Update 1164

On June 21, 2025, Eric Rank will present the sermonette, titled “The Importance of Doing Hard Things,” and Dave Harris will present the sermon, titled, “Why Prophecy Is Important!”

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.

God gives us all kinds of experiences to enjoy. And sometimes, He gives us experiences that we do not enjoy. We don’t necessarily get to choose what our circumstances are, but we get to choose how we respond. The choices we make in reaction to our circumstances demonstrate the motivations of our heart. It is not only our action, but also our heart which God will judge (compare Jeremiah 11:20). This is why we get to have such a wide array of experiences. God tests us, expecting that we will navigate through our experiences, good and bad, without forsaking Him.

There are many stories in the Bible that review the range of experiences of being human. I am particularly fond of the story of Hannah. It gives us an example showing the unwavering trust in God through the good and the bad circumstances she experienced. She was barren for years, and at the brink of desperation, desiring a child. She pleaded before God to allow her to have a little boy of her own. Then she conceived and became tremendously thankful. To honor God’s generosity and mercy, she gave custody of her boy Samuel to the priest, placing him into the service of God. She proved her faith in the most trying times and then glorified God when He blessed her with the child she pleaded for (compare 1 Samuel 1:1-28).

We can learn much from Hannah’s attitude. In her song recorded in the Bible, we read about her wise perspective regarding God’s involvement in people’s lives: “The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, And He has set the world upon them. He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. For by strength no man shall prevail” (1 Samuel 2:6-9).

From her words we understand how she acknowledges the power of God to expose us to experiences that run the gamut, from desperation to delight. However, she is wise enough to recognize that what really matters is that He is totally involved in the lives of His people, whether times are good or bad. Her response in both the good times and the tough times demonstrated consistent trust in Him, giving Him glory through it all. The range of circumstances that God allows or even prepares for us are there for us to learn from and use for our growth. The best part about His involvement is the overarching intent He has for us. He will protect and ultimately glorify those saints who are faithful to Him.

Sometimes, we might feel that life is not fair. But we must remember, God knows what He is doing and that He cares for us. Whatever it is that we experience is what He knows about and sometimes even directly prepares for us, so that we can take it as an opportunity to do good works (compare Ephesians 2:10). He knows that we can endure through the hard times. He gives us experiences to learn from, and in that, we should see those difficult circumstances as being valuable. When we are able to acknowledge this fact, it is easier to respond in faith, trusting Him as in the example of Hannah.

God never promised that life would be easy for those who obey Him. But He does promise that those who endure to the end will be saved (compare Matthew 10:22, Matthew 24:13, Mark 13:13). We can trust in this, helping us to not get distracted by the challenges we face.

by Norbert Link

In this edition, we report on the war between Israel and Iran and national and international reactions; nationwide protests against President Trump and his immigration policies; the controversial military parade in Washington; more and more violence spreading in the USA; and America’s ongoing self-inflicted isolation on the world scene; lawsuits against an AI company for alleged copyright violations; Turkey’s new role in Europe; and Germany’s first-ever Veteran’s Day celebration.

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “The End of the American Empire?”

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

What Matters Now For Israel

The Telegraph wrote on June 13:

“Now all that matters is how much damage Israel can inflict on three vital plants at the core of Iran’s nuclear industry – Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan. The first two are where Iran enriches uranium…  In Isfahan, raw uranium is converted into gas prior to being fed into centrifuges for enrichment… So far, Israel appears to have struck Natanz but not Isfahan or Fordow.

“The latter is by far the toughest target – an enrichment facility dug into a mountain, beneath hundreds of feet of rock and earth, where centrifuges are already producing uranium at 60 per cent purity, barely a hair’s breadth from weapons grade… The great risk for Mr Netanyahu is that when the smoke clears and Operation Rising Lion, the codename of this campaign, is over, Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan will be reparable in a matter of months or even weeks.

“If so, he will have achieved nothing but a short delay in Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon. And you can be sure that Iran’s leaders – if they are still in power when this ends – will immediately dash for a bomb…”

Reuters wrote on June 13:

“… satellite imagery did not yet show significant damage to nuclear infrastructure, several experts said. ‘The first day was aimed at things that you would get through surprise – killing leadership, going after nuclear scientists, air defense systems, the ability to retaliate,’ said nuclear expert David Albright at the Institute for Science and International Security. ‘We can’t see any visible damage at Fordow or Isfahan. There was damage at Natanz,’ said Albright, referring to Iranian nuclear sites. But ‘there’s no evidence that the underground site was destroyed.’…

“‘It has always been the conventional wisdom that Israel may not have the ordnance to destroy Fordow without American military support,’ Mark Dubowitz, head of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank, told a podcast. The United States is better equipped than Israel to destroy such targets with its most powerful bunker buster bombs, the 30,000-pound (14,000 kg) Massive Ordnance Penetrator.

“If Iran decides not to negotiate a nuclear deal, the U.S. could use its B2 bombers and those bombs to destroy Fordow, Dubowitz said….”

Israel will receive a [military] “wound” before the beginning of the Great Tribulation. 

Trump Warns Iran 

Breitbart wrote on June 13: 

“President Trump related that ‘I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest of words, to “just do it”’, but said they ‘just couldn’t get it done’. This is a serious matter, the President said, because ‘the United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, [by far], and that Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come’. 

“Iranian hardliners had been brave in negotiations but they are ‘all [dead] now, and it will only get worse’, he said… ‘Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left… [Just do it, before it is too late]’, he wrote…” 

Trump Claims He Knew Everything! 

The New York Post wrote on June 13:

“President Trump told The Post Friday that he knew Israel would strike Iran if the theocratic regime didn’t quickly agree to a revised nuclear deal with the US. ‘I always knew the date,’ the president said in a brief phone interview. ‘Because I know everything. I know everything. I know everything. I gave them 60 days and they didn’t meet it,’ Trump went on. ‘Today’s 61, you know. Today’s day 61.’… 

“The first sign that a significant operation was afoot came Wednesday, when non-essential US personnel were told to leave several outposts in the region…” 

Trump’s and Pakistan’s Threats 

The Sun wrote on June 17: 

“Trump is reportedly considering joining Israel in striking Iranian nuclear sites hours after he said the Ayatollah is an ‘easy target.’ Trump claimed the US and Israel know exactly where Iran’s Supreme Leader is hiding out but he won’t order any assassination plot ‘for now’… 

“[Trump] is now said to be considering allowing for a US strike on Iran, according to multiple current and former administration officials… 

“Tension across the Middle East is now skyrocketing as the conflict threatens to spiral into a wider regional war after Pakistan called for the Islamic world to back Iran. Islamabad even warned they will nuke Israel, a senior Iranian general claimed.” 

Daily Mail wrote on June 17: 

“Israel has said it is ‘on the verge’ of destroying ‘more than 10 nuclear targets’ in Iran’ – amid fears that strikes on the sites could trigger a radiation incident… Trump last night refused to sign a joint statement with fellow G7 leaders calling for de-escalation in the conflict before storming out of the summit, saying he had to get back to Washington early ‘for obvious reasons’. 

“Speaking from Air Force One, he then furiously denied claims made by French President Emmanuel Macron that he was heading back to work on a ceasefire… He warned that the US will join Israel’s war and ‘come down hard’ on Tehran if provoked, adding that if Tehran ‘touches’ US troops, ‘the gloves are off’.” 

Tehran to Evacuate 

The New York Post wrote on June 16:

“President Trump warned that ‘everyone’ in Tehran should ‘immediately evacuate’ in an alarming Monday night Truth Social post as it was revealed he would be leaving the G7 summit a day early due to the Iran-Israel conflict… The president’s evacuation warning came after Israeli officials called for those in Tehran to evacuate earlier Monday ahead of its continued military campaign against Iran, which has included slews of missile exchanges between the conflicting countries. 

“The evacuation area includes an estimated 330,000 people in central Tehran, including Iran’s state television headquarters, police headquarters and three key hospitals including one owned by the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard… thousands have been pushed to flee, the chaos only exacerbated by Tehran’s lack of publicly accessible bomb shelters. A majority of the 9.5 million people in Iran’s capital have been left in limbo as mass evacuations clogged traffic while others lack the means to leave at all… Earlier that same day, Trump told ABC News that it is ‘possible’ the US could get involved in the conflict… As of Monday, an estimated 224 people were killed during the attacks in Iran. In Israel, 24 deaths have been confirmed…”

 Reportedly, tens of thousands of Americans are living in Tehran, with no realistic possibility of evacuation. 

Tucker Carlson Attacks Trump 

The Independent wrote on June 13: 

“Tucker Carlson has turned on President Donald Trump by accusing him of being ‘complicit’ in Israel’s attacks on Iran.  The former Fox News host and MAGA figurehead rebuked Trump and the administration in his newsletter: ‘… While the American military may not have physically perpetrated the assault, years of funding and sending weapons to Israel, which Donald Trump just bragged about on Truth Social, undeniably place the U.S. at the center of last night’s events….’ 

“The conflict is already splitting MAGA down the middle, leading figures of the movement have said publicly. ‘A direct strike on Iran right now would disastrously split the Trump coalition,’ podcaster Jack Posobiec wrote on X… He added that it could cost the Republicans the midterms. 

“If Trump gave Israel the ‘green light’ to target Iran, it ‘would be seen as an unforgivable betrayal by millions of American voters,’ Mollie Hemingway, the editor of right-wing publication The Federalist, said in a post on X… Iran has since retaliated by firing missiles at Israel, which the U.S. is supporting to intercept…” 

MAGA in Disarray? 

The Daily Mail wrote on June 15: 

“Donald Trump is teetering on the brink of an all-out Iran crisis amid MAGA fury over his ‘complicity’ in Israel’s strikes. In a sensational development Sunday, two US officials revealed that the president vetoed an Israeli plan this week to kill Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei… The president is now facing calls from Iran hawks in the GOP to join Israel’s bombing campaign… It comes as Trump this morning refused to rule out involvement in the conflict, while at the same time denying any American participation to this point… 

“The intra-MAGA split on foreign policy appears to be far-reaching, even extending as far at the leadership at the Pentagon itself…”

On June 16, Netanyahu said during a TV interview with ABC that assassinating Ali Khamenei would “end the conflict” between the two nations, thereby not ruling out “killing Iran’s supreme leader” (The New York Post, dated June 16). 

Tucker Carlson Attacks “Warmongers” 

Newsmax wrote on June 15: 

“Carlson targeted conservative media figures and donors, labeling them ‘warmongers’ for advocating U.S. military involvement… [listing] specifically Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Rupert Murdoch [and others]… 

“U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also weighed in, saying Israel’s security remains in America’s national interest. ‘Seven hundred thousand Americans live in Israel,’ Huckabee wrote to supporters… 

“Carlson argued Trump had campaigned against regime change in Iran. He also argued that a war with Iran could be challenging… ‘An attack on Iran could very easily become a world war. We’d lose.’ 

“Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that abandoning uranium enrichment was ‘100%’ against the country’s interests, rejecting a central U.S. demand in talks to resolve a decadeslong dispute over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions… Iranian leaders have long claimed that if they acquired nuclear weapons they would ‘wipe Israel off the map.’” 

Carlson has been a strong Trump supporter. But so have been Hannity and Levin. Trump praised them all in the past. Now what? 

Israel’s surprise attack killed at least 20 senior Iranian commanders, sources said, including the head of its Revolutionary Guard. At least six nuclear scientists have also been confirmed killed in the strikes. 

End of American Empire? 

Mediaite wrote on June 16: 

“Tucker Carlson warned Monday that U.S. involvement in the escalating Israel-Iran conflict could bring down President Donald Trump and mark the collapse of America’s global influence… ‘I’m really afraid that my country’s gonna be further weakened by this. I think we’re gonna see the end of the American empire… But it’s also going to end, I believe, Trump’s presidency and effectively end it.’

“… Carlson expressed doubt about U.S. military readiness and warned of overreach… ‘We don’t even have a good track record… Why are the Houthis still there?… How prepared is the U.S. military for a real conflict? The answer is totally unprepared. Scary unprepared. I don’t think people understand that.’” 

MAGA War Intensifies 

The Hill wrote on June 17:

“The ideological battle over what ‘America First’ means in the Trump era is intensifying in wake of Israel’s strikes on Iran, splitting the MAGA right and testing its relationships with the president. On one side, noninterventionist doves insist the Trumpian tagline means the president must avoid U.S. troops, resources or dollars going toward the conflict, for fear of getting dragged into an endless war. ‘Anyone slobbering for the U.S. to become fully involved in the Israel/Iran war is not America First/MAGA,’ Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) posted Sunday on…  X.  

“But on the other end, foreign policy hawks and supporters of Israel are appealing to President Trump’s position that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon, and encouraging him to leave all options — including direct military intervention — on the table… 

“Trump beat back the dove side somewhat in another post calling Carlson ‘kooky’ — prompting Greene, who almost never criticizes the president, to make the stunning move to come to Carlson’s defense. ‘Foreign wars/intervention/regime change put America last, kill innocent people, are making us broke, and will ultimately lead to our destruction. That’s not kooky. That’s what millions of Americans voted for,’ Greene said.” 

In a heated interview with Senator Ted Cruz, exposing the massive fault line ripping through the MAGA world, Carlson accused Cruz of not knowing anything about Iran which he wants to “topple.” 

The Reaction of the Arab World 

Aljazeera wrote on June 13: 

“Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani condemned Israel’s ‘military aggression’ against Iran, saying that the wave of air strikes violated international law and threatened global security… Oman, which has been mediating nuclear talks between the US and Iran over recent months, decried Israel’s attacks as a ‘dangerous and reckless escalation’ that ‘violates the principles of international law’… 

“Ankara issued a sharp condemnation of Israel’s attack, calling it a violation of international law and a reckless provocation… Saudi Arabia denounced the ‘heinous’ Israeli attacks… Qatar said it was deeply concerned over the ‘dangerous escalation’ and called on the international community to ‘urgently halt these Israeli violations’… The UAE condemned the Israeli attacks and called for restraint… ‘Jordan has not and will not allow any violation of its airspace, reaffirming that the Kingdom will not be a battleground for any conflict,’ a government spokesperson told AFP after Jordan closed its airspace following Israel’s attack on Iran… 

“The Lebanese foreign ministry condemned Israel’s attack on Iran…” 

The nations mentioned in Psalm 83 are coming together in their hatred against “Israel.” And while the German government (CDU and SPD) is honoring Israel’s right to self-defense, the AfD and the left-wing parties strongly condemned Israel’s actions.   

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said it would close all consulates and embassies worldwide.

Turkey to Be Part of Europe’s Defense System 

Arab News wrote on June 13:

“Turkiye has long insisted on being a part of Europe’s defense programs and having a say in how Europe shapes its security. Yet, for decades, European states viewed Turkiye mostly through the lens of its EU membership bid and political disagreements. But today, geopolitical matters — especially growing security threats — are shifting that perspective. Now, both Ankara and Brussels recognize that they face similar security concerns….

“A few years ago, the idea of integrating Turkish defense companies into Europe’s security systems might have seemed unrealistic. But several factors have changed that. Turkiye’s falling-out with the US over the F-35 program, increasing regional threats, Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and Europe’s doubts about long-term US security commitments have all helped bring Ankara and the EU closer together and make EU-Turkiye defense cooperation more appealing. The combination of these factors has created a major shift in their relationship, which is now reflected in more regular meetings between Turkish and European defense officials.” 

Even though it is not to be expected that Turkey will join the EU, a collaboration between the EU and Turkey is prophesied… 

Rand Paul Criticizes Saturday’s Military Parade 

Mediaite wrote on June 15: 

“Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) — who has clashed heavily with President Donald Trump in recent days by speaking out against the Trump-backed budget bill — condemned Saturday’s military parade  in Washington, comparing it to similar marches in the Soviet Union and North Korea…

“‘I just never liked the idea of the parade because I grew up in the ’70s and ’80s and the only parades I can remember are Soviet parades for the most part or North Korean parades,’ Paul said. ‘And the parades I remember from our history were different… we were rejoicing the end of war, and we were rejoicing our soldiers coming home… But we never glorified weapons so much.’ 

“[He] added that he also objected on the basis of the parade’s reported price tag of more than $40 million… ‘I mean, we’re $2 trillion in the hole and just, an additional cost like this, I’m not for it.’” 

Paul certainly has a point. According to the Hill, dated June 14, “Six in 10 adults in a nationwide AP-NORC poll conducted between June 5 and June 9 said that the parade was not a good use of government funds. However, 40 percent of people approved of Trump’s decision to hold a parade… Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said he wouldn’t have held the parade. ‘We’re a lion, and a lion doesn’t have to tell you it’s a lion,’ Kennedy said on Tuesday. ‘I would save the money, but if the president wants to have a parade, he’s the president, and I’m not.’” 

Nationwide Anti-Trump Demonstrations and Protests 

The Guardian wrote on June 14: 

“As tanks and soldiers paraded through the streets of Washington on Saturday, several million people around the country [the estimate is up to 6 million] turned out to protest against the excesses of Donald Trump’s administration.  The protests, dubbed ‘No Kings’, took place at about 2,100 sites nationwide, from big cities to small towns. A coalition of more than 100 groups joined together to plan the protests…” 

The Associated Press reported on June 15: 

“Atlanta’s 5,000-capacity event quickly reached its limit, with thousands more gathered outside barriers to hear speakers in front of the state Capitol. Officials in Seattle estimated that more than 70,000 people attended the city’s largest rally downtown, the Seattle Times reported….” 

Newsweek wrote on June 15: “Police estimate the crowd at the ‘No Kings’ protest in Chicago was ~15,000 deep…” 

CBS News wrote on June 15: “An estimated tens of thousands joined the ‘No Kings’ demonstrations throughout Portland, Oregon…” 

USA Today wrote on June 15: “50,000 people showed up in New York City…” According to the Guardian of June 15, “more than 200,000 in New York and over 100,000 in Philadelphia [showed up]… The protests were largely peaceful, though some – in Los Angeles and Portland – were later deemed unlawful assembly by law enforcement…” 

The Los Angeles Daily News wrote on June 15: “Around 4 p.m., the downtown LA rally – with an estimated 200,000 protesters – switched from peaceful to chaotic, as some people reportedly threw rocks, bottles and fireworks at police. Officers issued a dispersal order and unleashed a multitude of flash-bang grenades, rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at the crowd. Confusion broke out as police on horseback pushed people away from various areas and traffic had to be diverted…”

America Divided 

NPR wrote on June 16: 

“The 33-mile trip from one protest in Annapolis to the parade grandstand in front of the White House was like a journey between two different countries… 

“America’s split-screen day had finally merged into a collective image of a divided people a half block from the White House, many unable or unwilling to talk to one another…” 

Trump’s Vengeance? 

The Guardian wrote on June 16: 

“Trump has promised an expanded immigration crackdown in several large Democratic-led cities as apparent vengeance for ‘No Kings’ protests against his administration on Saturday that drew millions of people… 

“Trump’s stance on immigration has fluctuated wildly in recent days. Last week, his administration ordered Ice to stop workplace immigration enforcement actions unless related to criminal investigations, in the face of growing public backlash to raids perceived to harm industries with a significant proportion of immigrant labor, such as farming and tourism… 

“Sunday’s post, however, appeared to reverse his position again. His choice to identify only Democratic-run cities with large immigrant populations, and omit others controlled by, or leaning Republican, was notable.” 

Also, “Trump told ICE staff to ‘do all in their power’ to detain and deport undocumented immigrants in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York” (The Daily Beast, dated June 15). 

None of this will lead to peace in the USA.

Trump Flip-Flops Again, While Listening to Bad Advice 

The Daily Beast wrote on June 17:

“White House Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem… were enraged after learning that Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins had called Trump and suggested that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents avoid deporting longtime workers in sectors heavily reliant on migrant labor… Rollins’ intervention… appeared to sway the president. 

“Last week, Trump floated the idea of carving out exemptions from his mass deportation plans specifically to avoid targeting non-criminal workers on farms and in hotels. An official policy shift followed soon after. Senior ICE official Tatum King informed regional ICE offices Thursday that ‘investigations/operations on agriculture (including aquaculture and meatpacking plants), restaurants, and operating hotels’ would be paused… 

“Miller, Noem and other hardline anti-immigration officials then sought to change the policy back to where it was before Rollins got in Trump’s ear… That pressure campaign seemed to work… By Monday, the Department of Homeland Security reversed course, notifying staff that the previous guidelines were scrapped and that ICE would resume raids on agricultural businesses, hotels, and restaurants.” 

The New York Post added on June 17: 

“The Trump administration is backing away from its earlier instructions to halt immigration raids at farms, hotels and restaurants, according to reports… President Trump posted on Truth Social Thursday that his mass deportation campaign was taking its toll on the agricultural and hospitality industries… ‘Our great Farmers and people in the Hotel and Leisure business have been stating that our very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace,’ Trump wrote. ‘This is not good. We must protect our Farmers…,’ he said… 

“All the while, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has further pushed ICE to meet the 3,000 daily arrest quota the administration has set…”

In an interview on Wednesday, June 18, Trump said that before considering the farmers and hotel and restaurant owners, ICE had to get rid of the criminals first, defining them, again, as those coming from prisons and mental institutions. The truth is, the raids are clearly not limited to or even mainly directed towards those people. 

And what a ridiculous quota! So, that America’s economy, American farmers, hotel and restaurant owners and others are hurting does not seem to be of any concern to the Trump Administration. Shameful! 

Dramatic Confrontations and Federal Overreach 

NBC News wrote on June 17: 

“New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was released Tuesday hours after he was arrested in connection with an episode at a federal courthouse in the city, where he and his wife were serving as advocates for defendants in immigration courts, they said.

“The Department of Homeland Security said Lander, a candidate for mayor, had been arrested and accused of ‘assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer.’…  After he was released, Lander denied assaulting law enforcement… ‘We are not going to allow Donald Trump to wreck the rule of law, to deny people due process and to turn our country into something that doesn’t meet its obligations under international law,’ Lander said… 

“New York Gov. Kathy Hochul accompanied him as he was released and told reporters that ‘to my knowledge’ any charges had been dropped… Hochul also called Lander’s arrest ‘total bull—’ on X.  ‘When elected officials are being detained without cause, we have to ask: what the hell is happening to our country?’… 

“Kat Capossela, Lander’s campaign press secretary, said in an email earlier in the day that ‘Brad was taken by masked agents and detained by ICE,’ a reference to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, after ‘escorting a defendant out of immigration court’… Lander [said] that after he was handcuffed, federal agents escorted him to a detention room. ‘They took the cuffs off, and I just sat for 3½ hours in a detention room,’ Lander said, adding that he was not released until Hochul showed up… 

“The incident is the latest in a series of dramatic confrontations between immigration officials and Democrats opposing President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Last week, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., was forcibly removed from a news conference with Homeland Security Secretary Kristin Noem. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who was then a candidate for governor of New Jersey, was also arrested on trespassing charges last month at an ICE detention facility in the state. The charges were dropped, but Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver was subsequently charged with assaulting law enforcement during the incident. Trump and his ‘border czar,’ Tom Homan, also suggested that California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass could be arrested, too.  [Trump even said, if he was Homan, he would arrest Newsom.] 

“The Democratic officials and their allies have argued that the incidents were politically motivated and have criticized the administration’s conduct, while the Trump administration has fiercely defended immigration agents and accused Democrats of staging political stunts. 

“Lander can be seen in a video on his personal X account being surrounded by people, including masked officers in vests labeled with the word ‘police.’ At one point, someone says, ‘Put him in custody,’ and the men holding him scuffle with him before they pin him to a wall and handcuff him. ‘I’m not obstructing. I’m standing right here in the hallway. I asked to see the judicial warrant,’ Lander says in the video. ‘You don’t have the authority to arrest U.S. citizens asking for a judicial warrant,’ he adds. 

“Lander’s wife, Meg Barnette [a former attorney], criticized the Trump administration’s handling of cases involving immigrants at a news conference shortly after her husband’s arrest. She also echoed Democratic criticisms of the administration’s immigration policies, arguing that judges were dismissing charges against defendants before the defendants were turned over to federal agents to begin the deportation process…” 

The New York Times added on June 18: 

“With tensions rising over President Trump’s mass deportation policies, the government crackdown is extending to the political opposition… The scenes of chaos reflect the tinderbox nature of this political moment… 

“In recent weeks, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have also aggressively thought to detain migrants at immigration courts, leading to emotional scenes as masked agents make surprise arrests of people who thought they were attending routine hearings. 

“Last week, Senator Alex Padilla, Democrat of California, was forcibly removed from a news conference being held by Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, and handcuffed despite identifying himself as a senator… ‘Like me, Mr. Lander had the audacity to question the legitimacy of federal actions, only to find himself handcuffed, pushed against a wall and detained,’ Mr. Padilla said in a statement. ‘If it happened to us in full view of the public, imagine what is happening in communities across the country when the cameras are off. This should be a wake-up call to the country.’” 

Violence and perceived authoritarian federal actions are continuing in the USA… 

Innocent Protestor Killed in Utah 

Newsmax wrote on June 15: 

“A demonstrator was shot and killed at Salt Lake City’s ‘No Kings’ protest when a man believed to be part of the event’s peacekeeping team fired at another man allegedly aiming a rifle at protestors, authorities said Sunday. Police took the alleged rifleman, Arturo Gamboa, 24, into custody Saturday evening on a murder charge… The bystander, Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, 39, died at the hospital. 

“Detectives don’t yet know why Gamboa pulled out a rifle or ran from the peacekeepers, but they accused him of creating the dangerous situation that led to Ah Loo’s death… 

“[Police Chief Brian] Redd said a man dressed in a brightly colored vest fired three shots from a handgun at Gamboa, inflicting a relatively minor injury but fatally shooting Ah Loo. The gunshots sent hundreds of protestors running, some hiding behind barriers and fleeing into parking garages and nearby businesses, police said in a statement.” 

Trump’s Actions Illegal

The Ron Paul Institute republished the following article by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano on June 14: 

“The deployment of California National Guard troops and active-duty U.S. Marines onto the streets of Los Angeles is an assault on federalism, violates federal law and manifests a dangerous pattern of governmental behavior in defiance of constitutional principles and the rule of law… President Donald Trump, against the express wishes of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, federalized the CA National Guard, became their commander in chief, and ordered them to thwart both lawful and unlawful demonstrators in Los Angeles. 

“There, agents of the U.S. Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were attempting to make warrantless arrests of persons whom they and their colleagues believed were unlawfully present in the U.S. Demonstrators soon arrived, some of whom peaceably assembled and vociferously objected to the arrests, and some of whom attempted to interfere with them violently. Clearly, acts of physical interference with even unlawful arrests are themselves unlawful, but condemning government behavior, waving Mexican flags, cheering on those who have been arrested, even standing in the way of federal agents until ordered to move are all protected acts of expression and historically recognized acts of civil disobedience… 

“Then the president ordered in the federalized National Guard and then — almost unimaginably — he ordered in active-duty Marines. The sight of active-duty armed troops confronting unarmed persons exercising their constitutionally protected freedom of expression, and the declaration of no free speech zones, was and is gut wrenching, un-American and without lawful precedent in modern times… 

“Can National Guard troops be used for law enforcement?… Congress addressed this in numerous federal statutes, enacted in 1792, 1794, 1795 and again in 1807. The essence of these laws permits the president to declare himself the commander in chief of the National Guard for law enforcement purposes only when asked by a state governor. Short of the gubernatorial request, the Guard may not be summoned by the president for law enforcement purposes, except in the cases of invasion or rebellion… since there is no invasion or rebellion as the laws define them, there is no lawful basis for all these troops on the streets. 

“This is not constitutional hairsplitting. This is very serious business. If the feds can characterize an unarmed assemblage of protesters as an invasion merely because they are angry, carry a foreign flag and prefer a foreign language — all protected speech — and engage in civil disobedience, and thus justify the use of military force against them, whose freedoms are safe? 

“The government argues that the current state of affairs in Los Angeles constitutes an emergency and thus it has broad powers to address it. That is constitutional hogwash…” 

More Countries to Be Added to Travel Ban List? 

The Washington Post wrote on June 14: 

“The United States is considering restricting entry to citizens of an additional 36 countries in what would be a significant expansion of the travel ban announced by the Trump administration early this month, according to a State Department memo reviewed by The Washington Post. Among the new list of countries that could face visa bans or other restrictions are 25 African nations, including significant U.S. partners such as Egypt and Djibouti, plus countries in the Caribbean, Central Asia and several Pacific Island nations… 

“The memo, which was signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and sent Saturday to U.S. diplomats who work with the countries, said the governments of listed nations were being given 60 days to meet new benchmarks and requirements established by the State Department. It set a deadline of 8 a.m. Wednesday for them to provide an initial action plan for meeting the requirements. 

“The memo identified varied benchmarks that, in the administration’s estimation, these countries were failing to meet. Some countries had ‘no competent or cooperative central government authority to produce reliable identity documents or other civil documents,’ or they suffered from ‘widespread government fraud.’ Others had large numbers of citizens who overstayed their visas in the United States, the memo said. 

“Other reasons included the availability of citizenship by monetary investment without a requirement of residency and claims of ‘antisemitic and anti-American activity in the United States’ by people from those countries… 

“The countries facing scrutiny in the memo: Angola; Antigua and Barbuda; Benin; Bhutan; Burkina Faso; Cabo Verde; Cambodia; Cameroon; Democratic Republic of Congo; Djibouti; Dominica; Ethiopia; Egypt; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Ivory Coast; Kyrgyzstan; Liberia; Malawi; Mauritania; Niger; Nigeria; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Sao Tome and Principe; Senegal; South Sudan; Syria; Tanzania; Tonga; Tuvalu; Uganda; Vanuatu; Zambia; and Zimbabwe. 

“The list represents a significant expansion of a presidential proclamation issued June 4, when the United States fully restricted the entry of individuals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. The United States also had partially restricted the entry of travelers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela under that order…” 

Pretty soon, if this trend continues, America will become a “sealed castle” with no ability to enter for most. And many have no desire to visit Trump’s America anyhow. Note the next article. 

Avoiding the USA? 

The Associated Press wrote on June 16: 

“The world may be rethinking the American dream. For centuries, people in other countries saw the United States as place of welcome and opportunity. Now, President Donald Trump’s drive for mass deportations of migrants is riling the streets of Los Angeles, college campuses, even churches — and fueling a global rethinking about the virtues and promise of coming to America… Early clues across industries — like tourism, trade, entertainment and education — suggest the American dream is fading for foreigners who have historically flooded to the U.S… 

“Trump and many of his supporters maintain that migrants in the country illegally threaten American safety, jobs and culture. But people in the country legally also have been caught in Trump’s dragnet. 

“… the United States has always been a nation of immigrants… Everyone, after all, comes from somewhere — a fact underscored on-camera in the Oval Office this month when German Chancellor Friedrich Merz gave the president the framed birth certificate of Trump’s grandfather, also named Friedrich, who emigrated from Germany in 1885. He was one of millions of Germans who fled war and economic strife to move to the United States in the late 19th Century… 

“Trump himself has married two immigrant women: the late Ivana Zelníčková Trump, of what’s now the Czech Republic, and his current wife, Melania Knauss Trump of Slovenia…” 

Trump’s Weird Comments 

Mediaite wrote on June 13: 

“President Donald Trump went on a strange rant about World War II when he was asked about his upcoming military parade, revealing a phone conversation in which he and Russian President Vladimir Putin humorously riffed about everyone ‘hating Russia’ but loving Germany and Japan now.

“Trump has a long history of oddball (and worse) commentary about World War II, which reared its head recently when he made a crack about Nazi Germany during a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz… A MAGA-friendly reporter asked him about Saturday’s parade to ostensibly celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army — which also coincides with Trump’s 79th birthday…. 

“‘Russia fought, sort of interesting, isn’t it? He [Who? Putin?] fought with us at World War II and everybody hates him [Putin?]. And Germany and Japan, they’re fine, you know… But Putin is a little confused by that. You know, he said, we lost 51 million people, and we were your ally. And now everybody hates Russia, and they love Germany and Japan.’” 

Stalin was America’s and Britain’s ally. He was as much a mass murderer as Hitler. Without this questionable alliance, the world would have been much better off. There would have been no Iron Curtain, no divided Germany, no Berlin Wall. Churchill was strongly advocating against having an alliance with Stalin whom he deeply distrusted, but he was not listened to. He even designed a contingency plan to invade Russia, called “Operation Unthinkable.” 

Madman Kills and Injures Politicians in Minnesota, Masquerading as Police Officer 

The New York Post wrote on June 14: 

“A Minnesota [Democratic] state lawmaker [and former House speaker] and her husband were killed, and another [Democratic] politician [senator] and his wife were seriously injured early Saturday in a ‘politically motivated attack’ when a madman posing as a police officer turned up at their homes and opened fire, authorities said… 

“Officers… discovered a car outfitted with flashing lights to look like an SUV squad car. ‘When they arrived at [the] house, they noticed that there was a police vehicle in the driveway with the emergency lights on and what appeared to be a police officer at the door coming out of the house,’ [Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark] Bruley said, adding that the suspect was wearing a vest, a badge and other equipment… ‘When our officers confronted him, the individual immediately fired upon the officers who exchanged gunfire, and the suspect retreated back into the home,’ he continued….” 

A hit list was found in which the suspect listed nearly 70 names as potential targets, “mostly naming Democrats or figures with ties to abortion rights” (CNN, June 15). The suspect was subsequently arrested. 

No Trust in US Economy 

The Telegraph wrote on June 16: 

“British manufacturers snub [the] US after Trump’s trade war. Only 4 [percent] of companies would consider setting up a production facility in America… 

“The US has dropped out of the three most desirable markets for British manufacturers for the first time in decades, as Donald Trump’s trade war dents confidence in the world’s biggest economy.”. 

Japan’s Nippon Steel Takes Over US Steel 

The Financial Times wrote on June 18: 

“Japan’s Nippon Steel has closed its nearly $15bn purchase of its American rival US Steel, ending more than a year of political wrangling that threatened to scuttle the agreement on multiple occasions. US President Donald Trump approved the tie-up last week, months after his predecessor Joe Biden moved to block the deal. Nippon clinched Trump’s approval after pledging to invest $11bn in the Pennsylvania-based company by 2028, billions of dollars more than it had initially promised. It also handed the government a golden share in US Steel, which will allow the White House to veto key corporate decisions… 

“The Japanese steelmaker has committed to keeping US Steel’s headquarters in the industrial city. Nippon also said that a majority of US Steel’s board of directors will be US citizens, and so will top executives like its chief executive….” 

Still, Nippon now owns 100% of US Steel… an outcome which Trump had originally strongly opposed. 

San Diego Tops It All 

fox5sandiego wrote on June 15: 

“Food prices in San Diego County are rising noticeably, squeezing families’ wallets amid broader inflation trends. 

“San Diego topped all major cities in May when it comes to inflation, and food costs factor in…” 

AI Copyright Violations? 

NPR wrote on June 12: 

“In a first-of-its-kind lawsuit, entertainment companies Disney and Universal are suing AI firm Midjourney for copyright infringement… 

“The suit accuses Midjourney, a well-known force in the AI image generation space with around 20 million registered users… of ‘selling an artificial intelligence (‘AI’) image-generating service (‘Image Service’) that functions as a virtual vending machine, generating endless unauthorized copies of Disney’s and Universal’s copyrighted works.’ 

“The lawsuit details Midjourney’s alleged infringement of popular Disney and Universal figures, including Shrek, Homer Simpson and Darth Vader…” 

Germany’s First-Ever Veterans Day 

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 15: 

“The president of the German parliament, Julia Klöckner, officially opened the country’s first national Veterans Day on Sunday, saying it was ‘high time’ for such an occasion. ‘This day has created something which has always been lacking: public visibility, recognition and respect for all those who have served in our country’s armed forces,’ she said at an event in Berlin… Klöckner highlighted the role of the German army… as a ‘parliamentary army’ which is answerable to parliament – as opposed to an individual head of state as commander-in-chief… 

“Writing on social media, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the Bundeswehr a ‘key component of our society’ and said: ‘The men and women who serve, or have served, in it deserve our thanks, our recognition and our respect. This service for our country belongs in center of our society.’ 

“On Saturday, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius praised the professionalism of German troops and said that the challenges facing them will increase in years to come… ‘The threat has increased in recent years… We have to be clear: we have to be able to defend our country and our alliance if it is attacked.’” 

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:

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

In previous Q&As, we have pointed out THAT God has given His end-time Church—the Body of Christ, consisting of all Christians in whom God’s Spirit dwells—the commission to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God as a witness unto all nations, which includes the proclamation of a warning message of impending disaster and the possibility of worldwide destruction in a prophesied nuclear war.

Before answering HOW the Church can fulfill that commission, let us quote some excerpts to show THAT it will be accomplished.

We say the following in our Q&A, “What is the Work of God? (Part 3)”:

“But after the death of Paul and the other early apostles, the preaching of the gospel to the world would gradually stop, and so, as we have said many times, for over 1900 years, the gospel was NOT preached to the world, until God began to motivate His church and giving it the strength and opportunities to begin so again. This way, that worldwide proclamation would become the sign of the end—of the return of Jesus Christ. This proclamation would continue during the Great Tribulation as well—including through the preaching of the Two Witnesses. As God’s prophets (Revelation 11:3, 6, 10), they will of course warn the nations and proclaim what will happen—including, what has been written down in the Bible…”

We also say in that Q&A that the proclamation will produce fruit, in God’s due time:

“When we do the Work of God by preaching the gospel message, we do not do it in vain. It will produce fruit, even though it may not be obvious right away. Notice Isaiah 55:10-11: ‘For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.’ What the gospel message contains will be accomplished, in God’s due time. This is also confirmed in Jeremiah 1:12, where God says: ‘You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.’…”

We also state in our Q&A, “What is the Work of God? (Part 5)”:

“… the Work of preaching the gospel to the world as a witness and the warning message to the end-time nations was decisively given to God’s end-time Church, because it was to be THE sign of Christ’s speedy return, once that aspect of the Work was fulfilled (Matthew 24:14). Today, this preaching has been made possible through the invention of the internet and many other means of electronic communication….”

The use of social media worldwide might be a major asset in proclaiming the message. The mobile phone is owned by huge numbers around the world, enveloping every country and continent, and could well be a significant part of how the gospel message will go out and be received by the world.

We continue to state the following in the above-mentioned Q&A:

“The Work of God will be short in these end times, and God says that He will finish the Work and cut it short in righteousness (compare Romans 9:28)…”

In addition, we state this in our Q&A, “Who is to warn the leaders of the world? (Part 2)”:

“A warning must be given, and God expects and requires of His Church to do so… Today, the task of the watchman has been given to God’s Church, and we had better fulfill God’s command to warn the leaders and the people of coming disaster, unless they repent. This warning is being proclaimed today for everyone who is willing to see, hear and read… This end-time commission to warn the leaders and the people has been given to God’s Church today. But of course, it is prophesied that most will not listen, as they refused to listen to the prophets of old in ancient times.”

That the Church WILL indeed fulfill God’s commission to preach the gospel, which includes an emphasis of keeping His Law, and to proclaim a warning message of disaster to the rulers and nations because of their sinful conduct can be seen by the fact that the Church will be hated by all the people in the entire world.

Christ told us in Matthew 10:22-23:

“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”

Christ repeats this end-time prophecy in Matthew 24:8-13:

“All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

When we are hated by all nations for Christ’s name sake, this implies that the Church has become known to all nations for it to be hated by all of them.

At the time of Paul, certain Jews claimed that the Church, through its teaching, had “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6), and that “concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere” (Acts 28:22). Paul says in Romans 10:18: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.” He says in Colossians 1:23 that the gospel “was preached to every creature under heaven.” It was even said by Christ’s enemies about Him that “the world has gone after Him!” (John 12:19).

At that time, this had not literally occurred, but these are also prophetic sayings, which would be fulfilled in the future, and especially in our time.

We also read that the Apostle John, while being imprisoned on the isle of Patmos, was given a little book in a vision with the command to prophesy again about or to many peoples, tongues, nations and kings. There was no practical way for John to actually go to all those nations to proclaim to them God’s Word. Similar commands had been given to the prophets of old. While Ezekiel dwelt with the other Jews as captives in Babylon, God told him in a vision to go to the House of Israel to proclaim to them God’s Word.

By that time, the House of Israel had been taken captive by the Assyrians many years before; Ezekiel would have been unable to travel to Assyria to bring God’s message to the House of Israel. Similar commands were given to ancient Jeremiah and ancient Isaiah. It would have been extremely difficult, if not impossible, to physically deliver God’s message to all those nations.

We understand, of course, that the commission was primarily intended for the end time, and that God’s servants in our time were commissioned to proclaim the messages given to the ancient prophets. Still, John, Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Isaiah did receive orders from God, and they would not have dared not to carry them out. So what did they do, and how did they fulfill their responsibilities?

They WROTE DOWN what God told them, and God preserved their writings so that they could be read by everyone throughout the ages. The Old and New Testament prophets became worldwide “celebrities”—most everyone has heard of their name, but many did not and do not like what they proclaimed.  

As we will see, the same applies, to an extent, to the Church of God in our time.

We are told that Isaiah worked as a prophet and a minister for at least 40 years and perhaps as long as 64 years. Jeremiah is assumed to have worked for 40 years, but most do not take into account that he travelled with the daughters of the last Jewish King Zedekiah to Ireland where he ministered; he worked therefore longer than only 40 years. We are told that Ezekiel worked for 22 years. During all that time, they did what God had instructed them to do, and their commission did not last only for a few months or years. And as we said above, their writings are still available today.

Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, the former human leader of the now defunct Worldwide Church of God, worked as a minister for over 50 years, from about 1933 or 1934 until his death in 1986. He wrote many booklets and books, produced many recorded sermons and radio and television programs, and he visited many leaders and dignitaries. Even though dead, what he did lives on in our memories, and most of it can be found, in one way or another, on the internet.

The Church of the Eternal God came into being in 2001, with the declared goal to uphold and teach that “The major doctrines of the Church are those, which were taught by Herbert W. Armstrong, derived from the Biblical teachings as followed by God’s faithful servants, and originally established by Jesus Christ through the founding of His Church in the time of His chosen early apostles. Since we are to increase in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, we are committed to review and alter any of our teachings, if and when proven to be wrong by the Bible.”

We are committed to this goal and have tried to faithfully carry it out. And so, all our literature is posted on the Web; and so are all our audio and video messages. We have been in operation a little bit longer than Ezekiel, but much shorter than Isaiah and Jeremiah, or Mr. Armstrong. The point being, God has given His Church an allotted time to do the Work. And that Work will produce fruit. It always will, if it is of God.

As we stated before, when talking about the Church in this Q&A, we speak about the Body of Christ, consisting of all Christians in whom God’s Spirit dwells. We recognize that in addition to the Church of the Eternal God and its international affiliates, there are others who also claim that they have continued to uphold the true faith as revealed to Mr. Armstrong. As Jesus said, each will be known by their behavior and works:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:15-20).

This test applies to all who claim to be doing God’s Will.

People will remember what they might have heard, or they will be led to the Church’s literature and recorded messages at the appropriate time. Word will spread, and many won’t like what they will hear and read. Then it will become true that God’s Church will be hated by all nations in all the world. This does not mean that each and every individual member will be known by everybody, but they will be hated by association when it becomes known that they are part of this “crazy” and unpopular “unchristian” “Jewish” Church—and that especially, since anti-Semitism will reach unparalleled heights.  

We also read that in the end time, Two Witnesses will proclaim God’s Truth. They will obviously be part of the Body of Christ, and their teaching will be in line with the teachings of the Church which had been proclaimed before for many years. People will recognize this, and they will connect the dots. Most will hate the Two Witnesses, and as they see the connection between them and the Church, they will hate the Church even more than they had already before.

The Two Witnesses will begin their public proclamations at the beginning of the Great Tribulation which will last for 3 ½ years. There will be those who recognize their teaching as being in line with what the Church had been teaching before, and they will become converted. They will be protected by God from the great and terrible Day of the Lord—a one-year time period which will begin 2 ½ years after the beginning of the Great Tribulation. But realize the impact which the Two Witnesses and the Church will have: 144,000 Israelites will become converted along with a great multitude from all nations “which no one can number” (Revelation 7:9).

Inasmuch as no one can become converted unless God draws them, God is obviously blessing the Church’s labor of the proclamation of the gospel in all the world, and a mass calling will occur before Christ’s return. God has been involved with the Church’s efforts all along. Even just prior to Christ’s return, we see God’s continued involvement, as mentioned in Revelation 14:6-7:

“Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth–to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people–saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.’”

Even then, God and His angels support the proclamation of the gospel message through His Church and the Two Witnesses. The Scriptures are clear that all of that will occur. God will reveal, in due time, how exactly He will bring it about.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

compiled by Dave Harris

“The End of the American Empire?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

The USA is no longer united, but divided as never before in its recent history. Some have already spoken about the end of America. Why is this the case? In this program, we are listing many subjects, which, taken together, paint an extremely disturbing picture. Immigration raids, the Iran-Israel war, tariffs, rule by executive order and travel bans are just a few of the examples which we are discussing. 

“Der Zusammenbruch Amerikas?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topic as described above.

“A Bride for Isaac” is the latest video in our Bible Story Series on YouTube.

“How to Love God and Man,” our new booklet written by Brian Gale and Norbert Link, has been sent to the printer.

“Krankheit und Heilung, Was uns die Bibel sagt!” is the title of a new German booklet. This is a translation of the English booklet, “Sickness and Healing – What the Bible Tells Us,” and it has been sent to the printer.

“Gottes Warnung an die Herrscher dieser Welt,” is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “God’s Warning to the Rulers of This World.”

“Wie mit Zorn umgehen?” last Sabbath’s first split sermon, presented by Robert Muhr, has been posted. Title in English: “How to deal with anger?”

“Die Entrückung dem Herrn entgegen – ein Schutz vor der Trübsal?” last Sabbath’s second split sermon, presented by Jens Herrmann, is now posted. Title in English: “The Rapture to the Lord – A Protection from Tribulation?”

“People of Truth,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Paul Niehoff, is now posted. Here is the summary:

The sermonette is to show how important truth is to God and if we do not live by it, then we will not be in the Kingdom of God.

“PsyOps,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Kalon Mitchell, is now posted. Here is the summary:

PsyOps is a military term that has found its way into mainstream usage. The usage of psychological warfare has been around for a very long time. What does this have to do with Christians? How are we affected by the PsyOps of this world? Is there anything that we can or should do to deal with the issues that arise from PsyOps?