Update 1015

On March 26, 2022, Norbert Link will present, “Comments on News and Prophecy, March 26, 2022,” and Kalon Mitchell will present the sermon, titled, “Choose Your Sacrifice.”

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.

Have we been caught off guard?  Are we aware of the fact that in less than three weeks, baptized members of the Church of God will be partaking once again in the Passover service and immediately following, the Days of Unleavened Bread?  It is amazing how time flies by, especially when so much around us can interfere with the very things we would really like to focus on.  Life gets in the way.  Unexpected situations can occur at any time, and we try to find ways to adjust.

Distractions can get the better of us if we’re not careful. They come in many forms and they may hinder us from focusing on what we really need to be focusing on, and if we are not careful, it could become a problem.  There are many things in the world that could divert our thinking by giving into things that the world has to offer, especially everything that goes against God’s teaching, and also being caught up and sidetracked with speculation and assumption.  We need to be aware of what is going on, what the Bible is prophesying, and we shouldn’t allow ourselves to be deceived by all the propaganda, politics and conspiracies floating around the internet and media sources.  That is a distraction and it can consume our thinking, and if we are not careful, it can lead us down the wrong path.

This is exactly what Satan wants, who is the author of confusion, the deceiver, the ruler of this world.  He is also specifically targeting God’s people, doing what he can to make us fail, but we need to be stronger than that.  Satan knows where we are vulnerable which is why we need to remain vigilant at all times, and God knows that we can succeed IF we obey Him. We need to understand what our commission is, what our purpose is. We see how quickly things can change, how the world is caught in disarray.  The immediate future is fragile, and we need to be conscious of this. Matthew 24:42 commands us to watch, and that is exactly what we should be doing – watching and also warning of what is to come.

These diversions can have a bearing on our decision-making and our actions which could affect us personally.  Trials are abundant as we all go through them individually, trying to cope, trying to overcome. And we tell ourselves the same thing right around this time when faced with various challenges that “Passover must be right around the corner.”

Well, it is! And this is also the time when we really need to examine ourselves to see where we stand and how serious we are in our spiritual calling.  How is our relationship with God?  How is our relationship with our like-minded brethren? Are we prepared and ready to partake of the Passover in a worthy manner?

Indeed, there are many things that we may get sidetracked on which could affect our focus.  God wants us to be ready at all times.  He wants us to be prepared, and He wants us to conquer our weaknesses and overcome the distractions that Satan throws at us.  We know that Satan will tempt us in every way possible but we also know that we can overcome every obstacle that we are faced with, as there is nothing too difficult for us to handle. We should take God’s Word very personally.  God has called us for a reason.  He has a purpose for us NOW.  And as we say time and time again, we need to understand that we could possibly delay the return of Christ if we are not faithful in doing the Work, if we are not faithful within ourselves by doing what we need to be doing (2 Peter 3:4-9, 14-18).

We have less than three weeks to get our spiritual minds in check. “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for NOW our salvation is nearer than when we first believed”  (Romans 13:11).

by Norbert Link

We begin with further evidence of Putin’s mental sickness and demonic possession while explaining that his real goals go far beyond Ukraine; and continue with Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s desire to meet with Vladimir Putin (see our new message, “Ukraine Disappointed with NATO and Europe—Comments on News and Prophecy, March 19, 2022”). We point out dubious and disappointing “reporting” on the Russian invasion of Ukraine; speak about a stunning statement by Pope Francis on the situation in Ukraine which completely contradicts the Roman Catholic Church’s doctrine on “just wars”; and publish a remarkable article on abortion. In this context, view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Free Abortions in California… ‘Repent or Perish!’”.

We speak about ongoing persecution of religious liberties and freedoms in Canada and America.

We report on the Biden administration’s hypocrisy as it relates to contemplated actions pertaining to Iran; and the shameful conduct of the US mass media regarding the Hunter Biden scandal. We also publish a truly remarkable article on abortion.

Turning to Germany, we discuss the country’s military ambitions; its embarrassing “help” for Ukraine; its “green policy”; dangerous developments regarding a threat to democracy; and dubious discussions regarding vaccination mandates.

We conclude with new mask mandates in Austria and Austria’s “neutrality,” and a report on the danger of mental illness caused by lockdowns.

Putin Not Backing Down and Being Guilty of Blatant Blasphemy

The Associated Press wrote on March 18:

“Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared at a huge flag-waving rally at a Moscow stadium Friday and praised his country’s troops in biblical terms as they rained lethal fire on Ukraine’s cities….  Moscow police said more than 200,000 people were in and around the Luzhniki stadium for the celebration marking the eighth anniversary of Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula, seized from Ukraine.

“The event included patriotic songs, including a performance of ‘Made in the U.S.S.R.,’ with the opening lines ‘Ukraine and Crimea, Belarus and Moldova, it’s all my country.’

“Seeking to portray the war as just, Putin paraphrased the Bible to say of Russia’s troops: ‘There is no greater love than giving up one’s soul for one’s friends.’ And he continued to insist his actions were necessary to prevent ‘genocide,’ a claim flatly denied by leaders around the globe.”

The Sun added on March 18:

“During the speech, Putin promised the tens of thousands of people waving Russian flags that all the Kremlin’s aims would be achieved… He told the crowd: ‘We know what we need to do, how to do it and at what cost. And we will absolutely accomplish all of our plans.’…

“He said the soldiers fighting in Russia’s ‘special military operation’ had highlighted the unity of the country. ‘Shoulder to shoulder, they help each other, support each other and when needed they shield each other from bullets with their bodies like brothers. Such unity we have not had for a long time,’ he said…

“According to the BBC, many people said they worked in the public sector and they had been pressured into attending by their employers. ‘Many seemed embarrassed or ashamed to be there,’ BBC producer Will Vernon said.”

Just the same as at Hitler’s big rallies when many were forced or misled to attend. And while Hitler did not quote the Bible, he spoke repeatedly of “fate” (“Vorsehung”) which “protected” him.

Moldova in Danger

CNBC wrote on March 18:

“… analysts have warned that President Vladimir Putin may be considering his next target: Moldova… Moldova, like Ukraine, is not part of the European Union, nor is it a member of NATO — though it has ambitions to join both. But, like Ukraine, the former Soviet republic is home to a sizeable pro-Russian separatist population based primarily in the breakaway state of Transnistria on the Ukrainian border. Governed by its own Kremlin-backed leader, Transnistria could present a strategic opportunity for Russia, which has already amassed some 1,500 troops in the area.

“Either Putin could recognize it as an independent state — as he did with Donetsk and Luhansk before launching a full-blown invasion of Ukraine — or it could become the focus point of a so-called false flag event, manufactured by Russia to justify an intervention… if Russia were to take that path, it would spell further hardship, not least for Moldova’s 2.6 million residents and the 350,000 migrants from Ukraine who have fled there… The country — one of Europe’s poorest on a GDP per capita basis — has much less military capability than Ukraine.

“An invasion of Moldova could therefore open a back door into southwest Ukraine… If that were to happen, Moldova could face a fate similar to that of Ukraine, locked in conflict with a global superpower while Western allies watch from the sidelines… without being an EU or NATO member, neither organization is likely to help substantially…”

Putin Has Completely Lost his Mind

The Sun wrote on March 18:

“It seems the Russian dictator is becoming increasingly paranoid behind the scenes, fearing someone in his own inner sanctum could poison him. Boris Karpichkov, a former KGB spy now living in exile in the UK, said Putin is now ‘completely losing his mind” over the state of the Ukraine war… ‘He turned out to be a psychopath really heavily obsessed with paranoid ideas and conspiracy theories against himself and about nonexistent threats Russia allegedly faces from the rest of the world.’…

“Mr Karpichkov said: ‘Putin doesn’t care and has already started literally marching over dead bodies under his feet – regardless of whether corpses belong to Ukrainians, or to his own Russian fellow citizens… Based on the fact that Putin is now using barbaric cluster bombs and missiles and using these horrible weapons against civilians, this is a sign Putin is completely losing his patience and his mind… What’s going on with Putin and what’s inside his head cannot be explained…’

“Already an unusually paranoid leader, Putin is now said to have ordered a team of people to taste his food before he eats it over fears he could be wiped out by a deadly concoction. A source told the Daily Beast contributing editor Craig Copetas that the Russian leader has also replaced his entire personal staff of 1,000 people... Putin has made several strongly-worded appearances on Russian state TV since the war started, denouncing Russians who opposed his war with Ukraine as ‘scum’ and ‘traitors’ [This is Stalin-like language.]….

“It comes after a former Russian deputy prime minister spoke out against the Kremlin’s actions in Ukraine. Arkady Dvorkovich, deputy prime minister from 2012 to 2018, became one of Russia’s most senior figures to question the war when he said his thoughts were with Ukrainian civilians under bombardment. Thousands of people have been detained for protesting against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine…”

Forcibly Sent to Russia?

The Guardian wrote on March 20:

“Authorities in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol have said Russian troops have forcibly deported several thousand residents to Russia, as reports emerged that Russian forces bombed an art school in the city where 400 people were taking shelter. ‘Over the past week, several thousand Mariupol residents were deported on to the Russian territory,’ the city council said in a statement on its Telegram channel late on Saturday. ‘The occupiers illegally took people from the Livoberezhniy district and from the shelter in the sports club building, where more than a thousand people (mostly women and children) were hiding from the constant bombing.’… the council’s statement is one of several reports about Mariupol residents being taken to Russia…

“RIA Novosti agency, citing emergency services, reported last week that nearly 300,000 people, including some 60,000 children, had arrived in Russia from the Luhansk and Donbas regions, including from Mariupol, in recent weeks….”

Meeting in Person?

Express wrote on March 20:

“Putin has ‘finally agreed’ he will need to meet with Ukrainian president… Zelenskyy  in person [‘at some point’] to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine…  Speaking to BBC’s Broadcasting House, [BBC correspondent Lysa] Doucet said: ‘…  He hasn’t said it in public, he says quite the opposite in public… The Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet is very busy, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is very busy. They’ve said privately their understanding is that President Putin will meet President Zelensky when the time is right. But the time is not right now.’…

“Turkey’s Foreign Minister said Russia and Ukraine were nearing agreement on ‘critical’ issues and he was hopeful for a ceasefire if the two sides did not backtrack from progress achieved so far.”

Ultimately, Ukraine and Russia will collaborate together against Europe.

Russia and Fox News’s Dubious Reporting

Russia responded to Joe Biden’s assertion about Putin being a war criminal, saying: “Given such irritability from Mr. Biden, his fatigue and sometimes forgetfulness…fatigue that leads to aggressive statements, we will not make harsh assessments, so as to not cause more aggression.” Shameful.

But equally shameful is the following, as reported by the Guardian on February 18:

“Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, has praised Fox News for its coverage, appearing on the Russian state-controlled RT network to hail the right-leaning US cable channel, whose primetime host Tucker Carlson has played down the invasion…. ‘If you take the United States, only Fox News is trying to present some alternative point of view,’ he said… Russian media regularly play clips of Carlson criticizing the US and Ukraine, and he was still praising President Vladimir Putin hours before Russia invaded Ukraine almost four weeks ago. In contrast, as Moscow’s bombardment escalated, Russian apologism by numerous Fox hosts, commentators and guests was being corrected on air by the network’s own national security correspondent, Jennifer Griffin.

“The mental split-screen effect only sharpened earlier this week when a Fox news team on the ground in Ukraine came under Russian fire on the frontline. Cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski and producer Oleksandra Kuvshynova were both killed  during a Russian attack outside the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Correspondent Benjamin Hall was badly wounded in the incident.”

Newsmax added on March 18:

“Since the onset of the war, Fox’s Tucker Carlson has become a media star in Russia… Carlson has long been a critic of supporters of Ukraine and Biden’s support of the Zelenskyy government. U.S. media across the political spectrum has criticized Carlson for suggesting the Biden administration is permitting a war between Russia and Ukraine in an effort to ‘grab more power’…

“Carlson has repeatedly claimed that Ukraine is not a democracy, and has blamed NATO for the war by expanding near Russia’s border… ‘At exactly the moment when the emergency powers they awarded to themselves to fight COVID started to wane, our leaders began pushing for conflict with Russia,’ Carlson said on his program last Friday.

“Dick Morris said Fox’s Carlson coverage of the war has been ‘an outrage against all that America stands [for].’ The Newsmax commentator and former Fox News contributor said, ‘Roger Ailes, the founding chairman of the network, must be rolling over in his grave. Ailes was above all else a patriot.’”

Carlson’s reporting has also been matched by other outlets in the USA, such as the Ron Paul Institute, making the same dubious allegations. Certain Putin-friendly and anti-Zelenskyy outlets in Germany and Austria are even worse, containing most outlandish unproven accusations or implications, including, for instance, “Wochenblick” and “Report 24.” This is so regrettable, as they did a fairly good job in covering controversial governmental restrictions in response to the Corona pandemic.

Russian Persecution of Protestants and other Religious Minorities

Christian Today wrote on March 21:

“There are fears that the persecution of Christians will increase if Russia widens its control over Ukraine… In parts of Ukraine already under Russian separatist control, many Protestant churches have been closed and some Christian books have been banned.

“Donetsk and Luhansk in the disputed Donbas region have been under the control of pro-Russian separatists since 2014… In Luhansk, a Religion Law passed in 2018 required churches to re-register with the authorities… Since then, the authorities have refused to register all Protestant, Baptist and Pentecostal congregations. In March 2019, Baptist Union churches were threatened with punishment if they did not suspend public worship.

“Raids have been carried out on places of worship and the congregations of unregistered churches have been denied access to their buildings or had the water, gas and electricity supply cut off. The Luhansk authorities have also banned 12 Christians books on an ‘extremist material’ list… These include an 1820 edition of the Gospel of John, a Baptist hymnbook, and books by Charles Spurgeon and Billy Graham.”

Putin’s Russia Strikingly Similar to Nazi Germany

Euractiv wrote on March 21:

“Vladimir Putin demands the ‘denazification’ of Ukraine. But under Putin, Russia has turned into a totalitarian state strikingly reminiscent of Nazi Germany… Since Putin came to power, Stalinism has been whitewashed and Stalinist crimes have become taboo… History has been conveniently re-written… Putin’s propagandists make it simple: The ‘collective West’ is some sort of heir to Nazism, and its goal is the destruction of Russia.

“Accordingly, the main threat for Russia today comes from Ukraine, where neo-Nazi organisations, such as the Azov battalion, purportedly with 900 soldiers, have been given free rein. They are also told that a far-right Ukrainian politician from the period of WWII, Stepan Bandera, is being glorified…

“When  I interviewed the Russian Ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov on the second day of war, I asked him to specify who the Nazis in Ukraine were. He said it was those who marched with a Nazi salute and who glorified Bandera. I asked him if Russia would then come to invade my country, Bulgaria, under the same excuse. As in any other country I know, Bulgaria’s far-right movements can rightly be called neo-Nazi. He said no, because, at least, in his words, Bulgaria has not erected monuments to neo-Nazis. (He didn’t say what I expected – that Russia would not attack us because we are in NATO.) But what is interesting is that in Bulgaria, the parties that can be described as neo-Nazis are today marching with banners glorifying Vladimir Putin.

“Historically the oldest of them is Ataka of Volen Siderov.  Siderov, who has used symbols of pro-Nazi Bulgarian organisations from WWII, has been called by the German press ‘Putin’s man in Bulgaria.’ He rushed to recognise Crimea’s annexation in 2014…

“Led by Kostadin Kostadinov, a younger version of Siderov, Vazrazhdane… call themselves ‘the only true patriots’…  their ideology can be described as national-socialist (Nazi), and they are now represented in parliament. Every day, Kostadinov and his MPs make speeches supporting Putin, against NATO, and Bulgaria’s country’s membership of the alliance. Kostadinov even said he would ‘de-Nazify’ Bulgaria, whatever that means…

“When we watch Putin’s recent rally on the occasion of the eighth anniversary of the annexation of Crimea, we cannot fail to think about Nazi rallies from the 1930s…”

More on Bulgaria

Politico added on March 21:

“For years, Bulgaria has played a cautious double act, trying to balance itself between East and West and not anger Moscow. While Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24 united Europe in condemning the war, the conflict has exacerbated old divisions within Bulgarian politics and society….

“Ties between Russia and Bulgaria — a member of both the EU and NATO — run deep, with the countries sharing historic, religious, and cultural ties… Because of Russian clout in Bulgaria, some see the Balkan country as Moscow’s Trojan Horse in the EU…

“Internal coalition squabbles also erupted shortly after Putin launched his assault on Ukraine on February 24. In Sofia, the parliament moved to approve a declaration condemning the war. After hours of debates the Socialists did not support the part of the declaration referring to sanctions. The only other party which did not sign the declaration was Revival, a far-right party and currently one of the most vocal Kremlin supporters. It’s not surprising that Kostadin Kostadinov, the party’s leader, is nicknamed Kopeckin, after the Russian coin…. many Bulgarians tend to see Russia very favorably — indeed Bulgaria’s the country where Moscow gets the highest approval ratings — 73 percent…

“Bulgaria has been a fertile testing ground for Russian propaganda and conspiracy theories for years… Still, experts predict that the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine could force moderate pro-Russian sympathizers to reconsider their loyalties. A recent poll… shows that only four days after Russia invaded Ukraine, the approval of Putin dropped to 32 percent, compared with 55 in July 2021.”

Pope: Just Wars Do not Exist

Breitbart wrote on March 19:

“Pope Francis said… that the war in Ukraine proves how savage human beings can be, up to the point of becoming ‘murderers of our brothers.’ ‘We think of so many soldiers who are sent to the front, very young, Russian soldiers, poor things,’ Francis said. ‘Think of the many young Ukrainian soldiers; think of the inhabitants, the young people, the young girls, boys, girls’…

“‘A war is always — always! — the defeat of humanity, always,’ he said. ‘There is no such thing as a just war: they do not exist!’

“It is not clear how the pope’s assertion that just wars do not exist squares with Catholic teaching on just wars. The Catechism of the Catholic Church… lays out a series of conditions necessary to justify the use of military force, summing up the teachings articulated by Saint Augustine of Hippo and Saint Thomas Aquinas.

“It states that ‘the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain; all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective; there must be serious prospects of success; the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. These are the traditional elements enumerated in what is called the “just war” doctrine,’ the Catechism declares.”

Even though the pope is absolutely right in stating that wars, fought by humans, can never be just, it must be emphasized that he is again in obvious contradiction with the teachings of his church. He is also in effect condemning all the warmongering activities of his church throughout its existence. Please read our free booklet, “Should YOU Fight in War?”

Killing Russians Not a Sin?

The Jerusalem Post wrote on March 16:

“Ukrainian Orthodox Church leader, Metropolitan Epiphanius I of Kyiv, on Monday blessed his people to ‘fight against the Russian invaders’… The archbishop also stated that killing Russian soldiers isn’t a sin. ‘We, as a nation, do not wish death to our neighbors,’ Epiphanius said. ‘However, since they came to our land, we’re defending our land. Protecting ourselves is not a sin. The [Orthodox Church] blesses everyone for this military feat.’

“This was not the first time Epiphanius made strong declarations  in opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In a statement last month, he wrote, ‘The spirit of the Antichrist operates in the leader of Russia. This was [Nazi leader Adolf] Hitler during World War II. This is what [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has become today.’ The church head further asserted that there are ‘signs’ revealing the ‘pride, devotion to evil, ruthlessness [and] false religiosity’ of Putin, just as it was for Hitler.”

The sixth commandment says very clearly: “You shall not kill.” See our free booklet, “The Ten Commandments.” 

Freedom of the Press?

Breitbart wrote on March 20:

“Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced the banning of Ukraine’s main opposition party [“Opposition Platform — For Life”] as part of an anti-Russian crackdown. A number of other major opposition parties were also banned by the Ukrainian government amid the ongoing Russian invasion of the country at least ‘for the period of the martial law.’

“According to a report by Der Spiegel, the ban was announced via video message on Sunday, and will suspend the operation of the party, which earned 13 per cent of the national vote in 2020 and is most successful in areas of Ukraine with large ethnic Russian and Russian-speaking populations… All of the parties banned in the country… have been considered Eurosceptic, anti-liberal, or pro-Russian by the Zelensky government, according to Der Spiegel.

“… this is not the first time Zelensky has taken action against groups deemed to be pro-Russian. The current government previously put Platform for Life party leader Viktor Medvedchuk under house arrest in May 2021 over accusations that he committed high treason, with authorities alleging the opposition leader had been handing over military secrets to Russia. Zelensky also banned three news channels associated with Medvedchuk and targeted the man’s family and colleagues…

“Western nations have also targeted Russia-linked media since Vladimir Putin escalated hostilities in Donbas into full-scale war, with both the European Union and United Kingdom taking measures to ban the distribution of content produced by Russian-owned broadcaster RT. for example.

“Meanwhile, Russia has experienced its own, even harsher crackdown on those voicing opposition to the war, with thousands reportedly being arrested by the country’s police for protesting against the conflict and people spreading what the state deems ‘fake’ information threatened with significant prison sentences.”

“Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has announced that his country will participate in sanctions against Russia but will not block Russian state media from his country, stating he is against censorship…”

Especially in times of war, freedom of the press becomes a thing of the past… on either side. But suppression of the free press is never a good idea, arousing suspicion as to what one is prohibited and prevented from hearing…  and why…, thereby playing right into the hands of the enemy.

Ukraine’s Frictions with Israel

Israel 365 News wrote on March 22:

“Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky was accused of trivializing the Holocaust on Sunday after addressing the Israeli Knesset via zoom. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Benett denied Ukraine arm shipments but said he would continue mediation efforts between the two warring countries.

“Zelensky’s zoom address was meant to rally the Israeli government to supply Kyiv with arms to fend off the Russian invasion. But his plea fell on deaf ears after he tried to compare Russia’s invasion to the Holocaust while emphasizing the rare instances of righteous gentiles in Ukraine who aided and abetted Jews during World War 2…

“Zelensky, who is of Jewish parents but baptized both his children, may have gone too far… [when] highlighting the righteous gentiles of Ukraine even though they were an extreme minority among the population of Europe’s cruelest Nazi supporters. A prominent Israeli journalist tweeted: ‘Zelensky’s claim that the Ukrainians were righteous gentiles who saved Jews in the Holocaust is sick historical revisionism. The Ukrainians were active, enthusiastic Nazis. Ukrainian Jewry wasn’t annihilated in Poland, but in Ukraine, by their neighbors.’”

Many Ukrainians Murdered Jews

JTA wrote on March 22:

“Over one quarter of the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, approximately 1.5 million people, were killed within the territory of what is now Ukraine. Millions of non-Jewish Ukrainians also perished under German occupation as prisoners of war, slave laborers, soldiers, partisans, and ordinary townsfolk and peasants…  2,637 Ukrainians [were] recognized for their efforts to save Jews… but far more Ukrainians played [a role] in collaborating with the Germans and facilitating the murder of their Jewish neighbors.

“The Germans knew that Ukraine would be fertile ground for their exterminationist plan…. only 20 years earlier, Ukrainians opposing Bolshevik rule had murdered tens of thousands of their Jewish neighbors… In Lviv, the first major city the Germans captured in Ukraine, Ukrainian soldiers recruited from abroad with the false promise of German support for Ukrainian statehood, rounded up Jews and threw them to the crowds… German special units with the collaboration of Ukrainian auxiliary police and militia killed between 2,000 and 5,000 Jews in the city in July 1941…

“Similar scenes were repeated elsewhere. During the first month of the German invasion, between 12,000 and 35,000 Jews were killed in eastern Galicia and western Volhynia — two regions that the Soviet Union had taken from Poland in 1939. Many of these massacres were perpetrated by locals, and some without even a German presence…

“As the Germans moved further east into Ukraine, they intensified their massacres. In hundreds of locales with the assistance of local Ukrainian collaborators, they gathered Jewish men, women and children, marched them to the outskirts of town, stripped them naked, and shot them in ravines or trenches. Locals were then permitted to scavenge the clothing of the dead. The organization Yahad in Unum, which has been mapping Holocaust-era mass graves, has identified nearly 1,000 such sites in Ukraine.

“After an initial wave of killing during the German advance, the German military established some 250 ghettos in Ukraine and required Jews to wear armbands with stars. Ukrainian police enforced the regulations… By spring 1942, most of the ghettos were liquidated, and another 500,000 Jews were murdered….

“It’s understandable that Zelensky is making use of whatever reference points he think will help his country…. Still, Zelensky’s voice matters. And when he utters untruths about the Holocaust, it’s important not to let them stand.”

Ukraine first supported Hitler, but then changed sides and collaborated with Russia, when they grew disappointed with German conduct. Something similar may happen again.

China’s Support of Russia

The Guardian wrote on March 20:

“‘China will never accept any external coercion or pressure, and opposes any unfounded accusations and suspicious against China,’ the foreign minister, Wang Yi, said on Saturday evening. China has refused to condemn Russia’s action in Ukraine or call it an invasion… [It] has also opposed economic sanctions on Russia over Ukraine, describing them as unilateral and not authorised by the UN security council.

“Wang’s comments came after the US president, Joe Biden, warned his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, on Friday of ‘consequences’ if Beijung gave material support to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine….

“Pressure on China to abandon its neutral stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine increased after the British prime minister, Boris Johnson, urged leaders in Beijing to get off the fence and join global condemnation of the Russian leader…  China, however, has shown no sign of altering its stance. On Saturday its vice foreign minister, Le Yucheng, described western sanctions against Russia as increasingly ‘outrageous’. Le also acknowledged Moscow’s position on Nato, saying the alliance should not further expand eastwards and force a nuclear power like Russia ‘into a corner’… adding that Russian citizens were being deprived of overseas assets ‘for no reason’.”

Displacing the Dollar?

Fox News wrote on March 20:

“News that Saudi Arabia is considering pricing oil sales to China using the Chinese yuan instead of the U.S. dollar has Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., concerned the U.S. could be losing its footing on the world stage… Sasse said this development, along with how the war between Russia and Ukraine develops, could send a message to the rest of the world that could have a significant impact… ‘Chairman Xi greenlit this invasion,’ Sasse explained… ‘ Xi desires to seize Taiwan.’

“Sasse went on to say that China’s objective of trying to ‘displace the dollar’ is something the U.S. must monitor. Sasse claimed that other countries would not gravitate toward China out of preference for its policies but out of concern that ‘America is weak.’”

Putin announced that trading of oil and gas with “unfriendly” nations would have to be conducted in Rubles. But it will ultimately be the euro which will replace the dollar.

Biden Administration’s Hypocrisy

The Algemeiner wrote on March 18:

“In his address to the US Congress this week, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky told US President Joe Biden in a plea for American air defenses against Russian bombardment from the sky: ‘You are the leader of your great nation. I wish you to be the leader of the world.’ Congress members gave him a standing ovation. Yet reports suggest that, in its imminent deal with Iran, America is about to massively empower a state that is a lethal threat to the West and already has far more American blood on its hands than has Russian President Vladimir Putin. While the Biden administration postures as standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine in its desperate defense against murderous aggression, it is itself reportedly about to capitulate entirely to Iran. This, astoundingly, is America’s actual answer to Zelensky.

“Given that the Iranian regime has been at war with the West since it came to power in 1979, that its fingerprints are on almost every major terrorist atrocity against Western interests and that it unceasingly declares its genocidal aim to exterminate Israel, the administration’s determination to empower it is incomprehensible. The reported terms of the deal being negotiated in Vienna will allow Iran legitimately to equip itself with a nuclear arsenal after a mere delay — according to Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett — of two-and-a-half years. Meanwhile, through the associated sanctions relief America will enable the regime to receive an estimated $100 billion to ramp up its regional power grab; redouble its terrorist activities; and perpetrate attacks on Israel from its proxies in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq and Yemen. The United States is even said to be considering lifting the designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization in return for some vague commitment by Tehran to rein it in. Given the IRGC’s key role as Iran’s elite global terrorism enforcer, any such commitment would be risible…

“For America to bring Iran into the community of nations is obscene. To do so while purportedly exiling Russia from that community of nations is astonishing hypocrisy. Even worse is that while Biden is instructing the world to impose sanctions against Russia, his administration is actually working closely with Russia to lift sanctions against Iran… the Biden administration is now accepting Putin — the man who Biden himself calls a ‘war criminal’ and who has threatened nuclear war against the West — as the controller of Iran’s nuclear-weapons program…

“Of course, the immediate target in Iran’s sights is Israel…”

The Editorial Board of the New York Post wrote on March 218:

“President Joe Biden called Vladimir Putin a ‘war’ criminal Wednesday. With good reason: The autocrat’s forces have bombed hospitals, schools and other civilian structures, wantonly slaughtered children and are leveling Ukrainian cities to try to make them submit.

“But Biden, as usual, didn’t mean it. Turns out the revived Iran deal now under discussion includes a massive sanctions waiver for Russia’s nuclear projects in Iran… Aside from the ugly moral implications, this is policy malpractice. It endangers US interests abroad and also Ukraine, by telling Putin we’re not that serious…

“The 2015 accord was a disaster: It emboldened Iran and helped solidify its position as an aspirant regional hegemon. President Donald Trump’s withdrawal was one of his wisest foreign-policy maneuvers…”

The Hunter Biden Scandal

Breitbart wrote on March 17:

“Hunter Biden in 2021 paid an outstanding $1 million IRS tax bill to evade conviction or a long sentence, the New York Times reported Wednesday. As a grand jury continues the probe into Hunter’s corrupt international business dealings, Hunter’s taxes are just one potential crime among many. Working with his family, including his father, former Vice President Joe Biden, the probe into Hunter may include his business dealings with Ukrainian Energy company Burisma Holdings and a Chinese energy conglomerate.

“In relation to the business dealings, the Times confirmed the authenticity of Hunter’s ‘laptop from hell’ that was previously passed off by the establishment media and big tech as Russian disinformation. It took the Times nearly two years to admit the emails from laptop were Hunter’s. Twitter infamously canceled the New York Post’s Twitter handle for purveying ‘disinformation’ during and after the 2020 presidential election.”

The admission of the New York Times that the story on Hunter Biden’s laptop was correct, while the mass media continuously lied about it, calling it a hoax” and “Russian misinformation,” raises the question of criminal misconduct, while it was stated on Fox News that the evidence might suggest that Joe Biden might also be complicit in Hunter’s alleged crimes.

Warning to America: Ongoing Canadian Dictatorship and Persecution…

The Christian Post wrote on March 17:

“Recent events in Canada reveal an alarming trend of crackdowns on religious liberty. While not to the same degree of persecution often seen in North Korea or China, it’s nonetheless alarming that brazen violations are happening so close to home. Artur Pawlowski, a Canadian pastor, has been jailed multiple times for holding worship services, expressing his religious views and speaking out against government dictates. He’s just one among many in Canada who’ve faced imprisonment, shuttered facilities, steep fines and continued interference from government officials since the start of the pandemic.

“Additionally, The Washington Times recently reported how Canada is imposing dictatorial speech restrictions: ‘Canada’s recently unanimously passed law, C-4, prevents its citizens from spreading Biblical views on marriage and sexuality. Canadian parents, faith leaders, and citizens who hold traditional views of marriage and sexuality will now face up to 5 years of jail time for providing spiritual guidance to those seeking counseling.’

“Canada’s actions prompted U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley to renew calls to add the country to a special list of religious liberty violators. Last year, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley sent a letter to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom urging it to consider adding Canada to its watch list.

“Americans must confront a difficult question: Is a wave of religious hostility, tyranny and intolerance headed to the Land of the Free? The shocking truth is that similar and equally brazen violations are already happening in our nation… Look at the example of Coach Joe Kennedy, who was fired from his job as a high school football coach. Why? Because the school district claimed it was inappropriate for students and parents to see him take a knee and silently pray for 30 seconds after a football game. A federal appellate court even handed down a troubling ruling stating that any time a public school teacher is on duty and can be seen, everything they do, including a brief, quiet, personal prayer, is government speech… The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear his case and oral argument will be later this year…

“Consider Christian business owners Aaron and Melissa Klein, who were forced to shut down their family bakery… after the state of Oregon imposed a crippling $135,000 fine. An Oregon bureaucratic agency punished them because they declined to create a custom cake for a same-sex wedding…  The Sweet Cakes case is currently pending at the Oregon Supreme Court…

“The Biden administration and the Department of Defense are threatening and punishing service members who request religious accommodations to the military vaccine mandate…

“History shows no nation is immune to tyranny…Though our Canadian neighbors appear to be accepting the erosion of their freedoms and God-given rights, Americans cannot follow suit. Religious liberty is the building block of a free society, the pillar of all our civil liberties. Without it, we cannot truly live in liberty.”

The Murder of Abortion!

Christian Today wrote on March 21:

“Life begins at conception. From the moment the sperm and ovum join, the complete genetic package that is the future adult is there. From that moment on, nothing is added. The individual simply has to develop and grow. A process that continues throughout our lives. But, according to Scripture, God knows us from before we are even in the womb. Every one of us is special, and every one of us has a God-given destiny (e.g. Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139; Isaiah 49:5; Luke 1:30-33).

“In line with that, the Bible prohibits the taking of innocent life, which it brands murder and which carries severe penalties, even placing the perpetrator under a curse (e.g. Genesis 9:6; Leviticus 24:17; Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 27:25). In particular, child sacrifice, whether made to pagan deities or to God Himself, is forbidden as an abomination, and labelled ‘detestable’ (e.g. Leviticus 18:21; Deuteronomy 12:19-31; 2 Kings 16:3; Jeremiah 7:30-31). This is in marked contrast to the cultic worship of pagan cultures, where it was believed the sacrificial blood of innocent children was especially efficacious in feeding and appeasing the gods and thereby influencing events.

“Abortion is a form of child sacrifice. It is worship made to the secular gods of self and sexual freedom, fuelling belief in our absolute right to have consequence-free sex whenever, wherever and with whomsoever we choose. In all of this, abortion has both encouraged and driven society’s rejection of, and rebellion against, God.

“… in England and Wales we have witnessed almost 10 million abortions, 98% of which have been performed for what are euphemistically termed ‘social reasons’, meaning that the unborn child was, for whatever reason, at the time unwanted. The situation has, in fact, become so bad that for many, today, abortion is regarded as simply another form of contraception…  Even this appears not to be enough, however, and abortion activists continue to call for the complete decriminalisation and demedicalisation of abortion, making it available on request and up to term, with pills freely available over the counter.

“To put all this in some kind of perspective, over the last half century the UK has legally killed around 14% of the population, which is equivalent to killing the entire population of Austria, or the combined populations of Wales and Scotland. Yet even this staggering number pales into insignificance when compared with the number of children aborted globally over the last century, because when the figures are added together, we have at a conservative estimate terminated the lives of around two billion children – equivalent to around 7% of the entire human race.

“… because of our rebellion, we have placed ourselves under judgement, as a result of which God has withdrawn His protection. What we are experiencing now is… most assuredly [a] warning of the judgement to come… if we don’t urgently repent.

“Covid, social fragmentation, the financial collapse of world markets, and now the threat of world war … all are signs of the withdrawal of God’s protection and should send us to our knees in remorse. Only repentance can break the stranglehold of evil. Only repentance can save us….”

Release of Billions of Genetically-Engineered Mosquitoes

International Family News wrote on March 21:

“Despite opposition due to public health concerns based on scientific research, the Environmental Protection Agency has given the green light for the release of billions of experimental genetically-engineered mosquitoes; the largest release of GE insects in the world…

“Oxitec maintains Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are being genetically modified with the goal of reducing the transmission of harmful diseases like dengue, Zika and yellow fever. The male species, which do not bite, would be released into the wild to mate with females which do bite. The company says the resulting offspring, regardless of sex, will not survive to reach maturity.

“There are issues which draw suspicion to Oxitec’s plan: The Aedes aegypti mosquito is not prevalent in California, and the state–according to the Centers for Disease Control–does not have any cases of the harmful diseases listed… While Oxitec states the GE insects will reduce incidence of the mosquito-borne diseases, there is no publicly available data that supports their claim.”

Germany’s “Help” for Ukraine

Bild Online reported on March 19:

“At the beginning of March, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (63, SPD) promised Ukraine to deliver 2,700 anti-aircraft missiles. So far, only 500 have arrived… They were only handed over on Thursday… According to government insiders, no further deliveries of the Strela missiles are planned.

“The Federal Ministry of Defense wanted to confirm only that there were supplies to Ukraine. The ministry would not give any further details ‘due to the classification of the information resulting from the current security situation’.

“This makes the delivery of arms a total disgrace for the federal government… As early as March 3, “Der Spiegel’ found out that 700 of the promised rockets from the old GDR stocks were no longer ready for use. According to BILD information, the weapons, which are at least 35 years old, were blocked for use in 2012. Reason: ‘Microcracks in the ammunition’s propellant charge, which led to corrosion/oxidation.’

“Particularly embarrassing: According to ‘Der Spiegel’, the wooden boxes in which the rockets are stored were so moldy in November that Bundeswehr soldiers were only allowed to enter the storage facilities with protective equipment.

“Germany has so far sent few arms and support to Ukraine compared to the US. It started with 5000 helmets, which took a whole month to arrive in Ukraine. At the beginning of this year’s crisis in Ukraine, the German government repeatedly emphasized that it would not supply weapons, but would provide other support. On February 26th, two days after Kremlin despot Putin had started his major attack on the neighboring country, there was a sudden change of heart in the federal government: Germany is now supplying weapons after all!”

Germany’s “help” for Ukraine has been dubious from the outset. Zelenskyy’s trust in NATO, the USA and Germany is failing. His willingness to negotiate with Putin, as reported above, is telling.

Germany’s Military Ambitions

Army Technology wrote on March 18:

“Building a capable military is not solely about money, but, given that Germany’s economy remains the largest in Europe, the annual budget uplift would make the country the third-largest defence spender in the world behind the US and China.”

Alarming Developments! Germany’s Thought Police

Breitbart wrote on March 23:

“A large number of apartments and houses were raided in Germany on Tuesday as Federal police in the country look to prosecute those who made allegedly hateful remarks against elected officials online. In total, federal authorities have said that they have checked over 600 statements for so-called ‘criminal content’, with 100 people being ‘searched and questioned’ across 13 different German states. According to a report by Der Spiegel, a significant number of raids have also been conducted, with the houses and apartments of those suspected of posting illegal online messages being searched by law enforcement for incriminating evidence.

“A press release by Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office claimed that Tuesday’s so-called ‘joint day of action’ was sparked by posts targeting politicians around the 2021 Federal elections, with elected officials in Germany having special legal privileges making it illegal for their constituents to level certain insults against them. ‘The basis for these investigations is Section 188 of the Criminal Code (StGB), which was revised in spring 2021 and makes insults, slander and defamation of people in political life particularly punishable,’ the Federal Criminal Police Office statement reads. ‘Public officials and elected representatives are given special criminal protection under [Section]188 StGB, regardless of the political level, against hate postings,’ it continues.

“The President of the Federal Criminal Police Office, Holger Münch, also commented on the hardline enforcement of Germany’s speech laws, threatening those in the country who would dare insult politicians that they will meet the same fate… Another official, Hessian Attorney General Torsten Kunze, also commented on the German speech crackdown, claiming that it was somehow a necessary measure to protect democracy, though the official did not cite any evidence for this claim…

“Germany’s day of thought police raids against those who are suspected of insulting or defaming elected politicians is only the latest example of the country’s interesting understanding of what protecting democracy means. The central European country has become infamous for targeting certain political viewpoints, going so far as to put the country’s populist Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party under surveillance as a so-called ‘suspicious entity’. What’s more, when the party tried to challenge this decision in court, it was ruled that the state spying on the political party was legal, with the court claiming that the party was supposedly a threat to democracy… Thomas Haldenwang, the President of the German Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which ruled on the surveillance case [said] that his court’s decision to allow state surveillance of a party representing a minority political view was a ‘good day for democracy’.”

Democracy and free speech are once again in danger in Germany.

Germany’s Green Policy

Breitbart wrote on March 18:

“Combustion engine cars should go the way of the dinosaur from 2035, according to the German government, who have announced they are backing a plan to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars in the EU from that year on. Despite the country initially resisting Europe-wide legislation pushing for zero-emission cars, the Federal Republic has since about-faced on the idea of a motoring Great Reset, and will join others in the bloc looking to begin phasing out hydrocarbon-burning vehicles by 2035 or earlier… new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles [with] internal combustion engines will no longer be allowed after 2035… while Germany’s change in policy is significant, it is not exactly unexpected, with the country’s new left-wing coalition having promised to push a green environmentalist agenda during their time in office…

“52 per cent of Germans believe that the new government’s climate policy will have an overall negative effect on Germany’s ‘social climate’… 49 per cent believe that the nation’s green agenda will have negative effects for them personally, with that number rising to 61 per cent when only Germans in the east of the country are polled… there are widespread fears that the climate policy measures will lead to social upheaval.”

Vaccination Mandate in Germany?

Die Welt wrote on March 19:

“According to a survey, the introduction of vaccination mandates in Germany would hardly increase the vaccination rate: only two percent of those who were not vaccinated said they would then be vaccinated. Many vaccinated people also doubt whether it can be enforced…

“The vast majority, on the other hand – six out of ten unvaccinated people – want to pay fines or be released from the obligation in this case…. Overall, 51 percent of all respondents are in favor of introducing compulsory vaccination… The Bundestag is to decide [on introducing compulsory vaccination]… probably at the beginning of April.”

Mask Mandates in Austria!

The Local wrote on March 18:

“Austria will reintroduce the… mask mandate for all indoor areas starting March 23rd, Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) said on Friday… he didn’t rule out or confirm the possibility of a mandate also in schools…

“The relaxation of measures was widely criticized in Austria. The capital Vienna announced it would not follow the reopening steps, keeping a 2G rule in gastronomy and the indoor mask mandate.”

What’s wrong with those Austrians? Will this NONSENSE ever stop?

Austria’s “Neutrality”

The New Statesman wrote on March 22:

“Majorities in Finland and in Sweden now support Nato membership… Austrians too are thinking about their neutrality in a Europe forever changed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine… On 25 October 1955 the last Allied troops left Austrian soil; a day later the country’s parliament enacted the Declaration of Neutrality, committing Austria to ‘perpetual neutrality’ and preventing the country from joining ‘military alliances’.

“After the Cold War Austria joined the EU along with Sweden and Finland in 1995. While those two countries are now Nato ‘enhanced opportunity partners’ — the closest relationship short of membership — Austria remains on the periphery of the alliance… Three quarters of Austrians support neutrality, and over 80 per cent are opposed to Nato membership. Austria has come out firmly in support of Ukraine and against the Russian invasion, but in contrast to Sweden and Finland its leadership has been quick to shut down any discussion of abandoning neutrality…

“The Declaration of Neutrality is enshrined in the constitution; repealing it would require a two-thirds majority in parliament which does not currently exist. Austria’s military is also embarrassingly weak; defence spending accounts for just 0.74 per cent of its GDP. While the government plans to raise it to 1 per cent, that would still be well short of the 2 per cent target set for Nato members, let alone the 2.5 per cent analysts believe would be required to build up Austria’s military to the point where it could actually defend the country in the event of an invasion. Austria’s armed forces are little more than a natural disaster response unit.

“Vienna is the third home of the United Nations and yet Austria has not put forward a single initiative that might end the war or bring about a ceasefire in Ukraine…”

It becomes less and less likely that the beast will come from Austria, even though developments may drastically change the Austrian perspective.

Covid Army in Western Australia

Rebel News wrote on March 18:

“Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan faces increasing criticism over his handling of Covid as the state remains isolated from the rest of Australia and its citizens endure the country’s toughest health orders. Today McGowan has released what has been dubbed a ‘Covid Army’ also referred to as a ‘surveillance’ operation on Covid conducted by researchers. Their job is to go door-to-door in Perth over the weekend to conduct random Covid testing on people who do not have symptoms to see if the Omicron variant is going unnoticed within the wider community…

“To put Western Australia in perspective, New South Wales has dropped almost all Covid restrictions, including mask-wearing (except on public transport)… Many Western Australians have taken to social media to express their reservation and anger at the idea of government officials knocking on their door to perform (voluntary) tests… McGowan kept the Western Australian border closed for 697 days.”

CEOs: Get rid of Mask Mandates and Testing in Planes and Airports

Fox Business wrote on March 24:

“A group of airline CEOs sent a letter to President Biden calling on him to end the federal mask mandate on public transportation… ‘It makes no sense that people are still required to wear masks on airplanes, yet are allowed to congregate in crowded restaurants, schools and at sporting events without masks, despite none of these venues having the protective air filtration system that aircraft do,’ the letter said.

“CEOs of Alaska Air, Atlas Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, FedEx Express, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, UPS Airlines and Airlines for America signed the letter…. ‘Now is the time for the Administration to sunset federal transportation travel restrictions — including the international predeparture testing requirement and the federal mask mandate — that are no longer aligned with the realities of the current epidemiological environment,’ the letter continued.”

Lockdowns Caused Mental Illness

Israel 365 wrote on March 20:

“The national lockdowns instituted in Israel in 2020 negatively impacted people’s health, according to a large-scale study published this week by Clalit Health Services… patients suffering from psychiatric disorders increased by a whopping 60%.”

Is anybody waking up?

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 Psalm 82 we read about God standing among other gods. This raises questions about who the “gods” are that are in the presence of “God” performing the judgment.

Psalm 82:1-2 reads, “God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods. How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked? Selah”.

To understand this passage to its fullest, we need to look into and investigate several questions. First, what are the Hebrew words used to translate into “God” and “gods”? Second, what does this passage reveal about the nature of God? Also, how can we understand the judgment of the many gods by the one God?  Finally, what is the relevance to true Christians? After addressing these questions, we will find out much more about the nature of God and see how elegantly this event fits into His plan.

To begin, we need to understand more about the translation of this passage. Knowing the origin of the Hebrew words that translate into “God” and “gods”, we will learn how to properly understand the meaning of this passage. Are the gods mentioned pagan gods? Are these God’s angels? Are these gods the other two members of the trinity, even though the Bible does not teach a Trinity of three God beings—one Person in three Persons?

To answer these questions, the Hebrew words used in this passage are the place to start. In Psalm 82:1, in both instances of the word “God” and “gods” is the word “Elohim” in the original Hebrew. The structure of this sentence indicates that the first instance of “Elohim” is singular because the verb “stands” applies only to a singular entity. However, this does not mean that the word “God” only applies to one Being. Even though singular, it can refer to the God Family, consisting of twoBeings, the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ. The word “Elohim,” even though it may be followed by a singular verb, still can refer to the one God Family, consisting of a duality of Beings. But the word “Elohim” can also refer to either one of the two God Beings. For more explanation on this topic, please read our free booklet, “God is a Family,” which elaborates in more detail how “Elohim” can indicate a plurality even when presented in a singular context.

The second instance, the word “gods” is appropriately translated in the plural form, because the preposition “among” requires more than one entity. Therefore, we can understand this passage as seeing the authoritative God—either the God Family or one of the two God Beings—standing among several gods, over whom God has authority.

Throughout the Old Testament Hebrew Bible, the word “Elohim” is consistently used when referencing the Almighty God, and is indeed referencing the same in this example. Seeing the context of what takes place reinforces this understanding. God is the righteous Judge who presides over the other gods mentioned here. Throughout the Bible, righteous judgment like this comes from God, and no one else (compare Psalm 119:7, Psalm 119:160, Romans 1:32, 2 Timothy 4:8). Clearly, the first instance of the word “God” in Psalm 82 references the Almighty God.

What about the second instance of the “gods”? Since this is a plural form of the same word “Elohim”, what is the correct interpretation of this word? Again, looking at the context of the events in this passage helps to identify the gods through their activities. In Psalm 82:2, those who are gods are condemned for unjustly judging those on earth. Seeing that the activity that they are engaged with involves judging men on earth helps us to clarify who these gods are. The act of judgement is only applicable to a few possible entities, and is not ascribed to others who might be referenced by the word “Elohim”.

Other translations of the word “elohim” can refer to pagan gods (Exodus 20:3), or even angels (compare one possible rendering in Psalm 8:5). In the context of the events presented in this Scripture, we can rule out these options. Pagan gods are not the judges over man, but rather empty concepts invented by man at best (compare 1 Kings 18:20-39, Romans 1:22-23), and demonic entities at their worst (compare Leviticus 17:7, Deuteronomy 32:17, Psalm 106:37, 1 Corinthians 10:20). Demons simply do not play a role in judging mankind, but rather causing them to fall into judgment. Therefore, to conclude that those in the presence of God are the false, pagan gods or even demons doesn’t make sense.

To say that those in the presence of God in this instance are righteous angels does not make sense either. Reiterating, the activity that identifies these other “elohim” is judgment of mankind. While angels have a special, spiritual existence in the heaven, their job is not to judge mankind. On the contrary, the Bible shows that they have a role to serve mankind as ministering spirits. Reading from Hebrews 1:13-14, “‘But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?’” In this example, the author whom we believe to be Paul, compares angels to Jesus Christ, making the point that their role in the plan of God is much different. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, a member of the Family of God, has a role of rulership. He sits on the throne, having the authority to judge mankind righteously. Angels do not have that capacity. As a reinforcement of the role of servitude, in the book of Revelation when John bowed down to an angel in an act of worship, the angel responded: “Then he said to me, ‘See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God’” (Revelation 22:9). The angels have an important role in the plan of God, but it is not one of authority and judgment over mankind. In fact, we are told that we will judge angels—not, that angels will judge us (1 Corinthians 6:3). Therefore, to interpret the other “elohim” in Psalm 82 as referring to angels is incorrect.

Could the reference to “elohim,” as describing the “gods,” possibly refer to Jesus Christ? The activity of judgment of mankind fits the role of Jesus Christ, but seeing that these other “elohim” are accused of judging unjustly, this cannot possibly fit. Jesus Christ is indeed the Judge of mankind. From 2 Timothy 4:1 we read, “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom…” But unlike the “elohim” that judge unjustly, Jesus is a righteous Judge. “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). Even though the description of the activity of judgment is consistent with the role of Jesus Christ, since there are at least some “elohim” who judge unjustly, this cannot possibly refer to Jesus Christ

By reading further in Psalm 82, we discover another clue that can help us understand who these other “elohim” are. Quoting from Psalm 82:6-8, “I said, ‘You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High [a reference here to God the Father]. But you shall die like men, And fall like one of the princes.’ Arise, O God, judge the earth; For You shall inherit all nations.” In this passage we see the statement “You are gods” being ascribed to those same “elohim”, again being translated into the same word “gods”. We learn that they will “die like men,” which clearly denotes a mortal, physical existence. It rules out the possibility that it refers to Jesus Christ, angels or demons, since they cannot die. So then, are these “gods” physical people? Before answering this question, we need to fast-forward to the time of Jesus Christ’s physical life on earth.

When Jesus was facing the Jews of His time in the temple, He proclaimed that He was the Son of God (compare John 10:25-32). Remember, He was fully man, completely physical, and proclaiming something that the Jews of His time thought was blasphemous. To provide support for this claim that He was the Son of God, Jesus quotes that same passage from Psalm 82:6. “Jesus answered them, ‘Is it not written in your law, “I said, ‘You are gods’”? If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, “You are blaspheming,” because I said, “I am the Son of God”?’” (John 10:34-36). Jesus makes the point that God the Father said “You are gods”, and applies it also, to some extent, to Himself making it clear that His claim as being the Son of God could not be blasphemous. Therefore, it is clear that those “elohim” from Psalm 82 play a role as sons of God, of whom Jesus Christ is the first of the firstfruits (compare 1 Corinthians 15:20-23). Understanding that Jesus Christ referred to Himself as the Son of God, while He was in the flesh, it becomes clear that those who are referenced as the “elohim” have the same potential to be in the Family of God as Jesus Christ. God warns them not to commit the sin of judging unjustly, because it will result in physical death, losing out on the potential to be an eternal member of the God Family.

Therefore, we can see that the other “elohim” mentioned in Psalm 82 must refer to those who have the potential to become members of God’s Family, but also with the potential to die. This refers to physical man, and it may even include Christians, who are still physical, but have become baptized begotten members of God’s Family. Many in the world have a hard time believing that mankind has the potential to become members of God’s Family, but the Bible is replete with this message.

In God’s eyes, even though true Christians are physical, they are considered to be His begotten sons and daughters in the present tense. Although we have not been transformed into spirit, He considers us to already be begotten children of His Family. John writes, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.   Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.   And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:1-3). This clearly reveals that true Christians are considered begotten children of God, now. Knowing that God sees all of mankind, including His begotten children, as those who have the potential to become perfected and glorified through a change from physical into spirit, the other “elohim” from Psalm 82 refers to the potential members of God’s Family while they are still in the flesh.

Other Scriptures in the Bible support this conclusion.

Human judges who have not become converted and who judge unrighteously will not reach their potential of becoming God Beings, unless they repent.  The fact that the other “elohim” are condemned for judging mankind unjustly is also consistent with the admonition of Christians to judge righteously (even though they would not rule as “judges” or jurors in a court of law). Christians have a duty to live to a higher standard, following the perfect example of Jesus Christ, who is the righteous Judge of mankind. Christians too are instructed to judge righteously (1 Corinthians 6:1-6, John 7:24). Yet, we know that Christians are fallible, physical people with the potential to fall into sin, for which the penalty is death (compare Romans 6:23). This understanding is consistent with the warning that unless these other “elohim” don’t change their ways, they will suffer death.

Also, since the other “elohim” are warned that they can “die like men”, this cannot refer to those who have been perfected, for two reasons. First, this cannot refer to those who have been changed to become Spirit Beings in the Family of God, because as born-again God Beings, they cannot sin (compare 1 John 3:9). Secondly, those who have been changed into Spirit Beings as members of God’s Family have inherited eternal life (compare Matthew 19:29). Those who have obtained eternal life cannot die (Luke 20:35-36). Therefore, the other “elohim” from Psalm 82 cannot refer to born-again members of God’s Family who have already been perfected, but rather, when referring to Christians, while they are in a physical state as begotten members of God’s Family.

When looking more deeply into Psalm 82, we can learn a great deal about the plan of God. It shows that mankind has the potential to become perfected, serving a divine role under the authority of God the Father and Jesus Christ. We understand also that Jesus Christ is the firstborn of God, but God’s plan is to bring many more into His Family to participate in divine rulership. Quoting from our free booklet, God is a Family, “After explaining that mankind was to become conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ, God shows the underlying purpose in His plan in Romans 8:29: Christ was to ‘be the firstborn among many brethren.’ So important is the purpose of God in bringing many sons and daughters to glory that He was willing to give His only begotten Son in fulfillment of His objective (compare John 3:16).” We also learn that God sees His converted children as begotten members of His Family in the present tense, even though they are still physical. And because of that, those converted Christians have an obligation, if called upon, to judge righteously in their personal dealings with other people, with the warning of death for those who neglect their potential and fail to overcome sin because of Christ’s Sacrifice. The world may be mystified in understanding who these other gods in Psalm 82 are, but we ought to be comforted knowing that this refers potentially to mankind as a whole and also to us, as dedicated Christians, begotten members of God’s Family, who continually work to follow in the perfect example of Jesus Christ.

Lead Writer: Eric Rank

compiled by Dave Harris

“Free Abortions in California… ‘Repent or Perish!’” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary: 

A new law in California makes it much easier for women to carry out abortions. But what about the unborn children? Do you know how many children have been aborted worldwide over the last century? What is God’s perspective on the matter? And what must we do to obtain God’s protection in these horrible times?

“Kostenlose Abtreibungen in Kalifornien… ‘Bereut oder kommt um!’” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German language program covers the same topic as described above.

The first of this year’s Holy Days are approaching. Passover will be on April 15, 2022 (observed the previous evening), followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread: April 16^th (annual Holy Day) through April 22^th (annual Holy Day). We will provide live services over the Internet for both Holy Days.

“Ukraine Disappointed with NATO and Europe—Comments on News and Prophecy, March 19, 2022, the first message presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Many feel that Putin will not stop at Ukraine and that he will conquer other Western countries, but the question is whether God will allow it at this time. Germany is not too desirous of really helping Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz stands accused of behaving shamefully, while President Biden’s call with China did not seem to have accomplished much. Zelenskyy is getting more and more frustrated with NATO, the EU and Germany. His willingness to negotiate peace with Putin is remarkable. Prophecy is marching on.

“Why One Third Will Die,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Michael Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Have we learned anything from history through the suffering and destruction from wars and disease epidemics? The Bible prophecies that this will happen again, but in ways far more horrific than ever before.  How can we prepare ourselves NOW so we can be counted worthy to escape all these inevitable events that will come to pass?