Update 1158

On May 10, 2025, Eric Rank will present the sermonette, titled, “Laodicean” and Dave Harris will present the sermon, titled, “Does the Bible Support Free Speech?”

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.

When Jesus was asked about the sign of His return, He listed a series of events which must happen first. He began by warning against deception, saying that many would come in His name, saying, “I am the Christ,” and will deceive many (Matthew 24:4-5). They would come to say several things: They would admit that Jesus was the Messiah, but they would deceive many by proclaiming a false Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4) who had come to do away with His Father’s Commandments (Matthew 5:17), including the law against fighting and killing in war. They would also claim that they would be Jesus—as the man of sin will do (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4), sitting in the Temple of God, pretending to be God or Jesus who had allegedly returned in his person. Thirdly, they would also proclaim that they are “the Christ” in the sense of “the Messiah”—the Savior or the Deliverer, as so many have claimed in the past and are claiming today.

Christ repeated His warning later on when offense, betrayal and hatred would run rampant (Matthew 24:10). He told us that then “many false prophets will rise and deceive many” (Matthew 24:11). Many claiming to work for God would deceive many, causing lawlessness to abide and the diminishing of God’s love in His people (verse 12). All of this was to occur when the Gospel of the Kingdom would be preached in all the world, and THEN the end of this present evil society will come (verse 14).

We have undoubtedly reached the beginning of that time period (verses 32-34). There are many political and religious leaders, tyrants and despots today who claim or are being viewed as the Savior of mankind, or at least of their countries over which they rule. There are quite a few who have national ambitions of greatness and expansion, of conquering lands which are not their own. But when we warn about this in our StandingWatch programs, sermons and our literature, we are met, at times, with rejection and outright hatred, and sometimes, this even includes viewers and listeners who claim to be in the Body of Christ. Betrayal to government officials might be next, and undoubtedly, hatred will increase, as Christ proclaimed that we will be hated by all nations for His name’s sake (verse 9). Yes, we will continue to proclaim the message of the Gospel which Christ brought—that none of the political or religious leaders are our Savior, and that only Jesus Christ is the One who will come back to establish God’s Kingdom and Rule here on earth and to bring us peace and make an end to war.

What we are observing now are the beginning of sorrows (verse 8), but we have to endure to the end in order to be saved (verse 13). We have to resist all political and religious propaganda which proclaims a false message, lest we be deceived.

When the beast manifests himself in Europe, most people will follow and even “worship” him (Revelation 13:12) and “his image” (Revelation 19:20); but not those who believe the Truth and recognize him as for what he is (Revelation 13:8). But those who resist will be persecuted and might even be killed (Revelation 13:15) … hatred of their fellow man will have reached a climax.

God’s warning to us is loud and clear: Come out of Babylon with its false religious and political teachers and doctrines (Revelation 18:4); and do not even touch anything what is unclean, and then—only then—will God the Father accept us as His sons and daughters (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).

by Norbert Link

We are bringing you numerous examples raising the frightening and incredible question whether the USA, under the Trump administration, is becoming more and more a dictatorship with little or no regard for the law and the Constitution. We also speak on Trump’s fascination with himself and his attacks on critics who dare to criticize him.

We continue with Germany’s attacks on free speech and expression and America’s response which, although legit, does not fare too well in Germany. Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “The AfD Classification and Germany’s Attack on Freedom of Speech.” We address the situation regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war and Putin’s clear intentions; another anti-Trump election in a foreign country, this time in Australia; and speak on demons in the Holy See; the new pope; and JK Rowling’s well-versed condemnation of sex changes.  

Arresting a Judge 

On May 1, the Ron Paul Institute published the following article by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano: 

“Last week the FBI arrested a Wisconsin state judge as she was walking into the courthouse where she works. The feds had alerted the media — but not the judge — to this event, and they arrived and recorded the arrest. The standard and preferred practice when arresting a nonviolent person who is a public official with deep roots in the community is to invite the person to surrender with counsel. Instead, without notice, this judge was stopped on a public street, handcuffed behind her back — a technique reserved for the most dangerous or threatening individuals — and within minutes, the FBI Director himself had posted still photos of this event on his X account. 

“The feds were unhappy at the manner in which a criminal defendant before this judge was permitted to leave her courtroom. By leaving through a nonpublic exit, instead of through the doors where the feds were awaiting him, his departure frustrated the feds who apparently expected the judge to accommodate them. The technical charge against the judge is obstructing the administration of justice. The true charge was failing to aid the feds… That frustration boiled over outside a Wisconsin courthouse last week when the feds did what was surely unthinkable to Justice Scalia… 

“Judge Hannah Dugan was presiding over an arraignment for a non-incarcerated defendant when her court officers told her that the feds were in the courthouse hallway seeking to arrest the defendant in her courtroom, and the feds were growing impatient. When she asked to see their arrest warrant, they had none. Instead of an arrest warrant issued by a judge, as the Fourth Amendment requires, they presented an administrative warrant in which one federal agent authorizes another to arrest a person in a public place. 

“Judge Dugan shares the view of your author that… administrative warrants are blatantly unconstitutional, and she would not recognize it. The purpose of the [14^th] amendment is to ensure that only judges order arrests. When her business with the defendant in her courtroom was completed, she asked him to leave through the exit used by jurors, which was not accessible to the feds. She did not inform the defendant that the feds were looking for him…  A week later, Judge Dugan was arrested for obstruction of justice… if a judge tells a defendant to leave her courtroom from door A and not door B, because behind B are folks with a phony warrant, she cannot be prosecuted.

“This is bigger than Judge Dugan. We are witnessing an unprecedented assault on the separation of powers and the concept of federalism by a White House impatient with the constitutional process and largely indifferent to the role and function of the judiciary… If the feds succeed in intimidating judges and bending them to the presidential will, our liberties will have no protection.”

Alarming developments indeed which are being suppressed, for the most part, in the right-wing media by Trump supporters. Some still claim that the USA could never become a dictatorship. They are clearly wrong.

Trump Blocked in His Fight Against Prestigious Law Firms

The Associated Press wrote on May 2: 

 “A federal judge on Friday blocked a White House executive order triggering an elite law firm, dealing a setback to President Donald Trump’s campaign of retribution against the legal profession. U.S. District [Judge] Beryl Howel said the executive order against the firm of Perkins Coie amounted to ‘unconstitutional retaliation’ as she ordered that it be immediately nullified and that the Trump administration halt any enforcement of it. 

“‘No American President,’ Howell wrote in her 102-page order, ‘has ever before issued executive orders like the one at issue in this lawsuit targeting a prominent law firm with adverse actions to be executed by all Executive branch agencies but, in purpose and effect, this action draws from a playbook as old as Shakespeare, who penned the phrase: “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.”’ 

“The ruling was [the] most definitive rejection to date of Trump’s spate of similarly worded executive orders against some of the country’s most elite law firms… by targeting perceived adversaries in hopes of extracting concessions from them and bending them to his will. Several of the firms singled out for sanction have either done legal work that Trump has opposed, or currently have or previously had associations with prosecutors who at one point investigated the president…

“The other law firms that have challenged orders against them —WilmerHale, Jenner & Block and Susman Godfrey — have succeeded in at least temporarily blocking the orders. But other major firms have sought to avert orders by preemptively reaching settlements that require them, among other things, to dedicate tens of millions of dollars in free legal services in support of causes the Trump administration says it supports.” 

Something like this is indeed unheard of in a free society. To say that those judges are “rogue” and “Anti-Trump” and should therefore be disregarded misses the point completely. 

Revoking Harvard’s Tax Exempt Status?

CBS News wrote on May 2: 

“President Trump said Friday that his administration will be rescinding Harvard University’s tax-exempt status, further escalating the ongoing feud with the Ivy League school… Mr. Trump did not provide further details about the effort to strip Harvard of its designation as a 501(c)(3) organization… 

“Roughly 2 million organizations have received tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service, including charities like churches, environmental groups and universities. The designation means the groups are exempt from paying federal income taxes and the IRS considers donations to 501(c)(3) organizations to be tax-deductible.   

“Harvard president Alan Garber expressed doubt about the legality of revoking the status. ‘If the government goes through with a plan to revoke our tax exempt status, it would…be highly illegal, unless there is some reasoning that we have not been exposed to that would justify this dramatic move,’ Garber told the Wall Street Journal. Tax-exempt status, he said, enables universities to carry out their missions of education and research… 

“The tax code prohibits executive branch officials from asking an IRS employee to conduct or terminate an audit or investigation into a specific taxpayer…” 

It will be interesting to see on what basis Harvard’s tax-exempt status is supposed to be rescinded.

Trump to End Funding for NPR and PBS 

CNN wrote on May 2: 

“President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to end federal funding for America’s two biggest public broadcasters, which have faced a series of attacks from the White House and Republican lawmakers accusing them of biased reporting. The order instructs the CPB’s board to terminate direct funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) to the ‘maximum extent allowed by law and shall decline to provide future funding.’ It also orders the board to take steps to ‘minimize or eliminate’ indirect funding to NPR and PBS. 

“The corporation, however, is a private entity that is supposed to be protected from government interference, including executive orders from the president. The corporation is currently suing Trump because the White House tried to terminate three of its board members earlier this week. ‘CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the President’s authority,’ the corporation’s CEO, Patricia Harrison, said in a statement. ‘Congress directly authorized and funded CPB to be a private nonprofit corporation wholly independent of the federal government.’ ‘The President’s blatantly unlawful Executive Order, issued in the middle of the night, threatens our ability to serve the American public with educational programming, as we have for the past 50-plus years,’ PBS CEO Paula Kerger said in a statement Friday morning… NPR joined PBS in suggesting it will consider legal action against the administration… 

“When Congress established the corporation in 1967, it specifically tried to insulate public media from political pressure. The law said the corporation is a private entity, not a federal agency, ‘to afford maximum protection from extraneous interference and control,’ and expressly forbids the government from exercising ‘any direction, supervision, or control over educational television or radio broadcasting.’ But Congress could choose to stop funding the corporation…” 

This case needs to be watched further as well. 

Free Speech Under Trump? 

American attorney and author Jacob G. Hornberger wrote the following article for the “Future of Freedom Foundation,” which was reprinted on May 3 by the Ron Paul Institute: 

“After riding a wave of criticism of Democrats for suppressing freedom of speech, President Trump has just put the quietus on Amazon, which had the audacity to contemplate including the price of Trump’s tariffs in its shopping carts. Upon hearing of Amazon’s plan, Trump went ballistic, calling Amazon’s plan a ‘hostile and political act.’ According to an article in Aljazeera, Trump telephoned Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to express his displeasure… Amazon quickly capitulated, announcing that it would not share the tariff information with its buyers… 

“What was wrong with what Amazon was contemplating? Nothing. Nothing at all. Amazon was simply going to inform Amazon buyers of the truth about what Trump’s tariffs were costing them. If that isn’t an exercise of freedom of speech, I don’t know what is.

“But Trump obviously does not want American buyers of goods and services to see how much money his tariffs are costing them… Convinced that Amazon’s plan to disclose the truth about the cost of his tariffs to American consumers was a ‘hostile’ act, Trump… immediately went on the attack… In the process, by striking a harsh and effective blow against the fundamental… right of freedom of speech, Trump was guilty of what he criticized Democrats for doing.” 

This is clearly an attack on free speech in an attempt to hide the truth of the negative effects of Trump’s tariffs from the American taxpayers. Warren Buffett said it’s “a big mistake to slap punitive tariffs on the rest of the world,” adding that trade and tariffs “can be an act of war.” Trump said it’s OK if tariffs lead to a short-term recession. Prices in US stores for necessities and other items are already skyrocketing. 

Amazon Buckled 

Newsmax wrote on May 5: 

“Trump last week contacted Amazon’s Jeff Bezos about a report that the retail giant was planning to list the impact of 145% tariffs on China as it pertained to certain purchases. Trump said Bezos and Amazon acquiesced… Further, Trump asserted that tariffs are not supposed to be passed on to consumers in the first place. ‘What people don’t understand is, and this is a lot, the country eats the tariff. The company eats the tariff. And it’s not passed along at all,’ Trump said. 

“However, some American retailers are warning to buy now with the possibility of rising prices in the future due to tariffs. Lingerie store Bare Necessities offered a ‘pre-tariff sale,’ adding, ‘save up to 30% before prices shift,’ CNBC reported.

“Luggage company Beis warned in a letter to consumers that the ‘tariff situation is a complete dumpster fire, and we’re all getting burned. Here’s the situation: Costs are up, and unfortunately, our prices will have to follow suit,’ according to the report.” 

Of course they will. Clearly, consumers will have to pay higher prices because of the tariffs. 

Fox News reported on May 5: 

“President Donald Trump defended his tariff policy in an interview with NBC News on Sunday, saying that he would reach out to CEOs like Jeff Bezos if he has disagreements over their response to tariffs or other issues.” 

Amazon denied that they had contemplated listing import charges on certain products. This is not believable as Trump himself said that he called Bezos who “took it off immediately.” 

100 Percent Tariffs for Foreign Films?

The Mirror US wrote on May 5: 

“Already reeling from the devastation of recent wildfires, Hollywood is now facing a fresh threat from Donald Trump – a 100 per cent tariff on films made outside the States. The move will come as a major blow to the UK movie industry, which was expected to help rescue American filmmakers following the deadly infernos… 

“Trump announced the proposed levy on his Truth Social platform, declaring foreign-made movies a ‘National Security threat’ and accusing other countries of using taxpayer-funded incentives to lure away American film productions. ‘WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!’ Trump wrote. ‘It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda!’ 

“…insiders say the move could be catastrophic… ‘We’ve lost soundstages, sets, and entire production schedules to the wildfires. And now we’re being told if we shoot overseas to stay on budget, we’ll be punished? It’s madness.’ 

“The policy, which lacked any detail, will authorise the US Department of Commerce and the US Trade Representative to begin imposing the punitive tariffs, in what Trump called an effort to revive a domestic film industry that he claims is ‘dying a very fast death.’ The US film production has already declined sharply… By contrast, countries like the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have seen production spending surge… Trump blamed this shift on a ‘concerted effort’ by foreign governments to undermine Hollywood, while offering no evidence. 

“His administration has yet to clarify whether the proposed tariffs would apply to US companies filming abroad, foreign films distributed in the States, or content produced for streaming platforms like Netflix… Complicating matters further, several upcoming blockbusters by American studios… were all filmed overseas and could be caught in the policy crossfire.’

“Trump’s pledge to revive the domestic film industry rings hollow for many in Hollywood, especially given the damage his broader economic policies have already inflicted… Ahead of his inauguration, Trump had appointed actors Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone as ‘Special Envoys’ tasked with revitalising Hollywood. But insiders say those appointments have amounted to little more than symbolic gestures as the industry faces tangible threats. ‘The wildfires are destroying our homes, and now the president wants to set the rest of our economy on fire,’ said a union rep for film workers in Burbank. ‘It’s hard to imagine a worse time to attack your own industry.’”

Trump’s fascination with ill-conceived and harmful tariffs is really shocking. 

Overriding the US Constitution? 

NBC News wrote on May 4: 

“President Donald Trump argued in an interview with NBC News’ ‘Meet the Press’ that fulfilling his ambitious campaign promise to rapidly carry out mass deportations may take precedence over giving immigrants the right to due process under the Constitution, as required by courts…. ‘I don’t know. I’m not, I’m not a lawyer. I don’t know,’ Trump [said.]… The Constitution’s Fifth Amendment says ‘no person’ shall be ‘deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law’; it does not say that person must be a U.S. citizen… 

“Trump suggested that such a process would slow him down too much. ‘I don’t know… we’d have to have a million or 2 million or 3 million trials,’ he said… ‘I was elected to get them the hell out of here, and the courts are holding me from doing it,’ he added.” 

Trump does not know whether he needs to uphold the constitution? Also, he just announced that he might want to reopen the notorious prison Alcatraz in California. 

Trump as Pope 

The New York Post wrote on May 3: 

“An AI-generated picture of President Trump dressed as the pope is breaking the internet — with some suggesting it’s ‘kind of beautiful,’ while others are bashing it as  ‘sacrilegious.’ The Trumped-up papal image was jokingly shared on the White House’s X account Friday and the president’s Truth Social has since topped tens of millions of views. The image shows Trump holding up his index finger as if about to preach ex cathedra — clad in the traditional bright white Catholic vestments with gold lining… [Trump as] a non-denominational Christian is ineligible to be pope unless he converts to Catholicism…

“But the New York State Catholic Conference and other members of the faith tore into the White House for the ‘offense and sacrilegious’ meme. ‘There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President,’ the Empire State Catholic Bishops blasted the president… ‘Do not mock us.’ ‘Mr. President…—please cease this offensive and sacrilegious behavior,’ pleaded former Vice President Mike Pence’s speechwriter Joshua Charles. 

“Eric Sammons, a Catholic and the editor-in-chief of Crisis magazine said he wasn’t offended. ‘It’s typical Trump humor, and I’ve learned not to take that too seriously,’ said Sammons. ‘I’m much more worried about how actual occupants of the Chair of St. Peter might demean the office.’… Vance, who is Catholic, defended the meme.  ‘As a general rule, I’m fine with people telling jokes and not fine with people starting stupid wars that kill thousands of my countrymen,’ he wrote on X.”

This did not go well. Note the next articles. 

Trump Playing God? 

Bild Online published the following scathing commentary by Franz Josef Wagner on May 4: 

“Dear Donald Trump, What devil possessed you to publish an AI-generated photo of yourself as Pope?… The most powerful man in the Western world considers himself infallible… He has enough followers in the Oval Office who admire him. When he signs hundreds of decrees with his grotesque signature, he feels omnipotent. He’s playing God. 

“The photo with the Pope’s miter on his head isn’t a photo to laugh at; it’s a photo to be frightened. A man in love with himself, surrounded by admirers. American bishops are now demanding that Trump apologize. A god like Trump will never apologize. We can only pray. Our Father, deliver us from Trump.” 

This reflects more and more German sentiments towards Trump and his government. 

Trump’s Closest Ally Turns on Him 

The Daily Mail wrote on May 2: 

“Firebrand Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene has issued a surprising statement critical of President Donald Trump. The Georgia congresswoman is known for her loyal support of the two-time president and her devout defense of his MAGA policy platform… On Friday, she issued a scathing statement putting distance in between her and the commander-in-chief… ‘I campaigned for no more foreign wars,’ Greene wrote. ‘And now we are supposedly on the verge of going to war with Iran.’… ‘Didn’t we learn our lesson when we went to war in Iraq and killed Saddam Hussein because of ‘weapons of mass destruction?’ Did we ever find any?’ Greene said.

“The Georgian also stressed her distaste for the White House’s recently announced rare Earth minerals deal with Ukraine, noting how the embattled nation has not committed to pay back the U.S. for the billions in aid and arms that have been provided to the Eastern European country. ‘Why on earth would we go over and occupy Ukraine and spend an untold amount of future American taxpayer dollars defending and mining their minerals as well as potentially putting American lives at risk and future war?’ Greene asked. ‘Why don’t we just mine our own rare earth minerals that are tied up on federal lands that the government confiscated years ago?’ she continued.  

“The Trump ally also expressed her displeasure that the COVID-19 vaccines still have FDA approval though the treatment ‘does not stop people from catching COVID.’ Greene also shared that she does not think the White House is doing enough to combat ‘the evil transgender assault against our children.’… The congresswoman also aired her concerns with the pace of election integrity reforms and the ‘rogue judicial system.’” 

Greene won’t remain the only close Trump ally who will be turning against him. Note the next articles. 

Karl Rove Attacks Trump 

The Daily Beast wrote on May 5: 

“In an unvarnished interview on Fox News, [Republican strategist and former White House aide Karl] Rove attacked the president… ‘We elected him for a variety of reasons that were important: inflation, the border, DEI, the military, respect for America,’ Rove said Sunday during an interview with Fox News. ‘[But] things like tweeting out a picture of you as the pope is deeply offensive to a great many people.’… 

“Rove also criticized Trump’s handling of the case of Garcia, the Maryland dad who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT mega-prison. Despite admitting the error, the Trump administration has refused to bring Abrego Garcia home and has claimed he’s a member of the criminal gang MS-13 without providing any evidence in court… Rove warned that the Abrego Garcia case had dragged on for weeks and was eating away at the president’s approval rating on immigration, even as Trump gets strong marks for border security…  ‘That shows discernment of the American people,’ he said. ‘Bring him back and do it the right way, and the American people will give you better credit.’… 

“Rove… warned Trump was ‘in very bad shape’ on the economy… ‘It’s inflation—the president is saying gas is $1.90. I just filled up my tank. It ain’t $1.90,’ he said… [In California, the very low end is above 4 dollars a gallon.] 

“He also blasted the president for his ‘offhand remarks’ on tariffs… in saying the comments sounded like they came straight from the mouth of the cold-hearted miser Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol… ‘The ordinary American is like, ‘Wait a minute, I thought you were on my side. I didn’t think you were on the side of saying I need to do with less. You’ve got plenty of money, [but] I’ve got to make mine stretch as far as I can?’” 

Of course, Trump’s response came immediately. Note the next article.

Trump Attacks Conservative Critics 

Newsmax wrote on May 5: 

“President Donald Trump denounced two Fox News commentators… ‘I don’t need to have Karl Rove of FoxNews to tell me what to do. The guy’s a total Loser who’s been wrong about almost everything!” Trump wrote…  Trump also used Truth Social to criticize [FoxNews] host Howard Kurtz… ‘It is time for Howie Kurtz to retire!… The case Howie makes for me is so pathetic that it would be a lot better if he didn’t say anything…’ 

“The Wall Street Journal, which, like Fox News, is part of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, also was a target of Trump… When a Journal reporter began asking the president a question, Trump asked him whom he was with. ‘Boy, you people treat us so bad. The Wall Street Journal has truly gone to hell. Go ahead, you’re a rotten newspaper,’ Trump said. ‘You hear me what I said? It’s a rotten newspaper.’ After the reporter asked his question concerning peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine, Trump said, ‘I wouldn’t tell The Wall Street Journal because I’d be wasting my time.’” 

The Wall Street Journal is one of the most respected and established conservative newspapers in the Nation. 

Marco Rubio and JD Vance Blast Germany 

Newsweek wrote on May 2: 

“US. Secretary of State Marco Rubio tore into Germany on Friday after its domestic intelligence service designated the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) as an extreme group.   Germany’s decision to label AfD as a ‘proven right-wing extremist endeavor’ makes it easier for the Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Germany’s spy agency, to conduct some types of surveillance of the group… 

“The AfD denies that it is an extremist party and has said its platform, which calls for mass deportations, criticizes Islam, and emphasizes nationalism and traditional Christian values, reflects the views of the German electorate… 

“‘Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. That’s not democracy—it’s tyranny in disguise,’ Rubio wrote on X… ‘What is truly extremist is not the popular AfD—which took second in the recent election—but rather the establishment’s deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes,’ he wrote. ‘Germany should reverse course.’… 

“The AfD… has been backed by several Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and billionaire CEO Elon Musk…” 

Politico added on May 2: 

“… this is the first time in modern German history that a party with nationwide representation on the federal level has been classified as extremist… President Donald Trump and his inner circle have been largely supportive of the AfD. Its co-leader, Alice Weidel, was… invited to attend Trump’s inauguration.” 

The Hill wrote on May 2: 

“Vance, who met with AfD’s leader Alice Weidel in February ahead of the country’s elections, said the entity is the ‘most popular party in Germany, and by far the most representative of East Germany. Now the bureaucrats try to destroy it.’ 

“‘The West tore down the Berlin Wall together. And it has been rebuilt—not by the Soviets or the Russians, but by the German establishment,’ the vice president wrote Friday on X.” 

Rubio and Vance are not wrong with their remarks. But considering the present state of affairs in the USA, they are not well received in Germany. 

Is Rubio on an Anti-German Course? 

Die Welt wrote on May 4: 

“Not only is the US already an unpredictable and therefore difficult partner, the obsession with Germany in the Trump camp is growing and has now also engulfed Rubio, someone who was actually considered a traditional foreign policy expert…

“He skillfully portrayed himself as an iron defender of Trump’s policies with targeted TV appearances. He even threw his own principles overboard. Previously known as a Russia hawk, he refrained from criticizing the president when he humiliated his Ukrainian guest, Volodymyr Zelensky, in the Oval Office and unilaterally increased pressure on Kyiv. Instead, he jumped into the breach for Trump. 

“Rubio also defended his tightened migration policy. As a senator, he spoke out in favor of protecting refugees from the Maduro regime in Venezuela. These days, he wants nothing to do with that. This has elevated him to Trump’s inner circle. 

“This context gives his attack on Germany increased weight. Now, he’s following Vance and Musk’s course and forming a united front against Berlin in the White House. Merz and Wadephul’s first trips to the US are thus facing difficult prospects.”

It will be interesting to see whether Merz will really stand up to Trump, as he said he would . 

Germany Upholding Democracy? 

BBC wrote on May 2: 

“Germany’s Foreign Office has defended a decision to classify the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party as right-wing extremist, after sharp criticism from the White House… In an unusual move, the foreign office directly replied to Rubio on X, writing: ‘We have learnt from our history that right-wing extremism needs to be stopped.’ The intelligence agency that made the classification found AfD’s ‘prevailing understanding of people based on ethnicity and descent’ goes against Germany’s ‘free democratic order’… The agency, Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV), had already classed the AfD as right-wing extremist in three eastern states where its popularity is highest. Now, that designation has been extended to the entire party. 

“The AfD ‘aims to exclude certain population groups from equal participation in society’, it said in a statement. The agency said specifically that the party did not consider citizens ‘from predominantly Muslim countries’ as equal members of the German people.

“Joint party leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla said the decision was ‘clearly politically motivated’ and a ‘severe blow to German democracy’. Beatrix von Storch, the party’s deputy parliamentary leader, told the BBC’s Newshour programme that the designation was ‘the way an authoritarian state, a dictatorship, would treat their parties’. 

“The new classification gives authorities greater powers to monitor the AfD using tactics like phone interception and undercover agents…” 

Germany’s “explanation” is unconvincing. Note the following articles. 

Merz Under Pressure 

The Guardian wrote on May 2: 

“… the move puts the incoming conservative-led government of Friedrich Merz under great pressure, as well as [Federal Minister of the Inferior and Community Nancy] Faeser’s Social Democrat colleagues, who will be the junior partners in the new coalition that gets to work next Tuesday. [Faeser will be out by then.]

“On the back of the decision, Merz will now be responsible – on top of the myriad other challenges in his in-tray – for deciding whether and how to ban the AfD, a decision that will involve the most precarious of political tightrope walks.

“Migration, Ukraine, Trump and an ailing economy are among the burgeoning issues that he will also have to tackle with urgency. The growing mood of dissatisfaction over these and other issues, exacerbated by the six months of political deadlock that followed the premature collapse of the previous government – which induced an added layer of nationwide ennui – has already caused the AfD to creep up in the polls… The ruling by the BfV is unlikely to put people off supporting the AfD.

“Finding a way to reduce the AfD has been at top of the agenda among all of the political parties since it emerged as a protest force of professors and academics in 2013… The challenge has only grown in importance, as the populists – morphing from anti-euro to anti-migrant over time – have grown their success at the ballot box…

“Merz’s party, the Christian Democratic Union, has been torn over how to deal with the AfD. Merz tacitly cooperated with the party earlier this year – despite insisting he would not – to push migration policies through parliament. And on the local level, his party and the AfD have cooperated on issues such as a ruling that the German flag should be hoisted in schools. 

“Jens Spahn, Merz’s close ally, recently prompted scorn by suggesting the AfD should be treated as a ‘normal opposition party’, arguing that excluding the party from parliamentary procedures only boosted its popularity…” 

The Fight Against the AfD

Breitbart wrote on May 5:

“Germany’s right-wing… Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has launched a lawsuit against the nation’s political police… The deadline for Germany’s political police force… to retract a decision to classify the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as ‘confirmed right-wing extremist’ or else face legal action passed on Monday morning. The AfD… said the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) declined to respond to their legal letter and so they were launching a lawsuit to challenge the decision in court. 

“The AfD had called the BfV classification ‘manifestly unlawful’ and said they’d filed for proceedings and for an urgent motion at the Cologne administrative court, the city where the BfV is based…  Crucially, the BfV classification means it can spy on the party, its politicians, and its members without restriction. Further, with this step, the discussion has progressed to banning Germany’s second most popular elected party altogether, all in the name of protecting democracy. Views are split on this, however…

“This timing, it is alleged, is not a matter of coincidence, with a claim aired by Germany’s Bild newspaper today that the old left-wing government rushed through the order to classify the AfD as extremist as one of their final acts before losing power. The new Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, who is being sworn in on Tuesday, believed, per that report, the BfV decision wasn’t even properly reviewed before being promulgated, and that once he is in office this week, he intends to have it reviewed…

“While the AfD may not hope for much from Dobrindt’s review of the document by Interior Ministry experts, he at least… has said the bar for banning a party in Germany is high, and the AfD does not meet the standard because ‘[an] aggressive and militant nature’ is not present as a defining characteristic of the party, reports Die Welt. He said using lawfare to persecute the party would likely be counterproductive…

“Refuting this view, among others, is German politician Michel Friedman, who took to Die Welt on Monday to accuse anyone who still votes for AfD of making themselves an ‘accomplice’ who ‘must be held accountable’ for supporting ‘an anti-democratic party’.” 

Julien Michel Friedman is a controversial German author, former CDU politician and talk show host. From 2000 to 2003 Friedman was vice president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, and president of the European Jewish Congress from 2001 to 2003. From 1998 to 2003 he had his own show on German television.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban posted this on X on May 3: “What the hell is going on in Germany? You can count on us… Alice Weidel!” 

Attack on Freedom of Expression

Julian Reichert [former Bild Editor-in-Chief] wrote in Nius on May 5: 

“Nothing publicly known about AfD statements even remotely borders on (violent) anti-constitutionalism; much of it is frustrated colloquial German, as expressed by millions of people. Everything publicly known is clearly protected by freedom of expression. The real scandal here is that an intelligence agency is collecting countless statements and compiling them into a secret dossier that clearly fall under the fundamental right to freedom of expression… 

“What we are experiencing is the greatest attack on freedom of expression ever undertaken by a federal government. Anyone who participates in this would themselves be a case for the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in a functioning system… You can strongly reject the choice of words (or not), but if this is supposed to be a case for the intelligence agency, we will soon have informants at the bars of this country again. What’s happening right now is a national crisis, a serious civil rights crisis. The state wants to end freedom of expression as it has existed for 75 years.”

Presently On Hold

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 8:

“The German domestic intelligence agency BfV has said it will not publicly refer to the AfD as a ‘confirmed right-wing extremist movement’ until a Cologne court rules on a bid by the AfD for an injunction against using the term. ‘The measures associated with the classification will also be suspended, ‘Reuters reported…

“The decision made by the BfV means it can avoid a potential court ruling prohibiting it from using the extremist label while the AfD’s injunction bid is litigated. This is likely to avoid giving the AfD politicians the opportunity to say they had forced the agency to retract its classification had such a ruling come from the court.

“The injunction is separate from the AfD’s appeal against the BfV’s decision, which will likely take a lot longer.”

Merz Elected Chancellor in Second Round of Voting

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 6: 

“German conservative leader Friedrich Merz has been elected chancellor in a second round of voting after a dramatic day in Germany’s lower house of parliament, the Bundestag. A total of 325 lawmakers voted in favor of Merz this time around, bringing him over the necessary 316 threshold. 

“Earlier, the 69-year-old became the first presumptive chancellor to fail in the first round of voting, a unique event in Germany. With 310 yes votes, he was six votes short of a chancellor majority. He becomes Germany’s tenth postwar chancellor and the Christian Democrats’ sixth holder of the post.” 

Merz Criticizes USA 

Focus wrote on May 7:

“Merz criticized the voices within the US government that supported the AfD in the federal election campaign and recently criticized the party’s classification as right-wing extremist by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. These were ‘absurd observations about the Federal Republic of Germany,’ Merz said. 

“‘I did not interfere in the American election campaign and take sides unilaterally for one side or the other.’ He therefore encouraged the American government to let domestic politics in Germany be domestic politics.” 

No Peace in Sight 

The Sun wrote on May 2 

“THE US has announced it will no longer act as the mediator to negotiate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine after Vladimir Putin refused to accept a full ceasefire. The State Department said the country is changing ‘the methodology of how we contribute’ to the talks and will no longer ‘fly around the world at the drop of a hat’ for meetings. 

“The shift comes just hours after Trump’s deputy JD Vance said the war in Ukraine is unlikely to end ‘any time soon’. He added: ‘It is going to be up to the Russians and Ukrainians now that each side knows what the other’s terms for peace are. It’s going to be up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict.’… 

“The shift comes just two days after the US and Ukraine signed a historic minerals deal… The US also drafted a seven-point plan, which it hoped would draw a path to peace between Ukraine and Russia. However, the plan was rejected by Zelensky as it involved the US formally recognising Russian sovereignty over Crimea. Trump is said to be growing ‘increasingly frustrated’ with both Putin and Zelensky in his attempts to bring the Ukraine war to a close… Moscow dashed hopes of a peace deal by repeating demands that Ukraine must surrender and disarm…” 

Europe Rejects Trump Proposal 

Breitbart wrote on May 2: 

“The European Union’s high representative for foreign and security policy Kaja Kallas — almost the bloc’s Foreign Minister, except the budding super-state hasn’t quite got one yet — says the Union will never accept Russian occupation of any Ukrainian land, nor any loosening of sanctions on Russia… 

“The paper [Financial Times] paraphrased that she had said: ‘no EU country would accept recognition of Crimea as Russian, an element of the US proposal that is a major red line for Kyiv’, and directly quoting: ‘I can’t see that we are accepting these kind of things… we have said this over and over again… Crimea is Ukraine. 

Russia Blasts USA 

The New York Post wrote on May 1: 

“The Kremlin on Thursday blasted President Trump’s historic mineral rights deal with Ukraine… sarcastically praising the US leader for making a deal with a nation that will soon ‘disappear.’ ‘Trump has finally pressured the Kyiv regime to pay for US aid with mineral resources,’ Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev [considered Russian President Vladimir Putin’s right-hand man] said on Telegram. ‘Now, the country that is about to disappear will have to use its national wealth to pay for military supplies.’

“Unlike military aid packages under the Biden administration, Ukraine would pay the United States for these weapons — benefiting both Kyiv’s defense and the US defense industry without the use of American taxpayer dollars. The deal holds that Washington and Kyiv will split all profits from licenses for new oil, gas and minerals mining in Ukraine in a mutual fund. While Kyiv will  contribute to the fund largely through mineral profits, the US has the option to contribute to the fund by letting Ukraine purchase weapons. Still, there are no requirements that the US must allow Ukraine to purchase weapons as part of the arrangement.” 

The Mineral Deal 

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 1: 

“Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has said Ukraine would retain full ownership of all its mineral resources in the agreement with the United States… Svyrydenko… said the fund would be jointly managed by both countries, with Svyrydenko writing on X:  ‘It is the Ukrainian state that determines what and where to extract.’ 

“Meanwhile, Trump said on Wednesday evening on NewsNation that the deal, ‘in theory,’ means the US will get more from Ukraine than it contributed. ‘I wanted to be protected,’ he said, adding that he didn’t want to look ‘foolish; by not getting money back for US aid to Ukraine… 

“The Ukrainian parliament will still have to ratify the agreement before it can come into force.” 

Just a Matter of Time 

ntv wrote on May 4: 

“Despite his war of aggression against Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin believes in reconciliation with his neighbors. ‘It seems to me that this is inevitable, despite the tragedy we are currently experiencing,’ said the Kremlin chief… on the 25th anniversary of his first presidency. ‘It’s a matter of time,’ Putin said… He [had] called the Ukrainians themselves part of the Russian people.” 

Some have questioned whether Putin wants to indeed restore the Soviet Union’s former “glory” by restoring Russia as an imperial power. Putin said on several occasions, at least as early as 2005 in his annual state of the nation address, that the collapse of the Soviet empire “was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century”. He added: “As for the Russian people, it became a genuine tragedy. Tens of millions of our fellow citizens and countrymen found themselves beyond the fringes of Russian territory.” 

They should also remember Putin’s speech in June of 2022 in which he compared himself with Peter the Great. He said: 

“Peter the Great waged the Great Northern War for 21 years… On the face of it, he was at war with Sweden taking something away from it… He was not taking away anything, he was returning. This is how it was… When he founded the new capital, none of the European countries recognized this territory as part of Russia; everyone recognized it as part of Sweden… However, from time immemorial, the Slavs lived there along with the Finno-Ugric peoples, and this territory was under Russia’s control. The same is true of the western direction, Narva and his first campaigns. Why would he go there? He was returning and reinforcing, that is what he was doing… Clearly, it fell to our lot to return and reinforce as well…” 

US to Stop Bombing Houthis 

Politico wrote on May 6:

“The United States will stop strikes against Yemen’s Houthi group, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday, after a nearly-two-month bombing campaign. Trump… said the halt would start immediately. The Houthis approached the administration on Monday night indicating ‘they want to stop the fighting,’ he said. The military has struck at least 800 targets in Yemen and killed hundreds of Houthis since March, according to U.S. Central Command. 

“Trump framed the move as a handshake agreement to end the Pentagon’s bombing campaign in exchange for the Houthis no longer attacking American ships. It’s not a deal,’ he said. ‘They said, “Please don’t bomb us anymore and we’re not going to attack your ships.’”… But the arrangement is unlikely to calm tensions in the region if it’s limited to protecting American ships. Israel escalated strikes against the Houthis on Monday night…” 

The Houthis said that they would continue their fight in support of Gaza. The Jerusalem Post reported that Netanyahu was not informed about Trump’s announcement ahead of time. 

India at War With Pakistan 

The U.S. Sun wrote on May 7: 

“NUCLEAR war could break out “at any time” if India continues strikes, Pakistan’s defence chief has warned as his country teeters on the brink of a conflict with India. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif gave the stark warning in an interview with Pakistani TV channel Geo News as tensions between the two nuclear powers continue to reach boiling point… 

“Pakistan’s Prime Minister earlier blamed India for igniting an “inferno” in the region after bombing his country overnight and has now authorised his troops to fire missiles back…” 

First Canada, Now Australia 

The Wall Street Journal wrote on May 3: 

“Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was returned to power in an election Saturday, the latest left leaning leader to achieve a comeback victory as President Trump roils global markets and upends international affairs… The election is the latest snapshot of how voters are reacting to a shifting world order as President Trump targets countries with tariffs, pivots towards Russia and uses harsh rhetoric about Washington’s traditional allies. Polls show voters in Australia, Canada, and the U.K. view Washington more unfavorably since Trump took office. 

“Earlier this week, Canadians gave the left-leaning Liberal Party a fourth term in office, even though the party was trailing badly in the polls at the start of the year. Canadians embraced the tough-talking approach of Prime Minister Mark Carney, a former central banker, while shying away from the conservative candidate, Pierre Poilievre, who was viewed as being too similar to Trump.  

“A similar dynamic has played out in Australia… Dutton, a former police officer and defense minister, seesawed between embracing policies with a Trump-like flair and distancing himself from Trump-style rhetoric. He backtracked or clarified proposals to end working from home and slash the government workforce, two initiatives that have been supported by Trump in the U.S…. He also unveiled plans to further boost Australia’s military spending, aligning himself with Trump’s demand that U.S. allies to spend more on their militaries. But the strategy seemed to backfire in a country where Trump is very unpopular. Dutton lost his seat to the Labor candidate… 

“Albanese, though, had to be careful not to position himself as too anti-Trump given that the U.S. is Australia’s main military partner. He will now have to navigate thorny issues including trade talks… He also faces a delicate balancing act with China, which is Australia’s biggest trading partner but has been boosting its military…” 

“The Demons of the Holy See” 

AFP wrote on May 2: 

“Sexual predators, crooked financiers, spies and a spattering of murderers: while the Vatican may appear an earthly garden watched over by its beloved saints, it also has its demons… Today, clerical sexual abuse against minors and nuns is hands down the most serious crime facing the Catholic Church… 

“Ambition and money — even murder — are woven through the Vatican’s dark history. Since its origins 2,000 years ago, the Church of Rome has experienced ‘some truly scandalous periods in terms of morality’, a senior prelate told AFP… They are so numerous that only a few of the most emblematic need be mentioned. 

“In the 10th century Pope John XII is said to have turned the Lateran Palace in Rome into a harem. Five centuries later, the Borgia pope, Alexander VI, organised an orgy for his daughter’s wedding… 

“Fast forward a few centuries later, and money was again at the root of a major scandal over the Banco Ambrosiano-majority owned by the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR), or the Vatican bank. It collapsed in 1982 amid accusations of money-laundering mafia money while its director, Roberto Calvi, was found hanging that same year from London’s Blackfriars Bridge. A commander of the Swiss Guards, Alois Estermann, also met with an unfortunate fate. In 1998, he and his wife were shot dead in their Vatican flat by one of his men, who then committed suicide…. 

“Whatever their nature, whatever their era, the depravities of past popes and their Curia collided with the ‘demanding’ moral teachings of the Church — with the result of ‘displacing’ some of them… Those consequences are sometimes drastic. Reformer Martin Luther, whose denounced the Church as ‘Babylon’ with its sale of indulgences, initiated the schism with Rome that began the Protestant Reformation.” 

Francis’ Final Miracle? 

The Daily Mail added on May 3: 

“Trump has posted an AI picture of himself as the Pope… The Republican, who is not Catholic, took to Truth Social to post the image, which shows him wearing a white papal hat, also referred to as a miter, while a large crucifix dangles from his neck. Trump had previously joked with reporters how he wouldn’t be against succeeding the late Catholic leader, adding: ‘I’d like to be Pope. That would be my number one choice.’ … Trump’s post has been met with outrage online with many branding the move as ‘a great disrespect’, urging the US President to remove the post immediately. … 

“During the Pontiff’s funeral, Zelensky and Trump spoke face to face for the first time since their disastrous White House clash earlier this year… The outcome was dubbed Pope Francis’ ‘final miracle’…  ‘It was also moving to see what they are now calling ‘Pope Francis’s miracle’ with Trump and Zelensky meeting, there’s so many things that happened today – it was just overwhelming,’ Professor Father Francesco Giordano told Sky News…   

“It comes as the cardinals of the Catholic Church held their ninth in a series of near-daily meetings at the Vatican ahead of the election of a new pope today. The closed-door ‘general congregations’ allow them to discuss the challenges the new pontiff will face before they are locked into the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday for the vote. Walking through crowds of pilgrims and journalists for the morning meeting, the so-called ‘Princes of the Church‘ gave little away – not even speculating how long the conclave would last… 

“On Wednesday, 133 of them will enter the Sistine Chapel and not leave until they have – after a series of secret ballots – given a two-thirds majority to Francis’ successor.”

Of course, this has nothing to do with a “miracle” caused by the dead pope. 

The New American Pope

Focus wrote on May 8:

“The American Robert Prevost has been elected [in the fourth round of voting] as the new Pope… He will be called Pope Leo XIV.”

Prevost is also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop. He is the first American pope. He is described as a progressive on many social issues, but conservative on church doctrine; he opposes ordaining women as deacons, for example. Overall, many view him as a centrist.

JK Rowling Speaks Out… Again! 

Daily Mail wrote on May 4:

“[Harry Potter author] JK Rowling has posted an essay about signatories ‘motivated by fear’ after Harry Potter stars signed a pro-trans open letter [with over 2000 signatures, disagreeing with the UK Supreme Court’s ruling that under the Equality Act, ‘woman’ is defined by biological sex and that ‘the concept of sex is binary, a person is either a woman or a man’. The signatories state that ‘We believe the ruling undermines the lived reality and threatens the safety of trans, non-binary, and intersex people living in the UK.’] 

“Rowling took to social media this weekend to state that ‘nobody sane believes, or has ever believed, that humans can change sex, or that binary sex isn’t a material fact… 

“’I often wonder whether the signatories of such letters have to quieten their consciences before publicly boosting a movement intent on removing women’s and girls’ rights… and campaigns for the continued sterilisation of vulnerable and troubled kids…” 

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.

“Pornography” may be difficult to define, and many may not agree on a common definition. When Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart was asked to describe his test for obscenity in 1964, he responded: “I know it when I see it.” In applying this quasi-definition to a motion picture at issue, he concluded that it was not pornographic. This was in 1964. Surely, today’s standards and definitions are even much more liberal.

We will not try to define pornography in this article. Rather, we set forth guidelines which the reader may use to come to conclusions applicable to oneself, based on his or her understanding and conscience.  We use the word pornography (another word might be obscenity) with this introductory precaution in mind.

In this present age, pornography is frighteningly easy to access. With the lightning speed of a whim, people can view pornographic images and videos on computers and phones, dramatically reducing barriers to availability that would have otherwise prevented them from doing so. Hand in hand with greater accessibility, media and entertainment increasingly normalize pornography. The proliferation of pornography and derivations of it are designed to exploit the raw sexual urge of people, especially men. The nature of pornographic content may stimulate physical sensations to the extreme, such that it is common for it to become the source of addiction. Truly, pornography might serve as a quintessential example of decadent worldliness which the Bible warns about.

Since Christians are human beings with physical inclinations like anyone else, they are not immune to the seductive allure of pornography. Yet it is such a taboo topic that even bringing it up as a Christian can be embarrassingly shameful! But the duty of a Christian is to become equipped to overcome carnality, so it is important to directly address the topic of how to handle pornography.

Leaving aside the definition of what makes content pornographic, we can focus on its designed effects. Quite simply, it is designed to elicit sexual arousal through voyeuristic fantasy using images of a provocative nature, most commonly with naked people engaged in all kinds of sexual activities, not to mention deviations like the abominable practice of bestiality and other perversions. There is nothing inherently wrong about sex and the instinct of arousal that accompanies it. God made man and woman as sexual beings. But he designed this aspect of our physical nature for married men and women to enjoy in a healthy way. Pornography, through its elicitation of sexual fantasy, is designed to stimulate imagination and ideas in the viewer that are definitively not anchored in what it takes to build a healthy, loving relationship in the way God intended.

To view pornography is to have a relationship with it. But this is not the kind of sexual relationship that God designed. God made man and woman to develop love for one another, become married, and create a family of their own. (We understand, of course, that in this day and age not every couple can create a family with children, for numerous reasons. In other cases, God may not even intend for a person to get married.) God designed marriage to nurture a healthy kind of sexual relationship, which involves developing an intimate relationship between a man and a woman, including on a spiritual level. “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4). From this passage, we understand that there is a right way and a wrong way to treat sex.

The model of the right way to treat sex is in a married relationship as God designed, and the wrong ways are the sexually immoral and cheap counterfeits for it. Like fornication and adultery mentioned in the passage above, pornography is a cheap counterfeit. It may set false expectations through its fantastical imagery that could damage a healthy sexual relationship with a partner in marriage. Whereas a healthy marriage relationship involves developing a deep understanding of one another, consuming pornography and engaging in other types of sexual immorality such as fornication, stimulates arousal while skipping over all the hard work that makes a marriage relationship so rewarding. Pornography teaches wrong lessons about what it takes to develop an intimate relationship. To apply those lessons learned through the examples of pornography in real life will only result in failure, disappointment, or worse.

We write about the healthy kind of sexual relationship between a man and woman in our free booklet, “God’s Teachings on Sexual Relationships.”

“While it may be unfashionable, we take the Word of God seriously and unashamedly in spite of the mainly secular society in which we live. We read in Genesis 2:18, 20–23 that God provided a wife, Eve, for Adam. Verse 24 is critical: ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh,’ and this is the biblical example at the dawn of civilization. One man and one woman and no other variation is mentioned nor acceptable, and in Genesis 1:28 they were told to ‘Be fruitful and multiply,’ and that is supposed to happen only when two people of the opposite sex are united in marriage.

“There is one aspect of marriage that seems to be rarely, if ever, discussed.

“In Genesis 2:24 we read: ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.’ We might ask why the Bible teaches that a man is to leave his parents in order to cleave to his wife? What is meant by this? Does this also mean, by extension, that the wife is to leave her parents as well, in order to cleave to her husband?

“The Bible is very explicit, for important reasons, to enjoin the newly married couple to live separately from their parents. In addition to this instruction in Genesis 2:24, we read later, in Matthew 19:5, that Jesus Christ quotes this very Scripture with approval, to explain and to uphold the sanctity of the marriage relationship.

“Commentaries agree that this command is meant to be taken and obeyed quite literally. A reason for this command is given in the Ryrie Study Bible, as follows, ‘Jesus cites the purpose of God in creation that husband and wife should be one flesh—the oneness of kinship or fellowship with the body as a medium, causing marriage to be the deepest physical and spiritual unity.’”

From this explanation of how God designed marriage, we understand what true intimacy consists of. Pornography, as well as fornication and adultery, corrupt this model set by God.

Another way that pornography can be dangerous is in the stimulation of lust. The images of pornography are designed to arouse a lustful desire, which can be overwhelming in their allure. We understand, of course, that lustful desire can be aroused in many different ways, and it may be different for particular individuals. Consider what the Bible says about playing with a similar type of strong lust and its effects. “For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life, To keep you from the evil woman, From the flattering tongue of a seductress. Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, Nor let her allure you with her eyelids. For by means of a harlot A man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life. Can a man take fire to his bosom, And his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals, And his feet not be seared? So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife;  Whoever touches her shall not be innocent” (Proverbs 6:23-29). This passage is about allowing oneself to become seduced away from a healthy sexual relationship, and instead inviting sexual lust and temptation to take control. What is the result? To become metaphorically burned and seared through the experience! Pornography carries the same danger. Images may sear into the mind of the viewer and burn into his or her consciousness, reinforcing the wrong ideas about what a healthy, godly sexual relationship consists of.

We’re reminded that physical lust is something that Christians are to overcome. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.   For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17). Of the many examples of what fulfills the lust of the eyes, pornography is among the most apt. To fall prey to sexual temptation brings one full force into carnal indulgence. Carnal lust is something to overcome as a Christian. As mentioned in the passage above, it is not of God. We know that Satan is the god of this world, and he uses all kinds of wrong sexual influences to tempt us. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 to fight against those influences.

Being convinced of the dangers of pornography, what can one do to escape them? The Bible gives us simple instructions with actions expressed in extreme terms to drive home the point that decisive action is necessary. Christ tells us: “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell”  (Matthew 5:27-30). This instruction from Jesus Christ is about looking lustfully at a woman desiring to have a sexual relationship with her, but the lesson is something that we can easily apply to the dangers of pornography. Such images may stimulate lust for someone else, even if only in the imagination. In this example, Jesus equates this kind of lust to the sin of adultery. The prescription He offers is to physically separate oneself from the source of sin, figuratively plucking out the eye and cutting off the hand. Jesus does not instruct us to literally mutilate ourselves, but the lesson is clear. We are to decisively act, physically removing ourselves from the stimulus of sin and any sinful environment.

We emphasize this point of taking decisive action to flee sexual immorality in our free booklet, “God’s Teachings on Sexual Relationships.”

“Let us look now at God’s teaching in the Bible on this subject, which is what should concern us the most.

“1 Corinthians 6:18 (in the Authorized Version), we read ‘Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.’

“The New King James Bible renders ‘sexual immorality’ correctly as ‘fornication.’ This word clearly includes sexual activities before and outside the confines of marriage.

“The instruction is to ‘flee fornication and wrong sexual activity,’ but so many ignore or do not even know about this instruction. This is the problem when God’s Word is ignored or not considered relevant today, and where there is antipathy toward doing what God commands us to do, which is for our benefit and is always in our best interests. However, man thinks that he knows better than God and makes up his own rules (or lack of them) to facilitate a ‘just do it’ attitude.

“There was obviously a problem in the Corinthian Church with wrong sexual activity, including fornication (compare 1 Corinthians 6:9; 2 Corinthians 12:21). Here the Bible warns us that fornicators and other sexually immoral individuals will not inherit the Kingdom of God, and so it is an activity that must be avoided by those who are called and chosen by God. God defines His standards and what He requires of His people, which is very different than the liberal, promiscuous approach that today’s societies adopt.”

Pornography is a powerful force in this age. Many even become addicted by its strong arousal and ease of access. It can lead to fornication or other sexually immoral behavior. It is dangerous in that it is designed to corrupt the perfect model of a healthy sexual relationship between a married couple, which God intended. Overcoming the danger of pornography’s temptation is possible, however. By calling upon the strength of Christ to resist its allure and flee from its presence, one can avoid falling prey to the damage it does.

Lead Writer: Eric Rank

compiled by Dave Harris

“The AfD Classification and Germany’s Attack on Freedom of Speech,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

Germany’s classification of the AfD as a “right-wing extremist party” by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has been sharply criticized by the US government. Many voices in Germany and Austria are also criticizing the decision, calling it a political maneuver, an attack on freedom of expression, and a serious state crisis of civil rights. This puts Chancellor Friedrich Merz under pressure. The AfD can only benefit from all of this, especially given the weak coalition of the CDU/CSU and the SPD.

“Die AfD Bewertung und Deutschlands Angriff auf die Meinungsfreiheit,” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.

“Sodom and Gomorrah” is the latest video in our Bible Story Series on YouTube.

“Süßer Geruch oder übler Gestank – was von beiden?” is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Sweet Aroma or Foul Odor—Which?”

“Kleider machen Leute,” last Sabbath’s German sermonette presented by Dominik Kaltenegger, is now posted. Title in English: “Clothes Make the Man.”

“Family Rules— Ein Leben in Wahrheit und Liebe,” last Sabbath’s German sermon presented by Christoph Sperzel, is now posted. Title in English: “Family Rules— A Life of Truth and Love.”

“What Is the Prayer of Faith,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Dave Harris, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Christians, like Jesus Christ and because of Him, are able to pray with faith. Do we really believe that God hears us?

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

What’s important to you? Are your actions consistent with your priorities? It is our responsibility as Christians to continually evaluate our commitment to living a righteous and fulfilling life, placing the highest priority on developing our love for God. When we discover the inevitable shortcomings and waste in our lives, it is an opportunity for us to revise our priorities and adjust our commitments.