July 20 - 26, 2014

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s July 20 - 26, 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 July 20 - 26, 2014 • Hamas calls for third intifada: violent riots in Jerusalem • European anti-Semitism rise during the Gaza crisis • US accuses Russia of firing across border at Ukraine • Russia threatens UK firms in retaliation for sanctions • Hundreds die in Syria's 'deadliest week' • Rise in deaths from terror attacks worldwide To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

5. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land. And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee. Israel’s land included up to the sea of the Philistines (Gaza) Israel-Gaza conflict: Hamas calls for 'third intifada' after violent riots in Jerusalem and West Bank Daily Telegraph, July 25, 2014 EVENT Hamas leaders, both in Gaza and abroad, have called for the start of the third intifada - or Palestinian uprising - after violent riots with live fire erupted throughout Jerusalem and the West Bank last night. Violence flared up as thousands of Palestinians took to the streets, rioting and protesting Israel’s actions in Gaza. Approximately 10,000 people marched from Ramallah to Jerusalem, where they clashed with Israeli police. There have been more or less constant riots in Jerusalem and the West Bank following the kidnapping and murder of the Palestinian teenager Mohammed Abu Khdair by Jewish extremists last month. The circumstances of the current uprisings bear considerable similarity to the riots that pre-empted the start of the first intifada in the late 1980s.In Gaza, over 800 people have been killed, and many thousands have been injured, displaced and rendered homeless since the beginning of the violence over three weeks ago. COMMENT The conflict between Hamas and Israel continues. There was failure on Friday to agree a ceasefire. The best that could be cobbled together was a 12 hour humanitarian truce. Hamas continue to tell people not to leave before Israel strikes. Israel continues to warn people that strikes are coming. The Gaza Strip is definitely part of the land that God has given to Israel. God has warned that if the whole land is not under Israel’s control that “thorns in their side” would develop. See Numbers 33:55! Gaza has become a massive thorn in Israel’s side since it withdrew back in 2005. Proof that the Bible is true. So where does the Palestinian uprising fit in with the gathering of nations to Jerusalem? There are 3 stages to the final judgement. Stage 1 is conflict with Israel’s immediate neighbours. Eg Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria. Stage 2 is Russia & co. Stage 3 EU / Rome. BIBLE QUOTE (Exodus 23:30)

6. And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; …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, ‘Gas the Jews!’: European anti-Semitism during the Gaza crisis VOX News, July 21, 2014 EVENT Since the outbreak of fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, there's been a wave of street-level demonstrations rallying against the war. These protestors are generally highly critical of Israel and blame it for the current round of violence, but the vast majority want an end to the violence and are demanding it peacefully. But the peaceful demonstrators are not alone in turning out to the streets over the Israel-Gaza conflict. A small-but-disturbing fraction of the international anger over the war has escalated into outright anti-Semitism: shouting "gas the Jews!" during protests in Germany, attacking synagogues in France, and beating a rabbi in Morocco. These attacks are not new: they come at time when anti-Semitic incidents around the world are worryingly on the rise COMMENT This week the Israeli ambassador to Germany, Yakov Hadas-Handelsman, said that it was as if we were back in 1938. In France it is even worse. France has the third-largest Jewish population in the world. Eight synagogues in France have been targeted in the past week. Pro-Palestinian protesters in the French capital clashed with police, targeting Jewish shops, It’s got so bad that French authorities have banned protests in Paris. In Germany some protests have been chanting “Gas the Jews”. It's worth noting that German anti-Semitism isn't confined to a lunatic fringe. A sophisticated analysis of anti-Semitic hate mail sent to the Central Council from 2002 to 2012, much of which was Israel-related, found that 60 percent of the mail originated with "well-educated Germans, including university professors." Only three percent came from the right-wing fringe. The Bible speaks of Israel finding no ease in the nations it was scattered into. God says they will live in fear of their lives. Anti-Semitism is a sign we are near the end. BIBLE QUOTE (Psalm 83:3-7)

7. 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. There is a massive provocation going to come from UK/US against Russia • US accuses Russia of firing across border at Ukraine military Daily Telegraph, July 25, 2014 Thursday's claims from the US that Russia is firing at Ukraine military forces while planning to deliver more weapons to separatists came from US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf, who cited intelligence reports. "We have new evidence that the Russians intend to deliver heavier and more powerful multiple rocket launchers to separatist forces in Ukraine and have evidence that Russia is firing artillery from within Russian to attack Ukrainian military positions," Harf said. The charges come less than two days after pro-Russian separatists shot down two Ukrainian military jets in the country's east, and a week after a Malaysian Airlines jet was brought down, which the US says was shot by a surface-to-air missile. Last Thursday, 298 people were killed when Flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine, in an area held by Russian-backed separatists. EVENT COMMENT There were those who hoped that the shock of the shooting down of Flight MH17 over Ukraine might make Russia stop and think. Perhaps even rein in the pro Russian separatists. But in fact the opposite has happened. Russia has stepped up its aggression. The United States claimed that Russia fired artillery from its side of the border targeting Ukrainian military forces this week. The US also said that Moscow is planning to give pro-Russian separatists even heavier and more powerful weapons in the coming days. On Friday NATO said that Russia had massed 15,000 troops on the Ukrainian border. Russia is pouring petrol on the Ukrainian fire one spokesman said. So how does the Ukraine situation fit in to Bible prophecy? It does so in two ways. Firstly Eastern Ukraine is part of ancient Magog and Putin is taking it back. Secondly it is creating the circumstances that will cause the “push” from America. he BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 11:40)

8. Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say. This mighty nation was originally Babylon. In a latter day context its Russia. Russia threatens to hit British companies in 'retaliation' for sanctions Daily Telegraph, July 24, 2014 Russia has issued a threat to seize the assets of British companies including BP and Shell as a retaliation against David Cameron’s demand for tough sanctions. In a mounting war of words, a senior diplomatic source claimed Moscow would “fight back” against any industry-wide EU sanctions by putting British companies working in Russian oil on the frontline. “We want friendly relations. We will go along as far as we can. Then we will retaliate,” the figure said. The official measures will include seizing the assets of British firms, adding: “BP and Shell have a lot of assets in Russia.” The two firms have major partnerships with Russia energy firms Gazprom and Rosneft. In March, senators loyal to Mr Putin proposed freezing the assets of European and American companies in Russia, in response to Western sanctions imposed on Kremlin figures responsible for the annexation of Crimea. EVENT COMMENT Alexander Yakovenko, the Russian ambassador, in a combative press conference, warned of a new economic collapse if Western sanctions went ahead, saying they “may well trigger the long-anticipated end-game of the present global crisis.” So what does he mean “the long-anticipated end-game”? He is implying that there will be a final showdown between Russia and the West. The two countries that are pushing hardest on Russia are Britain and America. The Russian ambassador (just quoted) said that “Britain is the most difficult and hostile country in the EU towards Moscow.” Many headlines are saying “Britain PUSHING for new sanctions on Russia.” We think of Daniel 11v40. The king of the south is pushing at the king of the north. Russia responds with invasion of the Middle East… BIBLE QUOTE (Jeremiah 5:15)

9. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur [Assyria] also is joined with them: Hundreds die in Syria's 'deadliest week' The territory in red is the Islamic State. It matches exactly to ancient Assyria when Psalm 83 was written BBC online, July 23, 2014 As Israeli missiles lay waste to Gaza, Hamas rockets fly and innocents die in civilian planes downed in eastern Ukraine, Syria has slipped even further under the radar. But with international attention focused elsewhere, Syria has just recorded it's bloodiest week since the country descended into violence three years ago. More than 1,700 people have been killed in just seven days, with fighters for the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) accused of killing hundreds of government troops in a battle for a gas field, with hundreds of civilians killed as fighting intensified across the nation. The three-year-long civil war in Syria has now killed over 170,000 and displaced nearly nine million . In the latest round of fighting, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that 270 government soldiers and gas field employees were killed in the clashes on July 19, many of them shot through the head. EVENT he COMMENT Incredibly the violence in Syria is getting even worse. More 1700 people killed in one week. Clashes have occurred around the country including in the capital Damascus which was hit by its fiercest fighting in months, after President Bashar Al-Assad was sworn in for a third term as president. The new Islamic State which controls much of northern Iraq now is attacking Syrian government forces as well as moderate rebels. But nothing appears to be happening to stop them. It is amazing how the territory of ISIS corresponds exactly to ancient Assyria. Especially the Assyria that existed at the time Psalm 83 was written in 1000 BC. Psalm 83 explains how a group of 9 tribes rise up against Israel. They are helped by Assyria we are told. This new ultra violent breed of Islamic fanatics could well assist in attacking Israel when the initial war against Israel begins. Events in Gaza may lead to Psalm 83 being fulfilled… BIBLE QUOTE (Psalm 83:5-84)

10. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. The second judgement of the world will come without warning for those not watching • Rise In Deaths From Terror Attacks Worldwide Sky News, July 23, 2014 The number of deaths caused by acts of terrorism across the world has risen by nearly a third in the last 12 months, according to British experts. Global deaths in the past year have risen by 30% compared to the previous five-year average, UK-based risk analysis company Maplecroft found. The figures have been published as part of Maplecroft's Terrorism and Security Dashboard (MTSD), which records, analyses and maps every reported incident of terrorism around the world. This is then used to form a global ranking of 197 countries based upon their risk of terror attacks. In the 12 months before July 1 there were 18,668 deaths, compared to an average of 14,443 in the five years before that - a 29.3% increase. Over the same period, there were 9,471 recorded attacks - an average of 26 a day - down from a five-year average of 10,468. Iraq has endured the highest number of attacks in the last 12 months, with 3,158 incidents. EVENT The number of people being killed in terror attacks is up 30%. There are 12 countries categorised as "extreme risk", including Iraq at the top as most at risk, as well as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Libya. We are seeing a world so similar to that of Noah. We are told that in the days that Noah lived (around 4500 years ago) that that the world was full of violence. We are surely seeing the world full of violence now. Shocking violence. The new Islamic State conducts such violent acts that Al Qaeda have disowned them! Jesus said that just before he returned we would see a world “as it was in the days of Noah.” Jesus doesn’t actually point out the violence. The violence is mentioned in Genesis 6. The main point Jesus makes is the fact that the people living back then had NO IDEA what was coming. When the judgement finally began it was on a very normal day…. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Luke 17:26-27)

11. 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.