Update 1179

On October 25, 2025, Norbert Link will present “Comments on News and Prophecy, October 24, 2025,” and the sermon, titled, “Rejoice When Suffering?”

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.

We have just finished the autumnal Holy Day season with the Feast of Tabernacles for 2025, and have learned more about God’s Holy Days which clearly reveal the incredible master plan of salvation for mankind.

Our understanding of the Feasts of the LORD (compare Leviticus 23:2) is a magnificent description of this plan for all of mankind and is priceless information that is not understood by the world at large.

On our website under the heading “Statement of Beliefs,” we read this about the Last Great Day (the 8^th Day) following the Feast of Tabernacles:

“The Last Great Day which immediately follows the Feast of Tabernacles, once a year. This day symbolizes a 100-year period called the ‘Great White Throne Judgment,’ during which all persons who have ever lived and who were never called by God for salvation during this life, will have their first opportunity to accept Christ as their Savior (Leviticus 23:36; John 7:37; Revelation 20:11-12).”

It is a repudiation of the false concept of going to heaven or hell at death (usually heaven for everyone!) and via purgatory for the Roman Catholic Church.   It also negates the hell-fire preachers who think that they have to get everyone saved now because this, they suppose, is the only day of salvation, not a day of salvation.

But one aspect of all of this is that those who have lived and died, without being called and knowing the Truth of God in this age will, in their next waking second after death, be brought back to life in the Second Resurrection – the Great White Throne Judgment.

We may, from time to time, wonder what our parents and grandparents would think if they were alive today with all of the advancements made in the last 100 years.

Also, what about all of those who were killed in the Flood which was, according to a number of sources, around 1,656 years after creation. And after the Flood, from a new start, the billions that have been born since then. They would have been used only in an agrarian-type society with none of the wonderful advances in the last 100 years or so in technology, transport, space exploration, in the medical profession, with the worldwide web, television, smartphones and a whole range of modern electronic devices.   They would be staggered.

But those who are dead and in their graves, none of whom have ascended to heaven, will open their eyes in the next second of their consciousness to a whole new world well beyond their immediate understanding.   Those from biblical times and our forebears will, in their next second of life when resurrected, be greeted with a world totally different, in most cases, from the one they were used to.

The next second of their life will be a time when those who are then already members of the God Family will be able to help all those in the Great White Throne Judgement to come to terms with the marvellous opportunity that God will give them, together with a world that is totally different from what they experienced in their previous life.   To use an old English humorous slang expression: “Their eyes will stick out like chapel hat-pegs” – meaning to their considerable amazement!

The next second for them will be a time of wonderment and excitement, and let us all hope and pray that the vast, overwhelming majority will take full advantage of their one and only opportunity!

by Norbert Link

In this issue, we report on Trump’s shaky Gaza “peace” deal with the terrorist organization Hamas which will NOT bring peace to the region, as well as an interesting demand to build the Third Temple; and continue with Trump’s anticipated outright war with Venezuela.

We report on the ongoing misconduct of ICE which has been [correctly] described as a “domestic terror force” and Pope Leo’s [correct] strong criticism of Trump’s “unchristian” conduct and war-like approach. 

We speak on [correctly labeled] double-tongued Stephen Miller; and [incorrect] criticism of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 

We address Trump’s sudden change of approach [again] towards Zelensky and Putin; war criminal Putin’s demands for ending the war [which probably won’t happen until demonically-influenced Putin has occupied Ukraine]; and dictatorial Turkey’s importance for Europe and its persecution of minority Christians, while Europe is desirous to become independent of the USA. 

We close with Germany’s ongoing frightening fight for mandatory military service [to be able to engage in terrible wars] and some proposed absolutely boneheaded ideas by Chancellor Merz and others in this regard. 

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled,  “Trump in the Light of Biblical Prophecy.”

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

Need for a Third Temple 

Israel 365 News wrote on October 15:

“President Donald Trump’s speech at the Knesset last week marked a significant and monumental moment for Israel, one that celebrated the remarkable deal that freed all the live hostages as a first step, something that Hamas never agreed to in past deals… 

“There’s no denying the scale of this accomplishment. Trump’s vision of a Middle East where Israel stands as a pillar of strength and a key partner to the United States—and to the wider world—is truly inspiring… Yet, as grand as the speech was…, it still misses one crucial, undeniable truth: it won’t bring peace… 

“The reality is that a mere pause in hostilities does not equate to peace… it doesn’t directly address the fundamental issue that has plagued this region for over a millennium: the ideological and religious jihadist agenda that calls for the obliteration of Israel and the Islamic takeover of the world… 

“If Trump and Netanyahu truly wanted to establish a lasting peace in the Middle East, their plan… would have focused on something even more transformative and spiritually resonant: the expansion of Israel to encompass its rightful Biblical borders, protect all the minorities in the region also persecuted by jihadi Islam, and the one, powerful act of rebuilding the Third Temple in Jerusalem… What message would it send to the Muslim world if, as part of a peace plan, Trump and Netanyahu announced a plan to not only expand Israel’s borders, but to restore the holiest site in Judaism, the Third Temple?… 

“A rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem would be a clear signal to the Muslim world that the Jews are back in full force, not just as a temporary fixture or a historical relic, but as a powerful, sovereign nation reclaiming its rightful place on the world stage… Such a monumental step would have made it clear that Israel’s commitment to peace isn’t simply about appeasing its enemies or military victories, but about sending a clear message that the Jewish people are not going anywhere…” 

The Third Temple will be built prior to Christ’s Return, but paradoxically, it will not bring peace to the region, but more war. 

Far From Over 

The Sun wrote on October 15: 

“Donald Trump has warned Hamas that he will respond ‘violently’ if they refuse to disarm themselves as part of the Gaza peace deal. Israel’s truce with the terror group has been rocked by multiple setbacks today… Under the terms of Trump’s 20-point plan, Hamas must give up all of their weapons to squash Israel’s fears of the group restrengthening… Officials within Hamas over recent days have said they have no plans of disarming regardless of Trump or Israel’s pleas… 

“Hamas claims it has been unable to locate up to 15 corpses lost in the chaos of the Gaza War – but families believe the terror group is holding on to their loved ones’ remains… 

“Meanwhile, Hamas said it had recalled 7,000 members of its security forces in order to ‘cleanse Gaza of outlaws and collaborators’ – sparking fears of a bloody civil war. Bone-chilling videos have emerged of Hamas executing prisoners it accused of collaborating with Israel…” 

In exchange, nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners were freed—many of them convicted criminals and terrorists. During the last exchange, a convicted terrorist was freed who later became one of the masterminds for the October 7 attack on Israel [the later Hamas-Chief Yahya Sinwar (†2024)]. Trump’s deals may look good on paper… but many times, they don’t work in practice.

The Future of Hamas 

Deutsche Welle wrote on October 16: 

“Hamas… is classified as a terrorist organization by Germany, the US and several other countries… It still commands some 40,000 fighters, according to Israeli daily Haaretz, who can now be seen reappearing on the streets and squares of Gaza… 

“The group should be completely disarmed, according to US President Donald Trump’s peace plan; however, this does not look likely for now.

“Trump has made contradictory statements about the group’s disarmament. Addressing the Israeli parliament on Monday, Trump proclaimed that ‘virtually the entire region has endorsed the plan that Gaza will be immediately demilitarized, that Hamas will be disarmed and Israel’s security will no longer be threatened in any way, shape or form.’ 

“Yet before his speech, on the flight to Israel, Trump told reporters his government had allowed Hamas to temporarily rearm itself as it tries to restore order after months of war. Most recently, however, Trump appeared to double down on the group’s disarmament, saying if Hamas did not lay down its weapons, the US would disarm it by force. 

“Hamas sent a clear message when its armed operatives showed up in Gaza City shortly after the Israeli withdrawal, said Simon Wolfgang Fuchs, a professor of Islam at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. ‘Hamas is making a point that it has by no means disappeared from the Gaza Strip; on the contrary, it continues to claim a role there,’ he said. 

“Hamas sees its weapons as a means to guarantee its existence — militarily, politically and symbolically, said Simon Engelkes, who heads Ramallah’s branch of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation…’ US President Trump’s “security guarantees” that the war in the Gaza Strip will not be continued due to the ceasefire agreement will not be enough at this stage.’ 

“Even though Hamas’ military structures were severely weakened in the war, its networks and presence in Gaza have remained intact, said Engelkes… French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that Hamas still poses a threat… The real conflict still lies ahead, said Engelkes…” 

This whole “deal” with Hamas—an organization with terrorists and mass murderers—is shameful, shortsighted and futile at the same time. Victory celebrations for “Peace in the Middle East” are nothing more than a pipe dream. Note the next article. 

Making Peace With Hitler? 

Israel Today wrote on October 10: 

“While [Police Minister Itamar] Ben-Gvir is like all Israelis happy for the opportunity to recover the hostages being held in Gaza, he believes the deal ultimately serves to set the stage for the next catastrophe and war. According to Hebrew media, a heated exchange erupted between Ben-Gvir and the Americans. 

“Ben-Gvir: ‘I’m standing here next to the list of terrorists being released – baby killers, rapists. Gentlemen, you would never release them in the United States. You spoke about making peace. You can’t make peace with Hamas! They want to kill us… Those who killed us on October 7 do not ask for forgiveness. Their families are proud of it. They want to murder Jews… Would you have made peace with Hitler? Hamas is Hitler. They want to kill us.’ 

“Hamas officials have stated a number of times that they will repeat the atrocities of October 7, 2023 if given the opportunity…” 

Ben-Gvir is of course right. The naivety of the Americans [US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner] is astonishing.

Hamas Unwilling to Disarm

The Jerusalem Post wrote on October 17: 

“Hamas intends to maintain security control in Gaza during an interim period, a senior Hamas official [Nazal] told Reuters, adding he could not commit to the group disarming – positions that reflect the difficulties for Trump’s plan for Gaza… 

“… the [Israeli] Prime Minister’s Office said…: ‘Hamas is supposed to release all hostages in stage 1. It has not. Hamas knows where the bodies of our hostages are. [Hamas has still not turned over all of the 28 dead bodies.] Hamas are to be disarmed under this agreement. No ifs, no buts. They have not. Hamas need to adhere to the 20-point plan. They are running out of time…’ 

“Nazzal said there was an understanding regarding Hamas’ presence on the ground, without specifying among whom, indicating it was necessary to protect aid trucks from thieves and armed gangs… 

“Hamas’ founding charter called for the destruction of Israel, although the group’s leaders have at times offered a long-term truce with Israel in return for a viable Palestinian state on all Palestinian territory occupied by Israel in the 1967 war…” 

This “peace deal” will go nowhere. In fact, credible reports are surfacing regarding another coming Hamas massacre—this time against Palestinian civilians. 

Not With Turkey… 

JNS wrote on October 21: 

“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a ‘sworn enemy of Israel and the West, a jihadist in a suit,’ Amichai Chikli, the Jewish state’s minister of diaspora affairs and combating antisemitism, charged on Monday. The Jewish state ‘will not tolerate a Turkish presence’ on its southern border with the Gaza Strip or northern frontier with Syria, Chikli tweeted, slamming Ankara’s potential involvement in U.S. President Donald Trump’s recently-launched peace plan for the Middle East… 

“Under the plan, Turkey has committed to deploying search and rescue teams to Gaza to help recover the bodies of slain hostages and clear up the rubble. Ankara is also expected to join a multinational task force overseeing the ceasefire and assisting in the training of local forces. However,… Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out Turkey’s participation in the International Stabilization Force, defining it as Israel’s ‘red line.’ Netanyahu has reportedly also communicated reservations about Turkish companies participating in the reconstruction of the Strip…” 

Qatar vs. Israel 

Y-Net News wrote on October 10: 

“Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani condemned ‘Israeli violations in Palestine, especially turning the Gaza Strip into an uninhabitable area.’ According to him, ‘It’s time to end the Israeli occupation. The Palestinian issue is not a terrorism issue, but one of prolonged occupation. It’s time to end it. This is the basis for just peace. What happened in the Gaza Strip in the last two years is genocide.’” 

And Turkey and Qatar—America’s “allies”—are supposed to help end the war? What lunacy! 

Gaza Descends Into Anarchy 

The Daily Mail wrote on October 21: 

“Donald Trump today promised to unleash death upon Hamas if the militants do not uphold their peace agreement with Israel. The Gaza region has descended into anarchy as new footage has emerged showing Palestinians being executed and tortured by Hamas enforcers…

“The first phase of the ceasefire with Hamas and Israel is still ongoing despite Hamas not handing over the remaining bodies of the 15 deceased hostages… The next phase of Trump’s peace plan is for the disarmament of Hamas along with the group losing control of governing Gaza. Hamas has not agreed to this part of the peace deal.” 

Trump’s “War” with Venezuela 

The Associated Press wrote on October 15: 

“President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that he has authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela and said he was weighing carrying out land operations on the country. The acknowledgement of covert action in Venezuela by the U.S. spy agency comes after the U.S. military in recent weeks has carried out a series of deadly strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean. U.S. forces have destroyed at least five boats since early September, killing 27 people, and four of those vessels originated from Venezuela… [As of Wednesday, 8 boats were destroyed.] 

“Early this month, the Trump administration declared drug cartels to be unlawful combatants and pronounced the United States is now in an ‘armed conflict’ with them, justifying the military action as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States. The move has spurred anger in Congress from members of both major political parties that Trump was effectively committing an act of war without seeking congressional authorization…

“The Trump administration has yet to provide underlying evidence to lawmakers proving that the boats targeted by the U.S. military were in fact carrying narcotics…”

Trump’s actions—carried out and contemplated—seem to be illegal and unconstitutional.

ICE Misconduct

The Mirror wrote on October 15:

“Shocking video taken during an ICE sweep at a Chicago Walgreens shows a senior white officer throwing a Black man to the pavement and placing him under arrest for ‘fleeing,’ even though a relative insisted he was an American citizen…  A second video captured the shocking moment after ICE officers cuffed the man and drove him away in SUVs… 

“It comes after an out-of-control ICE agent yelled a disgusting insult before shooting a woman five times.” 

The Rutherford Institute wrote on October 15: 

“Masked gunmen. Tasers. Tear gas. Pepper spray. Unmarked vehicles. Intimidation tactics. Brutality. Racial profiling. Children traumatized. Families terrorized. Journalists targeted. Citizens detained. Disabled individuals, minors, the elderly, pregnant women, military veterans—snatched off the streets. Private property destroyed. This is not a war zone. 

“This is what now passes for law-and-order policing by ICE agents in Trump’s America—and it is not making America safer or greater. What began as an agency tasked with enforcing immigration law has metastasized into a domestic terror force. 

“From coast to coast, ICE goon squads… are prowling neighborhoods, churches, courthouses, hospitals, bus stops, and worksites, anywhere ‘suspected’ migrants might be present, snatching people first and asking questions later. Sometimes ‘later’ comes hours, days or even weeks afterwards. No one is off limits—not even American citizens… It is how a dictatorship behaves when it decides the rule of law—in this case, the Bill of Rights—is optional.

“Journalists are being shoved to the pavement, forced into chokeholds, teargassed, and brutalized—in violation of the First Amendment. U.S. citizens, including toddlers, are being snatched up and carted off—in violation of the Fourth Amendment. People with no criminal records who have lived, worked and paid taxes in this country for decades are being made to disappear—in violation of habeas corpus…

“Nationally, more than 70% of individuals rounded up by ICE nationally have no criminal convictions. Many have lived in the U.S. for decades, raised families, paid taxes, contributed to the economy, and worked the jobs most Americans refuse to do.” 

Even Trump admitted that. Americans did not vote for him to have ICE behave in this illegal way. He may pay dearly at the midterm elections. 

“Pope Leo’s Critique of Trump Administration” 

Reuters wrote on October 2: 

“Pope Leo initially impressed conservative Catholics after his election in May as he embraced traditions shunned by his predecessor Pope Francis and steered clear of hot button social issues that divided the 1.4 billion-member Church. But his honeymoon with conservatives appears over after he unexpectedly took aim at U.S. President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies, questioning whether they were in line with the Church’s pro-life teachings. 

“‘Someone who says I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro-life,’ Leo, the first U.S. pope, told reporters on Tuesday… 

“The Trump administration, which was sharply critical of Francis but has rarely commented about Leo… pushed back. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she rejected the characterisation of inhumane treatment of immigrants.” 

Pope Leo is correct. The Trump administration’s denial is laughable. Note the next article. 

The New Republic wrote on October 1: 

“On Tuesday evening, the Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV spoke out against anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States, as well as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s bellicose rhetoric. At an unusual gathering of military leaders earlier that day, Hegseth had told the top brass to be ‘prepared for war, not for defense,’ while espousing the use of ‘overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy’ and promising to ‘untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt and kill the enemies of our country.’… 

“Leo called Hegseth’s rhetoric ‘worrying… because it shows each time an increase in tensions.’ Citing Hegseth’s change in job title from ‘secretary of defense’ to ‘secretary of war,’ the pope said, ‘Let’s hope it is only a way of speaking.’” 

Reuters wrote on October 1: 

“Trump said he told [U.S. Defense Secretary Pete] Hegseth ‘we should use some of these dangerous [U.S.] cities as training grounds for our military.’ He acknowledged that he has been criticized for deploying the military on U.S. streets, but said America was in the grips of what he described as a war from within waged by immigrants in the country illegally who his administration is seeking to deport. 

“‘America is under invasion from within. We’re under invasion from within, no different than a foreign enemy, but more difficult in many ways, because they don’t wear uniforms,’ Trump said. That triggered a sharp reaction from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat. ‘Anyone who talks about their fellow Americans as enemies to be “taken out” is not fit to lead the nation,’ Pritzker said on X.” 

The terminology of the Trump Administration becomes more and more intolerable. Words lead to deeds. Is civil war coming?  

Double-Tongued Stephen Miller

The Independent wrote on October 1:

“Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, has responded angrily to the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, after a social media account linked to Newsom labelled Miller a ‘fascist’… ‘It is a message that his team is sending to all the crazies and lunatics out there,’ he said. ‘We’re not going to absolve Democrats of responsibility anymore. There’s a reason why all of these killers and lunatics and terrorists adopt the same language. They say they are trying to kill the fascist and stop the fascists. This is deliberate.’… 

“Miller himself has previously described opponents, including the Democrats and the Biden administration, as ‘fascists’ in numerous social media posts. ‘The Democrat Party is now a Fascist Party. Using corporate and government power to punish dissent and dissenters,’ he wrote in 2024… 

“His use of the slur is not reserved for the Democratic Party…”

Miller is a dangerous political force. 

Circumcision and Autism 

CBS News wrote on October 14: 

“Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested there may be a link between autism and circumcision while reasserting the… theory that Tylenol causes the disorder… ‘There’s two studies that show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism. It’s highly likely because they are given Tylenol,’ Kennedy stated during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday…

“Kennedy said he was referring to an August 2025 Preprints.org review by Patel et al., which he said ‘directly validates my point that the observed autism correlation in circumcised boys is best explained by acetaminophen exposure, not circumcision itself.’” 

This important distinction has been conveniently overlooked in the mass media.

Zelensky to Leave Office? 

Breitbart wrote on October 14: 

“A poll published by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on Monday found that 75 percent of Ukrainians want President Volodymyr Zelensky to leave office after the war with Russia ends…”

Zelensky himself declared that he would step down after the war ends. It reminds us of Churchill’s fate after World War II. 

Is Putin Playing Trump Again? 

The Spectator wrote on October 17: 

“Sorry, Volodymyr. There won’t be any Tomahawk missiles headed to Ukraine now that president Vladimir Putin of Russia has talked on the phone with president Donald Trump, who called their session ‘very productive.’ What it will produce remains an open question. But it does seem to have resulted in a decision to hold an upcoming summit in Budapest. The bottom line: Putin has outflanked Ukrainian president Zelensky… 

“For Zelensky, Putin’s missive could not come at a worse time… Trump has repeatedly voiced his frustration with ‘Vladimir,’ as he likes to call him, for refusing to end the war. Now Putin is once more dangling the bait of a ceasefire… 

“Since the Alaska summit, Trump has approved further cooperation between American and Ukrainian intelligence services, ensuring that they receive better targeting information to hit Russian energy infrastructure…

“Putin’s track record, of course, should hardly inspire much confidence. A master of the tactical move, the Russian president may well have intervened simply to stymie Trump from delivering more potent weapons to Ukraine… It is Putin, and Putin alone, who has steadily been saying nyet to ending the conflict in his mad desire to reestablish the Russian empire of yore.” 

Nothing good will come from these “negotiations.” Note the next article. 

Trump’s Ever-Changing Positions 

The Guardian wrote on October 17: 

“Donald Trump seemed more intent on brokering a peace deal than he was to supply Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles during a White House meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying that the US may need them for a future conflict… After speaking with Zelenskyy for more than two hours, Trump implored both Ukraine and Russia to ‘stop the war immediately’, even if it means Ukraine conceding territory… 

“Trump’s doubtful tone on the cruise missiles follows a surprise phone call with Vladimir Putin on Friday during which the Russian leader told Trump that supplying the Tomahawks would damage US-Russian relations. 

“His position on supplying Ukraine with weapons has changed a number of times since he returned to office in January, often after negotiations with Putin or European backers of Ukraine… On previous occasions, when Trump had seemed ready to tilt towards Kyiv and its European allies, a call from Putin was often followed by a sudden softening in the US leader’s tone towards Moscow. 

“A flurry of activity was also set off with Trump’s announcement after the call that he was planning to meet the Russian president in the Hungarian capital on a date still to be determined, in an effort to end the war… It remains unclear how Putin would travel to Hungary, given EU sanctions and airspace restrictions imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as the fact that he is wanted by the international criminal court (ICC). As a signatory to the ICC, Hungary would be obliged to arrest him, though Orbán has previously said this would not happen… 

“Trump and Putin last met in Alaska in August, which did not produce a diplomatic breakthrough… The latest conversation, which lasted more than two and a half hours, appears to have sapped the momentum Zelenskyy had built with Trump, with the US leader now unlikely to show significant support for Ukraine before meeting Putin… 

“While Moscow has repeatedly claimed it is ready to end its invasion of Ukraine, Putin has shown no indication he is seeking compromise or to scale back his maximalist goal of forcing Kyiv’s capitulation. Despite Trump’s typically  upbeat rhetoric that peace may be within reach, the US vice-president, JD Vance, struck a more cautious note on Thursday, saying that ‘the Russians and the Ukrainians are just not at the point where they can make a deal’, and that a settlement ‘remains possible but will require a lot more work’.” 

Trump is being played like a fiddle… again. He is caving to Putin and is no match for him. 

Putin Demands Donetsk

Euractiv wrote on October 19: 

“Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that Ukraine surrender full control of Donetsk as a condition for ending the war, US newspaper The Washington Post reported. The request, which would significantly disadvantage Kyiv, signals that Putin has not backed away from long-standing territorial ambitions despite Trump’s optimism about brokering a deal. 

“According to two senior officials quoted by The Washington Post, Putin offered to relinquish claims to parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in exchange for Donetsk [a strategically important region], which Moscow and its proxies have failed to capture entirely since 2014. Trump… has yet to endorse the demand publicly… 

“Zelenskyy on Sunday urged allies against appeasing Russia. ‘Ukraine will never grant terrorists any bounty for their crimes, and we count on our partners to uphold this very position,’ Zelenskyy wrote on social media on his return from Washington. He called for decisive steps from European and American allies. ‘This week alone, Russia has used more than 3,270 attack drones, 1,370 guided aerial bombs, and nearly 50 missiles of various types against Ukraine,’ Zelensky said.” 

Meeting on Hold 

Newsmax wrote on October 21:

“President Donald Trump, confirming Tuesday that his plan for a swift meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin was on hold, said that’s because he doesn’t want it to be a ‘waste of time.’ 

“It was the latest twist in Trump’s stop-and-go effort to resolve the war in Ukraine. 

“The decision to hold off on the meeting in Budapest, Hungary, which Trump had announced last week, was made following a call Monday between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.” 

While this is going on, in one of the biggest demonstrations in American history, approximately 7 million people demonstrated against Trump over the weekend under the motto: “No Kings.” In a previous “No Kings” demonstration in June, “only” 3 million participated. Note the next segment. 

“No Kings Parade”–Ted Cruz Warns MEGA 

The Daily Beast reported on October 21: 

“Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has implored his party to wake up to the dangers posed by an estimated seven million people turning out in protest against the Donald Trump administration.  ‘Unquestionably, we should take political peril seriously,’ Cruz told Bloomberg Television. ‘… There is a lot of anger on the left. And elections can be dangerous when one side is mobilized, is angry.’… 

“It’s not the first time Cruz has openly criticized the MAGA administration, warning in April 2025 that Trump’s trade war against much of the rest of the planet would likely result in significant job losses, threatening to turn the 2026 midterms into a ‘bloodbath’ for Republicans.” 

The New York Post added on October 19: 

“The president posted a wild AI-generated video of himself late Saturday as a fighter pilot wearing a crown on his head, unloading sewage on ‘No Kings’ protestors.  With ‘Danger Zone,’ the iconic ‘Top Gun’ theme song, blaring in the background, Trump’s fighter jet was shown dropping masses of manure on demonstrators over what appeared to be New York City.” 

Trump Not Ready to Leave? 

The Mirror wrote on October 22: 

“Donald Trump has no intention of ever leaving the White House… That seems like a weird thing to suggest, but there is now so much evidence pointing to him trying to cling on to power beyond the end of his legal presidential term, that it’s irresponsible to pretend it’s not happening. He keeps saying he’s not a ‘king’ or a ‘dictator’. But he also keeps doing and saying things that suggest he very much would like to be… 

“Trump did exactly what he said he was going to do in his first term, or at least tried to. And this time, he keeps saying he’s going to stay in the White House beyond 2029, when his legal term ends. He’s even made hats and given them out to Republican congressmen. He’s repeatedly floated the idea of re-writing or bypassing constitutional rules that prevent him serving beyond two terms. 

“During a visit to the White House by Volodymyr Zelensky in August, Trump indicated he likes the idea of using a war to cancel the next election, allowing him to stay in power beyond his term limit. Zelensky cancelled an election in Ukraine because his country is at war with Russia. ‘So let me just say three and a half years from now – so you mean, if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections?…’ Trump said. Later during his visit, Trump showed Zelensky the White House gift shop, where Trump 2028 hats are on sale….” 

The article lists several additional factors, but the ones quoted herein are the most striking. 

Turkey Becoming Important to Europe 

fakti.bg wrote on October 15: 

“Currently, the partnership with the country that has the second largest army in NATO after the US may prove to be key for Europe… 

“At the same time, Turkey remains a difficult partner for the West. The conflicts with Greece and Cyprus are still unresolved, and its proximity to Vladimir Putin is causing concern. The country also has serious problems with democracy, and EU accession talks have been frozen for years. But despite the repression of the opposition, criticism from Brussels is almost non-existent. Why?.. 

“Before, it was about democracy. Today, security is the priority. The threat from Russia overshadows everything else… The partnership with Turkey remains risky, but the fear of Russia in Europe is growing…” 

Turkey, with the help of Europe, will play a violent anti-Israeli role in the future. 

Turkey’s Persecution of Minority Christians

IFN wrote on October 16: 

“The Turkish government is increasingly treating Christian minorities as existential threats—branding them as ‘national security dangers’ to justify mass expulsions and heavy restrictions on religious freedom. This alarming rhetoric marks a new low in Türkiye’s crackdown on minority believers.

“… the government has expelled foreign Christians working as missionaries or aid workers—even when they held valid visas. Some local Christians report threats, intimidation, and bureaucratic harassment until they leave… 

“In response, Christian and human rights advocates are calling on governments and international bodies to shine a light on Türkiye’s actions, impose accountability for violations, and support Christians facing forced removal or persecution…” 

Europe, more and more dependent on Turkey’s strong military, stays silent. 

Most Dangerous Time 

The Guardian wrote on October 1: 

“Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen issued a stark warning that Europe is ‘in the most difficult and dangerous situation since the second world war,’ even worse than during the cold war… as she urged leaders to leave national perspectives behind and unite to take on Russia…” 

And so, at least ten European nations or groups of nations will unite… with dangerous consequences. 

No More Reliance on USA

Euronews wrote on September 29: 

“For decades, Germany relied on the US for its security policy. But that era is over, experts tell Euronews. Germany plans to spend up to €83 billion on European-made weapons and reduce dependence on US defence systems as Chancellor Friedrich Merz pushes to build Europe’s ‘strongest conventional armed force’ amid doubts about Washington’s reliability under Donald Trump. 

“According to reports, the German government plans 154 major defence procurements between September 2025 and December 2026, with only 8% from US suppliers compared to the previously heavy reliance on US systems. The shift follows US President Trump’s demands that NATO partners increase their defence spending to 5% of GDP, while purchasing more US weapons, prompting Berlin to pursue a ‘Buy European’ strategy… 

“According to US expert and author Dr Josef Braml, this move should not be seen as a mistake of confusing cause and effect. ‘The cause was that Trump made it clear that America can no longer be relied on,’ Braml told Euronews. Now that this has become clear, ‘it no longer makes sense to pay tribute for protection that we no longer get,’ he added. According to Braml, this ‘tribute’ was paid by buying US weapons that made Germany and other European countries dependent on US systems… 

“The Marshall Plan and NATO laid the foundations for security and economic relations between Germany and the US after World War II. Since Trump took office, the German government has endeavoured to maintain bilateral relations. Nevertheless, the German course is running counter to the US president’s expectations… 

“Continuing as before is therefore not an option for Braml. ‘Security is gone, Pax Americana is dead,’ he concluded.” 

Europe will become a mighty military force, independent of the USA. 

AI Assistants Systematically Distort the Truth 

Deutsche Welle wrote on October 22: 

“A major new study by 22 public service media organizations, including DW, has found that four of the most commonly used AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time— regardless of language or territory… Measuring criteria such as accuracy, sourcing, providing context, the ability to editorialize appropriately and the ability to distinguish fact from opinion, the study found that almost half of all answers had at least one significant issue, while 31% contained serious sourcing problems and 20% contained major factual errors… 

“Those behind the study say it confirms that AI assistants systematically distort news content of all kinds. ‘This research conclusively shows that these failings are not isolated incidents,’ said Jean Philip De Tender, deputy director general of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which co-ordinated the study. ‘They are systemic, cross-border, and multilingual, and we believe this endangers public trust. When people don’t know what to trust, they end up trusting nothing at all…’” 

Mandatory Military Service by Lottery? 

BBC wrote on October 14: 

“Plans to re-introduce military service in Germany have been thrown into chaos because of an 11th hour row amongst the governing parties. A compromise, which was set to include the possibility of some mandatory conscription, has been shot down… on Tuesday night, a press conference to announce the proposals was abruptly cancelled, ahead of a draft bill going before parliament on Thursday. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has denied accusations of ‘torpedoing’ the plans… 

“A significant section of German society remains deeply wary of conscription and re-armament given the catastrophic consequences of remilitarising in the 20th Century. Nevertheless, a recent Forsa survey for Stern suggested that 54% of people favoured compulsory service while 41% opposed it. Opposition rose to 63% among 18 to 29-year-olds. Germany wants to expand its armed forces from the current 183,000 active servicemen and women to 260,000 by 2035 – plus 200,000 reservists… 

“There is resistance within the junior partner in the coalition, the SPD, to any element of compulsory service. The government, made up of Merz’s conservative CDU/CSU and the centre-left Social Democrat SPD, agreed in their coalition treaty to reintroduce military service which would be voluntary ‘to start with.’ However, CDU politicians – including Chancellor Merz – have increasingly aired concerns that a purely voluntary system will not be sufficient. 

“This week, negotiators from the two coalition parties hammered out a complicated compromise… reports suggested that, if not enough school-leavers volunteered, then a lottery system could be used. A selection of young men could be summoned for a medical or even mandatory service, if required, should recruitment targets be missed… 

“Rather than a lottery, [Pistorius] has backed proposals for all eligible young men to undergo a medical from July 2027, so the Bundeswehr has a clear snapshot of available manpower…”

Deutsche Welle wrote on October 15: 

“Germany’s Bundestag parliament began its first reading of the contentious bill seeking to reintroduce some form of military service, on a purely voluntary basis at first but with contested plans to add some kind of mandatory component in future if necessary… 

“[Pistorius was] seeking to stress that any decision on obligatory recruitment was not part of the current bill and was a matter for a future debate… ‘that would clearly only take place under the authority of a Bundestag resolution, and using methods that are yet to be decided.’… 

“Politicians from Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU said they stood by their lottery-based ‘Plan B’ for the case that voluntary recruitment falls short of targets or needs… 

“Neither the draft law as it stands nor the lottery proposal is very clear on the contentious question of mandatory recruitment. The draft law mentions the likelihood for the need of ‘comprehensive mustering’ as of 2027, but doesn’t say how it plans to achieve this, and avoids clarifying whether it means mustering in the sense of compulsory conscription, or simply an obligation for young men to muster for inspection and consideration.  

“The lottery proposal, meanwhile, was said to involve drawing lots to make up any shortfall, but then to try to encourage those whose lot was drawn to volunteer, rather than obliging them to act. Again, it didn’t explain how it planned to achieve this… 

“The legal right to oblige young men to serve for a period is enshrined in the constitution, and was only suspended by a simple majority vote in parliament when the system was scrapped. Another simple majority vote would suffice in theory to reactivate the provision as it is. But adding women to the provision, or altering its content, would require a two-thirds majority in the lower and upper houses of parliament instead. The coalition government by itself is nowhere near commanding these majorities, even if it could reach internal agreement on the issue.” 

Mandatory military service by lottery? Most Germans reject this. What boneheaded nonsense! How crazy can it get? 

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.

This is a question that may seem obvious to anyone living the true Christian Way of Life but may be confusing to those who feel that their priorities, even though they may think that they are a committed follower of Jesus Christ, must be to their spouse and children with God being subordinated to a lesser role in their lives.

A well-known sportsman in the UK was asked about the priorities in his life, and he said that they were his family, his faith and then listed other priorities.   His Christian faith was known to those who knew him well, and it seemed that he was a man of faith.   However, was he correct in listing God as second to his family in his list of priorities?

Each and every one of us will have their own list of priorities.  We may not sit down and list them, but we will know what we put first and those things that mean the most to us.   When we have a list of things to do, we generally organise these according to how we perceive their importance.   When we put God first, it means that He is top of our list of priorities.

By putting God in the premier position means that He will get the top priority in our lives.  Praying and studying will be those things that we prioritise on a daily basis and ensure that we do those things that are most important to us.   Once we let go and other things become more important to us, then God can slip down the pecking order, and that is not what He expects of us.  When He calls us to be a part of His Church and a Spirit-begotten member of His Family, then that must be the most important thing in our lives because it will translate, at the First Resurrection, to us being born into the Family of God for eternity.

We read in Matthew 6:33:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”  

The word “but” is instructive.  In previous verses Jesus told His disciples not to worry about their lives (see Matthew 6:25) as many of us may do constantly, but that God will take care of the things we need (see verses 26-32).   The most important thing in our lives is to obey and worship God in the first place and all the other things will be taken care of by a loving God who knows what our needs are.

To seek first is not to relegate God to the back seat.  In Matthew 22:35-40, we read of the response that Jesus gave to a lawyer who questioned Him:

“Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’”

This was a direct instruction, not a suggestion.

Further, John 14:15 clearly reveals what we should and must do, if God is to be first and foremost in our lives:

“If you love Me, keep My commandments,” which is a simple answer that, sadly, is neglected, misunderstood, misconstrued and misinterpreted by most of mainstream Christianity today.

This was also a direct instruction, not a suggestion. Matthew 6:24 adds further clarification:

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Way back in time, the nation of Israel was given clear instructions on how seriously putting God first was to be to them as we read in Deuteronomy 6:4-9:

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

It wasn’t to be from time to time as it turned out to be with ancient Israel, but a lifelong process as we understand today.   Israel suffered the consequences of their pronounced allegiance to God with their behaviour which Scripture describes as frequently deviating from what was acceptable to God.

But it was not only those in ancient times who fell short of what was required, but also those many centuries later in the time of Christ, as we read in Matthew 15:7-9:

^“Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

It is well documented how the religious authorities in the time of Christ were upbraided for their hypocrisy by Jesus Christ and nearly 2,000 years later, it has changed little today.   We MUST be different.   We MUST put God first in our lives or we will be in the same position as those throughout history, having failed to do this, have suffered the consequences of their actions.

Simply put, it is in keeping with the First Commandment which states quite simply: “You shall have no other gods before Me” (compare Exodus 20:3).   Anything or anyone that comes before God is detrimental to our spiritual well-being.   This is clearly shown in Matthew 7:24-27 where Jesus instructs us to “build on the Rock”:

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

This is a case of cause and effect.   This is revealed in Galatians 6:7: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

We should, voluntarily, want to live our lives in the way that has been revealed to us.   In 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, sub-headed “Glory Only in the Lord” in the New King James Bible, is an interesting and invaluable insight into our calling:

“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.”

We are not the great and mighty of this world, but the very ordinary, to put to shame the wise.   How many have been called to this Way of Life?   Only God knows the answer to that question, but it is obvious that it is a small number because Jesus said in Luke 12:32: “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

To have been given the opportunity that we have, should fill us with gratitude to the great God, and He must be first in our lives.  If not, we can be overtaken by the things of this world, which are but transitory and will soon pass away.

In Proverbs 3:5-6, we read: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”  

It is not an easy path, but the narrow way, as we read in Matthew 7:13-14:

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Anything really worthwhile takes effort to achieve, and we have been given the greatest gift of all by being called into the Church of God and receiving the Holy Spirit upon repentance.  And when this is our approach and attitude, God is pleased, as Psalm 37:23 points out:

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.”

We read in 1 Peter 2:21: “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.”  

Whenever we read about Jesus in the biblical account, we see that He was always subordinate to His Father’s Will, putting the Father first in all things.   Never did Jesus treat the Father as anyone other than in first place in His life, and we should always follow His example.

Today’s prevailing ethos is that it is all about me, me, me.   There are some worthy exceptions to that, but they are certainly in a small minority.   Members of God’s true Church must not fall into the trap of “accommodating” society, always putting God first irrespective of any situations that might require us to do differently.

And why wouldn’t we want to put God first in our lives?   We should think on these things which show us the might of the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ:

• “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).
• “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16).  
• “Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure’” (Isaiah 46:10).
• ^“But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: ‘As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God’” (Romans 14:10-11).
• ^“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God” (Revelation 19:11-13).

It’s a winning team to be part of, and for eternity.

There is much more to be said on this matter and one website reveals that there are 158 quotations about putting God first in our lives.  However, what we have shown in this Q&A is that God has to be first in our lives at all times.   Second, or any other place than first, is not acceptable to Him, and for good reason.

True Christians will be distinctive in their actions of putting God first in their lives as opposed to the world where compromise and fitting in with society is generally the accepted way.  With a twenty-four-hour-a-day-commitment to God’s Way of Life where the things of God are deemed far more valuable than society’s so-called “values,” we will demonstrate to our Creator how much we appreciate our unique calling and the promise of much better things to come.

Interestingly, there was a situation in the UK where a big sporting event was taking place in the summer of 2023 at 11am on a Sunday morning.   A senior bishop (female) from the Church of England said it was “fine” for churches to move morning services so that their parishioners could watch this event and added that people should choose the service that is “right for them.”  Unfortunately, God never seems to be first in the lives of many mainstream Christians as they put worldly pursuits first.

We will finish this Q&A with a few quotations.

One writer put it this way: “God is smarter, wiser, and more powerful than any person can ever become. Thus, when God issues a commandment, our duty is to trust and follow Him in whatever direction He takes us. In the end, we will not be disappointed, but we will if we do not put God first in our lives.”

Put God first in everything you do—Denzel Washington

Put God first and you will never be last—Anonymous

When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives—Ezra Taft Benson

If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead—William Law

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“Trump in the Light of Biblical Prophecy,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

The Trump peace deal with Hamas will fail. A potential Trump peace deal between Russia and Ukraine will be doomed. ICE misconduct tears the nation apart. So is Trump’s alleged desire to stay in power after his second term. Still, there is one thing which Trump could successfully accomplish, in the light of biblical prophecy,  and it is that one matter which he should concentrate on.

“Trump im Licht der biblischen Prophezeiung,” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.

We have started posting YouTube Shorts, both on our English and German sites, with our first video titled “Halloween – A celebration for Christians?”

Sermonettes and sermons presented during the 2025 Fall Holy Days will be posted on our websites.

“Werden SIE die sieben Posaunen hören?” is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Will YOU Hear the Seven Trumpets?”

“Wir motivieren uns selbst,” last Sabbath’s German sermonette presented by Michael Link, is now posted. Title in English:  “Motivate Ourselves.”

“Sich freuen, wenn man leidet?“ last Sabbath’s German sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Title in English, “Rejoice When Suffering?”

Our new German booklet, God Is… Our Destiny!, “Gott ist…unsere Bestimmung!”, has been posted on our German website.