Update 1204

On May 2, 2026, Frank Bruno will present the sermonette, titled, “Where Do You Belong?” and Eric Rank will present the sermon, titled, “Jesus Christ’s Marriage.”

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.

When Jesus was here on earth, He observed many who were forsaken and alone. His reaction in Matthew 9:36-38 was telling: “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’”

The multitudes were weary, despaired, depressed, distressed, without hope, exhausted and harassed—also because of the lack of true and meaningful teachings from true shepherds. They were fatigued, resulting from being burdened. They were abandoned and neglected.

It is no different today. Most people are truly alone and under a terrible yoke which is wearing them down. But there is a way out of such predicaments. Christ told His disciples to ask the Father to provide laborers for a plentiful harvest—laborers who would teach and manifest the way of compassion, peace and rest. Christ came to find who was lost (Luke 19:10), and His disciples are to follow His example—to care for, tend and lead His sheep (John 21:15-17); and not to behave like unprofitable, uncaring shepherds (Ezekiel 34:4-5).

That way towards rest can only be found in Jesus. He told all of us in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Christ told us to lay down the crushing yoke of sin, and receive His yoke instead. It reflects submission to His authority, His guidance and teachings, as well as partnership with Him—and to learn from His example of compassion, humility and gentleness. His yoke is easy and light because He carries its weight with us—we do not have to carry it alone.

Christ was not talking about heavy burdens which are hard to bear; especially those burdens inflicted on us by wrong teachers (Matthew 23:4). Rather, His commandments are light—not burdensome (1 John 5:3). This might perhaps not appear to be the case at first, as we are burdened by lifelong habits of sin. At the beginning, the road to life may be “difficult” (Matthew 7:14). But it will become more and more a “light” affliction in comparison with the “eternal weight of glory” to be revealed in us (2 Corinthians 4:17). Taking up our cross and following Jesus (Matthew 16:24) is so much easier than carrying our cross alone. The cross which we will have to carry is our separation from our sin and wrong priorities (Mark 10:21). The cross which we all carried in the past was our cross or heavy burden of our sinful conduct.

With Christ, our walk will be so much easier. Isaiah 41:13 tells us: “For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’”

We walk hand in hand with God, as it were, in partnership and agreement, because two cannot walk together unless they are agreed (Amos 3:3). We walk or better LIVE with God. We follow Christ wherever He goes (Revelation 14:4).

If you have not found the true God in your life, but really want to live with Him and be freed from your burdens and fears, seek God with all your heart, as He tells you in Jeremiah 29:11-13: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

When you really want to love God and seek Him diligently, seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness, then you will find Him (Matthew 6:33; Proverbs 8:17). And He WILL give you rest for your souls.

For those of you who once knew the Truth, but slipped away and fell, lost interest, but still have the underlying and somewhat suppressed feeling that you ought to return to Him in order to be freed from your burdens and unhappy lives, sensing that you are missing out, it is not too late:

“Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls…’” (Jeremiah 6:16).

Do this; return to God! And He WILL give you rest for your souls.

By Norbert Link 

We begin with another assassination attempt on President Trump; addressing Trump’s looming deadline of May 1 pertaining to the Iran war; and speaking about America’s depleted weapons arsenal. 

We address Trump’s threats against the Falkland Islands and Europe; and we point out Friedrich Merz’s growing unpopularity in Germany; and Europe’s preparations for a nuclear war with Russia. 

We address King Charles’ visit to the United States and conclude with Israel’s conduct pertaining to Lebanon and Hezbollah and its LGBTQ culture. Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “God’s Warnings and Task for President Trump.” 

Another Assassination Attempt on Trump 

The Associated Press wrote on April 26: 

“The man accused of opening fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner sent writings to family members minutes before the shooting referring to himself as a ‘Friendly Federal Assassin,’ railing against Trump administration policies and signaling what investigators increasingly believe was a politically driven attack… 

“The writings, sent shortly before shots were fired at the Washington Hilton, made repeated references to President Donald Trump without naming him directly and alluded to grievances over a range of administration actions and recent events, including U.S. strikes on drug smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific… 

“Authorities also uncovered what the official described as numerous anti-Trump social media posts linked to the suspect…, a 31-year-old California man accused of trying to breach a security checkpoint at the dinner while armed with multiple weapons.” 

Lacking Security 

Newsmax wrote on April 26: 

“Fred Fleitz [former National Security Council chief of staff in Trump’s first term] told Newsmax on Sunday that the security breach surrounding the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner raises serious concerns about the safety of President Donald Trump and other top officials… ‘This shooter got far too close to the president. He brought a bag full of guns and knives … into a hotel room in the hotel… He could have brought a bomb into the hotel, a large bomb, and no one would have known. This is unacceptable,’ he said… 

“Fleitz… said the size and layout of the gathering pose inherent risks. ‘There’s far too many people there … It’s hard to walk from table to table. This is a fire hazard. It’s a security hazard,’ he said. He also questioned why the president and Vice President JD Vance were at the same venue under those conditions… Fleitz also pointed to specific security vulnerabilities at the hotel, particularly the placement of screening measures… ‘the magnetometers were far too close to the president. They should have been outside,’ he said. 

“He added that some attendees appeared to pass through minimal screening before getting near the event….” 

More Chaos on the World Stage 

NPR wrote on April 26: 

“The incident brought America’s commonplace gun violence just feet away from a room full of lawmakers, top officials, and journalists. It also may add to a string of troubling political violence in the U.S. that includes two assassination attempts on President Trump… 

“The high-profile incident of potential political violence adds yet another layer of chaos to an already tumultuous time both in Washington and on the world stage.” 

Trump Haunted by Epstein Files 

Daily Beast wrote on April 26: 

“60 Minutes correspondent Norah O’Donnell caught President Donald Trump in a revealing moment while pressing him on the manifesto of the gunman who stormed the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday. In a Sunday interview on the shooting, O’Donnell referenced the sprawling manifesto written by the alleged gunman, Cole Thomas Allen, 31, which detailed his plan to kill Donald Trump and his top administration officials. At one point, Allen allegedly wrote, ‘I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.’ ‘What’s your reaction to that?’ O’Donnell asked Trump. 

“The agitated president, 79, reacted with a flurry of defiance—and inadvertently revealed that he himself believed he was the subject of the shooter’s remarks… ‘Well, I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would, because you’re horrible people. Horrible people,’ he said, before adding, ‘Yeah, he did write that. I‘m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anybody.’ 

“That’s when O’Donnell called him out for appearing to identify himself in the gunman’s words. ‘Oh, you think—do you think he was referring to you?’ she interrupted. ‘Excuse me, excuse me,’ Trump shot back, before pausing for a beat as he appeared to process her question. But he then pressed on without recalibrating, voluntarily invoking the backlash over his close friendship with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. ‘I’m not a pedophile. You read that c— from some sick person. I got associated with stuff that has nothing to do with me. I was totally exonerated,’ he said. ‘Your friends on the other side of the plate are the ones that were involved with, let’s say, Epstein or other things’… ‘But you should be ashamed of yourself reading that because I’m not any of those things.’ 

“‘Mr. President, these are the gunman’s words,’ O’Donnell reminded him. ‘Excuse me, excuse me. You shouldn’t be reading that on 60 Minutes,’ Trump said. ‘You’re a disgrace… ‘You’re disgraceful’… 

“The president has desperately sought to move past questions about his administration’s bungled Epstein files release and his own relationship with the convicted sex trafficker, but the issue continues to haunt him. Files released by the Justice Department revealed that one woman was interviewed by the FBI in 2019 after accusing Trump of sexually abusing her when she was 13. Trump has vehemently denied any wrongdoing in connection with his friendship with Epstein and has not been charged with any crime.” 

Trump also vehemently denied signing and sending an offensive “lewd” birthday card to Epstein in 2003, even though most believe that card was genuine. A federal judge dismissed Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal on April 13, 2026. Darrin Gayles ruled that Trump failed to prove “actual malice” and allowed until April 27, 2026, to refile an amended complaint, which Trump’s team indicated they would do. As of April 29, it has not been reported or confirmed that an amended complaint was filed. 

The Deadline: May 1 

On April 25, Focus wrote: 

“[Trump] is initiating a war without parliamentary approval and does not appear to intend to involve the U.S. Congress either…. However, a legislative act from 1973 could prove to be a stumbling block here. The so-called ‘War Powers Resolution’ (WPR) establishes a procedure enabling Congress to force a vote that either authorizes the President’s use of U.S. armed forces or orders their withdrawal from hostilities…. Sixty days after he first reports to Congress, the deployment of armed forces automatically terminates, unless Congress has declared war or passed legislation authorizing the action. And that deadline is May 1. 

“The President may extend this 60-day period by an additional 30 days by notifying Congress in writing of the necessity for the continued use of military force. The prevailing view, however, is that this extension may not be utilized for offensive military actions, but only for the safe withdrawal of U.S. troops. Yet that is likely not what Trump intends. The President thus faces a dilemma. If he allows May 1 to pass, he is obligated to withdraw U.S. troops. If he declares the necessity of continuing combat operations, he gains only an additional thirty days. At that point, however—absent congressional approval—the deployment would have to be terminated immediately. 

“Trump still has one avenue of escape left—one, ironically enough, for which he has Obama to thank. The latter extended the Libya operation by four years, arguing that U.S. operations in Libya did not constitute ‘hostilities’ within the meaning of the War Powers Resolution, as they involved neither sustained combat operations nor active exchanges of fire by U.S. ground troops. However, given that there have already been U.S. military personnel killed and wounded in the conflict with Iran, it will be difficult for Trump to invoke this ‘Obama clause.’ 

“A congressional majority is by no means assured for Trump… A successful vote appears doubtful as early as May 1, and even more uncertain by May 31. Precisely in this precarious situation, he has extended the ceasefire with Iran and suspended his ultimatum indefinitely. It is almost grotesque that he has left the timing of the ultimatum’s expiration up to Iran—for the guns are to remain silent until Iran has finally managed to formulate a response. 

“The dilemma could hardly be greater; yet perhaps Trump will simply play the feudal lord and disregard the law entirely. In any case, time is running out for the President—far faster than it is for Iran.” 

Pete Hegseth has already stated, as was to be expected, that they will not abide by the law because of a ceasefire.

Unpleasant Choices 

Daily Mail wrote on April 26: 

“President Donald Trump has been left with three hard choices to make about the war with Iran after he canceled peace talks and rejected the country’s last-minute offer. 

“…  he can go one of three ways: escalate the conflict, use the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to pressure Iran into a compromise, or decide to settle for a deal he does not want… On Sunday morning, Trump claimed that Iran’s oil pipelines will erupt in about three days’ time.” 

Of course, this did not happen, as is the case with most of Trump’s empty threats. 

Pakistan Allows Transit of Goods To Iran 

Ary News wrote on April 27: 

“The federal government has officially enforced the Transit of Goods Order 2026, allowing the movement of cargo through Pakistan for onward transit to Iran and other destinations… Under the revised system, goods originating from third countries will be permitted to pass through Pakistan en route to Iran, subject to regulatory compliance… 

“Officials added that the Transit of Goods Order 2026 is expected to improve trade efficiency, boost revenue generation, and reinforce Pakistan’s position as a key transit corridor in the region.” 

And so, America is losing again… In spite of Trump saying that Americans are sick of winning! 

Merz: Iran Is Humiliating the USA 

Reuters reported on April 27: 

“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday Iran’s leadership was humiliating the United States and getting U.S. officials to travel to Pakistan and then leave without results, in an unusually abrupt rebuke over the conflict. Merz also said he [does] not see what exit strategy the U.S. was pursuing in the Iran war – comments that underlined deep divisions between Washington and its European NATO allies, which had already been festering over Ukraine and other issues. ‘The Iranians are obviously very skilled at negotiating, or rather, very skillful at not negotiating, letting the Americans travel to Islamabad and then leave again without any result,’ he said during a talk to students in the town of Marsberg. ‘An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards’… 

“Merz reiterated that Germans and Europeans were not consulted before the U.S. and Israel started attacking Iran on February 28, and that he had conveyed his scepticism directly to Trump afterwards. ‘If I had known that it would continue like this for five or six weeks and get progressively worse, I would have told him even more emphatically,’ Merz said, comparing it to previous U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

“Hopes of reviving peace efforts have receded since Trump scrapped a visit on Saturday by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad, the Pakistani capital. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi travelled to Russia on Monday after failed talks in Pakistan and Oman. Merz said it was evident the Strait of Hormuz had been at least partially mined… 

“He said the conflict was costing Germany ‘a lot of money, a lot of taxpayers’ money and a lot of economic strength.’” 

Trump Fires Back 

aa.com wrote on April 28: 

“US President Donald Trump alleged Tuesday that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz finds it acceptable for Iran to possess nuclear weapons, further straining ties between the allies… He added that Merz ‘doesn’t know what he’s talking about’ and said a nuclear-armed Tehran would leave the world ‘hostage.’… 

“‘No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both economically, and otherwise,’ said Trump… ‘Regarding Iran, yes, I’ve become disillusioned,’ Merz said at a news conference in Berlin when asked about his remarks that the US lacks an ‘exit strategy’ and Americans were ‘humiliated’ by Tehran.” 

ntv added on April 24: 

“‘German Chancellor Friedrich Merz thinks it is fine if Iran possesses nuclear weapons,’ Trump begins his post on Truth Social with a claim that is untrue. As recently as early March, Merz had stated that Germany shares the objectives of the United States and Israel regarding the Iranian nuclear and missile programs. ‘Iran’s military nuclear program, as well as its ballistic missile program, must be verifiably terminated,’ the statement continued. 

“Trump then proceeds with his post based on this false premise…” 

Pope Attacks Those Who Fight in War 

Reuters wrote on April 27: 

“Pope Leo on Sunday described those who wage wars and appropriate the earth’s resources as thieves who rob the world of a peaceful future, issuing a warning about the use of nuclear power on the anniversary of the Chornobyl reactor accident. Ukraine is commemorating the 40th anniversary of the world’s worst nuclear disaster on Sunday amid lingering fears that Russia’s four-year-old war could spark a repeat of the tragedy… 

“Pope Leo said thieves came under many appearances, listing as examples ‘superficial lifestyles driven by consumerism’, prejudices and wrong ideas. ‘And let’s not forget also those thieves who, by plundering the earth’s resources, by fighting bloody wars or feeding evil in whichever form, are simply taking away from all of us the chance of a future of peace and serenity,’ he added.” 

These comments are right on. 

America’s Depleted Weapons Arsenal 

The Independent wrote on April 24: 

“The U.S. has burned through billions of dollars’ worth of its critical weapons stockpile in the war with Iran… The conflict, which began on February 28, has seen the Pentagon use more than 1,200 Patriot interceptor missiles, and each costs more than $4 million. The military has also used up around 1,100 of its long-range stealth cruise missiles stockpiled for a potential war with China, according to congressional officials and internal Defense Department estimates obtained by the New York Times. More than 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles have been fired, too, which is around 10 times the amount currently bought by the U.S. Military each year. 

“Internal Pentagon estimates also suggested that around 1,100 JASSM-ER missiles, which cost around $1.1 million each, have been used. That has left just 1,500 of the projectiles in the military’s inventory… 

“[The war] has resulted in the death of several Iranian leaders and 3,000 citizens, according to state media. It has also resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members. According to a study conducted in April by the American Enterprise Institute, the war has cost the United States between $25 billion and $35 billion. In the first two days of the conflict alone, the military burned through around $5.6 billion worth of munitions… 

“Officials told the Times that the Defense Department is waiting for Congress to approve additional funding before it can pay manufacturers to replenish the military’s drained supplies… However, officials told the publication that there has been no effort to begin the expanded production effort since the Pentagon is still scrambling to find the funding it needs… Pentagon information obtained by the outlet also found that the war has led to depletions in essential weapon systems deployed to defend NATO’s eastern flank in the event of Russian aggression. The ability to launch offensive operations in the region has also been damaged due to the loss of attack and surveillance drones….” 

The Pentagon denied everything, but it’s not trustworthy. No wonder Trump is anxious to appease Putin and Xi Jinping. 

Fortune wrote on April 24: 

“The U.S. has depleted its store of seven major types of missiles, intensifying concerns of a ‘near-term risk’ it will run out of munitions for a future war… 

“Though the U.S. has enough missiles to continue to fight in the Iran war without limitations, there is an increased risk of the U.S. military being insufficiently prepared for a future war in the Pacific… [It is] estimated it would take one to four years to restock the seven major munitions to prewar levels.” 

Trump’s “Arithmetic Skills” 

Der Tagesspiegel wrote on April 24: 

“Trump had claimed that, through his policies, he could reduce [drug] prices by up to 600 percent. Mathematically, however, this is impossible, since a price can decrease by a maximum of 100 percent—at which point it would be zero. Kennedy… nevertheless stuck to his calculation… ‘If the drug costs 100 dollars and rises to 600 dollars, that would be a 600 percent increase. If it drops from 600 to 100 dollars, that would be savings of 600 percent.’ Trump, who was listening to Kennedy’s explanation, nodded in agreement and said: ‘Correct.’ The calculation presented, however, is nonetheless completely wrong. 

“… These fundamentals of percentage calculation are typically taught to students in the U.S. between the 6th and 8th grades. The scene caused an uproar on social media. Several users pointed to a passage in George Orwell’s… novel 1984: ‘In the end the Party would announce that two and two made five, and one would have to believe it.’” 

Trump Insults Country With Vile Comparison 

t-online reported on April 24: 

“India has sharply criticized US President Donald Trump for a post on his online platform, Truth Social, in which Trump referred to India as a ‘hell hole’… Trump had previously linked an article attributed to a conservative podcaster. The text denounces the constitutional right in the US whereby anyone born on US soil automatically receives US citizenship. ‘Every baby here immediately becomes a citizen, and then they bring the whole family over from China, India, or some other hell hole on the planet,’ the post states. 

“Furthermore, the text accuses Indian immigrants of refusing to hire white Americans in their companies and of speaking poor English… On the online platform X, the Hindu American Foundation described the remarks as ‘hateful, racist rhetoric’… 

“Following a period of initial closeness, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently fallen out of favor with Trump, allegedly because he had downplayed Trump’s role in mediating the conflict between India and Pakistan… 

“Trump has used the term ‘hell hole’ to anger a country once before. Following the Islamist terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels in 2015 and 2016, Trump referred to the Belgian capital as a ‘hellhole’.” 

He has also referred to other countries—such as Haiti, El Salvador, and various African nations—as “shitholes.” 

USA Threatens UK Over Falkland Islands 

Daily Mail wrote on April 24: 

“The ‘Special Relationship’ was rocked by a furious new row today after Washington hinted at helping Argentina’s claim to the Falklands. On the eve of the King’s State Visit, it has emerged that US support for British sovereignty over the islands could be reviewed. The move appears to be part of Donald Trump’s drive to punish Nato countries for failing to help with his war against Iran. Argentinian president Javier Milei is a close ally of Mr Trump, and has reiterated the country’s claim to the islands – which the UK defended by force in 1982, at the cost of more than 250 lives. But the threat has drawn outrage from across the UK political spectrum… 

“According to Reuters, an internal memo floated reassessing US diplomatic support for longstanding European ‘imperial possessions’ such as the Falklands, as well as kicking Spain out of Nato for refusing to ramp up defence spending…. The State Department’s website states that the islands are administered by the United Kingdom but are still claimed by Argentina, whose Libertarian President Javier Milei is a Trump ally…. 

“Shadow Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois said: ‘Because of his strong personal bond with Mrs Thatcher, President Reagan ultimately backed Britain during the 1982 Falklands War. The fact the Americans could now even be contemplating something like this, shows just how far their relations have deteriorated…’ 

“Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has expressed doubt over whether the US would be ‘loyal’ to its NATO commitment to defend Europe in the event of a Russian attack, and called on the EU to become a ‘real alliance’ in protecting the continent… Tusk added that some countries in the US-led defence alliance ‘pretend[ed] that nothing happened’ when about 20 Russian drones violated Poland’s airspace last September.” 

“Falklands Left Without Key Air Defences” 

The Daily Mail wrote on April 25: 

“Ministers have been accused of downgrading air defences for the Falkland Islands – just as Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw his support for Britain’s sovereignty and Argentina is expanding its air force. Critics warn the islands will be without air-to-air refuelling capacity for the first time since the 1980s, when Margaret Thatcher  sent the Task Force to defeat Argentina. Saturday marked the 44th anniversary of British forces recapturing South Georgia… 

“RAF sources confirmed the sole Voyager refuelling aircraft based on the islands had been redeployed amid the Iran crisis. It potentially means RAF Typhoons could not do around-the-clock air patrols for the 1,600 mile round trip to South Georgia…. Buenos Aires is spending more than £220million on 24 refurbished F-16s fighter jets from the Danish air force, and seeking to procure two KC-135R Stratotankers from the US for air-to-air refuelling. 

“President Javier Milei has pledged to strengthen the nation’s military forces and, as part of his election campaign, stated his desire for Argentina to regain sovereignty of the Falklands. Tory Armed Forces spokesman Mark Francois said: ‘Withdrawing this tanker aircraft sends all the wrong signals, particularly in light of President Trump’s recent comments.’” 

Charles Answers Trump in Congress 

Politico wrote on April 28:

“British monarchs deliver their political messages in code — and the reference we just heard Charles make to 9/11 is worth unpacking. ‘In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, when NATO invoked Article 5 for the first time … we answered the call together, as our people have done so for more than a century, shoulder to shoulder,’ the king said.

“Make no mistake — this is a carefully targeted rebuff to Trump and his allies in Congress that, contrary to the president’s repeated claims over recent weeks, NATO was in fact there to help in America’s hour of need…

“The king went further still, linking that seminal moment in 2001 to the need to maintain Western unity in support of Ukraine as the war continues…

“The king is striking a very different tone from Trump’s incessant criticisms of Ukraine and its President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom Charles has met multiple times for private talks over the past few years. This passage is a direct plea to Trump and Hill Republicans to maintain American support against the Russian invasion.” 

Things Got Awkward

News.com.au wrote on April 29: 

“Things got awkward during King Charles and US President Trump’s first meeting of this royal visit, it has now been revealed… Buckingham Palace has released a statement after US President Donald Trump claimed that King Charles ‘agrees’ with him that Iran shouldn’t be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon… 

“‘The King is naturally mindful of his Government’s longstanding and well-known position on the prevention of nuclear proliferation,’ the spokesman said.” 

The visit of King Charles and his speech in Congress have been described as dignified and have been received with overwhelming support and respect. 

Europe Responds to Trump’s Threats 

t-online reported on April 25: 

“US President Donald Trump is apparently considering not only annexing Greenland to the United States but also suspending Spain’s membership in NATO. Furthermore, since the outbreak of the conflict with Iran, Trump has been highly critical of European NATO allies, accusing them of failing to support the United States. Additionally, the island of Cyprus—while situated in close proximity to the Middle East—is not a NATO member and would therefore be dependent on EU assistance in the event of war. The EU is thus vulnerable on multiple fronts. Consequently, the EU now intends to stand firm against any potential aggressors targeting its member states. The mutual assistance clause currently in force is set to be expanded…. As early as January, the EU clarified that, in the event of a violent conflict, Germany and other EU states would be obliged to provide assistance at Denmark’s request… 

“Article 42.7 is worded even more strictly than Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, under which it remains at the discretion of alliance members to decide how they will come to the aid of allies in the event of an attack. Moreover, were the United States to threaten Greenland, Denmark would be unable to invoke the NATO collective defense clause at all, as doing so would require the consent of the United States itself…. 

“A new formulation [of Article 42.7] is intended to effectively mandate that members come to the aid of any state under attack. Specifically, the newly worded paragraph states: ‘In the event of an armed attack on the territory of a Member State, the other Member States shall owe it all the aid and assistance in their power (…).'” 

Focus wrote on August 24: 

“[There is] fundamentally no procedure whatsoever that provides for sanctions—or even expulsion [from NATO]—in the event of undesirable behavior. Moreover, Spain is an important ally, and it is considered out of the question that European partners would assist the USA in pushing the country out of NATO.” 

Europe Must Act Without the USA 

Logos Press published on April 25 the following article by Joschka Fischer, German Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor from 1998 to 2005, and former leader of the German Green Party for almost 20 years: 

“Whether she is ready for it or not, Europe’s post-American future has already arrived. 

“What will Europe be like without the U.S. military and political presence? Europeans had better start preparing for this prospect, because it is no longer in doubt that U.S. President Donald Trump wants to end the North Atlantic Alliance and is well on his way to achieving this goal. The only question that remains is whether he will officially withdraw from NATO or simply devastate it with his disdain and contempt. In any case, the disintegration of the alliance has already begun. Long-standing and time-honored structures such as NATO do not usually collapse overnight or in a single act. Rather, they erode as confidence in their fundamental commitments – namely, mutual defense – wanes. This is precisely what is happening in President Trump’s second term, especially now that Europeans have abstained from participating in his disastrous war in the Middle East… 

“For reasons that are barely intelligible, [Trump and his MAGA movement] harbor a deep hostility to the EU and are intent on returning Europe to an era of self-destructive nationalism. This is a dangerously misguided goal, given that achieving it will ultimately make America itself much weaker and more isolated… 

“For the first time in eight decades, Europe will be left to its own devices. Europeans will have to decide their own fate and take responsibility for their own security. This might seem like a trivial remark if it were not for Europe’s uniquely bloody history. The U.S. withdrawal from the European theater of operations after World War I set the stage for Hitler’s rise to power and, ultimately, for World War II. Had the world’s leading military and economic power remained in Europe during the interwar years, German revanchism would have had no chance of success. It was this lesson that the World War II generation learned from the war and applied in the postwar period. U.S. President Harry S. Truman maintained a strong U.S. presence in Europe not only to counter the threat from Stalin’s Red Army – which stood in Berlin, the center of Europe – but also to allay European fears of German revanchism… It was America’s presence on the continent that allowed the eventual reunification of Germany and the eastward expansion of NATO and the EU. Without it, Europe as we know it would never have emerged. 

“So what does the post-American future hold for Europe? Will it be able to ensure its security and maintain its unity without the US? For Germany, which has its own history of hegemonic aspirations on the continent, America’s departure raises difficult questions… The growing popularity of the far-right Alternative for Germany party shows that nothing can be taken for granted. As for the question of who will lead Europe, there is no alternative to Germany and France… 

“The question arises: do the Americans realize that they are destroying the greatest diplomatic success in their history, as well as significantly weakening the foundation of American power and prosperity? There is no reason to believe that the U.S. can simply abandon its strategic partner without incurring any costs… The long period of American protectorate has come to an end under Trump, and it is not coming back. Europe must now chart its own course.” 

Is a Chancellor Swap Now Imminent? 

Nius reported on April 24: 

“The coalition’s disastrous policies have severely damaged Friedrich Merz’s reputation—both among the public and within his own party… A specific strategy is currently making the rounds: replacing Chancellor Friedrich Merz, modeled after the chancellor swap involving Willy Brandt and Helmut Schmidt (both SPD) in 1974. 

“At that time, the federal government was rocked by the scandal surrounding the spy in the Chancellor’s office, Günter Guillaume. Behind the scenes, however, the governing parties—the SPD and FDP—had long been exasperated and disillusioned by the Chancellor’s chaotic governing style, which was foreseeably leading toward electoral defeat. In the background, SPD parliamentary group leader Herbert Wehner was pulling the strings, ultimately pressuring Brandt to resign. When Merz was ousted by Merkel in 2002, there were reportedly quite a few members within the parliamentary group who were relieved that the chaos associated with their former leader had finally come to an end. 

“The immediate catalyst for the rumors regarding a potential replacement of Chancellor Merz stems from reports detailing the proceedings of the crisis meeting at Villa Bordig—a meeting in which the Union parties reportedly entered negotiations in a completely disorganized and chaotic manner… 

“Following the heavy losses in the Bavarian municipal elections and the most recent opinion polls in North Rhine-Westphalia… it is said that efforts to replace Merz have likely been underway behind the scenes for some time now… Merz is failing to deliver politically, and the Union cannot win elections with him at the helm. Within the leadership of the NRW Union, there is currently no doubt being left that the CDU’s slump in the polls—along with the seemingly unstoppable rise of the AfD—can be laid squarely at Merz’s doorstep.” 

“When Union parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn (CDU, North Rhine-Westphalia) spoke on Sunday of the federal government currently merely ‘managing decline,’ many strategists pricked up their ears. In such a scenario involving a change of Chancellor, Spahn would play a pivotal role. He would have to steer the Union parliamentary group through this reshuffle, rally them behind the transition, and command the trust of the new Chancellor. 

“The most uncertain variable in these speculative scenarios is the role of the SPD. Behind the scenes, they would have to be persuaded to support the transition—even though, at first glance, a stronger Union Chancellor would appear to offer no advantage to party leader Lars Klingbeil and his comrades… Above all, CSU leader Markus Söder is rumored to harbor the greatest ambitions in this scenario: specifically, to prevent the CDU—following the missteps involving Armin Laschet and Friedrich Merz—from sending a third unsuitable candidate into the Chancellery. Moreover, it is no secret that Söder has for some time now shown palpable frustration with the incompetence on display in Berlin. Even CDU members with a declared aversion to the CSU privately concede that Söder and his state leadership have demonstrated extreme professionalism in their political, logistical, and strategic planning. 

“…These deliberations regarding a minority government and a change of Chancellor underscore the growing desperation within the Union—not only among the party base but also within the ranks of party officials…” 

Spahn More Popular Than Merz 

Der Tagesspiegel wrote on April 25: 

“‘I have learned a great deal over the past twelve months’: Jens Spahn was considered a precarious candidate, yet now he is more popular than the Chancellor. 

“Publicly, Jens Spahn is a polarizing figure; internally, however, the Union parliamentary group leader has managed to consolidate his position. After a year fraught with crises, his re-election suddenly appears certain…” 

Also, AfD’s popularity has exceeded Merz’s party (CDU) by 5%. 

Europe Preparing for Nuclear War With Russia?

Natural News wrote on April 24: 

“France and Poland… are preparing joint military exercises that simulate both conventional and nuclear strikes against Russia and Belarus… President Emmanuel Macron’s push to extend France’s ‘nuclear umbrella’ over other European states, combined with Poland’s willingness to host French Rafale fighters armed with nuclear warheads, signals a fundamental shift in European security dynamics…

“The planned exercises represent a break from NATO’s traditional decision-making structure… It suggests that France and Poland are not simply acting within existing alliance frameworks but are forging a separate nuclear partnership capable of independent action… 

“Macron announced earlier this year ‘a new phase in French deterrence,’ a historic shift that would see other European countries play an enlarged role in what France calls forward deterrence. Cooperation includes Poland, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden… 

“Simultaneously, Finland’s parliament took up a bill to allow the import and storage of nuclear weapons on Finnish territory… The timing of these developments is not coincidental 

“Russia possesses approximately 7,000 nuclear warheads… France holds roughly 300… France and Poland are gambling that nuclear escalation will deter Russia rather than provoke it. History offers little comfort. Napoleon’s invasion of Russia ended with Russian troops occupying Paris in 1814. The same territories now hosting French nuclear fighters saw Russian soldiers march through their streets two centuries ago. Some lessons are slow to learn.” 

Hitler’s attack on Russia ended likewise in Germany’s defeat. 

Germany Stronger Because of Ukraine War 

RBC-Ukraine wrote on April 24: 

“Russia’s war in Ukraine has triggered an unprecedented surge in military technology development, with a pace that would have been impossible in peacetime, said German Chancellor Fredrich Merz at a press conference during a summit in Cyprus…. ‘We are witnessing military-technological development advancing at a speed that would not have happened without this war. And in that, despite all the tragedy of this war and the terrible pain, there is also a great opportunity that we will use,’ the Chancellor said… 

“Germany’s first-ever comprehensive military strategy… provides for large-scale reform of the Bundeswehr to transform it into the most powerful conventional army on the continent, capable of sustained defense…. Germany has significantly shifted its position on supplying weapons to Ukraine over the past two years… Germany had become one of the leading suppliers of armored vehicles, air defense systems, and ammunition, despite ongoing attempts by Russia to sow divisions within Europe.” 

Bavarian Premier Söder Calls for Compulsory Military Service 

Deutsche Welle reported on April 26: 

“Bavaria’s conservative State Premier Markus Söder has criticized the government’s plan to boost the number of people enlisting in the armed forces, saying that the only thing that will work is compulsory military service. ‘For us it’s very clear: If the Bundeswehr is to become the biggest army in Europe, then there’s no way around military service,’ Söder told Bild newspaper. 

“‘With volunteers alone we won’t achieve the necessary security our country needs. And security is the prerequisite for freedom,’ he said, adding: ‘That’s why military service needs to come as soon as possible.’” 

And sadly, it will. 

Israel Awaits Green Light From US to Resume War 

Focus reported on April 23: 

“According to Defense Minister Israel Katz, Israel is ‘ready to resume the war against Iran.’ Israel is awaiting a green light from the US, he said… The targets have already been identified. 

“The primary objective is to definitively dismantle ‘the Khamenei dynasty’ and to destroy key energy and power facilities, as well as the national economic infrastructure. Katz spoke of sending Iran ‘back to the Stone Age.'” 

Israel Owes A Lot of Money 

Calcalist wrote on April 29: 

“The Ministry of Defense owes the three major defense companies, Rafael, Israel Aerospace Industries, and Elbit Systems, an unprecedented sum of about NIS 13 billion ($4.3 billion)… Executives in the defense industries have expressed dissatisfaction with the continued practice of delayed payments… 

“The expansion of interceptor missile production earlier this year was made possible only after an exceptional commitment by Defense Ministry Director General Amir Baram, guaranteeing that the state would repay the company for the missiles ordered.” 

“Mocking God” 

The Christian Post wrote on April 22: 

“The official X account of Israel, which is run by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, promoted an upcoming four-day LGBTQ+ pride festival in June at the Dead Sea, which some detractors on social media noted is the traditional location of Sodom and Gomorrah. ‘Pride rises at the lowest place on earth,’ the Monday post read. ‘This June the Dead Sea becomes Pride Land, the biggest LGBTQ+ festival ever in the Middle East. Four days of nonstop celebration community and connection. Israel celebrates its LGBTQ+ community bigger than ever.’ 

“‘Pride Land,’ which is slated to celebrate LGBT behavior from June 1-4, will transform a part of the Judaean Desert near the Dead Sea into a 24-hour city with 15 hotels, beach facilities and a central performance arena that will host continuous entertainment from prominent Israeli performers… 

“The promotion of the event by Israel’s official X account prompted significant backlash on social media, including from Christians who saw the event’s location as an affront to God and a mockery of the Bible. Some users pointed out that the southern region of the Dead Sea has traditionally been considered the site of Sodom, Gomorrah and the other cities of the plain that God destroyed with fire and brimstone because of their rampant sexual perversion, according to Genesis 19… 

“The Pride Land event comes as Israel attempts to revitalize its flagging tourism amid the war against Iran and its proxies in the region…” 

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.

We live in a world of constant surveillance, where governments and companies constantly monitor our communications. They use this information in many ways; for example, knowing what we purchase can help with tailored advertising. Other information can help governments know who we will vote for (even though we in God’s Church should not vote in governmental elections). This is usually with the aim of knowing our future actions and possibly influencing them for some purpose, whether political or commercial. As an example, this information can be used in “Nudge Technology”, a system where people are nudged to vote a certain way or purchase a certain product, or even partake of a medical procedure like a vaccine, and believe that they are making a free will choice, because there may be no mandate or coercion, but the desired aim of the government or company  is still achieved.

But does God “figure out” what we will do by knowing what we have done in the past and assuming we will continue doing likewise in the future? Or is there much more involved?

For a start, what does God know? He reveals much about Himself in His Word, the Bible. But He does not reveal everything He knows to us. Deuteronomy 29:29 does inform us that there is a limit, for some reason: “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” But even so, there is a great amount revealed about God in His Word. Following is a short list of examples of God explaining His abilities and knowledge to give us some understanding of who and what God is.

God knows the names of all the stars; He knows all of them by name. Psalm 147:4 states: “He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name.” We, as humans, are very limited; we can count and name only a few stars. Even with the most powerful telescopes, the stars are uncountable, but since God, through Jesus Christ, created them all, for Him it takes no effort whatsoever to name them all. He does not have human limitations like we do. God compared the number of stars with the descendants of Abram in Genesis 15:5, “Then He brought him outside and said, ‘Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.’ And He said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’” In other words, a very great number. A number none of us can even comprehend. It could be approaching a billion people.

We read in Psalm 147:5: “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.” We humans have a very finite understanding, especially compared with God’s. In a similar expression in Psalm 145:3 and Isaiah 40:28, God’s understanding is translated from another Hebrew word as “unsearchable”. But basically, it means “beyond our understanding” or “without limit”. God’s understanding and knowledge are even greater than that of the angels. 1 Peter 1:12 informs us that there are things that angels want to look into: “To them [the prophets of old] 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.”

And how is God affected by time? This is described in Isaiah 57:15: “For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’” We inhabit the present time and do not know what the future will bring precisely, although biblical prophecy does give us an indication of events that will occur in the future. As for what happened in the past before we were born, we only know what others have told us. However God, inhabiting eternity, is not limited in any way by time. He knows everything that has happened. We will discuss later whether He also knows everything that will happen.

God, of course, has the ability to cause future events to occur, as is stated in Isaiah 46:9-11, “Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’ Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.”

This man is understood to be king Cyrus of Persia, and in Isaiah 44:28, he was prophesied to rebuild Jerusalem and lay the foundation of the temple: “…Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”’” This prophecy was written long before Cyrus was even born, and God still used his future name. It was written about 150 – 200 years before it was fulfilled. So this example shows God knows or directs future events; in this case, it was God’s purpose to use king Cyrus to fulfill one aspect of His Will, so this is a matter of declaring a future event from an earlier time.

Another prophecy in which God gave the name of a future king is in 1 Kings 13:1-2: “And behold, a man of God went from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD, and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. Then he cried out against the altar by the word of the LORD, and said, ‘O altar, altar! Thus says the LORD: “Behold, a child, Josiah by name, shall be born to the house of David; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and men’s bones shall be burned on you.”’” This prophecy was spoken between 270 and 290 years before the event prophesied occurred. Again, this shows God can declare future events that will fulfill His purpose, from the time many years earlier.

God also compares our way of thinking with His way. This is stated in Isaiah 55:8-9: “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.’” No matter how much we think we know, God knows so much more, and He uses this example comparing the height of the heavens with our life on the earth. The actual extent of the heavens is limitless if we want to believe astronomers, but there is a physical limit as to how far we can see into the universe, due to its supposed age and the speed of light. We have no idea what is outside of that limit.

If we ask, “How old is God?”, we find the answer in Job 36:26, “Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him; Nor can the number of His years be discovered.” At some time in the past, as we understand time, God created time for us to live in as human beings. But God already existed before there was any time.

Another mention of God’s knowledge is in Job 37:16, “Do you know how the clouds are balanced, Those wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge?” Using the word “perfect” is a superlative. There is nothing better than perfect. God has so much knowledge that He even knows the hairs on the heads of all His servants (Matthew 10:30). To us, this appears impossible, but God, being a Spirit being, does not have any physical limitations like we have, and so He knows all that He wants to know. But, as we will see later, He is still learning when considering human conduct.

When did God choose whom He would call to be members of His Church and hence first fruits? This is answered in Ephesians 1:3-4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…” Commentaries generally state, and the Church of the Eternal God teaches, that the expression “chosen us” refers to individuals, not the Church as an entity. It includes Paul himself and Jews and Gentiles present at Ephesus at that time. It is the same Greek word used when Christ chose His disciples individually. It is used in the book of Acts when specific persons were chosen for specific tasks. Similarly, “before the foundation of the world” implies this choice was made before the world was made or before the work of creation.

Therefore, God knew before He created the world whom He would choose individually out of the population living at Ephesus at the time Paul preached there. This logically implies that God knew everyone He would call in the history of the world before He created the world. Many in the Church of God in the past have tried to minimize or generalize this fact, teaching that God would raise up a Church or that God would just call a number of some unidentified and unknown individuals at a given time, but as the commentaries point out and as many other Scriptures prove, the biblical meaning that God knew which individuals He would call before the world was created is the true meaning of this passage.

There are some passages indicating that God in some cases does not hear. This is stated in John 9:31, “Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.” And also in Psalm 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” This is not stating that God is unable to hear or is deaf, but the sense is that God will not listen and respond favorably to a person of iniquity when he or she prays. In actual fact, God hears everything, but only chooses to respond to things that are within His purpose.

This is explained again in Isaiah 59:1-2, “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” Most translations replace “hear” with “listen,” indicating God can hear the sounds we make as we pray, but He will refuse or choose not to listen to the substance of the prayer, and He will therefore not respond to our prayers if we are rebellious and full of sin which we are unwilling to overcome.

This issue of God hearing and not hearing is due to the fact that there are different ways a Greek or Hebrew word can be translated into English. The Hebrew for “hear” is translated in over twenty ways in the Old Testament depending on context. The Greek in the New Testament is translated in fewer ways but still with variations. This is explained effectively in “The New Analytical Greek Lexicon”, where we read “hear” can also be translated as: to hearken, listen to, to heed, to obey, to understand, to take in or admit to mental acceptance. So God will hear the words but may not accept and act on them.

So, the question needed to be answered is, what does God not know about us and what does He need to learn? This will explain to an extent whether God knows what we will do in the future.

God tests us to see if we will obey Him, an early example being Exodus 16:4-5, “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.’” Thus, God was finding whether the people would obey His instructions that He had given before the Ten Commandments were again formalized and given to the people.

The Ten Commandments had been given to mankind before, at the time of Adam and Eve’s creation, but the Israelites, being enslaved in Egypt, had forgotten most, if not all of them.

(To Be Continued)

Lead Writers: Paul Niehoff (Australia) and Norbert Link

compiled by Dave Harris

“God’s Warnings and Task for President Trump,” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

President Trump has survived at least three assassination attempts. Each one could have been fatal. God has given Trump several warnings. He has set Trump aside to carry out an important prophetic task. But what if he refuses to do so and does not repent of his pride and his blasphemous conduct?

“Gottes Warnungen und Auftrag an Präsident Trump,” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.

We are very pleased to announce the recent baptism of three people: Louis Pare (Germany); Natalia Lis (Germany); and Gideon Rank (United States). CONGRATULATIONS!

“Gründe für Prüfungen,” is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon, presented by Michael Link. Title in English: “Reasons for Trials.”

“Der bittere Weg des Menschen und Gottes Alternative” last Sabbath’s first split sermon presented in Germany by Andreas Rätz, is now posted. Title in English: “The Bitter Path of Man and God’s Alternative.”

“Gehen Sie nicht bei Rot über die Strasse,” last Sabbath’s second split sermon presented in German by Johann Schell, is now posted. Title in English: : “Do Not Cross the Street on Red.”

“Reasons for Trials,” last Sabbath’s first split sermon presented by Michael Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

A follow-up to the message “Keep Going” given on April 18, 2026. What are our initial reactions when we are faced with trials? Is there a purpose behind them? Focusing on Paul, how did he react to his many trials and what was his motivation? How can we relate?

“When Is God Glorified?” last Sabbath’s second split sermon presented by Kalon Mitchell, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Christians are to glorify God. How does this work? How are we doing in bringing glory to God?