Update 992

On October 16, 2021, Norbert Link will present “Comments on News and Prophecy, October 16,” and the sermon, titled, “Being Made Perfect Through Sufferings.”

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.

For any instrument to be played, it has to be tuned correctly. When a musical instrument is tuned, it can be played and provides beautiful music. But when it is not tuned correctly, the sounds can be awful and disharmonious. When this happens, it is very hard to listen to music and enjoy it.

Ephesians 2:2 holds a mighty truth for us: “…in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience…”  Just like an instrument that is tuned in the right way, so this world is tuned to Satan in the wrong way. It is tuned to his influence, his deceptions, his moods and destructive habits and creations! Notice that it says that we all once walked according to the paths of this world. We all have receptors that are still there; they still are tuned to the god of this world.

In Romans 6:6-23, we should note that the “old person” should be buried in that watery grave that was our baptism—in essence, washing away the old person tuned to Satan and his ways which lead to death, and instead being tuned to Christ, the Son of God, and God the Father. This though is not just a one-time event.

Our task is to continually tune ourselves to God so that we are in alignment with what is good and proper. This is a constant requirement, and there are so MANY things to distract us, to make us slip off the path and lose our way. And that changes from person to person. Those qualities that make us up individually are what makes us unique and special in God’s eyes. But it can also be the character traits that Satan uses to trip us up and cause us to retune to his ways.

So how do we make progress in this regard? How do we make not just slight progress but rather great progress?

Romans 12:2 tells us: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” The mind defines and manifests who we really are. Our behavior will follow what we think, what we allow to sit and fester! If we are constantly renewing our mind in Christ, we will indeed start to change. 2 Corinthians 10:5 states that we must be “.. bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” We are ALL guilty of not doing this at times. But imagine if we were able to do this with more and more strength and accuracy.

We all have so many thoughts throughout the day. What if instead of harboring self-deprecating thoughts or thoughts of anger, we took those moments and transferred them to God instead and asked Him to help us to think, react or feel differently? When we experience difficult challenges, we can react to them and think ourselves into despair every time. Or we can look forward to the next opportunity and ask what have we learned from this failure. Is our first thought, I’ll never do anything right? We don’t have to get trapped by these types of disabling thoughts. We are capable of getting out of our shame, despair, hopelessness, and anger—by taking control of our thoughts and by re-tuning ourselves back to God.

This means, choosing to focus our thoughts on the right things. We are to think about those things that are true, noble, right, just, pure, lovely, admirable or of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy (compare Philippians 4:8). When we think in this way, God promises to give us His pease. What a contrast that is to the thought pattern of millions of people today who are all tuned to Satan’s ways. It takes personal discipline and commitment to be different.

While it is possible, it is not easy to retrain our thoughts or to respond in new Christ-like ways. But when we realize and embrace the fact that God empowers us to focus our mind on the right things, it will become easier. As we continue to develop new frames of reference, based on what is true, noble, right, just, pure, lovely, admirable or of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy, we will keep ourselves in tune with God, and we will be able to overcome anything that is standing in our way!

by Norbert Link

We begin with the resignation of Sebastian Kurz as Austria’s chancellor; speak on the undeniable comeback of Donald Trump; the constant and ongoing attacks on the US Constitution by the Biden Administration; and discuss the hypocrisy of the Pope and Nancy Pelosi, as well as the abominable sexual abuse scandal within that church.  

We speak on the tough times for Brits and Americans; Turkey’s declining relationship with Washington; and new deepening tensions between the USA and the EU. We also address Russia’s blackmail possibilities, as they pertain to Europe, due to the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline.

We address interesting developments regarding the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and the al Aqsa mosque; and the divisions within the EU, especially in regard to Poland and Hungary, as well as many Nordic nations.

We speak on the health-related dictatorship within the USA, being advocated or imposed  by health officials and politicians; the debate (or the lack thereof) regarding natural immunity; and the ongoing and very effective resistance against vaccine mandates. 

In this regard, please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Is Civil War Coming?” 

We conclude with another nonsensical law enacted in California (where else?).

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

Turmoil in Austria: Kurz Resigns

Deutsche Welle wrote on October 10:

“Kurz’s decision to quit amid the graft allegations means that the governing coalition between his conservative Austrian People’s Party (OeVP) and the leftist Greens will continue. Green parliamentary group leader Sigrid Maurer said [successor] Schallenberg was not implicated in the corruption scandal. Pressure on Kurz to resign, including from the Greens, started after prosecutors on Wednesday raided several locations linked to the OeVP. They announced that Kurz and nine other people were under investigation over claims that government money was used between 2016 and 2018 in a corrupt deal to ensure positive media coverage.

“Greens had signaled that they would topple Kurz in a vote of no confidence on Tuesday in parliament if he did not stand down. The OeVP-Greens coalition entered office in January 2020 and has already been strained several times by the fallout from other corruption scandals and differences over questions such as refugee policy.”

The Guardian wrote on October 10:

“The fall from grace of the 35-year-old leader of the Austrian People’s party (ÖVP) comes just weeks after its German sister party failed to fill the space left by the outgoing chancellor, Angela Merkel, and crashed to the worst result in history at federal elections.

“Supporters of the Austrian leader… hope he will continue to pull strings in his role as ÖVP president and leader of its parliamentary group…

“By immediately switching to the backbenches, Kurz would also gain parliamentary immunity – although the Austrian daily newspaper Der Standard reported on Sunday the outgoing chancellor would personally apply to have the special privilege lifted so he could prove his innocence.

“A swift return to power… seems unlikely, however… The Austrian president, Alexander Van der Bellen, on Friday criticised the ‘tone of disrespect’ shown towards individuals and state institutions. On Saturday, Kurz said the messages were written ‘in the heat of the battle’ and had been taken out of context, saying the accusations against him ‘are false and I will be able to clear this up.’

“The outgoing Austrian chancellor’s fall from grace has been as swift as his rise… As the CDU is licking its wounds in the wake of 26 September’s painful defeat at federal elections, several voices of the German centre-right have pointed to Kurz as a model for renewing the party. ‘We need a German Sebastian Kurz,’ the head of the CDU’s youth movement demanded only at the start of the month. After the events of the last week, such calls are going to be heard more rarely.”

At least for now. Bild Online speculated that Kurz’s “resignation” is only temporary, and that he is already preparing for a comeback. They are referring to the headline in the influential “Kronen-Zeitung”, reading “KURZ MAL WEG” (“Kurz temporarily gone.”). Also note the next article.

Kurz Remains Shadow Chancellor?

Deutsche Welle wrote on October 11:

“Schallenberg was sworn in Monday as the new chancellor of Austria by President Alexander Van der Bellen. A career diplomat who served as foreign minister, Schallenberg is a close allyof… Kurz… Kurz will remain head of his party, a position he has held since 2016, and become its leading member of parliament after exiting the chancellery…

“The opposition believe Schallenberg will continue to do bidding for Kurz, who will remain politically active and who is expected to be somewhat of a ‘shadow chancellor.’ ‘All opposition parties agree there is no change to the Kurz system. He still has all the strings in his hands and designated Chancellor Schallenberg is part of this Kurz system,’ said Kai Jan Krainer of the Social Democrats…”

Deutsche Welle wrote on October 13:

“Sebastian Kurz has stepped down, but not aside…. Austria is unlikely to change its political course much under its new chancellor. In his first appearance in office, Alexander Schallenberg promised (or, one could say, threatened) to collaborate closely with Sebastian Kurz. The former chancellor will remain the People’s Party leader, as well as the head of the parliamentary faction.

“‘Kurz is pursuing the plan of, figuratively, stepping aside — but then standing side-by-side with the new chancellor, Schallenberg,’ says Petra Stuiber, deputy editor-in-chief of the Austrian newspaper Der Standard. She says Kurz expects to be ‘the one who is continuing to pull the strings in the background.’”

Kurz—Israel’s Friend

JTA wrote on October 10:

“Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who made support for Israel and the fight against antisemitism key policy priorities, has stepped down amid a corruption probe. Kurz’s resignation, which he announced Saturday, means that he shares yet another trait with Benjamin Netanyahu, the former Israeli prime minister he admires: out of office, with a scandal hanging overhead.

“Under Kurz’s leadership, Austria reversed its stance toward Israel, going from very critical to very supportive. This year, its parliament passed a resolution calling the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement targeting Israel a form of antisemitism. Kurz has called Austria’s annexation into Nazi Germany in 1938 something that ‘guides my political work today.’

“He has spoken of Netanyahu as an inspiration, citing Israel’s then-prime minister’s seemingly successful handling of the onset of the coronavirus pandemic as a blueprint for his own.”

Trump’s Rally in Iowa

Politico wrote on October 9:

“The former president went to Iowa on Saturday…  Appearing alongside… was a who’s who of influential Republicans in the Hawkeye state… Trump has held rallies since leaving the White House. But never have elected Republicans of such tenure and stature appeared with him… ‘I’m telling you the single biggest issue, as bad as the border is and it’s horrible, horrible what they’re doing they’re destroying our country, but as bad as that is the single biggest issue the issue that gets the most pull, the most respect, the biggest cheers is talking about the election fraud of the 2020 presidential election,’ Trump said.

“… The former president has been openly discussing the likelihood that he will run for the office again. To be greeted with open arms in the all-important, first-in-the-nation presidential caucus state of Iowa was a flashing neon light signal to voters that this party remains his. And he’s done it all while still launching broadsides against current leadership (he eviscerated Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell at various points on Saturday for striking a deal with Democrats to raise the debt ceiling and for not having the ‘courage to challenge the election’)…

“While Trump has not officially announced a run for president, his visit to Iowa is a wink toward a 2024 bid.”

The New York Post wrote on October 10:

“Fifty-three percent of Iowans said they view Trump favorably, compared to his 48 percent rating when he was in the White House… Biden, on the other hand, has a 37 percent favorable rating in the poll and a 61 percent unfavorable rating… Trump also continued to air his complaints about how the 2020 presidential election was rigged and urged Republicans to get the vote out for the 2022 midterms, in which the GOP is expected to win back control of the House and Senate.​”

In fact, Trump spoke about the “rigged” election in 2020 for quite a long time, and returned to the topic throughout his speech. If this is indeed the Number #1 topic which “gets the most pull,” then it is clear that he will keep this topic alive, regardless as to how the left-wing anti-Trump mass media is labeling it. Note the next article.

Newsmax wrote on October 13:

“Trump on Wednesday criticized Republicans in Michigan after his supporters called for an audit of the state’s 2020 presidential election results during a rally in the state capitol on Tuesday… He went on to claim that ‘Detroit, considered for many years to be one of the most corrupt places in the United States for elections (and many other things!), had large-scale irregularities so much so that two officials, at great risk to themselves and their families, refused to certify the results, and were sadly threatened.’

“Trump also claimed that ‘there were far more votes than voters’ and said, ‘Even the RINOs on the Senate Committee found 289,866 absentee ballots that were sent to people who never requested them, “something that would be illegal.”’”

Trump on the Attack (what else is new?)

Newsmax wrote on October 9:

“Trump said the Biden administration’s proposed $10 billion in aid to the Taliban should be only made on the condition it returns all of the military equipment President Joe Biden left in Afghanistan. ‘We want our hostages back, and then we want our equipment back, and then we can start talking about that,’ Trump told his Save America rally… ‘Now the Democrats want $6 billion in new federal funding to teach critical race theory, which I ended in our schools, at the same time that Biden is unleashing the FBI and parents who stand up and object at school board meetings,’ Trump said. ‘The parents are the enemy.’…

“Trump continued his rebuke of the military leaders, including ‘TV generals’ like Gen. Mark Milley, who he said was the one who claimed it was cheaper to leave the [reported] $85 billion worth of the ‘latest and greatest’ weapons and equipment in Afghanistan during Biden’s unconditional withdrawal this August.”

It is indeed true, as we reported last week, that parents are labeled as “domestic terrorists,” who are protesting at school board meetings against CRT. Note the next article.

First Amendment under Attack by Biden Administration

Breitbart wrote on October 10:

“On Sunday, Fox News Channel ‘Life, Liberty & Levin’ host Mark Levin warned that the First Amendment is under attack by Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Biden administration. According to Levin, the Biden administration and the National School Boards Association ‘conspired’ and ‘colluded’ to silence parents who are expressing their First Amendment rights by recently announcing that the Department of Justice would intervene to address perceived threats against educators and school boards.

“‘The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, the Bill of Rights, is under attack by the Attorney General of the United States, Merrick Garland, and his staff,’ Levin opened his Sunday show. ‘And now we have learned it is also under attack by Joe Biden’s staff, as well as others at the White House in a coordinated attack to try to silence parents and taxpayers, the citizens of this nation who elect their school boards, who send their children into these classrooms. Why? Because they are challenging the poison, the rot, the radical Marxist propaganda that is being taught to your children from kindergarten through 12th grade, and apparently that is too much for them to tolerate.’

“He continued, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, this is the memo that will go down in history as one of the most egregious violations of your liberty. It is a memo that is signed by Merrick Garland. … And make no mistake about it — parents in this country, they’re going to spy on you, they’re going to gather intelligence on you, they’re going to track you and organizations that you belong to, and a special phone number is set up so if a teacher or a bureaucrat or union or whomever thinks if you are threatening or harassing them, they will set loose the FBI to come to your home and to interview you. Among other things in this memo, loose language like they’re going to look at efforts to intimidate individuals based on their views. They’re going to be committed to using their authority and their resources. They have a dedicated line of communication for threat reporting. Now, there’s a problem here: The federal government has absolutely no authority whatsoever in the classroom, in the school district, at board meetings, period. There is no federal nexus of any kind whatsoever, and they know it.’”

He then tore the memo apart and stated that parents won’t be silenced and that the fight against such totalitarian measures will continue.

The New York Post wrote on October 10:

“Garland’s ominous memo… was a shocking abuse of his office on behalf of left-wing activists… We have heard American moms at school board meetings eloquently reject the perversions being forced on their children under the banner of ‘equity’ and ‘tolerance.’ They reject hateful racism disguised as ‘anti-racism’ that divides their children into oppressors and victims.

“They reject gender ideology that teaches their children there is no such thing as a boy or a girl. They reject racial quotas designed to exclude Asian students and unscientific pandemic paranoia that has seen teacher unions keep schools closed and demand children be masked and vaccinated, regardless of their well-being.

“Time and again we have seen arrogant school board members turn off microphones, shut down meetings and then, behind closed doors, ridicule these parents. So now the heavy hand of the DOJ has been deployed to silence them.”

America’s Authoritarianism

Fox News published on October 9 the following commentary by Tucker Carlson:

“The people in charge are intent on replacing our free democratic system with an authoritarian system where they don’t convince you of anything. They simply make you do things and they benefit from that…

“More than 60 percent of Democratic voters want the federal government to ‘control that flow of information over the internet.’…  that contravenes the First Amendment to the Bill of Rights, which is the very core of our system of government and of our culture, it’s what makes America great…

“So that’s authoritarianism, there’s no other word for it. And it’s ironic considering for four years, prominent Democrats told us we were living through a fascist system. Donald Trump was a fascist. But of course, they were describing their own attitudes…”

Pope Francis’s Latest Form of Idolatry

Life Site News wrote on October 8:

“Pope Francis joined with politicians, abortion promoters, and ecumenical leaders this week in Rome to promote ‘peace …fraternity … vaccines,’ all ‘in the spirit’ of the ‘idolatrous worship’ of the 1986 Assisi meeting… The meeting was described by the Lepanto Institute’s Michael Hichborn, as ‘another form of idolatry in the form of a human brotherhood without Christ.’…

“The symbol for the 2021 event featured a swirling, LGBT-colored flag topped with a white dove. The event was modeled on the ‘scandelous’ interreligious 1986 Assisi meeting at which Pope John Paul II prayed together with Orthodox Christians, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and representatives of many other religions…

“Bishop Athanasius Schneider stated that the 1986 Assisi meeting was a ‘preparation’ for the worship of the Pachamama statues in the Vatican Gardens, as it accustomed Catholics to the “erroneous teaching … that all religions are on the same level.’…

“The closing ceremony, which took place in the Colosseum, featured Pope Francis, Angela Merkel, the Grand Imam, and Rabbi Goldschmidt. On the 450th anniversary of the Battle of Lepanto, marking the Catholic victory over the Moslem fleet, the Pope prayed alongside leaders from Christianity, Islam, Hebraism, Buddhism, Tenrikyo, Hinduism, and Sikhism…. the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar… praised Pope Francis as ‘a man of peace and humanity par excellence,’ welcoming their now extensive collaboration…

“Meanwhile, Merkel spoke of the state’s obligation to protect ‘human dignity,’ on the day that a German court ruled the harsh impositions of the Bavarian state government to lock down and forbid citizens from leaving home in April 2020 were illegal and unnecessary…

“The meeting closed with a reading of the joint ‘Appeal for peace,’ declaring that ‘the name of God is peace.’

“LifeSiteNews spoke with Michael Hichborn, founder and president of the Lepanto Institute, who noted how the meeting came two years after the infamous Pachamama event in the Vatican. ‘Two years ago this month, Pope Francis participated in an act of idolatry, whereby the statue of a pagan deity of the earth was venerated in the Vatican Gardens, processed to the Vatican Synod Hall, and enthroned on the very altar of St. Peter’s,’ Hichborn told LifeSiteNews. ‘And now, the pope is practicing another form of idolatry in the form of a human brotherhood without Christ,’ declared Hichborn.

“‘Men of faith seek Christ to save them from the evils of the world, while men of no faith try to bargain with the world to ease their suffering… these men seek human solutions to what they believe to be man-made climate change…’”

Is Pope Francis trying to become the head of most Christian and non-Christian churches and religious organizations?

Pelosi’s Comments about the Pope

Breitbart wrote on October 11:

“Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi described this weekend’s private audience with Pope Francis as a ‘spiritual, personal and official honor.’ The pope’s leadership ‘is a source of joy and hope for Catholics and for all people, challenging each of us to be good stewards of God’s creation, to act on climate, to embrace the refugee, the immigrant and the poor, and to recognize the dignity and divinity in everyone,’ Pelosi wrote in a press release on her website.

“In her accolades to the pontiff’s ‘immense moral clarity,’ Pelosi carefully avoided any mention of abortion, which Francis describes as ‘murder’ and a ‘scourge’, likening it to hiring a paid assassin to take out a child. A ‘just society recognizes the primacy of the right to life from conception to natural death,’ he has asserted.

“In January 2015, Pelosi said that she knew ‘more about having babies than the pope,’ insisting that a woman has ‘the right’ to an abortion. In her acceptance speech for abortion giant Planned Parenthood’s highest honor — the Margaret Sanger Award — Pelosi, who identifies as a Catholic, went still further, calling pro-lifers (like the pope) ‘dumb,’ ‘closed-minded’ and ‘oblivious.’”

One wonders who is the greater hypocrite… Pelosi or the Pope?

Catholic Church an Abomination which should be Shut Down

Express wrote on October 11:

“THE Catholic Church is an abomination. It is a dark, dark stain on the soul of humanity. Bit harsh? More harsh or less harsh than the rape and sexual abuse of 330,000 innocent children by Catholic priests and lay-clergy?… Raped, tormented and sexually abused by religious men (and in some cases women). And revealed by an inquiry commissioned by the Catholic church itself in France.

“This is not a few bad apples tarnishing an otherwise wholly good and well-meaning organisation. This is a global paedophile gang. The enormity of the crime – and this was just in France alone remember- is so huge, so evil, so heart-wrenchingly dreadful we don’t even really have a word for it. It’s nothing short of a paedophillic holocaust.

“If you extrapolate that number across the world – and there is no reason to think France was some exception to the rule, we’ve seen the same in the US, Ireland, Germany, Chile, Australia and Poland – the number of children abused by members of the Catholic church becomes almost incomprehensible… It’s evil child molestation on an industrial scale. The Church’s Canon Law doesn’t even see sexual abuse, grooming minors for sex, possessing child pornography and the covering up of abuse as crimes….

“The Catholic church has always known this has gone on and has gone to extreme lengths to hide it… the church is also absolutely happy to lie and obfuscate at every turn…”

Tough Times for Britons [and Americans]

DNYUZ wrote on October 9:

“Britons are lining up for gas, staring at empty grocery shelves, paying higher taxes and worrying about spiraling prices as a grim winter approaches…

“But… Mr. Johnson characterized the multiple ills afflicting Britain as a ‘function of growth and economic revival’… on the way to a more prosperous future…

“For Mr. Johnson, critics said, the biggest risk is a lack of credibility. His initial claim that the food and fuel shortages were not caused by Brexit sounded unconvincing, given that his own government predicted rising prices and shortages of both in a 2019 report on the potential disruptions in the event of a ‘no-deal Brexit,’ in which Britain would leave the European Union without a trade agreement.”

Something similar is occurring in America. Breitbart wrote on October 11:

“President Joe Biden is still struggling to meet the immediate challenge of clogged sea ports, as American consumers face major shortages…

“Biden appointed John D. Porcari to as a ‘Port Envoy’ for the administration on August 21, joining Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to try and solve the shipping problems. But two months later, port delays continue. There are 146 cargo ships off the California coast waiting to get unloaded… on Thursday, Buttigieg struggled to offer any reassurance that the Biden administration was making progress as the problem continued to worsen…. He argued his department was making short term gains, but warned Americans that it was a long term problem.”

Turkey’s Declining Relations with Washington

The Jerusalem Post wrote on October 7:

“At a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed the growing links between Moscow and Ankara. The Sochi talks came after Erdogan failed to secure a meeting with US President Joe Biden on the fringes of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Speaking to reporters after the meeting with Putin, Erdogan noted that he had proposed that Turkey work together with Russia on the construction of two more nuclear power plants on Turkish soil. The Russian company Rosatom is currently building a power plant in Akkuyu, in southern Turkey.

“The Turkish president also said last week that Turkey still intends to purchase a second supply of the S-400 missile defense system from Russia. The purchase of the system by Turkey last year led to US sanctions on Turkey’s Defense Industry Directorate, and the cancellation of Turkish reception of the F-35 fighter jet. In an interview with the CBS network, quoted by Reuters, the Turkish president said that ‘In the future, nobody will be able to interfere in terms of what kind of defense systems we acquire, from which country and at what level.’ The US State Department, responding to Erdogan’s statement, warned that any additional purchase of Russian defense systems would risk triggering additional sanctions.

“Erdogan’s statements confirm the Turkish tilt toward Russia, and Ankara’s growing estrangement from Washington…”

Turkey will turn out to become the declared enemy of the state of Israel and the USA.

Tensions between USA and EU Deepening

Express wrote on October 11:

“A ROW brewing over the future of the embattled IMF chief [accused of data-rigging] will overshadow crucial meetings this week, with tensions due to rise as the US and Japan face off against the European Union (EU)… and the divisions are deepening…

“… the 24 members of the IMF’s executive board are split into two camps, with the US and Japan on one side, and France, Germany, Italy, the UK, China and Russia on the other. The US and Japan – the fund’s two biggest shareholders – want Ms Georgieva gone. But France and other sympathetic nations want the Bulgarian economist to finish her term as IMF chief.”

Russia’s Blackmail Possibilities

The Article wrote on October 8:

“It would be fair to say that Britain has not looked as detached from the Continent since the 1960s… relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union show no sign of warming.

“The latest skeleton of contention can be summed up in one word: gas. Much of the EU… is dependent for its gas on Russia. By contrast, the UK extracts its gas from territorial waters or imports it from Norway and the Gulf. This makes our supplies relatively secure… But this security does not insulate the UK from international energy markets, over which Russia — which alone produces a quarter of the global gas supply — has an unhealthy influence.

“Hence Downing Street’s sharp critique of the Kremlin for playing power politics with gas. A spokesman for Boris Johnson last night accused Moscow of ‘choking off’ gas supplies in order to force up prices and thereby put pressure on the EU. At stake is the holy grail of Russian energy policy: the Nord Stream gas pipelines, which run under the Baltic Sea to Lublin, near Greifswald, in Germany… The new pipelines known as Nord Stream 2 are a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gazprom, the Russian state energy company. The entire project was made possible by intensive lobbying in Germany by the former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who has been on the Gazprom payroll ever since he left office 16 years ago.

“Now completed, Nord Stream 2 awaits approval, first by German and then by EU regulators… Not only will Ukraine be cut out of the supply chain and lose a major source of revenue, but it may find itself even more strategically isolated and thereby vulnerable to Russian aggression. Ukraine’s ‘frozen war’ with pro-Russian separatists could be restarted by Moscow at any time. And the fact that Russia will, thanks to Nord Stream 2, have total control not only of its gas but also the pipelines to Central Europe gives Vladimir Putin the means to blackmail the EU on a range of issues, from military intervention to human rights…

“Meanwhile, the Biden Administration continues to refocus US foreign policy away from Russian threats to Europe and onto China’s threat to Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region…

“54 per cent of Germans see France as a more important ally than America. Just 10 per cent rate the US as their most essential partner… A mere 1 per cent of Germans now see Great Britain as Germany’s most important ally, while another poll found that only 37 per cent even regard the UK as trustworthy…”

When Russia continues to blackmail Germany, Germany might respond. Ultimately, the relationship between Russia and Europe under German leadership will lead to an outright nuclear war.

Not Illegal for Jews to Pray on Temple Mount

Israel Today wrote on October 7:

“Conservative and religious Israeli media on Thursday hailed as a breakthrough a ruling by Jerusalem District Court Judge Bilha Yahalom in which she confirmed that it is neither illegal nor against current police regulations for Jews to quietly pray atop the Temple Mount…

“Israel does not allow Jews or Christians to openly pray or perform any other religious activities there. However, in recent months, the police have been turning a blind eye to increasing Jewish prayers atop the sacred plateau. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett sparked a coalition crisis when he responded to this apparent shift in the status quo by thanking the police for ‘maintaining freedom of worship for Jews on the Temple Mount.’…

“This week’s ruling by Judge Yahalom marks the first time an Israeli court has backed the legal right of Jews to pray at the Temple Mount.”

Angry Palestinian Reactions to Court Ruling

Israel 365 wrote on October 8:

“Thousands of Palestinians answered a call to action on Arab media by arriving at the Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site, on Friday morning, purportedly for prayer.  Palestinians who arrived at the site reportedly chanted, ‘With our blood and souls we will redeem you, al-Aqsa.’… The Waqf, the custodial authority which managed the edifices on the Temple Mount, called the ruling a ‘flagrant violation’ of the compound’s sanctity and a ‘clear provocation’ for Muslims worldwide… Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Ibrahim Shtayyeh called on the United States to intervene to prevent Jews from having the right to pray on the Temple Mount. He also called on Arab countries to show solidarity with the Palestinians.

“Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza recognized by many countries around the world as a terrorist organization, called the move a ‘blatant aggression against the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and a clear declaration of a war that goes beyond political rights to an aggression against religion and sanctities’. The group said in a statement that the ‘resistance is ready and prepared to repel aggression and defend rights.’”

Especially the Temple Mount and the al Aqsa mosque are of tremendous prophetic importance.

Israel 365 write on October 10:

“Jews barely got a chance to act on the court ruling allowing them to pray silently at their holiest site before the court reversed its decision in what Hamas declared a victory that could be credited to their missile attacks…”

The police had appealed the original decision, and a fearful political court gave in.

Pope Sells Out Israel to Abbas

IQNA wrote on October 12:

“[Palestinian Authority Mahmoud] Abbas affirmed the importance of starting a political process that ends the Israeli occupation of Palestine, with East Jerusalem al-Quds as its capital… Pope Francis said, ‘We all want a two-state solution, and East Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Palestine, and this is the right path because it is the path to peace.’

“He also expressed happiness to continue communicating with President Abbas as the President of Palestine, saying he will continue to stand by [his] side and make efforts to achieve peace.”

Poland and Hungary vs. EU

Newsmax wrote on October 9:

“On Thursday, Europe was stunned by a decision from Poland’s highest court that rules set by the European Union could not override Polish law and Polish membership in the 27-nation organization did not give sovereignty to EU courts. Two days later, in Budapest, Prime Minister Viktor Orban signed a government resolution which supports the decision of Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal ‘about the primacy of national law.’…

“Most recently, Poland and the EU have clashed over their respective views on gay rights. In July, EU lawyers opened a case against Poland after some of that country’s regions and municipalities declared themselves ‘LGBT-ideology free zones.’ ‘This is a case of East vs. West,’ Nigel Farrage, the father of the British ‘Brexit’ from the EU, told Newsmax. ‘The Christian culture against the non-binary [LGBT-friendly] culture.’”

Even though divided on numerous issues, it does not appear that Poland and Hungary will depart from the EU.

Nordic Nations vs. EU

Express wrote on October 9:

“Since the UK voted to quit the bloc in 2016, tensions between other member states and the European Commission have continued to simmer. Anger has been aimed towards the Commission, led by its President Ursula von der Leyen, over a series of issues including the coronavirus rollout and legal disputes… a year after the Brexit vote, five influential figures from Nordic countries issued a joint plea to ensure some nations inside, and outside of the bloc, lessen their ties with Brussels.

“Mark Brolin, Jan-Erik Gustafsson, Helle Hagenau, Ulla Klötzer and Erna Bjarnadóttir – from Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland – co-authored the opinion piece [in 2017], which also outlined how the EU would turn against voters who criticised the bloc… The five experts… detailed how there was… a ‘growing friction’ with member states of what was deemed ‘incompatible goals’ demanded by the EU… ‘a large part of Europeans are described as narrow-minded, old-fashioned and isolationist or in the power of ‘dark forces’.”

Denmark against EU Army

The Telegraph wrote on October 9:

Denmark’s prime minister has pledged to resist Emmanuel Macron’s proposals for an EU military force…

“Prominent EU figures are calling for a unit of up to 20,000 troops able to deploy quickly across the globe, with officials expected to present a draft proposal for a ‘first-entry force’ in November.”

Nordic countries might not end up being part of core Europe, consisting of ten European nations or groups of nations.

Appeals Court Reinstates Texas Abortion Law

The Associated Press wrote on October 9:

“A federal appeals court Friday night quickly allowed Texas to resume banning abortions after heartbeats have been detected… A one-page order by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the nation’s strictest abortion law, which bans abortions… usually around six weeks. It makes no exceptions in cases of rape or incest…

“…U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman, an appointee of President Barack Obama, on Wednesday suspended the Texas law… Knowing that order might not stand long, a handful of Texas clinics immediately started performing abortions again beyond six weeks… But barely 48 hours passed before the appeals court accepted Texas’ request to set aside Pitman’s ruling — at least for now — pending further arguments…

“Before Pitman’s blistering 113-page order, other courts had declined to stop the law… That includes the Supreme Court, which allowed it to move forward in September without ruling on its constitutionality… A 1992 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court prevented states from banning abortion before viability, the point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb, around 24 weeks of pregnancy…”

Fauci’s and Newsom’s Dictatorship

International Family News (IFN) wrote on October 7:

“A powerful movement is sweeping blue states in America, fueled by fear and Anthony Fauci, to require every student in schools – public and private – to be vaccinated against COVID-19. California’s Governor Gavin Newsom is leading the charge with a first-in-the-nation declaration that all students from youngest to oldest must be vaccinated in order to attend school. His order is prospective by necessity because none of the vaccines available have yet been approved for use in children. But Newsom wants the world to know that as soon as they are, every school-age kid in California must get one [unless they qualify for medical or religious exemptions].

“To say that people are not embracing Newsom’s mandate is an understatement… The opinion of parents, pediatricians and education officials matter little when the nation’s ‘top infectious disease expert,’ Dr. Anthony Fauci, has a different viewpoint. Fauci attempted to shut up the parents and other objectors when he cheered the mandate in a statement to the media…

“When I was a child, kids who came down with chickenpox were considered a cause for celebration – every child in the neighborhood who had not yet been infected with chickenpox was invited to come play at the infected kids’ house so they would all be exposed. This resulted in them gaining natural immunity against chickenpox. Natural immunity, however, does not make pharmaceutical companies any money…

“… most of the COVID-19 vaccines, including those from Pfizer and Moderna (the two most widespread COVID vaccines) are of a quite new technology called mRNA (messenger RNA). These vaccines do not contain a live virus. Instead, they make specific proteins to trigger an immune response. We have no experience in assessing the efficacy and adverse reactions over time of these vaccines in school-age children. In fact, only recently did the Pfizer vaccine receive full FDA approval for use in adults. Previously it was made available on an ‘emergency use’ basis only… The studies that Pfizer has conducted on children are strictly limited to assessing the vaccine’s initial effectiveness and exploring any immediate adverse effects. They do not attempt to examine long-term reactions, nor could they…

“There are examples of other childhood vaccines initially thought to be safe that caused long term adverse reactions. For example, researchers found that the Hib vaccine… for meningitis is associated with an increased risk of diabetes… Despite the fact that this vaccine may cause more harm than good for children over the long term, it remains a required vaccine in many states for kids to enter kindergarten. In the same report that studied the Hib vaccine, researchers wrote, ‘The incidence of many other chronic immunological diseases, including asthma, allergies, and immune mediated cancers, has risen rapidly and may also be linked to immunisation.’…

“People have been on the move out of California for a while now. In fact, the state lost a seat in Congress because of all the people who have exited the state… A rush to the exits is what you get when you have feckless politicians like Gavin Newsom issuing decrees fueled by fraudulent claims by the likes of Anthony Fauci.”

Canada’s Unconstitutional Dictatorship and Persecution of Christian Churches

LifeSiteNews reported on October 11:

“During a Thanksgiving church service this Sunday, New Brunswick police officers and health officials arrested a pastor and padlocked the church being used, citing that the number of attendees at the service exceeded the so-called COVID-19 ‘health limit.’ ‘WELCOME TO CANADA, WHERE THEY PADLOCK THE CHURCH ON THANKSGIVING,’ posted founder and lead pastor of His Tabernacle Family Church Phil Hutchings on Facebook, the morning after his associate’s arrest and his church’s closure. ‘They came harassing me this morning at my home again…after the court told them not to return to our residence for any correspondence. Now Public Safety has issued closure of our church doors even after we complied,’ he added….

“Section 3 demands that ‘owners, occupiers, and managers’ demand each person provide ‘proof-of-vaccination’ before entering any publicly accessible ‘indoor gatherings’ under their purview. A small exception is made for churches, that if they cannot comply with the vaccine mandate, they must operate at 50 percent capacity, disallow any form of singing, require everyone to wear a mask, and space everyone two meters apart. In even more Orwellian fashion, Section 15 compels everyone operating a publicly accessible facility in the province to allow police and public health officials access to the facility, whenever asked, for inspections related to the compliance of COVID-19 government measures.

“Fielding additional opposition to the shocking action taken by the government, while pointing out the hypocrisy that the arrest, detainment, and closure was carried out in the name of public health and the ‘common good,’ Hutchings continued to blast the government on social media. ‘Church isn’t just Sunday services. THEY HAVE OFFICIALLY SHUT DOWN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES & COMMUNITY OUTREACHES & FEEDING PROGRAMS,’ stated Hutchings…

“This is not the first time that the Canadian government has locked churches, detained pastors, and issued fines for public worship, all in the name of COVID.  At least four pastors have been arrested in Alberta alone for holding church services that violate COVID-19 mandates, with one pastor, James Coates, spending 35 days in jail when he dared to hold public worship services during the so-called pandemic.

“Additionally, in Nova Scotia, Western Christian Fellowship Church currently faces over $100,000 in fines for keeping their church open and has also retained Rebel News’ Fight the Fines to help mount their legal defense.

“As stated by Canadian constitutional lawyer Rocco Galati, who is currently leading multiple lawsuits against all levels of government regarding so-called COVID-19 restrictions, ‘This is not a medical or health agenda, this is a political one. They want everybody vaccinated for whatever reason...’”

Sadly, that’s the truth. SHAME on Canada’s authoritarian governmental restrictions. And remember the Pastor who called Canadian police officers Nazis and Gestapo? Here is the latest:

National Post wrote on October 4:

“An Alberta pastor who, along with his brother, was found guilty of contempt after deliberately violating COVID-19 health orders has told a judge that he is a political prisoner who is being persecuted by Alberta Health Services. Artur Pawlowski said during a seven-minute statement at his sentencing hearing on Tuesday that he and his brother, Dawid, have done nothing wrong. ‘I am here before this court as a political prisoner of conscience,’ he said before Justice Adam Germain. ‘The AHS and the politicians have found a new way of penalizing anyone that is opposing their unconstitutional medical tyranny. They hate the idea that they have been exposed for what they really are: liars, hypocrites and cheaters,’ he said. ‘I have heard from my grandparents about similar tactics from the time of the Nazis, persecuting churches and the clergy. Canada has fallen. Sure you can lock us up and throw the key away, but our political imprisonment will shout even louder about the hypocrisy.’

“…At the sentencing hearing Monday, the health provider asked that the pastor be jailed for 21 days and that his brother be sentenced to 10 days. The court is also being asked to fine Artur Pawlowski $2,000 and impose $15,000 in costs. Sarah Miller, who is representing the Pawlowskis, said there is no need to incarcerate her clients… Germain said he will release his decision Oct. 13.”

This is beyond belief! Canada has fallen indeed. Canada’s actions can only be described as those of a total dictatorship.

Natural Immunity not sufficient?

Newsmax wrote on October 10:

“A request to block Michigan State University’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate based on natural immunity was denied by a federal judge. Jeanna Norris, a university employee, sued against the mandate since she already had the virus and recovered. She presented two antibody tests to MSU that showed her previous infection, and said her doctors told her that she did not need the vaccine.

“The university’s mandate states that all students and staff, unless they have a medical or religious exemption, must get vaccinated or face termination. U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney denied Norris’s lawsuit, stating that the school did not violate her rights…

“Jenin Younes, a lawyer with the legal group New Civil Liberties Alliance, who represents Norris, told the Epoch Times that ‘Ms. Norris courageously brought this lawsuit to vindicate the constitutional rights of individuals with naturally acquired immunity to COVID-19 who are subject to irrational vaccine mandates. While we are disappointed by today’s order, we are committed to fighting for the rights of COVID-recovered Americans to decline a medically unnecessary vaccine without having to sacrifice their livelihoods.’”

Ignorant judges become the masters of the universe…

Natural Immunity Broadly Effective

The Ron Paul Institute re-published the following lengthy article on October 11 by the Browning Institute. We are quoting some relevant excerpts:

“From the beginning of the March 2020 lockdowns for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the subject of natural immunity (also called post-infection immunity) has been neglected. Once the vaccination became widely available, what began with near silence at the beginning turned nearly into a complete blackout of the topic.

“Even now, there is an absence of open discussion, presumably in the interests of promoting universal vaccination and required documentation of such vaccination as a condition of participating in public life and even the jobs marketplace. Still, the science exists. Many studies exist…

“These studies demonstrate what was and is already known: natural immunity for a SARS-type virus is robust, long-lasting, and broadly effective even in the case of mutations, generally more so than vaccines. In fact, a major contribution of 20th-century science has been to expand upon and further elucidate this principle that has been known since the ancient world. Every expert presumably knew this long before the current debates. The effort to pretend otherwise is a scientific scandal of the highest order, especially because the continued neglect of the topic is affecting the rights and freedoms of billions of people.

“People who have contracted the virus and recovered deserve recognition… The realization that natural immunity – which pertains now to perhaps half of the US population and billions around the world – is effective in providing protection should have a dramatic effect on vaccine mandates.”

The article then proceeded to cite, link to and summarize 29 scientific studies proving the effectiveness of natural immunity.

The Incredible Push for Vaccination

The Associated Press wrote on October 13:

“The U.S. will reopen its land borders to nonessential travel next month… as the country moves to require all international visitors to be vaccinated against the coronavirus… The new rules… will allow fully vaccinated foreign nationals to enter the U.S. regardless of the reason for travel starting in early November, when a similar easing of restrictions is set to kick in for air travel into the country. By mid-January, even essential travelers seeking to enter the U.S., like truck drivers, will need to be fully vaccinated….

“Travelers entering the U.S. by vehicle, rail and ferry will be asked about their vaccination status as part of the standard U.S. Customs and Border Protection admissions process. At officers’ discretion, travelers will have their proof of vaccination verified in a secondary screening process. Unlike air travel, for which proof of a negative COVID-19 test is required before boarding a flight to enter the U.S., no testing will be required to enter the U.S. by land or sea, provided the travelers meet the vaccination requirement.”

Similar ridiculous measures will apply to Canada, beginning October 30, 2021. To depart from Canadian airports or to travel on VIA Rail or Rocky Mountaineer trains, travelers will need to qualify as being fully vaccinated. This also applies to travelers on cruise ships with the beginning of the cruise season in 2022.

But the resistance in the USA to mandatory vaccinations is growing. Note the next articles.

Vaccine Mandate Resistance—LA County Sheriff

The Associated Press wrote on October 8:

“The Los Angeles County sheriff says he will not enforce the county’s vaccine mandate in his agency. Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who oversees the largest sheriff’s department in the country with roughly 18,000 employees, said… that he does not plan to carry out the county’s mandate, under which Los Angeles County employees had to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 1.

“The mandate was issued by executive order in August and allows only for religious and medical exemptions. Villanueva said his employees are willing to be terminated rather than get vaccinated… Villanueva’s announcement came a day after the city of Los Angeles approved one of the nation’s strictest vaccine mandates–a sweeping measure that requires the shots for everyone entering bars, restaurants, nail salons, gyms or even a Lakers game.”

Vaccine Mandate Resistance—LA Fire Fighters

LifeSiteNews reported on October 12’

“871 Los Angeles firefighters, representing roughly 25% of the total personnel on the department, have filed a notice of intent to sue California’s most populous city for its COVID-19 vaccine mandate… as having caused ‘injury, damage, or loss’ by setting a hard deadline of October 20 by which all city firefighters must get vaccinated or else risk losing their jobs… The firefighters have claimed $2 million each in damages which, if awarded, would amount to a total of $1.7 billion in payouts…

“[The notice] stated that the department and chiefs in question told their employees they would be sent home for five days without pay if they refused to get the mandated injection by the deadline. If the firefighters hold firm in their refusal of the experimental inoculation, the LAFD has threatened to fire them… Calling the mandate ‘extreme and outrageous,’ the filing contended the policy was enacted ‘in reckless disregard of the probability of causing emotional distress to Claimants,’ adding that such harm has in fact occurred… The notice also claimed the mandate has pitted members of the public against firefighters who have chosen to opt out of the experimental injection.

“To make matters worse, if that were even possible, the Department is now setting citizens of the City of Los Angeles against Claimants and other unvaccinated firefighters through media and public relations campaigns, creating fear and confusion in the general public. Consequently, Claimants now suffer indignities and viperous comments when responding to emergency calls, which compounds and increases the stress suffered by Claimants…”

Vaccine Mandate Resistance –Seattle Police Force

The New York Post wrote on October 9:

“[Seattle] is poised to fire as many as 403 officers, about 40 percent of the 1,000-person force, for failing to take the COVID-19 jab by an Oct. 18 deadline… A total of 292 officers had yet to provide proof of COVID vaccination as of Oct. 6, the station reports. In addition, 111 officers are awaiting the results of exemption requests…

“The Seattle Police Department has already lost more than 300 officers since Black Lives Matters riots and the ‘defund the police’ movement roiled the city in 2020, putting officers in the crosshairs of political and public ire.”

Vaccine Mandate Resistance—US Service Members

The Washington Post wrote on October 10:

“Hundreds of thousands of U.S. service members remain unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated against the coronavirus as the Pentagon’s first compliance deadlines near… 90 percent of the active-duty Navy is fully vaccinated, whereas just 72 percent of the Marine Corps is, the data show, even though both services share a Nov. 28 deadline. In the Air Force, more than 60,000 personnel have just three weeks to meet the Defense Department’s most ambitious deadline….

“Combined, the Army Guard and Reserve comprise approximately 522,000 soldiers, roughly a quarter of the entire U.S. military… Barely 40 percent are fully vaccinated…”

Newsmax wrote on October 13:

“The archbishop of the U.S. military on Tuesday said Roman Catholic troops could refuse the required COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds. Timothy Broglio, archbishop for the military services, said in a statement that, ‘no one should be forced to receive a COVID-19 vaccine if it would violate the sanctity of his or her conscience.’ Some service members have requested religious exemptions through the Religious Freedom Restoration Act after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a military-wide vaccine mandate this summer.

“While explaining that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had determined that being vaccinated was ‘not sinful,’ Broglio said the church valued its teachings on the ‘sanctity of conscience.’ ‘This circumstance raises the question of whether the vaccine’s moral permissibility precludes an individual from forming a sincerely held religious belief that receiving the vaccine would violate his conscience,’ Broglio wrote. ‘It does not.’…”

Vaccine Mandate Resistance–Airlines

Breitbart wrote on October 10:

“Just two days after the Southwest pilots union asked a federal judge to block the company’s vaccine mandate, the airline canceled 1,800 flights this weekend, blaming bad weather… Chris Bianchi, a meteorologist out of Denver, told CNBC that he did not see the type of severe weather that would have caused massive flight delays…

“On Friday, the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) filed a lawsuit asking that a federal judge ‘temporarily block the company from carrying out federally mandated coronavirus vaccinations…  ‘The new vaccine mandate unlawfully imposes new conditions of employment and the new policy threatens termination of any pilot not fully vaccinated by December 8, 2021,’ the legal filing said… SWAPA represents nearly 10,000 pilots… Whether or not the pilots staged a mass protest, people on Twitter expressed support for their fight against the company’s vaccine mandate.”

CNBC added on October 11:

“Southwest Airlines shares tumbled more than 3% in premarket trading Monday after canceling more than 2,000 flights since Saturday, disrupting the travel plan of thousands of people. Southwest canceled 347 flights on Monday, down from 1,124 on Sunday, which was 30% of its schedule.”

In addition, other airlines are facing similar problems. Breitbart reported on October 10:

“Many United Airlines employees are showing support for those pushing back against the company’s vaccine mandate, an airline health activist said Friday. ‘We have people in every department, every day. The number is growing. I keep getting words of encouragement… even the vaccinated… understand that we are here trying to protect our religious liberty and freedoms,’ Sherry Walker told Breitbart News…

“Six United Airlines workers are suing the company in a class action on behalf of up to 2,000 employeesover its coronavirus vaccine mandate, alleging it violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by discriminating against them based on their religious and medical exemptions. However, the airline later agreed to postpone its company-wide vaccine mandate until a federal judge could hold further hearings…”

Deutsche Welle added on October 13:

“A Texas judge has temporarily put a stop to United Airlines placing employees on unpaid leave if they have received religious exemptions for COVID-19 vaccinations. The order will remain in place until October 26.”

Vaccine Mandate Resistance—Nurses and Healthcare Workers

The Ron Paul Weekly Column wrote on October 11:

“The incredible cruelty and folly of forced vaccines finally came home to roost. The vaccine mandate backlash has been bubbling just under the surface, but now it has spilled out into the open, threatening to completely derail an already crumbling economy and to obliterate a deeply unpopular US President and Administration…

“Over the past few weeks, thousands of nurses, medical workers, and first responders have either quit or been fired for refusing to receive a medical treatment they do not want or need. The ‘nursing shortage’ that Democrat politicians and the mainstream media had been blaming on ‘rising Covid cases’ has been in reality a man-made disaster of historic proportions. The nursing crisis is not caused by ‘Covid’ – cases have been in decline in the US for weeks. It is caused by the firing of medical personnel who refuse to take the experimental Covid shots.

“The stupidity of adopting a policy of firing healthcare workers while at the same time claiming that there is a raging pandemic gripping the country has not been lost on Americans. President Biden’s polling numbers have unsurprisingly been in freefall, with major Democrat candidates like Virginia’s Terry McAuliffe openly complaining that the deeply unpopular Biden is threatening him in a tight race for governor.

“While Biden Administration lackeys like Fauci are telling Americans they can’t celebrate Christmas again this year, more and more of America is finished with this ‘public health’ terrorism. Here in Texas, a hundred thousand unmasked Texas A&M fans poured onto the football field on Saturday after a last minute surprise victory over Alabama. In Texas and elsewhere, the Administration is losing the fear factor.

“History may record this weekend as the turning point against the Biden Administration’s Covid tyranny. From nurses to pilots to truckers to even Amtrak workers, it appears that America is standing up and saying ‘enough!’…”

Vaccine Mandate Resistance—The State of Texas

Reuters wrote on October 11:

“Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott, responding to what he called ‘bullying’ by the Biden Administration, on Monday barred all COVID-19 vaccine mandates in the state by any entity, including private employers. Abbott’s move sets him up for a clash with President Joe Biden … who last month called on businesses nationwide to order their workers to be vaccinated or lose their jobs. At least several thousand people have since been fired for refusing to comply.”

The Associated Press wrote on October 13:

“With the governor of Texas leading the charge, conservative Republicans in several states are moving to block or undercut President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates for private employers… White House officials… said the Biden administration will… put the private workplace mandate into effect along with others it ordered for federal contractors and employees at health care facilities that receive Medicare or Medicaid reimbursements. All told, those mandates could affect up to 100 million Americans….

“Several large companies in Texas have already implemented their own vaccine mandates, and two Texas-based airlines, Southwest and American, indicated Tuesday they would follow the order of the Biden administration, saying federal action supersedes any state mandate or law… lawmakers in Arkansas have approved a measure creating vaccine-mandate exemptions. Though the GOP governor hasn’t said whether he will sign it, it has prompted fears that businesses will be forced to choose whether to break federal or state law.”

What a nightmare scenario. The unvaccinated are becoming ostracized and “scapegoated,” not unlike what happened to the Jews over the centuries.  It appears the Biden Administration is being led to stubbornly and foolishly do everything they possibly can think of to destroy the country, and they might even become responsible for the outbreak of civil war.

Displaying Toys in gender-neutral ways

The Associated Press wrote on October 9:

“California on Saturday became the first state to say large department stores must display products like toys and toothbrushes in gender-neutral ways, a win for LGBT advocates who say the pink and blue hues of traditional marketing methods pressure children to conform to gender stereotypes.

“The new law, signed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom… applies to toys and ‘childcare items,’ which include hygiene and teething products. And it… applies to stores with at least 500 employees, meaning small businesses are exempt.

“This is the third time Democrats in the state Legislature have tried to pass this law, with similar bills failing in 2019 and 2020…”

This is just more nonsense from California—the Union’s most liberal state. Sadly, many states will follow California’s bad example.

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer

These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.

In the first part of this two-part series, we covered a number of areas where we have to be careful about the company we keep.   Let us move on to the question of friends.

Our good and true friends are those who will be with us in the bad times as well as in good times.   They will not be fair-weather friends. We have to be aware of the admonition in Proverbs 16:28: “A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.”

Proverbs 17:17 states that “A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.” A friendship that is underpinned by God’s Holy Spirit and the love of God will be able to withstand the inevitable ups and downs that life throws at us.   The Free Dictionary states that “Human beings necessarily depend on one another, as you can’t manage all by yourself; no man is an island.  This expression is a quotation from John Donne’s Devotions (1624).”

A very important and vital part of the company we keep is outlined in Proverbs 27:6: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”   Very often, we can bridle when we are told something that we don’t want to hear or don’t agree with, but a true friend we should cherish—one whom we can trust, someone who will be straightforward, honest and without hypocrisy towards us—and we should not resent and argue with those true friends who give us honest counsel.  And that is nowhere better expressed than in John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

As someone once wrote: “Fake friends are like shadows, always near you at your brightest moments, but nowhere to be seen at your darkest hour.   True friends are like stars, you don’t always see them but they are always there.  True friends are always there for you. Fake friends only appear when they need something from you.”

We also have to be on our guard against evildoers and not be complicit in any of their ways.  Psalm 26:5 gives clarity to those with whom we should not have friendship or fellowship: “I have hated the assembly of evildoers, And will not sit with the wicked.”

We are advised in Psalm 37:1: “Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.”

The Pulpit Commentary observes: “The feeling does not need to be eradicated, but only to be held in check. Faith in God’s retributive justice will enable us calmly to await ‘the end’ (Psalm 73:17),  in full assurance that ultimately God’s vengeance will overtake the wicked man, and he will receive condign (fitting and deserved) punishment. Neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. Envy is not a natural passion. To envy the evil-doers on account of their prosperity is at once a folly and a danger. Their position is really not enviable; and, if we allow ourselves to envy them, we shall be tempted to follow their example (see Proverbs 24:1)”  Again, the company we keep is a vital factor in our Christian lives.

Psalm 59:2 delivers a very similar message: “Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, And save me from bloodthirsty men.”

“The story is told of a farmer in a Midwestern state who had a strong disdain for ‘religious’ things. As he plowed his field on Sunday morning, he would shake his fist at the church people who passed by on their way to worship. October came and the farmer had his finest crop ever–the best in the entire county. When the harvest was complete, he placed an advertisement in the local paper which belittled the Christians for their faith in God. Near the end of his diatribe he wrote, ‘Faith in God must not mean much if someone like me can prosper.’ The response from the Christians in the community was quiet and polite. In the next edition of the town paper, a small ad appeared. It read simply, ‘God doesn’t always settle His accounts in October’” (William E. Brown in Making Sense of Your Faith).In Malachi 4:1, we read about the eventual and inevitable outcome of the proud and the wicked: “‘For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,’ Says the Lord of hosts, ‘That will leave them neither root nor branch.’”

Being aware of evil men and their schemes and plans is necessary so that we can avoid being in, and involved with, their wrong way of life.   It can be too easy to turn a blind eye to wrongdoing; that is, to ignore something that you know is wrong.

Another area to avoid is that of those who are very negative and seem to thrive on misery.

We’ve probably all heard the phrase that misery loves company and negative people can enjoy making others miserable.

“Misery loves company, and it’s really no big surprise either. While happier people can sometimes help balance this out, a miserable person is a force to be reckoned with, and one that if unwatched, will attempt to bring you down as well.  The thing is, no miserable person wants to see a bunch of happy, cheery people around them. If this were the case, then the term ‘misery loves company’ wouldn’t hold true. Having a miserable friend, spouse, or co-worker is bad enough, but dancing to the same miserable tune that they are is what you really want to watch out for.

“Why DOES misery love company? Is it out of jealousy? Is it out of resentment? Do miserable people just naturally attract one another? It’s actually a combination of all three, although which factors are weighted more heavily than the others will depend on the actual individual.  Most people that are happy with life generally don’t criticize or attempt to belittle others unless it was done to them first. I can always tell when someone is miserable though when I hear those kinds of questions…, it’s an obvious attempt at bringing you down to their level” (feelguide.com).

In these two Q&As, we have seen that we are not to walk with, or be envious of evildoers; we are not to be of the world and its ways, cling to those who flatter or be unequally yoked in any way with others who have a wrong mindset.   We are also to beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing, not to mix with the wrong crowd and stay away from those who are perpetually negative and spread misery.   Peer pressure can also be a stumbling block where the prevailing ethos in society or the company we keep can be a major distraction, if we are not strong enough in the faith to dismiss and remove this from our lives.

The importance of keeping good company cannot be over-emphasized, and good and true friends can help us in achieving our goal of making it into the Kingdom of God.   We must always keep in mind that “evil company corrupts good habits.”

Someone observed wisely that “You’re the coach: you pick the players on your team.  If you affiliate with people who are pessimistic, burned out, and negative, you’re likely to adopt those same views.”

We should surround ourselves, wherever possible, with uplifting and positive true Christians, whose guiding principles would be wholly positive and not disruptive to our faith in any way.

So, what are we to do about it?   Let us review a few verses that can be very helpful.

We can learn a lot from the Psalms, and the Scriptures below show what our approach should be:  “Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners,Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2).   The Pulpit Commentary observes as follows:

“(1) He ‘does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly’; i.e. he does not throw in his lot with the wicked does not participate in their projects or designs;

“(2) he standeth not in the way of sinners; i.e. he does not take part in their actions, does not follow the same moral paths; and

“(3) he sitteth not in the seat of the scornful; i.e. has no fellowship with them in the ‘scorn’ which they cast upon religion.”

Psalm 26:4-5 also delineates those with whom we should have no fellowship: “I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, Nor will I go in with hypocrites. I have hated the assembly of evildoers. And will not sit with the wicked.”

The Treasury of David opines: “So far from being himself an open offender against the laws of God, the Psalmist had not even associated with the lovers of evil. He had kept aloof from the men of Belial. A man is known by his company, and if we have kept ourselves apart from the wicked, it will always be evidence in our favour should our character be impugned. He who was never in the parish is not likely to have stolen the corn. He who never went to sea is clearly not the man who scuttled the ship.”

Psalm 111:1 tells us: “Praise the Lord! I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.”

We read in Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: “I will praise the Lord with my whole heart – With undivided affections; holding back nothing. I will allow nothing to be in my heart that would interfere with the fullness of praise; no coldness or dividedness of affection; no love for other things that would deaden my love for God; no suspicion respecting him that would chill my ardor; no unbelief that would drag me down to earth, while the language of my lips ascended to God.  In the assembly of the upright – With the righteous when they are gathered together for public worship.”

Further good advice can be found in Psalm 141:4-5: “Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice wicked works With men who work iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies. Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked.”

That is a good place to finish where the psalmist, David, prays for safekeeping from wickedness as the sub-heading to the chapter in the New King James Bible reads.   By being aware of the company we keep and opting for the only way that leads to salvation, we will reap the benefits for eternity!

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Norbert Link

A new Member Letter (October 15, 2021)  has been written, posted and sent out. In the letter, Michael Link is discussing our ongoing challenges which are many times caused by Satan, and encourages all of us to continue with our fight for the Kingdom of God.

A new StandingWatch program has been recorded by Norbert Link, titled, “Is Civil War Coming?”

Here is a summary:

Developments within the USA are unprecedented… and resentment against vaccination mandates and anger against censorship are boiling over. We really have an unsustainable situation today—an extremely intense conflict between states and the federal government. The warning words of Abraham Lincoln come to mind. Do biblical end-time prophecies have anything to say about a civil war within the USA?

“Wer sind die zwei Zeugen?” (Who are the two witnesses?”) is the title of this coming Sabbath’s new German sermon, presented by Norbert Link.

“Schöne neue Welt” (“Beautiful new world”), the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Daniel Blasinger, is now posted.

“Meekness—What is it?” — the first split sermon presented last Sabbath by Kalon Mitchell—is now posted.

“Who are the Two Witnesses?” — the second split sermon presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link—is also posted.