On May 12, 2018, Kalon Mitchell will present the sermonette, titled “Bad Mistakes”, and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “Do You Have to Be and Stay Evil? (Part 3).”

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.

Not everyone will agree with the headline of this editorial, but it points out a FACT, as CLEARLY prophesied in the Bible. Some cannot comprehend this, as God has not opened their eyes. After all, the Holy Spirit is a spirit of prophecy, and only those who are being led by God’s Spirit will grow in God’s understanding, and the more we submit to God and are obedient to Him, the more our minds will be opened to the prophetic Truth. We read that God does not do anything unless He reveals it first to HIS servants the prophets (which includes God’s ministers speaking under inspiration). God will most certainly not reveal His Truth to false prophets or those who falsely CLAIM to be prophets.

A wild accusation has been made against us that we do not preach what the Worldwide Church of God taught on the subject of the Third Temple. Selected articles from 1979 and 1981 were quoted to support this claim. In the articles, it was emphasized that Christ will come back to His glorious temple—the Church of God (Haggai 2:9; Malachi 3:1). And that is of course very true. On the other hand, do those Scriptures negate the teaching that there will ALSO be a physical Temple in existence when Christ returns? Are those truthful who quote from SOME Church articles which seem to hold a particular position, while ignoring other Church articles which hold a different position? Are those truthful who quote selectively from some articles, out of context, only to cement their own opinion on a matter? Of course not—such conduct is misleading.

The point is, in an article which quotes from a speech from Herbert Armstrong in 1981, he said this (as quoted from the Internet):

“[Christ] shall suddenly come to His temple.’ What kind of a temple is He coming to? Are the Jews going to tear down the Dome of the Rock and build a new temple? Oh no! You see no evidence of anything like that happening. I know the people well enough that if the Jews over there were going to do anything like that they would certainly have mentioned that to me. But, He will ‘suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the Covenant [which] you delight in.’ A holy temple! Christ is coming to His Church! Christ is coming to His temple! And the Church is the temple. Do we see that? The Church is the temple.”

We should be able to see that Mr. Armstrong believed that Christ’s Second Coming was very near, and since he did not see any evidence for the building of a physical temple at that time, he concluded that it would not happen. However, Christ still has not returned yet, and today, more than 35 years later, events have changed dramatically, as we have been pointing out in our weekly Updates.

The same must be said about a statement which the Church published in The Plain Truth on August 1979, which reads: “It is inconceivable that the Israelis, in the present international turmoil over their possession of old Jerusalem, could ever demolish the Arab Moslem Dome of the Rock—now on the site of Solomon’s temple—and build a new one there of greater splendor and glory than Solomon’s! However, as the second temple Zerubbabel was building was a typical forerunner of the temple to which Christ shall come, even so Zerubbabel was the typical forerunner of one Christ would use in building the far more glorious temple to which Christ shall come in His GLORY!”

Note, the context is again “the present international turmoil over their possession of old Jerusalem.” The timing of the writing was almost 40 years ago.

What has been conveniently overlooked or suppressed are statements in Church articles which clearly pronounced that a THIRD temple WILL BE built prior to Christ’s return–or, which left this question purposefully unanswered.

In Die Reine Wahrheit of October 1967 (German edition of The Plain Truth), it was stated on page 10 (in the article, “2,300 Evenings and Mornings”): “Yes, a temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem, as incredible as it may sound.” In The Good News magazine, November-December 1987, the following was stated on page 12 in “A Sealed Prophecy,” at least implying the existence of a Temple before Christ’s return: “The ‘sanctuary’ is to be ‘trampled underfoot.’… the taking away of daily sacrifices and trampling of a sanctuary underfoot is yet a future event. We are nearing the fulfillment of these amazing prophecies about the Temple Mount in Jerusalem…”

In a two-part series in The Good News, February and March 1985, titled, “Coming… A Temple in Jerusalem?”, the answer to this question was purposefully left open. Many issues were raised—pro and con—but no position was taken in these two articles, one way or another.

However, we should also take note of the fact that in times past, the Church taught dogmatically that a Temple would be built before Christ’s return (and it is simply dishonest to suppress this fact when it does not fit into one’s paradigm; or, if one is unaware of these articles, then his research is sloppy and unreliable).

In Herbert W. Armstrong’s editorial in The Plain Truth, June 1967, titled, “Jews take Jerusalem!”, the following was stated (as quoted from the Internet):

“There will be a Jewish Temple built in Jerusalem, with animal sacrifices once again being offered… It is going to take some time to build such a Temple… For a long time the Jewish people have had in mind the rebuilding of the Temple, though they keep it pretty secret. And it must be built on the exact site of Solomon’s Temple. The wealthiest Jews in the world, in the United States, Britain, France and other parts of the world, are going to pour money into that…

“So now, putting the two accounts of Jesus’ Olivet prophecy together, Matthew 24 and Luke 21, two things are to occur, just before the Great Tribulation. 1) There will very soon be a Temple in Jerusalem, with daily sacrifices once again being offered. But the ruler of the soon-coming resurrected ‘Holy Roman Empire,’ a political-military union of ten European nations–will stop the daily sacrifices and profane the Holy Place in the Temple; and 2) Jerusalem will be surrounded and captured [Zechariah 14:1-2] by the… armies of the European Empire, already starting to rise now out of the Common Market. They will invade Jerusalem, and take charge of the Temple…

“This European power, resurrecting for a very short while the Roman Empire, will take over the city of Jerusalem [Zechariah 14:2]. They will take the Temple, and plant the palace of their headquarters there. With this coming military leader, pictured in Revelation 17 as the symbolic ‘beast,’ will be a supreme religious leader, called ‘the False prophet,’ [Rev. 16:3; 19:20; 20:10] and the ‘man of sin.’ So will you turn next to II Thessalonians 2:3-4:

“‘Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day’–the Day of the Lord, verse 2–’shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.’

“So there will have to be the Temple there!… And they will put there the ‘abomination’ of which the statue of Jupiter Olympus, placed by Antiochus Epiphanes was the type…

“Then Revelation 11 shows there will be a Temple in Jerusalem, at the time of the two witnesses, who preach for three-and-one-half years, ending at Christ’s coming. Also the prophecy of II Thessalonians 2 shows there will be a Temple.

“So putting all these prophecies together, it is plain the Israelis must soon flood over the ‘no-man’s land’ of the divided city of Jerusalem, and take at least the territory where the ancient Temple stood, and then start to build a Temple.”

The Scriptures which Mr. Armstrong cited in his editorial and many other biblical passages prove convincingly that a Third Temple WILL be built. It is true that the position of the Church, in the past, may not have always been consistent on this point. It is therefore important that we realize that we must always believe the Bible. We have produced several booklets which PROVE to you THAT the Bible PROPHESIES the building of the Third Temple prior to Christ’s return. We challenge you to read them for yourselves. They are, for example: “The Mysteries of the Book of Revelation”; “The Book of Zechariah”; “The Ten European Revivals of the Ancient Roman Empire” and “The Fall and Rise of the Jewish People.” And please continue to read our weekly Updates and view our StandingWatch programs which regularly inform you about ongoing developments in the Middle East and Jerusalem.

by Norbert Link

We begin with reporting on President Trump’s decision to withdraw the USA from the Iran deal and impose serious sanctions on Iran and potentially other countries, and the negative reaction of especially the EU, causing further alienation between the two power blocs. Please view our new StandingWatch program, “Iran Deal Gone… Europe furious with USA.”

We address America’s contemplated move of its embassy to Jerusalem and publish interesting reports on Emmanuel Macron (France) and Martin Schulz (Germany).

We speak on the furor caused by inconsistent comments and revelations by President Trump and his new personal attorney, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani.

We conclude with articles on cloning and the natural disaster in Hawaii.

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

Trump Withdraws from Iran Nuclear Deal, Imposes Sanctions on Iran

JTA wrote on May 8:

“‘I am announcing today that the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal,’ Trump said, speaking at the White House Tuesday…

 “Trump’s decision comes after a full court press by three European nations also party to the 2015 deal not to pull out. Over recent weeks, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson have visited Washington to try and persuade Trump to stay in the deal…

“Israel and Saudi Arabia, by contrast, have been U.S. allies pressing for a pullout from the deal. Netanyahu last week unveiled documents showing that Iran had before the 2015 deal hidden the breadth of its nuclear weapons development. Trump credited Netanyahu’s presentation in making his decision. ‘Today we have definitive proof that this promise was a lie,’ he said, referring to Iran’s pledge to roll back its nuclear program…”

The Associated Press wrote on May 8:

“President Donald Trump… dealt a profound blow to allies, deepened his isolation on the world stage and revived doubts about American credibility in the most consequential foreign policy action of his presidency…

“The leaders of Britain, Germany and France immediately urged the U.S. not to take any actions that could prevent them and Iran from continuing to implement the agreement… In Washington, the Trump administration said it would re-impose [the “highest level” of] sanctions on Iran immediately but allow grace periods for businesses to wind down activity… National Security Adviser John Bolton said nobody should sign contracts for new business with Iran…

“For the Europeans, Trump’s withdrawal constitutes dispiriting proof that trying to appease him is futile…”

Breitbart added on May 8:

“[Trump] added that any nation that helps Iran in its quest for nuclear ambitions will also be sanctioned by the United States: ‘We will not allow a regime that chants ‘death to America’ to gain access to the most deadly weapons on earth.’”

German Companies Should Wind Down Operations Immediately?

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 8

“Richard Grenell, the new US Ambassador to Germany, sent out a warning to German businesses on Twitter, saying that ‘German companies doing business in Iran should wind down operations immediately.’”

DPA and the Local wrote on May 9:

“Grenell’s tweet was met with immediate scorn from the German political establishment. Wolfgang Ischinger, German ambassador to Washington from 2001 to 2006, responded on Twitter by giving ‘advice’ of his own. ‘Germans are willing to listen, but will resist taking instructions,’ he wrote.

“The head of the Social Democrats, Andrea Nahles, also responded dismissively to Grenell’s comments. Nahles said that, while it wasn’t her job to tell diplomats how to do their jobs ‘he seems to need a little bit of tutoring.’”

Handelsblatt Global added on May 9:

“The reaction [to Grenell’s post] was fast and furious. His message to Germany was retweeted almost 6,000 times (and counting) and there were close to 1,500 comments, many of them from angry Germans basically telling the ambassador, a longtime critic of the Iran deal, to butt out… German companies doing business in Iran have been preparing for this moment for months… European companies in Iran do not work with dollars at all; they prefer euros or perhaps dirhams…

“Before the last lot of sanctions was imposed, Germany was Iran’s biggest trading partner. After the Iran deal was reached in 2015, German exports there grew by 27 percent. In 2017, German exports to Iran were worth an estimated $3.5 billion and today many of Germany’s biggest businesses are working with Iran, as are hundreds of the country’s medium-sized firms…”

The Iran deal, which was “negotiated” by European powers and the Obama administration, was terribly one-sided in favor of Iran. The withdrawal under President Trump was to be expected, and it constitutes another small piece in the puzzle of biblical prophecies, as it causes now a further rift between the USA and the EU.

German Reaction and Litmus Test for Europe

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 8:

“The historical connections between Berlin and Tehran make Germany a strong supporter of the nuclear deal… There’s hardly an issue on which there is more consensus in German politics than the Iran nuclear deal. From the far-right populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) to the Left Party, no one in the country shares the US president’s skepticism about the 2015 agreement…”

While the deal was totally unfavorable towards the USA and Europe, “[n]early two-thirds of Americans oppose the country’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear accord,” according to Newsmax, dated May 8.

Handelsblatt wrote on May 8:

“The announcement Tuesday marked a rupture with major European allies who helped negotiate the accord and who lobbied intensively with Mr. Trump to keep the deal in place… The unilateral move threatens to further destabilize the tumultuous situation in the Middle East. Oil prices have surged in anticipation of US withdrawal and may rise even further amid concerns about supply from OPEC’s third-largest exporter.

“The US sanctions against Iran add a further note of uncertainty to trade relations along with US threats of tariffs in retaliation to what it sees as trade abuses. Iran is already in a crisis with an economy in decline, a weakening currency and rising prices…

“After a good deal of bluster about forging a different path from the United States, Europeans will now have to prove they are capable of doing so. ‘The Iran deal has become a litmus test for European willingness and ability to protect its interests and to uphold a critical element of the international order,’ Oliver Meier, an expert at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) in Berlin…

“The reaction in Germany was predictably unfavorable…”

As the article points out, it will be interesting to see what Europe is willing and capable of doing.

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 9:

“[German] Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that Germany, France and the UK would speak with one voice on the Iran accord: ‘We remain committed to the nuclear deal,’ he said…  The German minister said that Trump’s decision was ‘incomprehensible’ and had dealt a blow to stability in the Middle East…”

Iran’s Options

JTA wrote on May 8:

“One half of the Iranian response is guaranteed to be rhetorical, with an emphasis on persuading Europe to resist the U.S. move by taking actions favorable to Tehran. The other half of Iran’s response will consist of accelerating its nuclear program in order to show that it will not accept the constraints imposed by a nuclear deal that Washington rejects…

“Iran’s rhetorical response to the re-imposition of sanctions will have three likely goals: 1) expedite and exploit a growing trans-Atlantic divide over Iran policy, 2) convince Europe not to comply with any prospective U.S. sanctions against Iran and 3) get Europe to shield entities that do business with Iranian parties. Given Europe’s fondness of the deal, this will not be a hard sell for Tehran…

“Should the Islamic Republic decide to respond more forcefully, it could resume flight-testing medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs), which reportedly last occurred in July 2017. All of Iran’s MRBMs meet the internationally defined standard of being ‘nuclear-capable.’ They also can reach key U.S. partners in the region such as Israel and Saudi Arabia…

“Another way to respond forcefully… would be to harass U.S. warship sin the Persian Gulf, just off the coast of Iran…

“Finally, Iran could also respond via terrorism and assassination, although any such activity on European soil would cause the regime to lose international support. Instead, Tehran might target U.S. troops in Syria, Iraq, or another location in the Middle East… Case in point are the intensifying prospects for war between Iran and Israel in the Syrian theater…”

None of these options sound good for either Israel or the USA.

Ongoing Hostilities between Israel and Iran

The Sun wrote on May 10:

“Iranian forces in Syria have launched missiles at the Israeli military in the annexed Golan Heights region, Israel’s army has claimed. An Israeli air defence (IDF) spokesman said ‘about 20 rockets’ were fired by Iranian Quds Force at the Jewish state’s defensive line in the area – which has been occupied by Israel since 1967. He said that Israeli forces had ‘responded’ after several bases were targeted, adding: ‘The IDF sees this Iranian attack on Israel with severity. This event is not over.’…

“Shortly before the suspected strikes on the Golan Heights, reports within Syria claimed that Israel had attacked targets in the Quneitra province south of Damascus. Syria’s state media said air defences had intercepted ‘hostile Israeli missiles’ on early Thursday morning that were fired over the south west of the capital city. This comes after missiles strikes last night were attributed to Israel following reports of ‘irregular activity’ of Iranian forces in Syria…

“Tuesday’s attacks represent an immediate escalation in tensions in the region after US President Donald Trump walked away from the 2015 nuclear agreement Barack Obama struck with Iran… As… Assad appears to be headed toward victory, Israel fears that Iran, along with tens of thousands of Iranian-backed Shiite militiamen, will carry out attacks against it.”

European Relations with US at a State of “Worrying Change”

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 6:

“German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has said he is worried about European relations with the US…

“Trans-Atlantic relations are in a state of worrying change, with a US administration that takes an ‘every man for himself’ approach to global affairs, the German president said on Sunday… His remarks come as Europe remains at odds with US President Donald Trump over trade, defense and the Iran nuclear deal.

“‘Honestly speaking, I’m really concerned about the development of the trans-Atlantic relationship,’ Steinmeier said. ‘Not because I’m looking at a president with some irritating Twitter messages, but because a substantial change is now going on and (there is) a new American administration that no longer sees us as parts of a global community where we act together but sees the world basically as an arena where everyone has to somehow find their own way.’

“Steinmeier’s comments echo those made by several European politicians since Trump took power more than a year ago, pledging to implement a policy of ‘America First.’”

This article was written BEFORE the announcement of American withdrawal from the Iran deal. Since that announcement, the relationship has become worse.

Eurozone Investors Weary of US Debt

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 9:

“While the US economy is strong, a creeping decline in foreign investment indicates that eurozone investors are growing weary of US debt… Foreign investors are buying less and less American debt, yet the US moves onward with a debt-heavy budget and globally unpopular diplomacy…

“The European Central Bank found that after 2015, over half of US debt securities had been purchased by eurozone investors. Germany in particular holds $90.1 billion (€76 billion) of US debt. In 2017 that trend reversed and eurozone investors became net sellers…

“As long-time president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Maya MacGuineas has seen the US economy through highs and lows. The debt is really a symptom of a broken government process, says MacGuineas, there is no economic justification…

“With $21 trillion in debt and a fresh deficit scheduled to pass $1 trillion per year by 2020, the US carries more debt than the entirety of the EU’s debt combined. It is unlikely any other country in the world could pull this off…”

And maybe the USA can’t pull it off, either.

Moving Embassies to Jerusalem

JTA wrote on May 8:

“Paraguay is moving its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from its current position near Tel Aviv… Paraguay will be the third country to move its embassy to Jerusalem. The United States will dedicate its temporary Jerusalem embassy on May 14, followed two days later by Guatemala.”

Handelsblatt reported on May 7 that Jerusalem’s mayor declared that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the Jewish people. The paper added that Israel views Jerusalem as the undivided capital of its state, while the Palestinians desire the eastern part of Jerusalem (which was occupied by Israel in 1967) as the capital of their future state “Palestine.” Please note in this context our Editorial in this issue.

Macron Gets Charlemagne Prize

Euractiv wrote in May 6:

“French President Emmanuel Macron will receive the Charlemagne Prize, the EU’s version of the Nobel Peace Prize, on 10 May… ‘Macron is a head of state with a claim to European leadership’, states the Board of Directors of the Society for the Conferring of the International Charlemagne Prize…‘In the person of Emmanuel Macron, the Charlemagne Prize Society honours a courageous pioneer for the revitalisation of the European dream’, the Board of Directors state…

“The Charlemagne Prize is awarded annually on Ascension Day by the city of Aachen, where Charlemagne, ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, was buried. The City of Aachen refers to Charlemagne as the ‘founder of western culture’, and asserts that under his reign, Aachen was the spiritual and political centre of what is now western Europe.

“Among the most recipients are the current Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in his former capacity of Prime Minister of Luxembourg (2006), former NATO secretary General and EU foreign affairs chief Javier Solana (2007), German Chancellor Angela Merkel (2008), Council President Donald Tusk in his former capacity of Polish Prime Minister (2010), former Council President Herman Van Rompuy (2014), and former President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz, a native son of Aachen (2015).

“In 2016 the Charlemagne Prize was given to Pope Francis in a ceremony which took place in the Vatican, in the presence of Juncker, Tusk and Schulz…”

It appears like Emmanuel Macron will be “used” as an architect for the further unification of Europe. However, the final leader will not be a man from France, but from Germany or Austria.

Macron for Stronger Ties with Catholic Church

Christian Today wrote on May 5:

“President Emmanuel Macron… will travel to the Vatican in June to meet Pope Francis… In April, Macron called for stronger ties between the state and the Catholic Church… The issue is particularly sensitive in historically Catholic France, where matters of faith and state were separated by law in 1905 and which is now home to Europe’s largest Muslim and Jewish communities…

“Under a tradition that began in the 15th century when France was a monarchy, French leaders are automatically given the title of ‘First and Only Honorary Canon’ of the Rome Basilica of St John’s in Lateran, which is also the pope’s cathedral in his capacity as bishop of Rome.”

A strong collaboration between the Catholic Church and the entirety of continental Europe (not just France) is clearly prophesied to occur.

Comeback for Martin Schulz?

Der Tagesspiegel wrote on May 4:

“Three years ago, Martin Schulz (SPD) received the Charlemagne prize for his accomplishments as president of the EU Parliament… Schulz’s heart beats for Europe… He gave more power to the EU Parliament than any other politician. Right now, his hands are tied. But this does not have to continue.

“Social Democrats begin to think of Schulz’s grandiose future role… At the end of April, Schulz elated the delegates with his advocacy for the strengthening of Europe… ‘Without a strong Europe, the populists will win,’ he shouted. ‘Then there will be war.’ It is now being discussed within the SPD whether the comeback of Schulz for the big stage of Brussels is being prepared…

“Schulz said that right now, he sees his role in the German Parliament… As former President of the EU Parliament, he says that he knows very well what influence Germany could have in Brussels… ‘That is why I’m pretty established in the German Parliament at this time.’ At this time.”

Schulz might very well be another architect to be “used” for the final unification of European core nations.

Trump Angers France and Britain

Express wrote on May 6:

“In a speech to the National Rifle Association (NRA) on Friday, Mr Trump imitated the shooting of victims in the Paris attack and said if civilians had been armed ‘it would have been a whole different story.’ The French government has issued its strongest criticism of the US President since he took office… The Paris foreign office said in a statement: ‘France expresses its firm disapproval of President Trump’s comments about the Paris attacks on Nov. 13, 2015 and demands that the memory of the victims be respected. France is proud to be a country where acquiring and carrying firearms is strictly regulated.’

“French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said he hoped Mr Trump ‘would come back on his words and express regret’. Mr Le Maire told BFM television on Sunday: ‘His comments are shocking and not worthy of the president of the world’s greatest superpower.’ The mayor of Paris, along with other French politicians, were angered by Mr Trump’s comments after he mimicked the scene of the massacre by Islamist assailants at Paris’ Bataclan concert hall, which left 90 of the 130 victims dead. Mr Trump used his hands in a gun gesture and said: ‘They took their time and gunned them down one by one. Boom! Come over here. Boom! Come over here. Boom!’

“Former French president Francois Hollande took to Twitter to condemn Mr Trump’s comments as ‘shameful’ and ‘obscene’.

“Mr Trump’s comments have also caused upset in Britain, after the US leader linked knife crime to an absence of guns. The US president, whose state visit to Britain is planned for July 13, told NRA members that a ‘once very prestigious’ London hospital, which he did not name, had become overwhelmed with knife attack victims. Making stabbing gestures, he said: ‘They don’t have guns. They have knives and instead there’s blood all over the floors of this hospital. They say it’s as bad as a military war zone hospital. Knives, knives, knives, knives.’…”

In a related article, Express wrote on May 6:

“Mr Griffiths, who works at the Royal London Hospital… said he would be happy to invite Mr Trump to tour the hospital and meet police and the capital’s mayor Sadiq Khan ‘to discuss our successes in violence reduction in London’ when the president visits the UK.

“The director of the capital’s major trauma system, Royal London surgeon Professor Karim Brohi, said: ‘Knife violence is a serious issue for London… There is more we can all do to combat this violence, but to suggest guns are part of the solution is ridiculous. Gunshot wounds are at least twice as lethal as knife injuries and more difficult to repair.’…”

Even the relationship between the USA and the UK is prophesied to deteriorate.

Accept Brexit!

Express wrote on May 4:

“Piers Morgan caused uproar from the BBC audience when he said those wanting to thwart Brexit must accept ‘it’s over’ and respect the democratic vote… Mr Morgan said: ‘What I’m absolutely sure about is this – we had a referendum. We had a democratic vote in this country.

“‘Everybody had a chance to go ahead and have their say and this country voted, democratically, to leave. It wasn’t the choice I would have made but that was the decision taken. We are going to get into a very dangerous place in this country, in my view, if we actually go against the democratic result of a democratic referendum in this country. I would urge people to be very careful.’”

Whether many of the Brits want to accept Brexit or not, it is certain to occur.

Mr. Trump’s Credibility Further at Stake

The Editorial Board of the conservative and generally Trump-friendly Wall Street Journal wrote on May 3:

“Most storms pass eventually. This week Donald Trump tried to ensure that Stormy Daniels doesn’t rain down permanent distraction on his Presidency, though at the cost of further damage to his credibility. Mr. Trump contradicted his previous statements that he had no knowledge of payments that his lawyer had made to Ms. Daniels — the pornographic-movie actress whose real name is Stephanie Clifford —to quell stories of an alleged affair.

“Speaking in his new role as Mr. Trump’s lawyer, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani disclosed that Mr. Trump made a series of payments to reimburse lawyer Michael Cohen, who had paid Ms. Clifford $130,000 as part of a non-disclosure agreement late in the 2016 presidential campaign.

“In explanatory tweets Thursday, President Trump said that ‘Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA.’

“The apparent reason for these contortions is the possibility that the payments if made by Mr. Cohen would have exceeded federal campaign-finance donation limits…

“Messrs. Trump and Giuliani are arguing that Mr. Trump’s payments to Ms. Clifford were made for reasons that fall outside Mr. Trump’s presidential campaign. And perhaps these admissions will lessen Mr. Trump’s legal vulnerability. What remains is the political damage. Attempting to quiet a similar storm in 1998, President Bill Clinton said, ‘I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky.’ Many of Mr. Clinton’s political supporters were unmoved by the allegations against him. Similarly now, Mr. Trump’s most ardent backers believe these charges aren’t relevant to his public initiatives as President.

“That may be true regarding whether Mr. Trump had an affair more than a decade ago. Voters in 2016 knew Mr. Trump was no choir boy, and the irony is that news of an affair would probably have made no difference in his race against Hillary Clinton, who was Bill Clinton’s wife and chief defender.

“But Mr. Trump’s public deceptions are surely relevant to his job as President, and the attempted cover-up has done greater harm than any affair would have. Mr. Trump asked Americans, not least his supporters, to believe his claims about the payments. They were false and conveniently so in putting the onus on Mr. Cohen. Now, as more of the story has emerged, he wants everyone to believe a new story that he could have told the first time.

“Mr. Trump is compiling a record that increases the likelihood that few will believe him during a genuine crisis—say, a dispute over speaking with special counsel Robert Mueller or a nuclear showdown with Kim Jong Un. Mr. Trump should worry that Americans will stop believing anything he says.”

First For, Now Against Gun Control

Bloomberg reported on May 4 (as republished by Newsmax):

“President Donald Trump delivered a strong support for the National Rifle Association at its annual meeting on Friday… ‘You give your time, your energy, your vote and your voice to stand strong for those sacred rights given to us by God, including the right to self-defense,’ Trump told the group’s members…

“But the Parkland, Florida shooting, which left 17 high school students and school employees dead and galvanized gun-control advocates, led Trump to consider supporting firearms restrictions the NRA has long opposed, including expanded background checks. That flirtation didn’t last long. Under pressure from the NRA’s leaders and its allies in Congress and within the White House, he fell back in line and hasn’t taken on the gun group. He pivoted from weighing limits on gun sales to encouraging teachers to arm themselves— a position enthusiastically backed by the NRA.”

Sadly, President Trump is fundamentally wrong when stating that self-defense is a God-given right and when promoting arming teachers. Both positions are strongly condemned in the Bible.

Trump’s “Facts” Change and Change and Change…

Newsmax wrote on May 4:

“Fox News anchor Shepard Smith attacked President Donald Trump on Friday for speaking to the National Rifle Association in Dallas, months after slamming Congress for being ‘afraid’ of the powerful gun lobby in the wake of the Florida school massacre. ‘The president falsely stated that Democrats wanted all guns outlawed,’ Smith said on his program. During a roundtable discussion with school-shooting survivors after the Feb. 14 attack, President Trump had called for such measures as raising the legal age for buying AR-15s from 18 to 21 and tightening background checks on gun buyers. ‘Today, he headlined the NRA convention,’ Smith said.

“The Fox anchor also blasted Trump for the ‘brand-new series of words presented for our consumption’ on the $130,000 payment to adult-film star Stormy Daniels over allegations of an affair with the president in 2006. ‘Maybe Team Trump’s just-shifting strategy’s shifting again,’ Smith said. ‘Maybe they’re trying to confuse everybody.’ Smith noted that Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who is now on Trump’s legal team, told Fox’s Sean Hannity Wednesday that Trump had reimbursed the $130,000 payment attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels. On Thursday, Trump appeared to back Giuliani on Twitter — but then said on Friday that the former mayor needed to ‘get his facts straight.’

“Last month, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he did not know of the Daniels payment. Smith observed: ‘What Team Trump said last month then changed last week, then reimagined again on Tuesday, was revised and extended again this morning. And space under the bus is now at a premium,’ he continued. ‘Rudy Giuliani found himself wedged there today, when the president said his lawyer still has to get his facts straight.”

“Smith then noted that Giuliani put out his own statement Friday afternoon seeking to clarify the Fox comments. Giuliani said: ‘My references to timing were not describing my understanding of the president’s knowledge, but instead, my understanding of these matters.’ But Smith quipped: ‘Now let this one sink in just in case this version lasts more than a few hours.’”

Shepherd Smith is one of the very few current anchors, commentators and moderators on Fox News who are not just turning a blind eye on everything President Trump does or says, however problematic it may be… unlike many others, including the unofficial spokesperson for Donald Trump, Sean Hannity,  who seems to be unwilling or unable to open his eyes to the facts.

According to the Washington Post’s fact-check list, President Trump engaged in over 3,000 exaggerations, misrepresentations or outright lies since his inauguration. The New York Times reported that he knew about the hush money being paid to Stormy Daniels BEFORE he denied any knowledge (As we reported earlier, it stretches the imagination anyhow to assume that an attorney would have paid hush money to a blackmailer without his client’s knowledge and consent.)

On the other hand, Fox News host Neil Cavuto did not hold back in pointing out the chaos which President Trump is creating. See the next article.

“Mr. President, It’s Your Stink! It’s Your Swamp!”

The Washington Post wrote on May 4:

“Fox News host Neil Cavuto ripped into President Trump’s trail of conflicting and false statements in a monologue on Thursday… Speaking directly to the president on his show, ‘Your World With Neil Cavuto,’ he questioned why Trump lambastes the news media for ‘fake news’ when his own statements are often contradictory… ‘Let me be clear, Mr. President,’ Cavuto said. ‘How can you drain the swamp if you’re the one who keeps muddying the waters?

“‘You didn’t know about the $130,000 payment to a porn star, until you did,’ he continued. ‘Said you knew nothing about how your former lawyer handled this, until you acknowledged today that you were the guy behind the retainer payment that took care of this. You insist that money from the campaign or campaign contributions played no role in this transaction. Of that you’re sure. The thing is, not even 24 hours ago, sir, you couldn’t recall any of this.’

“Cavuto went on to tick off a list of examples of statements Trump has made that were incorrect or appeared to conflict with earlier statements. There was ‘the time you said the Russians didn’t interfere in the 2016 election, until a lot of Republicans had to remind you they did,’ Cavuto said. ‘Came back months later, and you said, “Well, I never said that Russia didn’t meddle in the election,” when in fact you had—a lot.’

“There was the time Trump claimed the tax reform bill ‘would cost you a fortune when it turns out it is going to help make you a bigger fortune,’ Cavuto said. And the time ‘you said there was serious voter fraud in New Hampshire, and there wasn’t.’ And the time Trump said ‘millions of illegals voted in the last election, but they didn’t.’… ‘You are right to say some of them [in the press] are out to get you. But oftentimes they’re using your own words to bat you,’ Cavuto said. ‘You probably  might not care. But you should. I guess you’ve been too busy draining the swamp to stop and smell the stink you’re creating. That’s your doing. That’s your stink. Mr. President, that’s your swamp.’

“Cavuto, a Fox News host since the network started in 1996, has been known to be critical of Trump and to speak to him in a direct tone, as though Trump were sitting in his living room listening on the other side of the tube. Cavuto’s style breaks from that of many of his Fox News colleagues, particularly commentators who have heaped praise on Trump. But it’s more akin to that of Shepard Smith, who is known to poke holes in the president’s statements.

“Earlier this month, Smith said of Trump’s claims that the U.S. Postal Service was losing money because of Amazon: ‘None of that was true.’…

“In the past, he has told Trump to ‘stop scapegoating’ others following those tirades [on Twitter]… ‘They’re not the problem, Mr. President,” he told Trump, referring to those he targeted on Twitter. ‘You are.’”

Cloning Horror

Express wrote on May 3:

“Scientists have created a living embryo in a laboratory without using either egg or sperm in ground-breaking but hugely controversial experiments. The experimental research combined two types of stem cells and created a viable embryo – which the team say would provide an unlimited stock for medical research… The researchers believe the wonder creation could see mice being cloned in three years time, and humans two decades later. Lead researcher, Professor Nicholas Rivron of Maastricht University, said the main use for the embryos would be to test drugs and solve the infertility riddle.

“He said: ‘As you know, embryos are very precious, and it is impossible to use to test drugs on them as you don’t have the numbers. With blastocysts you can open up the numbers. This will allow screening medicines in the future.’ Professor Robin Lovell-Badge of the Francis Crick Institute added while the experiment was a huge breakthrough for modern science, it may come as a relief it cannot be replicated in humans yet…

“Cloning continues to fascinate the science world, particularly after Dolly the Sheep made headlines across the globe in 1996. The ewe lived for six years after being the first mammal cloned by professors at the University of Edinburgh by Keith Campbell and Ian Wilmut. The animal died five months before her seventh birthday from a progressive lung disease.”

“Major Quake Hits Hawaii, Prompts Further Volcano Eruptions”

Reuters reported on May 7:

“Lava spewing in fountains up to 300 feet high from an erupting Hawaiian volcano has destroyed 35 homes and other buildings… Kilauea, which began exploding on Thursday with fountains and rivers of lava flowing into neighborhoods, has opened 10 volcanic vents since then…

“The southeast corner of the island was rocked by a powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake on the volcano’s south flank on Friday, the strongest tremor since 1975, and more earthquakes and eruptions have been forecast, perhaps for months to come.

“Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes and one of five on the island, has been in constant eruption for 35 years. It predominantly blows off basaltic lava in effusive eruptions that flow into the ocean but occasionally experiences more explosive events…”

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

Sin is described in 1 John 3:4 as being the transgression of the law or lawlessness. Note how different translations render this verse:

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (Authorized Version).

“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (New King James Bible).

“Every one who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness” (Revised Standard Version).

There are different kinds of sin—sins of commission, omission and neglect; and also, whatever is not of faith is sin, as Romans 14:23 says: “But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.”

A further definition of sin can be found in 1 John 5:17, where we read: “All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to [the second] death [that is, when sin is being repented of].”

Sin can be very deceptive in that a person may go through life sinning and seemingly getting away with it. This was reflected on by Solomon, in Ecclesiastes 7:15: “I have seen everything in my days of vanity: There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, And there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness.”

He also observed this in Ecclesiastes 8:11: “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”

In some cases we might not observe immediate visible consequences. Therefore, some people think that they are getting away with sin or bad habits. This is a deception because we cannot escape the consequences of sin, like the saying  goes: “You can pay me now or you can pay me later but you will pay.”

We may have a tendency to forget about the seriousness of sin, but God does not, when sin is not repented of. When Israel came out of Egypt, they were attacked by the Amalekites, as we read in Exodus 17:8: “Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.”

God did not forget this and ordered Saul hundreds of years later to destroy Amalek. 1 Samuel 15:2-3 reports this: “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ”

This was the consequence for attacking Israel hundreds of years earlier. Even though one might say that this was a harsh punishment, including for those who did not personally participate in the attack on Israel, God looked at the heart and determined that all Amalekites still possessed the same attitude as their forefathers, and children growing up would also develop the same hatred and lust for murder. God knew of course that He would resurrect them to physical life later, in the Second Resurrection, when there would be a much better environment for them. Animals had to be destroyed too because there would have been no one left to tend to and look after them. In addition, the implication might be that animals had also been used for terrible sexual abominations, which DOES change the nature of animals. We also might add that God had never intended to have Israel fight, but since they chose to, He used them as His tool for punishment.

In some cases, consequences are more immediate. David is an example. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and she got pregnant which complicated the matter. Trying to cover up his sinful conduct, David brought her husband home from the war, wanting him to go into his wife so that she could claim he was the father, but he refused to do so.  2 Samuel 11:8-9 reads:  “And David said to Uriah, ‘Go down to your house and wash your feet.’ So Uriah departed from the king’s house, and a gift of food from the king followed him. But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.”

The plot thickened so David devised another “solution.” He sent Uriah back to the battle with a message to Joab, the commander of the army, to place Uriah in a location where the battle would be fierce and he was consequently killed (2 Samuel 11:14-16). David’s “problem” seemed to be solved.  But were there no consequences for David’s evil actions?

God sent the prophet Nathan to David to let him know what would transpire because of his conduct. 2 Samuel 12:10-14 describes God’s pronouncements of the consequences in vivid and frightening terms:

“‘Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’” So David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.’”

Even though David repented of his evil conduct, as shown in Psalm 51, and even though he fasted for his son’s life, God had determined that his son would have to die (The same rationale applies, as mentioned before, in that the innocent son would be resurrected in the Second Resurrection, in a much better and friendly environment; after all, illegitimate children were in no way accepted in Israel at the time and mostly treated as “outcasts”).

These were serious consequences for David’s sins. Even though he repented, he still had to pay the price for his sins, because God wanted him to understand deeply how wicked and abominable his conduct was.

This is an extremely good lesson for us: Before we get involved in sin, we must be aware that there are consequences. Some may be immediately seen, and some may manifest themselves later. Revelation 20:13, in speaking about the Second Resurrection, addresses judgment: “The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.” This judgment includes acts which will be committed then, but it also may include acts committed in their prior lives which had not been repented of. Note what it says in Luke 12:47-48: “And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”

In addition, those who refuse to repent and who commit the unpardonable sin will be burnt up in the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14-15 says: “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

What about those in the Church who have been called in this day and age? 1 Peter 4:17 states: “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?”

Converted Christians are being judged now. When we sin, we can go to God and ask for the blood of Christ to wash us clean and put us in the good graces of God. But there still may be consequences for our sins even though they are repented of and forgiven, as we saw in the case of David. For instance, after a person may have caused a terrible car accident because of drunk driving and might have suffered the loss of a limb as a consequence, he or she might be called and his or her sins might be repented of and forgiven, but this will not suddenly give him or her the missing limb back. The converted Christian will be in the First Resurrection and won’t have to suffer additional stripes since he or she was being judged in this life and had to live now with the consequences of sin. But there is still the aspect of the converted Christian having to “give account” of his prior conduct to those whom he or she will meet in the resurrections, whom he or she might have wronged in this life (for instance, if the accident he caused due to drunk driving resulted in the death of an innocent person whom he or she will meet in the resurrection.)

We must understand that all sins have consequences. Some may fool themselves in thinking they may be getting away with sin because, sometimes, there are no visible immediate consequences; but the consequences are there and might manifest themselves in the future.

For more information, please read our free booklet, “Punishment for Our Sins.”

Lead Writers: Rene Messier (Canada) and Norbert Link

compiled by Dave Harris

PENTECOST will be observed on Sunday, May 20, 2018. We will broadcast both morning and afternoon services, at 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM Pacific Time, respectively.

A Tech Team meeting was conducted on May 6, 2018, via SKYPE. Hosted by Eric Rank, special emphasis was given to internet promotions featuring the Church’s website productions.

“Iran Deal Gone… Europe furious with USA,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

With America’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the announcement of heavy sanctions against Iran and possibly other countries, the relationship between the USA and Europe has further deteriorated. Europeans are determined to oppose America’s decision and are threatening America, while America, in turn, is threatening Europe. The big question is, what are Iran and Israel going to do?

A new German AufPosten Stehen program was recorded and posted as well, covering the same topic, titled, “Trump kündigt Iran-Deal—und Europa will Frieden im Nahen Osten schaffen!” (In English: “Trump withdraws from Iran-deal—and Europe wants to create peace in the Middle East!”)

“Lasst Euch nicht Rabbi, Vater oder Lehrer nennen (Matthäus 23:8-10)!” is the title of this Sabbath’s Germam sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Do not be called Rabbi, Father or Teacher (Matthew 23:8-10).”

“Challenges of Humility,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Michael Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

If we want to be in the Kingdom of God, we must have a spirit of humility. What are some of the challenges we face in being humble?

“The Failure of Righteous Kings of Judah – Part 2,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

In this second part of this three-part series, we will be discussing additional righteous kings of Judah, including Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah and Hezekiah, as they are featured in 2. Chronicles. In each case, these kings committed serious infractions at the end of their lives, and when they were admonished, they reacted with pride, rejection and even wrath. Do we sometimes react in similar ways?

On May 5, 2018, Michael Link will present the sermonette, titled, “Challenges of Humility,” and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “Bad Mistakes and Grievous Sins of Righteous Leaders, Part 2.”

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.

On a recent annual trip to the Far-East to see family, I was reminded of God’s admonition to the ancient Israelites when He told them in Deuteronomy 12:2-3: “You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations which you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. And you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and burn their wooden images with fire; you shall cut down the carved images of their gods and destroy their names from that place.”

God wanted them to worship Him in the right way and anything other than true worship of Him was not to be tolerated. This would be, and always is, for our own benefit as the people of God. They usually failed to do this and a prime example was King Solomon who, despite his unique wisdom given as a gift from the great God, fell short in this regard. We read in 1 Kings 11:3-8 how Solomon’s wives turned him away from the true God to follow false religion. That is a sobering reality of how Satan can use circumstances to trap the people of God who are not watchful to the wiles he consistently uses.

There are many instances when God told His people to rid themselves of false worship. I was reminded of these examples as I saw so many pagan shrines in the land that my wife and I were visiting where they seem to be obligatory for every hotel, housing and apartment facilities, and many residents take it upon themselves to put such a shrine in their own garden. They seemed to be everywhere.

Of course, God doesn’t instruct us today to go and remove these shrines in the lands far away from where we live. Nor are we instructed today to remove public shrines or idols in the lands where we live, but we ARE told that we must not have these in our own personal dwellings. In fact, in the UK, the USA and many countries in Europe, we have our own equivalents today. In many church buildings up and down these lands are relics and icons which supposedly represent Christianity but, of course, don’t do so. They are the equivalent of the groves and high places of thousands of years ago. I have seen shrines in the USA along roads; shrines of a supposedly Christian nature but are not when judged by the standards of God.

Yet again, I was reminded of how far man has fallen from the true worship of the true God. What I have mentioned so far is replicated in many other countries around the world. We live in a world separated from God and only His true Church has the answers.

The time is coming when almost everything will change and false religious worship, with all of its accessories, will be very high on the list for replacement, and with immediate effect. That time cannot come quickly enough for the dedicated and faithful people of the one true God.

by Norbert Link

We begin reporting on Angela Merkel’s meeting with Donald Trump in Washington and bring you some analysis as to who was clearly in charge and the broken relationship between the EU and the USA; and we publish articles which propose a stronger EU under German and French leadership and a core nucleus of some European countries. We also quote from an article stating that former German Chancellor candidate Martin Schulz “is back.” In this context, please view our most recent StandingWatch program, titled, “Merkel vs. Trump… No Love Lost.”

We report on America’s new ambassador in Germany and the requirement in Bavaria to hang crosses in all state government buildings.

Focusing on Israel, we report on the miracle of the 70 year existence of the Jewish state (please view our StandingWatch program in this regard, titled, “The Miraculous 70 Years Existence of the state of Israel… What’s Next?”) and point out that Israel is generally hit with a large earthquake every 70 years, which is overdue.

We quote from an article showing that the two temples clearly stood on the Temple Mount (please view our StandingWatch program, “A Third Temple prior to Christ’s Return”); address anti-Semitism in Germany; and focus on a growing military escalation between Israel and Iran. We also show again the frightening ignorance of many Americans with respect to the Holocaust and concentration camps, such as Auschwitz.

We continue with reporting on the shameful conduct of British doctors and the court system regarding the death of Baby Alfie and left-liberal California’s contemplated attacks on homeschooling [which have failed for the time being] and those opposing homosexuality and transgenderism (In this context, read our free booklet, “God’s Teachings on Sexual Relationships”).

We conclude with an insightful article confirming the existence of the biblical fountains of the deep at the time of Noah; and point out the nonsense of the flat earth conspiracies.

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

“The Relationship Between the US and German Leaders Isn’t Getting Any Better”

Deutsche Welle wrote on April 28:

“Ultimately… both [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel and [French President Emmanuel] Macron returned home empty handed… from meetings that were overshadowed by the talks between the two Koreas. Both realized that Trump is determined to implement what he promised his constituents’…”

The World Must Take Trump Seriously

Bild Online wrote on April 27:

“It was not Angela Merkel’s day. It was Donald Trump’s day. What his admired predecessor Obama was not able to do, he did with a mixture of strength and unpredictability…

“The world’s most powerful woman went home empty handed… [Trump] views himself to be on a mission to repair everything which was damaged by his predecessors…

“Trump was scoffed at, ridiculed and hated. All attempts to defeat him diplomatically, psychologically or with flattery have failed. The world—and that is the other message of this travel [by Macron and Merkel]—will have to learn to take him seriously.”

Another Delay re Tariffs

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 1, 2018:

“The Trump administration has pushed back its decision on imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum from the European Union and other US allies…

“The Trump administration will extend temporary steel and aluminum tariff exemptions for the European Union, Canada and Mexico until June 1, Reuters news agency and the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources familiar with the decision. One source told Reuters that the US has reached an initial agreement with Australia, Argentina and Brazil concerning the tariffs.

“The temporary tariff exemptions were due to expire at midnight US Eastern Standard Time (0400 UTC), after which the US allied countries would face import duties of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum. Trump already imposed the tariffs in March, but granted temporary exemptions to the EU, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Argentina and Brazil. South Korea secured a permanent exemption on steel tariffs, but only after agreeing to slash its steel exports to the US by around 30 percent.

“The US administration justified issuing the tariffs, which are aimed primarily at China, on national security grounds. Washington also told its allies that they must make concessions in order to obtain a permanent exemption. In a tit-for-tat move, the EU said that it will impose its own duties on US exports, including bourbon, motorcycles, peanut butter and makeup. Brussels said it will not agree to concessions until it first secures an exemption. On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said any move to impose tariffs on Canada would be a ‘very bad idea.’ Canada is the largest steel importer into the US.”

The delay does not end the concern of a coming trade war between the USA and Europe.

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 2:

“This president does not value his allies… The US president and his trade advisers have made it clear to the EU that they want to dictate the conditions for the trade in steel and aluminum… But the European Union must not yield to this blackmail attempt from the White House…  the EU has no reason to be timid; it is an economic power equal to the US.”

A Chance for Germany?

Der Spiegel wrote on April 18:

“The cracks in trans-Atlantic relations caused by Donald Trump’s election provide an opportunity for Germany to finally forge ahead with its own foreign policy. One that draws Europe together and fights for what is right.

“The world has become a more complicated place and the U.S. is no longer a reliable partner…  Germany must become more active and become a foreign policy player… Together with France, we need to pull Europe together into a single unit… If Germany and France want to lead together, then they must talk to each other far more frequently…

“The new U.S. supports Israel’s settlements policy and wants to force international recognition of Jerusalem as the capital city. Most Europeans, on the other hand, believe this to be playing with dynamite and also tend to see the Palestinians more as victims than the Israelis. Europe supports the battle against climate change, whereas America, or at least its government, is promoting climate change for ideological reasons. Europe supports international courts, but the U.S. is against them. The same applies to a strengthening of the United Nations.”

Europe Needs France and Germany

On April 27, Germany’s former foreign minister and vice chancellor Joschka Fischer wrote the following in Project Syndicate:

“… without the US, Germany’s only other source of defense is a stronger Europe…at a time when the foundations of the global order are shifting at Europe’s expense, marginal reforms will not suffice… Europe and the West need a Franco-German response equal to that once provided by François Mitterrand and Helmut Kohl, and by Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer before them. And they need it now. History will not stand still.”

Needed… a Stronger Nucleus of European Nations?

Politico wrote on April 10:

“Valéry Giscard d’Estaing wants to restart Europe — and move forward with fewer countries. At 92, the former French president and a preeminent architect of the European Union [is] still trying to shape the future of the Continent…

“Under Giscard’s presidency, France and Germany put in place the European monetary system that laid the ground for a single EU currency, and established the European Council, which is widely considered the most powerful institution in Brussels… For Giscard, the EU’s last major step forward took place in 1992, with the Treaty of Maastricht, which laid the foundations for the euro and widely expanded cooperation between European countries. The lack of progress has left the Continent adrift in a world buffeted by ever more rapid change…

“In a 2014 book, ‘Europa: The Last Chance for Europe,’ Giscard called for a rebooting of the European project, with the ‘urgent’ construction of a ‘strong and federated’ entity of 12 European nations that would include the six founding members (Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) plus Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Austria, Finland and Poland…

“According to its chief executive Erika Widegren, Re-imagine Europa… will focus on Giscard’s ‘clear-cut vision’ of a ‘stronger nucleus’ of EU countries. She added that the countries Giscard thinks could work together may no longer be the 12 from his book since ‘things have changed drastically since 2014.’… ‘At the moment, Europe does not have a government,’ Giscard said.”

A strong nucleus of European core nations will emerge out of the EU. The Bible speaks of ten nations or groups of nations.

Martin Schulz Already Back?

Der Stern wrote on April 19 about former German Chancellor candidate and leader of the SPD, Martin Schulz:

“Actually, he is already back. Martin Schulz is apparently quite ready again…

“As stated, Martin Schulz has already returned … but only very few have noticed it.”

Crosses a Must in Bavaria, Germany

The Local wrote on April 25:

“Bavarian leader Markus Söder has announced that crosses must hang in all the state’s government buildings, saying the move is a ‘commitment to Bavarian identity and culture.’…’The cross is not a sign of religion,’ he said after the cabinet meeting. ‘This is not a violation of the principle of neutrality.’

“The new regulation was approved by the cabinet, allowing the new cross mandate to take effect by June 1st. The ordinance applies exclusively to the offices of the state of Bavaria… Alternative for Germany (AfD) officials reportedly welcomed the announcement, while other parties voiced their concern about the CSU’s religious policies…

“Free Democrat (FDP) leader Christian Lindner said: ‘The way Markus Söder and the CSU permanently instrumentalize religions for party politics is reminiscent of (Turkish President) Erdogan…’

“But the actual cross which was put up by the Minister-President does have a religious background. It hung in the Cabinet Room until 2008, was a gift from the former Munich Cardinal Friedrich Wetter and, according to Söder, was also consecrated by the religious figure… The south German state is one of the most Catholic regions in the country.”

The Local added on May 3:

“Cardinal Reinhard Marx, the archbishop of Munich and the head of the German Bishops’ Conference, was having none of it — Mr. Söder, he said, was co-opting a clearly religious symbol for his own devices… ‘Seeing the cross purely as a cultural symbol shows a misunderstanding…’”

It is amazing how politicians try to get their way by circumventing the law with ridiculously juvenile arguments.

Germany’s New US Ambassador

The Local wrote on April 27:

“51-year-old Michigan native and ex-Fox News commentator Richard Grenell was officially appointed by the U.S. Senate as ambassador in Germany…

“This Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government grad… [was] appointed in 2001 by then-President George W.Bush to be the American spokesman at the United Nations. He ended up becoming the longest-serving person in this role, leaving the post in 2008.

“He then worked as a national security and foreign affairs adviser to Mitt Romney during his 2012 campaign for the White House. This made him the first openly gay spokesman for a Republican presidential candidate – a fact which he proudly states on his official website…

“While working at the UN, he unsuccessfully fought to have his partner, consumer insights expert Matt Lashey, listed as a spouse in the personnel directory… In 2013, he signed an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court in support of same-sex marriage.

“As a former Fox News contributor, he called the Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling that granted same-sex marriage across the United States ‘a huge win’, arguing that conservatives should rejoice…

“Grenell’s position representing the United States to Germany may be more confrontational than those who have held the position more recently given Trump’s opposing views with Angela Merkel on key issues, from trade to fighting climate change.

“Trump’s decision to pull the United States out of the international Paris climate accord, which Merkel has called ‘unfortunate’, left the US President standing alone on the issue during the G20 summit in Hamburg…

“Grenell could seek to target increased trade between German companies and Iran… He furthermore has recently criticized Berlin’s attitude to the Syrian war: ‘French and British forces are joining the US in attacking Syria over the heinous chemical attack on civilians, and Germany should have joined this P3 group,’ he said.”

Trump’s “Shift”

The Week wrote on May 3:

“President Trump acknowledged Thursday morning that his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about an affair she says she had with Trump in 2006. Trump had denied knowing about the payment to Daniels when questioned by reporters on Air Force One last month. Cohen ‘received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement,’ a non-disclosure agreement, Trump wrote.

“‘These agreements are very common among celebrities and people of wealth.’ Trump’s tweets followed Rudy Giuliani’s interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday night, where Giuliani confirmed that Trump reimbursed Cohen for the $130,000.”

Many commentators and journalists concluded that Trump and the White House lied about the entire affair. Calls for impeachment can be heard again. Stormy Daniel’s lawyer echoed the sentiment by some that Trump will not endure his four years in office. However, Trump’s popularity rate is still at 50%. There will be no impeachment; Trump will stay in office for his entire tenure; and we take it for granted that in case of new elections, he will be reelected for another term.

The Miracle of the Jewish State

Bloomberg wrote on April 18:

“In November 1947, one day prior to the expected United Nations vote on partitioning Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, the CIA urged President Harry Truman not to throw his weight behind the idea. America would have to defend the new Jewish state when it faltered, the CIA’s secret memorandum warned, adding that ‘the Jews will be able to hold out no longer than two years.’

“Several months later, David Ben-Gurion was about to declare the establishment of the State of Israel. Seated among the dozen or so men who would determine the fate of the state-to-be, he famously turned to one of his top military commanders, Yigael Yadin, and asked him if he thought a new Jewish state would survive the military onslaught that the Arabs would inevitably launch. Yadin, who would later serve as chief of staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, replied that he thought the Jewish state would have a 50-50 chance…

“Today… [a]s the modern Israeli state celebrates 70 years, the prevailing sentiment is one of extraordinary accomplishment… In 1948, there were some 650,000 Jews in Israel, who represented about 5 percent of the world’s Jews. Today, Israel’s Jewish population has grown ten-fold and stands at about 6.8 million people. Some 43 percent of the world’s Jews live in Israel; this population overtook American Jews several years ago and is now the world’s largest Jewish community…

“At times, financial collapse seemed imminent. Food was rationed and black markets developed. Israel had virtually no heavy machinery for building the infrastructure that it desperately needed. Until Germany paid Holocaust reparations, the young state’s financial condition was perilous. Today, that worry also feels like a relic from another time. Israel is not only a significant military power (and in the region, a superpower) but also a formidable economic machine. A worldwide center for technology that has more companies listed on the Nasdaq than any country other than the U.S., Israel’s economy barely hiccupped in 2008. The shekel, its currency, is strong… Israel has become an important cultural center…

“Yet some of the initial worries and troubles of those early years persist. Militarily, the looming enemy is… Iran. The Israeli military is bracing for a possible Iranian missile or drone attack. International support for Israel remains a concern…”

For more information on Israel’s past, present and future, view our StandingWatch program, “The Miraculous 70 Years Existence of the State of Israel… What’s Next?”

Big Earthquake Overdue in Israel

The Jewish press wrote on April 28:

“Starting at 7:45 AM, a series of three small earthquakes shook the Dead Sea region. The epicenter of the quakes were on the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea and measured 3.1, 3.5 and 2.8 on the Richter scale.

“The Dead Sea sits right on the Dead Sea Transform (DST) fault system, which is a series of faults that run from the Maras Triple Junction (a junction with the East Anatolian Fault in southeastern Turkey) to the northern end of the Red Sea Rift (just offshore of the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula). Israel is generally hit with a large earthquake every 70 years, and the big one is currently long overdue.”

Confirmed—The First Two Temples WERE on the Temple Mount

Breaking Israel News wrote on April 25:

“A once thoroughly debunked theory that the two Jewish Temples did not stand on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is currently gaining traction in the Christian world. A new ‘Cry for Zion’ video explains why we know the Temples were on the Temple Mount and that it is essential for Christians to connect with the Jews’ holiest site.

“Cry for Zion, a nongovernmental organization of Jews and Christians advocating Jewish rights to the Temple Mount, features Doron Keidar, the founder of Cry for Zion, and John Enarson, the organization’s Christian Relations and Creative Director. Their motivation for producing the video was generated in reaction to Robert Cornuke’s best-selling book titled ‘Temple: Amazing New Discoveries that Change Everything About the Location of Solomon’s Temple,’ published in 2014.  According to Cornuke’s theory,both Jewish Temples stood further south in an area now known as Ir David (the City of David). Instead, a massive Roman fort stood on what is now known as the Temple Mount.

“Cornuke presents a theory that sheds doubt on the Jewish claim to the Temple Mount. Coupled with the UNESCO resolutions that designate the Temple Mount as an exclusively Muslim holy site, Keidar fears the Jewish claim to its holiest site is under threat. Cornuke’s theory was criticized for having no archaeological basis and for contradicting Temple-era historical accounts, such as that of Josephus Flavius, a first-century Romano-Jewish scholar who cited the Mount as the location of the Second Temple. Despite being definitively debunked by archaeologists and Biblical scholars, the alternate Temple location theory continues to have a following within some segments of the Christian community…

“‘I was surprised to discover that we have had a continual Jewish presence on the Mount, as well as on the Mount of Olives, east of Mount Zion facing the Holy Temple,’ Keidar said. ‘Thanks to this unbroken chain, we are absolutely sure of the location of the Temple. It is important for Christians to acknowledge that we have never abandoned the Temple Mount…”

Even though some uninformed and ignorant biblical “scholars” deny this FACT, a third temple WILL be built on the Temple Mount prior to Christ’s return. Please view our StandingWatch program, “A Third Temple prior to Christ’s Return.”

Antisemitism in Germany

The Jerusalem Post wrote on April 22:

“German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she is ‘burdened’’ by the failure to eradicate antisemitism in  Germany… ‘I am embarrassed due to the fact that Jewish institutions require security details in 2018,’ Merkel said. She connected this with the arrival of refugees and ‘people of Arab heritage’ who, Merkel said, ‘bring with them a new form of antisemitism into Germany.’ The chancellor added that ‘to our regret, antisemitism existed in Germany even before [their arrival].’”

And sadly, anti-Semitism will continue to exist in Germany and in most Western European nations.

Israel Accuses Iran of Violation of Treaty

Deutsche Welle wrote on April 30:

“In a televised presentation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Iran of moving nuclear weapons to a secret location. The US administration has indicated it plans to back out of the Iran nuclear deal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented on Monday what he claimed was proof that Iran had broken the terms of the nuclear deal signed in 2015with major world powers.

“Netanyahu said he was prepared to share the ‘incriminating’ files on Iran’s nuclear weapons program, ‘Project Amad.’ He said Israel recently uncovered 55,000 documents and 183 CDs from Iran’s ‘nuclear archives.’”

It was also reported that Monday’s missile strikes on Syria “were likely carried out by Israel,” and Haaretz said that Israel was prepared to attack Iran broadly, both on Iranian soil, but also in Syria.

Ignorant Americans… Holocaust—What’s That?

The New York Times wrote on April 12:

“Thirty-one percent of Americans, and 41 percent of millennials, believe that two million or fewer Jews were killed in the Holocaust; the actual number is around six million.

“Forty-one percent of Americans, and 66 percent of millennials, cannot say what Auschwitz was. And 52 percent of Americans wrongly think Hitler came to power through force.”

Alfie Dies—Shame on the Guilty Parties

Fox News wrote on April 30:

“Alfie Evans, a terminally ill British toddler whose case drew attention from Pope Francis and others around the world, has died, his parents announced Saturday morning. Parents Kate James, 20, and Tom Evans, 21, wrote on Facebook that they were “absolutely heartbroken” that they had lost their son.

“Alfie was born in May 2016. Later that year he suffered a series of seizures and was admitted to a hospital in Liverpool where he has been since, BBC reported. Alfie developed an incurable degenerative brain condition and was at the center of a legal battle over his treatment. Medics struggled to precisely identify Alfie’s condition.

“Doctors said further treatment was futile and recommended that Alfie be allowed to die, but his parents — backed by the pope and Christian groups — fought for months to take him to a hospital in Italy so he could be kept on life support.

“The hospital withdrew Alfie’s life support Monday after a series of court rulings sided with doctors who said continuing Alfie’s treatment was ‘not in Alfie’s best interests.’… Under British law, courts often intervene when parents and doctors disagree over the treatment of a child… News of Alfie’s death has brought an outpouring of messages from people sending their condolences.”

Bild Online wrote on April 29 that German Professor Dr. Nikolas Haas was asked by the British court to prepare an expert opinion regarding Alfie. He argued unsuccessfully that in light of the German history, a society must be able to treat all persons in the same way. He feels that the doctors’ decision to end Alfie’s life was based on the fear of high costs for the national health system and mere arrogance.

He pointed out that in Germany, the wish of the parents would have been accepted and the treatment of Alfie would of course have been ongoing, and that it was surprising that Alfie had not at least been transferred to the parents’ home, in accordance with the parents’ wishes. Bild reported that the wishes of the parents were not honored by the doctors because of the “hatred” of Alfie’s supporters towards the hospital staff.

If all of this is true, then it is abominable to see a “civilized” society use such autocratic and dictatorial powers to place its “judgment” over the judgment of the parents. The worst memories of Hitler’s Nazi Germany surface.

California About to Attack Homeschooling

Fox News reported on April 17:

“… you might think that California’s government has enough on its hands, just trying to keep kids in our public schools safe. But you’d be wrong… The recently introduced Assembly Bills 2756 and 2926 are cases in point.

“This first, AB 2756, requires fire marshals to perform in-home inspections of home-schoolers every year, implying that somehow home-educators are less fire-safe than other individuals. This is, of course, egregiously discriminatory on its face… With AB 2926, Assembly Member Susan Eggman proposes forming an appointed committee to ‘investigate’ homeschooling.The ‘instruction’ committee would subsequently share its findings so that the California legislature might consider how best to regulate those families…

“According to 2016 Census data, California now ranks 44^th in the union for pre-K through 12^th grade education… In contrast, home educated students typically score 15 to 30 percentile points better than their public school peers. This result is completely independent of whether the home-schooling parent is a certified teacher, and unrelated [to] the degree of state control and regulation. Of course, this annoys teachers unions, so they likely are quite happy about the new legislation. The NEA said in their 2014-15 Resolutions, ‘The National Education Association believes that home schooling programs based on parental choice cannot provide the student with a comprehensive education experience.’…

“We already have mandatory vaccines in California. With the current anti-religious climate, perhaps the bureaucrats would insist all religious items, including Bibles, be removed from private homes… Maybe your family eats too much sugar, so the government would impose candy restrictions in your home…

“In a nation that honors freedom, the government does not belong in our private affairs, and home education is one such environment. California AB 2926 represents the government at its worst, grabbing for any shred of power over the citizen, with absolutely no reason to do so and every argument to invest its time and resources otherwise. Let California’s government fix all that’s wrong in our public schools – the poor scholastic performance, sexual abuse problems, and safety issues – before trying to micro-manage private citizens who are successfully overseeing their children’s education outside of government and union control.”

Breaking Christian News reported on May 1:

“Some traveled hours, others waited hours, all for the opportunity to protest one of the most outrageous homeschooling bills every introduced: California’s AB 2756….

“Nearly 1,000 people spoke out in opposition, reporters said, including a candidate for governor, Assemblyman Travis Allen (R). ‘AB 2756 is absolutely wrong. It must fail. It must fail today,’ he said. ‘California’s parents and children have the right to the very best education this state can possibly provide.’…

“By afternoon’s end, only two people from the surrounding area spoke in support of the controversial bill. Hours later, families got the news they’d been waiting for ‘no member of the committee was willing to make a motion for a vote.’ The bill was dead…”

Still, the power the governments [in this case California] want to impose on their citizens is indeed frightening. The tragic case of Baby Alfie should wake us up to realize where such totalitarian attempts might lead. Also note the next disturbing article.

California About to Attack Opponents to Homosexuality

Christian Headlines wrote on April 13:

“A bill quickly moving through the California state legislature may threaten the religious freedom of those who object to homosexuality… this bill… is known as Assembly Bill 2943… [and] include[s] ‘sexual orientation change efforts.’… For example, a simple monetary transaction – buying a book about overcoming homosexuality, or paying a counselor for help with gender confusion – would trigger AB 2943…

“Christian schools, churches and others who hold to a traditional understanding of marriage and sexuality would be open to lawsuits for teaching biblical truth about homosexuality or transgenderism…”

Please read our free booklet, “God’s Teachings on Sexual Relationships.”

Confirmed—the Biblical Fountains of the Deep at the Tome of Noah

The website of beginningandend wrote the following on April 7:

“…scientists have now confirmed what Scripture refers to as ‘the fountains of the deep.’In the days of Noah and the Ark, these large pools of water beneath the Earth’s crust burst forth onto the surface providing the massive amounts of water needed for the global flood judgment. What has once been a source of skepticism and mockery for those who doubt the Bible, has now been confirmed by secular scientists, again showing that although written over 3,000 years ago, the Bible’s description of the Earth and its natural properties are indeed accurate.

“An international team of scientists led by Graham Pearson, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Arctic Resources at the U of A, has discovered the first-ever sample of a mineral called ringwoodite. Analysis of the mineral shows it contains a significant amount of water — 1.5 per cent of its weight — a finding that confirms scientific theories about vast volumes of water trapped 410 to 660 kilometres beneath Earth’s surface, between the upper and lower mantle. ‘This sample really provides extremely strong confirmation that there are local wet spots deep in the Earth in this area,’ said Pearson, a professor in the Faculty of Science, whose findings were published March 13 in Nature. ‘That particular zone in the Earth, the transition zone, might have as much water as all the world’s oceans put together.’

“Ringwoodite is a form of the mineral peridot, believed to exist in large quantities under high pressures in the transition zone. Ringwoodite has been found in meteorites but, until now, no terrestrial sample has ever been unearthed because scientists haven’t been able to conduct fieldwork at extreme depths. The vast oceans of water beneath the Earth’s crust is precisely what the Bible describes in the first book of Genesis…

“Many have questioned the Biblical account of Noah’s flood since the Bible clearly states that the water was 15 cubits (approximately 25 feet) over every mountain. This would require more water than presently exists on the Earth’s surface. However, with the confirmation of the subterranean oceans, that is now possible… Additionally, scientists have also just recently confirmed that large amounts of water could reach the Earth’s surface through deep sea faults. And the area of the globe with the greatest potential to do so [is] in the Pacific ‘ring of fire’ volcanic region… the precise area… as the most likely source for the great geysers that flooded the Earth in Noah’s day.”

Atheists and agnostics won’t be convinced, but for those with eyes to see, these discoveries are truly remarkable.

The Crazy Flat Earth Conspiracies

The website of iflscience reported on May 1:

“Flat-Earthers from around the globe have gathered once again for a conference… hundreds of years after people first circumnavigated the Earth, and thousands of years after we discovered that it was round…

“Hence why people claim that there is a wall around the Earth, or that rocket launches are faked by shooting them in reverse… One speaker even explained how we’re all living in a Pac-Man world. One speaker at the conference said that he had proved that gravity doesn’t exist… He explained at the conference that using a Nikon camera and a mobile app he tracked the movements of the Moon across the sky, and disproved the laws of planetary motion…

“In order to explain people living on the other side of the planet, it appears that flat-Earthers continue to believe that Australia doesn’t exist.”

Will stupidity never cease?

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.

There has been an increased amount of excitement in the past year when it comes to Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies.  Much of that was based on the gains people have made in a short amount of time, yet most people don’t really know what Bitcoin is or what relevance it may actually have in the future. There have also been governmental attacks on Bitcoin in some countries, and biblical “scholars” have suggested that Bitcoin is the “mark of the beast.”

To begin with, what are Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies?  An article written in February 2018 from cnet titled, “What is Bitcoin? Here’s everything you need to know,” states the following:

“Bitcoin was invented in 2009 by a person (or group) who called himself Satoshi Nakamoto. His stated goal was to create ‘a new electronic cash system’ that was ‘completely decentralized with no server or central authority.’

“Bitcoin is a digital currency. No bills to print or coins to mint. It’s decentralized — there’s no government, institution (like a bank) or other authority that controls it. Owners are anonymous; instead of using names, tax IDs, or social security numbers, bitcoin connects buyers and sellers through encryption keys. And it isn’t issued from the top down like traditional currency; rather, bitcoin is ‘mined’ by powerful computers connected to the internet.

“A person (or group, or company) mines bitcoin by doing a combination of advanced math and record-keeping. When someone sends a bitcoin to someone else, the network records that transaction, and all of the others made over a certain period of time, in a ‘block.’ Computers running special software — the ‘miners’ — inscribe these transactions in a gigantic digital ledger. These blocks are known, collectively, as the ‘blockchain’ — an eternal, openly accessible record of all the transactions that have ever been made.

“Using specialized software and increasingly powerful (and energy-intensive) hardware, miners convert these blocks into sequences of code, known as a ‘hash.’  Producing a hash requires serious computational power, and thousands of miners compete simultaneously to do it.  When a new hash is generated, it’s placed at the end of the blockchain, which is then publicly updated and propagated. For his or her trouble, the miner currently gets 12.5 bitcoins — which, in February 2018, is worth roughly $100,000.  However, the amount of awarded bitcoins decreases over time.

“Ultimately, the value of a bitcoin is determined by what people will pay for it. In this way, there’s a similarity to how stocks are priced.  The protocol established by [the creator] Satoshi Nakamoto dictates that only 21 million bitcoins can ever be mined — about 12 million have been mined so far — so there is a limited supply, like with gold and other precious metals, but no real intrinsic value. This makes bitcoin different from stocks, which usually have some relationship to a company’s actual or potential earnings. Without a government or central authority at the helm, controlling supply, ‘value’ is totally open to interpretation. This process of ‘price discovery,’ the primary driver of volatility in bitcoin’s price, also invites speculation and manipulation.”

There are currently more than a thousand other cryptocurrencies in existence today. Aside from Bitcoin, which is the real progenitor of them all, other well-known alternative currencies include Ethereum, Ripple and Litecoin.

Many have stated that Bitcoin is in a bubble and that it will collapse, but Bitcoin is still holding strong, hovering at around $9,000.00 as of April 2018, which is still a sizable increase since last April when Bitcoin was only at around $1,300.00. Bitcoin is even a hit in countries where they face currency troubles, including Sudan, Kenya, South Africa and Brazil.

In a January 2018 article by The Wall Street Journal, they state that “Bitcoin has been a means of navigating financial obstacles, like the lack of conventional banking services or limited access to foreign currencies, and even to skirt sanctions… The main attraction in bitcoin is the ability to transfer money without any restrictions or going through a bank. ‘This was very important as there were U.S. sanctions imposed on Sudan,’ said a web developer who was one of the earliest bitcoin enthusiasts in Sudan.”

The article goes on to say that “In the developed world, central banks and senior bankers have warned investors away from such currencies, which they say they don’t trust. In frontier markets, some people are turning to Bitcoin precisely because they don’t trust the country’s bankers or the state.  Buying cryptocurrencies is seen as a protection by people who have been constantly disappointed by central banks and politics… When conventional money fails, Bitcoin wins.”

The article continues, “Bitcoin, a digital form of money with no government or central bank behind it, is often seen as a replacement currency in countries rocked by political or economic instability. People can use Bitcoin, and similar digital currencies, as a store of value or as a way to circumvent government money-changing limits.”

Some have wondered and contemplated the following questions: If more and more countries get involved and ultimately the whole world, could Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies be the future of where money is headed, especially in light of all the technological advancements we see today?  Is the world leaning towards a cashless society since many use debit and credit cards for their financial transactions rather than cash?

A recent YouTube video about Bitcoin and its future claims that the current financial system is based upon debt since most nations of the world have a central bank which prints their nation’s currency and loans it to the nations.  The video goes on to say that ever since the great recessions of 2007 and 2008, the main central banks of the world have been engaging in something called “quantitative easing,” which involves printing a large amount of currency which drastically increases the money supply.  When it comes to supply and demand, the more you increase the supply of something while demand remains consistent, the value of that supply gets reduced. This is how the financial system has been propped up, creating massive bubbles which will eventually pop.  When it does, the current global financial system will implode and those in power will look for a new answer. The video suggests that this answer is Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies which will be the global currency replacing the current global financial system.

We do not imply or suggest that we believe that we will see a cashless worldwide society in the future. For instance, recent attempts in Germany to diminish or even eradicate bills and coins were strongly rebuked and rejected by the overwhelming majority of Germans who like their coins and bills too much and are unwilling to give them up. We also strongly believe and have declared that the Euro will not fail and that it will be maintained by the prophesied ten European core nations or groups of nations, as the Euro will be the glue which will keep them together.

On the other hand, it is noteworthy that financial institutions around the world perceive Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as a major threat to their existence and survival and have become anxious to advocate or “warn” against them—sometimes with mean, deceptive and fabricated arguments such as the concept that cryptocurrencies are being used for illegal and criminal activities such as money laundering or even child pornography. These “charges” are totally untrue in the vast majority of cases. With that same rationale, one could say that much of the money, deposited in big financial institutions, is being used for or has been gained by criminal activities, and such a statement might even be much closer to the Truth. At the same time, some governments are anxious to forbid or severely restrict cryptocurrencies in their countries, being afraid that they could be a threat to their big banking institutions, while other governments are anxious to get a piece of the pie by trying to tax severely those who are investing in cryptocurrencies.

Such inconsistent and hypocritical conduct and approach should not surprise us in a world which is ruled by Satan the Devil. In addition, as alluded to at the beginning of this article, uninformed and ignorant biblical scholars, ministers and religious “experts,” especially in traditional “Christianity,” have been deceived to suggest that cryptocurrencies may constitute the “mark of the beast.” But could this possibly be the case?

The above-mentioned video refers to Revelation 13:16-17 which says, “He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”  The video makes reference to the popular concept that the mark is an actual microchip inserted into people’s hands which provides many different benefits such as tracking, storing health records, financial information, which can serve as identification so there is no need for wallets and ID cards and which gives you access to doors without a physical key. The video concludes by saying that Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies will be part of the implementation of the mark of the beast, though it will never be labeled as such.

But is this what the Bible is referring to when talking about the mark of the beast? Satan knows what the mark of the beast is, and so he will try to deceive gullible people to focus on something else… such as a microchip or Bitcoin. The Truth is, however, that the mark of the beast is something altogether different.

First of all, Revelation 13 describes two “beasts” which are symbolic descriptions of powerful political and religious world empires.  The first beast is described in Revelation 13:1-10 where John sees in a vision a beast rising out of the sea which has seven heads and ten horns, and on his head ten crowns. This is very similar to the description of Satan in Revelation 12:9 where he is identified as a dragon, showing that Satan is giving his power to the beast (compare Revelation 13:2, 4). For more information on what this beast is actually all about, please see our Q&A.

The second beast is described in Revelation 13:11-18 where John sees a beast with two horns coming up out of the earth. It looked like a lamb but spoke like a dragon. Quoting from the same Q&A, we say that “This second beast is obviously a religious power which is influenced by Satan, while pretending to speak on behalf of Christ. We read in 2 Corinthians 11:15 that Satan’s ‘ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness.’ Jesus warned that many would come in His name, admitting that He was the Christ or Savior, and deceive many through their wrong teachings (compare Matthew 24:4-5).”

“The second beast will be able to perform ‘great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do…’ (Revelation 13:13-14). We read in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11 about the end-time representative or leader of this second beast power, as follows: ‘The coming of the lawless one [the man of sin or son of perdition, who will claim to be God, verses 3 and 4] is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs and lying wonders and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them [that is, He will allow it] strong delusion, that they should believe the lie…’

“We read in Revelation 13:14 that the second beast will make an ‘image’ to the first beast, which we identified as the Roman Empire. Historically, the Roman Church gradually adopted the governmental system of the Roman Empire and created for itself an ‘image’ of the same.”

We see then that the mark of the beast is inseparably tied to political and religious powers—not to cryptocurrencies which these powers try to regulate, suppress or defeat. Revelation 13:16-17 explains that the image will cause people to accept “a mark” of the first beast “on their right hand” or “on their foreheads.” Without it, they cannot buy or sell (compare Revelation 14:9).  Continuing on with the Q&A we state that “This mark of the first beast is clearly associated in Scripture with the violation of God’s Sabbath commandment (compare Exodus 31:13; Ezekiel 20:20; Isaiah 56:2; Isaiah 58:13; Amos 8: 5; Exodus 16:23, 26; Exodus 31:15). In the Bible, the ‘right hand’ is associated with work (Psalm 90:17; 137:5). The ‘forehead’ is the seat of thoughts (Ezekiel 3:8; 9:4; Revelation 7:3). We are told that the ‘little horn’ would try to ‘change times and law’ (Daniel 7: 25)—that is, God’s law regarding holy time. The Roman Church has changed the calendar in Europe which identifies Sunday as the last day of the week, rather than the 7th-Day Saturday-Sabbath. It commands that Christians are to rest on Sunday, and it did command in the past that they were to work on Saturday. We will experience something similar very soon. The ‘image’ will influence the first beast–the final European revival of the ancient Roman Empire–to enjoin people to work on the Sabbath, while prohibiting to work on Sunday. As in the past, it will thereby ‘cause’ the death of true Christians (compare Revelation 13:15).

“God warns us not to worship the beast and his image, and not to receive his mark on our forehead and on our hand (Revelation 14:9). If we do, we will ‘drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation’ (Revelation 14:10). On the other hand, true Christians WILL be killed for their refusal to worship the beast and its image, and to receive the mark.  But notice how Revelation 20:4, 6 describes their glorious future: ‘… I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads and on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years… Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection… they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.’”

When referring to the number of the beast, Revelation 18 states that this is the “number of man” which is the number “666.” We are told that we are to “calculate the number of the beast” with “understanding.” Continuing on in the Q&A, “In the Greek, every letter has a numerical value. The numerical value for ‘Lateinos’ is 666. Therefore, the first beast is again clearly identified as the Roman Empire, as the number 666 identifies the founder of the Roman Empire–Lateinos. Although the designation ‘beast’ in Revelation 13 describes the Roman Empire, it can also refer to the representative or ruler of the final revival or resurrection of that Empire (compare Revelation 16:13; 19:20). It is likely that the numerical value of the name of that human leader–referred to as a MAN (compare again Revelation 13:18)–will also be 666.”

The mark of the beast has been in existence for a long time and even though it will reach its climax in the days ahead, it cannot possibly be a reference to microchips or Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies as these did not even exist in times past. For more information, please read our free booklets, “Europe in Prophecy” and “The Ten European Revivals of the ancient Roman Empire.” 

Lead Writer: Michael Link

compiled by Dave Harris

PENTECOST will be observed on Sunday, May 20, 2018. We will broadcast both morning and afternoon services, at 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM Pacific Time, respectively.

A new Member Letter (April / May 2018) has been written and mailed to our subscribers. In this letter, the ministry reports on highlights from our recently conducted Ministerial Conference.

“Merkel vs. Trump… No Love Lost!” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Washington in an attempt to persuade Donald Trump to change his mind on, among other things, imposing tariffs on European goods. Even though a decision was postponed for four weeks, “the German government is pessimistic about avoiding a trade war between the United States and Europe. The German-American relationship is in a profound crisis, hitting ‘ground zero,’ with disputes over the Iraq War in 2003 seeming trivial in comparison” (Handelsblatt, April 27). While the world is being admonished to “take Trump seriously” (Bild, April 27), Europe is anxious to “pull together unto a single unit” under French-German leadership (Der Spiegel, April 18), with a strong nucleus of EU countries (Politico, April 10) and with the perception that it must not allow itself to be blackmailed by Trump, as it constitutes “an economic power equal to the US” (Deutsche Welle, May 2).

“The miraculous 70 years existence of the State of Israel… what’s next?” is the title of new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

When the modern State of Israel was established 70 years ago, most did not give it a chance of survival. Today, it is viewed as an extraordinary accomplishment. This did not happen by accident. God gave several prophecies for our time declaring in advance that there would be a prosperous State of Israel prior to Christ’s return. However, the Bible also shows that disaster, occupation, defeat and captivity are decreed to occur very soon for the State of Israel because of their many atrocious sins.

“Beweist der Fluch des Konja, dass Jesus nicht der Heiland war?” is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon. Title in English: “Does the Curse of Coniah Prove that Jesus was not the Messiah?”

“The Work of God,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Kalon Mitchell, is now posted. Here is a summary:

The plan of God has been the work of many individuals down through the ages. Nehemiah was one such individual whom God worked with powerfully to help rebuild Jerusalem. But the way in which it was accomplished is truly incredible. We can expect the same today as God is willing to work in and through us if we diligently seek Him.

“Bad Mistakes and Grievous Sins of Righteous Leaders – Part 1,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

The lives of some of the ancient kings of Judah should tell us a lot today. How could it happen that righteous leaders made terrible mistakes and sinned grievously at the end of their lives? Why do we find ourselves in the position that we transgress God’s Word, even though we know better?

On April 14, 2018, Norbert Link will present the sermonette, titled, “Syria—Preparing for World War 3?” and Brian Gale will present the sermon, titled, “The Greatness 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.

The Update will NOT be published for the weeks of April 20^thor April 27^thdue to our Church Conference. We will resume publication on the week of May 4th.

Also note: The second Passover falls this year on April 29. It is observed in the evening of April 28, after sundown, by those who were unable to partake of the first Passover.

With increased frequency and callousness, men and women are choosing death as an easy way out of hardships. For an ever-growing number of people, sustained and meaningful purpose for one’s life is unattainable. Suicide is nothing new but the merciless desire to snuff out the lives of others is becoming more common.

Just this week a young man shot and killed his mother and friend as they slept. After the murders he wrote on Facebook, “What I look forward to is the nothingness after death. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about murder, wondering what it feels like. But I’ve barely felt anything.”  He was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot within a day or so of the murders.

Last month a female couple, whose lifestyle demonstrated utter confusion of godly principles, drove off a cliff with their 6 adopted children.  While the motives aren’t known, the circumstances point to the car being intentionally driven off the cliff.

To try and understand why people choose these actions is to try and understand the mind of Satan. We are warned to distance ourselves from him by drawing closer to God, “But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men’” (Mark 8:33). Throughout human existence, mankind has proven to have a complete lack of foresight without godly direction.  Relying on our own direction leaves us unprepared and susceptible to the deceiver. Satan is single-minded in his intentions towards man and we are warned to “[b]e sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

Without God, man can do little to stop reflecting the attitudes of Satan.  Exposure to these views long enough will lead to deception and, ultimately, death.  Christ was clear on the end result of a godless life manipulated by the Devil. “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

The path laid before us is difficult only because we have such a proclivity to stumble onto that broad road leading towards destruction.  Like each of us, King David had that same tendency, but he understood how to find light in the darkness: “Your word is a lamp to my feet  And a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). God’s Word is THE choice and the only means to attain understanding, purpose and most importantly, the path to eternal life.

by Norbert Link

We begin with the landslide election victory of right wing Victor Orban as Hungary’s Prime Minister, adding to concerns of far right views and anti-Semitism all over Europe.

We continue with the ongoing strained relationship between Turkey and Israel and undeniable preparations for the building of the third temple and Jewish worship services on the Temple Mount.

We address Pope Francis’ denial of the existence of hell and the immortality of the soul, infuriating many “Christians” (while the Vatican is again childishly scrambling to defuse Francis’ statements). Please view in this context our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Pope Francis and Hell–Closer to the Truth?” 

We quote from a remarkable German article taking the position that the world is preparing for the next war (since that is what people want); and report on America’s new tax law which proves to be a mess.

We focus on President Trump’s economic policy, which is perceived to pose a real threat to Germany and Europe; and discuss the volatile situation in Syria.

We speak on the US Presidency being under siege by the FBI; and conclude with articles on Britain pertaining to Brexit and the Commonwealth.

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

Far-Right Victor Orban Wins in Hungary

JTA wrote on April 9:

“[Hungary’s] Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s ruling Fidesz party won in a landslide, riding a wave of rhetoric and policies that have set Hungary apart from the rest of the European Union for its veneration of pro-Nazi collaborators, anti-Semitic politicians and propaganda campaigns that critics say amount to racist incitement against Jews and other minorities…

“Leaders of far-right movements in Europe – part of a rising force that since last year alone have made unprecedented gains in elections in France, Austria, Holland and Italy — celebrated Orban’s clinching of more than 49 percent as a victory for their cause.”

Der Spiegel wrote on April 9:

“It’s an historic victory for Orbán, but also for Hungary and the rest of Central and Southeastern Europe. Never before in Hungarian history and never since the end of the communist dictatorships has a party in the region scored such a commanding victory in three elections in a row.

“In an extremely divisive campaign, Orbán essentially focused on one single issue, warning against Hungary’s ‘downfall’ at the hands of ‘immigrants.’ It appears that a majority of Hungarian voters view him as the only guarantee against such a scenario.”

Skillful propagandists have always persuaded people to vote for them.

Far-Right Views All Over Europe

The Daily Mail wrote on April 4:

“Polish officials recently blamed Jewish people for their ‘own destruction’ while the Hungarian Prime Minster [Orban] declared Europeans should not ‘mix’ with Africans.

“The Croatian president on a trip to Argentina came under fire from a Holocaust survivors charity for thanking the country for taking in ‘notorious’ pro-Nazi criminals…

“Ever since WWII, such views were taboo in Europe, confined to the far-right fringes. Today they are openly expressed by mainstream political leaders in parts of Central and Eastern Europe…

“Casting himself as the savior of a white Christian Europe being overrun by Muslims and Africans, Orban has insisted that Hungarians don’t want their ‘own color, traditions and national culture to be mixed by others.’…

“Poland’s government has also been embroiled in a bitter dispute with Israel and Jewish organizations over a national law that would criminalize blaming Poland for Germany’s Holocaust crimes… The Balkans, bloodied by ethnic warfare in the 1990s, are also seeing a rise of nationalism, particularly in Serbia and Croatia…

“Meanwhile in Bulgaria, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency, the government includes a far-right alliance, the United Patriots, whose members have given Nazi salutes and slurred minorities. Deputy Prime Minister Valeri Simeonov has called the country’s Roma minority ‘ferocious humanoids’ whose women ‘have the instincts of street dogs.’…”

German Persecution of Jews Not a Thing of the Past

Deutsche Welle wrote on April 2:

“Jews were driven from their homes by Christians for almost two thousand years. In 1492 the Alhambra Edict decreed that they should be expelled from what is now Spain, after living there under Muslim rule for centuries. Many of these Jews found refuge in the Ottoman Empire… Jewish life blossomed in Ottoman cities like Thessaloniki and Sarajevo for centuries, and lasted until the Nazis arrived. Those are historical facts one should perhaps be conscious of when speaking, on the one hand, of a ‘Judeo-Christian’ tradition, and at the same time of Muslims who ‘import’ anti-Semitism…

“Anti-Semitism in Germany is not imported. Anti-Semitism is Germany’s most successful export… The Germans are a people who manage to make the security of Israel and the fight against anti-Semitism a reason of state, while at the same time devoting an entire year to celebrating the reformer Martin Luther, who called for synagogues to be burned down and rabbis banned from their work, on pain of death…

“Anti-Semitism belongs to Germany, and to Europe. It is found on the political right, the political left, and in the so-called center of society…

“Yes, we must talk about anti-Semitic attitudes among Muslims in Europe and Germany… there is the Islamic Republic of Iran, which repeatedly threatens to annihilate Israel. And there is a minority of Muslims in Europe and in Germany who approve of this… And there are prominent German politicians who… share a podium with those who seek to justify attacks on Jews…

“When Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in December, and Fatah, the supposedly moderate Palestinian party, called for ‘three days of rage,’ I didn’t need to read about it in the paper. I could see it in my neighborhood. On Sonnenallee, probably the most Arab street in Germany… you can’t venture down Sonnenallee at night in a kippah. In Germany, 2018…”

The abominable evil of anti-Semitism is not dead, but very much alive.

Doubting the Holocaust

Newsweek wrote on April 12:

“One-third of Americans think ‘substantially less’ than 6 million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust, according to a new survey that highlights a worrying lack of basic knowledge about the World War II-era genocide…

“The survey shows that 70 percent of Americans believe people care less about the Holocaust than they used to. A majority, 58 percent, said they believe something like the Holocaust could happen again…

“Around two-thirds (68 percent) of Americans believe there is anti-Semitism in the U.S. today, and a majority (51 percent) think there is either a great deal of (17 percent) or many (34 percent) neo-Nazis in the country today.”

Turkey vs. Israel… Who are the Terrorists?

The Jewish Press wrote on April 1:

“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being a ‘terrorist’ on Sunday, and Israel of being a ‘terrorist state’ after 16 Gazans – including 10 convicted terrorists – were killed Friday in the Hamas-driven ‘Great March of Terror’ along the Gaza border…

“In response to the epithets, Prime Minister Netanyahu blasted the Turkish leader, saying, ‘The most moral army in the world will not be preached to by someone who for years has indiscriminately bombed civilian populations. Apparently this is the way they mark April Fool’s Day in Ankara.’…

“Erdogan has long championed the rights of Gaza’s ruling Hamas terrorist organization, which was spawned by the Muslim Brotherhood, to which Turkey’s Islamist leader has for decades maintained a close affiliation.

“Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also pointed out that the so-called ‘peaceful demonstration’ was nothing of the sort, using women and children as decoys and human shields while terrorists carried out violence against Israel.”

The Bible shows that Turkey will turn completely against Israel.

Preparations for the Third Temple Worship

Breaking Israel News reported on April 2:

“On the second night of Passover, this past Saturday night, dozens of men, women and children went out to the fields to harvest barley, not so much as a reenactment but a real Temple-related Passover ceremony. The following day, the harvest was brought to Jerusalem where it was turned into flour and Kohanim (Jewish men descended from Aaron the Priest) performed a full-dress rehearsal for the Wave Offering, which will take place once again in the Third Temple.

“As are most Temple related activities, the harvesting was done with musical accompaniment…

“The Kohanim wore authentic priestly garments that conformed to the Biblical requirements. Rabbi Baruch Kahane served in the role of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest). In the Temple, a male sheep was brought as a burnt offering, but this was not done at the reenactment…”

Daily Mail added on April 2:

“Ultra-Orthodox Jews congregated at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Thursday for a mass priestly blessing on Passover – a tradition of recent decades echoing a pilgrimage from antiquity. Jewish priests wearing Talit prayer shawls took part in the Cohanim prayer in the Old City of Jerusalem…

“The Western Wall is a remnant of a supporting wall of the Second Temple complex, which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. It is accessible to non-Muslims via a ramp. Jews are allowed to visit but not pray at the compound to avoid provoking tensions…”

We know from Scripture that a third temple will be built prior to Christ’s return, and that temple worship services and animal sacrifices will resume, leading to violent confrontations in the Holy Land.

Francis: There Is No Hell!

The Guardian wrote on March 30:

“The Vatican has scrambled to clarify comments made by Pope Francis to a well-known Italian journalist that appeared to deny the existence of hell.

“The Holy See issued a terse statement saying a lengthy article published in La Repubblica on Wednesday by Eugenio Scalfari, 93, the newspaper’s founder, was ‘the fruit of his reconstruction’ and not ‘a faithful transcription of the Holy Father’s words’.

“While the Vatican conceded that Scalfari, an atheist who struck up a friendship with Francis in 2013, had held a private meeting with the pontiff before the Easter weekend, it said an interview had not been granted.

“During the meeting Scalfari asked the pope where ‘bad souls’ go, to which he was quoted as responding: ‘They are not punished. Those who repent obtain God’s forgiveness and take their place among the ranks of those who contemplate him, but those who do not repent and cannot be forgiven disappear. A hell doesn’t exist, the disappearance of sinning souls exists.’…

“Pope Benedict XVI said in 2007 that hell ‘really exists and is eternal, even if nobody talks about it much anymore’, while in 1999 Pope John Paul II announced that hell was ‘the ultimate consequence of sin itself … rather than a place, hell indicates the state of those who freely and definitively separate themselves from God, the source of all life and joy’…”

However, it was reported by the English press subsequent to 2007 that Pope Benedict had stated in a sermon that there was no hell. At that time, the Vatican chose to remain silent on the issue. In addition, Pope Francis had already declared in November 2016 that hell–or eternal damnation–was not a torture chamber, and he went on to say that the lake of fire in Revelation 20 describes the second death. But at that time, he went on to give an unbiblical explanation of the “second death” and of “the fire,” which was more in line with the official Catholic position.

CNS added on March 29:

“The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: ‘The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, ‘eternal fire’…

“As for the human soul,the Catholic Church teaches that it is eternal, immortal in countless places throughout the Catechism…”

The official teaching of the Catholic Church is clearly unbiblical.

Mainstream Media in Furor Over Francis’ Remarks

Life Site News wrote on April 4:

“Mainstream media was in a furor last week over the news of Pope Francis purportedly saying that ‘hell does not exist’ and that unrepentant souls in mortal sin simply ‘disappear.’…

“The story was highlighted in the United States by the Drudge Report… It linked to a March 29 article by Michael W. Chapman of CNS News, who called Francis’s alleged remarks ‘a denial of the 2,000-year-old teaching of the Catholic Church about the reality of Hell and the eternal existence of the soul.’…

“The New York Times led with the news that the Vatican had responded to the Repubblica piece with an assertion that Pope Francis does indeed believe in hell…

“Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh said that ‘it was easy to see, with this pope, that the left is even corrupting the Catholic Church’…

“The Wall Street Journal intimated that with his remarks, which the Vatican did not deny, Pope Francis had yet again astonished. ‘It was an extreme yet telling example of how Pope Francis has shaken up perceptions of Catholic doctrine,’ wrote Francis X. Rocca, ‘drawing widespread attention from the non-Catholic world and causing turmoil within the church… Part of Pope Francis’ strategy has been generally to play down the importance of formal teaching’…”

This could be his way of trying to unite traditional Christianity under the umbrella of the Catholic Church.

Preparing for War?

Der Spiegel wrote on April 2 (our translation):

“War, war, war… People don’t want peace. Something is lacking for them when there is no war. That is why they are preparing for it… Who demonstrates today for peace?…

“At the end of the Cold War, there was a short-lived hope that a time of peace had begun. But that was an illusion. There is no peace… People say that they hate war. But this is not true… Quite to the contrary, a person is viewed with suspicion when he speaks of peace. Because he supposedly supports “our enemies”: Russia, the Palestinians, Iran, China, North Korea…

“We still destroy cities and countries in order to liberate them. We have learned nothing since Vietnam… until now, everybody who wants to rearm has said, ‘When you want peace, prepare for war.’”

The Bible says that mankind does not know the way to peace. Satan the devil rules this world, and he is the “god” of war. Mankind, being cut off from God, follows their leader and ruler, having adopted his evil desires.

New US Tax Law a Mess!

Yahoo News, Reuters, April 2:

“The largest association of accounting professionals on Monday asked the U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to clarify whether the new Republican tax law allows continued deduction of business meals and other work expenses.

“Treasury and the IRS are the two agencies crafting rules to implement the tax overhaul passed in December. It will take effect for the 2018 tax year. The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) said taxpayers need ‘immediate guidance’ on deducting business meals and other work-related expenses, such as entertainment and membership dues, all of which are affected by the new tax legislation…

“The AICPA represents more than 418,000 accounting professionals. It asked the agencies for more information on the deductibility of client-related business meals, employer-provided business meals and other food, employer-hosted recreational events, advertising, charitable contributions, transportation expenses and membership dues. While the new law says ‘entertainment expenses’ are no longer deductible, it has caused confusion about the deductibility of business meals, the AICPA said.

“Previously, taxpayers could deduct half the cost of most business meals. The AICPA asked the agencies to affirm the deductibility of such meals, and also for business meals paid for separately that occur before or after an entertainment event.

“There is also confusionon whether costs of employer-hosted events, such as employee appreciation days or holiday parties, are still deductible, the AICPA said. The IRS said it had received the AICPA’s letter and was in the process of reviewing it.

“Tax writers in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have acknowledged they will pursue multiple fixes to provisions of the sweeping tax bill with unintended consequences… But passing a separate bill to address other ‘technical corrections’ could be difficult, as the midterm congressional elections near in November 2018, aides have said.

“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce last month identified more than 35 portions of the tax law that need additional clarification,either in additional legislation or by agency rulemaking.”

Of course, when laws are pushed through for the purpose of political gain, without reading and analyzing them, then this is the inevitable consequence.

Pax Trumpia Threat to Germany

On March 26, former German Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer, wrote in Project Syndicate:

“After a year in which US President Donald Trump did not follow through on his promised protectionism, he has finally done so. It is quickly becoming clear that Trump’s attacks on free tradeare not just about global commerce, but about the entire rules-based international system…

“His decision to impose $50 billion in punitive import tariffs on many Chinese goods could severely disrupt global trade. And while he made a last-minute decision to exempt EU goods from such tariffs, Europe may yet end up in the line of fire…

“Trump’s protectionist policies thus challenge the entire German economic modelas it has existed since the 1950s. The fact that Trump has repeatedly singled out Germany, one of America’s closest allies in Europe, is no small matter…

“In Germany, there should be no illusions about what a transatlantic trade war would mean… now is hardly the time for disunity. The United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU is already causing political dissonance among member states, and anti-European populists have just won a combined parliamentary majority in Italy…

“Europeans are on their own. One hopes that Europeans can act quickly to preserve their unity and salvage the international system that has provided them with peace and prosperity for generations.”

Most European nations are aware of the danger they face from the outside and from within. They will move quickly to bring about total unity, under the leadership of a charismatic ruthless and deceiving individual.

Stocks Worst Since the Great Depression

Bloomberg wrote on April 2:

“U.S. stocks had their worst April start since 1929, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The S&P 500 index slumped 2.2 percent, a rout exceeded only by its 2.5 percent decline 89 years ago, a prelude to the devastating crash later that year that brought on the Great Depression. (Back then, the index only comprised 90 stocks.)…

“The stock slide also looked pretty bad when compared to the beginning of other quarters. Equities lost more than on any other quarterly first day since October 2011, when stocks plummeted 2.8 percent, Bloomberg data show.”

These are the signs of the time, and they don’t look pretty.

USA Condemns Syria and Russia for Chemical Weapons Attack

Newsmax wrote on April 10:

“U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Monday condemned theRussia-backed regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad — as well as Moscow and Iran — for a chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of mostly women and children in strife-torn Douma.

“In an impassioned speech at the U.N., Haley declared, ‘Only a monster does this.’ She then called the ‘Russian regime whose hands are all covered in the blood of Syrian children.’ ‘We must not overlook Russian and Iran’s roles in the murderous destruction,’ she said. ‘Russia and Iran have military advisers at Assad’s air field and operations centers. Russian officials are on the ground helping direct the regimes starve and surrender campaign. And Iranian allied forces do much of the dirty work.’”

Previously, President Trump named Vladimir Putin as one of those responsible for the Syrian atrocities. The pressure is on President Trump to decide whether or not to launch a military attack on Syria. According the news reports, Israel already launched several strikes on Syria.

Russia Warns USA and Vetoes UN Resolution

The Associated Press reported on April 10:

“A retired Russian general says any clash between the U.S. and Russia in Syria would quickly escalate beyond the region… He said in televised remarks Tuesday that Russian advisers are deployed across Syria and could be hurt by a U.S. strike.

“Russia has vetoed a U.S.-drafted U.N. resolution that would have condemned last weekend’s suspected gas attack near Damascus… The vote Tuesday afternoon in the 15-member Security Council was 12 in favor, Bolivia joining Russia in voting ‘no,’ and China abstaining.”

Why anyone would have thought that Russia would approve the UN resolution is beyond comprehension. The UN is a meaningless paper tiger and incapable of bringing about any substantive change or progress.

Situation in Syria Escalates

Deutsche Welle wrote on April 11:

“A spokesman for the Russian president has dismissed Trump’s ‘Twitter-diplomacy’ in a call for caution. The US president had earlier warned Russia to ‘get ready’ for American missiles that ‘will be coming’ to Syria… Trump… wrote in a Twitter post: ‘Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and “smart!” You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!’…

“A top official in Iran, which also backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, said his country would defend its ally against ‘foreign aggression.’…

“The US has been consulting with France and Britain over a military responseto Saturday’s alleged chemical weapons attack…”

The Sun wrote on April 12:

“Trump has back-pedaled on his threat to bomb Assad… Today, he

posted: ‘Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all! In any event, the United States, under my Administration, has done a great job of ridding the region of ISIS. Where is our ‘Thank you America?'”

President Trump also stated that the current relationship between the USA and Russia is worse than it was during the Cold War.

Fears of World War 3

Express wrote on April 12:

“World War 3: Theresa May calls EMERGENCY ‘war’ cabinet meeting as strike on Syria looms. THERESA May has called an emergency ‘war’ Cabinet meeting to discuss the crisis in Syria and the potential for imminent British military strikes against the Assad regime after US President Donald Trump signalled the US was ready to take action…

“Israel latest to back MILITARY ACTION in Syria as Netanyahu signals he is ready for WW3. ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Wednesday for action to be taken against Syria, as the UK, the US and numerous allies signalled they are gearing up for a military strike against the Assad regime following a chemical attack in Douma.”

“Australia’s Malcolm Turnbull SLAMS Russia and Syria for chemical attack as WW3 fears grow. AUSTRALIA’s Prime Minister appears to have given his backing to military action in Syria in response to the alleged chemical attack on civilians last weekend.”

Deutsche Welle wrote on April 12:

“Macron said… French and US officials were ‘working very closely, and we will have decisions to take, at the time we choose, when we consider it most useful and most effective.’…

“In Berlin, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany would not participate in any military strike on Syria.”

Justin Trudeau announced that Canada would not participate in a military strike either.

US Presidency Under Siege

The Daily Mail wrote on April 10:

“Donald Trumplashed out at his own Justice Department on Tuesday morning, following FBI raids on his longtime personal lawyer’s offices, home and hotel. ‘Attorney–client privilege is dead!’ Trump tweeted.

“The White House has yet to formulate a strategy for dealing with the fallout of an apparent criminal investigation of Michael Cohen by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Trump… is most angry about what he thought was an impenetrable barrier: the decades-old secrecy between Cohen and himself.

“Trump called Monday’s raid ordered by federal prosecutors on his personal attorney Michael Cohen’s hotel  room and offices ‘an attack on our country and what we all stand for’…

“Famed Harvard lawyer Alan Dershowitz…, a liberal who voted for Hillary Clinton, said Monday night that ‘this is a very dangerous day today for lawyer-client relations’. ‘This may be an attempt to squeeze Cohen… to get him to turn against his client,’ Dershowitz said in the clip… If this were Hillary Clinton [having her lawyer’s office raided], the ACLU would be on every TV station in America jumping up and down,’ Dershowitz protested. ‘The deafening silence of the ACLU and civil libertarians about the intrusion into the lawyer-client confidentiality is really appalling.‘

“When FBI agents swooped in on Cohen’s office Monday they seized a trove of documents related to the Stormy Daniels case and communications between the attorney and the president, in a dramatic escalation of Robert Mueller’s special counsel probe. They took his phone, personal computer and bank records – and Cohen is now under a microscope for both possible bank fraud and campaign finance violations.

“This indicates that Cohen is being investigated for using a home equity line of credit to borrow the $130,000 he paid Daniels, a porn star whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. If Cohen did in fact lie to obtain credit from a ‘federally insured financial institution,’ he could be charged with a felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. And if the payment is found to be an ‘in-kind contribution’ to Trump’s campaign, as it came just days before the election, Cohen could be facing a second felony. Violating campaign contribution limits is punishable by up to five years in prison…

“The president on Monday also called Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigators ‘the most conflicted group of people I have ever seen.’ ‘This is the most biased group of people. These people have the biggest conflicts of interest I’ve ever seen. Democrats all, just about all,’ Trump said, although Mueller himself is a Republican…”

It was also reported that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein (a Republican) personally approved Monday’s FBI raid on President Donald Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen.

Boehner Promotes Medical Marijuana

The Hill wrote on April 11:

“Former House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has joined the board of a top cannabis corporation to promote the use of medical marijuana, a shift in his once-adamant opposition to legalization of the substance. Boehner released a statement Wednesday on Twitter saying that his ‘thinking on cannabis has evolved… I’m convinced de-scheduling the drug is needed so we can do research, help our veterans, and reverse the opioid epidemic ravaging our communities,’ Boehner said.

“Acreage Holdings is one of the nation’s largest cannabis corporations. Boehner will also be joined on the Board of Advisors by former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, who won the Libertarian nomination for vice president in 2016. In a joint statement, the pair said they are hoping to de-schedule cannabis from a Class 1 drug at the federal level so it can be used for medical purposes…

“While dozens of states have moved to legalize marijuana in some form — either recreationally or for medicinal purposes — the substance is still prohibited at the federal level and is classified in the same category as heroin and LSD… Current Republican lawmakers said in February that they were optimistic about passing cannabis legislation in 2018.”

It’s about time. The Federal’s Class 1 drug designation of medical marijuana is totally ridiculous.

Brexit… a Managed Surrender for Britain

Politico wrote on March 23:

“Forget red lines, bellicose declarations and rhetoric about the United Kingdom taking back control — Brexit so far has been a process of managed surrender. British officials acknowledge that Prime Minister Theresa May has mostly had to accept the European Union’s terms for the divorce…

“However, the Brits insist, the real negotiation starts now and much is still to play for… Dream on! The withdrawal talks are likely to become even more lopsided as an unofficial October deadline for agreement on the framework of the future U.K.-EU relationship draws near. Any resemblance with a negotiation among equals is purely cosmetic…

“And that means the rest of the Brexit process is likely to look very much like it has thus far: a thunderous standoff masking a gradual retreat.”

Prince Charles Plans to Make Australia a Republic

Express wrote on April 2:

“Prince Charles, who is next-in-line to the throne wants Australia to become a republic… to be independent of the British Monarchy [it has been reported].

“The Prince will be in Australia this month for the start of the Commonwealth Games. The Games will kick-off with the Royal reading the Queen’s ‘secret message in a bottle.’ Prince Charles will have to remove the message from a baton that has made its way around the former British Empire nations that make up the Commonwealth.

“Commonwealth Games Federation CEO David Grevemberg said: “It all goes back to her speech to the Commonwealth on her 21st birthday in Cape Town in 1947 and dedicating her life to the Commonwealth.”

However, those former days of glory are long gone for “Great” Britain and the “British” Commonwealth.

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 subject has been covered, over the years, in sermons and other material, and in our Statement of Beliefs, you will find the following:

“Our doctrines and practices are based upon a literal understanding of the teachings revealed in the entire Bible. We believe that the Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments are God’s revelation of His Will to man, inspired in thought and word, and infallible in the original writings; that said Scriptures are the supreme and final authority in faith and life, the source of Truth and the foundation of all knowledge.”

We have also produced a booklet entitled “Old Testament Laws – Still Valid Today?” and another booklet with the title “God’s Law…Or God’s Grace?” plus many other booklets that will reflect our belief in the inerrancy of the Bible; that it is without error or fault in all its teaching. We also produced a Q&A in January 2006 which addressed the question: “In the Bible, God gives specific instructions and commandments. But weren’t Paul’s writings driven by the prevailing culture at that time?” This is still available on our website, where the question is thoroughly answered.

However, there are numerous people and church organisations who feel that they can “pick and mix.”   Let us give you an example of such an approach.

In 2004, the Roman Catholic Church in the UK produced a paper to present in Rome, entitled “The Gift of Scripture”. These are some brief comments on this subject taken from the ekklesia website. The headline on September 14, 2005, was: “Catholics encouraged to give emphasis to the Bible.”  It then went on to say the following:

“Roman Catholics throughout Britain are being encouraged to reaffirm the Bible as foundational for their faith, and to make its critical appreciation a key part of their discipleship and church identity. The Gift of Scripture provides an explanation of Catholic teaching on the Bible. The 60-page booklet outlines the basic principles by which it is interpreted, and gives guidance on some difficult questions which arise, says the Catholic Communications Network.”

Four books of the Bible came in for some heavy criticism – Genesis, Exodus, Proverbs and Revelation – and they feel that the first two chapters of Genesis are contradictory rather than complementary.

On page 27 of their document, when talking about the book of Exodus, they state that “The entry into the promised land is seen as a fulfilment of the divine promise, but the narratives raise serious theological questions.”

The book of Proverbs does not escape their criticism – they say: “Some proverbs are profound and weighty, while others are somewhat trivial.”

Then, of course, there’s the book of Revelation. They say, on page 48: “Such symbolic language must be respected for what it is, and not be interpreted literally.   We should not expect to discover in this book details about the end of the world.”

In the Times in October 2004, the religious correspondent observed that “the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church – in the UK – has published a teaching document instructing the faithful that some parts of the Bible are not actually true.”

On the website catholicplanet there is “A Critical Review of the Document ‘The Gift of Scripture’” by Ronald L. Conte Jr.  from November 14, 2005 where he writes:

“In summary, it is a heresy (and not a new one), which has been repeatedly condemned by successive Roman Pontiffs, to claim that the Bible is only infallible in matters pertaining to salvation, or only to faith and morals. Yet this document, called ‘The Gift of Scripture,’ not only displays a clear belief in this heresy, but also presumes to teach the same heresy, along with various other errors, as if such was the teaching of Christ.

“Furthermore, most of the text of GS (Gift of Scripture) treats the Bible as if it were merely a set of human books, containing errors, contradictions, and imperfect, time-conditioned human ideas. Despite some paragraphs that proclaim the Divine inspiration of Scripture, most of the document speaks as if it were merely a human book.”

It would appear that not everyone agreed with this booklet, including those within the Catholic church itself.

There is so much criticism from atheists and agnostics who feel that the Bible is not true in whole or part, as well as many “Christians” who will take the parts they like and dismiss those parts that don’t quite suit them.

On the website bibleinfo we read: “When the 66 books of the Bible with their 1,189 chapters made up of 31,173 verses are brought together (in the KJV), we find perfect harmony in the message they convey. As the great scholar F. F. Bruce noted: ‘The Bible is not simply an anthology; there is a unity which binds the whole together.’ In addition, Dr E L Towns noted that ‘there were numerous authors writing over a period of about sixteen hundred years and representing fifty-five generations and even though these authors represent a great diversity of occupations and ethnic/sociological backgrounds, the unified structure and theme of the Bible suggest there is one Mind who put it all together – God Himself, the Author of Scripture.’”

It is an incredible document.

We read in 2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Inspiration is from the Greek word “theopneustos” which is translated “divinely breathed” which clearly shows the source.

Whom do we believe?   God – the author of the Bible or Roman Catholic Bishops or anyone else who have their own ideas about which bits in the Bible they like and which bits they don’t?

The problem with some is that they can take the “social and cultural norms of the time” approach that allows the culture of the day to become more important than God’s clear instructions!   That’s dangerous ground!

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He says: “For I am the LORD, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6) and the Word of God, likewise, is unchangeable. We can’t “cherrypick” Scripture. We must take the Bible in its entirety and that includes Paul’s writings which are now part of Scripture and which cannot be dismissed as only applicable to his own time. If we do take the approach that we can have this bit of Scripture but discard another bit, then we become the arbiters of what is right and what should be in the Bible. We have neither the ability to so discern – nor do we have authority. And as for casting doubt on certain books in the Bible, that is nothing new.

Martin Luther, the 16th century German theologian, was frustrated by the works-emphasis, as he saw it, of the book of James, calling it “the Epistle of Straw”, and questioned its canonicity.   He was also irritated with the complex symbolism of the Book of Revelation and once said that it too, was not canon, and that it should be thrown into the river!   Apparently, he later retracted these statements, but it does show that leading figures have had their doubts about certain portions of the Bible that do not fit in with their own ideas.

In Acts 24:14 we read that Paul had no doubt about the validity of God’s Word: “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.”

Paul believed ALL things written in the law and the prophets. There is no doubt here at all. Did he, one of the great men of the Bible, cast any doubt on Scripture? Not at all, and neither should anyone else who purports to be a Christian!

Jesus Christ also showed that He believed in the inerrancy of the Word of God. When He was tested three times by Satan as we read in Matthew 4:1-11, He said, four times “It is written”, referring to the Old Testament. He also made a statement in John 10:35: “… the Scripture cannot be broken.” In Matthew 5:18, He further asserted: “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

The Catholic Bishops emphasised in their paper the human dimension of Scripture. But the Bible has something to say on this aspect too. In 2 Peter 1:20-21 we read: “… knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

As one internet commentator wrote: “He (that is Peter) wrote these words not long before his martyrdom. They emerge not only from his personal experience of being taught directly by Christ Himself, but also from several decades of His Christian life afterwards. These words were tested by long years of living experience. Under God’s inspiration, this is the true testimony of an authentic apostle of Jesus Christ.”

The Bishops – all of them – are answered from Scripture. We know that when Jesus Christ was tempted by the Devil, He answered not by human reasoning but by quoting the Word of God.   That is the way to respond, not making up our own arguments that can come from fallible human reasoning and pre-conceived ideas – but straight from the Word of God.  Isaiah 28:10 states: “Here a little, there a little”, as we have long understood that the Bible interprets itself for those with eyes to see.

In Deuteronomy 12:32 is a warning: “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.” In Revelation 22:18-19 is another warning: “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

The message of the Bible is complete and needs no extra attention from anyone.

What rebukes these are to those who treat the message carelessly or think that they have answers or input over and above that which is clearly stated in the Word of God! We know that these Bishops, and others, are not being called now – their fruits clearly show that they are not in step with the Word of God, but they will have their opportunity in due course, because God is fair.

In the meantime, those of us who have been called into the true Church of God must make sure that we don’t treat the Word of God lightly and that we revere ALL Scripture.   Anything less and we will be in serious trouble!

Yes, we do believe the Bible in its entirety!

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“Pope Francis and Hell—Closer to the Truth?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

Recently, Pope Francis allegedly denied the existence of hell and the immortal soul of the wicked. The Vatican scrambled to “clarify” these comments, and the traditional Christian world responded with astonishment and anger. And even though the official Catholic teaching is clearly at odds with those comments, Pope Francis made similar statements in the past, and other popes did likewise. But who is right–or could they all be wrong? What does the Bible say about life after death?

A new German Video ad was produced by Mike Link, promoting our new German booklet, “Lehre Uns zu Beten” (the translation of our English booklet, “Teach Us to Pray”).

We are pleased to announce that four people were baptized in Germany during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Our congratulations to our new brethren!

The 2018 Ministerial Conference will take place in Fort Collins, Colorado. Participants will arrive on April 18^th and depart on April 24^th.

“Fehler und Sünden gerechter Herrscher,” is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Mistakes and Sins of Righteous Rulers.”

“Nearing the Event Horizon,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Robb Harris, is now posted. Here is a summary:

We must take care in our spiritual walk to not draw near to sin that leads us astray.  The pull Satan exerts on each of us will lead us into a state we cannot escape if we allow ourselves to draw too close to sin.

“Detecting and Defeating Pride,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Eric Rank, is now posted. Here is a summary:

As Christians, the sin of pride is among the sneakiest and most elusive for us to identify when working to examine ourselves to remove sin. What can we do to detect and overcome the sin of pride, so that we don’t fall into the trap of self-deception and unwittingly lead ourselves away from God?

Several English sermonettes and sermons given during the Feast of Unleavened Bread are now posted. Check our website for further information: https://www.eternalgod.org/sermons/

In addition, all German sermonettes and sermons given during the Feast of Unleavened Bread and on the last Sabbath were posted as well. Check our website http://www.ewigengottes.de/

On March 24, 2018, Norbert Link will take the sermonette and announcement time to speak on current events in the light of biblical prophecy. Mr. Link will also present the sermon, titled, “The Passover and Christ’s Sacrifice.”

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

PLEASE NOTE: Passover will be observed on Thursday evening, after sunset, on March 29, 2018. The Days of Unleavened Bread will be observed beginning March 30th through April 6th.

The Update will NOT be published for the weeks of March 30^th or April 6^th. We will resume publication on the week of April 13^th.

Are we living in a state of fear?  With all the news of death and destruction we hear about on a daily basis, do we sometimes worry if this could happen to us?  Could we be a victim of a shooting or bomb tragedy, or even be involved in a serious car accident or plane crash, just as an example?  Do we have God’s protection at all times?

Do we fear the future of what is to come, when things are going to get worse, much worse than what we hear about now?  When it comes to the spiritual side of things, do we fear that we aren’t qualified enough for God to protect and save us from the impending disasters?  If we feel that way, it’s about time we change that way of thinking and be ready, prepare ourselves spiritually and we better make sure that we are counted worthy so we can have that protection and more importantly, be a part of the Kingdom of God.

God has created us with the ability to be led by His Holy Spirit within us, which can only be obtained through proper baptism, and through this power, we can obtain wisdom and understanding to discern between real and perceived dangers, also knowing what is right and what is wrong.  We have free will and we do make choices and hopefully we make correct choices as we continue to grow in the knowledge of Christ and use more and more of the Spirit given to us by God.  He has given us the choice to live with worldly fears, apprehension and suffering, or to embrace a Godly fear which leads to wisdom, courage and everlasting joy (2 Timothy 1:7).

God hasn’t given us a “spirit of fear” in the worldly sense, but, for our benefit, He has put the emotion of fear in our minds as a consequence of sin.  We will be faced with fears, whether physical or spiritual, when terror strikes the earth in various ways. We will be in the middle of it, we will be tested, and we will have to fight our fears over Satan’s clever tactics; and we know that we can defeat him because God says we can, as God gives us the tools to arm ourselves (Ephesians 6:11-12).

It is God’s Word which gives us His perspective about fear as stated in 1 John 4:18: “Perfect love casts out fear.”  If God doesn’t give us a Spirit of fear and we know that He loves us perfectly, why are we still afraid?  We must learn to fight fear with “fear”—and it’s this other kind of fear that is the cure for our uncontrolled fears: The fear of the Lord.  If we obey God and put our trust, faith and confidence in Him, then there shouldn’t be any reason to be afraid, to fear what the future will bring because He will protect us, as He has promised He would.  Christ has given us peace and the whole world does not understand this peace that Christ is referring to, but in due time, they will (compare John 14:27).

We don’t need to fear the world because we understand what it means to fear, respect and revere God.  When we have the fear of the Lord, it means we look upon God with high esteem, an attitude accompanied by obedience, knowing, as it says in Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.”

by Norbert Link

We begin with articles pertaining to Russia and Vladimir Putin’s “election victory” (please view in this regard our new StandingWatch program, “Russia’s and China’s Dangerous Dictatorships,”); address cyber-attacks and their potentially devastating effects; and quote an article speaking on Britain’s lost senses (while we recognize that this is also true for many other countries, including European nations and the USA). We also address German and European reactions to contemplated American tariffs on trade, which have been postponed for now, while China is being hit hard; speak on the new “rotten” US budget deal; and report on America’s new National Security Advisor.

We focus on China’s warning to the world; report on Israel’s admission of having destroyed a nuclear reactor in Syria; and point out the growing worldwide interest in a Third Temple in Jerusalem and the planned reenactment of the sacrifice of a Passover lamb.

We conclude with articles on some of Pope Francis’ wrong and unbiblical beliefs, as well as the growing opposition of Catholic priests.

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

“Vladimir Putin’s Great Deceit”

Deutsche Welle wrote on March 18:

“It’s no surprise that Vladimir Putin was re-elected as Russian president. The outcome of this bogus election was preordained…

“The Kremlin controls every aspect of the political process in Russia and it didn’t leave anything to chance during this electoral spectacle… Many Russians undoubtedly voted for him; he is clearly popular with the public. But he is popular because the Kremlin has for years blocked other politicians from developing their own public profiles in the centrally controlled media… The president’s power rests not only on state repression, but also to the media’s portrayal of him as Russia’s only conceivable leader…

“Where will Putin lead Russia in the next few years? Many in the West fear Russia’s unpredictable and aggressive stance on the international stage, as NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg most recently put it. The poisoning of the former Russian agent Sergei Skripal in the UK with a military-grade nerve agent made it clear that Putin is prepared to further escalate confrontation with the West…

“Russia has fallen behind economically and technologically, particularly compared to China, but also compared to the US, Japan and the EU. Russians sense their incomes are falling. But the Kremlin-controlled propaganda machine drowned out the homemade causes for the economic and social stagnation with anti-Western rhetoric and messages of bogus military strength…

“Putin will not change his course during his next term. Real reforms to the Russian economy and state would inevitably undermine the foundations of his power…”

Congratulating Putin?

The Week wrote on March 21:

“President Trump defended his decision to congratulate Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election earlier this week, tweeting Wednesday ‘in past, Obama called him also,’ ‘getting along with Russia (and others) is a good thing, not a bad thing,’ and ‘PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!’

“The Washington Post had reported that Trump was warned in all caps by national security advisers not to congratulate Putin, and aides told the president he needed to condemn the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in England earlier this month, widely blamed on Moscow. Trump didn’t bring this up, the Post reports…”

Bild Online commented that some of the few leaders who did NOT congratulate Putin were Theresa May from England and Justin Trudeau from Canada, congratulating them for their backbone and strength of character.

Italian Election… Putin the Real Winner

The Hill wrote on March 8:

“Within Italy, the big winners in the March 4 elections were the two populist parties, who between them pulled in roughly 50 percent of the vote.

“The 5 Star Movement, which emphasizes the ‘drain the swamp’ part of the populist message, was the leading party, with 32 percent of the vote for both chambers of the Italian parliament. The League, more akin to the anti-immigrant policies [of] Marine Le Pen’s National Front in France, pulled about 17 percent, easily topping the center-right Let’s Go Italy (Forza Italia) of Silvio Berlusconi, disappointed in his hopes of returning to the forefront of Italian politics.

“Outside Italy, though, the undisputed winner was Vladimir Putin. But the strong and public Russian connections of Italy’s populist parties could have very concrete impacts on Italian policy going forward.

“The League, for example, has regularly protested European Union sanctions against Russia. In March 2017, League chief Matteo Salvini even signed a cooperation agreement with United Russia, Putin’s political party, which holds the lion’s share of votes in the Duma. Much of the agreement reportedly deals with exchanges of information and meetings between party and parliamentary representatives, but promotion of Italy-Russia trade and economic cooperation evidently also figured… Evidence of the 5 Star Movement’s friendly ties with Russia is also abundant…

“Putin doesn’t need, and presumably does not expect, an overtly pro-Russian shift in Italy. It’s already a help to Russia that one of the largest West European countries, the fourth largest European economy (in the top ten worldwide), an active contributor to NATO, and historically close to the United States, will be effectively paralyzed.”

Sooner than expected by many, Italy will become anti-Russian, as will be all of the countries within the EU. In fact, war will break out between Europe and Far Eastern nations, including Russia and China (note our article on China below). For more information, please read our free booklet, “Biblical Prophecy… From Now until Forever.”  Also note the next article on Germany and Russia.

“Is Germany Turning on Russia?”

Handelsblatt Global wrote on March 21:

“Germany’s new foreign minister, Heiko Maas, has indicated a tougher line against the Russian bear since taking up his post a week ago. While former foreign minister and now German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier was busying congratulating President Vladimir Putin on his recent election win, Mr. Maas had far harsher words. ‘There certainly can be no claim to fair political competition in all respects,’ he said.

“… he was working on a joint statement with his EU colleagues condemning Russia for its alleged involvement in the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal in Britain. For the Europeans, who view Russia as a threat since its invasion of Ukraine in 2014, there is only one plausible explanation: an assassination attempt ordered by the state.

“‘The first statements suggest that Maas is counting on clear opposition to Russia’s aggressive course, which violates international law,’ Norbert Röttgen, head of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the German parliament, the Bundestag, told Handelsblatt. He is calling for a continuation of the ‘firm, consistent policy of non-acceptance of Russian aggression’ that Chancellor Angela Merkel has pursued alongside other European and NATO partners…

“Other members of the Bundestag take a different view, with a cross-party alliance of friends of Russia taking shape. Most recently, Bundestag Vice President Wolfgang Kubicki, from the pro-business FDP party, spoke out in favor of ending sanctions imposed against Russia following its annexation of Crimea ‘step by step.’ The policy largely reflects business interests. There are 5,000 German companies with operations in Russia, and they believe business will pick up significantly if the sanctions are lifted.

“Ms. Merkel is unlikely to shift her line. Those who set the tone in her government do not trust Mr. Putin and see his expansive foreign policy as a threat to the European security architecture…

“Beyond economic cooperation, the overlap of common interests is shrinking. Russia intervenes in neighboring countries, launching cyberattacks in Europe and the US. And in Syria it is waging a merciless bombing war against the opponents of dictator Bashar al-Assad…”

Russian Cyber Operatives Attacking the USA

The website of thenextweb wrote on March 16:

“Russian cyber operatives are attacking critical American infrastructure such as energy grids, nuclear facilities, aviation systems, and water processing plants, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

“The report details numerous attempts, since at least March of 2016, where Russian cyber operatives targeted government entities and multiple US critical infrastructure sectors.”

Russia stands also accused of having meddled through cyber-attacks in European nations.

The Threat of Cyber Attacks and Solar Storms

The Telegraph wrote on March 17:

“British cities would be uninhabitable within days and the country is only a few meals from anarchy if the National Grid was taken down in a cyber attack or solar storm, disaster and security experts have warned. Modern life is so reliant on electricity that a prolonged blackout would quickly lead to a loss of water, fuel, banking, transport and communications that would leave the country ‘in the Stone Age’.

“The warning comes weeks after the Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson, said Russia had been spying on the UK’s energy infrastructure and could cause ‘thousands and thousands and thousands’ of deaths if it crippled the power supply…

“As well as a cyber attack, other black sky risks include extreme weather, an electromagnetic pulse caused by a nuclear detonation in the atmosphere and terrorist attacks on key substations or transformers. One of the most destructive risks would be a powerful solar storm. A previous storm in 1859, now known as the Carrington Event, caused so much geomagnetic disruption that telegraph operators reported sparks bursting out of their machines. Such a storm today could cause havoc to electrical systems.

“One of the biggest problems would be that water supplies and sewage services rely on electrical pumps… Fuel would also quickly run out because it requires electrical pumps, meaning transport and deliveries to shops, hospitals and institutions would quickly cease. As communications like the internet and phones failed, the Government would struggle to tell people what was going on…”

These predictions are by no means far-fetched, but they are of real concerns.

“Britain Has Taken Leave of its Senses”

The Daily Mail wrote on March 19:

“Not a day goes by without lunacy hitting the headlines… Take the story over the weekend about the two women who gatecrashed a men-only swimming session in South London, after telling staff they ‘self-identified’ as male… The women were feminists, making a legitimate protest against new gender equality laws that would allow people to pick their own sex, regardless of biology…

“The real problem arises when men who identify as women demand the right to use exclusively female facilities… Yet the Government is considering letting people self-certify their gender without any medical diagnosis…

“Hospitals have stopped calling mothers ‘mothers’ because it might upset the trans-fascists. A couple of weeks ago, retailers were knocking out gender-free Mother’s Day cards…

“This is the crazy world we live in, one in which a private girls’ school is thinking of installing ‘gender-neutral’ toilets, even though it has no transgender pupils… is this a serious country, or a joke …

“For instance, would any serious country give houseroom to an alleged ‘asylum-seeker’, who claims to have trained with Izal in Syria, boasts about hating the West and, after being lavished with money and kindness, attempts to blow up hundreds of people on the London Underground? No serious country would run down its Armed Forces, as successive governments in Britain have done, at a time of heightened tensions in the world… Nor would a serious country commission two expensive aircraft carriers, without bothering to provide the aircraft to use them. A serious country wouldn’t shut three-quarters of its police stations, withdraw foot patrols and expect victims to report crimes over the internet.

“In a serious country, the Old Bill wouldn’t fritter away millions pursuing ‘historic’ sex crimes allegations against former prime ministers and other public figures who are dead. A serious country wouldn’t turn a blind eye to the systematic rape of thousands of young girls by men of mostly Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin because coppers and so-called child protection officers were scared of being called ‘racist’…

“In a serious, mature democracy, MPs wouldn’t grant the people a binding referendum on national sovereignty and then move heaven and earth trying to undermine and overturn the result.

“…forgive me if I ignore the confected fury over Facebook data being used to target potential Donald Trump voters. The Guardian, in particular, is getting terribly excited. If Hillary Clinton had won, we’d never have heard any more about it. In fact, when Obama was elected in 2008, he was hailed as a genius for the way in which his campaign used social media.

“And in 2012, one publication carried this glowing report: ‘Barack Obama’s re-election team are building a vast digital data operation that for the first time combines a unified database on millions of Americans with the power of Facebook to target individual voters to a degree never achieved before. ‘Facebook is also being seen as a source of invaluable data on voters . . . thus allowing the campaign to access their personal data and add it to the central data store — the largest, most detailed and potentially most powerful in the history of political campaigns.’ That publication?… The Guardian.”

So it seems indeed that Britain has taken leave of its senses… but so have most countries around the world, especially in Western Europe and the USA.

Germany: “US Will Fail if It Tries to Split Europe”

AFP wrote on March 18:

“US President Donald Trump ‘will not succeed’ in dividing European nations against one another over trade, German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier warned… In the European Union ‘we are a customs union and act collectively…’

“The US leader says the shock measures are in response to ‘unfair’ trade practices, but the EU has vowed to retaliate…”

The relationship between the USA and Europe (and Germany in particular) is bound to deteriorate drastically. For more information, please read our free booklets, The Fall and Rise of Britain and America and Europe in Prophecy. 

EU Needs to Take the Lead in Maintaining Global Trade System

Euractiv wrote on March 20:

“As America retreats after Trump’s plans to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, the world is moving on. Now is the time for the EU to take the lead in maintaining the global trade system…

“The EU is right to prepare for a fight… The EU and national European governments must continue to press Washington on the folly of the tariffs…

“Across the world, countries are taking trade initiatives which sidestep the US… The EU-Japan free trade agreement is almost done… The US may not want to play ball but many other countries are ready to do so.”

In the not-too-distant future, the EU will take a leading role in economic AND military matters, while the USA will become more and more irrelevant.

EU Exempted from US Tariffs; China Being Hit Hard

CNN wrote on March 22, 2018:

“President Trump is granting more exemptions to his steel and aluminum tariffs — and dodging a trade war with key US allies. The European Union, Argentina, Brazil, South Korea and Australia will not be subject to the trade penalties when they take effect Friday… Exemptions for Canada and Mexico were previously announced…”

Newsmax wrote on March 22, 2018:

“The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 700 points on trade fears, tumbling back into correction territory as U.S. stocks plunged the most in six weeks amid the threat of an escalating trade war with China that has the potential to disrupt global growth… President Donald Trump ordered tariffs on about $50 billion in Chinese goods.”

Deutsche Welle wrote on March 22:

“US companies from Walmart to Amazon have warned that sweeping sanctions against China could raise consumer prices and hit the stock market… IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde warn[ed] of a global trade conflict that could undermine the broadest world recovery in years… According to a Bloomberg Economics estimate, a global trade conflagration could wipe $470 billion off the world economy by 2020.”

Terrible and Rotten US Budget Deal

Newsmax reported on March 22:

“Sen. Rand Paul has denounced the $1.3 trillion federal budget bill as ‘rotten, terrible’… lawmakers put together the massive spending bill [Wednesday night], which passed in the House Thursday. The Senate now needs to approve it and send it to the White House for President Donald Trump to sign [which he grudgingly declared he would do]. If it’s not approved by midnight Friday night, a government shutdown will occur.

“‘You have to know what’s in it. Really, should we be looking at 1,000-page bills with 24 hours to decide what’s in them? It’s really not a good way to run your government,’ Paul [said]. Government spending, Paul said, is out of control… ‘I’m upset that we’re spending like every Democrat that we criticized,’ Paul said… The national debt eclipsed the $21 trillion dollar mark last week.”

New National Security Adviser for Trump

The Daily Mail wrote on March 22:

“President Donald Trump will replace National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster with John Bolton on April 9, the White House announced late Thursday. Bolton, a former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, is a hawkish conservativewith a pugnacious streak – and a frequent guest on the Fox News Channel. He is also a fierce opponent of the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal… Bolton will be the third person to be Trump’s chief national security aide in his 14-month presidency.

“Trump has clashed with McMaster repeatedly in recent months, telling confidants that he considers the general a long-winded bore.  His departure comes barely a week after the president dramatically ousted former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a tweet…

“[Bolton] remains a firm believer in the wisdom of President George W. Bush’s Iraq war, which Trump has routinely cast as a colossal mistake and a waste of money that could have been spent domestically…

“McMaster was originally hired as a quick-fix replacement for Gen. Michael Flynn, who was fired after mere weeks as National Security Advisor because he hid from Vice President Mike Pence and other officials the nature and extent of his contacts with Russia’s U.S. ambassador.”

Bolton has also repeatedly advocated nuclear war with North Korea.

China’s Dangerous Dictatorship

CNN wrote on March 20:

“China is ready to fight the ‘bloody battle’ against its enemies in its determination to take its place in the world, declared President Xi Jinping in a nationalist speech Tuesday that underlined his strongman rule over the world’s most populous country… His words were a rallying cry for his second term as President, a role he looks set to hold for life after China changed its constitution to remove presidential term limits. That move ensures Xi’s place as the country’s unquestioned political supremo in a world where China’s reach is extending further than ever before and rival superpower the United States is taking a back seat.

“At many points in his televised speech he harkened back to the country’s imperial past which critics have accused him of seeking to emulate as an emperor-like figure.  Xi listed China’s historic achievements — such as the invention of paper, Confucianism, and building the Great Wall — and the country’s experience of invasion from outside and ‘defending the national independence and freedom.’ He had strong language for supporters of formal independence for Taiwan or Hong Kong, saying that ‘not a single inch of our land’ could be ceded from China…  Beijing regards the island as a breakaway province to be retaken by force if necessary…

“Xi has been accused of pursuing a cult of personality similar to Mao’s… Xi’s power is even more concentrated than Mao’s…  Xi has now assumed absolute control of the party, army and state… In his speech, Xi stressed the importance of reforming China’s military and the absolute power of the Communist Party over the country…

“Xi’s installation as China’s absolute leader comes as his ally Vladimir Putin scored a record third term as Russian President with a landslide win in an election in which no real opposition was permitted to run. While Putin is more constrained by needing to keep to at least the appearance of representative democracy, he and Xi are the most prominent of a host of world leaders rolling back voting rights and shoring up their own authority.  Putin is cleared to rule Russia for six more years, and some analysts predicted he may follow Xi’s lead and remove term limits in order to serve indefinitely, pointing to the lack of a likely successor to the presidency.”

Israel Did Destroy Nuclear Reactor in Syria!

The Times of Israel wrote on March 21:

“After more than a decade of stubborn silence, Israel has finally acknowledged that its Air Force destroyed the Syrian nuclear reactor, on the night between September 5 and 6, 2007. Built by North Korea, the reactor was designed to produce plutonium as fissile material for nuclear bombs… When Israel struck, the Syrians were only weeks away from beginning to produce highly radioactive materials…

“Plainly, the decision by [Ehud] Olmert [Prime Minister at that time] to blow up the complex — after he had unsuccessfully asked then-president George W. Bush to do so — prevented Assad from attaining nuclear weapons. Potentially, it also prevented the world’s most bloodthirsty terrorists from acquiring the world’s most lethal weapons.”

Warning for Iran

JTA added on March 21:

“It is the second time that Israel has acknowledged destroying the nuclear reactor of an enemy country. In 1981 the IDF bombed the Osirak nuclear reactor in Iraq, for which it immediately claimed credit. ‘The message of the attack on the reactor in 2007 is that Israel will not accept the construction of a capability that threatens the existence of the State of Israel. That was the message in ’81. That was the message in 2007. And that is the message to our enemies for the future,’ IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot said…

“Yisrael Katz, the intelligence minister, was more explicit in saying that the acknowledgment was a signal to Iran. ‘The courageous decision of the Israeli government almost 11 years ago to destroy the nuclear reactor in Syria and the successful operation following it sends a clear message: Israel will never allow nuclear weapons to countries like Iran who threaten its existence,’ he said.”

Third Temple a Growing Worldwide Phenomenon

Breaking Israel News wrote on March 5:

“A newly minted coin featuring President Trump, King Cyrus, and the Third Temple has been featured in media around the world, graphically illustrating that support for the Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount is now a global phenomenon that is transcending political and religious boundaries.

“Three weeks ago, the nascent Sanhedrin and the Mikdash (Temple) Educational Center, a non-profit organization for education about the Temple, partnered in a risky venture to mint a commemorative medallion with an image of President Donald Trump and the Persian King Cyrus. The flip side features a stylized image of the Third Temple. Both signed a contract to mint 1,000 coins in the hope that the message on the coin that calls out to the US president to support the Jewish claim to the Temple Mount, would resonate with enough people to cover the total expense of the coins. They offered the coins to the public for a minimum donation of $50, and the response has exceeded all their expectations…

“Rabbi Hillel Weiss, the spokesman for the Sanhedrin, was surprised by the overwhelming response, but the message was clear to him: Support for the Third Temple is growing…

“The source for the concept behind the coin is the Biblical silver half-shekel that was collected in Temple Times from every Jewish man. The Trump medallion does not adhere to the requirements of this Biblically mandated coin but proceeds from sales of the coin will go towards projects educating the public about the Jewish Temple…

“The next project that the two organizations will cooperate on is a reenactment of the Paschal Sacrifice on March 26. At that time, Kohanim (Jewish men of priestly descent) will recreate the Temple service in a manner resembling the Temple service as much as possible. They will be dressed in the priestly garments and using silver vessels intended for use in the Third Temple. A lamb will be sacrificed and roasted in a Biblically authentic manner.”

The Bible predicts that a third temple will be built. For more information, please read our free booklet, “The Fall and Rise of the Jewish People.” 

Pope Francis: Don’t Wear Crosses as Ornaments

Fox News wrote on March 20:

“The Pope hit out at the ‘abuse’ of the crucifix by people who wear them as fashion accessories… Pope Francis said that the crucifix is a religious sign to be ‘contemplated and understood’, rather than merchandised [and] not to be ‘abused’ by being treated as an ornament or clothing accessory.”

This won’t make many Catholics happy. In addition, the t-cross is a pagan symbol and not to be placed in Christian churches or homes. Further, it is not to be worn, worshipped or idolized by Christians at all. Note our Q&A on the cross. Also read our two Q&As on the sign of the cross. https://www.eternalgod.org/what-is-the-origin-of-the-sign-of-the-cross-should-christians-make-the-sign-of-the-cross-part-1/ and https://www.eternalgod.org/what-is-the-origin-of-the-sign-of-the-cross-should-christians-make-the-sign-of-the-cross-part-2/

Pope: “Nothing Wrong With Tattoos”

Breitbart wrote on March 20:

“There is nothing wrong with tattoos, Pope Francis told a group of young people Monday, urging them to be open to cultural expressions of ‘belonging’… the pope said that the problem is that some people exaggerate by covering their body with tattoos, but ‘the problem is the exaggeration, not the tattoos.’ …

“‘Don’t be afraid of tattoos,’ the pope [said], noting that for many years Eritrean Christians and others have gotten tattoos of the cross on their foreheads…”

The pope is dead wrong on this issue as well. Please read our Q&A on tattoos.

Polish Catholic Priest Wishes the Pope’s Death

The Associated Press reported on March 17:

“Poland’s leading archbishop deplored on Sunday comments by a senior conservative priest who had wished Pope Francis a quick death if he does not open to ‘wisdom.’ Krakow Archbishop Marek Jedraszewski said he heard about the comments with ‘great pain and regret’ and has discussed them face-to-face with Msgr. Edward Staniek, who made them in a Feb. 25 church speech in Krakow.

“Krakow was the seat of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, the late Pope St. John Paul II. Poland’s church remains attached to John Paul’s conservative stance, which largely differs from Francis’ inclusive message. A majority of Poland’s bishops see their mission as preserving the traditional Catholic values from the pressure of secularization. In his speech, Staniek, who is a prominent theologian… said that Francis has departed from the teaching of Jesus and was wrongly interpreting mercy as opening up to Muslims and allowing communion for divorced Catholics, who, according to the church, live in mortal sin and are not allowed communion… Staniek suggested Francis was an ‘alien body’ in the Catholic Church.”

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.

One correspondent wrote to us: “If you rest on the seventh day you do well, but New Testament churches very obviously functioned on the first day of the week. Acts makes consistent, repeated, and clear use of ‘the first day of the week’ (check out Acts 20:6,7 & 1 Cor.16:1,2…).”

Let us look at those two scriptures that have been used to think that the first day of the week was kept rather than the Sabbath. We need to keep in mind that the biblical Sabbath is the time span from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. The Bible calls it the seventh day or the last day of the week. On the other hand, Sunday is the first day of the week, even though some mistakenly refer to it as the “Sabbath.”

Acts 20:6-7 reads: “But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.  Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.”

In verse 6, it mentions the Days of Unleavened Bread which shows that the annual Holy Days were being kept many years after Christ’s crucifixion. In verse 7, the first day of the week was on Saturday evening after the weekly Sabbath had ended when they were breaking bread which just means that they were having a meal. To use this to say that Sunday had replaced the Sabbath is not something that is upheld by any informed historical source.

For an in-depth explanation of this passage, see our Q&A on Acts 20:7.

In the New Testament, we read a number of instances about the Sabbath in the book of Acts 13:14, 27, 42-44; 15:21; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4 and it is mentioned 58 times in all.

We read about the uproar over circumcision in Acts 15 where the apostles and elders came together (verse 6) to discuss this matter in Jerusalem. Just think of the furore that there would have been had the keeping of the weekly Sabbath been in dispute, but there is no such mention in the Bible. This would have been an even bigger matter had that been the case, but it simply didn’t happen.

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 states: “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”

This is about a collection for the saints which was done on a Sunday – the first day of the week.   There was a famine in Judea and church members (saints) were in need of food.   This collection was done on a common workday, not on a holy Sabbath day.  Some churches have used this as a means of Sunday church collections but this is a complete misunderstanding of what this was all about.   It was the first day of the week, Sunday, and is not the Lord’s day; just the first day of the week. Further, no money was being collected, but food was to be stored (1 Corinthians 16:2; Romans 15:26-28) to be brought to the brethren in Jerusalem who needed food.

From the sabbathtruth website we read the following:

“In order to make the gospel more attractive to non-Christians, pagan customs were incorporated into the church’s ceremonies. The custom of Sunday worship was welcomed by Christians who desired to differentiate themselves from the Jews, whom they hated because of the Jews’ rejection of the Savior. The first day of the week began to be recognized as both a religious and civil holiday. By the end of the second century, Christians considered it sinful to work on Sunday.”

We can see that Sunday was slowly introduced, but the early New Testament Church of God did keep the Sabbath during the first century.

Interestingly, many quote Revelation 1:10: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day”, which is the theme of the book. This is not, in any way, Scriptural authority for Sunday keeping.  In the previous verse (Revelation 1:9), we read that John was “on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Joel 2:1 reads as follows: “Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the LORD is coming, For it is at hand.”  The day of the Lord is a time which will begin just prior to the return of Jesus Christ, and the book of Revelation (a revealing) is about the future just ahead of us now.

Some cite John 20:19 for the idea that the disciples conducted a Sunday worship service. However, the passage reveals that they had assembled at evening, when the doors were shut for fear of the Jews. They did not meet for a worship service, but they were hiding from the Jews.

There are many admissions by other churches, including the Roman Catholic church which acknowledges the seventh-day Sabbath. Here are just two examples of many:

“It is well to remind the Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, and all other Christians, that the Bible does not support them anywhere in their observance of Sunday. Sunday is an institution of the Roman Catholic Church, and those who observe the day observe a commandment of the Catholic Church” (Priest Brady, in an address, reported in the Elizabeth, NJ ‘News’ on March 18, 1903).

Dr. Edward Hiscox, author of The Baptist Manual, wrote the following:

“There was and is a commandment to keep holy the Sabbath day, but that Sabbath day was not on Sunday… It will be said, however, and with some show of triumph, that the Sabbath was transferred from the seventh to the first day of the week… where can the record of such a transaction be found? Not in the New Testament. Of course, I quite well know that Sunday did come into use in early Christian history as a religious day, as we learn from the Christian Fathers and other sources. But what a pity that it comes branded with the mark of paganism, and christened with the name of a sun god, when adopted and sanctioned by the papal apostasy, and bequeathed as a sacred legacy to Protestantism!”

At a later time, “The Roman emperor Constantine, a former sun-worshiper, professed conversion to Christianity, though his subsequent actions suggest the ‘conversion’ was more of a political move than a genuine heart change. Constantine named himself Bishop of the Catholic Church and enacted the first civil law regarding Sunday observance in A.D. 321.”

Coming back to the original question, “Did the New Testament show that the early Church kept the First Day of the Week?” The answer is a categorical no!  There are Scriptural references about the first day of the week and not one of them is referenced as being a holy day; it was, quite simply, an ordinary day.

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

A new Member Letter (March 2018) has been written by Dave Harris. In this letter, an overview of the weekly Sabbath and annual Holy Days is presented with a focus on the vital role these observances have in our relationship with God.

“Russia’s and China’s Dangerous Dictatorships,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

What can we expect from Vladimir Putin’s and Xi Jinping’s ongoing dictatorial military ambitions and actions? Are they in fact a threat to the Western world, including Europe and the USA? What, if anything, do events in Russia and China have to do with biblical prophecy?

The same program was also published in German, titled, “Russlands und Chinas gefährliche Diktaturen” 

“Sie können uns nicht bezahlen!” is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “You Cannot Pay Us!”

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

In IT, networking the need for a firewall is first and foremost. Without a firewall, the entire network would be rendered useless. As Christians, we also need to have firewalls in place. How can we apply this into our lives?

“God or Man? Part 1,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Michael Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

When is it justified to obey God rather than man, even when it comes to human laws and Godly laws? Do we still need to keep the 10 Commandments today? What do the laws of man suggest and are there any contradictions to the laws of God? When it comes right down to it, will we obey God rather than man? This first part will cover the first 4 Commandments which describe the love towards God.

The 2018 Ministerial Conference will take place in Fort Collins, Colorado. Participants will arrive on April 18^th and depart on April 24^th.