Update 1191

On January 17, 2026, Eric Rank will present the sermonette, titled, “What Have You Learned About Generosity?” and Dave Harris will present the sermon, titled, “Those Who Knew Better.”

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.

Recently, Elon Musk (the world’s richest man) claimed that Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the near future will create a reality where there will be an abundance of goods and services, which in turn will make money useless.

In a Podcast that he was on, he stated the following: “One side recommendation I have is: Don’t worry about squirreling money away for retirement in 10 or 20 years. It won’t matter.” He went on to iterate that AI will become so efficient that it will make the cost of everything nearly zero. Everyone will be able to have “universal income” and AI will create a “good future where anyone can have whatever stuff they want.” He also stated that AI in the next 5 years will become so advanced that we will have “better medical care than anyone has today” with “no scarcity of goods and services. You can learn anything you want about anything for free” (compare Moonshots with Pete Diamandis).

What struck me about this concept that Musk was introducing is that it is in direct opposition to God and what He has put man here on earth to do.

When God ripped apart man’s languages and scattered people at the tower of Babel, the people had similar ideas as to what is happening now: “How can we make something so great that it dwarfs God?”

I am reminded of what God told Daniel at the end of the book of Daniel: “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4).

AI is undeniably increasing human knowledge and allegedly solving problems at an astonishing speed. But the question is not whether knowledge is increasing; the questions we should be asking are, what kind of world is this increase producing? These are some of the relevant questions:

Are our families stronger?

Is violence decreasing?

Is truth becoming clearer?

Is peace increasing?

Is Godly knowledge flourishing?

I suggest just the opposite as we read in chapter 59 of Isaiah (the first eight verses are about being separated from God). Verse 8 points out that man separated from God is lost: “The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace.” AI will not change human thinking at its core.

January 16th marks 40 years since the death of Mr. Armstrong, the late leader of the now defunct Worldwide Church of God. Mr. Armstrong consistently taught that man always chooses capability and intellect over submission to God. I wonder how he would view AI; my guess is that he would see it as a multiplier of the very problem God has always warned about. AI is massively expanding material knowledge but it does nothing to change human nature.

Mr. Armstrong often stressed the lessons from the two trees in the Garden of Eden. Humanity chose to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil while rejecting the Tree of Life (God’s Spirit, God’s mind and God’s government). AI does nothing to bring us closer to God in terms of choosing correctly. In fact, IF what Musk proposes turned out to be true, the question I have is how would this make people turn to God? Indeed, I would suggest that just the opposite would be true with AI giving man more ability to do wrong faster, more efficiently and on a global scale.

AI may eliminate scarcity, but it cannot eliminate sin. Without God, abundance only magnifies mankind’s rebellion (Deuteronomy 8:11-18). As we continue to watch this world deteriorate, our message and preaching remains the same! We continue to preach about the coming Kingdom of God and how only the return of Jesus Christ to set up this Kingdom will save humanity. The road to get to the Kingdom is going to be very tragic and devastating for mankind. Yet in the end, God’s goal is for all of humanity to have the opportunity to unite with Him and to join His Family. 

by Norbert Link

We begin with the killing of a US citizen by an ICE agent in Minneapolis and the twisted reactions, while the Truth is suffering and many times ignored. Especially empathy by “Christian” commentators and politicians is woefully missing. The specter of civil war is on the horizon.

We also report on Pope Leo’s attack on Trump and Putin; and Trump’s ongoing military threats against numerous countries while, at the same time, complaining that he was not awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. We are in particular focusing on the volatile situation pertaining to Greenland which could destroy the NATO alliance.

We are also speaking about the events in Iran and Germany’s shameful silence; and we conclude with Robert F. Kennedy’s complaints about German dictatorial measures, especially during COVID; and Germany’s unconscionable and antiquated prohibition of homeschooling.

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Germany’s Refusal to Accept Guilt for Authoritarian Corona Measures.” 

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

Minnesota Killing… and Torrent of Untruths 

The Guardian wrote on January 9: 

“The killing of a US citizen by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis was a five-alarm fire for the Trump administration. But a torrent of untruths, half-truths, smears and innuendo has been unleashed by the White House… 

“The victim-blaming began almost immediately after news broke of Good’s killing on Wednesday. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and a regular spokesperson for ICE, declared in a post on X that ‘one of these violent rioters weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them – an act of domestic terrorism.’ Multiple ICE officers were hurt, she insisted, when videos of the shooting showed no such thing… 

“There is simply no evidence that Good was ‘a violent rioter’ or ‘domestic terrorist.’ No riot was taking place before her encounter with the ICE agents… A… video clearly shows that the officer who fired the fatal shots walked up to the front of Good’s car, which was turning away from him as it began to move forward, and he remained on his feet as the vehicle passed him…  The … video shows that the officer was so slightly brushed by the slowly moving car that he had no trouble retaining his balance and firing multiple shots at the driver. The same clip also appears to show that the vehicle only accelerated after the driver had been fatally shot…. 

“The officer who killed Good was not in the pathway of her car when he began firing, analysis of the video shows. Two other officers were beside the car, and no members of the public were seen to be in harm’s way. There is no evidence that any ICE officer was injured.” 

Unverified reports suggested that the agent suffered internal bleeding and was shortly treated in a hospital. Based on the available evidence, these reports appear to be highly dubious.

Trump’s America Is Torn Apart 

Daily Mail wrote on January 8: 

“A squad of ICE agents hunting down illegal migrants. A mother who went to protest against them after dropping her young son at school. A pop-pop-pop of bullets – then blood in the snow… the ELEVEN SECONDS tearing Trump’s America apart. 

“In this case, the ICE convoy – SUVs and pick-up trucks – decided to leave the vicinity, moving off with lights and sirens blaring. But they were blocked by a maroon SUV, a Honda Pilot, parked askew in the middle of the street… After about three minutes, an ICE agent walked around Ms Good’s vehicle… filming on his phone. 

“The Honda’s driver rolled the car forward slightly, turning left (towards the ICE convoy), but then stopped and waved for other cars to drive past. But the Honda was already reversing before its wheels turned to the right and it started to drive off – away from the agents. It was too late. At around 10.25am, three shots rang out in rapid succession, fired by the agent who’d originally circled the vehicle with his phone camera… 

“He’d then positioned himself just to the left of the front of the car and drawn his gun, reportedly shouting at the driver to ‘stop’ before opening fire. He fired into the windscreen – witnesses recalled hearing a sudden ‘putt, putt, putt’ sound – and continued shooting as the car swerved past him. It came to a halt a few seconds later, crashing into a parked vehicle… The agent holstered his gun and walked unhurriedly towards the Honda before turning back and telling his colleagues to summon an ambulance. 

“Video footage taken from a distance in front of the car suggests the vehicle clipped the agent, but other footage makes clear the driver didn’t run him over… 

“Trump’s opponents counter that Ms Good was not remotely a ‘terrorist’ and that none of the agents were in danger. Some believe she may have panicked when faced by the armed men. Trump’s critics have produced video evidence that certainly contradicts the official government narrative: careful analysis from several angles shows the car did drive towards the agent as he stood in front of it, but he was able to step out of the way and let off at least two shots at the side of the vehicle as it passed… 

“Her defenders insist she was murdered by a trigger-happy federal agent. Reports Jonathan Ross was dragged 50ft by a car last June may encourage his accusers in their case that he wildly over-reacted… 

“Ordinary people can watch the videos – frame by frame if necessary – and make up their own mind who is responsible. However, it’s unlikely many Americans will approach the controversy with an entirely open mind. 

“Trump’s migrant deportation drive – and particularly the heavy use of ICE agents to round up people who’ve often been living in the US for decades – has proved to be one of the most controversial policies of the President’s second term so far. Last month, it was revealed that the number of people in ICE detention had reached a record high of more than 68,400… Opponents counter that quite aside from questions of fairness, it is economic madness to deport so many long-standing, working migrants when Trump had appeared to have only dangerous criminals in his sights. 

“More troubling still, they believe the President has created in ICE a ‘personal army’ which seems alarmingly unaccountable and is, according to its critics, unconstitutional, not to say ‘un-American’. ICE agents, who often hide their faces and wear no identifiable insignia or identification, can detain people without charges or a hearing before flying them abroad… 

“With protesters angrily confronting heavily armed agents at every opportunity, some will say that a death like Wednesday’s tragedy in Minneapolis was inevitable. And with Minneapolis’s Left-wing mayor Jacob Frey saying that ICE needs to ‘get… out of his city’, and the Trump administration making it equally clear that it won’t be pushed around, the terrible events of this week might have been just the opening shots….” 

Demonstrations against ICE are ongoing. And so, civil war is more likely than not. 

New Video Proves Nothing 

The Huffington Post wrote on January 10: 

“An alleged cell phone video showing an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shooting Renee Good, filmed from the shooter’s angle, was given to right-wing website Alpha News on Friday… which was also shared by Fox News, CBS News and other outlets… 

“The camera pans up to the sky as Good drives away and Ross fatally shoots the 37-year-old mother. It remains unclear from the footage whether Good’s car made contact with Ross, but previously released footage showed her angling her car away from him when she began driving. It also showed Ross walking away from the scene after he shot her… 

“Vice President JD Vance shared the video on social media, claiming it backed up the Trump administration’s claims that Good was threatening Ross’s life… He also slammed coverage of the shooting, suggesting the video was proof that outlets were ‘lying about this innocent law enforcement officer… You should all be ashamed of yourselves,’ Vance wrote.”

Maybe it’s Vance who should be ashamed of himself? Note the next article.

JD Vance No True Catholic? 

The National Catholic Reporter (NCR) wrote on January 8: 

“JD Vance has taken to social media to justify the shooting and blame Good for her own death… The Trump administration was quick to demonize Good. Within hours of the event and before a formal investigation could even be launched, Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem labeled Good’s actions as an ‘act of ‘domestic terrorism.’ President Donald Trump on Jan. 7 labeled her as ‘disorderly, obstructing and resisting, who then violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer.’ Trump went on to say that the ICE officer was lucky to be alive and ‘is now recovering in the hospital.’… 

“The investigation is ongoing, but the entire situation is a powder keg: Social media is on fire as users viciously debate the justification of the killing and it seems protests are beginning in Minneapolis and beyond. 

“But in spite of the increasing uproar, Vice President JD Vance said… ‘You can accept that this woman’s death is a tragedy while acknowledging it’s a tragedy of her own making. Don’t illegally interfere in federal law enforcement operations and try to run over our officers with your car. It’s really that simple’… 

“At the time of publication of this piece, at no point has Vance tweeted any remorse, prayers or condolences regarding Good and her loved ones. Instead, Vance continued his storm of social media posts the morning after the shooting — this time leaning into divisive, tribalistic language to demonize Democrats. 

“In times past, a politician might offer thoughts and prayers, encourage those reacting to wait for the full results of the investigation and generally try to lower the temperature… JD Vance went in a different direction… 

“As a Catholic, Vance knows better than to peddle this brand of gaslighting and agitation. Vance knows that, by virtue of her humanity, Good was endowed with inherent dignity, made in the image and likeness of God. Vance knows that only God can take life. Vance knows that protesting, fleeing or even interfering in an ICE investigation (which there is no evidence that Good did) does not carry a death sentence. Vance knows that lying and killing are sins. 

“Vance knows. He doesn’t care. Vance’s twisted and wrongheaded view of Christianity has been repudiated by two popes. His Catholicism seems to be little more than a political prop, a tool only for his career ambitions and desire for power. The vice president’s comments justifying the death of Renee Good are a moral stain on the collective witness of our Catholic faith. His repeated attempts to blame Good for her own death are fundamentally incompatible with the Gospel. Our only recourse is to pray for his conversion of heart.” 

While we are at it, many members of the Trump Administration need a conversion of heart as well. But this is also true for all the other right- and left-wing politicians who seem to have only their political agenda in mind.

Can ICE Agents Be Prosecuted? 

Reuters wrote on January 8: 

“The officer fired ‘defensive shots’ after a ‘violent rioter’ attempted to run over officers, a spokeswoman of the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement, adding that the officer had feared for his life. Online videos of the shooting verified by Reuters cast doubt on the government’s narrative, however. 

“One video showed an officer approach an SUV and order the driver out and grab at the door handle while another officer appeared in front of the car. The driver moves forward while turning away from the officers, and the one in front pulls his weapon, steps back and fires three shots. It was not clear if the car made contact with the officer, and he fired at least one shot after it had already passed him… 

“Minnesota’s use-of-force law permits state police to use deadly force only if reasonable officers would believe doing so was necessary to protect themselves, or others, from death or serious harm. Federal law has a similar standard, permitting use of deadly force when a reasonable officer would have probable cause to believe a person posed an immediate threat of death or serious injury. 

“Federal agents are generally immune from state prosecution for actions taken as part of their official duties. Immunity only applies when an officer’s actions were authorized under federal law and were necessary and proper. 

“If Minnesota charged the agent, he could seek to move the case to federal court and argue he is immune from prosecution. To prevail, the state would have to show the actions were outside his official duties or were objectively unreasonable or clearly unlawful. If a judge ruled the officer was immune, the case would be dismissed and the state would not be able to charge him again. 

“Federal prosecutors can charge law enforcement officers for fatal shootings, but the bar is very high and charges are rare. Prosecutors would need to show the officer knew his conduct was unlawful or acted with reckless disregard for the constitutional limits of his authority, which is difficult to prove in court.” 

These human-made laws are totally contrary to God’s commandments. If the ICE agent is guilty, he needs to be dealt with. 

Tucker Carlson Rips MAGA Reactions 

The Huffington Post wrote on January 9: 

“Tucker Carlson has joined the multitude of conservatives with commentary on the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good… However, the former Fox News host had a starkly different reaction than many of his peers. Carlson slammed his fellow conservatives for using the tragedy ‘to score political points,’ while also decrying liberal leaders like Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for ‘behaving like children’… 

“‘The 37-year-old was an American citizen and reportedly the mother of a kindergarten-aged child. Did we disagree with her views on immigration? Probably,’ he continued. ‘But that shouldn’t matter. Her death is a tragedy, regardless of her partisan affiliations, ideological beliefs, or who pulled the trigger. A woman got shot in the face. How come so few conservatives are viewing this story through a human lens?’…

“Carlson argued Thursday that violence around the world is ‘desensitizing Americans to violence at home,’ adding that as Trump supporters and critics debate the recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela, few have focused on the death toll of at least 75 people… 

“‘If the United States were in a better place, everyone, regardless of their politics, would pause when something like the Minneapolis shooting happens and at least recognize the human tragedy,’ wrote Carlson. ‘But that doesn’t happen because, compared to the countless overseas killings our government routinely brings about, Good’s death doesn’t seem like such a big deal. She’s just another headline.’” 

Sadly, Carlson is SO RIGHT with his assessment. 

German Reaction to Minneapolis Shooting 

The Süddeutsche Zeitung wrote on January 10:

“‘In Minneapolis, an ICE immigration officer kills a woman who posed no threat to him whatsoever – and is even praised by the government for it. People without decency or empathy are running the country,’ comments SZ author Peter Burghardt:

“‘The US doesn’t need masked militias. The agents of Border Patrol and ICE are under pressure because ideologues like Trump’s hardliner Stephen Miller demand that at least 3,000 foreigners without immigration papers be arrested or forced out of the country every day. And this practice is just gaining momentum; Trump’s budget includes billions of dollars for ICE. 

“The gunman in Minneapolis was clearly unfit for his job; otherwise, he wouldn’t have opened fire immediately. The exact sequence of events still needs to be investigated, but Trump and his MAGA crowd are, as usual, immediately blaming the resistance to ICE. How will the FBI, which is under their control, conduct its investigation? If the Democrats want to be taken even remotely seriously, they must use every political means at their disposal to rein in Trump’s private army.”

ICE Arrests Tribal Citizens 

The Associated Press wrote on January 13: 

“The president of Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota on Tuesday called for the immediate release of tribal members who were detained… by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minnesota last week… ‘The Oglala Sioux Tribe’s memorandum makes clear that ‘tribal citizens are not aliens’ and are ‘categorically outside immigration jurisdiction,’ Star Comes Out said. ‘Enrolled tribal members are citizens of the United States by statute and citizens of the Oglala Sioux Nation by treaty.’… 

“Fort Snelling has a troubling history for Indigenous people. It was the first military outpost in the area, and Dakota people were held prisoner there during the Dakota War of 1862, an armed conflict between the U.S. and Native Americans… 

“Last year, elected leaders in the Navajo Nation said that tribal citizens in Arizona and New Mexico reported being stopped and detained by ICE officers… That same month [of November], Elaine Miles, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon and an actress known for her roles in ‘Northern Exposure’ and ‘The Last of Us,’ said she was stopped by ICE officers in Washington state who told her that her tribal ID looked fake.” 

Nobody is safe anymore. 

Joe Rogan Compares ICE With Gestapo

NBC News wrote on January 13:

“Joe Rogan, one of the biggest podcasters in the world, had endorsed Trump in the 2024 election… [His] show, which has consistently retained its No. 1 spot on the Spotify podcast charts, has more than 20.6 million subscribers on YouTube. But on Tuesday, Rogan, who has been increasingly critical of Trump’s mass deportation agenda in recent months, expressed concern over ICE’s activities in an episode featuring Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.

“He said that ‘most people’ believe law enforcement should arrest criminals, but that many of the same people also believe ICE is ‘operating illegally.’ ‘I can also see the point of view of the people that say, ‘Yeah, but you don’t want militarized people in the streets just roaming around snatching people up, many of which turn out to actually be U.S. citizens that just don’t have their papers on them,’ Rogan said. ‘Are we really going to be the Gestapo? “Where’s your papers?” Is that what we’ve come to?’”

 Sadly, it appears to be that way.

Pope Leo Takes On Trump and Putin 

The Associated Press wrote on January 9: 

“In his most substantial critique of U.S., Russian, and other military incursions in sovereign countries, Pope Leo XIV on Friday denounced how nations were using force to assert their dominion worldwide, ‘completely undermining’ peace and the post-World War II international legal order. ‘War is back in vogue and a zeal for war is spreading,’ Leo told ambassadors from around the world who represent their countries’ interests at the Holy See. 

“Leo didn’t name individual countries that have resorted to force in his lengthy speech…  but his speech came amid the backdrop of the recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela to remove Nicolas Maduro from power, Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, and other conflicts….” 

James 4:1-3 states: 

“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” 

Trump Repeats His Military Threats 

The Sun wrote on January 9:

“Trump has said the US will begin land strikes on Mexico to target drug cartels… It comes after an astonishing week where the US captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and threatened Columbia with military action… The US President told Fox News: ‘We are gonna start now hitting land with regard to the cartels. The cartels are running Mexico, it’s very sad to watch what’s happened to the country.’… 

“Trump has marked up Greenland, Cuba and Columbia as his next potential targets in threats that have angered world leaders and NATO. The president has hinted at invading Mexico in a bid to attack its cartels since his election campaign. He warned its leaders to ‘get their act together’ in the immediate aftermath of his weekend strike on Venezuela.”

Greenland Invasion Plot 

The Daily Mail wrote on January 10: 

“Donald Trump has ordered his special forces commanders to draw up a plan for the invasion of Greenland… 

“Sources say that the policy ‘hawks’ around the US President, led by political adviser Stephen Miller, have been so emboldened by the success of the operation to capture Venezuela’s leader Nicolas Maduro that they want to move quickly to seize the island before Russia or China makes a move. 

“British diplomats believe that Trump is also motivated by a desire to distract American voters from the performance of the US economy before the mid-term elections later this year, after which he could lose control of Congress to the Democrats.  But such a dramatic move… would effectively lead to the collapse of Nato. 

“According to the sources, the President has asked the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to prepare the invasion plan, but it is being resisted by the joint chiefs of staff on the grounds that it would be illegal – and would not be supported by Congress… One diplomatic cable describes the ‘worst-case’ scenario as leading to ‘the destruction of Nato from the inside’. 

“It adds: ‘Some European officials suspect this is the real aim of the hardline MAGA faction around Trump. Since Congress would not allow Trump to exit Nato, occupying Greenland could force the Europeans to abandon Nato. If Trump wants to end Nato, this might be the most convenient way to do it.’… It concludes: ‘The current concerns [about an invasion] are driven by the most extreme views coming from Stephen Miller. The UK’s positioning will be key – whether it sticks closely with European allies or breaks ranks [to sanction Trump’s approach].‘” 

Fire Stephen Miller! 

WRAL News wrote on January 8: 

“U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, forcefully rebutted comments from one of the top officials in the Trump administration about a potential American takeover of Greenland… Tillis… called comments made by Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller ‘insane’ and ‘amateur hour.’… Tillis also said Miller should inform himself or get out of the job.” 

ABC 11 added on January 8: 

“The comments from retiring North Carolina senator mark some of the strongest yet from a Republican lawmaker following the White House deputy chief of staff’s assertion that the US has the right to take Greenland… ‘And I know, whether they say it out loud or not, most of my colleagues agree with me.’”

The problem is, they don’t say it out loud. Miller should have been fired a long time ago. 

Miller—Cold-Eyed, Racist and Most Influential? 

The Daily Mail wrote on January 13, 2026:

“If there was one thing that terrified Donald Trump’s critics more than the sensational raid he launched to capture Venezuela’s dictator Nicolas Maduro, it was the cavalier way his overweening policy chief Stephen Miller then sought to justify it. ‘We live in a world in which you can talk all you want about international niceties and everything else… But we live in a world… that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power. These are the iron laws of the world that existed since the beginning of time.’

“Viewers had barely caught their breath at this outburst of cold-eyed belligerence when Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy and his homeland security adviser, dropped another bombshell as the conversation moved to the sovereign Danish territory of Greenland [see article above]…

“Not for nothing is California-born Miller now regarded as the most influential official in the White House – and perhaps the most powerful unelected man in the US… Although Miller is of Ashkenazi Jewish extraction, Democrats like to portray him as a jackbooted fascist, Trump’s skinhead bovver boy…

“His own uncle, eminent psychologist David Glosser, has publicly condemned him, claiming that their family – who fled anti-Jewish pogroms in Europe – would have been ‘wiped out’ under his nephew’s immigration crackdown… He’s widely accused of being virulently xenophobic, if not outright racist… one ally described him as having ‘the bedside manner of [SS chief] Heinrich Himmler’. He is said to yell at everybody during his daily (even Saturdays) staff meetings – ‘nobody is spared from his wrath’.”

And this man is the most powerful unelected official? 

NATO on the Brink 

Aljazeera wrote on January 10: 

“The Trump administration has once again threatened to take control of Greenland either by acquiring it or through the use of military force to ‘deter our adversaries in the Arctic region.’… 

“European and Canadian leaders have jumped to support Denmark and Greenland, saying they are working on a plan in the event the United States follows through with its threats. Analysts have said that any attempt by the US to seize Greenland would be an unprecedented move in NATO’s history and raise serious questions about the survival of the alliance and the limits of Article 5, which was designed to defend against an external aggressor… 

“Collective defence is NATO’s governing principle, where Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty states that an armed attack against one NATO member is considered an attack against all… Because Article 5 requires unanimous agreement from all members to be invoked, a conflict between two members would lead to an impasse, as the alliance cannot vote to go to war against itself.” 

Europe Must Cut All Ties With the USA

The Guardian wrote on January 14:

“[Will] Europe finally choose between Europe and the US? Will its leaders have the courage to tell the full truth – that the US isn’t simply  abandoning its allies and destroying the international world order but is now in the position of active and hostile predation by force – and more importantly, to act on it?…

“If the US actually attacks Denmark by invading Greenland… [it] would demand the seizure of US military bases from Germany to Spain, individual sanctions on a wide range of US government officials, broad sanctions against the US economy… And if the US doesn’t attack Denmark, Europe’s best chance of surviving as a free and open continent in an imperial world is still to force the rupture with the US, force the consequences… anyway…  it is time for Europe to tell the US to leave its European military bases, throw off the yoke of US tech billionaires… Europe must cut the cord now, and not follow them into the storm.”

Strong words… unheard of just a few years ago. But in line with biblical prophecy.

Vance Hates Europe

Politico wrote on January 15:

“Among the 10 ministers and officials who spoke anonymously to POLITICO for this article, none regarded Vance as an ally — either in the Greenland talks or for the transatlantic relationship in general. 

“‘Vance hates us,’ said one European diplomat… While Trump can be distracted, some EU officials say, Vance appears to be more ideological in his hostility to Europe…”

Drums of War 

The Sun wrote on January 10: 

“DONALD Trump is ready to unleash the full force of US power as he eyes up a ‘hitlist’ of targets to create a new world order… Trump has marked up Cuba, Colombia, Mexico, Canada, Greenland and Iran as targets after the opening salvo on Venezuela – and is preparing for another hit soon, experts fear… 

“Trump’s threats have been described as an attempt to create an American ‘empire’… If Trump is to follow through with his threats, America could be fighting conflicts on multiple fronts across the globe, experts say.” 

The Hill wrote on January 14: 

“Denmark is boosting its military presence in and around Greenland… The Danish Defense Ministry noted Wednesday that it strengthened its presence in and around Greenland last summer as well with assistance from Germany, France, Sweden and Norway.” 

Fundamental Disagreements Remain 

Deutsche Welle wrote on January 14: 

“Danish and Greenlandic officials said they still have a ‘fundamental disagreement’ with President Donald Trump over Greenland after meeting in Washington with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio… 

“Denmark has taken steps in recent days to increase military presence in Greenland, and has called for military exercises that will include aircraft, vessels and soldiers. Sweden said it would participate. On Wednesday, Germany and France both said they would send troops to Greenland for exercises.” 

German President: Trump Is Destroying World Order 

Reuters wrote on January 8: 

“German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has strongly criticised U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump and urged the world not to let the world order disintegrate into a ‘den of robbers’ where the unscrupulous take what they want (and where regions or entire countries are treated as the property of a few great powers). 

“In unusually strong remarks, which appeared to refer to actions such as the ousting of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro at the weekend, the former foreign minister said global democracy was being attacked as never before. Although the German president’s role is largely ceremonial, his words carry some weight and he has more freedom to express views than politicians. 

“Describing Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine as a watershed, Steinmeier said the U.S. behaviour represented a second historic rupture. ‘Then there is the breakdown of values by our most important partner, the USA, which helped build this world order,’ Steinmeier said… 

“On Thursday, a poll for public broadcaster ARD indicated 76% of Germans surveyed now felt the United States was not a partner that Germany could rely on… Only 15% felt Germany could now trust the United States…” 

Trump: “Only I Can Stop Me.” 

The New York Times wrote on January 8: 

“President Trump declared on Wednesday evening that his power as commander in chief is constrained only by his ‘own morality,’ brushing aside international law and other checks on his ability to use military might to strike, invade or coerce nations around the world. Asked in a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times if there were any limits on his global powers, Mr. Trump said: ‘Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me… I don’t need international law,’ he added… 

“When pressed further about whether his administration needed to abide by international law, Mr. Trump said, ‘I do.’ But he made clear he would be the arbiter when such constraints applied to the United States. ‘It depends what your definition of international law is,’ he said…. 

“He made clear that he uses his reputation for unpredictability and a willingness to resort quickly to military action, often in service of coercing other nations. In his conversation with The Times, Mr. Trump sounded more emboldened than ever. He cited the success of his strike on Iran’s nuclear program — he keeps a model of the B-2 bombers used in the mission on his desk; the speed with which he decapitated the Venezuelan government last weekend; and his designs on Greenland, which is controlled by Denmark, a NATO ally. 

“When asked what was his higher priority, obtaining Greenland or preserving NATO, Mr. Trump declined to answer directly, but acknowledged ‘it may be a choice.’ He made clear that the trans-Atlantic alliance was essentially useless without the United States at its core.” 

Trump should remind himself that GOD can stop him at any time 

Italy Criticizes Trump 

MSN reported on January 13: 

“Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has responded to renewed criticism of NATO from US President Donald Trump, arguing that simplistic proposals to sever key transatlantic ties are neither practical nor beneficial for Europe’s security. 

“Trump recently reiterated a familiar line – ‘NATO is zero without America’ – underscoring his view that the alliance’s strength depends on US leadership and capability. This rhetoric comes amid wider tensions over US strategic intentions, including controversial remarks about Greenland that alarm European NATO partners. In response, Meloni was quoted rhetorically asking whether Europe should then take radical steps like closing US military bases, cutting trade, or even ‘storming McDonald’s’ – not as a literal plan of action, but to highlight how unrealistic some proposals are that have circulated online. 

“Notably, US–NATO relations are under strain due to shifting US foreign policy priorities under Trump and broader disagreements over burden-sharing. European capitals are increasingly vocal about how the alliance should function, especially regarding collective defense, trade and geopolitical competition with powers like Russia and China. 

This is remarkable as Meloni is viewed as one of Trump’s strongest supporters. 

Trump’s Dream-World

AlterNet wrote on January 15:

“President Donald Trump, rejecting criticism from within his own party, the economic challenges facing the American people, and polling on Greenland, suggested that his second-term accomplishments were so extensive that they should render the 2026 midterm elections unnecessary.

“In an interview with Reuters, President Trump ‘expressed frustration’ that Republicans may lose control of the House of Representatives and possibly the Senate in the November midterm elections… Trump told Reuters that ‘when you win the presidency, you don’t win the midterms’…

“Trump, Reuters reported, ‘repeatedly dismissed concerns by the public, business leaders and even his fellow Republicans on issues ranging from the future of Greenland and the criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, to the state of the economy.’ He deemed ‘fake’ a Reuters/Ipsos poll that found little support — just 17 percent — for him seizing control of Greenland.

“He repeatedly declared, ‘I don’t care’ when confronted with news that some Senate Republicans oppose the Department of Justice’s investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell… Trump also dismissed the concerns of the American people over high prices they are facing, instead incorrectly declaring the economy the strongest ‘in history.’ …

“On actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Reuters reported that Trump ‘said he would continue sending armed agents into cities, claiming that his efforts had taken “thousands of murderers out of our country.” Reuters noted that there is ‘no evidence to support that assertion.’”

Trump is losing support nationally and internationally. The German AfD voiced criticism of his actions as well.

Trump—Emperor of America’s Police State 

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on January 14: 

“Trump speaks in a language of kings, strongmen, and would-be emperors advocating for personal rule over constitutional government… Trump and his army of enablers and enforcers may have co-opted the language of patriotism, but they are channeling the tactics of despots…

“All presidents in recent years have contributed to the rise of the American police state with executive overreach, standing armies, militarized policing, war without consent, mass surveillance, and concentrated power. But Trump 2.0 has done more to dismantle the nation’s constitutional guardrails than at any other time in history…

“With every passing day, the American police state with Trump at its helm gets more unhinged… This is not leadership. It is lawlessness carried out by mercenaries and thugs on the government payroll… This is the reality of Trump’s America: moral collapse, thuggery, violence, greed, and dehumanization…

“Nothing about Trump’s behavior is rational or sane, even by his own standards: he’s bulldozing the White House, blitz-bombing boats, threatening to seize foreign lands by force, and plastering his name and face on every available surface. Yet as diabolical as these distractions are, they are a sideshow to keep us from seeing the long-term plans to lock down the country being put in place by an unaccountable shadow apparatus operating behind the scenes for whom the Constitution means nothing…

“Americans are being trained to accept what would have once been unthinkable: law enforcement that kills without consequence, presidents who operate above the law, wars launched without consent…” 

Trump Deserves Eight Peace Prizes? 

Daily Mail wrote on January 10: 

“Donald Trump cannot officially be given Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize, according to the committee that gives out the award. Machado initially dedicated the award to Trump but has since expressed her desire to give him the trophy, which the president has said would be a ‘great honor’ to accept. However, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Friday that this would be impossible…  White House spokeswoman told The Daily Mail it’s clear that the president should get the prize regardless... 

“… reports have suggested Trump’s displeasure with her acceptance of the prize – which he has long coveted — has left her out in the cold following the capture of Maduro, with Trump saying Machado ‘doesn’t have the respect’ in Venezuela to be named president…. 

“The president suggested… that he ought to get as many as eight Nobel Prizes. Trump argued that the Nobel committee not giving him the prize this year has been ‘a major embarrassment to Norway,’ which is where they’re located. ‘When you put out eight wars, in theory, you should get one for each war,’ he said. 

“White House insiders revealed his displeasure stems from her acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize – an honor Trump has long coveted for himself. ‘If she had turned it down and said, “I can’t accept it because it’s Donald Trump’s,” she’d be the president of Venezuela today,’ a person familiar with Trump’s thinking told the Washington Post. ‘Her acceptance of the prize was an “ultimate sin.”’ … Former US ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul suggested Trump threw Machado ‘under the bus,’ over the Nobel Peace Prize.” 

What pitiful and egoistic thinking… 

Clintons Defy Congressional Subpoenas 

The Daily Mail wrote on January 13:

“House Oversight’s Republican chairman James Comer promised to bring contempt proceedings next week [against the Clintons], setting off a potentially protracted and politically fraught legal battle that would be the first time in history a sitting or former president has been held in contempt by Congress…

“In an astonishing letter to Comer, the Clintons launched a broadside at Donald Trump and the Republican lawmakers carrying out his ‘cruel agenda.’ They claimed a legal analysis proved they were not required to testify [in the Epstein matter] and insisted the subpoenas were an extension of Trump’s ‘weaponization’ of the law…

“’Every person has to decide when they have seen or had enough and are ready to fight for this country, its principles and its people, no matter the consequences. For us, now is that time.’

“The Clintons cited the precedent set by Trump in October 2022, when he defied a congressional subpoena demanding his testimony over the Capitol riot… Two Trump allies, Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro, were both sentenced to four months in federal prison for defying subpoenas from the January 6 Committee…

“The dispute comes amid controversy over the Trump administration’s handling of Epstein-related records. Weeks after a legal deadline to release the Epstein files, the Justice Department has offered up only one percent of the total archive, angering Trump supporters who had expected sweeping disclosures…” 

“Bloody Uprising Against the Mullahs, and in Germany, There Is an Embarrassing Silence” 

Focus wrote on January 9: 

“In Iran, masses of people are risking their lives. Trump is siding with them, Musk is providing Starlink as an internet alternative. From Germany comes: Nothing. 

“In Iran, parts of the population are now rising up against the mullahs… They are calling for freedom in the streets of the major cities, many are also calling for Reza Pahlavi, the son of the Shah… 

“How is the West reacting? In Germany, in Berlin for example, there are currently no demonstrations for a free Iran. Not in the streets, not at the universities. When it came to Gaza, things were completely different – it was against Israel, it was against ‘the Americans.’ Why is there now this deafening silence, this ‘loud silence’? 

“Is it because US President Donald Trump, the bogeyman of the left in the West, is on the side of the Iranian protests? Is it because the left has always warned against alleged ‘Islamophobia’? Is it because, pardon the expression, this time it’s not against Jews?…” 

“Nothing has been heard from the Federal Chancellor regarding Iran… The highest-ranking German politician from the governing parties who has sided with the protesting Iranians is currently the parliamentary group leader of the CDU/CSU, Jens Spahn. He wrote on X: ‘The courageous Iranian men and women deserve freedom. I wish them all the strength to overthrow the Mullah regime and pray that the Islamists will not be able to murder any more people. Germany and Europe must stand by the brave women and men who are taking to the streets.’ 

“And then Spahn adds a concrete demand: ‘Classifying the Revolutionary Guard in the EU as a terrorist organization is long overdue!’ This demand from Spahn is highly explosive because the parliamentary group leader of the CDU/CSU is putting pressure on the government, especially the Foreign Minister from his own party. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard could and perhaps should have been classified as a terrorist organization years ago. Spahn is quite late with this demand, but he is so far the only high-ranking politician to raise this issue now. 

“Germany, like the Europeans and the CDU politician and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, could do considerably more. For example, they could freeze Iranian assets in accounts held in European countries. Or they could seek dialogue with the exiled opposition politician Reza Pahlavi. This hasn’t occurred to the Europeans so far, but it has to someone else: US President Trump.” 

Looking the Other Way For Too Long 

Bild Online wrote on January 12: 

“The longer the bloody protests in Iran continue, the more criticism there is of [German] public broadcasting coverage.  Politicians and media experts say the broadcasters were too slow to react, misjudged the protests for a long time, and invited biased interviewees. 

The ‘Jüdische Allgemeine’ criticizes both public broadcasters in a new article, titled: ‘The protests in Iran and the shameful reporting by ARD and ZDF.’  It offers this assessment: ‘The mullahs should go, the Shah should return: The left doesn’t have an explanation for this right now – and neither do the left-leaning editorial offices of public broadcasting.’… In Germany, ARD and ZDF in particular ‘didn’t really want to get involved in the reporting, while in Great Britain, the BBC is also hesitant.’” 

Attack on Iran Imminent? 

Reuters wrote on January 11: 

“Unrest in Iran has killed more than 500 people, a rights group said on Sunday, as Tehran threatened to target U.S. military bases if President Donald Trump carries out his renewed threats to intervene on behalf of protesters.” 

Trump has paused an attack on Iran, for now.

Iran Threatens Trump 

Newsmax wrote on January 14: 

“Iran issued a direct assassination threat against President Donald Trump on Wednesday, airing a chilling image on state television showing Trump during the 2024 rally shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, with the warning: ‘This time, the bullet won’t miss.’ 

“The image, broadcast on Iran’s Islamic Republic state television, marks Tehran’s most explicit threat yet against Trump and comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and the Iranian regime.”

Merz Is Hedging Again 

ntv wrote on January 9: 

“France and Great Britain are preparing to send soldiers to Ukraine to secure a ceasefire. And Germany? It wants to be a leading power, but it dithers when things get dangerous. But German cowardice threatens to backfire on all of Europe… 

“Chancellor Friedrich Merz is distancing himself again. German troops could primarily be deployed in ‘neighboring NATO states’ such as Poland or Romania. Directly in Ukraine? On this, only an evasive ‘We are not ruling anything out.’ That’s not a strategy. That’s a maneuver. 

“Translated, it means: Germany wants to be part of the backdrop, but not part of the risk. Solidarity, yes – as long as it doesn’t hurt… 

“Half-hearted solidarity is not a compromise. It is betrayal. Germany must stop hiding behind history, structures, and excuses – and finally do what it expects of others: take responsibility.” 

This will happen soon… but probably not under Merz. 

Kennedy vs. Germany 

The Independent wrote on January 11: 

“Germany has vehemently dismissed accusations from US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who claimed the nation had undermined patient autonomy, particularly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. German Health Minister Nina Warken issued a statement late on Saturday, asserting: ‘The statements made by the US Secretary of Health are completely unfounded, factually incorrect, and must be rejected.’ 

“Earlier that day, Mr Kennedy had posted a video stating he had written to the German minister. His letter was reportedly based on information from Germany suggesting the government was ‘limiting people’s abilities to act on their own convictions when they face medical decisions.’ The American health secretary said that ‘I’ve learned that more than a thousand German physicians and thousands of their patients now face prosecution and punishment for issuing exemptions from wearing masks or getting COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic.’” 

According to Deutsche Welle, dated January 11, “Warken said that ‘criminal prosecution took place only in cases of fraud and forgery of documents, such as the issuing of false vaccine certificates’ or exemption certificates for masks.” 

There can be no doubt that the government was pressuring people and at the same time violating their constitutional rights; thereby “limiting people’s abilities to act on their own convictions when they face medical decisions.” 

COVID-19 Hardliners Fume Over Kennedy’s Letter to Nina Warken 

Nius wrote on January 12: 

“After US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. demanded an end to the criminal prosecution of doctors in Germany for issuing exemptions from mask mandates or COVID-19 vaccinations, hardliners like Karl Lauterbach and Janosch Dahmen are up in arms. 

“In particular, [the Green Party member] Dahmen is outraged… who during the COVID-19 years never found any measure too harsh and who called for an expansion of mandatory vaccination… Former Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD), who for years fueled ‘pandemic’ panic by constantly warning of new variants of the virus and repeatedly making grim predictions about the deadly course of the infection, spoke out on the platform X. Kennedy should ‘take care of health problems in his own country.’… 

“There is concern because Kennedy is essentially right. Whether it’s actually a thousand doctors who have been prosecuted for not being ‘in line,’ or fewer (or possibly many more), cannot be determined because there is currently no comprehensive survey of ongoing or completed proceedings of this kind. 

“The fact is: … Known court cases involve dozens of instances, often resulting in convictions with fines or suspended sentences, as well as professional bans. These cases are often based on the accusation of issuing medical certificates without a physical examination, which was considered ‘incorrect’… 

“In addition, there were almost 270,000 violations of the mandatory vaccination requirement for healthcare facilities, such as hospitals and nursing homes… In this respect, Warkens’ claim that there were no professional bans is incorrect.  Healthcare workers did indeed face such bans if they could not provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. And soldiers were subject to a ‘duty of compliance.’ Those who did not undergo the controversial COVID-19 vaccination were dismissed from service or prosecuted for insubordination. The majority of the population was pressured into complying with the measures and getting vaccinated through fear-mongering and the threat of penalties.” 

“Law professor Martin Schwab… also points out on X that during the coronavirus pandemic, neither the autonomy of patients nor the therapeutic freedom of doctors was respected: ‘The current regulation, according to which general practitioners covered by public health insurance lose 40 percent of their retainer fee if they do not vaccinate, represents a clear attack on doctors’ therapeutic freedom.’ 

“It is clear: doctors were systematically pressured during the coronavirus years, including by medical associations, regulatory authorities, professional societies, and colleagues. Those who did not comply were… defamed. The others made a lot of money from mass vaccinations. 

“Like Karl Lauterbach and Janosch Dahmen, the Christian Democrat Nina Warken also distinguished herself as a hardliner…” 

Homeschooling 

Die Welt wrote on January 9: 

“Abolish compulsory schooling? Yes, we should talk about it! 

“When the AfD politician Ulrich Siegmund recently questioned compulsory schooling, the knee-jerk outrage was considerable.  Yet there are good reasons to allow homeschooling – not least the shortcomings of the German school system.” 

Absolutely! German compulsory schooling is a relic from a bygone, authoritarian era. It should be abolished. But the AfD, in general, is opposed to homeschooling as well. 

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer: 

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

In the first part of this series, we discussed the time of the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, and the birth of the New Testament Church in 31 AD.

In the second part, we discussed events and developments in the New Testament Church and concluded with the first imprisonment of Paul in Rome, which ended in 62 AD.

To continue with the chronology of events, in 62 AD, James, the half-brother of Jesus Christ, was killed during a brief period when there was no governor in Jerusalem. The high priest was subsequently deposed. James was condemned to death by the Sanhedrin. He was thrown from a high pinnacle of the Temple, but did not die from the fall, and was then stoned and beaten to death with a club.

In 63 AD, after his release, Paul wrote 1 Timothy and Titus. Around that time, Luke wrote the book of Acts, which ends with the imprisonment of Paul in Rome for two years.

In 64 AD, while Peter was still living in Babylon (1 Peter 5:13), Rome was set on fire by mad Emperor Nero, who blamed Christians for this crime.

Peter died around 67 AD or 68 AD, after having written his second letter (2 Peter 1:14). There is no evidence that he was ever in Rome.

In 65-67 AD, Paul was arrested again. While in prison, he wrote his second letter to Timothy. Paul was killed in Rome in or about 68 AD.

In 69 AD, Jerusalem was besieged by Roman armies; the Church fled to the city of Pella.

In 70 AD, Titus marched into Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, which had been built by Zerubbabel and restored and beautified by Herod the Great. Polycarp (see below) was born around 69/70 AD. It is unclear when his parents converted to Christianity; Polycarp himself was converted as a young man.

Around 70 AD, the heresy of Gnosticism had emerged, which claimed that Christ was not born of a virgin; that he was not truly God; and that He was not the Messiah.

In the book of Revelation, seven local church congregations are described, which also symbolize seven Church eras.

The first era is identified as the Ephesian era (Revelation 2:1-7). That era began under the apostles Paul and John and describes the Nazarenes. The Bible confirms that the first Christians were referred to as “the sect of the Nazarenes” (Acts 24:5), since Jesus was called “the Nazarene.” Secular records tell us that the Nazarenes observed the Sabbath and the annual Holy Days, did not eat unclean food, and practiced the “ceremonies of Moses.” In other words, they followed both the Old and New Testaments. Historians tell us that the Nazarenes and the Ebionites escaped the Roman destruction of Jerusalem by fleeing to the city of Pella in 69 AD. The Ebionites were not part of the Church of God, but they had joined converted brethren.

The Nazarenes are still mentioned in late records from the 5th century. It was they who preserved the Book of Matthew.

The Church members in Ephesus had grown weary, had lost their first love for Christ and His Truth, and no longer showed any zeal in resisting error (compare Revelation 2:4-5: “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place–unless you repent”).

According to some commentators, the fact that this could happen at all is partly attributable to the constant persecution by the Romans under Emperor Domitian (whose statue was found in Ephesus, and who referred to himself as “God”).

In 90 AD, John wrote his letters to refute the false teachings of Gnosticism. Around 90 AD, during a persecution against all who called themselves Christians, he was arrested and banished to the island of Patmos where he wrote the Book of Revelation. He had previously taught Polycarp of Smyrna.

In 100 AD, after his imprisonment, John continued to teach Polycarp, who was now perhaps 30 years old. John died, approximately 100 years old.

The first era of Ephesus has disappeared—its lampstand has been removed—and no remnants can be found today.

The second era of the Church of Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11) began with Polycarp around 100 AD. He became the head of the congregation in Smyrna.

For the next 50 years, Polycarp defended the Truth and opposed false doctrines in the Church. One false teacher, Marcion, claimed there was no resurrection of the dead. Polycarp described him as the firstborn of Satan. Polycarp ministered in the East, where the Truth about Passover and the Sabbath had been preserved. In the West, the Sabbath had been replaced with Sunday and Passover with Easter. The laws concerning clean and unclean animals had also been rejected. (Everything “Jewish” was to be eradicated.)

In 155 AD, a debate took place between Polycarp and Irenaeus regarding the Passover question—when and how to observe Passover—, but there was no resolution. The influence of the Church in the East steadily declined, while the influence in the West steadily increased.

In 156 AD, Polycarp was arrested during a major persecution by the Romans. His arrest took place during the Passover season, on the “Great Sabbath.” He refused to worship Caesar as a god and to curse Christ. He said: “I have served Him for eighty-six years, and He has never done me any wrong. How then could I blaspheme my King who saved me? Hear my confession: I am a Christian.” He was tied to a stake to be burned, but the flames did not harm him.  He was then pierced with a dagger and died.

The Church of Smyrna was to endure persecution for ten days (Revelation 2:10). This persecution took place under Diocletian and Galerius from 303 to 313 AD. In Rome, it lasted only three years, but in the eastern Roman Empire, it lasted ten years. After this, in about 325 AD, the Church fled into the wilderness for 1,260 prophetic “days” or actual years (Revelation 12:6).

In 325 AD, Constantine banished all non-Christian churches from the empire, forbade the Passover, and in 365 AD, he forbade the Sabbath. Constantine declared himself a Christian and Christianity the state religion. Christian leaders were invited to witness mass baptisms of entire regiments of soldiers in Constantine’s army. Later, when nearly 400 bishops met, Constantine was carried in on a golden throne, and he presided over the council as the recognized head of the church.

The Church of Smyrna was confronted with the “synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9)—those who claimed to be “Christians” but were in reality those who followed the doctrines of Satan. This false Christianity, which already began at the time of Paul, has “conquered” the world ever since, as pictured by the first (white) horseman of the Apocalypse.

Christ has nothing bad to say about the Church of Smyrna. But He encouraged them to remain faithful until death, and undoubtedly, some would not heed that warning. We do not know of any remnants of the Church of Smyrna today.

In 650, the third era—the Pergamos era—began (Revelation 2:12-17). Christians were described as Paulicians (followers of the “unfortunate little Paul”). A key leader was Constantine of Mananalis.  Originally, the Paulicians believed what the Nazarenes and Polycarp believed. Secular records tell us that they observed the Sabbath and the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, that they preached the Kingdom of God, and that they practiced baptism by immersion. Apparently, more than 100,000 Paulicians died as martyrs, as one author put it, “by hanging, fire, and sword.”

We are also told that some in Pergamos had begun to embrace pagan doctrines (Revelation 2:14-15). Later, and likely due to persecution, many abandoned the true faith and turned to violence. They became known as a militant sect; their preachers also served as generals.

Christ had warned in Matthew 26:52 that all who take the sword will perish by the sword. He repeated His warning later in Revelation 13:10. He warned the Church in Pergamos to repent “or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth” (Revelation 2:16). Apparently, His warning was not heeded. We do not know of any existent remnants of the Church of Pergamos today.

Around 1104, Peter of Bruys (Peter Waldo) established the fourth era—the Thyatira era (Revelation 2:18-29). In the 12th century, the Waldensians were present in approximately 22 European countries. In 1309, they appeared in the Netherlands, and a few years later, the Waldensian leaders Walter Lollard and his brother Raymond preached the Gospel in Great Britain. In 1315, records indicate 80,000 Waldensians in Bohemia. By 1539, their membership in Europe had grown to 800,000.

In Hungary, the Church observed the Sabbath and the annual Feast Days at the end of the 16th century. Waldensians had fled to Hungary between 1585 and 1623, as well as to Bulgaria and Russia.

The Waldensians observed the Sabbath and the annual Holy Days, and they rejected pagan customs such as Easter, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and the veneration of the cross. They considered themselves the successors of the apostles. Luther wrote about the Waldensians that he had found something among them that was not present in the papal church, namely, that they set aside the doctrines of men while meditating on the law of God day and night, and that they were experts in the knowledge of the Scriptures. 

Luther also stated that the Waldenses had the better arguments for keeping the Sabbath, but in order to avoid unnecessary uproar and disturbance, he recommended continuing to keep Sunday.

Originally, they called themselves “the Church of God.” Their official emblem showed seven stars (representing the seven churches in the Book of Revelation), and a candle light pointed at them as the fourth star–the fourth era. Officially, the Waldensian era came to an end in Europe in 1686.  Only in England were there still descendants of the Waldensians. Descendants who keep God’s commandments will still exist at Christ’s return (Revelation 2:24-25), but probably not under the designation of “Waldenses” who have, as an organization, completely rejected God’s laws and even deny that the original Waldenses ever kept the Sabbath. Instead, they are thoroughly involved with paganism, falsely labeled as “Christian” (Revelation 2:20-21).  In that regard, Christ warns them that they may have to suffer during the Great Tribulation (Revelation 2:22).

When the Waldenses of the fourth era were persecuted, many turned to violence—like the Paulicians—and began to forget the Truth and adopted false doctrines to save their lives (Revelation 2:20-23).

The year 1585 marked the end of the 1260 prophetic days or years of the Church in the wilderness (compare again Revelation 12:6). 

The fifth era (Revelation 3:1-6)—the Sardis era—began around 1585 in England. Sabbath observance was reintroduced during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603). A famous leader was Stephen Mumford, who founded the Church of God in the United States in 1664 in Newport, Rhode Island. In the mid-19th century, true Christians became part of an Adventist movement, but separated from the Adventists in 1860/1861, due to doctrinal disagreements and false visions by Ellen J. White, and began publishing a variety of magazines and pamphlets, including “The Remnant of Israel,” “The Sabbath Advocate,” and “The Bible Advocate.” Preachers were sent from Missouri, Oklahoma, and Oregon to Mexico, Chile, Argentina, and the Philippines, and congregations in these countries began observing the Sabbath and the Holy Days.

Originally, the Baptists in America, under their leader Roger Williams, also observed the Sabbath in 1693. They called themselves “the Church of God.” According to reports from 1729, they also observed the Passover only once a year, taught the law of tithing, rejected Christmas and the Trinity, believed in the Ten Commandments, practiced water baptism, ordained elders by the laying on of hands, and anointed the sick with oil. In 1846, an article appeared with the title, “The Sabbath Controversy.” In 1864, another article appeared with the title: “The Resurrection Was Not on a Sunday.”

Remnants of the Sardis era, who keep the commandments of God, will still exist when Christ returns (Revelation 3:3). However, as an organization, Christ said that “you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1), and that He did not find their works to be perfect before God (verse 2).

In addressing individual members, Christ tells them to hold fast, repent and watch. Otherwise, “if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you” (verse 3), clearly referring to the time of the Great Tribulation and His Second Coming.

On the other hand, Christ said that “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy” (verse 4).

The sixth era (Revelation 3:7-13)—the Philadelphia era—began with Herbert Armstrong in 1933. Mr. Armstrong had come into contact with the Sardis era (Church of God Seventh Day) in 1927 and was ordained as a minister in 1931. However, the Sardis era had lost much of the Truth. They still observed the Sabbath, but no longer the annual Holy Days. They no longer understood the gospel of Jesus Christ and called it the message of the third angel. They knew nothing of the prophecies concerning America and Great Britain and rejected them when they were revealed to them by God through Mr. Armstrong. Yet, these and many other truths were to be restored in God’s Church before the return of Christ (Matthew 17:11).

In 1934, the Truth was preached from a radio station in Oregon, and in 1953, radio programs began to be broadcast in Europe. The Church of God became known as the Radio Church of God and later as the Worldwide Church of God, with its educational institutions, Ambassador College and Ambassador Foundation, headquartered in Pasadena, California.

Shortly before his death in 1986, Mr. Armstrong, in a prayer in the presence of the Council of Elders, wondered whether he was passing the baton to the Laodicean era. The apostasy that followed has amply answered this question with a resounding “yes.” Since Christ promised the members of the Philadelphia Church protection from the impending events of the “great tribulation” (Revelation 3:10, Living Bible), remnants of this Philadelphia era must still exist and be active at the time of Christ’s return (compare Revelation 3:8; Matthew 24:45-47).

In fact, we read that the remnant of the Philadelphia Church will not have “gone through” even “the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes” (Matthew 10:23), let alone the cities of other nations. But it will preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and the warning message of impending disaster and the coming of the Great Tribulation to all nations as a witness, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14). However, most will not hear and repent; they will reject the message and persecute those who bring it. They may call themselves Christians, but being totally diluted and deceived, they will not recognize the Truth, “seeking” God but not finding Him. For them, there will be “a famine of the Word” (Amos 8:11-12; compare Matthew 13:14-15).

The final era (Revelation 3:14-22) —the Laodicean era—began after the death of Herbert W. Armstrong, who died 40 years ago, on January 16, 1986. It will continue until Christ’s return. Eerdmans’ Handbook to the Bible, on page 650, states: “Of all seven churches, the worst case is a church so self-satisfied that it is completely blind to its true condition. Jesus stands outside, knocking at each individual’s door, asking for entry into the lives of those who call themselves Christians.”

We live today in the Laodicean era, but we had better not be Laodiceans. While those remnants of the Philadelphia era will be protected during the Great Tribulation at a place of safety (Revelation 12:14; 3:10), those with the Laodicean spirit will not be (Revelation 12:17). But even to them, Christ says in Revelation 3:19-20: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

They will have to go through the Great Tribulation, but they can be saved, after repentance, to be able to inherit eternal life when Christ returns.

Laodiceans can be found in all of the many Church of God groups, and the Laodicean era is not limited to just one organization. It is of course true that in some organizations, there can be found many more Laodiceans than in others. Still, the important thing to remember is that as individual Christians, we must strive to be filled with the Philadelphia spirit and to be involved in the commission which God has given His end-time Church to do.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

compiled by Dave Harris

“Germany’s Refusal to Accept Guilt for Authoritarian Corona Measures,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary.

Instead of being held accountable for her authoritarian and unlawful measures during the coronavirus pandemic, Angela Merkel receives a medal of merit. And instead of taking the alarming statements of US Health Minister Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as an opportunity to come to terms with Germany’s past corona dictatorship, his warnings are simply denied. This broadcast, however, shows how right Kennedy is, and what another “pandemic” could mean for all of us.

“Keine deutsche Schuldanerkennung für autoritäre Coronamaßnahmen,” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Nobert Link. This covers the same topic  as described above.

“Der ungläubige Thomas – Namen sind (manchmal) Schall und Rauch,” last Sabbath’s German sermonette presented by Daniel Blasinger, is now posted. Title in English: “Doubting Thomas – Names Are (Sometimes) Noise and Smoke.”

“I Have Called You,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Christoph Sperzel, is now posted. Here is the summary:

God is calling a special people now for an eternal purpose. He draws them through His Spirit to understand and live by His Word. They must reject the human way and follow Christ’s way of love and obedience. Our mission is to live the gospel and prepare for Christ’s return.

“End-Time Prophecies in the Book of Amos,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

The Old Testament book of Amos—part of the “Minor Prophets”—contains many prophecies for our time, as well as timeless admonitions and teachings. Amos describes events leading up to and on the “Day of the Lord,” and divine warnings for many modern nations. How will God punish these nations, through whom, and why? And what does God say to each of us in the book of Amos?