November 30 – December 6, 2008

“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

• US won't allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons

• Israel willing to go it alone on Iran attack

• Iran deploys 60-ship armada for war readiness

• Tehran is convinced an attack is imminent

• Russian gas supplies to EU could be cut

November 30 – December 6, 2008

• Orthodox and Catholic unity a “Duty”

US won't allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons

There were many who thought that Barack Obama would fundamentally change America's foreign policy. In fact since becoming president elect he has failed to signal any real changes in foreign policy. Mr Obama campaigned on pulling troops out quickly from Iraq and promised to talk directly to America’s enemies. He is now retreating from both undertakings according to many newspaper reports.We know America is a “young lion” based in the Saudi Arabian area. We know that the king of the south is defeated by the king of the north. We may therefore expect the US to remain an enemy of Iran / Russia, friends with Israel, but weaker than before.

The United States will not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons, even after US President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration on January 20, 2009, US President George W. Bush said on Friday.Speaking at the Saban Forum in Washington, the US president went on to call Teheran's nuclear program "a major threat to peace," noting that diplomatic and economic incentives from the West had been turned down by the Islamic Republic."While Iran has not accepted these offers, we have made our bottom line clear: For the safety of our people and the peace of the world, America will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon," he said.Bush also spoke of his administration's efforts to bring about an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, and said Israel is America's "closest ally in the Middle East.“ The US president noted he had been "the first American President to call for a Palestinian state, and building support for the two-state solution has been one of the highest priorities of my Presidency."

Jerusalem Post, December 5, 2008

EVENT

COMMENT

The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken. The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.

BIBLEQUOTE

(Job 4:10-11)

Israel willing to go it alone on Iran attack

Almost every week for the past month there have been reports that an attack on Iran is increasingly likely by Israel – with or without American blessing.Israeli officials have said it would be difficult, but not impossible, to launch a strike against Iran without clear support from America. One option would be to use Israeli submarines firing cruise missiles from off the Iranian coast in the Gulf. Another might be to use Israel's close links with Turkey to persuade Ankara to allow Israeli attack aircraft, air refuelling jets and pilot rescue helicopters to use Turkish airstrips.We may well see latter day fighting against “the prince of Persia”.

Israel is drawing up plans for an attack on Iran's nuclear infrastructure that does not require America's support, it has been claimed. Defence sources told the Jerusalem Post they were considering going it alone in a strike on Iran. Conventional military thinking states that Israel would need America's backing if only to allow Israeli warplanes to reach Iran by overflying Iraq, where the airspace is controlled by the United States Air Force.But the paper said Israeli planners had come up with ideas that did not require support from the United States.This comes after Ehud Olmert, the outgoing Israeli prime minister, failed to persuade President George W Bush to support an Israeli air attack in the last few months of his presidency.It is always better to co-ordinate,'' a source, described by the Jerusalem Post as a top Defence Ministry official, said. "But we are also preparing options that do not include co-ordination.''

Daily Telegraph, December 4, 2008

EVENT

COMMENT

Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.“ So he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia

BIBLEQUOTE

(Daniel 10:14 & 20 NIV)

Iran deploys 60-ship armada for massive war readiness manoeuvre

This week President Bush has spoken of potential conflict with Iran. Israel has too.Iran has begun massive naval war games in the Persian Gulf.We see the nations talking of war and preparing for war.This week also saw the US military carry out another successful test of the controversial missile defence system.The preparations for war will soon lead to war itself. God says so in Joel 3 quoted below. He says they will gather themselves to the valley of Jehoshaphat – in ISRAEL.

Wednesday, Dec. 3, the Iranian navy and air force began a six-day manoeuvre of marine and air might which Tehran radio said would cover an area of 50,000 square miles of the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has threatened to block the narrow strait if attacked. Admiral Qasem Rostamabadi said its aim is to "increase the level of readiness of Iran's naval forces and test domestically-made naval weaponry."Air strikes against "which sank big enemy vessels" were said to be part of the war game, a clear reference to American air carriers, three of which are now present in waters opposite Iran. Iranian Navy chief Adm. Habibollah Sayyari boasted Wednesday: "Iran has pushed back the frontiers of naval capabilities to become the decisive maritime force in the region."DEBKAfile's Iranian sources report that the exercise is part of Tehran's preparations for a US and/or Israeli attack on its nuclear installations and Revolutionary Guards bases which its political, military and intelligence strategists are convinced is on the way ahead of Barak Obama's January 21 inauguration as US president.

Debkafile, December 4, 2008

EVENT

COMMENT

Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.

BIBLEQUOTE

(Joel 3:9-10)

Tehran is Convinced an attack is imminent

Iran's rulers have convinced themselves that the United States or/and Israel are bound to attack their nuclear installations and Revolutionary Guards bases in the interim period before Obama is sworn in as president on January 21.They strongly believe in a conspiracy between George W. Bush and his successor to bring this about and are reading omens of war in every move made by Washington.According to a senior Iranian source visiting Abu Dhabi to clue its rulers on the thinking in Tehran, the Iranians seized on the rumour that Obama intended asking Robert Gates to stay on as defence secretary - even before it was confirmed – as evidence that US leaders were making ready for armed conflict with Iran and were accordingly not changing horses in mid-preparation.Iran's strategists also take Hillary Clinton's nomination as secretary of state and the possible appointment of Marine General James Jones as Obama's national security adviser to prove that the future president has opted for military action. This team is seen in Tehran as more inclined to support a war option than the Bush White House. Iran believes Obama will fall flat on economy and resort to war

Debkafile, November 28, 2008

EVENT

COMMENT

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 piecesBIBLE

QUOTE (Isaiah 13:17)

Iran (ancient Medes) are being stirred up. They know time is running out. At the end of the day America and Israel will never allow Iran to produce a nuclear weapon.Iran's nuclear chief announced on Wednesday that Iran now has more than 5,000 centrifuges operating at its uranium enrichment plant, flatly defying UN resolutions. UN nuclear watchdog reported last week that Tehran had stocked enough enriched uranium to make its first A-Bomb, while US analysts said that they expect the Iranians to be able to make three bombs by the end of 2009.War draws near. At some point conflict will occur between Iran and its foes.

Russian gas supplies to EU could be cut

The European Union depends on Russia for over a quarter of its gas. The fear is that Ukraine could respond to a freeze in its supplies by siphoning energy meant for European consumers. This is one reason why Europe is still talking to Russia despite the recent war in Georgia. Also this week a Russian warship has entered the Panama Canal for the first time since World War II. It will dock at Rodman, once the base for all US naval activities in South America. This is all designed to aggravate America.

The Russian prime minister accused Kiev of "losing its mind" as a standoff over energy prices and alleged debt arrears has escalated in recent weeks.The dispute is unnerving the European Union, as a strikingly similar row in January 2006 disrupted gas supplies across much of the continent.Crippled by the financial crisis, Ukraine is struggling to pay off hundreds of millions of pounds in debt for Russian gas it bought earlier in the year.At the same time, Ukraine – which carries 80 per cent of Russian gas bound for Europe through its pipelines – is desperately trying to resist attempts by Moscow to raise prices for 2009 deliveries. But Ukraine's pro-western government, which has already been forced to seek an emergency £11.3 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund, has found that Russia is in no mood to compromise.Mr Putin, who was speaking during a televised phone-in with the Russian people, was equally unwilling to yield. He portrayed a Ukrainian plea to freeze prices at 2008 levels as unreasonable. "They ask us to leave the same prices" he said. "How long can we leave in place the prices of the current year?“ Switching into Ukrainian Mr Putin added: "Have you lost your mind

Daily Telegraph, December 4, 2008

EVENT

COMMENT

and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships

BIBLEQUOTE

(Daniel 11:40)

Orthodox and Catholic Unity a “Duty”

The Bible speaks of the Church of Rome (Catholicism) as a harlot riding a beast.True religion is described as being the “virgin bride”. See Matthew 25:1-13.The harlot of Revelation 17 has “MOTHER OF HARLOTS” written upon her forehead.This harlot has lots of harlot daughters. We know that Catholicism is the “mother” because we are told in verse 9 that she sits on “seven hills” NIV. Rome is built on 7 hills. It is interesting that the word Catholic means “universal”. As former Pope John Paul II once wrote, “To believe in Christ means to desire unity; to desire unity means to desire the [Catholic] Church.” All other religions are seen as the daughters of Rome. Christ will destroy these harlot religions when THEY make war on him at his return.

Union between the Catholic and Orthodox churches is the only solution to the world’s economic, political, and social crisis, according to Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I and Cardinal Walter Kasper. Speaking at the “feast of St. Andrew” on November 30, Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian unity, stated that unity between the two churches “is not an option, it is a duty.” According to Catholic and Orthodox leaders alike, there is a need to present a united Catholic-Orthodox front to rising problems such as secularism, Islamism and liberal Christianity. That is why leaders on both sides of the Great Schism of 1054 are calling for “unity among Christians.” That is why Orthodox leaders met with Vatican officials in October last year to sign a document establishing the primacy of the pope over all Catholic and Orthodox bishops—though there is still disagreement on exactly what authorities that status grants the Catholic leader. As the Orthodox churches move toward unity with Rome, the Vatican has no intentions of compromising its beliefs.

The Trumpet, December 5, 2008

EVENT

COMMENT

And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

BIBLEQUOTE (Revelation 17:5)

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexiy II, has died

at the age of 79 this week

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