On October 25, 2025, Norbert Link will present “Comments on News and Prophecy, October 24, 2025,” and the sermon, titled, “Rejoice When Suffering?”
The live services are available, over video and audio, at http://eternalgod.org/live-services/ (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time; 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time; 9:30 pm Central European Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.
Israel 365 News wrote on October 15:
“President Donald Trump’s speech at the Knesset last week marked a significant and monumental moment for Israel, one that celebrated the remarkable deal that freed all the live hostages as a first step, something that Hamas never agreed to in past deals…
“There’s no denying the scale of this accomplishment. Trump’s vision of a Middle East where Israel stands as a pillar of strength and a key partner to the United States—and to the wider world—is truly inspiring… Yet, as grand as the speech was…, it still misses one crucial, undeniable truth: it won’t bring peace…
“The reality is that a mere pause in hostilities does not equate to peace… it doesn’t directly address the fundamental issue that has plagued this region for over a millennium: the ideological and religious jihadist agenda that calls for the obliteration of Israel and the Islamic takeover of the world…
“If Trump and Netanyahu truly wanted to establish a lasting peace in the Middle East, their plan… would have focused on something even more transformative and spiritually resonant: the expansion of Israel to encompass its rightful Biblical borders, protect all the minorities in the region also persecuted by jihadi Islam, and the one, powerful act of rebuilding the Third Temple in Jerusalem… What message would it send to the Muslim world if, as part of a peace plan, Trump and Netanyahu announced a plan to not only expand Israel’s borders, but to restore the holiest site in Judaism, the Third Temple?…
“A rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem would be a clear signal to the Muslim world that the Jews are back in full force, not just as a temporary fixture or a historical relic, but as a powerful, sovereign nation reclaiming its rightful place on the world stage… Such a monumental step would have made it clear that Israel’s commitment to peace isn’t simply about appeasing its enemies or military victories, but about sending a clear message that the Jewish people are not going anywhere…”
The Third Temple will be built prior to Christ’s Return, but paradoxically, it will not bring peace to the region, but more war.
The Sun wrote on October 15:
“Donald Trump has warned Hamas that he will respond ‘violently’ if they refuse to disarm themselves as part of the Gaza peace deal. Israel’s truce with the terror group has been rocked by multiple setbacks today… Under the terms of Trump’s 20-point plan, Hamas must give up all of their weapons to squash Israel’s fears of the group restrengthening… Officials within Hamas over recent days have said they have no plans of disarming regardless of Trump or Israel’s pleas…
“Hamas claims it has been unable to locate up to 15 corpses lost in the chaos of the Gaza War – but families believe the terror group is holding on to their loved ones’ remains…
“Meanwhile, Hamas said it had recalled 7,000 members of its security forces in order to ‘cleanse Gaza of outlaws and collaborators’ – sparking fears of a bloody civil war. Bone-chilling videos have emerged of Hamas executing prisoners it accused of collaborating with Israel…”
In exchange, nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners were freed—many of them convicted criminals and terrorists. During the last exchange, a convicted terrorist was freed who later became one of the masterminds for the October 7 attack on Israel [the later Hamas-Chief Yahya Sinwar (†2024)]. Trump’s deals may look good on paper… but many times, they don’t work in practice.
Deutsche Welle wrote on October 16:
“Hamas… is classified as a terrorist organization by Germany, the US and several other countries… It still commands some 40,000 fighters, according to Israeli daily Haaretz, who can now be seen reappearing on the streets and squares of Gaza…
“The group should be completely disarmed, according to US President Donald Trump’s peace plan; however, this does not look likely for now.
“Trump has made contradictory statements about the group’s disarmament. Addressing the Israeli parliament on Monday, Trump proclaimed that ‘virtually the entire region has endorsed the plan that Gaza will be immediately demilitarized, that Hamas will be disarmed and Israel’s security will no longer be threatened in any way, shape or form.’
“Yet before his speech, on the flight to Israel, Trump told reporters his government had allowed Hamas to temporarily rearm itself as it tries to restore order after months of war. Most recently, however, Trump appeared to double down on the group’s disarmament, saying if Hamas did not lay down its weapons, the US would disarm it by force.
“Hamas sent a clear message when its armed operatives showed up in Gaza City shortly after the Israeli withdrawal, said Simon Wolfgang Fuchs, a professor of Islam at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. ‘Hamas is making a point that it has by no means disappeared from the Gaza Strip; on the contrary, it continues to claim a role there,’ he said.
“Hamas sees its weapons as a means to guarantee its existence — militarily, politically and symbolically, said Simon Engelkes, who heads Ramallah’s branch of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation…’ US President Trump’s “security guarantees” that the war in the Gaza Strip will not be continued due to the ceasefire agreement will not be enough at this stage.’
“Even though Hamas’ military structures were severely weakened in the war, its networks and presence in Gaza have remained intact, said Engelkes… French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that Hamas still poses a threat… The real conflict still lies ahead, said Engelkes…”
This whole “deal” with Hamas—an organization with terrorists and mass murderers—is shameful, shortsighted and futile at the same time. Victory celebrations for “Peace in the Middle East” are nothing more than a pipe dream. Note the next article.
Israel Today wrote on October 10:
“While [Police Minister Itamar] Ben-Gvir is like all Israelis happy for the opportunity to recover the hostages being held in Gaza, he believes the deal ultimately serves to set the stage for the next catastrophe and war. According to Hebrew media, a heated exchange erupted between Ben-Gvir and the Americans.
“Ben-Gvir: ‘I’m standing here next to the list of terrorists being released – baby killers, rapists. Gentlemen, you would never release them in the United States. You spoke about making peace. You can’t make peace with Hamas! They want to kill us… Those who killed us on October 7 do not ask for forgiveness. Their families are proud of it. They want to murder Jews… Would you have made peace with Hitler? Hamas is Hitler. They want to kill us.’
“Hamas officials have stated a number of times that they will repeat the atrocities of October 7, 2023 if given the opportunity…”
Ben-Gvir is of course right. The naivety of the Americans [US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner] is astonishing.
The Jerusalem Post wrote on October 17:
“Hamas intends to maintain security control in Gaza during an interim period, a senior Hamas official [Nazal] told Reuters, adding he could not commit to the group disarming – positions that reflect the difficulties for Trump’s plan for Gaza…
“… the [Israeli] Prime Minister’s Office said…: ‘Hamas is supposed to release all hostages in stage 1. It has not. Hamas knows where the bodies of our hostages are. [Hamas has still not turned over all of the 28 dead bodies.] Hamas are to be disarmed under this agreement. No ifs, no buts. They have not. Hamas need to adhere to the 20-point plan. They are running out of time…’
“Nazzal said there was an understanding regarding Hamas’ presence on the ground, without specifying among whom, indicating it was necessary to protect aid trucks from thieves and armed gangs…
“Hamas’ founding charter called for the destruction of Israel, although the group’s leaders have at times offered a long-term truce with Israel in return for a viable Palestinian state on all Palestinian territory occupied by Israel in the 1967 war…”
This “peace deal” will go nowhere. In fact, credible reports are surfacing regarding another coming Hamas massacre—this time against Palestinian civilians.
JNS wrote on October 21:
“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a ‘sworn enemy of Israel and the West, a jihadist in a suit,’ Amichai Chikli, the Jewish state’s minister of diaspora affairs and combating antisemitism, charged on Monday. The Jewish state ‘will not tolerate a Turkish presence’ on its southern border with the Gaza Strip or northern frontier with Syria, Chikli tweeted, slamming Ankara’s potential involvement in U.S. President Donald Trump’s recently-launched peace plan for the Middle East…
“Under the plan, Turkey has committed to deploying search and rescue teams to Gaza to help recover the bodies of slain hostages and clear up the rubble. Ankara is also expected to join a multinational task force overseeing the ceasefire and assisting in the training of local forces. However,… Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out Turkey’s participation in the International Stabilization Force, defining it as Israel’s ‘red line.’ Netanyahu has reportedly also communicated reservations about Turkish companies participating in the reconstruction of the Strip…”
Y-Net News wrote on October 10:
“Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani condemned ‘Israeli violations in Palestine, especially turning the Gaza Strip into an uninhabitable area.’ According to him, ‘It’s time to end the Israeli occupation. The Palestinian issue is not a terrorism issue, but one of prolonged occupation. It’s time to end it. This is the basis for just peace. What happened in the Gaza Strip in the last two years is genocide.’”
And Turkey and Qatar—America’s “allies”—are supposed to help end the war? What lunacy!
The Daily Mail wrote on October 21:
“Donald Trump today promised to unleash death upon Hamas if the militants do not uphold their peace agreement with Israel. The Gaza region has descended into anarchy as new footage has emerged showing Palestinians being executed and tortured by Hamas enforcers…
“The first phase of the ceasefire with Hamas and Israel is still ongoing despite Hamas not handing over the remaining bodies of the 15 deceased hostages… The next phase of Trump’s peace plan is for the disarmament of Hamas along with the group losing control of governing Gaza. Hamas has not agreed to this part of the peace deal.”
The Associated Press wrote on October 15:
“President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that he has authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela and said he was weighing carrying out land operations on the country. The acknowledgement of covert action in Venezuela by the U.S. spy agency comes after the U.S. military in recent weeks has carried out a series of deadly strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean. U.S. forces have destroyed at least five boats since early September, killing 27 people, and four of those vessels originated from Venezuela… [As of Wednesday, 8 boats were destroyed.]
“Early this month, the Trump administration declared drug cartels to be unlawful combatants and pronounced the United States is now in an ‘armed conflict’ with them, justifying the military action as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States. The move has spurred anger in Congress from members of both major political parties that Trump was effectively committing an act of war without seeking congressional authorization…
“The Trump administration has yet to provide underlying evidence to lawmakers proving that the boats targeted by the U.S. military were in fact carrying narcotics…”
Trump’s actions—carried out and contemplated—seem to be illegal and unconstitutional.
The Mirror wrote on October 15:
“Shocking video taken during an ICE sweep at a Chicago Walgreens shows a senior white officer throwing a Black man to the pavement and placing him under arrest for ‘fleeing,’ even though a relative insisted he was an American citizen… A second video captured the shocking moment after ICE officers cuffed the man and drove him away in SUVs…
“It comes after an out-of-control ICE agent yelled a disgusting insult before shooting a woman five times.”
The Rutherford Institute wrote on October 15:
“Masked gunmen. Tasers. Tear gas. Pepper spray. Unmarked vehicles. Intimidation tactics. Brutality. Racial profiling. Children traumatized. Families terrorized. Journalists targeted. Citizens detained. Disabled individuals, minors, the elderly, pregnant women, military veterans—snatched off the streets. Private property destroyed. This is not a war zone.
“This is what now passes for law-and-order policing by ICE agents in Trump’s America—and it is not making America safer or greater. What began as an agency tasked with enforcing immigration law has metastasized into a domestic terror force.
“From coast to coast, ICE goon squads… are prowling neighborhoods, churches, courthouses, hospitals, bus stops, and worksites, anywhere ‘suspected’ migrants might be present, snatching people first and asking questions later. Sometimes ‘later’ comes hours, days or even weeks afterwards. No one is off limits—not even American citizens… It is how a dictatorship behaves when it decides the rule of law—in this case, the Bill of Rights—is optional.
“Journalists are being shoved to the pavement, forced into chokeholds, teargassed, and brutalized—in violation of the First Amendment. U.S. citizens, including toddlers, are being snatched up and carted off—in violation of the Fourth Amendment. People with no criminal records who have lived, worked and paid taxes in this country for decades are being made to disappear—in violation of habeas corpus…
“Nationally, more than 70% of individuals rounded up by ICE nationally have no criminal convictions. Many have lived in the U.S. for decades, raised families, paid taxes, contributed to the economy, and worked the jobs most Americans refuse to do.”
Even Trump admitted that. Americans did not vote for him to have ICE behave in this illegal way. He may pay dearly at the midterm elections.
Reuters wrote on October 2:
“Pope Leo initially impressed conservative Catholics after his election in May as he embraced traditions shunned by his predecessor Pope Francis and steered clear of hot button social issues that divided the 1.4 billion-member Church. But his honeymoon with conservatives appears over after he unexpectedly took aim at U.S. President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies, questioning whether they were in line with the Church’s pro-life teachings.
“‘Someone who says I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro-life,’ Leo, the first U.S. pope, told reporters on Tuesday…
“The Trump administration, which was sharply critical of Francis but has rarely commented about Leo… pushed back. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she rejected the characterisation of inhumane treatment of immigrants.”
Pope Leo is correct. The Trump administration’s denial is laughable. Note the next article.
The New Republic wrote on October 1:
“On Tuesday evening, the Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV spoke out against anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States, as well as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s bellicose rhetoric. At an unusual gathering of military leaders earlier that day, Hegseth had told the top brass to be ‘prepared for war, not for defense,’ while espousing the use of ‘overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy’ and promising to ‘untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt and kill the enemies of our country.’…
“Leo called Hegseth’s rhetoric ‘worrying… because it shows each time an increase in tensions.’ Citing Hegseth’s change in job title from ‘secretary of defense’ to ‘secretary of war,’ the pope said, ‘Let’s hope it is only a way of speaking.’”
Reuters wrote on October 1:
“Trump said he told [U.S. Defense Secretary Pete] Hegseth ‘we should use some of these dangerous [U.S.] cities as training grounds for our military.’ He acknowledged that he has been criticized for deploying the military on U.S. streets, but said America was in the grips of what he described as a war from within waged by immigrants in the country illegally who his administration is seeking to deport.
“‘America is under invasion from within. We’re under invasion from within, no different than a foreign enemy, but more difficult in many ways, because they don’t wear uniforms,’ Trump said. That triggered a sharp reaction from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat. ‘Anyone who talks about their fellow Americans as enemies to be “taken out” is not fit to lead the nation,’ Pritzker said on X.”
The terminology of the Trump Administration becomes more and more intolerable. Words lead to deeds. Is civil war coming?
The Independent wrote on October 1:
“Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, has responded angrily to the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, after a social media account linked to Newsom labelled Miller a ‘fascist’… ‘It is a message that his team is sending to all the crazies and lunatics out there,’ he said. ‘We’re not going to absolve Democrats of responsibility anymore. There’s a reason why all of these killers and lunatics and terrorists adopt the same language. They say they are trying to kill the fascist and stop the fascists. This is deliberate.’…
“Miller himself has previously described opponents, including the Democrats and the Biden administration, as ‘fascists’ in numerous social media posts. ‘The Democrat Party is now a Fascist Party. Using corporate and government power to punish dissent and dissenters,’ he wrote in 2024…
“His use of the slur is not reserved for the Democratic Party…”
Miller is a dangerous political force.
CBS News wrote on October 14:
“Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested there may be a link between autism and circumcision while reasserting the… theory that Tylenol causes the disorder… ‘There’s two studies that show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism. It’s highly likely because they are given Tylenol,’ Kennedy stated during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday…
“Kennedy said he was referring to an August 2025 Preprints.org review by Patel et al., which he said ‘directly validates my point that the observed autism correlation in circumcised boys is best explained by acetaminophen exposure, not circumcision itself.’”
This important distinction has been conveniently overlooked in the mass media.
Breitbart wrote on October 14:
“A poll published by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on Monday found that 75 percent of Ukrainians want President Volodymyr Zelensky to leave office after the war with Russia ends…”
Zelensky himself declared that he would step down after the war ends. It reminds us of Churchill’s fate after World War II.
The Spectator wrote on October 17:
“Sorry, Volodymyr. There won’t be any Tomahawk missiles headed to Ukraine now that president Vladimir Putin of Russia has talked on the phone with president Donald Trump, who called their session ‘very productive.’ What it will produce remains an open question. But it does seem to have resulted in a decision to hold an upcoming summit in Budapest. The bottom line: Putin has outflanked Ukrainian president Zelensky…
“For Zelensky, Putin’s missive could not come at a worse time… Trump has repeatedly voiced his frustration with ‘Vladimir,’ as he likes to call him, for refusing to end the war. Now Putin is once more dangling the bait of a ceasefire…
“Since the Alaska summit, Trump has approved further cooperation between American and Ukrainian intelligence services, ensuring that they receive better targeting information to hit Russian energy infrastructure…
“Putin’s track record, of course, should hardly inspire much confidence. A master of the tactical move, the Russian president may well have intervened simply to stymie Trump from delivering more potent weapons to Ukraine… It is Putin, and Putin alone, who has steadily been saying nyet to ending the conflict in his mad desire to reestablish the Russian empire of yore.”
Nothing good will come from these “negotiations.” Note the next article.
The Guardian wrote on October 17:
“Donald Trump seemed more intent on brokering a peace deal than he was to supply Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles during a White House meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying that the US may need them for a future conflict… After speaking with Zelenskyy for more than two hours, Trump implored both Ukraine and Russia to ‘stop the war immediately’, even if it means Ukraine conceding territory…
“Trump’s doubtful tone on the cruise missiles follows a surprise phone call with Vladimir Putin on Friday during which the Russian leader told Trump that supplying the Tomahawks would damage US-Russian relations.
“His position on supplying Ukraine with weapons has changed a number of times since he returned to office in January, often after negotiations with Putin or European backers of Ukraine… On previous occasions, when Trump had seemed ready to tilt towards Kyiv and its European allies, a call from Putin was often followed by a sudden softening in the US leader’s tone towards Moscow.
“A flurry of activity was also set off with Trump’s announcement after the call that he was planning to meet the Russian president in the Hungarian capital on a date still to be determined, in an effort to end the war… It remains unclear how Putin would travel to Hungary, given EU sanctions and airspace restrictions imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as the fact that he is wanted by the international criminal court (ICC). As a signatory to the ICC, Hungary would be obliged to arrest him, though Orbán has previously said this would not happen…
“Trump and Putin last met in Alaska in August, which did not produce a diplomatic breakthrough… The latest conversation, which lasted more than two and a half hours, appears to have sapped the momentum Zelenskyy had built with Trump, with the US leader now unlikely to show significant support for Ukraine before meeting Putin…
“While Moscow has repeatedly claimed it is ready to end its invasion of Ukraine, Putin has shown no indication he is seeking compromise or to scale back his maximalist goal of forcing Kyiv’s capitulation. Despite Trump’s typically upbeat rhetoric that peace may be within reach, the US vice-president, JD Vance, struck a more cautious note on Thursday, saying that ‘the Russians and the Ukrainians are just not at the point where they can make a deal’, and that a settlement ‘remains possible but will require a lot more work’.”
Trump is being played like a fiddle… again. He is caving to Putin and is no match for him.
Euractiv wrote on October 19:
“Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that Ukraine surrender full control of Donetsk as a condition for ending the war, US newspaper The Washington Post reported. The request, which would significantly disadvantage Kyiv, signals that Putin has not backed away from long-standing territorial ambitions despite Trump’s optimism about brokering a deal.
“According to two senior officials quoted by The Washington Post, Putin offered to relinquish claims to parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in exchange for Donetsk [a strategically important region], which Moscow and its proxies have failed to capture entirely since 2014. Trump… has yet to endorse the demand publicly…
“Zelenskyy on Sunday urged allies against appeasing Russia. ‘Ukraine will never grant terrorists any bounty for their crimes, and we count on our partners to uphold this very position,’ Zelenskyy wrote on social media on his return from Washington. He called for decisive steps from European and American allies. ‘This week alone, Russia has used more than 3,270 attack drones, 1,370 guided aerial bombs, and nearly 50 missiles of various types against Ukraine,’ Zelensky said.”
Newsmax wrote on October 21:
“President Donald Trump, confirming Tuesday that his plan for a swift meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin was on hold, said that’s because he doesn’t want it to be a ‘waste of time.’
“It was the latest twist in Trump’s stop-and-go effort to resolve the war in Ukraine.
“The decision to hold off on the meeting in Budapest, Hungary, which Trump had announced last week, was made following a call Monday between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.”
While this is going on, in one of the biggest demonstrations in American history, approximately 7 million people demonstrated against Trump over the weekend under the motto: “No Kings.” In a previous “No Kings” demonstration in June, “only” 3 million participated. Note the next segment.
The Daily Beast reported on October 21:
“Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has implored his party to wake up to the dangers posed by an estimated seven million people turning out in protest against the Donald Trump administration. ‘Unquestionably, we should take political peril seriously,’ Cruz told Bloomberg Television. ‘… There is a lot of anger on the left. And elections can be dangerous when one side is mobilized, is angry.’…
“It’s not the first time Cruz has openly criticized the MAGA administration, warning in April 2025 that Trump’s trade war against much of the rest of the planet would likely result in significant job losses, threatening to turn the 2026 midterms into a ‘bloodbath’ for Republicans.”
The New York Post added on October 19:
“The president posted a wild AI-generated video of himself late Saturday as a fighter pilot wearing a crown on his head, unloading sewage on ‘No Kings’ protestors. With ‘Danger Zone,’ the iconic ‘Top Gun’ theme song, blaring in the background, Trump’s fighter jet was shown dropping masses of manure on demonstrators over what appeared to be New York City.”
The Mirror wrote on October 22:
“Donald Trump has no intention of ever leaving the White House… That seems like a weird thing to suggest, but there is now so much evidence pointing to him trying to cling on to power beyond the end of his legal presidential term, that it’s irresponsible to pretend it’s not happening. He keeps saying he’s not a ‘king’ or a ‘dictator’. But he also keeps doing and saying things that suggest he very much would like to be…
“Trump did exactly what he said he was going to do in his first term, or at least tried to. And this time, he keeps saying he’s going to stay in the White House beyond 2029, when his legal term ends. He’s even made hats and given them out to Republican congressmen. He’s repeatedly floated the idea of re-writing or bypassing constitutional rules that prevent him serving beyond two terms.
“During a visit to the White House by Volodymyr Zelensky in August, Trump indicated he likes the idea of using a war to cancel the next election, allowing him to stay in power beyond his term limit. Zelensky cancelled an election in Ukraine because his country is at war with Russia. ‘So let me just say three and a half years from now – so you mean, if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections?…’ Trump said. Later during his visit, Trump showed Zelensky the White House gift shop, where Trump 2028 hats are on sale….”
The article lists several additional factors, but the ones quoted herein are the most striking.
fakti.bg wrote on October 15:
“Currently, the partnership with the country that has the second largest army in NATO after the US may prove to be key for Europe…
“At the same time, Turkey remains a difficult partner for the West. The conflicts with Greece and Cyprus are still unresolved, and its proximity to Vladimir Putin is causing concern. The country also has serious problems with democracy, and EU accession talks have been frozen for years. But despite the repression of the opposition, criticism from Brussels is almost non-existent. Why?..
“Before, it was about democracy. Today, security is the priority. The threat from Russia overshadows everything else… The partnership with Turkey remains risky, but the fear of Russia in Europe is growing…”
Turkey, with the help of Europe, will play a violent anti-Israeli role in the future.
IFN wrote on October 16:
“The Turkish government is increasingly treating Christian minorities as existential threats—branding them as ‘national security dangers’ to justify mass expulsions and heavy restrictions on religious freedom. This alarming rhetoric marks a new low in Türkiye’s crackdown on minority believers.
“… the government has expelled foreign Christians working as missionaries or aid workers—even when they held valid visas. Some local Christians report threats, intimidation, and bureaucratic harassment until they leave…
“In response, Christian and human rights advocates are calling on governments and international bodies to shine a light on Türkiye’s actions, impose accountability for violations, and support Christians facing forced removal or persecution…”
Europe, more and more dependent on Turkey’s strong military, stays silent.
The Guardian wrote on October 1:
“Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen issued a stark warning that Europe is ‘in the most difficult and dangerous situation since the second world war,’ even worse than during the cold war… as she urged leaders to leave national perspectives behind and unite to take on Russia…”
And so, at least ten European nations or groups of nations will unite… with dangerous consequences.
Euronews wrote on September 29:
“For decades, Germany relied on the US for its security policy. But that era is over, experts tell Euronews. Germany plans to spend up to €83 billion on European-made weapons and reduce dependence on US defence systems as Chancellor Friedrich Merz pushes to build Europe’s ‘strongest conventional armed force’ amid doubts about Washington’s reliability under Donald Trump.
“According to reports, the German government plans 154 major defence procurements between September 2025 and December 2026, with only 8% from US suppliers compared to the previously heavy reliance on US systems. The shift follows US President Trump’s demands that NATO partners increase their defence spending to 5% of GDP, while purchasing more US weapons, prompting Berlin to pursue a ‘Buy European’ strategy…
“According to US expert and author Dr Josef Braml, this move should not be seen as a mistake of confusing cause and effect. ‘The cause was that Trump made it clear that America can no longer be relied on,’ Braml told Euronews. Now that this has become clear, ‘it no longer makes sense to pay tribute for protection that we no longer get,’ he added. According to Braml, this ‘tribute’ was paid by buying US weapons that made Germany and other European countries dependent on US systems…
“The Marshall Plan and NATO laid the foundations for security and economic relations between Germany and the US after World War II. Since Trump took office, the German government has endeavoured to maintain bilateral relations. Nevertheless, the German course is running counter to the US president’s expectations…
“Continuing as before is therefore not an option for Braml. ‘Security is gone, Pax Americana is dead,’ he concluded.”
Europe will become a mighty military force, independent of the USA.
Deutsche Welle wrote on October 22:
“A major new study by 22 public service media organizations, including DW, has found that four of the most commonly used AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time— regardless of language or territory… Measuring criteria such as accuracy, sourcing, providing context, the ability to editorialize appropriately and the ability to distinguish fact from opinion, the study found that almost half of all answers had at least one significant issue, while 31% contained serious sourcing problems and 20% contained major factual errors…
“Those behind the study say it confirms that AI assistants systematically distort news content of all kinds. ‘This research conclusively shows that these failings are not isolated incidents,’ said Jean Philip De Tender, deputy director general of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which co-ordinated the study. ‘They are systemic, cross-border, and multilingual, and we believe this endangers public trust. When people don’t know what to trust, they end up trusting nothing at all…’”
BBC wrote on October 14:
“Plans to re-introduce military service in Germany have been thrown into chaos because of an 11th hour row amongst the governing parties. A compromise, which was set to include the possibility of some mandatory conscription, has been shot down… on Tuesday night, a press conference to announce the proposals was abruptly cancelled, ahead of a draft bill going before parliament on Thursday. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has denied accusations of ‘torpedoing’ the plans…
“A significant section of German society remains deeply wary of conscription and re-armament given the catastrophic consequences of remilitarising in the 20th Century. Nevertheless, a recent Forsa survey for Stern suggested that 54% of people favoured compulsory service while 41% opposed it. Opposition rose to 63% among 18 to 29-year-olds. Germany wants to expand its armed forces from the current 183,000 active servicemen and women to 260,000 by 2035 – plus 200,000 reservists…
“There is resistance within the junior partner in the coalition, the SPD, to any element of compulsory service. The government, made up of Merz’s conservative CDU/CSU and the centre-left Social Democrat SPD, agreed in their coalition treaty to reintroduce military service which would be voluntary ‘to start with.’ However, CDU politicians – including Chancellor Merz – have increasingly aired concerns that a purely voluntary system will not be sufficient.
“This week, negotiators from the two coalition parties hammered out a complicated compromise… reports suggested that, if not enough school-leavers volunteered, then a lottery system could be used. A selection of young men could be summoned for a medical or even mandatory service, if required, should recruitment targets be missed…
“Rather than a lottery, [Pistorius] has backed proposals for all eligible young men to undergo a medical from July 2027, so the Bundeswehr has a clear snapshot of available manpower…”
Deutsche Welle wrote on October 15:
“Germany’s Bundestag parliament began its first reading of the contentious bill seeking to reintroduce some form of military service, on a purely voluntary basis at first but with contested plans to add some kind of mandatory component in future if necessary…
“[Pistorius was] seeking to stress that any decision on obligatory recruitment was not part of the current bill and was a matter for a future debate… ‘that would clearly only take place under the authority of a Bundestag resolution, and using methods that are yet to be decided.’…
“Politicians from Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU said they stood by their lottery-based ‘Plan B’ for the case that voluntary recruitment falls short of targets or needs…
“Neither the draft law as it stands nor the lottery proposal is very clear on the contentious question of mandatory recruitment. The draft law mentions the likelihood for the need of ‘comprehensive mustering’ as of 2027, but doesn’t say how it plans to achieve this, and avoids clarifying whether it means mustering in the sense of compulsory conscription, or simply an obligation for young men to muster for inspection and consideration.
“The lottery proposal, meanwhile, was said to involve drawing lots to make up any shortfall, but then to try to encourage those whose lot was drawn to volunteer, rather than obliging them to act. Again, it didn’t explain how it planned to achieve this…
“The legal right to oblige young men to serve for a period is enshrined in the constitution, and was only suspended by a simple majority vote in parliament when the system was scrapped. Another simple majority vote would suffice in theory to reactivate the provision as it is. But adding women to the provision, or altering its content, would require a two-thirds majority in the lower and upper houses of parliament instead. The coalition government by itself is nowhere near commanding these majorities, even if it could reach internal agreement on the issue.”
Mandatory military service by lottery? Most Germans reject this. What boneheaded nonsense! How crazy can it get?
Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:
These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.
On October 25, 2025, Norbert Link will present “Comments on News and Prophecy, October 24, 2025,” and the sermon, titled, “Rejoice When Suffering?”
The live services are available, over video and audio, at http://eternalgod.org/live-services/ (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time; 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time; 9:30 pm Central European Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.
by Brian Gale (United Kingdom)
We have just finished the autumnal Holy Day season with the Feast of Tabernacles for 2025, and have learned more about God’s Holy Days which clearly reveal the incredible master plan of salvation for mankind.
Our understanding of the Feasts of the LORD (compare Leviticus 23:2) is a magnificent description of this plan for all of mankind and is priceless information that is not understood by the world at large.
On our website under the heading “Statement of Beliefs,” we read this about the Last Great Day (the 8th Day) following the Feast of Tabernacles:
“The Last Great Day which immediately follows the Feast of Tabernacles, once a year. This day symbolizes a 100-year period called the ‘Great White Throne Judgment,’ during which all persons who have ever lived and who were never called by God for salvation during this life, will have their first opportunity to accept Christ as their Savior (Leviticus 23:36; John 7:37; Revelation 20:11-12).”
It is a repudiation of the false concept of going to heaven or hell at death (usually heaven for everyone!) and via purgatory for the Roman Catholic Church. It also negates the hell-fire preachers who think that they have to get everyone saved now because this, they suppose, is the only day of salvation, not a day of salvation.
But one aspect of all of this is that those who have lived and died, without being called and knowing the Truth of God in this age will, in their next waking second after death, be brought back to life in the Second Resurrection – the Great White Throne Judgment.
We may, from time to time, wonder what our parents and grandparents would think if they were alive today with all of the advancements made in the last 100 years.
Also, what about all of those who were killed in the Flood which was, according to a number of sources, around 1,656 years after creation. And after the Flood, from a new start, the billions that have been born since then. They would have been used only in an agrarian-type society with none of the wonderful advances in the last 100 years or so in technology, transport, space exploration, in the medical profession, with the worldwide web, television, smartphones and a whole range of modern electronic devices. They would be staggered.
But those who are dead and in their graves, none of whom have ascended to heaven, will open their eyes in the next second of their consciousness to a whole new world well beyond their immediate understanding. Those from biblical times and our forebears will, in their next second of life when resurrected, be greeted with a world totally different, in most cases, from the one they were used to.
The next second of their life will be a time when those who are then already members of the God Family will be able to help all those in the Great White Throne Judgement to come to terms with the marvellous opportunity that God will give them, together with a world that is totally different from what they experienced in their previous life. To use an old English humorous slang expression: “Their eyes will stick out like chapel hat-pegs” – meaning to their considerable amazement!
The next second for them will be a time of wonderment and excitement, and let us all hope and pray that the vast, overwhelming majority will take full advantage of their one and only opportunity!
by Norbert Link
In this issue, we report on Trump’s shaky Gaza “peace” deal with the terrorist organization Hamas which will NOT bring peace to the region, as well as an interesting demand to build the Third Temple; and continue with Trump’s anticipated outright war with Venezuela.
We report on the ongoing misconduct of ICE which has been [correctly] described as a “domestic terror force” and Pope Leo’s [correct] strong criticism of Trump’s “unchristian” conduct and war-like approach.
We speak on [correctly labeled] double-tongued Stephen Miller; and [incorrect] criticism of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
We address Trump’s sudden change of approach [again] towards Zelensky and Putin; war criminal Putin’s demands for ending the war [which probably won’t happen until demonically-influenced Putin has occupied Ukraine]; and dictatorial Turkey’s importance for Europe and its persecution of minority Christians, while Europe is desirous to become independent of the USA.
We close with Germany’s ongoing frightening fight for mandatory military service [to be able to engage in terrible wars] and some proposed absolutely boneheaded ideas by Chancellor Merz and others in this regard.
Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Trump in the Light of Biblical Prophecy.”
Throughout this section, we have underlined pertinent statements in the quoted articles, for the convenience and quick overview of the reader.
Israel 365 News wrote on October 15:
“President Donald Trump’s speech at the Knesset last week marked a significant and monumental moment for Israel, one that celebrated the remarkable deal that freed all the live hostages as a first step, something that Hamas never agreed to in past deals…
“There’s no denying the scale of this accomplishment. Trump’s vision of a Middle East where Israel stands as a pillar of strength and a key partner to the United States—and to the wider world—is truly inspiring… Yet, as grand as the speech was…, it still misses one crucial, undeniable truth: it won’t bring peace…
“The reality is that a mere pause in hostilities does not equate to peace… it doesn’t directly address the fundamental issue that has plagued this region for over a millennium: the ideological and religious jihadist agenda that calls for the obliteration of Israel and the Islamic takeover of the world…
“If Trump and Netanyahu truly wanted to establish a lasting peace in the Middle East, their plan… would have focused on something even more transformative and spiritually resonant: the expansion of Israel to encompass its rightful Biblical borders, protect all the minorities in the region also persecuted by jihadi Islam, and the one, powerful act of rebuilding the Third Temple in Jerusalem… What message would it send to the Muslim world if, as part of a peace plan, Trump and Netanyahu announced a plan to not only expand Israel’s borders, but to restore the holiest site in Judaism, the Third Temple?…
“A rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem would be a clear signal to the Muslim world that the Jews are back in full force, not just as a temporary fixture or a historical relic, but as a powerful, sovereign nation reclaiming its rightful place on the world stage… Such a monumental step would have made it clear that Israel’s commitment to peace isn’t simply about appeasing its enemies or military victories, but about sending a clear message that the Jewish people are not going anywhere…”
The Third Temple will be built prior to Christ’s Return, but paradoxically, it will not bring peace to the region, but more war.
The Sun wrote on October 15:
“Donald Trump has warned Hamas that he will respond ‘violently’ if they refuse to disarm themselves as part of the Gaza peace deal. Israel’s truce with the terror group has been rocked by multiple setbacks today… Under the terms of Trump’s 20-point plan, Hamas must give up all of their weapons to squash Israel’s fears of the group restrengthening… Officials within Hamas over recent days have said they have no plans of disarming regardless of Trump or Israel’s pleas…
“Hamas claims it has been unable to locate up to 15 corpses lost in the chaos of the Gaza War – but families believe the terror group is holding on to their loved ones’ remains…
“Meanwhile, Hamas said it had recalled 7,000 members of its security forces in order to ‘cleanse Gaza of outlaws and collaborators’ – sparking fears of a bloody civil war. Bone-chilling videos have emerged of Hamas executing prisoners it accused of collaborating with Israel…”
In exchange, nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners were freed—many of them convicted criminals and terrorists. During the last exchange, a convicted terrorist was freed who later became one of the masterminds for the October 7 attack on Israel [the later Hamas-Chief Yahya Sinwar (†2024)]. Trump’s deals may look good on paper… but many times, they don’t work in practice.
Deutsche Welle wrote on October 16:
“Hamas… is classified as a terrorist organization by Germany, the US and several other countries… It still commands some 40,000 fighters, according to Israeli daily Haaretz, who can now be seen reappearing on the streets and squares of Gaza…
“The group should be completely disarmed, according to US President Donald Trump’s peace plan; however, this does not look likely for now.
“Trump has made contradictory statements about the group’s disarmament. Addressing the Israeli parliament on Monday, Trump proclaimed that ‘virtually the entire region has endorsed the plan that Gaza will be immediately demilitarized, that Hamas will be disarmed and Israel’s security will no longer be threatened in any way, shape or form.’
“Yet before his speech, on the flight to Israel, Trump told reporters his government had allowed Hamas to temporarily rearm itself as it tries to restore order after months of war. Most recently, however, Trump appeared to double down on the group’s disarmament, saying if Hamas did not lay down its weapons, the US would disarm it by force.
“Hamas sent a clear message when its armed operatives showed up in Gaza City shortly after the Israeli withdrawal, said Simon Wolfgang Fuchs, a professor of Islam at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. ‘Hamas is making a point that it has by no means disappeared from the Gaza Strip; on the contrary, it continues to claim a role there,’ he said.
“Hamas sees its weapons as a means to guarantee its existence — militarily, politically and symbolically, said Simon Engelkes, who heads Ramallah’s branch of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation…’ US President Trump’s “security guarantees” that the war in the Gaza Strip will not be continued due to the ceasefire agreement will not be enough at this stage.’
“Even though Hamas’ military structures were severely weakened in the war, its networks and presence in Gaza have remained intact, said Engelkes… French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that Hamas still poses a threat… The real conflict still lies ahead, said Engelkes…”
This whole “deal” with Hamas—an organization with terrorists and mass murderers—is shameful, shortsighted and futile at the same time. Victory celebrations for “Peace in the Middle East” are nothing more than a pipe dream. Note the next article.
Israel Today wrote on October 10:
“While [Police Minister Itamar] Ben-Gvir is like all Israelis happy for the opportunity to recover the hostages being held in Gaza, he believes the deal ultimately serves to set the stage for the next catastrophe and war. According to Hebrew media, a heated exchange erupted between Ben-Gvir and the Americans.
“Ben-Gvir: ‘I’m standing here next to the list of terrorists being released – baby killers, rapists. Gentlemen, you would never release them in the United States. You spoke about making peace. You can’t make peace with Hamas! They want to kill us… Those who killed us on October 7 do not ask for forgiveness. Their families are proud of it. They want to murder Jews… Would you have made peace with Hitler? Hamas is Hitler. They want to kill us.’
“Hamas officials have stated a number of times that they will repeat the atrocities of October 7, 2023 if given the opportunity…”
Ben-Gvir is of course right. The naivety of the Americans [US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner] is astonishing.
The Jerusalem Post wrote on October 17:
“Hamas intends to maintain security control in Gaza during an interim period, a senior Hamas official [Nazal] told Reuters, adding he could not commit to the group disarming – positions that reflect the difficulties for Trump’s plan for Gaza…
“… the [Israeli] Prime Minister’s Office said…: ‘Hamas is supposed to release all hostages in stage 1. It has not. Hamas knows where the bodies of our hostages are. [Hamas has still not turned over all of the 28 dead bodies.] Hamas are to be disarmed under this agreement. No ifs, no buts. They have not. Hamas need to adhere to the 20-point plan. They are running out of time…’
“Nazzal said there was an understanding regarding Hamas’ presence on the ground, without specifying among whom, indicating it was necessary to protect aid trucks from thieves and armed gangs…
“Hamas’ founding charter called for the destruction of Israel, although the group’s leaders have at times offered a long-term truce with Israel in return for a viable Palestinian state on all Palestinian territory occupied by Israel in the 1967 war…”
This “peace deal” will go nowhere. In fact, credible reports are surfacing regarding another coming Hamas massacre—this time against Palestinian civilians.
JNS wrote on October 21:
“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a ‘sworn enemy of Israel and the West, a jihadist in a suit,’ Amichai Chikli, the Jewish state’s minister of diaspora affairs and combating antisemitism, charged on Monday. The Jewish state ‘will not tolerate a Turkish presence’ on its southern border with the Gaza Strip or northern frontier with Syria, Chikli tweeted, slamming Ankara’s potential involvement in U.S. President Donald Trump’s recently-launched peace plan for the Middle East…
“Under the plan, Turkey has committed to deploying search and rescue teams to Gaza to help recover the bodies of slain hostages and clear up the rubble. Ankara is also expected to join a multinational task force overseeing the ceasefire and assisting in the training of local forces. However,… Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out Turkey’s participation in the International Stabilization Force, defining it as Israel’s ‘red line.’ Netanyahu has reportedly also communicated reservations about Turkish companies participating in the reconstruction of the Strip…”
Y-Net News wrote on October 10:
“Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani condemned ‘Israeli violations in Palestine, especially turning the Gaza Strip into an uninhabitable area.’ According to him, ‘It’s time to end the Israeli occupation. The Palestinian issue is not a terrorism issue, but one of prolonged occupation. It’s time to end it. This is the basis for just peace. What happened in the Gaza Strip in the last two years is genocide.’”
And Turkey and Qatar—America’s “allies”—are supposed to help end the war? What lunacy!
The Daily Mail wrote on October 21:
“Donald Trump today promised to unleash death upon Hamas if the militants do not uphold their peace agreement with Israel. The Gaza region has descended into anarchy as new footage has emerged showing Palestinians being executed and tortured by Hamas enforcers…
“The first phase of the ceasefire with Hamas and Israel is still ongoing despite Hamas not handing over the remaining bodies of the 15 deceased hostages… The next phase of Trump’s peace plan is for the disarmament of Hamas along with the group losing control of governing Gaza. Hamas has not agreed to this part of the peace deal.”
The Associated Press wrote on October 15:
“President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that he has authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela and said he was weighing carrying out land operations on the country. The acknowledgement of covert action in Venezuela by the U.S. spy agency comes after the U.S. military in recent weeks has carried out a series of deadly strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean. U.S. forces have destroyed at least five boats since early September, killing 27 people, and four of those vessels originated from Venezuela… [As of Wednesday, 8 boats were destroyed.]
“Early this month, the Trump administration declared drug cartels to be unlawful combatants and pronounced the United States is now in an ‘armed conflict’ with them, justifying the military action as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States. The move has spurred anger in Congress from members of both major political parties that Trump was effectively committing an act of war without seeking congressional authorization…
“The Trump administration has yet to provide underlying evidence to lawmakers proving that the boats targeted by the U.S. military were in fact carrying narcotics…”
Trump’s actions—carried out and contemplated—seem to be illegal and unconstitutional.
The Mirror wrote on October 15:
“Shocking video taken during an ICE sweep at a Chicago Walgreens shows a senior white officer throwing a Black man to the pavement and placing him under arrest for ‘fleeing,’ even though a relative insisted he was an American citizen… A second video captured the shocking moment after ICE officers cuffed the man and drove him away in SUVs…
“It comes after an out-of-control ICE agent yelled a disgusting insult before shooting a woman five times.”
The Rutherford Institute wrote on October 15:
“Masked gunmen. Tasers. Tear gas. Pepper spray. Unmarked vehicles. Intimidation tactics. Brutality. Racial profiling. Children traumatized. Families terrorized. Journalists targeted. Citizens detained. Disabled individuals, minors, the elderly, pregnant women, military veterans—snatched off the streets. Private property destroyed. This is not a war zone.
“This is what now passes for law-and-order policing by ICE agents in Trump’s America—and it is not making America safer or greater. What began as an agency tasked with enforcing immigration law has metastasized into a domestic terror force.
“From coast to coast, ICE goon squads… are prowling neighborhoods, churches, courthouses, hospitals, bus stops, and worksites, anywhere ‘suspected’ migrants might be present, snatching people first and asking questions later. Sometimes ‘later’ comes hours, days or even weeks afterwards. No one is off limits—not even American citizens… It is how a dictatorship behaves when it decides the rule of law—in this case, the Bill of Rights—is optional.
“Journalists are being shoved to the pavement, forced into chokeholds, teargassed, and brutalized—in violation of the First Amendment. U.S. citizens, including toddlers, are being snatched up and carted off—in violation of the Fourth Amendment. People with no criminal records who have lived, worked and paid taxes in this country for decades are being made to disappear—in violation of habeas corpus…
“Nationally, more than 70% of individuals rounded up by ICE nationally have no criminal convictions. Many have lived in the U.S. for decades, raised families, paid taxes, contributed to the economy, and worked the jobs most Americans refuse to do.”
Even Trump admitted that. Americans did not vote for him to have ICE behave in this illegal way. He may pay dearly at the midterm elections.
Reuters wrote on October 2:
“Pope Leo initially impressed conservative Catholics after his election in May as he embraced traditions shunned by his predecessor Pope Francis and steered clear of hot button social issues that divided the 1.4 billion-member Church. But his honeymoon with conservatives appears over after he unexpectedly took aim at U.S. President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies, questioning whether they were in line with the Church’s pro-life teachings.
“‘Someone who says I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro-life,’ Leo, the first U.S. pope, told reporters on Tuesday…
“The Trump administration, which was sharply critical of Francis but has rarely commented about Leo… pushed back. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she rejected the characterisation of inhumane treatment of immigrants.”
Pope Leo is correct. The Trump administration’s denial is laughable. Note the next article.
The New Republic wrote on October 1:
“On Tuesday evening, the Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV spoke out against anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States, as well as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s bellicose rhetoric. At an unusual gathering of military leaders earlier that day, Hegseth had told the top brass to be ‘prepared for war, not for defense,’ while espousing the use of ‘overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy’ and promising to ‘untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt and kill the enemies of our country.’…
“Leo called Hegseth’s rhetoric ‘worrying… because it shows each time an increase in tensions.’ Citing Hegseth’s change in job title from ‘secretary of defense’ to ‘secretary of war,’ the pope said, ‘Let’s hope it is only a way of speaking.’”
Reuters wrote on October 1:
“Trump said he told [U.S. Defense Secretary Pete] Hegseth ‘we should use some of these dangerous [U.S.] cities as training grounds for our military.’ He acknowledged that he has been criticized for deploying the military on U.S. streets, but said America was in the grips of what he described as a war from within waged by immigrants in the country illegally who his administration is seeking to deport.
“‘America is under invasion from within. We’re under invasion from within, no different than a foreign enemy, but more difficult in many ways, because they don’t wear uniforms,’ Trump said. That triggered a sharp reaction from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat. ‘Anyone who talks about their fellow Americans as enemies to be “taken out” is not fit to lead the nation,’ Pritzker said on X.”
The terminology of the Trump Administration becomes more and more intolerable. Words lead to deeds. Is civil war coming?
The Independent wrote on October 1:
“Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, has responded angrily to the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, after a social media account linked to Newsom labelled Miller a ‘fascist’… ‘It is a message that his team is sending to all the crazies and lunatics out there,’ he said. ‘We’re not going to absolve Democrats of responsibility anymore. There’s a reason why all of these killers and lunatics and terrorists adopt the same language. They say they are trying to kill the fascist and stop the fascists. This is deliberate.’…
“Miller himself has previously described opponents, including the Democrats and the Biden administration, as ‘fascists’ in numerous social media posts. ‘The Democrat Party is now a Fascist Party. Using corporate and government power to punish dissent and dissenters,’ he wrote in 2024…
“His use of the slur is not reserved for the Democratic Party…”
Miller is a dangerous political force.
CBS News wrote on October 14:
“Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested there may be a link between autism and circumcision while reasserting the… theory that Tylenol causes the disorder… ‘There’s two studies that show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism. It’s highly likely because they are given Tylenol,’ Kennedy stated during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday…
“Kennedy said he was referring to an August 2025 Preprints.org review by Patel et al., which he said ‘directly validates my point that the observed autism correlation in circumcised boys is best explained by acetaminophen exposure, not circumcision itself.’”
This important distinction has been conveniently overlooked in the mass media.
Breitbart wrote on October 14:
“A poll published by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on Monday found that 75 percent of Ukrainians want President Volodymyr Zelensky to leave office after the war with Russia ends…”
Zelensky himself declared that he would step down after the war ends. It reminds us of Churchill’s fate after World War II.
The Spectator wrote on October 17:
“Sorry, Volodymyr. There won’t be any Tomahawk missiles headed to Ukraine now that president Vladimir Putin of Russia has talked on the phone with president Donald Trump, who called their session ‘very productive.’ What it will produce remains an open question. But it does seem to have resulted in a decision to hold an upcoming summit in Budapest. The bottom line: Putin has outflanked Ukrainian president Zelensky…
“For Zelensky, Putin’s missive could not come at a worse time… Trump has repeatedly voiced his frustration with ‘Vladimir,’ as he likes to call him, for refusing to end the war. Now Putin is once more dangling the bait of a ceasefire…
“Since the Alaska summit, Trump has approved further cooperation between American and Ukrainian intelligence services, ensuring that they receive better targeting information to hit Russian energy infrastructure…
“Putin’s track record, of course, should hardly inspire much confidence. A master of the tactical move, the Russian president may well have intervened simply to stymie Trump from delivering more potent weapons to Ukraine… It is Putin, and Putin alone, who has steadily been saying nyet to ending the conflict in his mad desire to reestablish the Russian empire of yore.”
Nothing good will come from these “negotiations.” Note the next article.
The Guardian wrote on October 17:
“Donald Trump seemed more intent on brokering a peace deal than he was to supply Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles during a White House meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying that the US may need them for a future conflict… After speaking with Zelenskyy for more than two hours, Trump implored both Ukraine and Russia to ‘stop the war immediately’, even if it means Ukraine conceding territory…
“Trump’s doubtful tone on the cruise missiles follows a surprise phone call with Vladimir Putin on Friday during which the Russian leader told Trump that supplying the Tomahawks would damage US-Russian relations.
“His position on supplying Ukraine with weapons has changed a number of times since he returned to office in January, often after negotiations with Putin or European backers of Ukraine… On previous occasions, when Trump had seemed ready to tilt towards Kyiv and its European allies, a call from Putin was often followed by a sudden softening in the US leader’s tone towards Moscow.
“A flurry of activity was also set off with Trump’s announcement after the call that he was planning to meet the Russian president in the Hungarian capital on a date still to be determined, in an effort to end the war… It remains unclear how Putin would travel to Hungary, given EU sanctions and airspace restrictions imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as the fact that he is wanted by the international criminal court (ICC). As a signatory to the ICC, Hungary would be obliged to arrest him, though Orbán has previously said this would not happen…
“Trump and Putin last met in Alaska in August, which did not produce a diplomatic breakthrough… The latest conversation, which lasted more than two and a half hours, appears to have sapped the momentum Zelenskyy had built with Trump, with the US leader now unlikely to show significant support for Ukraine before meeting Putin…
“While Moscow has repeatedly claimed it is ready to end its invasion of Ukraine, Putin has shown no indication he is seeking compromise or to scale back his maximalist goal of forcing Kyiv’s capitulation. Despite Trump’s typically upbeat rhetoric that peace may be within reach, the US vice-president, JD Vance, struck a more cautious note on Thursday, saying that ‘the Russians and the Ukrainians are just not at the point where they can make a deal’, and that a settlement ‘remains possible but will require a lot more work’.”
Trump is being played like a fiddle… again. He is caving to Putin and is no match for him.
Euractiv wrote on October 19:
“Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that Ukraine surrender full control of Donetsk as a condition for ending the war, US newspaper The Washington Post reported. The request, which would significantly disadvantage Kyiv, signals that Putin has not backed away from long-standing territorial ambitions despite Trump’s optimism about brokering a deal.
“According to two senior officials quoted by The Washington Post, Putin offered to relinquish claims to parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in exchange for Donetsk [a strategically important region], which Moscow and its proxies have failed to capture entirely since 2014. Trump… has yet to endorse the demand publicly…
“Zelenskyy on Sunday urged allies against appeasing Russia. ‘Ukraine will never grant terrorists any bounty for their crimes, and we count on our partners to uphold this very position,’ Zelenskyy wrote on social media on his return from Washington. He called for decisive steps from European and American allies. ‘This week alone, Russia has used more than 3,270 attack drones, 1,370 guided aerial bombs, and nearly 50 missiles of various types against Ukraine,’ Zelensky said.”
Newsmax wrote on October 21:
“President Donald Trump, confirming Tuesday that his plan for a swift meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin was on hold, said that’s because he doesn’t want it to be a ‘waste of time.’
“It was the latest twist in Trump’s stop-and-go effort to resolve the war in Ukraine.
“The decision to hold off on the meeting in Budapest, Hungary, which Trump had announced last week, was made following a call Monday between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.”
While this is going on, in one of the biggest demonstrations in American history, approximately 7 million people demonstrated against Trump over the weekend under the motto: “No Kings.” In a previous “No Kings” demonstration in June, “only” 3 million participated. Note the next segment.
The Daily Beast reported on October 21:
“Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has implored his party to wake up to the dangers posed by an estimated seven million people turning out in protest against the Donald Trump administration. ‘Unquestionably, we should take political peril seriously,’ Cruz told Bloomberg Television. ‘… There is a lot of anger on the left. And elections can be dangerous when one side is mobilized, is angry.’…
“It’s not the first time Cruz has openly criticized the MAGA administration, warning in April 2025 that Trump’s trade war against much of the rest of the planet would likely result in significant job losses, threatening to turn the 2026 midterms into a ‘bloodbath’ for Republicans.”
The New York Post added on October 19:
“The president posted a wild AI-generated video of himself late Saturday as a fighter pilot wearing a crown on his head, unloading sewage on ‘No Kings’ protestors. With ‘Danger Zone,’ the iconic ‘Top Gun’ theme song, blaring in the background, Trump’s fighter jet was shown dropping masses of manure on demonstrators over what appeared to be New York City.”
The Mirror wrote on October 22:
“Donald Trump has no intention of ever leaving the White House… That seems like a weird thing to suggest, but there is now so much evidence pointing to him trying to cling on to power beyond the end of his legal presidential term, that it’s irresponsible to pretend it’s not happening. He keeps saying he’s not a ‘king’ or a ‘dictator’. But he also keeps doing and saying things that suggest he very much would like to be…
“Trump did exactly what he said he was going to do in his first term, or at least tried to. And this time, he keeps saying he’s going to stay in the White House beyond 2029, when his legal term ends. He’s even made hats and given them out to Republican congressmen. He’s repeatedly floated the idea of re-writing or bypassing constitutional rules that prevent him serving beyond two terms.
“During a visit to the White House by Volodymyr Zelensky in August, Trump indicated he likes the idea of using a war to cancel the next election, allowing him to stay in power beyond his term limit. Zelensky cancelled an election in Ukraine because his country is at war with Russia. ‘So let me just say three and a half years from now – so you mean, if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections?…’ Trump said. Later during his visit, Trump showed Zelensky the White House gift shop, where Trump 2028 hats are on sale….”
The article lists several additional factors, but the ones quoted herein are the most striking.
fakti.bg wrote on October 15:
“Currently, the partnership with the country that has the second largest army in NATO after the US may prove to be key for Europe…
“At the same time, Turkey remains a difficult partner for the West. The conflicts with Greece and Cyprus are still unresolved, and its proximity to Vladimir Putin is causing concern. The country also has serious problems with democracy, and EU accession talks have been frozen for years. But despite the repression of the opposition, criticism from Brussels is almost non-existent. Why?..
“Before, it was about democracy. Today, security is the priority. The threat from Russia overshadows everything else… The partnership with Turkey remains risky, but the fear of Russia in Europe is growing…”
Turkey, with the help of Europe, will play a violent anti-Israeli role in the future.
IFN wrote on October 16:
“The Turkish government is increasingly treating Christian minorities as existential threats—branding them as ‘national security dangers’ to justify mass expulsions and heavy restrictions on religious freedom. This alarming rhetoric marks a new low in Türkiye’s crackdown on minority believers.
“… the government has expelled foreign Christians working as missionaries or aid workers—even when they held valid visas. Some local Christians report threats, intimidation, and bureaucratic harassment until they leave…
“In response, Christian and human rights advocates are calling on governments and international bodies to shine a light on Türkiye’s actions, impose accountability for violations, and support Christians facing forced removal or persecution…”
Europe, more and more dependent on Turkey’s strong military, stays silent.
The Guardian wrote on October 1:
“Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen issued a stark warning that Europe is ‘in the most difficult and dangerous situation since the second world war,’ even worse than during the cold war… as she urged leaders to leave national perspectives behind and unite to take on Russia…”
And so, at least ten European nations or groups of nations will unite… with dangerous consequences.
Euronews wrote on September 29:
“For decades, Germany relied on the US for its security policy. But that era is over, experts tell Euronews. Germany plans to spend up to €83 billion on European-made weapons and reduce dependence on US defence systems as Chancellor Friedrich Merz pushes to build Europe’s ‘strongest conventional armed force’ amid doubts about Washington’s reliability under Donald Trump.
“According to reports, the German government plans 154 major defence procurements between September 2025 and December 2026, with only 8% from US suppliers compared to the previously heavy reliance on US systems. The shift follows US President Trump’s demands that NATO partners increase their defence spending to 5% of GDP, while purchasing more US weapons, prompting Berlin to pursue a ‘Buy European’ strategy…
“According to US expert and author Dr Josef Braml, this move should not be seen as a mistake of confusing cause and effect. ‘The cause was that Trump made it clear that America can no longer be relied on,’ Braml told Euronews. Now that this has become clear, ‘it no longer makes sense to pay tribute for protection that we no longer get,’ he added. According to Braml, this ‘tribute’ was paid by buying US weapons that made Germany and other European countries dependent on US systems…
“The Marshall Plan and NATO laid the foundations for security and economic relations between Germany and the US after World War II. Since Trump took office, the German government has endeavoured to maintain bilateral relations. Nevertheless, the German course is running counter to the US president’s expectations…
“Continuing as before is therefore not an option for Braml. ‘Security is gone, Pax Americana is dead,’ he concluded.”
Europe will become a mighty military force, independent of the USA.
Deutsche Welle wrote on October 22:
“A major new study by 22 public service media organizations, including DW, has found that four of the most commonly used AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time— regardless of language or territory… Measuring criteria such as accuracy, sourcing, providing context, the ability to editorialize appropriately and the ability to distinguish fact from opinion, the study found that almost half of all answers had at least one significant issue, while 31% contained serious sourcing problems and 20% contained major factual errors…
“Those behind the study say it confirms that AI assistants systematically distort news content of all kinds. ‘This research conclusively shows that these failings are not isolated incidents,’ said Jean Philip De Tender, deputy director general of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which co-ordinated the study. ‘They are systemic, cross-border, and multilingual, and we believe this endangers public trust. When people don’t know what to trust, they end up trusting nothing at all…’”
BBC wrote on October 14:
“Plans to re-introduce military service in Germany have been thrown into chaos because of an 11th hour row amongst the governing parties. A compromise, which was set to include the possibility of some mandatory conscription, has been shot down… on Tuesday night, a press conference to announce the proposals was abruptly cancelled, ahead of a draft bill going before parliament on Thursday. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has denied accusations of ‘torpedoing’ the plans…
“A significant section of German society remains deeply wary of conscription and re-armament given the catastrophic consequences of remilitarising in the 20th Century. Nevertheless, a recent Forsa survey for Stern suggested that 54% of people favoured compulsory service while 41% opposed it. Opposition rose to 63% among 18 to 29-year-olds. Germany wants to expand its armed forces from the current 183,000 active servicemen and women to 260,000 by 2035 – plus 200,000 reservists…
“There is resistance within the junior partner in the coalition, the SPD, to any element of compulsory service. The government, made up of Merz’s conservative CDU/CSU and the centre-left Social Democrat SPD, agreed in their coalition treaty to reintroduce military service which would be voluntary ‘to start with.’ However, CDU politicians – including Chancellor Merz – have increasingly aired concerns that a purely voluntary system will not be sufficient.
“This week, negotiators from the two coalition parties hammered out a complicated compromise… reports suggested that, if not enough school-leavers volunteered, then a lottery system could be used. A selection of young men could be summoned for a medical or even mandatory service, if required, should recruitment targets be missed…
“Rather than a lottery, [Pistorius] has backed proposals for all eligible young men to undergo a medical from July 2027, so the Bundeswehr has a clear snapshot of available manpower…”
Deutsche Welle wrote on October 15:
“Germany’s Bundestag parliament began its first reading of the contentious bill seeking to reintroduce some form of military service, on a purely voluntary basis at first but with contested plans to add some kind of mandatory component in future if necessary…
“[Pistorius was] seeking to stress that any decision on obligatory recruitment was not part of the current bill and was a matter for a future debate… ‘that would clearly only take place under the authority of a Bundestag resolution, and using methods that are yet to be decided.’…
“Politicians from Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU said they stood by their lottery-based ‘Plan B’ for the case that voluntary recruitment falls short of targets or needs…
“Neither the draft law as it stands nor the lottery proposal is very clear on the contentious question of mandatory recruitment. The draft law mentions the likelihood for the need of ‘comprehensive mustering’ as of 2027, but doesn’t say how it plans to achieve this, and avoids clarifying whether it means mustering in the sense of compulsory conscription, or simply an obligation for young men to muster for inspection and consideration.
“The lottery proposal, meanwhile, was said to involve drawing lots to make up any shortfall, but then to try to encourage those whose lot was drawn to volunteer, rather than obliging them to act. Again, it didn’t explain how it planned to achieve this…
“The legal right to oblige young men to serve for a period is enshrined in the constitution, and was only suspended by a simple majority vote in parliament when the system was scrapped. Another simple majority vote would suffice in theory to reactivate the provision as it is. But adding women to the provision, or altering its content, would require a two-thirds majority in the lower and upper houses of parliament instead. The coalition government by itself is nowhere near commanding these majorities, even if it could reach internal agreement on the issue.”
Mandatory military service by lottery? Most Germans reject this. What boneheaded nonsense! How crazy can it get?
Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:
These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.
This is a question that may seem obvious to anyone living the true Christian Way of Life but may be confusing to those who feel that their priorities, even though they may think that they are a committed follower of Jesus Christ, must be to their spouse and children with God being subordinated to a lesser role in their lives.
A well-known sportsman in the UK was asked about the priorities in his life, and he said that they were his family, his faith and then listed other priorities. His Christian faith was known to those who knew him well, and it seemed that he was a man of faith. However, was he correct in listing God as second to his family in his list of priorities?
Each and every one of us will have their own list of priorities. We may not sit down and list them, but we will know what we put first and those things that mean the most to us. When we have a list of things to do, we generally organise these according to how we perceive their importance. When we put God first, it means that He is top of our list of priorities.
By putting God in the premier position means that He will get the top priority in our lives. Praying and studying will be those things that we prioritise on a daily basis and ensure that we do those things that are most important to us. Once we let go and other things become more important to us, then God can slip down the pecking order, and that is not what He expects of us. When He calls us to be a part of His Church and a Spirit-begotten member of His Family, then that must be the most important thing in our lives because it will translate, at the First Resurrection, to us being born into the Family of God for eternity.
We read in Matthew 6:33:
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
The word “but” is instructive. In previous verses Jesus told His disciples not to worry about their lives (see Matthew 6:25) as many of us may do constantly, but that God will take care of the things we need (see verses 26-32). The most important thing in our lives is to obey and worship God in the first place and all the other things will be taken care of by a loving God who knows what our needs are.
To seek first is not to relegate God to the back seat. In Matthew 22:35-40, we read of the response that Jesus gave to a lawyer who questioned Him:
“Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’”
This was a direct instruction, not a suggestion.
Further, John 14:15 clearly reveals what we should and must do, if God is to be first and foremost in our lives:
“If you love Me, keep My commandments,” which is a simple answer that, sadly, is neglected, misunderstood, misconstrued and misinterpreted by most of mainstream Christianity today.
This was also a direct instruction, not a suggestion. Matthew 6:24 adds further clarification:
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Way back in time, the nation of Israel was given clear instructions on how seriously putting God first was to be to them as we read in Deuteronomy 6:4-9:
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
It wasn’t to be from time to time as it turned out to be with ancient Israel, but a lifelong process as we understand today. Israel suffered the consequences of their pronounced allegiance to God with their behaviour which Scripture describes as frequently deviating from what was acceptable to God.
But it was not only those in ancient times who fell short of what was required, but also those many centuries later in the time of Christ, as we read in Matthew 15:7-9:
“Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
It is well documented how the religious authorities in the time of Christ were upbraided for their hypocrisy by Jesus Christ and nearly 2,000 years later, it has changed little today. We MUST be different. We MUST put God first in our lives or we will be in the same position as those throughout history, having failed to do this, have suffered the consequences of their actions.
Simply put, it is in keeping with the First Commandment which states quite simply: “You shall have no other gods before Me” (compare Exodus 20:3). Anything or anyone that comes before God is detrimental to our spiritual well-being. This is clearly shown in Matthew 7:24-27 where Jesus instructs us to “build on the Rock”:
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
This is a case of cause and effect. This is revealed in Galatians 6:7: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
We should, voluntarily, want to live our lives in the way that has been revealed to us. In 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, sub-headed “Glory Only in the Lord” in the New King James Bible, is an interesting and invaluable insight into our calling:
“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.”
We are not the great and mighty of this world, but the very ordinary, to put to shame the wise. How many have been called to this Way of Life? Only God knows the answer to that question, but it is obvious that it is a small number because Jesus said in Luke 12:32: “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
To have been given the opportunity that we have, should fill us with gratitude to the great God, and He must be first in our lives. If not, we can be overtaken by the things of this world, which are but transitory and will soon pass away.
In Proverbs 3:5-6, we read: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
It is not an easy path, but the narrow way, as we read in Matthew 7:13-14:
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
Anything really worthwhile takes effort to achieve, and we have been given the greatest gift of all by being called into the Church of God and receiving the Holy Spirit upon repentance. And when this is our approach and attitude, God is pleased, as Psalm 37:23 points out:
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.”
We read in 1 Peter 2:21: “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.”
Whenever we read about Jesus in the biblical account, we see that He was always subordinate to His Father’s Will, putting the Father first in all things. Never did Jesus treat the Father as anyone other than in first place in His life, and we should always follow His example.
Today’s prevailing ethos is that it is all about me, me, me. There are some worthy exceptions to that, but they are certainly in a small minority. Members of God’s true Church must not fall into the trap of “accommodating” society, always putting God first irrespective of any situations that might require us to do differently.
And why wouldn’t we want to put God first in our lives? We should think on these things which show us the might of the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ:
It’s a winning team to be part of, and for eternity.
There is much more to be said on this matter and one website reveals that there are 158 quotations about putting God first in our lives. However, what we have shown in this Q&A is that God has to be first in our lives at all times. Second, or any other place than first, is not acceptable to Him, and for good reason.
True Christians will be distinctive in their actions of putting God first in their lives as opposed to the world where compromise and fitting in with society is generally the accepted way. With a twenty-four-hour-a-day-commitment to God’s Way of Life where the things of God are deemed far more valuable than society’s so-called “values,” we will demonstrate to our Creator how much we appreciate our unique calling and the promise of much better things to come.
Interestingly, there was a situation in the UK where a big sporting event was taking place in the summer of 2023 at 11am on a Sunday morning. A senior bishop (female) from the Church of England said it was “fine” for churches to move morning services so that their parishioners could watch this event and added that people should choose the service that is “right for them.” Unfortunately, God never seems to be first in the lives of many mainstream Christians as they put worldly pursuits first.
We will finish this Q&A with a few quotations.
One writer put it this way: “God is smarter, wiser, and more powerful than any person can ever become. Thus, when God issues a commandment, our duty is to trust and follow Him in whatever direction He takes us. In the end, we will not be disappointed, but we will if we do not put God first in our lives.”
Put God first in everything you do—Denzel Washington
Put God first and you will never be last—Anonymous
When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives—Ezra Taft Benson
If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead—William Law
Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)
compiled by Dave Harris
“Trump in the Light of Biblical Prophecy,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:
The Trump peace deal with Hamas will fail. A potential Trump peace deal between Russia and Ukraine will be doomed. ICE misconduct tears the nation apart. So is Trump’s alleged desire to stay in power after his second term. Still, there is one thing which Trump could successfully accomplish, in the light of biblical prophecy, and it is that one matter which he should concentrate on.
“Trump im Licht der biblischen Prophezeiung,” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.
We have started posting YouTube Shorts, both on our English and German sites, with our first video titled “Halloween – A celebration for Christians?”
Sermonettes and sermons presented during the 2025 Fall Holy Days will be posted on our websites.
“Werden SIE die sieben Posaunen hören?” is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Will YOU Hear the Seven Trumpets?”
“Wir motivieren uns selbst,” last Sabbath’s German sermonette presented by Michael Link, is now posted. Title in English: “Motivate Ourselves.”
“Sich freuen, wenn man leidet?“ last Sabbath’s German sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Title in English, “Rejoice When Suffering?”
Our new German booklet, God Is… Our Destiny!, “Gott ist…unsere Bestimmung!”, has been posted on our German website.
This Update is an official publication by the ministry of the Church of the Eternal God in the United States of America; the Church of God, a Christian Fellowship in Canada; and the Global Church of God in the United Kingdom.
Editorial Team: Norbert Link, Dave Harris, Rene Messier, Brian Gale, Johanna Link, Eric Rank, Michael Link, Anna Link, Kalon Mitchell, Manuela Mitchell, Dawn Thompson
Technical Team: Eric Rank, Shana Rank
Our activities and literature, including booklets, weekly updates, sermons on CD are provided free of charge. They are made possible by the tithes, offerings and contributions of Church members and others who have elected to support this Work.
While we do not solicit the general public for funds, contributions are gratefully welcomed and are tax-deductible in the U.S. and Canada.
Donations can be sent to the following addresses:
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On September 27, 2025, Frank Bruno will present the sermonette, titled, “The Case for Loyalty,” and Eric Rank will present the sermon, titled, “Something Greater.”
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 Day of Atonement will be observed, October 2, 2025. Live services will be broadcast at the same time as Sabbath Services.
Eric Rank will present the Offertory and Dave Harris will present the sermon, titled, “Elements of the Day of Atonement.”
Please note: This will be the last Update until October 24, 2025, due to our observing the Day of Atonement; the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day.
The Hollywood Reporter wrote on September 19:
“Conan O’Brien Says Jimmy Kimmel Suspension ‘Should Disturb Everyone’: ‘It’s Wrong.’… ‘The suspension of [Jimmy Kimmel] and the promise to silence other Late Night hosts for criticizing the administration should disturb everyone on the Right, Left, and Center,’ he wrote on X. ‘It’s wrong and anyone with a conscience knows it’s wrong.’
“The former Late Night and Tonight Show host is one of many late night TV hosts who have voiced their disapproval on the indefinite suspension of Kimmel’s show… Stephen Colbert defended Kimmel, notably after his own The Late Show was recently canceled by CBS…. Jimmy Fallon also backed his fellow late night host, and said he ‘hope[s] he comes back’ on air.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live! was ‘pre-empted indefinitely’ by ABC on Wednesday shortly after Nexstar released a statement noting they would not air the planned episode and would preempt the long-running talk show for the foreseeable future. The backlash stemmed from Kimmel’s remarks about the alleged shooter of Charlie Kirk. His comments were as follows: ‘We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.’
“Following Kimmel’s remarks, Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr went on a podcast on Wednesday where he publicly condemned Kimmel’s comments and urged affiliates should ‘push back’ on ABC… A source told The Hollywood Reporter Kimmel was prepared to address the backlash on Wednesday night’s canceled show. He planned to explain what he said and demonstrate how it was taken out of context. The source added that Kimmel was not planning on apologizing. He felt that what he said did not need an apology.
“Late night TV legend David Lettermann shared his thoughts on the matter earlier on Thursday… ‘You know, I just, I feel bad about this because we all see where this is going, correct? It’s managed media. And it’s no good. It’s silly. It’s ridiculous,’ he said. ‘And you can’t go around firing somebody because you’re fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian criminal administration in the Oval Office…’
“Current Late Night host Seth Meyers stressed the importance of free speech during his Thursday night episode and offered support for Kimmel… ‘I wake up every day and I count my blessings that I live in a country that at least purports to value freedom of speech, and we’re gonna keep doing our show the way we’ve always done it with enthusiasm and integrity.’’
The German media outlet, Deutsche Welle, added on September 19:
“The decision to suspend Kimmel came amid pressure from the FCC and ABC’s parent company, Disney. The suspension has ignited a firestorm among fellow late-night hosts — Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and others — who are speaking out about what they see as an alarming threat to free speech in media….
“Colbert called the suspension ‘blatant censorship,’ criticizing ABC and Disney for yielding to external pressure rather than defending Kimmel. He especially zeroed in on the role of FCC Chair Brendan Carr, framing the suspension as symptomatic of growing media suppression.”
Daily Mail wrote on September 19:
“ABC parent company Disney decided to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! ‘indefinitely’ after Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr threatened action against the network over the host’s remarks [on Kirk’s murder]…”
Germany and Great Britain are taking note of this development, as well.
CNN wrote on September 19:
“GOP Sen. Ted Cruz on Friday denounced Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr’s threats to pull ABC’s broadcast license as ‘unbelievably dangerous’ and compared some of his rhetoric to ‘mafioso’ tactics… ‘If the government gets in the business of saying, “We don’t like what you, the media, have said. We’re going to ban you from the airwaves if you don’t say what we like,” that will end up bad for conservatives.’
“Though Carr’s comments have drawn widespread condemnation on the left, Cruz’s remarks represent one of the strongest denunciations of the threats against broadcasters by an elected conservative. Cruz also chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which has broad authority over the FCC…
“President Donald Trump has also vaguely threatened to pull network’s licenses if they air overwhelmingly negative coverage of him, though Cruz did not rebut the president’s remarks directly on the podcast. Trump offered praise for Carr when pressed on the scathing remarks from the Texas Republican. ‘I think Brendan Carr is a great American patriot. So I disagree with Ted Cruz on that,’ he said.”
But Cruz is not the only Republican politician disagreeing with Trump. Note the next article:
NBC News wrote on September 21:
“Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said that Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr’s comments threatening to take action against Disney’s ABC last week were ‘absolutely inappropriate.’…”
Daily Mail added on September 19:
“Late-night legend Jay Leno has weighed in on the abrupt suspension of Jimmy Kimmel… ‘I’m on Jimmy Kimmel’s side on that one,’ he told reporters on Thursday, adding that he’s ‘for free speech.’… The veteran host added that ‘you don’t get cancelled saying popular things.’ ‘Usually it’s the truth that winds up getting [you] cancelled, so we’ll see what happens,’ he said.
“Leno was blunt when addressing critics who praised Kimmel’s suspension. ‘It’s a comedian talking. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it… Let the people decide,’ he said…”
Deadline wrote on September 19:
“The ‘suspending indefinitely’ of Jimmy Kimmel immediately after the Chairman of the FCC’s aggressive yet hollow threatening of the Disney Company is yet another example of out-of-control intimidation,’ the 1984-2005 Disney boss [Michael Eisner] wrote Friday in a rare X post…
“Declaring that he ‘finds Jimmy Kimmel very talented and funny,’ [Eisner] bluntly asked today: ‘Where has all the leadership gone?’”
The New York Post wrote on September 19:
“HBO host Bill Maher said Friday that Jimmy Kimmel was ‘wrong’ to suggest that Charlie Kirk’s suspected assassin was a MAGA Republican — but slammed his former network ABC for taking the comedian off the air… Maher noted that Kimmel’s show was pulled ‘24 years to the day’ that his own controversial remarks – about the 9/11 hijackers – ‘got me canceled from that network.’
‘And Jimmy Kimmel took my slot!’ he said. ‘I got canceled before cancel even had a culture,’ Maher joked, before taking a shot at his former network. ‘ABC stands for Always Be Caving,’ he quipped…
“Maher’s take on Kimmel came the day after his fellow late-night hosts supported their embattled peer Kimmel… Jon Stewart made a rare Thursday-night appearance on ‘The Daily Show,’ speaking in front of a gold-inspired backdrop wearing a dark suit and red tie, both nods to Trump’s preferred attire and decor. ‘From Comedy Central. It’s the all-new government-approved ‘Daily Show’ with your patriotically obedient host, Jon Stewart,’ an announcer began the show.”
Humorous, but they also paint a pathetic picture.
The Guardian wrote on September 19:
“The move [to suspend Kimmel] ‘marks a dark new level of capitulation and censorship of speech more redolent of autocracies than democracies’, according to PEN America, the free-expression advocacy organization. The Trump administration’s bullying appalls first amendment champions. Just as bad is the way so much of big media has rolled over like a docile lapdog, eager to obey in advance. The administration ‘is becoming increasingly brazen in its abuse of government power to silence its critics’, said Jameel Jaffer, who heads the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, adding that ‘too many of the powerful institutions that could stand up to this thuggery are capitulating instead’…
“Each instance of bullying emboldens Trump and his allies, and each instance of capitulation lays the groundwork for more cowardice. Just a few months ago, it seemed shocking when ABC News settled a suit brought by Trump over on-air remarks made by star anchor George Stephanopoulos. Most first amendment experts believed that the network could have successfully defended the case, but instead ABC buckled, even including an apology with the financial settlement. Not long afterwards, an even more defensible suit against CBS News over the routine editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris went a similar route.
“Parent company Paramount Global settled the case. Soon after Stephen Colbert criticized that settlement, calling it a bribe, his CBS late-night show was cancelled. The media has been cozying up to Trump in earnest since last fall, often with the owners’ commercial interests all too obvious. Paramount Global, for example, was eager for federal approval of a huge merger with another media giant.
“… too many media companies are bending the knee – and then cowering as Trump grows ever bolder. What good is the first amendment when so many in power don’t seem to know it exists?”
As the media did under Biden, so now they are doing it under Trump.
The Huffington Post wrote on September 22:
“Disney announced Monday that it’s bringing ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ back on the air Tuesday…
“Critics slammed Disney and its CEO Bob Iger for suspending the show after Brendan Carr, President Donald Trump’s chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, threatened to punish the company with regulatory action over Kimmel’s comments. Earlier Monday, more than 400 celebrities, including Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, signed a letter calling the suspension a ‘dark moment for freedom of speech.’ [The letter was also signed, among many others, by Billy Crystal, Ron Howard, Ben Stiller, Michael Keaton and Kevin Beacon]. A handful of other celebrities have called on people to cancel their subscriptions to Disney’s platforms [including Howard Stern] or vowed not to work with the company again.
“Sinclair which owns multiple ABC affiliates and control what broadcasts on them, released a statement saying it would continue to preempt Kimmel’s show despite Disney lifting the suspension. It will air news during that time slot instead but left the door open to Kimmel’s return.”
This was apparently a bridge too far for Disney. In August, Sinclair said it was reviewing its business and considering “acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and business combinations,” which would require approval from the FCC.
Deutsche Welle wrote on September 23:
“In his first show since the suspension, Jimmy Kimmel said he never meant to make light of Kirk’s murder… Kimmel criticized the ABC affiliates that took his show off the air. ‘That’s not legal. That’s not American. It’s un-American,’ he said.
“‘This show is not important,’ Kimmel said, adding, ‘what is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.’”
Mediaite wrote on September 24:
“Minutes before Kimmel was set to return, Trump posted a rant threatening ABC on Truth Social, writing:
‘”Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there. Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE. He is yet another arm of the DNC [Democratic National Committee] and, to the best of my knowledge, that would be a major Illegal Campaign Contribution. I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative. A true bunch of losers! Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad Ratings.’”
Deadline wrote on September 23:
“Saurav Ghosh, director of federal campaign finance reform at the Campaign Legal Center, said… ‘The decision to put Jimmy Kimmel back on the air is in no way an illegal campaign contribution,’ he said. ‘…There is no indication the decision is being driven by anything other than a commercial decision. That is not even close to a campaign contribution.’”
The Daily Mail commented on September 23 regarding Trump’s threats:
“If Trump isn’t careful, he will end up no better than Biden! This dirty revenge tour must cease… before everyone loses…”
BBC wrote on September 17:
“Within days of Kirk’s death, the country’s political camps had already retreated to opposing narratives. Many on the left are eager to explore the ways that Kirk’s killer might have been radicalised by internet subcultures and group chats. Many on the right prefer to unpack whether the suspect was part of a left-wing conspiracy. Neither group seems particularly keen to prioritise reconciliation or healing…
“As for the question of whether America can break the hold of the algorithms that stoke the divisions, that would take a leader of enormous strength with an equally enormous commitment to reconciliation… Usually only a president can facilitate that… Trump is not that type of president. He often seems at his strongest, politically, when he has an adversary to fight against…
“The framing by the president – that this was not just the deed of a twisted individual but of the radical left more broadly – is being echoed by other White House officials. ‘With God as my witness, we are going to use every resource we have… to identify, disrupt, dismantle and destroy these networks,’ said Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff…
“However, a number of studies into politically-motivated killings and violence in the US – over several decades – suggest that more cases were carried out by people with ‘right-wing’ ideologies than with ‘left-wing’ ones, though more data is likely necessary to draw a firm conclusion…
“Yes, American history is full of anger and conflict — but I’m not sure this country’s social and political systems were always so quick to reward the companies and people who stoke those emotions. Meanwhile the United States will get weaker, not greater… America’s adversaries certainly know how much its divisions damage this superpower. They work hard online to drive people further apart. And Americans make it easy for them.”
America is deeply divided. And there are not even attempts from either side to bring about reconciliation.
Fox News reported on September 23:
“Google vowed on Tuesday to offer YouTube accounts that were permanently banned for political speech the ability to be reinstated, and the big tech giant admitted that it once faced pressure from the Biden administration to remove content about COVID-19… and elections integrity policies…
“Google’s revelations came in response to a yearslong Republican-led investigation by the committee into big tech companies, including Google, that censored and suppressed content on their platforms related to COVID-19, the 2020 election and Hunter Biden.”
We knew it and experienced it all along…
The Sun wrote on September 23:
“The US president returned to the 80th UN General Assembly for the first time in five years – and shocked everyone with his fiery words. Trump touted America’s role in bringing peace to seven conflicts since taking over the White House. He touched on one of his favourite topics in politics – immigration, telling assembly members it’s time to end the ‘failed experiment of open borders’. He said: ‘It’s uncontrolled, your countries are being ruined.’…
“The jaw-dropping summit saw him calling global warming as an illegitimate idea, slamming climate change as the ‘greatest con job ever perpetrated in the world.’ He complained about renewable energy, calling it useless and warning that it was leading Europe to the ‘brink of destruction’…
“Meanwhile, Trump slammed the UN for ‘not helping me stop the conflicts.’ He said: ‘It’s too bad that I had to do these things instead of the United Nations doing them. And, sadly, in all cases, the United Nations did not even try to help in any of them… ‘All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that on the way up, stopped right in the middle. And then the teleprompter didn’t work, these are the two things I got from the United Nations.’
“Trump warned in his fiery speech about the nuclear threat the world faces, and said ‘there is no more serious danger to our planet today.’ He asked Nato’s European members to stop buying Russian oil and prevent funding Russia’s war machine against Ukraine.”
Some of Trump’s comments were well-taken.
The Sun wrote on September 19:
“NATO forces were scrambled to intercept three Russian jets flying over Estonia as the Baltic nation triggered an emergency meeting. [Three jets] brazenly entered the country’s airspace today in a major escalation by Moscow… without clearance…
“Shortly afterwards, Polish authorities reported a ‘low flyover’ of Russian military planes near an oil and gas platform… While in Estonian airspace, the jets circled in the sky [for nearly 12 minutes] as though waiting for a response… NATO allies scrambled Italian F-35s to repel the Russian jets.
“Security expert Will Geddes told The Sun: ‘What we’re increasingly seeing is incursions into NATO country airspace, whether that be Poland, quite recently on September 10, with drones, whether it be Romania, or now Estonia. This is becoming increasingly concerning, as NATO has a joint agreement in terms of protecting their airspace.’
“He added: ‘I think what it really comes down to is the fact that Russia is testing NATO countries, and testing their aerial defence measures.’… It comes as hopes of a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine look ever distant… Speaking in Istanbul, the former spy boss [Sir Richard Moore] said: ‘I have seen absolutely no evidence that President Putin has any interest in a negotiated peace short of Ukrainian capitulation.’”
Politico wrote on September 19:
“Romania has also faced repeated violations, including a drone tracked for nearly 50 minutes in its airspace in mid-September. Fragments from earlier Russian attacks in Ukraine have repeatedly landed on Romanian territory…
“NATO allies have historically exercised restraint in such situations. The last time a member state shot down a Russian fighter was in 2015, when Turkey downed a Su-24 near the Syria-Turkey border, sparking a sharp diplomatic confrontation with Moscow but no wider conflict. Since then, despite repeated airspace violations over the Baltics, Poland and Romania, the alliance has refrained from similar moves.”
Deutsche Welle reported on September 20:
“Germany’s air force on Sunday sent two Eurofighters to follow a Russian IL-20m military aircraft that had entered neutral airspace over the Baltic Sea, before handing the escort over to NATO partners in Sweden.”
It is clear that Russia is testing NATO. None of it is accidental.
The Sun wrote on September 24:
“Yvette Cooper (Foreign Secretary) slammed Moscow or its ‘provocative and reckless violations’ into Nato airspace in recent weeks during a speech to the UN… [adding] ‘we will be ready to act.’
“Meanwhile, on Tuesday evening, Boris Johnson urged Britain to put troops into Ukraine now — with or without a ceasefire… he blasted Germany for not giving Kyiv its Taurus stealth cruise missiles. And he attacked the Labour government for buying Russian uranium…
“It comes after Trump told Nato countries to ‘shoot down’ invading Russian aircraft saying member states ‘shouldn’t hesitate’ in the face of incursions. When asked if Washington would back them militarily, he was non-committal. ‘That depends on the circumstance,’ Trump said….
“The president doubled down in a Truth Social post – calling Moscow a ‘paper tiger’ and backing Ukraine to reclaim its land… ‘in its original form and, who knows, maybe even go further than that!’…
“He also admitted his relationship with the Russian leader ‘didn’t mean anything’…
“Trump has repeatedly argued that Ukraine would likely have to cede some land to end the war… Responding to Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia was a bear, not a tiger, and ‘there is no such thing as a paper bear’…”
The Sun wrote on September 19:
“Sir Richard [a former NATO commander] outlined that it would all start with a massive power outage across Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, which would plunge the city into chaos… ‘A wave of looting and civil unrest breaks out, wholly unexpected in law-abiding Lithuania.’ Power cuts would also be reported across Latvia and Estonia, the former army commander predicted. And within hours, [the] Lithuanian President… would announce that martial law had been imposed in the capital in the wake of rioting and violence.
“The very next day, in the wake of the growing chaos, Vladimir Putin would announce that troops in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad are being placed on full alert and moved to the border with Lithuania… According to Sir Richard, Putin would say that ‘Russian-speaking residents in Vilnius are being targeted by nationalist mobs and that Moscow will not abandon them.’ And within two hours, he will claim that Russian forces in Kaliningrad have come under fire from ‘warmongering Lithuanian rebels’ – forcing him to take control of the Suwalki Gap…
“The 60-mile strip Suwalki Gap is wedged between Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. It has massive strategic importance for NATO and the EU – as well as Russia – if conflict were to erupt. For the West, it is the only land link to the three ex-Soviet Baltic republics – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. [Seizing the gap would essentially cut off the Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia from their Nato allies] … For Russia, control of the corridor would give a land link to Kaliningrad, the main base of Putin’s Baltic Fleet…
“‘Nato chief Mark Rutte has spoken briefly to US defence secretary Pete Hegseth, whose response was: ‘Article 5? Sure, in theory, but what does that mean in reality? You’re seriously asking POTUS [the President of the United States] to declare war on Russia because of some low-flying planes? Get real!’ The military expert predicts that Poland would warn Russia to stay out of its airspace, but it will fall short of launching any direct retaliation.
“And soon, the Lithuanian army posted at the border will come under fire from the Russian army, before Russian tanks start to roll into Vilnius. And since Russia now controls the Suwalki corridor, Nato will fail to send support logistics to the Baltic countries to help defend against Russia. With Europe engaged with yet another Putin invasion, Sir Richard predicted that China in the East would launch an attack on Taiwan… The military expert said that even though Trump will threaten to slap China with ‘the motherload of all sanctions’, he will fall short of supporting the island with necessary military aid…
“‘China has seized the prize it long desired. Russia has guaranteed the eventual conquest of Ukraine and begun to reclaim the Baltic states. Nato has disintegrated. Europe is preparing a new alliance with the Far East. And Britain is exposed as a tiny island no better able to defend itself than Taiwan.’…
“While Putin’s war in Ukraine rages on with no end in sight, The Sun investigated the hidden signs that show Putin is planning to invade the Suwalki Gap… Speaking on Battled Plans Exposed of Putin’s telltale signs, Colonel Philip Ingram says: ‘We’re seeing increased Russian military presence in Kaliningrad and Belarus, we’re seeing snap military drills and unusual troop movements… The military analyst also explains that any potential threats to the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, need to be compared to the moments leading up to the invasion of Ukraine… Anything resembling the massive military buildup on the border of Ukraine just before the war in 2022 would need to be interpreted as a serious warning sign, he explains.”
In this regard, the next article is quite revealing.
The Telegraph wrote on September 19:
“[The] US was due to provide munitions and autonomous drones that would have been ‘more lethal’ than any sent previously… Donald Trump has blocked a military aid package to Taiwan worth more than $400m ahead of a potential summit with Xi Jinping…”
BBC wrote on September 19:
“President Donald Trump has said US forces carried out a ‘lethal kinetic strike’ on a vessel which he said was trafficking drugs, and the attack killed three ‘male narcoterrorists’ on board. Trump said he ordered the attack on the boat, which was in the US Southern Command’s area of responsibility, after US intelligence confirmed it was trafficking drugs. It was the third such strike on alleged drug boats in recent weeks.
“Trump’s statement on Truth Social on Friday said the strike happened in international waters. The US Southern Command’s area of responsibility covers most of South America and the Caribbean. Two previous strikes have killed a total of 14 people on boats allegedly from Venezuela…
“Trump’s post on Friday evening mirrored previous announcements of such strikes. It featured a video showing the boat travelling on a body of water, and seconds later it explodes and bursts into flames.”
How is something like this justifiable?
AFP wrote on September 20:
“US President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened Venezuela with ‘incalculable’ consequences if it refuses to take back migrants it has ‘forced into the United States,’ as tensions soar with Caracas. ‘We want Venezuela to immediately accept all of the prisoners, and people from mental institutions… Get them the hell out of our country, right now…’
“Venezuela on Friday accused the United States of waging an ‘undeclared war’ in the Caribbean and called for a UN probe of American strikes that have killed over a dozen alleged drug traffickers on boats in recent weeks. Washington has also deployed warships to international waters off Venezuela’s coast, backed by F-35 fighters sent to Puerto Rico in what it calls an anti-drug operation. The biggest US naval deployment in the Caribbean in decades has stoked fears the United States is planning to attack Venezuelan territory.
“The strikes have prompted debate over the legality of the killings, with drug trafficking itself not a capital offense under US law. Nor has Washington provided specific details to back up its claims that the boats targeted had actually been trafficking drugs.”
The Sun wrote on September 22:
“Donald Trump has claimed that taking Tylenol during pregnancy increases the risk of autism… He advised pregnant women to only take Tylenol… in the case of high fevers…
‘”Taking Tylenol is not good,’ he said… Trump also demanded no mercury or aluminum in vaccines.”
Trump also said not to give Tylenol to your child, and that there is no downside to not taking it, except for high fever (compare NPR, dated September 23). Pharma of course rejected those comments.
The Daily Mail wrote on September 25:
“Tylenol has come under fresh scrutiny after a 2017 post resurfaced in which the brand appeared to warn pregnant women against using its products. The tweet, now being widely shared, stated: ‘We actually don’t recommend taking any of our products while pregnant.’…
“When the Daily Mail approached Kenvue, which manufactures Tylenol, it issued the following statement: ‘This eight-year-old consumer response is incomplete and did not address our full guidance on the safe use of Tylenol.’ A spokesman added that paracetamol and acetaminophen remain the safest painkiller options for pregnant women — but stressed that any over-the-counter medicine should only be taken after consulting a doctor.
“Current Tylenol packaging advises: ‘If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use.’… Paracetamol packets in the UK carry almost identical warnings: ‘Talk to your doctor before taking these tablets if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or plan to get pregnant. If necessary, paracetamol can be used during pregnancy. You should use the lowest possible dose that reduces your pain and/or your fever and use it for the shortest time possible.’”
Express wrote on September 22:
“… the president remarked:… ‘children get these massive vaccines like you’d give to a horse… for a little baby to be injected with that much fluid, even beyond the actual ingredients, they have sometimes 80 different vaccines in them. It’s crazy… you have a little body, a little baby, and you’re pumping this big thing. It’s a horrible thing…’”
This is indeed horrible and crazy conduct.
The Guardian wrote on September 19:
“Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Friday that would impose an annual $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications, dealing a potentially major blow to the US tech industry, which relies heavily on workers from India and China. The US commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, said at a Friday press briefing that ‘all the big companies’ had been briefed on the new fee… ‘If you’re going to train somebody, you’re going to train one of the recent graduates from one of the great universities across our land. Train Americans. Stop bringing in people to take our jobs,’ he said.
“Trump’s threat to crack down on H-1B visas has become a major flashpoint with the tech industry, which contributed millions of dollars to his presidential campaign. The tech industry relies, more than any other sector of the US economy, on H-1B visa holders. Roughly two-thirds of jobs secured through the H-1B program are computer-related, government figures show, but employers also use the visa to bring in engineers, educators and healthcare workers… Supporters, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, say it brings in highly skilled workers essential to filling talent gaps and keeping firms competitive. Musk, himself a naturalized US citizen born in South Africa, once held an H-1B visa.
“Adding new fees ‘creates disincentive to attract the world’s smartest talent to the US’, Deedy Das, partner at venture capital firm Menlo Ventures, wrote on X. ‘If the US ceases to attract the best talent, it drastically reduces its ability to innovate and grow the economy.’…
“Immigration experts are questioning whether the executive branch has the authority to impose the exorbitant annual fee. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, said… ‘the president has literally zero legal authority to impose a $100,000 fee on visas… The only authority Congress has ever given the executive branch here is to charge fees to recover the cost of processing the application.’”
TechCrunch added on September 19, 2025:
“Trump hits H-1B visas with $100,000 fee, targeting the program that launched Elon Musk and Instagram…
“Silicon Valley will undoubtedly be up in arms over the initiative. The restrictions take aim at a program that helped create some of the region’s biggest success stories. Elon Musk… initially worked in the U.S. on an H-1B after arriving as a student. In fact, Musk, taking issue with a perceived critic of the H-1B program in December on his platform X, tweeted to the individual that, ‘The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B. Take a big step back… I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend.’”
Another move to destroy the American economy?
The Guardian wrote on September 20:
“Immigrant advocacy organizations and activists are bracing for a crackdown from the federal government following threats from the Trump administration to root out and criminally prosecute non-profit groups it believes are sympathetic to ‘leftwing’ politics. Donald Trump and his closest allies have periodically threatened immigrant rights activists and nonprofits, including those that distribute food and water to migrants or provide immigrants with legal services, with arrest. But their rhetoric has been heightened in the days following the killing of rightwing activist Charlie Kirk this month.
“Over the last week, JD Vance described civil rights groups as a ‘domestic terror movement’, while Stephen Miller, a top Trump aide and the architect of the US president’s mass deportation agenda, vowed that the administration would hold nonprofits, including immigrant-rights and police-reform organizations, ‘criminally liable’ for what he baselessly described as ‘coordinated attacks’ on Ice agents… The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), meanwhile, has expanded its definition of ‘threats’ to include the filming Ice operations…”
So, nobody is allowed to give food and water to hungry and thirsty migrants? God has a lot to say about such ungodly prohibitions.
The New York Post wrote on September 19:
“President Trump’s ‘border czar’ Tom Homan [claimed] that ‘70% of everybody arrested is a criminal.’ He said the other 30% of migrants arrested and slated for deportation include ‘thousands of national security threats’ who don’t have criminal histories and were ‘laying low to do their dirty deed down the road,’ as well as gang members that have evaded law enforcement.”
These comments are totally contradicted by many reports on the Internet, which state: “A large number of people arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) did not have criminal convictions, with data from early 2025 showing that approximately 65% of individuals booked into ICE detention had no criminal record. More than 93% of ICE book-ins were never convicted of any violent offenses. Most convictions [53%] that do occur are for minor offenses, such as traffic or immigration violations.”
The New York Post wrote on September 20:
“Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a series of bills on Saturday banning masking statewide [for federal law enforcement agents], as part of a concentrated effort to bar Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from concealing their identities during raids. The five bills Newsom signed into law Saturday ‘make California the first state in the nation to prohibit federal law enforcement officers, including ICE, from hiding their identities [‘except when absolutely necessary’] according to a press release from his office…
“Newsom’s office did not say how they would enforce such a rule against a federal agency, though they did talk at length about how much they oppose ICE’s recent actions…
“The new law will require notification to families when immigration enforcement intends on visiting a school. Emergency rooms and other nonpublic areas within hospitals are off limits to immigration enforcement ‘without a judicial warrant or court order, and it clarifies that immigration information collected by a health care provider is protected as medical information.’”
The key question is indeed: How WILL or even CAN California enforce these new rules? It will inevitably lead to further confrontations between the state of California and the federal government.
The Daily Mail wrote on September 24:
“A sniper killed [one migrant and wounded two] in a shooting at a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, then shot himself dead, police say. The bloodbath unfolded… when the gunman targeted migrants on an unmarked transport van. ICE said… that the sniper ‘fired indiscriminately’ before later shooting himself… The victims were ICE detainees, and no law enforcement were injured in the shooting…
“Officials said at a press conference on Wednesday morning that bullets found by the shooter’s body were engraved with ‘anti-ICE messages.’ … Although the sniper appeared to target migrants in ICE custody, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote on X that the shooting represented an attack on ICE and law enforcement…”
If this demonically inspired attack was indeed an attack on ICE, and not on migrants, as JD Vance claimed, then this was a terribly bad sniper. Something very hard to believe. The violence in this country reaches unparalleled proportions.
Breitbart wrote on September 25:
“California Governor Gavin Newsom launched an antisemitic attack on White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller this week, referring to Miller, who is Jewish, by the Nazi acronym ‘SS,’ in a social media post…
“Referring to a Jew as a Nazi is widely considered a form of Holocaust denial, as well as antisemitic…”
We have never heard before that referring to a Jew as a Nazi is “widely considered a form of Holocaust denial, as well as antisemitic.” This would be a rather strange association, if true. It would also be highly concocted to make this association because someone calling someone else a Nazi most surely is not trying to emphasize that the other person is Jewish.
Deutsche Welle wrote on September 20:
“If federal elections were held in Germany today, the far-right populist… AfD would emerge as the largest party, according to an opinion poll released on Sunday… which put the anti-immigration party up one percentage point at 26%, overtaking the ruling conservative CDU/CSU bloc which remained unchanged at 25%. The center-left… SPD, the junior partner in the current coalition government, would increase their share of the vote by one percentage point to 15%, according to the poll, while the Green Party and far-left Left Party would both be on 11%. The left-wing populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) and the business-friendly Free Democrats (FDP) would both fall short of the minimum 5% threshold required to enter parliament at 4% and 3% respectively.
“The AfD, which has been officially classified as a ‘confirmed right-wing extremist endeavor’ by Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz or BfV), won 20.8% of the vote in February’s federal elections. Despite being the second-largest party in parliament, the other parties refused to enter into a coalition with the AfD.”
The AfD will not go away, and sooner or later, parties desirous to rule will be forced to enter into a coalition with it.
Breitbart wrote on September 21:
“The United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia announced on Sunday they now recognize Palestine as a state, despite accusations that it would be rewarding the Islamist Hamas terrorists behind the October 7th terror attacks on Israel. One day before the beginning of the Rosh Hashanah Jewish New Year celebrations, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that the UK would recognize Palestine statehood. The move pre-empted plans from France to back the measure this week at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York.
“Starmer’s telegraphed announcement was preempted by fellow G7 nation Australia and Canada, both of which announced Sunday they would also recognize the territory as a state shortly before Starmer’s statement.
“Starmer initially laid out plans to officially recognize Palestine in July on a conditional basis, demanding that Hamas — the Islamist terror group behind the October 7th terror attacks on Israel in 2023, which saw over 1,200 murdered and around 250 hostages taken — disarm, release the hostages, and agree to give up control of Gaza. Despite these conditions not being met, Starmer said on Sunday, ‘In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and of a two-state solution.’…
“Turning to Israel, the PM accused Jerusalem of conducting a ‘relentless and increasing bombardment of Gaza,’ adding: ‘The starvation and devastation are utterly intolerable. Tens of thousands have been killed, including thousands as they tried to collect food and water. This death and destruction horrifies all of us. It must end.’ For its part, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said in response: ‘Recognition is nothing but a reward for jihadist Hamas – emboldened by its Muslim Brotherhood affiliated in the UK. Hamas leaders themselves openly admit: this recognition is a direct outcome, the “fruit” for the October 7 massacre…’
“Palestine lacks the fundamental aspects of statehood, such as clearly defined borders or a firm constitution and has not held meaningful elections in nearly two decades. Meanwhile, it continues to be a major sponsor of terrorism against its neighbour and top trading partner, Israel. The move to recognise Palestine as a state will put Canberra, Ottawa, and London at odds with both Israel and the United States, with the Trump administration stressing its opposition to Palestinian statehood as it would be ‘rewarding Hamas’ for the October 7th terror attacks on Israel…
“Nigel Farage, whose Reform UK party has led in the polls throughout the year, said per The Telegraph: ‘Hamas and a Palestinian state are inseparable for now. This is typical of Starmer, he can’t really decide where he stands… this announcement is a surrender to terrorism and a betrayal of Israel.’…
“According to a survey released on Saturday from JL Partners, 87 per cent of the public opposes the move [to recognize Palestine] without any conditions on Hamas. Additionally, 51 per cent said that they would oppose it while Hamas remains in power in Gaza, and 52 per cent said they believe the action would be rewarding the terrorists.”
The shortsightedness of these politicians is mind-boggling. France recognized Palestine on Monday in the UN General Assembly, as did Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and Monaco. Germany, Italy and Japan did not recognize such a state. Note the next article.
The New York Post wrote on September 20:
“Hamas ominously released what it called a “parting image” Saturday of the remaining 48 Israelis being held captive in Gaza, as the Jewish state’s ground troops prepare to close in on Gaza City… Gaza City, the largest city in the Palestinian enclave, is considered Hamas’ last remaining stronghold…
“The terror group, in anticipation of IDF forces encircling the critical city, issued its strongest warning yet Thursday, saying the military takeover of Gaza City meant Israel had lost any chance of having the hostages returned — dead or alive.”
Hamas is a murderous lying terrorist organization. To try to strike any deals with them is patently stupid.
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.
| Live Services | The Case for Loyalty / Something Greater |
|---|---|
| Editorial | In Plain Sight |
| Current Events | This Week in the News |
| Q&A | What is the Millennium and where is it mentioned in the Bible? |
| The Work | Preaching the Gospel and Feeding the Flock |
On September 27, 2025, Frank Bruno will present the sermonette, titled, “The Case for Loyalty,” and Eric Rank will present the sermon, titled, “Something Greater.”
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 Day of Atonement will be observed, October 2, 2025. Live services will be broadcast at the same time as Sabbath Services.
Eric Rank will present the Offertory and Dave Harris will present the sermon, titled, “Elements of the Day of Atonement.”
Please note: This will be the last Update until October 24, 2025, due to our observing the Day of Atonement; the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day.
by Frank Bruno
Back in 1973, the United States had been reeling from the shocks of the Vietnam War, the ever-threatening Cold War with the Soviet Union, the Watergate scandal, and the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Any of these factors alone could destabilize a nation and spark panic and economic uncertainty for decades to come. We know that when nations and world markets suffer, private business interests and world banks react. From 1973 through 1975, world markets suffered from an oil crisis, energy shortages, and high unemployment. While these headwinds resulted in political changes in U.S. leadership in 1976, business people, former government ministers, and members of security services in Japan, the US, and Western Europe had already formed an alliance, a Trilateral Commission, under the guidance of the rich and powerful David Rockefeller to affect change.
The inspiration for our messages can vary. Recently I was watching a lighthearted police comedy/drama from the mid-1970’s. In one episode, the detectives brought in a person who was agitated about a meeting of the Trilateral Commission in NYC. The mention of the Commission brought me back to my teen years and my new awareness of world politics. The members and their work were opaque at the time, as intended—powerful people working behind the scenes, yet hidden in plain sight, and they are not alone.
The stated goal of the Commission since its founding in 1973 has been to foster international cooperation between Japan, Western Europe, and North America. Further, the Commission is purportedly committed to so-called common values, rule of law and democratic principles. The Commission represents the commercial and political interests of what we now refer to as the elites in business and government. In 2021, the Commission had over 400 representatives from the member nations, and this includes academia, business, national security, medicine, and other disciplines. Members have included U.S. Congressional representatives, National Security Advisors, Media, and even the late financier, Jeffrey Epstein.
The Commission has a bold, three-arrow circular logo that one could imagine adorning the collar of a uniform—a one-world government uniform, so to speak. The concept of common democracy and economic prosperity might not, on the surface, seem problematic; however, we know that God does not wish His people to focus in this way. We only need to turn to the beginning of our Bible in Genesis 11, verses 1-9, to see that the earliest people became focused on creating a coordinated government and language, and, they were intent on building a great tower to the heavens—in essence to compete with God:
“Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, ‘Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.’ They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.’ But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. The LORD said, ‘If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. ‘Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.’ So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth” (New International Version throughout).
God knew that the people’s desire to grow and unite in language and power was evilly inspired. He therefore took swift action to change the plans of the people at that time, and He scattered the people and their languages so that evil collaborations were halted.
“We know that the prophet, Daniel, was granted the ability from God to foresee similar events long into the future that he shared with the king of Babylon. What Daniel saw in his dreams was a future, powerfully evil, one-world government that is detailed in Daniel 7:23: “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.’”
We see time and again in Scripture that God is warning us to be aware of flawed and corrupt leaders, in all fields, not just government, who use their authority for self-aggrandizement and control over the people. This is certainly not a new theme for our Church. This is what our Evangelist, Norbert Link, is doing with his messages and StandingWatch programs; however, we all must be awakened to these things.
The Prophet Jeremiah, however, initially reluctant to be a messenger of God, provided important words to live by in Jeremiah 17, verse 5: “This is what the LORD says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.’”
As those called by God the Father to faith and Truth, we know how this story of Creation and mankind’s existence on earth progresses and is fulfilled by the return of Jesus Christ. We see the horror in Revelation 13:15 that shows us a global government and religious structure that we can have no part in and that means to destroy or subjugate all life. Then, and, in God’s good time, we have in Revelation 19:15-16the fulfillment of God’s plan for His people in the return of Jesus Christ and His Millennial rule: “Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.” The Trilateral Commission, or any national or hidden power will be no more.
“Consider this final Scripture inRevelation 22:3-5:“No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” I am elated at the thought of the rulership of God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, and the ultimate force of goodness and life prevailing over such depravity. Vengeance is not ours to deliver, but, if we do our work and remain faithful, we can see the end of all evil and be a part of God’s plan. These worldly entities will attempt to convince all that they are the answer, or conversely, frighten people into submission. Either way, obedience to the Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, is the only antidote to such poison.
by Norbert Link
We are reporting on the controversial decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel and the resulting backlash, with many from all directions alleging suppression of free speech and ulterior monetary motives.
We continue with Putin’s deliberate attacks on Poland, Romania and Lithuania with the obvious goal to test NATO in order to determine how far he can go. An insightful article paints a picture of where all of this might lead. We also report on Trump’s speech to the UN and his changed position in the Russia-Ukraine war.
We speak on America’s ongoing destruction of vessels in the Caribbean and killing the people on board, allegedly transporting drugs; and fears that America might attack Venezuelan territory.
We report on the controversy regarding Tylenol and imposing an annual $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications; Trump’s threats against nonprofit organizations; and the ongoing fight between California and ICE, as well as another demonically inspired sniper attack on migrants at an ICE facility in Texas.
We conclude with further recognitions of Palestine as a state, while Hamas makes a despicable announcement.
Please note our new message, “Worldwide Attacks and Persecution—Comments on News and Prophecy, September 20, 2025.”
Please also note our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Our War-Torn World—Will It Ever Change?”
Throughout this section, we have underlined pertinent statements in the quoted articles, for the convenience and quick overview of the reader.
The Hollywood Reporter wrote on September 19:
“Conan O’Brien Says Jimmy Kimmel Suspension ‘Should Disturb Everyone’: ‘It’s Wrong.’… ‘The suspension of [Jimmy Kimmel] and the promise to silence other Late Night hosts for criticizing the administration should disturb everyone on the Right, Left, and Center,’ he wrote on X. ‘It’s wrong and anyone with a conscience knows it’s wrong.’
“The former Late Night and Tonight Show host is one of many late night TV hosts who have voiced their disapproval on the indefinite suspension of Kimmel’s show… Stephen Colbert defended Kimmel, notably after his own The Late Show was recently canceled by CBS…. Jimmy Fallon also backed his fellow late night host, and said he ‘hope[s] he comes back’ on air.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live! was ‘pre-empted indefinitely’ by ABC on Wednesday shortly after Nexstar released a statement noting they would not air the planned episode and would preempt the long-running talk show for the foreseeable future. The backlash stemmed from Kimmel’s remarks about the alleged shooter of Charlie Kirk. His comments were as follows: ‘We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.’
“Following Kimmel’s remarks, Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr went on a podcast on Wednesday where he publicly condemned Kimmel’s comments and urged affiliates should ‘push back’ on ABC… A source told The Hollywood Reporter Kimmel was prepared to address the backlash on Wednesday night’s canceled show. He planned to explain what he said and demonstrate how it was taken out of context. The source added that Kimmel was not planning on apologizing. He felt that what he said did not need an apology.
“Late night TV legend David Lettermann shared his thoughts on the matter earlier on Thursday… ‘You know, I just, I feel bad about this because we all see where this is going, correct? It’s managed media. And it’s no good. It’s silly. It’s ridiculous,’ he said. ‘And you can’t go around firing somebody because you’re fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian criminal administration in the Oval Office…’
“Current Late Night host Seth Meyers stressed the importance of free speech during his Thursday night episode and offered support for Kimmel… ‘I wake up every day and I count my blessings that I live in a country that at least purports to value freedom of speech, and we’re gonna keep doing our show the way we’ve always done it with enthusiasm and integrity.’’
The German media outlet, Deutsche Welle, added on September 19:
“The decision to suspend Kimmel came amid pressure from the FCC and ABC’s parent company, Disney. The suspension has ignited a firestorm among fellow late-night hosts — Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and others — who are speaking out about what they see as an alarming threat to free speech in media….
“Colbert called the suspension ‘blatant censorship,’ criticizing ABC and Disney for yielding to external pressure rather than defending Kimmel. He especially zeroed in on the role of FCC Chair Brendan Carr, framing the suspension as symptomatic of growing media suppression.”
Daily Mail wrote on September 19:
“ABC parent company Disney decided to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! ‘indefinitely’ after Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr threatened action against the network over the host’s remarks [on Kirk’s murder]…”
Germany and Great Britain are taking note of this development, as well.
CNN wrote on September 19:
“GOP Sen. Ted Cruz on Friday denounced Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr’s threats to pull ABC’s broadcast license as ‘unbelievably dangerous’ and compared some of his rhetoric to ‘mafioso’ tactics… ‘If the government gets in the business of saying, “We don’t like what you, the media, have said. We’re going to ban you from the airwaves if you don’t say what we like,” that will end up bad for conservatives.’
“Though Carr’s comments have drawn widespread condemnation on the left, Cruz’s remarks represent one of the strongest denunciations of the threats against broadcasters by an elected conservative. Cruz also chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which has broad authority over the FCC…
“President Donald Trump has also vaguely threatened to pull network’s licenses if they air overwhelmingly negative coverage of him, though Cruz did not rebut the president’s remarks directly on the podcast. Trump offered praise for Carr when pressed on the scathing remarks from the Texas Republican. ‘I think Brendan Carr is a great American patriot. So I disagree with Ted Cruz on that,’ he said.”
But Cruz is not the only Republican politician disagreeing with Trump. Note the next article:
NBC News wrote on September 21:
“Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said that Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr’s comments threatening to take action against Disney’s ABC last week were ‘absolutely inappropriate.’…”
Daily Mail added on September 19:
“Late-night legend Jay Leno has weighed in on the abrupt suspension of Jimmy Kimmel… ‘I’m on Jimmy Kimmel’s side on that one,’ he told reporters on Thursday, adding that he’s ‘for free speech.’… The veteran host added that ‘you don’t get cancelled saying popular things.’ ‘Usually it’s the truth that winds up getting [you] cancelled, so we’ll see what happens,’ he said.
“Leno was blunt when addressing critics who praised Kimmel’s suspension. ‘It’s a comedian talking. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it… Let the people decide,’ he said…”
Deadline wrote on September 19:
“The ‘suspending indefinitely’ of Jimmy Kimmel immediately after the Chairman of the FCC’s aggressive yet hollow threatening of the Disney Company is yet another example of out-of-control intimidation,’ the 1984-2005 Disney boss [Michael Eisner] wrote Friday in a rare X post…
“Declaring that he ‘finds Jimmy Kimmel very talented and funny,’ [Eisner] bluntly asked today: ‘Where has all the leadership gone?’”
The New York Post wrote on September 19:
“HBO host Bill Maher said Friday that Jimmy Kimmel was ‘wrong’ to suggest that Charlie Kirk’s suspected assassin was a MAGA Republican — but slammed his former network ABC for taking the comedian off the air… Maher noted that Kimmel’s show was pulled ‘24 years to the day’ that his own controversial remarks – about the 9/11 hijackers – ‘got me canceled from that network.’
‘And Jimmy Kimmel took my slot!’ he said. ‘I got canceled before cancel even had a culture,’ Maher joked, before taking a shot at his former network. ‘ABC stands for Always Be Caving,’ he quipped…
“Maher’s take on Kimmel came the day after his fellow late-night hosts supported their embattled peer Kimmel… Jon Stewart made a rare Thursday-night appearance on ‘The Daily Show,’ speaking in front of a gold-inspired backdrop wearing a dark suit and red tie, both nods to Trump’s preferred attire and decor. ‘From Comedy Central. It’s the all-new government-approved ‘Daily Show’ with your patriotically obedient host, Jon Stewart,’ an announcer began the show.”
Humorous, but they also paint a pathetic picture.
The Guardian wrote on September 19:
“The move [to suspend Kimmel] ‘marks a dark new level of capitulation and censorship of speech more redolent of autocracies than democracies’, according to PEN America, the free-expression advocacy organization. The Trump administration’s bullying appalls first amendment champions. Just as bad is the way so much of big media has rolled over like a docile lapdog, eager to obey in advance. The administration ‘is becoming increasingly brazen in its abuse of government power to silence its critics’, said Jameel Jaffer, who heads the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, adding that ‘too many of the powerful institutions that could stand up to this thuggery are capitulating instead’…
“Each instance of bullying emboldens Trump and his allies, and each instance of capitulation lays the groundwork for more cowardice. Just a few months ago, it seemed shocking when ABC News settled a suit brought by Trump over on-air remarks made by star anchor George Stephanopoulos. Most first amendment experts believed that the network could have successfully defended the case, but instead ABC buckled, even including an apology with the financial settlement. Not long afterwards, an even more defensible suit against CBS News over the routine editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris went a similar route.
“Parent company Paramount Global settled the case. Soon after Stephen Colbert criticized that settlement, calling it a bribe, his CBS late-night show was cancelled. The media has been cozying up to Trump in earnest since last fall, often with the owners’ commercial interests all too obvious. Paramount Global, for example, was eager for federal approval of a huge merger with another media giant.
“… too many media companies are bending the knee – and then cowering as Trump grows ever bolder. What good is the first amendment when so many in power don’t seem to know it exists?”
As the media did under Biden, so now they are doing it under Trump.
The Huffington Post wrote on September 22:
“Disney announced Monday that it’s bringing ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ back on the air Tuesday…
“Critics slammed Disney and its CEO Bob Iger for suspending the show after Brendan Carr, President Donald Trump’s chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, threatened to punish the company with regulatory action over Kimmel’s comments. Earlier Monday, more than 400 celebrities, including Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, signed a letter calling the suspension a ‘dark moment for freedom of speech.’ [The letter was also signed, among many others, by Billy Crystal, Ron Howard, Ben Stiller, Michael Keaton and Kevin Beacon]. A handful of other celebrities have called on people to cancel their subscriptions to Disney’s platforms [including Howard Stern] or vowed not to work with the company again.
“Sinclair which owns multiple ABC affiliates and control what broadcasts on them, released a statement saying it would continue to preempt Kimmel’s show despite Disney lifting the suspension. It will air news during that time slot instead but left the door open to Kimmel’s return.”
This was apparently a bridge too far for Disney. In August, Sinclair said it was reviewing its business and considering “acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and business combinations,” which would require approval from the FCC.
Deutsche Welle wrote on September 23:
“In his first show since the suspension, Jimmy Kimmel said he never meant to make light of Kirk’s murder… Kimmel criticized the ABC affiliates that took his show off the air. ‘That’s not legal. That’s not American. It’s un-American,’ he said.
“‘This show is not important,’ Kimmel said, adding, ‘what is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.’”
Mediaite wrote on September 24:
“Minutes before Kimmel was set to return, Trump posted a rant threatening ABC on Truth Social, writing:
‘”Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there. Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE. He is yet another arm of the DNC [Democratic National Committee] and, to the best of my knowledge, that would be a major Illegal Campaign Contribution. I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative. A true bunch of losers! Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad Ratings.’”
Deadline wrote on September 23:
“Saurav Ghosh, director of federal campaign finance reform at the Campaign Legal Center, said… ‘The decision to put Jimmy Kimmel back on the air is in no way an illegal campaign contribution,’ he said. ‘…There is no indication the decision is being driven by anything other than a commercial decision. That is not even close to a campaign contribution.’”
The Daily Mail commented on September 23 regarding Trump’s threats:
“If Trump isn’t careful, he will end up no better than Biden! This dirty revenge tour must cease… before everyone loses…”
BBC wrote on September 17:
“Within days of Kirk’s death, the country’s political camps had already retreated to opposing narratives. Many on the left are eager to explore the ways that Kirk’s killer might have been radicalised by internet subcultures and group chats. Many on the right prefer to unpack whether the suspect was part of a left-wing conspiracy. Neither group seems particularly keen to prioritise reconciliation or healing…
“As for the question of whether America can break the hold of the algorithms that stoke the divisions, that would take a leader of enormous strength with an equally enormous commitment to reconciliation… Usually only a president can facilitate that… Trump is not that type of president. He often seems at his strongest, politically, when he has an adversary to fight against…
“The framing by the president – that this was not just the deed of a twisted individual but of the radical left more broadly – is being echoed by other White House officials. ‘With God as my witness, we are going to use every resource we have… to identify, disrupt, dismantle and destroy these networks,’ said Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff…
“However, a number of studies into politically-motivated killings and violence in the US – over several decades – suggest that more cases were carried out by people with ‘right-wing’ ideologies than with ‘left-wing’ ones, though more data is likely necessary to draw a firm conclusion…
“Yes, American history is full of anger and conflict — but I’m not sure this country’s social and political systems were always so quick to reward the companies and people who stoke those emotions. Meanwhile the United States will get weaker, not greater… America’s adversaries certainly know how much its divisions damage this superpower. They work hard online to drive people further apart. And Americans make it easy for them.”
America is deeply divided. And there are not even attempts from either side to bring about reconciliation.
Fox News reported on September 23:
“Google vowed on Tuesday to offer YouTube accounts that were permanently banned for political speech the ability to be reinstated, and the big tech giant admitted that it once faced pressure from the Biden administration to remove content about COVID-19… and elections integrity policies…
“Google’s revelations came in response to a yearslong Republican-led investigation by the committee into big tech companies, including Google, that censored and suppressed content on their platforms related to COVID-19, the 2020 election and Hunter Biden.”
We knew it and experienced it all along…
The Sun wrote on September 23:
“The US president returned to the 80th UN General Assembly for the first time in five years – and shocked everyone with his fiery words. Trump touted America’s role in bringing peace to seven conflicts since taking over the White House. He touched on one of his favourite topics in politics – immigration, telling assembly members it’s time to end the ‘failed experiment of open borders’. He said: ‘It’s uncontrolled, your countries are being ruined.’…
“The jaw-dropping summit saw him calling global warming as an illegitimate idea, slamming climate change as the ‘greatest con job ever perpetrated in the world.’ He complained about renewable energy, calling it useless and warning that it was leading Europe to the ‘brink of destruction’…
“Meanwhile, Trump slammed the UN for ‘not helping me stop the conflicts.’ He said: ‘It’s too bad that I had to do these things instead of the United Nations doing them. And, sadly, in all cases, the United Nations did not even try to help in any of them… ‘All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that on the way up, stopped right in the middle. And then the teleprompter didn’t work, these are the two things I got from the United Nations.’
“Trump warned in his fiery speech about the nuclear threat the world faces, and said ‘there is no more serious danger to our planet today.’ He asked Nato’s European members to stop buying Russian oil and prevent funding Russia’s war machine against Ukraine.”
Some of Trump’s comments were well-taken.
The Sun wrote on September 19:
“NATO forces were scrambled to intercept three Russian jets flying over Estonia as the Baltic nation triggered an emergency meeting. [Three jets] brazenly entered the country’s airspace today in a major escalation by Moscow… without clearance…
“Shortly afterwards, Polish authorities reported a ‘low flyover’ of Russian military planes near an oil and gas platform… While in Estonian airspace, the jets circled in the sky [for nearly 12 minutes] as though waiting for a response… NATO allies scrambled Italian F-35s to repel the Russian jets.
“Security expert Will Geddes told The Sun: ‘What we’re increasingly seeing is incursions into NATO country airspace, whether that be Poland, quite recently on September 10, with drones, whether it be Romania, or now Estonia. This is becoming increasingly concerning, as NATO has a joint agreement in terms of protecting their airspace.’
“He added: ‘I think what it really comes down to is the fact that Russia is testing NATO countries, and testing their aerial defence measures.’… It comes as hopes of a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine look ever distant… Speaking in Istanbul, the former spy boss [Sir Richard Moore] said: ‘I have seen absolutely no evidence that President Putin has any interest in a negotiated peace short of Ukrainian capitulation.’”
Politico wrote on September 19:
“Romania has also faced repeated violations, including a drone tracked for nearly 50 minutes in its airspace in mid-September. Fragments from earlier Russian attacks in Ukraine have repeatedly landed on Romanian territory…
“NATO allies have historically exercised restraint in such situations. The last time a member state shot down a Russian fighter was in 2015, when Turkey downed a Su-24 near the Syria-Turkey border, sparking a sharp diplomatic confrontation with Moscow but no wider conflict. Since then, despite repeated airspace violations over the Baltics, Poland and Romania, the alliance has refrained from similar moves.”
Deutsche Welle reported on September 20:
“Germany’s air force on Sunday sent two Eurofighters to follow a Russian IL-20m military aircraft that had entered neutral airspace over the Baltic Sea, before handing the escort over to NATO partners in Sweden.”
It is clear that Russia is testing NATO. None of it is accidental.
The Sun wrote on September 24:
“Yvette Cooper (Foreign Secretary) slammed Moscow or its ‘provocative and reckless violations’ into Nato airspace in recent weeks during a speech to the UN… [adding] ‘we will be ready to act.’
“Meanwhile, on Tuesday evening, Boris Johnson urged Britain to put troops into Ukraine now — with or without a ceasefire… he blasted Germany for not giving Kyiv its Taurus stealth cruise missiles. And he attacked the Labour government for buying Russian uranium…
“It comes after Trump told Nato countries to ‘shoot down’ invading Russian aircraft saying member states ‘shouldn’t hesitate’ in the face of incursions. When asked if Washington would back them militarily, he was non-committal. ‘That depends on the circumstance,’ Trump said….
“The president doubled down in a Truth Social post – calling Moscow a ‘paper tiger’ and backing Ukraine to reclaim its land… ‘in its original form and, who knows, maybe even go further than that!’…
“He also admitted his relationship with the Russian leader ‘didn’t mean anything’…
“Trump has repeatedly argued that Ukraine would likely have to cede some land to end the war… Responding to Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia was a bear, not a tiger, and ‘there is no such thing as a paper bear’…”
The Sun wrote on September 19:
“Sir Richard [a former NATO commander] outlined that it would all start with a massive power outage across Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, which would plunge the city into chaos… ‘A wave of looting and civil unrest breaks out, wholly unexpected in law-abiding Lithuania.’ Power cuts would also be reported across Latvia and Estonia, the former army commander predicted. And within hours, [the] Lithuanian President… would announce that martial law had been imposed in the capital in the wake of rioting and violence.
“The very next day, in the wake of the growing chaos, Vladimir Putin would announce that troops in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad are being placed on full alert and moved to the border with Lithuania… According to Sir Richard, Putin would say that ‘Russian-speaking residents in Vilnius are being targeted by nationalist mobs and that Moscow will not abandon them.’ And within two hours, he will claim that Russian forces in Kaliningrad have come under fire from ‘warmongering Lithuanian rebels’ – forcing him to take control of the Suwalki Gap…
“The 60-mile strip Suwalki Gap is wedged between Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. It has massive strategic importance for NATO and the EU – as well as Russia – if conflict were to erupt. For the West, it is the only land link to the three ex-Soviet Baltic republics – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. [Seizing the gap would essentially cut off the Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia from their Nato allies] … For Russia, control of the corridor would give a land link to Kaliningrad, the main base of Putin’s Baltic Fleet…
“‘Nato chief Mark Rutte has spoken briefly to US defence secretary Pete Hegseth, whose response was: ‘Article 5? Sure, in theory, but what does that mean in reality? You’re seriously asking POTUS [the President of the United States] to declare war on Russia because of some low-flying planes? Get real!’ The military expert predicts that Poland would warn Russia to stay out of its airspace, but it will fall short of launching any direct retaliation.
“And soon, the Lithuanian army posted at the border will come under fire from the Russian army, before Russian tanks start to roll into Vilnius. And since Russia now controls the Suwalki corridor, Nato will fail to send support logistics to the Baltic countries to help defend against Russia. With Europe engaged with yet another Putin invasion, Sir Richard predicted that China in the East would launch an attack on Taiwan… The military expert said that even though Trump will threaten to slap China with ‘the motherload of all sanctions’, he will fall short of supporting the island with necessary military aid…
“‘China has seized the prize it long desired. Russia has guaranteed the eventual conquest of Ukraine and begun to reclaim the Baltic states. Nato has disintegrated. Europe is preparing a new alliance with the Far East. And Britain is exposed as a tiny island no better able to defend itself than Taiwan.’…
“While Putin’s war in Ukraine rages on with no end in sight, The Sun investigated the hidden signs that show Putin is planning to invade the Suwalki Gap… Speaking on Battled Plans Exposed of Putin’s telltale signs, Colonel Philip Ingram says: ‘We’re seeing increased Russian military presence in Kaliningrad and Belarus, we’re seeing snap military drills and unusual troop movements… The military analyst also explains that any potential threats to the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, need to be compared to the moments leading up to the invasion of Ukraine… Anything resembling the massive military buildup on the border of Ukraine just before the war in 2022 would need to be interpreted as a serious warning sign, he explains.”
In this regard, the next article is quite revealing.
The Telegraph wrote on September 19:
“[The] US was due to provide munitions and autonomous drones that would have been ‘more lethal’ than any sent previously… Donald Trump has blocked a military aid package to Taiwan worth more than $400m ahead of a potential summit with Xi Jinping…”
BBC wrote on September 19:
“President Donald Trump has said US forces carried out a ‘lethal kinetic strike’ on a vessel which he said was trafficking drugs, and the attack killed three ‘male narcoterrorists’ on board. Trump said he ordered the attack on the boat, which was in the US Southern Command’s area of responsibility, after US intelligence confirmed it was trafficking drugs. It was the third such strike on alleged drug boats in recent weeks.
“Trump’s statement on Truth Social on Friday said the strike happened in international waters. The US Southern Command’s area of responsibility covers most of South America and the Caribbean. Two previous strikes have killed a total of 14 people on boats allegedly from Venezuela…
“Trump’s post on Friday evening mirrored previous announcements of such strikes. It featured a video showing the boat travelling on a body of water, and seconds later it explodes and bursts into flames.”
How is something like this justifiable?
AFP wrote on September 20:
“US President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened Venezuela with ‘incalculable’ consequences if it refuses to take back migrants it has ‘forced into the United States,’ as tensions soar with Caracas. ‘We want Venezuela to immediately accept all of the prisoners, and people from mental institutions… Get them the hell out of our country, right now…’
“Venezuela on Friday accused the United States of waging an ‘undeclared war’ in the Caribbean and called for a UN probe of American strikes that have killed over a dozen alleged drug traffickers on boats in recent weeks. Washington has also deployed warships to international waters off Venezuela’s coast, backed by F-35 fighters sent to Puerto Rico in what it calls an anti-drug operation. The biggest US naval deployment in the Caribbean in decades has stoked fears the United States is planning to attack Venezuelan territory.
“The strikes have prompted debate over the legality of the killings, with drug trafficking itself not a capital offense under US law. Nor has Washington provided specific details to back up its claims that the boats targeted had actually been trafficking drugs.”
The Sun wrote on September 22:
“Donald Trump has claimed that taking Tylenol during pregnancy increases the risk of autism… He advised pregnant women to only take Tylenol… in the case of high fevers…
‘”Taking Tylenol is not good,’ he said… Trump also demanded no mercury or aluminum in vaccines.”
Trump also said not to give Tylenol to your child, and that there is no downside to not taking it, except for high fever (compare NPR, dated September 23). Pharma of course rejected those comments.
The Daily Mail wrote on September 25:
“Tylenol has come under fresh scrutiny after a 2017 post resurfaced in which the brand appeared to warn pregnant women against using its products. The tweet, now being widely shared, stated: ‘We actually don’t recommend taking any of our products while pregnant.’…
“When the Daily Mail approached Kenvue, which manufactures Tylenol, it issued the following statement: ‘This eight-year-old consumer response is incomplete and did not address our full guidance on the safe use of Tylenol.’ A spokesman added that paracetamol and acetaminophen remain the safest painkiller options for pregnant women — but stressed that any over-the-counter medicine should only be taken after consulting a doctor.
“Current Tylenol packaging advises: ‘If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use.’… Paracetamol packets in the UK carry almost identical warnings: ‘Talk to your doctor before taking these tablets if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or plan to get pregnant. If necessary, paracetamol can be used during pregnancy. You should use the lowest possible dose that reduces your pain and/or your fever and use it for the shortest time possible.’”
Express wrote on September 22:
“… the president remarked:… ‘children get these massive vaccines like you’d give to a horse… for a little baby to be injected with that much fluid, even beyond the actual ingredients, they have sometimes 80 different vaccines in them. It’s crazy… you have a little body, a little baby, and you’re pumping this big thing. It’s a horrible thing…’”
This is indeed horrible and crazy conduct.
The Guardian wrote on September 19:
“Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Friday that would impose an annual $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications, dealing a potentially major blow to the US tech industry, which relies heavily on workers from India and China. The US commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, said at a Friday press briefing that ‘all the big companies’ had been briefed on the new fee… ‘If you’re going to train somebody, you’re going to train one of the recent graduates from one of the great universities across our land. Train Americans. Stop bringing in people to take our jobs,’ he said.
“Trump’s threat to crack down on H-1B visas has become a major flashpoint with the tech industry, which contributed millions of dollars to his presidential campaign. The tech industry relies, more than any other sector of the US economy, on H-1B visa holders. Roughly two-thirds of jobs secured through the H-1B program are computer-related, government figures show, but employers also use the visa to bring in engineers, educators and healthcare workers… Supporters, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, say it brings in highly skilled workers essential to filling talent gaps and keeping firms competitive. Musk, himself a naturalized US citizen born in South Africa, once held an H-1B visa.
“Adding new fees ‘creates disincentive to attract the world’s smartest talent to the US’, Deedy Das, partner at venture capital firm Menlo Ventures, wrote on X. ‘If the US ceases to attract the best talent, it drastically reduces its ability to innovate and grow the economy.’…
“Immigration experts are questioning whether the executive branch has the authority to impose the exorbitant annual fee. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, said… ‘the president has literally zero legal authority to impose a $100,000 fee on visas… The only authority Congress has ever given the executive branch here is to charge fees to recover the cost of processing the application.’”
TechCrunch added on September 19, 2025:
“Trump hits H-1B visas with $100,000 fee, targeting the program that launched Elon Musk and Instagram…
“Silicon Valley will undoubtedly be up in arms over the initiative. The restrictions take aim at a program that helped create some of the region’s biggest success stories. Elon Musk… initially worked in the U.S. on an H-1B after arriving as a student. In fact, Musk, taking issue with a perceived critic of the H-1B program in December on his platform X, tweeted to the individual that, ‘The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B. Take a big step back… I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend.’”
Another move to destroy the American economy?
The Guardian wrote on September 20:
“Immigrant advocacy organizations and activists are bracing for a crackdown from the federal government following threats from the Trump administration to root out and criminally prosecute non-profit groups it believes are sympathetic to ‘leftwing’ politics. Donald Trump and his closest allies have periodically threatened immigrant rights activists and nonprofits, including those that distribute food and water to migrants or provide immigrants with legal services, with arrest. But their rhetoric has been heightened in the days following the killing of rightwing activist Charlie Kirk this month.
“Over the last week, JD Vance described civil rights groups as a ‘domestic terror movement’, while Stephen Miller, a top Trump aide and the architect of the US president’s mass deportation agenda, vowed that the administration would hold nonprofits, including immigrant-rights and police-reform organizations, ‘criminally liable’ for what he baselessly described as ‘coordinated attacks’ on Ice agents… The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), meanwhile, has expanded its definition of ‘threats’ to include the filming Ice operations…”
So, nobody is allowed to give food and water to hungry and thirsty migrants? God has a lot to say about such ungodly prohibitions.
The New York Post wrote on September 19:
“President Trump’s ‘border czar’ Tom Homan [claimed] that ‘70% of everybody arrested is a criminal.’ He said the other 30% of migrants arrested and slated for deportation include ‘thousands of national security threats’ who don’t have criminal histories and were ‘laying low to do their dirty deed down the road,’ as well as gang members that have evaded law enforcement.”
These comments are totally contradicted by many reports on the Internet, which state: “A large number of people arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) did not have criminal convictions, with data from early 2025 showing that approximately 65% of individuals booked into ICE detention had no criminal record. More than 93% of ICE book-ins were never convicted of any violent offenses. Most convictions [53%] that do occur are for minor offenses, such as traffic or immigration violations.”
The New York Post wrote on September 20:
“Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a series of bills on Saturday banning masking statewide [for federal law enforcement agents], as part of a concentrated effort to bar Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from concealing their identities during raids. The five bills Newsom signed into law Saturday ‘make California the first state in the nation to prohibit federal law enforcement officers, including ICE, from hiding their identities [‘except when absolutely necessary’] according to a press release from his office…
“Newsom’s office did not say how they would enforce such a rule against a federal agency, though they did talk at length about how much they oppose ICE’s recent actions…
“The new law will require notification to families when immigration enforcement intends on visiting a school. Emergency rooms and other nonpublic areas within hospitals are off limits to immigration enforcement ‘without a judicial warrant or court order, and it clarifies that immigration information collected by a health care provider is protected as medical information.’”
The key question is indeed: How WILL or even CAN California enforce these new rules? It will inevitably lead to further confrontations between the state of California and the federal government.
The Daily Mail wrote on September 24:
“A sniper killed [one migrant and wounded two] in a shooting at a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, then shot himself dead, police say. The bloodbath unfolded… when the gunman targeted migrants on an unmarked transport van. ICE said… that the sniper ‘fired indiscriminately’ before later shooting himself… The victims were ICE detainees, and no law enforcement were injured in the shooting…
“Officials said at a press conference on Wednesday morning that bullets found by the shooter’s body were engraved with ‘anti-ICE messages.’ … Although the sniper appeared to target migrants in ICE custody, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote on X that the shooting represented an attack on ICE and law enforcement…”
If this demonically inspired attack was indeed an attack on ICE, and not on migrants, as JD Vance claimed, then this was a terribly bad sniper. Something very hard to believe. The violence in this country reaches unparalleled proportions.
Breitbart wrote on September 25:
“California Governor Gavin Newsom launched an antisemitic attack on White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller this week, referring to Miller, who is Jewish, by the Nazi acronym ‘SS,’ in a social media post…
“Referring to a Jew as a Nazi is widely considered a form of Holocaust denial, as well as antisemitic…”
We have never heard before that referring to a Jew as a Nazi is “widely considered a form of Holocaust denial, as well as antisemitic.” This would be a rather strange association, if true. It would also be highly concocted to make this association because someone calling someone else a Nazi most surely is not trying to emphasize that the other person is Jewish.
Deutsche Welle wrote on September 20:
“If federal elections were held in Germany today, the far-right populist… AfD would emerge as the largest party, according to an opinion poll released on Sunday… which put the anti-immigration party up one percentage point at 26%, overtaking the ruling conservative CDU/CSU bloc which remained unchanged at 25%. The center-left… SPD, the junior partner in the current coalition government, would increase their share of the vote by one percentage point to 15%, according to the poll, while the Green Party and far-left Left Party would both be on 11%. The left-wing populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) and the business-friendly Free Democrats (FDP) would both fall short of the minimum 5% threshold required to enter parliament at 4% and 3% respectively.
“The AfD, which has been officially classified as a ‘confirmed right-wing extremist endeavor’ by Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz or BfV), won 20.8% of the vote in February’s federal elections. Despite being the second-largest party in parliament, the other parties refused to enter into a coalition with the AfD.”
The AfD will not go away, and sooner or later, parties desirous to rule will be forced to enter into a coalition with it.
Breitbart wrote on September 21:
“The United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia announced on Sunday they now recognize Palestine as a state, despite accusations that it would be rewarding the Islamist Hamas terrorists behind the October 7th terror attacks on Israel. One day before the beginning of the Rosh Hashanah Jewish New Year celebrations, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that the UK would recognize Palestine statehood. The move pre-empted plans from France to back the measure this week at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York.
“Starmer’s telegraphed announcement was preempted by fellow G7 nation Australia and Canada, both of which announced Sunday they would also recognize the territory as a state shortly before Starmer’s statement.
“Starmer initially laid out plans to officially recognize Palestine in July on a conditional basis, demanding that Hamas — the Islamist terror group behind the October 7th terror attacks on Israel in 2023, which saw over 1,200 murdered and around 250 hostages taken — disarm, release the hostages, and agree to give up control of Gaza. Despite these conditions not being met, Starmer said on Sunday, ‘In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and of a two-state solution.’…
“Turning to Israel, the PM accused Jerusalem of conducting a ‘relentless and increasing bombardment of Gaza,’ adding: ‘The starvation and devastation are utterly intolerable. Tens of thousands have been killed, including thousands as they tried to collect food and water. This death and destruction horrifies all of us. It must end.’ For its part, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said in response: ‘Recognition is nothing but a reward for jihadist Hamas – emboldened by its Muslim Brotherhood affiliated in the UK. Hamas leaders themselves openly admit: this recognition is a direct outcome, the “fruit” for the October 7 massacre…’
“Palestine lacks the fundamental aspects of statehood, such as clearly defined borders or a firm constitution and has not held meaningful elections in nearly two decades. Meanwhile, it continues to be a major sponsor of terrorism against its neighbour and top trading partner, Israel. The move to recognise Palestine as a state will put Canberra, Ottawa, and London at odds with both Israel and the United States, with the Trump administration stressing its opposition to Palestinian statehood as it would be ‘rewarding Hamas’ for the October 7th terror attacks on Israel…
“Nigel Farage, whose Reform UK party has led in the polls throughout the year, said per The Telegraph: ‘Hamas and a Palestinian state are inseparable for now. This is typical of Starmer, he can’t really decide where he stands… this announcement is a surrender to terrorism and a betrayal of Israel.’…
“According to a survey released on Saturday from JL Partners, 87 per cent of the public opposes the move [to recognize Palestine] without any conditions on Hamas. Additionally, 51 per cent said that they would oppose it while Hamas remains in power in Gaza, and 52 per cent said they believe the action would be rewarding the terrorists.”
The shortsightedness of these politicians is mind-boggling. France recognized Palestine on Monday in the UN General Assembly, as did Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and Monaco. Germany, Italy and Japan did not recognize such a state. Note the next article.
The New York Post wrote on September 20:
“Hamas ominously released what it called a “parting image” Saturday of the remaining 48 Israelis being held captive in Gaza, as the Jewish state’s ground troops prepare to close in on Gaza City… Gaza City, the largest city in the Palestinian enclave, is considered Hamas’ last remaining stronghold…
“The terror group, in anticipation of IDF forces encircling the critical city, issued its strongest warning yet Thursday, saying the military takeover of Gaza City meant Israel had lost any chance of having the hostages returned — dead or alive.”
Hamas is a murderous lying terrorist organization. To try to strike any deals with them is patently stupid.
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.
The word, millennium, derives from the Latin mille, meaning thousand. “M” in Roman numerals represents the number 1,000. Over time, “the Millennium” has become a reference to the thousand years mentioned in Revelation 20, verses 2-7. The term “millennium” is not actually found in the Bible. We will use millennium in this Q&A as a parallel designation to the thousand years, as appears below in Revelation 20:2-7:
“(2) He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
“(3) and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.
“(4) And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
“(5) But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
“(6) Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
“(7) Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison…”
Verses 2, 3 and 7 reveal that in the future and for one-thousand years, Satan will be restrained from ruling or influencing the earth; verses 4, 5, and 6 describe those who will be in the first resurrection and given eternal life in God’s Kingdom.
The beginning of the millennial reign of Jesus with His elect (those in the first resurrection) is a major focus point of biblical prophecy. Jesus clearly spoke of this end-time event:
“‘Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other’” (Matthew 24:29-31).
The Apostle Paul wrote of those who would be in the first resurrection when Jesus returns.
“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” (1 Thessalonians 2:19).
He added the following:
“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
Again, referencing events surrounding the sounding of the trumpet which heralds the first resurrection, Paul writes:
“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:50-53).
Jesus Christ will return with great power and majesty at the sounding of the seventh trumpet (Revelation 11:15). He will come to Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:4), and those of the first resurrection, called saints, will be with Him (Zechariah 14:5; Jude 14). The Prophet Daniel also wrote of this:
“‘“Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him”’” (Daniel 7:27).
Jesus Christ, along with His elect, will begin the Millennium by stopping those who are destroying the earth (Revelation 11:18). Jesus warned about catastrophic events which would occur just before His return.
“‘For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened’” (Mathew 24:21-22).
Note this prophetic role of Jesus:
“Thus says the LORD: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard You, And in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You As a covenant to the people, To restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages’” (Isaiah 49:8).
The Millennium will become a time of restoration and rebuilding; of returning the captive people of Israel to their inheritance; a time of world peace through the government of God. Note this marvelous promise from God:
“Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD’S house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:2-4).
Jerusalem, troubled and fought over as it is today, will become the world capital during the Millennium when Jesus Christ returns to this world and establishes the Kingdom of God:
“‘Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,’ says the LORD. ‘Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. And the LORD will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem’” (Zechariah 2:10-12).
The following prophecy speaks of Jesus Christ’s rule as the Millennium begins with the establishment of the Kingdom of God:
“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6-7).
“And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be— ‘The LORD is one,’ And His name one” (Zechariah 14:9). And in the last part of Isaiah 11:9, this is said of the millennial rule of God’s government: “…For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.”
There are other places in the Bible that describe the Millennium, and one of those can be found in God’s Holy Day observances. One example is the Feast of Tabernacles. Here is what God has commanded:
“‘You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress. And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, who are within your gates. Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice’” (Deuteronomy 16:13-15).
Also, in Leviticus 23, further instructions are given for observing the Feast of Tabernacles:
“‘“You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God”’” (Leviticus 23:42-43).
While this observance portrays events which have already occurred, it also points to a future time. Israel was led out of Egypt to then enter the land of Canaan—the region in the Middle East that God promised to Abraham and his descendants. This promise is described as “My rest” by God in Psalm 95:11; Hebrews 3:11; 4:3 and 4:5.
In Hebrews, Paul explains that the rest of God is His Kingdom by showing that it is something we can enter in the future:
“Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it” (Hebrews 4:1).
“Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience” (Hebrews 4:11).
Paul also shows that the weekly Sabbath is representative of the Millennium in reference to the rest of God:
“For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: ‘And God rested on the seventh day from all His works’; and again in this place: ‘They shall not enter My rest.’
Since therefore it remains that some [must not in original] enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, ‘Today,’ after such a long time, as it has been said: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.’For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a [Sabbath] rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His” (Hebrews 4:4-10).
True Christians anticipate the Millennium as the time when they will enter the Kingdom of God. Christians are “firstfruits” (James 1:18) of salvation. The Bible has many detailed references about what the Millennium will be like, and for those who faithfully observe God’s Holy Days, a deeper understanding will come.
The Church of the Eternal God and its affiliates have provided many Q&As, booklets, sermonettes and sermons which more fully explain topics such as the Millennium, the Sabbath and the Holy Days of God. These can be found on our websites—all of which can be referenced through www.eternalgod.org
Lead Writer: Dave Harris
compiled by Dave Harris
“Our War-Torn World—Will It Ever Change?” is the title of our newest StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:
This world is preparing for war. Mandatory military service for European women; European nuclear weapons against Israel; Russia’s invasion of NATO airspace; Zapad drills and Eastern Sentry operations; Trump’s “change of heart” and a scenario how war between Russia and NATO could break out, while forsaken Taiwan is being occupied by China. And still, God prophecies for us a bright and peaceful future.
“Unsere vom Krieg zerrissene Welt—wird es jemals anders?” is the title of our newest AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.
“AI—Angel of Light or Prince of Darkness?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:
Should you be concerned about AI? Do you know how your child deals with it? Why are ministers of religion naïve—to put it mildly—when they support religious smartphone apps as a “critical tool for those trying to find God.” But whom may they find? Are you aware how chatbots work—and why they could clearly be very dangerous?
“KI—Engel des Lichts oder Fürst der Finsternis?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.”
Our short video, “The Fall and Rise of the Jewish People,” (1 minute, 20 seconds long), has by now received over 505,000 views.
“Gott IST… unsere Bestimmung!” the German translation of our English booklet, “God Is… Our Destiny,” has been forwarded for printing.
“Satan der Teufel,” last Sabbath’s first German split sermon presented by Tahir Coban, is now posted. Title in English: “Satan the Devil.”
“Der Geist der Wahrheit oder der Geist der Lüge – wem dienen Sie?” last Sabbath’s second split German sermon presented by Mike Richter, is now posted. Title in English: “The Spirit of Truth or the Spirit of Lies – Whom Do You Serve?”
“Lauter wie Silber,” the Feast of Trumpets Offertory in Germany presented by Robert Indlekofer, is now posted. Title in English: “Pure as Silver.”
“Von Weisen und Toren,” the Feast of Trumpets sermon presented in Germany by Mario Danisch, is now posted. Title in English: “Of Wise Men and Fools.”
“Worldwide Attacks and Persecution—Comments on News and Prophecy, September 20, 2025,” last Sabbath’s first message presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:
In this program: Mandatory military service for women; nuclear weapons against Israel; Russia’s attack on Poland, Romania and Lithuania; America’s attack on vessels in the Caribbean; Britain’s embarrassing humiliation; annual $100,000.00 fees for H-1B Visas; the government’s threats against nonprofits; and the controversial “indefinite” suspension of Jimmy Kimmel.
“The Illusion of Control,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Kalon Mitchell, is now posted. Here is the summary:
We often live under the illusion of control, convinced that we can direct our lives by our own will, yet Scripture shows this pursuit always ends in loss, frustration, and even destruction. From Adam and Eve to Job, Esau, and Paul, the Bible reveals that true peace and maturity come not through grasping for control but through surrendering to God’s will. The greatest freedom we can ever know is found not in self-rule, but in faithfully, humbly following the Father’s lead.
“I Do Not Bring Peace,” the Feast of Trumpets Offertory presented by Kalon Mitchell, is now posted.
“Will YOU Hear the Trumpets?” the Feast of Trumpets sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:
What does the Bible say about the seven last trumpets, which are directly related to the annual Feast of Trumpets? Who will hear them? Will YOU hear them, if you are alive by the time when they are blown, whoever and wherever you are? Do the Bible and history give us any hint as how to answer this question?
2025 FALL HOLY DAYS:
October 2 Day of Atonement
October 7-13 Feast of Tabernacles
October 14 Last Great Day
This Update is an official publication by the ministry of the Church of the Eternal God in the United States of America; the Church of God, a Christian Fellowship in Canada; and the Global Church of God in the United Kingdom.
Editorial Team: Norbert Link, Dave Harris, Rene Messier, Brian Gale, Johanna Link, Eric Rank, Michael Link, Anna Link, Kalon Mitchell, Manuela Mitchell, Dawn Thompson
Technical Team: Eric Rank, Shana Rank
Our activities and literature, including booklets, weekly updates, sermons on CD are provided free of charge. They are made possible by the tithes, offerings and contributions of Church members and others who have elected to support this Work.
While we do not solicit the general public for funds, contributions are gratefully welcomed and are tax-deductible in the U.S. and Canada.
Donations can be sent to the following addresses:
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On September 20, 2025, Norbert Link will present, “Comments on News and Prophecy, September 20, 2025,” and Kalon Mitchell will present the sermon, titled, “The Illusion of Control.”
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.
Feast of Trumpets will be observed, Tuesday, September 23, 2025. Live services will be broadcast at the same time as Sabbath Services.
Kalon Mitchell will present the Offertory, titled, “I Do Not Bring Peace,” and Norbert Link will present the sermon.
Tovima wrote on September 12:
“For the first time in its history, Denmark has introduced mandatory military service for women, becoming the third European country to do so after Norway (2015) and Sweden (2017). The move, announced in July, places 18-year-old Danish women into the same draft lottery as their male peers, ending a system where female participation had been voluntary. The law also extends service from four to eleven months, with the first conscripted women expected to begin in January 2026…
“Ukraine, despite being at war, does not mandate female service, though 68,000 women now serve voluntarily—up 40% since Russia’s 2022 invasion.
“… In the U.S., 200,000 women—14% of the military—serve on a voluntary basis, including in combat roles since 1993…
“Israel remains the longest-standing example: women have served compulsory terms since 1949, though for two years compared with men’s three.”
It is interesting that three European countries, descendants of the ancient House of Israel, as well as the state of Israel (descendant of Judah), would have mandatory military service for women.
Christian Today wrote on September 10:
“The European Court of Human Rights has dismissed a complaint brought by former EU special envoy Jan Figel challenging Slovakia’s bans on communal worship during the pandemic. The Strasbourg-based court ruled the case inadmissible, saying it was not clear how Figel was personally affected by the restrictions and that he could not therefore be regarded as a victim under the European Convention on Human Rights.
“Figel, who served as the European Commission’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, said he was surprised by the ruling after submitting detailed arguments on the personal impact of the worship ban in July 2023. ‘Religious freedom is among the most vital and central human rights,’ said Figel in response to the ruling. ‘I am deeply saddened by the Court’s decision not to rule on the merits of this case and recognise that the government overstepped the European Convention by banning collective worship repeatedly.’
“Figel, the former Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU, brought the case in response to Slovakia’s Covid-19 restrictions during the pandemic, which included a total ban on religious services. He said he intended not only to defend his own rights but also to highlight wider concerns about freedom of religion in Europe. ‘As Special Envoy, I saw firsthand how fragile freedom is. I believe the EU cannot credibly promote religious freedom abroad if we fail to uphold it at home,’ he said. ‘This case was about ensuring that worship does not become a dispensable right in times of crisis.’”
An utterly wrong decision, mirroring many of the cases brought by President Trump pertaining to the alleged rigged 2020 election, where courts chose, by and large, to dismiss them based on jurisdictional or procedural matters, without ever reaching the merits of the complaints. The Supreme Court has, until now, done the same thing, by refusing, for instance, to adjudicate the issue of birthright citizenship.
Israel 365 News wrote on September 12:
“Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez ignited a political firestorm after suggesting that he would like to stop Israel’s military campaign in Gaza but cannot, as it lacks nuclear weapons… These remarks were immediately interpreted by many as a veiled threat toward the State of Israel, suggesting that the Spanish leader might consider the use of nuclear weapons—if Spain had them—as a means to intervene in the conflict…
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded forcefully on Thursday, calling Sánchez’s comments ‘a blatant genocidal threat to the world’s only Jewish State… Apparently, the Spanish Inquisition, the expulsion of the Jews of Spain and the systematic mass murder of Jews in the Holocaust is not enough for Sánchez.’
“The rhetoric drew further rebuke from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who… blasted Sánchez’s administration for what he called a ‘hostile, anti-Israel line, marked by wild, hate-filled rhetoric,’ and said the prime minister was using inflammatory language to ‘divert attention from grave corruption scandals.’
“The fallout inside Spain was just as intense. Santiago Abascal, the leader of the far-right Vox party, slammed Sánchez, saying: ‘Sánchez would like to have nuclear weapons… but not to defend Spain. To defend Hamas… Cornered tyrants always end up going mad.’ Carlos Díaz-Pache, a spokesman for the center-right Popular Party, expressed disbelief: ‘A nuclear bomb on Tel Aviv? Is that what he intends to do?’ He accused Sánchez of ‘aligning himself with Hamas terrorism with a repugnant antisemitic statement.’…
“Sánchez’s comments mark a dramatic escalation in tensions between Spain and Israel—a relationship that has long been marked by political ambivalence and historical baggage. It wasn’t until 1986 that Spain formally established diplomatic ties with Israel, making it one of the last Western European nations to do so. For decades, Spain’s foreign policy had leaned toward courting the Arab world, particularly during the Franco era and its aftermath…
“In response to the deteriorating situation, Spain has recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv for consultations. In return, Israel has banned two Spanish ministers from entering the country.”
It can be easily seen what will happen when a unified Europe has access to nuclear weapons… something which will occur according to biblical prophecy.
Reuters wrote on September 16:
“Israel announced the start of its long-awaited ground operation into Gaza City on Tuesday, declaring ‘Gaza is burning’. An Israeli military official said the Israeli Defence Forces had begun the main stage of their ground operation into Gaza City, the main urban centre in the enclave, where Israel has ordered hundreds of thousands of residents to flee. The military gave few initial details but said its troops had begun ‘dismantling Hamas terrorist infrastructure in Gaza City’….
“U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who visited on Monday, offered apparent backing for the Israeli government’s decision to abandon ceasefire talks and use force to smash Hamas. While the United States wished to see a diplomatic end to the war, “we have to be prepared for the possibility that’s not going to happen”, Rubio said. He endorsed the Israeli demand that Hamas surrender its weapons and free all remaining hostages at once, as the only way to end the war…
“Much of Gaza City was already laid to waste in the early weeks of the war in 2023, but around 1 million Palestinians had returned there to homes among the ruins. Forcing them out means nearly the entire population of Gaza will now be confined to encampments along the coast further south… An Israeli security official briefing reporters on Monday said around 320,000 people were estimated to have left Gaza City so far, while some 650,000 are thought to remain.”
Breitbart wrote on September 12:
“Brazil’s Supreme Federal Tribunal (STF) on Thursday convicted conservative former President Jair Bolsonaro and sentenced him to 27 years and 3 months prison for his alleged role in a ‘failed coup attempt,’ marking the first time that a former president of Brazil is convicted for ‘crimes against democracy.’ Bolsonaro, and six other individuals… were found guilty of ‘attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, coup d’état, participation in an armed criminal organization, aggravated damage, and deterioration of listed heritage sites.’…
“According to the STF, Bolsonaro allegedly conspired with a broader group of over 30 individuals to stage a ‘coup’ and overturn the results of the controversial 2022 presidential election. Bolsonaro, at the time the incumbent president, narrowly lost against current radical leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is now serving his third term…. In addition to the prison sentence, Bolsonaro, 70, will reportedly receive a new eight-year ban from public office at the end of his 27-year sentence…
“U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the sentencing in a social media post. ‘The political persecutions by sanctioned human rights abuser Alexandre de Moraes continue, as he and others on Brazil’s supreme court have unjustly ruled to imprison former President Jair Bolsonaro,’ Sec. Rubio wrote. ‘The United States will respond accordingly to this witch hunt.’ The Brazilian government… responded to Sec. Rubio in a three-part social media post claiming that Sec. Rubio’s ‘threats’ to attack Brazilian authorities ignore ‘the facts and compelling evidence in the case files, will not intimidate our democracy’…
“In late July, President Donald Trump cited the political persecution of Bolsonaro in an executive order identifying Brazil as a national security threat to the United States, imposing a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian goods entering the U.S.”
Brazil is currently led by the left-wing Workers’ Party under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a long-standing leftist figure. This really looks like a left-wing attempt to neutralize the former President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro.
The Daily Mail wrote on September 12:
“The Colorado school shooter (16) who opened fire ‘again and again’ on fellow high school students on Wednesday has been named and pictured by police… [He] died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he fired at terrified children at Evergreen High School, close to Denver [in a quiet, leafy Denver suburb] during their lunch break just after noon. Two students were rushed to the hospital. Sheriff spokesperson Jacki Kelley said that one victim has been discharged while the other remains in a critical condition.
‘We know that the suspect had a handgun,’ Kelley told a press conference on Thursday. ‘He had to keep reloading. He would fire and reload, fire and reload, fire and reload. This went on and on. As he did that, he tried to find new targets.’
“Kelley said the first shots were fired from inside the school grounds, but the chaos ‘spilled out into the street behind the school’ where the second victim was shot. A suspected motive has not been disclosed, but Kelley said Holly was ‘radicalized by some extremist network’.”
It was reported that the shooter was fascinated with previous mass shootings and expressed neo-Nazi views online (compare The Independent, September 13).
Another example of demonic influence, if not demonic possession. Like the killing of Charlie Kirk. Note the next articles.
The New York Post wrote on September 13:
“Charlie Kirk’s alleged shooter Tyler Robinson was living with a transgender partner who was in the process of transitioning from a male to a female, a law enforcement source confirmed to The Post Saturday. [This fact was initially hidden by the FBI]. That individual… is now fully cooperating with the FBI on its investigation into the fatal shooting of the conservative activist, the source added…
“Kirk, 31, was struck in the neck by a single bullet shortly after being posed a question on his ‘American Comeback’ college speaking tour about transgender mass shooters. ‘Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?’ asked attendee Hunter Kozak. ‘Too many,’ Kirk responded. ‘Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?’ Kozak followed up. ‘Counting or not counting gang violence?’ the Turning Point USA founder sought to clarify.
“Kirk was shot immediately after and transported to a hospital where he underwent surgery. He was pronounced dead within a few hours.”
Subsequently, Tyler Robinson was charged with aggravated murder, among many other charges. It was also reported by the New York Post that the alleged murderer, who had been raised as a Mormon, was “deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology,” while being “full of hate and spreading hate.” The Utah governor also added that “social media is a cancer on our society right now.” That is certainly true.
The Ron Paul Institute wrote on September 12:
“Charlie Kirk rejected an offer earlier this year from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to arrange a massive new infusion of Zionist money into his Turning Point USA (TPUSA) organization… as he began to publicly question Israel’s overwhelming influence in Washington and demanded more space to criticize it… [Reportedly,] Kirk strongly warned Trump last June against bombing Iran on Israel’s behalf…
“This July… Kirk provided a forum for the right-wing grassroots to vent its fury about Israel’s political hammerlock on the Trump administration. There, speakers from former Fox News stalwarts Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly… branded Jeffrey Epstein as an Israeli intelligence asset… Kirk appeared visibly outraged during an August 6 interview with conservative host Megyn Kelly, as he discussed the menacing messages he was receiving from pro-Israel [supporters]… ‘I have less ability… to criticize the Israeli government than actual Israelis do. And that’s really, really weird.’…
“In one of his final interviews, conducted with… Ben Shapiro, Kirk once again tried to raise the issue of censorship of Israel critics. ‘A friend said to me, interestingly: “Charlie, okay, we’ve pushed back against the media on COVID, on lockdowns, on Ukraine, on the border,’” Kirk told Shapiro on September 9. ‘Maybe we should also ask the question: is the media totally presenting the truth when it comes to Israel? Just a question!’…
“There is currently no evidence of an Israeli government role in Kirk’s assassination. However, that has not stopped thousands of social media users from speculating that the pro-Trump operative’s shifting views on the issue contributed in some way to his death… The frenzied speculation has set off shockwaves in Tel Aviv, where Netanyahu felt compelled to explicitly deny that his government killed Kirk during a September 11 interview with NewsMax… During that interview, Netanyahu did his best to insinuate that Israel’s enemies were responsible for murdering Kirk…”
Maybe the truth regarding Kirk’s assassination will never be known, as we still don’t know for sure, for example, who was really behind the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and of Robert F. Kennedy. But we can be reasonably certain that the “official” explanations are not believable (that Lee Harvey Oswald, who was subsequently killed, or Sirhan Sirhan, who is still in prison, were acting alone, if at all). See the next article.
The Daily Mail wrote on September 14:
“College campuses in revolt. Raging debates over social issues and foreign wars. A bitter — near-existential — struggle between Left and Right, rich and poor, young and old, in a politically, culturally polarized country rocked by political assassination.
“Sound familiar? Turn back the clock six decades… Then the conflict was the Vietnam War. Gays and women were demanding equal rights. The hippie generation, rejecting their parents’ norms over drugs, fashion and music, was subsumed by counterculture, especially at universities. And, tragically, America’s political and social leaders were being gunned down.
“It’s not hard to see parallels with today [referring to America’s controversial wars or involvement, such as the Russia-Ukraine war; Israel’s war in Gaza, etc.] … The shocking assassination of conservative movement leader Charlie Kirk, 31, is yet another disturbing marker…
“America is indeed entering an increasingly violent new era the 1960s provided a frightening precedent. President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas, Texas, in November 1963 is a defining moment in US history but it was only one of myriad political killings. Civil rights activist Medgar Evers was killed five months earlier, fatally shot by a fertilizer salesman and member of the segregationist White Citizens’ Council, as he exited his car outside his Mississippi home.
“Revolutionary Malcolm X was gunned down two years later in New York City’s Washington Heights. Three members of the Nation of Islam were convicted for the murder (although two were later exonerated). 1968 was a particularly bleak year, claiming the lives of both minister and activist Martin Luther King Jr (shot on the balcony of his Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee) and Democratic presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy (at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles) within two months of each other…
“[Now think] of Luigi Mangione whose alleged message was heard loud and clear when he gunned down United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson… Mangione perversely became an icon of sorts for many – hailed as some sort of ‘hero’ and heartthrob… In June, Democratic Minnesota state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot dead in their home in a ‘politically-motivated’ double killing in which the shooter was reportedly dressed as a police officer… President Trump, of course, survived two… assassination attempts last year… [Previously, Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt.]
“Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Trump blamed ‘radical left political violence’ for [Kirk’s] killing without a suspect even being in custody. Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren was equally uncompromising, responding to requests to tone down the rhetoric by saying: ‘Why don’t you start with the President of the United States, right? And every ugly meme he has posted and every ugly word.’
“If there is a lesson to be learned about Kirk’s death it doesn’t seem to be getting through yet to all concerned.”
As we have warned for a long time, it is very likely that civil war will break out in America.
Breitbart wrote on September 16:
“Charlie Kirk’s assassination has dominated headlines in Germany, but the coverage from state-funded broadcasters and prominent media personalities has been anything but neutral. Anchors and correspondents seized on the murder to push hostile portrayals of one of America’s most influential conservatives. Their remarks in the German media, including false accusations made on public television, have sparked outrage in Germany, triggered formal complaints, and are now drawing the attention of U.S. officials.
“The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) ran the headline ‘A targeted shot into the heart of the MAGA world,’ [‘Ein gezielter Schuss ins Zentrum der MAGA-Welt’] with the subhead: ‘Charlie Kirk dies after being shot on a university campus in Utah. He tried to win young people over to Trump and racist ideas.’ [‘Charlie Kirk stirbt, nachdem er auf einem Uni-Campus in Utah angeschossen worden ist. Er versuchte, junge Menschen für Trump und rassistische Ideen zu gewinnen.‘]
“The Berlin daily Tagesspiegel went further, bluntly labelling Kirk’s death: ‘Tod eines Brandstifters’ – ‘Death of an arsonist.’
“Dunja Hayali, host of the state-funded ZDF Heute Journal, told her audience on Thursday [in effect]: ‘The fact that there are now groups celebrating his death cannot be justified by anything, not even his often abhorrent, racist, sexist, and misanthropic statements. But it seems that the radical religious conspiracy theorist struck a chord with precisely these views. Charlie Kirk not only had millions of followers on various platforms, his events were also extremely popular and well attended.’
“Later, on the broadcaster’s official podcast, without providing evidence, Hayali doubled down, labelling Kirk’s positions [in effect] ‘too radical, too racist, too misanthropic, misogynistic, and dehumanising.’
“That same evening, ZDF’s Washington correspondent Elmar Theveßen appeared on the primetime talk show Markus Lanz. Though he admitted he could not recall Kirk ever calling for violence, Theveßen painted him as a central driver of social division. Theveßen claimed Kirk [in effect] had said homosexuals ‘should be stoned to death,’ ‘women must submit to men,’ and that ‘black pilots should be feared.’…
“After a sharp backlash, ZDF acknowledged to Junge Freiheit that Theveßen’s claim about Kirk advocating stoning homosexuals was misleading. In reality, Kirk had cited an Old Testament passage during a discussion in June 2024. The broadcaster conceded: ‘… Elmar Theveßen regrets not having been more detailed at that point.’ [‘an der Stelle nicht ausführlicher gewesen zu sein.’]
“Independent German outlets and online commentators erupted in outrage at the coverage. Many argued that celebrating or trivialising the assassination of a U.S. political figure crossed a red line, regardless of political disagreements… Conservative commentators accused ZDF of ‘dancing on a grave,’ while even centrist accounts questioned why sweeping accusations of racism and sexism were made without evidence…
“Criticism of ZDF has not only come from conservative outlets and social media users but also from inside Germany’s press establishment. Die Welt chief reporter Anna Schneider described the coverage as marked by ‘malice’ and ‘inhumanity,’ pointing in particular to young people on social media openly celebrating Kirk’s assassination… She sharply criticised ZDF for the way its reporting framed the killing… Schneider also condemned ZDF correspondent Theveßen for spreading false claims about Kirk… adding that she understood why many Germans were furious about being forced to fund public broadcasters through the GEZ fee while being served such distortions.
“At the heart of the outrage is Germany’s GEZ broadcasting fee — a compulsory charge of about €18 per month, billed to every household. The fee finances the country’s public broadcasters, including ARD (a consortium of regional networks) and ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen, the second national channel). Germans must pay for it regardless of whether they ever watch state television or not… [This is] widely criticised as a mandatory tax underwriting bias and misinformation.
“The controversy has spilt over into U.S. politics and may result in diplomatic consequences… Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau declared in a strongly worded statement on X, that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination are ‘not welcome visitors’ in the United States… Former U.S. Ambassador to Germany under President Trump’s first administration, Richard Grenell, added his own criticism on X: ‘…I believe the majority of Germans are conservative, pro-family Westerners who believe in capitalism more than socialism. But the German media is radical Left. They don’t represent the majority of Germans… The media in Germany are ruining Germany. The people must reject their narratives and speak up. Now.’
“In a later post, Grenell went further, directly calling for Theveßen’s visa to be revoked. ‘This radical Lefty German keeps calling for violence against people he politically disagrees with. He poses as a journalist in Washington, DC. His visa should be revoked. There is no place in America for this type of inciter,’ Grenell wrote, sharing the footage of Theveßen likening Trump aide Stephen Miller’s convictions to the ‘ideology of the Third Reich.’”
Reuters wrote on September 12:
“Poland flatly rejected on Friday a suggestion by U.S. President Donald Trump that drone incursions into its airspace could have been a mistake, describing them as ‘a deliberate Russian attack’.
“Poland, backed by aircraft from its NATO allies, shot down drones that had violated its airspace on Wednesday, the first time a member of the Western military alliance is known to have fired during Russia’s war in Ukraine… Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk responded on X: ‘We would also wish that the drone attack on Poland was a mistake. But it wasn’t. And we know it.’… For its leader so directly to contradict Trump in public is almost unheard of, and a sign of Europe’s alarm at the U.S. president’s willingness to give weight to Moscow’s account.
“Polish Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk said: ‘I think this is a message that should reach President Trump today: there’s no question of a mistake – this was a deliberate Russian attack.’…
“European leaders say it is the latest demonstration that Moscow has no interest in a peace deal in Ukraine, weeks after Trump hosted President Vladimir Putin in Alaska and withdrew a demand that Russia accept an immediate ceasefire…. Trump has repeatedly set deadlines for Moscow to agree a ceasefire or face new sanctions, only to row back.”
Newsweek wrote on September 10:
“German defense minister Boris Pistorius [called] the path of the Russian drones deliberate. ‘These drones were quite obviously deliberately directed on this course—in order to fly into Ukraine,’ Pistorius told the Bundestag.”
It does not appear that Russia, which even denied the entire incident and claimed that Ukraine did it, acted by mistake.
The Sun wrote on September 12:
“POLAND has deployed 40,000 troops to its eastern front as Vladimir Putin launches his WW3 drills in Belarus… The Zapad drills — meaning ‘West’ in Russian — take place every four years and entail chilling mock military exercises…
“In 2017, the drills involved creating fictional scenarios, which saw Russia capture Baltic states, bomb Germany and invade neutral countries… [At that time,] Nato officials warned the exercises were a ‘serious preparation for war’. And in 2021, the drills led to Belarus’s rearmament, with weapons later deployed in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“In a powerful display of solidarity, several Nato members, including the UK, have sent reinforcements to Poland, including troops, artillery, and air defence systems…
“The Polish site the [19] drones [entering Poland] are thought to have been targeting is providing military supplies to Ukraine, German newspaper Die Welt reported.”
Tusk also said that the drone attack on Poland was taking his country to the ‘closest to conflict since WW2.’” Reuters added on September 13: “For many in Poland – which endured decades of Moscow’s domination under the Soviet Union – the fear of Russian hostility looms large.”
Metro wrote on September 13:
“Putin deploys nuclear bombers in ‘WW3 war games’… New footage shows the supersonic long-range strategic bomber carrying out a strike on a simulated enemy… Troops will also drill the use of nuclear missiles from the West’s doorstep in Belarus… Poland closed its border with Belarus as the UN security council was warned of the dire risk of a new world war…
“Ukraine’s permanent representative to the UN Andriy Melnyk warned that if Putin’s escalation is not halted ‘tomorrow it could be drones or even missiles falling on Berlin, Paris, or London’. ‘And the day after, who knows, something might even “accidentally” cross the Atlantic,’ he added.
“‘Russia is not mocking this council. It is spitting in your face. We are staring into the abyss of a Third World War.’
“Putin highlighted his lack of interest in a settlement in the war with his spokesman signalling that peace negotiations with Ukraine were now on ‘pause’…”
A war between Europe and Russia, China and their allies will break out with devastating consequences, but not quite yet. However, preparations for this prophesied terrible war are already in the works.
CNN wrote on September 12:
“NATO has launched an initiative to reinforce the defense of Europe’s eastern flank after a Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace this week, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced on Friday. The ‘Eastern Sentry’ operation will commence in the coming days and will involve assets from Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and others… Rutte said that Russia’s ‘dangerous and unacceptable’ drone incursion on Wednesday was ‘not an isolated incident.’…
“NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, US General Alexus Grynkewich [said:] ‘Although the immediacy of our focus is on Poland, this situation transcends the border of one nation. What affects one ally affects us all’… The operation will cover the entire eastern flank of NATO states.”
Other reports claimed that Russia’s drones also entered Romania’s airspace.
Express wrote on September 13:
“Russia urges Trump to ‘fight on Putin’s side and destroy Ukraine’…
“Television presenter and propagandist Vladimir Solovyov went on a bizarre rant during his Full Contact radio show, where he claimed Ukraine was a ‘global evil’… He said: ‘America has to come over to the side of good, and together with us, like in World War II and the Great Patriotic War, destroy universal evil that has taken root within America itself, which is freely blooming in Europe.
“‘And one of these scary [heads] of Medusa is in Ukraine. That’s why we fight against [global] evil in Ukraine. That’s why we’re addressing all healthy, traditional, conservative forces in the world. If you want to defeat global evil, you have to stand shoulder to shoulder with us.’”
Zelensky stated that it is Putin’s goal to occupy ALL of Ukraine. This appears very likely. We know from biblical prophecy that ultimately, Russia and Ukraine will be part of a huge Far Eastern power bloc which will be hostile to the West.
The Daily Mail wrote on September 15:
“Less than 24 hours after warning he might strike again, President Donald Trump followed through — launching a fresh military assault on a vessel in the Caribbean he claimed was carrying Venezuelan drug traffickers. Trump writing on Truth Social said that three ‘narcoterrorists’ from Venezuela were killed this morning… The president emphasized in his post that the ‘narcoterrorists’ were operating in international waters while transporting illegal drugs bound for the United States. He went on to describe the trafficked narcotics as a ‘deadly weapon’ responsible for poisoning American citizens. He labeled the cartels involved as ‘extremely violent’ threats to U.S. national security…
“This follows the initial attack in early September, when the president said 11 people were killed in a targeted strike by U.S. Navy forces on another boat that drug traffickers reportedly used… This move raised questions surrounding whether the administration had violated international law.
“A source familiar with the operation told Daily Mail that the U.S. ‘did not even know if there were drugs on the boat’ — contradicting official statements. The strike was designed to ‘illicit a response from Maduro and provoke him’ to ‘show his true colors,’ but he didn’t take the bait. The Trump administration has yet to offer proof the targeted vessel was carrying drugs.”
The Future of Freedom Foundation published on September 15 the following article by professor, attorney and Libertarian Party’s three-time presidential candidate [in 2000, 2020 and 2024] Jacob G. Hornberger:
“The U.S. Code provides that a murder of a foreigner by an American citizen on the high seas is a federal criminal offense. The pertinent sections are 18 U.S.C. Section 1111 (Murder) and 18 U.S.C. Section 7 (Special Maritime and Territorial Jurisdiction of the United States). The U.S. Constitution provides that the president shall be removed from office on impeachment and conviction of ‘high crimes.’ It goes without saying that murder is a ‘high crime.’…
“Why shouldn’t President Trump be both criminally prosecuted and removed from office through impeachment for murdering those 11 Venezuelan citizens on the high seas? Indeed, why shouldn’t the military personnel who loyally followed his orders also be prosecuted and convicted of murder?…
“Trump claims that the 11 people were using a boat to transport drugs to the United States in violation of U.S. drug laws. Even if Trump’s claim is valid though, he still has no legal authority to kill drug-war suspects, including both American citizens and foreign citizens. Deadly force can only be used in self-defense against the use of deadly force or the threat of deadly force. In other words, if a U.S. vessel had approached that Venezuela boat and those 11 people had begun firing guns at the U.S. vessel, the U.S. vessel could have responded with deadly force…
“There is no evidence whatsoever that those 11 people on that boat ever employed deadly force or threatened the use of deadly force against U.S. vessels. Certainly neither Trump nor any military officials have made that claim…
“Are we really now living in a country where the president of the United States and his loyal military henchmen who promised to support and defend the Constitution can get away with murder? Apparently so.”
Business Insider wrote on September 13:
“The US could be on the hook for between $750 billion $1 trillion, if the Supreme Court overturns the president’s tariffs. Legal experts told Business Insider that this figure shouldn’t factor into the Supreme Court’s decision on whether the tariffs are legal, which they see as a matter concerning the Constitution.
“… the Supreme Court granted the administration’s petition to hear and expedite the case… William Reinsch, the Scholl Chair in International Business at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Business Insider he expects the Supreme Court to make a final decision before the end of the year. ‘My experience with the Supreme Court is that when it comes to an economic issue, they don’t always break along typical ideological lines,’ said Reinch… ‘I don’t think it’ll be unanimous… But I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that this is the first big case where they go against the president.’
“Multiple lawsuits… have… challenged the legality of these tariffs, arguing that the power to set duties belongs to Congress and cannot be delegated to the President at will. The Court of International Trade and a federal appeals court have ruled the tariffs illegal but they remain in place after a lower court blocked an injunction to halt them.
“Will Planert, a partner in international trade practice at Morris, Manning & Martin LLP, told Business Insider:… ‘[The Court ruled against] Biden’s attempt to modify the student loan program… Those justices have been very skeptical of the idea that Congress can confer very broad economic powers on the president or the federal agencies… If the tariffs are illegal, then they are illegal irrespective of fiscal impact… In that case, the government would have collected a very large amount of money that it’s not entitled to, which would be all the more reason to have it returned.’
“The federal government has had to issue refunds in the past because of Supreme Court decisions. In 1998, the Supreme Court ruled the Harbor Maintenance Tax on exports to be unconstitutional, and that resulted in refunds of over $1 billion to affected exporters. Robert Shapiro, chair of international trade practice at Thompson Coburn LLP, told Business Insider that a company would usually have to file a protest for every entry to receive money from customs, but that may be tough on customs when it comes to handling almost every shipment that has entered the country since April…
“‘It may eventually be up to the Board of International Trade to decide how to do the refunds… Since many companies were explicit that they had to raise prices due to tariffs, customers may want their money back, too, if importers are getting theirs.’”
What a mess. Even though the Supreme Court should not consider the underlying economic consequences, it is clear that they will look at those. And “the end of the year” is still a long way off.
DNYUZ wrote on September 17:
“The United Kingdom shamelessly prostrated itself at the feet of Donald Trump on Wednesday, throwing a lavish welcoming party for his state visit to Windsor that resembled less diplomacy and more fealty. No foreign leader has ever been greeted with the degree of ceremonial extravagance, as Britain rolled out a show of pomp unmatched since the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II…
“Trump demands spectacle, and Britain provides it. He wants to be king, and, for a day, Britain is letting him. In doing so, the U.K. has revealed something deeply unflattering about itself—in the scramble to keep America close, it will debase itself and its values completely.
“It will… flatter the ego of a man who has spent much of his political life suggesting he should be treated like… a monarch… As stage props go, the monarchy is unbeatable. But if this is what the ‘special relationship’ between the U.S and the U.K. now means, it looks to many in Britain less like a partnership and more like groveling, feudal servitude.
“Nothing about the welcome was subtle… The choreography spoke volumes. Every cannon, every plume, every flashing braid, every polished boot timed to inflate and flatter Trump’s sense of himself.
Then came the pageantry proper… It was a grotesque parody of a coronation parade…
“… this was theatre that revealed far more than a sovereign nation should about its craven need to please a foreign leader who has done absolutely nothing to help the sovereign nation in question, and plenty to harm it…
“Britain managed to suppress dissent so thoroughly that you would never have known there was any. It was as if the entire nation had agreed to collude in pretending Donald Trump is universally revered. This is a national embarrassment for a once-proud nation. Britain has every reason to want a functional relationship with Washington. Nobody disputes the importance of the alliance. But the line between respect and abasement has to be drawn somewhere, and Windsor on Wednesday crossed it.
“It was not a welcome; it was a deliberate performative subservience. It sent the message that Britain will not merely tolerate Trump, we will exalt him, indulge him, and play courtier to him, no matter the damage he does here and elsewhere.”
Kair Starmer, visiting Donald Trump in the White House in February of 2025, displayed already a certain embarrassing attitude of submissiveness with the obvious attempt to flatter Trump.
Express wrote on September 16:
“In a stinging setback for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a long-anticipated deal to eliminate US tariffs on British steel and aluminium has been abruptly shelved just hours before US President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK, according to government sources. The collapse of the agreement, which would have reduced tariffs from 25% to zero, has left UK ministers scrambling and the steel industry reeling from the unexpected blow….
“The timing of the decision is particularly humiliating for Starmer, who had hoped to showcase a strengthened UK-US partnership during Trump’s visit…”
Futurism wrote on September 16:
“A slew of religious smartphone apps are allowing untold millions of users to confess to AI chatbots, some of which claim to be channeling God himself… Religious leaders told the NYT that these tools could serve as a critical entry point for those looking to find God… It’s a fascinating new development, especially considering the language surrounding companies attempting to ‘build God’ by developing an AI that can vastly surpass human intelligence…
“… experts worry that AI’s strong tendency to please the user may have unintended consequences… The AIs ‘tell us what we want to hear,’ Researchers have also warned that countless people are using AI chatbots for championship, which in extreme cases are driving some into dangerous spirals of delusions.”
Or worse, by communicating with someone who might turn out to be a demon, pretending to be an “angel of light” or even “God.”
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.
On September 20, 2025, Norbert Link will present, “Comments on News and Prophecy, September 20, 2025,” and Kalon Mitchell will present the sermon, titled, “The Illusion of Control.”
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.
Feast of Trumpets will be observed, Tuesday, September 23, 2025. Live services will be broadcast at the same time as Sabbath Services.
Kalon Mitchell will present the Offertory, titled, “I Do Not Bring Peace,” and Norbert Link will present the sermon.
by Kalon Mitchell
One would have to be living under a rock not to have seen the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Live on national TV, the man was murdered by someone with a rifle. Charlie Kirk was a polarizing person because he was willing to debate anyone on what he believed to be right.
As this was happening, Joe Rogan, a well-known podcaster, was doing a podcast and his guest commented that this assassination could serve as a tipping point just as other assassinations in history have caused some serious issues to happen, so for example the Rodney King video that caused massive riots or the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which triggered a series of declarations of war due to complex alliances and underlying tensions which ended up causing the start of World War One, etc.
A few days before this, there was another killing where a young Ukrainian woman was stabbed on a train in New York, and she sat there for a few minutes dying, and no one stepped in to help or confront her attacker.
If we were to monitor the news from all over the world, the number of deaths is extraordinary and it grows day by day.
I have been watching a lot of podcasters and YouTubers and reading articles and talking to people, and the general consensus I am getting is that people are tired of what has been going on over the last few years. There is a rift growing within the United States. The problem is that people want to fight. Left and Right are hating one another.
On top of this, there are wars going on: Israel and its fight for Gaza. Ukraine and its war with Russia. This is the state of the world that we live in at this time.
It should be clear that we are experiencing the days that Christ spoke about, which would occur before the start of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:12; Luke 21:9). These are not just random tragedies, but they are evidence that the world is unraveling, and Christ told us this would happen.
We must be vigilant and aware that we are not caught up in these same worldly mindsets and attitudes. Violence is not just the act of murder or war. Christ expanded the definition in Matthew 5:22: “…whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment…” The increase in hostility, division, and rage, even in speech and attitude, shows how violence grows first in people’s hearts before it spills out into the world.
We are called for a different purpose. We are standing up for the Truth. This may cause serious violence for us. Most of the early apostles ended up being martyrs. Seeing a man shot on TV for being brave enough to speak his mind made me stop and evaluate who I am and what I believe and it is making me confront some fears. Christ minced no words about this. He said in John 15:18: “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.” He added in Matthew 10:28: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”
We cannot live in fear and panic, and we cannot consider retaliation. Rather, we have to live in faith. We continue to speak the Truth even though we realize what it will cost. We refuse to turn to the right or to the left. We are the ambassadors for the light, for peace, for a Way of Life that is foreign and unknown to the masses.
From the first murder (Cain killing Abel) to where we are now, the world thinks that violence can end violence. This lie is sold over and over again. James 4:1-2 makes it so abundantly clear that this is so far from the Truth: “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.”
In a few short weeks, we will be keeping the Feast of Tabernacles! One of the highlights of the Feast is the revelation that we are going to have peace. These wars and violent acts will be a thing of the past. There is a promise of peace, real peace under Christ’s rule in the Kingdom of God. Isaiah 2:4 tells us: “…They shall beat their swords into plowshares…” We as Christians must not be overcome by the violence around us, but rather, we should live as witnesses of Christ’s peace in a divided and violent world. Part of our commission is to live and act in this way; the other part of it is to preach the Gospel to all the world.
We will continue to preach this and we will continue to grow in Faith in doing this.
In stark contrast to this current world, let us cling to the promise of what is before us, which is described in Isaiah 9:6-7: “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
by Norbert Link
We begin with disturbing news from Denmark and continue with a pitiful decision by the European Court of Human Rights refusing to condemn Covid restrictions (please view in this regard our new StandingWatch program, “When Will Governments Be Held Accountable For Their Corona Measures?”).
We speak on Spain’s suggestion to use nuclear weapons against Israel; the “political persecution” of Brazil’s former President; and the recent school shooting in Colorado and the murder of Charlie Kirk. We also publish a disturbing analysis of prior and current political assassinations in America.
We point out Russia’s attack on Poland and NATO’s “response”; escalations between the USA and Venezuela; Trump’s visit to the UK: and we conclude with an article showing financial consequences if the US Supreme Court were to determine that many of Trump’s tariffs are illegal, as well as a shocking article about AI.
Throughout this section, we have underlined pertinent statements in the quoted articles, for the convenience and quick overview of the reader.
Tovima wrote on September 12:
“For the first time in its history, Denmark has introduced mandatory military service for women, becoming the third European country to do so after Norway (2015) and Sweden (2017). The move, announced in July, places 18-year-old Danish women into the same draft lottery as their male peers, ending a system where female participation had been voluntary. The law also extends service from four to eleven months, with the first conscripted women expected to begin in January 2026…
“Ukraine, despite being at war, does not mandate female service, though 68,000 women now serve voluntarily—up 40% since Russia’s 2022 invasion.
“… In the U.S., 200,000 women—14% of the military—serve on a voluntary basis, including in combat roles since 1993…
“Israel remains the longest-standing example: women have served compulsory terms since 1949, though for two years compared with men’s three.”
It is interesting that three European countries, descendants of the ancient House of Israel, as well as the state of Israel (descendant of Judah), would have mandatory military service for women.
Christian Today wrote on September 10:
“The European Court of Human Rights has dismissed a complaint brought by former EU special envoy Jan Figel challenging Slovakia’s bans on communal worship during the pandemic. The Strasbourg-based court ruled the case inadmissible, saying it was not clear how Figel was personally affected by the restrictions and that he could not therefore be regarded as a victim under the European Convention on Human Rights.
“Figel, who served as the European Commission’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, said he was surprised by the ruling after submitting detailed arguments on the personal impact of the worship ban in July 2023. ‘Religious freedom is among the most vital and central human rights,’ said Figel in response to the ruling. ‘I am deeply saddened by the Court’s decision not to rule on the merits of this case and recognise that the government overstepped the European Convention by banning collective worship repeatedly.’
“Figel, the former Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU, brought the case in response to Slovakia’s Covid-19 restrictions during the pandemic, which included a total ban on religious services. He said he intended not only to defend his own rights but also to highlight wider concerns about freedom of religion in Europe. ‘As Special Envoy, I saw firsthand how fragile freedom is. I believe the EU cannot credibly promote religious freedom abroad if we fail to uphold it at home,’ he said. ‘This case was about ensuring that worship does not become a dispensable right in times of crisis.’”
An utterly wrong decision, mirroring many of the cases brought by President Trump pertaining to the alleged rigged 2020 election, where courts chose, by and large, to dismiss them based on jurisdictional or procedural matters, without ever reaching the merits of the complaints. The Supreme Court has, until now, done the same thing, by refusing, for instance, to adjudicate the issue of birthright citizenship.
Israel 365 News wrote on September 12:
“Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez ignited a political firestorm after suggesting that he would like to stop Israel’s military campaign in Gaza but cannot, as it lacks nuclear weapons… These remarks were immediately interpreted by many as a veiled threat toward the State of Israel, suggesting that the Spanish leader might consider the use of nuclear weapons—if Spain had them—as a means to intervene in the conflict…
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded forcefully on Thursday, calling Sánchez’s comments ‘a blatant genocidal threat to the world’s only Jewish State… Apparently, the Spanish Inquisition, the expulsion of the Jews of Spain and the systematic mass murder of Jews in the Holocaust is not enough for Sánchez.’
“The rhetoric drew further rebuke from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who… blasted Sánchez’s administration for what he called a ‘hostile, anti-Israel line, marked by wild, hate-filled rhetoric,’ and said the prime minister was using inflammatory language to ‘divert attention from grave corruption scandals.’
“The fallout inside Spain was just as intense. Santiago Abascal, the leader of the far-right Vox party, slammed Sánchez, saying: ‘Sánchez would like to have nuclear weapons… but not to defend Spain. To defend Hamas… Cornered tyrants always end up going mad.’ Carlos Díaz-Pache, a spokesman for the center-right Popular Party, expressed disbelief: ‘A nuclear bomb on Tel Aviv? Is that what he intends to do?’ He accused Sánchez of ‘aligning himself with Hamas terrorism with a repugnant antisemitic statement.’…
“Sánchez’s comments mark a dramatic escalation in tensions between Spain and Israel—a relationship that has long been marked by political ambivalence and historical baggage. It wasn’t until 1986 that Spain formally established diplomatic ties with Israel, making it one of the last Western European nations to do so. For decades, Spain’s foreign policy had leaned toward courting the Arab world, particularly during the Franco era and its aftermath…
“In response to the deteriorating situation, Spain has recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv for consultations. In return, Israel has banned two Spanish ministers from entering the country.”
It can be easily seen what will happen when a unified Europe has access to nuclear weapons… something which will occur according to biblical prophecy.
Reuters wrote on September 16:
“Israel announced the start of its long-awaited ground operation into Gaza City on Tuesday, declaring ‘Gaza is burning’. An Israeli military official said the Israeli Defence Forces had begun the main stage of their ground operation into Gaza City, the main urban centre in the enclave, where Israel has ordered hundreds of thousands of residents to flee. The military gave few initial details but said its troops had begun ‘dismantling Hamas terrorist infrastructure in Gaza City’….
“U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who visited on Monday, offered apparent backing for the Israeli government’s decision to abandon ceasefire talks and use force to smash Hamas. While the United States wished to see a diplomatic end to the war, “we have to be prepared for the possibility that’s not going to happen”, Rubio said. He endorsed the Israeli demand that Hamas surrender its weapons and free all remaining hostages at once, as the only way to end the war…
“Much of Gaza City was already laid to waste in the early weeks of the war in 2023, but around 1 million Palestinians had returned there to homes among the ruins. Forcing them out means nearly the entire population of Gaza will now be confined to encampments along the coast further south… An Israeli security official briefing reporters on Monday said around 320,000 people were estimated to have left Gaza City so far, while some 650,000 are thought to remain.”
Breitbart wrote on September 12:
“Brazil’s Supreme Federal Tribunal (STF) on Thursday convicted conservative former President Jair Bolsonaro and sentenced him to 27 years and 3 months prison for his alleged role in a ‘failed coup attempt,’ marking the first time that a former president of Brazil is convicted for ‘crimes against democracy.’ Bolsonaro, and six other individuals… were found guilty of ‘attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, coup d’état, participation in an armed criminal organization, aggravated damage, and deterioration of listed heritage sites.’…
“According to the STF, Bolsonaro allegedly conspired with a broader group of over 30 individuals to stage a ‘coup’ and overturn the results of the controversial 2022 presidential election. Bolsonaro, at the time the incumbent president, narrowly lost against current radical leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is now serving his third term…. In addition to the prison sentence, Bolsonaro, 70, will reportedly receive a new eight-year ban from public office at the end of his 27-year sentence…
“U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the sentencing in a social media post. ‘The political persecutions by sanctioned human rights abuser Alexandre de Moraes continue, as he and others on Brazil’s supreme court have unjustly ruled to imprison former President Jair Bolsonaro,’ Sec. Rubio wrote. ‘The United States will respond accordingly to this witch hunt.’ The Brazilian government… responded to Sec. Rubio in a three-part social media post claiming that Sec. Rubio’s ‘threats’ to attack Brazilian authorities ignore ‘the facts and compelling evidence in the case files, will not intimidate our democracy’…
“In late July, President Donald Trump cited the political persecution of Bolsonaro in an executive order identifying Brazil as a national security threat to the United States, imposing a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian goods entering the U.S.”
Brazil is currently led by the left-wing Workers’ Party under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a long-standing leftist figure. This really looks like a left-wing attempt to neutralize the former President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro.
The Daily Mail wrote on September 12:
“The Colorado school shooter (16) who opened fire ‘again and again’ on fellow high school students on Wednesday has been named and pictured by police… [He] died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he fired at terrified children at Evergreen High School, close to Denver [in a quiet, leafy Denver suburb] during their lunch break just after noon. Two students were rushed to the hospital. Sheriff spokesperson Jacki Kelley said that one victim has been discharged while the other remains in a critical condition.
‘We know that the suspect had a handgun,’ Kelley told a press conference on Thursday. ‘He had to keep reloading. He would fire and reload, fire and reload, fire and reload. This went on and on. As he did that, he tried to find new targets.’
“Kelley said the first shots were fired from inside the school grounds, but the chaos ‘spilled out into the street behind the school’ where the second victim was shot. A suspected motive has not been disclosed, but Kelley said Holly was ‘radicalized by some extremist network’.”
It was reported that the shooter was fascinated with previous mass shootings and expressed neo-Nazi views online (compare The Independent, September 13).
Another example of demonic influence, if not demonic possession. Like the killing of Charlie Kirk. Note the next articles.
The New York Post wrote on September 13:
“Charlie Kirk’s alleged shooter Tyler Robinson was living with a transgender partner who was in the process of transitioning from a male to a female, a law enforcement source confirmed to The Post Saturday. [This fact was initially hidden by the FBI]. That individual… is now fully cooperating with the FBI on its investigation into the fatal shooting of the conservative activist, the source added…
“Kirk, 31, was struck in the neck by a single bullet shortly after being posed a question on his ‘American Comeback’ college speaking tour about transgender mass shooters. ‘Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?’ asked attendee Hunter Kozak. ‘Too many,’ Kirk responded. ‘Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?’ Kozak followed up. ‘Counting or not counting gang violence?’ the Turning Point USA founder sought to clarify.
“Kirk was shot immediately after and transported to a hospital where he underwent surgery. He was pronounced dead within a few hours.”
Subsequently, Tyler Robinson was charged with aggravated murder, among many other charges. It was also reported by the New York Post that the alleged murderer, who had been raised as a Mormon, was “deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology,” while being “full of hate and spreading hate.” The Utah governor also added that “social media is a cancer on our society right now.” That is certainly true.
The Ron Paul Institute wrote on September 12:
“Charlie Kirk rejected an offer earlier this year from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to arrange a massive new infusion of Zionist money into his Turning Point USA (TPUSA) organization… as he began to publicly question Israel’s overwhelming influence in Washington and demanded more space to criticize it… [Reportedly,] Kirk strongly warned Trump last June against bombing Iran on Israel’s behalf…
“This July… Kirk provided a forum for the right-wing grassroots to vent its fury about Israel’s political hammerlock on the Trump administration. There, speakers from former Fox News stalwarts Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly… branded Jeffrey Epstein as an Israeli intelligence asset… Kirk appeared visibly outraged during an August 6 interview with conservative host Megyn Kelly, as he discussed the menacing messages he was receiving from pro-Israel [supporters]… ‘I have less ability… to criticize the Israeli government than actual Israelis do. And that’s really, really weird.’…
“In one of his final interviews, conducted with… Ben Shapiro, Kirk once again tried to raise the issue of censorship of Israel critics. ‘A friend said to me, interestingly: “Charlie, okay, we’ve pushed back against the media on COVID, on lockdowns, on Ukraine, on the border,’” Kirk told Shapiro on September 9. ‘Maybe we should also ask the question: is the media totally presenting the truth when it comes to Israel? Just a question!’…
“There is currently no evidence of an Israeli government role in Kirk’s assassination. However, that has not stopped thousands of social media users from speculating that the pro-Trump operative’s shifting views on the issue contributed in some way to his death… The frenzied speculation has set off shockwaves in Tel Aviv, where Netanyahu felt compelled to explicitly deny that his government killed Kirk during a September 11 interview with NewsMax… During that interview, Netanyahu did his best to insinuate that Israel’s enemies were responsible for murdering Kirk…”
Maybe the truth regarding Kirk’s assassination will never be known, as we still don’t know for sure, for example, who was really behind the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and of Robert F. Kennedy. But we can be reasonably certain that the “official” explanations are not believable (that Lee Harvey Oswald, who was subsequently killed, or Sirhan Sirhan, who is still in prison, were acting alone, if at all). See the next article.
The Daily Mail wrote on September 14:
“College campuses in revolt. Raging debates over social issues and foreign wars. A bitter — near-existential — struggle between Left and Right, rich and poor, young and old, in a politically, culturally polarized country rocked by political assassination.
“Sound familiar? Turn back the clock six decades… Then the conflict was the Vietnam War. Gays and women were demanding equal rights. The hippie generation, rejecting their parents’ norms over drugs, fashion and music, was subsumed by counterculture, especially at universities. And, tragically, America’s political and social leaders were being gunned down.
“It’s not hard to see parallels with today [referring to America’s controversial wars or involvement, such as the Russia-Ukraine war; Israel’s war in Gaza, etc.] … The shocking assassination of conservative movement leader Charlie Kirk, 31, is yet another disturbing marker…
“America is indeed entering an increasingly violent new era the 1960s provided a frightening precedent. President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas, Texas, in November 1963 is a defining moment in US history but it was only one of myriad political killings. Civil rights activist Medgar Evers was killed five months earlier, fatally shot by a fertilizer salesman and member of the segregationist White Citizens’ Council, as he exited his car outside his Mississippi home.
“Revolutionary Malcolm X was gunned down two years later in New York City’s Washington Heights. Three members of the Nation of Islam were convicted for the murder (although two were later exonerated). 1968 was a particularly bleak year, claiming the lives of both minister and activist Martin Luther King Jr (shot on the balcony of his Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee) and Democratic presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy (at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles) within two months of each other…
“[Now think] of Luigi Mangione whose alleged message was heard loud and clear when he gunned down United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson… Mangione perversely became an icon of sorts for many – hailed as some sort of ‘hero’ and heartthrob… In June, Democratic Minnesota state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot dead in their home in a ‘politically-motivated’ double killing in which the shooter was reportedly dressed as a police officer… President Trump, of course, survived two… assassination attempts last year… [Previously, Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt.]
“Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Trump blamed ‘radical left political violence’ for [Kirk’s] killing without a suspect even being in custody. Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren was equally uncompromising, responding to requests to tone down the rhetoric by saying: ‘Why don’t you start with the President of the United States, right? And every ugly meme he has posted and every ugly word.’
“If there is a lesson to be learned about Kirk’s death it doesn’t seem to be getting through yet to all concerned.”
As we have warned for a long time, it is very likely that civil war will break out in America.
Breitbart wrote on September 16:
“Charlie Kirk’s assassination has dominated headlines in Germany, but the coverage from state-funded broadcasters and prominent media personalities has been anything but neutral. Anchors and correspondents seized on the murder to push hostile portrayals of one of America’s most influential conservatives. Their remarks in the German media, including false accusations made on public television, have sparked outrage in Germany, triggered formal complaints, and are now drawing the attention of U.S. officials.
“The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) ran the headline ‘A targeted shot into the heart of the MAGA world,’ [‘Ein gezielter Schuss ins Zentrum der MAGA-Welt’] with the subhead: ‘Charlie Kirk dies after being shot on a university campus in Utah. He tried to win young people over to Trump and racist ideas.’ [‘Charlie Kirk stirbt, nachdem er auf einem Uni-Campus in Utah angeschossen worden ist. Er versuchte, junge Menschen für Trump und rassistische Ideen zu gewinnen.‘]
“The Berlin daily Tagesspiegel went further, bluntly labelling Kirk’s death: ‘Tod eines Brandstifters’ – ‘Death of an arsonist.’
“Dunja Hayali, host of the state-funded ZDF Heute Journal, told her audience on Thursday [in effect]: ‘The fact that there are now groups celebrating his death cannot be justified by anything, not even his often abhorrent, racist, sexist, and misanthropic statements. But it seems that the radical religious conspiracy theorist struck a chord with precisely these views. Charlie Kirk not only had millions of followers on various platforms, his events were also extremely popular and well attended.’
“Later, on the broadcaster’s official podcast, without providing evidence, Hayali doubled down, labelling Kirk’s positions [in effect] ‘too radical, too racist, too misanthropic, misogynistic, and dehumanising.’
“That same evening, ZDF’s Washington correspondent Elmar Theveßen appeared on the primetime talk show Markus Lanz. Though he admitted he could not recall Kirk ever calling for violence, Theveßen painted him as a central driver of social division. Theveßen claimed Kirk [in effect] had said homosexuals ‘should be stoned to death,’ ‘women must submit to men,’ and that ‘black pilots should be feared.’…
“After a sharp backlash, ZDF acknowledged to Junge Freiheit that Theveßen’s claim about Kirk advocating stoning homosexuals was misleading. In reality, Kirk had cited an Old Testament passage during a discussion in June 2024. The broadcaster conceded: ‘… Elmar Theveßen regrets not having been more detailed at that point.’ [‘an der Stelle nicht ausführlicher gewesen zu sein.’]
“Independent German outlets and online commentators erupted in outrage at the coverage. Many argued that celebrating or trivialising the assassination of a U.S. political figure crossed a red line, regardless of political disagreements… Conservative commentators accused ZDF of ‘dancing on a grave,’ while even centrist accounts questioned why sweeping accusations of racism and sexism were made without evidence…
“Criticism of ZDF has not only come from conservative outlets and social media users but also from inside Germany’s press establishment. Die Welt chief reporter Anna Schneider described the coverage as marked by ‘malice’ and ‘inhumanity,’ pointing in particular to young people on social media openly celebrating Kirk’s assassination… She sharply criticised ZDF for the way its reporting framed the killing… Schneider also condemned ZDF correspondent Theveßen for spreading false claims about Kirk… adding that she understood why many Germans were furious about being forced to fund public broadcasters through the GEZ fee while being served such distortions.
“At the heart of the outrage is Germany’s GEZ broadcasting fee — a compulsory charge of about €18 per month, billed to every household. The fee finances the country’s public broadcasters, including ARD (a consortium of regional networks) and ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen, the second national channel). Germans must pay for it regardless of whether they ever watch state television or not… [This is] widely criticised as a mandatory tax underwriting bias and misinformation.
“The controversy has spilt over into U.S. politics and may result in diplomatic consequences… Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau declared in a strongly worded statement on X, that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination are ‘not welcome visitors’ in the United States… Former U.S. Ambassador to Germany under President Trump’s first administration, Richard Grenell, added his own criticism on X: ‘…I believe the majority of Germans are conservative, pro-family Westerners who believe in capitalism more than socialism. But the German media is radical Left. They don’t represent the majority of Germans… The media in Germany are ruining Germany. The people must reject their narratives and speak up. Now.’
“In a later post, Grenell went further, directly calling for Theveßen’s visa to be revoked. ‘This radical Lefty German keeps calling for violence against people he politically disagrees with. He poses as a journalist in Washington, DC. His visa should be revoked. There is no place in America for this type of inciter,’ Grenell wrote, sharing the footage of Theveßen likening Trump aide Stephen Miller’s convictions to the ‘ideology of the Third Reich.’”
Reuters wrote on September 12:
“Poland flatly rejected on Friday a suggestion by U.S. President Donald Trump that drone incursions into its airspace could have been a mistake, describing them as ‘a deliberate Russian attack’.
“Poland, backed by aircraft from its NATO allies, shot down drones that had violated its airspace on Wednesday, the first time a member of the Western military alliance is known to have fired during Russia’s war in Ukraine… Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk responded on X: ‘We would also wish that the drone attack on Poland was a mistake. But it wasn’t. And we know it.’… For its leader so directly to contradict Trump in public is almost unheard of, and a sign of Europe’s alarm at the U.S. president’s willingness to give weight to Moscow’s account.
“Polish Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk said: ‘I think this is a message that should reach President Trump today: there’s no question of a mistake – this was a deliberate Russian attack.’…
“European leaders say it is the latest demonstration that Moscow has no interest in a peace deal in Ukraine, weeks after Trump hosted President Vladimir Putin in Alaska and withdrew a demand that Russia accept an immediate ceasefire…. Trump has repeatedly set deadlines for Moscow to agree a ceasefire or face new sanctions, only to row back.”
Newsweek wrote on September 10:
“German defense minister Boris Pistorius [called] the path of the Russian drones deliberate. ‘These drones were quite obviously deliberately directed on this course—in order to fly into Ukraine,’ Pistorius told the Bundestag.”
It does not appear that Russia, which even denied the entire incident and claimed that Ukraine did it, acted by mistake.
The Sun wrote on September 12:
“POLAND has deployed 40,000 troops to its eastern front as Vladimir Putin launches his WW3 drills in Belarus… The Zapad drills — meaning ‘West’ in Russian — take place every four years and entail chilling mock military exercises…
“In 2017, the drills involved creating fictional scenarios, which saw Russia capture Baltic states, bomb Germany and invade neutral countries… [At that time,] Nato officials warned the exercises were a ‘serious preparation for war’. And in 2021, the drills led to Belarus’s rearmament, with weapons later deployed in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“In a powerful display of solidarity, several Nato members, including the UK, have sent reinforcements to Poland, including troops, artillery, and air defence systems…
“The Polish site the [19] drones [entering Poland] are thought to have been targeting is providing military supplies to Ukraine, German newspaper Die Welt reported.”
Tusk also said that the drone attack on Poland was taking his country to the ‘closest to conflict since WW2.’” Reuters added on September 13: “For many in Poland – which endured decades of Moscow’s domination under the Soviet Union – the fear of Russian hostility looms large.”
Metro wrote on September 13:
“Putin deploys nuclear bombers in ‘WW3 war games’… New footage shows the supersonic long-range strategic bomber carrying out a strike on a simulated enemy… Troops will also drill the use of nuclear missiles from the West’s doorstep in Belarus… Poland closed its border with Belarus as the UN security council was warned of the dire risk of a new world war…
“Ukraine’s permanent representative to the UN Andriy Melnyk warned that if Putin’s escalation is not halted ‘tomorrow it could be drones or even missiles falling on Berlin, Paris, or London’. ‘And the day after, who knows, something might even “accidentally” cross the Atlantic,’ he added.
“‘Russia is not mocking this council. It is spitting in your face. We are staring into the abyss of a Third World War.’
“Putin highlighted his lack of interest in a settlement in the war with his spokesman signalling that peace negotiations with Ukraine were now on ‘pause’…”
A war between Europe and Russia, China and their allies will break out with devastating consequences, but not quite yet. However, preparations for this prophesied terrible war are already in the works.
CNN wrote on September 12:
“NATO has launched an initiative to reinforce the defense of Europe’s eastern flank after a Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace this week, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced on Friday. The ‘Eastern Sentry’ operation will commence in the coming days and will involve assets from Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and others… Rutte said that Russia’s ‘dangerous and unacceptable’ drone incursion on Wednesday was ‘not an isolated incident.’…
“NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, US General Alexus Grynkewich [said:] ‘Although the immediacy of our focus is on Poland, this situation transcends the border of one nation. What affects one ally affects us all’… The operation will cover the entire eastern flank of NATO states.”
Other reports claimed that Russia’s drones also entered Romania’s airspace.
Express wrote on September 13:
“Russia urges Trump to ‘fight on Putin’s side and destroy Ukraine’…
“Television presenter and propagandist Vladimir Solovyov went on a bizarre rant during his Full Contact radio show, where he claimed Ukraine was a ‘global evil’… He said: ‘America has to come over to the side of good, and together with us, like in World War II and the Great Patriotic War, destroy universal evil that has taken root within America itself, which is freely blooming in Europe.
“‘And one of these scary [heads] of Medusa is in Ukraine. That’s why we fight against [global] evil in Ukraine. That’s why we’re addressing all healthy, traditional, conservative forces in the world. If you want to defeat global evil, you have to stand shoulder to shoulder with us.’”
Zelensky stated that it is Putin’s goal to occupy ALL of Ukraine. This appears very likely. We know from biblical prophecy that ultimately, Russia and Ukraine will be part of a huge Far Eastern power bloc which will be hostile to the West.
The Daily Mail wrote on September 15:
“Less than 24 hours after warning he might strike again, President Donald Trump followed through — launching a fresh military assault on a vessel in the Caribbean he claimed was carrying Venezuelan drug traffickers. Trump writing on Truth Social said that three ‘narcoterrorists’ from Venezuela were killed this morning… The president emphasized in his post that the ‘narcoterrorists’ were operating in international waters while transporting illegal drugs bound for the United States. He went on to describe the trafficked narcotics as a ‘deadly weapon’ responsible for poisoning American citizens. He labeled the cartels involved as ‘extremely violent’ threats to U.S. national security…
“This follows the initial attack in early September, when the president said 11 people were killed in a targeted strike by U.S. Navy forces on another boat that drug traffickers reportedly used… This move raised questions surrounding whether the administration had violated international law.
“A source familiar with the operation told Daily Mail that the U.S. ‘did not even know if there were drugs on the boat’ — contradicting official statements. The strike was designed to ‘illicit a response from Maduro and provoke him’ to ‘show his true colors,’ but he didn’t take the bait. The Trump administration has yet to offer proof the targeted vessel was carrying drugs.”
The Future of Freedom Foundation published on September 15 the following article by professor, attorney and Libertarian Party’s three-time presidential candidate [in 2000, 2020 and 2024] Jacob G. Hornberger:
“The U.S. Code provides that a murder of a foreigner by an American citizen on the high seas is a federal criminal offense. The pertinent sections are 18 U.S.C. Section 1111 (Murder) and 18 U.S.C. Section 7 (Special Maritime and Territorial Jurisdiction of the United States). The U.S. Constitution provides that the president shall be removed from office on impeachment and conviction of ‘high crimes.’ It goes without saying that murder is a ‘high crime.’…
“Why shouldn’t President Trump be both criminally prosecuted and removed from office through impeachment for murdering those 11 Venezuelan citizens on the high seas? Indeed, why shouldn’t the military personnel who loyally followed his orders also be prosecuted and convicted of murder?…
“Trump claims that the 11 people were using a boat to transport drugs to the United States in violation of U.S. drug laws. Even if Trump’s claim is valid though, he still has no legal authority to kill drug-war suspects, including both American citizens and foreign citizens. Deadly force can only be used in self-defense against the use of deadly force or the threat of deadly force. In other words, if a U.S. vessel had approached that Venezuela boat and those 11 people had begun firing guns at the U.S. vessel, the U.S. vessel could have responded with deadly force…
“There is no evidence whatsoever that those 11 people on that boat ever employed deadly force or threatened the use of deadly force against U.S. vessels. Certainly neither Trump nor any military officials have made that claim…
“Are we really now living in a country where the president of the United States and his loyal military henchmen who promised to support and defend the Constitution can get away with murder? Apparently so.”
Business Insider wrote on September 13:
“The US could be on the hook for between $750 billion $1 trillion, if the Supreme Court overturns the president’s tariffs. Legal experts told Business Insider that this figure shouldn’t factor into the Supreme Court’s decision on whether the tariffs are legal, which they see as a matter concerning the Constitution.
“… the Supreme Court granted the administration’s petition to hear and expedite the case… William Reinsch, the Scholl Chair in International Business at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Business Insider he expects the Supreme Court to make a final decision before the end of the year. ‘My experience with the Supreme Court is that when it comes to an economic issue, they don’t always break along typical ideological lines,’ said Reinch… ‘I don’t think it’ll be unanimous… But I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that this is the first big case where they go against the president.’
“Multiple lawsuits… have… challenged the legality of these tariffs, arguing that the power to set duties belongs to Congress and cannot be delegated to the President at will. The Court of International Trade and a federal appeals court have ruled the tariffs illegal but they remain in place after a lower court blocked an injunction to halt them.
“Will Planert, a partner in international trade practice at Morris, Manning & Martin LLP, told Business Insider:… ‘[The Court ruled against] Biden’s attempt to modify the student loan program… Those justices have been very skeptical of the idea that Congress can confer very broad economic powers on the president or the federal agencies… If the tariffs are illegal, then they are illegal irrespective of fiscal impact… In that case, the government would have collected a very large amount of money that it’s not entitled to, which would be all the more reason to have it returned.’
“The federal government has had to issue refunds in the past because of Supreme Court decisions. In 1998, the Supreme Court ruled the Harbor Maintenance Tax on exports to be unconstitutional, and that resulted in refunds of over $1 billion to affected exporters. Robert Shapiro, chair of international trade practice at Thompson Coburn LLP, told Business Insider that a company would usually have to file a protest for every entry to receive money from customs, but that may be tough on customs when it comes to handling almost every shipment that has entered the country since April…
“‘It may eventually be up to the Board of International Trade to decide how to do the refunds… Since many companies were explicit that they had to raise prices due to tariffs, customers may want their money back, too, if importers are getting theirs.’”
What a mess. Even though the Supreme Court should not consider the underlying economic consequences, it is clear that they will look at those. And “the end of the year” is still a long way off.
DNYUZ wrote on September 17:
“The United Kingdom shamelessly prostrated itself at the feet of Donald Trump on Wednesday, throwing a lavish welcoming party for his state visit to Windsor that resembled less diplomacy and more fealty. No foreign leader has ever been greeted with the degree of ceremonial extravagance, as Britain rolled out a show of pomp unmatched since the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II…
“Trump demands spectacle, and Britain provides it. He wants to be king, and, for a day, Britain is letting him. In doing so, the U.K. has revealed something deeply unflattering about itself—in the scramble to keep America close, it will debase itself and its values completely.
“It will… flatter the ego of a man who has spent much of his political life suggesting he should be treated like… a monarch… As stage props go, the monarchy is unbeatable. But if this is what the ‘special relationship’ between the U.S and the U.K. now means, it looks to many in Britain less like a partnership and more like groveling, feudal servitude.
“Nothing about the welcome was subtle… The choreography spoke volumes. Every cannon, every plume, every flashing braid, every polished boot timed to inflate and flatter Trump’s sense of himself.
Then came the pageantry proper… It was a grotesque parody of a coronation parade…
“… this was theatre that revealed far more than a sovereign nation should about its craven need to please a foreign leader who has done absolutely nothing to help the sovereign nation in question, and plenty to harm it…
“Britain managed to suppress dissent so thoroughly that you would never have known there was any. It was as if the entire nation had agreed to collude in pretending Donald Trump is universally revered. This is a national embarrassment for a once-proud nation. Britain has every reason to want a functional relationship with Washington. Nobody disputes the importance of the alliance. But the line between respect and abasement has to be drawn somewhere, and Windsor on Wednesday crossed it.
“It was not a welcome; it was a deliberate performative subservience. It sent the message that Britain will not merely tolerate Trump, we will exalt him, indulge him, and play courtier to him, no matter the damage he does here and elsewhere.”
Kair Starmer, visiting Donald Trump in the White House in February of 2025, displayed already a certain embarrassing attitude of submissiveness with the obvious attempt to flatter Trump.
Express wrote on September 16:
“In a stinging setback for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a long-anticipated deal to eliminate US tariffs on British steel and aluminium has been abruptly shelved just hours before US President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK, according to government sources. The collapse of the agreement, which would have reduced tariffs from 25% to zero, has left UK ministers scrambling and the steel industry reeling from the unexpected blow….
“The timing of the decision is particularly humiliating for Starmer, who had hoped to showcase a strengthened UK-US partnership during Trump’s visit…”
Futurism wrote on September 16:
“A slew of religious smartphone apps are allowing untold millions of users to confess to AI chatbots, some of which claim to be channeling God himself… Religious leaders told the NYT that these tools could serve as a critical entry point for those looking to find God… It’s a fascinating new development, especially considering the language surrounding companies attempting to ‘build God’ by developing an AI that can vastly surpass human intelligence…
“… experts worry that AI’s strong tendency to please the user may have unintended consequences… The AIs ‘tell us what we want to hear,’ Researchers have also warned that countless people are using AI chatbots for championship, which in extreme cases are driving some into dangerous spirals of delusions.”
Or worse, by communicating with someone who might turn out to be a demon, pretending to be an “angel of light” or even “God.”
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.
Before we answer this question, let us address the problem prompting this question.
First of all, it is clear from Scripture that Samson, Gideon and Jephthah WILL BE resurrected to eternal life and that they WILL enter the Kingdom of God when Christ returns.
We state the following in our Q&A, titled, “Were There ‘Christians’ in Old Testament Times?”:
“We know that Old Testament followers of God will be in the Kingdom of God… we find a rather long list of God’s Old Testament servants in the 11th chapter of the book of Hebrews. The list includes people like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. Verses 39-40 explicitly state: ‘And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise [of eternal life and of entering the Kingdom of God], God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect APART FROM us.’”
In regard to Samson, we stated this in our Q&A, “Will a newly-baptized person be in God’s Kingdom if he dies shortly after baptism?”:
“God looks at the heart of a person, and when He determines that a newly-converted person is qualified to enter the Kingdom of God, He may let him die soon after his baptism. We find that Samson will be in the Kingdom of God (compare Hebrews 11:32, 39-40), even though we understand that he only came to true repentance and conversion shortly before his death, when his hair grew again in the dungeon…”
This Q&A also touched upon the question as to how it could be that Samson would be in the Kingdom of God, after a life of constant disobedience and defiance of God. As we stated, it appears he came to repentance at the very end of his life, when he was in the dungeon and when his hair grew, which was in the case of a Nazarite an outward sign of submission to God. Before, he treated this sign with disdain, but now, he accepted it for what it meant. And we said that “God looks at the heart” (compare Psalm 73:1). He saw in Samson a changed attitude from glorification of self to glorification of God.
Still, even with his very last action, he sinned when committing suicide. We say in our Q&A, “What Does the Bible Say About Suicide?”:
“There are a number of examples in the Bible where suicide was committed. Ahithophel hanged himself (2 Samuel 17:23), Zimri burned himself (1 Kings 16:18), Saul fell on his sword, as did his armorbearer (1 Samuel 31:4-5), Judas hung himself (Matthew 27:3-5), and Samson killed himself, while destroying the pagan temple, knowing that his actions would lead to his death (Judges 16:29-30)…”
We also pointed out:
“Taking one’s own life or helping someone else to do so is a sinful act.”
Still, Samson will be in the Kingdom. How could that be, as he did not repent of his sin of suicide (and of killing others) which led to his death? We stated in the Q&A on suicide:
“What about those who have been baptized in the Church of God and received the Holy Spirit, and who subsequently take their own life? Are they lost forever? They would certainly have known that it was wrong, but we all sin in many different ways, and we don’t know another person’s heart or situation. We do read in Psalm 103:11: ‘For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him.’ In James 2:13, we read: ‘For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.’
“God is a merciful God, and He will always make the right decision about everyone. For instance, even though Samson committed suicide, he will be in God’s Kingdom, as Hebrews 11 tells us… God, as a merciful and loving God, will judge them righteously and fairly, something that any man would be incapable of doing.”
We also stated in our Q&A, “Did God ORDER Ancient Israel to SIN?”:
“Some passages in the Old Testament are perhaps difficult to understand, but we must appreciate that God will judge people based on what they knew, not on what they did not know. For example, Samson is going to be in the kingdom of God (compare Hebrews 11:32, 39-40), but his entire life, as reported in Scripture, reflects little of a converted person. At the very end of his life, he must have become converted (otherwise he would not be in God’s kingdom) – most likely while he was in the dungeon – but even then, he asked God to give him power to avenge himself against the Philistines (compare Judges 16:28).
“But somehow, his nature had begun to change – perhaps now he was finally and fully realizing that it was God Who gave him his strength. This mindset might have been sufficient for God to decide that He would resurrect Samson in the first resurrection, as God looks at the heart, and He overlooks ignorance.”
Christ told us that God does not see as man sees (Isaiah 11:3). And He most certainly does not judge according to human standards and appearance (John 7:24). He overlooks times of ignorance (Acts 17:30) and what He had not clearly revealed to people. But Paul says that once he will be in the Kingdom of God, he will fully know or understand (1 Corinthians 13:12). IF David did not fully understand that killing in war is sin, he will most certainly understand this fully, and he will be repentant of his conduct and mindset, when he enters the Kingdom. And God knows this, as He knows the hearts of men. David, as well as everybody, including Samson, will be judged based on what they knew—not, based on what they did not know and understand. This would also involve situations when one slips and falls, sliding into sin, but his overall conduct is acceptable in God’s eyes.
Gideon would be another case in point. After some initial “hiccups,” he acted as Israel’s righteous judge for many years. Still, we read in Judges 8:27: “Then Gideon made… an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah. And all Israel played the harlot with it there. It became a snare to Gideon and to his house.” Surely, Gideon would have known that committing idolatry was sinful. We do not know to what extent Gideon himself engaged in it, or whether he finally repented of it. The Bible simply does not say.
The Study Bible states: “The ephod, rather than being a blessing, became a ‘snare,’ or a trap, leading to spiritual downfall. This highlights the danger of creating objects or symbols that can become idols, drawing people away from true worship of God. For Gideon and his family, the ephod’s presence led to unintended consequences, illustrating the principle that even well-intentioned actions can lead to sin if they deviate from God’s commands.”
But the Bible does say that Gideon will be in the Kingdom of God. God, in looking at the heart and considering the motives of a person, and in His great mercy, decided that Gideon was worthy of inheriting eternal life at the time of Christ’s return.
Another person who will be in God’s Kingdom was Jephthah even though he committed a horrible sin. We state in our Q&A, “Did Jephthah sacrifice his own daughter? If so, how could he still be granted access to the Kingdom of God?”:
“The account referred to can be found in Judges 11:30-31, 34-40. We read: ‘And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, and said, “If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”… When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah [after having defeated the Ammonites], there was his daughter, coming out to meet him with timbrels and dancing; and she was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter.
“‘And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he tore his clothes, and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low! You are among those who trouble me! For I have given my word to the LORD, and I cannot go back on it.” So she said to him, “My father, if you have given your word to the LORD, do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth… let me alone for two months, that I… bewail my virginity…” And it was so at the end of two months that she returned to her father, and he carried out his vow with her which he had vowed. She knew no man. And it became a custom in Israel that the daughters of Israel went four days each year to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.’
“… it is possible that Jephthah had strictly an animal in mind, when he made his vow, as Jephthah’s words (in Judges 11:31) can be translated from the Hebrew, as follows: ‘Whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me…, I will offer IT up for a burnt offering’ (compare Authorized Version). It was common at that time for houses to have enclosed courtyards where animals were kept.
“In any event, whatever Jephthah’s original intent, the earliest Christian and Jewish commentators all seem to have accepted the story at face value; that is, that Jephthah killed his daughter… It has also been the long-held understanding of the Church of God that Jephthah did in fact sacrifice his only daughter. It is stated in ‘The Bible Story’: ‘Though some commentators have thought Jephthah kept his daughter a perpetual virgin, the Jews and most commentators have understood this tragic story as explained in the Authorized Version of the Bible. Jephthah learned a mighty lesson. He discovered, through this tragedy, the real lesson of faith — that one does not have to vow to God in order to have Him perform what He has promised. What God expects is that we learn to trust Him in everything. When Jephthah finally learned that lesson, he became an outstanding example of faith…
“An older letter from the Letter Answering Department of the Worldwide Church of God added: ‘Jephthah made a very rash and foolish vow. He further compounded his error by keeping his vow (Judg. 11:39). That, no doubt, was greatly displeasing to God. Nevertheless, Jephthah is mentioned among the faithful listed in Hebrews 11 (see verse 32). This leads us to conclude that — like other servants of God — he ultimately realized the error of his own ways, repented, and received God’s forgiveness.’”
Maybe so. But the Bible does not say expressly that he repented of sacrificing his daughter. We see from the narrative, however, that this was an act which he greatly regretted from the outset, even before it was carried out. He let it happen because of his erroneous belief that God would hold him to his vow. Again, due to God’s mercy and His righteous judgment, which considers the attitude and the motives of the heart, Jephthah was deemed worthy to enter the Kingdom of God. And as in the case of Samson and possibly David, upon seeing the errors of his way, even when already in the Kingdom, he will deeply repent… and God knew that this would happen.
We all sin from time to time, and we might not even know that we do. We would therefore not repent of unrealized sins before dying, but God looks at our hearts and motives (1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Kings 8:39), and unrecognized and therefore unrepentant sins will not keep us out of the Kingdom of God. If our overall life is one of love and mercy, then love will cover all sins (Proverbs 10:12; also compare Luke 7:47), and we will be judged mercifully by God because we have shown mercy to others. And we read in the letter to the Hebrews that Samson, Gideon and Jephthah will be in God’s Kingdom because of their faith in Him and His promises (Hebrews 11:13, 33-34). They might have committed sinful conduct at times, but their faith did not cease and it did sustain them.
Lead Writer: Norbert Link
compiled by Dave Harris
“AI—Angel of Light or Prince of Darkness?” is the title of the newest StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:
Should you be concerned about AI? Do you know how your child deals with it? Why are ministers of religion naïve—to put it mildly—when they support religious smartphone apps as a “critical tool for those trying to find God.” But whom may they find? Are you aware how chatbots work—and why they could clearly be very dangerous?“
KI—Engel des Lichts oder Fürst der Finsternis?” is the title of the newest AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topic as described above.
“When Will Governments Be Held Accountable For Their Corona Measures?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:
The governments’ horrific coronavirus measures, with the support of the pharmaceutical industry and the mass media, included dangerous mandatory vaccinations, lockdowns, and other freedom-robbing restrictions. Yet, nowhere does one see them being held accountable. On the contrary, they continue to be protected, and voices are again calling for the same approach in the future. And it’s by no means just about forced vaccinations for coronavirus. Some want to change these conditions, but will they succeed?
“Wann geben die Regierungen Rechenschaft für ihre Corona Maßnahmen?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.
A new Member Letter (September 2025), has been posted and has been mailed to our subscribers. Evangelist Norbert Link writes about the return of Jesus Christ to bring peace to a world that has no peace by banishing Satan and restoring God’s government on the earth.
“Gott IST… unsere Bestimmung!” the German translation of our English booklet, “God Is… Our Destiny,” has entered the first review draft in preparation for printing.
Spanish translations of our booklets, “The Ten Commandments” (“Los Diez Mandamientos”) and “Do We Have an Immortal Soul?” (“¿Tenemos un alma inmortal?”) have been posted on our Spanish webpage https://www.dioseterno.es/
“Klopft Gottes Wahrheit an die Tür?” last Sabbath’s first split sermon in Germany was presented by Jens Herrmann and is now posted. Title in English: “Is God’s Truth Knocking at the Door?”
“The King’s Seer,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Kalon Mitchell, is now posted.
“Could Unpunctuality Be Sinful?” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:
Is punctuality important to you? What might being late say about your character? Do you have excuses ready when you’re late? Could your lateness actually sin against God, your fellow human beings, and yourself? Is God ever late? Shouldn’t we also avoid being late?
2025 FALL HOLY DAYS:
September 23 Feast of Trumpets
October 2 Day of Atonement
October 7-13 Feast of Tabernacles
October 14 Last Great Day
This Update is an official publication by the ministry of the Church of the Eternal God in the United States of America; the Church of God, a Christian Fellowship in Canada; and the Global Church of God in the United Kingdom.
Editorial Team: Norbert Link, Dave Harris, Rene Messier, Brian Gale, Johanna Link, Eric Rank, Michael Link, Anna Link, Kalon Mitchell, Manuela Mitchell, Dawn Thompson
Technical Team: Eric Rank, Shana Rank
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On September 13, 2025, Kalon Mitchell will present the sermonette, titled, “The King’s Seer,” and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “Could Unpunctuality Be Sinful?”
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