Andy Waltons Weekly World Watch July 12 July

Andy Walton’s Weekly World Watch July 12 – July 18, 2020 “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.

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 Power. Point can be ordered as audio/visual CDs by clicking here. Move your mouse to place the cursor on the blue link and click.

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. HEADLINE This is straight from a news report that caught my eye because it looked significant from a Biblical perspective, usually that of prophecy. The source of the headline and the date are included. EVENT News Photo 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. COMMENT 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 is normally one verse which backs up why the event that has occurred BIBLE is interesting from a Biblical perspective. Please read in its context. QUOTE Unless stated otherwise, all quotes are from the King James Version. (Book, chapter, and verse)

This Week’s Developments July 12– July 18, 2020 • Hamas, Hezbollah seek to unite against Israel • Israel likely behind mysterious explosions in Iran • Putin orders military drills for 150, 000 troops • Russia accused of trying to hack vaccine research • Fire devastates Bonhomme Richard, $1 bn US carrier • US faces terrifying autumn as Covid-19 surges To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE

Hamas, Hezbollah seek to unite ‘Islamic ummah’ against Israel Jerusalem Post, July 12, 2020 EVENT Hamas and Hezbollah are allied against Israel over its annexation plans, Tasnim News Agency reported Saturday. While the two terrorist groups apparently have not been in close contact about coordinating efforts, the Iranian media outlet, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, suggested they were both confronting Israel over recent policies. The article is important because it hints at Iran’s strategy in dealing with Israel in the coming months. Tehran has suffered setbacks to its missile and nuclear program due to recent mysterious explosions, and it has been reticent to blame Israel directly or to respond. Iran is seeking a larger agreement with China in the meantime and an end to the arms embargo. A new crisis with Israel may not be in the regime’s interests. But stoking tensions with Hezbollah and Hamas likely is. COMMENT Israel has been stalled in annexing parts of the West Bank because President Trump is not willing at the moment to give it US blessing. He has enough on his plate at the moment. But this hasn’t stopped Hamas, Hezbollah working behind the scenes to prepare for conflict. Arab media reported Monday evening that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has called on Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah to "unite ranks" to thwart any future annexation by Israel. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced in May that the Palestinian Authority (PA) was "absolved" of agreements it had signed with Israel and the US, including the Oslo Accords. All of this is laying the ground for the initial inner ring war between Israel and her immediate neighbours. Zechariah 12 clearly speaks of people “round about” Israel who attack. It is better translated “nearby” or “surrounding”. This is stage 1 of the final conflict over Israel. BIBLE QUOTE In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. Notice that Israel devours (defeats) the people round about (nearby) – unlike Zechariah 14. (Zechariah 12: 6)

Mysterious explosions keep happening in Iran. Israel is likely behind it. VOA, July 17, 2020 EVENT For weeks, Iran has faced a deadly wave of explosions and fires at sensitive military and civilian sites, including one incident that caused immense damage to an important nuclear facility. No one officially knows why it’s happening or who is responsible — but many believe Israel, with the Trump administration’s tacit or even direct support, is behind it all. On June 26, a massive explosion rocked the Khojir missile-production complex, a location considered vital to Iran’s missile capabilities. Four days later, another blast — this time at a medical clinic north of the capital, Tehran — killed 19 people. On July 2, an explosion and fire occurred at the underground Natanz nuclear facility, a key component to the country’s uranium-enrichment efforts. And this week, fires broke out in an aluminum plant in Lamerd and a seaport in Bushehr, engulfing at least seven ships in the process. COMMENT US and Israeli officials as well as experts are pretty certain Israel is responsible for the incidents at the military and nuclear sites. Although Iran has not explicitly accused Israel the Iranian regime has apparently made the decision to respond militarily to what it believes is a series of Israeli and American attacks on its soil, Kuwaiti newspaper Al Rai reported on Thursday. The report also said that Iran and its regional allies were planning for the possibility of an "all-out war. ” Iran will not attack Israel directly but will use its proxies Hamas and Hezbollah to pay Israel back for the ongoing strikes. Iran is possibly mentioned as the national backer of these groups in Psalm 83. There is a list of 9 tribes backed one nation – Assur could well refer to modern day Iran. BIBLE QUOTE They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: …; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur also is joined (Psalm 83: 4 -8) with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.

Putin orders military drills for 150, 000 troops Associated Press, July 17, 2020 EVENT Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday scrambled Russian military forces for a massive military exercise across the vast country. The Russian Defence Ministry said that the manoeuvres will last until Tuesday and involve about 150, 000 troops, nearly 27, 000 military vehicles, 414 aircraft and 106 navy ships. It noted that the exercise is intended to train the troops for fending off “terrorist threats” in the country's southwest and prepare for the even bigger “Caucasus-2020” drills later this year. The ministry said the troops will train at 35 shooting ranges. The manoeuvres will mostly involve land forces based in Russia's southwest, but airborne units and some other forces across Russia will also take part. The navy drills will span the Black Sea and the Caspian and will also involve some marine units from the Far North and the Pacific. Russia has expanded the scope of its military drills in recent years amid bitter tensions with the West. Relations plummeted to post-Cold War lows after Russia’s 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula, and the Kremlin described NATO’s drills near Russian borders as a demonstration of the alliance’s hostile intentions. COMMENT Earlier this month Putin, 67, oversaw a controversial vote that amended the Constitution to allow him to serve two more six-year terms after his mandate expires in 2024. So Putin can be in power now until 2036! He first came to power in the year 2000 so that would be 36 years in power. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Putin has been accused by many countries of leading state corruption. Putin is also obsessed with military power – he wants Russia to be a superpower again. The Bible says the Gog (Russian leader – Putin) will prepare for conflict. He is preparing now… BIBLE QUOTE “Get ready; be prepared! Keep all the armies around you mobilized, and take command of them. 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. (Ezekiel 38: 7 -8 NLT)

Russia accused of trying to hack vaccine research The Times, July 17, 2020 EVENT Britain has accused the Russian state of trying to hack into its vaccine research and claimed that “Russian actors” attempted to influence the general election last year. The UK, United States and Canada declared in a joint statement yesterday that Russian intelligence agency hackers had mounted a campaign to steal intellectual property from western academic and pharmaceutical institutions researching Covid-19. Cozy Bear, the cybergroup also known as APT 29 and The Dukes, was named as the culprit behind the persistent action against organisations in the three countries, which began at the start of the global coronavirus outbreak. Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, condemned the cyberattacks as “completely unacceptable”, adding: “While others pursue their selfish interests with reckless behaviour, the UK and its allies are getting on with the hard work of finding a vaccine and protecting global health. ” COMMENT Cozy Bear is the name that cybersecurity companies have given to a Russian hacking group that is believed to be controlled by Moscow. The group is said to be led by Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence service. It is also thought to have strong links to the FSB, the state security service that was once headed by President Putin is doing all he can to destabilise the West – he sees democracy (people power) as their weak spot. Russia pretends to have democracy but the reality is that the person in power just removes any opposition so people don’t have a choice. The West do have true democracies and if the public can be influenced then governments can be changed. Daniel 8 speaks of Gog in verse 25. Notice how by “peace” he “corrupts” people. Using peaceful means (not weapons) he can corrupt people and change governments. BIBLE QUOTE And through his policy also he shall cause craft [deceit] to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy [corrupt] many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand… (Daniel 8: 25)

Fire devastates Bonhomme Richard, $1 bn US carrier The Times, July 13, 2020 EVENT COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE The US Navy is facing the loss of one of its most powerful warships after a fire broke out on the USS Bonhomme Richard, melting the superstructure. The blaze, which began while the amphibious assault ship was moored in the San Diego naval base in California on Sunday morning, continued to spread on Monday despite the presence of firefighters on the pier, in fire boats and in helicopters. Naval experts said that it could cost hundreds of millions of dollars to repair the ship, which was commissioned in 1998, and possibly $1 billion to replace her. The destroyer had only recently returned to service after a $327 million rebuild programme, which followed a collision with a container ship off Japan in June 2017. The loss of such a warship, which deploys and support US Marine assault forces, would be another significant blow to the navy. The USS John S Mc. Cain, sister ship to the Fitzgerald, was also damaged in a tanker collision in 2017. This year the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt was out of action for three months because of a coronavirus outbreak among the crew. This US Navy warship is named after one of the founding fathers of America - Benjamin Franklin earned the title of "The First American". He authored books under the pseudonym "Richard Saunders”. There have been a number of warship accidents and disasters in recent years. In the decades after the Cold War, the U. S. Navy absorbed sustained budget cuts resulting in large force reductions. The total size of the fleet dwindled from nearly 600 active ships in 1987 to around 285 today. As US warships reduce so does US influence and projected power. The Bible says the ”great teeth” or strength of the “young lions” (USA) will be broken. We see this happening… Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD. Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces. Ezekiel 38 also makes clear that Britain and USA are weakened when Russia invades. This warship disaster is just another part of the weakening… (Psalm 58: 6 -7)

US faces terrifying autumn as Covid-19 surges The Guardian, July 18, 2020 EVENT In early June, the United States awoke from a months-long nightmare. Coronavirus had brutalized the north-east, with New York City alone recording more than 20, 000 deaths, the bodies piling up in refrigerated trucks. Thousands sheltered at home. Rice, flour and toilet paper ran out. Millions of jobs disappeared. But then the national curve flattened, governors declared success and patrons returned to restaurants, bars and beaches. “We are winning the fight against the invisible enemy, ” vice-president Mike Pence wrote in a 16 June op-ed, titled, “There isn’t a coronavirus ‘second wave’. ” Except, in truth, the nightmare was not over – the country was not awake – and a new wave of cases was gathering with terrifying force. Now, four months into the pandemic, with test results delayed, contact tracing scarce, protective equipment dwindling and emergency rooms once again filling, the United States finds itself in a fight for its life: swamped by partisanship, mistrustful of science, engulfed in mask wars and led by a president whose incompetence is rivalled only by his indifference to Americans’ suffering. COMMENT It is not just the ships in trouble – America is suffering more than any other country with coronavirus. Again weakening the economy and its power. As dire as the current position seems, the months ahead look even worse. The country anticipates hundreds of thousands of hospitalisations, if the annual averages hold. Of course it isn’t just America suffering. Around the world those countries coming out of lockdown have in some cases seen cases increase again. Israel itself is going back into lockdown – all of this is in God’s plan and purpose and heralds Christ’s return. . we pray soon… BIBLE QUOTE He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Jesus said he would return when the world sees pestilence (plague). See Luke 21: 11 (Revelation 22: 20 -21)

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