On November 15, 2025, Eric Rank will present the sermonette, titled, “Our Agency and God’s Direction” and Dave Harris will present the sermon, titled, “The Warning.”

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

“A Man for All Seasons” was a movie that was released in the 1960’s, based on the true story about the final years of Sir Thomas More, a 16^th century lawyer, devout Catholic and Lord Chancellor of England who was executed for refusing to support King Henry VIII’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon and his subsequent marriage and to take an Oath of Supremacy, declaring King Henry Supreme Head of the Church of England.

He showed moral standards and refused to buckle under pressure from the King to maintain his integrity even to the point of decapitation. He was willing to die for his convictions, and in the movie, he paid his executioner money before being beheaded, this being a practice in the 16th century.

Regardless of all his noble and high moral standards, there is one man in history who really was “A Man for All Seasons,” and that is the Man Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

To become a Man, He gave up His divinity for a time. He was immortal and eternal. He had power and authority. He was the Son of God. He had created all things under God the Father, both physical as the universe and mankind, and spiritual as angels and everything else existing in the spirit realm [excluding, of course, the Father], including thrones, instruments of music, golden bowls etc., as we can read in Revelation 5:8: “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders [angelic beings] fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”

Think about what He gave up! It would be somewhat comparable [even though the comparison is enormously lacking] to a very wealthy man from a rich and prosperous family used to everything imaginable with a life of luxury, to become homeless, begging for food and sleeping on the sidewalk.

He, as a human, was subject to pain, mockery, temptation from Satan, the world and His human desires, and through it all, He never sinned and prevailed with flying colours (Matthew 4:1-11).

You could just see Satan taunting Christ: “Why go through all that suffering and die, when you can have it all now? Just fall down and worship me.”

Christ rebuked him, using Scripture: “Jesus said to him, ‘It is written again, “YOU SHALL NOT TEMPT THE LORD YOUR GOD’” (Matthew 4:7).

He had compassion on the sick, the lame, deaf and blind, and He healed them, even when knowing not all would show appreciation for their healing. Luke 17:11-19 reports the following:

“Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.   And they lifted up their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’  So when He saw them, He said to them, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

“So Jesus answered and said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?’ And He said to him, ‘Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.’”

He never wanted to put the spotlight on Himself, but He gave credit to God. “Then Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner’” (John 5:19).

He was subject to God’s Will even when facing death: “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will’” (Matthew 26:39).

Nobody on this earth would want to go through the beatings, scourging, punches to the face and mockery Christ would have to face, plus hanging on the cross for six hours and then being pierced with a sword to end His life. He knew ahead of time that all of this would happen to Him. Yet He did all of this for us; so how much do we appreciate His Sacrifice, pain, suffering and death so that we could be saved and become members of the God Family?

We should thank Him for His Sacrifice and service and also thank God the Father as hard as it was for Him to look away from or “forsake” Christ for a moment, when shortly before His death on the cross, He was carrying all the sins of the world, so that God’s Plan could be accomplished and that we would have a true “Man for All Seasons” and a loving compassionate High Priest and Saviour.

by Norbert Link

We begin with articles questioning the survival of the German government beyond 2025. In this regard, please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “What Does the Bible Say About Germany’s Future?”.

We address interesting developments and revelations pertaining to Austria’s Habsburg family; and point out the terrible consequences of the longest shutdown in American history, including SNAP payments and huge problems pertaining to travel.

We also quote articles claiming that Trump’s tariffs policy has caused just about everything to become more expensive for American consumers.

We address Trump’s meeting with Orban; his boycott of the G-2O summit in South Africa; BBC’s dishonest reporting; Pope Leo’s ill-conceived two-state “solution”; Turkey’s hostile conduct towards Israel; China’s use of war-robots in preparation of attacking Taiwan; and undeniable side effects of Covid-19 vaccinations.

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

How Long Will the German Coalition Last? 

Report 24 wrote on November 7: 

“Not even 200 days in power, but already all trust lost: The high poll numbers for the AfD vividly demonstrate how convinced the population is of the black-red coalition in Germany. Even within the government, there is now increasing unrest. Jens Spahn is said to have already declared, with regard to the SPD [CDU’s coalition party], that they will not ‘die with them.’ The mainstream media is now speculating about a possible collapse of the coalition… 

“Will the whole thing blow up around Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s (CDU) door before Christmas? A nasty joke is circulating in the CDU/CSU parliamentary group: What’s the difference between God and Friedrich Merz? God doesn’t think of himself as Friedrich Merz, but Merz thinks of himself as God! The chancellor, who constantly violates the eighth commandment (‘Thou shalt not lie’), will certainly need God’s help if he wants to save his chaotic coalition from the end of the year. 

“It’s rumored that some members of the parliamentary group are considering a minority government. But how would it be able to function? That would only be possible with the support of the AfD. But Merz has ruled them out ‘as long as I’m Chancellor’… Hot rumor…: Spahn, for whom there’s ‘always an alternative,’ could be elected Chancellor with the votes of the AfD! A rumor—nothing more for now.” 

Note: “Thou shalt not lie” is not the eighth commandment, as the article falsely claims, but the ninth. 

Germany Is the Titanic 

Nius wrote on November 7: 

“Friedrich Merz… has a… task: to avert the catastrophe with those who are willing to avert the catastrophe, that is, with the votes of the AfD, for example, in a minority government. There are no other voices. Using the existing votes to even have a chance of reversing the policies of the last ten years and averting the worst is actually no longer the free choice of Merz and his party, but their patriotic duty… With his firewall madness, Merz is playing with the livelihoods of millions of people. 

“Here is what the head of TUI, the world’s largest travel company, says about our economic situation: ‘I have the impression we are on the Titanic,’ Ebel said in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ). ‘The band is playing, everyone is celebrating, but the ship is already fallen over, and nobody’s doing anything.’ 

“Germany is the Titanic, and no, we’re not heading straight for the iceberg; we’ve already collided, and the orchestra is already playing. These aren’t my words, but the words of one of the country’s most astute CEOs… Friedrich Merz is standing before a burning house and must decide whether he’s willing to accept [AfD’s] Alice Weidel’s help to save the people in the attic. Without her, he can’t… 

“All members of parliament have a patriotic duty to put the country above crazy ideas like the ‘firewall,’ but sometimes they need to be reminded of that… right now, the CDU doesn’t want to do the right thing, their duty, with the votes of the AfD, but instead wants to march even more energetically into disaster…” 

“Each of us knows and loves people who may still be caught in the propagandistic clutches of the Tagesschau (German news program) and educational television. They know nothing of what is looming, they haven’t heard the words of the TUI CEO because it is deliberately concealed from them in the mainstream media… People who have been watching Tagesschau and Heute (German news programs) for decades… are going headlong and cheerfully into their economic downfall…” 

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius—Germany’s Most Beloved Politician

The Washington Post wrote on November 8: 

“Boris Pistorius (SPD), the German defense minister, is… the man now responsible for revamping and expanding the armed forces in a country that has been allergic to militarization for 80 years since instigating two world wars… 

“A nation and a continent that have defined themselves since World War II as a peace project now face an urgent imperative to arm and defend themselves against a growing Russian threat. It is a challenge they are struggling to meet. Russia’s aggression and President Donald Trump’s demands that Europe take responsibility for its own security have led to a remarkable shift in public perception of the continent’s needs… 

“A fierce debate over reinstating compulsory military service highlights Pistorius’s challenge… When Pistorius introduced a proposal that relied on voluntary recruitment, it was blocked by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which leads the governing coalition. Last month, the coalition presented a revised plan that included provisions for a draft lottery — only for Pistorius to object… 

“Pistorius is the most popular German politician since Angela Merkel… [No] defense minister [was] this beloved since Helmut Schmidt more than 50 years ago… 

“The new military law is set to come into effect on Jan. 1, but its final shape remains unclear, with the intra-coalition conflict still unresolved. Polls show that around 6 in 10 Germans support conscription if voluntary recruitment proves insufficient. But most people between 18 and 29 — those likeliest to be drafted — are against it… 

“As one of the few German politicians with positive favorability, Pistorius has been floated as a future candidate for chancellor, potentially in the scheduled 2029 election — or sooner, if the governing coalition collapses. The German government has tended to swing between the center-left and the center-right, suggesting the SPD’s turn could come next. But these aren’t normal times: The AfD is surging, the mainstream parties are doing all they can to keep the far right out of power…” 

Their attempts to do so will not be successful. 

Modern Military Service Is Coming…

Euro News wrote on November 13:

“Germany will require all men to register for potential military service from 1 January 2026, with compulsory service to be reintroduced if volunteer numbers fall short of targets set to meet NATO commitments. ‘Modern military service is coming,’ said Jens Spahn, Chairman of the ruling CDU/CSU parliamentary group, in a press statement… From 1 January, around 700,000 young people born in 2008 or later will be contacted to complete their registrations and [mandatory] medical screenings, said Spahn, adding that women will also receive a letter, but unlike men, they are not obliged to respond.

“If the required number of conscripts is not reached through voluntary service, compulsory service will be introduced through a separate law… [Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said:] ‘These are reasons for exemption such as there have already been two brothers in basic military service, police officers, someone who has enlisted and signed up for civil defence, conscientious objectors.’…

“At the same time…, the coalition partners have agreed that all men will be subject to compulsory military service in the future… According to current plans, the Ministry of Defence believes it will be possible to draft entire cohorts from July 2027. Men born in 2008 are to be included first, as per the SPD minister’s words.

“In addition, a mandatory online questionnaire is planned for men. From 2026, they will have to provide information on health, fitness, education and their willingness to perform military service, provided the Bundestag passes the law as planned. Women and people with non-binary gender identities will be able to complete the questionnaire voluntarily.”

 The draft law is expected to be introduced to parliament for a vote by the end of the year. Bild Online reported that if compulsory military service were to be introduced through a separate law, those who need to serve (for 6 months) would be determined by lottery. 

Germany’s “Justice”? The Case of Prince Reuss 

Nius wrote on November 5: 

“Prince Reuss has been in pretrial detention for almost three years now – without a verdict, without hope of release. An old man, seemingly forgotten, stuck in an endless legal waiting room. Is something terribly wrong here?… 

“The ‘Reichsbürger’ group Reuss became known through a high-profile anti-terror raid at the end of 2022. The public prosecutor’s office claims that a total of around two dozen suspects allegedly planned a violent overthrow of the federal government. Heinrich XIII, Prince Reuss, is said to have been the ringleader. Yet even former Interior Minister Otto Schily warned early on: ‘My subjective impression is that this rather bizarre group of cranks does not pose a real threat to the state and society.'” 

“The highly publicized raid on December 7, 2022, already indicated that something wasn’t right in the Reichsbürger trial… 

“Today, Heinrich XIII, Prince Reuss, has been in pretrial detention for 1,065 days. Almost three years – without a verdict. And to this day, there is no ‘smoking gun’ – no conclusive proof. This is a years-long circumstantial evidence trial against elderly people accused of terrorism, who are allegedly so dangerous that they are being held in pretrial detention – under the harshest possible conditions, the kind reserved for murderous terrorists: minimal opportunities for visitors, intrusive body searches, and stripping before masked and armed officers. And this has been going on for over a thousand days now – without any proof of guilt… 

“Meanwhile, numerous convicted criminals—some of them dangerous—walk free in Germany. ‘Thousands of convicted criminals are at large in Berlin because arrest warrants are not being executed. Among them are 59 murderers and 66 people convicted of manslaughter,’ wrote the Tagesspiegel in 2024. 

“One might consider Prince Reuss an oddball or an eccentric. According to his lawyer, he wouldn’t even vehemently object to that. But when an old man, who has never been proven to have committed a violent crime, literally faces his own end in a ‘terrorism trial,’ one has to ask what is greater here: the rule of law or the justified fear of losing it.” 

The answer is clear. Germany is falling into the abyss of dictatorship. 

Kristallnacht Survivors Testify 

Israel Today wrote on November 9: 

“On the 87th anniversary of Kristallnacht, three Holocaust survivors who lived through the infamous 1938 Nazi pogrom in Germany as children warned that the world today is once again dangerously unsafe for Jews, urging governments to take decisive action to combat antisemitism and strengthen Holocaust education. 

“Walter Bingham, 101, George Shefi, 94, and Paul Alexander, 90, who all experienced Kristallnacht, issued a stark joint statement with the International March of the Living, saying that the current wave of global antisemitism mirrors the climate of hate that preceded the Holocaust…. Alexander, whose father was arrested that night and sent to Buchenwald, added: ‘The world today is no safer for Jews than it was 87 years ago. The images of the past two years remind us of the darkest days of the 1930s in Nazi Germany.’.. 

“In the aftermath of the pogrom, all three were sent to Britain on the Kindertransport. Shefi never saw his mother again; she was murdered in Auschwitz. Bingham’s father perished in the Warsaw Ghetto. Alexander, one of the few Kindertransport children to reunite with both parents, later made his way to Israel, where all three survivors now live. 

“In their statement, the survivors wrote: ‘We saw with our own eyes how hatred turned to flames, how indifference became complicity, and how the world stayed silent as Jews were attacked. Today, 87 years later, we look around us and say with deep pain: the world has learned nothing. Once again, Jews are murdered for being Jews. Once again, synagogues are attacked. Once again, universities remain silent in the face of incitement. In today’s atmosphere, Kristallnacht could happen again.’” 

Please note our recent StandingWatch program, titled, “Antisemitism on the Left and the Right.”  

The Jewels of the Habsburg Family 

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 7: 

“After they were exiled from Austria in 1919 in the wake of World War I when Austria became a republic, the family of the last Austrian emperor had most of their belongings expropriated. Only a small amount of personal property — including pieces of jewelry listed as private — was allowed to be relocated to Switzerland. The official crown jewels remained in Vienna and are on display there to this day. 

“Following her husband Emperor Karl I’s death in 1922, Empress Zita had ordered her descendants to keep the jewelry’s existence secret for 100 years for security reasons. She and her children later faced persecution by the Nazi regime due to their outspoken opposition to Hitler’s dictatorship. The family escaped to Canada via France and Portugal shortly before their Belgian home was bombed by the Nazi German Luftwaffe at the outbreak of the war. They crossed the Atlantic with the jewelry collection in a brown suitcase, bringing them to safety in Quebec in 1940. 

“The surviving pieces include the famous Florentine diamond, which those outside the family had long thought lost, probably stolen. The walnut-sized yellow diamond was once among the largest cut diamonds in the world… It had been among the treasures of the Grand Duke of Tuscany in Florence, and is also known as the Tuscan Diamond. It passed into the hands of the Habsburgs through marriage when the last of Florence’s Medici family died. 

“The collection also includes items once belonging to Empress Maria Theresa, Queen Marie-Antoinette, and Emperor Franz I. The jewelry’s authenticity has been verified by independent experts. 

“In a statement, head of the family Karl von Habsburg  [64, grandson of fleeing Emperor Karl I], said the time had come for the public to see the jewels. ‘As descendants of Emperor Karl I and Empress Zita, we are proud to share these culturally and historically significant pieces with the public,’ he said, adding gratitude to Canada. ‘We would like to extend our gratitude to the people of Canada, who provided a safe haven for our family in 1940, protecting them from extremely challenging circumstances.’ 

“The Habsburgs, with some interruptions, provided numerous Holy Roman kings and emperors from 1273 onward. After the dissolution of the empire in 1806, they became the Austrian imperial house, which lasted until the end of the First World War.” 

Karl V. of Habsburg was head of the seventh revival of the Roman Empire. His empire was so vast that the sun would never set in it. 

The Daily Mail added on November 7: 

“At its height of power, the House of Habsburg was one of the leading and most influential rulers in Europe. [Karl I.] sent the diamond, as well as other centuries-old jewels, to Switzerland for protection as he went into exile. After the monarch died in the Portuguese island of Madeira, his wife Zita of Bourbon-Parma and her children moved to Spain and later Belgium. 

“As Nazi rule spread across Europe, Zita and her eldest son, crown prince Otto von Habsburg, vehemently opposed Adolf Hitler’s rise. But when the Nazis annexed Austria in 1938, Otto was declared an enemy of the state. Zita was forced to flee again to the US two years later… She carried the jewels, family members said, in a small cardboard suitcase. With American assistance, the family reached Canada and settled in Quebec… Zita returned to Europe in 1953 and died in 1989 at the age of 96. As she lived her life, the prestigious diamond remained in Canada – unbeknownst to the world… 

“However, the diamond could soon be on the move again. Austria has committed to an ‘immediate review’ as to whether the diamond belongs to the country… ‘If it turns out that the Florentine Diamond is the property of the Republic of Austria, I will initiate the process of returning the jewel,’ Austrian vice chancellor Andreas Babler said.” 

Otto von Habsburg met Herbert W. Armstrong and spoke at the Ambassador Auditorium in 1983. 

Sisi’s Jewels 

Bild Online added on November 7: 

“Her jewels were as legendary as her beauty. Now, jewelry belonging to the Austrian Empress Elisabeth (1837–1898), known as ‘Sisi’ [‘Sissi’ in the famous film adaptations starring Romy Schneider and Karl Heinz Boehm as her husband and cousin, Emperor Franz Joseph I, who died in 1916], has surfaced in an unassuming bank safe in Canada… 

“During the revolutionary unrest of 1918, Emperor Karl I tasked his Lord Chamberlain, Count Leopold Berchtold, with securing the family jewels from the revolutionaries. Berchtold gathered the most valuable pieces, including a diamond crown belonging to Empress Sisi, as well as a cuff of brilliant-cut diamonds with a large emerald and the legendary ‘Florentine’ diamond…” 

“When Karl I died in exile on the Atlantic island of Madeira on April 1, 1922, his widow Zita, the last Empress of Austria (1892–1989), decreed that the jewel cache must remain secret at least until the 100th anniversary of her husband Karl I’s death… 

“The Habsburg Law of 1919 allows… an almost complete confiscation of the imperial family’s assets by the state of Austria.” 

“Sisi’s” and Franz Joseph’s son, Crown Prince Rudolf, committed suicide in 1889, so the succession passed to the line of Franz Joseph’s brother, Karl Ludwig. Karl von Habsburg (64), son of Otto von Habsburg, is the current head of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and the grandson of the last Emperor of Austria-Hungary, Karl I. Karl von Habsburg served as a Member of the European Parliament for the Austrian People’s Party from 1996 to 1999. 

Democrats Cave–Ending Shutdown? 

CNN wrote on November 10: 

“Enough Democrats caved. A Sunday night Senate deal may be on the verge of resolving the longest government shutdown on record — after a group of moderate Democrats dropped their key demand — a guaranteed extension of Obamacare subsidies. 

“The agreement opened the way for a Senate vote in which eight Democratic defectors voted to break the filibuster and to clear the first hurdle to reopening the government after nearly six weeks. Their move will offer relief to millions of Americans whose lives have been severely disrupted by the shutdown. 

“But the compromise was opposed by some key party leaders and is already igniting a firestorm of protests from progressives who accuse their more moderate colleagues of disastrously backing down, handing President Donald Trump a victory and turning their backs on millions of Americans who can’t afford spiking health care premiums… 

“It might be crass to parse the human misery caused by the shutdown for a partisan win after a political duel that deprived millions of Americans of food benefits, left federal workers with $0 paychecks, and created chaos and safety fears in commercial aviation… 

“The deal sets a date for a vote in the Senate on ACA subsidies in December, but falls well short of cementing their extension. It funds the government through January 30 and guarantees pay for federal workers furloughed during the shutdown and those who worked without pay. It also reverses Trump’s firing of federal employees throughout the impasse and funds food stamps through 2026… 

“… On the face of it, this looks like a massive failure. Democrats won no undertaking that Obamacare subsidies will be extended — despite insisting that such a move was their bottom line. The best they will get is a Senate vote. There is no guarantee that a bill extending subsidies will pass, considering the Senate’s GOP majority. And the prospects of the Republican House endorsing it seem even more remote… 

“Many leading Democrats argued their party’s big wins in elections in New Jersey, Virginia and New York City last week were attributable to the effective way their candidates lacerated Trump over the cost of living. Now, at the first chance they got to put that lesson into practice — fighting for the affordability of health care — they gave up, even though polls showed most voters blame Trump for the shutdown and agree with the Democratic position. 

“The blowback could be severe, exposing deep divisions in the party… Still, assessments of the break in the deadlock that came on Day 40 of the shutdown must also factor in whether the Democrats’ demand was achievable in the first place and whether the deepening pain of the shutdown, which is fast becoming a national crisis, was about to make their position unsustainable… [as it] was obvious that securing an extension to Obamacare subsidies might be unattainable… 

“Throughout the shutdown, Trump… seemed indifferent to the daily struggles of millions of Americans. It was easy for Democrats to portray him as cruel as his administration fought court orders to restore funding to food assistance for 42 million Americans… Trump seemed quite willing to allow the pain and anxiety of the shutdown to deepen for millions of Americans… With the president refusing to negotiate, it was incumbent on Democrats to consider whether the cost of carrying on was justified… 

“The health care system is broken, people may lose insurance, and Republicans may end up with the blame if they don’t fix it, since they are the party in power…  Republicans are still not off the hook on the enhanced Obamacare subsidies. GOP leaders now face the question of whether they are willing to let them expire, in a scenario that could put health care out of reach for millions of people. This seems an unsustainable political position in the run-up to midterm elections, and the issue is set to only gain in traction as the end of the year looms. 

“And bitter divisions in the GOP — most graphically exemplified during the shutdown by Marjorie Tayloer-Greene, with her scathing criticism of her party’s dearth of ideas on health care — are likely to burst open when the House… will again test the authority of Speaker Mike Johnson. 

“The shutdown drama also revealed rare signs that Trump’s authority over his own party isn’t absolute on Capitol Hill. Republican senators ignored his demands to abolish the filibuster that requires most bills to get 60 votes in the chamber. Such a move would have given Trump almost unlimited power to use GOP majorities to transform the nation over the next year. But GOP senators feared what any Democratic majority might do in the absence of the filibuster…” 

Breitbart added on November 11: 

“The Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government Monday night, 40 days after Democrats triggered what is now the longest government shutdown in history. The vote ends a disastrous shutdown for Democrats, but the civil war for the soul and direction of the party is just beginning… Senators reached a time agreement Monday evening to bypass Senate procedures that would have prolonged the passage of the bill by as long as several days… The bill now makes its way to the House…” 

Trump Ends Shutdown

The New York Post wrote on November 12:

“President Trump signed a funding bill Wednesday to end the longest government shutdown in US history, hours after the House of Representatives passed legislation ending the 43-day standoff… Trump re-upped his demand for Senate Republicans to ‘terminate’ the filibuster — so that ‘this would never happen again’ — and called for the ‘massive amount’ of federal funding for Obamacare to be ‘paid directly to the people of our country, so that they can buy their own healthcare.’…

“The legislation will return federal workers [and air traffic controllers] to their jobs with backpay, reopen executive branch agencies that provide critical veterans services and other benefits like food stamps and fully fund the government until at least Jan. 30. After that, some spending for SNAP benefits, veterans programs, legislative branch activities and military construction, among other items, will continue until Sept. 30 — at which point the 2026 fiscal year ends….”

Daily Mail wrote on November 13:

“Trump was surrounded by top Republicans and national business leaders as he railed against Democrats, blaming them for the record-breaking closure once more, despite polling showing that many voters think Republicans bear the blame for the shutdown… Trump also called again for ending the filibuster, a proposal that has been unpopular with members of both parties….”

Full SNAP Benefits? 

The New York Post wrote on November 7: 

“The Supreme Court on Friday allowed President Trump’s administration to temporarily withhold roughly $4 billion needed to fully fund food aid for 42 million low-income Americans [but allowing for partial payments], escalating a showdown over hunger relief during the historic government shutdown. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson [nominated by Joe Biden] issued an administrative stay pausing a lower-court order that required full November payment under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The stay will remain in effect until two days after the [liberal] Boston-based 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals rules on the administration’s formal request to limit payments. [This would give the administration time to return to the Supreme Court if the appeals court rules against Trump.] 

“US District Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island had ordered the government on Thursday to use all available funds — including a separate $23.35 billion child-nutrition account supported by tariffs — to cover the full $8.5 to $9 billion cost of November SNAP benefits. McConnell, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, accused the administration of withholding aid for ‘political reasons’ [and had stated the halting full payments would cause irreparable harm]. 

“The administration said it had already allocated $4.65 billion in emergency funds to cover part of the month’s costs, but not the full amount. The 1st Circuit denied an initial request to stay McConnell’s order but has yet to rule on the broader appeal. 

“The USDA complicated matters Friday when it notified states that funds would be available to pay full SNAP benefits — even as the administration filed papers seeking to block the very order that made that money accessible. Officials in New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts moved quickly to issue full payments, saying they could not risk another delay. Wisconsin, Oregon, Hawaii, and Pennsylvania also confirmed they had released full benefits by Friday evening, while other states — including Colorado, North Carolina, and Illinois — said they would follow over the weekend. Delaware began using state funds to provide emergency payments… 

“The political and legal whiplash has left millions of SNAP recipients… unsure when — or whether — they will receive food aid. SNAP benefits, which lapsed at the start of November for the first time in the program’s 60-year history, provide up to $298 per month for one-person households and $546 for two-person households, depending on income…” 

Newsmax clarified on November 7: 

“The Trump administration had initially halted November SNAP disbursements entirely after congressional appropriations lapsed, triggering panic among state agencies and food banks. Two separate federal rulings last week ordered partial payments using a $5 billion contingency fund — short of the roughly $9 billion needed to cover all benefits [for 42 million Americans]… The government shutdown is now the longest in American history.” 

The Associated Press wrote on November 9: 

“President Donald Trump’s administration is demanding states ‘undo’ full SNAP benefits paid out under judges’ orders last week, now that the U.S. Supreme Court has stayed those rulings… The demand from the U.S. Department of Agriculture came as more than two dozen states warned of ‘catastrophic operational disruptions’ if the Trump administration does not reimburse them for those SNAP benefits they authorized before the Supreme Court’s stay.” 

This comes AFTER the Trump administration had authorized full payment. 

Both parties blame each other for the shutdown. But the American people hold both parties responsible. With all these legal maneuverings, and difficult-to-understand Supreme Court rulings under the circumstances, the most important question is whether needy Americans will get immediate assistance or not. Subsequently, the Court of Appeals ruled again that full payment must be made, and the Supreme Court ruled again against it. This is incredible, but it is of great concern considering what other decisions the Supreme Court is willing to make, favoring Trump. 

Even with the end of the shutdown on paper, it is totally unclear when full SNAP payments will be made. 

Flights Delayed and Cancelled

Breitbart wrote on November 7: 

“More than 1,000 flights were canceled and thousands more delayed Friday as part of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reduction of air travel capacity brought on by the ongoing government shutdown. 

“Earlier this week, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford initiated the reduction to deal with staff shortages and overworked flight controllers brought on by a month of  unpaid workdays, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned the air travel system will degenerate into ‘mass chaos’ if the shutdown doesn’t end by November 11. 

“As a result, Bedford announced the agency would reduce flights by 10 percent at 40 ‘high-volume markets’ throughout the country to ensure safety… As of noon Eastern time on Friday, there had been roughly 1200 flights canceled and nearly 16,000 delays…” 

The Guardian reported on November 7: 

“If the federal government shutdown doesn’t end ‘relatively soon’, the Department of Transportation may decide to increase the number of cancelled flights at designated airports to 15 or 20%, transportation secretary Sean Duffy told Fox News today, citing the likelihood of air traffic controllers not reporting to work.” 

While Congress plays political games, many Americans suffer. Politics is just such a dirty business. Even with the end of the shutdown on paper, it is clear that the air traffic disaster will continue for a while.   

Everything More Expensive! 

The conservative New York Post ran the following headline on November 6: 

“Trump touts affordability while inflation rages across America on everything from food to furniture to cars.” 

The article continued: 

“With a social media post that said ‘STOP LYIN’ about there being an affordability crisis, President Trump claims he’s whipped inflation. But consumers are still feeling the squeeze. Target’s prices are up 5.5% nationwide this year and Walmart’s are up 5.3%, according to an analysis by DataWeave, which looked at roughly 16,000 items across each retailer’s website. Amazon’s price hikes have averaged more than 12%, according to a report. 

“After seven months under Trump’s tariffs, Americans are paying more for nearly everything — from a cup of joe and plush living room sofas to children’s toys… Bananas are up 8.6%, mostly because of tariffs, as almost none are produced domestically… Beef is up across the board — more than 19% for steak and 14% for ground beef… 

“Voters listed the economy as a major issue in this week’s elections…  Chris Sohan, 61, who lives in Queens and shops once a week for himself, his wife and son, doesn’t see any relief. ‘Everything is expensive,’ he said. ‘Maybe sometimes $50, sometimes $100,’ he said he is now paying extra… Sohan voted for Trump twice, but has been disappointed… 

“For months, businesses have been eating the bulk of Trump’s tariffs, which have hit key trade partners like China and Vietnam and goods like furniture, aluminum, vehicles and auto parts. Now, companies have started to pass along those costs — and Goldman Sachs economists have warned that consumers will end up bearing the brunt of the bills by the end of this year. 

“Across Amazon, Target and Walmart, apparel prices rose 11.5% on average between January and the end of September… The big chains’ prices for home goods, pet goods and consumables, health and beauty items, and hardlines — like electronics, furniture and appliances — rose 10.8%, 6.1%, 7% and 8.3%, respectively… 

“As an example of how tariffs are hitting prices: In October, Trump unveiled steep new tariffs on pharmaceutical drugs, kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, heavy trucks — and a 30% rate on furniture. Later that month, IKEA hiked the price of a three-piece oak bedroom set to $1,049, up from $949 in August, according to the Wall Street Journal. It also raised the price of its Uppland sofa to $899, up from $849. 

“Federal data show prices for living room, kitchen and dining room furniture — which is mostly imported from other nations — jumped 9.5% in September compared to the previous year. Furniture and bedding rose 4.7% over the same period, while furnishings and supplies increased 2.8%.

Most low-cost furniture sold in the US — like a cheap chair — comes from overseas, particularly China. 

“In August, Sony blamed Trump’s tariffs as it hiked the price of its PlayStation 5 by $50 to $550. It claimed the tariffs are costing the company $685 million annually. At Walmart, a T.rex toy jumped up to $55 in May from $39.92 the previous month… The retailer’s Baby Born doll rose to $49.97 in May, up from $34.94 in March, while an Etch-a-Sketch increased to $24.99, up from $14.97, during the same period… 

“In October, a Mango jacket retailed for $649.899 for US customers — compared to just 299.99 euros, or about $347, in Spain…  River Island sold a coat for $247 in the US in October, but offered the same coat to UK customers for 110 pounds, or about $145. A Zara skirt retailed for $69.90 in the US, but just 35.95 euros, or $42, in Spain. 

“Even the price of coffee is up a whopping 41% in September from the same time last year, according to the CPI…” 

Lamb has become so expensive that some restaurants don’t offer it anymore, while others have raised the prices by double or triple digits. 

Is Trump Repeating Biden’s Mistakes? 

Newsmax wrote the following on November 7: 

“A New York Post editorial cautioned that President Donald Trump risks repeating former President Joe Biden’s mistakes by brushing off Americans’ frustrations over high living costs. Trump’s recent remarks mirror Biden’s past dismissals of economic worries, the editorial board wrote, even as households continue to feel pressure from inflation and rising prices. 

“The board recalled Biden’s 2024 comments to CNN, when he called reports of economic anxiety ‘fake news’ and instead touted strong gross domestic product growth and record stock market gains. It noted that Trump has used similar talking points in recent interviews, highlighting job creation and new market highs as proof of success… The board argued that such claims ignore everyday realities faced by many Americans. It agreed that Biden’s ‘profligate spending’ drove much of the inflation that continues to strain consumers, but said Trump’s own record has yet to bring meaningful relief. 

“While inflation has slowed to 2%-3%, prices remain high and are unlikely to return to earlier levels, the board wrote. The board… warned against his broad use of tariffs… [pointing out] that Trump’s across-the-board approach ‘increased the cost of almost everything.’… By denying these realities, the board wrote, Trump risks alienating voters much as Biden did…” 

The Wall Street Journal added on November 8: 

“Americans are deeply frustrated with their government’s inability to solve problems…” 

Denying that just about everything got more expensive is fake news. Trump is playing a dangerous game—also in light of his unconscionable immigration policy. We believe that God has placed him in power to fulfill important biblically-prophesied responsibilities, such as helping to build the Third Temple, but God can and will easily remove him from office if he proves unworthy, as He did in the case of King Saul. 

Please note our StandingWatch program, “Trump in the Light of Biblical Prophecy,”  our sermonette “Will Trump Build the Third Temple?—Comments on News and Prophecy, October 26,2025,” and our recent Editorial, “When Our Critics Become Silent…” in Update #1180 (dated October 31, 2025).

$2,000 Payment for Each American??? 

The New York Post wrote on November 9: 

“President Donald Trump promised a $2,000 payment for every American as a tariff ‘dividend,’ in a post Sunday morning. The post comes after the Supreme Court questioned the legality of his use of emergency powers to impose sweeping new tariffs on nearly every country on Earth. ‘A dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone,’ read Trump’s post on Truth Social. Trump added that the tariffs have brought in ‘trillions of dollars’… ‘People that are against Tariffs are FOOLS!,’ he wrote. He also claimed there was ‘No Inflation’ from the duties. 

“The US collected about $151 billion from import duties between April and October, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he expected the US to collect $500 billion or more in tariff revenue per year.” 

As the previous articles show, Trump’s claim that there was no inflation from the tariffs is clearly false. 

His promise that Americans will receive “dividends” from the tariffs has been made repeatedly in the past by the Trump administration, but so far, they have not been fulfilled at all. We will see what will happen. Is it just pure politics? The Daily Mail interpreted Trump’s comments on November 9  in this way: “Trump has vowed to give a $2,000 check to every American, thanks to the tariff revenue his administration has collected.” 

Fox 11 Los Angeles News wrote: 

“A factual overview of stimulus and relief payments in the U.S. indicates that no new federal stimulus checks have been authorized by Congress or confirmed by the IRS for November 2025. While President Donald Trump has proposed a $2,000 tariff dividend using tariff revenue, this remains a proposal that has not been approved.” 

Of course, Trump made a promise, not just a “proposal.” 

However, Bessent’s recent comments that the $2,000 dividend “could come in lots of forms and lots of ways,” such as “paying for the tax decreases” on tips and overtime, are not very reassuring. Similar promises were made in regard to Social Security payments, claiming that they would no longer be taxed. This has proven to be completely false for most recipients. 

But IF America received that much money in tariff revenue, as claimed, it is, as the famous song puts it, a “dirty rotten shame” that SNAP recipients can’t be paid in full. 

New U.S. Restrictions for Visas 

TNR wrote on November 7: 

“The Trump administration has ordered visa officers to deny immigrants who are obese or have certain health issues… 

“A Thursday directive from the State Department, sent to embassies and consulates around the world, indicates that people applying for visas to the United States may be rejected if they have certain medical conditions, on the grounds that they could take up domestic health care resources. 

“‘You must consider an applicant’s health,’ the cable read. ‘Certain medical conditions—including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, cancers, diabetes, metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, and mental health conditions—can require hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of care.’ 

“The announcement then goes on to mention obesity, stating that it can be connected to asthma, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure…. Denying fat people from the U.S. because they might end up having health issues is incredibly broad, cruel, and unusual.” 

UK No Longer Willing to Share Some Intelligence with USA 

MSNBC wrote on November 12: 

“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the latest in a series of announcements: Deadly U.S. military strikes killed six people on Sunday as part of the latest operation against civilian boats in international waters. According to the Pentagon’s official tally, this was the 19th such strike since early September, with a collective death toll of 76 people… while Donald Trump and his team have insisted that the boat crews are made up of ‘narco-terrorists,’ an Associated Press analysis found that these claims weren’t altogether true. 

“It’s against this backdrop that the controversy took on a new dimension this week related to international intelligence sharing. CNN reported that the United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with U.S. officials about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean ‘because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal.’… 

“If the reporting is accurate, it’s a dramatic development in its own right: It suggests one of the United States’ closest and most important allies doesn’t want to bear responsibility for deadly, extrajudicial military operations in international waters.” 

Many legal experts have concluded that the strikes are in fact illegal. 

Trump Meets Orban 

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 7: 

“President Donald Trump welcomed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to the White House on Friday for their first bilateral meeting since Trump returned to power in January…” 

The Hill wrote on November 5: 

“Much of the visit centered around Orbán’s request that Trump provide Hungary with an exemption to continue importing Russian oil not subject to U.S. sanctions… Trump also appeared to defend Orbán from his European critics and those imposing costs on Budapest’s democratic rollbacks. ‘He’s a great leader and he’s respected all over. Not necessarily liked by some of the leaders, but those leaders are proven to be wrong,’ the president said. If you look at Europe, they’ve made tremendous mistakes on immigration. It’s really hurting them very badly. He has not made a mistake on immigration…’ 

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 7: 

“Orban said Friday his country received an exemption from US sanctions on imports of Russian oil… ‘We asked the president to lift the sanctions,” Orban said, adding that Hungary is ‘in a significantly different situation than other European countries.’ According to a White House official…, Hungary was granted a one-year exemption…. 

“Hungary relied on Russia for 74% of its gas and 86% of its oil in 2024.” 

Hungary and Slovakia are the two European countries still importing Russian oil while the rest of the European Union has stopped purchases. 

USA Will Boycott G20 Meeting in South Africa 

Newsmax wrote on November 7: 

“President Donald Trump said Friday that no U.S. government officials would be attending the Group of 20 summit this year in South Africa, citing the country’s treatment of white farmers… ‘It is a total disgrace that the G20 will be held in South Africa,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social. He cited ‘abuses’ of Afrikaners, including violence and death as well as confiscation of their land and farms. 

“The Trump administration has long accused the South African government of allowing minority white Afrikaner farmers to be persecuted and attacked. As it restricted the number of refugees admitted annually to the U.S. to 7,500, the administration indicated that most will be white South Africans who it claimed faced discrimination and violence at home. 

“But the government of South Africa has said it is surprised by the accusations of discrimination, because white people in the country generally have a much higher standard of living than its Black residents, more than three decades after the end of the apartheid system of white minority rule. The country’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has said he’s told Trump that information about the alleged discrimination and persecution of Afrikaners is ‘completely false.’ 

“Nonetheless, the administration has kept up its criticisms of the South African government. Earlier this week during an economic speech in Miami, Trump said South Africa should be thrown out of the Group of 20…” 

South Africa is a descendant of the ancient House of Israel, and to be more precise, of Joseph’s son Ephraim. The USA is also a descendant of the ancient House of Israel, and to be more precise, of Joseph’s son Manasseh. The Bible prophesies that in the end time, Ephraim and Manasseh will be at odds with each other (Isaiah 9:21) 

BBC’s Woke Culture 

Daily Mail wrote on November 6: 

“Martine Croxall broke the BBC’s rules when she pulled a face because her script said ‘pregnant people’, the broadcaster has said. The newsreader won a legion of new fans and the backing of JK Rowling [author of the Harry Potter books] when she rejected the gender-neutral language live on air. But now the Executive Complaints Unit has ruled that her facial expression suggested a ‘controversial view about trans people’.  

“The ECU upheld complaints from 20 viewers saying Ms Croxall had fallen ‘short of the BBC’s expectations of its presenters and journalists in relation to impartiality’.   

“Ms Croxall was introducing new research on the number of heat-related deaths expected amid Britain’s current heatwave. But as the autocue prompted her to warn ‘pregnant people’ to take care in the heat, she first read the term out before overriding it, with a smirk and eyebrow raise.  

She said: ‘Malcolm Mistry, who was involved in the research, said the aged, pregnant people – women! – and those with pre-existing health conditions need to take precautions.’… 

“… the ECU said: ‘… the ECU considered the facial expression which accompanied the change of “people” to “women” laid it open to the interpretation that it indicated a particular viewpoint in the controversies currently surrounding trans identity, and the congratulatory messages Ms Croxall later received on social media, together with the critical views expressed in the complaints to the BBC and elsewhere, tended to confirm that the impression of her having expressed a personal view was widely shared across the spectrum of opinion on the issue.’” 

This is so hilarious as in the USA, for example, every newscaster seems to put his or her personal spin on the “news” which is being reported. 

BBC’s Ties to Hamas 

Israel 365 News wrote on November 6: 

“A leaked report has exposed shocking evidence of the BBC’s anti-Israel bias—revealing that Hamas propaganda was broadcast to millions while executives covered it up. From platforming extremists to spreading proven falsehoods about Gaza, the BBC’s credibility is collapsing.” 

The Sun added on November 7: 

“A devastating leak revealed that BBC management has been sitting on evidence of BBC News’ horrific pro-Hamas bias in reporting on the Middle East.” 

BBC’s Fakery 

The Sun wrote on November 7: 

“The episode of Panorama broadcast as Americans prepared to go to the polls last November deliberately spliced together different sections of Mr Trump’s speech on January 6, 2021, when rioters mobbed the US Capitol. The fakery led viewers to see Mr Trump urge his supporters to go to the Capitol and ‘fight like hell’ instead of his actual call to protest peacefully. 

“That goes beyond an editorial take — it crosses into outright fakery and deception. And what’s worse is that the bosses knew about it. Before the row blew up this week with the leak of Prescott’s memo, the contents of it were shared internally in his role advising the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee.” 

The Sun wrote on November 7: 

“THE White House last night accused the BBC of ‘outright lies’ over its ‘deceptive editing’ of a Donald Trump speech… now the crisis risks a full-on diplomatic incident… White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson blasted: ‘Trust in the media is at an all-time low because of deceptive editing, misleading reporting, and outright lies. This is yet another example, of many, highlighting why countless Americans turn to alternative media sources to get their news.’… 

“… in a leaked memo from Michael Prescott, who was a former advisor to the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee… [he also] accused the Corporation of ‘effective censorship’ of its reporting on transgender issues, and said BBC Arabic was downplaying the suffering of Israelis in the war with Hamas.” 

BBC, once considered to be a reliable news source, has long lost that reputation. 

The Sun wrote on November 9: 

“SCANDAL-hit BBC Director Tim Davie has resigned after the broadcaster was accused of doctoring a speech by President Donald Trump. The CEO of BBC News Deborah Turness has also resigned following massive criticism against the broadcaster for deceiving viewers by how it spliced together footage of the US president.” 

Turkey Issues Arrest Warrants for Israel’s Leadership 

Turkiyetoday wrote on November 7: 

“Türkiye’s Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued arrest warrants Friday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 36 other suspects on charges of genocide related to Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The warrants target multiple high-ranking Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Border and Security Minister Eyal Zamir, and Israeli Naval Forces Commander David Saar Salama… 

“The investigation centers on what Turkish authorities describe as systematic violence against civilians in Gaza. The prosecutor’s office cited specific incidents dating back to October 2023, including attacks on the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital on Oct. 17, 2023, and damage to the Ebli Baptist Hospital on Oct. 21, 2023, which resulted in numerous civilian casualties. Turkish prosecutors also referenced the killing of aid workers from the World Central Kitchen on April 1, 2024, when several employees were struck during humanitarian operations. 

“Türkiye has been a vocal critic of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which began after Hamas’s attack on southern Israel in October 2023. The Turkish government has suspended diplomatic and trade relations with Israel over the conflict.” 

Turkey is being run by an autocrat, a dictator and a tyrant who supports the terror organization Hamas and who is accused of systemically persecuting, imprisoning, torturing and even assassinating his opponents. 

Deutsche Welle added on November 9: 

“Defense brings Turkey and Germany closer… Turkey is increasingly important for security in Europe. Germany is counting on cooperation with Turkey’s government to bolster defense…. ‘We would be delighted if our two defense industries could cooperate with each other,’ Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said during a visit to Ankara weeks earlier. ‘You could almost ask: Who else would we work with on this?’” 

And so, according to the Bible, Turkey will ultimately help Europe, under German leadership, to occupy the state of Israel. 

The Vatican’s “Two-State Solution” 

Israel 365 News wrote on November 7: 

“Pope Leo XIV welcomed Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to the Vatican on Thursday, continuing a decade-long pattern of papal support for dividing the Land of Israel. The meeting… centered on two key demands: humanitarian aid for Gaza and the establishment of a Palestinian state through a so-called two-state solution. 

“The ‘Two-State Solution’ is an agenda that would create an unprecedented militarized Palestinian enclave within Israel’s borders ethnically cleansed of Jews with its exclusively Muslim capital in Jerusalem… 

“The timing of this meeting is particularly significant. Abbas, now in his 19th year of what was supposed to be a four-year term, has repeatedly canceled elections and maintained power through increasingly authoritarian means. Yet the Vatican treated him as a legitimate head of state, dignifying his visit with a full hour in the pope’s private library at the Apostolic Palace… 

“The Vatican’s statement emphasized the ‘urgent need’ for a two-state solution, language that has become standard in these meetings. This marks the tenth anniversary of the Holy See’s formal recognition of ‘the State of Palestine’ through a comprehensive agreement signed in June 2015. That document represented the first time the Vatican used such terminology in a binding legal agreement, effectively treating Judea and Samaria—the Biblical heartland of the Jewish people—as occupied Palestinian territory. 

“Pope Leo has followed the path established by his predecessor, Francis, who met with Abbas seven times at the Vatican and once in Bethlehem. [In 2015] Francis presented Abbas with a medallion depicting ‘the angel of peace destroying the bad spirit of war,’ words that rang hollow given Abbas’s continued incitement against Israel and payments to families of terrorists. 

“The pattern extends beyond symbolism… The Vatican even displayed a nativity scene showing the baby Jesus lying on a keffiyeh, the symbol adopted by Palestinian nationalist movements. The scene was removed only after international backlash exposed its inflammatory nature. 

“… Pope Leo told Israeli President Isaac Herzog in September that a two-state solution represented ‘the only way out of the war.’ This ignores the fundamental reality: Israel’s enemies do not seek a state alongside Israel but a state instead of Israel… The Vatican’s decade of recognizing a Palestinian state has produced no peace, no reconciliation, and no acknowledgment of Jewish rights. It has only emboldened those who seek Israel’s destruction while providing diplomatic cover for a dictator who refuses to hold elections or make genuine peace. This is not the path to peace. It is the path to continued conflict, dressed in the language of compassion while ignoring justice.” 

The two-state “solution” is totally unrealistic and illusory. Neither the Jews nor the Palestinians want it. 

Pope Leo: ICE Separates Families 

Irish Star wrote on November 9: 

“U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who describes himself as a ‘baby Catholic,’ seems to be experiencing a rift with the Catholic Church due to the Trump administration’s treatment of migrants…  Pope Leo XIV publicly called on President Donald Trump and Vance to ‘allow pastoral workers to assist’ detained migrants… ‘Many times they have been separated from their families, and no one knows what happens,’ he said… 

“Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin publicly rejected the pope’s statements, posting a response on X Wednesday morning… ICE ‘does not separate families,’ McLaughlin said… 

“McLaughlin’s claim that ICE ‘does not separate families’ comes under scrutiny. The Trump administration has separated thousands of families, beginning in Trump’s first term during his 2018 ‘zero tolerance’ crackdown. In Trump’s second term, since January 2025, ICE officers have referred more than 400 children to federal shelters as arrests ramped up—often telling parents to either self-deport with their kids or be separated, according to The Washington Post. 

“The New York Times in August documented at least nine ‘interior separation’ cases in which ICE detained parents who refused deportation flights and sent their children to federal custody or foster care.”

China Is Using Robots to Practice Attacking Taiwan 

Report 24 wrote on November 8: 

“China is already testing the robots that will fight the next war. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) sent four-legged ‘wolf robots’ storming the beaches of the Taiwan Strait – flanked by swarms of drones that pulverize enemy positions in seconds. The artificial soldier is no longer science fiction, but part of Beijing’s new military doctrine.

“What Chinese state television recently showed was nothing less than a glimpse into the future of warfare. A unit of the People’s Liberation Army conducted an amphibious landing exercise in which autonomous ground robots carried out the attack. These 70-kilogram machines… carry weapons, ammunition, or medical supplies and break down obstacles while being supported by swarms of so-called FPV drones… the entire attack chain – from target detection to destruction – took less than ten seconds. In one maneuver, a single soldier controlled nine robots and six drones simultaneously – a taste of the war of the future. 

“These ‘wolves of steel’ are intended to replace the human front, that first wave of attack that traditionally exacts the highest toll in lives. The difference: The robot knows no fear, no morality, no compassion. What Beijing is testing here is more than just a tactical tool—it’s an attempt to completely automate and robotize warfare… Now, combat robots and drones are meant to replace ‘human material.’ The enemy’s soldiers will then become cannon fodder. 

“But the test also revealed the limitations of this new type of weapon. The footage showed that while the robots moved nimbly across the sand, they were vulnerable and poorly camouflaged. Some were left lying in wait by fire, others were taken out by light weapons… Their range, armor, and communication security are considered inadequate. So, for now, the wolf is more of a show than a threat—but that was also the case with the first drones.” 

Such automated and autonomous robots, and similar ones, will certainly exist in large numbers in the future. The Bible contains a clear reference to horse-like robots in the Book of Revelation. Trump recently stated that President Xi Jinping assured him that China would not attack Taiwan as long as Trump was president. 

Side Effects of COVID-19 Vaccinations 

Report 24 wrote on November 4: 

“The side effects of COVID-19 vaccinations continue to receive little attention from those who were responsible for or supported the measures that infringed upon fundamental rights during the so-called pandemic. Freedom Party MEP Gerald Hauser is bringing the issue to the forefront: ‘I have repeatedly pointed out the massive side effects of the vaccinations in my books, lectures, and speeches in parliament. For years, this was rejected, covered up, and denied. But that’s no longer acceptable,’ he stated in a recent press release. Hauser considers the link between immune damage, cancer, and mRNA vaccinations to be sufficiently proven. 

“He refers to a remarkable research paper from South Korea: ‘A recent study confirms the already known data and casts a frightening light on COVID-19 vaccinations,’ warns Hauser. ‘More and more doctors in Europe are reporting a significant increase in cancer cases, with younger people increasingly affected and the cancers becoming ever more aggressive… Within just one year, a statistically significant increase in cancer cases was observed among those vaccinated – especially thyroid cancer (+35 percent), stomach cancer (+33.5 percent), colon cancer (+28 percent), lung cancer (+53 percent), breast cancer (+20 percent), and prostate cancer (+69 percent)…”

 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.

We will conclude this three-part series on what it means to be a Christian pilgrim, having looked at five attributes so far, that are required. Let us continue with additional necessary attributes. 

(6)                A PILGRIM views correction in a positive way.

This is something that is alien to the non-Christian mind.  Man, in general, wants people to flatter them, to cosy up to them and to be sycophants.   Immediately when any correction appears on the horizon, however gentle, however lovingly given, and however right that correction may be, the hackles usually go up, a defensive position is taken and offence can so often be the result.   That’s the way of the world.   As with almost everything, our position should be diametrically opposed to such behaviour.

This matter is addressed in Hebrews 12:5-11:

“And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens,  And scourges every son whom He receives.’ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

God’s people have their faults and problem areas which need to be corrected. God will correct sin in His own children; we are His begotten Family, and should not expect to escape such rebukes when necessary.   From time to time, we may have corrective sermons if it’s thought necessary – but those are for our own good.  Our heavenly Father treats us as a loving father will; no wise and good father will wink at faults in his own children, and his relationship and affections oblige him to take notice of the faults of his own children.   We must have done that within our own family; if not, we will have let them down by not correctly and lovingly disciplining them for their own good and well-being as appropriate, at the right time and in the right way.   

This principle is confirmed in Revelation 3:19, where Christ says to the Laodicea Church: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.”

Because this world is upside down in almost everything, it can find it hard, if not impossible, to understand that having love for your children and other people may, at times, involve correction.   It is warped thinking that should not be the case, but then, this society has warped thinking anyway.   Because God loves His people, He rebukes and chastens them as is necessary.   This is not something that we may always appreciate, at least not at the time, but it is for our ultimate good.  

As an aside, in general, many countries have banned the smacking of children, confusing abuse with the gentle correction that is sometimes needed with an unruly or naughty child.   “Spare the rod and spoil the child” (compare Proverbs 13:24: “He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly”) is a biblical admonition of right and wrong behavior that seems to be completely ignored by so many today.   No decent person should want to see any sort of abuse of children; that is not the way it should be, but to allow them to run riot, as they so often do, is the other extreme and is causing so many problems today as children, in many cases, rule over adults.  However, that was prophesied to happen (compare Isaiah 3:12: “children are their oppressors”) and so we shouldn’t be surprised!    Balance, as always, is necessary, but we do see that God does rebuke and chasten us, His children, and that is a splendid example of God’s Way.

A pilgrim will view correction in a positive way, realising that it is an assistance to him or her in making it into the Kingdom of God.

(7)              A PILGRIM knows that the trip has to be completed – successfully!

We, as pilgrims, are on a journey, and that journey has to be completed.   Quitting or falling away is not possible for a true pilgrim of God.   We can all feel like quitting at times; who hasn’t felt so discouraged that that thought has crossed his or her mind?  But if and when that happens, we should immediately eliminate it from our thinking.   We should never wonder if we will make it.  People can quit because they lack vision, as was discussed previously. We have to keep in focus what is in store for us in the Kingdom of God.   We have the greatest calling in the world and quitting must never enter our thinking at any time, irrespective of the circumstances in which we find ourselves.

We are to make our calling and election sure – and that is not done by falling away or quitting.   But we know that there will be those who will quit because Scripture reveals this.   Let us review 2 Timothy 4:1-5:

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. ^But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

There are those today in the various Churches of God or the independents who may have embraced “new-found knowledge” and concepts that have historically not been part of our long-time understanding.   Usually, when sound doctrine goes, so do those who are involved in believing and teaching wrong ideas. In verse 4, it does say that fables will be heard and accepted.  In a way, they have quit: they have quit the Truth.   And it is all very sad.   But Paul goes on to say that he had kept the faith, fought the fight and finished the race.

Continuing in verse 6:

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. ^I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ^Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

By persevering and not quitting, there was laid up for him the crown of righteousness.   Surely, something worth hanging in there for. 

In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul compares our way of life to a race: 

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified (that is, rejected after having been tested and found wanting; compare Daniel 5:27).”

Paul is saying that all who run may win the imperishable crown.  There is room for ALL to get the prize. You cannot fail if you run well.  The fact is though, that world-class runners will slip drastically if they only train once or twice a week.   The body and mind are no longer in top shape and the runner suffers accordingly.   Most experts agree that a marathon runner should put in at least 3 hours of training a day to stay in top form.   It’s the daily workouts that keep an athlete in prime condition.   The same is true for a Christian’s spiritual condition.   Daily prayer and Bible study are a key to being in the finest spiritual condition (This is not to say, of course, that we must do so three hours each day).   We’ve heard this mentioned so many times before, but do we really understand the importance of this habit?   It could mean the difference between finishing the course or dropping out along the way.  

In Philippians 1:3-6, we see that God, having begun working with us, will perform that work.

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…”

Only we, individually, can stop the Work that God has begun in us, as indeed some, unfortunately, have done, but if we are receptive to God and His calling and stay on that course, we will complete the journey!   We weren’t called to fail; we were called to make it, with God’s help, into the Kingdom of God.

In addition, we have and just did have our pilgrimages to the annual Feast of Tabernacles as shown in Leviticus 23.   In the first two verses, we read:

“And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: “The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.”’”

The chapter outlines the Holy Days of God.   Of course, the main one is where everyone who is able to travel to a site describes the observance of the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day for 8 days.   Others, where possible geographically, keep the Days of Unleavened Bread for 7 days. And all the Holy Days that we keep ought to remind us that we are Christian pilgrims. 

CONCLUSION

In these three Q&A’s, we have looked at 7 qualities that are required of a Christian pilgrim:

• We clearly see the vision.
• We understand that our roots must not be entrenched in this world.
• We know that the physical joys of this life are only a type of something better.
• We keep physical life and health in proper perspective.
• We understand what physical life and death are all about.
• We view correction in a positive way.
• We know that the trip has to be completed – successfully.

Let us all make sure that we practice these qualities so that we can all make it into the Kingdom of God and be part of the millennial rule of Jesus Christ that must surely now be just over the horizon!

As a final thought, some time ago we published a Q&A entitled “Why Are True Christians Called Ambassadors for Christ?” This complements this 3-part Q&A about being a Christian Pilgrim and states that “the political world is openly antagonistic to Christian principles and is riddled with humanist thinking. There are no Scriptures to indicate that the Christian should attempt to influence things for good through political processes and activities.” 

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“What Does the Bible Say About Germany’s Future?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

Will Germany’s coalition under Chancellor Merz collapse before the end of this year? And what would happen then? Who would lead Germany? What about the right-wing opposition party, the AfD? Can Germany even escape its current political and economic misery and its ongoing downfall? What does biblical prophecy tell us?

“Was sagt uns die Bibel über Deutschlands prophezeite Zukunft?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This program covers the same topics as described above.

A new Member Letter (November 2025) has been posted and mailed to our subscribers. Elder Paul Niehoff (Australia) writes contrasting today’s governments with the perfect future government to be brought by the Kingdom of God.

“Die Macht Gottes” is the new German sermon by Michael Link for this Sabbath. Title in English: “The Power of God.”

“Seid klug wie die Schlangen, und ohne Falsch wie die Tauben,” last Sabbath’s first split German sermon by Thilo Hanstein, is now posted. Title in English: “Be as Shrewd as Snakes, and as Innocent as Doves.”

“Wenn der Löwe brüllt-standhaft im Glauben bleiben,” last Sabbath’s second split German sermon by Christoph Sperzel, is now posted. Title in English: “When the Lion Roars – Remain Steadfast in Faith.”

“That’s Encouraging!,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Frank Bruno, is now posted. Here is the summary:

All of us benefit from encouraging words from time to time. We also hope that such words are sincere. In this sermonette we will explore several scriptures that offer the most genuine encouragement we can receive, which can only come from our Creator.

“Is God Fair?” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Eric Rank, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Since God does not let anything happen against His will, how can we make sense of bad things happening to good people, and good things happening to bad people? Is God fair? How are we to understand the way that God works in our lives? We will explore the justice of God from the words of the Bible to answer these important questions, guiding the path of our Christian journey.

On November 8, 2025, Frank Bruno will present the sermonette, titled, “That’s Encouraging!” and Eric Rank will present the sermon, titled, “Is God Fair?”

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.

Google Maps is a web-based mapping service that is available to most of the world’s population. Through satellite imagery, “It includes real-time traffic conditions, route planning, and 360-degree panoramic street views (Street View). With over a billion monthly users, it is a popular tool for finding locations, getting directions, and exploring the world,” according to AI Overview.

Using Google Maps allows one to find the best route to follow to reach a destination. It even shows where travel may be difficult or impossible and how to avoid the problem.

When it comes to planning our life journey, the Bible establishes the ultimate destination for us and directions for taking the best route. In His preaching, Jesus said this, “‘But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you’” (Matthew 6:33).

As the previous verses reveal, Jesus is teaching us not to worry about what we may face in our day-to-day living, but, through faith, to rely on God.

Jesus revealed the best route to follow, which is to, “‘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 “narrow gate” is Jesus Christ and true Christianity, as taught by Him (John 14:6). The gate leading to destruction is the way of this deceived evil age ruled by Satan (1 John 5:19).

There is a feature on Google Maps which allows the user to “recenter” during travel. That is something we can all do regarding our following the Way of God. That can be done through prayer about the very thing that has thrown us off course. We can take time to fast if we don’t feel connected to God. We can stop neglecting God’s guidance by opening our Bible and filling our minds with His words.

Most importantly, don’t quit the journey—God will always provide the best route for us if we stay close to Him.

by Norbert Link

We begin with interesting developments in Israel referring to the Third Temple; speak on demons and aliens; and address numerous issues pertaining to the Trump Administration.

We address Tucker Carlson’s interview with antisemite Nick Fuentes; the victory of antisemite Zohran Mamdani in New York City; and the death of highly controversial former Vice President Dick Cheney.

We also speak on Putin’s new terrifying weapons; drones over Belgium; the election in the Netherlands; further troublesome news from Germany; and outrageous comments about the Bible.

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Antisemitism on the Left and the Right.”

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

IDF Soldiers’ Third Temple Flags

Israel 365 News wrote on November 2: 

“The Israel Defense Forces announced it is investigating after troops in the 36th Division mounted flags calling for the construction of the Third Temple on heavy machinery operating in Gaza. The flags, which appeared on bulldozers and other engineering vehicles, were distributed by a reservist in violation of army protocol—yet they represent just the latest chapter in a broader story about religious expression within Israel’s military during wartime… 

“… in March, an image circulated showing a soldier alongside a Gazan child who had approached an IDF post before being safely returned. The soldier’s uniform prominently displayed both a ‘Moshiach’ patch and another depicting the Beit Hamikdash (Holy Temple)… 

“The symbolism points to the conflict’s essential focus. Hamas chose the Dome of the Rock with crossed swords as its emblem, naming one of its key militant factions the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. The Islamic claim to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount sits at the ideological core of their war against Israel. When Israeli soldiers display Third Temple imagery, they are answering that claim with an equally uncompromising declaration: this land, and this mountain, belong to the Jewish people by divine right. 

“The IDF insists… that personal symbols have no place on official gear. Yet the repeated appearance of these emblems—despite official disapproval and direct intervention from top commanders—suggests something the IDF cannot regulate: the conviction among many Israeli soldiers that they are fighting a war with prophetic significance.” 

Netanyahu and the Israeli government—including the IDF—can resist the move towards building the third temple for only so long. 

UFOs and Demons 

The Guardian wrote on November 2: 

“Republican US house member Marjorie Taylor Greene has said she believes in demons, surmising that they might be aliens who fell from heaven… She made those bizarre remarks as a guest on Friday on HBO’s Real Time With Bill Maher… 

“Maher on Friday asked another of his on-air guests, film-maker Dan Farah, to discuss his new documentary, The Age of Disclosure, and how it explores the way some senior US military officials apparently theorize earnestly that ‘demons’ may be responsible for what some colloquially refer to as unidentified flying objects, or UFOs. 

“The Real Time host… subsequently asked those on the show: ‘Do you think demons and the devil are real?’ Greene… answered: ‘Absolutely. I’m a Bible-believing Christian. And I believe those could be fallen angels.’ As Maher replied: ‘Fallen angels? The aliens are fallen angels?’ Greene continued: ‘That’s possible – I think that’s what they could be. That’s what makes sense in my worldview.’” 

Greene is absolutely right. 

Trump’s Tariffs… Legal Or Not?

The Associated Press wrote on November 2: 

“President Donald Trump sees tariffs — or the threat of them — as a powerful tool to bend nations to his will. He has used them in an unprecedented way… He has wielded the import taxes as a threat to secure ceasefires from countries at war. He has used them to browbeat nations into promising to do more to stop people and drugs from flowing across their borders. He has used them, in Brazil’s case, as political pressure because its judicial system prosecuted a former leader who was a Trump ally, and in a recent blowup with Canada, as punishment for a television ad.

“This week, the Supreme Court hears arguments on whether the Republican president has overstepped federal law with many of his tariffs. A ruling against him could limit or even take away that swift and blunt leverage that much of his foreign policy has relied on. 

“Trump increasingly has expressed agitation and anxiety about the looming decision in a case he says is one of the most important in U.S. history. He has said it would be a ‘disaster’ for the United States if the justices fail to overturn lower court rulings that found he went too far in using an emergency powers law to put his tariffs in place… The courts left the tariffs in place while the Supreme Court considers the issue. Meanwhile, Trump has continued to wield them as he has tried to pressure or punish other countries on matters related — and unrelated — to trade… 

“For example, earlier this year Trump had threatened a 30% tariff on European imports, a major increase from 1.2% before he took office. Seeking to secure Trump’s support for the NATO military alliance and for security guarantees for Ukraine in its war with Russia, the European Union struck a deal to settle for 15% tariffs. The EU Commission faced criticism from businesses and member states for giving away too much… 

“Trump’s tariff strong-arming has rattled relationships with America’s friends and foes. Some have responded by becoming more protectionist or looking to foster relations with China… Some businesses have passed on some of the costs to consumers by raising prices…” 

Will the Supreme Court have the nerve to decide against Trump, since his tariffs policy seems to be clearly unconstitutional? 

Ronald Reagan Was Strongly Opposed to Tariffs 

National Post wrote on October 31: 

“There is arguably one problem with Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s TV ads using the words of Republican icon Ronald Reagan against Donald Trump: It didn’t quote [Reagan] enough. Reagan offered enough quotes about the dangers of tariffs and protectionism to fill an hour or more on Fox News. Some of them are even more devastating to Trump’s cause than those chosen by Ford…

“Welcoming Prime Minister Brian Mulroney to the White House, April 27, 1988: ‘We shall show by deed and dedication…that the lowering of tariffs and trade barriers is the way to a more prosperous world. Protectionism is out, and trade expansion is in’…

“Signing the Canada U.S. Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, The White House, Sept. 28, 1988: 

“‘This agreement brings down the tariff walls between our two nations and, in so doing, creates the world’s largest free-trade area. Businesses and consumers in both our countries will have unprecedented freedom to choose among a staggering array of goods and services. It’ll mean lower prices for consumers, jobs galore for workers, and new markets for producers… It means a stronger and freer marketplace for the United States and Canada. There’ll be a rich flow of agriculture and energy resources from one country to the other in a way that will profit both. We also deal with the service sectors of our economies, providing for the first time an explicit assurance that in such areas as accounting, tourism, insurance, and engineering our peoples will be free to choose their suppliers.’” 

To even suggest that Reagan was for tariffs is ridiculous.

Being Anti-Trump Is Illegal??? 

Daily Mail wrote on November 2: 

“Donald Trump tore into Late Night’s Seth Meyers on Saturday, calling him a ‘deranged lunatic’ and suggested his criticism of the administration was ‘illegal’… 

Trump blasted the host for his comments in a post on Saturday… ‘Why does NBC waste its time and money on a guy like this???’ he asked, claiming Meyers has ‘NO TALENT, NO RATINGS’ and is ‘100 [percent] ANTI-TRUMP, WHICH IS PROBABLY ILLEGAL.’ 

“Meyers [accused] the Trump administration of ‘pursuing a crackdown on free speech,’ following Kimmel’s suspension in the face of threats from Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr.” 

These are dangerous words from Donald Trump. 

Pentagon’s Media Censorship 

Fox News reported on November 1: 

“The Pentagon… announced a new policy in which news outlets must agree to new press restrictions or lose their media credentials and Pentagon workspaces. 

“The policy requires journalists to pledge to the new rules, including that they could be deemed security risks and have their Pentagon press badges revoked if they ask employees to disclose information that has not been released by the department, even if the information is unclassified. 

“At least 30 news outlets, including Fox News, refused to agree to the Pentagon media restrictions, asserting that the policy represents a threat to press freedom and hinders their ability to conduct independent newsgathering. 

“Additionally, the Trump administration earlier this year removed Reuters, The Associated Press and Bloomberg News from the permanent ‘pool’ of reporters covering the president, although those outlets may still be included on a sporadic basis.” 

Censorship in America! Law professor Jonathan Turley commented in a Fox News interview that these policies are “a bridge too far.” 

ICE Arrests in Court Houses Illegal? 

Breitbart wrote on November 1: 

“Joining at least two other Democrat-run states, Illinois lawmakers passed a bill on Friday prohibiting federal immigration agents from arresting illegal aliens near and around state courthouses. The Illinois bill, sent to… Gov. JB Pritzker for signing, not only seeks to prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations inside courthouses but establishes a 1,000-foot ‘buffer zone’ outside of buildings… 

“Earlier this month, a Cook County judge blocked immigration arrests at county courthouses, which include Chicago. The order prohibits immigration authorities from arresting any ‘party, witness, or potential witness’ during court appearances… California has restricted immigration enforcement action in courthouses since 2017. In Connecticut, a chief judge for the state’s supreme court issued a policy ruling earlier this fall banning warrantless arrests inside state courts… ICE officers have arrested immigrants in or around courthouses in at least seven different states…” 

How could these state decisions be enforced against ICE? 

ICE Not Going Far Enough???? 

The Independent wrote on November 3: 

“President Donald Trump said that Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids ‘haven’t gone far enough’ when confronted with questions about the agency’s aggressive tactics on CBS News program 60 Minutes. During the interview…, the president was confronted by anchor Norah O’Donnel  about ICE agents’ tactics, which over the past 10 months have included ramming cars in pursuit of suspects, sledgehammering windows, raiding churches, and getting heavy-handed with protesters. 

“‘Americans have been watching videos of ICE tackling a young mother, tear gas being used in a Chicago residential neighborhood, and the smashing of car windows,’ O’Donnell said. ‘Have some of these raids gone too far?’ ‘No, I think they haven’t gone far enough,’ Trump replied. 

“O’Donnell referenced an incident where an ICE agent tackled a crying woman to the ground inside the halls of an immigration courthouse in downtown Manhattan in front of her two young children in September. The agent was relieved of his duties. O’Donnell asked the president whether he was ‘okay with those tactics.’ ‘Yeah, because you have to get the people out,’ Trump said. ‘Many of them are murderers.’ 

“The president was pressed further by O’Donnell about how the administration has largely deported ‘landscapers, nannies, construction workers…’ ‘Landscapers who are criminals,’ Trump interrupted. 

“Trump went on to blame ‘liberal judges’ appointed by his Democratic predecessors, former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden… According to a recent review by Politico, more than 100 federal judges have ruled against the Trump administration’s efforts to detain and deport immigrants. The judges ruled at least 200 times that the administration’s actions violated people’s rights or were ‘just flatly illegal,’ according to the outlet.” 

Does Trump really know what he is talking about? In the interview, he also claimed that he did not know a man (Changpeng Zhao) whom he had just pardoned two weeks ago.

Pope’s Reflection on Trump’s Immigration Policy

Reuters wrote on November 4:

“Pope Leo called on Tuesday for ‘deep reflection’ about the way migrants are being treated in the United States under President Donald Trump’s administration and said the spiritual needs of those in detention needed to be respected… Leo… cited Matthew’s gospel, chapter 25.

“‘Jesus says very clearly at the end of the world, we’re going to be asked, you know, how did you receive the foreigner? Did you receive him and welcome him or not? And I think that there’s a deep reflection that needs to be made in terms of what’s happening,’ the pontiff said. ‘Many people who’ve lived for years and years and years, never causing problems, have been deeply affected by what’s going on right now,’ he added.”

Pope Leo is absolutely right on this.

Stephen Miller’s Dubious Role

The Independent wrote on October 31: 

“White House homeland security adviser… Stephen Miller holds secret calls with diplomats every day in order to push the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration agenda across the globe… [He pressures ] officials on visa and immigration issues, as well as pushing for negotiations with third countries to accept deportees from the U.S. who cannot be returned to their country of origin. 

“Miller has also lobbied for the revocation of individual visas for critics of Israel or MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk…  Miller… has been reported to have pushed ICE officials to conduct up to 3,000 immigration arrests per day.” 

A dangerous man… and clearly not just an “adviser.” 

Dreamers Face Uncertain Future 

The Guardian wrote on November 1: 

“A federal judge could soon decide whether tens of thousands of so-called ‘Dreamers’ in Texas could lose their ability to work in the US legally under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) immigration program – prompting fears of upheaval and heartbreak… 

“Created in 2012, Daca currently provides deportation protections and work permits to more than 500,000 immigrants who, as children, entered the US without permission or overstayed their visas. To qualify, they all had to have arrived before 2007, attend an American high school or enlist in the military, and pass background checks. The average age of those enrolled in Daca is now 31. After California, Texas is the home to the second largest Daca population in the country, with 86,000 recipients living there. 

“But what has remained a lifeline for an entire generation of young adults – in the absence of Congress being willing to pass legislation to embed the protections in law – many of whom are now raising families and building professional careers, continues to be in legal peril, especially in Texas… 

“The Daca program has survived years of uncertainty. During Donald Trump’s first term, his administration tried to terminate Daca, declaring it an illegal program. But its effort was blocked, ultimately by the US supreme court, which in 2020 halted the termination on technical grounds… 

“At the national level, as employers and employees, Daca recipients have contributed nearly $2.1bn each year to social security and Medicare, programs that benefit all Americans… Since the turn of the century, lawmakers have introduced at least 20 versions of the ‘Dream Act’, which would place Dreamers on a path to US citizenship. Despite garnering bipartisan support, the proposals have all died in Congress.” 

This is so shameful for America. 

Partial Assistance of SNAP Recipients 

The New York Post wrote on November 3: 

“The federal food stamp program will pay out partial benefits to millions of Americans despite running out of regular funding at the start of this month due to the ongoing government shutdown, the Trump administration confirmed in court documents Monday. 

“The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive about 50% of its normal benefit level throughout November, using a contingency fund set aside for natural disasters and other emergencies… SNAP has about $4.65 billion in its contingency fund — a little more than half of the $8 billion the feds spend on SNAP benefits for approximately 42 million Americans each month. Normally, beneficiaries receive about $190 per month in assistance.” 

Confusion Galore 

Yahoo!News wrote on November 4: 

“The White House on Tuesday said Americans will receive SNAP benefits, ‘fully complying’ with a recent court order, after President Trump earlier said his administration would withhold benefits until the government shutdown ended, sparking confusion… 

“Earlier on Tuesday, Trump wrote in a social media post that SNAP benefits would not be sent out as long as the government remains shut down. The president wrote in part that the food aid benefits ‘will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before!’ 

“Trump’s post contradicts a court filing made by his administration on Monday, saying that it would partially fund SNAP benefits for November but did not specify how much individual food stamp recipients will receive or when they might be able to access them… Benefits for more than 40 million Americans who are enrolled in SNAP, also known as food stamps, did not go out as scheduled on Saturday because of the government shutdown… 

“The administration considered pulling money from other programs to fully fund November SNAP benefits, specifically a program that provides free and reduced-cost lunches for schoolchildren, but ultimately determined that would pose an ‘unacceptable risk’ to food security across the country… Uncertainty over SNAP won’t end for good until the government reopens…” 

Also, in America’s longest shutdown ever, 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers are supposed to report for work without being paid. Many work overtime, while others call in sick, causing incredible delays. Trump has warned that if the Republicans don’t get rid of the filibuster [to end the appalling shutdown], they will lose the midterm election next year. Given Trump’s high disapproval rating, they might lose it anyway.   

Not Much Confidence in the Future 

Politico wrote on November 2: 

“In a bitterly divided country, pessimism and cynicism reign supreme: Two-thirds of Americans say it is at least probably true that the government often deliberately lies to the people. That distrust cuts across partisan lines… 

“Nearly half of Americans, 49 percent, say that the best times of the country are behind them… underscoring a pervasive sense of unease about both individuals’ own futures and the national direction… 

“Overall, almost half — 46 percent — of Americans said that the American Dream no longer exists. That was by far the most common answer, far greater than the 26 percent who disagreed.” 

The magazine also pointed out that “Most Americans [55 percent] expect political violence to keep growing in the United States… [and] a significant minority of the population — 24 percent — believes that there are some instances where violence is justified.” 

Tucker Carlson’s Interview With Nick Fuentes 

Wired wrote on November 4: 

“Nick Fuentes, a white nationalist known for his deeply antisemitic, racist, and misogynist [hatred, dislike or prejudice against women] worldview, just might be tearing the Republican party apart. The schism was triggered last Tuesday when former Fox News host Tucker Carlson released an in-depth interview with Fuentes, the leader of the so-called America First movement who has denied the Holocaust [and] praised Hitler…

“During the interview, Fuentes waxed antisemitic about the threat apparently posed by ‘organized Jewry’ in America, while Carlson slammed figures like Senator Ted Cruz and former president George W. Bush as being ‘Christian Zionists’ who have been ‘seized by this brain virus.’ Carlson was criticized by, among others, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee for giving Fuentes a platform, and the argument kicked into overdrive after Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, a high-profile conservative think tank, condemned those attacking Carlson as a ‘venomous coalition.’…

“Roberts’ comments… triggered a massive split on the right, with everyone from prominent podcasters and influencers to senators and other lawmakers weighing in to attack or defend Roberts and Carlson. The debate continued to rage over the weekend as many claimed the situation was a reflection of a broader concern about a perceived rise in antisemitism within the MAGA movement… 

“On Monday, prominent right-wing podcaster Ben Shapiro [who is Jewish] dedicated his entire show to the ‘fragmentation of the political right,’ claiming it is ‘being caused purposefully by a splinter faction of people led by a young man named Nick Fuentes.’…  Fuentes replied by writing: ‘No to Ben Shapiro … No to Benjamin Netanyahu … No to genocide and ethnic cleansing. No to the Christ-hating Talmud. No to Greater Israel. No to our Jewish oligarchy.’… 

“In recent months, Fuentes’ follower numbers on platforms like X and the alternative video sharing platform Rumble have skyrocketed…” 

Incredibly Popular

The Wrap wrote on November 3: 

“Tucker Carlson’s decision… to interview 27-year-old white nationalist Nick Fuentes for over two hours last week sent shockwaves through conservative media circles, with everyone from the Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro to Bari Weiss’ the Free Press to the editorial board of Rupert Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal eviscerating the former Fox News host for platforming a far-right figure who’s made his hatred of Jews a facet of his appeal….

“But Carlson’s failure to seriously challenge Fuentes doesn’t seem to have hurt his popularity. His podcast still ranked at No. 2 on Spotify’s podcast charts on Monday, and the YouTube post of the interview has 5.1 million views. His X post with the two-hour conversation? 17.3 million.” 

Fuentes Kirk’s Successor? 

The New York Times wrote on November 3: 

“Charlie Kirk, the conservative influencer who was assassinated in September, and Nick Fuentes, the young Hitler-loving white nationalist at the center of a growing schism on the right, were bitter enemies. Fuentes despised Kirk for his support of Israel… 

“After Kirk was murdered, Fuentes… continued his attacks on Turning Point… powerful conservatives were engaged in a nationwide campaign to canonize Kirk and destroy progressives who maligned him… In such an atmosphere, one might think that Fuentes’s stock on the right would have fallen. Instead, it’s risen higher than ever, revealing a seemingly unstoppable ratchet of radicalization on the right… 

“‘Jews are running society, women need to shut up,’ he said [in March]… ‘Blacks need to be imprisoned for the most part.’ His sneering, proudly transgressive attitude has made him a hero to legions of mostly young men who resent all forms of political gatekeeping… [All of this] leads inexorably to Groyperism [followers of Fuentes, a variant on the alt-right Pepe the Frog meme], and the elevation of Fuentes, Kirk’s foe, into his successor.” 

Anti-Semitism on the left is well-known [note next articles]. But now comes Fuentes on the right. 

Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani New Mayor of New York City 

Newsmax wrote on November 4: 

“Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani has been elected mayor of New York City… The earthshaking result makes Mamdani the first Muslim mayor in the city’s history. His victory cements the left’s grip on the city’s Democrat base and signals a national shift in urban politics. But critics warn his expansive spending plans could drive out businesses and accelerate New York’s fiscal decline. 

“Mamdani… ran on an unabashedly socialist platform promising fare-free buses, universal childcare, a city-run grocery store in each borough, a $30 minimum wage by 2030, and new taxes on corporations and high earners. He has been branded a socialist and communist by many critics, including President Donald Trump, who labeled Mamdani a ‘100% Communist lunatic’ in a June 25 post on Truth Social. 

“Trump also said Monday on Truth Social that it was ‘highly unlikely’ he would contribute federal funds ‘other than the very minimum as required’ to New York City should Mamdani be elected mayor… 

“Almost 800,000 New Yorkers said they would flee the city if Mamdani won… 9% of New Yorkers would ‘definitely’ leave the city, which has a population of roughly 8.5 million.

“It also raises a big question regarding the city’s Jewish community, the largest in the world outside of Israel. Anti-Israel politics have been a driving force in Mamdani’s life… 

“He has repeated his contention that he would use NYPD resources to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following the International Criminal Court’s warrant over alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip. 

“Political analysts said Mamdani’s victory could deepen the ideological divide within the Democratic Party and test whether New York can sustain a socialist experiment amid rising debt and public-safety fears.” 

The Jerusalem Post wrote on November 4, prior to Mamdani’s confirmed victory: 

“Mamdani has been called a ‘raging antisemite, a terrorist sympathizer, an ardent socialist, and a polarizing figure’ – language that reflects why the campaign has become a global story. 

“Mamdani’s own words have amplified concerns. In 2021…, he said anti-Israel BDS activism [was] the ‘crux of the reason’ he joined the Democratic Socialists of America… And in October, he wrote that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ‘launched a genocidal war,’ framing Israel’s actions in the most extreme moral terms… 

“If he wins, this is a clear message for the Democratic Party: Antisemites can lead; they are no longer in the margins. This means that being a supporter of a boycott of Israel – not just West Bank goods but also sovereign Israel – is normal. This means that globalizing the intifada, as he calls it, is a relevant call for destroying the only Jewish state in the world, while dozens of Arab and Muslim states already exist… If Mamdani wins, this is a very bad situation for Jews, for Israel, and for America.” 

Still, many Jews voted for him. Trump called them “stupid.” 

Dick Cheney’s Controversial Legacy 

The Daily Mail wrote on November 4: 

“Some Republicans joined liberals in expressing little sorrow over the death of former Vice President Dick Cheney. Cheney, one of the most polarizing political figures in modern US history, died on Monday night at the age of 84 due to complications from pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease. 

“The former vice president was the architect of the Iraq war following the 9/11 terrorist attacks under the George Bush administration. Liberals criticized Cheney throughout his vice presidential terms, gifting him the infamous nickname ‘Darth Vader.’ In recent years, however, Cheney found new enemies on the MAGA right after endorsing Kamala Harris over Donald Trump in the 2024 election…  

“Near the end of his vice presidential career, Cheney often faced allegations of being a ‘war criminal’ for his role in pushing the Iraq war… ‘Dick Cheney just died. The man who killed over a million innocent civilians to see his Halliburton stock go up,’ said popular right-wing X account Kim Dotcom. Popular conservative X account Tony Sergua added, ‘He lied about weapons of mass destruction. He is the reason so many American soldiers died or where maimed.’.. 

“Trump… has had a very contentious relationship with the Cheney family… Cheney’s eldest daughter, former Rep. Liz Cheney led the impeachment effort and subsequent January 6th investigation committee, following the 2021 Capitol riot. Trump reacted by pushing for Cheney’s ouster from House GOP leadership and defeating her in a primary election by backing Cheney’s opponent.” 

Cheney was probably the most unpopular and hated US politician in Europe. 

UN Accuses USA of Breaking the Law 

ABC News wrote on October 31: 

“The United Nations said Friday that U.S. airstrikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean violate international human rights law and must stop… U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said that the attacks breach international law and called for an investigation into the strikes… 

“‘Under international human rights law, the intentional use of lethal force is only permissible as a last resort against individuals who pose an imminent threat to life,’ he added. ‘Based on the very sparse information provided publicly by the U.S. authorities, none of the individuals on the targeted boats appeared to pose an imminent threat to the lives of others or otherwise justified the use of lethal armed force against them under international law.’…

“Since September, President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have executed over a dozen military strikes against boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, arguing they are anti-drug and counter-terrorism measures. Over 60 people have allegedly been killed in the strikes, according to U.S. officials.”

In this case, the UN is correct.  

US Tomahawks for Ukraine? 

CNN wrote on October 31 

“The Pentagon has given the White House the green light to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles after assessing that it would not negatively impact US stockpiles, leaving the final political decision in President Donald Trump’s hands… 

“The assessment buoyed the US’ European allies, who believe that the US now has fewer excuses not to provide the missiles.. 

“While the Pentagon doesn’t have concerns about stockpiles, US defense officials are still grappling with how Ukraine would train on and deploy the missiles. There are still several operational issues that would need to be resolved for Ukraine to be able to use the missiles effectively… One outstanding question is how Ukraine would fire the missiles if the US provided them. Tomahawks are most commonly launched from surface ships or submarines, but Ukraine’s Navy is severely depleted, so the missiles would likely need to be launched on land.” 

No Tomahawk Missiles? 

Thomson/Reuters wrote on November 2: 

“President Donald Trump said on Sunday that, for now, he is not considering a deal that would allow Ukraine to obtain long-range Tomahawk missiles for use against Russia… He added, however, that he could change his mind. 

“Tomahawk missiles have a range of 2,500 km (1,550 miles), long enough to strike deep inside Russia, including Moscow…” 

It does not appear that the war between Russia and Ukraine will end anytime soon. 

Putin’s New Terrifying Nuclear Submarine 

Daily Mail wrote on November 3: 

“Vladimir Putin has unveiled his new terrifying nuclear submarine, built to carry a doomsday weapon capable of unleashing a radioactive tidal wave. The hulking Khabarovsk, which ramps up the tyrant’s threats of World War Three, is equipped to fire Russia’s notorious Poseidon nuclear drone at Western coastlines… The Poseidon… is capable of travelling up to 6,200 miles with a speed of 115miles per hour deep underwater… 

“Jeffrey Lewis, a scholar at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, wrote in Foreign Policy: ‘It’s downright terrifying. We’re talking about a massive, megaton-sized thermonuclear weapon designed to produce significant, long-lasting radiation effects.’ Other officials have also warned that the weapon could be fired from unexpected directions.   

“It was reported that this prompted US president Donald Trump to order his country’s military to restart nuclear tests for the first time in 33 years.  

He wrote: ‘Because of other countries’ testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately.’”

Trump also claimed that Russia and China are carrying out secret underground doomsday nuclear weapons testing. We are getting closer to outright nuclear war which could destroy all life on earth.

No Non-Aggression Pact? 

NachDenkSeiten wrote on October 31: 

“Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared this week in Minsk that Moscow is prepared to provide EU and NATO countries with legally binding security guarantees that it will not attack them… He stated verbatim: ‘We have repeatedly stated that we do not intend, and never have, to attack any of the current NATO or EU members. We are prepared to enshrine this position in future security guarantees for this part of Eurasia.’

“The German government’s response [on October 29] to the corresponding question from NachDenkSeiten at the Federal Press Conference reads as follows… 

“Question: ‘Do I understand you correctly that you do not intend to accept this proposal from the Russian side for a de facto non-aggression pact with EU and NATO states for the time being?’ 

“Answer: ‘You understand me perfectly well that the Russian side must end its war, which it has been waging for some time now without any cause or justification against a sovereign neighboring country. The German government is striving for a ceasefire, an end to these hostilities.’” 

Mysterious Drones Over Belgium 

EU News wrote on November 3: 

“Unidentified drone overflights continue in the heart of Europe. Belgium now appears to be the latest victim, following the incidents of a few weeks ago. Sightings were repeated during the night between Friday (October 31) and Saturday, and again between Saturday and Sunday. This time, the aircraft flew over the Kleine Brogel military base, 100 kilometers from Brussels, and another approached Antwerp airport…. Who is behind the operations is still unclear…

“The episode is concerning because it is not an isolated case. Earlier this month, several drones flew over the Elsenborn military camp, and a similar incident occurred in the skies above Marche-en-Famenne, where the Ardennes Light Infantry is stationed. This weekend’s event raises the bar by targeting Belgium’s most extensive military base at Kleine Brogel. Here, according to some NATO sources, US nuclear warheads are present, and the most technologically advanced elements of the Belgian army are deployed… 

“According to initial reconstructions, the overflight occurred at a high altitude. The Belgian armed forces attempted to interfere by jamming (releasing electromagnetic waves) techniques to shoot down the aircraft, but the attempt was unsuccessful. In addition, to disrupt the overflight, a Belgian Air Force helicopter took off in pursuit of the drone, but it managed to escape. The failure testifies to the fact that the European armed forces are only partly prepared to counter threats from the sky.” 

Quite embarrassing for Belgium’s “defense” capabilities… 

Reuters added on November 4: 

“Brussels Airport is closed after the reported sighting of a drone, said the Belgian air traffic control service and a spokeswoman for the airport. ‘There are no flights currently landing or taking off,’ said the spokeswoman, adding she could not estimate for how long the airport would remain closed. 

“The smaller Liege Airport also said it was currently closed after drones had been seen… In September, Copenhagen Airport and Oslo Airport had to be closed briefly as a result of drone sightings.” 

Elections in the Netherlands 

BBC wrote on October 31: 

“Centrist liberal leader Rob Jetten has claimed victory in Wednesday’s nail-biting Dutch election, after vote analysis indicated his party could not be beaten by anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders… No Dutch election race has ever been so close… He will need the support of at least three other parties to gather the 76 seats needed to form a coalition… 

“Wilders won the last election in November 2023, and a government was only formed in July 2024. Eleven months later, he brought his own government down, in a row with his coalition partners over asylum and migration policy.” 

Pride wrote on October 31: 

“Gays on the internet have turned into rabid fans of gay politician Rob Jetten, who just won the election to become the Netherlands’ youngest prime minister… he is also dating [a] male athlete who is nine years his junior, and he is the first openly gay prime minister in the country’s history… Nicolás ‘Nico’ Keenan is a 28-year-old bisexual field hockey player who is now set to become the first gentleman of the Netherlands… 

“Jetten and Keenan publicly hard launched their relationship in 2023 and then announced their engagement the following year with a photo taken in Paris during the Olympics, captioned, ‘Soon we will be Mr & Mr.’ [They] plan to get married next year.” 

The Netherlands belongs to the House of Israel—called modern “Sodom” in the Bible. 

Proceedings Against Reichelt Dropped 

Die Welt wrote on October 30: 

“The Berlin public prosecutor’s office has dropped its investigation into ‘Nius’ editor-in-chief Julian Reichelt on suspicion of incitement to hatred. ‘The initial suspicion was not substantiated,’ a spokesperson for the authority told the German Press Agency (dpa)… 

“Regarding the discontinuation of the proceedings, [Attorney] Steinhöfel commented: ‘When an investigation is opened and then discontinued almost minutes later… after it has become public, the question of the professional competence of those involved arises with great urgency.’”… 

And, of course, the question of political motivation. 

Further Measures Against Opposition 

Nius wrote on November 1: 

“The Freiburg public prosecutor’s office has filed charges of defamation against an 18-year-old student… 

“The trigger: In February 2025, the officer gave a lecture to a class at the Angell Gymnasium entitled ‘Defending Democracy – But How?’ The student, who had previously co-founded a student newspaper that called for protests against the Bundeswehr visit, subsequently posted a meme on Instagram. It showed the officer in front of the class with the punchline: ‘So, children, who among you would like to die on the Eastern Front?’ Supporters of the accused see this as an ‘ironic exaggeration of the Bundeswehr’s recruitment strategy in schools’… 

“Student protests against appearances by the German Armed Forces at schools are not isolated incidents nationwide. In Leipzig, for example, young people mobilized before a military presentation at the school; a 16-year-old was threatened with expulsion.”

The accusations are absurd, but they demonstrate the lengths to which some are willing to go to suppress dissent. The fact that the German Armed Forces are allowed to conduct their war propaganda in schools and that students are obligated to listen to it is outrageous. 

Reciting “Hateful” Bible Verses Illegal? 

Life Site News wrote on November 1: 

“A leading member of Canada’s Parliament said that certain passages of the Bible are ‘hateful’ because of their stance towards homosexuality, and further suggested that publicly reciting those passages should be prosecuted. 

“During a Thursday, October 30 discussion in Ottawa about hate propaganda laws, Marc Miller, a current member of Canada’s House of Commons and the Chairman of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, pushed the idea that ‘good faith’ defenses were unacceptable when it comes to Christians referring to passages of the Bible that he personally finds ‘hateful.’ 

“In Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Romans — there’s other passages — there’s clear hatred towards, for example, homosexuals,’ insisted Miller. ‘I don’t understand how the concept of good faith can be invoked if someone were literally invoking a passage from, in this case, the Bible… there should perhaps be discretion for prosecutors to press charges,’ averred Miller…’” 

It is true: God HATES sinful conduct.

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer: 

These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.

In part one of this series, we started to look at what it means to be a Christian pilgrim.   First of all, we saw that we must clearly see the vision that is ahead of us and to seek those things which will last for eternity in the Kingdom of God.

Let us now continue with our study of this subject.

(2)              A PILGRIM’S roots must not be entrenched in this world.

We alluded to this already in part 1 of this series. To elaborate, there was a classic case of someone being entrenched in the ways of this world that ended in the loss of her life.   In Genesis, chapters 18 and 19, we find a story we know well – discussing the depravity of Sodom and Gomorrah.   And our current society, with all of its sexual sins, homosexuality and deviant behavior, is just like that.   

It was not the place to be.   God destroyed the place because of all sorts of sins, including that of homosexuality.   We read that in Ezekiel 16:49-50,  there was also a broad base of sinful behavior, including iniquity, abomination, pride and loveless conduct.   In Genesis 19:13-14, we read what the two angels who appeared as men said to Lot and his family:

“‘For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.’ So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, ‘Get up, get out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city!’ But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.”

We should be able to imagine this. It was just like today with many youngsters thinking that this vile society is fine when it is, generally, alien to the ways of God.   Also, like today, they had lived in that society so long that evil seemed good.   They became unable to differentiate. Continuing with verse 15:

^“When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “’Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.’” 

They had to forsake the city emotionally as well as physically.   They were to loathe it as God loathed it.

In verses 24-26, we find  a salutary lesson for those who disregard what God instructs us to do:

“Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens. So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”

“Looked back” is a translation of the Hebrew word “nabat,” which means, looking back attentively or longingly.   Lot’s wife seemed to be the type who looked back to times or situations with some affection.

It seemed a small thing, but it really was a great sin.   She disobeyed an express command, and unbelief must have been at the bottom of it.  Possibly, she hankered after her home and goods in Sodom, and was loath to leave them.  In Luke 17:31-32, Christ intimates this to be her sin when He speaks about the time of the end, the flight to the place of safety, and the coming Kingdom of God:

“In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife.”

The punishment of Lot’s wife for this sin was that she was struck dead in the place.   Jesus did say in Luke 9:62: 

“No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Since it is such a dangerous thing to look back, let us always press forward.   

In 1 John 2:15-17, we find a clear admonition about not loving or being entrenched in the world:

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ^For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. ^And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

This is very clear-cut.   And there are quite a number of other passages with a similar warning, but this example should be sufficient for this Q&A.   We should all hope that this present evil society will end soon, and the sooner it passes away and the Kingdom of God is ushered in, the better!

(3)              A PILGRIM knows that the physical joys of this life are only a type of something better.

In this life there are many physical joys to be had; for example:

The joy of getting married; of having a family to be proud of.   

The joy of scholastic achievements.   

The joy that we can make things with our hands where we display the talents that God has given us.   

The joy of listening to beautiful music.

The joy of seeing a gorgeous sunset.

The joy of seeing nature and a beautiful landscape.

The joy of having a beautifully prepared meal.

But these physical joys in this life are only a type of something better.  As mentioned before, God has limited us in our knowledge and understanding, as we would probably be incapable of taking all of it in during our current physical existence.  But we must never forget that there are the spiritual joys of knowing God’s wonderful Truth.

In 1 Corinthians 13:12, Paul writes:

“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”

Mathew Henry’s Commentary states the following on this verse:

“Now we can only discern things at a great distance, as through a telescope, and that involved in clouds and obscurity; but hereafter the things to be known will be near and obvious, open to our eyes; and our knowledge will be free from all obscurity and error. God is to be seen face to face; and we are to know him as we are known by him… We are known to him by mere inspection; he turns his eye towards us, and sees and searches us throughout. We shall then fix our eye on him, and see him as he is.”

The Bible gives us much information about the future, but again, we are limited by our own faculties in fully understanding what will be.   God has given us a glimpse of the future, but our anticipation will be exceeded many times over by the reality.   We can have joys now, but in the future, it will be joy unconfined forever in the Kingdom of God.

Let us review Matthew 2:7-10.   This is about the wise men and the young Christ Child:

“Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.’ When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.”

They rejoiced with exceedingly great joy because they were being led to the Savior of mankind, who by then was apparently several months old. We will see the Savior of mankind at His return in all His marvelous glory, and our joy will be running over, and it will continue for eternity.   The joys of this physical life are only a type – or a forerunner – of the joy that we will experience forever – but we have to be steadfast and loyal to the very end in order to inherit these marvelous promises and this fantastic future.

(4)              A PILGRIM keeps physical life and health in proper perspective.

This life is just a temporary physicochemical existence. Real life is that which we will enjoy as a Spirit being for eternity.   Atheists, those who don’t believe that there is a supernatural being who sustains the universe and has promised us such a marvelous future, just live for today.   If there is no future after this life, then this life becomes the be-all and end-all of their existence, as it is all that matters to them.   There have been those who, after death, have been put in blocks of ice (cryonics) so that if a remedy for eternal life is found, they can be brought back to life!!!

According to the Smithsonian magazine: “In Scottsdale, Arizona, as of 2022, 199 people have had their heads and bodies cryopreserved at the Alcor Life Extension Foundation facility in hopes of being revived later. By preserving bodies at below-freezing temperatures, Alcor’s goal is ‘restoring good health with medical technology in the future.’”

It is truly amazing to see what lengths some people will go to!

But those of us who have been called into the knowledge of the Truth don’t have to go to such lengths.   We keep physical life and health in proper perspective.   Let us review 1 Corinthians 6:19-20:

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit [which] is in you, [which] you have from God, and you are not your own? ^For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

We can’t preserve this flesh forever.   Of course, we should do everything possible to look after our body by eating the right foods and abstaining from those things which can cause us severe problems, like taking illicit drugs and smoking; that is something that God expects of us, but in spite of everything we do (and it is in our own interests to look after ourselves in order to avoid aches and pains, and ill-health), nevertheless, the body will still wear out eventually.   It has a built-in life span that will, eventually, give way!   Like so much of what is manufactured today which has built-in obsolescence, we are much the same!

Food gives us the energy to serve God.   Health foods are fine but it really does depend on our motivation.   Of course, we should do everything we can to only eat the right foods and glorify God in our bodies, but we do have to keep life and health in proper perspective.   It shouldn’t become an end in itself – and a distraction from the bigger picture.   We are only temporary in this life and we must never forget that.

In 1 Chronicles 29:15, we read that David was giving praise to God:

^“For we are aliens and pilgrims before You,   As were all our fathers;  Our days on earth are as a shadow,   And without hope.”

That is, “without hope” if we don’t have God on our side. 

Israel was dependent upon the care and protection of God, just as an alien is dependent upon the goodwill of the ruler of the land in which he finds himself.   And our days are as a shadow.   Our days are our proving ground and limited in their length – and when we pass the test – as we indeed must – eternity is before us.   This brief span of life will have proved to have been but the blink of an eye!

Let us keep a Godly perspective on this matter – and balance.   Balance is so important in every aspect of a Christian’s life.

(5)               A PILGRIM understands what physical life and death are all about.

We know that this is a training ground for something much more important, which is an  understanding that eludes most of mankind – and most of mainstream Christianity, for that matter.   We are but a few breaths away from death.   No air for a few minutes would also ensure our complete demise.   James 4:13-14 reads as follows:

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; ^whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

Our human life viewed against the backdrop of eternity is only a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.   We’ve probably all smiled at the story of the rich man, increased with goods, who said that if he couldn’t take it with him, he wasn’t going!   But that sort of attitude that can prevail is symptomatic of those who think that this is all there is; there is no afterlife, no future, no eternity for mankind.   As true Christians, we have to eliminate any self-sufficiency in this area, fully realizing that we just can’t live independently from God.   True wisdom and true humility keep God continually in view.   

Psalm 39:4-5 also has something to say on this matter:

“LORD, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days,  That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,  And my age is as nothing before You;  Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.”

Man’s life is so brief and tenuous as to be utterly vain.   Our life in its comparative brevity is something that has been revealed to us, and so when anything happens to a loved one, we grieve, but not as others, because we understand the plan that God has for all of mankind.   Putting too much store on this life is a worldly attribute, and those who do so don’t understand God’s intentions for humanity, but we have been privileged to have been given that invaluable knowledge.

Paul clearly understood our future as we read in 2 Timothy 4:6-8:

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Paul’s life’s work was done.   He had been true to his calling and he knew what reward was awaiting him.   He was a pilgrim nearly 2,000 years ago and knew that death was only the beginning, not the end.   

This was not only stated by Paul but also by Peter, as we read in 2 Peter 1:13-14:

“Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, ^knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.”

The word “tent,” or “tabernacle” in the Authorized Version, is used for “body” and is a reminder of the frailty and temporary nature of the earthly body.   The comparison of the body with a tent suits the general conception of life as a pilgrimage.

We all want to enjoy life and have all the good things that can come our way, but Christian pilgrims understand what physical life and death are, and that they should not be overly concerned about this brief part of their existence.   As the song goes – the best is yet to come!

(To be continued.)

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“Antisemitism on the Left and the Right,” a new StandingWatch program presented by Evangelist Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Antisemitic Socialist Zohran Mamdani the next mayor of New York. Message for the Democratic Party: “Antisemites can lead; they are no longer in the margins” (The Jerusalem Post). Antisemitic Nick Fuentes’ popularity is sky-rocketing. Message for the Republican Party: “A seemingly unstoppable ratchet of radicalization on the right” (The New York Times). What does the Bible say about antisemitism and its frightening rise?

“Antisemitismus auf der Linken und der Rechten,” a new AufPostenStehen program presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. This German program covers the same topics as described above.

A NEW booklet on “God’s Work” has been written and is now in the first review process.

Our regular Tech Team Meeting took place on Sunday, November 2, 2025. Hosted by Eric Rank, much of the time was spent in coordination of ad campaigns for English and German booklets.

“Ein reines Herz gewinnen,” last Sabbath’s sermonette in Germany presented by Andreas Rätz, is now posted. Title in English: “To Win a Pure Heart.”

“From Darkness…” last Sabbath’s first split sermon presented by Kalon Mitchell, is now posted. Here is the summary:

The Bible often uses darkness as the opposite of God’s light—a symbol of sin, blindness, and deception. From worldly celebrations like Halloween to the spiritual dimming of our culture, Satan disguises evil as harmless fun to draw people further from God.

“Into the Light,” last Sabbath’s second split sermon presented by Michael Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

In a world ruled by Satan, how are we to remove ourselves from the darkness that surrounds us and into the light, following the example of Jesus Christ?

On November 1, 2025, Kalon Mitchell will present the first split sermon, titled, “From Darkness,” and Michael Link will present the second split sermon, titled, “Into the Light.”

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.

Every time we address the biblical fact that a Third Temple will be built in Jerusalem prior to Christ’s Return, we are confronted with criticism: “Where in the Bible does it say that?” “There will be no Temple prior to Christ’s Return.” “The reference to a Temple is strictly addressing the Church.” Or, to make matters still worse and pathetic, “Jesus is the Temple, and God the Father will send Him—the Temple—back to Earth.”

The last objection is, of course, totally ridiculous and not even worth the time of discussing. I am only bringing it up to show how spiritually uneducated and ignorant “religious” people can be. It is true, of course, that the Bible does sometimes speak about the Church—or each and every true Christian—as a spiritual Temple. And it is also true that Christ comes back to His Church—His spiritual Temple. But many Scriptures cannot be explained that way and require the existence of a physical Temple before Christ’s Return.

For instance, we read that the man of sin (the false prophet) will be in the Temple of God, claiming to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). This cannot possibly be referring to the man of sin sitting in God’s true Church—the very thought borders on blasphemy. That is the reason why Herbert W. Armstrong taught dogmatically that this passage mandates the existence of a physical Temple prior to Christ’s Return. We also read that the Millennial Temple in the book of Ezekiel must be cleansed—the reason being that it was polluted through the man of sin and the abominations which will take place in the Temple, as for instance described in the early pages of the book of Ezekiel and in the book of Daniel. For anybody who is willing to open his or her eyes, our literature is filled with proof that a physical Temple MUST be built before Christ CAN come back.

But who is going to build that Third Temple? I have been saying for quite some time that I strongly believe that Donald Trump will have an important role to fulfill in this regard. In fact, I recently said that I believe that Mr. Trump has been placed in power, among other reasons, to fulfill the biblical requirement of helping to build that Temple. I said this already during his first term, and I’m saying this again now. It is true that I strongly felt that events would happen faster—that Mr. Trump would be in the White House again more than four years ago. As it turned out, he was not then, but he is now. I explained at the time why I was four years ahead of my time (as many of the early apostles were and as Mr. Armstrong was as well)—and that I felt strongly that he would be back.

Apart from the fact that I believed (and believe) that the 2020 election was rigged and that Donald Trump should have been the rightful President, I also believed that God delayed the timing as the Church, as a whole, was not ready for the prophesied end-time events (cp. 2 Peter 3:9). Sadly, I don’t believe that the Church, as a whole, is ready now, but God’s patience has limits, and we are told that God will not delay the fulfillment any longer. In fact, God says that He will do a short Work (Romans 9:28) which can be accelerated (2 Peter 3:12). This is not to say that everyone in the Church will participate in the hastening of the Work and of Christ’s coming—some will be counted unworthy to go to the place of safety (even if they still believed in one) or to stand before the Son of Man.

When I mentioned Donald Trump in relation to the Third Temple, criticism ensued… as was expected: “What biblical Scripture do you have backing up this bizarre claim?” Of course, if someone does not believe that a physical Temple must be built, he obviously would not believe that Mr. Trump would have anything to do with such an endeavor. But if we believe in a physical building, how does President Trump come into play? Let’s be logical for a moment.

We are told in the Bible that foreigners (“they that are far off”) will come and build IN the Temple of the LORD (compare Zechariah 6:15, Authorized Version). It is obvious that Israel will not be able to build the Temple on its own; it would need support and protection. This protection can only be provided by the USA—and who would be better equipped and qualified to do so and to engage in such a building process than Donald Trump, who has been undeniably very successful in erecting monumental and significant buildings?

Of course, there is no Scripture which says: Donald Trump will build the Third Temple. Nor has there been a Scripture which says that divided Germany would reunite. But Herbert Armstrong powerfully proclaimed that it would reunite because he understood the entirety of prophecy in this regard, and he was guided by the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10; John 16:13). With that same spirit, he proclaimed that there would be no major war between Russia and America, and that America had won its last war. That spirit of prophecy is with God’s true servants today, and we proclaim as well that America will not win another war and that Russia will not attack America… but also, that a war will break out between Russia, Ukraine and Europe. After all, we read that God will do nothing unless He reveals His plan first to His servants (Amos 3:7).

And we believe that we are guided by that same spirit of prophecy which inspires us to see Mr. Trump’s role in building the Third Temple—provided, he is willing to fulfill this commission—even though this claim might sound strange to some people (compare Habakuk 1:5).

We are by far not the only ones who have seen the significance of Donald Trump being in power in relation to the Third Temple. Israel 365 News wrote on October 24:

“White House correspondent, Jake Turx, asked Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt whether President Donald Trump had ever discussed the prospect of supporting the Temple’s reconstruction in Jerusalem… after noting Trump’s reputation for large-scale building projects and his newly revealed plans for a White House ballroom…

“Leavitt pointedly did not reject the possibility that the president and real-estate tycoon would consider the project, responding, instead, ‘It has not. No it hasn’t. I’m sorry, Jake.’ The exchange was brief, but it immediately recalled one of the most symbolically potent moments of Trump’s first term: the move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem in May 2018… Following the embassy move, the Sanhedrin minted a ceremonial coin depicting Trump alongside the Persian King Cyrus, who facilitated the Jewish people’s return from Babylonian exile and rebuilding the Second Temple…”

The press reported in some articles that Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had said that President Trump will not build the Third Temple. The Jerusalem Post had the following headline: “Leavitt: Donald Trump not rebuilding Jerusalem’s third temple.” This is clearly misleading, as Leavitt did NOT say that.

Also, Benjamin Netanyahu seemed to announce the building of a Third Temple about 7 years ago. You might want to listen again to our StandingWatch program from May 16, 2018, titled “Netanyahu’s Announcement of a Third Temple?” 

Books have been written about the Third Temple and Donald Trump’s involvement. One introduction reads: “Many believe that President Trump is Israel’s next King Cyrus, the facilitator and overseer of the building of the Third Temple and that his influential role in that pursuit is being guided by Hashem (God) Himself, in order to restore to His people the most sacred site of worship. Is a secret plan under development for [the] construction of the Third Temple? And as these plans are increasingly expedited, will Trump succeed in raising this landmark, only to usher in the end of days?”

The blueprint for building the Third Temple exists. Musical instruments, over 60 vessels, and priestly garments like the ephod, breastplate, robe and the high priest’s crown have already been prepared. These are not replicas or models, but authentic vessels, made from gold, copper, silver and wood. Also, the menorah has been made of one piece of pure gold. Even a replica of the ark of the covenant (made of gold and three tons of Egyptian Acacia wood) was painstakingly constructed to exact specifications of the Torah and was displayed for the first time in October of 2024 in Jerusalem. Descendants of the tribe of Levi, known as Levites, are actively being identified and trained for the future Third Temple service, including both the priestly “Kohanim” and other Levites for supportive roles.

Can one really believe that all these preparations have been done without God’s involvement or inspiration?

So, before being accused of proclaiming something bizarre and weird, let’s just patiently wait and see what the future holds. Maybe, our critics will end up very embarrassed and become silent when they will have to realize that true prophecy had been proclaimed to them (cp. Ezekiel 33:33).

by Norbert Link

We begin with events pertaining to Israel and the Third Temple, as well as Hamas; speak on Trump’s possible “third term”; the new ballroom and threats to revoke the naturalization of Americans; the continuing shutdown; Putin’s new maneuverings; and Europe’s steps to secure “defense” readiness against major attacks by 2030. We also point out disturbing developments in Germany.

Please view in this regard our new StandingWatch program, titled,  “Germany Continues to Embrace Dictatorship.” 

We also report on a new trade controversy between the USA and Canada; a TikTok deal in the making; Kennedy’s position on saturated fats; and the death of Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit.

Please note our new message, “Will Trump Build the Third Temple?—Comments on News and Prophecy, October 26, 2025” 

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

Cutting Ties With Israel?

Newsmax wrote on October 23:

“President Donald Trump said the United States would cut ties with Israel if the Jewish state attempted to annex the West Bank. Trump made the remark in an interview with Time magazine conducted Oct. 15 at the White House and published Thursday. The interview occurred about a week before Israel’s Knesset advanced legislation to annex the territory. 

“‘It won’t happen. It won’t happen,’ Trump told Time. ‘It won’t happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries… Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened.’ 

“In what is seen as an embarrassment to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Knesset on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to a bill that would extend Israeli sovereignty to all West Bank settlements…  It also passed a more limited bill to annex a major settlement city. The votes came despite opposition from Netanyahu and most of his Likud party. They argued the move was ill-timed, given the fragility of a ceasefire deal brokered by the Trump administration between Israel and Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists. 

“Vice President JD Vance said Thursday, before leaving Israel, that he was ‘insulted’ by the Knesset vote. Vance told reporters… that he was told the measure was merely symbolic and part of a ‘political stunt with no practical significance… If it was a political stunt, it was a stupid one, and I take some insult to it,’ Vance said. He emphasized that the Trump administration’s policy is that ‘the West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel.’ 

“Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday night that the Knesset’s move toward annexation could threaten Trump’s plan to end the two-year-old conflict in the Gaza Strip. ‘The president has made clear that’s not something we’d be supportive of right now,’ Rubio told reporters before departing for Israel. ‘We think there’s potential for [it to be] threatening to the peace deal.’” 

Rubio’s emphasis on “right now” is interesting. 

Does Trump Plan to Build the Third Temple? 

Israel 365 News wrote on October 24: 

“Eyebrows were raised when a question about rebuilding the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple) was asked in the White House press briefing room on Thursday, bringing a subject usually found in Jewish study halls and prophetic discussions directly into U.S. political conversation. Mishpacha’s White House correspondent, Jake Turx, asked Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt whether President Donald Trump had ever discussed the prospect of supporting the Temple’s reconstruction in Jerusalem… after noting Trump’s reputation for large-scale building projects and his newly revealed plans for a White House ballroom… 

“Leavitt pointedly did not reject the possibility that the president and real-estate tycoon would consider the project, responding, instead, ‘It has not. No it hasn’t. I’m sorry, Jake.’ The exchange was brief, but it immediately recalled one of the most symbolically potent moments of Trump’s first term: the move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem in May 2018… Following the embassy move, the Sanhedrin minted a ceremonial coin depicting Trump alongside the Persian King Cyrus, who facilitated the Jewish people’s return from Babylonian exile and rebuilding the Second Temple… 

“The idea of a Third Temple is not speculative within the Hebrew Bible… Several years ago, mentioning the Temple in a White House briefing would have been treated as marginal. Today, it was asked plainly — without laughter, without dismissal, and without scandal.” 

The press reported in some articles that Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had said that Trump will not build the Third Temple. This, the White House has clearly NOT said. The twists and misrepresentations of the mass media are staggering.

“Welcome to Hotel Hamas”

 The Daily Mail wrote on October 25: 

“Hamas terrorists released under the Gaza peace deal are staying in a five-star hotel [the Marriott’s Renaissance Cairo Mirage City Hotel] alongside unsuspecting Western tourists. Experts warned of a radical new threat to global security after the Daily Mail tracked down more than 150 of the highly dangerous extremists to a luxury hotel in Cairo. Israel was forced to empty its prisons of nearly all its most feared jihadists held on life sentences as part of Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan… 

“Undercover journalists booked into the resort and stayed amongst the murderous jihadists, who include a member of Isis and a senior Hamas special forces commander… The Daily Mail understands that some may soon be moved on to live in nearby tourist destinations such as Qatar, Turkey and Tunisia which are hugely popular with British holidaymakers… 

“Professor Anthony Glees, emeritus professor at the University of Buckingham, said: ‘These people are our sworn enemies. They will cut off the heads of British soldiers and kill left, right and centre… 

“A former Israeli intelligence officer known as Guy C added: ‘There are no restrictions on their movements in these countries. They can walk freely, travel to Europe – even the UK… The first thing these terrorists will do when they reach Turkey or Qatar is contact their associates in Gaza and the West Bank to send money and re-establish their networks. They will quickly regroup and form new terror cells.’”

Hamas won’t go away. For Israel to have to set free “nearly all its most feared jihadists held on life sentences” was insane and terribly short-sighted.

Gaza Ceasefire Over? 

Yeshiva World News wrote on October 28: 

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the IDF to carry out immediate, powerful strikes in the Gaza Strip. The directive comes after an incident in Rafah earlier today in which terrorists opened fire on IDF forces. At least one soldier was seriously wounded in the attack and evacuated for medical treatment. 

“The escalation follows mounting tensions over the handling of hostages’ remains. Last night Hamas returned remains that Israel says were already buried, yet claimed they were a newly recovered body — fueling Israeli outrage and contributing to today’s security response.” 

NBC News wrote on October 29: 

“Israel said Wednesday that the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip was back on after it carried out intense strikes across the Palestinian enclave that killed 100 people… The Israeli military said it had ‘begun the renewed enforcement’ of the fragile ceasefire…”

Trump’s Third Term? 

The New Republic wrote on October 24: 

“… commentator and former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon says the president will serve a third term despite being barred by the Constitution. In a video interview with The Economist published Thursday, Bannon said, ‘Well, he’s gonna get a third term… Trump is gonna be president in ’28, and people ought to just get accommodated with that’… brushing off concerns about the Twenty-Eight Amendment. ‘There’s many different alternatives. At the appropriate time, we’ll lay out what the plan is, but there’s a plan and President Trump will be the president in ’28,’ Bannon added… 

“It’s not even the first time Bannon has mentioned plans to keep Trump in office longer [he spoke about this in an interview earlier this month]… One of Trump’s lawyers was also exploring the possibility of Trump violating the Constitution’s term limits back in 2023, and Trump encouraged calls for a third term at a Michigan rally in April. The response from other conservatives, such as Senator Lindsey Graham and even Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett has not been reassuring.   

“While Trump has claimed to be ‘joking,’ he still is selling ‘Trump 2028’ merchandise, and should be taken seriously…” 

We don’t believe either that Trump is just joking about this.

Trump Would Not Run for Vice President 

Newsmax wrote on October 27: 

“President Donald Trump said on Monday he would rule out running for the vice presidency in the 2028 U.S. election, an approach some of his supporters have floated to allow the Republican president to serve an additional term in office. ‘I’d be allowed to do that,’ Trump said, in an exchange with reporters aboard Air Force One. But he added: ‘I wouldn’t do that. I think it’s too cute… I think the people wouldn’t like that… it wouldn’t be right.’… 

“Some have suggested… for Trump to stand as vice president, while another candidate stood for president and resigned, letting Trump again assume the presidency.” 

Trump’s $300+ Million Ballroom 

The Daily Mail wrote on October 25:

“The White House has stated that the [$300million] ballroom will be completed before Trump leaves office in January 2029 but have not offered a specific timeline. Experts have said that this goal is ambitious… 

“Trump has repeatedly claimed he plans to donate millions of dollars of his own to the ballroom’s construction. The project’s private donors includes executives from world’s top technology corporations, including Google, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft.  

“As part of the ballroom’s construction, the entire East Wing of the White House was destroyed. Trump had originally claimed that the 83-year-old building wouldn’t be touched in the construction of the… privately funded ballroom. But when a backhoe was pictured on Monday smashing through the walls of the historic building, it set off alarm bells. 

“First Lady Melania Trump, meanwhile, has been silent about the demolition despite the fact the East Wing holds the offices of her entire staff.” 

Is Trump really constructing the ballroom just for his successor? 

Denaturalizing American Citizens? 

The New York Post wrote on October 25: 

“House Republicans want to strip Zohran Mamdani of citizenship, possibly deport NYC mayoral frontrunner over form omissions… Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) last week demanded the feds ‘review every naturalization of the past 30 years – starting with Mamdani.’ ‘I just think we need to take a hard look at how these folks became citizens, and if there is any fraud or any violation of the rules we need to denaturalize and deport,’ Fine told the Post. 

“Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani became a US Citizen after moving here as a child from Uganda. A pair of House Republicans want him probed for possible ‘denaturalization’ for making allegedly false statements during his process… [Fine] also called for a probe of anti-Israel ‘Squad’ member Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who was born in Somalia and is one of the first two women Muslims to serve in Congress. 

“Mamdani is a threat to the nation, he continued. ‘I know that there’s a lot of us that are very, very concerned about the enemy within – people who have come to this country to become citizens, to destroy it.’ He dismissed logistical concerns about yanking the citizenship of naturalized Americans after they got elected to top jobs. ‘If they’re not Americans, they can’t be in office,’ he said… 

“Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) has pushed for a Justice Department probe of Mamdani… ‘In 2018 when he was naturalized, he failed to disclose some of the things that he had been doing, one of which was joining the [Democratic] Socialists of America. That’s a communist organization which, quite frankly, at that time, would have disqualified him from becoming a United States citizen,’ Ogles told Newsmax… 

“US immigration law declares inadmissible those who have ‘been a member of or affiliated with the Communist or any other totalitarian party.’ The current form asks would-be citizens to disclose if they have ever been associated ‘in any way’ with ‘any Communist or totalitarian party anywhere in the world.’ President Trump has called Mamdani a ‘communist lunatic.’ Mamdani specifically denies being a communist. 

Are we going to see a repeat of the McCarthy communist witch hunt? The McCarthy communist ‘witch hunt’ refers to the aggressive anti-communist campaign led by Senator Joseph McCarthy in the United States during the Second Red Scare of the early 1950s. The term ‘McCarthyism’ has become a byname for making sweeping, unsubstantiated accusations of disloyalty or subversion. 

Shutdown Continues 

Reuters wrote on October 28: 

“U.S. air travel turmoil deepened as nearly 7,000 flights were delayed nationwide on Monday, with air traffic controller absences surging as the federal government shutdown reached its 27th day… Roughly 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers must work without pay… More than 8,800 flights were delayed on Sunday.” 

CBS News reported on October 28:

“The Senate failed to advance a Republican-backed funding bill to end the government shutdown for the 13th time. The final vote was 54 to 45, falling short of the 60 votes needed to move forward… 

“Democrats are under increasing pressure to back down after the largest union representing federal government employees said that ‘it’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown’ on Monday. Federal employees missed their first full paycheck at the end of last week, and upcoming paychecks, including for the military, could be in jeopardy. 

“The Department of Agriculture has warned that ‘the well has run dry’ for SNAP (“Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program”), and federal food aid will not go out on Nov. 1. Forty-two million Americans rely on the program to help buy food.” 

Disappointed in Putin 

The U.S. Sun wrote on October 26: 

“DONALD Trump is ‘disappointed’ in Vladimir Putin and has ruled out meeting the tyrant until he stops ‘wasting his time’… It comes after a turbulent week has pushed back any hopes of ending the bloodshed in Ukraine. 

“Trump slapped punishing sanctions on two Russian oil companies on Wednesday… US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the companies are responsible for ‘funding the Kremlin‘s war machine’… 

“US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone call… to iron out details ahead of the [planned] meeting [between Trump and Putin in Hungary]. But hours after Rubio put the phone down, any idea of a meeting was suddenly axed. One source familiar with the matter believes Rubio and Lavrov had widely differing expectations about how to end Russia’s invasion during their call. This prompted Rubio to speak to US officials about his concerns as it was later announced that Trump wouldn’t be speaking to Putin anytime soon…” 

Far from being a “productive” phone call between Rubio and Lavrov, the phone call apparently established that no peace deal was in the making. 

Nuclear Flying Chernobyl 

The U.S. Sun wrote on October 26: 

“VLADIMIR Putin claims Russia has test-launched a new nuclear-powered missile dubbed the ‘Flying Chernobyl’ – and has vowed it will soon be ready for war. 

“The Russian president said his menacing 9M730 Burevestnik missile – assigned the codename ‘Skyfall’ by Nato – was a ‘weapon of unlimited range powered by a nuclear engine’… Putin also boasted his new weapon was ‘invincible’ in the face of current and future missile defence systems…. He said: ‘It is a truly unique system – one that no other country in the world possesses’… 

“… the Burevestnik missile is about 12 metres long and carries a thermonuclear warhead…

“The nuclear energy core in theory could let it fly around the world several times before hitting its target… It can also follow a flat flight path at extremely low altitudes, making it ‘invisible’ as it flies below the range of most missile detection systems.” 

Norway Alarmed 

“Putin is amassing nuclear weapons and attack submarines in the Arctic Circle as his country prepares for war with NATO, Norway has said.  Norway’s Defence Minister Tore Sandvik claimed his country had found Russia had been increasing its military presence in the Arctic, particularly in the Kola peninsula.  

“The politician also said Vladimir Putin had been attempting to take over the Arctic region where its fleet is based to block shipping routes to Nato allies if war broke out… ‘They [the nuclear weapons] are not only pointed towards Norway, but towards the UK and over the pole towards Canada and the US. 

“Although the Kremlin may be struggling in the Ukraine war, its nuclear warheads and ‘second-strike’ capacity allow it to maintain its superpower status… the Russian fleet include[s] at least 16 nuclear-powered submarines and the advanced Tsirkon hypersonic missile – capable of traveling at speeds up to eight times the speed of sound…. ‘Even if we have a peace deal in Ukraine, with boots on the ground and a stable situation, one analysis is that he will mobilise millions of soldiers up close to the border with Finland.‘” 

Russia will not use those and other nuclear weapons against the USA or Canada, but against a united Europe. Note the next articles. 

Europe Ready by 2030?

Politico wrote on October 15: 

“By 2030, Europe needs a sufficiently strong European defence posture to credibly deter its adversaries, as well as respond to any aggressions,’ says the draft plan [of the European Commission]… 

“The Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 is a sign of the EU’s growing role in military affairs, a reaction to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine and U.S. President Donald Trump’s unclear commitment to European security… 

“While EU countries are rapidly increasing their defense budgets, much of that spending ‘remains overwhelmingly national, leading to fragmentation, cost-inflation and lack of 
interoperability,’ says the 16-page document. The EU executive body is pushing capitals to buy weapons together and wants at least 40 percent of defense procurement to be joint contracts by the end of 2027 — up from less than a fifth now…”

Politico added on October 22: 

“Top generals and politicians from EU and NATO countries have warned that Moscow could attack the alliance in the coming years, with timelines varying from 2027 to 2030.”  

On October 23, the European Council “threw its weight behind a new plan to grow Europe’s defense by 2030 (Breaking Defense, October 23). 

aa.com.tr added on October 24: 

“The EU leaders have agreed to accelerate plans to strengthen Europe’s defense and security, setting a clear goal to ramp up readiness by 2030 in response to growing threats to its security… 

“The European Council also condemned recent ‘violations of the airspace of several Member States’ and stressed the need to defend ‘all EU land, air and maritime borders,’ with particular attention to threats on the eastern flank.” 

Berlin Inevitably Becomes the EU’s Dominant Military Power 

Politico wrote on October 1: 

“An age-old French nightmare — that of growing German military might — is resurfacing in a new form… French President Emmanuel Macron… fears an invasion — not of French territory, but of his country’s preeminent position as the EU’s most effective military-diplomatic power…

“In theory, both countries are bound by NATO members’ new pledge to spend 3.5 percent of GDP on defense by 2035. But while Germany has a credible plan to reach that target by 2029…, France has no obvious way to both honor its NATO commitment and cut its budget deficit to 3 percent of GDP in four years… By 2029…, Germany expects to be spending €150 billion a year; while France, even with its newly expanded defense plans, will be spending €80 billion at best… 

“Will the German military build-up help forge a more strategically autonomous European defense industry, create European jobs and strengthen European economic power?…  the sheer scale of Berlin’s spending in the years ahead will inevitably make its defense industry the key player in European military innovation and procurement… the truth is, there can never be a solid European military-industrial base unless EU countries come together to develop the weapons of the future. 

“It is, therefore, vital that Berlin and Paris immediately establish a pattern for the upcoming boom years, and double down on their political commitment to Franco-German cooperation in defense innovation, training and procurement… France will be looking at the decade ahead anxiously, as Germany will retain its status as Europe’s industrial powerhouse, as well as become — just by sheer size — the dominant military power within the EU. 

“The uncomfortable truth for France is that when it comes to the creation of a European defense industry, and even the potential rapid increase of France’s own military capacity, strategic autonomy is now in Germany’s hands…” 

Also, Volkswagen is exploring a move into the defense industry by 2026, potentially through a partnership with Rheinmetall, to utilize idle production capacity like the Osnabrück plant, which is scheduled to cease production in 2026. This potential transition is driven by declining automotive sales and Europe’s increased military spending, and the company’s CEO has expressed openness to the idea, noting VW’s past experience with military production. The famous Volkswagen bug (“Kaefer”) was famously called Hitler’s “car for the people” or “People’s Car” (“Wagen fuers Volk”). 

The Sinister Power of Reporting Portals

Bild Online wrote on October 27:

“Four police officers rang the doorbell of author [of Die Welt magazine] Norbert Bolz on Thursday because of a satirical tweet: house search! It later emerged that the state-run portal ‘HessenGegenHetze’ (Hesse Against Hate) had forwarded the post to the authorities, thus setting the whole case in motion… A BILD investigation revealed that there are more than 50 such state-run reporting centers in the country. In addition, there are dozens of private portals. These centers cover, among other things, anti-Muslim, anti-Black, and anti-Asian racism, queerphobia, antisemitism, and extremism. Most federal states operate their own reporting centers; some are direct partners of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA).

“Anyone who finds such content online can report it anonymously to the portals with just a few clicks. Staff there (including political and social scientists) evaluate the posts. Anything they deem inappropriate is forwarded to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s actually criminally relevant. A mere feeling of unease is enough to start with…

“The criticism of internet surveillance is therefore massive. The accusation: The state is engaging in opinion control and deliberately intimidating critical voices. Furthermore, the terms ‘hate speech’ and ‘incitement to hatred’ are not found in the law. Legally, it is unclear what they are supposed to mean…

“State governments recently supported these portals with several million euros. Rhineland-Palatinate, for example, subsidized the reporting and documentation center for hate speech incidents with €188,000. ‘HessenGegenHetze’ received €1.18 million from Hesse’s Ministry of the Interior in 2024.”

Sounds just like methods used in the Third Reich or the former GDR.

Bild Online published the following commentary on October 24:

“‘The home is inviolable,’ states the Basic Law (Article 13). On Thursday, this fundamental right was violated: Four police officers entered the apartment of Berlin professor Norbert Bolz… According to the Basic Law, such an intrusion into a home is only permitted ‘in cases of imminent danger’ or with the authorization of a judge. A Berlin magistrate had authorized the search – that’s the problem…

“…three authorities had previously failed: The state reporting agency ‘HessenGegenHetze’ reported the professor to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), even though the accusation was clearly unfounded. The BKA forwarded the report to the public prosecutor, who applied for the search warrant. Now the judge [Magistrate Dr. Fricke] should have put a stop to it. He didn’t…

“One might want to laugh about it, but it’s not funny. In Bolz’s case, the instruments meant to protect citizens from the state have failed. That is very disturbing.”

And this is by no means the first time in Germany that the state has been guilty of unlawful and arbitrary measures against German citizens. This seems to be gradually becoming routine.

In another comment from October 24th, Bild says:

“The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), the public prosecutor’s office, and the local court have made themselves ridiculous, or they acted in a politically motivated manner, which they are not allowed to do.”

Will the BKA, the public prosecutor’s office, and the local court therefore be held accountable? The answer should be clear. 

The Public Prosecutor’s Office Investigates Reichelt for Incitement to Hatred

TAZ wrote on October 27:

“The Berlin public prosecutor’s office is investigating Julian Reichelt, editor-in-chief of the news portal ‘Nius,’ on suspicion of incitement to hatred. The investigation concerns a post on the platform X from April 1…

“In it, Reichelt claimed that Germany would experience ‘first the infiltration and then the takeover of our police force’ by officers with a migration background in the coming years. Die Welt (Monday) was the first to report on this.

“Reichelt continued in the post: ‘In ten years, the police in our cities will be dominated by Arabs. Have fun!’ The former editor-in-chief of Bild was referring to a report in the tabloid newspaper, according to which two federal police officers named Ahmet K. and Hakan A. were allegedly involved in drug trafficking.

“In response to an inquiry from Welt, Reichelt explained his post: ‘That’s exactly my opinion. As a journalist who closely follows news about organized crime and also conducts my own research, for example by speaking with police officers as well as prominent members of large families, I am absolutely convinced that this is precisely what will happen.’

“Reichelt also referred to a ZDF documentary that reported on the infiltration of the police by criminal clans.”

The Rheinische Post added on October 27:

“Nius is a German-language online media outlet founded in 2022, which is classified as a right-wing populist portal in the style of Fox News.”

Seriously? Unbelievable conditions in Germany! 

Trade Controversy Between USA and Canada 

The New York Post wrote on October 25: 

“President Donald Trump escalated his trade war with Canada Saturday, announcing a 10% hike on tariffs after blasting Ontario’s anti-tariff ad campaign as ‘fraudulent’ and accusing the US neighbor of misusing Ronald Reagan’s legacy. Canada had been ‘caught, red handed’ using ‘selective audio and video’ of Reagan’s 1987 radio address in an ad opposing tariffs, the president wrote on Truth Social, claiming the move was designed to sway an upcoming US Supreme Court case on his authority to issue the levies. 

“‘Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social…

“The ads — which use clips of Reagan warning that tariffs ‘hurt’ Americans — triggered Trump on Thursday to terminate trade negotiations with Canada… 

“The Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute said the Ontario government ‘did not seek nor receive permission’ to use Reagan’s remarks and was ‘reviewing its legal options.’ The foundation accused the province of misrepresenting Reagan’s speech, bolstering Trump’s claims that the ad was deceptive… 

“The new increase announced on Saturday widens that penalty further, raising fears of another full-blown trade war between the two allies….” 

Trump and the Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute are clearly misrepresenting what Reagan said in his address. He made clear that tariffs hurt the American people, but he imposed tariffs on Japan as they had violated a trade agreement and were engaging in unfair trade practices. Overall, his speech was clearly against imposing tariffs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t5QK03KXPc 

Trump-Xi-TikTok Deal 

Daily Mail wrote on October 26: 

“Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping have finalized a deal to transfer TikTok to new owners after a years-long struggle… 

“Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CBS News’s Face The Nation that the two world leaders will ‘consummate’ the deal when they meet in Korea on Thursday. ‘All the details are ironed out,’ Bessent said as he delivered the news on Sunday. 

“This marks a historic end to the power struggle over the app – which has quickly become one the world’s most popular social media platforms.” 

Kennedy on Saturated Fats 

The Guardian wrote on October 25: 

“Robert F Kennedy Jr., the health and human services (HHS) secretary, is planning to issue guidance encouraging Americans to eat more saturated fats… Kennedy has indicated that new dietary guidelines will ‘stress the need to eat saturated fats of dairy, of good meat, of fresh meat and vegetables … When we release those, it will give everybody the rationale for driving it into our schools,’ according to recent reporting in the Hill… 

“… research shows that ‘saturated fat is relatively neutral’ compared with what scientists have believed in the past… reducing saturated fat intake is only beneficial if you replace it with the right things… replacing saturated fats with sugars and carbohydrates can actually increase heart disease risk.” 

Thailand’s Queen Mother Dead 

Reuters wrote on October 25: 

“Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit… has died aged 93, the Thai Royal Household Bureau said on Saturday. The palace said she had been hospitalised since 2019 due to several illnesses and developed a bloodstream infection on October 17 before passing away late on Friday. A mourning period of one year has been declared for members of the royal family and household. The government said public offices would fly flags at half-mast for a month and asked government officials to observe mourning for one year… 

“Sirikit’s husband, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was Thailand’s longest-reigning monarch, with 70 years on the throne since 1946. She was at his side for much of that, winning over hearts at home with their charity work… 

“For more than four decades, she frequently travelled with the king to remote Thai villages, promoting development projects for the rural poor… Her only son, now King Maha Vajiralongkorn, also known as Rama X, succeeded Bhumibol after his death in 2016 and upon his coronation in 2019, Sirikit’s formal title became the Queen Mother… Sirikit is survived by her son, the king, as well as three daughters.” 

The Daily Mail added on October 26: 

“Her body will now lie in state at the seat of the Thai royalty for one year before she is cremated… The royal family is venerated in Thailand, treated by many as semi-divine figures and lavished with glowing media coverage and portraits hanging in public and in private homes…” 

Herbert W. Armstrong (who died in January of 1986), the late leader of the now defunct Worldwide Church of God and President of Ambassador College and the Ambassador Foundation, had an especially good relationship with Queen Sirikit. We are quoting below an article of the Los Angeles Times from March 22, 1985: 

“There was a royal welcome awaiting Thailand’s Queen Sirikit when she arrived… at Pasadena’s Ambassador College on Wednesday night. There was Herbert W. Armstrong, the white-haired patriarch of the Ambassador Foundation and the college, to escort her into Ambassador Auditorium and later the mayor of Los Angeles, Tom Bradley, and Pasadena Mayor William J. Bogaard greeted her with gifts…

“The party for the queen was small (about 130) and select… The party moved to the auditorium for the receiving line where Queen Sirikit stood with Armstrong, the Ambassador Foundation’s Ellis La Ravia… and his wife and a few other foundation representatives… 

“Dinner was served in the auditorium’s lounge… Armstrong spoke of his admiration and long friendship with Thailand’s King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit and their country. And then the queen, in soft accented English made a graceful toast to Armstrong. Among those raising their glasses were Mrs. Robert Finch with Mrs. Kenneth Schechter, Mrs. George Fritzinger with Eunice Forester, Diane and Guilford Glazer, Atty. Gen. and Mrs. John Van de Kamp, Mrs. H. J. Van de Kamp (the attorney general’s mother) with Milo Bixby, Mrs. Bhirapongse Kasemsri, wife of the Thai ambassador to the United Nations, and David Hulme, who is with Ambassador Foundation, and his Australian-born wife…” 

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.

True Christians—those who are called by God to His Way of Life—may be referred to as Christian soldiers, ambassadors for Christ, disciples, followers and pilgrims.   In this Q&A, we will look at what it means to be a Christian pilgrim.

There are many religions that have pilgrimages to certain “holy” places, but as these are not of the One True God, they will not be addressed.  What we will look at in this three-part Q&A is the act of being a Christian pilgrim.

In bibledictionarytoday.com, we read this definition of a pilgrim:

“The term ‘pilgrim’ comes from the Latin word peregrinus, which means ‘foreigner’ or ‘wanderer.’ In the biblical sense, it refers to individuals who are on a journey, often with a divine purpose. The concept of being a pilgrim encapsulates the idea of living as a stranger in a foreign land, seeking a spiritual homeland.

“In a more symbolic sense, pilgrimage can be viewed as a metaphor for the Christian life. Just as pilgrims journey toward sacred destinations, believers are called to navigate their spiritual path, encountering trials and growth along the way.”

In Psalm 84:5-7, we read:

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion.”

One writer made these comments about the above verses:

“Those with their hearts set on pilgrimage embark on a spiritual journey towards growth, enlightenment, or closeness with the divine, just as pilgrims do on a physical journey with a specific purpose or goal in mind. This verse encourages us to approach life as a pilgrimage, with our hearts focused on spiritual growth and connection with our higher purpose. It beckons us to remain steadfast in our faith and committed to our spiritual journey, finding strength and solace in our beliefs along the way.” 

In a more symbolic sense, pilgrimage can be viewed as a metaphor for the Christian life. True believers are called to navigate their spiritual path, encountering trials and growth along the way.

We read in Hebrews 11:13-14:

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.” 

This passage emphasises the idea that life itself is a pilgrimage.  Believers are urged to focus on the future in God’s Kingdom, while striving towards spiritual maturity and faithfulness. God’s rule will soon be established on this earth at the return of Jesus Christ, not in heaven as mainstream Christianity believes. 

All of the people in the examples given in Hebrews 11 did not receive God’s promises before they died. They saw these in a spiritual way, in the distance and lived their lives in their walk of faith, recognizing that they lived as strangers on the earth, as we still do today as God’s people.

Wikipedia observes: 

“‘He Who Would Valiant Be’ is a Christian hymn by John Bunyan, first published in 1684, which encourages perseverance and faith in the face of challenges, likening life to a pilgrimage.”   

This poem is uplifting and encouraging and we reproduce it below:

“He who would valiant be
‘gainst all disaster,
let him in constancy
follow the Master.
There’s no discouragement
shall make him once relent
his first avowed intent
to be a pilgrim.

“Who so beset him round
with dismal stories
do but themselves confound
his strength the more is.
No foes shall stay his might;
though he with giants fight,
he will make good his right
to be a pilgrim.

“Since, Lord, thou dost defend
us with thy Spirit,
We know we at the end,
shall life inherit.
Then fancies flee away!
I’ll fear not what men say,
I’ll labor night and day
to be a pilgrim.”

Uplifting and encouraging words!   

We will now begin to look at a number of ways that describe the Christian pilgrim. 

First and foremost, it is important to understand that even though we have to live in the world, we are not to be part of it.   Just before His crucifixion, Jesus made this very point.   We find this assertion in John 15:18-19:

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. ^If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

Two chapters later, in John 17:14-17, Jesus reiterates this same theme in His prayer to the Father:

“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. ^They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”  

Jesus did not pray that we should be taken out of the world where we could, no doubt, sit in splendid isolation somewhere, but that we were to be kept from the evil one – and we all know who that is.   If we were to be taken out of the world, how could we let our “lights shine” and set the Christian example?   It would be impossible.   But we are not to be part of the world and its ways – the system that envelopes the world controlled by Satan.

We are set apart by the Truth that God has revealed to us, as we read in John 17:17: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

Let us review several qualities needed to be a pilgrim, hoping that the following will give everyone some food for thought.

(1)  A PILGRIM clearly sees the vision.

We, in fact, have to see the vision of what God’s Holy Days mean – His Master Plan for all of mankind. When putting all of the Scriptures together, the future in the Kingdom of God is something that will exceed our wildest expectations.    That must be correct because God has limited our faculties and abilities and will only give us full understanding at the resurrection.

Vision is an act or faculty of seeing further than the end of our nose.   We can get so bogged down with the everyday concerns of being a breadwinner, of working, of looking after a family and any number of other everyday activities, that spiritual vision of our future in God’s Kingdom is a quality that can elude us.   But we ought to keep in mind our calling at all times, and what God has in store for those of us who are faithful to the very end.   Maybe, with all of the things that are part and parcel of our everyday life, it may be that we can be distracted, at times, and have our attention diverted away from the promises that we have been given for the future.  

Satan tries to keep us so busy with other matters that we can become deluded into thinking that we have little or no time for the spiritually essential areas. He does this by offering many attractive and appealing but unprofitable and harmful alternatives.   In addition, the environment around us offers many perfectly wholesome and right pursuits that can, nevertheless, distract us if we overemphasize them or place them before our spiritual obligations. 

And as we become so busy in these everyday activities, we can lose the vision for the future. For those who have gone back into the world, or who have embraced theology contrary to what the Scriptures clearly teach, their vision of the future will be at variance with that which we have, if indeed they have any vision at all.   It is a sad state of affairs, but one which should spur us on to greater effort to make sure that we don’t fall into the same error.

Vision is quite different from daydreaming, where someone may wish that this, that, or the other may happen.   Dreaming can be a wish list – but vision in the Christian context is believing what the Scripture says about our future and praying, “Your Kingdom Come”.   And we have sufficient biblical information to be able to put together a picture, however incomplete it may be at this time, of the World Tomorrow.   But because of our human limitations, whatever vision we have will, undoubtedly, be exceeded by reality.   But vision is a necessary quality of being a pilgrim.

Proverbs 29:18 backs up the need for this quality:

“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.” The margin in the New King James Bible explains that the meaning of “revelation” in this passage is “prophetic vision.” The passage can also be rendered that people without vision “perish.”

Colossians 3:1-2 shows where our vision should be:

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

We are to seek those things that will last for eternity.

We will live out our physical lives, but in relation to eternity, our life now is less than the twinkling of an eye.   Our future is assured if we are faithful to the end. We must have that vision of a wonderful future, something that pales our current mortal life into total insignificance.   

(To be continued)

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“Germany Continues to Embrace Dictatorship” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:  

This program discusses an alarming example of dictatorial conduct in Germany, and it is by no means an isolated incident. It is becoming increasingly dangerous to even report and comment on those occurrences, as we do in this broadcast. Germany’s descent into a dictatorship reminiscent of Russia, the Third Reich or the GDR is unmistakable. 

“Deutschlands fortschreitender Abfall in die Diktatur” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.

“Will Trump Build the Third Temple?—Comments on News and Prophecy, October 26, 2025,” a message presented by Evangelist Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Is there any validity to the claim that Donald Trump is supposed to help building the prophesied Third Temple in Jerusalem? Is the peace deal with Hamas destined to failure? And will Trump stay in power after his second term?

“Warum Christen die Wehrpflicht ablehnen!” is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Why Christians Reject Compulsory Military Service!”

“Herzensangelegenheiten,” last Sabbath’s German sermonette presented by Daniel Blasinger, is now posted. Title in English: “Matters of the Heart.”

“Rejoice when Suffering?” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Why does suffering often follow joy? And why does God tell us to find joy in suffering? How is that even possible? This sermon will give you the answer.

On October 25, 2025, Norbert Link will present “Comments on News and Prophecy, October 24, 2025,” and the sermon, titled, “Rejoice When Suffering?”

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.

We have just finished the autumnal Holy Day season with the Feast of Tabernacles for 2025, and have learned more about God’s Holy Days which clearly reveal the incredible master plan of salvation for mankind.

Our understanding of the Feasts of the LORD (compare Leviticus 23:2) is a magnificent description of this plan for all of mankind and is priceless information that is not understood by the world at large.

On our website under the heading “Statement of Beliefs,” we read this about the Last Great Day (the 8^th Day) following the Feast of Tabernacles:

“The Last Great Day which immediately follows the Feast of Tabernacles, once a year. This day symbolizes a 100-year period called the ‘Great White Throne Judgment,’ during which all persons who have ever lived and who were never called by God for salvation during this life, will have their first opportunity to accept Christ as their Savior (Leviticus 23:36; John 7:37; Revelation 20:11-12).”

It is a repudiation of the false concept of going to heaven or hell at death (usually heaven for everyone!) and via purgatory for the Roman Catholic Church.   It also negates the hell-fire preachers who think that they have to get everyone saved now because this, they suppose, is the only day of salvation, not a day of salvation.

But one aspect of all of this is that those who have lived and died, without being called and knowing the Truth of God in this age will, in their next waking second after death, be brought back to life in the Second Resurrection – the Great White Throne Judgment.

We may, from time to time, wonder what our parents and grandparents would think if they were alive today with all of the advancements made in the last 100 years.

Also, what about all of those who were killed in the Flood which was, according to a number of sources, around 1,656 years after creation. And after the Flood, from a new start, the billions that have been born since then. They would have been used only in an agrarian-type society with none of the wonderful advances in the last 100 years or so in technology, transport, space exploration, in the medical profession, with the worldwide web, television, smartphones and a whole range of modern electronic devices.   They would be staggered.

But those who are dead and in their graves, none of whom have ascended to heaven, will open their eyes in the next second of their consciousness to a whole new world well beyond their immediate understanding.   Those from biblical times and our forebears will, in their next second of life when resurrected, be greeted with a world totally different, in most cases, from the one they were used to.

The next second of their life will be a time when those who are then already members of the God Family will be able to help all those in the Great White Throne Judgement to come to terms with the marvellous opportunity that God will give them, together with a world that is totally different from what they experienced in their previous life.   To use an old English humorous slang expression: “Their eyes will stick out like chapel hat-pegs” – meaning to their considerable amazement!

The next second for them will be a time of wonderment and excitement, and let us all hope and pray that the vast, overwhelming majority will take full advantage of their one and only opportunity!

by Norbert Link

In this issue, we report on Trump’s shaky Gaza “peace” deal with the terrorist organization Hamas which will NOT bring peace to the region, as well as an interesting demand to build the Third Temple; and continue with Trump’s anticipated outright war with Venezuela.

We report on the ongoing misconduct of ICE which has been [correctly] described as a “domestic terror force” and Pope Leo’s [correct] strong criticism of Trump’s “unchristian” conduct and war-like approach. 

We speak on [correctly labeled] double-tongued Stephen Miller; and [incorrect] criticism of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 

We address Trump’s sudden change of approach [again] towards Zelensky and Putin; war criminal Putin’s demands for ending the war [which probably won’t happen until demonically-influenced Putin has occupied Ukraine]; and dictatorial Turkey’s importance for Europe and its persecution of minority Christians, while Europe is desirous to become independent of the USA. 

We close with Germany’s ongoing frightening fight for mandatory military service [to be able to engage in terrible wars] and some proposed absolutely boneheaded ideas by Chancellor Merz and others in this regard. 

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled,  “Trump in the Light of Biblical Prophecy.”

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

Need for a Third Temple 

Israel 365 News wrote on October 15:

“President Donald Trump’s speech at the Knesset last week marked a significant and monumental moment for Israel, one that celebrated the remarkable deal that freed all the live hostages as a first step, something that Hamas never agreed to in past deals… 

“There’s no denying the scale of this accomplishment. Trump’s vision of a Middle East where Israel stands as a pillar of strength and a key partner to the United States—and to the wider world—is truly inspiring… Yet, as grand as the speech was…, it still misses one crucial, undeniable truth: it won’t bring peace… 

“The reality is that a mere pause in hostilities does not equate to peace… it doesn’t directly address the fundamental issue that has plagued this region for over a millennium: the ideological and religious jihadist agenda that calls for the obliteration of Israel and the Islamic takeover of the world… 

“If Trump and Netanyahu truly wanted to establish a lasting peace in the Middle East, their plan… would have focused on something even more transformative and spiritually resonant: the expansion of Israel to encompass its rightful Biblical borders, protect all the minorities in the region also persecuted by jihadi Islam, and the one, powerful act of rebuilding the Third Temple in Jerusalem… What message would it send to the Muslim world if, as part of a peace plan, Trump and Netanyahu announced a plan to not only expand Israel’s borders, but to restore the holiest site in Judaism, the Third Temple?… 

“A rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem would be a clear signal to the Muslim world that the Jews are back in full force, not just as a temporary fixture or a historical relic, but as a powerful, sovereign nation reclaiming its rightful place on the world stage… Such a monumental step would have made it clear that Israel’s commitment to peace isn’t simply about appeasing its enemies or military victories, but about sending a clear message that the Jewish people are not going anywhere…” 

The Third Temple will be built prior to Christ’s Return, but paradoxically, it will not bring peace to the region, but more war. 

Far From Over 

The Sun wrote on October 15: 

“Donald Trump has warned Hamas that he will respond ‘violently’ if they refuse to disarm themselves as part of the Gaza peace deal. Israel’s truce with the terror group has been rocked by multiple setbacks today… Under the terms of Trump’s 20-point plan, Hamas must give up all of their weapons to squash Israel’s fears of the group restrengthening… Officials within Hamas over recent days have said they have no plans of disarming regardless of Trump or Israel’s pleas… 

“Hamas claims it has been unable to locate up to 15 corpses lost in the chaos of the Gaza War – but families believe the terror group is holding on to their loved ones’ remains… 

“Meanwhile, Hamas said it had recalled 7,000 members of its security forces in order to ‘cleanse Gaza of outlaws and collaborators’ – sparking fears of a bloody civil war. Bone-chilling videos have emerged of Hamas executing prisoners it accused of collaborating with Israel…” 

In exchange, nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners were freed—many of them convicted criminals and terrorists. During the last exchange, a convicted terrorist was freed who later became one of the masterminds for the October 7 attack on Israel [the later Hamas-Chief Yahya Sinwar (†2024)]. Trump’s deals may look good on paper… but many times, they don’t work in practice.

The Future of Hamas 

Deutsche Welle wrote on October 16: 

“Hamas… is classified as a terrorist organization by Germany, the US and several other countries… It still commands some 40,000 fighters, according to Israeli daily Haaretz, who can now be seen reappearing on the streets and squares of Gaza… 

“The group should be completely disarmed, according to US President Donald Trump’s peace plan; however, this does not look likely for now.

“Trump has made contradictory statements about the group’s disarmament. Addressing the Israeli parliament on Monday, Trump proclaimed that ‘virtually the entire region has endorsed the plan that Gaza will be immediately demilitarized, that Hamas will be disarmed and Israel’s security will no longer be threatened in any way, shape or form.’ 

“Yet before his speech, on the flight to Israel, Trump told reporters his government had allowed Hamas to temporarily rearm itself as it tries to restore order after months of war. Most recently, however, Trump appeared to double down on the group’s disarmament, saying if Hamas did not lay down its weapons, the US would disarm it by force. 

“Hamas sent a clear message when its armed operatives showed up in Gaza City shortly after the Israeli withdrawal, said Simon Wolfgang Fuchs, a professor of Islam at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. ‘Hamas is making a point that it has by no means disappeared from the Gaza Strip; on the contrary, it continues to claim a role there,’ he said. 

“Hamas sees its weapons as a means to guarantee its existence — militarily, politically and symbolically, said Simon Engelkes, who heads Ramallah’s branch of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation…’ US President Trump’s “security guarantees” that the war in the Gaza Strip will not be continued due to the ceasefire agreement will not be enough at this stage.’ 

“Even though Hamas’ military structures were severely weakened in the war, its networks and presence in Gaza have remained intact, said Engelkes… French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that Hamas still poses a threat… The real conflict still lies ahead, said Engelkes…” 

This whole “deal” with Hamas—an organization with terrorists and mass murderers—is shameful, shortsighted and futile at the same time. Victory celebrations for “Peace in the Middle East” are nothing more than a pipe dream. Note the next article. 

Making Peace With Hitler? 

Israel Today wrote on October 10: 

“While [Police Minister Itamar] Ben-Gvir is like all Israelis happy for the opportunity to recover the hostages being held in Gaza, he believes the deal ultimately serves to set the stage for the next catastrophe and war. According to Hebrew media, a heated exchange erupted between Ben-Gvir and the Americans. 

“Ben-Gvir: ‘I’m standing here next to the list of terrorists being released – baby killers, rapists. Gentlemen, you would never release them in the United States. You spoke about making peace. You can’t make peace with Hamas! They want to kill us… Those who killed us on October 7 do not ask for forgiveness. Their families are proud of it. They want to murder Jews… Would you have made peace with Hitler? Hamas is Hitler. They want to kill us.’ 

“Hamas officials have stated a number of times that they will repeat the atrocities of October 7, 2023 if given the opportunity…” 

Ben-Gvir is of course right. The naivety of the Americans [US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner] is astonishing.

Hamas Unwilling to Disarm

The Jerusalem Post wrote on October 17: 

“Hamas intends to maintain security control in Gaza during an interim period, a senior Hamas official [Nazal] told Reuters, adding he could not commit to the group disarming – positions that reflect the difficulties for Trump’s plan for Gaza… 

“… the [Israeli] Prime Minister’s Office said…: ‘Hamas is supposed to release all hostages in stage 1. It has not. Hamas knows where the bodies of our hostages are. [Hamas has still not turned over all of the 28 dead bodies.] Hamas are to be disarmed under this agreement. No ifs, no buts. They have not. Hamas need to adhere to the 20-point plan. They are running out of time…’ 

“Nazzal said there was an understanding regarding Hamas’ presence on the ground, without specifying among whom, indicating it was necessary to protect aid trucks from thieves and armed gangs… 

“Hamas’ founding charter called for the destruction of Israel, although the group’s leaders have at times offered a long-term truce with Israel in return for a viable Palestinian state on all Palestinian territory occupied by Israel in the 1967 war…” 

This “peace deal” will go nowhere. In fact, credible reports are surfacing regarding another coming Hamas massacre—this time against Palestinian civilians. 

Not With Turkey… 

JNS wrote on October 21: 

“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a ‘sworn enemy of Israel and the West, a jihadist in a suit,’ Amichai Chikli, the Jewish state’s minister of diaspora affairs and combating antisemitism, charged on Monday. The Jewish state ‘will not tolerate a Turkish presence’ on its southern border with the Gaza Strip or northern frontier with Syria, Chikli tweeted, slamming Ankara’s potential involvement in U.S. President Donald Trump’s recently-launched peace plan for the Middle East… 

“Under the plan, Turkey has committed to deploying search and rescue teams to Gaza to help recover the bodies of slain hostages and clear up the rubble. Ankara is also expected to join a multinational task force overseeing the ceasefire and assisting in the training of local forces. However,… Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out Turkey’s participation in the International Stabilization Force, defining it as Israel’s ‘red line.’ Netanyahu has reportedly also communicated reservations about Turkish companies participating in the reconstruction of the Strip…” 

Qatar vs. Israel 

Y-Net News wrote on October 10: 

“Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani condemned ‘Israeli violations in Palestine, especially turning the Gaza Strip into an uninhabitable area.’ According to him, ‘It’s time to end the Israeli occupation. The Palestinian issue is not a terrorism issue, but one of prolonged occupation. It’s time to end it. This is the basis for just peace. What happened in the Gaza Strip in the last two years is genocide.’” 

And Turkey and Qatar—America’s “allies”—are supposed to help end the war? What lunacy! 

Gaza Descends Into Anarchy 

The Daily Mail wrote on October 21: 

“Donald Trump today promised to unleash death upon Hamas if the militants do not uphold their peace agreement with Israel. The Gaza region has descended into anarchy as new footage has emerged showing Palestinians being executed and tortured by Hamas enforcers…

“The first phase of the ceasefire with Hamas and Israel is still ongoing despite Hamas not handing over the remaining bodies of the 15 deceased hostages… The next phase of Trump’s peace plan is for the disarmament of Hamas along with the group losing control of governing Gaza. Hamas has not agreed to this part of the peace deal.” 

Trump’s “War” with Venezuela 

The Associated Press wrote on October 15: 

“President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that he has authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela and said he was weighing carrying out land operations on the country. The acknowledgement of covert action in Venezuela by the U.S. spy agency comes after the U.S. military in recent weeks has carried out a series of deadly strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean. U.S. forces have destroyed at least five boats since early September, killing 27 people, and four of those vessels originated from Venezuela… [As of Wednesday, 8 boats were destroyed.] 

“Early this month, the Trump administration declared drug cartels to be unlawful combatants and pronounced the United States is now in an ‘armed conflict’ with them, justifying the military action as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States. The move has spurred anger in Congress from members of both major political parties that Trump was effectively committing an act of war without seeking congressional authorization…

“The Trump administration has yet to provide underlying evidence to lawmakers proving that the boats targeted by the U.S. military were in fact carrying narcotics…”

Trump’s actions—carried out and contemplated—seem to be illegal and unconstitutional.

ICE Misconduct

The Mirror wrote on October 15:

“Shocking video taken during an ICE sweep at a Chicago Walgreens shows a senior white officer throwing a Black man to the pavement and placing him under arrest for ‘fleeing,’ even though a relative insisted he was an American citizen…  A second video captured the shocking moment after ICE officers cuffed the man and drove him away in SUVs… 

“It comes after an out-of-control ICE agent yelled a disgusting insult before shooting a woman five times.” 

The Rutherford Institute wrote on October 15: 

“Masked gunmen. Tasers. Tear gas. Pepper spray. Unmarked vehicles. Intimidation tactics. Brutality. Racial profiling. Children traumatized. Families terrorized. Journalists targeted. Citizens detained. Disabled individuals, minors, the elderly, pregnant women, military veterans—snatched off the streets. Private property destroyed. This is not a war zone. 

“This is what now passes for law-and-order policing by ICE agents in Trump’s America—and it is not making America safer or greater. What began as an agency tasked with enforcing immigration law has metastasized into a domestic terror force. 

“From coast to coast, ICE goon squads… are prowling neighborhoods, churches, courthouses, hospitals, bus stops, and worksites, anywhere ‘suspected’ migrants might be present, snatching people first and asking questions later. Sometimes ‘later’ comes hours, days or even weeks afterwards. No one is off limits—not even American citizens… It is how a dictatorship behaves when it decides the rule of law—in this case, the Bill of Rights—is optional.

“Journalists are being shoved to the pavement, forced into chokeholds, teargassed, and brutalized—in violation of the First Amendment. U.S. citizens, including toddlers, are being snatched up and carted off—in violation of the Fourth Amendment. People with no criminal records who have lived, worked and paid taxes in this country for decades are being made to disappear—in violation of habeas corpus…

“Nationally, more than 70% of individuals rounded up by ICE nationally have no criminal convictions. Many have lived in the U.S. for decades, raised families, paid taxes, contributed to the economy, and worked the jobs most Americans refuse to do.” 

Even Trump admitted that. Americans did not vote for him to have ICE behave in this illegal way. He may pay dearly at the midterm elections. 

“Pope Leo’s Critique of Trump Administration” 

Reuters wrote on October 2: 

“Pope Leo initially impressed conservative Catholics after his election in May as he embraced traditions shunned by his predecessor Pope Francis and steered clear of hot button social issues that divided the 1.4 billion-member Church. But his honeymoon with conservatives appears over after he unexpectedly took aim at U.S. President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies, questioning whether they were in line with the Church’s pro-life teachings. 

“‘Someone who says I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro-life,’ Leo, the first U.S. pope, told reporters on Tuesday… 

“The Trump administration, which was sharply critical of Francis but has rarely commented about Leo… pushed back. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she rejected the characterisation of inhumane treatment of immigrants.” 

Pope Leo is correct. The Trump administration’s denial is laughable. Note the next article. 

The New Republic wrote on October 1: 

“On Tuesday evening, the Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV spoke out against anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States, as well as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s bellicose rhetoric. At an unusual gathering of military leaders earlier that day, Hegseth had told the top brass to be ‘prepared for war, not for defense,’ while espousing the use of ‘overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy’ and promising to ‘untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt and kill the enemies of our country.’… 

“Leo called Hegseth’s rhetoric ‘worrying… because it shows each time an increase in tensions.’ Citing Hegseth’s change in job title from ‘secretary of defense’ to ‘secretary of war,’ the pope said, ‘Let’s hope it is only a way of speaking.’” 

Reuters wrote on October 1: 

“Trump said he told [U.S. Defense Secretary Pete] Hegseth ‘we should use some of these dangerous [U.S.] cities as training grounds for our military.’ He acknowledged that he has been criticized for deploying the military on U.S. streets, but said America was in the grips of what he described as a war from within waged by immigrants in the country illegally who his administration is seeking to deport. 

“‘America is under invasion from within. We’re under invasion from within, no different than a foreign enemy, but more difficult in many ways, because they don’t wear uniforms,’ Trump said. That triggered a sharp reaction from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat. ‘Anyone who talks about their fellow Americans as enemies to be “taken out” is not fit to lead the nation,’ Pritzker said on X.” 

The terminology of the Trump Administration becomes more and more intolerable. Words lead to deeds. Is civil war coming?  

Double-Tongued Stephen Miller

The Independent wrote on October 1:

“Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, has responded angrily to the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, after a social media account linked to Newsom labelled Miller a ‘fascist’… ‘It is a message that his team is sending to all the crazies and lunatics out there,’ he said. ‘We’re not going to absolve Democrats of responsibility anymore. There’s a reason why all of these killers and lunatics and terrorists adopt the same language. They say they are trying to kill the fascist and stop the fascists. This is deliberate.’… 

“Miller himself has previously described opponents, including the Democrats and the Biden administration, as ‘fascists’ in numerous social media posts. ‘The Democrat Party is now a Fascist Party. Using corporate and government power to punish dissent and dissenters,’ he wrote in 2024… 

“His use of the slur is not reserved for the Democratic Party…”

Miller is a dangerous political force. 

Circumcision and Autism 

CBS News wrote on October 14: 

“Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested there may be a link between autism and circumcision while reasserting the… theory that Tylenol causes the disorder… ‘There’s two studies that show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism. It’s highly likely because they are given Tylenol,’ Kennedy stated during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday…

“Kennedy said he was referring to an August 2025 Preprints.org review by Patel et al., which he said ‘directly validates my point that the observed autism correlation in circumcised boys is best explained by acetaminophen exposure, not circumcision itself.’” 

This important distinction has been conveniently overlooked in the mass media.

Zelensky to Leave Office? 

Breitbart wrote on October 14: 

“A poll published by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on Monday found that 75 percent of Ukrainians want President Volodymyr Zelensky to leave office after the war with Russia ends…”

Zelensky himself declared that he would step down after the war ends. It reminds us of Churchill’s fate after World War II. 

Is Putin Playing Trump Again? 

The Spectator wrote on October 17: 

“Sorry, Volodymyr. There won’t be any Tomahawk missiles headed to Ukraine now that president Vladimir Putin of Russia has talked on the phone with president Donald Trump, who called their session ‘very productive.’ What it will produce remains an open question. But it does seem to have resulted in a decision to hold an upcoming summit in Budapest. The bottom line: Putin has outflanked Ukrainian president Zelensky… 

“For Zelensky, Putin’s missive could not come at a worse time… Trump has repeatedly voiced his frustration with ‘Vladimir,’ as he likes to call him, for refusing to end the war. Now Putin is once more dangling the bait of a ceasefire… 

“Since the Alaska summit, Trump has approved further cooperation between American and Ukrainian intelligence services, ensuring that they receive better targeting information to hit Russian energy infrastructure…

“Putin’s track record, of course, should hardly inspire much confidence. A master of the tactical move, the Russian president may well have intervened simply to stymie Trump from delivering more potent weapons to Ukraine… It is Putin, and Putin alone, who has steadily been saying nyet to ending the conflict in his mad desire to reestablish the Russian empire of yore.” 

Nothing good will come from these “negotiations.” Note the next article. 

Trump’s Ever-Changing Positions 

The Guardian wrote on October 17: 

“Donald Trump seemed more intent on brokering a peace deal than he was to supply Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles during a White House meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying that the US may need them for a future conflict… After speaking with Zelenskyy for more than two hours, Trump implored both Ukraine and Russia to ‘stop the war immediately’, even if it means Ukraine conceding territory… 

“Trump’s doubtful tone on the cruise missiles follows a surprise phone call with Vladimir Putin on Friday during which the Russian leader told Trump that supplying the Tomahawks would damage US-Russian relations. 

“His position on supplying Ukraine with weapons has changed a number of times since he returned to office in January, often after negotiations with Putin or European backers of Ukraine… On previous occasions, when Trump had seemed ready to tilt towards Kyiv and its European allies, a call from Putin was often followed by a sudden softening in the US leader’s tone towards Moscow. 

“A flurry of activity was also set off with Trump’s announcement after the call that he was planning to meet the Russian president in the Hungarian capital on a date still to be determined, in an effort to end the war… It remains unclear how Putin would travel to Hungary, given EU sanctions and airspace restrictions imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as the fact that he is wanted by the international criminal court (ICC). As a signatory to the ICC, Hungary would be obliged to arrest him, though Orbán has previously said this would not happen… 

“Trump and Putin last met in Alaska in August, which did not produce a diplomatic breakthrough… The latest conversation, which lasted more than two and a half hours, appears to have sapped the momentum Zelenskyy had built with Trump, with the US leader now unlikely to show significant support for Ukraine before meeting Putin… 

“While Moscow has repeatedly claimed it is ready to end its invasion of Ukraine, Putin has shown no indication he is seeking compromise or to scale back his maximalist goal of forcing Kyiv’s capitulation. Despite Trump’s typically  upbeat rhetoric that peace may be within reach, the US vice-president, JD Vance, struck a more cautious note on Thursday, saying that ‘the Russians and the Ukrainians are just not at the point where they can make a deal’, and that a settlement ‘remains possible but will require a lot more work’.” 

Trump is being played like a fiddle… again. He is caving to Putin and is no match for him. 

Putin Demands Donetsk

Euractiv wrote on October 19: 

“Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that Ukraine surrender full control of Donetsk as a condition for ending the war, US newspaper The Washington Post reported. The request, which would significantly disadvantage Kyiv, signals that Putin has not backed away from long-standing territorial ambitions despite Trump’s optimism about brokering a deal. 

“According to two senior officials quoted by The Washington Post, Putin offered to relinquish claims to parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in exchange for Donetsk [a strategically important region], which Moscow and its proxies have failed to capture entirely since 2014. Trump… has yet to endorse the demand publicly… 

“Zelenskyy on Sunday urged allies against appeasing Russia. ‘Ukraine will never grant terrorists any bounty for their crimes, and we count on our partners to uphold this very position,’ Zelenskyy wrote on social media on his return from Washington. He called for decisive steps from European and American allies. ‘This week alone, Russia has used more than 3,270 attack drones, 1,370 guided aerial bombs, and nearly 50 missiles of various types against Ukraine,’ Zelensky said.” 

Meeting on Hold 

Newsmax wrote on October 21:

“President Donald Trump, confirming Tuesday that his plan for a swift meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin was on hold, said that’s because he doesn’t want it to be a ‘waste of time.’ 

“It was the latest twist in Trump’s stop-and-go effort to resolve the war in Ukraine. 

“The decision to hold off on the meeting in Budapest, Hungary, which Trump had announced last week, was made following a call Monday between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.” 

While this is going on, in one of the biggest demonstrations in American history, approximately 7 million people demonstrated against Trump over the weekend under the motto: “No Kings.” In a previous “No Kings” demonstration in June, “only” 3 million participated. Note the next segment. 

“No Kings Parade”–Ted Cruz Warns MEGA 

The Daily Beast reported on October 21: 

“Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has implored his party to wake up to the dangers posed by an estimated seven million people turning out in protest against the Donald Trump administration.  ‘Unquestionably, we should take political peril seriously,’ Cruz told Bloomberg Television. ‘… There is a lot of anger on the left. And elections can be dangerous when one side is mobilized, is angry.’… 

“It’s not the first time Cruz has openly criticized the MAGA administration, warning in April 2025 that Trump’s trade war against much of the rest of the planet would likely result in significant job losses, threatening to turn the 2026 midterms into a ‘bloodbath’ for Republicans.” 

The New York Post added on October 19: 

“The president posted a wild AI-generated video of himself late Saturday as a fighter pilot wearing a crown on his head, unloading sewage on ‘No Kings’ protestors.  With ‘Danger Zone,’ the iconic ‘Top Gun’ theme song, blaring in the background, Trump’s fighter jet was shown dropping masses of manure on demonstrators over what appeared to be New York City.” 

Trump Not Ready to Leave? 

The Mirror wrote on October 22: 

“Donald Trump has no intention of ever leaving the White House… That seems like a weird thing to suggest, but there is now so much evidence pointing to him trying to cling on to power beyond the end of his legal presidential term, that it’s irresponsible to pretend it’s not happening. He keeps saying he’s not a ‘king’ or a ‘dictator’. But he also keeps doing and saying things that suggest he very much would like to be… 

“Trump did exactly what he said he was going to do in his first term, or at least tried to. And this time, he keeps saying he’s going to stay in the White House beyond 2029, when his legal term ends. He’s even made hats and given them out to Republican congressmen. He’s repeatedly floated the idea of re-writing or bypassing constitutional rules that prevent him serving beyond two terms. 

“During a visit to the White House by Volodymyr Zelensky in August, Trump indicated he likes the idea of using a war to cancel the next election, allowing him to stay in power beyond his term limit. Zelensky cancelled an election in Ukraine because his country is at war with Russia. ‘So let me just say three and a half years from now – so you mean, if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections?…’ Trump said. Later during his visit, Trump showed Zelensky the White House gift shop, where Trump 2028 hats are on sale….” 

The article lists several additional factors, but the ones quoted herein are the most striking. 

Turkey Becoming Important to Europe 

fakti.bg wrote on October 15: 

“Currently, the partnership with the country that has the second largest army in NATO after the US may prove to be key for Europe… 

“At the same time, Turkey remains a difficult partner for the West. The conflicts with Greece and Cyprus are still unresolved, and its proximity to Vladimir Putin is causing concern. The country also has serious problems with democracy, and EU accession talks have been frozen for years. But despite the repression of the opposition, criticism from Brussels is almost non-existent. Why?.. 

“Before, it was about democracy. Today, security is the priority. The threat from Russia overshadows everything else… The partnership with Turkey remains risky, but the fear of Russia in Europe is growing…” 

Turkey, with the help of Europe, will play a violent anti-Israeli role in the future. 

Turkey’s Persecution of Minority Christians

IFN wrote on October 16: 

“The Turkish government is increasingly treating Christian minorities as existential threats—branding them as ‘national security dangers’ to justify mass expulsions and heavy restrictions on religious freedom. This alarming rhetoric marks a new low in Türkiye’s crackdown on minority believers.

“… the government has expelled foreign Christians working as missionaries or aid workers—even when they held valid visas. Some local Christians report threats, intimidation, and bureaucratic harassment until they leave… 

“In response, Christian and human rights advocates are calling on governments and international bodies to shine a light on Türkiye’s actions, impose accountability for violations, and support Christians facing forced removal or persecution…” 

Europe, more and more dependent on Turkey’s strong military, stays silent. 

Most Dangerous Time 

The Guardian wrote on October 1: 

“Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen issued a stark warning that Europe is ‘in the most difficult and dangerous situation since the second world war,’ even worse than during the cold war… as she urged leaders to leave national perspectives behind and unite to take on Russia…” 

And so, at least ten European nations or groups of nations will unite… with dangerous consequences. 

No More Reliance on USA

Euronews wrote on September 29: 

“For decades, Germany relied on the US for its security policy. But that era is over, experts tell Euronews. Germany plans to spend up to €83 billion on European-made weapons and reduce dependence on US defence systems as Chancellor Friedrich Merz pushes to build Europe’s ‘strongest conventional armed force’ amid doubts about Washington’s reliability under Donald Trump. 

“According to reports, the German government plans 154 major defence procurements between September 2025 and December 2026, with only 8% from US suppliers compared to the previously heavy reliance on US systems. The shift follows US President Trump’s demands that NATO partners increase their defence spending to 5% of GDP, while purchasing more US weapons, prompting Berlin to pursue a ‘Buy European’ strategy… 

“According to US expert and author Dr Josef Braml, this move should not be seen as a mistake of confusing cause and effect. ‘The cause was that Trump made it clear that America can no longer be relied on,’ Braml told Euronews. Now that this has become clear, ‘it no longer makes sense to pay tribute for protection that we no longer get,’ he added. According to Braml, this ‘tribute’ was paid by buying US weapons that made Germany and other European countries dependent on US systems… 

“The Marshall Plan and NATO laid the foundations for security and economic relations between Germany and the US after World War II. Since Trump took office, the German government has endeavoured to maintain bilateral relations. Nevertheless, the German course is running counter to the US president’s expectations… 

“Continuing as before is therefore not an option for Braml. ‘Security is gone, Pax Americana is dead,’ he concluded.” 

Europe will become a mighty military force, independent of the USA. 

AI Assistants Systematically Distort the Truth 

Deutsche Welle wrote on October 22: 

“A major new study by 22 public service media organizations, including DW, has found that four of the most commonly used AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time— regardless of language or territory… Measuring criteria such as accuracy, sourcing, providing context, the ability to editorialize appropriately and the ability to distinguish fact from opinion, the study found that almost half of all answers had at least one significant issue, while 31% contained serious sourcing problems and 20% contained major factual errors… 

“Those behind the study say it confirms that AI assistants systematically distort news content of all kinds. ‘This research conclusively shows that these failings are not isolated incidents,’ said Jean Philip De Tender, deputy director general of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which co-ordinated the study. ‘They are systemic, cross-border, and multilingual, and we believe this endangers public trust. When people don’t know what to trust, they end up trusting nothing at all…’” 

Mandatory Military Service by Lottery? 

BBC wrote on October 14: 

“Plans to re-introduce military service in Germany have been thrown into chaos because of an 11th hour row amongst the governing parties. A compromise, which was set to include the possibility of some mandatory conscription, has been shot down… on Tuesday night, a press conference to announce the proposals was abruptly cancelled, ahead of a draft bill going before parliament on Thursday. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has denied accusations of ‘torpedoing’ the plans… 

“A significant section of German society remains deeply wary of conscription and re-armament given the catastrophic consequences of remilitarising in the 20th Century. Nevertheless, a recent Forsa survey for Stern suggested that 54% of people favoured compulsory service while 41% opposed it. Opposition rose to 63% among 18 to 29-year-olds. Germany wants to expand its armed forces from the current 183,000 active servicemen and women to 260,000 by 2035 – plus 200,000 reservists… 

“There is resistance within the junior partner in the coalition, the SPD, to any element of compulsory service. The government, made up of Merz’s conservative CDU/CSU and the centre-left Social Democrat SPD, agreed in their coalition treaty to reintroduce military service which would be voluntary ‘to start with.’ However, CDU politicians – including Chancellor Merz – have increasingly aired concerns that a purely voluntary system will not be sufficient. 

“This week, negotiators from the two coalition parties hammered out a complicated compromise… reports suggested that, if not enough school-leavers volunteered, then a lottery system could be used. A selection of young men could be summoned for a medical or even mandatory service, if required, should recruitment targets be missed… 

“Rather than a lottery, [Pistorius] has backed proposals for all eligible young men to undergo a medical from July 2027, so the Bundeswehr has a clear snapshot of available manpower…”

Deutsche Welle wrote on October 15: 

“Germany’s Bundestag parliament began its first reading of the contentious bill seeking to reintroduce some form of military service, on a purely voluntary basis at first but with contested plans to add some kind of mandatory component in future if necessary… 

“[Pistorius was] seeking to stress that any decision on obligatory recruitment was not part of the current bill and was a matter for a future debate… ‘that would clearly only take place under the authority of a Bundestag resolution, and using methods that are yet to be decided.’… 

“Politicians from Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU said they stood by their lottery-based ‘Plan B’ for the case that voluntary recruitment falls short of targets or needs… 

“Neither the draft law as it stands nor the lottery proposal is very clear on the contentious question of mandatory recruitment. The draft law mentions the likelihood for the need of ‘comprehensive mustering’ as of 2027, but doesn’t say how it plans to achieve this, and avoids clarifying whether it means mustering in the sense of compulsory conscription, or simply an obligation for young men to muster for inspection and consideration.  

“The lottery proposal, meanwhile, was said to involve drawing lots to make up any shortfall, but then to try to encourage those whose lot was drawn to volunteer, rather than obliging them to act. Again, it didn’t explain how it planned to achieve this… 

“The legal right to oblige young men to serve for a period is enshrined in the constitution, and was only suspended by a simple majority vote in parliament when the system was scrapped. Another simple majority vote would suffice in theory to reactivate the provision as it is. But adding women to the provision, or altering its content, would require a two-thirds majority in the lower and upper houses of parliament instead. The coalition government by itself is nowhere near commanding these majorities, even if it could reach internal agreement on the issue.” 

Mandatory military service by lottery? Most Germans reject this. What boneheaded nonsense! How crazy can it get? 

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:

These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.

This is a question that may seem obvious to anyone living the true Christian Way of Life but may be confusing to those who feel that their priorities, even though they may think that they are a committed follower of Jesus Christ, must be to their spouse and children with God being subordinated to a lesser role in their lives.

A well-known sportsman in the UK was asked about the priorities in his life, and he said that they were his family, his faith and then listed other priorities.   His Christian faith was known to those who knew him well, and it seemed that he was a man of faith.   However, was he correct in listing God as second to his family in his list of priorities?

Each and every one of us will have their own list of priorities.  We may not sit down and list them, but we will know what we put first and those things that mean the most to us.   When we have a list of things to do, we generally organise these according to how we perceive their importance.   When we put God first, it means that He is top of our list of priorities.

By putting God in the premier position means that He will get the top priority in our lives.  Praying and studying will be those things that we prioritise on a daily basis and ensure that we do those things that are most important to us.   Once we let go and other things become more important to us, then God can slip down the pecking order, and that is not what He expects of us.  When He calls us to be a part of His Church and a Spirit-begotten member of His Family, then that must be the most important thing in our lives because it will translate, at the First Resurrection, to us being born into the Family of God for eternity.

We read in Matthew 6:33:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”  

The word “but” is instructive.  In previous verses Jesus told His disciples not to worry about their lives (see Matthew 6:25) as many of us may do constantly, but that God will take care of the things we need (see verses 26-32).   The most important thing in our lives is to obey and worship God in the first place and all the other things will be taken care of by a loving God who knows what our needs are.

To seek first is not to relegate God to the back seat.  In Matthew 22:35-40, we read of the response that Jesus gave to a lawyer who questioned Him:

“Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’”

This was a direct instruction, not a suggestion.

Further, John 14:15 clearly reveals what we should and must do, if God is to be first and foremost in our lives:

“If you love Me, keep My commandments,” which is a simple answer that, sadly, is neglected, misunderstood, misconstrued and misinterpreted by most of mainstream Christianity today.

This was also a direct instruction, not a suggestion. Matthew 6:24 adds further clarification:

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Way back in time, the nation of Israel was given clear instructions on how seriously putting God first was to be to them as we read in Deuteronomy 6:4-9:

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

It wasn’t to be from time to time as it turned out to be with ancient Israel, but a lifelong process as we understand today.   Israel suffered the consequences of their pronounced allegiance to God with their behaviour which Scripture describes as frequently deviating from what was acceptable to God.

But it was not only those in ancient times who fell short of what was required, but also those many centuries later in the time of Christ, as we read in Matthew 15:7-9:

^“Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

It is well documented how the religious authorities in the time of Christ were upbraided for their hypocrisy by Jesus Christ and nearly 2,000 years later, it has changed little today.   We MUST be different.   We MUST put God first in our lives or we will be in the same position as those throughout history, having failed to do this, have suffered the consequences of their actions.

Simply put, it is in keeping with the First Commandment which states quite simply: “You shall have no other gods before Me” (compare Exodus 20:3).   Anything or anyone that comes before God is detrimental to our spiritual well-being.   This is clearly shown in Matthew 7:24-27 where Jesus instructs us to “build on the Rock”:

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

This is a case of cause and effect.   This is revealed in Galatians 6:7: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

We should, voluntarily, want to live our lives in the way that has been revealed to us.   In 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, sub-headed “Glory Only in the Lord” in the New King James Bible, is an interesting and invaluable insight into our calling:

“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.”

We are not the great and mighty of this world, but the very ordinary, to put to shame the wise.   How many have been called to this Way of Life?   Only God knows the answer to that question, but it is obvious that it is a small number because Jesus said in Luke 12:32: “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

To have been given the opportunity that we have, should fill us with gratitude to the great God, and He must be first in our lives.  If not, we can be overtaken by the things of this world, which are but transitory and will soon pass away.

In Proverbs 3:5-6, we read: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”  

It is not an easy path, but the narrow way, as we read in Matthew 7:13-14:

“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.”

Anything really worthwhile takes effort to achieve, and we have been given the greatest gift of all by being called into the Church of God and receiving the Holy Spirit upon repentance.  And when this is our approach and attitude, God is pleased, as Psalm 37:23 points out:

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.”

We read in 1 Peter 2:21: “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.”  

Whenever we read about Jesus in the biblical account, we see that He was always subordinate to His Father’s Will, putting the Father first in all things.   Never did Jesus treat the Father as anyone other than in first place in His life, and we should always follow His example.

Today’s prevailing ethos is that it is all about me, me, me.   There are some worthy exceptions to that, but they are certainly in a small minority.   Members of God’s true Church must not fall into the trap of “accommodating” society, always putting God first irrespective of any situations that might require us to do differently.

And why wouldn’t we want to put God first in our lives?   We should think on these things which show us the might of the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ:

• “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).
• “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16).  
• “Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure’” (Isaiah 46:10).
• ^“But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: ‘As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God’” (Romans 14:10-11).
• ^“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God” (Revelation 19:11-13).

It’s a winning team to be part of, and for eternity.

There is much more to be said on this matter and one website reveals that there are 158 quotations about putting God first in our lives.  However, what we have shown in this Q&A is that God has to be first in our lives at all times.   Second, or any other place than first, is not acceptable to Him, and for good reason.

True Christians will be distinctive in their actions of putting God first in their lives as opposed to the world where compromise and fitting in with society is generally the accepted way.  With a twenty-four-hour-a-day-commitment to God’s Way of Life where the things of God are deemed far more valuable than society’s so-called “values,” we will demonstrate to our Creator how much we appreciate our unique calling and the promise of much better things to come.

Interestingly, there was a situation in the UK where a big sporting event was taking place in the summer of 2023 at 11am on a Sunday morning.   A senior bishop (female) from the Church of England said it was “fine” for churches to move morning services so that their parishioners could watch this event and added that people should choose the service that is “right for them.”  Unfortunately, God never seems to be first in the lives of many mainstream Christians as they put worldly pursuits first.

We will finish this Q&A with a few quotations.

One writer put it this way: “God is smarter, wiser, and more powerful than any person can ever become. Thus, when God issues a commandment, our duty is to trust and follow Him in whatever direction He takes us. In the end, we will not be disappointed, but we will if we do not put God first in our lives.”

Put God first in everything you do—Denzel Washington

Put God first and you will never be last—Anonymous

When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives—Ezra Taft Benson

If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead—William Law

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“Trump in the Light of Biblical Prophecy,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

The Trump peace deal with Hamas will fail. A potential Trump peace deal between Russia and Ukraine will be doomed. ICE misconduct tears the nation apart. So is Trump’s alleged desire to stay in power after his second term. Still, there is one thing which Trump could successfully accomplish, in the light of biblical prophecy,  and it is that one matter which he should concentrate on.

“Trump im Licht der biblischen Prophezeiung,” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.

We have started posting YouTube Shorts, both on our English and German sites, with our first video titled “Halloween – A celebration for Christians?”

Sermonettes and sermons presented during the 2025 Fall Holy Days will be posted on our websites.

“Werden SIE die sieben Posaunen hören?” is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Will YOU Hear the Seven Trumpets?”

“Wir motivieren uns selbst,” last Sabbath’s German sermonette presented by Michael Link, is now posted. Title in English:  “Motivate Ourselves.”

“Sich freuen, wenn man leidet?“ last Sabbath’s German sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Title in English, “Rejoice When Suffering?”

Our new German booklet, God Is… Our Destiny!, “Gott ist…unsere Bestimmung!”, has been posted on our German website.