Weekly World Watch: Israel prepares for post-Syria conflict

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s September 10 - 16, 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 10 - 16, 2017 • Israel prepares for what comes after Syria's civil war • Iran seeks deal for long-term Syria garrison • Turkey signs deal to get Russian S-400 missiles • Egyptian, Saudi warplanes take part in joint war games • Putin starts war game on NATO frontier • New N.Korea missile test, US says it has military options To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

5. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. 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 also is joined with them: • Israel prepares for what comes after Syria's civil war Stratfor, September 6, 2017 Israeli leaders are increasingly aware that the Syrian civil war has reached the beginning of its end phase. As the conflict draws down, with Syrian troops reasserting their control over much of the country, Hezbollah will no longer be overstretched and encumbered by its massive involvement in the fighting. Hezbollah would in effect be able to redeploy its forces to Lebanon, boosted by years of tough combat experience as well as increased arms and equipment backing from Syria and Iran. Israel faces the increased prospects of having to again face off against a stronger Hezbollah. The window in which Israel could attack Hezbollah while it's still distracted and overstretched with its commitments in Syria is closing. The Syrian civil war, then, could lead to another regional conflict, even as it reaches its end stages. EVENT Stratfor (who wrote the article) is a highly regarded geopolitical intelligence publisher. They often look ahead with great clarity. It is interesting therefore that their conclusion is that as the internal Syrian war draws to an end – a new regional conflict might well develop. This time between Israel and Hezbollah. Hezbollah exists purely to destroy Israel. They sent many fighters into Syria and have now equipped themselves with even more missiles and military equipment. They have also become battle-hardened through their experience in Syria. The Bible is clear that there is an initial stage 1, inner ring war, against Israel that comes before Russia invades. Psalm 83 speaks of a confederacy against Israel by 9 tribes and one nation. The inhabitants of Tyre are mentioned and this is the stronghold of modern Hezbollah. The nation that helps them is Assur (Syria). Stage 1 of the final judgment of the world could soon occur… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Psalm 83:4-8)

6. 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 • Iran seeks deal for long-term Syria garrison Reuters, September 11, 2017 The Israeli intelligence minister said on Monday that President Bashar al-Assad was ready to permit Iran to set up military bases in Syria that would pose a long-term threat to neighbouring Israel. While formally neutral on the six-year-old Syrian civil war, Israel worries that Assad’s recent gains have given his Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah allies a foothold on its northern front. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lobbied Russia, Assad’s most powerful backer, and the United States to curb the Iranian presence in Syria -- as well as hinting that Israel could launch pre-emptive strikes against its arch-foe there. In July, Moscow ratified a deal under which Damascus allowed the Russian air base in Syria’s Latakia Province to remain for almost half a century. Israeli Intelligence Minister Israel Katz said Iran could soon gain similar rights. “The significance in terms of the danger and the threat against Israel - and not just against Israel, but also many countries in the region - is of the utmost clarity,” he said. EVENT COMMENT Iran is also looking to strengthen its position in Syria post the fighting. Russia has rights to remain there for 50 years – Iran would like the same. A payment in effect for helping Assad remain in power. This brings into Syria two of the main players of Ezekiel 38 on a permanent basis. Also this week Russia, Turkey and Iran agreed to establish and monitor a combat-free zone in and around a north-western Syrian province. America was not involved in these talks. Russia, Turkey, and Iran are Ezekiel 38’s Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Persia and Togarmah. They are all there working together. Israel sees all this as a major threat. We know from Isaiah 17 that Israel does become embroiled in the Syrian conflict and at that point, Damascus is destroyed. BIBLE QUOTE (Isaiah 17:3-4)

7. Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. Josephus said Gomer founded those whom the Greeks called the Galatians. This confirms the best identification of Gomer as Turkey. • Turkey signs deal to get Russian S-400 missiles BBC, September 12, 2017 Turkey has signed a controversial deal with Russia to arm its forces with Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missiles. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said a deposit had already been paid. The deal is thought to be worth $2.5bn (£1.9bn). Turkey has the second-largest army in Nato. The alliance reacted sceptically to the decision, saying the system was not compatible with its equipment. Turkey has been establishing closer links with Russia after its recent souring of ties with the US and Europe. Erdogan's government objects to US military support for the YPG Syrian Kurdish rebels, who are linked to rebel Kurds in Turkey. Russia says the S-400 system has a range of 400km (248 miles) and can shoot down up to 80 targets simultaneously, aiming two missiles at each one. Russia deployed the S-400 at its air force base near Latakia in Syria in December 2015, after Turkish jets had shot down a Russian Su-24 warplane on the Syria-Turkey border. That incident caused a diplomatic rift between Russia and Turkey, but President Erdogan later patched up his quarrel with President Vladimir Putin. EVENT A military adviser to Mr Putin, Vladimir Kozhin, said the S-400 contract with Turkey was "strictly compatible with our strategic interests". "On that score, one can quite understand the reaction of some Western countries who are trying to put pressure on Turkey.” This deal between Turkey and Russia is a rebuff to NATO of which Turkey is a member. NATO was setup really to be a united force against Russian aggression. And yet Turkey now is buying anti-aircraft missiles from the very enemy of NATO! We knew this would happen with Bible in hand. Turkey is allied with Russia when they invade Israel. When Ezekiel wrote, Togarmah and Gomer covered the modern land of Turkey. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:6)

8. He [Gog, Russian leader] shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. • Egyptian, Saudi warplanes take part in joint war games Reuters, September 14, 2017 Warplanes from allies Egypt and Saudi Arabia have begun joint war games that are coinciding with separate drills between Egypt and both the United States and Russia. Thursday's announcement by Egypt's official MENA news agency says the Saudi-Egyptian games are being held in Egypt and will last several days. It gave no further details. Egypt is a member of a Saudi-led coalition fighting Shiite rebels in Yemen, providing warships to patrol Red Sea waters off Yemen's coast. Egypt on Sunday began 10-day war games with U.S. troops. The games, codenamed "Bright Star," are being held after an 8-year hiatus. Egyptian and Russian airborne units are also involved in war games. Egypt has spent billions of dollars on new arms purchases as it constructs an image of a regional military power. EVENT Egypt is conducting war games with both Saudi Arabia and America. For the first time in eight years, Egypt will host joint military exercises with U.S troops. Army Spokesman Col. Tamer el-Rifai said the 10-day military exercises, known as "Bright Star," would begin September 10 and include anti-terrorism training. Donald Trump has praised Egypt as a key ally against terrorism. So where does Egypt fit into the invasion of Russia into Israel? Well, the answer is in Daniel 11 which is the parallel passage to Ezekiel 38. Daniel 11 tells us that Gog (king of the north) comes down into Israel but continues right down into Egypt. Gog actually ends up controlling the wealth of Egypt. From this we know that Egypt is not part of the Gogian invasion but is more aligned to Sheba, Dedan, Tarshish and the young lions (Saudi Arabia, UK, and US). Therefore these drills align the nations exactly as God said they would at the time of the end. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 11:42-43)

9. Putin starts war game on NATO frontier, alarming wary Europe Bloomberg, September 14, 2017 EVENT The last time Vladimir Putin sent thousands of troops into Belarus to defend against an imaginary invasion from the west, a real war erupted on Russia’s periphery within months -- in Ukraine in 2014. So the latest iteration of the week-long Zapad, or West, bilateral war game, which kicked off Thursday, is alarming officials across Europe, particularly now that Russia is in the middle of a historic arms build-up and its relations with the U.S.-led NATO military alliance are the tensest since the height of the Cold War. Even before Russian soldiers started roaming neighbouring Belarus, a former Soviet republic that borders three NATO and European Union states plus Ukraine, western leaders accused Putin of deceit. While Russia and Belarus say only 12,700 troops are involved -- a level just shy of triggering compulsory international monitoring -- Germany and Poland put the real total at more than 100,000. That estimate includes joint exercises in Kaliningrad, Russia’s nuclear-armed enclave on the Baltic Sea that’s nestled between Poland and Lithuania. Eastern Europe is extremely nervous about these huge military exercises. There are estimates that 100,000 troops are involved. Last time Russia did something on this scale a real war in Ukraine erupted within months. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned last week of converging threats. The world is more dangerous today than it has been in a generation, the head of Nato said. “It is more unpredictable, and it’s more difficult because we have so many challenges at the same time. We have proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in North Korea, we have terrorists, instability, and we have a more assertive Russia,” he said. This is distress and perplexity of nations. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (Luke 21:25-26)

10. After new N.Korea missile test, US says it has military options Reuters, September 16, 2017 EVENT The United States said on Friday it had military options to deal with North Korea, signalling its patience for diplomacy is wearing thin after Pyongyang fired a missile over Japan and into the Pacific Ocean for the second time in under a month. In the latest attempt to deal with an issue that has repeatedly frustrated world powers, the U.N. Security Council condemned the "highly provocative" missile launch by North Korea. The council's 15 members had already stepped up sanctions against North Korea in response to a nuclear bomb test it staged on Sept. 3, imposing a ban on North Korea's textile exports and capping its imports of crude oil. White House National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said the United States was fast running out of patience for diplomatic solutions on North Korea's missile and nuclear programs. "We've been kicking the can down the road, and we're out of road," McMaster told reporters, referring to Pyongyang's repeated missile tests in defiance of international pressure. Another week and another missile test by North Korea. The alarming thing about this one for America is that it could have reached Guam. North Korea has threated to fire a missile at Guam where America has a military base. So could we see conflict? Well, the Bible doesn’t talk about nations not directly involved with Israel. But that doesn’t mean conflict might not come. In fact North and South Korea are remnants of the Cold War. Russia and the US divided Korea into two nations at the end of the 2nd world war. Russia controlled the north and imported authoritarian, militaristic thinking into the people. America imported democracy and capitalism. North and South Korea are a faultline between the king of the north and king of the south – it might rupture! COMMENT Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: BIBLE QUOTE (Joel 3:9-11)

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