Weekly World Watch: Biblical Insights on Global Events

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s April 21 - 27, 2019 “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 April 21 - 27, 2019 • US: No more sanction waivers for importing Iranian oil • Iran raises stakes with threat to close Strait of Hormuz • US Navy sails ‘200,000 tons of diplomacy’ in the Med • North Korea summit: Kim accuses US of 'bad faith' • Comedian wins landslide victory in Ukrainian • Devastating floods further strain Iran’s creaking economy To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

5. Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.  Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.  This prophecy in Isaiah 13 has latter day fulfilment as well as ancient fulfilment.Watch video on YouTube on this US: No more sanction waivers for importing Iranian oil Associated Press, April 22, 2019 The Trump administration said Monday that it will no longer exempt any countries from U.S. sanctions if they continue to buy Iranian oil, stepping up pressure on Iran in a move that primarily affects the five remaining major importers: China and India and U.S. treaty allies Japan, South Korea, Turkey. President Donald Trump made the decision as part of the administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran that aims to eliminate all of its revenue from oil exports that the U.S. says funds destabilizing activity throughout the Middle East and beyond. “This decision is intended to bring Iran’s oil exports to zero, denying the regime its principal source of revenue,” the White House said in a statement. Announcing the step, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said no more sanctions waivers would be granted when the current batch expire on May 2, choking off Iranian income that had been more than $50 billion a year. EVENT COMMENT The Trump administration is tightening the economic noose around Iran. Iran is heavily dependent on oil sales to keep the country afloat. The sanctions already introduced in November 2018 have reduced Iran’s oil output from 2.5 million barrels per day to 1 million. The removal of the waiver will stop countries like China, India, Turkey etc from trading with Iran for oil. If they do they will also be hit with penalties. China is furious at this and oil prices have increased on the back of Trump’s announcement. But will this enormous pressure on Iran bring Iran to heel? The Bible says no. It says Iran (the Medes) care nothing for gold or silver – they are ideologically driven. In fact it says they will use their bows to attack. An explosion happens when pressure gets too much. BIBLE QUOTE (Isaiah 13:17-18)

6. 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: Iran raises stakes with threat to close Strait of Hormuz Bloomberg, April 22, 2018 Iran will close the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway vital for global oil shipments, if the country is prevented from using it, a senior military official said on Monday in what appears to be a response to the U.S. plan to end waivers on Iranian oil exports. “If we are prevented from using it, we will close it,” the state-run Fars news agency reported, citing Alireza Tangsiri, head of the Revolutionary Guard Corps navy force. “In the event of any threats, we will not have the slightest hesitation to protect and defend Iran’s waterway.” Iranian officials have threatened to close the waterway in the past amid rising tension with the U.S. and Tangsiri’s remarks could be an attempt to deter the U.S. from its plan to slash the nation’s oil exports. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway carrying a fifth of the world’s traded oil that Iranian officials have threatened to block in retaliation for sanctions targeting the country’s nuclear program. The U.S. has said it would move to stop any Iranian attempt to block the waterway. EVENT Iran’s announcement this week of the appointment of a new commander of its Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) could signal that Iran is preparing for conflict with the US. A former Pentagon analyst Michael Maloof wrote “General Salami’s appointment could represent a dramatic shift in Iranian policy. It really suggests they’re going to double down on confronting the US. I think we’re about ready to enter a whole new phase of confrontation.” If Iran does try to close the Strait of Hormuz oil prices will rocket and the world would enter recession – even depression. Whatever happens we know Persia (Iran) will survive to launch an attack on Israel with Russia… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:4-5)

7. US Navy sails ‘200,000 tons of diplomacy’ in the Med USNI News, April 24, 2019 The U.S. Navy sent a not-so-subtle message to adversaries in the form of a dual-carrier, multi-national operation this week in the Mediterranean Sea. Carriers USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and a collection their escorts, airwings and warships from Spain, the U.K. and France came together for several days of exercises as the carriers crossed paths in the Med. The exercise also included a visit this week from U.S. ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman, who stressed the message the two-carrier exercise was transmitting from Washington. “When you have 200,000 tons of diplomacy that is cruising in the Mediterranean — this is what I call diplomacy. This is forward-operating diplomacy, nothing else needs to be said,” he told CNN. The exercise included the U.K. Type 45 guided-missile destroyer HMS Duncan (D 37), the French guided-missile frigate FS Languedoc (D 653) and the Spanish Alvaro de Bazan-class frigate ESPS Méndez Núñez(F 104), according to photos and video released on Wednesday. EVENT On Wednesday, the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier (accompanied by 10 warships), deployed opposite the Syrian coast in a dramatic show of strength against Russia and Iran. The effect was underlined by the presence on the carrier’s command bridge of none other than US ambassador to Moscow Jon Huntsman.  His message needed no commentary: “When you have 200,000 tons of diplomacy cruising the Mediterranean, this is forward-operating diplomacy – nothing else need be said.” There is no precedent even in the Cold War years between America and Soviet Russia of a US ambassador being planted on a front line against Russian and Iranian forces in the Middle East.  The nations are preparing for war - the inner ring war could come at anytime… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.  Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.  (Joel 3:11-12)

8. North Korea summit: Kim accuses US of 'bad faith' BBC, April 26, 2019 EVENT North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has accused the US of acting in "bad faith" during the summit earlier this year with President Donald Trump, according to the Korean Central News Agency. He also said peace in the Korean peninsula would depend entirely on Washington. Mr Kim made his remarks at Thursday's summit with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok. The North Korean leader departed Vladivostok on Friday. KCNA reported that President Putin had accepted an invitation to visit North Korea. The visit would take place "at a convenient time", the news agency added. During the meeting, Kim Jong-un reportedly told Vladimir Putin that "the situation on the Korean peninsula and the region is now at a standstill and has reached a critical point". Negotiations between the two countries broke down during a summit in Vietnam in February, with no deal reached over North Korea's nuclear weapons. COMMENT The last Trump / Kim summit ended in failure. This has allowed Putin to enter the delicate negotiations with regard to North Korea’s nuclear weapons. Once again, it does appear that Putin has been able to position himself as an important diplomatic broker. Trump sees himself as the dealmaker so will not be happy about Putin muscling in to these talks. This is about Russia asserting itself, once again, on the international stage. Putin is back where he likes to be -- at the centre of international diplomacy and attention. Vladimir means “master of the universe”. Donald means “world ruler”. The king of the north and king of the south are both sparring with each other over North Korea – eventually they will come into conflict with each other…  “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 BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 11:40- 41 NLT)

9. Comedian wins landslide victory in Ukrainian presidential election Guardian, April 26, 2019 EVENT Volodymyr Zelenskiy, an actor and comedian with no political experience other than playing the role of president in a TV series, has won a landslide victory in Ukraine’s presidential election, with near-complete counting showing he has won over 70% of the vote. The incumbent, Petro Poroshenko conceded defeat on Sunday evening before results started coming in. According to official results released on Monday morning, with 85% of the vote counted, 41-year-old Zelenskiy had won 73.4% of the vote, compared to Poroshenko’s 24.4%. Zelenskiy appeared in front of a crowd of journalists at his campaign headquarters as the polls closed and flashed an impish grin as he pushed his way on to the stage, accompanied by the theme tune to his television show. “We did it together,” he said, thanking his wife, parents and campaign team. “Thanks to all the Ukrainian citizens who voted for me, and to all who didn’t. I promise I won’t mess up.” COMMENT Ukraine’s new president is best known for his role in the long-running Ukrainian television series Servant of the People, where he played a teacher unexpectedly elected to the presidency after an angry rant about corruption is posted online by his students. Incredibly he now IS the actual president! Trump (another TV celebrity to win a presidency) was quick to congratulate him - Putin never has. But Putin did respond in a way. Putin signed a decree on Wednesday that makes it easier for those living in eastern Ukraine's separatist territories to access a Russian passport. The move is seen as a challenge to the new Ukrainian president. Mr Zelensky's team labelled Russia "an aggressor state which wages war against Ukraine". We know that God installs the leaders of this world - therefore this is all part of His plan which is concluding soon… BIBLE QUOTE This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He wills and sets up over it the basest of men. (even TV celebrity comedians!) (Daniel 4:17)

10. Devastating floods further strain Iran’s creaking economy BBC, April 21, 2018 EVENT Iran’s economy was already creaking as two weeks of flooding devastated communities across the country, killing 76 people and damaging critical infrastructure and industries. Hundreds of thousands of Iranians have been left to pick up the pieces at a time when economic pressures may mean that their government and fellow countrymen will struggle to provide adequate relief.   Initial estimates put the flood damage at USD 3.5 billion. Nearly 90,000 homes have been rendered uninhabitable. Thousands of farms have also been submerged, with damage to the agricultural sector alone estimated at nearly USD 200 million. Across the agricultural centers of Golestan, Khuzestan, Lorestan, and Mazandaran, over 800,000 hectares of crops have been destroyed.   Individual communities have been hammered as factories and farms have closed. In the northern town of Agh Ghala, 5000 people have been rendered jobless after the floods devastated 15 individual industrial plants. At least 60 chicken farms have also suffered major damage. Although Iran’s largest factories remain intact, the Ministry of Industry has identified 400 industrial sites across six provinces that were hit by flooding. In Lorestan province alone, over 100 manufacturing facilities were affected. The monumental and unprecedented US pressure on Tehran is compounded by the cruel effects on the population of the most severe weather disasters the Islamic republic has known for many years. Weeks of incessant rainfall have caused widespread flooding  in 25 of the country’s 31 provinces, forcing more than 2 million people to flee their homes. Crops amounting to 14pc of Iran’s annual national product were destroyed. God uses the weather to bring about His plan and His purpose… COMMENT stormy wind fulfilling his word: Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: Let them praise the name of the Lord BIBLE QUOTE (Psalm 148:8-13)

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.