Update 800

On September 16, 2017, Norbert Link will present the sermonette, titled, “Just the Beginning,” and Kalon Mitchell will present the sermon, titled, “The Time Has Come To…”

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.

PLEASE NOTE:

On Thursday, September 21, 2017, the Feast of Trumpets, we will broadcast two live services. For the morning (10:00 am Pacific Time), Eric Rank will present the sermonette, titled, “Will Jesus Christ Return?” and Dave Harris will present the sermon, titled, “And There Will Be Signs.” In the afternoon  (2:30 pm Pacific Time), Kalon Mitchell will present the Offertory, and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “Misunderstandings Regarding the Resurrection and Salvation.”

Should it come as a surprise when we go through trials, especially prior to the Feast of Tabernacles?  Sometimes we may experience “heavier” trials, perhaps having the feeling of being alone, that there is nobody out there who can help or comfort us.  It’s quite normal to have that feeling at times but we need to understand that EVERYONE goes through trials and EVERYONE suffers in their own way.  We go through trials for the purpose of our individual course towards perfection.

These particular tests affect each and every one of us.  Not all trials are the same for each of us.   Our responses and reactions, our strength and our faith are always being tested.  Do we pray to God when we are facing difficulties, asking Him to give us strength through His Holy Spirit?  Or is it in the back of our minds, not valued as important enough?  Is prayer just something we do when we have the time for it, when it’s convenient, sometimes even forgetting to pray altogether?  Do NOT neglect the power of prayer for anything, because, as Paul says in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

But we are human and we still think like humans, process thoughts by using our carnal minds, and at times give in to sin.   We can quickly change that way of thinking because we have something the people of this world don’t have who have not been called by God. We have the power of the Holy Spirit that we received during our baptism! God’s Holy Spirit helps us distinguish between right and wrong, which is why it is important to pray to God to grant us more of His Spirit when we are going through difficulties, and why it is so important to replenish it daily.

We shouldn’t be afraid when we go through trials, but it’s never a bad thing to ask ourselves why we may be going through certain trials.  Isaiah 41:10 tells us, “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”  And 2 Timothy 1:7 continues on saying, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

David understood this, and he also faced many difficult trials. He pleaded with God with fasting and prayer and knew that he had to change.  He was not too proud to admit that he sinned when he recognized it and bitterly repented. He was still punished, but God accepted his repentance and he was forgiven.  After all, he was a man after God’s own heart.  His heart was in the right place.  He loved God’s law and he received strength from God.  He didn’t have anything to fear since his absolute faith was in God (compare Psalms 27:1; 118:6).

Our trials may be different from other’s trials, but we all go through trials for we are ALL being tested.  And that is why we pray for and comfort one another, because we are never alone.  It’s a unified effort!

Just as our beliefs and what we preach is unified, we then are to speak the same thing, agree that there are no divisions, be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment (1 Corinthians 1:10).  We need to be of one mind (1 Peter 3:8).  Romans 12:16 adds that we need to be of the same mind toward one another and not be wise in our own opinion.  If we think that we can make it on our own, saying that we don’t need the church or the ministry, don’t need to keep God’s law and just do what we believe is correct in our own eyes, we will fail.  Where do we put our trust?  Proverbs 3:5-6 gives us the answer.  Yes, God will direct our paths, but God also provides help because we are not alone.  Who can understand the Bible without direction, explanation and guidance? God provides help for the purpose of teaching (compare Ephesians 4:11-13; Acts 20:28).  We are to be helped by the ministry because we have a work to do.  But we need to be of one mind.  How can two walk together unless they are agreed? (Amos 3:3).

To be truly unified we also must have humility (Philippians 2:1-8), we must have peace (Ephesians 4:3) and we must have love, which is the bond of perfection (Colossians 3:14).  Are we doing enough?

We ALL go through various trials.  Through unity of like mind, we receive strength and comfort from God and our brethren (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). We must allow God to help us when we go through difficult times. We must not take Him for granted nor His Church nor all the things that He has given us. Rather, we need to really think about what His purpose is for us.  Why are we here? What are we commissioned to do?  We ALL have a part—individually and as a whole.

by Norbert Link

We begin this issue with the commemoration of one of the greatest man-made disasters in American history—the terrorist attack of September 11—and continue with so-called “natural” disasters of earthquakes in Mexico and hurricanes striking the Caribbean and the US mainland, while addressing the question as to whether these hurricanes were indeed caused by man-made global warming or climate change or whether they may have some meaning regarding prophesied end-time events.

We report on North Korea’s nuclear tests and on some strong convictions regarding abortion and less convicted opinions regarding evolution; and speak on the domination within the EU parliament; a call for a stronger Europe; and Sweden’s preparations for war.

We conclude with Russia’s ongoing persecution of minority Christians [in this regard, please view our StandingWatch program from May 17, 2017, “Russia’s Persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses”,] and address an alleged find of Peter’s bones in Rome.

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

Remembering 9-11

Fox News reported in September 11:

“President Trump commemorated the Sept. 11 attacks for the first time as commander-in-chief on Monday… sharing words of strength on the 16th anniversary of that tragic day… The president, a New Yorker, was joined by first lady Melania Trump to observe a moment of silence first at the White House in remembrance of the nearly 3,000 American lives lost in the attacks — when hijackers led by Usama Bin Laden crashed airplanes into New York City’s World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Pa.

“The moment of silence at 8:45 a.m. commemorates the moment the first plane, American Flight 11, struck the north tower of the World Trade Center. The second plane, United Flight 175, struck the south Twin Tower at 9:03 a.m. 16 years ago…

“Trump went on to honor the ‘nearly 5 million’ men and women who have joined the ranks in the last 16 years to defend the United States of America. Since 9/11, nearly 7,000 service members have died. The president’s remarks come after the administration announced a renewed Afghanistan policy late last month. A senior U.S. official confirmed to Fox News that the president signed off on sending an additional 4,000 troops to Afghanistan…

“Meanwhile, Vice President Pence led the ceremony in Shanksville, where Flight 93 crashed into an open field at 10:03 a.m. 16 years ago. Many believe the passengers on that flight prevented a larger attack by fighting back…”

Incredibly, while totally denying overwhelming proof to the contrary, many still believe in conspiracy theories, claiming that the terrorist attack was an “inside” job.

Supreme Court Sides With Trump

The Week wrote on September 13:

“The Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked a federal appeals court ruling issued last week that would have let refugees with support from resettlement agencies enter the U.S., despite President Trump’s travel ban. About 24,000 people could be affected by the 5-4 ruling, which was issued without comment.”

Hurricane Irma Hits Florida

Fox News wrote on September 11:

“Irma weakened to a Category 1 storm as the massive hurricane zeroed in on the Tampa Bay region early Monday after hammering much of Florida with roof-ripping winds, gushing floodwaters and widespread power outages. The hurricane’s maximum sustained winds weakened to 85 mph…

“More than [6] million homes and businesses — and counting — have lost power in Florida as Hurricane Irma moves up the peninsula…

“Irma set all sorts of records for brute strength before crashing into Florida, flattening islands in the Caribbean and swamping the Florida Keys. It finally hit the mainland as a big wide beast, but not quite as monstrous as once feared. The once-Category 5 storm lost some of its power on the northern Cuba coast.”

The Week added on September 11:

“‘It’s the worst storm I’ve ever seen,’ National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration tropical weather program meteorologist Bill South told CNN.”

Thankfully, the hurricane lost some strength before hitting the US mainland. Otherwise, the devastation would have been much worse. We DO believe that the prayers of many asking God for intervention were heard.

The Week wrote on September 13:

“Days after Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida, the state is starting to assess the damage and begin recovery efforts. On Tuesday, 2.3 million customers regained power, though millions remain without it. In the Keys, where 25 percent of homes were destroyed in devastating 130 mph winds and a 10-foot storm surge, residents are being allowed to return. An estimated 94,000 people remain in Florida shelters.”

Big Earthquake Rattles Mexico

Reuters wrote on September 7:

“At least 32 people [but the death toll is expected to be at least 80] were killed after a massive 8.1 magnitude earthquake, one of the biggest recorded in Mexico [and the biggest within a century] struck off the country’s southern coast late on Thursday… The quake was apparently stronger than a devastating 1985 temblor that flattened swathes of Mexico City…”

The quake struck as Mexicans were preparing for hurricane Katia.

Global Warming Responsible?

The Huffington Post wrote on September 8:

“There’s a bit of an apocalyptic vibe in the air… it has been alarming to watch hurricanes Harvey and Irma strike land in rapid succession. Now José, a Category 4 storm and Katia, a Category 3 storm, are not far behind.

“Harvey created unprecedented flooding in Texas, and Irma is the most powerful tropical cyclone ever to take shape in the Atlantic Ocean. The French island of St. Martin has been 95 percent destroyed…

“Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo declared on Thursday that Irma is a ‘concrete manifestation’ of global warming… But the connection between climate change and hurricanes is complicated, with several separate questions to consider. Is climate change causing more hurricanes?…

“To see what science has to say, HuffPost France interviewed Robert Vautard, a climatologist with France’s National Center for Scientific Research who specializes in the relationship between extreme events and climate change: … ‘it’s hard for the models to predict how rising temperatures will specifically affect storms… there are a lot of uncertainties… predictions can’t be relied upon at this point…’

“In short, even if scientists aren’t sure about the number and potency of future tropical storms, they are fairly certain these storms will cause more damage…

“Harvey caused historic flooding in Texas. Is this proof that global warming is already making hurricanes worse?… [Vautard:] ‘It’s too early to say…’”

Others, like Pope Francis, bowing to the god of “science,” are convinced that man-made global warming is the answer, and in voicing that unproven opinion, they deny any supernatural involvement. Note the next article.

Apocalyptic Thoughts Amid Nature’s Chaos

The New York Times wrote on September 8:

“Vicious hurricanes all in a row… Wildfires bursting out all over the West… off the coast of Mexico, a monster of an earthquake.

“You could be forgiven for thinking apocalyptic thoughts, like the science fiction writer John Scalzi who… declared that this… ‘feels like the End Times are getting in a few dress rehearsals right about now’… And just last month darkness descended on the land as the moon erased the sun…

“If you thought that, you would be wrong, of course… Spates of hurricanes, even major ones, are common in late summer and early fall, the height of hurricane season. Especially destructive hurricanes are not unknown either, and climate change may be making more of them…

“Wildfires have been happening out West for millenniums, though humans have made things worse. Climate change plays a role here, too…

“And earthquakes — they happen all the time, and the numbers of quakes, from weak to powerful, is unwavering when averaged over time. There is roughly one ‘great’ quake, of magnitude 8 or higher, per year. Mexico was the unlucky winner this time…

“In deeply religious communities, the recent sequence of catastrophic events and threats — terror and nuclear weapon tests, as well as natural disasters — can be understood more easily through prophecy than logic.

“Richard Hecht, a professor of religious studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, said that many believers could indeed see this chaotic summer as a sign of the end of times. ‘End of times fantasies have been a central part of American religiosity since the beginning, so it shouldn’t be any surprise’ if many people sense its approach, Dr. Hecht said. ‘It’s one thing to believe the ministers’ or preachers’ calculations of the end of days. But now you have objective truths: Charlottesville, the solar eclipse, Hurricane Harvey, the earthquake in Mexico, Hurricane Irma. ‘These are events no one can dispute,’ he continued…”

The eclipse had nothing to do with any end-time “signs.” However, it would be foolish to just ignore the increasing natural disasters as just “bad luck.” Please view our StandingWatch programs, “Why Unprecedented Wildfires” and “False Endtime Predictions for 2017” .

North Korea’s Nuclear Test Much More Powerful than Originally Reported

The Huffington Post reported on September 13:

“New analysis of North Korea’s Sept. 3 nuclear test ― the regime’s sixth-ever and most powerful to date ― suggests it could have been twice as strong as previously thought.

“Initial estimates had put the blast’s yield at about 120 kilotons, but updated seismic data reveals it was likely around 250 kilotons ― approximately 17 times as powerful as the bomb used to decimate the Japanese city of Hiroshima during World War II…

“The United Nations Security Council approved fresh sanctions against Pyongyang in a unanimous vote on Monday, slashing the cap on crude and refined oil exports to the country by 30 percent. The sanctions also ban textile imports from North Korea ― a vital industry in the Hermit Kingdom. North Korea responded to the ‘vicious’ sanctions by vowing to inflict ‘the greatest pain’ the U.S. has ever suffered…”

The Daily Mail wrote on September 14:

“North Korea launches ANOTHER missile over Japan in the Pacific as regime taunts the world – and this time Seoul swiftly retaliates with its own test.”

Deutsche Welle added on September 14:

“This latest provocation came a day after the North threatened to destroy Japan.”

No Gay Marriage and Abortion Even in Case of Rape

The Daily Mail wrote on September 6:

“Jacob-Rees Mogg said his devout Catholic faith meant he could not support gay marriage. A potential candidate to replace Theresa May as Tory leader faced a furious backlash today after saying he ‘morally’ opposes abortion for women who have been raped… ‘I’m completely opposed to abortion. Life begins at the point of conception,’ he said…

“The teaching of the Roman Catholic Church on abortion has been consistent for nearly 2,000 years. It has always maintained that abortion is a grave sin comparable to murder… The Church regards rape as an evil crime inflicted on an innocent victim. However, in Catholic eyes, to follow rape with an abortion is to perpetrate a second crime against another innocent victim: the unborn child… Those who undergo or procure abortion suffer excommunication – a ban from attending church and receiving sacraments…”

Abortion is a sin, no matter what the circumstances. Please view some of our older StandingWatch programs on this topic, including, “When Is Abortion Allowed? and “Abortion… Right or Wrong?” and “Why Abortion Is Murder in God’s Eyes.” 

Brits and Canadians Uncertain about Evolution

Religion News Service wrote on September 7:

“According to a new survey published this week, the majority of Britons, including adherents of the major faiths, now accept evolutionary theory. Even so, 19 percent of religious people in Briton (and 29 percent in Canada) found it somewhat difficult, difficult or very difficult to accept evolutionary science.

“… significant numbers of British people without religious beliefs and even atheists do not find that evolution provides a satisfactory explanation for the development of human consciousness and the origins of what can be called spiritual aspects of human nature… Those surveyed included Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs.”

Even though the majority of Brits and Canadians believe in the ungodly concept of evolution, there are at least some who question what must be called the most ridiculous explanation for the existence of human life.

Who Dominates the EU Parliament?

The EUObserver wrote on September 11:

“MEPs from Germany and Italy continue to exercise the most influence in the European Parliament, while the British begin to slip in a ranking compiled by an NGO… The more obvious heavy-hitters still dominate with the EU parliament’s president, Antonio Tajani, ranking in first place. Italian socialist group leader Gianni Pittella and German centre-right group leader Manfred Weber share the second spot, followed by the liberal group leader, Belgian MEP Guy Verhofstadt…

“Despite having lost Martin Schulz, the former EU parliament president, the Germans still dominate – with large delegations in both the EPP and S&D groups. Their numbers mean they are able to jockey for key positions and take the lead, or so-called rapporteur positions, on policies floated by the European Commission. German MEPs chair five committees in the parliament.

“The Italians are also able to squeeze more influence than their French counterparts. Italians have the largest delegation in the S&D, but also manage to exert pressure in fringe groups…

“While the British may have dropped influence, given their eventual exit from the European Union, there are exceptions. Among them is Claude Moraes, a socialist MEP from the UK, who chairs the parliament’s civil liberties committee. Moraes ranks sixth in the list…”

It should come as no surprise that the Germans, the Italians and also (to some extent) the French are dominating the European Parliament.

A Stronger European Super-State

The EUObserver wrote on September 13:

“European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker… has argued for a more united and effective EU that is based on freedom, equality and the rule of law, and signalled that he wants all EU countries to become full eurozone and Schengen area members by 2019 – except those with opt-outs. He described a post-Brexit EU with all member states part of the banking union… He also wants to see the EU take on a stronger role internationally…

“One of his other key ideas is to merge the presidencies of the European Commission and the European Council into a single position, in order to have one clear leader of the EU. ‘Europe would be easier to understand if one captain was steering the ship,’ he argued.”

Juncker’s vision is partly right and partly wrong. While there WILL BE a European leader steering the ship, it will still be a Europe of two speeds…

The British mass tabloid, The Sun, wrote on September 14:

“ARROGANT Euro chief Jean Claude Juncker told Britain we’ll regret Brexit – before detailing his extraordinary vision of a Brussels-controlled EU super-state… [He] left critical MEPs open mouthed as he spelled out plans for an unprecedented power grab to ‘unite’ Europe…

“He signalled Brussels should… create a European ‘FBI’ and an EU Army by 2025… And while saying the door to Turkey joining the EU was closed ‘for the foreseeable future’ he said there would ‘always be an outstretched hand’ to the Turkish people…

“[He] said: ‘Europe was not made to stand still. It must never do.’… Name-checking France’s Jacques Delors – the godfather of the European project – he added: ‘Jacques Delors taught me that Europe only moves forward when it is bold.

“The single market, Schengen and the single currency were all written off as pipe dreams before they happened. And yet these three ambitious projects are now a reality.”

“He added: ‘The wind is back in Europe’s sails. We now have a window of opportunity but it will not stay open forever. ‘Now is the time to build a more united, stronger and more democratic Europe for 2025.’

“Former Cabinet Minister Iain Duncan Smith told the Sun: ‘This tells you why the vote last year makes sense… ‘It’s the future of the EU – the march of the super-state.’…

“Nigel Farage said:  ‘… It’s truly the most worrying speech I’ve heard in all my years. More Europe in every single direction, and all of it to be done without the consent of the people.’”

The following is the perspective of the World Socialist Website (wsws), dated September 14:

“[Juncker’s] address sent a clear message: amid the collapse of the EU’s relations to long-standing allies, above all Washington and London, it must prepare for global trade war and pursue a military policy independent of the United States…

“Juncker [called] for the accelerated formation of what would be an EU army… Juncker’s claim that NATO, including Washington and London, want the formation of an EU defense union is nothing more than an attempt to downplay the rapid rise of [a] US-EU conflict… military tensions are rising rapidly between Washington and the EU, and particularly the Berlin-Paris axis…

“After Britain’s exit from the EU… Germany and France have rapidly revived plans for an aggressive EU military policy independent of the United States…

“Remarkably, Juncker’s speech did not mention Russia…”

The viewpoint of the Socialists must be seen in light of their anti-Western propaganda and their attempts to white-wash an aggressive and war-mongering Russia. Nevertheless, some of the comments quoted above are quite interesting.

Sweden Prepares for War

Euronews reported on September 4:

“When Sweden’s centre-left government announced last month that it would boost military spending by 8.1 billion krona (851 million Euro) over the next three years – in addition to the 500 million krona already added last Spring – the country’s defence minister Peter Hultqvist said the move would send an ‘important signal’… Another sign of that intention was the reintroduction… of a partial draft…

“Why, then, is Sweden flexing its military muscles now and what, if any, are the new threats that the Scandinavian nation faces? There are three main explanations behind the boost in military spending… First, the deteriorating European security order, second a new pattern of military training emerging in Russia, and third the fact that the Swedish Armed Forces do not have sufficient funds to meet their own goals…

“Sweden could be pulled into a military conflict should one erupt in its neighbouring region… While Sweden is not a Nato member, the country actively cooperates with the US-led military alliance in peace and security operations. This month also marks the first stage of Sweden’s largest joint military drill with Nato in 20 years… “If a major crisis happens, Sweden will find itself in a tricky situation. The super powers will decide then.’”

All of this shows the need—in the European mind—for a powerful European army.

Russian Persecution of Christians Continuing…

Christian Headlines wrote on September 8:

“Concerns among Russian Christians that the government’s antiterrorism legislation, adopted last year, would take away their religious freedom have been proven true.

“The Yarovaya Laws, named for the lawmaker who sponsored them, ban proselytizing, preaching, and praying outside recognized religious institutions. Forum 18 counted 186 cases filed since enforcement began, with roughly half the charges against various Christian denominations and individuals or Christian-affiliated organizations. Officials later dismissed only about 20 percent of the cases. Punishments ranged from fines and confiscation of materials to orders for deportation.

“Since July 2016, authorities have prosecuted Christian churches and individuals for announcing an upcoming service, conducting home prayer meetings, distributing religious calendars, failure to fully display a church name, and organizing a concert.

“In one of the first cases against a Christian, officials in Noyabrsk charged Baptist Union Pastor Aleksei Teleus for allowing children to play on the playground outside his church, where they might overhear sermons and prayers or gain access to religious literature. Officials called it an ‘unsanctioned children’s camp’ and fined the pastor 5,000 roubles (about $85).

“Independent Baptist missionary Don Ossewaarde became the first American prosecuted under the law for holding a worship service in his home. Courts up to and including Russia’s Constitutional Court, the country’s highest, ruled against his multiple appeals.

“Authorities also targeted members of other religions, including Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hare Krishnas, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. In the most extreme example of persecution under the law, Russian officials labeled Jehovah’s Witnesses “extremists,” liquidated their property, and banned them entirely.”

We have continually warned that the persecution of religious minorities in Russia will continue, while the West stands idly by, doing absolutely nothing.

“Bones of Peter Found?” – Yeah, Right!

The Telegraph wrote on September 11:

“Bones attributed to St. Peter have been found by chance in a church in Rome during routine restoration work, 2,000 years after the apostle’s death. The relics of the saint, who is regarded as the first Pope, were found in clay pots in the 1,000-year-old Church of Santa Maria in Cappella in the district of Trastevere, a medieval warren of cobbled lanes on the banks of the Tiber River…

“[A worker] came across two Roman-era pots with inscriptions on their lids indicating that inside were not only bone fragments from St Peter but also three early popes – Cornelius, Callixtus and Felix – as well as four early Christian martyrs…

“It is not yet known how or why the relics came to be interred in the Church of Santa Maria in Cappella, which was consecrated in 1090. One theory is that they were transferred there from the Vatican by Pope Urban II at a time of schism within the Catholic Church.

“While Urban was generally recognised as the legitimate pope, he faced a challenge from an anti-pope, Clement III, who had set up a rival power base in Rome, backed by the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV.  The church in Trastevere was closely linked to Pope Urban and may have been seen by him as a secure place in which to hide the bones…

“[Peter’s] remains were interred in a tomb on the Vatican Hill, where the Emperor Constantine later built a church, which in the 16th century was replaced by the current imposing basilica. During excavations under St Peter’s Basilica that began after the Second World War, archaeologists discovered a funerary monument with a casket built in honour of Peter and an engraving in Greek that read ‘Petros eni’, or ‘Peter is here’…

“The remains were forensically examined in the 1960s, with experts concluding that they belonged to a man in his early sixties who lived in the first century AD. That was proof enough for Pope Paul VI, in 1968, to declare them the bones of St Peter…”

So, now there are remains of Peter on the Vatican Hill AND in the church of Santa Maria? Of course, the whole idea that Peter was killed and buried in Rome and that his remains are still there is absolutely false and a complete hoax. For more information, please read our free booklet, “The Ten European Revivals of the ancient Roman Empire.”

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.

A: We discussed in a previous Q&A that Satan cannot influence us when we sleep, and we explained in a recent sermon that there are several areas of conduct, which Satan is unable to perform. Apart from his inability to influence us when we sleep, we showed that he cannot materialize in bodily form; that he cannot heal or create; and that he cannot do anything against God’s Will. We also explained that he has no power over us and that he must flee from us when we resist him and submit to God.

The question arises whether Satan and his demons are capable of reading our minds, and whether they can know what we think. Most Christian commentaries and articles take the position that they are unable to do so. However, when focusing on Christianity, as far as we can tell, an obscure sect in the Middle Ages, the “decretists,” seemed to have been the first ones to teach that demons cannot read our minds. It does not appear that this question was seriously addressed within Christianity prior to that time.

We will review the Bible to show what we can learn from Scripture. But as we will see, the distinction is more academic than of practical consequence.

The main argument for the conclusion that Satan CANNOT read our minds is an argument from silence—that is, the Bible does not seem to say specifically that he can do so. That argument is collaborated with many biblical passages to the effect that GOD can read our minds and that He knows our thoughts, and that ONLY God can do so.

First, let us focus on Old Testament Scriptures regarding God’s ability to read our thoughts:

We read in Psalm 139:1-2: “O LORD, You have searched me and known me, You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.” The NIV states: “…you perceive my thoughts from afar.” The Living Bible says, “you know my very thought.”

Psalm 139:4 continues: “For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.” Most translations render this verse in this way: “Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD” (NIV, compare RSV and Living Bible). [This translation reminds us of what Christ tells us in Matthew 6:8: “For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”]

We also read in Psalm 94:11: “The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile.”

1 Samuel 16:7 says that while a man may look at the outward appearance, the LORD looks at the heart. In 1 Kings 8:39 King Solomon says to God: “You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men.” Psalm 44:21 adds: “Would not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.” Isaiah 66:18 quotes God as saying, “I know their works and their thoughts.” And Job says this to God in Job 42:2: “I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee” (Authorized Version).

At the same time, we read in Proverbs 17:3 that the LORD “tests the hearts”; and this statement is repeated in 1 Chronicles 29:17. We also read in Jeremiah 17:10 that “the LORD searches the heart and tests the mind.” Proverbs 21:2 states that “the LORD weighs the heart.” In Proverbs 24:12, we read: “If you say, ‘Surely we did not know this,’ Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?”

In Psalm 139:23, David asks God to search him and “know” his heart.

While God searches our hearts and considers our thoughts, this does not mean that He knows ahead of time what we will think or do in a given situation. Note the following comments by Moses about God, when he told ancient Israel: “And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not” (Deuteronomy 8:2).

He also said in Deuteronomy 13:1-3: “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul…”

God can look into our hearts (compare Deuteronomy 31:21: “I know the purposes which they are already forming”, RSV), but IF God knew beforehand at all times what all of our thoughts would be, then there would be no need for testing us to find out. God created us as beings with free moral agency, and He wants us to build holy righteous character, which requires free choice and the free will to obey God. Therefore, God has chosen NOT to know many times how we will react when we are tested.

God would not give Satan powers and insight, which He, God, does not even want to have—showing that Satan does not have the ability to know beforehand what we will do.

In reviewing New Testament passages regarding the Father’s and Jesus Christ’s ability to know our thoughts and read our minds, we find that Jesus, as a human being, knew the thoughts of people through the inspiration of the Father’s Holy Spirit in Him (Matthew 9:3-4; 12:25; Mark 2:6-8; Luke 5:21-22; 6:8; 9:47; 11:17).

We also find that Jesus, as a resurrected God being, has the ability to discern and know the thoughts of people (Luke 24:38; Hebrews 4:12-13; Revelation 2:23).

The Bible also makes it very clear that God the Father knows our thoughts (Luke 16:15; compare 1 Corinthians 3:20). In Acts 1:24, the disciples prayed to the Father to reveal to them who should take the place of Judas Iscariot: “You, O LORD, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen.” In Acts 15:8, Peter said that God “who knows the heart,” accepted Gentiles into the Church by giving them the Holy Spirit.

The New Testament confirms, what we have already seen in Old Testament passages, that God the Father and God the Son search our hearts and test us to find out how we really feel (Romans 8:27; 1 Thessalonians 2:4).

God will at the proper time make manifest and reveal the innermost thoughts and counsels or motives of our hearts (1 Corinthians 4:5; Luke 2:35). While our hearts might condemn us because of wrongly understood guilt complexes, God is greater than our hearts and knows all things (1 John 3:20). At the same time, we can deceive our hearts, but not God (James 1:26).

The realization that God knows our thoughts has great significance for our relationship with God. After all, we do not only sin when we commit a sinful act, but also, when we think a sinful thought. Christ said that we have already committed adultery in our heart when we lust after a woman (Matthew 5:28). The Tenth Commandment prohibits us to covet what our neighbor has, and evil thoughts and desires originate in our heart (Matthew 15:18-19). Peter told Simon to repent of his wickedness and pray to God “if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you” (Acts 8:22). It is therefore important to bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Comparing God’s abilities with Satan’s, we see remarkable differences. But it is important not to jump hastily to conclusions, which many commentaries have done. For instance, we might read about the argument that the fact that Satan tempted Christ proves that Satan could not read Christ’s thoughts—otherwise, Satan would have known that Christ would not give in to sin. The same argument has been made regarding Job’s temptation—that Satan did not know Job’s thoughts because he thought Job would curse God. These arguments would be as wrong as to say that the fact that God tests us proves that God cannot read our thoughts. These temptations and trials have nothing to do with the ability or inability to know the thoughts of men; rather, God’s and Satan’s tests and trials are for the purpose of finding out how man will act and react—while Satan tempts us, hoping that we will sin, God tests us, hoping that we will not sin.

On the other hand, Satan does not even need to be able to read our thoughts to have a pretty good idea and to make a well-educated guess as to what we may think and how we will act. If we are in the habit of sinning in a specific area, his particular temptations will, in all likelihood, lead to further sins in that area; he observes us, including our weaknesses, and knows what we like to do; what we like to talk about; what we like to read, watch or listen to. Our facial expression and body language give him a good sense as to what we think, and what our next action might be. Satan and his demons are watching us very closely; they observe our actions and they hear what we say.

In addition, as the prince of the power of the air, Satan can broadcast his negative and destructive thoughts to human beings (Ephesians 2:2). He moved David to sin (1 Chronicles 21:1); and he put it into the heart of Judas to betray Christ (John 13:2). He also filled the heart of Ananias to lie against God (Acts 5:3). Satan can blind our minds to the truth (2 Corinthians 4:4). He can even take away the Word of God out of our hearts which was sown in our hearts (Matthew 13:19; Luke 8:12).

While Satan can hear us when we yell, scream and voice our frustration, it appears he might not be able to read our thoughts (unless they are “revealed” through our body language, facial expression or other “outward” signs). It is therefore important to follow David’s advice in Psalm 4:4: “Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still” (also compare Psalm 77:6). At the same time, it is much more important to realize that even though Satan may not be able to read our minds, God can, and whether or not we express audibly our improper thoughts, Ecclesiastes 10:20 warns us: “Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter.”

Still, in ways tremendously difficult, if not impossible to understand by the human mind, God has set in motion a way of direct communication between Him and His people to reveal matters to His Church, which He has withheld from angels and demons, until the Church reveals it to them (showing that they cannot read the minds and thoughts of God or of people).

We read in 1 Peter 1:10-12:

“Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, reaching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ [which] was in them was indicating when [it] testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.”

Ephesians 3:8-10 adds:

“To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.”

There is one most compelling Scripture relating an incident when Satan and his demons were NOT able to read the thoughts of a man. This passage can be found in the second chapter of the book of Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar had dreams, which troubled him, and he asked the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers and the Chaldeans to tell him one of his dreams and its meaning, testing them, because if he were to tell them his dream, they could have come up with any interpretation of their own devising. They were unable to tell the king his dream, even though they were clearly Satan’s instruments and perhaps demon-possessed.

The king was enraged and ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. God revealed the dream and its meaning to Daniel, and so Daniel was brought before the king to tell him his dream and the interpretation thereof, stating, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days” (Daniel 2:27-28). Surely, IF Satan and his demons had been able to read Nebuchadnezzar’s thoughts, they would have been able, through their human sorcerers, to reveal the dream to the king, even though they would still not have been able to reveal the meaning of it.

While Satan and his demons may not be able to read our thoughts, they are very able to observe us and notice our words, actions and reactions.  More importantly, God can even read our minds. Nothing is hidden from Him, and it is critical that we are aware of THAT fact at all times.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

compiled by Dave Harris

A new StandingWatch video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my4nevowuD0 , promoting our free booklet, “Angels, Demons, and the Spirit World,” was produced by Michael Link on behalf of the Church of the Eternal God.

Our new booklet, “How to Find the True Church of God,” was received from our printer. It will be distributed to Feast attendees in the USA and sent out after the Feast to our subscribers. The German version of this booklet http://www.ewigengottes.de/2017/09/09/wie-kann-man-die-wahre-kirche-gottes-fInden is being printed and will be distributed to Feast attendees in Germany and sent out after the Feast to our subscribers.

 “La Sentinelle: Dieu est une Famille,” is the title of a new French video presented by Pastor Rene Messier. This is based on the booklet, “God is a Family,” which is posted at:  http://www.eternalgod.org/articles-francais/

“Is That in the Bible? Man’s Holidays or God’s Holy Days,” is the title of a new Global Trailer, presented by Pastor Brian Gale. This is based on our booklet by the same name, which is available at: https://www.globalchurchofgod.co.uk/

We received the following response regarding a recent Q&A, titled, “How is Faith Measured?”

“Your article on faith by Eric Rank and Norbert Link is truly the best article on faith that I have ever seen. This article has answered many, many questions that I was seeking on the subject of FAITH. This has helped me tremendously with my ‘hunger and thirst for righteousness.’ Next time that I have questions about scriptures, I know who to contact.”

“Du Sollst (Nicht) Begehren, Teil 2,” is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “You Shall (Not) Covet/Desire, Part 2.”

“Das Posaunenfest 2017–Missverständnisse über die Auferstehung und das Heil,” is the title of the German sermon for Trumpets, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “The Feast of Trumpets 2017–Misunderstandings Regarding the Resurrection and Salvation.”

“Clean and Unclean,” the sermonette presented last Sabbath by Michael Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

What sets us apart from those who are of this world and have not been called yet?  How are we to live clean in an unclean world?

“What Satan CANNOT Do!” the sermon presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is a summary:

Satan and his demons rule with great power on this earth, but Christians don’t have to be afraid of them, as long as they take the necessary precautions. In this sermon, we will show what the Devil and his demons are UNABLE to do, and this should give us great confidence.

Here are the dates for the 2017 Fall Holy Days:

Feast of Trumpets—September 21
Day of Atonement—September 30
Feast of Tabernacles—October 5-11
Last Great Day—October 12