November 19 - 25, 2017

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s November 19 - 25, 2017 “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 November 19 - 25, 2017 • Putin tells Russian companies to prepare for war • Russia, Turkey & Iran propose conference on Syria • Saudi Crown Prince calls Iran leader 'new Hitler' • Saudi Arabia to buy $7 billion in arms from U.S. firms • UN chief warns risk of a new Israeli-Hezbollah conflict • Sudan's president visits Russia, asks for protection To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

5. Get ready; be prepared! Keep all the armies around you mobilized, and take command of them. 8 A long time from now you will be called into action. In the distant future you will swoop down on the land of Israel, which will be enjoying peace after recovering from war Putin tells Russian defence companies to prepare for war Newsweek, November 23, 2017 Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that his country’s biggest enterprises must show that they can step up arms production and important services on short notice to be war-ready. “The economic ability to increase the production of defence products and services quickly is a vital element of military security,” Putin told military leaders and senior officials in the defence industrial complex on Wednesday. “All strategic and simply large companies, regardless of the type of ownership, must be able to do this. We must analyse them so as to propose additional measures to enhance mobilization readiness.” The Russian president raised the issue after listing the country’s successes in raising combat readiness for a hypothetical war scenario. Putin singled out Russia’s large Zapad 2017 exercise with Belarus in September, during which units across Russia practiced for a threat akin to an attack by Western nations. EVENT COMMENT Putin was returned to power in 2012. Ezekiel 38v4 says that God will ”turn thee [Gog] back”. The Hebrew literally means ”I will return thee” or “I will restore thee”. Putin was returned and restored to power in 2012. God then says he will put hooks in Gog’s jaws and bring him down. Since Putin was restored to power the following things have happened. In 2013 Russia invaded Ukraine. In 2014 Russia annexed Crimea. In 2015 Russia entered the Syrian conflict. Since 2013 Russia has increased military activity and drills, as well as reforming military units along its western borders. Ezekiel 38 also talk about Gog (Russian leader, Putin) preparing his army for war. A modern translation says “mobilise your troops”. Is this not exactly what the headline in Newsweek says- Putin is getting everyone prepared for war! BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:7-8 NLT)

6. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters,. Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (37 – c. 100 AD) and the Christian theologians Jerome (c. 347 – 420 AD) and Isidore of Seville (c. 560 – 636 AD) regarded Togarmah as the father of the Phrygians. The Phrygians lived in eastern Turkey. Russia, Turkey & Iran propose conference on postwar Syria New York Times, November 22, 2017 Leaders of Russia, Turkey and Iran announced an agreement on Wednesday to sponsor a conference aimed at achieving a peaceful settlement of the Syria war. The announcement by the three leaders, who were meeting in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, underscored Russia’s increasingly influential role in determining the outcome of the war, which appears to be winding down after nearly seven years. The conference they proposed, also to be held in Sochi, was announced just days before a new round of peace talks was planned in Geneva, convened by a special United Nations envoy, Staffan de Mistura. It was another sign that Mr. de Mistura’s efforts, frustrated for years, have now been overshadowed by Russia’s actions. The Sochi announcement also came a few days after President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia met with President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, an indication that Mr. Assad had agreed to the idea. Mr. Putin also called President Trump and other regional leaders, reflecting what appeared to be a coordinated effort that highlighted Russia’s role. EVENT It is quite amazing when we understand bible prophecy to see Mr. Putin, sitting with President Hassan Rouhani of Iran and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. The head of this meeting was Putin. Putin is Gog from Ezekiel 38. He is the ruler of Magog, Meshech and Tubal (Russia). Gog is clearly the leader of the confederacy that comes against Israel. But allied with Gog are a list of nations. The first on the list is Persia. Persia of course is Iran. Another nation allied with Gog is Togarmah. Togarmah is Turkey. And so at this meeting in Russia are the three main nations mentioned in Ezekiel 38. Currently they are preoccupied with Syria. But soon it will be Israel… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:6)

7. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet –ARMY 1 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof - ARMY 2 Saudi Crown Prince calls Iran leader 'new Hitler' Reuters, November 24, 2017 Saudi Arabia’s powerful Crown Prince called the Supreme Leader of Iran “the new Hitler of the Middle East” in an interview with the New York Times published on Thursday, sharply escalating the war of words between the arch-rivals. The Sunni Muslim kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Shi‘ite Iran back rival sides in wars and political crises throughout the region. Mohammed bin Salman, who is also Saudi defence minister in the U.S.-allied kingdom, suggested the Islamic Republic’s alleged expansion under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei needed to be confronted. “But we learned from Europe that appeasement doesn’t work. We don’t want the new Hitler in Iran to repeat what happened in Europe in the Middle East,” the paper quoted him as saying. Iran reacted harshly by saying that Salman was discredited internationally by his “immature” behaviour, state television reported. EVENT Tensions have soared this month. Lebanon’s Saudi-allied Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned in a television broadcast from Riyadh, citing the influence of Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and risks to his life. Hezbollah called the move an act of war engineered by Saudi authorities, an accusation they denied. Saudi Arabia has launched thousands of air strikes in a 2 ½ year-old war in neighbouring Yemen to defeat the Iranian-aligned Houthi movement that seized broad swaths of the country. The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia (almost certainly soon to be ruler) has this week called the Iranian Supreme Leader a new Hitler. How long before we see conflict between these two nations? The Bible says in Ezekiel 38 that Saudi Arabia (Sheba and Dedan) and Iran (Persia) are on opposite sides in the final conflict. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:5+13)

8. Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? Saudi Arabia to buy $7 billion in arms from U.S. firms Reuters, November 22, 2017 Saudi Arabia has agreed to buy about $7 billion worth of precision guided munitions from U.S. defence contractors, sources familiar with the matter said, a deal that some lawmakers may object to over American weapons having contributed to civilian deaths in the Saudi campaign in Yemen. Raytheon Co (RTN.N) and Boeing Co (BA.N) are the companies selected, the sources said, in a deal that was part of a $110 billion weapons agreement that coincided with President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia in May. Both companies declined comment on the weapons sale. Arms sales to the kingdom and other Gulf Cooperation Council member states have become increasingly contentious in the U.S. Congress, which must approve such sales. Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Washington, Prince Khalid bin Salman declined to comment on the specific sale, but said in a statement his country will follow through on the agreements signed during Trump’s visit. EVENT America is allied to Saudi Arabia. They both have a common enemy – Iran. Trump’s first foreign visit as President was to Saudi Arabia. He wants to shore up their defences and help them to counteract Iran’s growing influence and reach in the Middle East. The backing of Trump in May has meant that Saudi Arabia is increasingly confident and willing to attempt to take on Iran. Hence the previous slide and the Crown Prince calling the Iranian leader a new Hitler. The Bible (again in Ezekiel 38) says that Saudi Arabia would be allied with America. It talks of Sheba and Dedan (Saudi Arabia) being with Tarshish (UK) and the young lions (US / Canada). Only God could have known this – proof the Bible is His Word. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:13)

9. UN chief warns risk of a new Israeli-Hezbollah conflict The Times of Israel, November 25, 2017 EVENT Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned in a new report that unauthorized weapons in the hands of Hezbollah and threatening rhetoric from the Lebanese militant group and Israeli officials “heightens risk of miscalculation and escalation into conflict.” The UN chief called on Hezbollah and Israel, who fought a war in 2006, “to exercise restraint at all times” and “refrain from potentially inflammatory comments.” Guterres said in the report to the UN Security Council circulated Friday that allegations of arms transfers to Hezbollah continue “on a regular basis,” which the UN takes seriously. Guterres cited examples of heightened rhetoric between Hezbollah’s leaders and senior Israeli officials and said that despite “relative calm” along the U.N.-drawn Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon the level of tensions between the two countries remains high. Rhetoric on both sides, he said, has “resulted in increased anxiety, including among the local population.” COMMENT The growing tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran directly impacts Lebanon. Lebanon is a pawn that both nations try to influence in their direction. Saudi Arabia uses the Lebanese government. Iran uses the terror group Hezbollah. Both Iran and Hezbollah want the destruction of Israel. This week Iran’s chief military commander said “Hezbollah must be armed to fight against the enemy of the Lebanese nation which is Israel. This issue is non negotiable.” The Bible says that Hezbollah (inhabitants of Tyre in Lebanon) will indeed form a confederacy to fight against Israel. Israel will win this initial conflict - but will be left weakened. Into the void that is left Russia and Iran (who are not involved directly in this initial stage) will come to take a spoil from Israel. BIBLE QUOTE They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; (Psalm 83:4-7)

10. Sudan's president visits Russia, asks for protection Associated Press, November 23, 2017 EVENT Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said on a visit to Russia Thursday that his country needs protection from the U.S. and could serve as a gateway to Africa for Moscow. Al-Bashir, speaking at the start of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, accused the U.S. of fomenting the conflict in Sudan. Al-Bashir added that "we need protection from the U.S. aggressive action.'’ The Darfur region has been the site of violent conflict since 2003, when rebels took up arms against the government in the capital, Khartoum, accusing it of discrimination and neglect. The United Nations estimates 300,000 people have died in the conflict and some 2.7 million have fled their homes. The Sudanese leader told Putin that his country could help Russia develop contacts with other African nations. "Sudan could become a key to Africa for Russia," he said in remarks released by the Kremlin. COMMENT This is really the last piece of the jigsaw in Ezekiel 38. Russia’s alignment to Sudan. The AV translates it as Ethiopia. But the original name in the Hebrew is Cush. Cush isn’t really Ethiopia. Cush at the time of Ezekiel corresponds almost exactly to Sudan. Or to be even more accurate North Sudan. Sudan split into two nation in 2011. From 1070 BC to AD350 the area we now know as North Sudan was called the Kingdom of Kush. North Sudan is mainly Islamic. South Sudan is mainly Christian. So who is Putin talking to… the answer is North Sudan – ancient Kush! Exactly what Ezekiel 38 said would happen. North Sudan is also allied to Iran as they are Shia Muslim. Notice how it says that “Sudan could become a key to Africa for Russia.” Only God could have known how the nations would align at the time of the end. Persia, Cush[c] and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, 6 also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you. [c] Cush is ancient Kush the area we now know as Sudan or North Sudan. The very nation mentioned in this article! BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:5 NIV)

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.