December 18 - 31, 2016

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s December 18 - 31, 2016 “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 December 18 - 31, 2016 • Putin: Russia's military is stronger than 'any aggressor' • Trump: US must greatly expand nuclear capabilities • Israel accuses Obama of ‘shameful move' at UN • Obama expels 35 Russian diplomats over hacking • France to convene ME peace conference on Jan. 15 • Russia, Turkey, Iran eye dicing Syria into zones of influence To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

5. Suddenly, like dawn spreading across the mountains, a great and mighty army appears. Nothing like it has been seen before or will ever be seen again. Fire burns in front of them, and flames follow after them. This is speaking of the great northern army that will invade Israel. See verse 20. • Putin: Russia's military is stronger than 'any aggressor' Fox News, December 22, 2016 Russia's military today can overpower any potential foe but should strengthen its nuclear arsenal, President Vladimir Putin told an annual end-of-year meeting Thursday with defence chiefs. "We can say with certainty: We are stronger now than any potential aggressor," he told the meeting. "Anyone!” His comments come at the end of a year when tensions between Russia and the West have remained on edge over the civil war in Syria. Tensions between Russia and the West have been souring ever since Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and surreptitious support of separatists in eastern Ukraine. Relations dipped further after Russia last year launched an air offensive in Syria to support President Bashar Assad. Both Russia and NATO members have conducted a flurry of military drills near Russia's borders this year. Russia insists it is responding to a growing NATO threat. EVENT 2016 has been a year of ever increasing bellicose statements from Russia. In April Putin announced the doubling of its strategic nuclear warheads. In May, Putin said that Russia will act to neutralize U.S. missile shield threat. In August, we found out that Russia is building vast underground nuclear command posts. In October, Putin suspended a weapons-grade plutonium deal with US. Also in October Russian TV warned of nuclear war amid tensions with the US. Also in October Russia unveiled a 'Satan 2' missile powerful enough to 'wipe out UK, France or Texas’. In November Putin claimed Russia’s borders ‘end nowhere’. And to end the year Putin is saying that Russia is stronger than any aggressor. Surely we can see Russia preparing to take on the role prophesied in the Bible – that of an aggressor that invades Israel… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Joel 2:2 NLT)

6. Fear grips all the people; every face grows pale with terror. The attackers march like warriors and scale city walls like soldiers. Straight forward they march, never breaking rank. They never jostle each other; each moves in exactly the right position. They break through defences without missing a step. • Trump: US must greatly expand nuclear capabilities BBC, December 22, 2016 Donald Trump has called for the US to "greatly strengthen and expand" its nuclear capabilities. The president-elect, who takes office next month, said the US must take such action "until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes". His spokesman later said that he was referring to the need to prevent nuclear proliferation. Mr Trump spoke hours after President Vladimir Putin said Russia needs to bolster its military nuclear potential. The US has 7,100 nuclear weapons and Russia has 7,300, according to the US nonpartisan Arms Control Association. Mr Trump's tweet came after President Putin met with his military advisers to review Russian military activities in 2016. Mr Trump's defeated Democratic rival Hillary Clinton repeatedly cast her opponent during the campaign as too erratic and lacking in the diplomatic skills required to avoid a nuclear war. EVENT Just hours after Putin said that Russia was going to reinforce its nuclear capability, president elect Donald Trump tweeted that that America would also do the same. It seems incredible that Trump appears quite content to “tweet” dramatic statements like this – almost it appears on a whim. No wonder the world is holding its breath in terms of what Trump may do when in power. We can see here an example of how Putin and Trump could very easily end up as foes. Both men have very large ego’s and control the two largest nuclear forces in the world. Despite Trump saying that he respects and admires Putin we know with Bible in hand that the king of the north v king of the south situation WILL exist at the time of the end. But we also know the king of the south is weaker than the king of the north – because Russia succeeds in its invasion. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Joel 2:6-8 NLT)

7. I will gather the armies of the world into the valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will judge them for harming my people, my special possession, for scattering my people among the nations, and for dividing up my land. • Israel accuses Obama of anti-Israeli ‘shameful move’ at UN Washington Post, December 23, 2016 An Israeli official on Friday accused President Barack Obama of colluding with the Palestinians in a “shameful move against Israel at the U.N.” after learning the White House did not intend to veto a Security Council resolution condemning settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem the day before. “President Obama and Secretary Kerry are behind this shameful move against Israel at the U.N.,” the official said. “The U.S administration secretly cooked up with the Palestinians an extreme anti-Israeli resolution behind Israel’s back which would be a tail wind for terror and boycotts and effectively make the Western Wall occupied Palestinian territory,” he said calling it “an abandonment of Israel which breaks decades of US policy of protecting Israel at the UN.” Earlier he said Israel’s prime minister turned to President-elect Donald Trump to help head off the critical U.N. resolution. EVENT Obama is in his dying days of office. Only a few weeks remain. He appears to be trying to influence as much as possible the incoming Trump administration by creating events that are hard to undo. This UN resolution against Israel is one such move. This resolution demands that Israel cease construction in all areas it captured in the 1967 Middle East war and describes the West Bank and East Jerusalem as occupied Palestinian territory. Obama has been highly critical of Israel’s “settlements” and he has clashed with Netanyahu all the way through his presidency. This looks like a last minute lash out at Israel as America would always veto resolutions that imposed conditions on Israel in its conflict with the Palestinians. This will make things much more difficult for Trump as the resolution is binding. Jerusalem will become the centre of the conflict… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Joel 3:2 NLT)

8. At the end time the king of the South will push and provoke him (Gog of v 36-39), and the king of the North (Russia) will storm against him (King of the South / US etc) with chariots and horsemen and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overwhelm them and pass through. To see why Daniel 11 v 36-39 is Gog, click here to watch a presentation. Obama expels 35 Russian diplomats in retaliation for US election hacking The Guardian, December 30, 2016 The Obama administration on Thursday announced its retaliation for Russian efforts to interfere with the US presidential election, ordering sweeping new sanctions that included the expulsion of 35 Russians. US intelligence services believe Russia ordered cyber-attacks on the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Hillary Clinton’s campaign and other political organizations, in an attempt to influence the election in favour of the Republican candidate, Donald Trump. In a statement issued two weeks after the president said he would respond to cyber-attacks by Moscow “at a time and place of our choosing”, Obama said Americans should “be alarmed by Russia’s actions” and pledged further action. EVENT COMMENT Obama has lashed out at Israel for not towing the line with settlements and he has also lashed out at Russia this week. The Obama administration believes that Russia influenced the US election. Specifically Obama believes Putin himself was behind it. The fury of many in America over this is palpable. Would Trump have won without this interference? That is the question they cannot answer but they want someone to blame. Putin is the man. Putin has said he will not retaliate to Obama’s diplomatic assault – but there is possibly more to come... Obama has pledged further action. It is clear Obama is trying to sour relations to a point that Trump will not be able to have the friendly relations with Putin that he desires. We know that the king of the south will “push” at Gog. It is a personal provocation of an individual. The king of verse 36-39 of Daniel 11. At some point that push (goading) will come. At some point of after the goading Russia as a force will come down into the Middle East. BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 11:40 amplified)

9. France to convene Middle East peace conference on Jan. 15 Reuters, December 22, 2016 EVENT France will convene some 70 countries on Jan. 15 for a Middle East peace conference in Paris, its foreign minister said on Thursday, and will invite the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to meet separately at its conclusion. France has repeatedly tried to breathe new life into the peace process this year, holding a preliminary conference in June where the United Nations, European Union, United States and major Arab countries gathered to discuss proposals without the Israelis or Palestinians present. The plan was to hold a follow-up conference before the end of the year with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas involved to see whether the two sides could be brought back to negotiations and revive moribund peace talks. Netanyahu had repeatedly rejected the conference proposal. "France is still determined to hold a conference in Paris to reaffirm the necessity of a two-state solution," Jean-Marc Ayrault told journalists. "January 15 is the date that has been fixed and 70 countries are invited. We are not going to give up now." Just days before Obama steps down there is this potentially very significant peace conference. Israel is currently alone with no friends (until Trump gets into power). There will be a real push to get some new peace initiative underway at this event. What is very interesting is that there are exactly 70 nations who have been invited. In Genesis 10 we are given what has become known as the “Table of Nations” It is the family tree from Noah. The last verse says “these were the families…in their nations and from these the nations were divided.”. But here is the point…there are 70 nations mentioned. The whole world is encompassed in these 70 nations. So is this conference COMMENT This is the account of the families of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the three sons of Noah. Many children were born to them after the great flood….. These are the clans that descended from Noah’s sons, arranged by nation according to their lines of descent. All the nations of the earth descended from these clans after the great flood. 70 names are listed! BIBLE QUOTE (Genesis 10:1 + 32 NLT)

10. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. This is talking of a latter day Antiochus Epiphanes who was the original king of the north. Putin is Gog latter day king of the north. • Russia, Turkey, Iran eye dicing Syria into zones of influence Reuters, December 28, 2016 EVENT Syria would be divided into informal zones of regional power influence and Bashar al-Assad would remain president for at least a few years under an outline deal between Russia, Turkey and Iran, sources say. Such a deal, which would allow regional autonomy within a federal structure controlled by Assad's Alawite sect, is in its infancy, subject to change and would need the buy-in of Assad and the rebels and, eventually, the Gulf states and the United States, sources familiar with Russia's thinking say. "There has been a move toward a compromise," said Andrey Kortunov, director general of the Russian International Affairs Council, a think tank close to the Russian Foreign Ministry. "A final deal will be hard, but stances have shifted.” COMMENT Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed agreement has been reached on a ceasefire in Syria. With victory in Aleppo, Putin is in a very strong position. He has also announced the start of peace talks. But the victors of course are Russia, Turkey and Iran. Assad himself could not have won the conflict without these nations (especially Russian) support. Therefore Assad is not in a position of strength but is still beholden to the wishes of Russia. Putin now sees himself in a position to carve up Syria. Hand out the spoils in effect. As the headline says.. Russia, Turkey and Iran are looking to dice Syria into zones of influence. These 3 nations are the very nations mentioned as working together in an alliance in Ezekiel 38. But what next for Syria? We know there is great destruction still to come on Damascus. Putin is talking peace but Daniel 8 says that Putin (latter day Antiochus Epiphanes) will by peace destroy many… he will… BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 8:25)

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.