November 14 - 20, 2010

1. Weekly World Watch Andy Walton’s November 14 - 20, 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 November 14 - 20, 2010 • Israel and U.S. struggle to conclude settlement pact • Iran says it tested new air defence missile system • Russia set to rebuild its nuclear powered cruisers • Russia to supply Lebanon with tanks and weapons • IMF urges nations to cede more sovereignty to EU • Israel: fasting and prayers for rain as fires rage To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right

5. But now many nations are gathered against you. They say, “Let her be defiled, let our eyes gloat over Zion!” But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan The word “defiled” means to be godless or to be without God. Israel and U.S. struggle to conclude settlement pact An Israeli man passes an advertising hoarding for a new housing project in east Jerusalem. The Guardian, November 18, 2010 Israel yesterday insisted it would keep building homes in the disputed East Jerusalem area, threatening to stall a US-proposed building moratorium aimed at reviving peace efforts. Despite Washington having agreed to exclude the eastern part of the city from the 90-day moratorium, according to Israeli officials, it had still not sent a detailed letter on the understanding. Palestinians want building to halt in the West Bank and in Jerusalem, which they claim as their state. The US hopes a renewed moratorium will let Israel and the Palestinians work towards a deal on their future borders. Today, however, a day after the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, said a deal was imminent, the US still had not sent a promised letter detailing the understandings on the proposed moratorium. Netanyahu's spokesman, Mark Regev said "Israel makes a clear distinction between the West Bank and Jerusalem. Jerusalem is our capital and will remain as such.” EVENT As the headline says – the US is struggling desperately to reach a deal with Israel and the Palestinians. Remarkably the deal they are struggling with is just to get them talking again let alone a final settlement! The Palestinians have expressed outrage in private over reports of the U.S. offer, which would let Israel continue to build in east Jerusalem. Really it all comes down to Jerusalem. The Palestinians will never accept a state without it and Israel will never concede it. So the vision of two states is impossible even in mans terms! We know that Jerusalem will be increasingly the centre of the argument. The verse below says that many nations will be gathered against Jerusalem – they want to gloat over her. But they don’t know God’s plan for Jerusalem …and for them…. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Micah 4:11-12 NIV)

6. 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. Iran says it tested new air defence missile system Associated Press, November 18, 2010 Iran has successfully tested a newly developed air defence missile system during the country's biggest ever air defence drill, the country's military announced Thursday. Iran's state television said the test was Tehran's response to Moscow's refusal to deliver the advanced Russian S-300 air defence system amid U.N. and international sanctions on the country. Gen. Hamid Arjangi, a spokesman for the five-day exercise, said the system ¬ known as Mersad, or Ambush in Farsi and Shahin, or Hawk, were developed by Iranian scientists and is capable of identifying and hitting targets at low and medium altitudes. "This medium-range air defence system can identify and destroy modern planes flying at low or at medium altitudes," Arjangi said, according to the state IRNA news agency. On Wednesday, IRNA quoted Arjangi as saying that unidentified foreign planes had violated Iran's airspace six times but that the intruders were intercepted and forced back by Iranian jets. EVENT Iran continues to agitate the nations. Iran most certainly has a part to play at the time of the great conflict over Jerusalem. Firstly there are clear verses that tell us that Iran will invade Israel with Russia. We find this in Ezekiel 38:5 where we read of Persia joining the army of Gog. But we also read in other passages of the Medes. The Medes and Persians were represented by the sliver chest and arms of Nebuchadnezzar's image. The lopsided bear of Daniel 7 is also the Medes and Persians. They both ruled territory in what is now called Iran. In Isaiah 13 we read that the Medes will be stirred up. They don’t care for gold (financial incentives!) they will use their bows (perhaps missiles) to kill infants and young men. We see the latter day fulfilment of this chapter working out. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Isaiah 13:17-18)

7. and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: Russia set to rebuild its nuclear powered cruisers RIA Novosti, November 12, 2010 The Russian Defence Ministry plans to overhaul its four Project 1144 nuclear-powered cruisers. Notably, the Admiral Nakhimov heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser will re-enter service in 2012, after lengthy repairs (that will have lasted over a decade in total) are completed. The Project 1144 nuclear-powered missile cruisers were developed for attacking capital enemy warships. They were equipped with powerful air-defence systems and had substantial anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities. In addition to these auxiliary weapons, they had missile systems designed for highly specialized objectives. Russia's warship fleet is gradually being transformed into a more sophisticated formation. Corvettes and frigates, now under construction, are to be supplemented with destroyers and amphibious assault ships in the upcoming decade. Weapons and equipment will be standardized across these ships. Interchangeable components allow greater flexibility in servicing and repairing ships of different classes. This will make it possible to establish inexpensive but hard-hitting task forces. EVENT Warships project a nations power far beyond its own borders. The main reason Britain was able to sustain the largest empire the world has seen for many years was because she dominated the sea. Britain ruled the waves. It is interesting that now Britain’s navy is in decline and there is even talk that the UK might not be able to defend the Falkland Islands if Argentina attacked them again. Russia however is pouring cash into its ships. It wants to project its power around the globe. The Bible speaks specifically of these very ships and the part they will play in the future conflict over Israel. They will indeed be a hard-hitting force. COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Daniel 11:40-41)

8. And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, {safely: or, confidently} To take a spoil, and to take a prey; Russia to supply Lebanon with tanks and weapons RT News, November 17, 2010 Russia will deliver a few dozens tanks, artillery weapons and ammunition to Lebanon; such is the outcome of the meeting between the Russian President and the Lebanese Prime Minister on Tuesday. The two leaders discussed prospects of further Russia-Lebanon co-operation in military, oil and gas industries, energy and culture. “It will be 31 T-72 tanks, 6 Mi-24 helicopters, 36 130-mm weapons and ammunition for all the arms,” Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri was quoted as saying by Interfax. Lebanon will pay for some of the items, and some of them will be delivered to the country free of charge. The Lebanese army needs re-armament, the prime minister claimed, as the last time the country re-equipped its military forces was 40 years ago. “We are so grateful to the Russian government, President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin for all their support to Lebanon, including this in particular,” Hariri concluded. A delegation of Lebanese military specialists is expected to visit Russia soon to specify the details. Among other topics discussed was co-operation of Russia and Lebanon on developing gas deposits on the Lebanese sea shelf. EVENT In Brother John Thomas’s book Elpis Israel (The Hope of Israel) he says the following words in chapter 16. “when the Autocrat (for Gogue is an autocrat, ruling by his own will) invades the Holy Land it is for the purpose of spoiling the Jews”. Gog we believe is the Russian ruler. So what is the spoil that interests him so much? The greatest spoil and wealth in the world at this time is oil and gas. Israel has found an enormous gas reserve off its coastline close to Lebanon. Just months later Russia now upgrades Lebanon’s aging military equipment. And what are they talking about when the Russian president met in Lebanon this week? The oil and gas deposits off the Lebanese coast! COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:11-12)

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. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast [Europe]. These shall make war with the Lamb, IMF urges nations to cede more sovereignty to EU Daily Telegraph, November 19, 2010 European nations need to cede more of their sovereigntyand hand greater powers to the centre to avoid future crises, the head of the International Monetary Fund has said. In what are likely to prove controversial proposals, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the IMF managing director, called on the European Union to move responsibility for fiscal discipline and structural reform to a central body that is free from the influences of member states. In a speech in Frankfurt addressing the sovereign debt crisis engulfing Europe once again, he said: “The wheels of co-operation move too slowly. The centre must seize the initiative in all areas key to reaching the common destiny of the union, especially in financial, economic and social policy. Countries must be willing to cede more authority to the centre.” Europe is plagued by crisis because member states put too much faith in banks and let their public finances run out of control. Greece has already been bailed out and Ireland is expected to agree a €100bn (£85bn) rescue within days. EVENT Bank debt is not the problem now – it is far, far worse. It is sovereign debt that is the problem. In other words national debt. The issue is this - who bails out a nation when it has run out of money? The answer is the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However the IMF is only funded by governments of course. This is why the head of the IMF is saying that Europe (which has the greatest crisis) must take control itself. Nations in Europe need to cede their sovereignty and power to the EU to allow Europe to make bailing out failing governments far easier. In other words to be able to take cash off one nation and give it to another. Just look at the verse below now in the light of this article and headline. The headline today was written in the Bible 2000 years ago!! COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE (Revelation 17:12-14)

10. Israel: fasting and prayers for rain as fires rage ICEJ, November 16, 2010 Muslims, Christians and Jews unite to pray for rain Israel’s chief rabbis are calling on the public to pray for rain, and declared this Thursday a special day of fasting and prayer to atone for the sins that are likely preventing the direly missing rainfall. Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yona Metzger and Chief Sephardi Rabbi Shlomo Amar wrote in a letter sent out last Thursday said that the state of the waters in the Land of Israel is under great distress, especially since this is not the first year of drought. Both Rabbis agree that the land is dry due to the people’s many sins. “It is our duty to seek and delve into our deeds, and come close to God with all our hearts, and set forth our pleas with a broken and despondent heart,” the rabbis wrote. On Monday, a wild fire broke out in the area of the Golan Heights near Nahal El-Al. Over 10,000 dunams (10km2) of nature preserve, land and brush were burnt. On Saturday 13 000 dunams (13km2) were burnt up in a separate fire also located in the Golan area. Click here to see Sky News website on this story. EVENT Israel’s lack of rain is causing increasing problems. Fire’s have raged and the two seas in the land are drying up. The Rabbi’s say that the land is dry due to the people’s many sins. Are they right? Is there a correlation between a nation’s sin and lack of rain? What does the Bible say? 1 Kings 8:35 says“heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee”. Jesus says that God “sends the rain on the just and on the unjust.” Can both passages be true? Yes. God gives rain to everyone regardless of whether they believe in him - HOWEVER – he CAN withhold his rain if a people sin against him. In fact the withholding of rain also effects the just and the unjust. So is God withholding his rain because of Israel’s sin? – the answer must be yes. The people no longer regard “the land” as their inheritance so the rain which blesses the land stops COMMENT BIBLE QUOTE When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray… Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance. (1 Kings 8:35-36)

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.