Weekly World Watch: Russia Suspends Plutonium Deal with US

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s October 2 - 8, 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 October 2 - 8, 2016 • Russia suspends plutonium deal with US • Syria conflict: US suspends talks with Russia • Russia launches massive nuclear war training exercise • US calls for Russia and Syria war crimes probe • US accuses Russia of cyber attacks • Hurricane Matthew: Haiti dead reach 800 To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

5. “Get ready; be prepared! Keep all the armies around you mobilized, and take command of them. 8 A long time from now you will be called into action. In the distant future you will swoop down on the land of Israel, • Russia suspends weapons-grade plutonium deal with US BBC, October 3, 2016 Russia has suspended an agreement with the US on the disposal of surplus weapons-grade plutonium, the latest sign of worsening bilateral relations. In a decree, President Vladimir Putin accused the US of creating "a threat to strategic stability, as a result of unfriendly actions" towards Russia. Moscow also set pre-conditions for the US for the deal to be resumed. Under the 2000 deal, each side is supposed to get rid of 34 tonnes of plutonium by burning it in reactors. It is part of cuts to nuclear forces. The US state department said the combined 68 tonnes of plutonium was "enough material for approximately 17,000 nuclear weapons". Both sides had reconfirmed the deal in 2010. In Monday's decree (in Russian), President Putin said Russia had to take "urgent measures to defend the security of the Russian Federation". EVENT COMMENT Events are moving quickly now. There clearly is a marked deterioration between Russia and America. Things are spiralling downwards rapidly. Back in April 2010, Hilary Clinton and Sergey Lavrov signed an agreement to get rid of 68 tons of weapons grade plutonium. Putin has now revoked that agreement. On top of this Russia has increased its deployed nuclear warheads over the past six months. Russian forces have deployed 249 warheads above the warhead limit set by the START nuclear treaty. Russia has also increased its stockpile of nuclear weapons by 259 to a total of 1796. The US has done the opposite and reduced its stockpile by 433. A military strategic analyst said that this could impact Putin and his willingness to take risks. We are surely see events reaching a conclusion. Russia is preparing for war. There may not be much time left. BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:7-8 NLT)

6. The towns of Hamath and Arpad [Aleppo] are struck with fear, for they have heard the news of their destruction. Their hearts are troubled like a wild sea in a raging storm. Damascus has become feeble, and all her people turn to flee. Fear, anguish, and pain have gripped her as they grip a woman in labor. • Syria conflict: US suspends talks with Russia BBC, October 4, 2016 The US has said it is suspending talks with Russia over Syria, accusing Moscow of having "failed to live up" to its commitments under a ceasefire deal. Washington blamed Russia and the Syrian government for intensifying their attacks against civilians. Last week, the US warned it would halt the talks unless Moscow stops bombing the city of Aleppo. Russia said it regretted the US move, accusing it of shifting the blame for the collapse of last month's truce. Aleppo, Syria's largest city in the north, has come under heavy aerial bombardment since the end of the ceasefire two weeks ago. In a statement, state department spokesman John Kirby said: "The United States is suspending its participation in bilateral channels with Russia that were established to sustain the cessation of hostilities. EVENT America and Russia put a ceasefire deal in place a few weeks ago. We said then it would come to nothing as the Bible says the king of the north (Russia) and the king of the south (US/UK) must be enemies at the time of the end. "This is not a decision that was taken lightly," said John Kirby, the state department spokesman, but the White House’s patience had finally “run out”. We also know terrible destruction is still to come to Syria and especially Damascus. This week all talks came to an end and the ceasefire (which was in tatters anyway) finally gave way to the heaviest attacks on Aleppo since the conflict began. Russia's parliament ratified a treaty with Syria on Friday that allows Russian troops to stay indefinitely in Syria. The UN envoy to Syria said this week that eastern Aleppo has just 2 months left before it was totally destroyed. The Bible says Aleppo falls at the same time Damascus is destroyed. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Jeremiah 49:23-24 NLT)

7. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Notice how the “elements” are melted. The Greek literally means the first or primary state of something eg in relation to science. The primary state of all things is the atom. Atoms will melt. Russia launches massive nuclear war training exercise The Independent, October 7, 2016 The Russian government has launched a nationwide civil defence training exercise to ensure the country is properly prepared in the event of a nuclear, chemical and biological attack from the West. Amid growing international tensions, particularly over Russia's conduct in Syria, the Defence Ministry-run Zvezda TV network announced last week: "Schizophrenics from America are sharpening nuclear weapons for Moscow." Lasting three days, the exercise bing run by the Ministry for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters (EMERCOM) will involve 200,000 emergency personnel and the co-operation of 40 million civilians. EMERCOM stated on its website: "The drill will rehearse radiation, chemical and biological protection of the personnel and population during emergencies at crucial and potentially dangerous facilities. EVENT Russian citizens have been told this week that a war with the West could be imminent and Kremlin officials have said underground shelters have been built to house 12 million people. But these aren't just words – Russia this week is evacuating more than 40 million people in drills to prepare for nuclear war. 40 million people! That is more than the population of Canada! The evacuation drill will last all this weekend. Mark Schneider, a former Pentagon nuclear policy official said 'Russia is getting ready for a big war which they assume will go nuclear, with them launching the first attacks.’ This is why Putin has been preparing reinforced nuclear bunkers across Moscow that can house 12,000,000 people. The Bible indicates these terrible weapons may be used. Peter talks about elements melting with fervent heat…. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (2 Peter 3:10)

8. Then at the time of the end, the king of the south will attack [AV says push] the king of the north. The king of the north will storm out with chariots, charioteers, and a vast navy. He will invade various lands and sweep through them like a flood. He will enter the glorious land of Israel, and many nations will fall, • Syria conflict: US calls for Russia and Syria war crimes probe BBC, October 7, 2016 EVENT Russia and the Syrian government should be investigated for war crimes, US Secretary of State John Kerry said. "Russia, and the regime, owe the world more than an explanation about why they keep hitting hospitals and medical facilities and children," he said. "These are acts that beg for an appropriate investigation of war crimes." Moscow has repeatedly denied attacking civilians, and said it targets terrorist groups in Syria. Mr Kerry, however, said Russian and Syrian government attacks on hospitals were "beyond the accidental" and part of a deliberate strategy in war-torn Syria. "This is a targeted strategy to terrorise civilians and to kill anybody and everybody who is in the way of their military objectives," he said. Earlier on Friday, Russia's parliament voted to approve an "indefinite" deployment of forces in Syria at the Hmeimim airbase. COMMENT The gloves are coming off over Syria. America is blaming Russia not only for the collapse in the talks but also accusing them of war crimes. Russia responds by pulling out of nuclear agreements and going even more on the offensive. These are perilous times. On Tuesday the Russian Ministry of Defence said that Russian forces could shoot down coalition jets if the United States launches airstrikes against pro-government forces in Syria. American officials have reportedly discussed using limited airstrikes to force Bashar al-Assad’s government to halt its assault on Aleppo. Also this week Russia has deployed an advanced anti-missile system to Syria for the first time. We have said for many years that the king of the south will PUSH (means to gore) the king of the north. The push might be a military provocation. Whatever it is – when it happens the king of the north comes down with all its army into Israel and beyond. We watch and wait – but perhaps for not much longer…. BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 11:40-41 NLT)

9. US accuses Russia of cyber attacks BBC, October 7, 2016 EVENT US officials have formally accused Russia of cyber attacks against political organisations in order "to interfere with the US election”. Recent hacked emails are "consistent with the methods and motivation of Russia-directed efforts", the Department of Homeland Security said. Data revealing discussions within the Democratic Party was hacked earlier this year. Some states reported "probing" attempts made on "election-related" systems. However, officials said those attempts could not be directly linked to the Russian government. Russian officials told Interfax news agency the claims it was involved in the cyber attacks were "nonsense”. But a joint statement from the Department of Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence on Election Security said high-ranking officials at the Kremlin were almost certainly involved in the successful attacks. "We believe, based on the scope and sensitivity of these efforts, that only Russia's senior-most officials could have authorized these activities," they said. COMMENT The Washington Post had a headline this week..” The U.S. has just accused Russia of hacking America’s elections. That’s a very big deal.” It is a very big deal. For one nation to accuse another of interfering in it’s election is one of the most serious accusations they could make. Democracy only works if people believe in the results. There is a real possibility (according to many reports) that Russia could hack the electronic voting machines across the US. Imagine the fallout if Russia did do this. America is firing a warning shot across Russia’s bows and trying to flush them out before the election takes place in a few weeks. A spokesman for Putin responded to this saying everyday Putin’s own website is hacked by people in America. All these events are bringing us everyday closer to Armageddon… For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. BIBLE QUOTE (Revelation 16:14-16)

10. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. • Hurricane Matthew: Haiti dead reach 800 BBC, October 8, 2016 EVENT Hurricane Matthew killed more than 800 people and left tens of thousands homeless in Haiti earlier this week before it skirted Florida's Atlantic coast on Friday and plowed northward over waters just off Georgia. The number of deaths in Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, surged to at least 842 on Friday as information trickled in from remote areas previously cut off by the storm, according to a Reuters tally of death tolls given by officials. Matthew triggered mass evacuations along the U.S. coast from Florida through Georgia and into South Carolina and North Carolina. US President Barack Obama urged people not to be complacent and to heed safety instructions.” The potential for storm surge, loss of life and severe property damage exists," Mr Obama told reporters, after a briefing with emergency management officials about the fiercest cyclone to affect the United States since Superstorm Sandy four years ago. COMMENT We are not only seeing signs with the nations on earth but we are also seeing signs in the storms in the heavens above. The whole earth in groaning and in labour pains like a woman about to give birth. The wonderful news is though that this pain is going to end. It will end when Jesus Christ intervenes by physically returning to the earth. And when he comes back he will stay here forever. He won’t leave us again. The world will be restored. The earth will not groan anymore. There won’t be hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes etc etc in the kingdom. Equally sin itself will be restrained. Christ’s kingdom will be one of peace and righteousness. It won’t happen the instant he returns though. It is going to take some time to get the earth back to as it was in Eden…. BIBLE QUOTE (Psalm 72:1-4)

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.