Letter to the Brethren – September 30, 2024

Download PDF

Dear Members and Friends:

When Jesus Christ was asked by three of His disciples about the future and the sign of His coming and the end of this present age, He responded by warning them not to be deceived.

At first, He was addressing His disciples who were alive at that time (Matthew 24:4: “Take heed that no one deceives YOU”), and indeed, by the time Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians, many had already begun to believe a false gospel (Galatians 1:6-8), and by the time he wrote the second letter to the Corinthians, many had begun to believe in another Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4).

But Christ did not limit His warning to the disciples of the early New Testament Church of the first generation; He kept repeating the fact that throughout history, many would be deceived (Matthew 24:11), and that in the end time, the love of God would grow cold in many Church members (verse 12). And that even the very elect could be affected, if possible (verse 24).

Although we had been warned before, many in our former organization (the now-defunct Worldwide Church of God, referred to as “WCG”) did not take heed. After Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong’s death (the human leader of WCG), many, if not most, fell for devastating and false doctrines in the early 90’s and beyond. They became more and more like the rest of nominal “Christianity”… believing in all their wrong teachings; so much so that no difference could be detected anymore between them and other orthodox “Christians.”

They exemplified what the late Mr. Armstrong had emphasized so many times: That all these churches WERE wrong, and that all their substantive teachings WERE false, believing in and teaching as doctrines the commandments and traditions of men; namely, the worship on Sunday, observing Christmas and Easter, accepting the pagan doctrine of the Trinity and the “immortal soul” and the nebulous concept of the “moral law” which had “replaced” the Ten Commandments; and, most importantly, the abolishment of God’s weekly Sabbath and His annual Holy Days.

God has given His true Church a SIGN of identity and identification: In keeping the weekly and annual Sabbaths, God would recognize them as His people, and they would recognize Him as their God (Exodus 31:13, 17; Ezekiel 20:12, 20).

While the weekly Sabbath was given to and made for man (Mark 2:27), the annual Holy Days were given to ancient Israel and, by extension, to God’s Church as spiritual Israel. They set forth and explain God’s Masterplan for mankind, but at this time, only the elect understand it, and even they will forget it when they cease from keeping the Holy Days. There were times in history when God’s true Church seemed to have neglected keeping the annual Holy Days (while still adhering to the weekly Sabbath), and a muffled comprehension of God’s purpose for man had been the consequence.

When Mr. Armstrong found the Church of God Seventh Day, they did keep the Sabbath, but not the Holy Days. They did not understand anything about the House of Israel’s modern identity and all the end-time prophecies regarding it; and they only had some hazy ideas about other substantial doctrines. All of this important knowledge had to be restored, and it was.

We should be able to see that it is not impossible to lose understanding when neglecting the
observation of God’s annual Holy Days. That is why Christ tells us to endure to the end (Matthew 24:13; 10:22), and to hold fast what we have (Revelation 3:11). Many in our former organization (the WCG) did not do so; they became part of the world again.

The major doctrines which were changed at first were the wrong belief in Born Again and the Trinity (thereby rejecting the understanding as to who and what God is and what the purpose of mankind is), the commanded observance of the weekly Sabbath and the annual Holy Days (together with doing away with tithing and allowing the consumption of unclean meat). They had thereby lost the sign of identification and confirmation that they were the people of God and that God was their God.

The true Church of God—the Body of Christ—WILL KEEP the annual Fall Holy Days this year, beginning with the Feast of Trumpets on October 3; and continuing with the Day of Atonement (a Fast Day) on October 12, the seven-day long Feast of Tabernacles (from October 17 to October 23), and the Last Great Day on October 24. During this time, God’s wonderful Masterplan will be explained and expounded upon, and as long as we observe these days in the right spirit, we WILL BE God’s people, and He WILL BE our God.

Never grow tired of this priceless knowledge and understanding; rather REJOICE that God has granted YOU to know today what is still a hidden mystery for the rest of mankind.

Wishing you a greatly rewarding Fall Festival Season!

With Christian love,

Norbert Link

Letter to the Brethren – August 9, 2024

Download PDF

Dear Brethren and Friends, 

When I was just out of college and working my first full-time job, I secured an American Express card. It was not that I needed another way to spend money that I did not have. I had been advised by my parents of the importance of building my credit score. Basically, this is a record of how well one does with repaying small expenditures purchased on credit. I recall clearly the tag line that Amex used: Membership has its Privileges.

I was pleased that I had qualified for the familiar green and white plastic card. I saw it as a symbol that I had grown up and joined the ranks of the labor force. In the years since signing up with American Express, my wife and I had to pay a fee each year to renew. Even though it really no longer made sense to keep the card, the little Member since 1981 note on the card made me nostalgic for the days when that card was my only way aside from cash to charge a meal or make a larger purchase. 

All of this fuss over a plastic card! Over the years I’ve taken satisfaction in being a member of other teams, as an employee of an organization, and a board member for several entities. My time and work mattered and that was important to me and gave me a sense of belonging. 

As true Christians and members of the Body of Christ—His Church—we know that we literally have a higher calling. We don’t have membership cards or some other physical identifier, and we know that the Kingdom that we seek is not of this world; it is not a church building nor a campus. As members of the Church of the Eternal God and its international affiliates, we pursue discernment of the Body of Christ, and this is a daily responsibility and a blessing. The quality of discernment is an important gift that we must strive to understand and fully utilize. It can help us identify and understand what is of God, and what is the work of Satan in the world. It can assist us in cutting through the morass of media and information that can blind us or desensitize us to the Truth. For a true Christian it is an essential skill that comes with repentance and studying the Word of God. Hebrews 5:14 captures this point perfectly: “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

We pray, we repent, and we seek the ways that we can draw closer to God the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ. In John 18:36, we join the story as Jesus was being questioned by Pontius Pilate. Pilate was asking about Jesus being referred to as the King of the Jews. Jesus answered in this way: “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” And so too, our membership is of a larger scale, being part of the Body of Christ. 

We do not seek to join the world’s political parties, clubs, and secret societies. Instead, we recognize the joyful privilege of God’s call of redemption and His invitation to join Him and His Son in the Work of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and supporting the brethren. This is our work in the Church of the Eternal God.

We are called as individuals as illustrated in 1 Corinthians 12:27: “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” Speaking to His prophet, Jeremiah, we see how God communicated His calling to this young man in Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah was called to become a born-again member of the Kingdom and Family of God, very much as we are, but he had a specific task ahead of him. We are members of Christ’s Body as we read in Ephesians 5:30: “For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.” Yet we are each called for unique reasons and we have a specific work to do.  

We see this clearly in Ephesians 4:11-16: “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” 

Different assignments for the members, but a commonality of purpose. This is reinforced for us
in Romans 12:5: “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”

Membership in the Body of Christ—His Church—does indeed offer privileges and hard work. We don’t make application to join His Church, but if we are called by God, we have an Advocate in Jesus Christ who will guide us along on our membership in the Body. Being a member of the Church of the Eternal God and its international affiliates offers a daily opportunity to roll up one’s sleeves and do the Work that God calls us to do. There is nothing in our human existence that can measure up to this. 

In Christ’s Service,

Frank Bruno

Letter to the Brethren – April 7, 2024

Download PDF

Dear Members and Friends,

Often, in our monthly letter, we make mention about deteriorating world conditions which are inevitably leading to the much-anticipated return of Jesus Christ. As we see prophecy being fulfilled before our eyes, it is inevitable that we yearn for the time just ahead of us to replace the 6,000 years failure of man’s rule on this earth. Everywhere we look are problems of man’s own making and we are admonished to pray for the return of Jesus Christ and His future millennial rule on this earth.

In the model prayer as outlined by Jesus in both Matthew 6:10 and Luke 11:2, we read that we are to pray for God’s Kingdom to come. In addition, we are also told: “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36). These prayers are part and parcel of our Way of Life as we approach the end of this age.

How do we accomplish this? Simply by praying to God and exhorting Him to bring about, in His perfect timing, those actions that we look forward to with great anticipation! Which brings me to the question as to what may be two of the most important words that we can ever utter: “Our Father.”

It can be so easy to pray “Our Father” at the beginning of the model prayer without fully understanding just how incredible those two words are. We know that in traditional, mainstream Christianity, the whole of this model prayer can be recited within about 20 seconds with it just being part of a weekly or more regular ritual which gives little or no time to really think about what is being said. Just mumbling that wonderful prayer outline as a matter of course hides the depth of meaning that we should be striving for.

“Our Father” is a phrase that we should think and pray about earnestly. When we consider what this phrase truly means, it can “blow our minds.” To think that the One Who created all things through Jesus Christ (compare Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2; John 1:3; 1 Corinthians 8:6) is the One we refer to as “Our Father.”

When we consider the marvellous creative processes that “Our Father” has instituted, and that that same marvellous Being is central to everything we do, how can we not be amazed that we individually are just one in 8 billion people on planet earth at this time, but that we belong to the ones who can have instant access to “Our Father” at any time? When we pray, whatever time of the day or night it is, “Our Father” is there listening to what we have to say. He is never away on holiday, asleep or too busy to listen to us. I suspect that most of us, at one time or another, have not fully grasped the enormity of this access and the results that it can bring to us, and others.

To be able to say that “Our Father” is supportive of us, hears our prayers and supplications and wants us to live His Way of Life during our physio-chemical existence in order to be part of His Spiritual Family for eternity, is Truth that most people have no concept of today, nor do they have any interest in such spiritual matters.

It is easy to take so much for granted: The life we’ve been given, the air we breathe, the food for our daily sustenance, our clothing, shelter and many other things that we can be grateful for, with that extra supreme blessing of being called into God’s true Church during this age of man.

Our Father has instituted the most incredible plan for mankind that it can take our breath away—to have instant access at any time to the One Who has planned all of this; the One to whom we owe obedience and worship.

As one of eight billion human beings on earth, we are insignificant and yet Our Father has called each one of us into His Church to understand this plan NOW! We are to play our part later in the Kingdom of God to help others achieve the same goal. 

Those two words, “Our Father,” showing that He is our God and we are His children, is something that, even now, we can only imagine, and the future that those words hold for us is beyond our human comprehension.

Our elder brother, Jesus Christ, was in complete submission to His Father, and through His supreme Sacrifice at Calvary, He has made it possible for everyone, in their due time, to accept Him as their Saviour. He has gone on before us as we read in Hebrews 10:12: “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God…”

Let us hold fast so that we never give up on our calling and stay close to the Head of the God Family and the One Who called us in the first place (compare John 14:6). What He has in store for us is beyond our wildest imagination.

With Christian love,

Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

Letter to the Brethren – August 21, 2023

Download PDF

Dear Brethren, Co-Workers and Friends,

Is it inconceivable that because of a pandemic or other threats, our government will again begin to impose lockdowns and other restrictive authoritarian measures on us in the future? If so, how will you act and react?

You might think our government might have learned from the many mistakes which were made and the many unconstitutional and useless measures which were imposed on us when the COVID pandemic engulfed the nation. You could not be more wrong.

Notice what is posted on the website of California’s government, pertaining to Corona (covid19.ca.gov):

“California’s COVID-19 State of Emergency is over, but COVID-19 has not gone away. To safely go about our daily lives, we need to keep taking steps to prevent the spread. Get your kids and yourself vaccinated and boosted. It’s our best tool to end the pandemic. Vaccination is safe, effective, and free… Find out how long to stay home and avoid others if you test positive for COVID-19… You can access a digital copy of your vaccination record if you got vaccinated in California. Save it on your phone and use it as proof of vaccination wherever you go… Wear a mask to keep from spreading the virus to those who are vulnerable. This includes those with weak immune systems, those who are pregnant, and the unvaccinated.”

It is truly incredible that such measures are “recommended” while it has been scientifically established that many of them are useless and wrong and, in far too many cases, dangerous.

To begin with, vaccinations are not safe, and booster shots are unnecessary in any event.Southern Maryland Online wrote on August 8:

“Health Secretary Xavier Becerra [an attorney with no medical degrees], a Biden appointee, wrote in a social media post on Nov. 29, 2022, that people should get vaccinated ‘if it’s been over 2 months since your last dose’… [When asked], the [Biden] government said it had no evidence to support Mr. Becerra’s recommendation.”

Rebel News reported on July 25:

“The senior Health Canada official [Dr. Celia Lourenco]… admits that underreporting adverse effects caused by COVID vaccines is a ‘well-known fact’ .… litigator Bernard Desgagné… claimed this degree of underreporting could have caused millions of deaths south of the border… A health department spokesperson told the publication that ‘most pre-pandemic studies about this topic estimate adverse drug reactions under-reporting rates of 90% or higher.’…”

In regard to the wearing of masks, Fox News wrote on June 10:

“A recent study published by the prestigious Cochrane Library, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health, dug into the findings of 78 randomized controlled trials to determine whether ‘physical interventions’—including face masks and hand-washing—lessened the spread of respiratory viruses… ‘There is just no evidence that [masks] make any difference. Full stop,’ Tom Jefferson, the study’s lead author, said in an interview. When asked specifically about fitted N95 masks in health care settings, Jefferson said: ‘It makes no difference—none of it.’…”

Outkick wrote on July 19:

“Dr. Anthony Fauci… made any number of unimaginable mistakes. He claimed, inaccurately, that masks work to stop the spread of COVID. He advocated for school closures… His misinformation on the efficacy of COVID vaccines helped usher in the spread of vaccine mandates and passports…”

But if you think that this is only in the past, and it could not happen again, think twice. Even though the website of the California government, as quoted above, is enough reason for concern, note this article by The Dossier, dated August 1:

“The Pharma-sponsored corporate media is once more spreading the fear hype. ‘Time to bring [masks] out again especially as the school season starts,’ read the MSNBC headline Tuesday morning. An entire segment on Tuesday from ABC’s Good Morning America was dedicated to tracking supposed increasing hospitalizations from coronavirus infections, warning that the numbers are ‘on the rise’…

“Coronavirus hysteria ended because enough human beings became educated to the reality that the ‘response’ to the ‘pandemic’ was wildly overblown… It’s the same reason why Pfizer and Moderna stock is crashing…

“The problem occurred because it took too many people way too long to realize that humanity had been bamboozled by power hungry tyrants… When the next big power grab arrives, we should hope for much more courage and bravery than last time around.”

But this hope might not materialize. The question is, how will you react? Will you buy into the propaganda of the mass media—the fake news—and the Big Pharma-supported government, as far too many did last time?

Consider this article by Life Site News, dated August 7:

“[200] U.K. scientists at a high-security government laboratory have begun developing vaccines for a potential future pandemic [referred to as “Disease X”]… Since the coronavirus outbreak in 2020 and the subsequent draconian lockdown policies, leading globalists like Bill Gates have been continuously warning about the ‘next pandemic.’

“[In 2023,] former British prime minister Tony Blair predicted that vaccines for future pandemics will require ‘multiple shots.’ Blair called for digital infrastructure ‘to know who has been vaccinated and who hasn’t been.’ A few months later, the European Union (EU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a partnership to create a ‘global system’ of vaccine passports built on the EU’s ‘system of digital COVID-19 certification.’ 

Moreover, the head of a ‘nudge unit’ employed by the U.K. government during the COVID crisis said in a recent interview that lockdowns would be accepted by the population in future pandemics because people already ‘know what the drill is.’ 

“Professor David Halpern from the Behavioural Insights Team (the ‘nudge unit’) admitted that his agency used psychological manipulation to prime the population and defended the use of fear-based messaging ‘in extreme circumstances.’ He said that visual prompts and catchy slogans can be used to prime people if they ‘are wrongly calibrated.’”

So, given enough pressure, propaganda and psychological manipulation, the majority of gullible people might become “convinced” that they just have to go along, like dumb sheep following the slaughter, and we can even expect that they will begin to try to “influence” those who are “wrongly calibrated” to get in line… and report them to the authorities if they don’t. This is not a wild guess, because this is exactly what happened before.

Lockdowns because of “pandemics” are decisively NOT a thing of the past! But lockdowns may not just occur because of pandemics. 

Report 24 wrote on July 31:

“Klaus Schwab’s daughter Nicole Schwab obviously follows the example of her father. At an event, she indicated that the Covid crisis had shown that radical change is possible if there is enough panic… Will climate lockdowns follow soon after the Covid lockdowns?…

“The WEF [World Economic Forum] makes no secret that Covid-19 has been used as a test run for a potential climate dictatorship… Nicole Schwab… sees Covid as a ‘tremendous opportunity’ that has shown that radical change is achievable when people are scared…

“If you take the political measures of the Corona period as a model, the fear arises that globalists are actually flirting with dictatorial ‘climate lockdowns’. That would mean severe restrictions being imposed on individuals and businesses to reduce carbon emissions. These measures could include travel restrictions, strict regulations on energy use and consumption in general, and even temporary closures of industries considered to be harmful to the environment. Globalist advocates argue that strict action is needed to prevent catastrophic consequences of supposedly man-made climate change…”

The irony is that “man-made climate change” may not even be scientifically proven… as there were many doubts regarding the ”scientific” assessments of the COVID “pandemic.”

The New York Post wrote on August 9:

“We are told climate change is a crisis, and that there is an ‘overwhelming scientific consensus.’ ‘It’s a manufactured consensus,’ climate scientist Judith Curry tells me. She says scientists have an incentive to exaggerate risk to pursue ‘fame and fortune.’

“She knows about that because she once spread alarm about climate change… Curry was the unusual researcher who looked at criticism of her work and actually concluded: ‘They had a point.’… Alarmist scientists’ aggressive attempts to hide data suggesting climate change is not a crisis were revealed in leaked emails… It made Curry realize that there is a ‘climate-change industry’ set up to reward alarmism…

“Some United Nations officials were motivated by ‘anti-capitalism. They hated the oil companies and seized on the climate change issue to move their policies along.’… The researchers quickly figured out that the way to get funded was to make alarmist claims about ‘man-made climate change.’ This is how ‘manufactured consensus’ happens.”

Will there be future lockdowns, not only because of a “return” of COVID 19 or an unknown future epidemic (“Disease X”), but also because of the fear of “man-made climate change,” coupled perhaps with an ever-increasing hysteria of the Woke nonsense?

Again, we ask, what will you do in times like these? Will you become a gullible follower and embrace man-made rules which would be in violation of God’s commandments?

In our free booklet, “Obeying God Rather Than Men,” which we wrote and published in 2020, we said this on pages 37 and 38:

“True Christians understand that the Sabbath and the Holy Days must be kept, and that they must not instead accept the mark of the beast by worshipping on Sunday and pagan holidays, and by refusing to worship on God’s weekly and annual Sabbaths. 

“But how does this play out in practice when the government prohibits Christian churches to meet and assemble on the Sabbath? They might not even place this prohibition under a religious mantle, but they might give some other reasons, such as the outbreak of a pandemic that would require people to stay at home. The weekly Sabbath and the annual Holy Days are commanded biblical holy assemblies or holy convocations (compare Leviticus 23). We should ask ourselves whether refusing to follow God’s command, because the government says so, would be pleasing to God (compare Hebrews 10:25; the Living Bible states: “Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near”).

“In this day and age, we have the means of broadcasting sermons live over the Internet to the homes of Church members, which we can resort to on a temporary basis, when physical person-to-person meetings and assemblies with the brethren are not possible. But what happens if a government would prohibit such services as well? How far would we go to follow governmental rules which would prohibit religious services in any manner and of any kind? 

“Christians in the early Church were forced to meet in secret, in catacombs, in order to escape the fury of the Roman government. When they were caught, they were severely punished, but they were willing to obey God rather than men.”

We also stated this on pages 39 and 40:

“God’s ministers are commanded to feed the flock. Zechariah 11:16 warns us of a worthless shepherd who will not feed or heal Church members. Ezekiel 34:4 applies this to other shepherds as well. God’s true ministers have a duty to anoint those with oil who are sick (James 5:14), which includes the laying on of hands (Luke 4:40; Mark 16:18; Acts 28:8).

“But in times of the existence of a real or perceived virus that is allegedly being transferred through touch or close proximity (‘social distancing’ is supposed to prevent this from happening), a government might prohibit such a practice of anointing. 

“It is true that God allows His ministers to prepare and send out an anointed cloth instead, when person-to-person anointing is not possible (compare Acts 19:11–12). This is mainly meant for cases of great distance. In any event, what happens if this procedure is prohibited as well? Pretty soon, we might be labeled by God as worthless shepherds if we refuse to anoint the sick. Some might want to agree with the government that for the greater good and the health of the public, laying on of hands by a minister should be omitted, without considering that God has shown over many years that, due to His protection, His anointing ministers will be immune from contracting the disease of the sick person…

“Conflict may arise when a government, perhaps due to fear of a virus which might allegedly be transmitted by touch or close proximity, prohibits the practice of baptizing or ordaining a person, which requires the laying on of hands by the minister on the person (compare Acts 8:12–17; 19:5–6; Acts 6:2–6; 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Timothy 5:22; 2 Timothy 1:6). In addition, a government might prohibit Church ministers to bless little children (Mark 10:16; compare Matthew 19:13–15) or to conduct marriages, as all these procedures require the laying on of hands to set the persons aside for a holy and righteous purpose. Already in Old Testament times, it was understood as symbolizing the imparting of godly blessings (Genesis 48:13–20), His authority and spiritual power (Numbers 27:18; Deuteronomy 34:9).”

Let us not think that these questions and warnings have no relevance for our future. They most certainly do, and we had better be prepared to know and live by the right answers. We would suggest that in order to be ready to face the days to come, you read or reread the entirety of our free booklet, “Obeying God Rather Than Men.” 

In Christ’s service, and with His love,

Norbert Link

Update 1026

The Silver Suitcase / Rumors, Fake News and the Truth

On June 18, 2022, Brian Gale will present the sermonette, titled, “The Silver Suitcase,” and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “Rumors, Fake News and the Truth.”

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.

Back to top

Famine…

by Thilo Hanstein (Germany)

The term famine is currently on everyone’s lips, today even more than ever before. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has changed the entire face of the world and people are suffering from great anxiety. Due to the reciprocal sanctions which the world rulers are inflicting on each other, the tensions and problems among them and in the whole world are getting bigger and worse, until it will ultimately lead to a nuclear world war.

We know that these days we find ourselves in are the beginning of sorrows, and that these point, among other things, towards a coming great famine. The current trading and speculation with food on the stock markets are increasing more and more. Thus, the food prices keep rising more and more, and so will worldwide inflation. This refers not only to wheat and corn, but many other groceries are also affected as well, such as rice and soy, coffee and sugar, and many more other goods like raw oil, not to mention the constantly rising energy prices.

Der Tagesspiegel wrote on May 3, 2022: “We are heading for the greatest famine in human history.

“The farmers in Ukraine are producing much fewer resources, the infrastructure is destroyed, the ports are blocked. But the problems are much worse.

“The poorest countries have already been hit hard by the pandemic. On top of that, there is climate change with droughts in Africa and China. Because of lack of energy China is producing less fertilizer, and due to the blockade of the Black Sea, hardly any fertilizer is being exported from Russia and Belarus. Added to this are global logistics issues. Even if there was enough food, it doesn’t necessarily get to where it’s needed. The Russian invasion is deeply shaking the world food system. We fear that the number of hungry people will double in 2023 or 2024. If we have ten percent less artificial fertilizer than we need, up to 320 million people are robbed of their food base.”

In Austria, the city of Vienna posted the following statement on its platform:

“Waste on the one hand, hunger on the other.

“1.3 billion tons of food are thrown away each year or constitute losses along the value chain. For Europe, the authors estimate an annual loss per capita along the entire value chain of 280 to 300 kilograms. European and North American households throw away between 95 and 115 kilograms of food per year, especially fruit and vegetables, although a large proportion would still be edible. Add to those mountains of food that retailers discard.”

There is no way to realize by any stretch of the imagination the full extent of the scenario that is rolling toward humanity.

This leads to a crucial question for us. Will such news also raise fears and worries in us because of a coming famine?

Christ already warned us about this very scenario 2000 years ago: “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:6-8).

The world simply ignores these statements, but it should be clear to us that these prophecies of God are being fulfilled today right before our eyes. If we heed the words of Christ and do what He commanded us to do, namely, to keep the laws of God from the heart, God the Father and Jesus Christ will be with us to help, sustain and protect us in these terrible times.

Let us remember the famine in Abram’s time, when he had to go to Egypt (Genesis 12:10). Isaac also fled from a famine (Genesis 26:1). When famine broke out in all lands by the time of Joseph, who was a righteous ruler directly under Pharaoh, God showed His power and saved the children of Israel from starvation (Genesis 41:53-57).

In Genesis 45:11, because of God’s power, Joseph was able to promise Jacob and his descendants to help them: “There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine.” When Israel was in the wilderness and had nothing to eat, God provided them with manna and quails (Exodus 16).

Many prophets experienced famines as well, such as Elijah and Elisha, but they were saved by God. And David wrote with full knowledge and conviction: “I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread” (Psalm 37:25).

Christ once fed five thousand people with five loaves and two fish, and all were filled (Mark 6:30-44). On another occasion, he fed four thousand in the wilderness with seven loaves (Mark 8:1-9).

So why should God let us die in a famine today? Of course, there will be moments when we are tested, and it may be difficult for some. Paul experienced what it was like to be hungry. But as Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35). Paul was fully convinced that nothing could unsettle him or us!

Christ tells us what to focus on: “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:31-34).

In the end, it doesn’t matter to us personally how much we speculate about food wastage in the world, or how much of it ends up in the trash, or how much the world’s population increases in the face of hunger, even though it is all very tragic. What is of the utmost importance for us is to realize that only God can and will help us in all future suffering and misery.

God trusts each one of us. And therefore, we must also trust Him to the fullest extent.

Initial translation from German: Daniel Blasinger

Back to top

by Norbert Link

We begin with reports about theHouse January 6 Select Committee” which has been described as biased, unethical and fraudulent. We also quote articles pointing out the truth behind wrong allegations of the Committee and the mass media. We also speak on increasing violence against pro-life groups and supporters and a proposed bi-partisan gun law; the danger of red flag gun laws; and Dr. Fauci’s sickness.

We speak on the perception that Joe Biden appears to be King Midas in reverse; the controversial actions of the Fed; address the perceived attempts of the Biden Administration to change the current status in Jerusalem; and point out that Israel may be preparing for war against Iran.

We address developments in and pertaining to Russia and Vladimir Putin; report on a horrible piece by Fox News and Nancy Pelosi’s support of drag queens; and conclude with articles on the Catholic Church (“the woman riding the beast”) and Europe’s divisive and provocative stance against the US Supreme Court on abortion.

Please view our new message, titled, “America’s Sexual Confusion and Its Unethical House Committee—Comments on News and Prophecy, June 11, 2022.”

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

Back to top

Trump Slams House Committee

Newsmax wrote on June 10:

“Former President Donald Trump blasted the House Jan. 6 select committee for its biased, ‘negative’ prime-time hearing on Thursday night… The proceedings did not include any cross-examination or contradictory testimony. The former president railed against the committee’s members — Democrats and two anti-Trump Republicans — for hiring former ABC executive James Goldston to help produce a one-sided show. ‘So the Unselect Committee of political HACKS refuses to play any of the many positive witnesses and statements, refuses to talk of the Election Fraud and Irregularities that took place on a massive scale, and decided to use a documentary maker from Fake News ABC to spin only negative footage. Our Country is in such trouble!’ Trump posted Thursday night…

“Trump on Friday morning slammed the committee for suggesting he supported protesters for chanting, ‘Hang [then-Vice President] Mike Pence!’ ‘I NEVER said, or even thought of saying, ‘Hang Mike Pence.’ This is either a made up story by somebody looking to become a star, or FAKE NEWS!” Trump posted… ‘The so-called “Rush on the Capitol” was not caused by me, it was caused by a Rigged and Stolen Election!’ Trump posted Friday morning.

“Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., was incorrect when she claimed then-President Trump ‘did not condemn the attack.’ Actually, Trump did condemn the violence in a video Twitter quickly blocked, along with an Oval Office address a week later. Cheney also used Trump’s words of ‘love in the air’ out of context as the committee showed protesters breaching the Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump spoke those words about the Stop the Steal rally, not to describe the people breaching the Capitol.”

Trump DID Ask for National Guards Prior to January 6, 2021

TND wrote on June 9:

“A Capitol Police timeline of the days and weeks surrounding Jan. 6 shows former President Donald Trump’s Department of Defense (DOD) offered the National Guard’s assistance in the days leading up to the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol, validating claims from Trump administration officials that were said to be false by liberal fact-checkers

“According to the timeline, a DOD official reached out to Capitol Police Deputy Chief Sean Gallagher four days before the attack on the U.S. Capitol to inquire about whether Capitol Police anticipated they would request National Guard troops be deployed to prepare for Jan. 6… Just hours after Gallagher’s rejection of DOD’s offer for troops, Capitol Police issued a new warning to its commanders and executives, as well as to the two congressionally appointed House and Senate Sergeants at Arms responsible for congressional security, the timeline shows… Within 24-hours of the new assessment’s circulation, then-chief of the Capitol Police Steve Sund changed course and began requesting permission to deploy National Guard troops from the House and Senate Sergeant at Arms – both of whom report to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer, respectively… Sund’s requests were denied…”

“Out of Desperation, Democrats Resurrect ‘Insurrection Theater’”

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on June 13:

“This week, US gasoline prices hit an average of $5.00 per gallon, an all-time record. Officially, consumer price inflation hit 8.6 percent last month compared to last May. That is a four-decade high. In reality, though, inflation is much higher than that, as anyone who works for a living can affirm…

“The most recent polls have President Biden with a record low approval rate, and Democrats in Congress are bracing for a real beating in the mid-term elections in just under six months…

“With so much going wrong in areas Americans are most worried about, the Democrats have for some reason decided that the ticket to electoral success in November is to bring back ‘Insurrection Theater’ in the form of new hearings on the events of January 6, 2021… these hearings have had nothing to do with getting at the truth behind the events of January 6th and everything to do with trying to drum up more partisan anger and fear.

“What we won’t see in the hearings is any of the 14,000 unreleased hours of surveillance… We also won’t hear anything about how many of the ‘insurrectionists’ were actually government informers or even provocateurs. And we certainly won’t get any answers as to why the police actually seemed to be opening the doors and inviting the people inside.

“Maybe that’s because the January 6th Committee is a star chamber, where the only Republicans – the deeply unpopular Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger – have been hand-selected by Nancy Pelosi… Meanwhile, no one at all wants to talk about how the Fed, with the participation of Congress, is leading us to economic disaster.”

Committee Unethical, Unfair and Fraudulent

Newsmax wrote on June 10:

“Constitutional law expert Alan Dershowitz told Newsmax on Friday that the Jan. 6 committee’s public hearing on Thursday night was ‘’not a fair proceeding’ in that it was ‘’one-sided’ and ‘’unethical.” Take, for example, President Trump’s speech on Jan. 6,’ Dershowitz said… ‘He said at the end of the speech he wanted people to show their voices patriotically and peacefully. They doctored the tape… they edited those words out. If a prosecutor ever did that, they’d be disbarred. You can’t present part of the tape and deliberately omit the rest of the tape in order to mislead the audience, especially when the other side has no opportunity to cross-examine, no opportunity to present its own evidence… President Trump committed no crimes… Anybody who thinks that he did fails to understand the First Amendment.’

“… Because Donald Trump’s side had no opportunity to present its case, Dershowitz said the committee had a ‘special ethical obligation not to cheat, not to defraud the viewers, and that’s exactly what the Democrats, with their two Republicans, did yesterday… People would take seriously a nonpartisan, non-biased commission… But nobody should take seriously this one-sided basketball game in which only one team is allowed to shoot for the basket, and the other team is not even allowed to defend.’”

Enough said. Everybody should be able to see that this Committee is nothing but a sham and a farce.

Increasing Violence Against Pro-Life Groups

The Washington Examiner wrote on June 10:

“Law enforcement officials arrested and charged a man last week with the ‘attempted murder’ of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh… This assassination attempt was not a spur-of-the-moment crime of passion… The assassination attempt is part of a growing string of acts of violence, intimidation, and domestic terrorism targeting pro-life groups and conservative public figures following the Supreme Court leak…

“A crisis pregnancy center in Asheville, North Carolina, for example, was vandalized on June 7. The building was splashed with red paint, the windows were smashed, and the vandals spray-painted a message on the building that read, ‘If abortions aren’t safe, neither are you!’

“On June 6, a Christian pregnancy center in Buffalo, New York, was firebombed. The office was destroyed. The attackers left a message scrawled near the building. It read, ‘If abortions aren’t safe, then you aren’t either.’

“On June 3, a pregnancy crisis center in Washington, D.C., was vandalized. The front door was splashed with red paint and a message reading ‘Jane Says Revenge’ was spray-painted on the side of the building — ‘Jane’ presumably being a reference to the ‘Jane Roe’ in Roe v. Wade. For context, the Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center is a faith-based nonprofit organization. It does not refer or perform abortions.

“On May 27, a crisis pregnancy center in Lynnwood, Washington, was vandalized. The attackers spray-painted the message: ‘If abortion isn’t safe, you aren’t either.

“On around May 20, a pro-life billboard in Portland, Oregon, was defaced with pro-abortion messages that read ‘Abort the Supreme Court’ and ‘My body, my choice.

“On May 14, a crisis pregnancy center in Frederick, Maryland, was vandalized with pro-abortion graffiti.

“On May 13, a crisis pregnancy center in Reisterstown, Maryland, was vandalized. Messages left behind included, ‘You’re anti-choice,’ ‘Not pro-life,’ and ‘If abortions aren’t safe, neither are you.’

“On May 8, activists attacked a Right to Life office in Keizer, Oregon, with Molotov cocktails. In that same time period, a crisis pregnancy center in Denton, Texas, was vandalized. The attackers left messages painted on the building that read ‘Forced birth is murder’ and ‘Not a clinic.’ A crisis pregnancy center in Madison, Wisconsin, was also attacked on May 8. It was firebombed, and the assailants left threatening messages scribbled on the property, including ‘If abortions aren’t safe, then you aren’t either.’…

“On May 7, a Roman Catholic church in Fort Collins, Colorado, was vandalized, its doors and windows smashed. ‘My body, my choice’ was written on the church’s entrance doors.

“On May 6, a Roman Catholic church in Armada, Michigan, was vandalized with messages that include ‘666’ and ‘F-g Republicans dead.’

“On May 5, a crisis pregnancy center in Portland, Oregon, had its windows smashed. The perpetrators left behind a note that read, ‘F*** [crisis pregnancy centers].’

“On May 3, a pregnancy center in Illinois was razed, causing roughly $250,000 in damages. The center provided diapers and baby supplies to struggling mothers.

“Also, on May 3, a Roman Catholic church in Boulder, Colorado, was vandalized. The perpetrators splashed paint on a statue of the Virgin Mary and spray-painted messages all over the church, including ones that read ‘My body, my choice’ and ‘Keep your religion off our bodies.’

“Once is an accident. Twice is a coincidence. Three is a trend. More than a dozen is a coordinated campaign whose message is: You are next.”

It really appears that all or many of these attacks are coordinated.

Fauci Sick With Corona

Webmd.com reported on June 15:

“Anthony Fauci, MD, the chief medical officer to the White House, tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday… Fauci, who is fully vaccinated and has received his second booster dose, is experiencing mild symptoms and will isolate at home…”

Anybody should be able to see the fraudulent claims in support of Big Pharma, uttered by Fauci in the past,  that you don’t get corona if you are vaccinated, while totally ignoring or downplaying natural immunity.

Proposed Bi-Partisan Gun Law

Newsmax wrote on June 11:

“President Joe Biden says he will sign an agreement on a framework for a firearms safety bill proposed by a bipartisan group of senators… The plan includes support for state ‘red flag’ laws that would keep guns from potentially dangerous people, tougher criminal background checks for firearms buyers under 21 and a crackdown on ‘straw purchases’ by people buying firearms for others who could not pass a background check… the framework is far less ambitious than proposals offered by Biden and other Democrats for banning semi-automatic, assault-style rifles and high-capacity magazines or at least raising the minimum age to buy those from 18 to 21.

“… While the deal represents a significant breakthrough, it does not ensure that legislation will be passed, as lawmakers still must hammer out legislative language that can secure enough votes to get through both the Senate and House of Representatives, each narrowly controlled by Democrats… But Sunday’s announcement still marks the furthest that talks on a gun measure have advanced in Congress since 2013, following a Connecticut school massacre, when gun control legislation failed on the Senate floor… The group that agreed to the framework included 10 Republicans, nine Democrats and one independent who caucuses with the Democrats.

“The United States has the highest rate of firearms deaths among the world’s wealthy nations. But it is a country where many cherish gun rights and its Constitution’s Second Amendment protects the right to ‘keep and bear arms’…”

To quote General Douglas MacArthur: “It must be of the spirit if we are to save the flesh” (Radio Broadcast, September 2, 1945).

The Danger of Red Flag Gun Laws

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on June 15:

“… at a time when red flag gun laws (which authorize government officials to seize guns from individuals viewed as a danger to themselves or others) are gaining traction as a legislative means by which to allow police to remove guns from people suspected of being threats, it wouldn’t take much for police to be given the green light to enter a home without a warrant in order to seize lawfully-possessed firearms based on concerns that the guns might pose a danger. Frankly, a person wouldn’t even need to own a gun to be subjected to such a home invasion….

“As The Washington Post reports, these red flag gun laws ‘allow a family member, roommate, beau, law enforcement officer or any type of medical professional to file a petition [with a court] asking that a person’s home be temporarily cleared of firearms. It doesn’t require a mental-health diagnosis or an arrest.’ … Where the problem arises is when you put the power to determine who is a potential danger in the hands of government agencies, the courts and the police…. Red flag gun laws merely push us that much closer towards a suspect society where everyone is potentially guilty of some crime or another and must be preemptively rendered harmless…. No matter how well-intentioned, red flag gun laws will put a target on the back of every American whether or not they own a weapon.”

Joe Biden… King Midas in Reverse

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 11:

“US President Joe Biden, along with leaders from 19 Latin American countries, unveiled a new plan to tackle migration in the Americas…

“The signatories of the deal include the three major Central American countries that play an outsized role in migration, namely, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras; together known as the Northern Triangle. Mexico, which plays a key role in curbing illegal migration at the US-Mexico border, also signed the pact…

“The Central American countries’ cooperation was deemed essential because their leaders boycotted the southern Californian gathering over Biden’s decision to exclude three countries the US considers autocratic, namely Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The leaders’ boycott, most notably involving Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, dealt a big blow to the event, even as US officials tried to downplay it.

“In the end, despite Biden’s assurances of the significance of the migration pact, only 20 countries signed it, several fewer than the number attending the summit…

“The administration is also seeking to counter growing Chinese influence in the region as Beijing develops stronger economic ties with several Latin American countries like Brazil and Argentina.”

According to a new poll, most Americans believe that Biden is purposefully trying to sabotage the economy and deliberately allowing gas prices to rise to allegedly force consumers to use less fossil fuel and to buy electric cars instead. Whether this is true or not, there can be no doubt that Biden is largely responsible for the high gas prices. As Breitbart correctly pointed out on June 10, “he attacked American energy independence on day one by nixing the Keystone Pipeline and continued the trend by rejoining the Paris Climate Accord and canceling oil and gas leases.” He also “issued a 60-day halt on all new oil and gas leases and drilling permits on federal lands and waters… directed federal agencies to eliminate all supports for fossil fuels [and] imposed new regulations on oil and gas and methane emissions.”

The New York Post wrote on June 12: “Food prices will keep climbing – with no end in sight — as inflation continues to take hold of the US economy, some of the nation’s leading food suppliers and restaurant chains said.”

Fed’s Aggressive Rate Hikes Raise Likelihood of a Recession

The Associated Press wrote on June 16:

“A worse-than-expected inflation report for May — consumer prices rocketed up 8.6% from a year earlier, the biggest jump since 1981 — helped spur the Fed to raise its benchmark interest rate by three-quarters of point Wednesday. Not since 1994 has the central bank raised its key rate by that much all at once. And until Friday’s nasty inflation report, traders and economists had expected a rate hike of just half a percentage point Wednesday. What’s more, several more hikes are coming…

“Each rate hike means higher borrowing costs for consumers and businesses. And each time would-be borrowers find loan rates prohibitively expensive, the resulting drop in spending weakens confidence, job growth and overall economic vigor… Indeed, since 1955 every time inflation ran hotter than 4% and unemployment fell below 5%, the economy has tumbled into recession within two years… The U.S. jobless rate is now 3.6%, and inflation has topped 8% every month since March… And there’s another byproduct of Fed rate hikes: The dollar will likely rise as investors buy U.S. Treasuries to capitalize on higher yields. A rising dollar hurts U.S. companies and the economy by making American products costlier and harder to sell overseas…”

Food Shortage Worries Mount

 Zero Hedge wrote on June 16:

 “Pennsylvania farmers are being ‘crushed’ by the record cost of diesel – so much so, that questions about a food crisis are starting to loom…  The situation looks as though it will continue to push food prices higher, after the government reported that food prices in May were 10.1% higher than last year…

“The PA average for diesel is now $6.19 per gallon, up about 75% from a year agoOne farmer who works on about 3,500 acres burns through about 2,000 gallons of diesel per month… said. If the farmers cannot get crops out of the ground, then there is not food on the shelves.’

Biden to Roll Back Jerusalem Embassy Move

The Washington Free Beacon wrote on June 10:

“The State Department confirmed… that a new Office of Palestinian Affairs will be established in Jerusalem and act independently of the U.S. ambassador to Israel’s office there. The formation of a separate diplomatic office… could violate the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, which mandated that a single U.S. embassy be established in the holy city. The State Department also confirmed that it is working to go even further—opening an official Palestinian consulate in Jerusalem wholly independent of the U.S. embassy in Israel…. That would set the stage for Jerusalem to once again be viewed by the United States as divided between Israeli and Palestinian territories.

“Former U.S. diplomats… said the Biden administration is trying to undermine former president Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, which eliminated a formal distinction between West and East Jerusalem.”

America, under Biden, becomes more and more an antagonistic enemy of Israel.

Israel Prepares for War With Iran

Israel Today wrote on June 12:

“Both the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israeli Air Force (IAF) are now actively preparing for a major confrontation with Iran and the bombing of nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic… On Thursday, it was announced that IAF engineers have succeeded in designing a system that eliminates the need to refuel its F-35 Adir stealth fighter jet mid-mission. The F-35 is a radar-invisible warplane that reportedly will be used in a future massive IAF air strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities…

“That such a bombardment could now become a reality was also shown by a massive air exercise by IAF aircraft over the Mediterranean one and a half weeks ago. Hundreds of IAF aircraft took part in this exercise, and the government in Jerusalem said the exercise was intended to simulate a multiple-front war with Iran…”

The Bible prophesies that Israel will suffer defeat in a coming military confrontation—in addition and PRIOR TO the Great Tribulation.

Israel and Iran: Five Minutes to Armageddon?

The Hill published the following article on June 16:

“The Pentagon fully realizes that time is not on Israel’s side, nor that of the U.S. and its allies. In March, now-retired Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, then commander of U.S. Central Command, testified in a Senate hearing that Iran has ‘3,000 ballistic missiles,’ including variants capable of reaching Tel Aviv, while assessing Tehran’s nuclear ‘breakout’ is now measured in ‘weeks,’ not ‘months.’ 

“Israel concurs. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett acknowledged on June 12 Iran is ‘dangerously close to getting their hands on nuclear weapons.’ Earlier, Jerusalem — in an atypical disclosure for Israel — declared it has sufficiently extended the range of its U.S.-supplied Lockheed Martin F-351 Adir stealth fighter-bombers to complete any missions tasked to them in Iran. Israel’s message to the ayatollahs was loud and clear: Israel can reach deep inside Iran and exit Iranian air-space unseen…

“If forced to attack Iran’s nuclear program, Israel’s primary target would be destroying the centrifuges enriching HEU in Natanz, Fordow, and elsewhere — all of which are buried deep underground. It is the only military means by which Jerusalem could avert Tehran from reaching the 90 percent HEU enrichment level. Numerous tertiary targets also would need to be eliminated. Iran Watch lists 38 known nuclear-related sites in total.

“Jerusalem’s planning must anticipate Hezbollah, Hamas and other Tehran-backed militias aggressively responding in kind if Israel launches a raid into Iran. In all likelihood, before Israel’s air forces could return to Israeli airspace, massive volleys of rocket fire would be hitting the country from Lebanon, Gaza and Syria — and possibly even from Iran itself. Striking Iran’s nuclear facilities would be only the beginning, not the end, of a hot war between Israel and Iran.

“Prepared or not, Israel and Washington both appear to be out of time — Iran’s threat is substantial, and it is only intensifying… Measured in Doomsday Clock terms, it is five minutes to midnight in Jerusalem and Tehran — and in Megiddo, the historical biblical site of Armageddon in Israel.”

Spineless Congress Has Been Abrogating Powers to Allow for Dictatorship

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on June 14:

“The US Constitution explicitly gives Congress, not the president, the authority to determine if the republic should go to war. Unfortunately, that fundamental point is now little more than a quaint historical footnote. Congress has issued no declarations of war since the early 1940s, when it did so against Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and other Axis powers. Yet the United States has launched more than a dozen significant ‘presidential wars’ since then. Moreover, that pace shows little sign of slowing.

“… When Harry Truman sent more than 200,000 US troops to intervene in the conflict that had erupted on the Korean Peninsula, he showed no inclination whatever to seek a declaration of war from Congress… Later presidents likewise ignored Congress and acted entirely on their own alleged authority (Johnson in the Dominican Republic, Reagan in Lebanon and Grenada, Obama in Libya). In one case (Clinton in Kosovo), a president even disregarded the legislative branch’s refusal  to give approval for military action. More often, though, White House occupants preferred supportive, ‘blank check’ congressional resolutions (Johnson in Vietnam, the the elder Bush in the Persian Gulf, and Bush the younger in Afghanistan and Iraq).

“America’s would-be emperors indeed have been bold in expanding US power throughout the international arena and making a mockery of the Constitution in the process… The failure of Congress to halt brazenly unconstitutional presidential wars… has been the most graphic example of such dereliction of duty. A more subtle manifestation, though, has been the passage of vacuous, open-ended congressional resolutions. Such measures authorize the use of force against a designated US adversary, but give the president unrestricted discretion to decide if or when that step is necessary…

“Congressional attitudes about two volatile arenas that could lead to dangerous military entanglements for the United States – Ukraine and Taiwan – are the latest examples of an unhealthy deference to the White House and an avoidance of responsibility…  There also is a pervasive absence of congressional willingness to rein-in President Biden as he deepens US involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war…

“Abdication serves an important political purpose, because it enables Congress to avoid responsibility for issues of war and peace, life and death. If a presidential military intervention goes well, legislators can climb aboard and portray themselves as enthusiastic supporters of the venture. If the war goes badly, they can disown it and even criticize it as the ultimate in presidential folly – especially if the occupant of the Oval Office is from the opposition party. Such abdication of the congressional war power, however, constitutes a profile in cowardice. It also has been a major factor in the proliferation of ill-conceived, often disastrous, US military interventions…”

A similar development in Europe would certainly allow for the immediate rise of the Beast, as described in the Book of Revelation.

China Threatens USA Over Taiwan

Aljazeera wrote on June 10:

“China will ‘not hesitate to start a war’ and ‘smash to smithereens’ any Taiwan independence efforts, its defence minister warned his US counterpart in the pair’s first face-to-face talks.

“‘If anyone dares to split Taiwan from China, the Chinese army will definitely not hesitate to start a war no matter the cost,’ Defence Minister Wei Fenghe said during a meeting with Lloyd Austin on Friday, [continuing that China will] ‘resolutely uphold the unification of the motherland’ [saying that] ‘Taiwan is China’s Taiwan’…

“The United States is Taiwan’s most important international supporter and arms supplier, a source of constant friction between Washington and Beijing…”

BBC News added on June 11:

“China and Taiwan were divided during a civil war in the 1940s, but Beijing insists the island will be reclaimed at some point, by force if necessary… Only a few countries recognise Taiwan. Most recognise the Chinese government in Beijing instead. The US has no official ties with Taiwan but does have a law which requires it to provide the island with the means to defend itself.”

Biden recently said that the USA will itself defend Taiwan militarily.. .a claim which was subsequently disputed and “clarified” by the White House.

Fear of Nuclear War

Newsweek wrote on June 7:

“Russian state TV… has warned that if NATO keeps supporting Ukraine in President Vladimir Putin’s war, there will be a ‘massive nuclear strike’ that will see only ‘mutants’ survive…. Solovyov, who has close ties with Putin and has been called ‘Putin’s voice,’ was speaking on Russia-1…

“[He] said that the world is ‘descending into bloody pages of world history… Because if NATO decides they can place whatever they want at our borders, they’ll be sending more and more of American weapons to Ukraine, Ukraine will fire and end up hitting one of our nuclear power plants, and here we go.’ Solovyov said the ‘process’ then will ‘quickly become uncontrollable.’”

Nuclear war between Russia and Europe will occur… but not yet.

Putin’s Plans for Europe?

Fox News wrote on June 12:

“Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning to force the West to end its sanctions by causing a widespread famine, Yale historian Timothy Snyder argues. [He] pointed to Russia’s ongoing blockade of Ukrainian grain, which shows no signs of stopping. Ukraine is a major global producer of grain, supplying mainly Middle Eastern and Asian countries.

“Snyder argues that Putin’s plan is not only to destabilize Ukraine by cutting off exports but also destabilize the European Union by generating ‘refugees from North Africa and the Middle East, areas usually fed by Ukraine.’ ‘When the food riots begin, and as starvation spreads, Russian propaganda will blame Ukraine, and call for Russia’s territorial gains in Ukraine to be recognized, and for all sanctions to be lifted,’ Snyder concluded…

“Russia is currently holding a blockade on Ukraine’s port of Odessa, causing a backlog of roughly 20 million tons of grain.”

These proposed concepts are not without merit.

Putin—the Modern Peter the Great?

Metro.co.uk wrote on June 10:

“Vladimir Putin has compared himself to Russian tyrant Peter the Great, drawing parallels between what he portrayed as their twin historic quests to reconquer Russian lands. After months of denials that the Kremlin has been driven by imperial ambitions with the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian president appeared to offer the clearest glimpse yet of his true goals.

“Speaking on the 350th anniversary of the tsar’s birth, he said: ‘Peter the Great waged the Great Northern War for 21 years. It would seem that he was at war with Sweden, he took something from them. He did not take anything from them, he returned (what was Russia’s). Apparently, it also fell to us to return (what is Russia’s) and strengthen (the country). And if we proceed from the fact that these basic values form the basis of our existence, we will certainly succeed in solving the tasks that we face.’

“Putin’s words will also be seen as a thinly-veiled threat to the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which fear being occupied once the war in Ukraine is over. Sweden and Finland have also been moved to apply for NATO membership in response to the invasion…

“Peter the Great, an autocratic moderniser admired by liberal and conservative Russians alike, gave his name to a new capital, St Petersburg – Putin’s hometown – that he ordered built on land he conquered from Sweden. Prior to Putin’s visit to the exhibition, state television aired a documentary praising the tyrant as a tough military leader, greatly expanding territory at the expense of Sweden and the Ottoman Empire.

“In recent years, Putin’s interest in Russian history has loomed ever larger in his public appearances. In April 2020, as Russia entered its first coronavirus lockdown, he compared the pandemic to ninth century Turkic nomadic invasions of medieval Russia. In July 2021, the Kremlin published a long essay by Putin in which he argued that Russia and Ukraine were one nation, artificially divided… Putin blamed Vladimir Lenin, the founder of the Soviet Union, for creating Ukraine on what Putin said was historically Russian territory.”

And so, Russia and Ukraine WILL somehow unite again.

Poland’s President Likens Russia’s Putin To Adolf Hitler

International Business Times wrote on June 10:

“Poland’s President Andrzej Duda recently blasted the leaders of France and Germany for having one-on-one phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who he likened to Nazi’s Adolf Hitler.  Speaking in an interview with German newspaper Bild, Duda said holding talks with Putin only legitimized the war crimes committed by Russian leaders currently invading Ukraine. He later argued that no world leader held talks with Hitler when he invaded Poland in 1939, an event that triggered the start of World War II.  ‘I’m amazed at all the talks that are being held with Putin at the moment… These talks are useless,” Duda said…

“President Duda’s interview comes after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron held one-on-one phone calls with Putin. Macron, in particular, drew backlash after he argued that Russia must not be humiliated over the invasion and said it was vital for Putin to have a way out of his ‘fundamental error.’ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later blasted Macron’s remarks…”

Duda has a point.

The Week wrote in response to Macron’s and Scholz’s position on June 11:

“French President Emmanuel Macron, who fancies himself a Putin whisperer, warned again last week that ‘we must not humiliate Russia.’ Instead, we must reward Putin’s pitiless efforts to erase a peaceful, democratic neighbor from the map by awarding him a nice chunk as a consolation prize: the Donbas and southern Ukraine along the Black Sea. Henry Kissinger… has joined Macron in urging Ukrainian concessions. So has The New York Times editorial board, which recently advised Ukraine it will need to make ‘painful territorial decisions’ in exchange for peace. On the isolationist right, America Firsters from Sen. Rand Paul to Tucker Carlson to Donald Trump have denounced U.S. military aid to Kyiv as a waste of money for a fight that is not ours.

It is… not realistic to believe any concessions will end Putin’s messianic ambitions to absorb Ukraine into ‘holy Russia.’ A deeply cynical, KGB-trained liar, he will happily violate any treaty naïve ‘realists’ force Ukraine to sign. If there is a brief peace, Putin will use it to rebuild his battered army and reinvade until Kyiv succumbs… It’s critically important to prove Putin wrong, even if he finds it humiliating.”

Putin’s ambitions and real goal should be obvious by now.

Medical Emergency for Putin

The Sun wrote on June 10:

“VLADIMIR Putin was given ‘urgent medical assistance’ earlier this week after being struck down by a ‘sharp sickness’, according to Kremlin insiders. Russia’s president has reportedly been ordered by his doctors not to make any ‘lengthy’ public appearances. [He] is said to have fallen ill while talking to his military chiefs and suffered ‘sharp sickness, weakness and dizziness’ as he got up from his desk after a 90-minute virtual session.

“The claims appeared on the General SVR channel on the messaging app Telegram, which is purportedly run by a Kremlin insider… However, the 69-year-old did make a now-rare public appearance in Moscow this Thursday as he addressed young Russian entrepreneurs, engineers and scientists. At an event marking the 350th anniversary of the birth of Peter the Great, Putin bizarrely bragged that he was following in the former Russian tsar’s footsteps with his war in Ukraine [see article above]…

“The General SVR channel has made repeated claims in the past about Putin’s alleged medical problems, including cancer and Parkinson’s disease. These claims, which the channel says are based on inside intelligence, are impossible to verify, but come amid swirling rumours in the West about the Russian president’s health.

“Recent pictures have shown Putin looking frailer with a puffy face, while critics say he has been gripping the side of desks during public appearances to hide his tremors.”

Putin will stay in office until his “purpose” has been fulfilled.

Pope Francis’ Incoherent Proclamations

The Daily Mail wrote on June 14:

“Pope Francis said… Russian troops were brutal, cruel and ferocious, while praising the bravery of Ukrainian soldiers…  He also said the situation was not black and white and that the war was ‘perhaps in some way provoked’ by NATO…’

“Francis said the on-going war in Ukraine, along with other conflicts around the globe, means ‘World War III has been declared’ and therefore the human race has seen three world wars in a century. This, he said, is a ‘calamity’ for humanity….”

Apart from other questionable comments by the Pope, his idea that we are experiencing World War III right now is utter nonsense, and it totally belittles and plays down events which will take place when a REAL World War III is going to occur, which would indeed lead to the extinction of the human race if Christ would not return to stop this madness.

Meaningless Sanctions Against Russia

Newsmax wrote on June 13:

“Russia is making a killing from oil exports despite an embargo from the United States and most of Europe, and it is easily using the profits to finance its ongoing invasion of Ukraine…  Oil exports were 45% of Russia’s overall revenue in 2021… and it still made enough in the first 100 days of the Ukraine invasion to more than replenish what it had spent on the war

“Despite the number of countries that have stopped receiving Russian oil imports, oil prices have risen by about 60%… so Russia’s discount on price still gives it higher revenues over a year ago. Europe has been struggling to free itself of Russian energy as it simultaneously sends Ukraine military aid to fight off the Russian invasion. Greater efforts are being made, though slowly.

“Still, China remains Russia’s largest fossil fuel importer, while Japan is its top importer of coal… And Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia will be exempted from a ban on Russian oil that goes into effect later this year.

India has increased its purchases of Russian oil, making Russia its top supplier over Saudi Arabia, which had previously held the No. 1 spot… And Sri Lanka has indicated it is open to buying Russia’s oil, its prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, told the AP.”

As Biden has strongly, but foolishly pronounced that the sanctions were not meant to deter Russia from fighting in Ukraine, what then are the sanctions supposed to accomplish? Regardless, as we can see from the article, they accomplish NOTHING.

Fox News Promoting Transgenderism

Breitbart wrote on June 10:

“Fox News promoted the story of a transgender child who switched genders at five years old as part of the network’s ‘LGBTQ+ Pride Month’ special on Friday. On an episode of America’s Newsroom, Fox News reporter Bryan Llenas highlighted the story of Ryland Whittington, a young girl whose family embraced her transgender transition to male when she was five years old. Whittington hopes going public about her story will encourage other families to accept their transgender children…

“Llenas described Whittington as ‘a typical southern Californian teenager,’ during the segment’s introduction. According to her mother, Hillary Whittington, Ryland told her parents that she was a boy before she could even speak… Despite the Whittington family’s ‘conservative faith,’ Whittington’s mother believes God ‘created Ryland just the way “he” is.’… At the segment’s conclusion, Llenas praised the Whittington family for being public about transgender issues in today’s political climate. He also commended the family for displaying ‘extraordinary courage.’…”

This is truly incredible, coming from a supposedly conservative network.

Newsmax wrote on June 11:

“Shortly after the Fox report aired, conservative commentator Ben Shapiro slammed Fox for airing the pro-transgender segment as a ‘complete betrayal.’ ‘Every element of this [Fox News] video is propagandistic, dangerous garbage,’ Shapiro said. ‘The report states that this biologically female child was choosing her gender before she could speak. That is madness.’…

“Likewise, Daily Wire host Michael Knowles knocked Fox News for spotlighting a controversial issue that goes against the beliefs of its Christian viewers… And Knowles’ colleague at the Daily Wire, Matt Walsh, [tweeted:] ‘’The poor kid is 14 now with a permanently altered body, condemned to live forever with an identity imposed as a small child. It is horrifying, evil, and sick. And it is what Fox chose to promote…

“The pro-transgender story on Ryland is not new for Fox News, which has been undergoing a transitioning of sorts itself as it moves away from its more traditional base of viewers. In March Fox announced it had hired, Caitlyn Jenner as top political Contributor for the network. Caitlyn, former Olympic athlete and TV star Bruce Jenner, had never been a commentator on politics before she ran for California governor as part of the 2021 recall effort. Jenner received just 1 percent of the recall vote.

“Fox News CEO Suzanne heralded [Jenner’s] appointment as part of the network’s LGBTQ+ outreach… noting the star was ‘the most famous transgender woman in the world.’ ‘She is a trailblazer in the LGBTQ+ community and her illustrious career spans a variety of fields that will be a tremendous asset for our audience.’”

Fox News… Disney… when is this “madness” going to stop?

Pelosi Proud of Drag Queens

Daily Wire wrote on June 11:

“Pelosi called it ‘an honor’ to make a guest appearance on the most recent episode of the drag queen show ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race.’… [She said:] ‘I was inspired by the contestants because they know their power’… During her appearance, Pelosi told the contestants she was proud of them and thanked them ‘for the joy and beauty [they] bring to the world… Your freedom of expression of yourselves in drag is what America is all about,’ the House speaker added. ‘I say that all the time to my friends in drag.’…

“Pelosi’s appearance on the ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ comes as many parents and politicians across the country voice their anger over drag-themed events being targeted toward children.

“The appearance wasn’t Pelosi’s first on a drag queen show. She was also on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ in 2018.”

And so speaks and acts a practicing Catholic who was recently prohibited by some bishops from taking the communion, due to her stance on abortion, while others [including the pope] had no problem with allowing her to partake of the Eucharist. All of this is so shameful and disgusting.  

Europe Condemns US Supreme Court Over Abortion Issue

Breitbart wrote on June 11:

“In a preemptive strike before the American Supreme Court has even had a chance to rule on the legal future of abortion, globalists in the European Union’s so-called parliament passed a measure on Thursday by a margin of 364 to 154 (37 abstentions) to ‘remind’ the United States that it is ‘vital’ to uphold Roe v Wade… The resolution also targeted individual U.S. states for introducing limits on abortion access, such as Texas, which under its heartbeat bill has banned abortion after six weeks, when unborn babies begin to develop their own distinct heartbeat…

“Apparently not understanding how American republicanism operates as a governmental system, the EU parliament went on to call on President Joe Biden to ‘ensure access to safe and legal abortion,’ despite the President having no legal authority to do so. The globalist body also curiously claimed that Roe v Wade ‘protects the right to abortion in the U.S. Constitution,’ even though there is no mention whatsoever of abortion in America’s founding documents.

“Noting the apparent ignorance of the EU lawmakers, German right-wing MEP Christine Anderson, who opposed the measure, commented: ‘The USA is no longer a colony ruled from Europe. Didn’t you know that?’”

It really shows Europe’s “conquering” mentality towards the USA…

The Woman Riding the Beast

The National Catholic Register wrote on June 10:

“Pope Francis discussed the Ukraine war on Friday with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. The head of the executive branch of the European Union, a political and economic union of 27 member states, also met on June 10 with the Vatican’s Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and ‘foreign minister’ Archbishop Paul Gallagher, who visited Ukraine in May.

“The Holy See press office said: ‘During the cordial discussions held in the Secretariat of State, the parties focused on the good bilateral relations and common commitment to work to bring the war in Ukraine to an end, dedicating particular attention to the humanitarian aspects and the food consequences of the continuation of the conflict.’… They also reflected on ‘the consequences for the future structure’ of the EU.

“Tweeting after her papal audience, the German Lutheran mother of seven said she was ‘truly glad’ to meet the Pope again, following a private audience in May 2021… Von der Leyen, who visited the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in April, spoke on June 9 at the opening session of a conference organized by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.”

And so, the woman, and her daughters, are riding the European beast once more…

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.

Back to top

How Do You Understand the Covenants of the Bible? (Part 6)

After all of this breaking of the covenant between the people and God, God foretold of another covenant.

We read of it in Jeremiah 31:31-34: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

The first covenant mentioned here (with the nation of Israel “in the day” when God led them out of the land of Egypt) did not involve God putting His laws in the minds of the people. It was a covenant that would guarantee many physical blessings and long life if kept but did not have a promise of eternal life. But this new covenant would be the answer to the question raised in Deuteronomy 5:29 (compare also Deuteronomy 29:4 and Joshua 24:19, as discussed in the previous Q&A). God would give them a heart to fear Him and keep His commandments.

This passage in Jeremiah 31:31-34 is quoted almost identically in Hebrews 8:8-12. Hebrews 8:6-8 gives us information of this new covenant: “But now He (Christ) has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if that first covenant [note, in passing, that the word “covenant” has been added here by the translator] had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them….” Hebrews 8:13 informs us, “In that He says, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.”

We read previously in Exodus 24:8, “And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, ‘This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words.’” Likewise, the new covenant was also certified with blood, this time not with the blood of animals but with the blood of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 9:12 informs us, “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:14-15 states, “… how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”

While the first or old covenant between God and the nation of Israel had many physical blessings, it did not have the promise of eternal life. However, this new covenant has a promise of eternal inheritance which certainly necessitates eternal life. So especially in this promise, the new covenant is greatly superior to the old covenant.

So from this we know there was nothing wrong with the first covenant, in fact it was very beneficial at the times it was kept, but God found fault with the people because mostly they did not keep it. As we read in Deuteronomy 5:29, the people did not have such a heart in them to keep all of God’s commandments on which the covenant was based.

There are other covenants mentioned in the Old Testament between individuals. One is mentioned in 1 Samuel 18:1: “Now when he (David) had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” 1 Samuel 18:3-4 adds: “Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armour, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.” Again, these were signs for this covenant. As we read the story, David and Jonathan kept this covenant until after the death of Jonathan. David’s lamenting is described in 2 Samuel 1:19-27, particularly in 2 Samuel 1:26. “I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me; Your love to me was wonderful, Surpassing the love of women.” Their covenant was an extremely strong relationship (but it has nothing to do with the absolutely false allegation that David and Jonathan were gay lovers.)

God did make another covenant, this time with king David. The fact that it was made is stated, as a part of David’s last words, in 2 Samuel 23:5, although it is not stated here what it involved: “Although my house is not so with God, Yet He had made with me an everlasting covenant, Ordered in all things and secure. For this is all my salvation and all my desire; Will He not make it increase?” 2 Chronicles 13:5 relates a time when David, Solomon and Rehoboam had died and Abijah was king over Judah and fighting against Jeroboam and the tribes of Israel: “Should you not know that the LORD God of Israel gave the dominion over Israel to David forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt?” Here we find that this covenant was for David and his sons to reign over Israel forever. And it was a covenant of salt, showing its permanence.

This covenant is also stated clearly in Psalm 89:3-4: “I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: Your seed I will establish forever, And build up your throne to all generations…” And finally, about this covenant, God states that unless the covenant with day and night can be broken, then His covenant with David, and that with the Levites, cannot be broken. Jeremiah 33:20-22 states: “Thus says the LORD: ‘If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that there will not be day and night in their season, then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant, so that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levites, the priests, My ministers. As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, nor the sand of the sea measured, so I will multiply the descendants of David My servant and the Levites who minister to Me.’”

This covenant involves David’s descendants to be rulers over at least one tribe of Israel (compare our free booklet, “The Fall and Rise of Britain and America.”). However, David himself knew he would be resurrected to eternal life long before this covenant was made with him. He states in Psalm 17:15. “As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” He knew he would be resurrected to eternal life as a Spirit Being.

In conclusion, we see that covenants are the method God used in His dealings with men, and also occurred between individuals. Putting aside for the moment the covenants between God and some individuals like Phinehas or the tribe of Levi, there were several periods of time when God made covenants, and some of these are very beneficial to us today. Apart from the indication of God’s covenant of marriage (see our discussion in part 2 of this series), the first period refers to the time of Noah when God promised He would never again destroy all life by means of a flood. This we can rely on that we will be safe from a total worldwide flood. The second period relates to the time of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The covenants included blessings of a land, descendant nations and kings.

In Genesis 18:17-18, God reveals that all nations of the earth shall be blessed in Abraham: “And the LORD said, ‘Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?’” This is repeated in Genesis 26:4: “And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.” And why would this be? Verse 5 continues: “… because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”

But, of course, since we are a part of all nations to be blessed because of Abraham’s obedience, this covenant is beneficial to us today. In addition, the descendants of Abraham and, through him, the house of Israel would be greatly blessed physically as well, but those blessings would be removed when they would refuse to obey, as we are seeing today. And even more to the point, as Galatians 3:16 informs us, “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ.” So, we greatly benefit through Christ. As true Christians, we are spiritual Israelites, and we are thereby promised eternal life through the Seed of Abraham, Jesus Christ.

The third time period when God made covenants with men was at Sinai (and subsequently at Moab). In addition to the covenant which God made with Levi at that time, it was not just a man or he and his family that God made a covenant with, but with a whole nation of millions of people. This was the first covenant dedicated with blood. As we read in Hebrews 9:18-20, “Therefore not even the first covenant [note, in passing, that the word “covenant” was added here by the translator] was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, ‘This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.’” As we pointed out previously in Part 4, God made also a separate covenant with the people of Israel regarding the weekly and annual Sabbath days. We read in Isaiah 56:6-7 that even those who may not be Israelite by birth, if they refuse to defile the Sabbath and hold fast to this covenant, God will make them joyful in His house of prayer. This potentially includes all people of the world.

The fourth time period when God made a covenant was with David. This was for David to always have descendants to sit on the throne of Israel, not for his own eternal life.

The fifth time period when God promised a covenant was when it was stated in Jeremiah 31:31-34 that God was going to make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. This time, God would put His laws in their hearts so they could keep them as they were intended to be kept. We read in Galatians 3:29, “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” This new covenant included the promise of eternal life and rulership over all of God’s creation.

Hosea 2:16 informs us when this new covenant is in force, we will no longer call God our Master: “‘And it shall be, in that day,’ Says the LORD, ‘That you will call Me “My Husband,” And no longer call Me “My Master.”’” This obviously refers to Revelation 19:7, “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”

There are many covenants in the Bible, too many to mention in this short discussion, but they are the main way God uses in dealing with His people throughout the ages and into the future.

(To Be Continued)

Lead Writer: Paul Niehoff

Back to top

Preaching the Gospel and Feeding the Flock

compiled by Dave Harris

A Tech Team meeting was conducted via Google Meet on Sunday, June 12, 2022. Hosted by Eric Rank, we discussed our advertising campaigns, video publishing and possible alternatives to You Tube for live services as future needs arise.

“Die Quelle der Kraft,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath in Germany by Christian Mrosek, is now posted. Title in English: “The Source of Power.”

“America’s Sexual Confusion and Its Unethical House Committee—Comments on News and Prophecy, June 11, 2022,” the first message presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

America is today plagued by sexual confusion; an incredible economic crisis; an incompetent leadership; and unethical proceedings by a sham-and farce committee. In addition, Russia keeps threatening Europe; Europe shows its true colors of conquest towards the USA; and the woman riding the beast is back. Are we prepared for the next major event?

“God’s Spirit of Mercy,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

In this world, we do not find much mercy. Rather, we see a lack of love; a thirst for revenge; and unmerciful conduct. But God shows us that we must be merciful in order to obtain His mercy. In many cases, self-righteousness prevents people from being merciful, as they may think that they are so much better than others; that they could never do what others have done; and that it is therefore necessary to dig up what has been buried. Such an attitude will never give us inward peace.

Back to top


How This Work is Financed

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, Margaret Adair, 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, and video and audio broadcasts, 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 should 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

Letter to the Brethren – September 8 , 2021

Download PDF

Dear Members and Friends,

When you receive this letter, the first of the Holy Days in the Fall—the Feast of Trumpets—has already passed. To stay within the symbolic relevance, Jesus Christ has returned and the final battle between the forces of good and evil has been fought. Shortly, Satan and his demons will be imprisoned in the bottomless pit and banned from influencing mankind, and Christ’s rule on and over this earth will begin. These events are pictured by the Day of Atonement (when it becomes possible that all of mankind will be reconciled with God) and the Feast of Tabernacles (when God’s Kingdom will be established on earth).

We, under Christ, will then have the opportunity to teach man God’s Way of Life. Man, having been deceived by Satan the Devil, will learn what it means to love God and neighbor and to live in peace. Man will be able to acquire a new mindset, realizing that “it must be indeed of the spirit if we are to save the flesh.” That re-education process will take some time, but ultimately, man will “beat their swords into plowshares,” and they will not learn war anymore (Isaiah 2:4). They will worship the Prince of Peace who will have come to make wars cease to the end of the earth (Psalm 46:9).

Even though the UN has adopted the passage in Isaiah 2:4, as referred to above, as their motto, there has NEVER been a time when man has not experienced violence and war. There is a reason for that. God did not create man as war-mongering creatures, but Satan kidnapped man to follow his evil devices, and Satan IS called a liar and a murderer from the beginning. He is the AUTHOR of war, and he taught mankind the LIE that war can bring peace. It never has, and it never will. Man has been fighting wars for many Satanic reasons. And so, mankind must be and will be taught that war never brings success and lasting peace; and that war and peace are diametrical opposites.

As Satan and his demons are responsible for much of the evil in the world, they will have to pay. They will be imprisoned in the abyss, but that is not their final fate. Ultimately, they will see how all their works and “accomplishments” will come to an end, being burned up in the fire (2 Peter 3:10-13), and they will become wandering stars, living forever in total darkness (Jude 13).

But this has not happened yet. So far, Christ has not returned; Satan is still on his earthly throne; and Christ’s rule on and over this earth has not yet begun. The autumnal festivals show us, however, that the time is near, picturing events which will surely come to pass.

We, who are called out of this present evil world, are described as ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20; Ephesians 6:20). We are to announce what will happen soon, showing by our lifestyle how the world will live in a few years from now. We are to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom or Government of God—the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15). We are to preach repentance (Luke 24:47)—a change of mind and heart. But not only that, we also are to live by what we preach.

God’s Church is observing the annual Holy Days with the understanding of what they picture. As mentioned, the Day of Atonement points to Satan’s banishment, and the Feast of Tabernacles includes the message of Satan’s literal imprisonment. Satan knows it too, and he has great wrath, realizing that his time is short.

Satan has spiritually imprisoned this world since Adam and Eve, as he and his demons are spiritually imprisoned as well by everlasting chains under darkness (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). But as they will also be literally imprisoned in the bottomless pit, so they have begun to literally imprison this world through lockdowns and other measures of isolation. In addition, they are trying tirelessly, through their human agents and governmental officials, to prevent God’s people from observing His weekly and annual Holy Days. Make no mistake! Satan and his demons will continue, as much as God allows it, to use human rulers and their followers to persecute the saints (Revelation 13:7; 12:13-17), knowing full well that the saints will replace them as rulers over this earth.

What a beautiful time that will be when the Millennium has begun. The Holy Days remind us of God’s Master Plan, but we could forget if we become negligent or cease altogether from observing these days. Many, who once kept these days and don’t keep them anymore, have lost the precious knowledge of God’s Truth in so many ways. The reason is: When we abandon God’s Way of Life, God will remove from us His understanding which He had given us.

Christ warns us that this could even happen to His saints. He said in Matthew 24:4: “Take heed that no one deceives you.” He adds in verse 12 that in many of us, God’s love (which is keeping His commandments) will grow cold. He states in verse 24 that false christs and false prophets will arise—obviously due to Satan’s inspiration—“so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” The
German Menge Bible
makes the intended meaning clearer: “… so as to possibly [or perhaps] deceive also the elect.”

When we follow Satan’s evil devices in NOT properly keeping God’s weekly and annual Holy Days, we have already developed a lukewarm attitude and have already begun our descent into deception. In fact, we have already begun the process of walking away from God, “having been taken captive” again by Satan “to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:26).

It is that serious. On the other hand, if we stick to the “trunk of the Tree” and do what is right in God’s eyes, including observing God’s Holy Days in the proper way, we “will never stumble, and an entrance will be supplied to [us] abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:10-11).

And so, appreciate, enjoy and celebrate God’s Holy Days as never before, for we know that Jesus will return very soon to bring the wonderful life that is ahead in the Kingdom of God!

With Christian love,

 

Norbert Link

Letter to the Brethren – May 21, 2021

Download PDF

Dear Members and Co-Workers,

As I write this letter, it has been more than 50 days since we kept the Days of Unleavened Bread. When you receive this letter, the correct Day of Pentecost will have been observed by those of us in God’s Church. 

Together with Passover, these Spring Holy Days picture the start of God’s plan for us and eventually for all of mankind. After the New Testament Church had begun in Jerusalem and the first group of disciples had received the Holy Spirit, there was a great swelling of people within the Church. We read in Scripture that that early Church was mighty in boldness, power, miracles, healings and in giving glory to God. 

As we think about the Days we have kept, we pictured removing sin from our lives with the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in conjunction with removing sin, we also understood the need to replace sin with righteousness (1 Corinthians 5:6-8). The Day of Pentecost shows us that we must receive and grow in the use of God’s Holy Spirit. We must allow Christ to work in and through us by the power of His Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit, emanating from Christ and God the Father, allows us to operate on a level that people in this world cannot achieve. Without this gift from God, we would end up again as they are. We need God’s power to continue living as Christians. In order to accomplish this properly, we must really continue to put God FIRST in our lives. 

As we examine all the situations that we go through, and maybe the situations of those who we may know, it should be plain for us to see that without God in our lives, things are so much harder. Without God, life can oftentimes be ridiculously frightening and frustrating. It is only by focusing on God and His ways that we can cultivate and grow in the use of God’s Spirit working in us. The early Church didn’t do all the things they did because they were shrinking from their responsibilities or because they were hiding who they were. Rather, they focused on growth. They adhered to and followed a certain Way of Life, and we see that God was pleased with this. God opened the doors as a result.

Since we have celebrated the Spring Holy Days, what is it that we are going to do now? What can we do differently and sustainably in the coming days that we may not have been doing before? 

Will we grow in our ability to search God’s Word? 

Acts 17:11-12 reads: “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.”

The Word of God directs, teaches, inspires and leads us to answers in our lives. Hebrews 4:12 (New International Version) tells us: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” 

Will we grow in prayer?

Colossians 1:9-10 says: “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…”

Ephesians 6:18 (The Amplified New Testament) adds: “With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all [of] God’s people.”

Will we choose to find ways to implement deeper the fruit of the Spirit into our lives? 

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) states: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Whatever we choose to do, we should realize that our time is now! We have to GROW NOW! It all matters what we choose, how we choose to do it, how we interact with God’s people, and how we use God’s Holy Spirit in our lives. I used to think when I was growing up that Christians were kind of forced or compelled in some way to do these things. But I have come to realize that no one is going to force or compel us to follow God. No one is going to make us choose a different path. The decisions which we choose to make every day give meaning to our lives. We choose to allow God to lead us in our lives, or we choose to live without Him.

Christ plainly states in the book of Revelation that He is knocking at the doors of our lives, inviting us to open the door and allowing Him in so that He can show us the Way. “I’m too tired, I’m too busy, I’m not feeling like it, I don’t like to read, I don’t study well, I’ve got too much going on”—these are all excuses that seem to be legitimate in their own ways IF WE LET THEM! God doesn’t force us to love Him. Nor does He force us to accept His laws. We can choose to keep some of them and brush others aside, but that would be a terrible mistake.

When I think about the times in my life I have chosen to do the opposite of God’s Way, I see sadness and pain. The idea is false that happiness or truth or any other spiritual thing can come other than seeking after God’s ways and implementing them. It is a lie which we may swallow all too often because we are seeking after physical instead of spiritual things.

Peter’s admonition to us in 2 Peter 3:18 is to continually grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. The only way to be doing that is to be actively focused on this Way of Life in EVERYTHING that we go through. This is truly how we make more progress in our lives. All of us should focus on how much we can grow. Perhaps it would be a good idea to take a specific area and focus on that for a while and to see what results are produced. The Holy Spirit is NOT static. It must flow into us and through us and out of us and then be renewed. 

We all have much to accomplish and to do. Let’s make sure we are seeking God’s Will in doing so. 

With love,

Kalon Mitchell

Update 954

What Limits? / The Salvation of God

On January 2, 2021, Eric Rank will present the sermonette, titled, “What Limits?” and Dave Harris will present the sermon, titled, “The Salvation of God.”

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.

Back to top

Has It Begun?

by Michael Link

Throughout the years we have written many articles and have given many messages about what we can expect in the upcoming year. We conclude the current year with a summary and review of what we all witnessed around the world and then we ask the question on what we can expect for the “new year.”  We make mention to the fact that Christ will return soon and that we need to be prepared for that, watching what is going on in the world in relation to biblical prophecy.  We have articles that were written over 10 years ago alluding to these statements, along with warnings of what the very near future is going to bring.

Even though these end-time prophecies revealed in the Bible haven’t come to pass, and we don’t know exactly when they will occur, we get more of an idea of how much closer we really are getting based on the situation we are currently in, and we can EXPECT things to get much worse.  We can see just how quickly time has passed in 10 years and we can see just how quickly the world has changed in just one year.  In just one year the livelihood of every individual around the globe has been affected and negatively impacted by just one virus.

The beginning of sorrows which Christ talks about in Matthew 24:4-8 is what we will be going through very shortly, yet the majority of the world doesn’t even realize it, or they do not understand what is really going to happen.  We have already experienced a small taste of what is described here with deception, false prophets, wars and rumors of wars, famines, diseases, and earthquakes in various places, but this is only the beginning.   Many do expect and believe that there will be an “end of the world” but how are they really preparing for it?  Are they preparing like God’s people are supposed to be? I dare to say that not even 1% of the entire population in the world has any understanding of what is going to come.

That which is certain is the fact that we do not know exactly when Christ will return (Matthew 24:36).  God says that a thousand years is like one day to Him as stated in 2 Peter 3:8, so imagine what only 10 years is like in God’s eyes.  What we do know is that the time is going to come when God has had enough, His patience will end and Christ’s coming will not be delayed anymore, and the horrible things that are prophesied in the Bible will begin to take place.

There are so many events that still need to come to pass before Christ’s return and we are certainly witnessing at this very moment the beginning stages of sorrows.  Things can develop so quickly and catch everyone off guard, which is why we can’t be slack in our responsibility to keep watching and being spiritually prepared (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4; Revelation 3:3).

We have just scratched the surface of what is imminent.  So again, we ask the question, what can we expect for this upcoming year?  Will it get better?  Based on what we are going through presently with man’s speculative measures in “controlling” the current pandemic, it would be extremely difficult to imagine that things will go back to “normal.” This is NOT what the Bible reveals.  We KNOW what is going to come and we had better make sure that we are on God’s side for OUR lives are in HIS hands.

Back to top

by Norbert Link

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

Back to top

The Brexit “Deal”

Business Insider wrote on December 25:

“Thursday’s historic Brexit trade deal between the UK and EU still leaves the fishing sector with many key questions unanswered, the mayor of a major French fishing port has warned… The hard-fought agreement between the two parties was resolved, agreeing to a five year transition period over fisheries after which the EU catch would have to reduce by 25%, according to the announcement on Thursday. This was a concession on the part of the UK, who had demanded a 60% fall at the start of the week…

“Despite Johnson calling the deal ‘reasonable’ for the fishing industry in Thursday’s press conference… ‘[the] industry will be bitterly disappointed that there is not more of [a] definitive break,’ Barrie Deas, chief executive of The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, said… For Deas, Johnson has given in to EU demands in order to secure a deal overall, making ‘significant concessions’ in the process. ‘It was clear that Boris Johnson wanted an overall trade deal and was willing to sacrifice fishing,’ he told the Press Association.

“With what appears to be a ‘bare-bones’ deal agreed, the fishing sector is not alone in its uncertainty. Agreements are yet to be made on the services industry – the biggest sector of the UK’s economy… Even with a deal made, parts of the UK’s financial services industry remain unconvinced… The deal still needs to be approved by both the UK parliament and the sovereign states of Europe, but most commentators think it will get the green light.”

Deutsche Welle wrote on December 25:

“The British government has said it would summon MPs back to parliament on December 30 to vote on the deal… British lawmakers are likely to be unhappy with the rushed approval process. Significant legislation typically takes months to pass through parliament and involves line-by-line scrutiny. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson may still face a revolt from Brexiteers in his ruling Conservative Party who don’t think the deal offers a clean enough break from Brussels. But he has an 80 seat majority in the lower parliamentary chamber, the House of Commons, and the opposition Labour party has said it would back the deal. Labour leader Keir Starmer said the agreement was thin, but it was better than no deal at all…

“… businesses will nonetheless face new red tape for imports and exports. And since the deal between the UK and EU was reached a week before the year’s end, people and businesses don’t have much time to prepare for changes coming on January 1. Meanwhile, citizens of the UK and EU will no longer be able to enjoy free movement to live, work and study between the two areas. Britons traveling to the EU’s Schengen passport-free zone can only stay for 90 days in every 180-day period. EU nationals can visit the UK for up to 180 days… But leaving the EU’s single market and customs union will undoubtedly have a negative impact on Britain’s economy.”

Worst Recession in 300 Years

CBS News wrote on December 26:

“The world is making adjustments following a new strain of the coronavirus, spreading in the United Kingdom and beyond as the country’s government says it has entered its worst recession in 300 years.”

Getting Ready for January 6

The Independent wrote on December 26:

“Donald Trump appeared to back the idea of trying to overturn the election result in Congress on 6 January in a series of tweets on Saturday morning in which he once again made… claims of electoral fraud. A joint session of House and Senate politicians will meet on 6 January to count the electoral votes, which gave a 306 to 232 victory to Joe Biden. In what is usually a rubber-stamping exercise, sealed certificates submitted by each state are opened by the vice president, who oversees the process. However, if there are written objections from members of both the House and Senate, a vote by both chambers can be triggered.

“Several Republican congressmen have said they will object. Incoming Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville has suggested he might, despite GOP leader Mitch McConnell telling his party members not to. On Saturday morning, Mr Trump tweeted: ‘The “Justice” Department and the FBI have done nothing about the 2020 Presidential Election Voter Fraud, the biggest SCAM in our nation’s history, despite overwhelming evidence. They should be ashamed. History will remember. Never give up. See everyone in D.C. on January 6th.’

“The tweet was immediately tagged with the phrase ‘This claim about election fraud is disputed’ by Twitter. In another tweet, also tagged as disputed, he wrote: ‘If a Democrat Presidential Candidate had an Election Rigged & Stolen, with proof of such acts at a level never seen before, the Democrat Senators would consider it an act of war, and fight to the death. Mitch & the Republicans do NOTHING, just want to let it pass. NO FIGHT!’

“A third read: ‘The U.S. Supreme Court has been totally incompetent and weak on the massive Election Fraud that took place in the 2020 Presidential Election. We have absolute PROOF, but they don’t want to see it – No “standing”, they say. If we have corrupt elections, we have no country!’

“Mr Trump then claimed his incoming successor was a ‘fake president’ and compared the 2020 election unfavourably to those held in Afghanistan. He wrote: ‘A young military man working in Afghanistan told me that elections in Afghanistan are far more secure and much better run than the USA’s 2020 Election. Ours, with its millions and millions of corrupt Mail-In Ballots, was the election of a third world country. Fake President!’…

“If Republican lawmakers do object during the vote-counting on 6 January, the ploy is unlikely to work. The rules stipulate that both chambers must vote to support the objections and the House of Representatives is controlled by the Democrats. The membership of the Senate will be decided on 5 January with two run-off elections in Georgia, where incumbent Republicans are trying to hang on to their seats. If Democrats win both, the parties will be even, with 50 senators each. In the case of tied votes, the president of the Senate – currently vice president Mike Pence… – casts a deciding vote.

“The move has been tried before, including in 2017 when half a dozen Democrats rose to object to Mr Trump’s victory. In a twist of irony they were overruled by none other than Joe Biden, who as vice president was overseeing the count. He pointed out that none of the objections had been properly made in writing, adding: ‘It’s over.’”

Gun Violence Spiking

The Associated Press wrote on December 28:

“In Detroit, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and even smaller Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Milwaukee, 2020 has been deadly not only because of the pandemic, but because gun violence is spiking. Authorities and some experts say there is no one clear-cut reason for the spike. They instead point to social and economic upheaval caused by the COVID-19 virus, public sentiment toward police following George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis police custody and a historic shortage of jobs and resources in poorer communities as contributing factors. It’s happening in cities large and small, Democrat and Republican-led…

“What the COVID-19 virus did was exacerbate all of the frustration and anger that some in Black and brown communities already were dealing with, according to retired Michigan State University sociology professor Carl Taylor. ‘The COVID has been absolutely the trigger of an everlasting bomb that’s exploding in many parts of our community,’ he added. Nowhere is that more true than inside people’s homes. ‘The COVID crisis and the economic shutdown is forcing people into their homes, creating conditions where people are more volatile,’ said Kim Foxx, the top prosecutor in Cook County, which includes Chicago. And the most jarring statistic that illustrates that volatility is this: The number of domestic-related homicides in the nation’s third-largest city are up more than 60% compared with last year…”

Recalling Newsom

Fox News wrote on December 29:

“The California governor’s days could be limited thanks to a growing effort to invoke a statewide referendum. A campaign to recall [him] is picking up steam after individual donors offered tens of thousands of dollars each and they scored $500,000 from an Irvine-based consulting firm… Since 1911, Californians have attempted to recall their governor 55 times, but were successful only in 2003 against Gov. Gray Davis, who lost his special election to Arnold Schwarzenegger. That effort was propelled into the spotlight after Rep. Darrell Issa donated $2 million. After Prov 3:9 [LLC] became the first major donor in the effort to recall Newsom, other big donors may step forward.

“Fed up with the Democratic governor’s shutdown orders, which some found erratic, Rescue California organized to circulate petitions that call for Newsom’s governorship to be recalled and a special election to take place, well before the next governor’s race in November 2022. Newsom, currently in his first term, has not yet said if he plans to run again.

“Rescue California needs a minimum 1,495,709 valid signatures to recall the governor, and the group says it’s collected some 800,000 so far.”

Jens Spahn Germany’s Most Popular Politician

Newsmax wrote on December 27:

“German Health Minister Jens Spahn has taken over from Chancellor Angela Merkel as the nation’s most popular politician, a poll showed Sunday, highlighting his potential as a future leader of Europe’s biggest economy. Spahn, 40, has long been considered a rising star in Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union, and is widely perceived to have made a key contribution to Germany’s relatively successful handling of the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Kantar poll in Bild newspaper, 52% of those surveyed said Spahn should play a major role in German politics in 2021, up from 28% at the end of 2019. Merkel’s approval rating was 51%, up 11 percentage points from the previous year…

“Merkel is stepping down following the next election due in September 2021 after more than a decade and a half in power. The CDU will elect a new leader and probable chancellor candidate at a virtual congress next month. Spahn has backed Armin Laschet, the premier of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, while Friedrich Merz, a long-time Merkel rival, and Norbert Roettgen, a former environment minister, are also running. The winner will likely be the conservative bloc’s candidate to succeed Merkel next year, though Bavaria Premier Markus Soeder, head of the CDU’s sister party in the southern state, may be asked to step in.

“Soeder is the third-most popular politician on 50%, the Kantar poll showed. Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the Social Democrats’ chancellor candidate, was fourth on 47%, Merz scored 37% in sixth place, Laschet 31% in eighth and Roettgen 29% in ninth. While Spahn has thrown his support behind Laschet, there is an outside chance he could be tapped to run as the conservative candidate for chancellor if he is seen as having the best chance of winning the election.”

A Vaccine Passport

CNN Business wrote on December 28:

“Now that coronavirus vaccines are starting to roll out in the US and abroad, many people may be dreaming of the day when they can travel, shop and go to the movies again. But in order to do those activities, you may eventually need something in addition to the vaccine: a vaccine passport application.

“Several companies and technology groups have begun developing smartphone apps or systems for individuals to upload details of their Covid-19 tests and vaccinations, creating digital credentials that could be shown in order to enter concert venues, stadiums, movie theaters, offices, or even countries. The Common Trust Network, an initiative by Geneva-based nonprofit The Commons Project and the World Economic Forum, has partnered with several airlines including Cathay Pacific, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Swiss Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, as well as hundreds of health systems across the United States and the government of Aruba.

“The CommonPass app created by the group allows users to upload medical data such as a Covid-19 test result or, eventually, a proof of vaccination by a hospital or medical professional, generating a health certificate or pass in the form of a QR code that can be shown to authorities…”

Spain Will Register those who Choose not to get Vaccinated

The New York Times wrote on December 28:

“Spain plans to collect and share with other European Union nations information about residents who decide not to get vaccinated for Covid-19, the country’s health minister said on Monday.

“Spain’s health minister, Salvador Illa, stressed that vaccination would not be made compulsory, but, he said, a register would be set up that would include all the people who turned down the vaccine after being called up for vaccination by Spain’s public health service.

75-Year Old Man Gets Vaccinated and Dies two hours later

365 wrote on December 28:

“A 75-year old man from the norther[n] Israeli town of Beit Shaan died of a heart attack just two hours after getting Pfizer’s covid vaccine on Monday… The man got the vaccine at 8:30 in the morning and waited in the HMO. He was subsequently released to his home after he reported that he felt fine. At home, he lost consciousness and then passed away.

“Initial reports claimed that his death was unrelated to the vaccine however the Health Ministry is now investigating the circumstances of his death. The head of the Health Ministry, Dr Hezy Levi admitted to the Kan broadcasting network that he didn’t know if his death was tied to the vaccine, but said that a committee would be established to investigate it.”

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.

Back to top

Doesn’t Psalm 139:8 show that we either go to heaven or hell at death?

First of all, let us read this verse: “If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.”

This is a psalm that Church of God members will have sung many times as it features as hymn 105 in the Church’s Bible Hymnal.

In the previous verse we read: “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” which shows that king David understood that God had perfect knowledge of man which is the heading of the Psalm.   God knows our very thoughts (verse 2) which means that even if we are praying silently, He still hears.   Therefore, verse 8 sums up the fact that wherever we are, God knows.

However, this verse can be seized upon by some to say that at death we go to heaven or to an ever burning fiery hell, neither of which are correct.   In fact, the Bible speaks of three heavens and for those who are not aware of these facts, or those who may wish to refresh their memories on this subject, please see https://www.globalchurchofgod.co.uk/q-a-3756/

In the Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament we read: “God, however, is omnipresent, sustaining the life of all things by His Spirit, and revealing Himself either in love or in wrath – what the poet styles His countenance. To flee from this omnipresence (away from), as the sinner and he who is conscious of his guilt would gladly do, is impossible.”

On the website https://www.bible-studys.org/ we read that “The word translated ‘hell’ here refers to ‘the grave’ or ‘the place of the dead’ rather than the place of eternal punishment for unbelievers. David asserts that God is, in fact, everywhere. Death cannot separate the believer from Him (Rom. 8:38-39; 2 Cor. 5:8). And when His people worship, they have an incredible sense of His manifest presence (22:3).”

Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible gives the following explanation: “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there,…. No man hath ascended or can ascend to heaven of himself; it is an hyperbolical expression, as are those that follow; none but Christ has ascended to heaven by his own power, who descended from it….”

However, having got the above brief quotation correct, the Exposition then goes on to explain heaven and hell in the terms mostly accepted by mainstream Christianity today, that is heaven for the good and hell for the damned.

There are many references in the Bible to Sheol (hell) in the Old Testament, for example: Numbers 16:31-34, Job 7:7-10, Psalm 88:2-10, 1 Samuel 2:6; 2 Samuel 22:5–19; Job 10:18-22, Psalm 30:3, Psalm 94:17, Psalm 143:3, Psalm 115:17, Jonah 2:3-8 and others, and this shows that a person, upon his death, does not go to hell in the way understood in mainstream churches today.

According to Sidney Brichto, a British Liberal rabbi, the early Israelites apparently believed that the graves of family, or tribe, united into one and that this, unified collectively, is to what the Biblical Hebrew term Sheol refers: the common grave of humans.

Joseph Caryl, a 17th century English writer and preacher, wrote: “Hell in some places in Scripture signifies the lower parts of the earth, without relation to punishment: If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. By ‘heaven’ he means the upper region of the world, without any respect to the state of blessedness; and ‘hell’ is the most opposite and remote in distance, without respect to misery. As if he had said, Let me go whither I will, thy presence finds me out.”

To show that a Christian does not go to Heaven after death, please read the following Q&A: https://www.globalchurchofgod.co.uk/q-a-3756/

And so what is the answer?   Barnes mentioned that no man hath ascended or can ascend to heaven of himself; it is a hyperbolical expression.

Overstatement can be intentional or accidental. It’s usually considered hyperbole, but may also be used as idiomatic emphasis.

What is hyberbole?   E W Bullinger, a 19th Century English clergyman, Biblical scholar, and theologian wrote a book entitled “Figures of Speech Used in The Bible” and showed that there were over 200 different types of figures of speech, and hyperbole was one of them.   It is, put simply, an exaggeration to make the point and not to be taken literally, and when applied to Psalm 139:8 it is showing the sheer impossibility of any such action being achieved.

There are many instances of hyperbole in the Bible which we will review in the next Q&A.

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

Back to top

Preaching the Gospel and Feeding the Flock

compiled by Dave Harris

StandingWatch is available on the following PODCAST channels:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/standingwatch-church-of-the-eternal-god/id1330895804

https://play.google.com/music/managemusic?t=StandingWatch_%E2%80%93_Church_of_the_Eternal_God&pcampaignid=MKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16

https://www.stitcher.com/show/standing-watch

StandingWatch Programs, Sermons, Sermonettes and Booklet Promotions—both current and past presentations are available on our YouTube channel:

The Church of the Eternal God Facebook channel is: https://www.facebook.com/ChurchoftheEternalGod

“Wo liegt das Problem?” is the German sermonette presented last Sabbath by Johann Schell, and is now posted. Title in English: “Where is the Problem?” 

“Finding Hope,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Frank Bruno, is now posted. Here is a summary:

The world today is a very dark place, and there is no leadership capable of fixing it—other than the hand of God and the return of His Son: Jesus Christ. Yet, this world and its creatures were still created by God and if we open our eyes we see His hand everywhere if we are paying attention. We must be vigilant and watch for the signs, but we can also appreciate the majesty of God’s hand in our lives each day. This Sermonette will discuss several scriptures that can make this clear in the ways that mankind cannot. Together we can find the hope we need to remain strong and do what we must.

“The Futility of Anger,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Robb Harris, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Anger is an emotion that few live without. From the beginning of humanity, man has either fought against or allowed to fester this emotional outpouring. Today, as the world winds ever closer to experiencing the wrath and judgement of God, we must, like Christ, temper this emotion in a way that doesn’t lead us towards spiritual destruction.

Back to top


How This Work is Financed

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, Margaret Adair, 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, and video and audio broadcasts, 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 should 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

Preaching the Gospel and Feeding the Flock

compiled by Dave Harris

PLEASE NOTE: All of our recent sermons and sermonettes have begun to be posted following the recent fall Holy Days. These postings may be found at www.eternalgod.org and https://www.ewigengottes.de/

“How to Love Our Country” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

Are we to love our country in which we live… to be true patriots? If so, what does this mean exactly, and what does it not mean? Many have a wrong concept of true godly love, and this program will give you answers to many misunderstood ideas. 

A German AufPostenStehen version of this program has been produced as well, titled, Wie wir unser Land lieben!” 

“Daran erkennen wir die Wahrheit!” is the title of this Sabbath’s new German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “By This We Know the Truth.”

“What Do You Have to Lose?” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Eric Rank, is now posted. Here is a summary:

The fear of loss has an undeniable effect on our behavior. When we consider how we make decisions, how much do we allow the fear of loss to direct us? When we think about God’s role in our lives, the power over the fear of loss in worldly terms fails to have an effect, freeing us up to act with boldness and courage.

“Do We See Our Calling?” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Dave Harris, is now posted. Here is a summary:

What does it really mean to be called by God? Do we truly understand the implications of God’s calling and our responsibility to respond? How can each of us succeed in our calling to salvation in the Kingdom of God?

Letter to the Brethren – May 26, 2020

Download PDF

Dear Brethren,

These days we all have something in common. And when I say “we,” I mean everyone in the whole world. Every single one of us is affected by the societal response to the global pandemic of Covid-19. We’ve canceled trips. If we’re fortunate enough to have work, we’ve changed the way we do it. We’ve been forced to find masks to wear when we shop. We were told to stand in lines six feet apart from the person in front of us. Some have hesitated or refused shaking hands. We’ve been shocked to see shortages of goods. I could go on about how life has changed for everyone, but I think the point is clear. Life has changed on an unprecedented scale, and there’s no way that we can completely escape from it.

Some of the sacrifices have been difficult to make. But with the difficulty in responding to the changes imposed upon us, it gives us a chance to be tested. Generally speaking, tests are necessary if we want to determine how successful we are in achieving our goals and ambitions. With the difficult circumstances that we all face, what are the results of our tests? Do we find ourselves expressing short-tempered unrighteous anger, lack of patience, greed, frustration, depression, and fear? Or do we find ourselves grateful, kind, understanding, generous, faithful, and loving? It’s no surprise if we pick a few items from both of those lists. In whatever way we find ourselves behaving, the results of our actions provide us with insight into the state of our hearts. Difficult circumstances help us understand our true selves.

To be tested is a privilege because the results teach us how to improve. It is never easy to endure difficulty, but knowing that circumstances are purposeful in producing good in our lives (compare Romans 8:28), we can be confident that life’s difficulties will help us in the long run. Peter writes a challenging admonition for us to follow: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7). While it seems contradictory to rejoice in various trials, they provide us with information that we cannot otherwise obtain about ourselves. When we consider the end result of our trials, we can see our hearts more clearly. Do we produce the fruit of the Spirit in difficult times, or only when life is easy? Without this kind of information, how would we otherwise be able to learn how to grow? In whatever shape they take, the tests that we all endure provide us with invaluable insight about the underlying motivations of our behavior—which is what the Bible refers to in addressing the “heart” of a person.

Christians need to expect to be tested by difficult circumstances. Since we live in a world that opposes God’s teachings, when we follow God, we will find conflict with the world. Jesus Christ states that His true followers will be persecuted for their beliefs (compare Luke 21:12, John 16:2-3). In this time when the governments of the world prohibit Church gatherings and other essential Church functions, it is clear that God and His people are under attack. And we know that times will only get worse, increasing the difficulty of our tests.

But we have nothing to fear. We need to remember that God and His righteousness will prevail, and that He believes in our ability to overcome. “For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment [abundance]” (Psalm 66:10-12). As we can see, we must expect to be tested—refined in the fire like silver and gold—so that we can remove the impurities and things that hide deep within our hearts. But we can also see that the planned result of the process will be ABUNDANCE! Trials are difficult by design, but they help us to become purer, training us for life in the future Kingdom of God.

This Truth only makes sense to people who understand God’s plan. “Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand” (Daniel 12:10). If we are among the wise, we will understand that the difficult times we endure in the world have a purpose. Can we see that we are being refined right now? It’s true. The real question is, what are we doing with the information resulting from our personal tests? What do our trials say about what lies within our hearts? If we are being refined—and we are being refined—we have an opportunity to examine our hearts and do something about it.

If we come through our trials judging our hearts to be 100% pure already with nothing more to work on, we need to think again. A Scripture that we should take into consideration reminds us of our human condition: “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:9-10). It is humanly natural to look into our hearts and judge that we have nothing to fix. Our truest desires in our hearts can be deceitful, though. Since our hearts show us what we value the most, it is hard to see if our hearts’ desires may be misplaced. It’s no wonder that man’s heart is deceitful! Our values are founded on what we believe to be right and true, and our hearts reflect this. Therefore, it is difficult to judge on our own that we may have something in our hearts to fix.

In order to correctly and fully understand our hearts, we must have the mind of God so we can think like Him (compare 1 Corinthians 2:16). And the only way we can have the mind of God is with the Holy Spirit living within us. From the very beginning God knew that His people would need the Holy Spirit to learn righteousness and overcome the world. With the Feast of Pentecost upon us, we observe the memorial of when the Holy Spirit was given to the first-generation Christian Church (compare Acts 2:1-4). Like the first Christians, we too have the Holy Spirit available to help us.

Since we have a need to examine our hearts with the mind of God, we use the Holy Spirit within us, and look to God for help. He is the One who searches the heart and tests the mind. Since we are able to discern the Truth with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can see ourselves as God sees us. In that way, through the tests and trials that He gives us, we learn about what really lies within our hearts. With that information we can compare it to the standard of His righteousness and figure out what to do about it. If we find that our hearts direct our thoughts and actions in ways that lead us away from producing the fruit of the Spirit, we have some work to do. Do we find that we’re not faithful enough? Are we showing God’s love to our brethren and our neighbors? Is there something in our hearts that shows that we have our treasure misplaced (compare Matthew 6:19-21)? If we discover that we have work to do in our lives, we should be encouraged by it. We know that we have the opportunity right now to improve the way we live so we can please God more. The tests that we endure refine our hearts, showing us how to direct our efforts to produce the change that God wants to see.

In the difficulty of these end times, we are confident that God knows what we are going through. The world around us will falter, but God’s people are supposed to emerge stronger. We have a unique opportunity right now to take advantage of the tests we’re taking to examine our hearts and become refined. As we observe the Feast of Pentecost, we are reminded of the great gift of the Holy Spirit which God gives us. Will we use the gift of the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts and find ways to increase our treasure in heaven?

With brotherly love,

Eric Rank

©2024 Church of the Eternal God