September 7 - 13, 2014

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s 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) PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE To skip the introductory slides and go straight to this weeks developments click here.

2. 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.

3. BIBLE QUOTE 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. News Photo This is straight from a news report that caught my eye because it looked significant from a Biblical perspective, usually that of prophecy. HEADLINE The source of the headline and the date are included. 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. EVENT 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. COMMENT 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)

4. 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 PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

5. 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, 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 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. 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.... COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 27:12)

6. 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 because the merchants describe a group of people separated within the nation? Scotland heading for a 'Great Depression' if a Yes vote Daily Telegraph, September 12, 2014 We also read in Isaiah 23 that Tyre will “pass over” to Tarshish. Tyre was the capital city of the Phoenicians who traded with Tarshish for tin! Tyre was an incredible trading city, 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. COMMENT Cont… BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:13)

7. 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 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 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 Isaiah 23:17-18 NLT)

8. 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, 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 (Isaiah 2:11-16 NLT)

9. 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? All peoples / nations in this verse have been identified this week! • 10 Arab states join the US in battle against Isil Daily Telegraph, September 11, 2014 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. EVENT 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… he BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:13)

10. Then 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, Ukraine crisis: US strengthens sanctions on Russia Daily Telegraph, September 12, 2014 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. EVENT COMMENT Both Europe and America have put into force this week even more sanctions against 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 Israel… BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 11:40-41 NLT)

11. 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 and everlasting disgrace. Russia reduces gas exports to Poland BBConline, September 11, 2014 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. EVENT 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… he BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 12:1-2 NLT)

12. 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… • Will the Gaza truce be shorter than the Gaza war? Debkafile, September 8, 2014 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. EVENT We have two extremely fragile truces in place at the moment. One between Russia and 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… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Luke 21:29-31)

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14. Weekly World Watch The end of this week’s WWW will be e-mailed to you each week. If you think others may find the WWW helpful please direct them to the website www.weeklyworldwatch.co.uk They can register on the site PLEASE 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. Please take a look at this excellent Christadelphian Prophecy website Just click the image To watch again, click here.