June 6 - 13, 2009

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s June 6 - 13, 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 June 6 - 13, 2009 • 'Palestinian state as soon as possible' • WHO declares first 21st Century flu pandemic • Ahmadinejad re-election sparks Iran clashes • Calls for Brown to go nuclear in City battle with EU • North Korea in plutonium threat • . To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right

5. Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head 'Palestinian state as soon as possible' Jerusalem Post, June 12, 2009 President Barack Obama's special Mideast envoy George Mitchell said Friday that Washington supports the creation of a Palestinian state "as soon as possible. Mitchell also sought to reassure Lebanon that US efforts toward a comprehensive peace in the Middle East - including reaching out to Syria and Iran - would not come at Lebanon's expense. Some Lebanese are wary of Washington's outreach to Syria, which dominated the politically fractured country for decades and continues to maintain some influence through its support of the powerful Hizbullah terror group. "President Obama remains committed to actively and aggressively seeking comprehensive peace in the Middle East. This includes supporting the establishment of a Palestinian state as a homeland for the Palestinian people as soon as possible," Mitchell told reporters in Beirut. EVENT We keep mentioning the pressure Israel is under to go along with a two state solution. Prime Minister Netanyahu will make a statement next week about Israel’s approach to this. Many are saying that he will have to concede eventually. The media often speak about Israel and Palestine. One would think that there was once an Arab state called Palestine and Israel have taken it from them. The truth is that there was never an Arab country of Palestine and that Palestinian Arabs were never a nation. The truth is that Jerusalem was never the capital of any Arab state or province. The truth is that in all of recorded history, only one people has ever made Palestine west of the Jordan a sovereign nation-state with Jerusalem as its capital: the Jews. Palestinian Arab nationalism only became significant AFTER 1967… COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Joel 3:4)

6. After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise WHO declares first 21st Century flu pandemic Reuters, June 11, 2009 The World Health Organization declared an influenza pandemic on Thursday and advised governments to prepare for a long-term battle against an unstoppable new flu virus. The United Nations agency raised its pandemic flu alert to phase 6 on a six-point scale, indicating the first influenza pandemic since 1968 is under way. "With today's announcement, WHO moves from an emergency to a longer-term response. Based on past experience, this pandemic will be with us for some months, if not years, to come," WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said in a letter to staff, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters. People aged 30-50, pregnant women or people suffering from chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes or obesity are at highest risk, Chan told a news conference. Countries from Australia to Chile and the United States are reporting the new swine flu virus is "crowding out" seasonal flu, becoming the predominant influenza strain, she said. EVENT The first fu pandemic since 1968 is under way. 40 years have gone by. The number 40 in the Bible is symbolic of a time of testing whether in days or years. 40 days Moses was on Mount Sinai. The people rebelled during this time – they failed the test. 40 days the spies went into the land to see what it was like – they failed the test and for 40 years (each day for a year) the Israelis wandered in the wilderness. 40 days Nineveh was given to repent – they passed the test. For 40 days Jesus was tested in the wilderness – he passed the test. For approximately 40 years Israel been back in the land – will they pass the test? Will the world pass the test? NO. Judgement is coming – on Israel AND the whole world. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Numbers 14:34)

7. Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it. Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children Ahmadinejad re-election sparks Iran clashes BBConline, June 13, 2009 Thousands of opposition supporters have clashed with police after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the winner of Iran's presidential poll. Secret police have been attacked, while riot police used batons and tear gas against backers of Mir Hossein Mousavi, who called the results a "charade". Correspondents say the violence is the worst seen in Tehran in a decade. The official results gave Mr Ahmadinejad 63% of the vote against just 34% for Mr Mousavi. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised the high turnout of 85%, described the count as a "real celebration" and called for calm. "Enemies[often a reference to America] may want to spoil the sweetness of this event... with some kind of ill-intentioned provocations," the ayatollah said. Mr Mousavi has also claimed victory, as his supporters said the election had been stolen and vowed to appeal for a re-run. But observers say this would have little chance of success. EVENT The Bible speaks clearly of Persia (Iran) and the Medes (Iran) being stirred up at the time of the end. Isaiah 13 which MUST have a latter day fulfilment tells us that God himself would stir up the Medes. (v17) They care nothing for gold. They are violent and aggressive. (v18). We know this chapter is talking about the last days because verses 9-12 only has complete fulfilment at the very end. It is not surprising therefore to see Ahmadinejad win (deceitfully) this election. He has called for Israel to be wiped off the map. We would expect someone like this to be “in power” in Iran at the time of the end. Why? Because God says Iran WILL invade Israel. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Isaiah 13:17,18)

8. Pass ye [Tyre] over to Tarshish…And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth. And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up Calls for Brown to go nuclear in City battle with EU Daily Telegraph, June 11, 2009 As Europe's leaders prepare to strip Britain of ultimate control over finance, insurance, and securities, defenders of the City have begun to talk darkly of the nuclear option – known in EU lore as the "Luxembourg Compromise". Britain cannot veto the massive shift in regulatory power to Brussels now under way. Internal market laws are decided by qualified majority voting (QMV), and London has few friends in this fight. What Gordon Brown can do at next week's EU summit it to play the Luxembourg card by invoking "vital national interest", if he is willing to risk a showdown with fellow leaders. This has no legal status. It is the political equivalent of a stamping bull, or a viper's rattle. It means back off, or we strike. "This is an extremely serious crisis," said David Heathcote-Amory, former Europe Minister and now a key Tory MP on the European Scrutiny Committee. "Once we lose of control over the City of London we will never get it back, and the consequences could be catastrophic. I think we are in 'Luxembourg territory'. If the City was in Paris you could be pretty sure that French would fight like tigers to save it," he said. EVENT You may be surprised to learn that London is mentioned in the Bible! Well not by its modern name of course. Tyre was the ancient capital of Phoenicia circa 500BC. A city that traded in all sorts of goods with then known world. It was the richest city on earth. The people of the city setup colonies. They were pro Jewish to begin with but turned against the Jews later on. God judged them for this. Tyre was destroyed. BUT after the destruction we are told Tyre “passed over” to Tarshish (Britain). London is a latter day Tyre. She becomes like a harlot and becomes rich. She is judged and loses her wealth. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Isaiah 23:6,17,18)

9. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: North Korea in plutonium threat BBConline, June 13, 2009 North Korea has said it will weaponise its plutonium stocks amid threats to take military action over United Nations sanctions, state media said. Pyongyang would view any US-led attempts to "blockade" it as an "act of war", the Associated Press (AP) said. The warning from North Korea's foreign ministry was carried by Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Saturday. It follows a toughening of UN sanctions against the communist state. On Friday, the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to impose tougher sanctions on communist North Korea, after its nuclear test on 25 May. The North also tested a rocket thought to be capable of carrying a warhead, though Pyongyang said it was designed to carry a satellite. The UN sanctions include the inspection of North Korean ships, a wider ban on arms sales and other financial measures. The US deputy ambassador at the UN, Rosemary DiCarlo, said the new vote was a strong and united response to North Korea's "unacceptable behaviour". EVENT COMMENT North Korea emerged as a nation in 1948 amid the chaos following the end of World War II. Its history is dominated by its Great Leader, Kim Il-sung, who shaped political affairs for almost half a century. In 2002 US President George W Bush named the country as part of an "axis of evil". It successfully tested a nuclear weapon in 2006. We see this small weak nation now with an enormously powerful weapon. The weak are saying “I am strong”. They are beating their plowshares into swords. The heathen are being awakened. The whole world is rushing towards conflict. BIBLE QUOTE (Joel 3:10,11)

10. 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.