Transcript Weekly World Watch

Andy Walton’s
Weekly World Watch
October 19 - 25, 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.
Move your mouse to place the cursor on the blue link and click.
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
October 19 - 25, 2014
• British Parliament votes in favour of Palestinian state
• Britain will not pay extra £1.7bn for EU budget
• Putin is dragging the West into murky waters
• Putin accuses US of undermining global stability
• Netanyahu: Jerusalem is under attack
• Ebola: Famine approaches bringing fresh nightmare
To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right
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British Parliament votes in favour of Palestinian
state
Jerusalem Post, October 25, 2014
EVENT
Britain’s House of Commons voted in favour of recognizing a Palestinian state late
Monday in a move that will not alter the government's stance on the issue, but that
carries symbolic value for Palestinians in their pursuit of statehood.
Lawmakers in Britain's lower house of parliament voted by 274 to 12 to pass a nonbinding motion stating: "That this House believes that the Government should
recognize the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel as a contribution to
securing a negotiated two-state solution."
Britain does not classify "Palestine" as a state, but says it could do so at any time if it
believed it would help peace efforts between the Palestinians and Israel. Government
ministers were told to abstain and the non-binding vote will not force Britain to
recognise a Palestinian state.
COMMENT Israel was very unimpressed by the vote this week in the UK. According to an Israeli
cabinet minister parliament was guilty of “encouraging terrorist attacks” and “giving up”
on peace when MPs cast a “miserable” vote in favour of Palestinian statehood.
This vote comes just 2 months after Israel was attacked with over 4000 rockets.
We edge ever closer to the division of Israel. Almost every nation on earth wants to
divide God’s land and give half of it to the Palestinians. They think this will bring peace.
Britain in the past was a supporter of Israel and actually encouraged the creation of a
new nation for the Jews in Palestine. That was back in 1917 - the Balfour Declaration.
Almost 100 years later Britain is taking a very different stance. It now sides with the
Palestinians. Just as ancient Tyre was pro Israel but turned against the Jews so
modern day Tyre (London) has done the same. Click here to watch more on this…
BIBLE
QUOTE
A prophecy against Tyre: Wail, you ships of Tarshish! For Tyre is destroyed…. Cross over to
Tarshish; wail, you people of the island. Is this your city of revelry, the old, old city, whose feet
have taken her to settle in far-off lands?
(Isaiah 23:1-6,7 NIV)
Ancient Tyre came to an end BUT it passed over to Tarshish (Britain)
Britain will not pay extra £1.7bn for EU budget
Daily Telegraph, October 24, 2014
EVENT
David Cameron has said Britain will refuse to pay a “completely unacceptable” bill of
£1.7billion to the European Union. The Prime Minister hit out at the bill and spoke of
his anger at the “appalling” way Britain has been treated by the European
Commission. He said that “it certainly doesn’t help” the chances of Britain remaining
in the EU after an in-out referendum due to be held in 2017. A visibly furious Mr
Cameron said: “I'm not paying that bill on December 1. It is not going to
happen.” The UK was on Thursday ambushed with a demand from the European
Commission for the extra money because Britain’s economy has performed better
than other economies in Europe since 1995. Speaking in Brussels, Mr Cameron said:
"This is completely unacceptable. It is an appalling way to behave. I am not paying
that bill on December 1. If people think I am they have got another thing coming.
COMMENT In January 2013, British Prime Minister David Cameron promised an "in/out"
referendum on British membership of the European Union in 2017, after a period of
renegotiation with the EU, if the Conservative Party wins an outright majority at the next
General Election, expected in 2015. Events this week widen the gap even further
between Britain and Europe. This surprise (and shock) demand for nearly £2bn has
angered even those who are fairly pro Europe. If Britain doesn’t pay, Europe can fine
Britain millions of pounds every day.
Europe is not an ideological project for Britain- it is purely about the money. Isaiah 23
speaks of Tyre coming to an end and passing over to Tarshish (Britain). But it says in
the last days it will become like a harlot and join herself with the kingdoms of the world.
This is a reference to the UK joining Europe. We wait to see if the UK decides to leave.
BIBLE
QUOTE
At the end of seventy years, the Lord will deal with Tyre. She will return to her lucrative prostitution
and will ply her trade with all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. Yet her profit and her earnings
will be set apart for the Lord.
(Isaiah 23:17-18)
Putin is dragging the West into murky waters
Daily Telegraph, October 21, 2014
EVENT
It is like a scene from the Cold War: the sighting of a suspicious underwater object in
the waters off Stockholm forces Swedish military forces to launch their largest search
operation for decades. To add extra spice to the affair, a Swedish newspaper reports
that the mobilisation of ships, troops and helicopters is in response to the interception of
an encrypted message from a stricken Russian submarine to its fleet headquarters in
the Baltic Sea. The very fact that the Swedes’ emergency military response immediately
provoked claims that the Russians were up to their old Cold War tricks of conducting
clandestine submarine operations is an indication of the deep level of distrust that now
exists between Russia and its European neighbours. While many European countries
are making drastic cuts to their defence budgets, the Kremlin has recently approved the
construction of 10 new submarines to add to its powerful Northern Fleet.
COMMENT Sweden is convinced that Russia has sent a submarine into its waters which hit some
kind of trouble and issued a distress call. However they have not managed to find it.
Sweden this week threatened to use force against the sub if they found it. It shows how
close we can be to more conflict. As Russia pushes the boundaries nations get more
anxious and more likely to act. Russian military provocations have increased so much
over the seven months since Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine that Washington
and its allies are scrambling defence assets on a nearly daily basis in response to air,
sea and land incursions by Vladimir Putin's forces.
We are in the preparation stage for the third world war. It should not take any of us by
surprise when it begins. The Bible talks of this preparation for war…..
BIBLE
QUOTE
Raise the war cry, you nations, and be shattered! Listen, all you distant lands. Prepare for battle,
and be shattered! Prepare for battle, and be shattered! Devise your strategy, but it will be
thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us.
This speaks of ancient Assyria coming against Israel but it is repeated in the last days….
(Isaiah 8:9-10)
Putin accuses US of undermining global stability
Associated Press, October 24, 2014
EVENT
President Vladimir Putin of Russia said Friday that the world is becoming an
increasingly dangerous place because of U.S. attempts to enforce its will on other
countries and that his nation will not comply. In an emotional speech before
international political experts, Putin unleashed scathing criticism of the United States
for what he called its disregard of international law and unilateral use of force.
If the United State fails to abandon its "desire of eternal domination," then "hopes for
peaceful and stable development will be illusory, and today's upheavals will herald
the collapse of global world order," Putin said during a meeting that lasted about
three hours in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. His voice strained with anger, Putin
accused the U.S. and its allies of trying to "tailor the world exclusively to their needs"
since the end of the Cold War, using economic pressure and military force.
COMMENT Russia feels threatened by US influence on its doorstep. Putin believes that America is
behind European expansion into the very states that used to be part of the USSR – eg
Ukraine. Putin has said that the collapse of the USSR was the greatest geopolitical
catastrophe of the twentieth century was when it collapsed. Putin wants to rebuild that
empire. Putin wants (in his words) a “multi polar world”. In other words a world with
TWO superpowers not one. Just as there are two poles – north and south.
Russia of course is the northern power and America the south.
In Daniel 8 we read of a man who comes to power who is “completely wicked”, “a
fierce-looking king”, “a master of intrigue”. This is speaking of a latter day king of the
north – Putin. He is fierce…He is angry. He is emotional. He has a great army at his
command. He wants to create an empire. The Bible says he WILL act….
BIBLE
QUOTE
“In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king,
a master of intrigue, will arise. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will
cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does.
(Daniel 8:23-24 NIV)
Netanyahu: Jerusalem is under attack
Israel National News, October 23, 2014
EVENT
"Jerusalem is under attack," charged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday,
less than 24 hours after a terrorist plowed through a crowd of Israelis at a Light Rail
station. The prime minister convened a security consultation at the Jerusalem Police
headquarters with the internal security minister, the chief of police, the head of the Shin
Bet, the mayor, and the regional commander – as rock throwing incidents continued
across the capital. Netanyahu ordered the assembled officials to emphasize Israeli
sovereignty over all parts of Jerusalem using massive reinforcements. "Jerusalem is not
the only city under attack by terrorists; other cities across the world are, as well. But the
offensive in Jerusalem is supported by the chairman of the Palestinian Authority, Abu
Mazen, who glorifies the murderers and embraces the group they belong to – Hamas,"
said Netanyahu. “We will stand strong for our rights to protect our capital."
COMMENT A three-month-old girl was killed and several others wounded Wednesday evening this
week when a known Palestinian terrorist rammed his vehicle at full speed into a crowd
in Jerusalem. Shortly after the attack, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said it is time to
“restore peace and security in Jerusalem.” Jerusalem is seething with anger which has
been building since the conflict with the Palestinians a few months ago.
It has led Netanyahu to declare that Jerusalem will always be the capital of Israel.
We know that one day all nations will be gathered to Jerusalem to battle. For now it is
stone throwing youths. In the future it will be armies and weapons. Jerusalem is the
centre of the world – both physically and religiously. It is God’s city and one day will be
ruled over by the Lord Jesus who will return as king and priest….
BIBLE
QUOTE
This is what the Sovereign Lord says: This is Jerusalem, which I have set in the centre of the
nations, with countries all around her. Yet in her wickedness she has rebelled against my laws and
decrees more than the nations and countries around her. She has rejected my laws and has not
followed my decrees.
(Ezekiel 5:5-6 NIV)
Ebola: Famine approaches bringing fresh nightmare
Independent, October 16, 2014
EVENT
Sierra Leone’s fields are without farmers. Its crops go un-reaped. In the quarantine
areas, feeding is patchy – some get food, others don’t. People then leave the enforced
isolation in search of a meal, so Ebola spreads. In three West African countries where
many already live a hand-to-mouth existence, the act of eating is increasingly rare.
Ebola, the virus that has ravaged Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea at an
unprecedented rate, continues its devastating spread. The number of dead doubles
with each passing month; the bodies unburied. More lives are devastated with each
passing day. And in the absence of a mass-produced vaccine, its treatment – enforced
isolation, mass quarantines – now threatens to bring a new crisis: starvation. Yesterday,
as the World Health Organisation warned that more than 4,500 people would be dead
before the end of the week.
COMMENT There are warnings that Ebola could lead to the collapse of nation states. As people
are afraid to go out the economy collapses and so does the agriculture.
The number of cases in the Ebola outbreak has exceeded 10,000, with 4,922 deaths,
the World Health Organization says in its latest report. Mali became the latest nation
this week to record a death from Ebola. A two-year-old girl. More than 40 people known
to have come into contact with her have been quarantined. The WHO said the number
of cases was now 10,141 but that the figure could be much higher, as many families
were keeping relatives at home rather than taking them to treatment centres.
Jesus said we would see pestilence (plague) and famine before he returned….
BIBLE
QUOTE
Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be
great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs
from heaven.
(Luke 21:10)
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