Update 1216

On July 25, 2026, Kalon Mitchell will present the sermonette, titled, “How Much Fruit Are You Bearing?”, and Michael Link will give the sermon, titled, “Forging Ahead.”

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

The closer you are to God, the more immediately He can respond to any issue or trials you may be going through. Peter’s example of walking on water is evidence of this. We read in Matthew 14:28-31: “And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ So He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’”

Even though Peter began to sink, he was already so close to Christ that He reached out and saved him from drowning. 

It is important for us to remain close to God in order to get such a response when facing trials or imminent danger. Prayer is one tool given to us by God to achieve such a state. We read about Christ getting up early and going to a quiet place to pray. “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed” (Mark 1:35).

He did this to remain close to his Father, the Most High God. We have other examples of God’s servants who prayed regularly to maintain close contact with God. Daniel 6:10 tells us: “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed [prohibiting to pray to God], he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.”

Notice, this was his daily habit since early days. 

With all the distractions in this day and age, we must not neglect to follow the examples left to us in the Bible for our own good. 1 Thessalonians  5:17 encourages us to “pray without ceasing.” This is an admonishment to persist in prayer even when it is not answered immediately by God. 

Certain frustration may set in when prayers are not answered in what we may feel is an adequate time. In some cases, they may not be answered in the way we want them to, as shown in Paul’s request to be healed by what appears to be some eye issue.  What did Christ say to him? “Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9). 

So, the reality is we may not get the answer we expect now; and when it comes to healing, some of us may have to wait until the resurrection for God to fulfill His promise of healing. That doesn’t mean we should ask God for healing once and not ask again. Rather, we should be persistent as shown in the parable below.

Luke 18:1-6 reads:  “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: ‘There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, “Get justice for me from my adversary.” And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, “Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.” Then the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unjust judge said.’””

Furthermore, when praying about someone, we should continue until God heals them or until He makes it clear that He will not do so in this life, as He did in the case of the Apostle Paul. 

Prayer is a powerful tool we have in order to maintain a close relationship with God; so let us ensure we are not letting down in this important area of our lives.

By Norbert Link

We begin by reporting on Britain’s new Prime Minister Andy Burnham who attacked right away Margaret Thatcher and received praise from Donald Trump; continue with our coverage on the horrible continuation and totally insane spreading of the Iran war; and speak on Trump’s primary address which constituted a wasted opportunity.

We address at length the downfall of one of Germany’s leading politicians, if not the most powerful politician, Jens Spahn, but it would be premature to conclude that his downfall is permanent. “Deadly wounds” can be healed. In fact, Spahn’s incredible pride and his past scandals mirror those of Donald Trump. 

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “The Downfall of Germany’s Most Powerful Politician.”

Speaking of Trump, we report on his effort to destroy the World Cup, showing his blatant arrogance again, and conclude with FIFA’s hypocrisy and that of Trump’s buddy, FIFA’s President Gianni Infantino.

PM Andy Burnham Attacks Margaret Thatcher

Fox News wrote on July 18:

“Britain’s… Prime Minister Andy Burnham [who was sworn in on Monday]  used his first speech as Labour leader Friday to condemn the economic model established in the 1980s by Margaret Thatcher and promise greater public control of essential services… [He] said that Britain had taken ‘a series of wrong turns in the 1980s,’ when political power was centralized and economic power was transferred to private companies. … Burnham’s speech offered the clearest indication yet that the former Greater Manchester mayor intends to move the party… toward greater state ownership, expanded council and social housing, giving more power to regional government and increased state involvement in essential services…

“Although he did not explicitly advocate returning Britain to the 1970s or refer to the late Lady Thatcher by name, free-market critics portrayed his attack on her reforms as an effort to revive the state-dominated economic policies that preceded her government…. The ideological shift presents an immediate political gamble. Burnham must unite Labour’s competing factions, reassure financial markets and respond to Reform UK’s growing challenge — all while taking office without winning a national election.”

The Telegraph wrote on July 20:

“Burnham’s attack on Thatcher ignores the rot she inherited, and the transformation delivered. [The new] Labour leader’s premise is profoundly misleading, and a familiar Left-leaning narrative…”

Attacking Thatcher will not fly too well for many Brits.

Trump Praises Burnham!

The Sun wrote on July 19:

“DONALD Trump has branded the UK a ‘poverty-stricken disaster’as he praised Andy Burnham over reported plans to open new North Sea oil drilling… In a Truth Social post the US president said: ‘The People of Aberdeen, in Scotland, are dancing in the streets because the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has stated that he will be opening up, all the way, the invaluable North Sea Oil!’

“Trump described drilling the North Sea as ‘one of the Greatest Sources of quality Oil on Earth’. The commander-in-chief also said the drilling would be an economic boost for Brits. He added: ‘Britain pays Norway Billions of Dollars a year to buy its Oil, which they get from a less valuable part of the North Sea. How ridiculous is that!’..

“Going ahead with drilling would also go against Labour’s 2024 manifesto, under Sir Keir Starmer, which pledged not to issue new licences but to honour existing ones.”

Church of England Debates Israel

The Jerusalem Post wrote on July 13:

“The Church of England’s General Synod on Monday voted overwhelmingly in favor of a motion to ‘hear’ a Palestinian Christian text that describes the State of Israel as ‘a colonial enterprise built on racism.’

“The General Synod is the national assembly and legislative body of the Church of England. It is the only body alongside the UK Parliament empowered to pass national laws for England, and is responsible for setting church budgets and shaping doctrine…

“The Synod ran out of time before the motion could be put to a vote. It will return to the agenda at the next Synod in November. The debate itself, however, showcased multiple conflicting perspectives…”

Fighting With No End

Fortune wrote on July 18:

“Iran just crossed Trump’s red line for resuming all-out war as fighting continues to escalate with no end in sight.”

The President of Iran has stated that total war has begun.

Trump’s Useless Attacks

Politico wrote on July 22:

“Trump’s air war in Iran may be reaching its limits. President Donald Trump is trying to put more pressure on Tehran — but the regime isn’t budging, so far, and there’s no clear endgame for the war.”

Politico explained that air wars have never led to a successful conclusion of a war.

Hiding True Numbers of Wounded US Soldiers

Daily Mail wrote on July 20:

“Dozens of US troops were wounded in three Iranian strikes in Jordan that the Pentagon kept quiet in the week before Friday’s attack that killed two American soldiers and left one missing. [Another American soldier was killed in northern Iraq on Saturday during the controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.]

“The attacks damaged multiple American helicopters and were never publicly disclosed,… US Central Command (CENTCOM) said last week it was retaliating against Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, never mentioning the strikes on American troops in Jordan. The discrepancy exposes the tension between what the Pentagon says it must keep secret to protect operational security and its obligation to keep the public informed about the war. 

“CENTCOM is not required to release information about injured troops. … Spokesman Sean Parnell dismissed claims of a cover-up as ‘baseless and malicious’’. Trump’s confrontation with Iran is spiraling toward a far wider conflict as American deaths climb…”

All the American propaganda cannot hide the fact that the war spins out of control and HAS BEEN LOST! According to Iran, the USA has lost 40 soldiers and 400 helicopters in the war.

What Americans Should Not Know

The Jerusalem Post wrote on July 20:

“The Trump administration has… failed to report the cost of weapons used against Iran, and how the regime has retained and rebuilt its current missile capabilities… Last month, wounded US soldiers also told CBS that their injuries were more severe than had been designated by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth…  

“Sergeant First Class Cory Hicks was one of the dozens hurt in the strike in Kuwait that killed six soldiers. He suffered severe shrapnel wounds and underwent emergency surgeries in Kuwait. A US Army official had told his wife that his injuries were ‘minor,’ he told CBS. CBS cited Hicks as saying that he ‘absolutely’ believed that the Pentagon has tried to downplay the incident.”

Cost of War

ABC News wrote on July 21:

“Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told congressmembers on Capitol Hill that the war in Iran has cost the U.S. $37.5 billion so far.”

Hegseth is currently asking for a historic $1.5 trillion defense budget. He said that without those funds, “we face critical shortfalls.”

The Houthis Block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait

CNBC wrote on July 20:

“Houthi militants in Yemen on Monday declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia effective immediately, threatening to exacerbate the oil supply disruption triggered by Iran’s attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

“The Houthis have repeatedly threatened to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait during the U.S.-Iran war. The strait is a choke point for commercial ship traffic that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and global markets.

“The Saudis have diverted millions of barrels of oil per day through a pipeline to an export terminal on the Red Sea. Those exports have acted as a crucial relief valve for global oil markets during the U.S.-Iran war….”

Reuters added on July 20:

“Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis said on Monday they were imposing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, a move that opens a new front against the United States in its war on Iran and widens the threat to global energy supplies and trade beyond the Gulf…

“The full closure of the Bab el-Mandeb strait would reduce global oil supply by 7% as it would leave most of Saudi oil exports unable to leave the region. The disruption would add to the massive cut to global oil flows from the war in the Gulf, which has already reduced shipments by 10% of global supply.”

Deadly Iran War Continues and Spreads…

Daily Mail wrote on July 17:

“Iran has told its citizens to turn off their air conditioning during peak hours as the country’s power grid came under strain amid US strikes… Donald Trump ordered the US military to hit Iranian bridges throughout coastal cities along the Strait of Hormuz… Trump has threatened to broaden the campaign to Iran’s power plants and bridges unless Tehran returns to talks…

“The conflict spiraled last night as Iran targeted Kuwait’s drinking water and power plants with drones and missiles after Trump caused widespread chaos throughout Iran with devastating attacks on their bridges and airports.

“Kuwait is an oil-rich desert nation where everyday life depends on desalination plants, which produce about 90 percent of the country’s drinking water by converting seawater from the Gulf… Kuwait’s government has urged residents to ration electricity to ease strain on the national grid during the height of summer, as soaring temperatures push demand to its annual peak…

“The renewed fighting has been deadly, killing at least 30 people since last week, while oil prices have spiked sharply.”

This is total insanity. Ungodly men do NOT know the way of peace.

Trump’s Illegal Threats

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 22:

“US President Donald Trump has issued a social media post threatening that the US will start striking Iranian infrastructure in response to future attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. ‘From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT, including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of Tehran,’ Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. 

“Targeting key civilian infrastructure, such as power generation systems or bridges, is deemed a war crime in international humanitarian law, as is deliberately targeting civilian or commercial shipping.”

Oil Prices Have Rocketed

Daily Mail wrote on July 22:

“Oil prices have rocketed to their highest level in more than a month after Marco Rubio warned the US would keep striking Iranfor as long as it throttles the Strait of Hormuz… Energy markets were being squeezed on three fronts as chaos hit the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea and the Black Sea.

“At least two oil tankers bound for the Bab al-Mandeb chokepoint in the Red Sea turned back overnight after Iran-backed Houthi rebels threatened to blockade Saudi Arabia, choking a route that handled 12 percent of global oil flows before the war. Ukrainian attacks on Russian shipping have meanwhile disrupted a third artery, with a key Black Sea terminal halting deliveries of Kazakh oil after strikes on tankers.”

This world is doomed.

“Trump Reality Check Reveals Devastating Record of Damage”

Focus wrote on July 22:

“In a democracy, those in power should do what they say. Donald Trump has violated this principle, as a reality check shows. The US President’s record of damage is devastating… He has violated the supreme principle of democracy—telling the people what you think and doing what you say—in five key areas…

“His promise sounded alluring: ‘From this day forward, our country will flourish again and be respected throughout the world,’ he had promised at the start of his second term… A year and a half later, Trump is a man without friends. He has fallen out with his immediate neighbors—Mexicans and Canadians. He has snubbed his NATO partners to such an extent that some are no longer willing to share their intelligence with the Pentagon… There is no longer a ‘Trump camp’ in Europe that he could rely on. His last friend, Viktor Orbán in Hungary, was voted out of office. The ‘Trump perfume’ no longer seemed alluring, but rather repulsive—like the secretions of a polecat…

“In his inaugural address, he promised: ‘I will instruct all members of my cabinet to fight record-high inflation and rapidly lower costs and prices’… Since that statement, inflation has risen from three percent to a peak of 4.2 percent in May 2026, and currently stands at 3.5 percent… prices… in Trump’s USA [continue] to rise unabated. For instance, the price of ground meat has risen by 24 percent since he took office. Orange juice: up nine percent. Gasoline: up 31 percent. Electricity: up six percent. Milk: up 7.5 percent…

“[Another statement:] ‘Jobs and factories will come roaring back to our country.’… Industrial jobs shrank from 19.6 million in June 1979 to 12.6 million in June 2026—a decline of 36 percent. This process was not reversed during his second term but continued. Another 75,000 blue-collar jobs were lost…

“At the ‘Liberation Day’ event in the White House Rose Garden, Trump was still confident: ‘It is up to us to prosper, using trillions of dollars to cut our taxes and pay down our national debt. And it will all happen very quickly.’… The only thing that happened quickly during his second term was the accumulation of debt. During his second term, he drove the debt level up from the $36 trillion seen in the final year of Joe Biden’s presidency to a [projected] $45 trillion in 2029… [For] the first time in over a century, the USA no longer holds a triple-A rating from any of the major agencies. Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase—the world’s most powerful banker—said earlier this week that he could not currently recommend buying long-term US government bonds. Yet, reluctance to buy drives up interest rate premiums—and with them, US debt…

“In his inaugural address, he promised: ‘We will measure our success not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars we end—and perhaps most importantly: by the wars we are not drawn into in the first place.’… After 547 days in office, the conclusion is clear: Trump has caused explosions and clashes in every direction. Above all, the war against Iran that he initiated and the threats issued against the civilian population will… be remembered… There are no signs of a quick end to the war—and thus a normalization of energy prices.

“Bottom line: American democracy cannot be satisfied with this record of damage. While the president provides a daily spectacle for the media, he is not delivering to his citizens what he promised them…”

And so, Trump has already completely destroyed American democracy.

Trump’s Address a Wasted Opportunity

The New York Post Editorial Board wrote on July 17:

“Election security is a legitimate issue, but President Donald Trump’s primetime speech on the issue was a dud that won’t even help pass the SAVE Act that aims to address the problem. And even most Americans who share his concerns would’ve preferred to hear more about the economy or the war. Trump himself didn’t seem to have his heart in it. His points didn’t always hit home, either: The Chinese have gathered more than 200 million voter files? OK, but what can they do with the info? It ‘includes names, addresses, phone numbers, political party preferences,’ the president reports. But much of that is available in the phone book, and more can be purchased from a host of sources. And if he’s that upset about it, shouldn’t he be raising hell with his Xi Jinping?

“Our electoral system has major vulnerabilities: States like California have gone bananas regarding how they distribute, collect and count ballots; many fail to prune their rolls of people who’ve died or moved away. But there’s still no hard evidence of voter fraud extensive enough to make a difference in any election, barring a very few extremely local races.

“We too favor tighter election protocols, voter-ID laws and other provisions of the SAVE Act, but Republicans don’t have the votes to get it through the Senate and they won’t get them anytime soon. Most important: Election security is nowhere near the top of the list of America’s priorities right now.

“The public’s attention, even to our president, is a limited commodity. A major address demands a major issue, and rehashing horror stories about changes to Michigan voter-registration rules in 2020 ain’t it. In less than four months, Americans will decide what the last two years of Trump’s presidency are going to be about: Growing the economy and creating peace — or impeachment, investigation and socialism.

“If you don’t put that choice front-and-center, Mr. President, the GOP won’t win even if they’re the safest elections ever.”

It seems Trump is totally out of touch with reality and the concerns of the American people. It is hard to see how Republicans could win the midterm elections.

Trump Starts New Trade War With Canada

NPR wrote on July 21:

“President Donald Trump on Monday imposed 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods, declaring that Canada has unfairly discriminated against American autos, alcohol and dairy products. The move could unleash a new wave of economic chaos, with risks of higher inflation and further fraying of relations between two nations that had been closely woven together before Trump’s return to the White House. The administration official previewing the action said that Canada was one of the only nations other than China that retaliated against Trump’s previous tariffs and must be held accountable….

“The new tariffs carry serious political and economic risks for Trump ahead of the November midterm elections for control of Congress. His ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs last year in April provoked a financial market meltdown over concerns about inflation and a recession, prompting him to walk back the rates for a period of negotiation. The Supreme Court ruled this February that Trump had lacked the legal authority to impose the tariffs by declaring an economic emergency, causing the administration to find alternative ways to raise import taxes based on a series of legal authorities…

“The president maintains that the costs created by tariffs will cause manufacturing to relocate to the U.S., though there is little evidence of that in the economic data. The new 50% tariffs would exclude energy products, potash, fish and critical minerals, but they would include goods that had previously been protected from import taxes by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. That 2020 trade pact was not renewed by the U.S.”

Total stupidity… Donald Trump… the modern King Midas In Reverse! Trump has now announced that higher tariffs will also be enforced against 60 countries, including members of the EU.

Trump’s Dangerous Arrangements With Saudi Arabia

The Associated Press wrote on July 22:

“President  Donald Trump has approved an agreement with Saudi Arabia that could potentially provide the kingdom with uranium enrichment capability for its civilian nuclear program… The deal is expected to last 30 years and is also expected to involve U.S. firms in developing the program. The deal could allow for the building of a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia… But the deal, which is expected to be submitted to Congress for review, could face headwinds among lawmakers who fear that helping the Saudis fulfill their long-standing desire to enrich their own uranium would open new rounds of nuclear proliferation and competition.”

The New York Times wrote on July 22:

“The agreement will require review by Congress, which under the Atomic Energy Act has the power to vote a resolution of disapproval. But as a practical matter, the agreement would likely pass, because Congress would have to assemble a veto-proof [two-thirds] majority to override Mr. Trump’s initiative.

“Nonetheless, debate over the accord is likely to be fierce. To get the deal done with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country’s 40-year-old de facto leader, Mr. Trump had to agree to terms that may limit international inspectors from going to any sites in the country that they think could be a pathway to diverting fuel to weapons projects..

“Prince Mohammed has vowed he would build nuclear weapons if Iran does so, even insisting in one interview he would do so ‘without a doubt.’”

Saudi Arabia will become a fierce enemy of Israel… and possibly the USA. Following the uproar, Trump suddenly announced for the first time that Saudi-Arabia has to first improve its relationship with Israel and become a member of the Abraham Accords. This will not happen.

Jens Spahn’s Controversy and Hypocrisy

Deutsche Welle reported on July 17:

“Conservative politician Jens Spahn and his husband have announced that they have become parents with the help of a surrogate mother in the US… The news has sparked a political debate because such a procedure would be prohibited in Germany.

“A surrogate mother makes her body available to carry a baby to term and is typically paid for doing so. Spahn’s party, the center-right CDU… is staunchly opposed to making this legal in Germany. As recently as February 2026, the party passed a resolution reiterating this at their federal party convention. ‘In light of ethical, legal and practical concerns regarding surrogacy, the CDU of Germany reaffirms its demand that surrogacy — including altruistic models — remain prohibited in Germany in order to prevent abuse, exploitation and health risks,’ read the resolution.

“Jens Spahn, Germany’s former federal Health Minister and currently leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag, was present at the convention. At the time, a surrogate mother based in the US, was already pregnant with the child of Daniel Funke, Spahn’s husband.

“Spahn and his husband don’t have to fear legal consequences. Surrogacy is not prohibited in the US. In Germany, only the doctors and intermediaries involved would be liable to prosecution. It is not illegal in Germany to raise a child who was born abroad to a surrogate mother.

“Throughout his career, Spahn has consistently expressed criticism of surrogacy. In 2015, he told GQ magazine: ‘As a gay man and a Christian, I personally find it very difficult to come to terms with the idea of a “rented womb.”’… In 2020, the opposition neoliberal FDP… sought to initiate a debate on liberalizing Germany’s surrogacy laws, when Spahn was health minister. He opposed the move, citing the CDU’s familiar arguments, but also arguing that surrogacy could lead to ‘particular difficulties in the child’s sense of identity.’ Now, he stands accused of double standards…

“The 46-year-old has weathered plenty of scandals in the past. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was responsible for the overpriced purchase of protective masks, which later led to legal disputes with suppliers worth billions. Although the scandal continues to haunt Spahn to this day, he has remained politically influential.”

Spahn—the “I-First” Man!

Bild Online published the following commentary on July 16:

“There is nothing right about it when one of the leading politicians and power brokers of the Chancellor’s party circumvents German law while abroad—law that he himself—most recently as Health Minister in 2020—actively denied to all Germans: surrogacy…

“For Jens Spahn, it is about Jens Spahn. HE is fulfilling HIS dream by circumventing—legally, yes—HIS German law. Why? Because he can—and because he can afford it. Spahn’s message of hypocrisy: ‘The law applies to you. I circumvent it—I.'”

Did Spahn learn this kind of arrogance from Trump?

Spahn No Longer Tenable

On July 16, Nius published the following commentary:

“Morality ends where double standards begin… As the most powerful Union politician in the legislature, Spahn has become untenable in his office due to this maneuver. This is not a case of accidental drunk driving or a speeding violation; rather, it is a blatant disregard for the law that makes his conduct—and his continued tenure in this post—completely unacceptable…”

Jens Spahn’s End?

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 18:

“Jens Spahn, the parliamentary leader of the ruling conservative bloc in the Bundestag [the CDU], stepped down on Saturday amid a controversy surrounding his decision to have a child via surrogacy…

“This is not the first time Spahn has faced controversy. As Germany’s COVID-era health minister, Spahn was investigated for alleged misuse of public money. However, state prosecutors dropped their investigation into his COVID-era dealings in March. Spahn was seen as a rising star in the conservative bloc, having been re-elected leader of the parliamentary group with 85% of the vote in May.”

However, Spahn was never liked by many in his own party, nor by the nation as a whole. He survived numerous scandals. To count him out now would be clearly premature.

ntv wrote on July 19:

“Spahn acted exactly as one would expect from someone like him: he confirmed judgments and prejudices about career politicians—ranging from dishonesty to hypocrisy and double standards. Instead of informing his party early on that he—and his husband—were becoming fathers with the help of an American woman, he allowed the CDU to reaffirm its opposition to surrogacy at the party conference in February. It was outrageous to leave his own party looking so foolish. Yet Spahn clung to the CDU/CSU parliamentary group leadership even as anger within the CDU erupted with unprecedented intensity. Not even the deputy chair of a local chapter with a handful of members came to his public defense—he is completely discredited.

“Spahn’s behavior demonstrated a level of selfishness and arrogance that was bound to shock the party. His resignation did not stem primarily from an acknowledgment of his questionable conduct, but rather from immense pressure coming from all levels of the CDU. Reportedly, Spahn was still intent on retaining the parliamentary group leadership as late as Saturday morning. It was CDU Chairman and Chancellor Friedrich Merz who persuaded him to resign…”

Spahn: Germany’s Most Unpopular Politician

Nius reported on July 20:

“Even more unpopular than the Chancellor: Following the surrogacy scandal involving Jens Spahn, the CDU politician has slipped to last place in the INSA politician rankings… In the survey, 62 percent expressed a negative view of Spahn; Friedrich Merz received the same score. The Sauerland native leads Spahn only in terms of approval ratings: 15 percent expressed a positive view of the Chancellor, compared to just ten percent for Spahn…

“The top rankings, however, remain unchanged. Germany’s most popular politician remains—undisputed—SPD Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. He is followed in second and third place by the new Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg, Cem Özdemir, and North Rhine-Westphalia Minister-President Hendrik Wüst… the popularity of AfD leader Alice Weidel continues to rise. She has swapped places with Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder, moving from fifth to fourth.”

Spahn’s Successor… Not Without Controversy

ntv reported on July 22:

“Thorsten Frei, Head of the Chancellery, is set to succeed Jens Spahn—who has stepped down—as leader of the Union parliamentary group. CDU and CSU leaders Friedrich Merz and Markus Söder officially nominated the 52-year-old today. All 208 MPs were subsequently informed via text message. They will decide on the appointment during a special session next Wednesday.”

Bild Online wrote on July 22:

“The Magdeburg-based Volksstimme views the nomination of Thorsten Frei (52, CDU) as the new leader of the Union parliamentary group critically. In a commentary, the newspaper writes that Frei—during his time as Minister of the Chancellery—was ‘dangerously close to being the wrong person for the job.’ The Baden-Württemberg native is held responsible for too many communication and coordination mishaps within the federal government. The Volksstimme explains Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s (70, CDU) decision to back Frei primarily by citing his loyalty. Unlike Jens Spahn (46, CDU), Frei is considered an ‘unreservedly loyal confidant of Merz.’ This is precisely what makes him the Chancellor’s preferred candidate. The newspaper emphasizes that this personnel decision cannot be seen as a major breakthrough or a liberating move for the government….

“According to the Handelsblatt, the nomination of Thorsten Frei (52, CDU) as the new leader of the Union parliamentary group is viewed with reservations in some quarters of the Union. In a commentary, the Düsseldorf-based business newspaper writes that, for some Union MPs, his close proximity to Chancellor Friedrich Merz (70) is now seen ‘not as an asset, but as a liability’….

“Journalist Ulf Poschardt (59) of the daily newspaper Die Welt… has criticized the nomination of Thorsten Frei (52) as the new leader of the Union parliamentary group. Writing on X, Poschardt stated that with this personnel decision, the Union is adhering to a ‘status quo logic’ when a ‘revolutionary logic’ is actually what is needed. Commenting on the agreement reached by CDU leader Friedrich Merz (70) and CSU leader Markus Söder (59) to appoint Frei as Spahn’s successor, Poschardt concluded: ‘The Union is beyond help.’”

It truly is. But what (or who) will come next?

How Trump Destroyed World Cup Soccer

Deutsche Welle wrote on July 20:

“‘Trump cast a shadow over the entire tournament, weaponizing it for domestic political purposes, regardless of whether he showed up at matches in person,’ Jules Boykoff, a professor in the Politics and Government Department at Pacific University in the US state of Oregon, told DW…. Such unprecedented and direct political intervention… drew scorn and fury from most of the rest of the world — with politicians, football federations, fans and coaches all piling on to criticize. But that won’t bother Trump, Boykoff said.

“‘Based on his actions, Trump does not appear to care much about what the rest of the world thinks of him. His anti-immigration policies stained the World Cup and undercut FIFA’s slogan that ‘Football Unites the World.’ Trump used the tournament to further fracture the world while stoking his base’s worst instincts ahead of the midterm elections,’ he said.”

Trump only cares about himself.

Trump’s Incredible Arrogance

Die Welt wrote on July 20:

“Then, finally, the big moment after 104 matches at the XXL World Cup: Trump and [FIFA President Gianni] Infantino [Trump’s “buddy”] presented the trophy to Spain’s captain, Rodri. Infantino stepped away from the stage, intending to leave the spotlight to the Spaniards. But he hadn’t reckoned with the US President—Trump simply stayed put. Infantino tried to get the 80-year-old to follow him, but without success. So, the FIFA President hurried back to Trump and positioned himself a meter away from the action. Trump spoke briefly with Rodri and then moved aside—by a mere meter. Yet, as the captain hoisted the trophy high, the US President was still standing right there in the huddle of players. In doing so, he ensured his presence in the World Cup victory photos.

“Trump and Infantino were booed by large sections of the crowd.”

The booing was more than justified. Ironically, the Spanish football federation and FIFA excluded Donald Trump from the official World Cup celebration pictures shared on social media.

Corrupt FIFA over Falkland

BBC wrote on July 17:

“The White House has defended the Argentinian football team’s right to free speech after they controversially waved a banner in support of their country’s territorial claim to the Falkland Islands while celebrating their World Cup win against England… The Falklands, a British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean, remains the subject of a sovereignty dispute between the UK and Argentina. Players for Argentina held a banner after Wednesday’s semi-final match reading ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’, which translates as ‘The Falklands are Argentine’.Speaking to reporters on Friday, Giuliani referenced free speech protections in the US Constitution, saying: ‘We believe in our First Amendment rights here in the United States of America’ [Really? So, why were Iranian soccer players not allowed to say anything critical of the USA or in support of Iran?]…

“For its part, the government of the Falkland Islands said it was ‘disappointed but not surprised’ about the banner and it hopes Fifa will ‘sanction all behaviour of this nature in line with its own rules’… Argentina players also sang chants which referenced the Falklands …

“A brief but bitter war arose between Britain and Argentina over the territory in 1982. A British military task force ejected Argentine forces, who had landed on the Falklands to stake a territorial claim. The 74-day conflict led to the deaths of 255 British military personnel, three islanders and 649 Argentine soldiers.”

Giuliani and the White House are such hypocrites. FIFA’s own rules state (not that they are necessarily being adhered to by FIFA):

“FIFA’s regulations strictly prohibit all political, religious, and personal statements, slogans, or imagery during official matches. Governed primarily by the IFAB Laws of the Game and FIFA’s Stadium Code of Conduct, players and teams can face sanctions—including fines and suspensions—for breaching these neutrality mandates.”

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.

This is a very interesting question; particularly, when we think of the ages of some of the patriarchs, and we look at the ages of people at other times during the last 6,000 years.   We want to briefly explore the question of life-spans and why King David only lived to the age of 70 when he was considered to be very old, which is not very old by today’s standards.

From the Bible, many people will know that Methuselah was the oldest man who ever lived – he was 969 years old when he died (Genesis 5:27), Jared was 962 (Genesis 5:20) and Noah 950 years old (Genesis 9:29).   The next oldest were:

Adam – 930 (Genesis 5:5)

Seth – 912 (Genesis 5:6-7)

Canaan- 910 (Genesis 5:14

Enosh – (not to be confused with Enoch) 905 (Genesis 5:11)

Mahalalel 895 (Genesis 5:17)

Lamech 777 (Genesis 5:31)

Enoch 365 (Genesis 5:23)

These were all before the Flood around the year 1,656, but after the new beginning with Noah and his family, ages came down dramatically. Some have proposed that in Genesis 6:3, God reduced the life-span of man to 120 years. However, God’s reference to 120 years in Genesis 6:3 has nothing to do with the average life-span of man; rather, it is God’s expression that He would bring the Flood in about 120 years which would destroy all life. Noah was about 600 years old when the Flood came, and he lived many hundreds of years after the Flood along with Shem, Ham and Japheth. Even several generations later, men like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived much longer than just 120 years.

There are many theories as to why this should be the case but the Bible doesn’t specifically give us the full explanation. What we can say is that in Genesis 1:31 we read: “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”  Man would be formed in, and live in, a perfect world, whereas later man would soon go the wrong way.

One commentator wrote this: 

“The most straightforward explanation may be that as time has ticked on since the Flood, disease and other dangers of this world have simply taken their toll on us. Today, mutations of diseases mean that we have more things trying to kill us now than we did a decade ago. Decay and entropy have likewise broken things down more and more as the centuries go by… with the new world breeding various new diseases and other natural problems that took their toll on Moses and his descendants. A comparison would be how the quality of life in first-world countries dramatically affects lifespans compared to those in third-world countries. In this case, we may consider the living conditions before and after the Flood as so different that lifespans were naturally shortened.”

Others try to explain the shortened life-span of man after the Flood with the disappearance of a water canopy. It is suggested that the pre-Flood Earth was surrounded by a dense layer of water vapor or ice. The canopy was believed to have trapped heat uniformly, producing a mild, tropical climate worldwide, and shielding the Earth from harmful cosmic radiation. When the “windows of heaven” opened, the canopy condensed and collapsed, providing 40 days of rain.

We say the following in our free booklet, “The Theory of Evolution, A Fairy Tale for Adults?”

“… many theologians and scientists state that a vapor canopy once surrounded the earth. Theologians refer to Genesis 7:11 where it says that the ‘windows of heaven were opened.’ They feel this is probably a reference to the pre-flood vapor canopy. Another reference to this canopy can be seen in Genesis 1:6-7, where we read that God made a firmament and divided the waters under the firmament from the waters above the firmament, giving reference to a water vapor canopy. This canopy, scientists explain, would have created a greenhouse effect. This seems to be confirmed in Genesis 2:5 where we are told that the antediluvian world was watered by dew or mist, not by rain. This dew would have been dependent upon humidity, saturation, temperature, dew point and condensation—all made possible through the water vapor canopy.”

That could be an explanation for the shortening of the life-span of man after the Flood, or part of it, but we simply don’t have the direct answer from the Word of God.

Later we see that Abraham died at age 175 (Genesis 25:7) and his wife Sarah lived 127 years (Genesis 23:1).  Their son Isaac lived to age 180 (Genesis 35:28) and Jacob (Israel) lived to be 147 (Genesis 47:28), all long life-spans compared to today but many hundreds of years less than those quoted at the beginning of this Q&A.

Moses wrote the following words in Psalm 90:10: “The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”

That would have been true at the time of Moses; it was not necessarily true for the centuries before or since then, nor would it have to be true for us today or for future generations to come.

King David was probably the oldest king except for King Saul who was 70 or 72 when he died. In 1 Chronicles 29:26-28 we read:

“Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. And the period that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years he reigned in Hebron, and thirty-three years he reigned in Jerusalem. So he died in a good old age, full of days and riches and honor; and Solomon his son reigned in his place.”

We learn this from 2 Samuel 5:4: “David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.” And so that would mean that he was 70 when he died.

It is interesting what many Bible Commentaries say about 1 Kings 1:1 which reads: “Now King David was old, advanced in years; and they put covers on him, but he could not get warm.” The margin of some of the New King James Bibles explains that “advanced in years” means “seventy years.” The Authorized Version states that he was “stricken in years.”

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers points out:

“Stricken in years—about seventy years old. Since ‘clothes’ mean ‘bed-clothes,’ the meaning is that the King was now too feeble to rise from his bed. His life began its responsibilities early; it had been hard and trying; and, as the history shows, not wholly free from self-indulgence. Hence, at no excessive age, its complete decrepitude.”

The Benson Commentary states:

“They covered him with clothes, but he got no heat — Which is not strange, considering he was a person who had been exercised with so many hardships in war, and with such tormenting cares, and fears, and sorrows for his own sins, (as divers of his psalms witness,) and for the sins and miseries of his children and people. Besides, this might be from the nature of his bodily distemper, which Dr. Lightfoot thinks was a dead palsy. (David now began to feel the effects of old age…).”

Barnes Notes on the Bible explains:

“…..the Jews at this time were not long-lived. No Jewish monarch after David, excepting Solomon and Manasseh, exceeded sixty years… The king was evidently bed-ridden (1 Kings 1:47).”

In passing, some disagree with the view that no Jewish monarch exceeded 60 years except for Solomon and Manasseh, as they say that Uzziah was 68 when he died.   Nevertheless, the ages of kings were not long-lived.

The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary states:

“Now king David was old—He was in the seventieth year of his age (2 Samuel 5:4, 5). But the wear and tear of a military life, bodily fatigue, and mental care, had prematurely, if we may say it, exhausted the energies of David’s strong constitution (1 Samuel 16:12). In modern Palestine and Egypt the people, owing to the heat of the climate, sleep each in a ‘separate’ bed. They only depart from this practice for medical reasons (Ecclesiastes 4:11).”

We want to clarify that we do not necessarily agree with that assessment and especially with the quote of Ecclesiastes 4:11 as proof for sleeping in separate beds.

Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible points out:

“…there are many persons at the age he was, that are lively, healthful, and robust, comparatively speaking at least; but David’s strength was impaired, and his natural force abated by his many wars, fatigues by night and day in campaigns, and the many sorrows and afflictions he met with from his family and his friends, as well as enemies; which exhausted his natural moisture, weakened his nerves, and drank up his spirits, and brought upon him the infirmities of a decrepit old age very soon.”

The Pulpit Commentary states in general:

“David’s early hardships and later sorrows and anxieties appear to have aged him prematurely. Possibly he was also afflicted with disease.”

A number of other Bible Commentaries come to pretty much the same conclusions as stated in those already quoted and seem to feel that David’s lifestyle, toils, and hardships contributed to him being feeble, aged and very old. Even though he was “only” 70, he was considered very old in the Bible, based on his condition. In addition, when noting the following explanation, aged 70 could already be described as very old in general terms for people living at the time of David.

On the website “Longevity in the Ancient World,” we read:

“There is little firm information about the collective lives of those who lived in the first centuries BC and the first centuries AD, but the conjecture is that the average life span was about 35 years. The 35-40 average life span of people in the Western world held true through the Dark Ages, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance until the 19th and 20th centuries when modern medicine and its life-preserving discoveries began in earnest. For thousands of years, life was uncertain but it was pretty certain the normal person would not live past 40 years. Ambitious or talented young men, or young men like Herod the Great’s 19-year-old son Archelaus who inherited kingdoms, were forced to grow up quickly because by age 20 their life was already half over. Alexander the Great in the 3rd century BC reigned over his father’s kingdom and commanded the army that would conquer the known world when he was 20. Charlemagne ruled most of western Europe in the 700’s AD when he was 26. Genghis Khan in the 1100’s began building the army that would conquer Asia when he was 20. Chaucer the Father of English Literature wrote his first major work, the Book Of Duchess, in the 14th century when he was 25. Shakespeare wrote his first play when he was 26 in 1590…”

As an example of how life spans have increased in more modern times, we quote from the UK Office for National Statistics:

“In 1841 the average newborn girl was not expected to see her 43rd birthday. Thankfully times have changed and so have life expectancies in the 170 years since the first lifetable was constructed.  The information contained in the Decennial Life Tables release, produced every 10 years, provides a fascinating insight into those changes, spanning three centuries.  In 2011 life expectancy at birth is almost double what it was in 1841.”

And so, when we think about King David being very old at age 70, we may view this through the optics of what we see in life expectancy today or in previous times, and may also have in mind some of the extraordinary longevity of Old Testament examples at the dawn of civilisation and after the Flood.  How things have changed over the centuries!

And they might still change once again. We are told that Christ will rule mankind on earth for 1,000 years, during the Millennium. We do not know what age the people will reach then… how long they will live in the flesh. It is POSSIBLE that some, if not most, will live for close to 1,000 years to qualify before being changed into immortal Spirit beings. We know that people will live for 100 years in the flesh during the Great White Throne Judgment period. 

On June 12, 2013, the BBC website reported that “A Japanese man recognised as the world’s oldest living person, and the oldest man recorded in history, has died aged 116, local officials say. Jiroemon Kimura died of natural causes on Wednesday in a hospital in Kyotango, Kyoto, a government statement said.  In December, Guinness World Records recorded Mr Kimura as the oldest man ever verified to have lived.”

Of course, they are not taking into account biblical examples and the Guinness Book of Records has only been in operation since 1955. We are now more informed about how to prolong our lives through information about health, hygiene, better food supply, nutrition and exercise. Although this Q&A was about King David and his age, we finish by showing just a few examples as to how different it is today. 

In the Countries ranked by life expectancy (2025), we see the following results with the numbers showing the ranking average ages for 201 countries [compare https://www.worldometers.info/demographics/life-expectancy/]:

1. Hong Kong                      85.77

5. Switzerland                     84.23

6. Australia                          84.21

19. Canada                          82.88

20. Israel                              82.77

29. Austria                           82.29

36. Germany                        81.71

37. UK                                 81.60

48. USA                               79.61

201. Nigeria                         54.78

As a footnote to the life of David during his seventy years, we quote from gotquestions:

“God blessed King David with a long and prosperous life. He survived a battle with a giant, multiple attempts by King Saul to murder him, various wars, and a coup led by one of his own sons. In the end, he died of old age. Scripture leaves no doubt that David was of sound mind when he died. Knowing his death was imminent, David was able to give support and guidance to his heir and successor. Despite his many faults, David was admired and respected as a hero by the people of Israel. His dedication to God, loyalty in the face of ill-treatment, courage in war, benevolence in conquest, and faithfulness in friendship were so extraordinary that he would forever be viewed as an ideal king and a man after God’s own heart.”

We might add: David sinned, but his repentance was genuine and sincere. His heart was right, and so he WAS a man after God’s own heart.

Lead Writers: Brian Gale (United Kingdom) and Norbert Link

Compiled by Norbert Link

“The Downfall of Germany’s Most Powerful Politician”

is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

Jens Spahn resigned, or was forced to do so, due to a scandal which was described as proof for his hypocrisy and arrogance. But would it be premature to rule him out for a vital role in the future? After all, deadly wounds can be healed. Some aspects of his character and personality are worthwhile considering in light of what the Bible says about the coming “beast” in Europe. This program explains in detail what to watch for.

A German AufPostenStehen program was posted with the same topic. The title is: “Jens Spahn—der Fall von Deutschlands mächtigstem Politiker.”

Frank Bruno’s sermonette has been posted, titled, “Our Spiritual Continuing Education.” 

Here is a summary:

As humans we continue to learn new information each day—some more than others, but the point is that there is always new information we can consume and utilize. As true Christians who have been called by the Father we should be eager to learn and be guided by God and by Jesus Christ in matters of our faith. There is nothing more important in our lives than preparing ourselves and serving God and His Son. In this Sermonette we will cover various scriptures that can assist us along the way.

Eric Rank’s sermon has been posted, titled, “Hard Things.” 

Here is a summary:

The life of a Christian is definitively not for the faint of heart. It requires overcoming obstacles, dealing with difficult circumstances, and resisting temptations every single day. To be Christian is to become comfortable doing hard things. Through the examples in the Bible we will learn about those who have gone before us, having faced difficulty, and overcome. We will also learn why it is so important to actively choose to do the difficult things that God directs us to do, because the reward that comes from doing them is great.

Dominik Kaltenegger’s German sermonette from last Sabbath has been posted. It is titled, “Sollten Christen sich bekreuzigen?”(“Should Christians make the sign of the cross?”)