Update 643

On June 14, 2014, Dave Harris will give the sermon, titled, “The Time of Trouble!”

The live services are available, over video and audio, at www.cognetservices.org (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.

Jesus tried to explain the fact to Nicodemus that one must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God.  We read about this in John 3:1-7:

“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.’  Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.”’”

Nicodemus missed the whole point and was only thinking in physical terms, while Christ was speaking in spiritual terms. Since Nicodemus did not have God’s Spirit at that time which would have helped him to understand spiritual concepts, he just did not get it, which is made obvious by his response in verse 4 (“How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”).

When it comes to human reproduction, the human egg is incomplete. It must be fertilized by the sperm of a man. Then, an embryo will grow in the mother’s womb. In time, the embryo becomes a foetus which is fed and protected in the womb. It grows to full term until it is born into this world.

While in the womb, the baby exists in darkness, but it is protected and nourished. Once in the world, the baby has entered a realm of light, but it still needs to be fed and taken care of.

God gives each baby a spirit at the time of conception. But even with the human spirit within him, a man is still incomplete.  In order to be able to ultimately enter the spirit realm and become a Spirit being, he must first receive God’s Holy Spirit upon repentance, belief and baptism. At that time, he becomes a begotten child of God; he is not born yet. But even with the receipt of the Holy Spirit as a “down payment,” the spiritual mother–the Church of God–has still the responsibility to feed God’s begotten children spiritually and to protect them from the negative influences of the god of this world, Satan the devil. But it is also important that God’s begotten child is willing to be nourished by his or her mother.

Once  a person has achieved the necessary level of spiritual maturity, as determined by God, he can enter into the Kingdom and Family of God as a born-again child of God at the time of Christ’s return, not prior to that. He will be changed into a Spirit being and enter the spirit realm. For those who are called in this day and age and have received God’s Holy Spirit, their transformation and change will occur when Christ returns. Others will be called after Christ’s return to obtain the same opportunity.

That is our human potential.

The transition into the spirit world will be much more dramatic than at the time when a baby is born into the physical world. We will enter a world of light with opportunities that we can hardly imagine. What a glorious future lies ahead for those who remain faithful to the end! As Paul stated, the trials of this world are nothing in comparison to the glory that awaits us in the Kingdom of God.

Let’s ensure we keep our eye on the goal and remain faithful to our calling. 

We begin with reporting on the intense disagreement President Obama is facing from the right and the left, severely weakening his office even further. We address stunning developments pertaining to US primaries, America’s failed immigration policies and wars, and its terrible record of ever-increasing school shootings.

We continue with the activities of Islamist militants in Iraq and Pakistan and the controversial new Egyptian President; interesting developments pertaining to Turkey and Iran, as well as Syria; and the unprecedented meeting of the pope with political and religious Christian, Jewish and Islamic leaders in the Vatican State.

Focusing on Europe, we speak on European threats against Israel and the ongoing debate pertaining to the appointment of Jean-Claude Juncker as EU Commission President, which, if it occurs, might contribute to Britain’s decision to leave the EU.

While the Balkan states are desirous of joining the EU, Russia’s Vladimir Putin is equally determined to restore the former Soviet Union to its past glory.

We conclude with pointing out the frightening possible scenario of asteroids smashing earth; China’s despicable annual Dog Meat Festival; the incredible descent of American “Christian” churches and universities into an immoral abyss; demonic influences on our children; and the appalling failure of American television to report relevant and important news.

President Obama Under Bi-Partisan Attack

The Washington Times wrote on June 8:

“While abroad in Europe last week, President Obama vehemently defended his decision to swap five Taliban guerrillas for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl…

“By defiantly stating he won’t apologize, Mr. Obama has tied his future to the prisoner exchange, analysts say, which may prove much more difficult to defend back at home than it was thousands of miles away in Europe. The actions and words of lawmakers frustrated they weren’t informed before the exchange took place, as required by law; the Army’s investigation into whether Sgt. Bergdahl deserted his unit; and the future actions of the freed Taliban commanders, no explanations or speeches by the president, will determine where the story goes from here, according to some specialists…

“Less than 48 hours after Mr. Obama returned to Washington, lawmakers from his own party continued to raise questions about why the administration chose to keep Congress in the dark, disregarding laws stating they must be informed 30 days prior to any prisoner exchange. ‘This whole sort of deal has been one that the administration has kept very close, and in the eyes of many of us, too close,’ Sen. Dianne Feinstein, California Democrat, said Sunday… While Ms. Feinstein was somewhat reserved in her criticism, Republicans have gone several steps further.” 

President Obama Guilty of Crime?

Western Journalism reported on June 8:

“Shepard Smith [from Fox News] asked Judge Andrew Napolitano whether or not the Taliban prisoner exchange was legal under the NDAA H.R. 1960 Statute.  The judge explained that the swap was illegal because taxpayer dollars were spent to remove these prisoners from Guantanamo Bay without giving Congress 30 days-notice.  However, Napolitano goes a step further by pointing out that Obama has provided material assistance (human assets) to the Taliban, which has been identified by Congress to be a non-state terrorist organization.  This is a crime punishable by imprisonment of 10 years to life, which covers all Americans–including the President.”

Even though such prosecution will never happen, the most recent developments show the uncomfortable position, which President Obama finds himself in, as he is facing criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike. As even liberal reporters have pointed out, the White House severely misjudged the public reaction to the swap, thinking that most would approve of the deal.

House Majority Leader Cantor’s Stunning Defeat

The Washington Times wrote on June 10:

“House Majority Leader Eric Cantor lost his Republican primary Tuesday in a stunning defeat to [economics professor] Dave Brat, a little-known tea party-backed challenger, in one of the biggest upsets in recent political history… Mr. Canor… was widely presumed to be the next House speaker should John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican, step aside… But Mr. Brat managed to gin up some energy among the Republican right flank by, among other things, characterizing Mr. Cantor’s qualified support for granting legal status to some young illegal immigrants, known as dreamers, as a betrayal of conservative principles.

“Regardless of his political future, Mr. Cantor’s loss would appear to quash any lingering hope of the GOP-controlled House passing comprehensive immigration reform this year.”

America’s Immigration “Policies” Don’t Work

The Washington Times wrote on June 9:

“There’s a surge on the border… This is a mass movement of immigrants that threatens to transform the nation.

“Children are walking hundreds of miles across a hostile environment with little more than the clothes on their backs, accompanied by neither a parent nor other responsible adult. The numbers of these children making the treacherous journey are much higher than the Obama administration has acknowledged…

“Americans are a kind and generous people, and photographs of a sea of small, frightened and hungry faces in U.S. shelters along the southern border are enough to break a million hearts. President Obama, whatever he intended, is largely responsible. Lured by lax immigration enforcement and the promise of citizenship as ‘dreamers,’ the Obama children’s hour is changing the mission at the border from ensuring security to providing emergency assistance… This is a disaster, sure enough, but it’s a man-made disaster.

“Untended children leaving their homes in Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador to head north is anything but natural… Coming to America now means getting free citizenship, free health care, welfare benefits and even an Obamaphone. Illegal aliens crossing the border into Texas say news reports in their Central American homelands encourage them to risk the journey northward with the promise that if they make it to the U.S. border, they won’t be turned away…

“The children’s surge is another consequence of the president making good on his vow to ‘fundamentally transform’ America. He is endangering the lives of thousands of children south of the border.”

And Here Comes Vice President Biden…

The Local reported on June 11:

“US Vice President Joe Biden suggested Germany was hostile towards immigrants in a speech on Tuesday, in which he described the US as the only ‘non-xenophobic’ major economy in the world…

“However, the facts would seem to disagree with Biden’s thoughts about Germany… Germany had experienced an immigration boom in the last five years, making it the second most popular destination for permanent immigrants in the world… more than 15.3 million people living in Germany have a migrant background…”

While dealing or not dealing with America’s self-inflicted consequences of its immigration “policies,” Vice President Biden points his finger at other countries…

Another Shooting at High School

The Washington Times wrote on June 10:

“Calling the failure to pass gun-control laws the biggest frustration of his time in office, President Obama on Tuesday said America ‘should be ashamed’ of its gun laws, decried the type of violence seen again Tuesday at an Oregon school, and praised a country that more or less banned all long guns…

“Mr. Obama said the U.S. does not conform to the rest of the ‘advanced, developed’ world when it comes to gun laws, resurrecting his plea for restrictions on the sale of firearms…  ‘A couple of decades ago Australia had a mass shooting similar to Columbine or Newtown, and Australia just said, “Well, that’s it. We’re not doing — we’re not seeing that again,” and basically imposed very severe, tough gun laws, and they haven’t had a mass shooting since. I mean, our levels of gun violence are off the charts. There’s no other advanced, developed country on earth that would put up with this,’ he said.

“Mr. Obama made gun violence a focus of his presidency in the aftermath of the December 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. He attempted to rally Congress to action, but despite some bipartisan support for a bill to expand background checks, no gun legislation has cleared either the House or Senate. On Tuesday, a student at a high school near Portland, Ore., killed a fellow student before taking his own life.

“In the face of such crimes, Mr. Obama blamed the political power of the National Rifle Association for inaction on Capitol Hill. ‘And most members of Congress — and I have to say to some degree this is bipartisan — are terrified of the NRA. The combination of, you know, the NRA and gun manufacturers are very well financed and have the capacity to move votes in local elections and congressional elections. And so if you’re running for office right now, that’s where you feel the heat,’ he said. … ‘Right now, it’s not even possible to get even the mildest restrictions through Congress. We should be ashamed of that.’”

The Washington Post added on June 10:

“This shooting is at least the 74th since the December 2012 massacre in Newtown, Conn., according to the group Everytown for Gun Safety.  Half of those shootings have occurred in 2014.”

This is an atrocity indeed, and on this point, whatever his motives, President Obama is right. America’s insane fascination with its guns is ungodly and even beyond human logic.    

America’s Wars Don’t Work

The Huffington Post wrote on June 10:

“The United States has been at war — major boots-on-the-ground conflicts and minor interventions, firefights, air strikes, drone assassination campaigns, occupations, special ops raids, proxy conflicts, and covert actions — nearly nonstop since the Vietnam War began.  That’s more than half a century of experience with war, American-style, and yet few in our world bother to draw the obvious conclusions.

“Given the historical record, those conclusions should be staring us in the face.  They are, however, the words that can’t be said in a country committed to a military-first approach to the world, a continual build-up of its forces, an emphasis on pioneering work in the development and deployment of the latest destructive technology, and a repetitious cycling through styles of war from full-scale invasions and occupations to counterinsurgency, proxy wars, and back again.

“So here are five straightforward lessons — none acceptable in what passes for discussion and debate in this country — that could be drawn from that last half century of every kind of American warfare:

“1. No matter how you define American-style war or its goals, it doesn’t work. Ever.

“2. No matter how you pose the problems of our world, it doesn’t solve them. Never.

“3. No matter how often you cite the use of military force to ‘stabilize’ or ‘protect’ or ‘liberate’ countries or regions, it is a destabilizing force.

“4. No matter how regularly you praise the American way of war and its ‘warriors,’ the U.S. military is incapable of winning its wars.

“5. No matter how often American presidents claim that the U.S. military is ‘the finest fighting force in history,’ the evidence is in: it isn’t…

“Just look at the effects of American war in the twenty-first century.  It’s clear, for instance, that the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 unleashed a brutal, bloody, Sunni-Shiite civil war across the region (as well as the Arab Spring, one might argue)…

“The U.S. military has not won a serious engagement since World War II:  the results of wars in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq ranged from stalemate to defeat and disaster.  With the exception of a couple of campaigns against essentially no one (in Grenada and Panama), nothing, including the ‘Global War on Terror,’ would qualify as a success on its own terms, no less anyone else’s.  This was true, strategically speaking, despite the fact that, in all these wars, the U.S. controlled the air space, the seas (where relevant), and just about any field of battle where the enemy might be met.  Its firepower was overwhelming and its ability to lose in small-scale combat just about nil…

“A military whose way of war doesn’t work, doesn’t solve problems, destabilizes whatever it touches, and never wins simply can’t be the greatest in history, no matter the firepower it musters…”

These comments should resonate loud and clear with those who still remember Herbert Armstrong’s dogmatic declaration more than 30 years ago, that America has won its last war (World War II) and will not win any more wars.

Iraq Faces Another War

The New York Times wrote on June 10:

“Sunni militants spilling over the border from Syria seized control Tuesday of the northern city of Mosul, Iraq’s second largest, in the most stunning success yet in a rapidly widening insurgency that threatens to drag the region into war… The Iraqi army apparently crumbled in the face of the militant assault, as soldiers dropped their weapons, shed their uniforms for civilian clothes and blended in with the fleeing masses. The militants freed thousands of prisoners and took over military bases, police stations, banks and provincial headquarters, before raising the black flag of the jihadi group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria over public buildings. The bodies of soldiers, police officers and civilians lay scattered in the streets…

“The swift capture of large areas of the city by militants aligned with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria represented a climactic moment on a long trajectory of Iraq’s unraveling since the withdrawal of American forces at the end of 2011. The rising insurgency in Iraq seemed likely to add to the foreign policy woes of the Obama administration, which has faced sharp criticism for its swap of five Taliban officers for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl… Maliki ordered a state of emergency for the entire country and called on friendly governments for help…”

Deutsche Welle added on June 10 

“Insurgents from the jihadist Islamist State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) took control of Tikrit on Wednesday afternoon… Tikrit is 150 kilometers (95 miles) north of Baghdad, and the hometown of former dictator Saddam Hussein.”

Pakistani Taliban Launches Deadly Attack

Deutsche Welle reported on June 9:

“A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for Sunday night’s attack on Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, which killed more than 20 people, saying it was in revenge for attacks on their strongholds along the country’s border with Afghanistan. ‘It is a message to the Pakistan government that we are still alive to react over the killings of innocent people in bomb attacks on their villages,’… a Taliban spokesman told the Reuters news agency.

“The Pakistani Taliban, an alliance of Islamist militant groups seeking to topple the Islamabad government and set up a Sharia state, is separate from but allied with the Taliban in Afghanistan…

“The death toll from the fighting was not immediately clear, with news agencies reporting between 23 and 28 people killed, including the 10 gunmen who had stormed a terminal used mostly for cargo flights. Most of those killed appeared to be airport and other security staff… [Reportedly,] seven of the attackers were shot dead by [government] forces, while three others wearing suicide vests blew themselves up after being surrounded by soldiers…

“Also on Sunday, at least 22 people were reported killed in a gun and suicide attack in Pakistan’s south-western Baluchistan province. The attack apparently targeted [Shiite] pilgrims in a hotel in the border town of Tuftan, where they were staying after returning from a visit to holy Muslim sites in Iran. It wasn’t immediately clear whether there was a connection between this attack and the airport assault.”

Sadly, terrorist organizations like the Taliban, Hamas, Hezbollah and now the ISIS are alive and well, and they have by no means given up their “fight” against anyone who does not agree with them.

Egypt’s New President – Worse Than Mubarak and Morsi?

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 8:

“The former head of the army, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, has been sworn in as Egyptian president in a ceremony in Cairo… opponents fear a return to autocratic rule…

“The swearing-in confirms the 59-year-old el-Sissi in the position of head of state that he has held de facto for nearly a year after topping President Mohammed Morsi.  El-Sissi won a landslide victory in May 26-28 presidential elections, receiving 96.9 percent of the vote. His only rival, leftist leader Hamdeen Sabbahi, managed to glean just three percent.

“The election was criticized as invalid by the opposition, as the turnout was only around 50 percent… The election was boycotted by Morsi’s now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, which has been subjected to a massive security clampdown. Thousands of Morsi’s supporters have been rounded up since July last year, when the army, then led by el-Sissi, ousted the Islamist president… More than 1,400 people have been killed in violence following Morsi’s departure from power.

“The crackdown on the Brotherhood seems likely to continue…

“More than three years ago, US President Barack Obama withdrew Washington’s long-standing support for Hosni Mubarak… Today, the White House is cooperating with Egypt’s latest military-commander-turned-president, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, in what some analysts say is a return to the old status quo of US support for military rule… [Some say] that current US policy is worse than during the Mubarak era [since] Mubarak… originally came to power through a legal succession of power after the assassination of President Anwar Sadat in 1981…

“In the case of el-Sissi, he led the military overthrow of Mohammed Morsi, an Islamist and Egypt’s first democratically elected president. The military subsequently cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood and Morsi’s supporters, leading to hundreds of deaths and thousands of arrests. Morsi has been imprisoned and is now facing the death penalty. [Critics say that this] is a coup and that it [shows that the United States is willing to be with any government regardless of any kind of legitimacy or background…

“Washington, for its part, has avoided labeling el-Sissi’s putsch as a military coup. Had the White House called Morsi’s overthrow a coup, the US would have been obligated under federal law to cancel all military aid to Egypt… [Critics] who are against the coup look at America as part of this process; as part of overthrowing a democratic process; as part of trying to contain the popular uprisings; and as part of trying to manage the process of potential change in the region… [and refer] to US policy in Egypt as ‘business as usual.’”

The political alliances of the USA with questionable foreign leaders and countries are bound to back-fire. God condemns such alliances in the strongest terms.

Iran Meets Turkey

Times of Israel wrote on June 9:

“Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani met with Turkish officials in Ankara Monday, with discussions on developments in Syria and bilateral ties on the agenda. Rouhani is on a two-day trip to Turkey, with eyes on restoration of once fruitful relations in trade and security. The trip is the first official Iranian presidential visit to Turkey since 1996…  ‘It is a necessity [for Iran and Turkey] to cooperate in all aspects, as well as issues regarding North Africa, Palestine and the Middle East,’ he said…

“Shiite Iran is the main regional ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, but Sunni-majority Turkey has moved from trying to encourage reform in Syria to overtly supporting the armed opposition. Rouhani on Monday congratulated Assad on his re-election for a third seven-year term last week, in a poll ridiculed by Syrian opposition groups and their Western and Arab backers…

“Rouhani is expected to sign agreements with Turkey aimed at improving ties that have been strained over the war in Syria… Iran is… an important trading partner for Turkey…”

Turkey – biblical Edom — will still play a very important prophetic role in the future. Ultimately, it will align with Israel’s enemies and behave with great cruelty against the Jewish nation.

Syria—Where Are the “Ten Righteous”?

The Times of Israel wrote on June 9:

“Eighty percent of the opposition fighters in Syria have ‘a clear Islamist agenda,’ a senior Israeli intelligence officer said on Monday… Brig. Gen. Itai Brun, head of Military Intelligence research, assessed in a presentation to the Herzliya Conference on Monday that of a total of some 120,000 men fighting the Assad regime, some 50,000 are Salafists who would like to see Islam implemented in the future Syria, belonging to groups like Al-Nusra Front. Approximately 30,000 support a more moderate political Islam, akin to the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood. The number of global jihadists, members of organizations such as ISIS, is around 15,000, or 13 percent of the fighting body. Only 20 percent of Syria’s fighters, Brun estimated, could be categorized as ‘secular.’ ‘The Islamist nature of the [Syrian] opposition will have, I believe, a great impact on the future Syria,’ Brun said.

“… a Syrian opposition member affiliated with the pro-Western Free Syrian Army warned of the expanding influence of Al-Nusra Front in Syria’s south. The group, dubbed a terror organization by the US, is better funded and better equipped than the Free Syrian Army, and has therefore managed to draw a large number of local fighters from the ranks of the FSA. The Assad regime outnumbers the rebels almost 3:1, boasting 300,000 fighters, 100,000 of whom belong to pro-regime militias, Brun said…

“Brun surprised observers last April when he announced that Israel had proof of Assad’s use of sarin nerve gas, months before a deadly regime strike on a suburb of Damascus sparked international pressure that forced Assad to forgo his country’s chemical arsenal. He said that now, the regime has submitted or domestically destroyed most of its chemical arsenal, but continues to drop explosive barrels with chlorine on civilian populations. Syria has used up ‘a large part’ of its missile arsenal against its own civilian population, and its tanks and air force are currently in disrepair, he said.”

Francis Meets and Prays with Peres, Abbas and Bartholomew

Reuters reported on June 8:

“The Israeli and Palestinian presidents began an unprecedented meeting with Pope Francis on Sunday to pray together in the hope that the gesture will relaunch the Middle East peace process. Francis, who made the surprise invitation to Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas last month during his trip to the Holy Land, welcomed the two leaders…

“The three, accompanied by Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual head of the Orthodox Christians, were… driven together in a white mini-van to what the Vatican has called a ‘neutral’ site in the Vatican gardens with no religious symbols… ‘We have gathered here, Israelis, Palestinians, Jews, Christians and Muslims, so that each of us can express his or her desire for peace for the Holy Land and for all who dwell there,’ the master of ceremonies said as the service began…

“Religious representatives of the three religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – then began prayers for peace in Italian, Hebrew, Arabic and English… Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the key Israeli decision-maker, [was] not attending… [He] has made no direct comment on the meeting, but… he suggested that prayer is no substitute for security…

“The event, which the pope asked believers of all religions to join in prayer, marked the first time that Jewish, Christian and Islamic prayers were held in the tiny city state that is the headquarters of the 1.2 billion-member Roman Catholic Church…”

In an accompanying article, Reuters wrote on June 8:

“The pope spoke after Jewish rabbis, Christian cardinals and Muslim Imams read and chanted from the Old Testament, the New Testament and the Koran in Italian, English, Hebrew and Arabic in the first such inter-religious event in the Vatican… the fact that Francis’s bold move has managed to bring together the two presidents… shows his desire to engage political leaders, offering inter-religious dialogue as a building block.”

Breitbart added on June 9:

“On Sunday, Islamic Prayers and readings from the Quran were heard from the Vatican for the first time in history… Pope Francis hoped that inter-faith dialogue would promote peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people… A representative from the Holy See said Friday that the prayers would be a ‘pause in politics.’ However, skeptics have noted that the very act of bringing Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders together to ‘pray for peace’ is a politically-charged move in and of itself.

“The event… featured readings from several texts of the monotheistic faiths. The Tanakh (Hebrew scriptures), New Testament, and the Quran… featured in the ceremonies. Afterwards, Francis, Peres, and Abbas were called upon to read religious verses of their choosing.”

Even though nobody expects that these kinds of meetings will bring about a lasting peace between Israel and its enemies, it is important to realize that the Catholic Church is getting more and more involved in inter-religious activities and in political affairs—especially, as they pertain to the Middle East. Our free booklets, “Biblical Prophecy—From Now Until Forever,” and “The Ten European Revivals of the Ancient Roman Empire,” explain these developments in the light of biblical prophecies.

EU Threatens Action Against Israel

The EUObserver wrote on June 5:

“The EU has threatened to take action against settlers after Israel backed the building of 1,466 more Jewish homes on Palestinian land in the West Bank. EU countries said in a joint communique on Thursday (5 June) the move is ‘unhelpful to peace efforts’ and called on Israel to ‘reverse the decision’. They added that if it doesn’t, they will ‘act accordingly’ and ‘fully and effectively implement existing legislation in relation to settlements’.

“The threat refers to plans to publish a code of conduct for EU retailers on how to label settler-made products – a move likely to fuel consumer boycotts and to harm Israel’s image… Israel announced the new housing units as a price tag for Palestine’s formation of a unity government… Israel’s housing minister, Uri Ariel, himself a far-right settler, said the new housing units come because ‘when Israel is spat upon, it has to do something about it’.”

Europe will ultimately become a bitter enemy of Israel, and its “actions” will include military intervention in the Middle East.

Jean-Claude Juncker Most Dangerous Man in Europe?

The EUObserver wrote on June 6:

“EU commission president-hopeful Jean-Claude Juncker has not given up on his bid for the post despite British opposition, but EU leaders are nowhere near an agreement on him. Speaking at a meeting of centre-right MEPs on Thursday (5 June), Juncker said: ‘I will not fall on my knees before the British.’

“He also complained about a negative campaign in the British media… The British tabloid The Sun on Tuesday listed ‘six reasons why Juncker is the most dangerous man in Europe’…

“Juncker needs a so-called qualified majority of EU leaders to back his nomination. British Prime Minister David Cameron has made it clear that he would under no circumstance agree to Juncker, as the ex-Eurogroup chief is seen as part of an old guard rather than the reform that Cameron is pushing for…

“Obama also weighed in on the debate, warning against Britain leaving the EU… ‘It’s always encouraging for us to know that Britain has a seat at the table in the wider European project. It would be difficult to imagine that project going well in the absence of Great Britain,’ Obama said.”

Britain will leave the EU. It is just a matter of time. (Note the next article as well.) The idea that Juncker is the most dangerous man in Europe is of course far-fetched, but the Bible prophesies that a powerful political leader of German or Austrian descent will arise in Europe… and he WILL BECOME one of the two most dangerous men in Europe—the other one being a false religious leader.

Germany vs. Britain

The Guardian wrote on June 6:

“In Germany… it has been a week of unusually candid words about Britain’s future in the European Union. ‘If the Brits want to go their own way and leave the EU, let them,’ said Hans-Peter Uhl, a politician from Angela Merkel’s sister party, the Bavarian CSU…

“Der Spiegel, still Germany’s most influential news publication, compared Britain and Europe to ‘a relationship in which both people make each other unhappy but fail to draw the conclusions’‚ in a leader article bluntly headlined ‘Join up or leave’.

“Yasmin Fahimi, the general secretary of the Social Democrats, said it was farcical that EU leaders were allowing themselves to be blackmailed by a country ‘which doesn’t understand Europe and rails against Europe’s success in order to improve its national profile’.

“Has Cameron, by his resistance to Merkel’s preferred choice of Juncker for EU commission president, managed to plunge Anglo-German relations to a new low just as he is more reliant on his German counterpart’s support than ever? Few doubt that Merkel, the ‘British chancellor’ (as Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung had it), has a genuine interest in keeping Britain in the union. Cameron is tactically useful to her at European level, allowing her to hide behind his aggressive behaviour when it is in her interest and point the finger when he oversteps the mark…

“‘We’ve come to realise that Germany and Britain really have quite a different understanding of democracy at European level,’ said Nicolai von Ondarza, a senior associate at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs…

“Sociologist Ulrich Beck… told the Guardian that ‘Great Britain plays a very ambivalent role, because it never took the European elections seriously in the first place, but now finds itself in the anti-democratic camp’. Beck suggests that the background to the current tension between Germany and Britain is that many feel that the UK’s relationship with the EU has reached a breaking point…

“‘The “my way or the highway” strategy that Margaret Thatcher pioneered is certainly getting on a lot of Germans’ nerves, because they feel Cameron is constantly setting ultimatums rather than trying [to] seek a compromise,’ said Thomas Matussek, a former German ambassador to Britain…”

Balkan States Would Like to Join the EU

The Local wrote on June 8:

“Balkan countries have a ‘clear prospect’ of joining the European Union, but the process will be long, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said… Greece became the first Balkan state to join the EU in 1981, followed by Slovenia in 2004, Romania and Bulgaria in 2007 and Croatia in 2013.

“Other Balkan EU hopefuls besides Serbia and Kosovo are Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania and Bosnia.”

Back to the USSR?

Breitbart wrote on June 8:

“Putin said the fall of the USSR was the greatest geopolitical tragedy of the 20th century. He was a top KGB man in St. Petersburg before he moved to Moscow. During his first presidency and when he was prime minister, he bullied ex-Soviet states in order to dissuade them from forming closer ties to the West and Europe. In 2008, Russia and Georgia engaged in a war over South Ossetia and Abkhazia. It did not last long, but it is one of the reasons why Georgia wants to join NATO.

“Former Georgian Prime Minister and representative to NATO Ambassador Grigol Mgaloblishvili told Breitbart News Russia wants to cripple much of Eastern Europe. ‘The main objective of Russia is to regain its sphere of influence over the post-Soviet states,’ he said. ‘After violating international law, after invading and occupying territories of European nations and violating the basic principles and consensuses of the post-Cold War order, Moscow has not paid any political price.’

“His latest power grab is Ukraine. He bullied President Viktor Yanukovych to turn down a trade deal with the European Union for a $15 billion bailout and cheap gas. Russia cut the price of gas to $268.50. Yanukovych’s actions were met with a three-month protest in Kiev and he was ousted on February 22. In retaliation, Russia and Gazprom decided to use gas as a political tool and raised the price to $485 per 1,000 cubic meters. Gazprom also threatened to cut off gas if Ukraine does not pay off its debt and Putin made a few remarks that Europe’s supply could be in danger if they do not help Ukraine.

“In mid-March, Putin annexed Crimea, a Black Sea peninsula, from Ukraine to ‘protect the ethnic Russians and Russian speakers’ in the country. Pro-Russian forces erupted in east Ukraine after Crimea was annexed, but Putin claimed Russia was not involved. Donetsk and Luhansk held a referendum on May 11 and claimed independence from Kiev. On May 25, it was revealed Chechens from Russia were in Donetsk. These men told… Financial Times that Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who is very friendly with Putin, sent them. The new prime minister of Donetsk People’s Republic is Alexander Borodai, a Russian citizen from Moscow.

“Due to Russia’s actions, other countries believe they might be Putin’s next target. A Russian diplomat told the United Nations Human Rights Council that Moscow is concerned about the treatment of Russian speakers in Estonia. Russia’s ambassador to Latvia told a radio station Russia will grant citizenship to ethnic Russians in the country.

“Moscow implemented a new law that accelerates the citizenship process for any ethnic Russian or Russian speakers from another country. They also passed a law that allows them to intervene in a country they feel [is] mistreating any ethnic Russians or Russian speakers.”

This article summarizes accurately some of the past events which show clearly that it is Putin’s desire to restore the former Soviet Union—including with violent means and military invasions…

“Beast” Asteroid Flies By Earth

Scientific American wrote on June 6:

“This Sunday (June 8), the near-Earth asteroid 2014 HQ124—which some observers have nicknamed ‘The Beast’—will give the planet a relatively close shave, coming within 777,000 miles (1.25 million kilometers) at its closest approach, or about 3.25 times the distance from Earth to the moon.

“There is no chance of an impact on this pass, researchers stress. But at 1,100 feet (335 meters) wide, 2014 HQ124 could do some serious damage if it slammed into us. ‘This one would definitely be catastrophic if it hit the Earth,’ [according to] asteroid impact expert Mark Boslough…

“If 2014 HQ124 is one solid piece of rock—its composition isn’t known for certain—the strike would unleash an explosion with a yield of about 2,000 megatons, Boslough added. For comparison, the atomic bomb the United States dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima during World War II packed about 15 kilotons. (One megaton is equivalent to 1,000 kilotons.)…

“Asteroid 2014 HQ124 was discovered on April 23, just six weeks ago—not nearly enough time to deflect the asteroid if it were on a collision course with Earth… Scientists estimate… that they’ve found about 95 percent of the potential ‘civilization-enders’ out there—mountain-size asteroids at least 0.6 miles (1 km) across. But there are probably more than 1 million near-Earth asteroids at least 100 feet (30 m) wide, and less than 1 percent of them have been discovered.”

We should not dismiss the possibility that major asteroids could hit the earth. The Bible indicates that such clashes might occur.    

China’s Dog Meat Festival 2014

The International Business Times wrote on June 9:

“Activists are calling for a boycott of this year’s Yulin Dog Meat Festival, where thousands of dogs are slaughtered and eaten in China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It is estimated that around 10,000 dogs were killed and eaten at last year’s Yulin Summer Solstice Dog Meat Festival… An animal rights lawyer in Beijing said that official claims that all dogs are bred by local dog farmers is false… according to research there are no such farms and… all dogs are abducted from the streets…

“Another… factor… is poor food safety… butchers slaughtering the dogs are at risk of rabies, while the meat is not properly quarantined or inspected, increasing the chance of food safety problems… local residents say animal rights activists should not interfere with the festival. One local told China Daily: ‘It is our tradition and our right to eat dog meat. If we are cruel and brutal, what about those who eat pork, beef and chicken?’

“An opinion piece in the Global Times said that banning the festival outright will not work due to the widespread participation, so instead authorities should work to implement stricter regulations to improve safety and welfare.”

Of course, the only real solution is to abstain from eating meat which the Bible describes as “unclean.” Dogs as well as pigs are “unclean” or inappropriate for human consumption, whereas beef and chicken can be eaten. However, self-willed and God-defying carnal men will never submit to the Holy Bible’s directives. But the situation will fundamentally change when Jesus Christ returns to establish God’s rule and government here on earth. 

Sodom and Gomorrah in Today’s “Christian” Churches and Universities

The Washington Times wrote on June 9:

“The most visible Episcopal church in the U.S. is hosting its first openly transgender priest this month… Cameron Partridge is set to give the June 22 sermon at the Washington National Cathedral in Northwest…

“Dean of the cathedral… Gary Hall, said in a statement that he hopes Mr. Partridge’s presence sends a message of support for the transgender community. ‘We at Washington National Cathedral are striving to send a message of love and affirmation, especially to LGBT youth who suffer daily because of their gender identity or sexual orientation,’ he said. ‘We want to proclaim to them as proudly and unequivocally as we can: Your gender identity is good and your sexual orientation is good because that’s the way that God made you.’

“The General Convention of the Episcopal Church in 2012 approved the ordination of transgender persons. The convention also approved a rite of blessing for same-sex unions, a decision that’s been a major contributor to the fracturing of Episcopal congregations. The cathedral performs same-sex marriages…

“Mr. Partridge is the Episcopal chaplain at Boston University and a lecturer and counselor for Episcopal and Anglican students at the Harvard Divinity School. He completed his transition to male in 2001, according to Boston University. Mr. Hall also announced that… Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal priest, would be presiding the same service with Mr. Partridge. He retired from his post as a bishop in New Hampshire and now works at the Center for American Progress.”

It is that kind of “progress” that God strongly condemns.

Demonic Slender Man Strikes Again?

The website of nbcsandiego.com wrote on June 9:

“A Cincinnati woman attacked by her 13-year-old daughter is blaming the fictional online demonic entity Slender Man for the girl’s behavior. Slender Man is the same character police say two Wisconsin 12-year-old girls claim influenced them to stab another girl earlier this month.

“The woman [said] that her 13-year-old daughter attacked her with a knife in their kitchen. ‘She had her hood up and had her hands covered with her sleeves and the mask,’ the woman said, adding that her daughter was ‘someone else during [the] attack.’

“The woman says she discovered disturbing references to Slender Man in her daughter’s writing. ‘We found things that she had written and she made reference to Slender Man. She also made references to killing,’ the mother told WLWT. ‘She even created a world for Slender Man in the game Mine Craft.’

“Slender Man, a tall, faceless being in a black suit, is a fictional character notorious for stalking and terrorizing children. The Cincinnati woman says her daughter’s attack may have been an attempt to appease Slender Man…”

Our Abominable American “News” Casts – Why Waste Your Time?

The Huffington Post wrote on June 9:

“Not too long ago in our recent past there used to be television shows — entertainment, we called it — and we also had the news. More serious, not worthy of high ratings — informative, you might say. Now we have entertaining news, not entertainment news like Entertainment Tonight, but a soap opera version of the news. Every day we have the drama of America, heroes and villains.

“The drama of the just-released American soldier from Afghanistan is today’s new drama. Freed at last after five years of captivity. Welcome homes signs… and then the darker story. Was he a traitor? Was one American soldier vs. five Taliban radicals too high a price to pay? Why does his father have a beard? Should the president be impeached for not informing Congress? We are fascinated. Emotions are high. It’s perfect television drama. It captures our imagination. Congress is involved. It is all-consuming. It is the Great Distraction.

“And while this soap opera plays out, our country sinks deeper and deeper into a paralysis of total and complete incompetence… We watch our middle class disappear, our infrastructure collapse, our quality of life slide deeper down the rabbit hole, and the band plays on…

“Television news/entertainment is our Roman Circus. An electric circus that works as a daily distraction. It placates us, it’s our daily sugar dose, it makes the medicine go down better. Every morning the new talking points for the day begin. Throughout the night, the writers create the storyline for the day. You hear one Congress person after another use the same wording. How they want to act it out is their own privilege. The same thoughts play out. Some use outrage, indignation, sarcasm, but the story line must hold.

“And as soon as the story begins to lose momentum? The big switch! The next news/entertainment must fill the space… Is Obama a dictator or is he too weak? Is there something wrong with Hillary’s brain or not? That’s worth a day of questions and no answers. The fact that she’s not running for at least a year and a half is not of consequence. The question ‘still must be asked.’ And you can always come back to ‘Where’s that plane?’ — or Benghazi, of course. The rule of thumb is investigations must take a very long time. Otherwise the story could come to an end too quickly.

“As long as we are diverted from the real truth, their goal is accomplished… The goal is to quiet the populace. Silence the voices of outrage. And it works… the Romans ruled for centuries. They understood the mission: Feed the masses bread and circus.”

These comments are spot on and absolutely correct. The American “news” channels – as well as just about all the other “news” channels around the world — are an absolute atrocity—a complete abomination, filled with propaganda and ideologies, fruitless “discussions,” useless entertainment and silly showmanship. You will not find a good and proper diet of balanced news reports on ANY American TV channel, and especially NOT the news that is truly relevant in the light of biblical prophecy. Therefore, don’t waste your time and read our weekly Updates instead.

Here are Christ’s words, in context, quoted from Matthew 5:17-19:

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

First, we would recommend that you read or re-read our Q&A on the issue as to what Christ meant with His statement that He came to fulfill the Law. We point out that Christ did NOT come to abolish the Law—referring to the spiritual Law of the Ten Commandments and the statutes and judgments which explain the Law. Rather, He came to magnify the Law and fill it up with its intended spiritual meaning.

But what did Christ mean when He said that those who break one of God’s least commandments and teach men to do likewise will be called least in the Kingdom?

Literally, the wording is: “least shall be called in the kingdom of heaven…”

In other words, those in the Kingdom of God will call them “least.” The Kingdom of God is the Family of God. So, the Family of God will call someone least who practiced and taught the abrogation of the Law—although he knew better. This is not to be understood in the sense that he will be in the Family, but that in the Family, he is viewed as the least. In fact, as there are many who teach the abolishment of God’s Law, all of them would have to fall into the category of “least.” If they were all in God’s Kingdom, then they would all be “least” in the Kingdom. But only one could be “least” among all the others. Rather, as we will see, he will not enter the Kingdom or Family of God, but Christ explained that the Family of God will look down on such a person as being the least of all teachers. This conclusion also follows from Matthew 5:20, where Christ says that we will NOT enter the Kingdom of God if our righteousness does not exceed the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees.

Many commentaries agree with this understanding.

Vine, “Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words,” explains that “called the least” describes an estimation of the person. He will be the least-esteemed or regarded as the least.

The New Jerusalem Bible states that he “will be considered the least…” The German Pattloch Bible translates that he will be viewed as the least.

Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible points out that “he shall not be in the least esteemed, but shall be cast out as a worthless man… he shall not enter [the Kingdom]…”

The Geneva Study Bible adds:

“[Christ] begins with the true expounding of the Law, and sets it against the old (but yet false) teachings of the scribes: He is in no way abolishing the least commandment of his Father. [The one who teaches against it] shall have no place [in the Kingdom].”

Matthew Poole’s Commentary points out:

“Whosoever shall in his practice violate but one of the commandments of God, which the Pharisees judge of the least, and which possibl[y] are so compared with others, and shall teach men that they may do as he doth, making such false interpretations of the law as may warrant such a practice, he shall be accounted of the least value and esteem… and shall never come into the kingdom of glory…”

This commentary makes an interesting and important point. It explains that Christ is addressing the PRACTICE of living and teaching wrong things—not an occasional slip-up. As we will see, this practice must be fully understood; that is, the person doing and teaching wrong things knows better; he does it willfully and in complete rejection of God’s Word.

As Christ continues to point out in Matthew 5:21-30, the Pharisees might have taught that it was wrong to kill, but Christ went much further and explained that it was already wrong to hate—and the Pharisees had most certainly a big problem with THAT understanding. Some might want to conclude and teach that the commandment against hate would be one of the “least” of God’s commandments, if at all. But Christ responds by saying that no one will enter the Kingdom of God with that kind of a perception and conduct. Paul later lists hatred as a deed of the flesh, excluding one from entry into the Kingdom (Galatians 5:19-21, especially verse 20).

Some might say that persons violating and teaching against God’s Law will be in the Kingdom, but that they will have a lesser reward than others. But Christ did not say that they will be called “lesser” or that they will have a “lesser” reward; rather, He declared that they will be called “least” or, as some put it, “THE least” by comparison.

Such a person won’t be there; he is going to be looked down upon and esteemed by the Kingdom of God—the Family of God—as the least… or less than nothing. If we are not trustworthy in the least, we will not be given the true riches (Luke 16:10-13).

What Christ is talking about is a wrong Way of Life—a continuing practice of sin and rebellion against God. Unless somebody repents of such conduct, He will not enter the Kingdom of God. God will not allow willful rebels to become part of His Family. Christ is referring to persons who commit the unpardonable sin by rejecting God’s Law—including commandments which are regarded by them as less important—and who teach men to behave likewise (Hebrews 6:4-8; 10:26-31).

For example, some may think that it does not matter to God whether we observe the Fourth Commandment and keep the weekly Sabbath (from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset), and that we can worship Him instead on Sunday or just about any day—or no day in particular. If someone is ignorant about these matters, then God will forgive him upon repentance. But Christ is warning us that once we understand the truth and subsequently fall away from it, practicing evil and teaching men so, we will never enter the Kingdom of God.

(For more information on the unpardonable sin, please read our free booklet, “Do We Have an Immortal Soul?,” pages 28-36.)

Even though Christ addresses in Matthew 5:19 mainly those who sin willfully against God, it is also true that as long as people—especially “ministers”—practice sin and give man a “license” to sin by their wrong teaching, they will not enter the Kingdom, until they repent of it and live and teach God’s Way of Life. But they can be led to repentance (while those who commit the unpardonable sin have fallen away from the truth which they had understood, and refuse irrevocably to repent). But even after repentance, belief, proper baptism and receipt of the Holy Spirit, God’s true disciples will still slip up in word and deed.

When generally living and teaching the truth, they will again obtain justification and forgiveness for their sins upon repentance (1 John 1:5-10). So, Christ was not referring to a person in Matthew 5:19 who does not know the truth, or if he does, who sins occasionally in deed or in word (James 3:2, 5-6, 8, 10). Rather, He is addressing people who knew the truth and fell away from it, never willing to return to God. And He says that God’s people will “call” or “esteem” those as the very least.

1 Corinthians 6:4 explains too that outside judges are ESTEEMED “least” by the Church. Also, Luke 16:15 states that “what is highly ESTEEMED among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” Finally, kings of the Gentiles and world authorities are “CALLED” benefactors (Luke 22:25), but they are not viewed in such way by God (compare verse 26). But Christ’s disciples will be great in the Kingdom, even though they are “called” least today (Luke 9:48).

Some may look at Christ’s statements about John the Baptist and conclude that those who teach against the Law will be in the Kingdom, even though they might be called least. But this is not what Christ meant. Christ said that there was no greater prophet than John the Baptist, but that the one who is least IN the Kingdom will be greater than he (Luke 7:28; Matthew 11:11). That is, as long as John was in the flesh, anyone in the Kingdom—even if looked on as least—will be greater than the human being, John the Baptist. This is the case as everyone entering the Kingdom will be a Spirit being and an immortal member of the God Family. Here, Christ is just drawing a comparison: Anyone in the flesh, including the greatest of all prophets, will not be as great as the “least” immortal member in God’s Kingdom.

But John the Baptist will be in God’s Kingdom too, and he will not be the least of the least, below every other member in God’s Family. He was the “Elijah” to come to prepare the people for Christ’s first coming. He was filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb. To conclude that he would be the least of all in God’s Kingdom—less than the least—would truly be ludicrous. In addition, this passage cannot be used to conclude that the ones who teach against God’s Law and encourage people to do likewise will still be, as the least, IN the Kingdom.

In our free booklet, “Is That In the Bible? The Mysteries of the Book of Revelation,” we explain who will not be in the Kingdom of God. We say in Chapter 26 (“Outside Are Dogs and Sorcerers”):

“Revelation 22:14–15 states the following: ‘(14) Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. (15) But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.’

“This passage describes a time AFTER the heavenly Jerusalem has descended to earth (described in Revelation 21)—AFTER ‘anyone not found in the Book of Life’ had been ‘cast into the lake of fire’ (Revelation 20:15). ‘Death and Hades,’ that is, all physical humans not written in the Book of Life, had already been ‘cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death’ (Revelation 20:14).

“Revelation 22:19 adds that ‘if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book [better: Tree] of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.’…”

“… we read in an earlier passage, in Revelation 21:8, that those who have committed the unpardonable sin will have been thrown into the lake of fire, to be burned up and destroyed. [Revelation 21:8 reads: ‘But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.’]

“The lists of sins in Revelation 21:8 and Revelation 22:15 are very similar, indicating that these passages address the same kinds of people…”

We see that those who take away from God’s Word in deed and word (“whoever loves and practices a lie” and “all liars”) will NOT be in the Kingdom of God. God does not say that they will be there, but just as the least. Continuing:

“The Commentary on the Whole Bible by Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, states: ‘As all the filth of the old Jerusalem was carried outside the walls and burnt there, so nothing defiled shall enter the heavenly city, but be burnt outside (cf. ch. 22:15).’

“The Broadman Bible Commentary explains Revelation 22:15, as follows: ‘The blessedness of the righteous is seen more clearly in John’s contrast with those outside. Outside does not mean that the wicked are milling around the exterior of the walls of the holy city. It means that they will never be inside the city; they are [or better: were cast into] the lake of fire (20:15). The term could have some reference to life in the present world; the righteous already know a habitation with God; the wicked are already outside.’

“In fact, the Bible speaks repeatedly about those who are ‘outside’—who are not a part of the Church. We read in 1 Corinthians 5:12–13: ‘For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore put away from yourselves the evil person.’ Compare, too, Colossians 4:5 and 1 Thessalonians 4:12.

“The Greek word for ‘outside,’ ‘exo,’ which is used in those passages and in Revelation 22:15, can also mean ‘without.’ In Matthew 13:47–48, it is translated as, ‘away’: ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to the shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad AWAY.’

“The meaning is clear: Those who are ‘bad’—those who practice the sins described in Revelation 22:15, as a way of life, without a willingness to repent—will be ‘outside’ or ‘without’ or ‘away from’ the holy city and the Kingdom of God. Many Scriptures show that those people will not inherit or enter the Kingdom (compare 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; Galatians 5:19–21; and Ephesians 5:5). Note that the lists of sins, as set forth in 1 Corinthians, Galatians and Ephesians, are very similar to the sins mentioned in Revelation 21:8 and 22:15, including sexual immorality, idolatry, sorcery and murders. All of these lists address the same kinds of people.”

We need to remember that sin is the transgression of God’s Law (1 John 3:4, Authorized Version). All the Scriptures, quoted above, list different categories of sin—all in violation of God’s Law—and those who practice these things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. In addition, those who teach those things to others—that it is alright to behave in that way—will not inherit the Kingdom of God either. Especially the list in Galatians 5:19-21 addresses sinful teaching—sins which one commits with his mouth, including dissensions and heresies. To preach that we do not have to keep the Law today is heretical. And Paul says very clearly that those who engage in such teaching will not be in God’s Kingdom. Continuing:

“Christ said in Luke 13:28: ‘There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out [and thrown into the lake of fire, compare Matthew 13:41–42].’…

“Moffat translates Revelation 22:15 in this way: ‘Begone, you dogs, you sorcerers, you vicious creatures, you murderers, you idolaters, you who love and practice falsehood, every one of you.’ Other translations render the Greek word ‘exo’ (i.e., ‘outside’ or ‘without,’) as ‘excluded.’ Those who refuse to repent will be EXCLUDED from access to the Kingdom of God and the holy city. They will be destroyed in the lake of fire, which is the second and final death, from which there is no resurrection back to life.”

Those who commit the unpardonable sin will not be in God’s Kingdom, but they will be burned up. Remember that the examples of wrongful conduct include liars—those who teach wrong things, including the false doctrine that Christ did away with the Law, and that we are under no obligation to keep it. 1 John 2:4 explains that the one “who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

Those who willfully practice the way of sin by rejecting God’s Law and teach men to violate God’s Law will not be in God’s Kingdom. They will be outside or excluded. In the Kingdom or Family of God, those people will be called or esteemed least, as everyone committing the unpardonable sin is viewed by God and His Family as the least of all people.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

“Why Britain Will Leave the EU,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

The Church of God has proclaimed for many decades that Britain will leave Europe. Current events strongly suggest that the moment of Britain’s departure from the EU is not far away. Der Spiegel wrote that Europe must choose democracy over Britain. The Guardian reported that Britain’s conduct “is getting on a lot of Germans’ nerves,” and that the “UK’s relationship with the EU has reached a breaking point.” How could anybody know this more than 40 or even 70 years ago? In this program, we offer free copies of our booklets, “The Fall and Rise of Britain and America” and “The Ten European Revivals of the Ancient Roman Empire.”

“Wer ist der Kleinste im Himmelreich?,” is the title of this week’s new German sermon, which is titled, in English: “Who is the Least in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

“Glückliche Familien – ein Muss!,” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, which promotes our German booklet on marriage and family (Die Schlüssel zur glücklichen Ehe und Familie!). Title in English: “Happy Families – a Must!”

“God’s Spirit of Power,” is the title of the recent Pentecost sermon presented by Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

One of the most important qualities of the Holy Spirit is godly power with which God creates and upholds everything, and which He wants to share with man. But first, certain special requirements are necessary. This sermon shows you our incredible potential, if we are counted worthy for it.

Global Trailer, “God’s Commanded Holy Days,” presented by Pastor Brian Gale, has been posted on YouTube.