April 1 - 7, 2018

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s April 1 - 7, 2018 “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 April 1 - 7, 2018 • Spy poisoning: Russia says UK is 'playing with fire' • US punishes key Putin allies over 'malign activity' • 9 killed as '20,000' Palestinians protest at Gaza border • Russia, Iran & Turkey to fight any attempts split Syria • Syria: Trump 'persuaded not to pull out immediately' • Britain opens first naval overseas base in 50 years To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

5. And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ The bear is ancient Persia (Iran)– The Scythians were a group of Iranian people north of the Black Sea. Scythia is the area of Magog. Therefore Magog is associated with the bear! Spy poisoning: Russia says UK is 'playing with fire' BBC, April 6, 2018 Russia has accused the UK of inventing a "fake story" and "playing with fire" over the Salisbury spy poisoning. At a UN Security Council meeting, Moscow's UN ambassador Vasily Nebenzia said Britain's main goal had been "to discredit and even delegitimise" Russia with "unsubstantiated accusations". The UK says Russia is behind the attack but Moscow denies responsibility. Britain's UN representative Karen Pierce said the UK's actions "stand up to any scrutiny". She likened Moscow's requests to take part in the investigation to an arsonist investigating his own fire. Moscow called the special meeting of the Security Council in New York to discuss the attack, saying Britain had "legitimate questions" to answer. Mr Nebenzia said the accusations were "horrific and unsubstantiated", and claimed the UK was waging a "propaganda war" against Russia. Responding, the British Ambassador to the UN, Karen Pierce, accused Russia of seeking to "undermine the international institutions that have kept us safe since the Second World War". EVENT The escalating diplomatic crisis between Moscow and the West saw 60 expelled US envoys leave Russia on Thursday. More than 20 countries have expelled Russian envoys in solidarity with the UK, following Britain's initial expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats. This week saw the rhetoric between Russia and Britain become even more aggressive with Russia warning the UK was playing with fire. Even though Russia (ordered by Putin) conducted this attack it doesn’t stop Putin being provoked by the worldwide response (led by Britain). Putin is personally affronted by the accusations. Just like a bear that is prodded it will rise up and aggressively attack… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 7:5)

6. He will honour those who submit to him, appointing them to positions of authority and dividing the land among them as their reward. “Then at the time of the end, the king of the south will attack the king of the north. US punishes key Putin allies over worldwide 'malign activity' BBC, April 6, 2018 The US has imposed sanctions on seven Russian oligarchs and 17 senior government officials, accusing them of "malign activity around the globe". Twelve companies owned by the oligarchs, the state arms exporter and a bank are also sanctioned. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the penalties targeted those profiting from Russia's "corrupt system". The move was a response to Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, he said. The sanctions are also being imposed because of the actions taken by the Kremlin in Crimea, eastern Ukraine and Syria, Mr Mnuchin said in a statement on Friday. He accused the Russian government of "malicious" cyber-activities and said the sanctions would target "those who benefit from the Putin regime".” The Russian government operates for the disproportionate benefit of oligarchs," he added. It is the most aggressive action taken by the Trump administration thus far against Moscow. EVENT COMMENT Last month the US imposed sanctions on 19 Russians, accusing them of interference in the 2016 election and alleged cyber-attacks. The US has also expelled dozens of Russian diplomats in response to the poisoning of a former Russian spy in the UK. Now America is targeting Putin’s close allies who are rewarded by him personally. In Daniel 11 we read of a king who lives at the time of the end – it is none other than Gog (a latter day Antiochus Epiphanes) the Russian ruler, Putin. We are told a lot of characteristics about this tsar. In the New Living Translation we read that “He will honour those who submit to him, appointing them to positions of authority and dividing the land among them as their reward.” It is these people the US is targeting! BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 11:40 NLT)

7. 9 killed as '20,000' Palestinians protest at Gaza border Daily Telegraph, April 7, 2018 At least nine Palestinians, including a journalist, were killed by Israeli forces on the Gaza border on Friday, as thousands of demonstrators burned tyres and sent towers of thick black smoke billowing over the isolated Mediterranean enclave. The latest fatalities mean that 31 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli snipers since Gaza residents last week began “the Great March of Return”, a series of weekly border protests demanding the right to return to their ancestral homes in what is today Israel. Around 20,000 Palestinians flocked to five protests site along the border, according to the Israeli military. A 16-year-old and a well-known Palestinian journalist were among those killed, Gaza health officials said. The health ministry said 408 Palestinians had been taken to hospitals and medical centres for treatment. Hundreds more suffered other injuries, including tear gas inhalation, the officials said. EVENT These protests are expected to continue every Friday until May 15, when Palestinians commemorate “the Nakba”, the Arabic word for catastrophe, when Israel was created in 1948. The dangerous difference for this showdown between Israel and the Palestinians and previous conflicts is timing and context. Last Friday was the start of six weeks of protests leading up to the 70th anniversary of Nakba day on 15 May, literally the “catastrophe”, as Arabs see it, that followed Israel’s declaration of independence on 14 May, 1948. The US will also move its embassy to Jerusalem in May, effectively recognising the city as Israel’s sovereign capital while ignoring Palestine’s claims. In short, a spring season of looming flashpoints has now begun. The Bible says that there will be an initial inner ring war between Israel and nearby peoples. It is coming soon. COMMENT I will make Jerusalem like an intoxicating drink that makes the nearby nations stagger when they send their armies to besiege Jerusalem and Judah. Notice it is NEARBY nations that attack in Zechariah 12. The AV says people “round about” BIBLE QUOTE (Zechariah 12:2)

8. Russia, Iran & Turkey to fight any attempts split Syria Jerusalem Post, April 6, 2018 EVENT Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in Ankara for their second trilateral meeting on Syria. They see themselves as the “three guarantor states of the ceasefire in Syria,” according to Sputnik media, and they have been participating in talks in Astana relating to “reconciliation.” Absent from all of this is the United States, whose partners among the Syrian Democratic Forces control around third of Syria. The message from the Ankara summit is that the US will play no role in Syria in the future. The comments coming out of Ankara speak of a “sustainable ceasefire” and “peace and stability” as well as a “strong and continued commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, territorial integrity and non-sectarian character of Syria.” The message to Washington is that the US is undermining that “unity” and “territorial integrity” by supporting the SDF and in its continued war against ISIS. COMMENT This alliance of Russia, Iran and Turkey is exactly what God says we would see according to Ezekiel 38. Russia is Magog, Meshech and Tubal. Iran is Persia, Turkey is Togarmah. All 3 nations (plus Sudan and Libya) will join together to invade Israel. Surely we can therefore see these meetings together as a “warm up” to the final act that could come very soon after the initial inner ring war. Russia has befriended Turkey to break apart the West alliances. Moscow wants to encourage a Turkish-US split in Syria, backing Turkey against the Kurds in order to undermine the US allies. Also, Moscow wants Turkey’s relationship with NATO to break down. Plus there is an economic element. Turkey is building a nuclear power station with Moscow. BIBLE QUOTE I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:  And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, … 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.  (Ezekiel 38:3-6)

9. Syria: Trump 'persuaded not to pull out immediately' BBC, April 4, 2018 EVENT US officials say President Trump has been persuaded not to pull the military out of Syria immediately, despite his declaration last week that the US would "be coming out of Syria very soon". Advisers reportedly convinced him that it could risk a resurgence by the Islamic State (IS) group. The White House said on Wednesday the US military mission in Syria was coming to a "rapid end". But it has not announced a timetable for a full troop withdrawal. A statement said IS was almost completely destroyed, and that the US would consult its allies regarding future plans. A senior administration official told NBC News that the president had agreed at a meeting on Tuesday to keep troops in Syria for an undetermined period, but "wasn't thrilled about it, to say the least". The US has about 2,000 personnel on the ground in eastern Syria supporting an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias called the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Separately on Wednesday, Turkey, Iran and Russia pledged to speed up efforts to bring stability to Syria after a meeting between leaders in the Turkish capital Ankara. Once again Trump is thwarted in what he wants to do. He wanted to reset relations with Russia. But the investigation into Russian meddling in US elections stopped him doing this. Trump wanted to befriend Putin. But the UK poisoning case has forced him to sanction Putin’s close allies. Trump wanted to pull out of Syria and purely focus on making America great again. But now once more he is thwarted – he has been forced to accept that American troops will have to remain in Syria. This is interesting because the US is the king of the south – Syria is the original home of the king of the north. Therefore the US is in the king of the north’s terrirtory – which will lead to conflict… COMMENT Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us BIBLE QUOTE (Isaiah 8:10 NIV)

10. Britain opens first naval overseas base in 50 years in sign of ‘global reach’ Daily Telegraph, April 5, 2018 EVENT Britain’s ability to maintain a global military presence post-Brexit has been greatly enhanced by the opening of the Royal Navy’s new permanent base in the Gulf, according to one of Britain’s most senior officers. And, at a time when Iran is continuing to pose a serious threat to the security of the oil-rich Gulf region, the Navy’s new HMS Juffair base at the Bahraini port of Mina Salman will enable Britain to play its part in keeping the region’s vital sea-lanes open. The Navy’s new £40 million base, which was built with the Bahraini government agreeing to pay most of the cost, will allow the Navy to maintain a permanent presence in the region, without having to return warships to Britain every six months for routine maintenance. The base can also be used by other British forces, such as the Army and Special Forces, to conduct operations throughout the region, including in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. COMMENT The opening of the base certainly marks an historic moment for the UK Navy, whose relationship with the small Gulf state dates back to the early 19th century when Britain signed a treaty with Bahrain’s ruling Al-Khalifa family to combat piracy and slavery in the region. The reopening of the Navy’s base in Gulf is therefore seen as a major commitment by Britain to reviving its military presence overseas in the run-up to Brexit. This is amazing because in Ezekiel 38 the Lord God explained how Sheba and Dedan (Saudi Arabia and the Gulf nations like Bahrain) would be allied to Tarshish (Britain). This is exactly what we see happening here with this new naval base opening in this Gulf state. It is another piece falling into place. It might not be long now until we see the fulfilment of many things culminating in the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:  …., and upon all the hills that are lifted up,  And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall,  And upon all the ships of Tarshish, Judgement is coming the ships of Tarshish (ships of Britain) BIBLE QUOTE (Isaiah 2:12-16)

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.