Update 1157

On May 3, 2025, Dave Harris will present the sermonette, titled, “What Is the Prayer of Faith?” and Eric Rank will present the sermon, titled, “Priorities.”

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.

It seems that Eve didn’t understand or believe the difference or the consequences between what was true and what wasn’t true. God warned Adam and Eve that disobedience to Him would result in their death. Satan, however, deceived Eve with a lie, saying, “‘You will not surely die…’” (Genesis 3:4).

Reading the account about how easily both Adam and Eve sinned should cause us to reflect on ourselves when we face Satan’s deception. Add to that the fact that Satan has deceived the whole world and continues to do so (1 John 5:19; Revelation 12:9).

Christians have been called to overcome the deception of Satan, but he still relentlessly seeks to deceive us (1 Peter 5:8). We would be mistaken to think that we can’t be deceived. The Apostle Paul confessed his own struggle in this regard, saying: “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:24-25).

The Apostle James addressed overcoming temptation and the repercussions of falling for deception:

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren” (James 1:12-16).

As human beings, we can’t overcome sin on our own. Just as quoted above about Paul, we need the help of Jesus Christ, Who was tempted but Who never sinned. Satan sought to deceive Jesus by challenging Him with lies, but Jesus overcame him with the Truth and with His commitment to obey God (Matthew 4:1-11). Through God’s Holy Spirit, Christians have help to defeat Satan’s deception:

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Deception is powerful, and it can destroy our faith and trust in God. Yet, Jesus gives us the key to overcome the lies of Satan and his rule over this world. That is to know and choose the Truth (John 8:32). Paul adds this instruction for us:

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:12-13).

Let’s not make it easy for Satan to deceive us. Rather, we must grow stronger and stronger in our obedience to Jesus Christ and the Father so that we may be found worthy of our calling to salvation in the coming Kingdom of God.

by Norbert Link

We report on President Trump’s ill-conceived peace plan for the Ukrainian-Russian war which has no chance of success; speak on Pope Francis and his funeral; America’s inhumane immigration policy; and Trump’s failing approval rate in the USA.

Please view our new StandingWatch program with the title, “Trump’s Peace Plan—A Failure!”

We continue with the elections in Canada, Germany’s militarization; and conclude with Germany’s new ambitious rising star…controversial former Health Minister Jens Spahn; and the chaos in Spain.

Please view our new StandingWatch program with the title, “Trump’s Peace Plan—A Failure!”

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

Trump’s Appeasement Policy

Daily Mail wrote on April 24:

“It’s 11 years since I watched Russian troops stripped of military insignia seize Ukrainian army bases in Crimea, while their president, Vladimir Putin, publicly denied that any of his forces had crossed the border… Following the first annexation of European terrain since the Second World War, the 2.3 million Crimean citizens of Ukraine faced a terrible choice: flee their homes or submit to Russian servitude…

“By showing itself to be an unreliable ally, Washington not only leaves Nato seriously undermined but offers encouragement to China’s grotesque dictatorship in its determination to seize democratic Taiwan… Putin feels emboldened by Trump’s stance, especially given the US failure to approve fresh military aid for Ukraine.

“Britain, like the rest of Europe, can be under no illusions. The world has become more dangerous. Democracy is under threat. We can no longer rely on the US… Trump attempts to force an unjust peace on Ukraine...”

Especially Europe realizes that they cannot rely on the USA and they conclude that they must build up their own powerful and independent war machine.

“Trump’s Folly”

The Sun wrote on April 24:

“Despite his threats and ultimatums, Donald Trump surely knows that walking away from Ukraine would seriously weaken America’s global standing. It could also be as politically damaging as Joe Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“The President would never allow Russia to seize Alaska. So why does he expect Ukrainians to give up huge swathes of land that they have lost tens of thousands of lives bravely defending? Including Crimea which allows Russia to maintain an iron grip on the region. And all without any promise of a US security guarantee or NATO protection?… Meanwhile, where is the pressure on Putin, the aggressor in this war…?

“Currently, it sends an unthinkable message to rogue dictators.  That America allows murderous invaders to win.”

Friend of a Murderer

On April 24, Bild Online published the following commentary by Franz Josef Wagner:

“The sky over Kyiv flickers reddish under the blows of Russian bombs… They are the fingerprints of a murderer. Trump wants to make peace with a murderer. You can’t make peace with a murderer… Trump must look at the pictures from Kyiv… They are all evidence of Putin’s character. You want to make peace with him. What will become of Ukraine then? A slave state… President Trump, don’t become a friend of a murderer.”

Empty Threats to a Dictator

The New York Post wrote on April 24:

“Remember when Joe Biden was facing off against Vladimir Putin? Questioned about the Russian leader’s threats, old Joe memorably said: ‘Don’t.’… On another occasion, a year into the war, Biden got really tough: ‘I don’t have time,’ he warned Putin..

“But today, President Trump continued Biden’s approach. His reaction to one of the biggest missile attacks in the past year was to tell Vladimir Putin, ‘STOP.’ As if Putin is listening.”

Russia’s “Concession”

Deutsche Welle wrote on April 25:

“The US has proposed a deal between Russia and Ukraine, in which the front would be frozen where it is, meaning Ukraine would cede 20% of its country. US President Trump said Russia had made a major concession by not seeking to conquer all of Ukraine.”

Why No Peace in Ukraine-Russia War?

The Sun wrote on April 25:

“EVERYONE says they want peace, so why is the war still raging in Ukraine? The short answer is simple: Peace means very different things to very different people. They have different goals and different motives. 

“Putin wants total conquest. And he wants to be remembered as a modern Tsar who restored Russia’s imperial greatness.

“Ukraine wants to survive, as a sovereign independent nation.

“Europe wants a chastened Russia and peace that lasts beyond six months.

“Trump just wants a deal — any deal at any price — with minerals thrown in for good measure. He wants to claim the glory and perhaps a Nobel Peace Prize for sorting out the carnage…

“The American position is clear from the terrible deal they want Kyiv to accept. Their… plan would freeze the war on the current front lines and force Ukraine to surrender almost all of its occupied territories — some 44,000 square miles — with almost nothing in return… Russia would hand back small pockets of territory… Moscow would also give up its ambitions to capture the… provinces that its troops have been unable to take by force. But crucially, for Ukraine, there are no security guarantees.

“That means there is nothing to stop Russia catching its breath, rearming and invading again a few months or years later. Does that sound unlikely? It is precisely what has happened already. Moscow seized Crimea and parts of Donbas in 2014. Peace deals known as Minsk I and Minsk II were signed in 2014 and 2015 respectively. But they both lacked guarantees… The world watched in horror — and in disbelief — as Moscow spouted brazen lies that they had no plans to invade. The rest, we could say, is history. More than a million troops have been killed and maimed since Putin ordered his full-scale invasion, as have tens of thousands of civilians. Some 20,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported to Russia…

“But if the deal was not bad enough already, the crowning insult to Ukraine is that America would legally recognise Russia’s ownership of Crimea… Russia’s invasion of Crimea in 2014 was the precursor to the war they began in 2023. Legally, Crimea is unambiguously Ukrainian. It has been part of Ukraine since 1991 when the country gained its independence from the USSR.

But Russia claims it is theirs since Catherine the Great seized it from the Ottomon Empire in 1783…

“The American plan rewards Russian warmongering… Everyone says they want peace but Trump is the leader who has made it a priority… He deserves to be applauded for trying to end the war. That is a truly noble aim. But what he needs to realise is that how the war ends matters. Just like with his New York real estate, there are good deals and there are bad deals.”

Trump’s Interview: Give Up Crimea!

Time Magazine wrote on April 25:

“President Donald Trump sat down for an interview with TIME at the White House on April 22. Over the course of the interview, Trump discussed a wide range of issues.”

We are bringing you relevant experts regarding his comments on Ukraine, Greenland, Canada and Israel: 

“You said you would end the war in Ukraine on Day One.

“Well, I said that figuratively, and I said that as an exaggeration, because to make a point, and you know, it gets, of course, by the fake news [unintelligible]. Obviously, people know that when I said that, it was said in jest, but it was also said that it will be ended….

“Should Ukraine give up any hope of ever joining NATO?

“I don’t think they’ll ever be able to join NATO… that’s I think what caused the war to start was when they started talking about joining NATO. If that weren’t brought up, there would have been a much better chance that it wouldn’t have started. 

“Should Crimea go to the Russians? Should they get to keep Crimea? 

“Well, Crimea went to the Russians. It was handed to them by Barack Hussein Obama, and not by me. With that being said, will they be able to get it back? They’ve had their Russians. They’ve had their submarines there for long before any period that we’re talking about, for many years. The people speak largely Russian in Crimea…

“Would it be acceptable to you in a deal if Crimea and the four other regions that Russia has taken from Ukraine would be folded into Russia under a final accommodation?

“…Crimea will stay with Russia. And Zelensky understands that, and everybody understands that it’s been with them for a long time…

“You’ve talked about acquiring Greenland, taking control of  the Panama Canal, making Canada the 51st state. Maybe you’re trolling a little bit on that one…

“Actually, no, I’m not. 

“Well, do you want to grow the American empire?

“Well, it depends as an empire, it wasn’t, these are not things that we had before, so I’d view it a little bit differently if we had the right opportunity. Yeah, I think Greenland would be very well off if they I think it’s important for us for national security and even international security… But I’m really not trolling. Canada is an interesting case. We lose $200 to $250 billion a year supporting Canada… We’re taking care of their military. We’re taking care of every aspect of their lives, and we don’t need them to make cars for us. In fact, we don’t want them to make cars for us. We want to make our own cars. We don’t need their lumber. We don’t need their energy. We don’t need anything from Canada. And I say the only way this thing really works is for Canada to become a state. 

“You reportedly stopped Israel from attacking Iran’s nuclear sites.  

“… I didn’t stop them. But I didn’t make it comfortable for them, because I think we can make a deal without the attack. I hope we can. It’s possible we’ll have to attack because Iran will not have a nuclear weapon… I didn’t say no. Ultimately I was going to leave that choice to them, but I said I would much prefer a deal than bombs being dropped. 

“Are you worried Netanyahu will drag you into a war? 

“No… By the way, he may go into a war. But we’re not getting dragged in. 

The U.S. will stay out of it if Israel goes into it? 

“No, I didn’t say that. You asked if he’d drag me in, like I’d go in unwillingly. No, I may go in very willingly if we can’t get a deal. If we don’t make a deal, I’ll be leading the pack.”

Realistically, as we point out below, even Putin does not want to accept Trump’s peace plan, even though he would get everything he wants—for the time being—but Ukraine and Europe would not accept it. Conversely, Europe has now proposed a peace plan which Russia and the USA will clearly not accept. Under that plan, Ukraine would continue to attempt to become part of the EU; it would be recompensed with Russian frozen assets for the damage caused by Russia; Ukraine would receive security guarantees also from the USA; and no territorial commitments would be made towards Russia until a lasting peace agreement has been entered into.

Crimea Belongs to Ukraine

Daily Mail wrote on April 25:

“Ukraine has rejected ceding ground to Moscow, and says it will not accept Russian control of Crimea… recognizing occupied Ukrainian territory as Russian is a red line for his country.”

Deutsche Welle added on April 25: 

“Zelenskyy reiterated that Crimea ‘belongs’ to Ukraine, saying his ‘position [remains] unchanged.’… ‘only the Ukrainian people have the right to decide which territories are Ukrainian. The constitution of Ukraine says that all the temporarily occupied territories… belong to Ukraine, to the Ukrainian people,’ Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv.”

When in Rome…

The Associated Press wrote on April 26:

“Trump said Saturday that he doubts… Putin wants to end his war in Ukraine, expressing new skepticism that a peace deal can be reached soon… ‘There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,’ Trump said in a social media post as he flew back to the United States after attending Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican, where he met briefly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy… It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions?” Too many people are dying!!!’ Trump wrote.”

Trump also wrote this on “Truth Social”:

“No matter what deal I make with respect to Russia/Ukraine, no matter how good it is, even if it’s the greatest deal ever made, The Failing New York Times will speak BADLY of it. (They) wrote that Ukraine should get back territory, including, I suppose, Crimea, and other ridiculous requests, in order to stop the killing that is worse than anything since World War II… it was Obama who made it possible for Russia to steal Crimea from Ukraine without even a shot being fired…”

Since Trump admits that Putin stole Crimea from Ukraine, why should he keep it? Why is the request to return these occupied territories to Ukraine a ridiculous request? How can the deal proposed by Trump possibly be characterized as a “good deal”? It is by far not only the New York Times which rejects Trump’s peace plan.

German Defense Minister Slams Trump’s Plan For Ukraine Peace

MSN wrote on April 28:

“Boris Pistorius, the German defence minister, expressed his concern over Donald Trump’s proposals regarding Ukraine. The SPD politician stated that the suggestions of the American president concerning handing over parts of Ukrainian territory to Russia are too far-reaching. ‘Ukraine on its own could have got a year ago what was included in that (Trump) proposal. It is akin to a capitulation,’ Pistorius said on ARD television.

“Pistorius assured that Germany will continue its military support for Ukraine, even if the United States decides to halt it. ‘If Ukraine falls, if Putin wins this war by taking Ukraine or a large part of it, it will be a maximum threat to NATO territory and neighbouring countries such as Moldova and Georgia,’ the minister warned.” 

Trump stated after his return from Rome that he thinks Zelensky will agree to giving Crimea to Russia. Zelensky repeated his position AFTER his talk with Trump that Crimea would not be given to Russia.

Tanks for Ukraine on Hold

abc.net.au reported on April 28:

“A fleet of retired tanks the Albanese government pledged to Ukraine last year remains stuck in Australia, with defence figures in part blaming resistance from the United States for their delayed transfer… after US President Donald Trump placed a temporary freeze on military assistance to the war-torn nation…

“… the process is facing further uncertainty because formal permission that must be given by the US before the M1A1 vehicles can be handed over to another nation has not yet been granted… There is also the concern that with a possible peace deal looming it would be embarrassing to have the tanks on board ships in the middle of the ocean.”

No Progress in Peace Negotiations – Just the Opposite!

The New York Post wrote on April 28:

“Russia shamelessly demanded that the US lift its sanctions and that Kyiv be ‘demilitarized’ and recognize that 20% of Ukraine belongs to the Vladimir Putin-led nation as it refused President Trump’s push for peace just days after his envoy returned to Moscow for yet another round of talks. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted Monday that Russia will accept nothing less than total victory over Ukraine after Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff made no progress in ending the country’s three-year war when he met with Putin Friday… Lavrov rattled off a list of Ukrainian red-line items — and mentioned no willingness to make even the smallest concessions, such as the US-proposed return of a small, occupied portion of Kharkiv.

“Lavrov said ‘the international recognition of Crimea, Sevastopol, (Donetsk), (Luhansk), Kherson and Zapor(i)zh(ia) regions as part of Russia’ is an ‘imperative,’ insisting that not just the world — but also Kyiv itself — recognize 20% of Ukraine as sovereign Russian territory… That alone is a nonstarter. While Kyiv has shown a willingness to freeze the fighting lines where they are and acknowledge that Russia technically controls the occupied regions, its constitution outlaws the recognition of its land as belonging to any other nation.

“Since Witkoff began speaking with Russia roughly two months ago, Moscow has only upped its demands. For example, its desire to annex Ukraine’s Kherson and Zaporizhia oblasts was never part of Putin’s original goals of the war when his forces launched the full-scale invasion in 2021… George Barros of the Institute for the Study of War [said:] ‘the Kremlin is rejecting Trump’s proposals and articulating goals that require the war to go on or for Ukraine to surrender things for no reason. The only thing it is willing to negotiate are the terms of US capitulation and Ukrainian surrender.’ To that end, Lavrov also called for the West — including the US — to begin ‘lifting sanctions, withdrawing lawsuits and cancelling arrest warrants, as well as returning Russian assets subjected to the so-called freeze in the West.’

“The foreign minister also said Russia would not begin talks with Ukraine until Kyiv makes yet another change to its constitution—disavowing its citizens’ wishes to one day join NATO… Though Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Russia for its continued bombardment of Ukraine as he tries to reach a peace deal, the president has so far taken no punitive steps to attempt to force Moscow to back down from its untenable demands.”

Russia will not make any concessions. Trump’s naïve peace deal was dead from the outset. Please view our new StandingWatch program with the title, “Trump’s Peace Plan—A Failure!”

The Worst Pope in History?

The Ron Paul Institute and Newsmax published on April 24 and April 25 an article by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano:

“Catholics believe that he is the Vicar of Christ on earth. But Francis may have been the worst pope in history. He watered down Church teachings on marriage, sexuality and confession. He declined to judge right from wrong.

“He forbade the Mass that every canonized saint… attended and participated in since 1564. He has even claimed that all religions are equal and welcomed in the eyes of God — contrary to 2,000 years of express Church teaching. This is heresy.

“… He even questioned the concept of sin…”

Please view our StandingWatch program, “The Pope Is Dead… Now What?” 

Why Trump Attended Pope’s Funeral 

Daily Mail wrote on April 25:

“The president… told reporters on Air Force One he was attending the service partially because he won Catholic voters in the 2024 election. Trump won Catholics by more than 120,000 votes when he faced former Vice President Kamala Harris. 

“Trump himself identifies as a ‘non-denominational Christian.’ First lady Melania Trump is Catholic. The Trumps met Pope Francis during a visit to the Vatican in 2017 during the president’s first term. At the time, Melania… brought a pair of rosary beads for the pontiff to bless. She is the first Catholic first lady in the White House since Jacqueline Kennedy….

“President Trump and Pope Francis also had their differences. In 2015, Trump said Francis was too political, and the pontiff later suggested Trump wasn’t Christian over his ‘build a wall’ rhetoric.

Trump, responded that ‘for a religious leader to question a person’s faith is disgraceful.’”

Firing Powell?

The Editorial Board of the Wall Street Journal wrote on April 21, 2025: 

“If the White House wanted a test of how firing Jerome Powell would go over in the markets, it succeeded on Monday. U.S. stocks and the dollar plunged while yields on long-term Treasurys climbed after President Trump renewed his attacks on the Federal Reserve Chairman…

“Mr. Trump is furious that Mr. Powell has said publicly that tariffs will likely lead to higher inflation and slower growth… Markets fear Mr. Trump really might fire Mr. Powell, not that it would do the President any good… Mr. Trump can’t fire the regional Fed bank presidents on the committee, and all 12 voting members of the FOMC seem to agree with the Fed’s recent policy moves. A Powell replacement would also have a harder time establishing credibility with markets…

“Mr. Trump thinks he can bully everyone into submission… Markets know tariffs are taxes, and taxes are anti-growth. The Trump tariffs are the biggest economic policy mistake in decades, and extending the 2017 tax reform and deregulation may not compensate for all the damage…”

Subsequently, Trump bowed to pressure and stated that he would not fire Powell, and that such a suggestion was fake news. Really?

America’s Inhumane Immigration Policy 

The Guardian published the following article on April 24 about America’s detention camps, eerily reminiscent of Germany’s Nazi concentration camps in their early stages:

“The Texas-based legal non-profit Raices said it was aware of at least 100 families held at Karnes since early March, after the Trump administration restarted the practice known as ‘family detention’ – locking up children along with their parents. Those detained include families who had recently crossed into the US, as well as those swept up in cities across the country. Among the youngest detainees was a one-year-old child…

“Jade (13) and her family had fled a surge of violence in Colombia in 2022, and had managed to make a good life for themselves in Mississippi. But things changed this year as the Trump administration ramped up its immigration crackdown. Jade was afraid to go to school, worried that immigration agents could come find her there, or take her parents while she was away. Jason and Gabriela had trouble finding work – employers had become squeamish about hiring workers without a legal status… So they decided to leave (to go to Canada)… 

“At first, they encountered Canadian border agents and tried to explain they were seeking asylum. But those agents told them they’d be ineligible, and turned them over to US border officials… Agents handcuffed [Jason] and Gabriela, and drove them to Plattsburgh, New York and then Buffalo… [and then] sent [them] via commercial flight to Texas… 

“Jade was too young to remember the violence her family had left behind in Colombia, but Jason and Gabriela’s minds constantly flashed back to the threats and extortion they had faced… 

“[American] Officials had confiscated all their things, and the family was given second-hand clothes and towels to use. They were able to buy minutes to make phone calls, but it was expensive…

“Relief finally came when they were able to connect with lawyers from Raices, who have been working with several families held at the detention center. Jade, Jason and Gabriela were finally released on 25 March – after about three weeks in detention – and their lawyers are now helping them seek legal status to remain in the US… ‘The bottom line is that these individuals have final deportation orders from federal judges,’ said McLaughlin of the DHS. ‘This administration is not going to ignore the rule of law.’ Raices said that assertion is ‘objectively untrue’. Immigration judges are not the same as federal judges. And as a result of Donald Trump’s asylum ban at the southern border, ‘many families have not even appeared in front of immigration judges’, said Faisal Al-Juburi of Raices…

“The facility, which is run by the private prison company CoreCivic, is not a licensed childcare facility and thus a violation of the protections afforded children under the Flores Settlement Agreement, a decades-old consent decree that requires the government to hold children in the least restrictive setting and release them as quickly as possible… The Trump administration isn’t the first to detain families. For decades, Democratic and Republican administrations have held immigrant families in specialized facilities – and the practice has elicited widespread criticism from pediatricians and mental health experts, and lawsuits from human rights groups…

“The Bush administration had wanted to ramp up immigrant detention, and promoted family detention as an alternative to separating families and sending children to shelters while their parents were detained… In 2014, as families and unaccompanied children began increasingly arriving at the US southern border, the Obama administration contracted with private prison companies to open the Karnes and Dilley facilities, and the US family detention program grew to its largest since the internment of Japanese Americans in the 1940s… 

“Though the Biden administration stopped detaining families in 2021 – opting instead to track immigrant families via electronic monitoring and regular check-in appointments – it left in place most of the infrastructure to restart the practice. And earlier this year, the Trump administration did just that… Karnes, operated by the private contractor Geo Group, is more like a traditional adult prison… Families are allowed to be together during the day, but at night, mothers and children sleep together while fathers sleep in separate dorms. The South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, meanwhile, is more akin to an ‘internment camp’… Before it was a detention center, it was a migrant labor camp. But in the end, both centers are, ‘essentially, jails.’ 

“… Many of the families in detention now have been apprehended by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (Ice) officials in cities and towns across the US. Some were picked up at traffic stops, and others were arrested despite complying with orders to check in regularly with Ice…

“Now that she is back in Mississippi, Jade said… ‘I just told one friend, a good friend, and he said he wouldn’t tell anyone else.’ She doesn’t know how to explain to them what happened to her family, or how uncertain their lives still are. It’s not like she knows how much longer they’ll get to stay in Mississippi. It could take months or longer for lawyers to work out their immigration case. In the meantime, they remain afraid of being swept up in the administration’s immigration crackdown once again….” 

Trump’s administration has been assuring us that they would only go after illegal hardcore criminals. This is clearly not true. When you read about personal experiences like this, you get a better picture of how inhumane America’s immigration system is. 

Trump’s Fight With the Judges 

The left-wing New Republic (TNR) wrote on April 28: 

“The Trump administration is open to arresting Supreme Court judges, as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told it on Monday morning. ‘You guys arrested a Milwaukee County Circuit judge for allegedly helping illegal immigrants get away,’ Fox News’s Peter Doocy asked Leavitt. ‘As you guys look at other judges, would you ever arrest somebody higher up on the judicial food chain, like a federal judge or even a Supreme Court justice?’ 

“‘…let’s be clear about what this judge did: She obstructed federal law enforcement who were looking for an illegal alien in her courthouse. She showed that illegal alien the door to evade law enforcement officials. That is a clear-cut case of obstruction,’ Leavitt replied. ‘And so anyone who is breaking the law or obstructing federal law enforcement officials from doing their jobs is putting theirselvses [sic] at risk of being prosecuted, absolutely.’ 

“The Department of Justice on Friday arrested Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan, on charges of obstruction after she allegedly ‘intentionally misdirected federal agents away’ from Eduardo Flores Ruiz, an undocumented immigrant. He was later arrested outside the courthouse. 

“The Trump administration is showing open and direct hostility toward the judicial branch, identifying any judge who dares to defy them as an ‘activist judge.’ The arrest of Judge Dugan, the numerous court orders ignored by the administration, the eight immigration judges who have now been fired or put on leave, and now, Leavitt’s alarming answer are all clear indications that Trump has no plans to reel back his abuse of executive power.” 

This fight between the Trump Administration and the court system will continue and become worse.

Trump’s (Dis-)Approval Rate

Express wrote on April 25:

“By the end of April, it will have been 100 days since Trump took office for his second term. During that time the world has witnessed unprecedented political and economic decisions over the past 100 days have sent stock markets plunging and governments everywhere rushing to react.

“Pew Research Center conducted the poll between April 7 – 13 and the only 40 per cent of young US adults approve of Trump’s latest plans while an overwhelming 59 per cent disapprove. Fox News also conducted a poll which showed Trump’s approval ratings with 44 per cent and disapproval of 55 per cent. That’s the lowest Fox has registered since the last six presidents at this point in their term… 

“It is also lower than the approval of Joe Biden (54 percent), Barack Obama (62 percent), and George W. Bush (63 percent) at the 100-day mark in their presidencies, and is down 5 points from Trump’s 49 percent approval in March.” 

Chaotic and Scary 

The New York Post wrote on April 25: 

“More than half of voters described President Trump’s second term in office as ‘chaotic’ and ‘scary’ in a new poll released Friday… 66% of registered US voters felt the term ‘chaotic’ described Trump’s second stint in the White House well, while 59% thought ‘scary’ was apt.

“Nearly half of Republican voters (47%) agreed that the president’s first three months back in power have been ‘chaotic,’ as did 75% of Independents… Only 35% approve of Trump’s handling of the Ukraine-Russia war, while 31% approve of the case involving Abrego Garcia. The president’s net approval rating was -21 points on both issues… Overall, 42% approved of Trump’s job in the Oval Office so far, while 54% disapproved.” 

Trump Blasts Sinking Poll Numbers 

The New York Post wrote on April 28: 

“President Trump on Monday blasted ‘unheard of’ polls showing low approval ratings on the eve of his 100th day in office — calling on the ‘fake news’ outlets behind them to be investigated for election fraud. The commander-in-chief took aim at the recent New York Times and ABC/Washington Post surveys that indicate sinking support, declaring that ‘they suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome… These people should be investigated for ELECTION FRAUD, and add in the FoxNews Pollster while you’re at it… They are Negative Criminals who apologize to their subscribers and readers after I WIN ELECTIONS BIG, much bigger than their polls showed I would win, loose [sic] a lot of credibility, and then go on cheating and lying for the next cycle, only worse,’ he seethed in the post… ‘THEY ARE SICK,’ he added…” 

Mediaite wrote on April 28: 

“Legendary GOP operative and Fox News contributor Karl Rove declared that President Donald Trump is in ‘very bad shape’ during a scathing segment over the weekend. Rove’s comments came after host Paul Gigot, editor of The Wall Street Journal‘s editorial page, observed that a new Fox News poll demonstrated that only 38% of Americans approve of Trump’s job performance on the economy and even fewer approve of his handling of inflation and tariffs and asked Rove to weigh in.” 

When something negative is reported about Trump, he blames that on fake news. After a while, that won’t be credible anymore for most people. His threat to investigate these “negative criminals” is not being received well. 

Axios wrote on April 29: 

“A majority of Americans say President Trump is a ‘dangerous dictator’ who poses a threat to democracy and believe he’s overstepped his authority… The wide-ranging poll released Tuesday, on Trump’s 100th day in office, is the latest sign of him losing support for his immigration and economic policies — the two issues that largely fueled his election… 

“Only four in 10 Americans expressed favorable views of Trump after his first 100 days in office, according to the survey by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). And 52% agreed with the provocative statement that Trump ‘is a dangerous dictator whose power should be limited before he destroys American democracy,’ the survey said. That question provided a big warning sign for Trump: Most independents (56%) agreed that Trump is a ‘dangerous dictator,’ suggesting that middle-of-the-road voters who helped put him back in office are abandoning him… Two-thirds of Americans oppose new tariffs, or taxes, on imported goods from other countries.” 

Prosecutors Charge Vancouver Man For Attack on Filipino Festival 

Reuters wrote on April 28: 

“Canadian prosecutors have charged a 30-year-old Vancouver resident with murder for killing at least 11 people aged between 5 and 65 and injuring dozens after he rammed an SUV through a crowd at a Filipino community festival in the western Canadian city, police said on Sunday… More than 12 hours after the incident, police still did not have a motive for the attack at the festival, which took place without a dedicated police presence or heavy vehicle barriers…

“The festival, celebrated especially in the central Philippines, honors Datu Lapu-Lapu, a Filipino chieftain who defeated Spanish forces led by Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan in 1521… The government of British Columbia officially recognized April 27 as Lapu-Lapu Day in 2023, acknowledging the cultural contributions of the Filipino-Canadian community, one of the largest immigrant groups in the province. The centerpiece of the festival is a multi-block street party featuring Filipino food and traditions, live performances and cultural displays.” 

Why were the police not better prepared for these kinds of events? This seems to be a colossal failure in many Western countries, including Germany where a similar event had taken place around Christmas time.  It has been stated that the man had previous mental health issues. The demonic influence should be clear. 

Canadians Humiliate Trump

The Mirror wrote on April 29:

“Donald Trump, the self-proclaimed titan of global deal-making and nationalist bravado, just got humiliated by the very country he loves to insult – Canada. With the election of Mark Carney as Prime Minister, the Canucks delivered a roaring rebuke not only to the US leader but to the hideous version of America he represents – arrogant, unstable, and dangerously delusional. Let’s be honest, this wasn’t just a Canadian election. It was a referendum on Trumpism and, by extension, the States.

“Canadians, America’s closest and most loyal ally, have had enough. Enough of the trade wars. Enough of being branded the ‘51st state.’ Enough of being treated like a doormat for Trump’s latest tantrum. What happened at the ballot box was less a Liberal Party recovery and more an international gut punch to a discredited figurehead. 

“Trump triggered this backlash himself. He kicked off a pointless trade war against Canada, wanting tariffs on steel, aluminum, and dairy… He smeared a peaceful, democratic neighbour as weak and subordinate, then expected diplomatic loyalty in return. He misread Canada completely…

“Canadians responded the only way a proud, sovereign nation could by using their votes to send a message so loud it echoed across the border. Former Bank of England governor Carney… inherited a Liberal Party floundering after Justin Trudeau’s missteps, down by more than 25 points and transformed it into a platform for national defiance.

“He stood up to Trump’s bullying and drew a line in the snow – Canada will not be anyone’s puppet. This rejection is far bigger than one man or one election. It marks a sobering turning point in the world’s relationship with the States. For decades, America was admired as the leader of the free world – a beacon of democracy, stability, and reason. Under Trump, it has become a punchline. An unstable, angry, nation-baiting circus that shouts about freedom while eroding it at home and abusing it abroad.

“The world is watching, and it is moving on. Nations like Canada are no longer looking to Washington for leadership. They’re building new alliances, strengthening regional partnerships, and investing in self-reliance to insulate themselves from the chaos of modern America. This is Trumpism’s true legacy – a smaller, meaner, more isolated States. The message from Canada couldn’t be clearer; if America wants to act like a belligerent, fading empire, it will be treated like one. Trump may still swagger at his rallies and scream about greatness, but his lies stop cold at the border. 

“Carney’s victory wasn’t just a political win. It was a polite, precise, and utterly devastating rejection of everything Trump – and, increasingly, America – stands for. And that rejection is only the beginning...” 

Sobering words, and prophetic indeed. Trump does not see that way, of course. In an interview with The Atlantic, which was published on April 28, he said:  “The first time, I had two things to do ‒ run the country and survive; I had all these crooked guys… And the second time, I run the country and the world.” 

But he is not running the world. And if he is not careful, he might not be running the USA for much longer, either, as his latest poll numbers may suggest. 

Germany’s Militarization

News.az quoted “prominent German political scientist and former advisor to the German government Alexander Rahr” on April 24: 

“Germany’s government currently has three key objectives in the area of militarization. First, it seeks to preserve the European security architecture established after the Cold War and, under no circumstances, allow Ukraine to return to Russia’s sphere of influence or be absorbed by it. Second, Germany aims to build its own European army and military-industrial complex—largely to reduce dependence on the United States, which may eventually withdraw from NATO. This also serves as preparation for a potential military confrontation with ‘imperial’ Russia. Third, militarization of the economy is viewed as a tool to reignite economic growth across the European Union… 

“Although only about 60% of the population supports militarization, Berlin is prepared to invest in it as a way to strengthen its leadership role in Europe. Most other EU countries lack such capacity—either because they are burdened by debt or do not see themselves as military leaders… There are certainly risks to democracy. Militarization of the economy, industry, and education can affect civil liberties. However, the German government is using the image of ‘aggressive Russia’ to tighten control over society and instill discipline in the population. This strategy may work: the generation that remembers the horrors of World War II is gone, and young Germans today are less afraid of war. In fact, many increasingly believe that Europe’s liberal values are worth defending by force… 

“European bureaucrats in Brussels are working to consolidate all EU governments around the goal of confronting ‘imperial Russia.’ Russia should prepare for the reality that most European countries will support a policy of military containment… Russia will never accept being surrounded by Western military bases and infrastructure. The West, in turn, will never recognize Russia’s right to a sphere of influence. This is a fundamental dividing line—one that, unfortunately, cannot be overcome through diplomacy.” 

Jens Spahn Wants to Become Chancellor 

Capital and Der Stern wrote on April 24: 

“Jens Spahn is to become the new leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag. Friedrich Merz is making a risky decision – and ignoring warnings… The former health minister just has to be elected. 

“Merz thus places Spahn at the central hub of the coalition. The parliamentary group leader organizes cooperation with the coalition partner, defends the chancellor in parliament, and organizes majorities and funding for government policy. In other words: Friedrich Merz is now dependent on Jens Spahn – more than anyone else. He needs his unconditional loyalty. ‘Of all people!’ groan some in the party. 

“There were and are doubts within the CDU about Jens Spahn’s loyalty. Influential CDU figures warned Friedrich Merz about Spahn until recently. He said he played too often on his own account, changing his political form depending on the mood… Spahn’s relationship with the SPD is also considered strained… Spahn is not trusted… 

“But perhaps Merz couldn’t get past him at all… In the coalition negotiations, the 44-year-old appeared in almost all important negotiating groups. He drew red lines, sometimes even towards the boss. ‘That’s not possible, Friedrich!’ Spahn is said to have retorted to Merz in a large gathering. It demonstrates his utmost self-confidence – and gives a foreshadowing of the future…

“Some in the party fear that with the election of the parliamentary group leader, the question of Friedrich Merz’s successor could arise sooner than the chancellor-designate would like. And not in four years… his own people and long-time associates believe he’s capable of it. This also explicitly includes those who long for a quick end to the CDU/CSU coalition and have long been eyeing the AfD… If the coalition fails, then I’m out. That’s what Merz recently said. Jens Spahn made clear… what he wants: to become chancellor. He will soon come a long way toward achieving this goal.” 

Der Tagesspiegel wrote on April 25: 

“Spahn wants to become Chancellor… with whomever.” 

Der Freitag wrote on April 25: 

“Germany’s most dangerous politician? Jens Spahn is making the AfD capable of forming alliances… Jens Spahn… has long been speaking the language of the far-right. The firewall to the AfD is shaky.” 

Chaos in Spain 

The Sun wrote on April 29: 

“Panic-stricken shoppers across Spain and even Portugal are clearing supermarket shelves and leaving grocery stores empty amid chaos… Roads… were left snarled up with traffic as lights and signals went blank… Some hospitals cancelled all surgeries for Monday amid fears for patient safety in the region’s most severe blackout for years… Spain’s train service came to a complete stop, leaving huge crowds stranded at stations, and Madrid’s underground network was evacuated… Air traffic was slashed to ‘half capacity’ as flights were cancelled from a number of airports – with Lisbon cancelling all arrivals for hours… 

“Portugal’s national grid operator, REN, said it believes a ‘rare atmospheric event’ could be behind the outage… Many had raised fears that a ‘Russian cyberattack’ is behind the chaos, following previous similar plots against Europe… An outage of this scale is extremely rare and has caused mayhem for millions, including Brits on their holidays.” 

No Power in Spain, Portugal and Parts of France 

SKY News wrote on April 28: 

“We rarely think about how essential and reliable electricity grids are until they fail. Now, millions of people across Spain, Portugal and parts of France are likely thinking of little else… Much of Spain and Portugal’s electricity transmission system collapsed in seconds, including major cities Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona and Seville. It’s likely the outage will surpass Europe’s largest blackout to date, when 56 million people in Italy and Switzerland lost power for up to 12 hours in 2023… 

“Portugal’s grid operator has blamed a ‘rare atmospheric phenomenon’ that caused ‘anomalous oscillations’ in high voltage power lines in Spain… But it’s unlikely whatever caused the outage was a single, localised event.  

“A major power line going down can cause a large outage (as it did in 2021 when an interconnector between France and Spain failed, leaving a million people without power for a few hours in 2021). But it’s unlikely to cause a system-wide failure of the kind we’re seeing now…” 

If it can happen in Spain, Portugal or France, it can happen everywhere. 

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.

There are two interesting additions God made to His Law that did not originally appear in it. These additions were made because questions were asked about particular situations that occurred that the Law, at that time, did not cover. While they were not a part of the oral law, the principle is similar to that mentioned in Deuteronomy 17:8-11. In these cases, the people with the questions went to Moses and Aaron to ask for a decision on the matters. Moses then went to God for the judgement which was then incorporated into the written Law.

The first of these is mentioned in Numbers 9:6-11. “Now there were certain men who were defiled by a human corpse, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day; and they came before Moses and Aaron that day. And those men said to him, ‘We became defiled by a human corpse. Why are we kept from presenting the offering of the LORD at its appointed time among the children of Israel?’ And Moses said to them, ‘Stand still, that I may hear what the LORD will command concerning you.’ Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, saying: “If anyone of you or your posterity is unclean because of a corpse, or is far away on a journey, he may still keep the LORD’s Passover. On the fourteenth day of the second month, at twilight, they may keep it. They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.”

The second of these additions is in Numbers 27:1-8 and Numbers 36:1-12. Again, this was not a part of the oral law but was similar in principle to the oral law as mentioned in Deuteronomy 17:8-11, in that the questioners went to the Levitical priesthood (Eleazar, since by this time Aaron had died) and the judge (Moses) to seek a determination. Of course, in these two cases the determinations became a part of the commandments, statutes and judgements in the written Law.

God intended that the inheritance of a family would be transferred from father to son down through the ages. But in Numbers 27:1-8, a problem arose because a father had no sons but only five daughters. How was the inheritance to be transferred in this case? Numbers 27:1-8, “Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, from the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph; and these werethe names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. And they stood before Moses, before Eleazar the priest, and before the leaders and all the congregation, by the doorway of the tabernacle of meeting, saying: ‘Our father died in the wilderness; but he was not in the company of those who gathered together against the LORD, in company with Korah, but he died in his own sin; and he had no sons. Why should the name of our father be removed from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father’s brothers.’ So Moses brought their case before the LORD. And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: ‘The daughters of Zelophehad speak what is right; you shall surely give them a possession of inheritance among their father’s brothers, and cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them. And you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: “If a man dies and has no son, then you shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter.”’” In effect, God was making a new law that was not in the written Law until this question arose some forty years after the Law was originally given. This new oral law became part of the written Law.

However, this was not the end of the matter. A later question arose that if the daughter who received the inheritance married into a different family or tribe, she would take the inheritance with her, transferring it to another family or tribe. In this case, Moses was inspired to extend what God had commanded previously, thus extending this particular law. We read this in Numbers 36:1-12, “Now the chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near and spoke before Moses and before the leaders, the chief fathers of the children of Israel. And they said: ‘The LORD commanded my lord Moses to give the land as an inheritance by lot to the children of Israel, and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters. Now if they are married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel, then their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of our fathers, and it will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry; so it will be taken from the lot of our inheritance. And when the Jubilee of the children of Israel comes, then their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry; so their inheritance will be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers.’ Then Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the LORD, saying: ‘What the tribe of the sons of Joseph speaks is right. This is what the LORD commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, “Let them marry whom they think best, but they may marry only within the family of their father’s tribe. So the inheritance of the children of Israel shall not change hands from tribe to tribe, for every one of the children of Israel shall keep the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. And every daughter who possesses an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel shall be the wife of one of the family of her father’s tribe, so that the children of Israel each may possess the inheritance of his fathers. Thus no inheritance shall change hands from one tribe to another, but every tribe of the children of Israel shall keep its own inheritance.’ Just as the LORD commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad; for Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married to the sons of their father’s brothers. They were married into the families of the children of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of their father’s family.”

It will be noted that the Levitical priests and the judge were assigned by God to make the determinations in Deuteronomy 17. This is confirmed in Malachi 2:4-7. “‘Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you, That My covenant with Levi may continue,’ Says the LORD of hosts. ‘My covenant was with him, one of life and peace, And I gave them to him that he might fear Me; So he feared Me And was reverent before My name. The law of truth was in his mouth, And injustice was not found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and equity, And turned many away from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.’”

In Christ’s day, many of the oral law determinations were made by the Pharisees who had become considered by the people to be experts in the law rather than the priests. They were not sons of Aaron but were laymen. The priests, who were supposed to be scribes and should have been making the determinations, had become corrupt. It is stated in Ezekiel 44:15 that this will be corrected and the priests shall once again stand before God. “‘But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near to Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood,’ say the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 44:23-24 reminds us that these priests were to make the determinations as mentioned in Leviticus 17. “And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and clean. In controversy they shall stand as judges, and judge it according to My judgements. They shall keep My laws and My statutes in all My appointed meetings, and they shall hallow My Sabbaths.”

Again, in Christ’s day, some of the more complicated cases were handled by the Sanhedrin which did include priests, but the majority of its members were Pharisees because they were considered to be the experts in the law. But Christ Himself reminds us in Matthew 23:1-3, “Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.’” While the Pharisees had placed themselves in Moses’ seat, which was not God’s desire, Jesus still told the people to listen to them in order to maintain an organized society. The decisions they made from Moses’ seat were for the whole of society, not just for one particular sect or group, provided they were in conformity with God’s Law.

Many times, they were not, and in those cases, Christ did not expect the people to follow them. They had to obey God rather than man, as Peter stated, refusing to follow their directives. For instance, the Pharisees kept the Passover one day too late. The Sadducees however, kept it on the right day, and so did Jesus and the disciples, of course. The Sadducees were in charge of the temple, and the Passover lamb was to be killed at the beginning of the 14^th of Nisan, at twilight, between the two evenings, not at the end as to how the Pharisees did it… and most Jews still keep it wrongly today, in keeping the Passover and the Night to Be Much Observed on the same evening/night.

There are some examples of the third category of oral law. Amos 8:4-6 is interesting in that a binding requirement had been added that God did not require. “Hear this, you who swallow up the needy, And make the poor of the land fail, Saying: ‘When will the New Moon be past, That we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, That we may trade wheat? Making the ephah small and the shekel large, Falsifying the scales by deceit, That we may buy the poor for silver, And the needy for a pair of sandals—Even sell the bad wheat?’”

Except for the Feast of Trumpets, God nowhere decreed that the people must refrain from work on the days of the new moons. We have no idea when they began this practice, but it appears to be common practice at this time. This was something that they were keeping as a part of the oral law. It was preventing them from conducting business and cheating on the new moons as well as the Sabbaths. This addition also required determining when the Sabbath and new moons ended. In Jesus’s day, the Pharisees considered the Sabbath was ended when you could see two stars. This, of course, is an unnecessary extension of the Sabbath, introduced to put a fence around it; an extra burden that God did not require. God only required the Sabbath to be kept until sunset.

In Nehemiah 10:29, the people agreed to live by the laws of God. “…these joined with their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse and an oath to walk in God’s Law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes.” The actual implementation of a new oral law is stated in Nehemiah 10:32-33. “Also we made ordinances for ourselves, to exact from ourselves yearly one-third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: for the showbread, for the regular grain offering, for the regular burnt offering for the Sabbaths, the New Moons, and the set feasts; for the holy things, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and all the work of the house of our God.” This was a new oral law that was added and was intended to be binding on the people for as long as the temple was standing. This was not talking about a tithe; this was talking about a yearly assessment fixed at a particular level by their own will, which they then bound upon themselves.

We read in Matthew 17:24-27 that this law was still in force. It was now called a temple tax. Christ had no objection to paying this as it would avoid giving offence and was not in any way against God’s Law. “When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, ‘Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, ‘What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?’ Peter said to him, ‘From strangers.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Then the sons are free. Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.’”

So, we can see there were three types of oral law, the first being extra instructions needed to correctly obey the written Law. These instructions would be handed down from the priests in position of authority to those who were expected to take their place in due time. The second type of oral law concerned how to handle situations that were not included in the written Law but had similarities, and the examples in the written Law could be expanded to handle these situations. In some cases, especially the more complicated ones, a determination may have needed to be made by the priests and judges. The third type concerned new oral laws that were made binding on the people and their descendants due to a specific need at a particular time, and this was to carry on into the future—again, assuming they were in harmony with God’s intent, purpose and will. Otherwise, they were not binding on the people.

If God had included all these oral laws in the written Law, the Bible would have become such a large volume or volumes that it would lose practicality. This is remarked upon in John 21:25, “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.” Instead of every possible situation being commented on in the Bible, God left it up to those in authority to make the necessary decisions based on the principles of what was already in the written Law.

There is actually one additional aspect that could be included in the oral law and that is regarding God’s calendar. From the Bible itself, it is not possible to know which day is the Sabbath or when the years and months begin. But these determinations have been handed down through the years by the leaders of the Jews. As we can read in Romans 3:1-2, “What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.”

We have the Old Testament today because the Jews have preserved it over the millennia. But we also have God’s calendar which defines the years, months and Sabbaths due to the Jewish leaders passing on this information from father to son orally again over the millennia, for our instruction today.

So, the oral law is not just something invented by the Pharisees after the close of the Old Testament period, but was necessary to know how to obey God with greater understanding, beginning at the time of the Exodus. Actually, let us look at Genesis 7:2, “You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female.” The question arises; how did Noah know which animals were clean and which were unclean? Unlike us, he did not have access to Leviticus 11 or Deuteronomy 14. It might have been revealed by God at the time of the creation and passed down through the generations between Adam and Noah, or it might have been revealed to Noah directly. But we notice that all sacrifices between Abel and Moses were of clean animals, which showed that the patriarchs knew of these oral laws.

Since Abel sacrificed a clean animal, we can assume that God had revealed the law of clean and unclean animals at that time. The same is true of the law of tithing since both Abram and Jacob tithed, Abram to Melchizedek, Genesis 14:20, and Jacob promised to tithe to God, Genesis 28:22. This, of course, was long before the time of Moses when the laws were written down. So the knowledge of these laws would demonstrate that oral laws were in existence well before Moses.

In conclusion, the oral law was a set of instructions additional to the written Law that were necessary to enable the written Law to be carried out correctly and consistently. It was also a method for determining how to apply the principles of the written Law to situations that were similar to, but not identical to, what was described in the written Law. The oral law also contained new laws which were found to be necessary for situations that had not been mentioned previously and were voluntarily accepted by the people. Although, of course, they had to be within the spiritual intent of God’s Law.

The oral law began at, or before, the time of Moses, and additions were made up until at least the end of the Old Testament period. Jesus accepted some of it but rejected those parts that had been added but were against the spiritual intent of God’s commandments.

Lead Writer: Paul Niehoff (Australia)

compiled by Dave Harris

“Trump’s Peace Plan—A Failure!” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

WHY is Trump’s peace plan for the Russian-Ukrainian war a complete failure? WHY was it doomed from the start? And WHY should this have been obvious to all involved if only they had understood and heeded biblical prophecies? And regardless of the Bible, WHY should the failure of the peace plan have been recognized if more weight had been given to recent history and the statements of those involved?

“Trumps Friedensplan—ein Misserfolg!” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topic as described above.

“Die Freiheit der Wahl,” last Sabbath’s German sermonette presented by Daniel Blasinger, is now posted. Title in English: ““The Freedom of Choice.”

“Trügerische Intrigen und ihr verborgenes Konstrukt,” last Sabbath’s German sermon by Thilo Hanstein, is now posted. Title in English: “Deceptive schemes and Their Hidden Construction.”

“Fall Before Spring,” last Sabbath’s first split sermon presented by Michael Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

What should we do when we experience moments of failure, and what lessons can we learn from the examples of those who have risen from adversity?

“Sweet Aroma or Foul Odor–Which?” last Sabbath’s second split sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

The Bible distinguishes between sacrifices with sweet-smelling aromas and sacrifices with foul odor. When God looks at you, which category would you belong to?

“Abraham and Ishmael” is the latest video in our Bible Story Series on YouTube.