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 Dismisses Idea of Talks With EU and U.S. to Revive 2015 Nuclear Deal
Iran on Sunday ruled out holding an informal meeting with the United States and European powers to discuss ways to salvage the unraveling 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, insisting that Washington must first lift all its unilateral sanctions.
Report: Israel ‘Very Pleased’ With US Strikes on Iranian Targets in Syria, Was Informed in Advance
Israeli officials were “very pleased” with US airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in eastern Syria Thursday, and were informed by the Biden Administration before the attack, Walla reported Friday.
Threat level raised for US troops in Iraq; American contractors put on high alert
The Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve has raised the threat level for US service members in Iraq, while US contractors at Balad Air Base were put on high alert fearing a response to US airstrikes in Syria, two sources familiar with the move tell Fox News.
Saudi Arabia Says It Thwarted Yemeni Rebel Missile Attack Over Capital
Multiple blasts shook Riyadh on Saturday as Saudi state television reported that a missile attack launched by Yemen's Huthi rebels had been thwarted.
Israel Says Iran Likely Behind Explosion On Israeli-Owned Cargo Ship
Top Israeli defense and political leaders are scheduled to meet on February 28 to discuss a response to what Israel's defense minister says was likely an attack by Iran against an Israeli-owned cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman.
Eighteen Killed In Myanmar’s Bloodiest Protests Since Coup
Security forced fired on anti-coup demonstrators in Myanmar, killing at least 18 people, the United Nations and other observers said Sunday.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Satellite images of oil slicks off coast show recent spill far from a one-off
The environmental organization Greenpeace on Sunday published images from the European Sentinel satellite showing 12 apparent oil slicks at various distances from Israel’s shores in the days before a storm washed tons of tar onto 160 kilometers (99 miles) of Israel’s coastline.
‘I am working on options to keep nuclear weapons out of Iran’s hands’
"We'll be done with the vaccinations in March, the beginning of April. That's for the adult population. Then "Then, vaccines for children will start arriving," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells Israel Hayom's political supplement in a special weekend interview.
Israel’s entry ban on citizens ‘unparalleled in democratic world,’ watchdog says
The Israel Democracy Institute on Sunday challenged Israel’s coronavirus restrictions on entry to the country that have left thousands of Israelis stranded abroad, saying they constitute an extreme erosion of rights that could infringe on citizens’ rights to vote in the March 23 elections.
Inside the United States
John Durham steps down as U.S. attorney but will remain in charge of Russia probe
John Durham, a decorated career prosecutor, announced Friday he is stepping down at the end of the month as a U.S. attorney in Connecticut but will continue as special prosecutor investigating the origins of the Russia collusion probe that dogged the early Trump presidency.
House Republicans Push Bill Aimed at Balancing LGBT Rights and Religious Freedom
House Republicans are rallying around a compromise bill that would add protections for religious organizations in addition to granting discrimination protections to LGBT citizens. The bill comes one day after House Democrats passed the Equality Act, which critics say infringes on religious liberty rights and is likely to fail in the Senate.
House passes $1.9T pandemic bill on near party-line vote
The House approved a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill early Saturday in a win for President Joe Biden, even as top Democrats tried assuring agitated progressives that they’d revive their derailed drive to boost the minimum wage.
Christian News
Pakistan’s Christian Widows and Children Facing Starvation
Hundreds of Pakistani Christian widows and their children rely on monthly food parcels in impoverished Pakistan amid Christian persecution and an ongoing coronavirus pandemic, aid workers told Worthy News Sunday.
Supreme Court Orders Santa Clara County to Permit Indoor Church Services
California churches are celebrating after the U.S. Supreme Court ordered Santa Clara County to allow indoor worship services amid a pending appeal over COVID restrictions.
’End Near’ For Frail Evangelist Luis Palau, Family Says
“The end is near” for international evangelist Luis Palau after a decision to stop all treatment for his incurable lung cancer and start hospice care, his family said Friday.
Worthy Watch
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla: ‘Israel has become world’s lab right now’
Iran Dismisses Idea of Talks With EU and U.S. to Revive 2015 Nuclear Deal
Iran on Sunday ruled out holding an informal meeting with the United States and European powers to discuss ways to salvage the unraveling 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, insisting that Washington must first lift all its unilateral sanctions.
Report: Israel ‘Very Pleased’ With US Strikes on Iranian Targets in Syria, Was Informed in Advance
Israeli officials were “very pleased” with US airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in eastern Syria Thursday, and were informed by the Biden Administration before the attack, Walla reported Friday.
Threat level raised for US troops in Iraq; American contractors put on high alert
The Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve has raised the threat level for US service members in Iraq, while US contractors at Balad Air Base were put on high alert fearing a response to US airstrikes in Syria, two sources familiar with the move tell Fox News.
Saudi Arabia Says It Thwarted Yemeni Rebel Missile Attack Over Capital
Multiple blasts shook Riyadh on Saturday as Saudi state television reported that a missile attack launched by Yemen's Huthi rebels had been thwarted.
Israel Says Iran Likely Behind Explosion On Israeli-Owned Cargo Ship
Top Israeli defense and political leaders are scheduled to meet on February 28 to discuss a response to what Israel's defense minister says was likely an attack by Iran against an Israeli-owned cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman.
Eighteen Killed In Myanmar’s Bloodiest Protests Since Coup
Security forced fired on anti-coup demonstrators in Myanmar, killing at least 18 people, the United Nations and other observers said Sunday.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Satellite images of oil slicks off coast show recent spill far from a one-off
The environmental organization Greenpeace on Sunday published images from the European Sentinel satellite showing 12 apparent oil slicks at various distances from Israel’s shores in the days before a storm washed tons of tar onto 160 kilometers (99 miles) of Israel’s coastline.
‘I am working on options to keep nuclear weapons out of Iran’s hands’
"We'll be done with the vaccinations in March, the beginning of April. That's for the adult population. Then "Then, vaccines for children will start arriving," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells Israel Hayom's political supplement in a special weekend interview.
Israel’s entry ban on citizens ‘unparalleled in democratic world,’ watchdog says
The Israel Democracy Institute on Sunday challenged Israel’s coronavirus restrictions on entry to the country that have left thousands of Israelis stranded abroad, saying they constitute an extreme erosion of rights that could infringe on citizens’ rights to vote in the March 23 elections.
Inside the United States
John Durham steps down as U.S. attorney but will remain in charge of Russia probe
John Durham, a decorated career prosecutor, announced Friday he is stepping down at the end of the month as a U.S. attorney in Connecticut but will continue as special prosecutor investigating the origins of the Russia collusion probe that dogged the early Trump presidency.
House Republicans Push Bill Aimed at Balancing LGBT Rights and Religious Freedom
House Republicans are rallying around a compromise bill that would add protections for religious organizations in addition to granting discrimination protections to LGBT citizens. The bill comes one day after House Democrats passed the Equality Act, which critics say infringes on religious liberty rights and is likely to fail in the Senate.
House passes $1.9T pandemic bill on near party-line vote
The House approved a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill early Saturday in a win for President Joe Biden, even as top Democrats tried assuring agitated progressives that they’d revive their derailed drive to boost the minimum wage.
Christian News
Pakistan’s Christian Widows and Children Facing Starvation
Hundreds of Pakistani Christian widows and their children rely on monthly food parcels in impoverished Pakistan amid Christian persecution and an ongoing coronavirus pandemic, aid workers told Worthy News Sunday.
Supreme Court Orders Santa Clara County to Permit Indoor Church Services
California churches are celebrating after the U.S. Supreme Court ordered Santa Clara County to allow indoor worship services amid a pending appeal over COVID restrictions.
’End Near’ For Frail Evangelist Luis Palau, Family Says
“The end is near” for international evangelist Luis Palau after a decision to stop all treatment for his incurable lung cancer and start hospice care, his family said Friday.
Worthy Watch
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla: ‘Israel has become world’s lab right now’
Around the World
US strikes Iran-backed fighters in Syria, in 1st military action under Biden
The United States launched airstrikes in Syria on Thursday, targeting facilities near the Iraqi border used by Iranian-backed militia groups. The Pentagon said the strikes were retaliation for a rocket attack in Iraq earlier this month that killed one civilian contractor and wounded a US service member and other coalition troops.
Dutch Nuclear Whistleblower Suddenly Dies At 76
Dutch whistleblower Frits Veerman, who was punished for turning in a colleague for selling nuclear secrets used to build Pakistan’s atomic bomb, has died.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel to use electronic tagging on travelers from next week
Israeli health officials on Thursday approved a measure to electronically tag arrivals from abroad, which will go in effect next week, in order to ensure coronavirus quarantine regulations are observed.
Israel’s red line: 1,000 precision missiles in Hezbollah’s hands
"If Hezbollah crosses a quantitative or qualitative threshold for precision weapons, we will have to act against it. This is a serious decision, but one from which we cannot run away," said Lt. Col. Eran Niv, the head of the IDF's Warfare Methods and Innovation Division.
Construction Seen at Secretive Israeli Nuclear Facility
A secretive Israeli nuclear facility at the center of the nation's undeclared nuclear weapons program is undergoing what appears to be its biggest construction project in decades, satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press show.
Pelosi and Netanyahu discuss two-state solution in phone call
US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the phone Wednesday and discussed, among other issues, a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Ynet News reports.
Inside the United States
The digital dollar is now high priority for the Fed
The U.S. is starting to get serious about a central-bank-backed digital currency, with recent comments from top officials laying out the strongest support yet.
Once-secret FBI informant reports reveal wider-ranging operation to spy on Trump campaign
Once-secret reports show the FBI effort to spy on the Trump campaign was far wider than previously disclosed, as agents directed an undercover informant to make secret recordings, pressed for intelligence on numerous GOP figures, and sought to find "anyone in the Trump campaign" with ties to Russia who could acquire dirt "damaging to Hillary Clinton."
Guns in America: Nearly 40 million guns were purchased legally in 2020 and another 4.1 million bought in January
U.S. gun sales in January surged 60% to 4,137,480. This makes it the largest single month since figures started to be recorded in 1998.
House Passes Equality Act, Provides Civil Rights Protections To Gay And Transgender People
The House of Representatives passed the Equality Act on Thursday afternoon, which will impact abortion, marriage, family, gender, sports and more.
Poll: 63% of white evangelicals believe Biden election was “not legitimate”
A post-election poll reveals that nearly two-thirds of white Evangelicals do not believe US President Joe Biden was elected legitimately, the Christian Post reports. The survey was conducted in January by the public policy research organization American Enterprise Institute (AEI).
Christian News
India: Christian couple refuse to renounce faith in face of death threats and banishment
A husband and wife who refused to renounce their new-found faith in Christ have been banished and threatened with death if they return to their village home in India’s Odisha state, International Chrisitan Concern (ICC) reports. Jaga Padiami and his wife were driven from their home in the Malkangiri municipality after becoming Christians in December 2020.
Over 500 US evangelical pastors condemn ‘Radical Christian Nationalism’ in open letter
More than 500 US evangelical pastors and leaders have condemned ‘Radical Christian Nationalism’ in an open letter responding to the January 6 assault on the US Capitol, Religious News reports. Entitled “Evangelical Leaders Statement Condemning Christian Nationalism's role in the January 6th Insurrection,” the letter explains the signatories come from diverse backgrounds and political persuasions, but stand together against ‘the perversion of the Christian faith” displayed at the insurrection, and against “the theology and the conditions” that led to the attack itself.
Worthy Watch
It’s ‘Potato Head’ to you: Mr. Potato Head becomes gender-neutral, Hasbro says
Rand Paul vs. Rachel Levine: Do You Support Government Overriding Parental Consent On Puberty Blockers?
How Biden and the MSM is viewed in Australia?
US strikes Iran-backed fighters in Syria, in 1st military action under Biden
The United States launched airstrikes in Syria on Thursday, targeting facilities near the Iraqi border used by Iranian-backed militia groups. The Pentagon said the strikes were retaliation for a rocket attack in Iraq earlier this month that killed one civilian contractor and wounded a US service member and other coalition troops.
Dutch Nuclear Whistleblower Suddenly Dies At 76
Dutch whistleblower Frits Veerman, who was punished for turning in a colleague for selling nuclear secrets used to build Pakistan’s atomic bomb, has died.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel to use electronic tagging on travelers from next week
Israeli health officials on Thursday approved a measure to electronically tag arrivals from abroad, which will go in effect next week, in order to ensure coronavirus quarantine regulations are observed.
Israel’s red line: 1,000 precision missiles in Hezbollah’s hands
"If Hezbollah crosses a quantitative or qualitative threshold for precision weapons, we will have to act against it. This is a serious decision, but one from which we cannot run away," said Lt. Col. Eran Niv, the head of the IDF's Warfare Methods and Innovation Division.
Construction Seen at Secretive Israeli Nuclear Facility
A secretive Israeli nuclear facility at the center of the nation's undeclared nuclear weapons program is undergoing what appears to be its biggest construction project in decades, satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press show.
Pelosi and Netanyahu discuss two-state solution in phone call
US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the phone Wednesday and discussed, among other issues, a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Ynet News reports.
Inside the United States
The digital dollar is now high priority for the Fed
The U.S. is starting to get serious about a central-bank-backed digital currency, with recent comments from top officials laying out the strongest support yet.
Once-secret FBI informant reports reveal wider-ranging operation to spy on Trump campaign
Once-secret reports show the FBI effort to spy on the Trump campaign was far wider than previously disclosed, as agents directed an undercover informant to make secret recordings, pressed for intelligence on numerous GOP figures, and sought to find "anyone in the Trump campaign" with ties to Russia who could acquire dirt "damaging to Hillary Clinton."
Guns in America: Nearly 40 million guns were purchased legally in 2020 and another 4.1 million bought in January
U.S. gun sales in January surged 60% to 4,137,480. This makes it the largest single month since figures started to be recorded in 1998.
House Passes Equality Act, Provides Civil Rights Protections To Gay And Transgender People
The House of Representatives passed the Equality Act on Thursday afternoon, which will impact abortion, marriage, family, gender, sports and more.
Poll: 63% of white evangelicals believe Biden election was “not legitimate”
A post-election poll reveals that nearly two-thirds of white Evangelicals do not believe US President Joe Biden was elected legitimately, the Christian Post reports. The survey was conducted in January by the public policy research organization American Enterprise Institute (AEI).
Christian News
India: Christian couple refuse to renounce faith in face of death threats and banishment
A husband and wife who refused to renounce their new-found faith in Christ have been banished and threatened with death if they return to their village home in India’s Odisha state, International Chrisitan Concern (ICC) reports. Jaga Padiami and his wife were driven from their home in the Malkangiri municipality after becoming Christians in December 2020.
Over 500 US evangelical pastors condemn ‘Radical Christian Nationalism’ in open letter
More than 500 US evangelical pastors and leaders have condemned ‘Radical Christian Nationalism’ in an open letter responding to the January 6 assault on the US Capitol, Religious News reports. Entitled “Evangelical Leaders Statement Condemning Christian Nationalism's role in the January 6th Insurrection,” the letter explains the signatories come from diverse backgrounds and political persuasions, but stand together against ‘the perversion of the Christian faith” displayed at the insurrection, and against “the theology and the conditions” that led to the attack itself.
Worthy Watch
It’s ‘Potato Head’ to you: Mr. Potato Head becomes gender-neutral, Hasbro says
Rand Paul vs. Rachel Levine: Do You Support Government Overriding Parental Consent On Puberty Blockers?
How Biden and the MSM is viewed in Australia?
Around the World
EU mulls vaccination passports to resurrect tourism after COVID-19
European Union leaders will agree on Thursday to work on certificates of vaccination for EU citizens who have had an anti-COVID shot, with southern EU countries that depend heavily on tourism desperate to rescue this summer's holiday season.
Technology Executives Say All Evidence Points To Russia In Major Hack Of Computer Networks
Executives of U.S. technology companies told lawmakers on February 23 that a recent breach of corporate and government networks was so sophisticated that a nation had to be behind it and said all the evidence points to Russia.
Nearly 8 million people suffering hunger in Central America, up from 2.2 million in 2018
The United Nations has reported a massive increase in the number of people suffering hunger in Central America over the last two years, Voice of America (VOA) reports.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli green pass system has gone into effect – leaving many Israelis barred from certain locations
Israel’s Health Ministry rolled out its “green passport” program requiring that citizens show their green badge in order to enter places such as registered gyms, swimming pools, hotels, theaters, places of worship and concerts. Restaurants and bars are expected to join the program in March.
Netanyahu: We aim to open the economy completely in April
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a special statement from Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer ahead of Purim, in which he also listed the five stages until the full opening of the economy after the closure.
Knesset passes law to give cities info on unvaccinated residents
The Knesset gave final approval on Wednesday to controversial legislation allowing the Health Ministry to give local authorities personal details of residents who have not been vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Inside the United States
Federal judge in Houston indefinitely blocks Biden’s 100-day deportation pause
A federal judge in Houston late Tuesday banned the Biden administration from enforcing a 100-day moratorium on most deportations.
‘Fairness for All’ Seen as Equality Act Alternative: Civil Liberties for LGBTQ, Protections for People of Faith
Lawmakers in Washington, D.C. are getting ready to decide on a landmark piece of LGBTQ legislation that would crush religious liberty.
Minuteman III ICBM test launch hits its target, 4,200 miles away
A test of a Minuteman III missile, fired from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and landing 4,200 miles away, was a success, the Air Force said on Wednesday.
Survey: Majority of Biden voters do not believe God is all-powerful Creator
A survey published last week reveals that 63% of Biden voters do not believe "God is the “all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect and just creator," although a majority identify as Christian, the Christian Post reports. The finding was made in the 2020 Post-Election Survey conducted by The Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University.
Christian News
Indonesia: Pentecostal congregation allowed to build a church as local official calls for religious tolerance
A Pentecostal church in Yogyakarta, Indonesia has again been granted permission to build a worship center after a previous construction permit (IMB) was revoked by local authorities in 2019, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Renewing permission to build a church, the local regent also called for tolerance of other religions in the community.
Reported attack on youth leader highlights continued vulnerability of Christians in Sudan
Earlier this month a Christian youth leader in Sudan was reportedly detained and beaten by suspected national security forces because he spoke out against the January 3 burning of a church building, Morning Star News reports. The case highlights the continued vulnerability of Christians at a time of national transition from the brutal regime of Islamic dictator Omar al-Bashir (who was ousted in 2019) toward a government that seeks to root out long-term corruption and end religious intolerance in the country.
Worthy Watch
Time always reveals hypocrisy!
Tucker Carlson: Left’s ‘disinformation’ campaign is destroying America
Key Biden aide said pandemic was ‘best thing that ever happened to him’, book says
How to deal with the media … Give my regards to your puppet master!
EU mulls vaccination passports to resurrect tourism after COVID-19
European Union leaders will agree on Thursday to work on certificates of vaccination for EU citizens who have had an anti-COVID shot, with southern EU countries that depend heavily on tourism desperate to rescue this summer's holiday season.
Technology Executives Say All Evidence Points To Russia In Major Hack Of Computer Networks
Executives of U.S. technology companies told lawmakers on February 23 that a recent breach of corporate and government networks was so sophisticated that a nation had to be behind it and said all the evidence points to Russia.
Nearly 8 million people suffering hunger in Central America, up from 2.2 million in 2018
The United Nations has reported a massive increase in the number of people suffering hunger in Central America over the last two years, Voice of America (VOA) reports.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli green pass system has gone into effect – leaving many Israelis barred from certain locations
Israel’s Health Ministry rolled out its “green passport” program requiring that citizens show their green badge in order to enter places such as registered gyms, swimming pools, hotels, theaters, places of worship and concerts. Restaurants and bars are expected to join the program in March.
Netanyahu: We aim to open the economy completely in April
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a special statement from Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer ahead of Purim, in which he also listed the five stages until the full opening of the economy after the closure.
Knesset passes law to give cities info on unvaccinated residents
The Knesset gave final approval on Wednesday to controversial legislation allowing the Health Ministry to give local authorities personal details of residents who have not been vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Inside the United States
Federal judge in Houston indefinitely blocks Biden’s 100-day deportation pause
A federal judge in Houston late Tuesday banned the Biden administration from enforcing a 100-day moratorium on most deportations.
‘Fairness for All’ Seen as Equality Act Alternative: Civil Liberties for LGBTQ, Protections for People of Faith
Lawmakers in Washington, D.C. are getting ready to decide on a landmark piece of LGBTQ legislation that would crush religious liberty.
Minuteman III ICBM test launch hits its target, 4,200 miles away
A test of a Minuteman III missile, fired from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and landing 4,200 miles away, was a success, the Air Force said on Wednesday.
Survey: Majority of Biden voters do not believe God is all-powerful Creator
A survey published last week reveals that 63% of Biden voters do not believe "God is the “all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect and just creator," although a majority identify as Christian, the Christian Post reports. The finding was made in the 2020 Post-Election Survey conducted by The Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University.
Christian News
Indonesia: Pentecostal congregation allowed to build a church as local official calls for religious tolerance
A Pentecostal church in Yogyakarta, Indonesia has again been granted permission to build a worship center after a previous construction permit (IMB) was revoked by local authorities in 2019, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Renewing permission to build a church, the local regent also called for tolerance of other religions in the community.
Reported attack on youth leader highlights continued vulnerability of Christians in Sudan
Earlier this month a Christian youth leader in Sudan was reportedly detained and beaten by suspected national security forces because he spoke out against the January 3 burning of a church building, Morning Star News reports. The case highlights the continued vulnerability of Christians at a time of national transition from the brutal regime of Islamic dictator Omar al-Bashir (who was ousted in 2019) toward a government that seeks to root out long-term corruption and end religious intolerance in the country.
Worthy Watch
Time always reveals hypocrisy!
Tucker Carlson: Left’s ‘disinformation’ campaign is destroying America
Key Biden aide said pandemic was ‘best thing that ever happened to him’, book says
How to deal with the media … Give my regards to your puppet master!