President Obama’s visit to the concentration camps at Buchenwald in Germany could not hide the fact that the rift between Germany and the United States is widening. The subsequent commemoration of D-Day in France contained some embarrassing moments. Many in Israel feel betrayed by Obama. The rift between the USA and Israel is widening as well.

At the same time, according to the supreme religious leader of Iran, Muslim nations continue to hate America, in spite of Obama’s speech in Cairo and his fascination with Islam. As the interview with one of his advisors for Muslim affairs reveals, his Cairo speech was clearly politically motivated. Iranians vote for a new President tomorrow, Friday, June 12. But as Der Spiegel writes, regardless as to who wins, not much will change regarding Iran’s ambitions to become a nuclear power.

While Governor Palin points at real risks in the approach taken by the Obama administration, former Vice-President Cheney’s comments become more and more controversial and incredible. And North Korea–one of the world’s secretive, communist, dictatorial and suppressive regimes–continues to antagonize the West, which appears to be helpless in view of consistent dangerous North Korean aggressions.

The outcome of EU elections has shown that most Europeans reject big business and stimulus packages. As newspaper columns have expressed it: While the USA moves left under Obama, Europe goes right under Merkel, Sarkozy and Berlusconi. Movements can be observed in Europe and elsewhere, advocating mandatory voting and fining those who won’t vote. In the case of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, some German politicians claim that the church’s policy against voting violates the German Constitution. 

Finally, the WHO designated the swine flu as a global pandemic. And pigs DO make people sick–and the medical community knew this for a long time, without revealing it, due to pressures from the pork industry. 

General Motor’s long-expected, government-induced filing for bankruptcy dominated much of this week’s news. The horrendous additional costs for American taxpayers and the more-than-doubtful success of the measure has many critics in arms. The German press in particular blasted Mr. Obama for his ill-advised and “alarming” action and pointed at America’s “weakened industrial clout,” which “poses considerable risks for the entire US economy and for international competitors.”

German papers overwhelmingly agreed that “America’s economy is losing power and influence in the world,” and if Mr. Obama’s restructuring of GM fails (as many commentators fear that it will), “his economic policy will lie in ruins.”

The U.S. economy is indeed in shambles, mirroring the fact that California is already “bankrupt.” As USA Today reported, the government took on $6.8 trillion in new obligations in 2008, pushing the total owed to a record $63.8 trillion. When US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said at Beijing University that “Chinese financial assets are very safe” in the USA, the audience laughed him to scorn.

On the political front, President Obama gave his highly anticipated speech in Cairo, but what did it accomplish? So far, as a Financial Times’ article points out, Mr. Obama’s approach on the world scene has been unsuccessful. However, it is interesting that the White House has begun to emphasize more and more President Obama’s Muslim roots. And while Israel is preparing for war and European elections for the EU Parliament are under way, Germany and France are pleading for a “strong Europe,” stating that it must have “strong institutions” to “play a leading role in the world.”

President Obama’s America and Chancellor Merkel’s Germany do not see eye to eye at all. Even though Germans are still today less than enthusiastic about German military advancements in other countries, the Bible prophesied thousands of years ago that a European army, under German leadership, will invade the Middle East, and, even more surprisingly, perhaps, that an all-encompassing war will ensue between continental Europe and Great Britain and the USA. For more information, please read our free booklets, “Europe in Prophecy,” “The Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord,” and “The Fall and Rise of Britain and America.” Further information on this topic can also be found in our free booklet, “Is That in the Bible? The Mysteries of the Book of Revelation.”

This world is not becoming a safer or more prosperous or more “Godly” place–at least not for a while. This sober realization was highlighted this week by North Korea’s underground explosion of a nuclear bomb, causing a 4.5-magnitude earthquake, as well as subsequent short-range missile tests; Iran’s refusal to freeze its nuclear program and its decision to send warships to international waters; Israel’s announcement that settlements in the West Bank will continue; and ongoing frictions between Russia and the EU.

Economically, President Obama admitted that the USA is already out of money, and experts predict that the worst is still to come for America. As Der Spiegel reports, the situation in the USA affects Europe negatively and does not make the Europeans–and especially the Germans–very happy.

Focusing on California, the Wall Street Journal asked how California’s disastrous economic condition could have been averted or at least improved IF Governor Schwarzenegger had carried out his promises; and WorldNetDaily reported about an outrageous case of governmental religious persecution in San Diego, with frightening prospects for the increasing suppression of religious freedom in the USA. That religious persecution is also an ongoing issue of discussion in Europe can be seen in an article reporting about developments in France.

In other news, we are reporting about President Obama’s nomination of Sonia Sotomayor as the next Supreme Court Justice, as well as Hans-Gert Pöttering’s view on the future of Europe. Mr. Pöttering serves as the president of the European Parliament.

We conclude with three articles pertaining to the ongoing controversy related to the gay community. While it is claimed that Israel is more tolerant of homosexual behavior than the USA, using the defeat of an openly gay contestant in the “American Idol” show as an example, and while the Supreme Court of California, because of a legal technicality, banned new same-sex marriages, the Church of Scotland approved the appointment of an openly gay minister, insinuating that “the Bible does not directly address homosexual relationships, which are now ‘essentially a feature of modern society.'”

Biblical statements in the Old and New Testament leave no doubt how God views homosexual practices. You might just want to look at passages in Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; and Romans 1:26-27.

Note, too, the passage in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, stating: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”

The margin of the New King James Bible explains that the term “homosexuals” refers to “those submitting to homosexuals,” while the word “sodomites” refers to “male homosexuals.” The list, which is by no means exclusive, also includes additional sexual sins such as adultery [extra-marital sex] and fornication [pre-marital sex], as well as non-sexual sins.

Notice, however, how Paul continues, in verse 11, showing that homosexuals, as well as fornicators, adulterers and others living in sin, CAN change, with the help of God’s Spirit: “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God.”

For more information on how GOD looks at the matter of proper and improper sexual conduct, please read our free booklet, “The Keys to Happy Marriages and Families.”

As U.S. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, is facing incredibly low approval ratings and is bombarded with growing demands to step down, due to her perceived misrepresentations surrounding the waterboarding scandal, the U.K. Speaker of the House, Michael Martin, likewise came under fire, with many voices demanding his resignation, due to a financial scandal involving MPs’ “expense” accounts. But while Martin announced his intent to resign, Pelosi has been defiant until now.

President Obama’s long-awaited meeting with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apparently had the expected results–namely, that the two leaders did not agree on just about anything substantive.

President Obama’s commencement address at the Catholic University at Notre Dame highlighted again that his position on abortion, stem cell research and other related issues are NOT in accordance with God’s Word–the Bible. His repeated flip flops have begun to anger some of his strongest supporters–civil and human rights groups.

Even his ambitious plan to close Guantánamo suffered a serious setback when the Senate voted 90-6 on Wednesday, May 20, to stall the process (Financial Times, May 21).

In two subsequent speeches on Thursday, May 21, by President Obama and former Vice President Cheney, it became obvious that the divide between the two men and the policies they represent, could not be greater.

President Obama said in his speech that after 9/11, “our government made decisions based upon fear rather than foresight, and all too often trimmed facts and evidence… And in this season of fear, too many of us – Democrats and Republicans; politicians, journalists and citizens – fell silent. In other words, we went off course…

“I banned the use of so-called enhanced interrogation techniques by the United States of America. I know some have argued that brutal methods like water-boarding were necessary to keep us safe. I could not disagree more. As Commander-in-Chief, I see the intelligence, I bear responsibility for keeping this country safe, and I reject the assertion that these are the most effective means of interrogation…

“The second decision that I made was to order the closing of the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay. For over seven years, we have detained hundreds of people at Guantanamo. During that time, the system of Military Commissions at Guantanamo succeeded in convicting a grand total of three suspected terrorists… Instead of bringing terrorists to justice, efforts at prosecution met setbacks, cases lingered on, and in 2006 the Supreme Court invalidated the entire system. Meanwhile, over five hundred and twenty-five detainees were released from Guantanamo under the Bush Administration… 

“There is also no question that Guantanamo set back the moral authority that is America’s strongest currency in the world… our government was defending positions that undermined the rule of law…”

Regarding Vice President Cheney’s response, The Associated Press wrote that he defended “the decisions of the Bush administration in dealing with terrorism. Expressing no remorse for the actions the Bush White House had ordered, Cheney said under the same circumstances he would make the same decisions ‘without hesitation.'”

At the same time, we were reminded of the dangers confronting the USA, when four men who were reportedly attempting to “commit jihad,” were arrested in New York “shortly after planting a 37-pound mock explosive device in the trunk of a car outside the Riverdale Temple and two mock bombs in the backseat of a car outside the Riverdale Jewish Center, another synagogue a few blocks away… [They] were charged with conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction within the United States and conspiracy to acquire and use anti-aircraft missiles” (The Associated Press, May 21).

An earthquake in Los Angeles, which was reputedly of a 4.7 to 5.0 magnitude, brought into focus the very real threat of the “big one.” A court decision, forcing parents to administer certain medical treatments to their 13-year-old child against the parents’ and the boy’s objections emphasizes again the ever-increasing power of the government to enforce its will on the will of the parents in administering certain medical treatments, while exemplifying the obvious contradiction in the government’s position that it is the right of the mother to kill her child through abortion.

The spread of the swine flu is still on the rise, with one expert suggesting that it might have been created in a lab; the Catholic Church is in the news again for allowing despicable child molestation through their priests and nuns to go on for decades in Ireland; and finally, “Ida,” a “missing link” between apes and humans was allegedly found. With this utter nonsense, many seek to give credence to Darwin’s theory of evolution, which has been disproved by some scientists.

In this week’s Update, we are focusing mainly on three subjects–the ever-worsening US economy and other frightening and disturbing developments in furtherance of the new Administration’s agenda; events taking place in the Middle East, including the Pope’s controversial and “disappointing” visit to Jerusalem and the willingness of the U.S. to antagonize Israel in order to appease Iran; and developments in Europe pertaining to the Lisbon treaty and grim reminders from history to show what the European unification may really be all about.

Reviewing the American economy, more and more signs show us that the Great Depression is coming–all optimistic but inaccurate viewpoints notwithstanding. New proposed or adopted legislature increasingly erodes the fabric of our Christian heritage–which is telling in light of President Obama’s view that the US is not a Christian nation, and that he has strong ties to the Muslim world.

The Middle East has been in the news this week; not only because of the Pope’s highly controversial visit–controversial and disappointing for the Jews, that is–but also because of a planned meeting between President Obama and President Netanyahu next week. As Jordan’s King Abdullah put it, all eyes look to Washington, as this is the last chance for the USA to get something accomplished in the Middle East. However, in the process, Israel might very likely look at Mr. Obama’s position as a betrayal, endangering their own security and their very survival. And while Iran is preparing for a nuclear attack from Israel, Europe and the USA are apparently involved in secret and discreet negotiations with Hamas.

Finally, Europeans claim that the Lisbon Treaty is vital for religious freedom in Europe–including the freedom not to have a religion. But as an article from the Daily Mail shows, in order to understand Europe’s future, one must look to its past–especially the recent past under Adolph Hitler. We explain in detail in our free booklet, “Europe in Prophecy,” that historically, the ninth resurrection of the ancient Roman Empire occurred under Hitler and Mussolini, and that the tenth and final revival is occurring right now before our very eyes–IF we have eyes to see.

The news this week was again dominated by the outbreak of the swine flu, especially in light of the fact that for the first time an infected human passed the virus back to pigs. The consistently stated opinion by “experts” that eating pork–even from infected pigs–is safe sounds shallow, untrustworthy and irresponsible in the light of such developments. Fear has also been expressed that those suffering from AIDS might be highly susceptible to the swine flu virus, while others warn that a politically induced mass hysteria advocating or even demanding universal vaccinations might do more harm than good.

While an increasing number of Americans is now considering abortion illegal in most or all cases, the House wasted no time to expand federal hate crimes–an action which might very well be unconstitutional and which will restrict the free exercise of religion–especially of churches and their ministers. This action may have to be seen as part of a bigger picture–namely, the exertion of pressure by gay activists on President Obama to fight their cause. Equally troubling are some of President Obama’s nominations of extremely liberal judges to certain Courts of Appeals. The public is also finally recognizing that responsibility for current actions lies with President Obama and his staff, and can no longer be “excused” by blaming the Bush Administration.

Optimistic viewpoints of some financial “experts” notwithstanding, that the worst is over and that our economy is on its way to recovery, the opposite is true. These financial “experts” have been wrong before, and, sadly, they are wrong again. The facts are that, for example, General Motors posted a $6 billion loss for the first quarter (Los Angeles Times, May 7); the number of unemployed workers getting benefits jumped to a new record (The Associated Press, May 7, 2009); a new proposal includes record deficits in its $3.55-trillion budget (Los Angeles Times, May 6, 2009); and the Federal government directed at least seven of the nation’s biggest banks to bolster their capital levels by $65 billion (The Wall Street Journal, May 7, 2009). In each case, some twist of “positive news” was included by the media–such as the concept that President Obama wants to cut the budget deficit by a “minute fraction” (The Washington Times, May 7, 2009) of $17 billion or “less than one-half of one percent of the total budget” (USA Today, May 7)–but all these devastating facts speak for themselves.

In Germany, demonstrations, in part prompted by the bad economy, have become violent, while news surfaced how the Catholic Church protected a convicted pedophile priest in that country for years.

Violence broke out again in the Gaza Strip; Israel is unhappy with European condemnation; and fear was expressed that the Taliban might acquire the bomb even before Iran will. And President Peres suggested to hand over the Holy Sites to the Vatican.

The Czech Senate approved the Lisbon Treaty, and pressure is building on Ireland to approve it as well.

The highly secretive and enormously influential Bilderberg Group is meeting again in May, whose apparent goal it is to “emphasize a globalist agenda and dismiss national sovereignty.”

Finally, Russia is again up to their old tricks. While illegally taking control of the borders of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Russia accuses Europe and NATO of provocation. There has been some concern for quite a while that Russia will resume war against Georgia and begin a new war against other former Soviet provinces, and they might have already tried by provoking an uproar within portions of the Georgian army.

Media coverage concentrated this week on the outbreak of an unprecedented disease, referred to as the “swine flu.” While medical experts have no explanation for its existence, nor do they know how to combat it, fear of a global pandemic is mounting. On Wednesday, April 29, the World Health Organization raised its pandemic alert to the second-highest level [Level 5], meaning it believes a global outbreak of the disease is imminent. No medications presently exist to contain or cure the disease. Some commentaries suggest that the outbreak is man-made and due to unsanitary conditions in “pig factory farms.” The repeated assurance that one cannot contract the disease by eating pork is very unsettling, as we are also told that one CAN contract the disease by touching and handling raw pork, or by eating it without thorough cooking. As a consequence, Egypt decided to slaughter all pigs in the country, and Jordan closed all its pig farms. In any event, God prohibits the consumption of pork, declaring it to be hazardous to our health (Leviticus 11:4-7).

You will find more information on the outbreak of disease epidemics in our free booklets, “Is That in the Bible?–The Mysteries of the Book of Revelation,” “Sickness and Healing–What the Bible Tells Us,” and “Human Suffering…Why? And How Much Longer?”

One consequence of the outbreak of the swine flu is the potentially devastating effect on America’s suffering economy–especially the travel and hotel industry. The outbreak could not have come at a worse time, while at least five major banks, including Bank of America and Citibank, have failed the “stress test,” and the Treasury Department announced that it would have to borrow another $870 billion, raising the federal deficit to $1.75 trillion. The national debt is presently at $11.1 trillion. In addition, Chrysler filed for bankruptcy.

The Demise of the USA as the world’s superpower is thoroughly discussed in our free booklet, “The Fall and Rise of Britain and America.”

The discussion on climate change and global warning continued, and so did the attempts of Democrats to suppress the voice of those who disagree with their highly-profiled speaker, former Vice President Al Gore. However, not only Republicans, but also some Democrats objected to a proposed House bill which, according to some critics, would be tantamount to a “massive national energy tax on every American who drives a car, buys a product manufactured in the United States, or has the audacity to flip on a light switch.” However, Democrats got an unexpected–or perhaps not so unexpected–boost from the defection of Republican Senator Arlen Specter, potentially changing the U.S. political landscape for years to come.

Focusing on Mr. Obama’s first 100 days in office, more and more Americans worry about the speed with which he proceeds, calling him “overambitious.” Reaction in Europe is mixed. At the same time, the “perfect storm of idiocy” has not helped the reputation of the Obama Administration, involving a jumbo jet and an F-16 fighter jet buzzing lower Manhattan without warning and frightening thousands of New Yorkers.

Finally, grim memories of the Great Depression of 1929 and its terrible political consequences are surfacing, and questions are asked whether civil unrest in Germany in 2009 might lead to a repeat of that country’s unhappy history.

For more information on what IS prophesied to happen soon in Europe and Germany, please read our free booklet, “Europe in Prophecy.”

The Latin American Summit came and went–with no positive results whatever, except for the fact that Latin American leaders used the platform to accuse and derail the USA in Mr. Obama’s presence, and that Hugo Chavez of Venezuela made an embarrassing mockery of the American President by presenting him a book accusing the USA and Europe of imperialism in Latin America.

On the other hand, the Obama Administration and other Western European countries showed some backbone in Switzerland, when they stood up to Iran’s “crazy leader,” President Ahmadinejad. The Western boycott of the U.N. conference brought back into focus Israel’s precarious situation of having to face a nuclear Iran. Israel made certain that they would not hesitate to attack Iran, with or without America, if that hostile country was to acquire or produce nuclear weapons. At the same time, North Korea rejected the condemnation of the U.N.’s Security Council and announced that nuclear war was coming, due to the conduct of the USA and South Korea.

Turning to domestic matters, while the GIVE Act and its adjunct legislative proposals, which are endorsed by Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain, as well as proposals to enact prohibition against “hate crimes,” are causing great concern in the USA, Mr. McCain’s top advisor told the Republican Party to reject the Bible and embrace instead same-sex marriages, in order to attract younger voters. The scandal surrounding Miss California’s answer to a question from a gay judge regarding her beliefs on marriage shows the political and social climate we are finding ourselves in. Mr. Obama’s release of CIA memos and the subsequent reaction of the press has caused the President to change his prior position, arguably having started a development which he won’t be able to control–and which might haunt his Presidency for years to come.

And while there is no end in sight for the ongoing global recession, the USA has been hit the hardest. President Obama’s measures don’t seem to work, and the American Dream has become a nightmare.

In this Update, we report, among other things, on the many different shades and colors of lies and betrayal in our political and social life.

Both the truthfulness and veracity of Vice President Biden and the White House are questioned by the American press, due to allegedly fabricated statements and ridiculous “denials.” President Obama’s new policy of “betrayal of America’s allies and appeasement of America’s enemies” is carefully examined by the Jerusalem Post.

While thousands of Jews all over the world celebrated the blessing of the sun at sunrise–a Jewish practice condemned by God (compare Ezekiel 8:15-18)–a German Catholic bishop is accused of attempting to re-write Germany’s Nazi history, and a German newspaper published some humorous remarks about the real origin of the Easter rabbit. It also used interesting wording regarding the “God” of orthodox Christianity–calling Him “three gods.” And in fact, the teaching of the Trinity, claiming that God is ONE PERSON IN THREE PERSONS, is as confusing to people as the concept of an egg-laying rabbit before “hooking up” with the Tooth Fairy.

Of course, the Bible does not teach that God is a Trinity–nor, that the ancient pagan fertility festival of Easter should be celebrated in the first place. For more information, please read the Q&A in this issue, and study our free booklets, “Is God a Trinity?,” “God Is a Family,” and “Is that in the Bible?–Man’s Holidays and God’s Holy Days.”

In other news, New York is trying again to adopt a law legalizing same-sex marriages, while U.S. bank failures are ongoing with an alarming rate. The U.S. military is charged with unacceptable conduct towards animals, and Europe’s fascination with Mr. Obama is clearly diminishing. Europe has begun threatening Israel, while it is apparently willing, in concert with the USA, to give in to Iran. And due to the weakness of the USA and the U.N. Security Council, North Korea is playing hard ball, obviously convinced that it won’t be facing any serious consequences.

Violence has once again overtaken the news of the week. Such mindless acts as random mass murders in both the United States and Germany were added to the deliberate execution of two British military personnel in Northern Ireland.

Survivors were so stunned by the senselessness of the acts that few could offer anything but utter dismay at the sudden impact of their tragedies.

As the financial morass of the U.S. and the rest of the world only grew worse, plans for recovery and its mounting costs seem to be lost in an ever more distant future. The fact that the Dow Jones industrials shot up 240 points, bringing its gains over the past three days to 622 points, should not obscure the reality that–as USA Today put it on March 12–“No one is calling the end to the selling on Wall Street. The economic picture is too uncertain, and much of this week’s rally has been driven by technical factors.” In addition, German Chancellor Angela Merkel just described the present worldwide economic crisis as the worst since World War II.

Undoing what had been viewed as more middle ground in stem cell research approved under the Bush Administration, President Obama backed up by a chorus of determined supporters has now approved the destruction of human embryos in order to harvest embryonic stem cells!

And in the Middle East, Jerusalem and Israel continue to simmer as the focus of attention from the Pope, the EU and Iran’s military!

In our websites, listed below, we present biblical explanations that help explain WHY the people of our generation have entered into such a dark and seemingly hopeless period of troubles. There is good news, and it is revealed in the knowledge that God will soon send Jesus Christ back to bring His government and to establish the Kingdom of God on the earth—only then will true and lasting peace replace the violence that threatens even now to overwhelm us!

www.standingwatch.org; www.eternalgod.org; www.globalchurchofgod.co.uk;

www.churchofgodacf.ca; www.aufpostenstehen.de; www.eternalgod.org/french