Transcript Weekly World Watch

Andy Walton’s
Weekly World Watch
June 15 - 21, 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
June 15 - 21, 2014
• Nato warns Russia over fresh military build-up
• Russia cuts gas supply to Ukraine
• Iran threatens intervention in Iraq over Holy Sites
• Obama sending up to 300 military advisers to Iraq
• ISIS, beheadings & the success of horrifying violence
• Presbyterian Assembly: Gay Marriage Is Christian
To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right
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Nato warns Russia over fresh military build-up
Financial Times, June 19, 2014
EVENT
COMMENT As the world’s attention has suddenly and dramatically switched to events in Iraq, the
Kremlin has been increasing its support for the insurgents in eastern Ukraine. It took
months of persuasion to get Russia to move its troops away from Ukraine’s eastern
border and yet within 2 weeks of withdrawing them – they are back! Also Putin has
ordered forces in Russia's central military district to be put on full combat alert for a
week. A truce was announced by the new Ukrainian president this week but the
Kremlin dismissed it, saying it was "not an invitation to peace and negotiations but an
ultimatum". More sanctions are coming on Russia and the conflict shows no sign of
abating. We are seeing the image of Daniel 2 before us. The divided legs of Europe –
East and West. The division of course is straight through the centre of Ukraine. It is not
a uniting of the two sides we are looking for - but a dividing. Clay and iron don’t mix!
BIBLE
QUOTE
The feet and toes you saw were a combination of iron and baked clay, showing that this kingdom
will be divided….But while some parts of it will be as strong as iron, other parts will be as weak as
clay. This mixture of iron and clay also shows that these kingdoms will try to strengthen
(Daniel 2:41-43 NLT)
themselves by forming alliances…But they will not hold together…
Russia cuts gas supply to Ukraine
Associated Press, June 16, 2014
EVENT
COMMENT
BIBLE
QUOTE
Russia on Monday cut gas supplies to Ukraine as a payment deadline passed and
negotiators failed to reach a deal on gas prices and unpaid bills amid continued
fighting in eastern Ukraine. The decision does not immediately affect the gas flow to
Europe, but could disrupt the long-term energy supply to the region if the issue is not
resolved, analysts said. Ukraine's Naftogaz company head Andriy Kobolev said
Russia had cut the supply of gas to Ukraine, but that Ukraine can manage without
Russian gas until December. Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said that since
Ukraine had paid nothing for the gas by Monday, from now on the company would
demand that Ukraine pay in advance for any future deliveries. Ukraine was ready to
accept a compromise in talks in Kiev of paying $1 billion now and more later, but
Russia didn't accept the offer, the European Commission said in a statement.
The impact of Russia’s move this week will not be felt for a few months. Ukraine has
enough gas supplies to last until the winter. The trouble is that the gas supply for
Europe goes through Ukraine. The gas for Ukraine and the gas for Europe is the same
gas in the same pipeline. Therefore when Russia says it has switched off the gas what
it means is that it is only sending enough gas through for Europe’s demands. However
if Ukraine’s supplies run out they could take the gas that was destined for Europe.
Gazprom (the Russian gas supplier) announced this week it suing Ukraine’s state gas
company. And Ukraine’s state gas company announced it was suing Gazprom!
The Russian bear is playing hard ball. It is being goaded and provoked. It will just not
tolerate Europe operating in a nation that was once part of the USSR. Putin the master
of deception will destroy many without warning. He will invade the Middle East…
He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people. He will be a master of deception
and will become arrogant; he will destroy many without warning. He will even take on the Prince of
princes in battle, but he will be broken, though not by human power.
(Daniel 8:24-25 NLT)
Iran threatens intervention in Iraq over Holy Sites
Associated Press, June 18, 2014
EVENT
Iran will not hesitate to defend Shi'ite Muslim holy sites in neighbouring Iraq against
"killers and terrorists", Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday,
following rapid advances by Sunni militants there over the past week.
Speaking on live television, Rouhani said many people had signed up to go to Iraq to
defend the sites and "put the terrorists in their place". He added that veteran fighters
from Iraq's Sunni, Shi'ite and Kurdish communities were also "ready for sacrifice"
against these militant forces. "Regarding the holy Shia shines in Karbala, Najaf,
Khadhimiya and Samarra, we announce to the killers and terrorists that the big Iranian
nation will not hesitate to protect holy shrines," he said, speaking to a crowd on a visit
to western Lorestan province. "These terrorist groups, and those that fund them, both
in the region and in the international arena, are nothing, and hopefully they will be put
in their own place.” CLICK HERE to watch YouTube Presentation on Isaiah 13
COMMENT Meanwhile Iraq is in flames…There is a key chapter in the Bible that describes exact
events from 2003 to the present (and beyond). Isaiah 13. This is NOT just ancient
history. Read verses 6-13. Every phrase is a latter day phrase. In fact in this one
section are all the key themes to do with the time of trouble at the time of the end.
Verse 1-5 explain the national nightmare of Babylon – Iraq. It describes nations
attacking Iraq that come “from distant countries, from beyond the farthest horizons” v5.
This all happened in 2003. v14 picks up events - people in Iraq will seek their own
people – they flee to their own land. Anyone captured is killed. This is exactly what is
happening as Iraq divides into its ethnic and religious races. But then notice v17. The
Medes are stirred up! Iran attacks Iraq. It brings utter destruction on it like Sodom….
BIBLE
QUOTE
“Look, I will stir up the Medes against Babylon. They cannot be tempted by silver or bribed with
gold. The attacking armies will shoot down the young men with arrows. They will have no mercy on
helpless babies and will show no compassion for children.” Babylon, the most glorious of
(Isaiah 13:17-19 NLT)
kingdoms, ….will be devastated like Sodom and Gomorrah
Obama sending up to 300 military advisers to
Iraq
Associated Press, June 19, 2014
EVENT
President Barack Obama on Thursday said he was dispatching up to 300 military
advisers to Iraq to help quell the rising insurgency in the crumbling state. He called on
Iraqi leaders to govern with a more "inclusive agenda" to ensure the country does not
descend into civil war. Though not specifically mentioning airstrikes, an option the U.S.
has been considering, Obama said he was leaving open the possibility of "targeted"
military action in the future. He said the U.S. also would increase its intelligence efforts
in Iraq and was creating joint operations centres with Iraqis. When coupled with
previously announced steps, Obama's actions could put about 600 additional U.S.
troops back on the ground in Iraq. The 300 military advisers he announced Thursday
would join up to 275 being positioned in and around Iraq to provide security and support
for the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and other American interests. But he was adamant
that U.S. troops would not be returning to combat.
COMMENT Saudi Arabia will oppose any US and British or regional intervention in Iraq against the
jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, the country's ambassador to London told the
Daily Telegraph newspaper this week. It was also seen as a firm statement against Iran
getting involved as well. What we really have here is a Sunni v Shia war. Saudi Arabia
is Sunni. Iran is Shia. Iraq is divided between the two. The government is Shia. ISIS
(insurgency) is Sunni. Iran wont tolerate Sunni’s in power in Iraq. Saddam Hussein was
Sunni and Iran fought a decade long war with him. America can do very little now. Iraq
is finished as a nation. It is breaking up. It will end up completely destroyed. Babylon home of sin and death (Eden) and false religion will be removed completely.
BIBLE
QUOTE
But Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish will ask, ‘Do you really think the armies you
have gathered can rob them of silver and gold? Do you think you can drive away their livestock
and seize their goods and carry off plunder?’
We
know that Saudi Arabia (Sheba & Dedan) is on the opposite side of the conflict to Iran.
(Ezekiel 38:13)
ISIS, beheadings & the success of horrifying violence
Washington Post, June 13, 2014
EVENT
The stories, the videos, the acts of unfathomable brutality have become a
defining aspect of ISIS, which controls a nation-size tract of land and has now pushed
Iraq to the precipice of dissolution. Its adherents kill with such abandon that even the
leader of al-Qaeda has disavowed them. “Clearly, [leader Ayman] al-Zawahiri believes
that ISIS is a liability to the al-Qaeda brand,” Aaron Zelin, who analyzes jihadist
movements for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told The Washington
Post. One video captures militants with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)
herding hundreds of boys and Iraqi soldiers down a highway to an unknown fate. One
reporter said an Iraqi woman in Mosul claimed to have seen a “row of decapitated
soldiers and policemen” on the street. Other reports spoke of “mass beheadings.” The
UN Human Rights chief said the summary executions “may run into the hundreds”
COMMENT So who are ISIS? The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has emerged from radical
Sunni jihadists in Iraq who fought under the banner “al-Qaeda in Iraq”. Their goal since
being founded in 2004 is to create a hardline Islamic state crossing over the borders of
Syria and Iraq. Notice in the article that they now control a “nation-size tract of land”.
Now what is interesting about this tract of land is this….it corresponds almost exactly to
the heart of the Assyrian empire. The Assyrians were renowned for their cruelty – as
one Bible dictionary puts it…"The Assyrians were noted for their brutality, and their
kings were often depicted as gloating over the gruesome punishments inflicted on
conquered peoples. They conducted their wars with shocking ferocity, uprooting whole
populations and deporting them to other parts of the empire." We see this with ISIS. We
also read in Psalm 83 that Assur (Assyrians) join forces against Israel….
BIBLE
QUOTE
“Come,” they say, “let us wipe out Israel as a nation. We will destroy the very memory of its
existence.” Yes, this was their unanimous decision. They signed a treaty as allies against you—
these Edomites and Ishmaelites; Moabites and Hagrites; Gebalites, Ammonites, and Amalekites
(Psalm 83:4-8 NLT)
and people from Philistia and Tyre. Assyria has joined them, too,
Presbyterian Assembly: Gay Marriage Is
Christian
Associated Press, June 19, 2014
EVENT
The top legislative body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has voted by large margins
to recognize same-sex marriage as Christian in the church constitution, adding
language that marriage can be the union of "two people," not just "a man and a
woman.” The amendment approved Thursday by the Presbyterian General Assembly
requires approval from a majority of the 172 regional presbyteries, which will vote on
the change over the next year. But in a separate policy change that takes effect at the
end of this week's meeting, delegates voted to allow ministers to preside at gay
weddings in states where the unions are legal and local congregational leaders
approve. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia recognize same-sex marriage.
The votes, during a national meeting in Detroit, were a sweeping victory for
Presbyterian gay-rights advocates.
COMMENT This is a sign we are truly in the very last days. These are people who purportedly read
the Bible, worship God and accept Christ as their saviour. And yet they have come to
the conclusion that a homosexual marriage is Christian. A Christian is someone who
professes belief in Jesus as Christ and lives a life based on the life and teachings of
Jesus. So what did Jesus say about marriage? He said “Haven’t you read that at the
beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave
his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So
Jesus clearly states marriage is between a man and a woman. Not a man and a man.
In the same passage Jesus uses the word “porneia”. Porneia according to Strong’s
concordance means any adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, beastiliality
etc. A man marrying a man therefore is NOT Christian behaviour – it is godless…
BIBLE
QUOTE
“Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made
them male and female.’ And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is
joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one
split apart what God has joined together.”
(Matthew 19:4-6 NLT)
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