May 18 - 24, 2014

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s May 18 - 24, 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 18 - 24, 2014 • Medvedev warns of second Cold War • Prince Charles 'Compares Putin To Hitler' • Russia and China sign historic $400bn gas deal • Ukraine crisis: Donetsk sees deadliest attack on troops • Syrian: video of 'chlorine gas' floating in streets • Flooding in the Balkans: worst in over 100 years To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

5. 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, 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: Medvedev warns of second Cold War Associated Press, May 20, 2014 EVENT Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday warned the United States and Russia are approaching “a second Cold War.” Medvedev also said President Obama is to blame for the deteriorating relations. “Basically, we are slowly but surely approaching a second Cold War that nobody needs. Why am I saying this? Because a competent politician knows how to make reserved, careful, subtle, wise and intelligent decisions, which, I believe, Mr. Obama succeeded at for a while,” Medvedev told Bloomberg News. “But what is being done now, unfortunately, proves that the U.S. administration has run out of these resources,” he added. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Russia for its annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea. The U.S. has also accused Russia of meddling in Ukraine. COMMENT These are very strong words from the Russian prime minister. He has in effect called Obama incompetent, unsubtle, unwise and making unintelligent decisions. We also have once more the mention of Cold War II. He also said that Russia could “cause some unpleasantness” to countries imposing those sanctions. This is surely a direct threat to punish countries that are siding with America’s call for more sanctions on Russia. Mr Medvedev would not be saying these things without the express permission of his boss – Mr Putin. So we know this is exactly what Putin thinks. It is amazing that the Bible, thousands of years ago, told us accurately that there would be this king of the north v king of the south situation. In Ezekiel we have an incredibly detailed description of the antagonists and they line up exactly. We also read in Ezekiel about Gog being “turned back.” We see this happening as Gog (Russian ruler) sets the clock back to the Cold War days. It truly is a turning back... and then they come forth. BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:3-4)

6. And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: Prince Charles 'Compares Putin To Hitler' Daily Telegraph, May 22, 2014 EVENT The Prince of Wales’ remarks that President Putin is like Hitler are “outrageous, unacceptable and low”, Russia has said. In a furious response, Moscow accused Prince Charles of attempting to spread "anti-Russian propaganda" following the annexation of Crimea, adding his remarks are unworthy of a future king. On a visit to Canada, the Prince told a woman who lost relatives in the Holocaust: “And now Putin is doing just about the same as Hitler.” “If these words were truly spoken, then without doubt, they do not reflect well on the future British monarch," a spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. "We view the use of the Western press by members of the British Royal Family to spread the propaganda campaign against Russia on a pressing issue - that is, the situation in Ukraine - as unacceptable, outrageous and low." COMMENT Is Prince Charles right? Is Putin like Hitler? Well in many ways he is now – but in the future he will be even more like Hitler – Putin will bring another holocaust for the Jews. Putin has a cult following like Hitler – he even has his own shadowy youth movement called the Nashis! Nashi in Russian means “ours”. This youth movement has 120,000 members. There are pictures of them all wearing red T shirts with Putin’s face on the front with the words “Our Choice” emblazoned on the front. Hitler as we know had a youth movement called Hitler Youth. They would break up church services and spy on religious classes and Bible studies. Hitler of course invaded neighbouring countries on the pretext of saving German speaking people. Putin is doing exactly the same. But there is much worse to come. Hitler killed 6 million Jews. Putin will cause shocking devastation when he invades Israel. Two thirds of the Jews living there will be killed... BIBLE QUOTE (Zechariah 13:8-9)

7. And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: Russia and China sign historic $400bn gas deal Daily Telegraph, May 21, 2014 Russia's President Vladimir Putin has pulled off a major political coup by securing a landmark $400bn (£236bn) gas agreement with China, a move that will come as a blow to US efforts to isolate the Kremlin. Few details were available for the deal - one of the world's biggest energy pacts - but state-owned China National Petroleum Corp said that it had signed a 30-year agreement to buy up to 38bn cubic metres a year of gas from 2018. The deal is a coup for Mr Putin as he seeks to open up new markets for Russian gas as the US prepares to begin exporting to Europe, currently Russia's main market. It also sees Russia move closer to Beijing at a time when the Kremlin is a loggerheads with the US over the political situation in Eastern Ukraine following its annexation of Crimea. "This is indeed a historic event for the gas sector of Russia and of the USSR," Mr Putin was reported to have said after the deal was signed. "This is the biggest contract in the history of the gas sector of the former USSR." EVENT Once more Putin is ahead of the game. Just as America prepares to begin exporting gas to Europe, Putin clinches a deal that will keep the coffers rolling in. Putin has worked on the deal with China for about 10 years. They have been haggling for that long over the price. But now Putin wants the deal so it happens. China by all accounts has got a very good price for the gas but the real winner is Putin. It makes it all the more difficult for America to hurt Russia (and Putin) with sanctions. Putin also announced this week that he would reduce (overtime) Russia’s dependence on energy for its income and start to develop industries and commerce. This he said would reduce the need for imports from the West. And so this geopolitical game of chess continues – we know Putin will win this game – but then God steps in.... he COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:18-21)

8. a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper Ukraine crisis: Donetsk sees deadliest attack on troops BBC News, May 22, 2014 A dawn attack on a checkpoint in eastern Ukraine has left at least 14 soldiers dead, in the worst loss of life for government forces to date. Heavily armed militants attacked the checkpoint in the Volnovakha area, in one of four attacks reported overnight in eastern Ukraine. It is unclear who attacked the checkpoint, with one Ukrainian officer telling the BBC it was not separatists. The attacks come just three days before Ukraine's presidential election. Ukraine's interim Prime Minister, Arseny Yatseniuk, has called for an emergency session of the UN Security Council, saying he has evidence of Russian involvement in the violence. Ukrainians go to the polls on Sunday to choose a new president but voting in Donetsk and Luhansk has been seriously disrupted by the insurgency there. The election was called after the last elected President, Viktor Yanukovych, was deposed in February amid mass protests against his pro-Russian policies. EVENT he COMMENT The situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate. This week has been the bloodiest so far. Even as I type this reports are coming in of another 20 killed in Ukraine violence. The Ukrainian Prime Minister says he has firm evidence that Russian forces were behind the killing of 14 Ukrainian soldiers this week. It seems highly likely they are. These are very professional operations. On the other hand Putin is sounding very statesmanlike as he promises to “respect the Ukrainian vote” that is being held this weekend. As we have often said – if you reverse Putin’s comments that is more likely to be the truth. He therefore will not respect the vote if the people were to vote for someone he does not like. This is why Putin is stirring up so much trouble before the election. It is deceit and lies. God said Gog would be like this. BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 8:23-24)

9. The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid. The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, Syrian: video of 'chlorine gas' floating in streets Daily Telegraph, May 23, 2014 Opposition activists have posted a video of what they say is chlorine gas floating through the streets of a Syrian village and they accuse President Bashar al-Assad of mounting a chemical weapons campaign. Activists and medical sources said the village of Kfar Zeita, in the central province of Hama 125 miles north of Damascus, has been the focus of a two-month-old assault in which chlorine gas canisters have been dropped out of helicopters. The government denies its forces have used chlorine or deadlier poisonous gases and blames all chemical attacks on rebels waging a three-year-old uprising against Assad. The Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has opened an investigation into the alleged chlorine attacks, more than a dozen of which have been reported since April 11 in several areas. EVENT COMMENT Meanwhile the situation in Syria rumbles on with more accusations that Assad is using chemical weapons. Last year a deal was reached for Assad to remove all his chemical weapons. It was only this that prevented military action against the Syrian regime. However official figures show that Assad still holds on to substantial chemical weapons arsenal inside Syria. The deal with strict deadlines is now weeks behind schedule. The conflict has killed more than 160,000 people, a third of them civilians, and caused millions to flee. Debkafile has been reporting this week that there is growing trouble in the area close to the Golan Heights – which of course Israel controls. We know there is greater trouble to come on Syria. We also know that at some stage Israel will be involved in the conflict with Syria. Everything is coming together and one day (maybe very soon) many prophecies will be fulfilled before our eyes... BIBLE QUOTE (Isaiah 17:1-3)

10. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope Flooding in the Balkans: worst in over 100 years Washington Post, May 19, 2014 An unusually strong area of low pressure sat and spun over the Balkans last Thursday and Friday, unleashing torrents of rain in Serbia and Bosnia. The resulting flooding has killed at least 35 people. In Bosnia, the flooding is reportedly the worst in 120 years. From the Associated Press: [Bosnia's] Foreign Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija called the flood damage “immense” and compared it to the carnage during the country’s 1992-95 war that killed at least 100,000 people and left millions homeless. He said the flooding had destroyed about 100,000 houses and 230 schools and hospitals and left a million people without drinking water. Rainfall totals exceeding 4 inches (100mm) were widespread throughout the Balkans, with locally much higher amounts according to the UK Met Office. “In three days, as much rain fell as normally falls in three months,” said Goran Mihajlovic, of Serbia’s Meteorological Institute. “Statistically, such rainfall happens once in 100 years,” he added. EVENT COMMENT 2014 has seen some amazing extremes from a weather point of view. There have been heatwaves in Slovenia and Australia, snow in Vietnam and the return of the polar vortex to North America. Britain has had its wettest winter in 250 years but temperatures in parts of Russia and the Arctic have been 10C above normal. Meanwhile, the southern hemisphere has had the warmest start to a year ever recorded, with millions of people sweltering in Brazilian and southern African cities. The first few months of 2014 appear to back up last year's UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report , which stated that the number, frequency and intensity of hot days and heatwaves was increasing, along with an increase in the intensity and number of heavy rainfall events. We are watching creation itself groaning under the weight of godlessness and sin. BIBLE QUOTE (Romans 8:22-24)

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.