Prophecy News Watch provided by Worthy Ministries

Prophecy News Watch is a service hosted by Worthy Ministries to provide Christians daily news from a Biblical, and yet Prophetic worldview. Our news is gathered by our Christian News Service, Worthy News. For more about our vision for how we assemble our daily headlines, please read, "What is Worthy News?"

Around the World
Afghanistan’s Taliban Rulers Appoint Former U.S. Terror Suspect As Defense Minister
Afghanistan's ruling Taliban group has appointed a suspected terrorist who was held at the U.S.-run Guantanamo Bay prison facility as acting defense minister. The Islamist rulers named ex-detainee Abdul Qayyum Zakir, a mullah or Muslim mosque leader, as a minister, reported the Qatar-based Al Jazeera news channel citing a Taliban source.
China Warns Of Counterattack Against Those Questioning Coronavirus Origins
China warned Wednesday it would retaliate with "a counterattack" against those questioning whether the coronavirus leaked from its labs after U.S. President Joe Biden indicated he would make public findings of an intelligence investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over 1,000 Afghan Christians Flown To Safety Amid Pressure On President Biden
More than 1,000 desperate Christians have been flown from Afghanistan after American radio host Glenn Beck and a group he founded raised millions of dollars to rescue them, organizers said Wednesday.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel is accelerating operational plans to take action against Iran – IDF chief Kohavi
Israel’s military is accelerating its operational plans against Iran due to the progress of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kohavi has warned.
Gantz: Iran is two months away from nuclear bomb
Tehran is two months away from nuclear weapons capacity, warned Defense Minister Benny Gantz as he called for the international community to create a new prevention plan that did not involve reviving the 2015 Iran deal.
US Army decides not to buy Israel’s Iron Dome interceptor system
The US Army has decided not to buy Israel’s Iron Dome to counter aerial threats, despite the United States military having successfully carried out a first live-fire test of the missile defense system, according to a report in Defense News.
IDF preparing to strike Iranian nuclear sites as Gantz warns of nuclear capability within months
Israel’s military is working hard to develop plans to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, the IDF Chief of Staff revealed on Wednesday, as Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made his way to Washington to discuss the Islamic Republic’s nuclear capabilities with U.S. President Joe Biden.
3 months after Gaza conflict, IDF gearing up for another round of fighting
Three months after Israel and Palestinian terror groups in the Gaza Strip waged a brutal 11-day conflict, the Israeli military is prepared for another round of fighting with the enclave, IDF chief Aviv Kohavi said this week.

Inside the United States
Pentagon orders all U.S. military troops get vaccinated for COVID-19
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday ordered all U.S. service members be vaccinated immediately for COVID-19.
Trump accuses Jan. 6 committee of distracting from Biden’s ‘failures,’ will defend exec privilege
Former President Donald Trump said that the House of Representatives's Jan. 6 committee is just distracting Americans from President Joe Biden's "failures," adding that he will defend his executive privilege.
Biden seeks cyber solutions from tech and business execs at White House summit
President Biden asked executives from major tech companies, banks, and other businesses taking part in a White House summit Wednesday to brainstorm solutions to the onslaught of hacks and cyberattacks damaging the country’s economy.
House Capitol riot committee issues sweeping records requests for communication between Trump and his children, top staffers, and right-wing media personalities
The House select committee probing the January 6 insurrection is escalating its efforts to put together a picture of former President Donald Trump's communications with key allies and right-wing media personalities in the lead up to the Capitol riot.

Christian News
China Businessmen Jailed After Selling Audio Bibles, Christian Symbols Removed
China's communist authorities have jailed four Christian businessmen for selling audio Bibles amid a government crackdown on Christians engaged in "illegal" faith-related activities, trial observers told Worthy News.
Afghan Christian family evacuated safely to Italy
While thousands of Christians now live in grave danger of murder at the hands of the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan, an Afghan-believing family has managed to escape and arrive safely in Italy, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
China persecution: Heavily persecuted house church is raided again, members taken away
The heavily persecuted house church Early Rain Covenant Church (ERCC) in Chengdu, China was raided by government authorities again on August 22, and 28 members were taken away during a worship service, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Iraq Persecution: Christians wary of outsiders arriving their community
Traumatized by the invasion of ISIS in 2014, Christians in Iraq remain nervous of outsiders, International Christian Concern reports. Constituting one of the oldest believing communities in the world, the Christians of Bartella near Mosul are reportedly wary of the influx of new arrivals to their district.
Afghan Christians in grave danger, fleeing to the mountains; solemn call for continual prayer
Following the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban on August 15, Afghan Christians began fleeing to the mountains to escape the Islamist rulers, who reportedly have a hit-list of believers to kill and who are going door-to-door taking women and children, Fair Mission (FAI) reported.

Worthy Watch
Horowitz: 15 studies that indicate natural immunity from prior infection is more robust than the COVID vaccines
Worthy Snapshots – August 25, 2021
Around the World
Biden Sticks To Afghanistan Withdrawal Deadline Citing Militant Threats
Frail appearing U.S. President Joe Biden made clear Tuesday he would obey Afghanistan’s new Islamist Taliban rulers and withdraw American forces from the nation by the end of the month.
Emboldened Iran To Hold War Drills With Russia and China
Iran is set to hold a series of war drills with Russia and China, as the hardline regime celebrates the United States' bungled evacuation in Afghanistan and boosts its enrichment of nuclear weapons-grade uranium to historically high levels.
Britain Fails To Convince US To Stay In Afghanistan Beyond August 31
In a significant concession to Afghanistan’s new Islamist Taliban rulers, the U.S. said Tuesday it would not extend the deadline for evacuations beyond August 31.
Taliban: ‘No Extension Of Evacuations, Afghans Don’t Go To Airport’
Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban group said Tuesday that Americans must leave by August 31 and warned Afghans not to go to the Kabul airport or try to leave the country.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel masses troops along Gaza border ahead of fresh protests
The Israeli military on Tuesday deployed additional forces to the Gaza Strip border ahead of Palestinian protests amid heightened tensions and growing criticism over the injury of a border policeman who was critically wounded during a border riot over the weekend.
Bennett: Israel won’t annex territory or establish Palestinian state on my watch
Ahead of his first meeting as prime minister with President Joe Biden, Naftali Bennett of Israel said he would neither annex West Bank territory nor allow it to become a Palestinian state.
Israel considering severe new COVID-19 restrictions to halt infection surge
Israeli health officials are considering new COVID-19 restrictions, including barring the non-vaccinated from supermarkets, in order to bring down the surging number of infections in the country, All Israel News (AIN) reports.
Israel Bombs Hamas Militants In Gaza After Incendiary Balloons Attack
Israel confirmed Tuesday that it launched airstrikes against Gaza after incendiary balloons launched from the Palestinian strip started fires in the country's south. Militants of the ruling Hamas Islamist movement reportedly fired on the Israeli aircraft carrying out the raids, which destroyed a weapons manufacturing site and other targets.

Inside the United States
Democrats Advance $3.5 Trillion Budget Blueprint, Breaking Hours-Long Stalemate Between Pelosi, Moderates
The House Tuesday voted on a deal to adopt the framework for President Joe Biden’s $3.5 trillion budget and advance the bipartisan infrastructure bill after Democratic leadership and moderates broke an hours-long stalemate over how the two would be prioritized in the coming weeks.
‘Almost a religious experience’: House Democrats pass voting bill; likely DOA in Senate
House Democrats in a party-line vote Tuesday approved restoring the Justice Department’s lapsed authority under the Voting Rights Act to block new state election laws deemed too restrictive.
Supreme Court upholds the Trump administration’s ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy
The Supreme Court upheld a lower court's ruling to order the Biden administration to continue the "Remain in Mexico" policy implemented by the Trump administration.
New Study: Majority of Americans believe in evolution
A new study has found that, after decades of public opinion on the issue being evenly divided, a majority of Americans now say they believe in the theory of evolution, Israel365 News reports. The study was published by the University of Michigan in the journal Public Understanding of Science.
Watchdog: 75,000 U.S. vehicles, 600,000 weapons, 208 planes left in Afghanistan
The U.S. military is leaving behind 75,000 vehicles, 600,000 weapons and 208 airplanes/helicopters in Afghanistan as the Taliban takes control of the country, according to the watchdog group Open the Books.

Christian News
Canada Pastor Facing Prison Warns Of Communist Dictatorship In US, West
A Polish-born Canadian pastor who faces a four-year prison term in Canada for leading church services despite coronavirus restrictions says the “tyranny” of formerly communist Poland has reached the West.
Afghan Christians calling for prayer and advocacy
Afghan Christians are calling for prayer and international advocacy as they are now targets for intense, violent persecution by the new Taliban rulers of Afghanistan, International Christian Concern (ICC) reported Monday. The most recent call for prayer came through Mission Network News.
India persecution: Mob of Sikhs and Hindus invade church and break pastor’s wife’s leg, “please pray for us, our lives are threatened”
A mob of Sikhs and Hindus armed with swords and wooden rods attacked a church meeting in India’s Punjab state last month, breaking the leg of a pastor’s wife and slashing the head of a teenaged congregant, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. India ranks 10 on the Open Doors USA World Watch List of top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
Somaliland Frees Jailed Christians After Prayers
A group of Christians in the self-declared Republic of Somaliland have been released from detention after charges related to alleged crimes against the state religion of Islam were dismissed following prayers, Christians said Monday.

Worthy Watch
Worthy Snapshots – Aug. 24, 2021
Oregon implementing mask mandates outdoors regardless of vaccination status
Former President Trump Releases New Commerical
Worthy Logo Hidden Mysteries and Meanings
Around the World
WHO Chief Wants Delay Of COVID Booster Jabs
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) demanded Monday a two-month moratorium on COVID-19 “booster shots” to reduce vaccine inequality. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned wealthy nations for stockpiling vaccines as poorer countries struggle to administer coronavirus jabs to their people.
Taliban Warns US To Leave Afghanistan; Deadly Shootings Erupt
Deadly shootings erupted Monday in Kabul as the Islamist Taliban group warned that delaying an American presence beyond an August 31 deadline would “provoke a reaction.”
NATO: ‘20 Killed At Kabul Airport’
The NATO military alliance says at least 20 people died in the last week near Kabul airport in attempts to flee Afghanistan by plane after the Islamist Taliban group captured the capital.
Twitter Hosts Taliban, Other Sites Closed
While it has banned former U.S. President Donald J. Trump from its service, the social networking site Twitter continues to host accounts of high-profile officials linked to the Islamist Taliban group.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Bennett to tell Biden: Iran’s advanced enrichment makes nuclear deal worthless
There is no value in returning to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in light of advances in Iran’s nuclear program, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett plans to tell US President Joe Biden in their meeting at the White House on Thursday.
Israeli jets strike Gaza following fires set by arson balloons
The Israel Defense Forces carried out airstrikes in the Gaza Strip late Monday night in response to the launching of arson balloons from the coastal enclave that set off at least nine fires in Israeli border communities earlier in the day, the army said.
Coin with Scene of Golgotha Unearthed in Archeological Site Near Tel Aviv
According to reports by CBN News, a rare gold coin, minted in 638 or 639 AD by Byzantine emperor Heraclius, was found along with many other artifacts in an archaeological dig site in the Ramat Ha-Sharon region, near Tel Aviv, Israel. On one side of the coin is the image of the emperor and on the other side is an image of Golgotha with the three crosses spoken of in the Bible. The coin also contains an inscription in Greek and possibly in Arabic, which is most likely the name of the owner, as it would have been a highly valuable possession. This coin furthers the understanding of the influence of Messianic faith in that day.

Inside the United States
Judge grants one-week reprieve to ICE on Biden deportation limits
A federal judge on Monday granted a reprieve to ICE, allowing it to revive its new deportation limits for the next week while the Biden administration asks appeals courts to step in and overturn the judge’s ruling from last week.
Caldor Fire surpasses 100,000 acres; Dixie Fire 40% contained
The Caldor Fire grew to more than 100,000 acres on Monday as it has destroyed hundreds of structures and prompted evacuations in California.
Antifa, far-right groups clash in Portland clash in one-year anniversary of previous confrontation
Antifa and right-wing groups clashed Sunday night in Portland, Oregon, on the one-year anniversary of a similar event.
First US Army Iron Dome Battery completes live fire test (Video)
The first US Army Iron Dome Battery has completed a live-fire test at New Mexico's White Sands test range, according to a statement from the Israeli Defense Ministry.

Christian News
UK court says Christian preacher has no case to answer
A UK court has dismissed the case against a female Christian street preacher who was charged with causing “harassment, alarm and distress” while preaching a message from the Bible outside a London subway station last year, Christian Concern (CC) reports. The Highbury Corner Magistrates Court ruled last month that preacher Hazel Lewis had “no case to answer.”
New Survey: Majority of born again US Christians believe Jesus is not only path to salvation
A new study by Probe Ministries has shown that over 60% of born-again US Christians aged 18 to 39 believe that, in addition to Jesus, Buddha, and Muhammad offer paths to salvation as well, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Afghanistan persecution: Taliban have a “hit-list” of Christians to murder
The leader of the underground church in Afghanistan has given a first-hand ground report, explaining that believers are in grave danger and that the Taliban have a “hit-list” of Christians they are searching for to murder, the Christian Post (CP) reports. Known as “Pastor X” for security reasons, the church leader gave his report to the Global Catalytic Ministries non-profit organization.
India persecution: Pastor’s family driven into hiding by Hindu nationalists, “please pray”
A pastor and his family in Malibhimdal, India have been driven into hiding following death threats by local Hindu nationalists enraged at their conversion from Hinduism to Christianity, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Persecution against Christians in India has intensified since the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party took power in 2014.

Worthy Watch
Op-Ed: Huge Victory for Life: Court Ruling Upholds Ban on Barbaric Abortion Procedure
Israeli PM Bennett Stresses 3rd Shot Needed
Australia Prepares for Long Term Restrictions, Signs for Quarantining
FDA approves Pfizer Vaccine opening the door for widespread mandates