Andy Walton’s Weekly World Watch

1. Andy Walton’sWeekly World Watch June 24 - 30 2007 “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

2. What is this world watch all about? I decided each week to look at key events that had happened in that week and look at them with the Bible in hand. I hope to build up a picture of Gods hand working in the affairs of this world bringing about that day when all nations will be gathered to Jerusalem to battle which will be brought to end when the Lord Jesus Christ physically returns from heaven to set up Gods kingdom. The key areas which will crop up time and again will be • Israel – Middle East the growing conflict • Europe – the developing union / political and religious • Russia – continued turning back to anti west ways • The development of King of South – US & UK • Declining moral standards and increasing violence. A number of Bible Presentations have been produced and can be ordered by . The presentations are audio / visual powerpoint CD’s. Move your mouse around to get the arrow and click the green link. Clicking here

3. Weekly Developments These are just a few of the events that have caught my eye in the previous week. It is in no way meant to be exhaustive – just a look at those events I saw as significant from a Bible viewpoint. Headlines These are always headlines printed in the newspaper – the date is always given and which paper. Normally the Daily Telegraph. (DT) Event This is usually the newspapers take on the events that have happened. It will always be a direct quote from the newspaper. Comment This is my take on why it is interesting from a Bible point of view. The idea of this weekly world watch is to give a quick Biblical perspective without going into detail. If more detail is needed please email me. Bible Quote 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.

4. Weekly Developments June 24 - 30 2007 • Extreme weather around the world • Israel braces for July war • Blair appointed Middle East envoy • Undeclared war with Iran • Bombs planted in London • Israel’s president resigns TO PRINT ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SLIDES JUST CLICK ON THE PICTURE ON EACH SLIDE

5. Britain Extreme weather Headline 1) Flood chaos grips Britain 2) Heatwave kills 49 in southern Europe 3) More Than 800,000 Hit by Pakistan Floods 4) Record Temperatures in Greece Headline Various Headlines this week! Event 1) Torrential rains caused nationwide flooding yesterday as emergency services were called on to perform hundreds of rescue operations on what was the wettest day of the wettest June in history. (Britain) 2) The Italian government was yesterday urged to call a state of emergency in Sicily after a heatwave resulted in several deaths, forest fires and power cuts. Temperatures in Sicily, and in the south of Italy, have hovered between 104-113F (40-45C) this week. 3) In Pakistan, provincial relief commissioner Khubah Bakhsh estimated that some 200,000 houses had been destroyed or damaged. More than 800,000 people have been affected by the floods from heavy rains and overflowing rivers and dams. 4) Wildfires swept through Greece Thursday, killing two people and destroying homes after days of record high temperatures that led to at least nine heatstroke deaths and extensive power cuts. Comment Jesus said that we would see fearful sights and great signs from heaven. This week has seen fearful sights and great signs from heaven. With floods, storms, record temperatures, raging fires – we should look up – Jesus Christ will return soon. Bible Quote Luke 21 11 and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. Greece

6. Israel braces for July war Hailstone damage!! Headline Israel braces for July war with up to five enemies Headline World Tribune June 25 Event Israel is preparing for an imminent war with Iran, Syria and/or their non-state clients. Israeli military intelligence has projected that a major attack could come from any of five adversaries in the Middle East. Officials said such a strike could spark a war as early as July 2007. On Sunday, Israeli military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin told the Cabinet that the Jewish state faces five adversaries in what could result in an imminent confrontation. Yadlin cited Iran, Syria, Hizbullah, Hamas and Al Qaida "Each of these adversaries is capable of sparking a war in the summer," Yadlin was quoted as saying. Comment Interesting that the headline above mentions 5 enemies all of them committed to the destruction of Israel. In Joshua 10, we read of 5 kings who wanted to destroy the Israelites. However Joshua and his mighty men of valour defeated these 5 kings. We know that war is coming on Israel. However a latter day Joshua (Hebrew form of Jesus) will come and save his people. The enemies of Israel will ultimately come to an end. In the battle in the days of Joshua, God rained hailstones upon the 5 kings. Hailstones are only mentioned 5 times in the Bible. One of them is in Ezekiel 38:22 when the nations who attacked Israel are destroyed! The other incredible thing God did in Joshua’s day was to make the sun stand still. We look for the Sun of righteousness.. Bible Quote Joshua 10 5 Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it. More died from the hailstones than the battle!

7. Blair appointed Middle East envoy Headline Blair appointed Middle East envoy Headline BBConline June 27 Event Tony Blair is to become a Middle East envoy working on behalf of the US, Russia, the UN and the EU. The announcement came just hours after he stood down as UK prime minister and shortly before it was announced he was to quit as a member of parliament. Mr Blair said a solution to Mid-East problems was possible but it required "huge intensity and work". He faces an uphill task to address Palestinian misgivings over his ties to Israel and the US, say observers. During his final prime minister's questions on Wednesday, Mr Blair was asked about the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. He told MPs: "The absolute priority is to try to give effect to what is now the consensus across the international community - that the only way of bringing stability and peace to the Middle East is a two-state solution." Comment Amazing how we see God’s hand working here. Tony Blair steps down as Prime Minister and is immediately put into a position to try to bring peace to Israel. He said he will start immediately and said that there will “have to be two states -- Israel confident in its security and Palestinians with a viable state.” Russia was ANTI Tony Blair receiving this position but President Bush was insistent. We will undoubtedly hear talk of peace – but it will lead to destruction. Israel will still be in control of the West Bank when Christ returns. There will be NO 2 states created. So Blair’s talk of peace will lead to war. Tony Blair with his “messianic zeal” will spare no effort to split up God’s land. An infuriated Russia will descend on Israel like a cloud. Bible Quote 1 Thess 5 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

8. Undeclared war with Iran Fuel riots in Iran Headline 1) Iran bombers attack Our Boys 2) Iran rations fuel in war move Headlines The Sun / Debkafile June 26 Event 1) Iranian forces are being choppered over the Iraqi border to bomb Our Boys, intelligence chiefs say. Military experts claim this worrying move means we are at WAR with Iran in all but name. Last night an intelligence source told The Sun: “It is an extremely alarming development and raises the stakes considerably. In effect, it means we are in a full on war with Iran but nobody has officially declared it. “We have hard proof that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps have crossed the border to attack us. 2) At only two hours notice, Tehran Tuesday, June 26, announced the rationing of gas for Iran’s private motorists to 100 liters per month as a war measure. This led to riots and the torching of gas stations across the country, including the capital. Comment It was also reported this week that Iran has sent into Iraq, contingents of Revolutionary Guards Corps suicide fighters in anticipation of an American attack on Iranian soil. Britain (as the article above makes clear) is almost at war with Iran in Iraq! Following the invasion of the ancient territory of Babylon, the Persians/Medes have been “stirred up.” This word means “roused” or “incite”. Trouble is coming on Iraq. Bible Quote Jeremiah 5111 the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; Isaiah 13 17 Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it. “Raised up” and “stir up” are the same word in both verses

9. Bombs planted in London Headline Al-Qa'eda hunt after two London bombs found Headline Daily Telegraph June 30 Event A huge manhunt is under way for a group of suspected al-Qa'eda terrorists after two car bombs were planted in the West End of London. The first, a Mercedes filled with petrol cans, gas canisters, and nails, was primed to explode as hundreds of revellers poured out of a nightclub. The second, another Mercedes, was dumped in the area and its deadly cargo discovered by parking wardens who had towed it - unwittingly - to a car pound. They became suspicious of a strong smell of petrol or gas. The attempted bombings prompted fears of a new summer campaign by extremists. Comment As Tony Blair stepped down and Gordon Brown, the UK’s new Prime minister, took over news came in that 2 huge car bombs had been discovered planted in London. It has been a week of bad news in the UK. Fear in London over the bombs, incredible scenes of destruction with the floods all over Britain. And still the “party” goes on. In London today, hundreds of thousands will attend the annual Gay Pride festival. We live in days of fear, floods and festivals! We live in days of immorality, violence and destruction. We live in days so very similar to the days of Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah. We live in the final days of the rule of man which shall shortly be replaced by the rule of God through his son – Jesus Christ. Bible Quote Luke 21 26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. …27 and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot. 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. We live in days like these!

10. Israel’s president resigns Headline Israeli president Katsav resigns Headline BBConline June 29 Event Israeli President Moshe Katsav has formally submitted his resignation, a day after agreeing to plead guilty to several sexual offences. This was part of a plea bargain that removes two rape charges against him. Mr Katsav temporarily stepped aside earlier this year to contest allegations made by several women who had been employed by him. Nobel peace laureate and former PM Shimon Peres will succeed him next month, following a recent election. Comment How sad to read of a leader of God’s people, the Jews, having to resign because of rape charges. How different it will be in the kingdom. How we long for the righteous king of Israel to return - one with NO sin, and NO guile found in his mouth. We may wonder why at this time Israel’s enemies are increasingly confident and preparing for war. It is quite simply because God himself is bringing about judgement on Israel for its wickedness and godlessness of which the leaders themselves are accused. The verses below speak of the Syrians and Philistines (modern day Palestinians) devouring Israel. They speak of God cutting off Israel head and tail. Why? Because the LEADERS cause the PEOPLE to err. Bible Quote Isaiah 9 12 The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. 13 For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.14 Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.15 The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.

11. THE END WORLD WATCH WILL BE EMAILED TO YOU EACH WEEK. PLEASE LET ME KNOW OF ANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO MAY BE INTERESTED. PLEASE SEND ME THEIR EMAIL ADDRESS AND I WILL PUT THEM ON THE REGULAR WEEKLY EMAIL ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS OR COMMENTS WELCOME. EMAIL ANDY Click Here Move your cursor around until it appears To watch again click here