And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?2 Kings 9 : 22

BY HERB KEINON

Fri, May 30, 2025 at 11:01 AM GMT+38 min read

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DIPLOMATIC AFFAIRS: A new Israel – and US-backed – aid model bypasses Hamas and delivers food directly to Gazans, shifting dynamics on the ground and triggering strong criticism abroad.

The images emerging from Gaza this week were both familiar and unprecedented.

Familiar, in that they showed thousands of desperate Palestinians lining up for food. Unprecedented, in that those crowds weren’t swarming UNRWA trucks or local aid convoys but distribution centers run by a little-known Swiss-based NGO operating with quiet Israeli and American support.

The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the training of literary institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power—all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these. In amazement they  hear the testimony that Babylon is the church, fallen because of her errors and sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from heaven. As the people go to their former teachers with the eager inquiry, Are these things so? the ministers present fables, prophesy smooth things, to soothe their fears and quiet the awakened conscience. But since many refuse to be satisfied with the mere authority of men and demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord,” the popular ministry, like the Pharisees of old, filled with anger as their authority is questioned, will denounce the message as of Satan and stir up the sin-loving multitudes to revile and persecute those who proclaim it GC 606.2

The new system in the international community, it’s a troubling shift!

Christian leaders pray for President Trump in Oval Office, Stirring Him in Judeo-Christian “Idol Sabbath For Family” System!

What initially unfolded on Tuesday was chaotic.

There were delays, rumors, threats, and even violence. But also, something new and promising: Gazans bypassing Hamas’s orders to accept food from a group unaffiliated with it.

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For many in Israel, this is a long-overdue correction – perhaps even a game changer. For critics of the new system in the international community, it’s a troubling shift in how humanitarian assistance is delivered.

Our people have been regarded as too insignificant to be worthy of notice, but a change will come. The Christian world is now making movements which will necessarily bring commandment-keeping people into prominence. There is a constant supplanting of God’s truth by the theories and false doctrines of human origin. Movements are being set on foot to enslave the consciences of those who would be loyal to God. The lawmaking powers will be against God’s people. Every soul will be tested.  5T 546.2

From this perspective, the new system is a form of disruption – breaking the link between aid and Hamas, undermining its governance, and showing Gazans that there are alternatives.

[5] But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. [6] And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; [7] Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.Acts 17 : 5-7

Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.James 5 : 17

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a previously unknown Swiss-registered nonprofit backed by American private contractors and facilitated by Israel, began distributing food directly to Gazans on Tuesday under a new model. As of Thursday, around 14,500 food boxes – each containing basic staples able to feed between five and six people for 3.5 days – had been distributed at two locations, with a third distribution point opened that day.

‘Give them to eat_They know not the time of their visitation’ : A “family digs” through trash for bits of food, showing Gaza’s growing desperation

The real issue at hand is control 🎮 Millions in bondage to sin, slaves of Satan, doomed to suffer the second death, would refuse to listen to the words of truth in their day of visitation. Terrible blindness! strange infatuation!

But the story here is not only about the food staples – though they will undoubtedly alleviate hunger in the enclave. The real issue at hand is control. And Hamas knows it, which is why the terrorist group’s reaction was furious.

The Majesty of Heaven in tears! the Son of the infinite God troubled in spirit, bowed down with anguish! The scene filled all Heaven with wonder. That scene reveals to us the exceeding sinfulness of sin; it shows how hard a task it is, even for infinite power, to save the guilty from the consequences of transgressing the law of God. Jesus, looking down to the last generation, saw the world involved in a deception similar to that which caused the destruction of  Jerusalem. The great sin of the Jews was their rejection of Christ; the great sin of the Christian world would be their rejection of the law of God, the foundation of his government in Heaven and earth. The precepts of Jehovah would be despised and set at naught. Millions in bondage to sin, slaves of Satan, doomed to suffer the second death, would refuse to listen to the words of truth in their day of visitation. Terrible blindness! strange infatuation! GC88 22.2

Hamas warned and threatened people not to participate in the program, circulated false reports that the distribution had been disrupted or suspended, and even set up barriers to make the distribution points in the south – where the IDF has been urging Gazans to move – difficult to access.

All to no avail.

Thousands of Gazans arrived despite the hardships, walking many kilometers to reach the food and trampling Hamas’s barricades to get to the distribution spots. One viral video captured a Gazan father thanking “everyone who helped us – Muslims, infidels, Americans,” while children around him carried the food packages on their shoulders. The message from the ground was unmistakable: Hamas’s monopoly over aid distribution was fraying, and with it, the possibility that its grip on Gazan civilians was also slipping.

Joseph came on, glad and joyful that the object of his long search was accomplished. But, instead of a pleasant greeting, he met only scorn, abuse, and fierceness of looks which terrified him. He was immediately seized, and the coat which had created so much hatred, was stripped from him with the most taunting remarks. He had never before received such treatment and he expected his brethren would immediately kill him. His mind runs back to his home, his father, and the blessing he had received as he parted from him, and then he anticipated the sorrow he would feel at his death and the guilt of his murderers. He entreated them to spare his life, but all to no avail; he was helpless in the hands of infuriated men whose hearts were insensible to pity, and whose ears were deaf to the cry of anguish. But the eye of God was upon him, and Joseph’s cries of distress reached his throne. His brethren thrust him into a dark pit and then sat down to enjoy their customary meal. But while they were eating, they saw a company of Ishmaelites approaching, and Judah, who was beginning to regret what had been done, suggested that here was an opportunity to sell their brother and obtain money, which would be better than leaving him to perish in the pit; for said he, is he not our own flesh? Then, too, Judah thought that he could be disposed of by being removed entirely from them. All agreed to the proposition of Judah; Joseph was drawn up out of the pit, and heartlessly sold as a slave. ST December 18, 1879, par. 13

[5] For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. [11] O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. [15] Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.Isaiah 54 : 5, 11, 15

‘Lo, we turn to the Gentiles’ : Thousands of Israeli (Edom) nationalists chant ‘death to “whore”Arabs’ during annual procession through Jerusalem

But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.Galatians 4 : 26

A NEW WORLD ORDER KINGSHIP?

Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.1 Kings 1 : 1

THE AID distribution began on the 599th day of the war, a war whose goals include – among others – destroying Hamas militarily and ending its governance over Gaza.

Parents need to awake, and purify their souls by practicing the truth in their home life. When we reach the standard that the Lord would have us reach, worldlings will regard Seventh-day Adventists as odd, singular, straight-laced extremists. “We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” RH January 9,  1894, par. 10

Though the IDF is well on its way to dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities, the terrorist organization has been able to retain its civilian control. According to Israeli officials, this is largely because it hijacked and then controlled the distribution of the aid that has been allowed into Gaza.

“We prepared for far worse scenarios,” a senior IDF officer told Yediot Aharonot after the initial scenes of unrest on Tuesday. “The barrier of fear has been broken. Hamas is at its lowest point in terms of governance.”

The symbolism was striking: hungry Palestinians trampling Hamas-erected fences to reach Americans – guarded along the perimeter by Israeli soldiers – distributing boxes of food.

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.Psalm 2 : 12

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Israeli officials are framing the new distribution model as both a humanitarian necessity and a strategic tool. In a speech on Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Hamas looted the aid that flowed into Gaza before Israel blocked it on March 2.

[34] Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; [35] And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.Acts 5 : 34-35

Under William of Orange, the Revolution at last brought to Holland freedom to worship God.

“They [Hamas] took a good chunk for themselves, and the remainder they sold to the civilian population at exorbitant prices,” he said. “And thereby, they funded new recruits because we were able to kill a lot of terrorists. They have to replenish their war machine, their terrorist machine, their terrorist army. So they used the aid to continue the war. And we said, that has to stop.”

As in the days when paganism sought to destroy the gospel, “the blood of the Christians was seed.” Persecution served to increase the number of witnesses for the truth. Year after year the monarch, stung to madness by the unconquerable determination of the people, urged on his cruel work; but in vain. Under the noble William of Orange, the Revolution at last brought to Holland freedom to worship God. GC88 240.3

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar echoed that sentiment, recently stating that aid “must go directly to the people,” and “Hamas must not be allowed to get their hands on it.”

My husband was very anxious to see his brethren at Battle Creek and speak to them and rejoice with them in the work which God was doing for him. I gathered up my writings, and we started on our journey. On the way we held two meetings in Orange and had evidence that the church was profited and encouraged. We were ourselves refreshed by the Spirit of the Lord. That night I dreamed that I was in Battle Creek looking out from the side glass at the door and saw a company marching up to the house, two and two. They looked stern and determined. I knew them well and turned to open the parlor door to receive them, but thought I would look again. The scene was changed. The company now presented the appearance of a Catholic procession. One bore in his hand a cross, another a reed. And as they approached, the one carrying a reed made a circle around the house, saying three times: “This house is proscribed. The goods must be confiscated. They have spoken against our holy order.” Terror seized me, and I ran through the house, out of the north door, and found myself in the midst of a company, some of whom I knew, but I dared not speak a word to them for fear of being betrayed. I tried to seek a retired spot where I might weep and pray without meeting eager, inquisitive eyes wherever I turned. I repeated frequently: “If I could only understand this! If they will tell me what I have said or what I have done!” 1T 577.2

‘To Set Captives Free’ : Hamas says it is ready to release all remaining hostages for an end to Gaza enmity

We are trying to sever the ties between Hamas and food distribution….!

As former National Security Council head Yaakov Amidror put it in a Galei Yisrael radio interview: “We are trying to sever the ties between Hamas and food distribution…. If we succeed in doing that, it will be a very, very big achievement on the way to building an alternative to Hamas on ‘the day after.’”

[18] Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. [19] Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: [20] For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. [21] Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.James 1 : 18-21

But not everyone sees this as a solution. Critics argue that what is happening is not just a logistical shift but a fundamental reframing of humanitarian aid – with all the ethical and legal questions that entails.

A day before the plan went into effect, Jake Wood, the former US Marine who founded GHF, resigned, stating that the group could not function under the humanitarian principles of neutrality, independence, and impartiality. His resignation fueled criticism from the UN and major international aid organizations, which argued that placing the distribution of aid under the de facto control of Israel undermines decades of humanitarian norms not to put the aid in the hands of one of the warring parties.

Predictably, this new model sparked an uproar among international organizations. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the arrangement, saying it violates humanitarian principles. The UN and many of its donor countries – including Canada, Australia, the UK, and most of Europe – claimed this is politicized aid designed not to help civilians but to advance Israeli war aims.

As the controversy extends into new fields and the minds of the people are called to God’s downtrodden law, Satan is astir. The power attending the message will only madden those who oppose it. The clergy will put forth almost superhuman efforts to shut away the light lest it should shine upon their flocks. By every means at their command they will endeavor to suppress the discussion of these vital questions. The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and, in this work, papists and Protestants unite. As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be invoked against commandment keepers. They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some will be offered positions of influence, and other rewards and advantages, as inducements to renounce their faith. But their steadfast answer is: “Show us from the word of God our error”—the same plea that was made by Luther under similar circumstances. Those who are arraigned before the courts make a strong vindication of the truth, and some who hear them are led to take their stand to keep all the commandments of God. Thus light will be brought before thousands who otherwise would know nothing of these truths.
Conscientious obedience to the word of God will be treated as rebellion. GC 607.1 – GC 608.1

UN chief Antonio Guterres human rights Globally are being “suffocated” : 7,000 killed since January in fighting in DRC, prime minister says

That’s rich.

For years, the world was content to look the other way as Hamas turned humanitarian assistance into a tool of repression. While UN agencies and NGOs handed over aid with little oversight, Hamas hijacked it – taxing, reselling, diverting, and using the proceeds to recruit fighters, dig tunnels, and fund its war machine.

This modus operandi continued throughout the war, and there was no uproar in the humanitarian aid community about how this was a “weaponization of assistance.” But now that Israel and the US are attempting to bypass Hamas and deliver food directly to families – through secured, monitored, militarily protected centers – that’s suddenly beyond the pale?

Amidror said that while international organizations, such as UNRWA, were distributing aid, “it was connected to Hamas. Hamas decided what they will and will not do. They took tax from the population and controlled the distribution.” By taking it away, Hamas is weakened substantially.

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Or, as Netanyahu said this week, “It leaves the fish without the water.”

The logic runs like this: Hamas is weaker than ever. Militarily, the IDF continues to dismantle its capabilities. Politically, the loss of control over aid distribution hits at the heart of Hamas’s remaining claim to authority. Every family that receives food without Hamas’s blessing is a small act of rebellion. And every day the new model continues is one more crack in the wall of Hamas control.

But their steadfast answer is: “Show us from the word of God our error”—the same plea that was made by Luther under similar circumstances. Those who are arraigned before the courts make a strong vindication of the truth, and some who hear them are led to take their stand to keep all the commandments of God. Thus light will be brought before thousands who otherwise would know nothing of these truths.
Conscientious obedience to the word of God will be treated as rebellion. GC 607.1 – GC 608.1

The real test : This effort must not be halted

Still, few in the IDF or the political echelon are declaring victory just yet. “The real test is determination and persistence,” Yediot quoted defense officials as saying. “This effort must not be halted. It is no less strategic than the military campaign.”

The new model is still in its infancy. GHF plans to expand operations to four hubs, with the goal of delivering up to 300 million meals within 90 days. But security concerns remain. The organization’s leadership is in flux. And the international pressure is only growing.

As the controversy extends into new fields and the minds of the people are called to God’s downtrodden law, Satan is astir…… Conscientious obedience to the word of God will be treated as rebellion. GC 607.1 – GC 608.1

The Lord has faithful watchmen on the walls of Zion to “cry aloud and spare not,” to lift up their voice like a trumpet, and show His people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. [Isaiah 58:1.] The Lord has permitted the enemy of truth to make a determined effort against the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. He designs by this means to awaken a decided interest in that question which is a decided test for the last days. This will open the way for the third angel’s message to be proclaimed with power.
Let not one who believes the truth be silent now. 7LtMs, Ms 48, 1891, par. 23 – 7LtMs, Ms 48, 1891, par. 24

USA-ISRAEL “Thomas Munzer and The Last Revolution” : Netanyahu says there is ‘no way’ Israel halts the war in Gaza until Hamas is defeated

The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.Psalm 68 : 11, If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.John 8 : 36

Moreover, this is Gaza, and Hamas is fighting for survival, so what works one day can unravel the next.

But the very fact that tens of thousands of Gazans defied Hamas to obtain food, that Israel was able to help facilitate this without losing control, and that the first distribution didn’t end in total collapse – these are developments that are not only worth noting but also promising.

Still, while Israel and the US see this as a targeted, tactical move designed to serve both humanitarian and strategic goals, much of the world views it as a dangerous precedent. Aid organizations worry that the new model may exclude those unable to travel, punish those in areas outside the “sterile zone” where the aid is distributed, and embed military aims within a humanitarian infrastructure.

Some academics have gone even further. Thea Hilhorst, a professor of humanitarian studies at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, told the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle that the new approach was tantamount to “the instrumentalization of aid for war purposes” and warned it could amount to “ethnic cleansing.”and

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Other international critics see it as using aid as a lever of coercion, not compassion.

The UN’s emergency relief coordinator, Tom Fletcher, told the UN Security Council on May 13 that this tactic appeared to prioritize “placing the objective of depopulating Gaza over the lives of civilians.”

But Fletcher’s assessments are suspect. On May 20, he told the BBC that about 14,000 babies would die in Gaza in two days if aid did not flow – an inflammatory and baseless accusation that undermines his, and his agency’s, credibility.

Israel argues that there is no choice but to set up this alternative method of distribution, and that it cannot simply return to a situation where aid is looted and sold on the black market to fund salaries for more Hamas recruits.

The new distribution method – backed, funded, and protected by Israel and the US – is designed to break that cycle.

If it succeeds, it will do more than just feed people. It will chip away at Hamas’s claim to authority. It will empower Gazans to look elsewhere for leadership. And it will help answer the question Israel has been grappling with for 600 days: How do you defeat not just Hamas’s army but also its grip on society?

About 250 million honeybees took to the skies when a commercial truck carrying them overturned in Washington state near the Canadian border

The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the training of literary institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power—all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these. In amazement they  hear the testimony that Babylon is the church, fallen because of her errors and sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from heaven.  GC 606.2

In 2015, 14 million bees escaped a truck north of Seattle on Interstate 5 and started stinging people, the newspaper reported at the time.

Lisa Baumann

Saturday 31 May 2025 16:27 BST

Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US

There was a buzz in the air Friday in northwestern Washington state as about 250 million honeybees escaped a commercial truck that overturned.

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The truck hauling an estimated 70,000 pounds (31,751 kilograms) of honeybee hives rolled over around 4 a.m. close to the Canadian border near Lynden, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office said in social media posts.

The driver did not navigate a tight turn well enough, causing the trailer to roll into a ditch!

For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.Proverbs 23 : 27

It appears the driver did not navigate a tight turn well enough, causing the trailer to roll into a ditch, county emergency management spokesperson Amy Cloud said in an email. The driver was uninjured, Cloud said.

We were ourselves refreshed by the Spirit of the Lord. That night I dreamed that I was in Battle Creek looking out from the side glass at the door and saw a company marching up to the house, two and two. They looked stern and determined. I knew them well and turned to open the parlor door to receive them, but thought I would look again. The scene was changed. The company now presented the appearance of a Catholic procession. One bore in his hand a cross, another a reed. And as they approached, the one carrying a reed made a circle around the house, saying three times: “This house is proscribed. The goods must be confiscated. They have spoken against our holy order.” Terror seized me, and I ran through the house, out of the north door, and found myself in the midst of a company, some of whom I knew, but I dared not speak a word to them for fear of being betrayed. I tried to seek a retired spot where I might weep and pray without meeting eager, inquisitive eyes wherever I turned. I repeated frequently: “If I could only understand this! If they will tell me what I have said or what I have done!”
I wept and prayed much as I saw our goods confiscated.  1T 577.2 – 1T 578.1

‘Lo, we turn to the Gentiles’ : Thousands of Israeli (Edom) nationalists chant ‘death to “whore”Arabs’ during annual procession through Jerusalem

Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.Daniel 3 : 8

Deputies, county public works employees and several bee experts responded to the scene. The box hives later came off the truck, and local beekeepers swarmed to help recover, restore and reset the hives, according to the sheriff’s office.

‘The Lion Beast and Swarm of Bees Trouble Me’ : Macron urges Asia, Europe to unite to resist ‘spheres of coercion’

As the people go to their former teachers with the eager inquiry, Are these things so? the ministers present fables, prophesy smooth things, to soothe their fears and quiet the awakened conscience. But since many refuse to be satisfied with the mere authority of men and demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord,” the popular ministry, like the Pharisees of old, filled with anger as their authority is questioned, will denounce the message as of Satan and stir up the sin-loving multitudes to revile and persecute those who proclaim it.
As the controversy extends into new fields and the minds of the people are called to God’s downtrodden law, Satan is astir. The power attending the message will only madden those who oppose it. The clergy will put forth almost superhuman efforts to shut away the light lest it should shine upon their flocks. By every means at their command they will endeavor to suppress the discussion of these vital questions. The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and, in this work, papists and Protestants unite. As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be invoked against commandment keepers. They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some will be offered positions of influence, and other rewards and advantages, as inducements to renounce their faith. But their steadfast answer is: “Show us from the word of God our error”—the same plea that was made by Luther under similar circumstances. Those who are arraigned before the courts make a strong vindication of the truth, and some who hear them are led to take their stand to keep all the commandments of God. Thus light will be brought before thousands who otherwise would know nothing of these truths.
Conscientious obedience to the word of God will be treated as rebellion.  GC 606.2 – GC 608.1

The plan is to allow the bees to return to their hives and find their queen bee in the next day or two, according to the sheriff’s office. The goal is to save as many of the bees as possible.

But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.Galatians 4 : 26 [1] Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. [2] After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.Hosea 6 : 1-2

Ukraine war: Seven dead after multiple bridges collapse across Russia

Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.Isaiah 30 : 13

India finally admits it lost fighter jets in clash with Pakistan

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Thank you to the wonderful community of beekeepers!

“Thank you to the wonderful community of beekeepers: over two dozen showed up to help ensure the rescue of millions of pollinating honey bees would be as successful as possible,” the sheriff’s office post said.

[20] And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. [21] His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Matthew 25 : 20-21

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The public was advised to avoid the area on Friday, and sheriff’s deputies dove into in their squad cars at times to avoid being stung.

Bees and other pollinators have been declining for years!

Honeybees are crucial to the food supply, pollinating over 100 crops including nuts, vegetables, berries, citrus and melons. Bees and other pollinators have been declining for years, and experts blame insecticides, parasites, disease, climate change and lack of a diverse food supply.

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“Emergency bee response”

[25] And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground. [26] And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.1 Samuel 14 : 25-26

In 2018, the U.N. General Assembly sponsored the first “World Bee Day” on May 20 to bring attention to the bees’ plight.

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Beekeepers often transport millions of bees from one location to another because leaving them in one location for too long can deplete resources for other pollinators, The Seattle Times reported.

And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.1 Samuel 23 : 15

Alan Woods, president of the Washington State Beekeepers Association, told the newspaper the state should have a standardized “emergency bee response” for bee vehicle crashes. In 2015, 14 million bees escaped a truck north of Seattle on Interstate 5 and started stinging people, the newspaper reported at the time.

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BellinghamHoneybeesBees

There will no doubt always be difficulty in reaching the higher classes. But the truth will often find its way to the noblemen by first reaching the middle and poorer classes.—Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists, 166 (1886). Ev 417.2

By 

Tanner Brown

May 31, 2025, 3:00 am EDT

In China’s vast network of smaller cities—often categorized as “lower-tier” or “third- and fourth-tier” markets—consumer spending is showing surprising resilience. (Qilai Shen/BloombergBloomberg)

After years of sluggish growth in China’s property market, many investors have grown cautious about the country’s broader consumption story. Yet beyond the megacities of Beijing and Shanghai, a different narrative is emerging—one that could offer fresh opportunities for long-term investors.

[26] His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: [27] Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. [28] Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.Matthew 25 : 26-28

In China’s vast network of smaller cities—often categorized as “lower-tier” or “third- and fourth-tier” markets—consumer spending is showing surprising resilience. From personal care and budget cosmetics to domestic travel and local e-commerce, everyday consumption appears to be holding up far better than national headlines suggest.

And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof.Genesis 47 : 21

And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.Matthew 2 : 15

[1] When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. [2] As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. [3] I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. [4] I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them. [5] He shall not return into the land of Egypt, and the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return. [6] And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels. [7] And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.Hosea 11 : 1-7

All classes flocked to the Adventist meetings. Rich and poor, high and low, were, from various causes, anxious to hear for themselves the doctrine of the second advent. The Lord held the spirit of opposition in check while His servants explained the reasons of their faith. Sometimes the instrument was feeble; but the Spirit of God gave power to His truth. The presence of holy angels was felt in these assemblies, and many were daily added to the believers. As the evidences of Christ’s soon coming were repeated, vast crowds listened in breathless silence to the solemn words. Heaven and earth seemed to approach each other. The power of God was felt upon old and young and middle-aged. Men sought their homes with praises upon their lips, and the glad sound rang out upon the still night air. None who attended those meetings can ever forget those scenes of deepest interest. GC 369.3

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This divergence matters because China’s economic future increasingly hinges on the spending power of its “new middle class” living outside the country’s wealthiest urban cores. While property prices in these regions have been under pressure—dragging on local government revenue and household wealth—residents in smaller cities are still spending on products and services that improve their quality of life.

I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.Revelation 2 : 9

Official data offers some evidence. In the first half of 2024, per capita disposable income in China’s third- and fourth-tier cities grew by nearly 5.8%, outpacing the 4.8% growth seen in first- and second-tier cities. Retail sales in these markets have also held up better in categories like food and daily necessities, reflecting consistent demand for affordable, everyday products.

And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.2 Kings 7 : 8

Hu Ling, a partner and managing director at AlixPartners, was quoted in Chinese media as saying, “China’s consumption market is gradually transitioning from being primarily driven by top-tier cities to a model of dual-engine growth.”

Fashion Is a Tyrannical Ruler—Fashion rules the world; and she is a tyrannical mistress, often compelling her devotees to submit to the greatest inconvenience and discomfort. Fashion taxes without reason and collects without mercy. She has a fascinating power and stands ready to criticize and ridicule all who do not follow in her wake.1
The rich are ambitious to outdo one another in conforming to her ever-varying styles; the middle and poorer classes strive to approach the standard set by those supposed to be above them. Where means or strength is limited, and the ambition for gentility is great, the burden becomes almost insupportable. With many it matters not how becoming, or even beautiful, a garment may be, let the fashions change, and it must be remade or cast aside. CG 432.1 – CG 432.2

Consumers in smaller cities often face lower living costs and less financial pressure. That economic stability, paired with rising lifestyle expectations, has helped support spending in categories such as personal care, dining out, and domestic travel—even in the face of broader economic uncertainty.

And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.2 Kings 7 : 15

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[6] Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; [7] With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:Ephesians 6 : 6-7

Budget-friendly domestic brands!

Budget-friendly domestic brands like Perfect Diary, Florasis, and HomeFacialPro have been gaining traction among younger consumers seeking quality without the premium price tags of international labels. Local tourism operators have also noted an uptick in short-distance travel bookings, especially among middle-class families and retirees eager for affordable leisure.

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.Isaiah 55 : 1

Jesus placed himself in the great thoroughfares of travel, where his voice was heard by thousands. The precious words that fell from his lips found a lodgment in many hearts, and caused them to search and see if these things were so. It is most difficult in England to reach the higher classes. The barriers are built up high and firm between the wealthy and the workers. Wealth is greatness and power; poverty means little less than slavery. The truth will often find its way to the noblemen by first reaching the middle and poorer classes. This was the case in Paul’s day. The truth found its way into Caesar’s household through one who was held in bonds, and men and women of high rank became disciples of Christ. Some who are servants and ladies’ maids are quietly working to get the truth before those for whom they labor. Thus through servants or relatives the truth will reach the highest as well as the lowest. RH October 6, 1885, par. 11

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Seed/Corn 🌽 Business is getting better After The Pandemic

“Business is getting better,” said Lin Meiyi, a travel agent in China’s scenic Yunnan province. “The clientele is more modest financially, I would say, compared to before the pandemic. Many come from towns instead of cities.”

Lower-tier cities are also fueling the rise of value-driven e-commerce. Platforms like Pinduoduo —which built its business around bulk discounts and group-buying models tailored to price-sensitive consumers—have seen notable engagement from rural and small-city users.

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?Luke 2 : 49

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In its most recent earnings report, Pinduoduo cited stronger-than-expected growth in categories like agricultural products and household essentials, much of it from outside the urban centers. Its strategy of building logistics infrastructure in smaller cities and rural areas has paid off, allowing it to reach consumers underserved by traditional retail.

Do your best, fathers and mothers, to get out of the cities, out of commercial lines of work that hold you to the cities. Get your children on to the land, and improve it to the best of your ability. This will mean health and strength to you; it will mean physical, and mental, and moral power. 21LtMs, Ms 115, 1906, par. 20

The market has responded:  outperforming most major Chinese tech peers!

The market has responded: Pinduoduo’s U.S.-listed shares are up more than 40% over the past year, outperforming most major Chinese tech peers. Analysts point to its deep reach in price-sensitive regions as a durable competitive edge as national consumption habits adjust.

So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were. 2 Kings 7 : 10

It’s true that the downturn in China’s property sector—especially acute in smaller cities—has dampened overall household wealth. But the link between housing markets and consumption may be more nuanced than previously assumed.

In lower-tier cities, where real estate is more affordable and many homes are fully owned, households are generally less leveraged. That gives consumers greater flexibility to spend on smaller-ticket items, even if they’re holding off on major purchases.

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?Luke 2 : 49

Out of the cities, is my message. Those who have had the light, but have neglected to follow the instruction that the Lord has given regarding the location of our health institutions and schools, will one day see the folly of clinging to the cities. They will realize how kind the Lord was to point out the right way. SpTB03b 15.3

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Confidence among millennials in lower-tier cities is higher than in top-tier cities, with 75% of respondents expressing optimism about the national economy, compared with 65% in major cities, according to its McKinsey’s 2024 China Consumer Report, which attributes this optimism in part to lower cost-of-living pressures and more stable local job markets.

The implication for investors is clear: China’s consumption recovery may be slower and more uneven than in past cycles, but it is still happening—just not always where the spotlight is.

The most promising consumer activity may be taking place far from Beijing’s luxury malls, in small cities with fewer headlines but plenty of untapped spending power.

Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.2 Kings 7 : 9

“Consumers and business people from smaller cities and towns are importing ideas from developed regions,” said Kane Hu, chief analyst at Peak Investment, a boutique brokerage in the western city of Chengdu, with roughly 80 clients and around 100 million yuan ($15 million) in assets.

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Opportunity for Companies with strong regional presence, competitive pricing, and scalable operations

That creates opportunity for companies with strong regional presence, competitive pricing, and scalable operations. Domestic brands that can meet demand for affordable quality across a broad geographic footprint may be better positioned than premium brands concentrated in major metros.

The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.Psalm 68 : 11

For global investors, the takeaway isn’t to abandon China’s consumption story—but to look closer at where growth is really happening. The most promising consumer activity may be taking place far from Beijing’s luxury malls, in small cities with fewer headlines but plenty of untapped spending power.

And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.Daniel 1 : 10

Costas Pitas, Michael Martina and Jasper Ward

Thu, May 29, 2025 at 2:14 AM GMT+34 min read

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By Costas Pitas, Michael Martina and Jasper Ward

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday the United States will start “aggressively” revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.Revelation 2 : 10

As Trump targets ‘terrorist sympathizers,’ college protests have fallen silent

Inside Bill Gates’ ‘Reconciliation ‘Ministry’ meeting with his foundation’s staff after his $200 billion bombshell: ‘How do we get ‘assets’ to care?’

If applied to a broad segment of the hundreds of thousands of Chinese university students in the United States, the move could disrupt a major source of income for American schools and a crucial pipeline of talent for U.S. technology companies.

Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power—all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these. In amazement they  hear the testimony that Babylon is the church, fallen because of her errors and sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from heaven.  GC 606.2

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President Donald Trump‘s administration has sought to ramp up deportations and revoke student visas as part of wide-ranging efforts to fulfill its hardline immigration agenda.

Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.Deuteronomy 10 : 19

In a statement, Rubio said the State Department will also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from China and Hong Kong.

“The U.S. State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students,” he said.

Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.Daniel 1 : 12

The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

China’s foreign ministry previously vowed to “firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests” of its students overseas, following the Trump administration’s move to revoke Harvard University’s ability to enroll foreign students, many of whom are Chinese.

And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.1 Samuel 25 : 38, And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah.Jeremiah 42 : 7, And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.Daniel 1 : 15

‘600 days verse 6000 years ago in Rome Tunnels’ Long-range ‘Three Angels’ Banned: Hamas in weakest position yet, but still holds strategic leverage with tunnels

China is also at the epicenter of Trump’s global trade war that has roiled financial markets, upended supply chains and fueled risks of a sharp worldwide economic downturn. The decision to cancel Chinese student visas comes despite a recent pause in the U.S.-China trade dispute.

International students – India 🇮🇳 and China 🇨🇳 together accounting for 54% of them – contributed more than $50 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

At this time the gold will be separated from the dross. True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out in darkness. Those who have assumed the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are not clothed with Christ’s righteousness, will then appear in the shame of their own nakedness.
Among earth’s inhabitants, scattered in every land, there are those who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Like the stars of heaven, which appear only at night, these faithful ones will shine forth when darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people. In heathen Africa, in the Catholic lands of Europe and of South America, in China, in India, in the islands of the sea, and in all the dark corners of the earth, God has in reserve a firmament of chosen ones that will yet shine forth amidst the darkness, revealing clearly to an apostate world the transforming power of obedience to his law. Even now they are appearing in every nation, among every tongue and people, and in the hour of deepest apostasy, when Satan’s supreme effort is made to “cause all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,” to receive under penalty of death the sign of allegiance to a false rest day, these faithful ones, “blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke,” will “shine as lights in the world.” The darker the night the more brilliantly will they shine.
What strange work Elijah would have done in numbering Israel at the time when God’s judgments were falling upon the backsliding people! RH November 20, 1913, par. 14 – RH November 20, 1913, par. 16

SANCTUARY INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT : UNIVERSITY 🎓 TIES TO CHINA UNDER SCRUTINY

The State Department has broad authority to issue and revoke visas. The administration last week cited Harvard University’s ties to China as among several reasons for revoking its ability to enroll foreign students, a move temporarily blocked by a U.S. judge.

I appeal to the teachers in our educational institutions for Christ’s sake, and their own, not to let religious earnestness and zeal retrograde. If you do not go backward, you will advance. But unless our schools rise to a much higher plane of action, their candlestick will be removed out of its place. Broader views must be held, stronger faith and deeper piety must exist in regard to the work to be done, and when this is so, students will not be advised to take a course of study at Ann Harbor or any other college where the Word of God is not made the root and branch of all wisdom and all intellectual attainments.
When the converting power of God takes hold of the teachers in our schools, they will consider that a knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ covers a much broader field than the so-called scholastic education does. But unless they have a much broader view in regard to what constitutes education, they will experience great hindrance in preparing missionaries to go out and give their knowledge to others. In all our education, we should remember the words of Christ, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” [Matthew 5:14.] Of ourselves we cannot shine, but if the Word of God abides in our souls, we will shine, for nothing can eclipse the light of heaven or retard the truth. 10LtMs, Ms 20, 1895, par. 7 – 10LtMs, Ms 20, 1895, par. 8

Rubio’s statement did not offer details on how extensively the visa revocations would be applied. Even a relatively small number could disrupt the flow of Chinese students seeking out higher education in the U.S. that began in the late 1970s from Communist-governed China.

Recent decades saw the United States become the destination of choice for many Chinese students looking for an alternative to China’s intensely competitive university system and drawn to the strong reputation of U.S. schools. Those students typically come from wealthier families able to afford the high cost of U.S. universities.

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Many of those have stayed after graduating and have been credited with contributing to American research capacity and the U.S. workforce.

The number of Chinese students in the U.S. dropped to about 277,000 in 2024, however, from a high of around 370,000 in 2019, pulled lower by growing tension between the world’s two biggest economies, heightened U.S. government scrutiny of Chinese students, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

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As the U.S.-China geopolitical rivalry has escalated into what many analysts consider a new form of cold war, U.S. agencies and Congress have stepped up scrutiny of China’s state-sponsored influence and technology transfers at American colleges and universities.

Washington has become increasingly concerned that Beijing uses open and federally funded research environments in the U.S. to circumvent export controls and other national security laws.

Greater scrutiny and uncertainty over visas has led more Chinese students to opt for schools in Europe, and more graduates now return to China to ply their trades.

Yaqiu Wang, a U.S.-based human rights researcher who came to the U.S. from China as a student, said Beijing had indeed taken advantage of U.S. academic openness to engage in espionage and intellectual property theft, but called Rubio’s announcement “deeply concerning.”

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A Texas man was mowing his property when a swarm of bees attacked. He died soon after.

“Broad revocations and blanket bans would not only jeopardize the rights and livelihoods of Chinese students studying and working in the U.S., but also risk undermining America’s long-standing position as the global leader in scientific innovation,” she said.

While appearing to the children of men as a great physician who can heal all their maladies, he will bring disease and disaster until populous cities are reduced to ruin and desolation. Even now he is at work. In accidents and calamities by sea and by land, in great conflagrations, in fierce tornadoes and terrific hailstorms, in tempests, floods, cyclones, tidal waves, and earthquakes, in every place and in a thousand forms, is Satan exercising his power. He sweeps away the ripening harvest, and famine  and distress follow. He imparts to the air a deadly taint, and thousands perish by the pestilence. These visitations are to become more and more frequent and disastrous. Destruction will be upon the inhabitants of the world. The beasts of the field will groan, and the earth will languish.
And then the great deceiver will persuade men that those who serve God are causing these evils. The class that have provoked the displeasure of Heaven will charge all their troubles upon the faithful few whom the Lord has sent to them with messages of warning and reproof. It will be declared that the nation is offending God by the violation of the Sunday-Sabbath, that this sin has brought calamities which will not cease until Sunday observance shall be strictly enforced, and that those who present the claims of the fourth commandment, thus destroying reverence for Sunday, are troublers of the nation, preventing its restoration to divine favor and temporal prosperity. Thus the accusation urged of old against the servant of God will be repeated, and upon grounds equally well established. “And it came to pass when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel, but thou and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.” [1 Kings 18:17, 18.] As the wrath of the people shall be excited by false charges, they will pursue a course toward God’s ambassadors very similar to that which apostate Israel pursued toward Elijah. 4SP 407.2 – 4SP 408.1

ALAS! Mother of four Tzeela Gez, 30 : Pregnant Israeli woman shot dead in West Bank on way to give birth

During Trump’s first administration, then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo led a drive to rid U.S. university campuses of Chinese government-funded Confucius Institute cultural centers, saying they worked to advance China’s “global propaganda and malign influence” and to recruit “spies and collaborators.”

Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.Isaiah 26 : 17

As a result, many U.S. institutions cut ties with the centers.

On Tuesday, Reuters reported the U.S. Department of State had halted new appointments for all foreign student and exchange visitor visa applicants, according to an internal cable.

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‘Lo, we turn to the Gentiles’ : Thousands of Israeli (Edom) nationalists chant ‘death to “whore”Arabs’ during annual procession through Jerusalem

The Trump administration has expanded social media vetting of foreign students and is seeking to ramp up deportations and revoke student visas as part of wide-ranging efforts to fulfill its hardline immigration agenda.

(Reporting by Jasper Ward, Costas Pitas, Michael Martina and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Paul Thomasch, Lincoln Feast, Don Durfee and Tom Hogue)

And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.Acts 26 : 11

BY LIRAN AHARONI

Wed, May 28, 2025 at 4:20 PM GMT+33 min read

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Hamas’s political leadership has suffered blows, but its underground tunnel network remains a significant threat.

Six hundred days into the war that erupted on October 7, 2023, Israel has eliminated nearly all of Hamas’s senior leadership in Gaza, yet the group continues to wield strategic leverage through its extensive tunnel network and the captivity of 58 hostages.

These persecutions, beginning under Nero about the time of the martyrdom of Paul, continued with greater or less fury for centuries. Christians were falsely accused of the most dreadful crimes and declared to be the cause of great calamities—famine, pestilence, and earthquake. As they became the objects of popular hatred and suspicion, informers stood ready, for the sake of gain, to betray the innocent. They were condemned as rebels against the empire, as foes of religion, and pests to society. Great numbers were thrown to wild beasts or burned alive in the amphitheaters. Some were crucified; others were covered with the skins of wild animals and thrust into the arena to be torn by dogs. Their punishment was often made the chief entertainment at public fetes. Vast multitudes assembled to enjoy the sight and greeted their dying agonies with laughter and applause.
Wherever they sought refuge, the followers of Christ were hunted like beasts of prey. They were forced to seek concealment in desolate and solitary places. “Destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” Verses 37, 38. The catacombs afforded shelter for thousands. Beneath the hills outside the city of Rome, long galleries had been tunneled through earth and rock; the dark and intricate network of passages extended for miles beyond the city walls. In these underground retreats the followers of Christ buried their dead; and here also GC 40.1 – GC 40.2

Since the fighting began, the Israel Defense Forces have systematically targeted the military wing of Hamas. Commanders such as Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, Marwan Issa, and Rafa Salama were killed in precision strikes, and Mohammed Sinwar, Yahya Sinwar’s brother, was killed in early May. By late May, only Ezz al-Din al-Haddad, commander of the Gaza City brigade, remained at large among senior operatives.

[22] But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. [23] And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: [24] But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. [25] Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.Acts 9 : 22-25

Northern Smoking Pot : Hamas leadership operating behind veil of secrecy

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Outside the Gaza Strip, Hamas’s political leadership has also suffered heavy blows. Ismail Haniyeh was reportedly assassinated in Iran, and Saleh al-Arouri was killed in Lebanon in back-to-back operations that reverberated through the “axis of resistance.” In their absence, acting Gaza leader Khalil al-Hayya and former politburo chief Khaled Mashal have taken the helm of ceasefire negotiations.

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Hamas still has strategic tunnels in Gaza

Despite these setbacks, Hamas retains what analysts describe as its sole remaining “strategic weapon” — a sprawling underground network beneath Gaza. Sources told Asharq al-Awsat that the tunnel system still comprises defensive passages, attack routes aimed at IDF positions, command-and-control corridors and holding cells for Israeli captives. Pre-war estimates placed the network at some 1,300 tunnels spanning 500 km, with depths of up to 70 meters. Although the IDF has launched operations across all sectors of the Strip, it has yet to destroy the entire labyrinth.

Beneath the hills outside the city of Rome, long galleries had been tunneled through earth and rock; the dark and intricate network of passages extended for miles beyond the city walls. In these underground retreats the followers of Christ buried their dead; and here also, when suspected and proscribed, they found a home. GC 40.2

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Hamas has recruited fresh fighters amid the fighting and, according to multiple reports!

Meanwhile, Israel’s military campaign has largely neutralized Hamas’s long-range rocket arsenals and eliminated hundreds of operatives at every level. Hamas has recruited fresh fighters amid the fighting and, according to multiple reports, repurposes unexploded Israeli ordnance to manufacture rudimentary munitions.

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At the eleventh hour, when the work grows harder and the people are more hardened, there will be a variety of talent brought in. These workers will prove faithful and receive their penny. Sacrificing men will step into the places made vacant by those who would not be fitted for a place in the heavenly temple. These resources will continue to come in. The Lord will provide openings and facilities. He will call upon the youth to fill up the places made vacant by deaths and apostasies. He will give young men and women, as well as those who are older, the co-operation of the heavenly intelligences. They will have converted characters, converted minds, converted hands, converted feet, and converted tongues. Their lips will be touched with a living coal from the divine altar. If they will learn the lesson of walking humbly before God, if they will not seek to invent new plans, but will do that which the Lord has appointed them to do, they will be enabled to carry God’s plan onward and upward without narrowing it. 12LtMs, Lt 98a, 1897, par. 47

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;Isaiah 61 : 1

‘To Set Captives Free’ : Hamas says it is ready to release all remaining hostages for an end to Gaza enmity

On the diplomatic front, Hamas has shown its first signs of flexibility in hostage-swap talks. The group, which long demanded an absolute end to hostilities, offered a temporary 70-day ceasefire and even floated a conditional proposal to relinquish governance of Gaza if all Palestinian factions agreed to a unified political settlement. Reports from Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen suggest Hamas is willing to accept restrictions on its weapons development so long as it retains its existing arsenal.

‘Ye that put far away the evil day’ East to West! : Australian state plans to ban the sale of machetes following violent gang fight

Parents need to awake, and purify their souls by practicing the truth in their home life. When we reach the standard that the Lord would have us reach, worldlings will regard Seventh-day Adventists as odd, singular, straight-laced extremists. “We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” RH January 9,  1894, par. 10

Irony verse Golden Dome_ “Rome verse Babylon Dome”!

Hamas’s regional allies have likewise been weakened. Hezbollah in Lebanon has seen its influence curtailed by a new government and president demanding state control over arms. In Syria, Bashar al-Assad’s regime faces internal collapse, while in the West Bank, Jenin has become a more permissive arena for IDF operations. Iraqi militias—once a vocal threat—have held fire amid U.S. pressure. Only Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis remain actively engaged, launching missiles and disrupting Red Sea shipping.

Thus the message of the third angel will be proclaimed. As the time comes for it to be given with greatest power, the Lord will work through humble instruments, leading the minds of those who consecrate themselves to His service. The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the training of literary institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power—all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these. In amazement they  hear the testimony that Babylon is the church, fallen because of her errors and sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from heaven.  GC 606.2

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.John 8 : 32

On the ground in Gaza, growing reports of hunger and hardship have eroded public support for Hamas. In some districts the group still enforces order by force, but in others Palestinians openly call for an end to the fighting. Israel has responded by piloting a new direct humanitarian-aid distribution model designed to bypass Hamas’s traditional role as arbiter of relief.

‘Give them to eat_They know not the time of their visitation’ : A “family digs” through trash for bits of food, showing Gaza’s growing desperation

As the controversy extends into new fields and the minds of the people are called to God’s downtrodden law, Satan is astir. The power attending the message will only madden those who oppose it. The clergy will put forth almost superhuman efforts to shut away the light lest it should shine upon their flocks. By every means at their command they will endeavor to suppress the discussion of these vital questions. The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and, in this work, papists and Protestants unite. As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be invoked against commandment keepers. They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some will be offered positions of influence, and other rewards and advantages, as inducements to renounce their faith. But their steadfast answer is: “Show us from the word of God our error”—the same plea that was made by Luther under similar circumstances. Those who are arraigned before the courts make a strong vindication of the truth, and some who hear them are led to take their stand to keep all the commandments of God. Thus light will be brought before thousands who otherwise would know nothing of these truths.
Conscientious obedience to the word of God will be treated as rebellion. Blinded by Satan, the parent will exercise harshness and severity toward the believing child; the master or mistress will oppress the commandment-keeping servant. Affection will be alienated; children will be disinherited and driven from home. The words of Paul will be literally fulfilled: “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12. As the defenders of truth refuse to honor the Sunday-sabbath, some of them will be thrust into prison, some will be exiled, some will be treated as slaves. To human wisdom all this now seems impossible; but as the restraining Spirit of God shall be withdrawn from men, and they shall be under the control of Satan, who hates the divine precepts, there will be strange developments. The heart can be very cruel when God’s fear and love are removed.
As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbathkeepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them. GC 607.1 – GC 608.2

Hamas, the organization behind the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, has been grievously weakened, as has the broader “axis of evil” to which it belongs. Yet Israelis remain painfully aware that 58 fellow citizens are still held underground by Hamas—some for 600 days now. Until every hostage is returned, whether to rehabilitation or to burial, the nation’s heart will remain incomplete.