Update 958

On January 30, 2021, Kalon Mitchell will present the sermonette, titled, “How are You?” and the sermon will be presented by Norbert Link, titled “What? The Mark of the Beast Does Not Already Exist?”

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.

Looking at the riotous and destructive events over the past year, it’s very obvious that people, when guided solely by their own carnality, rise to nothing more than confused beasts.  Whether it’s the destruction and takeover of portions of our cities or the storming of our capital, these events show a mindset that is utterly devoid of God.  Mob or herd mentality is not just a trite description of social behavior.  People often lose their better senses when they allow themselves to be swayed and controlled by others. And this loss of personal control always begins with people putting themselves in settings or attitudes that breed confusion. “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there” (James 3:16).

This carnal trait is not just symptomatic of our era.  As described in the Book of Acts, the same characteristic was used against the early followers of Christ. “At that time a great disturbance erupted about the Way. There was a silversmith named Demetrius. He made silver models of Artemis’ temple, and his business generated a lot of profit for the craftspeople. He called a meeting with these craftspeople and others working in related trades and said, ‘Friends, you know that we make an easy living from this business. And you can see and hear that this Paul has convinced and misled a lot of people, not only in Ephesus but also throughout most of the province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands aren’t really gods. This poses a danger not only by discrediting our trade but also by completely dishonoring the great goddess Artemis. The whole province of Asia—indeed, the entire civilized world—worships her, but her splendor will soon be extinguished’” (Acts 19:23-27 Common English Bible).

When the mobs rushed in to stop the apostles, they did so with confusion as their guide.  “The city was thrown into turmoil. They rushed as one into the theater. They seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from the province of Macedonia… Meanwhile, the assembly was in a state of confusion. Some shouted one thing, others shouted something else, and most of the crowd didn’t know why they had gathered” (Acts 19:29, 32 Common English Bible).

Societal chaos always begins with deceit and blindness to the Truth. No matter how well laid out man’s reasoning might be, anything that is not of God is confusion. Christ was clear in demonstrating this division between Godly and carnal mindsets.  When Christ preached of His death and resurrection, Peter became upset and “took Him (Christ) aside and began to rebuke Him.  But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men’” (Mark 8:32-33).  As Christ demonstrated through His rebuke to Peter, there is no middle ground for the Truth, it is absolute.

It’s no easy task to separate ourselves from the chaos of the world when surrounded by such turmoil. But that is precisely the reason we are called by God to be lights.  “God is not the author of confusion but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). We must steady ourselves and stay grounded in that simple yet profound understanding.

by Norbert Link

We begin with reporting on the “second impeachment circus” and alleged massive voter fraud in November’s presidential election; speak of America’s coming economic crisis; and continue with Biden’s new policies and executive orders which some like Ron Paul have labeled “fascistic.” 

Regarding the second impeachment and the presidential election in general, please view our new StandingWatch program, “The Second Impeachment Circus.” 

We report on further governmental restrictions to fight the coronavirus, including travel bans; and address Biden’s slap in the face for the British people. We also point out that the fight between Britain and Spain over Gibraltar will continue.

We address further movements towards the creation of a European Army, and speak on new developments in Germany which can only be described as deeply disturbing. We speak on a potential conflict between Biden and Israel and conclude with Russia’s violent suppression of opposing voices.

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

The Second Impeachment Circus

On January 22, Breitbart published an article by Charles Hurt, “opinion editor of The Washington Times”:

“The last time these slinking mongrels in Congress impeached President Trump, a deadly disease from China was stalking our country, poised to pounce and kill close to 400,000 Americans. In those crucial early months of the global pandemic, our federal government ground to a halt as Democrats in Congress pursued with blind fury a hotly partisan and clearly futile effort to remove Mr. Trump. Democrats failed. Mr. Trump survived. Everyone knew the outcome of the fake charade from the start. But as Democrats dawdled, bloviated and fawned for the cameras, the pandemic prevailed. If you want to know why Democrats are so hellbent on blaming the China virus on Mr. Trump, it is because the blood is actually on their hands.

“Now comes Round Two of hopeless impeachment. Still, the pandemic rages. This time they all know it. Yet, still, they pursue Mr. Trump with an ISIS-like zealotry… Truly, these are the most fundamentally dishonest and unserious people ever to hold elected office. They are a mockery of self-governance and precisely why Mr. Trump got elected in the first place. You might say House Speaker Nancy Pelosi presides over a circus of untrained animals and diabolical clowns, but that would be an unkind insult to clowns and penned animals…

“If you really want to stir up one of these impeachment fanatics, just ask them to point to the one single line in Mr. Trump’s speech from before the raid against the Capitol that ‘incited’ the violence. They go full Adam Schiff and start making up quotes and manufacturing language that the president never used. Also, they refuse to acknowledge that the president implored his supporters to protest ‘peacefully.’.. If anything, it was unpremeditated incitement of peaceful protest — also known as our constitutional right to free speech, free assembly and the right to petition your government. Peacefully.

“Among the clowns in Congress scrambling to shift blame for the mess they have made in Washington onto Mr. Trump are 10 Republicans in the House. One of them is Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who is in the chamber because her father, Dick Cheney, was vice president… Another impeachment zealot is Rep. Jim Clyburn, South Carolina Democrat. To his credit, at least he is honest about his motives… ‘he must be prevented from ever attempting to seize power again.’

“There you have it… It is all about preventing him from ever running for office again. In other words, Congress is scrambling to overturn the next election before it even happens. They are desperate to deny American voters the right to elect Donald Trump again. Talk about an insurrection…”

Strong words.

Republicans Opposed to Impeachment Trial

The Associated Press wrote on January 25:

“… a growing number of Republican senators say they are opposed to the proceeding, dimming the chances that former president will be convicted on the charge that he incited a siege of the U.S. Capitol… GOP passions appear to have cooled… Now that Trump’s presidency is over, Republican senators who will serve as jurors in the trial are rallying to his legal defense, as they did during his first impeachment trial last year.  ‘I think the trial is stupid, I think it’s counterproductive,’ said Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.. He said that ‘the first chance I get to vote to end this trial, I’ll do it’ because he believes it would be bad for the country and further inflame partisan divisions…

“Arguments in the Senate trial will begin the week of Feb. 8. Leaders in both parties agreed to the short delay to give Trump’s team and House prosecutors time to prepare… the mounting Republican opposition indicates that many GOP senators would eventually vote to acquit Trump. Democrats would need the support of 17 Republicans — a high bar — to convict him… A few GOP senators have agreed with Democrats, though not close to the number that will be needed to convict Trump.  Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said he believes there is a ‘preponderance of opinion’ that an impeachment trial is appropriate after someone leaves office… But Romney, the lone Republican to vote to convict Trump when the Senate acquitted the then-president in last year’s trial, appears to be an outlier.”

Furthermore, many legal experts disagree with Romney’s assessment of the constitutionality of trying a former President.  

Rand Paul Describes the Democrats’ Hypocrisy

Breitbart wrote on January 26:

“Sen. Rand Paul… highlighted the Democrats’ hypocrisy as he spoke against the impending impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, which is scheduled to begin Tuesday afternoon, though substantive proceedings will be delayed until February 8… ‘This impeachment is nothing more than a partisan exercise designed to further divide the country. Democrats claim to want to unify the country, but impeaching a former president, a private citizen, is the antithesis of unity… Hyper-partisan Democrats are about to drag our great country down into the gutter of rancor and vitriol the likes of which has never been seen in our nation’s history. Instead of doing the nation’s work, with their new majorities in the House, the Senate, and the executive branch, Democrats are wasting the nation’s time on a partisan vendetta against a man no longer in office…

“No Democrat will honestly ask whether [Senator] Bernie Sanders incited the shooter that nearly killed Steve Scalise and volunteer coach. The shooter nearly pulled off a massacre — I was there — because he fervently believed the false and inflammatory rhetoric spewed by Bernie and other Democrats, such as, ‘The Republican health care plan for the uninsured is that you die.’…

“No Democrat will ask if [Senator] Cory Booker incited violence when he called for his supporters to get — get ‘up in their face’ of congresspeople — a very visual, and specific incitement. No Democrat will ask whether [Representative] Maxine Waters incited violence when she told her supporters, and I quote, that ‘If you see a member of the Trump administration at a restaurant, at a department store, at a gas station, or any place, you create a crowd, and you push back on them.’ Is that not incitement?

“My wife and I were pushed and surrounded and screamed at by this same type of mob that Maxine likes to inspire. It’s terrifying to have a swarm of people threatening to kill you, cursing at you and literally holding you hostage until police come to your rescue. That night we were assaulted by the crowd, I wasn’t sure if we would survive even with the police protection. But no Democrat suggested impeaching Maxine for her violent rhetoric…

“Should Kamala Harris be impeached for offering to pay for violent people to get out of jail who have been burning our cities down?… Should Republicans impeach the Democrat mayor of Seattle who incited and condoned violence by calling the armed takeover of part of her city a ‘summer of love’?…

“On June 8, the New York Post, citing U.S. Justice Department statistics, reported that more than 700 law enforcement officers were injured during the Antifa/Black Lives Matter riots. There were at least 19 murders, including 77-year-old retired police officer David Dorn. Yet Democrats insist on applying a test of incitement to a Republican that they refuse to apply to themselves…

“Shame on these angry, unhinged partisans who are putting forth this sham impeachment, deranged by their hatred of the former president. Shame on those who seek blame and revenge, and who choose to pervert a constitutional process while doing so… A sham, this is, a travesty. A dark blot on the history of our country…”

Most Senate Republicans Declare Impeachment Trial to be Unconstitutional

Breitbart wrote on January 26:

“Forty-five senators voted with Paul’s motion to raise the question of whether it is constitutional to impeach Trump after he left office. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) voted with Paul on the motion that the impeachment trial is unconstitutional… This vote likely serves as a proxy vote on the final vote of whether to convict Trump on the question if he incited an insurrection during the January 6 riots.

“Paul wrote on Tuesday that 45 senators agreed that this trial is a ‘sham: The Senate just voted on my constitutional point of order. 45 Senators agreed that this sham of a ‘trial’ is unconstitutional. That is more than will be needed to acquit and to eventually end this partisan impeachment process. This ‘trial’ is dead on arrival in the Senate,’ Paul wrote.”

Deutsche Welle added on January 27:

“All but five Senate Republicans have voted in favor of dismissing Trump’s impeachment trial, making clear a conviction of the former president for ‘incitement of insurrection’ is unlikely… only five Republican lawmakers joined Democrats to reject Paul’s motion, far short of the 17 Republicans [needed to convict Trump]… Some Republican senators who backed Paul’s motion said their vote on Tuesday did not indicate how they might come down on Trump’s guilt or innocence after a trial.”

Still, many are convinced that Trump will not be convicted and that he won’t be prevented from holding a public office or running again for the Presidency in 2024.

Trump Wants to Run Again

Newsmax wrote on January 23:

“President Donald Trump has told former acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell ‘personally, a number of times, he does want to run again,’ according to Grenell… ‘We’ll see if that holds and how that comes about; I think we’ve got a long ways to go,’ Grenell [said] rejecting talk of Trump forming a rumored Patriot Party. ‘Clearly, Donald Trump is a Republican and should run again as a Republican.’”

Trump won’t just go away…

Battle over Election Fraud between ABC and Rand Paul

Breitbart reported on January 24:

“Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) had a battle over election fraud with anchor George Stephanopoulos, Sunday on ABC’s ‘This Week.’ Stephanopoulos said, ‘A threshold question for you, this election was not stolen, do you accept that fact?’ Paul said, ‘Well, what I would say [is] that the debate over whether or not there was fraud should occur. We never had any presentation in court. Most of the cases were thrown out for lack of standing, a procedural way of not hearing it. A law was changed in secretary of state, not the state legislatures. There’s still a chance that those actually work their way up to the Supreme Court.’

“Stephanopoulos said, ‘I have to stop you there. No election is perfect, but there were 86 challenges filed by President Trump and his allies in court, all were dismissed. Every state certified the results after counts and recounts. The Department of Justice, led by William Barr, said there’s no widespread of fraud. Can’t you just say the words this election was not stolen?’

“Paul said, ‘What I would suggest is, is that if we want greater confidence in our elections and 75% of Republicans agree with me is that we do need to look at election integrity and we need to see if we can restore confidence in the election.’

“Stephanopoulos said, ‘Seventy-five percent of Republicans agree with you because they were fed a big lie by President Trump and his supporters that the election was stolen.’

“Paul said, ‘George, where you make a mistake is people coming from the liberal side like you, you immediately say everything’s a lie instead of saying there’s two sides to everything. Historically what would happen if I said… there were fraud, you would interview someone who said there wasn’t. Now you insert yourself in the middle and say the absolute fact is everything I’m saying is a lie.’

“Stephanopoulos said, ‘I said what the president [said] was [a] lie. Hold on a second. He said the election was stolen. This election was not stolen. The results were certified in every single state.’

“Paul said, ‘You said we’re all liars. You are simply saying we’re all liars.’

“After more back and forth, Paul said, ‘There were lots of problems, and there were secretaries of state who illegally changed the law, and that needs to be fixed, and I’m going to work hard to fix it. I won’t be cowed by people saying, “oh, you are a liar.” That is the problem with the media today. They say all Republicans are liars and everything we say is lies. There are two sides to every story. Interview somebody on the other side.’

“Stephanopoulos said, ‘Sir, there are not two sides to this story. This has been looked [at] in every single state.’

“Paul said, ‘Sure there are. There are two sides to every story. George, you’re forgetting who you are as a journalist if you think there’s only one side. You’re inserting yourself into the story to say I’m a liar because I want to look at secretaries of state who changed the laws. It happened. You can’t just sweep it under the rug—nothing to see here. You’re a fool to bring this up. A journalist would hear both sides. Not insert themselves in the story.’”

It is amazing how Democratic journalists like George Stephanopoulos are willing to suppress the opinions of those who do not agree with them and the left-wing agenda, as well as FACTS which they would like to “sweep under the rug.” Paul was absolutely right in his analysis about the hypocrisy of “journalists.”

No Evidence of Voter Fraud?

Life Site News reported on January 20:

“A business law professor at New Mexico State University (NMSU) said that anyone who proposes there ‘is no evidence’ for massive election fraud in November’s presidential election doesn’t know what they are talking about. Professor David K. Clements released a provocative video in response to a letter sent to the entire faculty of NMSU from Dr. John Floros, the university’s president. Clements described the letter as ‘regurgitating’ the narrative ‘in the media’ regarding the election and the January 6 violence at the U.S. Capital… he was very specific with regards to his own personal investigation into the election fraud question…  ‘I’ve reviewed hours upon hours of public hearings. I have read almost all of the lawsuits that are out there. Most of them were dismissed on legal process grounds… It’s not because there isn’t evidence. There is evidence,’ the professor emphasized.

“‘In fact, I’m in possession of 574 pages of sworn affidavits, forensic reports, all of which would make its way in a court of law under the rules of evidence in a federal or state court. The fact that the evidence has not been heard here by these courts’ should not be conflated into ‘this idea that there is no evidence,’ Clements argued… However, he observed, the main problem was that ‘we have a bunch of cowards. We have judges who are cowards, we have politicians that are cowards, and that’s the reality.’ Clements, who lost a close primary run for senate in 2014, encouraged all ‘to look at the evidence, [including] sworn affidavits where people face 10 to 15 years of prison time if they commit perjury, and statistical analysis that just flies in the face of this idea that there was no fraud in this election.’…

“Clements, a long-time political independent, [said:] ‘The people’s business’ that day (January 6) ‘was to certify votes to ensure that there was a proper transition to the next president. However, in seven of those states there were dueling electors, and the “People’s Business” allowed for the American people to hear evidence of voter fraud. When these members of Congress returned, they did not deal with the massive black cloud hanging over the election in November. They did nothing of the sort. They used the riot as grounds to move forward and push their paper.’ According to the law, the professor explained, during this certification process, ‘you can object, and you can investigate, when certain votes are not regularly given. And in many states, it’s clear that they weren’t.’ Therefore, Clements concluded, ‘The people weren’t heard,’ that day. ‘They were silenced once again…

“To demonstrate the weakness of the media narrative Clements showed video clips, including an Antifa activist bragging about his involvement in the Capitol Hill riots, police removing barriers and waving the crowds into the Capitol area, and Trump supporters forcefully working to stop ‘Antifa’ individuals from smashing windows at the Capitol.”

But if one suggests these days that there was massive voter fraud involved, they are immediately silenced, banned, and perhaps even labeled in the most extreme and oppressive way by Big Tech, the mass media, and left-wing Democrats.

Coming: Washington’s Economic Crisis

Newsmax wrote on January 23:

“The continued massive printing of money is going to lead to an economic crisis that Washington insiders are dangerously ignoring, according to publisher and former presidential candidate Steve Forbes…

“‘The real danger is printing money… That’s going to lead to inflation… The economy was reviving, is reviving, and I’ve said, “if Joe Biden took 6 months off and his administration went on a sabbatical for 6 months, this economy would be booming and they would look like geniuses,’” Forbes said, adding there will be a ‘rude awakening’ for those believing printing money is the way to avoid an economic crash; it is precisely the precursor to one… ‘They don’t realize what’s coming… they’re going to have a firestorm on their hands before the end of the year.’”

Others have warned too that Biden’s policies will destroy the country from the inside.

Investing in China and India

CNN wrote on January 25:

“Foreign companies are turning their backs on the United States, taking advantage of China’s booming economy… Direct investment in the US by foreign companies plummeted 49% to $134 billion last year… By contrast, foreign direct investment in China grew by 4% to $163 billion in 2020.

“2020 marked the first year in history that foreign direct investment in China overtook that of the US… China is now the world’s largest recipient of foreign companies’ investments…

“Foreign direct investment to India has similarly skyrocketed, from less than $25 billion in 2014… to $57 billion last year…

“Foreign direct investment in the United Kingdom and Italy fell by almost 100%. Russia’s foreign direct investment fell 96%, Germany’s sank 61% and Brazil’s plunged by 50%. Australia, France, Canada and Indonesia — all among the top foreign direct investment recipients in 2019 — also fell by double digits. Overall, foreign direct investment tumbled 42% last year to the lowest level since the 1990s — and 30% below the lowest level reached during the 2008-2009 global financial crisis.”

CNBC added on January 24:

“The European Union saw FDI decline by two-thirds, according to the report, with the United Kingdom seeing no new inflows… Despite China surpassing the U.S. in the flow of foreign direct investment in 2020, the total stock of foreign investment remains much larger in the U.S. than in China…”

That “the total stock of foreign investment remains much larger in the U.S. than in China,” is not necessarily a good thing for the US. Especially the USA and the UK will experience ongoing devastating economic problems, while countries such as Germany will recuperate.

Old International Broadcasters fired and new ones named by Biden

The Associated Press reported on January 24:

“The Biden administration on Sunday installed new heads of three federally funded international broadcasters after abruptly firing Donald Trump-appointees at the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Kelu Chao, the acting CEO of the agency, made the announcement after dismissing the previous directors of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks late Friday, just a month after they had been named to the posts.

“Daisy Sindelar will be acting head of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, replacing Ted Lipien until a permanent president is named. Bay Fang will return to her post as Radio Free Asia president, replacing Stephen Yates. Kelley Sullivan will become acting Middle East Broadcasting Networks president, replacing Victoria Coates…“The moves follow the forced resignation of Trump’s hand-picked agency head, Michael Pack, only two hours after Joe Biden took office as president on Wednesday. The director of the Voice of America and his deputy were soon removed and the chief of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting stepped down.

“Chao on Sunday also announced new corporate board directors for the three broadcasters, replacing the board directors named by Pack just days before his departure… ‘Now more than ever, U.S. international media must serve as an accurate, reliable source of news and information in places where illuminating truth is needed the most,’ Kornbluh said. [Kornbluh was named as ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development under President Barack Obama].

When it comes to an accurate and reliable source for true information, America’s mass media did not fare too well at all.

Biden’s Fascist Policy

Ron Paul wrote on January 25 in the Ron Paul Institute:

“Almost immediately after his inauguration, President Joe Biden began creating new government dictates via executive orders… One of Biden’s executive orders imposes mask and social distancing mandates on anyone in a federal building or on federal land. The mandates also apply to federal employees when they are ‘on-duty’ anywhere. Members of the military are included in the definition of federal employees… Another one of Biden’s executive orders forces passengers on airplanes, trains, and other public transportation to wear masks.

“Biden’s mask mandates contradict his pledge to follow the science. Studies have not established that masks are effective at preventing the spread of coronavirus. Regularly wearing a mask, though, can cause health problems. Biden’s mask mandates are also an unconstitutional power grab…

“Mask and social distancing mandates, government control of private industry, and some of Biden’s other executive actions, such as one creating a new ‘Public Health Jobs Corps’ with responsibilities including performing ‘contact tracing’ on American citizens, are the type of actions one would expect from a fascist government, not a constitutional republic. Joe Biden, who is heralded by many of his supporters as saving democracy from fascist Trump, could not even wait one day before beginning to implement fascistic measures that are completely unnecessary to protect public health. Biden will no doubt use other manufactured crises, including ‘climate change’ and ‘domestic terrorism,’ to expand government power and further restrict our liberty. Under Biden, fascism will not just carry an American flag. It will also wear a mask.”

Warnings to be heeded.

Biden to Reinstate Travel Restrictions

The Week wrote on January 23:

“President Biden will soon reinstate COVID-19 travel restrictions on most non-U.S. citizens who have recently been in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil, and 26 European countries that allow travel across open borders, a senior U.S. public health official told Reuters on Sunday. During his last days in office, former President Donald Trump lifted the restrictions on Europe and Brazil, effective Tuesday; Biden’s order rescinds this. Additionally, Biden is adding South Africa to the list…”

This was to be expected.  As of Tuesday, January 26, all air passengers ages two and older must show proof of a negative Covid-19 test to enter the United States. The new rule includes US citizens and legal permanent residents. The opposition to these travel restrictions and other lockdown measures around the world is growing.

California Lifts Stay-at-Home Order

Deadline reported on January 25:

“Officials with the California Department of Public Health have lifted the stay-at-home order for all counties amid signs that COVID-19 is spreading at a slower rate across the state. Authorities cited improving conditions in hospitals but noted that counties remain subject to the restrictive ‘purple tier’ of guidelines for economic reopening. Individual counties, however, still are able to impose stricter restrictions than the state…

“… the state’s move today lead to a resumption of outdoor dining and at least some services at gyms, barber shops and nail salons, among other businesses.”

Governor Newsom, fighting for his political survival, bowed to tremendous pressure. But it will remain to be seen what follows next.

Biden’s Slap in the Face for Great Britain

Fox News wrote on January 23:

“In his inaugural address, President Biden pledged to ‘repair alliances.’ Yet one of his first moves in power was to remove a bust of the late British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill from the Oval Office, as President Barack Obama did in January 2009. This was a slap in the face for Great Britain on Day One of Biden’s presidency, and sends the wrong signal to America’s closest friend and ally.

“The Churchill bust is a sensitive issue for U.S.-British relations. The bronze bust, created by sculptor Jacob Epstein, was originally a loaned gift to President George W. Bush from British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The bust is a symbol of the British people standing shoulder to shoulder with their American brothers and sisters following the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history…

“When Obama decided to send the Oval Office Churchill bust back to the British Embassy within days of taking office, the move attracted a great deal of negative publicity in the United Kingdom. It was strongly condemned by then-mayor of London (and now Prime Minister) Boris Johnson. The Churchill bust was returned to the White House when Donald Trump became president in 2017, and was in the Oval Office until this week.

“The location of the Churchill bust is a sensitive issue in U.S.-U.K. relations, not least because the great World War II leader is so greatly revered on both sides of the Atlantic as a savior of the free world, but also because its removal over a decade ago suggested an impending weakening of the special relationship between London and Washington. Indeed, under President Obama, the partnership between the two allies was not as close as it was under President George W. Bush. At the time, many British conservatives viewed the Obama administration as being at best lukewarm towards Britain, and on occasion even hostile.

“In April 2016, ahead of the Brexit referendum, Obama warned the U.K. that it would be at ‘the back of the queue’ for a trade deal with the U.S. if the British people dared to vote to leave the European Union. Nearly five years later, President Biden’s immediate removal of the Churchill bust from the Oval Office is attracting growing attention across the Atlantic and has already been strongly attacked by some British politicians, including former Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage…

“There are real concerns in London that Biden may translate his antipathy towards Brexit and his well-known admiration for the European Union into a downgrading of the Anglo-American alliance in favor of appeasing Brussels and the continental European powers of Germany and France. Such a stance would be a huge mistake… Any move by Biden to weaken the special relationship would undermine the United States and Great Britain. Taking Churchill out of the Oval Office is the worst possible start.”

OZY Medias added on January 22:

“Whose finest hour is it? British tabloids have blasted President Biden’s Oval Office remake snubbing a bust of legendary wartime leader Winston Churchill — something then-Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson decried when President Barack Obama did it in 2016, blaming anti-colonial Kenyan roots. It seems there’s simply no room now for the sculpture, on loan from the British government, among recently added busts of civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks and labor organizer César Chávez…”

The relationship between the USA and the UK might very well suffer under Biden. The comment in the articles regarding Biden’s admiration of the EU is also very interesting… and disturbing.

Fight over Gibraltar to Continue

Express wrote on January 22:’“Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation Arancha González Laya has made clear the country has not renounced the ‘sovereignty’ nor the ‘co-sovereignty’ of Gibraltar after Brexit. She issued the warning during a reply to parliamentary groups before the Joint Commission of the European Union of the Congress of Deputies when explaining the principle of the agreement between Spain and the UK over Gibraltar… The minister had previously said the principle agreement reached with the UK over the Rock following Brexit would allow Spain to ‘regain control’ in matters related to Gibraltar.”

The Church of God has said for a long time that ultimately, England will lose possession of Gibraltar.

Further Move towards EU Army

Express wrote on January 23:

“A NEW Controversial defence fund and project has been launched by the EU just as Britain left the bloc. The £5billion European Peace Facility will see the bloc gain powers for the first time to send military aid and equipment to foreign conflicts. The fund… is set to increase the EU’s role in international conflicts. But critics claim the fund shows the bloc is controversially shifting their policy towards a more militarized approach…

“Under the scheme, the new fund and project will allow Brussels to enhance its defence missions with the ‘supply of military and defence-related equipment, infrastructure or assistance’ on request. The project was initially proposed by former EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in 2018 and would develop EU missions in countries across the world including Libya, Mali and Somalia…

“Lucia Montanaro, head of EU office at NGO Saferworld, said: ‘The decision to provide arms and ammunition under the EPF represents a fundamental shift in EU foreign policy, from promoting peace and human rights to boosting the combat capability of repressive states and unaccountable security forces. ‘There is a high risk that arms and ammunition provided under the EU flag will be misused or diverted into the wrong hands.’”

The EU is moving towards becoming an autocratic military power. In combination with authoritarian measures regarding the coronavirus, this is an alarming development.

YouTube Bans German Channel

The Associated Press wrote on January 22:

“Google says it has banned a prominent German user of its YouTube video platform who had repeatedly posted false claims about the coronavirus outbreak. Google said Friday that a YouTube channel known as KenFM was no longer available and that the person operating it would not be allowed to start another. ‘We have long standing community guidelines policies that strikes are issued when our systems are notified of a policy violation of the rules for how to behave on YouTube,’ the company said in a statement. ‘Videos on the channel KenFM violated our COVID-19 policies and the channel was removed from YouTube after receiving the third strike for a video within 90 days on November 19th, 2020,’ it said.

“KenFMwas operated by Ken Jebsen, a former journalist… YouTube and others have vowed to crack down on the spread of misinformation about the coronavirus by users of their sites.”

We don’t know anything about this channel, but to cancel it because of allegedly false claims regarding the coronavirus  is most certainly problematic and reflects the hysteria presently perpetrated in the USA by the left-wing media and Big Tech.  But it gets worse. Notice the next article.

Germany To Put AfD Under Surveillance

NPR wrote on January 22:

“The AfD now has 88 members in Germany’s federal parliament, more than 12% representation. Germany’s Bundesamt fuer Verfassungsschutz, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, is constantly on the lookout for potential threats to Germany’s democratic constitutional system, and it has wide-ranging powers when it finds them…

“The agency has wrapped up a two-year investigation into Germany’s largest right-wing opposition party, the Alternative for Germany, or AfD, and is expected to announce soon that it will place the entire party under surveillance for posing a threat to Germany’s political system and violating the constitution. The unprecedented move would mean that all AfD lawmakers, including several dozen in Germany’s parliament, would be put under state surveillance…

“AfD politician Georg Pazderski claims the process is political. The agency is run by Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government, staffed with members of her own conservative Christian Democratic Union party. Pazderski says the CDU is worried about how fast the AfD has become a presence in Germany’s parliament…  ‘If you have an opposition party which is very successful within a very short time, we become a danger for the ruling parties,’ says Pazderski, ‘especially for the conservative CDU. And this is a reason why they are trying to stigmatize us and to really put us in the Nazi corner and also to spread strong rumors.’…

“Der Spiegel’s Amann says tightened surveillance on the AfD will affect civil servants like police officers and military personnel, who may cancel their membership out of fear of losing their jobs… When Germany announces the AfD is under surveillance, Pazderski says it can expect an immediate lawsuit challenging the decision. And that, he says, may take years to resolve…”

This seems to be certainly political, considering who runs the agency. It reminds us of the witch-hunt by Democrats against Trump.

Deutsche Welle added on January 26:

“The Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Saxony-Anhalt approved the decision to place the regional branch of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party under surveillance, the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung reported on Monday. The decision was allegedly made on January 12… The move gives the state intelligence service the power to observe communications and financial transactions of the 1,400 members of the party in the state… The intelligence service is also considering placing the entire national AfD party under surveillance. The results of a two-year investigation are expected to be published soon, according to AFP, which could be a blow to the party during an election year…

“The former head of the intelligence service, Hans-Georg Maassen, also said on Tuesday that he was stepping down earlier than planned from the law firm which was representing the AfD’s case against the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Maassen was allegedly forced out of his previous job for holding close connections with the far-right party and subsequently came under fire for joining the law firm.”

These are indeed frightening and deeply disturbing developments.

Biden Reverses Trump Policy on Israel and Palestinians

The Associated Press wrote on January 26:

“U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration announced Tuesday it was restoring relations with the Palestinians and renewing aid to Palestinian refugees, a reversal of the Trump administration’s cutoff and a key element of its new support for a two-state solution to the decades-old conflict between Israelis and Palestinians… President Donald Trump’s administration provided unprecedented support to Israel, recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv, slashing financial assistance for the Palestinians and reversing course on the illegitimacy of Israeli settlements on land claimed by the Palestinians.

“Israel captured east Jerusalem and the West Bank in the 1967 war. The international community considers both areas to be occupied territory, and the Palestinians seek them as parts of a future independent state. Israel has built a far-flung network of settlements that house nearly 700,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank and Jerusalem since their capture in 1967…

“‘Under the new administration, the policy of the United States will be to support a mutually agreed two-state solution, one in which Israel lives in peace and security alongside a viable Palestinian state,’ [acting U.A. ambassador Richard Mills] said… ‘Now is the time to heal and repair the damage left by the previous U.S. administration,’ he said. ‘We look forward to the reversal of the unlawful and hostile measures undertaken by the Trump administration and to working together for peace.’”

But there won’t be peace. In fact, this new blind-sighted US approach will only lead to more hostility. Note the next article.

Israel Warns Biden

The Associated Press wrote on January 26:

“Israel’s military chief Tuesday warned the Biden administration against rejoining the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, even if it toughens its terms, adding he’s ordered his forces to step up preparations for possible offensive action against Iran during the coming year. The comments by Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi came as Israel and Iran both seek to put pressure on President Joe Biden ahead of his expected announcement on his approach for dealing with the Iranian nuclear program. In Iran, leaders said they would not wait indefinitely for Biden to act.

“The 2015 deal put curbs on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the easing of crippling economic sanctions. Israel strongly opposed the deal, saying it did not include sufficient safeguards to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. It welcomed the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the agreement in 2018. Biden has said he will seek to revive the deal, with some changes.

“Kohavi said that given the threat posed by Iran, Israel’s military would be prepared to attack on its own if needed. ‘I instructed the army to prepare a number of operational plans in addition to the existing ones,’ he said. ‘We are taking care of these plans and will develop them during the coming year…”

Israel WILL act militarily against Iran, even unilaterally, if it feels threatened.

Russia’s Suppression of Opposing Voices

The Associated Press reported on January 23:

“Russian police arrested more than 3,000 people Saturday in nationwide protests demanding the release of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the Kremlin’s most prominent foe… In Moscow, an estimated 15,000 demonstrators gathered in and around Pushkin Square in the city center, where clashes with police broke out and demonstrators were roughly dragged off by helmeted riot officers to police buses and detention trucks. Some were beaten with batons.

“Navalny’s wife Yulia was among those arrested… The protests stretched across Russia’s vast territory, from the island city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk north of Japan and the eastern Siberian city of Yakutsk, where temperatures plunged to minus-50 Celsius, to Russia’s more populous European cities…

“The 44-year-old activist is well known nationally for his reports on the corruption that has flourished under President Vladimir Putin’s government. His wide support puts the Kremlin in a strategic bind — officials are apparently unwilling to back down by letting him go free, but keeping him in custody risks more protests and criticism from the West… Navalny has been a thorn in the Kremlin’s side for a decade, unusually durable in an opposition movement often demoralized by repressions. He has been jailed repeatedly in connection with protests and twice was convicted of financial misdeeds in cases that he said were politically motivated. He suffered significant eye damage when an assailant threw disinfectant into his face. He was taken from jail to a hospital in 2019 with an illness that authorities said was an allergic reaction but which many suspected was a poisoning.”

That is how Russia deals with opponents. They are simply suppressed violently. In the USA, opponents are being suppressed through political propaganda, the mass media and Big Tech. The results are the same.

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.

One of our many booklets is entitled, “Sickness and Healing – What the Bible Tells Us,” and the aim of this Q&A can be likened to a trailer which is a preview, generally, for a film or book coming out in the future.   However, in this case, it is for a booklet that was first published in 2004.

With the coronavirus pandemic, most people are looking to the medical profession and scientists for answers, although politicians and other leaders are also involved in the implementation of the recommendations that the scientists and the medics make.   Hopefully, the people of God will have their priorities right and the last sub-heading in our booklet is, “Let God’s Will Be Done”—where it states the following:

“Whatever trials or sicknesses we have to deal with in our lives, let us ALWAYS be subject to God’s Will, giving Him the honor, praise and thanks for whatever He does for us. God created us, and He knows what is best for us. When Job was plagued with sickness, he thanked God for it, knowing that God would not have allowed it unless there was a purpose. Job did not understand that purpose for a long time, and neither might we be able to see God’s purpose clearly during a particular illness, but God knows, and that should ultimately be sufficient for us.

“Once everything in God’s plan for all of mankind has been accomplished, sickness and death will be a thing of the past. Let us always have this hope of a better future in mind when we go through trials and sicknesses, because the time will come when EVERYTHING will be different.”

On pages 18/19 of this booklet we read about those who may have a problem with the medical profession:

“While some may concede that there might be certain ‘medicines’ that can be used by sick people without constituting a lack of faith, they claim that we must never consult doctors, let alone receive treatment from them, as this would clearly mean that we place our trust in doctors, rather than in God. Yet, they don’t seem to have a problem with consulting those who profess to have knowledge regarding ‘health foods’ herbs or other ‘natural’ substances, and asking them for a ‘prescription’ of numerous vitamins or vitamin supplements.

“Then, there are those who would allow a doctor to conduct ‘repair surgery’ but they would be strongly opposed against any operation going beyond such ‘repair surgery.’ When those people are asked what they mean by ‘repair surgery,’ the answers vary and are many times dependent on the ‘need’ of the individual being asked. While they would perhaps agree that medical assistance regarding the healing of a fractured bone might be ‘repair surgery’ they would vehemently deny that ‘laser surgery’ of an impaired eye would fall into that category, until they themselves are confronted with the question of whether or not to undergo such surgery themselves.”

And there is much more to read about these issues.   If you haven’t read this booklet yet, we would encourage you to do so; if you have read this, a revisiting of this material could be beneficial.

Let us review some Scriptures where physicians are mentioned.

In the Old Testament we read about physicians to heal, repair (rapha—Hebrew).

Genesis 50:2

“And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel.”

Physicians were not spoken of in a derogatory sense but that they were helpful in this task.

2 Chronicles 16:12

“And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians.”

This indicates the issue of priorities, as God must always be first!

Matthew Henry’s Commentary observes as follows:

“…his sin was that in his disease, instead of seeking to the Lord for relief, he sought to the physicians.   His making use of physicians was his duty; but trusting to them, and expecting that from them which was to be had from God only, were his sin and folly.”

Job 13:4

“But you forgers of lies, You are all worthless physicians.”

Albert Barnes Notes on the Whole Bible comments:

“Physicians of no value – The meaning is, that they had come to give him consolation, but nothing that they had said had imparted comfort.  They were like physicians sent for to visit the sick, who could do nothing when they came.”

This was not saying that physicians in general were of no value but they had come as “worthless physicians”—of which there are undoubtedly some physicians who are not competent or who are of no value (consider those who perform abortions, which is against their remit /oath to preserve life).

Jeremiah 8:22

“Is there no balm in Gilead, Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery For the health of the daughter of my people?”

Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible:

“Is there no balm in Gilead?…. Which was famous for it; see Genesis 37:25, or rather turpentine or rosin, a gum which drops from pine trees and the like; since balm or balsam grew on this side Jordan, near Jericho and Engedi.  Is there no physician there? or surgeon, anyone that heals wounds and bruises; very probably there were many such lived in Gilead, since it was a place where proper medicines were to be got and applied: this may be understood of prophets and teachers, who, in a moral and spiritual sense, are instruments of healing of men, by showing them their evil, calling them to repentance, and directing where to go for healing or pardon of sin; namely, to Christ, the alone physician, and to his precious blood, shed for the remission of sins.”

Again, physicians are mentioned, but not condemned as such, but the spiritual application is the most important aspect here.   Many other commentaries make similar observations and in Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary we read about the spiritual application of these comments:

“At length they begin to see the hand of God lifted up. And when God appears against us, everything that is against us appears formidable.  As salvation only can be found in the Lord, so the present moment should be seized.  Is there no medicine proper for a sick and dying kingdom?  Is there no skilful, faithful hand to apply the medicine?  Yes, God is able to help and to heal them.   If sinners die of their wounds, their blood is upon their own heads.   The blood of Christ is balm in Gilead, his Spirit is the Physician there, all-sufficient; so that the people may be healed, but will not.  Thus men die unpardoned and unchanged, for they will not come to Christ to be saved.”

In the New Testament we read about physicians–a healer (iatros–Greek).

Matthew 9:12

“When Jesus heard that, He said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.’”

Barnes’ Notes on the Bible:

“They that be whole … – Jesus, in reply, said that the whole needed not a physician. Sick persons only needed his aid.  A physician would not commonly be found with those that were in health.   His proper place was among the sick. So, says he, ‘If you Pharisees are such as you think yourselves – already pure and holy – you do not need my aid.   It would be of no use to you, and you would not thank me for it.   With those persons who feel that they are sinners I may be useful, and there is my proper place.’   Or the expression may mean, “I came on purpose to save sinners: my business is with them. There are none righteous; and as a physician is in his proper place with the ‘sick,’ so am I with guilty and miserable sinners.”’”

Here, Jesus did not say that we should not use physicians but that the sick needed them.  He was speaking in a spiritual sense as verse 13 would imply.  Jesus was not condemning the use of physicians where they are needed.

Of course, Church members should seek God’s healing first for physical healing but that doesn’t rule out any help from a physician where necessary.

Mark 2:17

“When Jesus heard it, He said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.’”

This is the same as in Matthew 9:12.

Mark 5:26

“…and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.”

Without making any excuses for the medical profession, there are usually a few charlatans in their midst as there are in every profession, primarily because human nature exists and people are imperfect.   But Christ did not condemn them, because they can be very helpful in many ways.

Luke 4:23

“He said to them, ‘You will surely say this proverb to Me, “Physician, heal yourself!  Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.”’”

Luke himself was a physician (see Colossians 4:14 where he is called the “beloved physician”) and neither Christ nor the apostle Paul, who wrote the book of Colossians, censured him in any way about his profession.   The medical profession, and physicians, were not in the dock here.

Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible:

“…physician heal thyself; and which was a proverb in use with the Jews……the meaning of which is, that a man ought to look at home, and take care of himself, and of those that belonged to him; and Christ was aware that his townsmen would object this to him, that if he was the person he was said to be, and could do the miracles and cures which were ascribed to him, he ought to do something of this kind at home, among them, who were his townsmen, neighbours, relations, and acquaintance.”

Luke 5:31

“Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.’”

Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible:

“…they that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick: suggesting hereby, that as such who are in good health, who are free from all diseases, wounds, bruises, and putrefying sores, stand in no need of the advice and assistance of a physician, or surgeon, but such who have either distempers or sores on their bodies; so they, the Scribes and Pharisees, who, in their own opinion, were free from the disease of sin, original and actual, and touching the righteousness of the law, were blameless, stood not in any need of him, the physician, who came to cure the maladies of the souls, as well as of the bodies of men;”

The application of Jesus’ words is both for physical and spiritual application.

Luke 8:43

“Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any,”

See comments on Mark 5:26 previously made about this same situation.

At present, with the coronavirus pandemic, most people around the world are looking to the medical profession and potential vaccines as a source of healing, and God never seems to be mentioned by the scientists and politicians in their pronouncements.   In the UK, for example, the National Health Service (NHS) can be elevated in many people’s eyes to a god-like status.   There are indeed many dedicated and hardworking people in the NHS, but it is a man-made institution with its limitations, whereas God will always do what is best for His people with His unlimited power.   We know what the procedure is for members of the Church of God as we read in James 5:13-16:

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

We state in our booklet “Sickness and Healing – What the Bible Tells Us” (pages 25/26) the following:

“We are not to place our faith in God’s faithful ministry, however, but we must place our faith in God. Still, God has established certain procedures, as we will see, that need to be applied and that involve His ministry, when it comes to physical, as well as spiritual healing.”

Physicians can be very helpful in advising about diet and exercise.  They can bind up wounds and put a broken leg in plaster to facilitate the body’s healing process.   God has put a wonderful immune system in the body and as a cut will heal, given a short time, so there are many other recuperative systems built into the human body which may only need time, not the surgeon’s knife.   In other cases, the removal of a trapped nerve, or similar, may be necessary to allow the natural healing processes of the body to perform as intended.

The medical profession can be very helpful but God’s healing should always be sought first.   However, we must play our part, and if there is anything that the medical profession can do to help a condition then it is not wrong to allow them to help the body function more effectively.

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“The Second Impeachment Circus,” is the title of the new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

This is another example of how to divide the country. Observers tell us that it is highly unlikely that in addition to all the Senate Democrats, 17 needed Senate Republicans will convict Trump, and some even went so far as to say that the “trial” is dead on arrival and that it is all over, after 45 Republican Senators voted that such a trial would be unconstitutional. Others are not so sure, pointing out that some Senate Republicans voted against a trial because of its lack of constitutionality, but that this did not indicate “how they might come down on Trump’s guilt or innocence after a trial.” The presenter of this program is convinced that Trump will not be convicted or prevented by the Senate from holding a public office in the future or running again for the Presidency in 2024. But how can you have any confidence in those statements, or any further statements pertaining to prophetic events, given the fact that the presenter was wrongly predicting that Trump would be reelected in 2020?

“Wie bitte—das Malzeichen des Tieres existiert noch nicht?” is the title of this Sabbath’s new German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “What? The Mark of the Beast Does Not Already Exist?”

“Nach welchen Maßstäben urteilen wir?” is the title of last Sabbath’s German sermonette, presented by Manuel Giermann. Title in English: “By What Standards Do We Judge?”

“Germany’s Past Resurrected?—Comments on News and Prophecy (January 23, 2021),” is the title of the first message from last Sabbath, presented by Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

Developments in Germany are frightening and deeply disturbing, including the creation of detention centers for those who ignore lockdown measurers. The comparison with Nazi Germany’s concentration camps has been drawn. And while total lockdowns have been instituted in Germany, which many find to be unconstitutional, Merkel’s successor as Party Chief has been elected—Armin Laschet. Here is what you ought to know about him and others who are supporting him for now.

“You Will Be Tested,” is the title of last Sabbath’s sermon, presented by Rene Messier. Here is a summary:

Many of God’s servants and biblical characters in the Bible were tested by trials and tests from God. Some were successful through the trials and some failed. The key is the ones who were successful were faithful and so should we be when we face trials and tests which we know are coming in the near future.