A widely circulated clip on YouTube, which was also linked on December 28 by the Drudge Report, shows Senator Max Baucus apparently being drunk or intoxicated on the Senate Floor, when “debating” the new health care bill. This brings vividly to mind certain biblical prophecies about “drunkards” in high positions (compare Isaiah 28:1, 3, 7).

A man flying from Nigeria to Amsterdam and then to the U.S. on a Northwest Airlines flight Friday tried to ignite an explosive as the plane prepared to land in Detroit. As could be expected, governments, airlines and airport securities which were caught sleeping at the switch in the first place, have now introduced stringent “security” restrictive measures for passengers–several of which border on the ridiculous. (It was subsequently announced that some of these measures might or might not be carried out on every flight.) These (contemplated) measures seem to amply prove man’s inability to show proper balance and sound wisdom. We can see how the world trembles at an attempted terrorist attack. We can only imagine the panic which would have ensued if that attack would have been successful.

In other news, we are focusing on the disappointment which has set in worldwide regarding President Obama’s politics and perceived lack of leadership. German papers in particular claim that President Obama missed golden opportunities for improvement in many areas, even though it is being maintained that the criticism, especially on the “left,” is “exaggerated”; and they claim that the relationship between the USA and France, as well as Germany, has not improved substantially. They conclude that due to the failure of leadership of the USA, for instance on the hotly discussed issue of “climate change,” Europe under Germany must lead.

Calls in this country as well as in Europe are being heard to deal “tough” with Iran, and a U.S. military strike is no longer ruled out.

We are addressing Russia’s war-like ambitions of maintaining its status of a nuclear power and its willingness to come militarily to the “rescue” of “threatened” countries; and we conclude with reports on a closer relationship between Japan, India and China, and strained relationships between these nations and the USA and Britain.

We begin with reports on the health care “reform.” On December 21, the Senate conducted the first of several procedural votes needed before a vote on the bill could take place on December 24. While Republicans were unanimously opposed, Democrats managed to muster the necessary 60 votes. Politics went into high gear when Democratic votes were only secured after granting special concessions–a procedure which was criticized as “corrupt” and “bribery.”

The Wall Street Journal wrote on December 21: “Change Nobody Believes In. A bill so reckless that it has to be rammed through on a partisan vote on Christmas eve. And tidings of comfort and joy from Harry Reid too… Mr. Obama promised a new era of transparent good government, yet on Saturday morning Mr. Reid threw out the 2,100-page bill that the world’s greatest deliberative body spent just 17 days debating and replaced it with a new ‘manager’s amendment’ that was stapled together in covert partisan negotiations. Democrats are barely even bothering to pretend to care what’s in it, not that any Senator had the chance to digest it in the 38 hours before the first cloture vote at 1 a.m. this morning… Even in World War I there was a Christmas truce.

“The rushed, secretive way that a bill this destructive and unpopular is being forced on the country shows that ‘reform’ has devolved into the raw exercise of political power for the single purpose of permanently expanding the American entitlement state. An increasing roll of leaders in health care and business are looking on aghast at a bill that is so large and convoluted that no one can truly understand it, as Finance Chairman Max Baucus admitted on the floor last week. The only goal is to ram it into law while the political window is still open, and clean up the mess later.”

On December 24, the Senate adopted the new health care bill. As USA Today reported, “It was the first time since 1963 that the Senate met on the day before Christmas and the first time since 1895 that senators cast a roll call vote on this day… The bill would require most individuals to purchase health insurance and offer subsidies for those who cannot afford the coverage. It also makes companies with more than 50 employees subject to penalties if they do not provide health care and their workers require subsidies…

“The Senate vote now sends the legislation to a conference committee, where Democratic leaders will try to reconcile differences between House and Senate bills on such things as how to pay for health care; how to help low- and middle-income-earners pay for the insurance they will be required to buy; and what restrictions to place on insurance coverage for abortions. The committee cannot formally meet or take action until Jan. 19… Republicans are vowing to wage a public relations campaign to derail the legislation before the next round of votes…”

Turning our attention to the climate summit in Copenhagen, President Obama announced an “unprecedented breakthrough.” However, what was achieved was a non-binding “agreement” between just five nations. It has been described as a trick; and the Copenhagen summit was labeled as an “utter failure”; and the Obama Administration and China are being blamed for it. The summit has received so much negative coverage in the European press that it was coined “Flopenhagen.” While most news reports regret that no results were obtained, the German conservative paper, Die Welt, warns that our approach toward perceived man-made global warming might be totally off track.

We also tell you about continued bank failures in the USA–with no end of the recession in sight; the incredible appointment of President Obama’s “safe schools czar”; another example why our legal system does NOT work, reporting on the conviction of an innocent person; strained relations between the Vatican and Israel; and conclude with an article about ambitions of the Habsburg family to run for the Austrian presidency.

We begin with a few articles covering President Obama’s acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize. The Financial Times utters the opinion that the Nobel committee made fundamental misjudgments; the left-liberal Huffington Post chides the President for confusing war with peace in his acceptance speech; and the Israeli paper, Haaretz, strongly condemns the award and feels that the world needs a leader–but that it isn’t President Obama. (When one may think the decision regarding the Peace Nobel Prize was controversial enough, Time magazine just announced that they chose Mr. Bernanke as the “person of the year.” While Mr. Bernanke denied for over a year that we were in a recession, the editors of “Time” congratulate him for having averted a depression.)

The health-care debacle continues, with political maneuverings, changed positions and disappointed players. The Wall Street Journal wonders about the reasons for the Obama Administration’s disdain for Britain, while Britain angers Israel due to breached promises to repudiate an antiquated law. It also appears that the EU wants to accept a plan to establish East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state.

While Iran accelerates the production of powerful weapons and while the debate of the spread of Islam in Europe continues, the German paper, Die Tageszeitung, rejects the decision of Germany’s constitutional court to generally ban shopping on Sundays, and asks this pointed question: “How is it that Switzerland’s recent prohibition on minarets can be seen as an affront to religious freedom, but in Germany we allow churches rather than a democratically elected government [to] tell us what to do with our Sundays?” (We have posted a German StandingWatch program on the Web, Sonntagsverkauf unchristlich? discussing this decision and its ramifications; as well as the fact that Sunday is NOT the Biblically-commanded seventh day of rest, but an “invention” of the Roman Catholic Church, adopted from worship of pagan sungods.)

The Catholic Church is beginning to lay down the ground rules for non-Catholic priests [such as members of the Anglican clergy] to join the Church of Rome as priests, and the requirements are not as “liberal” as some might have thought. We also report on Germany’s tradition to celebrate “Nikolaus’ day” on December 6, and conclude with an article in the Daily Mail that Prince William–and not Prince Charles–could be the next King of England.

We begin with a selection of articles on Europe–including an alarming report on Europe’s secret nuclear weapons; a Russian plea for a European army; and the charge that the EU is escalating war in the Middle East, while Europe is anxious to please both sides. As Jews come to the rescue of Muslims in Europe–for fear that the EU might turn against Jews next–the Anglican church in the USA nominated a lesbian to the office of bishop, thereby angering headquarters in Britain.

We also note that Britain and France are at odds again–as they have been so many times during their turbulent history–but the latest feud might very well contribute to Britain’s likely decision to exit the EU. In addition, the USA might very well abandon Britain in the end.

We report on “wartime” President Obama’s acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize and his bewildering statements justifying war.

We quote an article on the return of the historical plague of syphilis in Britain and conclude with a special report on the summit in Copenhagen and the ongoing heated and sometimes mean-spirited controversy on “man-made global warming” or “climate change.” It is becoming obvious that Europe and the USA, as well as China, are drifting further and further apart on the issue–as one article’s headline reads: “Europe Turns on US and China Over Weak Emission Targets.”

We begin with several articles on Afghanistan–and the futile and lost war that the Western powers are waging in that country. Both in the USA and in Europe, the tide is turning against prolonging this war. Der Stern wrote that the situation is “unsolvable”; the Financial Times stated that the Afghan war will decide whether President Obama “succeeds or fails,” arguing that it is “not a necessary war” and speculating that “one spectacular Taliban strike might flip the balance of opinion – and, with or without extra forces, the US would then be back on the path to defeat.”

We also show how Israel is upset with the EU; how Iran continues to defy the world; and how public opinion in Switzerland–and also in Germany and other European countries–is erupting against the spread of Islam in Europe. Commenting on the referendum in Switzerland to ban the construction of Muslim minarets, the German mass tabloid Bild wrote that Germans would probably vote the same way, continuing, “Large parts of the Islamic world don’t share our basic European values… Nowhere is life made harder for Christians than in Islamic countries. Those who are intolerant themselves cannot expect unlimited tolerance from others.”

At the same time, Germany’s constitutional court, following the request of the Catholic and Protestant Church, upheld the general prohibition against Sunday shopping. As one commentator said: “Strange isn’t [it] how some people accept this law on grounds of religion and social unity, yet are outraged at the thought of a minaret because Islam and sharia law may have similar laws restricting freedoms.”

Turning our attention to the elections of the EU Commissioners, new facts evolved pertaining to EU President Herman Van Rompuy, and especially Great Britain is unhappy with the nomination of French minister Michel Barnier as Commissioner for the key internal market post. The Daily Mail wrote that “Mr Barnier is expected to push hard to give Brussels the power to regulate financial institutions [in Britain] instead of the British authorities.” At the same time, the paper speculates whether Britain is on the brink of bankruptcy.

We conclude with a few articles pertaining to the horrible practice of flagellation in the Catholic Church and with the despicable methods employed by scientists to support global warming. These articles show how far this world has drifted away from the true God of the Bible and His values and teachings.

We begin with breaking news from Europe, followed by a series of articles showing the unwillingness of the American government to deal with pressing issues, such as the massacre at Fort Hood, and growing criticism of the American people (left, center and right) regarding President Obama’s actions–or the lack thereof–over here and abroad, including his non-statesmanship-like bow to the Japanese “emperor.”

The U.S. health care debate is continuing and is becoming the object of frustration, unbelief and ridicule. As Politico reported on November 18, “In the Battle of the Health Bills, the Senate wins out, bulk-wise – weighing in at 2,074 pages. The House health reform bill was a mere 1,990 pages when introduced. That means the Senate bill — like the one in the House — runs more pages than War and Peace, and has nearly five times as many words as the Torah. The table of contents alone is 14 pages… And if Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) gets his way, senators will get a chance to hear every word of it. He’s threatening to the read the legislation from start to finish, which by some estimates could take as long as 48 hours.”

And while America’s role as a leading superpower diminishes and the ongoing recession deepens, China seems to be pushed into a leadership role in the Far East, and Israel continues to defy the USA.

Focusing again on Europe, calls for a European army and a powerful “superhuman” EU foreign minister are accompanied by German considerations to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan. The Russian Orthodox Church decided to cut all ties with the German Protestant Church, due to a woman having been elected as the leading bishop, and frightening historical ignorance of British school children gives credence to the old saying that if we don’t want to learn (from) the lessons of history, we are bound to repeat them.

First, we are focusing on two major developments in the USA–the ongoing Health Care debacle and the massacre at Fort Hood, its possible warning signs and causes, as well as potential consequences for the American government. Other articles show America’s ongoing futile attempts to win the war in Afghanistan and our continuing recession.

While an Israeli strike on Iran seems more and more inevitable, which would further contribute to Israel’s growing isolation, the world watched the celebration of the fall of the Berlin Wall twenty years ago. As German and European unification have been described as “unstoppable” and “inevitable,” November 9 has been a fateful date in Germany’s history, and some observers look with anxiety at an evolving mighty and powerful Germany, which Chancellor Merkel wants to lead to “new strength.”

We conclude with an article describing the Vatican’s search for alien life. As we remark, this worldwide interest in aliens might have consequences for man’s reaction to Christ’s return.

But let us also include another warning. Even though Christ said that we can determine from the signs of the time when His return is near, He also stated that only God the Father knows the day and the hour, and He warned us not to set dates. Sadly, some claiming to be part of the Church of God, still don’t understand that Christ meant what He said. To give an example, notice the following excerpt from Science Live, dated November 4:

“According to God’s Church minister Ronald Weinland, the end times are upon us–again. His 2006 book ‘2008: God’s Final Witness’ states that hundreds of millions of people will die, and by the end of 2006, ‘there will be a maximum time of two years remaining before the world will be plunged into the worst time of all human history. By the fall of 2008, the United States will have collapsed as a world power, and no longer exist as an independent nation.’ As the book notes, ‘Ronald Weinland places his reputation on the line as the end-time prophet of God.'”

It should be obvious that we are not to set dates–whether it is 2008, 2012, 2017, or any other year.

Breaking News:
 
The mysteries surrounding the worst mass murder at a U.S. military deployment are far from solved.
 
As USA Today reported late on November 5, “The suspect in a mass shooting Thursday at Fort Hood in Texas is alive… Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan… has been identified as the shooting suspect in the attack that left 12 more dead and 31 wounded… The aunt of the alleged suspect… said her nephew had been trying to leave the military for years…”
 
Fox News and the Associated Press had reported earlier, on November 5: “Major Malik Nadal Hasan [is] a psychiatrist who reportedly didn’t believe in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and wanted out of the military before he was set to be deployed overseas… A former neighbor of Hasan’s in Silver Spring, Md. told Fox News he lived there for two years with his brother and had the word ‘Allah’ on the door… The shooter’s cousin, Nader Hasan… said, ‘He wasn’t even someone who enjoyed going to the firing range.’ He said his cousin… turned against the wars after hearing the stories of those who came back from Afghanistan and Iraq… [Nidal Malik Hasan] who was raised a Muslim… now is believed to have been behind the worst mass shooting at a U.S. military base in history.”
 
In other news, we report that developments overseas, especially in Afghanistan and the Middle East, testify to the inability of the United States to provide meaningful and respected leadership in the world. Rather, accusations and blame is heaped on the USA for its perceived cowardliness or back-pedaling. The Afghan war and the most recent “elections” in Afghanistan have proven to be a millstone around the American neck, and Mrs. Clinton’s support for Israel has angered the Arab world.

After Czech President Václav Klaus has signed the Lisbon Treaty this week, it has now been ratified by all member states. While some fear Europe will become too powerful, others plead for even more power. The European Council on Foreign Relations suggests that Europe must really unite in order to be able to present a united front on foreign policy, and they must work toward a “post-American” state of affairs. In other words, they must prepare to replace the USA as the leader of the Western world.

As the new German government may have begun a process of distancing itself from China and India, Poland especially is deeply concerned about Russia’s militaristic ambitions. We are getting closer to the time when a united Europe will launch a “preemptive strike” against a confederation of Far Eastern countries, as prophesied in Scripture. For more information, please read our free booklet, “Is That in the Bible?–The Mysteries of the Book of Revelation.”

Next, we are publishing two articles on the horrible festival of Halloween. Even though the Catholic Church condemns it, it tried to “christianize” it, according to Der Spiegel, by inventing “All Saint’s Day,” to make it easier for pagans and Christians alike to observe “Samhain.” Similarly, the attempts of the Roman Church to woo Anglicans–who are very willing to be wooed–shows an ongoing development which will ultimately result in a unification or merger of most “Christian” churches and many non-Christian religions under the Catholic umbrella.

We conclude with the terrible state of affairs of the U.S. economy. Notwithstanding some laughable allegations that we have seen the end of the recession and that the stimulus package created and saved millions of jobs, the reality is quite different: More and more banks fold, and we have witnessed this week one of the largest bankruptcy failures in U.S. history. And it may well be that several U.S. state elections have sent a message to the White House, demanding “real change.”

Our leading articles focus on the unification of Europe under possible German-French leadership, and the deteriorating relationship between France and the USA. We point out that Germany is at this point helping Israel militarily, while anger is being displayed over the recent riots at the Temple Mount and calls for international intervention are becoming louder. For information on the future of the state of Israel and the city of Jerusalem, please read our free booklet, “The Book of Zechariah–Prophecies for Today.”

We are introducing two new German politicians on the world scene and report on possible anti-German protests by the Muslim world.

According to some observers, “Anglicanism” is over, due to an anticipated mass exodus of Anglican clergy to the Catholic Church, and Germany’s Protestants are also interested in “improving” their relationship with the Catholic Church.

We are also reporting on Turkey and the prophesied unification of Asian powers, which will result in hostility between those powers and a united Europe. For more information, please read our free booklets, “The Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord” and “Is That in the Bible?–The Mysteries of the Book of Revelation.”

While the freedom of the press is being threatened in the USA and more US banks are failing, evolutionists are appalled by a growing number of people around the world demanding the teaching of creationism in school. To learn more about the unscientific nature of the evolution theory, please read our free booklet, “The Theory of Evolution–a Fairy Tale for Adults?”

We conclude with twisted rabbinical rulings pertaining to the Sabbath, showing the importance of not making the Sabbath a burden, but observing it as a joyful occasion. Jesus said that “the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). For more information, please read our free booklet, “God’s Commanded Holy Days.”

As we reported in last week’s Update the EU is determined [and predestined] to become a global power. According to the Telegraph, once the Lisbon Treaty is adopted (and bowing to pressure, Czech President Klaus announced that he too, as the last leader of the 27 EU member states, will ratify the Treaty), the EU will become a “single legal personality which will sign all kinds of international agreements, including on foreign policy and defense.” Whether Tony Blair will become the first permanent EU President is doubtful, given the fact that the UK is not part of the eurozone.

While there is a possibility of a coming power struggle within the EU for prestigious positions, there is already a power struggle ensuing between the Catholic and the Anglican churches. In an unparalleled move and in its desire to invite into their fold as many Anglican converts as possible, “a new Catholic structure will allow Anglicans, including married clergymen, to enter full communion with the Catholic Church.”

Bowing to outside pressure and due to allegations of massive election fraud, Afghan President Karzai is allowing a runoff election against his challenger Abdullah on November 7. As Deutsche Welle stated, “Few observers doubt that Karzai will win the runoff. Indeed, it’s questionable whether anything will change in Afghanistan regardless of the outcome.”

Turkey is moving further away from Israel and closer to Syria. As the Jerusalem Post put it, “Turkey officially left the Western alliance and became a full member of the Iranian axis.” The paper also said that if “Westernized Turks” wish to remain in Turkey, they will have to “join the Islamist camp and add their voices to the rising chorus of anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism sweeping the country.” These developments are especially interesting in light of end-time prophecies in the book of Obadiah, pertaining to the hostile relationship between modern Turkey (ancient Edom) and Israel (both the modern house of Israel, especially the USA, as well as the Jews).

Focusing our attention on the ever increasing reports about devastating developments in the USA, the FDIC Insurance Fund is “in the red”; 99 banks have failed so far in 2009; more than 416 additional banks are included in the FDIC’s confidential “problem list”; and the Federal Budget Deficit has reached the unprecedented staggering figure of $1.42 Trillion. As we said in our last Update, “Empire America” is on its steady, inevitable and incurable decline. Both its government (“the head”) as well as its people (“the sole of the foot”) are lacking soundness (Isaiah 1:6). Instead, God describes the USA (as well as other modern nations descended from the ancient houses of Israel and Judah) as a “sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity, A brood of evildoers, Children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the LORD, They have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, they have turned away backward” (Isaiah 1:4).

To illustrate the point: We conclude with an article about a Louisiana justice of the peace who refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple. He explained that “it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long” and “that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society.” Of course, left-liberal organizations and the mass media began a campaign of hate against the man, demanding his resignation, but we would have to agree with the stated experience of the justice of the peace officer. The Bible does not support marriages which are clearly, obviously and visibly interracial. However, this would not include marriage candidates who are of “mixed” blood.” For more information, please read our Q&A on the issue.