Update 936

On August 8, 2020, Norbert Link will present “Comments on News and Prophecy (August 8, 2020)”, and Kalon Mitchell will present the sermon, title, “In the Service of Jesus Christ.”

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.

With incredible speed and with one catastrophe after another, the United States is reeling on its heels!

From Covid-19 issues to lost jobs, massive looming evictions for millions of people, riots and destruction to food crises, it is staggering to see the leadership of this country standing around and pointing the finger at the left and right. No one is willing to take the responsibility and make hard choices. People are NOT waking up to the fact that this is just the beginning of sorrows as God has prophesied. Many people expect to come out of this time and return to normalcy.

For 6000 years man has had the opportunity and the ability to make choices. And what is there to show for those years? Do we have peace? Do we have security? Do we have an abundance of happiness and love? Do we care for each other as people?

So many times I read ideas and concepts on Social Media that are diametrically opposed to the laws of God. And they are propagated with such vehement blasphemy. People no longer can come to correct conclusions because their eyes have been blinded. In Noah’s time, the imagination and intention of ALL human thinking was only evil continually. There are nice, good people in this world, but there is still sin. And only very few are telling people that they must change. And those who speak up and blow that trumpet are criticized and railed against as haters.

This is nothing new. If you read through the Bible and notice how every time God’s people stopped doing as He commanded, He told them there would be consequences! Deuteronomy 28:15-68 spells out exactly what to expect. Read through this chapter and look at what is happening to our nation and the other Israelite nations, and it is CLEAR what is going to occur. But for most people, they cannot and will not see because they do not want to (Romans 1:28). This state of not wanting to hear the Truth is now prevalent and rampant. This happened over and over again in Israel and Judah over the years, and the Bible shows this repeatedly. They would suffer mightily for national and individual sins until they had suffered so much they had nothing left but to turn their hearts and their minds back to the Truth. So some did sometimes and temporarily.

Unfortunately, we are at a point where many are unwilling to change. Quoting three Scriptures which are prophetic for our time:

Isaiah 6:9-11: “And He said, ‘Go, and tell this people: “Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.” Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed.’ Then I said, ‘LORD, how long?’ And He answered: ‘Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, The houses are without a man, The land is utterly desolate.’”

Isaiah 30:8-11: “Now go, write it before them on a tablet, And note it on a scroll, That it may be for time to come, Forever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, Lying children, Children who will not hear the law of the LORD; Who say to the seers, ‘Do not see,’ And to the prophets, ‘Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Get out of the way, Turn aside from the path, Cause the Holy One of Israel To cease from before us.’”

Zechariah 7:11-14: “‘But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear. Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the LORD of hosts. Therefore it happened, that just as He proclaimed and they would not hear, so they called out and I would not listen,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations which they had not known. Thus the land became desolate after them, so that no one passed through or returned; for they made the pleasant land desolate.’”

Just as the prophets of old gave warning as God commanded them to do, and no one wanted to listen (and actually tried to harm and did harm at times to some of those prophets), so we today in the Church of the Eternal God and our affiliates are crying out and sparing not (compare Isaiah 58:1). To “spare not” means to not hold back. The warning by the Church has been continually blown, especially louder and with more zeal as we close in on the end of the rule of Satan and his minions.

This is not a new hat to us in the Church—if we are awake! If we have been paying attention to the preaching and have been reading our Bibles diligently; if we have been continually working to overcome; if we have been sighing and crying over all the abominations that have been occurring (Ezekiel 9:4). It’s not easy to stand in the gap and in the breach (Ezekiel 22:30; Psalm 106:23). It takes courage and strength. It takes wisdom and understanding. And all these things come from God and God alone. Isaiah 11:2-3 says: “The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight is in the fear of the LORD…” These attributes are Christ’s, and they are given to those who seek and follow after Him. But the warnings in Matthew 24 are clear and concise that many will be offended and deception will be rampant. So I ask, are you really awake? Are you really seeking after God? Are you willing to stand up for the Truth and to support those who preach the whole Truth boldly to the world? Are you ready for the trials and the hard times that are still coming, all the while remembering that God knows all things and that it is Jesus Christ Himself who is the Head of the Church and who is leading it? It is time to wake up and get to work.

by Norbert Link

We begin with articles discussing the decision of the Trump Administration to withdraw one-third of American troops from Germany; continue with the ongoing deterioration of “friendship” between Germany and the USA; and address the terrible consequences of a [prophesied] nuclear attack on German cities. We speak on attacks on Trump by Conservatives and Democrats alike and address the close military collaboration between China, Russia and Iran; Israel’s planned annexation of West Bank land; a terrible explosion in Lebanon; and the blasphemous “pardon of Assisi.”

 We continue with numerous articles related to the coronavirus pandemic as well as governmental restrictions and public reactions to the same; including “the lockdown lunacy”; “no masks in the Netherlands”; the “fight for a vaccine” and the “need” of the “blue blood of horseshoe crabs” for manufacturing the same; “huge demonstrations in Germany against corona restrictions” and the predictable false “reporting” by the mass media about the protestors, as well as resulting discussions about freedom of assembly in Germany; “shocking news” from Australia and the UK; fights and frictions between Donald Trump and Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx; and a court-ordered suspension of the “public charge rule” during the pandemic.

In this context, please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Could We Survive another Lockdown?” 

We also report on violence in Oregon with “peaceful” protestors burning bibles.

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

Withdrawal of US Troops from Germany Bad Sign

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 2:

“US former National Security Advisor John Bolton criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw troops from Germany, in an interview with German newspaper Welt am Sonntag published on Sunday… The decision to remove some 12,000 troops out of Germany is ‘a sign – and not a good one – of what lies ahead if Trump is re-elected,’ he warned…

“In his book The Room Where It All Happened Bolton has accused Trump of putting his own political interests above national security interests and the well-being of the US… When it comes to national security, Trump ‘follows no political philosophy, no strategic thinking,’ the 71-year-old said. He added that the consequence now is that ‘we are less secure today than we were before his arrival in office.’”

In his book, Bolton cites numerous examples and incidents, which, if true, would indeed be of great concern.

The Bundeswehr to the Rescue?

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 31:

“Germany should do more for its own security, Defense Minister Annagret Kramp-Karrenbauer said [adding] she would hold talks after the summer break with the leaders of the affected German states to discuss ‘how the Bundeswehr can support the affected regions.’… It was not immediately clear how the German military would attempt to fill the gap left behind by the US departures.”

But that the thought is mentioned is more than interesting.

Almost Half of Germans Welcome Withdrawal of US Troops

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 4:

“Nearly half of people in Germany are in favor of a US plan to withdraw nearly 12,000 of its troops from the European country…  Some 47% of survey respondents said they supported reducing the number of US soldiers in Germany. One in four was in favor of all US soldiers leaving. Just 28% thought the number of US troops should remain the same and only 4% were in favor of increasing their numbers. Another 21% declined to answer…

“Of Germany’s six parliamentary groups, five oppose US troops leaving Germany. Only the country’s left-wing die Linke Party — which supports a complete withdrawal of all US troops — is in favor of the move. Voter opinion, however, tended to differ from that of the parties they support. People who generally vote for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative CDU/CSU were largely against the troops leaving, with more than 40% opposed. Among supporters of all other parties, the majority was in favor of the withdrawal, to varying degrees.”

It would have been helpful if the article had explained as to WHY almost half of the Germans are favoring the withdrawal of the US troops. The result of the poll, all by itself, tells us little or next to nothing. But note the next article for a possible explanation.

US-German Relationship Beyond Repair

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on August 4:

“The notion that US-German relations during the pre-Trump era were exclusively cordial and free of controversy or recrimination is belied by the facts. The Cold War was largely defined by the division of Germany into East and West, and the resulting debate about German reunification between the US and the Soviet Union…

“The Ostpolitik policies of Chancellor Willy Brandt likewise frustrated US and NATO leaders, who saw West Germany’s efforts at détente with the Soviet Union, East Germany and other East Bloc European nations as a symptom of greater German independence from the dictates of NATO and the West. West Germany was ground zero for the anti-nuclear movement that swept Europe in the early 1980s following the US’ effort to deploy intermediate-range nuclear missiles onto European soil. This came in response to the Soviet deployment of SS-20 missiles, which triggered the collapse of the government of Chancellor Helmut Schmidt due to a vote of no confidence.

“While the signing of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty in 1987, and the fall of the Berlin Wall and subsequent German reunification in 1989, helped repair US-West German relations, the US involvement in the Gulf War in 1990-91 did not receive German support. While Germany rallied behind the US in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, this support did not extend to the US’ decision to invade Iraq in 2003; German recalcitrance prompted then-Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld to belittle Germany as part of ‘Old Europe.’ Gerhard Schroeder, who served as German chancellor from 1998-2005, worked towards closer relations with Russia, especially in the field of energy – an action that raised the hackles of the US government.

“When President Barack Obama took office in 2009, many Germans believed that he would usher in an era of improved relations… only to be disappointed by the reality that the problems souring US-German relations were larger than one man. Successive spy scandals in 2013 and 2014 involving eavesdropping by the US on Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cellphone, and the recruitment by the CIA of senior German officials, only confirmed to many Germans the reality that the US did not view their nation as a friend, but rather a potential adversary. The US’ use of military bases in Germany to conduct armed drone attacks against targets in the Middle East likewise drew the ire of many Germans, who believed their sovereignty was violated by such actions.

“Seen in this light, the deterioration of US-German relations under President Trump is not a new phenomenon, but rather a continuation of a decades-long slide which finds the two nations at odds over critical policy issues involving international peace and security, European independence, and relations with Russia… Trump’s actions in ordering the withdrawal of US troops from Germany are… the byproduct of a dysfunctional US-German relationship that has been devolving for decades… The worsening relationship between the two countries is tied to a clash between American exceptionalism and German notions of European sovereignty, which no US or German leader can paper over with gestures and speeches…”

Please view our new StandingWatch program, “US German Friendship Has Ended! Are You WAKING UP???”  

Consequences of Nuclear Attack on Germany

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 5:

“A nuclear attack on Germany’s biggest cities would kill hundreds of thousands of people instantly… Tens of thousands more would be plagued by long-term illnesses such as cancer…

“Thursday marks the 75th anniversary of the date the US dropped a nuclear bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima during World War II, instantly killing over 70,000 people. It was the first nuclear weapon ever used in warfare…

“[A] simulation examines three potential scenarios in Germany, dpa reported. One considers the effects of a nuclear attack on Berlin, Germany’s political center and capital. A relatively small bomb with an explosive energy of 20 kilotons — equal to the explosive force of 20,000 tons of dynamite — would kill some 145,000 people immediately. Of these, 25,000 would be killed by the resulting pressure and heat wave while the other 120,000 would be killed by the effects of nuclear fallout radiation on the surrounding area. ‘In addition, there would be more than 50,000 later deaths due to cancer,’ the report said.

“The second scenario estimates that around half a million people would die instantly were a nuclear bomb weighing 550 kilotons to hit Frankfurt, Germany’s financial hub.  Just over half of the victims would be killed by the waves of heat and pressure as well as the immediate effects of radiation.

“A third scenario considers the effects of an attack on Germany’s Büchel airbase in western Germany, where… the US is storing nuclear weapons with an explosive force of 170 kilotons each. In such a case, the software estimated a total of 130,000 immediate deaths, with around 107,000 due fallout radiation…

“In an act of protest against nuclear weapons, Greenpeace on Wednesday flew a hot air balloon near the Büchel airbase. ‘Mass killings like those caused by the atomic bomb on Hiroshima must never happen again,’ Greenpeace spokesman for nuclear disarmament, Christoph von Lieven said Wednesday. The German government must ensure that not only are US soldiers withdrawn from Germany… but nuclear bombs as well, he added.”

A nuclear attack on German cities is prophesied.

Conservatives Unhappy with Trump

npr wrote on July 31:

“After voting for President Trump in 2016 and staunchly defending him in conservative publications… Steven Calabresi, co-founder of the powerful conservative legal organization, is now calling on the House of Representatives to do again what it has already done once this year: impeach Trump.

“In a scathing opinion piece in The New York Times published online Thursday, the Northwestern University law professor points to what ignited his newfound ire with the president: a tweet Trump sent out shortly after news broke Thursday morning that the U.S. economy had suffered its biggest recorded contraction ever last quarter. ‘With Universal Mail-In Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history. It will be a great embarrassment to the USA… Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???’ Calabresi declared himself ‘appalled’ by the tweet, which he characterized as ‘seeking to postpone the November election.’

“‘Until recently, I had taken as political hyperbole the Democrats’ assertion that President Trump is a fascist,’ the conservative legal scholar wrote. ‘But this latest tweet is fascistic and is itself grounds for the president’s immediate impeachment again by the House of Representatives and his removal from office by the Senate.’

“It was a remarkable turnaround for a man who as recently as November had accused House Democrats of conducting an ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘Kafkaesque “trial”’ in their Trump impeachment proceedings… ‘President Trump needs to be told by every Republican in Congress that he cannot postpone the federal election. Doing so would be illegal, unconstitutional and without precedent in American history,’ Calabresi warned. ‘Anyone who says otherwise should never be elected to Congress again.’

“Calabresi’s public distancing from the 45th president was applauded by other conservatives critical of Trump… Former national security adviser John Bolton…tweeted that Calabresi’s op-ed was ‘a must-read.’

“Trump, for his part, did not directly respond to his one-time ally’s demand that he be re-impeached. Instead, the president sought to portray his provocative suggestion that the election be delayed as stirring a needed public debate.”

Of course, Trump’s original tweet speaks for itself. We won’t comment as to whether it, all by itself, would be sufficient grounds for impeachment. We would state, however, that Bolton makes a strong case for impeachment in his book stating alleged facts which, if true, would go far beyond the Democrats’ botched and incompetent attempts of impeachment which were destined to failure from the outset.

Trump and Putin—Mussolini and Hitler?

Breitbart wrote on August 2:

“[In] Sunday on CNN’s ‘State of the Union,’ House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) said [this about Donald Trump and Putin:]

“‘I feel very strongly that he is Mussolini. Putin is Hitler… I don’t think he plans to leave the White House. He doesn’t plan to have a fair election. I believe that he plans to install himself in some kind of emergency way to continue [to] hold on to office. That is why the American people had better wake up. I know a little bit about history, and I know how countries find their demise…’”

A modern “Hitler” will manifest himself soon, but not in the USA or Russia, but in Europe. A modern “Mussolini” might very well arise there as well.

China, Russia and Iran

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 1:

“China and Iran [are] in the process of negotiating a 25-year strategic agreement… [which] is apparently close to being signed… The deal foresees not only an economic partnership worth billions but also close military cooperation… China sees Iran as a major market for its commodities — and as a source of oil. Iran, for its part, hopes Chinese investments and its own exports will lessen some of the economic pressure of ongoing US sanctions.

“Tehran’s move toward Beijing is partly a reaction to the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement… But the US isn’t the only reason… Tehran is also disappointed that the Europeans have not lived up to their economic commitments…

“China and Russia were the only two countries that had maintained their economic ties with Iran, leading the Iranian government to see expanded ties with these two powers as the only viable option to save its economy from collapse. At the same time… Iranian politicians increasingly had the impression that US power and international standing had begun to decline under President Donald Trump… Together with Russia, Iran has resolutely supported Syrian President Bashar Assad throughout the country’s civil war — and China has consistently backed their actions at the UN Security Council.”

This anti-Western cooperation is remarkable in light of the fact that at the beginning of the Millennium, it will be these and other powers which will try to invade the Promised Land, where the modern descendants of the houses of Israel (USA, UK, Canada and others) and Judah (the Jews) will live by that time.

Annexation Not Off the Table… Washington Being Blamed for Delay

The Times of Israel wrote on August 3:

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday told his Likud faction meeting that Israel’s planned annexation of West Bank land is not off the table, but is being held up by the US administration. Netanyahu had declared his intention to move forward with the partial annexation of the West Bank, under the auspices of the US peace plan, from July 1, but that date came and went without any movement on the matter, and in recent weeks, the prime minister has been largely silent on the issue.

“Reports in recent months have indicated that the White House has cooled on the Israeli proposal, amid the raging coronavirus pandemic, race protests, upcoming national elections, and other considerations. The White House has said repeatedly that it is up to Israel to decide on annexation, but has yet to give a definitive answer as to whether it is prepared to support and recognize the unilateral annexation now of part or all of the 30 percent of the West Bank allocated to Israel in its peace plan. That would include all of the settlements along with the strategic Jordan Valley…

“Last month, Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin acknowledged in private conversations that no attention is currently being given in Washington to Israeli annexation plans, according to an Army Radio report. The US administration’s attention is elsewhere, the report claimed Levin had said, and ‘it is not listening’ when it comes to annexation.”

This would be in line with Trump’s constantly wavering positions which Bolton describes in his book. On the other hand, Trump may not be able to afford silence much longer on the issue of Israeli annexation.

Lebanon Explosion

The Economic Collapse wrote on August 4:

“2020 just keeps getting weirder.  On Tuesday, an absolutely massive explosion caused a red mushroom cloud to rise high over the city of Beirut, Lebanon.  It is being called ‘Beirut’s Hiroshima’, and the blast was heard as far away as Cyprus… It appears that the shockwave did even more damage than the initial explosion did, and at this hour a large portion of the city of Beirut lies in ruins…  It is being reported that Beirut’s port ‘is totally destroyed’, and this comes at a really bad time because Lebanon is already in the midst of an epic economic collapse… many eyewitnesses are comparing the blast to a nuclear explosion… ‘This reminds me of what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki,’ said Beirut Governor Marwan Aboud. ‘I have never seen such widespread destruction. This is a national catastrophe. This is a disaster for Lebanon…’

“Over the past couple of years, there have been so many moments when it seemed like a major war could break out at any time in the Middle East.  And here in 2020, tensions are running higher than ever… It appears that it is just a matter of time before a huge war erupts in the Middle East, and it certainly isn’t going to take much to trigger one. So could this explosion push the region over the edge?

“Let us hope not, but without a doubt this blast is not going to help matters. The devastation that we just witnessed has caused great pain and anger in Lebanon, and terror groups such as Hezbollah will inevitably try to channel all of that pain and anger in a way that furthers their ultimate goals.”

A terrible war in the Middle East is prophesied to occur soon.

An Attack?

Breitbart reported on August 4:

“President Donald Trump reacted to the massive explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, on the capital city’s waterfront. ‘It looks like a terrible attack,’ Trump said during a press conference at the White House on Tuesday. He said that he met with his generals to discuss the explosion and they estimated the explosion was an attack. ‘This was not some kind of manufacturing explosion type of event,’ Trump said. ‘This was a – seems to be, according to them. They would know better than I would. They seem to think it was an attack. It was a bomb of some kind, yes.’… The Lebanese government confirmed that ‘highly explosive materials’ were stored in the area where the explosion occurred.”

Deutsche Welle added on August 4:

“Israel said it had nothing to do with the explosion, urging ‘caution around speculation.’ Hezbollah also said it had no indication of Israeli involvement.”

The Pardon of Assisi

Vatican News reported on August 2:

“Pope Francis invited everyone to receive the ‘Pardon of Assisi’, which can be obtained from the evening of 1 August until midnight on 2 August… ‘It is a plenary indulgence that may be received by partaking of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist and visiting a parish or Franciscan church, reciting the Creed, the Lord’s prayer and praying for the Pope and his intentions,’ the Pope pointed out. He recalled that the indulgence can even be obtained for a deceased person…

“The ‘Pardon of Assisi’ dates back to 1216, when Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and angels appeared before St. Francis. The apparition took place in the tiny Portiuncula, the chapel Francis had built in the Italian town of Assisi. When Jesus asked him [what] he desired for the salvation of souls, St. Francis asked for God to grant a plenary indulgence for all those who enter the chapel. The indulgence was later extended to anyone who visits a parish or Franciscan church on 1 August or 2 August.”

This is so blasphemous and idolatrous.

“The Lockdown Lunacy”

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on August 1:

“Well, the Virus Patrol sure has done it. In a fit of reckless overkill they have managed to vaporize six years of economic growth during the last 90 days… The real damage is far deeper, however, and is reflected in millions of small businesses permanently destroyed, tens of millions of households wiped-out financially and the vicious daisy chain of delinquencies, deferrals and defaults just beginning to rip through the $78 trillion edifice of debt which entombs the US economy…

“What is happening is an economic catastrophe the likes of which we have never seen before, even during the Great Depression of the 1930s. In fact, the worst annual decline back then was a 14.8 percent drop in 1932, while the entire peak-to-trough real GDP decline between 1929 and the 1933 bottom was 30.5 percent. So it would be fair to say that measured at an annualized rate, … Dr. Fauci and his Virus Patrol have now delivered a 32.9 percent GDP plunge, which single-handedly tops the entire contraction of the Great Depression…

“One manifestation of the Covid-Hysteria is the soaring level of ‘testing’ going on as people either try to get a hall pass in order to return to work or just plain run to the nearest testing station every time the media sends off new alarm bells. During April, for instance, which was the very worst month of the contagion in terms of serious illnesses and deaths, 5.2 million new tests were reported or 175,000 per day. By contrast, in July to date (thru the 29th), there have been 21.5 million new tests reported or an average of 745,000 per day. In a population that has been thoroughly exposed to the virus after five months, it is a given that with the number of tests soaring, the number of positive cases will rise proportionately.

“But that’s a misdirection because the real issue is the true medical severity of the new cases, and that has dropped precipitously. The death rate has dropped from 1,800 per day in April to 780 in July; and whereas 15-20 percent of new cases were being hospitalized in most states during April, that figure has now fallen to 2-4 percent…”

Why then the hysteria and more and more recommendations for lockdowns (which is pointed out below in additional articles)?

No Masks in the Netherlands

Daily Mail wrote on August 1:

“… while 120 countries in the world, including much of Europe, have ordered citizens to wear masks in public places to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the Dutch are doing things differently.

“The nation’s top scientists, having examined key data and research, have declared there is no firm evidence to back the use of face coverings. Indeed, they argue that wearing the wretched things may actually hamper the fight against disease…

“’Face masks in public places are not necessary, based on all the current evidence,’ said Coen Berends, spokesman for the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment. ‘There is no benefit and there may even be negative impact.’…

“Holland’s position is based on assessments by the Outbreak Management Team, a group of experts advising the government. It first ruled against masks in May and has re-evaluated the evidence several times, including again last week….

“The World Health Organisation has also been sceptical, warning that ‘widespread use of masks by healthy people in the community setting is not yet supported by high-quality or direct scientific evidence’. Although changing its advice in June to back the encouragement of mask wearing in some settings, the WHO lists 11 ‘potential harms’ that range from discomfort through to self-contamination and lower compliance with more critical preventative measures.”

And so, the debate among scientists goes on… but who is right, and who is wrong?

Wearing Masks

Target Liberty wrote on August 5:

“Governments in many parts of the land [USA] have ordered mask-wearing to ‘battle’ a virus that is about as deadly to the average American under 80 as hay fever. The mask-wearing order has resulted in near 100% compliance in such areas as California. It is a sign of cowering submission to the state [with] an added bonus of neighbors, and other busybodies, backing up the state orders with rants and rages for [those] who do not wear masks…

“The mask-wearing edicts are a relatively minor burden for those… who aren’t required to wear masks all day, but we don’t know what is coming down the road in terms of future tyranny. It is very important to learn now how to deal with different situations for the future when the stakes might be much higher.”

And that is VERY true.

The Fight for the Vaccine

The Associated Press wrote on August 2:

“Who gets to be first in line for a COVID-19 vaccine?… Traditionally, first in line for a scarce vaccine are health workers and the people most vulnerable to the targeted infection… For all the promises of the U.S. stockpiling millions of doses, the hard truth: Even if a vaccine is declared safe and effective by year’s end, there won’t be enough for everyone who wants it right away — especially as most potential vaccines require two doses.

“It’s a global dilemma. The World Health Organization is grappling with the same who-goes-first question as it tries to ensure vaccines are fairly distributed to poor countries — decisions made even harder as wealthy nations corner the market for the first doses…

“How to decide? The CDC’s opening suggestion: First vaccinate 12 million of the most critical health, national security and other essential workers. Next would be 110 million people at high risk from the coronavirus — those over 65 who live in long-term care facilities, or those of any age who are in poor health — or who also are deemed essential workers. The general population would come later…

“And it may be worth vaccinating entire families rather than trying to single out just one high-risk person in a household… Whoever gets to go first, a mass vaccination campaign while people are supposed to be keeping their distance is a tall order…”

None of that sounds too promising or reassuring.

Blue Blood of the Horseshoe Crabs for Coronavirus Vaccines

National Geographic wrote on July 6:

“Each spring… hundreds of thousands of horseshoe crabs clamber onto beaches to lay their eggs… For drug companies, it’s a crucial resource for making human medicines safe. That’s because their blue blood… provides the only known natural source of limulus amebocyte lysate, a substance that detects a contaminant called endotoxin. If even tiny amounts of endotoxin—a type of bacteria—make their way into vaccines, injectable drugs, or other sterile pharmaceuticals such as artificial knees and hips, the results can be deadly…

“Every year, pharmaceutical companies round up half a million Atlantic horseshoe crabs, bleed them, and return them to the ocean— after which many will die… Catching crabs and harvesting their blood is time-consuming, and the resulting lysate costs £48,000 per gallon.

“In 2016, a synthetic alternative to crab lysate, recombinant factor C (rFC), was approved as an alternative in Europe, and a handful of U.S. drug companies also began using it. But on June 1, 2020, the American Pharmacopeia, which sets the scientific standards for drugs and other products in the U.S., declined to place rFC on equal footing with crab lysate, claiming that its safety is still unproven.

“Starting in July, Swiss-based Lonza will begin manufacturing a COVID-19 vaccine for human clinical trials—and they’ll have to use lysate in the vaccine if they plan to sell it in the U.S…. conservationists fear that without rFC or other alternatives available, the ongoing burden on horseshoe crab blood for COVID-19 vaccines and related therapeutics may imperil the crabs and the marine ecosystems that depend on them.”

This sounds like a weird story from a science fiction novel.

Huge Demonstration in Germany Against Corona Restrictions

The Associated Press wrote on August 1:

“Thousands protested Germany’s coronavirus restrictions Saturday in a Berlin demonstration marking what organizers called ‘the end of the pandemic’… With few masks in sight, a dense crowd marched through downtown Berlin from the Brandenburg Gate. Protesters who came from across the country held up homemade signs with slogans like ‘Corona, false alarm,’ ‘We are being forced to wear a muzzle,’ ‘Natural defense instead of vaccination’ and ‘We are the second wave.’ They chanted, ‘We’re here and we’re loud, because we are being robbed of our freedom!’

“Police estimated about 17,000 people turned out… Protesters continued to a subsequent rally on a boulevard running through the city’s Tiergarten park, which police estimated drew 20,000 people.”

AFP wrote on August 1:

“Several politicians condemned the demonstration… Health Minister Jens Spahn [stated]: ‘Yes, demonstrations should also be possible in times of coronavirus, but not like this. Distance, hygiene rules and masks serve to protect us all…’”

Many on social media and those who were there claim that the actual figure of demonstrators was from 500,000 up to 1,3 Million. This figure has been disputed as a gross exaggeration. Still, what we are beginning to see is a possible confrontation between the Merkel government and Germans who are opposed to governmental restrictions. Several AfD representatives [from the opposition party] participated in the protest and were interviewed.

“Germans Are Waking Up. Americans Still Asleep”

Ron Paul wrote on August 3 in the Ron Paul Institute:

“Tens of thousands of Germans marched through Berlin on Saturday, proclaiming a ‘Day of Freedom’ and demanding an end to government-mandated face masks and ‘social distancing.’ The UK and Netherlands also saw large protests against their governments’ tyrannical actions in response to the coronavirus outbreak… the Berlin protesters held signs reading ‘We are being forced to wear a muzzle,’ ‘Natural defense instead of vaccination,’ and ‘We are making noise because you are stealing our freedom!’

“Good for them!

“The New York Times tweeted that the masses of Berlin demonstrators were all ‘Nazis’ and ‘conspiracy theorists.’ Does the ‘paper of record’ really want us to believe there were perhaps a million Nazis active in the streets of Berlin? Wouldn’t that be alarming?

“The fact is, Europeans are realizing that their government-mandated lockdowns did little or nothing to protect them from the virus, while causing economic catastrophe and untold human suffering. They likely looked around and noticed that Sweden, which never locked down its economy, rejected face masks, and kept its restaurants and other places of business open, did not fare any worse than the countries that have been turned into open air prisons for much of the year. In fact, Sweden had a lower death rate from the virus than strict lockdown states like the UK and France. No wonder people are starting to get angry.

“Unfortunately, while the Europeans are waking up, Americans are still asleep as our freedoms continue to be trampled. While Europeans demand an end to government tyranny, here we see states with minuscule new deaths returning to lockdown. It is as if all the wannabe tyrants from mayors to governors are finally realizing their secret dreams of ruling by decree. Their dreams are our nightmares!

“New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy put citizens ‘on notice’ that he will lock the state back down if people dare to go outside without a face mask or even to have guests inside their own homes!… The US government is dumping billions into a vaccine that may be less than 60 percent effective to prevent a virus that has something like a 99.8 percent survival rate. What kind of math is that?… the US government has just granted big pharma immunity from liability claims if the vaccine produces damaging side effects.

“They keep moving the goal posts to keep us terrified and isolated. First it was body counts and then ‘cases.’ The numbers have been so wildly off that it’s hard to trust any reporting. People are getting angry. They are confused. They are facing an economic depression of historic proportions. But worst of all, they are watching as Leviathan government snatches every last bit of freedom.

“Three cheers for the Europeans! Let’s hope America wakes up soon!”

The reports by the left-wing mass media (and also by conservative outlets such as mass tabloid Bild and others) about the demonstrations by labeling all of the protestors as Nazis was so foolish and so predictable. Let us also point out that the German and the European governments will not be silent either. They are determined to fight back and suppress any “dissenters” under the pretense of “public health.” Notice the next articles.

German Government Threatens Those Who Disagree

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 1:

“Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said he wants tougher penalties for coronavirus rule breakers. ‘Anyone who deliberately endangers others must expect that this will have serious consequences for him,’ Altmaier told the DPA news agency. ‘We must not jeopardize the recovery that is just beginning by accepting a further increase in infections.’…

“The chief minister of Saxony-Anhalt state, Reiner Haseloff, warns against a new lockdown. ‘We cannot afford a second lockdown,’ Haseloff [said Saturday]. ‘Our economy would hardly be able to cope with that and in the end, it would also have a negative effect on the welfare state and its stability,’ he said.”

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 3:

“Saturday’s huge demo in Berlin against Germany’s coronavirus measures has raked up a new debate about the boundaries between the right to assemble and the protection of public health… By Monday, several German politicians had taken to their favored media outlets to condemn the demonstrators…

“In Germany, it’s up to local authorities to make the conditions under which demonstrations are permitted — though their hands are tied to a great extent by the German constitution, which enshrines the right to demonstrate except when demos turn violent, if participants are carrying weapons, or if their faces are covered (which of course raises its own legal headache in the coronavirus age)…

“Paulina Starski, a senior research fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law in Heidelberg, explained that the authorities can only shut down demonstrations if there’s a direct danger to public security… Of course, among the rules the police currently has to enforce are social distancing guidelines — so there are dangers to public security inherent during the outbreak of a highly contagious virus…

“The courts, meanwhile, have a duty to guard against constitutional violations, and, as Starski explained, will often side with people’s rights rather than the police if there is doubt — partly a lesson learned during Germany’s dark authoritarian past. As Starski added, there is certainly a danger that authorities could use coronavirus prevention measures to curtail constitutional freedoms. ‘Absolutely,’ she said. ‘The new rules during the hard lockdown led to a situation where the freedom of assembly was to a large extent de facto suspended…’”

Restrictions can be expected again and despite the questionable propaganda according to which most people allegedly welcome those, many will not do so for sure. Note the next article.

Shocking News from the UK

Express wrote on August 2:

“The Prime Minister was told by scientific advisers too much mingling between family groups is the main cause of an alarming rise in infections. It comes after Mr Johnson was forced to announce a slow down of the lockdown…

“Large swathes of the North of England were also told on Thursday night they were not allowed to enter other people’s homes. The shock announcement was made by Health Secretary Matt Hancock at 9pm on Twitter, and told over 4million people in areas of Greater Manchester, parts of West Yorkshire and East Lancashire separate households were no longer allowed to meet indoors.”

And so, we are afraid that in the UK under Boris Johnson’s wavering leadership, irresponsible lockdowns will be starting again.

News from Melbourne, Australia

Our local elder, Paul Niehoff, sent us the following report on August 2:

“At the moment about 600 people are being infected daily. Around 10 are dying, mostly in aged care homes. The premier has stated publicly on TV that he would not want to put his mother in one of these homes as their conditions are so bad. The premier has also declared a ‘state of disaster’ and a curfew from 8 pm till 5 am daily.

“The premier has now closed or dramatically reduced nearly all industry in Melbourne. It is estimated that 250,000 workers will be stood down for the next six weeks, with no promise of the shutdown ending then. All non-essential retail will go on-line. Some can order on-line and collect outside the store. Hair dressers and lawn mowing and garden maintenance are banned totally. Meat working plants are reduced in capacity by 33%, with all staff in full protective clothing. Construction sites are dramatically reduced in number of workers on site. Bottle shops will remain open. When I went shopping yesterday, at the first supermarket, absolutely all of the minced meat had gone. The second one did have minced meat available. But it shows how quickly food can disappear from the shelves.

“For healthy people, only one household member may go shopping each day. A disabled person may have an assistant but they must be separated. Outdoor exercise is allowed for a maximum of one hour per day. Shopping is limited to 5 kilometres radius unless the nearest supermarket is over that distance. Funerals can have 10 guests not including the officials. Weddings are banned although there may be compassionate exemptions. Acts of parliament have been suspended and police given greater powers.”

The last sentence should be of great concern.

Dr. Fauci Unwilling to Answer Jim Jordan

Breitbart wrote on July 31:

“Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) grilled Dr. Anthony Fauci during a House panel hearing Friday over whether the government should limit ongoing protests, like it has other activities, for fueling the spread of the coronavirus. ‘I’m not in a position to determine what the government can do in a forceful way,’ a visibly uncomfortable Fauci… said in responding to Jordan’s questions… ‘You make all kinds of recommendations,’ Jordan noted. ‘You made comments on dating, on baseball, on everything you can imagine … you just said that protesting increased the spread. I’m just asking, should we try to limit the protesting?’ ‘No, I think I would leave that to people who have more of a position to do that,’ Fauci… said…

“The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects both the freedoms to protest, and of religion, Jordan argued. He also noted that the government prevents some people from going to work to help hinder the spread of the virus. ‘Government is stopping people from going to church, Dr. Fauci,’ the Ohio Republican pointed out, later adding, ‘You’ve advocated for certain businesses to be shut down.’ Jordan asked, ‘Is there a world where the Constitution says you can favor one First Amendment liberty, protesting, over another, practicing your faith?’…”

Newsweek wrote on August 1:

“Tucker Carlson has once again criticized Dr. Anthony Fauci, this time over the infectious diseases expert’s answer before Congress to a question about the wisdom of protesters gathering in large numbers… Carlson praised Jordan for his questioning, saying, ‘There is nothing Dr. Anthony Fauci won’t opine on as long as it doesn’t offend the popular and fashionable left.’

“Carlson went on to say: ‘Fauci is 79, but maybe if he had like 22-year-old kids who were trying to make their way in this world in an economy that is headed down the tubes, thanks largely to his recommendations, he would feel differently. It’s not merely an inconvenience when your economy collapses. It’s the end of the American dream. That’s not a small thing…’

“Earlier this week, Carlson gave Fauci both barrels in a segment in which he called him ‘a hypocritical buffoon who refuses to admit what he clearly doesn’t know,’ adding that, ‘if you say that out loud they will cancel you… criticize Fauci, and you will disappear from the Internet.’

“Fauci enjoys considerable trust among Americans about his approach to the coronavirus. A poll in July showed that two-thirds of the public, or 67 percent, expressed trust in the public health official’s information about the pandemic…”

This poll, if true, does not speak much for an informed opinion of trust in a man who has made numerous wrong predictions and who has given numerous wrong recommendations.

In a somewhat related development, “America’s Frontline Doctors” did a video program last week in front of the US Supreme Court describing their practice of prescribing hydroxychloroquine for their patients with almost 100% success. They also were taking it themselves, just one or two tablets a week, and not catching the virus even though only wearing a mask and no other protective equipment. The video had over 17 million views before being taken down by Twitter etc. Anyone who put the video on their website had their website taken down also. It is available on small non-censored sites but most people would never find them and if someone tweeted the address of these websites, they were also taken down.

While Trump advocates the use of the medication for coronavirus treatment, Fauci opposes it, saying it has no effect and could even be dangerous. Note the next article.

Trump vs. Fauci and Birx

Mediaite wrote on August 3:

“President Donald Trump attacked Dr. Deborah Birx for the first time on Monday, in an apparent response to her warning that the United States is entering a ‘new phase’ of the coronavirus pandemic. ‘So Crazy Nancy Pelosi said horrible things about Dr. Deborah Birx, going after her because she was too positive on the very good job we are doing on combatting the China Virus, including Vaccines & Therapeutics. In order to counter Nancy, Deborah took the bait & hit us. Pathetic!’

“Trump was responding to Birx’s Sunday interview with CNN’s Dana Bash… Birx also used the opportunity to respond to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who reportedly accused her of helping Trump spread pandemic misinformation. Birx mostly shrugged off Pelosi’s criticisms by saying she had ‘tremendous respect’ for her. After that, Birx reaffirmed that she has seen alarming new pandemic data across the U.S.

“It also comes two days after Trump pronounced Dr. Anthony Fauci ‘wrong!’ for warning about the recent outbreaks that have happened. Trump repeatedly trashed Fauci in the past, but this appears to be the first time he has publicly gone after Birx.”

Now Dr. Fauci is also recommending to at least some states in the USA to reconsider lockdowns, while Dr. Birx is recommending that at least some people (being part of a family) should wear masks in their homes. What a time of confusion and lack of clarity and reliability. Fauci and Birx belong to Trump’s team. If Trump has no confidence in them, he should fire them.

No Public Charge Rule During Coronavirus Pandemic

Newsmax wrote on July 30:

“The Trump administration’s ‘public charge’ rule – which makes it more difficult for immigrants to obtain legal status if they use public benefits – cannot be implemented during the coronavirus pandemic, a federal judge ruled… [He] issued a nationwide injunction halting enforcing of the requirements. The matter is now likely to be heard by the Supreme Court, which in January voted 5-4 to move forward with the plan – but that was prior to the pandemic.

“The Department of Homeland Security started enforcing the rule in February. A group of state attorney generals from New York and other states had asked the court to issue an injunction against the rule, but their request was denied. In his opinion, Daniels wrote that since that ruling in April, the COVID-19 pandemic has gotten worse and ‘the irreparable harm and public interests that warrant an injunction have come into sharper focus.’ ‘We no longer need to imagine the worst-case scenario; we are experiencing its dramatic effects in real time,’ he wrote.

“Green card applicants who relied on social services as their primary means of financial support in the past could be denied permanent residency under what is known as the ‘public charge’ rule…”

Public Bible Burning in Oregon

Daily Wire wrote on August 1:

“Left-wing activists rioted in Portland on Friday night where they burned Bibles, set fires in the street, and tore protective boarding off of buildings… Numerous journalists who were on the ground said that the left-wing activists were trying to provoke a response from the federal agents inside…

“President Donald Trump announced late Friday night, ‘Homeland Security is not leaving Portland until local police complete cleanup of Anarchists and Agitators!’’

Violence All Around Us

The Week wrote on July 31:

“All week I’ve been haunted by a brief few seconds of video posted on Twitter late Sunday night by a student journalist in Eugene, Oregon. Two men face off at a protest — the one standing on the left is demonstrating for Black Lives Matter; the one on the right, sitting in a pickup truck, is a counter-protester. Each is pointing a handgun at the other’s face at point blank range. That’s us. That’s America during the long, hot summer of 2020…

“I see so much anger around me — at the grocery store, while driving, on television, online…

“So how does it play out? What if the next time opposing protesters point guns at each other’s faces, one of them pulls the trigger?…”

Frightening.

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 two parts of this series, we have looked at proof of Jesus’ existence and that He was indeed the Messiah, promised in the Old Testament.

Let us return to the website www.jewfaq.org/mashiach.htm and continue to look at the Messianic idea in Judaism.

“Belief in the eventual coming of the mashiach is a basic and fundamental part of traditional Judaism. It is part of Rambam’s 13 Principles of Faith, the minimum requirements of Jewish belief. In the Shemoneh Esrei prayer, recited three times daily, we pray for all of the elements of the coming of the mashiach: ingathering of the exiles; restoration of the religious courts of justice; an end of wickedness, sin and heresy; reward to the righteous; rebuilding of Jerusalem; restoration of the line of King David; and restoration of Temple service.

“Modern scholars suggest that the messianic concept was introduced later in the history of Judaism, during the age of the prophets. They note that the messianic concept is not explicitly mentioned anywhere in the Torah (the first five books of the Bible).

“However, traditional Judaism maintains that the messianic idea has always been a part of Judaism. The mashiach is not mentioned explicitly in the Torah, because the Torah was written in terms that all people could understand, and the abstract concept of a distant, spiritual, future reward was beyond the comprehension of some people. However, the Torah contains several references to ‘the End of Days’ (acharit ha-yamim), which is the time of the mashiach; thus, the concept of mashiach was known in the most ancient times.”

This explanation, that the Messiah is not mentioned in the Torah because people could not understand the abstract concept of a distant reward is silly and laughable. God inspired the writing of the five books of Moses, and they do contain numerous references to the end time and to the coming of the Messiah (compare Genesis 3:14-15; 22:18; 49:10).

Continuing with the above-mentioned quote:

“The term ‘mashiach’ literally means ‘the anointed one,’ and refers to the ancient practice of anointing kings with oil when they took the throne. The mashiach is the one who will be anointed as king in the End of Days.

“The word ‘mashiach’ does not mean ‘savior.’ The notion of an innocent, divine or semi-divine being who will sacrifice himself to save us from the consequences of our own sins is a purely Christian concept that has no basis in Jewish thought…”

“The mashiach will be a great political leader descended from King David (Jeremiah 23:5). The mashiach is often referred to as “mashiach ben David” (mashiach, son of David). He will be well-versed in Jewish law, and observant of its commandments (Isaiah 11:2-5). He will be a charismatic leader, inspiring others to follow his example. He will be a great military leader, who will win battles for Israel. He will be a great judge, who makes righteous decisions (Jeremiah 33:15). But above all, he will be a human being, not a god, demi-god or other supernatural being.

“It has been said that in every generation, a person is born with the potential to be the mashiach. If the time is right for the messianic age within that person’s lifetime, then that person will be the mashiach. But if that person dies before he completes the mission of the mashiach, then that person is not the mashiach.”

It is interesting to read that the mashiach will not be a “being who will sacrifice himself for us” and that he will be “a human being, not a god, demi-god or other supernatural being.” These statements are all false, and need to be properly reviewed.

As we explained previously, it was prophesied in the Old Testament that the Messiah would come twice—first, as a human being to DIE for mankind; and second, as God to rule this earth forever.

Regarding His first coming as a human being, this is clearly prophesied in Isaiah 53. However, Judaism rejects today the clearly revealed and intended meaning, but this was not always the case.

We explain in our free booklet, “Do You Know the Jesus of the Bible?,” in chapter 7, “The rejected prophecies of Isaiah 53,” that all the statements mentioned in that chapter were fulfilled by Christ at His first coming. In addition, we state, beginning with page 37:

“The Ryrie Study Bible explains:

“‘Traditional Jewish interpretation understood the passage to be speaking of the Messiah, as, of course, did the early Christians, who believed Jesus to be the Messiah (Acts 8:35). Not until the 12th century did the view emerge that the NATION [of] ISRAEL is referred to, a view that has since become DOMINANT JUDAISM. But the servant is distinguished from the “people” (Isaiah 53:8). He is an innocent victim, something that could not be said of the nation (53:9).’

“Sadly, however, as stated above, Judaism today rejects Isaiah 53 as applying to the Messiah, but teaches that it refers to the JEWISH NATION.

“Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible states in his introduction to Isaiah 53: ‘The Jews have endeavored to apply it to their sufferings in captivity…’”

Similar ridiculous interpretations allege, as we continue to explain, that the “Servant” applies to the people, holding that “the PEOPLE—NOT GOD—will bring about the work of salvation.”

Isaiah 53:8 states that “My Servant” (Isaiah 52:13) “was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.” Daniel 9:26 explains that it is the “Messiah” who “shall be cut off, but not for Himself.” So clearly, the Messiah is identified as the Servant who would come as a human being to DIE for our transgressions.

But the Messiah was no ordinary human being. He was God in the flesh (“Immanuel,” compare Isaiah 7:14; literally” God with us”). He would be born in Bethlehem as “The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting” (Micah 5:2).

When He comes a second time, He will NOT come as a human being, as it is falsely alleged in the above-quoted website article. IF He were to come as a human being, He would ultimately die (something, which the Muslims believe; compare our free booklet, “Middle Eastern and African Nations in Bible Prophecy”, Appendix 1, “Will there be a Mahdi?”, pages 61-62). But this is not what the Old Testament says.

The Messiah was God, before He became a man and died; and when He returns, He will come as God—the Son of God the Father. He will rule as God—the God of Jacob (Isaiah 2:3). His name will be “Mighty God”; and “of His government and peace There will be no end”; it will “remain forever” (Isaiah 9:6-7). Daniel 7:13-14 describes how He—“One like the Son of Man”—is brought before God the Father—the “Ancient of Days” to receive a kingdom and glory and an “everlasting dominion Which shall not pass away,” proving that the Messiah could not be a mere man when He takes over the rule over this earth who would subsequently die in due time. Rather, He will live and rule forever.

For further proof, please read our free booklets, “God Is a Family” and “The Book of Zachariah—Prophecies for Today.”

That the ruling Messiah could not be a mere man is also obvious from the following considerations:

We know that mankind has been on the earth for around 6,000 years after God created Adam and then Eve.  After about 1,650 years, mankind had gone off the track so much and was so evil that we read: “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

“And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.’ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:5-8).

Then God started again through Noah and his family and eventually, man went off track yet again and has continued to do so throughout all of those years.

How many wars have been fought during the last 6,000 years? Hundreds, maybe thousands or even tens of thousands, who can know? However, it is man’s aggression and lust for power that guarantees that these will continue while man is in charge on earth.

In Wikipedia under the heading of “World Peace,” we read:

“World peace, or peace on Earth, is the concept of an ideal state of happiness, freedom and peace within and among all people and nations on Planet Earth. This idea of world nonviolence is one motivation for people and nations to willingly cooperate, either voluntarily or by virtue of a system of governance that has this objective. Different cultures, religions, philosophies, and organizations have varying concepts on how such a state would come about.

“Various religious and secular organizations have the stated aim of achieving world peace through addressing human rights, technology, education, engineering, medicine or diplomacy used as an end to all forms of fighting.  Since 1945, the United Nations and the five permanent members of its Security Council (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) have operated under the aim to resolve conflicts without war or declarations of war. Nonetheless, nations have entered numerous military conflicts since then.”

God gave the nation of Israel a choice. We read in Leviticus 26 they were given a promise of blessings (verses 1-14) but if they went down the wrong path, there would be cursings (verses 15-45). We know from history that they, so often, chose the wrong way.

Today, we see the state of the world and no man can change what is happening today. First of all, the Ten Commandments would have to be kept so that society would be regulated in the right way. Then everyone would have to worship the one true God. “There is salvation in no other name given among men by which we must be saved” (that of Jesus Christ) as we read in Acts 4:12.   The chance, at this time in world history, of that happening is zero as only God can call people to the Truth and into His Church, and it is clear that will not happen to everyone on earth at this time.

No man, even leaders like Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, Hitler and many others have been able to rule the world even though they may well have had aspirations to do so. Man is totally incapable in himself to do so, and so it will take a supernatural Being to sort out the mess that man has made. To think that a human leader can arise and convert the whole world to their brand of religion and authority is flying in the face of history. Even the ancient nation of Israel which was God’s chosen nation could not enforce the ways of God on the rest of the world.

There will be someone who will arise and many will be convinced that this man is God, but of course, he is not God, but an imposter. In our booklet “Is That in the Bible? – The Mysteries of the Book of Revelation,” we read the following on pages 67-68 under the heading: “The Man of Sin in the Temple of God”:

“Another Scripture that indicates the existence of a future temple in Jerusalem, just prior to Christ’s return, can be found in 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4. Paul writes:

“‘Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day [of Christ’s return] will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.’

“This ‘man of sin,’ who is also called ‘the lawless one’ in verses 8 and 9, is identified in the book of Revelation as ‘the false prophet’ (compare, for example, Revelation 16:13; 19:20; also see Revelation 13:13–14). This religious figure will deceive people through ‘great signs’ (Revelation 13:13; 19:20). We read in 2 Thessalonians 2:9 that the coming of the lawless one is ‘according to the working of Satan, with all power, SIGNS and lying wonders.’ This false prophet will receive the power to do these things from none other than Satan and his demons (compare Revelation 16:13–14).

“The Ryrie Study Bible comments:

“‘… the Antichrist [this is an incorrect designation—rather, the passage speaks about the false prophet] will desecrate the rebuilt Jewish temple in Jerusalem by placing himself there to be worshipped… This will be the climax of man’s great sin of self-deification, in open defiance of God.’

“The Nelson Study Bible adds:

“‘The man of sin will proclaim himself to be divine and will sit in the temple of God, acting as if he were a god… The man of sin will probably stand in a physical temple in Jerusalem, and declare himself to be a god, the ultimate fulfillment of the “abomination of desolation” spoken of by Daniel (Dan. 7:23; 9:26, 27; 11:31, 36, 37; 12:11) and Jesus (Matt. 24:15; Mark 13:14)…’

“The returning Christ will consume the man of sin ‘with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming’ (2 Thessalonians 2:8).”

This man will not be God. He—together with a military leader, the “beast”—will try to convince people that they will create a kingdom to exist and rule forever, but they will fail miserably, as other “messiahs” have failed before them. The “Thousand-Year-Reich” of Adolf Hitler lasted less than 15 years. Right up to just before Jesus Christ returns to this earth, there will be counterfeits and imposters, and the false prophet will fool most people.

For the Jews to think that the mashiach will be “a human being, not a god, demi-god or other supernatural being” and that he will be able to subdue all nations and introduce the equivalent of the Kingdom of God on earth is just not possible. It is something that only a great supernatural Being can achieve, and that will be Jesus Christ at His return.

(To be continued)

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

compiled by Dave Harris

Could We Survive another Lockdown?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

As a nation, we could not. The lockdown restrictions have brought us an “economic catastrophe the likes of which we have never seen before,” as well as “untold human suffering.” And still, we hear increasingly that certain US states are willing to return to lockdown. And that, even though lockdown measures have not proven to be successful. In Germany, a huge demonstration took place last Saturday, demanding an end to governmental-mandated restrictions. But Germany’s government will not allow such demonstrations to continue for long. US state governments resort likewise to more and more totalitarian measurers. The real question for you is: Can YOU survive another lockdown? The answer is: Absolutely, if you make the right decisions. 

We are deeply saddened to report the death of Brad Mitchell, the father of Kalon Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell died this past week following illness from cancer. Your prayers for the family will be appreciated.

“Die GEWISSHEIT der Wiederkunft Christi,” is the title of this Sabbath’s new German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “The Certainty of Christ’s Return.”

“Nur Mut,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath in Germany by Christian Mrosek, is now posted. Title in English: “Courage.”

“Overcoming Fear,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Michael Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Fear is something that has been talked about and warned about for many years. The world is in a present state of fear. What does God expect us to do? Will we obey Him and what He commands or will we give in to fear?

“The Rise and Fall of the Beast,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

The Old Testament Book of Habakkuk contains prophecies for our time. It predicts the rise of the modern Chaldeans under a political and military leader, the beast, to destroy the modern descendants of the ancient houses of Israel and Judah. We are also told that God will use the modern Medes to destroy the end-time Babylonian system. In spite of all the terrible warnings of worldwide destruction, the Book of Habakkuk contains a message of hope and encouragement for His people and the reassurance of God’s righteousness and unlimited almighty power.

The YouTube channel for the Church of the Eternal God presents past videos for StandingWatch programs along with sermonettes, sermons and promotional videos. These are also available on our website: www.eternalgod.org.