Christian convert will be given no job in the village and no-one will come to help him with his work. The social boycott is just the start. Thereafter the new convert is threatened constantly to leave his faith; he can be easily attacked and his house attacked.’

“The Christians of Bharagad village filed a complaint with police, but the authorities took no action. Instead, the Christians later received letters warning them against making any further complaints. After three Christian families in Koskundi village went to the police, a mob of around 100 people gathered round the police station, demanding the Christians be thrown out of the village.”

This is just a small foretaste as to what will happen to Christians who refuse to accept the mark of the beast.

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.

Let us review a few more of the many Scriptures that disprove the concept of “once saved, always saved”; that confirm that our sins which we might commit in the future are not automatically forgiven in advance when we “accept” Jesus Christ; that teach that repentance is vital and necessary; and that answer such ridiculous assertions about not having to keep asking for forgiveness or repenting in order to have our sins forgiven.

2 Chronicles 7:14: “… if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Matthew 4:17: “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”

Luke 13:2-3: “And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.’”

Acts 2:38: “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”

Acts 3:19: “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…”

Acts 17:30: “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent…”

2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

There are many other references but the above should suffice to prove the point that repentance in Scripture is a key requirement for a true Christian.

In our booklet “Teach Us to Pray,” further information is given about the need for repentance. We quote as follows:

On Page 47, under the Subheading: “We Must Confess Our Sins to God”:

“1 John 1:8-9 says: ‘If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’

“Psalm 32:5 adds: ‘I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said: “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.’

On Pages 47-48, under the Subheading: “We Must ASK for Forgiveness”:

“When we confess our sins to God; that is, when we acknowledge our sins to God and admit our mistakes to Him, we need to ask God at the same time to forgive us our sins. Even though God is more than willing to forgive us, we still need to ask Him.

“In Psalm 25:18, David asked God for forgiveness, when he prayed: ‘Look on my affliction and my pain, And forgive all my sins.’ He stated in Psalm 86:5: ‘For You, LORD, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.’

On Page 48, under the Subheading: “We Must Ask in FAITH”:

“When we ask God for forgiveness, we must firmly believe that He WILL forgive us. We read that ‘through this Man [Jesus Christ] is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified’ (Acts 13:38-39).”

On Page 48, under the Subheading: “We Must FORSAKE Our Sins”:

“Proverbs 28:13 says: ‘He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.’

“When we forsake our sins, we actually turn away from them. We read in Jeremiah 36:3: ‘It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the adversities which I purpose to bring upon them, that everyone may turn from his evil way, that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.’

On Pages 48-49, under the Subheading: “We Must REPENT or RETURN to God”:

“It is not enough to turn away from our sins. We must at the same time turn, or return to, God. This is another way of saying: We must REPENT of our sins. That is, we must forsake or turn from our sins—cease doing what is wrong—and we must turn to God by doing what is right.

“John would not baptize people who had not shown in their lives ‘fruits worthy of repentance’ (Luke 3:8). Christ came to call sinners to repentance (Matthew 9:13). He also said that we will perish, if we don’t repent (Luke 13:3, 5). He said that Nineveh was spared, because they repented (Matthew 12:41). Paul said that he might have to mourn for many ‘in the church’ who did not repent of their sins (2 Corinthians 12:21)…

“Isaiah 55:7 tells us: ‘Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.’

“Jeremiah tells us in the Book of Lamentations: ‘Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the LORD; Let us lift our hearts and hands To God in heaven’ (chapter 3, verse 40). Jeremiah goes on to explain that God did not pardon them for their transgression and rebellion (verse 42). Why not? Obviously, because they had not turned back to God—they had not yet repented of their sins. Solomon understood that God will forgive us our sins if we ‘pray… and confess… and turn from [our] sins… and return to [God] with all [our] heart and with all [our] soul’ (2 Chronicles 6:26, 38-39; compare 1 Kings 8:33-40). Notice, too, Daniel’s prayer, asking for forgiveness after repentance, in Daniel 9:1-20, especially verse 13.

“In Acts 26:18, Christ tells Paul that forgiveness is predicated on turning from darkness to light. Compare, too, Peter’s admonition to Simon Magus, in Acts 8:22: ‘Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.’”

On Pages 49 and 51, under the Subheading: “God Does Not Forgive Without Repentance”:

“God does not forgive us if we REFUSE to repent—refusing to admit and confess our sins to God, refusing to ask for His forgiveness in faith, and refusing to forsake and turn from our evil ways by turning to God and living His Way…

“God does not forgive us our sins if we refuse to repent of them, but He is quick to forgive, once we realize our sin and truly repent of it. Since we are to pray, ‘Forgive US OUR debts,’ this prayer includes not only the forgiveness of our personal individual sins, but also a request to God to forgive the sins of others (compare Numbers 21:7; 1 Samuel 12:19, 23).”

On Page 51, under the Subheading: “Summary”:

“Because of Christ’s Sacrifice, we can ask God the Father to forgive us our sins. But we must acknowledge and confess our sins to God, and we must ask and pray in faith for His forgiveness while turning to Him and forsaking our evil ways. If we refuse to repent of our sins, we cannot expect that God will forgive us.

“But that’s not all. There is yet another condition that we must fulfill in order to obtain God’s forgiveness of our sins. This condition is taught in the next sentence of the prayer outline.”

These excerpts clearly show that we have to ask for forgiveness—not accepting the erroneous belief of the “once saved, always saved” concept where this “understanding” is that “when God justifies a sinner, He clears his guilt, past, present and future,” as one such proponent put it. Such a misleading approach can lead to “Christians” letting down their guard and not really having to concern themselves about their future behaviour, because whatever sins they commit have already been forgiven without them having to repent of them. Such an approach is very dangerous, and without true personal repentance, no one can be in the future Kingdom of God as a ruling member of the God Family, for eternity! It is just that serious!

One writer pondered the following:

“OSAS” (Once Saved, Always Saved) tries to make two types of the sexually immoral, drunkards, swindlers, greedy etc – one type being saved because of a past moment of faith and the other type being unsaved because he never had even one moment of faith!”

To complete this study, let us look at the book of Revelation. In chapters 2 and 3 are quite a number of references for the need to repent, be faithful until death, hold fast, persevere and overcome (these are underlined in the verses quoted below). These requirements are the very antithesis of the assertion, previously mentioned, that Christians “do not always need to be asking God for forgiveness” and “believers do not have to keep asking for forgiveness or [keep] repenting in order to have their sins forgiven.”

Following are passages from Revelation 2:

(Verse 5) Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

(Verse 7) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God…

(Verse 10) Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

(Verse 11) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.

(Verse 16) Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

(Verse 17) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.

(Verse 22) Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.

(Verse 25) But hold fast what you have till I come.

(Verse 26) And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations…

(Verse 29) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

We conclude with the following passages from Revelation 3:

(Verse 3) Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

(Verse 5) He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

(Verse 10) Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

(Verse 11) Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

(Verse 12) He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

(Verse 19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

(Verse 21) To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

We would all do well to heed the phrase which is used a number of times in these two chapters of Revelation: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

A new Member Letter (August 2018) has been written by Elder Kalon Mitchell. In this letter we are encouraged to focus on our calling and to be motivated by our part in God’s plan.

“Germany Goes Nuclear?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

Deeply disturbing developments are being discussed by German politicians right now… from reinstating mandatory military service for men and women to creating a nuclear-armed Germany.  What was once taboo and unthinkable is now openly debated. The Bible has forewarned for a long time that a militaristic united Europe under German leadership WILL start a nuclear war against former allies.

“Deutschland–eine Nuklearmacht?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link and covering the same material as described above.

“Dieses Geschlecht Wird Nicht Vergehen!” is the title of this week’s German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “This Generation Will Not Pass Away!”

“Against the Odds,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Eric Rank, is now posted. Here is a summary:

It is a rare event to be called out of the world in this age to be a member of God’s family. Do we consider ourselves to be lucky to be called? Or is there something more than luck involved?

“To Tear or Mend,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Robb Harris, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Solomon once stated “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven.”  He spoke of the dichotomy of life in very physical terms. This same undulating change is ever present in our spiritual lives, as well—because it is necessary for our spiritual growth.

Here are the dates for the 2018 Fall Holy Days:

Feast of Trumpets—September 10
Day of Atonement—September 19
Feast of Tabernacles—September 24-30
Last Great Day—October 1

by Connie Grade

I just finished watching the recent StandingWatch program, “Do Banks and the Government Control You?” and felt motivated to report about my recent experiences. Our RV Park subscribes to Dish for our bulk TV cable channels. We received notification from Dish that they would no longer accept payment via check or debit, nor would they be mailing out paper statements to their bulk subscribers. We are now required to go to their on line services and set up an online account with them so we can make our monthly payments to them through their services.

Being extremely busy this year at the Park, I totally spaced the fact that I would have to take time out of my busy schedule and go online and create an account with them. I did not receive a paper statement for the month of July and consequently, did not make the payment for that month. I realized this on Friday as I was finalizing my reports for the month of July, so I quickly reviewed what was necessary for me to go on line to create an account. I went through all the requirements, but at the very end I was advised that “the system is currently down.” I contacted Dish by phone, and an individual aided me in getting the account set up and working.  I had to make payment with our business credit card and when I asked for confirmation via email, he said they do not send out email confirmations and that I would need to go to my account and click on payment history and print off a confirmation!!!

So now Dish no longer mails out statements to inform you when the bill is due; they no longer allow you to pay by check or debit; and they no longer send you an automatic confirmation of payment made—instead, the customer is now required to do all the work. They get over $1000.00/month from us, and now we just received notice there is a rate increase going into effect on August 18.

It just seems we are seeing this more and more, just like with the banks.  A while back I went to our personal bank to withdraw a sizeable amount of money.  We found out if it is over $9,999.00 you have to fill out a questionnaire inquiring what the money is going to be used for and then it must be approved by the bank manager for withdrawal. They claimed, it had to do with money laundering and drug money.

Definitely “Big Brother” is watching us more and more!

I also just received notice that the Wells Fargo Bank branch we do business with for the company is closing in October. This branch is always busy every time I go in and conveniently sits near the interstate. So now I will be required to drive across town to another branch to conduct my business.  Perhaps the closure is the result of Wells Fargo having to set aside $8 million dollars to compensate customers affected by a “glitch” in their software resulting in several hundred people having to foreclose on their homes.  They have been fined for other unsavory conduct, and a string of other activities are currently under investigation.

We used to bank with Bank Of America but they closed that branch down a few years ago; this is why we are now with Wells Fargo. It seems we have less and less choices available to us where the government is in charge, or big corporations have too much control.

On August 4, 2018, Eric Rank will present the sermonette, titled, “Against The Odds,” and Robb Harris will present the sermon, titled, “To Tear or Mend?”

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.

Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:8 to “Be sober, be vigilant.” They both go hand in hand, for if we are not sober or in a clear state of mind, then we can be caught off guard, which could lead us to sin and temptation.  Sobriety and watchfulness are very necessary for our Christian life and if we are not sober in body and mind, we would not be watchful over ourselves and also over others.

Peter continues on explaining why we are to be sober and vigilant by saying, “…because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”  Satan is our enemy, our opponent.  Barnes’ Notes of the Bible explains that “Satan opposes man in his best interests. He resists his efforts to do good; his purposes to return to God; his attempts to secure his own salvation. There is no more appropriate appellation that can be given to him than to say that he resists all our efforts to obey God and to secure the salvation of our own souls.”

So then, Satan will do everything in his power to deter us, to throw us off guard, making sure that we will fail.  He will use any means possible in ways we probably wouldn’t recognize at first and that is why we need to be circumspect at ALL times.

We have a bigger challenge ahead of us, compared to the rest of the world, for we have the knowledge and the understanding to defeat Satan, to overcome our trials, to live a righteous Godly life, for God has chosen US now to come out of this world and He has given us the first chance for eternal salvation. Because we know this, we can also expect to go through trials on a continuous basis which God allows, to test our strength and commitment to see whether or not we will overcome until the end and be counted worthy, so we can ultimately be a part of God’s Family (compare Matthew 24:13; Luke 21:36; Revelation 2:26).

Satan is compared to a roaring lion that seeks those whom he wants to devour.  Yet in Revelation 12:12, a warning is placed to everyone on this earth, especially God’s elect, when Satan will attack, “having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” Satan will strike as a roaring lion, implying his violent and voracious thirst for prey as a hungry beast.

We continue to preach that we are living in the end time and Christ’s return is near, and therefore we must understand how QUICKLY things can materialize.  If we are not watchful, but rather ignorant to what is happening around the world, as things continue to progress in light of biblical prophecy, then we will be in the same category of people as Christ explains in Matthew 24:48-51, and we will be caught unaware (also compare Mark 13:32-37).

We have a duty to fulfill. Jesus Christ makes it very clear how vigilant we must be at ALL times, in ANY situation.  Our calling to the Truth should not be taken for granted; neither is it a free pass to everlasting life, but it is something we need to work at continually, asking God for more wisdom and strength so that we can overcome Satan’s crafty snares.

by Norbert Link

We begin with strange conduct of Bank of America towards their customers, begging the question who is really behind these dangerous developments and continue with the dangers of a cashless society [in this context, please view our new StandingWatch program, “Do Banks and the Government Control You?”]; report on the possibility of economic disaster for the USA; and the ongoing trade war between the USA, Europe and China; Germany’s anti-Trump strategy; the move for a sovereign united Europe; and Britain’s move towards political anarchy.

We address further developments in Europe and discuss the reasons as to why the USA has failed to bring peace to the Middle East. We also speak on the worldwide terrible wildfires and droughts.

We conclude with several articles on religious persecution all over the world, including Africa and China.

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

Bank of America’s Questionable Conduct

The Kansas City Star wrote on July 27:

“Josh Collins and wife Jessica Salazar Collins were mystified: Why would the Bank of America, where they’ve banked since the early 2000s, suddenly ask questions about Josh’s citizenship? He was born in Wichita. So this thoroughly American couple from Roeland Park ignored a form that the bank mailed them about a month ago asking, among other things, whether Josh Collins was a citizen or could claim dual citizenship with another country. Jessica said she tossed the letter because she and Josh ‘thought it was a scam.’

“Until the bank on Tuesday cut off access to their money. Bank of America said it was standard practice to ask about citizen status when opening a new account or updating customer information on an existing one.. ‘Like all financial institutions, we’re required by law to maintain complete and accurate records for all of our customers and may periodically request information, such as country of citizenship and proof of U.S. residency. This type of outreach is nothing new,’ Bank of America said in a statement Friday. ‘This information must be up to date and therefore we periodically reach out to customers, which is what we did in this case.’

“But according to the California Bankers Association, the largest state affiliate of the national association, questions of citizenship are not federally required… She said federal law requires banks must obtain and verify only four things about account holders: name, date of birth, residential address and Social Security number. Other federally chartered banks, including Wells Fargo, ask citizenship questions when some new deposit accounts are opened. The U.S. Department of the Treasury increasingly is urging financial institutions to collect as much information on customers as possible, including citizenship status, and to update often in part to ward against the laundering of money that may flow through foreign countries…

“… when they showed up in person at a Bank of America branch in Mission, a bank worker’s computer screen showed a little red flag near Josh’s name and the word ‘citizenship’ beside the flag. The bank asked Josh for his driver’s license and unfroze the account on Wednesday. Bank of America spokeswoman Diane Wagner said it was unfortunate that the Collinses didn’t respond to the request for updated information. ‘If we don’t hear from a customer in response to our outreach,’ she said, ‘as a last resort, we may restrict the account until we can confirm it is in compliance with regulatory requirements’ and safe from identity thieves.

“Josh Collins wasn’t chosen for any particular reason, Wagner said, adding that all Bank of America customers eventually will receive update notices that will ask about citizenship and dual citizenship. Nonetheless, Josh puzzles over why no such notice went to his wife, if all customers were being contacted… Jessica… added that they’ll be changing banks…”

Inside Edition added on July 30:

“… Then last Tuesday, the family found they couldn’t access their money… Collins said he called the bank and was told the account was frozen because he hadn’t responded to their inquiry about his citizenship status. When the account remained frozen the next day, Salazar Collins called and was told the card had been stolen. ‘So, at that point, we decide[d] to go into the physical bank and it took about 15 minutes, but the first question they asked me was, “Are you a citizen?”’ he said. ‘Again? “Yes.” And then they wanted to know if I had dual citizenship.’

“Collins showed the bank his driver’s license, and his account was ultimately unfrozen, but his automatic bill payments had been deleted, he said… The Salazar Collins family said it plans to move its business to another bank.”

Bank of America’s conduct has become increasingly questionable. They have also made phone calls to customers, especially nonprofit entities, to ask some very intrusive questions which might violate the customer’s or donors’ right of privacy, threatening to “restrict” or even “close” the account if the questions are not being answered.

The Real Dangers of a Cashless Society

The Guardian wrote on July 19:

“Banks are closing ATMs and branches in an attempt to ‘nudge’ users towards digital services – and it’s all for their own benefit… All over the western world banks are shutting down cash machines and branches. They are trying to push you into using their digital payments and digital banking infrastructure… financial institutions want everyone to access and navigate the broader economy through their systems…

“Financial institutions… are trying to nudge us towards a cashless society and digital banking. The true motive is corporate profit. Payments companies such as Visa and Mastercard want to increase the volume of digital payments services they sell, while banks want to cut costs. The nudge requires two parts. First, they must increase the inconvenience of cash, ATMs and branches. Second, they must vigorously promote the alternative…

“We can learn from the Marxist philosopher Antonio Gramsci in this regard. His concept of hegemony referred to the way in which powerful parties condition the cultural and economic environment in such a way that their interests begin to be perceived as natural and inevitable by the general public. Nobody was on the streets shouting for digital payment 20 years ago, but increasingly it seems obvious and ‘natural’ that it should take over. That belief does not come from nowhere. It is the direct result of a hegemonic project on the part of financial institutions [and, we might add, the governments supporting them].

“We can also learn from Louis Althusser’s concept of interpellation. The basic idea is that you can get people to internalise beliefs by addressing them as if they already had those beliefs. Twenty years ago nobody believed that cash was ‘inconvenient’, but every time I walk into London Underground I see adverts that address me as if I was a person who finds cash inconvenient…  But a cashless society is not in your interest. It is in the interest of banks and payments companies. Their job is to make you believe that it is in your interest too…

“[During the] recent Visa chaos… millions of people who have become dependent on digital payment suddenly found themselves stranded when the monopolistic payment network crashed… Cash, on the other hand, does not crash. It does not rely on external data centres, and is not subject to remote control or remote monitoring… This is also the reason why financial institutions and financial technology companies want to get rid of it. Cash transactions are outside the net that such institutions cast to harvest fees and data.

“A cashless society brings dangers… There are also poorly understood psychological implications about cash encouraging self-control while paying by card or a mobile phone can encourage spending. And a cashless society has major surveillance implications… we see an alignment between government and financial institutions…”

On July 30, Bild Online reported that the desired move towards a cashless society (i.e., no cash transactions) was another step towards creating total governmental “Big Brother” control of the countries’ citizens.

Recently, when “panels of experts” were debating the implications of “taped conversations” between Donald Trump and his former attorney, discussing a potential cash transaction by Trump to a female accuser (which transaction never took place), it was stated on CNN that cash transactions are only engaged in by criminals such as drug dealers or those who are guilty of money laundering. Such irresponsible, completely false and utterly foolish statements are of course geared, among other “political reasons,” towards the furtherance of a cashless society.

Warning! Get Ready When US Economy Goes Bust

The Week wrote on July 30:

“The government’s latest numbers showed a whopping 4.1 percent rate [of GDP growth] in the second quarter. It was a big increase over the first quarter, which saw mere 2.2 percent growth… But economic statistics are also full of noise. Were Friday’s numbers a blip or a sign of a new trend?…

“Job growth remains modest but steady. Nominal wage growth is there, but it’s mediocre. And this has literally been the story for years and years, well before the arrival of Trump or the current Congress. Paradoxically, the recovery from the Great Recession has been one of the most anemic-yet-dogged in American history.

“This is especially noteworthy when it comes to the Republicans’ tax cut. Their theory was that by making investments more profitable, the tax law would encourage more investment and thus boost growth. This never made much sense: Investment in the U.S. economy has been crumbling for decades even as corporate profits soared to new heights… there’s no sign of a pickup in investment. In fact, the same Friday report that showed high economic growth also revealed the slowest growth for equipment investments since late 2016. Whatever boosted GDP in the second quarter, it wasn’t that.

“A more likely culprit is in fact Trump’s trade war. But not in the way the president would want. America’s trading partners, particularly China, are gearing up to retaliate against Trump with tariffs of their own. Like shoppers stripping grocery shelves bare in anticipation of a hurricane, it looks like foreign buyers cranked up their purchases of American exports in the second quarter to get them in before the crackdown arrived. For instance, U.S. soybean exports — which are now getting hit hard by the trade war — were up over 50 percent. All told, the sudden surge in American exports accounted for half of the 4.1 percent GDP growth rate.

“Analysts at Morgan Stanley said it was ‘likely a reflection of stockpiling ahead of the implementation of trade tariffs, and so they are likely to subtract from growth in the following quarters.’ In other words, Trump’s policies didn’t drive that growth so much as inspire a foreign freakout that injected more demand into our economy from abroad. And because it happened in anticipation of a trade war that’s now here, the temporary boom will almost certainly be followed by a bust.

“It turns out federal spending also grew by 3.4 percent in the second quarter…”

Whether the American economy will experience a bust now or a little bit later, it is prophesied that ultimately, America’s economic growth, prosperity and wealth will sharply decline. At one time, God blessed America, due to the obedience of Abraham (Abraham was the grandfather of Jacob or Israel. Modern descendants of the ancient house of Israel can be found today in America and Britain, among other English-speaking nations.) But God also warned that He would withdraw His blessings and curse this country if America would not repent of their many sins. There is little evidence of genuine repentance.

EU-US-Trade War—Disagreement on What Was Agreed

The Huffington Post wrote on July 27:

“President Donald Trump said… that he just opened up the European market to U.S. farmers… The European Union’s take was very different. ‘On agriculture, I think we’ve been very clear on that — that agriculture is out of the scope of these discussions,’ European Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva told reporters in Brussels on Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported. Other than what is ‘explicitly mentioned’ in the agreement, ‘we are not negotiating about agricultural products,’ she said. ‘When you read the joint statement … you will see no mention of agriculture as such; you will see a mention of farmers and a mention of soybeans, which are part of the discussions, and we will follow up [on] that,’ Andreeva added…

“The U.S. ‘heavily insisted to insert the whole field of agricultural products’ in the negotiations, Juncker later told reporters, according to the Journal. ‘We refused that because I don’t have a mandate and that’s a very sensitive issue in Europe.’”

Focus wrote on July 29: “In the trade war [between Europe and the USA], there is no reason for ‘all-clear!'”

The EUObserver wrote on July 26: “Did Juncker trick Trump? The EU commission chief agreed to trade talks even if the US president did not lift tariffs on steel and aluminium [sic]. But he avoided tariffs on cars and obtained a commitment to refrain from new unilateral moves.”

Germany’s Anti-Trump Strategy

Der Spiegel Online wrote on July 27:

“On the day European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker reached a surprise deal on trade with Donald Trump, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas… presented the Japanese leader with his idea for a new alliance between states. It could fill the geopolitical vacuum created by Trump. In the coming months, a network of globally oriented states is to be created that closely coordinates its foreign, trade and climate policies…  [This] is to say, an alliance that stands for the global rules and structures of the postwar order that Trump rejects…

“The outlines of the German government’s new anti-Trump strategy are currently being sketched out. The German Foreign Ministry has been doing preliminary work on it for some time now… But now a clear goal has emerged. If that hadn’t been the case before, the Brussels NATO summit — where the U.S. president threatened to withdraw from the Western defense alliance — and his later description of the European Union as a ‘foe,’ cemented the conviction in Berlin, Brussels and Paris that alliances mean nothing to Trump. The U.S. has transformed from a ‘source of order’ into a ‘destroyer of order,’ according to sources within the German government…

“The strategy won’t likely be fully formed until the end of the year, but the allies have already been determined. In addition to Japan, they are likely to also include South Korea… Both countries would like to sign wide-ranging free trade agreements with the EU. Maas is also considering South Africa, Australia and Argentina as strategic partners, as well as, of course, the U.S.’s two neighbors, Mexico and Canada…

“Maas plans to float the first trial balloon during the General Assembly of the United Nations in late September. Together with India, Brazil and Japan, the German foreign minister is planning a proposal for a reform of the Security Council. Germany will serve on the Security Council for two years starting in 2019. If Berlin is assigned to chair the council, that would be the point at which the new alliance would appear together for the first time. Maas wants to define the new seat as ‘European,’ in ‘radical alliance’ with France.

“That won’t be easy, because Paris and Berlin aren’t just pursuing contradictory goals when it comes to trade. French President Emmanuel Macron wants to found an ‘interventions initiative’ in which other non-EU states can also participate. Germany, for its part, supports a European defense union, or Pesco for short, that is focused on the EU. Meanwhile, with a ‘new policy for Eastern Europe,’ Maas wants to, above all, overcome the rifts with Eastern European countries like Poland and the Baltic States in order to create a Europe that is ‘sovereign and strong.’

“Now, much as they succeeded in doing during the trade war with the U.S., the French and the Germans need to find a compromise. The conflict over tariffs, Maas argues, shows ‘that our words carry weight when Europe acts together.’”

German Defense Minister Attacks Trump

The Local wrote on July 27:

“Germany’s defence minister Ursula von der Leyen has launched a scathing attack on Donald Trump, saying that the US president is a man without a plan. ‘There is no recognizable strategy in the president’s approach to Russia,’ said von der Leyen in an interview… While Russian president Vladimir Putin’s strategy was to position himself as a global player, thereby distracting from Russia’s economic weaknesses, Trump appeared to have no clear aims, said von der Leyen… ‘The problem with Helsinki is that nobody knows what was discussed or even agreed,’ she said…

“Von der Leyen also suggested that Trump’s hostility to Chancellor Angela Merkel was down to the fact that she didn’t fit into his perceptions of women. ‘A woman like Angela Merkel, a globally admired head of government with many years of experience has probably not featured in his world view before,’ said von der Leyen. ‘At the beginning, he didn’t even want to shake her hand. Now he is much more respectful.’”

Die Welt wrote on July 29: “One cannot rely anymore on America’s protection in light of Trump’s politics. Berlin has no other choice: Germany must become a nuclear power.”

These are strong words. The handwriting is on the wall!

Joschka Fischer: Europe Must Unite

On July 31, Handelsblatt Global published the following article by Joschka Fischer, Germany’s former vice-chancellor and foreign minister:

“After US President Donald Trump’s recent European tour… there can no longer be any doubt that he and his supporters want to destroy the American-led international order and global trade system… Trump [is the most] powerful man in the world… By seeking to disrupt virtually all that has defined the West since the end of World War II, Trump has brought the world to a historical turning point…

“For Europe, the stakes could not be higher… Europeans should not count on existing alliances and rules…

“For Europeans, the 19th century was shaped by the aftermath of the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution, whereas the 20th century was driven by two world wars, the Cold War and the development of nuclear weapons. At the end of WWII, two non-European powers on either side of the old European state system — the US and the Soviet Union – asserted themselves, and Europe became just another square on the chess board. Up to that time, Europe had ruled the world… But with the end of WWII, its dominance came to an end…

“The question now is whether the EU will reclaim its full sovereignty and assert itself as a power on the global stage or let itself fall behind for good. This is the moment of truth. There will be no second chances. Only the EU can win back European sovereignty for the 21st century… Reclaiming sovereignty will require… a new understanding of the relationship between the EU and its member states. The European project… must now also enshrine joint sovereignty.

“If the EU succeeds in this task, Trump will have inadvertently done it a big favor. History sometimes proceeds in strange ways. The key is to take it as it comes, and not hesitate when the moment for decisive action arrives.”

The Bible has prophesied that after Rome’s fall, the ancient Roman Empire would be resurrected ten times in Europe. The ninth resurrection occurred under Mussolini and Hitler and ended with the end of World War II. Europe’s power was gone, and Europe returned to the abyss. But, as Joschka Fischer suggests, it could rise again as the proverbial phoenix from the ashes, or, as the Bible puts it, as the beast coming out of the abyss one more time. And THAT is exactly what will happen.

Does Trump Have to Fear “Fear”?

CNN reported on July 30:

“Donald Trump is about to get the Bob Woodward treatment. The Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter and author will release ‘Fear’ — his first book on the Trump administration — on September 11, 2018, just weeks before the midterm elections that could deliver a strong verdict on the President’s first two years in office…

“‘Fear’ is based on hundreds of hours of taped interviews with first-hand sources and provides an in-depth, probing account of Trump’s thoughts and decisions on everything from national security to the Russia investigation to the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. In addition to interviewing dozens of administration officials… Woodward was given memos, documents, diaries and notes, including some handwritten by the President…

“Woodward, famed for his coverage of the Watergate scandal that led to President Richard Nixon’s resignation, has written or co-authored 18 books including penetrating looks at George W. Bush and Barack Obama’s presidencies. These books, including ‘Obama’s Wars’ about the President’s handling of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and ‘State of Denial: Bush at War’ about the waning years of Bush’s administration, have been controversial, partly because they have relied on [confidential and sensitive information]…

“[Michael] Wolff, [who wrote “Fire and Fury” and] who is known for taking some creative liberty, is far different than Woodward, who is known as a meticulous note-taker and fact-checker… Woodward — who spent the last eight months reporting and writing ‘Fear’ — primarily used first-hand sources for the book, relying on people who were in the room with the President when the decisions were made…”

Whatever the outcome, Donald Trump was placed in power to fulfill biblical prophecy–accelerating the downfall of the United States and the worldwide antagonism against America… and he will stay in office until that “task” has been accomplished.

Britain at Brink of Political Anarchy

The Sun wrote on July 30:

“How does this great nation find itself on the brink of political anarchy, paralysis and a Channel blockade on food and medicine? The answer is appalling leadership, dithering diplomacy . . . and a quite incredible failure to speak to the people… The mood in Britain has hardened dramatically against Brussels…

“It is now too late for the traditional EU stitch-up, with Brussels giving an inch and taking a mile. Forget about a second referendum…

“We will NOT sink back into the Dark Ages, cut off from the world, adrift in the North Sea with no friends…”

But sadly, this is EXACTLY what the Bible prophesies to happen.

Move from England to Spain and France

The EUObserver wrote on July 30:

“EU states have decided to move the HQ of their Atalanta anti-piracy mission from the UK to Spain and France due to Brexit. The mission, which has fought piracy off the Horn of Africa for the past decade, will see its command moved from Northwood, in south-east England, to Rota, in south-west Spain, and to Brest, in western France, on 29 March next year, EU diplomats meeting in Brussels on 30 July agreed.”

Orban’s View of a New Europe

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 28:

“Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban decried the ‘undemocratic’ governments of Western Europe…, as he laid out his vision for the continent ahead of European elections next year. He also called on right-wing parties across the European Union to band together…

“He called on a new model for Europe based on ‘Christian democracy,’ which he said is ‘anti-immigrant, anti-multicultural and stands for the Christian family model.’’

Not Enough Evidence of Discrimination in Italy???

The EUObserver wrote on July 27:

“The European Commission has not seen enough evidence of discrimination against the Roma in Italy to launch legal action, despite years of documented abuse. The admission follows the forced eviction on Thursday (26 July) of some 300 Roma in a government-run camp in the outskirts of the Italian capital – in direct violation of an injunction order by the European Court of Human Rights.”

Failed US Middle East Plans

The Algemeiner wrote on July 27:

“Over the years, the various US initiatives for the Middle East… have always failed… American peace plans are bound for failure because they tend to discount the complexities of the violent Arab-Muslim reality and because they are wedded to oversimplified solutions, wishful thinking and quick fixes…

“The plans have been undone by the volcanic eruptions in the Arab-Muslim world since the seventh century: a violent tribal-religious-ideological fragmentation, intolerance, a lack of regional and local coexistence, minority-led regimes that deny human rights, unstable governments and flawed agreements…

“US peace plans have always tried to make Israel make far-reaching concessions that undermine its very existence… They have always drawn an immoral equivalency between the Arab/Palestinian aggressor and the Israeli victim; between Islamic terrorism and the Israeli counterterrorism measures; between America’s most reliable ally and the Palestinians, who have consistently allied themselves with America’s enemies and adversaries (Nazi Germany, the Soviet bloc, Iran, Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden, North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela)…

“William Rogers, Henry Kissinger, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, as well as others, all tried and failed…”

Dramatic 2018 Global Wildfire and Drought Season

The Huffington Post wrote on July 28:

“… the northern hemisphere fire season now extends from June until October, and more death and destruction is inevitable as one of the strongest, longest-lasting global heatwaves in decades continues to envelop countries from Siberia to the Mediterranean, from North America to East Asia. Temperature records keep getting surpassed, and there’s little rain in the forecast for many regions.

“People have had to be evacuated from Yosemite National Park, Sweden has lost an estimated 30,000 hectares of forest and large areas of bone-dry Latvia, Italy, Finland and Norway have all been blanketed in smoke.

“The 2018 wildfire season has been dramatic, prompting headlines about the world being on fire…

“In the United States, nearly 4 million acres across Arizona, Colorado, Idaho and Oregon have burned so far this year… [A] 2016 report by the European Environment Agency suggests Mediterranean countries are seeing more heat extremes and reduced rainfall, resulting in more forest fires. The number of fires this year across Europe is up 40 percent on average…

“The vast majority of fires are caused not by lightning or natural events, but by human error or vandalism… As much as 90 percent are the result of things like campfires left unattended, the burning of debris, negligently discarded cigarettes or arson. Because humans can start fires so easily, there is no simple way to prevent them, short of drastic and likely unfeasible solutions like removing people permanently from susceptible areas or redesigning landscapes to remove trees completely…”

Breitbart wrote on July 29:

“A wildfire in Northern California [near Redding] that has killed [eight] people [as of July 30] and burned hundreds of structures grew to nearly 90,000 acres Sunday…‘Extreme fire conditions continue to challenge firefighters last night,’ Cal Fire said. ‘Erratic winds and hot dry conditions resulted in greater growth and increased fire behavior during night operations.’…

“Several other wildfires burned throughout the state on Sunday [at least 17 as of Monday], including the River Fire in Mendocino County, which has burned 11,028 acres and destroyed four residences and one outbuilding since it began on Friday. The Ranch Fire, which also started in Mendocino County on Friday, grew to 13,242 acres and was at five percent containment Sunday, Cal Fire said.”

The Local wrote on July 29:

“Withered sunflowers, scorched wheat fields, stunted cornstalks — the farmlands of northern Germany have borne the brunt of this year’s extreme heat and record-low rainfall, triggering an epochal drought…

“The grain crop alone has shrunk by up to eight million tonnes or around 18 percent this year, stripping 1.4 billion euros from revenues so far… the knock-on effects of the grain shortage have already been dramatic, depriving farmers of animal feed and sending prices soaring.

“Many dairy farmers have responded by selling their livestock. The number of slaughtered cows and heifers surged 10 percent in the first two weeks of July…”

Turkey’s Dictatorship, Religious Persecution and Threats

Newsmax wrote on July 29:

“President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned the US in comments published Sunday that sanctions would not force Ankara to ‘step back’ after Donald Trump threatened to punish Turkey [with large sanctions] if a US pastor was not freed… ‘The US should not forget that it could lose a strong and sincere partner like Turkey if it does not change its attitude,’ he was quoted as saying…

“Relations between the NATO allies have worsened over the jailing of Brunson, who ran a Protestant church in the Aegean city of Izmir. He was held in a Turkish jail for almost two years on terror charges but was placed under house arrest on Wednesday…”

But where is the outrage towards Putin’s illegal persecution and imprisonment of hundreds of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia?

Religious Persecution in Rwanda

World Watch Monitor wrote on July 27:

“The Rwanda Governance Board continues to close churches it says fail to meet requirements laid down at the beginning of the year. New requirements set in place for those congregations that want to continue ministry are also complicating efforts to comply. Many see the closures as part of an effort by the government to make its aggressive secular stance clear… more than 8,000 churches have now been closed, and the number keeps growing…

“World Watch Monitor learned that in one village the church was closed while a wedding was ongoing. The couple and all the guests were simply told to leave the church during the service, and the church was closed. Another church was stopped from having services and other meetings (such as home groups) in a school hall as an alternative after all the churches in that parish had been closed. The church had timber instead of a metal door and window frames, and was told the roof also needed to be elevated ‘just a little’… One congregation now meets in a church building in another neighbourhood. Another congregation’s members walk 20km to attend church in a neighbouring community after their church was closed.

“Many new requirements not originally included in the directive have now been added, including:… All pastors now need to have a theological degree. This was already communicated as a requirement, but now the degree needs to be from an accredited institute. Another new law states that only institutions that also teach science and technology can teach theology, meaning that few of the many (often highly regarded) theological institutions or Bible schools are regarded as valid…

“On paper, the same rules apply to Muslims as to Christians, but in practice this is not the case… There is a high level of fear among church leaders. Shortly after the new requirements began to be implemented, officials arrested six pastors accused of plotting to defy the government orders. Although the pastors have since been released, a senior church leader explained that the arrest served as a stern warning to others to not resist the move.”

Religious Persecution in China

World Watch Monitor wrote on July 26:

“The government is especially wary of ‘high profile’ churches that have access to international networks… Churches that hold meetings in commercial buildings are targeted… The authorities close church venues and more landlords refuse to continue rental contracts with churches. Hence, these local churches are forced to return to house meetings…

“Two weeks ago, the Bible Reformed Church in Guangzhou was forced to stop its meeting for a third time in a month following a police raid, during which a number of Christians were arrested for questioning… That same day local authorities had sent a notice ordering the church to stop its activities, having already issued previous notices to ‘stop illegal education’. The church was also fined 50,000 yuan (US $7,500) by the local religious affairs bureau…

“Many churches in China are reluctant to register as they are afraid the government will use the information they provide to control them… The coming years are likely to be very difficult for Christians throughout China, with even more oppressive laws on the agenda… the underlying dark spirits of atheistic Marxism have not disappeared…”

After all, it is Satan and his demonic dark spirits who rule this entire world.

Concentration Camps in China

World Watch Monitor wrote on July 20:

“… ongoing Chinese government crackdown on its Uyghur-people in Xinjiang province is tearing both Muslim and Christian families and communities apart… Hundreds of thousands – reports say it might be over a million – Uyghur and Kazakh men have been rounded up and taken to ‘re-education Centres’… where they are detained for weeks or even months… Although most of those detained have a Muslim background, those who have converted to Christianity have also been caught up in the crackdown.

“Many are arrested during surprise raids and taken to an unknown location, leaving wives and children in uncertainty and often without any income… children, whose parents or guardians have been taken to the camps, end up in orphanages until their parents are released… The Chinese government has denied the existence of the camps…”

Of course, the Chinese government would deny their existence.

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.

In the first part of this three-part series, we discussed five Scriptures which have been used to “prove” the “once saved, always saved”-concept, and showed that these passages do not support this wrong assumption. The proponent who quoted those five passages went on to cite additional Scriptures which allegedly support his view point, stating the following:

“For further reading see also Hebrews 5:9, 10:14, 1 Peter 1:3-5, 1 John 5:11-13. The scriptural motivation for Christian service should not be fear of losing one’s salvation but rather love to Christ. How tragic that some attend church and read their Bibles driven by the fear that if they do not fulfil these duties they will be cast out. May the Lord graciously reveal the truth of eternal security and the believer’s new position in Christ, that bond-service to Him may become the most blessed freedom of all.”

Let us also address the Scriptures quoted above.

• Hebrews 5:9:

“And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him…”

It is somewhat surprising that this verse is used to try and prove the “once saved, always saved” belief. It clearly states that obedience is necessary, not someone who makes a pronouncement that he has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, and then goes off the straight and narrow and sins as a matter of lifestyle. The proponents of this understanding believe that sins not yet committed will be automatically forgiven without repentance and asking God for forgiveness. Those who are committed to the Way of Life that God has called us to are obedient as an ongoing commitment and will repent of sins that they engage in and ask God for forgiveness which He will give to the truly repentant.

In 1 John 3:24 we read: “Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom [which] He has given us.” There is further proof in 1 John 2:3-4: “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” These verses alone should be sufficient to answer the erroneous teaching under discussion.

• Hebrews 10:14:

“For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”

As is the case with all Scripture, we have to put all the relevant verses together and not just rely on one verse to prove a point. This passage talks about those who are being sanctified. We are not the finished article and that is why we have to endure to the end through testing and tribulation. In this regard, let us review Revelation 2:10-11:

“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”

We need to be faithful to God even to the point of death, and nothing less will do – and overcoming is again stressed.

There are other Scriptures that are relevant here.

Hebrews 3:12-14 says: “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end…”

Here Paul was talking to Church members, addressing them as brethren, saying that they could depart from God. If the “once saved, always saved” belief is applied in these cases, then those who were once saved but have departed from the faith will still have their future sins forgiven without any remorse or repentance whilst they are living a life not approved of by God. That is a ridiculous conclusion and one that is not endorsed by the Word of God.

2 Corinthians 13:9-11 says: “For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete. Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction. Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”

Here, Paul prayed for those who had been saved from their past sins, to aim for perfection, not to veer off the Way that they had been called to. There must have been the possibility that this could happen; otherwise, he wouldn’t have made this urgent plea, but those who may not have heeded such a plea and fell away from the Truth would, according to the “once saved, always saved” proponents, still have their sins forgiven in the future without them repenting or coming back to the faith.

Galatians 6:7-10 says: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

There are two types of sowing here: one to please man’s own sinful nature (the flesh), and one that produces everlasting life through sowing to the Spirit. Those who fall away even though they were saved from past sins at the time of conversion, cannot possibly have future sins forgiven because they will not repent of them and their wrong way of life.

Eternal life is something that will be reaped if true Christians don’t grow weary and give up. If they do give up, as many have over the last 6,000 years, and don’t repent and return to the Way of Life to which they were called, then their future sins will not automatically be forgiven.

• 1 Peter 1:3-5:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

True Christians have been begotten, not yet born again as that will occur at the first resurrection and the same principle of enduring to the end applies once again.

• 1 John 5:11-13:

“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

The fact that God has given us eternal life doesn’t mean that this translates into a permanent situation irrespective of what happens after conversion. We must endure, and come through, all of the tests and trials that are set before us; otherwise, it would give us the opportunity to do what we liked and still make it into the Kingdom of God. The Bible nowhere teaches such a scenario; in fact, a few verses later in 1 John 5 we read: “If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death” (verses 16-17). This is talking about sin not repented of. However, it doesn’t make any sense to think that sin not repented of would mean the end of physical life but such a person would still be fine with God spiritually speaking if you apply the “once saved, always saved” concept. This passage does not talk about physical death, but it talks about the eternal or second death which we earn when we commit the unpardonable sin. There is plain contradiction in such thinking!

One website opined as follows:

“Salvation is not a matter of believers trying to confess and repent from every sin they commit before they die. Salvation is not based on whether a Christian has confessed and repented of every sin. Yes, we should confess our sins to God as soon as we are aware that we have sinned. However, we do not always need to be asking God for forgiveness. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, all of our sins are forgiven. That includes past, present, and future, big or small. Believers do not have to keep asking for forgiveness or repenting in order to have their sins forgiven. Jesus died to pay the penalty for all of our sins, and when they are forgiven, they are all forgiven (Colossians 1:14; Acts 10:43)” (our emphasis by underlining).

What a contradiction we find here. It states: “Yes, we should confess our sins to God as soon as we are aware that we have sinned. However, we do not always need to be asking God for forgiveness.” In short, we need to confess our sins but we don’t always need to be asking for forgiveness!

It is amazing what some people will believe in order to convince themselves that obedience to God and His Commandments is unnecessary!

Keeping in mind the comments above that “we do not always need to be asking God for forgiveness” and “believers do not have to keep asking for forgiveness or repenting in order to have their sins forgiven,” let us consider what the online biblestudytools.com website has to say:

“Confession of sins is both commanded and frequently illustrated. When one is guilty of various sins, ‘he must confess in what way he has sinned’ in order to receive atonement and forgiveness. Thus, confession belongs to repentance, and is needed for divine forgiveness. A great prophecy/promise is given in the Book of Isaiah: ‘The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins.’

“In the New Testament, the key term for repentance is metanoia – It has two usual senses: a ‘change of mind’ and ‘regret/remorse.’ In both books of Mark and Matthew Jesus began his public proclamation with the call ‘Repent.’ In addition, Paul is said to have preached to both Jews and Gentiles/Greeks to ‘turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.’

“True repentance leads a person to say, ‘I have sinned’ and prove it with a 180-degree change of their direction. Repentance requires true brokenness.”

Romans 3:21-25 states: “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed…”

Being justified means to be lined up and made right with God by grace which is a gift of God. But that is just the start, the beginning of the Christian life which is a life of growing and overcoming—and enduring to the end.

In the Benson Commentary we read: “For the remission of sins that are past — All the sins antecedent to their believing,” and the Geneva Study Bible states: “Of those sins which we committed when we were his enemies.”

There is no mention here in Romans 3:21-25 of future sins being automatically forgiven and, as we have seen, we have to truly repent of all of our sins and then they will be forgiven. In Romans 2:4 we read: “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” God leads us to repentance and it is a very necessary part of the Christian life and we should not just expect our sins to be forgiven without repenting of them.

To clarify, we may die without having recognized all of our sins; and therefore, we would not have repented of them. But this does not mean that God would hold those unknown or unrealized sins against us. God looks at our heart and judges us based on what we know and what He has revealed to us. But once we recognize sin in our life, we must repent of it—God will not forgive those sins when we refuse to repent of them and leave them behind.

(To Be Continued)

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“Do Banks and the Government Control You?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

According to an article of the Kansas City Star, dated July 27, the “U.S. Department of the Treasury increasingly is urging financial institutions to collect as much information on customers as possible.” As a consequence, banks are asking intrusive and arguably unconstitutional questions of their customers, combined with the threat of freezing or even closing the accounts if those questions are not being answered. According to an article of The Guardian, dated July 19, “an alignment exists between government and financial institutions” with the goal of creating a “cashless society,” thereby adopting the Marxist philosophy of “total governmental control” (Bild Online, July 30). What do these developments mean for you, in the light of biblical prophecy?

“Die Hochzeit des Lammes mit seiner Braut,” is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “The Wedding of the Lamb with His Bride.”

“Caught in the Truth,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Robb Harris, is now posted. Here is a summary:

It is easy to slide into worldly standards when it comes to the truth. It’s even easier to create your own truth and try to live by it. This is because Satan rules this world today. His influence has turned God’s Truth into a lie and many follow after his deception. We must be found always in the truth if we hope to please God.

“Fight Deception!” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Dave Harris, is now posted. Here is a summary:

If you have studied the New Testament, you know that things seemed to unravel in Christianity as the decades passed. Deception overwhelmed many. We face the same battle—just as Jesus warned! Knowing that even greater deception lies ahead, what are Christians supposed to do?

Here are the dates for the 2018 Fall Holy Days:

Feast of Trumpets—September 10
Day of Atonement—September 19
Feast of Tabernacles—September 24-30
Last Great Day—October 1

On July 28, 2018, Robb Harris will present the sermonette, titled, “Caught in the Truth?” and Dave Harris will present the sermon, titled, “Fight Deception!”

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.

Christ talked about two types of servants in the New Testament. We are familiar with His words which we would all like to hear at His return: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:23).

This is an awesome statement, pointing to our future reward for being faithful, ruling in the Kingdom on the earth in the Millennium (Revelation 5:10).

“Well done” is music to our ears if we were told this by our manager or supervisor at work since it would signify that we not only did a good job but that the boss is very pleased with the work we performed. Hearing a compliment like this inspires us to continue to do good and even make attempts to excel in the tasks we have been given to do.

Notice the word “good.” If something is good then it is not bad. The fact that Christ said the servant was good is a very positive thing. It is much more than a manager or supervisor telling us, “good job,” which implies a job well done, bringing a swelling of joy to the hearers of such a nice compliment. Here, Christ is calling the servant “good”—not just the work which he did.

Notice the word “faithful.” If that isn’t also music to our ears, I don’t know what would be. Being called faithful means we did what was required of us. We towed the line, we endured, we did not throw in the towel even in the face of trials and adversity. We kept the faith. We were engaged in the commission of warning the world of impending doom in the near future; of preaching hope at the end of the trials coming on mankind; of proclaiming the future for those faithful servants and the promise of the resurrection and potential for all as God’s plan is rolled out; of getting the gospel—the good news—out to the world. All these aspects are encompassed in the word “faithful,” as applied to the servants of God.

Notice the word “servant.” We are not slaves or servants of Satan but rather slaves or servants of the living God, with the potential of becoming God.

This statement of how Christ is pleased with our performance should inspire us to complete the task we have been given.

Here is the other side of the coin.

Matthew 25:26-30 says:  “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.  So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

Notice the word “wicked.” This is not exactly what we would like to hear from someone above us. Wicked also means malicious and derelict, implying we failed to do the will and desires of what Christ expected of us.

Notice the word “lazy.” This is hardly a recommendation if we are looking for a job. Lazy implies neglect to do what was required of us; in other words, a miserable failure.

The unprofitable servant did nothing with his talent, not even putting it in a bank to draw interest, but he buried it. What was his reward? He lost the talent that he had been given. And he was cast into outer darkness. This is probably not what he expected, but he was a total let-down to what Christ expected of him.

So the question is this: what type of servant are you and do you want to be?

by Norbert Link

We begin with addressing the ongoing Brexit negotiations; the growing influence of China and the EU on the political and technological world scene; the fear of an escalating trade war and its devastating effect for the entire world economy, including the USA; and Steve Bannon’s planned attack on the EU.

We also report on the revelation that Messrs. Trump and Putin discussed Ukraine during their private meeting in Helsinki; and that due to the resignation of a German national soccer player with Turkish roots, an explosive “discussion” on racism and immigrant integration in Germany has evolved.

We focus on Turkey’s economic troubles and the war of words between Turkey and the USA and Israel; and address Israel’s military actions against Syria and the return of radical Islamic State.

We speak on the previous destructions of the Jewish Temples in Jerusalem (in this regard, please view our new StandingWatch program, “Ancient and Modern Beliefs in the Third Temple,” ); the Catholic Church’s attacks on American TV Evangelists; and another vaccine scandal in China.

We conclude with the unprecedented heat wave and the destruction through wildfires in many countries and an article wondering whether dinosaurs could have lived together with modern man.

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

Brits Oppose May’s Plan as to HOW to Leave the EU

Reuters wrote on July 22:

“Prime Minister Theresa May’s plans to leave the European Union are overwhelmingly opposed by the British public… May’s political vulnerability was exposed by the survey which found voters would prefer Boris Johnson, who quit as her foreign minister two weeks ago, to negotiate with the EU and lead the Conservative Party into the next election.

“Only 16 percent of voters say May is handling the Brexit negotiations well, compared with 34 percent who say that Johnson would do a better job… With a little more than eight months to go before Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, May’s government, parliament, the public and businesses remain deeply divided over what form Brexit should take. May’s plans to keep a close trading relationship with the EU on goods thrust her government into crisis this month… Only one in 10 voters would pick the government’s proposed Brexit plans if there were a second referendum… Almost half think it would be bad for Britain.

“The new Brexit minister Dominic Raab… refused to deny reports the government is planning to stockpile food or use a section of motorway in England as a lorry park to deal with increased border checks if Britain leaves the EU without a deal…

“Thirty-eight percent of people would vote for a new right-wing party that is committed to Brexit, while almost a quarter would support an explicitly far-right anti-immigrant, anti-Islam party… Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage and U.S. President Donald Trump’s former adviser Steve Bannon are in discussions about forming a new right-wing movement…”

Regarding Steve Bannon’s controversial plans, notice articles below.

The Blame Game Has Begun…

EUObserver wrote on July 23:

“Britain’s new foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt warned on Monday in Berlin that there is a clear risk of the UK leaving the EU next March without a deal and that the bloc will be blamed for it by stalling the talks – as the blame-game starts for a possible ‘no-deal’ scenario.

“Speaking on his first trip after being appointed following the resignation of Boris Johnson earlier in July, Hunt told his German counterpart, Heiko Maas, that ‘there is now a very [real] threat of a Brexit no deal accident, and this is because many in the EU are thinking that they just have to wait long enough and Britain will blink.’”

EU and China Take Control of Internet

Politico wrote on July 19:

“The United States is losing ground as the internet’s standard-bearer in the face of aggressive European privacy standards and China’s draconian vision for a tightly controlled web. The weakening of the American position comes after years of U.S. lawmakers and presidents, including both Donald Trump and Barack Obama, backing the tech industry’s aversion to new regulations. The EU has stepped in to fill part of that gap, setting privacy standards that companies like Facebook and Google must follow.

“At the same time, China is dictating companies’ security practices and demanding to see their products’ source code — developments that experts say will undermine global cybersecurity. And while the global tech industry is adapting to these new realities, no one in the Trump administration has devised a clear plan to rebut either of these agendas.

“The result: Beijing and Brussels are effectively writing the rules that may determine the future of the global internet…

“The implications extend beyond pure cybersecurity issues. China’s law raises concerns about internet freedom, censorship and surveillance…”

What a U.S.-China/EU Trade War Could Do to the Global Economy 

Market Watch wrote on July 23:

“… neither Washington nor Beijing are set to back down, opening the door to a tit-for-tat spiral. On the U.S. side, the Trump administration appears to be abiding by the president’s assertion that trade wars are ‘easy’ to win… China… sees its technology and industrial policies as non-negotiable and doesn’t want to be seen as being bullied by the U.S…

“… signs of momentum for the U.S. economy are encouraging Trump to push hard on trade… the U.S. economy isn’t geared to produce the types of goods currently imported from China… For China, the tensions come as trade is already slowing… The U.S.-China trade war could escalate quickly, ultimately affecting over $600 billion in trade…”

Handelsblatt Global wrote on July 24:

“Last week brought a foretaste of the stock market turmoil that could be looming… Shares in aluminum giant Alcoa [in Pittsburgh] tumbled by 16 percent on Wall Street on Thursday and Friday after the increased price of metal imports forced it to issue a profit warning… many analysts are warning that many more companies could follow suit. ‘A trade war would be a worst-case scenario, especially for stock markets on both sides of the Atlantic,’ said the chief economist of German bank IKB, Klaus Bauknecht.

“Right now, that is where Mr. Trump is heading. He told CNBC last Friday he was prepared to impose tariffs on up to half a trillion dollars-worth of Chinese goods. He’s repeatedly threatened to impose duties on car imports from Europe, on top of tariffs on steel and aluminum. The EU, which has already taken steps to curb steel imports, said it would retaliate further if necessary… Michael Cembalest, the chief strategist at JP Morgan, said that if Mr. Trump carries out his threats, the US would be imposing the biggest tariff hikes since the 1930s…

“Analysts at UBS said US and European stock markets stand to lose at least 20 percent in a trade war… US consumers are currently buying foreign goods by the bucket loads: America’s gigantic trade deficit reached an all-time high of $566 billion in 2017… The price of washing machines has jumped by 20 percent since March because of new US tariffs…”

Trump Offers $12 Billion in Aid to Farmers Hurt by Tariffs

The Week wrote on July 24:

“The Department of Agriculture on Tuesday announced $12 billion in emergency aid to farmers who have been negatively impacted by President Trump’s escalating trade war. The plan comes as retaliatory tariffs from China and other countries have slashed profits for farmers who grow soybeans, rice, beef, pork, and other products. Farm groups have criticized Trump for implementing tariffs, saying the fallout could cost them billions of dollars.

“The Agriculture Department plans to fund the bailout with direct assistance, trade promotion, and a food purchase and distribution program… Trump on Tuesday said that his tariffs are the ‘greatest.’”

He also said that American citizens ought to be “patient,” as the great positive effect for the USA regarding his tariffs on foreign countries would materialize in time.

Newsmax added on July 24:

“Some farm-state Republicans… quickly dismissed the Trump farm plan, declaring that farmers want markets for their crops, not payoffs for lost sales and lower prices… With congressional elections coming soon, the government action underscored administration concern about damage to U.S. farmers from Trump’s trade tariffs and the potential for losing House and Senate seats in the Midwest and elsewhere.

“The administration said the program was just temporary. ‘This is a short-term solution that will give President Trump and his administration the time to work on long-term trade deals,’ said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue as administration officials argued that the plan was not a ‘bailout’ of the nation’s farmers. But that provided little solace to rank-and-file Republicans, who said the tariffs are simply taxes and warned the action would open a Pandora’s box for other sectors of the economy.”

EU vs. USA

Express wrote on July 24:

“European Commission President Mr Juncker travels to Washington in the hope he can put an end to a feud with the US President, a meeting that has been in the making since the pair exchanged views at the G7 summit in Quebec, Canada. During their last encounter, Mr Trump branded the EU’s most senior official a ‘brutal killer’ and has since branded the EU a ‘foe’, citing their trading strategy as the reason for his wariness of the Brussels bloc.

“Despite hoping for Mr Juncker to end the US-EU trade dispute, [Dieter Kempf, president of the Federation of German industry] believes Brussels should use its position in the world and ‘not allow itself to be blackmailed’. The German business chief is keen to stress the importance of his country’s automotive industry for US jobs… Berlin’s automotive industry employs more than 118,000 people in the US with 60 percent of its production in the States being exported to other countries…”

President Trump stated in a speech to veterans on July 24 that the Europeans (represented by President Juncker) were coming to the White House to beg him to change his mind on imposing further tariffs, including on German cars like Mercedes and BMW, but that he won’t do so. If this will be the end result of the discussions for now, then the EU has already announced that they will retaliate with heavy tariffs worth 20 billion dollars on US products, which, if enacted, would result in terrible economic consequences for all countries and citizens involved.

The Washington Post wrote on July 25:

“Several of President Trump’s senior economic advisers believe he plans to push forward with 25 percent tariffs on close to $200 billion in foreign-made automobiles later this year… despite numerous warnings from GOP leaders and business executives who have argued that such a move could damage the economy and lead to political mutiny. But Trump has become increasingly defiant in his trade strategy, following his own instincts and intuition and eschewing advice from his inner circle. He has told advisers and Republicans to simply trust his business acumen, a point he tried to reinforce Wednesday morning in a Twitter post: ‘Every time I see a weak politician asking to stop Trade talks or the use of Tariffs to counter unfair Tariffs, I wonder, what can they be thinking… Are we just going to continue and let our farmers and country get ripped off?’”

Subsequently, as the following articles point out, Junker and Trump agreed that they would work on reducing the trade tensions between the two power blocs. Many concluded that the concerns raised in the articles above are therefore no longer valid. But is this a correct assessment of the situation?

“Deal” Reached Between Trump and Juncker… How Good Is It?

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 25:

“US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Junker met at the White House on Wednesday, where they announced that the US and the European Union would work to reduce trade tensions that have arisen over the past few months out of Trump’s confrontational trade policy. The meeting comes after weeks of acrimony between the US and EU — which account for 50 percent of global trade — as both sides slapped tariffs on one another.

“In an unexpected press announcement in the Rose Garden, Trump and Juncker laid out the major goals that they had agreed upon in their meeting:

“The US and the EU would work towards ‘zero tariffs, zero non-tariff barriers, and zero subsidies on non-auto industrial goods,’ Trump said. The EU would buy significant amounts of liquid natural gas from the US to help diversify the bloc’s energy sources, as well as increase its imports of US-grown soybeans. Both sides will hold off from imposing any further tariffs, and the EU will reassess existing tariffs on US steel and aluminum as long as trade talks remain ongoing…

“Trump said that the US and the EU had launched ‘a new phase of close friendship and strong trade relations in which both of us will win.’… If trade barriers between the US and the EU are eventually reduced following future talks, the result would be a significant U-turn from the US president’s protectionist policies towards Europe…

“While both he and Juncker said no new tariffs would be imposed as long as trade talks remained ongoing, it was unclear whether or not Trump had backed away from eventually slapping import fees on foreign cars, given the ‘non-auto industrial goods’ exception he pointed out…

“Juncker’s willingness to reform the WTO with Trump lines up the EU with the US against China…”

Much of the conservative US press hailed the “deal” as a victory for Donald Trump. The article in Deutsche Welle, quoted above, hailed it as a success for the EU. However, reviewing the “terms” of the deal, there were very few substantive provisions which were “agreed” upon. The new era of “close friendship” might be short-lived. Note the next article.

“Deal” Could Fall Apart on a Moment’s Notice

The Washington Post wrote on July 25:

“Trump did not definitively agree to suspend steel and aluminum tariffs against E.U. countries… There was not a specific agreement on existing tariffs on automobiles, which had been Trump’s primary source of frustration with European leaders since at least last year. And while Juncker is an important figure in European politics, any final deal must be seen as acceptable to a range of leaders of E.U. nations, any one of whom could issue a statement that offends Trump and upends the entire process…

“The White House has touted half-step trade agreements before, only to see them crumble and lead to increased acrimony. In May, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin returned from a trip to Beijing and said that the trade war with China had been put on hold and that both sides had agreed to halt new tariffs. The detente lasted only days before talks broke down, leading to an escalation of protectionist trade measures by the world’s two largest economies…

“Before Trump could impose tariffs on auto imports, the Commerce Department would have to issue a finding that they pose a national security threat. Several Republican lawmakers have said such a finding would be laughable, but the Commerce Department has flexibility to make a determination on its own… Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Wednesday evening that his investigation into auto imports remained ongoing despite the White House agreement, a sign that tensions between Trump and European leaders could reignite on a moment’s notice…”

In addition, as recent events have shown, nobody seems to be able to recall exactly after a while as to what actually was “agreed” upon.

“Germany Reacts to Juncker-Trump Trade Deal with Cautious Relief”

Deutsche Welle reported on July 26:

“German politicians and business leaders reacted with relief, surprise, and some skepticism…

“German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier was among the first to express his approval, tweeting that the new deal would ‘avoid trade war & save millions of jobs!’ Foreign Minister Heiko Maas also took to Twitter to declare Juncker’s negotiations a triumph for European solidarity… The optimism was echoed through Angela Merkel’s official channel’s, with the chancellor’s deputy spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer saying that the government welcomed the agreement, and that the ‘EU Commission could continue to rely on our support.’…

“But Germany’s business chiefs were a little more cautious. ‘The solutions that have been presented are moving in the right direction, but a proper portion of skepticism remains,’ said Eric Schweitzer, president of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK). ‘We’re still some distance away from equal negotiations. The unjustified car tariffs are not completely off the table.’

“Dieter Kempf, the president of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), made similar noises, telling the DPA news agency: ‘The spiral of tariffs in transatlantic trade has been stopped for now. Now these words have to be followed with actions.’

“Holger Schmieding, chief economist at the Berenberg Bank, offered perhaps the pithiest comment: ‘It’s not a proper deal, but it’s a step away from the abyss.’

“Meanwhile, opposition political parties pointed out that Trump had developed a reputation for reversing his decisions, or even denying his own statements. Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, deputy leader of the business-friendly Free Democratic Party (FDP), would only say that ‘it remains to be seen,’ whether the agreement would be work out. The US president ‘has often shown himself to be unpredictable,’ he told DW…

“Katharina Dröge, trade policy spokeswoman for the Green party, also argued that the deal included unpleasant concessions to the US, which, she said, contains ‘the most problematic parts’ of the old free trade agreement TTIP. ‘So the EU has entered into a game on Trump’s terms. Juncker hasn’t produced a solution, just medium-term conflicts within the EU,’ she told DW.

“Other politicians were more scathing. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) EU trade specialist Bernd Lange said bluntly, ‘That wasn’t a success, what Mr Juncker negotiated over there.’ Speaking to public radio station Deutschlandfunk, Lange said Juncker had barely won any gains from Trump, and criticized the fact that US steel and aluminum tariffs were still in place.”

Steve Bannon Plans to Attack the EU

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 23:

“Steve Bannon plans to build a right-wing populist think tank in Europe. German lawmakers called the plans by the former adviser to the US president to influence the 2019 European elections ‘a frontal attack on the EU’…

“Bannon has become a controversial figure, known for his ties to the campaigns for the UK to leave the European Union and the election of US President Donald Trump…

“Bannon has worked with many of Europe’s far-right parties, including the Alternative for Germany (AfD), the only party in the country to express optimism over Bannon’s project. Although the AfD has declined help from Bannon’s foundation for its electoral campaigns, party co-chair Alice Weidel recently sought his advice when both were in Switzerland in March for a conference. Weidel described Bannon’s strategy as ‘exciting and ambitious.’”

Politico added on July 25:

“Out of favor at the White House and out of a job at Breitbart, U.S. President Donald Trump’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon is looking for new paying clients by making waves in Europe… at its root, this Bannon bombshell is a threat to European democracy… It should come as no surprise that he was invited to the fray by the French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, whose National Rally party has been bankrolled by Russian loans…

“Bannon believes he can bring U.S. dollars to Brussels, exploit issues like migration and manipulate social media algorithms to determine the election outcome. His goal is to create a far-right super-bloc that would bring together parties with a xenophobic, anti-EU and authoritarian bent, from Italy to Poland. He’s declared that they should wear accusations of racism ‘like a medal.’…

“We can’t know if Bannon’s latest desperate gasp for relevancy poses a real threat, or if this is another grand delusion. Breitbart failed to make inroads into Europe… But we do know that the EU can’t afford to sleep-walk into another political crisis and that the European Parliament has a key role to play…”

Most Germans Feel They Don’t Need the USA

Handelsblatt Global reported on July 23:

“Fifty-six percent of Germans said Europe can guarantee its own safety without US support, according to a survey [by RTL].”

Putin and Trump Discussed Ukraine in Secret

Bild Online wrote on July 20:

“Putin proposed a referendum in Eastern Ukraine – currently occupied by pro-Russian forces – to Trump. Two NATO sources who are familiar with the issue have confirmed this on Friday. Previously, only ‘Bloomberg,’ referring to Russian diplomats, had reported that Putin had proposed such a deal… US Ambassador to Moscow, Jon Huntsman, has informed several NATO ambassadors about the Russian President’s suggestion. This allegedly occurred in the middle of the week, after Huntsman flew directly from Helsinki to Brussels. He allegedly said that the US ‘is looking into the suggestions’.

“Germany’s and France’s NATO ambassadors allegedly declared that such a referendum would only be possible if a United Nations peace mission were to gain access to all occupied areas of Eastern Ukraine first… The character of such a referendum is still unclear. Are the eastern Ukrainians supposed to decide on their independence, or on whether to become part of Russia? The referendum in Crimea in 2014… could be the model for the suggested referendum. The 2014 referendum served as Russia’s justification for the annexation of Crimea…

“Kiev has harshly criticized a possible referendum against Ukraine’s will. The political director of the Ukrainian Foreign Office, Oleksii Makeiev, tweeted: ‘We reject this crazy idea of a referendum at Russian gunpoint in the occupied areas’. The referendum is ‘absolutely unacceptable’ to Ukraine and its partners. Jakub Janda, Director of the Czech think tank ‘European Values’, is also outraged: ‘The fact that Putin has proposed a referendum on occupied Ukrainian territory is outrageous and merely shows that Russia is not interested in leaving the Ukrainian territory that it has forcefully occupied’.

“A referendum under foreign occupation would not legitimize the occupation, Janda told BILD: ‘That’s why the Russian referendum on Crimea was viewed as invalid by the entire civilized world’. According to Janda, Trump should have rejected Putin’s suggestion immediately.

“Approximately 30 minutes after the German version of this article was published on Friday evening (German time), the US State Department’s spokeswoman Heather Nauert declared that ‘the Administration is not considering supporting a referendum in E Ukraine. A “referendum” would have no legitimacy. We continue to support Minsk agreements for solving the conflict in Donbas.’ This comes after four days of the US administration neither admitting that Mr. Putin offered such a deal nor telling the public that the US was elaborating the circumstances of a possible implementation.”

In spite of the White House’s belated “denials,” Bible prophecy shows that ultimately, Ukraine and Russia will be collaborating forces against Europe.

Racism or Failed Integration in Germany?

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 23:

“After weeks of silence, [German National Soccer Player Mesut] Özil announced in a series of three extended tweets that he would no longer suit up for the German national team because he didn’t feel welcome. He specifically blamed DFB [German Soccer Configuration] President Reinhard Grindel, a former conservative politician, for encouraging a xenophobic atmosphere in the team. Grindel and DFB team manager Oliver Bierhoff had linked Özil’s Erdogan meeting with Germany’s disastrous performance at the 2018 World Cup… In a statement on its website, the DFB rejected the charge of racism…

“No one in political Germany is happy about Özil’s cordial meet-and-greet with [President] Erdogan [when Özil and another German-Turkish national soccer player posed for a photograph with Turkey’s dictator], who has been accused of trying to undermine Turkish democracy and of ignoring the human rights of his political opponents. At the same time, leaders from nearly all Germany’s major parties said that Grindel and Bierhoff’s attacks on Özil encouraged a split in public attitudes toward national team players with or without foreign roots…

“The Özil case is deeply unsettling to German society because the country’s national team has been previously held up as a model of successful integration of people with foreign roots into mainstream society. That image has now been shaken… Representatives of Germany’s large Muslim community agreed that the affair had damaged the cause of integration and said latent racism inspired some of the criticism of Özil… That view was confirmed, if indirectly, by the far-right populist, anti-migrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which interpreted the affair as evidence that multiculturalism had failed in Germany…

“But [German Foreign Minister Heiko] Maas cautioned against drawing too many conclusions based on the story of a highly atypical individual. ‘I don’t think the case of a multimillionaire living and working in England tells you much about Germany’s capacity for integration,’ Maas said.

“Turkish MPs, including one senior minister, commended Özil’s move. ‘I congratulate Mesut Özil who by leaving the national team has scored the most beautiful goal against the virus of fascism,’ Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul posted on Twitter…”

These questionable reactions by Turkish and Arab officials won’t make most Germans very happy. In all fairness, it must be said that Özil’s performance at the latest World Cup was substandard… as this is true for just about EVERY German player and their coach. And it must be allowed to say that Özil’s refusal to sing during the national anthem and his habit to publicly pray on his knees to Allah on the soccer field in front of the cameras prior to the start of an international soccer game did not look too good in the eyes of many Germans. Many, but by far not all Germans, do accept when Catholic national soccer players make the sign of the cross when they score a goal or fail to do so, but for a German national soccer player to pray publicly to Allah might have been, rightly or wrongly, “a bridge too far.”

Turkey Before the Crash?

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 23:

“The Turkish lira is falling, prices are rising. Experts warn that the Turkish economy is close to collapse…

“The Turkish economy has recently grown by 7.4 percent… But at the same time… inflation is at a record level of 15 percent. The economic situation has not been this bad in years…

“President Recep Tayyip Erdogan… is promising his country a glorious future… Investors are worried about the independence of the Turkish central bank… Erdogan’s tendency to seize all decision-making power has deeply unsettled markets.

“Now it is up to 40-year-old Berat Albayrak to regain the business world’s confidence… He studied business administration in Istanbul and the US, and was energy minister in the last cabinet. Nevertheless, he is considered a relatively inexperienced politician who has simply been given a key position by his father-in-law. Up to this point the chief economic advisor had been former Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek, an ex-Merrill Lynch economist who was considered investor-friendly and someone who even dared to contradict Erdogan. Now since the office of prime minister has been abolished, he will no longer be in the cabinet…

“Albayrak must now deliver… otherwise Turkey will face a financial crash… This scenario would not only impact Turkey itself but also have consequences for Europe, because many Turkish companies are highly indebted to European financial institutions.”

Turkey Opposes the USA

The Washington Examiner wrote on July 24:

“Turkey plans to keep purchasing Iranian oil in defiance of American sanctions on the rogue regime… ‘We buy oil from Iran and we purchase it in proper conditions,’ Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Tuesday. ‘What is the other option?’

“Cavusoglu’s comments raise the specter of yet another clash between the U.S. and Turkey, which is also in the final stages of an arms deal with Russia that could trigger American sanctions. Turkish officials, in both cases, have dismissed the U.S.’ threat of sanctions to constrain the choices of other countries…”

War of Words between Turkey and Israel

The Daily Star wrote on July 24:

“President Erdogan of Turkey has launched an astonishing attack on Israel – saying the ‘spirit of Hitler has re-emerged’ among administrators. The Ankara chief’s words were in response to Israel’s new ‘nation-state’ law, with Erdogan branding Israel the ‘most Zionist, racist and fascist country’… The ‘nation-state’ law has been criticised for effectively ruling out a two-state solution to the long-running Israel-Palestine conflict…

“Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu has hit back, saying Turkey has become a ‘dark dictatorship’ under Erdogan. In a war of words, he accused the Turkish president of ‘massacring Syrians and Kurds’.”

Erdogan is someone to talk about the spirit of Hitler!

The Fight for the Golan Heights

Reuters wrote on July 24:

“Israel said it shot down a Syrian warplane that crossed into the occupied Golan Heights on Tuesday, but Damascus said the jet was fired on as it took part in sorties against rebels within Syria. The incident added new fuel to weeks of tensions over the Golan, a strategic plateau between the two old enemies and where Israel has been on high alert as Syrian government forces, supported by Russia, close in to regain rebel-held ground.

“For the second time in as many days, Israeli sirens sounded on the Golan and witnesses saw the contrails of two missiles flying skyward… On Monday, Reuters witnesses on the southern edge of the Israeli-occupied Golan spotted numerous warplanes and helicopters in the skies over Syrian territory, some of them dropping bombs. Anti-aircraft return fire could also be seen.”

Did 15^th Century Christians Expect Building of a Third Temple?

The National Library of Israel wrote on July 19, 2018:

“In commemoration of the Ninth of Av, the day of mourning and fasting marking the destruction of [the] Temple, the National Library of Israel presents [an] ancient map printed in Hartmann Schedel’s large world chronical. The chronical…, published in 1493 in the German city of Nuremberg, was an ambitious undertaking. It contained an overview of world history from the creation of the world until that time. The book boasts a mass of illustrations drawn by the leading artists of the time…

“The map illustrated the destruction of Jerusalem and depicts the Temple going up in flames. However, this is not an illustration of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period and a description of the Jews who lived there. It is rather the printing of an engraving depicting Jerusalem’s Christian sites alongside the Temple, typical to the 14th-15th centuries.

“It is fascinating though, that the text accompanying the map describes the history of the destructions of Jerusalem – first, the destruction of the First Temple by Nebuchadnezzar, the destruction of the Second Temple by Titus, the Temple vessels being looted, the execution of Shimon bar Giora in Rome, and finally, Jerusalem being turned into Aelia Capitolina, the Roman colony built upon the ruins of the holy city. The author of the text relates that the city was later held for short periods of time by other Western and Crusader kings (Charlemagne of France, Conrad III of Germany and Louis XI, also of France) – but they did not manage to hold it for long against armies of Islam. According to the author, in [1493] the city was under the control of Mohammed’s battalions, which Schedel refers to as ‘a nation of sin.’”

Since the illustration does not depict the destruction of the First and the Second Temple, it is clear that the belief existed already in 1493 that a Third Temple would be built and subsequently occupied by “Christianity.”

Mourning for the Destruction of Two Temples

The Allgemeiner wrote on July 24:

“Some 2,000 people took part in the Women in Green organization’s 24th annual ‘Walk Around the Old City’ in honor of the Tisha B’Av holiday on Sunday… Tisha B’Av is an annual holiday mourning the destruction of two Holy Temples inside the Old City and is marked with fasting, reading from the book of Lamentations and restrictions on activities that might evoke joy or pleasure.

“Despite the fact that Tisha B’Av is a 25-hour fast day, Jews gathered for a march circumnavigating the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, which included speeches from Minister for Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage Ze’ev Elkin, Deputy Minister of Defense MK Rav Eli Ben Dahan, Deputy Mayor of the City of Jerusalem Dov Kalmanovich, chairman of the Republican Party in Israel Marc Zell and popular Jerusalem Post columnist Caroline Glick.

“The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the march, calling it ‘provocative.’ ‘The Ministry confirmed that this march is an extension of the state of extremism that dominates the political arena in Israel and the settlers since Trump’s ominous declaration on Jerusalem, and the transfer of the embassy and the continuous Judaization of the Holy City and its separation from its Palestinian surroundings,’ they said in a press release issued prior to the march. The Palestinian ministry called upon foreign countries to intervene against Women in Green… The march went off without a hitch, however…”

Of course, foreign countries would not intervene to prevent a march like this. But it is interesting that foreign countries are being asked to take a stance against Israel. The Bible shows that in the future, that is exactly what will happen, and that European powers will invade the Holy Land and occupy Jerusalem.

This will in turn provoke a military response from Far Eastern nations, including Russia and China.

Return of Islamic State?

Reuters wrote on July 24:

“Months after Iraq declared victory over Islamic State, its fighters are making a comeback with a scatter-gun campaign of kidnap and killing. With its dream of a Caliphate in the Middle East now dead, Islamic State has switched to hit-and-run attacks aimed at undermining the government in Baghdad…

“Islamic State was reinventing itself months before Baghdad announced in December that it had defeated the group… Iraq has now seen an increase in kidnappings and killings, mainly in the provinces of Kirkuk, Diyala, and Salahuddin, since it held an election in May, indicating the government will come under renewed pressure from a group that once occupied a third of the country during a three-year reign of terror.

“Last month saw at least 83 cases of kidnap, murder or both in the three provinces. Most occurred on a highway connecting Baghdad to Kirkuk province… In one incident on June 17, three Shi’ite men were kidnapped by Islamic State militants disguised as policemen at a checkpoint on the highway. Ten days later their mutilated corpses were discovered, rigged with explosives to kill anyone who found them… a relative of the men… said security forces were uncooperative. He had implored the soldiers who found the men’s bullet-ridden car to pursue the kidnappers but was refused…

“Numerous attempts to track down and kill Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi have failed, and his fighters are still active in other Arab states. In Syria, Islamic State still holds some territory but has suffered militarily. In Egypt, it is concentrated in the sparsely populated northern Sinai desert. It holds no territory but conducts hit-and-run attacks. Islamic State has tried to rebuild in Libya through mobile units in the desert and sleeper cells in northern cities.

“The group has exploited the ethnic and sectarian divide in Iraq. Iraqi and Kurdish forces fought together against Islamic State. Now ties are strained over a Kurdish bid for independence last year which Baghdad stifled. Lack of coordination has caused a security vacuum in disputed territories, from which Iraqi forces dislodged the Kurds, creating opportunities for Islamic State…”

Vatican Attacks America’s TV Evangelists and Biblical Teaching

Christian Today wrote on July 19:

“A Vatican approved journal has launched a stinging attack on ‘prosperity gospel’ evangelicals with a broadside against the theology that teaches God wants Christians to be rich. The article in La Civilta Cattolica… was written by Antonio Spadaro, a Jesuit priest, and Marcelo Figueroa, a Protestant pastor from Argentina. It is the second time the two authors have collaborated. Last year they criticised the ‘ecumenism of conflict’ that saw US Protestant and Catholic fundamentalists join forces to promote ‘division and hatred’…

“While born in the US, [the so-called ‘prosperity gospel’] has spread around the world through Africa, Asia, China and Latin America, the authors say. They trace its origins to the Word of Faith movement of Kenneth Hagin (1917-2003), and reference modern-day exponents such as Kenneth Copeland, Norman Vincent Peale, Oral Roberts, Pat Robertson, Benny Hinn, Robert Tilton, Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer.

“They criticise prosperity preaching for elevating the ‘word of faith’ above the Bible… The result, they say, is that: ‘There can be no compassion for those who are not prosperous, for clearly they have not followed the rules and thus live in failure and are not loved by God.’

“Furthermore, they say, the dominance of this teaching has political consequences: ‘It leads to the conclusion that the United States has grown as a nation under the blessing of the providential God of the Evangelical movement’…”

The above-quoted article in the Vatican-approved Journal displays shocking biblical ignorance in that it denies the FACT that God WILL bless us, including financially, when we obey Him. It is also extremely dangerous and a direct attack, which was perhaps prompted by willful ignorance, on the biblical teaching that America WAS blessed by God because of the unconditional obedience of Abraham—but that due to America’s ongoing disobedience, God has begun to withdraw those blessings in many different ways. 

Vaccine Scandal in China—May the West Wake Up!

Reuters wrote on July 23:

“A vaccine scandal in China, which has prompted angry reactions from citizens fed up with safety scares, is sending ripples across the local drug market and threatening Chinese ambitions to play a larger role in the global pharmaceutical space…

“Changsheng has been found to have faked production documents related to a rabies vaccine that is given to babies as young as three months…

“The Changsheng case is the latest in a slew of scandals that has plagued China’s pharmaceutical industry in recent years. A regulator in the northeastern province of Jilin, where Changsheng is based, revealed on Friday that the company had last year sold 252,600 substandard DPT vaccines to inoculate children against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus…”

Planet Ablaze

The Sun wrote on July 25:

“Deadly wildfires and killer heatwaves are ripping through the planet from Athens and Sweden to Los Angeles and Japan…

“The planet is ablaze as it was gripped by a mammoth killer heatwave which has left hundreds dead. Across Europe, North America and Japan, searing heat and devastating wildfires have also left tens of thousands in hospital(s)…

“The worldwide trail of extreme heat, death and destruction has seen at least 79 dead around the Greek capital Athens in the country’s worst wildfire in a decade. Temperatures of 41C (106F) in Japan [were] killing 65, with more than 22,000 in hospital(s) with heat stroke(s)… Forest fires [broke out] in Sweden and Norway which have left one dead and dozens injured. The heatwave hit cities across Canada and led to at least 70 deaths in Quebec province alone. Record-breaking temperatures [are measured] in parts of southern California, including 49C (120F) in Chino, outside of Los Angeles.

“Reports from Algeria say the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Africa was in the northern city of Ouargla on July 5 which suffered a scorching 51.3C (124.3F) heatwave…

“A wildfire which erupted near the Teide volcano in central Tenerife yesterday was brought under control by emergency workers. The Spanish island has been blighted by sporadic infernos since last month… The Greek prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, said a state of emergency had been declared in the Attica region, which includes Athens, and ordered three days of national mourning. Greece’s interior minister Panos Skourletis described the fires as a ‘national tragedy’ and a ‘biblical disaster with human losses.’”

It was also reported that during a UK heatwave, Britain “soars towards [the] hottest day ever” (The Telegraph, dated July 25). In Germany, “The heat wave has shut down [the] Hanover airport, damaged roads and devastated crops, with higher temperatures still to come” (Deutsche Welle, dated July 25).

These are unfortunate, but in comparison very minor forerunners of a biblically-prophesied unparalleled worldwide destruction through hot temperatures and fire.

Dinosaurs together with Humans?

The Daily Star wrote on July 8:

“From Australia to Peru, ancient etchings on the walls of caves show humans alongside great beasts resembling dinosaurs. A painting from the Amazon rainforest basin shows dinosaurs surrounded by human beings. Sculptures found in the El Toro Mountain depict dinosaurs seemingly reaching up to eat foliage from the upper branches of trees.

“But scientists are skeptical over claims humans painted dinosaurs seen first hand.

“The Protoceratops – one of the most heavily replicated dinosaurs – has been incorporated into sculptures in hundreds of countries. Hongshan carvings dating back 4,000 years were also unearthed recently in China…

“Herodotus, a historian from the 5th century BC,… wrote: ‘There is a place in Arabia, situated very near the city of Buto, to which I went, on hearing of some winged serpents; and when I arrived there, I saw bones and spines of serpents, in such quantities as it would be impossible to describe. The form of the serpent is like that of the water-snake; but he has wings without feathers…’

“… scientists are looking into the possibility of potentially bringing back ancient creatures using DNA. The wooly mammoth is the most heavily-discussed candidate – with pristine DNA have been preserved in ice.”

What are the answers to the questions raised above? Please read our free booklet, “Heavens and Earth… before and after the First Man.”

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 clearly not our understanding. The erroneous concept that we do not have to repent of any sins that we may commit after conversion is part of the “once saved, always saved” (or eternal security) doctrine espoused by some, in mainstream Christianity. One such proponent gave the following five Scriptures and explanations and said that “they prove the glorious truth of scripture—‘once in Christ, in Christ forever.’” Let us review these:

• John 5:24:

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”

The proponents of eternal security say that “this passage is a one-way street and carries no threat of reversal.” However, many other Scriptures state otherwise. Nothing can stop us from attaining this, except we ourselves!

This verse talks about the time when someone puts his trust in God and makes the decision to follow and obey Him and if he remains faithful to his calling for the rest of his life, he will make it, with the help of God, into the Kingdom of God.

There is the understanding by some that believers do not have to keep asking for forgiveness or repenting in order to have their sins forgiven. How wrong can they be? Of course, Jesus died for all of our sins, past, present and future, but the Bible is clear that repentance is necessary and that we must ask for forgiveness as we acknowledge our sins to God.

One writer stated that “the word ‘believes’ in John 5:24 is a present active participle in the Greek. Therefore, the Lord is saying here that we must continually be believing the Father, that is His testimony about Jesus.”

From the website “alphadictionary.com” they state the following: “The present active participle, like all present participles, is derived only from imperfect verbs, since it refers to an action that is currently taking place or which takes place repeatedly.”

• John 10:27-28:

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”

The Pulpit Commentary observes the following in John 10:27 in respect of the sheep:

“‘My sheep hear my voice’ (their receptivity).

“‘And I know them’ (the Lord’s response to their faith).

“‘And they follow me’ (their active obedience).”

Following God obviously requires active and ongoing obedience. It would be ridiculous to think that a true Christian could wilfully be disobedient to God, and, without repentance and genuinely asking for forgiveness, have his sins forgiven before he even committed such acts. That erroneous thinking and “belief” will encourage a lack of care in necessary behaviour and lead to a person doing what he wants to do, thinking that it doesn’t matter as he has already been forgiven. It beggars or is beyond belief that there are those who read the Word of God and who come to such a conclusion.

One writer stated the following:

“Some people see salvation with ‘no strings attached’ that is, regarding how far one may stray doctrinally or sinfully, he will always be of the group that shall never perish. But the context of John 10:27-29 destroys this deadly interpretation of the most commonly cited proof for eternal security. Verse 27 describes the sheep and states that they follow Jesus. The Greek word is a continuous tense and describes the only people who will never perish and won’t get plucked out of God’s hand (see verses 28-29).”

The fact that following Jesus is a continuous action and doesn’t allow for wilful disobedience and turning one’s back on the Way of Life that He commands us to live is clearly shown in Matthew 10:22, which reads: “And you shall be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” This same principle of enduring to the end is a theme within the Word of God.

Another writer, an on-line commentator, observed as follows:

“Notice first of all who His sheep are: They are those who hear His voice and follow Him. The idea that obedience is essential to salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ is claimed through God’s revelation. Jesus identifies those who belong to Him, having His blessing, protection, they are people who listen to His directions and carry them out! That is the only way one is really acting ‘by faith.’ One can look at the eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews, where so many were successful ‘by faith,’ and if you are honest with yourself, you’ll see each one carefully followed the Lord’s directions.

“That is the way one can be SURE of his/her salvation. Truly, no one is wise or strong enough to overpower God and take you or me away IF we are loyal to Him. Yet, one can walk away, as we have seen many do in the centuries past, as they are recorded in the Bible for us to see. We are often referred to them as they did receive the wrath of God, because they failed to listen and perform as directed.

“Remember how the serpent beguiled Eve, in persuading her that she would not experience the consequences that God said she would when and if she failed to follow His teachings. Think about this: why would the Lord give so many warnings about being led astray and falling, IF IT WERE IMPOSSIBLE? Why are we told to make our calling and election sure, if there is no way it can be made unsure?”

The passage in 2 Peter 1:5-11 is very instructive:

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

It is clear from this passage of Scripture that the continuance of obedience to God’s instructions is essential.

• Ephesians 4:30:

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom [which] you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

We read earlier in the book of Ephesians (chapter 1:13-14) about being “sealed”: “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who [which] is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

In verse 14, the guarantee is a down payment or earnest (an old-fashioned description meaning a deposit), but has not yet come to full maturity and this will only occur at the resurrection to life at Christ’s return for all those who have died in the faith; and at the time of change to eternal life for those who are still alive in Christ when He returns and have endured unto the end.

In Strong’s Concordance #4972, we read that the Greek word for seal is sphragizo. One of the definitions is that which “signifies ownership and the full security carried by the backing (full authority) of the owner. ‘Sealing’ in the ancient world served as a ‘legal signature’ which guaranteed the promise (contents) of what was sealed.” However, in Matthew 27:66, the same word is used: “So they went and made the tomb secure sealing the stone and setting the guard.” Just two verses later in Matthew 28:2, we read: “And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it.”

This shows that the seal could be broken in some circumstances. An instance of this is shown in 1 Timothy 1:18-20: “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.”

The verses quoted show that the understanding that the seal of the Holy Spirit is an unconditional guarantee of “once saved, always saved” is a flawed and erroneous concept.

• Philippians 1:6:

“… being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…”

We read in many other Scriptures that a believer has to endure to the end to be saved and, therefore, this verse must be interpreted with that understanding. God will complete the good work that He has begun in us, subject to us playing our full part, and nothing less will do.

• 2 Timothy 1:12:

“For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

God does not call and choose us unless He is fully convinced that we will be able to live His Way of Life. He is not in the business of failure and He calls us, knowing that we have what it takes to stay close to Him until the end. However, we must make that concerted effort and not wander off the path to eternal life which some have done and more will do in the future.

(To Be Continued)

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

Here are the dates for the 2018 Fall Holy Days:

Feast of Trumpets—September 10
Day of Atonement—September 19
Feast of Tabernacles—September 24-30
Last Great Day—October 1

“Ancient and Modern Beliefs in the Third Temple,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

A German Christian map from the 15th century was recently presented to the public by the National Library of Israel, picturing what appears to be the building of the Third Temple in Jerusalem with Christian involvement. This year’s celebration of the Jewish festival of Tisha B’Av, commemorating the destruction of the two Holy Temples, prompted a strong reaction of the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asking for foreign powers to intervene. This program will show you how all of this is related and points at events prophesied in the Bible, and why they indicate the soon-coming return of Christ to establish God’s Government on earth.

“Kann man die Wiederkunft Christi anhand der Zahlen in Offenbarung und Daniel berechnen?” is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Can One Calculate the Return of Christ in Light of the Numbers in Revelation and Daniel?”

“Preparation and Consistency,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Kalon Mitchell, is now posted. Here is a summary:

We have to continually prepare in our lives, both in the physical and in the spiritual realms. Our preparation will determine our outcome in both. But it is not enough to just decide to prepare, we must have an outcome, a desire or a goal that we are fixated on and consistently driving towards. It is not enough to just casually want it. Rather it must become our purpose, our driving goal and desire, anything less does us and others around us a disservice.

“The Two Witnesses and Christ’s Return,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Who are the two witnesses? When will they begin and when will they end their work of preaching the gospel and proclaiming the last warning message? What will happen during their activity? When will Christ return? Could our life have any influence on the time of His Second Coming, by either delaying or accelerating it?

Preparation and Consistency; The Two Witnesses and Christ’s Return

On July 21, 2018, Kalon Mitchell will present the sermonette, titled, “Preparation and Consistency,” and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “The Two Witnesses and Christ’s Return.”

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

I was talking with my son the other day about how each of our lives are different. We don’t do the same things for work and for fun; we do not have the same friends and there are many other examples which could be stated. Occasionally, things overlap and that is where friendships and shared interests come into play. But everyone’s paths are unique.

For the most part, we are each on our own paths. As a Church, we work together towards the same goals, but as Proverbs 14:10 points out, we are responsible for ourselves: “The heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not share its joy.”

Growing up, I remember hearing about the end coming and all the ins and outs. I remember feeling scared and nervous about the things that were to happen. And then we add the knowledge that we don’t know the exact time of Christ’s return. This has made it tough at times to live with the right perspective. But indeed, it takes the right perspective to live, not swaying to the right hand or to the left (compare Proverbs 4:27; Deuteronomy 5:32; Joshua 1:7; Isaiah 30:21). The choice is ours. That should be the scariest part for us as Christians. God has already decided before time began that He would call us in this day and age. Science has shown us that the odds of you and me being born is 1 in 400 trillion. Think about that for a moment, let it sink in. Is it odd that we were born, in the time and place that we have been? I think not! 2 Peter 1:10 asks us how we are doing in our calling, in our diligence, in our effort to make sure that we don’t fall, that we don’t stumble.

As I stated before, our paths are all unique. We go through the issues in life to learn. Oftentimes, we don’t learn from others’ mistakes, even though we could and should if we were wise enough (1 Corinthians 10:11; Proverbs 1:1-9). Rather, we have to trudge through the trials and learn the hard way (Proverbs 11:2; James 1:2-4; Romans 8:28; Proverbs 24:16). The key is to pick up the pieces, learn, repent and move forward. In Philippians 3:13 Paul had every reason to be regretful and discouraged about his past, but he didn’t dwell on those things. He worked diligently to move forward.

How are we dealing with the fact that we are starting to see how end-time prophecy is being fulfilled? Are we scared? Are we happy? Are we joyful? Are we blasé and indifferent?  What is our perspective as we watch the world unraveling?

Do we understand that prophecy in and of itself is very sensational, but yet we should not be seeking prophecy for prophecy’s sake alone? Prophecy should help us to discern the times that we are living in and help us to temper our mindsets and attitudes and to give us additional motivation and zeal to do the Work and the Will of God. Paul was keen to tell this to Timothy, a young minister, in 2 Timothy 3:10-17. Wisdom and salvation are mentioned in verse 15. They are vitally important in keeping us going each day. If we are doing these things, then they help us to decide what we should be doing.

We need to acquire and keep the right and proper perspective at all times.  1 Corinthians 10:12-13 warns us to take careful note, think deeply, study hard, and lean in more and more fervently on God. God doesn’t want us to fail. Our own failings take us away.  2 Timothy 2:15 asks us to be diligent in presenting ourselves to God as worthy of the calling given to us.

So what is our perspective in regard to our calling? What are we doing about it? Where do we stand? These types of questions can only be answered truthfully by each Church member. If we find that the answers are not good and promising, then it is high time that we make the necessary corrections while we still can.

by Norbert Link

We begin this special report with the events as they transpired at the Trump-Putin summit in Helsinki and the extraordinary backlash Mr. Trump experienced by fellow Republicans and other conservative commentators (and of course from liberal newscasts and Democrats); Mr. Trump’s attempt of damage control and an interesting perspective by Pat Buchanan; and we continue to focus on events in Great Britain pertaining to Mr. Trump’s visit and the ongoing Brexit negotiations.

We address the war of words between America and Europe (especially Germany); the perception of a dying or already dead NATO; and Europe’s concern for their own interest (please note in this regard another thought-provoking article by Pat Buchanan).

We ask the question as to how trustworthy the FBI is in light of FBI agent Peter Strzok’s startling admissions; address China’s desire for world domination; speak on ongoing violence at the Gaza strip in spite of an agreed-upon “ceasefire”; report on Canada’s descent into ungodliness; and conclude with new evidence proving that the “Shroud of Turin” was not the burial cloth of Jesus. 

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

The Controversial Putin-Trump “Summit”

Daily Mail wrote on July 16:

“[Putin] denied meddling in the 2016 presidential election but admitted he had hoped Trump would defeat Democratic rival Hillary Clinton… Trump backed up Putin’s denials, saying he thought Russia had no reason to interfere in the election and contradicting his country’s own FBI which believes Moscow was responsible for hacking during the campaign.

“He said that ‘we’ve all been foolish… we’ve both made mistakes’…

“Putin said Moscow and Washington could jointly conduct criminal investigations into Russian intelligence officials accused of hacking during the campaign. In what Trump described as an ‘incredible offer’ Putin said Washington could use a 1999 agreement to request that Russian authorities interrogate the 12 suspects, adding that U.S. officials could ask to be present in such interrogations.

[As Newsmax reported on July 15, “A U.S. grand jury issued an indictment against the agents on Friday, charging them with hacking into email accounts controlled by the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton’s campaign. The charges stem from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian meddling in the election and any involvement by Trump’s campaign, a probe the president has repeatedly derided as a ‘witch hunt.’…”]

“Trump had said in a CBS interview that he had given no thought to asking Putin to extradite the dozen Russian military intelligence officers… Extradition is unlikely as the U.S. does not have an extradition treaty with Moscow and can’t force the Russians to hand over citizens. Russia’s constitution also prohibits turning over citizens to foreign governments…

“… at least in his public remarks at the outset, [Trump] mentioned none of the issues that have lately brought US-Russian relations to the lowest point since the Cold War: Moscow’s annexation of territory from Ukraine, its support for Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, as well as Western accusations that it poisoned a spy in England…”

Many additional important issues were not addressed during the news conference, including Russia’s abominable persecution of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 16:

“… Putin spoke frankly on the topic of Crimea, saying that the US delegation had expressed its view that the invasion was illegal. The Russian president disagreed with Trump on the issue and concluded that ‘the Crimea question is closed for Russia…’”

Trump in League with Putin?

The Week wrote on July 16:

“… it is simply beyond question that Trump is really deferential to the Russian president… This is a terrible development for many reasons. First and most importantly is that it’s bad for the hugely powerful American executive branch to be even partially in league with a man like Putin…”

Trump Strongly Criticized by Republicans

The Huffington Post wrote on July 16:

“President Donald Trump’s performance during a press conference after a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on Monday left critics of all stripes howling… Trump’s comments drew fierce criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike…

“On Fox News Business, several guests reacted by saying that Putin outmaneuvered Trump during the summit. On the channel, the network’s Neil Cavuto termed Trump’s performance ‘disgusting.’ George W. Bush’s press secretary Ari Fleischer… said he can understand why some Democrats believe Putin must have compromising information on Trump… Former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, a Republican, said Trump ‘failed America today’…

“Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell… said succinctly: ‘The Russians are not our friends. I’ve said that repeatedly, I say it again today. And I have complete confidence in our intelligence community and the findings that they have announced.’…”

The Guardian wrote on July 16:

“House speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican, said: ‘… There is no question that Russia interfered in our election and continues attempts to undermine democracy here and around the world. That is not just the finding of the American intelligence community but also the House Committee on Intelligence. The president must appreciate that Russia is not our ally. There is no moral equivalence between the United States and Russia, which remains hostile to our most basic values and ideals. The United States must be focused on holding Russia accountable and putting an end to its vile attacks on democracy.’

Deutsche Welle added on July 16:

“Top Republican Senator John McCain called Trump’s summit in Helsinki a ‘tragic mistake,’ lamenting that the US president was ‘unable’ to stand up to Putin. ‘Coming close on the heels of President Trump’s bombastic and erratic conduct towards our closest friends and allies in Brussels and Britain, today’s press conference marks a recent low point in the history of the American Presidency,’ McCain’s statement read. ‘No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant,’ McCain said…”

Newt Gingrich and Bret Baier Strongly Criticize Trump

Newsmax wrote on July 16:

“President Donald Trump choosing not to endorse the U.S. intelligence community’s assessment Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election is ‘the most serious mistake of his presidency,’ former House Speaker Newt Gingrich tweeted Monday: ‘President Trump must clarify his statements in Helsinki on our intelligence system and Putin… [It] must be corrected—-immediately.’”

Fox News (Bret Baier) wrote on July 16:

“President Trump left many deeply disappointed in his approach to his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin… For a sitting U.S. president to say publicly that he believes a foreign leader over his own intelligence team is shocking and admonishable. At a time when our democracy faces grave threats, it is deeply troubling that the president would side with the very country who attacked us… Crucially, there were no concessions from Russia on any of the issues that needed to be addressed…

“Despite each nation backing different sides in the Syrian conflict, Trump suggested he and Putin would begin working in conjunction to bring humanitarian aid to the people of Syria, regardless of the fact that the need for humanitarian aid largely stems from Putin’s unabashed support for Syrian dictator Bashar al Assad. Additionally, Trump also failed to address the concerns of our NATO allies Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in the Baltics regarding the territorial threats they persistently face. Trump, throughout the entire press conference, failed to condemn or even acknowledge the illegality of Putin’s actions in Crimea and Ukraine…”

When Trump supporter Newt Gingrich and moderators on Fox News disapprove of Mr. Trump’s conduct, then this is worthwhile contemplating.

BBC News wrote on July 16:

“Washington’s Nato allies and many seasoned observers on Capitol Hill must have been watching in horror…”

While many Russian papers approved the summit, most German papers overwhelmingly condemned Mr. Trump’s behavior.

Trump’s Attempted “Damage Control”

Huffington Post wrote on July 17:

“President Donald Trump on Tuesday responded to the widespread condemnation of his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming that he believes the conclusion of U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the 2016 election. His words came a day after he sided with Putin in an extraordinary press conference. ‘I accept our intelligence community’s conclusion that Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election took place,’ he said Tuesday, appearing to read from prepared remarks, before suggesting that it ‘could be other people also. A lot of people out there.’

“During Monday’s press conference with Putin, he refused to condemn Russia’s interference, saying that he accepted the Russian president’s denial and took Putin’s word over the conclusion of U.S. intelligence agencies, which he has continually attacked during his presidency. ‘President Putin just said it’s not Russia,’ Trump said. ‘I don’t see any reason why it would be.’

“But on Tuesday, Trump claimed that he misspoke, explaining that he meant to say that he saw no reason why it would not be Russia. ‘I would like to clarify, in a key sentence in my remarks, I said the word “would” instead of “wouldn’t.” The sentence should have been: “I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be Russia,”’ he said.”

Fox News added: 

“It’s unclear whether the clarification will calm the backlash in Washington, as Trump also said following his meeting with Putin that the Russian leader gave a ‘strong and powerful’ denial.”

Whether this “clarification” will satisfy most of the Republican critics will indeed have to be seen. After all, here is the exact quote:  “They (the US intelligent agencies) said they think it’s Russia. President Putin just said it’s not Russia. I will say this: I don’t see any reason why it would be. I have great confidence in my intelligence people but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.” (Compare The Daily Mail, July 17.)

No One Is Buying

nzherald.co.nz wrote on July 18:

“In a shocking revelation, no one is buying Donald Trump’s latest backflip… Trump said it was ‘sort of a double negative,’ adding, ‘I think that probably clarifies things pretty good by itself.’ That didn’t go down too well online.”

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 18:

“Maas criticized the US president once again on Wednesday…  Asked to assess Trump’s reversal of remarks, Maas was quoted as saying: ‘This is apparently an attempt at damage limitation. It doesn’t appear particularly convincing.’

“Germany’s foreign minister went on to say he regretted that Trump didn’t backtrack on his most recent criticisms of the European Union — which he described as a foe — shortly before setting off for Helsinki…”

Another Viewpoint by Pat Buchanan

On July 17, Newsmax published the following commentary by Pat Buchanan who has been an adviser to three presidents and a two-time candidate for the Republican presidential nomination:

“Beginning his joint press conference with Vladimir Putin, President Trump declared that U.S. relations with Russia have ‘never been worse.’ He then added pointedly, that just changed ‘about four hours ago.’ It certainly did. With his remarks in Helsinki and at the NATO summit in Brussels, Trump has signaled a historic shift in U.S. foreign policy that may determine the future of this nation…

“He has rejected the fundamental premises of American foreign policy since the end of the Cold War and blamed our wretched relations with Russia, not on Vladimir Putin, but squarely on the U.S. establishment. Looking back over the week, from Brussels to Britain to Helsinki, Trump’s message has been clear, consistent and startling.

“NATO is obsolete. European allies have freeloaded off U.S. defense while rolling up huge trade surpluses at our expense. Those days are over. Europeans are going to stop stealing our markets and start paying for their own defense… We are not going to let Putin’s annexation of Crimea or aid to pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine prevent us from working on a rapprochement and a partnership with him, Trump is saying…

“America is coming home from foreign wars and will be shedding foreign commitments…

“When Trump spoke of the ‘foolishness and stupidity’ of the U.S. foreign policy establishment that contributed to this era of animosity in U.S.-Russia relations, what might he have had in mind?

“Was it the U.S. provocatively moving NATO into Russia’s front yard after the collapse of the USSR? Was it the U.S. invasion of Iraq to strip Saddam Hussein of weapons of mass destruction he did not have that plunged us into endless wars of the Middle East? Was it U.S. support of Syrian rebels determined to oust Bashar Assad, leading to ISIS intervention and a seven-year civil war with half a million dead, a war which Putin eventually entered to save his Syrian ally?

“Was it George W. Bush’s abrogation of Richard Nixon’s ABM treaty and drive for a missile defense that caused Putin to break out of the Reagan INF treaty and start deploying cruise missiles to counter it? Was it U.S. complicity in the Kiev coup that ousted the elected pro-Russian regime that caused Putin to seize Crimea to hold onto Russia’s Black Sea naval base at Sevastopol?… Russia annexed Crimea bloodlessly. But did not the U.S. bomb Serbia for 78 days to force Belgrade to surrender her cradle province of Kosovo? How was that more moral than what Putin did in Crimea?”

May: “My Deal [Soft Brexit] Is the Only Brexit Deal”

Theresa May Prime wrote the following on July 14 for The Mail On Sunday:

“Our Brexit deal for Britain seizes the moment to deliver the democratic decision of the British people and secure a bright new future for our country outside the European Union… If we don’t [accept it], we risk ending up with no Brexit at all. This is a time to be practical and pragmatic – backing our plan to get Britain out of the European Union on March 29 next year and delivering for the British people…

“… we can get a good deal and that is what is best for Britain. But we should also prepare for no deal… Our Brexit deal is… a complete plan with a set of outcomes that are non-negotiable.

“People voted to end free movement. So free movement will end. People voted to end the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in our country; and we are going to deliver that too. We will leave the Single Market and customs union, and get out of the Common Agricultural Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy. We will have that independent trade policy and a new UK-EU free trade area with a common rulebook for industrial goods and agricultural products. And we will maintain close co-operation with the EU on security to keep our people safe while ensuring we have our own independent foreign and trade policy. None of these things is up for debate…”

May Compromises on Brexit Deal

Deutsche Welle reported on July 16:

“British Prime Minister Theresa May gave in to demands from her party’s hardliners on Monday, accepting four amendments that would limit the government’s ability to set up customs arrangements with the European Union after Britain leaves the bloc in March 2019… Monday’s vote once again exposed deep divisions within the Conservative Party over Brexit…”

May’s Soft Brexit Gives Germany What It Wants

Handelsblatt Global wrote on July 13:

“Theresa May’s long-awaited White Paper aims to keep manufacturing in Britain, and is willing to surrender London’s financial access to the EU in return… Berlin would surely prefer that Britain simply stay in the European Union. But as alternatives go, London’s latest proposal for the post-Brexit relationship suits Germany just fine…

“The paper aims to jump start the process of reaching an ‘association agreement’ with the European Union to govern relations after Brexit. With Britain formally leaving the European Union in March 2019, time for a deal between London and Brussels is quickly running out…

“That deal would effectively keep Britain’s rules and regulations aligned with those of the European Union, allowing trade in goods to flow freely and the Irish border with Northern Ireland to remain open. It’s almost like still being in the EU’s single market and customs union, which is what has Brexit supporters so outraged…”

It does not appear that this will be the deal to which all sides agree.

“EU Urges No-Deal Brexit Preparation”

The EUObserver wrote on July 19:

“Four million UK and EU citizens stuck in a legal limbo, border checks re-installed, transportation severely disrupted, trade and supply chains breaking down… This gloomy scenario would kick in the day after Brexit, if no divorce deal is agreed by the EU and the UK, the EU Commission warned on Thursday…

“The commission urged citizens, businesses and member states to take action on preparing for 30 March 2019 now, highlighting the rising concerns of a no-deal exit in European capitals…”

Trump Wants to Run Again; Reveals Details of Conversation with the Queen on Brexit

Newsmax republished the following article by Reuters on July 14:

“President Donald Trump said in an interview that he intends to run for re-election in the 2020 election, the Mail on Sunday newspaper reported. When asked by Piers Morgan in an interview given on Friday in Britain whether he was going to run, Trump said: ‘Well I fully intend to. It seems like everybody wants me to,’ the newspaper said. Trump said he did not see any Democrat who could beat him…

“In the interview with Morgan, Trump took the unusual step of disclosing details about his conversation with British Queen Elizabeth. When asked if he had discussed Brexit with the monarch, Trump said: ‘I did. She said it’s a very – and she’s right – it’s a very complex problem, I think nobody had any idea how complex that was going to be… Everyone thought it was going to be “Oh it’s simple, we join or don’t join, or let’s see what happens.”’…

“When asked about North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Trump said: ‘… Sure he is, he’s ruthless, but so are others.’”

As we have announced for a long time, in case of elections in 2020, Donald Trump will be re-elected.

Charles and William Refused to Meet with Trump

The Hill wrote on July 15:

“Prince Charles and Prince William refused to meet with President Trump during his visit to the United Kingdom, according to London newspaper The Sunday Times… It’s a very, very unusual thing for the queen to be there on her own. Usually she is accompanied by somebody. Prince Charles has been substituting for Philip a lot recently.’ Prince Philip, who, at 97, has officially retired from royal duties, ‘goes to what he wants to go to,’ the source said, adding that ‘if he had wanted to be there he could have been.’…

“Charles reportedly attended a board meeting for his company and an event with Gloucestershire police, while William participated in a charity polo match and Prince Harry attended other private engagements, according to the Times.”

NATO Dying or Dead?

Euractiv wrote on July 13:

“‘There is no longer confidence in NATO,’ a diplomat told EURACTIV. Fewer and fewer European countries trust that the US would defend them if they were invaded by Russia. Under Trump, NATO will soon be as dead as the proverbial dodo. The EU needs to overcome its internal divisions fast and make sure NATO is replaced by a real European defence alliance.”

And that is exactly what will happen.

The Washington Post wrote on July 12:

“Trump has been calling NATO a waste of money for decades. ‘America has no vital interest’ in Europe, he wrote in 2000: ‘Their conflicts are not worth American lives. Pulling back from Europe would save this country millions of dollars annually. The cost of stationing NATO troops in Europe is enormous. And these are clearly funds that can be put to better use.’ During his election campaign, he refused to reaffirm any commitment to NATO’s Article 5 security guarantee. During his first NATO summit last year, he again refused to reaffirm Article 5, though an administration official had promised he would…” 

NATO–Defending Others?

The Huffington Post wrote on July 18:

“President Donald Trump on Tuesday once again threw cold water on NATO… Trump expressed skepticism over the decades-old defense pact, which obligates member countries to defend any other member country that comes under attack, during an interview with Fox News’ Tucker Carlson.

“When Carlson asked why the U.S. should protect a country like Montenegro, which joined NATO last year, Trump said he has asked himself the same question. ‘Montenegro is a tiny country with very strong people,’ Trump said. ‘They’re very aggressive people, and they may get aggressive, and congratulations, you’re in World War III. But that’s the way it was set up.’”

NATO Hits Back at Trump’s Montenegro World War III Remarks

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 18:

“NATO officials on Wednesday scrambled to reassert the alliance’s collective defense clause— commonly referred to as Article 5 — after US President Donald Trump appeared to suggest NATO’s newest member Montenegro could instigate World War III. A NATO official told Germany’s DPA news agency that Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty was ‘unconditional and iron-clad,’ reaffirming that ‘an attack on one is an attack on all.’…

“According to reports in Montenegro, Russia… attempted to organize a coup in a bid to derail Montenegrin accession. Fourteen people are on trial for attempting to assassinate then-Prime Minister Milo Djukanovicduring the 2016 election…”

Buchanan Coming to Trump’s Defense

On July 13, Newsmax published the following commentary by Patrick Buchanan:

“Of President Donald Trump’s explosion at Angela Merkel’s Germany during the NATO summit, it needs to be said: It is long past time we raised our voices. America pays more for NATO, an alliance created 69 years ago to defend Europe, than do the Europeans. And as Europe free-rides off our defense effort, the EU runs trade surpluses at our expense that exceed $100 billion a year. To Trump, and not only to him, we are being used, gouged, by rich nations we defend, while they skimp on their own defense.

“At Brussels, Trump had a new beef with the Germans, though similar problems date back to the Reagan era. Now we see the Germans, Trump raged, whom we are protecting from Russia, collaborating with Russia and deepening their dependence on Russian natural gas by jointly building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline under the Baltic Sea. When completed, this pipeline will leave Germany and Europe even more deeply reliant on Russia for their energy needs…

“Germany spends 1.2 percent of its gross domestic product on defense, while the U.S. spends 3.5 percent. Why? Why — nearly three decades after the end of the Cold War, the collapse of the Warsaw Pact, the crackup of the Soviet Union and the overthrow of the Communist dictatorship in Moscow — are we still defending European nations that collectively have 10 times the GDP of Vladimir Putin’s Russia?… Trump is not bluffing. He is visibly losing patience.

“… it could be the beginning of the end for NATO. And not only NATO. South Korea, with an economy 40 times that of North Korea, spends 2.6 percent of its GDP on defense, while, by one estimate, North Korea spends 22 percent, the highest share on earth. Japan, with the world’s third-largest economy, spends an even smaller share of its GDP on defense than Germany, 0.9 percent. Thus, though Seoul and Tokyo are far more menaced by a nuclear-armed North Korea and a rising China, like the Europeans, both continue to rely upon us as they continue to run large trade surpluses with us.

“… We are giving the world a lesson in how great powers decline. America’s situation is unsustainable economically and politically, and it’s transparently intolerable to Trump…”

And so, the final break between America and Europe will occur very soon.

EU Bad for USA and America’s Foe?

The Sun wrote on July 15:

“Theresa May has finally revealed the explosive Brexit advice Donald Trump gave to her… The Prime Minister said the US President told her not to even enter into a negotiation with Brussels at all, and just to start a legal war instead. She made the startling revelation while speaking to the BBC this morning, but said she did not take Mr Trump’s ‘brutal’ suggestion on board.”

The Sun wrote on July 13:

“[Mr. Trump] suggested Mrs May’s plans for a soft Brexit was a hostile move towards the US because ‘the European Union is very bad to the United States on trade’…”

CBS News reported on July 15:

“In an interview with ‘CBS Evening News’ anchor Jeff Glor in Scotland on Saturday, President Trump named the European Union… when asked to identify his ‘biggest foe globally right now.’ ‘Well, I think we have a lot of foes. I think the European Union is a foe, what they do to us in trade. Now, you wouldn’t think of the European Union, but they’re a foe. Russia is [a] foe in certain respects. China is a foe economically, certainly they are a foe…

“I respect the leaders of those countries. But, in a trade sense, they’ve really taken advantage of us and many of those countries are in NATO and they weren’t paying their bills… EU is very difficult… Maybe the thing that is most difficult — don’t forget both my parents were born in EU sectors okay? I mean my mother was Scotland, my father was Germany. And — you know I love those countries. I respect the leaders of those countries. But — in a trade sense, they’ve really taken advantage of us and many of those countries are in NATO and they weren’t paying their bills and, you know, as an example a big problem with Germany…”

The EUObserver wrote on July 16:

“Trump… designated the EU as an enemy while talking about a trade war with Europe… To add insult to injury, the state department said that it would impose sanctions on EU firms doing business with Iran, the NBC network also reported… The refusal to exempt EU firms comes despite the fact Russia is to invest $50bn in Iran’s energy sector. Russia also sold Iran high-tech anti-aircraft systems, with no Trump objections. That US messaging turned the world upside down for the European Union.”

Wars begin with words. To call an ally one’s foe is a further step. So are Germany’s responses. Note the next article.

Germany on the Attack Against Trump

The Local wrote on July 13:

“Berlin was still reeling on Friday from US President Donald Trump’s attacks on the NATO military alliance, with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warning that the US President was willfully damaging western security. ‘Europe can’t accept that which has been built up over many decades being damaged willfully out of a desire to provoke,’ Minister Maas wrote in a Tweet on Friday…

“Meanwhile, Minister Maas’ predecessor had stronger words for the US President. Former German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said Europe should stand up to Trump, warning that the US President is pushing for ‘regime change’ in Germany… ‘We must no longer have any illusions,’ added the Social Democrat (SPD) politician. ‘Donald Trump only understands strength. So we have to show him that we are strong. If he demands billions back from us for the USA’s military spending, then we should demand billions back from him for the refugees produced by failed US military interventions, for example, in Iraq.’”

Bloomberg wrote on July 16:

“Germany’s foreign minister urged the European Union to ‘readjust’ its relationship with the U.S. and said the bloc can no longer fully rely on the White House after President Donald Trump identified America’s long-term ally as a ‘foe.’… ‘If the American president identifies the European Union as a “foe,” this unfortunately shows once more how wide the Atlantic has become in political terms since Donald Trump has been in office,’ German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told the Funke newspaper group in an interview.

“The comments reflect those of Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has reinforced her statement from May 2017 that Europe’s full reliance on relations with the U.S. since World War II is ‘to some extent over’ — and that the bloc must take its destiny more into its own hands…

“Maas, a member of Germany’s Social Democrats, the junior partner in Merkel’s ruling coalition, said that nations must stand together ‘in a self-confident and sovereign Europe.’ EU member states mustn’t allow themselves to be divided, ‘no matter how harsh the verbal attacks and how absurd the tweets may be.’”

Due to current developments, Europe feels that it must unite militarily… and it will.

Europeans Seeking Their Own Interest

Handelsblatt Global wrote on July 17:

“We saw a new world order loom like an iceberg at the meeting of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. The Russian leader emerged victorious at a press conference which was historic for all the wrong reasons…

“Trump also ignored Europe… Mystifyingly, Trump elevated Russia, an enemy, to an equal, despite the major disparity in their economies and powers. That insistent support will have done lasting damage to trans-Atlantic relations… eastern European countries close to Russia… have to wonder whether they [can] count on support from Washington in the future…

“Meanwhile European leaders are busy defending their countries’ interests. Today they sign JEFTA, the trade pact between the EU and Japan… It’s the biggest deal negotiated by the bloc so far and creates the world’s largest open area for trade.

“And in Beijing, Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk found a new rapport as both blocs fend off US tariff disputes. The two sides said they are seeking to uphold a ‘free trade and multilateral order.’ That embrace is all the more surprising given that, at last year’s summit, the EU and China had so little in common they didn’t even issue a joint statement. How much has changed in a year.”

Soon, America will become totally irrelevant on the world scene in just about every respect.

Trump Defends Google Against EU

The Telegraph reported on July 19:

“Donald Trump hinted that he may block trade routes with Europe after its lawmakers hit Google with a record £3.9bn fine over its smartphone business.

“The US president took to Twitter to lash out at the European Union, which handed the penalty to the search giant over its Android operating system. ‘I told you so! The European Union just slapped a Five Billion Dollar fine on one of our great companies, Google. They truly have taken advantage of the US, but not for long!,’ he wrote on the social network.”

The Week published an article on July 19, with the headline: “Europe’s Idiotic War on Google.”

Most Germans Fear Trump More than Putin, but Don’t Trust Either…

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 15:

“… two-thirds of Germans think that the US president is more dangerous than his Russian counterpart… When asked which world leader was the greater threat to world security, 64 percent of respondents chose US President Donald Trump over his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin… And the German antipathy for Trump doesn’t end there: 56 percent of respondents thought that Putin was more competent than Trump, with only 5 percent preferring the latter on that score. Thirty-six percent of Germans find Putin more likable than Trump, while 6 percent say the opposite — although most respondents refused to indicate a preference on that question.

“And, perhaps most surprisingly, 44 percent said Putin was more powerful than Trump, compared with only 29 percent who thought the US president has more power… German… conservative voters were slightly more likely (66 percent) to class Trump as the bigger threat than people overall in the poll…

“‘The world’s two most powerful men have one thing in common,’ Bild’s lead story on Sunday reads. ‘They want to weaken Europe.’ That’s a widespread view around Germany, where many people fear that Trump’s occasional hostility to NATO, for instance, plays into Putin’s strategic aim of dividing the West and increasing Russia’s influence in the world…

“The distrust of Trump’s motivations and leadership capabilities is apparent in how Germans see the United States as a whole. In a YouGov poll published earlier in July, Germans were asked whether they had a generally positive or negative view of the United States. Fifty-nine percent of respondents said they viewed the US negatively, compared with only 29 percent who chose positively…”

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 13:

“Germans are under no doubts that Putin, for his part, is pursuing… a long-term aggressive, anti-European policy… and is trying to drive a wedge between the US and its European allies… [Moscow] has an interest in America withdrawing from Europe…”

The Bible indicates that this is exactly what America will do.

FBI Trustworthy?

CBN wrote on July 12:

“Thursday’s House Judiciary Committee hearing featuring testimony from embattled FBI agent Peter Strzok erupted into absolute chaos shortly after opening statements. Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) was the first to question the agent, asking Strzok how many people had been interviewed in the Russia probe from July 31-Aug. 8. Strzok declined to answer, saying that FBI counsel instructed him not to answer questions about an ongoing investigation. This set off pandemonium, as lawmakers exchanged heated barbs and bickered over hearing rules…

“Strzok’s anti-Trump text messages took center stage and caused congressional leaders to question Strzok on his partisan bias over the course of the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and Hillary Clinton’s use of her email server. Strzok exchanged troubling text messages with FBI attorney, Lisa Page. Page and Strzok both worked on the FBI investigation into Clinton’s emails and, later, on special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation…

“Strzok said that while the texts reflected his personal beliefs at the time, they did not ‘ever enter into the realm of any action I took.’ Strzok noted that there are numerous procedures and guidelines in place at the FBI to stop such instances of agents who are acting in any way other than an official capacity…

“Strzok says a text message suggesting that he would stop then-candidate Trump from being president was written late at night, and ‘in no way suggested that I or the FBI would take any action’ to intervene in Trump’s election…”

However, there can be no doubt that such bias may very well influence decisions being made in the course of official business.

China’s Challenge to US Naval Supremacy

The Sydney Morning Herald wrote on July 14:

“China’s biggest challenge to the supremacy of the US Navy will come within the year, a well regarded Australian strategic analyst predicted in Washington this week. It will come in the form of the announcement that China’s armed forces will hold exercises in the international waters of the South China Sea and that, to protect public safety, it will close the air and sea space in the area, he said. Even though this would be presented as a temporary measure – a few days, perhaps a week – it would be the end of freedom of navigation and overflight if it went unchallenged.

“Seventy years of American dominance would be over. The US Navy effectively would have been pushed back from China’s coastline by more than 1000 kilometres, right out to the limit of China’s nine-dash line marking its disputed claim to the South China Sea. Beijing would have asserted de facto control of the world’s most valuable commercial artery and 3.6 million square kilometres of ocean. The other six countries with claims to parts of the South China Sea would have been sidelined. Other countries would be permitted to use it only with China’s consent. ‘The question is, what are we going to do about it?’ posed the director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Peter Jennings, a former head of strategy for the Defence Department…

“The question was an uncomfortable one for many in the audience, which included senior officials, politicians and others from both countries… Australian and American representatives… agreed that the Jennings scenario was plausible; some said it was likely. None thought it implausible.

“What would Donald Trump do? Would Trump’s America be steadfast in a crisis? Or would the administration be too distracted, too confused, or too compromised by its other negotiations with China to stand its ground?… While the US has dithered, China’s President Xi Jinping has been clear and purposeful. ‘Like clockwork,’ says Jennings, ‘every three to four months they take another step to consolidate their gains in the South China Sea’, where Beijing has constructed man-made islands in contested waters and equipped them with runways, reinforced hangars, and batteries of anti-ship and anti-air missiles. A Chinese heavy bomber recently touched down on one of the islands for the first time…

“If China presses its case and the US fails to act, does the Royal Australian Navy have the option of trying to crash through any new Chinese exclusion zone? Australian and American experts were unanimous on this, best summed up by a former US official: ‘Try that without us, you’re screwed.’… Australia needs to be more active, more robust and more assertive than it has ever been. It has the advantage that its main political parties are so far united in confronting the dawning reality of frontline responsibility. If Jennings is right, there’s no time to waste.”

Watch China’s Desire of World Dominion

Project-Syndicate wrote on July 13:

“The contrast between the disarray in the West, on open display at the NATO summit and at last month’s G7 meeting in Canada, and China’s mounting international self-confidence is growing clearer by the day…

“Since 2014, China has expanded and consolidated its military position in the South China Sea. It took the idea of the New Silk Road and turned it into a multi-trillion-dollar trade, investment, infrastructure, and wider geopolitical/geo-economic initiative, engaging 73 different countries across much of Eurasia, Africa and beyond. And China signed up most of the developed world to the first large-scale non-Bretton Woods multilateral development bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

“China has also launched diplomatic initiatives beyond its immediate sphere of strategic interest in East Asia, as well as actively participating in initiatives such as the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. It has developed naval bases in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Djibouti, and participates in naval exercises with Russia as far away as the Mediterranean and the Baltic…”

Israel Strikes Hamas During Gaza Ceasefire

The Times of Israel, July 15:

“The strike came hours after a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect, following the most severe exchange of fire between Israel and Hamas since the 2014 war. Over the weekend, Palestinian terrorists fired some 200 rockets and missiles at Israeli communities near the Gaza border…

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday reiterated that Israel would not tolerate the continued kite and balloon arson attacks that have burned thousands of dunams of forests and agricultural land adjacent to the Gaza border in recent months, including fresh fires started on Sunday… Netanyahu denied reports that said the ceasefire brokered by Egypt did not include the cessation of the arson attacks… Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman also warned Hamas they would ‘pay a heavy price’ if it did not cease hostilities…

“Domestic pressure on the military to halt the burning flying objects has intensified, leading to Israel carrying out warning airstrikes and increasing the possibility that violence could escalate.”

JTA wrote on July 16:

“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Sderot, where at least two rockets from Gaza caused serious damage and injured a family of four… [He said:] ‘There is an exchange of blows here. It is not over in one go… and I cannot comfort those who have taken the most difficult losses. This is very hard to take, but we know that we are in a prolonged Zionist struggle.’

“In a warning to the terrorist organization that runs Gaza, Netanyahu said: ‘It is important that Hamas understand that it faces an iron wall and this wall is comprised, first of all, of a determined government, of strong local leadership and Zionist settlement, and that we will continue to strengthen it… I do not want to tell anybody that it is over.’”

New Legislation: Israel the Nation-State of the Jewish People

JTA wrote on July 19:

“The Knesset passed controversial legislation making Israel the ‘nation-state of the Jewish people’ … It passed early Thursday morning after hours of contentious debate by a vote of 62-55, with two abstentions.

“Much of the bill, sponsored by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, deals with obvious signs that Israel is a Jewish state, such as affirming the symbols on the flag and shield, setting the Hebrew calendar as the country’s official calendar, recognizing Jewish holidays and days of remembrance, the national anthem and naming Jerusalem as the capital.

“Other parts of the law, however, have raised the hackles of segments of Israeli society and the Jewish Diaspora. These include clauses relegating Arabic to a ‘special’ status instead of an official language [declaring Hebrew as Israel’s only official language], promoting the establishment of Jewish communities throughout Israel and addressing the state’s relationship with Diaspora Jewry.

“Netanyahu called the passing of the law ‘a defining moment… This is our state — the Jewish state’…

“The chairman of the Arab Joint List party, Ayman Odeh, said in a statement that Israel has ‘declared it does not want us here,’ meaning its Arab citizens, and that ‘we will always be second-class citizens.’”

Canada’s Troubling Journey Towards Ungodliness

LifeSitenews.com wrote on July 13:

“Last month the Supreme Court of Canada decided in the Trinity Western University case that the right to freedom of religion, entrenched in Section 2 of the Charter, can be infringed by the rights of the LGBTQ community… This was the most recent example of a troubling situation that has developed since the Charter came into effect in 1982.

“The Court in the Trinity case concluded that the Law Societies of British Columbia and Ontario had the right to decide on the admission policies of a private religious university in British Columbia that wanted to obtain accreditation for a law school. The law societies objected because of the university’s Covenant that, among other matters, upheld that sexual relationships be only within marriage between a man and woman. The Court concluded that the law societies were permitted to raise objections based on vague and undefined concepts of ‘public interest’ and Charter ‘values’.

“This decision confirms that judges are making decisions… based on their own policy preferences. Examples of other such decisions include the legalizing of prostitution; the striking down of the abortion law; the prohibitions against physician-assisted suicide; the right to strike granted to essential services such as firemen, policemen, ambulance workers (which puts public safety at risk); legalization of drug injection sites; the redefinition, and narrowing of the interpretation of pornography; and that sex clubs for couples and single individuals meeting each other for group sex are not illegal nor indecent. There have been many other decisions as well that have profoundly changed Canadian society.

“Whether one agrees with any or all of these decisions is not the point. There is a much deeper and more profound aspect to these decisions. It is whether nine appointed, unaccountable judges should be making such decisions isolated from the public – the latter having no input into the formation of such public policy decisions… There is no longer any doubt that the Supreme Court of Canada decisions are not impartial and objective, but are based not on law or precedent, but rather on the personal policy preferences of the judges.”

Shroud of Turin NOT Burial Cloth of Jesus

Express wrote on July 16:

“For centuries, Christians had believed the Shroud of Turin was used to wrap Jesus Christ’s deceased body in after he had died. Many even thought you could still see the imprint of his face. However, new evidence has emerged which would suggest the Shroud of Turin is fraudulent.

“Forensic evidence revealed the blood stains on the cloth came from a vertical position as if someone were standing over it. This would mean the stains are not consistent with someone who had just been crucified.

“John Moores University, Liverpool, forensic expert Matteo Borrini and his team had been hoping to see if the blood stains were consistent with someone who had been executed on a T-shaped or Y-shaped cross. Instead, the research found the blood splatter came from neither.

“The study says: ‘The two short rivulets on the back of the left hand of the Shroud are only consistent with a standing subject with arms at a ca 45 degree angle… The BPA of blood visible on the frontal side of the chest (the lance wound) shows that the Shroud represents the bleeding in a realistic manner for a standing position while the stains at the back — of a supposed post-mortem bleeding from the same wound for a supine corpse — are totally unrealistic.’

“… Previous research also suggests the Turin Shroud is a fake. If it were the real burial cloth of Jesus, it would date back to around 2,000 years ago. However, carbon dating shows that the Turin Shroud also only goes back to the Middle Ages…”

Please read chapter 8 of our free booklet, “Do you know the Jesus of the Bible?”

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.

The question relates to two passages in the book of Genesis. When Joseph met his brothers in Egypt who had sold him into slavery, he did not make himself known and tried them instead to see whether they were willing to leave one of their brothers, Benjamin, behind in jail, while enjoying their own freedom and escape from the Egyptian court. Joseph ordered that money and his special cup be placed in the sacks of his brothers upon their departure, but then to pursue them.

In this very context, we read in Genesis 44:4-6: “When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his servant, ‘Get up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? Is not this the one from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed practices divination? You have done evil in so doing.’ So he overtook them, and he spoke to them these same words.” The Authorized Version (AV) reads: “Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth?”

Also, in Genesis 44:15, we read that Joseph told his brothers, after the cup was “discovered” in Benjamin’s sack: “Did you not know that such a man as I can certainly practice divination?”

In Genesis 44:6 and 15, the Hebrew word for the English expression “practice divination” or “divine” is nachash. Young’s defines it as, “use enchantment.”

It is clear that the word can describe demonic divination or enchantment.

We read in Deuteronomy 18:10: “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft [AV: that useth divination], or a soothsayer [AV: observer of times], or one who interprets omens [AV: enchanter, Hebr. nachash], or a sorcerer [witch], or one who conjures spells [charmer], or a medium [consulter with familiar spirits], or a spiritist [wizard], or one who calls up the dead [necromancer].”

Also, note the following passages in the Authorized Version:

Numbers 23:23: “… [There is] no enchantment [nachash] against Jacob, no divination [Hebrew: qesem] against Israel.”

Numbers 24:1: “… to seek for enchantment [nachash; New KJB: sorcery].”

2 Kings 17:17: “[The evil Israelites] used divination [qesem] and enchantments [nachash].”

2 Kings 21:6: “[The evil king Manasseh] used enchantments [nachash].”

2 Chronicles 33:6: “[Manasseh] used enchantments [nachash].”

Leviticus 19:26: “… neither shall ye use enchantment [nachash] nor observe times.”

From this, some commentaries conclude that Joseph used demonic enchantment or divination.

For instance, the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges states:

“The word shews that the silver cup was a sacred one, by means of which Joseph sought and obtained oracles. Some have inferred that he must have been admitted into the priests’ guild, in order to be able to practise divination. It appears that water having been poured into a vessel or cup, gold or silver or precious stones were thrown into it, and the oracle or divination was derived from the rings, ripples, or sparkles, which appeared. The name given to this class of magic was ‘hydromancy.’”

Similarly the Broadman Bible Commentary, which expresses the hope, however, that Joseph did not do so:

“The silver cup was used for divining. Small objects were placed in the cup so that veiled references could be seen in their configurations. Von Rad cites a custom in Germany of pouring lead into water on New Year’s Eve as ‘a final vestige of the custom.’ Did Joseph really divine in this manner? Or was he just playing a game with the brothers? The cup was certainly a part of the paraphernalia of his office, and he was probably expected to use it. One could hope that he had not substituted this method of determining the future for the spiritual insight he had formerly known…”

Other commentaries leave the question unanswered as well:

Barnes’ Notes on the Bible writes:

“Divining by cups… was a common custom in Egypt (Herodotus ii. 83). It is here mentioned to enhance the value of the cup. Whether Joseph really practised any sort of divination cannot be determined from this passage.”

The concept that Joseph practiced demonic divination is difficult to accept. Joseph is mentioned as one of the faithful patriarchs who will receive the promise of eternal life (Hebrews 11:21-22, 39-40).

Therefore, many commentaries conclude that in order to test his brothers, Joseph did not practice divination, but that he pretended to do so, or that he did not dispute the superstition attached to his cup.

The idea seems to be that “Joseph may have allowed them to think he practiced divination with this cup to instill more fear in them—as it would look to them like they would be charged with the theft of something of great importance in Egypt.” In other words, as some put it, “Joseph may have claimed he used it to divine matters in order to raise the stakes and incite more fear in his brothers’ hearts.” Some say that “Joseph was representing himself as an administrator of a pagan land. He adapted himself, his actions, and his language to the character of such an administrator, as it would appear in the eyes of his unsuspecting brothers.” It is alleged that he acted in this way, including the possession of a valuable cup from which he could divine, to “keep up the appearance of being thoroughly Egyptian” and a great and powerful Egyptian, as such.

For instance, the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary writes:

“Divination by cups, to ascertain the course of futurity, was one of the prevalent superstitions of ancient Egypt, as it is of Eastern countries still. It is not likely that Joseph, a pious believer in the true God, would have addicted himself to this superstitious practice. But he might have availed himself of that popular notion to carry out the successful execution of his stratagem for the last decisive trial of his brethren.”

The Geneva Study Bible states:

“Because the people thought he could divine, he attributes to himself that knowledge: or else he pretends that he consults with soothsayers: which deceit is worthy to be reproved.”

The Ryrie Study Bible states:

“It is unlikely that Joseph used divination; rather, this statement (made in order to attach specific significance to the cup) was part of the situation Joseph contrived in order to test his brothers.

The German Schlachter Bibel comments:

“The cup was a holy vessel, which symbolized the authority of his office as the Egyptian vice-king. The reference to superstition does not have to mean that Joseph engaged in such pagan-religious rites. He later allowed his brothers to assume such.”

Torahclass.com states:

“Actually, it was a bowl… a silver bowl. The master of the house in Egypt in those days, if judged a sage, a seer, had a special bowl from which he and he alone drank. But, it was also used for the purpose of divining messages from the gods. One can only imagine how Joseph came by this ‘diviner’s bowl’… likely it was a gift from the Pharaoh, because Joseph was undoubtedly, after accurately interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams, determined the highest and best sage, diviner, in all the land. Typically, the bowl was filled with water, and then gold or silver objects, amulets, sometimes with magic inscriptions written on them, were put into the water, and from the reflections the seer would attempt to see the future.  It is unimaginable that Joseph actually used the bowl for anything except to drink from… but to keep up the appearance of being thoroughly Egyptian, he used the common knowledge of the bowl as an implement of divination to continue to test his brothers.”

However, even the concept that Joseph wrongfully pretended to practice divination to “test” his brothers is difficult to believe. Some argued that “Joseph did not order his steward to tell a direct lie—rather, he simply told him to ask a question. The real answer would have been no. But the brothers didn’t know this.” But this conclusion is not convincing and does not agree with the plain context of the passage.

Another interpretation has been proposed, that “this is one of the few cases in which God permitted the use of objects to discern His will. Other examples include the casting of lots (Leviticus 16:7-10), the priest’s use of the Urim and Thummim (Numbers 27:21), and Gideon’s use of the fleece (Judges 6:36-40). If Joseph did practice divination with the silver cup, it was not divination in the pagan sense but seeking God’s will through a particular method.”

However, the examples, cited above, never use the Hebrew word nachash to describe these godly practices. Even though some, such as the Eastons’s Bible Dictionary, speak of these godly activities as “divination by lot”, “divination by dreams” and “divination by Urim and Thummim,” these are just human descriptions, since the Bible nowhere refers to these acceptable methods as “divination” or “enchantment.”

However, a much more acceptable and compelling understanding evolves when we consider that the Hebrew word nachash can also have a different meaning than “divination” or “enchantment.”

Strong’s defines it as: “to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic) spell; gen. to prognosticate, certainly, divine, enchanter, (use) enchantment, learn by experience, indeed, diligently observe.”

And so, the Benson Commentary explains:

“Genesis 44:5. Whereby indeed he divineth — The original word may be rendered, For which he would search thoroughly…”

The Commentary on the Bible by Adam Clarke agrees, stating:

“I take the word… nachash here in its general acceptation of to view attentively, to inquire…”

Based on this evaluation, the following commentary in Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible makes interesting reading:

“Joseph never practised any thing of this kind, so neither would he… make as if he did… but the words… may signify to tempt, to try, to make an experiment, and by experience to know a thing… and so the Arabic version, ‘and indeed he hath tried you by it’: so Aben Ezra interprets it of his trying of them by it, whether they were thieves or not… it seems best of all to understand this not of the cup as the instrument by which he tried, searched, and inquired into things, but as the object searched after and inquired of; for the word signifies to inquire, and make a strict observation of things, and thereby make shrewd guesses and conjectures… diligent inquiry would be made after it, and it would be at once conjectured that it was taken away, not by any of the household, but by those strangers that had dined with Joseph…”

We find the use of the Hebrew word nachash in the following two passages which do not refer to divination at all. Genesis 30:27 is translated as: “I have learned by experience that the LORD has blessed me”; and 1 Kings 20:33 states that “the men were watching closely to see whether any sign of mercy would come from him.”

Also, Joseph’s statement in Genesis 44:15 is rendered in the Living Bible as: “Didn’t you know such a man as I would know who stole it?”

Some German translations render Genesis 44:15 in the way that Joseph would be able to “discern” (“durchschauen”; Hoffnung fuer Alle); “certainly find out” (“gewiss erkunden”; Zuercher); or “figure it out” (“erraten koennte”; Luther 1891).

An additional interesting parallel has been proposed regarding Joseph’s cup of great financial value and the partaking of the cup of wine at the time of Passover. A write-up by Aletheia Bible College points out:

“The Hebrew for ‘divineth’ means literally ‘to make trial’; their taking of the cup was their trial / judgment. Thus we drink either blessing or condemnation to ourselves by taking the cup. The word used by the LXX for ‘divineth’ in Gen. 44:5 occurs in the NT account of the breaking of the bread [and drinking of the wine] service: ‘everyone should examine himself, and then eat the bread and drink from the cup’ (1 Cor. 11:28)…”

In conclusion, it does not appear that Joseph practiced demonic divination or that he lied to his brothers by pretending that he was engaged in divination or enchantment; nor, that that type of divination by using his cup would have been acceptable in God’s eyes. Rather, Joseph had his valuable cup of prestige placed in Benjamin’s sack to test the bothers thereby whether they would forsake Benjamin (as they had forsaken and even sold Joseph into slavery) or whether they would stand by him. The cup was not a cup through or by which Joseph “divined” or “searched” the future–but it was the object which was “lost” and for which Joseph was searching, and it was the object by which the brothers were being tested or examined as to whether they would be loyal to Benjamin and their father Jacob.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

compiled by Dave Harris

“Could America Be Attacked Soon?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

Preposterous? Unimaginable? Don’t dismiss this possibility out of hand, because the BIBLE tells you that it IS going to happen! Recent events give unmistakable signs for those who understand God’s Holy Word. Will you ignore them or even scoff at them, at your own peril? Will you belong to those who will be caught unawares, when the day of destruction overtakes the USA and other countries like a thief in the night?

“Die zwei Zeugen und Christi Wiederkehr,” is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “The two Witnesses and Christ’s Return.”

“Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians,” is the title of a new Global Trailer, presented by Pastor Brian Gale. Here is a summary:

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is one of the most comprehensive letters written by Paul to explain to us the nature of God and God’s great plan and purpose for His creation, especially the future of mankind. Sadly, it has been greatly misunderstood by almost everyone who reads it.

“Truth or Legend?” the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Michael Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

How do we know that the Bible is true and that the many stories within this book are in fact the truth? Is there proof? Do we believe the Bible and how can we truly understand it?

“The Prophet Elijah in the Past, the Present and the Future, Part 2,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Why did Elijah ask for fire from heaven to consume the soldiers of King Ahaziah? How are we to understand Elijah’s ascension to heaven? What connection exists between Elijah and John the Baptist? What is the explanation for Christ’s transfiguration on the mount when He spoke to Moses and Elijah who appeared in glory? Finally, what do biblical passages mean to tell us about the coming of Elijah just prior to Christ’s return?