February 19 - 24, 2018

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s February 19 - 24, 2018 “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 February 19 - 24, 2018 • US to move embassy to Jerusalem in May • Tensions flare in east Mediterranean gas scramble • Russia's most advanced fighter arrives in Syria • US blasts Russia over deaths in Syria's Ghouta • Iran threatens to flatten Tel Aviv if Israel attacks  • Putin is cruising towards another election victory To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

5. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.  See Psalm 90:1 It mentions generations – v10 says our lifespan is 70 years. US to move embassy to Jerusalem in May ABC News, February 23, 2018 The U.S. will move its embassy to Jerusalem in May after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson signed off on a final plan Thursday, according to two State Department officials. The move, later confirmed by State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert, comes much earlier than anticipated, after several top officials, including President Trump, said it would not happen until at least the end of 2019.To make the move quickly, the new embassy will be at the existing U.S. consular building that provides visa services for American citizens in the Arnona neighbourhood. The U.S. ambassador and a small number of staff will begin working there this spring, with plans for a new embassy facility to open on the compound by the end of next year, according to Nauert. One Israeli minister suggested the administration could potentially cut the ribbon and open the embassy on May 14 — Israel's independence day and its 70th anniversary — although in Israel, it will be celebrated on April 19 in the Hebrew calendar. EVENT Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the announcement in a statement, saying it would, "turn Israel's 70th Independence Day into an even greater national celebration.” But despite the optimism in Israel we know with Bible in hand that a final war will soon start and it will have Jerusalem as its epicentre. Trump’s Jerusalem moves could well be the spark to cause this. Jesus told a parable of the fig tree. The fig tree is symbolic of Israel. He said when you see the fig tree begin to sprout leaves the return of Jesus will be close. In fact Jesus says a “generation” will not pass away until we see this happen. In 1948 Israel began to live again (sprout leaves). A generation could be 70 years (see below). Israel’s 70th anniversary is this May…. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Matthew 24:32-24)

6. He 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.  Tensions flare in east Mediterranean gas scramble Times of Israel, February 23, 2018 Warships, militia threats and multi-billion dollar deals: the scramble for gas in the eastern Mediterranean is fuelling hope and tensions across a volatile region. In an area riven by geopolitical feuds the quest for underwater resources has sparked dreams of economic transformation that could bind wary neighbours closer. But while there still remain major questions over the scale of deposits, simmering disputes have erupted to the surface as the race for claims heats up. Off the divided island of Cyprus on Friday, Turkish warships forced back an Italian drillship after a two-week standoff that has stirred up a decades-long row and dragged in Egypt and the European Union. At the same time the US is trying to mediate between foes Israel and Lebanon as they spar for control along a disputed maritime border where Beirut is looking to catch up. EVENT COMMENT On Monday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared jubilant — and vindicated — as he hailed a “historic” $15-billion deal to export gas to Egypt. “Many people did not believe in the gas plan,” he said in a video. “This is a joyous day.” However in the north trouble is brewing… Lebanon is drilling for gas along a disputed maritime border with Israel. Israel insists the area is theirs. The United States has dispatched a senior official to try to mediate, but as the two sides spar the war-of-words is ratcheting up. Hezbollah has said that in a war it would hit Israel’s “offshore projects”. The Bible says that Russia (as well as invading Israel), will also invade Egypt. We can see the links here between Israel and Egypt. The Bible also says the Gog (Putin) will want to take a “spoil” from the region. Christadelphians have said for many years that the spoil could well be gas / oil. Events are clearly moving in this direction… BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 11:42-43)

7. Russia's most advanced fighter arrives in Syria Newsweek, February 23, 2018 Russia has deployed its new advanced stealth fighter, the Su-57, to its Khmeimim air base in Syria. The conflict offers Moscow the opportunity to battle-test its newest fighter despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s assertion last month that Russia would scale back its Syrian deployment. The two Su-57 jets were filmed landing at a Russian air base on Syria’s Mediterranean coast on Wednesday. The fifth-generation fighter jets appeared in Syrian skies amid a renewal of violence in the seven-year war. Syrian government forces have been bombarding the rebel-held Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta, killing hundreds of civilians and drawing international condemnation. The jets’ deployment came soon after a Russian ground-attack aircraft was shot down by Syrian rebels in Idlib province on February 3. EVENT COMMENT Debkafile reports this as follows….”Two fifth-generation Sukhoi-57 stealth fighters landed Monday, Feb. 19 at Russia’s Syrian air base, along with 4 Su-35 fighters, 4 Su-25 strike aircraft and an A-50U radar command-and-control platform. This top-performance fleet raises Russia’s air strike and defence capabilities in Syria to the highest standards of any air force in the world, with enough power to take on superior US and Israeli air might in the Syrian arena. The Su-57’s weapon bays are designed to carry Russia’s new nuclear tactical X-50 air-launched cruise missile, although it is not known whether the aircraft in Syria are carrying them.” So far from scaling back Russia is putting ever more power into Syria. The ancient king of the north (Seleucid empire) was based in Syria. The new king of the north (Russia) is putting his power in this country that has almost been destroyed in 7 years of war. So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand. In Daniel 11 the original king of the north was based in Syria. From verse 36 onwards it is talking about the king of the north who lives at the time of the end BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 11:15)

8. US blasts Russia over deaths in Syria's Ghouta Gulf News, February 24, 2018 EVENT The United States blasted Russia on Thursday over the bombing of Syria’s Eastern Ghouta, saying it has a “unique responsibility” for the more than 400 deaths in the Damascus suburb. After fresh air and rocket strikes by Syrian government forces killed another 46, State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert blamed Russia for not reeling in the regime of its ally President Bashar Al Assad. “Without Russia backing Syria, the devastation and the deaths would certainly not be occurring,” Nauert told journalists.“ It is a good reminder that Russia bears a unique responsibility for what is taking place there.”“ What are they doing to stop the devastation, the deaths, the murders that are taking place in Syria?” The criticism came hours after the UN Security Council failed to agree on a new draft resolution for a 30-day ceasefire in Eastern Ghouta to allow aid to get in to the civilian population stuck there. Nauert blamed Moscow for again “throwing a wrench” into the negotiations to block the ceasefire. COMMENT America’s ambassador to the United Nations blasted Russia for delaying a vote on a ceasefire in Syria for the besieged area of eastern Ghouta, saying “the Syrian people can’t wait". "Unbelievable that Russia is stalling a vote on a ceasefire allowing humanitarian access in Syria,” Nikki Haley said on Twitter. We can see how the two superpowers are standing off against each other at the UN over Syria. America is still backing the rebels in Syria and trying to stop Russia and Iran getting complete control over the entire country. Russia is still backing Assad and supporting his indiscriminate attacks. The French president warned this week that these standoffs could lead to the collapse of the United Nations. The time of trouble is coming. BIBLE QUOTE And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.  (Daniel 12:1)

9. Iran threatens to flatten Tel Aviv if Israel attacks  Jerusalem Post, February 20, 2018 EVENT Any attacks carried out against Iran will result in the destruction of Tel Aviv, Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Expediency Council, warned Israel on Monday. The comment reported by the semi-official Fars News Agency came in response to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks at the Munich Security Conference. Rezaei said, “If they [Israel] carry out the slightest unwise move against Iran, we will level Tel Aviv to the ground and will not give any opportunity to Netanyahu to flee.” He was quoted as saying in an interview with Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar News: “The US and Israeli leaders don’t know Iran and don’t understand the power of resistance and therefore they continuously face defeat.“ Today, the situation of the US and Israel indicate their fear of the Zionist regime’s collapse and the US decline,” Rezaei added. Israel came in direct conflict with Iran on February 10, when an Israel Air Force attack helicopter shot down an Iranian-operated drone and later took out its command centre in Syria. This year’s Munich Security Conference returned to the theme of great power conflict, which many thought had ended with the cold war almost three decades ago. Against a morbid backdrop of three aircraft — Russian, Turkish and Israeli — being downed over Syria, Wolfgang Ischinger, chairman of this gathering of defence and security policymakers, said that “at no time since the collapse of the Soviet Union has the risk of armed conflict between major powers been as high as it is today”. Netanyahu who attended the conference mocked Iran as he held aloft part of the Iranian drone Israel shot down. Iran responded this week by threatening to flatten Tel Aviv. Iran (Persia) will indeed join forces with Russia to invade Israel…. COMMENT And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:  Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:  BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:4-5)

10. Putin is cruising towards another election victory The Journal, February 17, 2018 EVENT Running with a lacklustre slogan, no programme and refusing to debate his opponents, it sometimes seems like Russian President Vladimir Putin is not campaigning for re-election at all. But it is unlikely to matter for the 65-year-old strongman who is cruising towards victory and a historic fourth Kremlin term in next month’s election, with a result that seems so inevitable analysts are calling it a return to the Soviet era. “Putin is the only candidate without a programme. That is extremely alarming,” said Andrei Kolesnikov of the Carnegie Moscow Centre, describing it as “a demonstration of disregard for his people.” As always, Putin has bowed out of debates and has symbolically refused his free television airtime as a candidate. But he already benefits from wall-to-wall news coverage. The most visible sign of his campaign are the images of him plastered on billboards along highways outside Moscow under the slogan: “A strong president makes for a strong country.”. COMMENT Putin will win the presidential Russian election next month. It isn’t a true election of course. Putin is effectively the only candidate. Russia's opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, has been barred from running. Mr Navalny, a 41-year-old anti-corruption campaigner who organised some of Russia's biggest protests of recent years, has been barred from contesting the 18 March presidential election over what he says is a trumped-up suspended prison sentence. He was detained again this week by police. Talking to Gog (Putin) God says “I will turn thee back”. But it is better translated “I will restore you” or ”I will return you”. After Putin was last returned to power in 2012 he invaded Ukraine. After he is returned to power this time ….will he invade Israel?? Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,  And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:  And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army. The invasion of Israel comes AFTER Gog is restored to power  BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:2-4)

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.