Live Services
Is the Second Commandment Needed? / Staying in Your Lane, Part 2
On November 22, 2025, Paul Niehoff will present the first split sermon, titled, “Is the Second Commandment Needed?” and Rene Messier will present the second split sermon, titled, “Staying in Your Lane, Part 2.”
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.
Editorial
The Bible Is No Amendment
by Michael Link
The Bible is perfect, incapable of being wrong, the unchanging Word of God, and therefore, it cannot be altered or improved upon by human beings. This is what the phrase “the Bible is no amendment” signifies. The principles and contents of the Bible are from a perfect God and are not subject to human error or the need for correction; it does not need to “change to the times” or adapt to changing societal views. If something appears to be an “error” or out of step with modern thinking, the flaw is in the human perspective, not the biblical text itself. People, therefore, should change to follow God’s Word, not the other way around.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. We are surrounded by a society that thinks it has all the answers, believes it is correct in its own mindset, and considers what it believes to be the right way. We see this everywhere; we witness it constantly. Everybody has their own opinion, which they are entitled to, but that doesn’t mean that every opinion that one has is correct.
This is a dissimilarity with human law since this concept is often contrasted with documents like the U.S. Constitution, which clearly includes an amendment process, acknowledging its human origin and the need for potential changes over time (e.g., the 27 Amendments). In essence, “no amendment” emphasizes the Bible’s authority as a final and complete revelation that is not open to human modification.
Many have their own set of beliefs, being convinced for the most part that what they believe is the Truth. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different kinds of “truths” in this world at this time. There is only one Truth, which is the Bible! We are familiar with many who believe in their own religious ideas, who don’t believe what we do, who do things completely contrary to what we do. Can we prove it from the Bible? That should always be the question.
Others don’t understand what we are doing, and yet they plan on celebrating something unbiblical and pagan, thereby replacing what God commands to keep! They may think that what we do is strange, but what they do is false, and God warns against those who try to amend His words. “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar” (Proverbs 30:5-6).
On average, the Bible is over 1000 pages long and yet that is evidently not enough for many denominations in the world, as they add to the Bible with their own “prophetic” ideas, their own understanding, and at the same time they think it’s too many pages as they take away from the Bible what they consider “irrelevant” claiming what doesn’t apply anymore, since Christ, they think, came to do away with the Law, for example. But again, God makes it clear that we are not to add or take away from His Word and that His commandments are to be kept (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32). Christ echoed the same in the New Testament in Matthew 5:17-19, making clear that He did not come to do away with the Law, but to magnify it.
The Bible concludes with a warning for everyone in Revelation 22:18-19. “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life [better: Tree of Life], from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
Can it be clearer? We need to continue in the pursuit of perfection. Despite what many may say about us when we are challenged to compromise our faith and beliefs, we need to stay strong and consistent in what God teaches us through His Word, the Bible.
God is with us, He knows what’s best, and He expects us to put our faith in Him, without doubt, which is easy to say, hard to do, but not impossible. Let us not take away from what God has instructed us to do, but rather apply what is written in these pages, thereby making sure that we will be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God (2 Thessalonians 1:5).
Current Events
by Norbert Link
We begin with the political and economic troubles for the Trump administration, including rising costs because of his tariffs; Trump’s apparent ignorance as to what is happening in this country; and his unexplained reason for resisting the release of the Epstein files which has caused quite a stir with Marjorie Taylor Greene, as well as within the Republican Party, leading to a complete turn-around and a remarkable flip-flop.
We speak on Trump’s highly controversial meetings in Washington DC with Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa and Saudi Arabia’sCrown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
We continue with fears of denaturalization; and his ongoing legally questionable attacks on shipping boats.
We report on Tucker Carlson’s comments about Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer; Trump’s defense; the “terrorist organization” Antifa in Germany; and George Washington’s haunting vision.
In this context, please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “George Washington’s Haunting Vision of America’s Invasion.”
We speak on the red heifer; Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas; policies towards Ukrainian refugees; and Hungary’s warning regarding nuclear war.
We point out the upheaval in Germany regarding unpopular Chancellor Merz and his position on the AfD and the push for military service.
We conclude with new rules for tourists traveling to Europe; and a ridiculous decision in Switzerland.
Throughout this section, we have underlined pertinent statements in the quoted articles, for the convenience and quick overview of the reader.
This Week in the News
Trump Presidency in Trouble
Newsweek wrote on November 14:
“Ten months into his second term, President Donald Trump is being challenged by the very base he prides himself on creating, and he finds himself besieged by an army of issues that could threaten his MAGA support and spell trouble for lawmakers who remain by his side.
“Reeling over the farmer furor that has met his plan to import Argentine beef, and now from Democratic victories in last week’s off-cycle elections, Trump is facing friendly fire over perceived pivots on immigration, the state of the economy and the latest episode of the long-running Epstein saga that has dogged his second administration’s every step.
“Many of these tensions came to a head in an interview with Laura Ingraham that aired on Monday, during which the Fox News host challenged the president on offering 600,000 visas to Chinese students and his unexpected praise for the H-1B visa program, characterizing these as decidedly anti-MAGA stances.
“Trump’s defense—that China is no worse an adversary than France, and that foreign-born workers are needed to account for the U.S.’s lack of talent—seems to have sparked as much backlash as the positions themselves… polls [are] finding that his approval on key issues, such as inflation, continues to erode even among Republicans…
“Alongside criticizing his apparent defectors—telling reporters that Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has ‘lost her way’… Trump’s strategy has been to… deny outright that there is any issue to contend with. The president has repeatedly claimed that grocery prices ‘are way down,’ contradicting the kitchen-table realities of most Americans, while declaring both affordability and uproar over Epstein are hoaxes created by his rivals…
“MAGA remains Trump’s creation, and its most faithful will likely remain by his side through this perilous chapter of his presidency, but members of the broader Republican Party may soon discover the costs of devotion as they barrel toward a midterm reckoning.”
Trump should face reality, rather than trying to ignore or even deny it.
Trump Drops Tariffs on Beef, Coffee and Tropical Fruit
The Associated Press wrote on November 14:
“President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday to get rid of tariffs on a broad swath of commodities, including beef, coffee and tropical fruits [bananas, as well as tomatoes]. It’s part of a response to pressure from consumers who complain prices are too high.
“The move comes after voters in off-year elections earlier this month cited economic concerns as their top issue, resulting in big wins for Democrats in races in Virginia and New Jersey.”
The Guardian added on November 14:
“Consumers have remained frustrated over high grocery prices, which economists say have been fueled in part by import tariffs and could rise further next year as companies start passing on the full brunt of the import duties… a clear majority of Americans say their monthly costs have risen by between $100 and $749.
“The top Democrats on the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, Richard Neal, said the Trump administration was ‘putting out a fire that they started and claiming it as progress… The Trump administration is finally admitting publicly what we’ve all known from the start: Trump’s trade war is hiking costs on people,’ Neal said in a statement. ‘Since implementing these tariffs, inflation has increased…’”
ABC News added on November 14:
“The framework deals with Argentina, Guatemala, El Salvador and Ecuador will remove levies for some goods from those countries, which currently face a uniform tariff rate between 10% and 15%…
“As of September, coffee prices have spiked 18.9%, bananas have jumped 6.9% and beef prices have soared 14.7% in the past year… None of the countries targeted for tariff relief under the new framework deals are among the largest exporters of coffee to the U.S. Brazil is the top source of coffee for U.S. buyers, followed by Colombia and Vietnam; but tariffs on those countries remain unchanged…”
Trump’s Economic Proposals Won’t Work
The New York Post wrote on November 15:
“Last week, some of the nation’s top CEOs talked and laughed with President Trump while enjoying dinner at the White House… But privately, many left that night wondering if the president really knows the score… The president’s proposed solutions, they believe, are destined to fall flat.
“… the US economy is a far cry from the Reagan years of massive growth and low inflation, nor is there much evidence it’s heading in that direction. The president also appears unaware that the country’s biggest economic problem is that of affordability. This is not just when it comes to homes, but persistently high inflation that is stoking voter anxiety according to every poll available…
“No one at the table… spoke up at dinner with an opposing view… [but they] believe based on all the data available, 6% GD [predicted by Trump] is a pipe dream. Tariffs will depress growth because less of our products will be sold overseas by countries that retaliate. Plus, inflation appears to be growing, not subsiding, again thanks to tariff costs.
“The affordability crisis is real and whatever Trump is doing isn’t working thus far… I am told that Trump’s advisers know things aren’t so great, but to warn Trump that what he’s doing isn’t working is the fastest way to lose your job… I can see how it’s difficult for anyone close to Trump to lend credence to the notion of a ‘crisis’ of affordability because it appears to support the left’s agenda… Trump… recently told my Fox colleague Laura Ingraham that the public’s economic anxiety is ‘fake.’ That won’t make it go away. It also robs us of a chance for a serious debate on how to fix this economy.
“That debate, unfortunately, didn’t happen the other night with Trump, though several of the CEOs later told me the 50-year mortgage [proposed by Trump] will raise home prices, not lower them, because people can borrow more and spread mortgage payments out further. It’s also a slight of hand, of course, since borrowers will be paying the bank more interest over a longer period of time and accumulating less equity.”
The Ongoing Epstein Files Debacle
ABC News wrote on November 14:
“President Donald Trump, in a social media post on Friday, said he will ‘be asking A.G. Pam Bondi, and the Department of Justice, together with our great patriots at the FBI, to investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s involvement and relationship with Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, J.P. Morgan, Chase, and many other people and institutions, to determine what was going on with them, and him.’
“Bondi announced later Friday she has tapped Jay Clayton, the current U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, to lead the Trump-ordered investigation of Epstein’s involvement with high-profile Democrats and JP Morgan Chase… ‘As with all matters, the Department will pursue this with urgency and integrity to deliver answers to the American people.’
“Back in July, the DOJ and FBI released a memo on Epstein concluding there was ‘no incriminating “client list'” and ‘no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions.’ The DOJ and FBI said at the time no further charges were expected in connection with their probes into Epstein…
“Trump’s call for a Justice Department investigation comes after House Democrats released [more than 20,000 pages of records it received] from Epstein’s estate [some of which] mentioned Trump by name… Bipartisan pressure continued for the administration to release the rest of the Epstein files.
“Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia, the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, said in a statement on Friday that the panel’s Epstein investigation has ‘panicked’ Trump. Garcia, responding to Trump’s social media post, said Trump is ‘trying to deflect from serious new questions we have about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.’
“‘The President has not explained why he won’t release the files to the American people. Or why sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell was moved to a cushy low-security prison after her interview with Trump’s former personal lawyer,’ Rep. Garcia added.”
It should be obvious that Trump is trying to deflect from his alleged involvement (even though no evidence has been produced that he was in any way involved, but the same goes for Clinton). Also, questions have been raised as to why an investigation of Clinton could be remotely justified when Trump called the entire Epstein debacle a “hoax” by the Democrats (even though it is clearly not a hoax). Also, suspicions about Epstein’s alleged suicide are still rampant.
Trump stated that “Some Weak Republicans have fallen into their [the Democrats’] clutches because they are soft and foolish.” But after Trump had unsuccessfully made repeated attempts to kill the effort, he bowed to pressure and made a total flip-flop, urging his fellow [“weak, soft and foolish”] Republicans to vote for the release of all Epstein documents and stated he would sign such a bill endorsed by the House and the Senate.
Greene Breaks With Trump
NBC News wrote on November 14:
“President Donald Trump issued a scathing social media post Friday against Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., saying that he was ‘withdrawing his support and Endorsement’ of someone who had previously been one of his closest allies…
“Greene speculated that Trump was upset over the re-emergence of the Jeffrey Epstein case… ‘It’s astonishing really how hard he’s fighting to stop the Epstein files from coming out that he actually goes to this level,’ Greene wrote on X. ‘But really most Americans wish he would fight this hard to help the forgotten men and women of America who are fed up with foreign wars and foreign causes, are going broke trying to feed their families, and are losing hope of ever achieving the American dream.’”
Greene has a point. Trump very inappropriately said she went “far left” and called her “wacky, a ranting lunatic, a disgrace and a traitor.”
One has to indeed ask the question: WHY was Trump so determined to prevent the release of all the Epstein files? What was he afraid of? What was he trying to hide? And what about the sudden turn-around? Is something going on behind the scene? It has been speculated that in any event, not all documents will be released due to the “investigation” against Clinton and other Democrats. It is also expected that there will be a battle over redactions. Bild Online wrote on November 15 that the contents of the already released documents is becoming more and more unpleasant for Trump. The tabloid also wrote that nobody can ask Epstein about his emails as he is dead, and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, is perceived to be a pathological liar.
House and Senate Passed Epstein Bill
The Hill wrote on November 18:
“The Senate agreed by unanimous consent Tuesday to approve a House-passed bill to require the Justice Department to release all unclassified records and documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, sending the bill to President Trump’s desk for a signature… The momentum to pass the bill through the Senate quickly, became overwhelming after the House passed it by a margin of 427 to 1.”
Subsequently, Trump signed the bill on Wednesday. The DOJ is supposed to release the files within 30 days. Will they? Note the next article.
Quick Release in Doubt
The Washington Post wrote on November 19:
“The legislation that Congress agreed to pass Tuesday gives the Justice Department a few exceptions under which it can refuse to release material. Among them: if release ‘would jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution.’… [This] could become a reason for the Justice Department to block release of many files…
“The Justice Department has also said many of the files cannot be released because they contain sensitive victim information and pornographic material. The legislation contains another exception allowing the Justice Department to withhold material that ‘would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy’ or ‘depicts or contains child sexual abuse.’…
“There would not be much recourse for Congress if the Justice Department refused to hand over the files since the bill does not have any enforcement teeth.”
Greene Accuses Trump of Betraying America over al-Sharaa Welcome
The Daily Mail wrote on November 16:
“Marjorie Taylor Moore launched a fierce tirade against President Donald Trump and accused him of betraying the American people on Sunday morning… Greene took the opportunity to scorn the president for welcoming Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa to the White House this week. Trump laughed and joked with Al-Sharaa in the Oval Office – despite the fact the Muslim leader has long been sanctioned as a specially-designated global terrorist.
“The Saudi-born leader joined al-Qaeda in Iraq just before the US invasion in 2003. He was captured by American forces and imprisoned for five years until 2011 – and there has been a $10 million bounty on his head since.”
Trump’s cozy relationship with Ahmed al-Sharaa is indeed deeply troublesome. Also note the next article.
MBS in Washington
ABC News wrote on November 18:
“President Donald Trump on Tuesday angrily defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his first trip to the U.S in seven years, saying that what the Saudi royal has done is ‘incredible in terms of human rights’ and dismissed questions about journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder…, a Washington Post columnist and Saudi critic, by Saudi agents in Istanbul, causing global outrage…
“Trump interjected when the prince was asked about Khashoggi’s murder… ‘You’re mentioning somebody that was extremely controversial,’ Trump said referring to Khashoggi. ‘A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about, whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen, but he knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that,’ he said about MBS…
“In 2021, a report from [Trump’s] U.S. intelligence community found, ‘We assess that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi…’
“The president touted the business deals and economic cooperation, including a $1 trillion investment in the United States… Trump confirmed… that he [had agreed] to sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia as part of a weapons deal, which experts say would mark the first time those fighters have been sold to an Arab military. The… sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to the Saudi kingdom is likely to cause consternation in Israel.”
The Guardian added on November 18:
“The agreement will be similar to the one the US has with Israel, which is significant as until now Israel has been the only country in the Middle East to have the jets. The move has the potential to alter the military balance in the region… MBS made clear that normalisation with Israel (i.e. Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, which Trump really wants) could not happen without first securing a clear path towards a two-state solution.”
Trump also secured an agreement for Saudi Arabia to buy nearly 300 American military tanks, and Trump said that the USA will designate Saudi Arabia as a “major non-NATO ally” –whatever that means.
Some of Trump’s comments and actions are very hard to accept. In the light of biblical prophecy, they are plainly counterproductive and pose great dangers for Israel AND the USA. Trump’s admiration and praise for dictators will become a thorn in his flesh.
Fears of Denaturalization
ABC News wrote on November 14:
“There’s now fear that the push to drastically increase deportations and shift who can claim America as home… is having a ripple effect…
“Some are worried that if they leave the country, they will have difficulties when trying to return, fearful because of accounts of naturalized citizens being questioned or detained by U.S. border agents… Immigration enforcement roundups, often conducted by masked, unidentifiable federal agents… have at times included American citizens in their dragnets…. Adding to the worries, the Justice Department issued a memo this summer saying it would ramp up efforts to denaturalize immigrants who’ve committed crimes or are deemed to present a national security risk… The atmosphere makes some worried to speak about it publicly, for fear of drawing negative attention to themselves. ..
“What citizenship has meant, and who was included, has expanded and contracted over the course of American history, said Stephen Kantrowitz, professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He said while the word ‘citizen’ is in the original Constitution, it is not defined. ‘When the Constitution is written, nobody knows what citizenship means,’ he said.
“The first naturalization law passed in 1790 by the new country’s Congress said citizenship was for any ‘free white person’ of good character. Those of African descent or nativity were added as a specific category to federal immigration law after the ravages of the Civil War in the 19th century, which was also when the 14th Amendment was added to the Constitution to establish birthright citizenship.
“In the last years of the 19th century and into the 20th century, laws were put on the books limiting immigration and, by extension, naturalization. The Immigration Act of 1924 effectively barred people from Asia because they were ineligible for naturalization, being neither white nor Black. That didn’t change until 1952, when an immigration law removed racial restrictions on who could be naturalized. The 1965 Immigration and Naturalization Act replaced the previous immigration system with one that portioned out visas equally among nations.
“American history also includes times when those who had citizenship had it taken away, like after the 1923 Supreme Court ruling in U.S. vs. Bhagat Singh Thind. That ruling said that Indians couldn’t be naturalized because they did not qualify as white and led to several dozen denaturalizations. At other times, it was ignored, as in World War II, when Japanese Americans were forced into internment camps. ‘Political power will sometimes simply decide that a group of people, or a person or a family isn’t entitled to citizenship,’ Kantrowitz said.”
Your blood must boil when you read these examples of absolutely incredible injustice. For sure, America’s governments have a lot to answer for.
Democrats at the Crossroads
The Huffington Post wrote on November 14:
“The longest government shutdown ever may finally be over, but the Democratic Party is just beginning to reckon with angry voters who are sick and tired of seeing them lose to President Donald Trump. Their frustrations were particularly evident in New Hampshire, a state represented by two moderate Democrats in the Senate who helped cut a deal with Republicans that funded the government in return for essentially nothing. New Hampshirites… said they felt demoralized by their surrender and called for new blood to carry the torch into the future…
“The anger is clearly reminiscent of the disillusion Republicans faced during the Tea Party era a decade ago, though it’s too soon to tell what it will mean for the party’s electoral chances… However, in the short term, the ongoing discontent could lead to another government shutdown early next year... The deal funding the government until Jan. 30 was backed by eight Senate Democrats and included a vote next month on extending enhanced subsidies for people enrolled in the Affordable Care Act. However, that vote is expected to fail due to Republican opposition to anything having to do with Obamacare. Trump and GOP lawmakers are instead pitching an alternative plan that would replace the subsidies with flexible spending accounts…
“Denying government funding again would be a risky strategy for Democrats… As much as most Democrats would like to forget this whole episode as fast as possible and unite their party against Trump, they must first reassure skeptical voters that they are equipped to lead his opposition…”
Blowing Up Shipping Boats
The Ron Paul Institute wrote on November 14:
“Starting in September the Trump administration announced [20] strikes on boats in the Caribbean which have killed at least [80] seafarers… By framing the military campaign as a war, the administration is able to argue that murder statutes do not apply…
“At the recent meeting of the G7 foreign ministers the French publicly declared that any such boat strikes are illegal… Britain is allegedly withholding some intelligence from the U.S. because of concern about the boat strikes… Colombian President Gustavo Petro has likewise stopped intelligence sharing on the issue…
“Anyone in the U.S. intelligence services and military should be aware that taking part in such strikes is a criminal endeavor which may get them prosecuted in international courts… Adm. Alvin Holsey, the head of Southern Command… abruptly announced he was resigning at year’s end, which will be about a year into what is typically a three-year assignment. More soldiers should follow the man’s example.”
Tucker Carlson on Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Newsmax wrote on November 14:
“Tucker Carlson has ignited a wave of outrage across the conservative and Christian worlds after claiming that Dietrich Bonhoeffer — the anti-Nazi theologian executed by Adolf Hitler’s regime in 1945 — had ‘decided … we have to kill the guy [Hitler],’ suggesting the German pastor ultimately advocated murder…
“Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor and founding member of the Christian resistance movement known as the Confessing Church, was imprisoned for helping Jewish Germans escape to Switzerland. He was later linked to the resistance circle involved in the failed July 20, 1944, plot to assassinate Hitler. His hanging in April 1945 at the Flossenbürg concentration camp in Bavaria by the Third Reich made him one of Christianity’s most revered martyrs of the 20th century…
“Author Eric Metaxas, whose best-selling biography ‘Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy’ helped introduce the theologian to millions of American Christians, blasted Carlson’s comments as historically and theologically illiterate. ‘Tucker’s statements about Bonhoeffer are WRONG,’ Metaxas wrote on X… ‘Bonhoeffer did not advocate MURDER, which would have been sinful, but he did understand that within a just war people are KILLED. ‘Will Tucker now condemn David for killing Goliath?’
“Metaxas elaborated that Bonhoeffer’s involvement with anti-Hitler resistance was deeply rooted in Christian ethics… ‘In my BONHOEFFER book I detail the ethical struggle he had in participating in the plot to kill Hitler,’ he wrote in another post… ‘ But let’s be clear. Not all killing is MURDER.’…
“Conservative leader Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on Sept. 10 during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University, had long praised Bonhoeffer as a moral model for Christians resisting tyranny, contrasted sharply with Carlson’s portrayal….”
Not all killing is murder? With that false assessment, killing in war has been justified, wrongly claiming it is Christian to kill someone who fights for the “forces of evil.” This world is terribly deceived. Read our free booklet, “Should YOU Fight in War?”
Trump Defends Tucker Carlson
JTA wrote on November 17:
“President Donald Trump defended Tucker Carlson’s recent interview with avowed antisemite Nick Fuentes, weighing in on a debate over antisemitism that has roiled the Republican party. ‘I’ve found him to be good. He’s said good things about me over the years… You can’t tell him who to interview. If he wants to interview Nick Fuentes, I don’t know much about him, but if he wants to do it, get the word out.’
“The president’s comments were his first on a growing divide within the Republican party over Carlson giving a platform on his top-rated podcast to Fuentes and over the growth of the antisemitic Fuentes-led ‘groyper’ movement on the right. Yet neither Trump nor Vice President J.D. Vance have joined the chorus of condemnation for Fuentes’ brand of white supremacy. Vance, who employs Carlson’s son Buckley on his staff, in recent days defended Buckley from a right-wing Jewish activist’s accusations of antisemitism without directly addressing the Fuentes controversy…
“Carlson campaigned with Trump for his 2024 reelection and has significant influence within his administration, while Trump dined with Fuentes and the antisemitic rapper Ye in Mar-a-Lago in 2022…”
Propaganda Against Trump in Germany
Nius wrote on November 14:
“German public broadcasters… demonize Donald J. Trump more than perhaps any other Western politician… ARD, ZDF, and their subsidiaries have been shaping the image of an authoritarian monster since 2016, abandoning basic journalistic principles: context, neutrality, factual accuracy…
“In a speech Trump gave in Davos in 2018, Tagesschau deliberately manipulated the audio to make the boos sound louder… Later, ARD even admitted that it had manipulated the audio.
“In March 2024, ZDF made a blatant false claim while reporting on a Trump campaign speech in Ohio. In that speech, Trump discussed economic policy, tariffs, and Chinese cars. Addressing the Chinese, who were building huge car factories in Mexico to sell their vehicles in the United States, he said: ‘If I get elected, we’re going to put a 100 percent tariff on every car that crosses the border – you will not be able to sell those cars. If I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath for the whole country – that will be the least of it. But they will not sell those cars…’
“It is absolutely clear: this is plainly about economic policy. Trump is saying, in essence, that without him, an economic disaster awaits – ‘bloodbath’ being a common metaphor in this context. But millions of viewers of Germany’s second-most important news program were presented with something that never happened. The ZDF anchor said: ‘He wraps his call for political violence in comments about the car industry.’ Yet no such call for violence ever occurred. Even the left-leaning outlet Correctiv stated in a fact-check that Trump had neither threatened nor called for political violence.
“Nevertheless, the public broadcasters refuse to let go of their fake news. Months later – long after the ‘bloodbath’ matter had been clarified – ZDF still tries to convince its audience that ‘bloodbath’ referred to political carnage. In a report, ZDF again omits the context. The word ‘car industry’ does not appear at all…
“Linguistic manipulation is added to the mix: while the removal of illegal immigrants – a long-standing practice in the U.S., predating Trump – used to be translated correctly as ‘Abschiebungen,’ public broadcasters now increasingly use the term ‘Deportationen’… Yet in Germany the word “Deportation” evokes something entirely different: the forcible expulsion or banishment of criminals, political opponents, or entire groups – above all the mass deportations of Jews to Nazi forced-labor and extermination camps… The purpose of these deliberate mistranslations is clear: to evoke associations with the Third Reich…
“One can debate Trump’s role on January 6, 2021. He spoke of election fraud and initially refused to acknowledge the certified result. He had called for protests for weeks and spoke on January 6 near the White House, while Congress counted the Electoral College votes. Midway through his speech, Trump said explicitly: ‘I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.’
“That the BBC documentary series Panorama omitted this passage and used manipulative editing – which has now sparked a major media scandal… went unmentioned in German media. Instead, ARD, ZDF, and Deutschlandfunk all claimed Trump had staged a kind of coup, and that his heated speech triggered the events… Nearly five years after the ‘storming of the Capitol,’ this version still prevails… One can criticize Trump’s conduct that day, but he explicitly did not call for violence and – albeit far too late – tweeted ‘Stay peaceful!’ once the violence had begun…”
The mass media cannot be trusted.
Antifa Declared a Terrorist Organization
Euro News wrote on November 14:
“US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that Washington would designate German-based Antifa Ost… as ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorists’. ‘Groups affiliated with this movement ascribe to revolutionary anarchist or Marxist ideologies, including anti-Americanism, “anti-capitalism,” and anti-Christianity, using these to incite and justify violent assaults domestically and overseas,’ Rubio said.
“‘The United States will continue using all available tools to protect our national security and public safety and will deny funding and resources to terrorists, including targeting other Antifa groups across the globe,’ he added…
“The State Department said the German-based Antifa Ost ‘committed numerous attacks against people it perceives as “fascists” or part of the “right-wing scene” in Germany between 2018 and 2023.’ The organisation is also accused of having ‘conducted a series of attacks in Budapest in mid-February 2023.’ Hungary had already placed the group on its national terror list at the end of September…”
This designation is absolutely correct. Note the next article.
Antifa Terror Actions and Threats
Bild Online had written on November 4 about the latest terror attack by Antifa in Germany:
“Around twelve hours after the car of AfD leading politician Bernd Baumann (67) was burned down in Hamburg, Antifa claimed responsibility for the attack. A statement claiming responsibility was uploaded to the far-left website Indymedia on Monday afternoon at 3:27 p.m.…
“The statement concludes with a vile death threat: ‘All you damn MAGAfreaks, you will follow Kirk to hell!’ MAGA stands for the slogan ‘Make America Great Again’ used by the US president during his election campaign, and the statement implies that all Trump supporters face the same fate as the murdered Charlie Kirk (†31).”
George Washington’s Haunting Vision
The Daily Mail wrote on November 15:
“In the winter of 1777, legend goes that George Washington received a vision that has haunted America for over two centuries. An angelic figure appeared to him at Valley Forge, prophesying three great trials the young nation would face. The first two have been fulfilled – the Revolution that birthed the country, and the Civil War that nearly tore it apart.
“But the third prophecy spoke of something yet to come: ‘hordes of armed men’ carried over the sea to invade America… Washington’s third vision includes ‘a threat of war in a future time that would be so great with powers from the east crossing the sea.’”
America will indeed be invaded by great powers in the Eastern Hemisphere—the last European revival of the Roman Empire.
False Jewish Teachings Regarding the “Red Heifer”
Israel 365 News wrote on November 13:
“The burning of the red heifer on July 1 marked a significant moment in Jewish tradition… It should be emphasized that the red heifer is used to purify the nation of Israel from impurity resulting from proximity to or contact with a dead body. This state of purity is necessary for Jews to ascend to the Temple [The Bible does not say this; in fact, there is no biblical requirement for a red heifer today]… Jews are currently the only verifiable descendants of Israel [This is absolutely false. Jews are just one tribe—the tribe of Judah—of the 12 tribes or sons of Jacob.]
“Of course, ashes of the red heifer that are not made on the Mount of Olives while facing the site of the Holy Temple are completely invalid [where does the Bible say this?]… Anyone who invents something other than the Seven Noahide Commandments [allegedly, God gave Noah seven commandments… the Bible does not say this] causes those who listen to him to sin, and this includes anyone who invents that the ashes from a red heifer exercise purify Gentiles, or heals Gentiles, or anything else – such a person is among the fraudsters and swindlers, and one must distance oneself from him and distance him.”
This ridiculous statement would include all nominal and real Christians.
Abbas—A Prince of Peace?
Israel 365 News wrote on November 14:
“French President Emmanuel Macron stood beside Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas in Paris. The French leader declared the head of the PA to be a ‘prince of peace,’ echoing Pope Francis’s 2015 description of Abbas as an ‘angel of peace.’ … Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded immediately, calling Macron’s praise ‘the opposite of reality.’
“[Macron issued] a warning to Israel that any annexation of Judea and Samaria would trigger a European response.”
Hungary Warns Brussels Driving Europe Towards Nuclear War
The Times of India wrote on November 15:
“Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has delivered one of his most blistering speeches yet, accusing Brussels of dragging Europe toward a catastrophic nuclear confrontation… Szijjarto claimed the EU is deliberately pushing the Russia–Ukraine conflict into deeper escalation, warning that the current military standoff ‘can only result in a nuclear war that destroys our entire planet.’ He slammed European institutions for ‘shamelessly pouring money and weapons into Ukraine,’ arguing that the bloc has emptied its own armouries while forcing European citizens to foot the bill for a war they never chose.
“Szijjarto went further, accusing Brussels and Kyiv of meddling in Hungary’s domestic politics by backing the opposition Tisza Party ahead of the upcoming national elections. According to the minister, the EU wants a ‘puppet leadership’ in Budapest—one that will march in lockstep with its foreign policy. He insisted that only Viktor Orban’s government can keep Hungary out of the conflict and protect the country from migration pressures and political coercion.”
Ukrainians to Be Deported
Daily Mail wrote on November 14:
“The Trump administration is gearing up to send Ukrainians back to their war-torn homeland, with 80 people being targeted for removal… Lawyers… told the Post:… ‘Ukraine is a war zone, currently under martial law, and it is likely that any deportees will be forcibly drafted into the army and sent to the front where they face a high likelihood of death…’”
Merz: Ukrainians Should Stay in Ukraine and Fight
Politico wrote on November 13:
“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to curb the flow of young Ukrainian men to Germany and ensure they stay to defend their country… His comments come amid growing concerns in Germany — particularly within Merz’s conservative ranks — that public support for the Ukrainian cause could wane if young male Ukrainians are seen to be avoiding military service by coming to Germany.”
Newsworm wrote on November 13:
“Merz also reaffirmed the government’s plans to remove access to citizens’ benefits (Bürgergeld) for Ukrainian refugees in Germany… According to a report by Bild newspaper, the reform would result in tens of thousands of Ukrainians losing their entitlement to citizens’ benefits.”
Cannon Fodder in the Clutches of the Bundeswehr
Report 24 wrote on November 14:
“Agreement on Conscription: Those Who Aren’t Lured In Will Be Forced…
“The governing coalition has agreed on a conscription model. They emphasize ‘voluntariness’ by enticing recruits with payments of €2,600 gross per month and the prospect of additional subsidies. However, if the cannon fodder isn’t willing, force will be used: If the need isn’t met by volunteers, a ‘random selection process’ will be activated.
“With financial incentives and tiered recruitment processes, young people are being lured into the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces). Those who don’t take the bait are forced in step by step. The democratic fig leaf serves only to stifle criticism…
“The coalition of the CDU/CSU and SPD has buried its internal squabble and proudly presents a model that systematically drives young people into the clutches of the Bundeswehr…
“Behind the reform lurks the massive expansion of the armed forces to 260,000 active soldiers… supplemented by 200,000 reservists… These figures expose the hypocrisy: Instead of peace policy…, Berlin submits to foreign plans that degrade young people to cannon fodder, while politicians sit safely enthroned in their offices…
“While Pistorius prevented the so-called ‘double lottery system’ of the Union, which would have determined conscription and then enlistment by lottery, the essence remains a watered-down form of coercion that turns voluntary service into a lie and lures young people into a trap.”
This article raises important, albeit often unpopular points.
How German Companies Are Preparing for War
Focus wrote on November 14:
“The German economy is arming itself for war… It’s becoming clear: Companies are working on action plans for the moment normal operations break down. The term ‘war’ doesn’t appear officially everywhere, but the logic is evident…
“The turning point [“Zeitenwende”] is here, and it doesn’t just affect the arms industry, but ordinary factories… An entire economic landscape is rearming, following the directives of those in charge.”
Everyone is expecting war!
Civil Service Is Making a Comeback
Bild Online wrote on November 14th:
“With the new military service… its almost forgotten sibling is also being revived – civil service!… If… those selected by lottery for military service refuse it, they are legally required to perform alternative service. And that is civil service!…
“The CDU/CSU alliance sees ‘conscription on demand’ as merely a stepping stone: They want the mandatory Year of Germany – compulsory service for everyone!… The CDU/CSU has prominent supporters for this… Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD)… called for ‘compulsory service for everyone’ on Wednesday at the Bundeswehr oath ceremony marking 70 years of the armed forces – either in the military or in the civilian sector!”
Difficult times are ahead for Germany.
Shocking Survey Results
Focus wrote on November 16:
“According to a survey, a majority of Germans [58%] support the planned mandatory military medical examination of young men born in 2008 or later… 57 percent of those surveyed do not expect enough volunteers to come forward in the future to meet the Bundeswehr’s personnel targets…
“Personal willingness to perform military service also remains low. Only 31 percent of Germans say they would volunteer, while 55 percent rule it out…”
What is this nonsense? The majority wouldn’t volunteer for the Bundeswehr, but they support universal military medical examination—the precursor to compulsory military service?
Merz Sticks to Unpopular Firewall
Die Welt wrote on November 15:
“Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) addressed current political issues at the Young Union’s national convention…
“Merz reaffirmed that there would be no cooperation between his party and the AfD. ‘Not because there’s a firewall between us – forget that word! We are worlds apart from this party,’ Merz said… ‘We have nothing in common with them.’ The Chancellor received loud applause and cheers for his remarks.”
However, Merz’s speech, accompanied by applause, does not reflect the opinion of the German population. Bild Online published a commentary on November 14 with the headline: “The ‘Firewall’ Tactic Is Alienating Many Voters.” The commentary continues as follows:
“In a survey… 56% of CDU/CSU supporters are in favor of cooperating with the AfD in parliament. 46% consider this appropriate ‘on a case-by-case basis,’ and ten percent are in favor of it as a matter of principle. Among the general population, 25% are generally in favor of cooperation between the CDU/CSU and the AfD, and 30% are in favor ‘on a case-by-case basis.’ This implies that the ‘firewall’ tactic is alienating many voters!
“This opinion poll contradicts the established practice of the CDU and CSU, which categorically excludes any agreement with the AfD. Why are the CDU/CSU politicians acting differently than the majority of their supporters want? Because they are thinking purely tactically and neglecting the substance of the issue. They are isolating the AfD to weaken it. In doing so, they accept that decisions that would actually be in their interest will not be made if AfD members of parliament vote for them.
“But voters aren’t interested in tactics. They want to see results. They demand that campaign promises be kept, regardless of who votes for them and who doesn’t… The CDU/CSU could only keep most of its campaign promises (migration, basic income, climate policy, debt) if the AfD voted with it. Instead, the CDU/CSU governs with the SPD and is therefore breaking its campaign promises.”
AfD Welcome in USA
Politico wrote on November 14:
“Dozens of politicians from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party will travel to Washington in December at the invitation of a group of House Republicans… The invitation to AfD politicians comes at a time when German far-right figures are increasingly looking for support from MAGA Republicans in the U.S. for what they frame as a struggle against political persecution and censorship at home…
“AfD leaders see the invitation to Washington as an opportunity to win more legitimacy domestically for their claims of persecution… The trip to Washington by AfD members in December is to be followed by a larger-scale conference early next year…
“U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna [said:] ‘The German government’s recent actions against its own citizens resemble the authoritarianism of the Soviet Union prior to its fall more than Russia does today.’”
New Rules for Tourists Traveling to Europe
TTW wrote on November 15:
“Europe is introducing new policies that will affect tourists and travelers in 2026…
“… the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will require visa-exempt travelers to apply for an online travel authorization before entering the Schengen Area. Previously, citizens from countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia did not need a visa to travel within the Schengen Zone… This system [is] set to be fully operational by the end of 2026… Without the ETIAS authorization, travelers may be denied boarding, making it crucial to complete the application process well in advance…
“In another significant change, the Entry/Exit System (EES) will be fully rolled out by April 2026. The new system will require travelers to provide biometric data, such as fingerprints and facial recognition scans, when crossing Schengen borders…
“One of the lesser-known changes to the Schengen visa policy is the visa suspension mechanism, which can revoke visa-free travel for certain countries under specific circumstances. If a country’s nationals experience a significant surge in irregular migration or pose security risks, the European Union can suspend their visa-free privileges. This means that tourists from countries like the US, Canada, or Japan may suddenly face visa requirements if their country of origin faces migration or security issues…
“For non-EU nationals, the rule allowing only 90 days of stay within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area will be strictly enforced starting in 2026. This means that travelers who overstay their allowed period could face penalties, fines, or even bans from entering the Schengen Area in the future…
“… travelers to Europe in 2026 will need to be more diligent than ever about ensuring their travel documentation is complete and up to date. Passports must meet the necessary validity requirements, typically at least three months beyond the planned departure date. Additionally, travelers will need to prepare for the possibility of digital visa applications, biometric data submission, and even additional health checks depending on the state of global health concerns…”
No More Cash at Christmas Market
Bild Online wrote on November 16:
“On November 20, the stalls at the ‘Polarzauber’ Christmas market at Zurich’s main train station (Switzerland) will open – with one change: ‘The entire Polarzauber is cashless – all stalls accept card payments as well as mobile payments such as Twint, Apple Pay, or Google Pay,’ according to the Christmas market’s website. Payment can be made with ‘all common credit and debit cards.’ If vendors accept cash anyway, they will have to pay a fine of 500 Swiss francs (around 540 euros)… In case of repeated offenses, stallholders will even be excluded from the market.
‘The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) owns the train station where the Christmas market is held and supports the cash ban. The city of Zurich, which rents out public spaces for Christmas markets, also has no objections…”
Madness! The totalitarian, regulated and controlled insanity continues.
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.
Q&A
Does God promise us physical blessings when we lead a righteous life?
Some claim that even though God might have promised people in the Old Testament wealth, prosperity and riches, this is no longer the case for New Testament Christians, as the New Covenant has “better promises,” which allegedly succeed Old Testament blessings.
It is true that as converted Christians, we are living under the conditions of the New Covenant. We read in Hebrews 8:6 that the New Covenant is based, founded or established on better promises. But what are those better promises, exactly?
One of those promises is forgiveness of sin, which was never part of Old Covenant promises. Before the New Covenant came, there was no forgiveness of sins—animal sacrifices do not forgive sins (Hebrews 10:4, 11). They just served as a reminder of sins. When those sins were recognized and “repented” of, a physical relationship with God could be restored so that people were allowed to stay within the community of Israel. They did not repent in a spiritual sense and did therefore not receive forgiveness in a spiritual sense, as they were not called for salvation at that time.
New Testament Christians recognize that Jesus Christ already shed His blood, the blood of the New Covenant, for the remission of our sins. Christ clearly told us the conditions of the New Covenant, and we accepted them at the time of our baptism. As ancient Israel said, we also said, “Everything that the LORD has said, we will do.” We also, of course, accepted Christ’s shed blood that forgives our sins, and we acknowledged that we had entered into a covenant with God at the time of our baptism.
The New Covenant is also a marriage agreement. The consummation of our marriage with Jesus Christ—the bridegroom and the Lamb—is still in the future. This is where the biblical concept of betrothal becomes important. In biblical times, the parties went through a period of “betrothal” before they actually consummated the marriage. Mary was already betrothed to Joseph when she was found to be with child (Matthew 1:18). Since they had not consummated the marriage, Joseph thought that Mary was guilty of fornication. But Mary and Joseph were already called, at the time of their betrothal, husband and wife (Matthew 1:19–20, 24; compare also Deuteronomy 28:30). Betrothal was a binding agreement or contract of marriage, and it could only be severed through a divorce. With this contract, the husband had promised his wife to consummate the marriage with her, after a certain period of time.
As the consummation of the marriage occurred later, and so it is with us today. The consummation of our marriage will occur, once Jesus Christ returns to establish His Kingdom on earth. At that time, we will become immortal Spirit beings—born-again members of the God Family. That is the time when the New Covenant—the consummation of our marriage with Christ—will reach its total fulfillment. We are to inherit eternal life and become glorified God beings. THAT was never a promise given to ancient Israel.
Also, there was no promise for receiving the Holy Spirit, which alone gives us the strength and power to overcome and conquer sin, and to obey and keep God’s Law. God, in the New Covenant, replaces our stony hearts with hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19). The ministry under the previous covenants led to condemnation, since people sinned and could not obtain forgiveness (2 Corinthians 3:9). On the other hand, the ministry under the New Covenant leads to righteousness, since the promises of the New Covenant include forgiveness of sins and the gift of the power of the Holy Spirit to live righteously.
We see, then, that the New Covenant contains tremendous spiritual blessings and promises which were not included in previous Old Testament covenants which God made with Israel under Moses. But does this mean, then, that the New Covenant does not include physical promises which were indeed part of Old Testament covenants? To put it differently, does the New Covenant relationship with God exclude physical blessings? Must we be poor when we want to be Christians?
It is true that at times, true Christians had to give up physical possessions for Christ’s sake. But is this supposed to be the promised general and permanent condition of a Christian life?
Let us note Ezekiel 34:25–27 which describes physical people living under the conditions of the New Covenant:
“I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing. Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield their increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the LORD…”
These promises clearly include physical blessings.
We also read in Malachi 3:8-10 about the New Covenant command of tithing and God’s physical blessing when we fulfill that command:
“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,’ Says the LORD of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.’”
In Matthew 19:27-29, Christ gave His disciples a tremendous promise of spiritual AND physical blessings:
“Then Peter answered and said to Him, ‘See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.’”
He makes it still clearer in the parallel passage in Mark 10:28-30 that He was also referring to “hundredfold” physical blessings in this life:
“Then Peter began to say to Him, ‘See, we have left all and followed You.’ So Jesus answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—
houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.’”
Either these words are true and to be taken quite literally, or Christ is a liar, which is of course a ridiculous and preposterous concept, as then, we would have no Savior, since lying is sin. But we are told that Christ never committed a sin in what He thought, said and did.
So let us reflect on the tremendous application of what Christ said. Leaving houses and lands for Christ’s sake will bring about a hundredfold blessing, including houses and lands. One might think of Job at the end of his trial, whose losses were restored, and who received twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10). Of course, our motivation must not be to get hundredfold blessings when we give up physical possessions, but the fact of the matter is that God promises us such physical blessings when we give up physical possessions for Christ.
Christ also made clear that not only our relationship with God, but also with our fellow man, will have a bearing on whether God will bless us physically. We read Christ’s words in Luke 6:38:
“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
We should be able to see, then, that the New Covenant clearly includes physical blessings, in addition to those spiritual blessings which are of course better than the physical ones. But physical and spiritual blessings are not mutually exclusive.
Note also the following timeless promises of God for His people, including New Testament Christians:
Proverbs 10:22 says: “The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.”
Proverbs 11:25 adds, mirroring the above-mentioned promise in Luke 6: “The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.” Compare also Proverbs 22:9: “He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.”
Proverbs 3:9-10 mirrors God’s promise in Malachi for faithful tithing:
“Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.”
Our relationship with God in all of this is of tantamount importance. God says He will bless the righteous with physical blessings; there is no Scripture telling us that God will bless the unrighteous in this way. And God warns us that we must never forget where our physical blessings come from, and while thinking that we did it on our own, we even forget to keep God and His Law.
In Deuteronomy 8:11-18, God warns ancient Israel in this regard, but His warning applies in like manner to us today:
“Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest–when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock; who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end—then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
Also, as mentioned above, we must not concentrate on wanting to become rich, thereby forgetting about God and His Way of Life. Notice 1 Timothy 6:9-10:
“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
We also read in Mark 4:19 that “…the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”
Proverbs 11:28 includes a similar stirring warning, but it also shows the connection between righteousness and physical blessings: “He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.”
Christ cautions us in Luke 12:15 to “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
Instead, we are challenged to use our physical blessings wisely, as we read in 1 Timothy 6:17-19: “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”
We are even told 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?”
These warnings do not negate the fact that in regard to converted Christians who live under the conditions of the New Covenant, God has promised them physical blessings, as long as they remain faithful and righteous, with right priorities and the right goal and purpose in mind, seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Then God will give us what we need physically, and so much more (compare Ephesians 3:20).
Lead Writer: Norbert Link
The Work
Preaching the Gospel and Feeding the Flock
compiled by Dave Harris
“George Washington’s Haunting Vision of America’s Invasion,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:
What does the Saudi Crown Prince’s meeting with Donald Trump have to do with George Washington’s haunting vision, and what did that vision say, exactly? And what does a remarkable end-time prophecy in Psalm 83 regarding Israel have to do with the last revival of the ancient Roman Empire under German military leadership? And how are all of these developments connected?
“George Washingtons düstere Vision von der Invasion Amerikas,” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Nobert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.
“Jacob’s Escape and His Reconciliation With Esau” is the latest video in our Bible Story Series on YouTube.
“Andere in Demut höher achten, als sich selbst,” last Sabbath’s German sermonette by Mike Richter, is now posted. Title in English: “To Respect Others More Highly Than Oneself, With Humility.”
“Our Agency and God’s Direction,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Eric Rank, is now posted. Here is the summary:
God designed the spirit of humanity to have free will, giving us the ability to choose our own aspirations in life. Inherently, this freedom incurs the burden of making mistakes along the way and learning from them. God also works in our lives, directing our steps when we are open to following His paths.
“The Warning,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Dave Harris, is now posted. Here is the summary:
From the very beginning, God has warned mankind concerning how to do what is right and not to do what is wrong. When we are confronted with choices—both small and great—do we choose to listen to God, and do we pay attention to His warnings?
How This Work is Financed
This Update is an official publication by the ministry of the Church of the Eternal God in the United States of America; the Church of God, a Christian Fellowship in Canada; and the Global Church of God in the United Kingdom.
Editorial Team: Norbert Link, Dave Harris, Rene Messier, Brian Gale, Johanna Link, Eric Rank, Michael Link, Anna Link, Kalon Mitchell, Manuela Mitchell, Dawn Thompson
Technical Team: Eric Rank, Shana Rank
Our activities and literature, including booklets, weekly updates, sermons on CD are provided free of charge. They are made possible by the tithes, offerings and contributions of Church members and others who have elected to support this Work.
While we do not solicit the general public for funds, contributions are gratefully welcomed and are tax-deductible in the U.S. and Canada.
Donations can be sent to the following addresses:
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