January 29 – February 4, 2017

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s January 29 – February 4, 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 January 29 – February 4, 2017 • Russian cyber attacks aim to ‘destabilize' the West • UK deploys warship to Black Sea to protect Ukraine • Russia and Ukraine trade blame over fighting • Trump official: 'We are officially putting Iran on notice' • UK court throws out EU single market challenge • Trump a 'threat' as Europeans debate U.S. ties To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

5. 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 Russian cyber attacks aim to ‘destabilize' the West Newsweek, February 3, 2017 Russian hacking is being used to undermine democracy and destabilize the West and NATO, U.K. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has warned. In a speech at St Andrews University in Scotland, Fallon also blamed Russia for the spread of fake information in an attempt to expand its influence. “Today, we see a country that in weaponizing information has created what we might now see as the post-truth age,” Fallon said. “Russia is clearly testing NATO and the West. It is seeking to expand its sphere of influence, destabilize countries and weaken the alliance.” Fallon accused the Kremlin of “routinely lying” and gave several examples of Russian cyberattacks against the West, including knocking France’s TV5Monde television station off air in April 2015 and shutting down Germany’s lower house of parliament computer network later that year. EVENT Russia is attempting to expand its influence by spreading fake information – so says the UK Defence Secretary. He accused the Kremlin of routinely lying. This shows a complete collapse in relations between the UK and Russia. It is rare for countries to make such open accusations against each other. We see a number of things here that line up with Bible prophecy. The first is that the Bible says that the ruler of Russia will be the master of deception. He will be a man who specialises in deceit. This is exactly what Mr Fallon accused the Kremlin (read Mr Putin) of doing. We also see in these remarks how wide the gulf is now between the king of the south (UK / US) and the king of the north (Russia). We can see how events are moving towards huge destabilisation and conflict. The 70 or so years since the end of the last world war are coming to an end - the 3rd world war is coming. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 8:24-25 NLT)

6. At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood. He will also invade the Beautiful Land. UK deploys warship to Black Sea to protect Ukraine Daily Mail, January 29, 2017 Britain is sending one of its most advanced warships to the Black Sea – the first time the Royal Navy has deployed there on an operational mission since the Cold War. In a dramatic show of strength by Theresa May, HMS Diamond, a Type 45 destroyer equipped with the latest anti-aircraft rockets, will set sail for Ukraine carrying up to 60 Special Boat Service and Royal Marine commandos. The move is part of the biggest British military build-up on Russia’s borders for decades, and comes after the Prime Minister told US politicians that Britain and America should stand up to President Vladimir Putin. HMS Diamond will lead a Nato task force and help protect 650 British troops who are involved in secret exercises in Ukraine – a country invaded by Russian-backed rebels in 2014. EVENT It is not just words – Britain is also sending its most sophisticated and powerful warship to Russian borders. Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon added: "The UK is sending a clear message that we are committed to defending democracy across the world and support Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.“ HMS Diamond's arrival will reportedly coincide with the deployment of British troops to Estonia and Poland, while the RAF also sends Typhoon jets to Romania. Lord West, a former Royal Navy head, said: "This is an operation with a very serious purpose. HMS Diamond can really look after herself and President Putin is a man who respects hard military power.“ The Bible says the king of the south will “push” at the king of the north. We continue to see this happen in both words and now deeds. Putin (like a bear protecting its cubs) is being provoked into action. At some point some event will cause him to send his army. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 11:40 NLT)

7. And I saw three evil[c] spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty. Notice that the dragon (Russia) & beast (EU) are separate entities Russia and Ukraine trade blame over fighting Daily Telegraph, February 3, 2017 Intense shelling in eastern Ukraine hit civilian areas on Thursday night as an escalating battle between government forces and Russian-backed separatists entered its sixth day. Several civilian apartment blocks in the Ukrainian-controlled town of Avdiivka suffered direct hits during what was described as the heaviest night of shelling since renewed fighting broke out nearly a week ago. Russian-backed separatist authorities said intense shelling had also hit civilian areas of separatist-held city Donetsk. Ukraine said on Friday morning that four soldiers had been killed in the previous 24 hours. Both sides have reported civilian casualties. At least 20 people, including soldiers from both sides and civilians, have been reported dead since fighting erupted near a contested area north of Donetsk on Sunday. The escalating battle has seen both sides using multiple rocket launchers and heavy artillery that they promised to pull back from the front line under the 2015 Minsk peace agreement. EVENT COMMENT Tension in eastern Europe has been simmering for months and once again it has broken out into conflict. Russia's U.N. ambassador accused Ukraine of "desperately, frantically" trying to achieve a military victory. Ukraine's U.N. ambassador accused the Russian army and Russian-backed separatists of starting the latest escalation of violence in eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile the first joint training exercises in Poland for freshly deployed U.S. troops and their Polish counterparts are underway. A U.S. armoured brigade of 3,500 troops arrived this month in Zagan, southwestern Poland, as a deterrence force on NATO's eastern flank. We see here the east v west as depicted in Nebuchadnezzar's image. The dragon and beast of Revelation 16. BIBLE QUOTE (Revelation 16:13)

8. I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws to lead you out with your whole army—your horses and charioteers in full armour and a great horde armed with shields and swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya[a] will join you, too, with all their weapons. Trump official: 'We are officially putting Iran on notice' The Guardian, February 2, 2017 The Trump administration has said it was “officially putting Iran on notice” in reaction to an Iranian missile test and an attack on a Saudi warship by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen but gave no details about how Washington intended to respond. The threat was made on Wednesday by the national security adviser, Michael Flynn, in his first public statement since taking office. Speaking in the White House briefing room, Flynn said a missile launch on Sunday and a Houthi attack on a Saudi frigate on Monday underlined Iran’s “destabilizing behaviour across the Middle East.”. At a White House briefing, senior administration officials repeatedly refused to rule out any options for a US response, including military intervention. “There are a large number of options available to the administration,” one senior official said. “We’re going to take appropriate action.” EVENT Following this announcement by the new Trump administration the US Treasury Department published a list of 13 people and 12 entities facing new sanctions. The move signalled a marked escalation of tensions between the two countries and comes just hours after the President said Tehran was "playing with fire". Relations between the US and Iran have soured sharply. As Donald Trump announced new sanctions Tehran said it was imposing its own against America. Iran has a role to play in the coming conflict. We know for certain that it joins forces with Russia to invade Israel. Under the nuclear deal with Iran, Obama bought Iran in from the cold. But this situation has gone dramatically into reverse under Trump. We can expect to see the division between Iran and America become a gulf… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:4-5 NLT)

9. UK court throws out EU single market challenge Reuters, February 4, 2017 EVENT MPs have voted by a majority of 384 to allow Prime Minister Theresa May to get Brexit negotiations under way. They backed the government's European Union Bill, supported by the Labour leadership, by 498 votes to 114. The bill now faces further scrutiny in the Commons and the House of Lords before it can become law. The prime minister has set a deadline of 31 March for invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, getting official talks with the EU started. The bill returns to the Commons next week. MPs held two days of debate on the bill, which follows last June's referendum in which voters opted by 51.9% to 48.1% in favour of Brexit. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, a leading Leave campaigner, called the Commons result "absolutely momentous". Speaking on Facebook, he added: "We may be leaving the EU treaties. We are not leaving Europe." The UK is now clear to trigger article 50 before the end of March. In effect this is the formal announcement that Britain makes to the EU that it wants to leave. This is a bit like initiating divorce proceedings. It remains to be seen what happens when Britain does ask the EU for a divorce but as we know – most divorces end in acrimony. Mainly over who owns what and how assets are divided up. This could well be the case with this divorce. The talks between the UK and the EU are expected to last up to two years, with the UK predicted to leave the 28-member organisation in 2019. Christadelphians have understood Britain to be Tarshish for over 150 years. They have also understood that Britain would need to be separate from the EU. Tarshish is allied to the young lions and Sheba and Dedan in Ezekiel 38. It is part of the king of the south power bloc opposing Russia and its allies. The split from the EU allows this to happen. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE 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? (Ezekiel 38:13)

10. The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings Trump a 'threat' as Europeans debate U.S. ties Reuters, January 31, 2017 EVENT Donald Trump has joined Russia, China and radical Islam as a threat to the European Union, EU leaders were told on Tuesday by the man chairing a summit where they will debate relations with the United States. European Council President Donald Tusk, a conservative former premier of Poland, wrote to EU national leaders to lay out themes for discussion when they meet in Malta on Friday to discuss the future of their Union as Britain prepares to leave. In vivid language that reflects deep concern in Europe at the new U.S. president's support for Brexit, as well as his ban on refugees and people from several Muslim countries, Tusk called on Europeans to rally against Eurosceptic nationalists at home and take "spectacular steps" to deepen the continent's integration. Donald Tusk said that EU unity built after World War Two and the Cold War was needed "to avoid another historic catastrophe". He also said Americans should not weaken Transatlantic ties fundamental to "global order and peace". He said the EU faced the biggest challenges of its 60-year history. EU leaders meet in Rome in March at the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and Tusk said these are the issues the EU needed to discuss. It is interesting to note as well that he also said that the EU should take “spectacular steps” to deepen the continents integration. The Bible says this will happen. 10 nations coming together in a spectacular way so they give up all their sovereignty and emerge as one empire. This will mean some of the 27 nations need to depart from the EU as we know it. In other words division is coming but from the ashes of the current EU will emerge the beast of Revelation 17. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Revelation 17:12-13)

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.