July 26 – August 1, 2015 “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.

July 26 – August 1, 2015

“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)

Weekly World Watch

Andy Walton’s

To skip the introductory slides and go straight to this weeks developments click here.

PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

What is a Weekly World Watch?

• 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.

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.

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.

• Increasing natural disasters: including earthquake, famine etc

The following six themes will appear repeatedly in WWW:

HEADLINE

EVENT

COMMENT

News Photo

The source of the headline and the date are included.

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.

What is in a Weekly World Watch?

BIBLEQUOTE

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)

This is straight from a news report that caught my eye because it looked significant from a Biblical perspective, usually that of prophecy.

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.

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.

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: ([email protected]). Please note that these are personal thoughts and the aim is purely to stimulate Bible study.

This Week’s Developments

To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper rightPRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

• Israeli military calls up reserves for surprise drill

• RAF Typhoons intercept 10 Russian planes over Baltic

• Russian navy permanently deploys 10 ships in Med

• Locust swarm blots out the sun in Russian region

• Greek debt crisis: IMF wary of third bailout

July 26 – August 1, 2015

• Economic crisis returns to haunt Vladimir Putin

The Israel Defence Force began a surprise three-day drill to test its readiness Monday, with thousands of reservists ordered to local bases. Hundreds of thousands more received telephone calls to confirm the call-up system was operational. Territorial commands in northern and southern Israel began drills simulating attacks from Gaza, Lebanon and Syria; the Israeli Navy will conduct infrastructure tests; and the Israeli Air Force placed its bases in emergency mode and began assembling intelligence data into airstrike locations. "This is one of the largest reservist telephone call-ups we've had in an exercise," an unidentified senior military source told the Jerusalem Post. "We want to ensure that the system is well-oiled and working. This is part of the planned graph of exercises for this year. It is part of our activities linked to working on our readiness. For the first time, cyber defences will be a part of a general staff exercise."

UPI, July 27, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem.They will consume all the surrounding peoples right and left, but Jerusalem will remain intact in her place. This is totally different to the Zechariah 14 war that follows.

BIBLEQUOTE

"We are simulating readiness and immediate mobilization, to maintain our operational capabilities, so that in a real situation, we will function in the best possible way to save lives," said Reserves Major Dudi Mizrahi of the Israeli army.The question is…will Israel one day have to deal with full blown conflict with Gaza, Lebanon and Syria? The Bible says they will. Psalm 83 and Zechariah 12 both say that people’s surrounding Israel will attack Israel. They include the Palestinians, Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria. In Zechariah 12 we read of “all the people ROUND ABOUT” in verse 2 and 6. The RSV says “surrounding peoples” the NLT says “nearby nations”.In other words the war in Zechariah 12 involves peoples that are nearby and surround the nation if Israel. Verse 6 says that Jerusalem remains intact and in her place. Israel survives the Zechariah 12 war but then comes Russia / Iran etc in Zechariah 14…

Israeli military calls up reserves for surprise drill

(Zechariah 14:2+6 NIV)

he

RAF Typhoons intercept 10 Russian planes over Baltic

RAF quick reaction Typhoon jets intercepted 10 Russian military aircraft during a single sortie last week the Ministry of Defence has disclosed. The RAF fighters from 6 (Fighter) Squadron were launched from their airfield in Estonia after multiple groups of aircraft were spotted by Nato air defences in international airspace near to the Baltic States. Once airborne, the RAF jets identified the aircraft as four Fullback Sukhoi Su-34 fighters, four Foxhound Mikoyan MiG-31 fighters and two Curl Antonov An26 transport aircraft. The Russian planes appeared to be carrying out routine training, but the incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Baltic states in the wake of Russia's annexation of Crimea. The Russian aircraft were monitored by the RAF Typhoons and escorted on their way, the Ministry of Defence said.

Daily Telegraph, July 30, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.

BIBLEQUOTE

(Daniel 11:40)

This incident is the latest in a series of provocative operations by Russia's air force. In May a number of RAF jets were scrambled to intercept two Russian long-range bombers off northern Scotland. And in February it was revealed that British fighter jets had been scrambled more than 40 times to deter Russian military planes encroaching UK airspace since David Cameron had taken office.The UK of course is part of the king of the south. Russia is the king of the north.We are watching here both kings sparring, pushing and testing each others strength.

The reality is of course that it is Russia doing the pushing against the UK. But Russia is doing this because it feels threatened by the encroaching superstate of Europe.

Daniel 11:40 tells us that we will see the king of the south push back at Russia. When this happens (and it hasn’t yet) Russia will come down like a storm…

Russian navy permanently deploys 10 ships in Med

The Russian navy has maintained a permanent detachment of about 10 warships in the Mediterranean Sea since late 2012, a top Russian Black Sea Fleet official said Thursday. Russia's expanded military activity, both at home and abroad, has been a source of continued tension with Western leaders in recent months. Russia's three main naval fleets have each contributed ships to the standing Mediterranean force since it was first deployed, but the Black Sea Fleet commands the vessels, Russian Adm. Alexander Vitko told Russian agency Sputnik International News. Since the end of 2012, an average of 10 ships and auxiliary vessels from the Black Sea, Baltic and Northern fleets are permanently in the Mediterranean Sea, but the command of the permanently deployed navy in this region is carried by the Black Sea fleet and the burden of performing the tasks of this group lies namely on this fleet's warships and auxiliary vessels, said Vitko, the Russian Black Sea Fleet's commander.

IBT, July 23, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

Then at the time of the end, the king of the south will attack the king of the north. The king of the north will storm out with chariots, charioteers, and a vast navy. He will invade various lands and sweep through them like a flood. He will enter the glorious land of Israel, and many nations will fall

Six months ago Putin approved a revised military doctrine in response to the rapid deterioration of relations with the West following Russia’s annexation of Crimea. This week Putin launched a new naval doctrine. Mr Rogozin,Russia’s deputy prime minister, (a strong critic of Nato), said that the new doctrine reflects "changes in the international political situation and the objective strengthening of Russia as a great naval power.” The doctrine calls for reinforcement of Russia’s naval presence in the North Atlantic and maintenance of a naval presence “on a permanent basis” in the Mediterranean. We can see in the related article above how Russia now patrols the Med with ships. The Bible says in Daniel 11 that Russia will come with many ships.

BIBLEQUOTE

(Daniel 11:40 NLT)

he

Locust swarm blots out the sun in Russian region

Plagues of locusts are swarming large areas of southern Russia, threatening thousands of acres of crops and in some places darkening the skies. . Videos, screened by local TV channels, showed clouds of locusts flying overhead. “It was very frightening,” Lubov Timus, a local woman who lives in Achikulak, told ABC News. “They came like a clouds.” The waves of locusts began around July 20, according to Stavropol’s regional agricultural ministry. Vasilii Yegorov, a deputy agricultural minister, told ABC News that locusts appear in the region every year but normally they are able to exterminate them before they hatch. Swarms have been reported across many other southern regions, stretching from Chechnya to the Astrakhan province on the Caspian Sea. Because of the locusts, a state of emergency has been declared in three regions near Stavropol, according to local media. In Stavropol alone, efforts to kill the insects have stretched across more than 350 miles, according to officials.

ABC News, July 30, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

What the locust swarm has left the great locusts have eaten; what the great locusts have left the young locusts have eaten; what the young locusts have left other locusts have eaten .Wake up, you drunkards, and weep! Wail; wail because of the new wine, for it has been snatched from your lips. A nation has invaded my land, a mighty army without number;

BIBLEQUOTE

A Biblical plague of locusts in Southern Russia is amazing to see with Bible in hand.In Joel 1 v 1-12 we read about a plague of locusts coming. Read it in a modern version as it talks about the different stages of the locust. In verse 6 we read that the locusts are symbolic of a nation powerful and without number invading God’s land. In chapter 2 the army comes. And there has never been an army like this one. It devours everything in front of it. Before them it looks like Eden, behind them as they pass over it is a desert waste. Joel 2v20 says the sky goes dark and there are thick clouds (like locusts). So who is this army? Well Joel 2:20 tells us they are a “northern army”. We are told God himself will destroy this army. The northern army that invades with such destruction is of course Russia. And this week the locust swarms literally have appeared!

(Joel 1:4-6 NIV)

Greek debt crisis: IMF wary of third bailout

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is very wary of any financial contribution to a third Greek bailout. The implication of remarks by an IMF official is that it is very unlikely to provide funds at the first stage. The fund could, however, join in later, provided both the eurozone and Athens take steps to address IMF concerns. The problem for the IMF is that its staff believe the elements so far agreed are not enough to make the Greek government's debt sustainable. Negotiations are under way and the IMF is involved. But its staff think the eurozone governments need to give Greece debt relief.That does not have to be in the form of explicit reductions in the outstanding debt. It could mean longer repayment terms and delays before any payments are required - so-called grace periods. The eurozone has insisted that it is only prepared to look at the possibility after Greece has made a start on implementing whatever conditions will be agreed.

BBC, July 30, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. The 10 toes link to the 10 horns of Revelation 17. It is the last and final incarnation of the image and the beast. It is the European Superstate that will rise out of the bottomless pit.

BIBLEQUOTE

(Daniel 2:42)

Greece is a long way from being out of the woods. A new agreement is required- and soon. The trouble is the IMF wants nothing to do with it unless Greece reforms much further than anyone is talking about. If the bailout talks do produce an agreement to provide financial assistance from the eurozone bailout agency, the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), it will still need approval by some parliaments, including Germany's Bundestag. If the IMF is not involved it is much more difficult to get Germany to vote in favour of it. In effect the Germans would have to shoulder even more of the debt and the risk. The political roadblock erected by the IMF this week has made things more difficult. All of this puts pressure of Europe to reform and drive towards a superstate.

Economic crisis returns to haunt Putin

Russia’s central bank halted daily purchases of foreign currency on Wednesday in an effort to stop a week-long slide of the rouble that has raised fears of a second currency collapse in a year. The decision came after the rouble hit 60 to the dollar on Tuesday, following five days of losses that threatened to undo months of recovery since an unprecedented fall over the winter.The rouble rallied by up to 1.4pc on Wednesday after the Bank of Russia announced a freeze on daily purchases of up to $200m in foreign currencies, citing “volatility”.One dollar was worth 59.6 roubles by 4pm in Moscow on Wednesday.The past week’s devaluation was driven by a slump in oil prices that analysts said would likely continue to put pressure on the rouble at least until the end of the year.

Daily Telegraph, July 29, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations,

BIBLEQUOTE

(Ezekiel 38:11-12)

Russia has been locked in a financial crisis that has buffeted its currency and seen inflation soar, due to a combination of falling oil prices and international sanctions imposed by Western countries in retaliation for the annexation of Crimea and support for separatist forces in eastern Ukraine.Oil prices have started to slide again mainly due to the growing concerns that China’s economy has stalled. Russia depends massively on oil prices remaining well over $100 a barrel. It’s currently at $53! As we reported last week Bro John Thomas said (over 150 years ago) that the Russian treasuries would one day be empty and this would act as a pressure within Russia causing them to invade Israel for a spoil. With Bible in hand it is amazing to see these things happening right now. Let’s keep watching…

Weekly World WatchYouTube Videos

Please take a look at this excellent Christadelphian Prophecy website

Just click the imageTo watch again, click here.

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 sitePLEASE 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.

Weekly World Watch

The end of this week’s