September 17 - 23, 2017

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s September 17 - 23, 2017 “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 17 - 23, 2017 • Russia threatens retaliatory strikes against U.S. troops • Israeli jets bomb site close to Damascus airport • Israel & US open first American military base in Israel • Britain and Saudi Arabia sign military cooperation deal • N Korea could test hydrogen bomb over Pacific Ocean • Cat 5 hurricanes have hit land more than ever before To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

5. 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. • Russia threatens retaliatory strikes against U.S. troops Washington Post, September 21, 2017 Russia on Thursday raised the threat of a direct confrontation with U.S. forces in ­Syria, saying that it would target areas occupied by American units and U.S.-backed militias if its troops came under fire. The warning was issued amid rising tensions in the Syrian desert between the United States and its Kurdish and Arab allies on the one hand, and Russia, the Syrian regime and Iranian-backed militias on the other, as both converge on territory held by the Islamic State in eastern Syria. A Russian military spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, said the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, had twice in recent days shelled Syrian government positions outside Deir al-Zour, a strategic city in the region. Moscow has conveyed to the U.S. military command “in no uncertain terms that any attempts to open fire from areas where SDF fighters are located would be quickly shut down,” Konashenkov said in a statement. “Firing positions in those areas will be immediately suppressed with all military means.” EVENT Russia issued an unusually blunt warning to the U.S. that it will retaliate against American-backed fighters in Syria, accusing them of firing on government troops battling for territory in a strategic region bordering Iraq. They said that in the last week Russian troops had come under mortar fire and next time they would respond. This warning comes amid rising tensions in Syria between the United States and its Kurdish and Arab allies on the one hand, and Russia, the Syrian regime and Iranian-backed militias on the other. Both sides are converging on ISIS held territory in eastern Syria. Daniel 11 tells us that the king of the south (America / UK) will militarily provoke Gog and when they do he will send his northern army into the Middle East / Israel. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 11:40)

6. The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. The attack by Israel on Damascus this week shows how potentially Damascus will come to an end. It might well be at the hand of Israel. • Israeli jets bomb site close to Damascus airport The Guardian, September 22, 2017 Israeli jets have reportedly bombed an area near the Damascus international airport in the third attack in as many weeks by the Israeli military on targets associated with the Lebanese group Hezbollah. According to social media reports on sites associated with the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad, Israeli planes fired at least two missiles from outside Syrian airspace, hitting either a weapons depot or a convoy. The Facebook page of the National Guard for the Defence of the Homeland, allied with the Syrian military, reported that “an area near the Damascus international airport was attacked by a hostile missile”, while images showed a fire burning in the early hours of Friday. The Lebanese television station al-Mayadeen also reported the attack. The latest airstrikes mark a recent increase in Israeli interventions which have coincided with diplomatic warnings by the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, that his country will not accept an enhanced Iranian and Hezbollah presence on its northern borders. EVENT COMMENT For the last 3 weeks we have been reporting how Israel is extremely concerned about Iran and Hezbollah’s increasing strength and control in Syria. As the Syrian war winds down Iran and Hezbollah are now consolidating their positions close to the Israeli northern border. Israel has been ramping up its strikes in Syria to show that it will not tolerate its sworn enemies to create long term bases in the region. On Tuesday the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) said it had shot down an Iranian-built drone launched from Syria by Hezbollah which illegally entered Israeli airspace. All this shows that Israel will be drawn into the Syrian conflict. The Bible is clear that Israel is left weakened when Damascus finally falls. This event could happen at anytime.. BIBLE QUOTE (Isaiah 17:1)

7. The fortified towns of northern Israel[a] will also be destroyed, and the royal power of Damascus will end. All that remains of Syria[b] will share the fate of Israel’s departed glory,” declares the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “In that day Israel’s[c] glory will grow dim; its robust body will waste away. Israel is weakened but survives when Damascus and Syria come to an end • Israel & US open first American military base in Israel ABC News, September 18, 2017 Israel and the U.S. inaugurated the first American military base on Israeli soil on Monday, which will serve dozens of soldiers operating a missile defence system. The move comes at a time of growing Israeli concerns about archenemy Iran's development of long-range missiles. Together with the U.S., Israel has developed a multi-layered system of defences against everything from long-range guided missile attacks from Iran to crude rockets fired from Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. The base's opening is largely symbolic and isn't expected to bring operational changes. But the Israeli military says that along with other measures, it sends a message of readiness to Israel's enemies. "It's a message that says Israel is better prepared. It's a message that says Israel is improving the response to threats," said Brig. Gen. Zvika Haimovich, the commander of Israel's aerial defence. The base is located within an existing Israeli air force base and will operate under Israeli military directives. EVENT Israel has existed as a nation since 1948. But it may come as a surprise that it has taken until now for America to open its first military base there. We may ask - why now? It is nearly 70 years on and Israel has seen many conflicts – why would the US think now is the time to do this. Well the answer lies in the ABC News report. The US move comes at a time of great concern over the situation in Syria especially with regard to Iran. There has not been a greater threat to Israel in many years as Syria, Iran and Hezbollah join forces with many thousands of missiles and rockets all pointed at Israel. America wants to show by putting a military base inside Israel that it is fully on Israel’s side. But despite this, northern Israel will take the brunt of the war that is coming. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Isaiah 17:3-4 NLT)

8. 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? • Britain and Saudi Arabia sign military cooperation deal Daily Telegraph, September 20, 2017 Saudi Arabia and Britain signed a framework deal for military cooperation, Saudi state media said on Tuesday, just two days after Gulf rival Qatar signed a deal to buy jet fighters from the European nation. The agreement came after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed security ties with visiting British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, the Saudi Press Agency said without disclosing details of the agreement. "During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations particularly the mechanism... joint coordination in the field of defence. They also discussed... efforts to combat terrorism," SPA said. The agreement comes as Britain seeks to explore lucrative trade deals outside Europe, including energy-rich Gulf monarchies, after voting to leave the European Union. EVENT Britain decided last year to leave the European Union. There is now a period of uncertainty as many trade agreements have to be renegotiated. There is talk this week of Britain having a transition period of 2 years to then finally break away. This would take us to 2021 before the UK was “out” of the EU. But during this time Britain needs to make new trade deals to shore up any lost business from Europe. The first place that Theresa May went to make trade deals was to the Gulf region. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Dubai etc. Some of the trade deals have been around military cooperation and defence. Qatar on Sunday signed an agreement to buy 24 Typhoon fighter jets from Britain. This shouldn’t surprise us because the Bible says that the merchants (traders) of Tarshish (Britain) would be allied with Sheba and Dedan (Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Arab states). We see this happening now. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:13)

9. N Korea could test hydrogen bomb over Pacific Ocean CNN, September 23, 2017 EVENT North Korea could test a powerful nuclear weapon over the Pacific Ocean in response to US President Donald Trump's threats of military action, the country's foreign minister has warned. Ri Yong Ho spoke to reporters in New York shortly after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made an unprecedented televised statement, accusing Trump of being "mentally deranged.” The forceful rhetoric from Pyongyang came after Trump threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea in a speech to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. Trump tweeted Friday that Kim was "obviously a madman" who would be "tested like never before.” In a rare direct statement delivered straight to camera, Kim said that Trump would "pay dearly" for the threats, and that North Korea "will consider with seriousness exercising of a corresponding, highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history.” "I am now thinking hard about what response he could have expected when he allowed such eccentric words to trip off his tongue," Kim said. "I will surely and definitely tame the mentally deranged US dotard with fire." Kim Jong-un is portrayed as a god in North Korea. So when Trump mocked him at the UN this week by calling him “rocket man” and a “madman” this is treated almost like blasphemy by Mr Kim. In a statement written in the first person, published on the front pages of state newspapers and read on national television, Mr. Kim called Mr. Trump a “mentally deranged U.S. dotard” who had “denied the existence of and insulted me and my country in front of the eyes of the world.” It cannot be a coincidence that at the time of the end we have Russia and America squaring off over North and South Korea. We watch to see if war breaks out. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. Perhaps President Trump should take heed of these wise words (James 3:6)

10. Category 5 hurricanes have hit land more than ever before Reuters, September 16, 2017 EVENT The 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season has not only been super active so far, but also super unlucky. In some past busy hurricane seasons, land areas have avoided some of the most extreme storms, but this year they have been a magnet. Category 5 hurricanes have directly hit six land masses head on, leaving devastation in their wake almost every time. While just two separate hurricanes, Irma and Maria, did all the dirty work, they repeatedly found areas to target. Brenden Moses, a researcher at the National Hurricane Centre, found that of all Category 5 landfalls on record in the Atlantic since 1851, one-quarter have occurred this season. This is a remarkable statistic. Hurricane Harvey was a historic storm that was the first major hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. since Wilma in 2005. Irma's maximum sustained winds were at 185 mph for 37 hours, setting a new record for length of time a tropical cyclone maintained winds of that strength anywhere in the world. Harvey and Irma both made landfall in the U.S. as Category 4 hurricanes, marking the first time since 1851 that this has occurred in the Atlantic. The economic cost of the hurricanes that have hit America have been colossal. Costs for just Hurricane Irma could rise as high as $300bn (£227bn) as the storm lashed Florida, damaging homes, businesses and key crops including orange groves. We have seen some incredible signs and wonders of the last month. Rabbi Pinhas Winston wrote a few weeks ago “ This is precisely what happened before the flood of Noah. The Midrash (Talmud) states that God sent unusual weather before the flood in order to rouse the people to do tshuva (repent).” We are certainly seeing extreme weather and surely this IS a warning to the world to repent – judgment is nigh. COMMENT Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; BIBLE QUOTE (Joel 2:1)

11. Weekly World Watch YouTube Videos

12. 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. To watch again please click the green arrow To watch again, click here.