Andy Walton’s Weekly World Watch

1. Andy Walton’s Weekly World Watch August 13 - 19 2006 “If the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.” Ezekiel 33:6

2. What is this world watch all about? I decided each week to look at key events that had happened in that week and look at them with the Bible in hand. I hope to build up a picture of Gods hand working in the affairs of this world bringing about that day when all nations will be gathered to Jerusalem to battle which will be brought to end when the Lord Jesus Christ physically returns from heaven to set up Gods kingdom. The key areas which will crop up time and again will be • Israel – Middle East the growing conflict • Europe – the developing union / political and religious • Russia – continued turning back to anti west ways • The development of King of South – US & UK • Declining moral standards and increasing violence. Please email me with any thoughts, questions or anything I may have missed! On last page there is a red button – if you click it an email will open up pre addressed to me so you can send an email comments etc

3. Weekly Developments These are just a few of the events that have caught my eye in the previous week. It is in no way meant to be exhaustive – just a look at those events I saw as significant from a Bible viewpoint. Headlines These are always headlines printed in the newspaper – the date is always given and which paper. Normally the Daily Telegraph. (DT) Event This is usually the newspapers take on the events that have happened. It will always be a direct quote from the newspaper. Comment This is my take on why it is interesting from a Bible point of view. The idea of this weekly world watch is to give a quick Biblical perspective without going into detail. If more detail is needed please email me. Bible Quote This is normally one verse which backs up why the event that has occurred is interesting from a Biblical perspective. Please read in its context.

4. Weekly Developments August 13 - 19 2006 • Israel humbled by arms from Iran • Syria & Iran claim victory • Iranian army to launch war games • Israel alarm at UN force members • Israel suspends withdrawal plan • Israel mounts fresh Lebanon raid TO PRINT ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SLIDES JUST CLICK ON THE PICTURE ON EACH SLIDE

5. Israel humbled by arms from Iran Headline Israel humbled by arms from Iran Headline Daily Telegraph August 15 Event Abandoned Hizbollah positions in Lebanon yesterday revealed conclusive evidence that Syria - and almost certainly Iran - provided the anti-tank missiles that have blunted the power of Israel's once invincible armour. After one of the fiercest confrontations of the war, Israeli forces took the small town of Ghandouriyeh, east of the southern city of Tyre, on Sunday evening, hours before a ceasefire brokered by the United Nations took effect. At least 24 Israeli soldiers were killed in the advance on the strategic hilltop town as Hizbollah fighters were pushed back to its outskirts, abandoning many weapons. Comment This war has not gone at all well for Israel. It thought within days it could neutralise the threat from Hezbollah. It did not. Even the day before the ceasefire came into effect Hezbollah still fired over 250 rockets at Israel. Hezbollah were not defeated. Despite the overwhelming superiority of Israel’s military equipment and troop numbers they found it difficult to stop these well equipped fighters. This leaves Israel in a dangerous position. A weakened position. It has exposed the fact that it is not invincible. We know that Israel’s military might will not be enough to save it from the invasion that is coming. They will learn that lesson too late. Bible Quote Zechariah 14 2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

6. Syria & Iran claim victory Headline Syria and Iran claim victory over West Headline Daily Telegraph August 16 Event The leaders of Syria and Iran claimed victory over Israel yesterday, hailing Hizbollah's "glorious battle" in Lebanon as a crushing blow to America's plans for the Middle East. President Bashar Assad of Syria and his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - the key sponsors of Hizbollah - said that Israel's acceptance of a ceasefire without achieving its stated war aims amounted to a defeat for the Jewish state, America and Britain. Mr Assad told hundreds of supporters in the Syrian capital, Damascus, that Hizbollah's fighters had taught the Israelis a lesson." We tell them that after tasting humiliation in the latest battles, your weapons are not going to protect you - not your planes or missiles, or even your nuclear bombs." The future generations in the Arab world will find a way to defeat Israel." Mr Assad said that American policy in the region had been destroyed. Comment It certainly didn’t look like a victory for Syria and Iran, but the very fact that Hezbollah survived a 34 day onslaught by Israel made them (in Syria and Iran’s eyes) victorious. In previous wars Israel has always definitely come out on top. This time she has not. Israel is suddenly feeling more vulnerable than at any time since 1948. Israel in their unbelief will be judged. Destruction is coming – even a return to Egypt! Bible Quote Deuteronomy 28 63 ..the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it. 68 And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships

7. Iranian army to launch war games Headline Iranian army to launch war games Article Iranfocus August 16 Event Iran will launch a new round of war-games later this week, putting on display new Iranian-make armaments, a top military commander announced on Wednesday. The military exercises involving land and air combat forces will begin Saturday in several border provinces where anti-government protests have been most rampant. “We must show the enemies the Islamic Republic’s military capability”, the deputy commander of the regular armed forces, Brigadier General Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani, told reporters. Comment And so in a press conference this week an Iranian general announced that 12 divisions of the land forces will participate in a major military exercise and that it also includes a joint exercise of the land, sea, and air forces. He said that during the exercise the Iranian army will test new weapons and ammunition. In last weeks WWW we noted the 22nd August as the day that Iran said it would “respond” to America’s demand for Iran to stop its nuclear programme. We now see just days before Iran launching military war games. The concern about war games is that they can be a cover for actual military conflict. We wait to see what they do. The Bible makes clear that Iran will be stirred up at the time of the end. Isaiah 13 is clearly talking of the last days. Babylon is modern day Iraq. Medes are modern Iranians. The Iranians are stirred up when Iraq is invaded by other nations. Iraq is destroyed as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. This will happen. Bible Quote Isaiah 13 17 Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it. See also Jeremiah 51:11

8. Israel alarm at UN force members Headline Israel alarm at UN force members Headline BBC online August 18 Event Israel says it would be "difficult if not inconceivable" to accept nations which do not recognise its right to exist as part of a UN force in Lebanon. Israeli UN envoy Dan Gillerman was speaking after Indonesia and Malaysia, which do not recognise Israel, pledged troops for the UN deployment. Malaysia said Israel should have no say in the make-up of the force. The UN has expressed cautious optimism that it can deploy an initial 3,500-strong force within two weeks. Comment Isn’t it fascinating to see the nations lining up to be part of the UN force to go to Lebanon. Here are some of Israel’s most hated enemies - some of whom do not recognise Israel’s right to exist - wanting to send troops to Israel’s northern border. No wonder Israel says it is “difficult if not inconceivable” to accept these nations. Note as well that France, Germany and Italy have also committed troops. These nations are the main nations of the BEAST of Revelation 17! All Israel’s enemies. Note too the complete lack of troops from America, Britain, Australia etc. These nations form part of the king of the south so how could they be involved north of Israel! Whether this force ever fully comes into being or not – what is surely interesting is to see how the nations line up exactly as prophesied in God's word. It is quite incredible. Bible Quote Daniel 11 40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind

9. Israel 'suspends' withdrawal plan Headline Olmert 'suspends' withdrawal plan Headlines BBC online August 18 Event Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has suspended his plans for a unilateral withdrawal from the West Bank, a government minister says. Housing minister Meir Shetreet said the plan had not been abandoned entirely. He was commenting on media reports press that the pullout was no longer at the top of Mr Olmert's agenda. Mr Olmert was elected on a platform of withdrawal from some of the West Bank, while tightening Israel's hold on large settlements and the Jordan Valley. Comment Here is one of the first major political changes in Israel following the war in Lebanon. A complete reversal of strategy. The plan was to give up the West Bank. Many in Israel believed that by giving up part of “the land” it would bring peace. It does not!! They ignore entirely the very reason they have the land in the first place is because the Lord God regathered them after nearly 2 millennia and GAVE them that exact piece of land to POSSESS it. It is not theirs to give away. We know that when Gog finally descends on Israel that Israel is in fact still in possession of both the West Bank and Jerusalem. Therefore we see now, that despite Israel wanting to give it away, it no longer is able to. The fact is that Israel has already given away some of the land promised to them by God. The Gaza Strip. The 10 spies and the people did not believe they could live in the land. They were judged for this. Bible Quote Numbers 14 2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! As already noted - this generation in Israel will return to Egypt

10. Israel mounts fresh Lebanon raid Headline Israel mounts fresh Lebanon raid Headline BBC Online August 19 Event Israel carried out an overnight raid inside Lebanon aimed at disrupting an arms transfer, the Israeli army says. One soldier died and two were injured in the Bekaa Valley operation, it said. Lebanese sources earlier told Reuters agency that three militants also died. It is the first major incident between the two sides since the ceasefire came into effect. The incident came hours after UN chief Kofi Annan warned of a "fragile" situation on the ground. Meanwhile, 50 French troops arrived in the Lebanese port of Naqoura, the first soldiers to bolster the UN force. Comment It is not all over in Lebanon. The uneasy peace continues but it is a tinderbox ready to ignite again. There are many verses in the Bible that talk of Lebanon at the time of the end. Isaiah 33:9/10 speaks of Lebanon being hewn down and then the Lord rising up and being exalted. Zechariah 11:1 speaks of fire coming on Lebanon and its doors being opened. Joel 3:2 speaking of the time when ALL nations are gathered by God to Israel to the valley of Jehoshaphat mentions in the next verse about the coasts of Palestine (Gaza Strip) and Tyre and Sidon – both major ports in Lebanon! God says that he will “reward them” with how they have “rewarded Him”. i.e. with destruction. Destruction is coming on Lebanon and the city of Tyre. Tyre (a stronghold of Hezbollah who want to destroy Israel) will come to an end. Bible Quote Ezekiel 26 2 ..because that Tyre hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people:.. 3 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against thee

11. THE END WORLD WATCH WILL BE EMAILED TO YOU EACH WEEK. PLEASE LET ME KNOW OF ANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO MAY BE INTERESTED. PLEASE SEND ME THEIR EMAIL ADDRESS AND I WILL PUT THEM ON THE REGULAR WEEKLY EMAIL ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS OR COMMENTS WELCOME. EMAIL ANDY Click Here Move your cursor around until it appears To watch again click here