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
Hungary’s Orbán Pledges Sweden’s NATO Membership
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán pledged Wednesday that he will urge the Hungarian parliament to approve Sweden’s membership of the NATO military alliance, a day after Turkish legislators made a similar move.
US Strikes Iran-Backed Terror Facilities in Iraq
As part of an effort to prevent the ongoing Israel-Hamas war from escalating into a regional conflict fueled by Iran, the United States, just after midnight on Wednesday, carried out retaliatory airstrikes against facilities in Iraq that were being used by the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia and other jihadist groups to attack US and Coalition targets in the region, Axios reports.
Russia Says Ukraine Shot Down Military Plane, Killing 74
Russian authorities confirmed Wednesday that a Defense Ministry plane carrying scores of Ukrainian military prisoners of war plus crew and guards crashed in Russia’s Belgorod region near the border with Ukraine.
US Strikes Iran-Backed Houthis After Deadly Strikes In Region
The United States hit Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen early Wednesday, destroying two anti-ship missiles that aimed at the Red Sea and were preparing to launch, the U.S. military said.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
UN Chief: Israeli Rejection of Two-State Solution Constitutes “Major Threat to Global Security”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated during a high-level meeting of the UN Security Council Tuesday that Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians has become “a major threat to global peace and security” and that an Israeli rejection of a two-state solution is “unacceptable.”
Inside the United States
Arizona GOP Chairman Resigns After Audio of Conversation With Kari Lake Released
Jeff DeWit is resigning as the Arizona Republican Party chairman. An audio recording of a conversation from earlier in 2023 was released on Tuesday, in which DeWit was speaking with Senate candidate Kari Lake about people "back east" not wanting her to run. He said that people were willing to give her money or a job instead while waiting out for a possible 2026 comeback run for governor, according to the recording published by the Daily Mail.
Trump Wins Ballot Battles, In Courts
Former U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who won two Republican primaries for the party’s presidential nomination, is also winning in courts: He has successfully challenged every decision about blocking him from the ballot at this year’s presidential elections, except at the Colorado Supreme Court.
California Authorities Persist in Litigation Against Christian Baker Who Refused to Make Wedding Cake for Same-Sex Couple
A Christian baker in California who has been threatened, harassed, and sued for refusing to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple is being taken back to court as state officials appeal a lower court ruling in her favor, the Christian Post reports.
Christian News
India: Hindu Activists Climb on Four Churches, Plant Flags With Image of Their god
In further evidence of the increasing power and influence of Hindu nationalism in India, a crowd of young Hindutva activists climbed on top of four church buildings in Madhya Pradesh state, planting Hindu flags with an image of their god and chanting Hindu slogans, Newslaundry reports.
China: Pastor and Wife Sentenced to Lengthy Jail Terms for Online Preaching
In a further display of China’s crackdown on evangelical Christianity, a court in Liaoning province has sentenced a prominent online Gospel preacher, his wife, and four house church members to lengthy prison terms for allegedly “using superstition to undermine the law” by expressing and sharing their faith in Christ, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Hungary’s Orbán Pledges Sweden’s NATO Membership
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán pledged Wednesday that he will urge the Hungarian parliament to approve Sweden’s membership of the NATO military alliance, a day after Turkish legislators made a similar move.
US Strikes Iran-Backed Terror Facilities in Iraq
As part of an effort to prevent the ongoing Israel-Hamas war from escalating into a regional conflict fueled by Iran, the United States, just after midnight on Wednesday, carried out retaliatory airstrikes against facilities in Iraq that were being used by the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia and other jihadist groups to attack US and Coalition targets in the region, Axios reports.
Russia Says Ukraine Shot Down Military Plane, Killing 74
Russian authorities confirmed Wednesday that a Defense Ministry plane carrying scores of Ukrainian military prisoners of war plus crew and guards crashed in Russia’s Belgorod region near the border with Ukraine.
US Strikes Iran-Backed Houthis After Deadly Strikes In Region
The United States hit Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen early Wednesday, destroying two anti-ship missiles that aimed at the Red Sea and were preparing to launch, the U.S. military said.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
UN Chief: Israeli Rejection of Two-State Solution Constitutes “Major Threat to Global Security”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated during a high-level meeting of the UN Security Council Tuesday that Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians has become “a major threat to global peace and security” and that an Israeli rejection of a two-state solution is “unacceptable.”
Inside the United States
Arizona GOP Chairman Resigns After Audio of Conversation With Kari Lake Released
Jeff DeWit is resigning as the Arizona Republican Party chairman. An audio recording of a conversation from earlier in 2023 was released on Tuesday, in which DeWit was speaking with Senate candidate Kari Lake about people "back east" not wanting her to run. He said that people were willing to give her money or a job instead while waiting out for a possible 2026 comeback run for governor, according to the recording published by the Daily Mail.
Trump Wins Ballot Battles, In Courts
Former U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who won two Republican primaries for the party’s presidential nomination, is also winning in courts: He has successfully challenged every decision about blocking him from the ballot at this year’s presidential elections, except at the Colorado Supreme Court.
California Authorities Persist in Litigation Against Christian Baker Who Refused to Make Wedding Cake for Same-Sex Couple
A Christian baker in California who has been threatened, harassed, and sued for refusing to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple is being taken back to court as state officials appeal a lower court ruling in her favor, the Christian Post reports.
Christian News
India: Hindu Activists Climb on Four Churches, Plant Flags With Image of Their god
In further evidence of the increasing power and influence of Hindu nationalism in India, a crowd of young Hindutva activists climbed on top of four church buildings in Madhya Pradesh state, planting Hindu flags with an image of their god and chanting Hindu slogans, Newslaundry reports.
China: Pastor and Wife Sentenced to Lengthy Jail Terms for Online Preaching
In a further display of China’s crackdown on evangelical Christianity, a court in Liaoning province has sentenced a prominent online Gospel preacher, his wife, and four house church members to lengthy prison terms for allegedly “using superstition to undermine the law” by expressing and sharing their faith in Christ, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Around the World
Turkey Approves Sweden’s NATO Bid, Pressuring Hungary
Hungary came under pressure Wednesday to approve Sweden’s membership of the NATO-military alliance after Turkey's parliament ratified the Nordic nation’s entry.
British YouTube Pianist Threatened By China In Livestream
A British pianist who has more than two million subscribers on the YouTube video-sharing site has been accosted by a furious Chinese television crew and Chinese tourists.
Ukraine Students Leave War To Meet Professors In Budapest
Dozens of students have arrived in Budapest from wartorn Ukraine to meet the teachers they knew online while studying in bomb shelters or other challenging locations.
Powerful Earthquake Rocks China’s West After Landslides Kill Christians
A 7.1 earthquake struck a remote part of China’s western Xinjiang region after deadly landslides buried dozens in China and in the Philippines, including praying Christians, officials said.
Finland: Prosecutors Appeal to Supreme Court to Convict Christian Lawmaker Who Posted On Social Media Against Same-Sex Marriage
Prosecutors in Finland are now appealing to the country’s Supreme Court to pin charges of inciting hate speech on a Christian parliamentarian who posted comments on social media about her opposition to same-sex marriage on religious grounds, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Dozens of Israeli Soldiers Killed In Gaza On Deadliest Day
Israel confirmed Tuesday that 24 soldiers fighting in Gaza have been killed, the highest Israeli military death toll in a day so far during the Israel-Hamas war.
Israel Offers Hamas Truce For Hostages; Netanyahu Survives No-Confidence Vote
Israel has proposed a cease-fire of up to two months in exchange for the release of all the more than 130 hostages still held by Hamas, several officials confirmed.
Inside the United States
Trump Wins New Hampshire, Haley Vows to Continue
Former President Donald Trump will win New Hampshire's Republican presidential primary, several media outlets projected Tuesday night, getting him closer to securing the party’s nomination and a rematch with President Joe Biden in November.
Democratic Governors Seek More Migrant Funding, Border Security
A group of Democratic governors are calling on the Biden administration and Congress to address the immigration crisis by increasing federal funding for states and passing a border security package.
Ohio Pastor Taken to Court After Opening Church 24/7 to the Homeless
A pastor in Bryan, Ohio, has pleaded not guilty to charges of violating zoning restrictions by keeping his church’s doors open to the homeless 24 hours a day, 13 Action News reports. Pastor Chris Avell, who leads “Dad’s Place” church, appeared before the Bryan Municipal Court on Jan. 4, when the matter was set for trial.
Supreme Court Sides With Biden on Razor Wire in Eagle Pass, Texas
A divided U.S. Supreme Court sided with President Joe Biden's administration on Monday, clearing the way for federal authorities to remove razor wire installed in Eagle Pass along the U.S.-Mexico border by Texas law enforcement.
Thousands attend annual March for Life in sub-freezing Washington DC
The United States’ annual National March for Life was held for the 51st consecutive year on Friday, as thousands of pro-life activists gathered in sub-freezing temperatures in Washington DC to walk to the US Capitol and the Supreme Court in protest against abortion.
Christian News
Evangelical Missionary Movement in Latin America is Growing Substantially, “A Sleeping Giant”
The Evangelical missionary movement in Latin America has grown so remarkably in recent years that it has been likened to a “sleeping giant” arising to plant needed Gospel-based churches in the region, Christian Daily International (CDI) reports.
Eritrea: Christian Prisoners of Faith Tortured, Held in Inhumane Conditions, “The World Needs to Wake Up”
An estimated 400-500 Christian prisoners of faith are being held in horrifying conditions in the East African nation of Eritrea. Eritrea ranks 4th on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
Turkey Approves Sweden’s NATO Bid, Pressuring Hungary
Hungary came under pressure Wednesday to approve Sweden’s membership of the NATO-military alliance after Turkey's parliament ratified the Nordic nation’s entry.
British YouTube Pianist Threatened By China In Livestream
A British pianist who has more than two million subscribers on the YouTube video-sharing site has been accosted by a furious Chinese television crew and Chinese tourists.
Ukraine Students Leave War To Meet Professors In Budapest
Dozens of students have arrived in Budapest from wartorn Ukraine to meet the teachers they knew online while studying in bomb shelters or other challenging locations.
Powerful Earthquake Rocks China’s West After Landslides Kill Christians
A 7.1 earthquake struck a remote part of China’s western Xinjiang region after deadly landslides buried dozens in China and in the Philippines, including praying Christians, officials said.
Finland: Prosecutors Appeal to Supreme Court to Convict Christian Lawmaker Who Posted On Social Media Against Same-Sex Marriage
Prosecutors in Finland are now appealing to the country’s Supreme Court to pin charges of inciting hate speech on a Christian parliamentarian who posted comments on social media about her opposition to same-sex marriage on religious grounds, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Dozens of Israeli Soldiers Killed In Gaza On Deadliest Day
Israel confirmed Tuesday that 24 soldiers fighting in Gaza have been killed, the highest Israeli military death toll in a day so far during the Israel-Hamas war.
Israel Offers Hamas Truce For Hostages; Netanyahu Survives No-Confidence Vote
Israel has proposed a cease-fire of up to two months in exchange for the release of all the more than 130 hostages still held by Hamas, several officials confirmed.
Inside the United States
Trump Wins New Hampshire, Haley Vows to Continue
Former President Donald Trump will win New Hampshire's Republican presidential primary, several media outlets projected Tuesday night, getting him closer to securing the party’s nomination and a rematch with President Joe Biden in November.
Democratic Governors Seek More Migrant Funding, Border Security
A group of Democratic governors are calling on the Biden administration and Congress to address the immigration crisis by increasing federal funding for states and passing a border security package.
Ohio Pastor Taken to Court After Opening Church 24/7 to the Homeless
A pastor in Bryan, Ohio, has pleaded not guilty to charges of violating zoning restrictions by keeping his church’s doors open to the homeless 24 hours a day, 13 Action News reports. Pastor Chris Avell, who leads “Dad’s Place” church, appeared before the Bryan Municipal Court on Jan. 4, when the matter was set for trial.
Supreme Court Sides With Biden on Razor Wire in Eagle Pass, Texas
A divided U.S. Supreme Court sided with President Joe Biden's administration on Monday, clearing the way for federal authorities to remove razor wire installed in Eagle Pass along the U.S.-Mexico border by Texas law enforcement.
Thousands attend annual March for Life in sub-freezing Washington DC
The United States’ annual National March for Life was held for the 51st consecutive year on Friday, as thousands of pro-life activists gathered in sub-freezing temperatures in Washington DC to walk to the US Capitol and the Supreme Court in protest against abortion.
Christian News
Evangelical Missionary Movement in Latin America is Growing Substantially, “A Sleeping Giant”
The Evangelical missionary movement in Latin America has grown so remarkably in recent years that it has been likened to a “sleeping giant” arising to plant needed Gospel-based churches in the region, Christian Daily International (CDI) reports.
Eritrea: Christian Prisoners of Faith Tortured, Held in Inhumane Conditions, “The World Needs to Wake Up”
An estimated 400-500 Christian prisoners of faith are being held in horrifying conditions in the East African nation of Eritrea. Eritrea ranks 4th on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
Around the World
EU Ministers Meeting As Ukraine Pleas For Help Amid Mounting Death Toll (Worthy News Radio)
European Union foreign ministers began meeting in Brussels Monday to discuss the future of European support for Ukraine, which needs more ammunition to fight invading Russian troops. The gathering comes while the Polish prime minister is in Kyiv amid more bloodshed as Russia has accused Ukrainian forces of attacking a market in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine, killing at least 25 people and injuring 20 others over the weekend.
Dutch Queen Maxima Wants Global Digital IDs (Video)
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands has come under fire for demanding that government and business leaders roll out “digital IDs” to ensure they can track persons’ “vaccination status” and other private information.
Iran Soldier Kills Five In Army Base
An Iranian conscript opened fire inside an army base, killing at least five soldiers in Iran’s southeastern city of Kerman, where 94 people died in bombings earlier this month, Iranian and Israeli sources said.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Thousands Sing, Pray And Rally For Israel In Netherlands Rally For Israel In Netherlands
Thousands of Israel-supporting Christians have gathered in recent weeks near the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Dutch city of The Hague, where Israel has been charged with genocide.
Relatives Hostages Storm Israel Parliament
A group of relatives of Israelis held hostage by Hamas stormed a parliamentary committee session in Jerusalem, demanding that legislators and the government do more to free their loved ones who were kidnapped on October 7.
Christian News
“Nigeria at the Epicenter of Targeted Violence Against the Church,” Four Christians Kidnapped in Benue State
As rights groups now gauge the level of violence against Christians in Nigeria at “100%,” Islamic terrorists in central Nigeria ambushed and kidnapped four Christians in Benue state on Jan. 13, Morning Star News reports. The Open Doors international Christian persecution watchdog has given Nigeria the highest percentage rating for violence against believers, stating that the country is now “at the epicenter of targeted violence against the church.”
Evangelical Christian Murdered by Sudanese Terrorists
An evangelical Sudanese Christian died in Sudan earlier this month after being attacked by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), an Islamic paramilitary group which is fighting the Muslim Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) for control of the country, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
EU Ministers Meeting As Ukraine Pleas For Help Amid Mounting Death Toll (Worthy News Radio)
European Union foreign ministers began meeting in Brussels Monday to discuss the future of European support for Ukraine, which needs more ammunition to fight invading Russian troops. The gathering comes while the Polish prime minister is in Kyiv amid more bloodshed as Russia has accused Ukrainian forces of attacking a market in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine, killing at least 25 people and injuring 20 others over the weekend.
Dutch Queen Maxima Wants Global Digital IDs (Video)
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands has come under fire for demanding that government and business leaders roll out “digital IDs” to ensure they can track persons’ “vaccination status” and other private information.
Iran Soldier Kills Five In Army Base
An Iranian conscript opened fire inside an army base, killing at least five soldiers in Iran’s southeastern city of Kerman, where 94 people died in bombings earlier this month, Iranian and Israeli sources said.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Thousands Sing, Pray And Rally For Israel In Netherlands Rally For Israel In Netherlands
Thousands of Israel-supporting Christians have gathered in recent weeks near the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Dutch city of The Hague, where Israel has been charged with genocide.
Relatives Hostages Storm Israel Parliament
A group of relatives of Israelis held hostage by Hamas stormed a parliamentary committee session in Jerusalem, demanding that legislators and the government do more to free their loved ones who were kidnapped on October 7.
Christian News
“Nigeria at the Epicenter of Targeted Violence Against the Church,” Four Christians Kidnapped in Benue State
As rights groups now gauge the level of violence against Christians in Nigeria at “100%,” Islamic terrorists in central Nigeria ambushed and kidnapped four Christians in Benue state on Jan. 13, Morning Star News reports. The Open Doors international Christian persecution watchdog has given Nigeria the highest percentage rating for violence against believers, stating that the country is now “at the epicenter of targeted violence against the church.”
Evangelical Christian Murdered by Sudanese Terrorists
An evangelical Sudanese Christian died in Sudan earlier this month after being attacked by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), an Islamic paramilitary group which is fighting the Muslim Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) for control of the country, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.