Update 1150

On March 15, 2025, Frank Bruno will present the sermonette, titled, “Red Tape,” and Dave Harris will present the sermon, titled, “God Is Our Refuge.”

The live services are available, over video and audio, at http://eternalgod.org/live-services/ (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time; 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time; 9:30 pm Central European Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

When playing a sport, focus is crucial, especially where a ball is involved.  When keeping your eye on the ball, all your attention and focus are fixed on that object.  The moment you look away, it becomes challenging to successfully achieve what you are trying to accomplish, whether it be kicking the ball or catching it, hitting it, etc, depending on the sport. 

Based on the fast-paced nature and need for precise ball control, table tennis is often considered the sport that requires the most focus when using a ball, as players must react quickly to the ball’s trajectory and spin while maintaining a high level of concentration.

Baseball is another sport that uses complex hand-eye coordination, requires rapid decision-making and a need to track a fast-moving ball with precision, where focus on the ball is vital.  Pitchers can throw a variety of pitches with different speeds and breaking motions, demanding intense focus from the hitter to track the ball’s trajectory while players in the field must react quickly to batted balls, often requiring them to anticipate where the ball will land and make split-second decisions.  It’s a mental game, and baseball heavily emphasizes the mental aspect, with players needing to manage pressure situations and stay focused even when facing adversity. 

There are of course several other sports where this is the case, as well as sports that don’t require a ball, but internal focus is a necessity and can be mentally challenging.

The world, in general, can be quite distracting, and it can be easy to get caught up in it to where our focus is affected.  Getting back on track and regaining our focus is a constant task that we must accomplish.  Our “ball” is the Kingdom of God; something that we must never lose sight of, and our mental and spiritual strengthening is through God in whom we must always look to when trials, struggles, doubts, worries, uncertainties, and need for ANY help are affecting us in some way.  

Keeping our eye on the prize is something that Paul famously depicted in Philippians 3:14, using the imagery of a race where the goal is the prize and the runner must concentrate on reaching the finish line, signifying the importance of staying focused on our ultimate goal, not giving up, despite challenges we encounter along the way. 

We are to continue running with determination, “to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2; New International Version). This encourages us to focus on Christ at all times and not get distracted by other things, for Christ, the captain of our salvation, overcame every difficulty imaginable and was thus made perfect through sufferings (Hebrews 2:10). He expects us to do the same—to overcome all obstacles, to remain faithful and obedient, and to keep our eye on the ultimate prize.

by Norbert Link

We begin with reports on [predicted] renewed violence in unstable Syria; [unrealistic] proposals as to how to deal with Gaza; and continue with concentrating on Trump’s “whiplash” leadership which creates confusion and uncertainty, which might even be intentional, but which is also diminishing trust in the reliability of the USA.

We report on Canada’s new prime minister Mark Carney who is clearly no friend of Donald Trump and who has picked up the gauntlet; and report on the ongoing fight between the Trump administration and Zelensky, with Trump’s inconsistent and contradictory proposals and statements. We speak on the proposed “ceasefire” regarding Ukraine; and we point out additional animosity between the USA and Poland; Europe’s desire to become a nuclear power; and we discuss the possibility of America’s withdrawal from NATO, as we know it, with the proposal of Germany, as a rising military power, “taking on the leading role in the alliance.”

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Politicians Demand What We Have Told You For Decades!”

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

Renewed Violence in Syria 

npr wrote on March 9: 

“More than 1,300 people in Syria have been killed — many believed to be civilians — in the span of three days amid intense fighting between forces associated with Syria’s new government and those loyal to the deposed dictator Bashar al-Assad… The conflict is considered the country’s worst violence since… December. It’s also the biggest test for Syria’s new government since it has assumed power… the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights… characterized many of the killings as executions and massacres, carried out in revenge against the Alawite community, which made up Assad’s traditional base of support. The human rights group also reported burning of homes and forced displacement, worsened by the absence of international intervention. 

“The fighting broke out on Thursday near the coast after reports that Alawite gunmen ambushed and killed 16 government forces in the coastal province of Latakia. In response, the government sent reinforcements to and imposed curfews on Latakia and neighboring Tartus. At first, the casualties mainly involved those fighting on both sides… But as clashes went on, the civilian death toll skyrocketed, with many people shot at close range… Alawite leaders said their community around Latakia and Tartus have been the target of attacks for weeks, ever since the Assad regime was overthrown…” 

The Daily Mail wrote on March 8: 

“The violent clashes, which erupted Thursday, are some of the deadliest since Syria’s conflict began 14 years ago, and marked a major escalation in the challenge to the new government in Damascus, three months after insurgents took authority after removing Assad from power. Witnesses revealed how women were reportedly told to ‘walk naked’ before being shot dead [by the Syrian “security” forces] amid horrifying scenes in Syria… 

“Residents of Baniyas, one of the towns worst hit by the violence, said bodies were strewn on the streets or left unburied in homes and on the roofs of buildings, and nobody was able to collect them. One witness said that the gunmen prevented residents for hours from removing the bodies of five of their neighbors killed Friday at close range. 

“The leaders of Syria’s three main Christian churches issued a joint statement Saturday condemning ‘massacres targeting innocent civilians’…”

This was so predictable, and we DID predict it… 

Proposals and Counter Proposals for Gaza 

Deutsche Welle wrote on March 9: 

“France, Germany, Italy and the UK said on Saturday they supported an Arab-backed plan for the reconstruction of Gaza. The plan would cost $53 billion (€50.5 billion) and avoid displacing Palestinians from the territory… The Arab Summit in Cairo took place after US President Donald Trump floated a widely condemned proposal to turn the Gaza Strip into what he called the ‘Riviera of the Middle East’ and displace its residents.   

“Earlier this week, the Trump administration dismissed the… counter proposal after it was adopted. The White House said it stood by Trump’s vision, with National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes commenting late Tuesday that ‘the current proposal does not address the reality that Gaza is currently uninhabitable.’… 

“The phased reconstruction plan consists of three major stages over five years. An initial six-month recovery phase is aimed at removing debris, de-mining and building temporary housing. In the first phase, the plan calls for the building of 200,000 housing units in Gaza over the next two years. A second stage will see 200,000 more housing units. By 2030, the plan foresees hundreds of thousands of new homes housing up to 3 million people as well as an airport, industrial zones, hotels and parks. 

“Under [the new] proposal, Gaza would be governed by a reformed Palestinian Authority… France, Germany, Italy and the UK also supported the call for the removal of Hamas, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by several countries…” 

None of this seems to be realistic. 

Greenland Votes Against Trump 

gzeromedia wrote on March 12: 

“Greenland’s center-right parties trounced the ruling left-wing coalition in Tuesday’s election. In a blow to US President Donald Trump’s plans to annex the Arctic territory, a once-marginal party that favors a slow separation from Denmark is set to lead the next government… 

“Recent polling shows that 85% of Greenlanders oppose joining the US.” 

Trump’s Whiplash Leadership 

CNN wrote on March 6: 

“One day, President Donald Trump imposed a punishing tariff regime against Canada and Mexico. The next, he froze auto duties for a month after suddenly realizing that – as everyone had predicted – they could wreck a quintessential American industry. 

“Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky came to the Oval Office to sign a rare-earth minerals deal that Trump billed as a triumph for the US. But Zelensky was provoked by Vice President JD Vance and kicked out of the White House. European leaders have spent days trying to fix the debacle. 

“Elon Musk, meanwhile, is taking his chainsaw to the bureaucracy, indiscriminately firing workers… 

“At first, Trump’s early-term energy on multiple fronts was a bolt of energy as he… chased away the lethargy that marked President Joe Biden’s waning months in office. Six weeks in, however… a new realization is dawning. There doesn’t seem to be a plan… ‘There’s too much unpredictability and chaos coming out of the White House right now,’ Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said Wednesday… 

“America’s friends are often left to puzzle over what exactly Trump is trying to do… 

“Still, the president can point to some successes with his threat-based foreign policy. For instance, his fury that a Hong Kong-based firm owned two ports at either end of the Panama Canal is precipitating  a purchase by US investment giant BlackRock… 

“The danger for the US therefore is that four more years of Trump’s antics could reshape the globe – in a way that does not comply with his vision of US dominance but leaves Americans looking in from the outside…”

And this is exactly what might happen… 

Tariffs an Act of War? 

archive.today wrote on March 3: 

“Warren Buffett (94) is one of the world’s most legendary investors. So, what does he think of tariffs and how they’ll affect the economy? The billionaire… says tariffs are ‘an act of war, to some degree.’ 

“‘Over time, they are a tax on goods. I mean, the Tooth Fairy doesn’t pay ’em!’ he said… when asked how tariffs would impact inflation. ‘And then what? You always have to ask that question in economics. You always say, ‘And then what?'” 

Good question! 

EU to Retaliate Against USA 

The Associated Press wrote on March 12: 

“The European Union on Wednesday announced retaliatory trade action with new duties on U.S. industrial and farm products, responding within hours to the Trump administration’s increase in tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports to 25%. The world’s biggest trading bloc was expecting the U.S. tariffs and prepared in advance, but the measures still place great strain on already tense trans-Atlantic relations… 

“The EU measures will cover goods from the United States worth around 26 billion euros ($28 billion), and not just steel and aluminum products, but also textiles, home appliances and agricultural goods. Motorcycles, bourbon, peanut butter and jeans will also be hit, as they were during U.S. President Donald Trump’s first term…” 

Canada’s New Prime Minister… No Friend of Trump 

The Sun wrote on March 9: 

“CANADA’S new prime minister [replacing Justin Trudeau who “tearfully” stepped down Sunday] has wasted no time in firing back at US President Donald Trump, vowing to fight the escalating trade war ‘until Trump shows us respect.’ Mark Carney – who was among the anti-Brexit campaign’s biggest voices during his time as Bank of England chief – called out Trump for attempting to ‘destroy the Canadian way of life’ with tariffs and trade threats. The former Bank of England governor and ‘Project Fear’ architect made it clear that Canada will not back down. 

“‘There is someone who is trying to weaken our economy. Donald Trump. Donald Trump has put unjustified tariffs on what we build, sell and how we make a living,’ Carney said in his acceptance speech. He went on to describe Trump’s tariffs and threats as the ‘greatest crisis of our lifetime’. The war of words intensified last week after the US imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian goods, prompting Canada to retaliate with its own tariffs on up to $155bn worth of US products.  The trade war has put a strain on the two nations’ relationship, and Carney said the US could no longer be trusted… 

“He became a popular choice for party members due to his wealth of experience after serving as governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England between 2013 up until 2020… Carney’s firm stance comes amid mounting support for his leadership in a nation reeling from the threat of becoming the ‘51st state’ and Trump’s ongoing tariff war. His speech marks a sharp shift in the rhetoric of Western leaders standing up to the US president… ‘The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country.’… On Tuesday, the US slapped a brutal 25 per cent tariff on all goods imported from Canada, and despite a softening from Trump, the damage has been done….”

npr added on March 9: 

“Mark Carney, the former central banker-turned-centrist politician, triumphed over Chrystia Freeland in Sunday’s Liberal Party leadership race, paving the way for him to succeed Justin Trudeau as Canada’s next prime minister. He is expected to be sworn in early this week… President Donald Trump’s tariffs and controversial comments about Canada becoming the 51st state likely played a role in Carney’s win and could help his party — which was struggling against the conservatives in the polls just two months ago — hold onto power in the next general election. 

“‘Canadians are really feeling angry, hurt. Canada feels so disrespected in this relationship right now,’ Jamie Tronnes, the executive director of the Center for North American Prosperity and Security told NPR. ‘This has led to a resurgent nationalism, which is something that we haven’t seen the likes of in a long time in Canada, that has really benefited the Liberal Party.’ 

“Carney’s election makes him only the second prime minister in Canadian history without a seat in parliament. While there is no rule against this, precedent suggests Carney will call federal elections soon after being sworn in as prime minister where he will face off with conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. As the Liberal party’s popularity continues to surge in the polls, many Canadians see Carney as a steady, diplomatic globalist who knows how to navigate international challenges, particularly with the U.S. under Trump’s increasingly strongman negotiating tactics… Carney knows what it’s like to weather tough economic storms. He served as Governor of the Bank of Canada during the 2008 financial crisis and later became the first non-British person to be appointed as Governor of the Bank of England, where he oversaw the bank’s post-Brexit transition.” 

Tariffs Threat Against Canada Changing by the Hour 

Bloomberg wrote on March 11:

“President Donald Trump dialed back his latest trade-war threat against Canada hours after making it, while downplaying the risk of a tariff-led recession that’s sent US markets into a nosedive. Trump’s roller-coaster day saw him threaten to double duties on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50% after Ontario announced plans to place a surcharge on electricity sent to the US, only to retreat back to plans for his previously announced 25% rate after the provincial government backed down. (USA Today: “The abrupt shift was a response to Ontario Premier Doug Ford saying he would suspend a 25% electricity surcharge on about 1.5 million U.S. energy users in New York, Michigan and Minnesota… With Trump backtracking, the steel and aluminum tariff rate for Canadian imports will remain at 25%.”). 

“The episode rattled markets already bracing for the worldwide metal levies set to hit at midnight, and encapsulated the frantic and mercurial tariff barrage that has spooked investors and befuddled corporate leaders over the past six weeks. Major stock indexes were down some 10% off their peaks amid escalating concerns that the world’s biggest economy may be about to stall. Trump himself fueled the recession talk as recently as Sunday, declining to rule out the possibility in a Fox News interview.”

Trump vs. Zelensky

The Kyiv Independent wrote on March 9: 

“U.S. President Donald Trump has privately made it clear to his aides that he will not resume providing military aid and intelligence to Ukraine even if Kyiv and Washington sign a minerals deal, NBC News reported on March 9… Trump wants to see a change in President… Zelensky’s stance toward peace talks with Russia and a willingness to make concessions such as giving up occupied territories to Russia… The U.S. president also reportedly wants Zelensky to make some steps toward elections in Ukraine and possibly step down. 

“The news comes amid rising tensions between Ukraine and the U.S., as Trump escalates pressure on Zelensky to expedite a peace process. The tensions culminated in a confrontation during a meeting in the White House Oval Office on Feb. 28 after Zelensky had flown to the U.S. to sign a minerals agreement with the U.S. After being insulted by Trump and his Vice President JD Vance, Zelensky returned to Ukraine without signing the deal. Since that meeting, Washington has halted its military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine… 

“Politico reported that Trump’s team has been leading secret talks with former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko and another opposition leader, Yuliia Tymoshenko. The two opposition leaders reportedly tried to position themselves as more flexible partners for the U.S. than Zelensky. Following the Oval Office clash, Zelensky’s approval rating has risen to 68%.” 

Is America trying to oust Zelensky? 

The Hill wrote on March 10: 

“Trump said Sunday the United States had ‘just about’ ended a suspension of intelligence sharing with Ukraine… Trump said he wanted Ukraine to ‘want to want peace… Right now, they haven’t shown it to the extent they should,’ he said.” 

Another switch in Trump’s ever-changing political world… and another example of Trump’s “whiplash leadership.” But the impression that he has no plan might be contradicted by a calculated method of unpredictability, thereby causing chaos and confusion.   

Ukrainska Pravda wrote on March 9: 

“US President Donald Trump has responded to concerns that Ukraine might not survive without American assistance by saying that Ukraine ‘may not survive anyway… ‘But you know, we have some weaknesses with Russia. You know, it takes two. It was not gonna happen, that war. And it happened. So now we’re stuck with this mess.’…” 

So, every war is caused by two sides? Where does this leave World War 2? 

“The interviewer then asked whether Ukraine really does have significant rare-earth mineral resources, to which Trump responded: ‘I do, I’ve had it checked’… Trump also claimed that under President Joe Biden, Zelenskyy had been taking money from the US as easily as ‘candy from a baby’.” 

The New York Post wrote on March 3: 

“On Sunday, Zelensky insisted that ‘an agreement to end the war is still very, very far away, and no one has started all these steps yet’ — a remark that further irked Trump.  ‘This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!’ the president wrote on Truth Social. ‘It is what I was saying, this guy doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing and Europe, in the meeting they had with Zelenskyy, stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the U.S.’ 

“‘Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia. What are they thinking?’” 

Ukraine Cease-Fire? 

Deutsche Welle wrote on March 11: 

“Ukraine says it is willing to accept an interim 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia, a joint statement from Washington and Kyiv said. According to the statement, published following the meeting of Ukrainian and American teams in Saudi Arabia, the United States will communicate to Russia that reciprocity is key for future peace between the countries. The US said it would also resume the intelligence sharing with, and security assistance to, Ukraine.  

“US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says that it is now up to Russia to accept the proposal… Kyiv and Washington also agreed to sign an agreement for developing Ukraine’s critical mineral resources as soon as possible, the statement said.” 

Fox News wrote on March 12: 

“Russia is waiting for Washington to deliver details… before commenting on the proposal, the Kremlin said Wednesday… Russia has so far opposed anything short of a permanent end to the conflict and has not accepted any concessions.” 

Russia Will Never Relent 

The Telegraph wrote on March 11: 

“But suppose the Russians do not reciprocate? Now there is one vital question: how will America respond if… Putin simply rejects the Jeddah offer? He will be deeply reluctant to accept a ceasefire at the very moment when his forces are finally advancing against Ukraine’s salient in the Russian region of Kursk.  In Putin’s preferred sequence, a ceasefire would be the last step, when everything else has been settled, allowing the Russians to maintain every ounce of military pressure to wring concessions from Ukraine throughout any negotiations… 

“Perhaps more likely is that Russia will pretend to accept the Jeddah offer and do just enough to prevent America from renewing its backing for Ukraine while in fact breaking the ceasefire and finding a way of blaming Mr Zelensky…” 

Poland’s Walesa Blasts Trump 

AFP wrote on March 3, 2025: 

“Poland’s freedom icon Lech Walesa and dozens of other communist-era dissidents on Monday slammed Donald Trump over his clash with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, comparing the US president’s actions to ‘communist courtrooms.’ 

“In their Oval Office meeting on Friday, Trump berated Zelenskyy, telling him to be more ‘thankful’ for US support against the invading Russian army in the three-year war and that without US assistance, Ukraine would have been conquered by Moscow. In a letter addressed to the US president, Walesa and around 40 other Polish former dissidents said they had watched Trump’s conversation with Zelenskyy ‘with horror and disgust. The atmosphere in the Oval Office during this conversation reminded us of the hearings by the Security Service and in the communist courtrooms,’ former Polish president Walesa and fellow dissidents said in the letter. 

“‘We find your expectations of respect and gratitude for the material aid provided by the United States to Ukraine, which is fighting against Russia, offensive,’ they told Trump. Walesa is feted as an icon of freedom as he led a 1980 shipyard workers’ strike, forcing the then-authorities to recognise the communist bloc’s first and only free trade union, Solidarity. He and dozens of other top dissidents were arrested after martial law was imposed in 1981. He then won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983. 

“After the fall of communism, Walesa in 1990 became Poland’s first democratically elected president since World War II. Poland is a staunch ally of its neighbour Ukraine and has advocated ramped up military aid to the war-torn country. On Friday, following the heated exchange in the White House, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, in a show of support to Zelenskyy, assured Ukrainians they were ‘not alone.’”

Even Poland and Poland’s icon Lech Walesa—once strong allies—are turning against the USA. 

What If Musk Cuts Off Starlink? 

Militarnyi wrote on March 3: 

“The European Commission is figuring out how it could help Ukraine secure satellite communication capacity in the wake of Elon Musk reportedly threatening to pull Kyiv’s access to his Starlink network. 

“Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said Ukraine had already ‘expressed interest’ in how it could use Govsatcom—a pooled network of the EU’s existing national government satellite capacity.” 

Rubio and Musk Follow Trump’s Backpedaling and Anger Poland 

Reuters wrote on March 10: 

“Poland’s prime minister on Monday called on ‘friends’ to respect their allies and not be arrogant, in a post on X which… came a day after an extraordinary social media spat between top U.S. and Polish officials over Starlink. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Poland’s foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski of ‘making things up’ and suggested on Sunday he was ungrateful, in a strong rebuke after Sikorski said Ukraine may need an alternative to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite service if it becomes unreliable. 

“Poland pays for Ukraine to use the services of Starlink, which provides crucial internet connectivity to Kyiv and its military. ‘True leadership means respect for partners and allies. Even for the smaller and weaker ones,’ Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote in English on X. ‘Never arrogance. Dear friends, think about it.’ 

“Rubio had also said that ‘no one has made any threats about cutting Ukraine off from Starlink’. (This statement is clearly untrue. Keep reading.) ‘And say thank you because without Starlink Ukraine would have lost this war long ago and Russians would be on the border with Poland right now,’ Rubio added… Sikorski had been told to ‘be quiet’ and labelled a ‘small man’ by Musk after he suggested Poland, which says it pays $50 million per year for Ukraine’s Starlink services, might need to find another provider if Musk’s service was unreliable… 

“The U.S. government has already revoked some access to satellite imagery for Ukraine and paused intelligence sharing, piling pressure on Kyiv as Trump seeks a swift end to the war, now in its fourth year after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Shares in Franco-British satellite operator Eutelsat… soared as much as 650% last week due to speculation the company could replace Starlink in providing internet access to Ukraine.

“Musk, a high-profile figure in the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, said in a post on X early on Sunday that Ukraine’s ‘entire front line would collapse if I turned it (Starlink) off’. (If this is not a threat, what is?) 

“In a series of posts on X on the subject, that lasted through the day, Musk said later he would not turn off Starlink in Ukraine. ‘To be extremely clear, no matter how much I disagree with the Ukraine policy, Starlink will never turn off its terminals … We would never do such a thing or use it as a bargaining chip.’” 

Rubio has become a disappointment for many by switching or abandoning his former positions and by now unequivocally supporting Trump, even when he is wrong, such as with his provocative clash with Zelensky in the Oval Office. 

Poland Wants Nuclear Weapons 

Politico wrote on March 7: 

“Poland will look at gaining access to nuclear weapons and also ensure that every man undergoes military training as part of an effort to build a 500,000-strong army to face off the threat from Russia, Prime Minister Donald Tusk told the parliament on Friday. Poland’s dramatic military expansion comes as fears grow across Europe that U.S. President Donald Trump is aligning with the Kremlin and turning his back on America’s traditional western alliances — a geopolitical shift that Warsaw regards as a potentially existential threat. 

“Tusk said that Poland ‘is talking seriously’ with France about being protected by the French nuclear umbrella… Tusk also stressed that Poland cannot restrict itself to conventional weapons… He pointed to the example of Ukraine, which gave up its nuclear arsenal and is now being attacked by Russia… 

“The Polish military is now about 200,000, which makes it the third-largest in NATO after the U.S. and Turkey and the largest among the alliance’s EU members. Tusk pointed out that Ukraine has an army of about 800,000 while Russia has 1.3 million men under arms… 

“The confusing signals coming out of the Trump administration are particularly worrying for Poland, which has built its security architecture around its close ties with the U.S. There are about 10,000 American soldiers stationed in Poland, and the country makes an effort to buy U.S. weapons systems — to the annoyance of other European countries.” 

“Time to Rearm” 

The Sun wrote on March 9: 

“THREE years on from the start of Vladimir Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine and the war has seen more than 1.3million killed or injured…. Zelensky’s offer to step down as Ukrainian president — in answer to Donald Trump’s bogus charge that he is a dictator— shows his commitment to peace. But he is not the problem. 

“Blood-soaked Putin has already sacrificed more than 860,000 of his own soldiers and is no more bothered by current losses of 1,500 a day than he is by the deaths of 12,000 Ukrainian civilians ruthlessly targeted by his forces. He is supported in this slaughter by the terrorists of Theran and North Korean  madman Kim Jong-un. Meanwhile, China watches on. The world is a very dangerous place right now and Europe cannot keep relying on America to fight its battles… increasing spending on defence is… about self-preservation. 

“[Britain may] raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP] by 2030 and offer 30,000 peace-keeping troops for Ukraine. But that is meaningless when we don’t have 30,000 troops to spare, when 2.5 per cent is not enough and 2030 is too far away. What are we waiting for?” 

Abandoning Nuclear Weapons? 

The Sun wrote on March 9: 

“DONALD Trump has warned ‘monster’ nuclear weapons could ‘end the world’ as he sounded the alarm over atomic armageddon. The President issued the stark warning in a TV interview on Sunday morning after he floated new arms controls with Russia and China… The US has the second largest nuclear weapons stockpile in the world with around 5,000 weapons. Russia has the most with nearly 6,000, with China a distant third with around 350. Nuclear weapons have only been used in anger twice – when the US bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end World War 2. 

“Speaking on Fox, Trump said: ‘We spend a lot of money [on] nuclear weapons – the level of destruction is beyond anything you can imagine. It’s just bad that you have to spend all this money on something that if it’s used, it’s probably the end of the world.’… It comes [as] France offered to use its nukes to protect Europe from Russia… Moscow said the speech was threatening towards Russia and had ‘notes of nuclear blackmail.’…” 

Europe will not abandon its nuclear weapons. Note the previous article about Poland. 

No More Trust in the USA 

Deutsche Welle wrote on March 7: 

“Two thirds of respondents in this latest ‘ARD Deutschlandtrend’ poll said they are in favor of a massive budget increase for the Bundeswehr, and eight out of ten are in favor of more money for infrastructure projects…. 

“Trump has been back in office for only six weeks and has already been calling into question core policies, which is having a massive impact on how Germans view Trump and the United States. One in two respondents to the infratest poll say their opinion of Trump has worsened since he took office. Just one in seven expresses a favorable opinion of the US president. The United States’ reputation is plummeting to new lows…. 

“This month only one in six voters described the US as a partner who Germany can trust. Three quarters believe that NATO members cannot currently rely on the United States for protection… there is growing support for greater European independence. One in two said they favor establishing a European military alliance… The US policy U-turn on Ukraine significantly contributed to the decline of American prestige in Germany.” 

NATO and the EU Army 

DNA India wrote on March 7: 

“Hours after heads of state of 29 European nations met in the French capital of Paris and discussed the issue of supporting Ukraine…, US President Donald Trump dropped the bombshell. Trump said in the most undiplomatic way, for which he is known, that if the member states do not pay for NATO’s expenses, he will not defend them.  

“Emphasising that all members of the trans-Atlantic bloc, big or small, rich or poor, must pay for the common cause of security, he declared, ‘If they don’t pay, I’m not going to defend them. No, I’m not going to defend them.’ Trump raised this issue in the first term of his presidency also and forced small countries like the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia to pay. A day earlier, when a journalist asked him in the Oval Office of the White House whether France and a couple of other countries would defend the US, Trump said, ‘You think they’re going to come and protect us?…’ 

“Earlier, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in February that Washington would not participate in any peacekeeping force in Ukraine, which is not a NATO member and would not defend any country that participated in it if attacked by Russia… 

“The idea of a European Army is not new, however, it got a boost this week after EU Commissioner Ursula van der Leyen pointed out that the EU should raise EUR 800 billion for the development of the bloc, besides a separate corpus of EUR 160 billion for funding defence preparedness of the member states. Earlier the UK and France announced to increase… their defence budgets.  

“Political observers believe France, Poland, Germany, the UK, frontline states like Finland and the Nordic-Baltic states like Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia may serve as the backbone of the European Army as they have relatively strong and cohesive forces with substantial fire power. Analysts also believe the European Union may raise a common EU force or the EU Army. This force should not belong to any one nation but for the collective use of defending all members of the 27-member bloc like NATO,  

“All the European nations put together have more than 2 million men and women in uniform and they spend a whopping amount of $338 billion of their militaries. Coming back to Ukraine, if the US and Turkey oppose any move to send NATO forces to the war-torn country, the European nations may send their troops. It may lay the foundation stone of an EU Army or European Army.” 

An EU Army is clearly prophesied in the Bible.

NATO to Survive? 

Daily Mail wrote on March 3: 

“President Trump has launched his latest attack against Europe claiming that the United States should worry more about ‘migrant rape gangs and drug lords’ than Vladimir Putin or ‘end up like Europe’… The continent is also coming to terms with the brutal reality that it might not be able to rely on America for its security anymore… While Trump has so far avoided actively calling for the US to exit from NATO, he has consistently painted it as a one-sided relationship. 

“… Trump previously told reporters that he doubted the value of spending money on NATO – since the US was protecting NATO members but they were ‘not protecting us’ and has consistently called for the bloc to double its spending target.  During his first term Trump threatened to quit the alliance over his grievances about member’s defence spending.  

“Since Trump returned to the White House, the war in Ukraine has represented another growing rift between America and its European allies… 

“Trump’s advisor Elon Musk has outright called for the US to leave NATO in a post on X, formerly Twitter, over the weekend. Gunther Eagleman, a political commentator with 1.3 million followers, who describes himself as a ‘Proud America First MAGA Patriot’, wrote ‘It’s time to leave NATO and the UN’ in an X post on March 1. That message was reposted by Musk… who simply added ‘I agree’. 

“Musk also today reposted a tweet by Republican congressman Thomas Massie, the representative for Kentucky’s fourth congressional district since 2012, which called NATO ‘a Cold War relic that needs to be relegated to a talking kiosk at the Smithsonian’.” 

End of NATO? 

The Telegraph wrote on March 1: 

“End of Nato alliance could be ‘days away’, warns former commander… Wavering US support for the defence bloc may open the door to a new ‘European Treaty Organisation’, says Admiral James Stavridis…” 

“US ‘to Cease All Future Military Exercises in Europe’” 

The Telegraph wrote on March 8: 

“Nato countries could be forced to plan manoeuvres without US as Trump continues pivot away from bloc. 

“The United States has told its allies that it does not plan to participate in military exercises in Europe [beyond 2025], according to reports… It means that Nato countries will be forced to plan exercises without the participation of the US military, the largest in the alliance… 

“The Telegraph reported on Friday that Mr Trump is also considering pulling US troops out of Germany and redeploying them to Eastern Europe. He is understood to be weighing up withdrawing some 35,000 active personnel and moving them to Hungary.” 

Europe Angry With USA 

Financial Post wrote on March 1: 

“European leaders are confronting their worst-case scenario: maybe they really are going to be dealing with a bellicose Russia alone. When the United States lined up alongside Russia and North Korea earlier this week to oppose a UN motion condemning Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, some European officials knew that the transatlantic relationship was in deep trouble. Then they watched in horror as Donald Trump gave Volodymyr Zelenskiy a public dressing down in the Oval Office and something broke. 

“In interviews with Bloomberg, more than half a dozen officials who’ve maintained their composure through wars and financial crises reacted with visceral anger. For them, the scene showed the trust and values that have bound Europe and the U.S. together since the end of World War II are no longer shared. 

“‘President Trump and his administration raised a more fundamental challenge to the transatlantic alliance than it has faced in many decades,’ said Graham Allison, a professor of government at Harvard University, who studied with Henry Kissinger and served in both the Clinton and Reagan administrations. French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have all described this moment as a generational challenge for the continent… 

‘After Friday’s quarrel in the Oval Office, EU leaders lined up to voice their support for Zelenskiy and make clear whose side they were on. Trump is putting the Europeans into a position where they have to choose between the U.S. and Ukraine, several officials said, and most, if not all, will pick Ukraine. For Europe, it is existential.”

Within a little more than a month of Trump’s rule, the alliance between the USA and Europe is being broken up. And calls for an EU Army are getting louder.

AfD Politicians Call for Nuclear Weapons for Germany 

Die Welt wrote on March 7: 

“Several AfD politicians are calling for… Germany to be armed with nuclear weapons. Conscription is also essential… ‘Germany needs its own nuclear weapons and compulsory military service – also for women. To achieve this, the Basic Law [Grundgesetz] must be changed as soon as possible,’ said former Bundeswehr colonel [and] AfD defense politician Rüdiger Lucassen… ‘If the US nuclear umbrella is missing, Europe must act on its own. Germany must itself become capable of nuclear deterrence – within the framework of strategic European autonomy and a system of collective security with its own military and command structure.’… 

“AfD Bundestag member Hannes Gnauck, previously chairman of the AfD youth organization Junge Alternative (JA), which is disbanding, expressed similar views to Lucassen. ‘Germany needs its own nuclear umbrella…’ If the USA actually leaves NATO, Germany must take on the leading role in the alliance.” 

Compulsory Military Service in 2025? 

Die Tagesschau wrote on March 4:

“In view of the changing threat situation and the global alliance structures, CSU politician Florian Hahn is calling for more speed in the internal German debate about the reintroduction of compulsory military service… ‘The first conscripts will have to walk through the barracks gates in 2025…’ The chairman of the Bundeswehr Association, André Wüstner, is also in favor of starting compulsory military service this year… Approval for the reintroduction of compulsory military service also comes from the former Green Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer…

“The current Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius (SPD) presented a draft law for a new military service model in November. Shortly before the traffic light coalition collapsed, the federal government agreed on it – but there was no vote in the Bundestag and Bundesrat… 

“It is now up to the new federal government to decide on a new compulsory military service in peacetime. In times of conflict, the Military Service Act already stipulates that conscription for men is reinstated when the Bundestag declares a state of tension and defence.” 

Germany Must Become a Military Power 

Die Welt wrote on March 5: 

“Green politician Joschka Fischer describes the scandal in the White House as an ‘unbelievable event’. All trust in US President Donald Trump has been destroyed, Germany must now become a military power… 

“[He also calls for] talks on extending the French and British nuclear umbrella to the whole of Europe…”

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:

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

In the first part of this Q&A, we looked at the biblical evidence that God the Father, Jesus Christ the Word, and innumerable angels are all in the third heaven.

But are there any human beings in heaven?  What about those who have died and have lived good lives?  Did they go to heaven and live there now in a conscious state?

In Ecclesiastes 9:5 we read: “For the living know that they shall die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten.” 

Psalm 146:3-4 illustrates that the day one dies, his thoughts perish.

No human being has ascended to heaven, as Jesus revealed in John 3:13, and this is a telling piece of Scripture: “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from, and it is heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.”   

The NIV states “No one has ever gone into heaven.” The old Luther Bible says: “No one ascends to heaven.”

Acts 2:29 and 34 are also instructive on this matter:

“Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day… For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand…”

And Hebrews 11:39-40 speaks of the great men and women of old and shows that they are STILL awaiting their reward: “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.”

For much more on this subject, please see our Q&A:  https://www.eternalgod.org/question-and-answer-1066/ and our booklet “Do We Have an Immortal Soul?”    

Those who know the doctrines of the Church of the Eternal God and its international affiliates will be fully aware that our understanding from the Word of God is that we do not go to heaven at death.

For those who may want to study this more thoroughly, please see our Q&A’s:

“What are the biblical proofs that we do not go to heaven when we die?” https://www.eternalgod.org/q-a-11453/

“Do certain biblical passages tell us that we go to heaven when we die?”  https://www.eternalgod.org/q-a-11468/

“How do you explain certain passages in the Bible suggesting that we go to heaven when we die?”  https://www.eternalgod.org/q-a-11483/

“Doesn’t the Bible say that we will enter the kingdom of heaven? Doesn’t this show that we will go to heaven when we die?”  https://www.eternalgod.org/q-a-11501/

There are some commentators who say, incredibly, that there are human beings in heaven, and in their physical state, and they even make some other even more preposterous assertions.   We have no doubt about their sincerity, but such errors are something that we must avoid.  

What is in Heaven?

We read in Exodus 20:4 the following: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth…”

This verse reveals that there are things in heaven.

Revelation 3:5 speaks of a “Book of Life” which is in heaven.  In our booklet “Are You Predestined to be Saved?”, we read in the first chapter, page 3, the following description: 

“‘THE BOOK OF LIFE. The most important heavenly book, or scroll, that pertains to God’s true children is mentioned numerous times in Scripture. But many who have read these references have falsely assumed that this particular book is just a figurative expression, rather than a real, albeit spiritual book. The opposite is true. The book we are talking about is a VERY real book! It is called in Scripture, ‘the Book of Life.’ For example, we read in Revelation 3:5: ‘He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I [Jesus Christ] will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.’ On its face value, and without trying to ‘interpret’ this passage, we are plainly told that the names of true Christians are written down in a particular book—the Book of Life—and that they will not be erased from it as long as they continue to overcome. We can also understand from this that their names could be blotted out from the Book of Life.”

The information below is taken from Mr Norbert Link’s very revealing booklet, “Angels, Demons and the Spirit World” on pages 59-62:

“In Revelation 20:12 we read: ‘And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.   Barnes Notes on the Bible states: ‘And the books were opened – That is, the books containing the record of human deeds.’ 

“Revelation 4:2 mentions a ‘throne set in heaven.’” 

We have seen, in part one of this Q&A that God the Father and Jesus Christ, both Spirit beings, reside in heaven.   In Psalm 47:8 we read: “God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.”   And in Psalm 103:19: “The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.”

“Revelation 4:4 describes several thrones in heaven.”

The Scripture reads: “Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.”

“Revelation 4:6 speaks of a ‘sea of glass’ before the throne in heaven.”

The Scripture reads: “Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.”

“Revelation 5:1 mentions a spiritual scroll, sealed with seven spiritual seals.” 

The Scripture reads: “And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.”

“Revelation 5:8 talks about a spiritual harp and golden bowls.”

The Scripture reads: “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”

These golden bowls housed the prayers of God’s people, the saints, which indicates how important they are.   Incense burned in the temple in the Old Testament gave off a pleasing aroma to God, and His people’s prayers are likened to this. 

“Revelation 8:2–5 reveals the existence of a spiritual golden censer, a spiritual golden altar, and even spiritual fire.”

The Scripture reads: “And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.”

“We are informed in the book of Hebrews that all of these spiritual objects were used as a pattern for the creation of physical objects at the time of Moses. We read in Hebrews 9:23–24, in the Living Bible: ‘That is why the sacred tent down here on earth, and everything in it—all copied from things in heaven—all had to be made pure by Moses in this way…But the REAL things in heaven, of which these down here are copies, were made pure with far more precious offerings… It was not in the earthly place of worship that He did this, for that was merely a copy of the REAL TEMPLE IN HEAVEN.’ 

“So, there is a spiritual temple in heaven (Revelation 11:19; 15:5–6, 8). Further, we read about the temple of the tabernacle. God showed Moses exactly on the mountain how to build the earthly tabernacle. Time and again we read (Exodus 25:9; 25:40; 26:30; and 27:8) that God showed Moses a pattern as to how to build the tabernacle, the altar, the golden lamp stand and the sanctuary. God showed Moses what the real spiritual heavenly things look like. Moses was also instructed to form two cherubim, which were to cover the mercy seat. Again, God showed Moses, if he did not already know, what cherubim look like… 

“Isaiah 14:13 reports that Satan, formerly Lucifer, said: ‘I will ascend into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. I will also sit on the mount of the congregation.’ Ezekiel 28:14 adds what God said about Lucifer: ‘You were the anointed cherub who covers…You were on the holy mountain of God.’ This spiritual mountain of God in heaven is also described in Hebrews 12:18–24. 

“We read about a city in heaven, the spiritual or heavenly Jerusalem (compare Hebrews 11:9–10; Revelation 3:12). It will come down to this earth in the future (Revelation 21:2–3, 10–21; 22:1–2). 

“Revelation 2:7 says that the tree of life is in the Paradise of God. Ezekiel 28:13–16 adds that Lucifer, who became Satan, was in the garden of God at the time of his creation, long before there ever was a physical world. So, we see that there is a spiritual garden of God, a Paradise, in heaven. 2 Corinthians 12:2–4 mentions that ‘Paradise,’ the spiritual garden, is in the third heaven where God dwells [and is] a heaven composed of spirit—the third heaven… where God lives (Psalm 11:4; Hebrews 9:24)]. The physical garden of Eden, which God later created for Adam and Eve, was patterned after the spiritual garden that exists in heaven, and in which is a spiritual tree of life. When the heavenly Jerusalem comes down to this earth, the heavenly garden, with the tree of life in it, will come down to this earth as well. 

“Revelation 21:1 tells us that the heavenly Jerusalem will come down from heaven to this earth, AFTER God has created a new heaven and a new earth. This will take place after all human beings have been changed into immortality or have been burned up and destroyed in the lake of fire. By that time, as we read in Revelation 20:14, death will no longer exist. We are told that death will have been cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 21:4–5 confirms that there will be NO MORE DEATH from that time on. 

“It is true that during the Millennium, certain of the things mentioned in Revelation 21 and 22 will be found on this earth as physical forerunners (Ezekiel 47:1, 7–8, 12). There are differences, however. Ezekiel 47 talks about the existence of a physical temple. When the heavenly Jerusalem comes down to this earth, after the Millennium, there will be no temple in it, ‘for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple’ (Revelation 21:22).”

In our booklet “Is That in the Bible? – The Mysteries of the Book of Revelation” page 145, we read:

“……John sees the ‘holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God’ (Revelation 21:2). This is a literal city—albeit not physical, but spiritual. (For more information on the spiritual nature of the new Jerusalem, please read our free booklet, ‘Angels, Demons and the Spirit World.’) That this city is literal and not just a symbolic reference to the Church, for example, can be seen from the very detailed and specific description in Revelation 21:10–22; 22:1–5. We are told in Revelation 21:2, in conjunction with other Scriptures, that God is presently ‘preparing’ this city in heaven (compare Revelation 3:12; Hebrews 11:9–10; 12:22; 13:14; Galatians 4:26). We also read that Jesus Christ is presently ‘preparing’ for us a place in the ‘Father’s house’—the new Jerusalem (John 14:1–3).”

What marvellous and thrilling information about who and what is in heaven—exciting and mind-blowing facts that we may not have previously fully understood or appreciated.

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“Politicians Demand What We Have Told You For Decades!” is the title of a new StandingWatch program presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

In this program, we describe a frightening development that we’ve been predicting for a long time. Until recently, most people weren’t willing to believe that something like this was possible, but today, for some, things are looking different.

“Politiker fordern, was wir Ihnen seit Jahrzehnten gesagt haben!” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same subjects as described above.

A new Member Letter (March 2025) has been posted and mailed to our subscribers. Pastor Brian Gale notes that the Church of God has faithfully sent monthly member letters with a focus on world events; especially, those which will lead to the return of Jesus Christ, and he stresses that many end-time prophecies are now being fulfilled.

“Cain and Abel – The First Murder” is the latest video published in our Bible Stories series on YouTube.

“Prophetisches Ereignis-OdS,” last Sabbath’s first split sermon in Germany was presented by Robert Muhr and is now posted. Title in English: “Prophetic Event – Place of Safety” (PoS).

“Try Harder,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Dave Harris, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Is our Christianity a lazy or diligent one? Is there something we should be doing, or are we to just have faith and wait for what comes next?

“Why Do You Believe?” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Eric Rank, is now posted. Here is the summary:

For those whom God calls in this age, He calls them uniquely. At the point of conversion, each one of us confirms our beliefs that set the direction for the rest of our lives. The reasons why we believe in the promise of God must be strong enough to guide us through our life’s journey. Are we working hard enough to strengthen our beliefs to lead us into salvation?

2025 SPRING HOLY DAYS:

Passover: April 12 (observed the evening before)

Days of Unleavened Bread: April 13-19 (first and last days are Holy Days with live Services being broadcast).