Update 1187

On December 20, 2025, Frank Bruno will present the sermonette, titled, “The Exit Interview,” and Dave Harris will present the sermon, titled, “Every Thought.”

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.

It is human nature to justify our actions. For example, one might choose to tell a so-called white lie when asked about their opinion. If telling the Truth might invoke conflict, masking the Truth to prevent conflict might seem like the best thing to do. Human nature will push us to believe that God won’t mind a little sin if it is for the purpose of doing what we think is good.

However, those who rely only on their human judgment to evaluate between right and wrong and choose to do what is contrary to what God commands are deceived. They might think that God will understand their circumstances and permit a minor indiscretion. Certainly, He will consider the situation and allow an exception to His rules, right?

Wrong.

As hard as it might be to accept, God’s Laws do not make room for exceptions. White lies are one simple example. But this principle extends to other seemingly harmless actions as well. Consider the high standard that Jesus Christ described when He explained how sin begins in the heart. Even though the Ten Commandments condemn murder, Jesus explained that even being angry with one’s brother without a cause can bring one into judgment (compare Matthew 5:21-22). He also explained that a man who looks upon another woman with lust or a desire to commit adultery with her commits sin, even if the actual physical act never takes place (compare Matthew 5:27-28).

With a human perspective, it can be tempting to believe that our good intentions that manifest as sinful behavior would be acceptable by God, but this is simply not true.

In fact, if we have an attitude of knowingly committing sin in defiance of God’s commandments because we think those sins are no big deal, we put ourselves in a very dangerous position. If we sin willfully with full knowledge of the Truth, this is known as committing the unpardonable sin. “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:26-27). It does not matter if that sin is big or small, because it is all sin. Even an unrepented white lie spoken willfully to deceive is enough to result in this terrible condemnation.

“For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law” (James 2:10-11).

Considering how there is such a high standard to be without sin is sobering. We all have failed in our attempts to obey God, even though we try. The point is to continue learning from our mistakes and correct our paths, not to continue making mistakes willfully, thinking that our sins are no big deal to God. When we have an attitude of repentance, we can continue claiming the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ to offer us forgiveness. If we are willing to turn away from sin, Jesus Christ is willing to forgive us. But if we are so full of pride that we believe our sins don’t matter, there is no sacrifice that remains to forgive us.

We cannot take God’s commandments lightly. If we sin willfully, thinking that God won’t mind, we are mistaken, and gravely so. Fortunately, as long as we take God seriously, continue to love the Truth, and repent from our sins when we discover them, we will receive forgiveness which will save us.

by Norbert Link

We begin with further escalations between Europe and the USA; Chancellor Merz’ comments about Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin; predictable failed attempts to reach a ceasefire or peace in Russia’s war with Ukraine; a warning about Great Britain’s defeat in the next war; and Donald Trump’s rambling speech about his imagined leadership of Europe and his “sleepwalking into an electoral disaster” at the midterm election. We also address his highly controversial immigration regulations and practices; as well as his terrible and tasteless fabricated comments regarding the murder of Rob Reiner.

We address Trump’s failing Gaza peace plan and the warning that Trump is “sleepwalking into a strategic catastrophe.” Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Does Trump Sleepwalk Into Catastrophes?” 

We continue with a report on the mass murder of Jews in Sydney by Islamist terrorists.

We speak on the end of the global warming propaganda, the coming financial clash and the enlargement of the Eurozone.

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

“The US Wants to Destroy the EU… There Isn’t Much Time Left” 

Handelsblatt wrote on December 11: 

“The US is now among those who want to destroy the EU. But, as so often, Europe needs time to grasp the extent of what has been happening since the Trump administration took office… 

“With Russia, whose neo-imperial ambitions extend far beyond Ukraine, and with China, which is increasingly putting economic pressure on Europe,… the EU is now being pressured from three sides. All three actors share a common goal: to destroy the EU as a global economic power and to prevent its member states from becoming a politically relevant force in the emerging international order of the 21st century… 

“Europe must stop using the US as a point of reference for everything it does. It cannot influence the US in the long term. Let’s focus on Europe and strengthening its economic and defense policies. Then the US might rediscover its interest in a partnership. If so, fine; if not, that’s also fine. However, strengthening Europe means that there can be no taboos…

“Europe needs a defense union. And not among all EU members, but among those who are capable and willing… Such a development… requires political leadership and the courage to break with old traditions. There isn’t much time left to set such developments in motion, because Europe’s adversaries are already actively working to weaken or even destroy it.” 

The article recommends, in so many words, the creation of several core nations under strong leadership. The Bible says that ten powerful European nations or groups of nations will unite and give their might and authority to a charismatic military leader—the “beast.” 

Is the USA a Security Risk? 

t-online reported on December 11: 

“Trump’s new security strategy has been available for a week. Now the first NATO country has issued a security warning. 

“…The Danish foreign intelligence service has provided a first assessment of the Trump doctrine. Denmark is the first NATO country to officially warn against the USA. The United States is now ‘using its economic and technological strength as an instrument of power against allies and partners,’ it says… 

“Relations between Denmark and the USA are already strained. Immediately after the start of his second term, Trump laid claim to Greenland. The island is autonomous but belongs to Denmark. 

“In the report, the Danish foreign intelligence service now openly expresses its concerns regarding the USA. ‘There is uncertainty about the role of the United States as a guarantor of European security,’ the document states… With regard to the new document from the Trump administration and the new geopolitical positioning of the USA, the Danish foreign intelligence service generally warned of an increased security risk.”

Looking at the USA as a security risk for Europe is alarming. 

Angela Merkel Predicts New Conflict With the USA 

Bild Online wrote on December 12: 

“Will artificial intelligence trigger the next major clash between us and America? Former Chancellor Angela Merkel has now warned of this – she sees Europe in a tough power struggle with Donald Trump’s United States… At an event hosted by Stern magazine in Berlin, Merkel therefore called for binding rules for the use of AI… ‘This will be the next major battle with the United States of America over the question of whether or not we can regulate digital media.’…” 

“Merkel believes the US will try to prevent the establishment of rules for AI. ‘There will be very strong pressure not to do it,’ said the former chancellor…  Indeed, Trump just signed an executive order that is intended to prevent US states from introducing their own regulations for artificial intelligence… The former chancellor is generally critical of Trump’s new security strategy… 

“According to Merkel, organizations like the European Union are seen as ‘troublemakers’ in the US. Instead of negotiating with the EU as a whole, the US is trying to win over individual member states. ‘That cannot be in Europe’s interest,’ said Merkel.”

Merz Compares Merkel to Chamberlain and Putin to Hitler 

ntv reported on December 13: 

“At the CSU party conference, Chancellor Merz named restoring Germany’s competitiveness and defense capabilities as the top priorities of his government.  Domestically, he wants to bring about a new beginning; in foreign policy, he aims to prevent the worst… He heavily criticizes the policies of former Chancellor Angela Merkel, although he… does not mention her by name. He says that we should have known what kind of times we were living in even before February 24, 2022 – the day Russia launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine. The day ‘we should have known’ was in May 2014 – when the war in the Ukrainian Donbas, initially waged covertly by Russia, escalated. 

“‘In those days, a historical analogy was frequently invoked,’ Merz says. ‘2014 was compared to 1914, the beginning of the First World War, into which Europe sleepwalked… It would have been more accurate to see 1938 as the historical analogy: the Munich Agreement, in which British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain ceded the Czechoslovakian Sudetenland to Nazi Germany.’ Indirectly, Merz is thus comparing Putin to Hitler. If Ukraine falls, that won’t be enough for the Russian leader, ‘just as the Sudetenland wasn’t enough in 1938.’ Putin’s goal is ‘the fundamental alteration of borders in Europe, the restoration of (Russia) to the borders of the old Soviet Union…’ 

“The ‘decades of Pax Americana,’ the years in which the USA guaranteed peace in Europe… ‘are largely over for us,’ Merz says…” 

Boris Pistorius’ Wisdom 

CBS News published on December 14 the following comments by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius: 

“Germany is [the] third biggest economy in the world and the biggest one in Europe, of course. So everybody in Europe expects us to be the strongest ally in NATO in Europe. With the surge of federal funding, the long-moribund German defense industry is springing back to life… I try to explain that, if you want to live in peace, in freedom, security– with a right to go on the street and to demonstrate against or for whatever you want, to love however to want, and you to believe in any god you want, then you need to be willing to defend it.” 

But war—including “defensive war”– will never bring peace, but only more war. And so, the next world war, in which Germany will be heavily involved, will bring mankind to the brink of utter annihilation. 

War Is Closer Than We Think 

ladbible.com wrote on December 14: 

“A major [Viktor Andrusiv] in the Ukrainian army has warned that ‘war is closer than we think’ – and he believes that the UK isn’t ready for it… 

“Earlier this month, the Russian president stated that his country is ‘ready’ for war with Europe if it is instigated, sparking fears that the continent could soon be engulfed in conflict… ‘The biggest problem is that people are not going to believe that this can happen,’ Andrusiv told The Sun… ‘You should be aware of that. This is possible…’  He warned that the UK could soon resemble the war-torn streets of Ukraine…’”

The warnings we hear today focus on a possible war between Europe and Russia. However, World War III will begin with a war between Europe and the USA and the UK. Only very few people believe that such a war is possible, but that war “is closer than we think.” 

Russia Rejects Ceasefire or Peace Plan 

Euronews wrote on December 16: 

“Russia will not accept any ‘compromise’ regarding the occupied territories of Ukraine, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Tuesday. Ryabkov stated that Moscow has not scaled back its demands and wants to retain control over five Ukrainian regions: Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

“Aside from annexed Crimea and almost all of the Luhansk region, Russia does not control the entirety of any of the other three areas of Ukraine. In Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, Moscow forces do not have control of the regional capitals either. As the European leaders vowed to protect Ukraine against Russia in the future, including via military means, the Kremlin now also demands security guarantees for Moscow….

“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested on Monday in Berlin that Russia could pause its attacks during the holidays, which could eventually lead to the opening of negotiations for a genuine truce… But Moscow rejected the idea with Peskov saying, ‘We want peace. We don’t want a truce to give Ukraine a breathing space and prepare for a continuation of the war’…

“Moscow has repeatedly said its demands to Ukraine and any possible settlement remain the same. The US-Ukraine talks in Berlin have been largely criticised and dismissed in Moscow. The Kremlin [keeps] insisting that it won’t stop its war against Ukraine until the so-called ‘root causes’ are addressed.

“According to Moscow, the ‘root causes’ include Ukraine’s aspirations to join both the EU and NATO as well as NATO’s alleged violation of commitments not to expand eastwards, the Ukrainian government’s alleged discrimination against ethnic Russians and what Putin calls the ‘denazification’ of Ukraine. Putin and Russia have used these false arguments to justify the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but failed to provide evidence for any of these allegations.” [Russia did provide some evidence for some of those allegations.]

The talks in Berlin accomplished absolutely nothing. 

Putin Not Ready For Peace

Bild Online wrote on December 17:

“President Vladimir Putin (73) has threatened Ukraine with further attacks if Kyiv and the West reject his demands in the ongoing peace talks… At his annual meeting with high-ranking military officials, the Kremlin dictator made it clear that while Moscow would prefer to achieve its goals at the negotiating table, ‘if the other side and its foreign backers refuse to enter into a substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical territories by military means’…

“In his speech, Putin also sharply attacked European heads of state and government, calling them ‘pigs’… His accusation: ‘They thought they could destroy Russia in no time…’ While the Trump administration is showing a willingness to find a peaceful solution, Putin sees no chance of that in Europe at present. The Kremlin chief demands that all conquered regions in eastern Ukraine, as well as those occupied in 2014, be returned to Russia. The annexed Crimea must be recognized as Russian territory. Furthermore, Moscow demands that the Ukrainian army withdraw from some still-contested regions. Kyiv refuses…”

Taking Frozen Russian Assets?

aa.com.tr wrote on December 13:

“Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Saturday described the EU’s plan to seize frozen Russian assets as a ‘declaration of war.’ Orban criticized European leaders, singling out German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European People’s Party leader Manfred Weber, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen… He added that Hungary would oppose any EU attempts to bypass the country in accessing Russian assets…

“Meanwhile, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini warned that freezing Russian assets was ‘risky and imprudent,’ noting that 314 Italian companies operate in Russia, generating revenue and employment…”

Kyivindependent wrote on December 16:

“Russia’s Central Bank has filed a lawsuit seeking 18.2 trillion rubles ($229 billion) in damages from Euroclear… The lawsuit marks the latest escalation in Moscow’s legal dispute with Euroclear, a Belgium-based central securities depository…

“Euroclear holds about 185 billion euros ($217 billion) of frozen Russian funds, which are subject to EU sanctions imposed after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.”

Syria News wrote on December 17:

“The US warned the EU that seizing frozen Russian assets would undermine peace talks with Moscow, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said.”

Trump’s Rambling Speech 

Focus reported on December 12: 

“One absurd statement followed another: US President Donald Trump claimed during a speech on Thursday that European nations viewed him as a leader and respected him like never before… 

“‘Now we have the greatest country in the world. Everybody says it. Other heads of state and government say it. The European nations say it. The European nations are saying that your president could just as well be the leader of the European nations. They are listening to us and respecting us like never before.’” 

In what dream-world is Trump living? Trump is probably Europe’s most hated American president in recent history. 

“Trump Is Sleepwalking Into an Electoral Disaster” 

The Sun published on December 12 the following opinion by Editor-at-Large Harry Cole: 

“Donald Trump was on the stump in the bellwether swing state of Pennsylvania, addressing a rally of cheering red-capped fans… Yet instead of leaning into the issue that is quite literally draining American voters’ wallets, the President declared that prices were not a real problem any more and dismissed the Washington buzzword of ‘affordability’ as another Democrat ‘hoax’… 

“Here’s the problem: You can’t tell people drowning in bills that everything’s rosy. Working Americans… are feeling the pain of a cost-of-living saga that seems to never end… eating, clothing, and healthcare bills are huge. Poll after poll [shows] a brutal reality: Americans feel battered. Four in ten say it’s the worst cost of living they have ever experienced. And twice as many voters say President Trump, not Joe Biden, is responsible for the current state of the economy. 

“That should be a wake-up call for this administration that faces a battle for its survival in next year’s midterm elections… Despite branding Biden as ‘Sleepy’ it looks increasingly like it is President Trump sleepwalking into an electoral disaster in 2026… Meanwhile, his MAGA base is tearing itself apart with infighting and scores of Republican politicians are throwing in the towel rather than defending seats next year… 

“Voters aren’t insane… They just want to know someone in Washington lives on the same planet as they do. And when you’re in the White House showing off a new golden mega-ballroom while regular Americans are struggling to pay the bills, the optics ain’t great. Warning signs are everywhere…

“While it made lots of noise,  Donald Trump’s tariff experiment does not appear to be working. Meanwhile, the promised surge in US manufacturing has not materialised. Trump defended his import taxes raid this week, urging the public to stop buying cheap Chinese goods…”

The problem is: Suffering Americans will buy the cheapest goods they can get… no matter where they are coming from. Unless there is a drastic and fundamental change in Trump’s approach, he will pay dearly during the next midterm elections. The concept that Trump is sleepwalking into domestic and international disaster can be heard now more often. 

Key MAGA Voices Turn on Trump—“Pointless Address”

The Mirror wrote on December 18:

“Some of the key voices in the MAGA movement have turned on Trump after the president’s address interrupted prime time television…

“Trump delivered a politically charged address on Wednesday, attempting to blame Democrats for economic difficulties… His address recycled his recent talking points that have so far failed to ease public concerns about the costs of groceries, housing, utilities and other essential items….

“Matt Walsh, a right-wing political commentator and podcast host, was among those slamming Trump after the address. He wrote on X: ‘That was perhaps the most pointless primetime presidential address ever delivered in American history.’ Another MAGA voice – Majestic Glow – with 46,000 followers wrote on X: ‘Remember when Joe Biden and his administration would tell us all how great things were, and we all loudly rejected that…? Trump and his administration are doing the same thing.’”

The Atrocities of Trump’s Immigration System 

NBC News wrote on December 12: 

“… spouses of U.S. citizens… were recently detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at what they thought were going to be routine green card interviews. There have been several dozen known cases out of San Diego alone, but cases have also been reported in New York City,  Cleveland and Utah…   

“Immigration attorneys told NBC News that this marks an ‘unprecedented’ break in decadeslong practice policy, and that their clients are panicked they could be detained even when they are eligible to become legal permanent residents by law and have no criminal histories… The detentions are one of the latest tactics in President Donald Trump’s policies targeting legal pathways for immigration and increasing scrutiny of green card applicants. 

“The Trump administration has said in multiple cases that people were detained because they had fallen out of status by overstaying their visas, but longtime attorneys say this has never been an issue and spouses of U.S. citizens looking to obtain green cards were granted exceptions by Congress. The law says that immediate relatives, such as spouses, of U.S. citizens are eligible for green cards even if they were in unlawful immigration status at the time they filed to become legal permanent residents…

“Attorneys said the exact number of people affected would be difficult to quantify, but all said many spouses of U.S. citizens seeking green cards could fall into the category of overstaying their visas. There are currently at least hundreds of thousands of people who are at some stage of the green card application process, according to United States Citizenship and Immigration Service data…” 

The Trump administration is changing immigration law without congressional authority. Where is the outcry in the USA about such conduct? 

More Immigration Regulations 

NBC San Diego wrote on December 12: 

“A woman from Afghanistan who worked for the U.S. military saw her citizenship oath ceremony canceled with little explanation after she was already approved, her attorney said, as the Trump administration indefinitely pauses all immigration applications for people from 19 countries. ‘We knew it was coming, but we didn’t expect it to come for people who are only scheduled for like a celebratory ceremony, to celebrate becoming a citizen,’ said immigration attorney Habib Hasbini… 

“She applied for citizenship this year [after having had a green card for five years], Hasbini said, and her application was approved in October… But before her… ceremony, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services sent her a letter that said ‘due to unforeseen circumstances, we have had to cancel the previously scheduled Oath Ceremony.’… 

“The letter arrived after the Trump administration announced in late November a pause on any immigration applications from 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Haiti and Somalia, among others… There’s little indication when the pause will be lifted, if ever. At a rally in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, President Donald Trump touted the move. ‘I’ve also announced a permanent pause on third-world migration including from hellholes like Afghanistan, Haiti, Somalia and many other countries,’ he said to cheers from the crowd.” 

One wonders who those people are who support this—including, as we reported in last week’s Current Events—, the new contemplated rules regarding revealing Social Media activities (including watching, liking and sharing as well as posting videos) when wanting to enter the USA as a tourist. The scope of “Social Media” includes, among many others: 

Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Telegram, Messenger, Reddit, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter) and Rumble.   

In order to receive an ESTA, visitors are supposed to reveal all their activities for the last five years regarding any of those Social Media platforms. This new “law” is supposed to become effective within the next 60 days. It is strongly recommended that anyone who is contemplating to enter the USA as a tourist, file for an ESTA application now. Once approved, an ESTA is valid for 2 years. 

Denaturalizing Law-Abiding Citizens?

The New York Times wrote on December 17:

“The Trump administration plans to ramp up efforts to strip some naturalized Americans of their citizenship… The guidance, issued on Tuesday to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services field offices, asks that they ‘supply Office of Immigration Litigation with 100-200 denaturalization cases per month’ in the 2026 fiscal year…

“Under federal law, people may be denaturalized only if they committed fraud while applying for citizenship, or in a few other narrow circumstances. But the Trump administration has shown a zeal for using every tool at its disposal to target legal and illegal immigrants, leading activists to warn that such a campaign could sweep up people who had made honest mistakes on their citizenship paperwork and sow fear among law-abiding Americans.”

Trump’s Outrageous, Vicious and Insane Ranting on Rob Reiner’s Murder 

The New York Post wrote on December 15: 

“President Trump on Monday said murdered actor-director Rob Reiner had ‘driven people CRAZY’ with his opposition to the Republican chief executive, with his bizarre ranting post on Truth Social prompting outrage from critics of all political persuasions. Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele, 68, were found butchered in their Los Angeles home Sunday afternoon, allegedly at the hands of their… son Nick, 32 [who reportedly had drug addiction and other issues and who has been charged with two counts of murder]. 

“‘A very sad thing happened last night in Hollywood,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social. ‘Rob Reiner, a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star, has passed away, together with his wife, Michele, reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, sometimes referred to as TDS. He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump, with his obvious paranoia reaching new heights as the Trump Administration surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness, and with the Golden Age of America upon us, perhaps like never before. May Rob and Michele rest in peace!’… 

“Even conservatives were outraged by the president’s comments… Post columnist and Commentary magazine editor John Podhoretz [wrote:] ‘Trump disgraces America with his tweet.’ Charles C. W. Cooke of National Review Online wrote, ‘That Trump wrote this is insane and disgraceful. That the White House chose to tweet it out is pathological.’… 

“Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) said, ‘Regardless of how you felt about Rob Reiner, this is inappropriate and disrespectful discourse about a man who was just brutally murdered. I guess my elected GOP colleagues, the VP, and White House staff will just ignore it because they’re afraid?’” 

The Associated Press added on December 15:

“President Donald Trump on Monday blamed Rob Reiner’s outspoken opposition to the president for the actor-director’s killing, delivering the unsubstantiated claim in a shocking post that seemed intent on decrying his opponents even in the face of a tragedy. The statement, even for Trump, was a shocking comment… Trump has a long track record of inflammatory remarks, but his comments in a social media post were a drastic departure from the role presidents typically play in offering a message of consolation or tribute after the death of a public figure. His message drew criticism even from conservatives and his supporters and laid bare Trump’s unwillingness to rise above political grievance in moments of crisis… 

 “The unsympathetic message was the latest example of Trump’s unsparing prism through which he views those he perceives as enemies. He made retribution against political enemies a prime focus of his campaign for the White House last year. And he has in the past made light of violence when it’s befallen those on the other side of the political aisle… That’s despite his comments after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk earlier this year. Trump said Kirk’s killing was ‘the tragic consequence of demonizing those with whom you disagree.’… 

“Jenna Ellis, who was one of Trump’s lawyers and worked on his efforts in 2020 to overturn the results of the presidential election, pointed out Trump’s double standard and called his post… ‘a horrible example from Trump (and surprising considering the two attempts on his own life) and should be condemned by everyone with any decency,’ Ellis said in a post on X.” 

The Sun wrote on December 15: 

“President Trump’s unfounded claims regarding the couple’s death have sparked outrage among social media users. ‘This is the most disgusting post Donald Trump has ever made…Imagine if I said this about Charlie Kirk,’ political commentator Brian Kassenstein posted on X.   

“Sirius XM host and MSNBC contributor Max Burns also called out the president on his comments. ‘I don’t want to hear another sanctimonious word from the Republicans who accused Democrats of not showing enough sadness when Charlie Kirk died,’ Burns posted on X. ’Donald Trump’s message about Rob and Michele Reiner’s death is a monstrosity.’” 

Piers Morgan “ordered” Trump to delete his “dreadful” and “unacceptable” post (Daily Express, December 15). 

Rob Reiner’s acting credits include “Throw Momma from the Train,” and “Sleepless in Seattle.” He directed movies such as “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “A few Good Men” and “The American President.” His wife Michele was a photographer who took the famous photo of Trump that graced the cover of his bestselling 1987 book, “The Art of the Deal.” 

Trump’s Gaza Plan—Utter Failure

Israel365News wrote on December 14: 

“The plan championed by the Trump administration is on the verge of being hijacked – not by Israel, but by the very states that have spent years arming, financing, and glorifying Hamas. At the Doha Forum, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey dispensed with diplomatic subtleties and openly demanded changes that would render the entire plan meaningless. Their proposed ‘revisions’ would force an Israeli withdrawal before Hamas disarms, insert an international force that refuses to confront Hamas, and hard-wire Hamas’s continued rule into the future of Gaza. 

“The astonishing part is not that Qatar and Turkey are attempting this maneuver – it is that Washington is allowing it. The US is ignoring the plainly anti-Western ideological motives of its supposed partners, and in doing so, it is sleepwalking into a strategic catastrophe… 

“Egypt’s foreign minister [was] demanding that an International Stabilization Force deploy immediately – not to restrain Hamas, but to restrain Israel… Washington’s strategic failure becomes glaring. For years, American policymakers have clung to the fantasy that Qatar and Turkey are ‘moderating influences,’ countries that can rein in extremist groups. This is willful blindness. Qatar and Turkey do not moderate extremists – they sponsor them. They do not want a stable, demilitarized Gaza – they want a Gaza in which the Muslim Brotherhood retains its foothold… 

“Qatar shelters Hamas leadership, glorifies Hamas on Al Jazeera, and bankrolls Muslim Brotherhood movements across the region. Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, praises Hamas as ‘freedom fighters,’ calls for Israel’s destruction, and funnels support to Brotherhood-aligned groups everywhere.” 

Trump calls the dictator and autocrat, Erdogan, his friend. That says it all.

The “Menetekel” from Sydney 

Die Welt Online wrote on December 15: 

“…the deadly attack on a Hanukkah celebration [with 1,000 attendees] at the popular Bondi Beach in Sydney… [and the murder of at least sixteen people by two or perhaps three suspected Islamist terrorists] is evidence of a grotesque reversal of perpetrator and victim roles, demonstrating that Jews worldwide have had to contend with rising antisemitism since the massacre of October 7, 2023 – including the approximately 120,000 Jews in Australia, many of whom live in the greater Sydney area. 

“Just two days after the attack on the Supernova festival, which left 1,200 dead, pro-Palestinian groups chanted anti-Jewish slogans in front of the famous Sydney Opera House. There have been death threats against prominent Australian Jews, attacks on synagogues, and vandalism against Jewish businesses… 

“The attack in Sydney shows once again that the fight against antisemitism is not solely a Jewish responsibility, but a challenge for society as a whole, affecting all citizens – because it concerns universal values such as human dignity and the rule of law. A society in which Jews are not safe will not remain a free society in the long run.” 

The Curse of Global Warming Propaganda?

On December 13, the Daily Mail published the following article by Matt Ridley:

“By failing to secure new pledges for a cut in fossil fuels, [the recent] Cop30 [summit in Brazil] achieved less than nothing…

“… no scare grew as big or lasted as long as global warming… Politicians welcomed the chance to blame others: if a wildfire or a flood devastates your town, point the finger at the changing climate rather than your own failure to prepare…

“[Bill] Gates… is correct to say that getting cheap, reliable, clean energy to the poor is by far the more urgent priority… The climacatastrophe has been a terrible mistake. It diverted attention from real environmental problems, cost a fortune, impoverished consumers, perpetuated indoor pollution and poverty, frightened young people into not having children, wasted years of our time, undermined democracy and corrupted science…” 

Reclassification of Medical Marijuana

ABC News wrote on December 18:

“President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug. Currently, cannabis is classified as a Schedule I drug, the most restrictive federal category that includes heroin and LSD. Under this change, it moves to a Schedule III drug, putting it in the same group as some common prescription painkillers such as Tylenol with codeine….

“The White House is stressing that this change makes it easier for scientists to study marijuana, especially around its potential to treat chronic pain and other conditions. ‘The executive order the President will sign today is focused on increasing medical research for medical marijuana and CBD,’ a senior administration official told ABC News ahead [of] the signing.”

 An overdue move to be applauded.

The Next Big Financial Crash Is Coming—But When? 

On December 9, the Daily Mail published the following article by Ruth Sunderland: 

“Dr Michael Burry singled out two of the biggest winners of the Artificial Intelligence frenzy, Nvidia – a computer chip maker – and Palantir, a data analytics giant. The renowned investor explained that he had taken out bets that both will fall heavily within two years. He also derided bitcoin, whose value has shot up over the past five years, as ‘the most ridiculous thing… worse than a tulip bulb’ – a reference to the Dutch craze for the flower in the 17th century. Bitcoin has recently fallen back… 

“Burry argued that this AI bubble ‘looks an awful lot like the dot-com bubble’, which burst in 2000 after years of euphoria about the internet. 

“Burry… is in fact legendary for predicting the 2008 sub-prime mortgage meltdown, making hundreds of millions of dollars for himself and his clients while the rest of the financial system went into freefall… So when Burry warns the astonishing surge in AI shares will end badly, big investors take notice, even if they beg to differ… doubts are growing that the technology is turning into a bottomless money pit for investors and that the promised returns on the vast investments being made will prove elusive… 

“A major collapse in AI-linked shares would not be confined to the US markets or to tech stocks. Banks could face rising bad debts, global stock markets would slump and pension pots would shrink… 

“Burry is far from infallible. In 2017 he predicted a global meltdown that would trigger World War III, which has not happened yet. Two years later he warned of a bubble driven by index-tracking funds, which has not yet materialised either. He also bet against Tesla in late 2020 – just before its shares accelerated further… Burry has been predicting a crash for years in the US as stocks continue to soar… 

“In the run-up to the 2008 crash, Wall Street banks bundled risky ‘sub-prime’ mortgages into supposedly safe bonds. However, they did not account for the high chance many borrowers would be unable to repay their loans… It is relatively easy to spot a market that is over-valued and ripe for a fall, but what is really hard is predicting when the meltdown will come – and getting that wrong can prove costly… This time [Burry] admits he does not know when the AI bubble will burst and says the 2008 experience was unique… 

“Burry’s track record includes moments of brilliance but also some notable misfires. Plenty of experts believe the AI boom has further to run, and that selling out now would mean missing out on more profit. Investors must make up their own minds – but it is hard to ignore the doctor who diagnosed the last great financial crash.” 

Bulgaria Becomes the Newest Member of the Eurozone 

Bild Online reported on December 12: 

“From January 1, Bulgaria will also be part of the Eurozone.  However, the times there are turbulent: Following protests, the Bulgarian government resigned on Thursday. The resignation came shortly before the introduction of the euro and its own new coins… As the 21st country, Bulgaria is officially adopting the common currency… 

“Six EU states are retaining their own currencies: Poland, Hungary, Sweden, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Romania. They belong to the EU – but not to the Eurozone… There are already approximately 141 billion euro coins in circulation. Billions more from Bulgaria will soon be added.” 

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.

Amazingly, there are those who still erroneously believe that Jesus was born on December 25.For many decades, we have told the world, along with many other sources, that this is simply not the case; however, the world at large has generally ignored this information.  It is a bonanza for businesses that care only for the sales of their products.

It is possible to know the approximate time of Jesus’s birth, which totally destroys the Christmas myth, which is such a big issue in today’s society, and can be a make-or-break time for many businesses, since many people spend so much money at this time of the year.   But in the year 2025, very few seem to care, as it is a time to be merry, have a week or two off work and just enjoy oneself.   There are those who may genuinely take this time seriously, thinking that they are worshipping Jesus even though they may realize that the date is wrong, and even that the roots of Christmas are of pagan origin, but that it is an exciting time for their children and the family.   And yet, it is a practice which does not have God’s approval.

There is not one single reference in all 66 books of the Bible, and not one mention in early church literature pinpointing the date of Jesus’s birth. Obviously, God did not want us to know the date He was born!   

However, we do celebrate Christ’s death.   It is through His death and atoning Sacrifice that we are reconciled to God, and have forgiveness of sin.   

Let us, very briefly, look at the biblical way of calculating the approximate time of Jesus’s birth.  We will be looking at verses in just two books – Luke 1 and 1 Chronicles 24 to prove the approximate time of the year that the Savior of mankind was born.

Let us look at the biblical way of calculating this by reviewing Luke 1, where John the Baptist’s birth was announced to Zacharias. [We addressed this issue before, together with other aspects; compare our Q&A, asking and answering the question: “In your new book, ‘Jesus Christ — A Mystery,’ as well as in your booklet, ‘Don’t Keep Christmas,’ you state that Christ was not born on December 25th. Does the Bible give any indication as to when He was born?”. In this Q&A, we are elaborating on the passages in Luke 1 and 1 Chronicles 24.]

In Luke 1:5-9, we read:

“(5) There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah.  His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. (6) And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. (7) But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. (8) So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, (9) according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.”

There are two points to note here.

In verse 5, it states that the “division” or “course” was that of Abijah, and in verse 8, it says that “he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his “division” or “course” (compare Authorized Version).

These courses lasted 8 days, from Sabbath to Sabbath, and there were 24 of them, and the division of Abijah, like the others, would serve in the temple twice a year.

These divisions or courses are listed in 1 Chronicles 24. We read in verse 10: “…the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah.”

In verse 19, we read: “This was the schedule of their service for coming into the house of the LORD according to their ordinance by the hand of Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.

In his book under the heading “The Twenty-Four Courses,” the author Alfred Edersheim writes that each “course” of priests and Levites came on duty for a week from one Sabbath to another.   So, going back to Luke 1:5, we see that John the Baptist’s father – Zacharias was of the course of Abijah – was the eighth course.   

Let us continue reading this account in Luke 1:9-25:

“(9) … according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot (that is Zacharias) fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. (10) And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. (11) Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. (12) And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. (13) But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. (14) And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. (15) For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.  (16) And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. (17) He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, “to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,” and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’ (18) And Zacharias said to the angel, ‘How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.’ (19) And the angel answered and said to him, ‘I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.’ (21) And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. (22) But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless. (23) So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. (24) Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, (25) ‘Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.’”

And so, as soon as he finished his course—the eighth one—, he went home and his wife conceived.

By knowing the approximate date of John the Baptist’s birth, we should be able to arrive at the time of the birth of Christ, because Luke 1:26, 27, 36 tells us that Christ was just six months younger than John the Baptist. We will explain this in detail below. 

All of this simply means the following:  

• The courses started at the beginning of the sacred year.
• Zacharias served in the 8^th course.
• Since the course of Abijah was eighth in order, Zacharias ministered in the ninth week rather than the eighth week because during the third week, all the priests were ministering the Passover season.
• The first course started around April 6 that year.
• Zacharias, serving in the ninth week, served from around June 1 to June 8 which was the time when the angel told him that his wife would conceive and bear a son to be called John.
• Zacharias could not have returned home on June 9 however, because that week began with a Holy Day (Pentecost), in which his course ministered, along with the other 23 courses. This extra service kept him in Jerusalem until Sivan 12 (June 15).   At that time, he could return home and his wife conceived which was mid-to-late June.
• As the gestation period is 280 days, we arrive at about Nisan 1 – probably late March.
• As Jesus was 6 months younger than John [see below], we add 6 months to late March – which means that Jesus was born in late September or perhaps in early October.

We know that there were two courses a year and this course (or division) referred to, must have been the first course of the year because:

• The guest chambers became available around the time of the Feast of Tabernacles.
• Taxation (compare Luke 2:1-5) came just after the autumnal (fall) festival season; and
• Christ’s ministry was for 3½ years and as He was crucified at Passover, He was born 3½ years earlier which takes us back to the autumn. To elaborate, Luke 3:23 states that Jesus started His ministry around age 30). The Book of John mentions three Passovers: John 2:13; John 6:4 and John 11:55), with the last Passover leading to Christ’s arrest and crucifixion, fitting within Daniel’s prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27) of the Messiah’s coming and being “cut off” in the middle of the final week. Compare chapter 6 of our free booklet, “When and How Will Christ Return?” 

Going back to the Scriptural evidence, and showing in more detail that Jesus was in fact 6 months younger than John the Baptist, let us look at Luke 1:26:

“(26) Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth…”

This is where Christ’s birth was announced to Mary.   The sixth month referred to here is the 6^th month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, as explained below.

Continuing with verses 27-36:

“(27) to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. (28) And having come in, the angel said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!’ (29) But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. (30) Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. (31) And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. (32) He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. (33) And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.’(34) Then Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I do not know a man?’ (35) And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. (36) Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.”

As stated above, the sixth month referred to here is the 6^th month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, as verse 36 says that this is the 6^th month for her who was called barren.

Mary was to become the mother of Jesus – and conceived (verse 31) when Elizbeth, her cousin, was six months pregnant, as it says here in verse 36 which confirms the “sixth month” as mentioned in verse 26.   And so, when John the Baptist was born in mid-to-late March, Mary was 3 months pregnant.   Six months later, Mary gave birth to Jesus in approximately late September or maybe even early October—we simply do not know exactly, but it occurred around that time.  God has not made this date known, but surely would have done so had He wanted us to celebrate it.

Additional evidence is the fact that Jerusalem and the surrounding towns were very crowded with visitors at the time that Jesus was born – His parents had to take accommodation in a stable.  The autumnal festivals occur in the seventh month of the sacred year as we know from Leviticus 23, corresponding to our September/October.   This was also the time of the year when taxes were collected, as mentioned previously.

We can prove from many sources the paganism of Christmas (compare our free booklet, “Don’t Keep Christmas”). December 25is just another day – there is nothing sacred or holy about it.   Hopefully, in the not-too-distant future, God’s Feast days and not the world’s pagan holidays – like Christmas – will be kept by everyone, worldwide. And that is such a wonderful thing to look forward to!

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

compiled by Dave Harris

“Does Trump Sleepwalk Into Catastrophes?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

Many feel that Trump is detached from reality and sleepwalks through this world, not realizing what is and will be occurring. We are giving several examples to prove this conclusion and to show the dangers. Towards the end of this program, we address what God expects of Trump to do now.

“Schlafwandelt Trump in Katastrophen hinein?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program presented by Norbert Link. This program covers the same topics as described above.

We received word this week that long time member, Lora Lewis, died in her sleep following a long struggle with cancer. Our heartfelt prayers go out to the Lewis and Mitchell families.

Rhonda Cagle’s father died this week, and we extend our condolences for this very personal loss. 

“Tu das Gegenteil,” is the title of this Sabbath’s German split sermon presented by Michael Link. Title in English: “Do the Opposite.” 

“Hat Gott Sie für die zweite Auferstehung vorherbestimmt?” last Sabbath’s German sermon presented by Thilo Hanstein, is now posted. Title in English: “Has God Predestined You For the Second Resurrection?”

“Achten wir heute auf die Zeichen vor der Wiederkunft Christi?” last Sabbath’s German sermonette presented by Patrick Flück, is now posted. Title in English: “Are We Paying Attention to the Signs Preceding Christ’s Return Today?”

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

Is it even possible to do anything at the present time that will allow us to look into the future, in which we know what will happen to us?

“Maintaining Balance,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Eric Rank, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Living a balanced life takes continuous practice. How can we detect when we might be falling off balance before we fall? The Bible abounds with examples for us to learn from, so we can become ever better at balancing the varied conditions and competing interests in our lives.