October 24 - 30, 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

• Holy site sparks row between Israel and UN

• Pope Benedict urges Mid-East sides to reach peace

• Russia plans to update Black Sea Fleet

• Terror alert: bombs 'designed to harm US synagogues'

• Synod: Jesus cancelled Biblical ‘Chosen People’

October 24 - 30, 2010

• Indonesia tsunami death toll hits 413

Holy site sparks row between Israel and UN

A religious site outside Bethlehem revered by both Jews and Muslims has emerged as the latest diplomatic battlefield between Israel and the United Nations. Known as Rachel's Tomb to Jews and the Bilal bin Rabah mosque to Muslims, the site was included in a resolution by Unesco last week, which described it as a mosque and noted that it formed "an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territories".The UN body in charge of culture, education and science also urged the Israeli authorities to remove the site from its national heritage list, where it was placed in February this year. The resolution – which also refers to the site as Rachel's Tomb – triggered an angry response from Israel yesterday. "We strongly condemn this resolution that is tainted with blatant political bias," said a spokesman of the Israeli foreign ministry."It ignores the historical fact that Rachel's tomb was never a mosque."

The Guardian, October 29, 2010

EVENT

COMMENT

In Ramah was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children Perhaps weeping may be heard again in this place

And Rachel died, and was buried on the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.

BIBLEQUOTE (Jeremiah 31:15)

Rachel’s Tomb is a highly significant place from a Biblical point of view. Rachel was the wife of Jacob [Israel] who bore him 2 sons, Joseph and Benjamin. Joseph’s own 2 sons Manasseh and Ephraim became 2 of the 12 tribes of Israel. Ephraim often describes the northern kingdom of Israel in the Bible. Rachel was buried in near Ephrath (or Ephrata) at Bethlehem. We read about this in the verse below. In the 1940’s Rachel’s Tomb became explicitly identified with the return to Zion and Jewish Statehood. This is one of the reasons for the huge sensitivity over the UN decision to ask Israel to remove this site from their national heritage list and also to call it a mosque on Palestinian territory. In effect they are saying Israel has no right to the land. It has been a place of much weeping and death before. Jeremiah prophesied that Rachel would weep from her tomb when the young boys were killed at Herod’s command .

(Genesis 35:19-20)

Pope Benedict urges Mid-East sides to reach peace

Pope Benedict XVI has urged Israelis and Palestinians to push for peace in the Middle East and not to give up hope of a settlement.He spoke at the Vatican at the end of a two-week meeting of Catholic bishops from around the world.Peace would be the best way to stem the emigration of Christians from the Middle East, the Pope said.Separately, Israel's prime minister has called on Palestinians not pursue independence without peace talks.Frustrated that direct talks with Israel have stalled over the issue of Jewish settlement construction, Palestinians have suggested they could ask the United Nations to recognise an independent state beyond the Green Line - territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 Middle East war.

BBConline, October 24, 2010

EVENT

COMMENT

I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came,And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus:

BIBLEQUOTE

The Pope is also wading into the stalled peace process. More than anyone he wants a resolution to this. Why? Because the Vatican has most to gain. For over 1000 years Rome claimed to be the New Jerusalem (still does!). Rome pointed to the fact that no Jewish nation existed, as proof God had cast off the Jewish people. For many years it might have appeared true. But the argument collapsed in 1948 when Israel was recreated after a period of 1897 years. The Papacy wants the land divided so that once again they can say Rome is the New Jerusalem and God has cast off the Jews.The Bible is clear about Rome and its intentions. Daniel 7’s “little horn” is the Pope. The harlot woman riding the beast in Revelation 17 is the Papacy. The horn / woman make war against God’s people throughout time and at the very end. We see it coming.

(Revelation 17:6)

(Daniel 7:8)

Russia plans to update Black Sea Fleet

Ukraine agreed in April to extend the Russian fleet's Sevastopol base lease by 25 years in return for a 30 percent cut in gas prices, a step that underlined Kiev's shift back towards Moscow after the election of President Viktor Yanukovich.The fleet has fallen into disrepair in recent years, but Russia plans to add 18 new vessels, including at least six frigates and six diesel-powered submarines, Interfax news agency cited a source in Russia's naval command as saying.Russia successfully tests ballistic missiles – headline Telegraph 29 th OctoberRussia's troubled nuclear weapons programme is back on track after the Russian Navy successfully test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile for the second time in a month. The successful test launch of the Bulava missile from a nuclear-powered submarine submerged near the country's border with Finland was seen as a major breakthrough by defence experts. The Bulava, is to be the cornerstone of Russia's nuclear arsenal for years ahead, will be able to carry up to ten nuclear warheads.

Reuters, October 24, 2010

EVENT

COMMENT

Son of man, set thy face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, .., and with many ships;

BIBLEQUOTE

(Ezekiel 38:3)

Russia’s base in the Ukraine is interesting because the Ukraine is part of the territory of the Scythian people. The Scythian people are interesting because they (according to Josephus an ancient historian) were in fact also known as the Magogites. The Magogites are interesting because obviously they were from Magog. And Magog is interesting because it is the place where Gog comes from. Gog was originally the leader of the Magogites. Ezekiel 38 speaks of Gog the chief prince (leader) of Magog, Meshech and Tubal. These 3 areas cover most of modern Russia and the Ukraine.Therefore we see Russia with a major military base in the Ukraine as very significant. A bit like America having a major military base in Saudi Arabia. The ships are being built.

(Daniel 11:40)

Terror alert: bombs 'designed to harm US synagogues'

An international terrorist alert over an al-Qaeda parcel bomb plot has been triggered following the discovery of a package containing explosive material at a British airport.The plot – described as a “credible threat” originating in Yemen - was uncovered by MI6 after a tip-off to one of its officers based in the Middle East. On Friday night, airports in the United States were on high alert after parcels containing explosive material, and addressed to synagogues in Chicago, were discovered on cargo aircraft at East Midlands airport and in Dubai.The device initially tested negative for traces of explosives but it was understood that a further search uncovered a second suspicious package containing a “cleverly hidden” device in a printer, which included a mobile phone as one of its components.There were reports that up to 20 similar suspect packages had been sent from Sana’a, the capital of Yemen, targeting synagogues in the US. On Friday night, President Barack Obama said: “Initial examination of these packages has determined that they do apparently contain explosive material.”

Daily Telegraph, October 30, 2010

EVENT

COMMENT

Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel

But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.

Terrorism has gone quiet for the Western world for some time but we know that those who want to bring destruction have not been idle. New and more ingenious ways for bringing death will certainly have been developed. We also know that the hatred for the Jews will only increase as we near the time of the end. Israel will be blamed for any collapse of the talks. The future conflict and all its horrors will also be blamed on Israel.King David a man that trusted in God had “many enemies”. They hated him with “cruel hatred”. The word “cruel” is normally translated “violent”. It is a violent hatred that “many” people have for the Jews today. Only Christ’s return will save his people.

BIBLEQUOTE

(Psalm 25:19)

(Psalm 38:19)(Psalm 41:7)

Synod: Jesus cancelled Biblical ‘Chosen People’

The Creator’s promise in the Bible that the Promised Land belongs to the Jewish People is no longer valid, a Catholic synod declared. An American archbishop at the Synod explained Saturday that the promise of the Creator was "abolished by the presence of Christ.“In a decision that is bound to set off a furious reaction from many Jewish leaders, the synod concluded that “recourse to theological and biblical positions which use the Word of G-d to wrongly justify injustices is not acceptable.”However, an inherently contradictory Synod statement also declared, “The same Scriptures unite us; the Old Testament, the Word of G-d is for both you and us... We believe in the promises of God and his covenant given to Abraham and to you. We believe that the Word of G-d is eternal.”

Israel National News, October 24, 2010

EVENT

COMMENT

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.Just as male and female still exist so do Jew and Gentile. The verse means ALL can now be saved by baptism into Christ. But baptism in effect makes us Jewish (related to Abraham)!!

This is a major misunderstanding of the Truth of God’s Word. God has NOT cast off the Jewish people. They are his chosen people. Now and forever. We know this for certain because of 2 key things. Jeremiah 31 says that if heaven itself can be measured, or if man can ever get to the centre of the earth - then God will cast off his people. Apart from science fiction movies these things have never been achieved so the Jews remain God’s people. Interesting that the “Rachel weeping” quote on a previous slide comes from Jeremiah 31! The same chapter speaks of God regathering Israel to THE LAND!But what of Gal 3:28 which says there is neither Jew nor Gentile and we are all one in Christ Jesus? This simply means that whether we are born Jew or Gentile we both now have an equal opportunity to be saved through Jesus. Gentiles can become adopted Jews – grafted on to the Jewish olive tree. The promises to Abraham then apply to us!!

BIBLEQUOTE (Galatians 3:28-29)

Indonesia tsunami death toll hits 413

The death toll from the tsunami that smashed into western Indonesia has risen to 413 with another 298 still missing several days after the disaster, an official said Saturday.West Sumatra disaster management official Suryadi said much of the aid has arrived in Sikakap area in North Pagai island, but emergency workers were having difficulty getting it to those most in need."A lot of the aid has arrived on the island. Unfortunately there are insufficient boats to distribute the aid to the affected areas quickly," he said.The tsunami has displaced 13,000 people on the tsunami-stricken Mentawai islands.Emergency services in Indonesia are being further stretched by the continued eruption of Mount Merapi in central Java, where around 50,000 people have been evacuated.

UPI, October 22, 2010

EVENT

COMMENT

Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

BIBLEQUOTE

Last week we looked at the fires that have raged across the world’s largest nation – Russia. This week we see not fire raging but water. Yet another tsunami causing large scale death and destruction.We had a tsunami back in February this year when a massive earthquake struck Chile.Back in 2006 another tsunami killed over 600 when an earthquake struck Java.In 2004, 212,000 people were killed in the tsunami that struck Aceh.There certainly seems to be an increase of tsunami’s. The sea in the Bible is symbolic of nations and people. When we see the literal see roaring and raging (as in a storm or tsunami) we also know that this indicates a time coming when the nations will rage as well. All these events are showing those who would see that the end is so very near.When Christ returns how can we can say to him that we did not see it coming?

(Psalm 89:9)

(Luke 21:25)

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Weekly World Watch

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