September 6 - 12, 2009

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s September 6 - 12, 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 6 - 12, 2009 • US: Iran near ‘breakout point’ for nuclear bomb • Russian ship was carrying missiles to Iran • Putin warns against Iran attack • Rockets hit Israel from Lebanon • UK government is craven • Early menorah depiction found in Galilee To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right

5. And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. US: Iran near ‘breakout point’ for nuclear bomb Israel National News, September 9, 2009 The United States has confirmed long-time Israeli intelligence reports that Iran is close to achieving the ability to produce a nuclear bomb. Less than a year ago, American intelligence officials dismissed Israeli claims as inaccurate. “Iran is now either very near or already in possession of sufficient low-enriched uranium to produce one nuclear weapon, if the decision were made to further enrich it to weapons grade,” said Glyn Davies, the U.S. envoy to United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meeting in Vienna. This “moves Iran closer to a dangerous and destabilizing possible breakout capacity,” Davies added. In what may be a related matter, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reportedly flew to Russia on Tuesday on a secret mission, apparently over Russian arms deals with Iran and Syria. EVENT It appears that Iran is now ready to make a nuclear weapon when it chooses. It has made enough low-enriched uranium to do this. Reports say that it could be turned into a nuclear bomb within months if they so wanted. The big question is – will their be conflict with Iran? In fact it is possible to see conflict with Iran in Daniel 7. We know that this prophecy concerns 4 beasts which identify with the 4 ancient empires of Babylon, Medes/Persians, Greeks and Rome. Verse 12 tells us “their dominion was taken away” BUT “a prolonging life was given them”. In other words though their empire status would end they would continue in some way. Why were these beasts given a prolonged life if not for some future purpose. Modern Iran equates to the Medes / Persians which equates to the bear. The bear arises and devours much flesh. In a latter day situation the bear might do exactly this… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 7:5)

6. He will cause deceit to prosper, ..When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power. NB Deceit prospers under the Russian leader Russian ship was carrying missiles to Iran Daily Telegraph, September 11, 2009 The saga of the missing Arctic Sea cargo ship took a fresh twist on Thursday after a Russian newspaper reported that Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, made a secret visit to Moscow last Monday to discuss Russian arms shipments to Iran and Syria. Russia's Kommersant daily cited a senior Kremlin source. The revelation appeared to support maritime and military experts who have claimed the ship was carrying S-300 anti-aircraft missiles for Iran, that Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, found out, and that the Kremlin was given time and space to stop the delivery and cover it up in order to save face. Russia's foreign minister has publicly and fiercely denied those allegations, pledging a full investigation into the affair, while Russian investigators say they have found nothing on board the ship except the official cargo of timber worth just over one million pounds. The vessel went missing for almost three weeks in July and August and, according to the official Kremlin version of events, was the victim of what would be the first case of piracy in European waters in the modern era. But the Kremlin's storyline has failed to convince a European piracy officials. EVENT Back in July there was a mysterious hijacking of a cargo ship called Arctic Sea. The vessel vanished after being board by “pirates” in the Baltic. It is now the centre of the greatest post-Cold War riddle since the killing of Alexander Litvinenko in 2006. As the newspaper reports it seems as though Mossad found out about a huge Russian missile delivery to Iran and Syria. Israel then gave Russia chance to save face by pretending the ship had been boarded by pirates. Netanyahu’s secret visit to Moscow this week might have been connected with this and possible strikes on Iran. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 8:25 NIV)

7. Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day. This verse uses “guard” in this context Putin warns against Iran attack BBConline, September 11, 2009 Russian PM Vladimir Putin has warned against military action targeting Iran or imposing new sanctions to curb its nuclear programme. Iran's latest proposals on its nuclear ambitions have brought diverging views from the US and Russia. Earlier, a US official told the BBC that Washington was unhappy with the proposals, submitted on Wednesday. Correspondents say parties involved are making their positions clear ahead of the UN General Assembly this month. President Barack Obama has given Tehran until the end of September to respond to his friendlier overtures or face new sanctions. But the US and Israel have never ruled out the option of air strikes on Iran to stop it acquiring an atomic weapon. Mr Putin, speaking in Moscow, said any attack on Iran would be "very dangerous, unacceptable and would lead to "an explosion of terrorism". EVENT COMMENT On Wednesday, Sept. 9, Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki finally handed the six-nation group of nuclear negotiators his government's long-promised reply to the package of incentives they offered for talks to resolve the dispute on Tehran's nuclear program. From the document's tone, Iran is putting itself forward as the seventh world power and demands a key role in all important international political, economic, social and cultural policy-making. This is not the sort of response America wanted. We are racing towards a crunch time with Iran and the nations are beginning to substantially diverge over how to deal with the situation. Israel on the one hand wants military action. America is sat dithering in the middle. Russia wants no attack and has previously threatened to get involved if any nation does. Russia is clearly acting as a guard to Iran as Ezekiel 38:7 tells us she would. Verse below uses “guard” in this way. BIBLE QUOTE (Nehemiah 4:22)

8. See how your enemies are astir, how your foes rear their heads. With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish. Rockets hit Israel from Lebanon BBConline, September 11, 2009 Two rockets have been fired into northern Israel from Lebanon. The Israeli military responded with eight shells fired into a fruit plantation near the city of Tyre, reports said. Remnants of a Katyusha rocket were found in Israel, police said. There were no reports of casualties. Israel and the Lebanese militant and political group Hezbollah fought a devastating 34-day war across the border in 2006. Israeli resident Ephraim Gold, who heard the sound of up to six explosions in the city of Nahariya - some 6 miles (9.6km) from the border with Lebanon - told the BBC News website that the rockets had sparked panic. "People were screaming, running away," he said. "It's been quiet here for so long, this was completely unexpected. EVENT This was unexpected and unwanted. The previous war between Hezbollah and Israel started like this. Small attack by Hezbollah. Larger response by Israel. Larger attack by Hezbollah and so on. Just 2 days before this attack Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said IDF deterrence "will ensure calm in the northern sector.“ A joint land, air and naval drill has been taking place in northern Israel which is why Barak was there making this statement. IDF chief Ashkenazi said, 'The drill is part of our need to be prepared for challenges along the northern front. I am pleased with the progress in the ability of our forces, and we will continue to prepare as part of our duty to be ready for war.” The rockets were fired possibly in response to this drill – war is certainly coming… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Psalm 83:2,3 NIV)

9. the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? Young lion (America) is also looking cowardly with Iran. UK government is craven Daily Telegraph Editorial, September 7, 2009 Governments frequently have to do unpalatable things, but these shameful dealings with Libya are largely self-inflicted. They are a direct consequence of this {UK} Government's failure to pursue a responsible energy strategy. We reported last week that Britain faces power cuts within a few years as ageing nuclear reactors are decommissioned. It has left this country dangerously reliant on imported gas, a dependency that will increase in the years ahead – which is where Libya comes in. The nauseating courtship with President Gaddafi that was started by Tony Blair five years ago has had two policy aims. The first, perfectly respectable, motive was to bring this former state sponsor of terrorism into the international fold. The second, less noble, motive was the pressing need to keep the lights burning in Britain. This, then, is the justification for freeing the Lockerbie bomber. What next? The world's biggest reserves of natural gas are in Russia, a country that has already shown its willingness to use its energy wealth to intimidate and bully its neighbours. Having abased ourselves before the Libyans, how long before we find ourselves doing the same before the Russians? EVENT The word “craven” means “cowardly”. The UK newspaper is accusing the UK government of being cowardly. Why? Well they have just released the only person convicted of blowing up a Boeing plane and killing 270 people in 1988. The terrorist was a Libyan. He was jailed for life in 2001. He was released 2 weeks ago on compassionate grounds. What has now come to light is that oil deals were behind this. We expect the UK to be a cowardly lion at the time of the end. Why do we think this? Well Ezekiel says that Tarshish (old lion) ASKS (timidly?) why Russia has invaded! COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:13)

10. The pure candlestick [menorah], with the lamps thereof, even with the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for light, Early menorah depiction found in Galilee Jerusalem Post, September 11, 2009 Israeli archaeologists have uncovered one of the earliest depictions of a menorah, the seven-branched candelabra that has come to symbolize Judaism, the Israel Antiquities Authority said Friday. The menorah was engraved in stone around 2,000 years ago and found in a synagogue recently discovered by the Kinneret. Pottery, coins and tools found at the site indicate the synagogue dates to the period of the second Jewish temple in Jerusalem, where the actual menorah was kept, said archaeologist Dina Avshalom-Gorni of the Israel Antiquities Authority. The artist might have seen the menorah during a pilgrimage and then recreated it in the synagogue, she suggested. EVENT The Jewish temple in Jerusalem referred to in the article above was destroyed by Roman legions in 70 AD. The Arch of Titus in Rome, erected to mark the Roman victory, depicts troops carrying the menorah from Jerusalem to symbolize the defeat of the Jews. The menorah became a Jewish symbol and is featured today on Israel's official emblem. It has become a symbol of their eternal nature – unlike other nations that fade away. The original menorah was placed in the tabernacle. The tabernacle was a tent without windows, and thus artificial light was needed. This was supplied by the candlestick, which, however, served also as a symbol of the people of God, who are "the light of the world.“. Perhaps God is reminding the Jews that they be a light for the world and if they are not then destruction as in AD70 will come upon them. We should heed this too. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Exodus 39:37)

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.