July 4 - 10, 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)

Weekly World Watch

Andy Walton’s

To skip the introductory slides and go straight to this weeks developments click here.

What is a Weekly World Watch?

• 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.

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.

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.

• Increasing natural disasters: including earthquake, famine etc

The following six themes will appear repeatedly in WWW:

HEADLINE

EVENT

COMMENT

News Photo

The source of the headline and the date are included.

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.

What is in a Weekly World Watch?

BIBLEQUOTE

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)

This is straight from a news report that caught my eye because it looked significant from a Biblical perspective, usually that of prophecy.

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.

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.

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).

This Week’s Developments

To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right

• Obama: Bond between U.S., Israel ‘unbreakable’

• Russia, U.S. swap 14 in Cold War-style spy exchange

• Moscow to have Iran's reactor running by September

• Pope's UK visit 'could cost taxpayers £12m'

• Anti-Israel ‘Lawfare’ in Europe

July 4 - 10, 2010

• Increased quake activity predicted for California faults

Obama: Bond between U.S., Israel ‘unbreakable’

U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to warm rocky relations on Tuesday, declaring that any talk of a rift is unfounded. Mr. Obama said the U.S.-Israeli bond is “unbreakable.”The President had praise for his guest following the pair's meeting at the White House, hailing Israel's recent decision to greatly ease its three-year blockade of the Gaza Strip as “real progress.” And he said he believes Mr. Netanyahu “wants peace” with the Palestinians and is serious about resuming the face-to-face Mideast peace talks that broke off in December, 2008.The atmosphere — expressed in the rhetoric and in the schedule — was far different than at their chilly last meeting here. This time, the leaders appeared together before reporters in the Oval Office and then went into a lengthy working lunch.

Globe & Mail, July 6, 2010

EVENT

COMMENT

The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.The crooked path ALL world leaders are on is one of “parting” God’s landThose on this path of dividing Israel will not know peace

BIBLEQUOTE (Jeremiah 59:8)

The Israeli prime minister flew to Washington this week to have a meeting with President Obama. Their previous meeting had been cancelled as Netanyahu had to deal with the fall-out from the flotilla raid. As we have reported in previous weeks the tensions have been increasing between Israel and the US over Jerusalem building projects. However this time their differences were put aside and Obama went out of his way to explain that America was never going to abandon Israel and implied that Israel would not be forced to give up their nuclear weapons. Netanyahu went out of his way to talk up the prospects of peace and also how far he was prepared to go to make peace. Though no proposals were made to explain what he meant!

And so we see as expected America to continue to side with Israel but with underlying tensions. We also hear the talk of peace and know this will result in destruction .

Russia, U.S. swap 14 in Cold War-style spy exchange

Russia and the United States conducted the biggest spy swap since the Cold War on Friday, trading agents on the Vienna airport tarmac in an evocative climax to an espionage drama that had threatened improving ties.Two aircraft -- one Russian, one American -- parked side by side for about 90 minutes. The agents changed places under the cover of gangways as waves of heat rose from the tarmac.The Russian plane then took off, followed by the U.S. jet in an echo of Soviet-era spy trades across the Iron Curtain in Central Europe. Officials in Vienna, once a centre of Cold War intrigue, maintained a news blackout.The U.S. Justice Department said shortly after the takeoff that the exchange of 10 agents released by Washington and four freed by Moscow had been successfully completed.The spy scandal broke at an awkward time for U.S.-Russian ties, just days after U.S. President Barack Obama and Medvedev met in Washington last month.

Reuters, July 9, 2010

EVENT

COMMENT

He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. 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.This is talking of the little horn power (Seleucid) that came out of the Greek empire

BIBLEQUOTE (Isaiah 17:1,4)

Just as a thaw in relations between America and Russia were being reported in recent weeks Cold War scenes were soon back on our screens.It is clear that the two nations still mistrust each other and despite the official ending of the Cold War, spying still goes on apace.With Bible in hand we can never be taken in when we see pictures of Medvedev eating a burger with Obama and smiling at him. God decrees that Russian leaders will be excellent at deceit. We read this in Daniel 8 that speaks of a little horn that grows. This is NOT the little horn of Daniel 7 (Rome). The Daniel 8 horn was originally Antiochus Epiphanes (ancient king of the north). Russia is the latter day king of the north.

Moscow to have Iran's reactor running by September

Moscow and Tehran have announced that the nuclear reactor Russia is building Iran at Bushehr - its first - has completed all its test-runs and will be up and running in early September - ahead of schedule.debkafile's military sources reported several times in recent months that the Iranian reactor at Bushehr is not just a power plant but also has military applications. Chief among them is the reuse of its fuel rods to produce plutonium as atomic weapon fuel.Wednesday, July 7, Ali Akbar Salehi, chairman of the Iranian Atomic Energy Commission, said: "Today we passed the hot water test, one of the Bushehr power plant's most important and final tests before its inauguration."Thursday, July 8, Atomstroyexport, the Russian company building the Iranian reactor, confirmed this: "Efficiency tests of the reactor equipment and supporting technological systems were held," said the firm's spokesman in Moscow. "We finished the so-called hot operational testing that was the final stage before launch."

Debkafile, July 8, 2010

EVENT

COMMENT

This is what the LORD Almighty says: "See, I will break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might. I will bring against Elam the four winds from the four quarters of the heavens; I will scatter them to the four winds,…. I will shatter Elam before their foes, before those who seek their lives; I will bring disaster upon them, even my fierce anger,"

BIBLEQUOTE

(Jeremiah 49:35-37 NIV)

Back on March 18, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said at a summit of senior Russian officials : "The first reactor at Iran's nuclear power plant in Bushehr is to be launched in the summer.“ Therefore it is not a surprise that Iran’s reactor will be up and running in September. The question that divides nations is WHAT exactly will this reactor be used for. Peaceful purposes or military? There is no doubt in Israel’s mind what Iran would like to use this reactor for. The Bushehr reactor is located in south western Iran in the exact same area as ancient Elam. There is a prophecy about Elam in Jeremiah 49. It speaks of the strength of Elam being broken and shattered but then in following days their fortunes are restored. We may see these words fulfilled.. soon.

Red area is ancient area of ElamThe Bushehr reactor is here

Pope's UK visit 'could cost taxpayers £12m'

The cost to taxpayers of the Pope's visit to Britain could rise to £12m - up to £4m higher than previous figures, the government has said. That bill for the September trip does not include policing costs for the government, Lord Patten said. The main event, a mass to beatify Cardinal John Henry Newman, has been moved from Coventry airport to a smaller venue outside Birmingham. The Pope will visit Edinburgh, London and Glasgow during the four-day trip.The trip will also cost the Catholic church £7m - a figure which could also rise.This will be the first official Papal visit to the UK. Pope John Paul II made a purely pastoral visit in 1982, but Pope Benedict XVI's trip will combine both pastoral events and formal state business.

BBCnews, July 5, 2010

EVENT

COMMENT

And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot.Tyre in this verse refers to the Tyre that passed over to Tarshish (Britain) (v6). The king (royal ruler) referred to might well be Queen Elizabeth herself “according to her days”…

BIBLEQUOTE

This is the first ever state visit of a Pope to Britain. This is hugely significant.A state visit is a formal visit by a foreign head of state to another nation, at the invitation of that nation's head of state. State visits are the highest form of diplomatic contact between two nations. In other words the Pope has been invited by the Queen and he will have all the ceremonial pomp and recognition that goes with a state visit.The Queen is breaking her vow here and will be judged for it. She swore an oath at her coronation. Archbishop: “Will you to the utmost of your power maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law?” Queen: “All this I promise to do.” A protestant is someone who rejects the authority of the Pope and accepts the Bible as their ultimate authority. In welcoming the Pope as the head of the Vatican State, the Queen is acknowledging his authority and breaking her vow.God said a latter day Tyre would sing as a harlot. We see these words coming true….

(Isaiah 23:15)

The Pope has been invited to the UK by the Queen

Anti-Israel ‘Lawfare’ in Europe

Pro-Palestinian activists are launching a new round of anti-Israel lawsuits in European courts. The lawsuits, which exploit the legal principle of universal jurisdiction, are being used to harass current and former Israeli political and military leaders, with the twin aims of tying Israel’s hands against Palestinian terror and delegitimizing the Jewish state. On June 23, two Belgian lawyers representing Palestinians filed suit in Belgium against 14 Israeli officials on charges of war crimes committed during the Gaza War, a three-week armed conflict that took place in the Gaza Strip during the winter of 2008–2009. Those charged include Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni for her role as foreign minister during the war, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Deputy Defence Minister Matan Vilnai, and other Israeli military and intelligence officials.The 70-page lawsuit is based on a report by Judge Richard Goldstone, which claims that an Israeli attack on a mosque killed 16 civilians, including women and children. The new lawsuits are the latest salvo in a long-running propaganda war against Israel that is being waged in European courts under the guise of universal jurisdiction.

The Brussels Journal, July 6, 2010

EVENT

COMMENT

See how your enemies are astir, how your foes rear their heads. With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you "Come," they say, "let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more.“These lawsuits are using cunning as they conspire to bring Israel to an end.

The power of the law is being used by Palestinians and their supporters in Europe to delegitimize Israel and create hatred of its leaders with high profile accusations.The arrest warrants have provoked a furious reaction in Israel. Britain (which has also been plagued with these lawsuits) has vowed to change the law on universal jurisdiction to make it harder to arrest foreign officials. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said: “We cannot have a position where Israeli politicians feel they cannot visit this country.” Europe is making no moves to stop this hatred through lawsuits building.

BIBLEQUOTE (Psalm 83:2-4 NIV)

Increased quake activity predicted for California faults

There is growing concern among seismologists that the 7.2 Mexicali earthquake April 4 placed more pressure on Southern California's faults, resulting in increased quake activity over the last three months.The latest evidence was Wednesday's magnitude 5.4 Collins Valley earthquake that rolled from the mountains south of Palm Springs, leaving no major damage but rattling nerves throughout the region. Wednesday’s quake was centred in the San Jacinto fault zone -- Southern California’s most active -- which runs 100 miles from the border north-westerly toward Riverside and San Bernardino. Scientists had warned for some time that the Mexicali quake had transferred pressure from the Mexican border area toward the San Jacinto fault and nearby Elsinore fault – which runs 110 miles and could cause major damage in urban areas -- making quakes there more likely. “The probability of a larger earthquake on those faults could be high within the next year or two,” said John Rundle, a physics and geology professor at UC Davis.

Associated Press, June 30, 2010

EVENT

COMMENT

Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven..

BIBLEQUOTE

(Luke 21:10-11 NIV)

The Mexicali quake in April has been followed by aftershocks and “triggered earthquakes” that are showing no signs of ending. Professor John Rundle quoted above went on to say “This thing seems to be popping off with lots of small earthquakes, and it’s not decaying very quickly … which to me is worrisome, frankly.”Experts are particularly concerned because the northern edges of the Elsinore and San Jacinto fault zones run into Orange and Los Angeles counties, and the San Andreas fault. Both faults could produce catastrophic quakes. We know earthquakes will increase as the earth groans with contraction pains. These are signs Christ is coming,

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Weekly World Watch

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