Weekly World Watch: Putin Warns Romania and Poland of Russian Retaliation

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s May 15 - 28, 2016 “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 May 15 - 28, 2016 • Putin: Romania, Poland now in Russia's cross-hairs • Putin is being pushed to prepare for war • Putin given go-ahead to build new super army • Germany to push for progress towards European army • EU launches contingency talks for Brexit vote • Benjamin Franklin statue toppled by wind To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

5. And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: • Putin says Romania, Poland may now be in Russia's cross-hairs Reuters, May 27, 2016 Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday warned Romania and Poland they could find themselves in the sights of Russian rockets because they are hosting elements of a U.S. missile shield that Moscow considers a threat to its security. Putin issued his starkest warning yet over the missile shield, saying that Moscow had stated repeatedly that it would have to take retaliatory steps but that Washington and its allies had ignored the warnings. Earlier this month the U.S. military -- which says the shield is needed to protect from Iran, not threaten Russia -- switched on the Romanian part of the shield. Work is going ahead on another part of the shield, in Poland. "If yesterday in those areas of Romania people simply did not know what it means to be in the cross-hairs, then today we will be forced to carry out certain measures to ensure our security," Putin told a joint news conference in Athens with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. "It will be the same case with Poland," he said. EVENT Putin did not specify what actions Russia would take, but he insisted that when Russia took action it was not making the first step. Putin see that he is only responding to moves by Washington. He voiced frustration that Russia's complaints about the missile shield had not been heeded. No one as yet is talking about the Cuban missile crisis but there are some similarities here. Russia positioned nuclear missiles close to America. America would not tolerate missiles so close to its borders and the tension rocketed bringing the world the closest ever to nuclear war. This time we have America putting missiles in Russia’s sphere of influence. Russia will not tolerate this. Putin is clearly warning that action is going to be taken. Russia is going to rise up and come down.. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:15)

6. And at the time of the end shall the king of the south {US/UK} push at him {Putin}: and the king of the north {Russia} shall come against him {US/UK} 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. • Putin Is Being Pushed to Abandon His Conciliatory Approach to the West and Prepare for War Huffington Post, May 17, 2016 Something significant happened in the last few days of April, but it seems the only person who noticed was Stephen Cohen, a professor emeritus of Russian studies at New York University and Princeton University. In a recorded interview, Cohen notes that a section of the Russian leadership is showing signs of restlessness, focused on President Vladimir Putin’s leadership. We are not talking of street protesters. We are not talking coups against Putin — his popularity remains above 80 percent and he is not about to be displaced. But we are talking about serious pressure being applied to the president to come down from the high wire along which he has warily trod until now. Putin carries, at one end of his balancing pole, the various elites more oriented toward the West and the “Washington Consensus“ and, at the pole’s other end, those concerned that Russia faces both a real military threat from the NATO and a hybrid geo-financial war as well. He is being pressed to come down on the side of the latter. EVENT This report is interesting in that it shows that Putin could well be under pressure internally to counteract NATO. Putin is in control of all of the levers of power in Russia however that does not mean he cannot be influenced. We have reported for years that Putin will be PUSHED. Militarily provoked. This push will cause him to invade the Middle East. The push is from the king of the south (US/UK/Saudi Arabia). However the headline above says Putin is being PUSHED by the hardliners within Russia that want action. So the pushing from the US with the missile shield is causing a pushing internally. How long before the pressure of the push finally gives way and the dam bursts? It could happen anytime. We need to be ready. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 11:40)

7. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people. He will be a master of deception and will become arrogant; he will destroy many without warning. Putin given go-ahead to build new SUPER ARMY to destroy ISIS Express, May 20, 2016 The National Guard force - which was approved by the Russian parliament today - will be put under the strongman's personal command. It will be used for major counter-terrorism operations across the planet and have vast powers, including the authority to shoot into crowds and hold suspects for indefinite interrogation. Experts say the ruthless force will act as an "extension" of Putin himself. It will be used to conduct military operations around the world, detaining terror suspects for as long as is necessary to glean intelligence from them before handing them over to the police. The former KGB leader was today given the green light by Russia's parliament for the elite unit, which will be headed by his one-time bodyguard Viktor Zolotov. Mr Zolotov will report directly into the Russian president, giving Putin an iron grip over the country's counter terrorism effort and increasing the chances of a tough crackdown on home-grown jihadi extremists. EVENT COMMENT This is like Putin’s own elite army that he controls. Among the new powers being handed to the national guard is a licence to shoot into crowds of people during terrorist attacks or hostage situations. National Guard officers will also be deployed on combat missions abroad, including anti-ISIS operations in the Middle East as well as peacekeeping missions. Tatiana Stanovaya, of the Centre of Political Technologies in Moscow, said the new guard force was so tightly tied to the Russian president that it would inevitably become "a continuation of Putin himself". The more time goes by the more Putin looks like the latter day Antiochus Epiphanes spoken of in Daniel 8. Read the words below…they are describing this man… BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 8:24-25 NLT)

8. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. The beast is a core group of European nations. They attack Christ AFTER the judgement. We know this because the saints are with him when they attack. This is NOT the Ezekiel 38 war. • Germany to push for progress towards European army Financial Times, May 27, 2016 EVENT Germany is to push for progress towards a European army by advocating a joint headquarters and shared military assets, according to defence plans that could ricochet into Britain’s EU referendum campaign. Although Berlin has long paid lip-service to forming a “European defence union”, the white paper is one of the most significant for Germany in recent years and may be seized by anti-integration Brexit campaigners as a sign where the bloc is heading. Initially scheduled to emerge shortly before the June 23 referendum vote but now probably delayed to July, the draft paper seen by the Financial Times outlines steps to gradually co-ordinate Europe’s patchwork of national militaries and embark on permanent co-operation under common structures. In this and other areas, its tone reflects Germany’s growing clout and confidence in pursuing a foreign policy backed by elements of hard power. The paper says that the EU’s defence industry is “organised nationally and seriously fragmented”, raising costs, handicapping it in international competition and making it difficult for national militaries to operate together. “It is therefore necessary that military capabilities are jointly planned, developed, managed, procured and deployed to raise the interoperability of Europe’s defence forces and to further improve Europe’s capacity to act.” Interestingly this report will be officially published the day after the UK referendum on whether Britain should stay in Europe. Most in the UK want to stay in Europe because of wealth not because of Europe becoming a super state. But Europe does want to become that – and a European army is a step in that direction. We know that a new resurrected Holy Roman Empire will emerge from Europe. They will have an army. And that army in fact makes war against Christ when he is established as king! COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Revelation 17:13-14)

9. And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot. This is another prophecy about Britain. This is speaking of latter day Tyre (London). London we are told becomes like a harlot. The signing up to European values is part of this. It is possible the “singing like a harlot” continues in this referendum. CLICK HERE to watch a video on this. • EU launches contingency talks for Brexit vote Reuters, May 25, 2016 EVENT European Union officials and diplomats launched a round of confidential discussions this week to prepare a coordinated response to a possible British vote to leave the bloc next month, EU sources told Reuters on Wednesday. Britain will hold a referendum on EU membership on June 23. Senior diplomats from founding powers Germany and France, as well as several other countries, met on Monday for talks chaired by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker's chief of staff, Martin Selmayr, several sources said. One source with direct knowledge of Monday's discussion said it was intended to be followed by others on specific topics. The Commission and representatives of those governments present at the meeting declined official comment. Britain, the EU's second biggest economy, was not present -- a situation its diplomats and ministers would rapidly have to get used to if Prime Minister David Cameron's "In" campaign loses. COMMENT We get ever closer to June 23rd – the day when the British people will be asked if they want to remain or leave the European Union. Currently the polls put the remain firmly ahead of the leave but as we know things can change. But what does the Bible say about the role of Britain in the future? Britain is Tarshish. In Ezekiel 38 Tarshish is with the young lions (US / Canada etc) and Saudi Arabia. This group stand against Russia / Iran etc. Could Britain (even if part of Europe as she is now) stand with these nations? Answer YES. She has done many times already. Britain can militarily act as she wants. Will Britain be part of the future resurrected Holy Roman Empire? Answer NO. Britain was never part of that empire and won’t be part of that one. So Britain doesn’t have to leave Europe to fulfil these things. A core group of EU nations will press on without UK. BIBLE QUOTE (Isaiah 23:15)

10. Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail. Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. The context of these verses is the time prior to the establishment of the kingdom. Also read Isaiah 2:12-17 • Wind topples Ben Franklin statue on Boston's Freedom Trail Fox News, May 17, 2016 EVENT When Ben Franklin famously flew a kite in a lightning storm, he made history, but a wind storm over the weekend proved too much. The Boston Globe reports an 1856 bronze statue of Franklin positioned along the city's Freedom Trail toppled over after a particularly blustery Sunday. A city spokeswoman says high winds pushed a nearby tent into the statue, causing it to fall off its pedestal. She says the Boston Arts Commission is working with a professional curator on the repair plan. Crews were seen placing the statue into what looked like a body bag on Monday. The Freedom Trail Foundation website says the statue marks the location of the original Boston Latin School, where Franklin was a student. It's the oldest public school in the nation. COMMENT As one website put it – “Sometimes God isn’t very subtle!” Others called it an ominous warning. Why were some perturbed by the toppling of this great bronze statue that has stood firm for 160 years? Statues / images are erected in a celebration of man’s achievements. Think of the gold statue Nebuchadnezzar built. It was about his pride. Think of Saddam Hussein’s bronze statue that was toppled by the people. This signified the end of his reign and his kingdom. So who was Benjamin Franklin? He was one of the founding fathers of the United States. Franklin earned the title of "The First American”. He has been honoured on coinage, the $100 bill, warships, names of many towns etc. But a strong wind has toppled his statue. A strong wind of judgement is coming against Tarshish. America is of course an offspring of Tarshish (UK). The most powerful nation in the world who is turning her back on Israel will be judged. BIBLE QUOTE (Psalm 48:6-7)

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