1. October 9 - 15, 2016 “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 Russian TV warns of nuclear war amid US tensions Putin orders 'All officials to fly families home' Russia to send aircraft carrier down English Channel Putin and Erdogan pledge deeper military contact UK and US both consider military options October 9 - 15, 2016 Israel freezes Unesco ties for 'denying Jewish holy sites'

5. Russian TV warns of nuclear war amid US tensions With diplomatic relations between Moscow and Washington at their lowest point since the Cold War, turning on Russian television can be an alarming experience. For the past month, Russian media outlets have been punctuated with reports asking people whether they are ready for nuclear war. "If it should one day happen, every one of you should know where the nearest bomb shelter is. It’s best to find out now," according to one particularly fevered report on the Russian state-owned channel, NTV. Russia’s main current affairs show, hosted by a presenter known by critics as the country’s propagandist-in-chief, recently spent two hours warning that Russia would defend itself with nuclear arms. "We’ve had it with American abuse over Syria," the show’s host, Evgeny Kiselyov, told his audience. "Impudent behaviour," from the U.S. towards Russia, he said, can now take on "nuclear dimensions." ABC News, October 14, 2016 EVENT COMMENT a great and mighty army appears. Nothing like it has been seen before or will ever be seen again. Fire burns in front of them, and flames follow after them. Ahead of them the land lies as beautiful as the Garden of Eden. Behind them is nothing but desolation; not one thing escapes. BIBLE QUOTE One newspaper in the UK put it this way…”Verbal jousting between the US, Britain and Russia over the issue of the ongoing bombardment of civilians in Syria are reaching a peak, with the very real possibility of genuine armed conflict between the nations taking place over the city of Aleppo.” Some believe that Russia is is pretending to gear up for nuclear war to stop the US going further in Syria. It may be a pretence – however, with Bible in hand, we know that pretence or not – Russia WILL invade the Middle East and come down into Israel. When they come down it will be with fearsome destruction. Joel 2 speaks of the time Russia invades. It says in front of the army it will look like the garden of Eden. Once they have swept over it will look like a desolate wilderness. Nuclear or not, Russia is gearing up for war like never before… (Joel 2:2-3 NLT)

6. Putin orders 'All officials to fly families home' Russia is ordering all of its officials to fly home any relatives living abroad amid heightened tensions over the prospect of global war, it has been claimed. Politicians and high-ranking figures are said to have received a warning from president Vladimir Putin to bring their loved-ones home to the 'Motherland', according to local media. It comes after Putin cancelled a planned visit to France amid a furious row over Moscow's role in the Syrian conflict and just days after it emerged the Kremlin had moved nuclear-capable missiles nearer to the Polish border. Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has also warned that the world is at a 'dangerous point' due to rising tensions between Russia and the US. According to the Russian site Znak.com, administration staff, regional administrators, lawmakers of all levels and employees of public corporations have been ordered to take their children out of foreign schools immediately. Daily Mail, October 12, 2016 EVENT COMMENT The king of the north will march onward unopposed; none will be able to stop him. He will pause in the glorious land of Israel,[d] intent on destroying it. He will make plans to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will form an alliance with the king of the south. These earlier verses in Daniel 11 are about the time of the ancient king of the north – the Seleucids who were based in Syria. When Syria fails Russia will become the new king of north. BIBLE QUOTE Daniel 11:16-17 NLT) Last week more than 40 million Russians took part in three days of extensive drills to prepare for a nuclear war. Then this week reports surfaced that Putin reportedly told officials to immediately fly relatives living abroad back to Russia. The call extended to relatives overseas and children, even if they are in the middle of the school year. On Monday former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev warned that soaring tensions between the United States and Russia have brought the world to a “dangerous point”. The world is indeed at a dangerous point. The six years of war in Syria have brought the superpowers to the very brink of war. Syria of course is home of the ancient king of the north. When Syria comes to an end Russia will become the new king of the north.

7. 'Posturing' Russians to send aircraft carrier and fleet along the English Channel Russia is expected to sail its only aircraft carrier through the English Channel later this month amid strained relations between London and Moscow over the Syria crisis. Royal Navy chiefs and their Nato allies are drawing up plans to escort up to eight Russian warships which are due to leave port imminently to join the country’s air strike campaign against Syrian rebels. Admirals believe the Kremlin will use the voyage as an opportunity for a show of strength as it passes Britain, and expect the carrier’s aircraft to launch flying drills off the British and French coasts. The Royal Naval preparations come after Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, this week triggered a diplomatic row by saying he would “like to see demonstrations outside the Russian embassy” in London over Moscow’s role in the ongoing Syrian conflict. A former First Sea Lord on Friday said Russian posturing risked inflaming tensions further. Daily Telegraph, October 14, 2016 EVENT COMMENT The king of the north will storm out with chariots, charioteers, and a vast navy. He will invade various lands and sweep through them like a flood. He will enter the glorious land of Israel, and many nations will fall, Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov is the flagship of the Russian navy. A 55,000 ton aircraft carrier with 12 MiG warplanes on board and a similar number of helicopters. Sergei Shoigu, Russian defence minister, has said the carrier will be escorted by six warships and three or four support vessels. The Russian vessels are expected to include the battle cruiser Peter the Great and a Udaloy class destroyer. All this military and naval hardware is going to sail straight past the coast of Britain as early as next week. Royal Navy sources say that ships will have to be diverted from other missions to escort the Russian vessels. A former British First Sea Lord said “When people start posturing, things become dangerous.” The Bible says that the king of the north (Russia) will come down with “many ships”. The ships are on their way… BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 11:40-41 NLT)

8. The Russian and Turkish leaders have agreed to intensify military and intelligence contacts after a meeting in Istanbul. President Vladimir Putin also said he and Recep Tayyip Erdogan had agreed on the need for aid to get to the northern Syrian city of Aleppo. The two countries have signed a deal to construct two pipelines to send Russian gas under the Black Sea to Turkey. Ties were strained after Turkey downed a Russian military jet last year. But speaking at a joint news conference with Mr Putin, Mr Erdogan said he was confident that the normalisation of relations would take place rapidly. Unlike Russia, Turkey is a member of Nato, but both countries currently have uneasy relations with the West and are also facing economic challenges. BBC, October 10, 2016 EVENT COMMENT I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: 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: BIBLE QUOTE Despite Turkey shooting down a Russian jet last year relations between the two countries are getting back to normal. This may seem a strange thing to happen. Some were saying at the time that Russia needs to invade Turkey and take over Istanbul. This is not what the Bible says. The Bible says that Turkey is allied to Russia when it invades Israel. Turkey is mentioned in Ezekiel 38. Eastern Turkey is Togarmah. And western Turkey is Gomer. We may wonder why Russia is befriending Turkey. The reason is that both feel isolated. Both have taken a decidedly authoritarian turn in their politics. Both have significant tensions with Washington. And both have strategic stakes in Syria with Moscow and Ankara well aware of the need to deal with the other if these interests are to be protected. The other point to this article is of course the gas deal. One pipeline will be for Turkey and the other will supply western Europe but it will bypass Ukraine. Putin’s lust for the riches of gas/oil are unabated. Putin and Erdogan pledge deeper military contact after gas deal signed (Ezekiel 38:4-6)

9. Britain and the United States are both considering deeper involvement in the Syrian civil war – including looking at more military options – amid warnings that Russia is gong to "flatten" the city of Aleppo. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson argued it was right that military options were looked at again, because he said the Russian campaign had “pulverised” neighbourhoods. US President Barack Obama was also expected to meet key advisors on Friday to weigh up military action, including direct air strikes on Assad regime bases. It comes as President Assad described how he would "clean" the city by killing the "terrorists" within the city. Speaking to Russia’s Komsomolskaya Pravda, Assad said: “It’s going to be the springboard, as a big city. This is the importance of Aleppo now. “You have to keep cleaning this area and to push the terrorists to Turkey to go back to where they come from, or to kill them. There’s no other option. But Aleppo is going to be a very important springboard to do this move.” Independent, October 14, 2016 EVENT COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE Both Britain and America are beginning to think once again about launching attacks against the Assad regime. The horrors of Aleppo and the constant bombardment by Russia and the Syrian regime against the city are bringing things to a head. There is a key meeting between the UK, US, France and Germany this weekend at which the Western powers hope to form a response to the Russian military operation. If Aleppo does fall then the rebels which the West are backing will also fall. Assad will have won a major victory and the tide will turn in his favour. But if there is one thing the West (US/UK) don’t want is Assad in power with Russia based there as well. We know that the king of the south will push at Gog. There will be a military provocation at some point. When that happens the king of the north (Russia) will come down like storm. UK and US both consider military options amid warnings Russia will 'flatten' Aleppo Then at the time of the end, the king of the south will attack the king of the north. The king of the north will storm out with chariots, charioteers, and a vast navy. He will invade various lands and sweep through them like a flood. (Daniel 11:40 NLT)

10. Israel suspended cooperation with UNESCO on Friday, a day after the U.N. cultural agency adopted a draft resolution that Israel says denies the deep historic Jewish connection to holy sites in Jerusalem. UNESCO's draft resolution, titled "Occupied Palestine" and sponsored by several Arab countries, uses only the Islamic name for a hilltop compound sacred to both Jews and Muslims, which includes the Western Wall, a remnant of the biblical temple and the holiest site where Jews can pray. The validated resolution is expected early next week, but the wording is unlikely to change. Israelis and many Jews around the world viewed it as the latest example of an ingrained anti- Israel bias at the United Nations, where Israel and its allies are far outnumbered by Arab countries and their supporters. The draft resolution, seen by Associated Press, diminished the links to Judaism of two important holy sites in Jerusalem's Old City. Associated Press, October 14, 2016 EVENT COMMENT I will make Jerusalem like an intoxicating drink that takes the nearby nations stagger when they send their armies to besiege Jerusalem and Judah. On that day I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. All the nations will gather against it to try to move it, but they will only hurt themselves. BIBLE QUOTE UNESCO stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Its declared purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms. It’s strapline on its official website says “building peace in the minds of men and women.” However as with all UN organisations it is deeply anti-Semitic. This latest resolution sponsored by Arab nations is about Jerusalem and Temple Mount. It calls Israel an occupying power. It says Israel must recognise a Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital. The resolution does not recognise any Jewish link to Temple Mount. This resolution does not contribute to peace – it is another step towards conflict. Israel freezes Unesco ties for 'denying Jewish holy sites' (Zechariah 12:2-3)

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12. To watch again please click the green arrow 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