(note: read Herb Peters outline of events, linked to at the top-right of this blog, before reading this, if you haven't already)
Re 6:1 ¶ And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
This has commonly been interpreted as the antichrist conquering peacefully(note the bow, but lack of arrows). As of 2005, there were three nations who were getting in the way of the EU's goals for diplomacy in the middle east, tending to side with the US. They were England, France, and Germany, commonly called the EU "big three":
EU3 warn Iran talks slower than hoped for
Britain, France, Germany warn they will support US call for Iran to be referred to Security Council if there is no accord.
"BRUSSELS - EU talks with Iran on curbing its nuclear program are going slower than hoped for, but negotiators still hope an accord can be reached, the EU states leading the talks said in a progress report Friday.
But Britain, France and Germany, which have spearheaded the diplomatic initiative, warned that if there is no accord the EU would support a US call for Iran to be referred to the UN Security Council...
...The United States and the EU have battled to speak with one voice on Iran, in particular after reports that the US was planning targeted military strikes against the country - an allegation dismissed by Washington.
The Europeans, who started the talks with Iran after Iran gave assurances about its nuclear plans at the end of last year, say military action would be a mistake.
The issue came to a head during an EU summit with Bush last month, when the US leader called the notion that he was planning military action against Iran "simply ridiculous."
Since then there have been increasing signs of coordination between Brussels and Washington..."
For many more articles concerning their notable cooperation, google "EU "big three"" and take a look at the news you'll find. They have been responsible for many of the foreign policy decisions of the EU, and alignment with the US in that regard. Interestingly enough, the book of Daniel describes three kings out of ten being subdued by the antichrist(Dan. 7:24), as he comes into power. It is my belief that this coincides with the peaceful conquering of the first seal, although this cannot, as far as I know, be established 100% without doubt by Scripture. The budget period for the ENP -- speculated to be the confirmation of the "covenant with many" mentioned in Daniel 9:27, runs from January 1st, 2007, to December 31st, 2013. Javier Solana, who became secretary general of the ten-nation military alliance, the WEU, in 1995, which the EU "big three" are members of, has now begun to rely on these nations, but only after their prime ministers were switched out:
"Washington Post Foreign Service Sunday, May 20, 2007; Page A17 PARIS -- Europe is undergoing its most dramatic changing of the guard in more than a decade.
New leaders in the European Union's three preeminent countries -- Britain, France and Germany -- not only may transform their nations individually but also have the collective clout to blast Europe out of its lethargy and revitalize it as a global and diplomatic powerhouse. "They could get the European heart beating again," said François Heisbourg, a foreign policy analyst at the Foundation for Strategic Research in Paris."
One of these new prime ministers is Angela Merkel -- whom Solana appeared to have entrusted with getting the stalled EU constitution up and running, and with it the creation of his post of EU minister of foreign affairs, to go along with his existing offices: High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Secretary-General of both the Council of the European Union (EU) and the Western European Union (WEU):
"Javier Solana looking forward to get the Charlemagne prize (dpa/lnw) 07.03.2007, 17:02 Brussels. European Union chief diplomat Javier Solana is pleased about the Charlemagne prize of Aachen, which he receives on 17 of May in Aachen.
"This prize is the most important, which I received so far in my whole life" said Solana (64) on Wednesday in Brussels. "it is not an indication for the fact that the work is done. It will give me the energy, in order to work for the same values, for which we worked in the past."
Solana is to be honoured for his world-wide peace efforts. The Laudatio will held Luxembourg prime minister Jean Claude Juncker. The Charlemgne prize board of directors offered Solana the honor officially with an attendance in Brussels. As holder of the Charlemgane prize he would be "in good society of courageous and intelligent men", said Solana. "I could not be in better society." Aachen is not only physically "a fascinating city, but also regarding the spirit, which one can feel". The prize is "an honor for hard work for the important European process of integration", said Aachen mayor Juergen Linden (SPD). "we all know that Europe in these times is not only euphoria, but that we must work hard for the maintenance of European values and also for the achievement of new values hard." Solana is "one of the hardest workers for these goals, one of the most convinced Europeans and a man of full ideas and visions".
Solana hopes for the fact that the European Union states agree soon on a new constitution and with it concomitantly on the office of an European Union minister of foreign affairs. "I do not have any doubts that this office will exist", said Solana. He is sure that German Chancellor Angela Merkel will do everything, "to bring back the constitution into discussion and to let it become reality". The constitutions that has been rejected with populars votes in France and the Netherlands 2005 plans a European minister of foreign affairs. Solana, at present officially "High Representative for the CFSP", is to become European Union minister of foreign affairs upon its entry into force."
Translated from article here
And, while this probably did not suprise most who had been following these events, the EU just recently passed their constitution -- under a different name, nontheless, but it has all the basic features of the original, and the only things that have been changed are those absolutely necessary for the cooperation of the member states - but no referendum has yet been held, to give the public a say in the process. Apparently, one is planned, but the constitution has already passed -- apparently making it too late for any significant changes. A UK Telegraph article states:
"Analysis: Prime Minister's last EU giveaway By Neil O'Brien
Last Updated: 12:40am BST 25/06/2007
Anyone reading what has been agreed in Brussels this weekend will quickly realise that the "new" treaty is merely the EU constitution with another name. It even takes the form of a list of tweaks and amendments to the constitution's original text.
It is a radical document that fundamentally changes the legal basis of the European Union. It "replaces and succeeds" the old treaty - unravelling the careful compromise reached at Maastricht in 1992.
In several key ways, it fundamentally changes the legal relationship between Britain and the union - not least by giving the EU Commission and the European Court direct control over our criminal law and judicial system...
An EU Foreign Minister
The agreement states: "The union minister for foreign affairs will be called High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy."
The position retains the same new powers set out in the original constitution. Alberto Navarro, Spain's Europe minister, admitted: "We were prepared to find a title other than foreign minister, but we are not prepared to change the substance of his role."
The foreign minister would have the automatic right to speak on behalf of Britain at the United Nations on issues where "the union has defined a common position".
The UK has also accepted that the new minister will be a member of the commission, despite resisting giving the commission a role in foreign policy since 1992. The minister will chair meetings of the EU general affairs and external relations council and have the power to appoint EU "envoys".
An EU diplomatic service
A single "European External Action Service", as proposed in the constitutional treaty, would merge national officials with the 745 civil servants who work in the commission's external relations directorate, and the 4,751 members of staff in the commission's existing "delegations" worldwide.
Home affairs
For the first time, judges in the European Court of Justice would have sweeping powers over justice and home affairs issues, something Britain blocked at Maastricht and has always opposed. The EU would get powers to harmonise civil and criminal laws, and define what sentences criminals can get.
It gains powers to compel member states to "mutually recognise" each other's judgments, even in new member states with poor legal systems. Europol, the EU police office, gets new powers despite concerns over its record.
Foreign policy
As well as the foreign minister and diplomatic service, the new treaty gives the EU a single legal personality, allowing it to sign various treaties. In effect, it has the freedom to act more like a country in its own right.
Many vetoes abolished
National rights of veto on every-thing from immigration to foreign policy are given up.
A self-amending treaty
The treaty would include mechanisms allowing it to be re-written without need for fresh treaties. The fear is it could be gradually altered to increase EU power without sufficient scrutiny.
Two things appear clear. First, the comment last week by Margaret Beckett, the Foreign Secretary, that "no negotiations have taken place" was misleading. This detailed legal agreement was not drawn up overnight.
Second, the Government must surely now keep its election promise to hold a referendum. If our MPs want to give away permanently powers that the voters only temporarily lent to them, we must have our say...
...Neil O'Brien is the director of the independent Open Europe think-tank"
As it stands now, the new EU superstate is poised for world dominance, pending the downfall of the US as the prime superpower, which will likely be the result of WWIII and the collapse of our financial system(google "US financial system collapse" without quotations). The EU has of course made no bold move for military action concerning Iran, likely because of it's ties with Russia, Syria, Turkey, ect., and the need to keep it's appearance strictly diplomatic unless force is absolutely neccessary, but the US is on the brink of an attack, which will likely trigger war between the above nations, Israel, and ourselves, not to mention whatever terroist attacks have been planned for here in the states(once again, fire up your trusty pal, google, and type "us terror imminent", and if you still haven't heard about US/Iran, google "US Iran attack"). Unfortunately, most of our troops are in the Mid-East, so there won't be much of a defense for the homeland. This will give the EU ample opportunity to exercise it's new constitution, use it's new army(European Union Battlegroups), which can be described as thus:
"European Union battlegroups (EU BGs) are military forces of 1500 combat soldiers under the control of the European Union. There are currently fifteen, mostly multi-national groups who rotate activity so that two are ready for deployment at any one time.
The battlegroups reached full operational capacity on 1 January 2007. They are based on existing ad hoc missions that the Union has undertaken and has been described by some as a new "standing army" for Europe.[1] In 2004, Kofi Annan welcomed the plans and emphasised the value and importance of the battlegroups in helping the UN deal with troublespots."
Fifteen groups of 1500 soldiers, not including command and support services(see Wikipedia article linked to above in parenthesis). At least two will be fully ready for deployment at one time. This will only suppliment the WEU military alliance, as they will likely volunteer their own troops to save the world, and truly become the new Roman empire. Interestingly, the EU document that gave Solana's office emergency powers over the civilian-crises management machinery, which includes these battlegroups, is the EU's Reccomendation 666.
The EU, all along, has been advocating diplomacy. There is a news article here showing the truth, that Cheney and Bush, who have sadly become what the world views as the image of American fundamental Christianity, favor military action, while Rice, Solana's protege, favors diplomacy. Bush's America will become the scapegoat for this war, in my opinion, and with the US in desparate need of help after the war, and the resulting financial collapse, this will only further the anti-Christian sentiment that has been growing worldwide. Events that further this may be the Evangelical Alliance's proposed violent revolution in response to govt. encroachement of religious rights, and also a violent response by the "religious right" to the removal of the right to bear arms here in America, as a result of nationwide terrorism. The Scriptures tell us what will be the result of this:
Re 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9 If any man have an ear, let him hear. 10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Here's another good Scripture on the topic of persecution, and our obedience to authorities, both good and corrupt:
1Pe 2:13 ¶ Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously...
Those who follow after Peter's foolishness in Gethsemane will not have the Lord there physically to heal their adversaries. War is one thing, but persecution is another entirely. Defending a nation is just, but a violent response to persecution is warned against in many places in Scripture, Rev. 13:10 and 1 Pet. 2:13-22 being only two of them. So what's next, in my opinion?
Re 6:3 ¶ And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
We are given another description of this, and the third and fourth seals, in Matthew 24:7:
Mt 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
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