July 18 – August 1, 2010

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s July 18 – August 1, 2010 “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, New International Version) To skip the introductory slides and go straight to this weeks developments click here.

2. What is a Weekly World Watch? The idea is simple. It is to look at current events and compare them to events spoken of in the Bible. . I hope to build up a picture of God’s hand working in the affairs of this world. God is bringing about a day when all nations will be gathered to Jerusalem to battle. At that time God will send His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, back to this earth. Jesus will then establish God’s kingdom on earth. This kingdom will last for ever. This is our hope and the reason we watch. The following six themes will appear repeatedly in WWW: • Israel: The continuing conflict in the Middle East and focus on Jerusalem. • Europe: Its developing union, both political and religious. • Russia: Its return to anti-Western ways as Bible prophecy’s “king of the north.” • The UK and the US: Bible prophecy’s “king of the south.” • Moral standards in decline and violence on the increase. • Increasing natural disasters: including earthquake, famine etc WWW presentations in PowerPoint can be ordered as audio/visual CDs by clicking here. Move your mouse to place the cursor on the blue link and click.

3. BIBLE QUOTE What is in a Weekly World Watch? Each WWW looks at a few key developments that have happened during the past week. It is in no way meant to be exhaustive – just a look at those events I saw as significant from a Biblical point of view. Every WWW event slide has the following format. To reveal each block of text just left click your mouse or press the space bar. You control when it appears. News Photo This is straight from a news report that caught my eye because it looked significant from a Biblical perspective, usually that of prophecy. HEADLINE The source of the headline and the date are included. This is the reporter’s description of the event. It is always a direct quotation from the news report and reflects the understanding of the reporter and editors. EVENT This is my comment on why the event is interesting to a Bible student. The intention of the WWW is to offer brief Biblical perspectives without going into detail. If more detail is desired, please e-mail me: (andy@weeklyworldwatch.co.uk). COMMENT 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. Unless stated otherwise, all quotes are from the King James Version.(Book, chapter, and verse)

4. This Week’s Developments July 18 – August 1, 2010 • Rocket from Gaza hits Israeli city • Israel retaliates with air strikes in Gaza • Netanyahu: Talks to begin in August • Israel president claims English are 'anti-Semitic' • Russian forest fires leave dozens dead • Jerusalem hosts subdued Gay Pride march To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right

5. The LORD said unto Joshua, ….. there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed. This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, Joshua did not “possess” the land of the Philistines. It remained a thorn in the side of Israel for almost their whole existence. Modern Israel has withdrawn from the same area. Rocket From Gaza Hits Israeli City New York Times, July 30, 2010 A Katyusha-type rocket fired by militants from Gaza struck the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon on Friday, damaging buildings and causing panic after more than a year of relative calm. There were no injuries, but the police said that several residents of Ashkelon, about 10 miles north of Gaza, were treated for shock. The last time the city was hit by rocket fire was in February 2009, according to an Israeli military spokeswoman. She noted that there had been many failed attempts to hit the city since Israel ended its three-week offensive in Gaza in the winter of 2008-9. Ashkelon, with a population of about 125,000, was hit frequently by rockets during the war. Gaza is governed by the Islamic militant group Hamas, which won elections in 2006. Richard Miron, a spokesman for the United Nations Middle East envoy, said in a statement on Friday that “indiscriminate rocket fire against civilians is completely unacceptable and constitutes a terrorist attack.” EVENT Israel retaliated for this attack on Ashkelon on Friday killing a Hamas commander. This was the first Israeli attack on a Hamas military target since the January 2009 Cast Lead operation. Hamas has also announced the compulsory call-up of all men aged 18 to 25 for a new Palestinian Popular Army for stepping up its confrontation with Israel. It is truly remarkable that there is a little sliver of land with a people called Palestinians which want Israel’s destruction. It is almost an exact copy of the situation when Israel existed at the time of David, over 3000 years ago. The people then were called Philistines and the territory was called Philistia. Ancient Israel should have taken Philistia but they did not. Modern Israel is in a similar position and is paying the price… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Joshua 13:1-2)

6. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Note it does NOT say when there IS peace but when the SAY it – ie talk about it! Netanyahu: Talks to begin in August Jerusalem Post, August 1, 2010 Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced at a ministerial meeting Sunday that direct negotiations with the Palestinians will begin by the middle of August. Netanyahu added that he did not receive any Palestinian peace program until now. "There is no change in settlement freeze conditions," added Netanyahu. Netanyahu's comments come after Palestinian Authority chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said that the Palestinians are proposing a detailed peace plan proposal that covers all the core issues. Erekat stated that this proposal is the best one to date and covers issues such as Jerusalem, borders and refugees. "We presented the proposal to [US Middle East envoy] George Mitchell over two months ago so that he would offer it to [Prime Minister Binyamin] Netanyahu, however we still haven't received any answers. EVENT In about 2 weeks time direct peace talks may well begin between Israel and the Palestinians. Jerusalem will be on the agenda if it does start. In this past week the Arab League has endorsed direct Palestinian peace talks with the Israelis, but has left the timing to the Palestinians, officials have said. However, today (August 1st) the Syrian president (Mr Assad) has warned that the possibility of another Middle East war is rising. "The spectre of real peace in the region is disappearing and the possibility of war is increasing," he said. Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said this week that Assad would lose power in any future war. We may be nearing the time when peace and safety (security) is spoken about and yet sudden destruction comes quickly. We need to be ready for when it comes…. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (1 Thessalonians 5:3-4)

7. And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot. Click here to download a Bible Class audio talk on the “Daughter of Tyre”. 50 mb Though Britain is clearly like a harlot at the end, she is not part of the Gog invasion of Ezekiel 38 Fury as Israel president claims English are 'anti-Semitic' Daily Telegraph, July 31, 2010 Israel's president has accused the English of being anti-Semitic and claimed that MPs pander to Muslim voters. Shimon Peres said England was "deeply pro-Arab ... and anti-Israeli", adding: "They always worked against us." He added: "There is in England a saying that an anti-Semite is someone who hates the Jews more than is necessary.“ His remarks, made in an interview on a Jewish website, provoked anger from senior MPs and Jewish leaders who said the 87-year-old president had "got it wrong". But other groups backed the former Israeli prime minister and said the number of anti-Semitic incidents had risen dramatically in the UK in recent years. The controversy follows the furore last week over David Cameron's remark that Gaza was a "prison camp", as he urged Israel to allow aid and people to move freely in and out of the Palestinian territory. EVENT Britain has definitely become more anti Semitic. As this country has turned its back on the Bible so Britain has become increasingly anti Israel. There was a time when the Britain backed Israel (like ancient Tyre). To the extent they made a declaration to establish Jews in Palestine and create a homeland for them in what we now call Israel. However like ancient Tyre, Britain has gradually weakened its support for Israel. David Cameron’s remarks this week show this to be the case. Isaiah 23:6 speaks of Tyre passing over to Tarshish (Britain). We also read of this latter day Tyre (London / Britain) “singing” like a harlot at the very end. Britain is now singing like a harlot. Britain no longer “sings” for Israel but against her. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Isaiah 23:17)

8. And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh:….And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: Russian forest fires leave dozens dead Daily Telegraph, July 15, 2010 Forest fires raged across Russia on Friday, killing at least 29 people, including three firefighters, and destroying villages during the worst heatwave since records began. Vladimir Putin, the prime minister, visited survivors at the smouldering village of Verkhnyaya Vereya, about 300 miles east of Moscow, where all 341 houses burnt down and five died in the blaze. "By winter, all the houses will be standing. I promise you that your village will be restored," said Mr Putin, adding that the standard compensation of 50,000 roubles (£1,060) per household for loss of possessions would be increased to 200,000 roubles per resident. The fires have spread quickly across more than 200,000 acres in recent days after a record heat wave and severe drought. July has been the hottest month in Moscow in 130 years of recorded history. Fields and forests have dried up, and much of this year's wheat harvest has been ruined. EVENT COMMENT Fires have raged across Russia causing enormous devastation. The worst drought and highest temperatures ever recorded have created a tinderbox which has ignited. On the other hand over 1000 people have died in Pakistan and over 1,000,000 have been affected this week in the worst flooding in living memory. Record breaking rainfall has caused massive destruction. We are surely seeing wonders in the heavens above (rain) and on the earth beneath (fire) as prophesied. The word “wonder” means “portent”. A portent is a sign or warning that something momentous or calamitous, is likely to happen. Something momentous AND calamitous is about to happen. The return of Christ… BIBLE QUOTE (Acts 2:17,19)

9. They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path. The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? Russia approves 65 per cent defence budget increase Daily Telegraph, July 30, 2010 The Russian government has approved a 65 per cent increase in the country's defence budget over the next three years as it rushes to upgrade its ageing Soviet-era military machine. The annual budget will rise from the equivalent of £26 billion this year to around £43 billion in 2013 with much of the money earmarked for major hardware and equipment upgrades in the army, navy and air force. The spending boost is part of an ambitious £276 billion rearmament programme to re-equip Russia's conventional forces between now and 2020. Vladimir Popovkin, Russia's first deputy defence minister, said earlier this month that the overall programme budget is also being reassessed and could be boosted to 425 billion pounds in the near future. Though Russia fought and won a short war against Georgia in 2008, the conflict exposed how low-tech much of Russia's military machine remained. EVENT The prophet Joel speaks of an army invading Israel. The army is not named specifically. However 5 times in the book of Joel the phrase “the day of the LORD” is used. We know therefore that in its ultimate fulfilment this must be speaking of the final conflict over Israel. From other passages we know that Russia will be the nation that leads the invasion of Israel from the north. Joel 2:20 speaks of “the northern army” being destroyed by God’s power. We read in Joel 2:5 of the northern army being a “strong people in battle array”. Verse 7 says they are “mighty men” and “they shall not break their ranks”. As Russia develops its weapons we see their military strength increasing. Quote below Joel 2:7… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE

10. Have ye forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness of the kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, and your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they have committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem? Jerusalem hosts subdued Gay Pride march Associated Press, July 29, 2010 Thousands of Israelis marched calmly Thursday in Jerusalem's longest gay pride parade despite opposition from anti-gay demonstrators. The subdued march from Jerusalem city centre to the parliament building contrasted with flamboyant gay pride parades elsewhere in the world. Organizers said they were adjusting to the city's religious character and using it to promote their political agenda. Carrying rainbow banners, several thousand demonstrators walked along the 1.5 mile (2.5 kilometre) route. Absent were standard features of many such parades — multicolour floats carrying scantily and provocatively dressed participants, loud music, wild costumes and explicit public examples of homosexual activity. EVENT Jerusalem – the city of peace, the future capital of the entire earth where Christ the son of God will rule as king – is currently full of wickedness and abominations. The verse below speaks of wickedness taking place in the streets of Jerusalem. It goes on to say in the following verses…“They are not humbled even unto this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers. Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, and to cut off all Judah.” When we see events as the one reported above we long all the more for the return of our Lord Jesus. “Of the increase of his [the Lord Jesus Christ’s] government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Isa 9:7 Let us pray his return will come very soon. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Jeremiah 44:9)

11. Weekly World Watch The end of this week’s WWW will be e-mailed to you each week. Please forward the e-mail addresses of others who may be interested. I will include them in the list of recipients. Comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome. E-MAIL ANDY Click here (Move the mouse until the cursor appears.) To watch again, click here.