1. December 21 - 27, 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) 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

2. 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.clicking here 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:

3. 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? BIBLE QUOTE 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.andy@weeklyworldwatch.co.uk

4. This Week’s Developments To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right PRESS SPACE BAR TO CONTINUE Russia ‘planning’ war in Israel says official Russia: Kiev's move to join NATO dangerous for EU New Russian military doctrine says NATO top threat Russia, 4-Ex-Soviet nations finalise new alliance Iron Dome deployed in wake of rising Gaza tensions December 21 - 27, 2014 Iran holds 'largest military exercise in history'

5. Russia is planning to ignite a war in Israel in an alleged contingency plan to trigger a direct military conflict between Hezbollah and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime. A French official has revealed the plan as Russia's weapon against the U.S. and the European Union amid increasing sanctions on Moscow. According to WND, the official, who has requested his identity to remain unknown, said Russia's plan to start a war in Israel was borne out of Russia's increasing isolation due to Western sanctions. In the past week, the U.S. and European Union issued tighter sanctions to target the Russian economy and pressure Moscow to pull out its troops in Crimea. The anonymous official further revealed that Russia has been successful in sending Hezbollah a large shipment of Iskandar ballistic missiles and surface-to-air missiles. The convoy of missiles was received despite the alleged efforts of Israeli airstrikes targeting weapons shipped by Russia earlier in December. International Business Times, December 22, 2014 EVENT COMMENT After many days thou [Gog / Putin] shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. Visited = sought after, needed, mustered. BIBLE QUOTE So could this “unnamed source” be right? Could Russia ignite a conflict between Israel and its neighbours in retaliation to American and European sanctions? Apparently Russia has not made any final decision about pushing Hezbollah to attack Israel. However, according to the report the French official believes Russia is indeed planning a possible conflict in the Middle East to play out the country's confrontation with the West. We do know that the Syrian Foreign minister visited Putin earlier this month in Sochi. We do know that Russia has sent high tech military equipment to Syria which was bound for Hezbollah. With Bible in hand we know there is an immediate conflict with Israel’s surrounding neighbours that PRECEDES Gog invading. It makes sense that Russia is behind the first war (Israel’s neighbours) and the second war (Ezekiel 38) Russia ‘planning’ war in Israel says official (Ezekiel 38:8)

6. he Russia: Kiev's move to join NATO dangerous for EU Russia said on Thursday that Ukraine's pursuit of Nato membership posed a danger to European security and threatened to sever its remaining ties to the Atlantic military alliance. Ukraine's parliament renounced the country's neutral status on Tuesday in a significant step towards joining Nato. Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, said the West was using Ukraine's Nato bid to fuel confrontation between Russia and its neighbours. "There are a few Western countries that want to maintain the crisis in Ukraine and to maintain and boost the confrontation between Ukraine and Russia, including through provocative efforts towards membership in the Atlantic alliance," he said. "The very idea of Ukraine's efforts to join Nato are dangerous, not only for Ukrainian people, because there is no unity over that issue, it is dangerous for European security," Daily Telegraph, December 25, 2014 EVENT COMMENT there came up among them another little horn…: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. This horn = Vatican ruler in the West And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. This horn = Antiochus + latter day Gog / Putin BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 7:8, 8:9) Moscow is outraged. The decision this week in Ukraine’s parliament to renounce its neutral status in pursuit of Nato membership deepens the worst confrontation between Russia and the West since the end of the Cold War. "Nato countries pushed Kiev to this counterproductive decision, trying to turn Ukraine into a front line of confrontation with Russia," Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov told the Russian news agency Interfax. He went on to say that if Ukraine ever does join NATO, Russia would respond accordingly…relations would be “practically impossible to repair.” The Bible speaks of division between East and West. There are the two legs of Daniel’s image. Each leg represents the two halves of the divided Roman Empire. The West ruled by Rome. The East ruled originally by Constantinople (and later Moscow.) Daniel also tracks the West in Daniel 7 and the East in Daniel 8. The division continues….

7. New Russian military doctrine says NATO top threat Russia identified NATO as the nation's No. 1 military threat and raised the possibility of a broader use of precision conventional weapons to deter foreign aggression under a new military doctrine signed by President Vladimir Putin on Friday. NATO flatly denied it is a threat to Russia, and accused Moscow of undermining European security. The new doctrine, which comes amid tensions over Ukraine, reflected the Kremlin's readiness to take a stronger posture in response to what it sees as US-led efforts to isolate and weaken Russia. The paper maintains the provisions of the previous, 2010 edition of the military doctrine regarding the use of nuclear weapons. It says Russia could employ nuclear weapons in retaliation for the use of nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction against the country or its allies, and also in the case of aggression involving conventional weapons that ``threatens the very existence'' of the Russian state. Associated Press, December 27, 2014 EVENT COMMENT And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: Pillars = like a palm tree spreading at the top! Putin has once more changed his military doctrine to become more aggressive. For the first time, the new doctrine says Russia could use precision weapons ``as part of strategic deterrent measures.'' The document does not spell out when and how Moscow could resort to such weapons. Examples of precision conventional weapons include ground-to-ground missiles, air- and submarine-launched cruise missiles, guided bombs and artillery shells. Putin came to power in the year 2000. One of the first things he did back then was to lower the threshold at which Russia may use nuclear weapons. Russia can use nuclear weapons against any armed aggression if all other means have been exhausted or turn out to be ineffective. The Bible indicates that nuclear weapons could well be used. It even talks about smoke rising that look like palm trees! BIBLE QUOTE (Joel 2:30-32)

8. he Russia, 4-Ex-Soviet nations finalise new alliance Russia and four other ex-Soviet nations on Tuesday completed the creation of a new economic alliance intended to bolster their integration, but the ambitious grouping immediately showed signs of fracture as the leader of Belarus sharply criticized Moscow. The Eurasian Economic Union, which includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, comes to existence on Jan. 1. In addition to free trade, it's to coordinate the members' financial systems and regulate their industrial and agricultural policies along with labor markets and transportation networks. Russia had tried to encourage Ukraine to join, but its former pro-Moscow president was ousted in February following months of protests. Russia then annexed Ukraine's Black Sea Crimean Peninsula, and a pro-Russia mutiny has engulfed eastern Ukraine Associated Press, December 23, 2014 EVENT COMMENT At the end of their rule, when their sin is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. This is the little horn of Daniel 8 – describing Gog. BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 8:23-24) The Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) will be an economic union of states located primarily in northern Eurasia. A treaty aiming for the establishment of the EEU was signed on 29 May 2014 by the leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, and will come into force on 1 January 2015. Treaties aiming for Armenia's and Kyrgyzstan's accession to the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union were signed on 9 October 2014 and 23 December respectively. Armenia's accession treaty will come into force on 2 January 2015. The Eurasian Economic Union will create a single economic market of 183 million people and a gross domestic product of over 4 trillion U.S. dollars. This bloc is Putin’s answer to Europe’s expansion. It is an attempt to create Europe II. The USSR collapsed in 1991. Since that time Europe has expanded up to Russia’s border. Putin’s ambition with the EEU is to build a super power to counter America. It’s the further development of the king of the north.

9. Iron Dome deployed in wake of rising Gaza tensions The IDF has rolled out Iron Dome anti-rocket batteries near the Negev towns of Netivot and Beersheba as a precaution in the event that tensions in Gaza escalate to a full-blown conflict. Defence officials told Israel Radio that though they do not foresee a renewal of hostilities between Palestinians in Gaza and the IDF, the Iron Dome batteries are meant to guard against the eventuality of a resumption of rocket fire. Local municipalities have not been updated on the deployment, and have no intention of changing safety policies within their cities. Last month, an Iron Dome anti- rocket battery was deployed to the Haifa area. The deployment comes amid heightened tensions in the region. Jerusalem Post, December 26, 2014 EVENT 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. On that day I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. They will burn up all the neighbouring nations right and left, while the people living in Jerusalem remain secure. CLICK HERE to read an article on thisCLICK HERE BIBLE QUOTE (Zechariah 12:2+6 NLT) There is growing concern in Israel that a new conflict could soon start again with the Palestinians. On Wednesday, a Palestinian sniper opened fire on an IDF unit guarding workers carrying out maintenance work near the Gaza border, seriously wounding a soldier from the Beduin Reconnaissance Battalion. The roll out of the iron dome batteries shows that Israel believes conflict could be reignited at anytime. The Bible is very clear. There is an initial conflict that occurs between Israel and its immediate neighbours BEFORE Russia invades. The key to unlocking this is understanding that Zechariah 12 and 14 are NOT describing the same event. Zechariah 12 is the first war. Zechariah 14 is the second war. Zechariah 2v2 talks of “nearby nations sending their armies”. v6 says the Jews “will burn up THE NEIGHBOURING NATIONS right and left”. Jerusalem is victorious in the war. Israel is weakened in this war but overcomes. Into the vacuum left comes Russia – like a storm.

10. Iran holds 'largest military exercise in history' Iran holds the "largest military exercise in its history," or at least that was what Hezbollah-affiliated Al Mayadan channel reported Thursday. The exercise, dubbed Mohammad Rasoulallah (Mohammad, the Messenger of God) involved all branches of the Iranian military and will last for six days, spanning 2.2 million square kilometers, Iranian news television Press TV reported. General Hashma Allah Malka said it was an "Important message of peace to our friendly neighbours, but also a show of force regarding our defence abilities which sends a message to our enemies." As part of what Iranian media are calling a massive show of force, the army will manoeuvre from the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf all the way to the Gulf of Aden and even the parts of the Indian ocean. According to different reports, the Iranian Navy will be testing warships and submarines. Israel National News, December 25, 2014 EVENT COMMENT “Look, I will stir up the Medes against Babylon. They cannot be tempted by silver or bribed with gold. The attacking armies will shoot down the young men with arrows. They will have no mercy on helpless babies and will show no compassion for children.” Medes = Iranians BIBLE QUOTE (Isaiah 13:17-18 NLT) On Christmas Day Iran launched its largest war game ever. Close to 13,000 personnel will take part in the drills, which will be the first time Iran has organized military manoeuvres so far from its coastline. The drills will finish with a military parade on December 30. Right on the eve of the drills – the largest in the region – the Iranian military said they planned to bring state-of-the-art missile defence systems into its integrated air defence shield. A week ago chief of Iran's Navy called on foreign forces to leave the drill zone for the duration of the exercises. The Bible talks of Iran being stirred up. It speaks of their love of missiles. It talks about their ideological desire to use them and how they will use them to kill both man and child. Iran will join forces with Russia to invade Israel. That time is fast approaching…

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12. Please take a look at this excellent Christadelphian Prophecy website Just click the image To 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 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. Weekly World Watch The end of this week’s