Transcript Weekly World Watch

Andy Walton’s
Weekly World Watch
December 14 - 20, 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
December 14 - 20, 2014
• Putin: West is trying to 'defang' the Russian bear
• US slaps trade ban on Crimea over Russia occupation
• Iran and Saudi Arabia bicker over falling price of crude
• Israeli PM slams EU taking Hamas off terror list
• Israel launches air strikes against targets in Gaza
• Israel announces discovery of offshore gas field
To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right
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Putin: West is trying to 'defang' the Russian bear
Associated Press, December 18, 2014
EVENT
Vowing never to let the West defang his proud nation, President
Vladimir Putin promised Thursday to fix Russia's economic woes within two years by
diversifying and voiced confidence that the plummeting rouble will soon recover. In a
live, three-hour news conference that has become a Putin holiday tradition, the
Russian leader demonstrated unwavering confidence in his domestic policies despite
the catastrophic collapse in the rouble. His fierce defiance toward the United States
flared throughout as he insisted the West was trying to destroy Russia to grab
Siberia's great natural resources. He accused the West of trying to infringe on Russia's
sovereignty, saying the Ukrainian crisis was just a pretext for Western action.
COMMENT Putin compared Russia to a bear in this speech. He said "Sometimes I think, maybe it
would be better for our bear to sit quiet, rather than chasing around the forest after
piglets. To sit eating berries and honey instead..” So Putin sometimes thinks lets be
peaceful and be a like a bear eating honey. But Putin’s speech did not stop there… he
then said “Maybe they will leave the bear in peace. THEY WILL NOT. Because they
will always try to put him on a chain, and as soon as they succeed in doing so they tear
out his fangs and his claws.” So Putin’s decision is made. He believes the bear cannot
live in peace for its own survival is at stake. “Once they've taken out his claws and his
fangs, then the bear is no longer necessary. He'll become a stuffed animal," he said.
Every time a bear is mentioned in the Bible is speaks of war, anger, bitterness and
cunning. Key words in relation to the bear… roaring, ranging, robbed, rend, bereaved,
devour, bitterness. Putin is bereaved of his whelps (USSR states) he is bitter and feels
robbed. He is angry but cunning. He is roaring and will range and devour much flesh.
BIBLE
QUOTE
As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people….We roar all like
bears…. I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their
heart…there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
There are 13 references to bears in OT (Proverbs 28:15, Isaiah 59:11, Hosea 13:8, 2 Kings 2:24)
US slaps trade ban on Crimea over Russia
occupation
Daily Telegraph, December 20, 2014
EVENT
Barack Obama imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia-annexed
Crimea on Friday, banning all exports of goods and services to the contested
peninsula and prohibiting Crimean imports. Canada also slapped new sanctions on
Russia, hitting the country's oil and gas sector and targeting 20 Russian politicians as
well as Ukrainian separatist leaders. Mr Obama said his executive order was
"intended to provide clarity to US corporations doing business in the region and
reaffirm that the United States will not accept Russia's occupation and attempted
annexation of Crimea". The action bans new US investments in Crimea and
authorises the US Treasury to impose sanctions on people and companies operating
there. It also forbids trade of technology or services between Crimea and the US.
COMMENT America continues to provoke the bear. Mr Obama's order came a day after he signed
into law a congressional bill allowing him to impose new sanctions on Russia over its
alleged support of pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. That law also authorises
the president to send lethal weapons to Ukraine's military. But Putin appears ready to
fight. He clearly signalled in his speech that he will not back down. But the pain in
Russia is increasing. Russia began the year as the 8th largest economy in the world. In
just months it has dropped to 15th! The Eurasia Group (a political risk and consulting
firm) said this week that there is “potential global risk of Russia asserting itself more
aggressively in Ukraine and other nearby countries.” This week Russia had to increase
its base interest rate to 17% to defend the rouble. It’s sign of panic and severe stress.
How long does this go on for? We don’t know. But the Bible is clear.. America pushes at
Russia. When pushed far enough Russia comes down like a storm. It is gathering now..
BIBLE
QUOTE
And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall
come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he
shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious
(Daniel 11:40)
land, and many countries shall be overthrown:
Iran and Saudi Arabia bicker over falling price
of crude
Daily Telegraph, December 18, 2014
EVENT
OPEC kingpins Saudi Arabia and Iran were at odds this week
over the reason behind falling oil prices in an indication of the pain being caused to
many of the cartel’s 12 members. Iran’s oil minister, Bijan Zanganeh, has said that a
“political conspiracy” is to blame for the dramatic slump in remarks that could
signal that the Islamic Republic will try to exert pressure on OPEC to again consider
cutting output. Iran, along with Venezuela, tried to convince OPEC to reduce its
production ceiling from 30 million bpd at the Vienna meeting. However, the proposal
was shot down by Saudi Arabia and a clutch of Gulf Arab producers that appear
determined to provoke a price war with Russia and U.S. shale oil-drillers. Mr.
Zanganeh’s remarks will lend support to the theory that the real target of Saudi
Arabia and its allies such as the United Arab Emirates is the Kremlin.
COMMENT It is no coincidence that the price of oil has dropped so far and so fast in recent months.
Oil is down 45% since June! Falling prices are crippling the Russian economy,
threatening to plunge the country deep into recession and forcing the country’s central
bank to intervene in order to defend the rouble. This is how America can hurt Russia.
By in effect turning off its revenue. Saudi Arabia is a key ally of America and they would
certainly be working together to bring about this oil price collapse. Putin said yesterday
that he does not rule out the possibility of a price conspiracy between Saudi Arabia and
the US on the market of energy. But as well as Russia we see Iran in pain as well. We
know Iran and Russia invade Israel together as combined king of the north. We also
know Saudi Arabia and America are king of the south. All the pieces are in place…
BIBLE
QUOTE
I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts
of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia,
Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
(Ezekiel 38:4-5)
Israeli PM slams EU taking Hamas off terror list
Associated Press, December 17, 2014
EVENT
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the European Union Wednesday
for removing Hamas from its terrorist list, calling it a staggering example of European
hypocrisy and an indication that many on the continent have learned nothing from the
Holocaust. The European Union court order to remove Hamas from the EU terrorist
list came the same day as a United Nations body in Europe delivered a stinging
rebuke to Israel's settlement construction in the West Bank and called for Israel to be
investigated for war crimes. The EU court in Luxembourg said it ordered Hamas
removed from the list for procedural reasons, while in Geneva Israel was called out for
potential war crimes. The pair of developments follows a recent surge in European
legislatures making moves to unilaterally recognize a state of Palestine.
COMMENT Europe has recognised Hamas by taking it off the terrorist list. This surely shows the
BIBLE
QUOTE
true colours of Europe. Hamas refuses to recognise the State of Israel’s right to exist as
an independent, sovereign nation, and is totally opposed to any agreement or
arrangement that would recognize its right to exist. At the beginning of its charter there
is a quotation ..“Israel will arise and continue to exist until Islam wipes it out, as it wiped
out what went before.” Hamas boasted recently that it has killed 1365 Zionist soldiers.
Hamas deliberately targets Israeli civilians while hiding among its own civilians.
There is a Hebrew word “Hamas” in the Bible. It is Strong’s number 2555. Chamas. It
means violence, malicious, cruel and unrighteous. Everything that Hamas is.
It really is astounding that Europe would recognise this terror organisation but with
Bible in hand we know what is coming. Europe itself despises the Jews and will
actually stand against Christ and the saints when he returns. A truly anti Semite
organisation…
And
the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but
receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power
and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome
(Revelation 17:12-14)
them:
Israel launches air strikes against targets in Gaza
Daily Telegraph, December 20, 2014
EVENT
Israeli war planes struck targets in Gaza late on Friday night, in the first air strikes since
the August truce that ended a 50-day conflict. The planes were in action after a rocket
was fired from Palestinian territory, landing in a field in southern Israeli causing no
casualties or damage. The Israeli army confirmed the strikes, which it said "targeted a
Hamas terror infrastructure site”. Palestinian residents reported hearing two explosions
in the Khan Yunis region of Gaza, in an area that contains training sites for Palestinian
militants. A spokesman for Gaza's health ministry said there were no casualties in the
attack More than 2000 people died during seven weeks of Israeli bombardments and
Palestinian rocket attacks during the summer.
COMMENT Just one day after Europe recognises Hamas what does Hamas do? Fires a rocket at
Israel. Israel then responded with air strikes on Gaza. A Hamas delegation visited Iran
last week and met with senior Iranian officials where they discussed widening
cooperation. According to Debkafile, Iran then gave Hamas the order to resume attacks
on Israel. Hours after the first rocket was launched Friday, Hamas staged its first ever
parade on Temple Mount, Jerusalem, marching around the golden Dome of the Rock,
and shouting calls to revive the Palestinian rocket offensive against Israeli
locations. They were clad uniformly in green with jihadi headbands and hoisted Hamas
banners aloft. Psalm 83 speaks of peoples who come together with the aim of
destroying Israel. One of the peoples mentioned are the Philistines. The Philistines are
the equivalent of the Palestinians which are the equivalent of Hamas…
BIBLE
QUOTE
They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. They
have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no
more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate
against thee; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
(Psalm 83:3-7)
Israel announces discovery of offshore gas field
Free Beacon, December 15, 2014
EVENT
Israel announced on Sunday the discovery of a major offshore gas field, the third to be
located in its waters in the past five years, augmenting its newly acquired status as an
energy power. The new field, some 90 miles off Israel’s coast in the eastern
Mediterranean, holds at least 3.2 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas, according to a 3D
seismic survey. Two larger fields, discovered in 2009 and 2010, have combined
reserves of at least 33 trillion cubic feet. These fields are expected to serve the bulk of
Israel’s gas needs for the coming century. Experts say that further exploration will likely
uncover other sizeable fields in Israel’s deep offshore waters. The gas discoveries will
have a major impact on Israel’s economy and perhaps even on its relations with Arab
neighbours. Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, and Egypt are all in urgent need of
energy supplies and Israel would be the natural supplier.
COMMENT Israel continues to find gas fields. Another major find was announced this week by the
Israeli government. These Israeli gas finds and the deals that are being brokered by
Israel are beginning to cause issues. Yesterday (Friday) angry Jordanian protesters
poured out into the streets to condemn the government’s plan to sign a multi-billiondollar gas deal with Israel. Members of various political groups as well as ordinary
citizens took part in the Friday protest rallies. The protesters called the plan a deal of
shame, saying the government is contributing to Israeli crimes against Palestinians.
They also accused Prime Minister Abdullah al-Nassour of “stealing the reserves of
Palestinians.” We know Russia comes down to take a spoil. Israel has now found the
spoil and the tensions over it are mounting…
BIBLE
QUOTE
thou [Russian leader] 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
walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey;,
(Ezekiel 38:10-12)
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