Update 1218

On August 8, 2026, Norbert Link will speak about News and Prophecy and Kalon Mitchell will give the sermon, titled, “The Weight of God’s Glory”

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.

When the ancient people of Israel were freed from captivity in Egypt and called to depart from their sins to serve God, it was no easy path for them to enter the new life God had planned for them.

Time and again, Israel forgot that God had delivered them from Egyptian slavery with a mighty hand, and the Bible shows us this pattern many times, especially during the journey through the wilderness and also later throughout the entire Old Testament period, extending into the New Testament, and even beyond into the present day.

God’s miracles were repeatedly forgotten, in no small part because Israel had continuously expressed its discontent and dissatisfaction. God had provided them with everything they needed for the entire forty years; He even gave them silver and gold jewelry, clothes, and precious garments, useful household items, livestock, and much more for their exodus from Egypt.

Nevertheless, they had decided – and even encouraged one another – to grumble against God, to rebel, and to openly display their ingratitude.

They had simply allowed God’s great deeds to fade from memory, even though He had reminded them with these words: “…because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it” (Numbers 14:22-23).

One might say, “A murmuring heart found no peace even at a bountiful table.” That is sad, but true!

David put it very aptly in Psalm 106:7: “Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; They did not remember the multitude of Your mercies, But rebelled by the sea—the Red Sea.”

But even today, if one understands who and where Israel and Judah are now, one can see that they have forgotten God’s great deeds—everything He once did for their ancestors and everything He has done for them to this day. God’s mercy is so immeasurably great, yet people seem to have a tendency to forget—time and again, and especially very quickly.

Why does this even happen? Why don’t people remember God’s good deeds? Why are His blessings and His guidance so quickly forgotten? How quickly do we forget today?

Even though Paul had repeatedly written it down in the letter to the Hebrews as a reminder, precisely so that people would not forget: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” (Hebrews 12:1). 

One might add here: “…and let’s not forget!”

But on the one hand, the human heart often tends toward selfishness or egotism, and on the other hand, prosperity and wealth can replace good memories of God’s deeds. Furthermore, false pride can also attribute success to oneself, as God already warns us in Deuteronomy 8:11,17: “Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today… then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’”

This is also why Christ said in Matthew 19:23: “…Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of [God].”

We are God’s chosen people today – all of us throughout the world who have been baptized in the proper manner and who are part of the Body of Christ.

God the Father, as well as Jesus Christ, have called us out of this sinful world, just as He did with Israel in those days. We read this call – “Come out of her, my people” – in Revelation 18:4, and it is one of God’s most urgent calls to His people – to us today in these end times. We are all spiritual Israelites and must never allow the works of God to fade from our minds and hearts.

It is Satan who tries to steal the memory of God’s Word from our hearts. Christ explains this unequivocally in the Parable of the Sower:

“…When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts” (Mark 4:15; compare Matthew 13:19).

This statement applies not only to hearing the Word of God, but also to its enduring effect in our lives. Satan does everything in his power to ensure that God’s Word and His Truth fall into oblivion, lose their power, and bear no fruit in us.

That is why it is not enough to hear or read the Word of God just once a week. We must continually keep it within us, reflect on it again and again, and bring it to life in our daily routines. Thus, it will remain in our hearts, shape our thoughts and actions, and produce the fruit that God expects of us.

This means that our memory needs constant care and conscious recall. It is no coincidence that the Bible contains so many exhortations such as “Remember…,” “Do not forget…,” “Tell your children about it…,” or “Write down these words…” There is a deep spiritual principle behind this as well.

God knows how easily people forget – even His greatest blessings, miracles, and acts of help. That is why He repeatedly calls on us, His people, to consciously remember His deeds, His commandments, and His promises, and not to forget them.

According to the Bible, remembering is not a passive process, but a conscious spiritual exercise and discipline. Those who regularly recall God’s works through Bible study, prayer, meditation, and fasting strengthen their faith, maintain gratitude, and remain steadfast in their trust in God.

But when we stop consciously remembering God’s deeds, we often fall into ingratitude, doubt, disobedience, and rebellion. That is why God repeatedly calls on His people to consciously keep His miracles, His commandments, and His help in mind.

David gives us a beautiful guide for anchoring this in our memory. We read in Psalm 103:2-5:

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,  Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Initial translation from the German: Daniel Blasinger

By Norbert Link

We address America’s leadership relinquishment of a U.S.-led NATO command in Germany; President Trump’s broken promise allowing Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missiles; and Russia’s dangerous violation of Poland’s airspace. 

We continue with the “invasion” of many migrants into the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla; and the alleged deal ‌to bring peace to Gaza which has no chance of success.

We report on a macabre and bizarre decision by the Sanhedrin ordering God to reveal the Messiah and have Him build the Third Temple; and we remind the reader of the Holy See’s support of Dr. Fauci and Big Pharma. 

We speak on Russia’s ongoing persecution of the Jehovah’s Witnesses; Germany’s ongoing persecution of the AfD; the anniversary of July 20, 1944; and the question regarding Jens Spahn’s possible comeback.

We conclude with FIFA’s debacle (of which Trump claims he knew nothing); his botched up pool; and the dangers of AI.

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “USA Dangerously Short on Essential Missiles.”

USA Gives Up Leadership of NATO Command in Germany

Politico wrote on July 31:

“The Pentagon is giving up leadership of a U.S.-led NATO command in Germany that coordinates military aid to Ukraine, the latest sign of a broader American withdrawal from its closest allies.

“… the removal of U.S. leadership from a pivotal program on the continent reinforces the extent to which America is distancing itself from European partners… The move will mean the U.S. no longer helps shape what Ukraine’s future military will look like.”

Trump’s Gibberish on Ukraine

The Huffington Post wrote on July 31:

“President Donald Trump on Friday offered a 645-word string of incoherent non-sequiturs to explain whether he is honoring a previous commitment to let Ukraine build its own Patriot anti-missile interceptor factory to defend itself against Russian attacks. ‘We have not agreed to that. We’re talking about it. But it’s a hard thing to give away that kind of technology. And I don’t think this would ever happen, but, you know, you give that technology, they can someday turn on you. You know, that is possible. You look at war, it’s happened a couple of times over the years, right,’ Trump said, answering a reporter’s question about whether he was now reneging on his pledge from just three weeks ago…

“In his answer, he twice mentioned Tomahawks, a completely different missile that was not asked about. At the end, even after an attempted follow-up…, [it] was unclear what Trump meant… Ukrainian officials, meanwhile, said they were proceeding based on the commitment made earlier this month, which was reaffirmed at the Oval Office meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday, and further affirmed in a phone call between Zelenskyy and Vice President JD Vance on Friday morning…

“Trump publicly announced at the NATO summit in Ankara… that Ukraine would be granted a license to manufacture interceptors for its Patriot anti-missile system, which are currently scarce because so many have been used in Trump’s war against Iran… Questions about Trump’s commitment to that pledge, though, arose after his interview with the Financial Times on Thursday, during which he said the following about the Patriot license: ‘It’s a very extraordinary weapon, and we have to be a little bit careful of who we license to.’”

Violation of Polish Airspace by Russia

ZDF Heute reported on July 31:

“While Ukraine is attacking new targets in Russia and even in the Caspian Sea, Russian attacks are continuing as well: the most recent target was western Ukraine, during which a presumably Russian cruise missile struck Polish territory. Such a missile—potentially highly dangerous and precise—flew approximately 95 kilometers across the Ukrainian border without being intercepted.

“Military and security expert Nico Lange explains the potential consequences of these airspace violations in Poland for NATO… For Lange, the impact in Poland is alarming for several reasons… the cruise missile flew 95 kilometers without being stopped by Polish or NATO air defenses… ‘With actions like this, Russia is testing whether air defenses are functioning at 100 percent capacity.’ Yet no one managed to shoot down the missile…”

USA Has Used Up Virtually All Essential Missiles

Fox News wrote on August 4:

“The Army has used ‘virtually all’ of its inventories of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) during the five-month conflict with Iran, Reuters, citing people familiar with internal U.S. military data, reported Tuesday. Officials fear the drawdown could complicate the military’s ability to respond to future crises involving adversaries such as China and Russia, according to the report.

“The White House disputed any suggestion the U.S. military lacks the weapons needed to carry out its missions…. If accurate, the report underscores a longstanding Pentagon concern: America’s most sophisticated precision weapons can be expended in months but often take years to replace. Reuters also reported that the conflict significantly reduced inventories of Patriot and THAAD missile interceptors, along with Tomahawk cruise missiles, though the Pentagon has maintained the U.S. military retains the capabilities needed to carry out operations worldwide…

“Independent analysts have also warned that months of combat have strained U.S. inventories of high-end munitions. The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated last week that the U.S. had expended roughly 65% of its Patriot interceptor stockpile and that inventories of THAAD interceptors had fallen by at least 38% since the start of the Iran conflict…”

Russia Exposes NATO Weapons Gap 

Fox News wrote on July 28:

“Days after NATO allies committed tens of billions of dollars to new air and missile defenses, the alliance’s top transformation commander warned that the West must fundamentally redesign its weapons and industrial base to withstand attacks at the scale now being demonstrated in Ukraine and the Middle East. ‘Today, the math is not in favor of the West,’ Adm. Pierre Vandier, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT), told Fox News Digital…  The summit produced commitments to acquire 900 Patriot missiles and invest more than $40 billion in counter-drone capabilities throughout five years.  But Vandier argued that simply buying more of the West’s existing weapons will not solve the underlying problem… ‘There is no way to produce 50,000 Patriots a year,’ Vandier said. ‘We don’t have the supply chain, and it’s not worth doing that given the cost of the weapon.’…

“Trump announced at the summit that the United States would grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot interceptors, potentially allowing Kyiv to build more of the weapons it urgently needs to defend against Russian ballistic missiles. [Apparently, Trump later went back on that promise; see above-quoted article.] But asked whether the announcement changed his assessment that Patriots alone could not protect Europe throughout the next five years, Vandier pointed to a deeper obstacle: Western weapons were designed around an industrial base that no longer exists…

“We are at a moment where some stuff will be redesigned under pressure to be mass-produced… For NATO now, it’s a question of speed of adaptation… The Pandora’s box is open again,’ Vandier said…”

How China Won the Iran War

On August 3, Paul Krugman wrote in his newsletter:

“Make America Great Again?… Donald Trump has weakened us with astonishing speed… The disintegration of U.S. power was well underway before Trump started his war on Iran, but the pace of decline has accelerated sharply since the magnitude of our defeat started becoming apparent…

“China hasn’t been a direct combatant in the third Gulf war, and its support for Iran has, until recently, been discreet… China has been a serious geopolitical rival to the United States for some time. China’s manufacturing sector overtook the US in 2010, and the gap has continued to grow… Even before the bombing of Iran began, some observers worried about the state of the U.S. military… the war has really put the nail in the coffin of the U.S.-centered alliance system….

“Trumpian tariff policy, by itself, was an announcement to the world that agreements with the U.S. government are worthless. Add to this the demands that Canada become the 51^st state, that Denmark hand over Greenland…, and America had thoroughly lost the trust of its former friends even before the Iran war…. Trump launched a war that, in addition to creating death and destruction, cut off much of the world’s oil supply without so much as consulting other nations. Once the war began, America proved both incapable of imposing its will on Iran and unable either to open the Strait of Hormuz or to protect regional allies…

“The end of U.S. leadership and China’s growing geopolitical ascendancy are bad things. China is a corrupt autocracy, with little respect for human rights and none at all for democratic values.”

Spain Invaded by Migrants?

Daily Mail wrote on July 31:

“Morocco has been accused of facilitating the mass influx of around 60,000 migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Around 60,000 people swam from Morocco into the Spanish city located on the northern coast of North Africa on Thursday.  The Spanish territory, which shares a land border with the North African country, was overrun as tens of thousands of migrants arrived in just 24 hours…

“Spain’s Supreme Court recently ruled that migrants who are stopped at sea attempting to reach Melilla or Ceuta, both Spanish enclaves, could not be summarily sent back to Morocco. Amid the chaos, Italy has suspended its EU border-free Schengen arrangements with the Mediterranean country… Italy does not have a land border with Spain; however, the move will affect those travelling by plane or boat between the two countries… Meanwhile, the Italian interior ministry also said it had agreed with Paris to tighten controls along the Franco-Italian border… Finland backed calls for the Mediterranean country to be booted out of the Schengen area, which allows passport-free travel between 29 European countries.  

“The chaos in Ceuta also spread to Spain’s second North African enclave of Melilla overnight…

“Spain’s socialist government stands out in Europe for its pro-migrant stance, and has recently launched a programme to provide legal status for some 500,000 undocumented migrants, triggering an influx of applications double that number…”

Euractiv wrote on July 31:

“Pedro Sánchez found himself increasingly isolated in Europe on Friday evening as leaders turned the Ceuta migration crisis into a test of Spain’s credibility at controlling the bloc’s borders… Calls from EU national leaders to suspend Spain from Schengen came thick and fast… The move to suspend cooperation on Schengen with Spain is highly legally questionable, and was never truly on the table…

“Even leaders who stopped short of endorsing Meloni’s call adopted a tougher tone. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged Madrid to emulate Poland’s hardline approach at its Belarusian border, saying Spain ‘must follow our example if Schengen is to survive.’

“Paris struck a more conciliatory tone than several European counterparts by stressing that it stood ‘ready to assist’ Madrid if requested…

“But socialist leader António Costa, who chairs the European Council, appeared determined not to leave Sánchez isolated. The EU leader delivered a very different message late on Friday, commending Spain for its ‘firm’ response and sending an explicit message of ‘solidarity’ to Sánchez.”

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 31:

“Spain’s government said that… 48,300 migrants had returned to Morocco… The figures would mean that most of the 60,000 migrants estimated to have breached the border into Ceuta have already left.”

Don’t Believe the Spin

The Telegraph wrote on August 4:

“[When] Spain’s prime minister, declared shortly afterwards that ‘practically all’ of them had returned to Morocco, relief quickly gave way to mockery – even though almost nobody had bothered to verify Madrid’s claims… German liberal weekly Die Zeit denounced what it called ‘fact-free Spain-bashing’ and went further still: ‘The new arrivals were returned quickly and without bureaucracy…’  It would be comforting if that were true. It is not….

“The facts on the ground told a different story. The area around Ceuta’s hopelessly overcrowded reception centre remained in a state of emergency on Sunday evening. There was violence. Residents told a local news outlet that people had tried to break into their homes.

“Meanwhile, two local media organisations reported that migrants had reached the Spanish mainland – less than 12 miles away and therefore inside the Schengen area – in speedboats and on jet skis. Both said the vessels had departed from Ceuta. Were migrants who had only just entered Ceuta illegally already being smuggled onward to mainland Europe? Or had the boats in fact set off from Morocco? That remains unclear. What is clear is that the crisis is not over…

“… allowing thousands of people simply to swim around a border fence that barely reaches into the sea — or to walk around it without anyone stopping them — is not an unavoidable tragedy. It is a display of abject weakness….

“The events in Ceuta have exposed an uncomfortable truth. Whether Ceuta, Melilla, the Canary Islands or the Spanish towns along the Strait of Gibraltar become the next centre of Europe’s migration crisis is determined less by Spain or Brussels than by Morocco.”

Morocco to Occupy Ceuta and Melilla?

Politico wrote on August 5:

“The ease with which tens of thousands of migrants penetrated the border has ramped up a sense of vulnerability to hybrid attack. And that alarm has only been amplified by a fear that traditional NATO allies in the U.S. and the EU are no longer fully dependable because of their political feuds with Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Buoyed by an increasingly warm relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, Rabat is seizing the moment and doubling down on its claims to Ceuta and Melilla, which it sees as occupied territory, in Morocco’s state-aligned press…

“Ceuta and Melilla are among the few remaining vestiges of the vast Spanish Empire. They have been under Madrid’s rule since 1668 and 1497, respectively, and are fully-integrated parts of Spain — and the European Union. But since gaining independence from France in 1956, Morocco has consistently claimed sovereignty over both settlements, which it characterizes as “colonies” that are “occupied” by Spain…

“Morocco and the United States have become [close] since 2020. That year, Trump took the landmark step of recognizing Rabat’s claim to the disputed territory of Western Sahara in exchange for the normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel. Last week, Trump reaffirmed that recognition in a statement issued by the U.S. embassy in Rabat at the same moment as the migrants surged into Ceuta.”

Hamas to Give Up Weapons?

Thomson/Reuters wrote on July 31:

“U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday a deal he announced ‌to bring peace to Gaza was ‘a great breakthrough’ despite signs from both Hamas and Israel that significant hurdles remained before a deal can be implemented. The comment came a day after what Trump called a ‘major milestone’ towards ending the war in Gaza that he said would see the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups…

“A senior Hamas official involved in the negotiation told Reuters that implementation of the deal would depend on Israel first meeting its commitments under an ​agreement reached last year that bound it to a phased end to military operations and withdrawal of its forces from Gaza. An Israeli official said Israel’s position remained ⁠that ‘there will be no withdrawalwhatsoever of the ⁠IDF from the current yellow line unless Hamas undergoes a genuine disarmament…’

“Trump, who met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on Tuesday, said Israel was ‘very happy’ about the deal… An Israeli political source said on Thursday the issue of Gaza did not come up during Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump…

“Former Canadian ambassador to Israel Jon Allen is ‘highly skeptical’ about the deal announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, saying the president has made many promises, but significant controversy remains over the outcome…”

Axios wrote on July 31:

“… the deal requires Hamas and Israel to complete a complicated series of reciprocal and independently verified steps over roughly seven to eight months. Israeli officials remain deeply skeptical that Hamas will surrender its weapons, while comments from a senior Hamas official suggest the sequencing of disarmament and Israel’s withdrawal could still be contested.”

The Augsburger Allgemeine wrote on July 31:

“Disarm Hamas? The sooner, the better. However, matters are not as simple as Donald Trump imagines. Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon are terrorist organizations with which one does not negotiate as one would with normal governments. Their business model is fear—and no one is afraid of unarmed terrorists.

“Any pledge to voluntarily lay down arms could therefore mean the exact opposite: in Lebanon, Hezbollah has repeatedly promised to disarm, yet its arsenals remain stocked with thousands of rockets because the Lebanese military is too weak to take on the terrorist militia. And in the Gaza Strip, Hamas has so far used every ceasefire and every phase of negotiations to replenish its weapons stockpiles…

“Trump has no answer to the most important questions anyway: Who is actually supposed to disarm Hamas—an international intervention force that is frequently discussed but does not yet exist? Or the Israeli army, to which Hamas is unlikely to voluntarily submit? The Palestinian transitional administration tasked with organizing the disarmament exists only on paper so far. And who guarantees that its ranks won’t include Hamas activists or covert sympathizers?

“Trump’s optimism is all well and good. But if Hamas makes Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza a condition for its disarmament, the US President must not fall for the ruse… the Israeli army can only withdraw once Hamas has been disarmed.”

This is another pipedream.

God Is Ordered to Reveal the Messiah and Have Him Build the Third Temple?

Israel365News wrote on July 29:

“The nascent Sanhedrin issued a formal ruling this week, asking the Holy One… to remove hostile forces from the Jewish people and the Land of Israel, reveal the Mashiach (Messiah), rebuild the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple), and restore prophecy to Israel. The written ruling… follows a session the court’s members described as several hours long, during which two of the judges argued against moving forward before ultimately joining the majority.

“The Sanhedrin operates on the premise that a rabbinical court has the standing to issue a psak, a binding halachic ruling, and that, in matters concerning the fate of the Jewish people, a court above is bound to follow the ruling of a court below…

“The document closes by repeating the formula that just as the court below has ruled, the court above should rule the same, ‘and so may it stand’…”

Israel365News wrote on July 30:

“A reconstituted Sanhedrin has issued a ruling asking Heaven to reveal the Mashiach and rebuild the Temple. But the classical sources draw a sharp line the court has crossed… Nowhere… does the court receive authority to issue a psak (binding ruling) that obligates Heaven to bring the Mashiach or to rebuild the Temple….

“The King Mashiach arises, restores the Davidic monarchy, rebuilds the Temple, and gathers the dispersed. A candidate is presumed to be the Mashiach when he studies Torah, strengthens Israel in observance, and fights the wars of God; he is confirmed only when he succeeds in building the Temple and gathering the exiles…

“The resolutions… present the revelation of the Mashiach, the clearing of obstacles, and the return of prophecy as outcomes the court can decree, and Heaven is expected to implement.

“What would have fallen inside the court’s proper authority is a ruling directed at the people themselves… A court today could call the nation to coordinated teshuva (repentance); to fasting and prayer in that same representative spirit; to concrete acts of preparation for the Temple service; to the removal of internal corruption through established legal and communal means; and to the strengthening of Torah observance… But it does not follow that a human court can decree the arrival of the Mashiach and bind Heaven to perform it…”

It is the same argument which is advanced by the Catholic Church that whatever that church binds on earth, God must bind in heaven. However, the exact opposite is true. Note our Q&A about the power to bind and loose in Matthew 16:19. https://www.eternalgod.org/question-and-answer-70/

Holy See Supported Fauci

LifeSiteNews wrote on July 31:

“On May 6, 2021, while the entire world was still under the yoke of the health dictatorship, the Holy See hosted… a conference titled ‘Exploring the Mind, Body & Soul. Unite to Prevent & Unite to Cure.’ Opening the proceedings was not a theologian, not a pastor, not a defender of natural law. It was Anthony Fauci. Beside him, Deepak Chopra, Chelsea Clinton… and, in the program, the top executives of Pfizer and Moderna.

“The same Holy See that should have raised its voice against the lie, against mass experimentation, against the suspension of fundamental rights, actively collaborated with the architects of what has been—and remains—one of the greatest operations of social control and health fraud in contemporary history: a true crime against humanity.

They cannot say they did not know.

“They cannot say they were not warned… The May 2021 event was not a ‘simple conference.’ It was a public demonstration of complicity. The Holy See did not limit itself to silence: it offered its moral authority and its image to those who, in the name of ‘health,’ imposed limitations on fundamental freedoms, discrimination, blackmail, and above all experimental serums that have caused the deaths of millions of people…”

Persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia

Newsmax wrote on July 31:

“A court ‌in the Russian capital has confiscated 123 real estate assets which belonged to the Jehovah’s Witnesses and ‌transferred them to ​the Russian state, Moscow’s court service said on ⁠Friday.

“It said the property ​assets had previously been registered as belonging ⁠to the Swedish branch of Jehovah’s Witnesses and included 63 residential ‌and commercial properties ​with a total area ‌of over 11,000 square ‌meters and 60 plots of land with a total area of ⁠5.6 hectares ‌situated across ⁠the country. A Russian court banned ⁠Jehovah’s ⁠Witnesses as an ‘extremist organization’ in 2017, a ‌move that the European Court of Human Rights ruled in ‌2022 ​was itself ‌unlawful. Many Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia have since been ​jailed after being convicted of ‘extremist activity.’”

And the West watches and does nothing…

Banning the AfD Without a Ban…

Nius wrote on July 30:

“In Lower Saxony, several AfD candidates were barred from running for district administrator or mayor. Local election committees determined in each case that the candidates lacked the necessary commitment to the constitutional order. The decision was justified by the claim that mere membership in the AfD state branch—which the Office for the Protection of the Constitution has classified as ‘right-wing extremist’ in Lower Saxony—was sufficient grounds…

“For Lower Saxony’s Interior Minister Daniela Behrens, AfD membership aloneis an indication that candidates lack commitment to the constitutional order… There had been no such procedure previously. Never before had members been barred from an election simply for belonging to a radical party. The Greens were radical—and the Left Party remains so today—and both were long under the scrutiny of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. If the same criteria applied to them as to the AfD, several state branches of the Left Party, or even the party as a whole, would have to be classified as ‘left-wing extremist’ and their candidates barred from elections. That does not happen…

“The SPD, CDU/CSU, and the Greens—who oversee the domestic intelligence agencies at both the state and federal levels—regularly call for a ban on the AfD but do not petition the Federal Constitutional Court for one. They know there are insufficient grounds for such a ban, as the AfD does not aim to abolish parliamentary democracy.

“So, the AfD’s opponents are abandoning the path of the rule of law and trying a different approach. For years, AfD representatives in parliaments have faced systematic discrimination and been denied offices to which they are entitled. The plan from Lower Saxony takes this conduct to a new extreme: now, there is an attempt to bar candidates from the hated party from elections altogether. They are forced to sue, yet the courts do not issue rulings until after the election—an election in which the plaintiffs were not permitted to run.

“The SPD-led state government in Lower Saxony has planned, and is now executing, a quiet, covert coup. It is undermining electoral rights and seeking to render votes for the AfD ineffective. It claims to be protecting democracy from extremists; in reality, the government itself has become an extremist force intent on manipulating democratic elections. It aims to effectively ban the AfD without a formal ban—by keeping it off the ballot—a move that is demonstrably unconstitutional.”

The government’s actions are clearly wrong… and illegal. And they will backfire badly.

Commemorating July 20, 1944

The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger reported on July 29:

“On July 20—the anniversary of the failed 1944 assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler—Cologne-based writer Navid Kermani spoke in Berlin about the significance of conscience…

“‘July 20 stands for the necessity of resistance when the fulfillment of duty constitutes a crime… Should a future federal government seek to lead you into a war that is as blatantly contrary to international law and as politically disastrous as the recent war waged by the United States and Israel against Iran, it will be your duty to refuse the order… the threat to annihilate an entire civilization, or a declared attack on a country’s civilian infrastructure, constitute such an obvious wrong that one need be neither a lawyer nor consult one’s own conscience to recognize it…

“‘When the federal government, of all bodies, distinguishes itself by treating international law as a secondary matter—or when a German Chancellor, of all Western leaders, is the only one to defend the American President’s threat to annihilate an entire civilization—this is devastating not only for our reputation, upon which we rely economically as an export nation. No, the trivialization of international law by the highest authorities also sends a disastrous signal for our democracy. For if the rule of law erodes in our foreign relations, it will not be long before it is held in contempt at home as well…’”

“‘As someone who is not only German, the disregard shown for our constitutional state perhaps angers me even more than it does most of you. For as the child of Iranian parents, I am also a citizen of a state that, earlier this year, allegedly shot dead some thirty thousand demonstrators in the span of two days… Imagine delivering this same speech in the country where I was born: I likely wouldn’t even survive it.

“‘Dear recruits, young as you are, there is a possibility that war could return to Germany during the course of your military careers… From a historical perspective, it is unlikely that your entire lives will unfold during a time of peace. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, one of the current front lines has moved close to Germany… Please always bear this in mind, every single second: No matter how viciously the enemy behaves from your perspective, he remains a human being just like you. For if you view the enemy as an animal, as a mere blip on a monitor, or as a monster—simply to make it easier to kill him—then you will transform yourselves into an animal, an AI, or a monster.

“‘I have never held a weapon in my hands, but as a reporter, I have witnessed enough wars up close to know how quickly people become brutalized. There is no war—not yesterday’s, not today’s, not tomorrow’s—in which the fighting cannot suddenly devolve into bloodlust, sadism, and sexual violence…’”

In fact, there is no war which is justified in the eyes of God.

Is Spahn Making a Comeback?

The Frankfurter Allgemeine wrote on August 1:

“Judging by comments from the CDU/CSU parliamentary group and party leadership, nothing stands in the way of a comeback for Jens Spahn. Markus Söder was the first to show leniency: ‘I believe Jens Spahn’s journey is not yet over.’ Steffen Bilger, the new minister, echoed this sentiment: ‘I very much hope he remains in politics—and, of course, as a member of our parliamentary group.’

“Many fellow party members evidently share this view. Just days after the outcry over Spahn’s surrogacy scandal had reached a fever pitch, they were praising his strengths and achievements—albeit anonymously… After all, the CDU doesn’t exactly have an abundance of Spahns…

“When Spahn returns to the parliamentary group after the summer recess, he will surely be asked: Will you follow Friedrich Merz’s example? Merz tried something new and waited more than ten years. If Spahn wants to become Chancellor, he will have to do things differently.”

Söder also said: “After all, someone with such talent and political drive will certainly take on a leading role again at some point.”

FIFA and Infantino Give Up

Reuters wrote on July 31:

“FIFA’s plan to sell a piece of its business empire to outside investors has collapsed following an open revolt by soccer officials worldwide and a major rift among top FIFA executives… The deal, in which FIFA had aimed to raise up to $4.2 billion by selling a roughly 20% stake in the group, valuing the new arm at $20 billion, is no longer active…

“The proposal, which came out on Tuesday, was met with immediate resistance led by European soccer ruling body UEFA… On Thursday, UEFA’s 55 member nations voted unanimously to boycott all FIFA tournaments…

“Carlos Cordeiro, a senior advisor to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, quit on Friday in protest at the plan and FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour said staff were ‘deceived’ by Infantino…

“Thrive Eternal, a fund run by Thrive Capital, founded by Joshua Kushner, was expected to lead the proposed investor group, FIFA said. Joshua is the brother of Jaared Kushner,  U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law…”

The New York Post wrote on July 31:

“Infantino gave FIFA’s 211 member nations until Sept. 19 to back the deal, dangling payouts of up to $40 million each. Critics called it a bribe with a deadline. But FIFA and its bankers badly misread the mood in Europe, where the sport’s richest clubs and leagues bring in most of the game’s revenue….”

No More Confidence in Infantino

The Associated Press wrote on August 1:

“UEFA says it has lost confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino…

“Successfully stopping Gianni Infantino’s FIFA plan to sell World Cup profits to private investors was the first half of a high-stakes game in global soccer politics.

The second half kicked off Saturday with what seemed a clear aim of ending Infantino’s decade-long presidency. ‘No option should be off the table,’ said European soccer body UEFA, whose president Aleksander Čeferin has led the fight against Infantino in a seismic week for FIFA. ‘The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.’

“Later Saturday, the governing body for North and Central American and Caribbean soccer (CONCACAF) called for accountability, saying: ‘A (World Cup) proposal of this magnitude does not reach that stage by accident. It is a symptom of leadership that has stopped putting football first. This recent unilateral and egregious act of poor governance and leadership follows a pattern of missteps and similar behavior. A full review of this leadership must now take place.’…

“Asia’s soccer body joined Europe and North America in opposing [Infantino’s scheme].”

Trump Knew Nothing

Daily Mail wrote on August 1:

“Gianni Infantino’s humiliating downfall is almost complete after his friend and ally Donald Trump denied all knowledge of the FIFA president’s disastrous plot to try and sell off the World Cup to private investors…

“When asked ‘did Mr Infantino speak to you about his proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup?’ Trump brutally first replied: ‘Who?’ After the question was repeated, the president then added: ‘No, I didn’t speak to him.’”

Really?

Gianni Infantino Begs Trump to Save His Job

The New York Post wrote on August 3:

“FIFA President Gianni Infantino wants the Trump administration to help keep him in office and has scheduled private talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio Monday amid growing pressure to resign over his scheme to sell off the World Cup to Josh Kushner’s private equity firm… ‘He wanted to get online with the secretary and talk about how soccer can be a form of soft power for America,’ said one insider briefed on the matter. ‘But we all know that it is about job protection. It is not about anything else at this point.’ A second source said the Swiss-Italian sports suit felt ‘isolated’ by the avalanche of negative media coverage.

“The State Department denied the call was taking place… Sources also say that Infantino, 56, has repeatedly tried and failed to reach Trump, 80, by phone since his plan to sell off the game’s commercial assets to private investors collapsed on Friday.”

Of course, this is all being denied by the White House. Subsequent reports state that allegedly, a scheduled phone call with Rubio was postponed.

Trump’s Botched Up Pool—He Can’t Let Go!

ABC News wrote on August 1:

“The Justice Department moved to dismiss [without prejudice] the criminal case against Olympian David Hearn, who was alleged to have vandalized the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting pool, acknowledging the damage to the pool ‘was the result of flawed installation by the contractor.’ Hearn pleaded not guilty to a felony destruction of property charge earlier this month after the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro accused him of allegedly ‘forcefully and violently’ ripping up parts of the pool floor. Pirro’s office said in a filing Friday seeking to drop the case that it only learned of evidence pointing to ‘a rushed and flawed installation process’ after Hearn had been indicted by a grand jury.

“The filing stated Pirro herself visited the Reflecting Pool on July 17 after it had been fully drained and became aware of significant damage throughout the pool area, which spurred the DOJ to request all documents from the U.S. Interior Department about how the pool was lined. Those documents indicated a flawed installation by the contractor, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, ‘with repeated failures of the lining during the installation process, and extensive peeling of the lining throughout the Reflecting Pool’ and a rush to complete the renovation project before the America 250 celebration on July 4… The filing includes an email sent on June 11 by a National Park Service engineer to others in the Department of the Interior describing their ‘concern’ that overspray of the new pool coating along the perimeter of the pool could lead to a one-to-two-foot strip ‘that is vulnerable to peeling.’ That was the area along the perimeter that Hearn was alleged to have pulled up…

“On Saturday, the president chastised Pirro in a social media post for dropping the charges, though he acknowledged there may have ‘been some contractor difficulty’ with the project. ‘I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, on the Reflecting Pool. I don’t know what she was thinking? To me, it was a pure case of VANDALISM,’ he wrote…”

It obviously wasn’t; otherwise, the case would not have been dismissed. But now, Trump is threatening Pirro with termination.

AI Tried to Trick Humans Into Poisoning Code

Politico wrote on August 4:

“A leading artificial intelligence model from Anthropic created fake online personas and tried to deceive human coders into abetting a cyberattack during a recent safety evaluation… AISI determined that Mythos 5 and GPT 5.6 took ‘autonomous, unsanctioned action on the live internet, targeting real people and organizations’…

“In another sign of worrying behavior AISI uncovered in its investigation, multiple AI agents it was testing — including GPT-5.6 — appeared to communicate with one another about how to solve the cyber evaluation. ‘One agent left public messages on GitHub offering collaboration with other agents working on the same challenge,’ AISI wrote, in what it described as an example of ‘unexpected collaboration’ between different autonomous AI agents.”

When will we understand how dangerous and destructive AI is?

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 the contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing to worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.

In this new series, we will continue to give examples of phrases from the Bible that are part and parcel of our everyday language.  We will also give examples which are not found in the Bible per se, but which are close and express biblical principles, and we will quote examples which are not in the Bible and even contradict biblical teaching, even though some people think that they are in God’s Word.

Pride goes before a fall 

This is a close quote, but not totally accurate. The passage in Proverbs 16:18 reads: “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.” On Little House on the Prairie, Caroline Ingalls corrected Mrs. Oleson who had just chastened her with the misquote of pride goes before a fall. 

A labor of love

This phrase is used to describe the motive behind working or laboring. Ultimately, we work for God. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 1:3: “… remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father…”

No rest for the wicked

A common phrase, but again, not totally accurate. The passage in Isaiah 57:21 reads: “‘There is no peace,’ Says my God, ‘for the wicked.’” Of course, both phrases are connected. Someone who has no rest has no peace. He lives in constant fear.

Casting pearls before swine

It is often used to say that we must be careful not to share good advice with others who don’t want it. It goes back to Christ’s stern warning not to teach spiritual knowledge to those who reject and despise it. 

He said in Matthew 7:6: “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”

Go the extra mile

Again, not a totally accurate quote. It refers to the idea to go beyond and above what we must do… be it in respect to our work or to our relationship with others. Christ used this phrase to warn His disciples not to turn to violent resistance against the government. The Romans had a habit of forcing casual travelers to carry their belongings for a mile. Christ said that rather than violently resisting such practice, volunteer to go even another mile with them. He said in Matthew 5:41: “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.”

Turn the other cheek

A close quote, but not totally accurate. It stands in direct context with the concept of going the extra mile. Jesus was saying that we must not resist others by resorting to violence; that it is better to suffer injustice than to commit it ourselves. He states in Matthew 5:39: “But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.”

An eye for an eye

A phrase associated today with revenge. However, it is based on equal or retaliatory justice. It has been wrongfully used to justify revenge, but the real purpose was to have a judge or magistrate give fair compensation for a harm done… to pay the victim the value of the incurred damage. 

Exodus 21:24-25 reads: “… eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”

A thorn in the flesh 

This phrase is used in this world to describe a sometimes minor, uncomfortable unpleasantry. However, it is a famous saying by Paul, who suffered, it seems, from an incurable physical sickness which he attributed to Satan’s doing. Paul asked God three times to be healed from this disease but God told him that in that particular case, God said HE wanted Paul to stay “weak” so that God’s strength could rule his life. Paul relates this in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 as follows:

“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.’”

A house divided against itself will not stand

This phrase can be found in Matthew 12:25 where Christ said: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.”

This quote is often attributed to Abraham Lincoln. But while he used the phrase in a famous speech, he didn’t invent it. Jesus used it when dealing with Pharisees, claiming wrongfully that He was casting out demons because He was allegedly possessed Himself. He asked the Pharisees with what power their sons cast out demons (a power He had given some of them at that time).

See eye to eye

This phrase signifies that people agree on something. It is taken from Isaiah 52:8 which says: “Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, With their voices they shall sing together; For they shall see eye to eye When the LORD brings back Zion.” They will see “eye to eye” or agree with God. 

There are many more examples which we could have given. 

The Bible is, and has been down through the last 2,000 years, respected by so many who appreciate its wisdom and the Truth it reveals.

On the digitalcommons.liberty.edu website, they list 60 famous people, 16 of whom were Presidents of the USA, who speak so highly about the Word of God.  Below are just 6 of these which are a small sample size of those to whom the Bible was precious:

Abraham Lincoln – “But for this Book we could not know right from wrong. I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt – “It is a fountain of strength. I feel that a comprehensive study of the Bible is a liberal education for anyone.”

Winston Churchill – “We rest with assurance upon the impregnable rock of Holy Scripture.” 

Haile Selassie – “The Bible is not only a great book of historical reference, but it also is a guide for daily life, and for this reason I respect it and I love it.” 

Douglas MacArthur – “Believe me, sir, never a night goes by, be I ever so tired, but I read the Word of God before I go to bed.”

Charles Dickens – “It is the best Book that ever was or ever will be in the world.”

And from this Book of books we have only quoted a few examples in this Q&A of its influence on our everyday language and there are scores more which are worth reviewing when you take the time.

On the other hand, we do not want to conclude this Q&A without pointing out that there are “famous” phrases which are NOT in the Bible, even though some people may think that they are. 

 “God helps those who help themselves”

This phrase is not in Scripture. It actually has its origin in ancient Greek, even though it is most often attributed to Benjamin Franklin since it appeared in his book Poor Richard’s Almanac. One commentator wrote: “This runs contrary to biblical teaching, since man can do nothing to help himself apart from God’s grace”—or we might add, “apart from God’s Will.”

“Cleanliness is next to godliness”

This phrase was used by Charles Dickens in his book Great Expectations, but it does not appear in the Bible. 

“God works in mysterious ways”

This is a paraphrase of a 19th-century hymn by the English poet William Cowper (“God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform’). It does not appear in the Bible, but the Bible does say, of course, that there are certain mysteries which He has revealed only to His people. 

“Money is the root of all evil”

It’s close, but not totally accurate. Instead it says, “For the LOVE of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). 

“The seven deadly sins”

This list of seven deadly sins (wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, gluttony) is not in the Bible. It was the Catholic Church that made up this phrase and its accompanying list. It is most certainly inaccurate to assume that these sins are “more deadly” than the violation of the Ten Commandments and its statutes and judgments. 

“Charity begins at home”

This phrase is credited to Terence, the Roman comic writer. But it is also sometimes attributed to Sir Thomas Browne. It is not found in the Bible. 

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions”

A common saying which is not found in Scripture. Another false quote would be: “All roads lead to Rome.”

“Once saved, always saved”

This phrase expresses a completely false concept of salvation. It is not found in the Bible.

God will never give you more than you can handle

This is another common phrase which, as quoted, is not in accordance with Scripture. It is not found in the Bible. One commentary stated astutely: 

“When someone is going through a difficult time in life, whether they are feeling overwhelmed, stricken with grief, or just generally burdened, they are often encouraged that though their challenges are considerable, God would never give them more than they could handle. But, despite what we might say, God will give us more than we can handle [or bear]. 

“Rather, God will never allow us to be tempted [or tested] beyond what we are able to [handle or bear]. He will always provide a way for us [to escape and] to be faithful to Him, even when the pull toward a different path is as strong as it has ever been.” 

Paul assures us in 1 Corinthians 10:13: 

“No temptation [or sore trial] has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

So, whatever we are being confronted with, GOD will help us. We need GOD… on our own, we can do and accomplish nothing. But with God, we can do and endure everything.

“Love the sinner, hate the sin” 

Even commonly used in religious circles, Christ did not say these words. 

St. Augustine’s Letter 211 (c. 424) contains the phrase Cum dilectione hominum et odio vitiorum, which translates roughly to “With love for mankind and hatred of sins.” The phrase has become more famous as “love the sinner but hate the sin” or “hate the sin and not the sinner” (the latter form appearing in Mohandas Gandhi’s 1929 autobiography).

Next time you hear yourself say something that sounds pretty familiar and you think that it might be from the Bible, it is a good reason to find out if it is or not, and if it is, from which book of the Bible it is from.

Lead Writers: Brian Gale (United Kingdom) and Norbert Link

Compiled by Norbert Link

“USA Dangerously Short on Essential Missiles” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

According to several reports, the Army has used virtually all of its inventories of its necessary missiles, complicating the military’s ability to respond to future crises and adversarial attacks. In addition, it is claimed that the USA must fundamentally and speedily redesign its weapons.  President Trump reacted angrily, denying these and similar  reports, and threatened the “leakers” with jail. Obviously, something isn’t adding up here.

“Amerikas gefährlicher Mangel an notwendigen Raketen” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.

Norbert Link’s sermonette has been posted, titled, “Dubious White House Announcements—Comments on News and Prophecy, August 1, 2026” 

Here is a summary:

Several spectacular announcements by the White House sounded great at first sight, but did not pass muster on closer examination. This is especially true for an alleged America-Saudi-Arabia nuclear deal and the “great breakthrough” of “bringing peace to Gaza” by disarming Hamas. In other news, we discuss the Holy See’s support for Anthony Fauci; shocking allegations of Israel’s Finance Minister and incredible announcements of the Sanhedrin; America’s unclear position on the Ukrainian production of Patriot anti-missile interceptor factories; and the collapse of FIFA’s ill-advised plan to have Joshua Kushner sell a piece of FIFA’s business enterprise to outside investors.

Norbert Link’s sermon has been posted, titled, “What Christianity Does Not Know About the Holy Spirit.” 

Here is a summary:

Why doesn’t the world know the Truth about the Holy Spirit? What is the Holy Spirit? Did the Holy Spirit dwell in people of the Old Testament? What about Christians in the New Testament? Can one have and keep the Holy Spirit when sinning—even committing serious sins? What are the essential prerequisites for receiving the Holy Spirit? And how can we lose the Holy Spirit?

Norbert Link’s German sermon for this week has been posted. It is titled, “Warten auf Gott.” (Title in English: “Waiting for God.”)

Jens Herrmann’s German sermonette from last week has been posted, titled, “Der richtige Weg von Herzen zu vergeben.“ (Title in English: „The Right Way to Forgive From the Heart.”)