March 2 - 8, 2014

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s March 2 - 8, 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 March 2 - 8, 2014 • World scrambles as Russia tightens grip on Crimea • US sends fighter jets and increases pressure on Putin • Putin mocks the West and threatens to turn off gas • Putin has transformed Russian army • Obama: Netanyahu must make 'tough decisions' • Israel intercepts 'Iranian weapons shipment' to Gaza To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

5. His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. The legs represent the Eastern and Western halves of the Roman Empire. Although all elements are destroyed this does not indicate a uniting of powers. World scrambles as Russia tightens grip on Crimea Associated Press, March 2, 2014 Warning that it was "on the brink of disaster," Ukraine put its military on high alert Sunday and appealed for international help to avoid what it feared was the possibility of a wider invasion by Russia. Outrage over Russia's military moves mounted in world capitals, with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry calling on President Vladimir Putin to pull back from "an incredible act of aggression.” A day after Russia captured the Crimean Peninsula without firing a shot, fears grew in the Ukrainian capital and beyond that Russia might seek to expand its control by seizing other parts of eastern Ukraine. Senior Obama administration officials said the U.S. now believes that Russia has complete operational control of Crimea, a pro-Russian area of the country, and has more than 6,000 troops in the region. EVENT This crisis has the potential to lead to war. Putin has defied calls from the West to pull back his troops. He is insistent that Russia has a right to protect its interests and those of Russian-speakers in Crimea and elsewhere in Ukraine. Russia has long wanted to reclaim the lush Crimean Peninsula, part of its territory until 1954. Russia's Black Sea Fleet pays Ukraine millions annually to be stationed at the Crimean port of Sevastopol and nearly 60 percent of Crimea's residents identify themselves as Russian. Ukraine is in effect a country divided down the middle. The Western half are pro Europe. The Eastern half pro Russia. In effect we are looking at the division in the legs of Nebuchadnezzar’s image. Some expect Russia to control Europe. But this is not what the Bible says. The legs remain divided. They never join together. Ezekiel 38 war does not involve Europe. It is Russia, Iran, Sudan, Libya & Turkey. The European beast and Catholic war comes later when Christ has returned and is established in Jerusalem he COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 2:33-34)

6. And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. The time of the end cannot be 100 years ago – it is NOW….the push is coming… US sends fighter jets and increases pressure on Putin Daily Telegraph, March 6, 2014 The US bolstered its military forces across Eastern Europe on Thursday and imposed its first sanctions in an effort to force Russia to scale back its intervention in Ukraine. As European leaders met in Brussels, President Barack Obama denounced plans for a referendum on whether the occupied Crimea region should join Russia as “a violation” of international law. “We are well beyond the days when borders can be redrawn over the heads of democratic leaders,” he said. The US sent six F-15 fighter jets to join Nato air patrols over the Baltic states in a show of strength intended to reassure its eastern European allies and send a signal to the Kremlin. A further dozen F-16 fighters and 300 troops will deploy to Poland next week as part of a military training exercise expanded in response to the Russian incursion in Ukraine. A US destroyer will also be deployed to the Black Sea as part of a routine exercise. EVENT he COMMENT The crisis over Ukraine is showing no signs of abating. In fact the tensions increase every day. America is leading calls for action against Russia and is frustrated with Europe’s sluggish responses. The White House on Thursday announced travel restrictions on Russian and Ukrainian officials “directly involved in destabilising Ukraine” and banned them from entering the US. While European leaders agreed to suspend trade talks with Russia, they stopped short of imposing visa restrictions or other sanctions. America has sent in to the Back Sea a warship and a large number of F-16 fighter jets. This is becoming a stand-off between the king of the south (America and UK) and the king of the north (Russia). This could well lead to Daniel 11 v 40 being fulfilled in full. The “push” of the king of the south against the king of north comes at the time of the end. It is the catalyst that brings Russia down into the Middle East…. BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 11:40)

7. And in the latter time …., a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft [deceit] to prosper Putin mocks the West and threatens to turn off gas Daily Telegraph, March 7, 2014 Putin and Antiochus Epiphanes Daniel 8 horn power and king of the north EVENT Vladimir Putin has mocked diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine crisis as Russia threatened to disrupt European gas supplies by cutting off sales to Kiev over its unpaid debts. The Russian president said through his official spokesman that, despite deep disagreements with the West, he did not want a confrontation over Ukraine to spiral into a “new cold war”. Nevertheless Dmitry Peskov ridiculed Western demands for direct talks between the Kremlin and the new Kiev government, claiming that the loss of credibility involved “puts a smile on our face”. Earlier, Gazprom, Russia’s state-owned energy giant, said it would start to reduce deliveries to Kiev, a move that would disrupt supplies to Europe. Gazprom said Ukraine had failed to make payments on its £1.2 billion debts. Energy experts said Russia had the power to cause problems in markets across Europe, even though peak winter demand was past. It is amazing how deceitful Russia is being over events in Crimea. It flatly refuses to acknowledge that its soldiers have taken over the region. They say this because the troops are not wearing Russian insignia. However they are driving military vehicles owned by the Russia military and clearly following Russian orders. This week Russia deliberately sank three old war ships to block the harbour entrance to stop Ukraine navy ships leaving the port in Crimea. Russia is backing a referendum next week in Crimea on joining the Russian Federation. This could spark conflict. We read in Daniel 8 of a king of fierce countenance standing up in the “latter time”. He brings destruction and ultimately attacks the Holy people (the Jews). Through his policy he causes deceit to prosper. This man is a latter day Antiochus Epiphanes. The original king of the north. In fact Putin even looks like this ancient king. Putin fulfils these words COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 8:23-24)

8. And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, Putin has transformed Russian army into a lean, mean fighting machine Washington Times, March 6, 2014 President Vladimir Putin has turned a once-moribund Russian military into a lean, quick-strike force that can invade Chechnya, Georgia and now Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula. Under Mr. Putin, Russia has developed the world’s third-largest defence budget, at $70 billion. The underpaid army of post-Cold War conscripts has given way to special operations troops and experienced guns for hire, some of whom showed up in Crimea in not readily identifiable uniforms. Overall, headquarters have been consolidated and soldiers fight out of brigades, not large divisions. Mr. Putin, who has lamented the end of the Soviet empire, is using Russia’s energy riches to buy military technology overseas such as communications networks and drones. Germany, its eastern half once ruled by Stalinist countrymen, built for Russia a sophisticated training centre for infantry units that can simulate an array of war scenarios, such as invading a neighbour. EVENT COMMENT Russia is now an immense fighting machine. America is the world’s policeman and because of this is thinly stretched. Russia, however, has no real military commitments around the world and therefore when it does invade the Middle East it will be able to do so with ease. The other advantage Russia has from a military point of view is that it is not a democracy. Putin calls the shots. He is not answerable to the people. He controls the politics and makes the decisions. This means he can react (as in Ukraine) very quickly and catch the West off guard. Ezekiel 38 speaks of Gog (Putin) preparing his forces. God says “be prepared and prepare for yourself and all your armed forces.” It is clear Putin has indeed been preparing. He has setup rapid strike forces that can move quickly and decisively. The stage is being set for Russia to come down… BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:15)

9. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, …, all the land of Canaan [Israel] Obama: Netanyahu must make 'tough decisions' BBConline, March 4, 2014 US President Barack Obama has warned that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu must make "tough decisions" to advance peace talks with the Palestinians. At the White House, Mr Netanyahu replied Israelis expected him to "stand strong" and that the Palestinians had not done their part to ease tensions. The White House has said it hopes to see a peace deal in place by 29 April. But there has been little sign of progress since July, when direct talks resumed after a three-year hiatus. The two leaders spoke publicly on Monday ahead of a bilateral meeting at the White House. "It is still possible to create two states, a Jewish state of Israel and a state of Palestine, with people living side-by-side in peace and security," Mr Obama said on Monday. "But it's difficult. It requires compromise on all sides." EVENT As the world lurches towards World War 3 we see at the same time the final push on Israel to make peace with the Palestinians. Obama is pushing Netanyahu to divide the land of Israel. The current end date for this to happen is 29th April. Obama is telling the Israeli prime minister that if he doesn’tagree then America cannot be expected to control the fallout. In other words America will stop supporting Israel to its fullest extent. This is a massive threat to Israel. A huge deterrent to Israel’s enemies is knowing that America would defend Israel. If this changes Israel will be exposed. We don’t know for certain if Israel will agree to dividing the land. There is a possibility they will. Joel talks about the land being divided. This is maybe what brings the final judgements on Israel. For God to bring Russia against his people (and for two thirds of them to be killed) the Jews must do something that finally goes over a red line. We read in Isaiah 24 that the world breaks the “everlasting covenant.” This refers to God giving the Jews the land. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Isaiah 24:5) (Genesis 17:7-8)

10. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: (Authorised Version) Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; (Revised Standard Version) We see Iran and Cush (Sudan) working together against Israel Israel intercepts 'Iranian weapons shipment' to Gaza AFP, March 5, 2014 EVENT Israel said it intercepted a ship Wednesday carrying an Iranian shipment of advanced rockets bound for Palestinian militants, claiming it proved Tehran could not be trusted in international nuclear talks. The announcement came hours after Israel said it struck two Hezbollah fighters as they tried to plant a bomb near the Syrian-Israeli frontier and just over a week after Israel reportedly bombed the Iran-backed group inside Lebanon for the first time since 2006. Israel has long accused Iran and Syria of providing military aid to Hezbollah and to Palestinian militant groups, and the military spokesman's office tweeted that the ship was carrying weapons "capable of striking anywhere in Israel". "While Iran is conducting these talks, smiling to the international community, it continues to arm terrorist groups, continues to perpetrate terrorism around the world," Netanyahu said in a statement. According to the Jerusalem Post the rockets originated in Syria. Iran reportedly flew the rockets from Syria to an Iranian airfield, trucked them to the seaport of Bander Abbas, and shipped them to Iraq, where they were hidden in cement sacks. The ship then set sail for Port Sudan, near the Sudanese-Eritrean border, on a journey that was expected to last some 10 days. Had the shipment not been intercepted, the rockets could have been unloaded at Port Sudan and taken overland, through Egypt into Sinai, and through smuggling tunnels into the Gaza Strip. What is clear therefore is that Sudan is involved with Iran in getting weapons to Israel’s enemies. Sudan is mentioned in the Bible. Sudan is ancient Cush. The name Cush in the AV is translated as Ethiopia – but in fact Cush is Sudan not Ethiopia. In Ezekiel 38 we read of nations joining Russia in attacking Israel. First on the list is Persia (Iran). Second on the list is Cush (Sudan). COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:5)

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.