1. Andy Walton’s Weekly World Watch “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 July 23 - 29 2006

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 1.Israel – Middle East the growing conflict 2.Europe – the developing union / political and religious 3.Russia – continued turning back to anti west ways 4.The development of King of South – US & UK 5.Declining moral standards and increasing violence. Please email me with any thoughts, questions or anything I may have missed! On last page there is a red button – if you click it an email will open up pre addressed to me so you can send an email comments etc

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 Iran warns of Mid East storm Syrian army - highest state of alert Rome – no agreement on ceasefire Israel – back to the drawing board on West Bank Ancient Psalms found in bog Worldwide heatwave July 23 - 29 2006 TO PRINT ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SLIDES JUST CLICK ON THE PICTURE ON EACH SLIDE

5. Iran warns of Mid East storm Headline Iran warns of Mid East storm Headline BBC online July 25 Event Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned Tuesday that the conflict between Lebanon and Israel could trigger "a hurricane" of broader fighting in the Middle East. Ahmadinejad's nation is a major backer of the Hezbollah militant group and a sworn enemy of Israel. In his comments, he referred to a proverb that says: "He who raises the wind will get a hurricane.” "That proverb fully relates to the Middle East, which is a very volatile region," he said. "And it will be a strong hurricane which will strike really hard." Ahmadinejad made his comments after meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov. The two leaders signed a joint statement declaring "that the use of force against Palestine and Lebanon is unacceptable." Comment And so as the conflict between Israel and Hizbollah continues apace, Iran continues to warn of the conflict widening. Once more it is interesting how the words people are using link directly back to phrases used in the scriptures about events soon to happen. Ezekiel 38 talks of nations (including Iran) that “come like a storm” to Israel. In fact many translators of what the President of Iran said on Tuesday quoted him as saying “storm” not “hurricane”. If it is a hurricane, Israel is the centre – the vortex – into which all nations are being gathered. The conflict will envelop all nations. Bible Quote Ezekiel 38 9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.

6. Syrian army - highest state of alert Headline Syrian army - highest state of alert Headline Haaretz July 25 Event Syria has been preparing for war with Israel. Israeli intelligence sources said the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad has placed the military on alert. The sources said Syrian infantry commandos, armored units and anti-aircraft batteries have been ordered to launch preparations for an Israeli strike. "Neither Syria nor Israel is interested in a military clash but the situation is explosive and the events may potentially be incorrectly interpreted," Israeli military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday. "This could entangle Syria up in a battle against us." Last week, Syrian President Bashar Assad placed his military on alert for an Israeli strike. Comment The Daily Telegraph reported this week that the Syrian regime is preparing for an “erosive confrontation” with the West after judging that it cannot turn its back on Hizbollah. Foreign ministry advisers in Damascus have said that it is preparing for a long conflict that could involve a regional war. It seems likely that at some point Syria will get drawn in. But it also seems likely that Syria will fail. This ancient King of the north must be replaced with the future king of the north (Russia). The verse below WILL come to pass. Bible Quote Isaiah 17 1 ¶ The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. look at v12 + 13 of this chapter!

7. Rome – no agreement on ceasefire Headline Nations Can't Agree on Lebanon Cease-Fire Article ABC news July 26 Event U.S., European and Arab officials holding crisis talks on Lebanon failed to agree Wednesday on an immediate plan to halt the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas. Although officials called for an end to the violence, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said there cannot be a return to a "status quo" of political uncertainty and instability in Lebanon. She said any cease-fire must be "sustainable." U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the solution to the Mideast crisis should involve Iran and Syria. He also called for the formation of a multinational force to help Lebanon assert its authority and implement U.N. resolutions that would disarm Hezbollah. Comment One editorial said “In Rome, of all places, the world fiddled while Lebanon burnt.” There is a state of perplexity. Of the nations not knowing how to solve this. We also see nations dividing into the 2 opposing blocks long foretold by the Bible. With the killing of 4 UN staff in Lebanon this week, the hatred of Israel amongst the nations is increasing. Israel has actually said it would welcome an international force to be deployed on its northern border. Some analysts have suggested though that this is a stalling tactic by Israel to reduce talk of a ceasefire. Either way nations are being divided and gathered to Jerusalem to battle. They do not realise this. See verse below Bible Quote Lamentations 4 12 The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem. Note verse 11 before – destruction is coming to Jerusalem

8. Back to drawing board on West Bank Headline Crisis in Lebanon sends Israel back to the drawing board in West Bank - Headline July 26 Event Just more than two weeks into the war in Lebanon, there is a growing consensus that one of the chief casualties will be Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s plan for a unilateral Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank. Pundits on the right and left argue that the war in Lebanon and fighting with the Palestinians in Gaza prove that unilateralism doesn’t work. They note that both previous unilateral pullbacks, from Lebanon in May 2000 and Gaza in August 2005, were followed by rocket attacks on Israeli civilians from the evacuated areas. The same is bound to happen if Israel withdraws unilaterally from the West Bank without cast-iron security arrangements, pundits say. Comment Withdrawing and giving up land has not worked. Israel is suffering. Withdrawing from the West Bank now will be put on hold at the very least. We would expect this. God says Gog will come against the mountains of Israel. The mountains are in the West Bank. Israel has now been fighting for 17 days. It thought it could win quickly. But the rockets are still being fired. More than ever – over 100 a day. Iran has spent 6 years preparing Hizbollah for this. They have long prepared for this conflict. The whole of northern Israel is under siege. The only reason more are not killed in Israel is that people have gone into bunkers. Israeli elected leaders, Olmert and defence minister Peretz lack military experience and skills for managing a war. This at a time when they are fighting for their existence. God has created this situation. Bible Quote Isaiah 9 16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. Note verse 14 of this chapter – destruction is coming

9. Ancient Psalms found in bog Headline 'Psalm in a bog' linked to Israel's current war Headline WorldNetDaily July 26 Event The "miraculous" find of ancient psalms in an Irish bog has some wondering if there's any special modern relevance, since the discovery dealt with the enemies of Israel attempting to destroy the nation. The ancient book of psalms found in Irish bog by construction worker was opened to Psalm 83 (photo: National Museum of Ireland) A construction worker in Ireland came across the ancient 20-page book dated to the years 800-1000 A.D. while driving his backhoe's shovel into the mud last week. Experts say it's impossible to say how the manuscript ended up there, but speculate it may have been lost in transit or dumped after a raid some 1,000 to 1,200 years ago. The National Museum of Ireland issued a statement saying, "In discovery terms, this Irish equivalent to the Dead Sea Scrolls is being hailed by the museum's experts as the greatest find ever from a European bog." Comment The WWW quoted from Psalm 83 last week! In 1947 the Dead Sea Scrolls were found – ancient Jewish Biblical scripts – some dated back to 200BC which spoke of the restoration of Israel. Now we have another amazing find dating back 1000 years. The ancient 20 page book was open at Psalm 83. Many Arab nations are mentioned. So are the Philistines (Palestinians) and Tyre in Lebanon (stronghold of Hizbollah!) Bible Quote Psalm 83 4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: read whole Psalm!

10. Worldwide heatwave Headline Europe Swelters As Heat Wave Continues July Hottest Month on Record in Germany 132 deaths linked to heat California heat wave July hottest month in Netherlands in 300 years Headlines Various newspapers July 25 Event Europe, from north to south, east to west, has sizzled through July with power outages and scores of deaths. The heat wave even brought a sinister reminder of the past, with officials in eastern Germany warning that World War II munitions might surface as river levels dropped. At least 132 deaths, mostly elderly residents, were likely linked to a nearly two-week heat wave in California, county coroner's offices reported Friday. The big jump from a day earlier came primarily from Los Angeles, Merced, and Stanislaus counties, where coroners struggled to keep up. "This is unprecedented for the county," said Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services spokesman David Jones Comment The world is heating up in more ways than one. As global conflict draws nearer and the nations hot up, so do the physical temperatures of the world as well. Coincidence? No. Jesus said there would be signs in the sun. This could be one of them but we know that God gives us a shadow from the heat as we await the Sun of righteousness Bible Quote Isaiah 25 4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat

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