The Update

On November 29, 2025, Norbert Link will present, “Comments on News and Prophecy, November29, 2025,” and the sermon, titled, “Do We Overlook Important Lessons in the Book of Job?”

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.

In our latest StandingWatch program, titled, Killing of Fishermen—Must Illegal Orders Be Obeyed?, we discussed that six Democratic lawmakers urged service members to defy illegal orders and President Trump’s reaction. He called them traitors and described their conduct as seditious behavior at the highest level, advocating their arrest and death.

Subsequently, it was reported that the FBI requested “interviews” with them. A law professor who teaches national-security law described this as “a frivolous investigation meant to suppress speech” (The Wall Street Journal, November 25). Especially, the “investigation” of Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy pilot and astronaut, potentially facing a military tribunal to be court-martialed, has been roundly condemned by many observers.

Also, many veterans, highly praised in the past by President Trump, strongly voiced their objection to the entire matter, saying that “calling for an investigation into a well-known principle of service is dangerous, and says more about this administration than it does about Senator Kelly” (The Independent, November 25).

Sadly, these developments only serve as one example of a situation within the USA which is deeply troublesome. The ongoing controversial actions of ICE raids, detentions and deportations of potentially everyone being in the country “illegally,” as defined by the Trump administration, including members of DACA, stand in strong contrast to original representations during the presidential campaign that only dangerous hard-core criminals would be arrested and deported.  

Some of the comments we received on the above-mentioned StandingWatch program and the German AufPostenStehen version, covering the same topic, are telling. One viewer wrote: “An excellent commentary on the current leadership of America and its inevitable downfall as prophesied in the bible. Thanks to God there is at least one Church of God not singing the praises of [Trump]… an iceberg has been hit and all that’s being done is rearranging of the deck chairs. These are dangerous times unfolding before our very eyes.”

Another viewer wrote: “Especially because the man who is [an] astronaut [Senator Mark Kelly] is a war hero [with] 39 years of service and his poor wife [was] shot in [the] head and lived, thank God. He has paid a [huge] price to be an American.”

A German-speaking viewer wrote: “This humanity is a complete madhouse. In Germany, it is a punishable offense to carry out unlawful orders. Such orders must be strictly and absolutely refused without fear of punishment. That’s what I was taught in the German armed forces.”

In fact, this last comment is very remarkable in light of Germany’s dark history, especially during the Nazi era and former East Germany. We know, of course, that terrible times lie ahead for Germany in the not-too-distant future.

In light of Trump’s questionable actions, which are clearly not in line with godly principles, and which will contribute to America’s inevitable downfall, why are we so confident that God will use him to build the Third Temple? (Compare for example our Editorial, dated October 31, 2025, titled, “When Our Critics Become Silent…”). Actually, there is no contradiction, but, in fact, biblical confirmation. We will explain this in detail in a future Q&A.

All of this sounds like bad news, but it isn’t. These events, and many more, must occur before Christ can return. But these days will be shortened and He WILL return soon to end the madness of this current civilization and to usher in the beautiful world tomorrow. This is the good news or gospel of the rule of the Kingdom of God here on earth which must be and is “preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). And for THAT, we can be truly thankful.

by Norbert Link

We begin with the upheaval caused by Trump’s “peace plan” between Russia and Ukraine; continue with increasing and strong demands for a European army; illegal actions and false accusations by the American government; and absolutely despicable ICE conduct.

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Killing of Fishermen—Must Illegal Orders Be Obeyed?” 

We speak on America’s invasion of Mexico and the more than fragile relationship between Trump and New York’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. We also quote an article trying to explain Trump’s irate behavior by suggesting that he is suffering from dementia.

 We address the failed attempt of the new U.S. ambassador to Poland to absolve Poland of the Holocaust; Trump’s desire to interfere in European migration policy; and Canada’s push for euthanasia.

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

Trump’s New “Peace Plan” for Ukraine 

ABC News wrote on November 21: 

“The [US] military delegation arrived Wednesday into a capital in turmoil [Kyiv], as a corruption scandal estimated by investigators to involve some $100 million forced the dismissal of two cabinet ministers… As the scandal swirled, the White House has presented Ukraine with a new 28-point peace plan drawn up in coordination with Moscow that contains conditions that are widely seen in Ukraine as effectively demanding the country’s capitulation… 

“The plan includes a number of maximalist demands that the Kremlin has long demanded and that have been previously dismissed as non-starters for Kyiv, including that Ukraine cut its armed forces by more than half and cede swaths of territory not yet occupied by Russia… Ukraine would also be forbidden from possessing long-range weapons, while Moscow would retain virtually all the territory it has occupied — and receive some form of recognition of its 2014 seizure of Crimea under the latest proposed U.S. plan… 

“Zelenskyy — whom Trump previously framed as illegitimate and in March said was without ‘the cards’ needed for peace negotiations with Russia — already appeared to be on shaky ground in recent days as the corruption scandal widened, with opposition parties and even figures within his own Servant of the People party calling for a major governmental shakeup. 

“Now he will also have to juggle that scandal along with the new U.S. peace drive. In Ukraine, some observers have suggested the Trump administration has chosen the moment deliberately, hoping a vulnerable Zelenskyy can be forced into accepting unfavorable terms…. 

“Zelenskyy has not been personally implicated in what is perhaps the country’s most serious corruption scandal of the war. The president has vowed ‘a swift and just response’ to any wrongdoing.” 

Newsmax wrote on November 19: 

“While Ukraine would view the deal as a major surrender to Russia, the White House believes Ukraine would likely lose the territory anyway [parts of eastern Ukraine they don’t occupy]… The deal would call for Russia to control the Donbas region, even though Ukraine controls 14.5% of the territory there.” 

Zelenskyy Reacts 

BBC wrote on November 21:

 “Addressing the nation on Friday, Zelensky said Ukraine ‘might face a very difficult choice: either losing dignity, or risk losing a key partner’, [USA] adding that ‘today is one of the most difficult moments in our history’… 

“Ukraine is critically dependent on deliveries of US-made advanced weaponry, including air defence systems to repel deadly Russian air assaults, as well as intelligence provided by Washington…. 

“In his 10-minute address in front of the presidential office in Kyiv, Zelensky warned that Ukraine would face ‘a lot of pressure… to weaken us, to divide us’, adding that ‘the enemy is not sleeping’… 

“Trump warned that Ukraine would lose more territory to Russia ‘in a short amount of time’.” 

Witkoff to See a Psychiatrist? 

Welt Online wrote on November 21: 

“European diplomats and government officials are reacting angrily to new details of the US peace plan intended to end the war in Ukraine… One EU government representative resorted to crude language to express his dismay. A leading EU politician said: ‘Witkoff needs to see a psychiatrist.’… 

“The Europeans assured Zelenskyy that they remain committed to a ‘just’ peace, according to a statement released after the talks. ‘They agreed that any agreement affecting European states, the European Union, or NATO requires the approval of European partners or a consensus among the allies,’ the statement said.” 

Farage Objects 

Express wrote on November 22: 

“Reform UK leader Mr Farage has now taken to X to make his feelings clear on the Ukraine peace plan from Mr Trump…  He wrote: ‘Ukraine being asked to halve the size of its Army is unacceptable…’ 

“Mr Farage’s remarks come as a rare public rebuke of the US President. They represent a significant strengthening of his support for Ukraine, against attempts by the Labour Party to cast him as sympathetic to Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin.” 

Trump Causes Earthquake 

t-online wrote on November 22: 

“US President Donald Trump has effectively derailed the G20 summit [in South Africa] – despite the US’s non-participation… Trump’s Ukraine plan has sent shockwaves through the G20. Europeans met in Johannesburg on Saturday morning to coordinate a common approach to the US plan. They consider the development alarming. Europe was not involved in the negotiations with Russia, and Trump acted behind their backs. 

“European diplomats agree: Neither Ukraine nor the Europeans can actually approve Trump’s plan. They see it as a declaration of surrender that fulfills all of Russia’s war aims. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin could use it to launch another attack in a few years to seize the rest of a then-disarmed Ukraine. In a statement issued early Saturday afternoon, several European states, along with Canada and Japan, rejected the plan in its current form… 

“Despite the clear rejection of Trump’s plan by all of Ukraine’s supporters, there is still considerable agitation in South Africa. This is because the central goal of both Ukraine and the Europeans is apparently to avoid completely alienating Trump. They are suppressing their anger at the US president, hoping that he will ultimately remain involved in the war in Ukraine in some way. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, however, will likely reject any alternative plan proposed by the Europeans. Why should Moscow accept something that, in all likelihood, is worse for Putin than the US offer? 

“To prevent the worst, the Europeans are, as usual, doing what a British television reporter in Johannesburg described on Saturday as ‘Trump-pleasing.’ This involves examining Trump’s plans very seriously, even though it is clear that the consequences for the West, excluding the US, would be catastrophic…” 

“That’s why Chancellor Friedrich Merz was surprisingly clear in a press statement during the G20 summit… If Trump doesn’t adjust his plan, he’ll be on his own from Thursday onward – or on Putin’s side. Whether the Europeans are prepared for the consequences of a break with the Americans, Merz left open on Saturday. 

“One thing is certain: the strategy of keeping the US president at the table at all costs is reaching its limits. Merz and the Europeans are increasingly frustrated. Trump wants peace at any price – he doesn’t care how sustainable and beneficial this peace is for Europe… 

“But the headaches of many Western states extend far beyond the Ukraine issue. Early on at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, it was clear: Trump is one of the greatest dangers of our time – also because political assurances from Washington can hardly be relied upon anymore…”
The inevitable separation between Europe and the USA is clearly on the horizon. 

“A Disaster for Europe”

Bild Online published the following commentary by Roman Elchinger on November 21: 

“The US peace plan for Ukraine reads as if it were conceived by Putin himself. If it is truly meant seriously, it would amount to a declaration of surrender for Kyiv and be a disaster for Europe… Such a ‘peace’ would be practically an invitation to the next war for Putin. There are plenty of parallels in history – from the ‘Munich Agreement,’ which was intended to appease Hitler, to Putin’s virtually inconsequential invasion of Crimea. 

“But the truth is also this: We can’t complain about the EU being ignored. Those who are so militarily weak that their security depends on Trump’s USA simply don’t have a seat at the table when the new world order is being discussed. The lesson after almost four years of war in Ukraine is therefore not new, but unfortunately all the more urgent: Europe must become a military power – preferably with its own Army.” 

A European NATO Because of America’s Unreliability? 

Compact wrote on November 23: 

“A prominent Christian Democrat [CSU politician Manfred Weber, chairman of the influential EPP group in the European Parliament] is calling for the EU to be transformed into a military alliance because the US… can no longer be relied upon… 

“Weber said: ‘[We] must… expand the EU into a European NATO. We can no longer rely on the US without reservation.'”

Tagesschau wrote on November 23: 

“The Europeans are now trying, with difficulty, to get back into the game… They have to offer something, for example, regarding security guarantees for Ukraine. It’s about reliability – and that’s difficult to achieve in dealings with Trump.”

Trump Backpedals on Peace Plan 

The Wall Street Journal wrote on November 22: 

“President Trump said Saturday he could be open to changes in the administration’s 28-point plan for ending the war in Ukraine after Kyiv, European governments and even some Republican lawmakers denounced it as far too heavily weighted in Moscow’s favor… He didn’t specify what changes were possible in the plan.” 

He also apparently went back on his earlier insistence that the plan must be accepted by Thanksgiving. But he also repeated his earlier accusation that the war started because of Biden’s and Zelensky’s weak leadership.

Trump Accuses Zelensky and Europe 

CNN wrote on November 23: 

“President Donald Trump slammed Ukraine’s leaders today (Sunday) for what he described as a lack of gratitude… ‘UKRAINE ‘LEADERSHIP’ HAS EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS, AND EUROPE CONTINUES TO BUY OIL FROM RUSSIA,’ Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. 

“The comment harkens back to Vice President JD Vance’s remarks in the Oval Office earlier this year, when he berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a tense meeting and asked, ‘Have you said thank you once?’” 

These accusations are clearly false. 

Europe’s “Alternative” 

The Telegraph wrote on November 23: 

“A rival European plan to end the war in Ukraine… differs sharply from the contentious 28-point proposal put forward by the Trump administration… Among the key differences in the European plan is a requirement for ‘no restriction’ to be placed on the size of the Ukrainian armed forces. 

“Unlike the Trump plan, the European plan does not ban Ukraine from joining Nato, with the final decision subject to ‘consensus within the alliance’. This has long been a point of contention and is likely to anger Russia, which blames Nato for the outbreak of war and fears the alliance’s expansion on its borders. 

“The European plan also states that Kyiv would ‘not be forced to be neutral’ and would be free to invite ‘friendly forces’ to operate on its soil should it so wish… 

“The European proposals call for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire, effectively freezing the current front lines. The ceasefire would be monitored by the US and Europe. Ukraine would receive ‘robust, legally-binding security guarantees, including from the US, to prevent future aggression’ by Russia, Europe’s plan adds… 

“Under the European plan, Ukraine would be ‘fully reconstructed and compensated financially, including through Russian sovereign assets that will remain frozen until Russia compensates damage to Ukraine’.” 

Russia will never agree to this European plan. Nor to a revised Trump plan, as discussed below. 

New Plan to Be Rejected by Moscow 

The New York Post wrote on November 25: 

“Russia is set to reject the new 19-point cease-fire deal drafted by the US and Ukraine but may use disinformation tactics to keep President Trump engaged in continued talks… The White House has said it is working to secure a deal after Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff developed a previous controversial 28-point version of the plan that heavily favored Moscow.  That plan included input from Kyiv, the Trump administration has insisted. [That allegation is ridiculous.] 

“The proposal, roundly criticized by both sides of the US political aisle and international community because it was so one-sided, was then narrowed down to a 19-point plan acceptable to Ukraine after talks between top Washington and Kyiv officials happened Sunday… Russia won’t agree to the 19-point version, as they already weren’t completely satisfied with the broader previous plan… The new 19-point deal vastly differs from the original, eliminating the cap on Ukraine’s active forces and leaving the door open for the country to join NATO.” 

The Daily Mail added on November 25 that Trump is in a “desperate scramble to salvage [the] Ukraine peace deal,” continuing: 

“Trump has dispatched his trusted special envoy to Moscow for crunch talks with Vladimir Putin amid fears his Ukraine peace plan is unraveling… 

“The [new] deal no longer includes amnesty guarantees for atrocities committed during the war. Kyiv has agreed to cap its army at 800,000 men. That initial plan had permanently ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine, limited its army to 600,000, proposed handing the rest of Donbas to Russia – albeit as a demilitarized zone – and mandated that Kyiv hold elections within 100 days. All those clauses are reported to have since been amended or shelved for now.” 

Is the Ukraine War Useful for Germany? 

Nius wrote on November 24: 

“‘What good is the most elaborate debt brake when the Russians are at the door?’ [CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader Jens] Spahn asked in an interview with the FAZ… , adding: ‘To put it bluntly, we Europeans only have two options: We can learn to defend ourselves or we can all learn Russian.’… 

“The Ukraine war has become incredibly useful for the CDU/CSU. It serves as a catch-all justification for everything – from debt to energy to pensions. It has already been used by the second federal government in a row to sacrifice principles. ‘Unfortunately, we now have to break everything because we promised you that you wouldn’t be stabbed anymore,’ is the simplified message. A policy that no longer protects, but only negotiates – at the expense of those who elect it.” 

Bild Online wrote: “Merz’ Christmas Tree is already burning.” 

Spying on American Citizens 

The Associated Press wrote on November 20: 

“The U.S. Border Patrol is monitoring millions of American drivers nationwide in a secretive program to identify and detain people whose travel patterns it deems suspicious… 

“The predictive intelligence program has resulted in people being stopped, searched and in some cases arrested. A network of cameras scans and records vehicle license plate information, and an algorithm flags vehicles deemed suspicious based on where they came from, where they were going and which route they took. Federal agents in turn may then flag local law enforcement. 

“Suddenly, drivers find themselves pulled over — often for reasons cited such as speeding, failure to signal, the wrong window tint or even a dangling air freshener blocking the view. They are then aggressively questioned and searched, with no inkling that the roads they drove put them on law enforcement’s radar… 

“Today, predictive surveillance is embedded into America’s roadways. Mass surveillance techniques are also used in a range of other countries, from authoritarian governments such as China to, increasingly, democracies in the U.K. and Europe in the name of national security and public safety.” 

Big Brother keeps watching and acting… 

“Trump’s Lawyers Without Integrity” 

The Ron Paul Institute published on November 20 an article by Jacob George Hornberger, an American attorney, author, and politician who was a Libertarian candidate for president in 2000 and 2020: 

“Many years ago, when I was practicing law in Texas, I learned that there were, generally speaking, two types of lawyers when it came to being asked for a legal opinion by a client who wished to pursue a certain course of action. 

“The first type of lawyer would carefully research the issue and give his honest, independent-minded opinion as to the legality of the proposed action, even if it wasn’t what the client wanted to hear. That type of lawyer had integrity and would not compromise his legal judgment, even if it angered — and risked the loss of — his client. 

“The second type of lawyer would instead come up with whatever legal reasoning was necessary to please the client, stretching case law and legal analysis in such a way as to justify what the client wanted to do. This type of lawyer had no integrity. His task, as he saw it, was to provide legal cover for his client in case things went the wrong way. 

“When it comes to President Trump’s and the Pentagon’s extra-judicial drug-war killings in the Caribbean, there is little or no doubt that the Office of Legal Counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice falls into the second category. Asked to provide a legal opinion as to the legality of such killings, the office has come up with a memorandum containing inane legal justifications, in an obvious effort to provide legal cover for the people involved in the extrajudicial killings. In fact, the still-secret memo expressly assures U.S. military personnel that they will not face future criminal prosecution for their involvement in the killings. 

“The memo states that the high number of deaths from drug use among American drug consumers constitutes an ‘armed attack’ against the United States… Are Latin American drug dealers entering the United States, kidnapping regular American citizens, physically holding them down, and then injecting drugs into their noses, mouths, or other parts of their bodies?… All of the evidence is that American consumers of drugs are voluntarily buying and ingesting mind-altering substances knowing full well that this isn’t a risk-free endeavor. 

“Another part of the memo claims that the boats that are suspected of carrying drugs are generating revenue for groups that are supposedly in armed conflict with the United States… I don’t see any Latin American cartels landing on American shores and killing American citizens. Indeed, I haven’t seen those boats firing at American Naval vessels or at American B-52s. All I’ve seen is massacres of defenseless private individuals in the face of overwhelming U.S. military power. 

“One of the other justifications on which Trump and the Pentagon are relying is their claim that these boat people are ‘terrorists.’ Apparently that governmental accusation means that they are subject to being exterminated without arrest, indictment, prosecution, conviction, and sentence — that is, without any due process of law for what amounts to an accusation of a criminal-law violation, whether it is drug-war-related or terrorist-related…

“Make no mistake about it: These drug-war killings are the equivalent of legalized murder. They are morally illegitimate, legally illegitimate, and constitutionally illegitimate, no matter the inane legal opinion issued by the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel in an obvious effort to provide cover for the people involved in these killings.” 

Illegal Actions by the Government 

The Ron Paul Institute published on November 20 the following article by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano: 

“America today would terrify the Founding Fathers. Armed troops roam the streets of major cities, masked government agents arrest people without probable cause and disrupt the public speech that the president hates and fears, and the president kills foreigners on the high seas whom he says might commit crimes should their small speedboats miraculously make it 1,500 miles to the United States… 

“The killings at sea will soon reach a federal court as the families of innocent murdered fishermen, and some survivors of botched killings, have signaled to the media their intention to bring actions against the government… Secondly, in September, Trump directed federal agents to disrupt speech that is anti-Christian, anti-capitalism or un-American, and to use their own judgment as to which speech to disrupt… 

“Thirdly, last spring the Department of Homeland Security began arresting Americans and foreigners on suspicion of unlawful presence in the United States. They do this without arrest warrants based on probable cause of crime, and they wear masks so as to startle victims and retard identification in subsequent court proceedings. 

“… there’s a new phenomenon in law called ‘The Kavanaugh Stop.’ This is derived from a bizarre concurring Supreme Court opinion recently written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh in which he argued that race, ethnicity and presence at a car wash are permissible characteristics upon which the government may stop and demand to see papers. And if the feds stop you, he opined, it’s no big deal. Just show them your papers; prove your citizenship. In Justice Kavanaugh’s strange new world, East Germany has been reborn here. That’s just what the Founders feared most.” 

Despicable ICE Conduct 

NBC San Diego wrote on November 21: 

“Two people say U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested their spouses Thursday morning during their green card interviews at San Diego’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office, detailing the incidents they say shocked and stunned them. 

“One was a German man and the other a woman from the U.K., taken into custody while holding her nearly 6-month-old son. 

“The couples don’t know each other but said both people arrested came through legal pathways and have no criminal records. They said their spouses did overstay their visas but were advised by their attorneys that it is traditionally forgiven while in the green card process. [This is absolutely correct; this has always been the case.] These kinds of arrests began Nov. 12, multiple immigration attorneys say, many adding they had never seen anything like this before.   

“Both couples said they had just completed their interviews, the final step in the months-long green card process, when ICE agents walked into the room. ‘Three men with masks and bulletproof vests and guns came in and told us they were going to arrest Tom,’ said Audrey Hestmark. She said her husband Tom Bilger came into the U.S. from Germany on a visa and that they applied for his green card after they got married last year… 

“‘We see the ICE agents come around, and they say that they’re arresting Katie,’ said Stephen Paul. He said his wife originally planned to return to the U.K. last fall to wait there for her entry, but they decided to apply for her green card from here in the U.S. when she learned she was pregnant. He said they knew it would be a high-risk pregnancy and wanted to stay in the U.S. for medical care and family support, and that his attorney advised them this was permissible under immigration law because they were married… [This was absolutely correct legal advice.] 

“‘We were completely shocked, and I feel like we were tricked,’ Hestmark said. ‘We went through every possible legal and appropriate channel. We followed the advice of our lawyer. We were told that our case was straight forward’ [which it was]. ‘She said that she was scared. She was anxious, missed her baby. She just wants to come home,’ Paul said. ‘She said the agents themselves were in the detention down in the basement of the federal building, saying, “What are we doing here? These aren’t the sort of people we’re supposed to be arresting.”’ 

“‘… We were told that it would only be happening to criminals,’ [Hestmark] continued. ‘We’re just normal people, and it’s happening to us.’” 

These despicable episodes—by no means isolated incidents—describe the hallmark of a totalitarian country. And there are no signs that it will get better… only worse. 

Terrifying Footage of ICE Misconduct 

The Mirror wrote on November 18: 

“During a recent edition of World News Tonight, host David Muir, 52, aired unsettling footage of ICE raids in Charlotte, North Carolina… Muir turned the report over to his correspondent Faith Abubey, who was on the ground in Charlotte. She described the scene as one of ‘growing fear and outrage,’ noting that ICE has already detained at least 130 people in the city. Among the footage was a dramatic moment including a woman screaming at a border patrol agent, ‘I’m a U.S. citizen!’ 

“… The broadcast struck a nerve with viewers. On Instagram, one person posted, ‘Oh God help us all.’ Another wrote, ‘Stop this madness.’… A Charlotte local said, ‘It’s heartbreaking to see what’s happening in my city. They aren’t going after criminals; they are stopping workers in a Chick-fil-A parking lot blowing leaves and coming into yards…approaching people simply putting up Christmas lights!!!!’

“A… passionate viewer wrote, ‘…The videos being posted are HORRIFIC. Please don’t tell me ICE is removing violent criminals when they are raiding schools, churches, and the neighborhood grocery store.’… Community organizations report that immigrant-owned businesses shut down over the weekend, residents stayed home, and detentions reportedly happened even near churches and schools.” 

“This crackdown is not isolated to Charlotte. Cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and others have also seen similar operations under Trump’s enforcement agenda…” 

And Now Attack on DACA 

The New York Post wrote on November 26: 

“The mother of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s nephew has been detained by federal immigration officials in Massachusetts [facing deportation to Brazil]… Bruna Caroline Ferreira… shares an 11-year-old son with Leavitt’s older brother, Michael… Ferreira… came to the United States with her family as a child… 

“Ferreira’s lawyer, Todd Pomerleau, contested her arrest, saying she ‘maintained her legal status’ under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. ‘She’s in the process of actually getting her green card and she was abruptly arrested and taken from her young child right before Thanksgiving,’ Pomerleau said… ‘Bruna has no criminal record whatsoever,’ he said… ‘There’s no charges out there. She’s not a criminal illegal alien.’.. 

“A relative of Ferreira [Ferreira’s sister] set up a GoFundMe for her saying she was brought to the US as a child in 1998 and followed all protocols. ‘Since then, she has done everything in her power to build a stable, honest life here. She has maintained her legal status through DACA, followed every requirement, and has always strived to do the right thing,’ the fundraiser said.” 

The Daily Beast added: 

“A DHS spokesperson told the Daily Beast that Ferreira was ‘a criminal illegal alien from Brazil’ … ‘She has a previous arrest for battery. She entered the U.S. on a B2 tourist visa that required her to depart the U.S. by June 6, 1999,’ the spokesperson said. ‘Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, all individuals unlawfully present in the United States are subject to deportation.’… 

“WBUR could not find details of battery charges against Bruna Ferreira in Massachusetts’ online court records.” 

There may be more going on behind the scenes. Karoline Leavitt’s brother Michael and his finance Ferreira split, and Michael subsequently married someone else. Karoline Leavitt and Ferreira seem to have no contact. The allegation that Ferrera was charged with battery remains unproven. The attack on DACA is more than troublesome. 

Trump Attacks Democrats Over “Illegal” Orders 

The New York Post wrote on November 20: 

“President Trump lashed out Thursday at six Democratic lawmakers who released a video on social media this week urging service members to defy ‘illegal orders’ by the administration. ‘It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL,’ Trump thundered on Truth Social Thursday morning. ‘Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand – We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET.’… 

“The 60-second video, titled ‘Don’t Give Up The Ship,’ featured Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, Reps. Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Rep. Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, and Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado… 

“‘Right now, the threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear,’ they said. ‘You can refuse illegal orders … you must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.’ 

“‘This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country,’ Trump added in a second Truth Social blast Thursday. ‘Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???’ ‘SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!’ a third post read. 

“All six Democrats come from military or national security backgrounds. Crow is an Army veteran who won a Bronze Star for his actions during the Iraq War. Deluzio and Kelly served in the Navy and Houlahan served in the Air Force, while Goodlander spent 11 years as an intelligence officer in the Navy Reserve. Slotkin is a former CIA analyst who also worked in the State Department and Pentagon during the Obama administration. 

“‘No threat, intimidation, or call for violence will deter us,’ the sextet fired back at Trump in a joint statement. ‘What’s most telling is that the President considers it punishable by death for us to restate the law,’ they went on… ‘We will continue to lead and will not be intimidated.’” 

Trump’s Ongoing False Accusations 

The Independent wrote on November 23: 

“Donald Trump issued another pair of calls for Democrats who spoke out against illegal orders to the military to be jailed late Saturday evening as he battles a sinking public image and unprecedented resistance within his own party on the Hill… 

“The president was clearly irked by the refusal of congressional Republicans to join him, and used one Truth Social post to insist that America’s legal scholars were on his side – without naming any… legal scholars generally agree that the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights generally protects a wide range of speech and expression against the government… Nothing in the video message released by Democrats would fall outside of those protections, except in the opinions of Trump’s closest loyalists. 

“In fact, a number of constitutional law experts have already spoken about how the video does not call for any use of force to resist the president or his actions; merely telling officers to refuse orders they believe are illegal falls far short of that standard… More telling, however, is the fact that even Trump’s allies in Congress aren’t backing him up…” 

FBI Tries to Intimidate Lawmakers 

The Wall Street Journal wrote on November 25: 

“A group of Democratic lawmakers said the Federal Bureau of Investigation had requested interviews with them after they appeared in a video that… called on troops to disobey unlawful orders… ‘President Trump is using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass Members of Congress,’ the lawmakers said in a joint statement. ‘We will not be bullied.’.. 

“Roger Williams University School of Law professor Peter Margulies said he thought the FBI probe was a frivolous investigation meant to suppress speech. Margulies, who teaches national-security law, said the Democrats were exercising their constitutional power to conduct oversight of the military. ‘Trump is really trying to put the force of the presidency and the Justice Department behind attempts to intimidate Congress,’ he said.  

“The Pentagon on Monday said it is probing allegations of misconduct [facing a military tribunal to be court-martialed] against Sen. Mark Kelly (D., Ariz.), [a retired Navy pilot and astronaut] for his comments in the video.” 

The Independent wrote on November 25: 

“Jacob Thomas, an Air Force veteran… said he was ‘appalled’ by the Pentagon’s announcement of the Kelly investigation. ‘This sham probe, spurred by baseless allegations from the Trump administration, is nothing more than an attempt to silence dissent and intimidate those who remind our troops of their duty to uphold the Constitution over unlawful orders,’ he said in a statement. ‘Senator Kelly’s call to refuse illegal directives is not misconduct, it’s patriotism. We must stand against this abuse of power and protect the integrity of our military institutions.’ 

“Veterans for American Ideals said ‘calling for an investigation into a well-known principle of service is dangerous, and says more about this administration than it does about Senator Kelly. Investigations and threats thereof into those continuing to stand by their principles of service are clearly an attempt to intimidate and silence veterans,’ the group said in a statement to The Independent, ‘the very people who have served honorably and want to ensure our military servicemembers continue to have the opportunity to reflect the honor and integrity that is instilled in us.’”

This is incredible! Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Fishermen—Must Illegal Orders Be Obeyed?” Please note the Editorial in this edition. 

US Troops Invade Mexico 

Daily Mail wrote on November 20: 

“American troops have pulled up on a Mexican beach in a dramatic escalation of tensions after Donald Trump threatened to bomb the country. US ‘contractors’ arrived by boat on Monday at Playa Bagdad, driving signs into the sand near where the Rio Grande empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Alarmed witnesses quickly alerted officials and heavily armed Mexican security personnel rushed to the scene on trucks mounted with machine guns in a terrifying standoff.… The Pentagon, in a deeply embarrassing statement, admitted that its troops were mistaken when they landed on the beach.  

“The Mexican personnel watched as the Americans drove six signs into the ground, which said: ‘Warning: restricted area.’ Written in English and Spanish, they claimed that the beach was the property of the US Department of Defense and had been declared restricted by ‘the commander’. They also said unauthorized access or photography was not allowed in that area and that ‘if you are found here, you may be detained and searched.’ Mexico’s foreign affairs ministry said its navy removed the signs from the sand, which it believed were on Mexican territory.” 

With this kind of stupid “mistaken” conduct, wars start. 

“The Honeymoon Is Over” 

The New York Post wrote on November 23: 

“New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani doubled down Sunday on his claim that President Trump is a ‘fascist’ and ‘despot’… ‘That’s something that I’ve said in the past. I say it today,’ Mamdani told NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ when asked whether he still views Trump as a fascist.

“The socialist pol said he’s eager to work with Trump because they agreed that the Big Apple needs to be more affordable at their surprisingly chummy meeting Friday.” 

Is Trump still saying, then, that Mamdani is a Marxist? That “chummy” relationship won’t last anyhow. 

Trump’s growing frustration is clearly manifested by his verbal and written aggressive outbursts on so many fronts, including angrily calling a female CNN journalist a “piggy.” But maybe it’s more than just frustration. Note the next article. 

Dementia in Trump’s Family? 

The Daily Beast wrote on November 17: 

“In a searing interview on The Daily Beast Podcast, the daughter of Donald Trump’s late older brother, Fred Trump Jr., laid out the clearest case she’s ever made that the president is exhibiting the same signs she once saw in his father, Fred Trump Sr., who had Alzheimer’s ‘for a very, very long time.’ … What she sees in her 79-year-old uncle, she said, is unmistakable. 

“‘There are times I look at him and I see my grandfather,’ Mary said. ‘I see that same look of confusion. I see that he does not always seem to be oriented to time and place. His short-term memory seems to be deteriorating.’ Trump’s lifelong impulse-control problems, she added, are also ‘deteriorating as well.’… Mary described watching Fred Sr.’s decline beginning in the early 1990s—small lapses that escalated into larger ones. By the time the family began spending Easter at Mar-a-Lago to keep him out of public view, she said, he was no longer recognizing people, including her.. 

“Donald Trump’s nephew Fred C. Trump III said last year that he fears a similar path for the president. ‘Like anyone else, I’ve seen his decline. But I see it in parallel with the way my grandfather’s decline was,’ Fred, 61, told People. ‘If anyone wants to believe that dementia did not run in the Trump family, it’s just not true.’” 

Dementia can be responsible for violent and aggressive behavior. 

Absolving Poland of the Holocaust? 

JTA wrote on November 21: 

“The new U.S. ambassador to Poland, Thomas Rose, delivered a speech [in Warsaw] in which he absolves Poland, and by extension, the Polish people, of any responsibility whatsoever for the Holocaust. This is a distortion that cannot be allowed to go unchallenged or unrefuted. 

“… My parents were Polish Jews who were incarcerated in the ghettos of their respective hometowns, Będzin and Sosnowiec, and then deported to Auschwitz, also in Poland, where virtually their entire families were murdered… To be sure, as Rose correctly pointed out, ‘thousands of Poles died saving Jews.’ He neglected to mention, however, that thousands of other Poles callously betrayed their Jewish compatriots and neighbors to the Germans or murdered them outright… 

“It is true that the machinery for the implementation of the Nazi ‘Final Solution of the Jewish Question’ was established by Germans – not Poles – in German-occupied Poland at places such as Auschwitz-Birkenau, Treblinka, and Majdanek. It is also true that more than 7,000 non-Jewish Poles… risked or gave their lives to rescue or help Jews. 

“What Rose seems to overlook, however, is that these heroic and altruistic individuals made up an extremely small minority of the overall Polish population, probably around a quarter of 1%. In addition, the bravery and sacrifice of many other Christian Poles who hid or otherwise tried to save Jews were never formally recognized… Even if we assume that the real figure [of righteous Poles] is 200,000, out of 21 million Poles, that’s only 1%. What about the other 99%?… 

“At the same time, let’s not lose sight — as Rose evidently did — of the many thousands of Poles who voluntarily and often quite viciously assisted the Germans in carrying out the annihilation of Polish Jewry by enthusiastically denouncing hidden Jews or handing them over to the Gestapo. Others blackmailed such hidden Jews, thereby making a horrific situation exponentially worse. Others still profiteered callously from the removal of Jews to ghettos and their deportation to death and concentration camps… there were in fact Poles who killed tens of thousands of Jews, perhaps as many as hundreds of thousands, during the years of the Holocaust… as many as 200,000 Jews were killed in Poland during the war by Poles, not Germans… 

“Rose also seems to ignore — or may be unaware of — the thousands of members of the  Polish police, known as the ‘Blue Police’ because of the color of their uniforms, who assisted the Germans in rounding up Jews, often rousted Jews out of their hiding places, and stole Jewish property as perks of their job…  A further highlight in the litany of things Rose chose not to mention in his speech was the horrific 1941 slaughter of hundreds of Jews by Poles in the eastern Polish town of Jedwabne. And then there was the post-war 1946 pogrom in the city of Kielce in which a Polish mob killed 46 Jews who had managed to survive the Holocaust.” 

Why is it that politicians seem to be eager to distort history? 

Trump Interferes in European Migration Policy

Bild Online wrote on November 23: 

“The US government… considers Europe’s refugee policy naive and dangerous and is concerned about the global consequences. This was already known. What’s new is that Washington is now actively trying to persuade countries like Germany, Great Britain, and Sweden to adopt stricter rules and laws. US ambassadors will be tasked with this in the future. 

“The State Department… has issued a directive to US embassies and consulates. They are to monitor the migration policies of other countries and, if necessary, intervene in them, according to the statement… In the message, the department announces concrete measures: ‘US officials will urge governments to act boldly and protect citizens from the dangers of mass migration.’… Another directive goes to the embassies: US officials are to immediately review regulations in Western countries that would favor migrants at the expense of their own citizens.” 

Europe won’t be happy about this American interference. 

Push for Euthanasia 

LifeSiteNews wrote on November 17:

“Canadian doctors are warning that Health Canada’s push for euthanasia is forcing doctors to suggest assisted suicide to patients… physicians are forced to discuss euthanasia or so-called ‘medical assistance in dying’ (MAID) with vulnerable patients according to Health Canada protocol… The document mandates that doctors and nurses must tell a patient about the assisted suicide options available to them while discussing medical care. 

“… many disabled Canadians are being pressured to end their lives with euthanasia during routine medical appointments… Canadians are choosing euthanasia because of poverty and loneliness, not as a result of allegedly terminal illness. 

“In one case, an Ontario doctor revealed that a middle-aged worker, whose ankle and back injuries had left him unable to work, felt that the government’s insufficient support was ‘leaving (him) with no choice but to pursue’ euthanasia. Other cases included an obese woman who described herself as a ‘useless body taking up space,’ which one doctor argued met the requirements for assisted suicide because obesity is ‘a medical condition which is indeed grievous and irremediable.’ 

“… Currently, wait times to receive actual health care in Canada have increased to an average of 27.7 weeks, leading some Canadians to despair and opt for euthanasia instead of waiting for assistance. At the same time, sick and elderly Canadians who have refused to end their lives have reported being called ‘selfish’ by their providers. The most recent reports show that euthanasia is the sixth highest cause of death in Canada…” 

What a disgusting world we are living in.

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.

What do we know about the history of Thanksgiving Day? Is this Festival an occasion that true Christians can participate in? What do we read in general about true thankfulness to God for His physical blessings, even in difficult times, and how can Thanksgiving Day contribute to this attitude of thankfulness?

In our free booklet, “Is That In the Bible? Man’s Holidays and God’s Holy Days,” we say the following about “Thanksgiving Day”:

“The first observance of the Thanksgiving Festival in America occurred in early November or December of 1621… when the Governor of Plymouth Colony, William Bradford, appointed a three-day feast. That observance was established to show gratitude to the Almighty as that difficult year drew to an end and the harvest was plentiful. While this was not the first Thanksgiving in America (thanksgiving services were held in Virginia as early as 1607), it was America’s first Thanksgiving Festival…

“Following that first observance, the colonists continued to celebrate days of thanksgiving annually, in recognition of the blessings received of this new land. The first Thanksgiving to God… in Plymouth Colony was actually celebrated during the summer of 1623, when the colonists declared a Thanksgiving holiday after their crops were saved by much-needed rainfall.

“This day has been preserved and continued by Presidents of the United States who believed, more or less, in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the Bible, as a source of national greatness and integrity. In 1789, America’s first President, George Washington, issued a Thanksgiving proclamation in honor of the new Constitution. He stated, ‘It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.’

“God illustrates this principle in Deuteronomy 17:18–19. He specifically shows that it is His desire that the leaders of nations govern based upon the principles and laws of the Bible. Abraham Lincoln recognized the need for the people to stay close to God if they would continue to receive the blessings, which were being afforded them by the Almighty… On October 3, 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day; a day set aside to give God thanks for the blessings He continued to bestow upon America…

“That proclamation was repeated for the following 75 years by every subsequent president, until 1939, when Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving Day up one week earlier than had been tradition, to appease merchants who wanted more time to feed the growing pre-Christmas consumer frenzy. Folding to congressional pressure two years later, Roosevelt signed a resolution returning Thanksgiving to the fourth Thursday of November, as Congress in 1941 permanently set the fourth Thursday of each November as America’s national day of Thanksgiving.

“But would God have true Christians keep this day as a national holiday, since this is not a day He established and specifically requires in Scripture?

We have examples of national holidays established by the Jews and recorded in Scripture for historical purposes—days, which were not instituted specifically by God. Thus, the fact that Thanksgiving Day was established by man, does not, in itself, make it wrong for a Christian to celebrate such a day.

“In John 10:22–23, we find Jesus attending the ‘Feast of Dedication,’ which was established by the Jews to commemorate the purification of the Temple at Jerusalem… Christ’s attendance at that annual holiday clearly illustrated that it was not wrong to attend and celebrate a national holiday established for the right purposes…

“Esther and Mordecai established the Feast of Purim to commemorate the deliverance of the Jews from Haman (Esther 9), and the Bible does not condemn them for this.

“A very significant point here is that we do not find pagan origins in the Jewish holidays of the ‘Feast of Dedication’ or the ‘Feast of Purim.’ That is true also in relation to the establishment of Thanksgiving as a national holiday. Of course, the early pilgrims celebrated their first Thanksgiving Day in 1621 together with Native Americans, but they did so to thank God—not pagan gods—for His protection and blessing…”

The celebration or observance of the Thanksgiving Festival can serve as a reminder to be thankful to God for His blessings. It is true, of course, that because of its sinful conduct, the USA is losing many of its original blessings which God had promised to Abraham due to his unwavering and uncompromising obedience. Because of the unwise political decisions of the leadership, many American consumers are suffering today from high prices for goods and services, and many cannot afford proper housing. But there is still much Americans can be thankful for, and Americans are still blessed bountifully in comparison to many nations around the world.

Especially true Christians have obtained God’s promise that God will bless them with food, clothing and shelter when they seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness first (Matthew 6:33; Luke 12:31), and David proclaimed that even in his old age, he had never seen a righteous person forsaken by God and his children begging for bread (Psalm 37:25).

In our Q&A, “Does God promise us physical blessings when we lead a righteous life?”, we showed that God gives us promises of physical blessings, when we have the right priorities and obey Him.

And so, the Bible instructs us to recognize this fact and to give thanks to God continually for His blessings—not just on Thanksgiving Day, but most certainly also during the Thanksgiving Day weekend.

1 Chronicles 16:34 tells us: “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”

We read in 1 Chronicles 29:12-13:

“Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name.”

Also note Psalm 107:8-9:

“Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing [thirsty] soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.”

As the early pilgrims celebrated Thanksgiving Day, we too should recognize where our blessings originate, and thank God for it:

Psalm 67:6 states (RSV): “The earth has yielded its increase [or harvest]. God, our God, has blessed us.”

Ephesians 5:20 instructs us to give “thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 4:4-7 adds what we need to do in times of need:

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 states:

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

As the Thanksgiving Festival draws to a close this year, let us not stop thanking God for His bountiful blessings, appreciating what He has given us and not covetously desiring those things which we do not have, while becoming unthankful in respect to those things which God has blessed us with.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

compiled by Dave Harris

“Killing of Fishermen—Must Illegal Orders Be Obeyed?” a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Six Democratic lawmakers urged service members to defy illegal orders. President Trump called them traitors and described their conduct as seditious behavior at the highest level, advocating their arrest and death. Whether or not they had the killing of fishermen on the high seas in mind, who allegedly tried to smuggle dangerous and deadly drugs into the United States, are these killings legal? And more importantly, what does God say about them?

“Tötung von Fischern—Muss man illegalen Befehlen gehorchen?” a new AufPostenStehen program presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. This German program covers the same material as described above.

“Übersehen wir wichtige Lehren im Buch Hiob?” is the title of this Sabbath’s new German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Do We Overlook Important Lessons in the Book of Job?”

“Das wahre Evangelium – Die wichtigste Botschaft unserer Zeit,” last Sabbath’s first split German sermon presented by Mark Völler, is now posted. Title in English: “The True Gospel – The Most Important Message Of Our Time.”

“Wir haben einen himmlischen Vater,” last Sabbath’s second split German sermon presented by Johann Schell, is now posted. Title in English: “We Have a Heavenly Father.”

“Is the Second Commandment Needed?” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Paul Niehoff, is now posted. Here is the summary:

When we read the Ten Commandments, it would appear that the first commandment would make the second commandment unnecessary. However, God knows the nature of men and their tendency toward idolatry, and therefore included the second commandment because of this tendency.

“Staying in Your Lane, Part 2,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Rene Messier, is now posted. Here is the summary:

This sermon provides several examples of those who stayed in their lane. We will also see how God rewarded them for their faithfulness and desire not to compromise by carrying out the instructions given to them.