The Update

On May 31, 2025, Kalon Mitchell will present the sermonette, titled, “Comfort VS Truth,” and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “Do You Have the Holy Spirit?”

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

PENTECOST: On June 1, 2025, Frank Bruno will present the Offertory, titled, “The Foundation,” and Eric Rank will present the sermon, titled, “On All Flesh.”

Live broadcast times will be the same as described above for Sabbath Services.

With current and looming problems in full effect around the world, bringing about increasing instability, due to ongoing threats, terrorism, and unrest all around, how are we to deal with this and where are WE to place our trust? Members and associates of the true Church of God are admonished to “be sober, be vigilant,” or, in other words, self-controlled and watchful, “because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).  

Being sober and being vigilant both go hand in hand, for if we are not sober or in a clear state of mind, then we can be caught off guard, which could lead us to sin because of temptation.  Sobriety and watchfulness are very necessary for our Christian life, and if we are not sober in body and mind, we would not be watchful over ourselves and also over world events in fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

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

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

We are aware that Satan is the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:31), and he is responsible for many terrible disasters to occur, keeping in mind that God allows them to happen.  Insofar as the Church is concerned, we may not necessarily fall victim to those who have lost their lives in such extreme and horrific ways, but Satan uses his cunning craftiness to attack us, to strike us where we are weak and where we may struggle, tempting us to sin, trying to make sure that we will not succeed, but only to FAIL. 

We CAN succeed and God expects that of us.  God provides us with tools and promises if we put our trust in Him.  By remaining vigilant, we can protect ourselves by putting on the whole armor of God (compare Ephesians 6:11-18).

We have a bigger challenge ahead of us, compared to the rest of the world, for we have the knowledge and the understanding as to how to defeat Satan, to overcome our trials and to live a righteous godly life, for God has chosen US now to come out of this world, and He has given US, as the firstfruits, the first opportunity to inherit eternal salvation, ahead of all others.

Because we know this, we can also expect to go through trials continuously which God allows, to test our strength and commitment to see whether or not we will overcome until the end and be counted worthy, so we can ultimately be a part of God’s Family (compare Matthew 24:13; Luke 21:36; Revelation 2:26). 

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

We continue to preach that we are living in the end time and Christ’s return is near, and therefore we must understand how QUICKLY things can materialize.  If we are not watchful, but rather ignorant to what is happening around the world, as things continue to progress in light of biblical prophecy, then we will be in the same category of people as Christ explains in Matthew 24:48-51 where “the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of” and we will be caught unaware (also compare Mark 13:32-37).

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

by Norbert Link

In this issue, we discuss President Trump’s confusing tariffs policy and European reactions; developments regarding alleged efforts to restrict freedom of speech in the USA and the UK; President Trump’s major blunder regarding South Africa; and we quote interesting articles pertaining to the Catholic Church.

We speak on developments in Germany and Austria; shocking and surprising reports on the Russia-Ukraine war; and conclude with several articles about the world’s hateful condemnation of Israel. Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Why This Hatred for Israel and the Jews?”

Please note our new message, “The Downfall of America, Britain and Israel—Comments on News and Prophecy, May 24, 2025.” 

Trump’s Latest Tariffs Debacle 

The Associated Press wrote on May 23: 

“President Donald Trump on Friday threatened 25% tariff on Apple unless iPhones are made in America as well as a 50% tax on all imports from the European Union [starting June 1]. [Trump said the talks with the EU were going nowhere].” 

The New York Post added on May 23: 

“In response, the Dow dropped 256 points in a volatile day… while luxury automaker Volvo warned that prices on cars are going to spike…   A warning to President Donald Trump: Everyone, including your friends, is starting to get a brutal case of tariff burnout… It’s one thing for your enemies to find you unpredictable, another for your friends to worry that you’re acting on pure whim. 

“All this uncertainty exacts a cost of its own, angst that builds with every surprise twist. Every day, folks are nervous… Americans are really tired of tariffs… Even fans of the president’s theater can get sick of endless drama. Trump clearly sees tariffs as a wonderful hammer, but not everything is a nail.” 

Bild Online wrote on May 24:

“In return, Trump is accepting punitive tariffs [of 50 percent] on [some] US exports to the EU. Because Brussels has no choice now.” 

Subsequently, it was reported that Trump delayed his 50% EU tariffs. Trump’s tariffs policy will contribute to America’s financial ruin and its political isolation. 

Trump’s Tariffs Rollercoaster

Reuters reported on May 29:

“A federal appeals court on Thursday reinstated the most sweeping of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, a day after a trade court had ruled Trump had exceeded his authority in imposing the duties and had ordered an immediate block on them. An order from the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington provided no opinion or reasoning but directed the plaintiffs in the case to respond by June 5 and the administration by June 9…

“Financial markets, which have whipsawed wildly in response to every twist and turn in Trump’s chaotic trade war, reacted with cautious optimism to the trade court ruling, though gains in stocks were largely limited by expectations that the court’s ruling faced a potentially lengthy appeals process. Indeed, analysts said broad uncertainty remained regarding the future of Trump’s tariffs, which have cost companies more than $34 billion in lost sales and higher costs…

“Emblematic of that uncertainty, a separate federal court earlier on Thursday had also found Trump overstepped his authority in using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act for what he called ‘reciprocal’ tariffs of at least 10% on goods from most U.S. trading partners and for the separate 25% levies on goods from Canada, Mexico and China related to fentanyl. That ruling was much narrower, however, and the relief order stopping the tariffs only applied to the toy company that brought the case.”

The three judges on the trade court who unanimously blocked the tariffs were Judge Timothy Reif, who was nominated by Mr. Trump; Judge Jane Restani, who was nominated by former President Ronald Reagan; and Judge Gary Katzmann, who was nominated by former President Obama. “We are living under a judicial tyranny,” White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller wrote in response to the ruling by the trade court, adding that “the judicial coup is out of control.”

European Airlines Freeze Travel to Major US Cities 

Travel and Tour World wrote on May 24: 

“European airlines are freezing their transatlantic growth and pulling back from major U.S. cities like New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Chicago as they redirect flights to Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Caribbean, where bookings are rising and demand is outpacing the American market. Carriers including Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, KLM, Iberia, and SAS have adjusted their summer schedules to reflect shifting traveler priorities, with more passengers opting for destinations that offer smoother entry, better seasonal deals, and fewer political complications. The changes mark a clear retreat from the U.S. at a time when international sentiment is cooling and alternative routes are proving far more profitable. 

“The decision to reduce flights is being driven by a sharp drop in bookings, rising concerns among European travelers about safety and border restrictions, and growing political discomfort tied to President Donald Trump’s second term. Airlines that had once expanded aggressively across the Atlantic are now turning their attention elsewhere. Internal forecasts, passenger surveys, and travel agency reports across Europe point to one conclusion: fewer people are planning trips to the United States this year… 

“Lufthansa has quietly reduced frequencies on its routes to New York, Miami, and Chicago, three of the airline’s most important U.S. destinations… several weekly flights have been removed compared to last year…

“British Airways has suspended service to Las Vegas and has reduced its operations to Orlando and Philadelphia… Air France has discontinued its Seattle route and trimmed service to Washington D.C. for the upcoming summer… KLM is cutting back flights to both San Francisco and Boston… Iberia has… reduced service between Madrid and Chicago… Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has canceled its routes from Oslo to Newark and Copenhagen to Los Angeles… 

“… United Airlines has dropped its Newark–Tenerife service… Norse Atlantic Airways has pulled out of Miami–Oslo and Miami–Berlin… Lufthansa ended its Frankfurt–Minneapolis route on April 30… American Airlines suspended Miami–Paris… while KLM, Aer Lingus, and Iberia have all stepped back from routes including Miami–Amsterdam and Las Vegas–Dublin… 

“Behind the numbers is a growing sense among European travelers that visiting the United States has become more difficult. The return of tariff tensions between Washington and Brussels, renewed warnings at U.S. borders, and reports of increased security screening are all feeding into traveler hesitancy. Several European countries have updated their advisories for citizens planning to visit the U.S… In response, airlines are simply following the trend… for now, the skies between Europe and America are looking quieter.” 

Crazy! Meaning, that thanks to the Trump administration, the USA will suffer big time economically.

US-Japan Steel Deal

The Associated Press wrote on May 23:

“President Donald Trump said Friday that U.S. Steel will keep its headquarters in Pittsburgh as part of what he called a ‘planned partnership’ that seemed to signal that he’ll approve a bid by Japan-based Nippon Steel [of 15 billion] to make a big investment in the iconic American steelmaker, if not buy it outright.

“Still, Trump’s statement left it vague as to whether he is approving Nippon Steel’s bid after he vowed repeatedly to block the deal to prevent U.S. Steel from being foreign-owned. More recently, Trump suggested that Nippon Steel would invest in U.S. Steel, not buy it, and one union official suggested Friday that the federal government will have a role in the company’s management going forward. But investors seemed to take Trump’s statement as a sign that he’s approving some sort of merger, sharply pushing up U.S. Steel’s shares [by 21%], and the companies issued approving statements.” 

All of this seems to be in total contradiction to Trump’s previously declared goals for the USA. 

Musk Steps Down

 Newsmax wrote on May 29:

“Elon Musk is leaving his government role as a top adviser to President Donald Trump… Musk’s departure comes one day after he criticized the centerpiece of Trump’s legislative agenda, saying he was ‘disappointed; by what the president calls his ‘big beautiful bill.’… Musk’s concerns are shared by some Republican lawmakers…

“‘The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized,’ he told The Washington Post. ‘I thought there were problems, but it sure is an uphill battle trying to improve things in D.C., to say the least.’…”

Trump’s Fight Against Harvard

Breitbart wrote on May 23:

“A judge temporarily suspended Friday the Trump administration’s move to block Harvard from enrolling and hosting foreign students after the prestigious university sued, calling the action unconstitutional. On Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll foreign nationals, throwing the future of thousands of students and the lucrative income stream they provide into doubt. But Harvard sued, and Massachusetts district judge Allison Burroughs ordered that ‘The Trump administration is hereby enjoined from implementing… the revocation of Plaintiff’s SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) certification.’ There will be an injunction hearing on May 29, a court filing showed.

“President Donald Trump is furious at Harvard — which has produced 162 Nobel prize winners — for rejecting his demand that it submit to oversight on admissions and hiring over his claims that it is a hotbed of anti-Semitism and ‘woke’ liberal ideology…. The loss of foreign nationals — more than a quarter of its student body — could prove costly to Harvard, which charges tens of thousands of dollars a year in tuition… Noem had said Thursday that ‘this administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.’ Chinese students make up more than a fifth of Harvard’s international enrollment…” 

Newsmax added on May 23: 

“On Thursday, Noem said Harvard could restore its certification by turning over within 72 hours a raft of records about international students, including video or audio of their protest activity in the past five years.… Harvard called the revocation ‘unlawful many times over,’ saying the government violates the First Amendment by using coercion to police private speech, and forcing universities to surrender their academic freedom.” 

Breitbart added on May 26: 

“Harvard Law professor emeritus Laurence Tribe said Monday: ‘…This case involves Trump’s attempt to tell Harvard that it can no longer host foreign students. Now that’s crazy. There’s no legal basis for it. He’s talking about information that he would like about students. He wants to know details about what they say, what they think. That’s a violation of the First Amendment.’” 

The possible attack on freedom of speech is indeed ironic in light of the next article. 

USA vs. UK on Freedom of Speech 

Breitbart wrote on May 25: 

“The Trump administration reportedly dispatched a team to meet with victims of Britain’s draconian speech restrictions amid growing concerns over the state of liberty in the United Kingdom. A group of five diplomats from the U.S. State Department were recently sent on a fact-finding mission in March to Britain to meet with pro-life activists who have been arrested for silently praying outside abortion clinics in the UK…

“The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) team also met with UK Foreign Office officials and members of the Ofcom broadcasting regulator, which was recently empowered to police speech on the internet in Britain by the controversial Online Safety Act. The legislation has reportedly become a major bone of contention between Washington and London, given the potential for the British authority to impose hefty fines on American social media firms for failing to police content on their platforms.

“The Trump administration has publicly chastised Britain for its increasingly restrictive speech codes, and reports have claimed that the issue could become a sticking point during trade negotiations…

“Reform UK leader and longtime Trump ally Nigel Farage remarked: ‘… My American friends cannot believe what is happening in the UK.’ During a February meeting in the Oval Office, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer denied that his country has a problem with free speech… According to a report last month from The Times of London, British police arrest more than 30 people every day for supposedly offensive comments on the internet or other platforms, totalling around 12,000 arrests per year.”

Censorship and restrictions on freedom and liberty everywhere…

Trump’s Major Blunder re South Africa

Express wrote on May 24:

“Donald Trump made a major blunder at the White House during his meeting with South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa. The meeting turned confrontational after the US President presented his guest with alleged evidence of genocide committed against White South African farmers. In a moment that caught Ramaphosa and his delegation by surprise, Trump showed a screenshot of a video he claimed showed a mass grave of White farmers. ‘These are all white farmers that are being buried,’ Trump said as he glowered at his South African counterpart. However, the video – shot by Reuters – recorded the aftermath of an attack by a Rwanda-backed rebel paramilitary group in Congo.

“Published by the international news agency on February 3, the video showed humanitarian workers lifting body bags in the Congolese city of Goma. The image was pulled from footage of a mass burial following an M23 rebel assault on Goma, filmed by video journalist Djaffar Al Katanty. Al Katanty was stunned to see his video used during the meeting. ‘In view of all the world, President Trump used my image, used what I filmed in DRC to try to convince President Ramaphosa that in his country, White people are being killed by Black people,’ he said. However, a BBC report identified the crosses as part of a memorial to a couple who were killed in 2020. 

“While South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, most of the victims are Black. Of the more than 26,000 murders committed in 2024, eight of those were of farmers, according to South African Police Service (SAPS) figures.”

Whether or not there is genocide against white farmers in South Africa, the incompetence with which the Trump administration presented its case is shocking and embarrassing. 

US Bishops vs. Trump on Immigration 

Newsmax wrote on May 24: 

“The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is on a collision course with the Trump administration over competing views on immigration and the role the government should play in caring for at-risk migrants…  This USCCB chastised the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) for rescinding a policy that gave guidance on the care, custody and documentation of pregnant women they encounter. 

“Bishop Mark J. Seitz, of El Paso, Texas, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration wrote, ‘It is deeply troubling and inexcusable that measures intended to ensure the basic safety of pregnant mothers and their young children while in government custody could be rescinded with such indifference toward the vulnerability of those involved… This decision is all the more concerning as the [Trump] administration simultaneously ramps up family detention in place of safer, more cost-effective alternatives to detention,’ Seitz said. 

“‘Let us be clear: protecting pregnant mothers and their children can never be considered “obsolete.” This principle irrefutably extends to noncitizens in immigration detention, each of whom possesses an inviolable, God-given dignity that must be respected. We urge the Administration to reissue guidance that adequately reflects and affirms the increased standard of care due to this vulnerable population while in government custody,’ he added. 

“Time will tell how much a of conflict the Catholic church generally and Pope Leo XIV specifically will have with the Trump administration over the issue of illegal immigration… Although he has yet to address the issue publicly, Pope Leo’s brother John Prevost told the New York Times, ‘I know he’s not happy with what’s going on with immigration. I know that for a fact. How far he’ll go with it is only one’s guess, but he won’t just sit back. I don’t think he’ll be the silent one.’” 

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is correct in this case. 

Catholic Sacrament of Confession Under Attack

The Blaze wrote on May 22: 

“Washington State Senate Bill 5375, passed earlier this month… would force Catholic priests who hear admissions of abuse within the context of the sacrament of confession to break the seal of the sacrament and report those admissions to the state, even though all other recognized privileges — like those between doctor and patient and lawyer and client — are preserved… 

“The practice of confession [is] a sacrament where we believe God extends His forgiveness for our sins, which we must lay out to a priest, Christ’s representative on earth. It’s a ritual: You list your sins in conversation with a priest, often anonymously or from behind a screen, and in return, the priest assigns a penance and grants absolution. It’s also a ritual critical to the spiritual life of Catholics. Without forgiveness and absolution, Catholics who die in a state of sin could go straight to hell, and Catholics who live in a state of mortal sin are barred from communion, which is the heart of our faith… 

“Priests who are found to be uncompliant could face a year in jail or thousands of dollars in fines… And priests who do comply would face excommunication… because the issue of confessional confidentiality is covered right there in the Church’s own catechism… 

“In a statement issued May 5, [the Trump administration] vowed to fight the Washington law on the grounds that it violates the First Amendment’s right to free exercise since it infringes on a core, sincerely held religious dogma…”

Confession (even though not biblical) is at the heart and core of the Catholic Church’s teaching. It will never abrogate that “sacrament.”

America.. the Fading Empire 

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on May 23: 

“The inexorable decline of the American Empire has arrived at an Imperial Paradox. It must either fight a war and die, or not fight a war and yet still die… 

“The Pentagon must understand it cannot sustain logistics in a war against China in the western Pacific. It simply cannot be done… 

“In the context of a war against Iran, all the geography is against the US… The US Navy could only operate at extreme risk in the southern Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Persian Gulf. Every US base in the region is well within range of Iranian missile strikes… 

“From a geographic and logistical standpoint, the only remotely conceivable war is one in Ukraine against Russia. The US at least has bases and forces already in place in the UK, Germany, Poland, Romania, Finland… Of course, whether or not such a condition persists long in a war scenario is another question altogether… 

“So if you’re an empire that thinks it needs a war to reaffirm at least its short-term relevance and fading glory … well, these are your choices. Sic transit gloria mundi.”

Thus passes the glory of the world… 

Germany to Defend Europe 

Bloomberg wrote on May 22: 

“As Europe waits anxiously for US President Donald Trump’s possible rollback of security commitments in Ukraine’s war against Russia, Germany wants to play more of a leading role. Speaking in Lithuania yesterday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany’s military is prepared to defend the Baltic region against ‘any threat.’ The new German leader and his defense minister, Boris Pistorius, traveled to Vilnius to take part in the first ceremonial roll call of the Panzer Brigade 45 [Germany’s biggest foreign military mission since World War II.]”

“Since taking office earlier this year, the center-right chancellor has pledged to transform the German military into Europe’s strongest army. G-7 finance ministers meanwhile agreed to continue supporting Ukraine as it attempts to keep Russia at bay. For its part, the EU is also giving its dedicated defense fund a 40 million Euro boast.” 

The Draft to Return to Germany? 

Deutsche Welle reported on May 24: 

“Germany is considering bringing back military conscription from next year unless more volunteers sign up for the armed forces, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said… The initial plan to boost numbers will rely on volunteers, but Pistorius warned that could change if numbers remain insufficient. Compulsory military service was scrapped in 2011… 

“‘If the time comes when we have more capacity available than voluntary registrations, then a decision may be made to make recruitment mandatory. That is the roadmap,’ he added…” 

It will come… sadly. 

Sebastian Kurz Acquitted 

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 26: 

“An Austrian court on Monday overturned former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s conviction for giving false testimony to a parliamentary inquiry. ‘Sebastian Kurz… is acquitted,’ a three-member panel of judges said… 

“Kurz was found guilty of making false statements in February 2024 and was given an eight-month suspended sentence, a conviction he then appealed. In his appeal, Kurz argued that he was interrupted during his testimony and that the judge who handed out his conviction was biased…

“Kurz is still under investigation for corruption in a separate case. Prosecutors suspect him of embezzling state funds, diverting them to polls distorted to boost his popularity.”

Ukraine Unstable Country

EurAsia Daily wrote on May 23: 

“The readiness of the European Union to maintain a Ukrainian army of one million people poses a threat to the security of the EU countries themselves, since Ukraine is an unstable state. This was stated by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban…  ‘Ukraine is a politically unstable state, and no one can say what kind of government there will be,’ he warned. 

“Accordingly, there are no guarantees that Ukraine, and therefore its armed forces, will take a friendly position towards the EU countries. Therefore, Orban stressed that the financing by the European Union of the million-strong Ukrainian army at the suggestion of Kiev creates a ‘serious threat to European security.’ 

“… the Government of Hungary from the very beginning of the conflict on Ukraine refused to supply weapons there and opposed the provision of military assistance to it. Budapest condemned Moscow’s actions, but at the same time always stressed that the Ukrainian conflict cannot be resolved on the battlefield, it should be settled through negotiations.”

Ukraine and Russia WILL become allies against Europe. 

What Happened During the Phone Call With Trump

Focus wrote on May 24: 

“The week began with a shock for Europe. After his phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, [Trump] dropped the bombshell in a conversation with the European heads of state: The US is no longer interested in acting as peace mediator. And sanctions against Putin, which Trump had previously promised, were suddenly off the table. The German magazine ‘Der Spiegel’ has now reconstructed what really happened in the shock phone call between Trump and the Europeans (Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelensky, Giorgia Meloni, Ursula von der Leyen, and Alexander Stubb)…

“The Europeans had hoped that Trump would read Putin the riot act during their phone call. Trump, who recently said that Putin might just be leading him on, is supposed to reinforce the new sanctions threats, according to the Europeans’ wishes. But Trump has none of that. Instead, according to ‘Spiegel,’ Trump says Putin doesn’t want a deal. And Ukraine is now the Europeans’ problem. Sanctions, ceasefire, not a word about that. 

“The Europeans know immediately: As before, Putin has lulled Trump into a false sense of security. As several media outlets report, there is a very long silence afterward. And all Europeans ask themselves: How can we keep Trump in this process? And above all: Who of us? 

“In the end, it is Friedrich Merz who takes the floor. As ‘Der Spiegel’ reports, citing diplomats and government circles, he says he wants to ‘summarize’ the situation. Merz says technical talks must now begin. The Chancellor also says that the Vatican could host such talks, as Trump suggested. Trump’s reaction: ‘Fine by me.’ Merz subsequently asked twice whether Trump was really part of it. It would be nothing new for Trump to suddenly back down. But the US President promises to send his special envoy on this matter…

“It is the absolute minimum success on a shocking day for Europe. Friedrich Merz himself threatened Putin with harsh consequences if there would be no ceasefire. He had believed he had the agreed-upon backing of Donald Trump. But he abandoned him again, just like he abandoned Ukraine.” 

America’s Betrayal of Europe 

news.de wrote on May 25:

“Ben Hodges is shocked by Donald Trump’s behavior in the Ukraine war. The former US general [who commanded the US Army in Europe] speaks in a recent interview about the US president’s betrayal of his allies and simultaneously revealed Vladimir Putin’s true war aim… ‘After all the loud talk about solving the problem in 24 hours, I think the credibility of this president and this administration will be severely damaged by this failure.’ 

“And further: ‘If the US turns away and says, “Hey, Europe, this is your problem!” I think that would be a real betrayal of our allies who have stood by us for decades… Russia has never changed its war aims. It’s still about the destruction of Ukraine and the idea of ​​Ukraine as a state’… 

“However, he is also convinced that Putin’s goals are much bigger than Ukraine. ‘Russia’s goal is to break NATO… And they achieve that by attacking a NATO country to see if we all respond appropriately. And if not, then I think it’s the end of the alliance,’ said Hodges…” 

Russia’s Demands 

Bild Online wrote on May 24: 

“Another setback for any hopes of peace in Ukraine in the near future. Vladimir Putin’s (72) regime now refuses to sign any peace agreement with Ukraine as long as the democratically elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (47) remains in office.” 

Trump: “Putin Absolutely Crazy!” 

Newsmax wrote on May 26: 

“President Donald Trump used his social media platform to take aim at Vladimir Putin, calling the Russian president ‘absolutely crazy’ for continuing to fire missiles that are killing Ukrainian citizens. Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for saying things that help undermine the U.S. president’s efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war. 

“‘I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!… He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever. I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!…’ 

“Earlier Sunday, Trump expressed deep unhappiness at Russia’s weekend bombing of Ukraine, saying of the Russian president, ‘I’m not happy with Putin… I don’t know what’s wrong with him. What the hell happened to him? Right? He’s killing a lot of people. I’m not happy about that,’ Trump told reporters at the airport in Morristown, New Jersey, as he prepared to return to Washington. 

“Trump spoke in reaction to a Russian barrage of 367 drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities overnight on Sunday, including the capital Kyiv, in the largest aerial attack of the war so far, killing at least 12 people and injuring dozens more.” 

Trump added on May 27: “What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!”

Trump also announced now that there will be sanctions against Russia. Russia responded by saying that Trump is suffering from “emotional overload.”  

Now, when did Trump ever say that Putin wants all of Ukraine? If Russia and Ukraine unite, that will not lead to the immediate downfall of Russia. That downfall will come later. 

Germany and Ukraine 

The Guardian wrote on May 28: 

“German chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday during a visit by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Berlin will help Kyiv develop new long-range weapons that can hit targets in Russian territory… 

“The production of long-range weapons ‘can take place both in Ukraine and here in Germany,’ he said… Germany will provide further military support for Ukraine amounting to about €5bn ($5.65bn)…” 

The New York Post added on May 28: 

“Merz said last Monday that Germany and other major allies were no longer imposing range limits on weapons they send to Ukraine, although he indicated their use was limited to Russian military targets…” 

Israel’s Standing 

Israel Today wrote on May 23:

“Nearly 600 days after the outbreak of the October 7 war, and Israel has sunk to an all-time low in its international standing. Some of its closest allies—Britain, France, and Canada—have threatened sanctions if the war in Gaza continues. Never before has such a harshly worded statement been directed at Israel, effectively branding it a pariah state… 

“Most astonishing and alarming is the silence of the United States, Israel’s steadfast ally that has always stood by its side. Not a single word of condemnation from Washington regarding this threatening statement from other Western powers. If President Donald Trump was accused of throwing Israel under the bus, this is now taking tangible form on the global stage…” 

And so, Israel will end up all alone. 

US Demands of Israel to Delay Gaza Takeover 

Newsmax wrote on May 25:

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a full-fledged takeover of Gaza from Hamas terrorists, but the U.S. is pushing to delay that until the remaining hostages are returned, effectively giving the terrorists justification for their holding of what Israel has called its ‘human shields.’… 

“Netanyahu has pledged to hold all areas under full Israel control to accomplish the long-stated war goals: 1. Return all hostages. 2. Destroy Hamas in total. 3. Deradicalize and demilitarize Gaza.

Netanyahu’s regime contends that third goal can only be accomplished with Israel’s occupation of Gaza to root out radical anti-Israel extremism that led to the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack.

The security situation in Gaza remains tenuous without a controlling force, under Israel’s view. 

“Not only are Hamas terrorists reportedly looting the humanitarian aid for the innocent civilians, but they are also reportedly firing on civilians trying to access the aid that the world leaders have demanded Israel release. Israel has long warned aid is getting stolen by the very hostage-holding terrorists Israel seeks to remove from power…” 

How much longer does Trump want to delay this? Admittedly, one has to note that Trump’s foreign policy has been pretty unsuccessful so far. 

Houthi Continue to Attack Israel 

Breitbart wrote on May 25: 

“The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have stepped up their attacks on Israel, firing three ballistic missiles in the last four days. Though all were intercepted by missile defenses, the pace of the attacks is a notable escalation. Moreover, the attacks have come despite a Houthi ceasefire with the United States; ongoing talks between the U.S. and Iran on a possible nuclear deal; and Israeli reprisals at Yemen’s Hodeidah port and Sanaa airport… 

“Both President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have said in the past that Iran is ultimately responsible for Houthi attacks. Israel could conceivably use that as justification to attack Iran. However, that would risk interfering in the ongoing diplomatic effort between the U.S. and Iran — an effort that is not making much progress, given that Iran refuses to accede to demands to stop enriching uranium.”

Breitbart wrote on May 28:

“The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded to days of missile attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Wednesday, targeting the Sanaa airport and destroying the Houthis’ last serviceable airplane… The other planes were destroyed in an Israeli strike on the airport on May 6… It is unclear whether, or when, Israel will target Iran in response to Houthi attacks, though Netanyahu keeps raising the possibility…” 

Friedrich Merz Criticizes Israel 

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 26: 

“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday that Israel’s ‘current level of attacks on Gaza can no longer be justified by the fight against Hamas.’ ‘Harming the civilian population to such an extent, as has increasingly been the case in recent days, can no longer be justified as a fight against Hamas terrorism,’ he told German public broadcaster WDR in a televised interview.  

“He added he planned to hold a call with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week to tell him ‘to not overdo it,’ though for ‘historical reasons,’ Germany would always be more guarded in its criticism than some European partners. ‘But if lines are crossed, where international humanitarian law is really being violated, then Germany, the German chancellor, must also say something about it,’ Merz said.” 

The Lying Press and Hatred Against Israel 

Report 24 wrote on May 25: 

“The mainstream media bombards the public with images of children with wide, pleading eyes… Instead of demanding evidence or sources, hatred against Israel is sweeping through the country… Ever since the Middle East conflict began, there have been countless lies emanating from the machinery of the so-called ‘Palestinians’ and their ‘National Authority’… 

“On May 20, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, via the formerly highly respected BBC, claimed that 14,000 babies in Gaza were at risk of dying within 48 hours… Tom Fletcher had fabricated the story. There is no truth to it. And the BBC failed to question it or classify it. Israel has been exposed to the hatred of the world. This doesn’t happen by chance—it’s a calculated move. Of course, the ORF [in Austria] also participated in the unreflective spread of this lie… 

“The wrongly accused Jews once again had to do their own research to find out the background to the story. It was discovered that Fletcher was referring to a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which estimated that up to 14,000 children between 6 months and 6 years of age could be affected by malnutrition over a period of one year… There were no current threats of death within 48 hours… 

“A high-ranking UN official went public with a fact that, upon closer examination, feeds the centuries-old antisemitic narratives that have led to pogroms, i.e., mass murder and expulsion, in many places. The ritual murder legend of the Jew as baby murderer. First historically documented in 1144 in England, when Jews were accused, without any evidence, of murdering a Christian boy. In 1475, a two-year-old boy was found dead in Trento. The authorities subsequently had all the city’s Jews tortured and executed. The image of the child-murdering Jews was taken up by Nazi propaganda… 

“We live in a time in which leftists, Muslims, and National Socialists are fraternizing to incite hatred against Israel and attack Jews. Yet, every lie seems to be justified. As a media consumer, one should have learned, at the very latest after the madness of the Corona period, to question everything critically… Anyone who relies on mainstream media is abandoned. Not just during the Corona pandemic, but always…”

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:

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

In part one of this two-part series, we looked at the assertion by some, maybe many in mainstream Christianity, who believe that Jesus’ resurrected body was physical and that this same, physical Jesus ascended to Heaven, from where He will one day return to Earth.

Let us continue to look at evidence that proves otherwise.

We read Christ’s words and action in Luke 24:39:

“‘Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.’”

As we said in the previous instalment, the Roman Catholic Church “explains”: “Christ makes it plain to His disciples that He does have a physical body; He is not a disembodied spirit.” 

Again, as pointed out before, this “explanation” overlooks that Spirit beings do have form and shape—they are not “disembodied” spirits, but their bodies are composed of Spirit.

There is plenty of evidence of angels taking on the form of a human being so that they could be seen, as we know that a flesh and blood human being can’t see a Spirit being unless it materialises itself.   The question has been asked and answered as to “How many times do angels appear in the Bible? More than a dozen times in the New Testament, and a dozen or so other times in the Old Testament.”  

Jesus was raised up at the resurrection with a spirit body which the disciples and humanity could not see unless He materialised Himself as He did on a number of occasions. How could Jesus appear in the midst of the disciples if He was physical?  In John 20:24-29, we have the account of doubting Thomas.   We read in verses 26-28:

^“And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’ And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’”

We can see that Jesus entered the room while the doors were shut and suddenly He appeared in their midst, and said, “Peace to you!” After Thomas saw Jesus, he was convinced that Jesus had been resurrected.   As a Spirit being, Jesus was able to go through closed doors and be wherever He chose, irrespective of any physical obstacles that could be in the way.   In modern scientific terminology, the glorified body is not subject to the forces and laws of physics and chemistry.

How could Jesus appear in the midst of the disciples if He still had a physical body?  If this assertion was correct, He would not be able to go through walls and other physical barriers and instantly appear before the disciples.  In addition, Jesus would be the only physical being in Heaven and we should know that that cannot be the case as everything in the Third Heaven is spiritual, man’s doubting and misunderstanding or misapplying Scripture notwithstanding!

Romans 6:4-5 is instructive in this regard:

^“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,’

In Philippians 3:21, we read that Christ “will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”

Jesus’ resurrection body is the pattern for our resurrection body, and we read the following in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17:

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

Jesus is now a Spirit being in heaven. He will return to earth to set up the Kingdom of God, and His people will be caught up in the air to meet Him in the clouds.

In our two-part Q&A “Who and What is in Heaven?” we showed that “In heaven, there is God the Father, Jesus Christ the Word, and innumerable angels” and no physical beings are there.   In John 4:24 we read: “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”   God the Father and Jesus Christ, the two members of the God Family at this time are composed of Spirit, as will be the born-again members of God’s Church at the resurrection when Jesus returns to this earth.   We must remember that in Mark 16:19 we read: “So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.”  And He would have been a Spirit Being to have been in such a position next to the Spiritual Father and all the other Spirit beings that live in the Third Heaven.

In our booklet, “Angels, Demons and the Spirit World,” we read the following on page 17:

“Christ did not appear to His disciples in His glorified state. He did not appear, prior to His ascension to heaven, with all His power and glory that He has today. We can find a description of His glorious appearance in Revelation 1:10, 12–17. We also find a description of His glory, prior to His human birth, in Ezekiel 1:26–28. When He appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, He appeared just as an ordinary man, so much so that they did not recognize Him. Accounts of His appearances can be found in John 20:14–16 and John 21:4–7. They only came to recognize Him after He spoke a certain way or performed a certain miracle that He had performed earlier before His death.

“We read that the disciples on the road to Emmaus did not recognize the resurrected Christ until He ‘…took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight’ (Luke 24:30–31). The reason that they did not recognize Him earlier is explained in Mark 16:12: ‘After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country.’”

A good question to ask is how a physical body could just vanish from their sight, as it states in Luke 24:31? 

In the same booklet on pages 44-45, we explain the misunderstood passage in Luke 24:39:

“Christ manifested Himself to the disciples as a being with flesh and bones. He even ate food in their presence to convince the disciples that it was He, not a spirit or a demon. The Greek word for ‘spirit’ is ‘pneuma’ and can refer to demons (compare Matthew 8:16; 10:1; 12:43, 45; Luke 4:33, 36; 6:18; 7:21, etc.). We understand, of course, that Christ is not a being with flesh and bones. Rather, at His resurrection He received a spiritual body and became a life-giving Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:44–45, 50). He was able to manifest Himself, however, as a person with flesh and bones. We saw earlier that angels can manifest themselves as human beings as well. Demons cannot. Christ used this opportunity to show His disciples that He was not a spirit or a demon, because demons cannot manifest themselves as human beings with flesh and bones.”

It is emphasized above that Christ became a life-giving SPIRIT… not, as we quoted the following false assertion in the first instalment and repeat it again below,  a physical human being with a “physical body” which is “designed with eternity in view.”

In our Q&A entitled: “We read in Matthew 27:52 that many saints were raised at the time of Christ’s death. How can Christ then be called the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18)?,” We make these observations:

“Christ… became born again when He was resurrected to Spirit. It was at that time that He became the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29 tells us that we are to be ‘conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.’ We also read in Colossians 1:15, 18: ‘He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation… And He is… the beginning, the firstborn from the dead.’

“Christ was the first human who became born again as a Spirit being. The Greek word for ‘firstborn,’ ‘prototokos,’ designates the person who is born first. It can refer to the firstborn Son of the spiritual Family of God, and it can also refer to the firstborn son in a physical family. We read, for example, in Hebrews 11:28 that Moses kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood by faith, ‘lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.’ Christ was also, quite literally, Mary’s firstborn Son (Compare Matthew 1:25; Luke 2:7. The Greek word, ‘prototokos,’ used here does not mean ‘only’ or ‘only begotten’ son. That concept is conveyed by the Greek word ‘monogenes’…). Since Christ was Mary’s firstborn Son, it goes without saying that Christ as a human being had younger brothers. In fact, He also had sisters (compare Matthew 13:53-58).

“The same Greek word, ‘prototokos,’ is also used in Revelation 1:5. The New King James Bible translates the entire passage quite accurately in this way: ‘…and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.’ (The Authorized Version’s rendition, ‘first begotten of the dead,’ is clearly wrong. The context here is the resurrection from the dead. The Ryrie Study Bible comments that ‘Christ was the first [man] to receive a resurrection [glorified] body which is immortal’).” (our emphasis).

As we mentioned earlier, there is the invention of a new description of Jesus “who has a physical body, with a difference. His resurrected body is designed with eternity in view.”   Why would anyone make up something that the Bible certainly doesn’t say?  Jesus’ resurrected body was a Spiritual body—a body with form and shape, but composed of Spirit—and He is now in Heaven, seated at the right hand of God the Father where all around them are Spiritual beings and Spiritual things.  

It would be ridiculous to think that God the Father and all the angels in heaven are all spiritual, but Jesus is the odd one out having a physical body!

In His resurrection, Jesus did not and does not have a physical body. Neither will we. His physical body was in the grave for three days and three nights, but when He was raised from the dead, His physical body was changed into a spiritual body, which is the same that will happen to us, when we, who are still alive, will be changed.

We asked the question: “Is Jesus Christ a Spirit Being Today?,” and the answer, as we have shown in this Q&A, is an unequivocal YES!

Lead Writers: Brian Gale and Norbert Link

compiled by Dave Harris

“Why This Hatred for Israel and the Jews?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

Hatred for the State of Israel and the Jews in general is spreading. Now, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also attacked Israel “more harshly than any German Chancellor before him.” But some believe his criticism was unbalanced, hurtful, and disappointing. Why is this so? And what should we make of the international “lying press” that demonizes Israel and stirs up anti-Semitism?

“Warum der Hass für Israel und die Juden?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.

“Wir fallen, bevor wir aufstehen,” is the title of this Sabbath’s German split sermon, presented by Michael Link. Title in English: “We Fall Before We Rise.”

“Haben Sie den heiligen Geist?” is the title of the German sermon for Pentecost, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Do You Have the Holy Spirit?”

“Das Unkraut unter dem Weizen,” last Sabbath’s first split sermon in Germany was presented by Marc Vöeller. Title in English: “The Weeds Among the Wheat.”

“Sei ein Gewinner,” last Sabbath’s second split sermon in Germany was presented by Dmitrij Niemann. Title in English: “Be A Winner.”

“The Downfall of America, Britain and Israel–Comments on News and Prophecy, May 24, 2025,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

What we have been announcing for decades is coming true right now: God is being ignored—in political life and in science, with Orthodox Christianity in total defiance of biblical Truth. While Israel is being isolated and the American Empire is failing, Germany intends to become Europe’s leader, with Britain’s downfall and its surrender to Europe continuing.

“Why So Many False Teachings About the Holy Spirit?” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Why is the doctrine of the Trinity unbiblical and extremely dangerous, regardless of whether one believes in Greek Orthodox or Roman Catholic doctrine? What is the Holy Spirit, and did people in the Old Testament have it within them? What about Christians in the New Testament? Can one receive the Holy Spirit if one sins—sometimes seriously? What are the essential requirements for receiving the Holy Spirit?