June 7 - 13, 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)

Weekly World Watch

Andy Walton’s

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What is a Weekly World Watch?

• 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.

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.

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.

• Increasing natural disasters: including earthquake, famine etc

The following six themes will appear repeatedly in WWW:

HEADLINE

EVENT

COMMENT

News Photo

The source of the headline and the date are included.

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.

What is in a Weekly World Watch?

BIBLEQUOTE

This is normally one verse which backs up why the event that has occurred is interesting from a Biblical perspective. Please read in its context. Unless stated otherwise, all quotes are from the King James Version. (Book, chapter, and verse)

This is straight from a news report that caught my eye because it looked significant from a Biblical perspective, usually that of prophecy.

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.

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. The intention of the WWW is to offer brief Biblical perspectives without going into detail. If more detail is desired, please e-mail me: (andy@weeklyworldwatch.co.uk). Please note that these are personal thoughts and the aim is purely to stimulate Bible study.

This Week’s Developments

To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper rightPRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

• Russia to conduct 'large-scale’ military exercises

• Pope tells Putin: 'Sincere’ peace efforts needed

• EU looking into labelling of Israeli settlement products

• Supreme Court invalidates Jerusalem passport law

• Isis declares war on Israel

June 7 -13, 2015

• 100,000 at Tel Aviv Gay Pride Parade, biggest ever

Russia announced Monday it will conduct 40 large-scale military exercises in the eastern part of the country this summer, continuing a program of combat readiness.Col. Alaxandr Gordeyev of Russia's Eastern Military District, one of four operational commands of the Russian military, said the largest of the "large-scale tactical, special and flight exercise" will take place at the Tsugol test site in Trans-Baikalia, near the border with Mongolia. The announcement comes at the conclusion of four days of drills across Russia involving over 12,000 troops, hundreds of fighter jets and anti-aircraft missiles, what the Russia Defence Ministry called a "surprise combat readiness inspection." At the same time, NATO members underwent two weeks of drills in Scandinavia, involving 4,000 troops and over 100 aircraft, in a response to a series of exercises by Russia, some announced in advance and others relatively sudden, which have occurred since the outbreak of separatist violence in Ukraine.

UPI, June 5, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel,

BIBLEQUOTE

Commenting on this announcement, Pavel Felgenhauer, a Moscow defence analyst, said "It's not just simply messages; it is actually preparation for a possible confrontation. And, also it is a message that we (Russia) are there and ready to take on any and every possible enemy.” Russia is clearly preparing for conflict. It is getting ready for war. The Bible says we should look for Russia’s preparations as a sign of what is about to take place. One modern version says this in Ezekiel 38 (speaking of Russia) “Get ready; be prepared! Keep all the armies around you mobilized, and take command of them. A long time from now you will be called into action. In the distant future you will swoop down on the land of Israel.” Surely we are seeing the preparation now. The “swoop” comes next.

Russia to conduct 'large-scale’ summer military exercises

(Ezekiel 38:7-8)

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Pope tells Putin: 'Sincere’ peace efforts needed

Pope Francis encouraged Russian President Vladimir Putin to engage in "sincere" international efforts aimed at bringing peace to Ukraine as the two men met privately at the Vatican on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, Kenneth Hackett, said his country would like to see the Vatican step up its concern about what is happening in Ukraine during the pope's meeting with Putin, the second time the Russian leader and Francis have met since the pontiff was elected in 2013. During the few minutes that Putin and Francis greeted each other and after their 50-minute-long closed door talks, there was no mention of any blame regarding Ukraine, although the protracted hostilities in that Eastern European nation bordering Russia was a main thrust of the discussion. "As it was possible to predict in the context of the world situation, the talks were dedicated principally to the conflict in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East," said a Vatican spokesman.

Associated Press, June 10, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. We are not saying this event fulfills the cry of peace in this verse but it highlights the principle- Godless men who talk of peace bring war.

BIBLEQUOTE

(1 Thessalonians 5:3)

It is interesting to note that when the Pope talks peace, conflict often follows.In June 2014 the Pope hosted a peace prayer at the Vatican. He invited Israeli president Shimon Peres and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. The peace prayers took place at the Vatican. They prayed for peace in the Holy Land.That was in the June.

By the beginning of July the Israel/Gaza conflict had begun. Seven weeks of Israeli bombardment, Palestinian rocket attacks, and ground fighting resulted in the deaths of over 2,200 people. The same principle applies to Putin. When he talks about peace and nothing to fear from Russia (as he said this week) the opposite is true. Putin is not about peace and the world does have something to fear from Russia. The Pope and

Putin’s meeting does not herald peace – it heralds war…

EU looking into labelling of Israeli settlement products

Israel would be required to label products that are made in West Bank settlements and exported to Europe, according to guidelines being prepared by the European Union.The move is the latest sign of international discontent with Israeli construction of settlements on occupied lands claimed by the Palestinians, as well as frustration over the bleak state of Mideast peace efforts. It also comes as a grassroots movement promoting boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel appears to be gaining steam. Israeli officials reject the European labelling plan, saying it would amount to a type of boycott and help discourage Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from returning to negotiations. An EU official said Tuesday the 28-nation bloc's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, told European foreign ministers May 18 that work is underway and that a set of guidelines will be "finalized in the near future."

Associated Press, June 9, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:

Europe does not except that the West Bank has anything to do with Israel. They believe Israel is occupying Palestinian territory. Therefore they want to identify through labelling any products made there. This is of course is to discourage people from buying them. This labelling is really no different to what has happened throughout the ages. Jews have been singled out with labelling since the Middle Ages. Europe once more is returning to its roots of highlighting Jews – it’s Jewish products made in the West Bank this time. On 1 April 1933, the Nazis carried out their first nationwide, planned action against Jews: a boycott targeting Jewish businesses and professionals. Signs were posted saying "Don't Buy from Jews!" (Kauf nicht bei Juden!). Anti Semitism is back again in Europe. The alienation of the Jews was prophesied in the Bible…

BIBLEQUOTE

(Deuteronomy 28:65-66)

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Supreme Court invalidates Jerusalem passport law

Jerusalem is back in the spotlight and set to become a potent political issue this election cycle. A Supreme Court decision this week struck down a law allowing American citizens born in Jerusalem to list Israel as their place of birth. The decision draws attention to the issue, and puts the prerogative of whether to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital solely in the hands of the president. Both Israelis and Palestinians claim the holy city. Israel has based its government headquarters in the western part of Jerusalem, while Palestinians envision the eastern part of the city as the capital of their future state. For the last 60 years, U.S. policy has been to recognize no state as having sovereignty over Jerusalem.” It is too politically provocative for American interests in the Muslim world," said Robert Danin, a State Department official for Middle East issues now with the Council on Foreign Relations.

CNN, June 11, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

BIBLEQUOTE

America citizens born in Jerusalem are allowed to put the city (i.e. Jerusalem) on their passport but the country (i.e. Israel) must be left blank! This seems a rather technical ruling but of course it goes to the very heart of how America views Jerusalem.As the lawyers who said after the ruling…”American foreign policy has the absurd position that no country is sovereign over Jerusalem, and that no part of the city, including the western portion of Jerusalem, is in Israel.” This is why of course America does not have its embassy in Jerusalem but in Tel Aviv. By putting the embassy in Jerusalem would in effect recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Jerusalem is of course the undivided capital of Israel. It is God’s Holy City and the place from where Jesus will rule in the coming kingdom. Eventually the status of Jerusalem will become a worldwide issue bringing all nations to war.

(Zechariah 12:2-3)

Isis declares war on Israel

An Islamic State-affiliated jihadi group in Gaza has declared war on Israel after claiming responsibility for two rocket attacks over the past two weeks. A group calling itself the Sheikh Omar Hadeed Brigade in Quds claims that it fired a rocket on 26 May which landed near the Israeli city of Ashdod as well as another on June 3 that also hit the city. Israel responded with air strikes in Gaza on Thursday.It has warned Israel that there will be more attacks: "Ashdod is the beginning. What's coming is worse.” Gaza is currently embroiled in an internal power struggle between Hamas and various salafi groups, of which the Omar Brigades appear to be most prominent. On June 2, Hamas security forces killed an IS supporter in a shoot-out at his home in Gaza City and in May the Palestinian Islamist group – which has controlled the strip since 2006 – demolished a salafi mosque in central Gaza near Khan Younis.

IBS, June 4, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

BIBLEQUOTE

(Isaiah 10:5-6)

ISIS has crept ever closer to Israel. What began in Iraq has spread through Syria and is now at Israel’s borders. Islamic State operatives in the Gaza Strip have been helping themselves to Hamas rockets in recent weeks after penetrating the factory teams operating the group’s production and assembly lines, DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources revealed this week. The jihadis then secretly passed the stolen rockets to their squads for launching against Israel. Hence the new rocket attacks that have begun happening in recent days and weeks. ISIS is destabilising the whole region and there appears no one able to stop them. As we have mentioned before, they cover almost the exact territory of the ancient Assyrians and they are just a brutal. God talks of using the Assyrian against Israel.

100,000 at Tel Aviv Gay Pride Parade, biggest ever

Thousands of bare-chested muscular men, drag queens in heavy makeup and high heels, women in colourful balloon costumes and others partied at Tel Aviv's annual gay pride parade on Friday, the largest event of its kind in the region.Well over 100,000 people were participating in the parade, police said, while Israeli media put the number at 180,000. The event also drew thousands of people from around the world. Large sections of Tel Aviv were shut for traffic and loud music blasted along the parade's route. Streets were packed thick with people waving rainbow flags and dancing. The theme of this year's parade, which was the city's biggest ever, was "Tel Aviv loves all genders.” Israel has emerged as one of the world's most gay-friendly travel destinations in recent years, in sharp contrast to the rest of the Middle East where gay culture is not tolerated and gays are persecuted and even killed.

Associated Press, June 13, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

They worshiped the things God created instead of the Creator himself.That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

BIBLEQUOTE

(Romans 1:25-27 NLT)

What must God think of this? This is Sodom and Gomorrah resurrected in His land. How far removed are these scenes in Israel compared to the future scenes in the same place when Christ rules in righteousness from Jerusalem. Homosexual behaviour (and promotion of it) is one of the greatest signs we have of the nearness of our Lord’s return. It is singled out in the New Testament as being a sign that God has been rejected. In Romans 1 we read that mankind is without excuse for everyone can see that God has created the world when we look at the evidence around us. But because people would not worship God their minds became dark and confused. So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things they desired. Men burned with lust for other men and women for other women. Judgement therefore is coming.

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They can register on the sitePLEASE 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.

Weekly World Watch

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