Transcript Weekly World Watch

Andy Walton’s
Weekly World Watch
September 7 - 13, 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
September 7 - 13, 2014
• Scotland heading for a 'Great Depression' if a Yes vote
• R.I.P. GB: what happens if Scotland votes Yes
• 10 Arab states join the US in battle against Isil
• Ukraine crisis: US strengthens sanctions on Russia
• Russia reduces gas exports to Poland
• Will the Gaza truce be shorter than the Gaza war?
To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right
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Scotland heading for a 'Great Depression' if a Yes
vote
Daily Telegraph, September 12, 2014
EVENT
Deutsche Bank warns a vote for independence would be a historic mistake as the
Chancellor and the Bank of England's Governor disclose they have pulled out of next
weekend's G20 meeting to prepare for the aftermath. Britain faces a period of severe
economic turbulence if Scotland votes for independence next week, economists
warned, as the prospect of a Yes vote threatened a new financial crisis.
A report from a respected financial advisory firm said that investors were already
pulling money out of the UK at the fastest pace since the "credit crisis" of 2008.
With the battle over independence reaching fever pitch on the final weekend of
campaigning, George Osborne, the Chancellor, announced he was withdrawing from a
crucial G20 summit next weekend because of the risk that a vote for independence in
Thursday’s referendum could plunge the UK economy back into turmoil.
COMMENT We will know the outcome of this referendum next Friday. But with Bible in hand is
there any indication about what will happen? Britain is a significant nation in the Bible
and has had a key role to play in God’s plan and purpose. Is it possible that Britain
could break up at this stage? It has been a United Kingdom for over 300 years!
So here is scriptural reasoning that Britain may possibly be about to break up…
Britain is Tarshish in the Bible. Tarshish is mentioned over 20 times. A key chapter that
identifies Britain as Tarshish is Ezekiel 27. In verse 12 we read that the Phoenicians
traded with Tarshish for TIN. Britain was the only country at the time Ezekiel wrote
trading in tin. CLICK HERE to read more about this evidence. So Tarshish is Britain.
We read about the “ships of Tarshish” having their strength laid waste in Isaiah 23:14.
This occurred in WW1. CLICK HERE to watch a presentation on this. Comment cont....
BIBLE
QUOTE
Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kind of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and
lead, they traded in thy fairs. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office says “The principle economic
minerals of south-west England are, of course, tin and copper ores, lead, zinc, silver, arsenic,
(Ezekiel 27:12)
antimony, sulphur and iron. Tin was being produced about 2500 years ago..”
Scotland heading for a 'Great Depression' if a Yes
vote
Daily Telegraph, September 12, 2014
also read in Isaiah 23 that Tyre will “pass over” to Tarshish. Tyre was the capital city
COMMENT We
of the Phoenicians who traded with Tarshish for tin! Tyre was an incredible trading city,
Cont…
BIBLE
QUOTE
trading around the whole of the then known world. But Tyre was destroyed by
Nebuchadnezzar and later Alexander the Great as God foretold. Why did this happen?
Because Tyre became proud and also turned against the Jews. So how does a capital
city in Phoenicia move to Britain? It did so symbolically. Tyre was re-established in
Britain. Britain became a great trading nation like the Phoenicians. They setup colonies
around the world like they did. And London became the equivalent of Tyre. A capital city
controlling an empire and trading with colonies around the world. But Britain, once
supportive of the Jews has turned against them and also rejected the Bible. In fact
latter day “Tyre has become like a harlot.” See Isaiah 23:15. Latter day Tyre (London)
we are told in verse 18 will not keep her wealth – it will not be stored up. The riches
therefore of Tyre will come to an end. So judgement is coming on Tyre (London). We
are also told of this in Psalm 2:11-16. God will once more judge the ships of Tarshish
for being proud when the day of the Lord comes. So could the possible break-up of the
UK be the beginning of this judgement? Quite possibly. And there is more…
We have long quoted from Ezekiel 38:13 about the “merchants of Tarshish” who
oppose Gog (Russian leader). But WHY does it say uniquely in the Bible “the
MERCHANTS of Tarshish”? Why not just say “Tarshish”? Is this a reference to a
specific group of people WITHIN Tarshish? The word “merchant” means “trader”. The
centre of trade is still in latter day Tyre – London. Are we being told that Tarshish is
broken at this point? It is not Tarshish standing as a whole against Gog but only a
group within Tarshish…. The group of merchants and traders based in London /
England.
Sheba,
and Dedan, and 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?
Why does the Bible have to add the phrase “the merchants” It could have just said “Tarshish”. Is it
(Ezekiel 38:13)
because the merchants describe a group of people separated within the nation?
R.I.P. GB: what happens if Scotland votes Yes
London Evening Standard, September 12, 2014
EVENT
This is the week when the enormity of a possible Yes victory started to come home.
The past few days’ polls have made clear that Scottish independence is a real
possibility. From currency to elections, counter-terrorism to the Queen, England would
be transformed. We could see political apocalypse. Former prime minister John Major
writes “The UK would be weaker in every international body and most damagingly
within the EU. The risk of our exit from it enhanced. Britain’s place as a member of the
permanent 5 of the UN would no longer be viable.” Also dividing up the military would
be incredibly difficult. “It’s a mess,” says Evening Standard defence correspondent
Robert Fox. “Think of the arguments between Ukraine and Russia over the Black Sea
fleet: it would be worse than that.” The Queen is also known to be upset at the
prospect of independence. She would however in theory still be Queen of Scotland.
COMMENT The aim of this WWW is not to categorically say that Scotland will leave the UK. But to
show that it is possible to see this with Bible in hand. There has already been sarcastic
reactions by Russia and the rebels in the Ukraine to the possible break-up of Britain.
And this would only increase afterwards. The UK would lose much of it’s perceived
power and authority. David Cameron the UK prime minister was tearful this week as he
pleaded with Scotland to vote “no” to independence. This is the same man of course
who just last year said “I want to export gay marriage around the world.” Not just civil
partnerships but gay marriage. He spoke of his pride in doing this. Yes Britain truly has
rejected God, the Bible and Israel. Britain now supports fully the division of God’s land.
So whatever the vote on Thursday, judgement is coming on a nation that once believed
in God, that once held the Bible in respect, that once supported Israel living in the land..
BIBLE
QUOTE
Yes, after seventy years the Lord will revive Tyre. But she will be no different than she was before.
She will again be a prostitute to all kingdoms around the world. But in the end her profits will be
Isaiah 23:17-18 NLT)
given to the Lord. Her wealth will not be hoarded …
Something happens to stop her hoarding her wealth. God punishes Tyre for becoming like a harlot
R.I.P. GB: what happens if Scotland votes Yes
London Evening Standard, September 12, 2014 –
THE IMAGE IN THE NEWSPAPER THIS WEEK
BIBLE
QUOTE
Human pride will be brought down, and human arrogance will be humbled. Only the Lord will be
exalted on that day of judgment. For the Lord of Hosts has a day of reckoning. He will punish the
proud and mighty and bring down everything that is exalted. He will destroy all the great trading
ships of Tarshish and every magnificent vessel. Human pride will be humbled, (Isaiah 2:11-16 NLT)
10 Arab states join the US in battle against Isil
Daily Telegraph, September 11, 2014
EVENT
A coalition of 10 Arab states threw their support behind Barack Obama’s pledge to
destroy the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isil) movement in Iraq and Syria on
Thursday. In a welcome boost to US plans for defeating the militant Islamist group,
regional powers including Saudi Arabia and Jordan pledged to “do their share” in the
battle. The announcement in Saudi Arabia was carefully choreographed, coming
hours after the president told the American people that he would expand US air
strikes against the militants, promising that Isil would ultimately be “vanquished from
the Earth”. As Mr Obama marked the anniversary of the September 11 attacks with a
moment of silence at the White House, the 10 regional allies — which also included
Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates —
issued their statement after a meeting with John Kerry, the US secretary of state.
COMMENT This is a remarkable coalition brought together by America. The terrible situation with
the newly formed Islamic State has united 10 Arab nations with the US. What is
interesting is who is forming part of this block and even more interesting – who isn’t.
It is also interesting what their stated aims are. So the nations in this coalition as listed
above include all the nations in the Saudi Arabian peninsula. Plus Lebanon and Jordan.
Apart from Lebanon these nations correspond to the area described in Ezekiel 38 as
Sheba and Dedan. We note from verse 13 that they are aligned with the merchants of
Tarshish AND the young lions – America is a “young lion” offspring of the old lion
Britain. Turkey is not joining this coalition and the US has ruled out Iran joining. The aim
of this group is to defeat ISIS. But Obama went further and said that military strikes will
happen on Syria where ISIS has bases. This has infuriated Russia. It’s another push…
BIBLE
QUOTE
Sheba, and Dedan, and 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?
(Ezekiel 38:13)
All peoples / nations in this verse have been identified this week!
Ukraine crisis: US strengthens sanctions on
Russia
Daily Telegraph, September 12, 2014
EVENT
The US government has imposed new sanctions on major Russian banks, defence and
energy companies. The measures are part of a joint effort with the European Union
aimed at punishing Russia for what they say is its military intervention in Ukraine.
They come despite a fragile ceasefire holding in the east of the country. The Russian
foreign ministry denounced the new sanctions as "another hostile step in line with the
confrontational course" taken by the US . "Of course, our retaliatory measures will not
keep you waiting," it said. The sanctions announced on Friday mean that US citizens
will not be able to provide loans lasting longer than 30 days to Sberbank, Russia's
biggest bank. They will also affect Rostec, a major technology and defence firm, and
technology for Russia's oil industry.
COMMENT Both Europe and America have put into force this week even more sanctions against
BIBLE
QUOTE
Russia. Despite a truce between Ukraine rebels and Ukraine forces there is still way
too much Russian involvement in eastern Ukraine according to the West. Nato says
Russia still has about 1,000 heavily armed troops in eastern Ukraine and about 20,000
more near the border. Russia is vowing to respond to these increased sanctions.
Reacting to the EU sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that they could
undermine the ceasefire in Ukraine. In other words Russia could return to fighting a full
scale war with Ukraine. As some reports say – this is like a game of poker. Who is
going to blink first. If no one does the stakes get higher and higher. Eventually
someone has to back down – if not there is war. The Russian bear is being pushed and
is starting to wake-up and growl. We will one day see it roar and come tearing down
into
ThenIsrael…
at the time of the end, the king of the south will attack the king of the north. The king of the
north will storm out with chariots, charioteers, and a vast navy. He will invade various lands and
sweep through them like a flood. He will enter the glorious land of Israel, and many nations will
fall,
(Daniel 11:40-41 NLT)
Russia reduces gas exports to Poland
BBConline, September 11, 2014
EVENT
Russia's gas supplies to Poland have dropped by 45%, Poland's state gas firm
PGNiG says, amid tensions over Ukraine. The news came just hours after Poland
stopped providing gas to Ukraine through "reverse-flow" pipelines. The Russian gas
volumes were 24% lower on Tuesday and 20% lower on Monday, according to
PGNiG. That shortfall prompted Poland to halt reverse-flow. Poland and Ukraine rely
heavily on Russian natural gas. Russia is in a pricing dispute over gas with Ukraine.
Some analysts believe Russia, which stopped gas supplies to Ukraine in June over
the pricing dispute, is punishing Poland for sending gas to Ukraine. Ukrainian forces
have been fighting pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine since April, after the
separatists declared independence in two regions. Russia has denied arming the
rebels and sending soldiers across the border.
COMMENT Russia is already reacting to the sanctions. It has switched off gas supplies to Ukraine
and now is punishing Poland who is supplying Ukraine with gas by turning down gas
supplies to them! On top of this Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered
military forces in the country's east to carry out a major exercise to test their
preparedness. This is a second major drill of combat readiness since June when the
conflict in eastern Ukraine was already raging. That drill in the Volga region and the
Urals involved 65,000 troops. In May, Russia and China held a joint naval exercise in
the East China Sea. A BBC documentary this week called “Putin’s gamble” ended with
a quote from a Kremlin insider who said .. “I think we are at the beginning of a series of
crises that will change the landscape of the world.” The Bible says this as well. It calls it
the time of trouble such as never was – and it is fast approaching…
BIBLE
QUOTE
Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at
that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. Many of
those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame
(Daniel 12:1-2 NLT)
and everlasting disgrace.
Will the Gaza truce be shorter than the Gaza
war?
Debkafile, September 8, 2014
EVENT
Graph shows number of
independent nations since 1902
Day by day, the prospect recedes of the Israel-Hamas Cairo negotiations actually taking
place on schedule, one month after Aug. 26, the date the last Gaza ceasefire went into
force. And even if they do, it will only be a pointless formality achieving nothing. The
discussions, actions, disclosures and statements filling the air at present all point to the
violence resuming on the Jewish New Year festival later this month. Clearly aware of
the dates, Hamas’ Gaza leader Ismail Haniyeh warned in a sermon Friday, Sept. 6, that
rocket fire would start up against Israel on Sept. 25, the first day of the festival, unless
the blockade of the Gaza Strip was lifted by then. This eventuality would sorely
embarrass Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon, to
say the least – after their extreme efforts to demonstrate to critics that Hamas would
never dare shoot another rocket after the punishment it took in 50 days of relentless
Israeli warfare and air strikes.
COMMENT We have two extremely fragile truces in place at the moment. One between Russia and
BIBLE
QUOTE
Ukraine. The other between the Palestinians and Israel. Both situations have the
potential to flare up into conflict at anytime. We are on the brink of major conflict and
war. This current Jewish year is drawing to a close. A new one begins on September
25th. The coming Jewish year may see many prophecies fulfilled. The stage is surely
set for Armageddon and the return of Jesus to this earth. Momentous events are
happening all around us. We are told to consider a parable. When you see ALL the
trees shoot forth you know the kingdom is near. Trees are nations. So when we see
new nations developing and nations pushing their borders the return of Jesus is
close…
And
he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth,
ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye
see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
We may even see another new nation created next week. We watch and wait… (Luke 21:29-31)
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