September 13 - 19 , 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: (andy@weeklyworldwatch.co.uk). 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

• Israel calls up reservists following Holy Site violence

• UN: Clashes a threat beyond Jerusalem

• Russia 'creating forward air operating base in Syria'

• US presses Russia on military build-up

• 95,000 Russian troops in massive military drill

September 13 - 19, 2015

• Chile earthquake: 10 killed and a million evacuated

Israel made a rare decision on Friday to call up a few hundred border police reservists to beef up security, following Palestinian riots at Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site and outbreaks of violence elsewhere in the city. Tzachi Hanegbi, chairman of Parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee which made the decision in a "special discussion," said the additional forces "will help in returning order quickly" to Jerusalem. Several policemen were wounded Friday in Jerusalem when Palestinians attacked them with firebombs and rocks, and three were taken to a hospital, authorities said. Emergency services said one officer was shot in the arm. The attack happened near the area where an Israeli man died this week after Palestinians pelted his car with rocks. About a dozen Israelis have been wounded in the violence over the past week.

Associated Press, September 18, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.

BIBLEQUOTE

Temple Mount in Jerusalem is ground zero of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Known to the Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary it is Islam’s third most holy site. It is the holiest place for Jews – it is where the first and second temples once stood. Jews are explicitly forbidden to pray there however. Since the Jewish new year began on Sunday last week violence has been raging on and around the site. Growing numbers of religious Jews are paying visits to the site, feeding longstanding fears among Muslims that they intend to take over the area and build a new biblical temple, despite Israel's repeated insistence that no such plans are in the works.There have been two times that Jerusalem has been destroyed – once in 586BC and once in AD70. We are told there is to be a third destruction. When the third one happens the royal crown will be given to he whose right it is. Jesus Christ. The epicentre of God’s plan is the Temple in Jerusalem. It becomes the epicentre for WW3.

Israel calls up reservists following Holy Site violence

(Psalm 132:13-14)

he

UN: Clashes a threat beyond Jerusalem

The U.N.'s Mideast envoy warned Tuesday that clashes between Israelis and Palestinians in and around Jerusalem's holy sites have the potential to ignite violence well beyond the walls of its old city, pointing to "a vicious tide of terror and extremism" in the region. Nikolay Mladenov urged all parties to refrain from "provocative actions and rhetoric" and called on political, community and religious leaders to ensure that visitors and worshippers "demonstrate restraint and respect for the sanctity of the area.” He told the U.N. Security Council by video link Tuesday that the clashes followed "sweeping restrictions" that Israel imposed on entry to Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site, the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, on August 26. Since then, he said, Israel has banned members of Muslim and Jewish groups considered to be extremist.

Associated Press, September 15, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

BIBLEQUOTE

(Zephaniah 3:8)

The violence around Temple Mount has caused the UN to make a statement calling on Israel to allow access to all Muslims. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the latest escalation at holy sites in Jerusalem and other violence, including the stone-throwing incident that led to the death of an Israeli man, "once again underscored the importance of reaching a final status agreement through negotiations on all issues, including arrangements for the holy sites that are acceptable to all.” King Abdullah of Jordan was quick to condemn the violence on the mount. Israel allows the monarchy to act as custodian of the Muslim holy sites; Abdullah temporarily recalled his ambassador from Tel Aviv in protest after the closure last year. If the “provocations” continue, he warned on Monday, “Jordan will have no choice but to take action,

unfortunately”.We know that all nations will be gathered to Jerusalem to battle. The UN is right in this

regard – these clashes really do have the potential to ignite violence beyond its walls..

Russia 'creating forward air operating base in Syria'

Russia's latest movements at an airfield in Syria suggest plans to establish a forward air operating base, the Pentagon said on Monday, generally describing Russian movement of "people and things" in Syria but declining to offer specifics on US intelligence."We have seen movement of people and things that would indicate that they plan to use that base there, south of Latakia, as a forward air operating base," said Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis. The Syrian ambassador to Moscow, Riad Haddad, said talk of a Russian troop presence on the ground in Syria is "a lie", ITAR-TASS news agency reported. Two unnamed US officials told Reuters earlier on Monday that the United States believed Russia had moved tanks to the airfield.One of the officials said that seven Russian T-90 tanks were observed at the airfield near Latakia, a stronghold of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Daily Telegraph, September 14, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.

For over 150 years the Christadelphian community has understood that Russia would one day invade Israel. It is truly remarkable now to witness Russia setting up a forward base so deep into the Middle East. An operating air base in Syria with troops and tanks. This is a staging post for the future invasion. The king of the north is on the move – SOUTH. Surely for those who have doubted Russia’s future invasion of Israel must now see that it is entirely possible. We are no longer considering something that seems beyond all likelihood – but now it is a distinct possibility. With Bible in hand it was never doubted – but even with no Bible the direction is clear. There can surely be no excuse when we finally stand before the Lord Jesus at the judgement. We cannot say – “we had no evidence - we had no idea it was about to happen”. We have no excuse!

BIBLEQUOTE

(Daniel 4:3)

he

US presses Russia on military build-up

US Secretary of State John Kerry has called his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in a bid to clarify the intent of Moscow's military build-up in Syria. Mr Kerry warned that continued support for President Bashar al-Assad "risks exacerbating and extending the conflict," a statement said. The US accuses Russia of boosting its military presence in Syria. Russia - Mr Assad's ally in the four-year civil war - says it is helping Syria fight Islamic State militants. Moscow has increased its presence in the country just as the regime is losing ground to rebel groups. Mr Kerry's phone call to the Russian foreign minister is believed to be his third in the past 10 days. The state department statement said Mr Kerry warned that Russia's support for President Assad was "undermining our shared goal of fighting extremism if we do not also remain focused on finding a solution to the conflict in Syria via a genuine political transition".

BBC, September 16, 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

America is very, very concerned about Russia’s intentions in Syria. It looks like the Russians are about to do what they did in Crimea. Send in troops / tanks / military equipment etc. A squadron of five Russian naval ships, equipped with guided missiles, has set off to conduct manoeuvres in Syrian territorial waters, including possibly firing rockets, a source close to the Russian navy told Reuters on Friday.America is seeking answers from Russia. But they will almost certainly not be told the truth. Events in relation to Syria are reaching a conclusion. The migration crisis in Europe stems from the turmoil in Syria. Plus ISIS is taking a hold of large parts of the country. America believes Assad must go to bring stability. Russia believes that Assad must stay. It could be in the ancient land of the king of the north that the final push comes. As the BBC said today Kerry is looking to push for a solution in Syria…

(Daniel 11:40)

95,000 Russian troops in massive military drill

Russia on Monday launched its largest military exercises of the year, Centre-2015, involving some 95,000 soldiers including ground troops, navy and air force units.The long-announced war games are "the most large-scale drill of 2015," the defence ministry said. Russia has recently intensified snap checks of its military might, testing its capabilities from the Arctic to the Far East as relations with the West have plunged to a post-Cold War low over the Ukraine crisis. Centre-2015 takes place at 20 sites across Russia's central military district, which reaches from the Volga River to the Ural mountains and Siberia in the east, while also including far northern Russia.Troops from member states of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), made up of several ex-Soviet countries, are also involved in the exercise.

AFP, September 14, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, 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,

BIBLEQUOTE

(Ezekiel 38:10-12)

When you consider that the UK has 116,000 troops it puts into perspective the size of this exercise. It would be like almost the entire UK military on one huge exercise.Russia is seriously gearing up for action. Its not just troops…Russia has stepped up naval training exercises off the Syrian coast in recent months and is preparing to hold more drills, according to several sources, behaviour likely to fuel U.S. assertions that Moscow is building up its forces in the region.The Bible says Russia isn't just going to one day launch an attack on the spur of the moment. The attack is planned and prepared. Gog (Russia leader) thinks an evil thought – the word thought means plan. He plans it while Israel is dwelling confidently. We are told he spends time preparing his army for the event. This is what is happening.

Chile earthquake: 10 killed and a million evacuated

• At least 10 people were killed after a 8.3 magnitude earthquake hit Chile, including a 26-year-old woman.

• More than a million people had to be evacuated after the earthquake struck at 7.54pm

• It was the sixth most powerful in the history of geologically volatile Chile and the strongest anywhere in the world this year

• 15ft waves detected off the Chilean coast• Waves now hitting Chile• Epicentre is 144 miles north of Santiago• Evacuations taking place along the Chilean coast

Daily Telegraph, September 17, 2015

EVENT

COMMENT

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

BIBLEQUOTE

(1 Thessalonian 5:4)

Another major earthquake and a small tsunami.This new Jewish year has begun with violence in Jerusalem and Temple Mount. It has also seen Russia suddenly begin to move south into Syria.The world is on the brink financially.And now we see the largest earthquake of the year ….so far …causing 15ft tsunami waves.The coming weeks maybe significant.We have the day of Atonement next week. We have the Pope making an historic speech to US Congress and also at the UN on global leadership. We have the final blood moon at the end of September. Let’s keep on our spiritual toes at this time!

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