December 10 - 16, 2017

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s December 10 - 16, 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 December 10 - 16, 2017 • Muslim nations urge recognition of East Jerusalem • EU rejects Netanyahu plea to recognise Jerusalem • Putin declares victory on visit to air base in Syria • The Middle East has a new kingpin: Vladimir Putin • Russia sharply expanding nuclear arsenal • Bad news for our enemies: EU launches defence pact To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

5.  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, and all his bands: and many people with thee. Turkey is on the side of Gog (anti Israel) at the time of the end. Daniel 11:42 says that Egypt is invaded by Russia. Ezekiel 38:13 says Saudi Arabia is against Gog. Muslim nations urge recognition of East Jerusalem as Palestinian capital BBC, December 13, 2017 The leaders of 57 Muslim nations have called on the world to recognise "the State of Palestine and East Jerusalem as its occupied capital". An Organisation of Islamic Co-operation communique declares US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise the city as Israel's capital as "null and void". It also says the move has signalled Washington's withdrawal from its role in the Middle East peace process. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas earlier said the UN should take over. In a speech to the OIC summit in Istanbul, Mr Abbas said it would be "unacceptable" for the US to be the mediator "since it is biased in favour of Israel". The Palestinians had engaged with the Trump administration in an attempt to agree "the deal of the century", he noted, but had instead "got the slap of the century". The meeting was convened by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a strident critic of the US move, who vowed to "stand up to American bullying" and called Israel "a state of terror". EVENT An emergency summit was called by Turkey over president Trump’s announcement about Jerusalem. The 57 Muslim nations signed a rare joint declaration on Sunday which basically said that the US can no longer play a part in the Israeli – Palestinian peace process. They also called on the whole world to symbolically recognise east Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine. Turkey is leading the way in fiery rhetoric about Israel. Turkey’s president called Israel a terrorist state this week that kills children. Netanyahu responded by saying he will not accept lectures from a leader that bombs his own people. Saudi Arabia and Egypt only sent ministers to this meeting as they are actually siding far more with Trump. We see all nations lining up as prophesied. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:5-6)

6. Behold, I will make (1) Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day [at that time] that I will make (2) Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; This describes the 2 wars. The first is with the surrounding peoples. The second involves ALL peoples. EU rejects Netanyahu plea for bloc to recognise Jerusalem as Israeli capital Daily Telegraph, December 11, 2017 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appealed to allies in Europe to join the US in recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital, but was rebuffed by foreign ministers who said it would harm the peace process. Mr Netanyahu met with EU leaders in Brussels on Monday and told them it was time they “recognised the facts”, in a first visit by an Israeli head of government to the Belgian city in 22 years. The Israeli premier said the bloc should follow the lead of President Donald Trump, who last week announced he would move Washington's embassy from Tel Aviv to the contested city. Federica Mogherini, EU foreign policy chief, said after the closed-door meeting that Mr Netanyahu could "keep his expectations for others, because from the European Union member states' side this move will not come." She said that the bloc - the Palestinians' largest donor - would stick to the "international consensus" on Jerusalem. EVENT COMMENT On Monday Sweden's minister for foreign affairs said no European leader had voiced support for Mr Trump's decision, and no country was likely to follow the US in announcing plans to move its embassy. Alan Duncan, Minister of State for Europe and America, added: “We do not agree with the announcement that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. East Jerusalem is most certainly not part of Israel.” Meanwhile activists in Jakarta, Indonesia, burned US and Israeli flags in front of the American embassy in the fourth day of protests. With this one announcement Trump has managed to bring Jerusalem to front page headlines around the world. Every nation appears to have something to say. Surely Trump’s announcement could have lit the fuse that leads to stage 1 of the conflict spoken of in Zechariah 12. The initial inner ring war…. BIBLE QUOTE (Zechariah 12:2-3 NLT)

7. Jerusalem: latest example of Trump's nonsensical foreign policy Free Beacon, December 13, 2017 EVENT President Donald Trump’s decision to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, with plans to move the U.S. embassy to the embattled city, upends decades of U.S. policy. Leaders across the Middle East and Europe denounced the declaration, reigniting fury the U.S. leader has stoked with previous foreign policy pronouncements. He promised a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, a ban on Muslims wishing to enter the country, disavowal of the Iran nuclear deal, and removal of the U.S. from the Paris climate accord. Each time Trump has moved to make good on the pledges, the world has responded with outrage. On his often-promised border wall, for example, the backlash has poured in from all sides. He has attempted three different bans on Muslims and refugees. Trump withdrew from the Paris climate agreement. Again, world leaders condemned him. And now he has sparked condemnation over his Jerusalem declaration. COMMENT So what do we make of Trump’s Jerusalem declaration. Should we admire this man who had stood up to the world in declaring Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel? The trouble is with Trump’s announcement on Jerusalem (as with his other major policy announcements) is that it misses the mark and the point. Trump has indeed declared Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel. This incensed the Muslim world. But he also said that the status quo must remain on Temple Mount – ie the Muslims should be the only ones to pray there. But then senior officials said the Western Wall must be part of Israel. He also says that Jerusalem could be divided in a peace deal. All this confusing rhetoric fans the flames of fury. Trump has waded into a highly combustible situation and thrown in a match. God has raised a fool to power to do just this…. BIBLE QUOTE Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels; they are asking for a beating. The mouths of fools are their ruin; they trap themselves with their lips. Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions. Does this remind you of anyone?! Definition of a fool “a person who lacks judgment or sense.” (Proverbs 18:2+6-7 NLT)

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 and after its people have returned from many lands to the mountains of Israel. Which is the war that Israel are recovering from when Gog invades? Answer – the initial inner ring war of Zechariah 12 Putin declares victory on visit to air base in Syria Guardian, December 11, 2017 Russian President Vladimir Putin declared victory against "terrorists" in Syria on Monday during a surprise visit to a Russian military base in the county, where he also announced a partial pull-out of Russian troops. It was Putin's first trip to Syria, where Russia launched an air campaign in 2015 that allowed President Bashar Assad's forces to gain the upper hand against the Islamic State group as well as Syrian rebels. It was also the first visit by a foreign head of state to war-ravaged Syria since the civil war began in 2011. Putin's brief stop at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria's coastal province of Latakia while en route to Egypt came days after the Russian president said he would run for re-election on March 18, and helped to show off Moscow's global clout to the national audience. EVENT COMMENT Less than a week after announcing he will stand for re-election, Vladimir Putin flies to Syria and declares victory. Coincidence? Probably not! Signalling the end of Russia's military operation in Syria will go down well with Russian voters. Putin does view his intervention in Syria a success. The Russians have succeeded in keeping a key ally, President Assad, in power. In the process, Russia has been guaranteed a long-term military presence in Syria, with its two bases Hmeimim and Tartus. Moscow has also raised its profile across the Middle East. The Bible says that Gog (Putin) would succeed in all he does (until his final demise at the hand of God). The Bible says that Gog will one day come down into Israel and then into Egypt. This is clearly still to happen. Gog will do this when Israel is recovering from the initial inner ring war over Jerusalem. Russia might be pulling some troops back – but they will be back in force. BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:8 NLT)

9. Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. Many confuse this prophecy in Daniel 8. They think it is talking about the Pope. It isn’t. It is talking about Antiochus Epiphanes – the original king of the north. But it concludes talking about a latter day Antiochus Epiphanes (king of the north) i.e. GOG! The Middle East has a new kingpin: Vladimir Putin Irish Times, December 16, 2017 When Donald Trump took office in January, a popular question was who among world leaders would fill the vacuum created by Washington’s inward turn. Who would step up and take advantage? Would it be that reluctant figurehead Angela Merkel, liberals wondered wishfully. Or Emmanuel Macron, slayer of the far-right and saviour of the centre? Would Trumpism hasten China’s rise, presenting Xi Jinping with the status and power on the world stage that he has been assiduously consolidating at home? Almost a year on, there’s no clear-cut answer. Except in one part of the world – the Middle East – where one individual has, through a mixture of opportunism and cunning, managed to impose himself like no other. It’s Vladimir Putin. At a time when the United States is showing little interest, and even less coherent strategy, Russia is thoroughly outflanking it – cultivating new alliances, expanding its trade (not least in arms) and spreading its influence on a scale not seen since the collapse of the Soviet Union. EVENT Putin managed to bring Turkey and Iran together in an attempt to cool the conflict in Syria. Moscow has also been mediating an end to the internal Palestinian rift between Fatah and Hamas. Putin has recently invited rival Libyan factions to Moscow in an attempt to broker peace. All these nations are mentioned in Ezekiel 38 as nations that Putin (Gog) would one day lead into a conflict in Israel. With Trump’s Jerusalem announcement this has put Putin as the only real leader to whom the Palestinians would trust in future talks. The Bible says that Gog would be cunning – exactly what is said in the report above. The Bible says Gog would by peace destroy many. Putin pretends to be the peace maker but really he is a man of war. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 8:25 NKJV)

10. Russia Sharply Expanding Nuclear Arsenal, Upgrading Underground Facilities Free Beacon, December 13, 2017 EVENT Russia is aggressively building up its nuclear forces and is expected to deploy a total force of 8,000 warheads by 2026 along with modernizing deep underground bunkers, according to Pentagon officials. The 8,000 warheads will include both large strategic warheads and thousands of new low-yield and very low-yield warheads to circumvent arms treaty limits and support Moscow's new doctrine of using nuclear arms early in any conflict. In addition to expanding its warheads, Russia also is fortifying underground facilities for command and control during a nuclear conflict. One official said the alarming expansion indicates Russia is preparing to break out of current nuclear forces constraints under arms treaties, including the 2010 New START and 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaties. Russia violated the INF accord by testing an illegal ground-launched cruise missile. COMMENT Russia continues to prepare for war. This week a Belarusian military expert said that Moscow is now moving tanks and other heavy weapons into his country and thus taking another "step toward war.” The head of Britain’s Armed Forces said on Thursday that Russia has ability to 'disrupt' Britain's internet access. Around 97 per cent of global communications are transmitted through the cables laid on the sea bed, but they are “uniquely vulnerable” to sabotage by Russia. NATO said Friday that it is concerned about a new Russian missile system that could carry nuclear warheads, and which it says could violate a landmark Cold War arms treaty. The Bible said thousands of years ago the Gog (Putin) would prepare for war. The preparation is well underway. At some point it will be put into action… BIBLE QUOTE 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, (Ezekiel 38:7 NLT)

11. Bad news for our enemies: EU launches defence pact Reuters, December 14, 2017 EVENT European Union nations, now unfettered by Britain’s decision to quit, achieved a 70-year-old ambition on Thursday to integrate their defences, launching a pact between 25 EU governments to fund, develop and deploy armed forces together. First blocked by the French parliament in the 1950s and later by Britain, which feared creation of an EU army, the pact aims to end the squandering of billions of euros by splintered defence policies. It is also aimed at lowering Europe’s heavy reliance on the United States.“ More than half a century ago, an ambitious vision of the European Defence Community was created but what was missing was the unity and courage to put it into practice,” Tusk, who chairs EU summits, said of the failed 1950s attempt.“ The dream was at odds with reality. Today this dream becomes reality,” he said in a speech in front of EU leaders and military personnel from each of the 25 countries involved. The pact, called Permanent Structured Cooperation, or PESCO, is meant as a show of unity and a tangible step in EU integration, diplomats said, particularly after Britain’s decision to leave. COMMENT Britain acted as a break to the EU. The EU always wanted its own defence force but Britain objected and stopped it from moving forward. Now Britain is leaving (the divorce is progressing) the EU is free to create institutions it couldn’t before. The EU project is not really about wealth. It is about mixing the nations together to create one large superstate. The United States Of Europe. Europe’s No1 foe is Russia. As Russia acts aggressively on the EU’s eastern border they want to ensure they have a common defence pact in place. The EU no longer wants to rely on the US for military support. This is part of the development of the beast of Revelation 17. The ten horns of the beast are ten kings who have not yet risen to power. They will be appointed to their kingdoms for one brief moment to reign with the beast. They will all agree to give him their power and authority. Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them BIBLE QUOTE (Revelation 17:12-14 NLT)

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13. 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.