Update 1119

On July 13, 2024, Frank Bruno will present the sermonette, titled, “Never Let Go,” and Eric Rank will present the sermon, titled, “We Are God’s Workers.”

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.

Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher, is quoted as saying “change is the only constant in life.”  This saying has also been translated to “the only constant is change.”  He lived in Ephesus, near modern Kusadasi, Turkey, around 500 B.C.  And so, some 2,500 years later, is this still a truism today?

One psychologist wrote: “People age, develop habits and move environments. You can’t step into the same river twice — even rocks were subject to changes by the elements over time.”

We know that God never changes.  In our Update on April 7^th 2017 was the Q&A “Does God Change?”, and below is an excerpt from this:

“We know from Malachi 3:6 that God does not change: ‘For I am the LORD, I do not change’. Another verse that is used to show the unchanging nature of God is found in Hebrews 13:8: ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.’ In James 1:17 we read: ‘Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.’”

We showed that there were a number of examples where God did change His mind but none of these changes involved any diversification to His unalterable spiritual Law. God does not alter, nor does He compromise with His law, or with His plan for mankind which is set out in His Holy Day calendar.

But what about those called by God?

God is perfect.   We have not yet attained that state but we must continue to grow and overcome.   We read in 2 Peter 3:18: “…but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

When God called us, everything changed.   We saw the world for what it was and how Satan manoeuvres and manipulates mankind to his sinful way of thinking and behaving.  We discovered that God has a Master Plan for all of humanity and that we needed to put the world behind us and follow the Way that will be standard practice in the Kingdom of God.   We learned to keep the weekly Sabbath, not tread all over it.  The annual Holy Days, integral to understanding the future, became a fixture in our lives, and we grow in this knowledge and understanding the longer we keep these.   

Change was everywhere when we were called.

And now, after many years in the Church, we understand that statement in 2 Peter 3:18, as mentioned above.  We accepted change when God revealed this to us, and we must continue along the path that we have chosen, following God’s calling, no matter how hard it may seem at times.  We are not alone in our spiritual endeavours but have “support staff” through the Father and Jesus Christ.

Change from the carnal approach to a spiritual one in this life is something we have been tasked to achieve and is a constant requirement for those in God’s Church.   There is help available as we read in Philippians 1:6 where the apostle Paul wrote: “…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

by Norbert Link

We discuss the big win of the Left in France and Britain, with disastrous consequences (please see our new StandingWatch program, titled, “The French and British Frankenstein Monsters” ), continue with developments pertaining to the Russia-Ukraine war; and report on Europe’s dark assessment of the situation in the USA. Please view in this regard our new program, titled, “Biden’s Decline and Trump’s Provocations—Comments on News and Prophecy, July 6, 2024.” 

We speak on a new controversy involving Germany and Turkey; and the demand to create compulsory military service for German men and women.

We continue with an article describing Kamala Harris who is promoted by some as a replacement for Joe Biden; speak about Iran’s new President, and ask the question whether Big Pharma is responsible for many diseases.

We address the excommunication of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò from the Catholic Church, and conclude with an article about Mexico’s many criminal cartels.

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

Far Left Wins Big in France

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 7:

“The left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) landed a surprise win over the far-right National Rally (RN) in the second round of the 2024 French legislative election…

“None of the parties had received enough seats for an absolute majority in parliament, meaning the chamber will be cut up in different political groups with vastly different stances on the issues and little history of cooperation. A hung parliament could throw French politics into chaos with weeks of deliberation to determine who will serve as prime minister. Macron, who is extremely unpopular, may have to lead the country alongside a prime minister who opposes his centrist policies.”

Breitbart wrote on July 7:

“Following the disappointing results, the leader of the populist National Rally in the French parliament, Marine Le Pen said: ‘If there were not this unnatural agreement between Macron and the far left, the National Rally would be in an absolute majority’…”

After the huge win in the first round of elections, Macron banded together with the basically radical left NFP to convince many candidates to drop out of the race, so that ultimately only three major groups remained for the second round. The NFP took first place, Macron came in second and the RN took third place. To give the NFP the victory may backfire badly on France.

Daily Mail wrote on July 7:

“The New Popular Front (NFP) was formed last month, bringing together socialists, greens, communists and the hard-left into one camp…

“Despite projections widely considered disappointing for the anti-immigration, nationalist party (RN), it still increased its seat count in parliament to an unprecedented high…

“The snap elections in this nuclear-armed nation have potential impact on the war in Ukraine, global diplomacy and Europe’s economic stability. They’re almost certain to undercut Macron for the remaining three years of his presidency.”

Don’t They Know Better?

Bild Online wrote on July 8:

“The victory of Marine Le Pen’s far-right party in France was prevented. Nevertheless, the election result is not good news: because the left-wing extremist election winner is not a bit better.

“Jean-Luc Mélenchon, head of the left-wing ‘Popular Front’, sees NATO as an enemy and supports Vladimir Putin. He incites against Israel and encourages the Hamas terrorists. He spreads anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. He hates Germany and is against German reunification. It is all the more disturbing that some German politicians are now celebrating Mélenchon’s victory… I hope that these politicians, who otherwise like to stand against ‘hatred and agitation’, just have no idea what they are celebrating… Because if they are really happy about Mélenchon’s election victory (just because he’s not right-wing!), that would be a shocking sign.

“Because unlike some German politicians, France’s Jews don’t feel like celebrating. The chief rabbi of the Great Synagogue of Paris… called on French Jews to leave the country even before the election. And not because of Marine Le Pen, whose once openly anti-Semitic party… is still a red flag for many Jews. But because of the left-wing election winner, who is now being celebrated as the savior of democracy.

“The situation of the Jewish community is desperate… ‘The Jews are in the middle because they don’t know who hates them more.’…

“How can our politicians celebrate THAT? How can they be happy about Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who does not fight fervent and violent Jew-haters but sees them as allies?…”

The Left has also won big in Britain. Note the next set of articles.

Red Wave in Britain

Breitbart wrote on July 4:

“After 14 years of failed neo-liberal governance by the Conservatives-in-name-only, the Labour Party swept to victory in Thursday’s election as anti-Tory sentiment helped boost the leftist party to win a Tony Blair-style majority. While most of Europe has shifted to the right, Britain is set for a shift to the left, as Sir Keir Starmer [met] with King Charles today at Buckingham Palace whereupon the monarch [“blessed Starmer” and appointed] the leftist Labour Party leader as the next prime minister of the country with a majority of around 170 seats… [Charles “invited Starmer to form a government.”]

“Conservative political commentator Peter Hitchens [has] warned that Sir Keir Starmer has intentionally cast himself as a boring, managerial technocrat in order to obscure his true radical nature and his alleged plans to continue with the Blairite project of dismantling British institutions. During the tenure of Blair… the UK saw wide-sweeping constitutional reforms which continue to impact the country to this day, including the creation of a Supreme Court, the creation of locally devolved parliaments in Scotland and Wales, giving the Bank of England the ability to set interest rates without government approval, the introduction of a minimum wage, and the expansion of criminalising so-called hate speech.

“Like Blair, Starmer has tried to put forward the image of a moderate to the public and to downplay his history as a radical Trotskyite socialist, claiming to have moderated from the days when he served as the editor of Socialist Alternative, a magazine dedicated to promoting the Pabloite brand of communism which seeks to combine socialist economic theories with the green agenda. Just four years ago, Starmer admitted to holding many of the same views as he did as a young Trot…

“As a ‘green-red’ Pabloite, it is no wonder that climate-extremist policies will likely dominate his government, with the party vowing to achieve ‘Net Zero’ carbon emissions by 2030, a plan which will fundamentally transform the British economy, likely raising the cost of living for millions, destroying domestic industry, and making the UK more reliant on foreign powers to meet its energy demands…”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz congratulated Starmer and his Labour Party, calling it “our sister party in the UK,” according to Deutsche Welle, dated July 5 [DW’s comments are also included above in brackets.]

Britain’s Political Earthquake

The Associated Press wrote on July 5:

“Britain has experienced a run of turbulent years — some of it of the Conservatives’ own making and some of it not — that has left many voters pessimistic about their country’s future. The U.K.’s exit from the European Union followed by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine battered the economy, while lockdown-breaching parties held by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff caused widespread anger.

“Johnson’s successor, Liz Truss, rocked the economy further with a package of drastic tax cuts and lasted just 49 days in office. Rising poverty, crumbling infrastructure and overstretched National Health Service have led to gripes about ‘Broken Britain.’…

“In a sign of the volatile public mood and anger at the system, the incoming Parliament will be more fractured and ideologically diverse than any for years…”

Subsequently, Rishi Sunak resigned as Prime Minister, but confirmed he would stay on as leader of the Tory Party… for now.

According to the Sun, dated July 5, Piers Morgan said: “It’s an earthquake. This is a political and social earthquake for this country, the likes of which I haven’t seen in my lifetime… A disaster for the Conservative Party which cannot be understated. Whichever way you look at this, it’s a seismic night.”

Starmer Scraps Plans to Send Illegals to Rwanda

Breitbart wrote on July 6:

“On his first day in office, newly elected Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reportedly scrapped the plan to send illegal boat migrants to Rwanda rather than putting them up in hotels in Britain.

“The scheme to send illegals to have their often spurious asylum claims in processing centres in the East African nation of Rwanda first put forward by ex-PM Boris Johnson in 2022 to deal with the migrant crisis in the English Channel has been abandoned by the left-wing Labour government on its first day…

“Reform UK leader Nigel Farage… claimed that Sunak had called the election early to avoid the embarrassment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) blocking migrant removal flights as it did in the summer of 2022, sparking years of legal wrangling and putting all removals to Rwanda on hold. However, unlike Farage, Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government has rejected the notion of the UK withdrawing from the Strasbourg-based court, the membership of which was unaffected by Brexit given that the ECHR is technically a separate institution from the European Union, despite being closely aligned.

“Indeed, Starmer — a strong opponent of Brexit — has suggested that he would seek closer ties with the EU on immigration, including potentially taking in a quota of EU migrants per year in exchange for a returns policy to allow the UK to send illegals back to the bloc…

“Nigel Farage… has argued that the government should task the Royal Navy to immediately return boat migrants back to the beaches of France, and to cut off payments to Paris if the French navy continues to escort migrants into British territorial waters.”

The UK in Five Years?

Rebel News wrote on July 5:

“I fear that the new prime minister, Keir Starmer, will be a hard-left activist PM despite his lack of a mandate. He’s got the power, and that’s all communists care about.

“Expect more censorship and more Islamism, as Keir Starmer seeks to stop the draining of votes to his left. Expect the U.K. to change its foreign policy towards Israel, to bring in more grievance-based, ethnic-based law. I think you’ll see more environmental extremism…

“I fear for the U.K. over the next five years, and there will be a tipping point at which it doesn’t matter if you cut off immigration because you’ve already lost control of the country.”

Britain’s New Radical Government

Breitbart wrote on July 6:

“Sir Keir Starmer swept to power this week in Britain after the spectacular self-destruction of the Conservative Party under Rishi Sunak. Starmer has claimed to have moderated the Labour Party from the far-left extremes under his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, however, others warn that the former socialist activist turned PM has merely been obscuring his true revolutionary intentions.

“Much of the actual decision-making in the UK government is farmed out to cabinet ministers…

“Deputy Prime Minister and Levelling Up Secretary: Angela Rayner

“An acolyte of former Labour leader and radical socialist Jeremy Corbyn, Angela Rayner is now the most powerful woman in the UK. Her views on transgenderism have put her at odds with one of the UK’s most famous feminist writers, J.K. Rowling, who has accused the Labour Party of abandoning women in favour of woke transgender ideology… Rayner is perhaps best known for her views on Conservatives, infamously branding Boris Johnson’s cabinet as ‘scum, homophobic, racist, misogynistic’. Rayner also controversially joined Starmer in posing for a picture kneeling during the Marxist Black Lives Matter riots…

“Foreign Secretary: David Lammy

“Lammy, a radically anti Brexit, London-born, Guyanese-heritage alum of the Tony Blair era, has been tapped as Britain’s top diplomat. Mr Lammy may find his past comments come back to bite him as he tries to forge diplomatic ties with the likely incoming Trump administration in the United States, with the Foreign Secretary previously joining London protests against Trump and calling the U.S. president a ‘neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath’, a ‘racist’ and a ‘disgrace’…

“Home Secretary: Yvette Cooper

“Another veteran of the Blair administration, Yvette Cooper will be tasked with protecting the nation’s borders, overseeing law enforcement and matters of national security. Cooper, an opponent of Brexit, has claimed that Labour will cut immigration, however, has refused to commit to a specific cap on annual influxes of foreigners… However, some have questioned her commitment to cutting immigration given that she once posted a picture of herself holding a sign saying ‘Refugees Welcome’.

“Defense Secretary: John Healey

“An ardent supporter of the war in Ukraine, Healey will likely continue the status quo in terms of the conflict with Russia. Coming from the hawkish wing of the Labour Party, Healey voted in 2003 in favour of the UK joining the war in Iraq, a decision which he has since acknowledged was a mistake.  Healey has committed to increasing UK defence spending to 2.5 per cent of the nation’s GDP, above the 2 per cent mandated by the NATO alliance agreement.

”Justice Secretary: Shabana Mahmood

“One of the first female Muslims to be elected to the British Parliament, Mahmood will be tasked with overseeing the justice system, and the prison system, and protecting civil liberties in the UK. Ahead of the election Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer vowed a crackdown on so-called ‘Islamophobia’, which critics have warned could see the reintroduction of de-facto blasphemy laws in Britain…

“Health Secretary: Wes Streeting

“The openly gay former head of education at Stonewall, a radical LGBT charity which has been at the forefront of pushing transgender ideology in Britain, Streeting will likely be at the centre of Labour’s plans to ‘simplify’ the process for people to legally change their genders. The party has argued in favour of removing the requirement of having multiple doctors sign off on the process as well as proof of two years of living as the opposite gender…

“Education Secretary: Bridget Phillipson

“Phillipson, another leading proponent of transgender ideology, has suggested that as Education Secretary, she would scrap requirements for teachers to inform children that there are only two genders. Last month, Phillipson said that it should be acceptable for biologically male transgender individuals who have penises to use female toilets, throwing into question Labour’s supposed commitment to protecting women’s spaces.

“Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary: Ed Miliband

“The former leader of the Labour Party and former cabinet minister, Ed Miliband returns to government to lead the ‘green’ energy transition in the UK. Labour has called for carbon emissions to be cut to “Net Zero” by the end of the decade, a plan which will likely result in widespread damage to the British economy…”

As can clearly be seen from the article, the downfall of Britain is inevitable.

NATO and Ukraine

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 10:

“Ukrainian President… Zelenskyy has been looking to get large numbers of Western fighter jets as the planes to fend off Russia’s invasion continues… He said Russia was able to deploy 300 aircraft a day in its continued attacks on Ukraine… The discussion is only ever about 10 or 20 aircraft, Zelenskyy said. ‘Even if there are 50, that’s nothing… Until we have 128 aircraft, we won’t be able to compete with them in the sky.’ He did not give any further details on this figure…

“[Outgoing Secretary-General NATO chief] Jens Stoltenberg said it was still too soon to say when Ukraine would become a member of the alliance, but it was firmly on the path toward that goal…

“Ukraine will be receiving dozens of tactical air defence systems in the coming months… The deliveries would include at least four of the Patriot systems that Ukraine has requested. The US, Germany and Romania will send Ukraine additional Patriot batteries… The Netherlands and others will provide Patriot components to make up one more battery. Other allies will provide other air defense systems.

“Jens Stoltenberg… announced a $43 billion (€39.7 billion) aid package to Ukraine, a reduction from previous packages that is expected to decrease further the following year. However, the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) program, which was approved in June, is set to cement assistance for Kyiv in the future in the case of a Trump presidency.”

How to End the War in 24 Hours?

Focus wrote on July 5:

“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants clarity from Donald Trump on how he wants to end the war in 24 hours. ‘If Trump knows how to end this war, he should tell us today,’ Zelensky said in an interview on Bloomberg TV. ‘If there are risks to Ukraine’s independence, if we should lose our statehood – we want to be prepared for that, we want to know that.’

“The former US president and candidate for the upcoming presidential election has repeatedly claimed that he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. However, Trump has never revealed any details for this claim.

“In the interview, Zelensky agreed to meet with Trump and his team and listen to their suggestions. ‘We want to understand whether we will have the powerful support of the USA in November (after the US elections) or whether we will be alone.’”

Orban Visits Putin

The Guardian wrote on July 5:

“Viktor Orbán, Europe’s most pro-Russia leader, arrived in Moscow on Friday for talks with Vladimir Putin, days after making his first visit to Kyiv, as the Hungarian prime minister attempts to position himself as a peace broker between Russia and Ukraine. Orbán’s trip to Moscow drew strong rebukes from fellow EU leaders and came in the week that Hungary took over the rotating EU presidency until the end of the year…

“Brussels was quick to denounce the visit, saying Orbán did not speak for the EU and had ‘not received any mandate from the EU Council to visit Moscow’. ‘Prime minister Viktor Orbán’s visit to Moscow takes place, exclusively, in the framework of the bilateral relations between Hungary and Russia … The Hungarian prime minister is thus not representing the EU in any form,’ Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, wrote in a statement.

“Hungary has been at odds with other western countries over Orbán’s continued cultivation of close ties to Russia and refusal to send arms to Ukraine… Orbán acknowledged before his unannounced trip to Moscow that he was not representing the EU… ‘You cannot make peace from a comfortable armchair in Brussels. Even if the rotating EU presidency has no mandate to negotiate on behalf of the EU, we cannot sit back and wait for the war to miraculously end,’ he told Hungary’s public radio broadcaster Kossuth.

“During his visit to Kyiv on Tuesday, Orbán said he had asked Volodymyr Zelenskiy to consider a quick ceasefire that could accelerate peace talks. Both Zelenskiy and Putin swiftly rejected Orbán’s call for a ceasefire, with the Ukrainian leader saying his country ‘cannot just trust Putin in principle’…

“Orbán’s visit is the first by an EU leader to Russia since the Austrian chancellor, Karl Nehammer, made a fruitless effort to negotiate an end to Russia’s invasion in April 2022. Friday’s trip will cause further anxiety in Brussels and in EU member states, where many are already horrified that a leader who they feel has done everything to undermine European unity and the rule of law in recent years is now the bloc’s main representative for the next six months… The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, wrote on X: ‘Appeasement will not stop Putin. Only unity and determination will pave the path to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.’”

Euractiv wrote on July 5:

“Russian President Vladimir Putin told Viktor Orbán on Friday (5 July) that Ukraine must effectively capitulate if it wants peace, in a visit to Moscow by the Hungarian leader that angered the EU, US and Kyiv… The Kremlin leader repeated his demand that Ukraine withdraw all its troops from regions that Moscow has annexed and said Kyiv was ‘not ready to drop the idea of waging war until a victorious end’.”

Modi Visits Putin

The Guardian wrote on July 4:

“Narendra Modi will visit Russia on 8 and 9 July [this visit took place, as planned] and hold talks with Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin has said, in the Indian prime minister’s first trip to the country since it invaded Ukraine. Modi and Putin will discuss ‘prospects for further development of traditionally friendly Russian-Indian relations, as well as relevant issues on the international and regional agenda,’ the Kremlin said in a statement.

“Modi, who was re-elected for a third term in June, last visited Moscow in 2015. He has met Putin several times since at international summits and the leaders have spoken often by phone. Monday’s trip is expected to reaffirm the longstanding ties between the two countries, which date back to the cold war. Russia remains one of India’s most important trading partners, particularly on weapons and defence…

“Delhi’s importance as a key trading partner for Moscow has grown since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. India and China have become key buyers of Russian oil after sanctions imposed by the US and its allies that shut most western markets for Russian exports.  Under Modi’s leadership, India has avoided condemning Russia’s action in Ukraine while emphasising the need for a peaceful settlement. The partnership between Moscow and Delhi has become fraught, however, since Russia started developing closer ties with India’s main rival, China, because of the hostilities in Ukraine.”

The biblically prophesied “kings of the East” are coming together, including “kings” or leaders from Russia, China, India, North Korea and other Far Eastern nations.

Trump or Biden? Germans Like Neither

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 5:

“The future of democracy in the United States is in danger, according to 67% of those polled. US President Joe Biden is more popular in Germany than his challenger, former President Donald Trump. However, only 28% of those surveyed… think he is the more convincing candidate while 9% say the same of Trump. The majority, namely 59% of respondents, are not convinced by either candidate…

“… almost six in 10 Germans are concerned about the future development of democracy in France…

“79% of Germans are disappointed with the work of the coalition government and only 19% think the coalition… has done a good job… If general elections were to be held this week, the three coalition parties would fall far short of a majority, receiving little more support than the center-right opposition bloc [of the CDU]…

“40% of people now say they feel unsafe in public spaces. Almost four in 10 respondents believe that the CDU/CSU is the most competent party to fight crime and criminality…”

Most Germans demand new elections, but the current government under Olaf Scholz refuses to comply.

Europe’s Nuclear Future Without the USA

Politico wrote on July 4:

“Ever since the advent of nuclear arms, Europe has been protected by an American nuclear umbrella. It was the United States that promised NATO allies that any nuclear aggression by the Soviet Union, and later, by Russia, would be answered with a barrage of U.S. missiles… But now, some European countries have begun to question whether that nuclear status quo will hold much longer…

“With the strong possibility that Trump could be reelected in November, European officials have reluctantly — and quietly — begun to debate whether Europe should do something that’s been unthinkable for most of NATO’s existence: develop a security architecture that’s not so dependent on the United States, including for nuclear deterrence…

“…some European countries have been modernizing their aircraft fleets, upgrading the warplanes they use to deliver American nuclear missiles stationed on allies’ territory as part of NATO’s ‘nuclear sharing’ program. Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium are part of the program, and Poland has been eager to join.

“… nuclear deterrence depends on political credibility, and there’s an unspoken fear in Europe that Trump would be less willing to come to the aid of European allies than his predecessors. Would Putin be so confident that Trump would be willing to risk a nuclear war to save Estonia?… Germany currently has an estimated 20 American tactical nuclear bombs stationed at the Büchel airbase in Rhineland-Palatinate. Washington retains control over the weapons’ use, but German Tornado bombers — meant to be replaced by American-made F-35s in the coming years — can carry them if needed…

“In late February 2022, Scholz announced that Germany would be upgrading its nuclear-capable warplanes… the future of Europe’s nuclear deterrence is being debated inside a few security policy think tanks, university faculties and specialist conferences in Germany… there’s the fact that it’s still not clear just what Trump might do vis-a-vis Europe in a second term…”

German-Turkish Controversy

The Guardian wrote on July 4:

“Turkey’s ambassador to Germany has been summoned to the foreign ministry in Berlin over the rightwing extremist ‘wolf salute’ displayed by the Turkish footballer Merih Demiral, as his goal celebration at the European Championship became the subject of diplomatic exchange… The Grey Wolves are classified as a rightwing extremist group with 18,500 to 20,000 members in Germany… However, neither the group nor the symbol are banned in Germany, unlike in neighbouring Austria and France, despite years of debate about doing so…

“Turks make up the largest single ethnic minority in Germany – 1.54 million in addition to 1.4 million German citizens who are of Turkish descent…

“Turkey’s president… Erdoğan has made a last-minute adjustment to his travel plans to allow him to fly to Berlin en route to Azerbaijan, to attend the national team’s quarter-final against the Netherlands on Saturday evening. Erdoğan was said by insiders to have made the decision in reaction to the fallout from the Demiral salute, telling his advisers he wanted to give the team his backing…”

Deutsche Welle added on July 4:

“Ankara has defended the Turkish player, describing Berlin’s reaction as ‘xenophobia.’ Ankara summoned the German ambassador on Wednesday over the reaction to Demiral’s gesture. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry later defended Demiral, saying the gesture he made was a historical and cultural symbol that did not target anyone during his celebration of joy.”

It was announced that Demiral was barred from playing at the European Championship tournament for two consecutive games. According to Die Welt, dated July 5, Erdoğan defended Demiral and continued: “Does anyone say anything about the fact that there is an eagle on the German jerseys? Does anyone say anything about the fact that there is a rooster on the French jerseys and why they act like roosters?”

Die Welt wrote on July 6:

“The former German national soccer player Mesut Özil [who also supports Erdogan and] who played 92 international matches for Germany in his career and became world champion in 2014, has a tattoo on his left chest above the heart that shows the symbols of the Gray Wolves… As a ‘scandal ‘ Turkish broadcaster TRT called the decision [by UEFA to ban Demirai]; the president of the football association… called it ‘unacceptable, illegal and political’.”

Erdogan attended the game with his wife. He did not show the wolf salute, but numerous Turkish fans in the stadium did. Turkey lost the game against The Netherlands.

Compulsory Military Service for German Men and Women?

The Telegraph wrote on July 4:

“A German general said women should be conscripted into the armed forces as part of plans to revive national service and counter Russian aggression. Carsten Breuer, the Bundeswehr chief of defence, said that in the interests of equality women should be drafted into the army and that national service for both sexes should be compulsory…

“Germany is on a mission to expand its army, with ambitions to become Europe’s biggest military spender… Gen Breuer said Germany needed 100,000 volunteers for an effective conscription force but it would struggle unless national service was made compulsory…

“Gen Breuer said he had ‘no doubt’ his army could repel a Russian invasion on Nato’s eastern flank, even if it occurred in the near future. ‘The paramount importance [is] achieving the readiness of Germany’s armed forces within the next five years. We call this kriegstüchtigkeit – being ready, capable and willing to fight. We are on the right track,’ he said.”

Express wrote on July 10:

“Germany’s attempts to bring its society to ‘war readiness’ are being stifled by real-term cuts to the country’s military budget…

“Boris Pistorius, the German defence minister, reportedly wanted about £5 billion a year on top of the ministry’s £44bn budget to boost the country’s defence amid growing tensions between the Western military alliance and Russia. Weeks of negotiations between the governing coalition parties, however, granted the defence ministry just over £1 billion, not enough to cover the 2.2 percent annualised inflation rates of surging weapon prices.

“This massive blow came alongside reports Mr Pistorius’ plans to reintroduce a form of conscription in Germany from next year will need to be watered down. Leading ministers of the liberal FDP, part of the governing alliance with Olaf Scholz’s SPD and the Greens, have spoken out against the plan’s compulsory aspects, according to German news outlet Welt wrote.”

President Kamala Harris? A Total Disaster!

The New York Post wrote on July 4:

“After three and a half years of being lukewarm on Kamala Harris, Democrats are suddenly hot hot hot for the Vice President. The party is in full panic mode… Dems are now desperately trying to make Kamala happen…

“Harris, lover of Venn diagrams, school buses and recycling nonsensical phrases is always looking to be ‘unburdened by what has been’ — except her inartful command of the English language. She is our nation’s foremost purveyor of word salads, gifting us volumes of unintelligible verbal pileups completely devoid of meaning…

“Most of her speeches bring to mind the principal in ‘Billy Madison,’ who in his candid assessment of Adam Sandler’s character says, ‘At no point in your rambling, incoherent response, were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it.’

“And yet, the Dems want to sell her as their big hope… Let’s be honest. In a debate, cackling Kamala will be shredded by Trump, a man who has about ten words in his lexicon but deploys them effectively, if not crudely…

“Beyond her blunders and ambition, she’s simply not a gifted politician. She was polling at a measly 3% before dropping out of the 2020 presidential race… Her management style has been called into question as staff defections mounted in the first two years of the administration… Then there’s the glaring migrant problem. She was appointed the border czar in March 2021, and failed to visit the U.S. Mexico border for months…

“Biden, in the heat of the 2020 racial madness, promised to pick a running mate, not by qualifications but by immutable characteristics — a woman and as the pressure mounted, a woman of color… But she is simply not presidential material and no amount of hype will get her over the line. We all know it.”

On July 5, during his first nationally televised interview after his devastating debate, he defiantly said to ABC’s George Stephanopoulos that he was “completely” ruling out quitting his 2024 bid. He said he might only do so if the Lord Almighty came out to tell him so, but “the Lord Almighty’s not coming down.”

Even left-wing outlets concluded that Biden is in complete denial. In addition, several Democrats on Capitol Hill expressed concern after the interview and repeated their call for Biden to step aside.

Media Guilty

Professor Turley wrote the following in an article published by the Ron Paul Institute on July 5:

“… the media is still struggling to explain to the public why they did not disclose the President’s condition earlier while promulgating the ‘cheap fake’ narrative. For weeks heading into the debate, media outlets repeated the claim that videos showing Biden’s confusion were false and misleading.

“Some are now reportedly admitting that they did not want to confirm ‘right-wing media’ accounts — an admission of shaping the news for political purposes.”

Piers Morgan wrote on July 9 in the New York Post:

“With all due respect to my esteemed media colleagues [in the USA], [they’ve] all known the truth about Biden’s fast-deteriorating physical condition and clear early dementia for several years, because he’s been literally showing them the evidence on an almost daily basis… And for telling the truth, we were branded liars, and scaremongers, and partisan pro-Republican hacks trying to distract from the real story — Trump.

“Now those who screamed loudest about Biden being fit and well for office are the same ones screaming the loudest about why he must quit the 2024 race because he’s unwell and unfit for office. This is not because they give a… about his health or want to finally be honest about it with the American people, but because they’ve belatedly realized that he can’t beat Donald Trump.

“It’s been a repulsive conspiracy of collusion, and to borrow the words of Lord Byron, their crocodile tears are ‘horrid and hideous.’”

Biden’s Inner Circle Hides the Truth

Daily Mail wrote on July 9:

“Members of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden’s inner circle of staff have been working for years to conceal the aging commander-in-chief’s cognitive decline from the public, according to a shocking new report. There has been increased scrutiny over 81-year-old Biden’s ability to continue in the Oval Office in the wake of his disastrous debate performance against Republican nominee Donald Trump in June.  Now, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Biden’s inner circle… have been working as ‘gatekeepers for the president.’

“The group uses a range of tactics, including scheduling only early meetings, not taking unvetted questions in public forums and declining high profile interviews with respected journalists. The group’s worries are not just over Biden’s mental abilities but also physical. A mooted plan to make a cross country journey to promote an infrastructure bill was nixed over concerns regarding his physical stamina…”

Big Pharma Responsible for Many Diseases?

Report 24 wrote on July 5:

“Donald Trump addresses the ‘unexplained’ growth of chronic diseases. The Republican presidential candidate wants to set up an investigative commission to investigate the extent to which Big Pharma can be blamed for problems such as autism, allergies, infertility and obesity… ‘We have seen a stunning increase in autism, autoimmune diseases, obesity, infertility, severe allergies and respiratory problems ‘ said Trump. ‘It’s time to ask what’s going on here?’

“The Republican, who bowed to pressure from Pfizer, Moderna & Co during Corona times, announced that he would open an investigation if he became President of the United States. He blames food, environmental factors and certain medications for the ‘epidemic’ of chronic diseases in the United States. “Every year we spend hundreds of billions of dollars treating these chronic problems instead of studying what’s causing them in the first place,” Trump said.

“He continued: ‘Too often our public health system is too close to Big Pharma – you make a lot of money, Big Pharma. Big corporations and other interest groups don’t want to ask the hard questions about what is happening to our children’s health. When Big Pharma defrauds American patients and taxpayers and puts profits over people, they must be investigated and held accountable…’

“If Donald Trump were to be re-elected President of the United States and actually install such a commission, this would definitely be a big step towards a largely independent control body. And who knows, maybe this would finally put some pressure on Big Pharma to produce better quality at cheaper prices.”

Iran’s New President

Reuters reported on July 6:

“Iran’s president-elect, a relative moderate who beat a hardline rival to win election but who will likely be constrained in how much change he can effect, urged Iranians on Saturday to stick with him on ‘the difficult road ahead’. Masoud Pezeshkian, the sole moderate in the original field of four candidates, won Friday’s run-off presidential vote… He will replace hardline President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash in May.

“Pezeshkian, a 69-year-old cardiac surgeon, has pledged to promote a pragmatic foreign policy, ease tensions over now-stalled negotiations with major powers to revive a 2015 nuclear pact and improve prospects for social liberalisation and political pluralism. However many Iranians are sceptical about his ability to fulfil his campaign promises as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, not the president, is the ultimate authority in the Islamic Republic…

“Under Iran’s dual system of clerical and republican rule, the president cannot usher in any major policy shift on Iran’s nuclear programme or support for militia groups across the Middle East, since Khamenei calls all the shots on top state matters… Pezeshkian is faithful to Iran’s theocratic rule and has no intention of confronting the powerful security hawks and clerical rulers.

“Foreign leaders sent congratulatory messages to Pezeshkian, among them Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”

Viganò Excommunicated

Breitbart wrote on July 5:

 “The Vatican’s doctrinal office has found former papal nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò guilty of ‘schism,’ declaring him excommunicated from the Catholic Church. Viganò’s ‘public statements manifesting his refusal to recognize and submit to the Supreme Pontiff, his rejection of communion with the members of the Church subject to him, and of the legitimacy and magisterial authority of the Second Vatican Council are well known,’ [the] Vatican statement reads…

“The excommunicated person no longer belongs to the Church and is forbidden from receiving the sacraments… Viganò also criticized what he called ‘the deviated wing of the Society of Jesus [Jesuits],’ which has unfortunately become ‘a majority.’ Among these is Father James Martin, S.J., Viganò stated, a ‘well-known activist who promotes the LGBT agenda, chosen to corrupt the young people who will soon gather in Dublin for the World Meeting of Families.’… ‘I say to my brother Bishops: “If you are silent, the stones will cry out’ (Lk 19:40),”’ he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).”

The Associated Press added:

“About an hour before the Vatican decree was made public, he announced he would be celebrating a Mass on Friday for those who have been supporting him and asked for donations.”

Criminal Cartels in Mexico

MSN wrote on July 5:

“While it may sound surprising for Mexico’s drug cartels to be involved in internet service, those who follow the criminal groups’ activities aren’t at all surprised… Some gangs were involved in, for example, fuel theft, others were involved in vehicle theft and others specialized in robbing public transportation… Besides the billions of dollars cartels make from the drug trafficking industry… [they are also] involved in many illegal ventures that result in profits [including] engaged in extortion, the theft of petroleum and ores, weapons trafficking, migrant smuggling, and prostitution…

“Fuel theft… is a highly profitable activity for organized crime groups. In the first nine months of 2022, Mexico’s state-owned oil company, Premex, lost $730 million from illegal pipeline taps… Mexico’s multibillion-dollar avocado industry, which continues to break records for exports every year, has also been one of the main targets for drug cartels… Extortion from cartels affects nearly 20,000 tortillerías, directly impacting the prices paid by Mexicans… establishments must pay between $135 and $190 weekly to multiple criminal groups to continue operating…

“In the past few years, extortions have been on the rise. Depending on the areas, some establishments would receive calls, emails, or in-person visits from armed men asking for the cartel’s fee… In Mexico City, there are many criminal organizations involved in activities such as drug dealing, but also charging extortion fees to small business owners like tortilla shops, street vendors, and taxi drivers.”

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 a previous Q&A, titled, “Must Christians be poor?”,  we showed that God can and sometimes does bless His people with wealth and riches. We explained that it is therefore not required that God’s people must be poor. But as we will show in this Q&A, this does not mean that everyone who is rich has been blessed by God—that God made that person rich.

We wrote in the Q&A, mentioned above:

“God does not bless someone who is unrighteous. It is true, of course, that unrighteous people may be rich, but this would not be because of God’s blessings… Psalm 37:7, 16 says: ‘Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass… A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked…”

The Bible shows that quite often, people have become or are rich—not because of God who blessed them, but because of Satan. When Satan tempted Christ in the wilderness, he offered Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, stating that he would give all of them to Christ if He were to worship him (Matthew 4:8-9). He made clear that for the time being, all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory, had been delivered to him and that he can give them to whomever he wants (Luke 4:4-6). In other words, Satan owns them and all their riches and wealth. He can bestow riches and wealth on the people of this world.

A most obvious example for this fact can be found in chapters 17 and 18 of the Book of Revelation. There, a fallen religious woman is described (in chapter 17) and a world-ruling religious and military system (chapter 18).  Both are referred to as Babylon. They are described as very rich, but not because God blessed them. They received their “blessings” from the god of this world, Satan the Devil.

We read in Revelation 17:4 about the fallen religious woman—the Catholic Church with its capital Rome, which is built on seven hills (verses 9, 18):

“The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.”

Revelation 18:3, 11-16, 19 describes the destruction of Rome (modern Babylon) and the entire Babylonian system:

“For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury… And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!’… They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’”

As we will see, the principle that God will destroy the wealth of wicked people who have become wealthy through improper means, under the inspiration of Satan, is being taught throughout the Bible. Here, modern Babylon—a wealthy collaboration of Church and State, constituting the final revival of the ancient Roman Empire—will be destroyed by God in His due time.

The Catholic Church and her daughter churches (the Protestant denominations) have become extremely rich, but not due to God’s blessing. They are part of this world, under the rule of Satan. Especially the Catholic Church and its end-time leader, the false prophet, are described as very wealthy, and the beast [a military leader] will honor its religious leader “with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things” (Daniel 11:38).

We are told that the Catholic Church is the richest religious organization on earth. Its wealth and riches are mind-boggling. The following is quoted from an article which was published by marketplace.com on February 10, 2023:

“If you’re looking at the Catholic Church alone, [it] has at least… $73 billion in assets… The church has vast assets, including billions in real estate and some priceless art, not to mention the Vatican Bank. But its finances are largely secret… There are also national churches in countries like the United States and Germany, which have decentralized economic systems…”

The article continued that “it’s likely we’ll never truly know the extent of its assets.”

This does not even include the enormous wealth of all the Protestant churches which will be under the Roman Catholic Church’s umbrella—being the mother churches with many daughters (Revelation 17:5). It is almost impossible to obtain reliable numbers, but the assets of the Protestant churches are in excess of many billions.

To repeat, these churches did not become rich because God blessed them. Rather, they obtained those riches by committing “fornication” with the kings of this earth (Revelation 17:2; 18:7, 9). Babylon, especially the religious power, “has become a dwelling place of demons” (Revelation 18:2). It is “drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus” (Revelation 17:6). In it are “found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth” (Revelation 18:24).

God will destroy this entire end-time Babylonian system within “an hour” (Revelation 18:10).

The fate of this wealthy religious, political and military system should serve as a warning for all those who have become rich without God’s blessing. Christ said it is very difficult for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God (Matthew 19:23), as they are many times unwilling to depart from their wealth, if need be. Quite often, the rich only want to become richer, and it is all in vain.

In Ecclesiastes 4:8, we read:

“There is one alone, without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, ‘For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?’ This also is vanity and a grave misfortune.”

This thought is repeated in Psalm 49:16-20:

“Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased; For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him. Though while he lives he blesses himself (For men will praise you when you do well for yourself), He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see light. A man who is in honor, yet does not understand, Is like the beasts that perish.”

Riches are only for a while, at best, but when we die, we leave it all behind. But it is certainly true that while the rich are alive, they may be “honored” and envied. And so, God gives us this admonition and warning in Psalm 73:3-7, 12:

“For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment. Their eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish… Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; They increase in riches.”

But this may only be true when viewing it superficially; in any event, note God’s assessment of their future, in verses 18-20:

“Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awakes, So, LORD, when You awake, You shall despise their image.”

The Psalmist describes the people of this world, whose riches are their god. They will only enjoy them for a while. Ultimately, God will send them away “empty” (Luke 1:53).

Ecclesiastes 5:10 adds: “He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.”

A vivid example of such a selfish attitude, which never leads to satisfaction or gratification, is given by Christ in the following parable, in Luke 12:15-21:

“And He said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.’ Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, “What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?” So he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’” But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.’”

If having or obtaining riches is our main priority in life, God will take them away. And even while having them, that person is empty inside. Proverbs 13:7 states:

“There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing…”

This is especially true for those who have acquired wealth and riches through ungodly means.

Jeremiah 17:11 tells us:

“As a partridge that broods but does not hatch, So is he who gets riches, but not by right; It will leave him in the midst of his days, And at his end he will be a fool.”

The Bible includes many warnings for the rich, and the fate that awaits them if they do not turn to God and change their evil ways.

In Luke 6:24-25, Christ gives this admonition:

“But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now [being happy about your riches], For you shall mourn and weep [when it is taken away from you].”

James 5:1-6 adds the following warning for those who have become rich through ungodly behavior:

“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.”

The rich can easily fool themselves, thinking perhaps they are rich because God [a god] has blessed them, and that they are guiltless, as, so they believe, their riches prove their innocence. But this is self-deception, and God will talk to them in His due time in a language which they can understand.

Modern Ephraim (the United Kingdom and other English-speaking nations) is suffering from such delusion. We read in Hosea 12:8:

“And Ephraim said, ‘Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself; In all my labors They shall find in me no iniquity that is sin.’” But God sees it quite differently, and He will punish unrepentant Ephraim, as we read in verse 14: “Ephraim provoked Him to anger most bitterly; Therefore his LORD will leave the guilt of his bloodshed upon him, And return his reproach upon him.”

As He will take away Babylon’s riches in due time, so He will deal with Ephraim. The lesson is clear: Riches won’t last which are acquired or maintained with an ungodly attitude and by improper means.  In Jeremiah 5:26-29, God speaks to the modern houses of Israel (including the USA, the UK, Canada and Australia) and Judah (the modern Jews):

“’For among My people are found wicked men; They lie in wait as one who sets snares; They set a trap; They catch men. As a cage is full of birds, So their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have become great and grown rich. They have grown fat, they are sleek; Yes, they surpass the deeds of the wicked; They do not plead the cause, The cause of the fatherless; Yet they prosper, And the right of the needy they do not defend. Shall I not punish them for these things?’ says the LORD. ‘Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?’”

Describing specifically the modern house of Jacob or Israel, God tells us in Isaiah 2:5-11 that He will intervene in the affairs of this Satanic world to bring punishment upon the people—especially those who have become rich through ungodly means, who have used their riches for improper purposes, and who have become proud in the process, showing that their riches will not help them when the day of reckoning comes:

“O house of Jacob, come and let us walk In the light of the LORD. For You have forsaken Your people, the house of Jacob, Because they are filled with eastern ways; They are soothsayers like the Philistines, And they are pleased with the children of foreigners. Their land is also full of silver and gold, And there is no end to their treasures; Their land is also full of horses, And there is no end to their chariots. Their land is also full of idols; They worship the work of their own hands, That which their own fingers have made. People bow down, And each man humbles himself; Therefore do not forgive them. Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, From the terror of the LORD And the glory of His majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, The haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, And the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.”

The punishment is not limited to the house of Israel. Rather, God will punish the entire world, and especially those who have become rich and haughty. We read in verses 20 to 22:

“In that day a man will cast away his idols of silver And his idols of gold, Which they made, each for himself to worship, To the moles and bats, To go into the clefts of the rocks, And into the crags of the rugged rocks, From the terror of the LORD And the glory of His majesty, When He arises to shake the earth mightily. Sever yourselves from such a man, Whose breath is in his nostrils; For of what account is he?” [Compare Ezekiel 7:19 and Zephaniah 1:18].

That this punishment is not only carried out for the modern houses of Israel and Judah is also made clear in Isaiah 31:7:

“For in that day every man shall throw away his idols of silver and his idols of gold–sin, which your own hands have made for yourselves.”

The term “in that day” refers to the Day of Wrath of the LORD, when God will mightily intervene to punish the inhabitants of the earth. Proverbs 11:4 contains this observation:

“Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.”

As we have explained in our previous Q&A, when God blesses His people with prosperity, wealth and riches, and His people handle these blessings in a godly way, then He “adds no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22). But physical riches are only temporary. The key is to be rich before God (compare again Luke 12:21).

Those who became or are rich, but not because of God’s blessing, will have many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10) and won’t ever be satisfied. Their riches won’t last, and in any event, they will leave it all behind when they die.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

compiled by Dave Harris

“The French and British Frankenstein Monster,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

The French and British people have voted, and they have created for themselves a Frankenstein Monster which will turn against them. What is so alarming about the election results in both countries? And how does this confirm again the reliability and truth of biblical prophecy, as clearly revealed in Scripture?

“Das französische und englische Frankenstein Monster,” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. This program covers the same topic as described above.

“Ein Bund, ein Versprechen, eine Verpflichtung,” last Sabbath’s German sermonette presented by Mike Richter, is now posted. Title in English: “A Covenant, A Promise, A Commitment.”

“Der gute Soldat, ein Christ?” last Sabbath’s German sermon presented by Christoph Sperzel, is now posted. Title in English: “The Good Soldier, a Christian?”

“Biden’s Decline and Trump’s Provocations—Comments on News and Prophecy, July 6, 2024,” a presentation by Norbert Link during last Sabbath, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Many say that Biden must go, due to his perceived mental decline, but he does not want to quit his 2024 bid, unless “the Lord Almighty” comes out to tell him. But realistically, who could replace Biden so late in the game? There seem to be no good choices for the Democrats. On the other hand, Europe’s fear of “Trump’s second coming” is growing. And Trump does not help to alleviate those fears—his posts and comments seem to just accomplish the opposite. Some, like Ivanka Trump and Michelle Obama, say that they want to distance themselves from politics. What do they see that others don’t?

“Choose Life,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Paul Niehoff, is now posted. Here is the summary:

God has created us to be a part of His family forever. To fulfill His desire, we must be continually choosing life and never giving up on this choice and the way of life that this choice requires.

“Before You And Behind You,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Kalon Mitchell, is now posted. Here is the summary:

It can be hard as a Christian to always keep in mind that we are God’s children; especially, when we face various trials and tests. When we stop to contemplate just what God does for us, we can see that He truly is there for us in all aspects of our lives, no matter what we will face. How much confidence do we put in God being there for us?