One of the things you may see in people with wealth, power and influence is their desire to prolong their physical life. In their attempts to live a little bit longer, they may have organ transplants, utilize elixirs, or may be obsessed with natural foods and vitamins. This is not to say that any of this is wrong per se, and of course, we need to take care of our bodies and are not to engage in conduct which may shorten our lives. But this does not mean that we must try to artificially prolong life at all costs—such as being “nourished” intravenously for months or years, while in a coma, with no hope of recovery.

Others, knowing that their physical existence is temporary, may build monuments and erect statues of themselves, so that others may remember them after they are gone.

At the same time, we find that built into the human psyche is a desire for eternal life. The Bible says that God gave man such a desire (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Man wants to know what he must do to “get it.” Many have searched for centuries for the proverbial “fountain of youth,” and others have tried to invent elixirs to make them immortal. In their trust in the advancements of science, some even go as far as to have their mortal remains frozen in ice, until science has found a way to revive them.

Notice what a lawyer asked Christ, as recorded in Luke 10:25: “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Of course, the lawyer was trying to test or tempt Christ, but it is still true that many people wonder what, if anything, they can do to obtain immortality. But most people seek immortality in the wrong manner; that is, they resort to human means and reasoning.

On the other hand, true Christians understand what their future holds. They are told that eternal life lies within their grasp, and that God created man with the potential to obtain eternal life. Notice what Paul says in Titus 1:1-2: “Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began…”

Eternal life is a promise which has been a part of God’s Plan for mankind, before time began—that is, before man even existed.

However, Satan lied to Eve by telling her that eternal life could be received by disobeying God. One can never obtain eternal life through rebellion against God and disobedience of His Word. God wants to give us eternal life, but He will only do so when we prove to Him that we will always love Him enough to be obedient to Him and His Word.

When you think about it, for those in whom God’s Spirit dwells, there is no conscious interruption between physical death and immortal spirit life. When they die in the faith, they will be resurrected to eternal life and immortality within the next second of their consciousness. For them, it is like going to sleep at night and awakening in the morning. While they slept a dreamless sleep, they had no conscious awareness of the passage of time.

As true Christians, we don’t have to be terribly concerned with trying everything we can possibly think of to prolong this physical life at all costs. Rather, our desire must be to seek first the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness. When we please God and are obedient to Him in this life, fulfilling our responsibilities as Christians, then we will receive in due time God’s GIFT of an eternal joyful and pleasurable life in His very Kingdom.

As events are developing in Europe towards the power bloc’s prophesied ultimate climax, more and more voices are being heard demanding a separation of Great Britain from the EU. The Telegraph even claims that Britain is already under the yoke of Brussels, and that it must free itself from its slavery to the EU.

At the same time, the Eurozone is rejecting any economic “advice” given from the Obama Administration, and especially Germany is openly defiant to any US opposition or concerns, operating from a position of strength as the most stable and prosperous economic country in Europe. In light of this week’s plunge of the Dow Jones industrial average, we hear of increased fears of a worldwide recession, perceived to be caused to a large degree by the USA and Europe. In addition, we are also observing that many Germans are not happy with their current government, and it will remain to be seen how long Angela Merkel can continue to run the country successfully.

We are addressing the pope’s visit in Germany and the desire of Angela Merkel to focus on unified Christianity, rather than the extremely unpopular conservative stance of the Vatican. We speak of the events in New York pertaining to the UN General Assembly meetings, and we conclude with reporting on a setback for any hope that we might see peace any time soon in Afghanistan, and the terrible memory of some who have killed in war–a memory, which cannot be easily erased.

Britain Enslaved to Brussels?

The Telegraph wrote on September 20:

“We’re fed up with Europe… Britain has become a slave to the EU, writing blank cheques to prop up its lazy economies… with Europe’s ever increasing bail-outs and international loans – many drawn on the backs of struggling British taxpayers – it is no longer tenable to separate the economics of Europe from British domestic politics… As Britons lose their jobs, struggle to pay utility bills, forgo annual holidays and are made to pay more into their pensions, future bail-outs of Europe’s mostly unreformed and lazy economies will not attract Conservative parliamentary support.

“When Britain voted to stay in the European Economic Community in 1975 the country was promised it would be a common market. Yet over time, mostly by stealth and within every new treaty, we have been drawn relentlessly into an ‘ever closer union’ with the Continent. For many Britons, the EU has already become a kind of occupying force, setting unfamiliar rules, demanding levies, curbing freedoms, subverting our culture and imposing alien taxes. In less than four decades, Britain has become enslaved to Europe – servitude that intrudes and impinges on millions of British lives every day. Brussels has become a burdensome yoke, disfiguring Britain’s independence and diluting her sovereignty…

“The majority of Britons living today have never had a say on Europe. After nearly four decades of subjugation to Europe, it is time for the British people to choose their own destiny and to be set free…

“That is why the Coalition should agree to a referendum on Europe asking whether Britain should be part of a political union or of the trade-only relationship we thought we had signed up to… The referendum should be held next year, and a successful ‘No to political union’ result would immediately strengthen the Prime Minister’s negotiating hand in Brussels to commence serious and meaningful negotiations with our partners on Britain’s new relationship.

“… if Brussels refused to repatriate specified powers within a designated 24-month period, then a second referendum – this time an ‘in or out’ vote – would be triggered in 2015 and held on the day of the next general election… If specified powers were not returned within the defined timetable, Brussels would have only themselves to blame if Britons voted to leave the EU.

“The British have grown weary of Europe. The Coalition government should end decades of political appeasement by successive governments and champion freedom and democracy for Britain…”

As we have declared for decades, Britain will not be a part of the final configuration of a political United States of Europe. In addition, if  Britain thinks it is already enslaved to Europe, then this is nothing in comparison with what awaits the British people when real and quite literal slavery is going to be inflicted upon them.

Europe’s Huge Bill for British, US and Chinese Airlines

The Financial Times wrote on September 19:

“British Airways faces a bill of nearly €50m, the highest of any airline, when carriers around the world are brought into the European Union’s carbon emissions trading scheme next year…

“But BA and other large European carriers will face a relatively smaller burden than their rivals in the US and China, because they should get an average of 81 per cent of the carbon allowances needed under the scheme for free. The Chinese and American carriers will only get an average of up to 64 per cent…

“The findings come amid a fierce row over the EU’s move to make any airline flying into and within the bloc pay for pollution. US airlines have taken legal action… and Chinese complaints have prompted warnings of a trade war…”

None of this will make Europe popular, but it seems, they don’t really care, knowing that Britain, the USA and China have really no alternative than to comply.

American Lectures Rejected by Europe…

The EUObserver wrote on September 19:

“A unprecedented visit by US treasury secretary Timothy Geithner to a meeting of European finance ministers in Poland was coolly received by the gathered European economy chiefs…  a number of EU ministers felt that Geithner had over-stepped his bounds. The Austrian and Swedish finance chiefs offered reporters particularly sharp words about the intrusion from across the Atlantic.

“‘He conveyed dramatically that we need to commit money to avoid bringing the system into difficulty,’ Austrian finance minister Maria Fekter said of the discussion… ‘I found it peculiar that the Americans, although they themselves have significantly worse fundamental data than the euro area, explain to us what we should do and when we make a proposal … they say no right away.’

“Sweden’s Anders Borg too argued that Washington has problems of its own to deal with. ‘Geithner is right that we need to make progress, but it’s quite clear the US has a big debt problem and the situation would be better if the US could show a sustainable way forward,’ he said…”

From a European perspective, their dismissal of Timothy Geithner’s interference is quite understandable, given the fact that under the Obama Administration, the debt crisis in the USA has reached unparalleled and unprecedented proportions. As the old saying goes: Clean up first  your own house and backyard, and then you can start lecturing others. However, President Obama’s recent proposals in his long-awaited speech have met with stern opposition and rejections from Republicans and even some Democrats, and no real solution for America’s economic misery is in sight. In fact, some papers within the European media are reacting with anger towards the most recent developments in the USA, blaming the Feds for irresponsible conduct and warning of another worldwide US-caused recession. Of course, the economic situation in Europe, especially in countries like Greece, as well as reports that China’s growth may be slowing down, have been contributing to the negative development of worldwide markets. Note the next articles.

Dow Jones Plunges

The Los Angeles Times wrote on September 22:

“The Dow Jones industrial average plunged more than 300 points in early trading as investors recoiled from the Federal Reserve’s new effort to stimulate the economy and the central bank’s statement that the economy may be in for a long period of slow growth… The losses built on declines late Wednesday after the Fed announced it would attempt to bring down long-term interest rates by replacing $400 billion of its holdings of short-term government debt with long-term U.S. Treasury bonds.

“Analysts have questioned whether the program will have the desired beneficial impact, given that the economy is facing significant headwinds and long-term interest rates are already quite low. The Fed also rattled investors Wednesday by highlighting ‘significant downside risks to the economic outlook.’ The statement ramped up fears that the economy could be headed for a new recession…”

The New York Times wrote on September 21:

“Global markets tumbled Thursday as investor pessimism about the outlook for the United States and European economies was deepened by weak data for the euro zone and a grim assessment from the Federal Reserve… Stocks had fallen in the United States 2 percent or more on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve announcement that a complete economic recovery was still years away, adding that the United States economy has ‘significant downside risks to the economic outlook, including strains in global financial markets…’ The export-driven economies in Asia, such as South Korea, are most vulnerable to the European and American economic challenges… Additionally, investors were beginning to worry that China’s rate of growth may slow… It really comes down to political immaturity in both the U.S. and Europe…”

Three Major US Banks Downgraded

The Los Angeles Times wrote on September 21

“Moody’s Investors Service has cut the credit ratings of three major U.S. banks, saying that Washington is less likely to bail out big U.S. financial companies if another financial crisis were to hit Wall Street. The rating company Wednesday downgraded the long-term credit ratings of Bank of America Cor. and Wells Fargo & Co. and bumped down Citigroup Inc.’s short-term credit rating, citing ‘a decrease in the probability that the U.S. government would support’ them in future financial crises… After the downgrades, bank stocks helped lead markets down Wednesday…”

Germany to Eurozone: Go It Alone, Don’t Mind UK or USA

Deutsche Welle wrote on September 17:

“Germany has called for the eurozone to go it alone if necessary and implement a financial tax despite opposition from the US and UK… Germany’s finance minister supports pushing through a tax on financial transactions within the 17 member eurozone currency union in the face of opposition from nations such as the United Kingdom and the United States, two of the world’s largest financial markets…

“Supporters of the move, such as Germany and France, believe a financial transaction tax would check speculation and slow the growth of bubbles while raising money that could be used to bail out banks in crisis situations. The European Union, however, remains divided over the measure with non-euro states such as Sweden and Britain expressing opposition. Opponents argue that such a tax would drive business to non-taxed foreign markets… ”

But as the past has shown, once Germany and France lead, the rest of the Eurozone members will follow…

Greece and the Eurozone

Deutsche Welle reported on September 21:

“The Greek government announced fresh austerity measures late on Wednesday, after Greece’s Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos insisted earlier in the day that his country had no plans to abandon the euro and would do everything in his power to stay in the eurozone.

“Greece is and will forever be a member of the eurozone, he said. ‘We will do anything, we will not place at risk the fate of the country and its place in the eurozone.’”

Of course, as could be expected, huge anti-government demonstrations occurred in Greece, following the announcement…

Germany—A Model of Stability

The Washington Post wrote on September 19:

“The financial crisis has turned Europe topsy-turvy… But… one country stands apart: Germany, where reforms a decade ago made the country less generous than some of its peers but also helped ease the blow when the rest of the world stopped snapping up BMWs and Bosch washing machines.

“Now, as its neighbors are being forced to retrench… Germany’s social services are running surpluses, helped by taxes that are among the highest in Europe and difficult sacrifices its citizens have made to jump-start their economy. Many Germans are peering across their borders and wondering why others can’t do the same, putting intense political pressure on Chancellor Angela Merkel not to appear too generous with bailouts. Other countries point out that Germany’s wealth depends at least in part on outsiders spending for German exports… economists say that Germany’s own social services are sustainable, protected by the surpluses…

“Wages stayed largely flat for the past decade even as industry profits and government tax receipts rose, making Germany one of the West’s most competitive exporters. This was helped along by the euro zone, which made German products cheaper abroad than they were under the Deutschmark.

“Other aspects of Germany’s welfare state remained deluxe. Germans receive parental leave of 14 months at two-thirds salary, generous vacation time and publicly sponsored health insurance. And the tradeoff for flat wages has been a better chance at staying employed: If companies are struggling, they can appeal for government funds to subsidize their workers’ salaries, helping to avoid layoffs.”

It is interesting that Germany arose out of the ashes after World War II and became the most prosperous country in Europe…  This is exactly what the Bible has said would happen…

Big Losses for Germany‘s Governmental Coaltion Party

The Local wrote on Septmeber 19:

“Germany’s Free Democrats are unrepentant after taking an electoral battering in the Berlin state poll on Sunday. After taking less than two percent of the vote, the Free Democratic Party (FDP) has been turfed out of the German capital’s state’s legislature. The miserable result caps a dismal year for the party, which suffered losses in seven separate elections.

“Merkel’s conservatives are now trying to calculate the damage the Berlin election may do to their centre-right alliance at the national level…”

Der Spiegel added on September 19:

“German commentators on Monday size up the meaning of Sunday’s vote for Merkel’s coalition, for the SPD and, with the stunning success of the Pirate Party, for Germany’s political landscape.

“The center-left daily Süddeutsche Zeitung writes: ‘Germans have never before experienced such a ruined government so early in a term. Of course it has always been the case that criticism of the national government is reflected in state results. That has occurred in (all of the state elections held this year)…’”

“The business daily Handelsblatt writes: ‘The repeated, considerable failure of the FDP on Sunday along with the modest result for Merkel’s CDU means yet another blow to Merkel’s national coalition…’”

The Pope’s Visit in Germany— Push for Unification of Christians

Deutsche Welle wrote on September 18:

“German Chancellor Merkel urged Christians to unite against the advance of secularism in a message ahead of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Germany [this] week, which has been widely criticized. In her weekly video podcast, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Christians to reflect on what unites them…

“‘I think it is important to constantly reinforce the unity of Christians at a time when we are confronted by a growing secularism,’ Merkel said. ‘What the Christian faith has in common should always be remembered,’ she said. ‘When the Pope visits Germany, he is also visiting the country of the Reformation,’ Merkel, the daughter of a Lutheran pastor who grew up in the Communist East added. Merkel said the Pope’s visit was a reminder of Germany and Europe’s Christian roots, giving the strength and inspiration to fight against all religious persecution. The 500th anniversary of the German Reformation will be in 2017…

“The Pope’s first state visit to his native Germany from September 22-25 will take him to the mostly atheist former East Germany. It will include an address in Berlin’s vast Nazi-era Olympic Stadium as well as a meeting in Erfurt, one-time home of Protestant reformer Martin Luther, to discuss ways Catholics and Protestants can work together…”

Please also note the next article. It may seem that unification of the Catholic and Protestant Churches is still a far way off, but this might not necessarily be the case…

The Pope’s Visit in Germany—The Catholic Church’s Conservative Stance

Der Spiegel wrote on September 20:

“When Joseph Ratzinger became pope in 2005, Catholics in Germany joyfully celebrated the first German pope in almost 500 years. Since then, the euphoria has turned to disappointment and disillusionment. Benedict XVI’s visit to Germany this week will do little to heal the deep divide between conservatives and reformers in the German Church…

“What will the German head of state [German President Wulff] and the leader of the Roman Catholic Church talk about when they meet for the first time… Will they talk about the fact that Wulff, a practicing Catholic, is divorced and remarried, a fact that, under the current rules of the Church, excludes him from receiving Communion?… Gerda Hasselfeldt, the Catholic chairwoman of the conservative Christian Social Union’s group in the Bundestag… is also divorced and has remarried. So has the leader of her party, Horst Seehofer, who also fathered an illegitimate child, and Oskar Lafontaine, the former co-chairman of the Left Party and a former Jesuit school pupil.

“Benedict [will] meet with Berlin’s openly gay Mayor, Klaus Wowereit. Will the pope encourage Wowereit, a Catholic and a member of the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) who has been living with his partner for years, to practice abstinence and not to act out his proclivities, as his church demands of all homosexuals? Luckily for the pope, he won’t have any problems with two other prominent people he will meet in Berlin. Chancellor Angela Merkel (remarried) and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle (gay) are both Protestants.

“But even those Catholics who seem to abide by all the rules aren’t truly reliable. One of his hosts in Berlin, Bundestag President Norbert Lammert, recently ruffled feathers at the Vatican when he and fellow Christian Democrat Annette Schavan, who is Germany’s education minister, together with other reformist Catholics, sent a letter to Germany’s bishops about the marriage ban for priests… The open criticism of the pope was not well received in Rome. Lammert’s appeal was an ‘insult to Jesus Christ,’ Cardinal Walter Brandmüller, a close associate of Benedict, thundered…

“Many of the people that Benedict will encounter during his visit are divorced, gay, in common-law marriages or uninterested in the Church’s ban on birth control. And even though they are Catholic, they do not see themselves as sinners. The pope, who rules the papal state as one of the last absolute monarchs on earth, will encounter a modern society with modern representatives….

“The pope and his fellow Germans are not on good terms… Ratzinger did not become the kindly, benign old prince of the church and bridge builder… they had wanted him to be. On the contrary, he proved to be more conservative than the Germans wanted to believe at first. He has never grown out of his former role of head of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith [formerly known as the Office of the Inquisition]…  Benedict is not leading his church into an open-minded future, but back into a narrow-minded past.

“The German pope, of all people, irritated Protestants by saying that their church is not a church ‘in the actual sense.’ He snubbed the Muslims with harsh words against the Prophet Muhammad. And he insulted the Jews by reinserting into the Good Friday liturgy, a prayer for the conversion of the Jews that one of Benedict’s predecessors, Paul VI, had removed as a gesture of reconciliation after the 1962-1965 Second Vatican Council.

“Instead, Ratzinger sent signals of understanding and sympathy to the conservative fringe of Catholicism. By currying favor with the traditionalist Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), he took the Church back in time and infuriated the overwhelming majority of Roman Catholics… The Vatican continues to reject artificial birth control, which it sees as cause for eternal punishment. Millions of AIDS deaths have done nothing to convince the keepers of Catholic sexual morality that condoms might be a good idea.

“Similarly, half of the Church’s members remain excluded from all leadership positions. Women cannot become priests, let alone bishops. The official Church still excludes lesbians and gays from its community… At the beginning of his career, Ratzinger held completely different views, views that were open-minded and liberal. At the Second Vatican Council in 1962, he and the prominent Swiss theologian Hans Küng were among those who sought to open up their fossilized church and fought against the Vatican’s claim to absolute authority.

“But the year 1968 became a turning point in Ratzinger’s life… Since then, Benedict has viewed the Catholic Church as the sole custodian of a divine truth…”

It should be understood that we are quoting the articles about the pope’s visit in Germany to show the current climate, as it pertains to the Catholic Church. We do not agree with certain positions of the Catholic Church, nor do we agree with certain voices of criticism. For example, while the Catholic Church’s teaching on birth control is unbiblical, its prohibition of practicing homosexuals or women in the priesthood is biblical.

In spite of all the criticism and current anti-Vatican feelings in large sections of the German population, it is very clear that the conservative stance of the pope will continue. At the same time, a push for unification between the Catholic and Protestant churches will increase–Angela Merkel’s “admonition” for unity in this regard is quite remarkable—and once the time has arrived when the leader of the Catholic Church will receive the power to work miracles, such as asking for fire to come down from heaven, then any disagreements with Roman Catholic dogma will soon be forgotten. The Bible prophesies that the whole world will follow and even worship that man—but ultimately, it will have a rude awakening.

The Pope’s Visit in Germany—Challenges and Opportunities

BBC News wrote on September 22:

“Benedict XVI, the German head of the Roman Catholic Church, has begun his first official visit to his home country as Pope. At Germany’s parliament he received a long round of applause from MPs – though some [mainly representatives from the Left and, to a lesser extent, from the Greens and the Social Democrats] boycotted the event. After arriving in Berlin, he called on Catholics disgusted by priestly abuse of children not to abandon the Church…

“The 84-year-old pontiff will travel widely across the country, where there are officially 25 million Catholics – one in three of the population. He has visited Germany unofficially several times since assuming the Church’s highest office…

“Chancellor Angela Merkel, daughter of a Lutheran pastor who grew up in East Germany, said Christian unity would be a focus of the Pope’s visit…

“A record 181,000 German Catholics officially quit the Church last year, a total for the first time higher than that for Protestants leaving their churches… Disgust at the Church’s handling of child sex abuse by clergy was one factor… [The pope said:] ‘The Church is a net of the Lord that pulls in good fish and bad fish. We have to learn to live with the scandals and work against the scandals from inside the great net of the Church’…

 “Mr Wulff referred to German Catholics alienated by the Church when he spoke during Thursday’s papal visit. ‘Many ask themselves how mercifully it treats people who have suffered break-ups in their own lives,’ the divorced [Catholic] president said…

“One of the highlights of the visit is a Mass to be held on Thursday evening at the Olympic Stadium. The stadium, where Hitler hosted the 1936 games, is now a popular sporting and entertainment venue, and some 70,000 people are expected to attend the Mass. Other events during the tour include a meeting with former [Catholic] Chancellor Helmut Kohl…”

In spite of the reports dealing with ongoing criticism, we should not underestimate the overwhelming and enthusiastic reception that the pope is receiving in Germany.  Mass tabloid Bild wrote in big letters: “We Are Pope.”  Many papers and magazines report on line in “live tickers” about every event and movement of the pope during his two-day stay. Catholic Bundestag President Norbert Lammert said, when welcoming the pope to the German Parliament: “Never before in history has a pope spoken in front of an elected German Parliament.”

According to Die Welt, Lammert added that we must not only talk about unification of the Catholic and the Protestant churches, but that we must do something to bring it about. During Angela Merkel’s and the pope’s private meeting prior to the pope’s speech before the German Parliament, the future of Europe was an important issue, according to Bild Online.

Deutsche Welle added on September 22:

“Amid gun salutes and military music, Pope Benedict XVI was greeted in Berlin on Thursday by German President Christian Wulff at his official residence, Schloss Bellevue… German President Christian Wulff greeted the pope with the words ‘welcome home, Holy Father!’ In his address, Wulff said that millions of people would be looking forward to his visit… Although Church and state are separated in Germany, he added, that did not mean that the Church was parallel to society – it was at the center of society. ‘Your visit will strengthen Christians and all people in Germany,’ Wulff told the pope.”

Those who have ears to hear should hear…

Lieberman Praises Obama for UN General Assembly Speech

Haaretz wrote on September 22:

“After perhaps the warmest pro-Israel speech given at an annual UN General Assembly meeting by any U.S. president, Barack Obama now has ‘seal of approval’ from no less an authority than Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.”

The article continued:

“…while posters plastered across New York City describe Obama as ‘not pro-Israel,’ inside the United Nations building in Turtle Bay, Obama delivered what is probably the warmest pro-Israel speech ever given at an annual UN General Assembly meeting by any U.S. president, bar none. Not only did Obama refrain from directly mentioning the 1967 borders, much to relief of the Israeli government, but to a large extent he also made up for what he allegedly left out in his famous Cairo speech, expressing his empathy with, and sympathy, for the trials and tribulations of the Jewish people and their Zionist dreams. In the eyes of his Israeli audience, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Obama’s speech was nearly faultless, an assessment which was subsequently confirmed by the harsh criticism leveled at it by Arab and Palestinian officials…

“The Americans hope that Obama’s firm stance, and the continued efforts to prevent the Palestinians from obtaining the nine votes required to force a U.S. veto, will persuade Abbas to settle for a symbolic move at the UN Security Council, and to refrain from going to the General Assembly where his victory is guaranteed. The price for such a move will be a renewed commitment to restarting negotiations with attached conditions that may not be so palatable to Netanyahu and Lieberman, including a definite timeline for ending talks such as the one mentioned yesterday by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Because even in Middle East diplomacy, when the party’s over, there is always the morning after and the hangover that accompanies it.”

“Sarkozy Breaks with Obama”

The New York Times wrote on September 21:

“President Nicolas Sarkozy of France broke sharply on Wednesday with the effort by the Obama administration and some Europeans to quash the effort by the Palestinians for recognition here, instead calling for enhancing their status in the General Assembly to that of an observer state.

“The French leader, speaking from the famous green marble podium of the General Assembly barely an hour after President Obama, also said it was time to change the formula in trying to negotiate an Arab-Israeli peace, taking an indirect swipe at the United States by saying the efforts so far were a complete failure… The timetable he suggested is resuming the negotiations in one month, agreeing on borders and security within six months and finishing a definitive agreement within one year…

“In the meantime, if the Palestinian effort at membership faces a Security Council veto, the deadly reverberations will be felt across the Arab world, Mr. Sarkozy warned… Most Israeli concern has focused on the possibility that making the Palestinians an observer state could enhance their ability to join the International Criminal Court and pursue Israeli leaders through ‘lawfare.’

“In choosing to go to the Security Council to seek full membership, Mr. Abbas chose a more difficult path but one that could get lost in the thicket of United Nations bureaucracy for months before the United States used its threatened veto. There is even a question if the Palestinians can muster the needed 9 votes. But the United States has no veto over a General Assembly resolution, and the Palestinians enjoy overwhelming support there…”

America and Israel vs. the Arab World

Newsmax wrote on September 21:

“President Barack Obama pressed Israel and the Palestinians on Wednesday to relaunch peace talks as he made a last-ditch attempt to avert a U.N. crisis over Palestinian statehood and pull his Middle East policy back from the brink of diplomatic disaster… Grappling with economic woes and low poll numbers at home and growing doubts about his leadership abroad, Obama is wading into Middle East diplomacy at a critical juncture for his presidency and America’s credibility around the globe.

“He faces the daunting challenge of reasserting Washington’s influence in the region… The drama over the Palestinian U.N. bid is playing out as U.S., Israeli and Palestinian leaders all struggle with the fallout from Arab uprisings that are raising new political tensions across the Middle East.

“It also comes as Israel finds itself more isolated than it has been in decades and confronts Washington with the risk that, by again shielding its close ally, the United States will inflame Arab distrust when Obama’s outreach to the Muslim world is already faltering.”

The Role of Turkey and Iran in the Middle East

WorldNetDaily wrote on September 21:

“Iran has begun to increase its strategic relationship with Russia… Analysts confirm Turkey and Iran generally have enjoyed close ties and cooperate in a variety of fields including trade, economic relations, fighting terrorism, drug trafficking and promoting stability in Iraq and Central Asia.

“Turkey has been strengthening its ties to Iran and other countries in the East, attempting to re-establish its historical influence, since the Muslim government of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan came to power in 2002… Turkey has been a strong supporter of Iran’s right to develop nuclear energy… Erdogan’s most recent visit to Cairo demonstrated Turkey’s interest in filling that void with a fellow Muslim country left by the greatly diminished influence of the United States and European countries there.

“Regional sources point out that Erdogan has embarked on a ‘revolution tour’ not only in Egypt but also in Tunisia and Libya… Ironically, Israelis are comparing Erdogan with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who similarly seeks to cast Tehran’s influence in the Sunni Arab world. Iran is accepting credit for the various Arab revolts, comparing them to Iran’s own 1979 Islamic revolution.”

Setback for Peace in Afghanistan

The New York Times reported on September 20:

“The most prominent Afghan official trying to negotiate a reconciliation with the Taliban was assassinated Tuesday night by a suicide bomber with explosives tucked in his turban who had been brought to his home by a trusted emissary, officials said. The assassination was a potentially devastating blow to the Afghan-led peace process aimed at ending 10 years of war.

“The main victim of the attack, Burhanuddin Rabbani, was the leader of the High Peace Council, and had been tasked with reaching out to the Taliban for ways to resolve the conflict. Mr. Rabbani was also a former president of Afghanistan, and news of his death sent shock waves through the Afghanistan government just as President Hamid Karzai was at the United Nations General Assembly. Mr. Karzai was cutting short his trip to head home, aides said…

“[Rabbani] was killed a week after Taliban insurgents orchestrated a surprise attack on several Kabul neighborhoods that demonstrated the seeming ease with which they can strike, despite ambitious efforts by the American-led NATO forces here to improve security and persuade Taliban insurgents to engage in negotiations to end the war.

“The Taliban attacks have called into question the basic readiness of President Karzai’s forces to assume security in the country as the foreign military forces gradually withdraw, as they have pledged to do by the end of 2014. The killing of Mr. Rabbani was the third time in three months that a high-ranking Afghan official was assassinated in a place that was supposed to be secure, infiltrating the coteries of guards and walled compounds that surround Afghan politicians.”

The Curse of War

ABC News reported on September 19:

“Beginning with his service in World War II, [singer Tony] Bennett said that his experiences as a teenager in combat forever changed his position on war… Drafted by the U.S. Army in November 1944, Bennett served as an infantryman in Europe, moving across France, and later into Germany. ‘The Germans were frightened. We were frightened. Nobody wanted to kill anybody when we were on the line, but the weapons were so strong that it overcame us and everybody else.’

“Bennett credited the Army with allowing him to study singing under the GI Bill. He also admitted that his two years of service gave him enough time to witness the horrors of war. ‘The first time I saw a dead German, that’s when I became a pacifist,’ he said [and] that he was left forever shaken by the sight of death. ‘It was a nightmare that’s permanent,’ he said…”

Christ told us that no one knows the DAY of His return. He even said that He Himself does not know the DAY, nor the angels, but the Father alone. The reason is that it is within the Father’s sole authority to decide when the day of Christ’s return has come.

Note what we said in one of our Q&As, addressing certain numbers in the book of Daniel, and answering the question as to whether the 1,260 days, 1,290 days and 1,335 days mentioned there show us exactly when Christ will return:

“… we do not know the exact day of Christ’s return. Matthew 24:44 reads: ‘Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’ In Mark 13:32-33, we read Christ’s words: ‘But of that DAY and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.’ Neither Christ, nor God’s angels, nor we ‘know’ [present tense!] the DAY and the HOUR of His coming. Christ seems to be saying that we won’t know the exact time — a phrase broader than just a 24-hour-day. The reason for this conclusion is given in Acts 1:6-7:

“‘Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” [They understood that Christ would establish the Kingdom of God on this earth, when He returns.] And He said to them, “It is not for you to know TIMES or SEASONS which the Father has put in His own authority.”’

“It is the FATHER’S decision to determine when exactly to send Jesus Christ back to this earth. That is the reason why even Jesus Christ does not know the EXACT time. All attempts to figure out the exact time are also futile in light of Christ’s words in Matthew 24:21-22: ‘For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were SHORTENED, no flesh would be saved [alive]: but for the elect’s sake those days will be SHORTENED.’

“Some have speculated that Christ will return exactly three-and-a-half years after the beginning of the Great Tribulation (and the Church’s protection at a place of safety). This does not take into account, however, that these last days will be shortened. We also read in Hosea 6:1-2: ‘Come, and let us return to the LORD; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; On the third day [not: AFTER three-and-a-half prophetic days or years] He will raise us up.’”

Some have taught that Christ will come back on the Day of Pentecost, or on the Day of Trumpets, or on the Day of Atonement.

Regarding the Day of Pentecost, please read our booklet, “The Meaning of God’s Spring Holy Days” and the Q&A on the firstfruits. The Day of Pentecost pictures the spiritual begettal of God’s disciples—the firstfruits–and their receipt of the Holy Spirit in this day and age. It does not picture the birth of God’s firstfruits as Spirit beings in the first resurrection. One reason is that the two loaves, representing the firstfruits, which had to be presented to the LORD on the Day of Pentecost, had to be baked with leaven (compare Leviticus 23:17). Leaven symbolizes sin. Today, converted Christians still sin, but once they are born again in the Kingdom or Family of God and have become God, they will not and cannot sin anymore. Therefore, the Day of Pentecost does not represent the resurrection and change of God’s saints to eternal life in God’s Family, and it is therefore very unlikely that Christ will return on that day.

It is true that the Feast of Trumpets represents Christ’s Return and the resurrection of the saints, which will occur when the seventh trumpet sounds. But the Feast of Trumpets represents much more. On that day, not just one trumpet was blown, but the Levites blew several trumpets. In the book of Revelation, we read that seven seals will be opened, and the seventh seal consists of seven trumpets, which will be blown by seven angels. But these seven trumpets, which are all pictured by the Feast of Trumpets, will not be blown in just one day, but for a longer time. Also, even when the seventh or last trumpet sounds, the events that will occur at that time will take longer than just 24 hours. All the events that are described to occur during the blowing of the seven trumpets and even the seventh trumpet cannot possibly just occur during a 24 hour-time span allotted to the Feast of Trumpets.

Please see the time sequence of events pictured by the seven trumpets, as explained in our Q&A

“The SEVENTH seal consists of SEVEN TRUMPETS, which are blown by seven angels (Revelation 8:2, 6). The first FOUR trumpets are described in Revelation 8:7-12.

“(7.1) The FIRST TRUMPET

“It describes, what appears to be, a firestorm destroying one third of all trees and of the grass (compare Revelation 8:7)

“(7.2) The SECOND TRUMPET

“It depicts, what appears to be, a huge burning meteorite falling into the sea, destroying one third of all sea creatures and one third of all the ocean ships (Revelation 8:8-9).

“(7.3) The THIRD TRUMPET

“It describes, what appears to be, another huge fiery comet or asteroid, destroying or poisoning one third of all the sweet drinking water (Revelation 8:10-11).

“(7.4) The FOURTH TRUMPET

“It brings further cosmic disturbances, blocking one third of the light of the sun, moon and stars (Revelation 8:12-13).

“Revelation 8:13 speaks of the last three remaining trumpets as the last ‘three woes’—because of their great and extreme severity.

“(7.5) The FIFTH TRUMPET (the ‘first woe’)

“The first of the last three woes—or the fifth trumpet—is described in Revelation 9:1-12. It identifies the final resurrection of the Roman Empire, coming out of a ‘bottomless pit’ (Revelation 9:1-3, compare Revelation 11:7; 17:8), an end-time European power bloc, referred to as the ‘beast’ elsewhere. It is depicted to be at war with other nations. Its instruments of war are symbolically portrayed as ‘locusts’ (Revelation 9:3) or helicopters, causing pain and harm on humans for five months, without killing them (Revelation 9:4-5, 10). The real ruler of this power bloc is ‘the angel of the bottomless pit’ (Revelation 9:11)–Satan the devil. This war occurs after the Great Tribulation—after the time of war between Europe and the modern nations of the houses of Israel and Judah. By that time, the modern nations of the houses of Israel and Judah will already be destroyed, and their surviving people will have become captives of this European power. The war depicted in Revelation 9 is alluded to more fully in Daniel 11, commencing with verse 41.

“(7.6) The SIXTH TRUMPET (the ‘second woe’)

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

“(7.7) The SEVENTH TRUMPET (the ‘third woe’)

“The third woe or the seventh trumpet is not described until Revelation 16. Previous chapters are interludes—flashbacks—setting the stage for the climax of the last or seventh trumpet, as identified in Revelation 16 (compare Revelation 10:7).

“The seventh trumpet of the seventh seal consists of SEVEN LAST PLAGUES, which are described in Revelation 16:1-21. Seven angels pour out these seven last plagues, also referred to as the seven bowls of the wrath of God (Revelation 15:7; 16:1).

“(7.7.1) The FIRST OF THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES or bowls:

“It causes ‘a foul and loathsome sore’ on those who worship the beast and its image, and who have accepted the mark of the beast (Revelation 16:2).

“(7.7.2) The SECOND OF THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES or bowls:

“It causes every living creature in the sea to die (Revelation 16:3).

“(7.7.3) The THIRD OF THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES or bowls:

“It causes the sweet water supply to become ‘blood’—that is, undrinkable (Revelation 16:4-7).

“(7.7.4) The FOURTH OF THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES or bowls:

“It brings about increased solar radiation which horribly scorches mankind. Despite this punishment from God for their sins, man will not repent, but rather blaspheme God (Revelation 16:8-9).

“(7.7.5) The FIFTH OF THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES or bowls:

“It causes total darkness to cover the Headquarters of the beast—again, people will blaspheme God and will refuse to repent even then (Revelation 16:10-11).

“(7.7.6) The SIXTH OF THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES or bowls:

“It will dry up the waters of the ‘great river Euphrates’ (Revelation 16:12) to enable the ‘kings from the east’ to advance to the place of ‘Armageddon’ (Revelation 16:16) to ‘gather’ there in preparation for ‘the battle of that great day of God Almighty’ (Revelation 16:14, 16). These kings from the east, as well as all the other kings of the earth, will be influenced by Satan and the demonically possessed beast and the false prophet (Revelation 16:13-14). All of them will gather at ‘Armageddon’ or the ‘hill of Megiddo’ (‘har’ meaning ‘hill’ in Hebrew), about 55 miles or 90 kilometers north of Jerusalem, and about 15 miles or 25 kilometers inland from the Mediterranean Sea. Megiddo is a huge mound with a commanding view of the long and fertile valley of Jezreel—an ideal place for armies gathering there. Then, they will converge from there on Jerusalem to fight the returning Christ. We don’t read that there will be a battle at Armageddon—the battle will be fought farther south in the valley of Jehoshaphat, which is called today the ‘Kidron Valley,’ bordering Jerusalem on the east.

“(7.7.7) The SEVENTH OF THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES or bowls:

“It causes a tremendous earthquake to shake the earth ‘as had not occurred since men were on the earth’ (Revelation 16:17-18; compare Isaiah 2:12-19; 13:6-13; 24:1-20), causing the ‘great city’ of Jerusalem to be ‘divided into three parts’ and ‘all the cities of the nations’ to fall (Revelation 16:19). Further, every island disappears, and mountains are leveled (Revelation 16:20). A great hail of tremendous size destroys everything in its path. Again, man will not repent, but blaspheme God because of the hail (Revelation 16:21).

“To obtain the entire picture of the events at the time of Christ’s return, we need to consider additional passages.

“The battle in the valley of Jehoshaphat and the mighty earthquake are more fully described in the nineteenth chapter of the book of Revelation, which describes the return of Jesus Christ (Chapters 17 and 18 are again interludes—flashbacks—setting the stage for the climax of the destruction of this world’s civilization–called ‘Babylon’–which is being dominated or influenced by a military-economic and religious power).

“Chapter 19 describes the returning Jesus Christ, riding on a white horse, to establish the government of God here on earth (Revelation 19:6, 11, 14-15).

“When the seventh angel sounds and when Christ returns, the saints–converted Christians–will be resurrected to immortality, if they have died, or they will be changed to immortality, if they are still alive (1 Corinthians 15:50-56; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). They will at that time be born again and inherit salvation, by entering the Kingdom or very Family of God. They will meet Christ in the air and descend with Him on that same day on the Mount of Olives. Zechariah 14:3-5 indicates that, apparently due to the great earthquake of the seventh bowl, mentioned in Revelation 16:17-18, the Mount of Olives shall split in two, making a very large valley, where the final battle of God Almighty will take place.

“Christ will overcome the armies which will be trying to fight Him, as well as the modern leaders of modern ‘Babylon’–the military ruler (‘the beast’) and the religious leader (‘the false prophet’) (compare Revelation 19:19-21). The destruction of the armies is more fully described in Zechariah 14:12, 15. The beast and the false prophet will be cast into ‘the lake of fire burning with brimstone’ (Revelation 19:20).

“Revelation 19:7-9 also states that Christ will come to ‘marry’ His ‘wife’—His Church—and that those are blessed ‘who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ Other passages shed more light on this marriage and the marriage supper, compare Matthew 22:1-14; 25:1-13; Luke 12:35-38; 13: 25-30.

“Beginning with Revelation 20, further events are described, which will occur after Christ has returned to this earth. An angel will bind and imprison Satan and his demons for 1000 years or a ‘millennium,’ so that Satan cannot deceive mankind during that period (Revelation 20:1-4; compare also Revelation 12:9). The immortal saints will rule with and under Christ on and over this earth for those thousand years (Revelation 20: 5-6; Daniel 7: 22, 27). The results of this rulership will be peace, prosperity and a correct understanding of God and His ways (Isaiah 2:2-4; 9: 6-7; 11:1-10; 35:1-10; Amos 9:13-15; Micah 4:1-5). Ultimately, the saints will reign under God ‘for ever and ever’ (Revelation 22:5)…”

Some might say: But did not critical events take place prior to Christ’s return exactly on the corresponding day and at the time pictured by the annual Holy Days? And will not exactly the same happen in the future?

The answer to these questions is: Not necessarily.

For instance, the Day of Passover is to be observed at the beginning of the 14th of Nisan, when the Old Testament Passover lamb was slain during the two evenings (after sunset and before nightfall), and its remains were to be burned in the morning. But Christ, our true Passover Lamb, did not die on the evening of the 14th of Nisan, nor was He buried in the morning of the Passover Day. Rather, He died several hours later, in the afternoon of the 14th of Nisan, and He was buried just before sunset at the end of the 14th of Nisan. Passover pictures the death of Christ, the true Passover Lamb, and Christ died on the Passover Day, but He did not die exactly at the time when the Old Testament Passover lambs died; that is, He did not die at the beginning of the Passover day, but towards the end.

Jewish tradition states that the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and that Jericho fell on the Last Day of Unleavened Bread, but the Bible does not specifically say so. Even though it is entirely likely that these events took place on that annual Holy Day, if it was critically important that those events did take place then, the Bible would have told us that.

Jewish tradition also states that God proclaimed the Law of the Ten Commandments to Israel on the Day of Pentecost, but, again, even though it is very likely that this is true, the Bible does not specifically say so.

Many claim, based on Jewish tradition, that the Messiah will come on the Feast of Trumpets, but the Bible does not specifically say that, either. Further, let us consider this:

The Day of Atonement, which is celebrated ten days after the Feast of Trumpets, pictures the replacement and banishment of Satan, but this does not mean that Christ will wait ten days after His return before He will banish Satan, allowing him to rule mankind for another ten days after Christ’s return. Some even suggest that the ten days stand for ten years. Are we to assume that Christ will allow Satan to rule ten more years after Christ’s return, before he will be imprisoned?

The First Day of the Feast of Tabernacles is celebrated five days after the Day of Atonement. The Feast of Tabernacles pictures the Millennium, when Christ rules on earth, together with the immortal saints. But we are not to assume that Christ and the saints will have to wait fifteen days after Christ’s return and their resurrection and change to eternal life, and five days after Satan’s banishment, before they will begin to rule here on earth.  Some even say that the fifteen days from the Feast of Trumpets to the First Day of the Feast of Tabernacles represent fifteen years. But are we to assume that Christ and the saints will wait fifteen years before they begin to rule on earth?

The Feast of Tabernacles lasts one week or seven days and pictures God’s rule on and over the earth for a thousand years. It is obvious that thousand years of godly rule cannot be compressed into one week. Rather, the Feast of Tabernacles just pictures the time of the Millennium.

Also, the Last Great Day or the Eighth Day, immediately following the Feast of Tabernacles, pictures the Second and even the Third Resurrections. (For more information on the Second and Third Resurrections, please read our free booklet, “Is That in the Bible? The Mysteries of the Book of Revelation!”). But these events do not take place in just one day—rather, they comprise a period of more than 100 years.

The weekly Sabbath and the annual Holy Days picture certain events in God’s master plan for mankind. It is not necessary that the events pictured by the particular Holy Days occur on those very days—in some cases, that would be quite impossible. Even though God’s master plan existed since the creation of man, the annual Holy Days were made for the nation of Israel—the Church in the wilderness (Acts 7:38, Authorized Version)—and the New Testament Church of God—spiritual Israel. They did not exist when man was created; some of them came into existence at the time when Israel was about to be freed from Egyptian captivity (compare Exodus 12), and others came into existence later (compare the list of God’s annual Holy Days in Leviticus 23).

(Compare our Q&A, asking and answering the question: “Were the Holy Days given at the time of Moses actually observed before—including even in the times before the flood?”)

In conclusion, as members of the Church of God, we are duty-bound to observe today God’s annual Holy Days, as we obey God’s instruction in this regard. The Holy Days remind us of God’s plan for us and for all of mankind. They are picturing seven steps in God’s master plan, but they do not necessarily tell us the exact days or hours when  those steps were or will be implemented. Since we know that the steps pertaining to Pentecost have already been implemented, we can say that it is highly unlikely that Christ will come back on the Day of Pentecost. As Christ will banish Satan, after He has returned, it is unlikely that He will return on the Day of Atonement, which pictures Satan’s banishment. However, for all the foregoing reasons explained in this Q&A, we should not state dogmatically that Christ will come back on the Feast of Trumpets, and worse yet, attach a particular year to the Feast of Trumpets, and say, “Christ will come back on the Feast of Trumpets in the year of…”

Remember, Christ clearly told us: “But of that DAY and hour [of His return] no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32).

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

A new StandingWatch program was posted on our Web site (www.standingwatch.org) and on YouTube, titled, “USA and Israel in Isolation.”  The international media speaks of the decline of the USA as a superpower, stating that it is demoralized, deeply divided, and at war with itself. It is also claimed that the USA has fought the wrong wars and that it has become estranged from the rest of the world, unable to fulfill its historical mission of shaping the world. At the same time, the state of Israel is isolated in facing Iran, Turkey and Egypt, and President Abbas’ anticipated application to the UN Security Council for a Palestinian state, which is expected to be vetoed by the USA, will create further problems in the Middle East. Why is all of this happening?

A new German sermon titled, “Die USA und Grossbritannien in der Bibel, Teil 2” [“The USA and Great Britain in the Bible, Part 2”], was posted on YouTube and on our German Web site (www.aufpostenstehen.de).

by Louise Amorelli

One evening, I watched a public television special about natural disasters. The show touched upon what material possessions meant the most to people, when they needed to evacuate their homes. What do people really consider as being valuable or priceless, when it comes down to the “nitty-gritty,” and when there is little that they can actually take with them? The results of those findings were quite interesting.

Of course, the experts pointed out that people should have an evacuation plan as well as an emergency list of important papers and monetary items, etc., to take with them, when and if the time comes for them to evacuate. But the experts found that along with those items, people took those physical possessions that have the most meaning to them and are the closest to their heart. It did not matter how small, how insignificant and how valuable the items were. What mattered most was the sentiment that physical objects meant to that person–the memories attached to them.

In light of the most recent hurricane Irene that my husband, my family and I were directly involved in, I also had to evaluate the things most important to me. Thankfully, we experienced no injuries and no damage to our homes or possessions, and we did not have to evacuate to a shelter, although it was quite close to that. But I now have the time to meditate and reflect on what items would be closest to my heart.

While the PBS program made me realize that it is the “little” things that are most important to people, as a Christian, I have to think even deeper than that. What is most important to me?  What is “priceless” to me?? Although I do have possessions that carry a “priceless tag” and are close to my heart, they will not last forever. God’s Holy Spirit, and my calling, is what is truly priceless. If I stand strong in my calling, I will eventually be able to teach others as well as to what is truly priceless–the gift of eternal life, that stands the test of time.

On September 17, 2011, Dave Harris will give the sermon, titled, “In Times of Trouble.”

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.

Those in this age who wield power in government, business, religion and virtually every walk of life are not governed—first and foremost—by truth!
 
What the actual state of a matter is; what can stand the test of verification; what the real facts are—all that denotes and defines truth is simply not held in godly esteem by society!
 
We live in a time in which deception supersedes truth, and it does so because Satan, who is the father of lies (John 8:44), powerfully influences mankind. However, there are some who don’t believe the innumerable falsehoods permeating our world—they are the ones who are governed by truth:
 
“We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:19-20; compare, also, John 14:6).
 
Jesus said, “‘And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:32).
 
That freedom comes because we have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling in us and opening our understanding to His Word, and His is the Spirit of truth (compare John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13; and 1 John 4:6). Jesus asked that His followers be set apart by God’s truth, and He further stated: “‘…Your word is truth’” (John 17:17).
 
Jesus also had to contend with the Adversary, and Satan’s method for tempting Christ was to lie—he misquoted Scripture, trying to give a deceptive application, but that did not work and this is what Jesus gave in answer:
 
“‘…It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”’” (Matthew 4:4).
 
As we see, Satan sought to destroy Jesus Christ—just as he now particularly seeks to destroy the people of God (compare 1 Peter 5:8-9). Attacks against the Church of God by Satan have continued, and we have been warned of this (compare Matthew 24:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; 1 Timothy 4:1-3).
 
Withstanding deception is no inconsequential matter!
 
Our battle can only be won when we stand up for and stand in the truth of God—the truth we know!

We begin with a critical commentary on the recent Tea Party debate of Republican Presidential candidates; reflect on the tenth anniversary of terrorist attacks on September 11; show the continued decline and isolation of the world’s only current superpower; focus on the isolation of the state of Israel and Turkey’s rise to influence in the Arab world; and conclude with describing the increasing difficulties between European Eurozone and non-Eurozone countries, and the uncertain future of Greece.

What Does the Future Hold for the USA?

We know that the USA is in deep trouble, and some hope that a change in leadership would turn everything around. Judging by the increasingly hot exchange and performances of the leading Republican Presidential candidates during the Tea Party debate on September 12, which was hosted by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, there is, sadly, not much evidence for such hope. We are highlighting some of the divisive positions embraced by the leading candidates:

USA Today reported on September 12:

“At a raucous, Tea Party-fueled debate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry proved his freshly minted front-runner status: Mitt Romney blasted him on Social Security, Rick Santorum on immigration and Michele Bachmann on a controversial executive order he signed as governor.

“Perry… dodged a question, pressed by Romney, of whether he believes the retirement program should be returned to the states, as he suggested in a book he wrote last year. Perry said it was time for ‘thoughtful conversations with Americans, rather than trying to scare seniors, as you’re doing.’ ‘The term “Ponzi scheme” is what scared seniors,’ said Romney, the former Massachusetts governor. That was a reference to a phrase Perry used at his national debut at a California debate last week.

“After two debates in six days, Social Security is the fundamental issue dividing the pair of contenders at the top of national polls: Perry, who calls for a sweeping overhaul, though he hasn’t provided details about what he would do. And the more cautious Romney, who embraces the program as crucial though he says changes are needed to ensure its long-term stability.

“Perry also stuck to his guns on immigration, the issue on which he is most at odds with his conservative base. Under fire by Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator, Perry defended allowing illegal immigrants in Texas to pay in-state tuition…

“And he had a sharp exchange with Bachmann… The Minnesota congresswoman blistered Perry for signing an executive order that required girls in Texas to receive inoculations for human papilloma virus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease, and suggested it was linked to campaign contributions he had received from a drug manufacturer.”

There was also some debate about America’s future military involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, and both Romney and Perry stated that America must soon withdraw. Obamacare was raised, and Bachmann, a lawyer, pointed out that Perrycare and Romneycare don’t differ much from Obamacare, and that all three approaches must be rejected. The concept of a presidential executive order was discussed, and Texas Rep. Ron Paul was cheered when he opposed both Romney and Perry, stating that an executive order must never be used to legislate an issue. However, he was booed when he suggested that the attack on September 11 was, in part, caused by American politics.

The remaining candidates seemed to play a more marginal role. Even though businessman Herman Cain and former House speaker Newt Gingrich drew some supporting laughs and applause, it is not expected that either one will win the Republican nomination. Rather, the increasingly hot battle between Perry and Romney (and perhaps Bachmann) will continue, which only shows once more the divisions which are plaguing this country.

Under “normal” circumstances, it would not be expected that President Obama will be re-elected. As Newsmax reported on September 12:

“Democrats worry that Obama, 50, is politically vulnerable in next year’s election with the unemployment rate at 9.1 percent last month and approval ratings near lows of his presidency. Since World War II, no U.S. president has won re-election with a jobless rate above 6 percent, with the exception of Reagan, who faced 7.2 percent unemployment on Election Day in 1984 after the rate had dropped more than three percentage points during the previous two years he was in office. The median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg predicts a rate at 8.6 percent in the third quarter of next year, just prior to the election.”

However, these are not “normal” times, and when Republican candidates continue to devour each other, this won’t help them. Some feel that there is now a need for a third party. But this won’t help the situation either. The ONLY real solution for America’s ongoing troubles is the RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST to make an end with man’s futile political attempts, and to establish the GOVERNMENT OF GOD here on earth. Thank God that this will happen soon. Please note also the following articles.

Perry’s Biggest Problem

The Washington Post wrote on September 14:

“[Governor Perry’s] biggest problem… is his executive order requiring preteen girls in Texas to be immunized against a disease that causes cervical cancer, a decision that the religious right didn’t like and that Perry now says was a mistake. The dangerous charge here is influence-peddling. He issued the order after he was lobbied by his former chief of staff, who went to work for Merck, the drug company that makes the vaccine. It turns out Perry has received almost $30,000 in contributions from Merck over the years (not just the $5,000 he mentioned in the debate), and his ties to Merck have been documented to run deeper than that.

“Perry’s response to the pay-for-play intimation from Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) was one of the worst of its sort ever offered by a politician. ‘The company was Merck, and it was a $5,000 contribution that I had received from them,’ Perry declared. ‘I raise about $30 million. And if you’re saying that I can be bought for $5,000, I’m offended.’ The question this raised in a listener’s mind was: So how much can you be bought for? That question will linger…

“Moderate politicians have been drummed out of the party or silenced as its leaders have played ball with the extremists throughout Obama’s term… Rick Perry — if he doesn’t self-destruct — will be able to tell [conservatives] he is the guy who can destroy the Great Society, the New Deal and the Progressive Era with one decisive blow. And no establishment will be there to stop him.”

In this context, please read the article about Rick Perry in our Current Events Section in Update #497, titled, “Bilderberg Holds True Power in America?” Also pay close attention to the next article.

Rick Perry “Destined” to Become US President?

The Washington Post wrote on September 14:

“Texas Gov. Rick Perry is a man of faith… he demonstrated Wednesday that he would not shy away from cloaking his candidacy in his Christianity, delivering an address here at the late Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University that presented his life in deeply spiritual terms and cast his political aspirations as destiny… the evangelical Christian governor spoke the language of the movement with ease… knowing that God’s answers would be revealed to him in due time… Before he launched his campaign in August, Perry drew 30,000 people to a revival prayer session at a Houston stadium…

“Recent past presidents spoke comfortably about their faith, including George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. Bush shared a powerful narrative of his religious conversion — that he went on a walk with Billy Graham, joined a Bible study group in Midland, Tex., and overcame his alcoholism… A lifelong Methodist, Perry regularly attends Lake Hills Church… He usually prays before meals and, as governor, has spoken at prayer services and has issued executive orders to pray for rain…”

Violence Fought with Violence…

Der Spiegel Online wrote on September 11:

“Ten years have passed since Sept. 11, 2001, and today only losers remain. Islam has been taken hostage by blinded ideologues. The West has betrayed its values in its struggle against terror, and we are now burdened with Islamophobes… What remains etched in our minds, 10 years after the fact? Two images tell the entire story. One is of the burning Twin Towers and the other of a prisoner being tortured in Abu Ghraib. This is the iconography of human insanity: the horrific crime in New York and the horrific crime of the war against terror. Violence was fought with violence, only to generate even more violence.

“Anyone who believed that people had learned something from the wars of the 20th century was promptly disabused of that notion at the beginning of the new millennium. In fact, we have learned nothing. We are still all too willing to exterminate each other, even with our bare hands. And we always have good reasons to do so. We are always in the right…

“The roughly 3,000 people who died on Sept. 11 were followed by more than 6,000 dead American soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq, countless civilian victims, 5 million refugees and costs currently estimated at more than $3 trillion (€2.13 trillion)…

“It is correct that not even the great flood managed to wash away all evil from the earth. In the end, God said…, as it is written in the First Book of Moses: ‘I will henceforth curse the ground no more for man’s cause, for the imagination of man’s heart is evil, even from his youth.’ But what Franz Kafka describes in ‘The Trial’ as the most horrible thing of all, namely that ‘the lie has become the order of the world,’ will not prevail in the long run…”

And that is true. Today, lie is the order of the world, because this world is ruled by Satan the devil, the father of lies (see the Editorial in this week’s Update). But Christ will replace Satan, when He returns to this earth to establish the Kingdom and Government of God; all lies will be replaced by truth; and man’s evil heart of stone will be changed to a heart of flesh.

America’s Gradual Decline

Der Spiegel Online wrote on September 11:

“America remains for me an unbelievably beautiful country where the smartest people that one can find on God’s earth live and teach. And it still holds true that this superpower saved Europe from self-destruction during the two world wars. But what became of it after 1945? After 1945, America has in truth only served to fight the wrong wars in the wrong places and for the wrong reasons.

“There were the two McCarthy-era wars in Korea and Vietnam. In Korea, the absolute rulers in the north and the south wanted to go to war with each other at any cost… In the end, the cost in blood to the Americans was horribly high… Vietnam was merely an escalation of the Korean War… Afterwards, America became a demoralized country, driven crazy by a world that had stripped it of its hegemonic role…

“Afghanistan also falls into this category of the wrong wars in the wrong places at the wrong time. It is a country that can be conquered but cannot be ruled. That’s why the conquerors always withdraw eventually. When America fell into the trap, it joined a long list of countries that had made the same mistake.

“Naturally the Iraq war made me take a different look at the earlier wars… First Iraq would become a democracy, then Syria, and so on. They wanted to change the world and actively impose their ideology on others. It was probably the last time that America would try to fulfil its historical mission of shaping the world according to its own vision of what it should be.

“Today we know that it was the global power’s last gasp… Barack Obama… is left with administering the country’s gradual decline. He will go down in history as the president who ended two wars, in Afghanistan and Iraq. And probably also as the president who failed to lead his country out of recession…”

These statements are quite interesting in light of the Church of God’s long-held and unwavering pronouncements for over sixty years that with World War II, the USA has won its last war. The reason is that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who had blessed this country due to unconditional promises which He had given to Abraham because of his obedience, began to withdraw His blessings, due to our sins and rebellion against Him. Please note the next article, which also describes America’s lost wars and the growing isolation of the USA.

America’s Growing Isolation

Der Spiegel Online wrote on September 11:

“It is the history of the decline of the USA as a superpower. Immediately before the attacks, this country was in full bloom — like Rome at its peak… Then came the planes, piloted by the followers of Osama bin Laden — and for a brief moment, the superpower seemed even more powerful than ever… America was trapped in Iraq for years, where a victory was a long time coming and was never a real one. It is currently trapped in Afghanistan, where victory no longer even seems possible…

“Today… the US is a deeply divided country… The country is at war with itself. It has a Congress where there is perpetual conflict between the right and the left — and where they don’t even want to talk to each other when the threat of a national bankruptcy looms…

“The US has become estranged from the rest of the world. It is partly its own fault, but the rest of the world also shares some of the blame — because many only see America as a perpetrator, and no longer regard it as a victim…”

The Bible tells us that ultimately, the USA, Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand (modern descendants of the ancient house of Israel) as well as the Jewish people (the descendants of the house of Judah), will be hated by all nations. We are presenting articles throughout this Current Events section, showing how these prophecies are beginning to come to pass.

Turk-Israeli Relationship at an All-Time Low

The Sydney Morning Herald wrote on September 11:

“Turkey has raised the prospect of a naval confrontation with Israel by announcing it will deploy warships to protect humanitarian convoys attempting to breach the maritime blockade of Gaza. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan defended the move as a necessary response after Israel refused to apologise for the deaths of nine Turks killed during an operation to intercept a Gaza-bound aid flotilla last year. The threat is the most dangerous escalation yet in a rapidly deteriorating diplomatic row between the former allies that has already seen Turkey expel Israel’s ambassador and suspend all military ties… Israel described the latest development as ‘grave and serious’.

“Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman is [reportedly] considering meeting and possibly even financing Turkey’s Kurdish rebel movement, a move that would incense Mr Erdogan’s government. Mr Erdogan, meanwhile, is to visit Cairo… amid concern in Israel that he may seek an alliance with the aim of increasing the Jewish state’s isolation. The visit will be the first by a Turkish leader to Egypt for 15 years.”

The Bible prophesies a terrible violent confrontation between Turkey and Israel. Note the next article as well.

Turkey Pushes Palestinian Statehood

BBC wrote on September 13:

“Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that recognition of a Palestinian state is an obligation not an option. He told the Arab League that before the year’s end ‘we will see Palestine in a very different situation’. Mr Erdogan made a new attack on Israel, saying its government’s mentality was a barrier to peace in the Middle East. The Palestinians are currently preparing a bid for United Nations membership despite Israeli and US opposition.

“Mr Erdogan is in Egypt as part of a tour of three Arab states that recently ousted their leaders, in an attempt to improve Turkey’s standing in the region… The Turkish leader, who has won popularity among Arabs for his denunciations of Israel, was earlier met by an enthusiastic crowd in Cairo. Mr Erdogan called for support for the Palestinians’ attempt to achieve recognition at the UN… That Mr Erdogan bashed Israel again surprised no-one. It is the key to Mr Erdogan’s extraordinary popularity in the Arab world… But he went much further, presenting himself as a champion of change everywhere in the region.”

Israel in Isolation

Haaretz wrote on September 10:

“The political crisis has become a reality well before the Palestinians declare their independent state, writes Haaretz editor-in-chief Aluf Benn, leaving Israel isolated in facing Iran, Turkey and Egypt.
 
“The anxiety caused by the Arab Spring among the Israeli public became a reality this weekend, when protesters broke into the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, and expelled the Israeli diplomats from their country… The historians who will write about the collapse of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty will start their stories during the twilight years of the Mubarak regime, when the government gradually lost control over the Sinai Peninsula, turning the desert into an abandoned frontier of weapons smuggling, human trafficking, and African refugees.

“… a week after the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador from Ankara… the Israeli ambassador was expelled from Cairo… Netanyahu now hopes that Israel might be able to get close with Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf States, who also seek to block the possibility of an Arab Spring in the region. In the West, Netanyahu is hoping to circumvent Turkey by strengthening ties with Greece, Bulgaria and Romania…

“The political tsunami that Ehud Barak foresaw has come true prior to the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state in the UN. Israel is left isolated facing Iran, Turkey and Egypt, which in the past were considered close allies… Israel cannot prevent the rise of Erdogan or the fall of Mubarak, the same way that it cannot halt Iran’s nuclear weapons program. The fall of the American superpower is not Netanyahu’s fault…”

Israel Surrounded as Arab Spring Turns Darker

Bloomberg reported on September 13:

“The Middle East is plunging toward crisis… Not long ago, Turkey and Israel were strategic partners. Now, relations between those two key U.S. allies are in ruins…

“Why, after decades of quiet, has the Egypt-Israel border become so tumultuous? Two reasons: The interim Egyptian government has lost control over the Sinai since the revolution, and Gaza, which borders the Sinai, has been transformed by Hamas into a weapons-importing and terror-exporting mini-state…”

When reading all of this, one is reminded of Zechariah 12:3, which says: “…all nations of the earth are gathered against [Jerusalem].” And the development, as described in the next article, won’t help, either.

Cheney: Israel will Attack Iran…

Newsmax reported on September 11:

“Israel will attack Iran’s nuclear facilities if necessary to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon, former Vice President Dick Cheney tells Newsmax… ‘I think they would,’ Cheney said when asked about the possibility. ‘I think Iran represents an existential threat, and they’ll do whatever they have to do to guarantee their survival and their security… I’ve had a number of conversations with a lot of Israeli officials, and I think they correctly perceive Iran as a basic threat…’”

The Bible indicates that the state of Israel or Judah will receive “a wound” (Hosea 5:13), or suffer military defeat. Will this occur in a coming war with Iran?

Britain’s Inconsistent Position

Mail On Line wrote on September 12:

“[Chancellor] George Osborne admitted last night that a new EU treaty is ‘on the cards’ within two years… His comments… appear to be at odds with Prime Minister David Cameron’s recent assertion that the current crisis in the eurozone was not likely to trigger a fresh EU treaty… Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith yesterday backed the idea of demanding a new right for British MPs to block big European appointments.

“The Chancellor, speaking on the fringes of the G7 summit… in Marseilles, poured fuel on the flames by indicating that talks are under way to draw up a fresh deal for the EU… ‘This would be for the eurozone. This would be to further integrate the eurozone, to further strengthen fiscal integration now… It’s in Britain’s interest that the eurozone is stable and one of the routes to making it more stable is to have more fiscal integration’… Sources close to Mr Osborne insisted that ministers would ‘protect and promote’ British interests and there would be no further transfer of power from Westminster to Brussels.”

Britain wants to have new rights to block big European appointments, while advocating the strengthening of the Eurozone countries, of which Britain does not want to become a member. In the view of Eurozone members, a more inconsistent position could hardly be imagined. However, Britain is not alone with its position. Note the next article.

How to React to a Eurozone Economic Government?

The EUObserver wrote on September 12:

“A group of non-euro member states led by Poland is fighting a rearguard action not to be left out in the cold as single currency member states consider going ahead with a eurozone economic government. Europe ministers from Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania met in Brussels on Monday (12 September) morning to discuss how best to influence the debate on the future of the 17-nation euro area.

“All seven states are obliged under the terms of their accession treaties to join the single currency but they have little means of making their views heard, being excluded from the increasingly frequent meetings on euro governance… The spectre of a two-speed Europe, with a core of more closely integrated eurozone states started to take shape in August when France and Germany proposed regular meetings of eurozone leaders and a separate euro president, likely to be Van Rompuy.”

What does this all mean? Please read the next article.

Will Greece Leave the Eurozone?

The Telegraph wrote on September 11:

“Philipp Roesler, Germany’s economy minister [and vice chancellor]… said: ‘To stabilise the euro, we must not take anything off the table in the short run. That includes as a worst-case scenario an orderly default for Greece if the necessary instruments for it are available.’ He said such a default would mean ‘re-establishing the affected state’s ability to function, perhaps with a temporary restriction of its sovereign rights’.

“Mr Roesler’s comments come as Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine said finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble had ordered preparations be made for a Greek bankruptcy. The report claimed the German government is preparing for two eventualities under that scenario – Greece staying in the euro or the country exiting and reintroducing the drachma…”

The German magazine Focus reported on September 9 that Bavaria’s CSU also advocated the exclusion of Greece and other “unstable” Eurozone members from the Eurozone, but that Angela Merkel is pleading for patience. The New York Times wrote on September 12 that the world needs now Angela Merkel’s strong and decisive leadership.

The Local wrote on September 12:

“German officials rushed on Monday to calm highly stressed markets, insisting Greece should stay in the eurozone, amid rising alarm that Germany is losing patience with being the bailout paymaster…  a spokesman for Germany’s Economy Minister Philip Rösler… sought to allay these fears, saying: ‘Our common goal is the stability of the euro and we want Greece to stay in the euro’…

“After a meeting between Merkel and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, the two leaders issued a statement saying they were ‘agreed on the overwhelming importance of the euro for Europe and Germany.’…”

On September 13, Der Spiegel Online added:

“Against the background of increased pressure from the United States for a more resolute approach to the euro debt crisis, German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday moved to crush speculation within her government about a possible Greek default… Her comments were viewed as an indirect jab at Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Philipp Rösler… [Merkel’s] comments also appeared to be aimed at Bavarian Governor Horst Seehofer, who is the leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the sister party to the chancellor’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Seehofer has raised the possibility of a Greek exit from the euro zone in recent days…

“The center-right Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung writes:

“‘Is it possible to think about a European currency union without Greece?… The heads of the government coalition party groups in parliament have unanimously pointed out that it is not legally possible to exclude Greece. This is true in the sense that there are no provisions in the Maastricht Treaty for a country to leave the euro or to get kicked out — it neither permits nor excludes it. But as one knows after one and a half years of euro bailouts, politicians themselves have not adhered to the (Maastricht) Treaty even on points where it is crystal clear … With EU treaties, one proceeds as they see fit. Incidentally, the Lisbon Treaty even envisions the possibility of a withdrawal from the EU’…

“The left-leaning Die Tageszeitung writes:

“‘… the FDP and the CSU… create the impression… that Germany would somehow save money if the Greeks were left to go bust. But that is pure nonsense: A Greek bankruptcy would cost Germany billions. Because both directly and indirectly, Germany is one of Greece’s biggest creditors…’

“The center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung writes:

“‘Throwing Greece out would be a disaster not only for Greece, but also for Germany and the rest of Europe… no one should forget that the euro zone has not gifted Greece with hundreds of billions of euros, but provided the country with credit instead. The money will come back with interest if the financial restructuring is successful in the country. The euro-zone governments should have made it clear to the markets that they planned to keep Greece solvent until it becomes credit-worthy again. But such a position can only be credible if politicians — those in Germany above all — preserve calm and reason.’”

The Associated Press reported on September 14: “Greece is an ‘integral’ part of the eurozone, the leaders of Greece, France and Germany said in an emergency teleconference Wednesday night that aimed to calm markets and temper talk of an imminent default by Greece.”

Bild Online announced on September 14: “Greece Will Stay in the Eurozone.”

The tabloid continued: “Merkel and Sarkozy made clear: The future of Greece is inside the Eurozone.”

Der Stern added on September 14:

“During their 20-minute phone conversation, Merkel and Sarkozy rejected a discussion about Greece leaving the Eurozone. ‘The Chancellor and the President are convinced that the future of Greece is within the Eurozone,’ [German] government speaker Steffen Seibert declared.”

It is obvious that Angela Merkel, CDU, spoke strongly with her Economy Minister and Vice Chancellor, Philip Rösler, of the increasingly unpopular and inconsequential FDP, regarding his ill-conceived comments, prompting his spokesperson to backpedal. The euro-skeptical media, especially in Great Britain, is painting once again a doomsday scenario of Greece leaving the Eurozone and of the end of the EU and the project of a united Europe.

Whatever the future of Greece may hold, we know from the Holy Scriptures that Greece’s relationship with the other countries in continental Europe will remain friendly. We also know that ultimately, ten Eurozone nations or groups of nations will arise in Europe, who will in turn and apparently at the same time give their power and authority to a charismatic political leader. The present Eurozone members might still undergo some changes before the final ten will have emerged. We also know that the final Eurozone members will become hostile towards Great Britain.

You seem to be referring to our Q&A on Saudi Arabia, where we wrote the following:

“Turning to the New Testament, we find that Arabs were present in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost when God poured out His Holy Spirit on the New Testament Church (Acts 2:11), and that Paul, after his conversion, went to Arabia (Galatians 1:17) and stayed there for a while, perhaps, as Young’s Analytical Concordance to the Bible suggests, to associate with those Arabs who had been converted on the Day of Pentecost.”

It is true that some commentaries seem to suggest that the “Arabs,” who were present in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost in 31 AD, were Jews who were living at the time in Arabia and who had come to worship in Jerusalem. However, even though people of Jewish descent were included, they were not the only ones mentioned in Acts 2. Note carefully the inspired record in Acts 2:5-11:

“And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, ‘Look, are not all these who speak Galileans [i.e., the apostles]? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Phartians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them [the apostles] speaking in our own tongue the wonderful works of God.’”

Notice carefully that several categories of people are listed here—Jews dwelling in Jerusalem—and Jews and proselytes who were dwelling in other parts of the world, and who had come to Jerusalem to worship God on the Day of Pentecost.

Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible explains:

“Devout men, out of every nation – Either by these we are simply to understand Jews who were born in different countries, and had now come up to Jerusalem to be present at the passover, and for purposes of traffic, or proselytes to Judaism, who had come up for the same purpose…”

Gentiles who had been converted to Judaism were called “proselytes”—and we read that they, too, were present when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Day of Pentecost. Barnes’ Notes on the Bible explains that the term “Jews” refers to “native-born Jews, or descendants of Jewish families,” while  the term “Proselytes” speaks of “those who had been converted to the Jewish religion from among the Gentiles. The great zeal of the Jews to make proselytes is mentioned by our Saviour as one of the special characteristics of the Pharisees, Matthew 23:15.”

Barnes explains how a Gentile could become a “proselyte” or a “convert”:

“Among the Jews there were two kinds of proselytes:

“1. ‘Proselytes of righteousness,’ or those who wholly and fully embraced the Jewish religion, who were baptized, who were circumcised, and who conformed to all the rites of the Mosaic institutions.

“2. ‘Proselytes of the gate,’ or those who approved of the Jewish religion, renounced the pagan superstitions, and conformed to some of the rites of the Jews, but were not circumcised or baptized.”

However, as the People’s New Testament explains, “To make one proselyte [means:] Induce Gentiles to become circumcised and to keep the Jewish religion. This is the sense in which proselyte was then always used.”

Christ was not too impressed with the Pharisees’ efforts to proselytize someone, as they introduced those converts to and compelled them to abide by the traditions of Judaism, which were in many aspects contrary to the commands of God, as revealed in the Old and New Testament. Still, we note that Jews and proselytes were present in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, and we also note that later, one of the seven original deacons in the Church of God was Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch (Acts 6:5).

The People’s New Testament states that Nicolas was a “Gentile (Greek) of the great city of Antioch, who had been converted to Judaism and been circumcised. This is the meaning of proselyte in the New Testament.” Barnes’ Notes on the Bible adds, “The word does not mean here that he was a convert to ‘Christianity’ – which was true – but that he had been converted at Antioch from paganism to the Jewish religion. As this is the only proselyte mentioned among the seven deacons, it is evident that the others were native-born Jews, though a part of them might have been born out of Palestine, and have been of the denomination of ‘Grecians,’ or ‘Hellenists.’”

Still later, “Jews and devout proselytes” followed Paul and Barnabas in the city of Antioch and were encouraged and persuaded to CONTINUE in the grace of God (Acts 13:42-43).

The concept of Gentiles becoming proselytes was already taught in Old Testament times. We read in Exodus 12:43-49 that a stranger—a Gentile—dwelling in the nation of Israel, could partake of the Passover, but only after he had been circumcised.

We also note that some time before the Roman centurion Cornelius was baptized by Peter (compare Acts 10), an Ethiopian eunuch was already baptized by Philip (Acts 8:26-40). The eunuch was obviously a proselyte who had embraced the Jewish religion; he had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning to Ethiopia (verses 27-28).

The controversy which led to the first Council of the New Testament Church in Jerusalem, as described in Acts 15, evolved around the fact that Peter had baptized a Roman centurion who had NOT first become a proselyte by turning to Judaism; that is, he had not been circumcised and baptized to become a proselyte, according to the rites of the Pharisees, and he had not embraced all of the injunctions listed in the entire law of Moses—including temporary and by then superseded rituals—as well as man-made traditions and customs of the elders, which were not included in the Law of God (compare Acts 15:1, 5; see also Matthew 15:1-9; Mark 7:1-13; Galatians 1:14).

The apostles concluded, based on the godly vision of Peter and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that “Gentiles who are turning to God” could become members of the Church of God without having first to become proselytes by being circumcised (verse 19), embracing Judaism, committing to keeping the rituals and sacrifices which Christ had abolished with His death, and by embracing man-made traditions. They made clear, however, that God’s law had to be kept, including certain permanent injunctions which were found in Old Testament passages that ALSO described temporary ritual requirements (compare verse 20, 29). The apostles emphasized, for instance, that Gentiles who were turning to God were still required to keep the Ten Commandments, including the Sabbath (verse 21)—a requirement which is still binding for Christians today.

It is therefore NOT correct to conclude that only native Jews were present in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost in 31 A.D, when the New Testament Church of God began. There were also Proselytes in attendance, including Arabs. Our statement, as quoted at the beginning of this Q&A, has therefore merit; namely, that “Paul, after his conversion, went to Arabia (Galatians 1:17) and stayed there for a while, perhaps, as Young’s Analytical Concordance to the Bible suggests, to associate with those Arabs who had been converted on the Day of Pentecost.”

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

The finalized new booklet, “Paul’s Letter to the Philippians,” was sent to our printer in the USA.

A new StandingWatch program was posted on our Web site (www.standingwatch.org) and on YouTube, titled, “The Frightening Future of Europe.” Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder advocates a United States of Europe and claims that Britain causes the biggest problems. Angela Merkel speaks now of a Europe of two speeds. She wants to give the European Council President even more power. This program shows what it all means.

Norbert Link’s video-taped sermon, “What about the Secret Rapture? Part 2,” was posted on YouTube and our Web site (www.eternalgod.org).

A new German AufPostenStehen program, “Wie Kriege Gemacht Werden,” [“How Wars Are Being Made”] was posted on YouTube and our German Web site (www.aufpostenstehen.de).

A new German sermon titled, “Die USA und Grossbritannien in der Bibel”  [“The USA and Great Britain in the Bible”], was posted on YouTube and on our German Web site (www.aufpostenstehen.de).

Activities at the Feast of Tabernacles 2011 in the USA

This year’s theme for the Dinner Dance on Sunday, October 16, will be “Broadway.” If you have suggestions and music and/or would like to help with decorations, please contact Michael Link at mrmikey24@yahoo.com .

The Talent/Fun Show on Monday, October 17, will be hosted once again by Kalon Mitchell and John Amorelli. Anyone who is interested in performing can contact Kalon at thesupeman@gmail.com  or John at amorejonjon@gmail.com or Michael Link.

As in previous years, Phyllis Bourque will be responsible for organizing special music. Please contact her as soon as possible at bourque@q.com if you are still interested in participating.

The speaking schedule for the Feast in the USA has been posted on our Web site (www.eternalgod.org), under http://cognetservices.org.

Also, if you have not already done so, you still have opportunity to proceed with making reservations for the Feast of Tabernacles 2011 with the Hilton Garden Inn at 601 James Way, Pismo Beach, CA 93449. When you call under 1-805-773-6020, please make sure that you mention that you are attending the Feast convention of the Church of the Eternal God. Further information is available on our Web site (www.eternalgod.org), under “Feasts.”