February 23 – March 1, 2014

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s February 23 – March 1, 2014 “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 February 23 – March 1, 2014 • Magog, Scythia, Ukraine map • Ukraine: Russia accused of ‘armed invasion’ • Russia war games over Ukraine prompt US warning • Ukraine pleads for Britain & US to come to its rescue • End of American military dominance • US has coerced Israel into 'terrible peace deal' To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

5. Son of man, set thy face against Gog, of the land of Magog We are told in Ezekiel 38 that Gog is of the land of Magog. Magog we are told by ancient historians were called the Scythians by the Greeks. The map shows the territory of Scythia. You can see it mainly covers southern Russia. On the left we have superimposed modern Ukraine. You will notice that the eastern half of Ukraine was part of ancient Scythia (Magog)….. Map of the Scythian Kingdom “Magog founded those that from him were called Magogites, but who by the Greeks called Scythians” Josephus: Antiquities (Ezekiel 38:2-3 RSV) BIBLE QUOTE

6. Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog - The land of Magog (as we showed on the first slide) encompassed Southern Russia but also the Eastern half of the Ukraine. It cannot be coincidence that Gog (Putin) at this time is wrestling away the last piece of the precise territory that was controlled by ancient Gog (the leader of the Magogites). Ukraine: Russia accused of ‘armed invasion’ Daily Telegraph, February 28, 2014 Russian troops and armour backed by gunmen in unmarked uniforms fanned out across Crimea yesterday morning, seizing two airports and other key installations in an apparent bid to assert Moscow's dominance over the region. Despite "grave" warnings from America not to intervene, soldiers and unidentified armed men deployed on Crimea's main roads, and occupied key positions within ports and the region's main television station. Although no shots were fired and there were no reported injuries, Arsen Avakov, the new Ukrainian interior minister, said the sudden and unannounced Russian deployment amounted to a "military invasion and occupation" of his country's territory. EVENT he COMMENT In last week’s WWW we wrote…”We may actually see Russian intervention in Ukraine if push comes to shove.” Within one week the intervention has come. Thirteen giant air transports flew into the Crimea Friday night, Feb. 28, and landed some 2,000 Russian troops at a military airfield near Sebastopol. Russian troops have taken over the two main airports in Crimea. Another group seized the region’s key points - bridges, road hubs and power stations. So what is going on? Ukraine is being torn in two. There is a tug of war. In broad terms western Ukraine is pro Europe. Eastern Ukraine is pro Russia. A few months ago the pro Russian president rejected an EU deal to do trade and instead went with a Russian trade deal. This caused the riots and deaths we saw on the streets last week. This led to the pro Russian Ukrainian leader going into exile. He turned up in Russia. Putin however does not want to lose control of Crimea (part of Ukraine) because this is his access to the Middle East from the Russian controlled military naval base of Sevastopol. War over Ukraine’s future could be on the cards… BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:2)

7. Then at the time of the end, the king of the south will push and attack the king of the north. The king of the north will storm out with chariots, charioteers, and a vast navy. Events in Ukraine may well be part of the king of the south “push” or “attack” against the king of the north. Russia war games over Ukraine prompt US warning Associated Press, February 26, 2014 EVENT Russia ordered 150,000 troops to test their combat readiness Wednesday in a show of force that prompted a blunt warning from the United States that any military intervention in Ukraine would be a "grave mistake.” Putin's announcement of huge new war games came as across Ukraine, the divided allegiances between Russia and the West were on full display. Amid the tensions, Putin put the military on alert for massive exercises involving most of the military units in western Russia, and announced measures to tighten security at the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet on Ukraine's Crimea peninsula. The maneuvers will involve some 150,000 troops, 880 tanks, 90 aircraft and 80 navy ships, and are intended to "check the troops' readiness for action in crisis situations that threaten the nation's military security," Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in remarks carried by Russian press. It’s amazing how fast events are happening. Within days we have a full blown Cold War situation with America warning Russia and Russia warning America. At an unscheduled press conference president Obama warned Russia there would be "costs" for any military intervention. Mr Obama said he was deeply concerned by reports of Russian military movements. But will Putin listen to these mild threats? It’s unlikely. In fact we see here a similar situation in Ezekiel 38 when Russia invades the Middle East. Britain and America (Tarshish and young lion) asking why Russia is doing such a thing. The two war weary powers do not want to physically confront the Russian bear. Russia is very much like a bear. Docile until provoked. When pushed too far the bear responds with fierce anger and nothing stands in its way. Nothing provokes a bear more than when her cubs are threatened. Crimea is one of Russia’s cubs… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 11:40 NLT)

8. And at the time of the end the king of the South shall push at and attack him, and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries and shall overflow and pass through. Events in Syria nearly led to confrontation between America and Russia. Events in Ukraine may also lead to verse 40 of Daniel 11 being fulfilled…. Ukraine pleads for Britain & US to come to its rescue Daily Telegraph, February 28, 2014 Deeply worried politicians inside Ukraine's parliament have pleaded with Britain and the United States to come to their rescue, after Russia was accused of launching a series of raids in the Crimea region. The two Western powers signed an agreement with Ukraine in 1994, which Kiev's parliament wants enforcing now. The Budapest Memorandum, signed by Bill Clinton, John Major, Boris Yeltsin and Leonid Kuchma – the then-rulers of the USA, UK, Russia and Ukraine – promises to uphold the territorial integrity of Ukraine, in return for Ukraine giving up its nuclear weapons. Article one reads: "The United States of America, the Russian Federation, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine ... to respect the Independence and Sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine.” And Kiev is now claiming that their country's borders are not being respected. EVENT COMMENT This forgotten treaty signed in 1994 between Russia, America and Britain could drag the US and UK into WAR with Russia if Putin's troops intervene in Ukraine. That was the headline in a newspaper in the UK this week. The agreement states that the three countries will refrain from the threat or use of force against Ukraine. This agreement came about as a way of persuading Ukraine to give up its vast nuclear arsenal to Russia for dismantling. Ukraine was part of the USSR so ended up with the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world. It would only surrender these weapons if it felt protected. America and Britain in effect promised to protect Ukraine from aggression. This is why Ukraine this week asked these two countries to help. The king of the south is being asked to step in and push back the king of the north. They may be forced to do so… BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 11:40 AMP)

9. As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed. The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions, are broken. End of American military dominance Free Beacon, February 25, 2014 President Barack Obama will sharply cut ships, aircraft, and troops as part of a major reduction of U.S. military forces that will face even steeper downsizing in 2016, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel announced on Monday. The defence cuts, to be announced formally in the president’s budget proposal next month, would reduce U.S. ground forces to their lowest level since World War II at a time when world threats are increasing. The defence secretary outlined the dramatic reductions in a briefing for reporters at the Pentagon. They include significant cuts in Navy shipbuilding and Air Force aircraft purchases, and a 20 percent reduction in Army ground forces. Hagel said the defence reductions will pose new national security risks for the United States in the future. They also have forced the Pentagon to face the prospect of losing America’s position as the most dominant military power in the world. EVENT The US army will be cut from its current level of 520,000 active duty troops to between 440,000 and 450,000 troops. That size is the smallest the service has been since 1940, prior to World War II. In 2016, the troop level could be reduced further to 420,000 troops. Eleven warships—half of the Navy’s cruiser fleet—will be taken offline or placed in a reduced operating status. Hagel said the cuts also would reduce the ability of U.S. military forces to conduct more than one major military conflict in the world at the same time, something that could potentially trigger an outbreak of global conflict. So why is America doing this? Quite simply they can no longer afford to run the military machine to the same level any longer. The financial crisis of 2009 is still taking its toll. Would we expect a weaker America with Bible in hand? Well we would. The weakening of America leaves Israel exposed and Russia more likely to invade. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Job 4: 8-9 RSV)

10. When people say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape. US has coerced Israel into 'terrible peace deal' Daily Telegraph, February 26, 2014 EVENT Israeli parliamentarians subjected the US ambassador to a no-holds-barred barrage of criticism in a tense meeting that illustrated the fierce resistance to an American-backed peace initiative with the Palestinians. Daniel Shapiro, Wasington's envoy to Tel Aviv, was told that the Obama administration's conduct was "inappropriate for an ally" and asked when the US ever stood at Israel's side when he met the multi-party group at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. The confrontation took place as Mr Netanyahu prepared to travel next week to Washington, where he is expected to get a first glimpse of the framework document being prepared by John Kerry, the US secretary of state, which is meant to pave the way towards a final agreement. The nine-month time-line of the negotiations expires on April 29, but Mr Kerry is seeking an extension. As we see events move ever faster towards their long promised conclusion we also note how quickly things could happen in relation to Israel. A nine month timeline was put in place last year to get a final agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. John Kerry is on a mission to make this happen. He believes that the only reason that Israel and the Palestinians have so far not made an agreement is because he has not been involved. He totally believes he can do this. The nine months is up on April 29th. This week the agreement will be shown to Netanyahu. It will certainly involve Israel giving up half the land - the West Bank. It may even divide Jerusalem with some clever wording. It is interesting that 9 months was the time frame for a final agreement. 9 months is how long a woman is pregnant. She then goes through the pain of child birth. The Bible says that when Jesus returns the world will be in pain as a woman giving birth… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (1 Thessalonians 5:3 RSV)

11. 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. Please take a look at this excellent Christadelphian Prophecy website Just click the image To watch again, click here.