The Update

On May 17, 2025, Norbert Link will present the sermonette, titled, “Comments on News and Prophecy, May 17, 2025,” and Brian Gale will present the sermon, titled, “Consider This…”

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.

Now that the weather in our northern hemisphere is warming up and summer is approaching fast, we find ourselves getting involved in things we cannot do in the fall and winter, when the weather starts to turn. One of the first things that has to be done up here in Canada is the raking of all the leaves and branches which may have been broken by winds in the wintertime or broken by the weight of snow. Depending on the yard, that can be quite a chore, including preparations as far as fertilizer is concerned and getting the soil ready for planting. As the weather warms up, we have more outdoor activities and projects that can take up our time which is not so much an issue in the winter when we could spend more time on maintaining our relationship with God.

When we have a lot on our plate, we could get distracted, and we may start going down roads that take up time and take away from the things we ought to be doing.

It’s important to prioritize our time and not to neglect our prayer and Bible study which will otherwise cause a setback in our relationship with God. Satan is always there to provide ample opportunities for distractions, misdirection and getting us going on projects that take away time we should be spending in prayer and in studying the Bible. If we start neglecting our relationship with God, it could lead to sin, and then Satan accuses us before God of conduct which he instigated in the first place.

Summertime is a busy time for all, and it’s great to get out of the house and enjoy nature and more sunshine from the cold gloomy winter, and we appreciate the things we can do which we cannot do in the winter, but we have to make sure we are not robbing God of the time we should be spending with Him. God wants us to have a full and joyful life, but let’s ensure we don’t give in to the many possible distractions which might cause us to neglect God.

by Norbert Link

We are beginning with many reports on the new Pope, Leo XIV. Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “The Pope Is Alive … Now What?”  

We continue with the fear that nuclear war is coming; and point out the volatile situations involving the USA, the UK, Canada, Europe, Russia, China, Ukraine, India and Pakistan. We also report on Trump’s trip to the Middle East.

Pope Leo XIV… Up to the Task?

The Independent wrote on May 9:

“The first-ever American-born pope inherits a world in crisis… Leo XIV’s vision for the Catholic church is one of ‘peace and justice’ and ‘building bridges’ ready to receive, with open arms, ‘all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love.’… His urgent message of peace confronts vast suffering and death from brutal wars, simmering tensions among nuclear powers, a long shadow of abuse within a church he now leads, and humanitarian outrage from his home country following three months of chaos under Donald Trump’s administration…

“The papal conclave… selected Leo XIV despite allegations that he had mishandled sexual abuse cases involving priests in both Peru and the United States. Survivors of abuse are now demanding accountability from the new pope… Leo XIV — the ‘Latin Yankee,’ as he is known in Rome — follows the Jesuit legacy of Francis in South America.”

Leo XIV has been hailed by many, including his own brother, as a “second Francis.” But this may or may not be an accurate designation.

Pope Leo XIV… Not So Good News For Trump?

The New York Post wrote on May 8:

“Newly elected Pope Leo XIV spent years amplifying criticism of President Trump’s policies on social media — with the Catholic Church’s first American leader taking particular aim at the Republican’s hardline immigration stance… His final X post before being elected… was a retweet of a message from Philadelphia-based Catholic commentator Rocco Palmo, who on April 14 slammed Trump’s partnership with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele on deportation of illegal migrants… ‘Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?’ the tweet reads…

“Prevost was also an active participant in US political discussion during Trump’s first term — in 2017 retweeting a post from Palmo that said, ‘Calling refugee bans ‘a dark hour of US history,’ [Chicago Archbishop] Blase [Cupich] says “the world is watching as we abandon our commitment to American values”’. Also in January 2017, the new pope retweeted a message from Jesuit priest James Martin, who wrote, ‘We’re banning all Syrian refugees? The men, women and children who most need help? What an immoral nation we are becoming. Jesus weeps.’…

“The new pope expressed his opinion on other subjects as well. In October 2017, Prevost retweeted a call for new US gun control from Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) after a gunman murdered 60 people in Las Vegas…

“Trump congratulated the new pontiff on Truth Social and told reporters outside the West Wing that he was thrilled that an American will hold the post… ‘It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!’…”

Other Popes Leo…

CNN wrote on May 8:

“The first Pope Leo, who served in the fifth century (from 440 to 461), is known as ‘Leo the Great,’ and is remembered [in legend] for persuading Attila the Hun to halt his invasion and spare the Roman Empire from destruction… The name Leo derives from the Latin for ‘lion,’ suggesting strength and courage.”

It was also suggested that his name choice could represent a pope who wants to be strong during a time of crisis, with a profound respect for tradition and history.

There have been 14 popes with the name of Leo. Famous was Leo III. (795-816). He is notable for the coronation of Charlemagne as Emperor of the Romans on Christmas Day, 800 CE. [see below].

CBS News wrote on May 9:

“Leo I… wrote Leo’s Tome, a document that influenced the official doctrine defining Jesus Christ as both fully human and fully divine. [A totally false teaching.]…

“… the last pope to use the name Leo, Pope Leo XIII, who was the head of the Catholic Church between 1878 and 1903… is perhaps most famous for writing the Rerum Novarum… which translates to ‘On New Things,’ but the Latin meaning is also ‘On Revolutionary Changes.’…”

Why Did the Pope Pick Leo? Here’s Why the Name Is So Important in the Catholic Church

National Geographic wrote on May 9:

“Pope Leo I tangled with Attila the Hun and won…

“Elected in A.D. 795, Pope Leo III was the pope who crowned Charlamagne as the first Holy Roman emperor. ‘Many historians credit Charlemagne with spreading Christianity across these formerly pagan regions, bringing a common culture and homogeneity to disparate tribes.’ The ruler became defender of the Christian faith and, under him, the continent flourished.

“Pope Leo III’s decision to name the emperor as leader of the Church reaffirmed the relationship between the papacy and the Frankish rulers who would protect the Catholic Church against threats.

“Things came to a head after Constantinople closed all its Latin churches. In response, Pope Leo IX sent a delegation led by Hubert of Silva Candida to Constantinople ostensibly to settle the disagreement with Patriarch Michael Cerularius. Instead, Hubert placed an excommunication bull for the patriarch in the city on the altar at Hagia Sophia on July 16, 1054 A.D. Pope Leo IX had died by the time of the excommunication, but it was nonetheless a move that he had initiated. As a result, the Roman Catholic Church based in Rome and the Eastern Orthodox Church centered in Constantinople became two separate entities after this Great Schism…

“Another Pope Leo—Pope Leo X—also faced a divisive moment within Christendom. Pope Leo X… held the papal see from 1475 to 1521 A.D. During the last year of his pontificate, Pope Leo X excommunicated Martin Luther…”

Before and after the Great Schism, Bible prophecies focus on the development of the Catholic Church, headquartered in Rome.

Why the Name Leo XIV was Chosen?

Breitbart wrote on May 10:

“Speaking with the College of Cardinals on Saturday, [the new pope said:]

“‘I chose to take the name Leo XIV. There are different reasons for this, but mainly because Pope Leo XIII in his historic Encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution… In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labor…’”

It is doubtful that this was the main reason for the choice of the name Leo. Note the next article.

The Pope and the Latin Mass

The Federalist wrote on May 9:

“[I’m setting] aside the obvious fact that Pope Leo is far more conservative on issues like abortion and gay marriage than most MAGA influencers… Pope Leo appears to be far more traditional and liturgically orthodox than his predecessor. In particular, he seems to have a special devotion to the Traditional Latin Mass.

“This matters a great deal more than whether he has policy disagreements with Trump over things like immigration or gun control… Pope Francis was infamously hostile toward the Latin Mass despite its growing popularity around the world, especially among young people, converts, and Catholics committed to conforming their lives to the orthodox Catholic faith… In contrast, there are ample signs that Pope Leo will reverse course on the Latin Mass, lift restrictions on its celebration.

“… a restoration of the Latin Mass under Pope Leo would mean a return to doctrinal clarity and confidence, and a renewed papal resistance to the modernizing factions within the Catholic Church, such as the German prelates who for many years have been pushing for the ordination of women and communion for divorced-and-remarried Catholics. Above all, the restoration of the Latin Mass will all but guarantee that this pope will not push doctrinal boundaries the way Pope Francis did, and will return the Holy See to its traditional role of defending the Catholic faith and evangelizing the world.

“… In recent days multiple Catholic commentators have reported that Pope Leo, when he was Cardinal Prevost, privately celebrated the Latin Mass for years, including at the Vatican in recent years, where he had a special indult from Pope Francis to do so… the blessing Pope Leo gave the crowd from St. Peter’s Basilica was in Latin, using a formula that has not been used since Pope Pius XII in 1939. On Friday, Pope Leo celebrated the first Mass… in Latin…

“All Catholics should hope and pray for this, but so should all non-Catholics, whether Protestants or unbelievers, for the simple reason that… without a clear, strong voice in the Holy See defending the faith, our civilization will not long endure.”

The mother church with its daughter churches will become all-powerful again in these last days.

Where the New Pope MIGHT Stand…

Newsmax wrote on May 11:

“Based on a 2012 address to bishops, Leo would likely bring the church back in line.

“In that speech, Cardinal Robert Prevost accused the media of fostering ‘sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the Gospel.’ He cited the ‘homosexual lifestyle’ and ‘alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children,’ according to the Post.

“Also, Prevost shot down a government initiative to promote gender ideology in schools while he was bishop of Chiclayo in northwestern Peru. ‘The promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that don’t exist,’ he told media outlets at the time.

“On abortion, Prevost posted [a] photograph from a March For Life event in Chiclayo with the exhortation, ‘Let’s defend human life at all times!’ That includes a push against euthanasia…

“In regards to capital punishment, Prevost said in a 2015 post, ‘It’s time to end the death penalty.’

“The new Pope is aligned with the previous Pope on climate change. In November, Prevost said it is time to move ‘from words to action’ on the ‘environmental crisis,’ the Post reported…”

And then there are the issues of immigration and gun control…

Capitulation Day

The Guardian wrote on May 12:

“Donald Trump will inevitably claim Monday’s temporary truce in the US-China trade war as a victory, but financial markets seem to have read it for what it is – a capitulation. Stocks were up and bond yields were higher after the US treasury secretary Scott Bessent’s early morning press conference in Geneva…

“… tariffs on Chinese goods will be cut from 145% to 30% initially for a 90-day period. In return, China has cut its own tariffs on US imports to 10%, from the 125% it had imposed in retaliation against the White House. That still marks a big shift in the terms of trade between the two countries since before Trump came to power, but falls far short of what was in effect a trade embargo… In other words, the president has caved… the White House seems to have opted for tactical retreat…”

Mediaite added on May 12:

“In a series of posts to X early Monday, Fox Business Senior Correspondent Charles Gasparino delivered a blunt analysis of the drastic temporary tariff reduction by the U.S. and China and the 90-day pause before any further escalation.

“‘Both sides blinked,’ Gasparino wrote. He quickly followed up by adding, ‘I didn’t say we won…. Trump… was forced to back off… when you have to depend on [the markets] as we still do… you can’t go to trade war with the world without bad stuff happening.’”

What Is Trump Even Doing?

The Hill wrote on May 9:

“One of the most frustrating things about the Trump administration is that it offers too much nuttiness to process. Not long ago, the discovery that the president doesn’t know what the Declaration of Independence is would have consumed the country for months. Today, it barely registers because the Trump White House pumps out similar stories two or three times a week.  When you compare such stories to the trade war with China or President Trump’s claim that he doesn’t know whether he’s required to uphold the Constitution, it’s tempting to view Trump’s recent brainstorms on movie tariffs and reopening Alcatraz as mere distractions. That would be a mistake. They are evidence of something much darker than Steve Bannon’s call to ‘flood the zone with s…’

“Alcatraz was closed down in 1963 because it was too expensive to run and too expensive to renovate… Nor can it be ‘substantially enlarged’ because Alcatraz Island is only 22 acres. If you want a new prison for the worst of the worst, Alcatraz would be the last place you would choose. 

“About 20 minutes later, Trump decided he is going to impose a 100 percent tariff on foreign movies… The idea is unworkable and betrays no understanding of how movies are made. What, exactly, is a ‘foreign film?’ Many films are made in multiple locations both inside and outside the U.S. What about content made for television and streaming? And what would you impose a tariff on? The cost of shooting overseas? The movie’s budget? Ticket sales? 

“Apart from all the practical issues, any plan to impose a tax on foreign films is almost certainly an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment. If it isn’t constitutional to impose a two percent tax on newspapers, it’s hard to see how it could be constitutional to impose a 100 percent tax on movies… as a content-based restriction based on the ‘messaging and propaganda’ in foreign films…”

And now, controversial and extremely right-wing conservative White House “adviser” Stephen Miller announced that the Trump administration is considering suspending “habeas corpus,” as we are being invaded by foreign enemies. Can anything become more weird?

Regarding the concept of “habeas corpus,” ctvnews wrote on May 10: “Habeas corpus is a legal principle that allows people who believe they are being unlawfully detained or imprisoned to petition for their release in court.”

Habeas corpus, meaning “you should have the body,” is a legal procedure to ensure that individuals are not unlawfully imprisoned. It is a legal order that requires a person to be brought before a judge to ensure their detention is lawful. It’s a check on government power, protecting against unlawful imprisonment. 

Money Struggles and Mental Health

Study Finds wrote on May 8:

“Americans are drowning in money worries, and it’s taking a serious toll on their mental health. A new survey reveals that 70% of Americans say their financial stress has hit an all-time high, with more than three-quarters feeling totally alone in their struggle to manage money pressures.

“Even worse, this financial strain is affecting people’s overall well-being, with 20% reporting worse mental health over the past year. The survey found that 40% of respondents have skipped work or school to focus on their mental health…”

But everything is getting better in the USA, right?

Fighting Big Pharma

The Associated Press wrote on May 12:

“President Donald Trump on Monday signed a sweeping executive order setting a 30-day deadline for drugmakers to electively [sic] lower the cost of prescription drugs in the U.S. or face new limits down the road over what the government will pay…

“It’s unclear what — if any — impact the Republican president’s executive order will have on millions of Americans who have private health insurance. The federal government has the most power to shape the price it pays for drugs covered by Medicare and Medicaid… The nation’s pharmaceutical lobby, which represents the top U.S. drugmakers, immediately pushed back against Trump’s order, calling it a ‘bad deal’ for American patients…”

Of course, Big Pharma would oppose this, as their incredible profit from overcharged drug prices might be somewhat diminished. As the article points out:

“Taxpayers spend hundreds of billions of dollars on prescription drugs, injectables, transfusions and other medications every year through Medicare, which covers nearly 70 million older Americans. Medicaid, which provides nearly-free health care for almost 80 million poor and disabled people in the U.S. also spends tens of billions of dollars each year for drugs.”

On average, drugs in the USA are approximately three times more expensive than the same drugs in Europe.

Many Afraid of World War III

Global News Canada wrote on May 6:

“Eighty years after VE-Day, which marked the formal Nazi surrender and the end of six years of war in Europe, many fear a third world war is imminent. New [polling] conducted in Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.S. shows that between 41 per cent and 55 per cent of respondents in each country think another world war is likely to occur within the next five to 10 years. Forty-five per cent of Americans hold the same view…

“If another world war happens…, the majority (68 to 76 per cent) believe the conflict would involve nuclear weapons. Moreover, 57 to 73 per cent think that a third world war would result in a higher casualty count than previous global conflicts…  25 to 44 per cent believe that if another world war were to occur in the next five to 10 years, it would result in the deaths of most of the world’s population… 72 per cent believe there is a likelihood that nuclear, biological, or chemical warfare could happen somewhere in the world.

“… most people felt their respective country’s militaries would not be sufficiently prepared to enter a war. ‘Only a minority of western Europeans believe their national militaries could effectively defend their countries in the event of a third world war, ranging from a low of 16 per cent in Italy to a high of 44 per cent in France,’ the survey says. ‘By contrast, 71 per cent of Americans have confidence that the armed forces could defend their country,’ YouGov found.

“As for the source of the threat, most European countries cite Russia as the culprit, with 72 to 82 per cent of Western Europeans telling YouGov they see the superpower as a major or moderate threat to peace in Europe. Meanwhile, 69 per cent of Americans agreed.

“Since the beginning of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term, attitudes towards Europe’s once-steadfast ally have shifted, with many now considering the country [the USA] a looming threat to peace… ‘With Donald Trump making threats against Greenland, Canada and Panama, as well as his stance on Ukraine, a majority of people in Spain (58 per cent), Germany (55 per cent) and France (53 per cent) see tensions between Europe and the U.S. as a major or moderate threat to continental peace,’ it says. ‘Meanwhile, Americans are less likely to say so, although a third (34 per cent) still agree with their western European counterparts,’ the polling continues.”

Nuclear War—a Frightening Scenario

The Telegraph wrote on May 10:

“The Arms Control Association, a US-based nonpartisan organisation, counts more than 12,100 nuclear weapons in the world today, 90 per cent of them held by the US and Russia. China, France, Britain, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea hold the remainder.

“They are generally delivered by very fast ICBMs that fly into space and can reach targets less than half an hour after launch. Some carry multiple warheads that then independently plummet to different targets. They are almost impossible to intercept.

“While we tend to think of mushroom clouds over Hiroshima and Nagasaki and memories of GCSE physics – the banging together of lumps of uranium or plutonium until electrons start smashing apart atoms – most of the weapons in the nose cones of today’s missiles are different beasts entirely.

“These ‘thermonuclear’ weapons use a Hiroshima-style device only as the trigger for another device, nestled next to it in the same bomb casing, that contains isotopes of hydrogen that fuse into helium atoms. That is the same thing that happens in the centre of the sun, and it generates extraordinary amounts of energy.

“The Hiroshima bomb killed 66,000 people with 15 kilotons of power – the equivalent of 15,000 tons of conventional TNT high explosive going off at once. But the most powerful thermonuclear weapons ever exploded, the US Castle Bravo test in 1954 and the Soviet Tsar Bomba in 1961, released 15 and 50 megatons respectively. One megaton equals 1,000 kilotons. There is, Soviet scientists concluded after testing the Tsar Bomba, practically no upper limit to the destructive power of such devices…”

Is Trump Abandoning Netanyahu?

Israel Today wrote on May 9:

“Sources claim Trump is fed up with Netanyahu and tired of Israel standing in the way of his Middle East vision.

“If the Reuters report is accurate and Donald Trump is no longer making normalization with Israel a condition for the US supporting a civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia, this would prove what many fear: Trump has thrown Israel under the bus.

“But this report doesn’t come out of nowhere. It fits into a series of American moves that have shaken Israel in recent months—whether it’s the secret dialogue with Iran, the US announcement of an agreement with the Houthis that Israel only learned about through the media, the omission of Israel from Trump’s upcoming Middle East trip, the warm relations with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at Israel’s expense, the planned withdrawal from Syria, and much more.

“… The US administration is frustrated with… the obstacles Jerusalem is creating for Washington’s vision for the Middle East—a vision that is supposed to earn Trump the Nobel Peace Prize.”

The White House responded by saying that reports about friction between Trump and Netanyahu are “preposterous.”

Will Israel Do It Alone?

Breitbart wrote on May 9:

“Netanyahu is reaching the point where he will attack Iran’s nuclear sides — and, ironically, it is President Donald Trump who is pushing him there. That might seem odd, given that Trump has been more supportive of Israel than any other U.S. president… Trump is now pursuing a new nuclear deal with Iran, and early reports suggest that it will have many, if not all, of the same features that made President Barack Obama’s Iran deal such a failure…

“Netanyahu recently said that no deal would be a better option than a bad deal. Meanwhile, Trump reportedly has grown frustrated with him, and is prepared to act without his cooperation. But the feeling is mutual. Netanyahu has been recalling, in public, the many times that Israel acted on its own, regardless of who was in the White House, to protect its interests. He is clearly setting the stage for Israel to strike Iran unilaterally….

“Moreover, the Trump administration has twice surprised the Netanyahu government in the past several weeks. First, as Netanyahu sat next to him in the White House last month, Trump announced that the U.S. would talk with Iran. Next, Trump announced a ceasefire with the Houthis — without Israel, which the Houthis vowed to continue attacking.

“Netanyahu does not want to risk his relationship with Trump… but he also does not want to go down in the in history as the leader who could have protected his country, but did not. (Especially after October 7.) The chance is growing that Israel will strike Iran on its own… do not be surprised when it happens.”

Trump in the Middle East

Reuters reported on May 13:

“The US agreed on Tuesday to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package worth nearly $142 billion, according to a White House fact sheet that called it ‘the largest defense cooperation agreement’ Washington has ever done.

“The agreement, signed during US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Saudi capital Riyadh, covers deals with more than a dozen US defense companies in areas including air and missile defense, air force and space advancement, maritime security and communications, the fact sheet said.”

In 2019, a congressional rebuke of Saudi Arabia followed the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, which weakened support for Riyadh in Washington after US intelligence agencies found that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) ordered the operation. MBS has never been held accountable, and the newly-found “friendship” between MBS and Trump is embarrassing, to say the very least.

Trump encouraged Saudi Arabia to sign the “Abraham Accords,” which have established by now formal ties between Israel and four Arab countries. Trump also encouraged Saudi Arabia to recognize the State of Israel. Saudi Arabia had stated that in order to do so, a Palestinian State must be recognized first. According to the Bible, Saudi Arabia will turn against Israel—and perhaps the USA—in an effort to destroy Israel. Trump also announced that Saudi Arabia will invest $600 billion in the USA.

Further, in a major policy shift, Trump declared in Riyadh that he will end sanctions against Syria under Syria’s new president Ahmed al-Sharaa (whom Trump met in Saudi Arabia), who has been called by Israel a jihadist, leading a “terror group from Idlib that took Damascus by force”. Sharaa was for years the leader of al Qaeda’s official wing in the Syrian conflict. He first joined al Qaeda in Iraq, where he spent five years in a U.S. prison. The United States removed a $10 million bounty on Sharaa’s head in December. Trump encouraged al-Sharaa to join the Abraham Accords recognizing Israel and said al-Sharaa would do so once his country has stabilized.

Trump’s policy shift came about after pleas from MBS and Turkey’s PM Erdogan.

Later, Trump flew to Qatar where he signed an agreement with Qatar to generate an economic exchange worth at least $1.2 trillion. Trump also announced economic deals totaling more than $243.5 billion between the United States and Qatar, including a historic sale of Boeing aircraft and GE Aerospace engines to Qatar Airways.  

Fox News Host Mark Levin, a strong supporter of Trump, was not happy with his tour of Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Levin blasted Saudi Arabia for playing a “significant role in the 9/11 slaughter of our people.” He also condemned Qatar for having “protected the leader of the 9/11 attack from the FBI, before he was able to launch his war on America that killed our people.”

Canada and Europe on Defense

The Canadian Press wrote on May 9:

“As U.S. President Donald Trump continues to cast doubt on the future of the NATO military alliance, Canada is looking to partner with the European Union on defence… European companies already invest fairly heavily and extensively in Canada, including on defence…

“Separately, Germany and Norway have proposed partnering with Canada to procure new submarines…

“… the EU wants to use the clout it enjoys due to the size of its market to set military procurement standards that would make it easier for European armies to work together…”

Russia and China vs. USA

NBC News wrote on May 9:

“Russia marked the 80th anniversary of the World War II victory over Nazi Germany on Friday with a parade attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, as the two countries vowed to strengthen ties and ‘firmly’ counter U.S. influence… thousands of Russian troops marched on Red Square, with military units from China and 12 other countries also taking part…

“In a lengthy joint statement, Xi and Putin said they would deepen military and other ties and ‘strengthen coordination and jointly respond firmly to the United States’ policy of ‘dual containment’ against both countries.’”

The Kings of the East alliance is getting stronger.

The U.S. Is Unloved

Politico wrote on May 12:

“The world is more divided than ever, but there’s still something (nearly) everyone agrees on: The U.S. is unloved. A majority of people surveyed had an overall negative perception of the U.S… America’s reputation took a particularly massive hit in EU countries…

“Meanwhile, China kept improving its global standing, overtaking the U.S. for the first time and recording mostly positive perceptions in all regions except Europe. Russia, the reputation of which tanked in the wake of President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, is still (slightly) more unpopular than the U.S. — though its image is also improving…

“Israel emerged as the country with the worst global reputation… especially in the Middle East and South Asia. Israel is unpopular even in European countries that have historically been its allies, such as Germany, signaling growing discomfort with its government’s conduct in Gaza and the West Bank….”

A Peace Deal Between Russia and Ukraine?

Fox News wrote on May 11:

“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to meet face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin… Putin initially proposed the Thursday meeting this weekend, and President Donald Trump prompted Zelenskyy to accept the offer… Ukraine and Russia are currently under a ceasefire marking the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe…

“‘President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH,’ Trump wrote on social media. ‘Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY. At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly! I’m starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin, who’s too busy celebrating the Victory of World War ll, which could not have been won (not even close!) without the United States of America. HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!’ He added.

“Putin has thus far offered few, if any, concessions but is now saying talks should address the root causes of the war. He said he would speak to Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan later on Sunday about facilitating the negotiations…

“Putin’s proposal for direct talks came hours after European leaders [from Germany, France, UK and Poland] demanded on Saturday in Kyiv that the Russian president agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire or face new sanctions. But Putin dismissed attempts by some European powers to issue what he described as ‘ultimatums.’…”

The New York Post wrote on May 15:

“Instead of turning up himself, Putin sent his aide Vladimir Medinsky — his former culture minister… Though Zelensky was ready to meet with Putin for direct talks, he will now send Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to represent Kyiv in the talks with Medinsky.”

The four European leaders communicated with President Trump over cell phone, saying that their proposal for a 30-day ceasefire was “backed by” Trump, and that Russia would face “massive” sanctions if Moscow does not comply. Merz also stated Germany would continue “supporting Ukraine militarily as much as we can”; that “the measures we take together to end this war and what joint decisions we make to secure a possible peace in Ukraine are not matters for public discussion”; and that “Under my leadership, the debate about weapons deliveries, caliber, weapons systems and so on will be kept out of the public eye.” Is he just talking about his leadership of Germany, or his leadership of Europe?

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 15:

“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday pledged to turn the Bundeswehr into ‘the strongest conventional army in Europe.’… ‘Our goal is a Germany and a Europe that are so strong together that we never have to use our weapons,’ Merz said… The chancellor said he believed that ‘anyone who seriously believes that Russia would be satisfied with a victory over Ukraine or with the annexation of parts of the country is mistaken.’”

No Return to EU

The Telegraph wrote on May 9:

“The EU has missed its chance to draw Britain back into its close commercial and regulatory orbit… Each British trade deal with another country or bloc closes the window further on a return to the EU single market and customs union. The agreements with India and the US follow rapidly on Britain’s accession to the East Asia-Latin America trade pact (CPTPP). A deal with the Gulf states is coming soon. These are large parts of the world economy.

“The magnetic pull of the EU can no longer compete with this greater force. All of the accumulating deals would have to be repudiated if Britain were ever again subsumed into the EU’s trading machinery as a satellite – i.e. a de facto EU member without voting rights. To do so would have exorbitant geopolitical consequences and costs. It is safe to say that the Rejoiner dream entered its final agony this week.”

Britain is not to become part of the EU again. However, the nature of the “deal” between the USA and the UK is highly disputed.

Trade “Deal” With UK Bad for USA

The Huffington Post wrote on May 8:

“President Donald Trump boasted on Thursday of a new trade agreement that, on average, triples the taxes Americans will have to pay on British imports…

“According to a chart used by Trump, the new trade deal with the United Kingdom will bring in $6 billion in ‘external revenue’… to describe payments collected by U.S. Customs… The new 10% rate for nearly all goods, which was announced last month for countries all over the world, is three times higher than the 3.4% average rate Americans have paid for goods from Britain and Northern Ireland.

“… In reality, foreign nations pay none of those tariffs. American importers do, predominantly manufacturers buying raw materials and retailers. Both pass along the import taxes in the form of higher prices paid by consumers… If all the tariff rates announced by Trump on his so-called ‘Liberation Day’ on April 2 go into effect, it will cost American importers and consumers an extra $2.4 trillion in new taxes over a decade.”

At the same time, voices in Britain say that the “deal” is bad for the UK.

Starmer Destroys UK Business

Express wrote on May 10:

“This week Keir Starmer has not asked what he can do for Britain, but what Britain can do for America. His attempt at a trade deal has sold our country short of the comprehensive agreement which is what we need. It is a rushed response to Donald Trump’s tariffs that leaves almost every business with worse trading arrangements than we had in January – and far worse off than when he got the job.

“Starmer is parading around like the emperor with no clothes… whilst the world averts its eyes at this sight of our embarrassing leader and his cabinet who understand nothing about business… The right deal with the US could start to repair some of the damage he caused by trash talking the economy, hiking taxes to record highs and the devastating trade union red tape about to be unleashed on business. A comprehensive US trade deal covering all sectors and eliminating tariffs on both sides is the closest he will find to a silver bullet…

“And it shouldn’t have been too hard. He just needs to pick up where we left off when we negotiated with President Trump in his first term… His Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, said that any agreement that didn’t get rid of tariffs would be a failure. By his own mark – Starmer has failed. Most products made in Britain will continue to face the 10% baseline tariff imposed in April…

“As a patriot, I want Keir Starmer to succeed in securing the real deal with America, but this deal just is not it…  With a proper deal, every single part of the UK would benefit from better business access, more investment, better jobs and higher wages…”

India-Pakistan Ceasefire?

Daily Mail wrote on May 10:

“Donald Trump says India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire just hours after both sides boasted of fresh military strikes. The two nuclear-armed neighbours had also traded drone attacks and artillery fire after a gun massacre last month that India blames on Pakistan.

“In a post on social media platform Truth Social, the US President wrote: ‘After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire…’”

Hours after the announcement, both India and Pakistan accused each other of having broken the ceasefire. It appears now that the ceasefire seems to hold.

Germany’s Fight Against “Far-Right Extremists” Continues Under New Government

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 14:

“A spokeswoman for Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office said the founder of the ‘Reich Citizens’ subgroup ‘Kingdom of Germany,’ Peter Fitzek, had been taken into custody on Thursday. Fitzek and three other suspected ringleaders of the group, part of a conspiracy theorist movement that rejects the legitimacy of the modern German republic, were arrested.

“Police on Tuesday conducted raids on the properties of key members of the group in seven German states, making four arrests. The swoop came after [new] Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt banned what is currently the largest group of so-called Reich Citizens. He accused the ‘Kingdom of Germany’ of trying to establish a ‘counter-state’ within Germany [and building] up criminal economic structures…

“According to Dobrindt, the ‘Kingdom of Germany’ group, which reportedly has around 6,000 members, is the biggest association within the Reichsbuerger scene… [S]ome members… refuse demands made by legal authorities, such as fines and taxes. They have also been known to print their own passports and driver’s licenses… The Tuesday raids took place in Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia.”

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 previous Q&As, we’ve already looked at false assertions by some Christian writers that “human beings have an immortal soul, that the present Heaven is a temporary lodging place even though the present Heaven is not our final destination place and that that between our earthly lives and our bodily resurrection God may grant us some temporary physical form that will allow us to function as human beings while in that unnatural state ‘between bodies’ awaiting our bodily resurrection.”  We have also reviewed the spirit in man which is not the same as the soul as the Bible shows, in simple terms, that man is a soul, not has a soul.   We showed that each human being has a non-physical component in his brain, called “the spirit in man.”

We also looked at the fact that the Hebrews did not believe that we go to Heaven when we die. Neither did the early Christians.   We also reviewed the false belief that “the resurrected Christ now dwells in Heaven and that His resurrected body on Earth was physical and that this same, physical Jesus ascended to Heaven, from where He will one day return to Earth.” This leads on to the erroneous assertion, where we are told that it seems indisputable, then, to say that there is at least one physical body in the present Heaven!   Of course, mainstream theology believes that man goes on either to heaven or hell at death together with the fallacy of purgatory and other intermediate states.

We mentioned that the Catholic Church invented a new description of Jesus by stating that “Jesus who has a physical body but with a difference. His resurrected body is designed with eternity in view.”  

Over the years, we have produced much Scriptural evidence on so many topics that much of mainstream Christianity falls short in understanding much of the Bible at all.  If all of the confusion mentioned above was not enough, a further idea is floated—that the present Heaven may be a physical place.   We are not talking about the first or second heaven which are both physical but the third Heaven where God’s throne is.

The following writing is offered by one author as some form of proof: “If we look at Scripture, we’ll see considerable evidence that the present Heaven has physical properties. We’re told there are scrolls in Heaven, elders who have faces, martyrs who wear clothes, and even people with palm branches in their hands. There are musical instruments in the present Heaven, horses coming into and out of Heaven, and an eagle flying overhead in Heaven.”   We showed in our two-part Q&A entitled “Who and What is in Heaven?” that this is a spiritual place and there are no human beings nor anything physical there.

God the Father and Jesus Christ are both spiritual.   Jesus came to earth for a most important purpose and had to be human to fulfil that role.  He was fully man while on earth until His physical death. He was seen, spoke and ate as a physical person would.  After His death and resurrection, He was able to appear through walls, doors and other physical obstructions which no living physical person could do, but which He was able to do as a Spirit Being and the Second member of the God Family.   Those who think that He was still a fully human being and could achieve such feats are deluded, to say the least.   After His resurrection, He could manifest Himself as a human being (without becoming a human being, of course) in order to be with the brethren in a fully locked and enclosed place—something, no physical human being could ever achieve!

So, let us now look at the proposal that the third Heaven could be physical.   In fairness to the proponent of this suggestion, he is not definitively insisting that the third Heaven is physical, but he feels that it could be.   But the fact that he even thinks that it could be is quite alarming.  

In our Q&A, “Who and What is in Heaven?,” we showed that only God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ and angelic beings are in the third Heaven.   It is a spiritual place where no human being has been, except in vision.

The third Heaven refers to God’s home and as He is spiritual, His home is also spiritual.  Man has no idea where it is because it is not a physical domain. It is entirely spiritual. One writer observed that “It could coexist right alongside us, and we wouldn’t even know it. It’s in a completely different plane of existence.”

In Eason’s Bible Dictionary, we read: “According to the Jewish notion there were three heavens: (a) The firmament, as ‘fowls of the heaven’ Ge[nesis] 2:19 7:3,23 Ps[alm] 8:8 etc., ‘the eagles of heaven’ La[mentations] 4:19 etc. (b) The starry heavens De[uteronomy] 17:3 Jer[emiah] 8:2 M[atthew] 24:29 (c) ‘The heaven of heavens,’ or ‘the third heaven’ De[uteronomy] 10:14 1Ki[ngs] 8:27 Ps[alm] 115:16 148:4 2Co[rinthians] 12:2.”

2 Corinthians 12:1-6 is sometimes used as proof that man has been to Heaven:

¹ It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 

² I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 

³ And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 

⁴ how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 

⁵ Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 

⁶ For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

This passage mentions that “Paradise,” the spiritual garden, is in the third Heaven where God dwells and is a Heaven composed of spirit—the third Heaven where God lives (Psalm 11:4; Hebrews 9:24). The physical garden of Eden, which God later created for Adam and Eve, was patterned after the spiritual garden that exists in Heaven, and in which is a spiritual Tree of Life. When the heavenly Jerusalem comes down to the new earth, the heavenly garden, with the Tree of Life in it, will come down to the new earth as well.

One observer wrote: “Don’t read into these verses something that’s not there. Paul isn’t talking about the immortality of the soul. He’s not talking about his soul leaving his body. He didn’t mean to write, ‘I don’t know whether I went to heaven bodily or as a disembodied soul.’ That’s just wrong, though that may be the way it’s usually read. Paul is a Christian. Christians [don’t] believe in… disembodied souls.  Paul is saying that he had an experience of heaven. He calls it a vision or a revelation. The experience was so vivid, so real, however, that if it was an inner vision (a mental panorama), he found it indistinguishable from an actual visit (a physical panorama).”

There are a number of visions that are written about in the Word of God.   Indeed, the apostle John “was in the spirit,” as we read in the book of Revelation (compare Revelation 1:10) to see and write about what He saw there right through to the New Jerusalem coming down from Heaven to earth, but it was in vision only.   He was not there physically.  If it was not in vision, he wouldn’t have seen anything at all as physical human beings can’t see the spiritual realm.  The Topical Encyclopedia states: “The concept of spiritual versus physical realities is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, highlighting the distinction and interaction between the unseen, eternal realm and the tangible, temporal world. This dichotomy is foundational to understanding the Christian worldview, which emphasizes the supremacy of spiritual truths over physical appearances.”

In Colossians 1:16, we read: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”   This shows that the spiritual realm (the invisible) is just as real and authentic as the physical world that we inhabit.  Visible and invisible; what else could the invisible be if it was not referring to the third Heaven?

Think about this.  Would it make any sense for the great Creator God and His Son, Jesus Christ Who have both existed from eternity as Spirit Beings to live in a physical Heaven?    In our Q&A, “Who and What is in Heaven?,” we show that all that is in Heaven is spiritual – there are no non-spiritual beings there and everything else is spiritual too.   We also quoted the following:

“Wikipedia gives the following insight into the 3rd heaven: ‘A third concept of Heaven, also called shămei hashamayim (שׁמי השׁמים or “Heaven of Heavens”), is mentioned in such passages as Genesis 28:12, Deuteronomy 10:14 and 1 Kings 8:27 as a distinctly spiritual realm containing (or being traveled by) angels and God’” (our emphasis).

“In Psalm 47:8 we read: ‘God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.’   And in Psalm 103:19: ‘The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.’”

Everything in the third Heaven is spiritual, and in our free booklet, “Is That in the Bible? – The Mysteries of the Book of Revelation,” we read on page 145:

“Jesus says in Revelation 2:7 that the tree of life is presently in the midst of the ‘Paradise of God.’ ‘Paradise’ describes a beautiful Garden, also called ‘Eden.’ The reference here is to a spiritual garden, which is presently in heaven (compare 2 Corinthians 12:1–4), but which will descend to… earth, together with the (spiritual) tree of life and the heavenly Jerusalem. A reference to the spiritual garden of Eden or Paradise can also be found in Ezekiel 28:13, where Lucifer’s fall from heaven is described.”

Also, on page 141 of the same booklet, we read:

“In addition, John sees the ‘holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God’ (Revelation 21:2). This is a literal city—albeit not physical, but spiritual. (For more information on the spiritual nature of the new Jerusalem, please read our free booklet, “Angels, Demons and the Spirit World.”) That this city is literal and not just a symbolic reference to the Church, for example, can be seen from the very detailed and specific description in Revelation 21:10–22; 22:1–5. We are told in Revelation 21:2, in conjunction with other Scriptures, that God is presently ‘preparing’ this city in heaven (compare Revelation 3:12; Hebrews 11:9–10; 12:22; 13:14; Galatians 4:26). We also read that Jesus Christ is presently ‘preparing’ for us a place in the ‘Father’s house’—the new Jerusalem (John 14:1–3).”

Could anyone really think that God would sit on His throne in a physical heaven while being the supreme Spiritual Being in the universe?   How ludicrous would that be?   Jesus stated in John 5:37: “And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.”   This shows the complete spirituality of the Father and to even think that He would be in a physical place when He is the greatest Spiritual Being that there is, or ever will be, is simply preposterous.

We have a Q&A entitled: “Will there still be physical people after the Great White Throne Judgment?,” and it concludes with this statement: “Taking all the Scriptures together, it is clear that there will be no human physical life in existence after the Great White Throne Judgment, when God will create everything new (Revelation 21:5). For more information regarding that ‘new’ world, please read our free booklet, ‘God Is A Family.’”

Most people who read and understand the Word of God would agree with the statement that the Bible clearly defines the created world as consisting of two distinct realms, the greater of which is the invisible realm of the Spirit.  The natural world is subject to this unseen realm.

The Book of Revelation is full of references showing that the third Heaven where God lives is a Spiritual place and where no physical being is, has been, nor ever will be.

The apostle John saw in vision the Throne Room in Heaven, as recorded in Revelation, chapter 4.   We will quote the whole of this short chapter, showing how spiritual all of this is; hence the reason why John could only see it in vision and not in reality.

¹ After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

² Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

³ And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.

⁴ Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.

⁵ And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

⁶ Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.

⁷ The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.

⁸ The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

⁹ Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,

¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

¹¹ “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

If anyone thinks that that is a description of a physical place, it would be most surprising.

Unquestionably, the third Heaven is God’s dwelling place; He is Spirit, Jesus Christ is Spirit, all of the “elders” and other angels are Spirit, and everything in that most wonderful place is Spirit!

And so back to the question, “Could the third Heaven Be Physical?” The answer is a very complete and comprehensive no!

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“The Pope Is Alive … Now What?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

Is Pope Leo XIV up to the task? What does he stand for? Why is the possible reintroduction of the Latin Mass a big thing for Catholics? Why the name Leo? This program examines some of his predecessors with the name Leo, which might lead to some astonishing parallels.

“Der Papst lebt… was nun?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This program covers the same topics as described above.

A new Member Letter has been mailed to our subscribers and posted. Elder Frank Bruno writes about our need to continue focusing on the Work of God and the Kingdom of God despite the waves of chaos occurring all over the earth

A Tech Team Meeting was held on May 11, 2025. Hosted by Eric Rank, participants discussed the use of AI in video presentations and reviewed results for our booklet advertising.

“Warum so viele falsche Lehren über den heiligen Geist?” is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Why So Many False Teachings About the Holy Spirit?”

“Jeder denkt, sein Weg sei recht,” last Sabbath’s German sermonette presented by Mike Richter, is now posted. Title in English: “Everyone Thinks Their Way Is Right.”

“Laodicean,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Eric Rank, is now posted. Here is the summary:

“Laodicean” describes a city, a church, an era, and an attitude. What can we learn from the description of the church of Laodicea so that we can make improvements in our lives to please God?

“Does the Bible Support Free Speech?” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Dave Harris, is now posted. Here is the summary:

The concept of free speech has been pushed to the limits. People claim the right to say anything, anywhere and at any time, and choosing to only speak the truth may seem irrelevant, but it isn’t to God!

PENTECOST will be observed on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Live Services will be available.