September 13 - 19, 2009

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s September 13 - 19, 2009 “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 September 13 - 19, 2009 • ‘Landmark’ home for EU empire and its president • Middle East summit in doubt as Israel stands firm • Obama – gambling with Europe’s security • US to urge Kremlin to join fight over Iran’s weapons • Anger at Iranian Holocaust denial • Israelis welcome in Jewish New Year To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right

5. But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. ‘Landmark’ home for EU empire and its president Daily Telegraph, September 19, 2009 A state of the art building that will cost taxpayers £280 million is to be built in Brussels to showcase the European Union's growing global ambitions and house the office of a new President. The cost of the new environmentally friendly building, centred on an "urn shaped" summit meeting room, has already risen by £66.5 million since planning began. Named the Résidence Palace after an existing Art Deco building it will incorporate, the new summit venue, to be completed by 2013, will have an "umbrella" of solar panels and rain-water recycling facilities. The complex of buildings will also house the offices of a new EU President, "foreign minister" and, possibly, the European diplomatic service created under the Lisbon Treaty, should it be ratified by a second Irish referendum next month. EVENT The current EU parliament building in Strasbourg is designed on the famous painting of Babel. Europe wants its citizen to know that they see the European project as a Babel project. In other words bringing nations and languages together. We know of course God separated the nations for a purpose. To stop their godlessness getting worse. This new building is for a future president of Europe and his officials. Inside the square building is an enormous room shaped like an urn. Greek urns on which the design is based were made of clay. Clay is symbolic of man and his ways. See verse below. Interesting then that the president of Europe (if we get one) will be sat in such an object. Babel is all to do with man’s ways, man’s thinking, man’s answers. Remember as well Nebuchadnezzar’s image. Its feet were part iron and part potter’s clay. Christ returns in the days of a divided Europe – we are living in those days. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Isaiah 64:8)

6. Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon. For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. Middle East summit in doubt as Israel stands firm Daily Telegraph, September 19, 2009 President Barack Obama's hopes for a Middle East peace conference were dashed on Friday when his envoy left Israel without securing a deal over settlements in the occupied territories. George Mitchell flew home after a week of frantic shuttle diplomacy between the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and other regional leaders. The chief Palestinian negotiator quoted Mr Mitchell as saying he had been unable to secure concessions. Mr Netanyahu is believed to have refused to go further than his previous offer of a temporary freeze on settlements on the West Bank, not including either East Jerusalem or 2,500 homes to which he recently gave the go-ahead The most he could promise, according to one Israeli official, was to extend his proposed halt from six months to nine months. The Palestinians were demanding a total freeze, and without one were refusing to agree to negotiations Mr Obama was hoping to arrange between the three men in New York later this month. EVENT President Obama is pushing hard to persuade the Israeli prime minister to stop all building in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. So far the best he has managed to get Israel to agree to is a temporary halt for 9 months – however all existing building work would continue during this time. The Palestinians insist on a total cessation of building. Obama does not understand that the land of Israel is God’s land and he has given it to the Jews. He does not understand that Jerusalem is the “apple of his eye”. He does not understand that God is using him to bring about the final war over Israel. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Zechariah 2:7,8)

7. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. Obama – gambling with Europe’s security Daily Telegraph, September 19, 2009 Mr Obama's decision to gamble with Europe's security – for this is what it means – can only be defended if he now secures a real and incontestable gain. That hinges on Russia. The Kremlin, which bitterly opposed the missile-defence scheme, has had its way. In the next few weeks, we will all learn the answer to the burning question: what will Russia give in return? There is no doubt about what Mr Obama wants. Iran's nuclear programme continues apace and the underground centrifuges in Natanz are still enriching uranium in brazen defiance of five United Nations resolutions. Will Russia allow such a resolution to pass – or will Moscow follow its usual practice and ally with China to shield Iran? If the Kremlin vetoes or dilutes a sanctions resolution, this will make a peaceful resolution of the confrontation with Iran far less likely, and shorten the odds on a war in the Middle East next year. It will also show that Mr Obama's monumental gamble has failed. The President has effectively placed the fate of a vital element of his foreign policy in the hands of the Kremlin. That is a sorry pass for a superpower to reach. EVENT The event above refers to President Obama’s decision this week to abort America’s missile defence system in eastern Europe. The text above is the editorial comment in the newspaper about this. It is significant that the press around the world see this move as a “monumental gamble”. Obama is now relying on Russia to reciprocate. Russia is undoubtedly strengthened by this decision. We reported last week on “craven Britain”. America (a young lion) is also acting cowardly here. World leaders may see this as appeasing not leading. Obama is looking weak – the position the US is in when Russia invades. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Psalm 34:10)

8. Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD. Let them melt away as waters which run continually US to urge Kremlin to join fight over Iran’s weapons Daily Telegraph, September 19, 2009 President Barack Obama will meet Dmitry Medvedev for face to face talks next week in an attempt to urge Russia to back a tougher approach towards Iran. The leaders are to hold a one-hour meeting in New York on Wednesday with Kremlin officials promising the discussions will be wide-ranging. Mr Obama is hoping to hammer out a deal on possible sanctions ahead of talks with Tehran on its nuclear weapons programme set for October 1. The meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations general assembly will come less than a week after Washington dropped its missile shield plans to the delight of Moscow. Mr Medvedev said the decision to abandon plans for defence bases in Poland and the Czech Republic meant he would listen to US concerns more attentively in future but claimed there had been no "primitive deals". Russia's prime minister, Vladimir Putin, hailed the move as "brave and correct". EVENT Obama is banking on Russia’s help with penalising Iran on its nuclear ambitions. Once more Obama does not understand what God says about Russia and Iran’s relationship. We are clearly told that Russia will act a a guard or protector of Iran prior to the invasion of Israel. We have seen this over the last few years especially. Obama is about to be very disappointed with Russia. Perhaps it is one reason why America - as a young lion” merely asks why Russia is invading Israel! Surely there will be disbelief when Russia invades especially if America has tried to appease this nation. The final war WILL be a battle of the king of the north versus king of the south. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Psalm 58:6)

9. And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, and skilful to destroy. Anger at Iranian Holocaust denial BBConline, September 19, 2009 The Iranian president's latest denial of the Nazi Holocaust has drawn strong condemnation from Western powers. Speaking in the capital, Tehran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the Holocaust was a "a lie based on an unprovable and mythical claim". Germany said the comments were a "disgrace to his country" while the US said they would "isolate Iran further". Mr Ahmadinejad made the remarks at an annual rally where opposition supporters clashed with police. Reformists, who have been banned from holding demonstrations since disputed presidential elections in June, defied warnings not to use the pro-Palestinian Quds (Jerusalem) Day marches to stage protests. As part of the Quds Day events, President Ahmadinejad delivered a speech in which he repeated previous assertions that the Holocaust was a lie. "The pretext [the Holocaust] for the creation of the Zionist regime [Israel] is false," he told worshippers at Tehran university. "It is a lie based on an unprovable and mythical claim." EVENT Al-Quds Day, is an annual event on the Islamic calendar opposing Israel and supporting the Palestinians. Anti-Zionist demonstrations are held on this day in some Muslim and Arab countries and by Muslim and Arab communities around the world, but especially in Iran, where the occasion was first suggested. It is held each year on the last Friday of Ramadan. It was this day (yesterday) that the Iranian leader made this speech. We know the holocaust did happen. The word actually means great destruction resulting in loss of life, especially with fire. Another holocaust is coming. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 21:31)

10. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Israelis welcome in Jewish New Year Associated Press, September 18, 2009 Israelis were welcoming the Jewish New Year on Friday, grateful for the recent calm spell in the region but sceptical that the coming year would see the achievement of ever-elusive peace. The Jewish New Year, or Rosh Hashanah, coincides this year with Eid al-Fitr, a Muslim feast marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. EVENT The Jews celebrate their New Year today, Saturday 19th, though it began last night. Today is the 1st day of the Jewish month Tishri. The Jews believe that today is in fact the anniversary of when God made Adam on the 6th day. It makes sense for creation to be in the September. Everything was very good – it was made mature – the trees had fruit which again would point to autumn. It is also quite possible that Jesus was born at this time – September. Remember the shepherds were on the hills watching over their flocks at night. Shepherds were not in the fields in the winter time. They are in the fields early in March until early October. This would place Jesus' birth in the spring or early autumn. It would fit well if the first Adam was created on the same day that the second Adam (Jesus) was born. Another point is that the Feast of Trumpets begins today. It is when the shofar or rams horn is blown. See picture above of a man blowing a shofar. It was blown on feast days, new moons, assembling of the tribes and at the coronation of a king. We are told that when Christ returns trumpets shall sound. It could be that Christ's first coming was at this time. It could be that his second coming is at this time as well. We look up for we know the signs point to the nearness of his return. Let us not sleep but be found watching when he comes. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Matthew 24:31)

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.