On June 7 2025, Norbert Link will present “Comments on News and Prophecy, June 7, 2025,” and Michael Link will present the sermon, titled, “Don’t Be Deceived.”
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 Today wrote on May 28:
“European leaders who have recently criticized Israel over its war against Hamas in Gaza have succumbed to political pressure fueled by a nefarious international media campaign against the Jewish state, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said on Tuesday. The unequivocal remarks by Israel’s second-highest diplomat come amid some of the harshest criticism leveled against Israel by British, German, French and Canadia leaders since the war began nearly 20 months ago, following the Hamas-led massacre on Oct. 7, 2023.
“‘What we are seeing is the capitulation of several European leaders to a very loud political campaign in countries with a massive immigrant influx from many Muslim countries, together with an immense propaganda campaign waged against Israel on international TV networks,’ Haskel told JNS ahead of a series of meetings in Europe this week. ‘The world loves dead Jews, and one day after they turn their backs on us,’ she said, referring to the day after the Oct. 7 massacre…
“Haskel singled out the BBC, which she accused of a long-standing bias against Israel… ‘We are seeing the persecution and racism against Jews around the globe in ways we have never seen before since the Holocaust,’ Haskel said. ‘It always starts with the Jews, and then it comes for the rest of humanity.’”
France 24/AFP wrote on May 30:
“The United Nations condemned Friday a [Palestinian] group of ‘armed individuals’ for raiding warehouses in the Palestinian territory of Gaza and looting large amounts of medical supplies. The group ‘stormed the warehouses at a field hospital in Deir al-Balah, looting large quantities of medical equipment, supplies, medicines, nutritional supplements that was intended for malnourished children,’ said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The stolen aid had been brought into war-ravaged Gaza just a day earlier, he said.”
Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Why This Hatred for Israel and the Jews?”
The Telegraph wrote on June 3:
“The White House has attacked the BBC’s coverage of the Gaza conflict, accusing the broadcaster of taking Hamas’s word as ‘total truth’… Donald Trump’s press secretary… accused the BBC of having to repeatedly correct its reporting from the territory about aid distribution… The BBC’s coverage of the conflict has been repeatedly accused of bias against Israel, but the White House’s comments mark an extraordinary escalation in criticism of the broadcaster…
“Ms Leavitt’s attack is the latest criticism of the BBC’s coverage of the conflict. The broadcaster was forced to pull a documentary about Gaza and apologise for ‘serious flaws’ in its making after it was revealed that the narrator was the son of a Hamas government minister…
“Last month, the BBC’s Today programme prominently reported a claim by Tom Fletcher, the UN’s humanitarian chief, that 14,000 babies in Gaza could die within 48 hours. The corporation later issued a correction, when it emerged the figure was an estimate for the number of children at risk of ‘severe malnutrition’ by March next year. However, the claim had by then been widely reported as fact and was cited by nine Members of Parliament in the Commons…”
BBC’s latest scandalous report claimed that Israel had fired indiscriminately on Palestinian citizens—a claim which is either an outright lie or which was instigated by the terror organization Hamas to produce “martyrs.” But it’s not only BBC, of course, which is accused of reporting falsely about the crisis in Gaza. Note the next article.
Breitbart wrote on June 3:
“CNN persisted Tuesday in publishing fake news pushed by Hamas, claiming that ‘dozens’ of Palestinians had been killed near an American-run aid site in Gaza, despite Israeli denials and a history of Hamas lies.
“Israeli government spokesman David Mencer told journalists: ‘The IDF did not fire at civilians in, or near, humanitarian aid distribution zones.’ The story came a day after U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee demanded that CNN and other outlets retract false reporting of dozens of Palestinians being killed at a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) site Sunday.
“CNN reported its story under the headline, ‘Dozens of Palestinians killed near Gaza aid distribution point, health officials say, in third day of shooting.’ It cited the Gaza ‘health ministry’ — without noting that the ‘ministry’ is controlled entirely by Hamas and has a long record of false and sensational claims — and reported that ‘Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians as they made their way to the distribution site in Tel al-Sultan in Rafah.’
“The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that its forces had fired, half a kilometer away from the aid site, at a few people who had deviated from the route and had ignored warning shots. The IDF added: ‘IDF troops are not preventing the arrival of Gazan civilians to the humanitarian aid distribution sites. The warning shots were fired approximately half a kilometer away from the humanitarian aid distribution site toward several suspects who advanced toward the troops in such a way that posed a threat to them.’
“The CNN story cited only part of the IDF statement, leaving out the denial of the main claim. CNN also left out the GHF’s denials, and its report that aid had been delivered to civilians without incident….
“The Trump administration is backing GHF (Gaza Humanitarian Foundation) as an alternative to aid distribution by the United Nations, which has been hijacked by Hamas, which steals aid and sells it to Palestinians, profiting while controlling them.”
Israel 365 News wrote on May 30:
“The first Caucus for Jewish Freedom on the Temple Mount was held Thursday morning in the Knesset in English… For the first time, Jewish organizations participated in this kind of meeting, alongside Christians who want to promote sovereignty on the Temple Mount and the building of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Tom Nisani, CEO of ‘Beyadenu Returning to the Temple Mount’, said: ‘… I get inquiries from all over the world that ask, “Why is there no Temple yet?”’…
“According to Michael Oren… ‘Hamas calls this war the al-Aqsa flood. For Hamas, the objective of their October 7 attack was unambiguous: pushing the Jews out “from the river to the sea”, but specifically from the very site that gives us our legitimacy here. Their explicit goal was to “liberate Al Aqsa” from the “infidel” Jews… In recent months, an anecdote spread about an IDF soldier returning from Gaza. When his relieved mother asked what he wanted to do first, he said he needed to buy a picture of the Beit Hamikdash (Temple) for his bedroom. Surprised, she asked if he wouldn’t prefer a shower or his favorite food. The soldier responded, “Eema, you don’t understand. In Gaza, every home, government office, and school displays a picture of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.”’…
“MK Dan Illouz also spoke, saying: ‘… The Temple Mount is where the Temples stood and where Jews pray every morning. Today, Jews are discriminated against on the Temple Mount, and that needs to change…’
“John Enerson, Cry for Zion [said]: ‘As a Christian, I want to say that the whole world is watching you. We support your sovereignty on the Temple Mount. If you want it, it is not a fairy tale! We are waiting for the Temple Mount to fulfill its destiny to be a house of prayer for all nations.’…
“MK Amit Halevi said, ‘… We must demand that the presence of God and the Temple be restored to the Temple Mount. We need to demand from the American Congress the rights of the Jews on the Temple Mount.’ MK Limor Son Har-Melech [said]: ‘… Things have changed for the better on the Temple Mount, but there are still problems and obstacles until the building of the Temple.’…
A third temple will be built in Jerusalem prior to Christ’s return.
The Jerusalem Post wrote on May 29:
“French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot delivered a speech on Wednesday [at the UN Security Council], reiterating the country’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, urging ‘the implementation of a two-state solution.’ Barrot also announced that France will co-host, alongside Saudi Arabia, a United Nations conference in June regarding this topic.
“The American embassy argued in response that the implementation of a two-state solution would constitute a ‘reward for Hamas’ shocking attack on Israel,’ in reference to the May 21st Washington shooting attack at the Jewish Museum in which [anti-Semite] Elias Rodriguez killed two Israeli embassy staffers, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim… ‘The United States stands with Israel in unequivocally rejecting any effort to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state or impose conditions on Israel,’ the embassy stated.”
“In response to the French ministry, Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said that any ‘recognition of a Palestinian state is a reward for Hamas for the atrocities of October 7, and a resounding message to terrorist organizations around the world to murder, burn, rape and kidnap – this is the way.’”
Israel Today wrote on June 1:
“A visit to Ramallah by the Saudi, Emirati, Qatari, Egyptian, Jordanian and Turkish foreign ministers… won’t take place. An Israeli official told reporters that the Jewish state blocked the visit, which would have been the highest-level visit by a Saudi diplomat to Judea and Samaria since the 1967 Six-Day War… ‘The Palestinian Authority, which to this day refuses to condemn the Oct. 7 massacre, intended to host in Ramallah a provocative meeting of foreign ministers from Arab countries to discuss the establishment of a Palestinian state,’ the Israeli official said. ‘Such a state would undoubtedly become a terrorist state in the heart of the land of Israel,’ the official said. ‘Israel will not cooperate with such moves aimed at harming it and its security.’
“The Jordanian foreign ministry stated in Arabic on Saturday that the decision is ‘a blatant violation of Israel’s obligations as the occupying power.’ The ministry stated on behalf of the delegation that it had ‘decided to postpone the visit to Ramallah in light of Israel’s obstruction of its mission by refusing the delegation entry through the airspace of the occupied West Bank, which is controlled by Israel.’”
The nations listed above are interesting in light of Psalm 83.
The Sun wrote on June 1:
“PM Netanyahu has been making preparations behind the scenes to swiftly blitz Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities as he deems the country ‘enemy number one’. Trump, however, has firmly insisted Israel take no action that could jeopardise his administration’s efforts to thrash out a deal with Iran.
“It culminated in a heated phone call this week between the leaders as they continue to clash on how to curb Tehran’s nuke programme, sources said.”
It was reported that even though Netanyahu would like to have America’s help, he will also strike Iran alone, if he feels that this is necessary. It was also reported that Iran is now in a position to produce 10 nuclear bombs.
The Ron Paul Institute wrote on May 29:
“Efforts to bring peace to Ukraine just received a stifling blow. German Chancellor Fredrich Merz, with less than a month in office, has stepped forward to set back the US sponsored peace initiative… He apparently favors supplying German Taurus missiles to Ukraine… Actually, the United States, Great Britain, and France have already supplied long-range missiles to Ukraine… But the missiles had insufficient range to threaten Moscow…
“But the German Taurus missiles have sufficient range to hit smack dab in the middle of the Kremlin, the traditional embodiment of Russia’s center of power…
“Before his election, Merz actually promoted a Ukraine peace plan of his own. It involved the Taurus missiles. In an interview with Stern he said, ‘If elected, I will issue an ultimatum to Putin to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. If he does not agree, I will supply Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles and give permission to strike on Russian territory.’..
“Germany’s Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil… gave his own statement to the press saying plainly, ‘I would like to say that there is no new agreement that goes beyond what the previous government has done.’..
“RT.com reported, ‘Russia would not rule out a direct strike on Berlin if German personnel help Ukraine target Moscow with German-supplied Taurus missiles.’”
The Independent wrote on May 30:
“The Trump administration’s sympathy for Moscow’s anti-Nato demands has been likened to Nazi appeasement as parts of the alliance’s eastern bloc warn that the US is priming non-members for invasion. Top officials from four Eastern European countries have hit out after Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, appeared to support Vladimir Putin’s reported demand to have in writing that Nato will not accept any new members from the region.
“In an interview with US network ABC News, Mr Kellogg described Putin’s latest position as a ‘fair’ one that was likely to include not just Ukraine but also Georgia and Moldova… ‘It looks like Munich, when great powers decide the fate of small ones,’ [a senior Lithuanian] official said, referencing the 1938 agreement between Adolf Hitler, the UK, France and Italy that ultimately led to Nazi Germany invading Czechoslovakia…
“Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 and six years later began its attempted takeover of Ukraine, initially by illegally annexing Crimea. Moscow has also stationed more than a thousand troops in the Moldovan region of Transnistria, sparking fears that Moldova could be the next target for the Kremlin. Olga Rosca, foreign policy adviser to the Moldovan president, Maia Sandu, said Russia is already ‘violating our neutrality’…
“Estonian president Alar Karis said the country’s position on Nato expansion was clear: ‘Every country has the right to choose its own security arrangements…’ Jan Lipavsky, foreign minister for the Czech Republic, also hit back at Mr Kellogg’s comments late last night…
“European officials have long cautioned that the Russian suggestion that Nato is expanding aggressively eastward is propaganda aimed at justifying its imperialistic ambitions. Putin’s attacks on Georgia and Ukraine in 2008 and 2014 came well before either country had serious chances of joining Nato, and the Russian leader’s pre-invasion speech in February 2022 made little mention of Kyiv’s Nato membership hopes…”
The New York Post wrote on June 2:
“Ukrainian forces stunned the Russian military Sunday after wiping out and damaging dozens of nuclear bombers and other aircraft with ambitious and complicated attacks that struck President Vladimir Putin’s air bases deep inside the country, Kyiv says. Even pro-Moscow military bloggers are calling the strike — which used drones hidden in trucks — ‘the Russian Pearl Harbor.’…
“The mission… hit 41 Russian heavy bombers and other warplanes at four separate airfields thousands of miles from Ukraine. The cost of the destroyed aircraft, most of which Russia no longer even manufactures, is at least $7 billion, Kyiv said. The doomsday bombers are a critical part of Russia’s nuclear deterrent — originally designed to obliterate the US and Europe with atomic weapons in the event of all-out war.
“Ukraine said the aircraft had been converted and were being used to pummel their country with cruise missiles. Officials claimed they had destroyed more than one-third of Russia’s strategic bombers in the strike…
“Ukraine said the attack was launched in response to Russia carrying out one of its largest drone attacks since the start of the war last week, with 472 drones and seven ballistic and cruise missiles involved… In separate attacks, the collapse of two bridges near the Ukrainian border, killing at least seven people, has been blamed by Russian investigators on sabotage.”
The New York Post wrote on June 4:
“President Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, saying it was ‘not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace’ between Russia and Ukraine… ‘President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.’”
That was SO predictable. And so, the war will go on…
BBC wrote on June 1:
“Members of the Western alliance Nato need to prepare for a possible attack from Russia within the next four years, according to Germany’s chief of defence.
“General Carsten Breuer told the BBC that Russia was producing hundreds of tanks a year, many of which could be used for an attack on Nato Baltic state members by 2029 or even earlier… Russia also produced four million rounds of 152mm artillery munition in 2024, and not all of it was going to Ukraine either, added Gen Breuer.”
The Sun wrote on May 31:
“China is ‘credibly preparing’ for a military invasion of Taiwan and the attack is ‘real and [could be] imminent’, the US Defence Secretary [Pete Hegseth] has warned….
“His warning comes after China deployed two hulking H-6 bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons on a strategic island in the South China Sea… China claims almost the entire disputed waterway in the South China Sea – through which more than 60 per cent of global maritime trade passes.
“Fears are that the weakening of Western alliances and the unpredictability of US foreign policy under Donald Trump could create the perfect atmosphere for Beijing to trigger an invasion.”
Breaking Defense wrote on May 29:
“As the US prepares African nations to rely less on Washington’s help, China is attempting to ‘replicate every type of thing’ the US military does to build and maintain relationships on the continent, according to the top US military official [Michael E. Langley]…
“Langely was speaking from Nairobi, Kenya, as the US wrapped up its participation in the African Chiefs of Defense Conference, attended by representatives from more than 30 African nations. There, amid drastic US cuts to civilian aid programs, Langley said he had a message for the leaders of African militaries: America does not want to do more for Africa, but to ‘help Africa do more for itself.’’
While the USA is retreating, China is stepping in.
The Huffington Post wrote on May 30:
“Before he even took office the first time in 2017, Trump was already boasting that he would force Boeing — which had been on pace to deliver two new, purpose-built 747s by the end of that term — to slash its contract price… Among the features dropped from the required specifications list was in-flight refueling, thereby reducing the amount of time a commander-in-chief can remain aloft to only about 15 hours, rather than a week or more.
“If a plane carrying the president cannot refuel in midair, that severely limits how and where a president can travel and be kept out of harm’s way in the event of a major attack on the United States…
“What’s more, it’s unclear whether Trump’s interference in the program will have saved taxpayers a dime…. And none of that includes the new burden taxpayers must now bear to transform Qatar’s gift to Trump… Modifying the plane could take many months or even years, meaning… hundreds of millions of dollars or more will be spent…”
The U.S. Sun added on May 30:
“Donald Trump’s luxury ‘sky Palace’ gifted to him by Qatar will cost a few billion dollars, says the President of Emirates airline. The US government now faces a ‘Herculean task’ to transform the huge Boeing 747-8 into a new Air Force One fit for a president, warns Sir Tim Clark… Aviation specialist Jeff Wise also told The Sun that he expects the Air Force One replacement to take years and need billions of dollars pumped into the project to make the jet viable…
“Trump’s Air Force One jets currently in use come with dozens of specialised security features. These include armoured glass and plating, on board flares to confuse enemy missiles, mirror-ball defences and even an electric jamming system.
“Another unique yet needed element is an electromagnetic shield for nuclear explosions. This has to be on a presidential plane as the leader of Washington can actually launch a nuke from the aircraft.
“But the new Qatari jet lacks most of these security features.”
The New York Post wrote on June 3:
“Tech mogul Elon Musk went on a tirade Tuesday against President Trump’s marquee One Big Beautiful Bill Act days after leaving the administration — ripping the legislation as an ‘abomination’ and condemning lawmakers who supported it. ‘I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,’ the Tesla and SpaceX CEO wrote on his X platform. ‘This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.’
“The 53-year-old added in subsequent posts that the bill ‘will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America [sic] citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt.’ In a third post, Musk groused that ‘Congress is making America bankrupt.’ ‘In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people [apparently suggesting Republican politicians should be kicked out of Congress at the midterms],’ he later fumed…
“Multiple estimates have found that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will increase the federal deficit by between $3 trillion and $4 trillion over a 10-year period…
“The billionaire’s diatribe against the measure comes amid delicate negotiations among Republican lawmakers. The mammoth bill cleared the House last month but still needs to go through the Senate and then the House again before it can get to Trump’s desk. Multiple lawmakers have complained that they’ve since discovered provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of which they weren’t aware. [So, they did not even read the bill before signing it!]
“Far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) flagged a provision in the bill that curtails state rights to regulate artificial intelligence over the next 10 years. She said Tuesday that she would have voted against the bill if she had known it was in there. Last week, Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) admitted during a town hall that he wasn’t privy to a provision in the megabill that restrains district judges’ ability to hold people in contempt… The measure spans 1,038 pages, and was quickly rammed through the House following marathon markup sessions by multiple House committees… [This is SO shameful indeed.]
“Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), one of two GOP ‘nay’ votes in the House alongside Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), praised Musk’s screed, saying on X that ‘he’s right.’ The world’s richest man holds significant sway over fiscal hawks in both chambers of Congress. Last month, he publicly lamented that congressional Republicans neglected to codify the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts he helped shepherd. Almost immediately after, a chorus of GOP lawmakers in Congress began demanding that leadership do so. In December of last year, Musk helped torpedo a government funding agreement to avert a government shutdown. That prompted GOP leadership to back off and put forward a significantly watered-down spending patch to keep the government’s lights on…”
Breitbart added on June 4: “Trump has also made clear that he wants the bill on his desk by the Fourth of July.”
Musk also wrote in another post: “This immense level of overspending will drive America into debt slavery!”
It was also reported that two Republican senators, Mike Lee (Utah) and Rand Paul (Ky.), signaled their agreement with Musk, who in turn shared posts from Republicans in Congress who publicly aligned with him. Behind the scenes, Trump reportedly is livid, but until June 5, he had not come out publicly against Musk who was the biggest donor in the 2024 political cycle, donating $288 million to help elect Trump and other Republican candidates.
The Sun wrote on June 5:
“The feud began when Trump addressed Musk’s criticism of the president’s ‘big beautiful bill’ in the Oval Office. But it dramatically escalated when the Tesla mogul called for the president’s impeachment [and replacement with J.D. Vance] and brought up Trump’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein…. Trump later threatened to cut Musk’s government contracts by saying it would save a lot of money…
“Musk responded to Trump’s threats with a threat of his own. ‘In light of the President’s statement about cancellation of my government contracts, Space X will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately,’ he said. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft was the one that brought stranded astronauts back safe to Earth after 268 days in March.”
Daily Mail wrote on May 30:
“JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has sounded the alarm about the ‘enemy within’ America…
“Dimon claims that the United States is suffering from a worrying government ‘mismanagement’ issue…. Dimon, the boss of America’s biggest bank, cautioned that the ‘mismanagement’ that occurs at all levels of government could be the biggest catalyst for the nation’s economic demise. ‘The amount of mismanagement is extraordinary – by state, by city, for pensions, and that stuff is going to kill us,’ the billionaire banker [said]…
“Dimon sounded the alarm on a ‘crack’ appearing in the bond market as a result of the wildly soaring national debt – which Trump is set to compound with the $3 trillion Big Beautiful Bill awaiting Senate approval. A ‘crack’ in the bond market occurs when investors lose confidence in the government’s ability to service its debt. Bonds are sold, yields go higher and the cost of borrowing increases for all Americans, including the government itself.
“’You are going to see a crack in the bond market… I’m telling you it’s going to happen, and you’re going to panic’…. Dimon clarified that a crack in the market hasn’t happened yet, but is confident it will occur. ..
“His remarks… come just days after he delivered a sobering assessment of the US economy and warned the true fallout from Trump’s sweeping tariff policy has yet to be felt… Dimon said behind the scenes of a soaring stock market lies a deep and under-appreciated risk… Dimon pulled no punches as he described Trump’s tariff strategy as ‘pretty extreme,’ even in its scaled-back form following an April 2 announcement that placed most tariffs on a temporary 90-day pause…”
America’s downfall, due to “enemies from within” and “from without,” is inevitable.
ABC News reported on May 30:
“President Donald Trump on Friday touted a ‘blockbuster agreement’ between U.S. Steel and Japanese company Nippon Steel… Trump discussed the ‘partnership’ between the two companies during a rally at the Irvin Works plant in Allegheny County on Friday evening… During the event, Trump also announced his plan to double a current 25% tariff on [all] steel imports to 50%…
“Trump told the crowd Nippon would invest a total of $14 billion as part of the deal… Trump emphasized that the U.S. Steel headquarters would stay in Pittsburgh…
“U.S. Steel would still be ‘controlled by the USA,’ Trump said, adding, ‘Otherwise, I wouldn’t have done the deal.’ But he did not explicitly say how the ownership of the company would be structured. Despite hailing the agreement during the rally, Trump later told reporters that he hasn’t seen the final [deal] yet…
“During the 2024 campaign, Trump pledged to block the Japanese steelmaker from purchasing U.S. Steel. As president-elect, he repeated that vow. ‘I am totally against the once great and powerful U.S. Steel being bought by a foreign company, in this case Nippon Steel of Japan,’ Trump wrote in a post… The Biden administration in January blocked the sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel over national security concerns. The White House said at the time it was important to keep one of the largest steel producers in the nation an American-owned company…
“Nippon was seeking 100% ownership of U.S. Steel in talks with Trump…”
The New York Post wrote on May 29:
“President Trump on Thursday rebuked the trio of judges [nominated by Reagan, Obama and Trump] who overturned his sweeping tariff agenda the day before – calling out ‘backroom hustlers’ and slamming the Court of International Trade’s ruling as ‘horrific’ and a threat to ‘Presidential Power.’… A federal appeals court stayed the trade court’s order on Thursday as the White House appeals the initial ruling…
“The horrific decision stated that I would have to get the approval of Congress for these Tariffs,’ he fumed. ‘In other words, hundreds of politicians would sit around D.C. for weeks, and even months, trying to come to a conclusion as to what to charge other Countries that are treating us unfairly. If allowed to stand, this would completely destroy Presidential Power — The Presidency would never be the same!’…
“Trump claimed the trade court’s ruling ‘is being hailed all over the World by every Country, other than the United States of America.’”
In an apparent response to the ruling, Trump posted a cryptic meme on Wednesday night declaring that he is “on a mission from God.”
NPR wrote on May 30:
“The Supreme Court on Friday allowed the Trump administration to temporarily pause a humanitarian program that has allowed nearly half a million people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to enter the U.S. and remain here legally for two years. The move to grant a stay in the case means that the Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who were granted temporary parole under the program known as CHNV would lose their temporary legal status to be in the U.S. — and could potentially be deported while the case plays out in the lower courts…
“The court did not give a reason in its brief order. But in a lengthy dissent from Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor joining, Jackson wrote that the court ‘has plainly botched this assessment today’ in causing irreparable harm for everyone admitted under the program… The program… has allowed individuals from the four countries to enter the U.S. temporarily for humanitarian reasons, usually because conditions in their home country pose a threat to their safety…
“The federal law authorizing such humanitarian ‘parole’ dates back to the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act. It was first used to provide temporary entry for some 30,000 Hungarians fleeing their country after a failed attempt at overturning Soviet rule and a crackdown that followed. In the decades since then, every administration, including the first Trump administration, has used the parole program to meet some emergency immigration need, allowing individuals who have been screened and approved to enter the U.S. if they have a U.S. sponsor willing to provide financial and other support. Individuals granted such temporary status can, once here, apply for asylum or some other more permanent status.
“The Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela parole program, known as the CHNV program, is similar to programs created in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine when some 200,000 people were granted temporary parole, and the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, when more than 76,000 Afghanis fled, many of them people who worked to assist U.S. forces there. So far, the Trump administration has not tried to end the Ukraine programs, but it has terminated the Afghan program, effective July 14.
“President Trump, however, on the day he took office signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to end ‘all categorical parole programs.’ In March, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem formally announced the termination of the CHNV parole process, declaring that it was being terminated immediately, and that the cessation would apply to all people currently enrolled in the program. It was the first en masse termination of such a program on record. Noem’s order said that the interests of the parolees, and their reliance on the government’s promise of protection for two years, were outweighed by the government’s ‘strong interest’ in deporting them through expedited removal, rather than normal removal proceedings under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
“A group of individuals whose temporary protection had been guaranteed for two years, and their sponsors, challenged Noem’s order in court, and a federal district court judge in Massachusetts ruled in their favor. Judge Indira Talwani said that the secretary had erred in seeking to expedite removal of individuals who still had time left on their promised two-year protection in the U.S. The judge also said that the secretary’s en masse ending of the two-year term violated the statutory requirement that parole be determined only on a case-by-case basis…”
The bottom line is, the US government made a promise which the Trump administration is now breaking. This is the sad history of US “promises,” especially in regard to their deceitful and ungodly “dealing” with the American Indians.
Trump’s New Travel Bans
Daily Mail wrote on June 5:
“President Donald Trump has announced widespread bans and restrictions for visitors from 19 countries…
“Nationals of Afghanistan, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen will be barred from entering the United States under the new order, which goes into effect on June 9. Citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela will be partially restricted from traveling, removing access to all immigrant visas and several non-immigrant travel options.
“Trump also issued a warning that Egypt could soon join the no-fly list in the wake of the Colorado terror attack in which an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa allegedly set fire to pro-Israel demonstrators…
“Several of the nations facing bans have been targeted because their screening and vetting capabilities are not up to the president’s standards, putting Egypt on high alert…. the nations included on the list have disappointed Trump in various ways, either by having a high rate of nationals who overstay their visas or by limiting the United States’ access to security data…
“The primary concern for Iranian nationals is that the government ‘is a state sponsor of terrorism’… Similarly, the inclusion of Somalia comes after ‘The United States Government identified Somalia as a terrorist safe haven… Haitian nationals, Trump argued, have a higher likelihood of trying to overstay their visas… Eritrea, for example, has been included on the list because ‘the United States questions the competence of the central authority for issuance of passports or civil documents in Eritrea.’…
“Looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Trump has already added a clause in his proclamation which states: ‘Any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event’ will be exempt.”
The Daily Mail wrote on June 1:
“President Donald Trump shared a bizarre theory on social media Saturday night that suggested Joe Biden died in 2020 and has since been replaced by a ‘clone.’… ‘There is no…JoeBiden – executed in 2020… Biden clones doubles & robotic engineered soulless mindless entities are what you see,’ wrote [a little known user with fewer than 1000 followers] named llijh…
“Trump did not add any of his own commentary to the post, but simply amplifying the wild conspiracy created confusion. Almost immediately, social media erupted, with supporters and critics alike grappling with the surreal suggestion…
[The New York Post added on June 1: “Trump last met Biden in person roughly five months ago during Inauguration Day, and shared the debate stage with him in both 2020 and 2024.”]“Trump’s casual amplification served to underscore the surreal and conspiratorial environment that defines the MAGA movement. This isn’t the first time Trump has danced with conspiracy theories.
“Throughout his first term as president Trump continued to give oxygen to baseless theories: suggesting Ted Cruz’s father was involved in the JFK assassination, refusing to fully distance himself from QAnon, and promoting claims of massive voter fraud during the 2020 election without evidence. [There is much evidence, however, that the election was rigged].
“Trump was the most prominent promoter of the so-called ‘birther’ conspiracy, falsely claiming that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States. For years, Trump demanded Obama’s birth certificate and continued to suggest it was fraudulent even after Obama released the official long-form document. It wasn’t until 2016, under mounting political pressure, that Trump finally admitted Obama was born in the US – without apology or acknowledgment of the damage the false claims had caused. [Trump should have never conceded. There is mounting evidence that Obama was NOT born in the USA. The “official long-form” from Hawaii was not an original, and the version produced appears to have been doctored. The original short form went missing, and the custodian of record died in a mysterious plane crash.]
“But suggesting the idea that a former president of the United States was a ‘clone’ pushes the envelope even further.”
This of course IS crazy.
Daily Mail wrote on May 31:
“The CDC is urging Americans to cancel their upcoming [international] flights if they are not vaccinated against measles. The agency has upgraded its health travel warning after discovering the virus… is spreading on US airplanes. A previous recommendation that said Americans should ‘consider making alternative travel plans’ if they could not get vaccinated before departing now says travelers should ‘consider postponing their trip.’
“Estimates suggest around 10 percent of adults may lack immunity, either due to never receiving the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine or because their immunity has diminished over time… the CDC confirmed at least one case where the virus was spread during air travel…
“The latest airport warning came Friday as three passengers flying into Denver International Airport on [a] Turkish Airlines flight tested positive for measles. One of them was a vaccinated adult…
“Around 90 percent of confirmed cases are tied to outbreaks in the US rather than travel outside the country.”
Absolutely stupid! Haven’t we learned anything yet from the CDC’s ridiculous “recommendations”—and worse—during the Covid “pandemic”? And so, the outrageous and unscientific attacks against the “unvaccinated” continue with full force.
The FBI announced that they would release a video proving that no one was in Epstein’s cell, putting to rest the notion that he was murdered. However, the Drudge Report issued immediately a flashback article from the BBC, dated January 10, 2020, painting a totally different picture:
“Soon after Epstein’s death, in August, two of the CCTV cameras outside his cell had malfunctioned and were being examined by the FBI, US media reported…
“Epstein was found semi-conscious in his prison cell with injuries to his neck on 25 July. After this incident, he was placed on suicide watch. Eventually, Epstein was moved to a different cell, where he died on 10 August. Two prison guards have since been accused of failing to check on him during this time and falsifying records to say that they had…
“There have been ongoing questions over the July recording, which was initially deemed missing and then was said to have been located by jail staff. A letter filed by Assistant US Attorneys Jason Swergold and Maurene Comey said ‘the footage contained on the preserved video was for the correct date and time, but captured a different tier than the one where Cell-1 was located’, New York City media report. ‘The requested video no longer exists on the backup system and has not since at least August 2019 as a result of technical errors.’”
Fox News reported on June 4:
“FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said Wednesday… ‘ We do have video. It’s not the greatest video in the world. I don’t want to set expectations on fire’… ‘However, the video does show in that specific block, that he goes in, made a phone call; you’ll see 12 hours of guards going in basically check on him, come back. You’ll see nobody really comes out of that bay in that area than him.”
But what about his cell itself???
Why would Epstein even commit suicide? And who is to benefit the most from his death? In times past, key witnesses in cases brought against the FBI or high-ranking officials died under mysterious circumstances.
Breitbart wrote on May 30:
“In response to recent legislation passed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s conservative government to ban Pride parades in Hungary, over half of fellow European Union member states signed an open letter demanding that Budapest reverse course or face punishment from Brussels. The ‘declaration’ was signed by the countries of Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Sweden…
“Brussels and Budapest have long been at loggerheads over the issue, with Eurocrats previously criticising laws banning LGBTQ+ content from children’s television programmes… Currently, the EU Commission is withholding around €18 billion from Hungary over supposed violations of the ‘rule of law.’…”
The dictatorial conduct of the EU is becoming more and more blatant.
C-Fam wrote on May 30:
“‘The fight against LGBT perversion is also a fight for freedom, dignity, and the future of humanity,’ [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan said… at the international Family Forum held on May 23 and 24. The conference was sponsored by Erdogan’s government and was attended by ministers from 27 countries from Africa, Asia, and the Balkans… Erdogan called gender ideology a ‘threat to humanity, women and children’ and a ‘national security threat.’ He pledged to work with everyone to protect the family and to fight the LGBT agenda domestically and abroad.
“The conference addressed a full spectrum of policies to protect the family, including defending traditional man-woman marriage, incentives for young people to marry and found a family, how to raise fertility, and the effect of technology on the family. It also featured warnings against population control, abortion, gender ideology and harmful sexuality education that normalizes promiscuity as well as homosexual and transgender behavior…
“He also said the LGBT agenda had become a system of ‘fascism and oppression’ and called gender ideology a form of child-abuse. In veiled criticism of the European Union, he denounced attacks against politicians in neighboring countries for defending marriage as the union of a man and a woman…”
Turkey, unlike Hungary, is not a member of the EU, but it is a member of NATO. Will the EU dare to threaten Turkey as well?
The Toronto Star wrote on May 28:
“Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday that he wants a ‘concrete’ commitment by July 1 to partner with the European Union on a huge military industrial program, as he declared Canada must spend more on defence… Carney’s comments, in an interview with the CBC, came after King Charles III delivered the Liberal government’s throne speech in a show of Canadian sovereignty meant to highlight the country’s distinctiveness amidst a trade war and talk of annexation from American President Donald Trump.
“The King’s speech said Canada will join ReArm Europe, the EU’s plan to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on defence over the next five years to ‘quickly and significantly’ boost the bloc of countries’ military strength…”
Deutsche Welle reported on June 4:
“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has defended his government’s effort to turn away asylum seekers at the country’s borders, one day after a court blocked the move. The emergency decision by the Berlin Administrative Court was a blow for Merz, who has promised he will curb irregular migration.
“Speaking in Berlin, the chancellor said the ruling may narrow his administration’s room for maneuver, but there was still scope… Shortly after taking office last month, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt ordered police to beef up border checks and turn away irregular migrants, even if they apply for asylum.
“The court ruling on Monday found that three Somalis who were turned back to Poland on May 9 should have been processed under the European Union’s Dublin Regulation for asylum cases. The court found that the government’s evidence to proclaim a ‘national emergency’ to justify the measure lacked sufficient evidence.
“Merz’s immigration policies have been repeatedly criticized as violating both German and EU law.”
The Sun wrote on June 3:
“The Dutch government has collapsed after far-right leader Geert Wilders pulled his party from the coalition amid an asylum row… Wilders’ PVV party was the largest in the four-party coalition, which had been in place since July 2024… Former coalition partners have accused Wilders of engineering the crisis – and using asylum as cover to make a lunge for power. Earlier in the day, Wilders said he intended to become Prime Minister of the Netherlands… Wilders had demanded ten additional measures – including a freeze on asylum applications and halting the construction of reception centres…
“Any fresh election is unlikely to be held before October, and the formation of a new government traditionally tends to take months in the Netherlands…”
Wilders Thanks Trump
Breitbart wrote on June 5:
“The Trump White House offered tacit support to Geert Wilders… President Trump has been clear on supporting European allies that work to protect sovereignty and national identity… Responding to this vote of confidence from President Trump, Mr Wilders wrote overnight: ‘Thank you [President Trump]… We will win the Dutch elections again and Make The Netherlands Great Again!’…
“Such an endorsement is no trivial matter as voters around the Western world fraction into pro- and anti-Trump camps… President Trump is due to be in the Netherlands before the forthcoming snap election, potentially offering an opportunity for him to show in-person support.”
Deutsche Welle wrote on June 2:
“Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he will request a vote of confidence in the near future. His centrist government suffered a setback [in its efforts to strengthen Warsaw’s pro-European orientation] after conservative nationalist Karol Nawrocki won the presidential election…
“Prime Minister Tusk’s governing coalition has sought to reverse the previous PiS government’s judicial reforms, which the European Union said undermined democracy and the rights of women and minorities. However, [outgoing President Andrzej Duda] blocked those efforts, and Nawrocki is expected to maintain this position. Supporters of Nawrocki view him as a champion of conservative values, including his strong anti-abortion stance…
“In the Polish political system, the prime minister, who is chosen by parliament, holds most day-to-day power. However, the president’s role is not merely ceremonial. The head of state can influence foreign policy and veto legislation… Nawrocki will succeed Duda, whose second and final term ends on August 6. According to the Polish constitution, the president serves a five-year term and may be re-elected once.”
Brussels Signal wrote on May 30:
“European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen received the Charlemagne Prize on May 29–leading to criticism from MEPs who called the award ‘in blatant contradiction to the fundamental values for which this prize was originally created’.
“Spain’s King Felipe VI and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz both delivered remarks at an awards ceremony in Aachen town hall. The prize citation praised von der Leyen’s ‘visionary leadership’ in ‘guiding the EU through profound transformation with vision, courage, strength and foresight’.
“However, German MEP [Member of European Parliament] Christine Anderson (Alternative for Germany, AfD) condemned the award, calling von der Leyen an ‘autocratic, power-drunk and corrupt’ politician who drove a wedge between citizens and the EU institutions. ‘Democracy, transparency, the rule of law, and international understanding have all been undermined under her watch,’ wrote Anderson in a letter to the Charlemagne Prize Board.
“Anderson said the award was especially inappropriate after the Pfizergate scandal. A ruling by the European General Court affirmed von der Leyen acted wrongly by refusing to release messages in which she was accused of negotiating a multi-billion-euro vaccine deal via undisclosed text messages…
“Another MEP, France’s Virginie Joron [National Rally, formerly National Front], said ‘the EU has overstepped its original mandate’ under von der Leyen. The legacy of EU founding father Robert Schuman was one of cooperation, not coercion, said Joron.
“During her acceptance speech [in Aachen], Ursula von der Leyen sidestepped criticism while defending her legacy and pushing for a new European project calling for a 21st-century version of ‘Pax Europaea.’ She warned of a chaotic international order marked by ‘imperial ambitions,’ and urged Europe to rearm and reassert itself geopolitically. ‘A new international order will emerge in this decade… we must shape this new order… Our mission is European independence,’ she added.”
Van der Leyen is no stranger to controversy, even during her tenure as Germany’s defense minister.
Politico added on May 30:
“The Commission chief received the Charlemagne award for ‘her services to the unity of the member states, in the containment of the pandemic, for the unity of the Union’s determination to defend itself against Russia — and for the impetus towards the Green Deal,’ the award’s board of directors said.
“The prize is named after the Frankish king Charlemagne, who united much of Western and Central Europe under the Holy Roman Empire in the 9th century.”
Especially rewarding her for “services in the containment of the pandemic” should be considered to be a major scandal, as her actions have done unspeakable harm to millions of people.
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 June 7 2025, Norbert Link will present “Comments on News and Prophecy, June 7, 2025,” and Michael Link will present the sermon, titled, “Don’t Be Deceived.”
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 Thilo Hanstein (Germany)
When I read the article “Anyone who withdraws €3,000 in Spain will be monitored” in our German Edition of the Weltnachrichten, I was initially appalled. The Express newspaper wrote the following: “Anyone in Spain who wants to withdraw large sums of cash from their account will in the future have to inform the tax authorities in advance… When registering, the purpose of the withdrawal must be stated as well as the identity of the person making the withdrawal and, if different, the recipient.
“Non-compliance can be expensive: fines range from 1 to 10 percent of the amount withdrawn – in extreme cases, up to €150,000.
“Even those who regularly withdraw smaller amounts of around €800 or €900 can come under the scrutiny of the authorities if there is no plausible reason for doing so. Banks are now obliged to report suspicious activities – even if they remain below the thresholds.”
However, this approach, as currently practiced in Spain, is not unique in the EU.
Verbraucherschutzforum.Berlin (a platform that deals with consumer protection) published the following information on its website on April 28, 2025:
“An important change that all citizens should be aware of: The European Union has introduced an upper limit for cash transactions. With immediate effect, a maximum of €10,000 may be handed over in cash anywhere in the EU – anything above this amount will be strictly regulated. Anyone who fails to comply risks severe penalties.”
Then there is another type of surveillance that Germany in particular is very interested in and that the EU would like to introduce. This is the so-called “social credit system,” which is already well established in China.
Please note the following excerpts from an article by Frau von Hassel in the “Bayerische Gemeinde Zeitung” from December 2022:
“Social scoring coming soon to Bavaria?
“2G/3G has led to the acceptance of mutual control in a very short time. (2G: vaccinated or recovered; 3G: vaccinated, recovered, or tested). Everyone now has various apps on their smartphones that voluntarily provide data on whether law-abiding citizens are complying with all the measures imposed. But how far away is this scenario really from a social scoring system or social credit system, as has already been introduced in China? Are structures not being created here that could be brought into sharp focus and abused in the near future?…
“Bologna and Vienna are currently introducing a social credit system (light) on a trial basis. These systems are based on the concept of sustainability. Anyone who acts in a sustainable and environmentally conscious manner can benefit from this. The conditions for this are already in place in Bavaria. The aim is to promote sustainable behavior in everyday life by rewarding environmentally conscious actions. It is intended to send a signal to companies and citizens.”
What exactly is this social credit system?
The social credit system is a method of assessing individuals or situations using rating scales. A citizen’s social credit score rises based on socially desirable actions, such as paying taxes or buying Chinese products. However, it also drops if a person exhibits behavior that the state considers dishonest or otherwise problematic, such as committing a crime or making negative statements about the government.
At first glance, it seems very frightening when you consider that we are on the verge of establishing this totalitarian surveillance state, which will be none other than the final resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire. And it is precisely these scenarios that should remind us of the warnings Jesus Christ gave us in the Gospels and in the Book of Revelation. But Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Joel, and many others also warn us precisely of such a dictatorship, which is prophesied for the end times.
We read in Revelation 13:16-17: “He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast…”
It is about disregarding God’s commandments and no longer obeying them and instead giving full obedience to the state! As frightening and monstrous as it may be, it is also sobering when one becomes aware of God’s revelation.
All this madness that is now coming upon us must not frighten us, neither the punishments nor the people who will use this system against true Christians.
Paul tells us: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
And Solomon wrote: “The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25).
Christ gives us a firm confidence in His great help: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
Our trust in God and Jesus Christ must remain unshakable, and we must hold fast to the conviction that God will protect us in all our distress!
Christ told us: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1). Furthermore: “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).
Let us together hold fast to this confidence and strengthen one another so that we may all enter the Kingdom of God. We ought to obey God rather than men!
Initial translation: Daniel Blasinger
by Norbert Link
We publish more articles about the curse of the growing worldwide antisemitism; speak on the anticipation of the building of the third temple; address the issue of a two-state “solution” and wonder whether Netanyahu might strike Iran without the help of the USA.
We discuss ongoing developments in the Russia-Ukraine war, including disagreements between the USA and Europe regarding “strength” and “appeasement” and especially Russia’s “Pearl Harbor.”
We focus on China and the fear that it may attack Taiwan very soon.
We continue with Trump’s Air Force One debacle; America’s “enemy within”; an alleged unspecified deal between America and Japan pertaining to U.S. steel; Trump’s interesting comments regarding his perceived role and that of Congress; Musk’s astonishing attacks on Trumps “Big, Beautiful Bill”; America’s broken promises; the ludicrous conspiracy theory that Biden died in 2020; and CDC’s renewed and ongoing attacks on the unvaccinated.
We revisit the dubious claim that Epstein committed suicide; and speak on Europe’s gender ideology.
We conclude with articles about the Netherlands and Poland, and Ursula von der Leyen’s controversial receipt of the Charlemagne Prize in Aachen.
Please view our new StandingWatch program, covering the meeting between President Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on June 5. The program is titled, “Trump Meets Germany’s Chancellor Merz—What Was Most Critical?”
Israel Today wrote on May 28:
“European leaders who have recently criticized Israel over its war against Hamas in Gaza have succumbed to political pressure fueled by a nefarious international media campaign against the Jewish state, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said on Tuesday. The unequivocal remarks by Israel’s second-highest diplomat come amid some of the harshest criticism leveled against Israel by British, German, French and Canadia leaders since the war began nearly 20 months ago, following the Hamas-led massacre on Oct. 7, 2023.
“‘What we are seeing is the capitulation of several European leaders to a very loud political campaign in countries with a massive immigrant influx from many Muslim countries, together with an immense propaganda campaign waged against Israel on international TV networks,’ Haskel told JNS ahead of a series of meetings in Europe this week. ‘The world loves dead Jews, and one day after they turn their backs on us,’ she said, referring to the day after the Oct. 7 massacre…
“Haskel singled out the BBC, which she accused of a long-standing bias against Israel… ‘We are seeing the persecution and racism against Jews around the globe in ways we have never seen before since the Holocaust,’ Haskel said. ‘It always starts with the Jews, and then it comes for the rest of humanity.’”
France 24/AFP wrote on May 30:
“The United Nations condemned Friday a [Palestinian] group of ‘armed individuals’ for raiding warehouses in the Palestinian territory of Gaza and looting large amounts of medical supplies. The group ‘stormed the warehouses at a field hospital in Deir al-Balah, looting large quantities of medical equipment, supplies, medicines, nutritional supplements that was intended for malnourished children,’ said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The stolen aid had been brought into war-ravaged Gaza just a day earlier, he said.”
Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Why This Hatred for Israel and the Jews?”
The Telegraph wrote on June 3:
“The White House has attacked the BBC’s coverage of the Gaza conflict, accusing the broadcaster of taking Hamas’s word as ‘total truth’… Donald Trump’s press secretary… accused the BBC of having to repeatedly correct its reporting from the territory about aid distribution… The BBC’s coverage of the conflict has been repeatedly accused of bias against Israel, but the White House’s comments mark an extraordinary escalation in criticism of the broadcaster…
“Ms Leavitt’s attack is the latest criticism of the BBC’s coverage of the conflict. The broadcaster was forced to pull a documentary about Gaza and apologise for ‘serious flaws’ in its making after it was revealed that the narrator was the son of a Hamas government minister…
“Last month, the BBC’s Today programme prominently reported a claim by Tom Fletcher, the UN’s humanitarian chief, that 14,000 babies in Gaza could die within 48 hours. The corporation later issued a correction, when it emerged the figure was an estimate for the number of children at risk of ‘severe malnutrition’ by March next year. However, the claim had by then been widely reported as fact and was cited by nine Members of Parliament in the Commons…”
BBC’s latest scandalous report claimed that Israel had fired indiscriminately on Palestinian citizens—a claim which is either an outright lie or which was instigated by the terror organization Hamas to produce “martyrs.” But it’s not only BBC, of course, which is accused of reporting falsely about the crisis in Gaza. Note the next article.
Breitbart wrote on June 3:
“CNN persisted Tuesday in publishing fake news pushed by Hamas, claiming that ‘dozens’ of Palestinians had been killed near an American-run aid site in Gaza, despite Israeli denials and a history of Hamas lies.
“Israeli government spokesman David Mencer told journalists: ‘The IDF did not fire at civilians in, or near, humanitarian aid distribution zones.’ The story came a day after U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee demanded that CNN and other outlets retract false reporting of dozens of Palestinians being killed at a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) site Sunday.
“CNN reported its story under the headline, ‘Dozens of Palestinians killed near Gaza aid distribution point, health officials say, in third day of shooting.’ It cited the Gaza ‘health ministry’ — without noting that the ‘ministry’ is controlled entirely by Hamas and has a long record of false and sensational claims — and reported that ‘Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians as they made their way to the distribution site in Tel al-Sultan in Rafah.’
“The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that its forces had fired, half a kilometer away from the aid site, at a few people who had deviated from the route and had ignored warning shots. The IDF added: ‘IDF troops are not preventing the arrival of Gazan civilians to the humanitarian aid distribution sites. The warning shots were fired approximately half a kilometer away from the humanitarian aid distribution site toward several suspects who advanced toward the troops in such a way that posed a threat to them.’
“The CNN story cited only part of the IDF statement, leaving out the denial of the main claim. CNN also left out the GHF’s denials, and its report that aid had been delivered to civilians without incident….
“The Trump administration is backing GHF (Gaza Humanitarian Foundation) as an alternative to aid distribution by the United Nations, which has been hijacked by Hamas, which steals aid and sells it to Palestinians, profiting while controlling them.”
Israel 365 News wrote on May 30:
“The first Caucus for Jewish Freedom on the Temple Mount was held Thursday morning in the Knesset in English… For the first time, Jewish organizations participated in this kind of meeting, alongside Christians who want to promote sovereignty on the Temple Mount and the building of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Tom Nisani, CEO of ‘Beyadenu Returning to the Temple Mount’, said: ‘… I get inquiries from all over the world that ask, “Why is there no Temple yet?”’…
“According to Michael Oren… ‘Hamas calls this war the al-Aqsa flood. For Hamas, the objective of their October 7 attack was unambiguous: pushing the Jews out “from the river to the sea”, but specifically from the very site that gives us our legitimacy here. Their explicit goal was to “liberate Al Aqsa” from the “infidel” Jews… In recent months, an anecdote spread about an IDF soldier returning from Gaza. When his relieved mother asked what he wanted to do first, he said he needed to buy a picture of the Beit Hamikdash (Temple) for his bedroom. Surprised, she asked if he wouldn’t prefer a shower or his favorite food. The soldier responded, “Eema, you don’t understand. In Gaza, every home, government office, and school displays a picture of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.”’…
“MK Dan Illouz also spoke, saying: ‘… The Temple Mount is where the Temples stood and where Jews pray every morning. Today, Jews are discriminated against on the Temple Mount, and that needs to change…’
“John Enerson, Cry for Zion [said]: ‘As a Christian, I want to say that the whole world is watching you. We support your sovereignty on the Temple Mount. If you want it, it is not a fairy tale! We are waiting for the Temple Mount to fulfill its destiny to be a house of prayer for all nations.’…
“MK Amit Halevi said, ‘… We must demand that the presence of God and the Temple be restored to the Temple Mount. We need to demand from the American Congress the rights of the Jews on the Temple Mount.’ MK Limor Son Har-Melech [said]: ‘… Things have changed for the better on the Temple Mount, but there are still problems and obstacles until the building of the Temple.’…
A third temple will be built in Jerusalem prior to Christ’s return.
The Jerusalem Post wrote on May 29:
“French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot delivered a speech on Wednesday [at the UN Security Council], reiterating the country’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, urging ‘the implementation of a two-state solution.’ Barrot also announced that France will co-host, alongside Saudi Arabia, a United Nations conference in June regarding this topic.
“The American embassy argued in response that the implementation of a two-state solution would constitute a ‘reward for Hamas’ shocking attack on Israel,’ in reference to the May 21st Washington shooting attack at the Jewish Museum in which [anti-Semite] Elias Rodriguez killed two Israeli embassy staffers, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim… ‘The United States stands with Israel in unequivocally rejecting any effort to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state or impose conditions on Israel,’ the embassy stated.”
“In response to the French ministry, Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said that any ‘recognition of a Palestinian state is a reward for Hamas for the atrocities of October 7, and a resounding message to terrorist organizations around the world to murder, burn, rape and kidnap – this is the way.’”
Israel Today wrote on June 1:
“A visit to Ramallah by the Saudi, Emirati, Qatari, Egyptian, Jordanian and Turkish foreign ministers… won’t take place. An Israeli official told reporters that the Jewish state blocked the visit, which would have been the highest-level visit by a Saudi diplomat to Judea and Samaria since the 1967 Six-Day War… ‘The Palestinian Authority, which to this day refuses to condemn the Oct. 7 massacre, intended to host in Ramallah a provocative meeting of foreign ministers from Arab countries to discuss the establishment of a Palestinian state,’ the Israeli official said. ‘Such a state would undoubtedly become a terrorist state in the heart of the land of Israel,’ the official said. ‘Israel will not cooperate with such moves aimed at harming it and its security.’
“The Jordanian foreign ministry stated in Arabic on Saturday that the decision is ‘a blatant violation of Israel’s obligations as the occupying power.’ The ministry stated on behalf of the delegation that it had ‘decided to postpone the visit to Ramallah in light of Israel’s obstruction of its mission by refusing the delegation entry through the airspace of the occupied West Bank, which is controlled by Israel.’”
The nations listed above are interesting in light of Psalm 83.
The Sun wrote on June 1:
“PM Netanyahu has been making preparations behind the scenes to swiftly blitz Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities as he deems the country ‘enemy number one’. Trump, however, has firmly insisted Israel take no action that could jeopardise his administration’s efforts to thrash out a deal with Iran.
“It culminated in a heated phone call this week between the leaders as they continue to clash on how to curb Tehran’s nuke programme, sources said.”
It was reported that even though Netanyahu would like to have America’s help, he will also strike Iran alone, if he feels that this is necessary. It was also reported that Iran is now in a position to produce 10 nuclear bombs.
The Ron Paul Institute wrote on May 29:
“Efforts to bring peace to Ukraine just received a stifling blow. German Chancellor Fredrich Merz, with less than a month in office, has stepped forward to set back the US sponsored peace initiative… He apparently favors supplying German Taurus missiles to Ukraine… Actually, the United States, Great Britain, and France have already supplied long-range missiles to Ukraine… But the missiles had insufficient range to threaten Moscow…
“But the German Taurus missiles have sufficient range to hit smack dab in the middle of the Kremlin, the traditional embodiment of Russia’s center of power…
“Before his election, Merz actually promoted a Ukraine peace plan of his own. It involved the Taurus missiles. In an interview with Stern he said, ‘If elected, I will issue an ultimatum to Putin to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. If he does not agree, I will supply Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles and give permission to strike on Russian territory.’..
“Germany’s Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil… gave his own statement to the press saying plainly, ‘I would like to say that there is no new agreement that goes beyond what the previous government has done.’..
“RT.com reported, ‘Russia would not rule out a direct strike on Berlin if German personnel help Ukraine target Moscow with German-supplied Taurus missiles.’”
The Independent wrote on May 30:
“The Trump administration’s sympathy for Moscow’s anti-Nato demands has been likened to Nazi appeasement as parts of the alliance’s eastern bloc warn that the US is priming non-members for invasion. Top officials from four Eastern European countries have hit out after Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, appeared to support Vladimir Putin’s reported demand to have in writing that Nato will not accept any new members from the region.
“In an interview with US network ABC News, Mr Kellogg described Putin’s latest position as a ‘fair’ one that was likely to include not just Ukraine but also Georgia and Moldova… ‘It looks like Munich, when great powers decide the fate of small ones,’ [a senior Lithuanian] official said, referencing the 1938 agreement between Adolf Hitler, the UK, France and Italy that ultimately led to Nazi Germany invading Czechoslovakia…
“Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 and six years later began its attempted takeover of Ukraine, initially by illegally annexing Crimea. Moscow has also stationed more than a thousand troops in the Moldovan region of Transnistria, sparking fears that Moldova could be the next target for the Kremlin. Olga Rosca, foreign policy adviser to the Moldovan president, Maia Sandu, said Russia is already ‘violating our neutrality’…
“Estonian president Alar Karis said the country’s position on Nato expansion was clear: ‘Every country has the right to choose its own security arrangements…’ Jan Lipavsky, foreign minister for the Czech Republic, also hit back at Mr Kellogg’s comments late last night…
“European officials have long cautioned that the Russian suggestion that Nato is expanding aggressively eastward is propaganda aimed at justifying its imperialistic ambitions. Putin’s attacks on Georgia and Ukraine in 2008 and 2014 came well before either country had serious chances of joining Nato, and the Russian leader’s pre-invasion speech in February 2022 made little mention of Kyiv’s Nato membership hopes…”
The New York Post wrote on June 2:
“Ukrainian forces stunned the Russian military Sunday after wiping out and damaging dozens of nuclear bombers and other aircraft with ambitious and complicated attacks that struck President Vladimir Putin’s air bases deep inside the country, Kyiv says. Even pro-Moscow military bloggers are calling the strike — which used drones hidden in trucks — ‘the Russian Pearl Harbor.’…
“The mission… hit 41 Russian heavy bombers and other warplanes at four separate airfields thousands of miles from Ukraine. The cost of the destroyed aircraft, most of which Russia no longer even manufactures, is at least $7 billion, Kyiv said. The doomsday bombers are a critical part of Russia’s nuclear deterrent — originally designed to obliterate the US and Europe with atomic weapons in the event of all-out war.
“Ukraine said the aircraft had been converted and were being used to pummel their country with cruise missiles. Officials claimed they had destroyed more than one-third of Russia’s strategic bombers in the strike…
“Ukraine said the attack was launched in response to Russia carrying out one of its largest drone attacks since the start of the war last week, with 472 drones and seven ballistic and cruise missiles involved… In separate attacks, the collapse of two bridges near the Ukrainian border, killing at least seven people, has been blamed by Russian investigators on sabotage.”
The New York Post wrote on June 4:
“President Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, saying it was ‘not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace’ between Russia and Ukraine… ‘President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.’”
That was SO predictable. And so, the war will go on…
BBC wrote on June 1:
“Members of the Western alliance Nato need to prepare for a possible attack from Russia within the next four years, according to Germany’s chief of defence.
“General Carsten Breuer told the BBC that Russia was producing hundreds of tanks a year, many of which could be used for an attack on Nato Baltic state members by 2029 or even earlier… Russia also produced four million rounds of 152mm artillery munition in 2024, and not all of it was going to Ukraine either, added Gen Breuer.”
The Sun wrote on May 31:
“China is ‘credibly preparing’ for a military invasion of Taiwan and the attack is ‘real and [could be] imminent’, the US Defence Secretary [Pete Hegseth] has warned….
“His warning comes after China deployed two hulking H-6 bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons on a strategic island in the South China Sea… China claims almost the entire disputed waterway in the South China Sea – through which more than 60 per cent of global maritime trade passes.
“Fears are that the weakening of Western alliances and the unpredictability of US foreign policy under Donald Trump could create the perfect atmosphere for Beijing to trigger an invasion.”
Breaking Defense wrote on May 29:
“As the US prepares African nations to rely less on Washington’s help, China is attempting to ‘replicate every type of thing’ the US military does to build and maintain relationships on the continent, according to the top US military official [Michael E. Langley]…
“Langely was speaking from Nairobi, Kenya, as the US wrapped up its participation in the African Chiefs of Defense Conference, attended by representatives from more than 30 African nations. There, amid drastic US cuts to civilian aid programs, Langley said he had a message for the leaders of African militaries: America does not want to do more for Africa, but to ‘help Africa do more for itself.’’
While the USA is retreating, China is stepping in.
The Huffington Post wrote on May 30:
“Before he even took office the first time in 2017, Trump was already boasting that he would force Boeing — which had been on pace to deliver two new, purpose-built 747s by the end of that term — to slash its contract price… Among the features dropped from the required specifications list was in-flight refueling, thereby reducing the amount of time a commander-in-chief can remain aloft to only about 15 hours, rather than a week or more.
“If a plane carrying the president cannot refuel in midair, that severely limits how and where a president can travel and be kept out of harm’s way in the event of a major attack on the United States…
“What’s more, it’s unclear whether Trump’s interference in the program will have saved taxpayers a dime…. And none of that includes the new burden taxpayers must now bear to transform Qatar’s gift to Trump… Modifying the plane could take many months or even years, meaning… hundreds of millions of dollars or more will be spent…”
The U.S. Sun added on May 30:
“Donald Trump’s luxury ‘sky Palace’ gifted to him by Qatar will cost a few billion dollars, says the President of Emirates airline. The US government now faces a ‘Herculean task’ to transform the huge Boeing 747-8 into a new Air Force One fit for a president, warns Sir Tim Clark… Aviation specialist Jeff Wise also told The Sun that he expects the Air Force One replacement to take years and need billions of dollars pumped into the project to make the jet viable…
“Trump’s Air Force One jets currently in use come with dozens of specialised security features. These include armoured glass and plating, on board flares to confuse enemy missiles, mirror-ball defences and even an electric jamming system.
“Another unique yet needed element is an electromagnetic shield for nuclear explosions. This has to be on a presidential plane as the leader of Washington can actually launch a nuke from the aircraft.
“But the new Qatari jet lacks most of these security features.”
The New York Post wrote on June 3:
“Tech mogul Elon Musk went on a tirade Tuesday against President Trump’s marquee One Big Beautiful Bill Act days after leaving the administration — ripping the legislation as an ‘abomination’ and condemning lawmakers who supported it. ‘I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,’ the Tesla and SpaceX CEO wrote on his X platform. ‘This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.’
“The 53-year-old added in subsequent posts that the bill ‘will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America [sic] citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt.’ In a third post, Musk groused that ‘Congress is making America bankrupt.’ ‘In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people [apparently suggesting Republican politicians should be kicked out of Congress at the midterms],’ he later fumed…
“Multiple estimates have found that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will increase the federal deficit by between $3 trillion and $4 trillion over a 10-year period…
“The billionaire’s diatribe against the measure comes amid delicate negotiations among Republican lawmakers. The mammoth bill cleared the House last month but still needs to go through the Senate and then the House again before it can get to Trump’s desk. Multiple lawmakers have complained that they’ve since discovered provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of which they weren’t aware. [So, they did not even read the bill before signing it!]
“Far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) flagged a provision in the bill that curtails state rights to regulate artificial intelligence over the next 10 years. She said Tuesday that she would have voted against the bill if she had known it was in there. Last week, Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) admitted during a town hall that he wasn’t privy to a provision in the megabill that restrains district judges’ ability to hold people in contempt… The measure spans 1,038 pages, and was quickly rammed through the House following marathon markup sessions by multiple House committees… [This is SO shameful indeed.]
“Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), one of two GOP ‘nay’ votes in the House alongside Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), praised Musk’s screed, saying on X that ‘he’s right.’ The world’s richest man holds significant sway over fiscal hawks in both chambers of Congress. Last month, he publicly lamented that congressional Republicans neglected to codify the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts he helped shepherd. Almost immediately after, a chorus of GOP lawmakers in Congress began demanding that leadership do so. In December of last year, Musk helped torpedo a government funding agreement to avert a government shutdown. That prompted GOP leadership to back off and put forward a significantly watered-down spending patch to keep the government’s lights on…”
Breitbart added on June 4: “Trump has also made clear that he wants the bill on his desk by the Fourth of July.”
Musk also wrote in another post: “This immense level of overspending will drive America into debt slavery!”
It was also reported that two Republican senators, Mike Lee (Utah) and Rand Paul (Ky.), signaled their agreement with Musk, who in turn shared posts from Republicans in Congress who publicly aligned with him. Behind the scenes, Trump reportedly is livid, but until June 5, he had not come out publicly against Musk who was the biggest donor in the 2024 political cycle, donating $288 million to help elect Trump and other Republican candidates.
The Sun wrote on June 5:
“The feud began when Trump addressed Musk’s criticism of the president’s ‘big beautiful bill’ in the Oval Office. But it dramatically escalated when the Tesla mogul called for the president’s impeachment [and replacement with J.D. Vance] and brought up Trump’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein…. Trump later threatened to cut Musk’s government contracts by saying it would save a lot of money…
“Musk responded to Trump’s threats with a threat of his own. ‘In light of the President’s statement about cancellation of my government contracts, Space X will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately,’ he said. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft was the one that brought stranded astronauts back safe to Earth after 268 days in March.”
Daily Mail wrote on May 30:
“JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has sounded the alarm about the ‘enemy within’ America…
“Dimon claims that the United States is suffering from a worrying government ‘mismanagement’ issue…. Dimon, the boss of America’s biggest bank, cautioned that the ‘mismanagement’ that occurs at all levels of government could be the biggest catalyst for the nation’s economic demise. ‘The amount of mismanagement is extraordinary – by state, by city, for pensions, and that stuff is going to kill us,’ the billionaire banker [said]…
“Dimon sounded the alarm on a ‘crack’ appearing in the bond market as a result of the wildly soaring national debt – which Trump is set to compound with the $3 trillion Big Beautiful Bill awaiting Senate approval. A ‘crack’ in the bond market occurs when investors lose confidence in the government’s ability to service its debt. Bonds are sold, yields go higher and the cost of borrowing increases for all Americans, including the government itself.
“’You are going to see a crack in the bond market… I’m telling you it’s going to happen, and you’re going to panic’…. Dimon clarified that a crack in the market hasn’t happened yet, but is confident it will occur. ..
“His remarks… come just days after he delivered a sobering assessment of the US economy and warned the true fallout from Trump’s sweeping tariff policy has yet to be felt… Dimon said behind the scenes of a soaring stock market lies a deep and under-appreciated risk… Dimon pulled no punches as he described Trump’s tariff strategy as ‘pretty extreme,’ even in its scaled-back form following an April 2 announcement that placed most tariffs on a temporary 90-day pause…”
America’s downfall, due to “enemies from within” and “from without,” is inevitable.
ABC News reported on May 30:
“President Donald Trump on Friday touted a ‘blockbuster agreement’ between U.S. Steel and Japanese company Nippon Steel… Trump discussed the ‘partnership’ between the two companies during a rally at the Irvin Works plant in Allegheny County on Friday evening… During the event, Trump also announced his plan to double a current 25% tariff on [all] steel imports to 50%…
“Trump told the crowd Nippon would invest a total of $14 billion as part of the deal… Trump emphasized that the U.S. Steel headquarters would stay in Pittsburgh…
“U.S. Steel would still be ‘controlled by the USA,’ Trump said, adding, ‘Otherwise, I wouldn’t have done the deal.’ But he did not explicitly say how the ownership of the company would be structured. Despite hailing the agreement during the rally, Trump later told reporters that he hasn’t seen the final [deal] yet…
“During the 2024 campaign, Trump pledged to block the Japanese steelmaker from purchasing U.S. Steel. As president-elect, he repeated that vow. ‘I am totally against the once great and powerful U.S. Steel being bought by a foreign company, in this case Nippon Steel of Japan,’ Trump wrote in a post… The Biden administration in January blocked the sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel over national security concerns. The White House said at the time it was important to keep one of the largest steel producers in the nation an American-owned company…
“Nippon was seeking 100% ownership of U.S. Steel in talks with Trump…”
The New York Post wrote on May 29:
“President Trump on Thursday rebuked the trio of judges [nominated by Reagan, Obama and Trump] who overturned his sweeping tariff agenda the day before – calling out ‘backroom hustlers’ and slamming the Court of International Trade’s ruling as ‘horrific’ and a threat to ‘Presidential Power.’… A federal appeals court stayed the trade court’s order on Thursday as the White House appeals the initial ruling…
“The horrific decision stated that I would have to get the approval of Congress for these Tariffs,’ he fumed. ‘In other words, hundreds of politicians would sit around D.C. for weeks, and even months, trying to come to a conclusion as to what to charge other Countries that are treating us unfairly. If allowed to stand, this would completely destroy Presidential Power — The Presidency would never be the same!’…
“Trump claimed the trade court’s ruling ‘is being hailed all over the World by every Country, other than the United States of America.’”
In an apparent response to the ruling, Trump posted a cryptic meme on Wednesday night declaring that he is “on a mission from God.”
NPR wrote on May 30:
“The Supreme Court on Friday allowed the Trump administration to temporarily pause a humanitarian program that has allowed nearly half a million people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to enter the U.S. and remain here legally for two years. The move to grant a stay in the case means that the Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who were granted temporary parole under the program known as CHNV would lose their temporary legal status to be in the U.S. — and could potentially be deported while the case plays out in the lower courts…
“The court did not give a reason in its brief order. But in a lengthy dissent from Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor joining, Jackson wrote that the court ‘has plainly botched this assessment today’ in causing irreparable harm for everyone admitted under the program… The program… has allowed individuals from the four countries to enter the U.S. temporarily for humanitarian reasons, usually because conditions in their home country pose a threat to their safety…
“The federal law authorizing such humanitarian ‘parole’ dates back to the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act. It was first used to provide temporary entry for some 30,000 Hungarians fleeing their country after a failed attempt at overturning Soviet rule and a crackdown that followed. In the decades since then, every administration, including the first Trump administration, has used the parole program to meet some emergency immigration need, allowing individuals who have been screened and approved to enter the U.S. if they have a U.S. sponsor willing to provide financial and other support. Individuals granted such temporary status can, once here, apply for asylum or some other more permanent status.
“The Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela parole program, known as the CHNV program, is similar to programs created in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine when some 200,000 people were granted temporary parole, and the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, when more than 76,000 Afghanis fled, many of them people who worked to assist U.S. forces there. So far, the Trump administration has not tried to end the Ukraine programs, but it has terminated the Afghan program, effective July 14.
“President Trump, however, on the day he took office signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to end ‘all categorical parole programs.’ In March, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem formally announced the termination of the CHNV parole process, declaring that it was being terminated immediately, and that the cessation would apply to all people currently enrolled in the program. It was the first en masse termination of such a program on record. Noem’s order said that the interests of the parolees, and their reliance on the government’s promise of protection for two years, were outweighed by the government’s ‘strong interest’ in deporting them through expedited removal, rather than normal removal proceedings under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
“A group of individuals whose temporary protection had been guaranteed for two years, and their sponsors, challenged Noem’s order in court, and a federal district court judge in Massachusetts ruled in their favor. Judge Indira Talwani said that the secretary had erred in seeking to expedite removal of individuals who still had time left on their promised two-year protection in the U.S. The judge also said that the secretary’s en masse ending of the two-year term violated the statutory requirement that parole be determined only on a case-by-case basis…”
The bottom line is, the US government made a promise which the Trump administration is now breaking. This is the sad history of US “promises,” especially in regard to their deceitful and ungodly “dealing” with the American Indians.
Trump’s New Travel Bans
Daily Mail wrote on June 5:
“President Donald Trump has announced widespread bans and restrictions for visitors from 19 countries…
“Nationals of Afghanistan, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen will be barred from entering the United States under the new order, which goes into effect on June 9. Citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela will be partially restricted from traveling, removing access to all immigrant visas and several non-immigrant travel options.
“Trump also issued a warning that Egypt could soon join the no-fly list in the wake of the Colorado terror attack in which an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa allegedly set fire to pro-Israel demonstrators…
“Several of the nations facing bans have been targeted because their screening and vetting capabilities are not up to the president’s standards, putting Egypt on high alert…. the nations included on the list have disappointed Trump in various ways, either by having a high rate of nationals who overstay their visas or by limiting the United States’ access to security data…
“The primary concern for Iranian nationals is that the government ‘is a state sponsor of terrorism’… Similarly, the inclusion of Somalia comes after ‘The United States Government identified Somalia as a terrorist safe haven… Haitian nationals, Trump argued, have a higher likelihood of trying to overstay their visas… Eritrea, for example, has been included on the list because ‘the United States questions the competence of the central authority for issuance of passports or civil documents in Eritrea.’…
“Looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Trump has already added a clause in his proclamation which states: ‘Any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event’ will be exempt.”
The Daily Mail wrote on June 1:
“President Donald Trump shared a bizarre theory on social media Saturday night that suggested Joe Biden died in 2020 and has since been replaced by a ‘clone.’… ‘There is no…JoeBiden – executed in 2020… Biden clones doubles & robotic engineered soulless mindless entities are what you see,’ wrote [a little known user with fewer than 1000 followers] named llijh…
“Trump did not add any of his own commentary to the post, but simply amplifying the wild conspiracy created confusion. Almost immediately, social media erupted, with supporters and critics alike grappling with the surreal suggestion…
[The New York Post added on June 1: “Trump last met Biden in person roughly five months ago during Inauguration Day, and shared the debate stage with him in both 2020 and 2024.”]“Trump’s casual amplification served to underscore the surreal and conspiratorial environment that defines the MAGA movement. This isn’t the first time Trump has danced with conspiracy theories.
“Throughout his first term as president Trump continued to give oxygen to baseless theories: suggesting Ted Cruz’s father was involved in the JFK assassination, refusing to fully distance himself from QAnon, and promoting claims of massive voter fraud during the 2020 election without evidence. [There is much evidence, however, that the election was rigged].
“Trump was the most prominent promoter of the so-called ‘birther’ conspiracy, falsely claiming that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States. For years, Trump demanded Obama’s birth certificate and continued to suggest it was fraudulent even after Obama released the official long-form document. It wasn’t until 2016, under mounting political pressure, that Trump finally admitted Obama was born in the US – without apology or acknowledgment of the damage the false claims had caused. [Trump should have never conceded. There is mounting evidence that Obama was NOT born in the USA. The “official long-form” from Hawaii was not an original, and the version produced appears to have been doctored. The original short form went missing, and the custodian of record died in a mysterious plane crash.]
“But suggesting the idea that a former president of the United States was a ‘clone’ pushes the envelope even further.”
This of course IS crazy.
Daily Mail wrote on May 31:
“The CDC is urging Americans to cancel their upcoming [international] flights if they are not vaccinated against measles. The agency has upgraded its health travel warning after discovering the virus… is spreading on US airplanes. A previous recommendation that said Americans should ‘consider making alternative travel plans’ if they could not get vaccinated before departing now says travelers should ‘consider postponing their trip.’
“Estimates suggest around 10 percent of adults may lack immunity, either due to never receiving the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine or because their immunity has diminished over time… the CDC confirmed at least one case where the virus was spread during air travel…
“The latest airport warning came Friday as three passengers flying into Denver International Airport on [a] Turkish Airlines flight tested positive for measles. One of them was a vaccinated adult…
“Around 90 percent of confirmed cases are tied to outbreaks in the US rather than travel outside the country.”
Absolutely stupid! Haven’t we learned anything yet from the CDC’s ridiculous “recommendations”—and worse—during the Covid “pandemic”? And so, the outrageous and unscientific attacks against the “unvaccinated” continue with full force.
The FBI announced that they would release a video proving that no one was in Epstein’s cell, putting to rest the notion that he was murdered. However, the Drudge Report issued immediately a flashback article from the BBC, dated January 10, 2020, painting a totally different picture:
“Soon after Epstein’s death, in August, two of the CCTV cameras outside his cell had malfunctioned and were being examined by the FBI, US media reported…
“Epstein was found semi-conscious in his prison cell with injuries to his neck on 25 July. After this incident, he was placed on suicide watch. Eventually, Epstein was moved to a different cell, where he died on 10 August. Two prison guards have since been accused of failing to check on him during this time and falsifying records to say that they had…
“There have been ongoing questions over the July recording, which was initially deemed missing and then was said to have been located by jail staff. A letter filed by Assistant US Attorneys Jason Swergold and Maurene Comey said ‘the footage contained on the preserved video was for the correct date and time, but captured a different tier than the one where Cell-1 was located’, New York City media report. ‘The requested video no longer exists on the backup system and has not since at least August 2019 as a result of technical errors.’”
Fox News reported on June 4:
“FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said Wednesday… ‘ We do have video. It’s not the greatest video in the world. I don’t want to set expectations on fire’… ‘However, the video does show in that specific block, that he goes in, made a phone call; you’ll see 12 hours of guards going in basically check on him, come back. You’ll see nobody really comes out of that bay in that area than him.”
But what about his cell itself???
Why would Epstein even commit suicide? And who is to benefit the most from his death? In times past, key witnesses in cases brought against the FBI or high-ranking officials died under mysterious circumstances.
Breitbart wrote on May 30:
“In response to recent legislation passed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s conservative government to ban Pride parades in Hungary, over half of fellow European Union member states signed an open letter demanding that Budapest reverse course or face punishment from Brussels. The ‘declaration’ was signed by the countries of Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Sweden…
“Brussels and Budapest have long been at loggerheads over the issue, with Eurocrats previously criticising laws banning LGBTQ+ content from children’s television programmes… Currently, the EU Commission is withholding around €18 billion from Hungary over supposed violations of the ‘rule of law.’…”
The dictatorial conduct of the EU is becoming more and more blatant.
C-Fam wrote on May 30:
“‘The fight against LGBT perversion is also a fight for freedom, dignity, and the future of humanity,’ [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan said… at the international Family Forum held on May 23 and 24. The conference was sponsored by Erdogan’s government and was attended by ministers from 27 countries from Africa, Asia, and the Balkans… Erdogan called gender ideology a ‘threat to humanity, women and children’ and a ‘national security threat.’ He pledged to work with everyone to protect the family and to fight the LGBT agenda domestically and abroad.
“The conference addressed a full spectrum of policies to protect the family, including defending traditional man-woman marriage, incentives for young people to marry and found a family, how to raise fertility, and the effect of technology on the family. It also featured warnings against population control, abortion, gender ideology and harmful sexuality education that normalizes promiscuity as well as homosexual and transgender behavior…
“He also said the LGBT agenda had become a system of ‘fascism and oppression’ and called gender ideology a form of child-abuse. In veiled criticism of the European Union, he denounced attacks against politicians in neighboring countries for defending marriage as the union of a man and a woman…”
Turkey, unlike Hungary, is not a member of the EU, but it is a member of NATO. Will the EU dare to threaten Turkey as well?
The Toronto Star wrote on May 28:
“Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday that he wants a ‘concrete’ commitment by July 1 to partner with the European Union on a huge military industrial program, as he declared Canada must spend more on defence… Carney’s comments, in an interview with the CBC, came after King Charles III delivered the Liberal government’s throne speech in a show of Canadian sovereignty meant to highlight the country’s distinctiveness amidst a trade war and talk of annexation from American President Donald Trump.
“The King’s speech said Canada will join ReArm Europe, the EU’s plan to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on defence over the next five years to ‘quickly and significantly’ boost the bloc of countries’ military strength…”
Deutsche Welle reported on June 4:
“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has defended his government’s effort to turn away asylum seekers at the country’s borders, one day after a court blocked the move. The emergency decision by the Berlin Administrative Court was a blow for Merz, who has promised he will curb irregular migration.
“Speaking in Berlin, the chancellor said the ruling may narrow his administration’s room for maneuver, but there was still scope… Shortly after taking office last month, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt ordered police to beef up border checks and turn away irregular migrants, even if they apply for asylum.
“The court ruling on Monday found that three Somalis who were turned back to Poland on May 9 should have been processed under the European Union’s Dublin Regulation for asylum cases. The court found that the government’s evidence to proclaim a ‘national emergency’ to justify the measure lacked sufficient evidence.
“Merz’s immigration policies have been repeatedly criticized as violating both German and EU law.”
The Sun wrote on June 3:
“The Dutch government has collapsed after far-right leader Geert Wilders pulled his party from the coalition amid an asylum row… Wilders’ PVV party was the largest in the four-party coalition, which had been in place since July 2024… Former coalition partners have accused Wilders of engineering the crisis – and using asylum as cover to make a lunge for power. Earlier in the day, Wilders said he intended to become Prime Minister of the Netherlands… Wilders had demanded ten additional measures – including a freeze on asylum applications and halting the construction of reception centres…
“Any fresh election is unlikely to be held before October, and the formation of a new government traditionally tends to take months in the Netherlands…”
Wilders Thanks Trump
Breitbart wrote on June 5:
“The Trump White House offered tacit support to Geert Wilders… President Trump has been clear on supporting European allies that work to protect sovereignty and national identity… Responding to this vote of confidence from President Trump, Mr Wilders wrote overnight: ‘Thank you [President Trump]… We will win the Dutch elections again and Make The Netherlands Great Again!’…
“Such an endorsement is no trivial matter as voters around the Western world fraction into pro- and anti-Trump camps… President Trump is due to be in the Netherlands before the forthcoming snap election, potentially offering an opportunity for him to show in-person support.”
Deutsche Welle wrote on June 2:
“Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he will request a vote of confidence in the near future. His centrist government suffered a setback [in its efforts to strengthen Warsaw’s pro-European orientation] after conservative nationalist Karol Nawrocki won the presidential election…
“Prime Minister Tusk’s governing coalition has sought to reverse the previous PiS government’s judicial reforms, which the European Union said undermined democracy and the rights of women and minorities. However, [outgoing President Andrzej Duda] blocked those efforts, and Nawrocki is expected to maintain this position. Supporters of Nawrocki view him as a champion of conservative values, including his strong anti-abortion stance…
“In the Polish political system, the prime minister, who is chosen by parliament, holds most day-to-day power. However, the president’s role is not merely ceremonial. The head of state can influence foreign policy and veto legislation… Nawrocki will succeed Duda, whose second and final term ends on August 6. According to the Polish constitution, the president serves a five-year term and may be re-elected once.”
Brussels Signal wrote on May 30:
“European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen received the Charlemagne Prize on May 29–leading to criticism from MEPs who called the award ‘in blatant contradiction to the fundamental values for which this prize was originally created’.
“Spain’s King Felipe VI and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz both delivered remarks at an awards ceremony in Aachen town hall. The prize citation praised von der Leyen’s ‘visionary leadership’ in ‘guiding the EU through profound transformation with vision, courage, strength and foresight’.
“However, German MEP [Member of European Parliament] Christine Anderson (Alternative for Germany, AfD) condemned the award, calling von der Leyen an ‘autocratic, power-drunk and corrupt’ politician who drove a wedge between citizens and the EU institutions. ‘Democracy, transparency, the rule of law, and international understanding have all been undermined under her watch,’ wrote Anderson in a letter to the Charlemagne Prize Board.
“Anderson said the award was especially inappropriate after the Pfizergate scandal. A ruling by the European General Court affirmed von der Leyen acted wrongly by refusing to release messages in which she was accused of negotiating a multi-billion-euro vaccine deal via undisclosed text messages…
“Another MEP, France’s Virginie Joron [National Rally, formerly National Front], said ‘the EU has overstepped its original mandate’ under von der Leyen. The legacy of EU founding father Robert Schuman was one of cooperation, not coercion, said Joron.
“During her acceptance speech [in Aachen], Ursula von der Leyen sidestepped criticism while defending her legacy and pushing for a new European project calling for a 21st-century version of ‘Pax Europaea.’ She warned of a chaotic international order marked by ‘imperial ambitions,’ and urged Europe to rearm and reassert itself geopolitically. ‘A new international order will emerge in this decade… we must shape this new order… Our mission is European independence,’ she added.”
Van der Leyen is no stranger to controversy, even during her tenure as Germany’s defense minister.
Politico added on May 30:
“The Commission chief received the Charlemagne award for ‘her services to the unity of the member states, in the containment of the pandemic, for the unity of the Union’s determination to defend itself against Russia — and for the impetus towards the Green Deal,’ the award’s board of directors said.
“The prize is named after the Frankish king Charlemagne, who united much of Western and Central Europe under the Holy Roman Empire in the 9th century.”
Especially rewarding her for “services in the containment of the pandemic” should be considered to be a major scandal, as her actions have done unspeakable harm to millions of people.
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.
Paul says that the rulers of this world did not understand the Truth about Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 2:6-8). That is still true today, as this world is still cut off from God and godly understanding. Satan, the god and ruler of this world, has deceived the whole world, so that good is believed to be evil and light is vilified as darkness (Isaiah 5:20).
Christ says that the Gentile rulers of this world exercise lordship over the people, even being (falsely) called “benefactors,” but that this is wrong and should not be done (Luke 22:25-26). But as we will see, that does not only apply to Gentile kings and nations. Christ even calls our political and religious leaders “blind guides” (Matthew 23:16).
God calls the leaders of the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand,and other English-speaking nations leaders of Sodom. Note Isaiah 1:10: “Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, You people of Gomorrah…” God is charging the leaders and the people with the same types of sins Sodom and Gomorrah were famous for, leading to their utter destruction. They are supposed to hear and to heed, but they don’t.
Isaiah 3:12 says about our political leaders: “As for My people, children are their oppressors, And women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths.”
Isaiah 9:13-16 adds to this, blaming both the political and religious leaders and the people following them:
“For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them, Nor do they seek the LORD of hosts. Therefore the LORD will cut off head and tail from Israel, Palm branch and bulrush in one day. The elder and honorable, he is the head; The prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed.”
Here is one reason why God is so angry with the political leaders of our nations. Compare Isaiah 10:1-2: “Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, Who write misfortune, Which they have prescribed To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless.”
God condemns the leaders who design unrighteous laws to withhold and even take away justice, financial support and sustenance from the poor and the needy, so that they can fill their own bellies. These warnings and condemnations are not limited to the ancient and modern Houses of Israel and Judah, but they apply to all nations at all times, since God does not play favorites and He does not show partiality and He is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34; Authorized Version), and since all are guilty of the same misconduct.
As we said before, God also condemns the religious leaders, together with the political leaders, and the people who follow their bad example. We read in Ezekiel 22:6-8, 26-27:
“Look, the princes of Israel: each one has used his power to shed blood in you. In you they have made light of father and mother; in your midst they have oppressed the stranger; in you they have mistreated the fatherless and the widow. You have despised My holy things and profaned My Sabbaths… Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain.”
None of the political and religious leaders keep God’s Law. They do not cease from mistreating strangers; they do not stand up for peace and they do not forbid shedding blood by, for instance, fighting in war under any and all circumstances; they do not forbid abortion in any form since inception; and they do not keep the weekly and annual Sabbaths, nor do they tell their people that they must observe these days, while refraining from keeping pagan holy days, such as Christmas or Easter. Even the House of Judah does not keep God’s Holy Days in the way prescribed by God.
In what other way are the leaders of our nations described in the Bible, and what warnings are being given which our leaders should adhere to, but don’t?
Isaiah 28:14-18 states:
“Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scornful men, Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, Because you have said, ‘We have made a covenant with death, And with Sheol we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, It will not come to us, For we have made lies our refuge, And under falsehood we have hidden ourselves.’ Therefore thus says the LORD God: ‘… Your covenant with death will be annulled, And your agreement with Sheol will not stand; When the overflowing scourge passes through, Then you will be trampled down by it.’”
As pointed out before, these comments are not limited to the city of Jerusalem or the House of Judah, as all leaders and nations are guilty of the same transgressions, including constantly lying to the people and breaking promises they made during election campaigns.
Note Proverbs 29:12: “If a ruler pays attention to lies, All his servants become wicked.” What leader is not guilty of lying and of listening to lying advisers? Otherwise, a politician would not have become a leader in this world ruled by Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44).
Proverbs 28:2 says: “Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes.” The Good News Translation says: “When a nation sins, it will have one ruler after another.” There is really no stability in this world. In some countries, a leader may rule longer than in other countries, but then such a country may have other major problems, not to mention being ruled by an autocratic dictatorship. And those in opposition, when they eventually come to power, usually find that what they said they would do, and might have even intended to do, is just not possible through many different constraints, and so the pattern continues as there are no real, permanent answers.
Proverbs 29:4 adds: “The king establishes the land by justice, But he who receives bribes overthrows it.” The New American Bible says: “By justice a king builds up the land; but one who raises taxes tears it down.” The Revised Lutherbible 2017 writes: “… who demands high taxes destroys the land.” Overtaxing the people is such a common problem in this evil world. But make no mistake. God will hold those responsible who engage in such ungodly conduct.
God wants the rulers to stand up to plead the cause of the needy.
Proverbs 31:8 states: “Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.”
Proverbs 24:10-12 adds: “If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small. Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, ‘Surely we did not know this,’ Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?”
But none of the leaders will really look after and protect the needy, even though God’s commands in this regard and warnings are very clear. His words are to be and will be proclaimed. We will see later who is especially charged by God to fulfill that commission.
Notice the following admonitions to the religious leaders to warn the people, and God’s reaction to their failure to do so.
Ezekiel 13:4-6, 10 says:
“O Israel, your prophets are like foxes in the deserts. You have not gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the LORD. They have envisioned futility and false divination, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD!’ But the LORD has not sent them; yet they hope that the word may be confirmed… they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace…”
After charging the princes, the prophets and the priests with wrong (compare again Ezekiel 22:6-8, 26-27, quoted above), God continues in Ezekiel 22:28-30:
“Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the LORD had not spoken. The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.”
Nobody among the political and religious leaders of the nations could and can be found to take a stand for the poor and to project, rather than oppress the stranger (whether they are in the country legally or illegally), nor was and is there a leader who stands up for the true God and tells the people to do likewise and do away their idols and false religious services, and to prevent the coming disaster to occur.
The same sad Truth that the land is full of evil, and that no leader is willing to do something about it, is pronounced in Isaiah 59:2-18:
“… your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity. No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity… Their works are works of iniquity, And the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace. Therefore justice is far from us, Nor does righteousness overtake us… We look for justice, but there is none… Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands afar off; For truth is fallen in the street, And equity cannot enter. So truth fails, And he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. Then the LORD saw it, and it displeased Him That there was no justice.
“He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him. For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak. According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, Fury to His adversaries, Recompense to His enemies; The coastlands He will fully repay.”
(To be continued)
Lead Writer: Norbert Link
compiled by Dave Harris
“Trump Meets Germany’s Chancellor Merz—What Was Most Critical?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:
The long-awaited meeting between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Donald Trump has happened in the Oval Office. Merz had been encouraged not to appear as “supplicant,” but to stand up to Trump. However, most critical topics were not discussed, and Trump did most of the talking. But the Ukraine-Russia war was addressed, and in that respect, one could see disagreements between the two leaders. One comment by Trump stands out which, in the light of biblical prophecy, was of paramount importance.
“Trump trifft Merz – Was war am Kritischsten?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.
“How to Deal with God and Man,” a new booklet written by Brian Gale and Norbert Link, has been sent to graphic designer Shelly Bruno in preparation for printing. Those on our mailing list will automatically receive a copy.
“Abraham’s Test” is the latest video in our Bible Story Series on YouTube.
“Team-Geist,” the second German split sermon presented by Manuel Muller, is now posted. Title in English: “Team Spirit.”
“Weil ihr nicht bittet!,” the German Pentecost Offertory presented by Mario Danisch, is now posted. Title in English: “Because You Don’t Ask!”
“Comfort vs Truth,’ last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Kalon Mitchell, is now posted. Here is the summary:
What is it that we are seeking after? Do we seek comfort or truth? As a Christian, this question becomes even more important – only through Christ can we come to have true knowledge of the absolute Truth.
“Do you have the Holy Spirit?” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:
How do you know if you have God’s Holy Spirit within you? What are the characteristics and what is the fruit of the Holy Spirit? We should examine ourselves to see if Christ is in us through His Spirit. We must also ensure that we do not lose the Holy Spirit.
“The Foundation,” the Offertory for Pentecost presented by Frank Bruno, is now posted. Here is the summary:
As we observe Pentecost, we are reminded of the gift of the Holy Spirit that true Christians receive when they are called to repentance and become baptized. We also know that this brings a responsibility in that we agree to commit our lives to God and His Son, Jesus Christ. While we remain imperfect human beings, we now have the Spirit to help guide our steps. This of course entails obedience to God and His commandments. This is the foundation of our faith and the reason that we make an offering to God on His Holy Days such as Pentecost.
“On All Flesh,” the sermon for Pentecost presented by Eric Rank, is now posted. Here is the summary:
On the day of Pentecost following the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the gift of the Holy Spirit was a surprise to the Christians gathered together for worship. Yet, that gift was prophesied for all mankind. What is God’s plan for all? What does the Bible reveal about who will have the opportunity for salvation? How does it relate to the Feast of Pentecost?
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:
United States: Church of the Eternal God, P.O. Box 270519, San Diego, CA 92198
Canada: Church of God, ACF, Box 1480, Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z0
United Kingdom: Global Church of God, PO Box 44, MABLETHORPE, LN12 9AN, United Kingdom
On May 31, 2025, Kalon Mitchell will present the sermonette, titled, “Comfort VS Truth,” and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “Do You Have the Holy Spirit?”
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.
PENTECOST: On June 1, 2025, Frank Bruno will present the Offertory, titled, “The Foundation,” and Eric Rank will present the sermon, titled, “On All Flesh.”
Live broadcast times will be the same as described above for Sabbath Services.
The Associated Press wrote on May 23:
“President Donald Trump on Friday threatened 25% tariff on Apple unless iPhones are made in America as well as a 50% tax on all imports from the European Union [starting June 1]. [Trump said the talks with the EU were going nowhere].”
The New York Post added on May 23:
“In response, the Dow dropped 256 points in a volatile day… while luxury automaker Volvo warned that prices on cars are going to spike… A warning to President Donald Trump: Everyone, including your friends, is starting to get a brutal case of tariff burnout… It’s one thing for your enemies to find you unpredictable, another for your friends to worry that you’re acting on pure whim.
“All this uncertainty exacts a cost of its own, angst that builds with every surprise twist. Every day, folks are nervous… Americans are really tired of tariffs… Even fans of the president’s theater can get sick of endless drama. Trump clearly sees tariffs as a wonderful hammer, but not everything is a nail.”
Bild Online wrote on May 24:
“In return, Trump is accepting punitive tariffs [of 50 percent] on [some] US exports to the EU. Because Brussels has no choice now.”
Subsequently, it was reported that Trump delayed his 50% EU tariffs. Trump’s tariffs policy will contribute to America’s financial ruin and its political isolation.
Reuters reported on May 29:
“A federal appeals court on Thursday reinstated the most sweeping of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, a day after a trade court had ruled Trump had exceeded his authority in imposing the duties and had ordered an immediate block on them. An order from the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington provided no opinion or reasoning but directed the plaintiffs in the case to respond by June 5 and the administration by June 9…
“Financial markets, which have whipsawed wildly in response to every twist and turn in Trump’s chaotic trade war, reacted with cautious optimism to the trade court ruling, though gains in stocks were largely limited by expectations that the court’s ruling faced a potentially lengthy appeals process. Indeed, analysts said broad uncertainty remained regarding the future of Trump’s tariffs, which have cost companies more than $34 billion in lost sales and higher costs…
“Emblematic of that uncertainty, a separate federal court earlier on Thursday had also found Trump overstepped his authority in using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act for what he called ‘reciprocal’ tariffs of at least 10% on goods from most U.S. trading partners and for the separate 25% levies on goods from Canada, Mexico and China related to fentanyl. That ruling was much narrower, however, and the relief order stopping the tariffs only applied to the toy company that brought the case.”
The three judges on the trade court who unanimously blocked the tariffs were Judge Timothy Reif, who was nominated by Mr. Trump; Judge Jane Restani, who was nominated by former President Ronald Reagan; and Judge Gary Katzmann, who was nominated by former President Obama. “We are living under a judicial tyranny,” White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller wrote in response to the ruling by the trade court, adding that “the judicial coup is out of control.”
Travel and Tour World wrote on May 24:
“European airlines are freezing their transatlantic growth and pulling back from major U.S. cities like New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Chicago as they redirect flights to Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Caribbean, where bookings are rising and demand is outpacing the American market. Carriers including Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, KLM, Iberia, and SAS have adjusted their summer schedules to reflect shifting traveler priorities, with more passengers opting for destinations that offer smoother entry, better seasonal deals, and fewer political complications. The changes mark a clear retreat from the U.S. at a time when international sentiment is cooling and alternative routes are proving far more profitable.
“The decision to reduce flights is being driven by a sharp drop in bookings, rising concerns among European travelers about safety and border restrictions, and growing political discomfort tied to President Donald Trump’s second term. Airlines that had once expanded aggressively across the Atlantic are now turning their attention elsewhere. Internal forecasts, passenger surveys, and travel agency reports across Europe point to one conclusion: fewer people are planning trips to the United States this year…
“Lufthansa has quietly reduced frequencies on its routes to New York, Miami, and Chicago, three of the airline’s most important U.S. destinations… several weekly flights have been removed compared to last year…
“British Airways has suspended service to Las Vegas and has reduced its operations to Orlando and Philadelphia… Air France has discontinued its Seattle route and trimmed service to Washington D.C. for the upcoming summer… KLM is cutting back flights to both San Francisco and Boston… Iberia has… reduced service between Madrid and Chicago… Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has canceled its routes from Oslo to Newark and Copenhagen to Los Angeles…
“… United Airlines has dropped its Newark–Tenerife service… Norse Atlantic Airways has pulled out of Miami–Oslo and Miami–Berlin… Lufthansa ended its Frankfurt–Minneapolis route on April 30… American Airlines suspended Miami–Paris… while KLM, Aer Lingus, and Iberia have all stepped back from routes including Miami–Amsterdam and Las Vegas–Dublin…
“Behind the numbers is a growing sense among European travelers that visiting the United States has become more difficult. The return of tariff tensions between Washington and Brussels, renewed warnings at U.S. borders, and reports of increased security screening are all feeding into traveler hesitancy. Several European countries have updated their advisories for citizens planning to visit the U.S… In response, airlines are simply following the trend… for now, the skies between Europe and America are looking quieter.”
Crazy! Meaning, that thanks to the Trump administration, the USA will suffer big time economically.
The Associated Press wrote on May 23:
“President Donald Trump said Friday that U.S. Steel will keep its headquarters in Pittsburgh as part of what he called a ‘planned partnership’ that seemed to signal that he’ll approve a bid by Japan-based Nippon Steel [of 15 billion] to make a big investment in the iconic American steelmaker, if not buy it outright.
“Still, Trump’s statement left it vague as to whether he is approving Nippon Steel’s bid after he vowed repeatedly to block the deal to prevent U.S. Steel from being foreign-owned. More recently, Trump suggested that Nippon Steel would invest in U.S. Steel, not buy it, and one union official suggested Friday that the federal government will have a role in the company’s management going forward. But investors seemed to take Trump’s statement as a sign that he’s approving some sort of merger, sharply pushing up U.S. Steel’s shares [by 21%], and the companies issued approving statements.”
All of this seems to be in total contradiction to Trump’s previously declared goals for the USA.
Newsmax wrote on May 29:
“Elon Musk is leaving his government role as a top adviser to President Donald Trump… Musk’s departure comes one day after he criticized the centerpiece of Trump’s legislative agenda, saying he was ‘disappointed; by what the president calls his ‘big beautiful bill.’… Musk’s concerns are shared by some Republican lawmakers…
“‘The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized,’ he told The Washington Post. ‘I thought there were problems, but it sure is an uphill battle trying to improve things in D.C., to say the least.’…”
Breitbart wrote on May 23:
“A judge temporarily suspended Friday the Trump administration’s move to block Harvard from enrolling and hosting foreign students after the prestigious university sued, calling the action unconstitutional. On Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll foreign nationals, throwing the future of thousands of students and the lucrative income stream they provide into doubt. But Harvard sued, and Massachusetts district judge Allison Burroughs ordered that ‘The Trump administration is hereby enjoined from implementing… the revocation of Plaintiff’s SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) certification.’ There will be an injunction hearing on May 29, a court filing showed.
“President Donald Trump is furious at Harvard — which has produced 162 Nobel prize winners — for rejecting his demand that it submit to oversight on admissions and hiring over his claims that it is a hotbed of anti-Semitism and ‘woke’ liberal ideology…. The loss of foreign nationals — more than a quarter of its student body — could prove costly to Harvard, which charges tens of thousands of dollars a year in tuition… Noem had said Thursday that ‘this administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.’ Chinese students make up more than a fifth of Harvard’s international enrollment…”
Newsmax added on May 23:
“On Thursday, Noem said Harvard could restore its certification by turning over within 72 hours a raft of records about international students, including video or audio of their protest activity in the past five years.… Harvard called the revocation ‘unlawful many times over,’ saying the government violates the First Amendment by using coercion to police private speech, and forcing universities to surrender their academic freedom.”
Breitbart added on May 26:
“Harvard Law professor emeritus Laurence Tribe said Monday: ‘…This case involves Trump’s attempt to tell Harvard that it can no longer host foreign students. Now that’s crazy. There’s no legal basis for it. He’s talking about information that he would like about students. He wants to know details about what they say, what they think. That’s a violation of the First Amendment.’”
The possible attack on freedom of speech is indeed ironic in light of the next article.
Breitbart wrote on May 25:
“The Trump administration reportedly dispatched a team to meet with victims of Britain’s draconian speech restrictions amid growing concerns over the state of liberty in the United Kingdom. A group of five diplomats from the U.S. State Department were recently sent on a fact-finding mission in March to Britain to meet with pro-life activists who have been arrested for silently praying outside abortion clinics in the UK…
“The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) team also met with UK Foreign Office officials and members of the Ofcom broadcasting regulator, which was recently empowered to police speech on the internet in Britain by the controversial Online Safety Act. The legislation has reportedly become a major bone of contention between Washington and London, given the potential for the British authority to impose hefty fines on American social media firms for failing to police content on their platforms.
“The Trump administration has publicly chastised Britain for its increasingly restrictive speech codes, and reports have claimed that the issue could become a sticking point during trade negotiations…
“Reform UK leader and longtime Trump ally Nigel Farage remarked: ‘… My American friends cannot believe what is happening in the UK.’ During a February meeting in the Oval Office, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer denied that his country has a problem with free speech… According to a report last month from The Times of London, British police arrest more than 30 people every day for supposedly offensive comments on the internet or other platforms, totalling around 12,000 arrests per year.”
Censorship and restrictions on freedom and liberty everywhere…
Express wrote on May 24:
“Donald Trump made a major blunder at the White House during his meeting with South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa. The meeting turned confrontational after the US President presented his guest with alleged evidence of genocide committed against White South African farmers. In a moment that caught Ramaphosa and his delegation by surprise, Trump showed a screenshot of a video he claimed showed a mass grave of White farmers. ‘These are all white farmers that are being buried,’ Trump said as he glowered at his South African counterpart. However, the video – shot by Reuters – recorded the aftermath of an attack by a Rwanda-backed rebel paramilitary group in Congo.
“Published by the international news agency on February 3, the video showed humanitarian workers lifting body bags in the Congolese city of Goma. The image was pulled from footage of a mass burial following an M23 rebel assault on Goma, filmed by video journalist Djaffar Al Katanty. Al Katanty was stunned to see his video used during the meeting. ‘In view of all the world, President Trump used my image, used what I filmed in DRC to try to convince President Ramaphosa that in his country, White people are being killed by Black people,’ he said. However, a BBC report identified the crosses as part of a memorial to a couple who were killed in 2020.
“While South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, most of the victims are Black. Of the more than 26,000 murders committed in 2024, eight of those were of farmers, according to South African Police Service (SAPS) figures.”
Whether or not there is genocide against white farmers in South Africa, the incompetence with which the Trump administration presented its case is shocking and embarrassing.
Newsmax wrote on May 24:
“The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is on a collision course with the Trump administration over competing views on immigration and the role the government should play in caring for at-risk migrants… This USCCB chastised the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) for rescinding a policy that gave guidance on the care, custody and documentation of pregnant women they encounter.
“Bishop Mark J. Seitz, of El Paso, Texas, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration wrote, ‘It is deeply troubling and inexcusable that measures intended to ensure the basic safety of pregnant mothers and their young children while in government custody could be rescinded with such indifference toward the vulnerability of those involved… This decision is all the more concerning as the [Trump] administration simultaneously ramps up family detention in place of safer, more cost-effective alternatives to detention,’ Seitz said.
“‘Let us be clear: protecting pregnant mothers and their children can never be considered “obsolete.” This principle irrefutably extends to noncitizens in immigration detention, each of whom possesses an inviolable, God-given dignity that must be respected. We urge the Administration to reissue guidance that adequately reflects and affirms the increased standard of care due to this vulnerable population while in government custody,’ he added.
“Time will tell how much a of conflict the Catholic church generally and Pope Leo XIV specifically will have with the Trump administration over the issue of illegal immigration… Although he has yet to address the issue publicly, Pope Leo’s brother John Prevost told the New York Times, ‘I know he’s not happy with what’s going on with immigration. I know that for a fact. How far he’ll go with it is only one’s guess, but he won’t just sit back. I don’t think he’ll be the silent one.’”
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is correct in this case.
The Blaze wrote on May 22:
“Washington State Senate Bill 5375, passed earlier this month… would force Catholic priests who hear admissions of abuse within the context of the sacrament of confession to break the seal of the sacrament and report those admissions to the state, even though all other recognized privileges — like those between doctor and patient and lawyer and client — are preserved…
“The practice of confession [is] a sacrament where we believe God extends His forgiveness for our sins, which we must lay out to a priest, Christ’s representative on earth. It’s a ritual: You list your sins in conversation with a priest, often anonymously or from behind a screen, and in return, the priest assigns a penance and grants absolution. It’s also a ritual critical to the spiritual life of Catholics. Without forgiveness and absolution, Catholics who die in a state of sin could go straight to hell, and Catholics who live in a state of mortal sin are barred from communion, which is the heart of our faith…
“Priests who are found to be uncompliant could face a year in jail or thousands of dollars in fines… And priests who do comply would face excommunication… because the issue of confessional confidentiality is covered right there in the Church’s own catechism…
“In a statement issued May 5, [the Trump administration] vowed to fight the Washington law on the grounds that it violates the First Amendment’s right to free exercise since it infringes on a core, sincerely held religious dogma…”
Confession (even though not biblical) is at the heart and core of the Catholic Church’s teaching. It will never abrogate that “sacrament.”
The Ron Paul Institute wrote on May 23:
“The inexorable decline of the American Empire has arrived at an Imperial Paradox. It must either fight a war and die, or not fight a war and yet still die…
“The Pentagon must understand it cannot sustain logistics in a war against China in the western Pacific. It simply cannot be done…
“In the context of a war against Iran, all the geography is against the US… The US Navy could only operate at extreme risk in the southern Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Persian Gulf. Every US base in the region is well within range of Iranian missile strikes…
“From a geographic and logistical standpoint, the only remotely conceivable war is one in Ukraine against Russia. The US at least has bases and forces already in place in the UK, Germany, Poland, Romania, Finland… Of course, whether or not such a condition persists long in a war scenario is another question altogether…
“So if you’re an empire that thinks it needs a war to reaffirm at least its short-term relevance and fading glory … well, these are your choices. Sic transit gloria mundi.”
Thus passes the glory of the world…
Bloomberg wrote on May 22:
“As Europe waits anxiously for US President Donald Trump’s possible rollback of security commitments in Ukraine’s war against Russia, Germany wants to play more of a leading role. Speaking in Lithuania yesterday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany’s military is prepared to defend the Baltic region against ‘any threat.’ The new German leader and his defense minister, Boris Pistorius, traveled to Vilnius to take part in the first ceremonial roll call of the Panzer Brigade 45 [Germany’s biggest foreign military mission since World War II.]”
“Since taking office earlier this year, the center-right chancellor has pledged to transform the German military into Europe’s strongest army. G-7 finance ministers meanwhile agreed to continue supporting Ukraine as it attempts to keep Russia at bay. For its part, the EU is also giving its dedicated defense fund a 40 million Euro boast.”
Deutsche Welle reported on May 24:
“Germany is considering bringing back military conscription from next year unless more volunteers sign up for the armed forces, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said… The initial plan to boost numbers will rely on volunteers, but Pistorius warned that could change if numbers remain insufficient. Compulsory military service was scrapped in 2011…
“‘If the time comes when we have more capacity available than voluntary registrations, then a decision may be made to make recruitment mandatory. That is the roadmap,’ he added…”
It will come… sadly.
Deutsche Welle wrote on May 26:
“An Austrian court on Monday overturned former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s conviction for giving false testimony to a parliamentary inquiry. ‘Sebastian Kurz… is acquitted,’ a three-member panel of judges said…
“Kurz was found guilty of making false statements in February 2024 and was given an eight-month suspended sentence, a conviction he then appealed. In his appeal, Kurz argued that he was interrupted during his testimony and that the judge who handed out his conviction was biased…
“Kurz is still under investigation for corruption in a separate case. Prosecutors suspect him of embezzling state funds, diverting them to polls distorted to boost his popularity.”
EurAsia Daily wrote on May 23:
“The readiness of the European Union to maintain a Ukrainian army of one million people poses a threat to the security of the EU countries themselves, since Ukraine is an unstable state. This was stated by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban… ‘Ukraine is a politically unstable state, and no one can say what kind of government there will be,’ he warned.
“Accordingly, there are no guarantees that Ukraine, and therefore its armed forces, will take a friendly position towards the EU countries. Therefore, Orban stressed that the financing by the European Union of the million-strong Ukrainian army at the suggestion of Kiev creates a ‘serious threat to European security.’
“… the Government of Hungary from the very beginning of the conflict on Ukraine refused to supply weapons there and opposed the provision of military assistance to it. Budapest condemned Moscow’s actions, but at the same time always stressed that the Ukrainian conflict cannot be resolved on the battlefield, it should be settled through negotiations.”
Ukraine and Russia WILL become allies against Europe.
Focus wrote on May 24:
“The week began with a shock for Europe. After his phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, [Trump] dropped the bombshell in a conversation with the European heads of state: The US is no longer interested in acting as peace mediator. And sanctions against Putin, which Trump had previously promised, were suddenly off the table. The German magazine ‘Der Spiegel’ has now reconstructed what really happened in the shock phone call between Trump and the Europeans (Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelensky, Giorgia Meloni, Ursula von der Leyen, and Alexander Stubb)…
“The Europeans had hoped that Trump would read Putin the riot act during their phone call. Trump, who recently said that Putin might just be leading him on, is supposed to reinforce the new sanctions threats, according to the Europeans’ wishes. But Trump has none of that. Instead, according to ‘Spiegel,’ Trump says Putin doesn’t want a deal. And Ukraine is now the Europeans’ problem. Sanctions, ceasefire, not a word about that.
“The Europeans know immediately: As before, Putin has lulled Trump into a false sense of security. As several media outlets report, there is a very long silence afterward. And all Europeans ask themselves: How can we keep Trump in this process? And above all: Who of us?
“In the end, it is Friedrich Merz who takes the floor. As ‘Der Spiegel’ reports, citing diplomats and government circles, he says he wants to ‘summarize’ the situation. Merz says technical talks must now begin. The Chancellor also says that the Vatican could host such talks, as Trump suggested. Trump’s reaction: ‘Fine by me.’ Merz subsequently asked twice whether Trump was really part of it. It would be nothing new for Trump to suddenly back down. But the US President promises to send his special envoy on this matter…
“It is the absolute minimum success on a shocking day for Europe. Friedrich Merz himself threatened Putin with harsh consequences if there would be no ceasefire. He had believed he had the agreed-upon backing of Donald Trump. But he abandoned him again, just like he abandoned Ukraine.”
news.de wrote on May 25:
“Ben Hodges is shocked by Donald Trump’s behavior in the Ukraine war. The former US general [who commanded the US Army in Europe] speaks in a recent interview about the US president’s betrayal of his allies and simultaneously revealed Vladimir Putin’s true war aim… ‘After all the loud talk about solving the problem in 24 hours, I think the credibility of this president and this administration will be severely damaged by this failure.’
“And further: ‘If the US turns away and says, “Hey, Europe, this is your problem!” I think that would be a real betrayal of our allies who have stood by us for decades… Russia has never changed its war aims. It’s still about the destruction of Ukraine and the idea of Ukraine as a state’…
“However, he is also convinced that Putin’s goals are much bigger than Ukraine. ‘Russia’s goal is to break NATO… And they achieve that by attacking a NATO country to see if we all respond appropriately. And if not, then I think it’s the end of the alliance,’ said Hodges…”
Bild Online wrote on May 24:
“Another setback for any hopes of peace in Ukraine in the near future. Vladimir Putin’s (72) regime now refuses to sign any peace agreement with Ukraine as long as the democratically elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (47) remains in office.”
Newsmax wrote on May 26:
“President Donald Trump used his social media platform to take aim at Vladimir Putin, calling the Russian president ‘absolutely crazy’ for continuing to fire missiles that are killing Ukrainian citizens. Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for saying things that help undermine the U.S. president’s efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
“‘I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!… He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever. I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!…’
“Earlier Sunday, Trump expressed deep unhappiness at Russia’s weekend bombing of Ukraine, saying of the Russian president, ‘I’m not happy with Putin… I don’t know what’s wrong with him. What the hell happened to him? Right? He’s killing a lot of people. I’m not happy about that,’ Trump told reporters at the airport in Morristown, New Jersey, as he prepared to return to Washington.
“Trump spoke in reaction to a Russian barrage of 367 drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities overnight on Sunday, including the capital Kyiv, in the largest aerial attack of the war so far, killing at least 12 people and injuring dozens more.”
Trump added on May 27: “What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!”
Trump also announced now that there will be sanctions against Russia. Russia responded by saying that Trump is suffering from “emotional overload.”
Now, when did Trump ever say that Putin wants all of Ukraine? If Russia and Ukraine unite, that will not lead to the immediate downfall of Russia. That downfall will come later.
The Guardian wrote on May 28:
“German chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday during a visit by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Berlin will help Kyiv develop new long-range weapons that can hit targets in Russian territory…
“The production of long-range weapons ‘can take place both in Ukraine and here in Germany,’ he said… Germany will provide further military support for Ukraine amounting to about €5bn ($5.65bn)…”
The New York Post added on May 28:
“Merz said last Monday that Germany and other major allies were no longer imposing range limits on weapons they send to Ukraine, although he indicated their use was limited to Russian military targets…”
Israel Today wrote on May 23:
“Nearly 600 days after the outbreak of the October 7 war, and Israel has sunk to an all-time low in its international standing. Some of its closest allies—Britain, France, and Canada—have threatened sanctions if the war in Gaza continues. Never before has such a harshly worded statement been directed at Israel, effectively branding it a pariah state…
“Most astonishing and alarming is the silence of the United States, Israel’s steadfast ally that has always stood by its side. Not a single word of condemnation from Washington regarding this threatening statement from other Western powers. If President Donald Trump was accused of throwing Israel under the bus, this is now taking tangible form on the global stage…”
And so, Israel will end up all alone.
Newsmax wrote on May 25:
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a full-fledged takeover of Gaza from Hamas terrorists, but the U.S. is pushing to delay that until the remaining hostages are returned, effectively giving the terrorists justification for their holding of what Israel has called its ‘human shields.’…
“Netanyahu has pledged to hold all areas under full Israel control to accomplish the long-stated war goals: 1. Return all hostages. 2. Destroy Hamas in total. 3. Deradicalize and demilitarize Gaza.
Netanyahu’s regime contends that third goal can only be accomplished with Israel’s occupation of Gaza to root out radical anti-Israel extremism that led to the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack.
The security situation in Gaza remains tenuous without a controlling force, under Israel’s view.
“Not only are Hamas terrorists reportedly looting the humanitarian aid for the innocent civilians, but they are also reportedly firing on civilians trying to access the aid that the world leaders have demanded Israel release. Israel has long warned aid is getting stolen by the very hostage-holding terrorists Israel seeks to remove from power…”
How much longer does Trump want to delay this? Admittedly, one has to note that Trump’s foreign policy has been pretty unsuccessful so far.
Breitbart wrote on May 25:
“The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have stepped up their attacks on Israel, firing three ballistic missiles in the last four days. Though all were intercepted by missile defenses, the pace of the attacks is a notable escalation. Moreover, the attacks have come despite a Houthi ceasefire with the United States; ongoing talks between the U.S. and Iran on a possible nuclear deal; and Israeli reprisals at Yemen’s Hodeidah port and Sanaa airport…
“Both President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have said in the past that Iran is ultimately responsible for Houthi attacks. Israel could conceivably use that as justification to attack Iran. However, that would risk interfering in the ongoing diplomatic effort between the U.S. and Iran — an effort that is not making much progress, given that Iran refuses to accede to demands to stop enriching uranium.”
Breitbart wrote on May 28:
“The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded to days of missile attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Wednesday, targeting the Sanaa airport and destroying the Houthis’ last serviceable airplane… The other planes were destroyed in an Israeli strike on the airport on May 6… It is unclear whether, or when, Israel will target Iran in response to Houthi attacks, though Netanyahu keeps raising the possibility…”
Deutsche Welle wrote on May 26:
“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday that Israel’s ‘current level of attacks on Gaza can no longer be justified by the fight against Hamas.’ ‘Harming the civilian population to such an extent, as has increasingly been the case in recent days, can no longer be justified as a fight against Hamas terrorism,’ he told German public broadcaster WDR in a televised interview.
“He added he planned to hold a call with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week to tell him ‘to not overdo it,’ though for ‘historical reasons,’ Germany would always be more guarded in its criticism than some European partners. ‘But if lines are crossed, where international humanitarian law is really being violated, then Germany, the German chancellor, must also say something about it,’ Merz said.”
Report 24 wrote on May 25:
“The mainstream media bombards the public with images of children with wide, pleading eyes… Instead of demanding evidence or sources, hatred against Israel is sweeping through the country… Ever since the Middle East conflict began, there have been countless lies emanating from the machinery of the so-called ‘Palestinians’ and their ‘National Authority’…
“On May 20, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, via the formerly highly respected BBC, claimed that 14,000 babies in Gaza were at risk of dying within 48 hours… Tom Fletcher had fabricated the story. There is no truth to it. And the BBC failed to question it or classify it. Israel has been exposed to the hatred of the world. This doesn’t happen by chance—it’s a calculated move. Of course, the ORF [in Austria] also participated in the unreflective spread of this lie…
“The wrongly accused Jews once again had to do their own research to find out the background to the story. It was discovered that Fletcher was referring to a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which estimated that up to 14,000 children between 6 months and 6 years of age could be affected by malnutrition over a period of one year… There were no current threats of death within 48 hours…
“A high-ranking UN official went public with a fact that, upon closer examination, feeds the centuries-old antisemitic narratives that have led to pogroms, i.e., mass murder and expulsion, in many places. The ritual murder legend of the Jew as baby murderer. First historically documented in 1144 in England, when Jews were accused, without any evidence, of murdering a Christian boy. In 1475, a two-year-old boy was found dead in Trento. The authorities subsequently had all the city’s Jews tortured and executed. The image of the child-murdering Jews was taken up by Nazi propaganda…
“We live in a time in which leftists, Muslims, and National Socialists are fraternizing to incite hatred against Israel and attack Jews. Yet, every lie seems to be justified. As a media consumer, one should have learned, at the very latest after the madness of the Corona period, to question everything critically… Anyone who relies on mainstream media is abandoned. Not just during the Corona pandemic, but always…”
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 | Comfort VS Truth / Do You Have the Holy Spirit? |
|---|---|
| Editorial | Watch Out! |
| Current Events | This Week in the News |
| Q&A | Is Jesus Christ a Spirit Being Today? (Part 2) |
| The Work | Preaching the Gospel and Feeding the Flock |
On May 31, 2025, Kalon Mitchell will present the sermonette, titled, “Comfort VS Truth,” and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “Do You Have the Holy Spirit?”
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.
PENTECOST: On June 1, 2025, Frank Bruno will present the Offertory, titled, “The Foundation,” and Eric Rank will present the sermon, titled, “On All Flesh.”
Live broadcast times will be the same as described above for Sabbath Services.
by Michael Link
With current and looming problems in full effect around the world, bringing about increasing instability, due to ongoing threats, terrorism, and unrest all around, how are we to deal with this and where are WE to place our trust? Members and associates of the true Church of God are admonished to “be sober, be vigilant,” or, in other words, self-controlled and watchful, “because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
Being sober and being vigilant both go hand in hand, for if we are not sober or in a clear state of mind, then we can be caught off guard, which could lead us to sin because of temptation. Sobriety and watchfulness are very necessary for our Christian life, and if we are not sober in body and mind, we would not be watchful over ourselves and also over world events in fulfillment of biblical prophecy.
Peter continues on explaining why we are to be sober and vigilant by saying, “…because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Satan is our enemy, our opponent. The Bible commentary, Barnes’ Notes of the Bible, explains that “Satan opposes man in his best interests. He resists his efforts to do good; his purposes to return to God; his attempts to secure his own salvation. There is no more appropriate appellation that can be given to him than to say that he resists all our efforts to obey God and to secure the salvation of our own souls.”
So then, Satan will do everything in his power to deter us, to throw us off guard, making sure that we will fail. He will use any means possible in ways we probably wouldn’t recognize at first, and that is why we need to be circumspect at ALL times.
We are aware that Satan is the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:31), and he is responsible for many terrible disasters to occur, keeping in mind that God allows them to happen. Insofar as the Church is concerned, we may not necessarily fall victim to those who have lost their lives in such extreme and horrific ways, but Satan uses his cunning craftiness to attack us, to strike us where we are weak and where we may struggle, tempting us to sin, trying to make sure that we will not succeed, but only to FAIL.
We CAN succeed and God expects that of us. God provides us with tools and promises if we put our trust in Him. By remaining vigilant, we can protect ourselves by putting on the whole armor of God (compare Ephesians 6:11-18).
We have a bigger challenge ahead of us, compared to the rest of the world, for we have the knowledge and the understanding as to how to defeat Satan, to overcome our trials and to live a righteous godly life, for God has chosen US now to come out of this world, and He has given US, as the firstfruits, the first opportunity to inherit eternal salvation, ahead of all others.
Because we know this, we can also expect to go through trials continuously which God allows, to test our strength and commitment to see whether or not we will overcome until the end and be counted worthy, so we can ultimately be a part of God’s Family (compare Matthew 24:13; Luke 21:36; Revelation 2:26).
Satan is compared to a roaring lion that seeks those whom he wants to devour. Yet in Revelation 12:12, a warning is placed to everyone on this earth, especially God’s elect, when Satan will attack. “…Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” Satan will strike as a roaring lion, implying his violent and voracious thirst for prey as a hungry beast.
We continue to preach that we are living in the end time and Christ’s return is near, and therefore we must understand how QUICKLY things can materialize. If we are not watchful, but rather ignorant to what is happening around the world, as things continue to progress in light of biblical prophecy, then we will be in the same category of people as Christ explains in Matthew 24:48-51 where “the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of” and we will be caught unaware (also compare Mark 13:32-37).
We have a duty to fulfill. Jesus Christ makes it very clear how vigilant we must be at ALL times, in ANY situation. Our calling to the Truth should not be taken for granted; neither is it a free pass to everlasting life, but it is something we need to work at continually, asking God for more wisdom and strength so that we can overcome Satan’s schemes.
by Norbert Link
In this issue, we discuss President Trump’s confusing tariffs policy and European reactions; developments regarding alleged efforts to restrict freedom of speech in the USA and the UK; President Trump’s major blunder regarding South Africa; and we quote interesting articles pertaining to the Catholic Church.
We speak on developments in Germany and Austria; shocking and surprising reports on the Russia-Ukraine war; and conclude with several articles about the world’s hateful condemnation of Israel. Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Why This Hatred for Israel and the Jews?”
Please note our new message, “The Downfall of America, Britain and Israel—Comments on News and Prophecy, May 24, 2025.”
The Associated Press wrote on May 23:
“President Donald Trump on Friday threatened 25% tariff on Apple unless iPhones are made in America as well as a 50% tax on all imports from the European Union [starting June 1]. [Trump said the talks with the EU were going nowhere].”
The New York Post added on May 23:
“In response, the Dow dropped 256 points in a volatile day… while luxury automaker Volvo warned that prices on cars are going to spike… A warning to President Donald Trump: Everyone, including your friends, is starting to get a brutal case of tariff burnout… It’s one thing for your enemies to find you unpredictable, another for your friends to worry that you’re acting on pure whim.
“All this uncertainty exacts a cost of its own, angst that builds with every surprise twist. Every day, folks are nervous… Americans are really tired of tariffs… Even fans of the president’s theater can get sick of endless drama. Trump clearly sees tariffs as a wonderful hammer, but not everything is a nail.”
Bild Online wrote on May 24:
“In return, Trump is accepting punitive tariffs [of 50 percent] on [some] US exports to the EU. Because Brussels has no choice now.”
Subsequently, it was reported that Trump delayed his 50% EU tariffs. Trump’s tariffs policy will contribute to America’s financial ruin and its political isolation.
Reuters reported on May 29:
“A federal appeals court on Thursday reinstated the most sweeping of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, a day after a trade court had ruled Trump had exceeded his authority in imposing the duties and had ordered an immediate block on them. An order from the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington provided no opinion or reasoning but directed the plaintiffs in the case to respond by June 5 and the administration by June 9…
“Financial markets, which have whipsawed wildly in response to every twist and turn in Trump’s chaotic trade war, reacted with cautious optimism to the trade court ruling, though gains in stocks were largely limited by expectations that the court’s ruling faced a potentially lengthy appeals process. Indeed, analysts said broad uncertainty remained regarding the future of Trump’s tariffs, which have cost companies more than $34 billion in lost sales and higher costs…
“Emblematic of that uncertainty, a separate federal court earlier on Thursday had also found Trump overstepped his authority in using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act for what he called ‘reciprocal’ tariffs of at least 10% on goods from most U.S. trading partners and for the separate 25% levies on goods from Canada, Mexico and China related to fentanyl. That ruling was much narrower, however, and the relief order stopping the tariffs only applied to the toy company that brought the case.”
The three judges on the trade court who unanimously blocked the tariffs were Judge Timothy Reif, who was nominated by Mr. Trump; Judge Jane Restani, who was nominated by former President Ronald Reagan; and Judge Gary Katzmann, who was nominated by former President Obama. “We are living under a judicial tyranny,” White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller wrote in response to the ruling by the trade court, adding that “the judicial coup is out of control.”
Travel and Tour World wrote on May 24:
“European airlines are freezing their transatlantic growth and pulling back from major U.S. cities like New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Chicago as they redirect flights to Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Caribbean, where bookings are rising and demand is outpacing the American market. Carriers including Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, KLM, Iberia, and SAS have adjusted their summer schedules to reflect shifting traveler priorities, with more passengers opting for destinations that offer smoother entry, better seasonal deals, and fewer political complications. The changes mark a clear retreat from the U.S. at a time when international sentiment is cooling and alternative routes are proving far more profitable.
“The decision to reduce flights is being driven by a sharp drop in bookings, rising concerns among European travelers about safety and border restrictions, and growing political discomfort tied to President Donald Trump’s second term. Airlines that had once expanded aggressively across the Atlantic are now turning their attention elsewhere. Internal forecasts, passenger surveys, and travel agency reports across Europe point to one conclusion: fewer people are planning trips to the United States this year…
“Lufthansa has quietly reduced frequencies on its routes to New York, Miami, and Chicago, three of the airline’s most important U.S. destinations… several weekly flights have been removed compared to last year…
“British Airways has suspended service to Las Vegas and has reduced its operations to Orlando and Philadelphia… Air France has discontinued its Seattle route and trimmed service to Washington D.C. for the upcoming summer… KLM is cutting back flights to both San Francisco and Boston… Iberia has… reduced service between Madrid and Chicago… Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has canceled its routes from Oslo to Newark and Copenhagen to Los Angeles…
“… United Airlines has dropped its Newark–Tenerife service… Norse Atlantic Airways has pulled out of Miami–Oslo and Miami–Berlin… Lufthansa ended its Frankfurt–Minneapolis route on April 30… American Airlines suspended Miami–Paris… while KLM, Aer Lingus, and Iberia have all stepped back from routes including Miami–Amsterdam and Las Vegas–Dublin…
“Behind the numbers is a growing sense among European travelers that visiting the United States has become more difficult. The return of tariff tensions between Washington and Brussels, renewed warnings at U.S. borders, and reports of increased security screening are all feeding into traveler hesitancy. Several European countries have updated their advisories for citizens planning to visit the U.S… In response, airlines are simply following the trend… for now, the skies between Europe and America are looking quieter.”
Crazy! Meaning, that thanks to the Trump administration, the USA will suffer big time economically.
The Associated Press wrote on May 23:
“President Donald Trump said Friday that U.S. Steel will keep its headquarters in Pittsburgh as part of what he called a ‘planned partnership’ that seemed to signal that he’ll approve a bid by Japan-based Nippon Steel [of 15 billion] to make a big investment in the iconic American steelmaker, if not buy it outright.
“Still, Trump’s statement left it vague as to whether he is approving Nippon Steel’s bid after he vowed repeatedly to block the deal to prevent U.S. Steel from being foreign-owned. More recently, Trump suggested that Nippon Steel would invest in U.S. Steel, not buy it, and one union official suggested Friday that the federal government will have a role in the company’s management going forward. But investors seemed to take Trump’s statement as a sign that he’s approving some sort of merger, sharply pushing up U.S. Steel’s shares [by 21%], and the companies issued approving statements.”
All of this seems to be in total contradiction to Trump’s previously declared goals for the USA.
Newsmax wrote on May 29:
“Elon Musk is leaving his government role as a top adviser to President Donald Trump… Musk’s departure comes one day after he criticized the centerpiece of Trump’s legislative agenda, saying he was ‘disappointed; by what the president calls his ‘big beautiful bill.’… Musk’s concerns are shared by some Republican lawmakers…
“‘The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized,’ he told The Washington Post. ‘I thought there were problems, but it sure is an uphill battle trying to improve things in D.C., to say the least.’…”
Breitbart wrote on May 23:
“A judge temporarily suspended Friday the Trump administration’s move to block Harvard from enrolling and hosting foreign students after the prestigious university sued, calling the action unconstitutional. On Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll foreign nationals, throwing the future of thousands of students and the lucrative income stream they provide into doubt. But Harvard sued, and Massachusetts district judge Allison Burroughs ordered that ‘The Trump administration is hereby enjoined from implementing… the revocation of Plaintiff’s SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) certification.’ There will be an injunction hearing on May 29, a court filing showed.
“President Donald Trump is furious at Harvard — which has produced 162 Nobel prize winners — for rejecting his demand that it submit to oversight on admissions and hiring over his claims that it is a hotbed of anti-Semitism and ‘woke’ liberal ideology…. The loss of foreign nationals — more than a quarter of its student body — could prove costly to Harvard, which charges tens of thousands of dollars a year in tuition… Noem had said Thursday that ‘this administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.’ Chinese students make up more than a fifth of Harvard’s international enrollment…”
Newsmax added on May 23:
“On Thursday, Noem said Harvard could restore its certification by turning over within 72 hours a raft of records about international students, including video or audio of their protest activity in the past five years.… Harvard called the revocation ‘unlawful many times over,’ saying the government violates the First Amendment by using coercion to police private speech, and forcing universities to surrender their academic freedom.”
Breitbart added on May 26:
“Harvard Law professor emeritus Laurence Tribe said Monday: ‘…This case involves Trump’s attempt to tell Harvard that it can no longer host foreign students. Now that’s crazy. There’s no legal basis for it. He’s talking about information that he would like about students. He wants to know details about what they say, what they think. That’s a violation of the First Amendment.’”
The possible attack on freedom of speech is indeed ironic in light of the next article.
Breitbart wrote on May 25:
“The Trump administration reportedly dispatched a team to meet with victims of Britain’s draconian speech restrictions amid growing concerns over the state of liberty in the United Kingdom. A group of five diplomats from the U.S. State Department were recently sent on a fact-finding mission in March to Britain to meet with pro-life activists who have been arrested for silently praying outside abortion clinics in the UK…
“The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) team also met with UK Foreign Office officials and members of the Ofcom broadcasting regulator, which was recently empowered to police speech on the internet in Britain by the controversial Online Safety Act. The legislation has reportedly become a major bone of contention between Washington and London, given the potential for the British authority to impose hefty fines on American social media firms for failing to police content on their platforms.
“The Trump administration has publicly chastised Britain for its increasingly restrictive speech codes, and reports have claimed that the issue could become a sticking point during trade negotiations…
“Reform UK leader and longtime Trump ally Nigel Farage remarked: ‘… My American friends cannot believe what is happening in the UK.’ During a February meeting in the Oval Office, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer denied that his country has a problem with free speech… According to a report last month from The Times of London, British police arrest more than 30 people every day for supposedly offensive comments on the internet or other platforms, totalling around 12,000 arrests per year.”
Censorship and restrictions on freedom and liberty everywhere…
Express wrote on May 24:
“Donald Trump made a major blunder at the White House during his meeting with South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa. The meeting turned confrontational after the US President presented his guest with alleged evidence of genocide committed against White South African farmers. In a moment that caught Ramaphosa and his delegation by surprise, Trump showed a screenshot of a video he claimed showed a mass grave of White farmers. ‘These are all white farmers that are being buried,’ Trump said as he glowered at his South African counterpart. However, the video – shot by Reuters – recorded the aftermath of an attack by a Rwanda-backed rebel paramilitary group in Congo.
“Published by the international news agency on February 3, the video showed humanitarian workers lifting body bags in the Congolese city of Goma. The image was pulled from footage of a mass burial following an M23 rebel assault on Goma, filmed by video journalist Djaffar Al Katanty. Al Katanty was stunned to see his video used during the meeting. ‘In view of all the world, President Trump used my image, used what I filmed in DRC to try to convince President Ramaphosa that in his country, White people are being killed by Black people,’ he said. However, a BBC report identified the crosses as part of a memorial to a couple who were killed in 2020.
“While South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, most of the victims are Black. Of the more than 26,000 murders committed in 2024, eight of those were of farmers, according to South African Police Service (SAPS) figures.”
Whether or not there is genocide against white farmers in South Africa, the incompetence with which the Trump administration presented its case is shocking and embarrassing.
Newsmax wrote on May 24:
“The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is on a collision course with the Trump administration over competing views on immigration and the role the government should play in caring for at-risk migrants… This USCCB chastised the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) for rescinding a policy that gave guidance on the care, custody and documentation of pregnant women they encounter.
“Bishop Mark J. Seitz, of El Paso, Texas, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration wrote, ‘It is deeply troubling and inexcusable that measures intended to ensure the basic safety of pregnant mothers and their young children while in government custody could be rescinded with such indifference toward the vulnerability of those involved… This decision is all the more concerning as the [Trump] administration simultaneously ramps up family detention in place of safer, more cost-effective alternatives to detention,’ Seitz said.
“‘Let us be clear: protecting pregnant mothers and their children can never be considered “obsolete.” This principle irrefutably extends to noncitizens in immigration detention, each of whom possesses an inviolable, God-given dignity that must be respected. We urge the Administration to reissue guidance that adequately reflects and affirms the increased standard of care due to this vulnerable population while in government custody,’ he added.
“Time will tell how much a of conflict the Catholic church generally and Pope Leo XIV specifically will have with the Trump administration over the issue of illegal immigration… Although he has yet to address the issue publicly, Pope Leo’s brother John Prevost told the New York Times, ‘I know he’s not happy with what’s going on with immigration. I know that for a fact. How far he’ll go with it is only one’s guess, but he won’t just sit back. I don’t think he’ll be the silent one.’”
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is correct in this case.
The Blaze wrote on May 22:
“Washington State Senate Bill 5375, passed earlier this month… would force Catholic priests who hear admissions of abuse within the context of the sacrament of confession to break the seal of the sacrament and report those admissions to the state, even though all other recognized privileges — like those between doctor and patient and lawyer and client — are preserved…
“The practice of confession [is] a sacrament where we believe God extends His forgiveness for our sins, which we must lay out to a priest, Christ’s representative on earth. It’s a ritual: You list your sins in conversation with a priest, often anonymously or from behind a screen, and in return, the priest assigns a penance and grants absolution. It’s also a ritual critical to the spiritual life of Catholics. Without forgiveness and absolution, Catholics who die in a state of sin could go straight to hell, and Catholics who live in a state of mortal sin are barred from communion, which is the heart of our faith…
“Priests who are found to be uncompliant could face a year in jail or thousands of dollars in fines… And priests who do comply would face excommunication… because the issue of confessional confidentiality is covered right there in the Church’s own catechism…
“In a statement issued May 5, [the Trump administration] vowed to fight the Washington law on the grounds that it violates the First Amendment’s right to free exercise since it infringes on a core, sincerely held religious dogma…”
Confession (even though not biblical) is at the heart and core of the Catholic Church’s teaching. It will never abrogate that “sacrament.”
The Ron Paul Institute wrote on May 23:
“The inexorable decline of the American Empire has arrived at an Imperial Paradox. It must either fight a war and die, or not fight a war and yet still die…
“The Pentagon must understand it cannot sustain logistics in a war against China in the western Pacific. It simply cannot be done…
“In the context of a war against Iran, all the geography is against the US… The US Navy could only operate at extreme risk in the southern Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Persian Gulf. Every US base in the region is well within range of Iranian missile strikes…
“From a geographic and logistical standpoint, the only remotely conceivable war is one in Ukraine against Russia. The US at least has bases and forces already in place in the UK, Germany, Poland, Romania, Finland… Of course, whether or not such a condition persists long in a war scenario is another question altogether…
“So if you’re an empire that thinks it needs a war to reaffirm at least its short-term relevance and fading glory … well, these are your choices. Sic transit gloria mundi.”
Thus passes the glory of the world…
Bloomberg wrote on May 22:
“As Europe waits anxiously for US President Donald Trump’s possible rollback of security commitments in Ukraine’s war against Russia, Germany wants to play more of a leading role. Speaking in Lithuania yesterday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany’s military is prepared to defend the Baltic region against ‘any threat.’ The new German leader and his defense minister, Boris Pistorius, traveled to Vilnius to take part in the first ceremonial roll call of the Panzer Brigade 45 [Germany’s biggest foreign military mission since World War II.]”
“Since taking office earlier this year, the center-right chancellor has pledged to transform the German military into Europe’s strongest army. G-7 finance ministers meanwhile agreed to continue supporting Ukraine as it attempts to keep Russia at bay. For its part, the EU is also giving its dedicated defense fund a 40 million Euro boast.”
Deutsche Welle reported on May 24:
“Germany is considering bringing back military conscription from next year unless more volunteers sign up for the armed forces, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said… The initial plan to boost numbers will rely on volunteers, but Pistorius warned that could change if numbers remain insufficient. Compulsory military service was scrapped in 2011…
“‘If the time comes when we have more capacity available than voluntary registrations, then a decision may be made to make recruitment mandatory. That is the roadmap,’ he added…”
It will come… sadly.
Deutsche Welle wrote on May 26:
“An Austrian court on Monday overturned former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s conviction for giving false testimony to a parliamentary inquiry. ‘Sebastian Kurz… is acquitted,’ a three-member panel of judges said…
“Kurz was found guilty of making false statements in February 2024 and was given an eight-month suspended sentence, a conviction he then appealed. In his appeal, Kurz argued that he was interrupted during his testimony and that the judge who handed out his conviction was biased…
“Kurz is still under investigation for corruption in a separate case. Prosecutors suspect him of embezzling state funds, diverting them to polls distorted to boost his popularity.”
EurAsia Daily wrote on May 23:
“The readiness of the European Union to maintain a Ukrainian army of one million people poses a threat to the security of the EU countries themselves, since Ukraine is an unstable state. This was stated by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban… ‘Ukraine is a politically unstable state, and no one can say what kind of government there will be,’ he warned.
“Accordingly, there are no guarantees that Ukraine, and therefore its armed forces, will take a friendly position towards the EU countries. Therefore, Orban stressed that the financing by the European Union of the million-strong Ukrainian army at the suggestion of Kiev creates a ‘serious threat to European security.’
“… the Government of Hungary from the very beginning of the conflict on Ukraine refused to supply weapons there and opposed the provision of military assistance to it. Budapest condemned Moscow’s actions, but at the same time always stressed that the Ukrainian conflict cannot be resolved on the battlefield, it should be settled through negotiations.”
Ukraine and Russia WILL become allies against Europe.
Focus wrote on May 24:
“The week began with a shock for Europe. After his phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, [Trump] dropped the bombshell in a conversation with the European heads of state: The US is no longer interested in acting as peace mediator. And sanctions against Putin, which Trump had previously promised, were suddenly off the table. The German magazine ‘Der Spiegel’ has now reconstructed what really happened in the shock phone call between Trump and the Europeans (Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelensky, Giorgia Meloni, Ursula von der Leyen, and Alexander Stubb)…
“The Europeans had hoped that Trump would read Putin the riot act during their phone call. Trump, who recently said that Putin might just be leading him on, is supposed to reinforce the new sanctions threats, according to the Europeans’ wishes. But Trump has none of that. Instead, according to ‘Spiegel,’ Trump says Putin doesn’t want a deal. And Ukraine is now the Europeans’ problem. Sanctions, ceasefire, not a word about that.
“The Europeans know immediately: As before, Putin has lulled Trump into a false sense of security. As several media outlets report, there is a very long silence afterward. And all Europeans ask themselves: How can we keep Trump in this process? And above all: Who of us?
“In the end, it is Friedrich Merz who takes the floor. As ‘Der Spiegel’ reports, citing diplomats and government circles, he says he wants to ‘summarize’ the situation. Merz says technical talks must now begin. The Chancellor also says that the Vatican could host such talks, as Trump suggested. Trump’s reaction: ‘Fine by me.’ Merz subsequently asked twice whether Trump was really part of it. It would be nothing new for Trump to suddenly back down. But the US President promises to send his special envoy on this matter…
“It is the absolute minimum success on a shocking day for Europe. Friedrich Merz himself threatened Putin with harsh consequences if there would be no ceasefire. He had believed he had the agreed-upon backing of Donald Trump. But he abandoned him again, just like he abandoned Ukraine.”
news.de wrote on May 25:
“Ben Hodges is shocked by Donald Trump’s behavior in the Ukraine war. The former US general [who commanded the US Army in Europe] speaks in a recent interview about the US president’s betrayal of his allies and simultaneously revealed Vladimir Putin’s true war aim… ‘After all the loud talk about solving the problem in 24 hours, I think the credibility of this president and this administration will be severely damaged by this failure.’
“And further: ‘If the US turns away and says, “Hey, Europe, this is your problem!” I think that would be a real betrayal of our allies who have stood by us for decades… Russia has never changed its war aims. It’s still about the destruction of Ukraine and the idea of Ukraine as a state’…
“However, he is also convinced that Putin’s goals are much bigger than Ukraine. ‘Russia’s goal is to break NATO… And they achieve that by attacking a NATO country to see if we all respond appropriately. And if not, then I think it’s the end of the alliance,’ said Hodges…”
Bild Online wrote on May 24:
“Another setback for any hopes of peace in Ukraine in the near future. Vladimir Putin’s (72) regime now refuses to sign any peace agreement with Ukraine as long as the democratically elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (47) remains in office.”
Newsmax wrote on May 26:
“President Donald Trump used his social media platform to take aim at Vladimir Putin, calling the Russian president ‘absolutely crazy’ for continuing to fire missiles that are killing Ukrainian citizens. Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for saying things that help undermine the U.S. president’s efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
“‘I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!… He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever. I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!…’
“Earlier Sunday, Trump expressed deep unhappiness at Russia’s weekend bombing of Ukraine, saying of the Russian president, ‘I’m not happy with Putin… I don’t know what’s wrong with him. What the hell happened to him? Right? He’s killing a lot of people. I’m not happy about that,’ Trump told reporters at the airport in Morristown, New Jersey, as he prepared to return to Washington.
“Trump spoke in reaction to a Russian barrage of 367 drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities overnight on Sunday, including the capital Kyiv, in the largest aerial attack of the war so far, killing at least 12 people and injuring dozens more.”
Trump added on May 27: “What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!”
Trump also announced now that there will be sanctions against Russia. Russia responded by saying that Trump is suffering from “emotional overload.”
Now, when did Trump ever say that Putin wants all of Ukraine? If Russia and Ukraine unite, that will not lead to the immediate downfall of Russia. That downfall will come later.
The Guardian wrote on May 28:
“German chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday during a visit by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Berlin will help Kyiv develop new long-range weapons that can hit targets in Russian territory…
“The production of long-range weapons ‘can take place both in Ukraine and here in Germany,’ he said… Germany will provide further military support for Ukraine amounting to about €5bn ($5.65bn)…”
The New York Post added on May 28:
“Merz said last Monday that Germany and other major allies were no longer imposing range limits on weapons they send to Ukraine, although he indicated their use was limited to Russian military targets…”
Israel Today wrote on May 23:
“Nearly 600 days after the outbreak of the October 7 war, and Israel has sunk to an all-time low in its international standing. Some of its closest allies—Britain, France, and Canada—have threatened sanctions if the war in Gaza continues. Never before has such a harshly worded statement been directed at Israel, effectively branding it a pariah state…
“Most astonishing and alarming is the silence of the United States, Israel’s steadfast ally that has always stood by its side. Not a single word of condemnation from Washington regarding this threatening statement from other Western powers. If President Donald Trump was accused of throwing Israel under the bus, this is now taking tangible form on the global stage…”
And so, Israel will end up all alone.
Newsmax wrote on May 25:
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a full-fledged takeover of Gaza from Hamas terrorists, but the U.S. is pushing to delay that until the remaining hostages are returned, effectively giving the terrorists justification for their holding of what Israel has called its ‘human shields.’…
“Netanyahu has pledged to hold all areas under full Israel control to accomplish the long-stated war goals: 1. Return all hostages. 2. Destroy Hamas in total. 3. Deradicalize and demilitarize Gaza.
Netanyahu’s regime contends that third goal can only be accomplished with Israel’s occupation of Gaza to root out radical anti-Israel extremism that led to the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack.
The security situation in Gaza remains tenuous without a controlling force, under Israel’s view.
“Not only are Hamas terrorists reportedly looting the humanitarian aid for the innocent civilians, but they are also reportedly firing on civilians trying to access the aid that the world leaders have demanded Israel release. Israel has long warned aid is getting stolen by the very hostage-holding terrorists Israel seeks to remove from power…”
How much longer does Trump want to delay this? Admittedly, one has to note that Trump’s foreign policy has been pretty unsuccessful so far.
Breitbart wrote on May 25:
“The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have stepped up their attacks on Israel, firing three ballistic missiles in the last four days. Though all were intercepted by missile defenses, the pace of the attacks is a notable escalation. Moreover, the attacks have come despite a Houthi ceasefire with the United States; ongoing talks between the U.S. and Iran on a possible nuclear deal; and Israeli reprisals at Yemen’s Hodeidah port and Sanaa airport…
“Both President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have said in the past that Iran is ultimately responsible for Houthi attacks. Israel could conceivably use that as justification to attack Iran. However, that would risk interfering in the ongoing diplomatic effort between the U.S. and Iran — an effort that is not making much progress, given that Iran refuses to accede to demands to stop enriching uranium.”
Breitbart wrote on May 28:
“The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded to days of missile attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Wednesday, targeting the Sanaa airport and destroying the Houthis’ last serviceable airplane… The other planes were destroyed in an Israeli strike on the airport on May 6… It is unclear whether, or when, Israel will target Iran in response to Houthi attacks, though Netanyahu keeps raising the possibility…”
Deutsche Welle wrote on May 26:
“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday that Israel’s ‘current level of attacks on Gaza can no longer be justified by the fight against Hamas.’ ‘Harming the civilian population to such an extent, as has increasingly been the case in recent days, can no longer be justified as a fight against Hamas terrorism,’ he told German public broadcaster WDR in a televised interview.
“He added he planned to hold a call with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week to tell him ‘to not overdo it,’ though for ‘historical reasons,’ Germany would always be more guarded in its criticism than some European partners. ‘But if lines are crossed, where international humanitarian law is really being violated, then Germany, the German chancellor, must also say something about it,’ Merz said.”
Report 24 wrote on May 25:
“The mainstream media bombards the public with images of children with wide, pleading eyes… Instead of demanding evidence or sources, hatred against Israel is sweeping through the country… Ever since the Middle East conflict began, there have been countless lies emanating from the machinery of the so-called ‘Palestinians’ and their ‘National Authority’…
“On May 20, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, via the formerly highly respected BBC, claimed that 14,000 babies in Gaza were at risk of dying within 48 hours… Tom Fletcher had fabricated the story. There is no truth to it. And the BBC failed to question it or classify it. Israel has been exposed to the hatred of the world. This doesn’t happen by chance—it’s a calculated move. Of course, the ORF [in Austria] also participated in the unreflective spread of this lie…
“The wrongly accused Jews once again had to do their own research to find out the background to the story. It was discovered that Fletcher was referring to a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which estimated that up to 14,000 children between 6 months and 6 years of age could be affected by malnutrition over a period of one year… There were no current threats of death within 48 hours…
“A high-ranking UN official went public with a fact that, upon closer examination, feeds the centuries-old antisemitic narratives that have led to pogroms, i.e., mass murder and expulsion, in many places. The ritual murder legend of the Jew as baby murderer. First historically documented in 1144 in England, when Jews were accused, without any evidence, of murdering a Christian boy. In 1475, a two-year-old boy was found dead in Trento. The authorities subsequently had all the city’s Jews tortured and executed. The image of the child-murdering Jews was taken up by Nazi propaganda…
“We live in a time in which leftists, Muslims, and National Socialists are fraternizing to incite hatred against Israel and attack Jews. Yet, every lie seems to be justified. As a media consumer, one should have learned, at the very latest after the madness of the Corona period, to question everything critically… Anyone who relies on mainstream media is abandoned. Not just during the Corona pandemic, but always…”
Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:
These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.
In part one of this two-part series, we looked at the assertion by some, maybe many in mainstream Christianity, who believe that Jesus’ resurrected body was physical and that this same, physical Jesus ascended to Heaven, from where He will one day return to Earth.
Let us continue to look at evidence that proves otherwise.
We read Christ’s words and action in Luke 24:39:
“‘Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.’”
As we said in the previous instalment, the Roman Catholic Church “explains”: “Christ makes it plain to His disciples that He does have a physical body; He is not a disembodied spirit.”
Again, as pointed out before, this “explanation” overlooks that Spirit beings do have form and shape—they are not “disembodied” spirits, but their bodies are composed of Spirit.
There is plenty of evidence of angels taking on the form of a human being so that they could be seen, as we know that a flesh and blood human being can’t see a Spirit being unless it materialises itself. The question has been asked and answered as to “How many times do angels appear in the Bible? More than a dozen times in the New Testament, and a dozen or so other times in the Old Testament.”
Jesus was raised up at the resurrection with a spirit body which the disciples and humanity could not see unless He materialised Himself as He did on a number of occasions. How could Jesus appear in the midst of the disciples if He was physical? In John 20:24-29, we have the account of doubting Thomas. We read in verses 26-28:
“And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’ And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’”
We can see that Jesus entered the room while the doors were shut and suddenly He appeared in their midst, and said, “Peace to you!” After Thomas saw Jesus, he was convinced that Jesus had been resurrected. As a Spirit being, Jesus was able to go through closed doors and be wherever He chose, irrespective of any physical obstacles that could be in the way. In modern scientific terminology, the glorified body is not subject to the forces and laws of physics and chemistry.
How could Jesus appear in the midst of the disciples if He still had a physical body? If this assertion was correct, He would not be able to go through walls and other physical barriers and instantly appear before the disciples. In addition, Jesus would be the only physical being in Heaven and we should know that that cannot be the case as everything in the Third Heaven is spiritual, man’s doubting and misunderstanding or misapplying Scripture notwithstanding!
Romans 6:4-5 is instructive in this regard:
“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,’
In Philippians 3:21, we read that Christ “will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”
Jesus’ resurrection body is the pattern for our resurrection body, and we read the following in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17:
“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.”
Jesus is now a Spirit being in heaven. He will return to earth to set up the Kingdom of God, and His people will be caught up in the air to meet Him in the clouds.
In our two-part Q&A “Who and What is in Heaven?” we showed that “In heaven, there is God the Father, Jesus Christ the Word, and innumerable angels” and no physical beings are there. In John 4:24 we read: “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” God the Father and Jesus Christ, the two members of the God Family at this time are composed of Spirit, as will be the born-again members of God’s Church at the resurrection when Jesus returns to this earth. We must remember that in Mark 16:19 we read: “So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.” And He would have been a Spirit Being to have been in such a position next to the Spiritual Father and all the other Spirit beings that live in the Third Heaven.
In our booklet, “Angels, Demons and the Spirit World,” we read the following on page 17:
“Christ did not appear to His disciples in His glorified state. He did not appear, prior to His ascension to heaven, with all His power and glory that He has today. We can find a description of His glorious appearance in Revelation 1:10, 12–17. We also find a description of His glory, prior to His human birth, in Ezekiel 1:26–28. When He appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, He appeared just as an ordinary man, so much so that they did not recognize Him. Accounts of His appearances can be found in John 20:14–16 and John 21:4–7. They only came to recognize Him after He spoke a certain way or performed a certain miracle that He had performed earlier before His death.
“We read that the disciples on the road to Emmaus did not recognize the resurrected Christ until He ‘…took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight’ (Luke 24:30–31). The reason that they did not recognize Him earlier is explained in Mark 16:12: ‘After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country.’”
A good question to ask is how a physical body could just vanish from their sight, as it states in Luke 24:31?
In the same booklet on pages 44-45, we explain the misunderstood passage in Luke 24:39:
“Christ manifested Himself to the disciples as a being with flesh and bones. He even ate food in their presence to convince the disciples that it was He, not a spirit or a demon. The Greek word for ‘spirit’ is ‘pneuma’ and can refer to demons (compare Matthew 8:16; 10:1; 12:43, 45; Luke 4:33, 36; 6:18; 7:21, etc.). We understand, of course, that Christ is not a being with flesh and bones. Rather, at His resurrection He received a spiritual body and became a life-giving Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:44–45, 50). He was able to manifest Himself, however, as a person with flesh and bones. We saw earlier that angels can manifest themselves as human beings as well. Demons cannot. Christ used this opportunity to show His disciples that He was not a spirit or a demon, because demons cannot manifest themselves as human beings with flesh and bones.”
It is emphasized above that Christ became a life-giving SPIRIT… not, as we quoted the following false assertion in the first instalment and repeat it again below, a physical human being with a “physical body” which is “designed with eternity in view.”
In our Q&A entitled: “We read in Matthew 27:52 that many saints were raised at the time of Christ’s death. How can Christ then be called the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18)?,” We make these observations:
“Christ… became born again when He was resurrected to Spirit. It was at that time that He became the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29 tells us that we are to be ‘conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.’ We also read in Colossians 1:15, 18: ‘He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation… And He is… the beginning, the firstborn from the dead.’
“Christ was the first human who became born again as a Spirit being. The Greek word for ‘firstborn,’ ‘prototokos,’ designates the person who is born first. It can refer to the firstborn Son of the spiritual Family of God, and it can also refer to the firstborn son in a physical family. We read, for example, in Hebrews 11:28 that Moses kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood by faith, ‘lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.’ Christ was also, quite literally, Mary’s firstborn Son (Compare Matthew 1:25; Luke 2:7. The Greek word, ‘prototokos,’ used here does not mean ‘only’ or ‘only begotten’ son. That concept is conveyed by the Greek word ‘monogenes’…). Since Christ was Mary’s firstborn Son, it goes without saying that Christ as a human being had younger brothers. In fact, He also had sisters (compare Matthew 13:53-58).
“The same Greek word, ‘prototokos,’ is also used in Revelation 1:5. The New King James Bible translates the entire passage quite accurately in this way: ‘…and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.’ (The Authorized Version’s rendition, ‘first begotten of the dead,’ is clearly wrong. The context here is the resurrection from the dead. The Ryrie Study Bible comments that ‘Christ was the first [man] to receive a resurrection [glorified] body which is immortal’).” (our emphasis).
As we mentioned earlier, there is the invention of a new description of Jesus “who has a physical body, with a difference. His resurrected body is designed with eternity in view.” Why would anyone make up something that the Bible certainly doesn’t say? Jesus’ resurrected body was a Spiritual body—a body with form and shape, but composed of Spirit—and He is now in Heaven, seated at the right hand of God the Father where all around them are Spiritual beings and Spiritual things.
It would be ridiculous to think that God the Father and all the angels in heaven are all spiritual, but Jesus is the odd one out having a physical body!
In His resurrection, Jesus did not and does not have a physical body. Neither will we. His physical body was in the grave for three days and three nights, but when He was raised from the dead, His physical body was changed into a spiritual body, which is the same that will happen to us, when we, who are still alive, will be changed.
We asked the question: “Is Jesus Christ a Spirit Being Today?,” and the answer, as we have shown in this Q&A, is an unequivocal YES!
Lead Writers: Brian Gale and Norbert Link
compiled by Dave Harris
“Why This Hatred for Israel and the Jews?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Norbert Link. Here is the summary:
Hatred for the State of Israel and the Jews in general is spreading. Now, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also attacked Israel “more harshly than any German Chancellor before him.” But some believe his criticism was unbalanced, hurtful, and disappointing. Why is this so? And what should we make of the international “lying press” that demonizes Israel and stirs up anti-Semitism?
“Warum der Hass für Israel und die Juden?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.
“Wir fallen, bevor wir aufstehen,” is the title of this Sabbath’s German split sermon, presented by Michael Link. Title in English: “We Fall Before We Rise.”
“Haben Sie den heiligen Geist?” is the title of the German sermon for Pentecost, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Do You Have the Holy Spirit?”
“Das Unkraut unter dem Weizen,” last Sabbath’s first split sermon in Germany was presented by Marc Vöeller. Title in English: “The Weeds Among the Wheat.”
“Sei ein Gewinner,” last Sabbath’s second split sermon in Germany was presented by Dmitrij Niemann. Title in English: “Be A Winner.”
“The Downfall of America, Britain and Israel–Comments on News and Prophecy, May 24, 2025,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:
What we have been announcing for decades is coming true right now: God is being ignored—in political life and in science, with Orthodox Christianity in total defiance of biblical Truth. While Israel is being isolated and the American Empire is failing, Germany intends to become Europe’s leader, with Britain’s downfall and its surrender to Europe continuing.
“Why So Many False Teachings About the Holy Spirit?” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:
Why is the doctrine of the Trinity unbiblical and extremely dangerous, regardless of whether one believes in Greek Orthodox or Roman Catholic doctrine? What is the Holy Spirit, and did people in the Old Testament have it within them? What about Christians in the New Testament? Can one receive the Holy Spirit if one sins—sometimes seriously? What are the essential requirements for receiving the Holy Spirit?
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 May 24, 2025, Norbert Link will present “Comments on News and Prophecy, May 24, 2025,” and the sermon, titled, “Why So Many False Teachings About the Holy Spirit?”
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.
Deutsche Welle wrote on May 19:
“US President Donald Trump says talks between Russia and Ukraine to end the war would start ‘immediately.’ In a post on his Truth Social, Trump said his call with Russian President Vladimir Putin went ‘very well.’… Putin described the conversation with Trump as ‘frank and meaningful.’…
“Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected Russian demands to withdraw Ukrainian forces from key regions in the east and south of the country claimed by Moscow… Russia has made it a condition for ending its war in Ukraine… [Zelenskyy] told reporters that he emphasized to US President Donald Trump that no decisions should be made about Ukraine without involving Kyiv… He spoke with Trump before and after the US president held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.”
The New York Post wrote on May 19:
“[Putin] doubled down Monday on not accepting a cease-fire… following a two-hour call with President Trump — saying that Moscow was not ready for peace until the ‘root cause’ of the ‘crisis’ is addressed.”
Trump’s “happy spin” can’t ignore the fact that the phone call did not accomplish anything. He stressed that Russia wants to become trading partners with the US — and made no mention of secondary sanctions, which the Europeans are determined to impose (note article below).
Die Welt wrote on May 19:
“Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with his US counterpart Donald Trump for two hours. There was no sign of Trump’s criticism of the Russians’ behavior in Ukraine. Putin can count the day a victory… For Putin, this means, on the one hand, he can continue fighting until a ceasefire is agreed upon – and with Trump’s tacit approval. Previously, some of Trump’s reactions to Russian attacks on residential buildings in Kyiv had caused irritation in Moscow. Now Moscow has nothing to justify itself for.
“Trump failed to criticize the largest Russian drone attack on Ukraine since the war began on Sunday night. On the other hand, [Putin] can set conditions for the ceasefire alone…
“The pressure on the Europeans is now increasing. The recently signaled transatlantic unity is over faster than it began.”
Bild Online wrote on May 19:
“If Putin’s statement is to be believed, the talks with Trump ended WITHOUT any concrete results. Russia is unwilling to fulfill Trump’s most important demand, an immediate 30-day ceasefire… That means: nothing will happen immediately. Putin will continue bombing Ukraine… This makes it clear: Putin once again turned down the most powerful man in the world.”
As was to be expected, Trump lost again… while Putin was playing him like a fiddle. This was SO predictable. Note the following articles below which had been published prior to the phone conversation between Putin and Trump.
The Daily Mail wrote on May 18:
“Russian state TV aired a video of Vladimir Putin warning Donald Trump to stop trying to dictate the terms of a ceasefire with Ukraine. Putin stressed that he plans to finish what he started three years ago and warned that Trump should not push him into a US blueprint for stopping the war….
“Putin’s words were recorded in late March but broadcast today after Trump made clear he wants the Russian leader to concede a ceasefire… ‘We have enough strength and resources to bring what was started in 2022 to its logical conclusion with the result that Russia needs,’ Putin added.”
This does not look like Putin is REALLY interested in a lasting peace agreement which can be secured and guaranteed.
The New York Post wrote on May 19:
“It was never going to be easy for President Trump to bring an end to the Ukraine war, but it’s even harder when he’s operating under an erroneous theory of the conflict. The man who instigated the war and who is the chief obstacle to peace is Vladimir Putin. Yet this enemy of the West, murderer of dissidents, and serial perpetrator of wars of territorial aggrandizement has never been subjected to the same US pressure campaign as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose fundamental offense is to be leading a country that his larger neighbor wants to subjugate… Putin, in contrast, has been at the receiving end of an all-carrots approach, and has reacted accordingly.
“Pretty much whatever Putin does, Trump says someone else would do the same in his circumstances…
“The play for the Kremlin is obvious here. It wants to keep inching ahead with territorial gains in the war, and if it continues to string along negotiations, has to hope that Trump tires of the whole thing and cuts off US aid to Ukraine. That would reward [Putin] with a very important diplomatic victory — a split between the US and Europe — and a chance to make major advances against an increasingly hard-pressed Ukraine…
“Whatever you think of the policy of NATO expansion, Ukraine didn’t invade Russia, and Putin has made it clear that Ukraine’s existence as its own independently governed nation is at the root of his war. So long as Putin believes that he’s winning and holds ‘all of the cards,’ there’s no reason for him to become more pliable… Putin has every reason to think he can persevere when the world’s superpower is inclined to blame the victim of his unprovoked aggression.”
Bild Online published the following commentary on May 15:
“If Chancellor Friedrich Merz believed in Kyiv this weekend that the Europeans had Donald Trump (78) back on their side with the spontaneous call from Emmanuel Macron (47) and the prearranged statement, then he must now realize: No, Trump is continuing as before.
“Trump’s statement today, after Russian dictator Vladimir Putin canceled the meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, is devastating. Trump isn’t even gently criticizing the Russian president; he even understands his cancellation. The Kremlin must be laughing its head off…
“If Merz cannot announce tough sanctions together with the US (for example, on oil and gas)…, that would be his first major embarrassment as Chancellor…
“But Vice Chancellor Klingbeil also has a problem. The CDU/CSU and SPD had announced that they did NOT want to discuss arms deliveries in order to keep Putin in the dark. Just a few days after Merz reiterated this position regarding Taurus cruise missiles… Klingbeil’s parliamentary group leader, Mattias Miersch, showed that he couldn’t care less about the Chancellor’s words. Miersch publicly stated that he was AGAINST Taurus deliveries… Why? So that Putin knows exactly, shortly before possible negotiations, that he can rely on the SPD?…
“Foreign policy is already becoming the biggest test for Merz and Klingbeil.”
Express wrote on May 16:
“European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen criticized Vladimir Putin for his lack of presence at the peace talks with Ukraine on Thursday in Istanbul, Turkey, stating that it demonstrates Putin’s disinterest in peace. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had urged Putin to personally engage in peace talks with Zelensky regarding the ongoing three-year conflict, but Putin dispatched lower-level delegates instead, which many interpreted as an indication that Putin is indifferent to peace. Consequently, Zelensky also opted to send lower-ranking officials, with von der Leyen indicating that the EU is now compelled to impose further sanctions on Russia due to Putin’s actions….
“‘… [The] new package of sanctions… will include for example sanctions on Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2. It will include working on listing more vessels of the Russian shadow fleet and also lowering the oil price cap, and it will include more sanctions on the financial sector in Russia,’ she detailed.”
It will remain to be seen whether Europe is going to go through with this without the USA.
Deutsche Welle wrote on May 20:
“The EU on Tuesday approved its 17th round of sanctions on Russia, the bloc’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas announced at a meeting of foreign and defense ministers in Brussels. The new measures target the nearly 200 ships of Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet.’ These ships are used to help Russia evade oil sales restrictions, and are often dilapidated, uninsured, with unclear ownership.
Kallas added that more Russia sanctions are ‘in the works… The longer Russia wages war, the tougher our response,’ she added. ..
“Kaja Kallas… called for the United States to take ‘strong action’ against Russia if ceasefire talks do not come to fruition. ‘America said that if Russia doesn’t agree on an unconditional ceasefire, then there are going to be consequences. So, we want to see those consequences, also from the US side,’ Kallas said…
“The UK on Tuesday said new sanctions would target Russia’s military, energy and financial sectors, coming as the EU also adopted a new raft of sanctions. The UK Foreign Office said the dual sanctions were part of ‘a coordinated effort to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.’”
Focus wrote on May 16:
“Politicians should always set the bar so high that they can just barely fit under it. For the tall Friedrich Merz, this advice, given half a century ago by Franz Josef Strauss, is difficult to follow. And Merz promptly broke in his first week in government – his own bar.
“The resounding failure of the Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul after 90 minutes, the demonstrative departure of the delegations from the negotiating room, does not fit at all with the images of that conspiratorial gang of four a few days ago. They showed a standing Friedrich Merz in a light blue sweater, clearly briefing his counterparts from France, Poland, and Great Britain on his way to Kyiv about his actions in Ukraine.
“A 30-day ceasefire as a prelude to serious peace negotiations was the demand of the united leading Europeans who had been working with the new Chancellor from Germany who should have been looked upon as a new leader… Merz remained vague. A tough chancellor would have sounded different… Merz suffered his first bitter foreign policy defeat. Annalena Baerbock couldn’t have done better, and Merz must realize that the international stage wasn’t waiting for this German.”
Perhaps not for Merz…
ntv wrote on May 18:
“Trump is no longer the most important American in the world, that’s now Robert Francis Prevost. The headline in the New York Times sums it up. Pope Leo XIV has already won the sympathy of Trump’s critics – as a 100 percent antithesis to the US President… There were only doubts as to whether, after the Jesuit Bergoglio, it would be another person of a religious order, the first Augustinian ever in the history of the Church…
“Of course, this Pope also carries the burdens of the Catholic Church: Half of humanity is women, but they have no say in his election or in his Church. Pope Leo XIV will also have to address the many cases of abuse by clergymen of their wards, minors, women, and men in the Church…
“A harsher political antithesis to Trumpism is hard to imagine. The US President may have many Catholic voters, but he doesn’t have the Church…”
Vatican News reported on May 19:
“Speaking first to other Christian Churches and ecclesial communities, Pope Leo XIV took note of the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea, emphasizing that unity among Christians ‘can only be unity in faith.’…
“Turning to representatives of non-Christian religious traditions, Pope Leo XIV said our ‘common path’ can and must be understood to involve everyone, ‘in a spirit of human fraternity.’
The Council of Nicea decided dogmatically that God is a Trinity– three co-equal and co-eternal Persons. All who disagreed were declared “anathema” (“cursed”) from Christ and excluded from fellowship. Pope Leo’s somewhat inconsistent statements are interesting: “Unity among Christians can only be united in faith” seems to be saying what the Council of Nicea decreed with its consequences for “heretics,” while non-Christians seem to be given some time in reaching a “common path,” until the “unity of faith” must be encompassing them as well?
Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Pope Leo’s Demand of ‘Unity in Faith!’”
Focus wrote on May 18:
“Trump’s policies are so consistent that the surprise in the liberal part of the West can only be explained by self-deception. Yet the US President’s goals are crystal clear.
“The truly astonishing thing about Donald Trump’s policies is that they still astonish so many. The headlines express shock and disbelief whenever Trump once again shakes a cornerstone of the liberal world order – whether by endorsing Russia’s claim to Ukrainian territory, bringing up the forcible annexation of Greenland, or triggering economic chaos with tariff announcements.”
CNBC wrote on May 16:
“The Supreme Court on Friday granted a request by Venezuelan nationals seeking to block their removal from the United States under the Alien Enemies Act. In a 7-2 decision, the court said the Trump administration had not given the detainees enough time or adequate resources to challenge their deportations. ‘Under these circumstances, notice roughly 24 hours before removal, devoid of information about how to exercise due process rights to contest that removal, surely does not pass muster,’ the ruling said.
“The justices barred the removal of the men, who the Trump administration alleges are members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, pending a new decision from a lower federal appellate court… The justices did not rule on whether the Alien Enemies Act, which the Trump administration invoked in mid-April to deport the detainees, had been applied correctly. ‘To be clear, we decide today only that the detainees are entitled to more notice than was given on April 18,’ their ruling said…
“Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented from the opinion.”
Trump raged against the order.
The Ron Paul Institute published the following article by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano on May 15:
“What if the writ of habeas corpus has been guaranteed to the British since 1215 and to Americans since 1789? What if this encompasses the right of every person who is confined by the government against his or her will to compel the jailer to justify the confinement before a neutral judge?
“What if this right is personal and individual and applies to all persons at all times? What if the right can be exercised by anyone who is arrested… What if this right — to be free from an unjust confinement; to be free from arrest without trial — is one for which the Founders and the Framers fought the American Revolution?
“What if habeas corpus is today recognized by all judges in the United States? What if judges actually stop court proceedings when a habeas corpus petition is received in order to hold a hearing and compel the government to lay out the evidence against the accused and justify his or her confinement, lest he or she spend one minute more behind bars than is lawful?
“… What if even the most tyrannical and absolute of monarchs in Britain recognized and respected habeas corpus for their subjects in Britain?…
“What if Madison recognized that in cases of invasion or rebellion, Congress might want to suspend habeas corpus until the rebellion or invasion subsided? What if Congress — in order to prevent frivolous or politically based suspensions of the right — defined invasion or rebellion as a state of affairs of such calamity that the federal courts are unable to conduct proceedings?
“What if Abraham Lincoln suspended habeas corpus during the War Between the States in certain regions in the north so he could arrest his critics without trial? What if the Supreme Court ruled that under the plain meaning and recognized structure of the Constitution, only Congress — not the president — can suspend habeas corpus?…
“What if Franklin D. Roosevelt did the same based on race during World War II and he claimed he did so based not on invasion or rebellion but on the fear of invasion or rebellion? What if — in one of its lowest moral rulings in history, at a time of anti-Japanese racial animosity in America — the court permitted the suspension?
“What if subsequent Congresses and presidents and courts condemned this ruling and this suspension? What if Congress — 40 years later — compensated those still living and their offspring for these arrests without trial?
“What if George W. Bush tried to suspend habeas corpus in the months following 9/11?… What if the Supreme Court ruled against him? What if Congress tried to implement arrest without trial and the Supreme Court ruled that there was no invasion or rebellion of such chaotic magnitude that the federal courts could not conduct proceedings, and so it invalidated the suspension of habeas corpus?
“What if here we go again? What if the White House (Stephen Miller) announced last week that it—not Congress—is contemplating the suspension of habeas corpus, but only for certain persons?…”
What if we never learn from history?
Fox Business reported on May 18:
“Walmart is going to absorb the cost of some tariffs, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday after speaking with the company’s CEO in the wake of President Donald Trump’s warning that the retail giant should ‘eat the tariffs.’…
“On Thursday, [CEO Doug] McMillion said Walmart would do its best to keep prices down, but with the ‘magnitude’ of the tariffs, ‘even at the reduced levels announced this week, we aren’t able to absorb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margins.’”
One wonders what was going on behind the scenes.
Politico wrote on May 18:
“Sen. Rand Paul attacked the economic logic of President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff strategy on Sunday…
“The Kentucky Republican said Trump’s sweeping tariffs on foreign trading partners are based on ‘an economic fallacy’ about trade deficits…
“‘Well, tariffs are taxes, and when you put a tax on a business, it’s always passed through as a cost. So, there will be higher prices,’ Paul said…
“Courts have previously upheld the legality of tariffs when they’re based on congressional authority. However, Trump’s decision to impose tariffs by himself has raised legal questions about whether he is exceeding his delegated power. ‘Now, we do have a long history, though, of both parties abdicating their responsibility on tariffs and granting power to Congress, which brings up another constitutional question, can Congress delegate powers given to it under the Constitution to the president?’ Paul said.”
Interesting legal questions indeed…
Financial Express wrote on May 20:
“Hoping to finally move past convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s death, the FBI gave its verdict on the case. Declaring the sex offender’s 2019 death inside the notorious Metropolitan Correctional Centre a suicide, Deputy Director Dan Bongino (alongside FBI Director Kash Patel) that there was no evidence to prove any foul play being at work… [Epstein’s] brother, Mark Epstein, has since slammed the suicide verdict. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he fumed over Patel having ‘no idea what… he’s talking about,’ as he ‘wasn’t there, he didn’t see the body, he didn’t see the autopsy.’..
“He admitted that it would be a lot easier for him to move on as well if he accepted his brother’s death as suicide. Suggesting that there was a ‘long list of things’ that serve as bombshell evidence of Jeffrey Epstein having been murdered in his prison cell. And so, Mark is among the many who are cynical of the FBI’s declaration… Standing his ground, Mark alleged that there was good reason for people wanting his brother dead, especially for ‘what he knew, what he had on people.’ …
“While Jeffrey’s file states that he was discovered hanging by a bedsheet, Mark Epstein said, ‘I don’t think that sheet could have held his weight, it would have torn.’.. In light of the two cameras trained on Epstein’s cell experiencing technical issues, Mark went on to say, ‘So, [former attorney general] Bill Barr came out and said he personally viewed the video and nobody went in or out of the tier [where Epstein was housed]. When I heard that I said this is cover up.’… Noting that 11 or 12 inmates were already on that tier, Mark said, ‘They would not have to go in or out of the tier to kill somebody in their cell. Supposedly cell doors were left locked.’ The Epstein brother laid emphasis on how easily someone could have gotten into ‘Jeff’s cell and killed him.’..
“Mark Epstein’s argument aligns with what forensic pathologist Michael Baden had to say about the case. The deceased billionaire’s family hired Baden after his death was initially ruled a suicide. According to the pathologist, homicide was more likely than suicide, as he focussed on fractures in Epstein’s thyroid cartilage and hyoid bone being indicative of strangulation.”
The suicide story seems to be a fabrication and a cover-up. Far too many famous people would be interested in putting this case to rest and burying what could otherwise come to light.
The Sun wrote on May 19:
“BRITAIN will pay money to Brussels for a ‘sellout’ deal that drags the country back under the control of European judges and grants French boats access to our fishing waters for 12 YEARS. The agreement signed by Sir Keir Starmer in London today reveals the UK will be tethered to the EU’s rulebook on trade standards…
“Former PM Boris Johnson blasted: ‘Two-tier Keir is once again going back on his promises to the people of this country – by making us non-voting members of a two-tier European Union. ‘Under this appalling sell out of a deal the UK will have to accept EU law on a host of measures from food standards to emissions trading.’…
“The deal will see Britain follow the EU’s food standards but only be involved in ‘early stages’ of setting the rules – with the European Court of Justice the ultimate arbiter… The text also shows British taxpayers will make an ‘appropriate financial contribution’ to the EU as the price of what critics are blasting as a ‘surrender’ deal…
“Sir Keir has agreed to give EU nations full access to its fishing waters until June 2038. The 12-year concession undermines one of the primary promises of Brexit: regaining control over British waters. UK fishermen, who were gunning for greater independence have expressed outrage at the major policy surrender.”
Further evidence for Britain’s downfall.
On May 18, The Sun published the following article by Chris Philp, Shadow Home Secretary:
“Whenever Labour negotiates, Britain loses. Keir Starmer is shamefully giving away Chagos Islands and then pay to rent them back. The two-tier tax deal with India was deeply unfair to British businesses. And today, we will see him roll over once again at his EU surrender summit… While he now talks tough on immigration for the cameras, we all know behind closed doors he doesn’t believe a word of it…
“Today is Starmer’s first step in a walk of shame back to the EU’s stranglehold so he can crack Britain’s borders even wider open… It would make it far easier for hordes of unemployed people to come to the UK at a time when Labour is driving unemployment through the roof…”
… and that without a shot having been fired…
Daily Express published the following article by Nigel Farage on May 19:
“So, it’s happened. The Brexit betrayal by Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour party is in full swing. In 2016 we voted to take back control of our fishing waters from the EU and give a much-needed lifeline to our fishing industry. Today, we learn that Sir Keir [Starmer] will grant European fishermen access to British waters for 12 years. It’s an abject surrender… What makes this so galling is that 12 years is essentially enough to give European boats permanent access to our waters. This is because during that time older fishermen will leave the industry, and there will be no younger ones joining, and likewise no investment in new boats. With no new investment, the UK will quickly become an island with no fishing industry to speak of.
“First, he targeted our farming industry with increased inheritance tax on family farms. Now, he’s undermining our fishing sector by granting unbridled access to EU competitors. Starmer’s track record consistently puts foreign interests ahead of those of the British people. A clear example is the Chagos Islands deal, which is projected to cost the taxpayer £50 billion over its lifetime…”
Deutsche Welle wrote on May 19:
“The EU and UK are working towards a level of cooperation not seen since Brexit, with new agreements on fisheries, trade and security… ‘This is the first UK-EU summit,’ Starmer told reporters on Monday. ‘It marks a new era in our relationship, and this deal is a win-win.’
“An agreement on fisheries allows EU fishermen to have access to British waters for an extended period of 12 years in exchange for the EU indefinitely easing red tape on food and drink imports and exports. The eased customs checks on food and plant products are expected to add ‘nearly 9 billion pounds’ ($12 billion/€10.7 billion) to the British economy by 2040, Starmer’s office said in a statement. Downing Street also said a new defense and security pact with the EU deal ‘will pave the way’ for the UK defense industry ‘to participate’ in a €150 billion ($167-billion) defense fund being set up by the EU…
“Since taking office in July 2024, Starmer has pushed for what he calls a ‘reset’ of ties with the EU… Von der Leyen called the new agreements a ‘success’ and ‘an historic moment.’ Since the UK formally left the EU in 2020 after the Brexit referendum in 2016, ties have mostly been governed under a ‘Trade and Cooperation Agreement’ negotiated by former conservative PM Boris Johnson and signed in December 2020. Starmer… had opposed Brexit…
“In its election manifesto last year, Labour promised that it wouldn’t rejoin the EU’s single market and customs union, and free movement of people and goods. In August 2024, Starmer said revamping agreements with the EU ‘does not mean reversing Brexit or re-entering the single market or the customs union.’”
Starmer has said the deal does not mean that Britain joins the EU. Stamer and the Labour Party are clearly engaging in double-talk. Starmer’s ambitions and goals are clear, but he will not succeed. Britain will never again become a full-fledged voting member of the EU. However, Starmer’s conduct may lead to a further surrender of Britain and its ongoing prophesied downfall.
AFP wrote on May 19:
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel will ‘take control’ of the whole of Gaza, as the military pressed a newly intensified campaign in the war-ravaged territory. After Israel announced it would let a ‘basic amount’ of food into the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu said it was necessary to prevent a famine for ‘diplomatic reasons.’… Last week President Donald Trump acknowledged that ‘a lot of people are starving,’ adding ‘we’re going to get that taken care of.’ In his inaugural mass, Pope Leo XIV [said], ‘In Gaza, the surviving children, families and elderly are reduced to starvation’…
“But Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir argued against any resumption of aid, saying on X: ‘Mr Prime Minister, our hostages receive no humanitarian aid… The Prime Minister is making a serious mistake in this move, and he has no majority at all. Hamas must only be crushed, and not at the same time provided with oxygen for its survival,’ he said in a statement…
“Since a two-month ceasefire collapsed in March as Israel resumed its offensive, negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have failed to make a breakthrough. Netanyahu has opposed ending the war without Hamas’s total defeat, while Hamas has balked at handing over its weapons…
“Hamas’s October 2023 attack that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians… Hamas also took 251 hostages during the attack, 57 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 the military says are dead. Gaza’s health ministry said Sunday at least 3,193 people have been killed since Israel resumed strikes March 18, taking the war’s overall toll to 53,339.”
A terrible situation all around. Trump’s Gaza “Riviera vision” becomes more and more a bad joke.
On May 17, the following article was authored by Johannes Koenraadt and published on linkin.bio:
“… the Germans during the time of Otto von Bismarck were trying to unify all Muslims of the Middle East under the rule of the Turkish Ottoman Empire… Von Bismarck wanted… to attack colonial British interests in Egypt, Sudan, and Syria, by causing a revolt against the colonial rule. Germany could then seize control of the important trade routes of the Suez Canal and the Persian Gulf. Indeed, the surrounding territories such as Palestine, Iraq, Iran, and Syria were once allies of Germany during the world wars, even Turkey was an ally during World War I…
“… American strategists also deeply fear… a German conquest of Russia… new German chancellor Friedrich Merz… vows to make the German army the strongest in Europe!
“During the Second World War, Germany was barely 1.5 times richer than Soviet Russia. Today, Germany is nearly 7 times richer than Putin’s Russia… Germany may indeed try to conquer Russia again… to ‘bring democracy’. With the EU’s help, by switching from Russian gas to gas from Qatar, the Muslim world might, for reasons of profit, even support the new German war machine…”
The Bible does indeed prophesy that Germany will enter into a collaboration treaty with Arab nations and Turkey to conquer Israel, and that a war will break out between Europe under German leadership and Russia and other Far Eastern nations. We are informed that the German leader will be disturbed by unsettling rumors from the Far East and will go out against those regions with great fury to destroy and annihilate many.
On May 15, Nius published the following commentary by Julian Reichelt:
“This horrific report [by the “Verfassungsschutz” or “Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution”] is not about the AfD. It’s about the fundamental right to freedom of expression and all of us. The AfD is merely being used as a pretext to criminalize and permanently make impossible completely legitimate expressions of criticism of power and government… We are witnessing the most dangerous and unscrupulous attack on freedom of expression in the history of the Federal Republic. The report should remain secret so that you don’t realize that it’s not really about the AfD, but about your most sacred fundamental right…
“In order to keep this report secret, the old government lied to us in its final hours in office. The failed, authoritarian former Interior Minister Nancy Faeser claimed that secret sources had to be protected… Now, our research reveals: There are no sources at all in this report. The report consists exclusively of public statements that were copied and documented from social media and public speeches…
“Every journalist who has read this report must have realized: If the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution gets away with it, freedom of expression will end for every citizen. The secret dossier is nothing less than a legal basis for the prosecution of any criticism of power… The Stasi would be proud of this Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which naturally also wants to pursue comparisons to the GDR as delegitimization. Criticism of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution is, of course, also recorded by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and classified as right-wing extremist…
“Criticism of Microsoft founder Bill Gates is classified by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as anti-Semitism because Bill Gates supposedly ‘reads Jewish.’ This means: The secret service assumes that people are criticizing the political activist Bill Gates, who has financed Der Spiegel with millions, simply because they consider him a Jew, even though he is not.”
Deutsche Welle reported on May 18:
“Germany’s intensified border checks and the rejection of asylum seekers cannot continue for much longer…
“[Andreas] Rosskopf, chairman of the German Police Union (GdP) police union, [said] that the current measures were only sustainable because duty rosters had been adjusted, training sessions paused, and officers’ overtime leave canceled. ‘The police can only keep up these intensive checks for a few more weeks,’ Rosskopf said, noting that more than 1,000 riot police officers had been deployed in border areas for several days.
“Shortly after taking office earlier this month, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt ordered stricter border controls, allowing authorities to turn back migrants even if they seek asylum. According to Dobrindt, the number of people turned away has increased by nearly 50% since the changes were introduced….”
What will the new German government do next?
Newsmax wrote on May 18:
“Pro-European Union candidate Nicusor Dan has won Romania’s closely watched presidential runoff against a hard-right nationalist… A huge turnout Sunday played a key role in the tense election that many viewed as a geopolitical choice between East or West.
“The race pitted front-runner George Simion, the 38-year-old leader of the hard-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, or AUR, against Dan, the incumbent mayor of Bucharest. It was held months after the cancelation of the previous election plunged Romania into its worst political crisis in decades… In the first-round vote on May 4, Simion won almost double the votes as Dan, and many local surveys had predicted he would secure the presidency.
“But in a swing that appeared to be a repudiation of Simion’s more skeptical approach to the EU, which Romania joined in 2007, Dan picked up almost 900,000 more votes to solidly defeat his opponent in the final round…
“Romania’s political landscape was upended last year when a top court voided the previous election in which far-right outsider Calin Georgescu topped first-round polls, following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference, which Moscow denied.”
Romania has been accused of dictatorial methods and undue interference in the election process.
BBC wrote on May 20:
“Inside a laboratory nestled above the mist of the forests of South Dakota, scientists are searching for the answer to one of science’s biggest questions: why does our Universe exist?
They are in a race for the answer with a separate team of Japanese scientists – who are several years ahead…
“The current theory of how the Universe came into being can’t explain the existence of the planets, stars and galaxies we see around us…
“The scientists will travel 1,500 metres below the surface into three vast underground caverns…. ‘We are poised to build the detector that will change our understanding of the Universe with instruments that will be deployed by a collaboration of more than 1,400 scientists from 35 countries who are eager to answer the question of why we exist,’ [Dr Jaret Heise] says. When the Universe was created two kinds of particles were created: matter – from which stars, planets and everything around us are made – and, in equal amounts, antimatter, matter’s exact opposite.
Theoretically the two should have cancelled each other out, leaving nothing but a big burst of energy. And yet, here we – as matter – are…
“Scientists believe that the answer to understanding why matter won – and we exist – lies in studying a particle called the neutrino and its antimatter opposite, the anti-neutrino. They will be firing beams of both kinds of particles from deep underground in Illinois to the detectors at South Dakota, 800 miles away. This is because as they travel, neutrinos and anti-neutrinos change ever so slightly. The scientists want to find out whether those changes are different for the neutrinos and anti-neutrinos. If they are, it could lead them to the answer of why matter and anti-matter don’t cancel each other out.
“The Japanese-led team will be ready to turn on their neutrino beam in less than three years, several years earlier than the American project.
Has one ever heard such total nonsense? Apart from this colossal waste of time and resources, it shows the absolute stupidity with which scientists are approaching the “mystery” of creation, even though the Bible has been giving the answers all along. But of course, scientists are too proud and far too “educated” to accept the simplicity of the Truth!
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 May 24, 2025, Norbert Link will present “Comments on News and Prophecy, May 24, 2025,” and the sermon, titled, “Why So Many False Teachings About the Holy Spirit?”
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)
In January 2025, I looked at the BBC Parliament Channel on television and saw a discussion entitled, “Flood Resilience in England”. Here were the great in London and via video calls giving evidence, information and suggestions on this subject.
The Environmental Audit Committee was undertaking an inquiry on how flood resilience can be strengthened in response to increasing risks from extreme weather, rising sea levels, and evolving flood hazards.
There seemed to be about 20 in the chamber which included politicians, professors and other interested and involved parties.
Their concerns were that in England, an estimated 5.7 million properties are at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea, surface water, and groundwater. A number of recent problems outlined the challenges that have brought flood risk management back into the national spotlight.
It was stated on the TV channel that “looking to the future, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) anticipates that by 2050, the UK will face warmer, wetter winters, hotter, drier summers, and continued sea level rises. Sea levels, which have already risen by 16cm since 1900, could place a third of England’s coastline under significant flood pressure. Flooding and coastal erosion are complex issues with serious economic, social, and environmental consequences. They pose significant risks to lives, health, homes, and infrastructure, yet the best path forward remains uncertain. Critical national infrastructure—including water supply systems, rail networks, and electricity grids—face vulnerabilities that will require careful evaluation and planning.”
Many would question the accuracy of their predictions. Still, their concerns and considerations, at least in a general way, should be taken seriously, as prevention is always better than a cure. However, these are not the only critical issues to be addressed in a nation deluged with a seemingly endless list of problem areas. Wherever you look, very little is working perfectly, and endless meetings, committees, commissions, talks and task forces, both local and national, convene to grapple with the problems confronting them and the nation. It seems to be an endless grind and even when decisions are found, rarely is there enough money to fund the required action.
Sound familiar? It should be as it seems to not only be a UK problem but extant in so many countries and areas around the world. Why should it be?
Simply answered, it is because God is ignored. The Bible is full of admonitions about how to do this, that and the other, but man always seems to know best and pursues his own line of reasoning and implementation.
God gave His Commandments for man to follow for his own well-being. Many ignore them, even including those who say that they love God. God gives counsel and rules in so many areas of our lives, and most of those are disregarded or rejected such as how to treat and deal with others, our own personal godly example, correct worship, tithing, eating only clean foods and correct sexual practices, and much more.
In Proverbs 11:1, we read: “Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight.” We should never cheat anyone either personally or in business but how often is that ignored? We should never lie to others just to get our way or the best in a business deal. No shady deals. The list could go on and on, but because God and His Ways are ignored, problems inevitably ensue.
It will not be so in the Millennium. All things will be done in a Godly fashion for the benefit of all concerned. Jesus Christ and other born-again members of the Family of God at that time will ensure that all of God’s instructions are adhered to and the result will be a complete removal of all the problems that man has himself created and is now looking at how to deal with them. And this has been because God and His Way have been ignored. In the future, it will not be as it is currently. Think tanks, conferences, symposiums, assemblies and gatherings will not be necessary as they are today, as matters will be dealt with perfectly from inception, therefore not requiring any remedial action. Perfect from the get-go.
The difference will be stark, and the right Way will last for eternity!
by Norbert Link
We begin with the long-awaited phone call between Putin and Trump which proved to be fruitless; and continue with legal and economic developments in the USA (please view our new message, titled, “The Constitution Under Attack—Comments on News and Prophecy, May 17, 2025″ ).
We continue with Pope Leo XIV’s new comments (please view in this regard our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Pope Leo’s Demand of ‘Unity in Faith!”)
We report on the dubious and contested “finding” of the FBI that Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide.
We address the highly controversial deal between Great Britain and the EU; Israel’s war in Gaza; and Germany’s role in Europe.
We conclude with the elections in Romania and an article about the creation of the universe.
Deutsche Welle wrote on May 19:
“US President Donald Trump says talks between Russia and Ukraine to end the war would start ‘immediately.’ In a post on his Truth Social, Trump said his call with Russian President Vladimir Putin went ‘very well.’… Putin described the conversation with Trump as ‘frank and meaningful.’…
“Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected Russian demands to withdraw Ukrainian forces from key regions in the east and south of the country claimed by Moscow… Russia has made it a condition for ending its war in Ukraine… [Zelenskyy] told reporters that he emphasized to US President Donald Trump that no decisions should be made about Ukraine without involving Kyiv… He spoke with Trump before and after the US president held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.”
The New York Post wrote on May 19:
“[Putin] doubled down Monday on not accepting a cease-fire… following a two-hour call with President Trump — saying that Moscow was not ready for peace until the ‘root cause’ of the ‘crisis’ is addressed.”
Trump’s “happy spin” can’t ignore the fact that the phone call did not accomplish anything. He stressed that Russia wants to become trading partners with the US — and made no mention of secondary sanctions, which the Europeans are determined to impose (note article below).
Die Welt wrote on May 19:
“Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with his US counterpart Donald Trump for two hours. There was no sign of Trump’s criticism of the Russians’ behavior in Ukraine. Putin can count the day a victory… For Putin, this means, on the one hand, he can continue fighting until a ceasefire is agreed upon – and with Trump’s tacit approval. Previously, some of Trump’s reactions to Russian attacks on residential buildings in Kyiv had caused irritation in Moscow. Now Moscow has nothing to justify itself for.
“Trump failed to criticize the largest Russian drone attack on Ukraine since the war began on Sunday night. On the other hand, [Putin] can set conditions for the ceasefire alone…
“The pressure on the Europeans is now increasing. The recently signaled transatlantic unity is over faster than it began.”
Bild Online wrote on May 19:
“If Putin’s statement is to be believed, the talks with Trump ended WITHOUT any concrete results. Russia is unwilling to fulfill Trump’s most important demand, an immediate 30-day ceasefire… That means: nothing will happen immediately. Putin will continue bombing Ukraine… This makes it clear: Putin once again turned down the most powerful man in the world.”
As was to be expected, Trump lost again… while Putin was playing him like a fiddle. This was SO predictable. Note the following articles below which had been published prior to the phone conversation between Putin and Trump.
The Daily Mail wrote on May 18:
“Russian state TV aired a video of Vladimir Putin warning Donald Trump to stop trying to dictate the terms of a ceasefire with Ukraine. Putin stressed that he plans to finish what he started three years ago and warned that Trump should not push him into a US blueprint for stopping the war….
“Putin’s words were recorded in late March but broadcast today after Trump made clear he wants the Russian leader to concede a ceasefire… ‘We have enough strength and resources to bring what was started in 2022 to its logical conclusion with the result that Russia needs,’ Putin added.”
This does not look like Putin is REALLY interested in a lasting peace agreement which can be secured and guaranteed.
The New York Post wrote on May 19:
“It was never going to be easy for President Trump to bring an end to the Ukraine war, but it’s even harder when he’s operating under an erroneous theory of the conflict. The man who instigated the war and who is the chief obstacle to peace is Vladimir Putin. Yet this enemy of the West, murderer of dissidents, and serial perpetrator of wars of territorial aggrandizement has never been subjected to the same US pressure campaign as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose fundamental offense is to be leading a country that his larger neighbor wants to subjugate… Putin, in contrast, has been at the receiving end of an all-carrots approach, and has reacted accordingly.
“Pretty much whatever Putin does, Trump says someone else would do the same in his circumstances…
“The play for the Kremlin is obvious here. It wants to keep inching ahead with territorial gains in the war, and if it continues to string along negotiations, has to hope that Trump tires of the whole thing and cuts off US aid to Ukraine. That would reward [Putin] with a very important diplomatic victory — a split between the US and Europe — and a chance to make major advances against an increasingly hard-pressed Ukraine…
“Whatever you think of the policy of NATO expansion, Ukraine didn’t invade Russia, and Putin has made it clear that Ukraine’s existence as its own independently governed nation is at the root of his war. So long as Putin believes that he’s winning and holds ‘all of the cards,’ there’s no reason for him to become more pliable… Putin has every reason to think he can persevere when the world’s superpower is inclined to blame the victim of his unprovoked aggression.”
Bild Online published the following commentary on May 15:
“If Chancellor Friedrich Merz believed in Kyiv this weekend that the Europeans had Donald Trump (78) back on their side with the spontaneous call from Emmanuel Macron (47) and the prearranged statement, then he must now realize: No, Trump is continuing as before.
“Trump’s statement today, after Russian dictator Vladimir Putin canceled the meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, is devastating. Trump isn’t even gently criticizing the Russian president; he even understands his cancellation. The Kremlin must be laughing its head off…
“If Merz cannot announce tough sanctions together with the US (for example, on oil and gas)…, that would be his first major embarrassment as Chancellor…
“But Vice Chancellor Klingbeil also has a problem. The CDU/CSU and SPD had announced that they did NOT want to discuss arms deliveries in order to keep Putin in the dark. Just a few days after Merz reiterated this position regarding Taurus cruise missiles… Klingbeil’s parliamentary group leader, Mattias Miersch, showed that he couldn’t care less about the Chancellor’s words. Miersch publicly stated that he was AGAINST Taurus deliveries… Why? So that Putin knows exactly, shortly before possible negotiations, that he can rely on the SPD?…
“Foreign policy is already becoming the biggest test for Merz and Klingbeil.”
Express wrote on May 16:
“European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen criticized Vladimir Putin for his lack of presence at the peace talks with Ukraine on Thursday in Istanbul, Turkey, stating that it demonstrates Putin’s disinterest in peace. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had urged Putin to personally engage in peace talks with Zelensky regarding the ongoing three-year conflict, but Putin dispatched lower-level delegates instead, which many interpreted as an indication that Putin is indifferent to peace. Consequently, Zelensky also opted to send lower-ranking officials, with von der Leyen indicating that the EU is now compelled to impose further sanctions on Russia due to Putin’s actions….
“‘… [The] new package of sanctions… will include for example sanctions on Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2. It will include working on listing more vessels of the Russian shadow fleet and also lowering the oil price cap, and it will include more sanctions on the financial sector in Russia,’ she detailed.”
It will remain to be seen whether Europe is going to go through with this without the USA.
Deutsche Welle wrote on May 20:
“The EU on Tuesday approved its 17th round of sanctions on Russia, the bloc’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas announced at a meeting of foreign and defense ministers in Brussels. The new measures target the nearly 200 ships of Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet.’ These ships are used to help Russia evade oil sales restrictions, and are often dilapidated, uninsured, with unclear ownership.
Kallas added that more Russia sanctions are ‘in the works… The longer Russia wages war, the tougher our response,’ she added. ..
“Kaja Kallas… called for the United States to take ‘strong action’ against Russia if ceasefire talks do not come to fruition. ‘America said that if Russia doesn’t agree on an unconditional ceasefire, then there are going to be consequences. So, we want to see those consequences, also from the US side,’ Kallas said…
“The UK on Tuesday said new sanctions would target Russia’s military, energy and financial sectors, coming as the EU also adopted a new raft of sanctions. The UK Foreign Office said the dual sanctions were part of ‘a coordinated effort to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.’”
Focus wrote on May 16:
“Politicians should always set the bar so high that they can just barely fit under it. For the tall Friedrich Merz, this advice, given half a century ago by Franz Josef Strauss, is difficult to follow. And Merz promptly broke in his first week in government – his own bar.
“The resounding failure of the Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul after 90 minutes, the demonstrative departure of the delegations from the negotiating room, does not fit at all with the images of that conspiratorial gang of four a few days ago. They showed a standing Friedrich Merz in a light blue sweater, clearly briefing his counterparts from France, Poland, and Great Britain on his way to Kyiv about his actions in Ukraine.
“A 30-day ceasefire as a prelude to serious peace negotiations was the demand of the united leading Europeans who had been working with the new Chancellor from Germany who should have been looked upon as a new leader… Merz remained vague. A tough chancellor would have sounded different… Merz suffered his first bitter foreign policy defeat. Annalena Baerbock couldn’t have done better, and Merz must realize that the international stage wasn’t waiting for this German.”
Perhaps not for Merz…
ntv wrote on May 18:
“Trump is no longer the most important American in the world, that’s now Robert Francis Prevost. The headline in the New York Times sums it up. Pope Leo XIV has already won the sympathy of Trump’s critics – as a 100 percent antithesis to the US President… There were only doubts as to whether, after the Jesuit Bergoglio, it would be another person of a religious order, the first Augustinian ever in the history of the Church…
“Of course, this Pope also carries the burdens of the Catholic Church: Half of humanity is women, but they have no say in his election or in his Church. Pope Leo XIV will also have to address the many cases of abuse by clergymen of their wards, minors, women, and men in the Church…
“A harsher political antithesis to Trumpism is hard to imagine. The US President may have many Catholic voters, but he doesn’t have the Church…”
Vatican News reported on May 19:
“Speaking first to other Christian Churches and ecclesial communities, Pope Leo XIV took note of the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea, emphasizing that unity among Christians ‘can only be unity in faith.’…
“Turning to representatives of non-Christian religious traditions, Pope Leo XIV said our ‘common path’ can and must be understood to involve everyone, ‘in a spirit of human fraternity.’
The Council of Nicea decided dogmatically that God is a Trinity– three co-equal and co-eternal Persons. All who disagreed were declared “anathema” (“cursed”) from Christ and excluded from fellowship. Pope Leo’s somewhat inconsistent statements are interesting: “Unity among Christians can only be united in faith” seems to be saying what the Council of Nicea decreed with its consequences for “heretics,” while non-Christians seem to be given some time in reaching a “common path,” until the “unity of faith” must be encompassing them as well?
Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Pope Leo’s Demand of ‘Unity in Faith!’”
Focus wrote on May 18:
“Trump’s policies are so consistent that the surprise in the liberal part of the West can only be explained by self-deception. Yet the US President’s goals are crystal clear.
“The truly astonishing thing about Donald Trump’s policies is that they still astonish so many. The headlines express shock and disbelief whenever Trump once again shakes a cornerstone of the liberal world order – whether by endorsing Russia’s claim to Ukrainian territory, bringing up the forcible annexation of Greenland, or triggering economic chaos with tariff announcements.”
CNBC wrote on May 16:
“The Supreme Court on Friday granted a request by Venezuelan nationals seeking to block their removal from the United States under the Alien Enemies Act. In a 7-2 decision, the court said the Trump administration had not given the detainees enough time or adequate resources to challenge their deportations. ‘Under these circumstances, notice roughly 24 hours before removal, devoid of information about how to exercise due process rights to contest that removal, surely does not pass muster,’ the ruling said.
“The justices barred the removal of the men, who the Trump administration alleges are members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, pending a new decision from a lower federal appellate court… The justices did not rule on whether the Alien Enemies Act, which the Trump administration invoked in mid-April to deport the detainees, had been applied correctly. ‘To be clear, we decide today only that the detainees are entitled to more notice than was given on April 18,’ their ruling said…
“Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented from the opinion.”
Trump raged against the order.
The Ron Paul Institute published the following article by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano on May 15:
“What if the writ of habeas corpus has been guaranteed to the British since 1215 and to Americans since 1789? What if this encompasses the right of every person who is confined by the government against his or her will to compel the jailer to justify the confinement before a neutral judge?
“What if this right is personal and individual and applies to all persons at all times? What if the right can be exercised by anyone who is arrested… What if this right — to be free from an unjust confinement; to be free from arrest without trial — is one for which the Founders and the Framers fought the American Revolution?
“What if habeas corpus is today recognized by all judges in the United States? What if judges actually stop court proceedings when a habeas corpus petition is received in order to hold a hearing and compel the government to lay out the evidence against the accused and justify his or her confinement, lest he or she spend one minute more behind bars than is lawful?
“… What if even the most tyrannical and absolute of monarchs in Britain recognized and respected habeas corpus for their subjects in Britain?…
“What if Madison recognized that in cases of invasion or rebellion, Congress might want to suspend habeas corpus until the rebellion or invasion subsided? What if Congress — in order to prevent frivolous or politically based suspensions of the right — defined invasion or rebellion as a state of affairs of such calamity that the federal courts are unable to conduct proceedings?
“What if Abraham Lincoln suspended habeas corpus during the War Between the States in certain regions in the north so he could arrest his critics without trial? What if the Supreme Court ruled that under the plain meaning and recognized structure of the Constitution, only Congress — not the president — can suspend habeas corpus?…
“What if Franklin D. Roosevelt did the same based on race during World War II and he claimed he did so based not on invasion or rebellion but on the fear of invasion or rebellion? What if — in one of its lowest moral rulings in history, at a time of anti-Japanese racial animosity in America — the court permitted the suspension?
“What if subsequent Congresses and presidents and courts condemned this ruling and this suspension? What if Congress — 40 years later — compensated those still living and their offspring for these arrests without trial?
“What if George W. Bush tried to suspend habeas corpus in the months following 9/11?… What if the Supreme Court ruled against him? What if Congress tried to implement arrest without trial and the Supreme Court ruled that there was no invasion or rebellion of such chaotic magnitude that the federal courts could not conduct proceedings, and so it invalidated the suspension of habeas corpus?
“What if here we go again? What if the White House (Stephen Miller) announced last week that it—not Congress—is contemplating the suspension of habeas corpus, but only for certain persons?…”
What if we never learn from history?
Fox Business reported on May 18:
“Walmart is going to absorb the cost of some tariffs, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday after speaking with the company’s CEO in the wake of President Donald Trump’s warning that the retail giant should ‘eat the tariffs.’…
“On Thursday, [CEO Doug] McMillion said Walmart would do its best to keep prices down, but with the ‘magnitude’ of the tariffs, ‘even at the reduced levels announced this week, we aren’t able to absorb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margins.’”
One wonders what was going on behind the scenes.
Politico wrote on May 18:
“Sen. Rand Paul attacked the economic logic of President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff strategy on Sunday…
“The Kentucky Republican said Trump’s sweeping tariffs on foreign trading partners are based on ‘an economic fallacy’ about trade deficits…
“‘Well, tariffs are taxes, and when you put a tax on a business, it’s always passed through as a cost. So, there will be higher prices,’ Paul said…
“Courts have previously upheld the legality of tariffs when they’re based on congressional authority. However, Trump’s decision to impose tariffs by himself has raised legal questions about whether he is exceeding his delegated power. ‘Now, we do have a long history, though, of both parties abdicating their responsibility on tariffs and granting power to Congress, which brings up another constitutional question, can Congress delegate powers given to it under the Constitution to the president?’ Paul said.”
Interesting legal questions indeed…
Financial Express wrote on May 20:
“Hoping to finally move past convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s death, the FBI gave its verdict on the case. Declaring the sex offender’s 2019 death inside the notorious Metropolitan Correctional Centre a suicide, Deputy Director Dan Bongino (alongside FBI Director Kash Patel) that there was no evidence to prove any foul play being at work… [Epstein’s] brother, Mark Epstein, has since slammed the suicide verdict. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he fumed over Patel having ‘no idea what… he’s talking about,’ as he ‘wasn’t there, he didn’t see the body, he didn’t see the autopsy.’..
“He admitted that it would be a lot easier for him to move on as well if he accepted his brother’s death as suicide. Suggesting that there was a ‘long list of things’ that serve as bombshell evidence of Jeffrey Epstein having been murdered in his prison cell. And so, Mark is among the many who are cynical of the FBI’s declaration… Standing his ground, Mark alleged that there was good reason for people wanting his brother dead, especially for ‘what he knew, what he had on people.’ …
“While Jeffrey’s file states that he was discovered hanging by a bedsheet, Mark Epstein said, ‘I don’t think that sheet could have held his weight, it would have torn.’.. In light of the two cameras trained on Epstein’s cell experiencing technical issues, Mark went on to say, ‘So, [former attorney general] Bill Barr came out and said he personally viewed the video and nobody went in or out of the tier [where Epstein was housed]. When I heard that I said this is cover up.’… Noting that 11 or 12 inmates were already on that tier, Mark said, ‘They would not have to go in or out of the tier to kill somebody in their cell. Supposedly cell doors were left locked.’ The Epstein brother laid emphasis on how easily someone could have gotten into ‘Jeff’s cell and killed him.’..
“Mark Epstein’s argument aligns with what forensic pathologist Michael Baden had to say about the case. The deceased billionaire’s family hired Baden after his death was initially ruled a suicide. According to the pathologist, homicide was more likely than suicide, as he focussed on fractures in Epstein’s thyroid cartilage and hyoid bone being indicative of strangulation.”
The suicide story seems to be a fabrication and a cover-up. Far too many famous people would be interested in putting this case to rest and burying what could otherwise come to light.
The Sun wrote on May 19:
“BRITAIN will pay money to Brussels for a ‘sellout’ deal that drags the country back under the control of European judges and grants French boats access to our fishing waters for 12 YEARS. The agreement signed by Sir Keir Starmer in London today reveals the UK will be tethered to the EU’s rulebook on trade standards…
“Former PM Boris Johnson blasted: ‘Two-tier Keir is once again going back on his promises to the people of this country – by making us non-voting members of a two-tier European Union. ‘Under this appalling sell out of a deal the UK will have to accept EU law on a host of measures from food standards to emissions trading.’…
“The deal will see Britain follow the EU’s food standards but only be involved in ‘early stages’ of setting the rules – with the European Court of Justice the ultimate arbiter… The text also shows British taxpayers will make an ‘appropriate financial contribution’ to the EU as the price of what critics are blasting as a ‘surrender’ deal…
“Sir Keir has agreed to give EU nations full access to its fishing waters until June 2038. The 12-year concession undermines one of the primary promises of Brexit: regaining control over British waters. UK fishermen, who were gunning for greater independence have expressed outrage at the major policy surrender.”
Further evidence for Britain’s downfall.
On May 18, The Sun published the following article by Chris Philp, Shadow Home Secretary:
“Whenever Labour negotiates, Britain loses. Keir Starmer is shamefully giving away Chagos Islands and then pay to rent them back. The two-tier tax deal with India was deeply unfair to British businesses. And today, we will see him roll over once again at his EU surrender summit… While he now talks tough on immigration for the cameras, we all know behind closed doors he doesn’t believe a word of it…
“Today is Starmer’s first step in a walk of shame back to the EU’s stranglehold so he can crack Britain’s borders even wider open… It would make it far easier for hordes of unemployed people to come to the UK at a time when Labour is driving unemployment through the roof…”
… and that without a shot having been fired…
Daily Express published the following article by Nigel Farage on May 19:
“So, it’s happened. The Brexit betrayal by Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour party is in full swing. In 2016 we voted to take back control of our fishing waters from the EU and give a much-needed lifeline to our fishing industry. Today, we learn that Sir Keir [Starmer] will grant European fishermen access to British waters for 12 years. It’s an abject surrender… What makes this so galling is that 12 years is essentially enough to give European boats permanent access to our waters. This is because during that time older fishermen will leave the industry, and there will be no younger ones joining, and likewise no investment in new boats. With no new investment, the UK will quickly become an island with no fishing industry to speak of.
“First, he targeted our farming industry with increased inheritance tax on family farms. Now, he’s undermining our fishing sector by granting unbridled access to EU competitors. Starmer’s track record consistently puts foreign interests ahead of those of the British people. A clear example is the Chagos Islands deal, which is projected to cost the taxpayer £50 billion over its lifetime…”
Deutsche Welle wrote on May 19:
“The EU and UK are working towards a level of cooperation not seen since Brexit, with new agreements on fisheries, trade and security… ‘This is the first UK-EU summit,’ Starmer told reporters on Monday. ‘It marks a new era in our relationship, and this deal is a win-win.’
“An agreement on fisheries allows EU fishermen to have access to British waters for an extended period of 12 years in exchange for the EU indefinitely easing red tape on food and drink imports and exports. The eased customs checks on food and plant products are expected to add ‘nearly 9 billion pounds’ ($12 billion/€10.7 billion) to the British economy by 2040, Starmer’s office said in a statement. Downing Street also said a new defense and security pact with the EU deal ‘will pave the way’ for the UK defense industry ‘to participate’ in a €150 billion ($167-billion) defense fund being set up by the EU…
“Since taking office in July 2024, Starmer has pushed for what he calls a ‘reset’ of ties with the EU… Von der Leyen called the new agreements a ‘success’ and ‘an historic moment.’ Since the UK formally left the EU in 2020 after the Brexit referendum in 2016, ties have mostly been governed under a ‘Trade and Cooperation Agreement’ negotiated by former conservative PM Boris Johnson and signed in December 2020. Starmer… had opposed Brexit…
“In its election manifesto last year, Labour promised that it wouldn’t rejoin the EU’s single market and customs union, and free movement of people and goods. In August 2024, Starmer said revamping agreements with the EU ‘does not mean reversing Brexit or re-entering the single market or the customs union.’”
Starmer has said the deal does not mean that Britain joins the EU. Stamer and the Labour Party are clearly engaging in double-talk. Starmer’s ambitions and goals are clear, but he will not succeed. Britain will never again become a full-fledged voting member of the EU. However, Starmer’s conduct may lead to a further surrender of Britain and its ongoing prophesied downfall.
AFP wrote on May 19:
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel will ‘take control’ of the whole of Gaza, as the military pressed a newly intensified campaign in the war-ravaged territory. After Israel announced it would let a ‘basic amount’ of food into the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu said it was necessary to prevent a famine for ‘diplomatic reasons.’… Last week President Donald Trump acknowledged that ‘a lot of people are starving,’ adding ‘we’re going to get that taken care of.’ In his inaugural mass, Pope Leo XIV [said], ‘In Gaza, the surviving children, families and elderly are reduced to starvation’…
“But Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir argued against any resumption of aid, saying on X: ‘Mr Prime Minister, our hostages receive no humanitarian aid… The Prime Minister is making a serious mistake in this move, and he has no majority at all. Hamas must only be crushed, and not at the same time provided with oxygen for its survival,’ he said in a statement…
“Since a two-month ceasefire collapsed in March as Israel resumed its offensive, negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have failed to make a breakthrough. Netanyahu has opposed ending the war without Hamas’s total defeat, while Hamas has balked at handing over its weapons…
“Hamas’s October 2023 attack that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians… Hamas also took 251 hostages during the attack, 57 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 the military says are dead. Gaza’s health ministry said Sunday at least 3,193 people have been killed since Israel resumed strikes March 18, taking the war’s overall toll to 53,339.”
A terrible situation all around. Trump’s Gaza “Riviera vision” becomes more and more a bad joke.
On May 17, the following article was authored by Johannes Koenraadt and published on linkin.bio:
“… the Germans during the time of Otto von Bismarck were trying to unify all Muslims of the Middle East under the rule of the Turkish Ottoman Empire… Von Bismarck wanted… to attack colonial British interests in Egypt, Sudan, and Syria, by causing a revolt against the colonial rule. Germany could then seize control of the important trade routes of the Suez Canal and the Persian Gulf. Indeed, the surrounding territories such as Palestine, Iraq, Iran, and Syria were once allies of Germany during the world wars, even Turkey was an ally during World War I…
“… American strategists also deeply fear… a German conquest of Russia… new German chancellor Friedrich Merz… vows to make the German army the strongest in Europe!
“During the Second World War, Germany was barely 1.5 times richer than Soviet Russia. Today, Germany is nearly 7 times richer than Putin’s Russia… Germany may indeed try to conquer Russia again… to ‘bring democracy’. With the EU’s help, by switching from Russian gas to gas from Qatar, the Muslim world might, for reasons of profit, even support the new German war machine…”
The Bible does indeed prophesy that Germany will enter into a collaboration treaty with Arab nations and Turkey to conquer Israel, and that a war will break out between Europe under German leadership and Russia and other Far Eastern nations. We are informed that the German leader will be disturbed by unsettling rumors from the Far East and will go out against those regions with great fury to destroy and annihilate many.
On May 15, Nius published the following commentary by Julian Reichelt:
“This horrific report [by the “Verfassungsschutz” or “Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution”] is not about the AfD. It’s about the fundamental right to freedom of expression and all of us. The AfD is merely being used as a pretext to criminalize and permanently make impossible completely legitimate expressions of criticism of power and government… We are witnessing the most dangerous and unscrupulous attack on freedom of expression in the history of the Federal Republic. The report should remain secret so that you don’t realize that it’s not really about the AfD, but about your most sacred fundamental right…
“In order to keep this report secret, the old government lied to us in its final hours in office. The failed, authoritarian former Interior Minister Nancy Faeser claimed that secret sources had to be protected… Now, our research reveals: There are no sources at all in this report. The report consists exclusively of public statements that were copied and documented from social media and public speeches…
“Every journalist who has read this report must have realized: If the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution gets away with it, freedom of expression will end for every citizen. The secret dossier is nothing less than a legal basis for the prosecution of any criticism of power… The Stasi would be proud of this Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which naturally also wants to pursue comparisons to the GDR as delegitimization. Criticism of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution is, of course, also recorded by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and classified as right-wing extremist…
“Criticism of Microsoft founder Bill Gates is classified by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as anti-Semitism because Bill Gates supposedly ‘reads Jewish.’ This means: The secret service assumes that people are criticizing the political activist Bill Gates, who has financed Der Spiegel with millions, simply because they consider him a Jew, even though he is not.”
Deutsche Welle reported on May 18:
“Germany’s intensified border checks and the rejection of asylum seekers cannot continue for much longer…
“[Andreas] Rosskopf, chairman of the German Police Union (GdP) police union, [said] that the current measures were only sustainable because duty rosters had been adjusted, training sessions paused, and officers’ overtime leave canceled. ‘The police can only keep up these intensive checks for a few more weeks,’ Rosskopf said, noting that more than 1,000 riot police officers had been deployed in border areas for several days.
“Shortly after taking office earlier this month, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt ordered stricter border controls, allowing authorities to turn back migrants even if they seek asylum. According to Dobrindt, the number of people turned away has increased by nearly 50% since the changes were introduced….”
What will the new German government do next?
Newsmax wrote on May 18:
“Pro-European Union candidate Nicusor Dan has won Romania’s closely watched presidential runoff against a hard-right nationalist… A huge turnout Sunday played a key role in the tense election that many viewed as a geopolitical choice between East or West.
“The race pitted front-runner George Simion, the 38-year-old leader of the hard-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, or AUR, against Dan, the incumbent mayor of Bucharest. It was held months after the cancelation of the previous election plunged Romania into its worst political crisis in decades… In the first-round vote on May 4, Simion won almost double the votes as Dan, and many local surveys had predicted he would secure the presidency.
“But in a swing that appeared to be a repudiation of Simion’s more skeptical approach to the EU, which Romania joined in 2007, Dan picked up almost 900,000 more votes to solidly defeat his opponent in the final round…
“Romania’s political landscape was upended last year when a top court voided the previous election in which far-right outsider Calin Georgescu topped first-round polls, following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference, which Moscow denied.”
Romania has been accused of dictatorial methods and undue interference in the election process.
BBC wrote on May 20:
“Inside a laboratory nestled above the mist of the forests of South Dakota, scientists are searching for the answer to one of science’s biggest questions: why does our Universe exist?
They are in a race for the answer with a separate team of Japanese scientists – who are several years ahead…
“The current theory of how the Universe came into being can’t explain the existence of the planets, stars and galaxies we see around us…
“The scientists will travel 1,500 metres below the surface into three vast underground caverns…. ‘We are poised to build the detector that will change our understanding of the Universe with instruments that will be deployed by a collaboration of more than 1,400 scientists from 35 countries who are eager to answer the question of why we exist,’ [Dr Jaret Heise] says. When the Universe was created two kinds of particles were created: matter – from which stars, planets and everything around us are made – and, in equal amounts, antimatter, matter’s exact opposite.
Theoretically the two should have cancelled each other out, leaving nothing but a big burst of energy. And yet, here we – as matter – are…
“Scientists believe that the answer to understanding why matter won – and we exist – lies in studying a particle called the neutrino and its antimatter opposite, the anti-neutrino. They will be firing beams of both kinds of particles from deep underground in Illinois to the detectors at South Dakota, 800 miles away. This is because as they travel, neutrinos and anti-neutrinos change ever so slightly. The scientists want to find out whether those changes are different for the neutrinos and anti-neutrinos. If they are, it could lead them to the answer of why matter and anti-matter don’t cancel each other out.
“The Japanese-led team will be ready to turn on their neutrino beam in less than three years, several years earlier than the American project.
Has one ever heard such total nonsense? Apart from this colossal waste of time and resources, it shows the absolute stupidity with which scientists are approaching the “mystery” of creation, even though the Bible has been giving the answers all along. But of course, scientists are too proud and far too “educated” to accept the simplicity of the Truth!
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.
At first glance, it might seem a ridiculous question to ask but there are those who think that when Jesus went back to Heaven, He did so as a physical being.
In our Q&A entitled “How Important is the Correct Understanding About the Immortal Soul? (Part 2),” we quoted a Christian author who wrote:
“A fundamental article of the Christian faith is that the resurrected Christ now dwells in Heaven. We are told that His resurrected body on Earth was physical and that this same, physical Jesus ascended to Heaven, from where He will one day return to Earth. It seems indisputable, then, to say that there is at least one physical body in the present Heaven.”
On the website catholic.com, we read: “In Luke 24:39, the risen Jesus says to the disciples, ‘See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have’ (emphasis added). This verse is sufficient to debunk the idea that Jesus did not rise bodily, but John 2:19-22 provides another nail in the coffin. Here Jesus claims, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ Two verses later, it is made clear what Jesus has in mind; ‘he spoke of the temple of his body.’ Thus, Jesus prophesied that his body would rise.”
We will discuss at length Jesus’ statement in Luke 24:39 in the next instalment. Regarding John 2:19-22, the Catholic teaching does not follow, as it is being overlooked that Spirit Beings do have Spirit bodies; that is, they do have form and shape, but that is not physical. God created us in His image; with our potential of becoming immortal Spirit beings, as God is Spirit or a Spirit being.
In the book of Daniel, God the Father is described with form and shape consisting of Spirit, and so is Jesus Christ, even before His incarnation. We read that Moses saw the form of the LORD—Jesus Christ. Also, glorified angels are described with form and shape. What Christ is saying in John 2 is that He will be resurrected with a body composed of Spirit. His body which did not see corruption would be changed into Spirit—as we will be changed into Spirit when we are still alive at the time of Christ’s return. Others who have died in Christ, will then be resurrected as Spirit Beings. More about that later.
So, Christ confirmed that the Father would resurrect Him—bring Him back to life—and that He then would rise up—stand up—no longer with a physical body, but with a body composed of Spirit.
It appears that there are others who share this false Catholic “understanding”.
Let us have a thorough look at this assertion.
In John 1:1-3, we read:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”
In verse 14, it states:
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
It is evident that the Logos, The Word, was always an immortal Spirit being along with the Father. Jesus later prayed to God the Father prior to His arrest, to bestow on Him the glory which He had with the Father before the world was. Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers observes: “‘The Word was made flesh.’ The term ‘flesh’ expresses human nature as opposed to the divine, and material nature as opposed to the spiritual…”
It is interesting that Jesus as the God of the Old Testament had a discussion with Moses about Who He was and what His Name was, as we read in Exodus 3:13-14:
“Then Moses said to God, ‘Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they say to me, “What is His name?” what shall I say to them?’ And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.”’”
Matthew Henry’s Commentary states: “A name that denotes what he is in himself, I AM THAT I AM. This explains his name Jehovah, and signifies That he is self-existent: he has his being of himself. That he is eternal and unchangeable, and always the same, yesterday, today, and forever…”
That was about Jesus Christ as the God of the Old Testament—He was Spirit or a Spirit being for eternity along with God the Father, with no beginning. Then He came to earth and for about 33½ years was a human being before being crucified.
Most theologians and writers would probably agree with the fact that Jesus has always existed, except for those who believe that Jesus was a created Being which is contradicted by a number of Scriptures, or that He is the archangel Michael or Gabriel although the Bible shows that “Jesus is so much better than angels.” We also read that we will rule angels. If Christ was an angel, we would rule over Him—a preposterous concept.
Hebrews 1:2-4 reads:
“[God the Father] has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”
In addition, this passage also describes Jesus as “the brightness of His glory” which, of course, far exceeds any physical body.
Regarding the assertion that we are discussing in this Q&A, “Is Jesus Christ a Spirit Being Today?” the following is the answer given on gotquestions.org:
“Later in the same chapter of Luke, Christ makes it plain to His disciples that He does have a physical body; He is not a disembodied spirit: ‘See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have’ (Luke 24:39). After spending forty days with His disciples, Jesus ascended bodily into heaven (Acts 1:9). Jesus is still human, and He has a human body in heaven right now. His body is different, however; earthly human flesh is perishable, but heavenly bodies are imperishable (1 Corinthians 15:50). Jesus has a physical body, with a difference. His resurrected body is designed with eternity in view.”
As mentioned, we will address Luke 24:39 in the next instalment. It seems, one writer copies the false “explanation” from another writer, and so on. All of this is just a man-made invention. Why not just admit that Jesus was raised from the dead with a body composed of Spirit and all of this new-found wording would be unnecessary?
1 Corinthians 15:50 reads: “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption,” but then there are those who invent a new description of Jesus “who has a physical body, with a difference. His resurrected body is designed with eternity in view.” It is much easier to accept that Jesus, at His resurrection, was resurrected as a glorified Spirit being to continue as He was before coming to this earth to die for the sins of mankind, than making up a new description which is without any biblical foundation.
At His resurrection, Jesus was raised from the dead with a body composed of Spirit. Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers discusses 1 Peter 3:18, as follows:
“‘Being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.’… we should point to such passages as Romans 1:4; Romans 8:11 to show that the resurrection of Christ was due to the action of the Holy Ghost (better “Spirit”).”
Romans 1:4 reads:
“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”
McLaren’s Expositions state, “The grand avowal of faith in His Resurrection loses meaning, unless it is completed as Paul completed his ‘yea rather that was raised from the dead,’ with the triumphant ‘who is at the right hand of God.’ Both are supernatural, and the Virgin Birth corresponds at the beginning to the supernatural Resurrection and Ascension at the close.”
Since both Father and Son are “supernatural,” the Son cannot have a physical body!
In Romans 8:11, we read:
“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who (better “which”) dwells in you.”
Acts 13:34 confirms the following Truth: “And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption…”
It has been pointed out that Christ gave His flesh for the world, and He could therefore not receive it back in the resurrection, as His Supreme Sacrifice was made only once and for all time. Another question is: How could He appear and disappear with a physical body?
This, and more, will be answered in the next instalment.
(To be continued)
Lead Writers: Brian Gale and Norbert Link
compiled by Dave Harris
“Pope Leo’s Demand of ‘Unity in Faith!’” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:
We are told that Pope Leo XIV has become the most important American in the world. We are also confronted with his declaration that unity among Christians can only be unity in faith. In saying this, he referred to the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea. What was that council; what did it decide; and what were the consequences for those who did not agree with that decision? Could something similar happen again in the future?
“Papst Leos Forderung der “Einheit im Glauben“” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.
“Warum so viele falsche Lehren über den heiligen Geist?”, last Sabbath’s German sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Title in English: “Why So Many False Teachings About the Holy Spirit?”
“Warum bitten?” last Sabbath’s German sermonette presented by Johann Schell, is now posted. Title in English: “Why Ask?”
“The Constitution Under Attack—Comments on News and Prophecy, May 17, 2025,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:
The current administration has applied the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deportations of aliens. Is this law constitutional, and if it is, can it be legally used as a basis for such deportations? The US Supreme Court has had opportunity twice to look into this question, but has sidestepped it.
The current administration is considering suspending habeas corpus. Would this be constitutional? Are the administration’s attacks against lawyers and judges constitutional? Is a recent executive order ending birthright citizenship constitutional? The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week on this and related issues. How will they decide—or will they sidestep this important issue as well?
Do these and many more developments in the legal field threaten our liberties and freedoms, as well as our democracy and the US Constitution?
“Consider This…” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Brian Gale, is now posted. Here is the summary:
We often do things by rote – that is by repetition – where we don’t have to think about such things which enables us to live our lives more easily. But there are things that we do have to consider and this message reviews a number of those.
“Pentecost – The Feast of Firstfruits” is the latest video in our Bible Story Series on YouTube.
PENTECOST will be observed on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Live Services will be available.
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 May 17, 2025, Norbert Link will present the sermonette, titled, “Comments on News and Prophecy, May 17, 2025,” and Brian Gale will present the sermon, titled, “Consider This…”
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