Terror in Jerusalem

Keep your eyes on Germany. This has been a consistent message from the Trumpet’s publisher, Gerald Flurry, and the Plain Truth’s publisher Herbert W. Armstrong before him, based on the prophecies of the Bible. Our feature story this morning, Mr. Flurry’s “Germany Is Arming for World War III,” highlights its recent militaristic activity that points to those prophecies.

[BRIEF]

Terror in Jerusalem: Six people were murdered and 12 were wounded this morning when two Palestinian gunmen from the West Bank opened fire at a bus stop in northern Jerusalem before an off-duty soldier and an armed civilian shot and killed them.

• Though it denied direct responsibility, Hamas praised the attack as a “heroic operation” and called on West Bank Palestinians to “escalate the confrontation with the occupation and its settlers.”

The murders underscore the dangers Israel is trying to eliminate in its war with Hamas, for which it is being criticized and condemned by nations worldwide. It gives urgency to the recent discussion about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanting to expand Israel’s control over the West Bank.

Meanwhile, it is Hamas that the Trump administration is trying to restart negotiations with; White House envoy Steve Witkoff just advanced a new proposal for a hostage and ceasefire deal. Donald Trump issued another ultimatum to Hamas yesterday on Truth Social about the consequences of not accepting a deal. “This is my last warning; there will not be another one!” he wrote. Previous such warnings have not been followed by American action.

Several biblical prophecies warn that violence in and around Jerusalem is going to escalate in the time ahead. This suggests that Israel’s efforts to protect itself will come up short and that international hostility will remain and hamper the Jewish state’s defenses. Read more of the longer-term prophetic prognosis for the West Bank in Mihailo Zekic’s article about this morning’s attack.

Meanwhile, in North Carolina …

A fatal stabbing on a public train: On Friday, footage was released of an August 22 murder on a light-rail train: An unsuspecting 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee was looking at her phone when the man sitting in the seat behind her stood up and stabbed her in the neck.

• The man, Decarlos Brown Jr., had 14 prior court cases in Mecklenburg County, including convictions for robbery with a dangerous weapon, breaking and entering, and larceny in 2015, for which he served six years in prison. He was released in September 2020 and had subsequent arrests.

The shocking footage provoked an uproar over the weekend, particularly among more-conservative media.

• The attack indicts a broken justice system, with a clearly dangerous repeat criminal out on the streets.
• President Trump intends to use it to underscore his push for restoring law and order to America’s cities.
• Several voices criticized media reports for ignoring the racial aspect of the murder—a black man killing a white woman—in stark contrast with past instances where the victim was black and the killing was accidental.

What nobody is talking about is the spiritual dimension. Satan and his demons are increasingly active, and outbursts of violent rage from unstable minds are the most blatant examples—but far from the only examples. You need to understand the reality of the spirit world. “Mystery of Angels and Evil Spirits” in Mystery of the Ages is an excellent resource to help you.

Britain’s government had a shakeup over the weekend, though it is unlikely to lead to real change.

• Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner was forced to resign on Friday after it was revealed she failed to pay over £40,000 when buying a second home. She had led the charge in trying to hound political opponents from office for every infraction. Her party makes a big deal of fighting tax avoidance and clamping down on second homes. Her hypocrisy forced her resignation.

This gave Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer an opportunity to reshuffle his government. Labour is still a left-wing party, but Starmer nudged things toward the right. Clearly pressured by Nigel Farage’s Reform party, he claims to be serious about stopping mass illegal migration and getting the welfare budget under control.

• Shabana Mahmood is being touted as a home secretary who will be tough on crime and illegal migration. She is, however, herself of Pakistani Muslim heritage. And no matter how much she may want to control migration, her hands will be tied by the courts and the European Convention on Human Rights—something Starmer has no appetite for confronting.
• Pat McFadden has been put in charge of a beefed-up Work and Pensions department, aimed at getting people off sickness benefit and back into work.

These movements show the pressure Starmer is feeling from Reform, but they seem unlikely to lead to meaningful change. Remember, his own party recently blocked changes to sickness benefits.

God describes modern Britain as acting like a “silly dove.” The consequences of these kinds of policies are increasingly clear. But it will take more radical change than this to turn the nation around.

IN OTHER NEWS

Russia struck a Ukrainian government building in Kyiv for the first time since the war. Overnight from Saturday to Sunday, Russia launched its largest aerial assault to date, with more than 800 drones and 13 missiles, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. At least four people were killed and dozens more injured. Among the targets was the Cabinet of Ministers building; it was damaged, but no injuries were reported there. Though recent peace talks have raised hopes among some, Vladimir Putin’s bloody goals remain unchanged.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will resign, he announced yesterday, weeks after his party suffered humiliating electoral defeats. After the Liberal Democratic Party’s trouncing in July, Ishiba resisted calls to resign, saying he needed to stay on long enough to reach a trade deal with the U.S. After the deal was finalized on Thursday, he agreed to step down. As the power of the ldp deteriorates, two right-wing populist parties are gaining traction. This shift puts Japan’s future into uncertainty during a period of global power realignment.

Expect France’s government to fall today: Prime Minister François Bayrou will hold his make-or-break vote soon. France’s National Assembly must either vote for his controversial spending reforms or boot him from office. With a majority in the assembly pledged to oppose him, Bayrou seems set to fall. Europe’s political crisis rolls on. Watch for it to build the public’s appetite for a strong leader.