World Watch 4.15.23: Prophetic, Last Days News Just Like Jesus Said

Russia / Ukraine War

• Ukraine War, Already with Up to 354,000 Casualties, Likely to Last Past 2023
• France blocked a proposed European resolution on ammunition financing to Ukraine. The Americans thought that Macron would be able to influence China, however, it seems that the China influenced him.
• Major classified Leak reveals that UK and US Special Forces are already in Ukraine.

Is the Russia-Ukraine War Reaching a Tipping Point?

Leaked documents from the Pentagon confirm that the US and NATO will have support roles in a major counteroffensive Ukraine is planning against Russia this spring.  
 
The documents also reveal that Ukraine’s air defense capabilities are now seriously depleted. Important defensive equipment has either been destroyed or has insufficient ammunition, leaving Ukraine at less than full strength and at a distinct air power disadvantage.
 
The US and NATO have not been able to resupply Ukraine’s equipment and ammo quickly enough, whereas Russia has increased its ammo output and is said to be getting weapons support from Iran and China, and possibly Egypt.
 
The contents of the leaked documents reveal significant doubts about Ukraine’s ability to continue fighting at full strength due to lack of weapons and firepower.
 
They also reveal that the US has committed so many resources to Ukraine that if troubles arise elsewhere—such as between China and Taiwan—the US has limited help to spare.

Foreshadows Report

The Pacific: China & North Korea

• South Korea condemned the shooting and said the missile flew more than a thousand kilometers before landing just outside of Japanese waters. Japan and South Korea assessed the ballistic missile may be of a new and unknown type, apparently powered by solid fuel.
• The US and South Korea conducted a military exercise, including the nuclear-capable B-52H bomber, in a show of force against North Korea.
• US warship cruises near China outpost in the West Philippine Sea
• China tested and deployed a new longer-range hyper-sonic missile that is likely able to evade US defenses, according to an overlooked top-secret document among those recently leaked.
• Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu is sounding the alarm that China is now fully ready to invade!
• China warns the US and the Philippines to not interfere with their affairs regarding Taiwan.
• China is reportedly selling off treasuries as it prepares for a blockade of Taiwan and a full-scale war with the United States.
• More bad news for Taiwan: The Philippines will not allow “any offensive actions” from the bases it opened to US troops, President Marcos said Monday.
• China announces to the World that it is now ‘ready to fight’ after drills near Taiwan.
• China just expanded the wartime military draft to include veterans and college students signaling they may be preparing for global conflict.
• Putin just ordered Pacific fleet war games to test a nuclear strike on the West

Middle East

• Eastern Syria: After crossing the Iraqi border into Syria, Iranian commanders met with senior officers from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). They arrived under heavy security at the tomb of Ein Ali (an Iranian stronghold), where they met with field commanders.
• Reuters report: Iran used the aid and rescue convoys for the victims of the severe earthquake in Syria in February to transfer many weapons and military equipment to its forces in the country, according to nine Syrian, Iranian, Israeli and Western sources. (I reported this the week after the Turkey/Syria earthquake regarding the Aleppo airport which is controlled by Syrian President Assad.)
• Clashes on the Azerbaijan-Armenian border: The fire between the two sides has resumed. There is an unknown number of dead and wounded Armenians.
• Another Gain for Russia in the Middle East  
  • According to leaked Pentagon documents, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi of Egypt evidently had plans to build and ship 40,000 rockets to Russia for its war efforts against Ukraine.
  • Egypt has long been a US ally, and Sisi ordered that the rockets be kept a secret to prevent upsetting the US.
  • The plan to send 40,000 rockets to Russia undermines Egypt’s past claims of neutrality over the conflict. In the UN, Egypt has been hypocritical, saying that both sides should negotiate for peace. Yet at the same time, Egypt has abstained from criticizing or voting against Russia for its actions against Ukraine.
  • If it is true that Egypt has been, or plans to, secretly supply Russia with rockets, that shows, once again, how Russian influence over the Middle East is decisively displacing US influence.
  • A more powerful Russia in the Middle East is one of the conditions necessary for bringing the Middle East closer to the end-times war prophesied in Ezekiel 38.  

U.S.

EYE-OPENER: TikTok is not the only technology potentially affected by the Restrict Act currently in Congress. Find out what other software and tech products have ties to foreign adversaries.

Elsewhere

Another ethnos against ethnos — people group vs people group conflict developing in Sudan…

Sudan’s main paramilitary group said it had taken control of the presidential palace, the residence of the army chief and Khartoum international airport on Saturday in an apparent coup attempt as clashes erupted with the military.

3 United Nations employees are among those killed in Sudan. Additionally, a number of civilian airplanes were set on fire at the airport.

Israel Attacked from All Sides!

Breaking and Developing News from Israel: The situation in Israel is changing by the minute. Here are some videos, but I encourage you to follow Amir Tsarfati on Telegram for literal up-to-minute news reports

• Turkey’s Erdogan to Iran’s Raisi: Muslim world must unite against Israel
• Chanting ‘Death to Israel,’ tens of thousands march in Tehran for ‘Jerusalem Day’ (Quds Day)
• Hacker group brings down Israeli postal, banking and telecom websites
• Netanyahu: European leaders say one thing to me in private and another in public

Antisemitism

• Bone-chilling antisemitic display in Poland sparks condemnation.
• Palestinian Telegram group teaches how to stab IDF soldiers, make home-made explosives.

The Coming Ezekiel 38 War by Amir Tsarfati

2023 is less than 4 months old and we are already on the brink of World War 3. The fast decline of America’s influence in foreign affairs, due to the disastrous progressive approach of this administration, left its allies stunned and in an urgent need to find a different superpower to take care of their interests. The Arab/Muslim world has done so and Europe is getting there very soon!

A weak America is by default a weak Israel. Weakness invites trouble in the Middle East.

I’ve always taught that for the Ezekiel 38 war to start there has to be five conditions based on the biblical account…

1. Israel will have resources that Russia will covet! (Gas production)
2. America will decline from the status of the sole superpower in the world!
3. Russia will feel that it can move ahead with another invasion!
4. Iran will see it as an opportunity to finally get rid of the Jewish state!
5. The modern and progressive Muslim world together with Europe and the US will not agree with any aggression against Israel and protest it!

I think we can all agree that we are on a fast track towards all five conditions to be fulfilled, MAYBE even this year!

Israel News & Commentaries

Update on Sudan…

The Ezekiel 38 puzzle is almost complete! If the rebels in Sudan take over the country, Sudan will become another Iranian-controlled country and be used against Israel as well.

Amir Tsarfati

Note in the map below that Sudan is “Cush”.

Seismic Weather Events

• Experts are on high alert amid fears a crack at the bottom of the ocean discovered only 50 miles off the coast of Oregon could trigger an apocalyptic earthquake.
• Fort Lauderdale, FL struck with a historical “1-in-1,000-year rainfall event”, Month of rain in one hour, Citizens stranded, and cars abandoned.
• One of world’s deadliest volcanoes responsible for killing 25k people in 1985 is poised to erupt in the ‘coming DAYS’. Colombia’s Nevado del Ruiz registered an unbelievable 6,000 earthquakes per day last week, leading officials to raise the alert to the second highest scale and evacuate more than 2,500 families in the area.
• Recovery efforts of Syria Earthquake BBC

Earthquake & Volcano News

• Why French Bakeries In France Are Suddenly Shutting Down At Alarming Rates
  France is considered the cultural home of bread baking. Unfortunately, skyrocketing costs are shuttering small businesses like bakeries across France.
• A Worsening Federal Deficit: During the six months of October 2022 to March 2023, the US government took in its second-highest haul of tax revenues in history—more than $2 trillion. But in spite of that record haul, during that same period, the federal government spent $3.1 trillion—leading to a $1 trillion deficit for those six months alone.
• IMF (International Monetary Fund) warns that the world economy is now entering a ‘perilous phase’ with the UK performing worst in G7 this year.
• The pace of [global] trade will likely remain sluggish in 2023 as volumes are weighed down by inflationary pressures and the war in Ukraine, according to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Pestilence

Famines & Plagues

• New COVID variant, XBB.1.16, dubbed “Arcturus”: ‘Everyone is kind of tired and has given up’ on COVID. But this new variant is ‘one to watch,’ the WHO says; ‘Arcturus’ emerges in India prompting compulsory mask mandates
• Salmonella: From Drug Resistant To Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR)
• Would mRNA Vaccines for Cattle Impact the Food Safety and Quality of the Meat They Produce? 
• Vaccine makers prep bird flu shot for humans ‘just in case’; rich nations lock in supplies

Deception & Corruption

• Muslim Politicians Helped Terror-Tied Group CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) Seize Control of California State Capitol for Ramadan Event
• In Virginia, a school district bans a teacher from using a Bible verse in her email.
• Stormy Daniels tries to “summon demons” with magic cards during an interview bringing the reporter to tears.
• Foreign Interference Scandal: The Entire Trudeau Foundation Board Resigns Abruptly
• Senators press major retailers, brands on child labor in supply chains

Protests in France Continue

Evil, Lawlessness & Disregard for Human Life

• Whole Foods flagship San Fransisco store closes after just one year of rampant drug use in restrooms and violence towards staff
• Tuesday, 1 dead, 3 injured at a shooting in Washington, DC funeral.
• Last Sunday, Baltimore Mayor Caled For Citywide Curfew After All Hell Breaks Out
• An A.I. bot ‘ChaosGPT’ tweets its plans to destroy humanity: ‘We must eliminate them’.
• There was an “Active Aggressor”, rather than active shooter, scene in a Louisville, KY bank on Monday. The shooter, dead at the scene, was a bank employee, and had a Masters degree. In the end there were 4 dead and 6 wounded.
• Graphic Novel Depicting Students Shooting Teacher Found in Florida Middle School Libraries
• Almost 20 suspected terrorists crossed the English Channel from France on small boats last year (I wonder how many have gotten into the US. We’ll never know.)

Apostasy and False Teachings

LGBTQIA-Affirming Pastor Andy Stanley Has A Tremendously Low View Of The Bible And Because Of That Is Attracting Thousands To His Ministry:  

A Vatican academy is set to investigate ‘mystical phenomena’ around the world including ‘weeping’ statues of the Virgin Mary, stigmata and ghost sightings under plans for a new dedicated observatory.

The specialist observatory, which is still awaiting authenticity by the Church, will ‘evaluate and study apparitions and mystical phenomena’ across the globe, Vatican News reports.

‘Many of these are local and restricted in scope, not all of them receive attention from the media and the general public.’ The new observatory committee, which will begin its first session on Saturday (today), had been keeping its eye on a curious case involving a weeping Mary statue in a town, near Rome.

It involved an Italian woman facing an investigation for fraud after claiming her Virgin Mary statue could cry tears of blood and multiply gnocchi and pizza.

However, church investigators recently discovered the blood which her statue wept was not holy and actually came from a pig, according to local media.

I had to laugh! How stupid can these people be!

Jesus said regarding the Last Days…

“But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.”

Matthew 24:8 NLT

Sexual Immorality

• Washington State Passes Bill Allowing Government to Take Away Minors From Parents If They Refuse To Agree to Gender Transition Surgery
• Transgenders strip naked in front of children on public TV to “normalize sex-change surgeries”.
• A Father takes his 3-year-old son to a “Drag Queen Story Hour Event” to teach him to be accepting of others.
• North Texas venues hosting drag shows warn they will not back down as threats, and protests grow from many who don’t want it.
• US Secretary of State Blinken says he “Presses Saudis on LGBTQI issues “in every conversation” he gets with them. (It’s not enough that we’ve perverted our country, let’s pervert the rest of the world.)
• Co-director of Boston Children’s Hospital gender clinic calls to boost capacity for mutilating surgeries 
• Disney+ Greenlights German Original About Pregnant Teen Who Falls In Love With The Devil
• New research says Polyamory is on the rise and society should be more “Accommodating”.
• A Federal judge stands behind the firing of an Indiana teacher who refused to use transgender students’ names and pronouns.
• Los Angeles LGBTQ Center hosted a drag queen march on Easter Sunday
• Corporations had to feature a trans “influencer” — or else: If they don’t inflict woke advertising campaigns on us, they’re liable to do damage to their Corporate Equality Index (CEI) score, which could be disastrous for their business.
• On the day after Easter, the pastor of a Roman Catholic parish, St. Mark Church in Catonsville, Maryland, which was home to a dozen priests accused of sexual abuse, prayed the rosary for their victims. … Way too little, way too late.

The standard of our walk with Christ has dramatically been lowered in the Body of Christ over the past 30 years.

For example, 30 years ago it was unheard of to hear self-professed “Christians” going around dropping 4-letter words and openly drinking alcohol with no shame or apology.

It was absolutely frowned upon to be openly living in fornication and adultery. However, we are now in 2023, where the very term “sanctification” has pretty much been removed from most pulpits and practiced in the Church.

Today we can see professed Christians living no different than those still in the world and under the influence of Satan.

They are living in fornication, practicing homosexuality, partake in drunkenness, having mouths filled with such profanity that their own children mimic them in public.

No shame, no remorse and no desire to live set apart. Unfortunately, living a lifestyle of practicing sin is not only contrary to scripture for the believer but will ultimately lead one to an eternity in Hell and in the end the Lake of Fire!

It’s time to get back in the Word and run from compromised and fake churches that are not leading you to a more sanctified life but a lifestyle of compromise and Luke warm living that is endangering your eternal soul!

Ricky Scaparo, End Time Headlines

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under president Joe Biden wants to ban all gas-powered cars by 2032 in order to stop global warming and climate change.
• Iran Uses Video Surveillance to Identify Women Not Wearing Hijabs. Violators’ Bank Accounts Will Be Frozen 
• Woke AI — Artificial Intelligence — Means the End of a Free Internet
• IMF (International Monetary Fund) unveils a new “Global Currency” known as The “Universal Monetary Unit” that is supposed to “Revolutionize The World Economy”.
• Klaus Schwab Hires Millions of ‘Information Warriors’ To ‘Seize Control of The Internet’ 
• EXCLUSIVE: Bombshell photos, video of UN-sponsored human migration camp at Darien Gap, Panama, where global migrants assemble for transport to the United States 
• Washington State Democrats Plan to Confiscate Your Money if They Think You’re Making Too Much

• A Church in California has been ordered to pay $1.2M for violating COVID health orders during the pandemic.
• CAR (Central African Republic): A Christian man who cares for 58 orphans told frontline workers how insurgents targeted him with accusations, threats and assaults because of his ministry. Once, an attacker put a machine gun into the Christian man’s face and pulled the trigger; nothing happened. The attacker then shot the weapon in the air and tried a second time to shoot the Christian man in the head; again, the gun failed. The attacker then beat the orphanage director, breaking his front teeth.
• Nigeria: Pray for comfort for the family and congregation of Father Achi, who was killed when Boko Haram burnt down his church in Paikoro. Fr Achi had previously been shot, kidnapped and survived another church bombing, but had refused to give up serving God’s people. Praise God for his courageous faith and pray that his witness will bear much fruit in the life of his community.
• Iraq: 20 years after the invasion of Iraq by US and British troops, the country is still very resistant to western influence and Christianity is viewed with the same suspicion. The northern autonomous region of Kurdistan enjoys some religious freedom but the south remains very resistant to the gospel. Please pray.
• Mozambique has risen nine places on the World Watch List due to the growing presence of Islamic militants in the north. In response, Open Doors is stepping up its activities to help those affected by the violence. Pray for Open Doors partners supporting displaced Christians with emergency food aid and persecution survival training.
• Algeria: Sharing the gospel with Arabs can cause serious problems, but Berber Christians continue to share the gospel boldly in and around al-Qaida terrorist camps. Secret communities of Arab Christians exist throughout the country. While it is not common for Christians to be imprisoned, one believer was imprisoned for nearly a year in connection with a social media post.
• Burkina Faso has seen a sharp rise in Islamist activity since 2016. Militants linked to the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS) and al-Qaida, who had been largely contained in neighboring Mali and Niger, have crossed porous borders in the north to broaden their influence in the Sahel region. Christians have been a primary target of the Islamists’ campaign since April 2019, when approximately 70 Christians were killed and five churches were attacked.
  More than 200 churches have reportedly closed in northern and eastern Burkina Faso because of security issues and threat of attack. Islamist activity also has increased in the southwestern part of the country in 2022, with more attacks on churches and the murder of several pastors.
  As many as 10,000 Christians have fled their homes as a result of violence and threats against Christians throughout the country. More than 1.7 million people in total have been displaced by the conflict, adding to an already strained economy amid political uncertainty.
• Fulani Woman Finds Christ, Husband Demands Divorce

Ramadan

April 21, Sunset: Eid Al-Fitr is celebrated at the end of Ramadan, and it’s one of the biggest religious festivals in the Muslim calendar. Muslims typically gather in an open space to pray for peace and blessings. Ask God that, as they pray, He will transform their hearts, that they may also grow in compassion towards Christians living among them.

Pray for a massive spiritual awakening throughout the Muslim world in this last week of Ramadan.

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus

Pray that God will change the hearts of Islamists, converting them like the Apostle Paul.

Hope for a Heavenly Home: Amar fell to his knees and watched fire devour his home. Screams and the smell of burning plastic filled the air as Hindu radicals destroyed Amar’s Muslim village. When the ashes cooled, he dug through the charred remains. He was shocked to find his Bible, which had been given to him by the friend who had led him to Christ. Although singed, it was readable. He opened it and read the words of Jesus promising to prepare an eternal place for him. Sobbing, Amar held the smoky book to his chest. No matter what, Jesus had a heavenly home for him that no militant could burn.

More on Christian Persecution

• Day of the Christian Martyr
• Praying for the Persecuted Church
• Open Doors 2023 World Watch List on Christian Persecution

• Frontiers UK: Fathi and his supervisor Joe often talked about Jesus. They had been studying God’s Word together for months, and Fathi wanted to follow Christ. But it was impossible. After all, the government claimed that none of its citizens were Christians. He had heard of some people renouncing Islam, but those people were then beaten or kidnapped. Even his parents had said they would disown him if he failed to be a devout Muslim. Fathi knew from God’s Word that he should follow Jesus, but he still wasn’t sure he could face the consequences. One night, he had a dream of a man in white telling him not to be afraid.  The next morning, Fathi told Joe he wanted to be baptized.
• Comfort in a Crisis: Tahkmina watched her ten-year-old son Maruf play with three small children on the floor of their shelter. Aina, the mother of the other children, began pulling books out of her bag, treasures she’d carried for miles as they fled the war. Finally, Aina held up a worn leather book—a Bible—and asked if she could read aloud from it. Hoping the words might bring comfort to Maruf, who still had nightmares, Tahkmina quickly agreed. That night Maruf slept peacefully, and the next morning, Tahkmina sought out Aina to ask her to read more passages from the Bible. If the words of Jesus could bring comfort to Maruf, perhaps they could quiet the fear in her heart too.
  We don’t know what war-torn country they fled from or where they are now. What we do know is that the Word of God comforts us when we’re scared, stressed, frustrated, doubtful, worried, and feeling helpless and hopeless.
• Laos: Pray for Mr K, a church leader who spent a time in prison after being accused of “illegal movement of religion”. He endured some horrific conditions and has recently been released after his case was heard in court. He now visits and encourages persecuted believers throughout Laos.
• Iran via AsiaLink: Praise God for an encouraging outreach during the Iranian New Year celebrations. Please pray for “J” who met our friends in a neighbouring country, heard about Christ, and became a follower. Pray that he will find Christian fellowship as he returns home and continue to grow in his faith.
• Africa: Seydou hugged his three-year-old daughter and kissed her now healthy cheeks. None of the healers or holy men in their village had been able to cure her severe stomach pain. Through tears, Seydou thanked Dr. Lopez for saving his child’s life. Dr. Lopez smiled and said that Jesus had brought him to Sub-Saharan Africa to start this hospital and share about His love. Then the doctor asked if he could pray for Seydou and his family in the name of Jesus. Seydou readily agreed. As he left the hospital holding his little girl, Seydou felt an unexpected peace and joy. Right then, he decided to stay in town another night so he could come back in the morning and ask to hear more about Jesus. Pray daily.

*Name changed for security reasons

Help Spread the Good News of Jesus Christ all over the World!

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:3-12 NIV

Praying for Muslims

• Pray that many more hearts would be stirred to share the Gospel with the least-reached peoples of the world so that God will be glorified to the ends of the earth.
• Praise God for His power to heal the sick and redeem the lost.
• Syrian church via VOM… Pray for pastors and church staff, who are exhausted by war and unrest.
• Pray for unity among churches and Christians.
• Pray that the many Christian converts from Islam will grow in knowledge and faith.
• Pray that universities in the Muslim world will continue to welcome internationals, opening the door for Christian students to share the hope of Christ with classmates.
• Ask that God’s presence would surround and comfort Muslims who feel alone.