Update 676

On February 21, 2015, Eric Rank will give the sermon, titled, “Knowing 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.

In the 80’s, a co-worker told me that he liked going down to the Vancouver airport to watch planes take off from the perimeter road located to the south of the runway, going north and south.

Planes departing in this direction fly over a body of water, and from the road one can get a really good view of the take-offs. One hot summer day, he was watching a Boeing 747 taking off. He was aware that there is a point on a runway called the point of no return. Pilots know about it, even though it is not marked by a big sign and pointing arrow. When that point is reached, the pilot can still abort the takeoff safely in case of an emergency, without running out of runway. Once this point is passed, he must attempt the take off.

My co-worker observed that the Boeing 747 was lumbering down the runway, not gaining much lift due to the hot summer air which is thinner than cold air, and it passed the point of no return. The plane was not lifting off and was running out of runway. It slowly gained a bit of elevation, but with the wheels still down, he thought the wheels would hit the perimeter barbwire fence around that part of the airport. This would have caused the plane to crash into the water of the Bay.

The pilot retracted the wheels way before he normally would do, and the plane cleared the fence. Once over the water, the air being a bit cooler and more dense, the plane slowly began to get more lift, but it seemed that it took forever to gain enough altitude to make its turn towards its destination.

This episode may remind us of our experience with sin, because there is a point of no return that we should be aware of. This process is outlined in the book of James:

“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:13-15).

First we are drawn away by our own desires or tempted by our desires and enticed; that is, sin doesn’t look so bad, in fact, it looks good. Notice, once the desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, so the time to put on the brakes is before it conceives because by then one may be in danger of passing the point of no return. After conception, our desires give birth to sin—not to immortal life, but to sin—and when sin is fully grown, it brings forth death. It is like a little leaven which grows until the whole body is leavened. Likewise, the end result of sin is death from which, if not repented of, there could be no return. That is why it is important to control our desires and to resist sin early on.

We know that Christ was tempted in all things, yet He never sinned. Hebrews 4:14-15 tells us:

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Christ never passed the point of no return—for Him, it was never a close call. He never allowed desires to take hold of or conceive and settle in His mind, and He never allowed them to give birth to sin. Since He could overcome temptation, we can do likewise, when Christ lives in us, helping us to attain that state of being free from sinful behavior. Let us never lose sight of the fact that with Christ’s help, we can overcome temptation and abort actions leading to sin, and if desires have conceived and have given birth to sin and death, we must quickly repent by “retracting the wheels” and attempting the lift-off from and rising above sin, so as to avoid going beyond the point of no return.

We report on memorial events in Dresden—70 years after the Allied decision to firebomb the city, destroy tens of thousands of buildings and kill up to 25,000 citizens and refugees fleeing the advancing Soviet Red Army. The apologetic comments by the Archbishop of Canterbury met strong condemnations from UK politicians and others—showing that even after a generation has passed, bad memories continue; and the mutual feelings between Germany and the UK are by no means as friendly as some would like them to be.

We continue with interesting articles about Angela Merkel who may either end up as one of the great successful leaders of Europe—or as a person who tried, but failed miserably. In light of America’s weakness and indecisiveness, the question on the minds of many Europeans is whether she can save Ukraine and Greece—and whether her assurances to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Jews are safe in Germany will be supported and confirmed by the facts.

We report on the latest developments pertaining to the murderous and demonically-possessed Isalmist terrorist group ISIS; as well as the abominable Islamist attacks in Denmark and Egypt’s swift response—while America is “sitting on the dock of the bay, wasting time.”

Concentrating on the USA, we speak of an alleged looming mega-drought with potentially disastrous consequences; comment on the congressional confusion regarding President Obama’s intentionally vague “war authorization” request; point out medical hypocrisy, conflict of interests and judicial incompetency regarding demands for mandatory vaccination; report on America’s first openly bisexual governor in Oregon; and conclude with a piece on the absurd and quite dangerous belief in reincarnation.

70 Years after the Bombing of Dresden

The Associated Press reported on February 14:

“The Allied decision to firebomb Dresden… has long been a source of controversy. At the time, the Allies hoped the attack on a city deep in the German heartland would hit hard at civilian morale and help force the Nazis to capitulate. Some historians, however, said the destruction was a tragic waste of human life and cultural patrimony — with little to no effect on the outcome of the war.

“Speaking at a memorial event in the rebuilt center of the city Friday, German President Joachim Gauck assured dignitaries from Britain and other former Allied nations: ‘You should know that we bear no lasting grudge.’

“The raids that began on February 13, 1945, left the city littered with corpses, and tens of thousands of Dresden’s buildings had been turned to rubble, including its famous opera house and museums in the historic old city. The baroque Church of Our Lady appeared initially to have survived, but, weakened by the intense heat, it collapsed two days after the bombing under its own weight…

“It was not just the bombs dropped by the waves of British and US bombers that wreaked devastation. The fire made superheated air rise rapidly, creating a vacuum at ground level that produced winds strong enough to uproot trees and suck people into the flames. Many Dresden residents died of collapsed lungs… [About] 25,000 people were killed in the attack.”

Deutsche Welle added on February 14:

“Seventy years ago, [on February 13, 1945,] Allied bombers attacked Dresden… As the bombs rained down on the city, its churches and palaces were turned to rubble. Up to 25,000 people – many of them refugees fleeing the advancing Soviet Red Army – died in the inferno that raged in the city for days…

“The bombings were intended to break the German population’s morale – a decision that to many was incomprehensible, given that the war had long been decided and Dresden’s economic and strategic importance was relatively minimal…”

The Local wrote on February 14:

“German President Joachim Gauck warned Friday against a cult of victimhood over the World War II destruction of the city of Dresden 70 years ago. ‘We know who started the murderous war,’ the head of state said in a remembrance church service. ‘And that’s why we will never forget the victims of German aggression, even as we remember the German victims today… A country that perpetrated the monstrosity of genocide could not expect to emerge with impunity and undamaged from the war that it had started.’”

Archbishop of Canterbury “Apologizes” for Dresden… and Is Strongly Criticized

The Daily Mail reported on February 13:

“The Archbishop of Canterbury last night issued an extraordinary apology for the British bombing of Dresden during the Second World War. In what was immediately criticised as an insult to the young men who gave their lives to defeat the Nazis,… Justin Welby told the German people of his ‘profound feeling of regret and deep sorrow’ over the attack. His comments at a ceremony in Dresden to mark the 70th anniversary of the bombings came amid a growing row about BBC coverage of the commemoration in which Britain was described as ‘worse than the Nazis’ over the raids that killed thousands at the end of the war.

“Former defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth criticised the Archbishop, saying: ‘I do not hear Angela Merkel apologising for the Blitz.’…

“Archbishop Welby said the bombing of Dresden, which killed an estimated 25,000, ‘diminished all our humanity’. But he made no reference to the 55,573 British aircrew killed in the struggle to overthrow Hitler, nor to the German bombing of London and Coventry.

“Tory MP Philip Davies said: ‘These remarks do sound to me like an apology. For the Archbishop to make an apology for our defeat of Hitler is bizarre. I would have thought the last thing we should be doing is apologising. We should be praised for defeating Hitler. These words are an insult to the young men who gave their lives in the defeat of Germany.’

“The Archbishop – whose great uncle Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal was one of the main architects of Britain’s campaign of bombing German cities – told the congregation he thought it was ‘miraculous’ that they were welcoming him given the ‘brutal and devastating’ nature of the attack. ‘Over three days in February allied bombers brought death and destruction on a scale and with a ferocity it is impossible to imagine,’ he said.  ‘Much debate surrounds this most controversial raid of the allied bombing campaign. Whatever the arguments, events here 70 years ago left a deep wound and diminished all our humanity. So as a follower of Jesus I stand here among you with a profound feeling of regret and deep sorrow.’

“The references to profound regret and deep sorrow sparked furore among veterans and Conservative politicians already angered by BBC news reports on the anniversary dominated by graphic accounts of the deaths of German victims. An interview with a British prisoner of war – who called the bombing of Dresden a ‘war crime’ – was repeated several times.

“Sir Gerald, a Tory MP, said: ‘Our wartime military commanders, Winston Churchill, and the men of Bomber Command should not be held to blame for the deaths of civilians such as those in Dresden. That was the fault of the German people who failed to remove Hitler and his evil regime. It is very unfortunate that the Archbishop felt unable to pay tribute to the heroism of the young men of Bomber Command, half of whom gave their lives so that the German people could ultimately be liberated from Hitler’s tyranny.’

“Of the BBC coverage, military top brass, RAF veterans, politicians and historians said it ignored the atrocities committed by Hitler and the military justifications for the attack…”

Can Merkel Save Europe?

On February 14, Der Spiegel Online published a lengthy article on Angela Merkel’s role in Europe and the future of Ukraine. We are bringing you the following insightful and revealing excerpts:

“With intense focus during dozens of hours of telephone conversations and negotiations across the globe, the German chancellor helped wrest a cease-fire from the belligerents. It is a fragile deal full of question marks, one which can only succeed if all parties dedicate themselves to adhering to it. Whether that will be the case is doubtful. The Minsk deal is brief respite. Nothing more. But it is a success nonetheless…

“Above all were questions of international diplomacy: … What is the correct path: American weapons deliveries or European diplomacy? And, perhaps most crucial of all, the focus was on European emancipation: Is Europe able to solve its own conflicts without help from the United States?

“The exertions of Chancellor Merkel and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier make it clear that Germany has recognized its responsibility in Europe and in the world. One year ago, German President Joachim Gauck demanded that German foreign policy become more assertive in addressing international conflicts. It is a plea that Merkel and Steinmeier have answered in recent weeks.

“The Ukraine crisis has changed German politics and it has changed Merkel as well. The German leader… is making moves she would have avoided in the past… The Ukraine crisis has changed Merkel’s view of reality…

“Should both sides adhere to the cease-fire, time will be won. That isn’t much, but it is a far cry from nothing… The Minsk deal also bought valuable time for US President Barack Obama. He recently stood up to the hawks in Washington and rejected the idea of delivering weapons to Ukraine. But during Merkel’s visit to the American capital on Monday, he told her that were the Minsk talks to fail, he would no longer be able to contain the weapons delivery discussion. It came across almost as an ultimatum.

“Internally, Vice President Joe Biden had previously thrown his support behind supplying Ukraine with weapons, as had Secretary of State John Kerry… The American NATO General Philip Breedlove believes that missile defense systems are absolutely essential to defend against Russian artillery and also believes Ukraine should be provided with drones.

“But the Ukrainians are currently unable to operate such high-tech equipment. They would have to receive extensive training from American advisers. That, though, would essentially make the US a party to the conflict, as Obama well knows. Which is why he was hesitant following his talks with Merkel, saying only that which American presidents always say in such moments: ‘What I’ve asked my team to do is to look at all options.’…

“American weapons deliveries, on the other hand, don’t impress Putin one bit. On the contrary: Were US weapons and military trainers to turn up in Ukraine, the Russian people, 85 percent of whom already support Putin, would unanimously stand behind their president, one Kremlin insider, who does not belong to the hawkish camp, says. ‘Plus, we would be happy to see American weapons quickly fall into the hands of the separatists as captured loot.’…

“The Ukrainian army was unprepared for the war in the east. Whereas Russia completely modernized its military recently, Ukraine scrapped or sold off much of the equipment it had inherited when the Soviet Union collapsed and radically reduced the size of its military, dismissing two-thirds of its soldiers. The weapons now being used by Ukrainian troops fighting in the east are far inferior to those possessed by the separatists.

“At the beginning of the war, the Ukrainian army had some 130,000 troops according to the most optimistic estimates, with half of them fulfilling their compulsory military service. Now, many young men are doing their best to avoid conscription altogether by heading overseas… the Ukrainian army is slowly disintegrating, demoralized by the separatist advances and short on personnel…

“Russia has likely already achieved its minimum goal, that of preventing Ukraine from joining NATO or the European Union…

“[Merkel] is now drawing parallels between Ukraine and the construction of the Berlin Wall… East Germany is serving as an illustration that there are situations where nothing can or should be done. Even the Americans weren’t prepared to use military means to protect the people of East Germany in 1961, Merkel said in Munich. ‘I don’t blame them,’ she added. It was simply realistic…

“Some see Merkel as being weak. US Senators in particular have voiced criticism of her approach, even uttering the unflattering word ‘appeasement,’ a reference to the Munich Agreement of 1938, which handed part of Czechoslovakia to Adolf Hitler’s Nazis…

“She is afraid of a proxy war over Ukraine between the nuclear powers of US and Russia… Obama wasn’t of a mind to reject her approach… [He] told Merkel that he is happy about every problem that doesn’t land on his desk. Indeed, he is a president who gives Merkel room, and a chance, to make her own foreign policy, a European foreign policy… she resisted American calls for arming the Ukrainian army… It was also a Merkel who did exactly what Germans expect from her: Fight for peace, search for compromise with the Russians and resist the Americans. All of that conforms nicely to the present mood in Germany. Along the way, she also patched up relations with France, restoring the German-French axis by including Hollande. That is good for Europe…

“But the price of the chancellor’s realpolitik is a high one, and Ukraine is paying it. Merkel already told the Ukrainian president weeks ago that the West wasn’t prepared to go to war for the country. Now, though, it has become clear that the West is willing to accept Ukraine’s partition. Ukraine hasn’t just lost the Crimean Peninsula, it has now also lost territories in the east.

“Officially, Merkel has continued repeating two mantras: The first is that there is no military solution. The second is that Ukraine’s territorial integrity will not be sacrificed. They are both lovely sentences, but they are unfortunately not reconcilable. If the West doesn’t intend to protect Ukraine’s territorial integrity with military means, then that integrity exists only on paper… The West will accept that Moscow will define at least part of Ukraine as being within its sphere of influence.

“It is always good when the weapons go quiet, but Merkel has achieved little beyond that. Separatist leaders along with a determined Putin, who knows that the West is not prepared to spill the blood of its soldiers to defend Ukraine’s integrity, have shown her the limits of her influence…”

Angela Merkel Meets Pope Francis

Zenit reported on February 13:

“Steffen Seibert, the Berlin government spokesman, announced that German Chancellor Angela Merkel would be meeting Pope Francis on February 21^st… [The Pope] and Chancellor Merkel are expected to discuss several issues including interreligious dialogue, globalization, international crisis and the role of Europe in the world. Chancellor Merkel last visited Pope Francis in May 2013, two months after [his] election to the papacy.

“Chancellor Merkel  is scheduled to meet with French President Francois Hollande prior to her meeting with the [Pope] to discuss her country’s presidency of the G7 as well as developments in Ukraine.”

Fighting Ongoing in Ukraine

Deutsche Welle wrote on February 14:

“Pro-Russian rebels are pushing on with an offensive in eastern Ukraine despite an imminent planned ceasefire, the Ukrainian military said on Saturday. It reported 120 separate attacks by the rebels in the past 24 hours, and said fierce fighting was continuing around the strategic railway hub of Debaltseve, which has formed a focus of the separatists’ offensive in recent weeks.

“Separately, officials in the port city of Mariupol said a number of artillery attacks hit areas nearby in the morning. Ukrainian authorities fear that separatists may want to capture the city in a bid to establish a corridor between mainland Russia and the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed 11 months ago.

“The violence comes as a truce is due to come into effect at midnight on Sunday… Fears are growing that the truce will have no chance to take hold as separatists try to gain as much territory as possible before it goes into effect. A previous ceasefire called in September failed to bring any significant let-up in violence. Reports… of heavy weaponry entering eastern Ukraine from Russia over the past few days have also fueled doubts as to whether the creation of a heavy weapons-free zone as envisaged by the latest agreement will go ahead.”

Deutsche Welle added on February 16:

“Fighting continues to rage around the eastern Ukrainian town of Debaltseve – in spite of a European-brokered peace deal. Western leaders have appealed for both sides to respect the ceasefire… Both pro-Russia separatists and the Ukrainian government continue to insist that they are committed to the truce negotiated last week. Chancellor Merkel, the driving force behind the deal reached early Thursday after all-night negotiations in the Belarusian capital Minsk, described the situation on Monday as ‘fragile.’ She appealed for the ceasefire to be respected.”

Deutsche Welle reported on February 18:

“Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine attacked the city of Debaltseve forcing Ukrainian troops to pull out of the city. The move has led some to call the ceasefire in Ukraine into question… US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Secretary of State John Kerry had urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in a phone call earlier on Wednesday to stop Russian and separatist attacks on Ukrainian forces in Debaltseve…

“‘We want to shape this European peace order together with Russia, not against Russia,’ German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in her first comments since pro-Russian separatists captured the railway hub of Debaltseve… Merkel added, however, that she couldn’t ignore Moscow’s violations of international law. ‘We cannot wave our principles – and the annexation of Crimea for example is a violation of international law,’ the chancellor said…

“Ukraine’s general armed forces has reported at least 22 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and more than 150 wounded in fighting with pro-Russian separatists in Debaltseve over the past three days… ‘The ceasefire has not been respected,’ said [NATO Secretary General Jens] Stoltenberg, who added that the refusal of the separatists to respect the ceasefire is a threat to the Minsk agreement.”

When they will say, Peace, peace!, then there will be no peace!

US Senators Accuse Germany of Weakness

The Local wrote on February 18:

“The German government said on Wednesday that pro-Russian rebels’ advance into the eastern Ukrainian city of Debaltseve was a serious breach of ceasefire terms agreed last week in Minsk…

“The news came as American senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham accused Chancellor Angela Merkel of giving in to Russian President Vladimir Putin too easily. They said that it was ‘inexcusable to stick to a failed ceasefire agreement’ that Russia and its ‘proxies’ continued to ignore. ‘In the absence of greater Western support for Ukrainian forces, a Russian-imposed military solution is exactly what will continue to unfold,’ the senators said.

“There had been continued fighting between pro-government troops and surrounding rebel forces over the vital railway junction in recent days, despite the ceasefire having officially come into effect at midnight on Sunday… In a phone call with US Vice-President Joe Biden, Poroshenko also renewed his appeal for American weapons to arm his men for the fight against the rebels.”

Putin’s Victory in Ukraine Against a Weak West

The Editorial Board of the Washington Post wrote the following on February 18:

“VLADIMIR PUTIN’S latest victory in Ukraine is turning into a rout. Having already induced Western leaders to endorse a peace plan that virtually guarantees continued Russian control over parts of two provinces, the Russian ruler ordered a large Ukrainian force holding Debaltseve, a key crossroads in the region, to surrender. His forces, including regular Russian army troops, then assaulted the city in brazen violation of a cease-fire. On Wednesday morning, Ukrainian forces withdrew from Debaltseve under fire, suffering a devastating defeat that will further destabilize the shaky Kiev government of Petro Poroshenko.

“Mr. Putin was so pleased that he indulged in some taunting of the Ukrainians. ‘Of course, it’s always bad to lose,’ he said at a news conference Tuesday. ‘It’s always a hardship when you lose to yesterday’s miners or yesterday’s tractor drivers.’ That was another lie, of course — the forces who seized Debaltseve were not former Ukrainian workers but Russian regulars; one Western reporter encountered soldiers who had been dispatched from Siberia.

“What about Western leaders, who just last week solemnly declared they would hold Russia accountable if the new deal were violated? All agreed there had been, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman put it, ‘a massive violation’ of the cease-fire agreement. But there was little visible movement toward imposing meaningful consequences. Instead, officials in Brussels echoed a White House statement that said ‘the costs to Russia will rise’ if it ‘continues to violate’ the agreement. That suggested only that additional aggression by Mr. Putin would get a response, maybe.

“Given the West’s weakness, more aggression seems likely… The takeover of Debaltseve will go a long way to consolidate the breakaway puppet state he is building in eastern Ukraine…

“Meanwhile, Mr. Poroshenko will be rocked politically by the latest costly blow to a Ukrainian army that lacks the weapons to stop Russian tanks. He will find it even harder to explain to Ukrainians why they must accept the harsh economic austerity measures his government recently agreed to in exchange for desperately needed international financing. Yet he still has scant hope of obtaining significant new aid or arms supplies from the United States; the White House seized on the supposed peace accord as one more reason to postpone meaningful action.

“Mr. Obama has frequently boasted of leading a collective U.S.-European response. But he stood back last week as Ms. Merkel and French President François Hollande negotiated the giveaway of eastern Ukraine to Mr. Putin. When the European Union announced a small round of new sanctions against Russian officials Monday, before Debaltseve fell, the Obama administration did not join in. Rather than lead, the president appears to have ceded the Ukraine crisis to Germany, with predictably poor results.

“European leaders will not stop Russian aggression without a determined U.S. president. Ukrainians must be wondering how much more of their country must fall to Russian troops for Mr. Obama to set aside his ‘strategic patience.’”

Ukraine will fall into Russian hands, and neither America nor Europe will prevent it…nor do they seem to even have the will power trying to do so.

US-Iran Deal in the Making?

Reuters reported on February 14:

“Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has responded to overtures from U.S. President Barack Obama amid nuclear talks by sending him a secret letter, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday… Obama’s letter suggested the possibility of U.S.-Iranian cooperation in fighting Islamic State if a nuclear deal was secured, the paper said, quoting the diplomat… Khamenei said this week he could accept a compromise in the nuclear talks and gave his strongest defense yet of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s decision to negotiate with the West, a policy opposed by powerful hardliners at home…

“The nuclear talks with the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany are aimed at clinching an accord that would ease Western concerns that Tehran could pursue a covert nuclear weapons program, in return for the lifting of sanctions that have ravaged the Iranian economy. Negotiators have set a June 30 final deadline for an accord, and Western officials have said they aim to agree on the substance of such a deal by March.

“Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is due to address the U.S. Congress on Iran on March 3 – to the annoyance of the Obama administration – has vowed ‘to foil this bad and dangerous agreement.’”

“European Jews – Move to Israel!”

JTA wrote on February 15:

“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Jews in Europe to move to Israel in the wake of an attack on a synagogue in Copenhagen. ‘Extremist Islamic terrorism has struck Europe again, this time in Denmark. We send our condolences to the Danish people and to the Jewish community in Denmark,’ Netanyahu said Sunday at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting.

“‘Jews have been murdered again on European soil only because they were Jews and this wave of terrorist attacks – including murderous anti-Semitic attacks – is expected to continue. Of course, Jews deserve protection in every country but we say to Jews, to our brothers and sisters: Israel is your home. We are preparing and calling for the absorption of mass immigration from Europe. I would like to tell all European Jews and all Jews wherever they are: Israel is the home of every Jew.’

“Israel’s foreign minister, Avigdor Liberman, in a statement released Sunday said that the terror attacks in Copenhagen ‘demonstrate what we have said for years: Israel and the Jewish people have been victims of this terror primarily because they are at the forefront of the terror war being waged against the west and the entire free world.’…

“The suspected gunman was killed Sunday in a shootout with police…”

AFP added on February 15:

“[Netanyahu] had made a similar call after three days of bloodshed in Paris that started with the January 7 attack on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo where 12 people were gunned down, followed the next day by the shooting death of a policewoman just outside the city. On January 9, the gunman who killed the policewoman took hostages at a kosher supermarket in Paris and four Jews were killed during a police commando raid.”

European Leaders Upset, but Are They in Denial?

Daily Mail wrote on February 16:

“Zvika Klein, a reporter for Jewish news outlet NRG, silently walked in the city [of Paris] for ten hours wearing a kippah – also known as a yarmulke – on his head and a tzitzit (ritual tassels) and filmed the public’s reaction using a hidden camera. The shocking clip shows antisemitism is rife in the French capital as he is seen being harassed and intimidated.

“As he wanders around neighbourhoods wearing the garments associated with the Jewish faith, he is spat at, threatened and even called a ‘dog’. It comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the mass emigration of Jews from Europe to escape the rising tide of antisemitic terror attacks.

“His comments sparked fury from Jewish groups and were promptly refuted by the leaders of France, Germany and Denmark. But Mr Klein’s video shows, in Paris, Jews ‘are barred from entering certain areas’. ‘Jews prefer to stay inside in the evening,’ he says. ‘It is safer at home.’”

USA Defends Greece; Warns Europe and Germany; Bailout Talks Collapse

The Telegraph wrote on February 14:

“The Obama administration has leapt to the defence of Greece, warning Germany and Europe’s creditor powers that they must meet Athens half-way to avert a potentially dangerous rupture and a euro break-up… each [side] is in a different cognitive universe on the core dispute over austerity and debt relief…

“The chief critique by US officials and the International Monetary Fund is that Germany is pursuing a balanced budget at a time when the eurozone is still struggling to recover from a six-year slump that is proving more intractable than the equivalent years in the Great Depression… the White House’s confidence in the macro-economic judgement of the [European] policy elites is near exhaustion.”

Deutsche Welle reported on February 16:

“Talks aimed at extending Greece’s bailout package – and preventing a Greek exit from the eurozone – came to a halt less than four hours after negotiations got underway on Monday in Brussels. ‘Everyone’s disappointed,’ a dispirited Austrian Finance Minister Hans Jörg Schelling said after the inconclusive Eurogroup meeting…

“A new opinion poll showed that nearly 70 percent of Greeks want a ‘fair’ compromise with international lenders, while 30 percent said that Athens should stand tough even if it means reverting to the drachma currency. The poll, however, also found that 81 percent want to stay in the eurozone. This comes as investment bank JP Morgan reported that deposit outflows in Greece have picked up, with some 2 billion euros fleeing Greek banks every week.”

Deutsche Welle reported on February 18:

“Athens is to submit a formal request for a loan extension on Thursday, according to Greek officials. The application is also expected to ask for tough austerity conditions to be removed. Greece’s current 240-billion-euro ($273-billion) bailout program will expire on February 28. The country says an extension is the only way to avoid a possible default, and eurozone exit… The nation has received two major bailouts since 2010…

“Germany, who has been a vocal critic of increasing aid to Greece, said it was not open to making changes. ‘Simply saying, “we need more money again and we’re not going to do anything anymore,” and then insulting people, that absolutely won’t work,’ Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble said on German television on Tuesday…

“Any changes to the current bailout program would have to first be approved by various European parliaments, including Germany…

“Without an extension Greece’s cash reserves are expected to begin running dry on February 24. At a meeting in Brussels on Monday, EU finance ministers set conditions for its continued financial support of Athens, including Greece leaving reforms in place. Greece has signaled its desire to overturn many of these measures, including raising the minimum wage.

“But Germany’s Schäuble said doing this would ruin any chance of Greece getting its requested delay granted. ‘It can’t and won’t be the case that you go for an extension without the agreed reforms,’ he said on Tuesday.”

ISIS at Doorsteps of Europe

The Independent reported on February 16:

“The beheading of 21 Coptic Christians on a beach in Libya has brought Isis to the doorstep of Europe. The mass murder… realised long-held fears of militants reaching the Mediterranean coast. Isis started in Iraq and now controls swathes of adjoining Syria, including along the Turkish border, as part of its so-called Islamic State. Its ideology has spread much further, with pledges of allegiance from terrorist groups in Egypt, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Yemen and now Libya.

“Days before Isis released its gory video depicting the Egyptians’ beheadings, Libya’s former Prime Minister warned that the group would soon reach the Mediterranean and even Europe if order was not restored in the country. Ali Zeidan said Libya’s fractured government and easy access to weapons seized during the fall of Colonel Gaddafi made it more susceptible to the activities of jihadists… ‘(Isis) are growing. They are everywhere,’ he added… ‘It will be a big war in the country [of Libya] and it will be here in Europe as well.’”

According to Breitbart, dated February 16, a masked ISIS leader said the following on a video before his demonically-possessed fanatical Islamist fellow terrorists brutally murdered the Egyptian captives:

“Oh people, recently you have seen us on the hills of Al-Sham and Dabiq’s plain, chopping off the heads that have been carrying the cross for a long time, and today, we are on the south of Rome, on the land of Islam, Libya, sending another message…  The sea you have hidden Sheikh Osama bin Laden’s body in, we swear to Allah we will mix it with your blood… And we will conquer Rome, by Allah’s permission, the promise of our Prophet…”

These brain-washed Isalmist terrorists—followers of radical Islam–are clearly under the total control of Satan the devil.

Egypt Responds

The Associated Press reported on February 16:

“Egypt bombed Islamic State militants in neighboring Libya on Monday and called on the United States and Europe to join an international military intervention in the chaotic North African state after extremists beheaded a group of Egyptian Christians. The airstrikes bring Egypt overtly into Libya’s turmoil, a reflection of Cairo’s increasing alarm. Egypt now faces threats on two fronts — a growing stronghold of radicals on its western border and a militant insurgency of Islamic State allies on its eastern flank in the Sinai Peninsula — as well as its own internal challenges.

“Islamic State group weapons caches and training camps were targeted ‘to avenge the bloodshed and to seek retribution from the killers,’ a military statement said. ‘Let those far and near know that Egyptians have a shield to protect and safeguard the security of the country and a sword that cuts off terrorism.’ The announcement on state radio represents Egypt’s first public acknowledgement of military action in post-Moammar Gadhafi Libya, where there has been almost no government control.

“Libya is where the Islamic State group has built up its strongest presence outside Syria and Iraq…”

As Jordan did before when a Jordanian hostage was brutally burned alive by cowardly masked Isalmist terrorists, so Egypt took up the fight as well—while America and Europe watch from the outset and participate, if at all, with providing dangerous Kurdish rebels with weapons (while refusing to provide the Ukrainian army with weapons), and conducting unsuccessful air strikes which are extremely expensive and accomplish next to nothing.

Further Horrendous Atrocities by Murderous ISIS

Newsmax reported on February 17:

“Reports Tuesday that the Islamic State burned to death 45 people in Iraq just days after posting a video showing the beheadings of 21 Egyptian Christians proves that ‘we’re witnessing atrocities that were reserved for the Dark Ages,’ Los Angeles author Johnnie Moore told Newsmax. ‘Just as soon as you think it can’t get worse, it gets worse,’ said Moore…  ‘My concern is that it’s going to get worse and worse and worse,’ he said.

“Pete Hoekstra, the former Michigan congressman who once chaired the House Intelligence Committee, said the deaths clearly reflect an emboldened Islamic State. ‘What the radical jihadists are learning is that for much of the West, the response is temporary, and it is restrained,’ he told Newsmax. ‘It’s one thing to go after these folks with limited airstrikes — but if you really want to stop these folks, everyone agrees that you’ve got to get boots on the ground, you’ve got to find these folks, and you’ve got to either capture them or kill them. It’s not a complex formula, but that doesn’t happen,’ Hoekstra said.”

On the other hand, note this article by Newsmax, dated February 17:

“Iraq, Syria and Yemen could become part of a ‘new Iranian empire’ if the U.S.-led coalition is successful in defeating the Islamic State (ISIS), former New York City Republican Mayor Rudy Giuliani [said]…  ‘If you allow Iran to help you defeat ISIS, which we seem to be doing … one [enemy] gone, and (allow) a new Iranian empire, which is what the Iranians are trying to do and have been trying to do from the beginning — nobody’s looking at that, and they should,’ Giuliani said Tuesday.”

Mega-Droughts for the USA?

The Independent wrote on February 13:

“Since the turn of this century, the US south-west has spent more than a decade in drought. Last year was the warmest on record in California, which is in the middle of its driest spell for more than 400 years. But according to a new scientific study, that’s nothing compared to what comes next.

“In the paper, published by the journal Science Advances, researchers from Nasa and Columbia and Cornell universities warn that a vast swathe of the US, including the south-west states and the central plains, should prepare for ‘unprecedented drought conditions’ unlike anything in the past 1,000 years… The long-term dry conditions could devastate the region’s agricultural capability, decimating both crops and cattle herds, and sending some food prices sky-rocketing. It would directly affect more than 60 million people from San Diego to San Antonio and from Oakland to Omaha, who depend on increasingly scant water resources and on infrastructure designed during an abnormally moist 20th century…

“The scientists said the effects of a mega-drought, which would be especially pronounced in desert cities such as Las Vegas and Phoenix, should be considered a slow-motion natural disaster, of a piece with earthquakes or hurricanes. Data discovered in tree rings shows that between the ninth and the 14th centuries, the region also endured lengthy periods of intense drought…

“A mega-drought would lead to major water shortages, which would cause vegetation to dry up, bringing about regular, massive wildfires in Arizona and California. But while the drought in California and its neighbouring states has grabbed recent headlines, the study suggests a far larger area would be hit, encompassing all, or parts, of Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana…

“According to the study, there is a greater than 80 per cent chance of a mega-drought of 35 years or longer occurring in the US this century, unless swift and aggressive action is taken to alleviate the speed and impact of climate change, which would lower the risk. The authors said their research differed from other recent reports in its level of certainty about future droughts because they had taken into account the rise in carbon emissions.”

One has to be careful with the conclusions of this study, as they rely heavily on the assumption that “made-made” global warming or climate change will continue to raise the temperatures. Nevertheless, the Bible predicts that within a few years, vast areas in the USA will be plagued by unparalleled hunger and famine, due to droughts.

Congressional Chaos Over Obama’s War Authorization

Bloomberg wrote on February 12:

“Congress is flummoxed about how to deal with President Barack Obama’s proposed authorization for war against the Islamic State… All week, Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate have been meeting behind closed doors to strategize on the White House’s proposal, which places vague limits on the use of ground troops, allows the president to expand the war to any country, and sunsets in three years. Many Republicans want to give Obama (and his successor) more flexibility; many Democrats want to tighten restrictions.

“Both parties acknowledge the need for some bipartisan support for their ideas. But neither leadership has figured out how to craft a coalition that can muster 60 votes in the Senate and 218 in the House…

“For months, the Obama administration and Congress have had an unspoken agreement; both sides publicly called for a new war authorization while neither side actually pushed the issue out of a mutual comfort with the status quo. Now that the White House has made its move, Congress is forced to respond, but infighting among lawmakers could result in a failure to exert the oversight power they claim to wield.

“For the White House, it’s actually a win-win. If Congress manages to pass something, it will be seen as a bipartisan endorsement of the president’s war, despite widespread discontent with how he is actually prosecuting it. If Congress balks, the president retains even more flexibility to fight the war than he is asking for, and Congress will have ensured its own irrelevance in the debate.”

Hypocrisy in the Medical Field over Measles Vaccinations

Medical Kidnap wrote on February 16:

“The New York Times has published an opinion piece from a pro-vaccine doctor who earns millions of dollars in royalties from the sale of childhood vaccines. The title of the article is: ‘What Would Jesus Do About Measles?’ According to this medical doctor [Dr. Paul Offit who is practicing in Philadelphia], Jesus would force everyone to vaccinate their children for the sake of the ‘greater good.’ This pharmaceutical industry insider is calling on all states in the U.S. to remove the religious exemptions for vaccines that currently exist in 48 states.

“Could the day come in the United States of America where parents who refuse to vaccinate their children will have their children removed from their home by force and injected with vaccines they do not approve of against their desire? Yes. Not only could it happen, it already has happened.

“In 1991, Philadelphia had a measles outbreak that reportedly infected 1400 people. Nine children reportedly died during this time, and seven of them reportedly were from two ‘fundamentalist Christian churches’ where most members did not vaccinate their children. So during the media frenzy surrounding the measles and the MMR combo vaccine that includes measles, much like we are seeing today over the Disney outbreak in California, public health officials stepped in and convinced a court to allow them to take the children from their parents and force them to be vaccinated… [even though] a religious exemption to vaccination had been on the books in Pennsylvania for about a decade…

“As is the case today, not everyone who came down with the measles in 1991 was unvaccinated. Some of the cases occurred among those fully vaccinated as well. The vaccine is not a 100% guarantee that it will prevent the measles, and there are documented cases showing that the measles vaccine itself can ‘shed’ and cause measles among those fully vaccinated…

“This is not the first time Dr. Offit has used a highly publicized health outbreak to try to further his agenda of removing all vaccine exemptions. Dr. Paul Offit holds a patent on a vaccine he developed with Merck [the company under attack for allegedly falsifying test results and purportedly committing other illegal acts, as we reported in Update #674], and has earned millions of dollars in royalties. When Sharyl Attkisson still worked for CBS, she ran a story with then anchor Katie Couric about his massive conflict of interest: Dr. Offit has gone on record stating that he believes a baby can handle as many as 10,000 vaccines during infancy.

“In addition to his repeated calls to end all vaccine exemptions, he has gone on record to state that all information on the risks and dangers of vaccines should be censored from the media, and that journalists who question vaccines should go to ‘journalism jail.’ Is this man really qualified to answer the question ‘What would Jesus do about measles?’”

If all of this is correct, then Dr. Offit would be a disgrace for the medical profession—and so would be that infamous judge for the legal profession who issued a totally unconstitutional order in 1991 in Philadelphia. For a thorough look on this misunderstood topic, please view our recent StandingWatch program, “‘Measles Outbreak’—Blaming the Unvaccinated.” 

This video program is also available in German, as an AufPostenStehen broadcast, titled, “Sind Impfgegner Schuld am Masernausbruch?” 

Another Outrageous Decision by a “Family” Judge

ABC Eyewitness News reported on February 17:

“A woman who was brutally beaten by her ex-fiance has been ordered to write letters to the man. Natalie Allman, 29, was left with her throat slashed and bruises on her face. But in her town in England, a judge ruled that she must stay in contact with her ex and send him letters and pictures of their children. If she doesn’t, she could go to jail for contempt of court.

“Allman was ordered to send her ex three letters a year, updating him on their twin sons, even though the brutal attack happened in front of the children. She’s also been ordered to save the letters he’s writing to the boys.”

First Openly Bisexual Governor in American History

The Washington Post wrote on February 13:

“Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown (D) will become the first openly bisexual governor in U.S. history when Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) resigns Wednesday. An open LGBT governor has never been elected, although New Jersey did have an openly gay governor briefly in 2004, after Gov. Jim McGreevey (D) came out as gay and admitted an affair with a man he had appointed to a key job. He resigned three months later.

“Brown is married to husband Dan Little; she has publicly discussed her bisexuality in past campaigns. She is already arguably the highest-ranking bisexual elected official in America; Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) became the first bisexual member of Congress in 2013. There are about 525 openly LGBT public officials in office at all levels of government, according to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund. Most of them are Democrats… and only about 20 are Republicans.

“This will also be the second time in Brown’s career she has taken office because of a resignation. Her start in politics came in 1991 when she was appointed to the state House following the resignation of Rep. Judy Bauman (D), who left office because she was appointed to an executive position. Brown served in the House until 1997, when she won a seat in the Oregon state Senate. In 2008, she was the first woman to serve as Oregon Senate majority leader, and later that year she was elected secretary of state…

“But Brown isn’t without her own controversy. Even as Kitzhaber’s personal troubles were mounting late last month, she was facing questions about having written to the FCC endorsing Comcast’s merger with Time Warner Cable after having received campaign contributions from Comcast — a letter that was reportedly written in large part by a Comcast lobbyist. Comcast has given Brown $9,500 since 2009, according the National Institute of Money in State Politics.”

The Associated Press added on February 13:

“Kate Brown, who is widely considered to be to the left of the departing Democratic governor… will not assume office until Wednesday, when Kitzhaber’s resignation takes effect. He is stepping down amid suspicions that his fiancée used their relationship to land contracts for her green-energy consulting business.”

It seems, there is a lot of corruption going on in the state of Oregon.

Reincarnation and Its Appalling Teachings

Breitbart wrote on February 13:

“Veteran actress Shirley MacLaine drew the ire of Jewish groups Thursday after passages from her recently published book suggest that the six million Jews and others who died in the Holocaust were ‘balancing their karma’ by paying for sins in a previous life. MacLaine, 80, also compared Stephen Hawking to Jesus, writing that just as Jesus chose martyrdom, Hawking ‘chose to live’ with a debilitating disease…

“Of Holocaust victims, MacLaine writes: ‘What if most Holocaust victims were balancing their karma from ages before, when they were Roman soldiers putting Christians to death, the Crusaders who murdered millions in the name of Christianity, soldiers with Hannibal, or those who stormed across the Near East with Alexander? The energy of killing is endless and will be experienced by the killer and the killee.’

“Later, MacLaine claims that her ‘friend’ Stephen Hawking [an atheist who teaches that the universe created itself] chose to give himself amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) so that he could devote all of his energy to scientific pursuit.

“Jewish groups and disability charities were quick to condemn the comments made by MacLaine [who] is notorious for her opinions on reincarnation; according to the Telegraph, MacLaine has claimed to be a Japanese geisha in a previous life, and that she seduced Charlemagne in yet another. She also reportedly believes her dog Terry is a reincarnation of Anubis, the Egyptian god of the afterlife.”

One may shake his head over such nonsense, but what kind of “religion” is such an unbiblical belief in reincarnation, which allows for these kinds of horrific and appalling conclusions?

Are there prophecies about the Jews returning to the land of Israel to form a nation, in the present-day?

The modern State of Israel was established May 14, 1948. This event was the culmination of a vote in 1947 by the newly formed United Nations. The Israeli nation was born in spite of international opposition and the bitter resentment of Israel’s Arab neighbors.

The Bible reveals an earlier occurrence which finds parallels when some captive Jews were allowed to return from Babylon to rebuild the Temple and the Jewish nation. In this case, God very specifically told the Jewish people that He would make it possible for them to return:

“For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place” (Jeremiah 29:10).

Daniel the prophet came to understand this prophecy, and he stated:

“In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem” (Daniel 9:1-2).

The fulfillment of God’s promise is recorded in the Book of Ezra:

“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem. And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem” (Ezra 1:1-4).

God prepared for these events! The Book of Isaiah contains an astounding prophecy which actually names Cyrus and commissions him to perform God’s Will regarding Judah’s return from captivity and the re-establishment of the Jewish nation (compare Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-5, 13). Isaiah prophesied over 150 years before the time of Cyrus!

Now why was it important to God that the Jewish remnant should return to the land of Israel following the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple of God? The answer centers on the first appearance of the Messiah!

Jesus Christ was born of a human mother of the tribe of Judah (Luke 3:23-38; Hebrews 7:14). Many Old Testament prophecies point to Jesus, and they are very specific about Him coming to His own people of Judah to begin His redemptive work:

“He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:10-11; compare Mark 6:1-6; Luke 4:16-30; Acts 3:12-18).

Even though the entire world which had been made by Him rejected Him, special emphasis is also being given here to the Jewish people—“His own”—who did not and still do not accept Him.

The rejection of Jesus Christ by the rulers of Judah proved to be devastating to the nation—just as it was in the time of Jeremiah’s warnings to the people of God’s impending judgment! Note what Jesus prophesied for the city of Jerusalem because of their refusal to repent:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ “(Matthew 23:37-39).

Here, Jesus provides a key to begin unlocking the answer as to whether or not a modern nation of Judah would once again be established. Jesus metaphorically addresses the city of “Jerusalem” as representative, that is, as the seat of government for the nation of Israel—specifically, the ruling tribe, Judah (Genesis 49:10; 1 Chronicles 28:4). By what He said, then, we can understand that Jerusalem will exist at the time of Jesus’ return to earth.

History gives us a record of the destruction of the Temple of that time, which occurred in 70 AD. Subsequently, the entire Jewish nation was driven out of the land of Israel, and the Jews became a scattered, remnant people, grouped together by ethnicity and religion in countries all around the world. However, the prophecies of Jesus must and will be fulfilled!

Jesus also told His disciples to watch for the prophesied “‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (Matthew 24:15). This prophecy refers to the inner sanctuary in the Temple of God, which is behind the veil and is called “the Most Holy Place” (Ezekiel 41:4). This has not yet been fulfilled! Numerous prophecies indicate that a new Temple of God will arise in Jerusalem, and this is a task which Jews will complete—just as they have done in the past. In the Book of Haggai, a prophecy is given which far transcends reference to the rebuilding of the Temple that occurred in his time:

“For thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts. The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the LORD of hosts” (Haggai 2:6-9).

In Genesis 49, Jacob presented to his twelve sons prophecies of their circumstances “in the last days” (Genesis 49:1; verses 2-28). In Revelation 7, twelve of the tribes of Israel are sealed for special protection from God during the horrific events leading to the return of Jesus Christ. Among those sealed is the tribe of Judah (verse 5). By these references we can establish the continued existence of the tribe of Judah. Regardless of the mindless hatred against Jews, they have and will continue to exist—and, in the future reign of Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords over all the earth, Jews will be among the most highly cherished and respected people (Zechariah 2:12; 8:23).

Now let’s examine some more remarkable prophecies about the existence of a Jewish nation with the capital of Jerusalem in our time:

“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it” (Zechariah 12:2-3).

At no other time in history have “all nations of the earth” gathered against Jerusalem as is now happening! For prophecy to be fulfilled, Jerusalem, ruled by the Jewish people, has become the object of world attention.

Another critical prophecy is finding fulfillment in the deteriorating relationship between the State of Israel, the United Kingdom and the United States—all three nations are among the modern descendants of the sons of Jacob:

“Manasseh (USA) shall devour Ephraim (UK), and Ephraim Manasseh; Together they shall be against Judah (STATE OF ISRAEL). For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still” (Isaiah 9:21).

The strategic ties between these sons of Jacob are further described in a prophecy in Zechariah 11:14 in which the “brotherhood” between Israel and Judah is broken.

These, along with many other prophecies in the Bible, attest to the existence of a modern nation of Jewish people—now called the State of Israel—with Jerusalem as its capital city.

Finally, there remains an ominous fact for the people of the State of Israel and for Jerusalem—destruction and captivity will come! Consider this end-time prophecy, something that has not yet happened, and the scale described is nothing short of global war:

“Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, And your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The CITY shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the women ravished. Half of the CITY shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the CITY” (Zechariah 14:1-2).

The Bible speaks in many places of Jesus Christ returning to this earth, and He will return to the city of Jerusalem—to the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4; Acts 1:11), and enter the Temple of God in Jerusalem (Malachi 3:1; even though this passage also refers to Christ’s Second Coming to His spiritual Temple—the Church—it includes His Coming to a physical Temple which will still be built in Jerusalem). And although great trials are ahead before this occurs, the Holy Land will then find peace—for Jews and for all the House of Israel (Zechariah 1:17).

Consider, also, how God’s peace will then be available to everyone:

“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9).”

The modern State of Israel with its capital—Jerusalem—is and will continue to fulfill prophecies leading to the return of Jesus Christ, and this time, the Jewish people will recognize Him for Who He is—the Savior of the World!

Lead Writer: Dave Harris

A new Member Letter (February 20, 2015) has been written by Eric Rank. In this letter Mr. Rank addresses Christian growth—both the good and fruitful growth from God’s Holy Spirit and that kind of bad growth which occurs when we drift from the Truth of God.

“WHY America’s and Europe’s Betrayal of Ukraine?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

The last “cease-fire” agreement pertaining to Ukraine is dead, and the war in Ukraine continues. Europe is accused of following an appeasement policy towards Vladimir Putin’s Russia, as the Allies did towards Adolph Hitler in regard to Czechoslovakia. America is accused of “disengagement,” “weakness” and unproductive “strategic patience.” Vladimir Putin is looked upon as the only winner who wants to annex more countries and who is quite successful in pushing the US and Europe further and further apart. The West stands condemned as having broken an international treaty promising to protect Ukrainian territorial integrity. WHY is all of this happening? Is God working out a plan which brings about end-time prophecies?

“Crusades and Inquisition Justifiable?” is the title of another StandingWatch program, presented by Mr. Link. Here is a summary:

President Obama’s controversial comparison at a prayer breakfast meeting between ISIL’s demonical murders and “Christian” atrocities has prompted some prominent Catholics to “justify” the crusades and to “explain” the inquisition. These are alarming and deeply disturbing developments, in light of biblical prophecy.

“Sind Impfgegner Schuld am ‘Masernausbruch’? ” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, which covers the same topic as the recent SW program on measles and the unvaccinated.

“Erfolgreiche Gebete… um Brot und Sündenvergebung,” is the title of this week’s German sermon. This continues our series on successful prayers. This installment is titled, “Successful Prayers… for Bread and Forgiveness of Sin.”

“Dreams and Visions,” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Robb Harris, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Dreams and visions have played an important role in God’s interaction with man. Our thoughts hold power in how we communicate with God as well, and are crucial in our spiritual development.