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
Death Toll Turkey, Syria Earthquakes Passes 20,000
The combined death toll of earthquakes shaking Turkey and Syria climbed to over 20,000 on Thursday, making them the deadliest in years, official estimates showed.
US: ‘Shot Down Chinese Balloon Clearly Spying’
The United States says images from U2 spy planes show that a massive Chinese balloon flying across the U.S. last week, including over sensitive nuclear sites, was unmistakably equipped for collecting intelligence and not weather data.
Bank of England considering introduction of digital currency
The Bank of England has launched a consultation on the creation of a digital British currency, the London Standard reports. If introduced, the new British pound would have intrinsic stable value and would be issued by the Bank of England, not the private sector.
‘Russia Blamed for Missile That Downed MH17 Plane Killing Hundreds’
An international investigation team says there are “strong indications” that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin approved the supply of the missile to separatists who shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014, killing hundreds of people.
Genocide Watch includes Haiti in list of top 10 world conflicts to watch, “situation worse by the day”
On January 1, the US-based Genocide Watch NGO published a list of the top 10 conflicts to watch in 2023: the catastrophic violence and mayhem in Haiti have been included on that list.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel Rushes Aid To Quakes-Hit Turkey, Syria
As Turkey’s president defended his government’s perceived slow response to massive earthquakes, Israel was rushing to provide aid to Turkey and neighboring Syria.
3rd earthquake in Israel in under 24 hours
An earthquake was felt in northern Israel at about 9 PM Wednesday night, the third earthquake to strike Israel in the last 24 hours.
Inside the United States
Urgent Threat: More Cyberattacks and Shutdowns of Critical US Infrastructure on the Way
Cyberattacks increased 38% worldwide last year, and now cybersecurity experts are issuing this urgent warning – critical U.S. infrastructure security breaches and shutdowns may soon be coming.
House votes to end COVID vaccine requirement for foreign air travelers
The House of Representatives voted to end the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for foreign residents arriving at US airports — one of the last standing pandemic restrictions.
Maryland to consider allowing children to be vaccinated without parental consent
A Maryland state senator has introduced a controversial bill that would give children the same capacity to consent to be vaccinated as an adult - i.e., without parental consent. Democratic State Sen. Cheryl Kagan introduced Bill 378 on Wednesday; the proposed legislation will go before a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee on February 22.
As Capitol Hill Hearings Begin, ‘Legend’ Agent Says FBI Needs ‘Serious Shakeup’
Investigations into Justice Department bias against conservatives begin in the U.S. House Thursday.
Christian News
Church of England considers referencing God in gender-neutral terms
The Church of England has confirmed it is examining the possibility of changing its liturgy to reference God in gender-neutral terms instead of as “Father,” “Him,” and “He,” the New York Post (NYP) reports. However, the denomination has said there are no plans to make changes to the current liturgy at present, and any future change would require “extensive legislation.”
Worthy Watch
Tale of Two FBIs
During an ongoing investigation of the FBI led by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) on Capitol Hill, former FBI agent Parker breaks down as she testifies how there is 2 FBIs and how FBI is losing faith in their institution.
Chinese spy balloon part of larger surveillance program: U.S. intel
The suspected Chinese spy balloon that attracted national attention as it traversed the United States was part of a larger surveillance program, the U.S. intelligence officials have concluded.
More than 11,000 confirmed fatalities in Turkey and Syria in deadliest earthquake in over a decade
More than 11,000 people have died after devastating earthquakes rocked Turkey and Syria.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Chief Turkish Jewish Community Feared Dead; Ancient Torah Scrolls Saved
The head of a small Turkish Jewish community and his wife were feared dead after Monday’s earthquakes, but ancient Torah scrolls were saved, several Israeli sources said.
Senior geologist says Israel needs to prepare for major quake ‘in our lifetime’
A top scientist with the Geological Survey of Israel said Wednesday that the deadly earthquake in Turkey and Syria should serve as a wake-up call for Israel, which he predicted will experience a major quake “in our lifetime.”
Inside the United States
Biden Under Fire Over Abortion Remarks
U.S. President Joe Biden faces condemnation from leading Republicans “protecting the unborn” after he urged Congress to end “extreme abortion bans.”
‘Doubling Down On Crazy’: Sarah Huckabee Sanders Slams Biden In GOP Rebuttal To State Of The Union Address
Republican Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders criticized President Joe Biden in the GOP’s response to his State of the Union address Tuesday night, saying America is not the same country it was before he took office.
Christian News
India: 10 Christian families denied essential rations for their faith, “we did not worry, we are ready to pay any cost”
Ten Christian families in India’s Madhya Pradesh state have been barred on account of their faith from receiving essential provisions the government gives to the needy, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Ethiopia: Three Christians killed in sniper attack on their church
Three Christians were reportedly killed, and four were injured in Oromia, southern Ethiopia during a sniper attack on their church by suspected regional government special forces on Saturday, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Pakistan: Muslim extremist throws acid in the face of young Christian woman
A 19-year-old Christian woman in Karachi, Pakistan, was severely burned last week when a Muslim extremist threw acid in her face because she refused to renounce her faith and enter an Islamic relationship with him, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Islamic Militants Escape From Syria Prison After Earthquake
At least 20 suspected militants of the Islamic State (IS) group remained missing Tuesday after they escaped from a prison in Syria damaged by the region’s worst earthquakes in recent history, officials said.
Peru Landslides Kill Over Dozen After Political Turmoil
As the world rushed to help Turkey and Syria cope with their worst tremors in over a century, the death toll of landslides in Peru rose to at least 15 amid deadly political turmoil.
Newborn Freed In Rubble As Earthquakes Syria, Turkey Kill Thousands
A newborn baby with her umbilical cord still attached to her dead mother was miraculously pulled alive from rubble in Syria after the deadliest earthquakes in recent history, witnesses said Tuesday.
Russia: NATO Involvement in Ukraine Threatens ‘Unpredictable’ Escalation
Russia's defense minister said on Tuesday that Western arms supplies to Ukraine were effectively dragging NATO into the conflict, warning this could lead to an "unpredictable" escalation.
Iran unveils underground airbase tasked with responding to potential Israeli assault
Iran unveiled what it said was its first underground air force base on Tuesday, with the head of the Islamic Republic’s military saying the site would be among those used to launch a response to any potential strikes by Israel or others.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
CIA director: Current Israeli-Palestinian tensions resemble Second Intifada
The director of the United States Central Intelligence Agency expressed his concern last week that the current period of tensions between Israel and the Palestinians is beginning to resemble the violence of the Second Intifada.
Inside the United States
Biden, Facing Divided Congress, Pleads Republicans To Work With Him In State Of The Union
President Joe Biden delivered the State of the Union (SOTU) address on Tuesday night, centering on needing to “finish the job” in the second half of his administration, months after Democrats lost the House.
U.S. trade deficit surges to record high of nearly $950 billion
The U.S. trade deficit rose in 2022 to the largest-ever recorded gap of $948.1 billion as American consumers continue to depend heavily on imports to meet demand, according to data released Tuesday by the Commerce Department.
Christian News
Chinese Church Elder Facing 10 Years Jail Without Bible
Christians say the health of a Chinese church elder, jailed in China since November 2021, has improved, but he may face ten years imprisonment on ‘fraud’ charges.
China Frees Jailed Preacher To Care For Father
A Chinese Christian evangelist jailed for more than half a year on charges linked to his work has returned home to care for his father, who suffers from COVID-19, supporters told Worthy News.
Nepal Releases Jailed Pastor On Bail
A pastor who served a one-year jail sentence in Nepal on charges linked to evangelizing has been released on bail, Worthy News established Monday.
Church anti-abortion organization to pay Planned Parenthood $960,000 in settlement of suit
An organization called The Church at Planned Parenthood has agreed to pay a settlement of $960,00 in legal fees and damages for conducting what it described as "worship services at the gates of Hell'' at a local Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Washington state, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Myanmar: Christian persecution has increased “exponentially” since military coup
The Free Burma Rangers Christian aid organization is warning that the persecution of Christians in Myanmar has “grown exponentially” since the military coup of February 2021 ended the troubled country’s fragile democracy, the WNG.org news outlet reports.
A third of UK adults more interested in Jesus after talking with a Christian, survey shows
A new report shows that while just 6% of adults in the United Kingdom identify as practicing Christians, a third of Britons were interested in learning more about Jesus after talking to a Christian, Evangelical Focus (EF) reported. Titled “Talking Jesus,” the report was released by the UK Evangelical Alliance (EAUK), Alpha, HOPE Together, Luis Palau Association, and Kingsgate Community Church.