On November 26, 2011, Norbert Link will give the sermon, titled, “Before You Speak…”

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). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

Jesus Christ was rejected by His nation, by those who were leaders of religion in Judah and even, at first, by His own family. However, there were some whom He chose who came to know that He was indeed the Son of God and Savior of the world!
 
Consider who actually is able to understand this truth:
 
“At that time Jesus answered and said, ‘I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight’” (Matthew 11:25-26; compare 1 Corinthians 1:26-31).
 
As it was in the time of Christ, so it is now—Jesus Christ is being denied and spurned! While nominal Christians appropriate His name, almost none of them are willing to obey Him.
 
In answer to those who falsely assume that they are Christians, Jesus stated:
 
“‘And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”’” (Matthew 7:23).
 
Our calling is one that is intimately and inextricably bound up in obedience to the marvelous laws of God. In fact, the Word of God reveals that “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16), and it further states concerning those who desire to love the Father and His Son:
 
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).
 
Who then really does accept and believe in Jesus Christ? Who can truly say that they know God? Can you—because you are now living a life of obedience to God? Are you rejecting this world and its false god along with deceiving ministers who practice lawlessness? Are you growing in the fruit of God’s Holy Spirit, and are you becoming more and more like Jesus Christ (compare 2 Peter 3:18)?
 
While we should all be firmly grounded in our calling, we, nonetheless, must remain vigilant. Just how thankful are we to be among the precious few who have been called by God Himself to be in the first resurrection—the “better resurrection”—as firstfruits in the Family of God?

We begin with reporting on the volatile and chaotic situation both in Libya—including the capture of Saif al-Islam Gadhafi—and in Egypt, Yemen and Syria. Powerful forces in some of those countries seem to end the optimistic and unrealistic pipe dreams of democratic developments, while the West still thinks that in some of the other countries, reason might prevail. However, an interesting article in the EUobserver suggests that Europe should get actively involved in the Middle East, to prevent China from doing so, since there is no hope that the USA would be interested, and now talks have surfaced of a military intervention in Syria.

Turning to Europe’s ongoing debt crisis and Spain’s troubles, former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer reveals a plan as to how Europe could emerge from the ashes, which would demand political institutions with strong decision-making powers and which would exclude Great Britain. We are also focusing on the ongoing battle between the British and German media and some politicians, and the fact that the relationship between Germany and Canada seems to deteriorate. In this light, the sudden re-emergence of former German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg is interesting.

We are reporting on the pope’s visit in Africa and his insistence of prayers to the “Virgin Mary,” relate an embarrassing incident, involving President Obama’s visit in Australia, speak about the predictable utter failure of the US “super committee,” and point at a report in the New York Times, suggesting that churches might be exempt from certain provisions of the Obamacare health care law—which exemptions seem to anger many Democrats. Nancy Pelosi, for example, stated that even though she was a devout Catholic, she could not understand “the conscience thing” of Catholics regarding contraceptives.

We conclude with a find of skeletons which scientists cannot explain.

Libya’s Ongoing Chaos

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 17:

“Revolutionary military councils have been engaging in skirmishes as retribution killings against alleged Gadhafi loyalists jeopardize the reconciliation process… Human Rights Watch (HRW) has gathered mounting evidence of human rights abuses committed by forces associated with the National Transitional Council (NTC). Militias from the northwestern coastal city of Misrata… have arbitrarily killed and detained residents and burnt homes in the now abandoned town of Tawergha, according to HRW.

“Many Tawergha residents fought for Gadhafi during Libya’s civil war. And in Gadhafi’s hometown of Sirte, where the Libyan dictator was captured and killed, HRW reported finding the bodies of 53 regime loyalists who had apparently been summarily executed at the hands of revolutionary forces allied with the NTC. Attacks have also reportedly occurred against black-skinned Africans accused of having fought for Gadhafi as mercenaries…

“As the NTC struggles to guide Libya through a volatile transition, massive unsecured weapons stockpiles – left over from Gadhafi’s arsenal – pour more fuel on the country’s already explosive political situation. Acquired over a period of decades from nations that range from Spain to North Korea, Gadhafi’s massive arsenal includes everything from small arms to surface-to-air missiles and explosives. Libya ranked for years as the country with the most weapons per soldier in the world…”

The Capture of Saif al-Islam Gadhafi

Haaretz and Reuters reported on November 19:

“Muammar Gadhafi’s son Saif al-Islam has been captured… in the Libyan desert by… Zintan fighters, who make up one of the powerful militia factions holding ultimate power in a country still without a government… The European Union urged Libyan authorities to ensure Saif al-Islam was brought to justice in cooperation with the ICC [International Criminal Court]… Libyans believe Saif al-Islam holds the keys in his head to billions of dollars of public money amassed by the Gadhafi family…

“Memories are still fresh of the days Gadhafi’s father’s corpse spent rotting and on public view in the city of Misrata, another rebel stronghold, as its militia leaders trumpeted their capture of the fallen leader as part of their campaign to extract power and patronage from the new interim government…

“‘I’m really surprised that Saif al-Islam has not met the same fate as his father and his brother,’ Fawaz Gerges, professor of international relations at the London School of Economics, told BBC TV. ‘The best thing that the new leadership can do is to hand Saif al-Islam to the International Criminal Court because I don’t believe it really has the resources and the means to try Saif al-Islam and give him a fair trial.’ Asked of the chances of that, he said ‘Almost zero.’ He said he expected him to get the death penalty and be executed in Libya. ‘This is unfortunate for the new Libya,’ he said.”

USA Today wrote on November 20:

“Moammar Gadhafi’s son and one-time heir apparent will be tried in Libya and not handed over to the International Criminal Court even though the country’s new rulers have yet to set up a justice system, the information minister said on Sunday… Human Rights Watch called for Seif al-Islam to be promptly turned over to the International Criminal Court in a statement, citing the apparent killings in custody of his father and brother Muatassim on Oct. 20 as ‘particular cause for concern.’”

The New York Times added on November 20:

“Militia fighters holding Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, the last fugitive son and onetime heir apparent of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, added conditions on Sunday to the handover of their prisoner to the fledgling government, a new challenge to the authority of Prime Minister Abdel Rahim el-Keeb… But [el-Qaddafi] has now become a bargaining chip for the militia forces in Zintan, who are angling for cabinet seats as the government is formed.

“Zintan’s leaders originally said they would release Mr. Qaddafi to the interim government once Mr. Keeb formed the new cabinet, which is expected soon.  On Sunday, however, they said that they also needed guarantees that the government had installed a working court system, which could take months, before they would hand him over…

“The reluctance among the various factions to cede authority threatens the interim government even before it is fully formed. Militias, city councils and tribes are all demanding representation and are seeking ways to gain an upper hand in the government…”

How the West Courted Said al-Islam Gaddafi

The Daily Mail wrote on November 19:

“Said al-Islam Gaddafi… acted as an envoy for his father’s regime, and in 2002 and 2003 helped broker the agreement that saw Libya renounce its weapons of mass destruction program… He lobbied militants to release hostages, funded research at the London School of Economics, welcomed world leaders and Western intellectuals to his country and portrayed himself as a champion of economic and social reforms…

“In 2009, he aided talks in Britain that eventually secured the release of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, the only man convicted in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. A 2009 U.S. diplomatic cable released by the website WikiLeaks said… ‘many Libyans view him as self-aggrandizing and too eager to please foreigners at the expense of Libyans’ interest.’”

Deutsche Welle added on November 20:

“While studying in Vienna, he was friends with the late right-wing populist Austrian politician Jörg Haider. This did not seem to put off influential British figures such as the Labour party grandee Lord Peter Mandelson and the financier Nathaniel Rothschild. According to the Guardian, they were believed to have maintained their contacts with the Libyan.

“As a 25-year-old, Seif al-Islam founded the Gadhafi International Foundation for Charity Associations… In 2004, the foundation agreed to pay $35 million in compensation for the bombing of the La Belle discotheque in Berlin in 1986, which killed three people and left more than 200 injured… In 2008, five Bulgarian nurses and a doctor of Palestinian origin were freed from a Libyan prison after spending eight years in custody. Seif al-Islam admitted in public that the five had been tortured and forced to write a confession that they had deliberately infected hundreds of patients with the HIV virus. Seif al-Islam was praised by Western media for his openness over the issue.”

According to other news reports, Said al-Islam Gaddafi was also a friend of Tony Blair and a repeated guest at Buckingham Palace. It is interesting to see how the West is now turning their back on him, in their desire to please the evolving controversial new powers in Libya.

Civil War in Libya

The Independent wrote on November 24:

“The detention of 7,000 people in prisons and camps by the anti-Gaddafi forces is not surprising. The conflict in Libya was always much more of a civil war between Libyans than foreign governments pretended or the foreign media reported. The winning anti-Gaddafi militia are not proving merciful… Gaddafi supporters are being hunted down…

“The National Transitional Council, whose control is largely theoretical, is not in a position to stop this purge because many of its members are themselves frightened of being accused of links with the old regime.

“The international media was overwhelmingly hostile to Gaddafi’s regime and tended to highlight atrocities committed by it and disregard or underplay human rights violations carried out by his opponents… The purge of Gaddafi supporters is made more dangerous by the infighting between the militias, and between them and the politicians. Association with the old regime can be used to discredit an opponent. There may also be self-interest since death squads are reported to be taking their property.”

Violent Demonstrations in Egypt Continue

Al Arabiya wrote on November 18:

“Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians rallied Friday in Cairo’s Tahrir square with Islamists in the forefront to protest against what they say are attempts by the country’s military rulers to designate themselves as the guardians of a new Egypt. It was one of the largest rallies in Egypt in recent months… Friday’s rally was dominated by the country’s most organized political group, the Muslim Brotherhood…

“Delivering the Muslim prayer sermon, imam Mazhar Shahin urged protesters to keep defending the goals of the revolution… ‘Those who fear Islamist movements in Egypt, I tell them don’t be scared of Islam in Egypt,’ Shahin said… ‘Egypt is Islamic, like it or not…’”

The New York Times added on November 20:

“A police action to roust a few hundred protesters out of Tahrir Square on Saturday instead drew thousands of people from across Egyptian society into the streets, where the violence continued on Sunday. The confrontations were the most violent manifestation so far of growing anger at the military-led interim government. In a battle reminiscent of the clashes that led to the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak nine months ago, a mass of protesters converged on Tahrir Square, fled before an onslaught of riot police officers firing tear gas and rubber bullets, and then surged back to retake and hold the square through the early hours of Sunday…

“Coming a day after a huge Islamist demonstration and just more than a week before the first post-Mubarak parliamentary elections, the outpouring of anger was the strongest rebuke yet with the military’s attempts to grant itself permanent governmental powers. And it was a reuniting of Islamist and liberal protest movements that had drifted apart since the early days of the uprising. This time, instead of chanting for the fall of Mr. Mubarak, the demonstrators were chanting for the fall of the ruling military council that initially presented itself as the revolution’s savior…

“After pledging to turn over power to civilians by September, the military has postponed the handover until after the ratification of a constitution and election of a president, sometime in 2013 or later. Then this month the military-led government put in writing a set of ground rules for a next constitution that would have given the military authority to intervene in civilian politics while protecting it from civilian oversight — setting off a firestorm… Opposition to those guidelines brought the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group, back to the streets…”

Newsmax wrote on November 23:

“The Egyptian military has been using a banned chemical agent to deal with hundreds of thousands of protesters, according to several news sources. At least 23 Egyptians have died and more than 1,700 have succumbed to a lethal gas military forces have been using during the past three days in clashes in and around Cairo’s Tahrir Square…  Australia’s The Age said Wednesday that the canisters are marked ‘Made in the USA’… The Australian paper continued: ‘A young man was rushed into the clinic, unconscious and fitting, as the doctor spoke. For at least five minutes it was touch and go as medics administered treatment. Finally he drew breath and the team moved to one of the four patients who had just been carried in, a man with gunshot wound to a leg.’”

Deutsche Welle added on November 23:

“Protesters continued to do battle with security forces in Cairo on Wednesday, despite the ruling military authority’s pledge to speed up the transfer to democratic rule. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, called for an independent probe into the killing of demonstrators by Egyptian security forces. At least 38 people have been killed in the clashes in recent days…

“Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) on Tuesday agreed to the formation of a national salvation government and to hand power to a civilian authority by July, instead of late 2012 or early 2013, as originally planned. But the concessions failed to convince thousands of people gathered in central Cairo’s Tahrir Square, who demanded an immediate end to military rule… Egypt’s ruling military council is facing its worst crisis since it stepped in to replace Mubarak in February. With little success, it has been trying to contain the growing protests with violence.

“The United States, meanwhile, is losing its patience with Egypt’s military rulers. The Obama administration ratcheted up its criticism on Tuesday, blaming the military for the new wave of violence… Germany called on Wednesday for an end to political violence, with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman saying Egypt’s military rulers needed to pay attention to the protesters’ demands…”

The New York Times wrote on November 24:

“Egyptian generals offered an unusual apology on Thursday for the killings of protesters in Tahrir Square, the iconic landmark of the country’s revolution, but rejected the demonstrators’ demands for an immediate end to military rule.  As violence around the square eased after five days of intense clashes, the military also insisted that parliamentary elections, scheduled for next Monday, would proceed as planned… A semblance of calm returned to Tahrir Square on Thursday morning after a night of some of the worst clashes since the protests began.”

Yemen’s President Resigns

The Wall Street Journal wrote on November 24:

“President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen agreed to step down on Wednesday after 33 years in power, becoming the fourth Arab leader swept away by protests this year and launching his violence-wracked country into a new era of uncertainty…

“The president… made a surprise trip to Saudi Arabia, where he signed off on a deal to transfer power to Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi within 30 days. The agreement calls for a new president to be elected within three months and would hand significant power to opposition parties …

“Yemen has been ravaged by violence and lawlessness in recent months, as forces opposed to Mr. Saleh fought battles against his allies in the streets of the capital. Amid the chaos, militant Islamist groups, including some sympathetic with al Qaeda, have expanded their sway in the south of the country… The poorest country in the Arab world, Yemen nonetheless sits in a strategically critical location at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, where one-fifth of the world’s oil exports transit to world markets.”

EU Engagement in the Middle East

On November 18, the EUobserver published the following opinion by Anno Bunnik, a political analyst from the Netherlands:

“One of the most striking elements of the outside involvement in the Arab Spring is the failure of the Obama administration to develop a comprehensive approach in dealing with the uprisings. The United States is unable to truly champion freedom and democracy, largely due to its close relations with Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states. This provides opportunities for other actors – such as the European Union or China – to upgrade its engagement with the region… When speaking to Arab friends – both Muslims and Christians – about the role of the US, the usual reply is ‘double standards’ often followed by the remark that Obama is no different from Bush… Even in Arab states aligned to the US, a large majority of the population does not agree with current American policies…

“These developments create space for other actors to engage in the region. This void could in the long run be occupied by China, possibly endangering the potential for democracy to flourish. But it could also be filled by the EU building strategic ties with the new Middle East. The EU’s reputation in the Middle East is not tainted by unquestioned support for Israel. Unlike the US, the EU is able to stand for peace and justice, freedom and democracy… Due to its relatively clean reputation, the EU could dare to step out of the shadow of the US and develop its own comprehensive approach to the region…

“This approach could entail capturing the role of ‘honest broker’ in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, mediating between both parties. After all, the EU can pride itself with longstanding experience in extensive and successful post-conflict resolution. It should transcend its usual shyness when dealing with conflict resolution in the Middle East and try to find new paths to facilitate diplomacy…

“Furthermore, good relations between Europe and the Middle East on the political front will likely also have economic ramifications… If the EU manages to develop and implement such a strategic approach it will not only protect the region from greater Chinese influence in the long run, but also give meaning to its own international ambitions. The Arab Spring therefore provides the ideal opportunity for the EU to maintain an important player in world politics.”

It is prophesied that the EU WILL play an important role in the Middle East. However, the world will be shocked to learn that in the end, the emerging United States of Europe will choose war, not peace, perhaps with the justification that it wants to create peace that way in the region. This, in turn, will bring about a world war of unknown proportions, involving far eastern countries such as China and Russia. Please also note the next article.

Military Intervention in Syria?

The Euobserver wrote on November 23:

“In a direct echo of previous events in Libya, France has formally recognized the opposition Syrian National Council and proposed that international troops should protect civilians… Previously cited obstacles to military action in Syria were the lack of a UN mandate, lack of Arab support for outside intervention and tactical problems. But the obstacles are beginning to melt away…

“For his part, former French air force chief Jean Rannou earlier told this website: ‘I don’t see any purely military problems [for intervention]. Syria has no defence against Western systems.’  In a sign the EU is keen to stimulate an end-game in Syria, diplomats this week also agreed to drastically ramp up economic sanctions.”

“How the EU Can Emerge from the Ashes”

Der Spiegel Online wrote on November 18 about the future of Europe. Although much of what is being written in that lengthy article is a critique of Angela Merkel’s policy and tantamount to uninformed nonsense, the following excerpts are quite interesting:

“… many in Europe think there is now a clear path to a new, more integrated — and smaller – bloc…

“To stabilize the continent in crisis [Joschka] Fischer, an avid European, wants to see a resolute political body consisting of the leaders of euro-zone countries. They should, he believes, be outfitted with far-reaching authority and granted sufficient power by their parliaments back home…

“History, in other words, could be written in Germany. For the sake of the United States of Europe, the strongest European country would have to reinvent itself. There is no way around the fact that the European countries will have to sacrifice some of their sovereign power — and a share of their identities… ‘Those who want Europe should finally say where they want to go,’ says former Foreign Minister Fischer…

“There is no doubt that a European federal state would go far beyond the present Europe of the Lisbon Treaty. The Brussels technocracy would have to be replaced with political institutions with strong decision-making powers and extensive competencies to shape economic and social policy for all of Europe… Fischer… sees 27 parties as being too unwieldy, but would like to see the 17 leaders of the euro-zone countries move forward, as they have in establishing the euro backstop fund. In short, Fischer wants to turn the Euro Group into a new European government. As a fiscal and economic government, the 17 would assume joint control over their nations… 

“The old idea of a ‘solid core,’ which becomes more and more solid over time, was lost in the days of expansion euphoria… Now there are many in Berlin who hope that the idea of a ‘core Europe’ will bring about accelerated integration and an important simplification of intergovernmental cooperation. Everyone agrees on the charm of the solution: The grumblers from Britain would finally be left out in the cold, and a United Europe could simply dismiss them should they oppose any further integration. ‘They’ll be hopping mad,’ says Fischer, ‘but then they won’t be able to cause trouble anymore, either.’

“The Germans, however, have another problem with an overly exclusive club of the euro avant-garde. What happens to Poland? Germany’s eastern neighbor would not be involved, at least not in a solution restricted to the Euro Group… Poland has so far been firmly on Merkel’s side in the euro crisis. The ambitious Poles, a majority of whom are enthusiastic about the euro, value the prospect of making their own contribution to Europe’s future.

“Still, it is France which could prove to be the greatest problem when it comes to building a core Europe. Europe is inconceivable without France… There are political thinkers in France who agree with Fischer…[but] the sovereignists are traditionally strong. They are in favor of Europe, but only as a means of expanding French self-aggrandizement, not as a way of limiting it…”

Some of these ideas are quite interesting. The Bible shows that a core Europe of ten nations or groups of nations will develop out of the Eurozone, and while Germany, Italy and France will definitely be part of it, and so might be Poland, England won’t be.

War of Words Between Germany and Britain Escalates

The Daily Mail wrote on November 19:

“Germany last night declared that Britain would be forced to scrap the pound and join the euro – as David Cameron returned home empty-handed from crisis talks in Berlin. In a highly-provocative intervention, German finance minister Wolfgang Schauble suggested the UK’s struggling economy meant the pound was doomed, and urged the Prime Minister to back Europe’s ailing single currency.

“Mr Schauble said the euro would emerge stronger from the current crisis – leaving Britain on the sidelines unless it signed up. He said Britain would be forced to join ‘faster than some people on the British island think’ – despite a pledge by Mr Cameron never to do so…

“Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the powerful Euro Group of eurozone finance ministers, said Britain was in no position to comment on the crisis as its deficit was twice the European average… Schauble’s comments came as Mr Cameron arrived to a hostile reception in Berlin for talks on the eurozone crisis with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

“Senior members of Mrs Merkel’s ruling coalition voiced their irritation at London’s ‘lecturing’ over the crisis. Leading German magazine Der Spiegel ran a prominent feature describing Britain as the ‘diseased empire’. And Rainer Brüderle, head of Mrs Merkel’s coalition partners, said: ‘Britain can’t be freeloaders in the eurozone.’

“The deputy leader of Mrs Merkel’s party, Michael Meister, criticised Britain for lecturing the eurozone on what steps it should take while not actively contributing towards a solution. He also warned Mr Cameron against catering to nationalist sentiment on the euro, saying turmoil in the single currency area could have a devastating impact on countries outside the eurozone and on London’s financial industry… Former prime minister Sir John Major last night spoke out about the ‘undemocratic’ drive towards greater fiscal union in the eurozone.

“Germany’s press… has hardly been the best of friends with Mrs Merkel of late, but it is firmly on her side when it comes to dealing with the ‘old enemy’. Bild carried the headlines ‘Briten zittern vor Deutschlands Euro-Plänen’ – ‘Britons tremble before Germany’s euro plans’ – and ‘Europa spricht deutsch, Herr Cameron! Was wollen die Engländer eigentlich noch in der EU?’ – ‘Europe speaks German, Mr Cameron! What do the English actually want in the European Union?’

“Financial Times Deutschland wrote: ‘He wants Britain to have a say in the financial crisis, but he doesn’t want his country to have to pay for it. He wants to prevent a core Europe (of Germany and France) from forming, but at the same time he is unwilling to contribute to deeper European integration. Great Britain is lacking a constructive approach. That’s why the government in London shouldn’t be surprised that it is hearing an increasing number of European countries sigh words like: Things would be a lot easier if we didn’t have the Brits.’”

The Express added on November 19:

“In a chilling threat to UK sovereignty, German finance minister Wolfgang Schauble predicted that all Europe would one day use the single currency… His sinister warning followed the emergence of a secret German plan to build a powerful new economic government for the eurozone and block an EU referendum in Britain… In a further sign of growing German supremacy within the EU, David Cameron was yesterday rebuffed by Chancellor Angela Merkel in talks over how to tackle the euro crisis.

“Last night British opponents of the EU were horrified by the bellicose threat to Britain’s economic independence… UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage said: ‘This German bullying is deeply unpleasant and the sooner we leave the EU the better’…  Last night a YouGov poll for Prospect magazine showed 51 per cent of Britons would vote to leave the EU in a referendum while only 32 per cent would vote to stay in.”

Canadian-German Relationship Turning Bad

Deutsche Welle reported on November 24:

“Canada and Germany have a lot [in] common. Both countries pride themselves on being good members of the international community… Particularly in the security arena German-Canadian relations have traditionally been strong. For decades Canada operated military bases in southern Germany until they were closed in the 1990s. Due to their multilateralist approach to foreign and security policy, both often joined forces to soften or balance out unilateral tendencies their bigger ally, the US, might display.

“For instance, it was a joint project by Ottawa and Berlin to bring NATO into Afghanistan, explains Janice Stein, director of the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. ‘So I think it’s fair to say that under those circumstances there was some Canadian chagrin about the caveats that Germany put around where its troops could be used and how they could be used and deployed in Afghanistan,’ she told Deutsche Welle…

 “When it seemed that Canada might be ready to shelve its misgivings about Germany’s perceived reluctance to contribute its fair share in Afghanistan, Berlin’s image suffered another blow. In March, Germany decided not to side with its traditional allies, France, Britain and the US and instead abstain in a UN Security Council vote on a no-fly zone in Libya alongside China, Russia, India and Brazil. This baffled many Canadians. And again there was a special Canadian connection that made Berlin’s behavior even more inexplicable to Ottawa than it might have been for many other partners.

“While Germany stood on the sidelines, Canada’s parliament overwhelmingly approved the mission and deployed some 600 airforce and navy personnel for the operation. Its airforce conducted roughly 10 percent of the bombing raids against Moammar Gadhafi’s troops. The country’s important international role was underscored by the appointment of a Canadian general to lead NATO’s mission in Libya…

“‘Libya has only highlighted the already existing disillusionment on the Canadian side with some of the decisions that come out of Germany,’  Petra Dolata, a Canada specialist at King’s College in London, told Deutsche Welle… She believes that it would be a mistake to consider Canada’s befuddlement simply as a minor hiccup in the relations between both countries. Instead she insists that Canada’s consternation with Berlin runs deeper…

“For many Canadians it is very difficult to comprehend the role of the military in the German context, says Dolata… ‘I think it’s even worse than that. I think that Canadians are no longer looking toward Germany even if they engage themselves with Europe. And if they do look toward Europe it’s no longer Germany or even France, it’s actually the UK that presents itself as the best partner.’”

This is very interesting, as the Bible shows that in the end time, the once friendly relationship between Germany and continental Europe on the one hand, and the USA, Canada and Great Britain on the other hand, will become more and more hostile.

Germany in Trouble… Or Not?

BBC News reported on November 24:

“German business sentiment unexpectedly rose in November for the first time since June, according to an Ifo survey. The influential think tank’s business climate index, based on a monthly survey of 7,000 companies, edged up to 106.6 from October’s figure of 106.4.

“The figures provided some relief following Wednesday’s German government bond auction, which did not sell out. An Ifo economist said the figures suggested Germany will avoid recession this winter… Also on Thursday, the Federal Statistics Office left its first estimate of economic growth unrevised at 0.5% between July and September…”

One should be careful with jumping on spectacular articles and headlines, such as the following one, published by the EUobserver on November 23, “Germany had significant trouble offloading its bonds on Thursday in a sign that the eurozone crisis has spread to the very heart of Europe.” The fact is, Germany is the strongest economy in Europe, and temporary set-backs won’t change that. In fact, they may lead to interesting developments, as BBC News reported on November 24: “Germany’s Angela Merkel and France’s Nicolas Sarkozy are to propose modifications to EU treaties to improve governance of the Eurozone… The meeting followed a German bond auction on Wednesday, which failed to raise the target amount.”

Spain’s Troubles

Reuters wrote on November 20:

“Spain’s center-right opposition stormed to a crushing election victory Sunday as voters punished the outgoing Socialist government for the worst economic crisis in generations. The People’s Party, led by former Interior Minister Mariano Rajoy, won an absolute majority in parliament and is expected to push through drastic measures to try to prevent Spain being sucked deeper into a debt storm threatening the whole euro zone… With 5 million people out of work, the European Union’s highest jobless rate, Spain is heading into its second recession in four years. Spaniards, who voted in pouring rain Sunday, were the fifth European nation to throw out their leaders because of the spreading euro zone crisis, following Greece, Portugal, Ireland and Italy. The PP won the biggest majority for any party in three decades…

“Rajoy’s bitter medicine for the economy will probably make things worse before they get better. But he has said Spaniards are prepared for the painful austerity that is needed to reduce a swollen public deficit threatening to push the euro zone’s fourth economy toward a perilous bail-out. ‘I ask you all to keep helping me. Difficult times are coming,’ Rajoy, 56, told ecstatic supporters in his victory speech at PP headquarters. ‘Spain’s voice must be respected again in Brussels and Frankfurt… We will stop being part of the problem and will be part of the solution.’”

Der Spiegel Online wrote on November 21:

“Not since the death of dictator Francisco Franco exactly 36 years ago has a Spanish prime minister and his party possessed as much power as Rajoy and the Popular Party does now…

“The new strong man in Spain is anything but a charismatic man of action, however. Rajoy, a notary from the northwestern region of Galicia, has a reputation as someone who prefers to wait out problems rather than tackling them. By waiting patiently, he survived the party infighting which followed his election defeats by Zapatero in 2004 and 2008…

“The plan is for the new parliament to meet for the first time in Madrid on Dec. 13, with King Juan Carlos swearing in Rajoy and his government before Christmas… Rajoy… is impressed by the austerity course of his fellow conservative, German Chancellor Angela Merkel…”

Guttenberg Is Back

M&C reported on November 19:

“Eight months after a plagiarism scandal stripped him of his doctorate and his job, disgraced former German defence minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg stepped back into the spotlight Saturday in Canada at an international security conference. Sporting a new look, without his trademark glasses and slicked-back hair, Guttenberg joined a roundtable discussion at the Halifax International Security Forum, where he was on the programme two years ago as Germany’s defence minister. Today’s programme listed him – without his former ‘Doctor’ title – as a ‘distinguished statesman’ with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank.

“The aristocratic Guttenberg has been living with his family outside New York City in recent months, and he said he liked the distance it affords him to his former life… But he had plenty to say in the one-and-a-quarter hour discussion about the way his former colleagues are handling Europe’s financial crisis. ‘This isn’t a euro crisis or a debt crisis,’ he told 300 attendees, ‘this is a crisis of understanding and a crisis of political leadership.’

“Guttenberg was forced to resign his post in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cabinet in March after a law professor noticed he had plagiarized large parts of his 2006 doctoral thesis for the University of Bayreuth. German prosecutors are expected to decide soon whether or not to charge him with violations of copyright law.”

The Local added on November 20:

“Karl-Theodor zu Gutenberg, Germany’s former defence minister who resigned in March after being found to have plagiarised his doctoral thesis, has returned to the political stage with a scathing attack on his former colleagues. Speaking on Saturday at a security conference in Halifax, Canada, Guttenberg took aim at Germans in general and politicians in particular… ‘The Germans have no idea how the European Union functions, how it came to this crisis and what it means. The politicians do not reach the public, they do not reach the people.’’

The German press had a field day with Freiherr zu Guttenberg’s resurgence from political limbo. On November 19, mass tabloid Bild Online quoted Guttenberg as stating: “There is a lack of political leaders in Europe.” The left-liberal magazine, Der Spiegel Online, wrote on November 19: “One has to reckon with the CSU-man in the future… It is clear that he thinks he is still the man for the job… Being 39 years old, he has plenty of time to return to the political stage… His appearance in Halifax was almost certainly only the first step of his operation comeback.” The conservative magazine, Focus, wrote on November 19: “Once again, Guttenberg knows everything better… In Halifax he did what he knows to do best—talking… He does not fear for the EU. ‘It will survive, but enthusiasm is lacking’… Are we witnessing Guttenberg’s big comeback? [A leader in the ] CSU wants to keep the door open for him in respect to the parliamentary elections in 2013.” 

On November 23, 2011, Der Stern reported that the prosecutors dismissed the criminal case against multi-millionaire Guttenberg after he paid a fine of 20,000 euros, which was labeled as a donation to charity. This means, Guttenberg will not be convicted of any crime. In an interview with Die Zeit, he did not rule out a return to Germany and a participation in the 2013 parliamentary elections.

Russia and the West—Stormy Weather Ahead

CNN reported on November 23:

“It feels like a blast from the past: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev threatening to station short-range missiles in Kaliningrad, the Russian enclave on the Baltic Sea between Lithuania and Poland. Medvedev is miffed that the West is not taking Russia’s concerns into consideration as it proceeds with plans to deploy a missile defense system in Europe that the United States and NATO insist is to protect from potential missile attack from Iran.

“They even say they want Russia to work with them on the system but, in a live television broadcast, Medvedev told Russians: ‘We will not agree to take part in a program that, in a short while, in some six to eight years’ time, could weaken our nuclear deterrent capability.’

“Russia, the president announced somberly, could deploy weapons ‘ensuring our ability to take out any part of the U.S. missile defense system in Europe. One step in this process will be to deploy Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad Region.’ And he went a step further, threatening to pull out of the New START arms control agreement, which he and President Barack Obama signed with such fanfare just a year and a half ago… The reset may not be over but it could be headed for some stormy weather…”

In another disturbing development, AFP reported on November 23 that “Prime Minister Putin warned Wednesday in advance of parliamentary elections that Russia faced numerous risks in the future that demanded that the government tighten its grip on power.”

Prayers to the “Virgin Mary”?

The Vatican information Service (VIS) reported on November 19 about the Pope’s recent visit to Africa:

“This afternoon, the Holy Father travelled by popemobile to the cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy in Cotonou, [saying:] ‘… The Virgin Mary…  is the Mother of Mercy… she has received the privilege of being our helper always and everywhere. … In Mary, we have not only a model of perfection, but also one who helps us to realise communion with God and with our brothers and sisters. As Mother of Mercy, she is a sure guide to the disciples of her Son who wish to be of service to justice, to reconciliation and to peace. … Let us not be afraid to invoke her with confidence, she who ceaselessly dispenses to her children abundant divine graces’… 

“Benedict XVI then prayed to Our Lady to intercede to obtain peace for child victims of hunger and war, for the sick and the afflicted, for sinners, for Africa and for all humankind.”

Mary is also commonly referred to in the Catholic Church as the “queen of heaven.” However, the Bible teaches clearly that the real Mary died and is sleeping the unconscious “sleep” of death. She is waiting for the resurrection from the dead, when Jesus Christ returns. She is not in heaven, nor is she capable of mediating for us in any way. Prayers to her are meaningless. There is only ONE Mediator between God and man, and that is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master. However, the Bible warns against worshipping or adoring a pagan personage who is referred to as the Queen of Heaven (compare Jeremiah 7:18).

Ridiculous Embarrassment

USA Today reported on November 20:

“We’ve heard of gutter politics, but this is ridiculous. Officials in Australia are investigating how a top-secret, detailed report on President Obama’s recent trip Down Under wound up in a gutter near the Parliament building in Canberra. The 125-page booklet contains phone number and contact details for government officials from both Australia and the United States. It also contains the step-by-step movements of Obama during last week’s visits for Canberra and Darwin — obviously valuable information for anyone wishing to do harm to the president…

“Most of the manual was devoted to a minute-by-minute schedule of Obama’s movements during his 27-hour visit to Canberra and Darwin last week, even detailing which car door he would use and the seating arrangements within his convoys. It also ran through the exact breakdown of his Secret Service detail and motorcade arrangements, including Obama’s ambulance, counterassault teams, communications and intelligence, according to the journalist, Dylan Welch. The booklet cover stated that the information was ‘not to be communicated either directly or indirectly to any person not authorised to receive it,’ Welch said, and it included contact details for a range of figures. It also named a long-serving member responsible for Obama’s protection. Welch claimed to have found it in a gutter 100 metres from Parliament House on early Thursday…”

The Predictable Failure of the US “Super Committee”

USA Today wrote on November 22:

“Sad. Pathetic. Indefensible. It’s hard to pick just one word to capture the collapse of Congress’ latest effort to deal with the spiraling national debt. Not only did the inaptly named ‘supercommittee’ fail to reach a big agreement to get the debt under control, members proved incapable even of meeting the panel’s minimum goal of cutting $1.2 trillion in deficits over 10 years. That sounds like a lot of money, but it’s less than 3% of the roughly $46 trillion the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the federal government will spend from 2012 to 2021. What financially strapped household or business can’t figure out a way to save three cents of every dollar it spends?

“The supercommittee’s failure brings the nation one step closer to a European-style debt crisis of rising interest rates and lower living standards… One reason is political polarization. The parties have made so many promises to their bases — on taxes, on entitlements — that compromise is seen as a sellout and shared sacrifice as unmentionable. Many members of Congress face more political risk from the wings of their own parties than from the other party. With elections coming up next year, they’d rather have the issue than a deal…”

Religious Exemptions from Obamacare?

The New York Times wrote on November 19:

“A dispute has erupted between President Obama and Democrats in Congress over a proposal to broaden the exemption from new rules that require health insurance plans to cover contraceptives for women free of charge… after protests by Roman Catholic bishops, charities, schools and universities, the White House is considering… [to] grant a broad exemption to health plans sponsored by employers who object to such coverage for moral and religious reasons. Churches may already qualify for an exemption.

“The proposal being weighed by the White House would expand the exemption to many universities, hospitals, clinics and other entities associated with religious organizations.  The prospect of such a change has infuriated many Democrats in Congress, who fought hard to secure coverage of birth control under the new health care law… House members have sent a letter to Mr. Obama urging him not to widen the exemption. Such a change, they said, would keep contraception out of reach for millions of women…

“The rules already include an exemption for certain ‘religious employers,’ but the exemption is so narrow that some church groups say it is almost meaningless. A religious employer cannot qualify for the exemption if it employs or serves large numbers of people of a different faith, as many Catholic hospitals, universities and social service agencies do.”

Scientists Baffled Over Remains of Dead Whales in the Desert

The Daily Mail wrote on November 21:

“… scientists remain baffled as to how exactly scores of whales ended up in a desert more than half a mile from the sea. The skeletons of 75 whales, believed to be more than two millions years old, were unearthed next to one another, just yards apart, in one of the world’s best-preserved graveyards of prehistoric whales… Chilean scientists and researchers from the Smithsonian Institution are studying how the whales, many of them the size of buses, were found in exactly the same corner of the Atacama Desert in Chile.

“The bones were unearthed near Caldera in June 2010 during a highway-widening project… ‘I think they died more or less at the same time,’ Nicholas Pyenson, curator of fossil marine mammals at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, told the Associated Press… The researchers also discovered a sperm whale skeleton and remains of a now-extinct dolphin that had two walrus-like tusks and previously had only turned up in Peru… Other unusual creatures found in the fossil-rich Atacama Desert include an extinct aquatic sloth and a seabird with a five metre wingspan…”

When one believes the Bible, the sudden death of these animals should not surprise us. The Daily Mail published the following note by one of their readers: “Where does the evidence lead? The evidence is that these creatures lived in the sea, yet some major catastrophe has managed to bury 75 whales in the what is now desert. That means the sea once came over this part of the world. How high would the sea level be on a global scale at that point? Many who are anti the Bible and against a global flood might not like it, but this evidence is strongly in favour of such an event….”

If the fossils are as old as stated in the article, then, of course, Noah’s Flood could not be responsible, but we should not forget that prior to the creation of man, the surface of the earth was covered with water (Genesis 1:2). This was the result of an earlier worldwide catastrophe. For more information, please read our free booklet, “The Theory of Evolution—A Fairy Tales for Adults.” 

A new StandingWatch program was posted on YouTube and on our Web site (www.standingwatch.org), titled, “How Real Is Your Thankfulness?” When Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day this year on November 24, 2011, are they mindful of Abraham Lincoln’s prophetic words during his proclamation on October 3, 1863? In referring to God’s blessings, he spoke of “the precious gifts of the Most High God, who while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.” How thankful are we when we are punished for our sins, or when God is allowing trials to test our patience?

A new German AufPostenStehen program was posted on YouTube and on our German Web site (www.aufpostenstehen.de), titled, “Deutsch-Britischer Zank und Streit” (“German-British Quarrel and Fight”).

A new German sermon was posted on YouTube, titled, “Die Verdammnis der Ungerechten” (“The Condemnation of the Unjust”). This sermon deals primarily with the third resurrection and the unpardonable sin.

In Update #427, dated January 15, 2010, we made reference in our Preaching the Gospel section to a StandingWatch program, which was posted on YouTube, titled, “Never Spank Your Child?” In the program, a British paper, The Telegraph, was quoted, stating in its article of January 3, 2010, that occasional proper spanking of children up to the age of eleven has positive results. This, of course, angered children’s right campaigners.

Recently, a graphic video from 2004 was posted on the Internet, showing a Texas judge beating his 16-year old daughter with a belt for illegally downloading music from the Internet. This sad video was used by many as welcome support for their position that corporal punishment of children is wrong under any circumstance. One “expert” was quoted by Time Magazine (in its November 4, 2011, edition) as saying that spanking is “absolutely not” a good way to deal with misbehavior. He continued: “It does not contribute to positive behavior or development of self-control [in children]. It contributes to aggression — kids spanked are more likely to hit others, both peers and adults. It’s very confusing for kids to be hit by their parents because they think that they’re loved by their parents, yet they’re being hurt by those parents. It’s emotionally conflicting and can result in depression and emotional anxiety.”

This sweeping allegation may only be true, to an extent, if at all, if the spanking of a child is administered wrongfully, without proper motivation, or excessively. However, to say that it is always wrong to spank a child is not only unsupported by the scientific evidence—it also shows how far our Western society has moved away from the clear instructions of God in His inspired Word, the Holy Bible.

In our free booklet, “The Keys to Happy Marriages and Families,” we state the following about spanking and corporal punishment:

“There is nothing biblically wrong with punishing a child if the child behaves wrongly and deserves punishment. The punishment must never be excessive, however, but it must be administered in a consequent fashion, as corresponding to, and fitting the infraction. We read that Christ ‘rebukes and chastens’ (Greek, ‘paideuo,’ i.e. educates, trains, disciplines) everyone whom He loves (Revelation 3:19). He does it because He loves us. So we, as parents, must do it because we love our children. But even then, we must never forget to be merciful and forgiving.

“…we have to make it clear to our children what they did wrong. It’s not good to punish them for wrongdoing, without explaining to them what they did and WHY it was wrong… There is never a justification for physical abuse. On the other hand, to totally ban spanking and define it as physical abuse only shows how liberal and anti-biblical our Western society has become… As parents, we must be aware, though, that in certain countries, spanking is illegal, and could result in the authorities coming in and taking away our children. And even in countries where spanking is not illegal, many governmental officials look at such practice with great disfavor…

“Note what the Bible clearly teaches in regard to corporal punishment in Proverbs 13:24, ‘He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who LOVES him disciplines him promptly [or early].’ Since using the rod is compared with prompt or early discipline, it is clear that this passage includes the concept of spanking, where and when appropriate. Of course, we don’t spank a teenager or an adult, so the spanking needs to be done early in the life of the child. But note, again, we discipline our children, because we LOVE them. If we discipline our children for any other reason, or because of any other motive, we do NOT follow God’s instructions. Spanking should never cause physical injury to a child…

“Proverbs 19:18 says, ‘Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction.’… The Ryrie Study Bible comments, ‘[D]o not neglect child discipline and thereby bring on your son’s death.’… What is the connection between lack of child discipline and the death of the child? Let’s note Proverbs 22:15, ‘Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.’

“Foolishness, if not overcome, can have terrible consequences. The discipline of a child must be administered by the parents with the desire and motivation to HELP the CHILD to get rid of foolishness. If we get angry with our kids and lock them up in their rooms because we ‘can’t’ deal with them right now, then we have missed the entire point of child rearing. Rather, as concerned parents, we must try to do whatever we can do to see to it that the foolishness in the child disappears…”

The New Testament confirms the principles stated in the book of Proverbs. Christ warned that those who sin knowingly will be punished with many stripes, while those who sin and commit things “worthy of stripes,” without fully understanding what they are doing, will be punished with just a few stripes (compare Luke 12:47-48). And Paul tells us in Hebrews 12:5-8 that God chastens and scourges us when we deserve His punishment, and he asks this question: “…what son is there whom a father does not chasten?” (verse 7). In Paul’s mind, appropriate corporal punishment of children was a self-evident, proper way of dealing with unacceptable conduct.

Whom do we want to believe? Do we trust God’s inspired and timeless Word—the Bible—or do we place our confidence in the teachings of self-proclaimed “experts” who are being trained in the ignorant and far-too-often agnostic or atheistic philosophies of this God-defying, Satanically-inspired world? You must answer this for yourself, but remember that “the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (compare 1 Corinthians 3:19).

The situation in the Middle East seems to be slowly reaching a climax. Israel appears to be more and more determined to use military means to stop Iran’s nuclear weapons project, and Benjamin Netanyahu might strike without prior notice to Israel’s allies. A mysterious deadly explosion at an Iranian missile site fuels rumors and suspicions about Israeli involvement, while Iran continues with its propaganda as portraying itself as an innocent, misunderstood victim of unfounded American allegations.

Turning to Syria, the Arab League suspended Syria and Jordan’s king is asking for al-Assad’s resignation.

Focusing on Europe, the recognition of the existence of a two-speed Europe, causing friction with Britain, and the desire for further economic and political integration is being expressed. The resignation of Silvio Berlusconi as prime minister “who dominated the country’s politics for 17 years and became Italy’s longest-serving post-war prime minister,” and the appointment of respected banker Mario Monti (called the “Italian Prussian”) has been described as “the most dramatic moment” of Italy’s recent history.

However, the sweeping political changes in Greece and Italy raise uncomfortable questions about the lack of democratic processes. Especially Germany’s and France’s attempts to save the euro at all costs are reasons for concerns. As USA Today put it, “Greek political leaders appointed former European Central Bank vice president Lucas Papademos as prime minster… [and] political leaders in Italy nominated former European commissioner Mario Monti to replace Silvio Berlusconi. The political classes in Greece and Italy are moving ahead without elections or referendums on what the people think… the people aren’t being asked for the approval of measures that would result in a loss of sovereignty…”

At the same time, Greece is still buying more German weapons than any other country, while Germany does not allow the use of some of its gold reserves to help indebted eurozone countries. In addition, stunning revelations about right-wing terrorism in Germany has shocked the country.

We conclude with the announcement that the US Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the Obamacare health care law in early 2012, with the decision being “likely to be handed down in late June, right before the Republican and Democratic conventions for the 2012 presidential election.”

“Israel Refuses to Tell US its Iran Intentions”

The Telegraph wrote on November 13:

“Israel has refused to reassure President Barack Obama that it would warn him in advance of any pre-emptive strike on Iran’s nuclear capabilities, raising fears that it may be planning a go-it-alone attack… The US leader was rebuffed last month when he demanded private guarantees that no strike would go ahead without White House notification, suggesting Israel no longer plans to ‘seek Washington’s permission’, sources said.

“The disclosure, made by insiders briefed on a top-secret meeting between America’s most senior defence chief and Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s hawkish prime minister, comes amid concerns that Iran’s continuing progress towards nuclear weapons capability means the Jewish state has all but lost hope for a diplomatic solution… If Israel is to attack Iran, many in the country believe time is running out. Last week’s report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) highlighted Iran’s apparent determination to build a nuclear warhead, but did not indicate how long it might take. Some in Israel, however, believe it is very close.

“… a strike would also have a ‘serious impact’ on the region. Iran could blockade the Straits of Hormuz, through which 25 per cent of the world’s oil exports are shipped, sending energy prices soaring. US military assets in the Gulf could also come under attack from Iranian Scud missiles. Iran would almost certainly fire its Shahab ballistic missiles at Israeli cities and press Hizbollah and Hamas, the militant Islamist groups it funds and equips, to unleash their huge rocket arsenals from their bases in Lebanon and Gaza…”

Haaretz added on November 13 that Benjamin Netanyahu said that Iran is much closer to building the bomb than most people realize.

Israelis Wonder About Deadly Iranian Missile-Site Explosion

The Los Angeles Times wrote on November 13:

“Israelis are taking a keen interest in the deadly explosion Saturday at a weapons facility in Iran that killed 17 people… Iran has said the explosion was an accident, not sabotage or an attack. But Israel’s top-three dailies put the ‘mysterious explosion’ on their front pages Sunday…

“Conspicuously absent from much of the local coverage is the question that nearly everyone here is asking: Did Israel secretly play a role in the explosion? Israel has previously been accused of sabotage against Iran, including assassinating scientists involved in the nuclear program and helping to unleash the Stuxnet computer virus. Israel never confirmed or denied a role in such efforts, and the government is not commenting on the latest incident.

“But Seattle blogger Richard Silverstein says a source he didn’t identify told him the explosion was the work of Israel’s Mossad, working with Iranian opposition groups… Israel Radio on Sunday quoted an Arab businessman who recently returned from Iran and said several of his colleagues were leaving Iran out of fear that an Israeli attack might be imminent…”

Iran’s Ongoing Propaganda

On November 14, 2011, Der Spiegel Online published an interview with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi. We are bringing you the following revealing comments, setting forth Iran’s propaganda and their continuing denial of the evidence, as well as their determination to fight a fierce war with the West:

“‘… we are prepared for everything… We won’t give up our independence… there’s no longer any point in making additional concessions. The nuclear question is simply a pretense for weakening us by any means possible… What is it that gives some nations the right to use computer viruses against us and murder our nuclear scientists…

“‘From its creation to the present day, the Islamic Republic of Iran has never given in to those who wanted to force it to do something… Those beating the drums of war are the same people who want to slow our progress. Iraq under Saddam Hussein forced us into an eight-year war. We don’t want another war… But if we are attacked, we do know how to defend ourselves. Every attack, of any kind, will meet with retaliation. Immediately, without a second’s hesitation…

“‘The entire thing was staged by Washington…  it provides the US with a diversionary tactic to distract from the financial crisis. The US government is presumably also hoping to destroy relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, two brother nations in Islam. Don’t forget, the US also justified its war against Iraq with falsified evidence… All of these measures are part of an American strategy of tacit warfare against Iran. They want to present us to the world as evildoers, while distracting people in the West from their own terrorist activities, such as murdering our scientists and waging cyber war.’”

These provocative, Goebbels-like words don’t dismiss the facts that the Iranian government has denied the Holocaust and has stated repeatedly that it wants Israel eradicated from the map.

Jordan Calls for Resignation of Syria’s al-Assad

The New York Times wrote on November 14:

“King Abdullah of Jordan added his voice on Monday to the growing pressure on the president of Syria to relinquish power, becoming the first Arab leader on Syria’s doorstep to call for a change in government to end the increasingly bloody political uprising there. The Jordanian monarch’s remarks… came as Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, was still smarting from the Arab League’s unexpectedly strong rebuke over the weekend with its decision to suspend Syria’s membership…

“Other countries in the region with historically close ties to Syria, notably Turkey and Iran, have warned Mr. Assad that he should take steps to satisfy the demands of protesters in the eight-month-old uprising… But the public comments about Mr. Assad by King Abdullah — who has faced some Arab Spring protests in his own country — went beyond what others have said…

“The United Nations said this month that at least 3,500 people have been killed in Syria since the uprising started in March…

“The European Union, meanwhile, sought to intensify pressure on Syria, imposing additional sanctions against some of the country’s citizens and restricting investment. But foreign ministers meeting in Brussels said there were no plans to take military action against Mr. Assad’s government in Damascus similar to the campaign that led to the overthrow and death of Colonel Qaddafi…

“The E.U. said it would keep the funds of 19 companies and institutions in Syria frozen. A European embargo on Syrian oil already devastated that sector, reducing oil production by as much as 75 percent. Syria’s oil exports represented anywhere from 15 percent to 35 percent of the state budget, and more than 90 percent of those exports went to Europe.”

In light of these interesting developments, you might want to review our Q&A on the future of Syria. Please also note the reference in Daniel 11:41-43 to the future of Jordan, biblical Ammon. For more information on Jordan, see our Q&A, mainly discussing the future of Egypt and its allies.

A Two-Speed Europe

The Economist wrote on November 11:

“Nicolas Sarkozy is causing a big stir after calling on November 8th for a two-speed Europe: a ‘federal’ core of the 17 members of the euro zone, with a looser ‘confederal’ outer band of the ten non-euro members…

“Mr Sarkozy’s comments are… worrying because, one suspects, he wants to create an exclusivist, protectionist euro zone that seeks to detach itself from the rest of the European Union… At 27 nations-strong, the European Union is too big for France to lord it over the rest and is too liberal in economic terms for France’s protectionist leanings…This chimes with the idea of a Kerneuropa (‘core Europe’) promoted in 1994 by Karl Lamers and Wolfgang Schäuble, who happens to be Germany’s current finance minister…

“Such ideas appeared to have been killed off by the large eastward enlargement of the EU in 2004… But the euro zone’s debt crisis is reviving these old dreams… But done wrongly, as one fears Mr Sarkozy would have it, this will be a recipe for breaking up Europe. Not two-speed Europe but two separate Europes. The first steps toward integration, the idea of holding regular summits of leaders of the 17 euro-zone countries, has already caused early friction with Britain…

“Mr Sarkozy’s words seem to have caught the attention of Joschka Fischer, elder statesman of Germany’s Green party and a former foreign minister, who said that the EU at 27 had become too unwieldy. ‘Let’s just forget about the EU with 27 members—unfortunately,’ he told Die Zeit, a German weekly newspaper. ‘I just don’t see how these 27 states will ever come up with any meaningful reforms.’ Indeed, some think the euro zone itself might be smaller than the 17 members…”

Merkel Ally Accuses Britain

Der Spiegel Online wrote on November 15:

“A senior member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats(CDU) said on Tuesday that Germany’s budget restraint had become a model for other EU nations and accused Britain of being too focused on defending its own national interests in its dealings with Europe. ‘Suddenly Europe is speaking German,’ Volker Kauder, who holds the powerful post of conservative parliamentary group leader, told the CDU’s annual party conference in Leipzig, in a remark that may fuel fears in some countries that Germany is becoming too dominant in the euro crisis.

“Kauder accused other euro-zone member states of having only just now understood what Merkel has been claiming for a long time: that the euro crisis wasn’t caused by financial market speculators, but by a lack of budget discipline… Kauder said the United Kingdom, as a member of the EU ‘also carries a responsibility for the success of Europe. Just looking for their own advantage and not being prepared to contribute — that cannot be the message we accept from the British,’ Kauder said, referring to Britain’s opposition to the financial transaction tax that Germany has been lobbying for in order to raise revenue for future bank bailouts… If Britain continued to resist the tax, the 17-member euro zone would have to introduce it on its own, he said.’”

The Daily Mail added on November 16:

“‘British people will be horrified by what is going on in Europe,’ said Philip Hollobone, a Eurosceptic Tory MP. ‘Foreign policy going back to the time of Henry VIII has been to try to prevent conglomeration of power on the continent of Europe which would be against British national interests. Here we are in the 21st century with a German attempt to create a single economic and political bloc. This is Britain’s golden chance to get out of the European quagmire and set ourselves free.’”

The German media has responded with anger towards Britain’s “anti-German” articles. Mass tabloid Bild Online and the California Staats-Zeitung of November 12, 2011, accused the Daily Mail of libeling Angela Merkel, allegedly calling her a Nazi. Whether those comments were actually made or misconstrued, it is becoming evident that the German population becomes more and more upset with portions of the British media. Please note also the next article.

Germany’s and Britain’s Different Visions of Europe

Der Spiegel Online wrote on November 17:

“British Prime Minister David Cameron is visiting Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday in Berlin, but the timing could hardly be worse. British euroskeptics are furious about a claim by a key Merkel ally that Europe is ‘speaking German,’ and speeches by the two leaders have made it clear just how different their visions of Europe are… ‘Merkel: More Europe, Cameron: Less Europe,’ was how Benedict Brogan, deputy editor of the Daily Telegraph, pithily summed up the speeches…

“The British are watching in alarm as Continental politicians push for further integration of the euro zone right before their eyes. The Cameron government faces a dilemma. On the one hand, they want to keep the greatest possible distance between Britain and the euro crisis. At the same time, they are insisting on their right to have a say. After all, what’s being discussed is a change in the very nature of the EU, and the UK is still one of the big three in the bloc.

“Britain’s special status was one of the anomalies in the old EU. Germany and France made many concessions to the British, who were determined to preserve their independence. Again and again, exceptions were made when the battle lines hardened. But, this time around, it’s hard to see how a compromise can be found…

“The debate in Britain is being almost completely dominated by the euroskeptics… Cameron… appears to be increasingly influenced by the euroskeptics. Indeed, he and George Osborne, his chancellor of the exchequer, bear some of the blame for the fact that the euroskeptics within their party’s ranks have been able to show more and more confidence. In recent weeks, they have repeatedly said that the euro zone was responsible for the fact that British economy is not growing. They have used the debt chaos on the other side of the English Channel as a scapegoat in order to dispel doubts about their own cost-cutting policies…

“Cameron, for his part, is in a rather tight spot. He’s hardly in a position to deny Merkel’s wish flat-out because Britain also has an interest in having a functioning euro zone. And he clearly doesn’t have an alternative vision of Europe except the status quo, which is untenable…”

Berlusconi’s Resignation “Most Dramatic Moment”

The New York Times wrote on November 12:

“With his country swept up in Europe’s debt crisis and his once-mighty political capital spent, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi resigned on Saturday, punctuating a tumultuous week and ending an era in Italian politics… His resignation came just days after the fall of Prime Minister George A. Papandreou in Greece. Both men were swept away amid a larger crisis that has threatened the entire European Union… 

“‘This is the most dramatic moment of our recent history,’ Ferruccio de Bortoli, the editor of the Milan daily newspaper Corriere della Sera, said Saturday…. The events in Greece and Italy this month raised concerns across the Italian political spectrum about the growing power of financial markets to shake governments…”

Mario Monti Italy’s New Prime Minister– High Hopes for the “Italian Prussian” in Rome

BBC News reported on November 13:

“Technocrat Mario Monti has been asked to form a new Italian government… Mr Monti, an ex-EU commissioner, said he wanted a return to growth for Italy and a return to pride for Italians… Mr Monti, a well-respected economist, is exactly the sort of man that the markets would like to see take charge at this time of crisis, says the BBC’s Alan Johnston in Rome…”

Der Spiegel Online wrote on November 14:

“There are those who would argue that, at its core, the European Union isn’t facing a currency crisis at all. Rather, the primary problem facing the continent is a dearth of adequate political leadership. It is a position which would appear to have received a boost on Monday, as markets across the world have reacted positively to the prospect of respected banker Mario Monti in Rome taking the place of Silvio Berlusconi, who resigned as Italian prime minister on Saturday. Not only did stock indexes in both Asia and Europe initially trend upwards on Monday morning, but the interest rate on Italian sovereign bonds fell to 6.4 percent, well below last week’s dangerous high-water mark of above 7 percent…

“Monti is widely respected in both Italy and Europe, having made a name for himself as a strong European Competition Commissioner… Monti, 68, quickly gained the nickname ‘Super Mario’ in Brussels. At home in Italy, however, he is more often referred to as the ‘Italian Prussian.’ ‘I have always been considered to be the most German among Italian economists, which I always received as a compliment, but which was rarely meant to be a compliment,’ Monti said last week during a panel discussion in Berlin.”

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 17:

“Monti said… his new technocrat cabinet would implement austerity measures that would be balanced by ‘growth and equity,’ and stressed that Rome could not risk being considered Europe’s ‘weak link’ any longer. The former European commissioner said the bloc was living through ‘the most difficult years since World War II’ and warned that the European project ‘could not survive the collapse of the monetary union.’

“Monti set a 2013 goal for eliminating Italy’s budget deficit (incidentally a promise Berlusconi failed to keep) and stimulating economic growth, and said changes to the country’s rigid labor market would be one of the main areas of focus. The euro rose after his statement, reaching $1.3525 after having fallen to $1.3440…

“Italy’s two biggest political parties – Berlusconi’s conservative People of Freedom party (PDL) and the center-left Democratic Party – have both said they will back Monti. A centrist grouping has also promised its support. Monti’s cabinet, which consists mostly of academics and experts and contains no political party representatives, was sworn in on Wednesday.”

“Need” for Closer European Political Union

Reuters reported on November 14:

“Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel described the ongoing euro zone crisis as the continent’s ‘toughest hour’ since World War II… saying she feared Europe would fail if the euro failed and vowing to do anything to stop this from happening… In a one-hour address, Merkel called for closer European political union…”

Der Spiegel Online wrote on November 14:

“As a first step, [German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble] want to amend EU treaties to allow notorious debtors in the euro zone to be placed under mandatory supervision by Brussels… As a second step, Merkel and Schäuble want the EU to move towards becoming a political union. This entails transferring more sovereign rights to the EU — and it would mean amending Germany’s constitution. This could either be accomplished under Article 23, requiring a two-thirds majority in Germany’s federal parliament, the Bundestag, as well as the Bundesrat, the upper legislative chamber that represents the states.

“A more challenging alternative would be to change Article 146 of the constitution via the direct participation of the population. According to this scenario, the Germans would drop the Basic Law and embrace a totally new constitution. This may all seem somewhat far-fetched, but there are members of the German government who are openly speculating this may happen. Schäuble believes that a national referendum on the German constitution would be an essential step in reforming the EU — and with good reason, since the constitutional judges in Karlsruhe have now made it clear on a number of occasions that the constitution leaves little leeway to relinquish more power to Brussels.”

The Local added on November 14, 2011:

“German Chancellor Angela Merkel told a party congress of her conservatives on Monday that Europe was in perhaps its worst period since World War II but the crisis could offer a chance to make it stronger. [She said] that if Europe did not flourish, Germany would also suffer. ‘We need Europe because it is the basis of our well-being. Sixty percent of our exports go to the European Union, nine million jobs alone depend on it,’ Merkel said.

“… she said just as Germany had vowed to emerge stronger from the 2008 financial crisis, ‘now we must see to it that Europe comes out of today’s crisis stronger’… As the world’s number two exporter after China, Germany is Europe’s biggest economy and the paymaster for the eurozone’s rescue fund, which has already helped bail out Greece, Ireland and Portugal.

“But as anger simmers at Berlin shouldering the biggest burden, members of Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union are putting forward a resolution at the congress to allow for struggling countries to exit the eurozone without leaving the EU… Delegates are also expected to face a motion on overhauling the balance of power within the European Central Bank to give Germany a greater say. Some CDU members want votes at the ECB’s policy-setting governing council to be weighted according to a country’s economic size and importance, rather than each of the 17 eurozone members having an equal say, as is currently the case meaning Germany has no more weight than tiny Malta.

“A poll for public broadcaster ZDF released Friday suggested that Merkel’s approval rating in her handling of the euro crisis had risen to 56 percent from 45 percent at the beginning of October.”

From Arab Spring to Mediterranean Fall?

USA Today wrote on November 14:

“More democracy or less? That’s the question Europe faces as it wrangles with a spiraling debt crisis that has cost the Italian and Greek leaders their jobs… Some wonder whether this move to bypass voters and politicians to pass tough changes will really work…

“Greek political leaders appointed former European Central Bank vice president Lucas Papademos as prime minster last week to shepherd a European rescue plan and impose steeper spending cuts to prevent the country’s default. Sunday, political leaders in Italy nominated former European commissioner Mario Monti to replace Silvio Berlusconi. The political classes in Greece and Italy are moving ahead without elections or referendums on what the people think. They are trying to impose belt-tightening measures and permit European Union inspectors to have oversight of the budget immediately to bring down their debt. It’s an arrangement many people find distasteful… Some analysts say it’s especially ironic that in the cradle of democracy, the people aren’t being asked for the approval of measures that would result in a loss of sovereignty…

“The problem for the eurozone is bypassing the voters… Some… say it is easy for Brussels, or Germany and France, to dictate to others what to do but more difficult to actually implement those measures on the ground… Greek voters, and possibly Italians, will probably have to settle for less of a say along with their dose of fiscal medicine, some financial experts say. ‘Earlier this year, we had the Arab Spring,’ said Marco Elser, an investment banker at Advicorp’s Rome office. ‘Now it’s looking like we are on our way to a Mediterranean Fall.’”

While especially Germany and France are trying to save the euro, no matter what the costs or methods, it should be realized that democracy and the sovereignty of individual member states are suffering in the process. The Bible makes it clear that ultimately, ten core European nations or groups of nations will arise out of the Eurozone, and they will, to an extent, surrender their sovereignty by giving their authority to an autocratic economic, political and military leader, called “the beast” in the book of Revelation. At that time, the concept of democracy in Europe will only be a distant memory. For more information, please read our free booklet, “Europe in Prophecy.” 

Greece Still Buys a Lot of German Weapons

On November 12, 2011, The California Staats-Zeitung wrote the following:

“The small, crisis-hit nation [of Greece]… buys more German weapons than any other country. Some Greeks want to know why it is that France and Germany are demanding cut in pensions, salaries and public services, but the buying of arms is allowed to continue unabated… Greece is the highest military spender, in terms of percentage of GDP, in the EU… the US is the major beneficiary of Greek military expenditure…

“Greece’s defense budget is historically high due to the perceived threat from neighboring Turkey… critics in Greece argue that, as an EU member, Greece should be guaranteed protection from Turkey by its more powerful allies. Although the EU is not [yet] a military alliance, common sense suggests that Greece could reasonably expect support if it was attacked by Turkey…”

German Gold Untouchable

The California Staats-Zeitung wrote on November 12:

“Germany will not allow gold reserves held by its central bank, the Bundesbank, to be used to bolster the rescue fund for indebted eurozone countries, Economy Minister Philipp Roesler said… ‘German gold reserves must remain untouchable,’ Roesler said…, rejecting a proposal reportedly put forward by France, Britain and the United States.”

Right-Wing Terrorism in Germany

Der Spiegel Online wrote on November 14:

“Germans have been shocked to learn in recent days of the existence of a right-wing terror cell in their midst… The failure of Germany’s security authorities to solve a string of racist murders committed by a neo-Nazi group since 2000 has triggered accusations that they have underestimated the far-right threat… German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday that the case is a ‘disgrace for Germany’…

“Racist attacks on immigrants and their property, commonplace especially in the former communist east of the country ever since unification triggered economic upheaval and social dislocation, have routinely been dismissed as isolated incidents committed by thugs. Now, however, evidence discovered by chance has uncovered a well-organized, well-armed network of killers, bombers and bank robbers …

“Center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung writes: ‘… for years, a racist terrorist gang was able to rampage through Germany and execute immigrants. They were able to plan attacks, build and throw bombs. They were able to do all that because police, intelligence authorities and state prosecutors largely excluded racist motives. The crimes weren’t deemed to be acts of terrorism… Xenophobic crimes have too often and for too long been minimized… For decades, left-wing extremists in Germany were seen as intelligent and dangerous, right-wing extremists as stupid and therefore harmless…’

“Conservative Die Welt writes: ‘…the scandal is that the investigating authorities (and the public) didn’t detect the pattern of crimes or perhaps didn’t want to detect them. Nine strikingly similar crimes were dismissed as local disputes…’

“Tabloid Bild writes: ‘The cowardly criminals and their neo-Nazi views were known to the authorities in a different context. Despite all the informants available, they weren’t stopped. Were the domestic intelligence agents and police blind to the far-right risk? This question must be answered very quickly. The credibility of the police and the domestic intelligence authority are at stake.’”

For the future of Germany, please read our free booklet, “Germany in Prophecy.” 

“St. Martin’s Day” and Carnival in Germany

The Local wrote on November 11:

“Each November 11, Germans celebrate St. Martin’s Day…  It’s officially a Catholic holiday, but in recent years the lantern processions have become widespread even in Protestant areas of Germany. So just like Santa Claus has little to do with the birth of Christ, these days St. Martin Day’s is probably better known for the luminous procession than the [supposedly] saintly history… November 11 is the beginning of Advent fasting and hardcore Catholics get a last chance to feast before they abstain from greasy food and booze until Christmas… [Some] simply celebrate the beginning of carnival, as it starts on November 11 as well.”

The Local added the following in an accompanying article on November 11:

“Each year at 11:11am on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Germany marks the beginning of the traditional ‘Fifth Season’ ahead of ‘Karneval’ celebrations. Particularly in the Rhineland, revellers take to the streets to welcome in a tradition rich in history, superstition and imbibing… The real celebrations, however, don’t get fully underway until next February on the run up to Lent… Some say eleven is a foolish number, others consider it to be lucky…

“The idea of 11 being lucky is also one of the superstitions driving loved-up couples to registry offices [that] have been experiencing a rush of couples wanting to get married on the seemingly auspicious date 11/11/11… Elsewhere in Europe, however, the eleventh of the eleventh has less festive connotations, particularly in the United Kingdom, where two minutes silence is held at 11am in memory of soldiers who have died in combat. The United States also marks Veterans Day on November 11.”

Our “Christian” world celebrates many “holidays” and engages in many practices, which have no origin in the Bible, but in paganism. For more information, please read our free booklet, “Is That in the Bible?–Man’s Holidays and God’s Holy Days.” 

Canada Will Sell Huge Oil Reserves to China Instead of USA

The Associated Press reported on November 14:

“Delays in building the $7-billion Keystone XL pipeline project will force Canada to sell its huge oil reserves to China instead of the United States, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has bluntly warned President Barack Obama. The White House has put off a decision on the 1,700-mile pipeline from Alberta to Texas until after the 2012 election so a study can be carried out into its impact on an environmentally sensitive area in Nebraska…

“But any delays, Canadian officials said, could mean up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil a day that would have eased the American energy crisis will be diverted to the Far East. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates it will also cost 20,000 jobs… Canada now has the third-largest deposits of extractable oil in the world after Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. It is already the biggest supplier of American oil and is preferred over most other exporters because of the closeness to the United States and the long-standing friendship between the two countries.”

Supreme Court Will Hear Dispute on Obamacare in 2012

USA Today wrote on November 14:

“The Supreme Court’s announcement Monday that it will hear challenges to the Obama-sponsored health care overhaul opens the most important chapter in the legal battle over the law, amid the tumult of election-year politics. A ruling in the case would determine the federal government’s power to address the most pressing social problems, specifically how to ensure medical coverage nationwide. The decision is likely to be handed down in late June, right before the Republican and Democratic conventions for the 2012 presidential election. The main question in the dispute, likely to be heard over two days in March, is whether in requiring most Americans to buy insurance by 2014 [or face a tax penalty], Congress exceeded its power to regulate interstate commerce. The justices also will address whether or not the entire law is doomed if that insurance mandate falls…

“The health care law, signed by President Obama in March 2010… extends insurance coverage to more than 30 million Americans… Monday’s order scheduling 5 1/2 hours of oral arguments — a modern record for arguments on a single dispute — makes clear that the justices want to take a comprehensive look at the law. Yet, it offers no new signal on how a majority might rule…

“Four U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals already had ruled on the law. Two (the Cincinnati-based 6th Circuit and the Washington, D.C., Circuit) declared it constitutional. One (the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit) deemed it unconstitutional. And one (the Richmond-based 4th Circuit) said no challenge could be brought until a person was forced to pay the tax penalty.”

In order to properly understand what Christ is telling His disciples, as recorded in the account of Matthew, we need to also review other passages in the parallel accounts of Mark and Luke, as well as passages in the book of Revelation.

When John was on the island of Patmos, he saw in a vision events which would take place in the future. As we explain in the 8th chapter of our booklet, “Is That in the Bible?—The Mysteries of the Book of Revelation,” John saw how God the Father gave a scroll with seven seals to Jesus Christ, asking Him to open it, as no one else was able to do it (compare Revelation 5:1-9; 6:1). We need to turn to Jesus Christ’s Words in order to understand the seven seals. The first six of the seven seals are all recorded in Revelation 6, and they are explained, as we will see, in the accounts of Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.

When Christ opened the first four seals (compare Revelation 6:2–8), John sees in the vision the famous four horsemen of the Apocalypse. When comparing Revelation 6:2–8 with Christ’s sayings in Matthew 24:4–7 and Luke 21:8–11, then the meaning of the four horsemen or the first four seals becomes clear.

Turning to Matthew 24, let us note what Christ tells His disciples.

In verses 1-2, Christ pointed out that the glorious Jewish temple would be destroyed. This actually happened in 70 A.D., when the Romans conquered Jerusalem. Beginning with verse 3, four of His disciples (compare Mark 13:3) asked Him privately when these things would be; what would be the sign of His coming, and of the end of the age.

Christ responded, in verses 4 and 5, by warning them against deception, stating that many would come in His name, proclaiming and admitting that He was the Christ, and still deceive many. This deception began shortly after Christ’s resurrection and the birth of the New Testament Church. The apostle Paul would later say that many, at his time, preached another gospel and another Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:6)—one who had come to do away with the law of God. By the time of the destruction of the temple, much of the truth had been lost due to false deceptive teachings which had entered the Church. Subsequently, John needed to emphasize that anyone who would proclaim God and refuse to keep His law would be a liar, and no truth would be in him (1 John 2:4).

The religious deception which Christ warned against would continue. Even in the end time, just prior to and during the Great Tribulation (see below), religious deception would abound (verses 11, 24; compare Mark 13:22). And so, turning to the book of Revelation, we realize that the first seal in Revelation 6:2, describing a rider on a white horse, who has a bow and a crown and who goes out to conquer, identifies false religion, claiming that it professes Christ, while deceiving the many. The true Christ is later on described, in Revelation 19:11-12, 15, as One who has many crowns, and He has a sharp sword. He is riding a white horse as well, showing that the representation of the false Christ will have some resemblance with the true One – otherwise, no one would be deceived—but the differences are striking. First, the true Christ will return after the Great Tribulation, while the false representation of Christ will already have conquered many before that time. Then, the true Christ has a sword and many crowns, while the false representation of Christ has a bow and just one crown.

Religious deception began in the early New Testament Church, but it was to continue throughout the ages and reach the beginning of its culmination when the first seal is broken and the first horseman of the Apocalypse begins to ride (compare Matthew 24:3–5; Luke 21:8).

In Matthew 24:6-7, Christ continues to warn of wars and rumors of wars (as well as commotions, compare Luke 21:9), with nation rising against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. This is depicted in Revelation 6:3-4 as the second seal—when the rider on a fiery red horse goes out with a great sword to take away the peace from the earth, and when people kill each other. Even though wars and commotions and rumors of wars have existed throughout the ages, Christ intends to point out that the wars would become bigger and more all-encompassing—from nations fighting against nations to kingdoms fighting against kingdoms. We have experienced two World Wars in the 20th century, and the Bible shows that in the not-too-distant future, another terrible and most destructive World War will engulf the entire globe.

Turning again to Matthew 24:7, we note that Christ warned of famine next. The third seal in Revelation 6:5-6 depicts famine as well: A black horse begins to ride, and the rider has a pair of scales in his hand, indicating scarcity of food, measuring small quantities of food for comparatively huge amounts of money. While there still is some wheat and barley available for a high price, oil and wine are not to be “harmed” or “touched.” The People’s New Testament states: “Oil and wine, though common foods, are entirely prohibited. An age of war, mourning, calamity and famine is certainly symbolized.” The Ryrie Study Bible adds: “A severe shortage of food is indicated.” The parallel account in Luke 21:11 adds that at that time, earthquakes will increase in frequency and magnitude as well.

The third horse of the Apocalypse (mainly famine) is followed, according to Revelation 6:7-8, by a pale horse, and the rider’s name is “Death,” and “Hades” or “the Grave” follows him. Christ says in Matthew 24:7 that famines will be followed by pestilences [see also Luke 21:11].

As we stated in our free booklet, “Is That in the Bible?—The Mysteries of the Book of Revelation: “Oftentimes religious deception leads to wars, directly or indirectly. Wars, in turn, lead to famine and diseases. Historically, the Black Death alone killed upwards of one-third of the people living in Europe in the 14th century. The Spanish flu pandemic lasted from March, 1918, to June, 1920, spreading even to the Arctic and remote Pacific islands. While older estimates put the number of those who were killed at 40 to 50 million people, current estimates are that 50 to 100 million people worldwide died, possibly more than what succumbed to the Black Death.”

So, the fourth horse of the Apocalypse describes pestilences or disease epidemics, but not exclusively. Christ also speaks in Matthew 24:7 of earthquakes in various places. We see then that earthquake activity will continue and increase throughout that time. (Luke 21:11 adds that at that time, fearful sights and great signs from heaven will be observed. This is primarily a reference to the heavenly signs which will follow after the beginning of the Great Tribulation, but it is possible that some of these frightful signs will begin to occur right after the pestilences will be spread throughout the earth.).

Revelation 6:8 adds that one-fourth of mankind will be killed by the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, and that these killings will be carried out with the sword (political and also religiously-motivated wars), with hunger (a result of famine), with death (resulting from pestilences), and also with the beasts of the earth. Many times, contagious diseases are communicated by sick animals carrying deadly viruses (remember the Ebola virus, the bird flu or the mad cow disease).

In addition, note the following comments by Barnes’ Notes on the Bible.

This commentary points out that the four horsemen will “kill with sword – In war and discord… And with hunger – With famine – one of the accompaniments of war – where armies ravage a nation, trampling down the crops of grain; consuming the provisions laid up… and shutting up the people in besieged cities to perish by hunger. Famine has been not an infrequent accompaniment of war; and we are to look for the fulfillment of this in its extensive prevalence…

“And with death… This would well denote the pestilence – not an infrequent accompaniment of war. For nothing is better suited to produce this than the unburied bodies of the slain; the filth of a camp; the want of food; and the crowding together of multitudes in a besieged city; and, accordingly, the pestilence… has been often closely connected with war…

“And with the beasts of the earth – With wild beasts. This, too, would be one of the consequences of war, famine, and pestilence. Lands would be depopulated, and wild beasts would be multiplied… Compare Ezekiel 14:21, ‘I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence…’”

Christ continues to warn that following these events, an organized and worldwide martyrdom of true Christians will occur next. Matthew 24:9-13, 21-22 describes this time in vivid terms (compare also Mark 13:11–13; Luke 21:12–19). These events are identified as the “Great Tribulation,” and they are also described as the fifth seal in Revelation 6:9-11. (The vision of the souls under the altar in Revelation 6:9-11 is more fully explained in chapter 8 of our free booklet, “Is That in the Bible?—The Mysteries of the Book of Revelation.” This vision makes clear that religious persecution has occurred throughout the history of the true Church, compare verses 9-10, but that in the end time, a terrible and unparalleled persecution will happen once again, compare verse 11).

Following the beginning of the Great Tribulation, Christ warns in Matthew 24:29 of heavenly signs, when the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from heaven, and when the powers of the heavens will be shaken. The parallel account in Luke 21:25-26 adds that at that time, there will be distress of nations on this earth, with perplexity, and the sea and the waves will be roaring, and men’s hearts will fail them for fear and the expectation of those things which will be coming on the earth, because the powers of heaven will be shaken.

All of these events are depicted by the sixth seal in Revelation 6:12-14, picturing “heavenly signs” or cosmic disturbances, which are introduced once again by a great earthquake (Revelation 6:12–14). These cosmic disturbances precede the “Day of the Lord,” the seventh seal of the book of Revelation. Revelation 6:17 refers to the Day of the Lord as the “great day of His wrath,” culminating in and leading to the return of Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:17, 30; Mark 13:26; Luke 21:27).

(To Be Continued).

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

A new German sermon was posted on YouTube, titled, “Die Auferstehung zum Gericht” (“The Resurrection to Judgment.”). It is the first part on the resurrections, covering foremost the second resurrection.