The Update

Update 1146

A Few Random Thoughts on the Stupidity of Evolution / The Commandments and the Sabbath of the Most High God

On February 15, 2025, Brian Gale will present the sermonette, titled, “A Few Random Thoughts on the Stupidity of Evolution,” and Rene Messier will present the sermon, titled, “The Commandments and the Sabbath of the Most High God.”

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.

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Where Are the Nine?

by Dave Harris

Someone who says “thank you” in a timely and respectful manner enriches our lives! That stands out as being true, because, too often, we experience indifference or insincerity in our daily lives.

It is especially gratifying to watch young families in which their children are taught and then reminded to say, “thank you.” This is such a simple practice to instill as a part of parenting, and the lesson can have a broad impact on the overall character of a person throughout his or her life.

Saying “thank you” can help instill and then build an enduring sense of true gratitude and thankfulness. It is especially important that we acknowledge God to show our appreciation for His guidance and blessings in our lives. Sadly, very few people are truly mindful of God. The Apostle Paul writes, “…because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:21).

Jesus Christ did many miraculous things, including healing people, but His mighty works were taken for granted at times. Ten men who were lepers asked Jesus to heal them, and He did. Consider their reactions:

“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?’” (Luke 17:15-18).

How, then, was God glorified by the one who was healed? It was done because he was thankful and expressed it. King David also glorified God through praise and thanksgiving, and his Psalms virtually ring out with his worship of God. In celebration of having the Ark of God placed in the tabernacle he had set up, David wrote a Psalm which contains these words:

“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (1 Chronicles 16:34).

Several of the later Psalms begin with these beautiful words of praise (See Psalms 106, 107, 118, 136 (comp. Jeremiah 33:11). David was thankful, and he did not forget to praise God for His mercy and blessings. We are also reminded to honor God by glorifying Him with our thanksgiving, as the Apostle Paul writes:

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17).

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by Norbert Link

We begin with Trump’s proposed Ukraine deal (as it is being alleged and reported) and Germany’s reaction; Trump’s plans regarding Gaza; Hamas’s holocaust; Trump’s sanctions of the ICC and international reactions; and Europe’s desire to send troops to Greenland; and Trudeau’s take on Trump’s threat of tariffs against Canada, as well as Canada’s new perspective towards the USA.

We continue with Trump’s (current) defeat in court regarding some of his executive orders; an interesting observation about America’s destiny; and some deeply troubling developments pertaining to Trump’s new White House Faith Office being led by extremely controversial “Pastor” Paula White.

We conclude with an article about the current situation in Austria and Germany, as well as with (dubious) mass protests against Germany’s AfD and revealing statements by Germany’s weapons manufacturer Rheinmetall.

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Trump’s Plans with Gaza—What Does the Bible Say?”

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

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Trump’s Contemplated Deal With Ukraine

The New York Post wrote on February 7:

“The US won’t repeat the mistakes of the Iraq War by failing to secure valuable resources from Ukraine in exchange for help ending Russia’s nearly three-year-old invasion, President Trump’s special envoy to the conflict exclusively told The Post. ‘When you look at the mineral deposits in that country, we’re not talking millions of dollars. We’re talking — virtually every region, we’re talking about billions, and then some regions are [worth] trillions,’ retired Gen. Keith Kellogg said this week…

“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday signaled support for a reciprocal resource deal with the US in exchange for security guarantees as part of a potential peace settlement…

“Ukraine is home to roughly 5% of the world’s mineral resources, with rich deposits of titanium, uranium, iron, manganese and lithium — as well as rare earth minerals that are considered vital to US national security… Ukraine holds about 7% of the world’s supply of titanium — the largest reserves of any European country — which is needed for the production of everything from aerospace and defense materials to medicine and jewelry. It is also used in other industries such as energy and construction…

“Ukraine also has one of the continent’s largest confirmed reserves of lithium — a vital component in batteries and used in everyday products from ceramics to medicine — at roughly 500,000 metric tons… Ukraine is also known as the ‘breadbasket of Europe’ due to its strong grain exports… They have the most fertile soil in the entire world…”

Daily Mail wrote on February 7:

“US president Donald Trump will try to force Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to agree to a ceasefire with Russia by Easter under a peace plan, according to a report. 

“Trump, who has long claimed that he would be able to negotiate an ending to the brutal invasion of Ukraine in a single day, is said to be working to end the war within 100 days.  The unconfirmed plans, reported by Ukrainian outlet Strana, have been doing the rounds in ‘political and diplomatic circles’ in Ukraine, and will include a ceasefire by April 20 that would freeze Russia’s steady advance, and a ban on Ukraine from joining NATO.

“According to Newsweek it would include a demand for Kyiv to accept Russian sovereignty on annexed land…  On top of this, Ukrainian troops will be made to leave Russia’s Kursk region, where it launched a counteroffensive in August, while a contingent of European soldiers, which could include British troops, would be asked to police a demilitarised zone. American troops will not be involved in this contingent.  The EU will reportedly be asked to assist Ukraine in its reconstruction efforts, which may cost as much as $486billion (£392billion) over the next decade…”

Scholz Rebukes Trump

Deutsche Welle wrote on February 7:

“German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has derided Trump’s foreign policies in regard to aid for Ukraine and trade. ‘Ukraine is under attack, and Germany is helping without expectations of getting paid for it later. That should be everyone’s attitude,’ Scholz told the German media group Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland… Scholz has labeled this move by Trump as “selfish” and “self-centered.”

“The German chancellor also rebuked Trump’s tariff policies… Scholz… suggested that if Trump enacts tariffs on EU goods, ‘the European Commission is able to react within hours.’” 

Scholz is a lame-duck chancellor with no prospects of reelection by the end of February. Still, unless a new government is formed, Scholz will continue in a caretaker function. And even a lame duck can make lots of noise.

Many Ukrainians Want to Be Russian?

AFP wrote on February 11:

“The Kremlin said Tuesday a ‘significant part’ of Ukraine ‘wants to be Russia,’ hours after President Donald Trump floated the idea that Ukraine ‘may be Russian someday.’

Addressing the three-year conflict between Moscow and Kyiv in a Fox News interview that aired Monday, Trump said: ‘[Ukraine] may make a deal, they may not make a deal. They may be Russian someday, or they may not be Russian someday.’

“Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday… ‘The fact that a significant part of Ukraine wants to become Russia, and has already, is a fact’… referring to Moscow’s 2022 annexation of four Ukrainian regions.’”

Newsmax added on February 12:

“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Guardian newspaper he planned to offer Russia a straight territory exchange to help bring an end to the war, including offering pockets of Kursk that Ukraine holds… ‘We will swap one territory for another,’ Zelenskyy said, adding he did not know which part of Russian-occupied territory Ukraine would ask for back…

“Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow categorically rejects all offers to trade territory. ‘This is impossible,’ he told reporters at a daily briefing. ‘Russia has never discussed and will not discuss the exchange of its territory’…

“President Donald Trump said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin Wednesday about starting negotiations ‘immediately’ to end the war in Ukraine… It was unclear how closely Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would be involved… Trump held a phone call with him Wednesday… Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Trump’s special Russia-Ukraine envoy, retired Gen. Keith Kellogg, will all be in Germany later this week for the annual Munich Security Conference, which Zelenskyy will also attend.

“However, in a blow to Ukraine’s aspirations, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said earlier Wednesday at NATO headquarters in Brussels that NATO membership was not realistic for Ukraine and said that any security guarantees for the country would have to be born by European countries.”

US to Take Gaza? Confusion Amounts!

Daily Mail wrote on February 10:

“President Donald Trump doubled down on his pitch for the U.S. to takeover Gaza and said Palestinians would not have the right to move back. The 78-year-old president was asked about his stunning call for the U.S. to control Gaza during his flight to the Super Bowl on Sunday. Questions had mounted after his administration scrambled to clarify his suggestion last week. ‘I’m committed to buying and owning Gaza,’ Trump said on Air Force One. 

“But the president suggested as far as rebuilding, the U.S. could give sections to ‘other states in the Middle East’ to develop. In a separate interview with Fox News taped before the Super Bowl, Trump suggested the communities would be build ‘a little bit away from where they are where all of this danger is.’… But when Bret Baier asked if Palestinians would have the right to return, Trump told him ‘no they wouldn’t because they’re going to have much better housing.’

He claimed he was talking about ‘building a permanent place for them’ but if they returned now, the area is not habitable.

“Speaking on Air Force One on Sunday, Trump once again called the strip a demolition site and declared what does remain will be demolished. ‘We’re committed to owning it, taking it, and making sure that Hamas doesn’t move back,’ he said. ‘We’ll make it into a very good site for future development by somebody,’ the president added. Trump argued it would be beautiful and people could come live there from all over the world. But he also vowed to take care of the Palestinians and make sure they ‘live beautifully and in harmony and in peace and that they’re not murdered.’

“His latest remarks come after Trump declared during a press conference last week, alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that the U.S. would take over Gaza.  Critics seized on the comments and accused Trump of calling for an ‘ethnic cleansing’ as leaders in the Middle East warned Palestinians would not be moved from their land.  Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill also rejected the U.S. takeover of Gaza and raised concerns over using U.S. tax dollars or putting Americans on the ground. The White House scrambled to clarify less than 24 hours later suggesting Trump did not mean putting U.S. boots on the ground even though the president himself did not rule it out. 

“But Trump’s in-flight press conference raised further questions about how world leaders should address the region moving forward. ‘Think of it as a big real estate site, and the United States is going to own it, and we’ll slowly, very slowly, we’re in no rush, development it,’ Trump said. ‘We’re going to bring stability to the Middle East, a totally war-torn part of the Middle East,’ the president said. Trump said it would be a ‘big mistake’ to let Palestinians return to the area as thousands have begun to travel back to the rubble left behind since a ceasefire deal was reached with Israel last month.  ‘We don’t want Hamas going back,’ Trump warned. 

“Trump previously suggested both Egypt and Jordan would take the Palestinians in, but both countries rejected his resettlement proposal…”

Even CNN suggested that Trump is right with his description of the terrible Gaza scenario, but that he is wrong with his approach as to how to fix it—admitting that there are really no plans as to how to fix it.

US and Jordan Walk Tightrope Over Gaza

Deutsche Welle wrote on February 12:

“The much-anticipated meeting between Jordan’s King Abdullah II and US President Donald Trump in the White House on Tuesday could have led to a falling-out between the two close allies. Instead, it turned out to be a bilateral tightrope walk. ‘One of the things that we can do right away is take 2,000 children, cancer children who are in a very ill state. That is possible,’ Abdullah II told Trump in Washington. ‘That is a really beautiful gesture,’ Trump answered.

“Much to the relief of Jordan, which is heavily dependent on US aid, Trump also retreated from previous threats to halt or cut aid to Jordan, even though the Jordanian king remained steadfast in his refusal to take in Palestinians from Gaza

“According to the UN, Jordan already hosts more than 2 million Palestinian refugees. Observers furthermore assume that around half of the 11 million population in Jordan has Palestinian roots. Taking in Palestinians is also widely considered as the end of a two-state-solution with an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel…

“The Jordanian king also urged Trump to show more patience in light of the upcoming emergency Arab summit in Cairo on February 27. ‘Let’s wait until the Egyptians can come and present it to the president and not get ahead of ourselves,’ Abdullah told Trump. Cairo’s Foreign Ministry meanwhile stated ‘its intention to present a vision for Gaza reconstruction that ensures the Palestinian people remain in their homeland.’”

However, Trump reiterated that Gaza must become America’s property, clarifying that the USA will not buy it, but take it.

Hamas’ Holocaust

The Jerusalem Post wrote on February 8:

“Hundreds of social media posts are drawing comparisons between the freed hostages and Holocaust survivors who endured extreme starvation…

“The release of Israeli hostages Or Levy, Ohad Ben Ami, and Eli Sharabi on Saturday morning has ignited a storm of reactions online. Many users are making chilling comparisons between the hostages’ frail condition and the Muselmann, a term used during the Holocaust to describe Jewish prisoners in Nazi concentration camps who were starved to the brink of death.

“The three hostages appeared exhausted and dangerously underweight, with protruding bones, sunken faces, and sharply defined clavicles and Adam’s apples—clear signs of severe malnutrition and muscle wasting… The haunting resemblance between the Muselmann of the Holocaust and the hostages released today is undeniable… Many are questioning how the world can witness such horrors again…”

Rather than taking a clear stance on the Hamas mass murderers, the world is ganging up on Israel.

Trump Hits ICC With Sanctions

The Times of Israel wrote on February 7:

“Dozens of countries expressed their ‘unwavering support’ for the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday, a day after US President Donald Trump authorized potentially far-reaching economic and travel sanctions against the court’s staff… The 79 signatories came from all parts of the world, but make up only about two-thirds of the 125 member states of the permanent court for the prosecution of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and crimes of aggression.

“Among the countries who agreed to the statement were France, Germany and Britain. Among those absent were Australia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Italy. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had earlier on Friday made it clear he supported Trump’s move, which coincided with a visit to Washington by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the ICC over the war in Gaza.

“Trump’s sanctions target people who work on ICC investigations of US citizens or US allies, such as Israel… The Czech and Italian governments had no immediate comment on why they had not signed the declaration…

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other EU leaders said Trump was wrong to impose sanctions on the ICC… ‘They jeopardize an institution that is supposed to ensure that the dictators of this world cannot simply persecute people and start wars, and that is very important.’…

“The US sanctions include freezing any US assets of those designated and barring them and their families from visiting the United States. It was unclear how quickly the US would announce names of people sanctioned…

“The United States, China, Russia and Israel are not members of the ICC. Trump signed the executive order after US Senate Democrats last week blocked a Republican-led effort to pass legislation setting up a sanctions regime targeting the war crimes court…

“Russia has also taken aim at the court. In 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of the war crime of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine. Russia has banned entry to ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan and placed him and two ICC judges on its wanted list.”

The ICC and ICJ Clown Courts

The Sun wrote on February 7:

“Donald Trump’s war on the International Criminal Court (ICC)  is a reckoning long overdue. Its credibility was already shot before it blew it up with its fact-mangling assault on Israel and arrest warrant for… Netanyahu over ‘war crimes’…. The ICC failure to recognize Israel as a democratic nation justifiably defending itself against racist terrorist still holding Jewish hostages betrayed a repugnant bias obliterating any legitimacy it had…

“And the same flaws are evident at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) too. The ICJ has no power over the UK in disputes with Commonwealth nations like Mauritius.  And its edict that Mauritius should be given our Chagos Islands despite having no valid claim to them is straightforwardly ludicrous.”

Biden Could Have Acts But Refused!

The Editorial Board of the New York Post wrote on February 7:

“Border Patrol chief Michael Banks announced Thursday that illegal border-crossing attempts have dropped 90% since President Trump took office less than three weeks ago. Which is the final proof that the Biden crew could’ve gotten the same results anytime in the last four years — had they actually wanted to. Instead, they fed the nation nonstop nonsense about how the border being ‘under control’ even as they manufactured more ways to speed up illegal entries and created new paths to ‘legalize’ border-jumping, at least as far as their official statistics were concerned.

For the last year, including all during the presidential campaign, Democrats insisted it was all Republicans’ fault, for refusing to pass a supposed ‘bipartisan’ bill. Hours after being sworn in, Trump declared a national emergency at the border, ended ‘catch and release,’ reestablished ‘Remain in Mexico,’ ordered construction on the wall to resume and sent 10,000 US troops to the border to help beef up security.

“Within a week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with the full support of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, started rounding up and shipping out illegal migrants busted for vile crimes

“Biden could have closed the border down at any time, but chose not to — and to lie about it instead. [He] could have issued the same executive orders Trump did — or just left in place the Trump policies that were working, instead of tossing them on Day 1. Border towns, along with cities and suburbs across the nation, paid the price; the border chaos also eased the way for fentanyl smugglers… The Biden team caused the border crisis and intentionally let it go on for four years…”

Biden’s border policy was a catastrophe indeed. His administration WAS greatly responsible for the border crisis. But of course, there will not be any accountability or reckoning. That’s what is wrong, among many other things, with our political system.

Chinese Spy Balloon Transported American Technology

Fox News wrote on February 11:

“A Chinese spy balloon that floated across the U.S. before being shot down off the South Carolina coast in 2023 was carrying technology from at least five American companies… Among the equipment recovered from the balloon were a satellite communication module, sensors and other sophisticated surveillance equipment… The Chinese spy balloon flew from Alaska to the East Coast, where it was shot down by the military over the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 4, 2023…

“Beijing claimed it was a weather balloon, though an investigation by U.S. intelligence agencies found the balloon was used for spying… The identification of U.S.-made technology inside the balloon raises questions about commercially available equipment that can be sold to, or in some cases resold, to America’s adversaries.”

Sending EU Troops to Greenland?

The Telegraph wrote on February 7:

“Nato countries discussed deploying troops to Greenland in response to Donald Trump threatening the use of US military to seize the Danish island. Germany was among dozens of European allies understood to have held informal talks over ‘what Nato troops would do’ if the US president followed through on his threats, diplomatic sources told The Telegraph…

“Berlin’s involvement in the clandestine discussions has attracted criticism from some of Nato’s most ardent backers of Ukraine given the refusal of Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, to consider a deployment of troops there… Mr Scholz has been Europe’s most vocal critic of Mr Trump over Greenland…

France and Germany have openly touted sending European troops to join the Americans already stationed there, but some European leaders have suggested staging a more robust ‘fight back’ against the US president’s overtures.

“In discussions inside Nato’s headquarters in Brussels, member states have pondered whether Article 5, which states that a military attack on one ally is considered an attack on all, could be invoked if Mr Trump does sanction an invasion of Greenland. However, the option was quickly ruled out because it would require the unanimous backing of Nato’s 32 member states, including the US. The mutual defence has only been triggered once in the alliance’s history, after the 9/11 attacks on America….”

Scholz hopes to score some points in Germany when attacking deeply unpopular Donald Trump. But this will not change the inevitable outcome—that Scholz will be gone soon.

EU Looks For Alternative to NATO

Blitz wrote on February 11:

“European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has reignited the debate on Europe’s defense autonomy by calling for an alternative to NATO. Her remarks, delivered during a press briefing in Lithuania on February 9, underscore growing concerns among EU leaders over reliance on the United States for security. As Washington increasingly pressures its NATO allies to ramp up defense spending, and amid uncertainty surrounding future American support for Ukraine, von der Leyen’s call signals a potential shift in European strategic thinking.

“Von der Leyen, while reaffirming NATO’s foundational role in European security, argued that the continent must bolster its own defense capabilities. ‘NATO remains the foundation of our defense. But it is evident that we need a pan-European defense,’ she stated, stressing that modern warfare requires cooperation on a scale no single European nation can manage alone. She called for increased defense investment, both from public coffers and private sources, and announced that a comprehensive European defense strategy would be presented to EU leaders by mid-March.

“The idea of a European defense force independent of NATO is not new. France and Germany have historically been its most vocal proponents, with French President Emmanuel Macron and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel pushing for ‘strategic autonomy’ from Washington. In 2019, Macron famously declared that NATO was ‘brain dead’ and advocated for a ‘true, European army.’ His sentiment echoed Germany’s push for greater military integration within the EU framework…

“Europe’s unease about US commitment to the continent’s security is not unfounded… the debate over European defense autonomy is unlikely to dissipate. The unpredictability of US foreign policy, combined with the growing perception that Europe must take greater responsibility for its security, will keep the issue at the forefront of EU policy discussions…

“For now, the EU stands at a crossroads, balancing between its long-standing reliance on NATO and the growing calls for strategic self-sufficiency. Von der Leyen’s remarks mark a significant step in that ongoing conversation—one that could reshape European security policy for years to come.”

Von der Leyen’s “politically correct” lip service towards NATO’s [disputed] “foundational role in European security” notwithstanding, it is clear what she is REALLY suggesting.

Trump’s Threats Towards Canada Are Real

Deutsche Welle wrote on February 7:

“Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a group of business and labor leaders that [Trump’s] desire to control Canada ‘is a real thing’…  Trudeau made the remarks in a closed-door setting, but they were mistakenly transmitted via loudspeaker… ‘They’re very aware of our resources, of what we have and they very much want to be able to benefit from those,’ Trudeau said. ‘But Mr. Trump has it in mind that one of the easiest ways of doing that is absorbing our country. And it is a real thing.’

“Canada has oil, natural gas, diamonds and many other natural resources. The country is also a major potash producer, which is used in fertilizer to grow crops…”

In an interview on February 9 with Fox News, Trump expressed again his desire that Canada will become the 51st state of the USA.

Canada Looks at EU For Trading Partner

Reuters wrote on February 9:

“Canada wants to deepen its economic ties with the EU and uphold global trading rules in the face of threatened US tariffs, its trade minister Mary Ng told Reuters on February 8, 2025. The EU and Canada have benefited from a free trade agreement since 2017, which has boosted bilateral trade by 65%, and set up a raw materials partnership in 2021… She said critical minerals and smaller businesses would be among the focus areas with the EU. The EU, in particular, is keen to forge partnerships to secure metals that are key for the energy transition – cobalt, lithium and nickel – to reduce its dependence on China.
“Canada is also pushing to diversify its exports and set itself a target in 2018 of increasing non-U.S. exports by 50% by 2025. Ng said the country was on track to meet or exceed the target. Canada struck trade deals with Indonesia in December and Ecuador last week and is pushing hard in the Indo-Pacific region. The minister is leading a delegation including more than 200 businesses to Australia, Singapore and Brunei next week. ‘We are at the table with the countries in Southeast Asia, so the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. I took a very large delegation of Canadian businesses to the Philippines in December, to Indonesia, to markets like Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, Korea,’ Ng added.

“Ottawa threatened retaliatory duties and legal action against the United States after President Donald Trump announced tariffs on Canada and Mexico a week ago and before he paused their imposition for 30 days. Ng said Canada could challenge Washington at the WTO if tariffs were imposed. ‘We would consider all of the options [which] are available to Canada because Canada is a country that believes in a rules-based trading system,’ Ng said.”

The USA is modern Manasseh, and Canada is part of modern Ephraim. The Bible prophesies that both will be fighting each other (compare Isaiah 9:21).

Trump’s Tariffs Plans

Newsmax wrote on February 12:

“President Donald Trump is likely to dust off a 1930 trade law largely forgotten for decades to back his new reciprocal U.S. tariffs that will match other countries’ higher import taxes, trade and legal experts say.

“Trump has said the new U.S. tariff rates would take effect ‘almost immediately,’ and Section 338 of the Trade Act of 1930 would give him a quick path to imposing them.

The law, threatened but never used to impose tariffs, appears only sporadically in government records. It allows the president to impose duties of up to 50% against imports from countries that are found to discriminate against U.S. commerce.

“Trump… has long complained about the U.S. charging lower tariff rates than most other countries… European Union’s 10% autos tariff, four times the 2.5% U.S. passenger car rate, is a particular sore spot for the president. ‘I think that is exactly the path that they’re going to follow,’ Dan Cannistra, a partner in the Crowell & Moring law firm, said of Section 338. ‘They’re going to tell the EU: “You’re giving Korea 0% on cars, you’re giving 10% to the U.S. You’re discriminating against us.”’…

“So far in his new term, Trump has favored tools that allowed immediate action on tariffs. These included a first-ever use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs – 10% on Chinese goods and a March deadline for 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods over fentanyl and border security. Trump simply modified his previous Section 232 metals proclamation Monday to quickly raise aluminum tariffs to 25% – matching steel tariffs – and to cancel all exemptions from steel and aluminum duties, effective March 12.”

“Judge Pauses Trump Plan to Put USAID Staff on Leave”

CNBC wrote on February 7:

“A federal judge on Friday said he would temporarily pause the Trump administration’s plan to place thousands of workers at the U.S. Agency for International Development on administrative leave. About 2,200 USAID employees were set to be placed on leave Friday night…

“Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, delivered the ruling after hearing arguments from the Trump administration and two groups representing federal workers in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. The workers’ groups… had argued [in] a court filing earlier Friday that USAID ‘is suffering an onslaught of unconstitutional and illegal attacks, leaving its workers, contractors, grantees, and beneficiaries deserted in the wreckage and a global humanitarian crisis in the wake.’…”

The judge was wondering why there was such a rush.

Ending Birthright Citizenship On Hold

Newsmax published the following article on February 6:

“A second federal judge in two days has blocked President Donald Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship for the children of parents who are in the U.S. (without being citizens or green card holders), decrying what he described as the administration’s attempt to ignore the Constitution for political gain.

“U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour in Seattle on Thursday put Trump’s order on hold for the duration of lawsuits brought by four states and an immigrant rights group challenging it. His ruling followed one by a federal judge in Maryland in a separate but similar case involving immigrants’ rights groups and pregnant women whose soon-to-born children could be affected.

“Late Thursday the Justice Department appealed his order to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. It did not appear that the DOJ had yet appealed the Maryland ruling to the 4th Circuit…

“The president’s executive order seeks to end the automatic grant of citizenship to children born on U.S. soil to parents who are in the country illegally or who are here on a temporary, but lawful basis such as those on student or tourist visas

“At the heart of the lawsuits is the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1868 after the Civil War and the Dred Scott Supreme Court decision, which held that Scott, an enslaved man, wasn’t a citizen despite having been brought to a state where slavery was outlawed. The amendment holds that ‘all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.’

“The Trump administration, which has sought to curtail unlawful immigration, has asserted that noncitizens are not ‘subject to the jurisdiction’ of the United States and their children born in the U.S. are not entitled to citizenship…

“The plaintiffs call that ludicrous, noting that illegal immigrants are required to pay taxes and follow the law, and that men ages 18 to 26 who are in the country illegally are still obligated to register for the U.S. Selective Service System, meaning they could be drafted to fight for the U.S. in a war. ‘It is patently absurd for defendants to contend that a person who can be conscripted into the military — forced to fight for this country — is not subject to its jurisdiction,’ Matt Adams, legal director for the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, told Coughenour.

“The plain meaning of the 14th Amendment has been recognized since it was ratified, notably in an 1898 U.S. Supreme Court decision. That decision, United States v. Wong Kim Ark, held that the only children who did not automatically receive U.S. citizenship upon being born on U.S. soil were children of diplomats, who have allegiance to another government; enemies present in the U.S. during hostile occupation; those born on foreign ships; and those born to members of sovereign Native American tribes.

“In 1924, Congress passed a separate law granting birthright citizenship to Native Americans.”

The Associated Press wrote on February 10:

“A third federal judge on Monday blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship for the children of people in the U.S. illegally [this is again a wrong characterization of the issue, but the mass media does not seem to get it straight].

“The ruling from U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante in New Hampshire (he was nominated by George W. Bush in 2007) comes after two similar rulings by judges in Seattle and Maryland last week.

“A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union contends that Trump’s order violates the Constitution and ‘attempts to upend one of the most fundamental American constitutional values.’”

An illegal alien who breaks the law is not under US jurisdiction—meaning, he cannot be punished???? This is ludicrous indeed. Trump is bound to lose this one… IF the US Supreme Court upholds the Constitution.

“God Ordained America to Be Most Exceptional Nation Ever”

Breitbart wrote on February 6:

“President Donald Trump said Thursday at the National Prayer Breakfast that Americans are a ‘people ordained by God’ to live in the ‘freest and most exceptional nation’ in the world’s history. Trump said that Americans are reclaiming their rightful identity, touching on themes of Manifest Destiny and American exceptionalism… ‘We believe in our destiny, and trust in the providence of Almighty God.’”

Ancient Israel and modern America (as part of the descendants of the ancient House of Israel) had and have indeed a God-given destiny. Sadly, neither have been living up to their obligations.

Paula White to Lead New White House Faith Office

Israel 365 News wrote on February 7:

“U.S. President Donald Trump announced Thursday at the National Prayer Breakfast that he would create a White House Faith Office… ‘led by Pastor Paula White, who is so amazing,’ Trump said. Paula White is an outspoken supporter of Israel who has been at the forefront of advocating for the Jewish State since October 7th

“‘Pastor Paula is like an Esther figure, who God put in the palace of the king “for such a time as this”’ said Rabbi Weisz. ‘We pray for God’s blessings upon Paula and Jonathan, and her children Brad and Rachel for their continued leadership advocating for a renewal of faith in the United States. May God grant Pastor Paula wisdom and strength to fulfill President Trump’s vision for America, and for peace through strength in Israel and the region.’”

Who is Paula White? The following articles explain.

Business Insider wrote about White on November 5, 2020:

“President Donald Trump’s spiritual advisor Paula White led a passionate prayer event on Wednesday in a bid to secure his reelection. During a [livestreamed] prayer broadcast… White claimed that ‘demonic confederacies’ were attempting to steal the election from Trump. ‘I hear victory, victory, victory, victory in the quarters of heaven,’ White said as she closed her eyes and gestured passionately.

“At one point White proclaimed that ‘angels are being dispatched right now’ and appeared to speak in tongues. ‘Angels are being dispatched from Africa right now,’ she said, adding, ‘They’re coming here.’”

“Speaking in tongues, in which a person utters sounds thought of as a secret language unknown to the speaker, features in Pentecostal and charismatic Christianity,  as well as other religions.”

The video of her prayer broadcast can still be viewed on the Internet. It is something to behold. To follow such a lady and place her in charge of the “White House Faith Office” and view her as spiritual advisor is shocking, to say the very least. In her prayer broadcast, she appeared to be under some influence.

Christians in Shock Over Heretic Preacher Paula White Leading White House Faith Office

Daily Mail wrote on February 8:

“Trump has sparked a backlash from leading Christians over his appointment of a controversial televangelist to the White House. The president on Friday signed an executive order to open a White House Faith Office to be led by Paula White, his longtime spiritual adviser… But the move sparked fury from Christian leaders who believe that White, a megachurch pastor from Florida, preaches an interpretation of the gospel that critics argue exploits the most vulnerable.

“White teaches followers that God will reward them if they donate to her church, going as far as to suggest precise sums over a thousand dollars to ensure their ‘salvation’. ‘This is an abomination,’ wrote Christian motivational speaker Scott Ross on X…. ‘Worse, she has lived a life of scandal, with multiple husbands, twisting the Gospel for profit.’

“The teachings of the minister, who is married to rockstar and Journey lead singer Jonathan Cain, have nevertheless rubbed off on Trump who first contacted her by phone in 2002 after watching one of her TV shows… Ross… went as far as to argue that White’s appointment was the ‘worst and most dangerous thing’ Trump could have done. ‘Lord, have mercy on our country and this administration,’ he wrote on X.  

“Christian blogger Chris Hohnholz wrote on X: ‘Not every choice he makes will be a home run, we understand that. But this? This is a train wreck… sir, you need to reverse course on this ASAP. Not only is Paula White not biblically qualified to be a pastor, she is a false teacher leading people to Hell. Do not do this, sir.’

“A MAGA fan called TexasClare on X wrote: ‘True evangelicals who have Trump’s ear (like @Franklin_Graham ) need to get him off the “Pastor” Paula White train.’ John Mason, host of the Living God’s Truth podcast, stated: ‘Even though President Trump is enforcing laws that line up with our values, that doesn’t mean he has any clue what biblical Christianity is or why it matters. Paula White is a known heretic and known false teacher who has no regard for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.’

“Jon Root, a conservative YouTuber, stated: ‘This is the worst decision President Trump has made since taking office… Paula White is a heretic, who peddles the prosperity gospel. Plus, women should not be pastors according to The Bible.’…

“Southern Baptist theologian Russell D. Moore told the Washington Post in 2017 that ‘Paula is a charlatan and recognized as a heretic by every orthodox Christian, of whatever tribe.’…”

Paula White is wrong in many respects when it comes to her understanding of the Bible. The next article is quite illuminating in this regard. We actually could not care less if it wasn’t for her tremendous (negative) influence on Donald Trump who, as America’s President, is obviously adopting many of her wrong concepts.

Paula White’s Wrong Teachings on Immigration

Vox wrote the following in an article, dated July 11, 2018, which recently surfaced:

“In recent weeks and months, a number of prominent evangelical leaders associated with President Donald Trump’s unofficial evangelical advisory council, as well as members of Trump’s administration, have used Biblical precedent to defend Trump’s policy of family separation at the US-Mexico border. Few, however, have been as brazen as Paula White… who told the right-leaning faith-based (CBN) that Jesus could not have broken any immigration laws during his family’s flight to Egypt because Jesus, who was without sin, could not therefore have broken the law.

“White spent the interview defending Trump on his policy of family separation, calling the camps in which migrant children are being detained ‘amazing.’ She argued for the Biblical precedent of family separation…

“In recent weeks, the Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution in favor of the dignity of refugees, the United States Council of Catholic Bishops has condemned family separation, and the United Methodist Church has initiated formal expulsion proceedings against Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his role in the family separation crisis…

“This is not the first time that White has argued for the inalienable, divinely ordained precedence of GOP government authority, nor used the Bible to justify a broad view of government intervention. Last year, she made headlines for telling an interviewer that Trump was ‘raised by God.’ (She later walked back her comments under direct questioning, declaring that God chooses every human leader.)

“More broadly, Trump’s evangelical allies frequently use the language of Christian nationalism to code Trump as a divinely chosen figure whose will is therefore no less divinely sanctioned… The idea of laws being inflexible and authority being absolute — the kind of mentality suggested by the Trump administration’s devotion to one interpretation of Romans 13 — is central to the conflation of GOP party politics and white evangelicalism. Even when it doesn’t hold up to Biblical scrutiny.”

White is totally wrong when she says that Jesus could not have broken HUMAN laws; otherwise, He would have sinned. See our free booklet “Obeying God Rather Than Man.” White is also totally wrong when she says that God chooses every human leader. It is SATAN who rules this world and he gives his throne, might and authority to whomever HE wills (compare Luke 4:5-6-7; Revelation 13:2). Finally, the concept that Romans 13 makes Trump somewhat of a pope who can’t do wrong and that he has to be obeyed even if he was wrong, is absolutely appalling. Compare our Q&As on Romans 13, https://www.eternalgod.org/q-a-12272/ and https://www.eternalgod.org/q-a-4056/

Austria Can’t Get It Done

Deutsche Welle wrote on February 12:

“Coalition talks between Austria’s far-right Freedom Party and the conservative Austrian People’s Party have buckled, with the two parties deadlocked over how posts should be assigned. FPÖ leader Kickl… on Wednesday said talks with the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) had failed after a meeting with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen in Vienna…

“The FPÖ emerged from the parliamentary elections in September as the strongest force. No one had initially wanted to form a coalition with it, so the second-placed ÖVP was given the mandate to form a government. However, the three-way coalition talks that followed, between the conservatives, the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the centrist, liberal NEOS failed. Van der Bellen then commissioned… Kicks to try to form a government in the now-failed negotiations with the ÖVP…

“The two parties appear hopelessly at odds over numerous areas, including EU policy and the treatment of asylum seekers. The conservatives want the far right, which has slammed EU sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, to clarify its position on Moscow…

“What might happen now? One likely possibility is President Van der Bellen instructing the ÖVP to lead new coalition talks aimed at forming a centrist government… A coalition of the ÖVP and SPÖ would have a majority of just one seat, which is widely seen as impractical because it would mean that a single lawmaker’s absence could jeopardize the government’s agenda…

“Alternatively, there could be new elections. Then, according to polling, the FPÖ could extend its lead over the other parties. In September’s election, it garnered nearly 29% of the vote, ahead of the ÖVP on 26.3%…”

Majority of German Voters Want a Government Coalition of AfD and CDU

Apollo News wrote on February 11:

“According to a new survey, a majority of voters want an end to the firewall – they are in favor of a black-blue government coalition after the federal election. Alliances between the Union and left-wing parties are met with significantly less approval. ‘The Union would “sell its soul” – that is what Friedrich Merz keeps saying when he is asked about the possibility of a coalition with the AfD. The Union’s candidate for chancellor wants to hold on to the firewall… According to a new analysis by the polling institute Ipsos, however, he is acting against the will of the voters.

“The survey, which was published last Thursday, shows that a black-blue coalition would be the most popular government option among voters. 23 percent of citizens would like the AfD and CDU to work together. Meanwhile, significantly fewer people favor a coalition between the Union and a left-wing party.

“Neither a black-green coalition (five percent) nor a black-red [SPD] coalition (19 percent) achieve the popularity ratings of a possible black-blue government…

“In the last Ipsos poll, which was published a few weeks ago, a new grand coalition between the CDU/CSU and SPD was the most popular coalition option. Since then, however, the black-blue coalition has gained five percentage points in support among voters.

“In the Ipsos Sunday question, the CDU/CSU lost a little in support. Compared to the last poll, it fell by one percentage point and is now at 29 percent. The AfD, meanwhile, has gained significantly and is at 21 percent. The SPD (16 percent) and the ailing Greens (13 percent) follow a long way behind…

“Both the BSW, FDP and the Left Party are now worried about entering the Bundestag. According to the latest figures from Ipsos, of the three parties, only Wagenknecht’s BSW would narrowly clear the five percent hurdle. The other two parties each have [only] four percent of voter approval.”

Some of the published comments on this article are interesting:

“What the population wants is irrelevant to the red-green-black-yellow unity party. The desire for a different migration policy continues to be ignored… In a coalition with Merz, the AfD will lose its soul…. Perhaps we will vote again in the fall.”

Mass Protests Against AfD… Who Is Behind Them?

Breitbart wrote on February 9:

“Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Germany over the past week to demonstrate against the so-called ‘far-right’, however, a top publication has reported that activist groups involved have been funded by the left-wing government in Berlin.

“A supposedly organic outpouring of opposition to the surging Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead of the federal elections on February 23rd has been called into question by a report from Bild, the highest circulation newspaper in Europe, which quipped that the ‘distances from the government district to the mass demonstrations are quite short.’

“Last Sunday, around 160,000 people demonstrated in Berlin over the decision by the centrist Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to join with the populist AfD on an immigration vote (The Associated Press reported on February 8 that “more than 200,000 protestors rallied in Munich on Saturday” against the AfD).

“One of the main organisers of the event was the ‘Together against the right’ activist network, which was identified by Bild as being a cutout for the leftist group Campact. According to the paper, Campact is the main shareholder in the NGO HateAid, which has received nearly 2.5 million euros from the federal government since 2020.

“The Association for Environmental Protection and Nature Conservation (BUND), which has also been active in organising against the rise of the political right in Germany, was found by the report to have secured around two million euros in funding from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, led by Green chancellor candidate and outgoing finance minister Robert Habeck. The left-wing environmentalist group is also said to have received six-figure handouts from both the Ministry of the Environment and Education in 2023…

“Another group active in organising against upswell in support of the AfD has been the ‘grandmas against the right’, which was involved in a demonstration of around 24,000 people in Hanover on Saturday. The group has reportedly received at least 23,000 euros from the federal government.

“It is not the first time that left-wing organisations funded by the German government have targeted the anti-mass migration party. In 2023, the taxpayer-subsidised and Soros-funded non-profit Correctiv published an ‘undercover’ investigative report claiming that a conference attended by AfD members and Austrian identitarian activist Martin Sellner had seen calls for the ‘deportations of people from Germany based on a set of racist criteria, regardless of whether or not they have German citizenship.’ Attendees, including a member of the centrist Christian Democratic Union (CDU), denied the leftist organisation’s claims, which were based on hearsay rather than in-person journalism.

“Nevertheless, the ensuing scandal resulted in millions of protesters taking to the streets and the AfD suffering a setback in the polls. In addition to facing government-funded activism, there have been calls [to] ban the [AfD] party altogether to supposedly protect democracy. Despite this, the party has continued to grow in support, particularly in the wake of multiple terror attacks over the past year committed in Germany by migrants.

“This has coincided with a drastic decline in support for the governing leftist Social Democratic Party (SPD). According to a poll by the Tyson Group, conducted on behalf of the American-based EU-US Forum, a ‘staggering’ 70 per cent of Germans disapprove of SPD Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s job performance. Tyson Group Vice President Alex Alvarado noted that it comes amid a broader pushback against leftist governments throughout the European Union, with the survey finding that a majority in France, Germany, and the Netherlands believe the EU is heading in the wrong direction…”

“We Produce More Ammunition Than the Americans”

Handelsblatt wrote on February 7:

“At the Handelsblatt ‘Security and Defense’ conference, the arms industry is calling for better planning and long-term orders… So far, the production of important armaments such as battle tanks is lagging behind, which is due to the low order quantities and the fact that there are no long-term commitments for financing… According to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Russia could be in a position to attack a NATO country in Europe as early as 2028.

“The Russian army is continuing to arm itself, says Inspector General Breuer. New weapon systems such as tanks and artillery ammunition are not going to the front in Ukraine, but are being used to equip new units that are facing west. ‘I am convinced that Putin will never be satisfied with Ukraine,’ says Breuer…

“But it is also clear that with US President Trump taking office, Europe can no longer rely on the unconditional support of NATO’s largest member… there are things in which Europe is even better than the Americans, says Papperger. The Rheinmetall boss primarily refers to tanks and armored vehicles as well as ammunition. However, Europe often gets in its own way with its complicated procurement processes and national egoism…

“’If we don’t have any big players in Europe, we can’t compete with the USA, China or Russia,’ says Papperger. In his view, Europe must orientate itself towards the USA in terms of consolidation. There are the ‘Big Five’ there with the companies Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems… ‘I am convinced that things have to go in a similar direction in Europe,’ he says.”

And they will… very soon.

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.

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The Book of Life or the Tree of Life?

Have you ever noticed an interesting phenomenon, when reading a passage in Revelation 22:19, depending on the translation you may use?

The New King James Bible states: “… if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Similar to the Authorized Version and the German Luther Bibles from 1891, 1984, 2009 and 2017.

However, most translations render the verse in this way (using the New International Version as an example): “And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.”

Rather than saying, God shall take away his part from the “Book of Life,” they say, God will take away his share in the “Tree of Life.”

Both statements make sense. When somebody tempers with God’s Word, God may take away the Holy Spirit which had been given to the person (symbolized by the Tree of Life), and when that happens, his name will be blotted out from the Book of Life (symbolizing the gift of eternal life; Revelation 3:5). Such a person will not inherit eternal life (Hebrews 6:4-6, 9; 10:26-27). So we see that the warning in Revelation 22:19 is extremely severe.

Still, can we determine which rendering is correct? Could it even be possible that the translation of the Authorized Version, the King James Bible and the Luther Bibles is incorrect?

To trace the history as to how and why the translations were included in the King James and Luther Bibles is a fascinating story. But before exploring this, let us consider a few examples where the King James and Luther Bibles ADDED disputed passages which should have been left out, or OMITTED passages which should have been included.

One example is Matthew 28:19.

In our Q&A, “Why do you not baptize by using the words, ‘I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost’? (Part 3),” we pointed out that many have questioned the authenticity of Matthew 28:19, which is contained in the King James  and  Luther Bibles, concluding that it was a later addition which was not part of the original New Testament.

We stated the following, among other things:

“David Stern, Jewish New Testament Commentary, states on page 86: ‘Although nearly all ancient manuscripts have the trinitarian formulaEusebius, the church historian [who died in 340 AD] … in his writings preceding the council of Nicea in 325 C.E., quotes the verse without it.’…

“Fred C. Conybeare, ‘The Eusebian Form of the Text Mt. 28, 19,’ in ‘Zeitschrift fuer die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft und die Kunde des Urchristentums,’ (1901), pointed out that Eusebius had quoted Matthew 28 seventeen times [others say, eighteen times] BEFORE the Council of Nicea, OMITTING the disputed words, and three times AFTER the Council of Nicea, including the disputed words (at p. 282). He also stated on pages 284-287: ‘[Neither Clement of Alexandria nor Origen give any] hint of the important precept to baptize in the triune name which in our texts intervene…’

“E.W. Bullinger writes in ‘Word Studies on the Holy Spirit,’ on pages 47-49: ‘It is difficult to suppose that there would have been this universal disregard of so clear a command (in Matthew 28:19), if it had ever been given; or if it ever really formed part of the primitive text. It is a question therefore whether we have here something beyond the reach of science, or the powers of ordinary Textual Criticism. As to the Greek MSS, there are none beyond the fourth century, and it seems clear that the Syrian part of the church knew nothing of these wordsEusebius quotes this verse no less than eighteen times, and always quotes it in this form, ‘Go ye into all the world and make disciples of all nations.’ He omits the reference to ‘baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.’ Now, Eusebius, the great Ecclesiastical historian, died in 340 AD, and his work belonged, therefore, in part to the third century. Moreover, he lived in one of the greatest Christian libraries of that day. If the Greek MS there contained these words, it seems impossible that he could have quoted this verse eighteen times without including them.

“Professor Lake… and Mr. Conybeare have called attention to this fact, and shown that neither Justin Martyr (who died in 165 AD), nor Aphraates of Nisibis (who flourished in Syria, 340 AD), knew nothing of these words. It looks, therefore, as though the words got into the text (perhaps from the margin) in the church of North Africa; and that the Syrian Churches did not have them in the MSS at their disposal. The point is interesting. The difficulty is there.”

The Church of the Eternal God takes the approach that even IF the passage in Matthew 28 is genuine, it does not set forth a formula which needs to be used when baptizing a person. Therefore, Church ministers, following the example of the early apostles, are baptizing in the name of Jesus Christ and, with the laying on of hands, are asking the Father to give the baptized person the Holy Spirit. But more likely than not, the passage in Matthew 28:19 does not appear to be genuine, which would mean that it was inserted in the Bible without authority.

There is another famous example where a verse was added which does clearly not belong in the Bible. We are referring to 1 John 5:7-8. The disputed passage can be found in the King James Bible, as well as in the Luther Bible of 1891. However, it has been omitted in the Luther Bible of 1984 and in all subsequent editions, except for the neue Lutherbibel 2009 which has still retained it. 

Quoting from our booklet, “IS God a Trinity?”:

“The New King James Bible translates it this way: ‘For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.’

“… most scholars agree that the words in verse 7, ‘in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one,’ were later added by the Catholic Church to ‘prove’ the Trinity, and that these words were not in the original writings. Many Bible translations and commentaries state that this particular phrase, referred to as the ‘Comma Joanneum,’ is ‘not contained in the best authorities and constitutes a late addition in the Latin Text’ [Pattloch Bible, Appendix, page 85].

“The Zürcher Bible comments in a footnote that ‘this passage was added in the fourth century in the Latin Text, and only in the 15th century in some Greek Texts.’ The NIV adds in a footnote that this particular phrase is only contained ‘in the late manuscripts of the Latin Bible and that it is not found in any Greek manuscripts before the 16th century.’ Other commentaries point out that these words are clearly a falsification and that they have therefore been correctly omitted, even as a footnote, in many modern translations.”

In another example, we find that a verse in Matthew 27:49 was left out which needs to be included, but neither the King James Bibles nor the Luther Bibles include it.

In our Q&A, titled, “How, exactly, did Jesus Christ die? Why did a soldier pierce Him with a spear when He was already dead?”, we said the following:

“When we read Matthew’s account, in the New King James Bible, we will not find exactly how Christ died. The reason is that this translation omits a crucial verse, at the end of Matthew 27:49. Several translations, as well as many old manuscripts, have retained this missing verse. For instance, verses 49 and 50 read in the Moffat translation: ‘But the others said, “Stop, let us see if Elijah does come to save him!” (Seizing a lance, another pricked [better, pierced] his side, and out came water and blood.) Jesus again uttered a loud scream, and gave up his spirit.’

“The Fenton Bible translates the missing verse as follows: ‘But another taking a spear pierced His side, when blood and water came out.’

A.T. RobertsonHarmony of the Gospels, states in a footnote to Matthew 27:49: ‘Many ancient authorities add: And another took a spear and pierced his side, and there came out water and blood.’

“The Revised Standard Version, and the New Revised Standard Version, add the following footnote: ‘Other ancient authorities insert, And another took a spear and pierced his side, and out came water and blood.’

“The Vaticanus–a Greek New Testament written in the 300’s A.D.–contains the missing verse as well. It reads: ‘And another took a spear and pierced his side and there came forth water and blood.’ The Sinaiticus Codex also contains the verse, and so does the Codex Ephraemi. According to The Testament in Greek, by Wescott and Hort, published in 1896, the missing verse also appears in most Syrian, Egyptian, Armenian, Gothic, and Ethiopic translations. It also appears in Origen’s work [around 200 A.D.]. Walton’s Biblia Sacra Polyglotta, published in 1657, claims, in Vol. VI, on page 6 of the appendix, that this missing verse was still a marginal reading of the Greek text when the King James Version was made.”

“Do we know WHY the inspired passage in Matthew 27:49 was deleted from the sacred text? The deletion occurred when a spurious version of the book of Matthew, which was allegedly written by Barnabas, was found, which did not include the passage in Matthew 27:49. Note the following excerpts from Westcott and Hort: ‘In a letter partially preserved in Syriac… [Severus] mentions the reading [of the missing passage] as having been vigorously debated at Constantinople in connexion with the matter of the patriarch Macedonius, when the… [spurious] copy of… Matthew’s Gospel said to have been discovered in Cyprus with the body of… Barnabas in the reign of Zeno (?477) was consulted and found not to contain the sentence in question … at Constantinople the holy Gospels were by command of the emperor censored,’ and the passage in question was deleted from the sacred text of the gospel according to Matthew.”

We also then explained the Scripture in John 19:32-34, which, correctly translated, supports not only the conclusion as to how Christ died (a soldier killed Him by piercing His side with a spear), but also, that the missing verse in Matthew’s account needs to be included in the Bible.

So we have seen that on a few occasions, crucial verses were omitted or added in the King James and Luther Bibles, while other translations or commentaries, based on historical records, clarify that situation.

Returning now to Revelation 22:19, let us explore what happened when the rendering “Book of Life” was used—as distinguished from “Tree of Life.”  

We should first of all notice that the Authorized Version and also the Luther Bible are based on Erasmus’s Greek New Testament and Latin translations. It is interesting that we do not know of ANY Greek manuscripts at the time before Erasmus which has the wording “book of life.” They all say “tree of life.”  

When in 1515 and 1516, Erasmus worked on the Greek New Testament, he had only access to a manuscript from the 12th century. It is today preserved in the university library in Augsburg. In that manuscript, the last five verses of Revelation 22 were missing. Erasmus was pressed for time, as the demand for a Greek New Testament was great, and he wanted to be the first to publish it (as others in Spain were also working on a Greek New Testament edition). So, Erasmus used the commonly used Latin text (the Vulgata) of Revelation 22:16-21 and translated that back into the Greek.

He clearly revealed in writing what he had done in his annotation to the New Testament, stating in Latin: “Quamquam in calce hujus libri, nonnulla verba reperi apud nostros, quae aberant in Graecis exemplaribus, ea tamen ex latinis adiecimus.” (In English: “Even though I found at the end of this book some words, which were missing in the Greek manuscripts, we still added them from the Latin manuscripts.”) He confirmed this again in a subsequent letter: “Proinde nos ne hierat lacuna, ex nostris Latinis supplevimus Graeca.” (In English: “So that we should not have a loss, we supplemented the Greek (words) from our Latin (manuscripts).”    

The Latin text had indeed “libro vitae,” i.e., book of life. It does not appear that Erasmus’ subsequent editions corrected or changed this rendition, and so it was used by the King James and Luther Bibles as the basis for their translations into English and German. But it does not appear that this is the correct translation, and it appears that Revelation 22:19 should indeed be rendered to say that God will take away the TREE of life from the person who deletes Scriptures, obviously not inadvertently, but with full knowledge and intent.

We want to conclude with a quote from chapter 2 of our free booklet, The Authority of the Bible :

“While using [different] types of translations when studying the Bible can be beneficial, only literally translated editions—such as the New King James Bible (for English)—should be depended upon for doctrinal clarity. Even so, there may be errors due to inaccurate translation. It is, therefore, necessary and important that a faithful minister of God explain and correct such errors (compare Romans 10:14–15).”

This Q&A served to do this in regard to Revelation 22:19.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

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Preaching the Gospel and Feeding the Flock

compiled by Dave Harris

“Trump’s Plans with Gaza—What Does the Bible Say?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

Trump announced that he wants the USA to take and own Gaza, demolish it completely, and rebuild and create a prosperous place.  But how realistic are those plans? What does the Bible say about Gaza’s future… and the future of America?

“Trumps Pläne mit Gaza – Was sagt die Bibel?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link

A new Member Letter (February 2025) is now posted and has been mailed to our subscribers. Paul Niehoff (Australia) contrasts this age of darkness to the future Kingdom of God and speaks of the marvelous difference we can anticipate.

The Sin of Adam and Eve” is the latest video published in our Bible Stories series on YouTube.

“Europa in der biblischen Prophezeiung,” is the title of this Sabbath’s new German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Europe in Biblical Prophecy.”

“König David, und die Lahmen und die Blinden,” last Sabbath’s German sermonette presented by Jens Herrmann, is now posted. Title in English: “King David, and the Lame and the Blind.”

Going on to Perfection,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Paul Niehoff, is now posted. Here is the summary:

We normally think of perfection as being without any flaws, and with no sin whatsoever. However, the Greek word translated perfection can also mean finalising a requirement or task or completing an assignment. In other words, fulfilling what God requires of us in being a part of His Church. Each member may have a different assignment but we must all carry these out to be pleasing to God.

What the Bible Says About the Beast,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

The “beast” is described in a variety of ways in the Bible. It can refer to the past and future military power, to the end-time leader, and to the past and future religious power and its representative. How is the coming end-time leader described and what are his character traits? What are the little horns in Daniel 7 and 8, the mark and image of the beast, his mortal wound and his number; and what are the 10 horns? Is their meaning always the same?

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How This Work is Financed

This Update is an official publication by the ministry of the Church of the Eternal God in the United States of America; the Church of God, a Christian Fellowship in Canada; and the Global Church of God in the United Kingdom.

Editorial Team: Norbert Link, Dave Harris, Rene Messier, Brian Gale, Johanna Link, Eric Rank, Michael Link, Anna Link, Kalon Mitchell, Manuela Mitchell, Dawn Thompson

Technical Team: Eric Rank, Shana Rank

Our activities and literature, including booklets, weekly updates, sermons on CD are provided free of charge. They are made possible by the tithes, offerings and contributions of Church members and others who have elected to support this Work.

While we do not solicit the general public for funds, contributions are gratefully welcomed and are tax-deductible in the U.S. and Canada.

Donations can be sent to the following addresses:

United States: Church of the Eternal God, P.O. Box 270519, San Diego, CA 92198

Canada: Church of God, ACF, Box 1480, Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z0

United Kingdom: Global Church of God, PO Box 44, MABLETHORPE, LN12 9AN, United Kingdom

©2025 Church of the Eternal God