Weekly World Watch - April 29-May 5, 2018

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s April 29 – May 5, 2018 “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 29 – May 5, 2018 • Israel vs. Iran: Winds of War in Jerusalem • Israel's parliament approves bill allowing PM to declare war • Report: Israel preparing for war with Iran • Netanyahu: files prove Iran lied about nuclear program • US Navy resurrects Second Fleet in Atlantic to counter Russia • 'Freak' dust storms in India kill more than 100 people To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

5. 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, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: Israel vs. Iran: Winds of War in Jerusalem Haaretz, May 1, 2018 After the attack on Syria attributed to Israel on Sunday night, at least the fifth since September, there seems to be little room for doubt. Israel is determined to uproot the Iranian military presence from Syria. Following the previous attack at the T4 airbase by Homs on April 9, in which 14 people died including seven members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran threatened severe retaliation. Israel's defense establishment braced accordingly, but nothing has happened so far. Instead, now there has been another belligerent move against Iran's interests in Syria. Based on Syrian reports, the raid on military targets between Hama and Aleppo in Syria's north caused powerful explosions – one media outlet reported that the intensity was akin to a small earthquake. Some were killed, apparently Syrian soldiers and pro-Iranian Shiite militia people. The confrontation with Iran in Israel's north is direct: Israel drew a line in the sand, and is prepared to enforce it with force. In the absence of a mediator between the sides, this conflict could yet escalate. EVENT Last Sunday Israel attacked Iranian positions in Syria once again – with more force than ever before. Reports say Iranian army personnel were killed in the strike. Iran has yet to respond to a number of recent attacks. It is possible they are holding off so as not to antagonize Trump who makes a decision on the Iranian nuclear deal on May 12th. However, regardless of what Trump decides to do many analysts believe the “winds of war” of blowing so hard now that conflict between Israel and Iran is inevitable. The Bible says the conflict will take place and the battleground will be Syria. When Damascus falls Israel is greatly weakened – surely that time could happen very soon. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Isaiah 17:1-3)

6. Proclaim this among the nations: Consecrate for war; stir up the mighty men. Let all the men of war draw near; let them come up…. v12 tells us that the nations are gathered to Israel Israel's parliament approves bill allowing PM to declare war Associated Press, May 3, 2018 The Israeli parliament has approved a law empowering the country's prime minister and defense minister to declare war without full Cabinet approval in "extreme circumstances.“ While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a presentation showcasing intelligence on Iran's nuclear program on live television, his coalition quietly pushed through a bill on Monday expanding his authority to order military operations. The measure was passed amid heightened tensions with Iran over its involvement in Syria. It was approved less than a day after warplanes, believed to be Israeli, carried out an airstrike Syrian military facility, killing 26 pro-government fighters, most of them Iranians. Israel is believed to have been responsible for several strikes on Iranian positions in Syria in recent months. Israeli officials typically neither confirm nor deny such reports. EVENT COMMENT The Knesset voted late Monday in favour of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's request to grant him the authority to declare war with only the defense minister's approval in extreme situations. Netanyahu made the request this week but it was rejected initially by the joint committee of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee. However the Knesset voted in favour of it and therefore it has come into law. This makes it much easier now for Israel to go to war. Why would Netanyahu want this ability now? It must be because he sees war on the very near horizon and wants the power to react extremely quickly. This isn’t just about ordering a strike – it is about the nation declaring war on another nation. BIBLE QUOTE (Joel 3:9)

7. Report: Israel preparing for war with Iran Haaretz, April 26, 2018 Israel appears to be preparing for war with the Islamic Republic of Iran, US officials told NBC News. "On the list of the potentials for most likely live hostility around the world, the battle between Israel and Iran in Syria is at the top of the list right now," one of the senior officials told NBC News. According to the officials, the latest explosions at Syrian military bases were the latest sign that Israel and Iran are moving closer to an all-out war. Approximately 200 missiles were destroyed and dozens of Iranian soldiers were reportedly killed in the explosions which rocked Syrian military facilities in and around Hama and Aleppo Sunday night. Iran has denied that any of its forces were killed in the explosions. According to the US officials, Israeli F-15 fighter jets struck the base near Hama after Iran delivered weapons to the base, where Iran's 47th Brigade is stationed. Israeli leaders have voiced concerns about the growing Iranian military presence in Syria. Over the last week, Israeli military leaders have met with their US counterparts to discuss the Iranian military build-up in Syria. EVENT This article says what we have said in the WWW for many years now – a confrontation between Israel and Iran (and it’s proxy armies of Hezbollah and Hamas) will occur BEFORE Russia invades. The war will be centered on Syria but also Lebanon will be involved and so will the Gaza Strip. This is the initial inner ring war that will leave the pricking briers surrounding Israel completely burned up. But Israel will pay a big price. When Damascus is removed from being a city, northern Israel is left like a grainfield. It is at this point Israel will be backed into a corner to sign a peace treaty. But despite this a great void is left and into the void will come Russia and Iran, Turkey and Sudan. COMMENT 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; BIBLE QUOTE (Psalm 83:4-7)

8. Netanyahu: files prove Iran lied about nuclear program Washington Post, April 30, 2018 EVENT Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a broadside to the Iran nuclear deal ahead of a deadline for the U.S. to decide on whether to withdraw, presenting what he called new evidence that Iran maintained a secret plan to build nuclear weapons but repeatedly lied about it. Mr. Netanyahu's Monday allegations, broadcast in Israel and the U.S., came as President Donald Trump nears a self-imposed May 12 deadline to make a call on the international agreement, which halted Iran's nuclear program in exchange for economic benefits. Iran has threatened to restart its program if the U.S. leaves the deal. Mr. Trump and critics of the 2015 agreement said the material shows why the deal should be overhauled or killed. Mr. Netanyahu said the documents—which he said Israel obtained from a hidden archive in Tehran, without specifying how—included 100,000 files on paper and disks, and show "Iran is brazenly lying when it says it never had a nuclear-weapons program.“Mr. Netanyahu, displaying replicas of binders and CDs, said the 2015 agreement was a mistake and urged Mr. Trump to do "the right thing." As if the Israeli attacks on Iranian positions in Syria weren’t enough to bring tensions to boiling point we then had Netanyahu making a live emergency televised address to the nation this week to say that IRAN LIED. Netanyahu explained that Israel had managed to smuggle out of Iran over 100,000 documents that proved Iran was attempting to build a nuclear weapon. Trump apparently personally authorised the release of this information by the Israeli leader to strengthen his own hand for the decision he needs to make on 12th May in relation to the Iranian deal. The Iranian deal (and how treacherous it is) is mentioned in the Bible in the verses below! COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease. Elam and Media are both areas of Iran (Isaiah 21:2)

9. US Navy resurrects Second Fleet in Atlantic to counter Russia BBC, May 5, 2018 EVENT The US Navy has said it will re-establish its Second Fleet, as Russia becomes more assertive. Chief of Naval Operations Adm John Richardson said the fleet, disbanded in 2011, would oversee forces on the US East Coast and North Atlantic. He said the National Defense Strategy, published earlier this year, made it clear that the era of great power competition had returned. The strategy makes countering Russia and China a priority. The fleet, which was disbanded for cost-saving and structural reasons, will be based in its previous home - Norfolk, Virginia. "Our National Defense Strategy makes clear that we're back in an era of great power competition as the security environment continues to grow more challenging and complex," Adm Richardson said in an announcement on board the USS George H W Bush at Norfolk. "That's why today, we're standing up Second Fleet to address these changes, particularly in the north Atlantic." Not long ago the Cold War was declared to be over. Russia was no longer the main threat of the West. Russia had embraced capitalism so the communistic ideological threat had gone. However under Putin, Russia has returned to its anti West, totalitarian, authoritarian ways. Putin has rebuilt and reasserted Russian power around the world – not only in Syria but also eastern Europe and the Artic. America is now responding by reestablishing a naval fleet that was considered irrelevant but is now important once again. The Bible talks about Gog being “turned back”. Putin has turned Russia back to days that many thought were gone. We know that Russia will indeed invade Israel in the future – but that future day may not be long in coming… COMMENT 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 armor, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords;.  BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:4)

10. 'Freak' dust storms in India kill more than 100 people Jewish Press, April 27, 2018 EVENT Severe dust storms across northern India have killed more than 100 people, destroyed homes and left hundreds without electricity. Billowing clouds of thick dust and sand frequently blow across the region during the dry season, but the death toll from this week’s storms has been unusually high. There were 73 confirmed deaths in Uttar Pradesh state, most in Agra district where the Taj Mahal is located. Another 36 died in Rajasthan and two each in Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh. The death toll in all four states could still rise. The destruction has extended to Punjab, where two died, and Haryana, where trees were uprooted and power supplies cut by the squall. Less intense storms in Delhi caused traffic jams and flight diversions. At least 160 animals also died in the storms, according to officials in Uttar Pradesh. The dust clouds were trailed by thunder and lightning storms, heavy rain and strong winds that were expected to last another 24 hours at least. COMMENT Last week we reported on the highly unusual weather in the Middle East. It brought severe flooding to Israel and Egypt – and hailstones to Syria. It also brought dust storms in Saudi Arabia. This week severe dust storms have hit India. The storm has killed 125 people. Also in the news this week is the eruption of a volcano in Hawaii. Kilauea is one of the world's most active volcanoes and the eruption follows a series of recent earthquakes. A 6.9 magnitude quake, south-east of the volcano, was the most powerful to hit the US state since 1975. And so we see signs around the world pointing to the nearness of our Lord’s return. We need to be ready! For He commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! BIBLE QUOTE (Psalm 107:25+31)

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.