On April 18, 2026, Michael Link will present the sermonette, titled, “Keep Going”, and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “Faith in God’s Protection.”

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.

The story of the 5 loaves and 2 fish that we read about in Matthew 14:13-21 is a very encouraging and uplifting miracle, showing the compassion that Jesus had for others.   It further shows His amazing capacity to produce a miraculous event, when necessary.   The number of people who ate and were filled was about 5,000 men, besides women and children, perhaps a total approaching 15,000 to 20,000 people. And after they had all eaten, there were still twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. 

It is an example of how our great God can provide in such abundance, even from insignificant beginnings.   The 5 loaves and 2 fish would normally only feed a very few people, but not in this case, as thousands were fully catered for.

Great things being achieved from very little can also be seen that out of all the people on earth today, around 8 billion, God has called us into His Church.   It is amazing to think that we, of all people, should be given knowledge that the world is oblivious to. 

A further example of small beginnings can be seen in Deuteronomy 7:6-7: “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples.”

These small beginnings can be accomplished by very ordinary people as we read in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29: “…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 can see from just these few sections of Scripture that God’s choices are not what the world would make.   In Luke 12:32, we see encouragement about God’s people down through the ages: “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

The Church was a little flock then and is still a little flock today, but what a job the current little flock has been given to do.   We are to get the message out about the coming Kingdom of God on earth and to act as watchmen in so doing.   On our website, we read about the Work that the Church of God has to do today:

“We believe that it is the Church’s commission to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God to all nations as a witness, to warn all nations, and especially the lost tribes of the house of Israel (mainly in the United States, Great Britain, certain Commonwealth nations and nations in Northwestern Europe) of impending danger, and to feed the flock.”

This takes a lot of time and effort but as the people of God, we call to mind Matthew 6:21: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” and it confers a responsibility on all members to back up and support this Work.

Another example of “small things” can be found in this example as commented upon by Wikipedia:

“The lesson of the widow’s mite or the widow’s offering is presented in two of the Synoptic Gospels (Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4) when Jesus is teaching in the Temple in Jerusalem. The Gospel of Mark specifies that two mites (Greek lepta) are together worth a quadrans, the smallest Roman coin. A lepton was the smallest and least valuable coin in circulation in Judea, worth about six minutes of an average daily wage.”

This example has been used many times in messages and articles down through the years, showing such a willing and giving attitude from someone who had very little.   But from that very little, as was highlighted in the miracle of the 5 loaves and 2 fish, God can accomplish much. It is clear that no offering is too small in God’s eyes.

We have just kept the annual spring Holy Days where God instructs us to give as he or she is able, and our offerings will help us to do the Work that we have been called to do.   We should always do this cheerfully as God instructs us in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, so that the good news of the soon coming Kingdom of God will continue to be preached by us as is required by God.

Let us have the same attitude that Jesus had when His parents were looking for Him as we read in Luke 2:49: “And He said to them, ‘Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?’”

Let us, likewise, be about our Father’s business!

By Norbert Link 

We are discussing the increasingly hostile rift between the Trump administration and the Vatican and Pope Leo XIV. Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Pope Leo’s Condemnation of Trump’s Unholy Iran War.” We report on a Bishop’s confession that the Catholic Church changed the godly Sabbath.

We speak on the dangerous consequences of the Iran War for the USA and the entire world; the “ceasefire deal” between the USA and Iran which was destined to fail from the outset; the undeniable fact that Trump has lost the Iran War; demands to remove Trump from office; the widening alienation between the USA and Europe; and Trump’s ongoing threat to leave NATO.

We point out Europe’s and Germany’s preparations for war; report on Artemis II’s spectacular journey to the moon and back; and Trump’s [hopefully unsuccessful] fight against birthright citizenship.

God Rejects Prayers of Bloody Men!

Reuters and the Algemeiner wrote on March 29:

“Pope Leo said on Sunday that God rejects the prayers of leaders who start wars and have ‘hands full of blood,’ in unusually forceful remarks…the pontiff… said Jesus cannot be used to justify any wars… ‘(Jesus) does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: “Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood”’…

“Some US officials have invoked Christian language to justify the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 that initiated the expanding war. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has started leading Christian prayer services at the Pentagon, prayed at a service on Wednesday for ‘overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.’

“Leo referenced a Bible passage in which Jesus, about to be arrested ahead of his crucifixion, rebuked one of his followers for striking the person arresting him with a sword. ‘(Jesus) did not arm himself, or defend himself, or fight any war,’ Leo said…” 

Hegseth—the “Christian” Crusader? 

The Hill wrote on March 29:

“During his briefing on the Iran war last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested that Americans take a knee and pray to Jesus for the success of U.S. forces in the Middle East. A few days later, he read out a sermon praying that ‘wicked souls’ be ‘delivered to the eternal damnation’ in the fight against Iran. The Defense secretary has increasingly used his bully pulpit to promote his combative, controversial brand of Christianity….

“Hegseth quite literally wears his Christian faith on his sleeve, with a tattoo on his arm of the words ‘Deus Vult,’ or ‘God wills it’ — a motto from the Crusades — as well as a tattoo on his chest depicting a Jerusalem cross. Both are associated with extremists and the Christian right.”

Nothing Wrong With Praying for Those Who Fight in War?

Barrons wrote on March 30:

“The White House on Monday defended praying for US troops engaged in the Iran war after Pope Leo XIV warned that God rejects the prayers ‘of those who wage war.’ ‘I don’t think there is anything wrong with our military leaders or with the president calling on the American people to pray for our servicemembers and those who are serving our country overseas,’ Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters in response to a question about the pontiff’s comments… 

“In response to the pope’s comments, Leavitt — who is Catholic, along with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio — said the United States was founded on Judeo-Christian values. Leaders and troops have prayed ‘during the most turbulent times in our nation’s history, and if you talk to many servicemembers they will tell you they appreciate the prayers,’ she added. ‘In fact, I think it’s a very noble thing to do.’” 

Read our free booklet, “Should YOU Fight in War?” 

Trump Bound For Heaven? 

Newsmax wrote on March 29:

“President Donald Trump shared a private letter on Truth Social on Palm Sunday in which evangelist Franklin Graham assured him about the fate of his soul, writing that it is ‘secure’ and that he is ‘bound for heaven’ if he accepts Jesus Christ. Graham, the son of the late Billy Graham and a longtime evangelical ally of Trump, sent the letter on Oct. 15 after the president jokingly questioned whether he would make it to heaven… ‘The only way to Heaven is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus came to earth, died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and God raised Him to life on the third day. If you accept that by faith and invite Him to come into your heart, you ARE heaven bound, I promise you.’ 

“In the letter, Graham also cited Romans 10:9: ‘If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.’… Graham has been a consistent supporter of Trump for years, signaling as early as 2011…”

Nothing could be further from the Truth.

Trump’s “Holy” War 

The Rutherford Institute wrote on March 31: 

“War has been dressed up in patriotism. Wrapped in Scripture. Called ‘righteous.’ Marketed as ‘peace through strength.’ But this is not a holy war. It is a political war dressed up as holy… the values animating America’s wars and power plays bear no resemblance to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

“Jesus said: Love your enemies. The government says: destroy them. Jesus said: Blessed are the peacemakers. The government says: blessed are the war-makers. Jesus said: Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me. The government cages the poor, criminalizes the homeless, bombs the foreigner, and calls it security.

“This is not a misunderstanding of Christianity. It is a deliberate rewriting of it. Consider the prayer offered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at a Pentagon worship service: ‘…Give … overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy. We ask these things with bold confidence in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ.’ No mercy. Spoken in the name of the Prince of Peace.

“This is not faith. This is blasphemy baptized in nationalism. It is the hijacking of religion to sanctify violence—the turning of the Sermon on the Mount into a war manual. It is also an attempt to recast modern warfare as a holy war—sanctioned by God, justified by faith, and beyond moral reproach. That idea is… un-Christian… 

“When government officials invoke God to justify violence, when military power is cloaked in religious language, when prayer becomes a tool of state policy—we are no longer dealing with freedom of religion…

“What we are witnessing is not Christianity. It is Christian nationalism—a counterfeit religion that wraps political power in religious language and calls it holy. It is idolatry of the nation masquerading as devotion to God… Yet today, far too many churches have traded prophecy for proximity to power. They have exchanged the cross for the flag…

“If Jesus walked into today’s halls of power—into the Pentagon, the White House, the halls of Congress—would He be welcomed? Or would He be surveilled, silenced, labeled a threat? Would He bless drone strikes and military parades?… This is the great moral crisis of our time. Not just that the government wages endless war, but that it dares to do so in the name of God—and too many cheer it on. 

“The early Christians understood something we have forgotten. Their allegiance was not to Rome. It was not to Caesar. It was not to the machinery of empire. Their allegiance was to a higher law. And for that, they were persecuted, imprisoned, executed. They did not seek to control the empire. 

“They refused to conform to it. Today, by contrast, much of the modern church has become indistinguishable from the power it once challenged. But the teachings of Jesus have not changed.”

Sadly, all of this is so true. 

Shameless Blasphemy 

Die Welt wrote on April 4: 

“Munich Cardinal Reinhard Marx has sharply criticized the misuse of religion to justify violence and war. It is a ‘shameless blasphemy’ when US Defense Secretary Pete Hegzeth prays that every bullet in the Iran war hits its mark, the archbishop said in his Easter Sunday sermon. 

“The same applies to the statement by Kirill I, the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow, who described the war of aggression launched by Russia against Ukraine as a ‘holy war.’”

Shameless blasphemy indeed!

Pentagon Threatens Vatican

Focus wrote on April 8:

“A few days after the Pope’s State of the World Address in early January, the Pentagon summoned a Vatican representative. US officials gave him a ‘bitter dressing-down,’ according to several US media outlets. Elbridge Colby, Under Secretary of Defense, reportedly told Cardinal Christophe Pierre: ‘The United States has the military power to do whatever it wants worldwide. The Catholic Church would be wise to side with them.’

“Another US official then reportedly brought up the ‘Avignon Papacy.’ This refers to a period in the 14th century when the French monarchy brought the Catholic Church under its control and later ordered an attack on Pope Boniface VIII, which led to his overthrow and subsequent death.

“The reason for the harsh action by US officials? They were dissatisfied with certain parts of Pope Leo’s speech… The Trump administration interpreted Leo’s statements as a hostile message toward the US… The Vatican was apparently so alarmed after the Pentagon meeting, which included a threat, that Pope Leo canceled a planned visit to the US. Several Vatican officials perceived the Pentagon’s reference to ‘the Avignon Papacy’ as a threat to ‘use military force against the Holy See’…

“But Pope Leo XIV doesn’t seem intimidated. He continues to comment on the global political situation and also on actions connected with the Trump administration… ‘As we all know, there was also this threat today [by Trump] against the entire people of Iran [to annihilate them with nuclear weapons], and that is truly unacceptable,’ said the head of approximately 1.4 billion Catholics…”

Franklin Graham’s Wrong Christianity 

Christian Post wrote on April 3: 

“Franklin Graham cited the Old Testament example of King David earlier this week to push back against Pope Leo XIV’s claim that God rejects the prayers of those who wage war… ‘King David, he prayed that God would train his hands how to fight his enemies. We know that God does take sides in history, certainly as it relates to biblical history. God gave great favor to David, great wisdom to David, every time he went into battle.’ Graham explained there are just wars, singling out World War II as an example…

“Avraham Burg, a native Israeli who briefly served as interim president of Israel in 2000 in his capacity as speaker of the Knesset… suggested Graham was misapplying the story of King David… ‘King David, yes, was a warrior, but he explicitly, in the Bible, was not granted to build the temple for the good Lord because, as the prophet [Nathan] said, “Your hands are full of blood.'”

Burg is right, while Graham is terribly wrong. 

Pope vs. Trump

The Associated Press wrote on April 12:

“President Donald Trump delivered an extraordinary broadside against Pope Leo XIV on Sunday night, saying he didn’t think the U.S.-born global leader of the Catholic Church is ‘doing a very good job’ and that ‘he’s a very liberal person,’ while also suggesting the pontiff should ‘stop catering to the Radical Left.’… 

“Trump’s comments came after Leo suggested over the weekend that a ‘delusion of omnipotence’ is fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran… 

“Later, Trump posted a picture suggesting he had saint-like powers akin to those of Jesus Christ. Wearing a biblical-style robe, Trump is seen laying hands on a bedridden man as light emanates from his fingers, while a soldier, a nurse, a praying woman and a bearded man in a baseball cap all look on admiringly. The sky above is filled with eagles, an American flag and vaporous images. 

“Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement saying he was ‘disheartened’ by Trump’s comments.” 

Trump’s Blasphemy 

The Daily Mail wrote on April 13:

“Conservatives are expressing outrage after Donald Trump posted an image portraying himself as Jesus Christ, forcing fractures among his evangelical base. After rebuking Pope Leo over the weekend following critical remarks that the President should be a ‘peacemaker’ amid the Iran war, Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself as Christ. 

“The image shows Trump draped in white with a red shawl, placing his hands, glowing with a divine light, on a sick patient in a hospital bed as a soldier, a nurse and others look on in adoration. Behind him are some US motifs, like the Statue of Liberty and the American flag. Above him are what appear to be angels. One seems to have horns. 

“The post has since been deleted from the President’s Truth Social account. Trump later claimed that he believed the AI image depicted him as a doctor, telling reporters: ‘It wasn’t a depiction. I did post it and I thought it was me as a doctor. And had to do with Red Cross as a Red Cross worker, which we support and only the fake news could come up with that one. It’s supposed to be me as a doctor making people better and I do make people better.’…”

Not in a million years could this image be mistaken for Trump being a doctor.

The article continued:

“Trump’s ridicule of the Pope got the attention of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who piled on the controversy. ‘I condemn the insult to Your Excellency on behalf of the great nation of Iran, and declare that the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person. I wish you glory by Allah,’ the Iranian official wrote. 

“Ex-Trump ally and Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene went further, saying the post is ‘more than blasphemy’ and that ‘it’s an Antichrist spirit.’ … Trump’s bashing of the Pope and ‘blasphemous’ comparison to Christ come despite his closest advisors’ Catholic and Christian beliefs. ..

“Outkick host Jon Root wrote: ‘This is blasphemous.’ ‘Trump portraying himself as Jesus Christ, descending from the clouds, healing the sick, with people praying to him, is reprehensible. If only there was a qualified leader of the White House Faith Office, and not a heretic, so this wouldn’t happen or at least would be called out,’ he continued.”  

Trump Removes His Blasphemous Image

The Guardian wrote on April 13:

“Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself to Truth Social on Sunday depicting him as a Jesus Christ-like figure, with divine light emanating from his hands as he heals a stricken man in a hospital bed with a demon from hell floating in the background. The president has since deleted the post, but not before facing the wrath of some of his most high-profile and loyal Christian supporters, many of whom have stood by the president through multiple other indiscretions and were unable to contain their righteous fury.

“Riley Gaines, Fox News host and conservative commentator, said she ‘cannot understand why he’d post this’. ‘Is he looking for a response? Does he actually think this? Either way, two things are true. 1) a little humility would serve him well 2) God shall not be mocked,’ she wrote on X. 

“Megan Basham, a writer at the conservative Daily Wire, called the post ‘OUTRAGEOUS blasphemy.’ ‘I don’t know if the President thought he was being funny or if he is under the influence of some substance [or some other influence] or what possible explanation he could have for this,’ she wrote. She demanded Trump ‘take this down immediately and ask for forgiveness from the American people and then from God’. Isabel Brown, a host on the same outlet, said he image was ‘disgusting and unacceptable… This post is, frankly, disgusting and unacceptable…’

“The AI-generated image Trump shared was not the original. The picture first appeared in early February, posted to X by Nick Adams, a conservative commentator with a history of sharing AI-generated, biblically themed Trump content. In Adams’s version, a silhouette of a US soldier stands in the background. In Trump’s version, that soldier has been photoshopped into a demonic figure with horns looming behind the president as he performs his miracle… 

“One user on X… captured the mood: ‘God, we might have made a mistake and accidentally elected the Antichrist. Send help.’”

More Blasphemies

The Independent wrote on April 3: 

“Paula White‑Cain, a televangelist who has served as Trump’s spiritual adviser across both his presidencies, used her Wednesday address to draw parallels between the legal battles and assassination attempts he has faced and the trials endured by Christ…. 

“However, the comparison has been branded ‘insanity’ on social media. Catholic theologian Rich Raho posted on X: ‘Blasphemous. It’s stunning to see a US Bishop standing right there on the stage while Paula White compares Trump to Jesus Christ.’… ‘As a Catholic, I find this woman completely sacrilegious and offensive on every possible level,’ another X user said.” 

It appeared at times that Paula White‑Cain could have been under demonic influence. 

“Pope Leo Decries World ‘Ravaged By Tyrants’”

The Associated Press wrote on April 16:

“Pope Leo blasted leaders who spend billions on wars and said the world was ‘being ravaged by a handful of tyrants,’ in unusually forceful remarks in Cameroon on Thursday…

“Leo… also decried leaders who used religious language to justify wars and urged a ‘decisive change of course’ in a meeting in the biggest city in Cameroon’s anglophone regions, where a simmering conflict going back nearly a decade has left thousands dead. ‘The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild,’ the pontiff said.”

“A Christian Bishop’s Confession: We Changed God’s Sabbath”

Israel 365 News published the following article by Bishop Jerry L. Bowers:

“In 365 AD, the Council of Laodicea issued an edict that should unsettle every serious Bible reader. Responding to pressure from the Roman Emperor Constantine — who wanted to unify pagan sun-worshipers and Christians under one imperial religion — the Church decreed: ‘Christians must not Judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honoring the Lord’s Day. But if any shall be found to be Judaizers, let them be anathema from Christ.’ 

“Any Christian who rested on Saturday — the day God Himself sanctified at creation — was to be cut off from the Church and from Christ. That edict reveals something important: church leaders would never have needed to threaten excommunication over a rest day unless large numbers of Christians were actually keeping it. The decree wasn’t addressed to pagans. It was addressed to Christians who knew the Fourth Commandment and were living by it. What Constantine and the Council of Laodicea did, under the banner of Christianity, was weaponize antisemitism to bury a commandment God called eternal. 

“…The Sabbath didn’t begin at Mount Sinai. It began in the Garden of Eden. After six days of creation, we are told: ‘God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it’ (Genesis 2:2-3). That first full day Adam spent on earth was a Sabbath — spent in the presence of his Creator. God was establishing a rhythm for human life: six days of work, one day of sacred rest and renewed relationship… This is why the Fourth Commandment, unlike any of the other nine, opens with a single striking word: ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy’ (Exodus 20:8). Remember — because it already existed. 

“God wasn’t introducing something new at Sinai. He was calling His people back to something they had abandoned. Christians have offered several reasons for setting aside the Sabbath. They deserve honest examination — and it’s worth saying upfront that Sunday worship is not the problem. Gathering to honor the risen Christ on Sunday reflects genuine faith and devotion. [The typical WRONG Catholic and Protestant human reasoning.] What the historical record shows is something different: not that Sunday was added, but that Saturday rest was actively forbidden — on pain of excommunication. That’s a different argument entirely… 

“The Sabbath predates the Jewish people by thousands of years. It was given to all mankind at creation. The Jewish people deserve enormous credit for preserving and honoring this day across nearly four millennia… but the day itself belongs to the whole human family.

“The letter to the Hebrews addresses it directly: ‘If Joshua had given them rest, then he would not have afterwards spoken of another day. Therefore, there remains a rest for the people of God. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest’ (Hebrews 4:8, 11). The writer is not describing eternal rest in heaven as a substitute for the weekly Sabbath. He is arguing that the Sabbath rest established at creation was never abolished… 

“There is only one day Jesus claimed as His own: ‘The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath’ (Matthew 12:8). He didn’t claim Sunday. He claimed the Sabbath. And He warned clearly against using tradition to override God’s commands: ‘You make the word of God of no effect through your tradition’ (Mark 7:13). 

“[In] Acts… ‘on the first day of the week’ Paul’s disciples gathered to break bread before his departure (Acts 20:7-8). But in the biblical reckoning of time, a day runs from sunset to sunset — placing this gathering on what we would call Saturday night. Paul was holding a farewell meeting before a journey. He was not inaugurating a new weekly worship practice. Throughout the book of Acts, the apostles consistently gathered with both Jews and Gentiles on the Sabbath (Acts 13:42-44; 18:4). There is no record anywhere of them announcing a change in the day of worship.

“What changed the day was not apostolic authority. It was imperial politics. Constantine’s edict in 321 AD mandated Sunday observance across his empire. The Council of Laodicea, under that pressure, issued the threat of excommunication. The Church had no authority to alter a commandment God placed in stone — and the history shows it knew the edict would be resisted, which is precisely why the threat was necessary…” 

His comments are absolutely correct, except for the Sunday resurrection narrative. 

Catholic Position on Timing of Resurrection 

Newsmax wrote on April 4: 

“Pope Leo led the world’s Catholics into Easter at a Saturday night vigil Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and urged people not to feel numbed by the scope of the conflicts raging across the world but to work for peace… ‘Let us not allow ourselves to be paralyzed!’ the first U.S. pope exhorted in a service for the holiest night in the Catholic calendar, when the Bible says Jesus rose from the dead… 

“The pope will conclude his Easter celebrations on Sunday morning with a Mass in St. Peter’s Square…” 

Does this mean that the Catholic Church is admitting now that Jesus rose from the dead on Saturday [the “holiest night”], and not on Sunday? 

Automatic US Draft Registrations 

The Hill wrote on April 8: 

“Eligible men will automatically be registered into the military draft pool by December as part of an effort to streamline the previous process of self-registration and save money… Most men between the ages of 18 and 25 are already required to register with the Selective Service, but automatic registration was mandated in December 2025 as part of the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act… 

“Many have questioned whether a U.S. military draft could take place amid the war in Iran… Trump alone cannot bring back the draft through executive action, as Congress would need to pass legislation to amend the Military Selective Service Act to authorize the president to induct personnel into the military. 

“Still, failure to register in the draft is considered a crime and can prevent people from receiving state-funded financial aid and employment in numerous states, cause ineligibility for many federal employment opportunities and job training under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and can carry a fine of up to $250,000 and jail time for up to five years. In addition, immigrants who don’t register may lose their U.S. citizenship. 

“Under the new rule, men will be registered automatically within 30 days of their 18th birthdays. Women are still ineligible for the draft…” 

Only Four Weeks Left?

The Telegraph wrote on March 26: 

“Having gone to war with Iran declaring the ‘strength and might’ of the US military, Donald Trump is now in a race against time to extricate himself. After almost four weeks of war, the US is facing shortages of critical offensive and defensive weapons, inventory analysis shows… the US is, at most, a month away from running out of some of its most critical weapons… 

“The US can fight on without those munitions. But it means exposing its military to the Iranian and drone attacks that will find their way through the cracks in its protective shield… Last week, Armin Papperger, the head of German defence manufacturer Rheinmetall, warned air defences across the US, Middle East and Europe were ‘almost empty’ as a result of the war. If the conflict lasts another month, there will be ‘nearly no missiles available’, he added… 

“What has been fired in a matter of weeks will take years to replenish. Building up the stock of the 535 Tomahawk missiles used will take at least five years… The White House’s desire to wipe out Iran’s missile capabilities are unfulfilled, while the regime still retains the ability to menace American forces and its Gulf neighbours… 

“Mr Trump is running out of weapons, interceptors and time. Munitions shortages have hemmed in his escalation options, and there is no obvious path to de-escalation. What started as a stunning demonstration of US military might will probably end in the president cutting his losses.” 

Trump’s Contradictions 

The Guardian wrote on April 2: 

“Donald Trump used a prime-time address to the nation on Wednesday evening to declare the month-long war in Iran a success ‘nearing completion’, despite a spiraling conflict that has caused economic turmoil across the globe, fractured transatlantic alliances and eroded the president’s approval ratings… Oil prices rose and Asian stocks traded lower immediately after Trump’s address, which did little to soothe investor concerns over the closure of the strait of Hormuz… 

“Since the start of the war, [Trump] has sent mixed and at times contradictory signals about the US’s objectives… 

“…key US objectives remain unclear. Trump has downplayed concerns about Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, dismissing it as too deeply buried underground to matter. He had previously argued that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon was a major justification for the war…” 

More of the same baseless war propaganda. But far too many believe this nonsense. 

In checking the veracity of Trump’s claims in his speech, Deutsche Welle wrote on April 2: 

“Trump’s claim that the United States is completely independent of the Middle East is… false when it comes to crude oil… Trump said the US has received more than $18 trillion in investments since he took office last year… A White House website dedicated to tracking total US and foreign investment lists of a total of $10.5 trillion— far less than what Trump claimed in his address to the nation.” 

Coming… Shortages of Jet Fuel 

Sky News wrote on April 10: 

“Airports are bracing for mass shortages of jet fuel if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen within the next three weeks, according to a trade body. 

“Airports Council International (ACI), which represents more than 600 airports, warned of a ‘systemic’ shortage in a letter to the European commissioners for energy and transport and tourism… Analysts have also warned that soaring jet fuel prices can be quicker to pass through to airfares than road fuel and household energy costs.” 

“Europe Has ‘Maybe 6 Weeks Of Jet Fuel Left,’ Energy Agency Head Says”

The Associated Press wrote on April 16:

“Europe has ‘maybe six weeks or so (of) jet fuel left,’ the head of the International Energy Agency said Thursday.. warning of possible flight cancellations ‘soon’ if oil supplies remain blocked by the Iran war. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol painted a sobering picture of the global repercussions of what he called ‘the largest energy crisis we have ever faced,’ stemming from the pinch-off of oil, gas and other vital supplies through the Strait of Hormuz… The impact will be ‘higher petrol (gasoline) prices, higher gas prices, high electricity prices,’ Birol told AP…’

Trump Carries Out Putin’s Dream Plan 

“The Polish Prime Minister… said: ‘The threat of NATO’s break-up, easing sanctions on Russia, a massive energy crisis in Europe, halting aid for Ukraine and blocking the loan for Kyiv by Orbán – it all looks like Putin’s dream plan.’… 

“With Europe-US relations at an all time low, Putin and his cronies in the Kremlin must be rubbing their hands in glee.” 

Like Vietnam 

The Mirror wrote on March 28: 

“Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has issued a chilling warning over the ‘likelihood of a nuclear conflict’ in the Middle East, claiming Donald Trump has made a ‘gross’ strategic error…  He blamed the United States for what he called an ‘unprovoked, extremely dangerous war’, accusing Washington and Israel of behaving like a ‘bull in a china shop’ and pushing the region towards catastrophe… ‘Probably the biggest war in the Middle East could still be ahead,’ he said…. 

“He warned ‘the consequences will be fatal – for all participants because getting involved in such a ground operation at a great distance from the very same United States of America, threatens with approximately the same consequences as what happened in Vietnam, when Washington got involved in a foreign country, located a thousand miles away, and for 10 years could not find a decent way out of this conflict.’” 

A Two-Week Ceasefire and More Uncertainties 

Reuters wrote on April 10: 

“A fragile two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran showed further strain on Friday… There was no sign Iran was lifting its near-total blockade of the strait, which has caused the worst-ever disruption to global energy supplies.  

“U.S. President Donald Trump said in a social media post late Thursday that Iran was doing a ‘very poor job’ of allowing oil to go through the strait. ‘That is not the agreement we have!’

In a separate post, he said oil would start flowing again, without saying what actions the U.S. might take. 

“In the first 24 hours of the ceasefire, which Trump announced on Tuesday, just a single oil products tanker and five dry bulk carriers sailed trough the strait which typically carries a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows and 140 ships a day before the war.” 

Trump Always Chickens Out 

The Huffington Post wrote on March 31: 

“Trump is walking away from any responsibility for the global energy crisis he created when he attacked Iran 32 days ago, particularly Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a full fifth of the world’s oil flows… The suggestion that he is ready to wash his hands of opening the strait to unfettered navigation contradicts what he promised on March 3 — ‘the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible. No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD’ — and again on Monday, when he demanded that Iran open the strait ‘immediately.’ 

“‘It’s a major geopolitical failure,’ said Robert Kagan, once a senior State Department official in the Reagan administration and now with the Brookings Institution. ‘If Trump TACOs now, the net effect of the war will be to give China unprecedented influence in the Gulf, and therefore over the world economy,’ he added, using the shorthand for ‘Trump Always Chickens Out’ coined by Wall Street traders when he backed down from his massive tariffs a year ago…” 

Trump knows he has lost the war. Now he tries to chicken out by lying to the people that he won the war. And far too many simple-minded folks will believe the lie. 

Remove Trump From Office 

The Mirror wrote on April 7:

“Anthony Scaramucci, who served in Trump’s first administration in 2017, called for the president to be removed from office ‘immediately’ after he threatened to wipe out a ‘whole civilization’ in Iran… ‘Wake up: he is calling for a nuclear strike,’ said Anthony Scaramucci, who served in Trump’s first administration in July 2017. ‘Seek his removal immediately,’ the former communications director added. 

“It comes after the president launched another shocking rant on Truth Social… ‘A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,’ he wrote… ‘However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change [what a joke], where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?’”

A Ceasefire Deal? What a Joke! 

The Independent wrote on April 8: 

“The US and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire hours after President Donald Trump threatened to wipe Iranian civilization off the map. Trump claimed America ⁠won a ‘total and complete victory’ after making the agreement… 

“Both sides have framed the ceasefire as a win… 

“Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid has branded a US-Iran ceasefire the biggest ‘political disaster’ in all of the country’s history… ‘Israel wasn’t even at the table when decisions were made concerning the core of our national security… Netanyahu failed politically, failed strategically, and didn’t meet a single one of the goals that he himself set.’” 

Neither did Trump. A total disaster. 

Trump vs. CNN 

The Independent wrote on April 9: 

“CNN Anchor Jake Tapper hit out at President Trump after the commander-in-chief accused the network of reporting a ‘false statement.’ Trump tore into CNN on Tuesday, after anchor Erin Burnett read out a statement from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council… ‘The enemy, in its unfair, unlawful, and criminal war against the Iranian nation, has suffered an undeniable, historic, and crushing defeat,’ the statement… said… 

“Trump demanded that the network ‘withdraw this statement with full apologies’ and claimed that an investigation was being launched into whether CNN had committed a crime by publishing the document… Jake Tapper hit back at President Trump… ‘The issue boils down to this,’ Tapper said. ‘The statement from Iran‘s Supreme National Security Council, which claimed victory for Iran, did not fit the messaging that the Trump administration wanted to project. And instead of calling out the Iranian regime for its conflicting statements or explaining how Iran does this all the time, President Trump attacked CNN by falsely claiming we made it up by lying to you,’ he added. 

“Highlighting that CNN did not invent the statement nor present Iran’s claims as fact, Tapper said that it was the network’s job to report on the ongoing events in the war. ‘Our job is not to try and please the president or only report the statements he likes… We‘re going to tell you what‘s going on, and we‘re going to keep doing that, no matter how many lies this administration or the Iranians tell.’”

Epic Rage Collapses… Top US General Warns Trump: “We Will Not Win” 

Banking News wrote on April 4: 

“The American military operation in Iran, ‘Epic Rage’ as it is called, has failed. The Islamic Republic of Iran and its army, regular and the IRGC the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, are continuously launching ‘epic’ attacks, as the Americans would say, on sensitive American areas in the Persian Gulf, and it seems that Iran has no intention of stopping… There was no ‘mass popular uprising’ to overthrow the ‘dark regime of the bloodthirsty Ayatollah.’

“The leadership of the country was not decapitated. The assassinated and dead Iranian politicians became martyrs, despite the fact that they had every opportunity to hide. The vacant positions were immediately filled, which indicates both control at the highest levels of power and the fact that such a scenario, deaths as a result of attacks, was considered.. 

“But Iran has not only not lost, it has essentially defeated its opponents. The state maintained control of all institutions, as well as exclusive command of the army. The arsenals were not destroyed. Moreover, no one knows the real number of missiles that were stored there.” 

Trump’s Foul and Unpresidential Language 

The Mirror wrote on April 5: 

“The US president ordered Iran to ‘open the f**kin’ Strait [of Hormuz]’ or otherwise face hell… He went on to say ‘Praise be to Allah’ as he warned the attacks on Iranian infrastructure will be like nothing seen before. ‘Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran,’ he wrote on Truth Social. ‘There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F**kin’ Strait, you crazy b*stards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP.’” 

Such foul and offensive language is highly unworthy of anyone, especially a US President. 

Open or Closed? 

The Nightly wrote on April 8: 

“A ceasefire agreement in the Middle East faces collapse within 24 hours of its announcement after Israel launched strikes across Lebanon… 

“There is also a large amount of uncertainty over whether passage through the Strait of Hormuz, when it is open, would come with a hefty price tag. Some sources say the 10 point agreement used to secure the two week ceasefire includes the condition for Iran, and Oman, to be paid for any use. Some say this figure could be between $2 million to $3.5 million a trip, something that the White House says it will not be paying. 

“Mr Trump told PBS NewsHour that Lebanon was not included in the deal due to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah… Israel has said the agreement does not extend to its war with Iran-backed Hezbollah, although mediator Pakistan said it does… Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has remained at an effective standstill in the 24 hours since Iran conditionally lifted its blockade on the critical shipping lane… Shipping companies say they have been warned not to cross the Strait without permission or risk having their ships destroyed.” 

Trump Threatens Again

Mirror wrote on April 11:

“Donald Trump has threatened to unleash fury on Iran using ‘the best weapons ever made’ if peace talks in Pakistan fail this weekend. ‘We’re loading up the ships with the best ammunition, the best weapons ever made,’ the US president  said. ‘If we don’t have a deal, we will be using them, and we will be using them very effectively.’” 

No Deal! 

Focus wrote on April 11: 

“Iran currently has no plans for further negotiations… ‘Iran is in no hurry, and as long as the US does not agree to a reasonable agreement, the status of the Strait of Hormuz will remain unchanged’… 

“After hours of negotiations, the talks ended on Sunday morning without any tangible result… 

“US Vice President JD Vance boarded Air Force Two in Islamabad, Pakistan, following the failed negotiations and is now on his way back to the US. ‘The bad news is that we did not reach an agreement. And I believe that is much worse news for Iran than for the United States of America,’ Vance said upon departure…” 

“According to Iranian sources, key issues such as the Strait of Hormuz, the nuclear question, war reparations, the lifting of sanctions, and an end to the war in the region were discussed during negotiations between the US and Iran, mediated by Pakistan… the news agencies Tasnim and Fars spoke of ‘excessive demands’ from the US side. Specifically, the Strait of Hormuz was mentioned as the central point of contention… After hours of negotiations, according to the Vice President, Iran did not commit to refraining from developing a nuclear weapon…” 

Trump’s Blockade 

Daily Mail wrote on April 12: 

“Sir Keir Starmer as refused to join Donald Trump’s naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz… after Iranian peace talks failed. The move signals growing tensions between the UK, other NATO members and the United States, as hostilities in the Middle East look set to continue… 

“Trump… wrote on his Truth Social platform that the US military would start ‘blockading any and all ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz’. The President said the US navy would also ‘seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas’. 

“He added in a Fox News interview following his announcement: ‘I understand the UK and a couple of other countries are sending minesweepers.’ But Britain will not play a part in the move, the Daily Mail understands.” 

Nobody else has said that they would participate in this counter-productive blockade. See the next article. 

Is Trump Causing a Worldwide Depression? 

On April 13, Ron Paul wrote in the Ron Paul Institute: 

“President Trump was presented with a great opportunity on Saturday to take the off-ramp from his war on Iran. After threatening Iran that ‘a whole civilization will die tonight,’ Trump managed to get a two week pause in the war with the intervention of the Pakistani government. A window opened to end this illegal war. Vice President Vance traveled to Pakistan to negotiate with a high-level Iranian delegation… 

“Unfortunately, after a month and a half of war, where tens of billions of dollars have been spent, every US base in the region is either damaged or destroyed, and dozens of military aircraft have been lost, President Trump did not take the off-ramp. He hit the accelerator. After 21 hours of negotiations, the talks blew up, reportedly because the US side again insisted that Iran turn over its enriched uranium, destroy its nuclear facilities, and never enrich uranium again… 

“So the Pakistan meeting was a waste of time… Immediately after the talks ended in failure, an increasingly volatile Trump increased his threats against Iran. Over the past weeks he has alternated between insisting that the Strait of Hormuz is unimportant to the United States and demanding that the Strait be opened immediately. 

“Then yesterday he announced… that the United States military would start blockading Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Any ship departing from an Iranian port would risk being boarded, inspected, and possibly seized. Iran’s restricting traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has sent oil prices soaring, along with the price of fertilizer and other related products. Inflation is increasing in the US. Global markets are reeling. Trump further restricting traffic in and out of the Persian Gulf with his own blockade will only accelerate this process. It is like fighting a fire with gasoline. 

“And if the Houthis in Yemen close the Red Sea in response to Trump’s blockade of Iran’s blockade, we could even see a global economic depression. 

“There is a feeling that President Trump is flailing around while becoming increasingly volatile. He expected that the Europeans, the Japanese, and the South Koreans would join his efforts to force open the Strait, but instead they decided to make their own deals with Tehran and pay the transit fee. The rest of the world does not want war with Iran. Only the Trump Administration and Netanyahu want the war… 

“China has warned the US against interfering in its trade with Iran. A major escalation is brewing and Congress still cannot find its voice.”

The whole world is beginning to HATE Trump… and with him the entire USA. 

Iran Denies Passage of American Military Vessels in Strait of Hormuz 

Press TV wrote on April 12, 2026:

“The spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters has roundly dismissed the US Central Command (CENTCOM) claims about the passage of American military vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. ‘The permission for the transit of any vessel (in the strategic waterway) is within the authority of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran,’ Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari said in a statement released on Sunday. Separately, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy announced that any attempt by military vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz will face a harsh confrontation. 

“The force said in a statement that the IRGC has full authority, intelligently manages the Strait of Hormuz, and only civilian vessels will be permitted to pass under special regulations. The statement further highlighted that any reports regarding the passage of American ships through the Strait are denied, and any attempt by military vessels to pass will be met with complete decisiveness and hard response. 

“On Saturday, CENTCOM claimed that two destroyers, the USS Frank E Peterson and USS Michael Murphy, had ‘transited the Strait of Hormuz and operated in the [Persian] Gulf as part of a broader mission to ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines.’”

Strait of Hormuz Open? 

The Daily Mail wrote on April 15: 

“Donald Trump has declared the Strait of Hormuz ‘permanently open’ after secret talks with Xi Jinping, claiming the Chinese leader had agreed to stop arming Iran… 

‘‘China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social. ‘I am doing it for them, also – And the World. This situation will never happen again.’”

If one could only believe this. We will wait and see.

Austria Blocks US Warplanes From Using Its Airspace During Iran War 

Metro wrote on April 2: 

“American fighter jets will not be allowed to use the Austrian airspace for missions against Iran. The Alpine nation has reportedly blocked the US from using its airspace after an announcement by its Ministry of Defence today. Austria said the US will not have permission for military operations against Iran. This is due to the country’s neutrality law, which bans Austria from joining any military alliances like Nato or allowing foreign military bases on its territory. 

“Sven Hergovich, the head of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), which is part of the coalition, said the defence minister should ‘not approve a single further US military flight to the Gulf.’ He said: ‘Nor should she approve any transport flights or other logistical support. Just as Spain, France, Italy and Switzerland are doing. This war is damaging Austrian economic interests, Europe as a whole, and world peace.’”

Widening Rift Between USA and Spain 

The Independent wrote on March 30: 

“Spain has closed its airspace to American aircraft involved in military operations against Iran.  This move marks a significant escalation beyond Madrid’s’ previous refusal to allow the use of jointly operated military bases… The closure… compels US military planes to reroute around the Nato member state on their way to targets in the Middle East… 

“The US relocated 15 aircraft, including refuelling tankers, from the Rota and Moron military bases in southern Spain after the country’s Socialist leadership said it would not allow them to be used to attack Iran….”

Italy Distances Itself From Trump 

Politico wrote on April 9: 

“Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni distanced herself from U.S. President Donald Trump during a parliamentary address on Thursday, in a bid to save her premiership after a bruising referendum defeat last month… Her allies blame the defeat on rising energy prices caused by the war in Iran and on her friendship with Trump, who is increasingly seen as toxic even on the right… 

“The right-wing prime minister used her address to emphasize publicly her disagreements with the American leader for the first time since he was reelected in 2024…[She listed] episodes where she claimed her government stood up to the White House, from tariffs ‘which we have many times defined as a wrong choice,’ to defending ‘the honor of our soldiers in Afghanistan, who had been defined as useless,’ and protecting Greenland’s territorial integrity alongside European allies. 

“The Italian leader also described the war in Iran as ‘a military operation that Italy did not agree with and did not participate in … a fact that emerged in all its concreteness with the Sigonella affair,’ she continued. She was referring — for the first time in a public statement — to Italy’s recent decision to refuse permission for a U.S. military aircraft to land at the Sigonella air base in Sicily before flying to ‌the Middle East. 

“Thursday’s remarks are a clear rhetorical pivot on her alliance with Trump — who is highly unpopular in Italy…”

… as he is in all of Europe.

Trump vs. Meloni 

The Mirror wrote on April 14: 

“Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy, described Trump’s tirade against the Pope as ‘unacceptable’. Now [Trump] has said it is ‘she who is unacceptable… because she doesn’t care if Iran has a nuclear weapon and would blow up Italy in two minutes if it had the chance… She is no longer the same person, and Italy will not be the same country.’’ 

At one time, Trump and Meloni were the strongest allies. But strong alienation between the USA and Italy is prophesied. 

AfD Demands US Troops Leave Germany 

The Telegraph wrote on March 29: 

“The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has called for the withdrawal of all US soldiers from the country. Tino Chrupalla, the far-Right party’s co-leader, told a meeting on Saturday that it was time to remove allied troops and nuclear weapons from Germany in order to pursue an ‘independent’ foreign policy… 

“The Telegraph reported on Friday that Donald Trump was considering pulling US troops out of Germany – something he has been thinking about since returning to office last year… Mr Chrupalla’s comments put him at odds with the Trump administration, particularly over whether America should be able to use German bases for its military activities in the future…

“Praising Spain’s decision to block its bases from being used by the US to attack Iran, Mr Chrupalla said: ‘That’s exactly the right thing to do. Spain is not interfering in this war’… 

“Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor… accused Mr Trump of carrying out a ‘massive escalation’ in the conflict, rather than attempting to end the fighting. The rhetoric between Washington and Berlin has become increasingly hostile in recent days. 

“…the US president’s foreign policy, including his military action against Venezuela and Iran, has increasingly distanced the non-interventionist AfD from Washington.”

Britain and Nato Are Pulling Away From Trump’s America

The Independent wrote on April 10: 

“While Trump was pounding Iran with bombs, the UK led a secret operation against Russian spy subs in the Arctic. It is a sign that Starmer is focusing on where the threat to the alliance really lies… 

“Just a day after Donald Trump floated the idea of turning the Strait of Hormuz into a ‘joint’ tollbooth to enrich the US and Iran, the British government revealed that a joint operation with Norway had been undertaken to protect Nato’s northern flank. 

“The move, combined with a visit this week by Keir Starmer to the Arabian Gulf, is the latest sign that even Europe’s Anglo-Saxons are pulling away from Washington… Healey made it clear that Russia had taken the opportunity, as the focus shifted to the Middle East following Trump and Israel’s illegal attacks on Iran, to continue its ‘hybrid war’ against Nato… Frustrated by the refusal of members of the alliance to take part in the attacks on Iran, and (of many of them) to allow US forces to use bases on their territory to carry out these operations, Trump has repeated his threats to withdraw the US from the organisation altogether… 

“America’s Gulf allies have been rattled by Trump’s joint attack with Israel, a country led by a prime minister facing indictment for crimes against humanity. Iran’s response has throttled oil exports and targeted their territory… 

“Trump has refused to address Vladimir Putin’s support for Iran at all since launching the conflict in February. But his deputy, JD Vance, has been in Hungary, explicitly violating diplomatic norms by openly backing Viktor Orban’s candidacy in this weekend’s general elections. Vance is an exponent of the racist ‘great replacement’ conspiracy theory that Europe is being overrun by non-white immigrants and faces ‘civilisational erasure’. The Trump administration has taken an explicit anti-European Union and anti-Ukrainian stand for the last year, backing Russia’s claims to territory in eastern Ukraine and cutting military aid to Kyiv.” 

After JD Vance’s visit to Hungary, Orban’s popularity decreased even further. 

Orbán Defeated 

ABC News wrote on April 12: 

“The big election over the weekend was in a small European country nearly half a world away from Washington, but the defeat of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has significant reverberations in the United States…. Orbán’s loss was a reminder of how the war has diminished Trump’s ability to help allied politicians overseas… 

“Orbán’s defeat has immediate global implications because he was the European leader closest to Russian President Vladimir Putin and had blocked European Union aid to Ukraine, which is defending itself after Russian’s 2022 invasion.” 

The Sun added on April 13: 

“The result is also a huge blow to Russian tyrant Putin – who has enjoyed Orbán’s consistent anti-Ukraine rhetoric within the EU over the last four years. His defeat could pave the way for an £80billion loan to Ukraine which had previously been blocked by Orbán… 

“European leaders took to social media to congratulate Magyar – with French president Emmanuel Macron, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and German chancellor Friedrich Merz hailing the victory.” 

This was foreseeable. Hungary will become a strong supporter of Europe and possibly one of Europe’s core member states. 

British Navy in Trouble 

Daily Mail wrote on March 26:

“Trump today described Britain’s aircraft carriers as ‘toys compared to what we have’ in his latest swipe at the UK’s lack of support for his war against Iran… it comes at a time when the Royal Navy’s ability to wage war and defend Britain is being thrown further into doubt, after we had to ask Germany for the use of a warship to keep a major Nato commitment…

“Defence Secretary John Healey was this morning unable to say how many of the Royal Navy’s surface fleet of 17 frigates and destroyers is currently fit to fight, when grilled over the state of the service. But he admitted he was ‘not happy with the situation we have with British warships’.” 

US Pulling Out of NATO?

The Telegraph wrote on April 1:

“Donald Trump has told The Telegraph he is strongly considering pulling the United States out of Nato after it failed to join his war on Iran.  The US president labelled the alliance a ‘paper tiger’ and said removing America from the defence treaty was now ‘beyond reconsideration’. It is the strongest sign yet that the White House no longer regards Europe as a reliable defence partner following the rejection of Mr Trump’s demand that allies send warships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz… 

“The White House has grown increasingly frustrated with long-time partners over their position in the war. Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, accused Nato of being a ‘one-way street’ as he hit out at US allies for not allowing access to their military bases on Tuesday… Mr Rubio said America would have to ‘re-examine’ its Nato membership when the war in Iran came to an end… Sources close to the president said he was also considering pulling US troops out of Germany…

“Any decision to withdraw the US from Nato would require approval from Congress… Ivo Daalder, who served as Barack Obama’s ambassador to Nato, said: ‘What the president can do – and there’s no question about this – he can withdraw all American troops, he can withdraw all Americans from the command structure, he can say Article 5, but don’t count on military capabilities let alone nuclear if you get attacked. All of that is legal.’” 

Leaving NATO? 

Politico wrote on April 1: 

“Trump’s latest rhetoric on American participation in NATO was extreme even for his standards…

“European officials worry that Trump might try [to] stay in the alliance but starve NATO of high-level attention and military assets. They fear Trump’s rhetoric has already rendered NATO meaningless. ‘With Trump in office, NATO is worthless,’ said a German official. ‘We might have NATO, but we no longer have an alliance. We’re biding our time here, but the damage is immense.’” 

A “European” NATO? 

The U.S. Sun wrote on April 15: 

“EUROPEAN nations are hatching a secret plan to form a new Nato – as the looming threat of US withdrawal makes the continent vulnerable to Vladimir Putin… Trump’s threat to seize Greenland from Denmark is said to have moved the plan up the priority list and it has since gained even more urgency in the wake of the Iran war. 

“It has been boosted after a spectacular reversal from Germany, which has long defended America’s position as the ultimate guarantor of European security…. But the challenge to build a new pact from scratch will be enormous.” 

EU Lawmakers Call for Joint Military Drills 

United 24 Media wrote on April 4: 

“German lawmakers in the European Parliament are calling for immediate joint EU military exercises following renewed threats from US President Donald Trump to withdraw the United States from NATO… 

“Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, chair of the EU Defence Committee, described NATO as the continent’s ‘military backbone’ but warned that the United States can no longer be viewed as a reliable partner. While she emphasized the importance of maintaining ties with non-EU NATO members like the United Kingdom, Norway, and Canada, she insisted that the European Parliament must ensure military capabilities are fully available and independent… 

“As the rift between Washington and its traditional allies widens, the push for military independence in Brussels has moved from a theoretical policy to a matter of immediate survival… This adherence to independent defense policies has become the primary catalyst for President Trump’s ‘paper tiger’ rhetoric and the subsequent drive in Brussels to establish a security framework capable of operating without Washington’s involvement.” 

Germany’s Largest Medical Exercise 

Express wrote April 4: 

“This week, for the first time in decades, Germany carried out its largest medical exercise in decades as Russia’s threat to Europe increases the possibility of large‑scale war. 

“The NATO ‘Quadriga 2026’ exercise took place in Lithuania and simulated evacuating wounded soldiers from the country and transporting them to hospitals across Germany. The prospect of a large-scale war is not being taken lightly by Europe.” 

Germany’s Preparation for War 

Breitbart wrote on April 4: 

“Military-age men in Germany must now seek permission to leave the country for more than three months as a result of Berlin’s new conscription rules… meaning that all men between the ages of 17 and 45 must receive dispensation from the military to travel abroad for more than three months. 

“A Ministry of Defence spokesman attempted to downplay the regulation, telling broadcaster NTV that requests are almost always approved, because ‘military service is based exclusively on voluntary activity under current law… In case of an emergency, we need to know who is staying abroad for a longer period of time,’ the spokesman said… “ 

Deutsche Welle added on April 4: 

“The Frankfurter Rundschau… said the rule would apply regardless of whether a German man ‘planned a semester of studying abroad, working in a foreign country or going on a backpacking trip around the world.’… 

“From mid-2027, all men turning 18 will also be required to appear for a fitness test to determine who could be drafted in the event of conflict — a highly controversial measure that has been slammed by critics as a first step towards full conscription.” 

The provision became the issue of hot displeasure. Germany decided to retreat… but the damage was done. 

Germany Retreats… 

BBC News wrote on April 8: 

“Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius says men of military age in Germany do not need to report lengthy stays abroad. His statement comes after a controversy broke out over the possible consequences of a new law which re-introduced military service in Germany… The requirement to obtain permission had gone largely unnoticed until it was reported by a German newspaper last week…. 

“Now, Boris Pistorius from the Social Democrats has told the German Press Agency (DPA) that he is introducing an exemption. ‘During this peacetime period, there will be no permission procedures. We are suspending the permission requirement as long as military service is voluntary,’ Pistorius said. At the same time, he announced that appropriate procedures would be established in the event of a crisis. He defended the regulation ‘as a precautionary measure.’” 

Germany’s government was caught red-handed and due to enormous pressure and outrage, it retreated, for the time being. But the intentions are and have been clear. Pistorius’ conduct has been compared with methods in the former DDR.

Spectacular Journey to the Moon

The Guardian wrote on April 10:

“The number of human beings who have travelled to the moon and returned safely to Earth will grow to 28 [all American] on Friday night when Nasa’s Orion capsule containing four Artemis II astronauts will glide gently to a Pacific Ocean splashdown beneath three giant parachutes. The scheduled 5.07pm PT landing (1.07am BST Saturday) off the coast of San Diego will mark the end of a 10-day lunar odyssey that made the three Americans and one Canadian the first people to travel beyond lower Earth orbit since the final mission of the Apollo program in December 1972…” 

Artemis II Back Home 

“NASA’s Artemis II crew has successfully splashed down after their historic Moon mission, as the Orion spacecraft made a fiery plunge through Earth’s atmosphere Friday night. The spacecraft reached blistering speeds of up to 25,000 miles per hour before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California.   

“The four-person crew, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, wrapped up a ten-day mission that carried them around the moon and farther than any human had ever traveled into space before. The journey marked the first time in more than 50 years that humans have traveled this far into space and viewed the lunar surface with the naked eye since the Apollo era. 

“During the mission, the astronauts also passed behind the moon, flying over the mysterious far side, often referred to as the moon’s dark side because it permanently faces away from Earth. The historic flight also shattered a decades-old distance record set during Apollo 13 in 1970, when astronauts traveled 248,655 miles from Earth. Artemis II surpassed that milestone by thousands of miles, setting a new distance record for human spaceflight.

“With a historic moon mission now complete, NASA administrators fielded multiple questions Friday night about the plans for the next mission after Artemis II, which is now scheduled to be Artemis III in 2027. Artemis III will also involve a lunar flyby but no landing.

“Currently, NASA’s revamped plan for the moon includes sending an additional space flight, Artemis IV, as soon as 2028. That mission is expected to land on the lunar surface for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972… that mission will also begin the work of building a permanent US moon base which will facilitate future human space travel and a manned mission to Mars.”

Rewriting the Constitution on Birthright Citizenship 

Fox News wrote on March 29: 

“The Supreme Court is poised to answer a fundamental constitutional question largely ignored for more than a century: Who qualifies as an American citizen? The justices… will review… Trump’s efforts to limit birthright citizenship in the U.S., a landmark case with the potential to upend the lives of millions of Americans and lawful residents. At issue is the executive order the president signed on his first day back in office, which would end automatic citizenship for nearly all persons born in the U.S. to undocumented parents, or parents with lawful temporary status in the country — a seismic legal, political, and social shift that critics note would break with more than 150 years of legal precedent.  

“A ruling is expected within three months, but until then, Trump’s plans remain on hold… To date, no court has sided with the Trump administration’s interpretation of the 14th Amendment, and blocked the order from taking force. The ACLU and other immigrant advocacy groups in the U.S., have accused Trump of attempting to ‘unilaterally rewrite the 14th Amendment.’… A recent Pew Research poll asked Americans whether they wanted children of immigrants, temporary immigrants or any immigrants lawfully present in the United States to be citizens, and 94% said yes.”

Trump Attends Oral Argument… Sort Of… 

The Mirror wrote on March 2: 

“Trump was met with furious protests as he arrived at the nation’s highest court at around 10 a.m. He was pictured in his motorcade as demonstrators swarmed the steps of the court, advocating against Trump’s plan to limit birthright citizenship — which has largely been understood to be guaranteed under the Fourteenth Amendment. …

“[Trump] stayed for the arguments made by U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer in favor of his plan to limit birthright citizenship, but then left as soon as Cecillia Wang, the legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), began arguing against it…” 

Politico wrote on April 1: 

“President Donald Trump’s unusual presence at the Supreme Court on Wednesday didn’t seem to sway the justices, who sounded broadly skeptical about his attempt to upend the country’s long tradition of birthright citizenship. Trump looked on from the front row of the public gallery as Solicitor General John Sauer attempted to defend Trump’s executive order that would deny U.S. citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants and foreigners on temporary visas. The court’s conservative majority joined the liberals in aggressively questioning Sauer about the potential implications of disturbing the decades-long consensus on citizenship…. 

“Chief Justice John Roberts suggested it was strange for the administration to seize on some narrow exceptions to the birthright citizenship rule, such as an exclusion for American Indians and for children of diplomats, in order to justify denying citizenship to millions of children of undocumented immigrants and visitors… Even Justice Samuel Alito, one of the court’s most strident conservatives, expressed some discomfort with the administration’s claim that the children of undocumented immigrants who’d spent years living in the U.S. could be denied citizenship on the grounds that their parents were not ‘domiciled” here… 

“Justice Neil Gorsuch also expressed doubt about the administration’s claim that one has to be living legally in the U.S. to be domiciled here and get citizenship for a child. He noted that when the 14th Amendment was adopted in the 1860s the U.S. had no real immigration laws and left foreigners free to take up residence here… 

“Sauer repeatedly emphasized Wednesday that Trump’s order only applies to children that would be born in the future, but several justices said a ruling that the 14th Amendment doesn’t automatically confer citizenship on those born in the U.S. would also cast doubt on the citizenship of those already born and assumed to be citizens…” 

ABC News wrote on April 1: 

“After the hearing concluded, Trump wrote in a social media post that the U.S. is ‘stupid’ to allow the practice… saying judges and justices who disagreed with his policies are ‘stupid people.’” 

Trump’s attempt to rewrite the Constitution should have no chance of being victorious … His outrage is deplorable. 

What the Mueller Report Did (Not) Conclude 

The National Circus wrote on March 24: 

“Donald Trump has never really closed the book on Robert Mueller… 

“Mueller’s March 2019 report did not accuse Trump of conspiring with Russia, but it also did not deliver the sweeping exoneration Trump allies often advertise. In Volume II, Mueller’s team made a point of explaining why it was not making a traditional prosecutorial judgment on obstruction of justice for a sitting president. 

“The line that refuses to die is this: ‘If we had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so.’ That sentence, in the DOJ report, is the crack in the wall for critics, and the reason Trump keeps trying to mortar it shut with repetition.” 

Bondi Gone 

npr wrote on April 2: 

“President Trump announced Thursday that Attorney General Pam Bondi is out from the top job at the Justice Department. Her departure comes amid simmering frustration over her leadership and her handling of the Epstein files… A longtime Trump loyalist, Bondi is the second member of the president’s Cabinet to be forced out. Her departure comes almost one month after Trump fired Kristi Noem as secretary of Homeland Security. 

“Bondi leaves after a tumultuous 14 months in charge that critics say damaged the Justice Department’s credibility, hollowed out the career ranks and undermined the rule of law… she used the department’s vast powers to go after the president’s perceived foes. That includes the high-profile cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, which were brought after Trump publicly called on Bondi to prosecute them. 

“A federal judge later tossed both cases after finding the acting U.S. attorney who secured the indictments was unlawfully appointed. Other political opponents of the president or individuals standing in the way of his agenda also have found themselves under DOJ investigation, including Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff, and former Obama-era intelligence officials James Clapper and John Brennan.

“Bondi also oversaw sweeping changes to the career workforce at the department. The agency fired prosecutors and FBI officials who worked on Capitol riot cases or the Trump investigations.” 

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.

Many young people today, when asked what they would like to be when they grow up, say that they would like to be famous.   Being a celebrity has attractions that many would seem to covet.   However, an immediate transformation from being a nobody to a somebody is a work-free promotion that many would not be able to cope with, nor would it be good for them.  Having the adulation of many seems to be exciting, but dangers can lie ahead for those who suddenly become, for whatever reason, an icon, a famous figure and someone to follow.  The cult of celebrity is alive and kicking and coveted by those who feel that it is for them.

One writer opined that “Having rejected the morality of the Judeo-Christian basis for western society, we have turned to the lifestyle of celebrities to inform us as to right and wrong.”    There are many examples of this by Hollywood actors and producers living and celebrating wrong life-styles which influence so many who look up to these “idols” and other “celebrities” who think that they know better than their Creator!

Do you remember the 15 minutes of fame phrase from recent history?  Wikipedia observes that this “is short-lived media publicity or celebrity of an individual or phenomenon. The expression was formulated by Andy Warhol who was quoted by Time magazine in 1967 as saying that one day ‘everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.’ The phenomenon is often used in reference to figures in the entertainment industry or other areas of popular culture, such as reality television and YouTube. An older version of the same concept in English is the expression ‘nine days’ wonder.’ This phrase dates at least as far back as the Elizabethan era, referencing William Kempe.”

However, many who are famous today may have had to work hard over a long period of time to achieve fame and glory which was not their original goal anyway, just something that happened because of their work ethic, outstanding ability or other factors.   

For example, according to Vedantu courses online, this question was asked:

“Do you know how many times Edison failed to invent the bulb? We can go and buy a light bulb quite casually at a shop. Imagine failing 2774 times to buy one. Yes! He failed 2774 times according to his records and then reached a working design of an electric light bulb.”

That was hardly instant celebrity or 15 minutes of fame as that was neither his goal nor did he live in a celebrity conscious society.

Then we have the example of James Dyson.  Interviewed by Fast Company (May 2007), Dyson asserted the importance of failure in one’s life. “I made 5,127 prototypes of my vacuum before I got it right. There were 5,126 failures. But I learned from each one. That’s how I came up with a solution. So I don’t mind failure.”  He battled for years and there was no instantaneous success that so many people yearn for today.   He became a celebrity after much hard work with so many failures over many years, and his aim was to be successful in his chosen profession, not a celebrity which only came because of all his efforts over decades.

Wikipedia observes that “Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English business magnate who co-founded the Virgin Group in 1970, and, as of 2016, controlled five companies. Branson expressed his desire to become an entrepreneur at a young age. His first business venture, at the age of 16, was a magazine called Student.”  He set out over many decades to be successful in business with no thought of celebrity, although he could be classed as one now.

There are many more examples that could be quoted who by their own tenacity, foresight, ability and the sheer determination to succeed, may now be classed as celebrities, but that was certainly not their ambition when they set out on their life’s journey.

We quote these examples to show that hard work and ability over a period of time brought about their celebrity, not the wish list of some young people with little, or no experience of life, often influenced by social media and so-called “influencers” who, generally, add little or no substantive representation of real life.

Fame and celebrity is, of itself, worthless to a true Christian as it focuses on self and Jesus said to esteem others better or more important than self.  We read in Philippians 2:3-4:

^“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better (“more important,” New American Bible) than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” The New Jerusalem Bible says: “… out of humility of mind everyone should give preference to others.”

The Apostle Paul was instructing believers to act with humility, avoiding selfish ambition, and looking out for others’ interests as being more important than their own, by following Christ’s ultimate example of selfless service. This means that we must value others, recognizing God’s view of everyone as valuable, and serving with Christ-like humility rather than pride which is so prevalent in society today. Celebrity today is all about pushing one’s own personal agenda first and foremost, seeking followers and building one’s own personal image, which is anathema to the Way of Life to which a true Christian has been called.

We read in Matthew 23:1-2 that Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples about the scribes and Pharisees, as we read in verses 6-7:

“…they love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’”

Celebrity and the acknowledgement of others were prevalent in the time of Christ, as we see from the above, which is something that we must avoid.

Most of the members of the Body of Christ may not be rich, famous or even well-known, with just a very few exceptions to that rule, but our details are written in the Book of Life which is infinitely more important.   

When people become idols to others through their fame and celebrity, the first of God’s 10 Commandments is broken, as we read in Exodus 20:3: “You shall have no other gods before Me.”

Celebrity culture is contrary and diametrically opposed to true Christianity, because the former usually puts the emphasis on self-worship which we showed above, and is breaking the first of God’s 10 Commandments, and allied to this is the worthless pursuit of worldly fame which may seem exciting at the time, but has no lasting value.

Celebrity culture usually requires reliance on the outer person, the physical appearance which is part of the public image that is required.   We may remember that God looks on the heart of man. 1 Samuel 16:7 is a telling piece of Scripture when Samuel the prophet was looking for a replacement for King Saul:

“But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.’”

On the face of it, David’s brothers may have seemed to be more appropriate but not in the eyes of God.  Worship is only due to God, not to fellow human beings with all of their faults and frailties.   We can hear, for example, that an aspiring sportsman may say that a particular person was his idol as he was growing up.  In such a case, personal beliefs, standards and morals may not even be considered about the celebrity in question.

American author Charles R Swindoll wrote the following in his biography about King David.

“We want the beautiful people, the brilliant people, the ‘successful’ people.  We want the best and the brightest.   We are terribly enamored of the surface.  The superficial impresses us much more than we’d like to admit.   We even elect a president because he looks good on television. But God says, ‘That’s not the way I make my choices.   I choose the nobodies and turn them into somebodies.’ And that, in a nutshell, is the story of the life of David.”

We read in 1 Corinthians 1:27:

“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…”

Swindoll continued:

“David grew up in obscurity.   That’s another way that God trains His best personnel – in obscurity.  Men and women of God, servant leaders in the making, are first unknown, unseen, unappreciated and unapplauded.   In the relentless demands of obscurity, character is built.”

In Matthew 5 are the beatitudes where we read that “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (verse 3) and “Blessed are the meek” (verse 5), amongst other characteristics, “For they shall inherit the earth.”  Alternatively, celebrity culture can often emphasize and highlight extreme wealth and an opulent lifestyle, which can conflict with these values.   

Jesus preached humility and He Himself was the very epitome of that virtue.   We must remember that He was God and with God the Father from eternity, but came to earth to die for the sins of all mankind as His life was of more value than all of humanity that had ever lived or would live in the future.

We should recall that the One, Jesus Christ, who created all things through the Father’s instructions (see John 1:3 and Colossians 1:16) was active in the very formation of the universe, holding it together and being preeminent over all creation.    And with all of that power, He humbled Himself by washing the disciple’s feet (see John 13:4-15).   No thought or sign of celebrity here, just humility to show how His disciples should behave.   Most of mainstream Christianity don’t do this today even though Jesus said that the disciples then, and today by extension, should also do: “If I then, your Lord, and Master have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (verses 14-15).   This was a powerful lesson to the disciples of servant leadership and it is a lesson which all of His disciples today desperately need to learn – a lesson in humility.   And humility is, generally, unimaginable in normal celebrity culture.

The Bible contains a number of passages and teachings that caution against seeking worldly recognition and adulation. 

Jesus said in Matthew 16:26, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Theologian and professor David Wells made this very useful comment: “Worldliness is anything that makes sin look normal and righteousness seem strange.”

The Apostle John says in 1 John 2:15: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”   Celebrity culture is all about self, how great I am, look at me and what I have… It is the very antithesis of true Christianity and much of this attitude is spawned on social media.  

Can a celebrity be a true Christian?   It depends. Herbert W. Armstrong could be described as a celebrity, and he was certainly a true Christian. What we are addressing here are “celebrities” who may espouse Christianity in one way or another but while they might have good morals, attitudes and behavior, most do not keep the 10 Commandments, the Sabbath and the annual Holy Days, the law of tithing and the food laws, for example—beliefs essential, amongst others, that define a true Christian.   There would have to be a substantial change in beliefs, attitude and behavior for them to become a true Christian, including true repentance, and we must never forget that God does the calling (see John 6:44, 65).

In short, the celebrity culture of this world and all that that entails is generally totally at odds with true Christianity which is God-centered, while the cult of celebrity encourages and advances the pursuit of fame and all of its supposed “benefits” of pride, material success, maybe even arrogance which is fundamentally in opposition to the gentle, caring and loving Way of God.  

Worldly celebrities need the oxygen of ongoing public acclaim to keep their image alive and flourishing; true Christians never have that same necessity as they serve God in humility and love.

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“Pope Leo’s Condemnation of Trump’s Unholy Iran War,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

Pope Leo XIV has condemned those leaders who have hands full of blood, claiming that God rejects them and does not listen to their prayers. Franklin Graham disagrees, stating that there are “just wars.”  Are there just wars? Trump accuses the Pope of catering to the Radical Left, while the Pentagon is allegedly threatening him with military force. Trump’s subsequent AI-generated image of him as Christ has been described by conservatives as blasphemy and an Antichrist spirit. In his latest public statement, Leo blasted the masters of war who destroy, rather than rebuild and help. Would Christ be welcome today with His Sermon on the Mount?

“Glaube an Gottes Schutz,” last Sabbath’s German sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Title in English: “Faith in God’s Protection.”

“Trumps totales Versagen im Irankrieg—ein Kommentar zu den Weltnachrichten, 11. April 2026,” a message presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Title in English: “Trump’s Total Failure in the Iran War—a commentary to world events, April 11, 2026.”

“Illusion des guten Christen,” last Sabbath’s first split German sermon, presented by Christoph Sperzel, is now posted. Title in English: “The Illusion of the Good Christian.”

“Satans Kreislauf der Selbstzerstörung,” last Sabbath’s second split sermon, presented by Thilo Hanstein, is now posted. Title in English: “Satan’s Cycle of Self-Destruction.”

“The Destructiveness of Sin,” last Sabbath’s first split sermon, presented by Rene Messier, is now posted. Here is the summary:

The message discusses five points in regards to what sin is and how it can affect our relationship with God. It also emphasizes the importance of overcoming sin.

“The Third Commandment,” last Sabbath’s second split sermon, presented by Paul Niehoff, is now posted. Here is the summary:

The third commandment is usually assumed to forbid using God’s name in a frivolous or vain manner. This is true, however, since we are a part of God’s family, we need to be careful that we do not profane God’s holy name by our actions. We are to be an example to others by our obedience to God and fully respect His name that we bear.

NOTE: Messages presented during the Feast of Unleavened Bread and not summarized in the Update are available at www.eternalgod.org and https://www.ewigengottes.de/

On March 28, 2026, Eric Rank will present the sermonette, titled, “Not One Cubit” and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “Are We Guilty of Transgression?”

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.

Please NOTE: We will not publish the Update again until April 17, 2026, due to observance of the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread. We will conduct live services during that time, and further information can be found at: www.eternalgod.org

Over the last few weeks, my youngest son has been playing soccer with a team. They practice twice a week and then usually have games on Sundays. As with any team, when you first put them together, it is challenging as everyone finds their place and starts to understand strengths and weaknesses. As a parent on the sideline, it can be quite frustrating at times to watch their games and not comment out loud on how they could be doing something different or better. Occasionally, I have yelled out to my son to push harder or change positions, even though this is discouraged. 

When I take a step back and think about our lives as Christians, I can draw parallels between me watching these games and how God the Father and Jesus Christ watch us living our lives here now on this earth. I wonder how many times they are cheering from the sidelines, or groaning inwardly at our awkward attempts and failures. The Bible very clearly tells us that God is always watching our lives (Hebrews 4:13; Proverbs 15:3). 

As we continue in this life, we are each growing and being tested and tried to show that we are worthy; that we can persevere and overcome those trials which we each face.

As we are approaching the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread, our minds and our thoughts should be turning more inwards and reflective, contemplating just how we are matching up to what we proclaim to be true. In 1 Corinthians 11:27-28, Paul reiterates for us that we should be examining ourselves – seeing where we fall short and where we are winning.  

When we do this examination properly, God is pleased with us because He sees our effort. He understands that we are continuing on and we are attempting to remain as true Christians. Psalm 103:13-14 reminds us that He knows who and what we are: “As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.”

When a parent yells for his child to do better on the sidelines, it’s a sad attempt at control. It produces nothing good or useful. In similar fashion, the Bible shows that God is not distant from us in this process. In fact, we are told that “the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth…” (2 Chronicles 16:9). He is watching, not just to observe, but to strengthen, to guide, and to help us grow.

The kids practice twice a week, working with their coach on things that they can do better. Oftentimes, the games reveal weaknesses that need tweaking and practice.

Similarly, we live from moment to moment, either including God in our ways or not. Paul encouraged the Christians at his time to keep trying, keep pushing, even IF it was challenging at times. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:24–25: “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.”

When we think about our lives in this manner, all of the sudden, the game changes. It’s not simply a loss or win scenario; rather, we are playing for our eternal lives. God wants us to win. He will do everything in His power to help us to do so. We must be willing participants in this regard, though. We have to want this victory more than anything and in turn do everything required to win. When Jacob wrestled with Christ, he would not let Him go until he received a blessing from Christ, showing his serious desire to win. 

Paul was constantly encouraging the churches he was writing to, to push harder, to do more, and to overcome more. We should develop or have the same attitude and mindfulness as we prepare to participate in the Passover ceremony. Let’s note what Paul says in Philippians 2:12–13: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” This is such a powerful Scripture for us—we strive, we attempt, we push, and God empowers us to do so. He gives us strength to overcome and to grow. 

God is never far away from us. God is always willing to listen and waiting for us to come to Him and to turn our lives in every way back to Him (Lamentations 3:40-41). 

So, as I continue to sit on the sidelines and watch my son play, I’m reminded that growth doesn’t happen all at once. It comes through practice, through mistakes, through correction, and through persistence.

And in much the same way, our Christian lives are about striving for perfection, day by day. As we approach the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, let’s take that examination seriously. Let’s look honestly at where we need to grow, where we need to push harder, and where we need to let God work more fully in us. We have to be careful here, though. It is easy to get caught up in the looking and the realization of our shortcomings; it is another to actually make the necessary changes to improve and grow. James 1:22-25 warns us to “…be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

We are striving for an imperishable crown, eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Nothing can compare with that. When we think about this, when we meditate on it, when we let it fill us up and overtake our entire lives, then we will make real, tangible progress. 

As we move forward from this point to the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, let’s not just recognize where we need to change, but actually commit to and practice it. Let’s put in the effort, the practice and the repetition. Just like those kids on the field, improvement doesn’t come from simply knowing what to do; it comes from doing it, again and again.

Let’s each respond with this determination. Let’s push harder. Let’s strive more. Let’s refuse to give up. This isn’t just a game; we are fighting for our eternal life.

By Norbert Link 

The Iran war intensifies, with no real end in sight, Trump’s lip service to the contrary notwithstanding. The USA and Israel have different goals, and Europeans have declared, so far, that they will not get involved militarily, even though Keith Starmer, “the mother of all U-Turns,” changed his position to let the US use British bases to strike Iranian sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz. So far, Friedrich Merz stays strong, but for how long? Germany simply lacks a decisive, true and forceful leader. Still, the current world situation is described as mirroring devastating events prior to World War II. 

Iran surprised the world when it allegedly struck a ballistic missile on a British military base more than 2,300 miles away, placing major European cities such as Berlin, London and Paris in danger. Speculations run rampant that Trump will order boots on the ground. 

America’s intelligence service disagrees with Trump that Iran posed an imminent threat; the resignation of Joe Kent has rattled MAGA; and news broke that Denmark and European allies did in fact prepare for war with the USA over Greenland. We are also being told that the USA is indeed contemplating invading Cuba.

We are publishing several editorials taking different approaches as to whether Germany should or should not become militarily engaged in the Iran War; and we speak on Robert Mueller’s death and Trump’s shameful and disgusting reaction.

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Germany and Europe Prepare for War With USA.”

Iran War Intensifies and Escalates 

The Telegraph wrote on March 19: 

“Israel struck Iran’s South Pars gas field, the world’s largest, on Wednesday, in an attack Donald Trump said he ‘knew nothing about’. [Israel claims Trump knew about it ahead of time, and Israel’s attack was “coordinated” with the USA, compare Reuters, dated March 19. Subsequently, Israel said they had NOT informed the USA beforehand]. In retaliation, Tehran launched a series of strikes that damaged a gas plant in Qatar, hit a refinery in Saudi Arabia, forced the United Arab Emirates to shut gas facilities and caused fires at two Kuwaiti refineries.

“The latest escalation, which has sent gas and oil prices soaring, has exposed diverging aims between Israel and the US in the nearly three-week-old conflict… Israel’s interest, therefore, is in regime change, and failing that, leaving Iran in ruins. US interests are of course entirely different. It wants friends in the Gulf. It needs their oil for world markets, their shipping lanes and their capital for inward investment. Without stability in the region, global markets and economies will ultimately crash, and the US economy will go with it. 

“Pete Hegseth… addressed a report that the Pentagon had requested more than $200bn in additional funding from Congress to pay for the conflict [This would be tantamount to Congress declaring war or approving of it, prompting many questions from Congress.] … Military aims in Iran have not changed [what were and are they?], Pete Hegseth has claimed [and that] it was untrue that the US was [being] dragged towards ‘an endless abyss, or a forever war, or a quagmire’… [This will have to be seen.] 

“Donald Trump’s war with Iran was ‘a grave miscalculation’ which has put the Gulf economies in harm’s way, Oman’s foreign affairs minister Badr Albusaidi… said… ‘This is not America’s war, and there is no likely scenario in which both Israel and America will get what they want from it.’” 

Trump’s Iran War has been a terrible failure… as we predicted from the outset. 

Iran Was NOT Rebuilding Nuclear Enrichment Capacities? 

Newsbreak wrote on March 18: 

“US intelligence concluded Wednesday that Iran was not rebuilding nuclear enrichment capacities destroyed last year by the United States and Israel, contradicting a key justification by President Donald Trump for his ongoing war… Trump has repeatedly said he ordered the attack on Iran alongside Israel on February 28 because of an ‘imminent threat.’… ‘ 

“As a result of Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was obliterated,’ [Tulsi] Gabbard said… referring to the June 2025 US attack. [However, it is highly doubtful that the June attack did in fact obliterate Iran’s nuclear program. This propaganda was questioned by many experts from the outset, for good reasons.] ‘There has been no efforts since then to try to rebuild their enrichment capability,’ Gabbard wrote… 

“She also assessed that Iran’s leadership remained intact.” 

However one wants to look at Trump’s and Gabbard’s comments, they are ALL totally contradictory. 

However one wants to look at Trump’s and Gabbard’s comments, they are ALL totally contradictory.

Just Like Prior to World War II? 

Newsbreak wrote on March 18: 

“The global order is currently transitioning through a high-risk phase of ‘great disorder’ that mirrors the lead-up to World War II, according to a searing analysis by veteran macro investor Ray Dalio. Following five decades of tracking market and historical patterns, Dalio warns that the convergence of soaring debt, internal political polarization, and shifting international alliances indicates the world has entered ‘Stage 5’—the final step before a systemic breakdown. 

“While current global volatility has shocked the public, Dalio contends these events are part of a predictable 75-year ‘Big Cycle’ that governs the rise and fall of empires…. ‘Watching what is happening now is like watching a movie that I have seen many times before,’ Dalio noted, citing the 1929–1945 period as the most recent historical parallel. Dalio points to the 1930s, where four major democracies—Germany, Japan, Italy, and Spain—collapsed into autocracies under the weight of economic hardship and social fragmentation.” 

Europe WILL soon become an autocracy under a German dictator who will still have to manifest himself on the world scene. 

Joe Kent’s Resignation 

Joe Kent, Trump’s director of counterterrorism and a close ally of Vice President JD Vance and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard resigned on Tuesday. In his resignation letter, he said the US had been deceived by Israel. “It is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,” he said. 

The Daily Mail wrote on March 18: 

“Kent, who deployed to combat 11 times and lost his wife Shannon in what he calls a war manufactured by Israel, is closely aligned with the populist ‘America First’ wing of the Trump administration, including Gabbard and Vance, who have both warned against new Middle East entanglements. 

“His resignation lays bare a widening split inside Trumpworld. Kent accused high-ranking Israeli officials and members of the American media of running a ‘misinformation campaign‘ to deceive the President into believing Iran posed an imminent threat, drawing a direct parallel to the lead-up to the Iraq war…. The resignation drew immediate praise from prominent ‘America First’ voices.  

“Marjorie Taylor Greene called Kent ‘a great American hero,’ while Candace Owens went further, declaring Trump ‘a shameful President’ and urging US troops to explore conscientious objection, calling Kent a ‘patriot’.” 

Europe Prepared for WAR With USA 

Euractiv wrote on March 19: 

“Denmark is reported to have quietly prepared to blow up its own runways in Greenland – as European allies rushed troops north – amid fears that the United States might attempt to seize the Arctic territory by force in January… Danish forces deployed to Greenland in January 2026 carried explosives intended to destroy key airstrips in Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq, in order to deny access to any incoming US military aircraft in a worst-case scenario. 

“The episode suggests the extent to which Denmark and its European allies appear to have considered – and prepared for – a potential military confrontation with the United States, highlighting strains in transatlantic relations and adding momentum to Europe’s push for greater strategic autonomy. ‘We were faced with the most difficult foreign policy situation since the Second World War,’ said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen… ‘The only reason we are in a better position today is because we have close, strong and reliable European allies.’ 

“The deployments were reportedly not merely symbolic. Aircraft are said to have transported blood supplies from Danish hospitals, indicating preparations for potential combat casualties. Danish F-35 fighter jets were reportedly armed and repositioned, while French naval assets and multinational troops were sent toward the Arctic. Several other European countries also hastily sent soldiers to Greenland at the height of the crisis, in a show of support for Denmark and to bolster Arctic security. 

“France alone was reportedly prepared to send several hundred troops to the Arctic island. ‘Would you like more soldiers? You could have them. Would you like more naval support? You could have that too. Would you like more air support? You could have that as well,’ a French official told DR. 

“The US military operation in Venezuela on 3 January 2026 was a turning point. For European officials, the move demonstrated that President Donald Trump was willing to use force – elevating concerns that his repeated statements about ‘taking’ Greenland might translate into action. 

“Frederiksen… said on Sunday that she no longer considers the US Denmark’s closest ally. “When you ask who our closest allies are today, the answer is Europe, the Nordic countries and partners such as Canada,’ said Frederiksen during a televised debate.” 

Such European military preparations and contemplated actions against America would have been unthinkable a few years ago. How times have changed. 

Europe Asks Iran to Open Strait of Hormuz, But Does Not Commit to Send Naval Ships 

Business Today wrote on March 19: 

“Leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan on Thursday condemned Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz, calling its disruption of shipping a threat to global energy supply and international security… ‘We call on Iran to cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the Strait to commercial shipping…’ 

“While signalling willingness to support maritime safety, the countries stopped short of committing forces… Several European countries, including France, have indicated reluctance to join such operations. ‘We are not a party to the conflict, and therefore France will never take part in operations to reopen or liberate the Strait of Hormuz,’ French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday.” 

Axios wrote on March 19: 

“The statement does not include any commitment to send naval vessels or other resources to make that happen… France, Germany, Italy and Japan have previously all publicly ruled out sending naval vessels to the strait during the war… As long as the Iranian blockade holds and Gulf oil remains trapped, President Trump can’t end the war and declare victory even if he wants to.” 

So, this statement is more of a symbolic act, accomplishing nothing. 

Europeans Will NOT Militarily Intervene 

The Daily Mail wrote on March 20: 

“President Donald Trump assailed NATO allies on Friday over their lack of support for the US-Israel war against Iran, calling the longtime US allies ‘cowards’… The de facto closure of the strait by Tehran has proved disastrous for global energy and trade flows, triggering the largest oil supply shock in history and surging global oil prices. 

“Despite Trump’s demands, his European allies have asserted that they wouldn’t send naval escorts to help secure the passageway, citing safety concerns and the risk of escalating the conflict.  

“Instead, Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined counterparts in Japan, Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands on Thursday in calling on Iran to stop attacks on energy sites and civilian infrastructure and to end the shipping gridlock… Italy, Germany and France made clear later Thursday that they were not talking about any immediate military help, but rather a potential multilateral initiative after a ceasefire. 

“… the UK has the biggest exposure to these supply chain shocks of any country in Europe. Britain imports $12billion (£8.9billion) worth of goods through the Strait of Hormuz each year…”

Hegseth Attacks Europe 

t-online reported on March 19: 

“US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not only defended the United States’ attack on Iran but has simultaneously leveled sharp accusations against European allies. Speaking to journalists in Washington, he referred to ‘ungrateful allies in Europe’ who ought to be thanking President Donald Trump… 

“With this, the US administration is ratcheting up the rhetoric toward those European states that have so far refused to align with Washington’s military course. At the same time, Hegseth made it clear that an end to the war is not in sight… These attacks on Europe come amidst growing tensions within the Western alliance.” 

Using US Ground Troops? 

Reuters wrote on March 20: 

“The United States military is deploying thousands of additional Marines and sailors to the Middle East… No decision had been made to send troops into Iran itself… but they will build up the capacity for potential future operations in the region…. The units can be used for a number of reasons, including carrying out strikes using the aircraft on board the ships, or being deployed on land…  options, Reuters has reported, include securing the Strait of Hormuz, potentially by deploying U.S. ⁠forces to Iran’s shoreline.

“The Trump administration has also discussed options to send ground forces to Iran’s Kharg Island, the hub for 90% of Iran’s oil exports,… 

“Any use of U.S. ground troops – even for a limited mission – could pose significant political risks for Trump, given low support among the American public for the Iran ⁠campaign and Trump’s own pre-election promises to avoid entangling the U.S. in new Middle East conflicts…. A Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Thursday found that some 65% of Americans believe Trump will order troops into a large-scale ground war in Iran and just 7% support that idea.” 

Iran Seeks Clarification From Germany 

t-online reported on March 19 

“According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran is no longer capable of enriching uranium or manufacturing ballistic missiles. [This statement is certainly false and is not shared even by the United States.] 

“Iran’s ambassador to Germany, Majid Nili, has demanded a clarification from the Federal Government regarding the U.S. military’s use of the Ramstein Air Base for the war against Iran. The role of the military base in Rhineland-Palatinate remains ‘officially unclear’ to Tehran, Nili told the news agency AFP in Berlin on Thursday. ‘So far, we have received no response.’ [The surest way to drag Germany into the war against Iran.]”

Germany to Participate in the War Against Iran??? 

On March 18, Nius published the following commentary by Markus Brandstetter—this coming after Nius had previously published a commentary to the contrary by Jan A. Karon on March 17, in which Merz’s veto was deemed both correct and necessary. 

“Thus, if the USA and Israel wage a war against Iran, Germany cannot be the ‘laughing third party’—the one standing on the sidelines, staying out of everything, and simply waiting to see what unfolds. This war in Iran is our war, too… That is why the USA, under President Donald Trump, is waging a just and righteous war. [A war waged by human beings is never just or righteous.] 

“However, the Americans launched this war hastily and without thinking it through to the very last detail. Trump will have to be held accountable for this—even if his actions are by no means incomprehensible. Quite evidently intoxicated by the initial, highly successful bombing strike on Iranian nuclear facilities in July 2025—and by the astonishingly smooth capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in January 2026—the trio of President Donald Trump, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio evidently assumed that a lightning-fast subjugation of Iran was probable and achievable without causing major disruptions to the global economy. That—this much is already clear—was a miscalculation. Iran cannot be defeated in a short period of time. [At least the author acknowledges that much.] 

“[Iran] still possesses… enough missiles and drones to bring shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to a complete standstill… 

“But no matter how long the conflict lasts: Israel and the USA will win it. [This is a pipe dream that will not come true—unless one ignores reality and the facts in one’s assertions.] 

“However, the war will last longer than anticipated by Trump and CENTCOM (the US regional command for the Middle East), and it will certainly be no walk in the park… That is why Americans and Israelis need support—from European NATO members, and most especially from… Germany. Once again: Israel and the USA will win this war in Iran—with or without German support. [If they are going to win the war regardless, why do they need German support? The author’s inconsistency is appalling.] But active support—for instance, through the deployment of a modern frigate… would demonstrate to the entire world that we Germans do not always leave the Americans to do the dirty work alone. Dirty work that, since the Second World War, they have consistently and unhesitatingly performed on our behalf. This can be conclusively illustrated by a single example: German reunification.” 

“We Germans must not delude ourselves: German reunification [which, according to the author, was dirty work???] did not take place simply because we wanted it to, or because politicians in the West—or even in the East—had spent decades working energetically toward it… The single most decisive prerequisite for German reunification was the fall of the Soviet Union and the resulting collapse of the Eastern Bloc. And this was triggered by the strong, uncompromising stance taken by President Ronald Reagan (1981–1989)… [Even this point is open to doubt. Reunification did not come about under Ronald Reagan and Willy Brandt, but rather—after initial reservations—under George Bush Sr., Mikhail Gorbachev, Helmut Kohl, and Hans-Dietrich Genscher, and in the face of resistance and considerable apprehension from Margaret Thatcher and François Mitterrand. Yet, according to biblical prophecy, reunification was bound to happen.] 

“Now, this week, Trump has asked his European NATO partners—specifically Great Britain, France, and Germany—to support the U.S. regarding Iran by deploying minesweepers. And how did the NATO partners respond? They declined across the board. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius rejected any form of support for the U.S. with a terse statement: ‘Germany is not a party to this conflict. The German Bundeswehr will not participate in this war.’ Unexpectedly unequivocal, too, was the otherwise eternally wavering, dithering, and hesitant Friedrich Merz—who, for once in his life, knew exactly what he did ‘not’ want: namely, to get involved in this war…” 

And how did the article end? 

“We must once again be capable of combat and war.” 

Really? Must we? If so—then poor Germany. 

Trump’s Boomerang Will Hit Germany 

On March 20, Nius published a somewhat contrarian “analysis” by Chris Becker, which also addressed Germany’s helplessness: 

“As expected, the aggressive actions taken by the Americans and Israelis in the Middle East have had a destabilizing effect on the situation across the entire region. In the process, the warring parties are increasingly targeting their adversaries’ energy infrastructure. This debacle demonstrates the powerlessness—but also the economic vulnerability—of Europe and Germany in particular. Now, an oil and gas crisis looms… 

“For Germany, all of this now results in an exacerbation of its economic problems… Rising global market prices are hitting Germany… disproportionately hard. The effects are already palpable. Prices at the pump have risen significantly—in some regions to over two euros per liter, and in some cases even higher. Diesel and jet fuel—which until recently were sourced in substantial quantities directly from the Gulf region—have suddenly become scarcer. 

“Even more serious, however, are the indirect effects… Heating oil is becoming more expensive, as it is derived directly from crude oil. Electricity prices are following suit with a delay, as gas-fired power plants are also affected. At the same time, costs for fertilizers—the production of which depends heavily on gas prices—are rising. Consequently, agricultural products such as grain, meat, and milk are becoming more expensive… 

“…Transportation costs are rising, as shipping companies are forced to choose longer and safer routes. Insurance premiums are increasing, and the prevailing uncertainty is generating additional costs. Imported goods—ranging from foodstuffs to electronics—are thereby becoming significantly more expensive. The construction industry is being hit particularly hard… 

“These are the realities to which Germans must now adjust. Those who shouted ‘Hurray!’ [the warmongers and proponents of war] will not reimburse them for these additional costs…” 

“But it is not only in Germany that prices are climbing. In the USA, President Donald Trump is coming under increasing pressure. Rising energy costs are hitting American consumers as well and stand in stark contradiction to his political promise to ensure economic stability. To say nothing, of course, of his promise to stop starting foreign wars… 

“Finally, a fundamental geopolitical question comes into focus: Who, exactly, wants what in this conflict? … If one places Israeli and American interests side by side, the Israelis might well have an interest in escalating the conflict to such a degree that U.S. ground troops—and thus regime change—would become necessary. In that scenario, Trump would lose the midterms by a landslide [which he likely will anyway], but Netanyahu would emerge as the man of the hour. Will Donald go over this cliff for Bibi?… 

“However things unfold, a solution to which we could contribute anything at all is nowhere in sight. For the moment, we can only watch as the boomerang Donald Trump threw comes back to hit us squarely on the head. … For consumers, this new oil crisis means one thing above all else: rising costs in everyday life. Fueling up, heating homes, shopping, building—nearly every area of life is being impacted by this crisis. 

“Germany is being bled dry, yet it is not yet exhausted—not exhausted enough, at least, to rouse itself into action.” 

Not yet… not under the current timid and impotent government. But a different—and far stronger—government will come; one that will not recoil even from a military confrontation with the USA. 

Iranian Missile Explodes Near Jerusalem’s Holy Sites 

The Telegraph wrote on March 20: 

“An Iranian missile blew a crater in Jerusalem’s historic Old City near the Western Wall and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The projectile smashed into a hillside just inside the fortified walls of the ancient city, leaving debris strewn across the streets a few hundred metres from the religious sites. 

“Israeli officials said that the impact was caused by an Iranian missile, not a fragment from an interceptor… A later statement from the Israeli police said that the ‘warhead that fell… contained dozens of kilogrammes of explosives’.” 

U.S.-Israeli Strike Near Iran’s Nuclear Plant Reactor 

Reuters reported on March 18: 

“Russia on Wednesday condemned a strike near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power ‌plant a day earlier which it said was just metres away from its reactor and called on the United States and Israel to stop ⁠attacking the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities… 

“Russia built the Bushehr plant, helps Iran run it, and is ⁠helping expand it.” 

Now Major European Cities in Danger 

Daily Mail wrote on March 21: 

“Iran’s ballistic missile strike on a British military base [on Diego Garcia] in the Chagos Islands has escalated fears that major European capitals are now within reach of another attack by the extremist regime… 

“Diego Garcia lies around 3,800km (2,360 miles) from Iran – undermining the… previous [assumption] that [Iran’s] ballistic missiles could only reach 2,000 km (1,240 miles). 

“Experts have warned that if Iran has proven its capabilities are far greater, the missile threat could now extend to most capital cities in Western Europe. This includes Paris, which is 4,198km (2,609 miles) from Tehran, while London lies on the ‘edge of vulnerability’ at around 4,435km (2,750 miles). 

“The unnerving analysis comes as General Sir Richard Barrons, who headed the UK’s Joint Forces Command between 2013 and 2016, said Iran’s power may have been ‘serially underestimated’…. Foreign affairs analyst Nawaf Al-Thani also reacted to the Diego Garcia strikes on social media, saying that a long-held assumption about Iran’s missile capability ‘has just collapsed’…. ‘The real story is not whether the missile was intercepted. It is that Iran may have demonstrated reach far beyond what much of the world believed it possessed… Diego Garcia was not just a target. It was a message.’” 

Bild Online reported on March 21: 

“The Middle East fears the mullahs’ missiles: For weeks, Iran has been shelling its neighboring states, striking critical security facilities. Europe—and Germany in particular—felt safe, however, as experts maintained that the projectiles could fly a maximum distance of 2,000 kilometers. Berlin lies approximately 3,500 kilometers from the Iranian capital, Tehran. An explosive incident overnight now reveals: The range of the mullahs’ missiles has apparently been underestimated!” 

Iran Denies Responsibility 

AlJazeera wrote on March 22: 

“An Iranian official… has denied the allegations that it was behind the launch of what US media outlets said were two ballistic missiles… 

“Muhanad Seloom, lecturer at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, told Al Jazeera that the reported Iranian attack ‘changes the calculus’ of the war for the US. ‘These missiles to Diego Garcia mean Iran has 4,000km-plus ballistic missiles, and that hasn’t been revealed before. All reports before that said Iran had a 2,000km [1,240-mile] range and not beyond that,’ Seloom said. ‘If you reverse the direction of these missiles, then they could reach London, so that changes the calculus not only for the US and its justification for the war but also for a reluctant London and European Union to join the war.’ 

“Earlier this month in an interview with the US broadcaster NBC, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected US President Donald Trump’s assertion that Tehran had developed missiles capable of reaching US territory. ‘You know, we have capability to produce missiles, but we have intentionally limited ourselves to below 2,000km of range because we don’t want to be felt as a threat by anybody else in the world,’ Araghchi said on March 8. 

“Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi, an associate fellow in the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, said Iranian denials regarding attacks depend on their nature and their aftermath. ‘I think the denial is different from the steps that Iran is taking on other fronts. Only a couple of instances when Iran denied an attack is when the strikes hit civilian infrastructure or some gas plants rather,’ he told Al Jazeera. Iran has denied attacks that Tabrizi believes would likely ‘provoke further action or retaliation potentially’… The targeting of the Diego Garcia airbase ‘is particularly sensitive because we know the distance of the missiles shot was more, much more than the 2,000km which Iran has previously said it kept its missiles to.’ ‘It signals the Iranian capability to reach far beyond 2,000km, and therefore, is something that is likely to provoke further concern and, therefore, response particularly from the UK but also from other countries,’ he said… 

“The UK-US military airbase [Diego Garcia] is home to nearly 2,500 mostly American personnel and has supported US military operations from Vietnam to Iraq, Afghanistan and strikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The airbase is part of the Chagos Islands, a remote archipelago in the middle of the Indian Ocean, south of the tip of India, and has been under British control since 1814. The airbase has been at the centre of a dispute between Trump and Starmer over Britain’s plans to hand sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius… 

“Elijah Magnier, a Brussels-based military and political analyst, said the missile launch on Diego Garcia reflects a deepening of Iran’s response to the war… ‘The battlefield is expanding geographically, and if that happens, the control of escalation, which the Americans want, becomes much more difficult because new elements, new locations are becoming vulnerable,’ Magnier told Al Jazeera… ‘By threatening a distant target, it’s a signal that any continuation of the war will come with increasingly high risk.’” 

Aljazeera added in a subsequent article on March 22: 

“Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said in a statement on X that the missile launches were a ‘false flag’ operation — and suggested that Israel might have been behind them. Baghaei also referenced NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s comments on Sunday, when he told CBS News that the alliance ‘cannot confirm’ Israel’s claim that the projectiles targeting the Diego Garcia airbase were Iranian intercontinental ballistic missiles.”

Hard to say who is telling the Truth, as all sides keep lying. Note the next article. 

Trump Talks With Iran??? More Lies? 

ABC News wrote on March 23: 

“Iranian officials have continued to deny that any talks took place with the U.S., after President Donald Trump said earlier Monday that Washington and Tehran had two days of ‘productive’ talks. According to state media, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Qalibaf [Ghalibaf] said ‘no talks with the U.S. have taken place’… 

“During an event in Memphis on Monday afternoon, Trump said the U.S. is having ‘really good discussions’ with Iran… ‘They want peace. They’ve agreed they will not have a nuclear weapon…’ [This extraordinary claim is very difficult to believe.] 

“President Donald Trump said Monday he had instructed the Pentagon ‘to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.’… The president had threatened to strike Iranian power plants on Saturday unless Tehran ended its efforts to block commercial shipping from transiting the strategic Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. That deadline was set to expire on Monday evening…. 

“In a statement issued on Monday and published by the semi-official Fars news agency, Iran’s Defense Council threatened to deploy naval mines across the ‘entire Persian Gulf’ in response to any land invasion….” 

Trump claims that the person America is talking to is Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad ⁠Bagher Ghalibaf. An Israeli official said that Ghalibaf was in touch with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, which Iran and Ghalibaf deny. “Others with knowledge of the talks suggested there were no direct communications between Tehran and Washington yet…” (The New York Post, dated March 23). So again, who is lying?

Trump Lashes Out at Starmer—the “Mother of All U-Turns”

Express wrote on March 20: 

“US President Donald Trump said the UK ‘should have acted a lot faster’ in allowing America to use British bases to strike Iranian missile sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz. Trump’s comment came after UK Government ministers agreed to let the US use British bases to strike Iranian sites targeting the vital oil route in the Middle East. Downing Street said on Friday afternoon UK bases will now be used for US ‘defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships’. Up until this point, the Government has allowed the US to use British bases only to hit missile sites targeting British interests in the region…

“Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch commented [on] the government’s decision on social media and called it ‘the mother of all U-Turns’… Earlier today, Iran’s foreign minister warned the UK the regime sees its choice to let the US use British bases as ‘participation in aggression’ in a phone call with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Iranian state media claimed. 

“Responding to the US getting permission to use British bases to strike Iranian sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz, shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said: ‘After weeks of dither and finger pointing, the Prime Minister has once again changed his mind and performed yet another screeching U-turn. The Prime Minister had the Navy’s only active minesweeper taken out of the Gulf a week before the war began.’ He also said, ‘Starmer is weak and indecisive’.” 

Starmer is playing with fire… quite literally. It will be interesting to see German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s further conduct. If Starmer is the “mother of all U-Turns,” then Merz could perhaps be described as the “father of all U-Turns.” He just said the obvious: that Trump was not too happy with him, but he wanted to invite him to a ridiculous sausage festival in Germany and expressed his desire to uphold the trans-Atlantic relationship; obviously with some considerable compromises in mind. One wonders what’s next on his agenda. It is obvious that Germany, deeply unhappy with Merz, wants a strong and courageous leader… and it is not Merz. 

Germany and Japan—New Military Cooperation 

Politico wrote on March 22: 

“Germany is seeking to deepen defense ties with Japan, with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius proposing a new agreement to make it easier for troops from both countries to operate on each other’s territory–a framework designed to ‘ease the exchange of soldiers in each other’s countries and significantly reduce bureaucratic hurdles.’.. 

“[The proposal] signals a shift toward more structured military cooperation with Berlin’s partners in the region… As both governments face rising pressure from authoritarian powers — from Russia’s war in Ukraine to China and North Korea in East Asia — they are increasingly treating their security challenges as interconnected, translating those shared concerns into closer bilateral defense cooperation.” 

This brings back memories of the alliance between Germany and Japan during World War II—especially against China, Russia and the USA. 

TSA Chaos Hits California—With ICE Hurting, Not Helping! 

The New York Post wrote on March 23: 

 “… the Golden State braced for a dramatic standoff over President Donald Trump’s plans to deploy ICE agents to major terminals to fill gaps left by TSA agents…. Robert Mack told NBC7: ‘Absolute shock because that’s just the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard yet out of this.’… 

“TSA lead transportation security office at the airport Aaron Vazquez added to the Times of San Diego: ‘I have no idea how they can contribute at an airport unless it was for intimidation purposes… I don’t want them anywhere near the checkpoint and officers that I’m in charge of. I don’t want them interfering with what the officers are trying to do. I don’t need an ICE agent telling passengers what to do. We are trained to be nice to passengers. They are law enforcement so they are armed. TSA is not.’” 

A stupid idea indeed.

No Decency Left in the USA? 

The Huffington Post wrote on March 21: 

“Democratic lawmakers and pundits are unleashing on President Donald Trump for his social media post celebrating the death of Robert Mueller, the former FBI director and special counsel who oversaw the 2016 investigation into Russian election interference, calling it ‘disgusting’ and ‘insane.’.. the president wrote: ‘… Robert Mueller just died. Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!’ 

“‘I expect every Republican who was outraged at people for celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death to immediately condemn Trump for saying, “I’m glad he’s dead” about Robert Mueller,’ wrote liberal political influencer Harry Sisson on X. 

“Many Trump supporters are defending him, however, arguing that Mueller spread ‘the most destructive lies of the 21st Century’ and was a ‘piece of garbage’ for his so-called ‘persecution’ of Trump. Other conservatives condemned the post. ‘This is the kind of stuff Trump does that makes people not just oppose him but hate him,’ wrote Fox News senior political analyst Brit Hume.  ‘There was no need to say anything.’” 

Hume is right. Trump’s uncalled outrage for revenge and hatred expressed towards a dead man was un-Christian and unethical. Mueller did not even find that Trump conspired with Russia, but he did not exonerate him of destruction of justice either. When Trump loses the midterm elections, he will be impeached for sure, and this time, it won’t be such an easy walk for Trump in the park.

Cuba “Prohibited” From Taking Russian Oil—Trump to Invade Cuba? 

CNBC wrote on March 20: 

“The U.S. Treasury Department has said Cuba won’t be allowed to take delivery of Russian crude, even as the fuel-starved island appears poised to receive two tankers carrying [Russian] oil and gas. 

“In a general license published Thursday, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added Cuba to a list of countries that would be blocked from transactions involving the sale, delivery or offloading of crude or petroleum products that originate from Russia… 

“Beset by blackouts and a worsening economic crisis under a U.S. oil blockade, the communist-run Caribbean island is currently facing its biggest test since the collapse of the Soviet Union…. Russia, which has been allied to Cuba for decades, has sharply criticized the Trump administration’s fuel blockade and pledged to provide the country with ‘necessary support, including financial aid.’ 

“Cuba had been heavily dependent on oil from Venezuela, but it has effectively been cut off since early January when the U.S…. [deposed] Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro. 

“The Trump administration has called Cuba’s government ‘an unusual and extraordinary threat’ and suggested the U.S. could turn its sights to Cuba after the Iran war. Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel on Wednesday lashed out at the ‘almost daily’ threats from the U.S. and pledged to meet the Trump administration’s move to choke off the island’s fuel supplies with ‘unyielding resistance.’”

Cuba seems to be next. 

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 read: “‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey”’” (1 Samuel 15:2-3).

Note that God says, “I will punish Amalek…”

Following their crossing of the Red Sea, the children of Israel encamped at Rephidim (Exodus 17). There, the Amalekites fought with Israel. The Amalekites, a tribal people living in the Negev and in the Sinai Peninsula, are first mentioned in Abraham’s time (Genesis 14:7). Amalek was one of Edom’s grandsons; Edom being Turkey today. Amalek’s descendants would include certain violent groups such as the PLO. In this battle, God helped Israel be victorious, but it was done through Moses holding up the Staff of God as Joshua and the Israelites fought with Amalek:

“So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.’ And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-LORD-Is-My-Banner; for he said, ‘Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation’” (Exodus 17:13-16).

However, it was never God’s intention that people should fight in war. It was Israel who decided to fight against Amalek—to sin—rather than relying on God’s help, and God then used Israel to carry out His purpose.  

Further on, we see more details about why God’s anger would fall upon Amalek:

“‘Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God. Therefore it shall be, when the LORD your God has given you rest from your enemies all around, in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget’” (Deuteronomy 25:17-19).

Here, God says that “you”—the people of Israel—are to destroy Amalek. This retribution, while commanded to Israel for a future time (1 Samuel 15), was, nonetheless, to be done by God’s authority.

We find a similar circumstance in which the Israelites were also told by God to completely destroy the people and animals of Jericho:

“‘Now the city shall be doomed by the LORD to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent… And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword” (Joshua 6:17, 21).

The two examples thus far noted, Amalek and Jericho, involved the Israelites being told by God to fulfill the death penalty God had pronounced on these people. There are other biblical examples when God, Himself, brought about the punishment and death of those who sinned:

“For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly…” (2 Peter 2:4-6).

There will come a time in the future when God will execute His vengeance, and like the flood and Sodom and Gomorrah, it will be by His hand:

“Behold, the day of the LORD comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not give their light; The sun will be darkened in its going forth, And the moon will not cause its light to shine. ‘I will punish the world for its evil, And the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, And will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold, A man more than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, And the earth will move out of her place, In the wrath of the LORD of hosts And in the day of His fierce anger’” (Isaiah 13:9-13).

Here is the point: God does intervene in human affairs with stern judgment and mighty power. He also has and will use individuals and nations to fulfill His Will. For example, God gave His nation Israel laws to follow and judgments to render:

“‘For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the LORD our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?’” (Deuteronomy 4:7-8).

Having Israel under Saul obliterate the Amalekites was a “righteous judgment” by God! Although the Amalekites had incurred a penalty for their actions earlier in the time of Moses, it was in the time of King Saul that God chose to enforce it. Sadly, Saul and Israel failed to obey God, and we have their record of disobedience as witness against them. They, too, faced dire penalties, but especially Saul and his House.

How then do Christians relate to this account? Do the actions of that time provide an excuse for those called by God to repentance, to act as Saul and Israel in warring against other people? Absolutely not!

Rather, Christians are commanded not to fight in war and to do many other things to remain separate from the world’s societies (Revelation 18:4; James 4:4; John 17:16; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18). Christ came to magnify the Law and make it great and honorable—to show its original intent and purpose—and that intent excluded and prohibited killing and fighting in war.

Christians follow the examples and teachings of Jesus Christ—Who was the God of the Old Testament, the very One Who commanded Saul through the prophet Samuel to destroy Amalek! God did so because man wanted and wants to fight in war; and God is not forcing us to live in peace, when we don’t want to. But God made it always clear that fighting in war is wrong. For instance, David was not allowed to build the Temple because he was a man of war. David SINNED when he fought in war.

He is also God of the New Testament, Who willingly died for the sins of the world. The Father of Jesus Christ resurrected Him to eternal life. During His physical lifetime, He gave examples to follow in how to live in this age. Those who do, are called Christians, and Christians are Ambassadors of the Kingdom of God (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world, for all the death and mayhem and all the wars of all nations—and so much more! He is Savior of the World, and He has promised to return and to establish peace in the Kingdom of God on earth!

Finally, we live in a time of “‘wars and rumors of wars’” (Matthew 24:6). Society and governments of this age will seek to draw us in—to take sides, to get involved. We must not, and the only way we stay separate is to be firmly grounded in the Truth of God. That means, we must know what we believe, and we can absolutely do that IF we turn to God and Jesus Christ!

For your help, we have prepared a booklet, titled, “SHOULD YOU FIGHT IN WAR?” This booklet explains in detail, for example, why Israel sinned when they fought in war, and why God ordered Israel to carry out certain violent actions. A hard copy is free upon request, or you can view it at our website: https://www.eternalgod.org/booklet-646/

Lead Writer: Dave Harris

compiled by Dave Harris

“Germany and Europe Prepare for War With USA,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

A provocative title, yet by no means inaccurate. From Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s sharp rebuke and condemnation of Trump’s war against Iran, to preparations for armed conflict between America and Europe over Greenland, we are witnessing the irrevocable breakdown of the transatlantic relationship—and the confirmation of biblical prophecies that a nuclear World War will erupt between Europe and America. But must we, therefore, languish in hopelessness?

“Deutschland und Europa bereiten sich auf Krieg mit den USA vor,” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.

Norbert and Johanna Link along with Michael and Anna Link have travelled to Germany to observe the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread with the brethren from Europe.

“Easter – A Christian Festival?” is the latest short video that has been posted on YouTube.

“Die Worte Christi,” last Sabbath’s first split German sermon, presented by Robert Muhr, is now posted. Title in English: “The Words of Christ.”

“Die Erneuerung unserer Gedanken und unserer Berufung,” last Sabbath’s second split German sermon, presented by Daniel Blasinger, is now posted. Title in English: “The Renewal of Our Thoughts and Our Calling.”

“The Bond of Friendship,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Dave Harris, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Are we, can we be, a friend of God? The answer is yes if we faithfully do the Will of God!

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

Spiritual growth is a pervasive theme in the life of a Christian. It is necessary to acknowledge the importance of spiritual growth, but achieving it requires deeper learning. What does the process look like? What does it feel like along the way? The Bible reveals that spiritual growth brings Christians on a journey of transformation, making our former selves unrecognizable by comparison.

On March 21, 2026, Dave Harris will present the sermonette, titled, “The Bond of Friendship,” and Eric Rank will present the sermon, titled, “Be Transformed.”

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.

As members of the Church of the Eternal God, we each have a commission to obey God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and also to honor our calling by protecting ourselves from sin. We can do this by living faithfully and avoiding evil in our lives. We cannot however lock ourselves away; we live in this world that Satan controls, and therefore we must protect ourselves through prayer and obedience to God. We must distance ourselves from the enemy.

I recently read an account as to how the young Continental Militia sought to protect the new American nation from the British forces. They could not avoid the British presence as the colonies had been governed by England and the King. The new nation had declared independence from Britain in 1776, but the British were unrelenting in their efforts to quell this uprising. The ill-equipped American force realized that fighting such a powerful enemy was often not as effective as avoiding them in the first place. When we are baptized into God’s true Church we recognize that we are joining a spiritual battle against evil, and yet the only way to win such a battle is to rely wholeheartedly on God and never impede Him.

Much as we must protect our hearts and minds by avoiding Satan, it is interesting that the new American militia sought to protect their strategic fortress of West Point, NY, by avoiding the enemy, rather than being desirous of engaging in battle. As the first buds of springtime of 1778 began to emerge, and the ice on the Hudson River in New York State began to break up, the under-powered continental troops of the new republic sought to defend against the British Navy and land forces. The historic West Point Military Academy was constructed at a strategic, yet vulnerable point along the Hudson River. The river provided a barrier between the New England territory and the rest of the Middle Atlantic region of the young nation. The military academy sits atop the cliffs on the west bank of the Hudson, and although the site was defensible to a degree, it was impossible to stop the British from making their way up-river, leaving most of New York and New England susceptible to attacks and sabotage.

A British engineer, aiding the continental forces, designed a 650-yard linked chain that would be laid across the Hudson from West Point to a small island, now known as Constitution Island. Imagine a necklace of iron, but then consider that each link weighed in at 114 pounds and was 2 feet in length. Some 750 separate links comprised the 65-ton chain that would be lowered and raised much as a ship’s anchor, to admit friendly vessels or repel the British warships. The fledgling American force installed the chain each spring/summer from 1778, until it ceased to be needed in 1782. This was referred to as Washington’s Watch Chain, euphemistically nodding to the new president’s pocket watch. The chain’s sole purpose was avoidance and protection rather than engagement.

Washington and his men stood watch and protected the new nation, and as true Christians, we must also protect our hearts and spiritual lives from the enemy. We know that we can all too easily become ensnared in sinful ways, including relying on our own abilities, as we see in Jude 6: “And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day…”

Additionally, consider  2 Peter 2:4-6: “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly…”

When we repent and rely on God, we are released from the bondage of sin. We understand that our freedom and safety was purchased by God through the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and so we read in Romans 6:18: “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” We know that sin can be like a bear trap that we stumble into; we did not intend to place ourselves in that position, but we must ask ourselves how we might have avoided the situation and similarly, sin. Consider the wisdom contained in Matthew 6:24: “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.” We must be proactive and work, but also never place ourselves in that bear trap of sin. Again, we should guard our spiritual lives as aggressively as we protect our bodies from illness and injury. We recall the words of Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The message is straightforward; in order to protect ourselves from sin, we need to be mindful of our actions and intentions and always guard against and avoid evil.

Being aware of the progression of sin is another good way to protect oneself. We see this clearly in James 1:15: “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” As true Christians, we pray consistently for strength to remain faithful to God the Father and to Jesus Christ and to do as we read in Ephesians 6:10-11: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

We do not need a massive iron chain to avoid sin; we simply need the power and majesty of God the Father and Jesus Christ, and to follow the commandments to lead us to safety and eternal Life in the Kingdom.

By Norbert Link

We report on ongoing developments in the Iran War (including Trump’s attack on Kharg Island; the controversy regarding the Strait of Hormuz; and different opinions between the USA and Europe regarding Iran).

We speak of “boots on the ground” and an “invasion” of Iran, which, if actually carried out, would be disastrous for the USA. In this regard, please view our new message, “Why America Won’t Win the Iran War—Comments on News and Prophecy, March 14, 2026.“

Please also view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Germany Stands Up to and Rejects Trump”.

 We quote Pope Leo’s strong condemnation of the Iran war and strong criticism of Israel by Catholic priests. We also point out Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s attempts to influence the free press.

In other news, we show Europe’s rejection of Trump’s dealings with Russia, while, at the same time, Ukraine is accusing Europe of potential blackmail.

We report on the suspicion that the Iran war was started to distract from the Epstein files; address catastrophic gasoline prices in California, due, in part, to a ridiculous system; and we conclude with appalling developments in Canada caused by corrupt Big Pharma and left-extreme politicians.Throughout this section, we have underlined pertinent statements in the quoted articles, for the convenience and quick overview of the reader.    

Attack on Kharg Island 

Breitbart wrote on March 14: 

“Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Saturday that the conflict with Iran is ‘escalating’… 

“On Friday evening, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. Military had conducted ‘one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East’ on Iran’s strategically significant Kharg Island, which he dubbed the ‘crown Jewel’ of the regime… 

“President Trump remarked last night that ‘for reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island. However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision.’” 

Newsmax wrote on March 14: 

“… energy and security experts have warned that striking the island’s export terminals could trigger major disruptions in global oil markets. Analysts have said destroying the facility could send crude prices sharply higher and remove most Iranian oil exports from the global market. That risk has been one reason U.S. and Israeli forces have historically avoided attacking the island’s export infrastructure directly.” 

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on March 14: 

“… only one of Iran’s 5 operational oil export terminals is located on Kharg Island… the amount of oil loaded from the tanks installed on Kharg increased by 1.5 times in the past month. This suggests that Iran, by quickly emptying Kharg’s tanks, was prepared for this attack….”

“Just For Fun” 

Daily Sabah wrote on March 15:

“Donald Trump threatened further strikes on Kharg Island, after claiming U.S. strikes Friday had ‘totally demolished’ much of the island. Speaking to NBC News Saturday, the U.S. President said: ‘We may hit it a few more times just for fun.’”

Terrible comment!

Trump Sends Marines

The Sun wrote on March 14:

“A Marine expeditionary unit with 2,500 Marines aboard three US Navy amphibious ships has been ordered to the Middle East… The flotilla is expected to number 5,000 troops and sailors… 

“Meanwhile, the US State Department announced it is offering a reward of up to $10 million to anyone who provides information on Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and nine other senior officials in the Iranian regime… 

“Washington is also openly discussing potential missions inside Iran. War Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that no option is off the table. ‘We would be completely unwise if we did not reserve the right to take any particular option,’ Hegseth said. ‘Whether it included boots on the ground or no boots on the ground.’” 

Invading Iran? 

Daily Mail wrote on March 14: 

“Iran is a notoriously difficult country to invade, thanks to its tough terrain.

“The country is home to vast salt flats, dense and swampy marshes, and a series of rocky mountains that create a natural, nationwide fortress, in which countless military and nuclear sites hide.  Iran’s dominance over the Strait of Hormuz… means that any enemy vessels in either the Gulf of Oman or the Persian Gulf may become sitting ducks.  

“Some experts have warned that America could face a worse environment than they encountered in Afghanistan, Iraq and even Vietnam…. 

“Iran is one of the biggest countries in the world… Its total land mass is larger than France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Portugal combined. It also has one of the largest populations in the world, with more than 93 million citizens. 

“It is four times bigger than Iraq, and nearly three times bigger than Afghanistan… The whole country has an incredibly high elevation. Tehran, Iran’s capital, sits at 3,900ft… the vast majority of Iran’s military and nuclear assets are hidden throughout its three mountain ranges.  Mountains are notoriously difficult to fight in.” 

If Trump were to invade Iran, this would end up in total disaster for the USA.

Lost Trust 

The Telegraph wrote on March 14:

“Panic-stricken markets are losing faith in Donald Trump. The president’s contradictory statements on the Iran war have sent trading into chaos…”

Pope Against Starting and Fighting In Wars 

Newsmax wrote on March 13: 

“Pope Leo XIV… suggested on Friday that Christian political leaders who start wars should go to confession and assess whether they are following the teachings of Jesus… 

“President Donald Trump was raised in the Presbyterian Christian faith. Several of his top deputies, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are Catholic…” 

Of course, the Catholic Church does support wars when it determines that those wars are “justified.” This is also a perversion of the teachings of Christ. 

Thomson/Reuters wrote on March 15: 

“Pope Leo made an impassioned plea on Sunday for an immediate ceasefire in the expanding Iran war, lamenting ‘atrocious violence’ that he said had killed thousands of non-combatants and caused suffering across the region. 

“As the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran enters its third week, the first U.S. pope warned that violence would not bring the justice, stability and peace that the peoples of the region long for…. ‘In the name of Christians in the Middle East and of all women and men of good will, I appeal to those responsible for this conflict: Cease fire!’ Pope Leo said. ‘Thousands of innocent people have been killed, and many more have been forced to leave their homes. I renew my closeness to all those who have lost their loved ones in the attacks,’ he said.” 

Wars bring nothing but misery, pain, destruction and murder. War mongers will be held responsible when Christ returns. 

Pope: War Is Not a Video Game 

Al-Monitor wrote on March 16: 

“Pope Leo urged journalists on Monday to highlight the suffering caused by war, cautioning against news reports that risk sliding into propaganda by glorifying conflicts or serving as ‘a megaphone’ to amplify the voices of those in power… the pope made a direct appeal for reporters ‘to show the face of war and tell it through the eyes of the victims, so as not to turn it into a video game.’… 

“Leo’s warning against depicting war like a video game echoed remarks from a senior United States church official earlier this month. Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich sharply rebuked the White House for posting a video on social media featuring footage from the Iran war, spliced with scenes from video games and action films. Cupich called the video ‘sickening.’” 

“Thousands of Priests Call For Justice Against Israel” 

LifeSiteNews wrote on March 12: 

“A group consisting of thousands of Catholic priests issued a statement mourning the Israeli army’s killing of a brother priest in Lebanon earlier this week, demanding accountability ‘before international justice’ and calling for a day of prayer and fasting on Friday… A spokesperson for the network of clergy told LifeSiteNews that members currently include 2,200 priests in 59 countries, including two cardinals and 25 bishops/archbishops…

“Expressing solidarity with the Chrisitan communities in southern Lebanon, with candor the priests described that ‘Father Pierre did not die as a result of a tragic mistake but while carrying out the highest evangelical mandate: helping his neighbor,’ the group decried. ‘After a tank fired a first shot at a house, the priest rushed to the scene with some young people to help the wounded. It was then that a second shot struck him fatally.’ 

“‘This double-tap, which deliberately targets rescuers, is a brutal violation of humanitarian law,’ the priest association emphasized. ‘Father Pierre, 50, had chosen not to abandon his flock despite evacuation orders, bearing witness that faith does not flee in the face of threat.’… 

“‘The current Israeli government, which orders and carries out these attacks against civilians, children, and ministers of God, must be held accountable for its actions before international justice,’ the organization demanded… Echoing the words of Pope Leo XIV, the network of clergy asked that ‘the roar of bombs cease,’ pleading that ‘space be opened for true dialogue,’ and emphasizing that war ‘is never the solution, but a defeat for all humanity.’”

Right. And the alienation between Israel and the Catholic Church continues. 

Israel Claims Missile Debris Falls Near Al-Aqsa Mosque 

Aljazeera wrote on March 16: 

“Israeli police said fragments from missiles and interceptor systems landed at several sensitive religious sites in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City during Iranian missile interceptions. Authorities said debris was discovered near the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and in the Jewish Quarter after air defence systems engaged incoming missiles over the city…

“Officers later located ‘fragments of missiles and interceptor debris, some of significant size, at multiple sites in the Old City.’…” 

Suddenly, Desperate Trump Wants Help 

The Guardian wrote on March 14: 

“Donald Trump said ‘many countries’ would send warships to keep the strait of Hormuz open, without providing details on which countries would do so. He said he hoped the UK, China, France, Japan, South Korea and others will send ships to the area.” 

So, which is it? Totally contradictory. 

The Huffington Post wrote on March 14: 

“President Donald Trump spent his Saturday begging and pleading for other countries to help the U.S. clear out Iran’s military from the Strait of Hormuz…. It was his second post of the day asking other countries to help clear the critical passage for the world’s oil that Trump has jeopardized… 

“President Donald Trump was warned by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that Iran could close the Strait of Hormuz if attacked, The Wall Street Journal reported. Gen. Dan Caine reportedly told Trump in multiple briefings before the war that U.S. officials believed Iran would close the key oil shipping route. Trump brushed off those concerns, suggesting the U.S. military could handle it, according to the report.” 

What arrogance. 

Now Trump Needs Britain? 

Daily Mail reported on March 14:

“Trump has demanded Britain send warships to help defend the Strait of Hormuz and avert a global recession. The US President had previously slapped down Sir Keir Starmer, saying earlier this month that his offer of assistance was no longer needed because the war was already won 

“But on a day of escalating tension in which Tehran threatened to use helicopters to kidnap US soldiers, Mr Trump urged the UK to join an international armada to force open the blockaded Strait, where Iran has begun laying mines. It came as Iran’s foreign minister confirmed in an interview that his country was receiving military help from Russia and China.” 

But Europeans have different ideas. Note the next article. 

Europe Wants to Negotiate With Iran 

Financial Times wrote on March 14: 

“European countries including France have opened talks with Tehran seeking to negotiate a deal to guarantee safe passage for their ships through the Strait of Hormuz… European countries have sought to… avoid any direct participation in the conflict, and some have criticised the initial US-Israeli attack that provoked the wider regional war. 

“Italy, France and Greece have warships in the Red Sea as part of the EU’s Aspides naval protection mission. But no European navies are prepared to escort ships through Hormuz, the officials said, if there is a risk of attack, for fear of escalating the war… Britain is not talking directly to Iran about access to the strait… 

“Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto said in an interview with Corriere della Sera published on Friday: ‘We are trying to get Europe to speak with a single, united voice . . . pushing for two key points. The first is to officially request . . . to allow ships from countries that are not at war to pass through Hormuz.’” 

Were Europe’s negotiations at least partly successful? Note the next article.

Strait of Hormuz Safe Except For USA and Israel? 

The New York Post wrote on March 14: 

“Iran said Saturday that all countries besides the US and Israel may pass through the Strait of Hormuz in a desperate attempt at coalition busting… ‘As a matter of fact, the Strait of Hormuz is open,’ Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. ‘It is only closed to the tankers and ships belong[ing] to our enemies, to those who are attacking us and their allies. Others are free to pass,’ Araghchi told MS NOW. … 

“Two Indian-flagged tankers carrying liquefied petroleum gas crossed the Strait, Reuters reported Saturday. ‘They crossed the Strait of Hormuz safely early this morning and are en route to India,’ Rajesh Kumar Sinha, the minister of ports and shipping in New Delhi, said.” 

If correct, then Trump’s request for help from other countries becomes irrelevant. If Iran grants them free access to the Strait of Hormuz, they would most certainly not want to jeopardize that by helping Trump. On the other hand, since Iran has been lying all along, one cannot trust their assurances either. 

No European Military Deployment 

Nius wrote on March 14: 

“[German] Defense Minister Boris Pistorius rejected a European military deployment to secure the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. He didn’t see ‘what European frigates could still accomplish down there,’ the SPD politician said… 

“Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in turn, said with regard to a possible German involvement that there was currently ‘no reason to even consider a military securing of the sea lanes.’ The CDU politician said: ‘Germany is not part of this war and we don’t want to be.'”

Trump in a Dead End 

t-online wrote on March 16:

“The US launched its war against Iran more than two weeks ago – without a strategy. US President Donald Trump has thus reached a dead end. An end to the war is not in sight. The US president simply lacks options – and time is running out for him. Oil prices on the world market are exploding, partly because the Iranian regime is blocking the Strait of Hormuz. 

“Trump is under massive pressure – and now he is passing it on to NATO allies. He demands that the military alliance support the Americans in protecting the Strait of Hormuz. He is threatening NATO with a ‘very bad  future’ and even indirectly calling into question American support for Ukraine. This is brazen and disrespectful… 

“The US president currently appears at a loss and has been unable to define a clear war aim in recent weeks with regard to the war in Iran. The power of the mullah regime still seems firmly established…” 

Europe Stands Up to Trump

The Guardian wrote on March 16:

“European countries have ruled out sending warships to the strait of Hormuz, despite threats from Donald Trump that Nato faces ‘a very bad future’ if members fail to help reopen the vital waterway. 

“Germany ruled out participation in any military activity, including efforts to reopen the strait. ‘There was never a joint decision on whether to intervene. That is why the question of how Germany might contribute militarily does not arise. We will not do so,’ the chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said….”

Trump vs. NATO 

ntv wrote on March 17: 

“Trump and NATO: It’s no love affair. After requesting help in the war against Iran, he received numerous rejections from the alliance partners. He reacted angrily – and suddenly no longer considers support necessary… ‘However, I am not surprised by their behavior, because I have always viewed NATO, for which we spend hundreds of billions of dollars annually to protect precisely these countries, as a one-way street,’ he said…

“Trump already sharply criticized NATO during his first term… Since the beginning of his second term, the US president has also regularly criticized the military alliance… ‘We will protect them, but they will do nothing for us, especially in times of need,’ Trump writes…” 

Trump Attacks NATO

The Independent wrote on March 17:

 “Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on Nato, claiming the alliance abandoned the US ‘in its time of need’ by refusing to help open the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on Truth Social, the US president said Washington ‘did not need’ the help of the military alliance in securing the key waterway… His post came shortly after the head of the US National Counterterrorism Centre resigned in protest at the war with Iran, becoming the first and most senior member of Donald Trump’s administration to do so, saying Tehran posed no imminent threat to the United States.”

Not a NATO Matter 

Focus wrote on March 16: 

“US Senator Lindsey Graham, in connection with the refusal of European NATO countries to provide aid in the Strait of Hormuz, writes on X that he has ‘never seen Donald Trump so angry.’… German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has rejected German military participation in protecting oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and sharply criticized the course taken by US President Donald Trump. NATO is a defense alliance and not an intervention alliance… The war in Iran is not a NATO matter…

Even the AfD Agrees 

Die Welt wrote on March 17:

“AfD leader Weidel sharply criticizes the US military intervention in the Persian Gulf… ‘The fact that help is now being requested suggests that this operation was undertaken without a clear plan. This should have been considered beforehand,’ she said… According to the AfD leader, Trump’s support would transform NATO from a defensive to an offensive alliance. She sees no obligation to provide assistance.”

Trump and the AfD have previously been considered strong supporters.

Why Merz’s Decision Is Right and Necessary 

Nius wrote on March 17:

“The war against Iran started by the US and Israel is not our conflict, which is why our troops have no business being in the Strait of Hormuz… Donald Trump’s bombing of Iran is… an act of hubris. With a series of targeted airstrikes against leading religious and military figures, the US president wanted to put an end to the mullah regime… Even at the beginning of the war, [the war aim] remained vague… Of course, the attacks were not discussed or coordinated with European countries like Germany… 

“Merz’s refusal is primarily correct because Germany’s navy doesn’t have to clean up the mess Trump made. The decision to bomb the mullah regime is based on a blatant miscalculation by the US president, who increasingly resembles a caricature of the ‘peace president’ he once campaigned on… When an ally leaves a trail of destruction, it is not the German government’s job to intervene and pick up the pieces.” 

“Merz’s veto is correct… It’s a clear refusal to participate in conflicts that are clearly not in Germany’s interest, but would put German soldiers in immediate danger.”

This post is also noteworthy because Nius is a media outlet that usually strongly supports Trump.

“EU Shows Cracks Over Iran War”

JNS wrote on March 12:

“… visible cracks are on display within the E.U., most visibly in Spain’s explicit opposition to the U.S.-Israeli operation and in France’s implicit criticism… Whereas Europe’s leaders are genuinely hostile to Iran’s ayatollah regime…, they also have an entrenched aversion to military solutions and distrust of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu…

“Additionally, the aftermath of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, in which several European allies participated, has contributed to the European reluctance to support the Iran operation… No weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq, contrary to pre-war intelligence that was put forward as part of the justification for going to war, and the experience of 2003 trained a generation of European elites to distrust intelligence-driven military action and to fear escalation…”

Their distrust is clearly justified. 

Russia Taking Control of Iran War?

Newsbreak wrote on March 13:

“Fears are emerging that Russian President Vladimir Putin is taking control of the Iran war, even as the U.S. turns to Russia for help in mitigating the oil crisis… U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey said on Thursday that he believes [Iran] is being aided by Putin behind the scenes following a drone strike on a British military base in Erbil, Iraq… Iran was flying its drones ‘much lower, and therefore they were more effective,’ British military officials reportedly told Healey of the attack on the Erbil base.

“The tactic mirrored evolved tactics employed by Russia as it wages an all-out war of attrition against  Ukraine, which it invaded in 2022, hoping to annex it…” 

Europe Objects to Trump Decision on Russia

Politico wrote on March 14:

“Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney joined the leaders of Germany and Norway on Friday in criticizing the Trump administration’s decision to temporarily lift sanctions on Russian oil, exposing a public split between Washington and key NATO allies…. The three NATO leaders were publicly breaking with Washington over the Trump administration’s decision to ease some sanctions on Russian oil….

“Carney, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz argued that sanctions relief would weaken efforts to force Russia to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine…

“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the decision on Friday as ‘not very logical.’ ‘The lifting of sanctions means that [Russia] will receive more money and there will be more drone attacks’ in the Middle East, Zelenskyy said… ‘Russia will get money for its war machine, and there are a lot of drones that are built on Russian soil to destabilize the Middle East,’ he added.”

The Guardian wrote on March 13:

“European countries have pushed back against Donald Trump’s decision to ease some US sanctions on Russian oil… The UK has joined Germany, France and Norway in rejecting the move…

“Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor… insisted that support for Ukraine should continue despite the conflict in the Middle East. ‘We will not allow ourselves to be deterred or distracted from this by the war with Iran,’ he said…

“Merz’s comments follow similar remarks from the French president, Emmanuel Macron, who said… that the paralysis of the strait of Hormuz ‘in no way’ justified lifting sanctions on Russia….

“Trump’s chaotic geopolitical moves appeared to have left allies increasingly confounded as he also rejected Ukraine’s offer of help in countering Iran’s drones.” 

“Trump Is Wrong”

Politico wrote on March 13:

“Merz said, ‘…I would like to know what other factors led the U.S. government to make this decision.’ Merz said the decision by the U.S. administration had come as a surprise on Friday morning, crushing his hopes that Washington might refrain from taking such steps, as other G7 members had strongly urged Trump not to ease the pressure on Moscow during a joint video call on Wednesday…

“Merz stressed that Germany, together with its G7 partners and Israel, was working to end the war. He also reiterated his fears that the U.S. and Israel lack a strategy for ending the conflict.”

In fact, there seems to be no plan whatsoever. 

Zelensky Accuses Europe of Potential Blackmail

Politico wrote on March 15:

“Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described European allies’ attitude over the Druzhba oil pipeline as ‘blackmail.’ In remarks made public on Sunday, the Ukrainian leader criticized European pressure to allow oil to flow through the pipeline, which connects producer country Russia to Europe by way of Ukraine. The pipeline has been offline since January after a Russian attack, and has been at the center of a bitter row between Ukraine and Hungary.

“Budapest has accused Kyiv of deliberately blocking progress on repairing the infrastructure in order to engineer an energy crisis in Hungary. In response, Hungarian Prime [Minister] Viktor Orbán has been blocking the release of a €90 billion tranche of EU funding for Ukraine needed to keep the war-torn country financially afloat.

“On Thursday, the European Commission proposed sending a fact-finding mission to inspect the damage to the Druzhba pipeline in an attempt to resolve the dispute. ‘If we have decided to restore Russian oil supplies, then I want them to know that I am against it. … But if I am given conditions that Ukraine will not receive weapons, then, excuse me, I am powerless on this issue; I told our friends in Europe that this is called blackmail,’ Zelenskyy said…”

Is a rift between Ukraine and Europe coming?

Hegseth’s Attack on the Free Press

The Independent wrote on March 13:

“[As] the ex-Fox News host [appeared at the] briefing room on Friday, it was not the Supreme Leader (new or old one) that had Hegseth nearly breathless at the podium. No, it was an enemy far more insidious that revealed itself to the self-titled Secretary of War — the free press… Instead of ‘Mideast war intensifies,’ Hegseth demanded an alternative headline: ‘Iran increasingly desperate.’

“He also took issue with another ‘fake headline’ which suggested the war is ‘widening’ after Iran threatened to target shipping in the Strait of Hormuz — which, to the consternation of ‘fake news’ copy editors everywhere, he insisted on repeatedly calling the Straits of Hormuz — and Israel began attacking targets in Lebanon…. ‘Here’s a real headline for you, for an actual patriotic press. How about, “Iran shrinking, going underground,”’ Hegseth… told the reporters…  

“And on top of that, he went after CNN — the only major U.S. network to have had a correspondent inside Iran since the start of the war — for reporting that Trump administration officials told Congress they had underestimated the extent to which Iran would seek to retaliate against airstrikes…”

The Secretary of War’s demand that the “free press” enthusiastically and patriotically suppress the facts and rather “support” the Iran war is appalling. 

CNN’s Kasie Hunt Stood Her Ground

Express wrote on March 13:

“A fiery clash erupted on CNN after the news channel brought a breaking Donald Trump update. The US President had been downplaying the rising costs of oil as the Iran war rages on.

“Journalist Kasie Hunt was speaking to Republican politician Jim Jordan via video link live on air when the two clashed. He claimed that Trump makes decisions ‘that are in the best interest of our country’… But then the CNN host interrupted as she said: ‘He told them that he wouldn’t start any new wars,’ but Mr Jordan continued to rage on. He explained that the President is ‘making sure that this regime doesn’t get nuclear capability’…

“But Kasie then shared some clips of previous speeches that Trump had made as she pointed out that he said: ‘I’m not going to start a war, I am going to stop wars.’ ‘How is that an example of Donald Trump doing what he said he is going to do?’ She asked.

“Fans of the news channel took to social media to laugh about Trump being called out on his hypocrisy. One viewer wrote on X/Twitter: ‘… He quite literally broke every promise he campaigned on.’ Another fumed: ‘How do you lie so blatantly when shown evidence that you are lying. He did not say that he would start a war if negotiations fail, he said he would not start a war period!!’

“While one more raged: ‘This is why we hate politicians and can never trust them. Not an ounce of integrity.’”

That’s why you don’t vote in presidential elections!

Trump in Trouble

The Associated Press wrote on March 15:

“He’s grown more agitated with news coverage and has failed to find a way to explain why he started the war — or how he will end it — that resonates with a public concerned by American deaths in the conflict, surging oil prices and dropping financial markets…

“The longer the conflict goes, the more pronounced questions about the midterms will become. Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, suggested on Fox News Channel this past week that if gas and oil prices continue to stay high ‘you’re going to see a disastrous [midterm] election’ for the GOP.”

Indeed. 

Europeans Want Distance From USA… But Not From China

Politico wrote on March 15:

“European allies broadly support building closer ties to China — and believe America’s role as a global superpower is fading… Swaths of the public in Canada, Germany, France and the U.K. have soured on the U.S., driven by President Donald Trump’s foreign policy decisions… Respondents in these countries increasingly see China as a more dependable partner than the U.S…

“Critically, Europeans surveyed see it as possible to reduce reliance on the U.S. but harder to reduce reliance on China… respondents in those four allied countries believe it is better to depend on China than the U.S. following Trump’s turbulent return to office… a majority of respondents in both Canada and Germany agreed that any attempts to get closer to China are because the U.S. has become harder to depend on — not because China itself has become a more reliable partner. ..

“Respondents across all four allied countries are broadly supportive of efforts to create some distance from the U.S. .. As Washington and its allies grow more estranged, the perception of the U.S. as the dominant world power is in retreat — though most Americans don’t see it that way.

“About half of all respondents in Canada, Germany, France and the U.K. believe that China is rapidly becoming a more consequential superpower. This is particularly true among those who say the U.S. is no longer a positive force for the world. By contrast, 63 percent of respondents in the U.S. believe their nation will maintain its dominance in 10 years — reflecting major disparities in beliefs about global power dynamics between the U.S. and its European allies.”

America’s downfall is prophesied and inevitable… but many Americans are blind to that fact. 

Iran War a Distraction From Epstein Files?

People’s World wrote on March 13:

“Despite extensive redactions that blacked out entire pages, the allegations made against Trump so far are upsetting beyond belief and demand further investigation. In light of these attempts to cover up Epstein and Trump’s relationship, some have gone so far as to claim Trump is attacking foreign countries to distract people from the sex scandal.

“Some critics have sarcastically renamed ‘Operation Epic Fury’ as ‘Operation Epstein Distraction.’…

“Shaiel Ben-Ephraim, an analyst with Atlas Global Strategies and a former Israeli diplomat, told Al Jazeera that Trump ‘needs a distraction from [his domestic issues] in the form of a war’ and that Google searches for the Epstein files have ‘plummeted’ since the U.S. and Israel struck Iran.

“Republican Congressman Thomas Massie and Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley have both made comments suggesting the Iran war is meant to distract people from the Epstein files.”

Daily Beast wrote on March 11:

“A majority of Americans think that Donald Trump’s surprise attack on Iran was an effort to distract the public from his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein… The survey… also found that at least a quarter of Republicans shared the same belief…. Additionally, a striking two-thirds of people under 45 echoed such claims.” 

Crazy California Gas Prices

The New York Post wrote on March 3:

“The Trump administration has signed an executive order to resume oil drilling operations off the Southern California coast, citing national energy security concerns. The order… will prove controversial despite the potential to bring down gas prices, which are now the highest in America. Gov. Gavin Newsom also flagged the state would challenge the order in the courts… California’s price for a regular gallon hit an average of $5.42 on Friday. That’s far above the national average of $3.60.

“Drivers pay a ‘California premium’ loaded with higher than average state excise and sales taxes, as well hefty fees for climate programs unique to the state. The state also requires an eco-friendly more costly fuel blend designed to prevent pollution.

“Last week, oil giant Chevron warned in a doomsday letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom that the state will face economic collapse under his ‘misguided’ climate policies. State lawmakers also warned that Newsom’s green agenda risks sending the price of gas above $8 a gallon — potentially returning drivers to fuel rationing not seen since the 1970s.”

Corrupt policies contribute to the demise of America. 

America’s Suicide—Working Without Pay

npr wrote on March 13:

“TSA officers have been working without pay since funding for the Department of Homeland Security lapsed on February 14th. They’ve already missed part of one paycheck, and many security officers received no money at all in their paychecks on Friday as the partial shutdown approached the one-month mark… The majority of TSA employees work paycheck to paycheck… and don’t have enough savings to cover their expenses.

“Passengers have encountered hours-long security lines at major airports in Houston, Atlanta, New Orleans, Austin, and elsewhere, as many TSA officers have called out sick. Some officers have taken on second jobs in order to make ends meet… Meanwhile, airline passengers are still paying the security fees that help to fund the TSA’s budget, even as the partial shutdown drags on…. And that money has continued to accrue, even though none of it is finding its way into the bank accounts of TSA workers….

“Security officers also went more than 40 days without a paycheck last year during the partial government shutdown last year. The back-to-back shutdowns have only made it harder for the agency to attract and retain workers… as more than 1,000 security officers resigned from TSA during October and November of last year… An additional 300 TSA officers have quit during the current shutdown…”

Democrats and Republicans accuse each other of being responsible for the shutdown. Suffering Americans seem to matter little to them. 

Britain’s Suicide 

On March 14, the Daily Mail published the following article by Matthew Goodwin: 

“There are moments in the life of a nation when everything changes − not with a bang, not even with a conscious decision, but with a quiet, creeping loss of confidence so profound that a people start to forget who they are. Britain, I believe, is living through such a moment.

“For decades, the institutions that once embodied our nation − Parliament, the Civil Service, the courts, the police, the BBC, universities, schools, corporate executives, the Church, museums − have drifted away from the public they exist to serve.

“Our country is now in the grip of a new ruling class… Its defining ideology is ‘suicidal empathy’ – a deeply twisted worldview… Britain is not being conquered or invaded. Worse: it is being abandoned by the very people who were meant to protect it.” 

Canada Guilty of Attempted Murder of Cancer Patients? 

makisw.substack.com wrote on March 13: 

“Helping Cancer patients is now ILLEGAL in Canada, as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith punishes over 9000 Cancer patients for exercising their ‘Right to Try’ with Ivermectin… 

“Helping Cancer patients is now illegal in Canada. Health Coaching of Cancer patients is now illegal. Naturopathy is now illegal. Using Ivermectin and repurposed drugs is now illegal. Doing podcasts and videos on Health is now illegal. All punishable by up to 2 years imprisonment.

“Canadians have no idea what has just transpired and what Canada has recently turned into. The actions of Canadian authorities… amount to attempted murder of Cancer patients who wanted cutting edge options for their disease.” 

Big Pharma is behind this, as it is in the USA. It’s all about money! Also, a corrupt and crooked political system. Patients don’t matter… they are nothing more than numbers…. 

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.

More specifically, can you use a sourdough starter, or allow it to live in your fridge through the spring Holy Days? 

There are a few bakers in the Church who have received sourdough starters and have started to make sourdough bread. A sourdough starter is essentially flour, water and salt. Once these ingredients are added together it begins to ferment. There is natural wild yeast that is on ground flour that begins the process of fermentation when it is combined with the water and salt. The longer a starter is allowed to grow and be used, it gains flavor characteristics, and older starters are prized as having a fuller flavor and stronger binding properties. 

Some of the oldest actively used sourdough starters are over a century old, with notable examples including a 120-year-old Yukon Gold Rush starter and San Francisco starters dating back to the mid-19th century. Many family-kept starters are 50–100 years old. Recently, there was even an experimental, 4,500-year-old yeast from Egyptian pottery that has been revived and used to bake bread. 

When we look at the properties of sourdough starter, while no commercial yeast is added, the key point is that the starter is fermenting and growing, which gets to the heart of the matter.

During biblical times, they did not have the commercial rising agents we commonly use today (baking powder, baking soda, yeast, etc.). What they used during that time was a piece of dough retained from a previous batch which had fermented. This was then used to mix into a new batch to start the leavening process. The Israelites were deeply entrenched in Egypt. The Egyptians were advanced bakers and beer makers. So it goes to reason that the Israelites were well versed in how to make bread. 

In the ancient Hebrew and Greek when a substance was added to dough or liquids to cause fermentation, especially a portion of fermenting dough preserved for baking purposes, it was specified by the Hebrew word seʼorʹ (“sourdough”; Exodus 12:15) or by the Greek word zyʹme (“leaven”; Luke 13:21). A leavened thing is designated by the Hebrew word cha·metsʹ or Chametz (חָמֵץ) such as found in Leviticus 2:11. In Jewish law and tradition, it refers to any food product derived from five specific grains—wheat, barley, rye, oats, or spelt—that has come into contact with water and been allowed to ferment or “rise”. Under most halakhic (Jewish law) opinions, grain mixed with water becomes chametz if it is left unbaked for longer than 18 minutes. 

We are informed that Jewish law (Halacha) strictly forbids owning, using, or benefiting from sourdough starter (se’or) during the Days of Unleavened Bread, as it is considered chametz (leaven). Because it is a fermented flour-and-water mixture, it must be removed from the home. As we will discuss, we agree with that conclusion, but not with the Jewish practice of some to sell it to a non-Jewish person and buy it back afterward or to give it to a non-observant friend to care for during the week and to receive it back afterward. Rather, we agree with most observers who choose to throw away their starter before the Holy Days of Unleavened Bread.

When we look at what God commanded the Israelites when they were leaving Egypt, He wanted them to make their bread without allowing it the opportunity to rise. In Exodus 12:14-20, the specific commands were to remove leaven from their houses and they were allowed to only make that which could be eaten, again showing that no bread was to be left to rise and ferment.

Further on in the Israelite story, they are reminded of why they were continuing this tradition (one that is still relevant for us today). In Deuteronomy 16:3-4, they were instructed again as to the reasons why they must eat unleavened bread: “You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread with it, that is, the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste), that you may remember the day in which you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life. And no leaven shall be seen among you in all your territory for seven days…”

When Israel left Egypt, they did so with haste. They were leaving the sin-ridden Egyptians and they were to do so with an eye toward their ongoing journey. They were supposed to be looking to God who brought them out of Egypt, out of sin. They were removed from the slavery of Egypt. Today, while we do not live in literal slavery, many are still enslaved by sin and its power. Those who ate leavened bread during the Days of Unleavened Bread were to be cut off from the congregation (Exodus 12:15). The same principle applies today. Those who persist in sin without repentance ultimately separate themselves from the Body of Christ (the Church), and more importantly, from God.

As we know from the Old and New Testaments, leavening was disallowed during the Unleavened Bread Days. During the Old Testament, we know that leavening was often associated with corruption, impurity and sin. Offerings made to God in the Old Testament were oftentimes not to be made with leavening (Leviticus chapters 2, 6 & 7; Exodus 29:2; Numbers 6:15). (Please see our free booklet The Sacrificial System and the Tabernacle in the Wilderness for more information). In the New Testament, unleavened bread took on additional significance in the context of the Lord’s Supper. During the Last Supper, Jesus broke unleavened bread and gave it to His disciples, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). Christ used the symbol of unleavened bread and wine to foreshadow the Sacrifice that He would give of Himself for the redemption of humanity.

In the New Testament, leaven is used metaphorically to represent the pervasive nature of sin and false teachings. Many times Christ warned the disciples about the “leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees,” referring to their hypocritical and erroneous teachings (Matthew 16:6)—showing how easy it is to believe something so dogmatically while being utterly wrong.  Similarly, the apostle Paul used leaven as a metaphor for sin in the Church, urging believers to “purge out the old leaven” to become a new, unleavened lump (1 Corinthians 5:6-8). That is to be free from the fermentation of sin. We must do a thorough search of our hearts and minds, asking God for help in this manner as well. Paul warns us that “many are weak and sick” because they have not properly discerned “the Lord’s body” (1 Corinthians 11:27-33). 

In the prophet Amos’s day, Christ warned Israel in Amos 4:5 about what they were doing in transgressing His laws and commandments: “‘Offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, Proclaim and announce the freewill offerings; For this you love, You children of Israel!’ Says the Lord God.” God here is telling them that their worship of other gods was a transgression against Him. They might as well offer leavened bread on the altar (which was disallowed) because they were actively committing idolatry, so that their religious services had become useless.  

While Christ mentioned a few times that leaven can be likened to the pervasive nature of sin and false doctrine (Matthew 16:6), He also made a very interesting statement about how the Kingdom of God should grow! Quoting from Luke 13:20-21: “And again He said, ‘To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.’” This is the proper way to think about God’s ways working through us. We should not be compromising or sinning, which will grow, but rather grow by showing and manifesting good fruits in order to qualify for the Kingdom of God. It is a way that transforms our whole lives—just as how the world will be transformed when Christ returns and ushers in the Rule or Kingdom of God. 

As we prepare for the Passover evening and the upcoming Days of Unleavened Bread, we should take note of our spiritual condition and ensure that we are entering these days with the right frame of mind. It is then that we can keep these days as the Israelites did with great gladness, rejoicing and joyfulness (2 Chronicles 30:21; Ezra 6:22). We are looking forward to the time when this world will be ruled differently. The Days of Unleavened Bread show us that we need to continually be looking at our lives and seeing where we can improve, and how we can incorporate more of God’s ways and allow that new lump to form, as Paul mentioned. 

In regards to the active sourdough starters in our homes, based on Scripture and our understanding, as described herein, we conclude that these types of starters are to be removed from our homes. Let us also ensure that we keep the coming spring Holy Days in a perfect state of mind, having worked to clear up our houses not only from literal leaven during that time, but also, by removing any lingering issues we may see in ourselves, so that we have the proper lump growing within ourselves.

Lead Writer: Kalon Mitchell

compiled by Dave Harris

“Germany Stands Up to and Rejects Trump,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

The developments regarding the Iran war confirm beyond a shadow of a doubt that the alienation between Germany and Trump continues. Even German pro-Trump media outlets and politicians, seeing the signs of the times, stand up to him and reject his policies. Germany stated clearly that it will not join Trump militarily in any manner, shape or form. In return, Trump reacted with anger and threats. 

“Deutschland stellt sich ablehnend gegen Trump,” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as discussed above.

A new Member Letter (March 2026) has been posted and has been mailed to our subscribers. Pastor Brian Gale discusses why some leave the true Church of God and reminds us of the absolute necessity to be fully committed to the Way of Life God has called us to.

“Die vielen Warnungen von Jesus über die Endzeit,” last Sabbath’s German sermonette presented by Patrick Flück, is now posted. Title in English: “Jesus’ Many Warnings About the End Times.”

“Mit großer Macht kommt große Verantwortung,” last Sabbath’s German sermon presented by Christoph Sperzel, is now posted. Title in English: “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility.”

“Why America Won’t Win the Iran War—Comments on News and Prophecy, March 14, 2026,” last Sabbath’s first message presented by Nobert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

America has no chance of winning this war—whatever you might describe as “undefined victory.” There will be no regime change; there will be no destruction of Iran’s nuclear stockpile; and most certainly, there will be no successful invasion of Iran through ground troops.

America’s allies, especially in Europe, are separating themselves more and more from Trump’s Iran war, and object strongly to his dealing with Russia and his “chaotic geopolitical moves,” being unwilling to “escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz.”

At the same time, this ill-conceived and unprovoked war without any plan for the “Day After” might lead to a “dollar crisis” and an “economic crash worse than the Great Depression”; and oil prices will “march higher and higher” and will “NEVER go back down much again.”

“Faith in God’s Promise of Healing,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

This sermon explores many biblical passages that address faith, hope, and doubt, and explains God’s promise of healing in this life, which is, however, conditional. We also present examples in which God’s supernatural, powerful healing was clearly demonstrated.