1. May 10 - 23, 2009 “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.

2. 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.clicking here 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:

3. 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? 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. 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).

4. This Week’s Developments To print any of the event slides that follow, click the picture on the upper right Pope makes history in visit to Dome of the Rock Pope calls for Palestinian state Obama presses two-state solution Israel abuzz with Obama Plan rumors Legal move clears way for Putin’s return as president May 10 - 23, 2009 First Speaker forced out in 300 years

5. Pope makes history in visit to Dome of the Rock This is quite possibly the most significant sign of the nearness of Christ’s return that we have witnessed. The Pope is the head of the false religion of Rome. This religion is described as “THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” Rome is the mother of ALL false “Christian” religions. God sees this religion as an abomination because they have twisted the truth of His Word with lies. Note that the word “abomination” is associated with Rome. Now look at where the Pope went. He stood in the Dome of the Rock. The Dome of the Rock is EXACTLY where the sanctuary – the Holy Place – the Temple shown above was situated. Matthew 24 tells us “when you see the abomination of desolation STAND in the Holy Place” – the time of trouble such as never was is at hand. To see how this is a SIGN FOR OUR TIMES click here to download an article…click here Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday called for the faithful to overcome conflicts of the past and engage in sincere dialogue as he became the first pontiff to visit Islam's sacred Dome of the Rock shrine. The pope then prayed at Jerusalem's Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, a remnant of Solomon's Temple and a top pilgrimage destination for the world's Jews. Benedict was the first pope to enter the Dome of the Rock on Al-Haram Al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary), also known as the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which is Islam's third holiest spot. The site, which the Jews call Temple Mount, is also the holiest in Judaism and has been a major flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where the latest Palestinian uprising erupted in 2000. Pope John Paul II had visited the compound during his landmark 2000 pilgrimage to the Holy Land, but did not enter the Dome of the Rock, whose huge golden cupola is seen as Jerusalem's main landmark. Associated Press, May 12, 2009 EVENT COMMENT But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not [Matthew 24:15 says stand in the holy place] BIBLE QUOTE (Mark 13:14) The Holy Place – The Temple – now where the Dome of the Rock exists.

6. Pope calls for Palestinian state The Pope has declared his support for a "sovereign Palestinian homeland" and calling for the end of the blockade on the Gaza Strip. This speech was greeted with deep satisfaction by the Palestinians. The previous Pope, John Paul II, back in the year 2000 signed a covenant with the Palestinians which gave them the Vatican’s full support. Now 9 years later the next Pope has returned and confirmed this covenant giving the Palestinians Rome’s full backing. It was the previous Pope who so “encouraged” the Palestinians that they decided to launch an intifada against Israel just months later. Incredible pressure is building up on Israel to accept a two state solution. Divide the land and divide Jerusalem. The time is near for all nations to get involved. Pope Benedict XVI has offered his support for the Palestinians' right to a homeland as he continues his Middle East tour in the West Bank. Speaking in a Bethlehem refugee camp, he said he understood frustrations that their "legitimate aspirations" for a Palestinian state were unfulfilled. Standing beside him, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas called on Israel to embrace peace. Earlier, the pontiff said he prayed for a lifting of Israel's embargo on Gaza. The BBC's Tim Franks said that the Pope used the stark backdrop of a Palestinian refugee camp to deliver one of his strongest expressions of support for the Palestinians. Standing in the shadow of Israel's separation wall in the Aida refugee camp, which houses refugees from Israel's creation in 1948, the Pope called the barrier a symbol of "stalemate" between Israel and the Palestinians. BBConline, May 13, 2009 EVENT COMMENT I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. BIBLE QUOTE (Joel 3:2)

7. Obama Presses Two-State Solution in U.S.-Israel Talks Notice the last line in the article above, “a rare rift in US – Israeli relations”. The cracks are beginning to open up between Israel and America. Obama seems bent on pushing through a two-state solution. The trouble is at the very time the US wants to finally push this through, Israel has a prime minister who heads a right wing coalition who will NOT want to do this at all. Israel relies on America for money and protection. Their “superpower ally” is needed – in their opinion – for survival. Israel should NOT rely on America but on God who put them in the land. God spoke to Joshua as they were about to enter the land for the first time (as a nation) 3500 years ago….. U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday pressed a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict but failed to win a commitment from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to back Palestinian statehood. In their first White House talks, Obama also urged Netanyahu to freeze Jewish settlement building but sought to reassure Israelis wary about his overtures to Iran that he would not wait indefinitely for diplomatic progress toward curbing Tehran's nuclear ambitions. The two leaders tried to paper over their differences as Obama waded into the thicket of Middle East diplomacy four months after taking office, but the divisions were hard to ignore between Israel and its superpower ally. "It is in the interests not only of the Palestinians but also the Israelis, the United States and the international community to achieve a two-state solution," Obama told reporters with Netanyahu sitting beside him. Netanyahu, who heads a new right-leaning Israeli coalition, reiterated that he supported self-government for the Palestinians but made no mention of a state, a position underscoring a rare rift in U.S.-Israeli relations. Reuters, May 18, 2009 EVENT COMMENT ….Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. BIBLE QUOTE (Joshua 1:7)

8. Israel abuzz with Obama Plan rumors These are just rumours – but if true would mean that for the first time America would back the splitting of Jerusalem and also the internationalisation of the Temple Mount. If true, then just weeks after the abomination stood on the Holy Place we could possibly see the final push to divide God’s city - the time of trouble will be at hand. The Middle East has been abuzz in anticipation of the peace plan US President Barack Obama is expected to unveil in Cairo next month. Some who can't wait to hear official details have extracted what they claim is a preview of it, reported today in Israeli newspapers and the London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi. The so-called "Obama Plan" outlined by these reports is not radically different from those proposed by other Middle East interlocutors. But it boldly tackles some of the thorniest issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that other plans, such as the 1993 Oslo Accords, never resolved. The solutions, which include a Palestinian state adjacent to Israel, would require both Israelis and Palestinians to cross some of their self-declared red lines. Palestinians would have to give up the demand for their refugees' "right of return" to areas that are now part of Israel proper, and would instead have to settle for compensation or the option of moving to the West Bank or Gaza Strip. The capital of the Palestinian state would be in East Jerusalem, which is currently under Israeli control. Most controversially, the plan includes a proposal that the Old City – with sites holy to the three major monotheistic religions – would become an international zone under the flag of the United Nations. Such an arrangement was proposed in the 1947 UN partition plan but was never implemented. Christian Science Monitor, May 20, 2009 EVENT COMMENT And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. BIBLE QUOTE (Zechariah 12:3)

9. Legal move clears way for Putin’s return as president The Russian prime minister, Vladimir Putin, has been accused of plotting his return as president after the Kremlin announced plans to strip judges of the right to elect the head of the country's powerful constitutional court. The loss of the judiciary's last quasi-independent position would remove any lingering potential for a legal challenge should Mr Putin make an early presidential comeback. After serving consecutive four-year terms, Mr Putin was obliged to step down as president last year. He became prime minister instead and shoehorned his long-term protege, Dmitry Medvedev, into his old job. Although he is legally allowed to run as president once again during elections in 2012, Mr Putin reignited speculation of an earlier return over the weekend after he appeared to call Mr Medvedev's future into question. Daily Telegraph, May 14, 2009 EVENT COMMENT And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen BIBLE QUOTE (Ezekiel 38:4) It seems increasingly likely that Putin will be back in power before very long. Everything is now in place to ensure this can happen without any legal problems. Putin had to step down in February last year because his 8 year maximum term of office had come to an end. He put in place his chosen successor – Mr Medvedev. However from that moment on it appears a plan was in place for him to return to power. The Russian constitution was changed to allow the president to be in power for a maximum of 12 years. The Kremlin began leaking information about Putin’s return to power. Putin handled the Georgian war in August last year. And now the constitutional court has had its powers stripped. Putin has all the pieces in place. All he needs now is a crisis under the cover of which Medvedev will step down and Putin the “strong leader” will take over… The “return” of Putin to power might signal the invasion of Israel…

10. First Speaker forced out in 300 years On one of the most momentous days in British parliamentary history, the Speaker of the Commons, Michael Martin, resigned his office yesterday, and the prime minister desperately tried to defuse the constitutional crisis by announcing unprecedented plans to curb centuries of MPs' self-governance. Within hours of Martin giving up the fight to retain his post as the most senior commoner in the land, Gordon Brown outlined plans to dismantle what he described as the "gentlemen's club" of parliament by handing power for the oversight of every aspect of MPs' pay, expenses and pensions to a new statutory independent regulator. At a Downing Street press conference, the prime minister said Westminster "can no longer operate as a 19th-century institution where the members make up the rules, and operate them among themselves". The Guardian, May 20, 2009 EVENT COMMENT Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. BIBLE QUOTE (Isaiah 9:7) Politics in the UK is in turmoil. Over the past 2 weeks the Daily Telegraph has been publishing (every day!) the expense claims that government ministers and members of parliament have been claiming. 6 MP’s have had to stand down already due to nature of their claims. The speaker of the house of commons has now been forced to step down as well – the first time this has happened for 300 years! The British Parliament is often referred to as the Mother of Parliaments. This is because the British Parliament has been the model for most other parliamentary systems, and its Acts have created many other parliaments. Many nations with parliaments have to some degree emulated the British "three-tier" model. It is no coincidence that in these last days the mother of parliaments has been shown to be broken and corrupt. Only the righteous government of Jesus Christ can rule this earth. It is surely coming SOON to replace ALL of man’s kingdom’s and last forever.

11. E-MAIL ANDY Click here (Move the mouse until the cursor appears.) To watch again, click here. WWW will be e-mailed to you each week. Please forward the e-mail addresses of others who may be interested. I will include them in the list of recipients. Comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome. Weekly World Watch The end of this week’s