The civil war in Syria has never stopped. But most recent events stunned the world. What happened, why, and what is Styria’s future? Many celebrate most current developments, but their celebration might be terribly premature.
Download AudioNorbert Link
Salvation of the World
Did Christ come to save this world? Or are we talking about a completely different world? Didn’t Christ call us out of this evil world? Is this world being judged today? And if not, when will this be the case? Could this be related to the resurrections? And why does the Bible speak of the resurrection of the just and of the unjust, as well as the resurrection to everlasting life, to judgment and to everlasting contempt or condemnation?
What the Two Trees Mean to Us
When God created Adam and Eve, He placed them in a beautiful garden with many different trees. Two of them were special—the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God told them that they could eat from every tree—this would have included the tree of life—but not from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He was very specific: He said that if you eat from that tree, you will surely die.
Of course, Adam and Eve disobeyed, ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and were driven out of the garden. They had NOT eaten from the tree of life, and God prevented them now from doing so, lest they “eat, and live forever” (Genesis 3:22).
We have long understood that the tree of life—even though a literal tree—was also symbolic for the gift of the Holy Spirit. If they had eaten from the tree of life, they would have received the Holy Spirit and, after a life of overcoming sin, they would have been able to inherit eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Now, they were cut off from access to the Holy Spirit, and that included all their descendants, with a few exceptions, until the time when Christ will open up the possibility of salvation for everyone, beginning with His Second Coming.
As the tree of life was symbolic for the Holy Spirit, it included the right kind of knowledge—godly knowledge—which God would have revealed to them upon eating from the tree of life. In eating instead from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they rejected godly knowledge and rather embraced humanly devised and satanically inspired knowledge—the “knowledge” of what they felt was good and evil.
For instance, before they had eaten from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they were not ashamed that they were naked (Genesis 2:25)—of course, they were married and the only human beings at the time. But after eating from it, they became ashamed and covered themselves because they were “afraid” (Genesis 3:7, 10). They had chosen to use human wisdom and to decide for themselves what, in their eyes, was good and what was evil (compare Isaiah 5:20-21).
They created a world of Satanic deception—a world being cut off from God the Father. It was and is a world built on sand which cannot and will not endure. The other house—the spiritual temple of Jesus Christ – is built on the rock and will stand forever. However, there cannot be a mixture of the two. As true Christians, being in the Body of Christ, we cannot also be a part of and dwell in the Babylonian house of this world. But not everyone who might be attending a Church of God congregation, is truly righteous and embracing the knowledge of God. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:34: “Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.”
In this world, there is no “truth or mercy or knowledge of God” (Hosea 4:1). God will make the “knowledge“ of the wise men foolishness (Isaiah 44:25). We read that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of (true) knowledge (Proverbs 1:7), but in regard to the people of this world, “there is no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans 3:18).
They still eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil on a DAILY basis; thereby following the knowledge and wisdom of Satan and rejecting the good knowledge of God. That is why we have wars, destruction, misery, cursing, bitterness, unrighteousness, lawlessness, adultery, alternate lifestyles and false religions all around us. That is why no one knows the good way to peace (“knowing” instead that peace must be brought about through war), and no one seeks the true God. No one—except the firstfruits—those very few converted Christians in the Body of Christ. But they, too, must come out of this evil and Satanic world (Revelation 18:4). They must be separate (2 Corinthians 6:17-18). They must continuously eat from the tree of life – which gives us godly wisdom and true understanding (Proverbs 3:18). With it, we can be righteous and a tree of life to others (Proverbs 11:30)—a source of encouragement, help and comfort (Proverbs 15:4; 13:12).
We, who have been eating from the tree of life, must be shining examples (Philippians 2:15) to show what it means to reject eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We must not add to or delete from the Word of God (Revelation 22:18-19; New International Version). We must make sure that we grow in the knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3:18; compare Ephesians 4:13,15), and that we “do His commandments,” so that we never lose our “right to the tree of life” (Revelation 22:14).
Current Events
We begin with Australia’s highly controversial and ill-conceived plan to ban children under 16 from social media.
We address Trump’s intent to nominate Kash Patel as FBI Director and Joe Biden’s controversial move to pardon his son Hunter.
We speak on Germany’s “new vision”; the country’s and Europe’s preparation for war; and the German main parties fight for leadership, while attacking each other. We also address the collapsing government of France and France’s refusal to arrest Netanyahu.
We speak on Pope Francis’ departure from traditional Catholicism; the false depictions of Jesus Christ [please view our new StandingWatch program, “What Jesus REALLY Looked Like”]; contemplations on how to end the Ukraine war; Trump’s demand to free the hostages in Gaza; the ongoing war in Syria; and the crisis in South Korea.
Throughout this section, we have underlined pertinent statements in the quoted articles, for the convenience and quick overview of the reader.
What Jesus REALLY Looked Like
A non-religious publication wrote in a recent article that “experts say that every image you’ve seen of Jesus is almost certainly inaccurate.” It then explains what Jesus did look like—something which the Church of God has been teaching for almost a century. In this program, we quote from the article and make additional comments, and we offer in a short video at the end of this program a free booklet on the Jesus of the Bible. We also point out that, apart from the question as to what Jesus looked like, the important question arises as to how He lived while here on earth, what He stood for, and what He taught.
Download AudioCurrent Events
We begin with dangerous developments involving Russia and the USA; the upcoming German elections; and the need for Europe to act fast. Please view in this regard our recent StandingWatch program, “So Close to World War III.”
In response to the ICC’s warrant to arrest Netanyahu, and the reactions of some countries stating they would honor the warrant, emotions in the USA are running high, with threats of sanctions against those countries or even an invasion of the Netherlands, should Netanyahu were arrested there. We also address the fragile and temporary ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
We focus on Trump’s economic threats towards Mexico, Canada and China; some of his dubious nominations and his controversial and to an extent unrealistic plan of mass deportation and, if carried out, its inevitable and undesired bad consequences. We also address America’s ridiculous immigration policy for LEGAL immigrants.
We conclude with a report on the tragic death of the famous “killer whale” or Orca Keto.
Throughout this section, we have underlined pertinent statements in the quoted articles, for the convenience and quick overview of the reader.
Jesus Christ—Our Savior
The Bible tells us that we can ONLY be saved through Jesus Christ; that there is no salvation in any other. This means that we CANNOT be saved through any other means or name or religion. But in order to be saved, we must believe and follow the true Jesus Christ of the Bible. A belief in a false Jesus will not save us. What does this mean exactly? What must we believe, and what must we reject?
Current Events
by Norbert Link
We begin with further observations regarding Europe’s antisemitism and its persecution of Jews; speak on Trump’s ever-increasing powerful position and his announced plans to deport up to 20 million immigrants; and further shocking developments in Germany and those pertaining to the war between Russia and Ukraine and possible serious escalations.
Please view our new StandingWatch program with the title, “So Close to World War III.”
We address the intention by some on the Trump team to build the Third Temple in Jerusalem; and speak on the comparison between the UK and the former Soviet Union.
We also quote articles about the truly mind-boggling stupidity of the Evolution Theory; extraordinary findings of remains of extinct animals; speculations about the reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire; and the possibility that Noah’s Ark has been located.
Throughout this section, we have underlined pertinent statements in the quoted articles, for the convenience and quick overview of the reader.
Will God always love you?
Many are under the misimpression that no matter what we do, God will always love us. Not too long ago, we published four Q&As on the concept of “unconditional love.” We follow up on them in this Q&A and add some clarifying comments, lest someone misunderstands.
In part 1 of our series (https://www.eternalgod.org/does-god-love-everyone-does-the-bible-teach-unconditional-love-part-1/), we stated the following, citing and then discussing Paul’s words in Romans 9:9-13:
‘”For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”’…
“In Romans 9:13, God explains that He CALLED Jacob, and that He did NOT CALL Esau at that time. We need to understand that God had decided to call or choose for salvation certain ones ‘before the foundation of the world’ (Ephesians 1:3-4). We don’t know exactly, and God does not reveal, on what basis He chooses and elects those whom He had preordained, but we know that He does make such an election, as the Bible tells us so. In calling Jacob, God loved him in a special way, by opening his understanding to His truth, and by ultimately granting him His Holy Spirit [during his life, as he will be in the first resurrection, compare Hebrews 11:9]. God did not call Esau AT THAT TIME. He WILL call Esau and all of his descendants later…
“By comparison, God ‘loved’ Jacob more than Esau. God’s ‘love’ needs to be understood in light of God’s calling at that time. In not calling someone to repentance and to the understanding of His truth, God ‘loves’ such a person ‘less’ by comparison — at that moment in time — but not forever. God knows that such a person, still cut off from Him, will engage in sinful ways, bringing about automatic penalties…
“… We might also note that the Bible itself sometimes describes ‘hate’ as ‘love less by comparison.’ In Luke 14:26 we read that Christ tells us, ‘If anyone comes to Me and does not HATE his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.’ In the parallel passage, in Matthew 10:37, the word ‘hate’ is described as ‘love less by comparison.’ We read, ‘He who loves his father or mother MORE than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter MORE than Me is not worthy of Me.’ In other words, we must love them LESS, by comparison, than Jesus Christ…”
We also explained that the word “hate,” in the context, can quite literally mean hating the evil in others and in ourselves.
Even though in Paul’s statement in Romans 9, the reference is clearly to the timing of God’s calling, in God’s original statement in the Old Testament, God’s condemnation of Esau is more encompassing and does not limit it to the time of God’s calling to salvation. Therefore, the meaning of this phrase can have a dual meaning. We read in Malachi 1:2-3:
“‘I have loved you,’ says the LORD. ‘Yet you say, “In what way have You loved us?” Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?’ Says the LORD. ‘Yet Jacob I have loved; But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness.’”
Somehow, God’s “love” for Jacob and His “hatred” for Esau were associated with the character of these two individuals and their offspring. God, who knows our hearts, saw in Esau really bad character traits. He is referred in Hebrew 12:16 as a “profane” or “godless” person.
We continue quoting from the above-cited Q&A:
“Sometimes, Scriptures may suggest that God does not only hate the sin, but also the sinner. For instance, we read in Psalm 5:4-6: ‘For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.’
“Psalm 11:5-6 states: ‘… the wicked and the one who loves violence His [the LORD’s] soul hates. Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup.’
“Furthermore, Psalm 7:11 states: ‘God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day.’…
“God is angry with and hates the wicked behavior of the sinner… When biblical passages say that God hates the workers of iniquity and the wicked persons, then the sin or wickedness is ‘personified.’ Such usage of words is not uncommon in the Bible (compare Romans 7:8, 11, 17). But… God loves the sinner (but not his sinful way, nor does He love what he is doing) and because of His love for him, He is willing to give him the opportunity to repent and submit to and love Him.”
Before elaborating on these statements, let us first note how God’s great love is described, and in what context.
1 John 4:9-10, 16 says:
“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.”
Notice, God’s love is described here in relationship to those whom He has called in this day and age. The same is true for the next two passages:
In Galatians 2:20, Paul states: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in [better: of] the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” And also in Ephesians 2:2-4: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”
Apart from God’s love for those whom He calls to salvation, He expressed His love, for example, for His people Israel whom He called to have a special physical relationship with Him, without offering them the Holy Spirit and salvation at that time.
In Jeremiah 31:3-4, we read about the nation of Israel:
“The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel!…’”
His love for Israel is described as everlasting as He knew that Israel would be brought to repentance even in a physical sense, and so God, out of love for them, would restore them as a nation following God.
In Deuteronomy 7:7-8, we read:
“The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”
But notice God’s warning, following in verses 9 and 10:
“Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face.”
A still stronger statement can be found in Isaiah 63:9-10:
“In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the Angel of His Presence saved them; In His love and in His pity He redeemed them; And He bore them and carried them All the days of old. But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; So He turned Himself against them as an enemy, And He fought against them.”
Based on these passages and the fact that God hates evil conduct, it would be incorrect to state that God loves everybody, regardless as to how they live. God is love; this means, there would be no love except for God. But love does not exclude hatred. We quoted above Psalms 5, 7 and 11, stating that although it says that God hates the wicked, He actually hates their wicked conduct. This is true, as far as it goes. But what if the wicked does not repent of his wicked conduct? Is it still correct to say that God loves the unrepentant sinner who refuses to repent? Since God is love, does this mean that He loves Satan and his demons? Can God’s love cease to be expressed towards others in certain circumstances?
Focusing again on Psalm 5:5, let us read the passage in context:
In Psalm 5:4-6, it is stated:
“For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.”
Even though it is the sin, expressed by man, which God hates, He does not love the sinner to the extent that He lets him go unpunished. The sinner is responsible for his conduct, and so God will destroy him, unless he repents. God will DESTROY those who speak falsehoods. In the final analysis, unless they repent, they will be cast into the lake of fire to be burned up.
We say this in our Q&A https://www.eternalgod.org/does-god-love-everyone-does-the-bible-teach-unconditional-love-part-3/ :
“After Christ gave His life, He wanted that those whom He would call—now or later—to believe in Him. Their faith was supposed to be obedient faith (Romans 1:5). And in loving God, by keeping His commandments, they would keep themselves in the love of God (Jude 21). They would not continue to live a disobedient lifestyle, as expressed by John in 1 John 3:17: ‘But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?’
“And so, we read the following alarming pronouncement by Christ in Matthew 24:48-51: ‘But if that evil servant says in his heart, “My master is delaying his coming,” and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
“This evil servant is one who has committed the unpardonable sin, and whose fate it is to be thrown into the lake of fire where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth (compare Matthew 13:41-42, 49-50). But before he ends up in the lake of fire, he will be ‘cut in two.’ This ‘correction’ is not for the purpose of leading him towards salvation; rather, it is punishment for his evil deeds with which he influenced and tortured others, without a willingness to repent. His punishment reflects God’s love for others, as well as His righteousness, which demands that the sinner has to pay. It is clearly NOT a reflection of God’s ‘unconditional’ love for the incorrigible sinner.
“These people had lost God’s love which had been poured in their hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). They had chosen the way of hate and unrighteousness. Christ who gave His life for them when they were still sinners will not have ‘unconditional’ love for them when they are to be punished for their wickedness [by suffering] the second death (Revelation 20:14).”
What we should take from the above-quoted comments is that we may lose God’s love; or better put, that God may stop loving us, depending on our conduct. And this does not only speak about those who have committed the unpardonable sin. Even people, who may not have received God’s Holy Spirit, but who might have a relationship with God in other ways, can come to the point, depending on their evil conduct, that God ceases to love them, at least until they come to repentance.
We read in Ecclesiastes 3:1, 8: “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven… A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.”
This would apply to God, too, depending on the circumstances.
Notice the following passage in Hosea 9:1, 9, 12, 15-17:
“Do not rejoice, O Israel, with joy like other peoples, For you have played the harlot against your God. You have made love for hire on every threshing floor… They are deeply corrupted, As in the days of Gibeah. He will remember their iniquity; He will punish their sins… Though they bring up their children, Yet I will bereave them to the last man. Yes, woe to them when I depart from them!… All their wickedness is in Gilgal, For there I hated them. Because of the evil of their deeds I will drive them from My house; I will love them no more. All their princes are rebellious. Ephraim is stricken, Their root is dried up; They shall bear no fruit. Yes, were they to bear children, I would kill the darlings of their womb… My God will cast them away, Because they did not obey Him; And they shall be wanderers among the nations.”
Because God’s love ceased for them (“I hated them”… “I will love them no more”), they will be punished and destroyed. That should be a warning for all of us not to test God and rebel against Him, thinking that God who “loves everybody” could in no way cease to love us. This is decisively not true.
The Berean Study Bible comments:
“The expression (“I hated them”) is a strong description of God’s response to Israel’s sin. [It] conveys intense aversion and rejection. [It is] a divine response to persistent unfaithfulness and idolatry. It reflects God’s holiness and justice, as well as the seriousness of Israel’s covenant violations… The phrase ‘I will no longer love them’ is a poignant declaration of the withdrawal of God’s… love. The Hebrew word for ‘love’ encompasses loyalty, affection, and commitment. This statement does not imply a change in God’s character but rather a response to Israel’s persistent unfaithfulness.”
Barnes Notes on the Bible adds:
“For there I hated them – ‘There, in the very place where heretofore I shewed such great tokens of love to, and by My gracious presence with, them, “even there I have hated them” and now hate them.’ ‘He saith not, there was I angry, or displeased with them, but in a word betokening the greatest indignation, ‘I hated them.’ Great must needs be that wickedness which provoked the Father of mercies to so great displeasure as to say, that He ‘hated them;’ and severe must needs be those judgments which are as effects of hatred and utter [aversion] of them, in Him.”
The Jamieson-Fausset and Brown commentary adds: “‘there I hated them’—not with the human passion, but holy hatred of their sin…”
The Pulpit commentary writes:
“‘For the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of my house, I will love them no more.’ They were driven out like Hagar out of the house of the patriarch, that Ishmael might not inherit with Isaac; like an unfaithful wife divorced and driven out of the house of the husband whom she has dishonored; or like an undutiful and disobedient son whom his father has disinherited. Further, God disowns the rebellious son, and acknowledges the paternal relationship no longer.”
Yes, God chastens us because He loves us, wanting us to repent (Revelation 3:19). But when repentance is ignored and rejected, and harsh punishment may still not lead to repentance, then God’s love for us may cease, as His chastisement may not do us any good. Notice Isaiah 1:4-5:
“Alas, sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity, A brood of evildoers, Children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the LORD, They have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, They have turned away backward. Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, And the whole heart faints.”
Let us make sure that we remain in God’s love so that we will never hear God say to us: “I will love you no more.”
Lead Writer: Norbert Link
So Close to World War III
Nuclear World War III is coming, but not in the way most suspect. Still, the terrible recent developments involving the war between Russia and Ukraine – and the conduct of Western nations, including the USA and Britain – have brought the “spectre of a nuclear holocaust ever closer” (Daily Mail, November 19). And what can we say about “Biden’s Missile Crisis?,” as Democratic author Dennis J. Kucinich described it?
Download Audio