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
Iran abandons nuclear deal after Soleimani killing
Iran vowed Sunday to defy the limits placed on its nuclear enrichment by the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and completely abandon the deal, in a response to the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani that also saw a red flag of Islamic martyrdom and vengeance raised over his funeral service in Qoms.
First signs of revenge from Iran for death of Soleimani in Syria, Iraq, Kenya
Syrian regime forces and Iranian militias fired three missiles at the Conoco gas fields in Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria and six rockets were fired into the Green Zone in Baghdad that houses the US embassy Sunday as tensions flared across the region.
Trump warns Iran: US has targeted '52 Iranian sites' and will 'hit very fast and very hard' if needed
President Trump issued a stern warning to Iran on Saturday through a series of Twitter messages intended to deter the country from retaliating after the U.S.-ordered airstrike that killed Iran's Gen. Qassem Soleimani last week.
US base in Kenya attacked by Somali Islamic terrorists
A military airstrip in Kenya was attacked by Al Qaida-linked Al Shabab early Sunday, destroying several American aircraft, as US and Kenyan military shored up defenses against the Somalian terrorist organization.
Iranian regime offers $80 million for the head of Trump
The Islamic regime in Iran offered a reward of $80 million dollars on Sunday for the head of US President Donald Trump, following a US airstrike on Friday at the Baghdad International Airport that killed the chief of Iranian operations abroad.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Iron Dome defense system notes 85% success rate in 2019, IDF says
The Israeli military on Thursday released data on operational activity on all fronts in 2019, showing that its 'campaign between the wars' – an ongoing Israeli military and intelligence effort to disrupt the force buildup of the Iranian-Shiite axis throughout the Middle East – is nowhere near winding down.
Inside the United States
White House notifies Congress of Soleimani strike, fulfilling War Powers Act duties
The White House fulfilled its duties under the War Powers Act by sending Congress a notification of the airstrike that killed top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani.
Meth use up sixfold, fentanyl use quadrupled in U.S. in last 6 years
A study of over 1 million urine drug tests from across the United States shows soaring rates of use of methamphetamines and fentanyl, often used together in potentially lethal ways.
Machete-wielding assailant from Hanukkah attack Orthodox Jews indicted
The perpetrator of a Dec. 28th attack on a rabbi's Hanukkah party in New York was indicted on six counts of attempted murder Friday, up from the five counts he was charged with on the night of the incident.
Christian News
3,000 Christian sites across Europe attacked, desecrated, or vandalized in 2019
A new report from the Gatestone Institute found that 3,000 Christian sites, with the largest concentration in France and Germany, were desecrated in Europe in 2019, which was on pace to become a record-breaking year for the incidents.
United Methodist Church to split into separate conservative and liberal denominations
The United Methodist Church is planning to split over the issue of same-sex marriage and gay clergy, church officials said Friday.
Christian group warns of 'chaos' in Iraq after U.S. strike
A leading international group monitoring persecution of Christians says Iran, newly spurned by Thursday night’s drone strike that killed the Islamic republic’s elite military commander Gen. Qassem Soleimani, may target Christians living in Iraq as revenge for the U.S. attacks.
Iran abandons nuclear deal after Soleimani killing
Iran vowed Sunday to defy the limits placed on its nuclear enrichment by the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and completely abandon the deal, in a response to the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani that also saw a red flag of Islamic martyrdom and vengeance raised over his funeral service in Qoms.
First signs of revenge from Iran for death of Soleimani in Syria, Iraq, Kenya
Syrian regime forces and Iranian militias fired three missiles at the Conoco gas fields in Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria and six rockets were fired into the Green Zone in Baghdad that houses the US embassy Sunday as tensions flared across the region.
Trump warns Iran: US has targeted '52 Iranian sites' and will 'hit very fast and very hard' if needed
President Trump issued a stern warning to Iran on Saturday through a series of Twitter messages intended to deter the country from retaliating after the U.S.-ordered airstrike that killed Iran's Gen. Qassem Soleimani last week.
US base in Kenya attacked by Somali Islamic terrorists
A military airstrip in Kenya was attacked by Al Qaida-linked Al Shabab early Sunday, destroying several American aircraft, as US and Kenyan military shored up defenses against the Somalian terrorist organization.
Iranian regime offers $80 million for the head of Trump
The Islamic regime in Iran offered a reward of $80 million dollars on Sunday for the head of US President Donald Trump, following a US airstrike on Friday at the Baghdad International Airport that killed the chief of Iranian operations abroad.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Iron Dome defense system notes 85% success rate in 2019, IDF says
The Israeli military on Thursday released data on operational activity on all fronts in 2019, showing that its 'campaign between the wars' – an ongoing Israeli military and intelligence effort to disrupt the force buildup of the Iranian-Shiite axis throughout the Middle East – is nowhere near winding down.
Inside the United States
White House notifies Congress of Soleimani strike, fulfilling War Powers Act duties
The White House fulfilled its duties under the War Powers Act by sending Congress a notification of the airstrike that killed top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani.
Meth use up sixfold, fentanyl use quadrupled in U.S. in last 6 years
A study of over 1 million urine drug tests from across the United States shows soaring rates of use of methamphetamines and fentanyl, often used together in potentially lethal ways.
Machete-wielding assailant from Hanukkah attack Orthodox Jews indicted
The perpetrator of a Dec. 28th attack on a rabbi's Hanukkah party in New York was indicted on six counts of attempted murder Friday, up from the five counts he was charged with on the night of the incident.
Christian News
3,000 Christian sites across Europe attacked, desecrated, or vandalized in 2019
A new report from the Gatestone Institute found that 3,000 Christian sites, with the largest concentration in France and Germany, were desecrated in Europe in 2019, which was on pace to become a record-breaking year for the incidents.
United Methodist Church to split into separate conservative and liberal denominations
The United Methodist Church is planning to split over the issue of same-sex marriage and gay clergy, church officials said Friday.
Christian group warns of 'chaos' in Iraq after U.S. strike
A leading international group monitoring persecution of Christians says Iran, newly spurned by Thursday night’s drone strike that killed the Islamic republic’s elite military commander Gen. Qassem Soleimani, may target Christians living in Iraq as revenge for the U.S. attacks.
Around the World
US kills powerful Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad airstrike
Qassem Soleimani, the powerful head of Iran’s Quds Force, was killed in an airstrike at Baghdad International Airport, Iraqi TV and three Iraqi officials said Friday.
Esper promises to pre-emptively strike Iran if U.S. receives intelligence of impending attacks
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Thursday that the U.S. was anticipating more attacks from Iran following an assault on the American embassy Tuesday that caused serious damage, promising to pre-emptively strike the Islamic Republic if reliable intelligence of a forthcoming attack surfaced.
Police in Hong Kong arrest hundreds on New Year's Day
Hong Kong police arrested 400 people on New Year's Day after what began as a peaceful protest deteriorated into protestors forming human chains and passing bricks to each other, police firing on them with tear gas.
Wildfires destroy hundreds of homes, cause thousands to flee in Australia in one week
Wildfires sweeping through Australia have caused thousands to flee and burned 381 homes to the ground in the last week, with officials not expecting the fires to let up until significant rainfalls come in a few months.
Iran militia in Iraq vows to legislate U.S. out of the country
The Iranian militia group Kataeb Hezbollah vowed to seek the expulsion of U.S. troops from Iraqi territory Thursday through legal channels after protests manufactured by Iran wreaked havoc on the U.S. embassy earlier in the week.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel set to build advanced national communications satellite
Israel's major aerospace and aviation manufacturer will develop and manufacture a national communications satellite that is expected to serve the country's needs for at least 15 years.
Israel moving towards ‘calm’ agreement with Hamas
Israel made progress toward a ceasefire agreement with Hamas in Gaza, in a two-hour meeting on Wednesday that ended without a vote.
Inside the United States
More than 200 members of Congress ask Supreme Court to reconsider Roe v. Wade in latest abortion case
More than 200 members of Congress asked the Supreme Court to consider overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide, when it takes up a major abortion case this spring.
Christian News
Earliest Christian church in sub-Saharan Africa discovered in Ethiopia
Researchers have discovered what is thought to be the oldest church in sub-Saharan Africa in Ethiopia, allowing scholars to now reliably date the spread of Christianity to the continent to the Constantinian era.
Christians in India dragged to jail and charged with illegal medicine for healing prayers
Christians in central India accused of illegally practicing medicine spent Christmas Eve and Christmas in jail, later discovering that the charges against them applied to prayers for healing in which they had engaged.
Chinese Christians on the mainland punished for Hong Kong protests
Officials in China are extremely threatened by the involvement of Christians in recent mass protests in Hong Kong, with many churches on the mainland pinned for supposed extremism in recent months for their association with Christians in the Special Administrative Region.
Trump admin condemns imprisonment of Chinese pastor Wang Yi, calls for his release: 'We are alarmed'
The Trump administration has condemned the imprisonment of Wang Yi, pastor of one of China's best-known unregistered house churches, calling it another example of 'Beijing's intensification of repression of Chinese Christians and members of other religious groups.'
US kills powerful Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad airstrike
Qassem Soleimani, the powerful head of Iran’s Quds Force, was killed in an airstrike at Baghdad International Airport, Iraqi TV and three Iraqi officials said Friday.
Esper promises to pre-emptively strike Iran if U.S. receives intelligence of impending attacks
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Thursday that the U.S. was anticipating more attacks from Iran following an assault on the American embassy Tuesday that caused serious damage, promising to pre-emptively strike the Islamic Republic if reliable intelligence of a forthcoming attack surfaced.
Police in Hong Kong arrest hundreds on New Year's Day
Hong Kong police arrested 400 people on New Year's Day after what began as a peaceful protest deteriorated into protestors forming human chains and passing bricks to each other, police firing on them with tear gas.
Wildfires destroy hundreds of homes, cause thousands to flee in Australia in one week
Wildfires sweeping through Australia have caused thousands to flee and burned 381 homes to the ground in the last week, with officials not expecting the fires to let up until significant rainfalls come in a few months.
Iran militia in Iraq vows to legislate U.S. out of the country
The Iranian militia group Kataeb Hezbollah vowed to seek the expulsion of U.S. troops from Iraqi territory Thursday through legal channels after protests manufactured by Iran wreaked havoc on the U.S. embassy earlier in the week.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel set to build advanced national communications satellite
Israel's major aerospace and aviation manufacturer will develop and manufacture a national communications satellite that is expected to serve the country's needs for at least 15 years.
Israel moving towards ‘calm’ agreement with Hamas
Israel made progress toward a ceasefire agreement with Hamas in Gaza, in a two-hour meeting on Wednesday that ended without a vote.
Inside the United States
More than 200 members of Congress ask Supreme Court to reconsider Roe v. Wade in latest abortion case
More than 200 members of Congress asked the Supreme Court to consider overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide, when it takes up a major abortion case this spring.
Christian News
Earliest Christian church in sub-Saharan Africa discovered in Ethiopia
Researchers have discovered what is thought to be the oldest church in sub-Saharan Africa in Ethiopia, allowing scholars to now reliably date the spread of Christianity to the continent to the Constantinian era.
Christians in India dragged to jail and charged with illegal medicine for healing prayers
Christians in central India accused of illegally practicing medicine spent Christmas Eve and Christmas in jail, later discovering that the charges against them applied to prayers for healing in which they had engaged.
Chinese Christians on the mainland punished for Hong Kong protests
Officials in China are extremely threatened by the involvement of Christians in recent mass protests in Hong Kong, with many churches on the mainland pinned for supposed extremism in recent months for their association with Christians in the Special Administrative Region.
Trump admin condemns imprisonment of Chinese pastor Wang Yi, calls for his release: 'We are alarmed'
The Trump administration has condemned the imprisonment of Wang Yi, pastor of one of China's best-known unregistered house churches, calling it another example of 'Beijing's intensification of repression of Chinese Christians and members of other religious groups.'
Around the World
Hundreds of troops deployed to Iraq to defend US embassy as Trump says peace with Iran not likely
The US is scheduled to deploy 750 new troops to defend the US embassy in Iraq, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Tuesday night, following protests by Iran-backed groups that marched on the compound in retaliation for US strikes Sunday that killed 25 Kataeb Hezbollah fighters.
Surge of IS Violence Seen in Syria
Islamic State militants have increased their terror activity in recent weeks in Syria, carrying out deadly attacks against Syrian regime troops and U.S.-backed forces.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel moving towards ‘calm’ agreement with Hamas
Israel made progress toward a ceasefire agreement with Hamas in Gaza, in a two-hour meeting on Wednesday that ended without a vote.
Annual poverty report reveals 841,000 children in Israel live in poverty
The poverty rate in Israel has grown by a percent over the last year – with a bigger increase in the number of children under the line of poverty, according to the poverty report for 2018 published by the National Insurance Institute of Israel (NII) on Tuesday.
IDF unveils first-of-its-kind unit unifying pilots, tank drivers and more
The Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday created a new type of combat unit bringing together infantry, tanks, combat engineering and air power to serve as a proving ground for new fighting techniques and tactics.
Inside the United States
Hundreds of Counties Across America Have Declared Themselves ‘2nd Amendment Sanctuaries’
Hundreds of local counties, cities, and towns across America are declaring themselves 'Second Amendment sanctuaries' or 'constitutional counties' as part of an ever-expanding movement over the past few years that has surprised even those who enacted the sanctuary resolutions in the first place.
FBI data underscores rising threat to places of worship
When a machete-wielding attacker walked into a rabbi’s home in Monsey, New York, during Hanukkah and a gunman fired on worshipers at a Texas church 14 hours later, the two congregations in different regions of the country joined a growing list of faith communities that have come under attack in the US.
More Roman Catholic sexual abuse history comes to light in Charlotte, North Carolina
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte released a list of 14 clergy Monday it said had been credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors since its founding in 1972, including the names of six other clergy who had been credibly accused before the diocese's founding, and 23 men who had been caught outside its jurisdiction.
Christian News
China intends to exercise total control over religion beginning February 2020
China will roll out new measures to further circumscribe the spiritual activities of its citizens on February 1st in the New Year, as state news reported Monday that the 42 articles of the Administrative Measures for Religious Groups had been approved.
Radicals in India disrupt inauguration of Jesus-centered prayer hall
Three Bharatiya Janata Party-affiliated people led an attack on a new prayer hall dedicated to Jesus in India's West Bengal state Saturday, as a mob of 800 people, mostly non-Christians, surrounded the building's inauguration ceremony.
Hundreds of troops deployed to Iraq to defend US embassy as Trump says peace with Iran not likely
The US is scheduled to deploy 750 new troops to defend the US embassy in Iraq, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Tuesday night, following protests by Iran-backed groups that marched on the compound in retaliation for US strikes Sunday that killed 25 Kataeb Hezbollah fighters.
Surge of IS Violence Seen in Syria
Islamic State militants have increased their terror activity in recent weeks in Syria, carrying out deadly attacks against Syrian regime troops and U.S.-backed forces.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel moving towards ‘calm’ agreement with Hamas
Israel made progress toward a ceasefire agreement with Hamas in Gaza, in a two-hour meeting on Wednesday that ended without a vote.
Annual poverty report reveals 841,000 children in Israel live in poverty
The poverty rate in Israel has grown by a percent over the last year – with a bigger increase in the number of children under the line of poverty, according to the poverty report for 2018 published by the National Insurance Institute of Israel (NII) on Tuesday.
IDF unveils first-of-its-kind unit unifying pilots, tank drivers and more
The Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday created a new type of combat unit bringing together infantry, tanks, combat engineering and air power to serve as a proving ground for new fighting techniques and tactics.
Inside the United States
Hundreds of Counties Across America Have Declared Themselves ‘2nd Amendment Sanctuaries’
Hundreds of local counties, cities, and towns across America are declaring themselves 'Second Amendment sanctuaries' or 'constitutional counties' as part of an ever-expanding movement over the past few years that has surprised even those who enacted the sanctuary resolutions in the first place.
FBI data underscores rising threat to places of worship
When a machete-wielding attacker walked into a rabbi’s home in Monsey, New York, during Hanukkah and a gunman fired on worshipers at a Texas church 14 hours later, the two congregations in different regions of the country joined a growing list of faith communities that have come under attack in the US.
More Roman Catholic sexual abuse history comes to light in Charlotte, North Carolina
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte released a list of 14 clergy Monday it said had been credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors since its founding in 1972, including the names of six other clergy who had been credibly accused before the diocese's founding, and 23 men who had been caught outside its jurisdiction.
Christian News
China intends to exercise total control over religion beginning February 2020
China will roll out new measures to further circumscribe the spiritual activities of its citizens on February 1st in the New Year, as state news reported Monday that the 42 articles of the Administrative Measures for Religious Groups had been approved.
Radicals in India disrupt inauguration of Jesus-centered prayer hall
Three Bharatiya Janata Party-affiliated people led an attack on a new prayer hall dedicated to Jesus in India's West Bengal state Saturday, as a mob of 800 people, mostly non-Christians, surrounded the building's inauguration ceremony.