On July 12, 2025, Norbert Link will present, “Comments on News and Prophecy, July 12, 2025,” and Rene Messier will present the sermon, titled, “Stay in Your Lane.”

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.

Recently, my 14-year old son joined me at the non-profit transportation company that I run. He will be working as an apprentice on a part-time basis over the summer school break in our vehicle maintenance department. It is difficult for younger teens to find meaningful work, and even more so in the areas of the skilled trades. However, with the arrival of electric buses and charging controls, automotive trades are rapidly requiring skills honed at the gaming stations of a new generation.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines an apprentice as someone who has agreed to work for a skilled person for a particular period of time and often for low payment, in order to learn that person’s skills. For example: Michelangelo was apprenticed to Ghirlandaio in Florence for three years prior to setting out on his own. While it is hard to imagine him as anything less than a master of art, architecture, and science, the fact is that we all begin at a common point of knowing little and needing to learn and grow in skill and proficiency. For most of us, this begins in the first tottering days of preschool, and continues on through university and beyond.

Additionally, in recent years, there’s been a noticeable shift in the career aspirations of younger generations.  Skilled trade careers are experiencing a resurgence in popularity. This has also been highlighted on social media platforms.

Young tradespeople are sharing their day-to-day experiences, inspiring a new generation to consider careers in skilled trades over traditional college routes. There is a young electrician who has over 1.1 million online followers, and she posts on various tasks. She illustrates the technical skills involved in her job and also shows young followers that hers is a fulfilling and lucrative career path.

Consider the metaphor of being an apprentice in our journey as true Christians. We must understand that as true Christians we are all apprenticed to the Father and Jesus Christ. As the apostles before us, we must study the Scriptures to better understand the importance of Paul’s words in Romans 10, 14-15 (New International Version throughout): “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” Continuing in verse 17: “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

These verses illustrate the importance of listening and learning from those who were sent and understand more than we do.

Jesus Christ was also an apprentice to the Father in Heaven as we see in John 8:29: “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” But Jesus was also an apprentice in the human sense as a carpenter alongside His human father, Joseph. We see this when Jesus was preparing for His ministry and preaching the Word in the synagogue. He was not treated as a master and expert in the Scriptures, but rather, as a carpenter’s son. This was not to denigrate Jesus for being a carpenter, but this trade was simply not considered on par with the Pharisees of the day. The leaders of the congregation illustrated this in Mark 6:3: “‘Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?’ And they took offense at him.” They took offense because they did not see Jesus as a teacher or an equal, but rather as a young upstart.

Yet, while He was honing His craft as a carpenter, He was also preparing for His own ministry. He studied the Scriptures and quoted the prophets and books of the Old Testament on many occasions. Even as He was dying on the cross for our sins, Jesus quoted a portion of Psalm 22:1: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus learned at the Father’s side and lived His life by obeying the commandments and preparing for His public ministry.

He also was, and is: The Master, as we read in Luke 16:13: “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” The supremacy of Jesus Christ is unmatched and forever will be. He is Lord and Master of the Creation, and our coming King of the New Jerusalem.

Consider now the role that Timothy played with the apostle Paul. Paul became a mentor to the younger man. He realized that Timothy had the calling from God and substance to become a minister of God’s Word and began to train him for what lay ahead. We see this in 2 Timothy 3:10-12: “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…”

Life entails apprenticeships in many ways. I could not have been a city manager without first serving as a deputy for many years and learning the intricacies of leading a city. Doctors and lawyers train for years prior to handling cases of their own.

King David realized that his son Solomon was not quite prepared for leadership in 1 Chronicles 29:1: “Then King David said to the whole assembly: ‘My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the LORD God.” David was praying for and preparing to hand the kingdom to his son Solomon. He had trained Solomon for leadership, but now trusted that God Himself would finish the task.

We can also go back to the time of Moses when God instructed Moses to take on Joshua as an apprentice. We see this described in Numbers 27:18-21: “So the LORD said to Moses, ‘Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him.He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the LORD. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.’”

In our physical world, an apprenticeship typically involves our work life or vocation. In the more important spiritual sense, becoming an apprentice with God and Jesus Christ is more akin to an enduring discipleship with Jesus. We must show up for this training and take our responsibilities seriously. There will always be the distractions of work, family, and hobbies, but think of this opportunity to train under the very best Master ever—not simply once in a lifetime, but forever!

by Norbert Link

We speak about the deeply troublesome conduct of ICE and the fearful expectation that it will get much worse as tremendous additional powers have been given them in the “One Big Beautiful Bill”; and Trump’s ongoing tariff chaos; and address Elon Musk’s new party, also in light of the controversial “Epstein files” and questionable statements of the Social Security Administration. Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “The Epstein Scandal—No Murder and No Client List?”

We speak on Southeast Asian nations turning to Russia and the BRICS summit which has been described as another serious challenge to the USA, prompting a threat from Trump.

We speak on sudden renewed American support for Ukraine after a disappointing phone call between Trump and Putin; an uninformed warning of NATO chief Mark Rutte; and we conclude with the question as to what is meant by “Shylock” and developments in Germany.

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

ICE’s Illegal Arrests Continue 

NPR wrote on July 4: 

“Immigrant advocates and civil rights lawyers say evidence is mounting that immigration agents carrying out the Trump administration’s deportation crackdown in southern California are engaging in widespread racial profiling. They’ve raided known hubs for Latino workers almost daily – hardware store parking lots, car washes, and street vendor corners. Videos of many of those operations, filmed by bystanders and posted to social media, have shown agents arresting people who appear to be Latino as they stand on sidewalks or wait at bus stops. 

“On Wednesday, the American Civil Liberties Union and other legal groups filed a federal class action lawsuit alleging that immigration agents roving the streets are targeting people based on the color of their skin or their apparent occupation. They want a judge to declare the raids unconstitutional. ‘There is a real sense that it is open season on anyone who appears to be an immigrant,’ said Eva Bitran, director of immigrants’ rights at the ACLU of Southern California. ‘They are arriving, corralling people before asking one single question, just based on their location and their appearance. Often they are handcuffing people even before they have asked for their papers, or even after a person has said “I am a US citizen, I have a green card, I have every right to be here”…’ 

“Advocates say the Trump administration’s ambitious daily arrest quotas are leading immigration agents to lean on the thinnest of justifications and on false assumptions about people they encounter to justify arrests. ‘If you’re asking these law enforcement agencies to arrest 3,000 people a day, they cannot form reasonable suspicion for each specific person,’ Bitran said…” 

And if that was not enough already… note the next articles. 

Even Much More Power For ICE 

Salon wrote on July 3:

“Trump’s budget… allocated some $175 billion towards his mass deportation campaign, more money than almost any country spends on its military… According to estimates from the World Food Programme, the funds going towards deportation would… be enough to fully fund the program to end world hunger for four years… 

“Americans have already had a preview of some of what’s to come with the increased deportation budget, like on Wednesday, when Trump traveled to Florida to tour a new camp being built there to house immigrants… The facility is expected to cost around $450 million a year, just a fraction of the $45 billion that Republicans have allocated towards building new detention facilities…. Trump also suggested that the new camp could be the first of many, foreshadowing a new incarceration system in the United States.”

Rather than fighting worldwide hunger, America is fighting unliked “illegal” aliens… 

7,000 a Day! 

The New York Post wrote on July 7: 

“President Trump’s ‘border czar’ Tom Homan wants ICE agents to arrest at least 7,000 illegal immigrants every day — more than double the current quota — after the agency received a giant budget boost for its mass deportation campaign with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill. 

“‘And for those that say 3,000 a day is too much, I want to remind them, do the math, we have to arrest 7,000 every single day for the remainder of this administration just to catch the ones Biden released into the nation,’ Homan told reporters Monday outside the White House. Trump signed the nearly 900-page bill into law on July 4, opening the door for ICE to hire 10,000 new officers and double its capacity to detain illegal immigrants… 

“White House adviser Stephen Miller recently pushed ICE to make 3,000 arrests per day… The Trump administration originally gave ICE a quota of 1,800 arrests a day in January and increased the expectations in May.” 

Horrific! 

Charging “Remittance Tax”? 

Breitbart wrote on July 3: 

“Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons is praising final passage of President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, mainly for its ‘unprecedented funding’ toward federal immigration enforcement… 

“The bill includes more than $46 billion for new border wall construction, $45 billion for ICE detention space, nearly $30 billion for ICE to go on a hiring spree and deport more illegal aliens, $10 billion to reimburse states who covered border security costs under former President Joe Biden, and $3.5 billion for the Department of Justice to issue grants to local governments who help locate and arrest illegal aliens, among other funding measures. Perhaps most significantly, the bill establishes a historic remittance tax to effectively fine illegal aliens who earn money in the U.S. and send that money back to their home countries.” 

A remittance tax refers to a tax on money transfers sent from the United States to recipients in foreign countries. It is primarily aimed at international cash transfers, particularly those sent by non-US citizens or nationals. The tax would typically be imposed on the sender of the remittance and collected by the entity facilitating the transfer (e.g., banks or money transfer operators). Imagine someone in the US wants to send money to their family abroad. A remittance tax would be an extra fee levied on that transfer, making the overall cost of sending the money higher. This is so abominable! But the next article describes even more abominable developments.

A Terrible Shift to Right Extremism 

Axios wrote on July 5: 

“Once-fringe tactics — an alligator-moated detention camp, deportations to war zones, denaturalization of immigrant citizens — are now being proudly embraced at the highest levels of the U.S. government. It’s an extraordinary shift from Trump’s first term, when nationwide backlash and the appearance of cruelty forced the administration to abandon its family separation policy for unauthorized immigrants. Six months into his second term… Trump is only just beginning to scale up his mass deportation machine… 

“Pro-Trump activist Laura Loomer drew outrage after tweeting that ‘alligators are guaranteed at least 65 million meals if we get started now’ — widely interpreted as a reference to the Hispanic population of the United States… 

“Some newer members of the MAGA coalition, such as podcaster Joe Rogan, have expressed deep discomfort with the targeting of non-criminal undocumented immigrants…. some MAGA influencers are pushing to weaponize denaturalization more broadly — not just as a legal remedy for fraud, but as a tool to punish ideological opponents… Prominent voices on the right have argued that immigrants who haven’t properly ‘assimilated’ — by their definition — should be vulnerable to losing their citizenship.” 

The hatred by political extremists is frightening. 

Federal Immigration Agents Descend on MacArthur Park in Los Angeles 

ABC Eyewitness News wrote on July 7: 

“Federal agents and National Guard troops descended on MacArthur Park while children were at a summer camp on Monday, sparking chaos and fear in the area. The neighborhood is home to a large immigrant population; however, agents appeared to have left largely empty-handed. 

“The raid began unfolding just before 11:30 a.m. AIR7 video shows what appears to be federal agents holding weapons and standing on an armored vehicle. The agents were not wearing any identification as they rolled through the park… Many large National Guard vehicles were also spotted in the area. Defense officials told ABC News that 90 armed troops were involved in the operation in support of immigration authorities in Los Angeles. All of the troops involved in the operation were activated members of the California National Guard. The operation included some 17 Humvees, four military cargo trucks and two military ambulances [with the agents seen carrying rifles and traveling across the grounds on foot, horseback and in armored vehicles.] 

“‘They brought terror to the community, but they didn’t have the guts to stick around because they knew if they stuck around here, to really do a big raid, the community would come out to defend the people,’ said Ron Gochez with Unión Del Barrio. ‘And that’s exactly why we’re here. They have all the courage when it’s a senior citizen vendor selling flowers by a cemetery. They had the courage to go kidnap her. But when the masses come out, where is the courage?’… 

“L.A. Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez said a summer camp was taking place at MacArthur Park when federal agents and troops moved in. She said the kids were quickly ushered into the lower level of the building used for the camp to keep them away from the immigration raid.” 

Just a Political Stunt? 

The Guardian wrote on July 7: 

“MacArthur Park has long been an immigrant neighborhood, with a history of political activism. In 2007, it was the center of the May Day rallies demanding amnesty for undocumented people, which were met with exceptional brutality by the Los Angeles police department… 

“‘This morning looked like a staging for a TikTok video,’ said Marqueece Harris-Dawson, president of the Los Angeles city council, adding if the border patrol wants to film in LA, ‘you should apply for a film permit like everybody else. And stop trying to… disrupt our economy every day.’”

The New York Post added on July 8:

“One Border Patrol official promised that federal agencies aren’t backing down… ‘The federal government is not leaving LA. … The federal government does not work for Karen Bass. We’re going to be here until that mission is accomplished,’ [he said]. ‘Better get used to us now because this is going to be normal very soon,’ he added.” 

Or a Botched Laughingstock? 

Ken Klippenstein wrote on July 7: 

“The news media is describing the operation as an ominous crackdown, but National Guard sources tell me that it was a botched laughingstock. The military aspect of the operation, codenamed Operation Excalibur, has not been previously reported. 

“The documents reveal that the erstwhile justification for the operation was to try to shut down the distribution of fake IDs. The mission of the 1st Squadron, 18th Cavalry is described as protecting DHS [Department of Homeland Security] ‘security points and blocking positions’ while they undertook their assault. The operation was meticulously planned, the threat listed as ‘HIGH.’ ‘Criminal elements, likely including FTO [foreign terrorist organization] MS-13 consider the park their home “turf” and could escalate to lethal violence,’ a threat assessment warned. 

“Then all that planning went bust. Because ICE and CBP apparently failed to communicate or coordinate effectively, the military showed up too late (and Los Angeles authorities weren’t notified until two hours prior.)… 

“This is just the latest operation that didn’t go off as planned, amplifying the sense amongst the California Guardsmen that the whole spectacle is idiotic and shameful. Part of the reason for the confusion is the sheer number of government agencies involved… 

“One Army source told me that it all felt like some joint military operation overseas, where soldiers need to identify themselves as ‘friendlies’ on congested battlefields. Treating Los Angeles as a foreign country with insurgents to be defeated, military and homeland security intelligence views MacArthur Park as a viper’s nest of illegality… Many of the soldiers involved, I’m told, view their mission as unnecessary and even ridiculous, with the Trump administration ordering the spectacle and the Pentagon leadership and chain of command smartly saluting. .. 

“Similarly last month, when leadership discussed during a briefing the idea of having Guardsmen wear masks similar to ICE and CBP, rank-and-file members groaned at the stupidity and bad optics for the uniformed military. The Guard, they said, should be seen as members of the community, not shadowy interlopers… 

“Mayor Karen Bass, as if an interloper in her own city, rushed to MacArthur park in her own SUV motorcade and asked the feds to leave. Bass told the Los Angeles Times that the feds needed ‘to leave and they need to leave right now, they need to leave because this is unacceptable.’ The uniformed military I’ve spoken to seem to agree with her. 

“While military leadership is embracing the Washington-inspired mission, sources say, the rank-and-file see the California operation as more akin to Afghanistan: doomed to failure and ultimately withdrawal.” 

Whatever the purpose of the raid was, the optics were horrible, reminding us of actions by the Gestapo during the Third Reich or of NVA soldiers [“National People’s Army” or “Nationale Volksarmee”) in former East Germany; or Russian invasions of former East Block countries, such as the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. 

No Amnesty for Farm Workers 

Newsmax wrote on July 8: 

“Illegal migrants who work on U.S. farms will not be given amnesty and could be subjected to mass deportation efforts as the Trump administration strives for ‘a 100% American workforce,’ Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said Tuesday. Rollins, though, did say the administration needs to be ‘strategic in how we are implementing the mass deportation so as not to compromise our food supply.’

“President Donald Trump last week in Iowa said he’s willing to let migrant laborers stay in the U.S. if the farmers they work for will vouch for them…”

What Rollins is saying now is not what Trump had originally announced. 

Trump’s New Tariff Chaos

The Daily Mail wrote on July 7: 

“President Donald Trump hammered Japan and South Korea for running up a trade imbalance with the U.S., declaring both countries will be slapped with a new 25 percent tariff starting August 1. Trump issued a scathing attack in two letters he sent the leaders of both countries, declaring ‘our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from reciprocal.’ Then he brought down the hammer, declaring what the new tariff would be, which could cripple the economies of two allies of the U.S…. 

“Markets immediately dropped on the news, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average shedding 400 points, and the broader S&P 500 losing nearly a percentage point in value. Trump concluded with another threat: ‘If for any reason you decide to raise your tariffs, then, whatever then number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 25% that we charge,’ he wrote… 

“The U.S. helped rebuild both economies after World War II and after the Korean War through extensive trade ties. For years U.S. consumers and companies have turned to both countries for automobiles and consumer products as well computer chips and technology vital to an array of other products… Japan already faced a 25 percent tariff on cars, auto parts, and steel, in addition to facing the 10 percent across the board tariff… 

“Following the briefing, Trump posted letters to a tranche of other countries: Malaysia, South Africa, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Kazakhstan, Vientiane, and others. The letter to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who clashed with Trump during an Oval Office meeting, included a 30 percent tariff.  

“Global markets are bracing for more tariff chaos as the White House plans to release a dozen or more letters signed by President Trump telling countries what taxes must be paid when they send goods to the United States.  The talk of the letters has now overtaken much of the conversation about ‘deals,’ with Trump’s team telling various nations in writing how much must be paid. The result could hike the costs that American pay for a variety of goods… 

“Trump has secured preliminary trade agreements with the United Kingdom, China, and Vietnam, though all three deals still require further negotiation to finalize terms. … In just one of the trade matters that is up in the air, Trump reportedly threatened the European Union with a 17 percent tariff on food exports, a move that could hammer that industry. Without a deal the EU faces a 50 percent tax on all goods going into the United States. EU officials told the Financial Times the new food tax is an escalation between the two trading partners….” 

Even though Trump had proclaimed that due to his tariff threats, countries would line up to make deals with the USA, this has simply not been the case. 

No Farmland for Chinese (and Others) 

The Washington Post wrote on July 8: 

“U.S. Department of Agriculture chief Brooke Rollins announced Tuesday that the U.S. government will move to ban sales of farmland nationwide to buyers tied to China and other foreign adversaries, citing threats to national security and food security — an effort that casts uncertainty over property currently held by China-linked investors. 

“Asked whether the U.S. government would seek to take back existing land owned by Chinese investors, Rollins said they are looking at ‘every available option’ as part of a clawback effort and that an executive order from the White House will probably follow ‘very soon.’… Rollins said that the USDA will also work with state legislators to quickly push through laws that will ban further purchases, with a particular focus on parcels of land near U.S. military bases… 

“The percentage of total U.S. farmland owned by Chinese investors amounts to just 0.0003 percent and has declined sharply in recent years…” 

Musk’s New Party 

Breitbart wrote on July 6: 

“Entrepreneur and former Department of Government Efficiency Director Elon Musk on Saturday announced the creation of the America Party. Musk says the American Party will restore democracy and freedom after suggesting he would start a new political party amid a high-profile feud with President Donald Trump. 

“He conducted a straw poll on his social media platform X on Friday, Politico reported. ‘By a factor or 2 to 1, you want a new political party, and you shall have it,’ Musk said Saturday afternoon in a post on X. ‘When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy,’ Musk continued. ‘Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.’ 

“Musk suggested the political party would focus on two or three Senate seats and between eight and 10 House seats during the 2026 mid-term elections, CNBC reported. Given the narrow margins among House and Senate majorities in recent years, a small number of seats in both chambers would be enough to significantly influence legislation, Musk said. He said the party would caucus independently of Democrats and Republicans but enter into legislative discussions with both.” 

Deutsche Welle added on July 6: 

“He revived the idea of a new political party this week as US lawmakers approved Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill. Musk was among the legislation’s most vocal critics and has pledged to establish a new party to oppose Republicans who supported the bill… 

“A truly competitive third party could disrupt over a century of Democratic and Republican dominance at all levels of government. But Musk would not be the first person trying to establish a party to challenge their dominance. 

“Former President Theodore Roosevelt came the closest in 1912, after splitting from the Republican party. He ran as Progressive Party candidate and won 27% of the popular vote and 88 electoral votes. More recently, Ross Perot, another billionaire, won 19% of the popular vote but no electoral votes in the 1992 presidential campaign as an independent and later formed the Reform Party.” 

The Associated Press reported on July 7: 

“Asked about the effort by reporters on Sunday afternoon as he prepared to return to Washington from his home in New Jersey, Trump called Musk’s proposition ‘ridiculous,’ going on to tout ‘tremendous success with the Republican Party.’ ‘The Democrats have lost their way, but it’s always been a two-party system,’ Trump added. ‘And I think starting a third party just adds to confusion. It really seems to have been developed for two parties.’ Third parties, Trump said, have never worked.” 

Trump also told his followers: “I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely ‘off the rails,’ essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks.” 

According to Focus, dated July 7, “Original America didn’t care much for political parties. They aren’t mentioned at all in the Constitution. George Washington, the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797, belonged to no party.” 

There might have been much wisdom of the founding fathers in not speaking about the “necessity” of parties. Party affiliation far too often clouds the conscience of party members. The potential influence of Musk and his new party on the midterm elections should not be underestimated. Musk has no ambitions to become president… he could not anyhow, because he was not born in the USA, but in South Africa. But then, based on all the available evidence, it is not certain that Obama was born in the USA either. 

The Epstein File—The Final Straw? 

The Daily Mail wrote on July 7: 

“Outrage ensued following a stunning report claimed the Justice Department and FBI are concluding that disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein did not hold a ‘client list’ and did kill himself in prison. Among the top critics is billionaire Elon Musk who said the memo published by Axios on Sunday night is the ‘final straw.’… 

“Trump’s base is demanding answers and accusing Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel of ‘lying’ to the American public. Most of the online ire has been directed towards Bondi. ‘If Jeffrey Epstein had no client list, didn’t have elites raping girls on his island and hadn’t taken part in any blackmail schemes… Then… Why’d he kill himself?’ Pro-Trump content creator Robby Starbuck posted to X. He insisted: ‘Doesn’t pass the smell test Pam Bondi.’ 

“Right-wing media site the Gateway Pundit posted: ‘If Jeffrey Epstein Had No Client List Then Why Did AG Pam Bondi Tell Reporters the List ‘Is Sitting on My Desk Right Now to Review.‘… ‘Pam Bondi said the Epstein client list was on her desk to review for release to the public just a few months ago,’ Starbuck posted. ‘Now the DOJ she leads claims that there’s no Epstein client list.’ ‘Sorry but this is unacceptable,’ he insisted. ‘Was she lying then or is she lying now? We deserve answers.’” 

People added on July 7: 

“The Tesla CEO and former Trump ally [Musk] posted a meme on X, the social media platform he owns, depicting a man applying clown makeup next to text including, ‘There is no Epstein list.’” 

Vanity Fair wrote on July 7: 

“Elon Musk… also shared a post that read: ‘If the entire government is protecting pedophiles, it has officially become the government against the people. I hope you all understand that.’” 

The inconsistent and contradictory representations of the Trump administration on the Epstein matter are indeed cause for suspicion. 

The Epstein File—Tucker Carlson on the Attack 

The Daily Mail wrote on July 8: 

“A growing number of right-wing voices are calling for the resignation of Attorney General Pam Bondi after it was revealed no more arrests will be made in connection to Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes… 

“On his podcast Tuesday, conservative luminary Tucker Carlson theorized that Bondi is orchestrating a cover-up in order to protect members of the intelligence community who were ensnared in Epstein’s conduct. ‘The current DOJ under Pam Bondi is covering up crimes, very serious crimes by their own description,’ Carlson said. ‘Intel services are at the very center of this story, U.S. and Israeli and they’re being protected.’” 

Mediaite added on July 8: 

“Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson warned that President Donald Trump and his administration could be inviting a ‘revolution’ by not delivering on his campaign promise to reveal the truth about Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal sex enterprise…. 

“‘But how can you say that thousands of children were raped, but I’m not going to find out who raped them!? How can you say that!? They said that! By the way, when Pam Bondi went on television and said, “I have a videotape of kids getting abused,” I didn’t, I followed this case closely and I know a lot of the people involved, as I’ve told you, I had no idea. I didn’t know that. Really? Thousands of children got raped? Who raped them? Where are the rapists? Like, why aren’t they in jail? This is the Department of Justice.  That is so crazy. This is like-, this is honestly one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen in my entire life. And I just think it’s very dangerous to play around with this stuff. Like, very dangerous. I don’t want a revolution, but if you wanted a revolution this is how you would act.’” 

JD Vance Under Attack Too 

Irish Star wrote on July 8: 

“A post JD Vance made about the ‘most powerful people’ being connected to Jeffrey Epstein has reemerged as the DOJ says a ‘client list’ doesn’t exist, despite Pam Bondi claiming she had it on her desk. JD Vance has been brutally roasted over a social media post he made about… Epstein as MAGA rages at the Trump administration for breaking a key election promise… MAGA’s Epstein frustrations escalated on Monday when a memo sent by the DOJ and FBI said that no ‘further disclosure’ of Epstein’s files or materials would be appropriate or warranted… 

“Referring to Epstein, the future Vice President wrote: ‘Remember when we learned that our wealthiest and most powerful people were connected to a guy who ran a literal child sex trafficking ring? And then that guy died mysteriously in a jail? And now we just don’t talk about it.’ Both critics of the vice president and MAGA supporters have recently been responding to the post, pointing out Vance’s hypocrisy… ‘There goes your chance as president,’ one noted. A second wrote: ‘You’re losing credibility so quickly, you had an opportunity to do better and you guys are failing…’ Another noted: ‘The silence is deafening Mr Vance.’… 

“During their public feud after the tech billionaires departure from the White House, Musk wrote in a now-deleted X post: ‘Time to drop the really big bomb… Donald Trump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.’ He followed up shortly after: ‘Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.’ Trump has denied being on the list and Musk eventually said he’d taken things ‘too far.’” 

What list? We were just told that there is no list after Bondi said earlier that the list was on her desk. 

Does the Big Beautiful Bill Eliminate Tax on Social Security? 

The New York Times wrote on July 6: 

“In a celebratory email sent to Americans across the country, the Social Security Administration praised the Trump administration’s sprawling budget and tax bill and said it eliminated federal income taxes on most retirees’ benefits. But that’s not exactly what it does… 

“… the enhanced deduction will help reduce households’ tax bills on their overall income, including Social Security income. ‘The S.S.A. statement implies there is a direct tax cut on Social Security benefits,’ said Howard Gleckman, a senior fellow at the Tax Policy Center, a nonpartisan think tank, ‘which there is not.’ 

“Instead, older single filers will get the extra $6,000 deduction ($12,000 for couples), as long as their income falls under a certain ceiling (below $75,000 for single filers or $150,000 for married joint filers). Above those income levels, the deduction begins to decrease, and it goes away once single taxpayers’ income reaches $175,000 ($250,000 for couples). Nor will the extra deduction benefit all Social Security recipients. Retirees who are 62 through 64 are ineligible. 

“And since the income of more than half of Social Security recipients is too low to be taxed anyway, lower income people won’t be helped much. The new break is expected to benefit middle- and upper-middle-class households, tax policy experts said. (Recipients who earn less than $63,300 owe an average of 1 percent of their Social Security benefits in taxes)… 

“‘It is discouraging to see such misrepresentation by the administration and the Social Security Administration,’ said Martha Shedden, president of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts, a group that offers guidance to consumers and financial professionals on making Social Security decisions… 

“The email also says that ‘nearly 90 percent of beneficiaries will no longer pay federal taxes on their benefits.’ That, too, is misleading because the deduction is temporary, only in effect for tax years 2025 through 2028. The Social Security Administration did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.” 

The American Prospect wrote on July 7: 

“If you listen to Donald Trump’s speeches…,  you hear a lot about certain modest elements of this bill: no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on Social Security. That last one is not in the bill at all—there’s a temporary increase in the standard deduction for people over the age of 65 that is not tied to Social Security at all…” 

Churches Can Endorse Political Candidates? 

CNBC wrote on July 8: 

“The IRS said in a new federal court filing that churches can endorse political candidates to their congregations without risking the loss of their tax-exempt status. The move upends a 70-year-old interpretation of the U.S. tax code, whose Johnson Amendment has barred certain nonprofit groups, including churches, from endorsing political candidates without putting their tax-exempt status in jeopardy. President Donald Trump has long called for Johnson Amendment to be repealed. 

“‘Communications from a house of worship to its congregation in connection with religious services through its usual channels of communication on matters of faith do not run afoul of the Johnson Amendment as properly interpreted,’ the IRS said in the joint filing Monday.” 

Churches should stay out of the political arena by taking sides and endorsing political candidates. 

AI Used to Mimic Rubio’s Voice 

The Daily Mail wrote on July 8: 

“An imposter used AI technology to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio and contacted at least a handful of top U.S. and foreign government officials, according to a diplomatic cable warning of the stunning blunder… 

“The imposter used text messages and the encrypted Signal app, the same app that led to the ouster of former National Security Advisor Michael Waltz after he accidentally added a reporter to a Signal group chat where top officials discussed a bombing campaign.” 

Southeast Asia Turns to Russia 

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 3: 

“Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto skipped a G7 summit last month to visit Russia, where he and his counterpart, Vladimir Putin, agreed that bilateral ties are ‘getting stronger again.’… Prabowo’s trip came a month after Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s latest visit to Russia, his third in two years… Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta are exploring possible ways to expand trade, including in arms imports… 

“Several Southeast Asian states have an interest in exporting electrical goods and machinery to Russia… Last month, Vietnam and Moscow agreed to fast-track agreements that could see Russian firms help build Vietnam’s first nuclear power plants… many have looked to the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) grouping as an alternative arena for global politics. Indonesia is now a formal member of BRICS while Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are partner countries… 

“Although Malaysia and Indonesia’s governments began their overtures with Russia before Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January, Washington turning away from international institutions since then has convinced many Asian leaders that they can no longer count on US support and that the future of the Western-backed international order might soon be over, analysts say…” 

The Far Eastern nations of the Kings of the East are forming. Iran should not be overlooked in that regard. Note the next article. 

Iran at BRICS Summit 

The New York Times wrote on July 5: 

“Battered by 12 days of war, Iran stands mostly alone and weakened in the Middle East. Yet the Islamic republic has found friends elsewhere in the world. Starting Sunday in Rio de Janeiro, Iran will join a two-day meeting of the BRICS group that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and other countries… 

“After Israel and the United States launched military strikes on Iran last month, the BRICS group issued a statement expressing ‘grave concern’ and calling the attacks a breach of international law and the United Nations Charter. Still the alliance, whose members represent more than half of the world’s population, stopped short of outright criticizing Israel or the United States…” 

Trump Threatens BRICS 

The New York Post wrote on July 7: 

“President Trump threatened to impose an additional 10% tariff on any country that aligns itself with what he described as the ‘Anti-American politics of BRICS,’ intensifying global trade tensions as the bloc of developing nations holds its summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ‘Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy,’ Trump wrote Sunday evening… 

“Trump did not elaborate on which specific politics of BRICS… he considered anti-American. The bloc, formed in 2009, later added South Africa and last year included Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as members. 

“In December, Trump threatened 100% tariffs on BRICS if member nations decided to issue their own currency — a move aimed at potentially undermining the US dollar. His comment Sunday came shortly after BRICS leaders issued a joint statement appearing to criticize Trump’s protectionist trade policies.” 

As the Tide Turns 

Daily Mail wrote on July 4: 

“Donald Trump yesterday agreed to help Ukraine boost its aerial defences after Russia launched its biggest assault of the war. The US President made the pledge after a ‘very disappointing’ phone call with Vladimir Putin on Thursday night (with the Russian leader refusing to agree to a ceasefire), with Russia launching the barrage hours after. Mr Trump spoke to Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday and seemingly vowed to ‘strengthen the protection’ of Ukraine’s skies. They also discussed joint industrial projects. 

“The two leaders, who have previously traded insults and fell out spectacularly at the White House earlier this year, spoke at length hours after Putin fired a record 539 drones and 11 missiles at Ukraine. The bombardment left at least one dead and 23 injured in Kyiv… 

“It follows reports that the US is to reduce the amount of military hardware it gives Ukraine, with US defence officials yesterday denying rumours [stemming directly from Trump himself] of a weapons shortage. Defence secretary Pete Hegseth was also said to have halted weapons shipments to Ukraine without consulting other US government departments.” 

Trump had said: “Biden emptied out our whole country giving them weapons, and we have to make sure that we have enough for ourselves” (Compare The Sun, dated July 4). 

Mark Rutte Warns of Simultaneous Russian and Chinese Invasions 

The Daily Mail wrote on July 6: 

“NATO chief Mark Rutte has chillingly warned that World War III will start with simultaneous invasions from Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin… Rutte suggested the combined attacks from the Chinese and Russian leaders could trigger a World War nightmare and bring the planet to the brink of Armageddon. 

“According to the NATO chief, China would start by seeking to grab Taiwan – while ensuring the Kremlin dictator simultaneously attacks NATO territory, amid fears Putin is anyway eyeing the Baltic republics Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, formerly part of the USSR. 

“Senior Putin security official Dmitry Medvedev – a former Russian president and ex-premier – lashed out on X: ‘Rutte has clearly gorged on too many of the magic mushrooms beloved by the Dutch. He sees collusion between China & Russia over Taiwan, and then a Russian attack on Europe. But he’s right about one thing: he should learn Russian. It might come in handy in a Siberian camp.’” 

This is not how World War III will start. The leaders and politicians of this world, not understanding biblical prophecy, look at all the wrong places, but overlook the coming real powerful and destructive enemy of the USA and the UK. 

What or Who Is Shylock? 

JTA wrote on July 4: 

“After facing criticism, President Donald Trump said he was unaware that the term ‘Shylock’ was widely considered antisemitic when he used it to describe unscrupulous bankers during a rally Thursday in Iowa… Shylock is the name of the Jewish money lender in William Shakespeare’s ‘The Merchant of Venice,’ a character that has come to be seen as an archetype of the stereotype that Jews are greedy and money-grubbing…

“Joe Biden, then vice president, decried ‘Shylocks’ in 2014 to describe unscrupulous lenders who he said preyed on U.S. military personnel…” 

Antisemitism is difficult to root out, and it is sometimes even inadvertently unrecognized. 

German Persecution 

The European Conservative wrote on June 25: 

“On Wednesday, June 25th, the German federal police carried out a major operation throughout the country, searching the homes and confiscating the electronics of 170 people over social media comments that either fall in the general ‘hate speech’ category or just insult sitting politicians.  

“While individuals can be targeted by the authorities at any time, these coordinated country-wide raids are organized once every year since the 2017 adoption of Article 188 of the Criminal Code, which makes insulting politicians punishable to the same degree as online hate speech—with up to three years in prison—while defamation and slander can get you locked up for up to five years. 

“These so-called ‘action days’ are also supported by several ‘hate crime’ reporting centers throughout the country, often run by left-wing NGOs who file the charges on behalf of offended people and politicians. Thanks to these organizations, the number of registered online hate crimes reached a record level of over ten thousand last year, meaning the number has quadrupled since 2021. According to officials from the ruling center-right CDU, all this is perfectly normal in a democracy…. 

“In many cases, the ‘crimes’ involved merely entail legitimate criticism of government policies—saying Berlin fails to control migration could be considered Islamophobia or racism, for example—or just the opinions of everyday people of their elected officials. The most prominent abuser of the law is former vice-chancellor and Green party leader Robert Habeck, who personally reported over 800 citizens for insulting him online. Recently, a 64-year-old pensioner was convicted for calling Habeck ‘a complete idiot’ following a similar house search, while another man was fined €6,000 for calling him ‘dirty’ and former Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock ‘stupid.’ 

“And while Chancellor Merz’s CDU was trying to capitalize on the Greens’ abuse of Article 188 during the election campaign, they’ve been weaponizing it just as easily when it suited them. Merz himself has personally filed charges in several cases, which resulted in home searches. These include the case against a 50-year old nurse who called him an ‘asshole’ and who had to pay a €1,000 fine; a Stuttgart resident who called him a ‘dirty drunk’; and a wheelchair-bound woman who called him a ‘Nazi.’ 

“And while the courts later dismissed all of these cases and ruled that the searches and confiscation of electronics were unlawful, none of them were compensated either for the damages or the criminal fines they were forced to pay.” 

“Pistorius Outlines Plans for Military Draft” 

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 8:

“A bill to be put forward by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius would allow the Cabinet, with parliamentary agreement, to call up conscripts if a situation arises that requires a rapid boost to the country’s armed forces, media have reported.  

“The bill is being seen as a compromise between some conservatives’ calls for the return of compulsory military service, which was suspended in Germany in 2011, and the opposition of many leftist lawmakers to such a move.”

The push for compulsory military service will continue. 

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.

God tells us that He will bless us when we obey Him and curse us when we disobey Him (compare Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28). He explains to us that He curses those who sin against Him. Are we therefore to curse those who sin against us—who have become our enemies?

In Matthew 5:43-44, we read: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you…”

Christ loved us and died for us when we were sinners and His enemies, hoping that we would become His friends. Once that relationship of friendship with Him and His Church (His Body) has been established, He tells us to love one another with the same godly love with which He loved and loves us. This love (to love others AS He has loved us) He does not require of us in regard to our enemies in the world. But He does tell us that we are to love them which is really only possible if we have God’s love (agape) in us. How are we to love them?

The Study Bible says:

“‘You have heard that it was said.’ This phrase indicates Jesus is addressing common teachings or interpretations of the Law that were prevalent among His audience. It reflects the oral traditions and teachings of the Jewish leaders, such as the Pharisees and scribes, who often expanded upon the written Law with their own interpretations. This introduction sets the stage for Jesus to contrast these teachings with His own authoritative interpretation.

“‘Love your neighbor.’This part of the verse references Leviticus 19:18, which commands the Israelites to love their neighbors as themselves. In the Jewish context, ‘neighbor’ was often understood to mean fellow Israelites or those within one’s own community. Jesus later expands this definition in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-27), illustrating that ‘neighbor’ includes all people, regardless of ethnicity or social standing.

“‘and ‘Hate your enemy’. This phrase is not a direct quote from the Old Testament but reflects a common interpretation or attitude that had developed over time. While the Law commanded love for one’s neighbor, it did not explicitly instruct hatred for enemies. However, due to historical conflicts and the desire for national purity, some Jewish groups, such as the Qumran community, may have adopted a stance of enmity towards outsiders or those perceived as threats. Jesus challenges this mindset by teaching love for enemies, as seen in the following verses (Matthew 5:44-48) which aligns with the broader biblical theme of God’s love and mercy extending to all humanity.”

Luke 6:27-28 says: “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.”

The Study Bible points out:

“‘bless those who curse you.’ This phrase calls believers to respond to hostility with kindness, reflecting the teachings of Jesus on loving one’s enemies. In the cultural context of the time, cursing someone was a serious offense, often invoking harm or divine retribution. Jesus’ instruction to bless instead of retaliate is countercultural and radical, emphasizing the transformative power of love and forgiveness. This teaching aligns with Proverbs 25:21-22, which advises feeding one’s enemy and offering them drink, suggesting that such actions can lead to reconciliation and peace. The concept of blessing those who curse is also seen in the life of Jesus, who, during His crucifixion, asked for forgiveness for those who were executing Him (Luke 23:34).”

We are not to curse even our enemies by telling them, for example, ”go to hell,” wishing them eternal condemnation. Rather, we should pray for them—not to be blessed by God for their sinful ways or while they live in sin, but for their realization THAT their ways are sinful, and that they need to repent of them and cease from “spitefully” using us.

Barnes’ Notes on the Bible explains:

“Bless them that curse you – The word ‘bless’ here means to ‘speak well of’ or ‘speak well to’ – not to curse again or to slander, but to speak of those things which we can commend in an enemy; or, if there is nothing that we can commend, to say nothing about him. The word ‘bless,’ spoken of God, means to regard with favor or to confer benefits, as when God is said to bless his people. When we speak of our ‘blessing God,’ it means to praise Him or give thanks to Him. When we speak of blessing people, it ‘unites’ the two meanings, and signifies to confer favor, to thank, or to speak well of.”

However, we have a duty to speak the Truth, when appropriate, and not to hide the Truth by keeping silent when there is a duty to speak, or to engage in flattery. Paul called a false prophet a “son of the Devil” (Acts 13:10); and Christ said the same to the Jews at His time (John 8:44). He did in no way flatter the evil and hypocritical Pharisees, nor did He remain silent when there was a duty to speak (compare Matthew 23:13-33). (Note also our two-part Q&A, “Who is to warn the leaders of the world?”)

Matthew Poole’s Commentary says about Luke 6:26-27: “Bless them that curse you: do not return reviling.”

This might include, being silent in the face of persecution.

Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible adds:

“Bless them that curse you: when wicked men curse you, as Shimei cursed David, do not ‘render evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing’; give good words, use kind language, mild and soft expressions [or saying nothing in return]; such as may either win upon them, or put them to shame and silence… Blessing here, does not signify praising them, for that would be sinful…”

It would be sinful, indeed, to “bless” a false teacher—an enemy of God—by wishing him “good luck” or “a nice day,” because if we would, we would become a partaker of his evil deeds (compare 2 John 10-11).

Romans 12:14, 20 reads: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse… Therefore ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’”

Note the parallel Scripture in Proverbs 25:21-22: “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the Lord will reward you.”

Some say, this passage wants to convey that if we behave like this towards our enemies, we increase God’s wrath on them, as heaping coals of fire signifies the pouring out of God’s anger. But the better explanation is the following, as, for example, expressed by Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers:

“Thou shalt make him burn with shame at the thought of the wrong he has done thee. Thus, to bring a sinner to repentance is well-pleasing to the Lord, who shall reward thee for it.”

Barnes’ Notes on the Bible states in general:

“To curse denotes properly to devote to destruction. Where there is power to do it, it implies the destruction of the object… Where there is not power to do it, to curse implies the invoking of the aid of God to devote to destruction.”

This is not the attitude we ought to have in a relationship with anyone, including our enemies. Rather than wishing our enemy utter destruction, we hope and pray that God will lead him to repentance so that he ceases from his evil ways.

1 Corinthians 4:12 says: “Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure…”

This shows that blessing means, refraining from reviling.

1 Peter 3:9 adds: “… not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.”

This brings us to the issue of dealing with strangers. In our hateful world, many treat strangers as enemies, and when it comes to strangers or aliens without documentation, they are being reviled as criminals and invaders who don’t deserve any love, mercy or assistance, but who must be hunted to be placed in demeaning detention camps or prisons or in concentration camps to be deported to countries from which they had fled—or even to countries where they had never been or grown up.  This is, in effect, cursing a stranger. For instance, being in the USA illegally, all by itself, does not constitute a crime. Rather, it is a civil violation. However, entering the country illegally would be a crime in the sense of a misdemeanor, but not a felony. But the same is true every time one breaks a traffic law. If one speeds, that person is committing a crime in the sense of an infraction or a misdemeanor, but not a felony. As everyone has, at times, committed a traffic violation, he or she condemns him or herself when he or she curses a stranger by calling them a criminal.

The Bible tells us in Exodus 23:4-5: “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it.”

So, if we want to treat an undocumented alien as an enemy, we are still obligated to help him or her when in need. This might conflict with certain laws of the land, which, in accordance with some interpretations, would make it unlawful to help or assist an undocumented alien in any way (not even giving him or her a ride to the hospital or a grocery store). If such a situation arises, one has to decide whether one wants to obey God rather than man. Read our free booklet, “Obeying God Rather Than Man.”

In Job 31:28-30, righteous Job said this: “This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, For I would have denied God who is above.  If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, Or lifted myself up when evil found him.  (Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking for a curse on his soul)…”

Proverbs 24:17-18 gives us the following admonition: “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him, And He turn away His wrath from him.”

Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible points out:

“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth… These words are spoken not to the wicked man… but to the just man, or Solomon’s son, or the children of Wisdom; for by the ‘enemy’ is meant such who are at enmity with the people of God, as the seed of the serpent, and those after the flesh, are: and when these ‘fall’, saints should not ‘rejoice’; as when they fall into sin… Joy may be expressed at the fall of the public enemies of God and his people, as was by the Israelites at the destruction of Pharaoh and his host (Exodus 15:1), and as will be by the church at the destruction of antichrist, and which they are called upon to do (Revelation 18:20), partly on account of their own deliverance and safety, and chiefly because of the glory of God, and of his justice displayed therein; see Psalm 58:10, but as private revenge is not to be sought, nor acted, so joy at the calamity and ruin of a private enemy, or a man’s own enemy, should not be expressed…

“… and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth; even secret joy should not be indulged, gladness in the heart, though it does not appear in the countenance, and is not expressed in words; no, not at the least appearance of mischief, when he only stumbles and is ready to fall; and much less should there be exultation and rejoicings made in an open manner at the utter ruin of him.”

Jeremiah said that he never desired the evil day for his enemies (compare Jeremiah 17:16).

We even read in Proverbs 16:7: “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

This applies to our own personal lives, and also to our national relationship with other countries. We should ask ourselves whether, when we live in war, we are living in a way pleasing to God.

Insofar as the general distinction between blessing and cursing is concerned, we read in Exodus 21:17: “And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.”

Proverbs 30:11 adds: “There is a generation that curses its father, And does not bless its mother.”

Matthew 15:3-6 states: “He answered and said to them, ‘Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, “Honor your father and your mother”; and, “He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.” But you say, “Whoever says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God’– then he need not honor his father or mother.” Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.’”

Here we see that blessing is equated with honoring and helping, while the unwillingness to help is equated with dishonor and by extension, with cursing.

Exodus 22:28 states: “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.”

But this is what people, in their despair, will do, as stated in Isaiah 8:21: “They will pass through it hard pressed and hungry; and it shall happen, when they are hungry, that they will be enraged and curse their king and their God, and look upward.”

They will try to find fault for their misfortune in others, including the king and God.

Ecclesiastes 10:20 says: “Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter.”

This must not be misunderstood to mean that we have to turn a blind eye to the misrule of a leader. We must, as a Church, point out their sinful conduct (see our Q&As, quoted above), and when we are asked to pray for our leaders, this does not mean to bless them for their evil deeds, but only, to inspire them so that God’s Church can lead a quiet life and fulfill its commission (compare 1 Timothy 2:1-2).

In Acts 23:1-5, we read: “Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, ‘Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.’ And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, ‘God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?’ And those who stood by said, ‘Do you revile God’s high priest?’ Then Paul said, ‘I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, “You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

Here, Paul equates cursing with speaking evil. This passage has been understood in different ways. Some say, Paul had weak eyes so that he did not recognize Ananias. Others say, he did not know that Ananias was the high priest. The better explanation is that Paul recognized Ananias as the high priest, but said, that he was astonished that this hypocritical whitewashed wall could hold the office of high priest. William Barclay, “The Acts of the Apostles,” wrote on page 164: “Paul knew perfectly well that Ananias was high priest. But Ananias was notorious as a glutton, a thief, a rapacious robber and a quisling in the Roman service. Paul’s answer really means, ‘This man sitting there—I never knew a man like that could be high priest of Israel.’”

Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 says: “Also do not take to heart everything people say, Lest you hear your servant cursing you. For many times, also, your own heart has known That even you have cursed others.”

Nehemiah 13:23-25 brings up another interesting aspect of “cursing”:

“In those days I also saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people. So I contended with them and cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, ‘You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or yourselves.’”

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers points out:

“Cursed them.—Nehemiah simply echoed the covenant sanction on this very point.”

This, however, does not seem to be the best explanation.

The Benson Commentary states: “I cursed them — That is, excommunicated them, and cast them out of the society of God’s people; in the doing of which, I denounced God’s judgments against them.”

The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary agrees:

“cursed them—that is, pronounced on them an anathema which entailed excommunication.”

Likewise Matthew Poole’s Commentary:

“Cursed them, i.e. caused them to be excommunicated and cast out of the society and privileges of God’s people. This and the following punishments were justly inflicted upon them, because this transgression was contrary both to a very plain and express law of God, and also to their own late solemn covenants and promises…”

Christ tells us that if a sinning member does not want to listen to the Church, he needs to be disfellowshipped and be treated “like a heathen and a tax collector” (Matthew 18:17; also note Paul’s statement regarding excommunication in 1 Corinthians 5:4-5). Such decisions have nothing to do with cursing the person, but they signify that God’s curse is over them unless they repent.

James 3:8-10 says: “But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”

Matthew Poole’s Commentary states:

“Therewith bless we God; pray, and speak well of God… And therewith curse we men; rail on, revile, speak evil of, as well as wish evil to.”

To repeat: This does not mean that we must shy away from saying that sin brings about evil consequences. This is not cursing a person, but expresses the wish that the person repents so that he or she can be spared from experiencing God’s terrible wrath (compare John 3:36; Revised Standard Version).

Finally, we are admonished that we must not avenge ourselves.

Romans 12:19 states: “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

At the same time, it is not wrong to ask God to avenge us on those who persecute us because we belong to God.

In Revelation 6:9-11, we read how in a vision, murdered “souls” ask God to avenge them: “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.”

Asking God to avenge us on our enemies who persecute us without cause is not the same as cursing them. Rather, we plead with God to show His majesty and power on those who mistreat, malign and even kill God’s people.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

compiled by Dave Harris

“The Epstein Scandal—No Murder and No Client List?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary: 

According to the Justice Department and the FBI, sex offender Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide, and no client list exists. This announcement was met with incredulity and outright rejection. What are the reasons that so many feel a gigantic coverup is being perpetrated to protect hundreds of prominent pedophiles who raped thousands of underage girls? 

“Der Epstein Skandal—Kein Mord und keine Kundenliste?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.

“Warum Babylon zu Fall kommen wird,” last Sabbath’s German sermonette presented by Robert Indlekofer, is now posted. Title in English: “Why Babylon Will Fall.”

“Der Hass der Türkei gegen Israel Warum?” last Sabbath’s German sermon presented by Thilo Hanstein, in now posted. Title in English: “Turkey’s Hatred of Israel, Why?”

“Follow Me,” last Sabbath’s first split sermon presented by Frank Bruno, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Two simple words, yet when spoken by Jesus Christ they represented the chance, not merely of a lifetime, but of everlasting life with Jesus and the Father. In this Split Sermon we will consider many of the scriptures in which Jesus Christ offered this invitation as well as the meaning behind the words.

“How to Repent!” last Sabbath’s second split sermon presented by Dave Harris, is now posted. Here is the summary:

We have all learned to apologize or say I am sorry, but do we really know how to repent to God in a way that He will accept?

On July 5, 2025, Frank Bruno will present the first split sermon, titled ,“Follow Me,” and Dave Harris will present the second split sermon, titled, “How to Repent!”

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.

Here in the United States, the country will celebrate the 4th of July. This day commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776—when the United States declared its intention to break away from Britain and become its own nation. 

One of the founding ideas by the men who wrote the Declaration of Independence was their conviction that everyone had individual rights, along with equality and the concept of democracy. Over the last couple of hundred years, this nation has enjoyed freedoms and rights which most other countries in the world have not experienced. God blessed the United States because of His promise to Abraham who had throughout his entire life displayed the righteousness, faith and confidence in God.

While we have freedoms today, these freedoms are slowly but surely being taken away. This is because the United States at large and the other English-speaking nations have all but rejected God. They are not following after God and His Commandments as their forefather Abraham did. They all make excuses and refuse to truly obey God because they have used this idea of Freedom wrongly and are reaping the consequences that God has laid forth in Scripture. 

As Christians who uphold the Truth and attempt to live by the Words of the Bible, we need to realize that we are NOT free to do whatever we please. Unlike the world at this time, we are being judged by the standard of keeping the Ten Commandments and, by extension, showing Godly agape love. 

What is fascinating to me is that the world is seeking freedom, and if they could truly understand and see, they would find that true freedom comes from obedience to God’s Ways which, when followed perfectly, produce true love, peace and freedom. 

Paul wrote in Galatians 5:1, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” This whole chapter goes on to iterate true freedom and what its effects are. Essentially, it boils down to using God’s Spirit which provides the best way to obtain true freedom. 

One of the things that I admire about the Apostle Paul was his undying love for the people in the Church. He spent a lot of time and effort attempting to help these people. In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, he talks about how his freedom was used—not for himself but for the good of everyone else: “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings” (New International Version).

That is the ultimate use of one’s freedom—to spend one’s self for the good of others. Christ Himself stated that this is the highest example of love that any of us can give (John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends”). Christ also did this in laying down His perfect life for us and took on our sins. While we may not lay down our lives in the way that Christ did, we have opportunities to lay down our lives in greater service for the good of those who are in the Church—a selfless approach that brings true freedom. 

As we live our lives and grow in the use and application of God’s Spirit, we should begin to see that these ways of thinking and acting are not even for ourselves or others, but for the opportunity to glorify God and honor and show love to Him. This is exactly what Christ was pointing to when He said that the greatest two commandments are to “…love the Lord your God with all your heart… and love your neighbor as yourself” (compare Matthew 22:37-40). One of the most important things we must realize is that our freedom is not to be used in self-serving. Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 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.” 

Our freedom is a beautiful thing. But we must realize that our freedom required a price—the death of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:18–19). With this in mind, we can and should continue on in living this new life that we have been given so we can bring honor and glory to God as is fitting, because this is part of what we have been called to do (Ephesians 2:10). 

True freedom can and will ONLY be found through submitting our lives more and more fully to our Creator and Sustainer. 

by Norbert Link

We begin with the US Supreme Court’s highly controversial and disunifying decision related to birthright citizenship; continue with Israel’s and America’s attack on Iran and potential dangerous and alarming consequences; and speak on NATO’s embarrassing performance and modern warfare with drones.

We continue with further frictions between the USA and Canada and ICE’s misconduct, as well as further alarming intentions of the Trump administration regarding American citizens; and we address discussions for conscription in Germany and a push by Germany’s CDU leader Jens Spahn to become a nuclear power. 

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Is America Ruled by a King?”

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

Controversial US Supreme Court Decision on Birthright Citizenship 

The New York Times wrote on June 27: 

“The Supreme Court on Friday limited the ability of federal judges to temporarily pause President Trump’s executive orders, a major victory for the administration. But the justices made no ruling on the constitutionality of his move to end birthright citizenship, and they stopped his order from taking effect for 30 days. 

“The 6-3 decision, written by Justice Amy Coney Barrett and split along ideological lines, may dramatically reshape how citizenship is granted in the United States, even temporarily. The ruling means that the practice of giving citizenship automatically to the U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants and some temporary residents and visitors would end in the 28 states that have not challenged the order. 

“The Supreme Court on Friday allowed President Trump’s executive order restricting birthright citizenship to take effect in some parts of the country for now, ruling that several district court judges had exceeded their authority in blocking the policy across the country. 

“The court stressed that its ruling did not address the constitutionality of Mr. Trump’s order itself, which bars government agencies from automatically treating babies as citizens if they were born on domestic soil to undocumented migrants or foreign visitors without green cards.” 

But this ruling, even though limited to the issue of whether federal judges can issue nationwide injunctions, still causes confusion and disharmony. And WHY should there be a decision along ideological lines—assuming the law is clear? Note the next article. 

A Chaotic Patchwork 

The Guardian wrote on June 27 and 28: 

“The ruling curtails nationwide injunctions against Trump’s order ending birthright citizenship – meaning that while lawsuits against the order proceed, the court has unleashed a chaotic patchwork of rights enforceability. The Trump administration’s ban on birthright citizenship will now be able to go into effect in jurisdictions where there is no ongoing lawsuit, or where judges have not issued regional stays. And so the supreme court creates, for the foreseeable future, a jurisprudence of citizenship in which babies born in some parts of the country will be presumptive citizens, while those born elsewhere will not. 

“More broadly the decision means that going forward, the enforceable rights and entitlements of Americans will now be dependent on the state they reside in and the status of ongoing litigation in that district at any given time… 

“In this decision, the court did not, technically, reach the merits of Trump’s absurd and insulting claim that the constitution somehow does not create a birthright entitlement to citizenship. But in the meantime, many children – the American-born infants of immigrant parents – will be denied the right that the 14th amendment plainly guarantees them…” 

Maybe not. Note the next article. 

Class Action Lawsuits as an Alternative? 

NPR wrote on June 27: 

“After the Supreme Court issued [its] ruling…, immigrant rights groups are trying a new tactic by filing a national class action lawsuit… The strategic shift required three court filings: one to add class allegations to the initial complaint; a second to move for class certification; and a third asking a district court in Maryland to issue… a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction asking for relief for that putative class… 

“In the amended complaint, filed two hours after the Supreme Court’s ruling, the immigrant rights attorneys said that Trump’s effort to ban birthright citizenship, if allowed to stand, ‘would throw into doubt the citizenship status of thousands of children across the country’… 

“The concept of birthright citizenship has deep roots, dating to the English common law notion of jus soli (‘right of the soil’)… Current legal standing for birthright citizenship in the U.S. extends back to the 1860s, when the 14th Amendment of the Constitution was ratified, stating, ‘All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.’” 

However, according to the New York Times, dated June 28, in concurring opinions, two key members of the conservative bloc, Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr., warned lower-court judges “not to lower standards for using alternative means to issue sweeping orders in an effort to circumvent the ruling. Justice Alito wrote that ‘district courts should not view today’s decision as an invitation to certify nationwide classes without scrupulous adherence to the rigors’ of legal rules. Justice Thomas added that if judges do not ‘carefully heed this court’s guidance’ and act within limits, ‘this court will continue to be “duty bound” to intervene.’” 

Trump Emboldened 

The Washington Post wrote on June 28: 

“An emboldened Trump administration plans to aggressively challenge blocks on the president’s top priorities, from immigration to education, following a major Supreme Court ruling that limits the power of federal judges to issue nationwide injunctions. 

“Government attorneys will press judges to pare back the dozens of sweeping rulings thwarting the president’s agenda ‘as soon as possible,’ said a White House official…” 

Strong Attacks by Elon Musk on “Big Beautiful” Bill 

The Daily Mail wrote on July 1: 

“Donald Trump has threatened to turn the Department of Government Efficiency on… Elon Musk. The president suggested he may use the department Musk once headed to strip away the billionaire’s government subsidies to decimate his business empire, as their feud hit galactic new heights. 

“Trump issued the threat in response to Musk’s public protest over the ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill,’ in which he pledged to launch his own political party if the bill succeeds…. He then turned the screws on Musk, suggesting his time benefitting from the U.S. government could be over and that the South African native could be forced to return to his homeland… 

“The world’s richest man has argued that the legislation would greatly increase the national debt and erase the savings he says he has achieved through DOGE. His criticism of the bill has caused a rift with Trump, marking a dramatic shift after the tech billionaire spent nearly $300 million on the president’s re-election campaign… 

“After weeks of relative silence following a feud with Trump over the bill, Musk rejoined the debate on Saturday… calling it ‘utterly insane and destructive’ in a post on social media platform X.

On Monday, he ramped up his criticism, saying lawmakers who had campaigned on cutting spending but backed the bill, ‘should hang their heads in shame!’ ‘And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,’ Musk said. 

“The Tesla and SpaceX CEO called again for a new political party, saying the bill’s massive spending indicated, ‘that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!’ ‘Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people,‘ he wrote.” 

Mediaite added on July 1: 

“Trump indicated Tuesday morning that he is open to deporting Elon Musk — amid his renewed battle with the Tesla boss. Speaking with reporters ahead of a flight to Florida on Tuesday, the president was asked about whether he would consider deporting the South African mogul. ‘We’ll have to take a look,’ Trump said.” 

Deporting Elon Musk? When will this silly nonsense ever end? Subsequently, the House adopted the bill. It will be interesting to see what Musk will do next.

Completely Obliterated or Not? 

The Daily Mail wrote on June 28: 

“New satellite photos have revealed that Iran is trying to piece together its nuclear site after the US sensationally bombed it last week. Heavy machinery was seen at the Fordow site as it appeared Iran has intensified its construction and excavation of the nuclear site after US B-2 bombers struck it last Saturday in Operation Midnight Hammer… 

“Construction equipment was also seen digging new access roads to the facility and repairing damage to the main one in order to restore access to the country’s main nuclear facility. US President Donald Trump said the strikes ‘completely obliterated’ Iran’s nuclear program and set it back years, but the new aerial images suggest the Middle Eastern country had taken preliminary effort to protect its facility. Iranian media said the sites had been evacuated prior to the strikes and the enriched uranium was transported to a ‘safe location.’  It is unclear how much uranium was left at the site during the bomb, but officials said there is no contamination after the strikes. Earthwork also showed signs tunnel entrances might have been sealed off before the attacks, Newsweek reported.  

“Similar construction activity was seen at the Fordow site prior to the strikes, where Iranians were seen shipping contents from the nuclear site to another location a half a mile away. Despite the extent of the damage being up to question, International Atomic Energy Agency – the UN’s nuclear watchdog – said Fordow’s centrifuges were ‘no longer operational’ and suffered ‘enormous damage.’… Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth… slammed the media for diminishing the strikes, which Trump compared to Hiroshima… Trump has threatened to sue The New York Times and CNN for reporting on the preliminary report [from the DIA suggesting ‘there was “low confidence” that that Middle Eastern country’s program had been set back.’]” 

Trump demanded an apology and retraction from the Times and CNN. Both responded by rejecting those demands. 

Only a Moderate Success 

The Tagesspiegel wrote on June 28: 

“He survived. Physically and politically. That was not a foregone conclusion. Ali Khamenei’s time and that of his regime could have ended. The twelve days of war against Israel and the USA posed an existential threat to Iran’s revolutionary leader… But shortly after the ceasefire was announced, the Ayatollah emerged from his bunker and, in his first public appearance in a long time, declared that the Islamic Republic had ‘crushed’ the ‘Zionists’ in battle. That is propaganda nonsense, no question. Which should also be clear to the cleric… 

“Against this background, the claim that the governments in Washington and Jerusalem have ‘achieved nothing’ initially seems like a blatant case of a loss of touch with reality. The only problem is: Khamenei’s assessment is at least partially correct. ‘Achieving less than the enemy secretly hoped’ would probably be a more appropriate formulation. Given its ambitious goals, the ‘Rising Lion’ offensive was not a resounding success for either the US or Israel. 

“These twelve days of missile and drone battles cost hundreds of lives and caused significant material damage. But that likely did too little to permanently halt Iran’s imperial ambitions in the Middle East and thus bring some peace to the Middle East. 

“… Khamenei and his followers may be weakened and humiliated for the time being, but they are by no means defeated. Even the assessment of the main reason for the war is sobering. Iran’s nuclear program has probably been set back by months, perhaps even years. However, it is doubtful that it has been completely neutralized… Rather, expert reports sound plausible, according to which the mullahs have had around 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium secured—along with centrifuges, an important prerequisite for building a nuclear weapon. 

“The bomb in particular. Those in power will now leave no stone unturned to acquire it. Perhaps they will enter into negotiations to buy time. But that will not change their ambitions. Because the attacks on the Islamic Republic have shown them starkly: Our enemies only dared to rise up against us because we did not yet possess the ultimate weapon. 

“Iran will try to follow North Korea’s example. As a nuclear power, the Asian country is considered unassailable. The temptation to use this approach to intimidate the enemy is simply too great. Fear is also a core component of the mullah regime. The ruling clique continues to wield all the means of power. It uses them to suppress any form of opposition with force.” 

Trump’s Dilemma 

Focus wrote on June 29: 

“Trump is staging the US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities as a major victory – and reacting angrily to any form of doubt. But why is it so crucial for Trump that the world believes him?… 

“As CNN analyzes, Trump’s entire presidency is built on the image of a strong, courageous, virtually infallible leader. Doubts about the effectiveness of the attack would contradict this self-image. Any dissenting assessment – no matter how well-founded – would come across as an embarrassment and undermine Trump’s personal credibility… 

“The second reason, according to CNN, is strategic: If Iran indeed continues to be able to quickly restart its nuclear program, the US would theoretically have to intervene militarily again. This would present Trump with a dangerous dilemma – because such a ‘quasi-war’ with Iran for years contradicts his stated goal of not conducting any new foreign operations.” 

Trump Would Strike Again 

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 27: 

“US President Donald Trump said he would ‘absolutely’ order a strike on Iran if intelligence indicated that Tehran was still capable of enriching uranium to nuclear weapons-grade… 

“Regarding future inspections of Iran’s nuclear sites, the US president said he supports inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) or another respected source being able to inspect nuclear sites in Iran following the bombings by Israel and the US. 

‘Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran may reject any request by the IAEA, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, to visit the country’s nuclear sites, calling the insistence by IAEA head Rafael Grossi to visit nuclear sites in Iran ‘meaningless, even malign in intent.’ This comes after the Iranian parliament voted to suspend any cooperation with the IAEA over its failure to condemn the strikes carried out on various nuclear sites in Iran by Israel and the US.” 

So, is another never-ending war on the horizon? 

Has Trump Really Won? 

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on July 1: 

“Sunday’s attack on the three nuclear sites indeed was loudly proclaimed by Trump and Hegseth as such – having ‘obliterated’ Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme, they claimed. ‘Destroyed it completely,’ they insist.  Only … it didn’t: The strike caused superficial surface damage, perhaps. And seemingly was co-ordinated in advance with Iran via intermediaries to be a ‘once and done’ affair. This is a habitual Trump pattern (advance coordination). It was the mode in Syria, Yemen and even with Trump’s assassination of Qasem Soleimani – all intended to give Trump a quick media ‘victory.’.. 

“Iran likely has enough centrifuges and 450 kg of highly enriched uranium – and nobody (except Iran) now knows where the stash is hidden. Iran will resume processing…. ‘Iranian unconditional surrender’ is, of course, now off the cards… Put plainly: the US long war likely will be resumed in a new format… 

“Moving to the wider geo-political cost-benefit level, Israel’s standing (at the regional level) of being unassailable when fused to American power, has taken a blow…” 

Trump Angry With Iran’s Leader 

Newsmax wrote on June 27: 

“President Donald Trump on Friday said he immediately stopped pursuing sanctions relief for Iran following Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s statement of ‘anger, hatred, and disgust.’ A day earlier, Khamenei said his country had delivered a ‘slap to America’s face’ by striking a U.S. air base in Qatar and warned against further attacks in his first public comments since a ceasefire agreement with Israel… ‘Why would the so-called “Supreme Leader,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, of the war torn Country of Iran, say so blatantly and foolishly that he won the War with Israel, when he knows his statement is a lie, it is not so,’ Trump posted Friday afternoon on Truth Social. ‘As a man of great faith, he is not supposed to lie.’ 

“Trump wrote that not only was Iran ‘decimated’ by the Israeli and U.S. attacks, he prevented Israel from killing Khamenei. ‘I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered, and would not let Israel… terminate his life,’ Trump wrote…” 

First Trump was angry with Israel. Now he is angry with Iran. 

Sleeper Cells in Waiting 

NewsNation wrote on June 27: 

“… the threat of [Iranian] sleeper cells has ‘has never been higher,’ according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection… Commissioner Rodney Scott said, ‘Thousands of Iranian nationals have been documented entering the United States illegally and countless more were likely in the known and unknown got-a-ways 

“Sleeper cells are spies or terrorists who operate in rival countries and remain inactive until they are essentially ordered to act… A recent Homeland Security threat assessment confirms that Iran remains a primary state sponsor of terrorism and continues efforts to target both current and former U.S. officials. That assessment echoes similar warnings issued by the Biden administration in 2024… Recruitment is typically done through networks, religious institutions or online platforms like social media. Recruiters typically appeal to emotions, such as alienation, injustice or religious duty… 

“Identifying sleeper cells is extremely difficult… some individuals may be homegrown or enter the U.S. undetected. [They lead] seemingly normal lives… and don’t draw any attention to themselves until it’s too late.” 

Preparing For the Third Temple 

Israel 365 News wrote on June 30: 

“In a remarkable development that highlights the complex relationship between religious belief and political ideology within Orthodox Judaism, the Toldos Aharon chassidic movement has established a specialized study program for Jewish priests (kohanim) to prepare for Temple service, despite the group’s well-known anti-Zionist stance… This ideological position makes their recent initiative all the more striking… [Toldos Aharon declared that] ‘We clearly see that we’re at the time of Ikvesa d’Meshicha (the final stage of redemption) and the third Beis Hamikdash (Temple) will be built soon in our days…’ 

“This initiative presents a fascinating paradox within Orthodox Jewish thought. While Toldos Aharon categorically rejects Zionism and the current State of Israel, they are actively preparing for the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem—the very city that serves as Israel’s capital… 

“Modern science has provided remarkable validation for the preservation of the priestly lineage. Over 98% of Jewish men who identify as kohanim share a specific genetic marker,  providing scientific evidence for the integrity of the patrilineal priestly heritage that has been maintained over nearly 2,000 years since the destruction of the Second Temple. This genetic continuity, combined with the careful preservation of priestly genealogies within Jewish communities, has led to speculation that modern kohanim could indeed serve in a rebuilt Temple, despite the nearly two-millennium gap in practical Temple service.” 

NATO’s Embarrassing Performance 

The Guardian wrote on June 27: 

“Diplomats may remember it as the week in which the art of obsequiousness reached new highs and the sycophants plunged [to] new lows… The tone of [Nato’s secretary general Mark] Rutte’s public bootlicking had been muted compared with the text messages he had sent to ‘dear Donald’ before the summit – ‘Congratulations and thank you for your decisive action in Iran, it was truly extraordinary … you will achieve something NO president in decades could get done’… 

“What is more cringeworthy, after all – the clips of Trump’s cabinet members taking turns to parrot praise of his leadership and vision, or the fact that his fragile ego demands lavish compliments before he can get down to work? No doubt all the president’s yes-men believe that lavishing him with praise can lead to lavish rewards. 

“Take the former South Dakota governor Kristi Noem, who in 2020 presented him with a ‘bookshelf-sized’ bronze model of Mount Rushmore, portraying Trump’s face next to those of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt. Noem is now the secretary of homeland security.  Stephen Miller, who called Trump the ‘most stylish president in our lifetime’, is the White House deputy chief of staff for policy…” 

But Trump might not be oblivious to the motives of his advisors. He recently said that he has no friends and does not trust anyone. 

The Drones Are Coming… 

Sky News reported on June 26: 

“In order to defend themselves, Andrius Kubilius [EU’s defense commissioner] says Europeans will require millions of drones and need to start preparing now. ‘Russia can have around five million drones, so we need to have capacities bigger than those in order to prevail,’ he told Sky News… 

“Facing one of the world’s strongest militaries, the Ukrainians used the cheap, adaptable technology to their advantage. It estimates its drone units are now responsible for 80% of Russian frontline losses. This year, Ukraine’s expected to produce more than four million drones… ‘If Ukrainians need four million for 1,200km, we need something like three million drones for one year if the war is starting, if “Day X” is coming,’ [Kubilius] said. 

“A spokesperson from the German Defence Ministry said… ‘Drones are now part of everyday life for soldiers, they are omnipresent and are used extensively in service operations and training,’ they added. 

“The alliance’s leadership has repeatedly said producing, procuring, and protecting against drones is a priority. 

“Defence Secretary John Healey said… ‘Drones now kill more people than traditional artillery in the war in Ukraine and whoever gets new technology into the hands of their armed forces the quickest will win…’ 

“The German Ministry of Defence said it couldn’t reveal stock levels due to security, but a spokesperson confirmed the country is investing in a range of different units, including signing two contracts for attack drones. ‘We are procuring not just a few but quite large quantities and testing them directly with the troops,’ the spokesperson added. However, they agreed with the EU defence commissioner that rather than stockpiling tech which would go out of date, it was better to have a system in place to allow for large quantities to be made quickly in the event of war….” 

All Trade Discussions With Canada Ended 

Politico wrote on June 27: 

“President Donald Trump said Friday he is ‘terminating’ all trade discussions with Canada, effective immediately, because of its Digital Services Tax, and that he would announce new tariffs on the country within the next seven days. 

‘“We have just been informed that Canada, a very difficult Country to TRADE with … has just announced that they are putting a Digital Services Tax on our American Technology Companies, which is a direct and blatant attack on our Country,’ Trump said in a Truth Social post. He accused the country of copying the European Union, “‘which has done the same thing, and is currently under discussion with us.’” 

The New York Post wrote on June 30: 

“Canada abruptly scrapped its plan to enforce a new digital service tax on American tech firms… PM Mark Carney caved just hours before the new levy was slated to go into effect on Monday… The tax would have been applied retroactively, leaving the companies with a US $2 billion (CAN $2.72 billion) bill due at the end of the month… Carney’s office has since revealed the PM spoke with Trump on Sunday night and agreed to halt the tax in a bid to resume talks.” 

Ridiculous Gas Prices in California 

Breitbart wrote on June 27: 

“Assemblyman Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego) warned Thursday that gas prices in California could hit $10 per gallon this summer — not just because of taxes and higher fuel standards, but also pipeline problems… 

“California gas prices are forecasted to rise by 65 cents per gallon after July 1, thanks not only to higher gas taxes but also to new, tougher fuel standards taking effect.” 

There is no possible justification for such outrageous mismanagement. 

ICE’s Misconduct

The Los Angeles Times Newsletter wrote on June 29:

“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s immigration raids throughout Los Angeles and surrounding counties have been splashed all over television and social media feeds for nearly a month.

“There were the two women nabbed outside the Airport Courthouse on La Cienega Boulevard on Tuesday after a hearing in a local criminal case. There was the raid at a Hollywood Home Depot on June 19 in which crews of armed, mostly masked agents converged on a parking lot, blocking gates and surrounding the laborers and vendors.

“A Times analysis found that 69% of those arrested during that period had no criminal conviction and 58% had never been charged with a crime. The median age of someone arrested was 38, and that person was likely to be a man. Nearly 48% were Mexican, 16% were from Guatemala and 8% from El Salvador…”

The LA Times also reported about ICE’s arrest of a 6-year-old with cancer outside an L.A. court while his mom is fighting for his release. ICE has been “justifying” its conduct with inevitable “collateral damage.” 58% to 69% is quite a high figure for “collateral damage.”

The Wrap wrote on June 29: 

“The nannies in this town [Santa Monica] are mostly Hispanic and like so many other Latinos doing important jobs in our community, they’re now living in a state of terror. Because ICE agents will pick up anyone with brown skin, regardless of whether they are legal or not, and sometimes even if they are American. It doesn’t seem to matter. … With their faces obscured, no warrants and no identification, ICE is showing up at the Home Depot. They’re showing up at parks. Car washes. Restaurants. Schools… [in] medical office(s) looking for patients and staff… 

“This is the kind of insanity and terror that’s being spread in our city [Los Angeles]. According to the Department of Homeland Security, over 1,600 immigrants have been detained in Southern California over a period of more than two weeks as of June 25th. This equates to roughly 101 arrests per day… ICE is operating aggressively all over… 

“You might see men pull up in one SUV, or several, armed to the hilt and dressed in combat gear surround a young woman no more than 100 lbs or so. That was in Ladera Heights…” 

What impression is the US giving to the world when pictures of military-gear-clad masked ICE agents are launching aggressive raids—pictures which are normally only known in autocratic dictatorships? 

And Now: Stripping Americans of Their Citizenship 

The Guardian wrote on June 30: 

“The Trump administration has codified its efforts to strip some Americans of their US citizenship in a recently published justice department memo that directs attorneys to prioritize denaturalization for naturalized citizens who commit certain crimes. 

“The memo, published on 11 June, calls on attorneys in the department to institute civil proceedings to revoke a person’s United States citizenship if an individual either ‘illegally procured’ naturalization or procured naturalization by ‘concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation’. According to the memo, those subjected to civil proceedings are not entitled to an attorney like they are in criminal cases. And the government has a lighter burden of proof in civil cases than they do in criminal ones…. 

“The directive gives justice department attorneys wider discretion on when to pursue denaturalization, including in instances of lying on immigration forms, cases where there is financial fraud or medical fraud against the US or against private individuals…” 

The HuffPost clarified further on July 1: 

“… The administration intends to widen the pool of eligible individuals, including, for example, those who’ve fraudulently used government programs like the pandemic-era Paycheck Protection Program, and those who’ve committed fraud against people and corporations. And the Trump administration says it won’t be stopping there. ‘These categories do not limit the Civil Division from pursuing any particular case, nor are they listed in a particular order of importance,’ the memo adds. 

“That’s highly concerning, immigration experts warn, and could lead to the administration targeting a wide swath of U.S. citizens, given how amorphous its requirements are… 

“About 25 million people in the U.S. are naturalized citizens, or immigrants who have completed the legal steps to become U.S. citizens… Previously, denaturalization had been used at a larger scale between 1907 and 1967 when an estimated 22,000 people saw their citizenship revoked, including for political reasons that emerged during the McCarthy era and its persecution of suspected communists…. 

“While the process historically focused on people who had lied about their background to obtain U.S. citizenship, the new memo has much broader criteria… Steve Lubet, professor emeritus at the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law [said:] ‘Many of the categories are so vague as to be meaningless. It isn’t even clear that they relate to fraudulent procurement, as opposed to post-naturalization conduct…’”

This is deeply alarming indeed. Far from focusing merely on illegal aliens who have been convicted of capital crimes, as it had been originally promised, Trump goes after aliens without papers, legal tourists and other aliens who are here legally, green card holders, birthright citizens, and now even naturalized American citizens. Where will it stop? When is America going to wake up? 

Conscription—Yes or No? 

t-online wrote on June 28: 

“Christoph Heusgen, former head of the Munich Security Conference, supports… [Defense Minister Boris] Pistorius’s plans. If not enough soldiers can be recruited voluntarily, ‘we will have to resort to conscription if necessary,’ Heusgen demands… 

“At the same time, he warns against underestimating Putin: ‘Many people don’t believe Putin is serious.’ The expert knows the Russian president from his time as Angela Merkel’s foreign policy advisor and warns against naivety…” 

ZDF Heute wrote on June 28: 

“Conscription – yes or no? A majority in Germany is in favor… Young people are significantly more skeptical than older people about the question of whether there should be conscription. According to the ZDF Politikbarometer, more than half of 18- to 34-year-olds reject it. 

ZDF Heute also wrote the following in an article from April 19: “Baden-Württemberg’s Prime Minister Kretschmann sees no reasonable alternative on rearmament plans in Germany and Europe. Pacifism now means being prepared for defense.” 

As we reported last week, Bavaria’s Minister President Söder has also spoken out in favor of conscription.

Pistorius Is Spared Defeat

Der Tagesspiegel wrote on June 28: 

“The SPD has averted a looming serious [internal] dispute over the option of mandatory military service according to the plans of Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD). After hours of crisis talks,… an initiative proposal by the Jusos [SPD’s Young Socialists], was amended who had initially rejected the inclusion of compulsory military service in the planned bill.

“The wording up for vote at the party conference on Saturday evening was: ‘We do not want any legally enforceable option for conscription before all measures for voluntary increases have been exhausted. We want to enable measures for the conscription, registration, and military monitoring of young men liable for military service.‘ The motion was… adopted with a few votes against and abstentions…”

Nuclear Bombs for Germany! 

Bild Online wrote on June 28:

“Union parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn is sounding the alarm. In view of the growing threat from Russia, the CDU politician is demanding: Germany should have direct access to nuclear weapons!… 

“Although American nuclear bombs are stored in Germany, that’s not enough for Spahn. The CDU politician is demanding a share in the nuclear weapons of France and Great Britain. Or even a separate European nuclear umbrella. That will cost a lot of money. ‘But if you want protection, you have to finance it,’ said Spahn. Germany as a nuclear power? Spahn says: Yes!” 

Der Tagesspiegel added on June 28:

“[Spahn:] ‘We should have a debate about an independent European nuclear umbrella.’ That will only work with German leadership, Spahn continued: ‘France will almost certainly not let us touch its red button, to stay with the metaphor.'”

Reactions to Spahn’s Proposal

BR24 wrote on June 29:

“Critical voices [of Spahn’s proposal] came not only from the opposition, but also from the ranks of the coalition partner, the SPD. SPD foreign policy expert Rolf Mützenich accused Spahn of playing with fire ‘when he calls for European, possibly even German, nuclear weapons’…

“Spahn’s idea of a European nuclear umbrella under German leadership ‘border[s] on the well-known megalomania in German history,’ explained Left Party parliamentary group leader Sören Pellmann. ‘The then Defense Minister Franz Josef Strauss was already defeated by such unfortunate demands.’…

“The AfD parliamentary group’s defense policy spokesman, Rüdiger Lucassen, was more supportive… ‘A German nuclear weapons program is… the logical consequence,’ he said…”

Jens Spahn’s Faith

The Protestant “Sonntagsblatt” wrote on June 30:

“Jens Spahn is a politician with a noticeably strong religious foundation. The CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag clearly professes his Catholic faith, but is quite willing to openly name grievances within the church. In the public debate, he positions himself as a devout Catholic, as a gay man with political responsibility, and as someone who does not see religion as a private matter.

“Spahn’s religious upbringing is consistently Catholic: He attended a Catholic kindergarten and elementary school and went to a Catholic high school. He served as an altar boy and was involved in youth work. This influence continues to this day. Faith is his ‘compass and foundation,’ Spahn wrote in a 2018 guest article for the ‘Welt’ newspaper. It gives him support, security, and serenity.

“At the same time, he urges the church to focus more on core tasks. He defines these as pastoral care, religious education, and charitable work. He cites the inviolability of human life, the dignity of the sick or dying, and organ donation as examples. 

“This stance reveals, on the one hand, a conservative understanding of the separation of church and state, but on the other hand, a clear interest in the public relevance of religion – as long as it focuses on the spiritual and social. At the same time, he openly opposes certain church teachings, particularly in dealing with homosexuality. He pointedly commented on the refusal to bless his marriage in Bild am Sonntag: ‘The Catholic Church blesses motorcycles and hamsters – but not us.’

“Spahn’s relationship with non-Christian religious communities, especially Islam, is less nuanced… While he emphasizes that Muslim life belongs to Germany… he does not shy away from sweeping disparagements and insinuations. For example, at an event at the Evangelical Academy in Berlin in 2024, Spahn claimed that ‘Muslim culture’ is permeated with anti-Semitism, misogyny [hatred of women], and homophobia.

“Spahn rarely or never comments on other world religions. Judaism appears to him almost exclusively in the context of the State of Israel or in connection with anti-Semitism. Buddhism and Hinduism, on the other hand, do not seem to be an issue for him.”

 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.

Does the Bible talk about guardian angels? Does every child and even every adult have a guardian angel? If guardian angels exist, when does God assign those to particular individuals? Does the blessing of little children have anything to do with God’s assignments of guardian angels to them? What about those who were never blessed as little children, but come to the faith later in life—do they not have guardian angels?

We say the following about guardian angels in our free booklet, “Angels, Demons and the Spirit World”: 

“Many have speculated over the years whether or not the Bible teaches the existence of ‘guardian angels,’ that is to say, a specific angel that God has assigned to a particular person. The Bible leaves no room for doubt that guardian angels do exist. [In] Genesis 48:15–16…, Jacob acknowledged the presence of his guardian angel throughout his life. We read in the Revised English Bible, ‘The God in whose presence my forefathers lived, my forefathers Abraham and Isaac, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the angel who rescued me from all misfortune, may he bless these boys.’ Jacob was convinced that God had been with him all of his life, and He was specifically present through a particular angel whom He had assigned to watch over Jacob.

“Acts 12:15 shows that the disciples thought that Peter’s angel had appeared, as they believed Peter to be in prison. They specifically said, ‘It is his angel.’ In other words, they thought it was the particular angel whom God had assigned to watch over Peter.

“Notice, too, the following remarkable statement of Jesus Christ in Matthew 18:10, in talking about little children that believe in Him, as well as true Christians who must become ‘as’ little children: ‘Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.’

“In addition, Paul makes an interesting comment in 1 Corinthians 11:10. The context is the wearing of long hair for women. We read, ‘For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority [i.e., long hair, compare verse 15] on her head, because of the angels.’ Paul’s point is this: A woman is to submit to the authority of her husband (compare verse 3), and her wearing long hair is an outward symbol of such willingness. Paul went on to say that a woman should do so ‘because of the angels,’ implying that in such case, the woman can be assured of angelic protection. Here, angels are referred to in the plural, showing that God may sometimes assign several guardian angels to one person. Notice also Psalm 91:11 where it says God ‘shall give His angels charge over you.’

“We read that a star appeared to the wise men from the East, leading them to the place where Jesus Christ dwelt, after He had been born. We read in Matthew 2:1–2, 9–11: ‘Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”… 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. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.’

“This star appeared to them in the East and led them to Jerusalem and from there to the place where Christ lived. This was not an ordinary star, but a bright, shining angel. The Bible identifies and compares stars with angels on numerous occasions (compare Revelation 1:20; 9:1–2; 12:4). Note that the wise men from the East refer to this star as ‘HIS star’—that is, the star, or angel, of the Christ Child. They understood that Christ was the newborn King and they came from the East to worship Him.

“If they understood that the star was an angel, then they also knew that this angel was assigned to the Christ Child. This is not to say, of course, that only one angel watched over Christ. On one occasion, He mentioned to Peter that He could ask His Father for ‘more than twelve legions of angels’ (Matthew 26:53)—more than 72,000 angels. Remember also that ‘angels’ ministered to Christ after His lengthy fast (Matthew 4:11). Notice, too, Christ’s statement in John 1:51: ‘…hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’

“Christ knew that He was surrounded by angels. Angels were very real to Him. He did not doubt their existence—after all, it was He who created all of them. We also saw that God may assign one angel to guard or protect numerous people, or an entire nation. For instance, the archangel Michael is described to Daniel as ‘The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people’ (Daniel 12:1).”

The Church of the Eternal God and its international affiliates continue the practice shown by Jesus Christ to bless little children (Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17). In blessing the child and laying their hands on it, they ask God to set it apart for His holy purpose of protection, guidance and a special relationship with Him. We normally conduct the blessing of the little children ceremony by setting aside a time during the annual Feast of Tabernacles. When the minister blesses the child, while laying his hands on their head , he may ask the Father in prayer to assign a special guardian angel to the child for protection. 

Does this mean then, that the child did not have God’s protection, including through His angels, prior to its blessing? Does a person not have a guardian angel if he is not blessed as a child?

When does God assign a special angel to children and adults? Do all people around the world have guardian angels?

We can clearly see in the Bible that not every person enjoys God’s protection. This world is cut off from God, and unless God calls someone to salvation in this day and age prior to Christ’s return, he or she is subject to “time and chance” (Ecclesiastes 9:11). However, an important exception is made for children who have at least one converted parent, or for an unbelieving spouse who is married to a believer. We read in 1 Corinthians 7:14:

“For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.”

The unbelieving spouse is sanctified by the believing spouse; that is, he or she is set aside for a holy purpose and can therefore also enjoy God’s specific protection, as long as he or she does not depart from the believer. The same is true for a child of a believing parent, as long as the child does not forsake God’s Way. That child is “holy”—that is, “sanctified” or set aside for a holy purpose. As we have seen, when focusing on the blessing of a child, to be sanctified has a direct relationship to God’s protection and, by extension, to having a guardian angel. We are told that angels are ministering spirits sent to serve and minister for those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:13)—in other words, who are sanctified for that very purpose of ultimately inheriting salvation and eternal life in the Kingdom of God. The connection between prayers of the “saints” (those who are “sanctified” or “holy”, including “holy” children) and the role and function of (their?) angels can be seen in passages such as Revelation 5:8 and 8:3-4.

We read in Mark 10:13-16:

“Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.’ And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.”

With His blessing of little children coming to Him comes God’s protection, and God protects many times through His angels. But this does not mean, of course, that only those who are particularly blessed in the ceremony of the blessing of little children will receive a guardian angel. For instance, the Bible does not say that Peter or Jacob, when they were children, were blessed by Christ [or by one of His New Testament ministers or Old Testament priests] in a particular blessing ceremony so that God assigned a guardian angel to them. Still, as we have read, they had guardian angels rescuing and protecting them.

In addition, we don’t read that the Christ Child was especially blessed in a specific ceremony to become sanctified and be given a guardian angel. But clearly, He had guardian angels assigned to Him, and that from the very moment of His conception.

When considering adults in general who were never blessed as children and who did not grow up in the Church, but who came to the Truth later in their adult life, it is not to be assumed that they were only given special guardian angels when they answered God’s call for salvation. We can safely say that they had God’s protection, through His angels, much earlier than that as they had been preordained to be called in their lives prior to their birth (Please read our free booklet, “Are You Predestined to Be Saved?”). As they were predestined, God had to see to it that they would be protected and not die “prematurely,” so that they could be called in their due and allotted time.

One might ask why there should be then a specific blessing ceremony if a guardian angel had already been assigned to the child prior to the blessing ceremony? First of all, the blessing ceremony by believing parents, through the ministry, constitutes a plea to God for the protection of their child. In addition, God would have known that the child would be blessed, and God would have inspired the blessing ceremony as an outward sign—as proof and assurance—that the child would be protected continually.

We might think of the following analogy in this regard: When a person is ordained, God had already decided that he or she would be ordained, and He inspired the ministry to carry out His decision as an acknowledgement and outward manifestation of God’s Will. A person to be ordained as a minister has shown prior to his ordination that he was qualified by God to become ordained by the ministry. In that way, the blessing of a child in a special ceremony gives proof and assurance that that child meets the conditions and is “qualified” to be blessed.

Asking God to assign a guardian angel to the child in that particular blessing ceremony does not exclude the fact that a guardian angel had not already been assigned to the child before the ceremony. It is a plea for the continuation of such protection with the further plea to look after the child so that it will grow up in the Truth and stay in the Truth, without falling away. It is no guarantee that the child will become converted, and it is ultimately up to God whether He will call such a person to salvation (if that person was preordained to be called, then of course it will happen), but we do not necessarily know God’s Will and preordained purpose in that regard.

As long as the child is willing to be subject to the converted parent, his or her sanctification and protection through God’s angels is guaranteed. (And in passing, as long as the unconverted spouse is willing to live with the converted husband, his or her sanctification and protection will continue with the potential of having a special relationship with God.)

If parents have an opportunity to have their children blessed, with a plea for special guidance and protection, and the realization that their angels will always see the face of the Father in heaven (compare again Matthew 18:10), they should most certainly take advantage of that special privilege.  

In conclusion, we should also mention the right and the wrong approach towards angels, including and especially regarding our guardian angels. We should never try to make contact with our guardian angels, lest we make contact with the wrong kind of angel.

We say in our booklet, “Angels, Demons and the Spirit World”:

“The more we study the Scriptures about the world of angels, the more we will be struck by the awesome truth that unfolds in front of our eyes. We will learn about unknown and unheard of powers and abilities that angels possess. Their tremendous strength and might could perhaps motivate us to worship angels in our thoughts. The study of the angelic world might also tempt us to seek to get in contact with angels, and to literally worship them. These actions would be a terrible mistake. The Bible warns us explicitly NOT to do so… In addition, the Bible warns us not to make contact with angels… Colossians 2:18 states: ‘Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.’ Most commentaries and translators point out that the Greek conveys here the meaning of someone who tries to initiate contact with the spirit world…”

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

compiled by Dave Harris

“Is America Ruled by a King?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

America is celebrating the 4^th of July, which is supposed to stand for independence from a monarch and which should remind us of liberty, freedom, equality and justice for all. But is this the America of today, especially when considering its immigration policies? This program discusses in detail alarming developments which have consequences for each and every one of us.

“Wird Amerika von einem König regiert?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.  

“Jacob and Esau (Part 1) – Isaac and the Philistines” is the latest video in our Bible Story Series on YouTube.

“Bist Du zu schwach, ist er zu stark,” last Sabbath’s German split sermon by Johann Schell, is now posted. Title in English: “If You Are Too Weak, Then He Is Too Strong.”

“Do You Experience Joy?” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Dave Harris, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Joy is a fruit of God’s Holy Spirit dwelling within us (Galatians 5:22). It then follows that we are to be living in such a way as to have joy in our lives.

“Our Relationships,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Eric Rank, is now posted. Here is the summary:

The relationships that we build and maintain throughout our lives are a critical aspect of our Christian journey. In fact, having love for one another is a characteristic that identifies us as Christians. What does God expect of us? How can we develop the kinds of relationships that will enrich our lives?

On June 28, 2025, Dave Harris will present the sermonette, titled “Do You Experience Joy?” and Eric Rank will present the sermon, titled, “Our Relationships.”

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.

Due to differences in upbringing, experiences and backgrounds, each of us has developed a different level of resilience. Likewise, everyone has their own learned strategies for dealing with problems, losses, or setbacks in life.

Every person has their own unique, acquired values, hopes, and resources in life. Jesus called them “your treasure,” where your heart will be, and also “the light.” In Matthew 6:21-22, it says: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.”

These are the things we focus on and rely on to give our lives meaning, a sense of belonging, a sense of self-worth, and security.

That is why it is important to be aware of what your true treasures, your hopes, and your values are! These can be false values, desires, or feelings that Satan has planted in our minds or that we have adopted from our society, which is cut off from God and His ways.

People who are separated from God have different, mostly false values, ideals, and hopes, and they have different physical, emotional and spiritual resources to achieve their desired goals.

Consequently, they have different breaking points when their hopes or resources fail. People may or may not be aware of their limitations. They are relegated to the subconscious or they are denied. For many, these limitations on their resources have never been put to the test.

The experience of failure that triggers fear, hopelessness, or depression can be different for one person than for another.

The triggers can be very different: for example, one person may not be able to achieve or maintain the desired financial status. For another person, it may be the loss or inability to have a best friend or an ideal spouse.

Another trigger may be not getting the desired job or not maintaining a great position in life. Other causes include the loss of health or the prospect of death.

Other causes of negative feelings include the loss of physical attractiveness or beauty, the loss of certain material possessions, or the loss of children, as well as something bad happening to them.

It is not wrong to want to be loved. It is not wrong to enjoy a respected status or have possessions, or to achieve a certain security for ourselves and our children.

All of these things are legitimate and good when they are obtained in accordance with God’s laws, when we can afford them, and when we use them properly.

In the Bible, Jesus teaches: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25).

Jesus taught that there is a purpose to our lives that goes beyond physical life. All the gifts or opportunities we may have in this physical existence, whether they be human, physical, or other benefits, are temporary and transitory.

They are only tools that serve to achieve something higher and eternal, which is to understand the true meaning of our own existence and to develop a godly character.

This purpose in life is so great and important that Jesus taught us not to fear what people might do to us if we follow His ways. The worst they can do is threaten or end our physical life, but they do not have the power to prevent us from gaining eternal life.

Physical possessions or opportunities should be valued and cared for as long as they exist. But they are not forever. They are not the real meaning of life. Yet all of us who have erred in times past have turned them into that!

Current developments show that more and more people are placing their hearts, devotion, and sense of self-worth entirely on people, physical possessions, or sensual pleasures.

At the same time, the consequences of Satan’s influence in the lives of individuals and nations are clearly evident: war, disease, economic instability, family breakdown, crime, and violence. We have never experienced a time before when all the transitory things and hopes have been so endangered even though people have placed their trust and hope in them!]

It is time to ask ourselves what the most important values in our lives are.

All of this can be found in the Bible. It reveals the answers we have been searching for.

Initial translation: Daniel Blasinger

by Norbert Link

We begin with reporting on America’s attack on three Iranian nuclear sites. We also discuss Trump’s subsequent ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel and the question as to what exactly was destroyed and what Iran might do next. We also discuss Iranians’ demands and wishes for regime change. Please view in this regard our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Iran no longer a threat?”

We continue with the ongoing and extremely controversial raids and immigration policy by the Trump Administration and fears that America is coming to an end. We also speak on NATO; Putin’s claims towards Ukraine and Germany’s suppression of free speech and other developments in that country.

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

Strategic Deception?

The New York Post wrote on June 21:

“President Trump caught the world off-guard Saturday by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites [Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan]  — after his apparently strategic deception indicating that such strikes weren’t imminent… Trump said Thursday he would make a decision in the ‘next two weeks’ to allow more time for negotiations, giving the sense of reprieve amid fevered speculation he might join Israel’s airstrikes…

“A source close to the White House said Trump decided Friday — just one day after unveiling his two-week timeframe — to strike Iran with ‘overwhelming force’…”

The Daily Mail wrote on June 22 that “Officials admitted that the [B-2 strikes] on the Fordow site, a deep underground nuclear enrichment facility, may not have been entirely destroyed in the operation.”

Attacks on US Bases in the Middle East?

Breitbart wrote on June 21:

“An Iranian state TV news anchor showed a map of U.S. bases in the Middle East, which says are all ‘within fire range of Iran.’ The anchor goes on to say ‘Mr. Trump, you started it, and we will end it.’ The broadcast, posted widely on social media… follows a U.S. Air Force strike on Iranian nuclear facilities ordered by President Donald Trump on Saturday [the Sabbath]…

“… before the attack, Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh warned this month, ‘all U.S. bases are within our reach and we will boldly target them.’ These include bases in Egypt, Saudia Arabia, Iraq, United Arib Emerits, Kuwait, Qatar, and Syria…. There are thousands of U.S. troops assigned to these bases…

“Iran tried to downplay the impact of the strikes by the U.S. on the nuclear sites… ‘The site had been evacuated a long time ago and the damages are not irreversible,’ Mohammad Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s Parliament, wrote…”

Russia has declared that it could give Iran nukes. Meetings between Russia and Iran are taking place. China has condemned America’s attack. The fear is that the “new axis of evil” – China, Russia, Iran and North Korea – will combine forces in one way or another against America and Israel. Iran subsequently “attacked” an American base in Qatar, but little damage was done and no American was injured or killed in this “very weak” and “expected” attack (BBC, dated June 24). About 8,000 US citizens live in Qatar.

Terrorist Attacks Inside the USA?

Daily Mail wrote on June 22:

“Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene – one of Trump’s closest allies in Congress and a conservative firebrand who has openly opposed war with Iran – took to X soon after the bombs dropped. She prayed that Americans would not be targeted by terrorists ‘on our homeland’ in retaliation for Trump’s operative strike… Greene wrote: ‘Every time America is on the verge of greatness, we get involved in another foreign war…’

“The Georgia Congresswoman added that getting involved in a Middle Eastern war will ‘put America last, kill innocent people, are making us broke, and will ultimately lead to our destruction.’”

The New York Post added on June 21:

“Trump ran for president three times on a platform of opposing military entanglements in the Middle East — slamming George W. Bush for invading Iraq in 2003 and Barack Obama for intervening in Libya and Syria — and he insisted Friday that any attack on Iran would be limited.”

Still, the Independent speculated on June 22 that Trump might have gambled his presidency; that Muslim and many American voters won’t support him any longer; and that he had embroiled himself in another never-ending war. Trump declared that if Iran retaliated against America in any way, targets in Iran would be attacked and destroyed. (But Trump did not follow up with that threat, note the previous article.)

Daily Mail’s Peter Hitchens wrote on June 22: “Don’t celebrate this ultra-violence. Trump’s broken all the rules and plunged us into a forever war.”

This does not appear that way for the moment, but note articles below.

ABC News wrote on June 22:

“In the wake of President Donald Trump’s ‘massive precision strikes’ on Iran, concerns have been raised both for Americans in the region and at home. A principal area of worry is cyberattacks by Iranian state actors, including targeting the banking system or energy grid…. Such attacks have already infiltrated U.S. water and wastewater systems…”

Closing the Strait of Hormuz?

The New York Post wrote on June 22:

“Iran’s parliament has voted to close the Strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping channel through which around 20% of the world’s daily oil flows. The move, which could block $1 billion in oil shipments per day, is likely to send oil prices soaring. It will come into effect pending a final decision by Iran’s Supreme Council…

“The strait connecting the Gulf of Oman with the Persian Gulf is one of the world’s most critical chokepoints — just 20 miles wide at its narrowest point. Shipping lanes in the strait  — the area that is deep enough for ships to pass — are even narrower at less than two miles wide in each direction, making them much more vulnerable to attacks and threats of closure…. The channel is shallow, making it a particular target for underwater mining, while the narrowness of the strait makes passing vessels vulnerable to attack from shore-based missiles or interception by patrol boats or helicopters…”

Nothing further has been said on this, and Iran has not closed the Strait of Hormuz for now, following the ceasefire with Israel, but the threat is still looming.

International Reactions

The Guardian wrote on June 22:

“Gulf states, which historically have been regional rivals with nearby Iran and critical of its nuclear ambitions, expressed serious concern at the US strikes, amid the risk of retaliation against US military bases hosted in their countries. The United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman, which had been mediating Iran-US nuclear talks, criticised the US attack and urged de-escalation…

“Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, was on a high security alert after the US strikes, expressing ‘great concern’… The UN secretary general, António Guterres, said he was ‘gravely alarmed’… Iraq’s government spokesperson, Basim Alawadi, said: ‘This military escalation constitutes a grave threat to peace and security in the Middle East…’ Pakistan, the only nuclear-armed Muslim country and a longtime Washington ally, said the US attacks ‘violate all norms of international law’ [Pakistan, which has strong ties to Iran, had just nominated Trump for the Nobel peace prize.]…

“Russia ‘strongly condemned’ the US strikes, calling them ‘irresponsible’, a ‘gross violation of international law’ and a ‘dangerous escalation’…

“The French foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, expressed ‘concern’ at the US strikes and said France ‘did not take part in these strikes or the planning of them’…

“Venezuela’s foreign minister, Yván Gil, said his country ‘condemned US military aggression against Iran’… Cuba’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, strongly condemned the US bombing…

“Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, congratulated Trump in a video posted on social media… Ukraine said the US and Israeli strikes on Iran were justified…”

The article also pointed out that “EU figures [as well as Great Britain] sought to maintain their focus on diplomacy,” rather than taking a strong position on America’s attack on Iran. However, voices from the German government’s SPD party strongly condemned America’s action (coined “Midnight Hammer”).

Destroyed Or Not Destroyed?

Daily Mail reported on June 24:

“A leaked intelligence assessment claiming Donald Trump’s strikes on Iran did not destroy Tehran’s nuclear program is ‘flat-out wrong’, the White House has claimed. The [allegedly classified] report, conducted by the Defense Intelligence Agency and leaked by CNN, claims Saturday’s airstrike on three Iranian nuclear sites only set the country’s program back by months instead of completely destroying it. Trump claimed the strikes ‘completely and totally obliterated’ [the nuclear sites]…

“The president brokered a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel that appeared to hold Tuesday after initially faltering, causing Trump to launch a foul-mouthed tirade that saw him drop an F-bomb on live TV… Prime Minister… Netanyahu, whom Trump demanded turn the planes around [which did NOT occur, but the planned strike was significantly scaled down and became a “symbolic” hit on a radar station], refrained from launching further strikes on Iran today following his phone call with his American counterpart…“Meanwhile, Trump and other top Republicans have issued warnings against Iranian sleeper cells that infiltrated the US…”

CNN added on June 24:

“Two of the people familiar with the assessment said Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium was not destroyed. One of the people said the centrifuges are largely ‘intact.’ Another source said that the intelligence assessed enriched uranium was moved out of the sites prior to the US strikes. ‘So the (DIA) assessment is that the US set them back maybe a few months, tops,’ this person added…

“US officials believe Iran also maintains secret nuclear facilities that were not targeted in the strike and remain operational, according to two sources familiar with the matter…”

Trump described all of this as “fake news.”

Iran Claims Victory

Almayadeen, which describes itself as an “Arab Independent Media Satellite,” wrote on June 24:

“The Iranian Supreme National Security Council announced on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic had achieved a significant strategic victory, asserting that it had ‘forced the enemies to seek a ceasefire.’”

Missing Uranium

The Independent wrote on June 24:

“… as the smoke cleared over the three underground facilities hit by [American] stealth bombers and cruise missiles over the weekend, experts say the result may actually bring an Iranian nuclear bomb closer to reality and raise the risk of greater U.S. involvement in the conflict [as Iran has now the will power to do this]… the showpiece of Trump’s attack — the attack on the Fordow nuclear facility, built deep underground, which required the use of 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs — was limited in its effectiveness because Iran had time to evacuate and remove equipment before the strikes… Fordow has a symbolic importance to people, but it is by no means the only underground facility associated with Iran’s nuclear program…

“One of the primary motivations for launching the attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities was to destroy Iran’s ability to enrich uranium. But the country has amassed a stockpile over the years of an estimated 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium — enough to make around 10 nuclear weapons if it were further enriched from 60 percent where it is now, to the 90 percent required to construct a device… “

“Vice President JD Vance conceded on Sunday that the stockpile is still in Iranian hands and its whereabouts are unknown… There are also concerns that Iran’s nuclear program, or what is left of it, will move underground. That would begin with the stockpile of enriched uranium that is currently unaccounted for…

“There’s a risk that if the United States wants to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran in the future, it’s going to need to strike Iran again and again. Because Iran is going to retain that knowledge, the risk of a nuclear-armed Iran cannot be eliminated…”

Trump declared on Tuesday that this was the last time that the USA would help Israel in its fight against Iran. He also stated again on Thursday that the nuclear sites were totally destroyed and that Iran did not have the time to evacuate the sites and remove the uranium.

The Telegraph added on June 25:

“Iran claims to have smuggled almost all of the country’s highly enriched uranium to a secret location before the US launched strikes on its [three] nuclear bases [through] a barrage of submarine-launched missiles early on Sunday morning. But officials believe that most of the material at Fordow and Iran’s other facilities had been moved elsewhere before the strikes.

“Iran has vowed to continue enriching uranium in defiance of Donald Trump, raising further concerns over its nuclear programme. Takht Ravanchi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, rejected claims that Tehran would abandon its nuclear programme, telling the Germany broadcaster ARD: ‘No one can tell us what we should and should not do.’

“Following the mission, codenamed Midnight Hammer, the US president claimed to have ‘obliterated’ Iran’s nuclear aspirations in the wave of strikes. He said the US had taken the bomb ‘right out of Iran’s hands’ by inflicting ‘monumental damage’ on the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan facilities. However, doubt has been cast on Mr Trump’s claims after senior US officials admitted they did not know the fate of Iran’s near-bomb-grade uranium stockpile…

“Two Israeli officials with knowledge of the intelligence told The New York Times that Iran had transferred equipment and uranium outside Fordow in recent days. There was also evidence to suggest Iran had moved its 400kg stockpile of 60 per cent enriched uranium, which had been stored inside Isfahan, to a secret location… According to satellite imagery, trucks, bulldozers and security convoys appeared to swarm the Fordow facility two days before the US strikes. Analysts at TS2 Space, a Polish defence firm, suggested it revealed a ‘frantic effort’ to move centrifuges or shielding materials…”

Iranians Demand Regime Change

The Daily Mail wrote on June 23:

“Iranian-Americans have backed President Trump’s strikes on their home nation as they hope the intervention could trigger a revolt against the Ayatollah’s regime. In Maryland, one of the largest Iranian communities in America where over 16,000 Iranian people live, residents have expressed a cautious optimism over the strikes..

“Pushing for regime change in Iran has long been avoided by US presidents, before Donald Trump on Sunday night stunned the Middle East again as he called to ‘MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN.’ In a shock post on Sunday night to Truth Social, Trump wrote: ‘It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!’ 

“The message from the president directly contradicted remarks from his top allies just hours earlier, with Vice President JD Vance telling ABC: ‘We don’t want to achieve regime change. We want to achieve the end of the Iranian nuclear program.’… However, direct American intervention to end to the Ayatollah’s regime is exactly what many Iranians in America are hoping for…

“The divide between the desired outcome of regime change and skepticism over how to achieve it follows decades of US presidents floating strikes on Iran but backing down due to the risks involved, before Trump pulled the trigger on Saturday night… Trump’s strikes did not target or kill any civilians in Iran.”

Reza Pahlavi Advocates Regime Change

The Sun wrote on June 24:

“IRAN’S brutal regime could kill tens of millions of people by smuggling nuclear material and unleashing it on Europe, the rogue nation’s exiled prince told The Sun. Reza Pahlavi [the exiled son of Iran’s last Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi] warned [that Iran’s current] leaders could still acquire a dirty bomb… ‘Terrorism has many means of hurting big time. Nobody anticipated 9/11. It was a terrorist attack. What keeps people not to worry about the fact that the call of these terrorist networks of sleeper cells could smuggle in a few grams of enriched plutonium, throw it in a lake in Europe and instantaneously kill tens of millions of people who will be radioactively attacked. 

“‘You don’t need a missile or warhead for that. We have at least eliminated the imminent threat of the regime. Does that mean that the regime still doesn’t have the capability to acquire nuclear weapons or a dirty bomb by purchasing it from the North Koreans? ‘It doesn’t eliminate that, that’s the entire point… And hopefully the world this time will be wise enough to say, let’s not throw this regime a lifeline. This is time to put an end to it….’”

The Sun added the following regarding the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi:

“What led to his downfall initially however was 1963 The White Revolution – a series of social, political and economic reforms that Mohammad Reza initiated. This looked to both modernise and westernise Iran. But the reforms were perceived as controversial and led to some resistance from various religious and political factions. On February 11, 1979, Iran’s army declared its neutrality, paving the way for the fall of US-backed Shah Mohammad Reza. He died in exile in Egypt in 1980.”

Trump’s Fatal Naiveté Toward the Iranian Regime

Die Welt wrote on June 25:

“The Iranian regime has been significantly weakened by the attacks by Israel and the US. This is good news for the Iranian people, for Israel, the Middle East, and the world. However, those who hoped—like many people in Iran and Israel—that the rule of the mullahs in Iran would finally end were disappointed. The regime will not be overthrown. It will continue to massively oppress the Iranians; it will continue to pose a threat to Israel…

“Among the Iranian people, these attacks have sparked great hopes that they will soon finally be free again. They even dreamed of dancing in the streets. However, these hopes were dashed by the ceasefire negotiated by Trump. The Iranian leadership remains in power.

“Trump quickly abandoned the regime change that he briefly flirted with. This proves once again that one cannot rely on the erratic and unpredictable US president. Israel cannot do that either…

“He urged the Jewish state not to resist the ceasefire violation [by Iran]. So that he can pose as a peacemaker, he is abandoning the Iranians and Israelis. After all, no one should steal his show. Trump’s ceasefire is a lifeline for the regime. Asked whether he still believes that Iran is committed to peace, Trump affirmed on Tuesday. A completely absurd view of a dictatorship of ayatollahs and Revolutionary Guards who adhere to an Islamist martyr ideology. It is this ideology that makes the Iranian regime so dangerous – and to which Trump unfortunately shows himself naive… Peace in the Middle East is only possible without the Iranian regime.

“Shortly after the ceasefire, the rulers in Iran began raids and arrests of opposition figures, accusing them of spying for Israel. A wave of death sentences and executions threatens. The mullahs are preparing new mass crimes against the Iranian people… Anyone who argues that the Iranians themselves must succeed in overthrowing the regime and that they could simply elect other rulers is naively misunderstanding the repressive nature of the regime and the pseudo-elections that are being boycotted by millions of Iranians for good reasons.

“In Germany, this regime was long downplayed to justify close economic and political ties. Germany is Iran’s most important trading partner within the European Union. And for decades, Germany has refused to take sufficient non-military measures against the Islamic Republic…. Appeasement and collaboration must finally end.”

AI Spreads False Information About the Israel-Iran War

BBC wrote on June 21:

“A wave of disinformation has been unleashed online since Israel began strikes on Iran last week…

“Our analysis found a number of videos – created using artificial intelligence – boasting of Iran’s military capabilities, alongside fake clips showing the aftermath of strikes on Israeli targets. The three most viewed fake videos BBC Verify found have collectively amassed over 100 million views across multiple platforms.

“Pro-Israeli accounts have also shared disinformation online, mainly by recirculating old clips of protests and gatherings in Iran, falsely claiming that they show mounting dissent against the government and support among Iranians for Israel’s military campaign…

“One widely shared post claimed to show a jet damaged after being shot down in the Iranian desert. However, signs of AI manipulation were evident: civilians around the jet were the same size as nearby vehicles, and the sand showed no signs of impact.  Another video with 21.1 million views on TikTok claimed to show an Israeli F-35 being shot down by air defences, but the footage actually came from a flight simulator video game. TikTok removed the footage after being approached by BBC Verify.

“Official sources in Iran and Israel have shared some of the fake images. State media in Tehran has shared fake footage of strikes and an AI-generated image of a downed F-35 jet, while a post shared by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) received a community note on X for using old, unrelated footage of missile barrages…”

Trump—a Different Man?

The Independent wrote on June 19:

“Veteran rocker Rod Stewart has renounced his friendship with Donald Trump, claiming the businessman completely changed after becoming president of the United States. The 80-year-old singer said he previously had a close relationship with Trump as the pair have owned nearby multi-million pound properties in Palm Beach, Florida, since 1991 and 1985 respectively.

“Speaking to Radio Times, Stewart said: ‘I’m not a great fan of Trump. I knew him very, very well. I used to go to his house.’ He added that he lives ‘literally half a mile away’ from him. ‘We’re both on the beach. I used to go to his Christmas parties. He’s always been a bit of a man’s man. I liked him for that. But he didn’t, as far as I’m concerned, treat women very well. But since he became president, he became another guy. Somebody I didn’t know,’ he said.”

Controversial Decision by the Court of Appeals

The Daily Mail wrote on June 19:

“Donald Trump celebrated a victory over Gavin Newsom after an appeals [court] allowed him to keep control of National Guard troops he deployed to Los Angeles to handle anti-ICE riots…. The decision halts a ruling from a lower court judge who found Trump acted illegally… The deployment was the first by a president of a state National Guard without the governor´s permission since 1965.

“In its [unsigned] decision, a three-judge panel on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals [two judges appointed by Trump, the third by Clinton] unanimously concluded it was likely Trump lawfully exercised his authority in federalizing control of the guard. It said that while presidents don’t have unfettered power to seize control of a state’s guard, the Trump administration had presented enough evidence to show it had a defensible rationale for doing so, citing violent acts by protesters…

“It also found that even if the federal government failed to notify the governor of California before federalizing the National Guard as required by law, Newsom had no power to veto the president´s order… The court case could have wider implications on the president´s power to deploy soldiers within the United States after Trump directed immigration officials to prioritize deportations from other Democratic-run cities.”

NPR added on June 20:

“The court emphasized the decision only pertained to Trump’s authority to deploy the Guard and not what he could do with the troops once deployed. The president called the decision a big win that would have an impact, not just in California, but in any other state where he decides to call in the National Guard.”

This very troublesome decision ignores the wording of the statute in question. If it stands, it gives a president almost unchecked dictatorial powers. This is clearly not what the “Founding Fathers” intended. Note the next article.

The Legal Fight Between Trump and Newsom Continues

The Los Angeles Times wrote on June 24:

“The Trump administration must turn over a cache of documents, photos, internal reports and other evidence detailing the activities of the military in Southern California, a federal judge ruled Tuesday, handing a procedural victory to the state in its fight to rein in thousands of troops under the president’s command.

“Ordering ‘expedited, limited discovery,’ Senior U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer in San Francisco also authorized California lawyers to depose key administration officials and signaled that he might review questions about how long California National Guard troops remain under federal control.”

The American Gestapo?

Breitbart wrote on June 20:

“Author Stephen King compared Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Nazis, framing them as an ‘American Gestapo.’… King issued his denunciation of ICE in response to the Trump administration increasing raids and deportations in cities across the country…”

In this regard, please note the next article.

Churches Oppose Trump Immigration Policies

The Daily Mail wrote on June 20:

“A bishop appointed by Pope Leo [of the Catholic Diocese of San Diego, Michael Pham] descended on a California court [in San Diego] today with a dozen other priests and faith leaders in an attempt to persuade ICE against deporting migrants… he was among 16 who went to the Southern California federal courthouse to support the migrants in the US legally who were pleading their cases…

“Dramatic and emotional scenes have played out in immigration courts across the country where migrants who went from legal to illegal in seconds are taken away. This includes mothers who have been ripped away from their US-born kids…

“When those migrants are arriving in court, Trump federal prosecutors will inform the judge that they want to dismiss the case. However, that doesn’t mean the legal claim can forward. Instead, with the case out of the hands of the court, ICE now has jurisdiction to make an arrest…

“[Scott Santarosa of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish] recounted how they witnessed the case of [a] migrant woman whose case had been closed for 20 years, however, the Trump administration had found a loophole to reopen it. ‘The messaging from the government that, “We’re going after criminals,” is really not a true narrative because this is clearly not a criminal. This is the government figuring out whose case can we open up again to go after so we can deport,’ he said.’….

“Priests and churches across the country have spoken out against Trump’s deportation policies… When Trump first won re-election, the United Methodist Church issued a blistering rebuke of the president-elect two days after his victory.  ‘The lessons teach us the dangers of silence in the face of threats to human rights,’ the Council of Bishops wrote on Nov. 7. ‘We therefore reject rhetoric, policies, and actions that demean or discriminate against any of God’s children and will be vigilant in defending the rights of the vulnerable and speaking out against oppression.’ 

“Before becoming the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo had been incredibly critical of MAGA immigration policies. Earlier this year, the new pope called out Vice President JD Vance, calling him outright ‘wrong‘ as viral social media spat about his faith went viral.”

Rather than defending the indefensible, true Christians should allow themselves to see, and, when appropriate, say clearly what is going on. Note our recent StandingWatch program, titled, “The End of the American Empire?”

In regard to the end of America, note the following articles.

America’s End… Coming!

The Hill wrote on June 20:

“My Albanian-born father-in-law was an American patriot. In the mid-20th century, he served for decades as a CIA operative, quietly fighting against the spread of communism in Europe and Southeast Asia. Before his death at age 92, he lamented America’s future, saying, ‘I’m glad I won’t be around to see the end.’ Long before the U.S. was on the brink of World War III I shared his bittersweet pessimism, prompted by the “death spiral math” found on the U.S. Debt Clock.

“The ‘clock’ ticks real-time government data showing the ever-growing national debt — $36.9 trillion as of this writing — the most owed by any country or empire in human history. Nonetheless, this decades-long travesty of overspending, attributed to presidents from both parties, is still manageable if the U.S. gross domestic product — estimated at $29.2 trillion in 2024 — were to exceed the nearly $37 trillion national debt. At least, that is the economic theory recently espoused by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent who stated, ‘If the economy grows faster than the debt, we stabilize the country.’

“Bessent’s philosophy of ‘we can grow our way out of debt’ supports adding an estimated $3.3 trillion to the national debt, according to the Congressional Budget Office, if President Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ were to become law…

“Bessent’s growth fantasy is a joke when viewed through the lens of history and facts. The national debt has exceeded GDP since 2013, and the Debt Clock shows the U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio today at 123 percent. Reducing that unwieldy ratio requires a sustained economic boom not seen since the decades following World War II… Does anyone honestly believe that Trump’s ‘Golden Age of America’ policies will stimulate levels of explosive growth needed to reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio from 123 percent to double digits?

“Bessent’s ‘we can grow our way out of debt’ wish-casting could easily be thwarted, starting with Trump’s trade war. Then add untamed inflation, an aging population, ongoing global crises, natural disasters, supply-chain issues, AI’s unpredictable impact and Trump’s self-inflicted scientific brain drain resulting from cuts to research funding. Moreover, a shortage of highly skilled tech workers, the fallout from Trump’s immigration policy, and economic uncertainty all contribute to slow growth, while government spending remains unchecked. [Add to this now America’s war with Iran.]

“No wonder the World Bank recently issued new economic projections contradicting Bessent’s optimism. In 2024, the U.S. economy grew by 2.8 percent. However, for 2025, the World Bank’s initial downward forecast of 1.8 percent growth has again been revised to 1.4 percent… the debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to reach 140 percent by 2029 — the year Trump leaves office.

“Most Americans don’t know that the two largest federal expenditures are Medicaid and Medicare, totaling nearly $1.7 trillion, followed by Social Security at $1.5 trillion, according to the Debt Clock. Cuts to these massive programs are inevitable and will be painful [unless God prevents this from happening for the benefit of His people.]

“On the tax receipt side, the Debt Clock displays $5.1 trillion in revenue, relatively small compared to the $36.9 trillion national debt. This debt has risen so rapidly that interest has reached $1.03 trillion — the third-largest item in the federal budget…

“War is expensive… Our enemies are keenly aware of America’s economic vulnerabilities. More defense spending means more borrowing and, eventually, the U.S. could cease to be a great power… But unlike my late father-in-law, many of us reading this might be around to see the end.”

Indeed.

Trump, War and the Constitution

On June 19, the Ron Paul Institute published the following article by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano:

“Has the United States become what President Donald Trump recently condemned? Can the president fight any war he wishes? Can Congress fund any war it chooses? Are there constitutional and legal requirements that must first be met before war is waged? These questions should be central to a debate over the U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Gaza and Iran. Sadly, there has been no great debate. The mainstream media are mouthing what the CIA is telling them, and only a few websites and podcasts are challenging the government’s reckless, immoral, illegal and unconstitutional wars…

“Under the Constitution, only Congress can declare war on a nation or group. The last time it did so was to initiate American involvement in World War II. But Congress has given away limited authority to presidents and permitted them to fight undeclared wars — such as the War Powers Resolution of 1973 and President George W. Bush’s invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Congress has not only not declared war on Russia or Gaza or Iran; it has not authorized the use of American forces in those countries. Yet, it has given the president a blank check and authorized him to spend it on military equipment for Ukraine and Israel however he sees fit.

“President Donald Trump came into office promising to end America’s forever wars…

“The War Powers Resolution, which requires presidential notification to Congress of the use of American military force, is unconstitutional because it consists of Congress giving away one of its core functions — declaring war. The Supreme Court has characterized delegating away core functions as violative of the separation of powers, and thus unconstitutional…

“Last month, in Saudi Arabia, Trump condemned the neocons’ forever wars and western military intervention in the Middle East. We now know he didn’t mean what he said. We have reposed the Constitution for safekeeping into the hands of those who ignore it. The consequences are deaths of innocents and the undermining of constitutional norms. And the U.S. continues to be what Trump verbally condemned….”

America’s Wars Will End America

The Ron Paul Institute published this follow-up article on June 21—which was published just BEFORE Trump’s attack on Iran:

“War has become a huge money-making venture, and the U.S. government, with its vast military empire, is one of its best buyers and sellers… Incredibly, America’s military forces aren’t being deployed abroad to protect our freedoms here at home. Rather, they’re being used to guard oil fields, build foreign infrastructure and protect the financial interests of the corporate elite…

“… these wars abroad aren’t making America—or the rest of the world—any safer, are certainly not making America great again, and are undeniably digging the U.S. deeper into debt. War spending is bankrupting America… Since 2001, the U.S. government has spent more than $10 trillion waging its endless wars, much of it borrowed, much of it wasted, all of it paid for in blood and taxpayer dollars… America’s expanding military empire is bleeding the country dry at a rate of more than $32 million per hour…  

“Americans have thus far allowed themselves to be spoon-fed a steady diet of pro-war propaganda that keeps them content to wave flags with patriotic fervor and less inclined to look too closely at the mounting body counts, the ruined lives, the ravaged countries, the blowback arising from ill-advised targeted-drone killings and bombing campaigns in foreign lands, or the transformation of our own homeland into a warzone...

“The U.S. government is not making the world any safer. It’s making the world more dangerous…

“The nation’s infrastructure is in shambles. Public schools are underfunded. Mental health care is collapsing. Basic needs like housing, transportation, and clean water go unmet. Meanwhile, government contractors drop bombs on third-world villages and call it strategy… Bridges collapse, water systems fail, students drown in debt, and veterans sleep on the streets—while the Pentagon builds runways in the desert and funds proxy wars no one can explain…

“We are funding our own collapse… We don’t need another war… In the end, it’s not just the empire that falls. It’s the republic it hollowed out along the way.”

America WILL fall. It is inevitable.

Too Many Federal Holidays?

Newsmax wrote on June 19:

“Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021 under President Joe Biden. Perhaps it won’t be a holiday much longer. On Thursday, President Donald Trump made no declarations about Juneteenth but did post a message on his Truth Social account decrying Americans having too many paid days off. He wrote: ‘Too many non-working holidays in America. It is costing our Country BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed. The workers don’t want it either! Soon we’ll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change if we are going to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!’

“Trump did honor Juneteenth during his first term as president. In 2018, he issued a message which in part read, ‘Melania and I send our best wishes to those celebrating Juneteenth. … As a Nation, we vow to never forget the millions of African Americans who suffered the evils of slavery. Together, we honor the unbreakable spirit and countless contributions of generations of African Americans to the story of American greatness. Today and every day, we recommit ourselves to defending the self-evident truth, boldly declared by our Founding Fathers, that all people are created equal.’ [This would include undocumented aliens in this country, wouldn’t it?]

“Trump repeated a similar message the following year, writing, ‘Across our country, the contributions of African Americans continue to enrich every facet of American life. This Juneteenth, as we vow always to uphold the God-given rights of all Americans, we pay tribute to the indomitable spirit of African Americans.’

“And again in 2020, Trump’s message included, ‘This Juneteenth, we commit, as one Nation, to live true to our highest ideals and to build always toward a freer, stronger country that values the dignity and boundless potential of all Americans.’…

“Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States by commemorating June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas. Their freedom came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln liberated slaves in the Confederacy by signing the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War. ‘I did something good. I made it famous. I made Juneteenth very famous,’ Trump said in 2020 before holding a rally on June 19. ‘It’s actually an important event, it’s an important time. But nobody had heard of it. Very few people have heard of it.’”

Trump Blasts Fox News

Newsmax wrote on June 19:

“President Donald Trump blasted Fox News Thursday after the network released a new poll showing that just over half of Americans [53%] approve of his handling of border security… while 46% disapprove. On immigration, 46% approve of the president’s policies, while 53% disapprove, according to the poll… ‘They are always wrong and negative. It’s why MAGA HATES FoxNews, even though their anchors are GREAT…’

“Trump’s worst marks, according to the survey, were on the economy, where 40% approve, 58% disapprove, and inflation, where 34% approve, 64% disapprove…”

The poll might very well have been wrong, as perhaps many more people than listed may disapprove of Trump’s conduct. Of course, Trump also blasted CNN, MSNBC and other outlets for their reporting on the actual damage caused during the American attack on Iran.

NATO No Reason to Exist?

Politico wrote on June 20:

“Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said Friday that NATO ‘as it is, no longer has a reason to exist’ …

“Crosetto’s comments come ahead of the NATO leaders’ summit in The Hague next week, where the alliance is likely to agree on a higher spending target of 5 percent of GDP to placate U.S. President Donald Trump.”

Italy was one of the 12 original members forming NATO in 1949. Right now, NATO counts 32 members.

NATO to Placate Trump?

BBC News wrote on June 21:

“[Trump] has been highly critical of Nato too – even questioning its very foundation of collective defence… The [NATO] summit takes place at the World Forum in The Hague over two days, on Tuesday and Wednesday next week…

“Some have suggested the brevity of the summit is in part to cater to the US president’s attention span and dislike of long meetings. But a shorter summit with fewer subjects discussed will, more importantly, help hide divisions… specific discussions about Russia and the war in Ukraine will be muted. It’s the one big issue that now divides Europe and America… Trump has already shattered Nato’s united front by talking to Putin and withholding military support to Ukraine.

“… contentious issues have been stripped from the summit. Not least to avoid a schism with Trump. Leaders were supposed to discuss a new Russia strategy, but it’s not on the agenda.

“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been invited to the summit dinner, but he won’t be taking part in the main discussions of the North Atlantic Council.

“[Secretary General Mark] Rutte will be hoping that his first summit as secretary general will be short and sweet. But with Trump at odds with most of his allies on Russia, the greatest threat facing the Alliance, there’s no guarantee it’ll go according to plan.”

Rutte, a Dutch politician who succeeded Jens Stoltenberg as NATO’s Secretary General last year, has gone out of his way to woe and praise Trump during the NATO meetings. Rutte’s conduct has been described by the media as “embarrassing” and “demeaning.”

Trump Can Pull the Plug on the Internet

Politico wrote on June 23:

“Donald Trump’s return to the White House is forcing Europe to reckon with a major digital vulnerability: The U.S. holds a kill switch over its internet. As the U.S. administration raises the stakes in a geopolitical poker game that began when Trump started his trade war, Europeans are waking up to the fact that years of over-reliance on a handful of U.S. tech giants have given Washington a winning hand. The fatal vulnerability is Europe’s near-total dependency on U.S. cloud providers.

“Cloud computing is the lifeblood of the internet, powering everything from the emails we send and videos we stream to industrial data processing and government communications. Just three American behemoths — Amazon, Microsoft, and Google — hold more than two-thirds of the regional market, putting Europe’s online existence in the hands of firms cozying up to the U.S. president to fend off looming regulations and fines… ‘Europe blindly trusted the U.S. to always be there, and always on their side,’ said Bria, the University College London professor. ‘The situation feels very different now.’”

Putin: Ukraine Belongs to Us

Reuters wrote on June 20:

“Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that in his view the whole of Ukraine was ‘ours’ and cautioned that advancing Russian forces could take the Ukrainian city of Sumy as part of a bid to carve out a buffer zone along the border…

“Asked about fresh Russian advances, Putin told the St Petersburg International Economic Forum that he considered Russians and Ukrainians to be one people and ‘in that sense the whole of Ukraine is ours’…. ‘We have a saying, or a parable,’ Putin said. ‘Where the foot of a Russian soldier steps, that is ours.’”

Germany’s Suppression of Freedom of Speech and Assembly?

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 19:

“Hundreds of demonstrators assembled for a march in the German city of Frankfurt, under the slogan ‘First Gaza, now Iran — What is Israel’s next goal?’…

“The gathering comes as the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty expressed his concern to German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt about freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly in Germany over protests related to Gaza.

“O’Flaherty noted restrictions on events, symbols, or other forms of expression in this context in Germany, but also cited reports of police using excessive force against demonstrators, including minors.”

Compact Ban Unconstitutional

Focus wrote on June 24:

“Almost a year ago, then-Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser banned [the] ‘Compact’ magazine… Shortly thereafter, in August, the highest administrative judges in Leipzig provisionally suspended the ban in expedited proceedings [so that the paper could continue publication for the time being]…

“The Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig has now lifted the ban… The Leipzig judges are responsible for lawsuits against association bans in the first and final instance… ‘The AfD will also benefit from this,’ said [‘Compact’ editor-in-chief Jürgen Elsässer] after the hearing on the ban on his right-wing extremist magazine. Elsässer said that if it was impossible to ban ‘Compact,’ it was also impossible to ban the AfD. His magazine was ‘the assault gun of democracy.’ ‘We are the strongest voice of the opposition. And you will hear more from us.’…”

Söder for Mandatory Military Service

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 23:

“Bavarian Premier Markus Söder has reaffirmed his call for the return of compulsory military service, citing growing threats to European security….

“‘I am in favor of conscription and not just a few questionnaires being sent out. We need it to defend our freedom,’ Söder said Monday on German broadcaster ZDF.”

Majority of Germans Favor Independent European Nuclear Deterrent

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 23:

“Almost two-thirds of Germans are in favor of a European nuclear deterrent independent of the United States, according to a new poll… 64% of respondents were in favor of setting up a European nuclear shield, while 29% were opposed.

“Before taking office in May, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had already signaled his intent to pursue discussions with the United Kingdom and France — Europe’s two nuclear powers — on developing a joint European nuclear strategy. The goal is to reduce Europe’s reliance on the US nuclear umbrella, especially amid concerns over the unpredictability of President Donald Trump.

“Support for a European deterrent was consistent across demographic and political lines — an unusual level of consensus on foreign policy in Germany. In western Germany, 66% backed the idea, compared to 52% in the east. Among respondents under 45, support was 58.5%, rising to 67.5% among those over 45.

“By party affiliation, 78% of Green Party voters supported the concept, followed by 71% of supporters of Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU). Support also stood at 65% among Social Democratic Party (SPD) voters, 54% among Alternative for Germany (AfD) voters, and 52% among those backing The Left.

“The UK’s nuclear deterrent is operationally independent but technologically reliant on US systems. France’s version is both operationally and technologically independent…”

Defense News added on June 23:

“Simultaneously, voices here grew louder that favored a degree of European strategic autonomy. In March 2025, 69% of Germans supported European countries building a common army, up from just 49% in 2015. The poll results also show Germans willing to spend substantially on defense, with 75% supporting increased EU member state military spending.”

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.

To think about death is not something we like to do. Even though we know that we will die eventually, we love to concentrate on other and seemingly more important and pressing matters. It is indeed not pleasant to think about the inevitability of our death. Still, the Bible is filled with admonitions in this regard, and it gives us advice as to how to deal with this subject matter in a balanced and right way.

Death is unavoidable. Psalm 89:47-48 tells us: “Remember how short my time is… What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? Selah.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 states as a matter of fact: “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die…”

King Solomon states in Ecclesiastes 9:5: “For the living know that they will die…”

In addition, we read in Hebrews 9:27:  “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” 

Death does not end it all. Rather, there will be a resurrection for all of us, followed by a judgment. Romans 14:10, 12 tells us: “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ… So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”

We need to keep this fact strongly in mind. An accounting is coming, and we decide now, by the way in which we live, how this accounting will proceed. 

That is why Moses was inspired to write in Psalm 90:10, 12:

“The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away… So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

The wisdom Moses is referring to relates to the way we live and conduct ourselves, knowing how short and fleeting life is and that an accounting is coming. Paul tells us in Colossians 4:5: “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.” Compare also Ephesians 5:15-17: 

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

A similar thought is expressed by King Solomon who wrote in Ecclesiastes 7:2:

“Better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting, For that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart.”

David was very much aware of the fact that his death was a certainty. He wrote in Psalm 39:4-5:

“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. Selah.”

Knowing this, our whole outlook on life should be one of humility and submission to God. It should not reflect the attitude described in James 4:13-15:

“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. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’”

The realization of the certainty of our death should motivate and encourage us to conduct our lives always in a manner “worthy of the Lord” (Colossians 1:10; compare 1 Thessalonians 1:12 and Ephesians 4:1).

When we are young, we might think of death as something so distant that we might not have to give it serious consideration. But Solomon encourages us even then: “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth…  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:1, 13-14).

But apart from this seemingly “distant” reality, it may not be that distant at all. The reason being, no one knows the time of his or her death. Ecclesiastes 9:12 tells us:  “For man also does not know his time.” Compare also Isaac’s words in Genesis 27:2: “Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death.” Neither do we. For us, death may come at any time. Even though true Christians are never victims of time and chance, they still can die suddenly and unexpectedly when and if God allows it. We should therefore always live with that realization in mind. 

Of course, Christ knew exactly the time of His death. He knew that He would die at the age of 33 on Wednesday, the Day after the Passover evening on Tuesday, just before the First Day of Unleavened Bread in 31 AD. The Two Witnesses will know when they will die—3 ½ years after proclaiming God’s words during the Great Tribulation. As we explain in our free booklet, “Are You Predestined to be Saved?,” the time of our death has also been pretty much determined by God (even though we don’t know it), but this does not mean that circumstances might not change that time which had been allotted to us. When we fall away from God, we might die prematurely (compare, for example, Psalm 55:23). God may also give us some extra time to come to repentance (compare Luke 13:6-9).  God might add days to the [predetermined] life span of His people if this is reasonable and in fulfillment of the wish of the person.   

We read about King Hezekiah in 2 Kings 20:1-6:

“In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.”’ Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD, saying, ‘Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.’ And Hezekiah wept bitterly. And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, ‘Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, “Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: ‘I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD. And I will add to your days fifteen years…’”’’

Here, Hezekiah made it very clear to God that he would love to live longer and that he felt he was not ready to die, and God honored that. We even read that holy women received their dead husbands back in a physical resurrection (Hebrews 11:35). But this is up to God and His prerogative, depending on the individual circumstances. 

Returning one more time to Hezekiah, notice that God had told Isaiah to admonish Hezekiah to set his house in order. This is good advice for all of us at all times, since we don’t know when we will die. This would include taking care of our affairs, especially for those whom we may leave behind. A beautiful example can be seen in Christ’s words at the stake, when He told His beloved disciple John to take care of His mother Mary. 

The Study Bible included the following comments:

“‘Put your house in order.’ This directive implies that Hezekiah should prepare for his impending death by settling his affairs, both personal and political. In ancient Near Eastern culture, this would involve ensuring a smooth succession, addressing any unresolved issues, and making peace with God and others. The instruction reflects the biblical principle of stewardship and responsibility, emphasizing the importance of being prepared for the end of life.”

When we live with the realization that death can come to us at any time, then Solomon’s statements in Ecclesiastes 7:1 really strike home: “And the day of death [is better] than the day of one’s birth.” He adds to this in verse 8: “The end of a thing is better than its beginning.”

When we are born, our whole life is in front of us, and it is up to us what to make out of it. When we live a life pleasing to God, then we have accomplished our purpose, when we die. That is especially true for us when we become converted. At that time, we just begin our travel towards eternal life and the Kingdom of God. When we die, having stayed faithful, we will enter into eternal life at the time of our resurrection. 

Job exclaimed in Job 14:14, focusing on the time of his death: “If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, Till my change comes.” And Isaiah 26:19 states with conviction: “Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise.” This is the hope and the power of the resurrection, which is taught throughout the Bible (compare Acts 23:6; Philippians 3:10-11).

With that frame of mind, we don’t need to be afraid of death. Even though death is our enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26), it has no permanent power over us when we are in God’s loving hands.  We read in Hebrews 2:14-15:

“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

The Apostle Paul was not overly concerned or afraid of his death if that meant, serving Christ. He told the brethren who were weeping for him, anticipating his arrest and captivity:

“What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13). He even said in Philippians 1:21-26:

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.” (Compare also 2 Corinthians 5:8). 

Paul was ready to die, whenever that time would come, because he knew that he had lived worthy of Christ and that his physical death did not end it all. He told Timothy 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.”

He did not fight the time of his death. It seems he was more than ready to die, because he knew that he had qualified and that he would be in God’s Kingdom.

Some of the ancients are described as those who died “full of days.” They lived their lives, and in death they looked forward to their eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Psalm 116:15 says about them:  “Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints.” God says the same about us, as long as we can declare with confidence and conviction: “For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8).

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

compiled by Dave Harris

“Iran No Longer a Threat?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

Have the strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites eliminated any threat from Iran for the world? How successful were these strikes? In this program, we are discussing many Iranian threats and also possible means to carry out those threats. That is why many hope for a regime change in Iran, but how realistic are those hopes?

“Iran keine Bedrohung mehr?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.

“Vergebliche Ausreden,” is the title of this Sabbath’s split sermon in Germany. Presented by Michael Link, the title in English is, “Futile Excuses.”

A new Member Letter (June 2025) is now posted and will be mailed to our subscribers. Pastor Michael Link writes about the ever-increasing turmoil Christians face and our challenge to bear godly fruit as the return of Jesus Christ draws near.

“Die Heiligen Schriften der Bibel: Entstehung und Überlieferung – Das Neue Testament,” is last Sabbath’s German sermonette presented by Tahir Coban, is now posted. Title in English: “The Holy Scriptures of the Bible: Origin and Tradition – The New Testament.”

“The Importance of Doing Hard Things,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Eric Rank, is now posted. Here is the summary:

The best way to grow spiritually is to accept challenges in our lives that God prepares for us, and work through them. By shifting our perspective so that we face trials with joy, rather than resistance, we open ourselves to developing the character that God expects of us.

“Why Prophecy Is Important!” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Dave Harris, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Throughout the Bible, prophecies are given which culminate in the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God. Among other things, prophecy reveals God’s plan for the salvation of mankind and the unique responsibility the Church of God has been given in this regard.