On August 4, 2007, Norbert Link will give the sermon, titled, “The Tabernacle in the Wilderness.”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 12:30 pm Pacific Time (which is 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

“God made me so!”–some homosexuals say. “We are born this way! We can’t help it!” Or, as one German politician recently stated, “I am gay, and this is good!” A prominent U.S. actor agreed, postulating that “there is nothing wrong with it.” Due to this kind of thinking, the homosexual lobby has created an atmosphere that allows the proposal of laws, for instance in Europe, which would make it a CRIME to suggest that a homosexual lifestyle may NOT be acceptable in the eyes of God.

Some are living a promiscuous lifestyle, adopting the example of their unfaithful parents–while blaming them for their own misconduct.

Some are poor, and they are proud of it. They may think that somehow their poverty is a sign of their righteousness. This false concept prevents them from trying to change their condition.

Some get into trouble with the law, and they blame the police, the “unrighteous judge” or the “corrupt legal system” for their difficulties. Some are alcoholics or drug addicts, and they shift responsibility for their condition to their alcoholic father or drug-dependent mother.

Whatever happened to accepting individual responsibility? Rather than realizing our own shortcomings and sins, and trying to change, it seems to be much more comfortable and less painful to just blame everyone else for our own misconduct or “misfortune”–whether it may be husbands or wives; parents or children; neighbors or friends; the government, the nation, the economy; Satan; or–if all else fails–God.

God says that homosexual conduct is an abomination to Him (Leviticus 18:22). Surely, then, He did not create homosexuals–they were NOT born that way. And God expects them to change. Further, as no drunkard or fornicator will inherit the kingdom of God, it is obvious that God did not create them as such (Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-6). Rather, people BECAME fornicators, adulterers, alcoholics and drug addicts, through many different factors and circumstances, but they must take personal responsibility for their condition and CHANGE. They are not helpless victims, incapable of making amends (compare 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

In addition, God says that those who do not want to work should not even eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). God expects of us to do everything we can to make a living in this world.

If we violate God’s standards and His directives, we cannot expect help from God. When we convince ourselves that our personal condition is not our responsibility–and that it is hopeless and irreversible–then we have already turned our back on the only Source for meaningful and enduring change.

God expects of us to DEAL with our problems–not to run away from them or try to hide from them, by placing our heads in the sand and just hoping that somehow, miraculously, all our hardships will just disappear and evaporate.

When confronting our situation, depending upon the circumstances, we need to be careful that we don’t act too hastily (Isaiah 52:12). We may have to take time to meditate, pray and fast about a particular situation first, and obtain much appropriate counsel, before implementing a life-changing course of action. Sin, when it comes to our attention, must be eradicated at once, but there are other instances which require careful consideration and analysis.

God will help us, when we do what we can to help ourselves. This may have to involve a painful self-analysis and some really hurtful sacrifices, in order to get our feet back on the ground. But it will be worthwhile in the end.

We must take individual responsibility for our situation! We must stop blaming others–but rather, begin to change ourselves and our condition. And we can–with the help of God. He WILL guide and direct us, when He sees that we seriously BEGIN to obey Him, by changing for the better!

U.S. Jury Duty System Spinning Out of Control!

Recently, more and more pressure has been placed on jurors to serve on a jury, even though they are opposed to doing so, based on their sincere religious convictions. In some cases which came to our attention, not only the clerks and the legal departments of certain courts, but also certain judges have been acting most unreasonably when it came to dismissing jurors for their religious convictions–even though the U.S. Constitution clearly DEMANDS such dismissals.

However, a recent letter from a court in California simply stated: “California law DOES NOT INCLUDE a disqualification or an excuse/exemption from jury service due to religious convictions.” The letter concluded that therefore, Jury Services cannot excuse a juror for his or her religious conviction. Legal precedence which was quoted to the court was summarily dismissed as inapplicable! This is clearly an erroneous position, which is, unfortunately, shared by other courts outside California. THIS POSITION VIOLATES THE U.S. CONSTITUTION!

Please note the following article in the BaltimoreSun.com, dated July 28, clearly confirming the law that jurors who are opposed to jury duty based on their religious convictions, MUST be excused. It is hoped that courts and justices will look more closely into this issue, to avoid unnecessary embarrassment, a mistrial and a hung jury, as described in the following article:

“The jurors in the Baltimore murder case were deadlocked, and when they came into the courtroom to be dismissed, their body language showed the prosecutor that something was amiss with juror No. 10. So Assistant State’s Attorney Theresa Shaffer talked to the woman, as attorneys sometimes do after trials. She asked her why she hadn’t wanted to convict, what the problem was.

“The 23-year-old woman answered that ‘there wasn’t enough evidence.’ Then she added, ‘When my brother pled guilty to first-degree murder … ‘

“Every so often, a person who SHOULDN’T BE A JUROR – such as someone whose relative is a convicted felon or someone whose religious beliefs prevent him or her from passing judgment on others – slips onto the panel…  several jurors have listened to entire trials, only to say during deliberations that their religion prevents them from sitting in judgment of others… Another jury deadlocked in a June 2005 murder case when a woman began quoting Scripture to other jurors. They sent a note to the bench: ‘Judge, we are still unable to reach an agreeable verdict as one of the jurors states she cannot judge the defendant because of her religious beliefs.'”

It is becoming obvious that the U.S. Jury Duty System is spinning out of control. It is to be feared that in the future, some unreasonable judge WILL hold jurors in contempt, for refusing to serve on a jury because of their constitutionally protected religious beliefs. IT IS HIGH TIME THAT AMERICA WAKES UP TO WHAT IS GOING ON!

Please take note of the following article, as published by The Associated Press on July 28:

“Madeline Byrne was making a quick trip to the grocery store to buy some cheese when a sheriff approached her car in the parking lot and slipped something through her open window. Byrne didn’t get the cheese, but she did get a jury summons.

“The 64-year-old woman was ordered to report for jury duty a little more than an hour later at the Lee County courthouse in Sanford, N.C. When Byrne protested, the sheriff told her: ‘Be there or you’ll be in contempt.’…

“Some people struggle mightily to get out of jury duty. Earlier this month, a Cape Cod, Mass., judge reprimanded a potential juror and reported him to prosecutors after he tried to get out of jury service by saying he was ‘not a fan of homosexuals and most blacks’ and was ‘frequently found to be a liar, too.'”

Bush Meets Brown–But How DID It Go?

The following serves as an interesting example of how we must be careful when reading published news articles. Both The New York Times and The Independent reported about the recent meeting between President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Gordon Brown–but they differed substantially about the nature of the meeting.

The New York Times wrote on July 30:

“On his first official trip to the United States as Britain’s prime minister, Gordon Brown on Monday displayed what can best be described as a resounding — if dispassionate — show of like-minded camaraderie with President Bush. “The two leaders showed none of the warmth and coziness that Mr. Bush had shared with Mr. Brown’s predecessor, Tony Blair, a closeness that contributed to Mr. Blair’s political tumble at home. But Mr. Brown offered bullish comments on Britain’s relationship with the United States. On Iraq, Mr. Brown said any future British decision to reduce troops and cede control of a sector to the Iraqis ‘will be made on the military advice of our commanders on the ground.’

“Though it was taken by some in the British news media as a signal of Mr. Brown’s independence, it is also a common formulation that President Bush uses in arguing that he will not be driven to withdraw by domestic politics. United States officials have been watching the British presence in Iraq as a gauge of the reliability of the new British leader…

“On relations between their countries, Mr. Brown said, ‘It’s a partnership founded and driven forward by our shared values…’ Mr. Brown stuck closely to a script that included what the Americans took as words of assurance that he had no plans for radical changes in the partnership, dodging several attempts by reporters here to get him to enunciate how his approach to the United States would differ from that of Mr. Blair…

“British analysts said Monday that Mr. Brown’s comments reflected the fact that the two countries share so much at stake in Afghanistan and Iraq, on global trade and with intelligence efforts to combat terrorism that he needs a close relationship with his American counterpart, like most of the recent British prime ministers before him.”

This rather optimistic viewpoint and interpretation by The New York Times was by no means shared by British newspapers, such as The Independent. It wrote on July 30:

“Gordon Brown has paved the way for the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq by telling George Bush he would not delay their exit in order to show unity with the United States.

“After four hours of one-to-one talks with the US President at his Camp David retreat, Mr Brown told a joint press conference he would make a Commons statement in October on the future of the 5,500 British troops in the Basra region.

“The Bush administration, under mounting domestic pressure to produce an exit strategy from Iraq, has been nervous that a full British withdrawal would add to the criticism. But Mr Brown made clear – and President Bush accepted – that Britain would go its own way, even if that gave the impression the two countries were diverging.

“Mr Brown’s willingness to pursue an independent British policy in Iraq will be seen as an important break with Tony Blair. Mr Brown said the two leaders had had ‘full and frank discussions – diplomatic code for some disagreements.”

German Newspapers Upset With Planned U.S. Arms Sales…

Der Spiegel Online wrote on July 31:

“On Monday, the Bush administration officially announced its plan to provide advanced weapons worth billions to friendly states in the Persian Gulf in order to curb growing Iranian influence in the region. Washington plans to sell $20 billion worth of satellite-guided bombs, and fighter and naval upgrades to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates over the next 10 years. A further $13 billion is pledged to Egypt, and Israel will remain, with $30 billion in arms aid, the greatest recipient in the Middle East of American largesse.

“On Tuesday, German editorial writers criticize the decision, pointing to Saudi links to the insurgency in Iraq and international terrorism.

“The conservative Die Welt [which is usually pro-Bush] writes:

“‘With its plans for weapons shipments worth billions to the Gulf states, Washington has now made it official: The democratization of the Middle East is no longer the focus of American foreign policy. In the name of limiting Iran’s influence and restoring stability in the region, the US is returning to a Cold War strategy: The enemy of my enemy is my friend.’

“‘But doubts about whether this strategy is prudent in the case of Saudi Arabia can be heard beyond Israel and Europe. Many within the US administration are also convinced that international Islamic terrorism is something akin to the Saudis’ exported civil war. Why else would half the foreign fighters traveling to Iraq be Saudis? And of the 19 men responsible for the 9/11 terror attacks, 15 were from Saudi Arabia. From Cologne to Karachi, Saudi embassies very openly operate Wahhabite Koran schools — the most rigid, backward and dangerous form of Islam.’

“‘The strategy’s effectiveness is very doubtful. In the 1980s, people placed their bets on Osama bin Ladin, the Taliban and Saddam Hussein when it came to dealing with the Soviets and Iran. Today we are struggling with the bloody consequences of those strategies. Courting Saudi Arabia is unwise and dangerous.’

“The left-wing Die Tageszeitung writes:

“‘The only thing the Bush administration has left to offer after six and a half years in power is a mixture of fear, helplessness and panic. Out of acute desperation, the US government now wants to provide help and weapons deals over the next 10 years to the countries that are best able to launch a new arms race in the region. No one can seriously believe that the already weapons-satiated Mideast can be satisfied or held in check by yet more weapons.

“‘If Congress approves the plan, the Bush government’s already appalling foreign policy record will only get worse. The only clearly identifiable victor would be the US defense industry — which, incidentally, has considerable influence in Washington.’

“Center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung uses the weapons deal to look at a broader worsening of relations between the US and Riyadh:

“‘No other country in the Middle East is further from the democratic ideals preached by the US than Saudi Arabia. Mildly put, the human rights situation doesn’t meet Western standards. And beyond political realism, the (current) king is far less pro-American than his brother, who ruled before him … The cooling of relations was most obvious when Abdallah described the US presence in Iraq at the last Arab Summit in Riyadh as an ‘illegal foreign occupation.’ Last fall, the king warned he would attack in Iraq if a civil war were to ensue after a withdrawal of US troops. But that’s not the only point of irritation. Washington is also displeased about the Saudis’ desire to create a nuclear partnership with Pakistan even if, as the Saudi’s claim, it would be limited to the exchange of information.'”

… And So Is The German Government…

AFP reported on July 31:

“German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats are worried that reported US plans to send a major arms package to Gulf states could inflame a volatile region, a party leader was quoted as saying Monday.

“The chairman of the German parliament’s foreign affairs committee, Ruprecht Polenz, told the daily Frankfurter Rundschau that the Middle East was already a ‘powder keg’ and that an influx of weapons could set [it] off. ‘If you add more explosives to a powder keg, you increase the risk and do not make the region more secure,’ he said. Polenz said the warning that the United States hoped to send to Iran with the weapons deal could backfire, leading Tehran to step up its own arms drive.”

Another Man-Made Disaster?

First it sounded like a terrorist attack. Upon further investigation, it appears that we did it to ourselves. Several reports claimed that the collapse of a huge bridge in Minneapolis during the peak of rush hour occurred due to governmental negligence, carelessness and incompetence.

On August 1, Der Spiegel Online published an article with the headline, “A Catastrophe of Historic Proportions.” It reported:

“At least nine are dead and 60 injured following the collapse on Wednesday evening of a major freeway bridge in the US city of Minneapolis. Officials say a structural failure likely caused the 40-year-old bridge to give way…
“Between 50 and 60 vehicles were on the bridge and dozens either plunged 18 meters (60 feet) into the Mississippi River or got crushed in a snare of concrete and metal… A number of eyewitnesses described the experience as being ‘like an earthquake.’

“CNN showed dramatic images of cars that had plunged from the bridge and autos in various states of wreckage. They included a school bus carrying 60 children returning from a day camp swimming trip that fell with the bridge but landed safely, missing the water. The children were rescued… The US Department of Homeland Security issued a statement Wednesday saying no signs had been found to indicate a terrorist attack had been involved.”

In a related article, Der Spiegel Online claimed that the catastrophe might have been prevented, if the government had acted upon evidence, showing that the bridge was “structurally  instable.” The magazine quoted an article of the “Star Tribune,” showing that the government was aware of this concern, but allegedly did little or nothing to repair or replace the bridge.

Russia Is At It Again

On August 1, Reuters reported the following:

“Russian explorers dived deep below the North Pole in a submersible on Thursday and planted a national flag on the seabed to stake a symbolic claim to the energy riches of the Arctic… Russia wants to extend right up to the North Pole the territory it controls in the Arctic, believed to hold vast reserves of untapped oil and natural gas.

“But Canada mocked Russia’s ambitions and said the expedition was nothing more than a show. ‘This isn’t the 15th century. You can’t go around the world and just plant flags and say “We’re claiming this territory”,’Canadian Foreign Minister Peter MacKay told CTV television.

“Under international law, the five states with territory inside the Arctic Circle — Canada, Norway, Russia, the United States and Denmark via its control of Greenland — have a 320 km (200 mile) economic zone around the north of their coastline. Russia is claiming a larger slice extending as far as the pole because, Moscow says, the Arctic seabed and Siberia are linked by one continental shelf.”

The article also pointed out:

“A second Russian submersible, manned by Swedish businessman Frederik Paulsen and Australian adventurer Mike McDowell, reached the seabed 27 minutes later. It reached a depth of 4,302 meters. Soviet and U.S. nuclear submarines have often traveled under the polar icecap, but no one had reached the seabed under the Pole, where depths exceed 4,000 meters (13,100 feet).”

Mikhail Gorbachev Criticizes President Bush

Reuters reported on July 27:

“Former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev criticized the United States, and President Bush in particular, on Friday for sowing disorder across the world by seeking to build an empire.

“Gorbachev, who presided over the break-up of the Soviet Union, said Washington had sought to build an empire after the Cold War ended but had failed to understand the changing world… ‘What has followed are unilateral actions, what has followed are wars, what has followed is ignoring the U.N. Security Council, ignoring international law and ignoring the will of the people, even the American people,’ he said…

“Gorbachev, 76, who left politics after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, is deeply unpopular in Russia… he is blamed in Russia for sinking the Soviet empire and plunging millions into poverty…”

Nuclear Cooperation Treaty Between the USA and India?

CNN.com reported on July 27:

“The United States and India announced Friday a landmark deal on nuclear cooperation for civil purposes that they said will benefit both countries and strengthen international non-proliferation efforts.

“But the deal is drawing criticism as being too conciliatory to India and opening the way to the spread of nuclear weapons.

“For the first time in 30 years, India will have access to U.S. nuclear fuel and technology, even though New Delhi, which has tested nuclear weapons, refuses to join international non-proliferation agreements… Non-proliferation experts have said the United States’ willingness to allow India to reprocess nuclear fuel it provides to New Delhi is inconsistent with its drive in the international community to stop Iran from doing so.”

“As a Catholic, I am Ashamed of the Pope…”

The Eastern Star News Agency published the following editorial, on July 26:

“The Vatican claims that only the Catholic Church possesses the truth of the Christian faith. As a Catholic I am ashamed over having a spiritual leader that makes such statements. This shows that the Pope and people in his surroundings haven’t learnt anything from history.

“Conflicts within the church have during nearly 2000 years caused war, misery, fanaticism and the spreading of Islam…

“The Pope’s earlier statement about Islam, were he quoted medieval scripts, where Islam was described as a religion of violence, was followed by his repeated denial and apologies to the Muslim world, and his servile actions in the following visit to Turkey in November 2006. The Pope’s statement, claiming… Catholicism is the only right faith, is an attack and insult against a great part of Christianity, like Orthodox Christianity and Protestantism…

“I am myself a Catholic and pay church tax to the Catholic Church. I get very doubtful in my relation to the Catholic Church when the Vatican acts this way. I condemn this action. I demand from the Vatican and the Pope to apologize to the Orthodox, the Protestants and to… other Christian communities for this statement.”

The Power Of Soccer in Iraq

The Associated Press reported on July 29:

“Iraq won the Asian Cup for the first time Sunday, a beacon of hope for a nation divided by war.

“Iraq’s 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia on a 71st-minute header by captain Younis Mahmoud was an inspirational triumph for a team whose players straddle bitter and violent ethnic divides. After the game, Mahmoud called for the United States to withdraw its troops from his nation. ‘I want America to go out,’ he said. ‘Today, tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, but out. I wish the American people didn’t invade Iraq and, hopefully, it will be over soon.’

“Mahmoud also said he will not return to Iraq to celebrate. ‘I don’t want the Iraqi people to be angry with me,’ he said. ‘If I go back with the team, anybody could kill me or try to hurt me.’…

“Elation was juxtaposed against the tragedy in the players’ homeland. Coach Jorvan Vieira and Mahmoud wore black armbands during the postgame news conference to commemorate the dozens of fans killed back home during celebrations following Wednesday’s semifinal victory over South Korea… Vieira, who is Brazilian, resigned after the game…

“Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s office announced that each Iraqi player will receive $10,000.

“About 3,000 Iraqi refugees celebrated in Damascus, Syria. In Dearborn, Mich., Iraqi-Americans gathered in the streets, honking horns, sitting on car roofs and waving flags… Celebratory gunfire resounded across [Iraq] and revelers poured into the streets in defiance of orders from authorities while mosques broadcast calls for the shooting to stop. Security forces enforced a vehicle ban in an effort to prevent a repeat of car bombings that killed dozens celebrating Iraq’s progress to the final.

“‘The players have made us proud, not the greedy politicians,’ said Sabah Shaiyal, a 43-year-old police officer in Baghdad. ‘Once again, our national team has shown that there is only one, united Iraq.'”

Iraq In Turmoil–and Iraq’s Parliament Takes a Summer Break!

MSNBC wrote on July 30:

“Iraq’s parliament on Monday shrugged off U.S. criticism and adjourned for a month, as key lawmakers declared there was no point waiting any longer for the prime minister to deliver Washington-demanded benchmark legislation for their vote… Critics have questioned how Iraqi legislators could take a summer break while U.S. forces are fighting and dying to create conditions under which important laws could be passed in the service of ending sectarian political divisions and bloodshed… In Washington, the State Department was unusually silent on the matter, declining to criticize the lawmakers for the break…

“Meanwhile, [Iraqi’s prime minister] al-Maliki faces a revolt within his party by factions that want him out as Iraqi leader… Ibrahim al-Jaafari, al-Maliki’s predecessor, leads the challenge and already has approached leaders of the country’s two main Kurdish parties… The former prime minister also has approached Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s top Shiite cleric, proposing a ‘national salvation’ government to replace the al-Maliki coalition. The Iranian-born al-Sistani refused to endorse the proposal, the officials said…

“Other officials… said al-Jaafari had only an outside chance of replacing or ousting al-Maliki. But they said the challenge could undermine al-Maliki and further entangle efforts at meeting important legislative benchmarks sought by Washington.”

Reuters added on August 1:

“The main Sunni Arab political bloc quit the Iraqi government on Wednesday in a blow to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s shaky coalition as suicide bombers killed more than 70 people in three attacks across Baghdad. The resignation move pushed the government into a new crisis undermining its efforts to reconcile Iraqis and end sectarian strife… Maliki’s government has already been weakened by the withdrawal of fiery Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s political bloc, one of the biggest in parliament, over his refusal to set a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.”

British Military Withdraws From Ireland–Ending “One of the Darkest Chapters in the Army’s History”

Der Spiegel Online wrote on July 31:

“The longest deployment of troops in the history of the British military ends at midnight, when the army’s operation in Northern Ireland officially comes to an end. But the 38-year-long deployment will be seen as one of the darkest chapters in the army’s history… The British military’s deployment in Northern Ireland was not a success — in fact, the military quickly became part of the problem… Today it is known that the military’s intelligence service employed agents who were involved in murders, weapons smuggling and bombings with the help of their leadership… More than 3,500 people have died… A total of 763 soldiers were killed, most of them by the IRA.”

The article continued:

“Five thousand [British soldiers] will stay in Ireland, but they will no longer be responsible for policing. The watchtowers along the border have been disassembled; the military base in Bessbrook, one of the largest on the British isles, has been closed; and the Royal Irish Regiment of the British military has been dissolved. The official reason is that the situation in Northern Ireland is sufficiently stable for such measures to be taken. The real reason is the lack of recruits. More than 12,000 soldiers are stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq. The British military’s Chief of the General Staff, General Richard Dannatt, said in a secret memorandum that was leaked to the press that the military is overstretched: ‘We now have almost no capacity to react to the unexpected.'”

Amos 8:11-12 reads:

“’Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord God, ‘That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of HEARING the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it.”

Some have concluded that this passage tells us that in the future, God’s Word–the gospel of the kingdom of God–will NOT be preached anymore to the world. However, that conclusion would be inconsistent with Christ’s prophecy in Matthew 24:14, which says: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

In addition, we read that at the time just prior to Christ’s return, the Two Witnesses will preach God’s Word (compare Revelation 11:3-7), and finally, we are told that the third angel has the everlasting gospel to be preached to all nations (compare Revelation 14:6-7). Christ commissioned His Church to preach His Word and to make disciples of all nations, and He promised to be with His Church and its efforts until the end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20).

Therefore, these passages don’t seem to allow for the concept that in the end time, just prior to Christ’s return, the preaching of God’s Word will cease.

How, then, are we to understand the above-quoted passage in Amos 8:11-12?

God says in that passage that they – the people – will suffer from a famine of HEARING the words of the LORD. This does not necessarily say that the words of the LORD are not going to be preached or taught any more, but, rather, that those people will not be able to HEAR or understand them – they will not recognize them as God’s Word, which is binding on them, and which needs to be obeyed. The people will have allowed their minds or hearts to harden so much that none of God’s words will find entrance into their minds. This would most certainly include those who once knew and understood God’s Word, but who decided to turn their back on God and exchange His words of truth for the lie (compare 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; Romans 1:24-26).

Oh yes, they will still wander from sea to sea to find the Word of God, but, confused as they will be, they won’t recognize it. Remember that Christ taught the people, but many were unable to listen to His words. Their hearts were closed, hardened, incapable of accepting the truth. Many were like sheep, scattered, insecure and uncertain, not knowing where to turn.

God warns us not to look at His Word as a source for a big entertainment–like the people did, when they came to Ezekiel, to listen to him (compare Ezekiel 33:30-33). They did not want to learn from him; they did not want to accept the concept that they had to change their lives for the better. They just wanted to be entertained for a while. They wanted to have a “good time in church,” where they would get cozy and warm feelings. However, God wants us to listen carefully to His Word, with the attitude of wanting to learn, and then we must DO what we are taught.

They heard the words, but they did not do them. They did not think that they had to actually obey what they were told. In other words, they heard with their ears, but their minds, their hearts and their spirit did not accept and retain the words of God. Both in the passage in Amos 8:11-12, and in the passage in Ezekiel 33:30-33, the word for “hear” or “hearing” is “shamea” in the Hebrew.

Note how this word “shamea” is used in other passages:

Proverbs 13:1 reads, in the Authorized Version: “A scoffer does not HEAR rebuke.” The New King James Bible says, “… a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.” In the Hebrew, the word for “hear” or “listen” is “shamea.” The scoffer hears rebuke with his ears, but he does not heed the rebuke, so that he might change and do what is right.

Isaiah 65:12 states: “… when I called, you did not answer; When I spoke, you did not hear…” Compare also Isaiah 66:4.

So, God DID speak, but the people did not HEAR [“shamea” in the Hebrew]. For them, there was a famine of HEARING the Word of God. But it was their fault. THEY had allowed their hearts to be hardened, so that they would not hear or listen to the Word of God, and repent, and obey.

Jeremiah 6:10 explains: “To whom shall I speak and give warning, That they may hear [“shamea” in the Hebrew]? Indeed their ear is uncircumcised, And they cannot give heed. Behold, the word of the LORD is a reproach to them; They have no delight in it.”

Again, God spoke His Word, through Jeremiah and His other servants, but the people would not hear, since they had uncircumcised ears. They did not take any delight in God’s Word.

Jeremiah 7:13 adds: “… I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear [“shamea”], and I called you, but you did not answer.”

God did speak – but the people did not hear. There was not a famine of SPEAKING of the Word of God, but it was a famine of HEARING, or understanding, or abiding by, the Word of God.

In Jeremiah 19:15, God says: “Behold, I will bring on this city and on all her towns all the doom that I have pronounced against it, because they have stiffened their necks that they might not hear [“shamea”] My words.”

God spoke His words — through His servants — but the people stiffened their necks, so that they would not hear or receive them.

Jeremiah 22:21 adds: “I spoke to you in your prosperity, But you said, ‘I will not hear’ [“shamea”]. This has been your manner from your youth, That you did not obey My voice.”

God did SPEAK His words to them – and they heard them with their ears – but not with their minds and hearts. They refused to accept them as God’s words. They refused to obey them.

When calamity came, they did seek the Word of God; they did cry out to God; but He did not answer. Since they had turned their backs on God, God turned His back on them. God had given them His Word, but they refused to receive it. Now, although the Word was still being preached and available–through God’s servants, such as Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and other prophets–the minds of the people had become so much alienated from God, that they did not recognize any of God’s truth anymore. God says that they broke ALL of His commandments. God gave them over to their perverse minds, and He did not reveal to them the meaning of His Word–He did not show them at that time, where His words could be heard, and what they meant (compare Hosea 4:6). Jeremiah was still preaching, and so was Ezekiel, but most people hated Jeremiah and Ezekiel, and they wanted to see them dead.

The same will happen again in the end time–with global implications. The Word of God will still be preached by God’s Church – the gospel will still be proclaimed as a witness in all the world – but the people will not hear. They will not give attention to it. In their distress, they will seek for God’s Word and deliverance, but – deceived as they will be – they will look for God’s Word in all the wrong places. And there will be, as we read in Matthew 24:11, “many false prophets,” and they will “deceive many.” Unfortunately, this will include many in God’s Church.

We must take this dire warning to heart.

We must be careful that we will not be reckoned among those who will seek the words of God, without being able to find them, as they have shown through their disobedient conduct that they really don’t care for the truth.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

A new StandingWatch program (#131) was placed on Google Video and on our StandingWatch website. It is titled: “Chaotic Weather in Europe–Why?”

In the program, Norbert Link addresses the following:

While England and Wales have been suffering from the wettest weather since records began in 1766, Western Europe has been plagued by unprecedented heatwaves. What is wrong with our weather–and will it get much worse in the near future?

A special letter was sent this week to the first 80 people in the USA, requesting our booklet, “Mysteries of the Bible,” as advertised on the Internet. The letter explains briefly some of the projects of the Church.

On July 28, 2007, Dave Harris will give the sermon, titled, “The Old Testament.”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 12:30 pm Pacific Time (which is 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

From time to time, we may hear politicians use the following expression, when they attempt to address their failures and mistakes: “My apologies to you that I have fallen short.” It appears that the public acknowledgements of shortcomings, errors and mistakes are often summed up as “falling short.” This reminds me of the Biblical admonition in Romans 3:23: “… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Similar sentiments, you might think, but God’s Word clearly outlines man’s capacity to break the law of God and to miss the mark in living a truly Godly life. However, a politician’s remark of “having fallen short” is a euphemism for admitting mistakes without actually saying so.   Pride enters the scene. For many years now in the UK and other Western societies, the political scene has been awash with “spin” and political double talk, much more than in previous times. Man’s way is much different from the way – and the Word – of God.

God says what He means, and His inspired Word pulls no punches. Even the sins, mistakes and shortcomings of Bible heroes are not glossed over. When God speaks, we can totally rely on His Word; when men speak, we cannot have that same assurance.

We are privileged to have been called by God on Whom we can utterly rely. We certainly sin and fall short of the glory of God, and when we do, we need never be frightened to acknowledge our wrongs and to petition God for forgiveness. Pride is something that we must eradicate in our lives, but those who have pride usually find it difficult to say that they have been wrong – “falling short” is often as far as they will go. Unlike politicians of all persuasions, we are not being judged by the electorate, but by the great God of the universe – and how thankful we should be for that!

Terrible Weather Conditions in Britain…

AFP wrote on July 23:

“Thousands of people in Britain were left stranded in villages and towns Monday during the worst flooding here in 60 years… Swathes of central and western England were submerged as rivers swelled and burst their banks during four days of heavy rain, leaving thousands without clean water or electricity and facing the prospect of more rain.

“The largely rural counties of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Oxfordshire were the worst hit, forcing Royal Air Force (RAF) helicopters to evacuate around 150 people in its biggest-ever peacetime rescue. Speaking after a helicopter visit to the area, Brown linked the floods to climate change and pledged 200 million pounds (298 million euros, 411 million dollars) extra funding, plus a review to address future issues…

“In Gloucestershire, the worst-hit area, at least 350,000 homes were without water after a treatment works flooded, while 40,000 were without power. It could take up to two weeks to restore water supplies to some households, according to some reports. Noting the irony of the situation, the Daily Mail’s headline Monday read: ‘Water, water everywhere but … not a drop to drink!’…”

We received the following memo from one of our members in Britain, on July 23:

“Terrible situation over here in the UK in the Midlands, Yorkshire, Worcestershire, even in Oxfordshire… Floods galore. 400,000 without power, half a million without drinking water, sewage problems; it will take up to a year in many cases before people can move back into their homes once the floods subside, helicopter rescues, food supplies running short…”

Der Spiegel Online reported on July 23:

“Flooding in England has spread to the university city of Oxford where hundreds of homes were evacuated after the River Thames burst its banks. Windsor could be next. Insurers put the damage at more than $7 billion.”

The magazine added on July 26 that more rain is expected, and that because of sewage, the fear of diseases has increased. It stated that meteorologists said the three months from May to July were the wettest in England and Wales since records began in 1766.

AFP added on July 25 that “More rains were forecast Thursday for flood-hit areas in Britain.”

… and in Europe…

Der Spiegel Online wrote on July 23:

“In a weekend of extremes, torrential rainfall across Western Europe caused severe flooding and damage, killing one person, while a heatwave in Eastern Europe has already killed 22 people… Many parts of Germany were also badly hit by severe rainfall, with a number of motorways and railway lines closed due to the flooding… And between 300 and 500 homes were estimated to have suffered serious damage in Bavaria. The torrential rain also caused havoc at the European Formula One Grand Prix at the Nürburgring on Sunday. The race had to be stopped and then restarted after six cars skidded off the track.

“In Switzerland mudslides and floods caused havoc in Berne, while a motorway near Interlaken was shut after a rockfall. Firemen raced to build emergency barriers against the rising water and clear the roads.”

APF reported on July 25:

“Southeastern Europe was a tinderbox Wednesday in the grip of an unrelenting heatwave that has claimed hundreds of lives… Italy was sweltering under temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit)… and suffering devastating wildfires in central and southern regions… More than 5,000 hectares (12,500 acres) of farmland have been destroyed, worth some one billion euros (1.4 billion dollars)…

“In Romania authorities said the heatwave-related death toll rose to 33 with three more people succumbing on Tuesday… In Slovakia a lightning strike sparked a huge forest fire on Sunday… Meanwhile the mercury reached 46 degrees Celsius (115 F) in parts of Greece, where a dozen forest fires were burning and up to five people have died from heat-related causes since Monday… The heatwave caused a spike in smog pollution in Athens, with ozone levels above emergency limits in several districts, prompting the government to urge motorists to avoid the city centre. Ozone levels were not expected to improve on Thursday…

“Hungary, where up to 500 people may have died last week from heat-related causes, enjoyed a significant drop in temperatures overnight with the welcome arrival of a cool front… A third degree heat alert — the highest ever applied in the country before last week — ended on Tuesday.”

Bild Online wrote on July 25: “Weather Chaos in Europe–And It’s Our Fault.” It added: “Experts are sure–the catastrophes are man-made.”

… and in Indonesia…

The Associated Press reported on July 23:

“Flash floods and landslides in central Indonesia inundated villages, destroyed bridges and roads, and sent thousands fleeing their homes, officials said Monday. At least 39 people were killed. The toll was expected to rise following days of torrential rain, with dozens more missing and rescuers only starting to reach isolated areas in the disaster zone… Rescuers struggled to get rice, instant noodles, blankets, medicine and other emergency supplies to some 16,000 forced from their homes… roads have been cut off and bridges destroyed.”

… and in China…

Reuters reported on July 23:

“Storms are expected to batter large swathes of China again on Monday after floods, landslides and lightning killed more than 150 people last week alone, state media said… Since the start of the annual rainy season in May, floods have hit nearly half of China and killed at least 400 people… Flooding and typhoons killed 2,704 people last year, according to the China Meteorological Administration. That was the second-deadliest year on record after 1998, when summer floods killed 4,150.”

Turkey’s Election

Der Spiegel Online reported on July 23 on the outcome of the Turkish election. The magazine stated:

“Turkey’s ruling Islamist[s]… won Sunday’s election by a landslide with 47 percent of the vote. The country has voted for stability, economic growth and — if the campaign pledges of Prime Minister… Erdogan are to be believed — further democratic reforms…

“The army will now play a decisive role in determining whether or not Turkey succeeds, with this clear result, in overcoming the political crisis prompted by the failed presidential election. Will the military now accept [Erdogan] against whom they intervened with a memorandum in April?…

“Erdogan will soon have to decide whether or not to invade northern Iraq under pressure from the military… by doing so, Erdogan would be risking a further escalation of the conflict in war-torn Iraq. The West has been following these developments with great concern.

“How forcefully Turkey now continues on its path towards Europe… depends on Europe too. How long can Turkey be strung along when it is becoming increasingly clear that, at the end of the day, Europe doesn’t want it to join the European Union? After all, Turkey’s real dilemma has far more to do with its path to Europe than it does with the debate over headscarves and mini-skirts.”

Libya–A Reliable Partner?

Der Spiegel Online wrote on July 26:

“Now that the Bulgarian nurses have been released, the rush to do business with Libya has begun. French President Nicolas Sarkozy was first off the mark, flying to Tripoli to meet with Moammar Gadhafi and sign a number of agreements — including a deal on building a French nuclear reactor in Libya… Sarkozy… promised to boost relations between the two countries.

“The trip came just 24 hours after Cecilia Sarkozy accompanied five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor out of Libya on a French presidential plane. The six medics had been imprisoned for eight years on charges of infecting over 400 Libyan children with HIV in the late 1990s.

“The Libyans have been scrambling to get out of international isolation since accepting responsibility for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie in Scotland and agreeing to dismantle its nuclear weapons program in 2003. The move prompted the United States and European Union to lift sanctions, and Washington reopened its embassy there in 2006. Since then international investment has been flowing into Libya’s oil sector, which provides the bulk of the country’s gross domestic product.

“But the continuing incarceration of the six foreign medics had been a stumbling block to further ties. Now, following their release, foreign investment in the North African country is likely to increase dramatically.”

Will Civil War Break Out in the Balkans?

Der Spiegel Online wrote on July 26:

“As six nations [the “Contract group,” consisting of Germany, France, Great Britain, the United States, Italy and Russia] start a period of shuttle diplomacy over Kosovo’s fate, Serbian enclaves within the breakaway province threaten to plunge the region into civil war… Most of Kosovo’s ethnic Albanians want independence, something Serbia’s parliament voted to oppose Wednesday by a massive majority (217 to 2), ahead of revived talks by major powers in Vienna. Most of the six-nation ‘Contact group’ –except Russia–favors independence, too…

“About 20,000 Serbs live in the north of the province, an area that has long since slipped out of control of the UN’s administration and NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR). The fate of the roughly 1,500 to 2,000 Albanians living in the Serb-dominated north is hardly different from the fate of Serbs in the Albanian south: They live in ghettoes and are terrified of what the future could bring. And Serb officials have threatened that northern Kosovo would secede from the rest of the province if Kosovo wins independence… Last week Moscow rejected another proposal for a new UN resolution that would have brought an internationally monitored independence to the troubled province… Washington intends to be just as stubborn.”

Protestants Condemn Vatican

On July 23, The Adventist Press Service published an open letter from the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) to the Vatican, dated July 10, “questioning Rome’s clarification on the status of non-Catholic churches.”

In the letter, WARC pointed out:

“We have seen the statement made by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and ratified and confirmed by Pope Benedict XVI concerning certain aspects of the Doctrine of the Church on 10 July 2007. We are puzzled by the release of a statement of this kind at this time in the history of the church… The statement… unfortunately gives an interpretation… which takes us back to the kind of thinking and atmosphere that was prevalent prior to the Second Vatican Council. This is not good for the mutual trust that is being developed through our bilateral dialogues.

“We especially find problematic the statement that, ‘These ecclesial Communities which, specifically because of the absence of the sacramental priesthood, have not preserved the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic Mystery cannot, according to Catholic doctrine, be called “Churches” in the proper sense.’… An exclusive claim that identifies the Roman Catholic Church as the one church of Jesus Christ, as we read in the statement released today, goes against the spirit of our Christian calling towards oneness in Christ. It makes us question the seriousness with which the Roman Catholic Church takes its dialogues with the Reformed family and other families of the church. It makes us question whether we are indeed praying together for Christian unity.

“For now, we are thankful to God that our calling to be part of the church of Jesus Christ is not dependent on the interpretation of the Vatican. It is a gift of God. Receiving this gift, we appreciate the Roman Catholic Church as a part of this family… We pray for the day that the Roman Catholic Church moves beyond exclusivist claims so that we can further the cause of Christian unity for which our Lord Jesus Christ prayed…”

In spite of the Pope’s offensive statements, it is clear from the foregoing that the Reformed Lutheran Churches (also called the Protestant Church) is anxious to unify with the Roman Catholic Church. The Bible predicts that this will happen–with catastrophic consequences for the entire world. Please be sure to listen to our StandingWatch program, “The Pope Angers the World.”

Is the U.S. Draft Coming?

On July 21, Time published an article, discussing the possibility of a mandatory draft in the USA in light of the catastrophic conditions in Iraq and the present failure of the USA  to bring peace to the region. The article pointed out:

“So then what about the… most controversial option — is it time to reinstitute the draft? That option has a certain appeal as the Army fell short of its active-duty recruiting goal for June by about 15%. It is the second consecutive month the service’s enlistment effort has slipped as public discontent grows over the war in Iraq.

“Bringing back mandatory service has been the refrain of many who want to put the brakes on the Iraq war; if every young man is suddenly a potential grunt on his way to Baghdad, the thinking goes, the war would end rather quickly. It’s also an argument made by those who are uneasy that the burden of this war is being unfairly shouldered by the 1.4-million-strong U.S. military and no one else.”

This nonsensical reasoning–however ludicrous it may be–might very well induce Republicans and Democrats alike, albeit for different reasons and motives, to reinstate the draft. Let us pray to God Almighty–the God of PEACE–that that dreadful day never comes!

Environmentally Friendly Aviation Fuel

On July 18, www.stuff.co.nz published the following amazing article, showing that where there is a WILL, there IS a way:

“Air New Zealand and airliner manufacturer Boeing are secretly working with Blenheim-based biofuel developer Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation to create the world’s first environmentally friendly aviation fuel, made of wild algae. If the project pans out the small and relatively new New Zealand company could lead the world in environmentally sustainable aviation fuel. It’s understood Air NZ is undertaking risk analysis. If everything stacks up it will make an aircraft available on the Tasman to test the biofuel.”

A New Temple and the House of Levi

On July 15, Israel Today reported the following:

 “Jews belonging to the Tribe of Levi, and particularly the Kohen clan, came together for a mass gathering in Jerusalem on Sunday. It was the first large-scale gathering of biblically-mandated Israelite priests since the time of the Second Temple. The gathering included lectures and seminars on the history and future of the Temple, and culminated with all of the participants declaring the priestly blessing over Israel from the Western Wall.

“Genetic research over the past several decades has succeeded in isolating a particular DNA signature shared by all members of the Tribe of Levi, making the reinstitution of Israel’s priestly caste a relatively simple endeavor once the Temple is rebuilt.”

The Bible predicts that in the near future, priests from the Tribe of Levi will officiate over sacrifices, and that apparently a new Temple will be built in Jerusalem, just prior to the return of Jesus Christ. For more information, please read our free booklets, “The Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord,” and “And Lawlessness Will Abound…”

1984 In Prophecy–Has It Arrived?

The Associated Press reported on July 20:

“CityWatcher.com, a provider of surveillance equipment, attracted little notice itself — until a year ago, when two of its employees had glass-encapsulated microchips with miniature antennas embedded in their forearms.

“The ‘chipping’ of two workers with RFIDs — radio frequency identification tags as long as two grains of rice, as thick as a toothpick — was merely a way of restricting access to vaults that held sensitive data and images for police departments, a layer of security beyond key cards and clearance codes, the company said.

“… the news that Americans had, for the first time, been injected with electronic identifiers to perform their jobs fired up a debate over the proliferation of ever-more-precise tracking technologies and their ability to erode privacy in the digital age.

“To some, the microchip was a wondrous invention — a high-tech helper that could increase security at nuclear plants and military bases, help authorities identify wandering Alzheimer’s patients, allow consumers to buy their groceries, literally, with the wave of a chipped hand.

“To others, the notion of tagging people was Orwellian, a departure from centuries of history and tradition in which people had the right to go and do as they pleased, without being tracked, unless they were harming someone else. Chipping, these critics said, might start with Alzheimer’s patients or Army Rangers, but would eventually be suggested for convicts, then parolees, then sex offenders, then illegal aliens — until one day, a majority of Americans, falling into one category or another, would find themselves electronically tagged.

“The concept of making all things traceable isn’t alien to Americans. Thirty years ago, the first electronic tags were fixed to the ears of cattle, to permit ranchers to track a herd’s reproductive and eating habits. In the 1990s, millions of chips were implanted in livestock, fish, dogs, cats, even racehorses.

“Microchips are now fixed to car windshields as toll-paying devices, on ‘contactless’ payment cards (Chase’s ‘Blink,’ or MasterCard’s ‘PayPass’). They’re embedded in Michelin tires, library books, passports, work uniforms, luggage, and, unbeknownst to many consumers, on a host of individual items, from Hewlett Packard printers to Sanyo TVs, at Wal-Mart and Best Buy.”

It is true that the Old Testament contains references to God using the term “Father.” It is also true that, most generally, the One who dealt DIRECTLY with Israel was the same Personage who was the Son, Jesus Christ–not the One known today as “the Father.”

However, in Isaiah 9:6, we find a notable prophecy about Jesus Christ that includes several of His “names” or “designations”:

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

On the other hand, there are several other instances in which the Old Testament uses the name or designation, “Father.” In those additional instances, the reference is NOT to Christ. Please note the following comments from our free booklet, “God Is A Family“:

“Did Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, David, Daniel, and the other prophets understand that God, or ‘Elohim,’ is more than one person? The Bible reveals that they did know. “Acts 3:13 states that the ‘God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His servant Jesus.’ Abraham, Isaac and Jacob understood that their God was the Father, who would later glorify Jesus Christ, the Son. They also understood… that the God being who directly dealt with and appeared to them, was Jesus Christ—not the Father…

“In addition, we find a few Scriptures in the Old Testament that refer to Christ—the second being in the God Family—as the Son (compare Psalm 2:1–2, 7, 11–12; Proverbs 30:4).

“Generally, however, this terminology is not used in the Old Testament, as God was not clearly revealed as Father and Son in ancient times.

“Christ, as the Son of God, had to come to reveal the Father. The Jews were under the misimpression that they were worshipping ‘the Father.’ They did not understand that the God being functioning as the Messenger or Spokesperson of the Father and the God Family, who had been dealing directly with the ancients, was actually Jesus Christ. (Compare Christ’s words in John 8:54, ‘It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.’)

“Still, there are Old Testament passages that speak about God as ‘the Father.’ References to ‘the Father’ in the Old Testament can be found in Isaiah 63:16; Malachi 1:6; 2:10; 2 Samuel 7:13–14; 1 Chronicles 22:10; and Deuteronomy 32:6. In those passages, Christ—the ‘Word’ or Spokesman for the Father—communicated to the people the words of the Father.”

We might also add the reference in Isaiah 64:8: “But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.”

Also, God specifically instructs Moses what he should say to the leader of Egypt regarding the captive Israelites: “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Israel is My son, My firstborn”‘” (Exodus 4:22).

Throughout His dealings with Israel, God has been a Father to them, fulfilling His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Compare Deuteronomy 1:31; Isaiah 46:3-4; Jeremiah 3:19).

Israel as a nation did not seem to understand that it was actually the Son, Jesus Christ, who dealt with them directly–erroneously thinking that it was the Father who was in direct communication with Moses and other leaders. They did not realize that it was the Son, the Word of God, who communicated the words of the Father to their leaders and to them.

You might find our booklet, titled “Jesus Christ, A Great Mystery,” helpful for a careful study in this regard. In addition, we have written extensively in numerous Q&A’s concerning Jesus Christ, and these are available by searching on our web site, www.eternalgod.org.

Please consider what John stated: “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (John 1:18; 1 John 4:12). It is further explained that Jesus Christ revealed the heavenly Father–the God that Israel of old did not directly deal with. Here is the testimony of Jesus Himself: “‘Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father'” (John 6:46; compare Matthew 11:27).

In the New Testament, when the Father is spoken of, it is the One called God the Father, God our Father, our Father, the Father, etc. Unmistakably, the New Testament reveals more information about both the Son and the Father! Yet, Jesus challenged the Pharisees concerning their lack of true understanding about the Messiah–the Deliverer and Savior that they awaited.

“While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying ‘What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?’ They said to Him, ‘The Son of David.’ He said to them, ‘How then does David in the Spirit call Him “Lord,” saying: “The LORD said to my Lord,” ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool'”? If David then calls Him “Lord,” how is He his Son?’ And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore” (Matthew 22:41-46).

This exchange serves to highlight the terrible misunderstanding that both the Jews of that time had, and the strange Trinitarian description of the Family of God that has so deceived modern followers of “Christianity”–so called!

With this background, let us review the above-quoted passage in Isaiah 9:6. To cite from our booklet, “God Is A Family“:

“Since God [the Father] created everything through Christ, it is also said in Isaiah 9:6 that Christ will be called in the future—after His Second Coming—the ‘Everlasting Father.’ This statement proves, too, that Christ existed for all eternity. He is referred to here as the ‘everlasting Father’ or ‘the everlasting Source’ of everything—the ‘beginning of the creation of God.’ However, when the Bible speaks of the ‘Father,’ it normally refers strictly and exclusively to the highest God being in the God Family.”

Understand that the Son is without beginning of days (Hebrews 7:3); He has eternal life (Compare Colossians 1:15-18; John 1:1-3, 10; Revelation 1:11, 18); His roles relative to mankind have involved many different aspects, and that includes coming as Savior of the world as well as being God and “Father” or “Source” to Israel and all mankind–a role both of the past as revealed in the Old Testament and the future when He will establish God’s government on this earth and restore the nation of Israel, bringing peace to all peoples!

The role of “father” is even applied by Paul to himself: “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15).

This metaphorical usage of “father” reveals an effective key of understanding when we consider what is mentioned in the Bible–especially regarding the role of the Son, Jesus Christ, in following God the Father’s directive to choose Abraham and then making the nation of Israel from his descendants.

The fatherhood of God the Father is not just an implicit comparison! He is indeed revealed as the Father of Jesus Christ (compare Matthew 3:17; 17:5). God the Father is also revealed as OUR FATHER: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14; compare Revelation 21:7).

Jesus, who as the Son was also a “Father” or better “Source” in the creation of mankind–especially for the people of Israel–acknowledged the ultimate authority of God the Father: “…’My Father is GREATER than I'” (John 14:28). Paul makes this supporting statement:

“For ‘He has put all things under His feet.’ But when He says ‘all things are put under Him,’ it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:27-28).

Just as Jesus is subject to the Father, so must we be. Here is an admonition for us to consider from Hebrews 12:9:

“Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?”

Lead Writers: Dave Harris and Norbert Link

A new member letter has been written and posted on the Web. In the letter, Brian Gale discusses the signs of the times, indicating the imminent return of Jesus Christ. The letter will be sent out by mail early next week.

Our new booklet, “The Meaning of God’s Fall Holy Days,” has been posted on the Web. Hard copies will be sent out in the USA and Canada, together with the new member letter, early next week.

A new StandingWatch program (#130) was placed on Google Video by the end of last week. It is titled, “Are We Destroying Ourselves?”

In the program, Norbert Link made the following observations:

As we heard about this week’s terrible earthquakes in Japan and the radio-active damage which they caused, it became obvious how man, motivated by his greed, originally attempted to suppress and hide the full truth. However, such unspeakable nightmare scenarios can also happen in Europe and in America–and it stands to reason that they will soon occur. Are we facing the total extinction of mankind?

Our Internet ad campaign in the USA for our booklet, “Mysteries of the Bible,”  has received so far about 100 requests.

As we grow up, we like to think of ourselves as becoming smarter and brighter with each passing year.  As a race or a country we like to think the same thing, that we are better than those that preceded us 200 years ago.  Surely this must be the case; we have all the latest high tech to prove it!

But is this the true measure of whether we are actually wiser?  When we realize where people actually surf on the Internet and what they listen to on their iPods and what is watched on the high definition plasma TV, we might have to come to a completely different conclusion in many cases.

As we look at the world around us today, we see that we have legalized abortion, accepted homosexuality, glorified promiscuity, condoned murder and worshipped materials.  The list goes on, just fill in the blanks….

The reality is that most are currently taking part in a degenerative movement.  The reason for this is simple — we no longer retain God in our knowledge!  God is being removed from the institutions of learning and therefore, children and young adults are without the right foundation.  God has been all but squeezed out of the lawmaking and judicial process, so much so that a right way of life and true justice is becoming hard to find.  Because of this, God has allowed the carnal, reprobate mind within mankind to prevail (Romans 1:28).  It is a corrupt mind that resists God and any part of the Truth (2 Timothy 3:8).

As we move further and further from God, the condition of our collective minds will become worse and worse.  This is an immutable law.  It is imperative that we seek out and find God while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near (compare Isaiah 55:6).  Psalms 14:2 states,  “The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.”  This understanding and knowledge comes from following God’s way (compare Psalms 111:10). 

Are we living by every Word of God; are we growing in the knowledge of God, OR are we opting to be a part of the devolutionary process?  The choice is up to us!

Earthquakes in Japan — and Their Dire Consequences

As the reports came in regarding the terrible earthquakes in Japan and the radio-active damage they caused, it became more and more obvious how it was originally attempted to suppress and hide the full truth. This abominable conduct shows the length to which man in his greed is willing to go. It also showed the incredible dangers we are all facing–in spite of “assurances” from some “scientists”–that such a disaster could not happen in Europe or the USA.

Faulty Reporting

Let us review HOW the devastating disaster in Japan was reported by the international media, based on the information that it had received from Japan:

Reuters stated on July 16:

“Nearly 8,000 people spent an anxious night in evacuation centers in northwestern Japan after a strong earthquake flattened hundreds of houses and killed at least seven people… water, gas and electricity supplies were cut by the 6.8 magnitude quake… which also caused a SMALL radiation leak and fire at the world’s biggest nuclear plant…

“Aftershocks from the mid-morning quake continued into the night. The country was rattled late in the evening by a deep tremor under the Sea of Japan estimated at magnitude 6.6 to 6.8 that swayed buildings in Tokyo, but there were NO immediate reports of FURTHER DAMAGE. Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries…

“Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) said 1.5 LITERS of water containing radioactive materials had leaked from a unit at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant — the world’s largest. The contaminated water had been released into the ocean and had had NO EFFECT on the environment, the company said in a statement, adding that the quake was stronger than its reactors had been designed to cope with.”

Late Partial Admissions

The Associated Press added on July 16:

“The leak was NOT ANNOUNCED UNTIL THE EVENING, MANY HOURS after the quake. That fed fresh concerns about the safety of Japan’s 55 nuclear reactors, which supply 30 percent of the quake-prone country’s electricity and have suffered a long string of accidents and cover- ups.

“About 315 GALLONS of water apparently spilled from a tank at one of the plant’s seven reactors and entered a pipe that flushed it into the sea.”

AFP reported on July 16 about a “SECOND nuclear scare following a deadly earthquake”:

The article continued that “About 100 SEALED BARRELS filled with contaminated clothes and gloves tipped over at the massive Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Monday’s 6.8-magnitude quake… The lids of several barrels opened up inside the plant.”

The article concluded:

“Japan, which has few natural energy resources of its own, relies on nuclear power for nearly 35 percent of its needs, the second highest figure among Group of Eight industrial nations after France. Government plans to build more nuclear plants have often met public opposition in Japan, which is particularly sensitive about nuclear leaks as it is the only country to have been attacked with atomic weapons.”

Much More Dangerous Than Initially Reported

The International Herald Tribune reported on July 17:

“The Japanese authorities on Tuesday SHUT DOWN a nuclear power plant after a radiation leak and OTHER DAMAGE from an earthquake in the nation’s northwest raised new concerns about the safety of Japan’s nuclear industry.

“Tokyo Electric Power, which operates the nuclear plant near the city of Kashiwazaki, said it had found MORE THAN 50 PROBLEMS  that had been caused by the earthquake Monday. MOST were minor…”

The Associated Press added on July 18:

“The company that operates an earthquake-ravaged nuclear plant said Wednesday that a radioactive leak was BIGGER than first reported but still below danger levels, escalating the showdown over a long list of problems at the facility. The company also said about 400 BARRELS containing low-level radioactive waste were knocked over as a result of Monday’s quake, REVISING an earlier figure of 100…

“Tokyo Electric Power Co. announced that a leak of radioactive water into the Sea of Japan was actually 50 PERCENT BIGGER THAN INITIALLY ANNOUNCED Monday night after the deadly 6.8-magnitude quake.”

What Does It All Mean — For Man?

Such irresponsible conduct–first the insufficient design of the reactor; then the attempt to hide the nuclear spill; followed by the initial most questionable and dubious assurance that the leak “had no effect on the environment”; and the belated grudging admissions that the radioactive damage was much bigger than originally announced, causing the shut-down of the power plant– shows how man’s greed and foolishness WOULD ultimately LEAD to the destruction of our planet, if it was not for Christ’s intervention to prevent such man-made insanity (compare Matthew 24:21-22; Revelation 11:18).

The dangers stemming from nuclear power plants are by no means limited to areas like Japan. Even though some optimistic and perhaps business-oriented or financially supported U.S. “experts” were quick to point out in the press or on Television that such damage could not occur in the USA, let us not forget that the Japanese power plant in question was reportedly built WITH THE HELP OF OR BY THE USA. To say that comparable damage could not happen in the USA is extremely naive–to say the least. Critics point out that a strong earthquake close to San Francisco ( which is an extreme likelihood) WOULD cause leaks in a power plant situated in the area.

Please read our next article on nuclear power plant problems in Germany, and about the approach which is similar to what we experienced in Japan; which is, to HIDE from the public the DANGERS involved and the DAMAGE caused by defective nuclear power plants:

Nuclear Power Plant Problems in Germany

Der Spiegel Online reported on July 16 about recent problems with Germany’s nuclear power plants:

“The company at first said it was just a small fire. But the blaze at Vattenfall’s Krümmel reactor has since become a political wildfire. Now, Germany’s pro-nuclear energy politicians have gone into hiding…

“Whereas most of the some 130 reactor incidents reported annually in Germany are minor and go unnoticed, smoke pouring out of a transformer as happened in Krümmel tends to attract attention. It took the fire department hours to extinguish the blaze. Even worse, the plant operator’s claim that a fire in the transformer had no effect on the reactor itself proved to be A LIE… the frequency of problems occurring at Germany’s aging reactors is on the rise…”

 

Russia’s Lust For Power

Russia Provokes–and America Is Being Blamed

On July 15, the New York Times reported the following:

“President Vladimir V. Putin, angered by American plans to deploy a missile shield in Eastern Europe, formally notified NATO governments on Saturday that Russia will suspend its obligations under the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, a key cold war-era arms limitation agreement.

“The decision ratcheted up tensions over the missile shield plan, but also reflected a trend of RISING ANTI-AMERICANISM and deep suspicion toward the West here as Russia’s March presidential elections approach… the decision is a strong indicator that the smiles and warm embraces between Presidents Bush and Putin just a few weekends ago at the so-called lobster summit in Maine did little to soften the Kremlin’s pique over proposals to build two American missile defense bases in former Soviet satellite states, Poland and the Czech Republic…

“The European Union called the treaty suspension ‘regrettable.’ Cristina Gallach, spokeswoman for the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said in a telephone interview: ‘We appeal to everyone to start talking. This treaty is fundamental for the stability and security of Europe.’

“In Germany, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Russia’s decision ‘was a real cause of concern.’ Some members of Germany’s governing coalition have repeatedly CRITICIZED THE AMERICAN MISSILE SHIELD PLAN, saying it could lead to just such a move by Russia.”

Further Confrontations Between Europe and Russia

AFP reported on July 16:

“Britain said Monday it will expel four Russian diplomats over Moscow’s refusal to extradite a key suspect in the murder of ex agent Alexander Litvinenko… British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he made ‘no apologies’ for the decision, and that the government was ‘not prepared to allow a situation of lawlessness to develop in London as a result of a failure to act.’

“The expulsions… are the first in over a decade and come amid rising tensions between Moscow and the West fuelled by Litvinenko’s radioactive poisoning in London last year. In response, [a] Russian foreign ministry spokesman… warned the sanctions ‘cannot but lead to the MOST SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES in British-Russian relations as a whole’…”

And so, The Associated Press reported on July 19:

“Russia said Thursday it will expel four British diplomats and suspend counterterrorism cooperation with London, the latest move in a mounting confrontation over the radiation poisoning death of former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko.”

Russia’s New Cold War

Der Spiegel Online wrote on July 18:

“Russia seems to be doing all it can these days to flex its foreign policy muscles. The ethnic Albanians of Kosovo have become the most recent victims of Moscow’s posturing against the West… Russia on Monday night rejected a new draft resolution on the Serbian province, despite its European-American authors having included a Moscow demand that negotiations continue for another four months…

“Center-left daily Süddeutsche Zeitung on Wednesday writes:

“‘… Putin is following a broader STRATEGY OF CONFRONTATION because he wants… Russia to regain its place in the world as a foreign policy heavyweight.’

“Financial daily Handelsblatt likewise takes a closer look at Russia’s motives:

“‘Whether Russia’s (obstruction) tactics come out of pure friendship with the Serbs is extremely doubtful, because the new draft resolution… calls for the current UN peacekeeping mission in Kosovo to come to an end. Security duties would then be taken over by the European Union and NATO. For Moscow, that would mean a further expansion of the West — an expansion that is to be hindered at all costs.’

“Center-right daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Wednesday takes a broader look…

“‘Moscow’s strict refusal to extradite former KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi — who is the British authorities’ main suspect in the murder case — fits perfectly into Putin’s strategy of showing off to the West RUSSIA’S RETURN TO POWER. There is a straight line from the threat of using the ‘energy weapon’ against Ukraine and Georgia, to the Russian position in Iran and Kosovo, to the new tiff over the missile shield and Moscow’s freezing of the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, to the obstruction strategy when it comes to the Litvinenko investigation.

“‘The entire picture reminds one of the events from a previous era that the West, under the chapter called “Cold War,” would love to leave to the historians. But there are more and more indications that Putin isn’t afraid of a relapse.'”

Explosion in New York–A Grim Reminder of September 11, 2001

The Associated Press reported on July 19:

“A massive geyser of steam and debris that erupted through a midtown Manhattan street left asbestos in the dust that settled, but city officials said Thursday that tests indicated the air was safe of the carcinogen. Tests were continuing, but the city’s Office of Emergency Management said in a statement that long-term health problems were ‘unlikely.’ “Streets around the crater left after the 83-year-old steam pipe ruptured near Grand Central Terminal were still closed Thursday morning, creating near-gridlock. Streams of New Yorkers walked down Park Avenue, some wearing masks to filter the air… The loud, rumbling eruption broke windows and rattled buildings as the broken pipe spewed steam, dirt and debris into the air…

“On Thursday, asbestos contamination was the main lingering health concern, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. Some of the pipes that pump steam beneath the city to heat and cool thousands of buildings are wrapped in asbestos, which can cause fatal lung disease with prolonged exposure. Officials quickly ruled out terrorism after the blast, but for some witnesses, the explosion, dust and chaos were frighteningly reminiscent of the scene on Sept. 11, 2001…

“City engineers also warned that up to six feet surrounding the giant hole might be in danger of further collapse… Officials said the pipe might have exploded under pressure caused by an infiltration of cold rainwater, or might have been damaged by a water main break.”

Man-Made Disaster in Brazil

Der Spiegel Online wrote on July 18:

“At least 195 people have been killed in what is believed to be Brazil’s worst-ever plane crash. The crash, however, appears to be a product of a country with an air travel infrastructure that has been plagued by chaos in recent years and which has failed to keep pace with Brazil’s rapid growth…

“The Airbus A-320, which was operated by the Brazilian airline TAM, skidded off the runway after touching down. It collided with a number of cars and plowed through a gas station before crashing into a TAM maintenance building and going up in flames… The Sao Paulo crash will likely turn out to be the biggest in Brazilian history. It will also mark the tragic pinnacle of a series of accidents, mishaps and scandals that have made flying in South America’s biggest country a potentially DEADLY ADVENTURE…

“Last September, a Gol airlines Boeing 737 collided with a private jet over the Amazon, claiming 154 lives. The investigation into the crash is still ongoing, but a number of hair-raising details have already been leaked. But that doesn’t even begin to provide insight into the CHAOS of the Brazilian skies. Flight controllers are poorly trained, overworked and under-paid. Many barely speak English. The radar technology in the Amazon is also aging and often defective.

“The country’s air travel infrastructure has been unable to keep up with Brazil’s fast economic growth… The government of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has also shown itself to be INCOMPETENT in the face of the air traffic chaos… For years, experts have considered the Sao Paulo airport to be a safety problem.”

Germany’s Schizophrenic Approach

Der Spiegel Online wrote on July 18:

“Over the past few days Berlin and the surrounding region have been gearing up for the shooting of ‘Valkyrie,’ which stars [Tom] Cruise as the doomed hero. Old World War II-era planes with swastikas painted on the sides have already been practicing scenes in the skies above Brandenburg, the state surrounding Berlin, and workers have been hammering away, building a replica of the ‘Wolf’s Lair,’ Hitler’s Eastern Front military headquarters near the small village of Klein-Köris, 60 kilometers south of Berlin. Stauffenberg’s failed attempt to kill Hitler with a briefcase bomb on July 20, 1944 took place at the original Wolf’s Lair, now in present-day Poland.

“Although Cruise has been turned away from a number of key locations in the German capital, he has been given permission to shoot in a building adjoining Berlin’s iconic Tempelhof Airport. The Nazis used the ‘Columbia Haus’ from 1934 as a prison and torture center for political prisoners, including future East German Eric Honecker.

“There has been no end to the controversy over the film about one of Germany’s relatively few wartime heros because of Cruise’s membership of Scientology, which is viewed with deep skepticism in Germany. It is OFFICIALLY MONITORED BY GOVERNMENT INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES and has been under increased scrutiny since it opened a major new center in Berlin in January.

“The government has a somewhat SCHIZOPHRENIC APPROACH to the Cruise film. The actor has been refused permission to shoot at a Berlin police premises and at the Bendlerblock, a government building in central Berlin, where Stauffenberg hatched his plot and where he and several others were executed after it failed. But at the same time the government is also funding the shooting of Cruise’s film, with the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) giving it €4.8 million ($6.5 million) in subsidies…

“… veteran German actor Armin Müller-Stahl, who has made a career as a character actor in Hollywood, has also thrown his support behind Cruise. The 76-year-old asked those in Germany who are judging the superstar to calm down, calling them ‘inhibited, small minded and uptight.’… Müller-Stahl said an actor should only be judged on whether he… plays a role credibly, ‘And that can only be done after the film is finished — and not before.'”

France vs. Germany?

Der Spiegel Online wrote on July 15:

“French President Nicolas Sarkozy is challenging German Chancellor Angela Merkel for LEADERSHIP IN EUROPE. But she’s hoping to slow down France’s new hyperactive leader to ensure German influence on the Continent — while avoiding an open confrontation between Paris and Berlin… Only eight weeks in office, he’s angling to strip Merkel of her title as EUROPE’S TOP LEADER… Both are aware that the European Union can’t function if Paris and Berlin are at odds with each other.

“But at the moment the relationship is deeply strained. The new administration in Paris is doing its utmost to PROVOKE BERLIN… Sarkozy is looking for a fight wherever he can… A showdown appears unavoidable… But Merkel has no interest in butting heads. She doesn’t want to duel with Sarkozy, who certainly has a better mastery of such political hand-to-hand combat… The new man in Paris cannot expect the German compliancy of the past. At the same time, Merkel will humor NO CHALLENGE TO HER LEADING ROLE IN EUROPE — especially not from Sarkozy…

“The government in Berlin has flagged several economic and foreign policy issues where huge conflicts with the French could develop… Nerves in Berlin are so frayed at the moment that even the surprise trip Sarkozy’s wife Cecilia made to Libya last week caused a commotion.

“But one leading German foreign policy expert has advised officials in Berlin to remain calm despite Sarkozy’s COUNTLESS PROVOCATIONS. Former foreign minister Joschka Fischer has pointed out that Sarkozy’s predecessor Jacques Chirac took office in 1995 in [a] far more explosive fashion — with a nuclear bomb test in the South Pacific.”

Ethiopia’s Further Push Against Western Values

AFP reported on July 16:

“Ethiopia’s high court on Monday sentenced 35 opposition leaders to life imprisonment for inciting rebellion, after the prosecution had asked for the death penalty… The London-based rights watchdog Amnesty International protested the sentences and called for the defendants’ release.

“‘On the basis of the information we have, most — if not all — of those sentenced today are prisoners of conscience imprisoned on account of their opinions, who have not used or advocated violence and should therefore be immediately and unconditionally released,’ Erwin van der Borght, Director of Amnesty’s Africa Programme, said in a statement.

“Prosecutors last week had requested the death penalty for 38 of the defendants… News that prosecutors had requested the death penalty earned the US-backed regime of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi a WARNING FROM WASHINGTON… The Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) had also expressed great concern last week and described the prosecutors’ requested sentence as ‘outrageous.’

“‘By demanding the death penalty for members of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, the prosecutor has confirmed to the international community that Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s government is TRYING TO STIFLE ALL POLITICAL OPPOSITION,’ RSF said in a statement last week.”

No Evidence That Transcendental Meditation or Yoga Boost Health

Health Daily News reported on July 12:

“There’s no evidence that [Far Eastern] meditation eases health problems, according to an exhaustive review of the accumulated data by Canadian researchers.

“‘There is an enormous amount of interest in using [Far Eastern] meditation as a form of therapy to cope with a variety of modern-day health problems, especially hypertension, stress and chronic pain, but the majority of evidence that seems to support this notion is anecdotal, or it comes from poor quality studies,’ concluded researchers Maria Ospina and Kenneth Bond of the University of Alberta/Capital Health Evidence-based Practice Centre, in Edmonton.

“They analyzed 813 studies focused on the impact of meditation on various conditions, including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and substance abuse. Released Monday, the report looked at studies on five types of meditation practices: mantra meditation [better known as Transcendental Meditation, or TM, and its related Indian practices]; mindfulness meditation; yoga, Tai Chi and Qi Gong.

“Some of the studies suggested that certain types of meditation could help reduce blood pressure and stress and that yoga and other practices increased verbal creativity and reduced heart rate, blood pressure and cholesterol in healthy people. However, the report authors said it isn’t possible to draw any firm conclusions about the effects of meditation on health, because the existing studies are characterized by poor methodologies and other problems.”

Whether or not these practices boost health is not really the issue. Especially “mantra meditations”–such as TM–are based on thinking silently of a mantra which is repeated continuously for many minutes or–in some cases–many hours. These mantras are derived from Indian “holy writs” and designate the names of Indian “gods”–many of which are admittedly believed to be a mixture of good and evil and therefore in some way demonic in nature. Let the reader beware!

Exodus 23:20-23 reads, in the Authorized Version:

“Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.”

Much has been speculated as to the identity of the “Angel.” We should note, first, that these words are spoken by “the LORD” (compare Exodus 20:22). The Hebrew word for “angel” is “mal-ak” and means “messenger.” It can have reference to a human messenger, an angelic being, or God Himself, depending on the context. In Malachi 3:1, “the LORD” is referred to as the “Messenger of the covenant.” The specific reference in that passage is to Jesus Christ–not God the Father. The designation “LORD” can refer to both God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son–again, it is a matter of context. In most cases, the Hebrew word for “LORD” refers to Jesus Christ–but not always.

In Hebrews 1:10, Paul cites an Old Testament Scripture, speaking of Jesus Christ, the Son, and calling Him “LORD.” On the other hand, Peter cites an Old Testament Scripture in Acts 2:34, speaking of God the Father and calling Him “LORD.”

Turning to the passage in Exodus 23, some claim that the “Angel” spoken of in that Scripture is the archangel Michael, the “great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people” (Daniel 12:1). Others claim that the “Angel” is identical with the “Angel of the LORD,” spoken of in many Biblical passages, for instance in Exodus 3:2, where the “Angel of the LORD” appeared to Moses in the midst of the burning bush. The “Angel of the LORD” is also referred to as the “Angel of God” in Exodus 14:19. In both cases, the reference is to Jesus Christ, the “Messenger” of the LORD, God the Father.

Let us consider who it was who accompanied the Israelites on their journey through the wilderness. We read in 1 Corinthians 10:4: “For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.” We see, then, that it was Christ, the “Messenger” of God the Father, who led the Israelites. The “Angel,” as mentioned in Exodus 23, who was sent before them, appears to be none other than Christ, “the Messenger.”

It is noteworthy that Jesus said that no one has ever seen the form of God the Father, nor heard His voice (John 1:18; 5:37). However, the ancients saw the form and heard the voice of the second member of the God Family–that of the Son, Jesus Christ (Exodus 24:9-11; Numbers 12:5-8). Still, if the passage in Exodus 23:20 refers to Christ as the “Angel” or better “Messenger,” then the words which were spoken by the LORD to Moses were obviously the words of the Father, who said that He would send His Messenger, Jesus Christ, before the Israelites. But since no human being has ever heard the voice of the Father, the Father did not directly speak to Moses; rather, Jesus Christ communicated those words. He only spoke what the Father told Him to speak (compare John 14:24). Therefore, Christ communicated the words of the Father to Moses, when He told him that the Father would send His Angel or Messenger before the Israelites.

We find a similar account in the book of Revelation. We read that the Revelation came from God the Father, but He gave it to Christ “to show His servants… things which must shortly take place” (Revelation 1:1). In that case, Christ did not speak directly to John, but sent an angel to communicate the message of God the Father, which had been delivered to Christ.

Let us also remember what happened when John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ. We read in Matthew 3:17: “And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'”

As we know from other Scriptures, this was not God the Father who spoke, but, in that case, an angel. However, it was what God wanted conveyed through His representative or messenger. This example shows that when God the Father is quoted, His words are spoken exactly as if He is personally being heard!

Consider as well the vision that Peter, James and John experienced with Jesus. In this account, a voice speaking in the first person is heard by these disciples: “…a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!'” (Matthew 17:5). Peter later on made reference to this experience speaking of “such a voice” and “this voice” (compare 2 Peter 1:17-18). Again, it was an angel who spoke in that instance–not the Father–but the angel communicated the exact words of God the Father.

This Biblical pattern helps us to understand the passage in Exodus 23, as in this case, God the Father’s words were conveyed by God the Son–that is “the LORD.”

Let us note how many commentaries feel that the reference to the “Angel,” in Exodus 23:20-23, is a reference to the LORD Himself.

The Scoffield Bible states in a footnote to Judges 2:1, where the phrase, “angel of the LORD,” is used:

“He is named the ‘angel of the LORD…’ (Gen. 16:7), ‘the angel of God’ (Gen. 21:17), ‘the angel of his [God’s] presence’ (Isa. 63:9), and… ‘the messenger [angel] of the covenant’ (Mal. 3:1)… He is clearly identified with the LORD Himself… In Gen. 31:11-13 the angel said to Jacob, ‘I am the God of Bethel.’ In Ex. 3:2-6 the same angel said to Moses,’ I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham.'”

However, even though many commentaries understand that the terminology “angel of the LORD,” can refer to God Himself, some don’t seem to understand that God did NOT manifest Himself in or through an angel. Jesus Christ, the second member of the God Family, dealt directly with Moses and the Israelites. Christ is not an “angel,” but the divine Messenger of, or Spokesman for God the Father.

The Ryrie Study Bible states:

“Most likely the Angel of the Lord [was] the Lord Himself, though He was represented by His leaders, Moses and, later, Joshua.”

These comments allow for an additional possible explanation; namely, that the “Angel” or better “angel” is a reference to a human leader. Taken it in this way, God would have been telling the Israelites (Note that He used the plural word, “thee,” not the singular word, “thou”): “Provoke him not and obey his voice, because I will tell him what to say, and I will lead you into the Promised Land.”

The tragic story is that the Israelites did not obey Moses, and as a consequence, they did not enter the Promised Land. A similar incident, when the word “angel” could refer to angelic beings or human leaders, can be found in passages such as Revelation 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14. Please also note that the meaning of the name of the prophet Malachi is, “My Messenger.”

However, Clarke, in his commentary, explains the meaning of Exodus 23:20 as follows:

“Some have thought that this [reference to the Angel was a reference to] Moses, others Joshua, because the word ‘malach’ signifies an angel or messenger; but… it is more likely that the great Angel of the Covenant, the Lord Jesus Christ, is meant, in whom dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. We have had already much reason to believe that this glorious personage often appeared in a human form to the patriarchs… Nor does it appear that the description given of the Angel in the text can belong to any other person.”

Gill’s Commentary agrees with the foregoing, stating:

“Not a created angel, but the uncreated one, the Angel of God’s presence, that was with the Israelites at Sinai, and in the wilderness; who saved, redeemed, bore, and carried them all the days of old, whom they rebelled against and tempted in the wilderness; as appears by all the characters after given of him, which by no means agree with a created angel… Philo the Jew… applies the word unto the divine Logos [the “Word,” Jesus Christ, compare John 1:1, 14], and says,”he (God) uses the divine Word as the guide of the way; for the oracle is, ‘behold, I send my Angel.'”

From all the evidence, it is very likely that the reference to the “Angel” in Exodus 23:20 refers to the uncreated God being Jesus Christ–the Logos; the Son of God; the Messenger of God the Father. (However, the explanation that the “angel” could refer to a literal angel like the archangel Michael or even to human leaders, such as Moses or Joshua, has some merit, because they also functioned in “messenger” roles.)

If the terminology of “angel” or messenger” in Exodus 23:20 applies to Christ, then Christ, when talking to Moses, communicated the words of the Father, telling Moses and the Israelites that the Father would send His Son, Jesus Christ, to lead them through the wilderness to the Promised Land. The ancient Israelites failed, but the Church of God–spiritual Israel–must do better and follow their leader–Jesus Christ–to the Promised Land of the Kingdom of God, without provoking Him to anger, but rather, by obeying Him fully and completely.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

A new StandingWatch program (#129) was recorded and placed on Google Video. It is titled: “The Pope Angers the World.”

In the program, Norbert Link discusses the fact that protestants are up in arms over the Vatican’s statement that only the Roman Catholic Church is the true Church of Christ. The Church of England stated that the Pope’s claim that he is the successor of Peter, and that he speaks on behalf of God, is ludicrous and not supported by the Bible or history. Still, according to Scripture, Church unification is coming, but this will be bad news for the world. View this program on Google Video.

Our new booklet, “The Meaning of God’s Fall Holy Days,” has been printed and will be sent to our American and Canadian subscribers with the new member letter in early August– so as to give everyone an opportunity to use the booklet for meaningful preparations for the Fall Holy Day season. It will be posted on our Websites shortly.

By Shana Rank

A couple of weeks ago I was sitting outside with my son, Gideon. Often times while he and I sit outside I watch him explore and play—giving him space to learn on his own.  At 14 months old, Gideon is fascinated with balls; one of his favorites is a bright yellow bouncy ball—about the size of a basketball.

One afternoon he was trying to push his yellow ball up a slight incline of grass to the patio. Since he is not yet a pro at walking, he was on his hands and knees pushing with the one hand and using the other to move forward. Three times he tried to get that bouncy ball to stay on the patio, and three times it bounced off of something and rolled back down the hill.  After letting out a grunt of discouragement he looked up at me, hoping for some help.  I told him he could do it, and to try again. 

That day he gave up on the bouncy ball. A week or so later, he succeeded with no problem—pushing the ball with ease and control up onto the patio. Even little toddlers try hard and get discouraged, but he didn’t give up.

At first glance, Gideon’s progress might be missed or forgotten, but his small steps are a beautiful process of growing! Each of us can recall an experience that taught us courage and left us with the gift of wisdom. Gideon’s efforts reminded me that I must never underestimate the achievements of daily life—even when trying to control a bright yellow bouncy ball!

On July 14, 2007, Norbert Link will complete his sermon series on the sacrifices, covering in particular the symbolic meaning of the peace, sin and trespass offerings.

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 12:30 pm Pacific Time (which is 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

Actually, there are two parts to the following question: Are we, as a Church, Laodiceans, and am I a Laodicean?

You might be familiar with the characterization of some foolish and ignorant people that if one does not belong to their particular organization, one is automatically brushed with the title of  Laodicean and disqualified from belonging to the Philadelphian remnant of God’s Church.  

At one time almost all of us belonged to one big organization–with a few exceptions of some who rebelled and started their own churches. I believe that we belonged at that time to the Philadelphia era of God’s church. I also believe–and so do many others– that since the death of Mr. Armstrong in 1986, we have entered the Laodicean era. The question is, what is it that makes a church or person a Laodicean? What does the Bible tell us about the Laodiceans, as described in Revelation 3:14-22?

Christ’s major criticism–and not the objections by some “would-be-judges” who suffer from elevated self importance–is that the Laodicea Church is lukewarm, while its members feel that they are rich and wealthy and in need of nothing. They show a self-sufficient attitude–whether one applies this physically or spiritually. Christ described them as wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. It is evident that they perceive themselves quite differently than what they really are. Christ’s advice and counsel to them is to buy gold, to obtain white garments, and to anoint their eyes to see the reality of their current disposition. He also states that as many as He loves He chastens, indicating that some corrective action is required  for them to bring them around to ensure that they achieve a spiritual condition which is acceptable by Christ.

We as a church (the Church of the Eternal God in the USA; the Global Church of God in the UK; and the Church of God, a Christian Fellowship in Canada) have never claimed to be the only remnant of the Philadelphia Church, but we hope, of course, that we are part of the Philadelphia Church. We have taken the position that there are true Philadelphians in every Church of God group–or at least in most–as well as Laodiceans, and we certainly do not pass judgment on any one group or individual. 

What is the responsibility of the Church and of us, individually? The Church, as a body, is to preach and publish the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to the world as a witness (compare Matthew 24:14). Individually, we are to support that effort, and we are to grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

If you are doing these things, then no one on this earth has any right to tell you that you are Laodicean and not a part of the Philadelphia remnant, only because you do not belong to the particular Church group of his choosing.  The churches of God are scattered right now. Jesus Christ is the living Head of His Church which is not one corporate entity, but one spiritual entity. God the Father and Jesus Christ determine who is a Philadelphian or a Laodicean–or who is not a Christian at all. At this time, we cannot perceive a movement by God  to bring us all together; therefore, there must be a reason for the scattering.  It is not the prerogative of some men  to pass judgment on God’s people or to sit in judgment of other members or groups–the self-righteous approach by some to determine–based on membership in “their” organizations–who is or is not a Philadelphian or a Laodicean, is contemptible in God’s eyes.

If you look at your particular situation and if you can stand before Christ at the judgment and say, “I grew in the Son’s grace and knowledge, even though I was not perfect, and I did my part to further the Gospel message to the world,” then you might very well hear the words of your Master: “Well done, you profitable servant.” On the other hand, those who self-righteously and blindly labeled you a Laodicean, because you did not belong to their group, might be called unprofitable servants and they might be thrown into outer darkness. Only God, who looks on the heart and circumstances in a Christian’s life, can make the right and just determination.

If you fulfill your Christian duties and responsibilities, then the answer to whether or not you are a Philadelphian or a Laodicean is self-evident.

“Won’t Anyone Stand Up For God?”

On July 7, The UK’s Daily Mail published an article with the above-stated headline. While much–if not most–of the article is highly objectionable and ludicrous, we are quoting the following excerpts for the benefit of the reader:

“Atheists are on the march. The idea of God is under fire. The practice of religion is being condemned as a major source of evil in the world. The latest assault comes in a book entitled God Is Not Great by polemical writer Christopher Hitchens. The work, subtitled The Case Against Religion, is already on the bestseller list of The New York Times. It arrives hot on the heels of The God Delusion, another bestseller from Professor Richard Dawkins. Both authors are militant atheists who want to destroy the faith of believers. Dawkins expressed the hope that ‘religious readers who open this book will be atheists when they put it down’. Hitchens states boldly: ‘Religion is man-made. Religion poisons everything.’…

“Why has no one joined in the battle against these warriors for atheism? Where are the Defenders of the Faith that they ridicule? Are our bishops and cardinals, our preachers, imams or rabbis too supine, too complacent or too scared to argue back? Have they no arguments?…”

The Controversial Catholic Latin Mass

USA Today wrote on July 7:

“Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday formally made the majestic, complex and controversial millennial-old Latin Mass more accessible to Catholics… many church leaders are opposed to restoring and expanding a Mass they say is inscrutable to the faithful, outdated, and includes an offensive Good Friday prayer for the conversion of the Jews, asking God to lift their ‘blindness.’… Criticism also came from Jewish leaders, unhappy with the restoration of a prayer for their conversion, said during Easter Week. The Anti-Defamation League called the move a ‘body blow to Catholic Jewish relations.'”

The article quoted the wording of the old 1962 missal, as follows:

“Let us pray also for the Jews that the Lord our God may take the veil from their hearts and that they also may acknowledge our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, you do not refuse your mercy even to the Jews; hear the prayers which we offer for the blindness of that people so that they may acknowledge the light of your truth, which is Christ, and be delivered from their darkness.”

The Catholic News Agency, Zenit, had hoped to calm the waves by publishing the following article as early as July 6:

“Benedict XVI’s apostolic letter concerning the Roman Missal promulgated by John XXIII in 1962, will not reinstate a prayer for the conversion of ‘perfidious Jews.’ The Vatican press office announced today the Pope’s letter issued ‘motu proprio,’ on his own initiative, is titled ‘Summorum Pontificum,’ and will be released Saturday at noon, accompanied by an explanatory letter.”

However, in its follow-up article of July 8, Zenit gave no further “explanation” or clarification in regard to the Jews. Rather, as quoted by Zenit, the pope’s letter dealt with concerns regarding the unity of the Catholic Church–and NOT with the concerns regarding the Jews. If it did, then Zenit omitted to quote that portion of the pope’s letter.

On the other hand, USA Today added the following in an article, dated July 9:

“Ever since the reforms of the Second Vatican Council swept in the modern Mass, celebrated in local languages with the priest facing the congregation, the long, complex Latin Mass has only been allowed when a bishop allowed the local priest to offer it. Benedict’s decision allows any priest asked by congregants to offer it to do so…

“Among the Vatican II reforms was a spirit of ecumenism and [a] reexamination of church teachings that removed language long seen by Jews as a basis for anti-Semitism. The Latin Mass includes a prayer on Good Fridays calling for the conversion of the Jews, lifting their ‘blindness’ to Jesus as savior. Jewish groups were swift to complain and the Vatican says it has established a commission to consider their concerns.”

As if the Old Mass Wasn’t Enough… Only Catholics True Christians?

Reuters reported on July 10:

“The Vatican on Tuesday said Christian denominations outside the Roman Catholic Church were not full churches of Jesus Christ. The Vatican said other churches are ‘wounded’ since they do not recognise the primacy of the Pope. A 16-page document, prepared by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which Pope Benedict used to head, described Christian Orthodox churches as true churches, but suffering from a ‘wound’ since they do not recognize the primacy of the Pope. But the document said the ‘wound is still more profound’ in the Protestant denominations — a view likely to further complicate relations with Protestants.

“‘Despite the fact that this teaching has created no little distress … it is nevertheless difficult to see how the title of “Church” could possibly be attributed to them,’ it said. The Vatican text, which restates the controversial document ‘Dominus Iesus’ issued by the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 2000, said the Church wanted to stress this point because some Catholic theologians continued to misunderstand it.

“Ratzinger was elected Pope in April 2005. The document is his second strong reaffirmation of Catholic tradition in four days, following a decree on Saturday restoring the old Latin Mass alongside the modern liturgy… The document said the Council’s opening to other faiths recognized there were ‘many elements of sanctification and truth’ in other Christian denominations, but stressed only Catholicism had all the elements to be Christ’s Church fully.”

MSNBC added on July 10:

“Pope Benedict XVI has reasserted the universal primacy of the Roman Catholic Church, approving a document released Tuesday that says Orthodox churches were defective and that other Christian denominations were not true churches.”

Bild Online wrote on July 10:

“A new fight between the Catholics and the Protestants in Germany is on the horizon. The reason is a paper of the Vatican which denies that the Protestants are a Church. The Protestant Church in Germany is upset. ‘This was not negligence; it was an intentional attack,’ a spokesman said.”

The U.K.’s Times on Line added on July 10:

“David Phillips, General Secretary of the Church Society [in the UK], said: ‘Nothing new is said, but it does clarify the way in which the Vatican has torn apart Christianity because of its lust for power. They remind us that in their view that to be a true church one has to accept the ludicrous idea that the Pope is in some special way the successor of the apostle Peter and the supreme earthly leader of the Church. These claims cannot be justified, biblically, or historically, yet they have been used not only to divide Christians but to persecute them and put them to death.

“’We are grateful that the Vatican has once again been honest in declaring their view that the Church of England is not a proper Church. Too much dialogue proceeds without such honesty. Therefore, we would wish to be equally open; unity will only be possible when the papacy renounces its errors and pretensions.'”

On July 11, Deutsche Welle reported about German reactions to the Vatican’s outrageous statements:

“The Vatican said Tuesday that Christian communities outside Roman Catholicism were not full churches. Protestant leaders were offended and said inter-denominational dialogue was now at risk. German commentators agreed.

“German commentators had a sharp eye on Pope Benedict XVI, himself a German, following the pontiff’s comments that other Christian churches outside Roman Catholicism were ‘defective.’… The Vatican document… prompted swift criticism from Protestants, Lutherans and other Christian denominations spawned by the 16th century reformation.

“‘It makes us question the seriousness with which the Roman Catholic Church takes its dialogues with the Reformed family and other families of the church,’ the World Alliance of Reformed Churches said…

“Mannheim’s Mannheimer Morgen noted that the pontiff was merely sticking to his principles in his comments… ‘By focusing on the leading role of the Roman Catholic Church, he is keeping in line with the logic of the Vatican. For those who believe in ecumenism, the pope’s words were brusque. On the other hand, they can be grateful to Benedict: it is now clear that Catholics and Protestants will not forge closer ties during his papacy. Both sides know where they stand. That is certainly better than an elusory hope that will never become reality,’ the paper wrote.”

On July 11, Focus Online quoted Germany’s leader of the Protestant Church, Bishop Wolfgang Huber, as follows: “The Protestant Church will not acknowledge the primacy of the pope.” According to the magazine, Huber responded to a statement by Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of  the Pope’s Council for Improvement of Unity of Christians, who said that he did not see a reason for Protestants to be upset with the Vatican’s document, as it did not state anything new.

Anti-Catholic Bias?… Why Would There Be???

AFP reported on July 9:

“The Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal in India were named Saturday as two of the seven ‘new’ wonders of the world at a celebrity-studded televised ceremony in the Portuguese capital. The others were the Coliseum in Rome, the centuries-old pink-coloured ruins of Petra in Jordan, the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru, and the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza in Mexico…

“Losing out among the frontrunners on the short-listed sites were the Acropolis in Greece, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the statues on Easter Island, and Britain’s Stonehenge… The initiative seeks to recreate the popularity of the seven wonders of the world of antiquity. Only one of the seven, the Pyramids of Egypt, still stands today. The others were: the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus in Asia Minor, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Pharos of Alexandria.”

Der Spiegel Online added on July 9:

“Yet despite the parties worldwide, not everybody was happy with the campaign, which was the brainchild of Swiss adventurer Bernard Weber. The Vatican was unhappy about the lack of Catholic cathedrals on the list of 21 finalists. The Church even gave voice last week to a suspicion that organizers had an ‘anti-Catholic bias.'”

Illegal German Proposal to Fight Terrorism?

Der Spiegel Online wrote on July 9:

“German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble’s ideas for fighting terrorism have been sharply criticized by SPD politicians [of ] his government coalition. Commentators in Germany’s newspapers are [not] too thrilled either… Schäuble called in the interview [with Der Spiegel] for a harder line against terrorism, saying that German law might have to be changed to allow the state to fight terrorism effectively… The measures which he said might have to be considered include taking terrorists into preventive custody, deploying the German army in domestic operations, searching suspects’ computers online without their knowledge, and — most controversially — the targeted killings of terrorists…

“Editorialists writing in Germany’s papers Monday were… critical of the proposals, saying that Schäuble was over-stepping the limits of the state based on the rule of law and even accusing Schäuble of ‘complete insanity.’

“The center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung writes:

“‘Unfortunately Germany has an interior minister whose ever-diminishing sense of proportion leads to a feeling of insecurity rather than security. Wolfgang Schäuble makes people feel scared. The minister talks as if Germany can only be safe if it turns into an ‘007’ state, by the mutation of the constitutional state based on the rule of law into a regime where the extra-legal becomes legal. He talks about prudence and practices the opposite; he warns of hysteria, but spreads it himself; he disapproves of Guantanamo, but talks as if a ‘Guantanamo-ization’ of the German legal system is urgently necessary…’

“The center-left Berliner Zeitung writes:

“‘… With an eye to the American model, Schäuble has now announced a catalog of new legal ideas for the fight against terrorism. It is a list which causes fear… it is all about unethical principles, a kind of martial law and ultimately about a German version of Guantanamo…'”

The German Revival

The UK’s Telegraph wrote on July 10:

“To give an example of Germany’s weak performance, over the past 14 years, France has outgrown it, despite operating one of the most over-taxed and over-regulated economies in the world. Indeed, in recent years Germany’s growth rate has been about the same as Italy’s. But things were never as bad as this implies. Throughout, German business continued to do the right things – cost-cutting, wringing productivity gains from the workforce, outsourcing to eastern Europe, and gaining market share in the world’s rapidly growing markets in Asia.

“Furthermore, Germany remained the world’s largest goods exporter, as it is today. What laid Germany low was its labour market – high unemployment, excessively generous welfare provisions and difficult trade unions. So, while German companies continued to do well, the economy overall did not, held back by the weakness of consumption.

“Now things are changing… last year the German economy outgrew France. Moreover, consumers’ expenditure grew by almost 1pc. That may sound pitifully low, but it came after four years when consumers’ expenditure barely rose at all or even contracted…

“You cannot keep a great country down forever… Germany is set to benefit hugely from the strong growth in eastern Europe and Russia. Will the German revival be enough to spark strong growth across the eurozone? It has already helped to bring a boost. Although Germany has been the most striking example, economic growth has proved to be surprisingly strong over the last year in the eurozone as a whole…. For us, in an economic sense, a German revival is good news. Germany is one of our largest export markets. But politically, it is not going to be good.”

The European Revival

On July 10, The Wall Street Journal published an article, titled, “The European Revival.” In the article, it was stated:

“Not so long ago, Europe was the laggard of the world economy, with low growth and high unemployment… The situation today is very different. Last year saw solid growth in Europe, with economic expansion at 3%, the fastest rate in six years. Employment grew by 1.5%, twice the average rate of the 1990s, which translated into some 3.5 million new jobs being created in 2006.

“Even more important is that last year, for the first time in over a decade, the growth of labor productivity — the most important key to raising living standards — kept pace with that of the United States. It’s due to grow even faster this year.

“What’s changed? Certainly, a booming world economy has helped. But so have economic reforms that have been a long time in coming… The conditions for joining the euro are set out clearly in the 1992 Maastricht Treaty. However, as long as some countries that meet these conditions remain outside, there will always be the risk of a two-speed Europe. The euro has been a success. It ensures price and monetary stability for the economies that have adopted it, allowing them to grow and create new jobs.”

The European Empire

The Telegraph wrote on July 11:

“Gordon Brown was under renewed pressure to hold a referendum last night after José Manuel Barroso, [Portugal’s prime minister and currently] the president of the European Commission, hailed the European Union as an ’empire.’ The comments from the most senior EC official in Brussels will infuriate the Prime Minister as he tries to fight off growing demands for a referendum by denying a planned new EU treaty has constitutional implications… Mark Francois, Conservative shadow minister for Europe, believes the ‘startling’ statement of intent will increase pressure on Mr Brown to grant Britain a vote on Europe. ‘The British public will be genuinely surprised to hear the suggestion that we are now part of an EU empire,’ he said…

“The commission president warned Mr Brown that he was ‘honour bound’ by the detailed mandate and outline for a new EU treaty signed by Tony Blair at a Brussels summit on June 23. ‘There is a principle of good faith. For me it as important as any legal commitment,’ he said. ‘It is inconceivable that an agreement that was agreed unanimously in June is reopened now.'”

The U.S. Dollar Is A Basket Case

The Associated Press reported on July 10:

“The euro soared to an all-time high against the U.S. dollar on Tuesday, topping the $1.37 mark as key U.S. retailers and homebuilders lowered their growth forecasts, causing more concern about the American economy… ‘The dollar is a basket case,’ said Peter Schiff, president of Euro Pacific Capital Inc… Given the state of the U.S. economy, he said, the dollar could continue to fall in the coming years against the euro to $2.50 or even $3.00 … The dollar’s plunge against the euro and pound came as U.S. stocks fell…”

On July 12, “The euro clawed closer to $1.38…, briefly hitting new highs against the dollar,” according to an article in the Associated Press.

Conspiracy Theories Galore

AFP wrote on July 7:

“A senior French politician, now a minister in President Nicolas Sarkozy’s government, [French Housing Minister Christine Boutin] suggested last year that U.S. President George W. Bush might have been behind the September 11, 2001 attacks, according to a website… Boutin backs her assertion by pointing to the large number of people who visit websites that challenge the official line over the September 11 strikes against U.S. cities. ‘I know that the websites that speak of this problem are websites that have the highest number of visits … And I tell myself that this expression of the masses and of the people cannot be without any truth.’…

“France appears to be particularly fertile ground for conspiracy theories. In 2002, a book that claimed that no airliner hit the U.S. Pentagon in the September 11 attacks topped the French bestseller lists. However, the French are not alone in their skepticism.

“According to a Scripps Howard/Ohio University poll carried out last July, more than one-third of Americans suspect U.S. officials helped in the September 11 attacks or took no action to stop them so the United States could later go to war. The U.S. State Department has rejected these accusations.”

Illegal CIA-Flights In Violation of German Law

Der Spiegel Online wrote on July 10:

“About 390 CIA-run flights through German airspace were in violation of German law, and Berlin could have collected millions of euros in fines. Now internal investigations could make things embarrassing for Gerhard Schröder’s government as well as the United States… SPIEGEL has obtained complete lists of the flight plans of secret CIA flights in German airspace, which reveal 390 takeoffs and landings of CIA aircraft at airports in Germany between 2002 and 2006. The documents also show that mis-identifying the flights was part of a system designed to dodge compliance with complicated approval regulations.

“If the CIA had registered the flight plans correctly, it would have been required to provide details on the purpose of the flights. And once the true reasons for travel were reported — say, as ‘kidnapping’ or ‘war on terror’ — Germany’s Federal Department of Aviation, the LBA, would have become suspicious (to say the least).

“These deceptive maneuvers by the CIA have become the subject of intense scrutiny and debate within German political circles — from the Ministry of Transportation and the LBA to the Chancellery. Soon a parliamentary committee set up to investigate the German foreign intelligence agency (or BND) will also take up the matter.

“According to internal documents, former Interior Minister Otto Schily was ‘directly presented’ in February 2005 with various press reports about US intelligence agents… This series of events should have triggered an investigation. Under German aviation law, the false declaration of flights is an infringement subject to fines ranging from €10,000 to €25,000. All told, the 390 CIA flights would have incurred fines of between four and 10 million euros.

“And yet nothing happened. Now the government — which at the time was led by former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, a Social Democrat — must face allegations of sacrificing principles to avoid ruffling feathers in Washington, and of not collecting the fines.”

Turkey Ready for War?

The Associated Press reported on July 9:

“Turkey has massed 140,000 soldiers on its border with northern Iraq, Iraq’s foreign minister said Monday, calling the neighboring country’s fears of Kurdish rebels based there ‘legitimate’… If [the figures] are accurate, Turkey would have nearly as many soldiers along its border with Iraq as the 155,000 troops which the U.S. has in the country…

“Turkey has long complained of U.S. inaction against separatist rebels, who have escalated attacks inside Turkey in recent months. Last week, Turkey’s military chief asked the government to set political guidelines for an incursion into northern Iraq. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on Friday confirmed that detailed incursion plans were ready.”

Let us, first of all, understand that the Bible clearly teaches that God HEALS our sicknesses and diseases. To quote from a prior Q&A:

“He tells us in Exodus 15:26, ‘If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.’

“We are also told how healing from sickness has been made possible. We are healed by the stripes of Jesus Christ who gave His life for us, and who was tortured and beaten so that we can obtain forgiveness of our sins and healing from our sicknesses and diseases (Psalm 103:1-3; Matthew 8:16-17; 1 Peter 2:21-25; Isaiah 53:5).

“Generally, God instructs us, when we are sick, to call for the elders of the Church of God — the body of Christ, a spiritual organism — to pray for us and to anoint us with oil (a symbol of the Holy Spirit) and to lay hands on us, so that we can be healed (James 5:14-15; Mark 16:18).

“Many times, a ministerial visit may not be possible, as the sick person might live in a remote area. If this is the case, then elders are permitted to pray over a cloth, anointing it with a drop of oil as the symbol of the Holy Spirit, and asking God to heal the sick person who will receive this cloth. This is based on numerous passages in the Bible, showing us that people were healed when they touched the garments of Christ (Mark 6:56) or the aprons or handkerchiefs from Paul’s body (Acts 19:12).

“We understand, of course, that there is no magical importance attached to an anointed cloth. It cannot and will not heal anyone. As mentioned, it is through the stripes of Christ that we are healed.

“When a person who is sick receives the anointed cloth, he is to place it on his head and pray to God (as the minister would already have done when anointing the cloth) that God would heal the sick person from the sickness. Since our faith must be in God, and not in any man or in the anointed cloth, the cloth should be destroyed immediately after it has been used.”

From this it follows that many times, God may begin to heal a sick person when he or she places the cloth on his or her head and prays to God for healing. On the other hand, we have seen over the years that God may heal a sick person, or begin to heal him or her, prior to the receipt of the cloth, or, for that matter, prior to the arrival of the elders to anoint the sick person with oil and pray over him or her.

This might be based on numerous circumstances, including the faith of the sick person asking for a ministerial visit or a cloth. God looks at the heart of a person, and since He knows all of our thoughts, He might decide to heal a person when he or she fulfils his or her responsibility in the process of healing–that is, to ask for anointing. Many times, God looks at the outcome of a matter as if it had already occurred. Romans 4:17 says that God “speaks of future events with as much certainty as though they were already past” (Living Bible). In fact, we are told that we ARE healed by the stripes of Jesus Christ (compare, again, Isaiah 53:5). It does not say that we WILL BE healed. In God’s eyes, physical healing of a faithful and believing person is a foregone conclusion–even though God does not always intervene immediately. He may wait with our healing for numerous reasons–including, to test our patience and unshakable faith in Him.

We find an interesting example in Scripture, in Matthew 8:5-13. A centurion came to Christ and asked Him to heal his servant who was at home, paralyzed and dreadfully tormented. When Christ was willing to go to the centurion’s house to heal the servant, the centurion replied that all that was necessary was a command from Christ. Based on the great faith of the centurion in God’s healing power, Christ told him that his servant would be healed, “as you have believed,” and even though Christ never touched the servant nor saw him, the servant was healed “that same hour,” when Christ spoke the word (verse 13).

This means, then, that our faith in God is not to be restricted to actually receiving an anointed cloth; rather, we should have faith that God can and will heal us whenever it pleases Him. But, we are still to follow through with His command to ask for anointing. It is then up to the elder to decide whether to personally visit the sick person for anointing, or whether to send him or her an anointed cloth. Having shown God that we are willing to obey Him in everything, we can and should have the faith that God will heal us, in accordance with His will, whenever He chooses. To repeat, there is nothing magical about the anointed cloth. IT does not heal anyone. We must be careful that we don’t place our faith and trust in the cloth, rather than in God.

In any case, even though a sick person who has asked for anointing already feels better, or has been completely healed, by the time of the arrival of the ministry or the cloth, the procedure of anointing and praying over the sick person, or of applying the cloth, should still be carried out and followed through, thereby showing God our diligence and our gratitude for His ongoing intervention.

When should we ask for a cloth or an anointing through God’s elders?

Basically, if we are too sick to go to school or to work or to attend Church services, we are “sick enough” to ask for anointing. Even though we might be suffering from a flu or a cold which might “cure itself” in time–if this means that we would be unable to attend Church services, we should immediately ask for anointing to be healed, in order to be able to follow God’s COMMAND to attend Church services (compare Hebrews 10:24-25). [At the same time, if we feel that we are too sick to attend Church services on the Sabbath, but are not too sick to attend a party in the evening, then we were NOT too sick to attend Church services, and God does not look lightly at such casual and indifferent conduct toward Church attendance on His holy Sabbath.]

Can or should we ask for a cloth more than once, if God does not heal us after the first anointing?

This is most certainly permitted in a more serious sickness. Mark 8:22-25 relates an account when Christ put His hands on a blind person twice, before he was healed of his blindness. Paul asked God three times to be healed from a “thorn in the flesh”–a serious sickness (2 Corinthians 12:7-8)–and based on all the Scriptural evidence, we conclude that he did so by asking three times to be anointed for that same sickness. In that case, due to God’s specific plan and purpose, Paul was not healed from his sickness (verse 9). However, this Scripture shows that it is not wrong to ask for anointing or a cloth more than once for the same sickness. On the other hand, as stated, we must never place our faith in elders who anoint us, or in an anointed cloth. Our faith must always be in God, our Healer. Therefore, if a repeated request for an anointed cloth for the same sickness would become tantamount to a misplaced faith in the cloth, then such a request would be inappropriate.

Please refer to our booklet, “Sickness And Healing–What The Bible Tells Us,” for a more in-depth study of the subject of God’s healing.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

A new StandingWatch program (#128) was recorded and placed on GoogleVideo. It is titled, “The Last Days of America.”

In the program, Norbert Link is asking and answering the following questions: Are we actually experiencing the last days of the USA, as a world bestseller suggests? Has God withdrawn His blessings from us? And if so, does our lifestyle have anything to do with it? Is there still hope for a change?

Watch it on Google Video.

We have begun our Internet Ad Campaign in Canada for our booklet, “The Mysteries of the Bible.” In the US, we have  received by now in excess of 55 requests for the booklet. In the UK, we have received by now in excess of 130 requests for the booklet, “America and Britain in Prophecy.”