Update 1137

On December 14, 2024, Paul Niehoff will present the first split-sermon, titled, “What Does God Require of Us?” and Frank Bruno will present the second split-sermon, titled, “A Sinless Human Life.”

The live services are available, over video and audio, at http://eternalgod.org/live-services/ (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time; 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time; 9:30 pm Central European Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

The original book, “The Tale of Two Cities,” was published in 1859 by English author Charles Dickens; it was set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. In this Editorial, I want to look at the people of the ancient cities of Nineveh and Sodom. Both these cities had issues with sin.

In Jonah 1:2, we read God’s words to Jonah: “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” Nineveh had issues with wickedness which is not really defined by God as to the exact problem it had.

This is what is said about Sodom, in Genesis 18:20-21: “And the LORD said, ‘Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.” God states that their sin is great, without going into any detail.

It’s interesting to notice that He, together with two angels, wanted to go in person to see how bad it was. You have probably heard that it is sometimes hard to describe a situation and, “You had to be there to see how bad it was”—to be there in person to get the full impact or feel how bad a situation was. God, in the Person of Jesus Christ, would stay with Abraham but would send His two angels to Sodom to evaluate the people there.

Sodom was really bad, as described in 19:4-5: “Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot and said to him, ‘Where are the men [the two angels] who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.’”

They wanted to abuse the two guests sexually, thinking they were ordinary men, and both young and old were in the mix. It is evident that the whole town was perverted and twisted sexually.

Both these cities had major issues but the outcome of them was totally different.

After trying to avoid his commission, Jonah finally went as instructed by God and warned Nineveh of destruction.  In Jonah 3:2-4, we read that God told Jonah again: ‘‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.’ So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent.  And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’” 

So Jonah sounded the alarm or trumpet as it were of coming destruction; and what was the response from the city?

Jonah 3:6-10 tells us: “Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes.  And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, ‘Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. 

But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?’  Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.”

The result was repentance of the city and thus God changed His mind about destroying it. Please note however that the city of Nineveh was destroyed later by falling back to their old ways.

What about Sodom? Genesis 19:15-17 reads: “When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, ‘Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.’ And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, ‘Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.’”

Continuing in Genesis 19:24-25: “Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens. So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.”

So Sodom was totally destroyed. Lot had apparently been a judge in Sodom, “sitting in the gate” (Genesis 19:1); he had warned the people of Sodom repeatedly (compare Genesis 19:7-9; 2 Peter 2:7), but they did not listen. When the city was evaluated by the two angels, being there in person, it was determined that redemption at that point was far from attainable, leading to its destruction. This is not to say that the people of Sodom, as well as of Nineveh, won’t have a future opportunity to repent after their resurrection to physical life, and then be given an opportunity for salvation.

We all sin from time to time. When we realize our error, we repent and ask for forgiveness, knowing God will forgive us our sins with the understanding that we are to make efforts to overcome sin, not to succumb to it.

On the other hand, if we harden our hearts by sinning and do not repent, we could find ourselves in the situation of Sodom, beyond repair and redemption. But while the unconverted people of Sodom will have a chance in the future, for us, as converted Christians who fall away for good, there is only one final fate, which is the lake of fire from which there is no comeback (compare Hebrews 10:26-27).

As we go forward in our Christian walk, we will sin on occasion, but the final outcome of sin is really up to us; so, let’s make the right choices. 

by Norbert Link

We begin with the fall of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad and the take-over by Islamist rebels, as well as international reactions to the developments, posing the frightening question as to what is next for Syria and the entire Middle East, as well as, potentially, for Europe and the USA. Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Syria’s Terrible Future” 

We report on a revealing interview between Tucker Carlson and Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, as well as the situation in South Korea.

We speak on Trump’s impressive visit to Paris and his plans for his new rule, which are a mixture of good and bad.

We speak on the pagan origin of Santa Claus and a move in Austria to force Santa Claus (or “Nikolaus”) celebrations on children in Kindergarten, while threatening parents with heavy fines who do not want to “integrate.” We also speak on the demonic motives of California’s school shooter; and conclude with a US committee’s devastating findings regarding the “corona scam.”

Throughout this section, we have underlined pertinent statements in the quoted articles, for the convenience and quick overview of the reader.

How Assad Fell

Politico wrote on December 8:

“The rapid sweep by a coalition of armed opposition groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an al Qaeda breakaway designated a terror group by the United States, saw rebels at first burst out of an enclave in northwest Syria on Nov. 27. Then there was the capture in quick succession of Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, Hama and then Homs…  By Saturday, the rebels were in Damascus and Bashar Assad had fled, concluding the 10 days that shook the Middle East. [Russian state media confirmed the dictator and his family were granted asylum in Russia for ‘humanitarian reasons’ after their jet landed in Moscow.]

“All the more surprising — some might argue suspicious — is the ease with which the offensive unfolded and the absence of any serious government resistance… the lightning rapidity and ease of the offensive and the melting away of government forces raise questions, as does the failure of Assad’s allies Russia and Iran to do much to disrupt the rebels and save him. The questions include whether there was any rebel coordination with elements inside the Assad regime…

“The country’s prime minister, Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali, said in a video message posted online that he remained at home and was prepared to cooperate with the transfer of power to ‘any leadership chosen by the Syrian people.’…

“[Turkey’s] Erdoğan openly endorsed the rebel offensive… Few observers believe the offensive could have gone ahead without Ankara’s knowledge and approval… [Since 2011, he had] seized a strip of land along the border and has even toyed at times with annexing part of northern Syria, tauntingly suggesting publicly that Turkey has historical rights to do so.

“The final nails in Assad’s political coffin were hammered in not by foes but his allies — Iran and Russia. Their inaction eased the rebels’ advance… U.S. officials agreed that the collapse of Assad’s frontlines had much to do with the absence of any serious Iranian or Russian action — whether from inability or unwillingness because of Ukraine and Lebanon remains unclear…”

Ransacking and Looting

The Sun wrote on December 8:

“SYRIANS gleefully ransacked Bashar al-Assad’s palace [in Damascus] after the ousted tyrant fled the country to [Moscow]… going room from room looting items of value… It’s thought dozens of Assad’s luxury vehicles have also been seized after militants broke into his garage packed with Mercedes, Ferraris, and Audis.

“Militants have also stormed and looted the Iranian embassy as well as the Italian embassy, while the Iraqi embassy has been evacuated to Lebanon… The Italian ambassador was unharmed in the break-in by an armed group of rebels who stole three cars from the garden before fleeing… Syrians have also reportedly been seen leaving the country’s Central Bank with bags stuffed full of cash…”

These actions are similar to the ones which occurred in Iraq after Saddam Hussein’s downfall. Iraq and the USA are most certainly not better off now than they were under Saddam. Will history repeat itself insofar as Syria is concerned?

Future Uncertain

The Sun wrote on December 8:

“Turkey-backed opposition fighters are battling US-allied Kurdish forces in the north, and ISIS is still active in some remote areas…

“Russia has put all of its military bases on high alert… Hezbollah has withdrawn all of its forces from the country… But as Syrians celebrate in the Israeli-occupied buffer zone in the Golan Heights which was captured from Syria in 1967, almost 300 miles away, suspected airstrikes from Israel hit Damascus on Sunday… It is believed that Israel bombed the Khlakhuala air base in the south of the country overnight. It comes after the IDF was deployed in the Golan buffer zone in preparation for chaos following the toppling of Assad, on Saturday night…

[It was also reported that the US on Sunday has struck more than 75 ISIS targets in Syria as part of efforts to “disrupt, degrade, and defeat” the terror group. The US has stationed 900 soldiers in Syria and 2,500 soldiers in Iraq.]

“A number of countries have closed border crossings with Syria as the chaos unfolds, including Lebanon and Jordan. All pro-Iranian forces have reportedly withdrawn from the country… the Kremlin [had been] allowed to operate two military bases inside Syria. One of those was a naval base – giving the Russians a port in the Mediterranean. But those bases might now be under threat as the rebels look to boot the Russians out of the country.”

A New Islamist Rule?

The New York Post wrote on December 7:

“While few will mourn Assad himself, many in the world community — perhaps even among his regional adversaries — may not be so enthused about seeing him toppled. Butcher though he may be, the Syrian dictator has maintained some support both in the region and in his country — especially among Syrian Christians and Druze, who fear persecution under Islamist rule. Assad’s secular regime had refrained from direct provocations against Israel and seems sanguine about Israel’s continued occupation of the Golan Heights. The Syrian civil war destabilized Lebanon, which took in hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees but has not spread to Jordan — a primary US concern. 

“If Assad is now replaced by Islamists sympathetic to Al Qaida, neighboring countries like Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel would be directly threatened. Extremists could gain access to Syria’s chemical weapons and potentially use the country as a launchpad for jihadist recruitment and terrorism. Such a regime would suppress minorities like Christians, Alawites, and Druze, while women’s rights would suffer… the rebels with the most momentum right now appear to be Islamists, especially Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)…  This is a Sunni group that once pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda’s central leadership… HTS imposed Islamic law on areas it has controlled in northwest Syria since 2015.”

Fox News wrote on December 8:

“A coalition of largely radical Islamist groups dislodged Assad’s Iran-backed regime. The U.S.-designated terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist former Al-Qaeda affiliate that is part of the rebel forces, played the decisive role in evicting Assad…

“Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the Islamist leader of HTS, who has a $10 million bounty on his head from the U.S., seeks to present a toned-down version of the radical Islamism that has defined his years of fighting in Syria and in Iraq against American troops. Al-Golani was detained by the U.S. military in the first decade of this century. Syrian experts have told Fox News Digital that HTS seeks to impose a totalitarian Islamist regime on the population. Phillip Smyth, an expert on Iranian regime proxy groups and Syria, who is with the Atlantic Council, told Fox News Digital, ‘HTS is a group that is an outgrowth of Al-Qaeda and has connections to Turkey. Their endgame is to create a Taliban-esque society with a few tweaks.’”

In light of all of this, certain reactions of international leaders seem to sound unrealistically optimistic. Note the next article.

International Reactions to Assad’s Downfall

The Jerusalem Post wrote on December 8:

“Iran seems to be distancing itself from Assad, potentially abandoning everything it has built and fought to preserve in Syria for the past 40 years, which has been its primary foothold in the Arab world…  Egypt has called on all parties in Syria to preserve the capabilities of the state and national institutions…  Saudi Arabia said on Sunday it stands by [the] Syrian people and their choices at this ‘critical stage’ after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was toppled.

“King Abdullah said Jordan respected the choices of the Syrian people… Iraqi government spokesperson Bassem Al-Awadi… reaffirmed the importance of not interfering in the internal affairs of Syria…

“President-elect Donald Trump applauded the fall of the regime and mocked Russia and Iran for losing their core ally. ‘Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer,’ Trump posted on Truth Social. ‘Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success.’… [He also said: “Syria is a mess, but is not our friend. This is not our fight… Do not get involved!”]

“German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized the need to protect minorities in Syria. ‘Bashir al Assad has brutally oppressed his own people, has countless lives on his conscience and has driven numerous people to flee Syria, many of whom have also come to Germany. The Syrian people have experienced appalling suffering. The end of Assad’s rule over Syria is, therefore, good news. What matters now is that law and order are quickly restored in Syria. All religious communities, all minorities must enjoy protection now and in the future.’..

“French President Emmanuel Macron harshly condemned the Assad regime, saying, ‘The barbaric state has fallen. At last.’

“UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer said, ‘The Syrian people have suffered under Assad’s barbaric regime for too long, and we welcome his departure…

“Kaja Kallas, EU Foreign Minister, said, ‘The end of Assad’s dictatorship is a positive and long-awaited development. It also shows the weakness of Assad’s backers, Russia and Iran. Our priority is to ensure security in the region. I will work with all the constructive partners in Syria and in the region.’

“The Taliban applauded HTS [Hayat Tahrir al-Sham] for liberating the Syrian people…

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood along the Syrian border with Israel on Sunday afternoon, hailing the end of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad’s 14-year rule and claiming Israel’s ‘blows inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah’ had a direct impact on the Syrian revolution… he had ordered Israeli forces to seize areas in the buffer zone to ensure Israel’s security and said: ‘We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border.’”

The entire Middle East is a powder keg ready to explode.

Israel Attacks

The Associated Press wrote on December 11:

“Israel carried out a wave of heavy airstrikes across Syria as its troops advanced deeper into the country… and the Israeli defense minister announced that his forces had destroyed Syria’s navy… it remained unclear if Israeli soldiers had gone beyond that area [of the buffer zone], which was established more than 50 years ago. Israel denied that it was advancing on the Syrian capital of Damascus.

“The Israeli military said Tuesday that it carried out more than 350 strikes in Syria over the last 48 hours, hitting ‘most of the strategic weapons stockpiles’ in the country to stop them from falling into the hands of extremists. The targets included air defense systems, military airfields, missile depots and dozens of weapons production sites in Damascus and other cities…

“Israeli missile ships also simultaneously struck two Syrian navy facilities, where the military said 15 Syrian naval vessels were docked. Israel did not specify how many vessels it struck, but the private security firm Ambrey said it had seen evidence that at least six Soviet-era missile ships were hit. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel intended to establish a demilitarized zone in southern Syria.”

New Interim Prime Minister

Middle East Eye wrote on December 10:

“Mohammed al-Bashir, the head of the administration that ran Idlib in northwest Syria has been appointed as the country’s interim prime minister [until March 1] following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. …

“Bashir has been the head of the Syrian Salvation Government, a HTS-controlled administration in the Idlib governorate, since January 2024. … freedom of expression has been stifled by HTS during its rule over Idlib, including violence and arbitrary arrests used to crack down dissenting voices.”

Chaos in Syria

Breitbart reported on December 10:

“Syrian rebels who overthrew the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad on Sunday are reportedly executing their opponents, imposing Islamic sharia law, and threatening non-Muslim minorities, including the Kurdish population in the north. Videos are circulating on social media showing Syrian rebels killing people associated with the regime — some of whom may have been part of the state security services, and others who appear to have been ordinary employees.

“The New York Times reported Tuesday: ‘Islamic State forces on Tuesday killed 54 people in the Homs region in central Syria who had been part of the Syrian government’s military and fled during the collapse of the Assad regime… The killings highlight the chaos in Syria as various rebel factions operate in different regions. One video also shows thousands of smashed bottles of liquor at the duty free store of the Damascus airport, where Islamist rebels apparently enforced the Islamic ban on alcohol by force, as Islamists did in Lebanon in the 1980s.”

Losers and Winners

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on December 9:

“Iran and Russia are the two big losers in the ouster of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday by the Sunni Islamist groups affiliated to al-Qaeda… Israel and Turkey are the biggest winners, having established links with the al-Qaeda groups…

“Turkey has demanded that Syria belongs to Syrian people alone — a thinly covered call for vacation of foreign military presence (Russian, American and Iranian.)… Turkey has special interests in Syria in relation to the Kurdish problem. The weakening of the Syrian state… provides Turkey for the first time a free run in the northern border provinces where Kurdish separatist groups are operating. The Turkish military and intelligence presence in Syria will expand by leaps and bounds…

“Turkish occupation of Syrian territory may assume a permanent character and even a quasi-annexation of the regions is within the realms of possibility… the hour of reckoning has come for reclaiming the Ottoman glory. The present Turkish leadership is committed to the geo-strategy of Neo-Ottomanism.

“The bottom line is that the genie of al-Qaeda is out of the bottle, finally, and there is no stopping its pan-Islamic agenda…”

The Times of Israel wrote on December 9:

“Footage from a mosque in Damascus… showed Syrian rebels vowing to march on Jerusalem. ‘This is the land of Islam, this is Damascus, the Muslim stronghold. From here to Jerusalem. We’re coming for Jerusalem. Patience, people of Gaza, patience,’ vowed an Islamist rebel, surrounded by a group of gunmen who responded with cries of ‘Allahu akbar!’ (‘God is greatest’ in Arabic.).”

Civil War May Not Be Over

The Telegraph wrote on December 8:

“Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist rebel faction that mounted the offensive which led to Assad’s downfall — and which is now likely to play a very influential role in shaping Syria’s future— is very much an unknown quantity. It was an affiliate of al-Qaeda until severing ties in 2017, a move that did not convince the United States to lift its terrorist designation of the group.

“Its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, served five years in various US detention facilities in Iraq, including at Abu Ghraib, and had ties to both al-Qaeda and ISIS. The United States still has a $10 million (£7.8 million) bounty on his head…

“Beyond HTS… there are numerous other rebel factions, from Turkish-backed factions to Kurdish dominated groups, not to mention Isis, heavily weakened but still in control of a sliver of Syrian territory and still able to launch localised attacks…

“… it is also a reminder that the country’s factions will look to secure a place in the new Syria – and that they still have their guns if they do not get what they want. Given that there is unlikely to be much of a restraining hand from the incoming Trump administration, disgruntled armed groups may be even more emboldened to act… In other words, the 13-year rebellion against Bashar al-Assad may be over. Syria’s civil war may not be.”

Bloomberg wrote on December 8:

“… the implications are also quickly sinking in — and not least the prospect of more upheaval and violence as groups tussle for control… Multiple Arab and US officials told Bloomberg that a power vacuum could now be dangerous. Memories of Muammar Qaddafi’s Libya and Saddam Hussein in Iraq loom large in the region: In both countries, those entrenched rulers were swept aside in brief moments of euphoria, only for the countries to descend into deeper turmoil.”

Who Will Rule Syria Now the Assad Regime Has Been Toppled?

The Economist wrote on December 8:

“Syrians are hoping for a peaceful transition of power. They may not get it.

“In Damascus and across the country, Syrians were cheering a fresh start… What kind of fresh start will they get?

“Much depends on whether Syria’s multi-pronged opposition, suddenly bereft of its common enemy, will band together to form a pluralist, federal civilian government over all of Syria, or descend into infighting that plunges the country into a new civil war…

“The rebels, foremost among them Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda affiliate that has ruled a slice of north-western Syria for the past few years, say they have learnt the lessons of past regime changes in the Arab world… But things in Syria have a habit of getting complicated. The de facto partitioning of Syria that took place under Mr Assad has intensified since his fall.

“Rebels from the north, east and south of the country co-ordinated their takeover with remarkable discipline in recent days. Yet because Mr Assad’s regime collapsed far faster than they expected, they have not had time to plan for the day after. Each of the four main factions—Turkish-backed Sunni rebels in the north-west, Kurds in the north and east, Jordanian-backed rebels in the south, and the remaining loyalists from Mr Assad’s Alawite sect in the west—has its own army. All of them have been bolstered by the weapons, land and economic holdings seized from the Assads in recent days. Each group will want its share of the spoils and a slice of whatever package is arranged to reconstruct the devastated country, with needs estimated to cost some $200bn.

“Within hours of Mr Assad’s fall, the fragile truce between the different groups had begun to break down as fighting flared at Manbij, on the line dividing Turkish-backed Arabs in the north-west from the Kurds in the north-east. Syrians have not forgotten that the toppling of Iraq’s and Libya’s strongmen triggered a decade of civil war between their would-be successors. Nor are they unaware how tricky it will be to manage relations with their neighbours…

“The strongest contender to rule Syria is Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, the 42-year-old head of HTS, which launched the rebel offensive from its seat in Idlib in north-western Syria only 11 days ago, on November 27th. Mr Jolani… has… assured Christians and women that he has no plans to impose strict Islamic codes… But Mr Jolani’s past as al-Qaeda’s leader in Syria and his brutal suppression of rivals makes others wary. Getting other rebels to accept his leadership will be his hardest task. For years he fought them more than he did Mr Assad.

“A few hundred former rebels in the south beat Mr Jolani to Damascus. They marched on the presidential palace and detained the prime minister, Mohammad Ghazi Al-Jalali, not only to pursue Mr Assad’s loyalists but to prevent Mr Jolani from getting there first. That America, Russia and the UN all regard Mr Jolani as a terrorist and HTS as a terrorist organisation could also complicate things if he does indeed take charge. His close ties with Turkey and Qatar irk Arab powers who want to limit their zone of influence. Some opposition figures talk ominously about how convenient his assassination would be…

“Many Syrians worry that they could end up replacing one dictator with another, this time an Islamist one. Whoever takes charge in Damascus will have trouble controlling all of Syria. In the north-east, the Kurds will look to the few hundred American troops stationed there to thwart efforts to bring the lucrative oilfields, Syria’s breadbasket and the Arab cities they rule back under central control… they are already fighting Turkish-backed forces to preserve the autonomy they carved out under Mr Assad…

“Mr Assad’s sect, the Alawites, will similarly have to decide whether to fight or accept Sunni-majority rule. In addition to the heavy weapons salvaged from the regime’s rout, they may also look to protection from Russia, which still keeps a naval and airbase there that it may hang on to, subject to negotiation with Turkey and Syria’s new rulers. Civilians in the exiled political opposition in Istanbul, in Turkey, seem to have been sidelined for now…

“After 13 years of civil war and penury, an exhausted population is praying for a peaceful handover that has proved vanishingly rare in the Arab world. With so much division inside and outside Syria, consensus will be hard to find.”

Large Demonstration in Austria

Report 24 wrote on December 8:

“Syrian hordes overrun Vienna’s city center – police show complete powerlessness… Apparently it was possible to mobilize 30,000 Syrians within a very short time, who marched across the ring, making a lot of noise and ‘shooting fireworks’. The police speak of a ‘duly registered rally’ – which is questionable due to the chronology. Under no circumstances could Austria have 30,000 police officers, which demonstrates the state of internal security in an impressive and tragic way… They shouted the well-known ‘Allahu Akbar’ – at the same time the Muslims’ creed (‘Allah is greater’) and the Islamists’ battle cry.

“Islamist butchers have taken control in Syria. It is to be feared that they will take bloody revenge on all those who have previously supported the Assad government. In addition, one can expect the mass expulsion of Shiites, Alawites, Druze and Christians. In the worst case scenario, millions of people will flee to the West… The takeover of state power by Islamist forces was enthusiastically celebrated by tens of thousands of Syrians in many European cities. What is notable is the fact that no women can be seen in any of the videos or photos. The manpower of young Syrians fit for war in Europe is frightening.”

Interview With Lavrov… How the War Could End

The Daily Mail wrote on December 6:

“Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow doesn’t want a war with the United States but will use ‘all means’ to defend its interests in an interview with… broadcaster Tucker Carlson. He went on to argue that, while Russia and the US are officially not at war, Washington’s permission for Ukraine to use American longer-range missiles for strikes on Russian territory marked a dangerous escalation…

“Lavrov, the world’s longest-serving foreign minister who has been on the job for 20 years, said that the recent Russian strike on Ukraine with a new hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile called Oreshnik was a signal to the West that Russia is prepared to use all means to achieve its goals…

“Speaking about the Kremlin conditions for a potential peace deal, he reaffirmed Putin’s declaration that Ukraine should pull back its forces from the four regions that Russia annexed in September 2022 and renounce its bid to join NATO… He added that any peace agreement must secure the rights of Russian speakers in Ukraine… ‘No military bases, no military exercises on Ukrainian soil with participation of foreign troops. We cannot tolerate a deal which would keep the legislation which I quoted prohibiting Russian language, culture and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,’ he said…

“When asked about his view of Donald Trump… Lavrov described him as ‘a very strong person, a person who wants results, who doesn’t like procrastination on anything.’ But he dismissed the idea that Trump is in any way ‘pro-Russian’… ‘The amount of sanctions we received under him was very very big.’…

“Lavrov’s interview with Carlson comes as officials, military chiefs and civilians on all sides of the Ukraine conflict wait to see what approach the Trump administration will take. Advisers to Trump publicly and privately are floating proposals to end the war that would cede large parts of the country to Russia for the foreseeable future… In September, Vice President-elect JD Vance offered former US Navy Seal Shawn Ryan an outline of how peace may be brought about in Ukraine under Trump.  ‘What it probably looks like is something like the current line of demarcation between Russia and Ukraine becomes like a demilitarised zone, heavily fortified for the Russians don’t invade again… Ukraine remains an independent sovereign. Russia gets the guarantee of neutrality from Ukraine.  ‘It does not join NATO and some other allied institutions. Germans and other nations have to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction,’ Vance added.”

We will wait and see whether this is a basis for a peace deal.

Uncertainties in South Korea

Deutsche Welle reported on December 7:

“A motion to impeach South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol failed after most ruling PPP party lawmakers walked out from the vote. The motion was dropped without ballots being counted as the total votes did not reach 200, or the two-thirds majority required for it to pass. Opposition parties, which hold 192 seats in parliament, presented the bill after Yoon briefly declared martial law last week.

“After the vote, PPP leader Han said the party had decided that Yoon would resign and had ‘effectively obtained’ his promise to do so. Han emphasized that Yoon was no longer in a position to carry out his public duties and his resignation was unavoidable. Though he pledged the PPP would ‘resolve this crisis in a more orderly and responsible manner’ than impeachment would have, Han refused to say just when Yoon would step down.

“Yoon’s term in office runs out in May 2027. ‘The People Power Party will pursue an orderly departure of the president in order to minimize confusion for the people,’ said Han, who added that Yoon would be ‘effectively excluded from his duties, and the prime minister will consult with the party to manage state affairs.’

“The opposition DP ridiculed that idea as ‘absurd and illegal.’ ‘Neither the people, nor the law, nor anyone has given Han the power to remove [Yoon] from office,’ the party said in a statement, saying impeachment is the only way.”

Trump Domineering in Paris

The New York Post wrote on December 7:

“President-elect Trump dominated French President Emmanuel Macron during a tense photo-op handshake as the leaders met in Paris ahead of the Notre Dame cathedral’s reopening Saturday — where global heads of state and dignitaries tripped over themselves to pay their respects to ‘The Don.’… Inside the 861-year-old cathedral for the reopening ceremony, Trump enjoyed front-and-center seating between Macron and his wife, Brigitte…

“German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and King Philippe of Belgium flashed wide grins as they shook hands with the once-and-future president, as did Britain’s Prince William, who met with Trump afterward for one-on-one talks at the British ambassador’s residence in Paris… First Lady Jill Biden, who attended the weekend’s festivities in her husband’s stead and was seated next to their daughter, Ashley, appeared visibly uncomfortable just one spot over from Trump…”

Justin Trudeau had visited Trump in Florida to “kiss the king’s ring.” Trump is being recognized as a powerful leader who is respected and feared at the same time.

Trump Reveals His Plans

NBC News wrote on December 8:

“President-elect Donald Trump vowed to make immediate and sweeping changes after he takes office on Jan. 20, such as pardons for those convicted in the attack on the U.S. Capitol…

“In an interview with Kristen Welker, moderator of NBC News’ ‘Meet the Press,’… Trump said he would fulfill a campaign promise to levy tariffs on imports from America’s biggest trading partners. In a noteworthy moment, he conceded uncertainty when Welker asked if he could ‘guarantee American families won’t pay more’ as a result of his plan. ‘I can’t guarantee anything,’ Trump said. ‘I can’t guarantee tomorrow.’

“Trump also said he will not raise the age for government programs like Social Security and Medicare and will not make cuts to them as part of spending reduction efforts led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy…

“He would not concede that he lost the 2020 election. Asked how, in his view, Democrats stole that election but not this one even though they control the White House, Trump said, ‘Because I think it was too big to rig.’… Trump made clear he believes he’s been wronged, but he also [said] he will not appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Biden…  Yet he also singled out people he believes crossed the line in investigating his actions, calling special counsel Jack Smith ‘very corrupt.’

“Members of the House committee that examined the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol were ‘political thugs and, you know, creeps,’ committing offenses in going about their work, he said. ‘For what they did, honestly, they should go to jail,’ Trump said… If Biden wants to do it, he could pardon the committee members, Trump said, ‘and maybe he should.’…

“Immigration was the centerpiece of Trump’s campaign, and he didn’t flinch in saying he will carry out mass deportation of those who are living in the country illegally. First will be convicted criminals, he said. Pressed on whether the targets would go beyond that group… Asked about families with mixed immigration status, where some are in the U.S. legally and some illegally, Trump said, ‘I don’t want to be breaking up families, so the only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back.’… ‘But we’re starting with the criminals, and we’ve got to do it. And then we’re starting with the others, and we’re going to see how it goes.’

“An exception might be the ‘Dreamers’ — people who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children and have lived here for years. He voiced openness toward a legislative solution that would allow them to remain in the country… He also said he intends to eliminate birthright citizenship, the protection enshrined in the 14th Amendment that guarantees citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil regardless of their parents. Asked about the likelihood that doing so unilaterally would face legal opposition, Trump said he would consider amending the Constitution…

“Trump said he is actively trying to end the war, ‘if I can,’ adding that Ukraine can ‘possibly’ expect it won’t get as much military aid from the U.S. when he’s back in office. He would not commit to keeping the U.S. in NATO… ‘If they pay their bills, absolutely,’ he would preserve America’s role in the alliance, he said….”

Some of his ideas are pretty good, other plans are pretty bad.

Hero and Villain

On December 10, The New York Post published the following article by Piers Morgan:

“I cheered when I heard that Marine veteran Daniel Penny had been found not guilty. And I felt shocked and saddened when I saw the footage of  UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson being executed in the middle of Manhattan. Those two reactions would surely be the correct and appropriate ones for anyone with an ounce of fairness and humanity in their heart.

“Penny risked his own safety on the crime-ravaged New York subway to prevent a dangerous, mentally ill, homeless man with a lengthy rap sheet of violence from carrying out his ranting threat to kill someone. For six minutes [or less], he kept the man, Jordan Neely, in a restraining chokehold as he waited for the police to arrive, alternating between applying pressure and not, a tactic he’d learned in the military to subdue people. Why did Penny do this? Because he saw the frightened faces of nearby women and children and wanted to protect them… It was a tragic accident that Neely — who was high on drugs at the time — ended up dying, but that was a direct consequence of his own menacing actions… [a forensic pathologist said Mr Neely could have died from other contributing factors.]

“Yet with pathetic predictability, there was an immediate campaign by left-wing activists to frame this as a racially motivated crime akin to the murder of George Floyd despite there being zero evidence to support this theory and no comparison in the circumstances of the two incidents. Race-baiting charlatan Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez shamefully posted on X: ‘Jordan Neely was murdered.’ Others branded Penny a ‘white supremacist’ without producing anything to back up such an appalling slur. Walter ‘Hawk’ Newsome, the founder of Black Lives Matter in New York, said anyone who thought Penny was innocent had ‘racism in their heart,’ and that ‘the KKK got another victory.’

“Newsome was at it again after the verdict, appearing outside court to shriek, ‘We need some black vigilantes. People want to jump up and choke us and kill us for being loud, how about we do the same when they attempt to oppress us.’… Why has he not been arrested himself for such brazen incitement to deadly violence?

“If the Left’s hateful conduct over this was bad enough, consider the very different way they responded to the disgusting, cold-blooded murder of Brian Thompson. Many openly celebrated, led by liberal journalist Taylor Lorenz, who worked until recently for the New York Times and Washington Post, and who posted: ‘And people wonder why we want these executives dead.’ She later commented ‘I am not alone’ on another X post saying, ‘Healthcare Executive Down’ adorned with party balloons…

“The reaction to the two deaths has been very illuminating about the woke left’s shocking double standards and warped, hypocritical morality…”

Scholz to Request Vote of Confidence

Deutsche Welle wrote on December 11:

“German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday formally applied for a vote of confidence in his government. This is the first step on the road to span elections scheduled for February (23)..

“Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, is scheduled to vote on the motion of the 16th of December. It is largely considered a formality, as opposition lawmakers outnumber those in Scholz’s minority government. The chancellor will then ask President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for approval to dissolve parliament, starting the clock on the 60-day time limit to hold new elections.”

The Many Faces of Santa Claus

Deutsche Welle wrote on December 5:

“Few historical facts… are… known today, so their life stories have been fused together over the centuries, creating famous Saint Nicholas legends… The feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated on December 6… That displeased the famous 16th-century reformer, Martin Luther, who had fallen out with the Catholic Church and thus with almost half the world. He objected to the Catholic worship of saints and wanted to link the Christian bringer of gifts to Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. He wanted to direct people’s interest, especially that of children, away from the countless figures of saints and towards Jesus Christ. And so he replaced Saint Nicholas with Christ as the bringer of gifts, which was quickly accepted in Protestant areas.

“Since the Reformation, the ‘Christkind’ (Christ Child) has brought Christmas presents in Germany, usually on Christmas Eve, December 24, or a day later, on Christmas Day. But the custom of Nicholas placing presents in boots on the eve of December 6 did not die out either…

“In the 16th century, the benevolent Saint Nicholas was joined by a rather malicious antagonist. He was called ‘Knecht Ruprecht’ or ‘Krampus’ in southern Germany… Elsewhere, it has been replaced by Santa Claus, a figure whose origin story is a mixture of the legend of Saint Nicholas, the fairy tale of Father Frost…

“In Eastern European countries and as far afield as Mongolia, people talk of Papa Winter or Father Frost. That figure goes back to a winter wizard from Slavic mythology and is very similar to Santa Claus in its depictions. He is the personification of winter…

“The contemporary Scandinavian version of Santa Claus has various origins, generally predating Christianization, when people celebrated midwinter, called Yule. There is the figure of an old man with a fur cape, hood and beard, who travels through the countryside on a reindeer sleigh and distributes nuts to help people survive the harsh winter. Legend has it that he is a descendant of Odin, the most powerful Norse god.

“In Norway and Sweden, there is a story about a house spirit (‘Tomte’) who watched over the house and yard, but only if he was given enough food. Today, it is the Jultomte or Julenissen who brings presents on Christmas Eve — in exchange for food, of course.”

It’s all pagan and demonic to the core.

If Austria’s Bad Example Were to Set a Precedent…

The Kronenzeitung wrote on December 3:

“Customs and Christian traditions are now anchored in the education plan for the little ones in Lower Austria – cancellations of festivals should therefore be taboo in the future! ‘If you want to live here, you have to respect our values ​​and traditions.’ State Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner sets a clear line after debates about moon bear festivals instead of St. Martin’s Day and crossings in classrooms and hospital rooms. That’s why Nikolaus & Co. are now included in the educational plan for kindergartens. Similar to the school curriculum, guidelines are given as to what content must be taught to the children.

“This is also welcomed by experts. ‘Festivals convey values ​​and a feeling of belonging,’ emphasizes educator Christina Steinböck from Asperhofen in the St. Pölten district. However, due to misunderstood tolerance towards other cultures, children are denied the opportunity to get to know the values ​​that we uphold.

“The ÖVP has a broad majority behind it on this measure. This is confirmed by opinion researcher Christoph Haselmayer, whose IFDD has found that 90 percent of the population in Lower Austria think it is right to celebrate Christmas, Easter, St. Nicholas and St. Martin’s Day in kindergartens. More than two thirds also support that crosses should be present in public buildings as a cultural symbol.

“With so much connection to tradition, the coalition partner obviously doesn’t want to be left behind. The Freedom Party tends to warm up to Krampus: ‘This is an old custom from the Eastern Alpine region,’ says State Vice President Udo Landbauer, emphasizing that Nikolaus’s shaggy companion should not be banned from kindergartens and schools either.”

Krampus—a symbolic figure for Satan. There are all kinds of worrying things on the horizon… It was also reported that if you refuse to take part in St. Nicholas celebrations in kindergarten, you could face a fine of up to 2500 euros…

OE24 wrote on December 3:

“In addition, the state leader once again called for harsher penalties from the incoming federal government for parents of families unwilling to integrate. The fines should therefore be increased from the current maximum of 440 euros to 2,500 euros. ‘By anchoring the traditions in the Lower Austrian education plan for kindergartens and with our demand for harsher punishments for those who refuse to integrate in schools, we are sending an unmistakable signal: Anyone who wants to live here, anyone who wants to raise their children here, must accept and respect our values, traditions and rules,’ says Mikl-Leitner.”

Frightening indeed… In Germany, they are talking about “Leitkultur.” But as we asked in our last edition, what does this mean? Is the celebration of Christmas, Easter or Sunday part of the German Leitkultur concept? What about the abrogation of the Sabbath and God’s annual Holy Days? What about supporting and fighting in war? A potentially dangerous concept indeed. 

California School Shooter’s Demonic Motives

The Algemeiner wrote on December 6:

“A gunman who shot and wounded two kindergarten students at a private school in northern California on Wednesday left behind a note revealing the shooting was motivated by his opposition to ‘America’s involvement with genocide and oppression of Palestinians.’

“The shooter… [Litton] opened fire in the playground of the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists in the town of Oroville, injuring two children. Roman Mendez, 6, and Elias Wolford, 5, are in critical condition and will likely need surgery, according to police. Litton was pronounced dead at the Oroville school shortly after the shooting. Authorities said the cause of death was most likely a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“On Thursday, law enforcement said that Litton had a long criminal history and suffered from mental health issues. Police also revealed disturbing writings believed to be from Litton which provided insight into the shooter’s motives. One note indicated that opposition to US support for Israel’s defensive military operations against the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in Gaza was a motivation for the shooting. ‘Countermeasure involving child executions has now been imposed at the Seventh Day Adventist school in California, United States by The International Alliance,’ the note read…

“Litton reportedly gained access to the Feather River’s campus by securing a meeting with its principal to discuss enrolling a nonexistent grandson. He used a fake name. Having avoided arousing suspicion, Litton followed the meeting by walking to the playground, where he opened fire…”

He might have been suffering from “mental health issues,” but he was clearly influenced by demons. And it is interesting that demons motivated this sick individual to attack a Sabbath-keeping school and tried to kill young children, and that he was influenced by the demonic antisemitic and violent pro-Palestinian propaganda in the US.

The Corona Scam 

Focus wrote on December 5:

“The corona pandemic has scourged the entire world. Many people are still feeling the aftermath of this difficult time today. A US committee has spent two years extensively examining the pandemic and the countermeasures. The results now presented are devastating…

“The Subcommittee finds that Covid-19 ‘most likely’ arose from a laboratory accident during gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China… 

“The 2 meter distance recommendation that has led to school and small business closures across the country was arbitrary and not scientifically based…

“There was no convincing evidence that masks effectively protected Americans from coronavirus…

“Extended lockdowns caused enormous damage not only to the US economy, but also to the mental and physical health of Americans, especially younger citizens…

“Health officials have often spread misinformation through conflicting messages, knee-jerk reactions and a lack of transparency…

“Contrary to what was promised, the vaccine did not stop the spread or transmission of the virus…The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rushed approval of the Covid-19 vaccine to meet the timeline arbitrarily set by the Biden administration. Two top FDA scientists warned their colleagues about the dangers… as well as the likelihood of side effects. However, they were ignored and a few days later the Biden administration ordered the vaccine.

“…vaccination requirements… have done more harm than good. The Biden administration has coerced healthy Americans into complying with Covid-19 vaccination mandates that trampled on individual freedom, hampered military readiness and disregarded medical freedom in order to force a new vaccine on millions of Americans – without enough evidence for their political decisions.

“The government is failing to assess vaccine claims in an efficient, fair and transparent manner…”

To be fair, both the Trump and the Biden administrations are guilty of having severely violated individual freedoms of American citizens by spreading false information and irresponsible political propaganda, inspired by the likes of Dr. Fauci and Big Pharma. 

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:

These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.

In the first part of this two-part series, we looked at some of the superstitions that are commonplace in society today.   Let us continue in reviewing this practice.

We read the following at gotquestions.org: “There are many types of superstitions in the world, ranging from the benign—such as not walking under a ladder—to the occult practices of astrology, black magic, divination, voodoo and sorcery. Scripture condemns those who practice astrology (Deuteronomy 4:19), magic, divination and sorcery (2 Kings 21:6; Isaiah 2:6). Idolatry is also forbidden, and no one who practices it will enter the Kingdom of God (Revelation 21:27). These types of practices are extremely dangerous because they open the minds of the practitioners to the influence of the devil.”

On the bible-dictionary.info, we read about superstition:

“An irrational belief or fear that an object or other factor has the power to affect a person’s life with some action bringing bad luck or occasionally good luck. There is no Christian, rational or scientific basis for such behaviour as putting confidence in a lucky charm or doing something to gain protection from misfortune or to bring good luck. God causes or allows everything in keeping with His divine plan (Isaiah 46:9-11; Acts 4:26-28; Ephesians 1:9, 10). 

“Any unbiblical, irrational fear or ritual falls into the realm of superstition with some things what is often termed just a coincidence (1 Samuel 5:4,5; 1 Kings 20:23; Acts 28:3-6).

“However, the Bible says that God’s purposes will prevail and that He is in control of even the most random event (Proverbs 19:21).

“Superstitions range from not walking under a ladder, through astrology, black magic and divination, to voodoo and sorcery. These types of practices are forbidden in Scripture (Deuteronomy 18:10-12;  2 Kings 21:6; Isaiah 2:6). The Bible warns against being taken captive by deceptive philosophies, which are based on human traditions, rather than on Christ; instead we should be alert to the enemies’ tactics as these practices open the mind of the practitioners to the influence of evil (Colossians 2:8-10; 1 Timothy 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8). We are not to give credence or pay attention to superstitions; instead God’s laws, plans and help should be our focus.”

Let us review those Scriptures mentioned above:

Deuteronomy 18:10-12: “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.  For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you.”

The Benson Commentary observes as follows (we quote just a few comments from many that are made):

“That maketh his son or daughter pass through the fire — By a superstitious dedicating, or a cruel sacrificing of them, see on Leviticus 18:2.  That useth divination — Of which there were many sorts, as is implied in the original expressions here: קסם קסמים, kosem kesamim, divining divinations, or with divinations. The meaning undoubtedly is, That seeketh to know or foretel things secret, or to come, by unlawful arts and practices. An observer of times — Superstitiously pronouncing some days lucky and others unlucky: or, an observer of the clouds, or heavens; 

“An enchanter — Or a conjecturer, that endeavours, or pretends, to discover hidden things by a superstitious use of words or ceremonies, by observation of water or smoke, or tiny contingencies.”

2 Kings 21:6: “Also he made his son pass through the fire, practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft, and consulted spiritists and mediums. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger.”

Pretty much the same condemnation as in the previous observations on Deuteronomy 18:10-12.

Isaiah 2:6: “For You have forsaken Your people, the house of Jacob, Because they are filled with eastern ways; They are soothsayers like the Philistines, And they are pleased with the children of foreigners.”

The ways that God taught them were being cast aside for pagan gods.

In 1 Timothy 4:7 we read: “But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.”

Here is an instruction to reject old wives’ fables – the word fable was “muthos”, from which the English words “myth” and “mythology” originate.   Young’s Analytical Concordance of the Bible also describes it as talk, tale or legend.

And 1 Peter 5:8 tells us where all of the wrong words and action emanate from: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

We read on the byjus.com website: “Superstitions are a universal phenomena having their own peculiar place in the cultural ethos and milieu of a people. They epitomize man’s fear of the unknown, fear of evil, blind faith in omens and portents. Superstitions are interwoven with myth, legend, unnatural phenomena and disaster, customs and traditions, and are mainly the outcome of ignorance. They are unreasonable and irrational beliefs that gradually become matters of faith. When certain things and happenings are rationally inexplicable people tend to assign mysterious and supernatural reasons for their operation. Thus a natural disaster is explained in terms of God’s wrath and the failure of one’s project is assigned to the black cat which crossed the path just as one set out on the errand.”

There are many references in the Word of God which clearly condemn the occult, magic, sorcery, witchcraft, astrology and idolatry from where much of superstitious ways emanate from.  It could be said that some of these actions are harmless like for example, crossing fingers, touching wood and throwing salt over your shoulder.   However, they are not harmless in God’s eyes, and a mindset can develop that can regularly involve such actions that progress on to matters of a more sinister nature and can be part of a way of life.

God has given us many warnings against superstition, idolatry, divination, (the art or act of foretelling future events or revealing occult knowledge by means of augury or an alleged supernatural agency), astrology, consulting horoscopes, witchcraft and sorcery (use of supernatural power over others through the assistance of spirits; witchcraft.).  

There are psychics and mediums today who flourish and thrive at the expense of those who are drawn into their web of deceit.   These are not the signs of a sound mind.

Let us look at a few Scriptures to show how important it is to have a sound mind.

In Isaiah 26:3, we read the following:  “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.”   Trusting in God is clear evidence of a right mind which is hugely beneficial in the here and now and essential for life in the eternal Kingdom of God.

Romans 12:1-2 reads:  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary observes: “He (Paul) entreated the Romans, as his brethren in Christ, by the mercies of God, to present their bodies as a living sacrifice to Him. This is a powerful appeal. We receive from the Lord every day the fruits of his mercy. Let us render ourselves; all we are, all we have, all we can do: and after all, what return is it for such very rich receivings? The great enemy to this renewal is, conformity to this world. Take heed of forming plans for happiness, as though it lay in the things of this world, which soon pass away. Do not fall in with the customs of those who walk in the lusts of the flesh, and mind earthly things. The work of the Holy (Spirit) first begins in the understanding, and is carried on to the will, affections, and conversation, till there is a change of the whole man into the likeness of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. Thus, to be godly, is to give up ourselves to God.”

As the people of God, we have to come out of this world and its ways, and replace them with getting, and staying close to God, and His ways.   Anything less will simply not do.

Reviewing 1 Corinthians 2:16 is instructive.  “For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”  

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers puts it well: 

“‘For’—This is the proof that the enlightened spiritual man cannot be judged by any one who is not thus enlightened. ‘Who (thus uninstructed) can know the mind of the Lord Jesus, that he may instruct Him?’; But we.—That is, spiritual men, including the Apostles. The Apostle here identifies Christ with the Spirit, whom he has previously spoken of as the Teacher of spiritual things. He does not mean to assert that the Apostles knew all that the mind of Christ knew, but that all things which they did know were from Him and spiritual (John 15:15).”

Philippians 4:6-7 states: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

connectusfund.org comments: “God’s peace is not like the peace of the world. The world’s peace is based on the world’s thinking, which is the thinking of Satan. The world’s peace is circumstantial and depends on comparisons. The world’s peace is fleeting. Here one moment, gone the next. One of Satan’s tricks towards man is to whisper foreboding forecasts and to lie about the meaning of the present situation in order to get you to forget the truth that you know and believe. God’s peace, when it comes, overshadows and drives away the anxiety of the world.” 

Further instruction is given in Colossians 3:2: “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”   We can become too involved in earthly matters that our spiritual life, and future, can be relegated in our list of priorities until we realise that that is not the Way of God.

Finally, let us look at 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”   

This verse promises us that if we are led by the Holy Spirit which we receive at proper baptism and the laying on of hands, we can have a spiritually sound mind.  We read in John 16:13 that the Holy Spirit is vitally important because by it we can be guided into the Truth of God.   That is where our emphasis must be, not on any superstition which has no value at all, but on the Truth that God has revealed to us and which will lead us along the right path towards being in the Kingdom of God when Jesus Christ returns to this earth.

Superstition in all its many forms can sidetrack us, to divert from a main issue or course, which is our calling from God.   A review of whether we have fallen prey to superstition in one way or another, however small that may be, could be worthy of our time.  If we have, without realising it, then corrective action can be taken.   Something as simple as crossing our fingers or knocking on wood might seem, at first glance, a minor matter but they remove what should be our total reliance on our great Creator God.

Please also see our four-part series, entitled “How do you view paganism today, and exactly what is it?”, and our Q&A, titled, “How can Satan and his demons appear to you?”

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“Syria’s Terrible Future,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

The civil war in Syria has never stopped. But most recent events stunned the world. What happened, why, and what is Syria’s future? Many celebrate most current developments, but their celebration might be terribly premature.

“Syriens schreckliche Zukunft,” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This program covers the same topic as described above in English.

The memorial service for Margaret Adair will take place on Sunday, December 15, 2024. It will begin promptly at 12:45pm at Escondido Columbus Club Hall, 515 W. Valley Pkwy, Escondido CA 92025. Please contact Johanna.Link@cox.net if you want to attend.

“Die wahre Liebe,” last Sabbath’s first split-sermon in Germany was presented by Christoph Sperzel and is now posted. Title in English: “True Love.”

“Sei ein Tempel,” last Sabbath’s second split-sermon in Germany was presented by Thilo Hanstein and is now posted. Title in English: “Be a Temple.”

“Reading Right Over Things,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Brian Gale, is now posted. Here is the summary:

It is much more beneficial to our spiritual well-being if we read, think through, and understand the Scriptures we are reading which is obvious, but can be forgotten or neglected.   In addition, using a number of assorted Bible aids we will really profit from greater understanding and all the effort will be very worthwhile.

“Salvation of the World,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Did Christ come to save this world? Or are we talking about a completely different world? Didn’t Christ call us out of this evil world? Is this world being judged today? And if not, when will this be the case? Could this be related to the resurrections? And why does the Bible speak of the resurrection of the just and of the unjust, as well as the resurrection to everlasting life, to judgment and to everlasting contempt or condemnation?