Transcript Weekly World Watch

Andy Walton’s
Weekly World Watch
March 9 - 15, 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
March 9 - 15, 2014
• Russia and the West fail in last minute Ukraine talks
• Russia 'to face consequences' says US
• Fire-sale of US Treasuries is a warning of acute stress
• Russia to place Eastern Ukraine ‘under its protection'
• Syria conflict anniversary: who controls what
• UK Prime minister's belief in Israel 'unbreakable'
To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right
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Russia and the West fail in last minute Ukraine
talks
Daily Telegraph, March 14, 2014
EVENT
COMMENT
BIBLE
QUOTE
Russia and the West were on a collision course on Friday night after the failure of an
11th-hour attempt to settle the confrontation over Ukraine.
John Kerry, the US secretary of state, gave warning that Moscow will now suffer
“consequences” when six hours of talks with his Russian counterpart broke up without
agreement. After this meeting at the US ambassador’s residence in London, Sergei
Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, described the Ukrainian region of Crimea as
being “immeasurably more important for Russia than the Falklands for the United
Kingdom”. The failure of the talks means that a referendum on Crimea joining Russia
will proceed on Sunday. European Union foreign ministers are then expected to meet
on Monday and impose travel bans and asset freezes on between 120 and 130
powerful Russians linked to the Kremlin.
Russia and the West are indeed on a collision course. Or more accurately Russia and
America. Russia believes America stirred up the trouble in Ukraine and removed the
pro Russian leader. This is why Russia has stepped in. It will not allow a country that it
sees firmly in its orbit passing under European / US control. Like a bear deprived of her
cubs Russia is rearing up and will go to ANY lengths to protect her interests. Russia
said this week they don’t want war. But generally Russia says the opposite to the truth.
All the signs are that Russia is gearing up for war. So what does the Bible say about
this? We have shown that Magog included the territory of eastern Ukraine as well as
southern Russia. The Bible says Gog (Russian ruler) is of the land of Magog. We are
watching Russia begin take over Eastern Ukraine and therefore Gog will control the
whole territory of ancient Magog . All this may be the spark to ignite world war…
Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal,
and prophesy against him,And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog,
the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: Gog is the ruler of the Russian people - Putin
(Ezekiel 38:2-3)
Russia 'to face consequences' says US
BBConline, March 14, 2014
EVENT
US Secretary of State John Kerry has said the US is "deeply concerned" about the
"large deployment" of Russian forces along the eastern border of Ukraine and in
Crimea. Speaking at a news conference following talks with his Russian counterpart
Sergei Lavrov, Mr Kerry warned that Russia will face consequences if it doesn't
"change course" over the rising tensions in Ukraine.
In other developments: the UN Security Council is to vote on Saturday on a USdrafted resolution that defines Crimea's referendum as illegal. U S Vice-President Joe
Biden will travel to Poland and Lithuania early next week to discuss ways to support
Ukraine's sovereignty. The Pentagon says it will keep its aircraft carrier battle group in
the Mediterranean Sea longer than planned because of the Ukraine crisis. Russia has
moved a column of army trucks and a number of artillery pieces into northern Crimea.
COMMENT Russia is believed to have deployed about 80,000 troops near Ukraine’s eastern
frontier. The foreign ministry in Moscow raised fears on Friday of a full-scale invasion of
eastern Ukraine by reserving Russia’s “right” to intervene to protect its citizens.
Back in 1994 Russia, America and Britain signed an agreement to ensure Ukraine’s
borders were protected and not violated. This was to provide security guarantees for
Ukraine to give up its stockpile of nuclear weapons. Ukraine did give up the weapons
and is now calling on Britain and America to keep their side of the bargain. America not
only has this agreement to think about it is also concerned about how this will impact
around the world. The US is trying to give Iran border guarantees if it does not proceed
to get a nuclear weapon. The guarantee would be worthless in the light of events in
Ukraine. There is great pressure on America to PUSH back at Russia. They will….
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.
(Daniel 11:40)
The time of the end cannot be 100 years ago – .the push could happen anytime….soon…
Fire-sale of US Treasuries is a warning of acute
stress across the world
Daily Telegraph, March 14, 2014
EVENT
Somebody is a selling a fistful of US Treasuries. It could be Russia, or China, Turkey,
or all frantically selling bonds at the same time for different reasons. We don’t yet
know. All we know is that the US Federal Reserve’s custody holdings on behalf of
foreign central banks plunged by $106bn in the week ending March 12, the biggest
one-week drop on record. Russia’s central bank is undoubtedly liquidating reserves at
a breakneck pace to prevent a collapse of the rouble, as foreign companies scramble
to get all their spare cash out of Russian accounts before the G7 guillotine comes
down on the Putin clan next week. The latest financial ructions go beyond Russia,
they reek of stress in the international system. “Countries are intervening all over the
place to defend their currencies. Their central banks built up huge war chests of
reserves for a rainy day, and now it is raining,” said David Bloom currency chief HSBC
COMMENT The financial markets are reacting badly to the situation in Ukraine. The currency
situation detailed above shows how nations are shoring up their positions. They believe
war could be coming. The article above went on to say “The international order is
unravelling. Russia is of course smashing the post-Cold War order by seizing Ukraine,
and blowing up the global architecture of nuclear non-proliferation.” “The global
situation is extremely serious,” said Lars Christensen from Danske Bank. “Russia is
committing economic suicide.” So if the situation in Ukraine begins a global financial
crisis and a meltdown in Russia there would be nothing to stop Russia coming down
into the Middle East. The “spoil” mentioned in Ezekiel 38 would be even more
attractive. In fact it would essential for Russia to take the spoil and control the Middle
East. The push from America & the pull of the spoil will bring Russia forth as promised.
BIBLE
QUOTE
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; …To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the
desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations,
(Ezekiel 38:11-12)
which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.
Russia Warns It Is Ready To Place Eastern
Ukraine 'Under Its Protection'
Reuters, March 14, 2014
EVENT
Russia said on Friday it reserved the right to protect compatriots in eastern Ukraine
after clashes in the city of Donetsk in which one person was killed.
The Foreign Ministry said Thursday’s violence in the industrial city, where many people
speak Russian, showed the Ukrainian authorities had lost control.
Ukraine's acting president warned the country must be ready for a full-scale Russian
invasion "at any moment" on Thursday as officials announced the emergency call-up of
a 60,000-strong national guard force. Oleksander Turchynov, the acting president in
Kiev, declared Moscow was "ready" to go much further than the annexation of the Black
Sea territory of Crimea, which is expected to vote to secede from Ukraine in a
referendum on Sunday. With tensions mounting across the region, Moscow also sent
three fighter jets to Belarus at the request of its government.
COMMENT So can we piece together events from here? Well with Bible in hand here is what may
happen. There are lots of strands coming together. We could see America “push”
Russia over Ukraine. This maybe some sort of military provocation. This would fulfill
Daniel 11:40. This then sets the scene for Russia to descend against the king of the
south into Israel. We also need to see Isaiah 17 fulfilled with conflict between Israel and
Syria. This could come at anytime. We are also reaching the deadline for Israel to
divide the land with the Palestinians. It is possible we see some deal endorsed by
Israel’s government that agrees to divide the land. It is hard to know the exact order but
each situation is reaching its climax and events could happen fast. Ultimately this will
all lead to Russia, (with Turkey, Iran, Sudan etc) descending into Israel and beyond …
BIBLE
QUOTE
Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of
war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into
spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and
gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
(Joel 3:9-12)
Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat:
Syria conflict anniversary: who controls what
Daily Telegraph, March 14, 2014
As many as 140,000 people have died and millions driven
from their homes. Syria is now divided – with large swathes of the country under the
control of an array of competing rebel groups.
The conflict first began three years ago, with opposition supporters taking up arms, first
to defend themselves and later to expel security forces from their local areas.
The country soon descended into civil war as armed rebel brigades battled government
forces for power. The strategic cities of Aleppo, Damascus and Homs have been most
intensely fought over, with a third of the total casualties in these three cities alone.
There are estimates that between December and the beginning of March more than
1,000 barrel bombs (each with half a ton of TNT) were dropped on Aleppo alone.
COMMENT It’s incredible that the Syrian revolution that began 3 years ago is still raging today.
The devastation that has come upon the country is almost behind comprehension.
Whole cities are derelict and bombed out. The three cities that have taken the brunt of
the pain are Damascus, Homs and Aleppo. It is amazing that these three cities are
mentioned in one verse that is in a passage describing the final calamity of Syria.
Damascus is still called Damascus. But Homs and Aleppo were called by slightly
different names in ancient times. Homs was Hamath and Aleppo was Arpad. The Bible
says that Homs and Aleppo would become “fainthearted”. The original word means to
“melt away”. A three-month bombardment of Aleppo that began in January,
unparalleled even in this war, has levelled large parts of Aleppo. It had a population of 3
million. It is now a ghost town. Aleppo was Syria’s largest city and its commercial
centre. No more.
But its notDamascus.
over yet. Damascus
will be removed
from the
– possibly
Concerning
Hamath is confounded,
and Arpad:
for map
they have
heard by
evilIsrael…
tidings: they
EVENT
BIBLE
QUOTE
are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet. Damascus is waxed feeble, and
turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a
woman in travail. How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!
(Jeremiah 49:23-25)
UK Prime minister's belief in Israel 'unbreakable'
BBConline, March 12, 2014
EVENT
David Cameron has said his belief in Israel is "unbreakable" while urging the country's
politicians to pursue a deal with Palestinians to bring "an end of all conflict".
He told Israelis to imagine "what this land would be like if a two-state solution was
actually achieved". "We back the compromises needed - including the halt to
settlement activity and an end to Palestinian incitement too. And we recognise the
difficult and courageous decisions both sides are taking, not least with Prime Minister
Netanyahu's decision to release terrorist prisoners, with all the anguish that can bring
for affected families,” he said. He said that peace would not only bring security, but
also deliver "extraordinary" economic benefits for the Israeli and Palestinians by
enabling them to work together and forge international trade and business links.
COMMENT The UK prime minister made his first ever visit to Israel this week. He talks like he
BIBLE
QUOTE
supports Israel but his support is dependent on Israel dividing the land in two. He asks
Israel to imagine what would be like living with two states. By backing this Cameron is
breaking God’s everlasting covenant of giving the land to the Jews. But notice what he
focused on – THE MONEY! Think about the extraordinary ECONOMIC BENEFITS
says Cameron. The message is…Don’t worry about God and the land he has promised
you (has given you) just think how rich you will be. Britain was once driven by belief
that the land was the Jews. The British Balfour Declaration declared that Israel would
become the homeland for the Jews. There was no mention on economics back then!
Britain is Tarshish in the Bible. It says Britain would help Jews return to their land. But it
also says that in the last days Britain would “commit fornication with all the kingdoms
on earth”. Britain would grow wealthy and then rejecting by God would turn to
mammon…
And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them
to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the
inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains
of Israel
(Ezekiel 34:13)
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