Transcript Weekly World Watch

Andy Walton’s
Weekly World Watch
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)
PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE
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
April 26 – May 2, 2015
• 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?
• Nepal earthquake destroys historic temples
To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right
PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE
Russia's State RIA News Agency: Let the world
fear us
Eurasia Daily Monitor, April 30, 2015
EVENT
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.
COMMENT Russia’s Victory Day Parade is next week. But due to the size and scale of this one
BIBLE
QUOTE
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.
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.
(Ezekiel 38:16)
Russia seems set for new offensive in Ukraine
Associated Press, April 30, 2015
EVENT
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."
COMMENT 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!
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;
(Ezekiel 28:10-11)
Iran supports Syrian-Hezbollah anti-Israel
offensive
Debka, April 30, 2015
EVENT
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.
COMMENT 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…
BIBLE
QUOTE
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!
(Zechariah 12:6-7NLT)
Iran says warships at entrance to key Yemen
strait
AFP, April 30, 2015
EVENT
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.
COMMENT Another hot spot in the world continues to be Yemen. Yemen is a small country at the
BIBLE
QUOTE
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
Saudiand
Arabia.
The
Yemen
crisis
is another
showdown
between
the two…
Sheba,
Dedan
[Saudi
Arabia
/ Yemen],
andpotential
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?
(Ezekiel 38:13)
Are Assad's military forces on the verge of
collapse?
Jerusalem Post, May 1, 2015
EVENT
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.
COMMENT 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….
BIBLE
QUOTE
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,” (Isaiah 17:1-3 NLT)
Nepal earthquake destroys historic temples
Live Science, April 28, 2015
EVENT
The Dharahara Tower destroyed
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.
COMMENT 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…
BIBLE
QUOTE
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.
(Isaiah 45:20-+22)
Weekly World Watch
YouTube Videos
The end of this week’s
Weekly World Watch
WWW will be e-mailed to you each week.
If you think others may find the WWW helpful
please direct them to the website
www.weeklyworldwatch.co.uk
They can register on the site
PLEASE NOTE: The Weekly World Watch is written and sent by myself – it is
my take on events and I accept that on occasions I will miss significant events
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.
Please take a look at this excellent
Christadelphian Prophecy website
Just click the image
To watch again, click here.