May 3 - 9, 2009

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s May 3 - 9, 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 May 3 - 9, 2009 • US presses Israel over two states • Palestinians seek Papal pressure on Israel • Peres wants to yield sites to Vatican • Iran, Syria back Palestinian militancy • Russia expels Canadian diplomats • Cosmic blast sets distance mark To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right

5. I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat [in Israel] whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted [divided] my land. US presses Israel over two states BBConline, May 5, 2009 US Vice-President Joe Biden has said Israel must back a two-state solution to the conflict with the Palestinians. Mr Biden also called for an end to Jewish settlement-building - one of the Palestinians' key demands. Israel's recently-elected right-wing government has so far resisted calls to publicly support Palestinian statehood. Mr Biden's remarks came hours before Israeli President Shimon Peres and US President Barack Obama were due to hold talks in the US capital. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet President Obama later this month. Addressing the main US Israel lobby, the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), Mr Biden said Israel must take concrete measures. "Israel has to work toward a two-state solution. You're not going to like my saying this but not build more settlements, dismantle existing outposts and allow Palestinians freedom of movement." EVENT This week the President of Israel met the President of the USA. The difference between the two is that the former is a figurehead with no real power while the latter is powerful – commander in chief of the world’s most powerful army. Shimon Peres met Obama on Monday - a month before Benjamin Netanyahu who is prime minister. Netanyahu is considered right wing – he wants to keep Jerusalem and the land of Israel. Peres does not. He is left wing and therefore closer to Obama’s own views. Obama wants Israel to give up the West Bank. A day before his meeting with Shimon Peres, the US Vice President called again for Israel to back a two-state solution. They want to divide God’s land. In turn Obama committed the USA to Israel’s security. However, we know that it is God that provides Israel’s security. Ultimately the USA will not protect Israel from God’s wrath as He sends nations against them… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Joel 3:2)

6. I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. God is jealous for Jerusalem. Anyone who tries to alter her status will suffer His fury. Palestinians seek Papal pressure on Israel Associated Press, May 8, 2009 Click here to read more on the covenant Palestinian officials are using Pope Benedict XVI's visit next week to spotlight their disputes with Israel, and in doing so, are drawing criticism that they are playing politics with an event meant to bridge differences in the Holy Land. Palestinian leaders this week made public a long-simmering dispute over Israeli plans to demolish part of a Catholic church that was allegedly built illegally. That followed an argument with Israel over a plan to host the pope in an outdoor theatre the Palestinians were building alongside Israel's massive West Bank separation barrier. The pope will start his five-day visit Monday after a stop in Jordan over the weekend. He said he will be visiting as a "pilgrim of peace." On Wednesday, Rafiq Husseini, an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, told a news conference the pontiff "should come to see the suffering of the Palestinian people and not just to see the stones and historical churches in Palestine." EVENT On the 15th February 2000, the late Pope (John Paul II) signed a covenant with the late Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat. The agreement said "an equitable solution for the issue of Jerusalem, based on international resolutions". More significantly, it added that "unilateral decisions and actions altering the specific character and status of Jerusalem are morally and legally unacceptable". This is a reference to 1967 when the Jews took Jerusalem. This covenant about Jerusalem was signed with the Palestinians and therefore was taken to indicate Rome’s acceptance of Palestinian claims to the city of Jerusalem. Pope John Paul II then visited Jerusalem in March 2000. Once more the Palestinians are taking this Pope’s visit as a sign he is on their side. Trouble began over Jerusalem just months after this agreement and visit – trouble is coming again…. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Zechariah 8:2-3)

7. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem [Vatican says this = Rome], coming down from God out of heaven, …………….God himself shall be with them, and be their God. [Vatican says this = Pope!!] Peres wants to yield sites to Vatican CLICK HEREto go to Israel National Radio. You can download a fascinating interview on this subject. On the website you need to download the audio file (17mb) by clicking on the down arrow next to Listen Now! Jerusalem Post, May 4, 2009 President Shimon Peres is willing to hand over Israeli sovereignty of key Christian holy sites to the Vatican, a proposition that is reportedly opposed by Interior Minister Eli Yishai and that has ruffled feathers among other senior government officials, Army Radio reported on Monday. Beit Hanassi could not be reached for comment on Monday, as it does not issue statements to the press while the president is abroad. According to the radio report, the president is exerting pressure on the government to give up sovereignty over six sites, including the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, the Coenaculum on Mount Zion, Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, and the Church of the Multiplication on the Kinneret. The report quoted Beit Hanassi as saying that talks had been going on long enough, and that the time had come to compromise with the Vatican and come to an agreement. EVENT We have to understand the problem that Rome has with Jerusalem. The problem is simple. How can Rome say that she is the New Jerusalem and the Kingdom of God on earth IF the Jews are now back in the land in control of Jerusalem? For hundreds of years Rome has said that the Jews had been rejected and cast off by God and the evidence was that this was correct. The Jews had no nation and did not have Jerusalem as their capital. All this changed in 1948 and especially 1967 when the Jews once more had total sovereign control over Jerusalem. Somehow or other Rome needs to breakdown Jewish control over this city. One way is backing the Palestinians and their claim to East Jerusalem. The other way is to persuade Israel to give them sovereignty over buildings and land in Jerusalem. Peres it appears is willing to do this! COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Revelation 21:2-3)

8. The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. Iran, Syria back Palestinian militancy Associated Press, May 6, 2009 The leaders of Iran and Syria reaffirmed their support for "Palestinian resistance" on Tuesday, a defiant message to the U.S. and its Mideast allies who are uneasy over Washington's efforts to forge closer ties with the hard-line government in Tehran. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was expected to meet with the chiefs of Hamas and other Damascus-based Palestinian radical groups during his visit to Syria, said Khaled Abdul-Majid of the Popular Struggle Front said. Iran is a strong supporter of militant Islamic groups in the region, including Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah. Ahmadinejad's visit to Syria comes as the U.S. is trying to improve strained ties with the two longtime adversaries. But it could turn out to be another reminder of what a divisive role he plays on the world stage. In the past, Ahmadinejad has called for Israel to be wiped off the map and questioned the Holocaust. Sitting alongside Syrian President Bashar Assad at a news conference, Ahmadinejad said his alliance with Iran's closest Arab friend was achieving "victories" in preventing "the big powers' offensive to dominate the region." EVENT So far this week we have had America backing a two state solution and in effect backing the Palestinian claim for some of Israel’s land. We have had the Vatican pushing hard on taking sovereignty over parts of Jerusalem – in effect taking take land off Israel. And now we have Iran and Syria reaffirming their support for the Palestinians. These nations take it further and back “resistance” which means terrorism and violence against Israel. We can surely see Israel becoming the centre of a vortex with the whole world swirling around her like a whirlwind. We can see how all nations will one day be gathered against her to battle. The time is fast approaching…. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Isaiah 17:13)

9. And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him [him = king of the north = Russia]: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind Russia expels Canadian diplomats BBConline, May 6, 2009 Russia has expelled two Canadian diplomats working for Nato's Moscow office in response to an "unfriendly act" by the military alliance. Last week Nato expelled two Russian envoys from its headquarters in Brussels, reportedly due to spying. Nato said in a statement that the Russian move was unjustified and "very unfortunate and counterproductive". The diplomatic spat came as Nato began military exercises in Georgia, seen by Russia as a "provocation". Last August Russian and Georgian forces clashed in a brief war over breakaway pro-Moscow Georgian territories. Nine months after the war in Georgia relations between Russia and Nato were supposed to be getting back on track, says the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Moscow. Instead, they have taken a sudden and dramatic turn for the worse, our correspondent reports. EVENT Today (Saturday 9th) Russia has warned its foes not to dare make any aggression against the country, as it put on a Soviet-style show of military might in Red Square including nuclear capable missiles. The display to mark the 64th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany came amid renewed tensions with NATO. Mr Medvedev (standing by Mr Putin) issued a stern warning to any countries considering what he called “military adventures”. He said they would be met with the proper response. He is certainly referring to Georgia, possibly the Ukraine and also NATO countries that are practicing war games with Georgia. As we read in the article above – things have taken a sudden and dramatic turn for the worse. Russia is being pushed. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 11:40)

10. Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel…. Cosmic blast sets distance mark BBConline, April 28, 2009 The cataclysmic explosion of a giant star early in the history of the Universe is the most distant single object ever detected by telescopes. The colossal blast was picked up first by Nasa's Swift space observatory which is tuned to see the high-energy gamma-rays emitted from extreme events. Other telescopes then followed up the signal, confirming the source to be more than 13 billion light-years away. Scientists say the star's destruction probably resulted in a black hole. "This gets us into a realm where we've never been before," said Professor Nial Tanvir, of the University of Leicester, UK. "This is the most remote gamma-ray burst (GRB) ever detected, and also the most distant object ever discovered." EVENT We cannot comprehend the size of the universe. To see an object that is 13 billion light years away is astounding. To reach it you would have to travel at 186,000 miles every second for 13 billion years! So why mention this? Well in Jeremiah 31:37 (quoted below) we are told that if mankind can achieve 2 things then God will cast off Israel. The 2 challenges are: firstly to measure the universe and secondly to search out the centre of the earth. These are the 2 most impossible things for mankind to ever accomplish. It does not matter how big our telescopes get we will never measure the whole universe. It does not matter how clever we become we will never search out the foundation of the earth. (unless in science fiction movies!) We know for a certainty therefore that God will NEVER cast off Israel. They are still his people and always will be. The wonder is.. we can be grafted on as well. Romans 11. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Jeremiah 31:37)

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.