May 25 - 31, 2014

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s May 25 - 31, 2014 “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 25 - 31, 2014 • Pope Francis makes his first official visit to Israel • New Ukrainian president wants prompt EU trade deal • Eurosceptic 'earthquake' rocks EU elections • Obama to let American troops train Syrian rebels • After Crimea: The future of the Black Sea fleet • Israel solves water woes with desalination To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

5. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of sin is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Pope = man of sin. He visited the temple site Pope Francis makes his first official visit to Israel Daily Telegraph, May 25, 2014 EVENT Pope Francis made an unscheduled stop at the Israeli-built barrier that separates the town of Bethlehem from Jerusalem on Sunday, praying against the wall that has come to symbolise Arab-Israeli division. The unexpected gesture in the cradle of Christianity came as the Pope was en route to Manger Square. Ordering his white Pope-mobile to stop, he clambered out and pressed his forehead head against the wall, which Israel began building a decade ago in order to keep suicide bombers from launching attacks on Jerusalem. Palestinians have long regarded it as a symbol of their oppression, and the section that the Pope chose to stop at bore spray-painted graffiti saying “Free Palestine” In another surprise initiative, the Pontiff, who is on a three-day tour of the Middle East, announced efforts to try to revive the Arab-Israeli peace process, which broke down last month. Back in the year 2000 Pope Paul II became the first Pope in history to make an official visit to Israel. He placed a prayer on the Western Wall. Then in 2009 Pope Benedict became the first Pope in history to enter the Dome of the Rock. And now in 2014 another Pope visits Israel and once more places a prayer on the Western Wall and enters Dome of the Rock. These sites are extremely significant. The Western Wall is the last remaining structure of the retaining wall of Temple in Jerusalem. The Dome of the Rock is the actual site not only of the Tabernacle but also where the Most Holy Place was situated. While there Pope Francis called for the 'State of Palestine’ to be created. The Pope invited the president of Israel and president of the Palestinians for a prayer meeting at the Vatican on June 8. He seems determined to intervene in the “peace process”. We know that the “man of sin” will only bring destruction on Israel… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)

6. 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 is the master of deception and will cause sudden shocking destruction…. New Ukrainian president wants prompt EU trade deal Moscow Times, May 29, 2014 EVENT Ukraine's newly elected president, Petro Poroshenko, wants to sign a landmark trade deal with the European Union soon after his inauguration as head of state, his office said, after EU officials suggested there might be some delay. The proposed trade agreement with the EU has been at the heart of Ukraine's political crisis over the past six months since former Moscow-backed president Viktor Yanukovych turned his back on the accord at the last minute. His decision to jilt the EU and seek a $15 billion bailout from Russia triggered protests that led to him being ousted. Poroshenko, a billionaire chocolate factory owner who won an unprecedented first round victory in Ukraine's presidential election on Sunday, has pledged to align his former Soviet republic of 45 million people with the EU. Since the election, Ukrainian government forces have mounted a major military offensive against pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk. The inauguration, but it is expected to take place by mid-June. Putin promised to work with the new president of Ukraine. But as we have said before – Putin’s promises are not to be trusted. In fact this new Ukrainian president is polar opposite to Putin in terms of the direction he wants to take Ukraine. Within hours of being elected he promised to sign up to the EU deal that sparked the crisis in the first place! He also launched a major offensive against pro Russian separatists. So far Putin has not even acknowledged the new Ukrainian president and today Ukraine accused Russia of unleashing a mass propaganda campaign to persuade global powers not to recognise an election that gave the presidency to a “pro-Western tycoon”. Russia on Friday accused Ukraine of breaching the 1949 Geneva Conventions protecting civilians in wartime by killing peaceful citizens. Far from being over the crisis continues…. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 8:24-25 NLT)

7. The ten horns of the beast are ten kings who have not yet risen to power. They will be appointed to their kingdoms for one brief moment to reign with the beast. They will all agree to give him their power and authority. Together they will go to war against the Lamb, These verses tell us that 10 nations will form a European superstate in the future… Eurosceptic 'earthquake' rocks EU elections BBC News, May 26, 2014 Eurosceptic and far-right parties have seized ground in elections to the European parliament, in what France's PM called a "political earthquake”. UK Independence Party and French National Front both performed strongly. The three big centrist blocs all lost seats, though still hold the majority. The outcome means a greater say for those who want to cut back the EU's powers, or abolish it completely. UK PM David Cameron said the public was "disillusioned" with the EU. Mr Cameron said their message was "received and understood". French President Francois Hollande has called an urgent meeting of his cabinet, as Prime Minister Manuel Valls promised tax cuts a day after the results which he described as "a shock, an earthquake". Chancellor Angela Merkel - whose party topped the poll in Germany - described the far right victories as "remarkable and regrettable" and said the best response was to boost economic growth and jobs. EVENT Not only do we have a crisis on border of Europe we also have an internal crisis. The elections last week were called a “political earthquake”. The anti Europe parties all over Europe did extremely well in the voting that took place. However these anti Europe parties are generally right wing anti Semitic parties. In France the National Front party was the outright winner. They promote anti-immigrant and often anti-Semitic policies. In the UK local elections, UKIP (UK Independence Party) came first with 27.5% of the vote. This will certainly force the UK prime minister to become even more Euro-sceptic and will probably lead to Britain leaving Europe at some point if a vote on membership is ever taken. But is this the end of the European dream? NO! The rulers don’t listen to the people. The vision to create a European superstate will continue unabated… he COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Revelation 17:12-13)

8. Then at the time of the end, the king of the south will attack 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 Obama to let American troops train Syrian rebels Washington Times, May 27, 2014 President Barak Obama is ready to sign a bill that approves training of Syrian armed oppositionists by American forces, US newspaper The Wall Street Journal says. The statement was made during Obama's speech at the United States Military Academy at West Point (USMA) on Wednesday. However, he didn't give precise information about the training program. "The president intends to extend the support of Syrian opposition and its neighboring countries that face the terrorist threats," The Wall Street Journal said, citing a representative of the White House. However, the plan is still being discussed by the government, which should also settle a wide range of issues in order to implement it. In particular, the government doesn't know what countries of the region will station American troops on their territories and how it will be able to distinguish the Syrian conservative opposition from the radical Islamists. EVENT he COMMENT As the war in Afghanistan winds down it appears that Obama is getting ready to increase America’s involvement in Syria. According to reports the Arab world sees Obama as moving to counteract Russian, Iranian and Hezbollah intervention in the Syrian conflict. It is also seen in some quarters as payback for Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Obama has not made totally clear in his announcement this week exactly what he is planning in Syria. But will be a program to expand US involvement in the war against the Assad regime and al Qaeda elements by providing moderate rebels with military training and a regular supply of sophisticated weapons, instead of the dribs and drabs they have supplied so far. It may even include anti-air systems which Washington has withheld so far. We may still see the king of the south enter the fray in Syria (the ancient territory of the king of the north). A military provocation of Russia is coming… BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 11:40-41)

9. 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, but Moab, Edom, and the best part of Ammon will escape. He will conquer many countries, and even Egypt will not escape. After Crimea: The future of the Black Sea fleet The Jamestown Foundation, May 22, 2014 Russia’s March 17 annexation of Crimea capped nearly two decades of increasingly fractious Russian-Ukrainian relations, punctuated by rising tensions over Russia’s lease of Sevastopol. Russia’s annexation of Crimea has altered the Black Sea Fleet’s future. On May 13, Russian Navy commander-in-chief Admiral Viktor Chirkov stated that the Black Sea Fleet will receive 30 new warships over the next six years, following an earlier statement by Defense Minister General Sergei Shoigu that the BSF will receive more than $2.3 billion in developmental funding by 2020 (ITAR-TASS, May 13). Their final deployment is uncertain, as some support vessels are slated for stationing in the Sea of Azov and may be more of a statement of posturing rather than a new naval reality. In addition to Sevastopol, the finest natural harbor in the Black Sea, Russia also acquired the former Crimean Ukrainian naval bases of Novoozerne on Donuzlav Bay. EVENT It is now clear that Russia’s annexation of Crimea is part of a larger plan to revitalize the Russian Navy and the Black Sea Fleet in particular. The expansion of the Black Sea Fleet will also bolster Russia’s ability to project power in the region. Beyond the Black Sea, Sevastopol will allow Moscow to exert influence over the eastern Mediterranean, Balkans and Middle East. The importance of the Mediterranean to Russia was highlighted in 2013, when, amid the civil war in Syria, Russia created a “permanent task force”. Russian Deputy Prime Minister said that all 23 Crimean defence industry plants and shipyards would be involved in the modernization of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, saying, “When it comes to shipbuilding and ship repair, let me remind you that in 2015 we will undertake a massive upgrading of the Black Sea fleet. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 11:40-42)

10. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Israel solves water woes with desalination Associated Press, May 30, 2014 After experiencing its driest winter on record, Israel is responding as never before — by doing nothing. While previous droughts have been accompanied by impassioned public service advertisements to conserve, this time around it has been greeted with a shrug — thanks in large part to an aggressive desalination program that has transformed this perennially parched land into perhaps the most well-hydrated country in the region. "We have all the water we need, even in the year which was the worst year ever regarding precipitation," said Avraham Tenne, head of the desalination division of Israel's Water Authority. "This is a huge revolution.” By solving its water woes, Israel has created the possibility of transforming the region in ways that were unthinkable just a few years ago. But reliance on this technology also carries some risks, including the danger of leaving a key element of the country's infrastructure vulnerable to attack. EVENT In Deuteronomy 11 we read these words…v 13-17 “If you carefully obey all the commands I am giving you today, and if you love the Lord your God and serve him with all your heart and soul, then he will send the rains in their proper seasons—the early and late rains—so you can bring in your harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil. He will give you lush pastureland for your livestock, and you yourselves will have all you want to eat. “But be careful. Don’t let your heart be deceived so that you turn away from the Lord and serve and worship other gods. If you do, the Lord’s anger will burn against you. He will shut up the sky and hold back the rain, and the ground will fail to produce its harvests. Then you will quickly die in that good land the Lord is giving you.” So it is God that withholds the rain because of disobedience. Israel has found a way round this but we know that judgement is coming on Israel in the form of an invasion… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (2 Chronicles 7:12-13)

11. 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. Please take a look at this excellent Christadelphian Prophecy website Just click the image To watch again, click here.