April 26 – May 2, 2015

“If the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because

of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.”

(Ezekiel 33:6, New International Version)

Weekly World Watch

Andy Walton’s

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What is a Weekly World Watch?

• Israel: The continuing conflict in the Middle East and focus on Jerusalem.

• Europe: Its developing union, both political and religious.

• Russia: Its return to anti-Western ways as Bible prophecy’s “king of the north.”

• The UK and the US: Bible prophecy’s “king of the south.”

• Moral standards in decline and violence on the increase.

WWW presentations in PowerPoint can be ordered as audio/visual CDs by clicking here. Move your mouse to place the cursor on the blue link and click.

The idea is simple. It is to look at current events and compare them to events spoken of in the Bible. .

I hope to build up a picture of God’s hand working in the affairs of this world. God is bringing about a day when all nations will be gathered to Jerusalem to battle. At that time God will send His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, back to this earth. Jesus will then establish God’s kingdom on earth.

This kingdom will last for ever. This is our hope and the reason we watch.

• Increasing natural disasters: including earthquake, famine etc

The following six themes will appear repeatedly in WWW:

HEADLINE

EVENT

COMMENT

News Photo

The source of the headline and the date are included.

Each WWW looks at a few key developments that have happened during the past week. It is in no way meant to be exhaustive – just a look at those events I saw as significant from a Biblical point of view.

What is in a Weekly World Watch?

BIBLEQUOTE

This is normally one verse which backs up why the event that has occurred is interesting from a Biblical perspective. Please read in its context. Unless stated otherwise, all quotes are from the King James Version. (Book, chapter, and verse)

This is straight from a news report that caught my eye because it looked significant from a Biblical perspective, usually that of prophecy.

Every WWW event slide has the following format. To reveal each block of text just left click your mouse or press the space bar. You control when it appears.

This is the reporter’s description of the event. It is always a direct quotation from the news report and reflects the understanding of the reporter and editors.

This is my comment on why the event is interesting to a Bible student. The intention of the WWW is to offer brief Biblical perspectives without going into detail. If more detail is desired, please e-mail me: (andy@weeklyworldwatch.co.uk). Please note that these are personal thoughts and the aim is purely to stimulate Bible study.

This Week’s Developments

To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper rightPRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

• Russia's State RIA News Agency: Let the world fear us

• Russia seems set for new offensive in Ukraine

• Iran supports Syrian-Hezbollah anti-Israel offensive

• Iran says warships at entrance to key Yemen strait

• Are Assad's military forces on the verge of collapse?

April 26 – May 2, 2015

• Nepal earthquake destroys historic temples

The May 9th Victory Day parade in Moscow is designed to impress the world and the home public with Russia’s relentless military might. But no one seems to be counting the expenses. The last Soviet military parade in Red Square was in November 1990. Then, the Cold War ended, the Soviet Union collapsed and there were no parades until May 1995. Under President Vladimir Putin’s rule, the military displays in Moscow steadily expanded. The upcoming parade in the Russian capital is officially claimed to be the largest in post-Soviet times: Taking part will be over 16,000 men and 194 pieces of heavy military equipment, including 7 World War II–vintage T-34 tanks and a flyover by 143 aircraft. In addition to the Moscow spectacle, some 85,000 troops, armour, warships and aircraft will be parading on May 9 in smaller military displays in many Russian cities and garrisons.

Eurasia Daily Monitor, April 30, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

BIBLEQUOTE

Russia’s Victory Day Parade is next week. But due to the size and scale of this one many news channels are reporting it already! As the report says above – “it is designed to impress the world with Russia’s relentless military might.” The parade marks the 70th anniversary of the Allied victory against Nazism. The Soviet Union lost more than 20 million people in that war. In contrast to the last big Victory Day anniversary one decade ago, most western leaders have rejected Russia’s invitation to this “celebration”. A decade ago all major western leaders attended including President Bush. How times have changed… But Russia has been turned back as the Bible said it would to its anti West, totalitarian, authoritarian ways. It now seeks an empire again. It is now led by a man that many publicly say is akin to Hilter himself. The Bible says that Gog the Russian leader will invade Israel – many Jews will lose their lives. Sounds like Hitler.

Russia's State RIA News Agency: Let the world fear us

(Ezekiel 38:16)

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Russia seems set for new offensive in Ukraine

The top U.S. commander for NATO said Thursday that America needs better intelligence on the ground in Ukraine, but that it appears Russian forces have used a recent lull in fighting to reposition for another offensive.Gen. Philip Breedlove, commander of NATO forces in Europe, told the Senate Armed Services Committee, that the situation in Ukraine is volatile and fragile and urged Congress to bolster U.S. intelligence capabilities to better understand President Vladimir Putin's intent in the region. "Russian military operations over the past year in Ukraine, and the region more broadly, have underscored that there are critical gaps in our collection and analysis," Breedlove said. "Some Russian military exercises have caught us by surprise and our textured feel for Russian involvement on the ground in Ukraine has been quite limited."

Associated Press, April 30, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages;

BIBLEQUOTE

(Ezekiel 28:10-11)

American officials say that Russia has significantly deepened its command and control of the militants in eastern Ukraine in recent months. This has led the US to introduce a new term: "combined Russian-separatist forces." They used this phrase 3 times in one statement this week where they lambasted Moscow and the insurgents for breaking the ceasefire. By describing them as an integrated force in the east of the country, the U.S. is putting greater responsibility on Russia for the continued fighting.

America fears that Russia is building up for a new offensive. But Putin is notoriously difficult to read. As General Breedlove said this week…”We cannot be fully certain what Russia will do next and we cannot fully grasp Putin's intent.” With Bible in hand though we know what Putin actually thinks! We are told he thinks an evil thought to invade Israel. He is a man that is difficult to read but God knows his mind and has revealed it!

Iran supports Syrian-Hezbollah anti-Israel offensive

The Syrian and Hezbollah military delegations visiting Tehran this week achieved their purpose: Intelligence and military sources report that in three days of talks up until Friday April 30, Syrian Defence Minister Gen. Fahad Jassim al-Freij procured from his Iranian counterpart Hussein Dehghan, approval for a stepped up terror campaign against Israeli forces and civilians on the Golan, to be executed by terrorist surrogates. Iran pledged its support for this campaign and promised to make the Revolutionary Guards and Afghani Shiite forces present in Syria available, in the event of an Israeli counter-attack. A stamping ground, designated “the open area,” was to be provided for all terrorist militias willing to attack Israel. It would stretch from Damascus to the Golan – a distance of 60 km by road – and take in the Syrian Hermon and Lebanese Chebaa Farms. Syrian and Hezbollah military intelligence services will take responsibility for coordinating their operations and providing them with arms and intelligence.

Debka, April 30, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a flame that sets a woodpile ablaze or like a burning torch among sheaves of grain. They will burn up all the neighboring nations right and left, while the people living in Jerusalem remain secure. “The Lord will give victory to the rest of Judah first, This is stage 1 – neighbouring nations destroyed – Jerusalem secure!

Debkafile is a military intelligence website based in Jerusalem. They often quote unnamed sources so we don’t often use Debkafile. However their report this week coincides with a number of incidents on the Golan border. The Jerusalem Post reported that “heightened tensions in the North are spilling over from Syrian infighting.”International media reports said the Israel Air Force carried out strikes on strategic missile bases in Syria late on Friday night, reportedly intercepting an Iranian-Syrian attempt to smuggle advanced missiles, perhaps Scuds, to Hezbollah’s numerous weapons depots in Lebanon. So we may be heading for the stage 1 war between Israel and its immediate neighbours – this war is detailed in Zechariah 12…

BIBLEQUOTE

(Zechariah 12:6-7NLT)

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Iran says warships at entrance to key Yemen strait

Two Iranian destroyers, sent to the Gulf of Aden to protect commercial ships, have reached the entrance of Bab el-Mandab, a strategic strait between Yemen and In another sign of tensions between Gulf rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, the Saudi charge d'affaires was summoned to the foreign ministry in Tehran to hear a "strong protest" over Saudi military action which prevented an Iranian plane from landing in Sanaa. "We are present in the Gulf of Aden in accordance with international regulations to ensure the safety of commercial ships of our country against the threat of pirates," said the head of the Iranian navy, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayari, quoted by the official IRNA news agency. The navy has sent the Alborz and Bushehr destroyers to patrol the entrance to the strait, he added.

AFP, April 30, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

Sheba, and Dedan [Saudi Arabia / Yemen], and the merchants of Tarshish [US/UK], with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

BIBLEQUOTE

Another hot spot in the world continues to be Yemen. Yemen is a small country at the south of the Arabian peninsula. It comes under the sphere of influence of Saudi Arabia. There is however a power struggle going on in the Middle East. Iran (Shia Muslim) wants to be the major power. Saudi Arabia (Sunni Muslim) wants to be the major power.So Iran is using Shia rebels in Yemen to try and seize control there. This is causing trouble for Saudi Arabia in its own backyard. This week Saudi forces repelled a major attack from inside Yemen, Saudi officials said. America accused Iran of a “provocative” act on Tuesday after the Revolutionary Guard Corps seized a Danish-owned cargo ship in the Gulf. So the tensions are rising. The Bible speaks of Saudi Arabia being on the side of America and Britain at the time of the end. It also speaks of Iran being on the side of Russia. We have seen Russia arming Iran. We have seen America arming Saudi Arabia. The Yemen crisis is another potential showdown between the two…

(Ezekiel 38:13)

Are Assad's military forces on the verge of collapse?

The low morale, internal divisions and rapidly decreasing popularity, is facing its most serious challenges since the start of the four-year long Syrian Civil War that has claimed the lives of more 200,000 people. Multiple rebel offenses have seen strategically important cities fall under the auspices of rebel control, such as Idlib and Jisr al-Shegour in the North and a concerted rebel effort making its way towards Damascus in the South. “The trend lines for Assad are bad and getting worse,” said a senior United States official in Washington who spoke to the New York Times on the condition of anonymity. As a result, Assad is being forced to lean on greater foreign support for propping up his ailing government, especially Hezbollah, the Lebanese terror group allied with Iran. In fact, Hezbollah now leads or even directs the fight in many places, angering some Syrian officers, according to Syrian soldiers.

Jerusalem Post, May 1, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

Look, the city of Damascus will disappear! It will become a heap of ruins. The towns of Aroer will be deserted. Flocks will graze in the streets and lie down undisturbed, with no one to chase them away. The fortified towns of Israel will also be destroyed, and the royal power of Damascus will end. All that remains of Syria will share the fate of Israel’s departed glory,”

BIBLEQUOTE

(Isaiah 17:1-3 NLT)

President Bashar al-Assad’s regime now appears in greater peril than at any time in the past three years. The capture last Saturday of the town of Jisr al-Shughour in northern Idlib province was just the latest in a string of battlefield victories by rebel forces, which have made significant advances in both the north and the south of the country. Here we have another division. Iran and Russia back Assad. America and Saudi Arabia back the rebels. The magnitude of the death and destruction of the last 4 years is staggering. And yet there is more to come. There will be an explosive climax in Syria. In fact the climax will be that explosive that Damascus will cease to be a city. All the government in Syria will be wiped out and the nation in effect will come to an end.How do we know? Read Isaiah 17 and it tells you exactly what is coming….

Nepal earthquake destroys historic temples

When a 7.8-magnitude earthquake roared through this Himalayan nation last Saturday (April 25), leaving an estimated 5,500 dead and more than 11,000 injured, shrines and temples were sent crashing to the ground, many of them centuries old and irreplaceable cultural treasures. According to the United Nations, 600,000 houses have been destroyed or damaged, and 2 million Nepalese will need tents, water, food and medicine. Many here say they will also need God, regardless of what happened to the temples, shrines and churches. About 80 percent of Nepalese are Hindu, making Nepal the second-largest Hindu nation outside of India, with about 2 percent of the global total. Most Hindus believe in a kind of fatalism, and many here seemed unrattled by the quake as a test of faith, even as their temples and shrines were flattened.

Live Science, April 28, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

BIBLEQUOTE

(Isaiah 45:20-+22)

Do not think for one minute (as Richard Dawkins would tell you) that earthquakes are random events with no connection to a supernatural God. God’s hand is behind this earthquake and when we look we can see His fingerprints.Nepal is famous as the world's only Hindu Kingdom. Hindu’s worship many false gods. Hence the many temples and shrines in the country. One landmark destroyed in the earthquake was the tallest building in Nepal called The Dharahara Tower. At the top of the tower was a statue of the god Shiva. This god is also known as Mahadeva (”The Great God"), and is one of the main deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme god within Shaivism a main branch of Hinduism. All the way through the Bible we are told that God hates false gods. Throughout the Bible earthquakes represent God’s judgement. We see here a warning from God that all false gods will soon be removed…

The Dharahara Tower destroyed

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and also misinterpret them as well. However I will endeavour to be faithful to the scriptures and hope that it will be of benefit to both of us.

Weekly World Watch

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