October 11 - 17, 2009

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s October 11 - 17, 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 October 11 - 17, 2009 • How Turkey was lost • UN endorsement of Gaza report buries peace process • Putin lays down law for Clinton • Russia to allow pre-emptive nukes • The man who could sink the Lisbon Treaty • St Therese arrives at Westminster Cathedral To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right

5. I will bring thee forth, and all thine army,… a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. How Turkey was lost Jerusalem Post, October 15, 2009 Once the apotheosis of a pro-Western, dependable Muslim democracy, this week Turkey officially left the Western alliance and became a full member of the Iranian axis. It isn't that Ankara's behaviour changed fundamentally in recent days. There is nothing new in its massive hostility toward Israel and its effusive solicitousness toward the likes of Syria and Hamas. Since the Islamist AKP party first won control over the Turkish government in the 2002 elections, led by AKP chairman Recip Tayyip Erdogan, the Turks have incrementally and inexorably moved the formerly pro-Western Muslim democracy into the radical Islamist camp populated by the likes of Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, al-Qaida and Hamas. EVENT Israel and Turkey’s once-close ties have entered a frosty period in recent years, particularly since Israel’s invasion of Gaza. But ties between the two countries took a further dive this week after Turkey indefinitely postponed annual military exercises because of Israel’s planned involvement. On Monday, 11 Turkish government ministers descended on Syria to sign a pile of cooperation agreements. Syria then announced it was entering a military alliance with Turkey and would be holding a joint military exercise with the Turkish military. The Bible is very clear about the role of Turkey at the time of the end. It is ONSIDE with Russia, Persia, Libya etc. It is in fact latter day Togarmah. The very people mentioned in Ezekiel 38. Jewish historian Flavius Josephus regarded Togarmah as the father of the Phrygians. Phrygia is mentioned 4 times in the NT. It is right in the middle of modern Turkey. We therefore expect Turkey to be against Israel when Gog invades. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:6)

6. Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them; …And I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars UN endorsement of Gaza report buries peace process Debkafile, October 16, 2009 Richard Goldstone: Anti Israeli report The UN Human Right Council's endorsement Friday, October 16, sent the anti-Israel Goldstone war crimes report to the UN Security Council. It was approved by a majority of 25 of the 47 HRC members with 6 voting against - the US, Holland, Italy, Ukraine, Hungary and Slovakia - with 11 abstentions; France and the UK were among the 5 nations who did not vote. Ultimately, this step could expose Israeli leaders to prosecution for war crimes. The UN body administered one of the most damaging blows Israel diplomacy has suffered in recent years, condemning Israel for alleged war crimes in its 22-day Gaza operation last January - but also for work in East Jerusalem such as housing construction and archaeological excavations. Its endorsement has buried the stalled peace process between Israel and Palestinian Authority. The hammer-blow from Geneva came at a bad time for Israel: Turkey has turned on the Jewish state tooth and claw. Israel finds itself up against the entire Arab world, even Egypt and Jordan, with whom it has signed peace treaties. It now finds itself abandoned by presumed friends Britain and France as well. EVENT This has been a terrible week for Israel. Turkey has openly and blatantly broken ties with Israel. At the UN a vote is taken to potentially prosecute Israeli leaders for the war in Gaza. Even nations it considers friends i.e. Britain and France abstained in the vote. The peace process is left in tatters and Russia continues to back Iran (see later slide). Israel in response to all this has threatened to withdraw an offer of territorial concessions in the West Bank if this report is adopted officially by the United Nations. This is hugely significant as it will mean Israel is isolated from all nations on earth. It will also mean they still control at the very end the “mountains of Israel” in the West Bank. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 6:2+5)

7. Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. “Them” = the nations that invade Israel with Russia. One of which is Persia / Iran “Guard” = protector Putin lays down law for Clinton Asia Times, October 17, 2009 For the (Western) news media, what stood out from United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to Russia this week was an "appeal for cooperation" and a "challenge" for Russia to open up its political system, embrace "diversity" and shelve Cold War thinking. Who's fooling whom? One might be forgiven to picture a torrent of laughter echoing in the Kremlin's corridors - later washed down with prime Stoli vodka. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin had better things to do - he was away in Beijing for a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). In Beijing, Putin bluntly told the US not to intimidate Iran, stressing that more sanctions were "premature"; what was needed was an "agreement". Hillary was thrown by judo expert Putin - and she did not even see it coming. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, although slightly more diplomatic than Putin, defined sanctions as "counter-productive". EVENT On September 19th 2009 we reported in the WWW how Obama had decided to abandon the US missile shield in Poland. The report from the Telegraph said that Obama had done this to bring Russia onside over Iran and was hoping that Russia would allow sanctions on Iran. The WWW comment said “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.” About one month later what do we find? Russia refusing to allow sanctions on Iran! God said Russia would protect Iran – Russia continues to protect Iran…. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:7)

8. Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. Russia to allow pre-emptive nukes Associated Press, October 14, 2009 Report: New Russian military doctrine to allow preventative nuclear strikes A top Russian security official says Moscow reserves the right to conduct pre-emptive nuclear strikes to safeguard the country against aggression on both a large and a local scale, according to a newspaper interview published Wednesday. Presidential Security Council chief Nikolai Patrushev also singled out the U.S. and NATO, saying Moscow's Cold War foes still pose potential threats to Russia despite what he called a global trend toward local conflicts. The interview appeared in the daily Izvestia during a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, as U.S. and Russian negotiators try to hammer out a nuclear arms reduction treaty by December. It also came amid grumbling in Moscow over U.S. moves to modify plans for a missile shield near Russia's borders rather than ditch the idea outright. EVENT Last week Obama won the Nobel Peace prize. We noted how this could in fact link to the world saying “peace and security”. See 1 Thessalonians 5:3. The Norwegian Nobel Committee cited Obama’s “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples,” particularly his work to rid the world of nuclear weapons. In response to receiving the prize Obama said that the United States is committed to “seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.” It has only taken Russia a week to make its response to a future without nuclear weapons! Far from endorsing a world WITHOUT nuclear weapons, Russia has this week endorsed a world WITH nuclear weapons and reserves the right to use them pre-emptively. The final destruction and coming war may involve these terrible weapons. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Isaiah 13:6,8)

9. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. The man who could sink the Lisbon Treaty Daily Telegraph, October 14, 2009 One man stands between the EU and what its supporters believe to be its destiny. Vaclav Klaus, the president of the Czech Republic, is refusing to ratify the Lisbon Treaty, and is therefore blocking the creation of a new EU president, foreign minister and diplomatic service. He may only be one individual in a union of 495 million citizens, and he may be up against the massive political resources of the other 26 member states, but he has EU officials and diplomats rattled. They are worried because his stand cannot be written off as a symbolic or quixotic personal fight. If Klaus stands firm until next spring, then David Cameron will be able to hold a British referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. Without Klaus's signature, almost a decade of EU negotiations, planning and ambition would be likely to come to nothing at the hands of Britain's voters. EVENT Amazingly the whole European project – i.e. to make a European Empire is now stuck because of one man! Their frustration at this is palpable. European diplomats have longingly harked back to the 17th century, when troublesome political opponents were hurled from Prague Castle. "Someone needs to give him a hefty push out of the window," said one. Czech ministers have, according to Brussels sources, been repeatedly pressed to find constitutional means to impeach or overrule their country's president. But the fixers have a problem: Klaus is both popular and untouchable. And so the kings of Europe remain in the position described both in Daniel and Revelation at the point Christ returns. A divided kingdom. One where they have given their power and strength to the beast but do NOT have a kingdom (empire) as yet….. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Revelation 17:12)

10. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her[the false religion of Rome], my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Relics of St Therese arrive at Westminster Cathedral Daily Telegraph, October 13, 2009 Amid clouds of incense and flanked by priests carrying lanterns, the much-travelled mortal remains of an obscure French Carmelite nun were carried into Westminster Cathedral, watched by a crowd of almost 1,000 pilgrims, alternately praying and cheering. Earlier in the day, the bones of St Therese of Lisieux, who died of tuberculosis in 1897 at the age of 24, had rested for a few hours at Wormwood Scrubs Prison, west London, for the contemplation of inmates. Now, after a month-long progress round England and Wales that has attracted 150,000 people, it is the turn of Westminster Cathedral, the Byzantine-style headquarters of Roman Catholicism in Britain, to host the portions of thigh and foot bone for public veneration. . EVENT At least another 100,000 are expected to attend special services and all-night vigils in the next three days. They are coming to touch or kiss or just look at a glass bullet proof box that contains the thigh and foot bone of Therese Martin. She was a simple French girl, often in poor health and only averagely educated who died in 1897. After her death her body was divided into three. One part remains where she was born, another travels France and the other now travels the world. Many miracles and “graces” are attributed to her intercession and the majority of people arrive with requests to help sick relatives. The Roman Catholic Church is full of this sort of superstition. God singles out this religion as the “mother” of all false Christian religions. It was Rome that mixed up the Truth with the false pagan religions of that time. Rome invented the Trinity (God = Jesus), Rome invented purgatory, Christening, the worship of Mary, indulgences, the Pope, priests forgiving sins, rosary beads etc etc. Almost every other Christian religion on the planet is infected by one or more of these false doctrines. We must not be… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Revelation 18:4)

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.