Update 1182

On November 15, 2025, Eric Rank will present the sermonette, titled, “Our Agency and God’s Direction” and Dave Harris will present the sermon, titled, “The Warning.”

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.

“A Man for All Seasons” was a movie that was released in the 1960’s, based on the true story about the final years of Sir Thomas More, a 16^th century lawyer, devout Catholic and Lord Chancellor of England who was executed for refusing to support King Henry VIII’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon and his subsequent marriage and to take an Oath of Supremacy, declaring King Henry Supreme Head of the Church of England.

He showed moral standards and refused to buckle under pressure from the King to maintain his integrity even to the point of decapitation. He was willing to die for his convictions, and in the movie, he paid his executioner money before being beheaded, this being a practice in the 16th century.

Regardless of all his noble and high moral standards, there is one man in history who really was “A Man for All Seasons,” and that is the Man Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

To become a Man, He gave up His divinity for a time. He was immortal and eternal. He had power and authority. He was the Son of God. He had created all things under God the Father, both physical as the universe and mankind, and spiritual as angels and everything else existing in the spirit realm [excluding, of course, the Father], including thrones, instruments of music, golden bowls etc., as we can read in Revelation 5:8: “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders [angelic beings] fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”

Think about what He gave up! It would be somewhat comparable [even though the comparison is enormously lacking] to a very wealthy man from a rich and prosperous family used to everything imaginable with a life of luxury, to become homeless, begging for food and sleeping on the sidewalk.

He, as a human, was subject to pain, mockery, temptation from Satan, the world and His human desires, and through it all, He never sinned and prevailed with flying colours (Matthew 4:1-11).

You could just see Satan taunting Christ: “Why go through all that suffering and die, when you can have it all now? Just fall down and worship me.”

Christ rebuked him, using Scripture: “Jesus said to him, ‘It is written again, “YOU SHALL NOT TEMPT THE LORD YOUR GOD’” (Matthew 4:7).

He had compassion on the sick, the lame, deaf and blind, and He healed them, even when knowing not all would show appreciation for their healing. Luke 17:11-19 reports the following:

“Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.   And they lifted up their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’  So when He saw them, He said to them, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

“So Jesus answered and said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?’ And He said to him, ‘Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.’”

He never wanted to put the spotlight on Himself, but He gave credit to God. “Then Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner’” (John 5:19).

He was subject to God’s Will even when facing death: “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will’” (Matthew 26:39).

Nobody on this earth would want to go through the beatings, scourging, punches to the face and mockery Christ would have to face, plus hanging on the cross for six hours and then being pierced with a sword to end His life. He knew ahead of time that all of this would happen to Him. Yet He did all of this for us; so how much do we appreciate His Sacrifice, pain, suffering and death so that we could be saved and become members of the God Family?

We should thank Him for His Sacrifice and service and also thank God the Father as hard as it was for Him to look away from or “forsake” Christ for a moment, when shortly before His death on the cross, He was carrying all the sins of the world, so that God’s Plan could be accomplished and that we would have a true “Man for All Seasons” and a loving compassionate High Priest and Saviour.

by Norbert Link

We begin with articles questioning the survival of the German government beyond 2025. In this regard, please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “What Does the Bible Say About Germany’s Future?”.

We address interesting developments and revelations pertaining to Austria’s Habsburg family; and point out the terrible consequences of the longest shutdown in American history, including SNAP payments and huge problems pertaining to travel.

We also quote articles claiming that Trump’s tariffs policy has caused just about everything to become more expensive for American consumers.

We address Trump’s meeting with Orban; his boycott of the G-2O summit in South Africa; BBC’s dishonest reporting; Pope Leo’s ill-conceived two-state “solution”; Turkey’s hostile conduct towards Israel; China’s use of war-robots in preparation of attacking Taiwan; and undeniable side effects of Covid-19 vaccinations.

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

How Long Will the German Coalition Last? 

Report 24 wrote on November 7: 

“Not even 200 days in power, but already all trust lost: The high poll numbers for the AfD vividly demonstrate how convinced the population is of the black-red coalition in Germany. Even within the government, there is now increasing unrest. Jens Spahn is said to have already declared, with regard to the SPD [CDU’s coalition party], that they will not ‘die with them.’ The mainstream media is now speculating about a possible collapse of the coalition… 

“Will the whole thing blow up around Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s (CDU) door before Christmas? A nasty joke is circulating in the CDU/CSU parliamentary group: What’s the difference between God and Friedrich Merz? God doesn’t think of himself as Friedrich Merz, but Merz thinks of himself as God! The chancellor, who constantly violates the eighth commandment (‘Thou shalt not lie’), will certainly need God’s help if he wants to save his chaotic coalition from the end of the year. 

“It’s rumored that some members of the parliamentary group are considering a minority government. But how would it be able to function? That would only be possible with the support of the AfD. But Merz has ruled them out ‘as long as I’m Chancellor’… Hot rumor…: Spahn, for whom there’s ‘always an alternative,’ could be elected Chancellor with the votes of the AfD! A rumor—nothing more for now.” 

Note: “Thou shalt not lie” is not the eighth commandment, as the article falsely claims, but the ninth. 

Germany Is the Titanic 

Nius wrote on November 7: 

“Friedrich Merz… has a… task: to avert the catastrophe with those who are willing to avert the catastrophe, that is, with the votes of the AfD, for example, in a minority government. There are no other voices. Using the existing votes to even have a chance of reversing the policies of the last ten years and averting the worst is actually no longer the free choice of Merz and his party, but their patriotic duty… With his firewall madness, Merz is playing with the livelihoods of millions of people. 

“Here is what the head of TUI, the world’s largest travel company, says about our economic situation: ‘I have the impression we are on the Titanic,’ Ebel said in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ). ‘The band is playing, everyone is celebrating, but the ship is already fallen over, and nobody’s doing anything.’ 

“Germany is the Titanic, and no, we’re not heading straight for the iceberg; we’ve already collided, and the orchestra is already playing. These aren’t my words, but the words of one of the country’s most astute CEOs… Friedrich Merz is standing before a burning house and must decide whether he’s willing to accept [AfD’s] Alice Weidel’s help to save the people in the attic. Without her, he can’t… 

“All members of parliament have a patriotic duty to put the country above crazy ideas like the ‘firewall,’ but sometimes they need to be reminded of that… right now, the CDU doesn’t want to do the right thing, their duty, with the votes of the AfD, but instead wants to march even more energetically into disaster…” 

“Each of us knows and loves people who may still be caught in the propagandistic clutches of the Tagesschau (German news program) and educational television. They know nothing of what is looming, they haven’t heard the words of the TUI CEO because it is deliberately concealed from them in the mainstream media… People who have been watching Tagesschau and Heute (German news programs) for decades… are going headlong and cheerfully into their economic downfall…” 

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius—Germany’s Most Beloved Politician

The Washington Post wrote on November 8: 

“Boris Pistorius (SPD), the German defense minister, is… the man now responsible for revamping and expanding the armed forces in a country that has been allergic to militarization for 80 years since instigating two world wars… 

“A nation and a continent that have defined themselves since World War II as a peace project now face an urgent imperative to arm and defend themselves against a growing Russian threat. It is a challenge they are struggling to meet. Russia’s aggression and President Donald Trump’s demands that Europe take responsibility for its own security have led to a remarkable shift in public perception of the continent’s needs… 

“A fierce debate over reinstating compulsory military service highlights Pistorius’s challenge… When Pistorius introduced a proposal that relied on voluntary recruitment, it was blocked by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which leads the governing coalition. Last month, the coalition presented a revised plan that included provisions for a draft lottery — only for Pistorius to object… 

“Pistorius is the most popular German politician since Angela Merkel… [No] defense minister [was] this beloved since Helmut Schmidt more than 50 years ago… 

“The new military law is set to come into effect on Jan. 1, but its final shape remains unclear, with the intra-coalition conflict still unresolved. Polls show that around 6 in 10 Germans support conscription if voluntary recruitment proves insufficient. But most people between 18 and 29 — those likeliest to be drafted — are against it… 

“As one of the few German politicians with positive favorability, Pistorius has been floated as a future candidate for chancellor, potentially in the scheduled 2029 election — or sooner, if the governing coalition collapses. The German government has tended to swing between the center-left and the center-right, suggesting the SPD’s turn could come next. But these aren’t normal times: The AfD is surging, the mainstream parties are doing all they can to keep the far right out of power…” 

Their attempts to do so will not be successful. 

Modern Military Service Is Coming…

Euro News wrote on November 13:

“Germany will require all men to register for potential military service from 1 January 2026, with compulsory service to be reintroduced if volunteer numbers fall short of targets set to meet NATO commitments. ‘Modern military service is coming,’ said Jens Spahn, Chairman of the ruling CDU/CSU parliamentary group, in a press statement… From 1 January, around 700,000 young people born in 2008 or later will be contacted to complete their registrations and [mandatory] medical screenings, said Spahn, adding that women will also receive a letter, but unlike men, they are not obliged to respond.

“If the required number of conscripts is not reached through voluntary service, compulsory service will be introduced through a separate law… [Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said:] ‘These are reasons for exemption such as there have already been two brothers in basic military service, police officers, someone who has enlisted and signed up for civil defence, conscientious objectors.’…

“At the same time…, the coalition partners have agreed that all men will be subject to compulsory military service in the future… According to current plans, the Ministry of Defence believes it will be possible to draft entire cohorts from July 2027. Men born in 2008 are to be included first, as per the SPD minister’s words.

“In addition, a mandatory online questionnaire is planned for men. From 2026, they will have to provide information on health, fitness, education and their willingness to perform military service, provided the Bundestag passes the law as planned. Women and people with non-binary gender identities will be able to complete the questionnaire voluntarily.”

 The draft law is expected to be introduced to parliament for a vote by the end of the year. Bild Online reported that if compulsory military service were to be introduced through a separate law, those who need to serve (for 6 months) would be determined by lottery. 

Germany’s “Justice”? The Case of Prince Reuss 

Nius wrote on November 5: 

“Prince Reuss has been in pretrial detention for almost three years now – without a verdict, without hope of release. An old man, seemingly forgotten, stuck in an endless legal waiting room. Is something terribly wrong here?… 

“The ‘Reichsbürger’ group Reuss became known through a high-profile anti-terror raid at the end of 2022. The public prosecutor’s office claims that a total of around two dozen suspects allegedly planned a violent overthrow of the federal government. Heinrich XIII, Prince Reuss, is said to have been the ringleader. Yet even former Interior Minister Otto Schily warned early on: ‘My subjective impression is that this rather bizarre group of cranks does not pose a real threat to the state and society.'” 

“The highly publicized raid on December 7, 2022, already indicated that something wasn’t right in the Reichsbürger trial… 

“Today, Heinrich XIII, Prince Reuss, has been in pretrial detention for 1,065 days. Almost three years – without a verdict. And to this day, there is no ‘smoking gun’ – no conclusive proof. This is a years-long circumstantial evidence trial against elderly people accused of terrorism, who are allegedly so dangerous that they are being held in pretrial detention – under the harshest possible conditions, the kind reserved for murderous terrorists: minimal opportunities for visitors, intrusive body searches, and stripping before masked and armed officers. And this has been going on for over a thousand days now – without any proof of guilt… 

“Meanwhile, numerous convicted criminals—some of them dangerous—walk free in Germany. ‘Thousands of convicted criminals are at large in Berlin because arrest warrants are not being executed. Among them are 59 murderers and 66 people convicted of manslaughter,’ wrote the Tagesspiegel in 2024. 

“One might consider Prince Reuss an oddball or an eccentric. According to his lawyer, he wouldn’t even vehemently object to that. But when an old man, who has never been proven to have committed a violent crime, literally faces his own end in a ‘terrorism trial,’ one has to ask what is greater here: the rule of law or the justified fear of losing it.” 

The answer is clear. Germany is falling into the abyss of dictatorship. 

Kristallnacht Survivors Testify 

Israel Today wrote on November 9: 

“On the 87th anniversary of Kristallnacht, three Holocaust survivors who lived through the infamous 1938 Nazi pogrom in Germany as children warned that the world today is once again dangerously unsafe for Jews, urging governments to take decisive action to combat antisemitism and strengthen Holocaust education. 

“Walter Bingham, 101, George Shefi, 94, and Paul Alexander, 90, who all experienced Kristallnacht, issued a stark joint statement with the International March of the Living, saying that the current wave of global antisemitism mirrors the climate of hate that preceded the Holocaust…. Alexander, whose father was arrested that night and sent to Buchenwald, added: ‘The world today is no safer for Jews than it was 87 years ago. The images of the past two years remind us of the darkest days of the 1930s in Nazi Germany.’.. 

“In the aftermath of the pogrom, all three were sent to Britain on the Kindertransport. Shefi never saw his mother again; she was murdered in Auschwitz. Bingham’s father perished in the Warsaw Ghetto. Alexander, one of the few Kindertransport children to reunite with both parents, later made his way to Israel, where all three survivors now live. 

“In their statement, the survivors wrote: ‘We saw with our own eyes how hatred turned to flames, how indifference became complicity, and how the world stayed silent as Jews were attacked. Today, 87 years later, we look around us and say with deep pain: the world has learned nothing. Once again, Jews are murdered for being Jews. Once again, synagogues are attacked. Once again, universities remain silent in the face of incitement. In today’s atmosphere, Kristallnacht could happen again.’” 

Please note our recent StandingWatch program, titled, “Antisemitism on the Left and the Right.”  

The Jewels of the Habsburg Family 

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 7: 

“After they were exiled from Austria in 1919 in the wake of World War I when Austria became a republic, the family of the last Austrian emperor had most of their belongings expropriated. Only a small amount of personal property — including pieces of jewelry listed as private — was allowed to be relocated to Switzerland. The official crown jewels remained in Vienna and are on display there to this day. 

“Following her husband Emperor Karl I’s death in 1922, Empress Zita had ordered her descendants to keep the jewelry’s existence secret for 100 years for security reasons. She and her children later faced persecution by the Nazi regime due to their outspoken opposition to Hitler’s dictatorship. The family escaped to Canada via France and Portugal shortly before their Belgian home was bombed by the Nazi German Luftwaffe at the outbreak of the war. They crossed the Atlantic with the jewelry collection in a brown suitcase, bringing them to safety in Quebec in 1940. 

“The surviving pieces include the famous Florentine diamond, which those outside the family had long thought lost, probably stolen. The walnut-sized yellow diamond was once among the largest cut diamonds in the world… It had been among the treasures of the Grand Duke of Tuscany in Florence, and is also known as the Tuscan Diamond. It passed into the hands of the Habsburgs through marriage when the last of Florence’s Medici family died. 

“The collection also includes items once belonging to Empress Maria Theresa, Queen Marie-Antoinette, and Emperor Franz I. The jewelry’s authenticity has been verified by independent experts. 

“In a statement, head of the family Karl von Habsburg  [64, grandson of fleeing Emperor Karl I], said the time had come for the public to see the jewels. ‘As descendants of Emperor Karl I and Empress Zita, we are proud to share these culturally and historically significant pieces with the public,’ he said, adding gratitude to Canada. ‘We would like to extend our gratitude to the people of Canada, who provided a safe haven for our family in 1940, protecting them from extremely challenging circumstances.’ 

“The Habsburgs, with some interruptions, provided numerous Holy Roman kings and emperors from 1273 onward. After the dissolution of the empire in 1806, they became the Austrian imperial house, which lasted until the end of the First World War.” 

Karl V. of Habsburg was head of the seventh revival of the Roman Empire. His empire was so vast that the sun would never set in it. 

The Daily Mail added on November 7: 

“At its height of power, the House of Habsburg was one of the leading and most influential rulers in Europe. [Karl I.] sent the diamond, as well as other centuries-old jewels, to Switzerland for protection as he went into exile. After the monarch died in the Portuguese island of Madeira, his wife Zita of Bourbon-Parma and her children moved to Spain and later Belgium. 

“As Nazi rule spread across Europe, Zita and her eldest son, crown prince Otto von Habsburg, vehemently opposed Adolf Hitler’s rise. But when the Nazis annexed Austria in 1938, Otto was declared an enemy of the state. Zita was forced to flee again to the US two years later… She carried the jewels, family members said, in a small cardboard suitcase. With American assistance, the family reached Canada and settled in Quebec… Zita returned to Europe in 1953 and died in 1989 at the age of 96. As she lived her life, the prestigious diamond remained in Canada – unbeknownst to the world… 

“However, the diamond could soon be on the move again. Austria has committed to an ‘immediate review’ as to whether the diamond belongs to the country… ‘If it turns out that the Florentine Diamond is the property of the Republic of Austria, I will initiate the process of returning the jewel,’ Austrian vice chancellor Andreas Babler said.” 

Otto von Habsburg met Herbert W. Armstrong and spoke at the Ambassador Auditorium in 1983. 

Sisi’s Jewels 

Bild Online added on November 7: 

“Her jewels were as legendary as her beauty. Now, jewelry belonging to the Austrian Empress Elisabeth (1837–1898), known as ‘Sisi’ [‘Sissi’ in the famous film adaptations starring Romy Schneider and Karl Heinz Boehm as her husband and cousin, Emperor Franz Joseph I, who died in 1916], has surfaced in an unassuming bank safe in Canada… 

“During the revolutionary unrest of 1918, Emperor Karl I tasked his Lord Chamberlain, Count Leopold Berchtold, with securing the family jewels from the revolutionaries. Berchtold gathered the most valuable pieces, including a diamond crown belonging to Empress Sisi, as well as a cuff of brilliant-cut diamonds with a large emerald and the legendary ‘Florentine’ diamond…” 

“When Karl I died in exile on the Atlantic island of Madeira on April 1, 1922, his widow Zita, the last Empress of Austria (1892–1989), decreed that the jewel cache must remain secret at least until the 100th anniversary of her husband Karl I’s death… 

“The Habsburg Law of 1919 allows… an almost complete confiscation of the imperial family’s assets by the state of Austria.” 

“Sisi’s” and Franz Joseph’s son, Crown Prince Rudolf, committed suicide in 1889, so the succession passed to the line of Franz Joseph’s brother, Karl Ludwig. Karl von Habsburg (64), son of Otto von Habsburg, is the current head of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and the grandson of the last Emperor of Austria-Hungary, Karl I. Karl von Habsburg served as a Member of the European Parliament for the Austrian People’s Party from 1996 to 1999. 

Democrats Cave–Ending Shutdown? 

CNN wrote on November 10: 

“Enough Democrats caved. A Sunday night Senate deal may be on the verge of resolving the longest government shutdown on record — after a group of moderate Democrats dropped their key demand — a guaranteed extension of Obamacare subsidies. 

“The agreement opened the way for a Senate vote in which eight Democratic defectors voted to break the filibuster and to clear the first hurdle to reopening the government after nearly six weeks. Their move will offer relief to millions of Americans whose lives have been severely disrupted by the shutdown. 

“But the compromise was opposed by some key party leaders and is already igniting a firestorm of protests from progressives who accuse their more moderate colleagues of disastrously backing down, handing President Donald Trump a victory and turning their backs on millions of Americans who can’t afford spiking health care premiums… 

“It might be crass to parse the human misery caused by the shutdown for a partisan win after a political duel that deprived millions of Americans of food benefits, left federal workers with $0 paychecks, and created chaos and safety fears in commercial aviation… 

“The deal sets a date for a vote in the Senate on ACA subsidies in December, but falls well short of cementing their extension. It funds the government through January 30 and guarantees pay for federal workers furloughed during the shutdown and those who worked without pay. It also reverses Trump’s firing of federal employees throughout the impasse and funds food stamps through 2026… 

“… On the face of it, this looks like a massive failure. Democrats won no undertaking that Obamacare subsidies will be extended — despite insisting that such a move was their bottom line. The best they will get is a Senate vote. There is no guarantee that a bill extending subsidies will pass, considering the Senate’s GOP majority. And the prospects of the Republican House endorsing it seem even more remote… 

“Many leading Democrats argued their party’s big wins in elections in New Jersey, Virginia and New York City last week were attributable to the effective way their candidates lacerated Trump over the cost of living. Now, at the first chance they got to put that lesson into practice — fighting for the affordability of health care — they gave up, even though polls showed most voters blame Trump for the shutdown and agree with the Democratic position. 

“The blowback could be severe, exposing deep divisions in the party… Still, assessments of the break in the deadlock that came on Day 40 of the shutdown must also factor in whether the Democrats’ demand was achievable in the first place and whether the deepening pain of the shutdown, which is fast becoming a national crisis, was about to make their position unsustainable… [as it] was obvious that securing an extension to Obamacare subsidies might be unattainable… 

“Throughout the shutdown, Trump… seemed indifferent to the daily struggles of millions of Americans. It was easy for Democrats to portray him as cruel as his administration fought court orders to restore funding to food assistance for 42 million Americans… Trump seemed quite willing to allow the pain and anxiety of the shutdown to deepen for millions of Americans… With the president refusing to negotiate, it was incumbent on Democrats to consider whether the cost of carrying on was justified… 

“The health care system is broken, people may lose insurance, and Republicans may end up with the blame if they don’t fix it, since they are the party in power…  Republicans are still not off the hook on the enhanced Obamacare subsidies. GOP leaders now face the question of whether they are willing to let them expire, in a scenario that could put health care out of reach for millions of people. This seems an unsustainable political position in the run-up to midterm elections, and the issue is set to only gain in traction as the end of the year looms. 

“And bitter divisions in the GOP — most graphically exemplified during the shutdown by Marjorie Tayloer-Greene, with her scathing criticism of her party’s dearth of ideas on health care — are likely to burst open when the House… will again test the authority of Speaker Mike Johnson. 

“The shutdown drama also revealed rare signs that Trump’s authority over his own party isn’t absolute on Capitol Hill. Republican senators ignored his demands to abolish the filibuster that requires most bills to get 60 votes in the chamber. Such a move would have given Trump almost unlimited power to use GOP majorities to transform the nation over the next year. But GOP senators feared what any Democratic majority might do in the absence of the filibuster…” 

Breitbart added on November 11: 

“The Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government Monday night, 40 days after Democrats triggered what is now the longest government shutdown in history. The vote ends a disastrous shutdown for Democrats, but the civil war for the soul and direction of the party is just beginning… Senators reached a time agreement Monday evening to bypass Senate procedures that would have prolonged the passage of the bill by as long as several days… The bill now makes its way to the House…” 

Trump Ends Shutdown

The New York Post wrote on November 12:

“President Trump signed a funding bill Wednesday to end the longest government shutdown in US history, hours after the House of Representatives passed legislation ending the 43-day standoff… Trump re-upped his demand for Senate Republicans to ‘terminate’ the filibuster — so that ‘this would never happen again’ — and called for the ‘massive amount’ of federal funding for Obamacare to be ‘paid directly to the people of our country, so that they can buy their own healthcare.’…

“The legislation will return federal workers [and air traffic controllers] to their jobs with backpay, reopen executive branch agencies that provide critical veterans services and other benefits like food stamps and fully fund the government until at least Jan. 30. After that, some spending for SNAP benefits, veterans programs, legislative branch activities and military construction, among other items, will continue until Sept. 30 — at which point the 2026 fiscal year ends….”

Daily Mail wrote on November 13:

“Trump was surrounded by top Republicans and national business leaders as he railed against Democrats, blaming them for the record-breaking closure once more, despite polling showing that many voters think Republicans bear the blame for the shutdown… Trump also called again for ending the filibuster, a proposal that has been unpopular with members of both parties….”

Full SNAP Benefits? 

The New York Post wrote on November 7: 

“The Supreme Court on Friday allowed President Trump’s administration to temporarily withhold roughly $4 billion needed to fully fund food aid for 42 million low-income Americans [but allowing for partial payments], escalating a showdown over hunger relief during the historic government shutdown. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson [nominated by Joe Biden] issued an administrative stay pausing a lower-court order that required full November payment under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The stay will remain in effect until two days after the [liberal] Boston-based 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals rules on the administration’s formal request to limit payments. [This would give the administration time to return to the Supreme Court if the appeals court rules against Trump.] 

“US District Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island had ordered the government on Thursday to use all available funds — including a separate $23.35 billion child-nutrition account supported by tariffs — to cover the full $8.5 to $9 billion cost of November SNAP benefits. McConnell, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, accused the administration of withholding aid for ‘political reasons’ [and had stated the halting full payments would cause irreparable harm]. 

“The administration said it had already allocated $4.65 billion in emergency funds to cover part of the month’s costs, but not the full amount. The 1st Circuit denied an initial request to stay McConnell’s order but has yet to rule on the broader appeal. 

“The USDA complicated matters Friday when it notified states that funds would be available to pay full SNAP benefits — even as the administration filed papers seeking to block the very order that made that money accessible. Officials in New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts moved quickly to issue full payments, saying they could not risk another delay. Wisconsin, Oregon, Hawaii, and Pennsylvania also confirmed they had released full benefits by Friday evening, while other states — including Colorado, North Carolina, and Illinois — said they would follow over the weekend. Delaware began using state funds to provide emergency payments… 

“The political and legal whiplash has left millions of SNAP recipients… unsure when — or whether — they will receive food aid. SNAP benefits, which lapsed at the start of November for the first time in the program’s 60-year history, provide up to $298 per month for one-person households and $546 for two-person households, depending on income…” 

Newsmax clarified on November 7: 

“The Trump administration had initially halted November SNAP disbursements entirely after congressional appropriations lapsed, triggering panic among state agencies and food banks. Two separate federal rulings last week ordered partial payments using a $5 billion contingency fund — short of the roughly $9 billion needed to cover all benefits [for 42 million Americans]… The government shutdown is now the longest in American history.” 

The Associated Press wrote on November 9: 

“President Donald Trump’s administration is demanding states ‘undo’ full SNAP benefits paid out under judges’ orders last week, now that the U.S. Supreme Court has stayed those rulings… The demand from the U.S. Department of Agriculture came as more than two dozen states warned of ‘catastrophic operational disruptions’ if the Trump administration does not reimburse them for those SNAP benefits they authorized before the Supreme Court’s stay.” 

This comes AFTER the Trump administration had authorized full payment. 

Both parties blame each other for the shutdown. But the American people hold both parties responsible. With all these legal maneuverings, and difficult-to-understand Supreme Court rulings under the circumstances, the most important question is whether needy Americans will get immediate assistance or not. Subsequently, the Court of Appeals ruled again that full payment must be made, and the Supreme Court ruled again against it. This is incredible, but it is of great concern considering what other decisions the Supreme Court is willing to make, favoring Trump. 

Even with the end of the shutdown on paper, it is totally unclear when full SNAP payments will be made. 

Flights Delayed and Cancelled

Breitbart wrote on November 7: 

“More than 1,000 flights were canceled and thousands more delayed Friday as part of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reduction of air travel capacity brought on by the ongoing government shutdown. 

“Earlier this week, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford initiated the reduction to deal with staff shortages and overworked flight controllers brought on by a month of  unpaid workdays, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned the air travel system will degenerate into ‘mass chaos’ if the shutdown doesn’t end by November 11. 

“As a result, Bedford announced the agency would reduce flights by 10 percent at 40 ‘high-volume markets’ throughout the country to ensure safety… As of noon Eastern time on Friday, there had been roughly 1200 flights canceled and nearly 16,000 delays…” 

The Guardian reported on November 7: 

“If the federal government shutdown doesn’t end ‘relatively soon’, the Department of Transportation may decide to increase the number of cancelled flights at designated airports to 15 or 20%, transportation secretary Sean Duffy told Fox News today, citing the likelihood of air traffic controllers not reporting to work.” 

While Congress plays political games, many Americans suffer. Politics is just such a dirty business. Even with the end of the shutdown on paper, it is clear that the air traffic disaster will continue for a while.   

Everything More Expensive! 

The conservative New York Post ran the following headline on November 6: 

“Trump touts affordability while inflation rages across America on everything from food to furniture to cars.” 

The article continued: 

“With a social media post that said ‘STOP LYIN’ about there being an affordability crisis, President Trump claims he’s whipped inflation. But consumers are still feeling the squeeze. Target’s prices are up 5.5% nationwide this year and Walmart’s are up 5.3%, according to an analysis by DataWeave, which looked at roughly 16,000 items across each retailer’s website. Amazon’s price hikes have averaged more than 12%, according to a report. 

“After seven months under Trump’s tariffs, Americans are paying more for nearly everything — from a cup of joe and plush living room sofas to children’s toys… Bananas are up 8.6%, mostly because of tariffs, as almost none are produced domestically… Beef is up across the board — more than 19% for steak and 14% for ground beef… 

“Voters listed the economy as a major issue in this week’s elections…  Chris Sohan, 61, who lives in Queens and shops once a week for himself, his wife and son, doesn’t see any relief. ‘Everything is expensive,’ he said. ‘Maybe sometimes $50, sometimes $100,’ he said he is now paying extra… Sohan voted for Trump twice, but has been disappointed… 

“For months, businesses have been eating the bulk of Trump’s tariffs, which have hit key trade partners like China and Vietnam and goods like furniture, aluminum, vehicles and auto parts. Now, companies have started to pass along those costs — and Goldman Sachs economists have warned that consumers will end up bearing the brunt of the bills by the end of this year. 

“Across Amazon, Target and Walmart, apparel prices rose 11.5% on average between January and the end of September… The big chains’ prices for home goods, pet goods and consumables, health and beauty items, and hardlines — like electronics, furniture and appliances — rose 10.8%, 6.1%, 7% and 8.3%, respectively… 

“As an example of how tariffs are hitting prices: In October, Trump unveiled steep new tariffs on pharmaceutical drugs, kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, heavy trucks — and a 30% rate on furniture. Later that month, IKEA hiked the price of a three-piece oak bedroom set to $1,049, up from $949 in August, according to the Wall Street Journal. It also raised the price of its Uppland sofa to $899, up from $849. 

“Federal data show prices for living room, kitchen and dining room furniture — which is mostly imported from other nations — jumped 9.5% in September compared to the previous year. Furniture and bedding rose 4.7% over the same period, while furnishings and supplies increased 2.8%.

Most low-cost furniture sold in the US — like a cheap chair — comes from overseas, particularly China. 

“In August, Sony blamed Trump’s tariffs as it hiked the price of its PlayStation 5 by $50 to $550. It claimed the tariffs are costing the company $685 million annually. At Walmart, a T.rex toy jumped up to $55 in May from $39.92 the previous month… The retailer’s Baby Born doll rose to $49.97 in May, up from $34.94 in March, while an Etch-a-Sketch increased to $24.99, up from $14.97, during the same period… 

“In October, a Mango jacket retailed for $649.899 for US customers — compared to just 299.99 euros, or about $347, in Spain…  River Island sold a coat for $247 in the US in October, but offered the same coat to UK customers for 110 pounds, or about $145. A Zara skirt retailed for $69.90 in the US, but just 35.95 euros, or $42, in Spain. 

“Even the price of coffee is up a whopping 41% in September from the same time last year, according to the CPI…” 

Lamb has become so expensive that some restaurants don’t offer it anymore, while others have raised the prices by double or triple digits. 

Is Trump Repeating Biden’s Mistakes? 

Newsmax wrote the following on November 7: 

“A New York Post editorial cautioned that President Donald Trump risks repeating former President Joe Biden’s mistakes by brushing off Americans’ frustrations over high living costs. Trump’s recent remarks mirror Biden’s past dismissals of economic worries, the editorial board wrote, even as households continue to feel pressure from inflation and rising prices. 

“The board recalled Biden’s 2024 comments to CNN, when he called reports of economic anxiety ‘fake news’ and instead touted strong gross domestic product growth and record stock market gains. It noted that Trump has used similar talking points in recent interviews, highlighting job creation and new market highs as proof of success… The board argued that such claims ignore everyday realities faced by many Americans. It agreed that Biden’s ‘profligate spending’ drove much of the inflation that continues to strain consumers, but said Trump’s own record has yet to bring meaningful relief. 

“While inflation has slowed to 2%-3%, prices remain high and are unlikely to return to earlier levels, the board wrote. The board… warned against his broad use of tariffs… [pointing out] that Trump’s across-the-board approach ‘increased the cost of almost everything.’… By denying these realities, the board wrote, Trump risks alienating voters much as Biden did…” 

The Wall Street Journal added on November 8: 

“Americans are deeply frustrated with their government’s inability to solve problems…” 

Denying that just about everything got more expensive is fake news. Trump is playing a dangerous game—also in light of his unconscionable immigration policy. We believe that God has placed him in power to fulfill important biblically-prophesied responsibilities, such as helping to build the Third Temple, but God can and will easily remove him from office if he proves unworthy, as He did in the case of King Saul. 

Please note our StandingWatch program, “Trump in the Light of Biblical Prophecy,”  our sermonette “Will Trump Build the Third Temple?—Comments on News and Prophecy, October 26,2025,” and our recent Editorial, “When Our Critics Become Silent…” in Update #1180 (dated October 31, 2025).

$2,000 Payment for Each American??? 

The New York Post wrote on November 9: 

“President Donald Trump promised a $2,000 payment for every American as a tariff ‘dividend,’ in a post Sunday morning. The post comes after the Supreme Court questioned the legality of his use of emergency powers to impose sweeping new tariffs on nearly every country on Earth. ‘A dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone,’ read Trump’s post on Truth Social. Trump added that the tariffs have brought in ‘trillions of dollars’… ‘People that are against Tariffs are FOOLS!,’ he wrote. He also claimed there was ‘No Inflation’ from the duties. 

“The US collected about $151 billion from import duties between April and October, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he expected the US to collect $500 billion or more in tariff revenue per year.” 

As the previous articles show, Trump’s claim that there was no inflation from the tariffs is clearly false. 

His promise that Americans will receive “dividends” from the tariffs has been made repeatedly in the past by the Trump administration, but so far, they have not been fulfilled at all. We will see what will happen. Is it just pure politics? The Daily Mail interpreted Trump’s comments on November 9  in this way: “Trump has vowed to give a $2,000 check to every American, thanks to the tariff revenue his administration has collected.” 

Fox 11 Los Angeles News wrote: 

“A factual overview of stimulus and relief payments in the U.S. indicates that no new federal stimulus checks have been authorized by Congress or confirmed by the IRS for November 2025. While President Donald Trump has proposed a $2,000 tariff dividend using tariff revenue, this remains a proposal that has not been approved.” 

Of course, Trump made a promise, not just a “proposal.” 

However, Bessent’s recent comments that the $2,000 dividend “could come in lots of forms and lots of ways,” such as “paying for the tax decreases” on tips and overtime, are not very reassuring. Similar promises were made in regard to Social Security payments, claiming that they would no longer be taxed. This has proven to be completely false for most recipients. 

But IF America received that much money in tariff revenue, as claimed, it is, as the famous song puts it, a “dirty rotten shame” that SNAP recipients can’t be paid in full. 

New U.S. Restrictions for Visas 

TNR wrote on November 7: 

“The Trump administration has ordered visa officers to deny immigrants who are obese or have certain health issues… 

“A Thursday directive from the State Department, sent to embassies and consulates around the world, indicates that people applying for visas to the United States may be rejected if they have certain medical conditions, on the grounds that they could take up domestic health care resources. 

“‘You must consider an applicant’s health,’ the cable read. ‘Certain medical conditions—including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, cancers, diabetes, metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, and mental health conditions—can require hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of care.’ 

“The announcement then goes on to mention obesity, stating that it can be connected to asthma, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure…. Denying fat people from the U.S. because they might end up having health issues is incredibly broad, cruel, and unusual.” 

UK No Longer Willing to Share Some Intelligence with USA 

MSNBC wrote on November 12: 

“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the latest in a series of announcements: Deadly U.S. military strikes killed six people on Sunday as part of the latest operation against civilian boats in international waters. According to the Pentagon’s official tally, this was the 19th such strike since early September, with a collective death toll of 76 people… while Donald Trump and his team have insisted that the boat crews are made up of ‘narco-terrorists,’ an Associated Press analysis found that these claims weren’t altogether true. 

“It’s against this backdrop that the controversy took on a new dimension this week related to international intelligence sharing. CNN reported that the United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with U.S. officials about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean ‘because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal.’… 

“If the reporting is accurate, it’s a dramatic development in its own right: It suggests one of the United States’ closest and most important allies doesn’t want to bear responsibility for deadly, extrajudicial military operations in international waters.” 

Many legal experts have concluded that the strikes are in fact illegal. 

Trump Meets Orban 

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 7: 

“President Donald Trump welcomed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to the White House on Friday for their first bilateral meeting since Trump returned to power in January…” 

The Hill wrote on November 5: 

“Much of the visit centered around Orbán’s request that Trump provide Hungary with an exemption to continue importing Russian oil not subject to U.S. sanctions… Trump also appeared to defend Orbán from his European critics and those imposing costs on Budapest’s democratic rollbacks. ‘He’s a great leader and he’s respected all over. Not necessarily liked by some of the leaders, but those leaders are proven to be wrong,’ the president said. If you look at Europe, they’ve made tremendous mistakes on immigration. It’s really hurting them very badly. He has not made a mistake on immigration…’ 

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 7: 

“Orban said Friday his country received an exemption from US sanctions on imports of Russian oil… ‘We asked the president to lift the sanctions,” Orban said, adding that Hungary is ‘in a significantly different situation than other European countries.’ According to a White House official…, Hungary was granted a one-year exemption…. 

“Hungary relied on Russia for 74% of its gas and 86% of its oil in 2024.” 

Hungary and Slovakia are the two European countries still importing Russian oil while the rest of the European Union has stopped purchases. 

USA Will Boycott G20 Meeting in South Africa 

Newsmax wrote on November 7: 

“President Donald Trump said Friday that no U.S. government officials would be attending the Group of 20 summit this year in South Africa, citing the country’s treatment of white farmers… ‘It is a total disgrace that the G20 will be held in South Africa,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social. He cited ‘abuses’ of Afrikaners, including violence and death as well as confiscation of their land and farms. 

“The Trump administration has long accused the South African government of allowing minority white Afrikaner farmers to be persecuted and attacked. As it restricted the number of refugees admitted annually to the U.S. to 7,500, the administration indicated that most will be white South Africans who it claimed faced discrimination and violence at home. 

“But the government of South Africa has said it is surprised by the accusations of discrimination, because white people in the country generally have a much higher standard of living than its Black residents, more than three decades after the end of the apartheid system of white minority rule. The country’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has said he’s told Trump that information about the alleged discrimination and persecution of Afrikaners is ‘completely false.’ 

“Nonetheless, the administration has kept up its criticisms of the South African government. Earlier this week during an economic speech in Miami, Trump said South Africa should be thrown out of the Group of 20…” 

South Africa is a descendant of the ancient House of Israel, and to be more precise, of Joseph’s son Ephraim. The USA is also a descendant of the ancient House of Israel, and to be more precise, of Joseph’s son Manasseh. The Bible prophesies that in the end time, Ephraim and Manasseh will be at odds with each other (Isaiah 9:21) 

BBC’s Woke Culture 

Daily Mail wrote on November 6: 

“Martine Croxall broke the BBC’s rules when she pulled a face because her script said ‘pregnant people’, the broadcaster has said. The newsreader won a legion of new fans and the backing of JK Rowling [author of the Harry Potter books] when she rejected the gender-neutral language live on air. But now the Executive Complaints Unit has ruled that her facial expression suggested a ‘controversial view about trans people’.  

“The ECU upheld complaints from 20 viewers saying Ms Croxall had fallen ‘short of the BBC’s expectations of its presenters and journalists in relation to impartiality’.   

“Ms Croxall was introducing new research on the number of heat-related deaths expected amid Britain’s current heatwave. But as the autocue prompted her to warn ‘pregnant people’ to take care in the heat, she first read the term out before overriding it, with a smirk and eyebrow raise.  

She said: ‘Malcolm Mistry, who was involved in the research, said the aged, pregnant people – women! – and those with pre-existing health conditions need to take precautions.’… 

“… the ECU said: ‘… the ECU considered the facial expression which accompanied the change of “people” to “women” laid it open to the interpretation that it indicated a particular viewpoint in the controversies currently surrounding trans identity, and the congratulatory messages Ms Croxall later received on social media, together with the critical views expressed in the complaints to the BBC and elsewhere, tended to confirm that the impression of her having expressed a personal view was widely shared across the spectrum of opinion on the issue.’” 

This is so hilarious as in the USA, for example, every newscaster seems to put his or her personal spin on the “news” which is being reported. 

BBC’s Ties to Hamas 

Israel 365 News wrote on November 6: 

“A leaked report has exposed shocking evidence of the BBC’s anti-Israel bias—revealing that Hamas propaganda was broadcast to millions while executives covered it up. From platforming extremists to spreading proven falsehoods about Gaza, the BBC’s credibility is collapsing.” 

The Sun added on November 7: 

“A devastating leak revealed that BBC management has been sitting on evidence of BBC News’ horrific pro-Hamas bias in reporting on the Middle East.” 

BBC’s Fakery 

The Sun wrote on November 7: 

“The episode of Panorama broadcast as Americans prepared to go to the polls last November deliberately spliced together different sections of Mr Trump’s speech on January 6, 2021, when rioters mobbed the US Capitol. The fakery led viewers to see Mr Trump urge his supporters to go to the Capitol and ‘fight like hell’ instead of his actual call to protest peacefully. 

“That goes beyond an editorial take — it crosses into outright fakery and deception. And what’s worse is that the bosses knew about it. Before the row blew up this week with the leak of Prescott’s memo, the contents of it were shared internally in his role advising the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee.” 

The Sun wrote on November 7: 

“THE White House last night accused the BBC of ‘outright lies’ over its ‘deceptive editing’ of a Donald Trump speech… now the crisis risks a full-on diplomatic incident… White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson blasted: ‘Trust in the media is at an all-time low because of deceptive editing, misleading reporting, and outright lies. This is yet another example, of many, highlighting why countless Americans turn to alternative media sources to get their news.’… 

“… in a leaked memo from Michael Prescott, who was a former advisor to the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee… [he also] accused the Corporation of ‘effective censorship’ of its reporting on transgender issues, and said BBC Arabic was downplaying the suffering of Israelis in the war with Hamas.” 

BBC, once considered to be a reliable news source, has long lost that reputation. 

The Sun wrote on November 9: 

“SCANDAL-hit BBC Director Tim Davie has resigned after the broadcaster was accused of doctoring a speech by President Donald Trump. The CEO of BBC News Deborah Turness has also resigned following massive criticism against the broadcaster for deceiving viewers by how it spliced together footage of the US president.” 

Turkey Issues Arrest Warrants for Israel’s Leadership 

Turkiyetoday wrote on November 7: 

“Türkiye’s Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued arrest warrants Friday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 36 other suspects on charges of genocide related to Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The warrants target multiple high-ranking Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Border and Security Minister Eyal Zamir, and Israeli Naval Forces Commander David Saar Salama… 

“The investigation centers on what Turkish authorities describe as systematic violence against civilians in Gaza. The prosecutor’s office cited specific incidents dating back to October 2023, including attacks on the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital on Oct. 17, 2023, and damage to the Ebli Baptist Hospital on Oct. 21, 2023, which resulted in numerous civilian casualties. Turkish prosecutors also referenced the killing of aid workers from the World Central Kitchen on April 1, 2024, when several employees were struck during humanitarian operations. 

“Türkiye has been a vocal critic of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which began after Hamas’s attack on southern Israel in October 2023. The Turkish government has suspended diplomatic and trade relations with Israel over the conflict.” 

Turkey is being run by an autocrat, a dictator and a tyrant who supports the terror organization Hamas and who is accused of systemically persecuting, imprisoning, torturing and even assassinating his opponents. 

Deutsche Welle added on November 9: 

“Defense brings Turkey and Germany closer… Turkey is increasingly important for security in Europe. Germany is counting on cooperation with Turkey’s government to bolster defense…. ‘We would be delighted if our two defense industries could cooperate with each other,’ Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said during a visit to Ankara weeks earlier. ‘You could almost ask: Who else would we work with on this?’” 

And so, according to the Bible, Turkey will ultimately help Europe, under German leadership, to occupy the state of Israel. 

The Vatican’s “Two-State Solution” 

Israel 365 News wrote on November 7: 

“Pope Leo XIV welcomed Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to the Vatican on Thursday, continuing a decade-long pattern of papal support for dividing the Land of Israel. The meeting… centered on two key demands: humanitarian aid for Gaza and the establishment of a Palestinian state through a so-called two-state solution. 

“The ‘Two-State Solution’ is an agenda that would create an unprecedented militarized Palestinian enclave within Israel’s borders ethnically cleansed of Jews with its exclusively Muslim capital in Jerusalem… 

“The timing of this meeting is particularly significant. Abbas, now in his 19th year of what was supposed to be a four-year term, has repeatedly canceled elections and maintained power through increasingly authoritarian means. Yet the Vatican treated him as a legitimate head of state, dignifying his visit with a full hour in the pope’s private library at the Apostolic Palace… 

“The Vatican’s statement emphasized the ‘urgent need’ for a two-state solution, language that has become standard in these meetings. This marks the tenth anniversary of the Holy See’s formal recognition of ‘the State of Palestine’ through a comprehensive agreement signed in June 2015. That document represented the first time the Vatican used such terminology in a binding legal agreement, effectively treating Judea and Samaria—the Biblical heartland of the Jewish people—as occupied Palestinian territory. 

“Pope Leo has followed the path established by his predecessor, Francis, who met with Abbas seven times at the Vatican and once in Bethlehem. [In 2015] Francis presented Abbas with a medallion depicting ‘the angel of peace destroying the bad spirit of war,’ words that rang hollow given Abbas’s continued incitement against Israel and payments to families of terrorists. 

“The pattern extends beyond symbolism… The Vatican even displayed a nativity scene showing the baby Jesus lying on a keffiyeh, the symbol adopted by Palestinian nationalist movements. The scene was removed only after international backlash exposed its inflammatory nature. 

“… Pope Leo told Israeli President Isaac Herzog in September that a two-state solution represented ‘the only way out of the war.’ This ignores the fundamental reality: Israel’s enemies do not seek a state alongside Israel but a state instead of Israel… The Vatican’s decade of recognizing a Palestinian state has produced no peace, no reconciliation, and no acknowledgment of Jewish rights. It has only emboldened those who seek Israel’s destruction while providing diplomatic cover for a dictator who refuses to hold elections or make genuine peace. This is not the path to peace. It is the path to continued conflict, dressed in the language of compassion while ignoring justice.” 

The two-state “solution” is totally unrealistic and illusory. Neither the Jews nor the Palestinians want it. 

Pope Leo: ICE Separates Families 

Irish Star wrote on November 9: 

“U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who describes himself as a ‘baby Catholic,’ seems to be experiencing a rift with the Catholic Church due to the Trump administration’s treatment of migrants…  Pope Leo XIV publicly called on President Donald Trump and Vance to ‘allow pastoral workers to assist’ detained migrants… ‘Many times they have been separated from their families, and no one knows what happens,’ he said… 

“Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin publicly rejected the pope’s statements, posting a response on X Wednesday morning… ICE ‘does not separate families,’ McLaughlin said… 

“McLaughlin’s claim that ICE ‘does not separate families’ comes under scrutiny. The Trump administration has separated thousands of families, beginning in Trump’s first term during his 2018 ‘zero tolerance’ crackdown. In Trump’s second term, since January 2025, ICE officers have referred more than 400 children to federal shelters as arrests ramped up—often telling parents to either self-deport with their kids or be separated, according to The Washington Post. 

“The New York Times in August documented at least nine ‘interior separation’ cases in which ICE detained parents who refused deportation flights and sent their children to federal custody or foster care.”

China Is Using Robots to Practice Attacking Taiwan 

Report 24 wrote on November 8: 

“China is already testing the robots that will fight the next war. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) sent four-legged ‘wolf robots’ storming the beaches of the Taiwan Strait – flanked by swarms of drones that pulverize enemy positions in seconds. The artificial soldier is no longer science fiction, but part of Beijing’s new military doctrine.

“What Chinese state television recently showed was nothing less than a glimpse into the future of warfare. A unit of the People’s Liberation Army conducted an amphibious landing exercise in which autonomous ground robots carried out the attack. These 70-kilogram machines… carry weapons, ammunition, or medical supplies and break down obstacles while being supported by swarms of so-called FPV drones… the entire attack chain – from target detection to destruction – took less than ten seconds. In one maneuver, a single soldier controlled nine robots and six drones simultaneously – a taste of the war of the future. 

“These ‘wolves of steel’ are intended to replace the human front, that first wave of attack that traditionally exacts the highest toll in lives. The difference: The robot knows no fear, no morality, no compassion. What Beijing is testing here is more than just a tactical tool—it’s an attempt to completely automate and robotize warfare… Now, combat robots and drones are meant to replace ‘human material.’ The enemy’s soldiers will then become cannon fodder. 

“But the test also revealed the limitations of this new type of weapon. The footage showed that while the robots moved nimbly across the sand, they were vulnerable and poorly camouflaged. Some were left lying in wait by fire, others were taken out by light weapons… Their range, armor, and communication security are considered inadequate. So, for now, the wolf is more of a show than a threat—but that was also the case with the first drones.” 

Such automated and autonomous robots, and similar ones, will certainly exist in large numbers in the future. The Bible contains a clear reference to horse-like robots in the Book of Revelation. Trump recently stated that President Xi Jinping assured him that China would not attack Taiwan as long as Trump was president. 

Side Effects of COVID-19 Vaccinations 

Report 24 wrote on November 4: 

“The side effects of COVID-19 vaccinations continue to receive little attention from those who were responsible for or supported the measures that infringed upon fundamental rights during the so-called pandemic. Freedom Party MEP Gerald Hauser is bringing the issue to the forefront: ‘I have repeatedly pointed out the massive side effects of the vaccinations in my books, lectures, and speeches in parliament. For years, this was rejected, covered up, and denied. But that’s no longer acceptable,’ he stated in a recent press release. Hauser considers the link between immune damage, cancer, and mRNA vaccinations to be sufficiently proven. 

“He refers to a remarkable research paper from South Korea: ‘A recent study confirms the already known data and casts a frightening light on COVID-19 vaccinations,’ warns Hauser. ‘More and more doctors in Europe are reporting a significant increase in cancer cases, with younger people increasingly affected and the cancers becoming ever more aggressive… Within just one year, a statistically significant increase in cancer cases was observed among those vaccinated – especially thyroid cancer (+35 percent), stomach cancer (+33.5 percent), colon cancer (+28 percent), lung cancer (+53 percent), breast cancer (+20 percent), and prostate cancer (+69 percent)…”

 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.

We will conclude this three-part series on what it means to be a Christian pilgrim, having looked at five attributes so far, that are required. Let us continue with additional necessary attributes. 

(6)                A PILGRIM views correction in a positive way.

This is something that is alien to the non-Christian mind.  Man, in general, wants people to flatter them, to cosy up to them and to be sycophants.   Immediately when any correction appears on the horizon, however gentle, however lovingly given, and however right that correction may be, the hackles usually go up, a defensive position is taken and offence can so often be the result.   That’s the way of the world.   As with almost everything, our position should be diametrically opposed to such behaviour.

This matter is addressed in Hebrews 12:5-11:

“And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens,  And scourges every son whom He receives.’ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

God’s people have their faults and problem areas which need to be corrected. God will correct sin in His own children; we are His begotten Family, and should not expect to escape such rebukes when necessary.   From time to time, we may have corrective sermons if it’s thought necessary – but those are for our own good.  Our heavenly Father treats us as a loving father will; no wise and good father will wink at faults in his own children, and his relationship and affections oblige him to take notice of the faults of his own children.   We must have done that within our own family; if not, we will have let them down by not correctly and lovingly disciplining them for their own good and well-being as appropriate, at the right time and in the right way.   

This principle is confirmed in Revelation 3:19, where Christ says to the Laodicea Church: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.”

Because this world is upside down in almost everything, it can find it hard, if not impossible, to understand that having love for your children and other people may, at times, involve correction.   It is warped thinking that should not be the case, but then, this society has warped thinking anyway.   Because God loves His people, He rebukes and chastens them as is necessary.   This is not something that we may always appreciate, at least not at the time, but it is for our ultimate good.  

As an aside, in general, many countries have banned the smacking of children, confusing abuse with the gentle correction that is sometimes needed with an unruly or naughty child.   “Spare the rod and spoil the child” (compare Proverbs 13:24: “He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly”) is a biblical admonition of right and wrong behavior that seems to be completely ignored by so many today.   No decent person should want to see any sort of abuse of children; that is not the way it should be, but to allow them to run riot, as they so often do, is the other extreme and is causing so many problems today as children, in many cases, rule over adults.  However, that was prophesied to happen (compare Isaiah 3:12: “children are their oppressors”) and so we shouldn’t be surprised!    Balance, as always, is necessary, but we do see that God does rebuke and chasten us, His children, and that is a splendid example of God’s Way.

A pilgrim will view correction in a positive way, realising that it is an assistance to him or her in making it into the Kingdom of God.

(7)              A PILGRIM knows that the trip has to be completed – successfully!

We, as pilgrims, are on a journey, and that journey has to be completed.   Quitting or falling away is not possible for a true pilgrim of God.   We can all feel like quitting at times; who hasn’t felt so discouraged that that thought has crossed his or her mind?  But if and when that happens, we should immediately eliminate it from our thinking.   We should never wonder if we will make it.  People can quit because they lack vision, as was discussed previously. We have to keep in focus what is in store for us in the Kingdom of God.   We have the greatest calling in the world and quitting must never enter our thinking at any time, irrespective of the circumstances in which we find ourselves.

We are to make our calling and election sure – and that is not done by falling away or quitting.   But we know that there will be those who will quit because Scripture reveals this.   Let us review 2 Timothy 4:1-5:

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. ^But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

There are those today in the various Churches of God or the independents who may have embraced “new-found knowledge” and concepts that have historically not been part of our long-time understanding.   Usually, when sound doctrine goes, so do those who are involved in believing and teaching wrong ideas. In verse 4, it does say that fables will be heard and accepted.  In a way, they have quit: they have quit the Truth.   And it is all very sad.   But Paul goes on to say that he had kept the faith, fought the fight and finished the race.

Continuing in verse 6:

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. ^I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ^Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

By persevering and not quitting, there was laid up for him the crown of righteousness.   Surely, something worth hanging in there for. 

In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul compares our way of life to a race: 

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified (that is, rejected after having been tested and found wanting; compare Daniel 5:27).”

Paul is saying that all who run may win the imperishable crown.  There is room for ALL to get the prize. You cannot fail if you run well.  The fact is though, that world-class runners will slip drastically if they only train once or twice a week.   The body and mind are no longer in top shape and the runner suffers accordingly.   Most experts agree that a marathon runner should put in at least 3 hours of training a day to stay in top form.   It’s the daily workouts that keep an athlete in prime condition.   The same is true for a Christian’s spiritual condition.   Daily prayer and Bible study are a key to being in the finest spiritual condition (This is not to say, of course, that we must do so three hours each day).   We’ve heard this mentioned so many times before, but do we really understand the importance of this habit?   It could mean the difference between finishing the course or dropping out along the way.  

In Philippians 1:3-6, we see that God, having begun working with us, will perform that work.

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…”

Only we, individually, can stop the Work that God has begun in us, as indeed some, unfortunately, have done, but if we are receptive to God and His calling and stay on that course, we will complete the journey!   We weren’t called to fail; we were called to make it, with God’s help, into the Kingdom of God.

In addition, we have and just did have our pilgrimages to the annual Feast of Tabernacles as shown in Leviticus 23.   In the first two verses, we read:

“And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: “The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.”’”

The chapter outlines the Holy Days of God.   Of course, the main one is where everyone who is able to travel to a site describes the observance of the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day for 8 days.   Others, where possible geographically, keep the Days of Unleavened Bread for 7 days. And all the Holy Days that we keep ought to remind us that we are Christian pilgrims. 

CONCLUSION

In these three Q&A’s, we have looked at 7 qualities that are required of a Christian pilgrim:

• We clearly see the vision.
• We understand that our roots must not be entrenched in this world.
• We know that the physical joys of this life are only a type of something better.
• We keep physical life and health in proper perspective.
• We understand what physical life and death are all about.
• We view correction in a positive way.
• We know that the trip has to be completed – successfully.

Let us all make sure that we practice these qualities so that we can all make it into the Kingdom of God and be part of the millennial rule of Jesus Christ that must surely now be just over the horizon!

As a final thought, some time ago we published a Q&A entitled “Why Are True Christians Called Ambassadors for Christ?” This complements this 3-part Q&A about being a Christian Pilgrim and states that “the political world is openly antagonistic to Christian principles and is riddled with humanist thinking. There are no Scriptures to indicate that the Christian should attempt to influence things for good through political processes and activities.” 

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“What Does the Bible Say About Germany’s Future?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

Will Germany’s coalition under Chancellor Merz collapse before the end of this year? And what would happen then? Who would lead Germany? What about the right-wing opposition party, the AfD? Can Germany even escape its current political and economic misery and its ongoing downfall? What does biblical prophecy tell us?

“Was sagt uns die Bibel über Deutschlands prophezeite Zukunft?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This program covers the same topics as described above.

A new Member Letter (November 2025) has been posted and mailed to our subscribers. Elder Paul Niehoff (Australia) writes contrasting today’s governments with the perfect future government to be brought by the Kingdom of God.

“Die Macht Gottes” is the new German sermon by Michael Link for this Sabbath. Title in English: “The Power of God.”

“Seid klug wie die Schlangen, und ohne Falsch wie die Tauben,” last Sabbath’s first split German sermon by Thilo Hanstein, is now posted. Title in English: “Be as Shrewd as Snakes, and as Innocent as Doves.”

“Wenn der Löwe brüllt-standhaft im Glauben bleiben,” last Sabbath’s second split German sermon by Christoph Sperzel, is now posted. Title in English: “When the Lion Roars – Remain Steadfast in Faith.”

“That’s Encouraging!,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Frank Bruno, is now posted. Here is the summary:

All of us benefit from encouraging words from time to time. We also hope that such words are sincere. In this sermonette we will explore several scriptures that offer the most genuine encouragement we can receive, which can only come from our Creator.

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

Since God does not let anything happen against His will, how can we make sense of bad things happening to good people, and good things happening to bad people? Is God fair? How are we to understand the way that God works in our lives? We will explore the justice of God from the words of the Bible to answer these important questions, guiding the path of our Christian journey.