Transcript Weekly World Watch

Andy Walton’s
Weekly World Watch
November 16 - 22, 2014
“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)
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To skip the introductory slides and go straight to this weeks developments click here.
What is a Weekly World Watch?
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.
The following six themes will appear repeatedly in WWW:
• 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.
• Increasing natural disasters: including earthquake, famine etc
WWW presentations in PowerPoint can be ordered as audio/visual CDs by clicking here.
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What is in a Weekly World Watch?
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.
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.
HEADLINE
This is straight from a news report that caught my
eye because it looked significant from a Biblical
perspective, usually that of prophecy.
The source of the headline and the date are included.
EVENT
News
Photo
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.
COMMENT The intention of the WWW is to offer brief Biblical perspectives without
going into detail. If more detail is desired, please e-mail me:
([email protected]). Please note that these are personal
thoughts and the aim is purely to stimulate Bible study.
This is normally one verse which backs up why the event that has occurred
BIBLE
is interesting from a Biblical perspective. Please read in its context.
QUOTE
Unless stated otherwise, all quotes are from the King James Version.
(Book, chapter, and verse)
This Week’s Developments
November 16 - 22, 2014
• Putin vows that US 'will never subjugate Russia'
• NATO leader sees 'serious military build-up' in Ukraine
• Russia could destabilise ‘European peaceful order'
• Israel proposes gas pipeline to Europe
• Jerusalem synagogue axe attack kills four
• Global surge In terrorist attack deaths
To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right
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Putin vows that US 'will never subjugate Russia'
Daily Telegraph, November 18, 2014
EVENT
Vladimir Putin issued a defiant message to the West on Tuesday, accusing the United
States of trying to "subjugate" Russia while promising it would never succeed.
The Russian president also appeared to channel Al Capone, the Chicago mobster,
when he joked that "weapons and politeness" were more effective than "politeness
alone”. Meeting supporters at a forum in Moscow, Mr Putin corrected another speaker
who said that the United States wanted to humiliate Russia.
"They don't want to humiliate us, they want to subjugate us, to solve their problems at
our expense," he said. "They want to bring us under control." Mr Putin added:
"Throughout history no one has ever succeeded in doing that to Russia and they never
will.” The president was speaking to members of the All-Russia People's Front, a
coalition of groups that back him.
COMMENT At the G20 summit last weekend Putin was lambasted from all sides. The Canadian
prime minister said to Putin, “I guess I’ll shake your hand, but I have only one thing to
say to you: you need to get out of Ukraine.” The Australian prime minister threatened to
“shirt front” Putin and the British prime minister warned of new sanctions. Obama in his
toughest words yet said Russia would remain isolated from the international
community. No wonder Putin left the conference early! But in Bible terms we were
watching Tarshish and the young lions all verbally attacking Gog of the land of Magog.
Gog (Putin) returned to his homeland Magog (Russia) and what does he do? Does he
decide to change his ways? No! He gives a speech (in direct response to the G20)
accusing the US of subjugating Russia. He also said that threat of using weapons was
the only effective answer. Putin is getting angry. We know what happens next….
BIBLE
QUOTE
the merchants of Tarshish, 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? These very nations lambasted Putin at the G20 last
weekend. This verse says they will do so again when he invades Israel. (Ezekiel 38:13)
NATO leader sees 'serious military buildup' in
Ukraine
Reuters, November 18, 2014
EVENT
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg denounced on Tuesday what he called a
serious Russian military buildup both inside Ukraine and on the Russian side of the
border and urged Moscow to pull back its troops. Stoltenberg said NATO saw
movement of troops, equipment, tanks, artillery and also of advanced air defense
systems in violation of a ceasefire agreement. Russia denies providing arms or troops
to support a separatist pro-Russian rebellion in eastern Ukraine, which began after
the removal of a Kremlin-oriented Ukrainian president by mass protests in February. A
ceasefire was agreed in early September, but fighting flared again recently.
Stoltenberg told reporters as he arrived for a meeting with European Union defense
ministers he had information on a buildup inside Ukraine. This is a serious military
buildup and we call on Russia to pull back its troops," he said.
COMMENT Far from backing down Russia has accelerated its troop movements in and around
BIBLE
QUOTE
Ukraine. But it’s not just Ukraine. NATO warplanes have had to scramble 400 times this
year in response to an increase in Russian air activity around Europe not seen since
the Cold War, the alliances chief said on Thursday. He said the flights which have risen
50 percent over the last year posed a risk to commercial air traffic. Two Russian
strategic bombers circled the U.S. island of Guam last week in what U.S. defence
officials say is the latest in a series of “nuclear provocations by Moscow”.
Over 150 years ago the first Christadelphian wrote a book called Elpis Israel. In it John
Thomas wrote about the autocrat of Russia. “When Russia makes its grand move for
the building up of its image empire then let the reader know that the end of all things,
as at present constituted, is at hand.” It is at hand. How did he know? The Bible told
him.saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be
Thus
raised from the sides of the earth. They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have
no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war
(Jeremiah 6:22-23)
against thee, O daughter of Zion.
Angela Merkel warns Russia could seek to
destabilise 'whole of the European peaceful order'
Daily Telegraph, November 17, 2014
EVENT
Russia could seek to destabilise vast areas of eastern Europe if it is not challenged in
Ukraine, Angela Merkel has warned. The strongly worded statement came as Ukraine's
president warned of a resumption of "total war" in the strife-torn country's east.
In a speech to Sydney's Lowry Institute for International Policy Studies, the German
Chancellor said Russia's annexation of Crimea and subsequent destabilisation of
eastern Ukraine "called the whole of the European peaceful order into question".
"This isn't just about Ukraine," she said. "This is about Moldova, this is about Georgia,
and if this continues then one will have to ask about Serbia and one will have to ask
about the countries of the Western Balkans."
Mrs Merkel said she feared the creation of a Cold War-style zone of influence in Europe
where Moscow could demand consultation on any major decision.
COMMENT Hostilities have escalated sharply in the past two weeks between Ukraine rebels and
Russia and the Ukrainian government. This is fuelling concerns about a return to all-out
warfare. Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine's president, said Kiev is prepared for full-scale
hostilities should diplomatic solutions fail. "We are prepared for a scenario of total war
... we don't want war, we want peace and we are fighting for European values. But
Russia does not respect any agreement," he said in an interview with the German
newspaper Bild. Germany’s leader has also warned of war in Europe if Russia is not
checked. Britain is planning more large Cold War-style tank exercises in Poland next
year in the wake of Russian aggression in Ukraine, the head of the UK Army has said.
The world is destabilising in preparation for the time of trouble such as never was…
BIBLE
QUOTE
and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that
same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in
the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting
life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
(Daniel 12:1-2)
Israel pitches ‘massive’ natural gas pipeline plan to
Europe
Times of Israel, November 20, 2014
EVENT
Israel has proposed that EU countries invest in a multi-billion euro pipeline to carry its
natural gas to the continent, noting that the supply from Israel would reduce Europe’s
current dependence on natural gas from Russia. A proposal for the “massive” project
was introduced by Israel’s Energy Minister Silvan Shalom to energy ministers from
Euro-Mediterranean countries who met in Rome earlier this week, Israel’s Channel 2
reported on Thursday. It said the project would require a multi-billion euro investment
from Europe to build a pipeline from Israel’s Mediterranean cost to Cyprus, from
where the gas would be carried on to Greece and Italy. The TV report said Cyprus,
Greece and Italy were all supportive of the idea, and that Israel would make a formal
presentation of the project to European representatives in Brussels in three weeks.
COMMENT This report in the Israeli press could be massive from a Biblical point of view. Israel
discovered two huge gas fields off its coastline back in 2009. The first gas field began
pumping natural gas in March 2013. In 2016 the second larger gas field will start
exporting. Israel has decided to export 40% of the gas. In September Israel signed a
deal with Jordan to to supply $15bn worth of gas. And now Israel is looking to take
advantage of Europe’s dependence for gas on Russia. Europe is desperate to find
other supplies because of Russia’s moves into Ukraine and its willingness to shut off
gas supplies without warning. But what will Russia make of Israel’s foray into the world
of supplying gas? Will Putin look on unconcerned or will he see this as a direct threat to
his control and power over Europe’s energy? The Bible says Russia will invade Israel
to take a spoil. Putin understands the power of gas and energy. We read that God puts
hooks in the jaws of Gog to bring him down. The hook is the spoil. The spoil is gas…
BIBLE
QUOTE
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; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without
(Ezekiel 38:10-12)
walls, and having neither bars nor gates. To take a spoil, and to take a prey;
Jerusalem synagogue axe attack kills four
Daily Telegraph, November 18, 2014
EVENT
Two Palestinian men armed with axes, knives and a gun killed five people in a
Jerusalem synagogue on Tuesday before being shot dead by police, Israeli police and
emergency services said. The attack, the deadliest in Jerusalem in six years, will
increase fears of sustained violence in the city, already on edge amid soaring tensions
over a contested holy site.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Israel will "respond harshly" to
the attack, describing it as a "cruel murder of Jews who came to pray and were killed by
despicable murderers."
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a statement condemning the attack.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said he spoke to Mr Netanyahu after the assault and
denounced it as an "act of pure terror and senseless brutality and violence."
COMMENT Islamist group Hamas, which dominates Gaza, praised the killings, describing them as
a fitting "response" to Israeli actions in annexed east Jerusalem. Violence in Jerusalem
has surged in the past month. It is being fuelled by a dispute over Temple Mount.
Manny are saying this could be the start of a third intifada and the start of a religious
conflict over this holy site. Temple Mount is as one reporter put it the “spiritual core” and
“potential tinder box” of a contest of beliefs. It is where Abraham sacrificed Isaac. It is
where Solomon built the first temple. It is where the second temple was built. Muslims
believe Muhammed ascended to heaven from that place. We read in Joel 3 of gentiles
preparing war. The word “prepare” literally means to “sanctify” or “make holy”. In other
words this is a religious war…
BIBLE
QUOTE
Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war
draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into
spears: let the weak say, I am strong Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather
yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
(Joel 3:9-11)
Global surge In terrorist attack deaths
Sky News, November 18, 2014
EVENT
COMMENT
BIBLE
QUOTE
Terror attacks are found to have almost doubled in the space of a
year, resulting in the deaths of some 18,000 people. The number of people who lost
their lives in terror attacks worldwide increased by 61% between 2012 and 2013, a
global terrorism study has found. According to the latest Global Terrorism Index (GTI)
the number of deaths rose from 11,133 to 17,958 a year later. The surge can be
attributed to a "significant" increase in the number of terrorist atrocities. The second
annual study found there were almost 10,000 terrorist attacks in 2013, a 44% rise on
the year before. Most were the result of explosive devices, although suicide attacks
accounted for 5%.Iraq was once again the hardest-hit, with 6,362 terror-related fatalities
recorded in 2013. That marked a devastating 164% increase on the previous year.
We live in the time of terror. So said a Whitehouse spokesman a few years ago. We
almost get accustomed to suicide bombings, mass killings and beheadings, explosions
and death. Although there have throughout history been suicide attacks they were very
few and far between. Suicide attacks truly gained global notoriety on July 3rd, 1983
when a new group called Islamic Jihad killed 299 US forces in Lebanon. The number of
suicide attacks has grown significantly, from an average of less than five a year in the
1980s to 180/year in 2001-2005, and from 81 suicide attacks in 2001 to 460 in 2005.
We are truly seeing an explosion of violence around the world. Jesus said we would we
see this. He said that men’s hearts would fail them for fear (Greek word for terror) just
before he returned. He also said that the world would be like the days of Noah before
he returned. The world at the time of Noah we are told in Genesis was full of violence…
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked
upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And
God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence
through them;
(Genesis 6:11-13)
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