Transcript Weekly World Watch

Andy Walton’s
Weekly World Watch
January 5 - 11, 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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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
January 5 - 11, 2014
• Peace deal is best Israel will get, says Lieberman
• Three killed in clashes at Egypt protests
• Russia vetoes UN condemnation of Syrian attack
• UK scrambles destroyer to challenge Russian warship
• We want a United States of Europe says top EU
• ‘Polar vortex’ breaks temperature records in US
To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right
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Peace deal is best Israel will get, says Lieberman
Daily Telegraph, January 9, 2014
EVENT
Avigdor Lieberman, the hawkish Israeli foreign minister widely regarded as a major
obstacle to peace with the Palestinians, has urged his country to accept the deal
currently being brokered by Washington as the best offer it will ever receive. In a
change of direction likely to shock the jaded Middle Eastern diplomatic scene, Mr
Lieberman said that John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, deserved praise and thanks
for his efforts to bring the Israelis and Palestinians together. “It’s the best proposal we
can get and we really appreciate the efforts of Secretary of State John Kerry. He has
really put a lot of energy into the issue,” Mr Lieberman told the Telegraph. In his first
major interview since returning to office in November, when he was acquitted of
corruption charges that had dogged his career for years, he said it was “crucial” for
Israelis to maintain contact with Palestinians, no matter what the prospects of success.
COMMENT Behind the scenes things are beginning to shift in relation to the peace talks between
the Israelis and the Palestinians. The fact that Avigdor Lieberman has made his first
major interview about this subject and is indicating his support for the division of the
land of Israel is amazing. He is probably the most powerful person in Israel’s
government apart from Netanyahu. Everyone thought he would stop any division
happening. It appears even he is now capitualting under the US pressure. Mr Kerry is
pushing for a final status agreement by April this year. Debkafile reported this week that
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is planning to conduct the first popular referendum
in Israel’s history to ratify the peace framework proposal. We may well be nearing the
time when Israel is pressured into agreeing to divide the land in two.
BIBLE
QUOTE
Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying…. they lead my
people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built,
they cover it with whitewash, therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to
fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down,
(Ezekiel 13:1,10-11)
Three killed in clashes at Egypt protests
BBConline, January 10, 2014
EVENT
At least three people have been killed in Egypt in clashes between supporters and
opponents of ousted President Mohammed Morsi, officials have said.
Two people died in the city of Suez in fighting that erupted when security forces
dispersed a demonstration by Islamists after Friday prayers.
A street vendor was meanwhile shot dead in the second city of Alexandria.
In Cairo, hundreds of Morsi supporters called for a boycott of next week's referendum
on a draft constitution. The vote is the first stage in the "democratic transition"
promised by the interim government after Mr Morsi was deposed by the military in
July. The Islamist movement to which Mr Morsi belongs, the Muslim Brotherhood, and
its allies have called for a boycott and mass demonstrations aimed at limiting turnout.
But a crackdown on the Brotherhood, in which more than 1,000 people have been
killed and thousands of others arrested, has limited its ability to mobilise supporters.
COMMENT Egypt is mentioned in the Bible 647 times. Out of the 66 books in the Bible Egypt is
mentioned in 29 of them. Egypt was always a place of false religion and (unless
commanded by God) was a place to be avoided. It became symbolic of the world.
At the time of Moses God brought 10 plagues on Egypt because Pharaoh would not let
His people go. The children of Israel did escape from Egypt as God parted the Red
Sea. They then wandered in the wilderness and eventually came to the promised land.
In a sense we also leave Egypt (the godless world), go through the Red Sea (baptism),
walk through the wilderness (our life) to the promised land (the kingdom). Here at the
time of the end just before the judgement of the entire world we see Egypt (symbolic of
the world) in a terrible and broken state – the world is broken – only Christ can fix it….
BIBLE
QUOTE
For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all
under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the
cloud and in the sea.
(1 Corinthians 10:1)
Russia vetoes UN condemnation of Syrian attack
BBConline, January 9, 2014
EVENT
Russia has blocked a UN Security Council statement condemning the Syrian
government's use of air strikes against civilians in the city of Aleppo.
Attacks using barrel bombs and Scud missiles by President Bashar al-Assad's forces
have killed hundreds of people. A UN diplomat said Russia put forward amendments
to the UK-sponsored statement that removed reference to what had happened in
Aleppo. Russia, a key ally of Syria, last month blocked a similar US-drafted statement.
Russia, joined by China, has also vetoed three Security Council resolutions that would
have condemned the Syrian government and threatened it with sanctions.
The latest statement would have had the council express outrage at daily air strikes
by the Syrian government in Aleppo. The embattled city, once Syria's business hub, is
now divided between government and rebel forces.
COMMENT The killing in Syria is horrific. Barrels loaded with explosive and nails are dropped
indiscriminately by the Syrian forces onto Aleppo. The UN Security Council tried to
pass a motion condemning these brutal acts. But Russia introduced amendments that
watered the statement down so much that it had no meaningful impact on the situation
in Aleppo. Britain said that it could no longer support the draft language and therefore
the vote failed. Once more we see Russia (king of the north) backing Syria and Britain
(part of the king of the south) vehemently disagreeing with each other over Syria.
It can only be a matter of time before some atrocity is committed so great that nations
are forced to act. Either way we know with Bible in hand that Syria will cease to exist as
a nation state and Damascus will cease to be a city. Despite the destruction that has
not happened yet. It will happen at some time in the future – it may not be long….
BIBLE
QUOTE
Concerning Damascus: Hamath and Arpad are dismayed, for they have heard bad news. They are
disheartened, troubled like the restless sea. Damascus has become feeble, she has turned to
flee and panic has gripped her; anguish and pain have seized her. Arpad = Aleppo!!
(Jeremiah 49:23-24)
UK scrambles destroyer to challenge Russian warship
Daily Mail, January 4, 2014
A fully armed Royal Navy warship was scrambled to challenge a missile-carrying
Russian vessel in the waters off Britain just days before Christmas, defence sources
revealed last night. In a calculated test of Britain’s reduced naval capacity in the North
Sea, the Russian warship came within 30 miles of the coast. It was detected nearing
Scotland, but the only ship the Royal Navy had available to respond after Ministry of
Defence cuts was in Portsmouth, resulting in a delay of 24 hours until it was in position.
The threatening approach towards Britain’s territorial waters triggered a top-secret Navy
and Air Force operation co-ordinated by the military top brass at the Permanent Joint
Headquarters (PJHQ) bunker at Northwood, just outside London.
RAF reconnaissance aircraft tracked the progress of the Russian warship as it neared
north-east Scotland, and the tension heightened when aerial photographs revealed the
ship was carrying a full payload of guided missiles.
COMMENT A defence source said: ‘This was no exercise – the Russian ship was behaving very
aggressively in a stretch of water bordering Britain’s territorial waters.
‘They were watched very closely by the RAF and it was agreed that HMS Defender
should block the Russians’ passage.’ Russian expert Jonathan Eyal, from the military
think-tank the Royal United Services Institute, said Russia had intended to intimidate
Britain. This is the second such incident in two years. In December 2011, the aircraft
carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, anti-submarine ship Admiral Chabanenko and escort ship
Yaroslav Mudry sailed close to Scotland before being challenged by the Royal Navy.
The Bible says that Russia will prepare for war – the preparation is underway…
EVENT
BIBLE
QUOTE
“‘Get ready; be prepared, you and all the hordes gathered about you, and take command of them.
After many days you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has
recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel,
which had long been desolate.
(Ezekiel 38:7-8 NIV)
We want a United States of Europe says top EU
official
Daily Telegraph, January 8, 2014
EVENT
COMMENT
BIBLE
QUOTE
A campaign for the European Union to become a "United States of Europe" will be the
"best weapon against the Eurosceptics", one of Brussels' most senior officials has said.
Viviane Reding, vice president of the European Commission and the longest serving
Brussels commissioner, has called for "a true political union" to be put on the agenda
for EU elections this spring. "We need to build a United States of Europe with the
Commission as government and two chambers – the European Parliament and a
"Senate" of Member States," she said. Mrs Reding's vision, which is shared by many in
the European institutions, would transform the EU into superstate relegating national
governments and parliaments to a minor political role equivalent to that played by local
councils in Britain. Under her plan, the commission would have supremacy over
governments and MEPs in the European Parliament would supersede the sovereignty
of MPs in the House of Commons.
There is a growing gulf between Britain and Europe. Mrs Reding's comments illustrate
that Europe’s committed to "ever closer union”. Meanwhile Britain is pushing to reduce
the EU's powers. One EU official said this week "We assume Britain's leaving the EU
so we don't even bother thinking about British sensitivities at the moment.”
There is also growing concern in Europe because anti EU feeling is growing in France,
the Netherlands and Greece. Anti EU parties are leading the polls. This is why there is
a new push towards creating a superstate which EU officials think will help stop anti EU
sentiment! We know that an EU superstate is coming. It is described in Revelation 17
as a beast. Ten kings will give their power and strength to the beast. The beast goes
back to Daniel 7 – the fourth beast which was Roman. Europe is the latter day beast….
“The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour
will receive authority as kings along with the beast. They have one purpose and will give their
power and authority to the beast. They will wage war against the Lamb
(Revelation 17:12-14)
‘Polar vortex’ breaks temperature records in US
Fox News, January 7, 2014
EVENT
The so-called "polar vortex" of dense, frigid air blamed for at least 21 cold-related
deaths across the country spread to the East and the Deep South on Tuesday,
shattering records that in some cases had stood for more than a century.
Temperatures on Tuesday morning were already at 8 degrees in Atlanta and 6
degrees below zero at a remote weather station in the north Georgia mountains -- the
coldest temperatures in the state for years. Temperatures hit lows in parts of West
Virginia not felt for 25 years, while the extreme cold in Virginia beat record lows that
had stood since the late 1950s. The National Weather Service said the mercury
bottomed out at 3 degrees before sunrise at Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshal
International Airport, with a wind chill of minus 16.
New York City's Central Park broke a 118-year-record Tuesday morning when the
temperature there dropped to 4 degrees. It's previous record of 6 degrees had stood
since 1896, according to MyFoxNY.com.
COMMENT We concluded last week’s WWW asking what we might see in 2014 from a signs and
wonders point of view. 2013 had so many amazing signs in the physical world. The
greatest ever recorded storms, meteors, hurricanes, floods, fires etc.
Well we start 2014 with record breaking temperatures in America which actually froze
the Niagara Falls! Temperatures plunged below zero in all 50 states on Tuesday. In
Minnesota, the thermometer fell to -35F! The big freeze could cost around $5bn, and
shave the equivalent of 0.2pc a year off US GDP in the first quarter.
All of these signs are warning the world the God himself is in control. He can bring the
most powerful nation on earth to a standstill. This is global warning – not warming….
BIBLE
QUOTE
God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He
says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that
everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labour.
(Job 37:5-7 NIV)
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