September 19 - 25, 2010

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s September 19 - 25, 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 September 19 - 25, 2010 • Pope beatifies Cardinal Newman as his UK tour ends • Vatican Bank 'investigated over money-laundering' • Russia jostles for pole position as Arctic melts • Israel nears breakthrough deal on settlements • Israel wants immediate peace talks with Syria • North and South Korea on the brink of war To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right

5. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry.. THE PAPACY!! Pope beatifies Cardinal Newman as his UK tour ends Cardinal Newman (left) died in 1890. Deacon Jack Sullivan (right) prayed to the Cardinal in 2001. Apparently the dead Cardinal cured the Deacon’s back problem! BBConline, September 19, 2010 Thousands have witnessed the Pope's beatification of 19th Century churchman Cardinal John Henry Newman, before the pontiff's departure by air for Rome. Pope Benedict told more than 50,000 people at a Mass in Birmingham's Cofton Park that they were celebrating the cardinal's "outstanding holiness". Prime Minister David Cameron told the Pope shortly before he left that Britain "cherished faith". The Pope replied the diversity of Britain was an "enriching challenge". He had earlier urged bishops meeting at St Mary's College, Oscott, to "make reparation" for child abuse by priests. The Pope flew out of Birmingham airport at the end of his four-day UK tour. He was praised in a speech at the airport by David Cameron, who said the Pope had "offered a message to each and every one of us". EVENT This was the climax and in fact the main purpose of the Pope’s visit to Britain - to ‘beatify’ Cardinal Newman. This is the process the Papacy says you need to go through to become a saint. They say to become a saint you must perform a miracle AFTER you are dead. Apparently a man with a back problem prayed to Cardinal Newman (who died in 1890) and was healed. Another part of the process is to exhume (dig up) the dead body. They do this so that it can be put in a cask which is then put in a shrine or a church so people can pray to it and worship it. Cardinal Newman was a convert from the Anglican Church to Catholicism and in many ways did not accept all the Papal teachings. He definitely did not want to be beatified. Before he died he asked to be buried surrounded with compost so his body would totally decompose and therefore could not be exhumed and the process would fail. When they did exhume him there was nothing left at all. A lock of hair was “found” and so this will be used and encased in a shrine. Newman must still perform one more miracle before sainthood! COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (1 Timothy 4:1-2)

6. And the woman [the Papacy] was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication; And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Vatican Bank 'investigated over money-laundering' BBConline, September 21, 2010 The head of the Vatican Bank, Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, is under investigation as part of a money-laundering inquiry, police sources say. Prosecutors also seized 23m euros ($30m; £19m) from the bank's accounts with another smaller institution. The inquiry was launched after two suspicious transactions were reported to tax police in Rome. The Vatican said it was "perplexed and astonished", and expressed full confidence in Mr Tedeschi. The Vatican Bank, known officially as the Institute for Religious Works (IOR), was created during World War II to administer accounts held by religious orders, cardinals, bishops and priests. EVENT The Catholic Church is steeped in corruption. Whether you look at their doctrines, their horrific abuse of children or even their finances - it is corrupt. The Bank of Italy's financial intelligence unit tipped off Italy's tax police last week, after two suspicious transactions were reported between the Vatican Bank and two different Italian banks. Avro Manhattan’s famous book entitled “The Vatican Billions” says the following… "The Catholic church is the biggest financial power, wealth accumulator and property owner in existence. She is a greater possessor of material riches than any other single institution, corporation, bank, giant trust, government or state of the whole globe. The pope, as the visible ruler of this immense amassment of wealth, is consequently the richest individual of the twentieth century. No one can realistically assess how much he is worth in terms of billions of dollars”. Much wealth of the Vatican is in gold. Many billion dollars of gold ingots are stored in the US Federal Reserve Bank for them. This ‘harlot’ religion, famous for her wealth will come to a total end when Jesus returns. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Revelation 17:4-5)

7. He [the king of the north – Russia] shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: Russia will take control over treasures of gold. This could be rendered “hidden stores of wealth”. Russia jostles for pole position as Arctic melts The Australian, September 20, 2010 It is a question that could provoke a new Cold War as global warming opens up the possibility of exploiting vast new energy reserves: Who owns the Arctic? Vladimir Putin opens an international conference on the future of the Arctic on Wednesday, the latest sign of the Kremlin's determination to establish itself as the dominant northern power. The two-day meeting in Moscow is the first big international project of the Russian Geographical Society (RGS) since Mr Putin, the Prime Minister, installed himself as head of the organisation's board of trustees last year. His close ally, Sergei Shoigu, the Emergency Situations Minister, became president of the RGS at the same time. The issue of sovereignty was academic as long as the region's hostile environment kept its potential riches beyond the reach of technology. But with glaciers and sea ice melting in the Arctic at twice the rate of other parts of the world, the diplomatic temperature is rising over the future of this 21st-century Klondike. Russia, the US, Canada and other Arctic nations are jostling for position, asserting ownership over parts of the northern seabed that are estimated to contain billions of tonnes of oil and gas. EVENT American geologists estimate that the Arctic may contain at least 90billion barrels of oil and as much as 1.55quadrillion cubic metres of gas, or a third of global reserves. Russia wants this rich reserve for itself. Back in 2007 the Kremlin staked its claim by sending two mini-submarines to plant a titanium Russian flag on the Arctic seabed. The Bible speaks of Russia very clearly. It describes Russia as “king of the north”. We also read that this “king of the north” takes “gold and silver” when he invades the Middle East / Israel. God is saying that Russia will be interested in wealth and spoils. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 11:42-43)

8. Also, thou son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel, and say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD: Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the enemy hath said against you, Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession:…I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; The “mountains of Israel” run straight through the West Bank! Israel nears breakthrough deal on settlements Daily Telegraph, September 24, 2010 Israel is willing to offer a last-minute compromise on settlement building in an effort to salvage peace talks with the Palestinian leadership, one of the Jewish state's officials has said. News of a possible breakthrough came just 48 hours before a partial moratorium on Jewish residential building in the West Bank expires on Sunday evening. A row over the extension of the settlement freeze has threatened to derail the negotiations, launched in Washington at the beginning of the month. Israel has refused to prolong the moratorium, while the Palestinian leadership had threatened to walk out of the talks if any Jewish construction on occupied territory resumed. Amid growing US pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu to find a mutually acceptable solution, one of his officials hinted that the Israeli prime minister was prepared to cede more ground to the Palestinians than previously stated. "Israel is prepared to reach a compromise acceptable to all parties," the official was quoted as saying. Without providing details, the official insisted that "there cannot be zero construction" EVENT At 6:06pm on Sunday the 10 month moratorium expires for Jewish building on the West Bank. Ceremonies are being planned in settlements across the West Bank to celebrate the end of the freeze. The settlers say planning permission for more than 2,000 homes has been completed, meaning they can build immediately. The difficulty for the peace process is that if the building restarts the Palestinians have vowed to leave the talks. And so a form of words and a tortuous deal is being desperately sought. Pressure is enormous on Israel to keep the moratorium in place. The peace process that only started a few weeks ago is on the brink. The atmosphere is fraught. Whatever happens as we move forward we know we are moving closer to it all exploding - into war… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 36:1,2,23)

9. Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman. Wherefore I poured my fury upon them God is going to bring his judgements on IsraelThis chapter was fulfilled in the past when Israel once lived in the land and is being fulfilled again. Israel wants immediate peace talks with Syria Jerusalem Post, September 20, 2010 President Shimon Peres spoke at the UN's General Assembly on Monday saying giving a rousing address to members and a hope for peace. "History is written in blood. Most wars have been waged over territory. Today, creativity andknowledge have taken the place of land as the main source of wealth," said Peres. Peres also told the assembly that Israel was interested in immediately starting direct negotiations with Syria. "In spite of wars, we have made peace with Egypt and Jordan," Peres said in his speech. "We are ready to enter direct negotiations with Syria right away.“ He emphasized that Israel seeks to be at peace with its neighbours and peace within the entire Middle East, sound optimistic for the success of the current peace talks with the Palestinian Authority. "We are now negotiating with the Palestinians in order to realize a Jewish state – Israel, and an Arab state – Palestine…and I believe that we shall succeed," Peres declared. "I believe that the Middle East has room for every person, every nation, every religion. Israel will continue to exist and aspire to peace with its neighbours." EVENT The President of Israel spoke to the United Nations General Assembly this week and said Israel wants peace. He also said that knowledge and creativity is more important than land! He spoke of peace when a new Arab state exists alongside Israel. Ezekiel 36 quoted on the previous slide speaks of Israel’s enemies wanting Israel “as a possession” (v2). The cities in the land have become “a prey and deirision”.(v4) Then God says concerning “the land of Israel…in my jealousy and in my fury, because YE have borne the shame of the heathen”.(v6) “I do this not for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake which YE have profaned among the heathen”.v22 COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 36:17)

10. Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: {Prepare: Heb. Sanctify or make sacred} Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. North and South Korea on the brink of war Daily Telegraph, September 24, 2010 North and South Korea are on the brink of war, a top Russian diplomat has warned, calling for both countries to exercise restraint and sit down for talks. In Moscow's bleakest assessment of the situation on the Korean peninsula yet, Russian deputy foreign minister Alexei Borodavkin said tensions between the two countries were running at their highest and most dangerous level in a decade. "Tensions on the Korean Peninsula could not be any higher. The only next step is a conflict," he told foreign policy experts at a round table on the subject in Moscow. His prediction came two months after North Korea vowed to wage "a sacred war" against South Korea and its biggest backer, the United States. Tensions bubbled over in March after Washington and Seoul concluded that a North Korean submarine had sunk a South Korean naval vessel in the Yellow Sea. Mr Borodavkin called for the investigation into exactly who was responsible for the sinking of the vessel, the Cheonan, to be urgently closed in order to remove an obvious source of tension. EVENT As the world teeters on the brink of war in the Middle East we also see the distinct possibility of war between North and South Korea. Interestingly North Korea is backed by Russia and South Korea is backed by America. In effect we have the “king of the north” versus “king of the south” being played out here as well. It cannot be coincidence that this is developing towards conflict at the same time. There is also increasing tension between Japan and China. The Telegraph headline this week was “Japan threatens build up of military forces amid rising tensions with China”. Russia backs China – America backs Japan. The time of trouble is at hand… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Joel 3:9-10)

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.