On March 15, 2014, Dave Harris will give the sermon, titled, “What We Don’t Know.”

The live services are available at www.cognetservices.org (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.

When this Editorial is published on Thursday evening, March 13, it will be one month until Passover evening on Sunday, April 13. During this remaining time, true Christians ought to make an extra and diligent effort to examine themselves to determine whether and how Jesus is living in them (2 Corinthians 13:5), so that they do not partake of the Passover symbols in an unworthy manner (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).

This self-examination should show us how we lived throughout the year—and if we are honest enough, we WILL find fault with ourselves. This realization must prompt us to repent, change, and make amends PRIOR to Passover eve.

If we suffer from self-delusion, thinking that we are doing pretty well and have already reached perfection, we are making one of the most grievous mistakes. We must realize that we are still sinning today, from time to time, and that we need God’s forgiveness of our sins on a continuous basis (1 John 1:8-10).

Paul warns us not to look at sin casually. We need to partake of the Passover in a worthy manner, because we understand the meaning of what Christ did for us and what we did to Him; that we murdered Christ through our sins—our transgressions of God’s spiritual Law; and that He died willingly for us when we were still His enemies, to free us from the penalty of sin—eternal death in the lake of fire.

At the same time, our self-examination should reveal that overall, we have been conducting ourselves throughout the year in a worthy manner, and if we have not, it is high time for a change in our lives. There are many passages in the Bible which address the need to be counted worthy in God’s eyes and to live worthy of our calling. Just note the following few examples:

Ephesians 4:1-3 tells us that we are “to walk worthy of the calling,” by showing lowliness, gentleness and longsuffering; bearing with one another in love; and pursuing peace and unity amongst ourselves. Holding grudges and the unwillingness to forgive others would show that one is NOT walking worthy of our calling.

Philippians 1:27-28 tells us that we are to conduct ourselves “worthy of the gospel,” by standing fast in one spirit and in one mind; by striving together for the faith of the gospel; and by not becoming terrified by our adversaries, KNOWING that GOD will take care of our situation.

Colossians 1:9-12 tells us to “walk worthy of the Lord,” by fully pleasing Him; showing godly patience and rejoicing in trials, thanking the Father and increasing in the knowledge and spiritual understanding of God and His Will, and by being fruitful in every good work.

Revelation 3:4-5 tells us that some in the church in Sardis were “worthy” to walk with Christ and be clothed with white linen, symbolizing God’s righteousness. They were given the assurance that their names would not be blotted out from the Book of Life, because they OVERCAME or conquered Satan, this evil society and self—their carnal human nature.
 
Romans 16:1-2 tells us that we live “worthy of the saints,” if we assist and HELP them in times of need.
 
Matthew 10:37-39 tells us that we are “not worthy” of Christ when we compromise with God’s Word because we don’t love Him enough. If we love ourselves, our relatives and our friends more than Him, we will not be given eternal life in God’s Kingdom.

The Bible includes many more passages which address the requirement of becoming worthy in God’s eyes and of conducting ourselves in a worthy manner, but the examples given in this Editorial should suffice. They should convince us that we must examine ourselves continuously as to whether we are living worthy of our calling—knowing that we are to be “holy in all [our] conduct” (1 Peter 1:15). If we are still behaving like the world behaves, and living and thinking like it does, then we show God that we don’t really care that much about Him and His righteousness (1 Peter 4:1-3).

Paul tells us to examine ourselves, as to how we are doing, and to TAKE the Passover. But before partaking of the Passover symbols, we must repent of wrong conduct and wrong thinking, and we must understand and appreciate what the Sacrifice of Christ really means for us. Christ died for us to free us from sin. He did not die for us to give us license to sin. We must be willing to live our lives worthy of God and our holy calling, and obey God in everything.

We begin with quoting a striking comment from one of America’s well-known pastors; report on the ongoing volatile situation involving Russia, Ukraine, the USA and Europe under German leadership; speak on rarely-reported frightening developments in Ukraine; remind the reader of the devastating consequences of the “Arab Spring” and America’s military invasion of Iraq; report on the ongoing hostility between Israel and the Arab League; mention the belief of German Catholics in many “saints” and the consequences of such superstition; address worldwide religious persecution and renewed earthquake activity in California; and conclude with thought-provoking remarks by an influential and respected American neurosurgeon about alleged benefits of medical marijuana, while questioning the apparent hypocrisy in America’s health-care system.

“Repent or Receive God’s Fiery Judgment”

The Hill wrote on March 7:

“Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) didn’t disguise his presidential ambitions on Thursday… ‘These are the things that I know. I know there is a God, and I know this nation would not exist had he not been the midwife of its birth. And I know that this nation exists by the providence of his hand, and if this nation forgets our God, then God will have every right to forget us,’ Huckabee said. ‘I hope that we repent before we ever have to receive his fiery judgment.’…

“The speech from the Baptist pastor was predictably heavy on social issues. Huckabee warned that ‘a society that sacrifices its own children is no better than the ancient Philistines… I know that the IRS is a criminal enterprise,’ he said. ‘The best way to get the IRS off our backs and out of our lives is to enact a fair tax which will eliminate the IRS once and for all.’”

Sadly, the realistic view point is that based on the Bible, only very few Americans will repent—the overwhelming majority will continue to practice their ungodly ways, until God’s judgment will be poured out upon them. God was in fact bringing about the birth of this nation, but not for reasons usually assumed. For more information, please read our free booklet, “The Fall and Rise of Britain and America.”

Germany vs. Russia

Der Spiegel wrote on March 10:

“Russia’s occupation of Crimea has violated international law and created a new crisis among world leaders. Now the EU and the US are fighting over the best means to address Russia’s reawakened expansionary ambitions…

“The United States and the EU approved initial sanctions against Moscow late last week, Washington sent military reinforcements to Poland and the Baltic countries and the German federal police promptly suspended half a dozen cooperative programs with Russia. On Sunday, the Polish Defense Minister announced that the US was sending 12 fighter jets to Poland.

“But aside from these measures, the situation has thus far been characterized by a horrifying sense of helplessness… the Kremlin leader has succeeded in one respect: He has divided the West…

“Political scientist Ian Bremmer, president of the renowned New York-based Eurasia Group… fears that the events in Ukraine could reflect a ‘broader geopolitical shift.’ Russia, Bremmer writes, will use the crisis as an opportunity to strengthen its ties with China. ‘We are in a world with a distinct and dangerous lack of global, coordinated leadership.’ Meanwhile, the Republicans are critical of the [US] president for engaging in a foreign policy in which ‘nobody believes in America’s strength anymore,’ as Senator John McCain bitterly notes…

“Germany is playing a key role in the Ukraine crisis. The chancellor has spoken with the Russian president by phone three times in the last few days, and the German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has met three times with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in addition to almost daily telephone conversations. Last Monday, Steinmeier even made a trip to Geneva to speak with Lavrov in person and to keep the conversation going.

“This is in keeping with the new, more active German foreign policy Steinmeier announced in January. At the same time, the German government is also clearly feeling the limits of this policy…

“Merkel spoke with Putin by phone on the Friday before last, after pro-Russian militias had taken over government buildings in Crimea… In their telephone conversations, the chancellor and Putin have been unable to agree on any of the central issues, from events in Crimea to the legitimacy of the Ukrainian government… Even cabinet ministers are saying ‘Crimea is gone,’ and that the West should now focus on preventing the Russian president from creating more precedents in eastern Ukraine… Keeping eastern and western Ukraine together is currently Merkel’s most important goal.

“When German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel met with Putin in Moscow last week, he told the Kremlin leader that Russia would suffer considerably under sanctions. He also tried appealing to the Russian president on a personal level, saying it was now up to him, Putin, to prevent Europe from sliding into a new Cold War. But the Russian leader remained impassive.”

Russia, China and other Far Eastern nations will unite against a United States of Europe under German leadership.

Merkel Condemns Putin

Deutsche Welle wrote on March 13:

“German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday issued her strongest condemnation yet of Moscow’s intervention in Crimea, calling it a clear breach of international law. ‘If Russia continues down the course of the past weeks, it would not only be a catastrophe for Ukraine,’ Merkel told the German parliament, the Bundestag. ‘As Russia’s neighbors, we would not only consider it a threat. It would not only change the relationship of the European Union as a whole with Russia,’ Merkel said.”

Ukraine’s Political Spectrum—Opening of Pandora’s Box?

The International Business Times wrote on March 7:

“Ukraine’s leader of the far-right Pravy Sektor (Right Sector) paramilitary movement Dmytro Yarosh has announced his presidential bid in elections planned for 25 May. The ultra-nationalist movement’s chairman Andriy Tarasenko said that Right Sector will also become a political party… ‘We remain the leaders of this revolution. We are mobilising, we are preparing to react to foreign aggression,’ Tarasenko added, claiming that the movement was ready for a full-scale war with Russia.

“A leading figure in the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, Yarosh advocated a ‘national revolution’ during the protests and dismissed ousted Viktor Yanukovich’s administration as an ‘internal occupational regime’. Yarosh, who considers the far-right Svoboda ‘too liberal’, wants to ban both the former ruling party (Party of Regions) and the Communist Party of Ukraine.

“Tarasenko distanced the movement from the pro-EU government led by interim president Oleksandr Turchinov… Russia opened a criminal investigation against Yarosh for incitement to extremism and terrorism. Right Sector was condemned by the US State Department for ‘inflaming conditions on the streets’… Yarosh revealed that the ultra-nationalist movement had amassed a lethal arsenal of weapons. The movement’s ideology, which rejects any foreign influence over Ukraine, borders on fascism…”

JTA added on March 7:

“Israel’s ambassador in Kiev, Reuven Din El, and a Ukrainian ultra-nationalist movement agreed to work together to ‘prevent provocations.’ The agreement came at the end of a meeting held last week between Din El and Dmitry Yarosh, the leader of the Right Sector paramilitary group, which participated in the overthrow of the government of President Viktor Yanukovych… Yarosh’s troops had a decisive role in the revolution that forced Yanukovych to flee to Russia…

“Yarosh said that ‘non-Ukrainians’ should be treated according to principles set forth by the late Ukrainian nationalist leader Stepan Bandera. A onetime ally of Nazi Germany who later turned against the Nazis, Bandera said non-Ukrainian allies should be treated as brothers and neutral parties should be respected.

“The Simon Wiesenthal Center and other Jewish organizations have condemned the glorification in Ukraine of Bandera, whose troops are believed to have killed thousands of Jews when they were allies of the Nazis in 1941…

“Svoboda’s leader, Oleh Tyahnybok, has in the past referred to a ‘Moscow-Jewish mafia’ which he said ruled Ukraine.”

Taking these last two articles together, we see a very unfavorable picture emerging in Ukraine, which is not reported widely in the Western press. We might be reminded of the chaotic consequences of the “highly praised” Arab Spring. Are we seeing a repeat in Ukraine?

“Putin the Great” Enjoys All-Time High Approval Rating in Russia

Breitbart wrote on March 7:

“Russian President Vladimir Putin may have to endure the stern disapproval of U.S. President Barack Obama, and the occasional insult from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as a result of his invasion of Ukraine. But at home… [over] 70 percent of Russians support Putin’s tactics in the Crimea… even some Russian opposition leaders are praising Putin. One… claims, ‘If Putin returns Crimea to Russia without blood, he will go down in history as a great, and there’s nothing you can do about that’…

“Praise for ‘Putin the Great’ has not been universal. Former international chess champion Garry Kasparov, who is also an important Russian opposition figure, wrote… that Putin’s domestic political gains are the whole point…

“Although a U.S. Navy destroyer entered the Black Sea on Friday, and the west has extended economic aid [to] Ukraine while applying some sanctions to Russia, the global response to Putin has been symbolic at best…”

How Putin Controls the Russian Media

The Washington Times wrote on March 13:

“Russians looking to get a different perspective on the Ukraine crisis will essentially have to settle for whatever story Vladimir Putin tells them — the Kremlin banned four opposition websites on Thursday… The move comes on the same day that U.S. Secretary of State  John F. Kerry warned Russia that ‘there will be costs’ if Moscow continues to escalate the crisis in Ukraine.

“Former world chess champion and Kremlin critic Garry Kasparov, whose website was taken down within Russia, tweeted: ‘Obviously Putin is preparing something drastic if he’s blacking out the last sources of truth in Russia. I fear for the safety of Ukraine.’”

The Russian Fighting Machine

The Washington Times wrote on March 6:

“President Vladimir Putin has turned a once-moribund Russian military into a lean, quick-strike force that can invade Chechnya, Georgia and now Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula… Mr. Putin has built a military that can unleash a force to reclaim territory lost in the Soviet empire’s demise…

“The re-emergence of the Russian bear has rattled Europe and the Obama administration… Moscow’s 2013 defense budget funds a 40 percent increase over the next three years… putting the Kremlin only behind the U.S. and China in military spending… ‘There is no great mobilization capacity in Russia today,” [Mr. Kipp, of the Army’s Foreign Military Studies Office] said. ‘What that means is, in a crisis, if the military gets into problems, the Kremlin has some very unappealing options. What they’ve been doing in their exercises is, when the conventional forces fail in defense, they go nuclear.’”

America Knew

NRP wrote on March 7:

“Senior U.S. officials were warned of imminent Russian military action in Crimea about a week before the troop movements that have sparked a major international crisis over Ukraine, the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency tells NPR…

“Barely a week after the ouster of Ukraine’s pro-Russia president, Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine accused Russia of sending troops into Crimea… The action… has pushed relations between Russia and the West to their lowest level in years.”

Ukraine and Crimea—The Conflict Continues

Deutsche Welle reported on March 11:

“Ukraine’s ousted president Viktor Yanukovych has blamed his opponents for the crisis in Crimea. Meanwhile, Crimea has voted in favor of adopting a declaration of independence ahead of Sunday’s referendum to join Russia… Yanukovych, who surfaced in Russia after leaving Kyiv late last month, also reiterated that he was Ukraine’s legitimate president and would soon return… He also lashed out against the West for acting as ‘protectors of the dark forces’ currently in power…

“On Tuesday the European Commission agreed to offer Ukraine trade breaks worth about 500 million euros ($675 million) a year as an immediate gesture of support for Ukraine’s economy… The measure would need to be approved by EU leaders and the European Parliament.

“German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has assured ex-Soviet Baltic states that NATO and the EU stand behind them amid rising tensions over the crisis in Ukraine… Steinmeier said the EU would rather avoid confrontation with Russia but would have to prepare a response if the country did not back down… French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius… told the radio station France Inter that the planned referendum in Crimea on joining Russia would be illegal…”

Libya Slides Into Chaos—The Curse of the Arab Spring

Reuters reported on March 7:

“Two-and-a-half years after the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi, the oil-rich North African state [of Libya] is struggling to contain violence between rival forces, with Islamist militants gaining an ever-stronger grip on the south of the country… [W]ith violent disputes between rival tribal factions disrupting exports of Libyan oil, the lack of a stable political foundation is causing growing concern for energy-hungry western countries, several of which were involved in overthrowing the Gaddafi government.”

Deutsche Welle reported on March 11:

“Parliamentarians in Libya have passed a vote of no confidence in the country’s Prime Minister Ali Zeidan. It comes after a ship full of Libyan oil exported by a militia escaped into international waters. Libya’s Defense Minister Abdullah al-Thani will step in as the country’s premier for two weeks, until a permanent replacement is approved by the General National Congress… Authorities in Tripoli have struggled to control much of the country since a revolt in 2011 which led to the downfall of dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

“A multitude of former rebel militias have carved out their own areas of control, particularly in the oil-rich country’s east. Last October the now-former prime minister Ali Zeidan himself was briefly abducted by a militia group in Tripoli.”

These further consequences of the “Arab Spring” which was highly favored by the West, have only brought about more headaches, chaos and total confusion.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar at War with Iraq—The Curse of the Iraq War

AFP wrote on March 8:

“Saudi Arabia and Qatar are destabilising Iraq by supporting militant groups and have effectively declared war on the country, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said…‘They are attacking Iraq, through Syria, and in a direct way, and they announced the war on Iraq,’ the premier said in an interview with France 24, in a rare direct attack on the Sunni Gulf powers.”

America’s unrealistic wish and goal to bring democracy to Iraq has terribly back-fired and brought about complete chaos.

Arab League Refuses to Recognize Israel

JTA wrote on March 10:

“The Arab League refused to recognize Israel as a Jewish state in the framework of current peace talks with the Palestinians, as per Israel’s demand. On Sunday, Arab League foreign ministers released a resolution at a meeting in Cairo that supported the decision by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. ‘The council of the Arab League confirms its support for the Palestinian leadership in its effort to end the Israeli occupation over Palestinian lands, and emphasizes its rejection of recognizing Israel as a ‘Jewish state,’” the resolution said…

“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made the signing of a peace agreement contingent on the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, the first prime minister to do so. The U.S.-backed peace talks are scheduled to end on April 29. Abbas has said he will not allow for an extension of the nine-month process.”

There will never be a peace treaty between Israel and the Arab nations, nor will there be a peace treaty between Israel and Germany. All these concepts are fanciful ideas of the unlearned human mind which are nowhere supported in Scripture.

Germany’s “Saints”

The Local wrote on March 7:

“Germany is a land infested with saints. Travel more than a few miles in any direction and you’re liable to trip over a shrine to some ascetic or hermit with the reputation for performing miracles. It seems like every village church has an ornate shrine dedicated to their local holy hero, usually incorporating a grisly, preserved body part… Here in Germany nothing is done by halves and this is especially true of those the Catholic Church has seen fit to canonize.

“St Alban of Mainz… [a] 5th century bishop sent from Milan to preach to the heathens was so caught up in his work that he lost his head to angry locals. Not particularly perturbed by this change in his circumstances, he picked up his severed noggin and walked (accounts vary on the distance) to where he wanted to be interred.

“St Emmeram of Regensburg demonstrated similar levels of endurance when he was martyred in the 7th century. Having taken the blame for getting a duke’s daughter pregnant (the real father being a member of the Duke’s court), the understandably upset father and his son ambushed him, cutting him into pieces and reducing him to a limbless trunk. Amazingly, this wasn’t enough to kill him and he lingered on until he was found by some of his followers. They carried the (still alive) bishop to a green and lovely place where he saw fit to die. Some say at this point a ladder extended down from Heaven to take him up… Upon being interred, legend states that it rained for 40 days and nights, until frustrated locals dug him up and floated him down the river to Regensburg, where his various bits and pieces can be found today…

“St Corbinian, who also lived in the 7th century in Bavaria, was said to have power over beasts. Once, on a pilgrimage to Rome, a bear attacked and killed his horse. Without missing a beat, the saint commanded the unruly bear to take his belongings and carry them to Rome. Once he arrived, he released the bear, who quite happily loped back into the woods…

“Eucharius of Trier… was said to have been given St Peter’s staff, which he used quite liberally to bring the dead back to life. Another saint with this gift was St Fridolin, who was once memorably employed by a nobleman to raise a dead man so he could testify in a legal case…

“Hildegard of Bingen was just a girl when she entered the convent at Disibodenberg, in what is now Rhineland-Palatinate, during the 12th century… She wrote poetry, based on visions that she had, that are still being printed and reprinted to this day. She staged deeply mystical plays, using her nuns in an early form of liturgical dance.”

Especially the Catholic part of Germany has many saints. We might read an article which we quoted above and shake our heads in unbelief, or laugh about such superstition, but the fact of the matter is that such “beliefs” in saints will lead the way to the arrival of a religious “Christian” leader—called the false prophet–who will bring about miracles and signs. He will be empowered by Satan the devil, but people will be deceived thinking that he is used by God. It is he—not the political leader called “the beast”—who will be sitting in the temple of God—a newly built temple in Jerusalem—claiming to be God.

Religious Persecution and Hostilities Worldwide

The website of pewforum.org published the following article on January 14, 2014, which just came to our attention.  Although somewhat dated, it is still very relevant:

“The share of countries with a high or very high level of social hostilities involving religion reached a six-year peak in 2012, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center. A third (33%) of the 198 countries and territories included in the study had high religious hostilities in 2012, up from 29% in 2011 and 20% as of mid-2007. Religious hostilities increased in every major region of the world except the Americas. The sharpest increase was in the Middle East and North Africa, which still is feeling the effects of the 2010-11 political uprisings known as the Arab Spring. There also was a significant increase in religious hostilities in the Asia-Pacific region, where China edged into the ‘high’ category for the first time.

“The share of countries with a high or very high level of government restrictions on religion stayed roughly the same in the latest year studied. About three-in-ten countries in the world (29%) had a high or very high level of government restrictions in 2012, compared with 28% in 2011 and 20% as of mid-2007. Europe had the biggest increase in the median level of government restrictions in 2012, followed closely by the Middle East-North Africa – the only other region where the median level of government restrictions on religion rose.

“Looking at the overall level of restrictions – whether resulting from government policies or from social hostilities – the study finds that restrictions on religion are high or very high in 43% of countries, also a six-year high. Because some of these countries (like China) are very populous, more than 5.3 billion people (76% of the world’s population) live in countries with a high or very high level of restrictions on religion, up from 74% in 2011 and 68% as of mid-2007.

“Among the world’s 25 most populous countries, Egypt, Indonesia, Russia, Pakistan and Burma (Myanmar) had the most restrictions on religion in 2012… As in previous years, Christians and Muslims – who together make up more than half of the global population – were harassed in the largest number of countries (110 and 109, respectively)…

“The study finds that the share of countries where violence, or the threat of violence, was used to compel people to adhere to religious norms also increased in 2012… Governments used force against religious groups or individuals in nearly half (48%) of the world’s countries in 2012, up from 41% in 2011 and 31% as of mid-2007…”

Religious persecution will continue, including through powerful religious organizations and governmental agencies against religious minorities. The Bible warns of a soon-coming worldwide persecution of God’s true followers.

Large Earthquake in California

On March 10, the Los Angeles Times reported the following:

“The magnitude 6.9 earthquake off the coast of Northern California on Sunday night was the largest on the West Coast since the 7.2 Baja California quake in 2010. Sunday’s temblor was followed by a series of at least 13 aftershocks as large as a magnitude 4.6… The big quake occurred at 10:18 p.m. 50 miles west of Eureka in Humboldt County in the Pacific Ocean. The USGS put the depth of the quake at about four miles. Several of the aftershocks were much closer to land, including one about 16 miles off the coast that registered as a magnitude 3.4…

“The Eureka area is considered seismically active, and there have been similar-sized quakes in the area with some regularity… In 1964, an 8.8 earthquake in Alaska caused catastrophic damage on the North Coast…

“By California standards, Sunday’s quake was large. Two larger recent quakes occurred in remote areas: the 1999 Hector Mines temblor, magnitude 7.1, and the 1992 Landers quake, which was magnitude 7.3.”

The steady increase of strong earthquakes is a sign of the times, indicating the last days and the beginning of sorrows.

Alleged Benefits of Medical Marijuana

On March 6, CNN Health published the following article by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent:

“It’s been eight months since I last wrote about medical marijuana, apologizing for having not dug deeply into the beneficial effects of this plant and for writing articles dismissing its potential. I apologized for my own role in previously misleading people, and I feel very badly that people have suffered for too long, unable to obtain the legitimate medicine that may have helped them. I have been reminded that a true and productive scientific journey involves a willingness to let go of established notions and get at the truth, even if it is uncomfortable and even it means having to say ‘sorry.’

“It is about emerging science that not only shows and proves what marijuana can do for the body but provides better insights into the mechanisms of marijuana in the brain, helping us better understand a plant whose benefits have been documented for thousands of years. This journey is also about a Draconian system where politics override science and patients are caught in the middle. Since our documentary ‘Weed’ aired in August, I have continued to travel the world, investigating and asking tough questions about marijuana.

“I have met with hundreds of patients, dozens of scientists and the curious majority who simply want a deeper understanding of this ancient plant. I have sat in labs and personally analyzed the molecules in marijuana that have such potential but are also a source of intense controversy. I have seen those molecules turned into medicine that has quelled epilepsy in a child and pain in a grown adult. I’ve seen it help a woman at the peak of her life to overcome the ravages of multiple sclerosis.

“I am more convinced than ever that it is irresponsible to not provide the best care we can, care that often may involve marijuana. I am not backing down on medical marijuana; I am doubling down.

“…many doctors and scientists, worried about being ostracized for even discussing the potential of marijuana, called me confidentially to share their own stories of the drug and the benefit it has provided to their patients… Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I substance, defined as ‘the most dangerous’ drugs ‘with no currently accepted medical use.’ Neither of those statements has ever been factual. Even many of the most ardent critics of medical marijuana don’t agree with the Schedule I classification, knowing how it’s impeded the ability to conduct needed research on the plant.

“…the United States already holds a patent on medical marijuana…. Patent No. 6630507: Cannabinoids are found to have particular application as neuroprotectants, for example in limiting neurological damage following ischemic insults, such as stroke or trauma. However, this particular issue still bothers me: How can the government deny the benefits of medical marijuana even as it holds a patent for those very same benefits? Members of the Food and Drug Administration declined my repeated requests for an interview.

“This past year, President Barack Obama told the New Yorker magazine, ‘I don’t think (marijuana) is more dangerous than alcohol.’ And yet, as alcohol remains available to any adult, the president has not moved to remove marijuana from the list of the most tightly controlled substances in the country… cocaine and methamphetamine are actually more available than marijuana to patients, physicians and medical researchers: They are Schedule II drugs, with recognized medical uses… on average, a person dies every 19 minutes in this country from a legal prescription drug overdose, while it is virtually unheard-of to die from a marijuana overdose…

“I am a father myself, first and foremost. I don’t want my children taking or being offered a psychoactive substance. As a neurosurgeon, I know that the developing brain is more susceptible to the most harmful effects of cannabis and that brain development continues well into our mid-20s… Yes, I know there is a concern that many people out there will feign ailments just to get marijuana. But withholding legitimate treatment for the needy is a very unjust way of addressing that concern.

“As a physician and reporter, I feel a deeper obligation to present the real stories, soundly supported with the science from all over the world. When I first apologized for my previous marijuana reporting, I was thinking about the impact that reporting may have had on Charlotte Figi. She is a sweet little girl whose brain was locked in nearly nonstop seizure activity. Without success, she tried seven different medications, stringent diets and high-dose supplements. Modern medicine had nothing more to offer, which is why her parents turned to an ancient plant. As you know, it worked.

“And, as you will see, she is one of so many patients out there, suffering from different ailments, who believe cannabis rescued them when nothing else did. For conditions like Charlotte’s, the American Epilepsy Society says that there are a million people for whom existing therapies do not control their seizures. The society recently said anecdotes about medical marijuana ‘give reason for hope’ and said it supports ‘well-controlled studies that will lead to a better understanding of the disease and the development of safe and effective treatments.’ You should know that Charlotte continues to do well.

“When I saw her around the holidays, she ran over and gave me a hug. She looked me in the eyes, took me by the hand and led me all around to meet her friends. She is a delightful, happy and now healthy little girl. I know the discussion around this topic will no doubt get heated. I have felt that heat. But I feel a greater responsibility than ever to make sure those heated discussions are also well-informed by science.”

We reported on the alleged benefits of medical marijuana in our Update #624, where we said:

“If it is true that medical marijuana—especially those products in the form of oil with a greatly reduced or eliminated amount of THC (the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana)–help patients who are suffering from serious and otherwise ‘untreatable’ diseases, such as cancer, kidney failure or epilepsy, then the federal law’s all-encompassing universal prohibition of the same seems to be highly suspect. Sadly, the desire of many to allow and legalize marijuana for ‘recreational’ improper personal purposes has clouded or even suppressed the recognition of a need for research regarding a potentially beneficial medical use of certain marijuana products with virtually no THC.”

The statements in the above-quoted article by Dr. Sanjay Gupta support our comments, especially in light of the fact that the U.S. government denies “the benefits of medical marijuana even as it holds a patent for those very same benefits.” This is not merely suspect—it appears to be driven by ulterior (monetary) motives and/or highly hypocritical conduct.

The question you ask relates to people who have died and who have been resurrected to physical life—an example of the unparalleled power of God.

The Bible records specific examples of individuals who were miraculously healed by God—and note that in every case, a servant of God was instrumental in the act:

Elijah raised the Zarephath widow’s son (1 Kings 17:20); Elisha raised  the Shunammite woman’s son (2 Kings 4:32-37); a dead man was raised after accidently being brought into contact with Elisha’s bones (2 Kings 13:21); Jesus raised Jarius’ daughter (Mark 5:41-43), the son of a widow (Luke 7:11-17)—and Lazarus (John 11:43-44); Peter raised Dorcas (Acts 9:40-41); and Paul raised a young man named Eutychus (Acts 20:9-12).

Another example of people being returned to physical life occurred at the time of Jesus’ death:

“Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many” (Matthew 27:51-53). However, understand that these examples of being raised from the dead resulted only in a return to a physical existence! They all eventually died—again!

We read in Matthew 10:5-15 that Christ’s commission to His twelve disciples prior to His death was to, among other things, “raise the dead,” but we do not read the same general commission to His disciples after His resurrection (compare Mark 16:15-18).

Jesus Christ was given great power to perform miraculous signs. When John the Baptist sent two of his disciples to Christ to ask about who Jesus was, note the response:

“When the men had come to Him, they said, ‘John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”’ And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them’” (Luke 7:20-22).

John the Baptist performed no miraculous signs (John 10:41), but Jesus said, “‘Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist…’” (Matthew 11:11).

For John the Baptist, it was not necessary that he perform signs. He did not raise anyone from the dead. Yet, his role in the Work of God was fully accomplished.

On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was given in a wondrous way, and for a while, more signs followed:

“Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles” (Acts 2:43). We even read that people were healed when the shadow of Peter fell on them (Acts 5:14-15).

The Apostle Paul also had his ministry magnified:

“Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them” (Acts 19:11-12).

This example has application for us today. Generally, God instructs us, when we are sick, to call for the elders of the Church of God to pray for us and to anoint us with oil – a symbol of the Holy Spirit – and to lay hands on us, so that we can be healed (James 5:14-15; Mark 16:18). If such a visit is not possible, then elders are permitted to use and pray over a cloth, anointing it with a drop of oil as the symbol of the Holy Spirit, and asking God to heal the sick person who will receive this cloth. This is based on numerous passages in the Bible, showing us that people were healed when touching the garments of Christ (Mark 6:56) or the aprons or handkerchiefs from Paul’s body (Acts 19:12).

We see, then, that there is precedence for people having miraculous intervention from God—even that of being resurrected. We also understand that these few examples were done through the power of God and for His purposes—that they were the exception and not the rule. However, all point to the ultimate goal of being resurrected to eternal life—never to die again:

In the occurrence of Lazarus’ resurrection, Jesus made this profound statement:

“‘…I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live’” (John 11:25).

This is what the Church of God has been given to preach, and it is a message of resurrection into the spiritual Family of God:

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’” (1 Corinthians 15:50-54).

Now, back to the question at hand, “Why don’t we hear about God raising anyone from the dead, today?”

The answer is, first and foremost, that God has not chosen to do so!

First, we must understand that those whom God has called for salvation and has given His Holy Spirit will not die “accidentally,” because of “time and chance,” but the timing of their death occurs according to the Will of God. There would therefore be no need or logical reason to raise them again from the dead.  We explain the following in chapter 4 of our free booklet, “Human Suffering, Why… and How Much Longer?” : “The very idea that a true Christian could die or become terribly sick because of time and chance, limits God and weakens our faith. It is a patently unbiblical concept. When a Christian dies, it is because GOD has DECIDED that it was time for His son or daughter to die… God’s involvement, when it comes to the death of a true Christian, [is] clearly revealed in Scripture.” Please read the entire booklet for a thorough explanation.

In general, God is not trying to fix or save this world ruled by Satan. Rather, He is poised to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to establish a godly Kingdom on earth. At the same time, the first resurrection will occur, and faithful men and women will be raised from the dead (or instantly changed) to rule with Christ for one-thousand years and on into eternity. Others—the rest of the dead—will be resurrected to physical lives afterward. They will either become obedient to God and receive eternal life or perish!

Jesus warned us, stating, “‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign…’” (Matthew 12:39).

And even though Jesus did resurrect people from the dead and masses of people knew of His miracles, something more important was required—that was to believe Him (compare John 12:37).

For those who can only believe if they see manifestations that defy explanation, that titillate and excite with wonder, the Bible also reveals a time of worldwide deception coming through false miracles and stupefying signs (compare Revelation 13).

During this time, God will have His own witnesses, two men empowered by God to withstand Satan. Note some of what is prophesied about them:

“These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire” (Revelation 11:6).

When the time of God’s choosing comes, He will work in startling and miraculous ways to bring about His purpose. Let’s not be among those who can only be satisfied by signs; rather, now is the time to focus on believing God and on following the example of Jesus Christ—which will lead us to the resurrection of life!

Lead Writers: Dave Harris and Norbert Link

“Is Christ the End of the Law” is the title of the new StandingWatch program presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

Many will tell you that Christ came to abolish the law of the Ten Commandments. They say that this is what Paul meant when he spoke about Jesus being the end of the law. But is this correct? Why did Christ say that those who transgress the law will not be in God’s Kingdom, and that those are liars who claim to know God, but refuse to keep His commandments? This program gives you true answers from your Bible and rejects carnal arguments which are hostile to God.

A new Member Letter has been written by Norbert Link. In it, Mr. Link announces the publication of our new booklet, “Hidden Secrets in the Bible“–which was mailed in the USA to those who receive our letters. Also, Mr. Link encourages us to look forward to the “spiritual world of splendor and beauty, joy and peace” which God has in store for His children.

Our new German Member Letter (Rundschreiben) with Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread information/schedule was just sent out to our German members and subscribers.

“Die Schlüssel zur glücklichen Ehe und Familie,” one of our German language booklets, has had an order placed for a printing of 700 copies. The English version of this publication is “The Keys to Happy Marriages and Families.”

“Old Testament Laws—Still Valid Today?,” is the title of our newest (39th) English language booklet, written by Evangelist Norbert Link. This booklet has now entered its final review process.

“Christi Gleichnisse vom Reich Gottes,” is the new German sermon for this coming Sabbath. This is a series which begins discussing the parables of Jesus Christ. This sermon addresses several parables in the book of Matthew. Title in English: “Christ’s Parables of the Kingdom of God.”

A new StandingWatch Global Trailer, “Is God a Trinity?,” has been recorded by Pastor Brian Gale (United Kingdom). In addition, Pastor Rene Messier (Canada) has prepared a new StandingWatch Talking Points program, “Should you Fight in War?”

On March 8, 2014, Eric Rank will give the sermon, titled, “God’s Peace.”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org (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.

As we watch the world draw closer to a prophesied end, what seemed unlikely decades ago is now becoming reality. Nations are invaded, new currencies are created and political alliances are formed, while the world watches in bewilderment. Leaders, with misguided confidence, rally support to serve their own agendas. Political bickering, both national and international, stifles meaningful progress while savagery and godlessness flourish.  But we should not fear, for God’s Plan is unfolding according to His Will!

When God hardened the heart of Pharaoh, it wasn’t to make Egypt suffer as retribution for Israel’s enslavement.  On the contrary! Egypt was fulfilling God’s plan – that “I may show these signs of Mine before him, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son’s son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD” (Exodus 10:1-2). The turmoil that is quickly unfolding before our eyes is now necessary in order for this callous world to truly understand who God is.

Digging one’s heels into the ground, has become a typical method of conflict resolution, especially in politics.  This obstinate society is stymied in meaningless opinion, lacking Godly wisdom and knowledge. Mankind is failing, and they don’t know why. Everything EXCEPT God is looked to for guidance and hope. 

Christ spoke as to why mankind cannot see the mire they are slowly sinking into. “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:5-6). Jesus later outlined what we should strive to take in: “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:13-14).

Obstinance isn’t bad if you are “digging in” to the truth, if you refuse to be swayed by the blindness that permeates the world.  Consider Paul’s admonition: “…we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:13-14). It is an honor to be considered foolish by the world around us.

We report on the escalating events in Ukraine and the Crimean Peninsula and shed some light on the “Budapest Memorandum”; Vladimir Putin’s real goals; and the weakness of the USA and its allies.

We continue speaking about Britain’s desire to run away from Europe; the shameful conduct of America’s corporate business world; and President Obama’s threats against Israel.

We report on a “scary” interview with President Obama; and conclude with German persecution of homeschooling families and the inconsistent conduct of the American government.

The Budapest Memorandum

Daily Mail wrote on March 1:

“A treaty signed in 1994 by the US and Britain could pull both countries into a war to protect Ukraine if Putin’s troops intervene. Bill Clinton, John Major, Boris Yeltsin and Leonid Kuchma – the then-rulers of the USA, UK, Russia and Ukraine – agreed to the… Budapest Memorandum as part of the denuclearization of former Soviet republics after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

“Technically it means that if Russia has invaded Ukraine then it would be difficult for the US and Britain to avoid going to war.”

This conclusion is not compelling. Note the next article.

What Exactly Is the “Budapest Memorandum”?

Voice of America wrote on March 2:

“The ‘Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances’ is a diplomatic memorandum that was signed in December 1994 by Ukraine, Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. It is not a formal treaty, but rather, a diplomatic document under which signatories made promises to each other as part of the denuclearization of former Soviet republics after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

“Under the memorandum, Ukraine promised to remove all Soviet-era nuclear weapons from its territory, send them to disarmament facilities in Russia, and sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Ukraine kept these promises. In return, Russia and the Western signatory countries essentially consecrated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine as an independent state. They did so by applying the principles of territorial integrity and nonintervention in [the] 1975 Helsinki Final Act — a Cold War-era treaty signed by 35 states including the Soviet Union — to an independent post-Soviet Ukraine…

“In the ‘Budapest Memorandum,’ Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States promised that none of them would ever threaten or use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine. They also pledged that none of them would ever use economic coercion to subordinate Ukraine to their own interest. They specifically pledged they would refrain from making each other’s territory the object of military occupation or engage in other uses of force in violation of international law…

“Is there anything legally binding about the ‘Budapest Memorandum’ regarding Russia’s obligations to respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity? ‘That’s actually a much more complex question than it may sound. It is binding in international law, but that doesn’t mean it has any means of enforcement,’ says Barry Kellman, a professor of law and director of the International Weapons Control Center at DePaul University’s College of Law…

“Kellman concludes that there are a host of other sources of international law that oblige Russia to respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity — including the provisions of the CSCE treaty and the UN Charter.”

Russia Takes Crimea Without a Shot

The Associated Press reported on March 2:

“Igniting a tense standoff, Russian forces surrounded a Ukrainian army base Sunday just as the country began mobilizing its military in response to the surprise Russian takeover of Crimea. Outrage over Russia’s tactics mounted in world capitals, with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry calling on President Vladimir Putin to pull back from ‘an incredible act of aggression.’ Fearing that Europe’s borders were being rewritten by force, world leaders rushed to find a diplomatic solution to reverse what had already happened on the ground: Russia captured the Black Sea peninsula on Saturday without firing a shot…

“Putin has defied calls from the West to pull back his troops, insisting that Russia has a right to protect its interests and those of Russian-speakers in Crimea and elsewhere in Ukraine. His confidence is matched by the knowledge that Ukraine’s 46 million people have divided loyalties between Russia and Europe. While much of western Ukraine wants closer ties with the 28-nation European Union, its eastern and southern regions like Crimea look to Russia for support.

“Russia has long wanted to reclaim the lush Crimean Peninsula, which was part of its territory until 1954. Russia’s Black Sea Fleet pays Ukraine millions every year to be stationed at the Crimean port of Sevastopol and nearly 60 percent of Crimea’s residents identify themselves as Russian…”

Putin seems to think that no earthly power will stop him at this point.

Ukraine Mobilizes Its Troops Against Russia

The Independent wrote on March 2:

“Ukraine’s acting Prime Minister described the country as being on the ‘brink of disaster’ while his government ordered the full mobilisation of its army in response to Russian military movements across the peninsula…

“Kiev had asked its forces in Crimea, numbering around 3,500 and facing up to 30,000 better-armed Russians, not to ‘react to provocation’.”

A war between Russia and Ukraine would result in total subjection of Ukraine towards Russia. Whether anyone would intervene militarily to assist Ukraine in such a war against Russia is highly doubtful.

Putin’s “Defense” and His “Contact Group”

Deutsche Welle wrote on March 3:

“Russian President Putin has agreed to a proposal from the German chancellor to form a ‘fact-finding’ mission to calm tensions with Ukraine. The move follows Western outcry over his deployment of troops to Crimea… Even though Putin defended his decision – directing Merkel’s ‘attention to the unrelenting threat of violence…to Russian citizens and the whole Russian-speaking population [in Ukrainian territory]’ – he also agreed to work with her to curb the diplomatic crisis. ‘President Putin accepted the German chancellor’s proposal to immediately establish a commission of enquiry as well as a contact group, possibly under the direction of the [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe] to open a political dialogue,’ a statement from Berlin said… US President Barack Obama reportedly discussed the turmoil in Ukraine with Chancellor Merkel after her call with Putin, according to Reuters news agency…

“While Kerry derided what he called Russia’s ‘brazen act of aggression,’ he stopped short of threatening US military involvement… Ukrainian authorities also launched a treason case against the newly-appointed head of the navy, who announced on Sunday he had switched allegiance to Crimea’s pro-Russian regional leaders. In a televised statement, Denis Berezovsky said he ‘swears allegiance to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea’ and told Ukrainian forces to lay down their arms.”

Putin is good in playing politics, but can he be trusted? Many observers feel that his goal is to bring former Soviet Union satellite states back into “Mother Russia’s” fold, and being aware of the present weakness of the West, he might have concluded that he can’t be stopped at this moment. Europe realizes that they cannot rely on the USA, and this will motivate them to unite militarily. This then will bring about further swift fulfillment of end-time biblical prophecy.

Putin Detached From Reality?

The New York Times wrote on March 2:

“Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany told Mr. Obama by telephone on Sunday that after speaking with Mr. Putin she was not sure he was in touch with reality, people briefed on the call said. ‘In another world,’ she said.”

Putin’s Twists and Turns—While Putting the World on Notice

BBC News reported on March 4:

“Russian President Vladimir Putin has said there is no need yet to send troops into Ukraine, but that Moscow is ready to protect its citizens. His comments come as armed men, who Mr Putin says are not Russian troops but pro-Russian self-defence groups, surround army bases in Crimea…

“Meanwhile, two Ukrainian warships are reported to be blocked by a Russian ship in the port of Sevastopol… Ukraine says some 16,000 Russian troops have arrived in Crimea in recent days… Mr Putin said the toppling of President Viktor Yanukovych last month following mass protests was an ‘anti-constitutional coup and armed seizure of power’. He also insisted that Mr Yanukovych – whom Ukraine’s parliament voted to impeach on 22 February – was still the legitimate president…

“Ukraine was in ‘chaos’, he said, with ‘nationalists’ and ‘anti-Semites’ roaming the streets of Kiev and other cities. If Russian-speaking people in eastern Ukraine asked for Russia’s help, or if there were signs of anarchy, ‘we reserve the right to use all means,’ he said. He accused the West of encouraging the street protests.”

On March 4, 2014, the German mass tabloid, Bild, published an article about Putin’s “seven lies,” accusing him of blatantly and intentionally misrepresenting the truth. Along the same lines, CNN reported on March 4 that “U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry accused Russia of making up reasons for intervention in Ukraine, saying Tuesday ‘not a single piece of credible evidence supports any one of these claims.’”

Russian Retaliation and Pretext?

Reuters reported on March 4:

“Russia said on Tuesday that it would retaliate if the United States imposed sanctions over Moscow’s actions in Ukraine… In Kiev on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday condemned Russia’s ‘act of aggression’ in Ukraine and said Moscow, which has taken control of the Crimea region, was looking for a pretext to invade more of the country.”

Crimea Ready To Join Russia?

BBC News reported on March 6:

“MPs in Crimea have asked Moscow to allow the southern Ukrainian region to become part of the Russian Federation. The parliament said if its request was granted, Crimean citizens could give their view in a referendum on 16 March… The Crimean parliament resolved ‘to enter into the Russian Federation with the rights of a subject of the Russian Federation’. It said it had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin ‘to start the procedure’.”

“Russia China Unite”

With this headline, the Drudge Report linked to the following article by Sky News, dated March 5:

“Russia has said China is largely ‘in agreement’ over Ukraine, after other world powers condemned Moscow for sending troops into the country… Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov discussed Ukraine by telephone with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on Monday, and claimed they had ‘broadly coinciding points of view’ on the situation there, according to a ministry statement…

“As the tense stand-off continues, the other seven nations of the G8 urged Moscow to hold talks with Kiev. ‘We, the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States and the President of the European Council and President of the European Commission, join together today to condemn the Russian Federation’s clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,’ they said in a statement. ‘We have decided for the time being to suspend our participation in activities associated with the preparation of the scheduled G8 Summit in Sochi in June.’

“British Foreign Secretary William Hague… said Russia has taken operational control of Crimea. He described Russia’s intervention in Ukraine as the biggest crisis in Europe in the 21st century.”

“Worst Crisis Since Berlin Wall”

The Local wrote on March 3:

“Russia’s intervention means ‘the threat of a division of Europe is real again,’ Steinmeier said… ‘But now is time for diplomacy. Diplomacy does not mean weakness but is more needed than ever to prevent us from being drawn into the abyss of military escalation,’ he said… The German minister said ‘the situation in Ukraine worsens every day and so far, an end to the escalation is not seen’…

“Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert…  said he saw ‘no military option’ and that the German government ‘is not thinking in military terms’ about the crisis… ‘I don’t want to rule anything in or rule anything out,’ said British Minister for Europe David Lidington… Late on Sunday Germany said Putin had accepted an offer from Merkel to set up a ‘contact group’ with Ukraine over the crisis, but Moscow did not confirm the German reports…

“Merkel told Putin the intervention was a violation of a 1994 Budapest memorandum on security assurances in which Russia committed itself to respecting the independence and sovereignty of Ukraine in its existing borders, as well as the 1997 treaty on the Russian Black Sea fleet, based in Crimea…”

No German Trust in Russia

The Local reported on March 6:

“A third of Germans expect there to be an armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia over Crimea, according to a poll on Thursday. It comes on a day of frenzied diplomacy by Germany to defuse the crisis. The poll from public broadcaster ARD also showed that trust in Russia among Germans had sunk to its lowest ever recorded level… Meanwhile, Germany’s vice-chancellor Sigmar Gabriel was in Moscow on Thursday for talks with Putin to discuss the Crimea crisis…

“The EU is discussing possible sanctions against Russia… The US announced the first sanctions against Russia on Thursday lunchtime with visa restrictions against Russian officials.”

America Without Any Real Options

The Washington Times wrote on March 2:

“… the U.S. appears to have few effective options to punish Russia for its actions, which Ukrainian officials consider to be ‘a declaration of war.’ Mr. Kerry who appeared on four Sunday political talk shows, stressed that all options are on the table, but it’s clear military force is unlikely. Instead, the U.S. and its allies are considering economic sanctions and a suspension of the nearly $40 billion-per-year U.S.-Russia  trade relationship. In another move of condemnation, the U.S. and its key allies… have halted planning efforts for the June meeting of the Group of Eight, set for Sochi…

“But those moves, if they come to fruition, may not sway Russia, some analysts say. For Mr. Putin… punishment from the international community may pale in comparison with the benefits of annexing key parts of Ukraine and expanding his influence across the old Soviet bloc. ‘Russia believes there is nothing going to stop them, which is why they’ve become so aggressive in Crimea. There is not a lot of options on the table and, candidly, and I’m a fairly hawkish guy, sending more naval forces to operate in the Black Sea is not really a very good idea,’ said Rep. Mike Rogers, Michigan Republican and chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, speaking during an interview on ‘Fox News Sunday.’ ‘Unless you’re intending to use them, I wouldn’t send them…’”

USA, UK and France May Boycott G8 Meetings in Russia

Reuters reported on March 2:

“Britain will suspend its participation in preparations for a G8 meeting in Sochi after Russia violated Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, British Foreign Minister William Hague said on Sunday. The United States has already said it will not take part in the meetings, and a source in President Francois Hollande’s office said France has also pulled out.

“Western countries are scrambling to respond to developments in Ukraine’s Crimea… ‘The United Kingdom will join other G8 countries this week in suspending our co-operation under the G8, which Russia chairs this year, including … meetings this week for the preparation of the G8 summit,’ Hague told media…”

The G8 countries include the US, Russia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. Whether or not the G8 countries will meet; whether the other countries will speak to Russia or not—Vladimir Putin will do what HE wants to do.

“Why Is Britain Running Away from Europe?”

Der Spiegel Online wrote on February 28:

“Great Britain used to play a key role in leading Europe, and the benefits have been substantial. But now, the UK is turning its back on the EU and has chosen to focus on peripheral issues…

“In the aftermath of the Second World War, Winston Churchill called for the creation of a ‘United States of Europe’ to bind France and Germany together. In doing so, he made clear that Britain would be a supportive but independent partner of any such entity. He famously said: ‘We are with Europe but not of it.’ In the end, Britain did join the European Economic Community but only in 1973, 15 years after the Treaty of Rome was signed…

“In other words: Britain was always a bit late to the party. But once it found its way to Belgium, Britain had an uncanny knack of winning the big strategic battles. It is therefore a puzzle that the current British government has diverted its attention from winning the next round of key policy debates in Brussels and, instead, focused on a pointless exercise of seeking treaty change to repatriate powers.

“… the UK has seen its leadership role in Brussels diminish…  Britain is losing more votes in the European Council than at any point in recent history…”

Whether Britain is running away from continental Europe or being pushed out, it will not be part of the prophesied member states of core Europe.

How Corporate America Defeated Arizona Bill Regarding Homosexuals

The Associated Press wrote on February 27:

“Voicing concern for their employees, customers and bottom lines, prominent companies from American Airlines to Verizon used threats of reduced business to help convince Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer to veto legislation that would have allowed businesses to refuse service to gays based on the owner’s religious beliefs…

“The measure Brewer vetoed Wednesday night would have allowed people to cite their religious beliefs as a defense against claims of discrimination. She faced intense pressure from gay rights supporters, prominent politicians and local businesses. But ultimately, it might have been the national business community that tipped the scales…

“American Airlines CEO Doug Parker suggested his airline would cut flights… Verizon CEO Lowell C. McAdam also flexed some muscle… Other companies, such as Intel, PetSmart, American Express, eBay and GoDaddy joined with local and state chambers of commerce and other business collations, signing letters in opposition to the bill, known as SB 1062.”

Other companies mentioned in the article which opposed the bill were Yelp, Marriott, Southwest Airlines and Starwood Hotels.

Obama Warns Israel

The Times of Israel wrote on March 2:

“Israel can expect to face international isolation and possible sanctions from countries and companies across the world if Benjamin Netanyahu fails to endorse a framework agreement with the Palestinians, US President Barack Obama cautioned on Sunday… Obama stressed that time was running out for Israel to achieve a peace deal, and added that he believed Netanyahu had the capacity to rally Israel’s citizens behind an agreement…

“The president went on to condemn in no uncertain terms Israel’s settlement activities in the West Bank, and said that though his allegiance to the Jewish state was permanent, building settlements across the Green Line was counterproductive and would make it extremely difficult for the US to defend Israel from painful repercussions in the international community…”

Ultimately, the USA will withdraw all support from Israel.

President Obama’s Scary Interview

The Weekly Standard wrote on March 3:

“President Obama gave a lengthy interview to Jeffrey Goldberg that shows a chief executive who has learned next to nothing about the world in his five years in office… what emerged is an awful portrait of the president and his conception of the world.

“Take Syria. Here’s what Obama said: ‘I think those who believe that two years ago, or three years ago, there was some swift resolution to this thing had we acted more forcefully, fundamentally misunderstand the nature of the conflict in Syria and the conditions on the ground there. … nobody has been able to persuade me that us taking large-scale military action even absent boots on the ground, would actually solve the problem. And those who make that claim do so without a lot of very specific information.’

“Who are these people who have inadequate information, misunderstand the conflict in Syria, and think there is much more the United States could have done? They include both of Obama’s secretaries of state, Clinton and Kerry, his former defense secretary Leon Panetta, and his former CIA director David Petraeus—all of whom wanted much more U.S. support for the Syrian rebels…

“On Israel, Obama was harsh and unfriendly to Netanyahu… Mr. Obama says this: ‘Palestinians would still prefer peace. They would still prefer a country of their own that allows them to find a job, send their kids to school, travel overseas, go back and forth to work without feeling as if they are restricted or constrained as a people.’ If they would also prefer freedom of the press and of speech, and free elections, and an independent court system, and a government that does not steal their money, well, that isn’t of much interest to Mr. Obama. It isn’t even worth mentioning. So he would give the Palestinians the ‘dignity’ that led to oppression and uprisings elsewhere in the Arab world, and seems to have no interest in the actual conditions of political life in the state he would create…

“As to that ‘aggressive settlement construction,’ it is worth noting that at Obama’s request Netanyahu suspended construction in settlements for ten months in 2009. Apparently that gesture, its political cost for Netanyahu, and the fact that it gained Netanyahu and Israeli absolutely nothing from the Palestinians or the Europeans, is now forgotten…

“When it comes to Iran, Obama shows an attitude that can only be described as solipsistic: what’s in his mind is reality. And any other reality is just plain silly… It’s pretty obvious to all analysts that Iran does not fear an American military strike much these days, especially after Mr. Obama’s failure to act in Syria last summer. But Obama denies it, referring to himself in the third person as someone ‘who has shown himself willing to take military action.’ Drones, sure; a quick raid as well. But in Libya and Syria, he showed himself extremely reluctant to take military action…

“Goldberg pushes him, asking why (as is obvious) no one in the Gulf believes Obama. ‘I don’t think it is personal,’ says the president; the problem is them, not him, and his analysis is therapeutic: change is always scary, and they are having trouble catching up with it.  But talk with Gulf Arabs and one finds quickly that it is in fact quite personal: they don’t trust Mr. Obama. They believe his handling of Iran and Syria and for that matter of Russia have made the world a more dangerous place.

“Change is apparently not scary to Mr. Obama, who is confident all his policies are right. Those who disagree are uninformed, or itching for conflict, or ignorant about the risks they will soon face, or sadly unable to adapt to world events. This is the Obama who said of his own nomination that ‘this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal.’ If he believes it, it must be so. The Goldberg interview reveals that five years in, nothing has changed.”

To be clear, we most certainly do not support any military action or violence on either side. But we are quoting the article to show how the world perceives America and its “leadership.” From that standpoint, as Mr. Putin is apparently not in touch with reality, maybe Mr. Obama isn’t either…

Persecution of German Homeschoolers

The Associated Press reported on March 3:

“The Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from a German family seeking asylum in the United States because their home country does not allow home-schooling. The justices rejected an appeal from Uwe and Hannelore Romeike, who claim the German government is persecuting them because they want to raise their children in accordance with their Christian beliefs.

“The family moved to Morristown, Tenn., in 2008 after facing fines and threats for refusing to send their children to a state-approved school, as required by Germany’s compulsory attendance law. They say German laws violate international human rights standards. Last year, the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected that claim…”

WorldNetDaily added on March 4:

“The penalties [in Germany] are based on a Hitler-era law [enacted in 1938] that the German government still enforces against homeschooling. The Romeikes said they chose homeschooling because of anti-Christian and cult beliefs being taught in the public schools.

“The Obama administration successfully fought to overturn the federal judge’s decision that would have given the family permission to remain in the U.S. According to the Home School Legal Defense Association, the Romeike family was granted asylum in 2010 by a federal immigration judge who found that ‘Germany’s treatment of the family amounted to persecution.’… But on the request of the Obama administration, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided against the family, saying Germany was just enforcing its law… Justice Department officials… contended that Germany wasn’t persecuting homeschoolers, just applying the Hitler-era laws to everyone…

“Thomas Schirrmacher, executive chair of the Theological Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance, who is based in Germany, recently touched on the homeschooling law in a lecture on religious freedom. Germans, of all people, should know better, he said. ‘The fact that the laws of a nation make something lawful doesn’t make it right,’ he told the organization… He noted that the law against homeschooling was never changed after the war…

“In Germany, children having been seized from their parents in several cases, most recently last September when armed police officers equipped with a battering ram forcibly took four children from German parents Dirk and Petra Wunderlich because they were being homeschooled. WND reported later the children were return[ed] to the parents after they were given no choice but to agree to have the children begin attending public school classes…”

Breitbart wrote on March 4:

“The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has verbally informed the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) that the Romeike family, German homeschoolers who sought legal asylum in the United States, has been granted indefinite deferred action status, which means that the order for their removal from the United States will not be acted upon… the U.S. Supreme Court had denied the Romeike family’s petition for certiorari, or review. According to a press release Tuesday by HSLDA, however, news of the Supreme Court’s denial sparked ‘an immediate and unprecedented reaction.’

“Fox News informed HSLDA that it recorded one million page views of the story about the Romeike family within 24 hours – an all-time high. ‘We are happy to have indefinite status even though we won’t be able to get American citizenship any time soon,’ said Uwe Romeike. ‘As long as we can live at peace here, we are happy. We have always been ready to go wherever the Lord would lead us – and I know my citizenship isn’t really on earth. This has always been about our children…’ Before fleeing to the U.S. in 2008, the Romeike parents had been threatened with thousands of dollars in fines and possible jail time in Germany because they chose to homeschool their children…”

But what would have happened if the American public would not have overwhelmingly shown their support for the Romeike family? And what about the many other German families who are being forced to have their children “educated” in a public school system which seems to become more and more hostile towards minority religions?

The Bible is very detailed about certain developments pertaining to these countries and power blocs, just prior to and leading to the return of Jesus Christ. Before specifically addressing and identifying the Ukrainians and Russians in the Bible, let us give you first a general overview of coming prophetic events.

In our booklet, “Biblical Prophecy—From Now Until Forever”, we point out that in the near future, European powers will attack Far Eastern nations, including Russia and Ukraine.

We explain that the FIFTH TRUMPET (Revelation 9:1–12) identifies the final European resurrection of the ancient Roman Empire as coming out of a “bottomless pit” (Revelation 9:1–3; compare Revelation 11:7; 17:8). This will be an end-time European power bloc, referred to as the “beast” or “Babylon” elsewhere. (The term “beast” can refer to the European power bloc, and mainly to ten core European nations or groups of nations, as well as to the human leader of that bloc.)

The European forces will attack Russia, Ukraine, China, Japan, India and other Asian countries, after rumors from those areas will have disturbed the beast, perhaps indicating that these Asian nations are planning an attack on Europe and the Middle East. The European nations will use weapons that will not kill, but only torment their enemies for five months (Revelation 9:5).

The SIXTH TRUMPET (Revelation 9:13–21) describes the retaliation of the Asian nations and foretells the appearance of an invading army of 200 million soldiers (verse 16) from the East (verse 14)—shortly after Europe’s invasion of the Middle East (Daniel 11:41–43, 45)—to kill “a third of mankind” (Revelation 9:15). Apparently, this is the second stage of a total world war between, at that time, mainly the European power bloc and a power bloc of eastern nations (compare Revelation 9:17 with Joel 2: 4). This second stage is also alluded to in Daniel 11:44.

The actions of the Asian nations will be ruthless and merciless. They will use nuclear weapons of mass destruction and kill one-third of mankind. Other passages tell us that ultimately, Europe will be destroyed by these Asian nations, and the beginning of this destruction will undoubtedly commence with this counter attack, but additional attacks will follow. This also shows that these Asian nations were not altogether unprepared for such military action, and that the beast’s concern of an Asian attack will not have been unjustified.

At the time of the sixth plague of the SEVENTH TRUMPET (Revelation 16:12), we are again introduced to the Asian nations and kings from the East. We are told that they are now preparing to strike a final blow in an effort to win the war. They will be crossing the dried-up river Euphrates to move their armies and equipment to a place called “Armageddon,” to assemble there with the apparent desire to advance toward Jerusalem to defeat the beast and to wipe out his European armies that have conquered the Middle East.

It appears that before or while moving toward the place called Armageddon in the Middle East, at least parts of the armies of the kings of the East will sweep through Europe and create devastating havoc there.

Do these Asian nations and kings of the East include the Russian and Ukrainian peoples? The Bible identifies the major powers which will be responsible for the destruction of Europe as the modern Medes. Who were the Medes, and do they exist today?

In ancient times, the Medes lived in present-day Iran. Originally, under Assyrian rule, they revolted against and expelled the Assyrians and imposed their rule over the Persians. They then attacked Nineveh and overthrew the Assyrian Empire. Under Cyrus the Great, the Medes and the Persians were considered as one people. The Encyclopedia Britannica (ed.1959) points out that at least some of the Medes were not Iranians or Indo-Europeans, but perhaps connected with the numerous tribes of the Caucasus.

The historian Herodotus wrote in Terpsichore, 9, that the Medes began to settle throughout South Russia and present-day Ukraine. He stated: “They say that they are a colony of Medes.” Pliny wrote in Natural History, book VI, section xi, that the people who colonized the lands along the river Don claim to be “descended from the Medes.”

The Church of God has long held and taught that the modern Medes can be found among the Russian and Ukrainian peoples who will be instrumental in leading the Far Eastern nations to destroy Europe. When describing the destruction of Europe or the modern Babylonian system, Jeremiah 51:27-29 states:

“Set up a banner in the land, Blow the trumpet among the nations! Prepare the nations against her, Call the kingdoms together against her… Appoint a general against her; Cause the horses to come up like the bristling locusts. Prepare against her the nations, With the kings of the Medes, its governors and all its rulers, all the land of his dominion. And the land will tremble and sorrow; For every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon, To make the land of Babylon a desolation without inhabitant.”

As Jeremiah 51:27-28 states that the modern Medes (Russians and Ukrainians) will use horses against Babylon like bristling locusts, this indicates that they will use some of their tanks and their air force to destroy modern Babylon. Jeremiah 51:11 adds: “… The LORD has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes. For His plan is against Babylon to destroy it, Because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance for His temple.”

Isaiah 13:17, 19 confirms that after the ten European nations, under the authority of modern Assyria (“the Babylonian system”), have subdued and conquered many nations, they themselves will be defeated in war by the modern Medes:

“Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them… And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, The beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.”

Verses 6, 9 and 13 designate the timing as occurring during the “day of the LORD” – a time span still ahead of us, which will begin approximately one year prior to the return of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 21:2, 9 states: “A distressing vision is declared to me; The treacherous dealer deals treacherously, And the plunderer plunders. Go up, O Elam [Persia or modern day Iran]! Besiege, O Media!… Then he answered and said: ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen! And all the carved images of her gods He has broken to the ground.”

While engaged in their war of destruction against Europe and assembling at Armageddon in the Middle East, the kings from the East [led by the modern-day Medes] will suddenly feel threatened by another “enemy,” and being influenced by Satan and his demonic powers, they will combine their forces with the kings of the whole world (including the beast power) to attempt to defeat that common foe. That “foe” is none other than the returning Jesus Christ, His saints, and His angelic armies who will make an end of Satan’s rule over this earth (Revelation 16:14-16; 19:11-21).

We can see from the foregoing that Russia and Ukraine will collaborate and ultimately combine forces with other Far Eastern nations, such as China, to fight against Europe, just prior to Christ’s return. Current developments seem to indicate that these events are not too far off.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

We have finalized the 2014 Feast of Tabernacles housing assignments based on information from those who have contacted us. Those who have signed up have been informed by us to contact the facility at Hilton Garden Inn Pismo Beach in California to make their individual reservation and confirm their arrangements which we provided to the hotel. If you have not contacted and/or heard from us, but would like to make reservations at the facility (where we will also meet for daily church services) and to take advantage of reduced rates that the hotel contracted with us, you need to contact Norbert Link (Norbert.Link@cox.net) or Johanna Link (Johanna.Link@cox.net ) or Dave Harris (david-harris1@comcast.net ).
 
Our new booklet, “Hidden Secrets in the Bible,” has been received from the printer and will be sent out to our subscribers next week, together with a new member letter to be written by Norbert Link.
 
 “Russia in Biblical Prophecy” is the title of a new StandingWatch program presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

As Western powers continue to attempt to diffuse the volatile situation regarding Russia, Ukraine and the Crimean Peninsula, what does the Bible have to say about Russia’s and Europe’s prophetic roles in these end times? Is a war prophesied between Russia and the USA prior to Christ’s return? Or do we read about a terrible war involving great nations such as Russia and China, as well as a strong European power bloc? This program as well as our completely free booklets, “Biblical Prophecy—From Now Until Forever”, and “The Ten European Revivals of the Ancient Roman Empire” give you detailed answers from your Bible.

“Wie die Bibel Studieren?,” is the title of this week’s new German sermon. The English title would be: “How to Study the Bible?”

“Does God Have Humor?,” presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link, is now posted–here is a summary:

Some have a totally wrong concept of God and view Him as an impersonal “Something” without form and shape. That is not the God of the Bible! God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are a Family, and the members of the God Family are described as personalities, who have feelings, emotions, joy and humor. This sermon gives you examples of the often-overlooked humorous aspects of God’s nature.